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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7-14-25 Street andTraffic Control Committee Meeting MinutesSTATE OF ALABAMA )( : COUNTY OF BALDWIN )( The Street & Traffic Control Committee met at 1:00 p.m., Civic Center (Delchamps Room 1), 161 North Section Street, Fairhope, Alabama 36532 on Monday, July 14, 2025 Present: Councilmember Jack Burrell, Richard Johnson, Chief Stephanie Hollinghead, George Ladd, Mayor Sherry Sullivan, Councilman Corey Martin, Paige Crawford, Fairhope residents: Chris Marriott, Don De Gutz, Yann Cowart, Gary Gover, Cindy Vines, Christen Files, Jim Horner, Shelly Turnbull, Anthony Caminiti; Natalie Fonseca took the minutes. The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. Minutes from the February 6, 2025, meeting were approved and submitted on a motion by Councilman Jack Burrell, seconded by Richard Johnson; none opposed. Chris Marriott who resides at the corner of Fels Ave. and S Bayview St. informed the committee of the issue of drivers treating the stop sign(s) on Fels Ave. as more of a suggestion rather than a stop. Chief Hollinghead stated she would increase the enforcement in that area. Mr. Marriott mentioned installing a speed bump going up the hill from the west. Mayor Sullivan asked how long the stop sign has been installed at the intersection. George Ladd said approximately ten (10) years. Chief Hollinghead stated she would forward the petition and guidelines to Mr. Marriott, which would prompt a speed study for the requested speed bump. First on the agenda was a follow-up for the school crossing signs on Twin Beech Rd. on both sides of Pirate Dr. Chief Hollinghead stated that the two (2) school crossing signs are in the budget ($9,000/each). Richard Johnson mentioned a third-party traffic study; however, they were going to wait until school was back in session before they did traffic counts for the corridor from US-98 to County Road 13. Chief Hollinghead stated once she receives the results of the traffic study, she will then decide whether to move forward on the school crossing signs. Councilman Burrell asked if a recommendation needed to go to the council; however, it was decided not necessary. Mayor Sullivan asked Richard Johnson if there was extra money in the budget to which he stated at this point and time no. Mayor Sullivan said that we probably need to especially not knowing the guestimate and having a place holder for the funds would be better. The first topic on the agenda for New Business is the caution light at the top of bay hill. The committee received an email from a concerned resident regarding the location regarding the mirror at the location and drivers disregarding uphill traffic having the right-of-way even with signage at the intersection. Don De Gutz requested a yield sign at the location coming down the hill with the traffic coming up the hill having the right-of-way. Councilman Burrell mentioned restriping the location with dashes through the intersection as a continuation of the road. George Ladd said the dashed line would have to be yellow. Richard Johnson said normally you do not carry a center line through an intersection—at the location it would give more of a linear two-way road. One resident mentioned adding rumble strips as you proceed along Fairhope Ave going towards the pier as you approach the intersection. Mayor Sullivan said residents will not be on board with rumble strips and that the city has had to remove some in the past on N Mobile St. Councilman Burrell mentioned conducting a traffic study at the intersection. Richard Johnson said adding wording to the street; however, the committee agreed that it would cause more Streets & Traffic Control Committee Monday, July 14, 2025 Page - 2 confusion for drivers. The committee discussed the yield sign again; however, George Ladd said the problem is finding a location for the yield sign. Don De Gutz mentioned a stop sign for uphill traffic. The decision was to let Neel-Schaffer look at the location and make some recommendations. The next topic of discussion was County Road 13 at Morphy Ave. Cindy Vines spoke to the committee about the issues at the intersection regarding the traffic accidents at the four-way stop. Chief Hollinghead mentioned the location is another enforcement area. Mayor Sullivan mentioned the right-of-way needs to be cleared off. Councilman Burrell asked about pedestrian crosswalks striping, which Mayor Sullivan said was on the agenda for the meeting later that day to repaint various crosswalks. Chief Hollinghead asked if the final decision was to restripe the pedestrian crosswalk to which George Ladd said we can make it happen. Chris Marriott spoke about restriping the lanes at the top of Fels Ave. and S Section