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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/08/1996 SC MinutesDirector Commissioner Water/Sewer Superintendent Glen R. Andler MAINTAIN Roderick O'Donovan Deputy Director Public Works Streets/Buildings Superintendent Sean P. Dorsey Sean Won Paul Bures Village Engineer Chairman Forestry/Grounds Superintendent Jeffrey A. Wulbecker -BL soaks Sandra M. Clark Administrative Aide�~ y Q� Pk9 Vehicle/Equipment Superintendent Dawn L. Wucki �y� James E. Guenther Solid Waste Coordinator G 8 1q M. Lisa Angell Mount Prospect Public Works Department 1700 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056-2229 Phone 647/670-5640 Fax 647/253-9377 TOO B47/392-1235 MINUTES OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT SAFETY COMMISSION I. CALL TO ORDER The Regular Meeting of the Mount Prospect Safety Commission was called to order at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, July 8, 1996. B. ROLL CALL Upon roll call, each Safety Commission Member introduced themselves to the audience. Present upon roll call: Arlene Juracek Commissioner Joan Bjork Commissioner Chuck Bencic Commissioner Sean Dorsey Public Works Buz Livingston Fire Department Sean Won Public Works, Engineering Division Absent: Lee Beening Chairman Andy Mitchell Commissioner Art Coy Commissioner Tom Daley Police Department Others in Attendance: See Attached List. Commissioner Arlene Juracek presided over the Safety Commission Meeting in the absence of Chairman Lee Beening. Ili. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Joan Bjork, seconded by Sean Dorsey, moved to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Safety Commission held on June 10, 1996. The Minutes were approved by a vote of 5-0. 1 Recycled Paper - Printed with Soy Ink IV. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD No citizens came forth at this time to discuss any topics that were not on the current agenda. V. BUSINESS A) FAIRVIEW SCHOOL Due to traffic & pedestrian congestion, the Fairview School Safety Committee requested the parking restrictions and 3 -way stop signs to improve the safety of students. 1. No Stopping, Standing, Parking Between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. on School Days East Side of Fairview Ave from Isabella St to Gregory St a) Background Information The Engineering Staff sent out surveys to 11 residents concerning restricting parking on the east side of Fairview Avenue. Of the 8 surveys returned, 5 were against this restriction and 3 were in favor. Because the majority of the residents opposed the above parking restriction and the Staff did not observe any significant safety concern, the Engineering Staff did not recommend the above restriction. b) Discussion Ms. Allison Kelly, Chairman of the Fairview School Safety Committee requested the parking restriction on the east side of Fairview Ave from Isabella St to Gregory St during school hours because 1) it is difficult to maneuver school buses around parked cars if cars are parked on both sides of Fairview Ave. (Fairview Ave is 22' wide), and 2) Fairview School does not want parents to drop off their children across the school (east side of Fairview Ave) so children run across Fairview Ave to get into the school. Several Fairview Safety Committee members also stated the same opinions. Ms. Kelly said that no cars are allowed into the bus tum around and 5 - 6 school buses are using the bus turn around. Mr. Dick Reithal of 303 North Fairview Ave said that 1) he monitored the traffic on Fairview Ave since last year, 2) he did not observe any congestion during school hours, 3) school buses have staggered hours, and 4) generally parents do not park on the east side of Fairview because Fairview School Principal sent a notice to parents for their cooperation on not parking on the east side of Fairview Ave. Mr. Reithal said that the existing condition is safe and there is no need to restrict parking on the east side of Fairview Ave. Several residents on Fairview Ave had the same opinions. 2 2. No Stopping, Standing, Parking between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. on School Days on the South Side of Isabella St from Fairview Ave to Oak St & on the West Side of Forest Ave from Isabella St to 208 N. Forest Ave a) Background Information The Engineering Staff sent out surveys to 14 residents concerning the above parking restriction. Of the 9 surveys returned, only 1 was against this restriction, 8 were in favor (3 out of the 8 approved resident parking only. Currently, the Village does not have a resident only parking restriction on public streets.) Because the majority of the residents approved the above parking restriction, the Engineering Staff did recommend the above restrictions. b) Discussion Fairview School also requested the parking restriction on the south side of Isabella St from Fairview Ave to Oak St & on the west side of Forest Ave from Isabella St to 208 N. Forest Ave during school hours because 1) it is difficult to maneuver around parked cars if cars are parked on both sides of Isabella St and Forest Ave, 2) Fairview School does not want parents to drop off their children and then have them cross the street, 3) sometimes drivers double park their cars on Isabella St and Forest Ave, and 4) not enough room is left for emergency vehicles due to double parking and parking on both sides of streets. Several residents on Isabella St and Forest Ave stated the following: • Parents drop off their children on the north side of Isabella St between the drop off entrance and exit driveways. These children have to walk between cars in the drop off area. Additional parking restrictions may be needed on the north side of Isabella St between the drop off driveways. • Some drivers park their cars in front of fire hydrants and driveways. Many drivers are using resident's driveways as turn arounds. • Some residents have only a one car garage but the families have several cars. Therefore, if parking is restricted, they can not park in front of their houses. • Former School Superintendent Dr. Many promised that there would be no congestion on Isabella St and Forest Ave. Residents wanted to know why they are experiencing these problems. • Due to congestion, some resident wanted the parking restriction expanded to both sides of Forest Ave from Isabella St to Thayer St, not just the west side of Forest Ave. • One resident suggested resident only parking on Forest Ave (Sean Dorsey said that the Village does not have a resident only parking area because it is difficult to enforce). 