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2013-01-03CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: LOCATION: MEMBERS PRESENT: OTHERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: RECORDER: Parking and Traffic Commission January 3, 2013 Conference Room B, Third Floor City Hall Chair Rich Benevento, Russ Rollins, Tina Cassidy, Richard Hutchinson and Bill Fiore Councilor Wes Slate and Frank Wojick Bill Bent, John Somes Eileen Sacco Benevento calls the meeting to order at 8: 30 a.m. 2. Update: Regarding Issues regarding Speed and Roadway Impediments on Pillowlace Lane and Wentworth Drive - Resident Richard Garlin Cassidy informs the Commission that there is nothing new to report on the matter this month. 3. Discussion: Police Department Recommendation to Prohibit Parking on Hull Street, Northerly Side from Desmond Road to Essex Street Rollins reports that he is waiting for the minutes of the previous Commission meetings at which this matter was discussed and a copy of the Commission's previous recommendation letter on this subject. Cassidy recalls that a letter was sent to the City Council several years ago, with a recommendation and she will have to check to see if there was any follow up action by the City Council. She explains that the recommendation was for installation of three signs on Hull Street and that the crosswalk on Hull Street be widened. She also recalls that the recommendation suggested that the possibility of building additional parking at the school or at Cahill Park be investigated by the School Committee. Cassidy states that she sent a copy of the packet to Rollins, which contained not only the minutes from the previous Commission discussions on this issue but also the letter that was written by the Commission to the Council at that time. Cassidy further explains her recollection that the letter also recommended that the Recreation Department, which is responsible for scheduling events at Cahill Park (such as soccer games), should notify participants that parking is available at the school during weekends and afternoons /evenings and should consider employing signage on game days alerting visitors that parking is available in the school parking lot as an alternative to Hull Street. Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes January 3, 2013 meeting Page 1 of 6 Benevento suggests Cassidy investigate whether the City Council followed up on the recommendation and that Rollins send the minutes of the previous meetings and the Commission's letter to Mr. Vitale who attended the last meeting. Rollins suggests that restricting parking to one side of the street would alleviate the problem. Cassidy explains that at the time, City Councilor Judith Cronin held a number of meetings with the neighbors of the school along with School Committee president Maria Decker to find a solution. Benevento states that there is no place for them to go but there may be some optimization that can be achieved in the school parking lot. Councilor Slate addresses the Commission and notes that Maria Decker is President of the School Committee and says that this issue is not just one at the Centerville School but rather an issue at all of the schools, adding that the schools were designed for walkers and parents now drive their kids to school. He suggests that the Commission invite Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marie Galinski and School Committee President Maria Decker to a meeting to talk about parking and safety related matters near public schools. Cassidy explains that the "Be Healthy Beverly" program is in part geared toward getting parents to walk groups of kids to school, as a healthy alternative to being dropped off in a vehicle. She notes that she attended a conference about the program and more information will be coming from the YMCA on the implementation of that initiative. Benevento requests that maps of all the schools be available for the meeting with the Superintendent and Ms. Decker. 4. Request for Restricted Parking or a Fire Lane on Both Sides of Wayland Road Rollins reports that Eric Barber was going to talk to the neighbors about this matter. He reports that he went out there this morning and there does not appear to be a problem. Cassidy states that the street was accepted for maintenance purposes only, in 1987. Fiore reports that the group home at the end of Wayland Road is technically a single- family home, noting that the developer put a sprinkler system in the building when it was not required. Rollins explains that he could do enforcement for parking less than 10 feet from the corner. He states that he will write a letter and request feedback from the neighbors on the potential for restricting or prohibiting parking. Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes January 3, 2013 meeting Page 2 of 6 Councilor Slate notes that the City Council will be reviewing the so- called "1987" list of unaccepted streets to be maintained. S. Discussion /Recommendation: Short Term Parking near Luigi's Pizza on Rantoul Street (at request of Councilor Slate, Benevento reports that the Commission visited the site in December and it seems to him that an additional 15 minute parking space on the same side of the street would help and would be reasonable. He adds that he would like to see how things go with that change before considering designating additional spaces on the other side of the street. Cassidy suggests that a "No parking here to corner" sign should also be erected near the School /Rantoul Street corner. Slate reports that the easterly side of Rantoul Street, from School Street to Edwards Street, is not currently regulated. The business owner is concerned that when the Enterprise Apartments project is completed there will be more use of those unregulated parking spaces, and in addition he is concerned that construction employees from the Enterprise site and the T garage site will also use the spaces long term. Rollins reminds members that he and the Police Chief are also trying to address a concern of residents at the Gateway who have difficulty with sight distances when exiting the driveways to that development. He says the current ordinance prohibits parking within five (5) feet of a driveway and says it might