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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/14/2009 SC minutes Director Glen R. Andler Mount Prospect ~ Deputy Director Sean P. Dorsey Mount Prospect Public Works Department 1700 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056-2229 MINUTES OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT SAFETY COMMISSION DRAFT CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Mount Prospect Safety Commission was called to order at 7:02 p.m. on Monday, September 14,2009. ROLL CALL Present upon roll call: John Keane Chuck Bencic Angel Campos Fred Pampel Carol Tortorello Mike Etemo Buz Livingston Matt Lawrie Absent: Robert Fisher Paul Bures Others in Attendance: See attached list. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Police Department Representative Fire Department Representative Traffic Engineer - Staff Liaison Commissioner Public Works Representative Commissioner Tortorello requested an amendment to the minutes of the previous meeting. Commissioner Bencic, seconded by Commissioner Pampel, moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Safety Commission held on May I I, 2009 as amended. The minutes were approved by a vote of7-0. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD There was no one in attendance that spoke on an issue not on the agenda. Safety Commission Meeting Page 1 of 4 September 14, 2009 OLD BUSINESS There was no old business to discuss. NEW BUSINESS A) CAN DOTA AVENUE PARKING STUDY 1) Background Information Approximately 30 years ago an evening weekday parking restriction was enacted along both sides of the 600 block of Can Dota Avenue. It is the only block in the neighborhood that has such signs. Village records do not provide insight as to the exact reason for the ordinance but it appears parking during the evening near Weller Creek spilled over into the neighborhood resulting in various concerns by residents. Recent inquiries by residents to remove the signs prompted the Engineering Division to study this issue. 2) Current Traffic Regulations 1. Parking is prohibited Monday-Friday 6:30pm-II :OOpm along both sides of Can Dota Avenue between Council Trail and Shabonee Trail. 2. Parking is prohibited at all times along the north side of Council Trail between See Gwun Avenue and Hi Lusi Avenue and the south side between See Gwun Avenue and Elmhurst Road (Route 83). 3. Parking is prohibited at all times along both sides of See Gwun Avenue between Council Trail and Shabonee Trail. 4. Parking is prohibited 2:00am-6:00am on all Village streets including the 600 block of Can Dota Avenue. 5. None of the other north-south local streets in the neighborhood have evening weekday parking restrictions. 3) Current Layout 1. Most of the local streets in the neighborhood including Can Dota Avenue are approximately 26' wide (back-of-curb to back-of-curb). 2. Council Trail, an east-west collector street, and See Gwun Avenue, a north-south collector street, are also approximately 26' wide (back-of-curb to back-of-curb). 4) Current Traffic Conditions 1. During a typical day, the 600 block of Can Dota Avenue experiences a level of on-street parking similar to other neighborhood streets. The few parked vehicles observed during the day appear to be associated with those properties along the block. The golf course is the only non- residential property nearby that can generate on-street parking but it does not appear to affect the 600 block of Can Dota Avenue. 2. None of the other north-south local streets in the neighborhood appear to have an evening weekday parking issue including Na Wa Ta Avenue that is located closer to the golf course. 5) Issues 1. The evening weekday parking restriction along the 600 block of Can Dota Avenue appears to have been enacted approximately 30 years. Records, however, provide limited information C::",fot\l rnmmi""inn M",,,,tinn Paae 2 of4 September 14, 2009 regarding the circumstances that lead to the ordinance. Public Works Staff have indicated that the Mount Prospect Park District may have held athletic events at the park adjacent to Can Dota Avenue which prompted parking restrictions. However, a park district representative could not recall any organized programs at the park in the past 30 years. 2. Over the past year, the Village has received a couple of inquiries from residents on Can Dota A venue about repealing the ordinance. 3. No other local streets in the neighborhood have similar parking restrictions or evening weekday parking problems. Repealing the ordinance would allow residents the benefit of on-street parking during the evening hours. Services such as emergency vehicle access, garbage pick-up, street sweeping and mail delivery should not be impacted with allowing on- street parking during the evening hours, similar to all other streets in the neighborhood. 4. A notification letter was sent to the 13 properties along the block soliciting their comments on this issue. The Village received seven completed surveys. Five properties supported repealing the ordinance, one property opposed repealing the ordinance, and one had no position. 