Hansville Area Speed Table Enhancement Committee Meeting Notes (23SEP2008)

 

Committee members in attendance:

Mary Maffia, Ray Rohay, Suzanne Paulson, Gary Paulson, Jo Nelson, Barb Fos, Mike Malan, Gary Erickson, Joanne Erickson, Chris McClellan, James McClellan and Ed Call.

 

Committee members not in attendance who provided input for the “brainstorming” table:

Tracy Corriveau (via email read to all attendees)  Thank you.

Daria Nelson (provided ample copies so all attendees got a copy to read) Thank you.

 

Statistical data in both table and bar graph format that was received from Anne Blair of Kitsap County was available for review.  Many had already viewed it but some members had not seen the data or could not open the files.  Those wishing to get it forwarded or get a hard copy should notify me via email or phone and I’ll do my best to accommodate.

 

This meeting was dominated by our purpose of the evening, which was to brainstorm allowing all who had ideas on possible enhancement ideas to speak their mind without any evaluation or criticism of the idea until all ideas were on the brainstorming board.

 

I began by elaborating about some possible ideas that came of a recent meeting between Anne Blair, Brad Luten and myself.  These ideas included:

·        Change legislation to permit photo radar enforcement so that all the speed tables in the Twin Spits/Hansville area could be removed.  This would likely require much time to get legislation drafted, presented and passed.  It would likely also cause a LID to be created to cover costs of the photo radar equipment and contracts necessary to make this work.  This compromising option between the to opposing sides in this battle would keep an emphasis on speed reduction safety measures but would also provide a speed table free method of entering or exiting the north end by nearly all of the residents.

 

Tracy Corriveau: (via email contribution)

·        Marking speed tables with reflective paint/material to improve visibility.

 

Daria Nelson: (via hard copy submission)

·        Re-engineering of the speed tables (that remain after any possible compromise between the two opposing sides) so that all vehicles can pass at the posted speed.

·        Model all tables after the more passable Bridge View Drive tables which she feels would most likely be acceptable to most residents.

·        Remove the Hansville table and create an alternate calming approach such as narrowed lanes and adding crosswalks with the creative design of pinch points.

·        Crosswalk creation to access Norwegian Point Park.

·        Place narrow median planter in Hansville area which would both slow speeds and be visually enhancing.

·        Narrowing lanes and widening shoulders for pedestrians.

 

Jo Nelson:

·        Agrees with Tracy’s email recommendation.

·        Add additional speed tables outside areas currently covered to counter the data indicating speeding is still a problem between, before and beyond the devices.

·        Get a group of citizens together to deploy the Kitsap County’s COSMO radar warning trailer that displays speeds to drivers as they approach to continue the education of the public as to what their speed is in the various areas.

 

Suzanne Paulson:

·        Re-engineer the speed tables as advertised to have a gradual ramp up, flat top and gradual ramp down and position crosswalks atop speed tables in areas near existing crosswalks.

 

Gary Paulson:

·        Move the Hansville speed table Northward toward the Post Office to facilitate better approach to the steep hill when entering or exiting Hansville during the inclement weather months.

·        Replace the existing speed tables with poured and formed concrete to create a uniform gentle up ramp to flat top to down ramp.

·        Use the Kitsap County COSMO radar trailer in conjunction with Kitsap County Sheriff’s Officers to issue warning letters to speeding offenders.  This would be a friendlier approach than issuing tickets.

·        Enlist the Citizens On Patrol vehicles to accompany COSMO as that vehicle is tough to discern between an actual patrol vehicle and the C.O.P. vehicle.

·        Add crosswalk lights into the pavement of the speed tables and place crosswalks on the tables on the Hansville speed table and Twin Spits table nearest the Grocery store.

 

Mike Malan:

·        The community is safer, the speed tables are working, the honking and rage is subsiding there is no reason to take this any further.

 

Chris McClellan:

·        Mark the speed tables better.

·        The speed tables are doing their intended job of reducing speed.

 

James McClellan:

·        Adjust the profile of the Hansville speed table as it is far too abrupt for smooth passage.

 

Gary Erickson:

·        All the tables are fine except the Hansville table which needs to be moved North.

 

Joanne Erickson:

·        Hansville table is poorly positioned for winter.

·        Signs are not well positioned or illuminated.  When entering Hansville down the hill your headlights do not illuminate the warning sign due to the position of your vehicle lights.

·        Crosswalk with flashing lights at the Norwegian Point Park access.

·        Graduated arrows, or lines to alert drivers of the approaching speed tables.

 

Barb Fox:

·        Re-engineer to posted speed limits.

·        More law enforcement patrols to curb the road rage conduct and harassment.

·        More law enforcement patrols between, before and beyond speed tables where speeding still seems to be occurring.

·        Narrow lanes by simply painting fog lines narrower, very cost effective and provides a visual restraint to the roadway and speeding.

 

Ray Rohay:

·        Can’t please them all.

·        Slower speeds is paramount for safety and the speed tables are providing slower speeds.

 

Mary Maffia:

·        Nothing to add that had not already been mentioned.

 

Ed Call then brought up a point of order.  He has started working part time for Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management as well as still working full time under contract with Bainbridge Island until the end of the year.  This makes for two considerations.  First, he will be quite busy but will remain involved as best as possible with this process.  Second, now working for the county everyone should weigh in on whether or not this is a concern, conflict of interest or if anyone has any other issues.  Should this be the case, notify Ed and he will gladly move out of the chairperson role and into a role of participating and support as needed.

 

The next meeting has been set for Wednesday, October 15^th from 7pm – 8:30pm at the Hansville Grocery Store.  Anyone having a conflict who wishes to submit input for that meeting should contact Ed in advance.

 

Committee Members Assignment:

1.     Review the input that I have typed that I believe to have read written by you or heard spoken by you at the meeting.  Notify me of any corrections, modifications, amplifications or other such updates.

2.     Review what your committee members have said and offered during brainstorming.  Are their ideas viable enhancements that we should pursue?  Would you like to see one of their ideas modified?

3.     What ideas will need information collected such as costs, alternate traffic patterns for implementation of enhancement, etc.  Plan on identifying those factors and be willing to serve our community in running some of those details to ground with a county liaison so that we can better understand fiscal costs, manpower expectations, hidden costs and time periods that may be necessary to accomplish some of these enhancement goals.  Also note that we must present something to our neighbors throughout the community.  Now is the time to formulate the “how to accomplish that” portion of our plan as that may take a lot of time too.

 

Thank you all for your participation and ongoing efforts. 

 

Ed Call