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Memo- 17th Ave N Parking Public Works Department Memorandum To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Copy: Steve Mielke, City Manager ~ Steve Stadler, Public Works Director From: Date: February 14, 1997 17th Avenue North Parking Subject: Vern Pankratz, Street Superintendent & I held a public information meeting at 6:30 p.m. on February 13th. Unfortunately, there were only six 1'fh Ave North residents in attendance. Nonetheless, we presented the background, information and parking options to the group and received some feedback. Two residents in attendance from 217 and 221 17th Ave North requested that there be no change to the current parking. Both had previously signed the east side petition. One resident from 309 17th Ave North requested that all parking be eIiminated or that there be no change. He was concerned about parking causing decreased visibility at the trail crossing just north of3n1 Street north. Mr. & Mrs. Larson, 104 17th Ave North were "OK" with allowing parking on both sides during non-winter months. Mr. Hockel, 101 17th Ave North spoke in favor of allowing parking on both sides year-round. All, except Mr. Hockel, agreed that there would be increased risk or problems to those parking and drivers if parking is allowed on both sides. Several mentioned that the most additional parking would probably occur during Raspberry Festival and during north end business events. This would be a negative result of allowing parking on both sides. I received one phone call and one letter in response to my Jan 23 letter to 17th Avenue North residents. Mr. & Mrs. Moore, 136 17th Avenue request that the parking remain as-is and that perhaps we should consider eIiminating all parking. Their letter is attached. Ms. Schelin, 141 17th Avenue called me and requested that her name be removed from the petition - she requests no change to the current parking. I did a telephone survey of several 17th Avenue residents on the morning ofFeb 14th. I got in contact with five residents on the west side and spoke with three east side residents. The east side residents had all signed the earlier petition requesting parking on the east side. I asked the east side residents ifparking on their side of the street would be of benefit to them. One resident said she no longer drives and it would help with being picked up, especially when the alley is iced up. Another resident said it would be of only slight benefit for visitor parking, and providing directions. The resident from 145 17th Avenue told me it would make no difference. When asked if they would be in favor of allowing parking on both sides during the non-winter months, two said ''yes'' and one said it "makes no difference". I spoke with five west side 17th Avenue residents. None were in favor of switching parking to the east side. Two ofthe five said "no" to allowing parking on both sides. Additionally, one was indifferent, one said it would be "tolerable" and one resident said "yes". All five said if given the choice they would leave the parking as-is. In my opinion, there are two prevailing attitudes regarding this issue: the first is indifference and the second is against a change to the current parking. This opinion was formed after talking with fifteen 17th Ave residents. I intend to speak with more residents prior to the March 4th City Council meeting. I will report the additional results and make a recommendation. 136 N. 17th Ave. (612) 938 7803 Hopkins, MN 55343 10 Feb. 1997 Steven J. Stadler Director of Public Works City of Hopkins 1010 S. 1st St. Hopkins, MN 55343 Reference is made to your letter of January 23, 1997 regarding parking on 17th Ave. We have resided at> the above address for->50 years. 17th Ave was County Road 73 from Mainstreet (Excelsior Ave> North past Highway 7. A black top road maintained by Hennepin County. The East side was Hopkins and the West side was Minnetonka (Township). Hopkins let us hook up to their sewer and water and we obtained the services of its fire department. Somewhere along the line a Minnesota state referendum was passed that as a result County Road 73 started and went from Highway 7 North. We voted for and became a part of Hopkins. Residents on the Eastside received some refund on sewer and water assessments. When 17th Avenue was reconstructed in 1966 they raised the grade (street & curb) in front of our house. (we thought maybe the engineers were trying to make the storm water go north uphill) As a result the sidewalk up to our house was about 6 inches below the front sidewalk. when it rained or when the snow melted we always had a lake there. To solve the problem we had to have a new walk to the house installed. Before street reconstruction we parked on either side of the street. The street was widened and we could only park on the West side. After having two cars rear-ended nobody had to tell us maybe we shouldn't park there! 2 Or 3 cars can park on our small driveway off the alley. On occasion 2nd street north is used for parking. City staff states that the 3.5 foot boulevard is not wide enough for snow storage. We agree that is the case in front of our house, however, directly across the street the boulevard is 6.0 feet. The snow problems are from those with driveways throwing the snow into the street after the snow plow has gone by. Recently the city removed snow from the bouvevard for the first time in 30 years. The present system has worked for 30 years so why try to fix it. The generel public is familiar with it as is. Let's not complicate matters with constant changes. We're sure the police department can find better use of their time than trying to enforce more parking regulations. l If they want to make the from across the street. boulevard than we have. can pay for whatever it street wider to 38 feet take 2 feet That will leave them with still more Since it would be on their side they costs. The current system was enforce when nearly all of the present residents purchased a house and moved here. They knew what they were getting and accspted it then. If everybody wants to be fair then install signs on both sides of the street, Option Number 10. and have -it state NO PARKING ANYTIME. Sincerely, J3..,...Jk~ Ben Moore ~~ Alyce Moore d.