Public Works Committee — 2024-09-23

Public Works Rescheduled Meeting

This meeting starts at 16:16 in a recording that covers several meetings.

Agenda

Transcript

▶ 15:59 Kimberly Vandiver: Motion to adjourn made by Vice Chair Stewart. Seconded by council, uh, Hamilton on discussion. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? We are adjourned. Good Evening. It is 7 31 Monday, September 23rd. And this is a meeting of the Public Works Committee. I'm Councilor Vandiver, the chair. Joining me are Vice Chair Hamilton and voting members, counselors, Kara Chetty, Garey Reky. Uh, and we are also joined by non-voting members. Councillor Stewart. Uh, councilor Romanul, counselor Williams. Uh, and that's everyone. Uh, this provides notice of the quorum for the record in accordance with the Open Meeting law. This meeting is being recorded and broadcast on our local cable access channel MTV. It'll be available for future viewing through the City

▶ 16:55 Kimberly Vandiver: of Melrose's website@cityofmelrose.org. The public comment portion of the meeting is where any member of the public may speak to items on the agenda at this time, if there are no objections with unanimous consent, I will open the public comment portion of our meeting. Seeing no objections, we are now in public comment. Is there anyone here to speak regarding the items on our agenda tonight? Seeing no one in person? Uh, are there any participants online? No, there are not. Uh, if there are no objections with unanimous consent, I will now close the public comment portion of our meeting. Public comment is now closed, uh, because we have members of the administration and some nominees here tonight to speak, uh,

▶ 17:43 Kimberly Vandiver: on the items before us. I motion by unanimous consent to suspend Rule 37 B before we proceed. Seeing no objection, rule 37 B is now suspended tonight. We have four orders before us. The first, uh, order before us is, uh, we have three new appointments and one reappointment. Um, with Mayor, would you prefer to handle all the appointments and speak about them together, or one or sequentially? Um, I think we can do them sequentially so that you can vote on each one. But if, if I may, before we start, I could just give a little framing since this body hasn't talked about the traffic Commission in some time, if that's okay. Okay. Wonderful. Um, so before you tonight are three new appointments to the Traffic Commission and one reappointment.

▶ 18:32 Jen Grigoraitis: Um, it is a board that consists of five public members and then several city staff who are voting members as well. Um, the traffic commission was created by an act of the legislature in 1998. Um, so it is governed by both state statute and the city charter. And the way that it is structured is that we are supposed to have five resident members, and two of those members are also supposed to be members of our business community. Um, the appointments are for five year terms. When I took office, we had members of the commission who had not been reappointed since 2018. Um, so that had denied this body an opportunity to hear from those appointees. So you might've all noticed we're trying to kind of move our way through board and commission by board

▶ 19:13 Jen Grigoraitis: and commission to get folks current and appointed. Um, I'm very grateful to the two folks who had served and decided to step down, um, for their service. And then we had one member who moved out of the community. So, um, of the three new members who are here before you tonight, one is also a member of the business community so that we can also be current with that requirement of the statute. Wonderful. So, um, then I will introduce the, the first order before us is appointment 2025 dash three. Um, to discuss the appointment of Jonah Za five 15 Lebanon Street, apartment two, Melrose, mass, uh, 0 2 1 7 6 to the Traffic Commission. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I'm pleased to be joined tonight by Jonah Za

▶ 19:54 Jen Grigoraitis: to serve on the Traffic Commission. I believe you all have Jonah's resume in your packet. He brings extensive planning experience about the municipal, state, and federal level. He currently works for the US Department of Transportation. He's been an active community member on equity and access issues as it relates to the use of our roads. Um, and also is raising his family here in Melrose. I think he'll bring an incredible depth and breadth of experience to the commission, and I look forward to having him appointed. Um, are there any questions from the counselors? Uh, councilor Hamilton? Thank you Madam Chair. And thank you Mr. Chair Enzo for being here with us this evening. And thank you for, uh, serving on the TRA Traffic Commission

