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Item # 6.4. <br />c~ <br />ver <br />Police Department <br />TO: City Council , <br />MEMORANDUM <br />FROM: Bradley R. Rolfe, Chief of Police <br />DATE: September 27, 201 I <br />SUBJECT: Orono Parkway Median Visibility Study <br />As the Council is aware, the center median strip of Orono Parkway near the city hall campus <br />was seeded with native plants shortly after the public safety building and city hall <br />construction projects were completed in 2003. Since that time the native plants have <br />reached maturity. <br />Over the years the police department has received periodic complaints from area motorists <br />as well as city staff concerning sight line obstructions due to the height of the native plants. <br />At the direction of Interim City Administrator Bob Thistle, City Engineer Justin Femrite and <br />I conducted sight line measurements and photographs in response to ongoing public and <br />employee safety concerns. <br />As of this date no accidents have been reported on Orono Parkway that can be directly <br />attributed to vision obstruction due to the height of the median plants. However, there is <br />significant anecdotal history and personal experience regarding "close calls" that can be <br />directly attributed to vegetation height along the median strip. <br />On August 23, 2011, Justin Femrite and I took sight line measurements and photos from <br />various key locations along Orono Parkway near the city hall campus. The camera elevation <br />was 3.5 feet which is an engineering standard for typical driver seated height. The target <br />object elevation was 4.25 feet, an industry standard for object height of an oncoming object <br />or vehicle. <br />Photos were taken at the following locations: <br />Northbound Hudson St at Orono Pkwy looking east 400' at westbound Orono <br />Pkwy traffic. <br />