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12-013 - 03-06 - adopting city's traffic sign management policy Resolution 12-13 March 6, 2012 Member Scanlon introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION ADOPTING CITY'S TRAFFIC SIGN MANAGEMENT POLICY WHEREAS, the City of Golden Valley is responsible for design, placement, operation, maintenance and uniformity of traffic control devices on all streets, highways, and bicycle paths under its jurisdiction consistent with the Minnesota Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices; and WHEREAS, the City of Golden Valley has determined that it is in the best interest of pedestrians and motorists in the City to establish a Traffic Sign Management Policy that: 1. Outlines the installation and removal of traffic control signing, 2. Outlines management activities determined appropriate for maintaining consistent and visible traffic control signs within the City; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council for the City of Golden Valley, Minnesota, that in the interest of providing the safest environment for pedestrians and motorists within the City, the City of Golden Valley Traffic Sign Management Policy is hereby adopted, and attached hereto as Exhibit A. r � Shepar M. Harris, May � ATTEST: � � Susan M. Virnig, City Clerk The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was seconded by Member Clausen and upon a vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Clausen, Freiberg, Harris, Pentel and Scanlon; and the following voted against the same: none, whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted, signed by the Mayor and his signature attested by the City Clerk. Resolution 12-13 - Continued March 6, 2012 Exhibit A Traffic Sign Management Policy March 6, 2012 1. Introduction and Purpose The City of Golden Valley is responsible for the design, placement, operation, maintenance, and uniformity of traffic control devices on all streets, highways, and bicycle paths that fall within City jurisdiction. All traffic control devices under City jurisdiction shall be placed only as authorized by the City of Golden Valley (City Code Section 8.07, Subdivision 1). No signs, other than those authorized by the City, shall be placed upon any public street, right-of-way, public easement, public land, or project over public property or public easements, unless allowed in the I-394 Mixed Use Zoning District (City Code Section 4.20, Subdivision 8G). This Traffic Sign Management Policy is in accordance with the authority granted to the City of Golden Valley under Minnesota State Statutes, Chapter 169.06. The purpose of this policy is to provide a framework through which the City will execute its responsibility and authority for traffic control installation and maintenance within Golden Valley. Traffic control signs on private roads, parking lots, and/or access points to public roads are the responsibility of the property owner or their designee. All roads, parking lots, and/or access points that are open to the public must have signing that complies with the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD). Signs that are placed within the City right-of-way must be in accordance with City Code provisions. 2. Traffic Sign Installation Process The City of Golden Valley receives many requests for sign installations within the public right-of-way from residents. The City Council has established the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) to receive, evaluate, and respond to sign (and other traffic) requests or issues. The NTSC includes staff representatives from the Police Department, Public Works, Communications, and the City's consulting traffic engineer. Other individuals or groups are brought on an as-needed basis. All traffic sign requests will be forwarded to the NTSC for review, unless emergency conditions require immediate action to protect life or property. Guidelines for the use of traffic control signs are set by the MMUTCD. Additional considerations may include consistency with the City's Comprehensive Plan, City precedent, and/or special conditions such as temporary/special events or emergency conditions. If the NTSC recommends modifications to existing traffic control, the modification will, if required, be forwarded on to the City Council for consideration. Resolution 12-13 - Continued March 6, 2012 Individuals, companies, or other groups conducting construction within City right-of-way may be required to submit a traffic control plan (if vehicular, pedestrian, or bicycle traffic will be significantly impacted) as part of the permitting process. This plan must be prepared in accordance with the MMUTCD and must be provided by the permit applicant for review by the City Public Works Department. Failure to provide a traffic plan or receive approval of the traffic plan from the Engineering Division may result in a hold on the permit approval process until all required items are submitted or modified. The City will install all traffic control signing as authorized according to this policy within public right-of-way. Cost allocation and cooperative agreements with private parties or other agencies shall be as determined in the sign approval process. 3. Management Responsibilities The City of Golden Valley is responsible for inspection and maintenance of all traffic control signs on streets and paths within the City's jurisdiction (MMUTCD 2A.22). Agreements with other agencies may define other inspection and/or maintenance arrangements for signs on County or State highways. Maintenance and inspection of signs on private roads, parking lots, and/or access points to public roads are the responsibility of the property owner or their designee unless otherwise authorized as part of the approval process. Management Activities a. Asset Inventory The City will collect and maintain information about all traffic control signs currently under its jurisdiction. The inventory will be compiled into a database that will be used for expected sign life for retroreflectivity, as well as other maintenance and use needs. b. Retro-reflectivity Inspection Signs under City jurisdiction will be in accordance with current Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) standards and procedures. Signs that are identified as having non-compliant retroreflectivity levels will be replaced under a scheduled replacement program. c. Inspection Schedule and Method Traffic control signs will be formally inspected based on the expected sign life, performance of similar control signs within Golden Valley, and supplemental measured sign retroreflectivity readings of signs nearing the end of their expected life. Signs that do not meet retroreflectivity requirements will be replaced as part of the scheduled sign maintenance program. d. Damaged/Missing Signs Traffic control signs that are repaired or re-installed may have the general condition and retroreflectivity inspected for compliance prior to re-installation. Resolution 12-13 - Continued March 6, 2012 4. Sign Removal Guidelines and Process To be effective, a traffic control device should meet five basic requirements: fulfill a need; command attention; convey a clear, simple meaning; command respect from road users; and give adequate time for proper response. If a sign no longer satisfies the requirements listed above, then it should be considered for removal. All traffic control sign removal requests will be sent to the NTSC for review. If necessary, removal of signs will be approved by Council resolution. If the sign to be removed is within the public right-of-way under the City's jurisdiction, then the removal must be done with the approval of the Public Works Department. Agreements with other agencies may define other removal arrangements for signs on county or state highways. Removal of signs on private roads, parking lots, and/or access points to public roads is the responsibility of the property owner or their designee. 5. Resources The City has reviewed and relied on numerous resources in adopting this policy. These resource materials include, but are not limited to the following: • Methods for Maintaining Traffic Sign Retroreflectivity, Publication No. FHWA-HRT- 08-026, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (November 2007). • Sign Retroreflectivity Guidebook, Publication No. FHWA-CFL/TD-09-005, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (September 2009). • Sign Retroreflectivity: A Minnesota Toolkit, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Local Road Research Board (June 2010). • Traffic Sign Maintenance/Management Handbook, Report No. 2010RIC10, Version 1.1, Minnesota Department of Transportation (October 2010). • LMCIT Sign Retroreflectivity Memo and Model Policy, League of Minnesota Cities (August 2011).