be helpful to the residents of this project if that distance was increased from 5 feet to 20 feet. Benevento expresses concern that changing the standard for all driveways /properties from 5' to 20' could have a significant and negative effect on a lot of existing roadways and parking spaces. He suggests instead that it could be left up to the Chief of Police to make the decision on the appropriate "setback" distance on a case -by -case basis. Benevento suggests that the Commission recommend one additional 15 minute parking space in front of Luigi's; to impose a 2 hour parking limit on the east side of Rantoul Street (between School and Edwards Street); that a "No Parking Here to Corner" sign be erected 20' from the School /Rantoul Street intersection at Luigi's Pizza; and that "No Parking Here to Driveway" signs be erected at all 3 driveways to the Gateway condos. Rollins: motion to recommend to the City Council that: Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes January 3, 2013 meeting Page 3of6 • A "No Parking Here to Corner" sign be erected on the westerly side of Rantoul Street 20' from the intersection of Rantoul and School Streets; • That an additional 15 minute parking space be established on the westerly side of Rantoul Street at Luigi's Pizza (38 Rantoul Street) adjacent to the existing 15- minute space; and • That a two hour parking limit (9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) be established for the easterly side of Rantoul Street between School and Edwards Streets. In addition, the Commission will write a letter to Public Services Director Mike Collins requesting that MUTCD- compliant "No Parking Here to Driveway" signs be erected five (5) feet from either side of each of the driveways to the Gateway condo project. Motion seconded by Hutchinson, all members in favor. Motion carries 5 -0. 6. Update Request to State Regarding Truck Exclusion for Cole Street Cassidy notes that a family member of Bill Bent is ill and he was therefore unable to be here this morning. She reports that Bent distributed a draft of the truck exclusion request at the last meeting with a recommendation that the Commission send a letter to Mayor Scanlon with the recommendation that it be sent to MassDOT. Cassidy requests that the Commission approve the draft letter to be sent to the Mayor and the draft of the letter transmitting the exclusion request to the State. Hutchinson asks if a public hearing should be held on this and suggests that there should be notification to the public about it. Benevento states that he is not aware of a public hearing requirement noting that the petition will not designate a specific truck route. If it were, Benevento says he would feel the same as Hutchinson. Slate suggests that a copy of the letters be sent to the ward four and six city councilors when it is sent. Rollins: motion to approve the draft letters to the Mayor and the State and to recommend submission of the request to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Fiore seconds the motion, all members in favor. The motion carries 5 -0. 7. Approval of Minutes Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes January 3, 2013 meeting Page 4of6 The minutes of the Parking and Traffic Commission meetings held on December 4, 2012 regular meeting were presented for approval. Benevento asks if there are any corrections to make to the draft minutes. There are none. Fiore: Motion to approve the draft minutes, seconded by Hutchinson. All members in favor, the motion carries 5 -0. 8. Election of Officers Cassidy explains that the next item of business is election of officers. Elections should occur in January of every year but last year the vote was actually taken in about March due to multiple absences that winter. Cassidy: motion to nominate Richard Benevento as Chairman of the Parking and Traffic Commission for the year 2013, seconded by Hutchinson. Fiore: motion to close nominations for chairman of the Commission, seconded by Hutchinson. Vote on the motion to nominate Richard Benevento as Chairman of the Parking and Traffic Commission is unanimous (4 -0 -1; Rollins, Cassidy, Hutchinson, Fiore in favor, no one in opposition, Benevento abstains). Benevento informs the members that Bill Bent is willing to serve as Vice Chairman again this year. Hutchinson: motion to nominate Bill Bent as Vice Chair of the Parking and Traffic Commission for the year 2013, seconded by Fiore. Cassidy: motion to close nominations for Vice Chair of the Commission, seconded by Fiore. Vote on the motion to nominate Bill Bent as Vice Chair of the Parking and Traffic Commission for the year 2013 is unanimous (5 -0); Next, Commissioners vote to elect a secretary. Fiore: motion to nominate Tina Cassidy to serve as Secretary of the Parking and Traffic Commission for the year 2013, seconded by Rollins. Hutchinson: motion that nominations be closed, seconded by Fiore. Vote on the motion to nominate Tina Cassidy Secretary of the Parking and Traffic Commission for the year 2013 is unanimous (5 -0). Rollins, Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes January 3, 2013 meeting Page 5 of 6 Benevento, Hutchinson, Fiore in favor, no one in opposition, Cassidy abstains). Cassidy reminds the members that they should complete the ethics and conflicts of interest forms and return them to the City Clerk. 9. New or Other Business Cassidy updates the Commission on Council Order #4/4A requesting a parking study with regards to the Parking Garage at the Depot. She notes that a public hearing has been rescheduled to the end of January by the City Council. Slate explains that the matter was held in Committee to set a date for a public hearing. After some conflicting statements he consulted with City Solicitor Roy Gelineau who recommends another hearing even though the hearing held in 2009 was on the same topic. 10. Next Meeting The next meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. 11. Adjournment Benevento asks if there is any additional business for the Commission to conduct. There is none. Hutchinson: motion to adjourn, seconded by Rollins. All members in favor, motion carries 5 -0. The meeting is adjourned at 10:00 a.m. Final Parking & Traffic Commission minutes January 3, 2013 meeting Page 6 of 6