City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Parking and Traffic Safety Committee, 3 Feb 2022

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2.3.2022 Parking and Traffic Safety Committee

A

Supposed to flash he's supposed to flash that okay there so now, I'm going to hit start.

A

Well, actually, it looks like we are started right up at.

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Oh, thank you. Sorry.

B

Recording in progress.

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uh Good morning, everyone I'm calling to order the parking and traffic safety meeting for.

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February 3rd 2022, we will do an attendance call mary leo mcelwain here, steve pesci.

A

That's the one: how do you unmute him there we go pressed on mute.

C

Good morning, I'm here, I'm sorry not a problem.

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Don't see mark, I don't see harold eric owen.

D

Here, police captain mike maloney here fire chief todd germain here- public works director, peter rice.

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City manager, karen connard here and councillor bagley here.

E

I'd like to make a motion to uh bring item uh 6a forward uh to elect a chair.

E

And vice chair, if I have a second I'll second, that um why don't we.

E

So why don't we vote to bring that forward and then I, if, if, if I could.

E

If the committee feels okay I'd like to speak to it, so let's first vote to bring this item forward.

A

uh Okay, so uh marilyn mccoy, yes, steve pesci, yes, eric oleg.

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Yes, police captain mike maloney, yes, fire chief todd germain, yes, public.

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Works director, peter rice, yes, senior manager, karen connard, yes and councillor bagley, yes,.

E

I would like to propose.

E

A candidate for chair counselor as councilor bagley and vice chair, uh steve pesci,.

F

I would second that it's a real call if there's any discussion. First, okay, yeah.

B

I talked with karen briefly about having a vice chairperson.

B

The first year or two that I was on the committee we did have ted gray was vice, and so I think that.

B

Position needs to be defined as to what their responsibility is, because we haven't had one for.

B

Years, eight years or so um I don't have a problem with having a vice chair. I think it's good because.

B

Karen said that you're a traveler um yes so to have somebody fill in, I think in the past.

B

Has probably been the city manager, or maybe you filled in in the past in the past, there.

E

Wasn't in past there was a typically an assigned um vice chair in the last.

E

Probably two four years we we did not. Oh I just I remember ted gray, yeah, so the the I I think it's.

E

Appropriate yeah it should we should have done it last year and for whatever reason we didn't that's.

E

Fine, the role is really just to act as uh chair during the um and facilitate the meeting. Okay, good.

G

Yeah- and I I did request that um if I was elected chair that we have a vice chair, because I do.

G

Travel for work, and I thought it would be more efficient for the meetings. The other reason.

G

um It looking through the past few years of notes, it does seem historically the counselor.

G

uh Nominee has been the chair, um but as um me and in the past counselors that have recently been.

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Chair were brand new to the committee, so I thought it'd be important, that the vice chair be somebody.

G

That's been here for a long time so that we have some institutional knowledge in that position. Good.

B

I'm fine with that. I just wanted to clarify.

H

Is steve fine with that.

C

I I'm happy to step in and serve the world to help the committee uh function. I think, and it's a good.

C

Idea to have it for consistency, and I hope that my services will be helpful. Great good, good call.

E

If there's no other comments, we could do a roll call vote. Marilyn, mccoy, yes, steve pesci,.

C

I probably should have seen well from yours, but you could vote for the uh do. You want to share.

E

The motion- yes, maybe it should be two separate motions, the first motion being for the chair, so.

A

Mary lou mccowan, yes, steve pesci, yes, erica wagonic, yes, police, captain mike maloney, yes, fire chief.

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Todd germain, yes, public works director, peter rice, yes, city manager, karen connard, yes I'll obstain,.

F

And the second level of state council lee will will abstain. So the second motion.

E

Would be to have steve pesci as a uh vice chair, and I need a second.

E

I'll second, that roll call vote mary lou mccullen, yes, steve pesci,.

A

Eric oregonic, yes, police, captain mike maloney, yes, fire chief todd jermaine, yes,.

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Public works director, peter rice, yes, city manager, karen connard, yes and councillor.

A

Thank you chairman. Actually, I just have one comment. I thought mark said that he.

B

Was going to zoom in from florida? I don't see them. Let's see, okay,.

B

A

So at this point I'm going to share the screen.

F

Mr chairman, you can take it away. um I guess uh item number three financial report.

F

That's typically ben who would uh walk us through this okay, so um financial report, this time at.

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50 of the year gone by as of december 31st, we have 62 percent of our.

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Budgeted funds in which is great news, just about every line item, is, is ahead of schedule.

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And the ones that are not are basically right on schedule, so we're having a good year so far.

G

Sounds great uh item four public comments. We need to move to excitement. Oh.

F

I'll, second, that you should take a roll call since uh we'll call out marilyn mccoy, yes, steve pesci,.

A

Yes, eric owen, yes, police, captain mike maloney, yes, fire chief todd germain; yes, public works.

A

Director peter rice, yes, city manager, karen connard, yes and chairman andrew bagley, yes,.

G

Okay, now I guess we move on to item four, which is public comment.

G

Is there anybody in the public that would like to speak today.

F

We do have a hand up. Okay, uh just I mean does anybody out here want to speak today.

G

We're just going to go with the room first and then we'll we'll switch to the people on zoom.

D

Hi, my name is liza hewitt and I live at 726 middle road. I'm here today to discuss speed limits and.

D

Traffic calming for some of you who are new to this committee. I first came before this committee.

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With a letter in july of 2020 with concerns about speed and traffic calming on middle road,.

D

I ask that the speed limit be lowered to 25 and that other traffic calming measures be considered.

D

No action was taken and I came back before you on october 7 2020, with a petition signed by.

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Over 50 neighbors asking that the speed limit be lowered to 25 miles per hour. The committee.

D

Decided to instead institute a pilot program of traffic, calming measures that were put into effect.

D

Last spring, I came before this committee last september to ask if a review would be done of the.

D

Pilot program to judge if it had worked to reduce speeds- and I was told that a review would be done.

D

To the best of my knowledge that has not happened before that did not happen before the traffic.

D

Calming measures were removed for winter. I was also told that the pilot was an interim measure.

D

And that middle road traffic calming was in the cip for 2023 middle road has now been moved out to.

D

2026. now here I am again: the middle road speedway is still clocking speeds regularly over 40 miles.

D

Per hour and it speeds up over 50 miles per hour at times, I've consistently asked you over the past.

D

Year and a half to consider making no speed on a residential road over 25 miles per hour,.

D

When I watched your last meeting, you would discuss reviewing all city road speeds and.

D

Whether instituting a consistent speed limit of 25 miles per hour for all roads was appropriate.

D

That's not what I suggested. I've consistently heard from this committee that I live on an.

D

Arterial road and that 30 miles per hour is appropriate. I live in a neighborhood.

D

One that consists of approximately 138 residences of walkers cyclists and drivers.

D

Portsmouth has many residential gateway roads that are 25 miles per hour. Beverly hill woodbury avenue.

D

Maplewood miller avenue middle street, which was lowered to 25 only last year. I don't understand.

D

Why all residential gateway roads are 25 miles per hour, except for middle road, islington and sagmore.

D

Why is it that the residents in these neighborhoods are not worthy of the same.

D

Consideration for safety that others are. I understand that you are currently studying.

D

The speed limits on all city streets and that you are coming up with a plan, although I don't.

D

Think you were clear at the last meeting what the plan is going to accomplish. I can't believe.

D

That residents will be happy with their speed limits being raised, so the only other option is.

D

That you are considering lowering speed limits. If that is the case, I would like you to explain why.

