Cindy Dobbins, commission member, presented an apartment listing, which included the number of residents and vehicles and any notations where occupants currently park. The boundaries of where information was gathered were Jefferson Street to the south, High Street to the east, Washington Street to the west and Main Street to the north. The 28 downtown apartments, several of which are vacant, are home to 36 people, who have approximately 28 vehicles. Dobbins found 13 locations where the building owners either have parking behind the buildings or owners rent spots.

The downtown apartments listed were on North and South Buffalo, East and West Center Street and West Market Street.

Hewitt provided information on what is available in the Buffalo Street municipal lot. His records show 13 of the 50 spaces to rent are available. The remaining parking lot area is unrestricted parking. It was also noted the cost to rent a space in a city lot is $90 for six months. Some mention was made the potential fee for residential parking should be comparable. Commission Member Connie Fribley suggested the use of hang tags for the residents along with the residents providing vehicle and license plate information to prevent any tag misuse.

The committee expressed the belief the area to be included needed boundaries defined. Additionally Mayor Joe Thallemer stated the desire is not to tip the parking scales the other way by having the majority of the two-hour parking spaces utilized by downtown residents. “There is a delicate balance (to reach),” he said.

Hewitt noted there are some parking areas where no businesses are close, which could be used. Such locations were noted as Lake, Indiana and Center streets. These areas would not take away from parking for business customers.

The subcommittee is being asked to look at what areas would be ideal for resident parking spaces. The findings will be presented to the commission.

Trial Solution

Moving an existing speed limit sign with additional signs installed, enforcement and use of a new speed limit board will be utilized in the Park Ridge addition as a first step to control reports of speeding motorists. The new speed limit board will have the capability to record makes and models of vehicles through photograph, traffic counts and warn motorists who are exceeding the speed limit.

The home owners association approached the commission in late 2015 with concerns of vehicle speeds, location of the speed limit sign, and on-street parking issues in hazardous areas. While the on-street parking issues have been handled among the association, concern over speeding motorists remained.

Utilizing a data program, it was suggested the speed limit should be set at 25 miles per hour. However commission members were in favor of taking smaller steps before larger steps are taken.

Aaron Gaff, association president, was at the meeting to share the parking resolution and express concerns over speeds of vehicles. It was noting the use of “Children At Play” “Slow Children Playing” and other signs of the like were “outlawed” in 2002.

The oath of office was administered to new commission members Dirk Felger and Jeff Beeler.

The next meeting of the commission will be March 2