CR 91-71 Traffic Controls - Hiawatha Ave411 March 28, 1991
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Primary Issues to Consider.
o Study findings
o Alternatives
o Staff recommendation
) 4 ,,,,L.-
Jives Gessele
Engineering Superintendent
TRAFFIC CONTROLS
HIAWATHA AVENUE
Proposed Action.
Staff recommends the following motion: Move that Council authorize
the posting of overnight restricted parking on Hiawatha Avenue from
Cambridge Street to Blake Road.
Overview.
The engineering department received a petition for installation of "No
Parking" signs on both sides of Hiawatha Avenue from Cambridge Street
to approximately 400 feet south. At the regular Council meeting of
March 19 staff approached Council and sought authorization for an
engineer's study to examine the issues raised in the petition. At
that meeting Hiawatha residents submitted a second petition that
requested no- parking restrictions for all of Hiawatha along both
sides. Council went on to authorize a study.
Supporting Information.
o Petitions
o Mark Z. Jones letter dated 3/22/91
o Memorandum from Police Chief
o Police response log
Council Report: 91 -71
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CR: 91 -71
Page 2
Analysis.
o Study findings.
An engineering field crew visited the site and determined the road
width of Hiawatha Avenue to be between 20 -39 feet. (The average road
width is approximately 22 feet.) No vehicles were found to be parked
on the street on Thursday, March 21 at 11 a.m. Several fast food
wrappers and two empty beverage cans were found on either side of the
roadway near #505 Hiawatha. At the southwest corner of Cambridge and
Hiawatha evidence of fast food trash was found. Two subsequent visits
revealed no parking obstructions.
A police response log was generated covering the years 1989 to
present. The log indicates the vast majority of police responses were
made to the multi- residence dwellings located at the end of Hiawatha
near Blake Road. Police activity in the single dwelling sector was in
response to one burglary in 1989, one damage to property in 1989, one
incident of littering in 1989, two complaints concerning parking in
1989 and 1991, four suspicions in 1990, and one theft in 1990.
o Alternatives.
1. Post no parking on both sides of street from Cambridge to 400
feet south.
2. Post no parking on east side of street from Cambridge to 400
feet south.
3. Post no parking on both sides of street from Cambridge to Blake
Road.
4. Post no parking on one side of street from Cambridge to multi -
resident dwellings near Blake where no parking is presently
posted on both sides.
5. Post no parking on both sides of street for entire length but
allow parking in front of proposed Ramsgate Townhouses on west
side.
6. Post both sides of street to prohibit overnight parking (except
for area of multi- resident dwellings where parking is prohibited
at all times).
o Staff recommendation.
In the spirit of striking a compromise that prohibits parking yet
allows visitors and guests of all residents a place to park up to a
reasonable hour, staff recommends the last alternative. The concerns
for road width and safety on Hiawatha are legitimate, yet there are
numerous neighborhoods throughout the City facing the same situation
without the benefit of a clear City policy to solve the problem.
Prohibiting overnight parking at least begins to address the safety
issue.
• Petition For Signs
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No parking at any time on both sides of Hiawatha Avenue from Cambridge Street south to
curve on Hiawatha Ave. which includes first 3 houses on Hiawatha Avenue at the north
end, addresses 517, 511 and 505.
REASONS:
Parking and eating lunches day and night from local fast food establishments,
leaving left over food, wrappers, beverage containers on avenue in bushes and yards.
Parking and drinking parties, with loud radios, dancing in yards on avenue,
urinating on avenue in yards, male as well as female, car and trunk doors closing, racing
engines, fowl language.
Left overs include liquor containers, beer and pop cans. Containers found in our
yards as far as our front door step. Didn't call police for fear of revenge.
Cars parking on Hiawatha Avenue while they go canoeing for hours on Minnehaha
Creek which interferes with entering and exiting to and from our drive way.
We also get overflow parking from Lindees saloon.