St. A resident questioned restriping throughout the city. George Ladd said it depends on what type of striping you’re referring to and where—we have the plan to make it through the city as much as we can, with a topic on the agenda for the meeting tonight where funds are budgeted to assist with the school zones—focusing on restriping crosswalks. Mr. Ladd reiterated there are work orders in place that Public Works is strategically trying to get through as best we can to restripe certain areas. Mr. Ladd went on to state that the city is resurfacing Fels Ave. and Section St., which is when those areas will be restriped during the project. The committee discussed Volanta Ave. for a request for speed bumps from N Section St. to the Fairhope Yacht Club. Anthony Caminiti addressed the committee requesting three (3) additional speed calming devices (speed humps) on the west side of Volanta Ave. from N Section St. to the Fairhope Yacht Club. Mr. Caminiti is also requesting to reduce the speed limit on Volanta Ave. from N Section St. to the Fairhope Yacht Club from 25 mph to 15 mph. Mr. Caminiti went on to state the current speed calming devices are the speed tables—he’s requesting three (3) additional standard rubber speed humps starting at 112 Volanta Ave., then 108 Volanta Ave. and lastly 101 Volanta Ave. Mr. Caminiti said he can meet city representatives at the location to discuss further if need be. Mayor Sullivan asked if we could pull up the speed tables and install the standard rubber speed humps instead of adding more speed calming devices on the roadway. Councilman Burrell said six (6) speed calming devices on the short span of road is a lot. George Ladd clarified that the current speed calming devices on the road are not speed tables, but some of the last brick speed humps installed in the city—the issue is the fire trucks were having challenges maneuvering over them, so the city made them less aggressive which makes them ineffective for traffic. Mayor Sullivan asked about boat trailers, to which Mr. Caminiti said they do slow down for the speed-calming devices. Mayor Sullivan proposed removing the current speed calming devices and replacing them with four (4) standard rubber speed humps Mayor Sullivan reminded Mr. Caminiti that the rubber speed humps can be loud and the city has received complaints from residents in other locations where the speed calming devices were installed. Councilman Burrell mentioned installing six (6) speed calming devices on a road sets a precedence that the committee does not want to start within the city limits. Richard Johnson said the people that will be affected the most by the speed calming devices are the residents who reside on the street and the one enterprise at the end of the street, which is the Fairhope Yacht Club, since it’s a dead-end street. His concern is if the updated speed calming devices don’t slow down the drivers in the residents’ opinion, then what is the next step? Mr. Caminiti said he’s not going to complain about driving over six (6) speed humps, since he resides at the bottom of the hill with most of the residents only driving over two (2) speed humps based on the location of their homes. Mr. Caminiti said 80-90% of the traffic on the road is generated from the Fairhope Yacht Club—he mentioned adding a speed limit sign at the bottom of the hill when individuals Streets & Traffic Control Committee Monday, July 14, 2025 Page - 3 are exiting the Fairhope Yacht Club parking lot. Mr. Caminiti said he doesn’t think the residents on Volanta Ave are going to complain about the additional speed calming devices. George Ladd stated pulling the concrete non-effective speed calming devices out and putting back a rubber speed calming device in the location and maybe adding one (1) more down at the bottom of the hill would be the solution. He went on to state if you have six (6) of them, you also must think about emergency vehicles having to cross all of them to get to a specific location. George Ladd made a motion to recommend removing the existing three (3) speed calming devices and replace them with rubber bolt down speed humps and to change the speed limit from 25 mph to 15 mph; seconded by Councilman Burrell, all in favor, none opposed. Chief Hollinghead spoke about the other side of Volanta Ave as well about speeding in the area. Yann Cowart spoke to the committee about prior shared traffic reports from Chief Hollinghead. He said 30% of traffic turns north or south on Bon Secour Ave. coming off Volanta Ave. He would like to have another traffic study completed to compare with previous data to see if it warrants a petition from the nearby homeowners. He’s requesting a speed calming device (radar sign) be placed just west of the intersection. Chief Hollinghead said she