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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRA BOARD MINUTES SEPT 10_2013TRAFFIC REVIEW ADISORY BOARD MINUTES SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 4:00 P.M. PRESENT: Dan Becker, Steve Haas, Steven Herman, Gary Ross, Timothy Schuster, Don Seybold and Dan Scieszinski STAFF: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director Jennifer Weigand, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Schuster called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Becker moved to accept the August 13, 2013 minutes. Mr. Ross seconded the motion. Motion carried (7-0). TABLED BUSINESS 1. A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF HAZEL STREET FROM 130 FEET SOUTH OF CLEVELAND AVENUE TO 250 FEET SOUTH OF CLEVELAND AVENUE. (CURRENT CONDITION: UNRESTRICTED PARKING.) Mr. Becker moved to accept the request. Mr. Haas seconded the motion. Motion carried (7- 0). 2. A REQUEST TO LIMIT ENFORCEMENT OF 2-HOUR AND 30-MINUTE PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF COURT STREET BETWEEN CEAPE AVENUE AND OTTER AVENUE TO 7:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS. (CURRENT CONDITION: 24-HOUR ENFORCEMENT.) Mr. Herman received a call from Mr. Bob Poeschl, Court Tower, who would like this request similar to the other requests for this area because it would make it easier for his customers and clients. Mr. Strong said the Fire Department expressed concern because this is their visitor parking. For this reason they wanted to keep the shorter term parking. Mr. Schuster felt Mr. Poeschl’s concern was more related to the contractors that were working in the area. The contractors should be wrapping up soon. TRA MINUTES 2 SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 Captain Schoeni from the Police Department said this is the front entrance to the Fire Department building. He suggested that temporary no parking signs be placed when the spaces are needed for their training purposes. This would then not affect the public on any other day. Mr. Herman moved to amend the request to read “unrestricted parking” and eliminate “to 7:00 am to 5:00 pm daily except Sundays and holidays”. Mr. Schuster seconded the motion. Motion carried (7-0). Mr. Becker moved to accept the amended request. Mr. Ross seconded the motion. Motion carried (7-0). 3. A REQUEST FOR UNRESTRICTED PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF CEAPE AVENUE FROM STATE STREET TO BROAD STREET. (CURRENT CONDITION: 2-HOUR PARKING.) Mr. Becker moved to accept the request. Mr. Herman seconded the motion. Motion carried (7-0). 4. A REQUEST FOR UNRESTRICTED PARKING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CEAPE AVENUE FROM BROAD STREET TO 60 FEET EAST. (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING BETWEEN 6:00 A.M. AND 6:00 P.M., MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.) Mr. Ross moved to accept the request. Mr. Herman seconded the motion. Motion carried (7-0.) NEW BUSINESS 5. DISCUSSION OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. Capt. Schoeni provided an overview of the Police Department’s philosophy and approach on traffic enforcement. Mr. Herman asked how parking enforcement officers receive notification about parking changes. Captain Schoeni replied they now have really good procedures in place for immediate communications between his team sergeants, lieutenants and officers. Mr. Herman asked if the parking changes get confusing with the officers. Capt. Schoeni said they try to have face-to-face communications because emails, especially with parking changes in the BID district, can be confusing. Feedback is important to them. Mr. Haas asked if speeding enforcement at schools is a point of emphasis. Capt. Schoeni said these areas are given priority for the day shift officers. These areas are never off their radar. TRA MINUTES 3 SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 Mr. Ross asked if the volunteer program to run radar at the schools is still in effect. Capt. Schoeni said the program is still in effect and has been successful. He said this is a transparent way to show our enforcement to the community. Mr. Becker asked if any emphasis has been given towards behavior enforcement, such as rolling stops. Capt. Schoeni said yes this is done under traffic enforcement. He said one of the biggest problems is pedestrian traffic in roundabouts. The police department relies heavily on enforcement grants for this work, as it creates opportunities for officers to focus on enforcement. Mr. Becker said OPD’s visibility on the streets really helps. Capt. Schoeni noted that officers are no longer able to take squad cars home due to budget cuts. He said there are mixed results on having these vehicles parked out there. Capt. Schoeni said the police department has been migrating to a model which involves more listening and reacting. He pointed out they are much better at immediate and quick responses. They are revamping their offices to foster more face-to-face communications between the employees. 6. A REQUEST FOR PARKING WITHOUT TIME RESTRICTIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF COURT STREET FROM OTTER AVENUE TO WASHINGTON AVENUE. (CURRENT CONDITION: MIXTURE OF 2-HOUR AND 4-HOUR PARKING.) Mr. Herman moved to accept the request. Mr. Schuster seconded the motion. Motion carried. (7-0). 7. DISCUSSION OF BICYCLE FACILITIES FOR BOWEN STREET. Mr. Strong explained why the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee referred this to this board. . Mr. Schuster said he could see a bicycle lane north of Sterling Avenue but not south of Sterling Avenue, due to the narrow road width. Mr. Ross asked if an analysis had been done on how much of the on-street parking is utilized. Mr. Strong replied it had not. Mr. Herman felt Hazel Street would be a better alternative with Menominee Park being there. With the churches and businesses along Bowen Street, on-street parking is needed. He suggested the trail through the park could be used and then start the on-street bicycle lane on Hazel Street, north of New York Avenue. 8. A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 22ND AVENUE FROM 105 FEET EAST OF OREGON STREET TO 145 FEET EAST OF OREGON STREET. (CURRENT CONDITION: 2-HOUR PARKING.) TRA MINUTES 4 SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 Mr. Becker moved to accept the request. Mr. Ross seconded the motion. Motion carried (7-0). 9. A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF 7TH AVENUE FROM KOELLER STREET TO LILAC STREET. (CURRENT CONDITION: UNRESTRICTED PARKING.) Mr. Becker moved to accept the request. Mr. Seybold seconded the motion. Motion carried (7-0). 10. A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE EAST/WEST ALLEY BETWEEN MILL STRET AND BROAD STREET, NORTH OF CEAPE AVENUE AND SOUTH OF OTTER AVENUE. (CURRENT CONDITION: UNRESTRICTED PARKING.) Mr. Schuster moved to accept the request. Mr. Herman seconded the motion. Motion carried (7-0). STAFF STATEMENTS 11. REVIEW OF CURRENT TRAFFIC CALMING PROGRAM. Mr. Strong said he would be meeting on Wednesday with representatives from other city departments including Police, Fire, Public Works and Planning to look at this and see what concerns we have with the current process. Mr. Herman said the program has a lot of good ideas and options. It is a tool that the Police Department can use if they get involved. Mr. Ross inquired who covers the expenses of these improvements. Mr. Strong said we do not have a specific traffic calming budget. He said that sometimes the costs of these improvements are rolled in with the street reconstruction projects. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING • Upon unanimous agreement by the Board, the monthly Traffic Review Advisory Board will resume meeting at City Hall starting in October. • Regarding the temporary signal at Westhaven Drive and 9th Avenue, the request to convert it to a permanent signal is slated to come up in the Council’s CIP discussions. • Mr. Herman felt the flashing times for traffic signals need to be re-evaluated. There being no more items to come before the Traffic Review Advisory Board and upon being duly moved and seconded (Becker, Haas), the meeting adjourned at 5:19 p.m.