WEBVTT

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 >> Hello, good evening and welcome to the City of Denton Traffic Safety Commission meeting

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 of Monday, March 4th, 2019.

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 It is 533 and we do have a quorum.

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 The first item of business is 1A under items for consideration.

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 It is TSC19-014 to consider the approval of the minutes

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 for the Traffic Safety Commission meeting on February 4th, 2019.

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 Did everyone have a chance to look at the minutes?

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 Were there any amendments or does anybody want to move for approval?

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 >> I move for approval.

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 >> Okay, approval?

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 >> Second.

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 >> We have a second.

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 Anybody have any amendments?

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 Okay, all right, everyone in favor, raise your right hand, try that this time.

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 Okay, and unanimously approved.

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 The next item for consideration, 1B is TSC19-015 which is to receive a report,

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 hold a discussion and give staff direction regarding capital improvements

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 to downtown Mew Streets which include Pecan, Austin, Walnut and Cedar.

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 >> Good evening.

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 I'm Michael Smith with the CIP Department and I'm going to give a presentation here on Mews

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 and essentially we're in the conceptual phase of this project right now and a lot

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 of this project was reaching out and getting feedback from the community.

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 So tonight we'll discuss the project status and goals, existing conditions.

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 We'll look at, you know, what the streets look like today.

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 Then we're going to look at the public engagement activities that we did.

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 We got a lot of feedback and changed some of the features of the project based on that feedback.

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 Then we're going to talk about the proposed improvements and beautification options.

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 We'll touch a little bit on solid waste and some of the feedback that we got

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 from the community on solid waste and then we'll talk about project element

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 and the costs that go along with those.

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 So from the inception, the main goal was to provide beautification of the Mew Streets.

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 And maybe I should go back and discuss what the Mew Streets are.

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 It's an archaic term that came out of the 1700s and it essentially refers to a row of houses

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 or stables, carriage houses with living quarters above them.

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 And they were usually around a courtyard or square.

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 In our case, they're around a very large square.

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 So the street's just outside the square.

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 So the main goals were to provide pedestrian accessibility and beautification.

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 We finished the public engagement portion of this project and we have a few recommendations

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 that we're moving forward on.

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 So as mentioned in the introduction, Cedar Street, a pilot project was done on Cedar Street.

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 We had a $800,000 grant that was given to us.

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 And so Cedar Street is pretty much already complete as far

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 as it was envisioned a number of years ago.

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 And that's on the east and then we have Pecan on the north, Austin on the, I'm sorry,

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 Austin on the east and Walnut Street on the south.

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 So essentially, this is what we have going on right now.

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 The new streets are basically the alleys that are behind all the squares, the businesses.

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 They've been used as an alley, you know, for a number of years.

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 So this is where, this is what we have.

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 So we have a number of garbage dumpsters all along the street.

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 As you can see on this street, there is no sidewalk on either side.

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 There's no accessibility on either side.

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 And then in the lower picture, on the right-hand side we have steps which also,

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 you know, inhibits accessibility so we don't have step, you know,

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 we don't have accessibility throughout these streets.

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 And that was one of the main issues that we wanted to address.

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 So this is sort of a path on where we've been, where we started off and where we're going.

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 We started off with website and social media, you know, to get the information out on the project.

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 And then we hosted office hours.

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 So two of us sat down there, we invited all the businesses that are on the Mew streets

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 and the surrounding streets, courthouse businesses, and invited them in so we could have a discussion,

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 find out, you know, what their needs were, what their issues were, and, you know,

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 ways to address those needs and issues.

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 Then we had a public open house.

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 We had, you know, a couple dozen people that showed up for the public open house.

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 And we got a lot of feedback from them and we'll go over that feedback in a few minutes.

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 And, you know, a couple dozen really doesn't, you know,

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 give you a firm grasp of what people really want.

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 So then we went out and we did a survey monkey and we, you know, broadcast that out wide

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 and we got 687 respondents which was, you know, kind of, you know,

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 beefs up the information that we had to date.

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 And then we're going to city council presentation on March 19.

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 So some of the feedback that we received was two-way streets.

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 We initially proposed just going with one-way streets going counter

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 to the direction that the courthouse is going.

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 But we heard feedback from, you know, a couple dozen people that said really two-way streets,

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 you know, is going to be better for the business.

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 It's going to have less adverse impact.

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 You know, one-way streets, they were afraid that they would lose business that way.

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 So we ended up taking that feedback and so all our proposals now went to two-way streets.

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 Safety improvements needed, survey monkey especially, there were dozens of people who talked

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 about the lack of lighting and the sidewalks, you know, that they had to traverse.

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 You know, they didn't feel safe at night especially several people pointed out, you know,

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 that they were women, you know, so there was just, you know, a lot of concern for that.

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 Especially since a lot of these people that are walking at night, you know,

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 that had some of these concerns are the people that are closing down a restaurant.

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 So, you know, the bars close at 2 o'clock so they're at 2.30, 3 o'clock, you know,

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 walking the streets and they wanted, you know, more light and, you know,

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 a safer feel, better sidewalks.

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 Solid waste, we will go into that a little bit more but a preference was valet service

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 and we'll discuss that in a few minutes.

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 And then they were also, people were interested in seeing a loading schedule

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 where, you know, the delivery trucks just wouldn't show up whenever they wanted to

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 but they would show up at a scheduled time.

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 Now that's obviously really hard to enforce and so we didn't delve into that too much

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 but that was one of the feedbacks that we received.

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 So proposed street cross section, we have traffic in both directions

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 and parallel parking on both sides of the street.

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 The basic, you know, would include a couple of lights and a few trees

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 and accessible sidewalks on both sides of the street.

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 So we looked at, you know, what were the bare minimum that we needed to get

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 and then we looked at an intermediate plan and, you know,

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 adding different features as we go along.

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 So the bare minimum plan obviously was the sidewalks and curb ramps, all ADA compliant.

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 Then we had pedestrian and street lighting and you can see an example of the lights

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 that we have around one of our parking lots now, we would use these same lights.

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 And then we're looking for crosswalks and traffic calming

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 to get, you know, the vehicles to slow down.

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 Trash receptacles would be, you know, important as well as bike racks.

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 And then DME is in the process of-- they're going to be wrapping most

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 of their transformers in a vinyl wrap that gives them a nicer, you know, a nicer appeal

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 and that's in the works.

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 So the basic-- so that was the basic plan.

