Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout11-20-1969 Page 121 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, NOVEMBER 20, 1969 -. The Board of Public Works and Safety of the City of Richmond, Indiana, met in regular session in the Municipal Bldg. , November 20, 1969, at the hour of 9:00 a.m. (est) . Mr. Cecere presiding with the following members present: Mr. Howell, City Controller and Mr. Jacobs, City Engineer. The following business was had to-wit: Mr. Howell moved that the minutes of the previous meeting be approved, seconded by Mr. Jacobs and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Building Commissioner Ed Goins presented bids for the demolishing of the buildings owned by Davis and Mercurio in the 400 block of Main St. An adjacent building, the old Rex Hotel, owned by the Redevelopment Commission is also to be demolished, but bids have not yet been received. Mr. Goins recommended that the same contractor be awarded both jobs since it would be difficult to have two sets of equipment in the same space. The Building Commissioner presented proof of publication and proof of posting of notice to bidders for at least ten days of the time and place of the opening of bids, and bids were publicly opened and considered. The Building Com- missioner did award the contract to the lowest and best bidder, Cox Exca- vating for $2,000.00, and he is authoirzed to prepare a contract showing L_ that it has been executed by the Board of Works as agent of the building to process the same pursuant to the Statutes of the State of Indiana. Mr. Goins presented the following letter to Mr. Cecere: October 17, 1969 Mr. Arthur J. Tanley, President Centurion Corporation 1804 Provident Tower Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Dear Mr. Tarley: An inspection was made by this department on lnad that the Centurion Corporation owns located on National Road West, commonly known as the Richmond Speedway Race Track. The findings were as follows: 1. The bleachers have been partly demolished and only a portion of same are standing. These bleachers constitute a hazard to children playing in this area. 2. The track is open which allows automobiles to enter the area and race around the track. This also constitutes a safety hazard. We would appreciate it if the bleachers could be torn down and the track plowed up within the next thirty (30) days. This would alleviate these safety hazards. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to call us. Very truly yours, /s/ Claude E. Goins, Commissioner Bureau of Buildings City of Richmond, Indiana Mr. Goins reported that the order has been complied with. Mr. Thomas Wills of the Sight and Sound Center, 708 Main Street, appeared to ask permission to install an outside speaker at his place of business to play music. He said he had used one previously and had discontinued it after a person's objection. Mr. Cecere said that City Ordinance forbids such use except with special permission from the Mayor. Mr. Wills said that the music attracts people and puts some life into the downtown area. Page 122 Bd. of Public Works & Safety 11-20-69 He said his new landlord has no objection, nor do his immediate neighbors. Some business men present said they thought it would be appropriate for the holiday season. Mr. Wills asked whether he might be given a temporary permit. Mr. Howell moved the Board recommend to the Mayor to issue a permit for Mr. Wills to install a speaker to play music at his place of business until the first of the year, seconded by Mr. Jacobs and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Street Commissioner Elmer Toschlog recommended that the Board adopt a policy of making contractors responsible for their own barricades and lights as well as requiring those who dig in the streets to mark the curb with a designated color to show which company is digging. He then recommended that if police find obstructions not properly barricaded or lighted atnnight, they get in touch with the proper contractor, and he further recommended that this be made a condition of the issuing of building, excavating, or demolishing permits. Mr. Howell moved that the Board adopt the requested requirements for the permits and inform the Building Commissioner, seconded by Mr. Jacobs and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Cecere commented that the Richmond streets are far better kept than streets in Muncie, where he has had occasion to visit recently. Mr. Toschlog reported that although Spring Grove is not in the City limits, the Police has requested that some of the streets be kept clear of ice and snow. Mr. Cecere said that it is not the City's responsi- bility but that he realized the danger of icy streets. He said the Board cannot order the Street Commissioner to clear Spring Grove streets but that he felt sure the Commissioner would not allow a dangerous situation to exist. Mr. Cecere said a similar situation exists with regard to the sweeping of Main Street, which is a State Highway and the City has no jurisdiction. He said that formerly, under a contract with the State, the City used to sweep Main St. every morning, but that the contract has been terminated by the State and the State Highway Dept. now maintains Main Street. Mr. Toschlog reported a problem at So. 23rd and "J" Sts. where a sewer is not draining properly because of a field. Mr. Jacobs said that there used to be natural drainage across