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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTESO1HKOIH ox TxE wn~ TRAFFIC REVIEW ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES MARCH 10, 2009 4:00 P.M. PRESENT: Bryan Bain, James Kaprelian, Gene Kubasta and Don Seybold ABSENT: Stan Kline, Dennis Rumlow and Timothy Schuster STAFF: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director Jennifer Weigand, Recording Secretary Capt. Kurt Schoeni, Oshkosh Police Department CALL TO ORDER Chairman Kaprelian called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Bain moved to accept the February 10, 2009 minutes. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-O). 1. A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF KENTUCKY STREET FROM NEW YORK AVENUE TO 70 FEET NORTH ON SCHOOL DAYS BETWEEN 7:30 A.M. TO 8:30 A.M. AND 1:30 P.M. TO 3:30 P.M. (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING ON SCHOOL DAYS BETWEEN 7:30 A.M. TO 8:30 A.M. AND 2:30 P.M. TO 3:30 P.M.) In reference to requests #1 through #3, Mr. Kaprelian said the signage in this area needs to be cleaned up. He feels it needs to be more consistent and made easier to read. Mr. Bain moved to accept the request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-O). 2. A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF KENTUCKY STREET FROM NEW YORK AVENUE TO 25 FEET NORTH ON SCHOOL DAYS BETWEEN 2:30 P.M. TO 3:30 P.M. (CURRENT CONDITION: LOADING ZONE.) Mr. Kubasta questioned what we would be gaining by this change. Mr. Strong replied that this would help to relieve a traffic bottleneck at the intersection during school dismissal times. Since the Police Dept. has been coning off the area, there is no effective loss of parking. To make it consistent with the other requests, Mr. Bain moved to amend the request to read "between 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m." Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Mr. Bain moved to accept the amended request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-O). 3. A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF KENTUCKY STREET FROM 481 FEET NORTH OF NEW YORK AVENUE TO 503 FEET NORTH ON SCHOOL DAYS BETWEEN 1:30 P.M. TO 3:30 P.M. (CURRENT CONDITION: LOADING ZONE.) Mr. Kaprelian said in regards to the Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan, this school would be a good one to study. Mr. Bain moved to accept the request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-O). 4. A REQUEST FOR DEER CROSSING SIGNS ON OSBORN AVENUE AND SOUTH PARK AVENUE IN THE VICINITY OF THE VULCAN QUARRY. (CURRENT CONDITION: NO WARNING SIGNS.) TRA MIIV[JTES Page 2 MARCH 10, 2008 Mr. Strong said most studies show these signs have very little effectiveness in reducing the number of crashes. He added the City could be exposed to liability if it decides to remove one of these signs in the future. Mr. Bain moved to accept the request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion lost (0-4). 5. A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON BOTH SIDES MEADOW STREET FROM 308 FEET NORTH OF WITZEL AVENUE TO 527 FEET SOUTH OF SOUTHLAND AVENUE. (CURRENT CONDITION: 2-HOUR PARKING BETWEEN 7 AM AND 4 PM ON SCHOOL DAYS.) Mr. Mike Huebschen, 218 N. Meadow Street, was opposed to this request. He is not convinced high school students would not park in this area. He noted if vehicles were parked on both sides of the street, he would have a problem backing his boat in his driveway. He felt this would also hamper snow removal. Mr. Kaprelian said he goes by there everyday and doesn't observe many vehicles parked on this block. Mr. Ron Neustifter, 135 N. Meadow Street, has lived at this address for 47 years and is in favor of this request. He presented two petitions to the Board, one petition with eight signatures in favor of the request and one petition with eight signatures which requested removal of the 2-hour parking restriction on the entire length of the street. He noted that some residents were in favor of this request because present restrictions are not enforced. He has observed on Lark Street that vehicles are never parked past Clayton Court and believes the students would not park any further south on Meadow Street. Mr. Kaprelian agreed with Mr. Neustifter. Mr. Kaprelian felt the signage is not clear at this time and needs to be cleaned up. Mr. Bain moved to accept the request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-O). 6. A REQUEST FOR UNRESTRICTED PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 17T" AVENUE FROM IOWA STREET TO 54 FEET EAST. (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING BETWEEN 6:00 A.M. AND 6:00 P.M., MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.) Mr. Bain moved to accept the request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-O). 