Public Works / Traffic / Transit Committee

Chris Jenkins, Director Justin Messer, Assistant Director PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION , Cemetery Department Jody Gonzales, Superintendent Engineering Services Aaron Carroll, Director Public Works Vehicle Maintenance Department Joe Krinke, Superintendent Solid Waste Collections Department Tim Garrett, Director Solid Waste Processing & Disposal Department Lee Stone, Director Streets & Drainage Department Chad Hampton, Director PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE AND TRAFFIC COMMISSION April 12, 2023 10:00 AM. Sam King Room - 601 Broad Street PRESENT: Commissioner Beeman, Chair Commissioner Bojo Mr. Chris Jenkins, Public Works Director Ms. Toni Rhinehart, Finance Director Ms. Courtnay Williams, Transit Assistant Director Maj. Chris Dehart, Rome Police Department Sgt. Chase Burnes, Rome Police Department Mr. Doug Walker, Public Information Officer Ms. Julie Smith, Transportation Planner Ms. Ann Hortman, Georgia’s Rome Tournament Director GUESTS: Mr. Andrew Kirk, Netflix Mr. Richard Patrick, Netflix Mr. Alex Williams, Rome Floyd Chamber of Commerce CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Beeman called the meeting to order. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Bojo moved to approve the minutes of the March meeting. Commissioner Beeman seconded. The motion carried. 200 Vaughn Road • PO Box 1433 • Rome, Georgia 30162-1433 Phone: 706/236-4466 • fax: 706/236-4532 POLICE REPORTS Sgt Chase Burnes presented the March traffic accident report. He noted there were 199 accidents down from 216 at this time last year. There were 76 injuries, down slightly from 79 last year. There was one fatality, 25 DUI arrests with two of those under 21 years old. There were 891 total traffic cases down from 1,126 in 2022. Commissioner Bojo asked the location of the fatality. Turner McCall at Hicks highest accident intersection. Veterans memorial @ Martha Berry 2nd and 2nd Ave at Riverbend was third. The highest accident location was the Turner McCall Blvd/Hicks Dr. Riverbend Dr./ intersection with 7 accidents. Veterans Memorial/Martha Berry Hwy was second with five accidents and Turner McCall Blvd/Riverside Pkwy, Redmond Cir/Shorter Ave and Shorter Ave/N 2nd Ave had 4 accidents each. Following too Closely remains the primary cause of accidents with 64 citations. TRANSIT OPERATIONS Transit Updates Ms. Griffin reported they have completed the financial year for 2022 and once that is closed out, they will do their big annual reporting package for next month. We received one bid for the bus advertising program so we will be reviewing that bid. We need to review the specs because it is a new company we haven’t worked with before. We will have to transfer current, and we are doing a public/private shelter with Coosa Valley Credit Union. Financial Report Ms. Rhinehart presented the February financial report. She reported that we are still offering free ridership, so we there is little revenue to report for the main line, but we have a transfer from the general fund that we ae making monthly and will have money coming in from Paratransit contract services. In 2022, we ended up with $219,000 for the Paratransit contract and they are paying at a higher rate now. We are still working on the December statement as we have had some real issues with doing the operating reimbursements online. She added we have not received any operation or capital funding for 2023 yet. Under Expenses, she reported we are slightly over budget for Main line and under the Tripper section she noted there is only a little depreciation left which will stop entirely soon. We have about $343,000 set aside in restricted cash requested by GDOT and FTA. We don’t know what we can do with that money yet. Ms. Griffin noted that we need to begin exploring when we might begin charging for transit rides and how much we should charge when we do. She is meeting with Berry College next week and will collect survey data about ridership and rates. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes April 12, 2023 Page 2 of 4 OLD BUSINESS Bird Scooter Ms. Ulmer presented handouts for the Bird Scouter and Bird Bicycle program. She is presenting an opportunity pilot program on these programs that she suggested for a year. She introduced Mr. Chris Stockwell from the Bird Company, who participated by Zoom. He noted that scooters are preferred over bicycles in most of their locations, but operationally, both programs are virtually identical. The operation is managed by fleet managers hired locally and the number of vehicles as well as the locations they are to be used in can be modified as needed. Commissioner Bojo moved to proceed with a one-year pilot program. Commissioner Beeman seconded. The motion carried. NEW BUSINESS Between the Rivers Street Closure Requests for Netflix Production Ann Hortman introduced Andrew Kirk and Richard Patrick to discuss their road closure requests Netflix project based on a play, book, and movie remake. Mr. Kirk said they will be working on East 3rd Street and East 4th Avenue. He presented a traffic control plan to be in effect on April 14th. The general closing would be from 7:00AM to 7:00 PM, although he didn’t expect they would need all that time. The film crew will come between 11:00 AM and Noon and will go on until about 4:00 or 5:00 PM. They are prepping the neighborhood tomorrow for the 1930’s period piece. They will return the neighborhood to its original state as soon as filming is done. If it should rain on Friday, the filming will be on Saturday. He added they expect to be finished around 3:00 or 4:00 PM. Mr. Jenkins asked if they hired a contractor coming to make the changes to the Stop signs and pavement markings. Mr. Kirk responded they have a contractor who will come in and make the changes and return everything to its original state afterwards. He added the closure on College Avenue may not be needed. Commissioner Bojo moved to approve the request. Commissioner Beeman seconded. The motion carried. One Community United Mr. Jenkins reported that Mr. Charles Love has requested closing the pedestrian bridge on September 17th from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM for the One Community United event. He added they sometimes use the forum kitchen as well. Mr. Jenkins noted that this event has taken place for several years and we have had no problems or issues with it. Commissioner Bojo moved to approve the request. Commissioner Beeman seconded. The motion carried. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes April 12, 2023 Page 3 of 4  Yellow Curb a Portion of Shorter Industrial Blvd. Mr. Jenkins presented a request from the Floyd County Water Department for yellow curb on Shorter Industrial Blvd. where they have a pump station. The mechanic shop across the street parks cars all around the entrance to the pump station making it difficult for Water Department service trucks to access their fence. The request is to yellow curb the length of the fence line. Mr. Jenkins recommended the request be approved. Commissioner Bojo moved to approve the request. Commissioner Beeman seconded. The motion carried. MONTHLY REPORTS The monthly reports were distributed for review. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted, Margaret Hollingsworth Margaret W. Hollingsworth, Secretary. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes April 12, 2023 Page 4 of 4