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 Sept 13, 2023 10:00 AM. Sam King Room - 601 Broad Street PRESENT: Commissioner Bojo Commissioner Quick Mr. Sammy Rich, City Manager Ms. Meredith Ulmer, Assistant City Manager Ms. Kelley Parker, Assistant to the City Manager Mr. Chris Jenkins, Public Works Director Ms. Toni Rhinehart, Finance Director Mr. Aaron Carroll, Engineering Department Director Mr. Felipe Arevalo, Design Engineer Ms. Courtnay Williams, Transit Director Mr. Patrick Hawkins, Transit Assistant Director Capt. Danny Story, Rome Police Department Mr. Doug Walker, Public Information Officer Ms. Julie Smith, Transportation Planner Ms. Aundi Leslie, DDA Director CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Bojo called the meeting to order. He noted that Commissioner Beeman and Commissioner Collins will not be here today so Commissioner Quick is standing in along with him. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes were approved by common consent. 200 Vaughn Road • PO Box 1433 • Rome, Georgia 30162-1433 Phone: 706/236-4466 • fax: 706/236-4532 POLICE REPORTS Major Dehart presented the August accident report. H noted that accidents were about the same as this time last year at 170 accidents as compared to 171 last year. There were no fatalities in August. He noted that there were 39 injuries in August as compared to 73 during this period last year. Commissioner Quick asked if the injuries tended to occur in the same region. Major Dehart said most of the injuries occur on the State highways. Mr. Walker noted the DUI arrests are up significantly. Major Dehart replied they have taken a substantial step towards their phlebotomy program allowing them to administer blood tests rather than breath tests or transporting individuals to the hospital. They are making progressive steps toward going in that direction. TRANSIT OPERATIONS FY 2025 Grant Approval Ms. Griffin reported she is about to apply submit the 2025 grant applications which are due at the end of this month. She added that she has just hired a new grant manager that started yesterday, to will help get our applications processed promptly. The allocation this year for the 5307-Operating Grant is for $1,800,000 with a local match of $1,800,000 for a total of $3,600,000. The Section 5307 Capital grant is for a total of $1,905,143. It is an 80/10/10 grant with the Federal share at $1,524,114, and the State and local allocations at $190,514 each. She noted that this years’ Federal allocation is a significant increase over FY2023, which was $1,952,390 due to the Transit Infrastructure Grant allocation from Senator Ossoff’s office. She added we are moving back to a January 1 calendar. Fare Updates 2023-2024 Ms. Griffin reported that in discussions with our Rep at GDOT, we realized that the way our Paratransit operations being allocated or grouped together was not correct, so we have now made Paratransit a free service until the end of the year. In past years we have had supplemental income from the Cares ACT or other type of funding that allowed us to operate without City funding. Since we are no longer receiving any of these funds, we are looking at other communities of our size to examine other ways of operating. We will have two public meetings to let the community know upcoming changes and to get their feedback. The first will be held on October 26th at the Transit station from 10:30 am until 11:30 am at our Transit Station so can get input from our riders. On October 30th we will be at the Civic Center at 5:30 PM. We will bring the information back to you in November so you can make an informed recommendation for 2024. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes September 13, 2023 Page 2 of 5  Ms. Griffin introduced Patrick Hawkins, the new Assistant Director, and Compliance Manager at Transit. She noted he has a lot of experience with compliance and experience in regional management. Commissioner Bojo welcomed Mr. Hawkins. Financial Report Ms. Rhinehart noted that the increase in the award that Transit was given for operating and capital is almost $1.3 million more than expected. She added we are no longer getting 100% funding and are having to go back to a 50/50 match on operating, so we need to realize that although we are getting more money, we are also having to pay more in. She noted the Capital grant is an 80/10/10 and requires the $180,000 match. Ms. Griffin added that we are not required to use all the funding, but it is available if we need it. She noted that we did not increase our operating budget from last year. Ms. Rhinehart added in the past, the State’s fiscal year has been July to June, which presented difficulties for us since ours is January to December, but they have recently changed to our fiscal calendar. This should make reimbursements smoother for us. Ms. Rhinehart presented the July statement. She noted the only revenue we are getting for ridership is through the Paratransit ridership. We recently received next year’s allocation from DHR, and it is a little more than last year. Under Federal Cash Grant, she noted we have only requested operating reimbursement for January and February which has been approved and should be coming in soon. She noted expenses are up slightly over last year which is mostly due to the increase in depreciation from the new buses we purchased. The shows up both in Main Line and in Paratransit. We have a cash balance of $800,000, but $344,000 of that is in restricted funds from the bus sales and has not been released for spending. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business to report. NEW BUSINESS Flannery Street Speeding Mr. Jenkins reported there was a petition, signed by thirty residents of Flannery St. concerning speeding concerns in their neighborhood. He reported the street is on the radar list and is posted at 25 mph. He reviewed the accident history noting three have been a total of 10 accidents over a five-year period. Three of those were cited failure to yield, four hit and run, one improper passing, 1 improper lane change and one ran a Stop sign. He noted the street is narrow and several vehicles park on it. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes September 13, 2023 Page 3 of 5  He recommended posting additional speed limit signs, and refresh Stop signs and paint bars at the existing Stop signs at E 15th Street. Commissioner Quick asked if we could make E 19th St. and Flannery a four-way Stop. Mr. Jenkins replied that it isn’t warranted by the MUTCD, but the Traffic Commission may vote to install one. Major Dehart noted that running radar is based on the stats and without a higher crash incidence, he can’t place resources to stay. He can increase patrols in the area. He noted that E 19th is a major thoroughfare unlike Flannery. Major Dehart noted that a 4-Way Stop at E 15th Street would be a great idea. The Commissioners agreed. Commissioner Quick recommended making E 15 th at Flannery Street a 4-way stop sign Commissioner Bojo seconded. The motion carried. Request to Close a Portion of E 3rd Ave on October 15th from 7 am until 1 pm. Mr. Jenkins presented a request by 1st Presbyterian Church to close off the portion of E 3rd Ave from 1st Street to 2nd St. He noted that this should not cause any traffic concerns. Major Dehart stated he has not received a permit application for this. Commissioner Quick moved to approve the request. Commissioner Bojo seconded. The motion carried. Stop the Violence Big BBQ Block Party October 7 Mr. Jenkins reported this event is scheduled for Burnett St., a dead-end street off Calhoun Ave. This event has taken place for the past two or three years, but we have never had a request from them. The event is from 2 PM until 7 PM and is located behind the Hoppin Shop. Resident Sabrina Price oversees the event and does all the cooking. They have music and games during the event. He noted this has always been a peaceful event and there have not been any traffic concerns. Major Dehart reported the assembly permit application says it is a free event and there will be music and alcohol. It has previously done it on private property but this year they are having it in the street. Commissioner Quick moved to approve with the contingency that alcohol remain on private property only. Commissioner Bojo seconded. The motion carried. OTHER Ms. Smith asked where we are on Berry Trails. Mr. Carroll said we are still hoping to have the trail head out for bid in September. Major Dehart reported he has a permit that requires clarification. Living Proof Recovery has requested permission to paint the sidewalks with chalk from 2nd Avenue to the courthouse on both side of Broad Street on September 26th from 10:00 until Noon. He noted they have done it before Mr. Jenkins said they have community service workers that draw encouraging messages on the sidewalk, and it washes away easily. The commissioners agreed. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes September 13, 2023 Page 4 of 5 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 September 13, 2023 Page 5 of 5