Chambana Sun

City of Urbana Traffic Commission met April 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

UNAPPROVED MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Chaundra Bishop, Chair, Council Member, Ward 5

John Zeman, City Engineer

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Richard Surles, Interim Chief of Police

OTHERS PRESENT:

Joe Smith

Brad Bennett

1. Call to Order

The meeting began at 4:05 p.m. Roll was called. A quorum was present.

2. Approval of Minutes:

Chaundra Bishop moved to approve the minutes of the March 2, 2022 meeting. John Zeman seconded the motion.

The minutes for the March 2, 2022 meeting were unanimously approved by a 2-0 vote.

Additions to the agenda:

One item was added to the agenda—discussion of change in monthly meeting day and time.

3. Public Input

Those in attendance asked to speak during the discussion of the item in which they had interest.

4. Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

5. New Business

A. Discussion of parking restrictions on Cottage Grove Avenue between University 43 Avenue and the northern terminus of Cottage Grove Avenue. Brad Bennett explained that he was requesting the elimination of parking on both sides of Cottage Grove Avenue between University Avenue and Park Street because there was the possibility that the industrial tanker trucks that haul wastewater to U-CSD would be unable to travel on Cottage Grove if two vehicles were parked across from each other on the street. He mentioned that the situation had not occurred, but without the parking restrictions, the situation could happen. He showed a staged photo of trucks parked on each side with a large tanker truck attempting to drive between them.

Joe Smith asked if there had been any problems.

Brad Bennett stated that a roofing truck had restricted parking to one lane.

Joe Smith said that it was a 28 foot street and in excellent condition for the age of the street. He recommended removing parking on the east side and moving the No Parking Here to Corner sign to on the west side farther south of Park Street to provide more visibility for motorists travelling eastbound on Park Street as they approach Cottage Grove Avenue. He added that there would still be parking available on the west side of Cottage Grove Avenue. He said that if a problem arose, the City could be notified and re-evaluate the parking situation on the west side of Cottage Grove Avenue.

John Zeman said that removing parking on the east side of the street would reduce the possibility of restrictive travel on Cottage Grove. He added that the City Engineer had the authority to restrict parking on streets that were less than thirty feet in width. He agreed that if a problem arose, the City could be notified and the situation re-evaluated.

John Zeman recommended restricting parking on the east side of Cottage Grove Avenue from 100 feet south of the centerline of Park Street to the centerline of University Avenue.

Chaundra Bishop moved to remove parking as recommended by the City Engineer.

John Zeman seconded the motion.

The motion was approved 2-0.

This is item will go to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.

B. Discussion of change of monthly meeting day and time. Chaundra Bishop asked if the meeting day and time could be changed to work with her schedule. She said that Interim Chief Surles had agreed that meeting on the first Tuesday of the month at 12:30 p.m. would work for him.

John Zeman said that day and time would work for him.

Since this item was not on the agenda, the Traffic Commission moved it to their next meeting, which will be a special meeting to be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 12:30 p.m. at the Urbana Public Works Department, Second Floor Conference Room.

John Zeman recommended looking at ordinances that restrict weight limits on a couple of bridges within Urbana at an upcoming meeting.

6. Adjournment

With no other business at hand, the meeting adjourned at 4:22 p.m.

https://www.urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/Approved%20Minutes%20April%2022.pdf