Board of Public Works & Safety

SPECIAL MEETING – July 25, 2017 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Michigan City, Indiana, met in SPECIAL SESSION on Tuesday morning, July 25, 2017 at the hour of 8:30 a.m., in the Council Chambers, in the City Hall Building, located at 100 East Michigan Boulevard, Michigan City Indiana – a regular meeting room of this Board. The meeting was called to order by President Steve Janus, who presided. Noted present: Steve Janus, and Virginia Keating (2) Absent: Rich Murphy A QUORUM WAS NOTED PRESENT. Also noted in attendance: Amber Lapaich, Corporate Counsel Charles “Spike” Peller, City Engineer Lt. Jeff Loniewski, M.C.P.D. Traffic Division Chief Mark Swistek, M.C.P.D. Jeremy Kienitz, Park Superintendent Dave Farmer, Director Street Department Kalon Kubik, Administrative Assistant Mayor’s Office Gale Neulieb, City Clerk Kim Sliwa, Deputy City Clerk REQUEST FOR STREET CLOSURE – Lt. Jeff Loniewski, M.C.P.D. Traffic Division is requesting the street closure of Northbound Washington Street from 9 th Street to Highway 12 on August 5, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the Super Boat Parade Lt. Jeff Loniewski, M.C.P.D. Traffic Division addressed the Board explaining this item was somehow overlooked when the Taste of Michigan City closures were approved a few months ago; advising the request is for the closure of Franklin Street between 11 th Street and 4th Street for the Michigan City Boat Parade that will occur on August 5, 2017 with the closures starting at 5:30 p.m., and they are also requesting the closure of Washington Street for the boat line-up for the parade and that the closure will not last too long and will begin about 5:30-5:45 p.m. Virginia Keating made a motion to approve the request for the street closure of Franklin Street from 11th – 4th Streets at 5:30 p.m. and Washington Street from about 5:30 p.m., on August 5, 2017 for the Super Boat Parade. The motion was seconded by President Janus and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS Janus and Keating (2). NAYS: None (0). Motion Carries. SAFETY CONCERNS – Councilman Schwanke requested to discuss signage and speed limits on City streets in all City park areas Chris Schwanke, 6th Ward City Councilman, current Council President, addressed the Board regarding the Water Tower Park Crossing Safety; advising he has spoken with Mayor Meer since the tragic incident at that park and that we need to be pro-active as a City, and do the positive things with regards to safety improvements at all our City parks including stop signage, crosswalks, etc…; stating the Mayor is putting together a committee to address these concerns and to do an evaluation and study of all of the City parks; asking for the Board’s support at they move forward through that process. Special Meeting – July 25, 2017 Page 2 Charles “Spike” Peller, City Engineer, addressed the Board advising he asked SEH of Indiana about a month ago to look at street signage and traffic signals, curb ramps and inventory analysis for a portion of Michigan City to see what was applicable as a trial; commenting that he has met with Jay Niec, head of the Michigan City SEH Office and Glen Peterson, who is their traffic engineer; stating they have looked into the situation and are here today with a presentation addressing safety improvements/devices for the Water Tower Park area. Jay Niec, SEH of Indiana, addressed the Board regarding some preliminary design improvements for Broadway Street and the Water Tower Park area to significantly improve the traffic flow on Broadway Street; introducing Glen Peterson, Traffic Engineer with SEH of Indiana. Glen Peterson, Traffic Engineer with SEH of Indiana, addressed the Board with a presentation highlighting some design improvements for the area of Broadway Street and the Water Tower Park; commenting on the existing speed limit signage locations; crossings at Gladys and Emma Streets; non-ADA curb ramps at Emma Street; there being no sidewalks on one side of the road; the other side of the road having sidewalks but no ADA curb ramps; recommendations for intersection improvements at Emma Street to make a true safe crossing for the park; relocating the speed limit sign on the east end of the project; roadway striping for the area; eliminating the ramp crossing at Gladys Street; commenting on the preliminary designs for Emma Street that could include adding three-way stop sign there and the other would be to have a mid-block crossing at Emma Street with ADA approved curb ramp crossings on both north and south sides of the street, as well as a revised curb layout there; commenting on the current bump out where the access drive is, proposing to extend that down to make a true protected crossing for pedestrians; commenting on pedestrian crossing signs at the stop walk on both sides with advanced warning of the pedestrian crossing; additional signage that would go along with this for a true protected crossing; relocating the stop sign to give drivers more visibility as you turn off of Roeske Avenue onto Broadway Street; proposed striping of a double center line along with an edge line; removing the concrete curb and extending that curb straight through the intersection