MINUTES
TRAFFIC
COMMISSION
Monday,
August 27, 2007
7:00 pm
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Judy Kuiper,
Charles Karow, Cmdr. Lisa Sterr, Ald. Gary Kriescher, and Mark Schuster
MEMBERS ABSENT: Matt Kuepers (excused); Brad
Hopp (excused)
OTHERS PRESENT: Recording Secretary and
Traffic Engineer Dave Hansen
1.
Approval of the minutes from the July 23, 2007 Traffic Commission
meeting.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Mr. Karow and carried to approve
the minutes from the July 23, 2007 Traffic Commission meeting.
The
remaining items were discussed in this order:
7, 8, 2, 3, 4, 9, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, and 13.
2.
Request by Martin Elementary School to
modify the parking zones on Pinehurst Avenue from Finger Road to Sunrise Court.
Dave
Hansen, City Traffic Engineer, explained that he met with Martin Elementary Principal
Peggy Ross onsite to review and evaluate the on-street parking request and
needs. As part of that site inspection,
P. Ross also requested crosswalks crossing the north and east approaches of
Pinehurst Av and Crest La., a condition D. Hansen supports pending the
installation of curb ramps on each end of each crosswalk. D. Hansen spoke with Ed Wiesner, Director of
Engineering, who agreed to install the necessary curb ramps under the existing
DPW curb ramp contract, pending written agreement that the school would remove
snow and ice from each curb ramp since the ramps would not terminate at a
sidewalk. D. Hansen stated he received
an e-mail from P. Ross agreeing to these terms.
A
brief discussion took place about whether the school would adhere to the
agreement because the curb ramps are not on school property.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, and seconded
by M. Schuster to suspend the rules and allow interested parties to speak.
Peggy
Ross, Principal of Martin Elementary School, stated she spoke with Al Benke,
Building and Grounds Supervisor for the Green Bay Public School District, and
that he agreed with the terms of the agreement to keep the curb ramps
clear. She expressed her concern with
children crossing Pinehurst Av at Crest La, and that the children typically
walk on the grass along Crest La because there are no sidewalks.
A
brief discussion took place about the need for sidewalks on Crest La.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, and seconded by M. Schuster to return to
regular order of business.
A discussion
took place about cut-through traffic on Pinehurst Av to Mason St, that the
proposed bus loading zone could be too close to both Sunrise Ct and Finger Rd,
the message on the proposed signs, and the construction date of the curb ramps.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Cmdr. Sterr and carried to:
A. On a 90-day trial, remove the NO PARKING DURING
SCHOOL HOURS zone on the west side of Pinehurst Avenue from Finger Road to
Sunrise Court during school hours.
B. On a 90-day trial, establish a NO PARKING 7 AM TO 4
PM SCHOOL DAYS BUS LOADING ZONE on the west side of Pinehurst Avenue from a
point 250 feet south of Sunrise Court to Sunrise Court.
C. On a 90-day trial, establish a NO STOPPING OR
STANDING 7 AM TO 4 PM SCHOOL DAYS zone on the west side of Pinehurst Avenue
from a point 355 feet north of Finger Road to a point 250 feet south of Sunrise
Court.
D. On a 90-day trial, establish a NO PARKING 7 AM TO 4
PM SCHOOL DAYS BUS LOADING ZONE on the west side of Pinehurst Avenue from a
point 140 feet north of Finger Road to a point 355 feet north of Finger Road.
E. On a 90-day trial, establish a NO PARKING 7 AM TO 4
PM SCHOOL DAYS zone on the west side of Pinehurst Avenue from Finger Road to a
point 140 feet north of Finger Road.
F. On a 90-day trial, establish a NO PARKING zone on the
north side of Crest Lane from Pinehurst Avenue to a point 75 feet east of
Pinehurst Avenue.
G. That DPW be instructed to paint crosswalks crossing
the north and east approaches of the Pinehurst Avenue and Crest Lane
intersection after curb ramps are installed on the northwest, northeast, and
southeast corners of the intersection.
