September 6, 2006

 

A special meeting of the City Council was held on Wednesday, September 6, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in City Hall.  Mayor Johnson presided.

 

Councilmen present:

Thomas Adams, Bruce Johnson, Hollis McKeag, James Myers, Joseph Rokosz

Councilmen absent:

None

 

 

DLZ INTRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION

City Engineer Brian McManus introduced Wes Butch of DLZ of Michigan, Inc. who presented a status report on the Eastman Avenue Traffic Study. 

Larry Pillepich, 3602 McKeith Street, spoke regarding Roundabouts in Oakland County and the possibilities of a full interchange at Stark Road.

Janet Neumann, 4915 Tucker Street, expressed thoughts this meeting should have included more information on new alternatives and not restating all the same alternatives.

 

PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS

City Clerk/Community Relations Director Selina Tisdale presented a report on a proposed public input process entitled the Eastman Avenue Design Series.  The following resolution was then offered by Councilman Myers and seconded by Councilman Adams:

 

WHEREAS, in January 2005, 185 Midland citizens took part in the Community Roundtable discussions and gave City Council input on budget-related issues and priorities for the City of Midland; and

WHEREAS, Eastman Avenue traffic, primarily in the Midland Mall area, was consistently mentioned as the most significant concern on the minds of Roundtable participants; and

WHEREAS, in March 2005, City Council hired DLZ of Michigan, Inc. to study the complex traffic patterns and congestion issues along Eastman Avenue from Wackerly Street north to Commerce Drive and to recommend improvement alternatives; and

WHEREAS, on December 12, 2005, DLZ presented Midland City Council with three improvement alternatives for Eastman Avenue from Wackerly Street north to Commerce Drive and Council hired KezziahWatkins to facilitate a public process to obtain citizen input to help advise on the best alternative for improving Eastman Avenue; and

WHEREAS, during a five-week survey period citizens returned 704 completed surveys indicating preferences on the three alternatives and whether to postpone or move forward with Eastman Avenue improvements at this time; and

WHEREAS, based on public input DLZ has returned with additional considerations for improvements to Eastman Avenue and staff presented a recommendation for a public process to obtain input that will help advise City Council on the best alternative for improving traffic flow along Eastman Avenue from Wackerly Street north to Commerce Drive; now therefore

RESOLVED, that Midland City Council hereby receives and files the September 2006 Eastman Avenue Traffic Study report and improvement alternatives as presented by DLZ; and

RESOLVED FURTHER, that staff is authorized to implement the public process as presented to obtain citizen input on the Eastman Avenue improvement alternatives and to hire Kezziah Watkins to facilitate the process at a cost not to exceed $17,000.  (Motion ADOPTED.)

 

Being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

 

                                                              

                                                                        __________________________________

                                                                        Selina Tisdale, City Clerk