WEST VOLUSIA COMMUNITY TRAFFIC SAFETY TEAM

MINUTES OF MEETING - March 13, 2001

Those Present:

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting of the West Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team meeting was called to order at 8:30 am by Chairman John Izzo.

INTRODUCTION

Since there were new people in attendance at today's CTST meeting Chairman Izzo started the meeting off by requesting that everyone in attendance to introduces themselves.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes from the February 13, 2001 meeting were passed out to the members for review. Chairman Izzo asked for the members to review the minutes to see if there were any questions and/or corrections that needed to be made.

At this point time was given to the members to review last month's meeting minutes. Hearing no comments/requests for corrections to the minutes to be made - a motion was made by Barry Wall to approve the February 13, 2001 meeting minutes, and was seconded by Ken Harley. The motion passed unanimously.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

At this time Chairman John Izzo introduced Chief William Anderson of the DeLand Police Department.

Chief Anderson stated that he was pleased to come before the West Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team to discuss the efforts that the DeLand Police Department is undertaking to improve its service to the community.

Chief Anderson gave a synopsis of his career and what brought him to the City of DeLand. Chief Anderson went on to describe the activities and issues that he and his Department are working on.

(1) Problem Oriented Policing (Weed & Seed)

(2) Park-n-Walk Program (walking the business & community areas)

(3) 2000 Crime Statistics - overall crime down by approximately 24%

(4) Primarily concerned with growth issues, especially the Arvida/Victoria Park development

(5) Possible annexation of the Spring Hill area

(6) Growth strain on the Department. Out of a 64 person Department, there are 10 vacancies they are trying to fill. Other local police departments offer larger salaries. The Chief is working on recruiting

(7) Looking to use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to help fund additional officers

(8) Looking at the Police Explorers program as a recruiting method

(9) Just completed a Strategic Plan, which considered traffic calming strategies to identify areas that need to be focused on

(10) FDOT grant to fund a DUI squad

(11) Traffic Enforcement Program (Step Program)

(12) New Police Department Building - 43,000 square feet. Should be able to move in next month. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 9th.

At this point Chief Anderson fielded questions from Team members.

Carol Izzo asked about Spanish speaking officers. Chief Anderson responded that they are looking at giving officers that are proficient in Spanish a 5% pay increase as an incentive.

Jon Cheney stated that there is grant money available that the Police Department may wish to pursue with the FDOT for speed trailers. Tony Nosse stated that grant applications are due into FDOT sometime in April.

Jon also asked if Chief Anderson could elaborate on his ideas regarding the traffic calming strategies that are part of the Department's Strategic Plan. Chief Anderson stated that he didn't have any definitive action items at this time, but would like to work together with all interested parties.

Pat O'Dare asked Chief Anderson if the grants mentioned earlier are being partially funded through the City of DeLand? Chief Anderson responded that both the Explorer Scholarship and Weed & Seed programs are being paid for through CDBG funds.

Pat also asked if the new police building would have any conference rooms available for community use. Chief Anderson stated that he intends to allow community groups access to the conference room in the new building.

Barry Wall stated that Chief Anderson has been very supportive of the Buckle-Up Enforcement Waves. Barry also mentioned that he would like the new Law Enforcement Liaison person (when hired) to meet with the Chief.

Chief Anderson also stated that he has just hired a new commander, and he will have and active role in the community.

Barry told Chief Anderson to let the West Volusia CTST know that if there are any activities that he may wish to advertise through our group and that we would be more than happy to help out.

Joe Cohen stated that Chief Anderson has been very supportive of the Child Safety courses, and has allowed Randy Hallstrom to attend these courses. Joe also mentioned that Randy has been helping out during his free time.

At this time Chairman John Izzo thanked Chief William Anderson for attending our meeting and informing us as to the work that he and his department are undertaking.

PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS

Tasha Huster, FDOT, asked if anyone needed a copy of the "West Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team" form. Tasha passed out forms to those who requested them. At this point Tasha gave an update on four projects listed on the Problems and Solution summary spreadsheet.

Project - Description/Update

1000-1 (Lighting Study at SR 472 & I-4)- study has not been submitted for review yet.

1000-2 (Lighting Study between US 92 & Plymouth Ave)- draft report submitted for review, lighting is probably justified

201-1 (Traffic Signal Study at SR 44 & Boston Ave)- draft report due March 23rd

201-2 (Removal of Rumble Strips & Flashing Lights at SR 40 & SR 11)- rumble strips have been installed & will double check on the lights

Pat O'Dare stated the intersection of SR 40 and SR 11 does not form the traditional 90 degree angle and therefore it is hard to see on-coming traffic.

Jon Cheney went over a few of the projects listed on the Problems and Solution summary spreadsheet.