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 So options that we can do to make it look a little bit better was we can increase the amount

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 of landscaping that we have.

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 We can increase the number of trees.

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 We can put planters there.

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 The bike racks could be, you know, the musical note D, you know, instead of the mundane ones.

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 And then we could add things like street lighting.

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 We could add some street furniture, you know, benches and some other things.

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 So and then we'll-- so this is the basic layout and this is just a few trees.

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 It is with a few street lights and again, you know, two-way traffic and parallel parking

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 on the streets and then the enhanced option adds trees.

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 It adds some additional plantings and it adds the red brick or the pavers, you know, enhancements.

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 This is similar to what's on Cedar and on the square, you know,

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 would just, you know, make it pop a little bit more.

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 And then we have the luxury version.

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 Luxury version, again, additional trees, additional plantings.

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 We could have the string lights that are located on the street.

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 And in this case, we would have additional pavers, you know, the crosswalks would have pavers

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 and the parking spaces would have pavers or stamped colored concrete.

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 Probably, you know, for the sidewalks, it would probably be the pavers.

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 For the parking spaces, it would be the stamped colored concrete

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 because the street sweepers do much better with that type of layout as opposed to the--

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 as opposed to doing pavers.

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 You know, pavers are, you know, you fill them, you know, they're supposed to be permeable.

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 You fill them with sand, you know, to allow that to work.

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 And in this case, the street sweeper would essentially take out the sand.

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 So solid waste, dumpster service is inefficient, competes with available parking.

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 As you can see here, we wouldn't be able to park, you know, along this section of the street.

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 There's-- we've had lots of complaints about the odors and about the aesthetics.

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 They've also had a lot of waste-- solid waste has had a lot of problems with illegal dumping too.

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 When you have all these dumpsters lined up, you know, people are cleaning out their apartment

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 at the end of the semester or they have a construction project at home

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 and they just-- they bring their trash with them and dump here.

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 There's a capacity issues right now.

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 We'll discuss the number but essentially the capacity is not being met.

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 We would need even more dumpsters than we're seeing here and not only just the trash

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 but also the recycling.

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 And safety concerns, you know, you have the trucks going down these streets,

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 you know, that's a safety concern.

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 And during special events, a lot of the streets are blocked off, you know, are not traversable

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 and so they're not able to be serviced during the special events.

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 And that's especially critical because we generate more trash during the special events

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 than we do, you know, all the other times.

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 So currently on the Mew streets, there's 13 waste and 11 recycle.

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 They're anticipating that we would need a minimum to add three trash dumpsters

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 and two recycle just to get current capacity.

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 And the problem with current capacity is we're expecting that the amount

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 of people visiting the square is going to go up.

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 You know, we have a new university opening up that is in downtown.

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 They don't have a commissary so we anticipate the people that are

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 in between classes will be coming over here, you know, and, you know, coming in the square

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 and giving their business to, you know, getting their coffee or getting their lunch.

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 So, you know, while that is the, you know, 13 and 11, it's only going to go up from there.

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 They're serviced four to six times per week for 65 total stops.

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 And then, again, they're taking up space that could be used for parking spaces.

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 So we presented different options both in the public meeting and in the Survey Monkey.

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 And the options were one was a valet service.

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 You know, private company is going to come in and collect the trash.

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 They would, you know, it would probably be a subcontract,

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 you know, the solid waste would manage.

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 And they would have to essentially go around all night long and they would pick

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 up trash, you know, during the peak hours, you know, to keep it going.

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 Then all that trash would be taken to compactors and we'll look

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 at the location for that in just a moment.

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 And that way it's one trip per week to service recycling and one trip

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 to service the trash, the recycling and one for trash.

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 The second option was employees of each business would essentially cart their garbage,

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 you know, to one of the locations to a compactor.

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 And then the third option was to install two dumpsters on all, you know,

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 on all four corners essentially of the Mew Streets

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 and have people take their trash to those dumpsters.

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 So, based on the feedback that we received, SurveyMonkey, you know, the valet,

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 this is out of a score of out of 6, you know, 2.23.

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 For the open house, the people that actually did submit forms,

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 we had a lot of people that favored that option.

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 And then, you know, the, you know, option 2 and option 3 were not far behind

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 from the SurveyMonkey standpoint but were further behind based on the open house.

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 >> May I ask, who funds the valet service?

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 Is that the businesses will pay for the valet service?

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 >> The businesses, the idea behind it would be that the businesses do pay.

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 Right now, they're paying on their electric bill, they're paying for those services already.

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 >> Right.

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 >> So, there would, an additional study would need to be done to figure out how much,

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 you know, the restaurants obviously would need to pay a larger portion

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 because they would be serviced more than a business that, you know,

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 only has, you know, a minimum amount of trash.

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 >> Okay. So, the city would contract with a private business

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 but that cost would be rolled in to the monthly bill proportionately?

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 >> That's correct.

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 >> Okay.

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 >> The proposed compactor location, this is a parking lot

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 that we have already, this is an older photo, doesn't show the parking lot.

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 But this is where the compactors would go.

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 It was envisioned years ago when that, or a couple of years ago

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 when they did this parking lot that they could put compactors here.

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 So, it's already set up for electrical.

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 I mean, it's set up to be fully functional at this point.

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 Solid waste, you know, is envisioning, you know, something like a, you know,

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 all-train vehicle but it would, you know, something that would pull a trailer around.

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 So, that's part of the envision.

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 You know, a lot of this was conceptual.

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 So, once we have direction, I think, you know, we'll do full design

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 and then we'll investigate, you know, the types of businesses

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 that are already doing this in other cities, you know,

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 because Valley Service is becoming more and more common especially in areas

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 where they have, you know, a lot of pedestrians, you know, and they want to,

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 you know, draw in more people.

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 >> Do you think this would save them any money

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 if people are illegally dumping?

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 I don't know how they pay now but would it save them from having

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 to worry about people coming and dumping?

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 >> Yes, it would eliminate illegal dumping because those dumpsters, you know,

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 just aren't available for them to, you know, drive up and then unload.

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 So, the compactors would be in a remote, you know, or remote locations.

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 You know, they would be fenced so that they look, you know, pretty

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 and it would be a lot harder for somebody to dump.

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 Not saying that they couldn't do it or--

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 >> Is that the approximate size of the footprint for a compactor?

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 >> No, the--

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 >> Or how big is--

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 >> There'd be two of them at each site.

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 So, they're about-- and I don't have the numbers in front of me.

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 This solid waste would have those numbers.

