2017-06-05 Minutes MINUTES
TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
June 5, 2017
After determining that a quorum of the Traffic Safety Commission was present, the Commission
convened the meeting on Monday, June 5, 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, Michael Hennen, Jim Owen
Cody Robinson, and Nancy DiMarco
Absent: Daniel Krutka
Also Present: Mario Canazaries, ACM; Nelson, Director of Transportation; Pritam Deshmukh,
Senior Engineer; Trey Lansford, Attorney; Noreen Housewright, Senior Engineer;
Julie Anderson, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator and Kim Mankin,
Administrative Supervisor
OPEN MEETING
1) Consider the approval of Traffic Safety Commission meeting minutes of May 1, 2017.
Approve as circulated
2) Receive a report, hold a discussion and provide a recommendation on a proposed revision to
Ordinance 2006-358 relating to an interlocal agreement between the University of North
Texas and City of Denton for the enforcement of parking regulations by the University of
North Texas on City of Denton streets.
Mark Nelson gave the presentation stating with this item has been before this commission on
September 2016,November 2016, May 2017 and June 2017. The request was from UNT to
allow certain authority and regulation on City streets. One issue is the enforcement and rate
setting for metered parking on Fry, Hickory(Ave B to Welch), Ave A south of Hickory.
UNT has requested to remove the coin operated meters in that particular location and replace
them with a smart meter technology. The current rate of$0.10 per 12 minutes or $0.50 per hour.
The technology based is $2.25 per hour,plus the access fee of$0.35.
When this was presented in November 2016 there was a concern raised by this commission
about public outreach. Staff asked UNT to visit with the merchants, and they did so prior to the
May 2017 meeting. There was concerns raised by the merchants and stakeholders in the Fry,
Hickory Street area regarding the rate increase and questioned if it was possible to have free the
first two hours similar to other retail parking around the square.
UNT and City of Denton staff hosted an open house on May 17, 2017 at the UNT Greek Life
Center. Area merchants and residents as well as stakeholders (students, patrons of area
merchants and cyclist)provided input on the proposed on-street parking rate increase and two
hour free on-street parking. Area merchants and stakeholders requested that two-hour on-street
parking be established similar to parking restrictions in the downtown area.
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Staff recommends option 1 which is: Recommend to City Council to allow two hour term
limited on-street parking on the identified sections of Hickory Street, Fry Street and Avenue A,
Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm. Provide UNT on-street parking enforcement authority for
Central Avenue, and provide UNT on-street parking regulation and enforcement on Wilshire
from NT Blvd to Avenue C. This will be revisited after a six to eight month period which has
been requested by UNT and the City Manager.
Staff will also work with the Fry Street small area plan and see what best management practices
could also be incorporated.
Commissioner Lyke asked if this will include Oak Street, there are meters there as well.
Nelson answered to maintain consistency it is for all meters.
Citizens attended to speak to this item.
1. Paul Meltzer-1914 Oak Street—Could there be a bike lane with a protecting row of diagonal
parking spaces. Maybe something else that could accommodate parking needs. Consider
tabling the bike lane portion until all the stakeholders weigh in.
2. Joyce Rethmeier—Insomnia Cookies—Meter price to high, meter price higher than the
cookies.
Lyke asked where her and her employees park. Rethmeier answered most park on the
street, get an occasional ticket. She parks in the center and there are only two stalls.
Otherwise you have to buy parking, some nights she has nine drivers.
3. Larry Beck—915 E. Sherman Dr. — Supports the 2 hour free parking.
4. Matt Quenette - 1306 W. Hickory—Aura Coffee— Supports the 2 hour free parking, not in
favor of meters at all. Quenette asked if meters will be installed at a later date.
Chair Campbell answered that will be revisited in six to eight months.
Quenette stated the new meter rate is two high, would like fair competition as the rest of the
entertainment district.
There were no more speakers.
Campbell stated that there are four options, and option 1 looks appealing. Nelson reiterated
that staff is in favor of option 1 as is UNT.
Lyke asked about the cost share to UNT for enforcement. Nelson answered UNT is paying
someone to enforce that area. Removing the meters and going with free parking, the overhead
associated would be $13,000. The city will have some overhead as well for our Police force.
Some information will have to be brought back after that initial six to eight month period.
Nelson stated that two other issues on this agenda item is enforcement of Central Avenue and
Wilshire by UNT.
Commissioner Campbell motioned to approve item two with option 1 to include Oak Street
meters. There was a second by Commissioner Hennen. Vote 6-0.
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3) Receive a report, hold a discussion and provide direction relating to implementation of the
2012 Bike Plan on Hickory Street between Avenue B and Welch Street; to include the option
of removal of on-street parking stalls on either the south or north side, or no removal of on-
street parking.
