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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRA_BOARD_MINUTES_DECEMBER_2008O1HKOIH ox TxE wn~ TRAFFIC REVIEW ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES DECEMBER 9, 2008 4:00 P.M. PRESENT: Bryan Bain, James Kaprelian, Gene Kubasta, Don Seybold and Timothy Schuster ABSENT: Stan Kline and Dennis Rumlow STAFF: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director Jennifer Weigand, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER Chairman Kaprelian called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Bain moved to accept the November 11, 2008 minutes. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion carried (5-O). 1. A REQUEST FOR UNRESTRICTED PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF BROAD STREET BETWEEN CEAPE AVENUE AND OTTER AVENUE. [CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING]. Mr. Kubasta said it was not that long ago we approved the no parking restriction because of the Leach Amphitheatre. He sees no reason to change it. Mr. Kaprelian agreed with Mr. Kubasta. Mr. Bain moved to accept the request. Motion seconded by Mr. Kaprelian. Motion lost (0-5). 2. A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAWYER STREET, FROM 75 FEET NORTH OF COOLIDGE AVENUE TO COOLIDGE AVENUE, BETWEEN 7 AM AND 4 PM ON SCHOOL DAYS. [CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING]. Ms. Sue Bruski, 909 N. Sawyer Street, spoke in favor of this request. She said this restriction would coincide with the other parking restrictions around the school. She noted when school is not in session, there is no need for any type of parking restriction. Ms. Bruski read a letter from Michelle and Danny Jerabek, 915 N. Sawyer Street, who were in favor of this request. Mr. Bain moved to accept the request. Motion seconded by Mr. Kaprelian. Motion carried (5-O). 3. A REQUEST TO REMOVE THE NO PARKING RESTRICTION ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SHAWANO AVENUE. [CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING]. Ms. Diane Soda, 617 Shawano Avenue, spoke against this request. She noted that with recent enforcement, traveling on the street has greatly improved. She said that in past years, the no parking restriction has been ignored and there have been multiple instances of parking infractions on this street. She believes there must have been a reason in 1986 that justified this no parking restriction and she feels it is still needed. She presented the Board with pictures of current street conditions and a copy of a letter, dated 10/27/08, issued by the Police Department to Shawano Avenue residents. TRA MINUTES Page 2 DECEMBER 9, 2008 Mr. Bob Gillert, 707 Washington Avenue, spoke in favor of the request. He said the back of his residence abuts Shawano Avenue. He has lived there over 9 years and parks his truck along his fence and never had a problem. He noted that all the residences on the north side of Shawano Avenue without driveways have nowhere to park their vehicles. The residences on the south side of the street all have driveways. He believes this is the smallest street in the city and there is no curb and gutter. Ms. Sally Farley, 707 Washington Avenue, noted their parcel of land is triangular shaped. They have to park on the street because of the lack of driveways and garages. This is an unusual situation. Even if the no parking restriction were removed, they would still have to move their vehicles off the street between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. She questioned, "Where would they park their vehicles?" She believes homeowners should be able to park their vehicles by their homes. Mr. Paul Eberhardy, 715 Washington Avenue, was in favor of the request. He noted a petition, with 15 signatures, was filed in favor of this request. He would like to see the 2 a.m. - 5 a.m. parking restriction removed. Mr. Schuster pointed out that the 2 a.m. - 5 a.m. parking restriction is a city-wide ordinance and this Board cannot change it. Mr. Kubasta noted this is not a through street and this street is used mainly by local residents. Mr. Bain questioned if there were any other areas in the city with this unique situation. Mr. Strong replied that some alleys have similar problems, but there is some distinction between alleys and streets. Mr. Bain noted that back in 1986 the Board passed the request to remove the parking on the south side of the street and the Common Council reversed the decision to the north side of Shawano Avenue. Mr. Bain moved to accept the request. Motion seconded by Mr. Kaprelian. Motion carried (5-O). 4. A REQUEST TO REMOVE PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF REICHOW STREET, FROM W. 9T" AVENUE TO 75 FEET SOUTH OF W. 9T" AVENUE. [CURRENT CONDITION: NO RESTRICTIONS]. AND 5. A REQUEST TO REMOVE PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF REICHOW STREET, FROM W. 9T" AVENUE TO 51 FEET SOUTH OF W. 9T" AVENUE. [CURRENT CONDITION: NO RESTRICTIONS]. Mr. Bryan Diehls, 1617 W. Stn Avenue, was opposed to these requests. He lives on the corner of W. Stn Avenue and Reichow Street. He noted he has a single driveway and needs the on-street parking on Reichow Street for guests. He questioned "What is the difference between this intersection and the other intersections along W. Stn Avenue?" He believes there is a bigger safety concern because of speeding on W Stn Avenue than a parking issue. Mr. Strong said that, in his review, he found no crashes at the intersection of W. Stn Avenue and Reichow Street in which a vehicle hit a car parked on Reichow Street. He believes that the accidents were generally the result of drivers not estimating gaps in traffic. Mr. Schuster felt if a parking restriction were necessary at the corner, he would favor the west side of the street because this lane would come into play when turning off of W. Stn Avenue or onto Reichow. Mr. Kaprelian felt the problem was not parked cars but had more to do with speed and poor judgment. Mr. Bain moved to accept request #4. Motion seconded by Mr. Kaprelian. Motion lost (2-3, Kaprelian, Schuster, Bain). Mr. Bain moved to accept request #5. Motion seconded by Mr. Kaprelian. Motion lost (0-5). TRA MINUTES Page 3 DECEMBER 9, 2008 STAFF STATEMENTS: 1. Updating of Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Plan. Mr. Strong asked for a volunteer to be on this committee and Mr. Kaprelian volunteered. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING None. There being no other business to come before the Traffic Review Advisory Board, and upon being duly moved and seconded (Schuster, Kubasta), the meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.