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 I want to say that they were about 15 to 20 feet in length and they're

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 about 6 to 8 feet wide and there'd be two of them side by side.

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 >> They're compact compactors.

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 >> They are, yes.

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 >> OK.

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 >> And then recommendations, solid waste recommendations,

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 the valet service is probably, you know,

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 it's probably been a long time in the coming.

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 You know, the number of dumpsters is not sufficient

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 for what is currently going on the new streets and we only need

00:17:59.560 --> 00:18:02.120
 to add more dumpsters and then if we get more traffic

00:18:02.120 --> 00:18:04.280
 from the university students, you know,

00:18:04.280 --> 00:18:06.240
 we're going to need even more dumpsters.

00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:09.440
 And so, it's a never ending problem unless we go, you know,

00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:12.360
 with a different option and the valet service is working

00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:16.560
 in several other cities right now and so, very interested in exploring

00:18:16.560 --> 00:18:19.400
 that idea for the city of Denton.

00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:23.120
 And as part of the service, you know,

00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:24.680
 they could do the sidewalk cleaning.

00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:27.240
 We, you know, every week we get complaints, you know,

00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:29.280
 that there's a mess on the sidewalk at, you know,

00:18:29.280 --> 00:18:31.960
 at different locations and so that could be rolled

00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:33.600
 into this service as well.

00:18:33.600 --> 00:18:37.000
 And then grease trap service, we can get the grease traps off the

00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:41.760
 new streets and into a more remote location.

00:18:41.760 --> 00:18:45.000
 There's more investigation that needs to be done, you know,

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.280
 in that type of service.

00:18:46.280 --> 00:18:50.160
 So, you know, in a new building, they build in, you know,

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:53.200
 receptacles that can be evacuated from an outside source

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:55.440
 but we're dealing with historic buildings here

00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:57.160
 so that's not really an option.

00:18:57.160 --> 00:19:00.800
 So, we're looking at a couple of different possibilities,

00:19:00.800 --> 00:19:04.120
 you know, to get that working.

00:19:04.120 --> 00:19:10.240
 So, and then, yeah, landscape or screening walls would be

00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:13.480
 around the compactors.

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:17.040
 Did I skip one?

00:19:17.040 --> 00:19:20.600
 No. So, this is the breakdown on cost.

00:19:20.600 --> 00:19:22.680
 Cedar Street would remain as is.

00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:25.240
 You know, we had the grant that allowed us to construct

00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:27.960
 that street and then Pecan Street, Austin Street,

00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:30.840
 Walnut Street, you know, we have different options, you know,

00:19:30.840 --> 00:19:38.320
 from the basic, you know, the fewest aesthetic, you know,

00:19:38.320 --> 00:19:42.400
 application to the enhanced and then the luxury.

00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:45.480
 So, and again, we're looking at construction could begin

00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:47.120
 as early as 2020.

00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:49.600
 Design would take, you know, this entire year

00:19:49.600 --> 00:19:53.800
 and then includes inflation and contingency cost.

00:19:53.800 --> 00:20:00.600
 >> There's-- excuse me.

00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:06.480
 There's a dumpster out behind Den Community Theater on Cedar.

00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:09.320
 Would that stay or go?

00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:13.320
 Assuming that we go to valet.

00:20:13.320 --> 00:20:17.200
 >> My guess is that if we went to valet

00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:20.680
 that that would be removed.

00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:23.560
 But, you know, there's a lot of flexibility in how we set

00:20:23.560 --> 00:20:27.400
 up the valet and what needs to stay or, you know,

00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:29.520
 that one's a little bit more out of the way than some

00:20:29.520 --> 00:20:30.720
 of the other ones, you know.

00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:34.400
 We can still-- we still have accessible sidewalks on Cedar,

00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:38.840
 you know, so that's, you know, there's flexibility

00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:41.760
 but I would imagine that the valet would take care of there.

00:20:41.760 --> 00:20:46.080
 >> Yeah, I've used those handicapped spots there.

00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:50.320
 And it is kind of gross if you're the parking spot closest

00:20:50.320 --> 00:20:51.280
 to the dumpster.

00:20:51.280 --> 00:20:52.520
 >> Yeah.

00:20:52.520 --> 00:20:54.920
 >> But I do like the improvements have been made to Cedar

00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:57.280
 because sometimes when we're going to the theater,

00:20:57.280 --> 00:21:01.120
 we have to park down at that parking lot by Old West

00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:05.400
 and go up the street and it's been much nicer.

00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.720
 >> Yeah.

00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:09.280
 >> Can I ask one more question about Cedar since that's kind

00:21:09.280 --> 00:21:12.960
 of what it kind of could look like in some respects?

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.880
 It does look really good.

00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:16.720
 I was curious though, it still seems like it's kind of dark

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:20.920
 on Cedar like the-- was the new lighting down there too?

00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:25.560
 >> No, the lighting that's on Cedar right now is the aggregate

00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:31.600
 lighting so it's the ones that we're looking at right now,

00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:34.680
 you know, are the more historic looking lights.

00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:38.680
 If I can get back to that.

00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:43.320
 So, like there on the right hand side there, that's more along

00:21:43.320 --> 00:21:45.680
 the lights that we would have there.

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:47.280
 And I think if you looked at that parking lot,

00:21:47.280 --> 00:21:50.760
 you would see that it's a much better lit.

00:21:50.760 --> 00:21:53.560
 Cedar Street, it would be very easy to add a few more lights

00:21:53.560 --> 00:21:56.440
 to Cedar Street if needed.

00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:59.720
 >> You said Cedar is already done?

00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:01.840
 >> Yes, we received a grant a number of years ago

00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:07.640
 and so we did Cedar at a level that the grant allowed us

00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.680
 to construct it to.

00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:10.280
 But there are additional enhancements

00:22:10.280 --> 00:22:12.880
 that we could do to Cedar if--

00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:14.280
 >> Did you bring any pictures?

00:22:14.280 --> 00:22:15.000
 >> I'm sorry?

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:16.200
 >> You got any pictures of Cedar?

00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:19.080
 >> No, but I could pull up-- I could pull up the internet.

00:22:19.080 --> 00:22:26.080
 >> I've got it up if you want to look at my computer, Jeff.

00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:28.040
 Do you want to look at it?

00:22:28.040 --> 00:22:35.040
 [ Inaudible Remarks ]

00:22:35.040 --> 00:22:37.000
 >> No, let me pull it up.

