TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES May 3, 2004
The Lawrence Traffic Safety Commission met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., in the City Commission Room in City Hall with Chair Paul Graves presiding and Commissioners Caroljean Brune, Danny Drungilas, Robert Hagen, David Hamby, Matt Jordan, Caleb Morse and John Ziegelmeyer Jr. present. Staff members David Woosley (Public Works Department) and Officer Mike Monroe (Police Department) were present.
ITEM NO. 1: Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, April 5, 2004.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORSE SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 5, 2004, TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1 (Hagen, Jordan).
ITEM NO. 2: Consider request from the Police Department to establish NO PARKING along the east side of Kentucky Street south of 15th Street in order to provide sight distance.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Commissioner Morse: Can we compromise; this is a lot of parking to take away that is regularly used? Would it be helpful to remove the parking back to the first driveway? Woosley advised that any removal would be helpful.
Commissioner Morse: Now that this situation has been brought to our attention, are we bound to remove the parking? Woosley advised that we are not required to remove the parking, but it is an accepted national standard.
Commissioner Drungilas: Why is the police department asking for this if there hasn’t been any reported crashes? Woosley advised that one of the officers felt that it was a dangerous situation.
Commissioner Brune: Is there off-street parking for the houses at 1512 and 1516? Woosley advised that from the drawing there appeared to be one space for each between the sidewalk and the street.
Commissioner Hagen: I assume letters were sent to the property owners? Woosley advised that letters were sent to all addresses near the area so that the residents that would be affected got the notice.
Commissioner Morse: My concern is that the same requirement would be necessary at other intersections and this is a fourth of a block of parking. Woosley advised that the same distance would be required where the speed limit is 30 mph.
Commissioner Morse: These houses frequently support more than a single family’s worth of cars.
Commissioner Brune: I cross Kentucky and Tennessee regularly and almost every intersection is like this. I guess we have to address each one individually as it is brought to out attention. A lot of these older buildings that have been converted into apartments have very limited off-street parking. Our problem is the safety.
Commissioner Morse: May I make a compromise motion that we prohibit parking north of the driveway to 1500, that would provide a little sight distance; or is it all or nothing?
Commissioner Brune: If we are going to do it, we should do it so that there is no liability.
Commissioner Hamby: Since there are standards we are somewhat bound to provide that. We should try and stick as close as we can to the guidelines to limit our exposure.
Commissioner Graves: I would agree with Commissioner Hamby and what others have said. Since the residents were notified and no one showed-up we should go forward and make the recommendation as written.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY, TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING NO PARKING ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF KENTUCKY STREET FROM 15TH STREET SOUTH APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET. THE MOTION WAS APPROVED 6-2 (Drungilas, Morse).
Commissioner Drungilas: Since there have been no crashes and parking is a continuing problem near apartments and continuing to take parking away without an alternative is not an answer.
Commissioner Morse: I think it will set a bad precedent and I am not convinced that it is necessary.
ITEM NO. 3: Consider request from area residents to establish NO PARKING along the east side of Wisconsin Street between 5th Street and 6th Street.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Kathleen Nichols, 517 Wisconsin Street #A: On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, cars from the Yacht Club park along the east side of the street and take from 1/3 to 1/2 of the road and then only one car can pass along the street at a time. Several mailboxes have been knocked over and cars even park in the residents’ front yards and back yards. Some times we can’t even get out of our own driveways.
Jason Littlejohn, 511 Wisconsin Street: There is a problem with inebriated drivers, trash and vandalism. If parking is not allowed in front of the homes, then the patrons will not be there either. It is very difficult for me to get my pickup truck out of my driveway with vehicles parked along the street. Some vehicles park two or three feet from the edge and end up actually in the middle of the road.
Will Helm, 512 Wisconsin Street #B: There is a ditch along both sides of the road and I drive a 3/4T pickup and can’t get out of my driveway. It is only a problem when the bar is active. I don’t park my vehicle in the street because it would take up half the road. They also encroach into both sides of the driveways.
Emily Burns, 512 Wisconsin Street #A: There is adequate parking for residents off-street so it wouldn’t be taking away places to park. Patrons that park there are not always cautious about pulling in and out of parking spaces and there are a number of children in the area. There is not room for two vehicles to travel the street with vehicles lined-up along the east side; there is barely room for one. It causes damage to the edge of the road which crumbles-off into the ditch.