D

The residents of middle road, islington and sagimar are not worthy of a 25 mile per hour. Speed limit.

D

Thank you. Thank you. Typically, we don't have interaction, but I want to clarify one thing for.

E

Eliza, the traffic calming on middle road was not pushed to 2026.. It's clearly in the. If you.

E

Look at tsm 21, pw 70 on the current cip, it's 2023, and actually it was in 2024 the year before, but.

E

Through your efforts, we pulled it forward to 2023 and it's currently shown in that you'll.

E

See clearly in there that refers to these measures may include reconfigurations.

E

Speed tables uh interac intersections middle road, south street and alders road.

E

That's 300 thousand dollars. That's been requested for that street okay, so I just wanted to clarify.

E

Into us you know, I appreciate that this wasn't you know, pushed off to some future. Okay, that's not how.

D

I read the cip, so I'll have to go back and forth. 21 pw 70., okay, so we can expect something will be.

D

Coming up assuming it gets adopted, as is that's yeah as, as you know, our traffic engineer left.

E

So we've been short staffed relative to review. uh Additional data has been collected uh and we.

E

Are we have not um disregarded this request? We are not ignoring it. We know it's an important thing.

E

So I you know, I appreciate your frustration, but I want you to know that this hasn't. It hasn't.

E

Been ignored and hasn't been just decided to be blown off okay. Thank you very much. Thank you.

G

Ken goldman.

I

Thank you, ken goldman 271 islington street. I have a new request for the committee. I live.

J

On islington, between cornwall and rockingham and for some reason, they're both one way going.

J

The same way, they both go from islington down to mcdonough and it would be really convenient for.

J

The people who live there to have one going one way one going the other way just just make it.

J

Easier for access to our community and probably the other homes on those streets, so I would just.

J

Like to ask the committee to take a look into that and consider making that change. Thank you. Thank.

A

I believe you that we don't have anybody else here. uh We have two hands raised.

A

Three hands raised there, you go jessica, uh can kevin. Can you please enable jonathan sandberg.

J

Hey guys, um nice to see you, you guys can hear me right. We can yep, okay, great hey, um so I'm jonathan.

J

We're gonna do the 160 part of the street. I want to talk today about the intersection of.

J

Caden bartlett, which I know has gotten a lot of attention in the past, but I feel like it's falling.

J

Off the radar a little bit and there's a lot of a lot of improvements that could easily be made.

J

Starting off with the fact that um coming from cape street there's a stop sign, there's a stop.

J

Bar and the stop bar is after the crosswalk and it's it's kind of it's almost a joke.

J

That you'd have a stop bar after the crosswalk, the crowd. You know, if you're a pedestrian and a.

J

Car comes to the stop at the stop bar. You cannot cross the street there's part of it. um It makes.

J

No sense, it's got to be roommate, it's almost uh it's laughable and then um the next thing uh is.

J

um I've spoken about this a lot, um I'm gonna repeat it is that uh the slip lane coming up part.

J

Of the street is not appropriate at that location. It's unsafe slip lanes are highways they're. What.

J

You do when you're emphasizing flow over safety. We don't have them in any other place in portsmouth.

J

That I'm aware of, except for um except for where, um where beverly hill meets, uh can't remember.

J

But there's a stop sign. There's a stop sign at the end of that that um that's split playing.

J

And then the other place is at fourth week in their earthquake and the last I remember.

J

We were getting rid of that, um and so and those are good things, that's what you should be doing.

J

um When I asked peter rice about this at the neighborhood meeting in october, he responded.

J

Was saying that that was necessary to have a split vane to prevent cueing at the intersection.

J

Backing up and that's an answer, that's consistent with prioritizing flow over safety.

J

Would be far more safer and appropriate just to have the cars go around the.

J

um And take our rights take a hard right instead of that software, and all that would do is make.

J

Cars slow down and it wouldn't impede. um So um so that's that and then the third thing.

J

Is uh coming down bartlett street there's um the the road is three lanes wide.

J

And that's that's really unnecessary. It doesn't need to be three lanes wide. There's a there's, a.

J

Lane coming up the street, there's a lane coming down to turn left and there's a lane going down.

J

To turn right and almost no cars turn right there. um The only traffic that turns right are.

J

The trucks coming from richie lumber, everybody else- is um coming from woodbury and there's no.

J

Reason to turn right on to uh street to get to the bypass, because they've already passed the.

J

um The traffic circle on woodbury, so this that the road is unnecessarily wide.

J

And that's a space that could be used for lots of other things like uh pedestrian or even a bicycle.

J

Facility- and that gives me a third point, if you guys read the fourth point, rather, you guys write.

J

In the news that um the developers that want to buy bartlett uh were successful in their appeal.

J

And it seems more likely than not that um that that 105 will be developed and we'll. Finally,.

J

Have the path on the north mill pond and that presents an enormous opportunity to um create.

J

Connections uh across from the from cape street, which has a very nice multi-use path on it now.

J

There's going to be a connection to get across part of the street to the north middle pond.

J

Trail and it seems to me that the best way to do that is instead of having people have to turn.

J

Across eight street and then cross again part of the street, which is what I think you you have in.

J

Mind it'd be much easier if they could just stay to the left and go up that the road where there.

J

Is now a car lane that the right friendly knows you're speaking, though you just go up.

J

And have a multi-use path just continue and then have a crossing right at the driveways. That's.

J

That's a vision that uh I think would make a lot of sense, um but in any way it's something you.

J

Should think about um so those are. uh Those are my um current concerns about the intersection.

J

And we hope you'll you'll, keep those thoughts in your mind going forward. Okay, thank you.

G

Thank you uh would kevin. Please recognize robin russo.

A

You're on mute robin thank you. I don't often attend these meetings, so it's shocking for.

K

Me to see that city management is having a voting position on this committee. This is supposed to be.

K

A subcommittee of the city council, so I'm asking our city councilor andrew bagley, to look into.

K

Why we have city management and voting positions on this committee? I do a lot.

K

Of work with public companies and audit committees, we would never have members of.

K

Management on sub-committees of the board of directors, so why is this true here? This should be.

K

Members of in residence of the city of portsmouth, who have voting privileges on this committee.

K

But that's not really why I'm here, I'm just shocked to see it as I'm showing up.

K

I'm here because I had a meeting on the 27th with the head of the um the governor's council.

K

On disabilities, because the city of portsmouth is not in compliance with rsa well, section 265.

K

Parking privilege privileges for those with walking disabilities, or it basically states that.

K

All people, basically handicapped platforms, have free parking and to use the guidance.

K

From this particular committee, um if you want to charge or have time limits on those.

K

Spaces and back in october, we had a change to a three-hour limit, at least downtown.

K

That I know for people with handicapped flat guards and a whole lot of us got ex.

K

I had 300 worth of parking tickets that piled up on my car, so um we are not in violation. We are in.

K

Violation of that guidance because it says that handicapped placard should have double the time.

K

If you're going to set a time limit, thank you very much. It should be double the time limit.

K

That a regular vehicle would have because people need extra time to deal with that.

K

And so I'm asking that you number one change that rule immediately and number two issue: a refund.

K

To those people that were taken advantage of um by the city, who have already.

K

Disabilities and challenges also, I'm asking that this meeting more at six to seven pm on.

K

A week night and not eight a.m in the morning when nobody from the public really is had it.

K

So that's all I have to say today, oh yes and resident permit parking in market square, we're.

K

Waiting for that pilot program to end- and we want to be next on the list- I'm happy to work with bvw.

K

I've got certain streets that I think need to have those resident parking signs and those are where.