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:39.000
 [ Laughter ]

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.120
 >> It's a race.

00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:41.280
 >> I'm sorry?

00:22:41.280 --> 00:22:43.000
 >> It's a race.

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:45.080
 >> We've got to win.

00:22:45.080 --> 00:22:47.240
 >> Come on.

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:50.040
 >> Oh, no, pre-tem is pretty fast.

00:22:50.040 --> 00:22:54.600
 >> This computer is pretty slow too, so it has sidewalks.

00:22:54.600 --> 00:23:03.220
 [ Inaudible Remarks ]

00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.520
 >> Yeah.

00:23:04.520 --> 00:23:06.800
 >> I got another question.

00:23:12.040 --> 00:23:14.640
 >> On the city survey that was done,

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:19.920
 did you have any questions about this, the MUSE?

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:21.520
 >> Yes, the majority of the questions

00:23:21.520 --> 00:23:24.160
 in the survey related to the MUSE streets.

00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:26.920
 I mean, that was pretty much the driving factor.

00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:31.880
 There was one or-- we had three or four questions that talked

00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:37.640
 about the different areas like remote parking that was available

00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:42.560
 and the city a few years ago and so we put it

00:23:42.560 --> 00:23:47.520
 in the questionnaire was playing with the idea of maybe, you know,

00:23:47.520 --> 00:23:49.480
 would we get better turnover parking spots

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:52.280
 if we actually put in meters around the square.

00:23:52.280 --> 00:23:55.320
 So we included some questions along those lines as well just

00:23:55.320 --> 00:23:59.080
 to get feedback and see what people thought of that.

00:23:59.080 --> 00:24:02.920
 >> What-- was there any consideration to cameras,

00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:05.800
 video for security?

00:24:05.800 --> 00:24:14.480
 >> No. We didn't address that in this one.

00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:16.280
 So mostly as far as security,

00:24:16.280 --> 00:24:20.120
 we were increasing the lighting and providing sidewalks.

00:24:20.120 --> 00:24:26.480
 >> What was the feedback on the parking spots?

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:28.920
 >> People were very passionate about the parking spots.

00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:31.320
 >> About keeping them free?

00:24:31.320 --> 00:24:35.760
 >> A number of people were-- that was their main goal.

00:24:35.760 --> 00:24:38.000
 It was to keep them free.

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:40.800
 There were a number of people though

00:24:40.800 --> 00:24:42.560
 that were-- that actually liked the idea.

00:24:42.560 --> 00:24:44.240
 They said, "We don't have a parking problem.

00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:46.040
 We have a walking problem.

00:24:46.040 --> 00:24:48.960
 You know, we need to be willing to walk a couple of blocks."

00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:52.400
 You know, and then maybe the ones, you know, we do meters

00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:54.920
 and then more handicapped accessible on the square

00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:57.760
 so that, you know, the majority of those are handicapped

00:24:57.760 --> 00:25:00.280
 and metered.

00:25:00.280 --> 00:25:00.760
 >> Right.

00:25:00.760 --> 00:25:03.840
 >> So-- or they're all metered and handicapped, you know,

00:25:03.840 --> 00:25:06.120
 doesn't have to pay into the--

00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:07.680
 >> You know, was it businesses that tended

00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:12.640
 to oppose the free parking or the idea of metered parking

00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:13.640
 or was it--

00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:16.520
 >> There were a few businesses that oppose that

00:25:16.520 --> 00:25:19.240
 but there were a few businesses that really said, you know,

00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:21.880
 it doesn't impact us one way or the other.

00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:23.760
 >> Well, I think it-- that's the thing I never--

00:25:23.760 --> 00:25:24.800
 I think it would impact them.

00:25:24.800 --> 00:25:27.560
 It would increase their business if we have metered parking.

00:25:27.560 --> 00:25:30.200
 But that's why I'm always surprised.

00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:32.560
 It seems like they advocate against their own interest

00:25:32.560 --> 00:25:34.920
 and people park their cars there who aren't their customers

00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:37.120
 for 12 hours at a time to, you know,

00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:40.320
 advertise flat earth, you know, theories and things.

00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:40.600
 >> Yes.

00:25:40.600 --> 00:25:42.080
 >> Instead of a customer.

00:25:42.080 --> 00:25:44.960
 So, anyway, I'm just curious because I think

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:47.440
 that could be part of this ecosystem fixing some

00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:50.720
 of the parking walking issues within the ecosystem.

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:54.000
 >> Yeah. I didn't get that far into the backup.

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:56.400
 I did not complete my homework, I'm sorry.

00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:58.160
 But was there a recommendation--

00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:01.080
 did you get as far as a potential recommendation

00:26:01.080 --> 00:26:03.240
 for paid parking on the square?

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.080
 >> No.

00:26:04.080 --> 00:26:05.720
 >> You just-- so far, you're just like--

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.280
 >> We're just--

00:26:06.280 --> 00:26:07.240
 >> Running that up the flagpole.

00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:09.200
 >> You know, kind of putting our feet in the water to see,

00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:12.200
 you know, what would happen.

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:12.840
 >> OK.

00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:14.880
 >> That was not supposed to be part of the muse

00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:16.440
 but we figured it was a good opportunity

00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:17.360
 since we're doing the survey.

00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:18.080
 >> To ask.

00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:19.160
 >> To ask the question.

00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:21.400
 >> OK. OK.

00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:26.800
 OK. Yeah. Because I'm on that same page

00:26:26.800 --> 00:26:30.400
 of paid parking is not a bad thing.

00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:33.880
 And I think that-- I took a look.

00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:35.480
 So I've got ParkMobile, of course.

00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:37.520
 And so I was at Deep Elm the other night

00:26:37.520 --> 00:26:41.120
 and for four hours, I parked for $4.

00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:44.840
 Now, you can-- on ParkMobile, you can comparison shop,

00:26:44.840 --> 00:26:46.960
 you know, just move your little body around

00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:51.200
 and see how much it is to park in Dallas and park in Denton.

00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:55.560
 All of the Denton sites are significantly more expensive

00:26:55.560 --> 00:26:56.960
 than Dallas.

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.480
 >> Wow. Interesting.

00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:00.240
 >> Yeah. So comparison shopping.

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:02.360
 Denton is really-- it's the--

00:27:02.360 --> 00:27:05.840
 where there is paid parking not only downtown

00:27:05.840 --> 00:27:08.400
 because we've got a couple of ParkMobile spots downtown

00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:13.160
 Denton but at the university, I mean, just citywide, we're hot.

