Traffic Commission Agendas and Minutes

Page 1 of 6 May 20, 2024 MINUTES OF THE COHOES TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MONDAY MAY 20, 2024 IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF COHOES CITY HALL AT 3:04 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Paul Johnston Lieutenant Kevin Reiter Commissioner Stephen Hennessey Fire Chief Joseph Fahd MEMBERS ABSENT: Director Stephen Napier ALSO PRESENT: Theresa Flatley, Recording Secretary Councilperson Bill McCarthy Nicole & Jaime Chlopecki CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 22, 2024 MEETING Chairman Johnston asked if there were any comments, questions or concerns regarding the minutes as published. As there were no questions, concerns or comments, Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the minutes. Lieutenant Reiter seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF JOHNSTON AVENUE FOR TACOS FOR LIFE FUNDRAISER The request was submitted by Rebecca Atwell representing the Connect Center for Youth at 49 Johnston Avenue. She is requesting to be allowed to close Johnston Avenue from Garner Street to Mangam Street on Saturday July 13, 2024 between the hours of 11 AM to 5 PM. The closure would be to allow the Connect Center for Youth’s Tacos for Life fundraiser block party In the e-mail that is attached to the agenda, Ms. Atwell states that the event will be utilizing the parking lot of Spendwood School of Gymnastics and Dance as well as the church’s parking lot for the entire event for vehicle parking. Chairman Johnston stated that the Traffic Commission has approved, in the past, the closure of various streets for other public events. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the request contingent on the applicant having satisfactory insurance and receiving a permit from the City. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for the closure of Johnston Avenue from Garner Street to Mangam Street on Saturday July 13, 2024 between the hours of  Page 2 of 6 May 20, 2024 11 AM to 5 PM. Commissioner Hennessey seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE REMOVAL OF A RESIDENTIAL HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT #40 WHITE STREET This request was submitted by Anne Batchelder. Chairman Johnston stated that this sign was originally approved for Leslie Batchelder and it has been confirmed that Mr. Batchelder is deceased. The Chairman’s recommendation was to remove the sign in accordance with Attachment A to the agenda. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request to remove the Residential Handicap Parking sign from #40 White Street in accordance with Attachment A to the agenda. Lieutenant Reiter seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A RESIDENTIAL HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT #40 WHITE STREET This request was submitted by Anne Batchelder. Chairman Johnston stated that the application and the recommendation from the Center for Independence are in order with the City’s MIRA policy. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the request in accordance with Attachment B to the agenda. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for a Residential Handicap Parking sign at #40 White Street in accordance with Attachment B to the agenda. Lieutenant Reiter seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES ON REMSEN STREET AND SENECA STREET FOR THE ROCK-THE-BLOCK CONCERT SERIES This request was submitted by Kathleen LaBombard of the Mayor’s Office. The closure request was to permit the annual Rock the Block concert series. The closures will be on Thursdays only and will be between the hours of 3 PM to 10 PM, weather permitting, beginning on June 13, 2024 and ending on August 8, 2024. Remsen Street would be closed between Ontario Street and Oneida Streets. Seneca Street would only be closed between Remsen Street and the Keybank exit driveway. Chairman Johnston stated that the Commission has historically approved closures of Remsen and Seneca Streets for the City endorsed Rock the Block concerts. Chairman Johnston’s recommendation was to approve the request contingent on notification to CDTA of the proposed closures.  Page 3 of 6 May 20, 2024 Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for the aforementioned street closures on Remsen and Seneca Streets. Lieutenant Reiter seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A STOP SIGN ON PAGE AVENUE AND THE REMOVAL OF A STOP HERE ON RED AND A STATE LAW SIGN ON ONTARIO STREET This request was submitted by Chairman Johnston. Chairman Johnston stated that the existing traffic signal at the Page Avenue intersection has recently been turned off. In the interim, to assign right-of-way at the intersection, a temporary Stop sign was installed on Page Avenue. The Chairman’s recommendation was to install a permanent Stop sign on Page Avenue at the Ontario Street intersection in accordance with Attachment C to the agenda. Additionally, there are Stop Here on Red and a State Law Do Not Block Side Road signs on Ontario Street that are no longer applicable and accordingly should be removed also in accordance with Attachment C. Lieutenant Reiter made a motion to approve the request to install a Stop sign on Page Avenue at the Ontario Street intersection and to remove the unnecessary Stop Here On Red and State Law Do Not Block Side Road signs on Ontario Street in accordance with Attachment C to the agenda. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A CITY SPEED LIMIT 30 MPH ON NEW COURTLAND STREET This request was submitted by Chairman Johnston. Chairman Johnston stated that in the past the Commission was asked by the Police Department to install City Speed Limit 30 signs on every street entrance into the city. Field inspection reveals that a speed limit sign on New Courtland Street after the exit from 787 was never installed. His recommendation was to install the speed limit sign in accordance with Attachment D to the agenda. Lieutenant Reiter made a motion to approve the request to install a City Speed Limit 30 sign on New Courtland Street in accordance with Attachment D to the agenda. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A RESIDENTIAL HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT #191 CONGRESS STREET  Page 4 of 6 May 20, 2024 This request was submitted by Deborah Costanzo. Chairman Johnston stated that the application and the recommendation from the Center for Independence are in order with the City’s MIRA policy. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the request in accordance with Attachment E to the agenda. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for a Residential Handicap Parking sign at #191 Congress Street in accordance with Attachment E to the agenda. Lieutenant Reiter seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A 15 MINUTE PARKING HERE TO CORNER SIGN IN FRONT OF #93 ONTARIO STREET This request was made by Scott Cramer of SJ Pizza & Grill. Mr. Cramer is requesting the reinstallation of the 15 Minute Parking Here To Corner sign in front of his business on Ontario Street that was in place for the previous business. Chairman Johnston stated that the former sign was approved for removal by the Commission in July of last year after the former business at 93 Ontario Street relocated. The current customers for this business are transient in nature, parking only to briefly pick up their food orders. Accordingly, the Chairman’s recommendation was to re-install the 15 Minute Parking Here To Corner sign in accordance with Attachment F to the agenda. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for the re-installation of the 15 Minute Parking Here To Corner in front of #93 Ontario Street in accordance with Attachment F to the agenda. Lieutenant Reiter seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF AN ADDITIONAL DRIVEWAY CURB CUT AT #108 SIMMONS AVENUE This request was made by Nicole & Jamie Chlopecki. They are requesting an additional 10’ – 8” curb cut beyond what was previously approved by the Commission on April 15, 2019 and September 19, 2016. Chairman Johnston stated that at the April 2019 Commission meeting, the request from the previous owner, for an additional curb cut was denied, because of concerns over elimination of existing on street parking spaces on Simmons Avenue in this area of saturated parking. Councilperson McCarthy, who lives on Simmons Avenue, advised that the lack of sufficient on street parking spaces has been eliminated as the previous owners of the  Page 5 of 6 May 20, 2024 vehicles that were utilizing on street parking have moved. Various field inspections by the Chairman have confirmed this. There was discussion amongst the Members and Nicole Chlopecki about parking her vehicle too close to the house as the closeness creates a potential fire hazard. Accordingly, the Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the request for the curb cut of 10’ – 8” in width and receipt of a City building permit, if required. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for a curb cut of 10’ – 8” at #108 Simmons Avenue contingent upon the applicant obtaining a City building permit, if required. Lieutenant Reiter seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A DRIVEWAY WIDENING AND CURB CUT AT #1 LIGHTHALL AVENUE This request was made by Davco Masonry. They are requesting permission to widen the existing driveway to the east by 10 feet and a curb cut of 12 feet. Chairman Johnston stated that the driveway is in the rear of the house and exits onto Vliet Blvd and that the widening and the curb cut have already been completed. The additional curb cut will not have a negative effect on parking in the area as all the houses on this street have driveways. There was discussion amongst the Members about the driveway’s approval as the work was already completed. Ultimately it was decided that the issue would be addressed by Code Enforcement. Chairman Johnston’s recommendation was to approve the request for the widening and curb cut with a maximum width of 10 and 12 feet respectively and receipt of a City building permit. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for a driveway widening and curb cut of 10 and 12 feet respectively for #1 Lighthall Avenue contingent upon the applicant obtaining a City building permit. Lieutenant Reiter seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A NO PARKING ANY TIME SIGNS ON COLUMBIA STREET AT THE MAIN STREET INTERSECTION This request was made by Mayor Keeler. To improve sight distance for northbound Main Street vehicles, the Mayor is requesting that No Parking Any Time signs be installed on the south side of Columbia Street between Main Street and the alley to the west.  Page 6 of 6 May 20, 2024 Chairman Johnston stated that with the existing traffic signal on flash and a large tow truck parking on the south side of Columbia Street, lack of sight distance to the west has become a source of complaints. Recent field inspections have also revealed that the tow truck and other vehicles have been parking on the sidewalk, contrary to the NYS M V & T Law, in addition to the lack of acceptable sight distance. Accordingly, the Chairman’s recommendation was to install No Parking Any Time signs on the south side of Columbia Street in accordance with Attachment G to the agenda. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for the installation of the No Parking Any Time signs on Columbia Street in accordance with Attachment G to the agenda. Commissioner Hennessey seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Since there was no further business on the agenda, Chairman Johnston stated that the next meeting of the Traffic Commission would be on June 24, 2024 at 3 PM. Chairman Johnston made a motion to adjourn. Lieutenant Reiter seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 3:20 PM.