Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/14/1994 SC MinutesDirector Water/Sewer Superintendent HE hert L. Weeks MAINTAIN Sean P. Dorsey Deputy Director Street/Building Superintendent Glen R. Andler * Melvyn L. Both Administrative Aide Forestry/Grounds Superintendent Dawn L. Rivera Sandra M. Clark Ad Waste Coordinator 4jf J� Vehicle/Equipment Superintendent M. Lisa Angell James E. Guenther Mount Prospect Public Works Department 1700 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056-2229 Phone 708/870-5640 Fax 708/253-9377 TDD 708/392-1235 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 7:32 P.M. on Monday, November 14, 1994. H. ROLL CALL Upon roll call each Safety Member introduced themselves to the audience. Present upon roll call: Chris Lenz Commissioner Andy Mitchell Commissioner Art Coy Commissioner Mel Both Public Works, Street Dept. Fred Tennyson Public Works, Engineering Dept. Mike Kruchten Police Dept. Del Ulreich Fire Dept. Joan Bjork Commissioner Arlene Juracek Commissioner Absent: Lee Beening Chairman Others in Attendance: See Attached List Mr. Chris Lenz, Vice Chairman presided over the Safety Commission meeting in the absence of Lee Beening. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Andy Mitchell, seconded by Art Coy moved to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Safety Commission held on January 10, 1994. 1 Recycled Paper IV. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD No citizens came forth at this time to discuss any topics that were not on the current agenda. V. OLD BUSINESS A) PARKING ON THE 200 BLOCK OF NORTH LOUIS STREET Chris Lenz discussed the homeowners' concern about the parking situation on the 200 block of north Louis Street. He indicated that the homeowners feel that the current situation is better than the proposals brought forth thus far. He did note that the property at 791 Rand Road is for sale. Once this property is sold then Chris Lenz believes that the street will be widened enough to allow for better parking. B. TRAFFIC FLOW ON AUDREY LANE Fred Tennyson updated the Safety Commission on the status of the Audrey Lane traffic problem. He indicated that a public meeting was being held on Monday, November 14, 1994, (same day and time as this safety meeting) to discuss various options to limit the through traffic on Audrey Lane. The minutes of that meeting will be made available to the Safety Commission. The current plan under consideration is to install a barricade on Connie Lane and take traffic counts on the area streets at a future date. These counts will be used to determine whether or not traffic on Audrey Lane has been reduced as a result of the closure of Connie Lane. VI. NEW BUSINESS A) CHILDREN AT PLAY SIGN REQUEST ON ELMHURST AVENUE AND BOB -O -LINK ROAD, NORTH OF KENSINGTON At this time there were no residents present to discuss this topic. Chris Lenz recommended to delay the discussion of this item until later in the meeting to allow for any residents wishing to respond to this item to be present. Art Coy expressed his concern with installing signs of this nature. He indicated that they are unenforceable and may actually pose a false sense of security for the residents. No residents appeared before the Safety Commission to discuss this request at any time during the meeting. Chris Lenz motioned to defer this issue until the next meeting. B) PARKING RESTRICTION ON 600 BLOCK OF SOUTH EMERSON STREET Fred Tennyson discussed the problem of commuters parking on the east side of the 600 block of Emerson Street. He indicated that the homeowners on that block had noticed cars being parked on the street in front of their house in the morning and the drivers not returning until the evening. Mr. Mark A. Gamber (resident at 606 south Emerson Street) expressed his concern about commuters parking in front of his house. Fred Tennyson indicated that a petition was sent to the 2 residents on the 600 block of Emerson Street. The results of that survey was 5 to 2 in favor of a parking restriction. The two residents opposed to the parking restriction did not submit reasons for their votes. The Safety Commission members discussed merits of various options, such as No Parking 5:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. and No Parking Anytime, and agreed upon the engineering recommendation of 2 Hr Parking on any day except Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays between the hours of seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. and six o'clock (6:00) P.M. on the east side of Emerson Street between Berkshire Lane and Council Trail. The Safety Commission voted 8-0 to approve this engineering recommendation. C) PARKING RESTRICTION ON 200 BLOCK OF NORTH PINE STREET Fred Tennyson discussed the problem of commuters parking on the 200 block of north Pine Street. Mrs. Alice Rolnick (resident at 203 north Pine Street) discussed her concerns about commuters parking in front of her house. She complained that the Public Works leaf pickup crew was not able to clean up her leaves because of the parked cars. The Safety Commission discussed the problem of commuters parking on local streets which appears to be more of a problem with the removal of the Wille Street parking lot. Chris Lenz asked Mrs. Rolnick if she had talked to her neighbors about this problem. She indicated that she had not. Fred Tennyson stated that questionnaires has not been sent to the residents on the 200 block of north Pine Street due to the late arrival of this request. Andy Mitchell, seconded by Arlene Juracek recommended that a questionnaire be sent to the residents and that this request be brought forth at the next meeting. The Safety Commission voted 8-0 to approve this recommendation. D. STOP SIGN REQUEST ON LAVERGNE DRIVE AT PHEASANT TRAIL Fred Tennyson discussed the request by the residents on Pheasant Trail for a stop sign on Lavergne Drive at the intersection with Pheasant Trail. He cited that this request had been brought up before the Safety Commission in 1993. At that time a stop sign was not warranted according to the warrants set forth by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Safety Commission voted in 1993 not to install a stop sign. Since this recommendation was made the residents on Pheasant Trail submitted a petition to the Village requesting that a stop sign be installed on Lavergne Drive. The Village hired a consulting firm to further review the warrants for a stop sign. The consultant, Peter F. Olesen and Associates, Inc. concluded that a stop sign