00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:18.120
 So that could be hurting the overall perception

00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:22.480
 of paid parking and that, you know, could be something

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:28.320
 that if we re-evaluate the fee structure,

00:27:28.320 --> 00:27:31.200
 maybe more people would agree to paid parking.

00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:33.280
 But that's just an editorial comment.

00:27:33.280 --> 00:27:34.640
 >> Yeah. We've discussed that.

00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:37.080
 One last thing I'll say on it 'cause I'm very passionate.

00:27:37.080 --> 00:27:39.080
 I think there should be paid parking on the square.

00:27:39.080 --> 00:27:42.400
 But it would also move employees potentially,

00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:44.720
 the people who are familiar with the area who are employees

00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:47.200
 to the remote parking, there would be good options

00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:49.640
 to start using that as opposed to like the people who come

00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:52.240
 downtown every once in a while who don't know the area as well

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:55.600
 and would be willing to pay to park downtown.

00:27:55.600 --> 00:27:56.480
 Okay. I'll quit.

00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.480
 I know that's not your--

00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:59.760
 >> It's not on our agenda but we have opinions.

00:27:59.760 --> 00:28:01.280
 >> I think it's part of this discussion now.

00:28:01.280 --> 00:28:04.040
 >> With all the new signs that have just been put down there,

00:28:04.040 --> 00:28:07.320
 people have commented even in the survey that it was much easier

00:28:07.320 --> 00:28:09.920
 to find the remote parking all of, you know, because there's,

00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:11.360
 you know, they're directed to it.

00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:11.880
 >> Yeah.

00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:12.480
 >> Which is nice.

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:16.600
 And there's I think 11 sites we counted that, you know,

00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:20.040
 within two or three blocks of downtown.

00:28:20.040 --> 00:28:20.680
 >> Right. Yeah.

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.600
 Signs are great.

00:28:21.600 --> 00:28:25.120
 >> One last parking for me in these new streets.

00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:28.400
 Will you be adding some handicap spaces?

00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:31.640
 >> I would imagine that we would put

00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:35.240
 in several handicap spaces sort of like what's on Cedar right now.

00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:36.920
 There would be several that would be dedicated

00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:40.600
 to that along the stretch.

00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:41.120
 >> Good.

00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:45.160
 >> So, you know, as part of doing the design phase

00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:47.920
 which would be the next phase after conceptual, you know,

00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:50.640
 those are the types of things we would look at and, you know,

00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:52.680
 there's criteria for how many, you know,

00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:55.320
 handicap spots you should have and we would, you know,

00:28:55.320 --> 00:29:00.040
 the design engineers would factor that in to their decisions.

00:29:00.040 --> 00:29:04.240
 >> On the parking thing, would this be the two-hour parking?

00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.280
 >> I'm sorry, the two?

00:29:05.280 --> 00:29:06.400
 >> The two-hour parking.

00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:13.120
 >> Oh, yes, this would remain the-- I think it would, yeah.

00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:16.120
 Remain two-hour parking.

00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:18.440
 >> And the enforcement responsibility would be

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:20.200
 the city of Denton?

00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:23.760
 >> Yes, but right now, you know, the city has limited number

00:29:23.760 --> 00:29:26.120
 of people doing enforcement, so they only make it

00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:29.600
 down to the square maybe twice a year.

00:29:29.600 --> 00:29:31.200
 So we're not--

00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:34.240
 >> You said that out loud.

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:36.040
 >> I'm sorry.

00:29:36.040 --> 00:29:41.400
 Yeah, I guess that's for everybody to know.

00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:44.880
 But if we went to paid parking, you know, that, you know,

00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:49.520
 and create-- you know, creates its own, you know, enforcement.

00:29:49.520 --> 00:29:52.680
 And that, you know, creates an additional revenue stream,

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:55.080
 you know, that we could, you know, you know,

00:29:55.080 --> 00:29:59.160
 add additional parking maybe or do something else.

00:29:59.160 --> 00:30:03.400
 >> Not yourself a little parking benefit district right there.

00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:06.280
 >> So this is Cedar Street.

00:30:06.280 --> 00:30:07.080
 You can see the light.

00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:09.600
 It's similar to the other one, you know, it's got a light

00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:12.800
 on top but it's the aggregate poles which are a little bit

00:30:12.800 --> 00:30:14.920
 of an older pole.

00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:19.040
 Wait, are we looking at the same?

00:30:19.040 --> 00:30:20.600
 Yeah, it's just--

00:30:20.600 --> 00:30:24.400
 [ Inaudible Remark ]

00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:27.360
 It probably was that style.

00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:29.640
 The aggregate poles were around for a long time.

00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:31.840
 We no longer install them.

00:30:31.840 --> 00:30:34.840
 Any chance that we have to replace them, we replace them

00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:40.360
 with the new concrete poles which are just a white pole.

00:30:40.360 --> 00:30:47.480
 >> One thing on lighting, are there any dark sky friendly

00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:50.680
 lighting that would fit into the design scheme

00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:55.480
 of the old timey lights that we're installing instead

00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:57.960
 of sending this light up into the sky directing it

00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:59.240
 down to the ground?

00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:04.000
 >> Yeah, that's probably a better question for DME.

00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:05.880
 I mean, we could get them incorporated in this

00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:10.800
 but these lights, I'm not sure what the selection criteria was

00:31:10.800 --> 00:31:14.480
 for these lights, I don't know, Preetam, if you happen to know.

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:17.200
 They wanted historic-- they wanted nicer looking lights

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:19.640
 that looked more historic.

00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:21.000
 >> So I think the original design

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:24.240
 for these lights the way they are went through a whole process

00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:28.800
 of selection and I think it went to the--

00:31:28.800 --> 00:31:33.400
 at the time, it probably went to the business association owners

00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:38.280
 and this was selected as part of the historical district or area

00:31:38.280 --> 00:31:41.600
 which means the downtown square and up and down Hank Green Oak.

00:31:41.600 --> 00:31:44.720
 So that's where-- that's the only part in the city

00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:46.320
 that these are installed.

00:31:46.320 --> 00:31:49.800
 And I don't believe at this time that that is consistent

00:31:49.800 --> 00:31:54.040
 with our dark skies or it could be modified and that's something

00:31:54.040 --> 00:31:58.000
 that could be incorporated in our criteria

00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:59.880
 when we move to the design phase.

00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:00.200
 >> Yeah.

