Parking ban falls short (3/16/04)

Pleasant Street residents who oppose an ordinance to prohibit parking on the west side of that street can breathe a sigh of relief at least for now.

The first of two readings of an ordinance to ban parking on Pleasant Street was one vote short of being approved Monday by the Portland City Council. Four votes approving the ordinance were needed from the seven-person council, city attorney Bill Hinkle said.

Councilman Glen Bryant was absent, and Councilman Kip Robinette left to return to work minutes before the vote Monday — halting the vote at 3-2.

Council members Linda Kennedy, John Patterson and Judy Aker voted to approve the ordinance, while Councilmen Dolphus Stephens and Bill Gibson voted in opposition.

Following Monday’s meeting, Gibson said, “The people living on (Pleasant Street) need a place to park.” He also previously noted that speeding would become more of a problem once the street was free of parked cars.

Several Pleasant Street residents opposed to the parking ban voiced their concerns at Monday’s meeting causing Stephens to question his position on the issue.

“Because of the turnout tonight, I’m not sure (approving the ordinance is) the right thing to do,” Stephens said following the meeting.

“We’re trying to do the right thing ... I’m not sure what the right thing to do is,” Stephens said before council members voted on the ordinance.

Todd Wickey, who lives at 416 N. Pleasant St., presented the council with a petition signed by city residents — including some that live on Pleasant Street and other parts of the city.

Wickey requested the council reconsider passing the ordinance “at least from North Street south. I fear that (the street) will be a raceway for vehicles.”

Charles Buck, a resident of 322 N. Pleasant St., requested that the council “find out more about the problem” before approving the ordinance.

Also, Sue Antrim, owner of Oasis Beauty Tanning and Toning at 304 W. Votaw St., told council members that she has seen accidents occur at the intersection of Votaw and Pleasant streets. “It’s not safe. I do feel for the (residents of Pleasant Street), but I think the safety of our public should come first.”

The idea of banning parking on the street was examined by council members after Portland Fire Chief Mike Thomas told the council at its Feb. 2 meeting that the fire department faces problems with the street being narrow, making it difficult for firefighters to maneuver the blind turn onto Pleasant Street from Votaw Street. Also at that meeting, Portland Street and Parks Department Superintendent Jeff Harker also said his employees face similar problems.

The ordinance is expected to be considered again at the council’s Monday, April 5 meeting, when all council members will be present, Mayor Bruce Hosier said.

Also Monday, Greg Smith of Bonar Group, Fort Wayne, informed the council of the firm’s current timeline and plans for the Boundary Pike/Wayne Street drainage project.

Plans for the project, Smith said, include a total street rehabilitation, improving the infrastructure of those areas and adding new street lighting.

Smith told council members that the sidewalks will be placed on the west side of Boundary Pike and Wayne Street, while street lights are planned for the east sides of those streets.

“The biggest change will be at the intersection of Seventh and Wayne streets,” Smith said, adding that the intersection currently has a “dog leg.” The renovations will give that intersection a smoother radius. “(The intersection) will be back to a true four-way stop.”

Smith said he anticipates approval of project designs in July, final project approval in December and construction beginning in June of 2005. He estimated that the project will be complete in March of 2007, depending on the weather and the contractor’s availability.

This project also will eliminate two of the city’s 17 combined sewer overflows and provide better drainage for those areas affected.

In other business, Portland Police Chief Robert Sours recommended that the city have an engineering study completed to determine if the current 30 mph speed limits on Industrial Park Drive, Morton Street and county road 100 North are adequate.

He added that 61 speeding citations were issued to drivers speeding on Industrial Park Drive in 2003, and eight speeding citations were issued to drivers on Morton Street that year.

“We need an engineering study to determine traffic counts, look at the speed of the vehicles (traveling on those streets) and the size of the vehicles,” Sours said. He added he will supervise the study, which he estimates should be complete in approximately four weeks.

Also Monday, council members:

•Approved an ordinance to establish a rainy day fund to receive transfers of $55,587 of unencumbered funds that the city received from the state auditor for overpayment of income taxes.

A letter from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance required that the city put this balance in a rainy day fund.

The funds will be used for “any purpose in which tax money is currently received and expended” by the council, according to the ordinance.

•Approved a request by James Rickner of the Portland Bowling Association to draft a letter from the city supporting the association’s bid to hold the 2007 Indiana State Senior Bowling Tournament in Portland.

Rickner said the tournament, which has been held in Portland twice before, is scheduled for two to three weeks in April of 2007 and could bring approximately 800 people to the city.

He added the letter of support must be submitted to tournament officials by Aug. 1, 2004.

•Heard Hosier remind city residents that they have until April to clean up their properties and remove abandoned vehicles before increased enforcement of the city’s ordinances and assessing of fines begin.

“It’s halfway through the month,” Hosier said Monday, adding that the city’s spring clean-up week is scheduled for March 29 to April 2.[[In-content Ad]]