▶ 20:43 Ward Hamilton: and the important work that takes place there. Uh, on September 5th, I sent an email to the mayor and the chief of staff, um, indicating that I had a question for each of our new appointees to the traffic commission. And you were kind enough to, uh, respond and I really appreciate that. But for the benefit of your council, um, and, and others here in attendance, I just want to reread that and it'll be the same question that I asked the other two appointees. The issue of overnight parking has been a hotly debated topic in the city of Melrose in recent years, in October of 2019. Then City Solicitor Robert Van Camp, and opined that the Traffic Commission has exclusive authority to amend or repeal the parking van.

▶ 21:32 Ward Hamilton: As the city continues to encourage new development to meet housing needs in our region, parking space requirements are often reduced and have been eliminated in some instances. While the intent is to reduce congestion and sprawl and to make housing development more affordable, it could have the unintended effect of bringing new residents into the community with no place to park second, or even first cars upholding the overnight parking ban will be essential to ensuring that the increase in housing opportunities and the resultant increase in population density does not simultaneously create additional congestion by adding motor vehicles to the community. During your term on the Traffic commission,

▶ 22:14 you may be tasked with the prospect of amending or repealing the so-called Overnight Parking Ban. Please be prepared to discuss your position on the subject. Yeah, thank you for the question. I'll give you the same answer I did in email, which is that, um, on basis, um, I am in favor of maintaining the overnight parking ban as it states, uh, or as it exists today. Um, however, I think as a member of the Traffic Commission, I would approach each decision with thought and consideration for the specific circumstances. Um, while I'm not in favor of a total ban or removal of the ban, um, if there were suggestions for amending that, um, and I know there are some, sometimes exceptions to the overnight parking ban granted to certain, um,

▶ 23:00 residents who may need to park a vehicle on the street overnight. Um, I'd be open-minded and, and consider those on the merits. Um, but in, in general, I think that the overnight parking ban is, um, something that contributes to our quality of life. And I think it's part of the tools that we have at our disposal, as you noted in your comment or in your question, to encourage the people that move choose to move to Melrose, to have the option to move here, um, on their own choice to not have one or more vehicles, um, and not expect that they can just park them on the public rights of way in, in any location. Um, but that we do have a, a mechanism, um, to approve overnight parking as needed. Thank you. And, uh, the only other comment I have is

▶ 23:49 Ward Hamilton: as it relates to, uh, speeding issues in the various, so-called cut throughs in Melrose, in the, I guess, uh, eight months that I've served on the city council, I've been, I've spent more time on meeting with constituents that have cut through speeding concerns. And they're all, they all appear to be sort of an isolated islands where they don't know each other exists, but they all sort of have the same problems. Um, so I would ask that as you embark on your work with the commission, if you would be open to those, the current, the concerns of those citizens who live in those cut through areas and maybe coming up with creative ideas and solutions to those problems. Yeah. I happen to know you live on the corner of, um,

▶ 24:29 two cut through areas, right? And I live down the street, so, um, I think they're, they're all over the place. And Yep. Cut through is a, it's probably a loaded term in some context because sometimes it's just our neighbors cutting through on the way that makes the most sense for them to travel. And other times it's Google telling people, oh, you're gonna beat the light by 15 seconds, so take this route. Right. And I think, um, making sure that we prioritize safety is gonna be my number one priority, um, for all road users, particularly our kids and seniors and other what we call vulnerable road users, uh, in the business. Um, but frankly, people driving and making sure they have ample sight lines

▶ 25:07 Manjula Karamcheti: and can react, um, in, in due course to avoid crashes. Um, of course people on bikes, people accessing transit. Thank you. Thank you. Yep. Happy to answer any other questions? Uh, councilor Karen Chetty, Thank you so much for being here and being interested in the traffic commission. I will say that I feel like you actually gave a couple of the answers that I was wanting to ask you about. So I'll just ask you more generally, um, just what do you see as sort of some of the biggest issues Melrose faces that you hope to learn about and think about and perhaps advocate for on the traffic commission? I mean, I think when we talk about Melrose, it's, it's, every other phrase statement about Myers is like such a

