Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/09/2008 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 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 9, 2008. ROLL CALL Commissioner Keane informed the Commission that Commissioner Bencic had reached his term limit as Chairman and that he (Commissioner Keane) was recently appointed by Mayor Wilks to represent the Commission as the new Chairman. Present upon roll call: John Keane Chuck Bencic Angel Campos Robert Fisher Fred Pampel Carol Tortorello Mike Eterno Buz Livingston Paul Bures Matt Lawrie Absent: None Others in Attendance: Michael Landgraf Carol Lynch APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Police Department Representative Fire Department Representative Public Works Representative Traffic Engineer - Staff Liaison 21 S. School Street 919 S. Maple Street Commissioner Bencic, seconded by Commissioner Tortorello, moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Safety Commission held on December 10,2007. The minutes were approved by a vote of 8-0 with Commissioner Pampel abstaining. Phone 847/870-5640 Fax 847/253-9377 vvww. mountprospect. org CITIZENS TO BE HEARD There was no one in attendance that spoke on an issue not on the agenda. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business to discuss. NEW BUSINESS A) TRAFFIC STUDY AT ST. PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL 1) Background Information In the summer of2007, various traffic regulations were changed around St. Paul Lutheran School in an effort to enhance pedestrian and vehicular safety. The Safety Commission and Village Board of Trustees requested that the Engineering Staff perform a post-study in the spring of 2008 to determine the effect of the changes. Staff was asked to take into account school, church and park activities. 2) Current Traffic Regulations 1. Busse Avenue in front of the school was converted from a one-way westbound street during specific times of the school day to a two-way street at all times during the school day. 2. There is now a I5-Minute Parking School Days 8:00am-4:00pm parking regulation along the north side of Busse Avenue between Elm Street and School Street. 3. There is now a No Parking Drop-Off / Pick-Up Zone School Days 8:00am-4:00pm parking regulation along the west side of School Street between Busse Avenue and Central Road excluding the first 196' north of Busse Avenue and first 150' south of Central Road. 4. There is now a No Stopping, Standing, Parking School Days 8:00am-4:00pm parking regulation along the south side of Busse Avenue between Elm Street and School Street, the east side of School Street between Busse Avenue and Central Road, and the west side of Elm Street from Busse Avenue to a point 150' north. 5. There is a two-hour parking limit Monday-Friday 7:00am-6:00pm on many of the streets in the neighborhood. 6. School Street from Central Road to Evergreen Avenue is one-way southbound and Busse Avenue from Elm Street to Owen Street is one-way westbound on Sundays from 7:00am- 1:00pm. 3) Observation & Evaluation School Activities - During the Engineering Staffs observations of drop-off and pick-up, traffic conditions were orderly and safe for both parents and students. Issues such as motorists disobeying the one-way designation on Busse Avenue, students walking between cars, and traffic congestion on School Street and Elm Street have been solved. And other issues such as double-parking and parking close to crosswalks have been minimized. During our visits, parents were observed to park illegally on only a few occasions. Overall, however, conditions have improved. Church Activities - The church has recently completed a renovation project to the building. While scheduled for a future phase, the parking lot was not expanded as part of the initial work. The Police Department observed traffic conditions on a Sunday morning and reported little problems. On-street parking was present but congestion along the streets was not evident. The one-way southbound designation along School Street from Central Road to Evergreen A venue on Sunday mornings, however, was routinely disobeyed even though signs are in place. There is also a one-way westbound designation along Busse Avenue from Elm Street to Owen Street according to Village Code though no signs are in place. This ordinance, too, was routinely disobeyed. Park Activities - The three streets that border Owen Park: Busse Avenue, School Street and Owen Street all have a 2-hour parking limit from 7:00am-6:00pm Monday-Friday. The Engineering Staff observed traffic conditions during weekday evenings and on a Saturday afternoon and did not see any issues. There were people at both the playground and ball field during our visits. On-street parking was observed but there was no congestion evident along the streets surrounding the park. Resident/Parent Survey- As part of the post-study, 17 surveys were sent to nearby homes soliciting their feedback on the traffic regulation changes and their observations during school, church and park functions. Surveys were also sent to the school, church and park district. 3 surveys were returned. All support the changes made last year. One commented that the one-way designation along School Street is not adhered to and another one commented that some parents to do not follow the parking restrictions during the school day. 4) Recommendations School - Based on the Engineering Staffs observations, the new traffic regulations appear to be effective in creating an orderly and safe environment. No further traffic regulation changes are recommended. However, it would be beneficial to remind parents via letter prior to the start of the school year to not park close to crosswalks and to not double-park. Police Department presence at the beginning of the school year would help to reinforce the traffic regulations. Church - The one-way designations on Sunday mornings along School Street and Busse Avenue are recommended to be removed to allow for two-way traffic at all times. The one-way designations were put into place in 1971 but appear to not be of benefit today. Since some residents affected by this potential change are outside the current