the field, but crops have been planted and the water can no longer drain and is clogging the culvert. He said that since it is against the law to close off a natural drain- age flow, the owners should be notified and be required to open the field. He said he would notify the owners to that effect. Police Chief Don Strahan presented Probationary Patrolman Larry Woodrow Maples and recommended that he be advanced to the rank of First Class Patrolman, having successfully completed his probation, effective Nov. 18, 1969. Mr. Howell moved the Board approve the promotion, seconded by Mr. Jacobs and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Harold Porter of Porter Signs appeared to say that he had a problem with people parking in front of his place of business all day since the yellow curb has been removed and requested that the City limit parking to one or two hours. Mr. Cecere referred the motion to the Traffic Division for recommendation at next week's meeting. Chief Strahan reported that the Police Dept. has erected two "NO Parking AhyATime" signs in front of the High School because the yellow curb was being ignored and the space is needed for fire fighting and emergency vehicles. The Clerk read the following recommendations: November 20, 1969 Board of Public Works & Safety Andrew C. Cecere, President Gentlemen: Board of Public Works & Safety Page 123 ITEM #1 At the Board of Works meeting Thursday November 6th, 1969 the downtown traffic congestion was discussed briefly with the Traffic Division and the Board. At that time, I reported to the Board that part of the problem creating the congestion was the fact that the traffic signals on Main Street from 4th Street east to 13th Street were out of timing and that the problem had been reported to the R.P. & L. After the Board meeting I contacted the R.P.&L. again and they recommended that the problem be referred to the Traffic Division of the Indiana State Highway Department due to their hevay work load. I contacted the District Traffic Engineer of the State Highway Department at Greenfield and he dispatched a Signal Engineer over last week to check the signals and he reported to me that one of the signal controllers at one of the intersections was out of synchronization and that each intersection would have to be checked . However, due to the inclement weather (rain, snow) the Engineer has been unable to open the control boxes to check them but will do so as soon as there is a break in the weather. As of today, the problem still exists. ITEM #2 Also at the November 6th, meeting, I tentatively recommended to the Board that the elimination of parking vehicles on Main Street also would aid in diminishing the traffic congestion we are now experiencing and have for a number of years. The Board ordered a futher study of this situation and a report submitted. A study has been made by the Traffic Division and it was found that due to the high volume of traffic on Main Street, two lanes of traffic, one east bound, and one west bound, will not accommodate this volume of traffic without creating congestion, especially at peak hours. At the present time parking is prohibited on both sides of the 700 and 800 blocks 11/ of East Main thus providing four lanes for the movement of traffic. However, parking is still permitted on both sides of the 600 block and is permitted on the south sides of the 500, 400 and 300 blocks. We have temporarily removed parking from the north sides of the 500, 400 and 300 blocks due to the reconstruction of North "A" Street. Therefore, in an effort to greatly reduce the traffic congestion in the downtown area on East Main Street, we are recommending to the Board that parking be removed on both sides of East Main Street from 3rd Street east to the 7th Street thus providing four lanes for the movement of traffic. A sruvey of the proposed parking restriction area shows, at the present time, that there are 7 parking stalls on the south side of the 300 block, 8 stalls on the south side of the 400 block 4 stalls on the south side of the 500 block and 6 stalls on both sides of the 600 block. This is a total of 25. parking stalls that would be eliminated by the parking restriction. A further survey was made of all free-off-street parking in the immediate area of 6th and Main Streets, made possible by the Redevelopment Com- mission, showed that there is 60 parking spaces available on the east side of the 1st block of North 6th Street and 96 spaces available on the east side of the same block. This makes a total of 156 spaces of free parking in the 1st block of North 6th Street. Also on the southeast corner of 6th and East Main Street, the Redevelopment Commission has provided an area that will accommodate the parking of 170 vehicles. This makes a grand total of 326 free off-street parking spaces available within this area for the public to use. Now therefore, due to the number of off-street parking spaces that has been provided by the City, and the need for the two extra traffic lanes to facilitate the movement of traffic, we feel that our recommendation is justified. ITEM #3 The traffic division is recommending to the Board that parking of all vehicles be prohibited at all times on the south side of East Main St. Page 124 Bd. of Public Works & Safety 11-20-69 from 13th Street east to 17th Street for the purpose of facilitating the movement of east-bound traffic and also to try and reduce the accidents