CITY OF WORCESTER | Traffic and Parking Committee Meeting | Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber | Convened: 4:01 P.M. | Adjourned: 5:25 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Donna M Colorio | | Vice Chairperson Sean M Rose | | Councilor Morris A Bergman |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Donna M Colorio
Vice Chairperson Councilor Sean M Rose, who arrived at 4:10 P.M.
Councilor Morris A Bergman | | | | | Also: | Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson
Director of Engineering Mark Elbag
Chief of Staff Jacob Sanders
Assistant Chief Development Officer Stephen Rolle
Parking Director Mark Kostovski
Deputy City Clerk Stephen A.J. Pottle, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 1a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Traffic and Parking hereby approves the minutes of the Traffic and Parking Committee meeting of April 7, 2021. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and moved for a roll vote to adopt the item.
Order adopted on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Rose absent) | |
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| | | 2a. | In order to ensure the continuation of active public engagement, the City of Worcester will now use a phone conference line for members of the public to participate in all public meetings. To participate during the public participation phase of City Council, you may call the direct line indicated: Levi Lincoln Chamber - 415-655-000 (Access Code: 160 753 1034) or enter the below URL into your web browser. If you would like to raise your hand when in the meeting as a call-in user during public participation you may dial *3.
https://cow.webex.com/cow/onstage/g.php?MTID=e488907f453366cb35ff48e3e73908b0f | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the following speakers:
1. Marco Guinette, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #5a
2. Jennifer Keizer, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #5a
3. Nancy Burns, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #5a
4. Nathan Sabo, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #5a
5. Steven Taylor, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #5a
6. Till Cremer, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to item #5a
7. Barbara Esip, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #4a
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| | | 3a. | Councilor Donna M. Colorio on behalf of Suzanne Kerbs request installation of a stop sign on Lenox St. as it approaches Beeching St.
# 9i CC April 6, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and recognized the Director of Engineering, who provided recommendation to approve the item.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved for a roll call vote to accept the recommendation.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 3b. | Carl Foley and Catherine Lewis request installation of a stop sign for westbound traffic on Clover St. at James St.
# 9l CC April 6, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and recognized the Director of Engineering, who provided a recommendation to hold the item, as the portion of Clover St. where the stop sign is requested to be installed is in the process of being made a public street.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved for a roll call vote to accept the recommendation.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 3c. | Carl Foley and Catherine Lewis request installation of a stop sign for eastbound traffic on Clover St. at South Ludlow St.
# 9m CC April 6, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and recognized the Director of Engineering, who provided a recommendation to hold the item, as the portion of Clover St. where the stop sign is requested to be installed is in the process of being made a public street.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved for a roll call vote to accept the recommendation.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 3d. | Carl Foley and Catherine Lewis request installation of a stop sign for westbound traffic on Clover St. at South Ludlow St.
# 9n CC April 6, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and recognized the Director of Engineering, who provided recommendation to approve the item.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed whether any opposition to the item has been brought forward with the Deputy City Clerk.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved for a roll call vote to accept the recommendation.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 4. | No Parking Anytime Petition | |
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| | | 4a. | Councilor Donna M. Colorio request “No Parking Anytime” signage on the south side of Nonquit St. opposite of 277 Lake Ave. be removed, reducing the “No Parking Anytime” area to opposite of 2A Nonquit St. to the end of the street including the dead end only.
# 9k CC April 6, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and spoke concerning the placement of No Parking Anytime signage.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Director of Engineering, who discussed the ordinance language amendment with the Deputy City Clerk and Councilor Mero-Carlson.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved to amend the item to install three (3) No Parking Anytime signs from the west side of the Park entrance to the dead end.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Rose and Councilor Bergman, who both spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved as amended.
Recommend Approval as amended on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 5. | Communication of the City Manager | |
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| | | 5a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a comprehensive plan to improve the City's parking management system citywide.
# 9.7A CM April 27, 2021 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Colorio read the item and discussed the City Council’s jurisdiction over the city’s parking management system citywide, including increasing parking meters and overtime fines with the Director of Engineering and Parking Director.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Bergman and Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed timing associated with implementing fines associated with parking meters with the Director of Engineering and Chief of Staff.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Rose, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager consider extending the trial period for parking meter overtime fee warnings in the Canal District for thirty days after the ballpark reaches one-hundred percent capacity, during all times, to better educate the public on the process for using said parking meters.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio discussed the flat rate pricing for select, non-retail/non-residential metered streets located close to the ballpark and offer monthly employee/residential permits with the Director of Engineering and Parking Director.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson discussed the pricing approved for employees and residents by the Off-Street Parking Board with the Parking Director and Director of Engineering.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed when the next Off-Street Parking Board would take place with the Director of Engineering.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the following speakers:
1. Nancy Burns, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the costs associated with a parking garage pass and in favor of a contingency plan for allowing residents to have guests
2. Nathan Sabo, Worcester resident, spoke in opposition to the Union Station garage plan not being previously approved
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Director of Engineering, who discussed the purpose of amending zoning ordinances to set a two hours parking time limit on Sundays to prevent parking for the neighborhood businesses and residents being taken up by the Polar Park visitors.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized Councilor Bergman discussed inconsistencies within the parking plan and difficulty associated with understanding the plan.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who discussed the appropriate motions relative to the item with Councilor Bergman, Councilor Rose, Councilor Mero-Carlson and the Director of Engineering.
Chairperson Councilor Colorio moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager consider extending the trial period for parking meter overtime fee warnings in the Canal District for thirty days after the ballpark reaches one-hundred percent capacity, during all times, to better educate the public on the process for using said parking meters. | |
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