04/30/73 Board of Public Works Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING APRIL 30, 1973 REQUEST FOR BAN ON PARKING ON NORTH LAFAYETTE The Board received a recommendation from Mr. William Richardson, Director of Public Works and Mr. Clem Hazinski, Manager, Bureau of Traffic and Lighting, that because of the absence of a widening program on N. Lafayette, parking restrictions be made in the 300-400-500 blocks of N. Lafayette to provide for three lanes of traffic of greater width than the present lanes which are approximately nine feet wide. Mr. Richardson explained that the proposal for an appropriation for the widening of North Lafayette was withdrawn from the Common Council agenda last Monday night in accordance with action taken by this Board to eliminate parking in the area. It is the Board's recommendation that parking be removed in this three block area for twenty-four hours a day. Mr. Russell Suseland of the Englewood Electric Company and Mr. Merl Fahler of the General Tire Company spoke to the Board. They both operate businesses in the 300 block of North Lafayette and feel that the no parking restriction will hurt their businesses. They suggested that the Board restrict parking from 6:00 a.m`. to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mrs. Brennan, 500 N. Lafayette, John Horan, 304 W. Navarre, and Diane Mathias, 515 N. Lafayette all spoke against the parking restriction. Points raised were that the 500 block is residential and there are apartments 'in the area and some kind of parking is needed and r,= that parking should be permitted at least at night. Mr. Richardson then �. restated the City's position on this matter. He said when it was proposed that C� the traffic problem be solved by widening Lafayette Street, a number of citizens C) came in and said that parking could be eliminated to solve the problem. The Common Council, at the request of the Board of Public Works, withdrew the appropriation request for the widening project. Now the citizens are saying that they stopped the widening project but they do not want the parking removed. Mrs. Eugenia Schwartz, 725 Park Avenue, said that many residents of Lafayette Boulevard are members of the Park Avenue Association. They were opposed to the widening of Lafayette. She said it is an "either-or" matter. Either Lafayette is widened or parking is restricted. She expressed the appreciation of the residents of the area for the Board's recommendation that Lafayette not be widened. Mr. Richardson asked the gentlemen from Englewood Electric and General Tire if It would help if:vparking were taken off the East Side only. They said that it would. Mr. Richardson said that they would eliminate angle parking in front of Englewood Electric Company and Mr. Suseland agreed to this. Upon motion made, seconded and carried, the Board amended the recommendation to remove parking on the East Side of Lafayette in the 300, 400 and 500 blocks. Mr. Clem Hazinski was directed to investigate the possibility of installing parking meters in that area and report to the Board. STREET LIGHT OUTAGE REPORT The Street Light Outage report for the period of 4/19/73 to 4/25/73 was received and ordered filed. CONTINUATION CERTIFICATES - EDWARD SOLTESZ AND HOWE_L_L CONSTRUCTION CO. The Board received a Contractor's Bond Continuation Certificate for Edward Soltesz and an Excavation Bond Continuation Certificate for Howell Construction Company. Upon motion made, seconded and carried, the certificates were referred to the Division of Engineering for investigation and report. REQUEST FROM STANLEY CLARK SCHOOL TO USE MICHIGAN STREET The Board received a letter from students at Stanley Clark School asking for permission to use Michigan Street on Friday May 18 for a project in which the school is planning to re-enact the attempted assassination of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The letter also requests permission to use two squad cars and one motorcycle from the Police Department. Upon motion made, seconded and carried, the Board referred this matter to Mr. Clem Hazinski, Manager, Bureau of Traffic and lighting, for investigation and report.