7. A REQUEST TO ALLOW PARKING ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF PEARL AVENUE FROM JACKSON STREET TO 515 FEET WEST OF JACKSON SREET. (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING) Mr. Tom Donovan, Most Blessed Sacrament Church business manager, 449 High Avenue, noted that their parking requirements are extensive, with the combined parishes, and they are in need of on-street parking. Mr. Kubasta asked why the ordinance couldn't refer to "church functions," since there are activities on weekdays, like Ash Wednesday. Mr. Strong replied that people who do not go to that church would be unaware of those days, and it would be harder to enforce. Mr. Donovan said their parking lot is functional for all activities except for the weekend liturgy. Capt. Kurt Schoeni, Oshkosh Police Dept., said if there are abnormal demands, a request can be made to the Police Dept. and their officers will be notified. He said clean language makes it easier for them to enforce. Mr. Bain moved to accept the request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion carried (4-O). DISCUSSION ITEMS: 8. PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF COMMERCE STREET IN FRONT OF 111 NORTH MAIN STREET. TRA MIIV[JTES Page 3 MARCH 10, 2008 Mr. Kubasta said Mr. Strong misinterpreted his request and he proceeded to show him a diagram of what he meant. He would like the existing loading zone changed to 30 minute parking. According to Mr. Kubasta, the bank president does not know the reason for the loading zone. Mr. Strong said there was adequate on-street parking and he recommended leaving it as is. Mr. Scott Footit, BID parking officer, said the loading zone is used by the Brinks drivers and bank customers. He said he monitors the situation by chalking tires to see how long the vehicle is parked there and things are fine the way it is. 9. INTERSECTION OF MARKET STREET AND PEARL AVENUE. Mr. Brian Poeschl, 1380 W. South Park Avenue, said he is employed by Miles Kimball Company, located at City Center. He noted that approximately 13-14 years ago there were traffic lights at this intersection but as businesses left the area and traffic declined, the lights were removed. Now, with the shops at the center, Miles Kimball Co., 4 Imprint, Social Security office and Arts for Kids, there are more people in the area and traffic has increased. He noted that Miles Kimball has 471 employees and he believes this area is busier than when the lights were previously there. He said one night he had to wait 17 minutes to cross the street because of the stream of cars and resulted in him missing the bus. He suggested putting in an activated traffic light with a pedestrian push button or flashing lights. Mr. Ken Osmond, 313 W. New York Avenue, owner of Planet Perk, spoke to the Board regarding this intersection. He noted Joan Dumke, the pedestrian who was killed at this intersection in February 2009, was his friend and a daily customer at Planet Perk. In reference to this intersection, he covered causes of unsafe conditions, the nature of the area, recommended approaches to solving the problem and the Planet Perk-led pedestrian safety awareness plan. Some of his suggestions to solving the problems including adding signs, rigid enforcement, flashing lights, bump outs and speed bumps. Mr. Bain noted that the exit ramp from City Center onto Pearl Avenue is heavily used by day care customers. He suggested exploring the option of a push button light similar to the one on Algoma Blvd. in front of Dempsey Hall. Mr. Strong did not know if the warrants would be met. Mr. Bain said possibly flashing beacons were more logical. Mr. Seybold suggested regular traffic signals. Mr. Strong said he would have to make sure all the criteria were met for traffic signals. Mr. Kaprelian said this is a unique area. He didn't know how the Board would justify traffic lights based upon the warrants but it's not a normal situation. Mr. Kubasta felt traffic lights might back up traffic from Main Street. Mr. Bain felt more vehicular traffic may be seen because of the upcoming Main Street reconstruction project. He felt we need to look at something because of the uniqueness of the area. Mr. Strong said he would report back to the Board on the following suggestions: 1) a traffic signal similar to the one on Algoma Blvd. on the UW-O campus and 2) the cost of flashing beacons. 10. PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT THE INTERSECTION OF 9T" AVENUE AND HUNTINGTON PLACE. Mr. Strong said this request was made by a citizen who expressed concern over the safety of pedestrians due to excessive vehicle speeds through the school crossing. Sgt. Brent Buehler, Oshkosh Police Dept., said his officers have increased enforcement in the area and 44 traffic stops were made over the last few months. Out of the 44 stops, 21 motorists received warnings and 23 received citations. He noted many motorists are not aware this is a school zone because the school is not visible from the street. He said the road is marked as a two-lane road but the street is used as a four- lane road. He recommends installing overhead flashing yellow lights to make motorists aware of the school zone. Mr. Kubasta agreed that overhead flashing lights catches one's attention. TRA MIIV[JTES Page 4 MARCH 10, 2008 Mr. Strong said there previously was a flashing light at this intersection before the traffic signal was installed. According to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the flashing beacon is a preliminary step taken before putting in a traffic signal. In terms of adding an overhead flashing beacon, it would cause confusion with a traffic signal; consequently, the guidelines don't recommend the installation of both at the same time. He was not sure if it would be consistent with the guidelines to have the flashing beacon on the road side. Mr. Bain said it would be similar to the one by South Park School. It is fairly new and draws your attention. Mr. Kubasta felt the parents need to also educate their children on crossing streets. STAFF STATEMENTS None 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 (Seybold, Kaprelian), the meeting adjourned at 5:18 p.m.