traffic and parking control

City Council approved buying a parking-lot parcel from Wine Not, LLC at the southwest corner of Adams and 18th Streets. Council amended the agreement to correct the parcel number and require the seller to pay title insurance; the agreement passed 6-2.

The Public Works Committee raised possible future changes to lane configuration at Parkway Boulevard North and 45th Street, where a four-way stop and crossing guard were noted.

The Public Works Committee listed Memorial Drive traffic counting as an ongoing study.

The Public Works Committee reviewed Memorial Drive traffic-counter results indicating many drivers exceeded the speed limit, including high northbound speeds.

The Public Works Committee recommended a 15-minute loading zone on School Street near 1900 School Street after a business requested space for RV and camper drop-offs.

Staff told the Public Works Committee that replacing a traffic-signal control cabinet would cost about $30,000 per intersection before installation and wiring.

The Public Works Committee discussed complaints that parked vehicles on Jefferson Street between 15th and 22nd Streets reduce intersection visibility and make the street feel narrow.

Police records cited in the Jefferson Street discussion showed three related incidents over three years; the committee chose to monitor and document incidents rather than change parking or traffic controls.

Staff reported a ticket issued during an active winter parking ban. The cited person believed snow-clearing work should be exempt, but staff said the ordinance contains no such exception.

The Public Works Committee took no action on a possible snow-clearing exception to the winter parking ban; staff said a ticket challenge would go through police and municipal court.

The Public Works Committee again discussed Jefferson Street parking and visibility concerns between 15th and 22nd Streets. Staff cited three police-record incidents in three years, and no changes were approved.

Riverside Foods asked about a marked mid-block pedestrian crossing on Wilson Street between 25th and 26th Streets. Staff said the city has no formal policy for such requests and asked the business to submit a written request and justification.

The Public Works Committee discussed, but did not advance, a possible future vacation of the Wilson Street block between 25th and 26th Streets; multiple property owners and possible utilities in the right-of-way were noted.

The Public Works Committee reviewed traffic and speed studies for Pierce Street, Zlatnik Drive, Jackson Street, Mishicot Road, 17th Street and Roosevelt Avenue. Staff described a recurring pattern of drivers exceeding posted speeds, including on neighborhood streets.

The Public Works Committee voted to paint the first 15 feet of curb on the west side of Pierce Street south of the 22nd Street crosswalk, reinforcing the state no-parking zone and improving sightlines and turning room. Jackson Street curb paint was to be refreshed.

The Public Works Committee discussed a request for no-bicycles-on-sidewalk signs near 17th Street and Zlatnik Drive. Staff directed the property owner to police for trespass or property-damage enforcement.

By consensus, the Public Works Committee left the three-way stop at 36th Street and Adams Street unchanged.

Staff recommended maintaining and annually reviewing an inventory of traffic and parking controls, including parking restrictions, speed zones, one-way streets and stop controls. A youth apprentice prepared a preliminary draft.

Staff used the eastbound stop sign at 12th Street and School Street as an example for review, questioning why eastbound traffic stops while westbound traffic does not.

The Public Works Committee is scheduled to consider a bus-company request to modify parking controls on 11th Street near Koenig School.

The Public Works Committee is scheduled to consider staff recommendations tied to traffic or speed studies on Lincoln Avenue and Tannery Road.