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2010-03-02 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: SUBCOMMITTEE: LOCATION: DATE: MEMBERS PRESENT: Parking and Traffic Commission City Hall Conference Room B Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Chairman Richard Benevento, Bill Bent, Bill Fiore, Richard Hutchinson, Tina Cassidy, Sgt. Joe Shairs, Sheila Field MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDERS: None Eileen Sacco The meeting is called to order at 8:30 a.m. 1. Approval of Minutes: February 2, 2010 Meeting Benevento asks if there are any corrections that need to be made to the 1-5-10 meeting minutes. Cassidy notes that there is one amendment to the minutes to include the election of Benevento as Chair and Shairs as Vice Chair. Bent: motion to approve the minutes of the Commission's February 2, 2010 meeting as amended, seconded by Fields. All members in favor, motion carries 7-0. 2. Discussion: Requrest to Add Crosswalk at Corner of Spring Street and Odell A venue/ Sgt. Shairs Shairs reports that this request was made by Councilor Kevin Hobin and he had asked him to talk with the residents and suggested that he set up a meeting and he was agreeable to that. Shairs also notes that there would be some expense involved in this because a handicap ramp would have to be installed. He recommends that the matter be tabled pending further information from Councilor Hobin. Bent: motion that the Parking and Traffic Commission table the matter of the request for a crosswalk at the corner of Spring Street and Odell Avenue, seconded by Shairs. All members in favor, the motion carries (7-0) Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes March 2,2010 Meeting Page 1 of5 3. Discussion: Recommendation to Sgt. Shairs relative to on-street parking on the north side of West Dane Street (between Park Street and the railroad tracks) Sgt. Shairs Shairs explains that the owner of Clemenzi Industrial Park has an issue with parking on the site and notes that the trucks entering the site have to make a big sweep in order to access the site. He explains that the car detailing company and the gym patrons park along the side of the building and when they do the trucks cannot get into the property. Shairs notes that he has to check the property lines but might suggest that on-street parking be prohibited along a certain stretch of West Dane Street. He adds that police have been monitoring the situation. Cassidy agrees that it is a tough spot. Benevento questions how the Commission should proceed. Shairs suggests angle parking is in the ordinance and wanted to discuss this with the Commission. He explains the area. Benevento suggests striping parallel spaces. Shairs notes that it then becomes a maintenance issue and suggests that signs are easier. Cassidy notes that it makes sense to find out what the property lines are and ask the owner to put up signs on the building if he is willing to do so. Fiore proposes that they see if a couple of cars could be moved, noting that it could be a snow pile or cars contributing to the problem. He states that the fire department has never had a problem getting a truck in there. Fields says that she is abstaining from this discussion because a family member owns N.S. Cross Cuts, one of the establishments being discussed. Shairs states that he will investigate the property lines and suggest that signs be posted "No Parking Along Building." 4. New or Other Business a. Essex Street and Dane Street - No Turn on Red South Bound on Essex Street. Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2 of5 March 2,2010 Meeting Benevento recalls that the Commission made a recommendation to the Council that a No Turn on Red sign be installed south bound on Essex Street and it has not been installed. Shairs states that he would check on the status of that sign and report back at the next meeting. b. 45 West Street Cassidy explains that one of the Council's subcommittees was due to discuss this matter at its meeting last night. Cassidy will check on the status of this. She says that the issue of on-street parking at the Rantoul Street CVS, Haskell Street parking and parking in front of the old registry building were also on the agenda last night. She will inquire about those as well. c. Parking and Traffic Commission discussion with City Council Benevento states that he would like to schedule a presentation to and discussion with the City Council to update them on what the Commission has been doing. Cassidy suggests aiming for the first meeting in April which is April 5th. She will contact Council President Mike Cahill to make arrangements. Benevento states that he would like to stress to councilors that before they refer matters to the Commission that they check with neighbors that would be affected by changes for their input. d. Traffic Island Signs Cassidy reports that there have been some safety concerns regarding the size of signs being located on traffic islands for the traffic island beautification program. Specifically she mentions the Scialdone Sign on the traffic island at Essex Street as one that impairs the vision of drivers. Shairs reports that he went down there and noted that if you stop too far back the sign does impair sight. He sees that issue as a potential problem everywhere, noting shrubs on Brimbal Avenue are a problem as well. He also notes that the ordinance calls for nothing higher than 30 inches and suggests that follow up maintenance of shrubs would help. Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 3 of5 March 2,2010 Meeting Benevento asks if any information is given to the people who participate in the traffic island program, such as guidelines. He suggests that there should be criteria that should be followed, including requirements regarding safety such as wearing traffic safety vests, time of day when island work can take place, etc. Cassidy explains the history of the traffic island program. She says there used to uniformity of signs because the City purchased them on behalf of participants, but now every traffic island has a different sign because each sponsor orders his/her own. She agrees that there has to be some oversight. Fields suggests that in advance of spring planting perhaps the Planning Department could put out some guidelines or a reminder of them regarding the height of plants and signage. Benevento asks Cassidy to forward any old materials on this issue to him for consideration. e. Brimbal Avenue Update Cassidy reports that draft plans have been prepared and are being reviewed by Mass Highway (now MASSDot). She says a meeting was held a couple of weeks ago and MassDOT authorized continuing work on the design which is at the 25% stage. f. Parking Meter Replacement Update Cassidy updates the Commission on the Parking Meter Replacement program. She explains that they are hoping to go out to bid next month and the construction would occur during the summer. g. Rantoul Street Update Cassidy reports that the draft plans are 25% complete and Mike Collins has asked Cassidy and Leah Zambernardi to review them. She notes that there will be a public hearing sometime in the spring. 11. Adjournment Benevento asks if there is any other business for the Commission to conduct. There is none. Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 4 of5 March 2,2010 Meeting Bent: motion to adjourn, seconded by Field. All members in favor, the motion carries (7-0). The meeting is adjourned at 9:30 a.m. Parking & Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes Page 5 of5 March 2,2010 Meeting