Parking matters, from the mundane to sweeping changes, are among the matters ultimately decided by City Council, with help from the city of Delaware’s Parking and Safety Committee.
For example, a parking resolution was unanimously passed without comment by council at its meeting on Dec. 14. The resolution allowed extending the “No Parking Here to Corner” zone on the north side of West Harrison Street to 100 feet east of South Washington Street.
The sign was moved in response to an email sent in August by an area resident who said her driveway is often blocked when school lets out at Woodward Elementary. The matter was taken up by the Parking and Safety Committee, which the city’s website said is “responsible for preliminary review of matters relating to safety, traffic and parking, especially police, fire, building and housing inspection and traffic and parking control.”
The committee met on Nov. 17, when the topic was among those that were discussed. The committee voted 3-0 to approve the request, which then went on to council earlier this week.
There were three other items that were discussed by the committee last month:
• The installation of accessible pedestrian signals at the intersection of Sandusky and William streets. “We listened to a presentation regarding these signals for vision-impaired pedestrians,” said councilman Kent Shafer, who chairs the committee, in an email. “City staff is going to gather information regarding costs, etc., and get back to us before moving forward.”
Kelly Krispinsky, an orientation and mobility specialist, said during the presentation that about 3,000 people in Delaware are visually impaired.
• The installation of four-way stop signs at North Liberty Street and Fountain Avenue was tabled. Most of the residents who attended the meeting said they wanted the sign to slow down drivers and prevent accidents. City staff said the area was confusing, but a stop sign wouldn’t be installed until after the end of the current school year, so drivers would get used to it. The matter will be addressed at a future committee meeting, with input from the police department.
• Also tabled was the installation of “No Parking” signage on one side of Ballater Drive in section two of Glenross Golf Club. Shafer said the matter would be taken up at a special committee meeting set for Jan. 4.
The meeting, Shafer said, would also “permit the county to discuss parking around the new courthouse.” The city has previously requested that the three levels of parking be available for public use when the courthouse is closed. The county has said the parking is gated for security reasons, and a portion of Sandusky Street along the courthouse would be prohibited for parking, also for security. However, the garage would also free up additional parking at the Hayes Building.
The committee is also responsible for the changes in downtown parking that went into effect this year.