00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:01.200
 >> That would be helpful.

00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:04.280
 >> Yeah, I really second that and I'm also thinking

00:32:04.280 --> 00:32:06.080
 about people who are more

00:32:06.080 --> 00:32:09.120
 and more occupying apartments in the square.

00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:13.640
 Like if you're right above that street light--

00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:14.800
 >> Your bedroom is lit up.

00:32:14.800 --> 00:32:17.120
 >> Yeah, you got a street light, I mean, which of course,

00:32:17.120 --> 00:32:18.640
 that's the price to do a business.

00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:19.960
 You know, if you want to live on the square,

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:21.680
 you've got those things happening.

00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:27.040
 But the more we direct the light on the actual sidewalk

00:32:27.040 --> 00:32:34.560
 and on pedestrians, it's just-- it looks better and it's better.

00:32:34.560 --> 00:32:38.640
 >> So we're getting that in the minutes, right?

00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:43.760
 [ Laughter ]

00:32:43.760 --> 00:32:46.480
 >> So, you know, the railings, probably wouldn't have

00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:50.640
 as many railings as they have along here, but, I mean,

00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:54.280
 this does give you a little bit of an idea of what they're doing.

00:32:54.280 --> 00:32:56.760
 You know, these are the basic enhancements that we would see

00:32:56.760 --> 00:33:00.760
 and then you got planters on the corners, you know,

00:33:00.760 --> 00:33:04.400
 which, you know, are nice enhancements.

00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:10.760
 And then, you know, the nice tree grates.

00:33:10.760 --> 00:33:13.760
 Some of this stuff, you know, is not-- there's nothing we can do about,

00:33:13.760 --> 00:33:17.560
 you know, some of, you know, the features of these buildings

00:33:17.560 --> 00:33:20.640
 because they are-- they were the back of buildings and--

00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:24.360
 but this would, you know, increase the opportunity that people have

00:33:24.360 --> 00:33:26.960
 if they wanted to open up a business on the new streets.

00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:31.160
 It'd be a much more likely, you know, prospect to being able to do that

00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:34.760
 because it now looks, you know, looks appealing, looks nice.

00:33:34.760 --> 00:33:39.200
 There's not the bad smells from the trash and the grease traps.

00:33:41.760 --> 00:33:44.360
 >> So, I think it was brought up but I didn't know if we got--

00:33:44.360 --> 00:33:46.360
 would it be possible as part of doing this plan

00:33:46.360 --> 00:33:49.160
 to just look at additional lighting on Cedar?

00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:51.360
 I mean, it seems like it looks good, like the street looks good,

00:33:51.360 --> 00:33:54.560
 but it is-- what's the feasibility of that?

00:33:54.560 --> 00:33:55.280
 >> Oh, absolutely.

00:33:55.280 --> 00:33:58.560
 I mean, we-- the design phase would be the next, you know, phase

00:33:58.560 --> 00:34:00.640
 and I think they could definitely look at the lighting,

00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:03.160
 what the current lighting is and, you know,

00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:06.560
 recommendations to improve the lighting.

00:34:06.560 --> 00:34:09.760
 And if they did that, they would also replace the aggregate, you know,

00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:14.760
 poles with the newer poles or, you know, if we had, you know,

00:34:14.760 --> 00:34:18.360
 a dark sky option that was a little bit nicer.

00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:34.760
 I think this is where we were.

00:34:34.760 --> 00:34:37.560
 So, the recommendations are to do the enhanced option,

00:34:37.560 --> 00:34:40.160
 the middle of the road option and then depending

00:34:40.160 --> 00:34:44.960
 on available funding, we could add in some of the other features,

00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.960
 you know, that were shown there

00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:50.560
 and that's basically the end of my presentation.

00:34:50.560 --> 00:34:51.960
 Huh?

00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:55.560
 [ Inaudible Remark ]

00:34:55.560 --> 00:34:56.160
 >> One more slide.

00:34:56.160 --> 00:34:57.160
 There we go.

00:34:57.160 --> 00:35:00.160
 >> OK. I thought I mentioned them but, yes, Cedar Street remain

00:35:00.160 --> 00:35:02.760
 as is maybe we just got as far as Cedar Street.

00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:05.860
 Bacan Street, you know, looking at the basic enhanced and luxury,

00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:10.060
 it's sort of like a car, you know, your basic car and then, you know,

00:35:10.060 --> 00:35:16.060
 you upgrade as you go up and that those, you know,

00:35:16.060 --> 00:35:17.560
 we have a breakdown of the cost estimates.

00:35:17.560 --> 00:35:19.160
 I didn't include that in the backup material

00:35:19.160 --> 00:35:22.960
 but we do have a breakdown of the cost if anybody wanted to see that.

00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:25.060
 >> What's the funding source?

00:35:25.060 --> 00:35:32.800
 >> The-- This was initially bond funded quite a few years ago.

00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:37.720
 So, that would be the source of a portion of the funding.

00:35:37.720 --> 00:35:41.560
 Costs have gone up since that bond was, you know, since that bond was done.

00:35:41.560 --> 00:35:46.800
 So, there, you know, additional funding source we would have to locate.

00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:50.660
 >> Is this part of the squares fund taxing district?

00:35:50.660 --> 00:35:50.960
 >> It is.

00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:52.360
 >> Special taxing district?

00:35:52.360 --> 00:35:53.560
 >> Yes.

00:35:53.560 --> 00:35:55.760
 >> And there's no money coming from that?

00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:59.960
 >> For the design, some of the design funding did come from that fund.

00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:06.560
 For this conceptual phase, the money from that fund was used for the conceptual phase.

00:36:06.560 --> 00:36:15.860
 >> So, I have a question about why you all originally thought

00:36:15.860 --> 00:36:21.260
 about making it one way going counterclockwise.

00:36:21.260 --> 00:36:26.060
 >> We were going to do one way with a bike lane, you know,

00:36:26.060 --> 00:36:28.400
 all the way around counterclockwise.

00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:38.260
 But, the idea being there is, you know, we thought that it would be a safer option

00:36:38.260 --> 00:36:42.400
 and it would be a good opportunity for people to go around the block if they're, you know,

00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:47.760
 they could, you know, come around the block again a little bit more easier.

00:36:47.760 --> 00:36:51.860
 And there would be maybe greater visibility of the crosswalks.

00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:58.640
 And so, maybe a slightly more, you know, safe because you got a lot more visibility.