K

We have a majority of non-deeded buildings without parking that these buildings are challenged so.

K

I'm waiting for that. Thank you. Thank you. Kevin. Please recognize jessica, lozan.

L

Good morning, good morning, good morning, hi um thanks for all coming out yesterday, I'm.

L

Sorry I was unaware I just misunderstood that you guys were all coming to that, so it was a little.

L

Unprepared, I did um send some information to a few of you that I had emails with, but.

L

Yesterday I did uh measure the the width of austin street in front of my house and it's 17 feet wide.

L

And I did look up like the chevy tahoe, that was there that was 90 inches, which is seven feet.

L

So, basically, a ten feet: it's if that, if that tahoe was parked back where people parked so like.

L

A good five or six feet in reverse from where it was that gives us like less than 10 feet, to make.

L

That switch around um if we have to turn out of our driveway, I did go down to across union street.

L

Austin street down there someone had mentioned yesterday. They said that that was a you know. A.

L

Normal street in portsmouth, and just I understand, there's a lot of small streets in portsmouth. They.

L

Just don't all have parking on them and down the street on austin across union I've measured 28.

L

Feet so there's a significant. You know: 11 feet, difference in front of my house um to like the.

L

Street that we're just on my neighbor patty um had a good suggestion that I hadn't thought of. She.

L

Thought of just putting a sign up there that says, do not block driveways, then it wouldn't take away.

L

Any of the um the parking that's already there, the two spots and the other thing that I sent some.

L

Pictures there's some sort of paint on the on the road on mcdonald's street and on hanover street.

L

It's basically just like a triangle with paint, and if that was there I you know, I think people would.

L

Would not park there. I think just you know some way to sort of alert people to look over and say.

L

Oh, like I, you know that car won't be able to get out if I park here. um I did send a.

L

Bunch of pictures of just the past two months, even christmas eve, we got stuck well. I have my.

L

Mother here and it was super inconvenient because it was raining and icing. um So if.

L

You guys could just look at those pictures. Those show I wish I had had um the fire treat back up.

L

Because, where his car was, we can obviously get around it's when someone parks behind him. It's.

L

That third car that blocks us in so if you have any more questions, let me know- and hopefully we.

L

Can figure something out? I really appreciate your time. Thank you. Please recognize michael milliken.

A

Mr miracle and you're on mute, okay, good morning good morning, this is mike milligan, I'm tweeting.

C

For newcastle, I have a question to follow up to the middle road conversation that.

C

The other speaker brought up uh back in 2019. I started having conversations with eric eby about.

C

uh Newcastle avenue where I live. I live right kind of like when I'm going to see.

C

Well, it's kind of a long straight away and it's a it's a bountiful spot for speeding and.

C

Eric installed a stealth recorder in front of the house and then that justified a speed feedback.

C

Sign- and I believe that's been helpful, but one of the things he told me is that new cast lab being.

C

An arterial route is is not eligible for traffic common measures beyond speed, feedback signs and.

C

Speed enforcement and I wonder if we could get clarification on number one. What are the arterial.

C

Moves in in portsmouth that are affected by any kind of restriction for speed calming and what are.

C

The speed calming measures that can be put into place because there seems to be confusion over.

C

That and I think if we would clarify that it would be helpful and by the way I share a facebook group.

C

Called safer street sportsman, we have about 180 members who are very committed to this topic. I'd.

C

Be happy to distribute every information through that group, so thank you for your time. Thank you.

A

uh Well, we have no more hands raised. um So, uh mr chairman, if you have a close public.

A

Session yeah I'll close the public comment session. Thank you for everyone that spoke next.

G

We have site visits, uh 273 austin street. One of the public speakers spoke on this.

G

Two days ago now I believe at 8, am we had quite a few of us show up there to evaluate the the site.

G

I think it's appropriate for me to mention you know in not every community community would you.

G

Have the city manager, the fire chief, a police captain, the head of public works, the head of.

G

Parking a traffic engineer, and then numerous committee members show up at 8, am to evaluate.

G

Somebody's driveway, so I think it goes gives great credit to the city of portsmouth that we have such.

G

Involvement, often the decisions we make may not be pleasing to everybody, but I think it shows the.

G

Care and effort and communication that the city takes pride in so I want to comment on that.

G

And then I would look to entertain a motion regarding the site visit.

B

Motion to just acknowledge that we were at the site visit what.

B

Okay make a motion that we were at the site visit and that it's up for discussion.

F

For discussion I'll, second, that.

H

Okay, um I feel like sometimes we have a recap of the site visit right for people who aren't there.

F

Yeah, are you comfortable sure so that.

E

This site- we've we've actually looked at a couple of times before and we understand the.

E

Challenge of navigating parking in the area and getting in and out of a narrow, driveway.

E

To a narrow street and the question really comes down to uh balancing access and parking um the.

E

You know so the the the options that were looked at was was, if you strictly interpret the setbacks.

E

From uh intersection and setback from driveways, uh it quickly shows that there's remaining.

E

About 18 feet left for one parking space, so the the options that have been floated out.

E

There include, you, know, striping or putting a triangular piece to offset the driveway.

E

um That is across the street from this property uh to to allow for more easy access in and out.

E

Putting a sign up saying: do not block driveway, maybe one approach um it doesn't definitively.

E

Restrict parking one way or the other. um The the other third approach would really be.

E

You know stripping it out um with the offset and putting signage and saying do not park.

E

Near a stop sign uh as well as driveway, so I guess you know the we all were out there.

E

We all understand the challenges um and there was no definitive um consensus at the site site visit.

A

uh uh Please recognize steve pesce raised hand. Thank you peter. I agree with that synopsis. I.

C

I hope that when the staff is able to mark out on paper what it would look like having the.

C

Triangular lines, the setback lines I I would hope that that would address the majority of concerns.

C

For the president, I I feel really strongly about this balance issue peter's talking about that.

C

No disagreement that there's inconvenience for the private property owner, but we have to balance that.

C

Against the fact that it's a public street and a public right-of-way and the public has a right to.

C

Park in legally designated parking areas, 20-foot setback notwithstanding, so I'm hoping.

C

When this is drawn out on paper that it's a legitimate compromise and.

C

I think we all want to avoid having a sea of signs put up. You know. I always say that if you.

C

If you applied all those standards everywhere in the city, we would have just a forest of.

C

Signs and pavement markings so hopefully, when we see a drawing scaled out, it will.

C

Accommodate most, if not all, of the concerns of the resident. Thank you is that a motion.

C

uh I don't know if it's ready for a motion. I I'd like to see the drawing from the staff.

C

And see if that's acceptable, but I think the staff already agreed they.

C

Were going to proceed on that work, effort yeah today, I'm sorry, mr chairman, may I was.

G

Going to say, I think I hear there's, maybe a motion for a report back from staff on this.

C

uh If emotions warded, certainly I make that yes I'll. Second, that.

B

Mr chair, I I agree with steve's evaluation of the site visit and um I think it's really important.

B

For us to hear other residents who live in that area who might be parking there, because I think.

B

We've done this before we have put a parking or no parking signs wherever it's appropriate, but.

B

I think we continue to set a precedent that can occur without within the city on many streets. Many.

B

Narrow streets, so I think steve's suggestion is a good one. Let's go for it. I appreciate that um if I.

G

Can make a comment to it when we have uh planning type activities, there's a butter noses that go out.

G

In the report back, if we were gonna suggest some changes, I might add that you know letting.

G

The neighbors know, through notice that these changes are being proposed might be a good idea.

