WEST VOLUSIA COMMUNITY TRAFFIC SAFETY TEAM

MINUTES OF MEETING - November 14, 2000

Those Present:

The meeting of the West Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team meeting was called to order at 8:40 am by Chairman John Izzo.

Chairman John Izzo asked for the members to review the minutes to see if there are any questions and/or corrections that need to be made. A motion was made and seconded to approve the meeting minutes of October 10, 2000. The motion passed unanimously.

At this point Chairman John Izzo moved the discussion to the Problems and Solutions report.

Tasha Huster, FDOT, asked if anyone needed a copy of the "West Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team" form. No one requested any new forms.

Pat O'Dare saw some new school crossing signs that were a neon green color. Pat was wondering if there has been an official FDOT policy to change school signs from the traditional yellow to this new neon green? Barry Wall, FDOT, stated that yes that all new school signs will be in this new color.

John Izzo inquired about the status of project 900-6, the study of US 92 from US 17/92 to Kepler Rd. This project is for a traffic light study at Jacobs Rd. Jon Cheney, Volusia County Traffic Engineering, said that they are preparing a summary of 3 years worth of crash reports, using both short and long forms.

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.

Mike Neidhart, Volusia County MPO, provided the committee with a memo that outlined how Volusia County fared during the Statewide Seatbelt Survey that both the East and West Community Traffic Safety Teams were involved in.

The results were that the compliance rate for Volusia County as a whole was 64.7%. The unofficial results Statewide is a compliance rate of 65%. Basically, Volusia County is consistent with the State average.

These results look promising, but when the data was separated by sex, Male compliance was 59.4% while female compliance was 69.6%, over a 10% difference. Also, when the data was separated by location throughout the County, DeBary and DeLand had significantly lower compliance rates of 55.4% and 59.2% respectively.

Barry Wall asked what the results were when the data was separated by race? Mr. Neidhart did not have that information, but agreed to analyze the data to see if there are significant differences of seatbelt use by race.

Jon Cheney asked that once Mr. Neidhart prepares his analysis for Mr. Wall that a copy of the revised memo be sent to him so it could be downloaded to the County's web page.

Chairman John Izzo went over the Volusia County Crash Statistics report. John stated that year to date there have been 71 fatalities. There were 92 fatalities all of last year. So far Volusia has fewer fatalities than last year.

Pat O'Dare clipped out an article on motorcycle crash statistics, which stated that they were less than last year for Bikeoberfest. These numbers did not take Bikeweek into account though.

Jon Cheney stated that the individual that enters all of the crash data in the database that produces the Volusia County Crash Statistics report has left to take another job. Jon said that they have made a tentative offer to someone, but are awaiting the results of a physical exam. Jon hopes to have this position filled by December.

Barry Wall stated that the 3rd and final Buckle Up Enforcement Wave will take place between November 18-26. A participation form was included on the back of the November CTST Advisory memo.

Barry also stated that the Walk Our Children To School Day had approximately 2,400 students, parents, and volunteer participants. This was twice the amount that participated last year.

Barry also mentioned the Safe Ways To School Workshop, will be held in Tallahassee on November 16, and the National Lifesavers Conference will be held in Denver between March 25-27, 2001.

Joe Cohen, Volusia County Sheriff's Office, mentioned that there will be Child Safety Seat Checkpoints at: Woodland Plaza on December 5th, and at the County Fire Station in Orange City on December 5th and 9th.

Barry Wall and the rest of the CTST commended Pat O'Dare for securing donations for refreshments at the meetings.

At this time nominations for the selection of Officers was solicited. A motion was made to keep the existing set of Officers in place. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The Officers for the West Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team are:

John Izzo - Chairman

Malcolm Smith - Vice Chairman

Rick Prine/Mike Neidhart - Co-Recording Secretary

Chip Kent, Volusia County School Board, gave a brief presentation on a statewide survey that the School Board has to fill out. This survey will form the basis of the State's Expanded Hazardous Walking Conditions Report For 2000-2001. The survey requires data on specific costs to correct those hazards that have not been corrected within the last 5 years.

Chip is looking to the CTST to help identify contacts that can help develop costs for corrections to unsafe walking areas for children at elementary, middle, and high schools. Chip stated that it is important that the data they send Tallahassee be as accurate as possible.

Bea Leatherman, Volusia County Sheriff's Office - Crossing Guards, asked about a rumor/proposal that elementary school children will be bussed to school. Therefore, crossing guards would no longer be needed at the elementary schools. Chip Kent stated that this is not a rumor. The School Board is looking to bus at least children up through 3rd grade, but stated that this proposal might include all elementary school age children. Chip stated that the crossing guards would probably be reassigned to middle and high schools.

Chairman John Izzo moved the meeting to the next topic, which is New Business.

Pat O'Dare asked about a 4-way stop at Crescent Parkway and Hill Avenue in DeLand near DeLand High School. Jon Cheney stated that the DeLand City staff recommended installing mirrors, but the City Commission recommended that a 4-way be erected at this location. Jon stated that the County is looking into DeLand's request to see if this location warrants a 4-way stop.

Jon Cheney mentioned that schools are developing Safety plans that can affect traffic patterns. These plans need to be coordinated with the proper traffic departments throughout the County.

Chip Kent asked about the usefulness of cars and car seats having tether points to keep the top of child safety seats from moving forward during a crash. Joe Cohen stated that all new cars will have tether points pre-installed.

At this point Chairman John Izzo opened up discussion as part of the Round Table Discussion.

Pat O'Dare stated that Don Findell is now the City of Lake Helen's new Planner, City Clerk, and Administrator.

Bea Leatherman stated that there will be new evaluation criteria to see where middle and high school crossing guards should be placed.

With no other discussion, the meeting of the West Volusia Community Traffic Safety Team meeting was adjourned at 10:00 am by Chairman John Izzo.

NEXT AGENDA FOR DECEMBER 12, 2000:

WEST VOLUSIA COMMUNITY TRAFFIC SAFETY TEAM MEETING

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

BREAK

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION