HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Summary from May 9, 2006 meeting COUNCIL ACTION SUMMARY
Meeting Date: 5/09106
Agenda Item #: Comments
SUBJECT: Letter from Area Residents Requesting Staff to Review "No Parking" Regulations
on Brookridge
ACTION TAKEN: Referred to staff to respond to letter.
MOTION BY: Goodhue
SECOND BY: Goodman
VOTING AYE: Doll, Goodhue, Goodman, Mahayni, Popken, Rice
VOTING NAY: None
ABSENT: None
By: ��
Diane Voss, City Clerk
Copy to: John Joiner
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April 25, 2006
Damion Pregitzer MAY "5 ��u�
Ames Public Works Dept.
Ames, IA CITY CLERK
CITY OF AMES IOWA
Dear Sir,
This letter comes from a group of neighbors seriously affected by the City's decision to paint a
"no parking" gold strip across a block of our street (Brookridge). We have spoken with various
officials and found that our only recourse is to appeal to the City Council to change the rules
so we don't lose all our street parking. This letter is our written request that this "no parking"
designation for the section in question be either eliminated or decreased.
We live in one of the oldest neighborhoods in Ames, with some houses one hundred years old.
We chose this neighborhood for various reasons. Some of us love old houses and curvy streets
overlaced with gigantic oak trees. Others chose to live in our older neighborhood for
environmental reasons or for the convenience of being near downtown and schools. All of us
believe that it is in the City's interest to maintain this older neighborhood and keep it a
desirable location for homeowners.
An anonymous citizen evidently called your office recently and complained that our curvy
corner was unsafe when cars were parked along it. Your staff came out, measured it and
found that that section did not meet an official code for parking. Without one comment to any
of us homeowners, City staff spraypainted gold along not only the curve but a long straight
stretch to the south of the curve.
This decision has created a great hardship for us, since parking is already forbidden on the
west side of the street. Several of our homes have minimal parking near a garage. We have
large homes and enjoy having large groups of people from time to time. Our guests would have
no choice but to park over a block away which seems unreasonable. It is disheartening that
this decision was made with so little consideration of its effect; the elimination of all convenient
parking is a great hardship for our family lives.
Please revisit this quick decision. We acknowledge that the curve itself can be difficult for cars
to navigate during busy times or poor weather; however, the additional stretch that was
painted seems unnecessary and excessive. If it would help, we would be willing to paint some
or all of the strip back to cement color, if that would spare your works crew the hassle. We
would just need the paint.
We look forward to hearing from you regarding next steps and hope to appeal to the Council
itself at their May 9th meeting.
Sincerely,
Tom and Allison Greenwald Kent and Jo ooper f
El and Gayle Johnston Ed and Sue Collins
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City Clerk's Office
515 Clark Avenue,P. 0. Box 811
Caring People Ames,IA 50010
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Fax: 515-239-5142
May 12, 2006
Tom and Allison Greenwald
839 Brookridge Avenue
Ames, Iowa 50010
Dear Tom and Allison:
At their meeting of May 9, 2006, the Ames City Council referred to staff your request that City
staff review the "No Parking"regulations on Brookridge Avenue.
A copy of your letter has been forwarded to John Joiner, Public Works Director, for his response.
You will be notified if this item is scheduled on a City Council agenda. If you have questions in
the interim, please contact Mr. Joiner at 239-5160.
Sincerely,
Diane Voss
City Clerk
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