has increased patrol in the area, especially due to the road construction in the area. Mr. Cowart said speeding in prevalent on Volanta Ave in between Bon Secour Ave. and N Section St. and we need accurate data. Chief Hollinghead said she will need to investigate the best location to place the device. Richard Johnson instructed everyone on upcoming projects for the intersection improvements at N Section St. and Volanta Ave. which will make it a higher functioning area in addition to intersection improvements at Volanta Ave and US-98. Mr. Johnson said both intersection upgrades will make Volanta Ave a much more desirable road to get to US-98 and/or downtown. Anthony Caminiti addressed the committee about overgrowth and poor visibility on US-98 at Volanta Ave. as you are looking north at traffic going southbound with a slight turn prior to the intersection. Richard Johnson said the project will eliminate that issue as there will be dedicated turn lanes with signals. Councilman Burrell received a call from a resident that Section St. is blocked off and the intersection is backed up—Mayor Sullivan said they will put the lights on blinking for the duration of the project. The next topic on the agenda was Summer Lake St. George Ladd informed the committee his office received a request for a fourth speed table on Summer Lake St. which needs to be approved by the committee. Mr. Ladd said the location is already chosen and they have everything laid out—he mentioned there was some confusion regarding the third speed table which was already approved by the committee, but the fourth speed table had not been approved yet. He said this will be a total of five speed calming devices, which includes the oak trees, but only the fourth speed table. Christen Files spoke to the committee about the need for a fourth speed table and the stretch from Manley Rd to Twin Beech Rd. is approximately half a mile with current speed calming devices all towards the north end of Summer Lake St. and the area in question for the fourth speed table would be on the south side of Summer Lake St. Mrs. Files said there are eleven children who reside in the homes starting from the front of their neighborhood off Twin Beech Rd to the first speed table on Summer Lake St. She stated the current speed limit is 25 mph, which she said is too fast with drivers speeding through their neighborhood. She said several neighborhoods in the area are 15 mph or 20 mph. Councilman Burrell asked when was the fourth speed table approved to which George Ladd stated we could not find the information for the fourth speed table in past meeting minutes, but located the third speed table recommendation to council. George Ladd stated he brought the topic back to the committee to get clarification. Ms. Files stated it was her understanding that the city was waiting for the HOA to pay the fee associated with the speed table. Ms. Files mentioned adding a children at play sign on Summer Lake St. Mayor Sullivan clarified that would just be a request to the city. Richard Johnson spoke about the standard care is generally 25 mph and look at this as subdivision regulations going forward a lower overall residential speed limit. Mr. Johnson said that it has been said in the Streets & Traffic Control Committee Monday, July 14, 2025 Page - 4 meeting that Summer Lake St. is a connecting road and on Manley Rd is a middle school and nearby the high school for the community as well—there’s a lot of traffic that’s going to use Summer Lake St. to access Twin Beech Rd. He mentioned if you put the speed limit at 15 mph on Summer Lake St., then there will be some unhappy citizens when enforcement happens. Councilman Burrell recommended 20 mph along with the children at play signs. Mayor Sullivan reiterated that 25 mph is standard for residential areas. Ms. Files said that there are several residential areas nearby that have lower speed limits to which Mayor Sullivan explained they would’ve come to the committee to request an updated speed limit. George Ladd stated the Slow, Children at Play signs have been taken care of by the HOAs in the past—the city does not put those signs up, but the city will allow you to install the signs. Mrs. Files asked where she can purchase the signs. The committee gave her names of several companies in the area. Ms. Files asked for permission from Chief Hollinghead and George Ladd to install the Children at Play signs in her subdivision. Mayor Sullivan stated a 20-mph speed limit is a good idea and George Ladd agreed. Councilman Burrell confirmed it would be 20 mph for the entire neighborhood. Councilman Burrell made a motion to add the fourth speed table on Summer Lake St. and changing the speed limit to 20 mph for the entire neighborhood; seconded by George Ladd all in