Traffic Commission Meeting

URBANA TRAFFIC COMMISSION Tuesday, September 10, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: Michael Madigan, City Council Member, Ward 6, Chair Joe Smith, Senior Civil Engineer Pat Connolly, Police Chief MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Bill Gray, Public Works Director Karl Koenke, 1823 East Prairie Winds Circle John Collins, Operations Manager The meeting began at 4:03 p.m. Michael Madigan chaired the meeting. Additions to the agenda: There were no additions to the agenda. Approval of Minutes: Barb Stiehl mentioned that the date on the agenda was incorrectly written as “August 6, 2013” and the meeting occurred on August 13, 2013. Joe Smith moved to approve the minutes as corrected. Pat Connolly seconded the motion. The Commission voted 3-0 to approve the minutes of the August 13, 2013 meeting. Public Input Karl Koenke stated that when vehicles parked on both sides of Prairie Winds Circle and Prairie Winds Drive, it was difficult for traffic to travel on the streets. He said that it was a public safety concern since an ambulance had difficulty getting to a residence during an emergency. Unfinished Business None New Business Item #1- Discussion of the location of school crossing guards. Information was still being collected. Pat Connolly asked that this item be moved to the October meeting of the Urbana Traffic Commission.  Traffic Commission Minutes September 2013 Page 2 Item #2- Discussion of parking restrictions on Prairie Winds Drive and Prairie Winds Circle. Paul Tatman, the developer of the Prairie Winds subdivision, sent an e-mail requesting that parking be restricted to the outside lane of Prairie Winds Drive and Prairie Winds Circle so emergency vehicles could safely travel on those streets. He mentioned in his e-mail that parking was available in the parking lot south of the Prairie Winds Assisted Living facility. Michael Madigan said that with parking on both sides the street seemed very narrow. He added that removing parking would not be a hardship since parking would be available in the parking lot south of the assisted care facility. Joe Smith said that those residents on the south side of Prairie Winds Drive might be impacted by the restrictions. Mr. Koenke stated that those residences were the closest to the parking lot so there would be parking alternatives close to them. Bill Gray asked if there was any opposition to the proposed restrictions. Mr. Koenke said that he did not know of any, but that the issue was going to be discussed at the meeting of the homeowners’ association to be held on Saturday, September 14, 2013. John Collins said that the removal of parking would help keep snow away from the driveways during snow removal operations. Joe Smith stated that he didn’t see many people parking on the street. Mr. Koenke said that it did happen, especially in those areas where residences were on both sides of the street. Bill Gray asked if the Engineering Division could research the parking situation to determine the exact locations for parking restrictions. Joe Smith moved to restrict parking on east side of Prairie Winds Drive between the driveways where the sidewalk connects to the street and on the inner parts of Prairie Winds Circle and beginning at the southern end of Prairie Winds Drive. Michael Madigan recommended that a draft copy of a map and the ordinance be sent to Mr. Tatman to share with the homeowners’ association at its Saturday meeting. Pat Connolly seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0. This item will go to Council for consideration.  Traffic Commission Minutes September 2013 Page 3 Item #3- Discussion of meeting dates for the Urbana Traffic Commission. Discussion of the time and location of the meeting followed. Joe Smith moved to change the meeting dates of the Urbana Traffic Commission from the first Tuesday of the month to the second Tuesday of the month and to change the meeting location from second floor conference room at the Urbana City Building, 400 South Vine Street in Urbana to the second floor conference room at the Urbana Public Works Department, 706 South Glover Avenue, Urbana. Pat Connolly seconded the motion. The motion was approved 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m. The next meeting will be held on October 8, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. at the Urbana Public Works Department, 706 South Glover Avenue, second floor conference room. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Stiehl Recording Secretary