▶ 25:57 wonderful walkable community. And I think that's very true. We have a pretty incredible sidewalk network. We have a lot of things to walk to and from. So there's a lot of reason to walk where a, a small community. And so geographically it's easy to be able to walk places. Um, and I think identifying where the gaps are in that network where people don't feel safe or where, um, parents don't feel safe letting their kids go out and walk to school or walk to soccer practice. Um, some of the trips that frankly like contribute to congestion, these short, like sub one mile trips, which I myself am guilty of doing on occasion, uh, with my kids, finding ways to make those weakest link points in the tra in the transportation

▶ 26:36 Manjula Karamcheti: network for people walking, um, stronger so that people feel confident and comfortable that they can do so safely is, is gonna Be something I'll be looking out for. Thank you. I so appreciate you saying that. I think the most, uh, emails I get are people trying to cross streets in Ward one and the speeding and the lack of attention to folks trying to cross the street is sort of what I get the most. So I'm happy to hear you speak about that. Thank you. Are there any other questions? Councilor Repe? I Was gonna make a motion to recommend to the full council Second. Okay. We have a motion, uh, made by Councilor Repe and a second by Councilor Rum Chetty to recommend, uh, I believe this is a roll call vote.

▶ 27:18 Kimberly Vandiver: This is, uh, yes or no vote. Okay. Uh, uh, we'll have a voice vote. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. This order will be brought to the next full council meeting with a recommendation for passage. Thank you. Thank, thank you. Uh, the next, uh, item on our agenda is appointment 2025 dash four, the appointment of Andrew Paul, 83 Damon Avenue, Melrose, Massachusetts 0 2 1 7 6 to the Traffic Commission. Welcome, and, uh, please. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so Andy Paul is another resident who had reached out to my office, um, like Jonah seeking appointment to the traffic commission should and a seat become available, which there is. Um, he brings extensive experience as a highway engineer.

▶ 28:12 Jen Grigoraitis: He currently works for MAs Dot, so we now have federal and state, um, experience coming our way. He's a resident of the community raising his three children here. We actually, in full disclosure, met when our, um, boys were in preschool together, um, at the ECC. Um, and I think brings, again, a real depth and breadth of experience, both professional and lived experience, and thinking about how do we holistically and safely use all of our public ways to get people to and from where they need to be. Wonderful. And would you like to, um, say anything to begin before we have questions? Um, so serving as a civil engineer in Massachusetts, I'm a registered professional engineer, uh, started working at the Massachusetts Department

▶ 28:51 Ward Hamilton: of Transportation in 2003. Um, and I think for me, what's most exciting about this opportunity is I've been working across the state and communities all over Massachusetts. Uh, and getting to work close to home with folks in my community is really, uh, an honor. Thank you. Uh, any questions from the committee? Uh, vice Chair Hamilton, thank you. And thank you for volunteering to serve and for bringing all of your experience to our traffic commission. We appreciate that. Um, I'm sure you just heard me ask Mr. Za question, so Yep. Talk to the chase. If you could share your thoughts on parking in Melrose and congestion and, uh, if a measure was brought before the commission to amend or change overnight parking, what, what

▶ 29:40 Your thoughts are on that? Sure. Um, I think from my experience working at the state is there's never a a one size fits all solution. And I think an overnight parking van across the city maybe could be looked at at a different, like I'd say a neighborhood level, uh, with you folks engaged with the community on what works for certain blocks or certain streets or certain neighborhoods. Um, I think one of the impacts when you do, and we've seen this in other communities, both in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the country, uh, is when you do have an overnight parking ban, often people then park on the sidewalk. And you can have, I've, I've worked at the statewide level on accessibility issues and, um, so how do you balance the needs