favor, none opposed. The next item on the agenda was The Woodlands subdivision regarding the request to reconfigure the medians. A homeowner spoke to the committee about several medians within the subdivision where delivery trucks, etc. are hitting the curb and potentially damaging the landscape as well. Another resident stated the city installed the medians; however, they were not the correct design and several years ago the city was going to reconfigure the medians to deter the constant track marks, broken concrete and damaged landscape throughout the neighborhood. The resident went on to state homes are being built with construction trucks constantly driving throughout the neighborhood. George Ladd stated that the question that has been brought up to him and Richard Johnson wanting a different design, which Mr. Ladd said the city did not design them. Councilman Burrell said the developer would be the one to design them. George Ladd said the city would need someone to design something and propose it to the committee and if approved, then a permit would be issued, and the residents would be able to hire a contractor to move forward with the plans. Richard Johnson modern neighborhoods have requirements such as having traffic calming be a part of the neighborhood and the city is trying to avoid some of the potential challenges seen in older neighborhoods. He said those medians were not just a neighborhood aesthetic to provide traffic calming, but the developer/engineer installed a stand up curb, so it will get direct contact from every truck, which can cause issues. Mr. Johnson said he did a sketch years ago with a mountable curb which is designed for a wheel to go on it, but not damage it and protect the landscape as well. Mr. Johnson said there was an expectation that the city was going to stop their daily operations to complete the work at no cost to the neighborhood, but the reality is that that is a feature of the neighborhood that is unique to the POA. He went onto state that the city will be glad to work with you, but he reiterated what George Ladd said with regards to bringing a design to the committee for review and permit the subdivision to fix those items. The residents stated the design of the medians is hindering the daily operations of the school buses to where they won’t come through certain areas of the subdivision due to constantly hitting items on the route and delivery trucks will have to back up to make certain turns in the neighborhood due to the design of the medians. Richard Johnson stated one of the challenges with the elongated design is being in front of a driveway. Mr. Johnson reiterated the residents would need to submit a Right-of-Way application with a conceptual sketch for the city to review prior to spending any significant amount of funds. The residents asked about the Planning/Zoning Department; however, they were advised by George Ladd and Richard Johnson to start with a Right-of-Way permit with Public Works. Streets & Traffic Control Committee Monday, July 14, 2025 Page - 5 The next topic of discussion was Old Battles Village where a request was submitted for a traffic study to be performed for possible traffic calming measures at Garrison Blvd. & McClellan Blvd., Garrison Blvd. & Brandywine Ave., Garrison Blvd. & Craftsman Ave., and Garrison Blvd. & Sharpsburg Ave. Chief Hollinghead confirmed with Lisa Hanks, City Clerk, that construction is still going on in the subdivision, which would cause the traffic study to be skewed until that is finalized. Chief Hollinghead recommended waiting until the construction is completed to conduct a traffic study. The committee had a brief discussion on the topic as to the amount of stop signs already in the neighborhood. Richard Johnson said before the committee can move forward, he would like to see a traffic study on the road where the community pool is in the subdivision. George Ladd reiterated that the traffic study will be skewed if one is done during the construction. George Ladd mentioned to table the topic until after the construction is completed; however, Richard Johnson said that might be years from now. Chief Hollinghead said that the city should wait and she will contact the appropriate individuals with Old Battles Village with an update. The last item on the agenda was the intersection at Morphy Ave. and Mershon St. The request is for a pedestrian yield sign at the caution light and lowering the speed limit from 25 mph to 15 mph from the tennis courts to the amphitheater on Morphy Ave. Richard Johnson stated Morphy Ave. carries a lot of traffic. George Ladd said Fairhope Ave. and Section St. are both 15 mph in the CBD. Mayor Sullivan said if we are lowering speed limits in residential areas, then it needs to be a standard speed