that we are now experiencing within the area. Due to the High volume of east-bound traffic, one lane will not carry this traffic without creating a back-up of traffic from 16th Street west to the 1300 block. One of the problems creating this congestion is the east-bound vehicles that stop, waiting to make a left hand turn onto the two parking lots of the Cox Supermarket at 16th and East Main Streets. When this occurs, thru traffic cannot move due to vehicles parked mr:the south side of the 1500 block, thus the bottleneck occurs. By removing the parking on the south side from 13th Street east to 17th we can install a "Thur" traffic lane. For the first 10 months of this year the Police Department has investigated 16 accidents within this area and we know that part of these accidents were caused by the congested traffic condi- tion. ITEM #4 The Traffic Division is recommending to the Board that 7th Street be con- verted to a one-way street north-bound from South "E" Street north to North "D" Street. At the present time, and for a number of years, we have had a major bottleneck at the intersection of 7th and East Main Streets due to the high volume of traffic and also due to the left turn and right turn movements from all four directions during peak and other hours of the day. At the present time we have a "Thru" and "Right" turn lane for north and southtraffic. If the motorist in the "Right" lane desires to turn right he is usually delayed, yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalk. At the same time, motorists desiring to make a left turn are held up not only by pedestrians in the crosswalk but also by "Thur" traffic from the opposite direction, thus the bottleneck occurs. By converting 7th Street to a one-way Street, we can install a left turn storage lane, a right turn storage lane plus two "Thru" lanes thus eliminating 800 of the bottleneck. I also would like to point out that we are having a major back-up of traffic exiting west-bound out of Sailor Street onto 7th Street from the Second National Bank Drive-Up Bank at 8th and Sailor Streets, especially on Fridays. We have two lanes coming out of Sailor Street, one for right turn and one for left turns. By converting 7th Street to one-way north bound, all motorists would be required to turn north onto 7th Street and when the signal at 7th and Main Streets turns "red" this would create a "gap" in traffic and the motorists exiting Sailor Street would be albe to clear out more rapidly and safer. By converting 7th Street to one-way north bound, this would provide a natural artery to the 20th Century Bridge for motorists going to the northwest section of the City. At the intersection of North 7th and Fort Wayne Avenue and "D" Streets, two (2) left hand turn lanes would be installed for motirists desiring to cross the 20th Century Bridge. 7th Street would be two lanes from South "E" Street north to North "D" Street. Also, we are recommending to the Board that 6th Street be converted to a one-way from Fort Wayne Avenue south-bound to South "E" Street. At the present time, 6th Street is temporarily one-way south-bound from North "A" Street sout to South "A" Street. Parking has been removed temporarily on the both sides of the 1st block of North 6th Street. By converting 7th Street to one-way, we must convert 6th Street to one-way south-bound so as to provide for traffic that normally used the 7th south-bound. At the intersection of 6th and Main Streets a left hand turn lane, a right hand turn lane and two (2) "Thru" lanes would be installed. At the present, we have three south-bound lanes in. the 1st block of North 6th Street. After North "A" Street is opened up to traffic, the 1st block of North 6th Street would become two lanes south- bound with parking restored on both sides. I would like to point out, that by making 6th and 7th Streets one-way, we can add 19 parking stalls between North and South "A" Streets in addition to the existing parking stalls we now have. Board of Public Works & Safety Page 125 November 20, 1969 I have discussed this recommendation with the President of the Downtown Richmond, Inc. , Mr. Carl Lipscomb, and at their October 14th meeting, the proposal was discussed with their Board of Directors and they concurred with out recommendation. /s/ Donald L. Strahan /s/ Paul F. Martin Chief of Police Captain-Traffic Div. Regarding Item #2, Mr. Brouse Rinehart of Rinehart, Inc. said he thought the opening of No. and So. "A" Sts. would alleviate traffic congestion on Main17St. Mr. Cecere said he did not believe it would solve the prob- lem since more and more people are driving cars and streets were built 75 years ago. He said he believes it is in the best interest of merchants to give easy access to their places of business. Mr. Rinehart said the businesses at 6th and Main Sts. are mostly service businesses which need close-by parking for short periods of time. Mr. Cecere said that more parking in the area is available than in the past, although not immedi- ately in front of the stores. Mr. Wm. C. Snyder of One-Hour Martinizing said he thought four lanes on Main St. would not be necessary once both "A" Sts. are open. Chief Strahan said he agreed with Mr. Cecere that "A" Sts. are not going to solve the congestion problem. He said that parkingimmediately in front of stores is no longer possible. Mr. Snyder suggested waiting to remove parking until the area is redeveloped. Mr. Robert