3.
Request by Ald. Nicholson to add a left-turn green arrow to the traffic
signal on Main Street at Manitowoc Road.
D.
Hansen explained that there is not a need for a left-turn traffic signal on
Main Street due to the existing low left-turn volume, low crash rate, that the
intersection is currently operating efficiently, that there is excess left-turn
lane storage during all peaks, and that adding a left-turn phase would create
undue delay for all other movements. He
summarized the two crashes that occurred with left-turning traffic, and that
those crashes would not necessarily have been avoided with a left-turn
signal. If a left-turn phase were
added, costs to upgrade the signal are estimated at $9000 including parts and
labor. He recommends that the existing
traffic signal operations remain in place.
A
brief discussion took place about changing this signal’s timings and its cause
and effect impact on nearby traffic signals.
A
motion was made by M. Schuster, seconded by C. Karow and carried that the
request to add a left-turn green arrow to the traffic signal on Main Street at
Manitowoc Road be received and placed on file.
4.
Request by Green Bay Police Department to paint a crosswalk across the
south approach of Lime Kiln Road at Manitowoc Road.
D.
Hansen stated that the Green Bay Police Department is adding a crossing guard
at this intersection starting this upcoming school year. He spoke in support of painting the
crosswalk pending the installation of a curb ramp on the southwest corner of
the intersection. D. Hansen said he
spoke with Ed Wiesner, Director of Engineering, who agreed to install a curb
ramp under the existing DPW curb ramp contract. D. Hansen recommended that if a south crosswalk is painted that
also an east crosswalk should be painted.
A
brief discussion took place about the need for a crossing guard at this
location and about the initial request and concerns of a crosswalk crossing the
north approach.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Cmdr. Sterr and carried that DPW
be instructed to paint crosswalks crossing the south and east approaches of the
intersection of Lime Kiln Road at Manitowoc Road after a curb ramp is installed
on the southwest corner of the intersection.
5.
Request by Ald. Theisen to establish a 2-HOUR 7 AM TO 7 PM MONDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY parking zone on both sides of Crooks Street from the Fox River
to Washington Street.
D.
Hansen stated there currently is a NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER zone on the north
side of Crooks St from Washington St to a point 30 feet west of Washington
St. Other than that, the parking is not
restricted, unlike nearby downtown streets that are either metered or 2-HOUR
7-7 zones. Given that more businesses
have moved into the downtown area, it is likely that this additional business
traffic is using this area to park. He
recommended also restricting parking at the cul-de-sac end of Crooks St so
vehicles don’t block the driveway to the Chamber of Commerce.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Cmdr. Sterr and carried to, on a
90-day trial:
A. Establish a 2-HOUR 7 AM TO 7 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
parking zone on both sides of Crooks Street from the Fox River to Washington
Street.
B.
Establish a NO PARKING zone at
the westerly terminus of Crooks Street.
6.
Request by Ald. Jeffreys to establish a YIELD or STOP condition at the
intersection of James and McDonald Streets.
D.
Hansen stated that Ald. Jeffreys would like this item postponed until the next
meeting so she can speak with representatives of Western Lime, whom made the
request.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by C. Karow and carried to postpone
this item until the next Traffic Commission meeting.
7. Request
by the Fisk Addition Neighborhood Association to establish a NO PARKING zone on
the north side of Oregon Street from the first driveway west of Gray Street to
Gray Street.
D.
Hansen spoke in support of this request, citing improved pedestrian safety
during operating hours of the Resch Aquatic Center.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by C. Karow and carried to, on a
90-day trial, establish a NO PARKING zone on the north side of Oregon Street
from a point 115 feet west of Gray Street to Gray Street.
8.
Request by the Fisk Addition Neighborhood Association to paint
crosswalks on all four approaches of the intersection of Gray and Reed Streets.
D.
Hansen spoke in support of marking only the west and north approaches, stating
that concentrating the pedestrian crossing points at the intersection reduces
the number of conflict points and improves safety.
