2017-03-20 Minutes MINUTES
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
March 20, 2017
After determining that a quorum of the Traffic Safety Commission was present, the Commission
convened the meeting on Monday, March 20, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Work
Session Room, City Hall, 215 East McKinney Street, Denton, Texas.
Present: Chair Wally Campbell,Vice Chair Patrice Lyke,Nancy DiMarco, Michael
Hennen, Jim Owen and Cody Robinson
Absent: Daniel Krutka
Also Present: Mark Nelson, Director of Transportation; John Davis, Director of Engineering
Services; Pritam Deshmukh, Senior Engineer; Laura Behrens, Fire Marshall; Julie
Anderson, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator and Kim Mankin, Administrative
Supervisor
OPEN MEETING
1) Consider the approval of Traffic Safety Commission meeting minutes of February 6, 2017.
Approve as circulated
2) Receive an update on the recent reorganization of City of Denton staff and impact to the
Traffic Safety Commission.
Mark Nelson spoke of the reorganization and how Pritam Deshkukh would be the staff liaison of
this commission going forward.
3) Receive a report, hold a discussion and provide direction relating to a no park any time
restriction on Texas Street from Vine Street to Frame Street.
Laura Behrens, Fire Marshall, spoke about this item. There was a map attached to the backup
that she referred too. Behrens spoke of a fire back in April that was on Texas Street. At that
time they were not required to provide aerial access to the buildings. Today they are required to
meet all code requirements. The building was so damaged it had to be re-built.
Currently they have to provide a 26 foot aerial apparatus fire lane. The street is the fire access
and is allowed by code.
Staff is asking to restrict parking one block from Vine to Frame on both sides.
Hennen asked how wide the street is. Behrens answered 30 feet.
Lyke asked how tall can a structure be without having the aerial apparatus. Behrens answered 30
feet and this structure is 34 feet.
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Behrens stated there was one person that responded to the letters.
Citizen input included:
Lt. D.L. Law—TWU Patrol Services
Jay Noyd- 601 Texas Street- against no-parking
Motion was made by Chair Campbell second by Commissioner Nancy DiMarco vote 6-0
approved.
4) Receive a report, hold a discussion and provide direction relating to a no park any time
restriction on Denton Street from Oak Street to Hickory Street.
Pritam Deshmukh spoke about this item stating it was initiated by several complaints from
residents as well as citizens. This portion of Denton is more narrow that the rest of Denton
Street north of Oak. The street width is 24 feet. There are issues with emergency vehicles on
this section of street as well. Staff is recommending approving an ordinance to Council for no
park on both sides of Denton from Oak to Hickory.
Citizen input included:
Joe Zelmer, Owner- 620 West Hickory—in favor of the no park, option to no park east side only
Jeff Webenka- 619 West Oak-would like no park on east side only.
Deshmukh addressed the need to no park both sides. Since the street is 24 feet, if you leave an
eight foot parking lane it would only leave 16 feet which is less than the minimum fire lane.
Motion was made by Commissioner Hennen second by Chair Campbell vote 6-0 approved.
5) Receive a report,hold a discussion,and make a recommendation regarding relocating the existing
speed limit sign and extending the 20 mile per hour(MPH)zone along Bell Avenue(northbound
direction)north of Texas Street in the Texas Woman's University(TWU)campus.
Pritam Deshmukh talked about this item regarding extending the 20 MPH speed zone. The primary
reason is that the TWU campus ends at Texas and anything north is within the campus.
Lt. DL Law, Patrol Service - TWU talked about this item and is in favor of slowing the traffic and
moving the sign.
Motion was made by Chair Campbell second by Commissioner DiMarco vote 6-0
approved.
6) Receive a report,hold a discussion and provide staff direction regarding a proposal to implement
a time limited parking district in the neighborhood north of Oak, south of Scripture, east of
Marietta and west of Fulton.
Mark Nelson talked about this item looking at options associated with this particular neighborhood.
There has been much on street parking pressure in this area. Staff initially attempted to advance a
time restriction that could be Monday through Friday Sam to 5pm. There were some similar items
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where the fire code would supersede the proposed plan,some of the streets are less than 28 feet. Staff
no longer believes the time restriction is a valid option. Staff will also continue to work with UNT.
UNT has requested increasing the parking meter rates as part of the interlocal agreement with the City
of Denton and have also asked to cover additional streets inside the campus for enforcement. UNT
also has the leverage of holding transcripts if citations are not taken care of.
Staff will continue to look for other options. Signs have been posted not to park within 30 feet of an
intersection.
Commissioner Hennen clarified that Marietta is included,Nelson agreed it is.
7) Discussion of the Matrix representing items for discussion for future Traffic Safety Commission
meetings.
#5—Gregory asked assisting DCTA for parking restrictions at the bus shelters.
Add—Owen—Shady Oaks and Woodrow—Signal timing
Add—Robinson-Hickory and Bell- Signal timing
Add—FM 426 Hennen—sidewalk not until 2020. Not acceptable.
Add—Julie-Denton Open Streets Event May 7
8) Under Section 551.042 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, respond to inquiries from the
Mobility Committee of the Denton City Council, Traffic Safety Commission or the public
with specific factual information or recitation of policy, or accept a proposal to place the
matter on the agenda for an upcoming meeting.
AND
Under Section 551.0415 of the Texas Open Meetings Act,provide reports about items of
community interest regarding which no action will be taken, to include: expressions of
thanks, congratulations, or condolence; information regarding holiday schedules; an honorary
or salutary recognition of a public official,public employee, or other citizen; a reminder
about an upcoming event organized or sponsored by the governing body; information
regarding a social, ceremonial, or community event organized or sponsored by an entity other
than the governing body that was attended or is scheduled to be attended by a member of the
governing body or an official or employee of the municipality; or an announcement
involving an imminent threat to the public health and safety of people in the municipality that
has arisen after the posting of the agenda.
9) Adjournment: 6:16pm
Approved on 5/1/17