G

We don't want to take away parking and then have nobody on the street know why? I think if everybody.

G

Knows going in what's happening and why it might be better received if there is in fact a change.

E

So I would, I would uh be willing to amend that if the motion the person making the motion uh agrees.

C

Yes, so I'll amend that to things like that.

G

And I guess we'll take a roll call vote unless there's further discussion.

A

Marilyn mccoin, yes, steve pesci; yes, eric obaconic, yes, police, captain.

A

Mike maloney, yes, fire chief todd jermaine, yes, public works director, peter rice, yes,.

A

City manager, karen conard, yes, chairman, andrew bagley, yes.

A

So moved, okay and moving on to the next item in the agenda is new business. We've.

G

Already covered item, a item b, I think, has been discussed about in public comment.

G

And the sample motion is to discuss options for upcoming calendar. If somebody would like to.

G

Gotcha I'll tear it up for discussion. Typically, the group um discusses what makes the most sense.

F

For meeting time and um as chair, I think you, you are one voice in the conversation.

F

um That may want to start the conversation, maybe take it from there. Take it. Take it to the to the.

F

Non-City members after that yeah, I guess um I'll start. The discussion and uh 8 a.m is difficult.

G

For a lot of people, um you know because of work schedules, dropping kids off at school.

G

For me personally, I would prefer something in the afternoon or evening. I think the evening might be.

G

A bit much because we have so many city staff on this committee, which is important, so I think.

G

I I certainly would be in favor of an afternoon meeting, which I think might be.

G

Easier for members of the public to attend, and then you know, if need be, for instance,.

G

Say the neighborhood parking program we could potentially schedule special meetings or certain.

G

Months have the meetings be in the evening so that more people can attend for really.

G

Matters of interest to the general public, but I think our regular scheduled meetings.

G

uh 8 a.m is, from my perspective, not ideal.

B

Mr chair, I don't think there's an ideal time. Actually, we've found that over the years that that.

B

We can schedule it um when uh peter had his uh boat out in the summer, and we would do afternoon.

B

Meetings, you know the attendance one wasn't any uh different from an 8 a.m. I'm just thinking about.

B

The other people who are on this committee, if you schedule an 8 a.m,.

B

That's the start of their day. If you try to break up at 2, 30 or 3 30 or 4 30.

B

I would wonder if it's more difficult for for the members of the city staff.

B

To attend also it's a hard time for parents. Erica can comment on the morning or the afternoon.

B

I don't know if people who have children can attend an afternoon or an early evening meeting.

H

Yeah, I think I agree with mary lou that there's lots of tricks to any particular time.

H

I think 8 a.m is tricky, but I I do appreciate that it's kind of at one end of the day.

G

And I think it's nice that it's one end of the day that children are occupied. If we went to.

H

The other end of the day, then I think, there's after school and that poses different challenges.

H

I you know I'm just one of many. I do think that potentially right at eight is tricky.

H

For people to get to because they're dropping kids off or getting in and starting their day,.

H

So I don't I I guess 8 15 it to me is is an ideal time where it gives people time to at least.

H

I think about members of the public who are trying to get their kids to school.

H

And then come to a meeting, and at least it gives them time to do that. um I I do worry that later.

H

In the afternoon, either breaks up the day a lot or you have the other situation where kids are.

H

Not even in school and then that's harder or you know, nighttime is tricky because it's busy.

H

But I guess I like the idea of occasional night meetings to support particular interests.

H

I don't know, I think we probably all have a preferred time, but yeah don't ask steve.

F

What he thinks yeah uh steve, do you have your hand up? Do you have a preference.

G

Oh I'm flexible either, but I do like either beginning of day or end of day. Maybe maybe the.

C

8 am is a little stressful as eric is saying for people to get all their logistics family logistics.

C

Done so maybe 8 30- or maybe you know later in the afternoon like three o'clock, 3 30, but I'm flexible.

G

And I guess um you know, I think it's important- that we have the the fire.

G

Chief here and the police captain here so do you guys have thoughts on what.

J

I have a conflict on the evenings of the first thursday in the month. The meeting recurring.

J

Meeting in the evening today, each month, but any other time during the day is fine with me.

I

uh Same goes uh evenings get a little bit tougher, but we, if I couldn't make it I could.

I

Always have somebody fill in for me, but if sometimes the length of these meetings can.

I

Go an hour and a half sometimes two hours in in some cases. So if you're, if you're starting.

I

In the afternoon, you might be finishing in the early evening depending on it, but.

I

Not that important either way we would have somebody here.

G

Anybody else have uh thoughts, mr chairman, I'll read in for for those who received the email from.

F

Member mark syracusa that his consideration would be for the afternoon hours just want to put that.

F

On the record, he's not here to mention that um I guess I would speak for peter and ben and tyler.

F

And myself that we would make ourselves available to the committee, so um I guess what I'm hearing.

G

Is that the morning meetings seem to be uh best for most members, but maybe we adjust the time to.

G

8 15 or 8 30.. um Is that the consensus or would you prefer? We propose a afternoon meeting first.

G

I think we have to propose either morning or afternoon plus a coin.

G

And you know if we continue to have the meetings in the morning.

G

I think if we have a couple meetings a year that are in the evening that will address at.

G

Least some of the concerns about people not being able to get here, but I think it's unrealistic to.

G

To schedule all these meetings in the evening, just because of the requirements of staff and.

G

Conflicts with other meetings going on within the city, such as you know, planning board htc.

G

Zoning board of adjustment- you know we run into an issue where.

G

Evenings are already stressed with a number of meetings. So if we just do a couple meetings a year.

G

In the evening and then, if somebody made a motion for.

G

Meetings in the morning or the afternoon, I guess we could vote on it.

B

um I just wanted to comment that we still have. We have zoom.

B

Which does make a difference for people in the in the general public who want to weigh in so.

B

um So we're negating evening meetings and we're just choosing between.

B

The option of morning or afternoon is that what you're suggesting I'm suggesting that we have our.

G

Regular scheduled meeting either in the morning or the afternoon um and then maybe twice a year.

G

We have an evening meeting or or, as um you know when we have, if we feel that there's a issue that.

G

Might get a lot of response? um I use example the neighborhood parking program because I know that.

G

Yeah tends to bring people out right. We might try to have a meeting in the evening from time to time.

G

For those types of topics sure I'll make a motion, okay, that we meet at 8, 30.

H

Most of the time and make special efforts to have evening meetings when we feel like it would.

H

Support a vibrant public discussion for a particular focus issue, I'll second, that good.

A

I think that's the perfect motion. uh Marilyn mccoin, yes, steve pesci, yes, eric organic! Yes,.

A

Police captain mike maloney, yes, fire chief todd jermaine, yes, public works director.

A

Peter rice, yes, city manager, karen connard, yes and chairman andrew bagley, yes, so moved.

G

Okay um item c's already been addressed: um item d.

G

uh 21 booster street request for improved parking signage to know only one available space.

G

As pan painted sample motion review recommended signage and placement.

A

If it had been, if it pleased the chair, yes, uh so this uh as a space that use that use to house two.

A

Vehicles but uh technically it only uh is striped for one uh that's difficult for people to see when.

A

The snow is uh is on the ground, so when the snow falls, apparently uh the neighbors believe that.

A

There's a preponderance of people parking double parking in that area. They would like to see some.

A

Signage as marked in the green areas here, to show that there's only one space available in this.

A

Spot in front of 21 brewster, so signage would sample, would look something like this.

E

Mr chairman, yes.

E

Where I understand the concern relative to this, um I am concerned about additional signage on tight.