Hudson, owner of the State Theatre said he objected to removal of parking on Main Street because 1. he has an investment of one-half million dollars in the area and the investment would be destroyed. He said it would effect all business downtown and Main Street should be considered a terminus and not a thoroughfare, 2. If the south lane is used for traffic he does not know what women would do who drop children off at the theater and wait for them to come out. 3. He would sue the City if a truck hit his marquis. He recommends reinstituting parking all along Main Street from 4th to 12th Sts. Mr. Robert Sizemore said that parking removed from Main St. would clog side streets with parked cars. Helen Scheffler of the Floral Arts Flower=•Shop asked, discussing Item #3, why Cox Grocery wal allowed entry from Main St. into its parking lot. Mr. Cecere said he did not think the City could make then change their entry now. He said the City did not create the problem:-and was trying its best to solve it and wal well aware of everyone's problems and rights, but it had the community as a whole to consider and if removing a few parking stalls would keep accidents from happening, then the parking shoals be removed. Mr. Placke of Jones and Placke Funerals asked whether his business would be affected and Mr. Cecere told him it would not. Mr. Robert Hageboeck of Mac' s Service Pharmacy said he now had three parking spaces in front of his store and would like to see them made into short- term parking, either 15 or 30minutes. Mr. Charles Stevens of Stevens Restaurant said some people park there all day. Mr. Hudson suggested delaying the change until the new "A" Street is open or try a no left turn rule off Main Street. He said experts have said that shopping areas need adequate parking space. Mr. Cecere said he did not believe the State Highway would allow taking off left turns. Mr. Jacobs said it would be next summer before Route- 40 would officially be located on No. and So. "A" Sts. Mr. Harry Voyles of the Voyles News Agency said he did not mind some congestion. There were no objections to Item #3. Mr. Cecere read the following letter regarding Item #4: October 15, 1969 Captain Paul Martin Traffic Department City of Richmond Dear Captain Martin: Page 126 Bd. of Works & Safety 11-20-69 The Board of Directors of Downtown Richmond, Inc. , met on Tuesday October 14, and discussed your suggestion of making a one-way street out of North and South 7th Street. It is the opinion of our Board that this would be conductive to traffic flow and relieve the bottle neck that now keeps reoccurring at 7th and Main. We would certainly encourage you to investigate further the feasi- bility of the implementation of this one-way system. Respectfully yours, /s/ Carl Lipscomb President Mr. Charles McGurie of McQuarry' s Gallery said that the parking in the shopping centers proves that people don't want to park several blocks away from the store in which they are doing business. He suggested that a similar island to the one at 3rd and Main Sts. routing through traffic away from Main St. be erected at 16th and Main to take care of west-bound traffic. Mr. Cecere said that much of the downtown traffic problem is caused by employees of the businesses who occupy the parking . spaces immediately outside the stores. He thanked everyone for attending and for their comments and said that the City does not want to hurt any- one. Mr. Howell moved the Board take the parking problem under advise- ment, seconded by Mr. Jacobs and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Reverend Doyle Phillips of the Seventh Day Adventist Church thanked the City for all it is doing and announced the annual "in-gathering" pro- gram of his church, a caroling program. He said his church has a small welfare center and a mobile unit which is always available when needed. Mr. Ater of Ater' s Ambulance Service appeared :in regard to the radio frequency used by his company. Mr. Cecere said he could work it out with the Police. He asked whether, under the new policy, he is allowed to bill separately if more than one person is transported in the ambulance, as in the case of automobile accidents involving more than one person. Mr. Cecere said he should use his own discretion, that in the case of persons from different cars, he should charge separately, but if closely- related family members were involved it would probably be better to make only one charge. Mr. Jacobs reported having had a request from the West Side Neighborhood Association to see about sidewalks and curbs on Abington Pike from So. "G" St. to the City limits, which he said he would check into. They had also requested traffic signals at the approaches to the Joseph Moore School. Mr. Jacobs moved the Board refer the second request to the Traffic Division for study and recommendation, seconded by Mr Howell and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. Mr. Cecere asked the Traffic Division to study the suggestions of limit- ing parking at 15th and East Main Sts. to short-term periods. Mr. Howell moved the Board recommend to Council to make 6th and 7th Sts. one-way streets and the Clerk prepare an Ordinance to that effect, seconded by Mr. Jacobs and on unanimous voice vote the motion was carried. There being no further business on motion duly made seconded and carried, the meeting adjourned. 4ALL_ /s/ Andrew C. Cecere, President Attest: /s/ Lotte Hoskins, City Clerk