6) Recommendation Many years ago the evening weekday parking restriction along the 600 block of Can Dota Avenue addressed a specific problem. Today, however, the circumstances that led to the ordinance are different and the parking restriction does not appear to be relevant. Further, a majority of residents along the block who returned a survey favor repealing the ordinance. Recommendation: Repeal the ordinance that prohibits parking Monday-Friday 6:30pm-II :OOpm along the east and west sides of Can Dota Avenue between Council Trail and Shabonee Trail. 7) Discussion Traffic Engineer Lawrie summarized the parking study performed by the Engineering Division along Can Dota Avenue. Approximately 30 years ago an evening weekday parking restriction was enacted along both sides of the 600 block. It is the only block in the neighborhood that has such signs. Village records do not provide insight as to the exact reason for the ordinance but conversations with various people indicated parking during the evening near Weller Creek spilled over into the neighborhood. Recent inquiries by residents to remove the signs prompted the Engineering Division to send notice to the residents along the block that the issued would be discussed by the Safety Commission. Of the thirteen properties on the 600 block, seven returned comments. Five supported repealing the ordinance, one opposed repealing the ordinance, and one had no opinion. Joyce Tomazin, 601 Can Dota Avenue, has lived at her current residence for many years and recalls underage drinking and associated problems as the reason for the parking restriction signs. She doesn't have an opinion whether the signs should be removed or remain. Donna Ponte, 610 Can Dota A venue, does not object to removing the signs but wondered how difficult it would be to have the signs put back up if problems did arise. She expressed concern that it would be a lengthy process to have the ordinance enacted again. After some discussion by the Safety Commission, Commissioner Bencic questioned whether allowing parking on both sides of the street would make it difficult for emergency vehicles to travel the street. Battalion Chief Livingston responded that parking on both sides of narrow streets can pose a potential concern but emergency vehicles have always been able to negotiate them. Allowing parking on both sides of Can Dota Avenue would be no different than other streets in the neighborhood. Safety Commission Meeting Page 3 of 4 September 14, 2009 After further discussion, Traffic Engineer Lawrie suggested that the signs could be covered and the block monitored over a one to two month period. If there were no apparent problems, the request to repeal the ordinance could then be brought before the Village Board. If problems did arise, the signs could be uncovered and the ordinance left in place. Sergeant Eterno said that even though the ordinance would remain in effect, if the signs were covered the Police Department would not issue tickets. Signs need to be visible for the Police Department to enforce the ordinance. Commissioner Tortorello was not in favor of delaying a decision and said that repealing the ordinance would bring the block into compliance with the rest of the neighborhood. She made a motion to repeal the ordinance allowing evening weekday parking along both sides of the 600 block of Can Dota Avenue. It was seconded by Commission Pampel. The motion was approved by a vote of 7-0. COMMISSION ISSUES Commissioner Tortorello asked if the traffic signal timing at the Rand - Central - Mount Prospect intersection was recently changed. Sergeant Eterno and Traffic Engineer Lawrie responded that there were some issues when the pedestrian signals were activated but that they have been corrected. Chairman Keane asked when the street light at Ardyce Lane and Catino Court was going to be replaced. It was knocked down several months ago. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said he would look into the matter. Commission Bencic stated that there is very little green time given to Busse Road at Golf Road. Traffic Engineer Lawrie responded the traffic signals were operated by lOOT but he would inspect the intersection. Commissioner Bencic asked if the parking issue along Ida Court had been resolved. A couple of residents attended the Safety Commission Meeting last winter and expressed concern with parking enforcement during snowfall events. Sergeant Eterno responded that the Village Manager's Office and Police Department agreed to allow parking on one side. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, the Safety Commission voted 7-0 to adjourn at 7:40 p.m. upon the motion of Commissioner Pampel. Commissioner Tortorello seconded the motion. Respectfully submitted, Matthew P. Lawrie, P .E. Traffic Engineer h:\engineering\traffic\safetL commission\recs&mins\sept09min.doc c-,..,.t........... t""""....."t'Y'toi~roi^..... rul.l""1t..l""It.f.inn D~nlCll A nfA ~"'nt..mhAr 1.4 ?nnq