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Home My Public Portal About05-28-1998 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND,INDIANA,MAY 28,1998 The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond,Indiana,met at 5 p.m.Thursday,May 28, 1998,in the Board of Works Room in the Municipal Building.Chairperson Robert Goodwin presided,with Robin Henry,Bruce Metzger and Assistant City Attorney Steve Rabe in attendance.The following business was conducted: APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the special meeting of April 24,and the regular meeting of May 21, 1998,were approved on a motion by Henry,second by Chairperson Goodwin and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT Claims for payment submitted by the City Controller's office were read by Henry who noted they totaled $240,847.26 and moved to approve,second by Metzger and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. REQUESTS A. Fire Chief Mike Allen read a letter from Battalion Chief Joe Perkins telling of his intent to retire from the Richmond Fire Department after 38 years of service,effective May 31, 1998. Chief Allen said Perkins was hired May 29, 1960 and has held the rank of Battalion Chief since February 11, 1982.He said Perkins was named Firefighter of the Year in 1989,adding that his community involvement included Townsend Community Center and he had been active on the Fire Pension Fund and the E.E.O. Grievance Committee. Chief Allen thanked the Perkins family for his service,adding that Perkins was"a good firefighter,good public servant,good citizen and a family man."He presented Perkins with a plaque complete with his badge and a silver bell which he said used to be on the fire apparatus which is no longer used.Metzger moved to approve the retirement, second by Henry and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. B. Charles Bizarro,speaking on behalf of the Fairview Neighborhood Association,cited the extensive amount of activity in the Lyons Park West where a group of Earlham College students and Fairview people had provided some new equipment for the children to play on. He said it is the general feeling of the neighbors that because of the increase of the number of children playing there they need to have the optimum safety at the North West K intersection in front of the entrance to the park,thus the request for a three-way stop at that location. He said he had received a copy of the review and study done by the Traffic Safety Division and submitted to the Board of Works,stating he had no argument with the findings and the recommendations made for a crosswalk along with slow down signs.However,he said,he preferred the stop signs because of the maximum amount of safety for the small children. Captain Melody Truitt gave a report on the findings of a 17-month survey which determined there had been no accidents on Ridge Street or at the intersection.She said the 48-hour traffic count dealing with the guidelines did not justify a multiway stop,adding that the speed was less than the posted limit.She said the federal guidelines are very clear and added that stop signs are not intended to control speed.Metzger asked what harm it would do if the Board approved the request for stop signs.She said she felt it would give a false sense of security on the child's part.Bizarro said he felt it would benefit the neighborhood as a whole. CP Board of Works Minutes Cont'd May 28, 1998 Page 2 Mayor Dennis Andrews commented briefly,suggesting that the Board might possibly think about some policy beyond the guidelines.He said he feels the Board needs to be willing to have some latitude and use some judgment in special circumstances and not be limited exclusively to guidelines.He said at present there is no policy for extenuating circumstances and the Board should not rely on those guidelines in a federal manual.He added that if the Board is going to operate outside of those guidelines,however,it needs to have some policy that would accompany requests for stop signs when the traffic counts don't warrant them. Chairperson Goodwin said he thought something beyond the regular standards,such as the accelerated activities during the summer months at Lyons Park,might be one of those extenuating circumstances.Metzger moved to approve the placement of three-way stop signage at the intersection of North West K and Ridge Street because of the presence of children to a greater degree than what might otherwise be present,and that it would have a minimal effect on the traffic flow which would support deviating from the guidelines,and seconding it. Henry suggested selecting a committee to begin the process of establishing some guidelines for the Board to follow to give some kind of parameters to go by,and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. Bizarro expressed his appreciation to the Board members for their decision. C. Renee Oldham,director of Main Street Inc.,brought before the Board a request to close the 800 block of East Main Street from 8 a.m.to 3 p.m.June 5 for the fourth annual Small Business picnic in celebration of Small Business Week.She said it had been a highly successful event in the past,adding a business card and$2 would entitle you to lunch.She said setting up the tables and cooking for 500 people is no small task,but any employee in Wayne County can come and participate.Captain Truitt said the Traffic Safety Division had no objection to the request and recommended approval.Henry moved to approve,second by Metzger and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote.Henry suggested to Captain Truitt that she notify the construction crews to make sure they will not be planning to work in that area that day. Oldham expressed her appreciation to the City for the work which has been done and is being done in the uptown area D. Assistant City Attorney Steve Rabe brought before the Board what he referred to as"a unique situation."He said within the past several weeks the Department of Planning and Permits has received several complaints about a basketball goal which has been installed in the City- owned right of way on South 10`h Street.He said a City inspector had gone down to the site and asked the owner of the goal to remove it,but the owner had refused to do so.Rabe said it is a violation of the City code to place something so it obstructs the City street but the City code only provides for a fine to be levied. Rabe said in order to actually have the goal removed,he thought it would be necessary to bring it to this Board since it is in charge of City-owned property including the City's rights of way.Rabe said he hesitated to contact the owner of the goal without having brought it to the Board's attention.He said if the Board acts upon the request,the owner can be contacted and asked formally to remove the goal and if he does not comply and remove it on his own,since it is located on the City right of way,the Street Division can remove it.Rabe said the goal is located at 629 South 10`11 Street in the area between the curb and sidewalk,which means those playing have to position themselves in the street.He said that has resulted in numerous calls about people playing basketball in the street and obstructing traffic. Board of Works Minutes Cont'd May 28, 1998 Page 3 Rabe said Wayne Jackson had spoken with the owner who refused to remove it.That being the case,he said the City could take it to court and ask for an injunction to prohibit placing the goal at that location because it would be a safety hazard.Metzger moved to approve the authorization for the removal of the goal,second by Henry and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. E. Police Chief Bill Shake requested approval of the Board to renew the maintenance agreement between Word System Inc. and the Richmond Police Department for the dictation unit the department has had for the past year.Henry moved to approve,second by Metzger and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. F. Captain Truitt recommended approval of a request for a reserved handicap parking space at 2051/2 North 19th Street for James Morrow,stating it meets the requirement as stated in the ordinance.Henry moved to approve,second by Metzger and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. BID AWARDS A. Chief Allen said he and City Engineer Bob Wiwi had reviewed the bids received for the new driveway for No.4 Fire House and found that Smarelli Contractors was the lowest and most responsive bidder with a bid of$2,631 which is within the Fire Department budget.Metzger moved to approve,second by Henry and the motion was carried on a unanimous voice vote. B. Chairperson Goodwin said the Board had received a bid on the former site of the Medical Arts Building but,according to Rabe,they can't open it until June 11.He did,however, acknowledge the receipt of the bid from Lyons Insurance and Real Estate. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business,on a motion duly made,seconded and passed,and carried on a unanimous voice vote,the meeting was adjourned. Robert Goodwin,Chairperson ATTEST: Norma Schroeder,City Clerk