[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[2. MINUTES]
[00:00:12]
>> SPEAKER: WE WILL OPEN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THEIR MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 7 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS AND
IF NOT A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> SPEAKER: MOVE.
[3. AJHS PARKING ON TERRACE ACRES DRIVE.]
>> SPEAKER: (VOICE VOTE) AUBURN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PARKING.
>> SPEAKER: WE HAD HAD SOME CONCERNS FROM SOME CITIZENS THAT LIVE IN THE TERRACE ACRES NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT ON STREET PARKING RELATIVE TO PICK UP TIMES FROM AUBURN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAD DISCUSSED THAT WE WOULD TAKE 30 DAYS TO EVALUATE ITS WITH OUR POLICE DIVISION ENGINEERING DIVISION, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIALIST.
HE IS ALSO FILLING IN AS THE. ALLISON BLANKENSHIP IS BEEN OUT.
I WOULD LIKE FOR CHIEF ANDERSON TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE HAVE OBSERVED AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO MOVING FORWARD FOR THE TIME BEING. CHIEF ANDERSON?
>> SPEAKER: WHAT WE'VE DONE SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL THIS YEAR IS WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE EYES ON THAT SITUATION OVER AT TERRACE ACRES. WE HAVE HAD SUPERVISORS, WE HAVE HAD A SROS, PEOPLE FROM THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, EVEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMAND STAFF GOING TO MONITOR AND SEE WHAT IT WAS THAT WAS CREATING THE ISSUES. THERE IS ONE NO PARKING SIGN ON TERRACE ACRES AT THIS TIME AND SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IS WE HAVE ACTUALLY POSITIONED PERSONNEL FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THAT STREET TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR. AS LONG AS WE ARE THERE AND ARE MONITORING, THERE IS NO ISSUES. BUT THE MINUTE THAT UNIT LEAVES, THE PARENTS WILL ROLL THROUGH, PICK UP STUDENT AND DRIVE OFF.
THE ISSUE IS ONLY OCCURRING IN THE AFTERNOON HOURS.
THE PARENTS USUALLY SHOW UP ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE SCHOOL LETS OUT. THE SCHOOL LETS OUT AT 3:30, SO STARTING AROUND 3 O'CLOCK THE PARENTS WILL START SHOWING UP.
WHAT THEY NOW DO INSTEAD OF PARKING ON TERRACE ACRES IS THEY CIRCLE THE BLOCK UNTIL THEIR STUDENT TO TERRACE ACRES.
THEY QUICKLY JUMP IN THE CAR AND DRIVE OFF.
DOESN'T GIVE THE OFFICER THAT IS POSITIONED THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTACT THEM OR DO ANYTHING ELSE.
SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS TALKING TO THE SCHOOL AND MAKING SOME SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW THEY CAN GET MOST OF THAT VEHICLE TRAFFIC THAT IS BACKING UP ON DEAN ROAD THAT IS CAUSING A LOT OF THE PARENTS TO HAVE TO FIND ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO PICK UP THEIR KIDS. WE ARE TRYING TO GET IT DOES GET THEM TO USE THAT SPACE THEY HAVE THE JUNIOR HIGH RIGHT NOW, THE WHOLE HIGH SCHOOL HAS GOT TO SKI VERY LARGE PARKING LOT, ONE OF THEM ON THE SOUTH END AND THE OTHERS ON THE NORTH END.
WE HAVE MADE THE SUGGESTION TO USE THAT AVAILABLE SPACE TO GET SOME OF THOSE CARS OFF THE ROADWAY WE ARE HOPING THAT ELIMINATING SOME OF THOSE CARS ON THE ROADWAY WILL TAKE AWAY THAT NEED FOR PEOPLE TO PARK OVER ON TERRACE ACRES OR STOP.
WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN THE PARKING IS BEING AN ISSUE AS MUCH NOW AS WE ARE SEEING JUST THE PEOPLE SLOW ROLLING THROUGH AND WANTED TO PICK UP THEIR STUDENTS.
AS THEY CONTINUE TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE DIFFERENT SUGGESTIONS THAT WE ARE THROWING AT THEM, WE ARE SEEING THE PROBLEM EASE UP A LITTLE BIT. IT HAS GOTTEN BETTER.
IT IS NOT COMPLETELY RESOLVED. WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS SINCE DAY ONE AS OPPOSED TO THE LAST FEW DAYS.
>> SPEAKER: ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY ON THE COUNCIL FOR THE
CHIEF? >> SPEAKER: HAVE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS SINCE THIS HAS GONE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE FROM THE
NEIGHBORS? >> SPEAKER: THE COMPLAINTS HAVE DWINDLED. WE MET WITH A NUMBER OF THE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OFF OF TERRACE ACRES PRIOR TO THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTING WORK THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THAT MEETING WAS GIVE US AT LEAST THE FIRST 30 DAYS, THE FIRST MONTH OF SCHOOL TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AND SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. WHAT WE DID WAS THROUGH THE MONITORING AND QUESTIONING WHAT WAS GOING ON WE DECIDED THAT THE PARENTS ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
THE CITY ORDINANCE SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T PARK THERE FROM 730 IN THE MORNING UNTIL I THINK 10 O'CLOCK AM.
THAT WINDOW OF TIME IS NOT THE ISSUE.
THE ISSUE IS THE AFTERNOON TRAFFIC WHEN THEY ARE COMING THROUGH FOR PICKUP. WE HAVE ACTUALLY POSITIONED SOME OF OUR PERSONNEL THERE IN THE EVENING TIMES SO WHEN THAT PEAK
[00:05:06]
TIME COMES AT 3 O'CLOCK, WE ARE THERE.WE HAVE A MARKED THERE -- MARKED UNIT THERE WITH THEIR LIGHTS ON.
SINCE WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT, NO COMPLAINTS.
>> SPEAKER: WE HAVE AT CITY HALL A FEW OF THE SAME RESIDENCE THAT REACHED OUT. WE HAVE MET WITH THEM A FEW TIMES. ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OUT THERE EVERY DAY ALSO TRYING TO CAPTURE WHAT IS GOING ON TO HELP BUT WE ALSO THEN CREATE MORE TRAFFIC BY DOING SO. WE ARE ALSO CHALLENGED BY THE FACT THAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS TWO OTHER ACCESS POINTS TO EACH UNIVERSITY DRIVE, ONE VIA GREENSTREET AND ONE VIA TERRACE ACRES AND ACCESS TO SAMFORD AVE. VIA GREENSTREET.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO GET THROUGH THE AREA.
WHAT WE ARE CHALLENGED BY IS NO PARKING SIGNS, AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE CHIEF, THERE IS ONE ROAD SIGN THAT SITS THERE PICK PEOPLE LARGELY ARE IGNORING IT BUT PUTTING UP NOTES PARKING SIGNS WOULD ALL SHOW BAG ON THE POLICE DIVISION BEING OUT THERE.
WE HAVE SOME PERSONNEL RIGHT NOW THAT ARE WAITING TO ENTER THE ACADEMY AND THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME IN THE AFTERNOONS.
TO BE OUT THERE. AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS WE WON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY TO DO THIS. WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU WITH
FURTHER REPORTS AT THAT TIME. >> SPEAKER: SO ORIGINALLY, CHIEF ANDERSON, THE PROBLEM WAS PARENTS WERE PARKING IN THE KIDS WERE CROSSING THE STREET AND IT WAS UNSAFE.
HE WAS CREATING SOME DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
YOU ARE NOT SEEING THAT AT ALL. THE PARENTS ARE MORE CIRCLING THE BLOCK AND WHEN THEY SEE THEIR CHILD THEY COME AS YOU SAID A SLOW ROLL AND STOP AND PICK THE CHILD UP?
IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SEEING? >> SPEAKER: YES, SIR THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON. LIKE I SAID, THE PARKING NOW IS NOT THE ISSUE IS JUST THE PARENTS THAT ARE STOPPING LONG ENOUGH TO PICK UP A CHILD OR A WRITER AND DRIVING OFF, WHICH THEY ARE NOT DOING THAT SO MUCH IN THE AREA WHERE THERE IS A NO PARKING LIMITATION THEY'RE JUST DOING IT ANYWHERE ALONG THAT STRETCH OF TERRACE ACRES THAT THEY CAN SLOW DOWN LONG ENOUGH
TO PICK UP THEIR STUDENT. >> SPEAKER: CHIEF, THEY ARE DOING THAT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS SOMETIMES.
>> SPEAKER: YES. >> SPEAKER: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
FOR THE COUNCIL? >> SPEAKER: HAVE A COMMON.
FIRST I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING A FEW MINUTES LATE.
I HIT EVERY RED LIGHT COMING INTO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS MAY HAVE BEEN STATED, BUT THE PRINCIPAL -- I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO IS AT THE JUNIOR HIGH, AND WE GET ALMOST IF NOT EVERY DAY EVERY OTHER DAY A PHONE CALL COMMUNICATIONS ENCOURAGING PARENTS NOT TO PARK OR NOT TO BE ON TERRACE ACRES. EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, PARENTS WILL DO WHAT THEY WILL DO. I THINK IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS SENDING COMMUNICATIONS AND TRYING TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION ON THE SCHOOL AND OUR EFFORTS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT PEOPLE CAN ACT BETTER.