limit for those requests. Councilman Burrell said its 15 mph in the CBD, which is not standard, but there are always the exceptions. Mayor Sullivan said the 15 mph is for pedestrian safety. Councilman Burrell and Mayor Sullivan were not in agreement with the 15 mph on Morphy Ave. It was brought up that there is a more of an issue with the hedges at Mershon St. and Morphy Ave. George Ladd stated there is a crosswalk at Mershon St. and Morphy Ave. along with a caution light too. Councilman Burrell asked if the crosswalk is visible to which George Ladd said the only other option is to put a pedestrian crosswalk sign up, but the issue is the road is narrow. Mayor Sullivan said the other issue is turning from the tennis center onto Morphy Ave. while trying to navigate a pedestrian crosswalk sign and narrow roadway. Mayor Sullivan said she would like to plan for in the next budget is at the intersection of Young St. and Morphy Ave. is to take the flat piece of space and turn it into a parking area with some stairs up the hill to the pickleball courts. Councilman Burrell said a pedestrian crosswalk sign would not work, but possible restriping to notify drivers of the upcoming crosswalk may assist at the intersection. George Ladd mentioned yield to pedestrian thermal pavement markings as you approach the crosswalk—he’s not sure how much it would assist, but it’s the least evasive. Mayor Sullivan said it could be something the city tries at the intersection. Councilman Burrell said the thermal pavement markings could be placed 20 feet to 30 feet prior to the intersection as an advanced warning for drivers. Mayor Sullivan said she is hoping to be able to take down all the trees at the intersection of Morphy Ave. and Mershon St. since there overgrown and causing poor visibility issues too. George Ladd said the overgrown trees is already on his list for Public Works. Chief Hollinghead asked if she should change the color of the striping—George Ladd stated the thermal pavement markings are white. Councilman Burrell asked what the standard wording is for the thermal pavement markings when approaching a pedestrian crosswalk. Richard Johnson informed him “X-ING Ahead” or “PED X-ING Ahead” would be installed on the road. Councilman Burrell asked if a motion was needed, which he was informed no by Mayor Sullivan. Richard Johnson talked about uniformity and speed limits along roadways (i.e. residential standard mph) and possibly coming together at the next meeting to discuss. He also stated that signs are not that expensive and we have an in-house sign shop. The city needs to have a standard from which decisions are made and also will be guidelines for a new residential subdivision. Mayor Sullivan asked if the speed hump was removed on Ingleside St. to which George Ladd said no. Councilman Burrell said the committee needs to make a motion to remove it. Mayor Streets & Traffic Control Committee Monday, July 14, 2025 Page - 6 Sullivan said the committee was going to remove it; however, the person who originally requested it came back to the city and said everyone did not want it removed—Mayor Sullivan asked are we leaving it or removing it? The committee said they would leave it. Mayor Sullivan said residents continue to ask about the speed hump—one person said it slows down ambulances and fire trucks. George Ladd stated you must have a petition to install one and you must have a petition to remove one. Don De Gutz spoke about the crosswalk pedestrian signal at Section St. and Fairhope Ave. Mayor Sullivan asked about the pedestrian signals at the crosswalk outside of City Hall. Richard Johnson said its supposed to be this month—he said it’s a brand-new system that doesn’t work, so the contractor is getting a new system to install at the location. Don De Gutz spoke to the committee about the signs for the parking structure not being recognizable downtown. Mr. De Gutz said he would follow up with Chief Hollinghead for the requests he presented to the committee. Richard Johnson said the challenge is installing a standard 24”x 36” sign downtown goes against the aesthetic of downtown Fairhope. The committee had a brief discussion on the topic. Don De Gutz mentioned the city-wide safety survey to which Mayor Sullivan said it’s not complete yet. Mr. De Gutz asked George Ladd about the Morphy Ave street sign that’s missing on US-98. Mr. Ladd said he received approval from ALDOT and the sign has been ordered currently. Mr. De Gutz asked about enforcement of parking on Section St., Fairhope Ave., Oak Ave. on the wrong side of the street—Chief Hollinghead said her department is enforcing and ticketing daily. There being no further business to discuss the meeting duly adjourned at 2:36 p.m. Respectfully Submitted by Natalie Fonseca Approved: 3/26/26