Rockford Sun

City of Rockford Traffic Commission met Sept. 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

I. CALL TO ORDER 

Attendee Name	Organization	Title	Status	Arrived
Gabrielle Torina	City of Rockford	Alderman	Absent
Scott Capovilla	City of Rockford		Present
Kerry Lin	City of Rockford		Present
Don Bissell	City of Rockford		Present
Dorien Peterson	City of Rockford		Present
Patrick Yarbrough	City of Rockford		Present
Michael Slife	City of Rockford		Present
Tom Okite	City of Rockford		Present
Brian Strawser	City of Rockford		Present
Christopher Tumeo	City of Rockford		Present
Cedrick Ketton	City of Rockford		Absent

Other Attendees: 

Alderman Karen Hoffman, 8th Ward

Mr. Jeremy Carter, Public Works Department

II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES 

The minutes of the last regular meeting held on August 14, 2024, were approved as submitted.

III. TRAFFIC REQUESTS 

A. New Business 

1. Request in the 8th Ward, by Alderman Karen Hoffman, to establish a “No Parking Any Time” restriction on the east side of Sexton Drive from Broadway to 75 feet south of Broadway. (This item was sent back from the Codes & Regulations Committee so that Alderman Hoffman could speak on the request. She explained the conflict created by a large panel truck being parked in this area. It creates a sight restriction of westbound vehicles turning south on Sexton Drive. The Alderman was asked if she had been in contact with the owner of the van and she replied that she had not. B. Strawser will ask the Community Service Officer to contact the van owner to discuss other parking options. Commission recommended laying the item over so that the officer can make this contact. Motion by

B. Strawser, seconded by P. Yarbrough, Voted 8-0).

2. Request in the 6th Ward, by Rockford Fire Department, to establish “No Parking Any Time” restriction on the south side of Sawyer Road from 385 feet west of 20th Street to 370 feet west of 20th Street. (C. Tumeo presented the request and explained that the station has new equipment that requires a larger turning radius. Vehicles parked in this area make access to and from the station very difficult, delaying response times. Commission recommended establishing “No Parking Any Time” restriction on the south side of Sawyer Road from 385 feet west of 20th Street to 370 feet west of 20th Street. Motion by S. Capovilla, seconded by B. Strawser, Voted 8-0).

3. Request in the 11th Ward, by PCI Pharma Services, to establish “No Parking Any Time” restriction on the north side of 18th Avenue from 8th Street to 200 feet west of 8th Street, thus repealing the existing “2-Hour Parking” restriction on the north side of 18th Avenue from 8th Street to 200 feet west of 8th Street. (K. Lin commented that the parking lot adjacent to the request is PCI visitor parking. Guests use the carriage walk to cross the street directly to the front door. Having cars parked there can create a safety issue for pedestrians. Commission recommended establishing “No Parking Any Time” restriction on the north side of 18th Avenue from 8th Street to 200 feet west of 8th Street, thus repealing the existing “2-Hour Parking” restriction on the north side of 18th Avenue from 8th Street to 200 feet west of 8th Street. Motion by D. Bissell, seconded by K. Lin, Voted 8-0).

4. Request in the 13th Ward, by the Winnebago Administration Building, to establish Handicap Parking on the south side of Elm Street from 95 feet west of Church Street to 115 feet west of Church Street, thus repealing the existing “30 Minute Parking” restriction on the south side of Elm Street from 95 feet west of Church Street to 115 feet west of Church Street. (J. Carter presented the request and explained that on August 14th, 2024, he received a call from Dorothy Reddic expressing concern about the lack of accessible parking in front of the Winnebago County Administration Building. This is the first Traffic Commission meeting following this phone call and he ensured that it was on the agenda. This request is supported by City staff and administration; Aldermen Tuneberg, Prunty, and Bailey; and Winnebago County Administration. There is no time limit on handicapped parking and the request is for only one stall. Commission recommended establishing Handicap Parking on the south side of Elm Street from 95 feet west of Church Street to 115 feet west of Church Street, thus repealing the existing “30 Minute Parking” restriction on the south side of Elm Street from 95 feet west of Church Street to 115 feet west of Church Street. Motion by P. Yarbrough, seconded by B. Strawser, Voted 8-0).

5. Request in the 3rd Ward, by City Staff, to establish “2 Hour Parking” on the south side of Mulberry Street from Wyman Street, west to the River. (K. Lin commented that after the item was placed on the agenda, it was determined that an ordinance already exists for this restriction. No motion or vote was needed for this removed item.

6. Request in the 11th Ward, by Maria Raedeke, to establish all-way stop control at the intersection of 6th Avenue and 8th Street, thus repealing the existing traffic control of 8th Street stopping for 6th Avenue. (K. Lin commented that the request was based on speeding and that stop control is not recommended as a speed control device. She pointed out that there were no accidents and that traffic volumes do not meet warrants for all way stop control. Commission recommended taking “No Action.” Motion by T. Okite, seconded by C. Tumeo, Voted 8-0).

7. Request in the 10th Ward, by Ronald Alexander, 117 Alder Avenue, to establish all-way stop control at the intersection of Alder Avenue and Raven Street, thus repealing the existing traffic control of Raven Street stopping for Alder Avenue. (K. Lin commented all way stop control was previously approved at the Raven Street intersections with Ridgeview Avenue (in 2000) and Dawn Avenue (in 1989). The Ridgeview intersection noted a sight restriction issue and the Dawn intersection was granted to help alleviate cut-through traffic following the installation of the signal at Dawn Avenue and E. State Street. These issues do not apply at the Alder Avenue and Raven Street intersection. There has been one accident but traffic volumes are too low to meet all-way stop warrants. Commission recommended taking “No Action.” Motion by K. Lin, seconded by T. Okite, Voted 8-0).

8. Request in the 14th Ward, by Angela Mitchell, to establish one-way stop control at the intersection of Columbia Parkway and Wendy Lane. (K. Lin commented that as a T-intersection, it is an understood yield condition, however no sign exists. There have been no accidents and traffic volumes are low. However, additional development may take place that may increase traffic on Columbia Parkway. She expressed that at least a yield should be considered. Because the intersection is a T-intersection, no motion is needed for yield control. Commission recommended taking “No Action”, but did support the installation of the yield sign on Wendy Lane. Motion by C. Tumeo, seconded by M. Slife, Voted 8-0).

9. Request in the 5th Ward, by Alderman Gabrielle Torina, for additional street lighting at 813 Corbin Street. (K. Lin explained that Public Works and RPD evaluated the request and it did not meet their criteria. For requests that do not meet those criteria, traffic commission evaluates the request. K. Lin pointed out that a light was removed from this location as part of the Streetlight Reduction Program in 2011. She also noted that there are midblock lights on the adjacent alleys. Commission recommended taking “No Action.” Motion by P. Yarbrough, seconded by C. Tumeo, Voted 7-1).

B. Other Business 

1. D. Bissell offered the suggestion of moving the meeting time to 5:30 PM at the last meeting. No decision was made at last month’s or this month’s meeting as members were absent at both meetings. K. Lin will send an email requesting each member’s vote. If a change is made, it will go into effect beginning in January 2025.

IV. ADJOURNMENT 

The meeting was closed at 6:49 PM

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