K.,,,,,,,,,c-- -,.kt,,,.. sa.b...---,
To: Mayor of Hopkins and the Hopkins City Council
From: Hiawatha Ave. Homeowners
Date: 3/19/91
Whereas, parking alon* Hiawatha Avenue detracts from the beauty of the residential area of
Hiawatha Oaks Subdivision;
Whereas, already there is a no- parking restriction along both sides of the east end of Hiawatha
Avenue;
Whereas, there is only forty (40) feet of right -of -way for the remaining portion of Hiawatha
Avenue between Blake Road and Cambridge Street;
Whereas, this narrow right -of -way means that parking along the latter portion of Hiawatha
Avenue results in people parking on our landscaped lawns;
Whereas, the paved width for the western section of Hiawatha is only twenty -two (22) feet wide,
according to the Hopkins City Engineering Department, which means that there is insufficient
room for cars to park on the paved area without blocking most of the width of the driving lane
on that side of the street;
Whereas, this method of parking results in either dangerous parking or hazardous parking,
causing parking on the landscaped lawns;
Whereas, moreover during the winter parking along the street prevents safe operation of the
city snowplowing equipment;
Whereas, parking along the narrow street creates a major hazard to the prompt passage of fire
fighting equipment, ambulances, and law enforcement vehicles;
Whereas, allowing parking along the street, the city is creating a hazardous condition which
could result in legal responsibilities to both the City of Hopkins and the property owners along
Hiawatha Avenue;
We hereby, vigorously petition the Mayor and the City Council of Hopkins, MN to install
adequate 'no parking at any time" signs along both sides of that portion of Hiawatha Avenue
where such restrictions do not now apply.
DATE NAME ADDRESS
ritaerid 1 /56 - )16 / 9v.P
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yk) Lt/x Hi W I* \ Ave
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DATE
NAME
ADDRESS
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To: Mayor of Hopkins and the Hopkins City Council
From: Hiawatha Ave. Homeowners
Date: 3/18/91
Whereas, parking along Hiawatha Avenue detracts from the beauty of the residential area of
Hiawatha Oaks Subdivision;
Whereas, already there is a no-parking restriction along both sides of the east end of Hiawatha
Avenue;
Whereas, there is only forty (40) feet of right away for the remaining portion of Hiawatha Avenue
between Blake Road and Cambridge Street;
Whereas, this narrow right away means that parking along the later portion of Hiawatha Avenue,
this narrow right away width results in people parking on our landscaped lawns;
Whereas, the paved width for the western section of Hiawatha is only twenty -two (22) feet wide,
according to the Hopkins City Engineering Department, which means that there is insufficient
room for cars to park on the paved area without blocking most of the width of the driving lane on
that side of the street;
Whereas, this method of parking results in either dangerous parking or hazardous parking, causing
parking on the landscaped lawns;
Whereas, moreover during the winter parking along the street prevents safe operation of the city
snowplowing equipment;
Whereas, parking along the narrow street creates a major hazard to the prompt passage of fire
fighting equipment, ambulances, and law enforcement vehicles;
Whereas, allowing parking along the street, the city is creating a hazardous condition which could
result in legal responsibilities to both the City of Hopkins and the property owners along Hiawatha
Avenue;
We hereby, vigorously petition the Mayor and the City Council of Hopkins, MN to install adequate
"no parking" signs along either side of that portion of Hiawatha Avenue where such restriction
does not now apply.
DATE NAME ADDRESS
/1
3
5290 villa way / edina mn 55436
' 612 925 1020
March 22, 1991
Mr. James Gessele
City Engineer
City of Hopkins
1010 First Street South
Hopkins, Minnesota 55343
Re: Hiawatha Avenue Parking
Dear Mr. Gessele:
We are writing you in response to a facsimile transmittal
we received on Thursday, March 21, 1991, regarding
petitioning by the Hiawatha neighbors to restrict or ban
parking on Hiawatha Avenue.