E

Sidewalks that are already challenging for staff to maintain during the winter, and you know I would.

E

I would say that the the with snow removal and sun and paint on the road it should be adequate.

E

uh Even during the winter time uh to to be able to see that it's a single parking space.

E

um So I I would, I would make a motion that we uh table this and we we put it on, you know, put it.

E

On file um it really, I mean it's it's currently from per ordinance. It's it's structured. This way.

E

uh It's a single parking space, so there really is no additional action needed uh by the committee.

E

It's it's something that uh it's more of an administrative thing. um You know it's a matter of.

E

If we, if we, if we find that we need to to have signage out there after uh a while of observing it.

E

Then then we can take that action, but at this point I don't think the additional signage.

E

Would be beneficial to the neighborhood and the ability to maintain the sidewalks.

E

Thank you, so my motion would be to table this I'll. Second, that.

G

Any discussion I would just like to um comment on when residents have an issue such as this, that we.

B

Make a suggestion that the residents try to show up at the meeting or at zoom, so that we can have a.

B

Discussion we know we will know better um as to what is the actual issue.

B

That we're trying to deal with you know, I think we need some background information from.

B

The building owner uh the person who is requesting this so.

B

I'm just asking in general if people have items that go on our agenda, that we.

B

When those come in that we suggest to them that they either come in person to a meeting.

B

Or zoom in so that we can have a better discussion. I think that makes sense, and if we do in fact.

G

Table this, it could come back up, so if, if that resident is listening to this or building owner, I.

G

Think that's pretty good advice to to get in touch with us. If you want to this re-brought back up.

G

H

One of the things I feel like this comes up with some frequency, and I agree that.

H

We can't have a sign every time people aren't adhering to the parking guidance.

H

I think it's a little bit easier for us because we talk about parking and offset so.

H

Often to remember what the rules are in terms of how close you can park to things, but I'm guessing.

H

The general public is less attuned to those things just because it's not what they talk about when.

H

Someone's first a couple hours, I was wondering if maybe this is something that we could add to.

H

um The city or public works social media like periodically hey now that it's winter, just a.

H

Reminder not that it's only true in the winter, but it's just a good opportunity to put a casual.

H

Friendly just a reminder: you're only allowed to park within x number of feet of certain things.

H

And maybe periodically we could cycle messages like that through not everyone pays attention to.

H

Social media, but I think it's a pretty decent way to get a friendly casual message out. You know I I.

H

Don't think we're gonna put a big sign up when you enter town make sure you park a certain distance.

H

Away that might get a little too in the way, but I feel like these are rules that are out there.

H

But maybe not as well known and if we increase people's general awareness of it. That might help.

H

This particular location, I think, might be as much you know. It's not necessarily just a neighbor.

H

That they could go to to remind them or talk to the neighbor. I think there's more kind of general.

H

Public parking in this location, so I I think it's it's more of a community awareness issue, then.

H

You know we can't just encourage them to chat with their neighbors to remind them.

G

So any more discussion on the motion or do we want to amend the motion.

C

I just want to uh kind of amplify what eric is saying about kind of cultural.

C

Awareness and sympathetic to peter's point I mean people say: oh, it's just a sign. It's not a big deal.

C

But it becomes a long-term maintenance issue and honestly is I, as long as the paint is kept.

C

On the ground, which I hope it will be, reality is 90 of the time. The pavement markings are visible.

C

And if we could get to 90 visible awareness of the regulation without putting the vertical signs in.

C

We've become just problematic and expensive. I think that's always the preferable way so.

G

Okay, thank you.

G

So we call for a vote.

A

Okay, so mary lou mccoy, yes, steve, pesci, yes, erica iconic, yes, police, captain mike maloney, yes,.

A

Our chief todd germain- yes, public works director, peter rice, yes, city manager, karen.

A

Connard, yes and chairman andrew bagley, yes, mr chairman, yes luke I'll I'll, have staff.

E

Go out and take a look at that area and you know if people are illegally parking. You know we have.

E

Regular parking enforcement in that area, so we can, um you know we can I'm certain. That's already.

A

Part of what's happening: okay, okay, so next uh request for our fb at bennett and maplewood.

G

So please chair, oh yes, just to clarify rfb is a rapid flashing beacon. The the notation is not here.

A

That way, just to make sure everybody's aware what that is the crosswalk like, yes, thank you.

G

um So entertain a motion on.

B

Where are we at this? um Excuse me? Oh yeah go ahead. We just discussed this. um Is this request? Came.

B

Up are we going to put this in? um Has this been accepted, the police chair? Okay? So it's a request.

B

That's come up from neighbors. I know that we can hear about it. Yes, this is a neighbor request and.

A

uh Typically, what happens in these situations? We put out a camera that would measure the amount.

A

Of foot traffic- and there are some guidelines nationally and and statewide- that uh that will.

A

Help us understand whether or not a beacon is warranted in that area. um So the the discussion.

A

Here would really be about at what time frame do we feel it's appropriate to put that out. There's.

A

A lot more foot traffic in the spring and summer than there is in the in uh at this time. So the.

A

Numbers we gather uh now might not be as effective or as as appropriate as numbers. We might gather.

A

A little bit later in the in the year, so a staff would typically put that out and then report back.

H

Steve has his hand up oh steve. uh I I think this is an excellent candidate for review.

C

So I would like to make a motion that the staff.

C

After the middle of april uh put out the appropriate recording devices to measure.

C

Pedestrian volumes and vehicle speeds and see if this meets a logical criteria for rrfb, um just the.

C

Sidebar, you know, one of those things we've talked about is setting up some just some some set of.

C

Criteria for these as the requests for these come in so hopefully this can help us in that process.

B

So that's the motion. Yes I'll. Second, that any discussion.

G

I'll, just um I've got a few comments uh kind of to steve's point. I think um you know these.

G

Started appearing, I guess about five years ago, and it does seem that most people in town that if.

G

They use a crosswalk, they would love to have one of these, so I think um it's important for us to.

G

When residents identify areas that they would like these, we should evaluate them, but it might be good.

G

To have some criteria- and you know, setting up that recording device knowing the.

G

Number of people that use the crosswalk things like that could really guide us. So.

G

We don't end up with too many of them or worse. You know some in areas that aren't so great.

G

And none in areas that could use them better, just because of the way that they come in is a little.

G

Bit random the requests please chair. Yes, I'm aware that there are specific guidelines so when.

A

This data is presented uh we'll make sure that that is part of the presentation. Great. Thank you.

G

Any further discussion, mr chairman, yes, um I think what we'll do is we'll.

E

I think it's a good suggestion to have that and I think we probably should present that information.

E

To cat to the committee and make it accessible for people so we'll post it on our section of.

E

The website, but we'll make sure the committee has that as well. um One thing to note is that.

E

More there's a lot more than just uh pedestrian counts, um associated with an intersection like.

E

This, um this is a very challenging intersection sight distances are very challenging. There's a.

E

Lot oftentimes a lot of speed coming over that hill uh and I wouldn't want to imply.

E

That putting up a rapid flashing beacon creates a safer intersection. uh It does improve visibility.

E

However, um I think this intersection needs to be viewed as a whole um and and prior to making any.

E

uh I'm not making an amendment, but I think you know we will report back and look at.

E

This intersection more thoroughly, in addition to if a rapid flashing beacon is appropriate.

G

G

And I guess, if there's no further discussion, I'll call for a roll call vote.

A

Marilu mccowan, yes, steve pesci, yes, erica weigonick, yep police, captain.

A

Mike maloney, yes, fire chief todd jermaine, yes, public works director, peter rice, yes,.

