MINUTES OF THE

TRAFFIC COMMISSION

Monday, March 13, 2006

City Hall, Room 310

7:00 PM

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Judy Kuiper, Vice-Chairperson Carol Macaux, Brad Hopp, Cmdr. Jim Arts, Ald. Gary Kriescher, and Matt Kuepers

 

MEMBERS ABSENT: One (1) vacant position

 

OTHERS PRESENT: Recording Secretary and Traffic Engineer Dave Hansen; Operations Director Chris Pirlot; Ald. Chad Fradette

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

1.         Approval of the February 13, 2006 Traffic Commission minutes.

A motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Mr. Kuepers and carried, to approve the minutes of the February 13, 2006 Traffic Commission meeting.

 

INITIAL REQUESTS

 

2.                  Request by Scanhome Furniture to extend to the east the NO PARKING zone on the north side of Hubbard Street east of North Broadway from a point 75 feet east of North Broadway Street to a point 35 feet west of North Broadway Street, further to the east.

Mr. Hansen stated that the owner of Scanhome Furniture has received complaints from truck drivers that deliver furniture to Scanhome Furniture that they cannot maneuver the turn into the southbound only alley east of the store because of parked cars on the north side of Hubbard Street east of North Broadway.  Mr. Hansen recommended that, based on a truck turning movement study, that delivery trucks could successfully enter into the alley if the two western-most available parking stalls were eliminated on the north side of Hubbard Street.

A motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Mr. Hopp and carried that on a 90-day trial:

A.                  Remove the NO PARKING zone on the north side of Hubbard Street from a point 75 feet east of North Broadway to a point 35 feet west of North Broadway.

B.                 Remove the TWO HOUR PARKING (7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday to Friday) zone on the north side of Hubbard Street from a point 75 feet east of North Broadway to a point 200 feet east of North Broadway.

C.                 Establish a NO PARKING zone on the north side of Hubbard Street from a point 125 feet east of North Broadway to a point 35 feet west of North Broadway.

D.                 Establish a TWO HOUR PARKING (7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday to Friday) zone on the north side of Hubbard Street from a point 125 feet east of North Broadway to a point 200 feet east of North Broadway.

3.         Request by Gregory Grobe to establish a NO PARKING zone on Michigan Avenue north of the driveway access to 2225 Michigan Avenue.  (Ald. Fradette)

Mr. Hansen presented a map and photos of the parking zone and informed the Traffic Commission that the length of Michigan Avenue, a cul-de-sac street, was shortened during the 2005 construction of East Shore Drive.  More specifically, the northern termini of Michigan Avenue was moved south near the driveway of the house at 2225 Michigan Avenue.  A resident at 2225 Michigan Avenue has had problems exiting the driveway when vehicles are parked in and near the north end of the cul-de-sac.  Mr. Hansen recommended a NO PARKING zone be established on both sides of the street due to the roadway's narrow width.  Ald. Fradette noted that the resident south of 2225 Michigan Avenue uses the available on-street parking near his house.  Ald. Fradette requested this agenda item be postponed until the next Traffic Commission meeting.

A motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Cmdr. Arts and carried to postpone the request by Ald. Fradette to establish a NO PARKING zone on Michigan Avenue north of the driveway access to 2225 Michigan Avenue until the March 27th Traffic Commission meeting.

4.                  Request by Ald. Fradette to install audible pedestrian signals at the intersection of Baird Street and University Avenue.  (Ald. Fradette)

Ald. Fradette stated that a blind person lives near the intersection and walks through the intersection frequently.   Mr. Pirlot stated that a funeral home, a church, a park, and a single-family residence are located at the intersection.  He also explained how audible pedestrian signals worked.  Audible pedestrian signals are often the source of complaints from nearby residences, especially during the warmer seasons, because of the loud sound they produce.

Ald. Kriescher was concerned that pedestrian push buttons would fail.  Mr. Pirlot stated the City has had issues in the past with the performance of pedestrian push buttons.  However, newer models available have corrected most of the failure issues.

A motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Mr. Hopp and carried that audible pedestrian signals without push button features at the intersection of Baird Street and University Avenue be installed.

5.                  Request by Ald. Kriescher for a NO PARKING zone on the north side of Proper Street from Newhall Street to Elizabeth Street.  (Ald. Kriescher)

Mr. Hansen presented a map and photos showing a NO PARKING zone on the south side of Proper Street from Newhall Street to Elizabeth Street.  The street is narrow and there are many driveways that access this segment of Proper Street.  This makes it difficult for residents to enter and exit their driveways safely.  The existing driveway spacing also creates many gaps in the parking zone.  Ald. Kriescher confirmed that parking issues exist.

A motion was made by Mr. Hopp, seconded by Ald. Kriescher and carried that on a 90-day trial a NO PARKING zone on the north side of Proper Street from Newhall Street to Elizabeth Street be established on a 90-day trial.

 

6.                  Request by the Traffic Engineer to modify the parking zones on Cherry Street west of Washington Street to its termini.  (Ald. Arnoldi)

Mr. Hansen presented a map and photos of the parking zone showing vehicles parking on both sides of this segment of Cherry Street facing west although the street carries two-way traffic.  This segment of Cherry Street was narrowed during the construction of the Nicolet Bank building, which abuts the roadway to the south.  The narrowing of the street, in combination with the restricted one-way southbound alley that intersects Cherry Street to the north, does not accommodate the turning around of taxis and limousines which use the restricted taxi and limousine only parking on the north side of Cherry Street between Washington Street west to the alley.  If onstreet parking were allowed within this segment of Cherry Street, it would create access issues into the future condominium building located north and west of the alley.  Ald. Kriescher stated that a taxi and limousine restricted parking zone used to exist on the north side of Cherry Street between Washington Street and Adams Street prior to the construction of the Cherry Street parking ramp.

A motion was made by Mr. Hopp, seconded by Ald. Kriescher and carried that on a 90-day trial:

A          Remove the NO PARKING zone on Cherry Street, both sides, from Washington Street to a point 115 feet west of Washington Street.

B.                 Remove the NO PARKING, TAXIS, LIMOS AND BUSES ONLY 10 PM TO 2 AM DAILY zone on Cherry Street, north side, from a point 115 feet west of Washington Street to Adams Street.

C.                 Establish a NO STOPPING OR STANDING zone on Cherry Street, both sides, from Washington Street to and including the cul-de-sac west of Washington Street.

D.                 Establish a restricted parking zone (taxis and limousines only, 10 AM to 2 AM) on Cherry Street, north side, from Washington Street to Adams Street.

7.         Request by Ald. VanderLeest to install pedestrian crosswalk pavement markings at the four-way STOP-controlled intersection of Hazelwood Lane and Wood Lane, install turn bay arrow pavement markings, and install advance STOP AHEAD signs.  (Ald. VanderLeest)

Mr. Hansen presented a map and photos of the intersection showing no sidewalks at the intersection, existing turn bay arrow pavement markings, and advance STOP AHEAD signs on the Hazelwood Lane approaches.  Only the southbound approach (Wood Lane) and the eastbound approach (Hazelwood Lane) exist within the city limits.  Although no STOP AHEAD signs exist on Wood Lane, the visibility of the STOP sign at the intersection is adequate for advance notice of the STOP condition (photos were displayed).  It is City policy not to mark pedestrian cross walks at intersections where no sidewalk and/or curb ramps exist.  Mr. Pirlot stated that it is a standard Department of Public Works procedure to repaint lane use control arrows and other lane lines each year.

A motion was made by Mr. Kuepers, seconded by Ms. Macaux and carried that the request by Ald. VanderLeest to install pedestrian crosswalk pavement markings at the four-way STOP-controlled intersection of Hazelwood Lane and Wood Lane, install turn bay arrow pavement markings, and install advance STOP AHEAD signs be received and placed on file and that the Department of Public Works continues to monitor the intersection.