The reasons cited for requesting the restriction or ban on
parking did not seem to be a problem (or at least did not
merit petitioning by the neighbors) until the townhome
development was proposed. Frankly, we feel that these
petitions represent another ploy to block development of
the site. Irene Ibsen (511 Hiawatha) stated in her letter
to the editor of the HOPKINS /MINNETONKA SAILOR (Wednesday,
March 20 edition), "The homeowners on Hiawatha Avenue also
known as Minnehaha Oaks would like your help and support to
have this 12 acres of oak trees and brush remain as timber
reserve." Thus, the neighborhood objective seems obvious,
does it not?
We are opposed to the request to ban or restrict parking on
Hiawatha Avenue at this time. We kindly request Council to
conduct an independent study of the situation prior to taking
any action to assure that any parking restrictions that may be
enacted are the result of a real need for a restriction rather
than just a ploy to discourage aeWITipment.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mark Z.
4
highland
management
group , inc.
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DATE: 3 -21 -91
TO: Steve Mielke
FROM: Earl Johnson
SUBJECT: Petition - Hiawatha Avenue
ELJ: jf
MEMORANDUM
I contacted Irene Ibsen and spoke with her for some time regarding public
safety issues on Hiawatha Avenue, Based on her remarks, it appears that
they have not called the police for several years, and the reason that she
offers is that they were afraid that there would be retaliation.
I will have the Services Division run a print -out for us on all of the
calls that were generated by residents along Hiawatha Avenue.
I would venture a guess that Hiawatha Avenue is not going to show up as a
mecca of criminal activity. I encouraged Mrs. Ibsen to communicate with
her neighbors and ask them to call the police whenever there are any
problems that we should be addressing.
I will get back to you with further information as it becomes available.
=.i-. ers.
ACTIVITY,CODE ACILL OCA''IOH ST REET I STREET NAB DATE,REP'D TY COURT
AUTO THEFT 001050 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
001115 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
001125 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
BURGLARY
Total: 4
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY 000409 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
001045 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
001050 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
DISTURBANCE
Total: 3
000406 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
001045 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
001050 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
001110 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
001040 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
001045 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
001050 HIAWATHA AV 91 1
001105 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
HIAWATHA AV 91 1
001115 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
001120 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 89 1
.HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
001125 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
Total: 22
DOMESTIC 001120 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
Total: 1
HARASSING COMM. 001045 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
Page 1
Total: 7
ACTIVITY CODE Emma STREET 1 STREIT K'AKE DATI REM TT COOT
HARASSING CON1, 001125 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
Total: 3
LITTERING
PARKING
INDECENT EXPOSURE 001045
000409
NUISANCE /NOISE 001115
;¢mob 7 uc;' 89 1
Total: 1
I
Total: 1
000402 HIAWATHA AV 91 1
000435 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 89 1
001045 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV. 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
001050 HIAWATHA AV 91 1
001110 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
001125 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 89 1
Total: 11
POLICE TOW 000935 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
Total: 1
SUSPICION 000402 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
000409 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
000410 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
000413 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
000935 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
001045 HIAWATHA AV 91 1
001050 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
Page 2
Total: 1
HIAWATHA AV 91 1
HIAWATHA AV 91 1
Total: 2
HIAWATHA AV 89 1
Total: 1
89 1
Total: 1
HIAWATHA AV 91
COP
AC'TIVI1'Y CODE _ ACT ocATION STREET I STREET MAMIE DATE REP'D YY COURT
SUSPICION 001115 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
001120 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
001125 HIAWATHA AV 90 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
HIAWATHA AV 91 1
Total: 13
THEFT OVER $250 000402 HIAWATHA AVE 90 1
001045 HIAWATHA AV 91 1
HIAWATHA AV 91 1
Total: 3
THEFT UNDER $250 001110 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
001125 HIAWATHA AV 89 1
THEFT /BICYCLE 001045
TRESPASSING 001125
VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS 001045
001125
Page 3
Total: 2
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
Total: 1
HIAWATHA AV 89 1
Total: 1
HIAWATHA AV 90 1
HIAWATHA AV 89 1
Total: 2
0 **
Total: 81