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Vice-Chair Wallin stated that additional bike racks were included as part of the Initiative <br /> Foundation discussions. Mr. Burslie suggested adding a policy statement to continue to <br /> support bikers, rollerbladers,trail users and pedestrians by continuing to improve and <br /> add bike racks and rollerblade lockers. It should be a Policy and not a short-term goal. <br /> Mark Jurchen,member of the Economic Development Commission and Triving <br /> Communities Initiative,pointed out comment number 6 of their written comments that <br /> as a short-term goal a traffic analysis needs to be done to see where the truck traffic is <br /> going to move goods and services safely. What is the new traffic flow in our community. <br /> Mr. Burslie stated the analysis would reevaluate the traffic patterns within the <br /> community. Planning Commission Member Birch asked if the analysis would happen <br /> before or after the Trailside Park improvement. Mr. Burslie stated as a short-term goal <br /> it would take place after the improvements. <br /> Tim Houle, City Engineer, stated MN/DOT did traffic studies during the discussions to <br /> improve State Highway 37i. Those studies are somewhat outdated now. However,the <br /> analysis for the option moving traffic to the new alignment that indicated traffic on <br /> Patriot Avenue could possibly get back to pre-four lane levels in a 2o to 3o year span. If <br /> Patriot Avenue north of Main Street is closed with the present park plan,you would <br /> want the traffic to settle down before you do a traffic analysis. The Council would have <br /> to make the decision to do an analysis before or after the park improvements. This is <br /> fairly dialed down for a Comprehensive Plan,but the general comment from Mr. <br /> Jurchen is an appropriate action item. <br /> Mike O'Neil, Principal of Pequot Lakes Middle School and representing the School <br /> District, stated safety is the top priority,but the most precious cargo are the students - <br /> being transported to and from school during the school year. <br /> Laura Leckband, representing the Pequot Lakes Community Foundation, stated there <br /> would be a dramatic change in traffic between the beginning and end of the summer so <br /> any analysis done at the beginning would be invalidated by the end of the summer. <br /> Chair Hallan stated the City should have current traffic data not just for the summer <br /> months,but also during the school year. It was the consensus of the Planning <br /> Commission that the traffic study should be completed within a year or so. <br /> Vice-Chair Wallin asked if the analysis for removal of Patriot Avenue should be done in <br /> the short-term or the 1 to 5 year. Planning Commission Member Birch suggested <br /> making transportation decisions based on data. Mr. Burslie stated this should be <br /> included in the short-term before park decisions are made. <br /> MINUTES 3 <br /> Pequot Lakes Planning Commission <br /> March i5, 2oi8 <br />