8.         Request by Ald. VanderLeest to install sharp curve turn signing at the intersection of Wiesner Street and Kennedy Drive and to install centerline pavement markings.  (Ald. VanderLeest)

Mr. Hansen presented a map and photos of the roadway curve and its approaches and also a similar location just north of the subject location.  The other location, which has a tighter curve, currently does not have centerline pavement markings nor advance TURN warning signs present, as well as other similar locations within the City.  Adding the advance TURN warning signs could improve safety to motorists with minimal maintenance and cost while pavement markings are not always visible depending on weather condition and also would need to be maintained on a regular basis.

A motion was made by Mr. Kuepers, seconded by Ald. Kriescher and carried that the request by Ald. VanderLeest to install sharp curve turn signing at the intersection of Wiesner Street and Kennedy Drive be approved while the request install centerline pavement markings be denied.

9.         Request by Alds. VanderLeest and Nelson for left-turn lanes and right-turn lanes on Larsen Road at Taylor Street.  (Alds. VanderLeest and Nelson)

Mr. Hansen presented a map and photos of the intersection, pointing out that Larsen Road at Taylor Street is a "T" intersection and already has a left-turn lane and a right-turn lane on the Larsen Road approach.  The intersection exists within both the City of Green Bay and the Village of Howard limits.  The City owns right-of-way from the centerline of each roadway south and east.  Trucks turning right at the intersection have rutted up the areas behind the curb corners.  However, this is a typical condition within the industrial park, and maintenance crews have backfilled gravel into those corners to mitigate this condition.  No history of signal or pole knockdowns are known.  Mr. Kuepers and Ms. Kuiper noted the lane lines on Taylor Street were not present on the aerial map, and that enhanced pavementmarkings could improve the turning movements and operations at the intersection.

A motion was made by Mr. Kuepers, seconded by Ms. Macaux and carried that the request by Alds. VanderLeest and Nelson for left-turn lanes and right-turn lanes on Larsen Road at Taylor Street be denied.

A second motion was made by Mr. Kuepers, seconded by Ms. Macaux and carried that lane channelizing pavement markings between the two northbound lanes at the intersection of Taylor Street at Larsen Road be installed.

10.       Request by Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church (1350 Bond Street) to remove the special parking and loading zones on the east side of Platten Street, just north of Bond Street.  (Ald. Nelson).

Mr. Pirlot noted that the church moved their main entrance from North Platten Street to Bond Street, making the special parking and loading zone unnecessary.  Church representatives have requested the removal of the special parking zone.  Mr. Hansen presented a map of the intersection showing the location of the special parking zone.

A motion was made by Mr. Kuepers, seconded by Mr. Hopp and carried that on a 90-day trial, the 30 MINUTE LOADING ZONE DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAYS zone on the east side of Platten Street from a point 125 feet north of Bond Street to a point 222 feet north of Bond Street be removed.

POSTPONED FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

11.              Request by Ald. Wery to review and modify the parking zone on Nicolet Avenue just south of West Mason Street. (Ald. Wery)

Mr. Hansen presented a map and photos and noted a NO PARKING zone exists on both sides of Nicolet Avenue from West Mason Street to a point 100 feet south of West Mason Street.  An eye clinic (1087 W. Mason Street) and a law firm (1077 W. Mason Street) exist near the intersection.

A motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Ms. Macaux and carried to suspend the rules to allow interested parties to speak.

Jack and Mary Gillis (851 Nicolet Avenue) expressed to the Traffic Commission that parking spaces on Nicolet Avenue are too close to the intersection of Mason Street.  They cited instances while after exiting Mason Street onto Nicolet Avenue where they drove between parked vehicles on both sides while vehicle doors were open as motorists were entering their parked cars.  They stated the road was too narrow to have parking on both sides while being capable of handling two-way traffic that close to the intersection.

