Town of Windermere closes in on permanent traffic solution

Annabelle Sikes

NEWS EDITOR

The Windermere Town Council moved forward with the first reading of an ordinance to implement a traffic-calming program on Oakdale Street by installing a diversion barrier at the meeting Tuesday, June 13, with Council Member Mandy David absent.

If approved after a second reading, the barrier will be placed at the intersection of Ninth Avenue East and Oakdale Street, and it will require vehicles traveling north on Oakdale to turn left onto Ninth Avenue.

The diversion barrier will include landscaping; a dedicated place for golf carts to pass; signage to minimize people turning around their vehicles and to prevent the standing of delivery and other vehicles; and notification to emergency agencies, other utilities and delivery companies.

Residents along Oakdale Street have expressed issues with cut-through traffic, speeding, stop sign running and aggressive driving behaviors for years.

The Town Council passed a temporary traffic-calming program to alleviate traffic concerns along Oakdale Street at their July meeting.

The approved temporary measure included only the use of a diverter with no road closures and authorized flexibility for Town Manager Robert Smith to implement the program, providing for a re-evaluation period after three and six months, and requiring an ordinance for permanent traffic-calming measures.

The 30-day review, discussed in October, showed traffic was reduced in the area by 55.91%.

According to data collected by the town, traffic traveling down Oakdale has continued to trend downward over the 90-day review period. The number of vehicles per day during the peak hours in the first 30-day review was 34.56 vehicles per day. From Sept. 18 to Nov. 16, the town collected 40 days of data and averaged 28.3 vehicles per day during the same peak hours.

Council members approved moving forward implementing the diverter as a permanent solution at their meeting in December.

Town staff currently is working on obtaining estimates for construction and installation of final infrastructure, which will be presented at the next Town Council meeting with the second and final reading of the ordinance Tuesday, July 11.

Rate Increase

Town Council members also voted unanimously to approve the rate increase from Waste Pro for solid waste and recycling.

The adjusted rate is a 5.41% increase.

The current solid waste amount is $18.76 per month and $225.12 per year, while the current recycling amount is $6.06 per month and $72.72 per year.

The adjusted rate amounts will provide for solid waste at $19.77 per month and $237.24 per year, and recycling at $6.39 per month and $76.68 per year.

Smith explained after submitting a request for a quote in 2021, the town entered into a renewed contract with Waste Pro. The contract term runs for five years and will end in September 2026.

“As stated in the agreement, the contract amount may be adjusted upward or downward as of Oct. 1 of each year of the agreement upon written request to the town at least 90 days before the anniversary date,” the executive summary for the item stated. “The rate adjustment shall be equal to 100% of the net change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban customers: Water, sewer and trash collection services as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

The summary states the adjusted rate is in accordance with the agreement and posted CPI.

Council Member Molly Rose commented on the recycling rates.

“They tell me that 85% of the trucks for recycling get declined,” she said.

“They go to the regular trash dump.

… So I’m wondering if it’s even worth having recycling — and I know coming from me that sounds like ludicrous — but I mean, either we have to teach people how to do it or we’re wasting our $76.68 a year, per home, in my opinion.”

Mayor Jim O’Brien shared Rose’s concern.

“We used to have bins, and I’m wondering if it was better when we had the bins and people had to separate a little bit more, and would that be better to go back to?” Rose asked.

Smith said he would have to ask Waste Pro to see what the numbers were prior to the change in the recycling.

“All it takes is one bad load, and it ruins the whole entire (load); one pizza box and that ruins the entire load,” Smith said.

Rose said she can’t imagine Waste Pro is even hitting 85%.

“Somebody is going to put something in every week,” she said. “So, I think this is a waste of people’s money. … I would rather pay twice it and have it all be good than to pay this and basically it’s not working.”

Smith said he would reach out to Waste Pro for input.

“We did have some more discussions on this — I think last year — we focused so much on just getting everything picked up that this got kicked, and I kind of feel like that’s how we end up here,” O’Brien said. “We did discuss an additional education piece. I really feel like the challenge with recycling is people feel more is better; they don’t know more is worse.”

Rose inquired if Waste Pro could come to the Town Council meeting next month and discuss the issue, and Smith said he would speak to the company to see its availability.

In Other News

n The Windermere Town Council approved the second reading of an ordinance proposing a change to the 10% limitation for nonconforming structures. Town Planner Brad Cornelius said after the first reading and discussion in May, a provision was added to the code, which provides for reconstruction after a fire or other calamity. “A structure is substantially destroyed if the cost of reconstruction is 50% or more of the fair market value of the structure before the fire or other calamity,” the ordinance states.

n The council approved unanimously three sets of meeting minutes: Pavilion 45% Plans Town Council Workshop April 25, Town Council Meeting May 9 and Oakdale & 9th Traffic Diversion Town Council Workshop May 23.

n The Town Council approved a variance for an addition of greater than 10% of a non-conforming home and encroachment into rear setback for a proposed home addition at 803 Main St.

n Council members approved the conditional use for sale and on-site consumption of beer and wine at Paloma Coffee.

n The council approved a resolution changing and establishing the municipal election date, canvassing board and qualifying dates.

n The Town Council approved $23,900 to Fausnight for the installation of a crosswalk near Windermere Recreation on Park Avenue plus $750 for thermoplastic.