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2008-09-10 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: LOCATION: MEMBERS PRESENT: Parking and Traffic Commission MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: September 10, 2008 Third Floor, City Hall Chairman Rich Benevento, Vice-Chairman Joe Shairs, Tina Cassidy, Richard Hutchinson Susan Mueller, William Bent, Bill Fiore Ward 6 Councilor Judith Cronin, Public Services/Engineering Director Mike Collins Tina Cassidy RECORDER: Benevento calls the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. 1. Approval of Minutes The first item of business is approval of draft minutes of the Board's July 2nd and August 13th meetings. Cassidy also states that the Commission should vote to approve the draft minutes for the June 25th special meeting as well. Benevento suggests that given the time that has elapsed since some of these minutes were distributed to members, the matter of approving minutes should be postponed to the next meeting, and all back sets of minutes redistributed to all members. 2. Rerouting of Portions of Routes 127, 62, and 22 Next on the agenda is discussion of a draft proposal to reroute portions of Route 127, Route 62, and Route 22 in Beverly in connection with a Salem-sponsored initiative to relieve traffic congestion on North Street in that community. Cassidy distributes copies of the proposal. Members discuss the proposal and express concern about redirecting traffic from one neighborhood to another, the purpose of the changes, and the future designation of Route 127 as a scenic by-way. Benevento suggests that the City should be cautious in embracing the proposed changes without knowing what the existing conditions (and future implications) are with respect to traffic on these state- numbered routes. Collins reminds members of the recent investment of substantial public money in improving the lower end of Route 127 and the fact that the stretch of 127 proposed for elimination (Stone Street and lower Lothrop Street) is far more in keeping with the character of Route 127 as a whole than is the suggested alternative (Cabot Street and Dane Street). Cassidy adds that the proposal would add traffic (extent unknown) to existing residential neighborhoods and may be problematic. Following discussion, members vote to write a letter to the Mayor recommending that the idea not be considered unless and until a comprehensive review of existing traffic conditions has been completed and an assessment of the impacts of the proposed changes analyzed. Parking and Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 1 015 September 10, 2008 meeting 3. Order #194: Cole/Boyles Streets neighborhood petition relative to traffic and speed concerns Next, the Commission discusses the petition submitted by residents of the Cole Street area at the last meeting relative to traffic, speed, and truck route issues. Cronin urges the Commission to determine which of the issues in the petition are appropriately before the Parking and Traffic Commission, and to offer recommendations and guidance on them. The Commission, with the assistance of Collins, reviews the issues outlined in the petition as well as City GIS information on Cole Street, which shows property lines, structures, utilities, etc. At the conclusion of the discussion, members vote to recommend the following: (a) That the Police Department install a temporary speed trailer on Cole Street in the very short term; (b) That the City's Public Services Department develop a conceptual plan and cost estimate for the installation of a sidewalk on the northern side of Cole Street stretching from Essex Street to Foster Street. The conceptual plan would show the possible sidewalk location, identify trees, ledge, and other obstructions that would need to be removed and show the extent and location of land takings that would be necessary for the project to advance; and (c) That the City's Public Services Department investigate the elimination of the fence at #20 Cole Street, which appears to be within the public right of way and which may be owned by the City of Beverly as a result. Benevento states that these three issues contained in the citizens' petition are the ones that appear to be within the purview of the Parking and Traffic Commission. As such, the Commission will focus on those items and will continue working with the Police and Public Services Departments regarding speed monitoring and development of a conceptual plan for a new sidewalk over the coming months. 4. Order #189: Request for review of and recommendations on parking and traffic on South Hardy Street Next, the Commission continues discussion of this proposal (sponsored by Councilor Slate). The Order was submitted in response to a constituent concern about increased traffic and parking demand resulting from occupancy of the RedBrick art studios. Cassidy states that it is her understanding from Councilor Slate that the Order was prompted by concerns expressed by a resident of South Hardy Street. Since the last meeting when the matter was first raised, she learned that a number of years ago the residents of this area were petitioning the then-Councilor to add additional parking in the area to address a shortage that existed at the time. This Order (to eliminate parking on South Hardy Street) seems to be counter to that sentiment earlier expressed. Parking and Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2 015 September 10, 2008 meeting Benevento suggests that it might be appropriate for Councilor Slate to have a neighborhood meeting that includes residents of the general area, in addition to those who live on South Hardy Street, to determine if the idea of eliminating on-street parking on South Hardy is something the entire neighborhood generally supports. Cassidy states she will draft a letter to that effect for the Chairman's consideration and signature. 