to not give people the option of crossing there; other recommendations begin three-way stop signs at all three (3) intersections in the area; exploring the option of speed humps to control speed, which is a traffic calming mechanism, which generally works better than stop control; commenting on the 27 City parks that they could expand these evaluation across. Chief Mark Swistek, M.C. Police Department, addressed the Board regarding the safety concerns/measures presented for the area of concern and all Michigan City parks; commenting on working with the professionals and city team members to make a difference not only at the Water Tower park, but many of our parks throughout the community; further commenting on his conversations with Councilmembers and Mayor Meer who are 100% behind this initiative to make improvements not only at Water Tower park but all of our community parks; explaining in speaking with Lt. Jeff Loniewski of the M.C.P.D. Traffic Division neither have any objections to the three-way stop signs that has been recommended at the intersection of Emma and Broadway Streets; further commenting that the signage in the Water Tower Park area do need to be relocated for better visual; fully supporting what was presented this morning; advising Lt. Jeff Loniewski will be their representative working with the City team on the further traffic studies. Mr. Niec thanked the Board for allowing them to do the presentation; advising they are ready to move forward with the Water Tower Park improvements; and being part of the team that studies the other neighborhood parks. Charles “Spike” Peller, City Engineer, addressed the Board commenting on the “on call” sidewalk program, which can be utilized for the sidewalk improvements this year; that there is a “thermoplastic” contractor on site; commenting on utilizing the “thermoplastic” as a calming device; explaining he would need to speak further to the street department with regards to using the speed humps and how this will be affected by our snowplow trucks; how speed Special Meeting – July 25, 2017 Page 3 humps are used in other communities; recommending moving forward with the three-way stop sign; striping; and improvements of the sidewalks as recommended by SEH. Discussion between the Board and Mr. Peller regarding snowplow trucks. Further discussion ensued between the Board, Chief Swistek, and Councilman Schwanke regarding how the “thermoplastic” crossings are utilized in other communities; support for Mr. Peller’s recommendation to try the “thermoplastic” as a testing and evaluation at the Water Tower Park rather than the speed hump for now as it will be easier on the snowplow trucks and give the community a chance to see how they work, and to see if the City should apply it in the future to other parks; utilizing “removable” speed humps even as a test at a few of the parks to see if that is an effective means as well. Don Przybylinski, City Council, 215 Gardena Street, addressed the Board regarding the matter; commenting on his conversation with Chief Swistek about the Water Tower Park wherein he provided some recommendations; advising he will be volunteering for the Mayor’s committee; his support for the protection for the children and all the residents in Michigan City; commenting on whatever measures are taken that the public has access to cross the street at a particular stop sign or multiple stop signs, not just put crosswalks in without having a stop sign so that the traffic comes to a complete stop to give the children an opportunity to get across the street. Discussion ensued between President Janus and Glen Peterson regarding signage utilized for playgrounds. Mr. Peterson commented on there being a couple different options as far as what is allowable by the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices that is published and adopted by the State of Indiana, which they can review with the Mayor’s committee; stating generally that type of signage does go on the speed limit signs, wherein they would need to verify the mounting height of the speed limit signs; commenting the current sign is probably a little too low based on the recommendations set forth in that manual; explaining that sometime the “children at play” is counterproductive in that it makes the children feel safe. President Janus asked if there was anyone else who wished to speak at this time; there was no response. Virginia Keating made a motion to approve the recommendations of the City Engineer as to the Water Tower Park to include striping, three-way stop sign at Emma and Broadway Streets, thermoplastic application and sidewalk improvements. The motion was seconded by President Janus and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS Janus and Keating (2). NAYS: (0). Motion Carries. ADJOURNMENT President Janus stated as that was the only other item on the agenda to be considered by the Board at this time, declared the meeting ADJOURNED (approximately 8:52 a.m.). Virginia Keating made the motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by President Janus and carried as follows: AYES: MEMBERS Janus and Keating (2). NAYS: (0). Motion Carries. _________________________________________ Gale A. Neulieb, City Clerk