00:36:58.640 --> 00:37:05.040
 There's a lot more, you know, open space where people have greater opportunity for visibility.

00:37:05.040 --> 00:37:09.960
 So, that's-- but we were fought-- I shouldn't say fought.

00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:15.760
 A number of people were vehemently against it and a lot of people were also--

00:37:15.760 --> 00:37:21.540
 they wanted two lanes so that if a truck is there, you know, doing deliveries and blocking the lane,

00:37:21.540 --> 00:37:25.960
 they wanted an opportunity to be able to go around the vehicle.

00:37:25.960 --> 00:37:31.960
 So, once we went back to two lanes, it didn't make sense to keep it in one direction and,

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:36.280
 you know, because a number of other people were thinking that that would hurt their business,

00:37:36.280 --> 00:37:40.560
 that if somebody had to go around the block a couple of times to park near their business,

00:37:40.560 --> 00:37:44.000
 that they might go somewhere else instead.

00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:47.500
 >> I will say if the-- and you guys know I want bike lanes everywhere.

00:37:47.500 --> 00:37:51.680
 But I think if these lanes are snug and as they look like, this car should--

00:37:51.680 --> 00:37:55.840
 traffic should move slow and it should be a safe place for bikes to interact with the traffic.

00:37:55.840 --> 00:37:57.360
 So, I actually think--

00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:58.320
 >> That was my question.

00:37:58.320 --> 00:38:01.440
 What was the speed on these?

00:38:01.440 --> 00:38:04.280
 >> They're set at 30.

00:38:04.280 --> 00:38:08.300
 So, we would need an ordinance to be able to modify the speed and I don't know

00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:12.080
 that we're even entertaining that idea at the time.

00:38:12.080 --> 00:38:15.880
 >> Has there been any discussion of having-- I've read recently a little bit about the idea

00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:21.200
 of having a common downtown speed limit as it helps everyone, you know,

00:38:21.200 --> 00:38:24.080
 because if people are-- if the speed limit is changing all around downtown,

00:38:24.080 --> 00:38:26.360
 it makes it a little harder for everyone to get used to and figured out.

00:38:26.360 --> 00:38:33.040
 But that-- a common speed limit can really be helpful in the downtown area and that could,

00:38:33.040 --> 00:38:38.840
 you know, I don't know how that would extend to our arterials that are on the edges or not.

00:38:38.840 --> 00:38:47.000
 But our-- at least starting with our other streets as a common speed limit then considered

00:38:47.000 --> 00:38:50.320
 or is it more common than I realize?

00:38:50.320 --> 00:38:53.400
 >> So, a couple of things, speed-- it's the other way around.

00:38:53.400 --> 00:38:56.920
 Typically, what people think is if we set the speed limit,

00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:58.880
 everyone is going to start driving that limit.

00:38:58.880 --> 00:38:59.120
 >> Right.

00:38:59.120 --> 00:39:00.560
 >> It's not that way.

00:39:00.560 --> 00:39:03.440
 It's more of what people are driving currently

00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:07.400
 and feel comfortable based on the environment surrounding it.

00:39:07.400 --> 00:39:10.240
 So, that's the way it functions and works.

00:39:10.240 --> 00:39:15.000
 So, in order to calm them down, it's more of not just putting a sign up there

00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:18.400
 but adding features that actually narrows the street down.

00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:18.880
 >> Right.

00:39:18.880 --> 00:39:23.800
 >> That way they feel more intimidated by the cars that are parked, more intimidated

00:39:23.800 --> 00:39:28.360
 by the structures that are encroaching in the driveway and automatically slow them.

00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:36.800
 So, if those elements are added which is what we're doing, bulb outs and mid-block neck downs,

00:39:36.800 --> 00:39:39.000
 that helps and the parking does help.

00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:40.000
 The lanes are narrow.

00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:41.240
 I think they're 11 feet.

00:39:41.240 --> 00:39:41.840
 >> Yes.

00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:45.400
 >> Yeah, they're not wider 12 feet or 14 feet.

00:39:45.400 --> 00:39:49.600
 >> And I guess I was thinking more broadly than the new street-- streets but yeah.

00:39:49.600 --> 00:39:54.000
 I mean, I totally agree that actually the design will do more to slow down cars

00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:57.520
 but I could see it as like an accompanying thing, right?

00:39:57.520 --> 00:40:01.880
 That a common speed limit would help people at least get that message at least

00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:06.720
 until we can get control back of those roads that are, you know, designed as highways.

00:40:06.720 --> 00:40:08.240
 >> We are getting there.

00:40:08.240 --> 00:40:09.800
 >> Yeah, high locusts.

00:40:09.800 --> 00:40:13.760
 >> And the bulb outs serve another feature and that is to help with fire.

00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:18.280
 You know, if they needed to-- if there were fire, you know, they can set up their truck there

00:40:18.280 --> 00:40:22.960
 and they can get their, you know, struts out, you know, so.

00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:26.120
 >> Would you mark these streets as sharrows?

00:40:26.120 --> 00:40:26.560
 >> As what?

00:40:26.560 --> 00:40:28.280
 >> As sharrows?

00:40:28.280 --> 00:40:28.880
 >> Yes.

00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:29.480
 >> Yeah.

00:40:29.480 --> 00:40:31.160
 >> Okay, I was thinking--

00:40:31.160 --> 00:40:37.760
 >> I think most of the-- I mean, we pulled a number of bike riders, you know,

00:40:37.760 --> 00:40:43.760
 and we have a new bike and pedestrian coordinator and it seems like the majority

00:40:43.760 --> 00:40:46.720
 of them felt that the bike lanes, you know, in this type

00:40:46.720 --> 00:40:51.200
 of situation didn't provide them as much of an advantage, you know, but doing the shared lanes.

00:40:51.200 --> 00:40:56.600
 They were interested in the shared lanes aspect of it, you know, in this case.

00:40:56.600 --> 00:40:59.400
 >> I think it's consistent with what Daniel was saying.

00:40:59.400 --> 00:41:03.440
 You're comfortable more to share the road given the way the features

00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:05.760
 and elements are laid down on the street, so.

00:41:05.760 --> 00:41:10.120
 >> Yeah. That's the way I behave on these streets.

00:41:10.120 --> 00:41:22.000
 >> So I have a question about then on Piccon, I believe it is, coming from, okay, Locust.

00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:26.680
 There-- the steps, you're talking about the steps in the sidewalk

00:41:26.680 --> 00:41:35.920
 and how would we mitigate that rise and it's also taken into consideration

00:41:35.920 --> 00:41:38.920
 that that's right up against a building.