Julie Anderson talked about this item and the removal of parking as it relates to the bike plan.
As an update the bike plan was adopted in February 2012. There were many public and focus
group meetings. The plan went to this Commission, Planning& Zoning Commission as well as
City Council.
Anderson showed a map of the Oak/Hickory area that was adopted by the bike plan. Oak and
Hickory are designated bike lanes from Bonnie Brae to Carroll Blvd. Most of the work has been
completed in sections and now are down to the last section. There is a road reconstruction
project that is underway on Hickory, starting at Bonnie Brae heading to Carroll. Staff is trying
coincide this bike lane with the re-construction.
The section that is being talked about is from Ave B to Welch. There currently exists parking on
both sides of the street, in order to fit the bike lane on street parking would have to be removed.
As a reminder last month it was recommended removal of the 22 parking spaces on the south
side from Ave B to Ave A. From the meeting last month it was asked that staff get more
information so an Open House took place on May 17 that was attended by many. The responses
were evenly split between merchants and bicyclists. There were recommendations to look at
diverting the bike route starting at Ave B through the UNT campus. After the open house and
before this meeting some bike advocates and some business owners got together and met about
ideas that would work best for both.
Anderson stated that one thing that was recommended was to look at removing parking from the
north side of Hickory. After review by staff there would only be three parking spaces saved.
Both do accommodate the bike plan. There is a higher cost in changing infrastructure related to
drainage.
Anderson showed all the options that were taken into consideration on a map. A map of the
2012 Bike Plan of Oak and Hickory was also shown.
Staff recommends option 1 which is to recommend approval of an ordinance to restrict parking
on the south side of Hickory between Avenue B and Welch.
Anderson stated that in regional studies removing parking has not impacted businesses, it is an
enhancement for the area.
Commissioner Hennen asked if the bike lane was on the north side would they have to change
sides because the existing is on the south side. Anderson answered the bike lane would stay on
the south side,parking would create a buffer.
Citizens attended to speak to this item.
1. Garrett Rumohr—3232 N. Locust—attended open house, in favor of continuous bike lane
2. Suzanne Townsdin—425 Hettie—Bike commuter, in favor of a separated bike lane on W
Hickory that is safe consistent and convenient.
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3. Matt Quenette— 1306 W. Hickory—in favor of south side removal, keep parking on north side
consider head in or back-in parking. This area will be under construction next summer.
Quenette asked about rerouting down Ave A to Welch. Chair Campbell answered it has to do
with loading. Housewright also answered it is also recommended to continue straight down
Hickory.
4. Amber Briggle—529 Malone—served on the bike task force six years ago, in favor of option
1, believes it is time to revisit the bike plan.
5. Larry Beck—915 E. Sherman —Bike safety, in favor of option 1, recommended 20 mph speed
limit on Hickory from Bonnie Brae to Carroll.
6. Paul Meltzer— 1914 W. Oak—recommend changes to parking
7. Charles Browning—617 Emery—Work close to this bike lane and is a bike commuter. In
favor of option 1 and if the safest.
Commissioner Lyke stated that she was behind him today coming to this meeting. She
asked if he is in favor of sharrows. Browning doesn't care for sharrows. He uses the full
lane but will ride on the side if he isn't in a hurry to let vehicles pass.
Lyke asked if Browning is comfortable. Browning answered no, he has the right to ride in the
middle but when people's rights outweigh their respect for other people there is a problem.
8. Walker- 805 Emery—In favor of the parking buffer, then asked staff how the cyclist would
transition after the intersection.
Housewright answered it would taper over before the intersection and parking would stop to
give cyclist clearance before the intersection.
Walker liked the diagonal parking idea as well as lower speed limit.
9. Brent Erskin— 1314 W. Hickory—Recommend keep parking on north side, safety important
he is a cyclist.
Anderson stated that diagonal parking in this area is not feasible, it requires a minimum of 19
feet, there are only eight feet to work with it has to be parallel parking.
Commissioner Robinson asked why are the lanes different dimensions on the graphs that were
shown. Anderson stated they are not exact numbers, the sidewalks were guessed and will not be
changed. The width is actually 39 feet total, what we can do curb to curb.
Staff recommends approval of an ordinance to restrict parking on the south side of Hickory
Street between Avenue B and Welch St.
Commissioner Hennen motioned to approve item three with option 1. There was a second
by Commissioner Lyke. Vote 6-0.
4) Staff Reports
a) Matrix
Item#2—update—checking with city's legal department
Item#3 —remove, going to Council on June 20
Item#6—Bring back study to reduce speed on Hickory
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Add—Lyke—Forrestridge letters—add traffic signal at Hobson and Forrestridge
5) 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.
6) Adjournment: 6:42pm
Approved 8/7/17