▶ 30:23 Manjula Karamcheti: of people walking on the sidewalk or pushing a stroller on the sidewalk with people who don't want to get a parking ticket for overnight parking on their street. Um, so I think from a perspective of, uh, keeping the status quo, I think is always easier, but I think there's always opportunities to look at doing things differently, exploring them, and I'm open-minded about different solutions for different places in Melrose. Thank you. Additional questions, councilor Karen Chetty? Yeah, I just, it's similarly have the same question. Oh, yes. I've been reprimanded for my mic use before. Um, similar question, just curious, in terms of being on the traffic commission, what do you see as some of melrose's biggest issues to address?

▶ 31:09 Like what do you really value, what matters to you in doing this type of work? Sure. Um, I think as a, a parent of school aged children and just having lived here, um, since even before I had kids, uh, one of the biggest barriers in getting around with a family is oftentimes only a handful of streets. As Jonah mentioned, most of Melrose has a very good network of sidewalks, lower speed, lower volume roads, and it's oftentimes within Melrose and many communities where there's a handful of streets within the community that are a barrier, say, between neighborhoods or getting to your school or a grocery store. Um, so I think some of those higher volume, higher speed roadways are where some of the most challenging, uh, examples exist with

▶ 31:57 Kimberly Vandiver: how do you balance the needs of, say, the region or even the community. Uh, people are driving in Melrose and that will continue to happen, but there's also people who maybe wanna have other ways to get around. Great. Thank you so much. I look forward to chatting with you about Franklin Street. Thank you. Are there any other questions? Uh, I'll just take one moment to say, I, I appreciate you, uh, benching parking on the sidewalk because I actually did encounter, I was out for a walk a month ago and almost walked face first into a car that was actually fully on the sidewalk, you know, not, not perpendicular on the sidewalk parallel. So Yep. I was shocked that that, uh, had happened. Um, okay. So, uh, do we have, what is the will

▶ 32:44 Kimberly Vandiver: of the committee motion to recommend Second. Okay. Uh, we have a motion to recommend by Councilor Karen Retty and a second by counselor by Vice Chair Hamilton. Uh, roll call vote. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. All opposed? Okay. That motion carries and, um, will be brought to the next Bill Council meeting with a recommendation for a passage. Thank you very much. Uh, uh, 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. 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

▶ 33:34 Jen Grigoraitis: 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. Thank you. And, uh, Ms. Oberg, would you like to say anything

▶ 34:09 before questions? Sure. 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. Wonderful questions from the committee. Councilor, uh, vice Chair Hamilton. Thank you.

▶ 34:48 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

▶ 35:41 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. 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,

▶ 36:23 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

▶ 37:02 Manjula Karamcheti: 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. Thank you. Thank you. And Councilor Chetty, 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.

▶ 37:52 Manjula Karamcheti: 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? 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

▶ 38:35 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. Wonderful. Thank you so much. Thank you. Are there any other questions?

▶ 39:19 Kimberly Vandiver: Uh, this will also be a voice vote. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. A motion. Motion. Excuse me. Excuse. I'm gonna make a motion to recommend, excuse me. Second. 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. Uh, do, uh, I'll make a motion to recommend. I'll second.

▶ 40:11 Kimberly Vandiver: Okay. We have a motion to recommend by, uh, Councillor Garrett Pei. And, uh, a second by Councillor Chetty. Uh, all in favor? Aye. Aye. All opposed? And so that also passes and will be brought to the next Bill Council meeting with a recommendation for a passage. At this time, we have concluded our business, the chair will entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second, uh, motion to adjourn by Vice Chair Hamilton. Second by councilor Karen Chetty. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? We are now adjourned. Good evening. The time is 8:00 PM on Monday, September 23rd, 2024. This is a meeting of the Appropriations and Oversight Committee. I am Maya Jamal, Dean, pronounced G and her the Chair.

Public Works Committee — 2024-09-23

Agenda

Transcript

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