HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated January 28, 2014 OLD CAF
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DATE: 01-28-14
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: PARKING REGULATIONS ON TWAIN CIRCLE
BACKGROUND:
On October 15, 2013, City Council referred a letter from Emily Erickson requesting that
the parking regulations along Twain Circle be changed to prohibit parking along the
curved sections of the roadway. Currently, parking is restricted on Twain Circle at all
times on the north and east sides of the road. In her letter, Ms. Erickson described
safety concerns related to operating her vehicle through the curve when vehicles were
parked along its inner curb. She also mentioned that this situation is made worse during
the winter months.
Staff conducted an on-site visit to observe traffic and conducted measurements to
determine the required stopping sight distances. The majority of operating speeds along
Twain Circle range approximately from 20 to 25 MPH. This would require sight distance
of an oncoming vehicle to be 115 to 155 feet. When this standard is applied to the
roadway, additional parking prohibitions are needed approximately 25 feet on
either side of the curve.
Staff also conducted a review of the reported accident history for Twain Circle and
found two Property Damage Only accidents in January 2007 and November 2010. One
accident was alcohol related. However, the other was a sideswipe, which provides
some support to the situation Ms. Erickson described in her letter.
Proposed No Parking Regulation Changes
In analyzing the sight distance issues, the new required no parking area to address
these safety concerns would remove almost all on-street parking spaces along Twain
Circle. Because of this, a strictly engineering based recommendation would be to
remove all on-street parking. This is a safe alternative and the easiest to regulate as
well as to enforce.
However, in reaching out to the property owners along Twain Circle, it was found the
greatest area of concern was losing parking in front of the duplexes along the east-west
segment of Twain Circle. It was felt this would be a hardship to lose that parking for
visiting friends or family. Therefore, based upon the low crash history and feedback
from our residents, the recommended "No Parking" area could be reduced to
start at a point 275 feet east of Dickinson Avenue rather than prohibiting parking
on the entire street.
A map showing the current and proposed parking restrictions is attached below.
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It should be noted that Municipal Code Section 18.24(2) allows the staff to temporarily
suspend parking restrictions upon request for special circumstances such as
graduations, open houses, receptions, etc.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance that would restrict parking at all times
on the north and east sides of Twain Circle, as well as on the south and west sides
of Twain Circle starting at a point 275 feet east of Dickinson Avenue.
2. Direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance that would restrict parking at all times
on both sides of Twain Circle.
3. Reject the request, thereby keeping No Parking on the north and east sides only.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Either alternative 1 or 2 would improve safety by providing increased sight distance of
oncoming vehicles while allowing for better and more efficient street cleaning and snow
removal. However, Alternative #1 is more responsive to the concerns of the local
residents while making needed safety improvements to the street.
Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt
Alternative No. 1, thereby directing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance that would
restrict parking at all times on the north and east sides of Twain Circle, as well as on the
south and west sides of Twain Circle starting at a point 275 feet east of Dickinson
Avenue.
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Legend
Current No Parking --• (red)
Proposed No Parking ----• (blue)
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ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY
OF AMES,IOWA,BY REPEALING CHAPTER 18 SECTION 18.31 (277)
AND ENACTING A NEW CHAPTER 18 SECTION 18.31 (277)
THEREOF, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARKING REGULATIONS ON
TWAIN CIRCLE; REPEALING ANY AND ALL ORDINANCES OR
PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH
CONFLICT; PROVIDING A PENALTY; AND ESTABLISHING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED,by the City Council for the City of Ames,Iowa,that:
Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames,Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by
enacting a new Section as follows:
"Sec. 18.31. REGULATIONS FOR SPECIFIC STREETS OR LOCATIONS.
(277) TWAIN CIRCLE. Parking is prohibited at all times on the north and east sides of
Twain Circle as well as on the south and west sides, starting at a point 275 feet east of Dickinson Avenue."
Section Two. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall be punishable as set forth in Ames
Municipal Code Section 18.7(1).
Section Three. All ordinances, or parts of ordinances,in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent
of such conflict,if any.
Section Four. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as
required by law.
Passed this day of
Diane R.Voss,City Clerk Ann H. Campbell,Mayor