A

City manager, karen connard, yes and chairman andrew bagley, yes, so moved.

G

Okay, um old business, I'm seeing that there's none.

G

And informational items uh monthly accident report from the police.

G

Chief, so uh so, if you look at december, we have 99 uh total crashes uh for the month in 71,.

I

Reportable crashes, not involving pedestrians, not involving bicycles um and uh mr chairman, just just.

I

For your clarification, as far as the total clock, total crashes, verse, reportable so a reportable.

I

Crash is characterized as a crash that has an estimated damage of cumulative a thousand dollars.

I

Or more so a little paint transfer a little bumper. uh We don't. The state doesn't require an accident.

I

Report in that sense, so when we say reportable verse, non-reportable some of your smaller.

I

Minor minor damage, accidents, those are property damage, but don't acquire a report so.

I

That's just a little bit clarification, the the two different numbers and how how we got those.

I

I just also wanted to follow up last month's meeting. There was talk about some crash data.

I

At two intersections, one was market street at noble's island and the other one was.

I

State street at union street the discussion came up about possibly putting no uh prohibited u-turn.

I

Signs at market street at nobles island and uh the request was: can we research if there are.

I

Any crashes caused by illegal u-turns there in the last five years I found none. In fact, it was maybe.

I

Two intersections two crashes at that intersection period, uh but none of them involved illegal u-turn.

I

uh And also state street at union street. I think there was also the.

I

Perhaps adding a third stop sign a four a four-way stop at that intersection as well.

I

uh And again, last five years of data, there, um no reportable crashes at state in union.

I

So um a little bit aside from the monthly report, but that was something that was talked about.

I

About some items last month to look at and and that's what I was able to find so thank you and.

G

I guess I would comment on the the stop signs at union we're about to if I'm correct, uh mr public.

G

Director undergo a pretty big project on union street, so yeah um the schedule on that is probably.

E

You know we're in design right now. It's probably uh this time. Next year, we'll probably be looking.

E

To get geared up for construction, so there'll be a year before any actions out there. Okay, thank you.

G

And I guess thank you for that report and next is bike and vehicular traffic data.

A

Okay, so this is the traffic data at market street nobles uh basically shows uh the typical downward.

A

Curve towards the winter time, I'm certain that we'll see it uh come back up. The numbers.

A

Versus last year are significantly higher, and so that's what the next graphic shows.

A

As well, so if it please a chair I'll move on to the next one, yes please, so this one is from.

A

South and middle- and it shows this this graph was intended to show the difference between 2019 and.

A

2021 obviously excluding year 2020 for uh for covered reasons. So at this point it's probably.

A

Prudent for uh the committee or the director and myself to discuss whether or not to continue this.

A

Report as we move into 2020, the data will not look like it won't be very usable. So I I leave.

E

It to the depart to the committee whether they would like to continue to see this data.

E

You know we will, we won't stop collecting it it'll be available, uh but if the committee.

E

Would if this is helpful to the committee um you know I would. I would think that.

E

You know I'd leave it to the committee if they want to continue to see this data police chair.

A

Yes, we can always go out and retrieve and any date range for most of these devices.

A

uh I've learned so uh whether we do a continued report each week or each month I should say.

A

Is is, uh is one option. The other option is if we have a directive to go out.

A

And retrieve data for a specific time period, we'd be able to do so.

H

Yes, um I think steve had his hand up, but I'm gonna go first because.

H

I'm here sorry steve, um the I I like seeing it um I steve just said twice a year would be great for.

H

Calibration, I think, that's good. um I I think it's helpful to see where we stand versus 2019.

H

I wouldn't want to keep moving forward and compare 2022 to 2020 exactly you know, I think we'd want to.

H

Keep just a sense, I don't know if we need to see the graph necessarily or just a number. You know.

H

We're currently at 85 percent of where we were in 2019, or I mean that to me is- is what's most.

H

Interesting is kind of that sense of are we still below those numbers, because I think it does seem.

H

Like this is steady state, if this is steady state that changes some of our pinch points.

H

Take some of the pressure off if we are getting back to that that.

H

Starts to change back to 2019 levels, I think we would see different things happening in town.

A

Please the chair, so we do have parking data that helps us understand that as well. uh So.

A

That we could use the parking data to understand our return to normalcy, so to speak, and then.

A

Have the committee decide whether or not we want to extend that data collection out at any given.

A

Point and then choose which intersections we want to look at like market nobles or.

A

Or this one here, so I think that's a great idea. We do have.

A

Daily data that shows where our traffic data is on the downtown with parking, so that helps does.

G

Steve have his andreas go ahead, steve if you're out there. Actually it was not about this issue.

C

That I wanted to, I was asleep when I went to old business, and I wanted to circle back on something.

E

You know why don't we next month, we'll we'll continue with the data, and we can have this.

E

Further, so staff will report back next month.

G

Okay, go ahead, steve, uh I'm sorry I was. I missed the old business thing. I was wanted to ask peter.

C

uh And given the public comment, where are we on the um bartlett and hodgdon brook intersection.

C

uh Work will that start this spring yeah give us an update on that. Yes, um the comments that.

E

uh That jonathan made um uh were not necessarily um what the final intersection configuration is.

E

Going to look like the stock bar is going to be relocated, the crosswalk is going to be relocated.

E

um This I disagree with them, um and, and the engineering reports um and reviews have.

E

Continued to show the value of that that slip, lane uh and and the necessity of.

E

The the configuration uh and I know, there's a dis engineers- can have a different difference.

E

Of opinion, but the uh the area is configured is not final, um there'll be additional um signage and.

E

And there'll be an adjustment to where the crosswalks are to improve visibility.

E

um And so it's not done yet. So that's the answer and yes it'll be done in the spring.

C

And I appreciate the amount of time that the city staff and counselors have put into this.

C

And I look forward to seeing the project um just one other old business thing and.

C

Again, it was raised earlier by public comment, but uh we had talked earlier about setting up a group.

C

To look at speed limits overall, and I you know, I apologize that I guess that has we were looking to.

C

Establish a working group and the holidays came, but I wanted to ask the chair and the committee.

C

About best strategy or approach on that, and is it appropriate to establish a working group.

C

To meet with staff to lay out kind of a an overview of this concept of setting out some.

C

Goals for evaluating speed limits, rationally citywide and coming back to the committee with.

C

Observations and thoughts is a working group, an appropriate method to move this process along.

A

uh Please chair yes, so uh on three three, the the docket for uh march. uh We do have a presentation.

A

Scheduled for uh where we're at with uh our city and and where each street is at now and.

A

Then we can move, that's just designed to move the discussion forward into this next stage. Okay,.

A

Tightly, I am certainly happy if it's helpful to have a working meeting with staff to prepare for.

C

That march 3rd, I'm certainly happy to participate in that, because I agree with the comments of the.

C

Public that I've attended. You know this has been a long time being discussed and we need to move.

C

Forward and I want to acknowledge mr hewitt center graphic on this issue to us, which you know kind of.

C

Gets at the same visualization and logic review that we're all talking about, so I think patience.

C

But I'm certainly happy to step in and have a working meeting or two with staff if it would help.

C

Prepare for that march 3rd, mr chairman, if I may yes, um staff is more than willing to.

E

To to you know to include um the select, you know the uh a working group uh in this discussion.

E

Prior to that meeting, um I think it would be helpful um one one important thing to remember:.

E

And there's a lot of work. That's been done leading up to this discussion and on the city's website.

E

There is some really good documentation relative to complete streets uh demonstration project.