John Nitcher, representing the Yacht Club, 530 Wisconsin Street: This street really is in a deteriorated condition; there are huge depressions in the street. The quality of the street needs to be improved. The street is inadequate. Removing parking is not a fair resolution. I urge you not to take parking off until you look at the street and consider recommending that the street be improved.
Will Helm, 512 Wisconsin Street #B: Adequate parking for a business should be the responsibility of the business and not the city.
Commissioner Jordan: I do not believe that it is the responsibility of the city to provide parking for businesses. I concur that it is a hazard to have parking along one side of the street and a nuisance to the residents. I would support the request.
Commissioner Brune: I think we have approved all previous requests for NO PARKING on similar unimproved streets simply for the reason that parking leads to rapid deterioration of the street. I would be supportive of the request.
Commissioner Hagen: The parking is a real intrusion on the neighborhood. I would be inclined to support the request.
Commissioner Graves: I agree with the other commissioners and would point out that emergency vehicle access is also a concern.
Commissioner Hamby: I drove by at 6:00 and the parking lot wasn’t full but vehicles were already parking on the street blocking the road. It was a hazard to get around. With the road falling apart and the limited width, I am in favor of the request.
Commissioner Morse: I agree with what has been said and point out that the amount of public participation tonight has been as much as we ever get from any neighborhood or block.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER JORDAN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRUNE, TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING NO PARKING ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF WISCONSIN STREET BETWEEN 5TH STREET AND 6TH STREET. THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.
ITEM NO. 4: Public Comment.
ITEM NO. 5: Commission Items.
ITEM NO. 6: Miscellaneous.
David Woosley distributed the 12-month Attendance Summary for May 2003-April 2004.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
The next scheduled meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission is Monday, June 7, 2004.
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TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION AGENDA May 3, 2004 – 7:30
PM City Commission Room
– City Hall
David E. Woosley, P.E. Staff Liaison (785) 832-3034
Commissioners: Paul Graves, Chair
Caroljean Brune, Vice-Chair
Danny Drungilas
Robert Hagen
David Hamby
Matt Jordan
Caleb Morse
John Ziegelmeyer, Jr.
ITEM NO. 1: Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, April 5, 2004.
ITEM NO. 2: Consider request from the Police Department to establish NO PARKING along the east side of Kentucky Street south of 15th Street in order to provide sight distance.
ITEM NO. 3: Consider request from area residents to establish NO PARKING along the east side of Wisconsin Street between 5th Street and 6th Street.
ITEM NO. 4: Public Comment.
ITEM NO. 5: Commission Items.
ITEM NO. 6: Miscellaneous.
CITY OF LAWRENCE
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM
To: Traffic Safety Commission
From: Public Works Department
Subject: Staff report for May 3, 2004, Traffic Safety Commission Meeting
ITEM NO. 1: Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, April 5, 2004.
ACTION: Approve minutes if appropriate.
ITEM NO. 2: Consider request from the Police Department to establish NO PARKING along the east side of Kentucky Street south of 15th Street in order to provide sight distance.
Report:
1. Kentucky Street is classified as a minor arterial and is constructed approximately 30 feet wide with a posted speed limit of 30 mph.
2. According to the latest version of A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, a vehicle making a turn off 15th Street (Vehicle A on attached drawing) should be able to see an approaching vehicle 290 feet away (Vehicle B on attached drawing). In order to provide this sight distance, parking would have to be prohibited from 15th Street south to the property line between 1512 and 1516 Kentucky, a distance of approximately 200 feet.
3. Police Department crash reports show no reported crashes at this intersection during the past five years involving a westbound and northbound vehicle.
ACTION: Provide recommendation to the City Commission.
ITEM NO. 3: Consider request from area residents to establish NO PARKING along the east side of Wisconsin Street between 5th Street and 6th Street.
Report:
1. Wisconsin Street is classified as a local street and is minimally improved, approximately 18 feet wide without curb & gutter or shoulders.
2. Parking is currently prohibited along the west side of the street.
3. When parking occurs on a street of this type, it tends to damage the edge of the pavement and eventually works its way into the traveled area.
ACTION: Provide recommendation to the City Commission.
ITEM NO. 4: Public Comment.
ITEM NO. 5: Commission Items.
ITEM NO. 6: Miscellaneous.