07/18/2000 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Council Minutes of 7/18/2000 brief was filed today, and we were served with the Chamber's brief today. Hopefully, Judge Nugent will render a decision on that claim sometime soon. 3) The Law Director continues to be involved in bus line contract negotiations. Finance Director Copfer: 1) This evening Council received the May revenue and expenditure reports. 2) Before Council this evening are Ordinances 2000-84 through 2000-92 providing for the retirement of outstanding notes through issuing long-term bonds. As was discussed last week, there are no new monies being requested in these ordinances and they are needed before Council returns in September. Therefore, she is asking for suspension of the rules requiring three readings and committee review. Councilman Gareau asked Mayor Musial if he had a status report on the Charter Review Commission. If their recommendations are to be placed on the ballot in November, there are deadlines to be met and Council is going on vacation during August. Mayor Musial said the commission needs one more meeting to conclude the discussions and make determinations, and he believes that meeting will take place later this month. He is not sure whether they are going to ask for a special meeting or will postpone it to the primary election next year. Mr. Miller, chairperson of the Transportation Committee: 1) On July 11, the Transportation Committee met to discuss a letter from resident James DePauw recommending that "No Turn on Red School Days" signs be changed to "Turning Vehicles Yield to Pedestrians." In attendance were committee members Miller, McKay and Gareau; Councilpersons Kesler, Nashar, Limpert and O'Grady. Review of the response from the traffic engineer, Mr. Griffith, indicated that such a sign makes no difference to drivers in how they respond and that ORC Section 4511.13, A and C and 4511.46 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk and no sign is required. Mr. Griffith further recommended that no change be made at the three intersections involved. The committee thanks Mr. DePauw for his input, however, it appears that this recommendation is not in the city's best interest. The committee voted unanimously to table the issue. 2) On Monday, July 17, the Transportation Committee met at Clague Park. In attendance were committee members Miller, McKay and Gareau; Councilpersons Kasler and Saringer; traffic engineer Larry Griffith; crossing guard Sandy Weir. The committee observed the crosswalk and noticed that rarely would traffic stop even with the existing signage and markings. One resident with two children approached, thankful that the situation was being reviewed, and remarked that she still considers the crossing very dangerous. The committee then proceeded to the picnic shelter where they discussed the crossing and a similar crossing on Canterbury at Sweetbrier. Both are unlike any other crosswalks in the city. Mrs. Sandy Weir, the school crossing guard at Canterbury and Sweetbrier, indicated her concerns. She stated that people routinely ignored the signage and oftentimes even speed up when they first see the yellow lights thinking that they may be about to turn red. She felt we may have had a safer crosswalk without the signs than with the current signage as she felt the current signage may lead to a false sense of ~. security leading to a possible vehicle/pedestrian collision. There was unanimous 5