TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES January 12, 2004
The Lawrence Traffic Safety Commission met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., at the Union Pacific Depot with Chair Paul Graves presiding and Commissioners Steve Blackwell, Caroljean Brune, Danny Drungilas, Robert Hagen, Matt Jordan, Caleb Morse and John Ziegelmeyer Jr. present. Staff member David Woosley (Public Works Department) was present.
ITEM NO. 1: Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, December 1, 2003.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORSE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRUNE, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 1, 2003, TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING. THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.
ITEM NO. 2: Consider request from Effie Edwards, 2617 Kensington Road, to establish NO PARKING along the east side of Crestline Drive between Clinton Parkway and 24th Terrace.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Effie Edwards, 2617 Kensington Road, stated that this area was hazardous and dangerous at times when employees parked there. Northbound vehicles must veer into the southbound lane to get around parked vehicles. The mailbox at KinderCare has been hit several times. There is a lot of traffic in this area; there are over 450 apartments in the area. KinderCare is using the street for a private parking lot; others are required to provide their own off-street parking like apartments and the nearby church. To solve the problem, perhaps the employees could park at the church even if there was a fee. It is a hassle when people are dropping-off and picking-up children.
Commissioner Morse stated that the street is functioning as a collector and there is probably a high volume; employees are parking in the street so parents can drop and pickup children off-street; suggest tabling until traffic volume and speed data is available.
Commissioner Hagen stated that parking on the street helps to keep speeds down; the street is acting as a collector; traffic volume and speed data would be helpful.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER JORDAN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BLACKWELL, TO TABLE THE REQUEST UNTIL TRAFFIC VOLUME AND SPEED DATA IS AVAILABLE. THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.
ITEM NO. 3: Consider request from Lance Adams, representing Paul Werner Architects LLC, to establish a DISABLED PARKING SPACE in front of 1334 Ohio Street.
David Woosley advised that Mr. Adams had withdrawn the request.
ITEM NO. 4: Consider request from Algona Phipps, 1715 W 25th Street, to establish NO PARKING along the south side of 25th Street between Cedarwood Avenue and Ridge Court.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Algona Phipps, 1715 W 25th Street, stated that there is traffic in and out of the United Way building all day long and it is difficult for them to see with parking along the south side of the street; the block is all single family houses, except three of them are rented by students.
Jean Affalter, 2543 Cedarwood Avenue stated that the parking needs to be removed all the way between Ousdahl Road and Iowa Street; it is difficult to maneuver with all the parked cars and traffic coming off Iowa; it is even more difficult in bad weather with the hills.
Judy Williams, 1732 W 25th Street, stated that she was not in favor of removing the parking; there is no place for visitors to park except along the south side of the street.
Rex Williams, 1732 W 25th Street, stated he had lived there 17 years and can only remember 1 accident, when a drunk hit a parked car; we depend on the street for visitor parking.
Phipps added that each driveway along the street would accommodate 4 cars.
Commissioner Drungilas stated it would be a bigger problem for the cars to be relocated somewhere else.
Commissioner Graves agreed with Commissioner Drungilas.
Commissioner Morse stated that removing the parking might increase the speed of the traffic.
Commissioner Brune suggested that the parking be moved from the south side of the street to the north side of the street.
Commissioner Jordan agreed with Commissioner Brune.
Commissioner Ziegelmeyer stated that moving the parking would reduce the conflict with vehicles backing out of driveways.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRUNE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES TO DENY THE REQUEST TO PROHIBIT PARKING ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF 25TH STREET BETWEEN CEDARWOOD AVENUE AND RIDGE COURT AND DIRECT STAFF TO PLACE AN ITEM ON THE NEXT AGENDA TO RELOCATE THE PARKING FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STREET TO THE NORTH SIDE. THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.
ITEM NO. 5: Consider establishing a 35MPH SPEED LIMIT on Riverridge Road between Iowa Street & Michigan Street.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MORSE, TO RECOMMENDING ESTABLISHING A 35MPH SPEED LIMIT ON RIVERRIDGE ROAD BETWEEN IOWA STREET & MICHIGAN STREET. THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.
ITEM NO. 6: Public Comment.
Betty Alderson, 1920 Maine Street, stated that on-street parking is an increasing problem throughout the city and the city codes are not being enforced.
Commissioner Hagen stated that permit parking is probably one of the answers.
Commissioner Ziegelmeyer stated that many other college towns have implemented permit parking successfully.
ITEM NO. 7: Commission Items.
The Commission decided to change the February meeting from its scheduled date of February 2, to February 9.
ITEM NO. 8: Miscellaneous.
None.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
The next scheduled meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission is Monday, February 9, 2004.