A motion by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Cmdr. Arts and carried to return to regular order of business. Cmd. Arts suggested moving the NO PARKING zone further south of the intersection and to have City Zoning determine if the eye clinic and law firm have enough available private parking lot spaces to be in compliance with the City Ordinances.

A motion by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Cmdr. Arts and carried that the City Zoning Department determine if the businesses located at 1087 W. Mason Street and at 1077 W. Mason Street meet the minimum onsite parking requirements per City Ordinance, and, on a 90-day trial:

A.         Remove the NO PARKING zone on both sides of Nicolet Avenue from West Mason Street to a point 100 feet south of West Mason Street.

B.                 Establish a NO PARKING zone on both sides of Nicolet Avenue from West Mason Street to a point 170 feet south of West Mason Street.

12.       Request by Ald. Theisen for flashing beacons on Monroe Avenue adjacent to Aldo Leopold Elementary School.  (Ald. Theisen)

Mr. Hansen stated that Ald. Theisen asked that this request be postponed until the April 10th Traffic Commission meeting.

A motion was made by Ms. Macaux, seconded by Mr. Kuipers and carried that the request for flashing beacons on Monroe Avenue adjacent to Aldo Leopold Elementary School be referred to the Department of Public Works for study.

TERMINATION OF TRIAL PERIODS

 

13.       That, on a 90-day trial basis, remove the NO PARKING DURING SCHOOL HOURS zone on the east side of Hobart Drive from San Lorenz Drive to a point 515 feet north of San Lorenz Drive.

A motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Ms. Macaux, and carried that the removal of the NO PARKING DURING SCHOOL HOURS zone on the east side of Hobart Drive from San Lorenz Drive to a point 515 feet north of San Lorenz Drive be adopted by ordinance.

 

14.              That, on a 90-day trial basis, establish a NO PARKING DURING SCHOOL HOURS zone on the east side of Hobart Drive from San Lorenz Drive to a point 180 feet north of San Lorenz Drive.

A motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Ms. Macaux, and carried that a NO PARKING DURING SCHOOL HOURS zone on the east side of Hobart Drive from San Lorenz Drive to a point 180 feet north of San Lorenz Drive be adopted by ordinance.

15.       That, on a 90-day trial basis, establish a NO PARKING DURING SCHOOL HOURS zone on the east side of Hobart Drive from a point 330 feet north of San Lorenz Drive to a point 515 north of San Lorenz Drive.

A motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Ms. Macaux, and carried that a NO PARKING DURING SCHOOL HOURS zone on the east side of Hobart Drive from a point 330 feet north of San Lorenz Drive to a point 515 north of San Lorenz Drive be adopted by ordinance.

 

16.       That, on a 90-day trial basis, establish a NO PARKING BUS LOADING ONLY zone on the east side of Hobart Drive from a point 180 feet north of San Lorenz Drive to a point 330 feet north of San Lorenz Drive.

A motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Ms. Macaux, and carried that a NO PARKING BUS LOADING ONLY zone on the east side of Hobart Drive from a point 180 feet north of San Lorenz Drive to a point 330 feet north of San Lorenz Drive be adopted by ordinance.

17.       That, on a 90-day trial basis, remove the NO PARKING zone on the north side of Mills Street from Henry Street to a point 10 feet east of Henry Street.

A motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Ms. Macaux, and carried that the removal the NO PARKING zone on the north side of Mills Street from Henry Street to a point 10 feet east of Henry Street be adopted by ordinance.

18.              That, on a 90-day trial basis, establish a NO PARKING zone on the north side of Mills Street from Henry Street to a point 80 feet east of Henry Street.

A motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Ms. Macaux, and carried that a NO PARKING zone on the north side of Mills Street from Henry Street to a point 80 feet east of Henry Street be adopted by ordinance.

There being no other items of discussion, a motion was made by Mrs. Kuiper,  seconded by Ald. Kriescher and carried to adjourn from the regular orders of business.  The meeting ended at 8:00 P.M.  The next Traffic Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 27, 2006.