is still not warranted according to IDOT regulations. Arlene Juracek discussed her concern with "T" intersections that have stop signs on the main street and not on the intersecting street. She cited examples in town where this occurs. Del Ulreich also expressed his concern about not having a stop sign on Lavergne Drive. He believes that drivers on Pheasant Trail may think that drivers on Lavergne Drive will stop even though there is no stop sign and that this may pose a dangerous situation. Mike Kruchten from the Police Department 3 indicated that there has only been one accident over the past five years at this intersection. John Stroh (resident at 1817 Catalpa Lane and president of the safety committee for John Jay School) expressed the school's concern about the lack of a stop sign on Lavergne Drive. He understands about the State required warrants but wishes that a stop sign still be installed. He is worried about the children who cross Lavergne Drive at Pheasant Trail to go to school. Fred Tennyson asked Mr. Stroh if John Jay School has considered placing a crossing guard at this intersection. Mr Stroh said that they are considering this option. Mr. Dennis Prikkel (resident at 1731 Pheasant Trail) also stated his reasons for having a stop sign at Lavergne Drive. He noted that many times cars going southbound on Lavergne Drive speed around the corner of Pheasant Trail and have actually come onto the parkway near where several children play. Andy Mitchell was concerned that the existing stop signs on Pheasant Trail are not warranted and should be removed. Fred Tennyson explained that due to the fact that these stop signs have been in place for some time that to remove them may create more problems then they would resolve. Art Coy discussed the possible liability to the Village for installing unwarranted stop signs should an accident occur. Arlene Juracek, seconded by Andy Mitchell recommended that the Safety Commission approve the installation of the stop sign on Lavergne Drive at the intersection with Pheasant Trail. The Safety Commission voted 4-4 upon this recommendation. Those voting for the recommendation include: Chris Lenz Andy Mitchell Del Ulreich Arlene Juracek Those voting against the recommendation include: Art Coy Mike Kruchten Joan Bjork Fred Tennyson Chris Lenz indicated that a 4-4 vote means that the recommendation does not pass. Therefore the Safety Commission does not approve of the installation of a stop sign on Lavergne Drive at Pheasant Trail. E) STOP SIGN REQUEST ON ELM STREET AT EVERGREEN AVENUE Fred Tennyson explained that McGill Management, Inc. who represents the condominiums at the corner of Elm Street and Evergreen Avenue requested a stop sign on Elm Street for southbound traffic. McGill Management indicated that they have received several complaints from the condo owners about southbound traffic accidently entering College Drive (a private drive) thinking that it is a through street to Northwest Highway. Once these vehicles enter into the private area they tend to create a disturbance trying to exit the area. McGill Management also believes that the Elm Street and Evergreen Avenue intersection poses a hazardous situation for the residents trying to exit from College Drive onto Elm Street and Evergreen Avenue. Mr. Tennyson explained that the Village once again hired a consultant to study this intersection for possible warrants to install a stop sign. Peter F. Olesen and Associates, Inc. was again hired to do the study. The results of the study indicated that this intersection does not meet any of the warrants required by the State of Illinois to install a stop sign. Chris Lenz requested that this stop sign request be differed to the next meeting because there was nobody present to represent McGill Management or the residents involved. The other members of the Safety Commission asked that they continue to discuss this request. It was noted by the Safety Commission that with only fifty (50) vehicles entering the intersection during the peak hour vehicle movements, a stop sign should not be considered for this intersection. Art Coy, seconded by Joan Bjork recommended that a stop sign not be installed at the intersection of Elm Street and Evergreen Avenue. The Safety Commission voted 8-0 to approve this recommendation. F) PARKING RESTRICTION ON WALNUT AVENUE NEAR PROSPECT MANOR DRIVE Fred Tennyson discussed the request from a Palatine resident (Ms. Nicoleta Petrila, 235 E. Palatine Road) to restrict parking on the west side of Prospect Manor Avenue from Walnut Avenue south to Northwest Highway. Ms. Petrila indicated that it was very difficult to turn left from Walnut Avenue onto southbound Prospect Manor Avenue when cars and trucks are parked on the west side of the street. Arlene Juracek stated that she makes this turn several times herself and has never had a problem. Fred Tennyson explained that after he talked to the residents and the business owners in the area there are very few complaints about the parking on the west side of Prospect Manor Avenue. Mr. Tennyson did indicate that there appeared to be a site obstruction problem with cars parked on the south side of Walnut Avenue near the Prospect Manor intersection. Cars exiting the alley onto Walnut Avenue have difficulty seeing traffic on Walnut Avenue if a car is parked on the south side of Walnut Avenue between Prospect Manor Avenue and the alley. Mike Kruchten indicated that there is a large 61 amount of traffic that uses the alley due to the location and access to the businesses in the area. The Safety Commission voted 8-0 to not restrict parking on the west side of Prospect Manor Avenue from Walnut Avenue to Northwest Highway. The Safety Commission also voted 8-0 to allow no parking on the south side of Walnut Avenue from Prospect Avenue to fifteen (15) feet east of the alley. These recommendations were both presented by Andy Mitchell and seconded by Del Ulreich. Fred Tennyson indicated that a new Village ordinance is not required for the recommended parking restriction on Walnut Avenue due to the existing Village ordinances concerning the proximity of parked cars to intersections. However, he will request that the Public Works Department install the proper signage for this location. VI Adjournment With no further business to discuss,the Safety Commission voted 8-0 to adjourn at 9:00 P.M., November 14, 1994, upon the motion of Del Ulreich. Mike Kruchten seconded the motion Res ectfully submitted, Fred Tennyson, P.E. Project/Traffic Engineer Sr f'-, 173 ---- --- - ---