APPT-2025-5 : Appointment of Kara Oberg, 11 Tappan Street, Melrose MA 02176, to the Traffic Commission

Transcript (~6 min @ 33:15)

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▶ 33:10 Kimberly Vandiver: the next item on our agenda is, uh, appointment 2025 dash five, the appointment of Kara Oberg, 11 Tappan Street, Melrose, mass 0 2 1 7 6 to the Traffic Commission.

▶ 33:22 Jen Grigoraitis: Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so I'm thrilled to have Ms. Oberg here tonight. She would be filling one of the two spots for a resident slash business member. Um, as hopefully many of you know, she is the owner of the Ride Cafe. Am I saying that correctly? Mm-Hmm. Yes. Which is the only transit oriented business within the bounds of Melrose. It's located right on Main Street. She's a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Um, she's a woman business owner. I think all of that is incredibly important experience to be bringing to this role a traffic commission. Since we have been, um, down one member representing the business community for quite some time, she brings a substantial professional background as a planner, which again, I think will serve her well in looking holistically and equitably at the traffic and roadway issues that we have here in Melrose.

▶ 34:07 Kimberly Vandiver: Thank you. And, uh, Ms. Oberg, would you like to say anything before questions? Sure.

▶ 34:11 Speaker 4: Um, thank you Mayor and Chair. Um, happy to be here. Happy to have the opportunity to potentially serve on the Traffic Commission. Um, proud owner of the Ride Cafe. We're at 360 8 Main Street. We've been there almost a year, and before that we were at 1 71 Remont Street in partnership with The Loop, which was, um, paired with two other small women in mom owned businesses. Um, I hear from a lot of customers, potential customers and parents about, you know, the challenges and opportunities of getting around Melrose as well as the region. Um, so really happy to be here and happy to take questions.

▶ 34:43 Kimberly Vandiver: Wonderful questions from the committee. Councilor, uh, vice Chair Hamilton. Thank you.

▶ 34:47 Ward Hamilton: And thank you for, for serving on the commission. I know I speak for everyone when we I say that. We appreciate that. So you've heard the question that I asked, and then, uh, I just wanna hear your thoughts on it, but I want to kind of reiterate, my concern specifically is that we are increasing population density in housing opportunities in Melrose. Just good and important, but at the same time, more people, we don't want it to necessarily mean more cars. We want to be cognizant of that and how that can, you know, congestion can, can impact the city. So my concern is that if we increase that density, but at the same time, you know, if at some point we roll back, uh, or I guess it would be if we allow overnight park and that, that might open the flood gates. So I'm interested in your thoughts on what you would do or what your thoughts would be if that were to come before the commission.

▶ 35:50 Speaker 4: Sure. So I think, um, three points. So how we use our curb and how we regulate our curb is a really powerful tool to hit mode shift safety and equity goals, um, as well as livability goals of around housing. So I think it's a really important tool not to be overlooked and to be carefully considered. And if we're gonna look at the overnight parking van, we should, you know, potentially think holistically even bigger than that. How do we use our curbs in, in Melrose? Um, two other things to think about. If the, you know, if it, the discussion was brought up, parking on both sides of the street can be a traffic calming mechanism if done right, if we are making sure that, uh, cars and vehicles are parked at least 20 feet from the intersection, for example, it can slow traffic, can slow, uh, fast moving vehicles, which is one of the most, you know, sought after questions and concerns we hear in Melrose is speeding of cars. So that's something that we should consider. Um, and then the third is the Liv livability. So I don't have strong opinions on, on repealing it or, or keeping it. Um, I'm learning a lot, um, through already this first question, uh, for, for now for the commission. But I would be curious how many people, if we pulled the residents of Melrose, would be open to purchasing a residential parking permit to have their backyard not be paved and to enjoy their backyard for their pets, their kids themselves. Um, and thinking about stormwater management and how we repurpose, you know, impervious payment. So to reiterate, I don't have strong opinions either way, but I do think we should carefully consider all the aspects, um, if the conversation was to come up for, to, um, overturn the repeal or make adjustments.

▶ 37:29 Speaker 3: Thank you. Thank you. And Councilor Chetty,

▶ 37:33 Manjula Karamcheti: Thank you so much for being here. I first need to say I love the Ride Cafe. I bought my mountain bike in 19, I bought my mountain bike in 1994 and brought it to the Ride Cafe a few months ago, and it is perfectly restored and rideable 30 years later. So definitely appreciate the work that you do there. Um, so my question is just the same question I've been asking in terms of being on the traffic commission. What do you see as some of the most important things to focus on, um, regarding, uh, Melrose and how we're doing so far?

▶ 38:08 Speaker 4: Sure. Um, happy to hear you had good service. I will let Rodell know who is our only mechanic. So he's the one that fixed your bike. Um, so my concern, so I'm a mom of two young kids. Um, so the concerns of parents, um, the highest percent of traffic in town during the morning commute is most likely bringing our kids to and from school. We don't, we don't bus, we don't necessarily have, um, the safe ways for our kids to get to and from school solo, um, by biker by foot for all schools. Um, I moved to town because I hope that my daughter can bike her and walk to school, um, when she's of age. But I know when talking to parents and talking to customers at the Rye Cafe, um, the safety component, being afraid of getting hit by a car, we know that 60% of people are interested but concern in biking for transportation, but don't because they're afraid. Um, so we have huge, we have enormous potential in Melrose four and half square miles, super dense. Um, so I think helping make parents and caregivers lives easier through transportation is, is a lens that I'll, I'll bring.

▶ 39:11 Speaker 1: Wonderful. Thank you so much.

▶ 39:15 Kimberly Vandiver: Thank you. Are there any other questions?

▶ 39:20 Kimberly Vandiver: Uh, this will also be a voice vote. All in favor? Aye. Aye.

▶ 39:25 Speaker 1: Aye. A motion.

▶ 39:27 Speaker 7: Motion. Excuse me. Excuse.

▶ 39:28 Speaker 1: I'm gonna make a motion to recommend, excuse me. Second.

▶ 39:30 Kimberly Vandiver: Thank you. Motion to recommend by Councilor Chetty, second by Councilor Hamilton. Now, now we vote, uh, all in favor? Aye. Aye. All opposed? Okay. Uh, that passes and will be brought to the next full council meeting with a recommendation for passage. Uh, the last order before us is appointment 2025 dash six, the reappointment of Jeffrey Parenti, 29 Trenton Street, Melrose, Massachusetts 0 2 1 7 6 to the traffic Commission, uh, as is, uh, usual with Reappointments. I don't believe he's here to speak with us tonight.