Project - Description/Update

201-4 - (wider overpass at Enterprise Rd)- this project has been included with the I-4 St. Johns bridge project

201-5 - (trees blocking sign at US 17/92 & Howery)- FDOT maintenance has relocated the sign that was obstructed

201-6 - (no flashing yellow lights at Firwood & Elkcam)- this has now been designed and signed correctly

201-7 - (no pavement markings at Saxon & Finland)- pavement marking have been added

Chairman John Izzo asked if there were any other items to be discussed under the Problems and Solutions report. No other issues were discussed under this section.

OTHER BUSINESS

The entire West Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team thanked Dan Berryman for bringing donuts and coffee to today's meeting.

Chairman John Izzo thanked Jon Cheney for putting the West Volusia CTST information on the Volusia County Traffic Engineering's website.

Jon Cheney stated that he can setup an e-mail broadcast to let the CTST members be aware that the new minutes have been added to the webpage so members can review the minutes before coming to the meetings. It has been mentioned that it is sometimes difficult to read over the minutes and approve them as they are handed out at the meeting.

The issue of the West Volusia CTST's Goals was brought up for discussion. Malcolm Smith made the motion to adopt the existing 2000 Goals as the 2001 Goals. Jon Cheney seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

CRASH STATISTICS

Chairman John Izzo went over the Volusia County Crash Statistics report. John discussed the period between January 1 to June 30 for both 1999 and 2000. In 1999 during this period there were 5,543 crashes, while in 2000 there were 6,333 - an increase of approximately 14.25 percent. Fatalities went from 45 to 42 (a 6.7 percent decrease), while injuries went from 2,918 to 3,036 (a 4 percent increase) between 1999 and 2000. It was also noted that there have been 30 fatalities to date this calendar year.

Boots Buchholz stated that the newspaper reported that there were 5 deaths attributable to Bike Week.

NEW BUSINESS

Chairman John Izzo stated that he wrote a letter to State Representative Joyce Cusack and State Senator Locke Burt regarding the Red Light Running issue. John said that he received a letter back from State Representative Cusack, and that she would support this issue during the current legislative session.

State Representative Cusack stated she will also support a pilot Red Light Running project that is to be developed in Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

Barry Wall, FDOT, went over three items from the District 5 CTST Advisory newsletter.

The first item discussed by Barry was the P.I.E. Grant Funds for 2001. Barry and Ken are still working on getting funds secured for this grant.

The second item discussed by Barry was the Buckle Up Florida Enforcement Wave for February. We are still waiting to get all agencies to report. So far 14 out of the 89 agencies have not reported yet, but we are still working on it.

The third item discussed by Barry was the 402 Concept Papers. Barry and Ken are still working on this.

Joe Cohen stated that at the Child Safety Seat Checkpoint event sponsored by the Volusia County Fire & Rescue that took place on February 14, 2001 was a success. This event included child safety seat checking, child finger printing and vehicle VIN# window etching services. As a result 58 child safety seats were checked - none of them were installed correctly. Six (6) child safety seats were replaced.

Joe mentioned that the next event will take place on March 11th at Fish Memorial Hospital in DeLand.

Barry Wall stated that on page 6 of the CTST Advisory handout is a synopsis of pending legislation relevant to the CTST.

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION

There was discussion regarding the decreased number of deaths this year during Bike Week. This was surprising given this was the first year that motorcycle helmets were not required to be worn by motorcycle riders. Some of the members thought that maybe it was due to better visual and hearing abilities and increased level of enforcement.

Rick Prine discussed a helmet survey he conducted near the intersection of Pioneer Trail and Tomoka Farms Road during Bike Week. Rick stated that the results of the motorcycle helmet survey that he conducted on March 7, 2001 was:

With Helmets: Drivers =     176; Passengers =    68 (total 244) 29.9%
Without Helmets: Drivers = 431; Passengers = 140 (total 571) 70.1%

Jon Cheney went over a list of items that are taking place:

(1) addition of a turn lane on Howland Blvd

(2) new Walmart opening on Wednesday the 14th - will keep an eye on this

Jon Cheney also went over three road closures:

(1) Plymouth Ave still in effect

(2) Graves Ave.

(3) Saxon Blvd at US 17/92

There was a short discussion about the Black Bear festival, which went well.

Joe Cohen stated that we should start seeing more participation out of Deltona with the West Volusia CTST in the near future.

With no other discussion, the meeting of the West Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team meeting was adjourned at 9:45 am by Chairman John Izzo.

NEXT AGENDA FOR April 10, 2001:

INTRODUCTION
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS - Tony Nosse, FDOT
CRASH STATISTICS - John Izzo, Consultant
NEW BUSINESS

BREAK

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION