AGENDA EAST GRAND RAPIDS TRAFFIC COMMISSION July 28, 2014 Community Center Commission Chambers 5:30 PM 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes: Meeting held October 28, 2013 3. Election of Chairman and Vice-chairman 4. Croswell Public Parking Lot 5. Report of the City Commission 6. Next Scheduled Meeting Date: August 25, 2014 7. Public Comment
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION City of East Grand Rapids, Michigan October 28, 2013 East Grand Rapids Community Center Commission Chambers Present: Commissioners Camille Donnelly, Hunter Meriwether, Brian Miller, Bob Saltsman and Frank Spies Absent: Commissioners Janyce Huff and Laura Roy Also Present: Public Works Director Ken Feldt, Staff Engineer Joe Slonecki and Recording Secretary Lynda Taylor 1. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Saltsman called the meeting was called to order at 5:26 PM 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 A motion was made by Commissioner Miller and supported by Commissioner Donnelly to approve the minutes as written. Yeas: Commissioners Donnelly, Meriwether, Miller, Saltsman and Spies Nays: -0-3. TRAFFIC ORDER #041 PARKING CHANGE ALONG LAKESIDE DRIVE AS A COMPONENT OF LAKESIDE DRIVE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT Public Works Director Ken Feldt gave a recap of the project which was introduced to the Commission at the September meeting. The traffic order includes prohibiting parking along a portion of Lakeside Drive just south of the Greenwood intersection. It is proposed as a traffic safety improvement as part of a Lakeside Drive reconstruction project scheduled for the summer of 2014. At the last meeting the Traffic Commission requested three items of information: A COPY OF THE JADE PIG DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Mr. Feldt provided a drawing of the plan and explained that the development was proposed in three phases. Phase I is the area that is in Gaslight Village. Phase II is the high rise condominiums which received final approval, but was never built. Phase III would be the area which was proposed to be residential. As part of the project, a driveway was to come out at the Reeds Lake Boulevard intersection. There would also be a sizeable underground parking
garage. That driveway was to come out onto Shopping Center Drive. Mr. Feldt explained that Jade Pig could come back and completely revisit and revise their PUD. CONTACT JADE PIG: Mr. Felt reported that he had corresponded with the owner of the company, but had not received a response. LOOK FOR OTHER LOCATIONS TO INSTALL PARKING: Mr. Feldt stated that Staff Engineer Joe Slonecki had come up with an on-street parking plan and asked Mr. Slonecki to review it. Mr. Slonecki reported that he found spaces where there is currently no parking. The spaces are on Lakeside Drive, from the midblock crosswalk at John Collins Park up to just about the property line on the opposite side of the road where the Lakewood Hills Apartments are located. The City would be able to put nine spots in that area and leave adequate room for backing in a boat trailer at the launch. Mr. Feldt added that the reason there is no parking at that location because people in the apartments complained that parking would restrict their view of the lake. Mr. Feldt said that both the condos and apartments would be contacted regarding the parking change. Trailer parking will be prohibited. A motion was made by Commission Miller and supported by Commissioner Donnelly to approve Traffic Order #041 as written. Yeas: Commissioners Donnelly, Meriwether, Miller, Saltsman and Spies 5 Nays: -0-4. TRAFIC ORDER #042 REMOVE PARKING RESTRICTION ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF LOVETT FROM LAKE DRIVE TO GASLIGHT VILLAGE Mr. Feldt reported that a request had been received from a resident along Lovett inquiring as to whether the current parking restriction could be removed. The signs on the east side of the street say 2-hour parking from 8:00 AM 5:00 PM. Questionnaires were sent to all the residents affected. The summary of responses is listed below: Property owners in favor of removing parking restriction: 8 Property owners opposed to removing parking restriction: 3 Property owners who did not respond: 11 A motion was made by Commissioner Spies and supported by Commissioner Miller to approve Traffic Order #042 as written. Yeas: Commissioners Donnelly, Meriwether, Miller, Saltsman and Spies 5 Nays: -0
5. HOSPITAL WEALTHY STREET DRIVEWAY Mr. Feldt reported that East Grand Rapids resident, Lois DeBoer, was present at the September meeting and she expressed concern about accidents that occur at the new hospital driveway on Wealthy. Mr. Feldt researched the approved 2009 hospital expansion plans and found that the driveway was to be a two-way drive, but was only to be one way from the exit from the parking deck. Currently it is two way. He said he has scheduled a meeting with hospital personnel and would also like to do more research before making any recommendations. 6. REPORT OF THE CITY COMMISSION Commissioner Miller reported the following: A construction contract was awarded for the Gerald R. Ford statue which will go on the patio in front of City Hall. All land prep and mounting base were donated by the Allens. The Public Safety Annual Report was presented by Chief Herald at the last City Commission meeting. There was a 3% drop in traffic crash offenses. Hit and runs were up by 30%. Citations issued went from 238 in 2011 to 291 in 2012. Commissioner Saltsman asked if this type of information could be given to the Traffic Commission on a monthly basis. Mr. Feldt responded that Public Safety is in the process of installing a new system for keeping track of these statistics and as soon as it is officially on-line, the reports will be passed on to the Traffic Commission in their meeting packets. 7. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING DATE: November 25, 2013 8. PUBLIC COMENT No public present. 9. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Commission Donnelly and supported by Commissioner Spies to adjourn the meeting at 5:55 PM. Respectfully submitted, Lynda Taylor Recording Secretary
CITY MANAGER CITY OF EAST GRAND RAPIDS 750 LAKESIDE DRIVE SE EAST GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 49506 MEMORANDUM TO: Traffic Commission FROM: Chuck Lark, Acting Director of Public Works DATE: June 18, 2013 RE: Croswell Public Parking Lot Review 661 Croswell Introduction The owner of Big Bob s restaurant is requesting that the public parking lot located at 661 Croswell (in front of the restaurant) be restricted to 2 hour parking. The Gaslight Village Business Association (G.V.B.A.) is endorsing this proposal. The East Grand Rapids Gaslight Village Business District currently has on street parking with two hour parking restrictions. Staff Review: The public parking lot currently has no time limits for parking and it appears that employees from area businesses are legally parking there. This affect can limit the parking availability for Gaslight Village patrons. Since the G.V.B.A. has endorsed this change, this area of concern has already been addressed at their meetings. The Association has made numerous attempts to discourage local employees from using the lot. Staff Recommendation City Staff and Public Safety Department Administration recommend a one year trial period of two hour parking in the Public Parking Lot located at 661 Croswell. Signage for the lot will be placed at the entrance of the lot with additional signage added pending traffic court requirements. Public Safety officials will enforce this area the same as the on street two hour parking. Enforcement activity in the business district is currently a complaint driven action. General Info City Manager Engineering Assessor Parks & Recreation Public Safety Streets & Utilities 949-2110 949-2110 940-4817 940-4818 949-1750 949-7010 940-4870 fax 940-4884 fax 940-4884 fax 940-4884 fax 940-4884 fax 940-4884 fax 940-4829 fax 940-4872