I GUESS MY COMMAS ARE MORE DIRECTED AT PARENTS TO HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS DIFFICULT.
THE SCHOOL HAS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES AND SPACE AND PLACES FOR YOU TO PICK UP YOUR CHILD SAFELY.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, CHIEF.
[4. PAYNE STREET/PINEDALE DRIVE HALLOWEEN STREET CLOSURE]
HALLOWEEN CLOSURE. PAYNE ST. AND PINEDALE.MR. DIXON WE WILL TURN THAT OVER TO YOU.
>> SPEAKER: I GUESS I BROUGHT THIS UP AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING AND WE AGREED TO BRING THIS UP TONIGHT TO DISCUSS IT TO SEE IF IT CAN SHOW UP ON THE NEXT MEETING.
IN THE AGENDA. I BROUGHT THIS UP PRIMARILY BECAUSE A CONSTITUENT REACH OUT TO ME AND SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEIR STREET CLOSED AND THE ONLY WAY FOR SOMEONE TO BRING THIS ITEM UP AND HAVE IT DONE IS TO BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL AND HAVE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL.
THAT IS WHAT I'VE DONE. I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH MORE TO SAY ON ITS OTHER THAN I BROUGHT IT HERE.
I HAVE HEARD I THINK SINCE OUR PAST MEETING I HEARD FROM ANOTHER CONSTITUENT SAYING THAT THEY WOULD NOT LIKELY TO BE CLOSED. IT SEEMS TO BE KIND OF A 50/50 ISSUE FROM WHAT I HAVE GATHERED. IF ANYONE WANTS TO DISCUSS MOVING FORWARD BUT WE WANT TO DO, I AM OPEN TO HEARING.
>> SPEAKER: WELL, JUST FROM MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY MANAGER, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY FIRST OF ALL IS OF THE PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE THE SAFETY THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD EXPECT IN A SITUATION SUCH AS THIS.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE PRESIDENT THAT IT SETS FOR OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE THE SAME REQUEST AND HAVE THE SAME EXPECTATION.
WHO DO YOU SAY YES TO AND WHO DO YOU SAY NO TO? HALLOWEEN IS A VERY UNIQUE TIME WHERE YOU HAVE CHILDREN.
WE ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO BE OUT ON THE STREETS.
WE HOPE THAT THEY ARE SAFE BUT THEY ARE OUT THERE AFTER THE SUN IS GONE DOWN AND IT IS A LOT OF FUN AND WE HAVE A GREAT ACTIVITY DOWNTOWN. BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT WE
[00:10:04]
WOULD BE POTENTIALLY CREATING SOMETHING THAT WE COULDN'T FULFILL IN THE LONG TERM AND IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO OVERSEE THE NIGHT OF TRICK-OR-TREAT.THAT IS MY PERSPECTIVE. ANYONE ELSE?
>> SPEAKER: I AGREE WITH YOU, MARY.
I THINK YOU PUT A VERY WELL. THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT AS
WELL. >> SPEAKER: I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER. THERE IS NO OTHER STREETS IN THE CITY OF AUBURN THAT ENJOYS THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION?
IS THAT CORRECT? >> SPEAKER: NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. BOTH CHIEF DAWSON -- AND YOU HAVE CHIEF REGISTER, OUR TWO FIRE CHIEFS TO CHIEF ANDERSON DON'T EITHER RECALL THAT WE HAVF JULY AND SOME OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY EVENTS, BUT ON HALLOWEEN THE STREETS THAT WE CLOSE OUR DOWNTOWN FOR A CITY SPONSORED EVENT THROUGH OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS. ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES IS WE DO HAVE SIDEWALKS IN THIS VICINITY AT PAIN AND PINEDALE AND BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET WHICH WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE.
WE HAVE EXTRA PATROLS ON HALLOWEEN EVENING TRYING TO KEEP ALL OF THE CHILDREN SAFE CITYWIDE, PLUS ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL DOWNTOWN FOR THAT EVENT.
TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, NO, WE HAVE NOT.
WE HAVE HAD OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD REQUESTS TO DO SO OVER A SMATTERING OF YEARS. NOT LATELY AND MOST OF THOSE REQUESTS IF NOT ALL OF THEM TO OUR KNOWLEDGE HAVE NOT BEEN GRANTED FOR THE VERY REASON OF TRYING TO BE EQUITABLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HAVE OUR ATTENTION FOCUSED ALL OVER THE CITY THAT DAY. WILL BE CLOSE A STREET WE DO STATION OFFICERS AND/OR PUBLIC SAFETY SPECIALISTS AT THE ENDS AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE SOMEBODY DOESN'T RAM THROUGH AND ACCIDENTALLY RUN PEOPLE OVER. IT TAKES PERSONNEL TO DO THAT AS
>> SPEAKER: I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STEPHEN.
WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THEM WANTING TO CLOSE DOWN THE
STREET? >> SPEAKER: THEY TEND TO HAVE FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD, THEY HAVE A PARTY EVERY YEAR AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY ASKED OF -- TWO YEARS AGO BUT THEY GOT IT INTO LATE AND SO LAST YEAR THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT.
THIS YEAR THEY ARE WANTING TO HAVE THE PARTY.
I THINK AS FAR AS SAFETY IS CONCERNED FOR THE KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE, THAT NO CARS WOULD BE GOING THROUGH.
THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THEY WOULD LIKE IT TO BE CLOSED.
>> SPEAKER: SO IT IS AN ADULT PARTY?
>> SPEAKER: NO, I BELIEVE IT'S FOR CHILDREN.
>> SPEAKER: ANYTHING ELSE FROM ANYBODY ON THE COUNCIL? BASED ON OUR DISCUSSION HERE TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE COUNCIL WILL NOT ASK THE CITY MANAGER HAVE SOMETHING ON OUR NEXT AGENDA FOR US TO CONSIDER.
AUTHORIZING THE CLOSURE OF THE STREET FOR TRICK-OR-TREAT.
AM I CORRECT ON THAT? TO NOT DO THAT.
[5. QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA]
>> SPEAKER: AGREE. >> SPEAKER: AGREE.
>> SPEAKER: QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY MANAGER?
>> SPEAKER: I HAVE A QUESTION. SOMETHING CAME UP A FEW HOURS AGO. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER. MS. MEGAN, I WAS CONTACTED BY A CONSTITUENT OF MINE ASKING ABOUT HAVE WE LOOKED AT DEAN ROAD AND ANNA LEE DRIVE FOR TRAVELING NORTH -- SOUTH ON DEAN ROAD COMING FROM OPELIKA RD. THERE IS NO TURN LANE THEY'RE GOING. ACCORDING TO THIS PERSON ADD-BACKS TRAFFIC UP PRETTY BAD IN THAT AREA.
IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD DO SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THAT OR ARE WE LOOKING AT IT NOW?
>> SPEAKER: IT IS NOT IN OUR CURRENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND WASN'T ON A MIDTERM HORIZON WITH THE CITYWIDE TRAFFIC STUDY.
I WILL HAVE THE CITY ENGINEER WAY IN.
WE WERE PLANNING TO DO SOME ANALYSIS ON DEAN ROAD AND SO, ALLISON, PLEASE WAY IN ON TO WHERE WE STAND ON THAT.
>> SPEAKER: SINCE SCHOOL HAS STARTED WE ARE GOING TO DO SOME ANALYSIS ON DIFFERENT CORRIDORS AND WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT THE ANNA LEE DRIVE INTERSECTION TO SEE WHAT THE VOLUMES ARE AND CAPACITY AND WHAT KIND OF LEVELS OF SERVICE WE HAVE TO SEE IF THE
LEFT TURN LANE IS WARRANTED. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU.
I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. >> SPEAKER: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY MANAGER?
IF NOT, CITY MANAGER? >> SPEAKER: ITEM 10B3 WHICH IS A CONDITIONAL USE APPROVAL REQUEST FOR THE SOUTHVIEW TOWNHOMES, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING AND WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW THAT REQUEST. UNLESS THERE IS MAJOR OBJECTIONS, THAT WON'T APPEAR ON YOUR AGENDA AND I WILL REMIND YOU WHEN WE GET THERE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED TO
WITHDRAW THAT ITEM. >> SPEAKER: ARE THERE ON 9A2.
>> SPEAKER: THEY ARE LEAVING THAT ON.
I APOLOGIZE I MEANT TO MENTION THAT.
THEY ARE LEAVING THE REZONING REQUEST FOR RULE TO DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT HOUSING ON THE AGENDA BUT THEY HAVE REMOVED THE CONDITIONAL USE REQUEST OR ARE ASKING TO WITHDRAW FROM THIS AGENDA. THEY INFORMED THE PLANNING STAFF THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT THAT. FAIRLY EARLY, NOT LATE.
I OPTED THAT WE WOULD DISCUSS IT HERE.
[00:15:04]
I WILL REMIND YOU WHEN WE GET THERE.WE CAN DISCUSS ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THAT WITH THE REZONING ITEM AND HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER OR DON'T.
>> SPEAKER: ANY OF THE QUESTIONS?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.