E

Policy, complete complete street design guidelines um that have been accepted and so that that helps.

E

And it's citywide review of all city streets uh has been done to a certain extent, not speed limits.

E

um And it doesn't, it doesn't clearly define um the types of treatments that are allowed.

E

In different types of designations, which I think would be a really useful summary uh for people and.

E

You know we'll pull something like that together, uh but I would point people to.

E

um It's it's the complete streets program. uh If you go to the city's website um and it's it's.

E

There's a lot of good documentation. There that's been done, unfortunately, the folks that were very.

E

Much involved in it um have both left the city, um so it's a matter of um you know like any documents.

E

Any programs they need to be their living documents. They need to be brought up to speed.

E

At times- and uh you know this- these are obviously dated uh things that would really um uh warrant.

E

uh Some revisit so I look forward to having this discussion further and I think it's appropriate.

G

Okay, so it sounds like um those will be items probably on the agenda. Next.

G

For next month, that's correct.

G

Any further comment, so last parking traffic and safety action item, so this.

A

Is just a spreadsheet that we keep? We don't normally throw it in here, but just to give.

A

You a counselor, bagley and chairman bagley, an opportunity to look at uh all of the items. We've.

A

Been discussing and and and where they're at some of them are quite old, some of them are current.

A

And uh we just keep this to make sure that the the meeting schedules you know stay on on cue.

G

So I might make a comment to that um is this: would this be something that we'd want to put available.

G

Online on the committee page, so there's more awareness of what's.

G

Been discussed, or is this more of a rough working? um I believe I believe it is accessible on on.

E

Online because it's part of the um council, the uh committee package, it is in this case and we.

A

Can continue to do that? Excuse me. Please, check yep. We can continue to do enough. It'd be easy.

E

Enough to do to take that and to put it into uh you, know: here's pending actions um and then.

E

You know the challenge with it obviously is stuff gets really dated, uh and sometimes it just becomes.

E

Changing activities it becomes irrelevant sometimes uh so uh it's important to be able to.

E

To have a column in there you know maybe additional column and why it's been dropped.

E

Off and then have like a you know, the people can always find the history from past stuff as well.

E

But true, but I think it's you know it's something that it's important for the committee to see.

E

Because there are actions that we said we've put off because of the time of year or because of.

E

Things we're pending or something like that, and it's good to remind us to stay on board.

E

Or to stay on track with some of these things, so please chair. Yes, uh for example, um you know the.

A

Rrfb request at dennett. That will be something that comes on here to remind us that in mid april.

A

We want to make sure we put that camera out so for the main meeting we'll have that data and.

A

Available so again, this is mostly for us, but I wanted to put it in here. It can be part of.

A

Public record, certainly for this meeting and and it was on the uh agenda, so it was posted.

A

It's also on this recording here, so people can see it. Okay, great. I think this is great.

G

Data for people to have excellent, so they know where the status is so we'll continue.

G

And then uh miscellaneous we have a woodbury traffic calming request letter.

G

Submitted january 6 2022., so this is a from a a citizen that came in to speak.

A

About woodbury avenue at our last meeting um and she asked that this be entered in the record, so.

E

Mr chairman, can I can address this. This is um a project that we've been working.

E

On we um for some reason there was, uh it wasn't clear to the uh to the general public.

E

That this was an ongoing project and that we were so we are preparing to take action this summer.

E

um We've identified speed tables as appropriate treatments and we've identified a number of.

E

Locations along that corridor, um so we're looking at that as an interim start or a starting measure.

E

And then we'll continue to uh take data um and and adjust as we move forward so there's there.

E

Is action that's planned for this um roadway, it has has not been ignored, um so it's it's. um The.

E

Folks on that area should be comforted uh that something's going to be taking place. Great thank.

G

You so I guess we would want a motion for that or a motion for that. uh I would well this I'd motion.

E

To put it on file put the correspondence on file; okay, second, any discussion. Second,.

A

That's your okay! Your roll call vote marilyn mccoy, yes, steve pesci, yes, ericonic! Yes,.

A

Police captain uh mike maloney, yes, fire chief todd germain. Yes, public works director, peter rice, yes,.

A

City manager, karen connard, yes and chairman, andrew bagley, yes, and we have next- is an adjournment but.

G

I um I guess maybe we could have a an item for miscellaneous or any other business. Mr chair, yes,.

B

I'm going to request that we put on the agenda for next I'm concerned about two developments going on.

B

Or will go on in the community, one is the skateboard park at the old stump dump.

B

And the other is probably 105 bartlett street, how they impact and I'm not sure.

B

If traffic studies have been done on those, but I'm very most concerned about.

B

The skateboard park that access to egress and egress from that site is very dangerous. Whether.

B

Traffic is turning to the west or to the east or if they're coming east, and they want to turn into.

B

That skateboard park, so I'd like to put it on the agenda that bring that up for discussion to have.

B

A traffic study of that site before we, the city, progresses any further on that, I don't think a.

B

Traffic study has been done and, mr chairman, if I may, and you know, with all due respect mary lou.

E

It's really not the purview of this committee to be directing um those types of studies to be done.

E

There's a technical advisory committee to the planning board that does these reviews. um The.

E

Changes in the configurations to a roadway, it's acceptable to bring back to the committee and.

E

To have input from the committee, but the the design, directing staff and and the city.

E

To do specific studies is not the purview of this well. I was looking at the ordinance for.

B

And- and I think that that to me that does follow with the ordinance the directive that we have.

B

Under section seven uh I can, I can assure you that there there are studies being done.

E

For those two projects, so there are traffic studies being done for those two projects. Correct.

E

I believe I believe 105's already had a traffic study done and it should be on the.

E

Park and the planning department's records, so I believe that's already been done. Okay,.

B

And it's impact on that section of bartlett's, correct, okay and how about the skateboard park.

B

I'm very concerned that these that young people are going to be trying to get in.

B

And out of that very busy section of right, I truly appreciate what you're saying and you know.

E

The project has not been designed, yet uh it's it's in the process it was, funding was approved.

E

uh And we, you know we're in, we really even haven't started the design process. Yet.

B

Well, I thought under traffic safety that it was our. You know that we could make a suggestion to.

B

Have a traffic study so you're saying that that comes under another another department, but I.

B

It just seems to me that that is part of this committee, we're a traffic safety committee.

B

Besides parking, I guess I I appreciate what you're saying and I and I don't disagree- that.

E

It's appropriate for this committee when looking at general, this roadway functions and things like.

E

That the studies are appropriate to recommend what I'm, what I'm thinking, that this is a.

E

Where the distinction lies is specific projects that are already covered with other.

E

With other areas, so you know, I think I think it's a good question um and- and you know.

E

Warrants discuss your further discussion, but at this point I I.

E

It's your concern is noted. There are studies being done for those uh those two particular.

E

Projects, well, can those studies come to us so that we have a chance? I mean I'm looking at.

B

This big packet that we got for 15 middle street that came in front of us twice.

B

There were many concerns, including from eric eby and many of us on the committee.

B

Then, all of a sudden it was approved without coming back to us for a further discussion. So.

B

I'm concerned that that happens without this committee being informed of what's going on.

G

uh Mr, can I add or ask I guess some questions here, so my understanding is when a development comes.

H

To get permitted, it has to go before the planning board and occasionally the zoning board to get.

H

Whatever permits are required, typically, a traffic study is submitted as part of that for a larger.

H

Development, I think the question that comes up to me, based on mary lou's question, is, is.

H

From my knowledge, the planning board, potentially the zoning board, is in charge of reviewing.