notification area, it is recommended that they be informed and that this issue be discussed in greater detail at a future Safety Commission Meeting. Further, we would want to inform the church of the potential change as well. There are no other changes to the traffic regulations recommended around the church. Park - No traffic-related issues were observed during the Engineering Staffs visits to the park. Also, a representative of the park district was not aware of any issues. There are no changes to the traffic regulations recommended around the park. 5) Discussion Chairman Keane introduced the issue and opened the discussion to the public. Michael Landgraf, 21 S. School Street, supports the changes to the traffic regulations associated with school drop-off and pick-up activities. With respect to Sunday morning traffic, there is a lot of on-street parking on School Street. The one-way designation during this time should be signed better or eliminated to allow for two-way traffic because many motorists don't follow the existing signs. Further, he believes there should be some consideration for limiting parking on one side of School Street during Sunday mornings. Carol Lynch, 919 S. Maple Street, is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and was not aware Busse Avenue is designated a one-way street on Sunday mornings. Chairman Keane asked Traffic Engineer Lawrie to present Staffs study and recommendations. Traffic Engineer Lawrie then shared with the Commission Staffs observations and recommendations. Chairman Keane brought the issue back to the Commission. There was consensus from the Commission that the traffic regulations around the school have been effective in creating a safe environment. The discussion then focused on church activities. Traffic Engineer Lawrie commented that limiting parking to one side of School Street and Busse A venue on Sunday mornings would displace many vehicles. With the church and school parking lots full, on-street parking would extend further into the neighborhood. Commissioner Bencic and others said they thought Busse Avenue was wider than School Street and two-way traffic could be maintained even with parking on both sides of the street. One issue with School Street is that there are many driveways and allowing parking on both sides of the street can make it difficult for residents to maneuver in and out of their driveways. There was a question about emergency vehicle access. Battalion Chief Livingston said there was an alarm at St. Paul Lutheran Church on a recent Sunday morning and the Fire Department was able to negotiate School Street even with vehicles parked on both sides of the street. Commissioner Fisher commented that allowing parking on both sides of the street prevented thru traffic during the Fire Department's response. This created a safe situation for the personnel. Sergeant Eterno commented that residents on other streets may also want parking restrictions if parking is limited on School Street and Busse Avenue. Chairman Keane told the Commission there are a couple of issues to consider. First, should the Sunday morning one-way designation on School Street and Busse A venue be eliminated and, second, should parking restrictions be enacted on streets around the church. Traffic Engineer Lawrie reiterated Staffs recommendation to convert School Street and Busse Avenue to two-way streets on Sunday mornings and to allow on-street parking to remain as is. Sergeant Eterno supports two-way streets because motorists are more likely to disobey the part- time one-way designation because it can be confusing. Commissioner Tortorello asked if the parking regulations did not change could the Police Department review the situation in the fall to determine if any restrictions are necessary. Traffic Engineer Lawrie and Sergeant Eterno responded that Staff could again review the issue in the fall. There was consensus from the Commission that School Street and Busse Avenue should be designated two-way streets at all times including on Sunday mornings. Traffic Engineer Lawrie suggested that those residents who are outside the current survey area but who would be affected by this change be notified before the change. After some further discussion, Commissioner Bencic, seconded by Commissioner Pampel, moved to remove the Sunday morning one-way designations on School Street between Central Road and Evergreen Avenue, and on Busse A venue between Owen Street and Elm Street resulting in both streets having a two-way designation at all times. Also, a notice is to be sent to the affected properties and allow for a two-week period for feedback. If there are no objections, Staff is to present the change to the Village Board of Trustees for final approval. If there are objections, Staff is to bring the issue back to the Safety Commission for further discussion. Finally, there are no recommended changes to the parking regulations at this time. Staff, however, is to review the parking situation around the church in the fall to determine whether any parking restrictions are necessary. The motion was approved by a vote of 9-0. Commissioner Fisher asked that the church be notified of the change to the one-way designation so that the parishioners can also be made aware. COMMISSION ISSUES Chairman Keane requested the Commission choose a new Vice Chair. This person would facilitate the meetings in the absence of the Chairman. After some discussion, there was consensus that Commissioner Bencic would serve as Vice Chairman. Traffic Engineer Lawrie updated the Commission on the status of the Neighborhood Traffic Study. He indicated the next Open House would be in September or October. Commissioner Tortorello asked that Staff review whether any portion of Evergreen Avenue in front of St. Mark Church is a designated Fire Lane. If so, she requested that it be signed accordingly. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, the Safety Commission voted 9-0 to adjourn at 8:05 p.m. upon the motion of Commissioner Pam pel. Commissioner Bencic seconded the motion. Respectfully submitted, Matthew P. Lawrie, P.E. Traffic Engineer h: \engineering\traffic\safety _ commission\recs&mins\june08min. doc