A
motion was made by C. Karow, seconded by M. Schuster and carried to paint
crosswalks crossing the north and west approaches of the Gray Street and Reed
Street intersection.
9.
Request by Ald. Deneys to allow overnight parking on all City streets.
Mr.
Hansen stated that this request has been brought to the Traffic Commission 5
times before this one (2 last year) within the last 5 years
unsuccessfully. Reasons to keep the
existing policy were stated including during non-winter months: street sweeping
and flushing operations; during winter months: snow plowing; safety issues
addressed including identifying abandoned vehicles; eliminating long-term
storage of vehicles on the street; would be an enforcing nightmare if
time-of-year limitations were introduced. He stated the City does allow
overnight parking under special conditions including driveway reconstruction,
house remodeling, out of town visitors, and other extenuating circumstances, as
long as they are called in to DPW in advance.
D. Hansen stated there are over 40 signs at entry points to the City
alerting motorists of the overnight parking restriction.
A
brief discussion took place about the overnight parking restriction.
A
motion was made by C. Karow, seconded by M. Schuster and carried that the
request to allow overnight parking on all City streets be denied.
10.
Request by Ald. VanderLeest to install a DO NOT BLOCK INTERSECTION sign
on southbound Ridge Road at St. Agnes Drive.
D.
Hansen explained that multiple modifications were done at the intersection
during the Lombardi Av reconstruction project, including changing the traffic
signal operations at the intersection.
Primarily the signal timing changes have increased the stacking of cars
on the southbound approach. The signal
modifications are appropriate for the lane geometry changes, therefore changes
to the signal timings are not recommended.
The requested sign is appropriate for the condition. He also recommended a stop bar be painted on
the road near the proposed sign.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher that the request to install a DO NOT BLOCK
INTERSECTION sign on southbound Ridge Road at St. Agnes Drive be denied. Motion failed because of a lack of a second.
A discussion
took place that these types of requests shouldn’t be made to the Traffic
Commission, and that they should be done directly with DPW staff. D. Hansen stated he would order the sign and
stop line to be installed.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by M. Schuster, and carried that
the request to install a DO NOT BLOCK INTERSECTION sign on southbound Ridge
Road at St. Agnes Drive be received and placed on file.
11.
Request by Ald. Theisen to lengthen the NO PARKING zones at Porlier
Street and South Adams Street.
D.
Hansen explained that, as a result of the motion from the last meeting on this
item, he spoke with both Ald. Theisen and Brad Hopp, who support establishing a
NO PARKING zone on the west side of Adams Street from a point across from the
south property line of 837 Adams Street to Porlier Street.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by M. Schuster and carried that, on
a 90-day trial, to establish a NO PARKING zone on the west side of Adams Street
from a point 130 feet north of Porlier Street to Porlier Street.
12.
That, on a 90-day trial, to establish a NO PARKING zone on both sides of
Chicago Court from its westerly terminus to a point 70 feet west of Schwartz
Street.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Cmdr. Sterr and carried that a
NO PARKING zone on both sides of Chicago Court from its westerly terminus to a
point 70 feet west of Schwartz Street be established and adopted by ordinance.
13. That,
on a 90-day trial, to establish a NO PARKING DURING ATHLETIC EVENTS zone on the
south side of Bond Street between Military Avenue and Fisk Street.
A
motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Cmdr. Sterr and carried that a
NO PARKING DURING ATHLETIC EVENTS zone on the south side of Bond Street between
Military Avenue and Fisk Street be established and adopted by ordinance.
J. Kuiper stated that she
has informed Vice Chairman Brad Hopp that she will not be attending the next
Traffic Commission meeting.
There being no other items
of discussion, a motion was made by Ald. Kriescher, seconded by Cmdr. Sterr and
carried to adjourn from the regular orders of business. The meeting ended at 7:55 P.M. The next Traffic Commission meeting is
scheduled for Monday, September 24, 2007 at 7:00 P.M.