3 3. 3 -Way Stop Signs at Isabella St and Forest Ave a) Background Information The Engineering Staff sent out surveys to 10 residents concerning the 3 - way Stop Signs at the above location. Of the 7 surveys returned, 1 was against this restriction, 6 were in favor. Only 1 accident (in 1993) was reported in the last 5 years (1991-1995). Traffic counts and a speed study were not completed at this intersection since it is under construction as part of the Village's street resurfacing program. It was projected that the number of cars entering this intersection is significantly less than the minimum IDOT warrants (500 cars per hour for 8 consecutive hours). A school crossing survey found that approximately 10 students crossed Isabella Street in the morning and the afternoon. Therefore, the Engineering Staff did not recommend 3 - Way Stop Signs at this intersection. b) Discussion Fairview School requested 3 -way stop signs at Isabella St and Forest Ave because of 1) speeding on Isabella St, 2) many reckless drivers, 3) many students who cross Isabella St daily, and 4) congestion at this intersection. Sean Won said that this intersection does not meet stop sign warrants (see the background information section on page 2). Therefore, the Village Engineering Staff does not recommend 3 -way stop signs at this intersection. Ms. Allison Kelly said that, if we apply the stop sign warrants, most of the stop signs in the Village do not meet the stop sign warrants. Commissioner Arlene Juracek agreed that most of the stop signs in the Village do not meet the stop sign warrants. Commissioner Chuck Bencic stated that unwarranted stop signs give a false sense of security to the students and parents. One resident asked whether speed bumps could be installed on these streets to control speed. Sean Dorsey said that the Village does not install speed bumps on public streets due to snow plowing in winter. 4. . Summary Based on the discussion, Commissioner Arlene Juracek summarized the following: • Fairview School Principal and residents need to have a meeting to finalize mutually agreeable parking restrictions. The parking restriction on the east side of Fairview Ave will not be considered. Parking restrictions to be considered are 1) both sides of Forest Ave from Isabella St to Thayer St, 2) the south side of Isabella St from Fairview Ave to Oak St, and 3) the north side of Isabella St between drop off driveways. Instead of 3 -way stop signs, a yield sign on Forest Ave will be considered because this intersection does not meet stop sign warrants. Sean Won will contact the Fairview School Safety Committee and Fairview School Principal in July/August to find out the revised Fairview School traffic/parking restriction plan. Then Sean Won will arrange a meeting with the residents and Fairview School. After the mutually agreeable parking restriction plan is finalized, he will send out surveys to collect the resident's opinion. B) LIONS SCHOOL a) Background Information Lions School Principal requested the following restrictions because new Lions School is oriented to the east direction instead of the south direction: In order to get this on this month's agenda, time was limited. Therefore, no surveys were completed. All residents who are affected were notified of the Safety Commission Meeting schedule. 1. Loading Zone on the West Side of School St from Council Tr to Sha-Bonee Tr No Stopping, Standing, Parking between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. on School Days on the East Side of School St from Council Tr to Sha-Bonee Tr Normally, parents will drop off & pick up students on the west side of School Street. Therefore the west side of School Street should be a Loading Zone (Drop-off and Pick -Up Only). To improve the safety of the students, parking on the east side of School St should also be restricted. Note that the Village temporarily installed No -Parking -Any - Time Signs on the east side of School St to reduce congestion during construction. 2. No Stopping, Standing, Parking between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. on School Days on North Side of Council Tr from 220 ft to 320 ft West of School St Both sides of the School Bus Turn Around should be clear of any parked cars to improve the sight distance of school bus drivers. Therefore, parking on both sides of School Bus Turn Around should be restricted. 3. Do -Not -Enter School Days 8:00 - 9:30 A.M. and 2:30 - 4:00 P.M. North Bound School St at Council Tr Do -Not -Enter Signs have been installed here for some time. But they were removed during construction to reduce congestion. However, this 5 sign was not covered by the Village Ordinances. The Ordinances should be revised to make this restriction enforceable. b) Discussion Ms. Pat Cassidy, Lions School Principal, explained that the proposed restrictions (explained in the previous section) are similar to the existing restrictions. Sean Won said that the Village temporarily installed No - Parking -Any -Time Signs on the east side of School St to reduce congestion during construction. Commissioner Chuck Bencic stated that Lions School needs to install a No -Left -Turn sign at the drop off exit driveway to make School St one way in addition to the proposed Do -Not - Enter signs. Ms. Cassidy said that Lions School will install this sign. 2. Sean Won said that he could not complete the survey asking resident's opinion about the proposed restriction because time was limited. Commissioner Arlene Juracek wanted the Village to follow the established Notification Policy. Therefore, Sean Won will send out surveys to collect resident's opinion about the proposed change and bring this issue back to the August Safety Commission Meeting. VI. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, the Safety Commission voted 5-0 to adjourn at 9:25 P.M., upon the motion of Commissioner Chuck Bencic. Sean Dorsey seconded the motion. Respectfully submitted, - � Sean S.M. Won Traffic Engineer D I VILLAGE OF MOUNT PROSPECT SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING ATTENDANCE SHEET J U LY 8, 1996 - NAME ADDRESS PHONE NO. a,-/ / 321z- PLEASE SIGN-UP AND PICKUP THE AGENDAI