H

Applications with an eye to traffic and reviewing traffic studies, the question is: how are we best.

H

Meant to interact with that should we be participating in planning board hearings.

H

That we're concerned about- and I guess we would do that as private citizens or do we want some.

H

Sort of formal relationship where we send someone to a planning board here I mean, I think my guess.

H

I don't want to put words in peter's mouth, but is that it doesn't make sense for us to have.

H

Two different committees to boards reviewing the same thing for us effectively the same.

H

Reason so there's already a mechanism to review these applications through the planning board.

H

Is are the is this is the skate park? Gonna have to go through the planning board.

D

Will there be an opportunity like could mary lou go to the planning board hearing and comment there.

E

I have not gotten to the point where the does you know. We've started the design to that. You.

E

Know to the point where? What, where we're at with that, um I know from past projects where.

E

We, um when we had a design for the ball field, we had to go through uh the planning board process.

E

So I would expect that this is the same level uh of project that would warrant that.

H

So in lieu of having it also need to come before our committee, maybe if there's a larger.

H

Project, I don't know if we should just take it upon ourselves to pay attention to the planning.

H

Board or if it makes sense to kind of, have an alert on our agenda of upcoming hearings that.

H

We might want to attend to, but I I I agree with peter. It doesn't make sense for us to be covering.

H

A particular question under two different committees. I think the question is just.

H

How can we best support the planning board with our knowledge of traffic and safety.

B

Right because I think sometimes we get a perspective from other excuse me, mr perspective,.

B

From residents that may not show up at a planning board meeting or in a technical advisory committee,.

B

Meeting and so I just wonder how we get this feedback back and forth so that we.

B

Understand, what's going on with traffic within a certain area that we're concerned about and.

B

We get answers back from the planning board. I could maybe speak to that. um So.

G

I I understand the concerns of what I'm hearing and please correct me if I'm wrong, but I I look.

G

At this committee, as is kind of one addressing problems as they come up and two setting the.

G

Rules of the road um you know if there needs to be policy, changes, we'd recommend them to the council.

G

And they'd be implemented, the the planning board is a quasi-judicial board. It has a very important.

G

Role that requires a lot of city resources. We we certainly don't want to be duplicating efforts.

G

By having things come before us that have also gone before the planning board.

G

If, if we feel that the planning board is approving things that are unsafe, then I think it would be.

G

Incumbent on this committee to to address the policy that allows for those types of approvals.

G

But not to be looking at individual projects such as the skatepark or 105 bartlett, because.

G

There's already a important board: that's doing that! There's nothing to preclude us as residents.

G

To speaking two projects as they come up, I don't know it seems like it might logistically be.

G

Difficult to flag items before the planning board, because so many go before them. That should also be.

G

On our radars parking traffic and safety, I think it's really up to us, as citizens of the town to.

G

To look for when those items come up on an agenda and if we want to speak to them.

G

To speak to them, but I don't wanna, I mean we're already without our traffic engineer.

G

So so resources are stretched thin. I don't want to stretch those resources, any thinner.

B

Yes, I certainly appreciate that we don't have a traffic engineer right now.

B

um Just trying to figure out how we have some feedback into these projects that have specific.

B

For me, anyway, specific safety concerns. So, mr chairman, yes, um I think the chairman really.

E

Summarized it correctly there there are areas that you know you you, as a resident can participate.

E

And and make those comments, the typically they get. We get referrals from planning board when.

E

There are parking uh changes to ordinances that are required, whether it's an elimination of a.

E

Street change in direction of a street elimination of parking things that are are more.

E

Significant relative to the the in the function of the city, streets and things like that.

E

The individual projects are more, those are there's already something baked into the process for the.

E

Impacts on that- and it's it's not appropriate for this committee at this time. You know that.

E

You bring up a good question, um you know what is appropriate, where you know, because there's.

E

There's more overlap of different types of things over time and it'd be probably better to clearly.

E

Define where that overlap is, mr chairman, if I may, there also is overlap of staff and and technical.

F

Resources from a manpower perspective on the city side, so perhaps as larger projects are going on.

F

Maybe it makes sense under miscellaneous or under new business, for an update to pts.

F

From staff that may have experience or or want to bring the relevant information to this committee.

E

Mr chairman, I can give an example where we're going to be coming before this committee next.

E

Month to talk about the bridge street lot, that lot um is going to get some configuration adjustment.

E

And it's going to end up eliminating parking spaces to do that, we need to come to this.

E

You know body yeah, uh it also has tree impacts. It needs to go to the tree and greenery committee. So.

E

We have to you know, because there's tr the the the purview there. However, it does not.

E

Fall into the land use level because it's an existing space and the modifications are not.

E

That don't trip into the planning board. So there's you know, that's the type of balance. That's that's.

E

Made so but there are reviews and there's there is public process for those types of changes.

B

Okay, um yes, I think, as a resident, um it's confusing to try and figure out at what point.

B

Which board has the final say and how you you know express, as people do here express concerns so.

B

We can't go in front of any of those boards and speak as a parking and traffic safety committee.

B

Member who would be as an individual resident because we haven't discussed it as a group.

B

Correct, I wouldn't deem it appropriate, but I mean.

A

Okay, miss chair, yes, steve fashion. Comment: oh, uh go ahead! Steve mr pesci. I I think um you've hit.

C

Upon a lot of points I want to say, but I wanted to emphasize what uh the city manager said you.

C

Know, contrary to maybe the public opinion, we heard the importance of having the city staff.

C

On this committee, uh that is, liaison to the other groups, like the planning board and.

C

Normally we would have the planning director and the city engineer and I think.

C

As members, we can convey our concern about carters and projects, but a project specific review is the.

C

Planning boards for view, I think, a good example I would use in the conversation today. The kate.

C

Bartlett hodgson member of the public brought up legitimately. I hope the planning board is thinking.

C

About the future um integration of the mill pond bikeway as it crosses that intersection well,.

C

There's one of these great issues that it requires a collaborated, thoughtful long-term approach.

C

And I think we can raise these things, but I agree to the point that this committee's purview is not.

C

To review specific projects that are in front of the planning board, that's a whole separate thing.

C

But we certainly by staff involvement and both should have good communications across.

G

Any uh further comments is a different miscellaneous topic. Yes, go ahead,.

H

It's really exciting to see islington. It's really nice.

H

I know it's hard when the projects are underway and people don't like the construction, but.

H

It looks really good, so good job keep up the good work. Thank you.

B

Well, I just want to make my make my concerns um evident.

B

And I will follow up with the planning board.

B

And I think there's communication with our committee that would really help us.

G

Great, thank you I'm sorry. I guess we don't need a motion on any of the things we've talked about.

G

Just informational items um I I will address just briefly um in public comment. It was mentioned you.

G

Know that the city employees are voting members uh that that's permitted by the ordinance and I think.

G

It's very important um on the face. I think it would be a bit strange to have a parking traffic.

G

And safety committee, where the police and the fire city manager planning director, couldn't weigh in.

G

They're experts in the field and we rely on their knowledge and professionalism.

G

So I think having them as voting members, not only is it permitted.

G

um It's in it, it's, I guess required, isn't maybe the right word, but it's it's certainly helpful.

G

And with that, I would look for a motion to adjourn so moved.

F

Second, roll call vote, please mary lou, mccoy, yes, steve pesci, yes, erica yep,.

A

Police captain mike maloney, yes, fire chief todd germain. Yes, public works director peter.

A

Rice, yes, city manager, karen connard, yes and chairman bagley, yes, so jared. Thank you. Thank you.