5. Order #111: Request for "Comprehensive Traffic Study" of Congress Street neighborhood Cassidy explains that the Commission discussed this subject several months ago and the strategy agreed to at that time was to table consideration of the Order until the redevelopment of the former Ventron site was certain and about to occur. However, there were a number of traffic and parking related issues identified during a site visit to the same neighborhood last fall. It is not clear that any of those issues (or the attendant solutions to them) were addressed since then. Cassidy states that she can review the October 2007 memo from then-Councilor Miranda Gooding and segregate the issues into categories (those that can be addressed now, those issues that relate to the Ventron redevelopment and should wait, etc.). She will forward that information to the Commission members in advance of the next meeting, and will put the matter on the agenda for discussion again next month. Hutchinson leaves the meeting. 6. Changes to Duration of On-Street Parking on Rantoul Street III front of Weaver Glass Building Shairs recaps the explanation provided at the last Commission meeting, which was that the owner of Weaver Glass has asked that one or two existing parking spaces on Rantoul Street immediately adjacent to his store be made 30 minute spaces (they are not regulated now). Shairs believes there is room to convert/create one or two spaces between Roundy Street and the new driveway servicing Weaver Glass from Rantoul Street. Benevento notes that there is no longer a quorum of the membership in attendance to formally vote on this matter and recommends it be tabled to the next meeting in October as a result. In the meantime Shairs will revisit the site and determine whether there is enough room for one, or two, parking spaces. 7. Traffic and Parking-Related Issues on Story Avenue Shairs explains that he received a request to make Story Avenue a designated "School Zone" with a 20 mile per hour speed limit. In response, he says that the Police Department conducted some directed patrols at the site and found nearly every violation was related to defective equipment, unlicensed drivers and the like, not speed. The traffic division of the department also collected vehicle data and found that the speed of traffic is actually at or below the "default" speed limit of 30 miles per hour and that the volume of traffic there was Parking and Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 3015 September 10, 2008 meeting "light". He also notes that there was an issue related to the signs for the fire lanes and says he arranged with the Public Services Department to order new signs which he expects to be reconfigured shortly. 8. New or Other Business a. Request for New Sidewalk on Elliott Street Benevento informs the Commission that he received an email from Councilor John Burke requesting the installation of a crosswalk on Elliott Street (near Green Street and Opal Avenue) in response to a constituent request. Shairs states that he is already working on the matter at the request of the ward councilor Maureen Troubetaris. Benevento and Shairs express concern about the safety of pedestrians using an unsignalized crosswalk, and note the existence of the two nearest existing crosswalks, one of which has a pedestrian signal. Benevento offers to locate and review the design studies done some years ago when the Route 62 improvements were being redesigned, in the hopes that those studies might explain why the City and State opted not to locate a crosswalk there when the road was improved several years ago. Cassidy expresses concern that the letter of request from Councilor Burke was dated July 2008 and is being discussed for the first time in September. It appears Chairman Benevento was the only recipient of the request. Cassidy suggests that the Commission consider asking the Councilors to provide copies of future requests to both the Vice-Chairman of the Commission (Shairs) and herself. In that way it will be less likely that a request will be overlooked, and more likely that the Commission will consider those requests in a timely fashion. Benevento suggests that she draft a letter to this effect for his consideration. Benevento tables further discussion of the Story Avenue issue to the next meeting in October due to a lack of a quorum. b. Complaint regarding MBTA bus stop on Cabot Street and handicapped accessibility Art Daignault, the City's Disabilities Coordinator, joins the meeting and informs members that he received a complaint from a wheelchair-bound resident of Cabot Street who often uses MBTA buses for transportation. The complainant lives near the Cabot Street cinema, but has been told by T bus drivers that he cannot board at the stops near that location because they do not provide enough room to use the handicapped accessible lift mechanism on the bus. As a result, this individual must either go to the bus stop at CCI Reprographics or the stop at Brooks Pharmacy - both a significant distance from where the individual lives. Members concur that this answer is not acceptable. Shairs suggests that maybe the stop could be relocated to the front of the Hess gas station at the corner of Cabot and Dane Streets. There would be plenty of room there to deploy the lift and would not cause sight distance problems. He adds that the MBTA would have to be notified if the City wanted to change the location of the stop. Parking and Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 4 015 September 10, 2008 meeting Shairs agrees to review existing conditions and report back to the Commission at its next meeting. c. Follow Up on Council Order #151 - Parking and Safety Issues Near Hurd Stadium Benevento states that Commission member Bill Bent had drafted a letter for the Chairman's signature on this Order, as agreed would be the case at one of the Commission's June meetings. The letter has not yet been sent but Benvento states that he will finalize it and send it to the members for review in advance of the next meeting. Benevento asks if there is any additional business for the Commission to discuss. There is none. The meeting is adjourned at 11:30 a.m. Parking and Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 5 015 September 10, 2008 meeting