Stop signs to be added, other Brookwood Forest area improvements move forward

At the request of residents, changes will be made to roads around Brookwood Forest Elementary School. Stefanie Davis and several other residents approached the city council at its Sept. 14 meeting about a variety of safety and traffic issues.

In response, the city council approved two stop signs on Spring Valley Court, eastbound and westbound, at its intersection with North Woodridge Road at its Sept. 28 meeting, along with providing for punishment for violations of it.

Residents of the area around the intersection were sent a letter about the proposed signs and asked to voice their opinions at the council meeting or by contact the police chief.

Spring Valley Court resident Maurine Halpern emailed Police Chief to say that she supports the sign addition and has seen several “close all” incidents there. She also noted that children who live near the intersection ride bikes in the area, hence making the signs a good solution especially since there are no sidewalks. Jacob Helpern also emailed Cook to express his support of the four-way stop. Since the last council meeting, police have also conducted a two-day traffic count of the intersection of Spring Valley Court and North Woodridge Road.

Also at the meeting, Richard Caudle of Skipper Consulting presented findings from his study of a potential crosswalk at South Brookwood Road and North Woodridge Road that would connect two sidewalks. Caudle recommended that the city install the crosswalk as well as a raised concrete island in place of the striped island at the intersection. He also said high visibility markings and advance signage should be installed, but he believes a flashing light will not be necessary to mark the crosswalk.

As a third item, Caudle recommended a sidewalk extension on North Woodridge Road to Westbury Place. The 170 feet of sidewalk that would run would cost approximately $10,200 for the materials and to move a utility pole.

To extend the sidewalk to Bethune Drive, it would take 2,280 feet of sidewalk, four ramps and 14 driveway crossings. It would have to be designed before obtaining a cost estimate, which would be much higher.

Finally, Caudle and Vaughn presented information adding additional guardrails on South Brookwood Road. The cost of its installation would be around $85,000, which does not include the cost of sidewalk and drainage work that would be needed or the cost of relocating sidewalks. Caudle recommend the city hire a consulting civil engineer to study the project further and provide a cost estimate for it by working with the city, neighborhood and school.

The city plans to bring a proposal from a civil engineer about the guard rails to the next council meeting.

Also at the meeting, the council:

• Discussed roundabout project agreements with City of Birmingham and ALDOT. The Cost Sharing Agreement has been amended since the last council meeting.
• Discussed a proposed stop sign on Randolph Road at its intersection with Fairway Drive. Chief Ted Cook. Neighbors will be notified of the new sign, and unless there is opposition, it will be installed.
• Discussed a carpet project for the second floor of the Emmet O’Neal Library and whether to outsource a moving service. The service would move the books and bookshelves to alleviate the need for the staff to move them while the floor is carpeted. The service would speed up the project and cause less disruption for patrons, said Library Children’s Department Head Gloria Repolesk. The project would be higher than the budgeted amount for the project and would have to be rebid. The council agreed the moving service should be used.
• Introduced the 2015-2016 Leadership Mountain Brook class.
• Heard a semi-annual report from the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.
• Rejected all bids for a fire pumper that opened on Sept. 8. All bids came in over the $470,000 budgeted, so it will be re-bid with deduction alternatives, which Fire Chief Robert Ezekiel believes will fall within the budgeted amount.
• Appointed Sim W. Johnson to the Tree Commission for a term ending Sept. 28, 2018. Johnson, an attorney with Miller Christie & Kinney P.C., replaces Steve Bostock. He serves as vice president of the Friends of Jemison Park and serves on the Garden Committee at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
• Authorized the suspension of deferred compensation deposits to selected third-party depositories, and the execution of the following: State of Alabama Deferred Compensation Plan Request for Admission as a Participating Employer, EmPower Retirement Plan Service Center Authorization Form, and EmPower Retirement Banking Change Request Form.
• Approved a conditional (service) use application for Lovely Nails in Mountain Brook Village in part of the current A’Mano space. The business will be located at 2709 Culver Road and is owned by David Nguyen. City Planner Dana Hazen said it meets the parking ordinance.