12/17/2002 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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' Council Minutes of 12!17/2002 Y,,~ Jerry Miller, 4011 Canterbury Road ^ He is concerned about the change of the speed limit on Canterbury Road from 25 mph to 35 mph and wonders why it was changed. Councilman Limpert said several months ago, residents came forward to ask that it be raised. At that meeting, the Traffic Engineer was present and said it actually is not correct and should be raised. After the change was made, he spoke to Police Chief Ruple who said in the early 1990's, when Canterbury Road was in ili-repair and the County helped to have it paved, the County would only provide funds if the road was declared a through road. One of things that goes with that is a 35 mph speed limit. The city agreed, and the road was repaired but the speed limit was never changed. There are exceptions for through streets to be 25 mph: if it is less than a mile, if it is residential, if there are no bus routes. Perhaps the Mayor and/or the administration decided they should follow the law and make it proper at 35 mph. Councilman Nashar said the issue was brought up in a committee meeting in 1998 and Police Chief Viola recommended that the speed limit be kept at 25 mph because the road is not straight and there are some deep ditches. Council was not apprised of the change until the very last minute. Councilman Miller commented that he had a copy of a memo written by Safety Director Jesse with regard to this change in the speed limit. Mr. Jesse's memo notes that the change was made with the approval of Police Chief Ruple to bring the speed Limit into compliance with ODOT standards for through sixeet speed limits. Mayor Musiat said he was not sure if that was an accurate description of whether the Police Dept. was brought into this prior to the change. Councilman Miller said he was concerned that it was changed without notification to Council. He understands that the police officers also were not aware of the change. If this was done with the Chief s approval, he cannot understand why he wouldn't pass that information to the officers. Can the Mayor determine if the account given by Mr. Jesse is accurate and why Council wasn't at least given aheads-up? Mr. Jerry Miller said he does know the city has to follow Revised Code, However, there is such a thing as home rule control. It has always been 25 mph since he lived there. Councilwoman Kasler noted that she has received calls on this issue. On looking into it, she was told there is an opportunity to appeal to the state to have it reduced. Whether there is a basis in the law, she is not sure, but she would like to have it discussed. Ingrid Lamparyk, 3980 Canrterbury Road ^ Expressed concern about the change of the Canterbury Road speed limit. She spoke to Westlake Police Capt. Turner who said that in 1980 the cities of Bay Village, Westlake and North Olmsted agreed that Canterbury would be a residential road at 25 mph. She has also talked to the Service Director and the Police Department about this issue. Apparently, the Police Chief did not know about the change, and the residents were certainty not notified. The Service Director indicated that letters were not sent to residents because of the postage cost and "nobody reads letters." She sees this change in speed as a safety issue, especially for children, an what has been represented as a residential street. 15 .,.a.,,, ~~:,¢