Council Planning and Public Works Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Planning and Public Works Committee met on September 17, 2013, at 1:00 p.m., with Bill Farmer presiding. The committee addressed five agenda items during the meeting, taking three votes and hearing eight public comments. The committee approved the meeting summary, the Elm Tree Lane Sidewalk Closure, and an Adult Day Care item. One item—Private Streets: Enforcement, Maintenance, Specifications—was deferred for further consideration. The committee also approved items in committee.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on September 16, 2013:

• Bill Farmer
• Jennifer Mossotti
• Charles Ellinger
• Steve Kay
• Linda Gorton
• Chris Ford
• Diane Lawless
• Julian Beard
• Harry Clarke
• Peggy Henson

No members were reported absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The council took three votes during this meeting, all of which passed unanimously.

Motion on Elm Tree Lane Sidewalk Closure 1:17:26

Chris Ford moved to keep the Elm Tree Lane sidewalk open and remove the closure item from the council docket. The motion passed unanimously with all ten council members voting in favor: Bill Farmer, Jennifer Mossotti, Charles Ellinger, Steve Kay, Linda Gorton, Chris Ford, Diane Lawless, Julian Beard, Harry Clarke, and Peggy Henson.

Motion on Elm Tree Lane Sidewalk Redesign 1:19:15

Chris Ford moved to request the administration to redesign the Elm Tree Lane sidewalk with improved pavement, lighting, and landscape for safety and access. The motion passed unanimously with all ten council members voting in favor: Bill Farmer, Jennifer Mossotti, Charles Ellinger, Steve Kay, Linda Gorton, Chris Ford, Diane Lawless, Julian Beard, Harry Clarke, and Peggy Henson.

Motion to Defer Private Streets Discussion 1:52:35

Jennifer Mossotti moved to defer the private streets enforcement, maintenance, and specifications discussion to the next meeting. The motion passed unanimously with all ten council members voting in favor: Bill Farmer, Jennifer Mossotti, Charles Ellinger, Steve Kay, Linda Gorton, Chris Ford, Diane Lawless, Julian Beard, Harry Clarke, and Peggy Henson.

Public Comment

Eight residents spoke during the public comment period regarding a proposed closure of the Elm Tree Lane sidewalk.

Opposition to Closure

Felice Salomon [00:16:30] opposed the closure, emphasizing the sidewalk's role in neighborhood connectivity for pedestrians, cyclists, and families with strollers. She advocated for repair and maintenance instead of closure.

Christian Torp [00:19:57] argued against closing the sidewalk, stating it is a vital pedestrian access route and that closure would not address underlying issues like crime or litter. He emphasized the importance of walkability and accessibility.

Steve Pavey [00:21:37] testified that the sidewalk is a key walkable corridor used regularly by neighbors and supports neighborhood development. He offered to help lead a beautification effort if the sidewalk remains open.

Janet Tucker [00:37:15] supported the sidewalk as a valuable community asset that promotes walkability and health. She advocated for improvement rather than closure, arguing that crime is a separate issue from infrastructure.

Support for Closure

Lorella Lederer [00:23:54] supported the closure due to safety concerns, citing drug activity, violence, and vandalism in the area. She presented a petition signed by 25 neighbors and emphasized the need to reduce crime.

Percy Thomas [00:27:50] testified that the sidewalk is dangerous and used for illicit activity, especially at night. He described it as an eyesore and a hotspot for crime, and supported closure for public safety.

Patricia Dyer [00:34:37] reported witnessing drug activity, prostitution, and fights near the sidewalk between 10 PM and 2 AM. She stated the area is unsafe and supports closure to improve neighborhood safety.

Alternative Concerns

Wanda Garr [00:30:03] expressed concern that closing the sidewalk on one side would shift foot traffic to her side of the U-shaped intersection. She questioned the extent of crime and suggested increased police presence instead.

Contested Items

Elm Tree Lane Sidewalk Closure

The proposal to close the Elm Tree Lane sidewalk generated significant community opposition during the meeting. Residents testified about the sidewalk's importance for neighborhood connectivity, safety, and walkability. Proponents of the closure raised crime and safety concerns as justification for the measure. This created a heated debate between those prioritizing public safety and those emphasizing the need to maintain infrastructure access for pedestrians.

Private Streets Maintenance and Standards

Council members were divided on the question of whether to allow future private streets and how to enforce standards on such streets. Some council members advocated for stricter regulations to ensure consistent public standards across private developments. Others emphasized the importance of developer flexibility and expressed concern about the financial burden that strict standards would place on homeowners. This split vote reflected differing priorities regarding development oversight, infrastructure consistency, and property owner responsibilities.

Approval of Summary

The committee considered approval of the summary from the previous meeting. 3:00

Key Speakers - Julian Beard - Charles Ellinger

Outcome The committee approved the summary of the previous meeting without dissent. No further discussion or action was taken.

Elm Tree Lane Sidewalk Closure

The committee discussed a proposed closure of a 200-foot section of sidewalk on Elm Tree Lane, which had been raised due to safety concerns. 6:39

Key speakers in the discussion included Chris Ford, Kevin Wente, Lorella Lederer, Christian Torp, Steve Pavey, Percy Thomas, Wanda Garr, Patricia Dyer, Janet Tucker, and Commissioner Paulson.

The committee heard public testimony and engaged in debate regarding the proposed closure. Rather than proceeding with the sidewalk closure, the committee voted unanimously to keep the sidewalk open. As an alternative to closure, the committee requested that a redesign be undertaken to address the safety concerns through improved pavement, lighting, and landscaping improvements.

The outcome was approved.

Private Streets: Enforcement, Maintenance, Specifications

1:20:21

The committee discussed the challenges associated with maintaining private streets, including issues related to cost, enforcement, and standards. The conversation involved Jennifer Mossotti, Bill Sallee, Kevin Wente, Charlie King, Chris Ford, Harry Clarke, Peggy Henson, and Julian Beard.

A primary concern raised during the discussion was the financial burden placed on the city when private streets are eventually turned over to municipal control. Committee members expressed worry about the costs and liabilities associated with accepting responsibility for streets that may not meet city standards or may require significant repairs and maintenance.

The discussion addressed multiple dimensions of private street management, including:

• The enforcement of maintenance standards for privately owned streets
• The specifications required for private streets
• The financial implications for the city when these streets transition to public ownership

The committee deferred this agenda item to the next meeting for further review and consideration of potential policy changes. This deferral indicates that additional time and analysis were needed to develop comprehensive solutions to the challenges identified during the discussion.

Outcome: Deferred to next meeting

Adult Day Care

The committee discussed and approved an amendment to the definition of adult day care center 4:00. Key speakers on this item included Peggy Henson, Harry Clarke, and Chris Ford.

The motion to amend the definition passed unanimously. Following the approval, the item was moved to the full council for report out.

Items in Committee

During this agenda item, the committee reviewed and updated its list of pending items. 59:00

Items Removed

The committee removed several items from its active list, including the re-paving program and the tree protection ordinance review.

Items Retained

The B1 ZOTA issue was retained on the committee's agenda due to material changes that warranted continued discussion.

Ongoing Discussion Items

The committee agreed to continue discussing two categories of items: - Capital road projects - Private streets

Participants

The discussion involved Bill Farmer, Harry Clarke, Linda Gorton, Diane Lawless, and Chris Ford.

Outcome

The committee approved the updated items in committee list.