00:41:38.920 --> 00:41:46.080
 So how is that-- would that become-- that sidewalk become an at-grade sidewalk

00:41:46.080 --> 00:41:48.960
 or how would we work that?

00:41:48.960 --> 00:41:51.480
 Because there's a real big rise there on Piccon.

00:41:51.480 --> 00:41:57.120
 >> Yes. Parkway.

00:41:57.120 --> 00:42:02.720
 >> Have you gone past it?

00:42:02.720 --> 00:42:04.760
 >> Right up above Dark Edge.

00:42:04.760 --> 00:42:14.880
 [ Pause ]

00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:16.960
 >> So, yes, we have the steps along here.

00:42:16.960 --> 00:42:21.920
 Essentially, the way that we would do it is the sidewalk area

00:42:21.920 --> 00:42:24.120
 on this side would be much wider.

00:42:24.120 --> 00:42:28.800
 And so we would have a, you know, a differential elevation there.

00:42:28.800 --> 00:42:33.200
 We would allow some ramps to go up to the doors that are back there and then beyond

00:42:33.200 --> 00:42:35.240
 that would be the actual sidewalk.

00:42:35.240 --> 00:42:37.720
 >> Okay. Good.

00:42:37.720 --> 00:42:41.160
 >> But that is, yeah, definitely a concern, you know, through this whole.

00:42:41.160 --> 00:42:45.040
 >> Okay. That will maintain ADA compliance and everything.

00:42:45.040 --> 00:42:47.200
 >> Okay.

00:42:47.200 --> 00:42:55.200
 [ Pause ]

00:42:55.200 --> 00:42:57.960
 >> I have a small trivia question.

00:42:57.960 --> 00:43:01.520
 What kind of trees are you guys talking about for those spaces?

00:43:01.520 --> 00:43:03.600
 >> I am not a landscape architect.

00:43:03.600 --> 00:43:09.000
 I must admit, I would defer to the landscape architects or our urban forester.

00:43:09.000 --> 00:43:12.320
 You know, they'll have recommendations on the type of trees that, you know,

00:43:12.320 --> 00:43:16.960
 that would be appropriate for, you know, the amount of exposure that they have.

00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:23.240
 But, yeah, I stayed at Holiday Inn Express once but, yeah, I'm not a landscape architect.

00:43:23.240 --> 00:43:26.360
 [ Laughter ]

00:43:26.360 --> 00:43:32.280
 >> So I read the comments about, you know, the written comments from,

00:43:32.280 --> 00:43:34.760
 probably from the web survey.

00:43:34.760 --> 00:43:39.760
 And there were a lot of comments about perceived safety.

00:43:39.760 --> 00:43:43.240
 I'm interested in whether, you know, there's always a discrepancy

00:43:43.240 --> 00:43:44.960
 between perception and reality.

00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:54.240
 And I am interested in what the reality of the, you know, crime is on the square.

00:43:54.240 --> 00:43:58.160
 Because there were a lot of comments from people saying they don't want to park

00:43:58.160 --> 00:44:02.880
 in the remote lots because of their perception of safety.

00:44:02.880 --> 00:44:09.240
 I'm curious because, it's not my perception but, you know, that's just me.

00:44:09.240 --> 00:44:11.320
 I never feel unsafe.

00:44:11.320 --> 00:44:18.520
 And, but the frequency with which people commented upon a feeling of,

00:44:18.520 --> 00:44:23.560
 or they think they're going to feel unsafe, getting that far from the square.

00:44:23.560 --> 00:44:26.120
 And I'm just wondering whether we have crime stats.

00:44:26.120 --> 00:44:28.120
 I don't expect you to pull that out right now.

00:44:28.120 --> 00:44:38.960
 But if we, in order to encourage people to park at the remote lots,

00:44:38.960 --> 00:44:47.440
 then we have to go ahead and play to that perception of public, of public safety.

00:44:47.440 --> 00:44:52.680
 Whether, whether it's a reality or not, we have to make people feel safer.

00:44:52.680 --> 00:44:58.040
 So that's where I think that we really do need to look at super enhanced lighting.

00:44:58.040 --> 00:45:03.800
 And, you know, really make people feel like they're going to be safe.

00:45:03.800 --> 00:45:07.120
 You know, are there any, and again, I'm interested in the stats on that.

00:45:07.120 --> 00:45:13.360
 And whether we could even start advertising, you know, look, you're safe down on the square.

00:45:13.360 --> 00:45:19.640
 Or whether, you know, if there's a chaperone service that at closing time,

00:45:19.640 --> 00:45:22.520
 because I did notice, you know, women said, you know, I bartend.

00:45:22.520 --> 00:45:24.160
 I'm walking to my car with tips.

00:45:24.160 --> 00:45:26.520
 I don't want to park remotely.

00:45:26.520 --> 00:45:26.760
 >> Right.

00:45:26.760 --> 00:45:34.160
 >> And whether there's any way that we can mitigate the potential, you know,

00:45:34.160 --> 00:45:40.400
 the fear that may be unjustified or, you know, even if it's not justified,

00:45:40.400 --> 00:45:44.200
 we still have to deal with that perception.

00:45:44.200 --> 00:45:48.840
 I don't know what you want to do with that, but.

00:45:48.840 --> 00:45:53.040
 >> Police department definitely has statistics that we can, you know, take a look at.

00:45:53.040 --> 00:45:58.800
 And see how much, you know, crime is actually happening, you know, in this region.

00:45:58.800 --> 00:46:03.240
 So, but, yeah, I think, you know, the more light, yes.

00:46:03.240 --> 00:46:06.080
 I think people, you know, feel, you know, when it's illuminated,

00:46:06.080 --> 00:46:10.000
 they don't feel like somebody's coming out of the shadows or is lurking in the shadows.

00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:10.480
 >> Right.

00:46:10.480 --> 00:46:13.640
 >> So, yeah, so more illumination is definitely better.

00:46:13.640 --> 00:46:18.400
 >> Yeah, because it's definitely to the advantage of the square to encourage people

00:46:18.400 --> 00:46:21.320
 to park in the remote parking lots.

00:46:21.320 --> 00:46:28.640
 And it is an advantage to businesses as well if people will do it and feel comfortable doing it.

00:46:28.640 --> 00:46:30.640
 So, I'm going to agree.

00:46:30.640 --> 00:46:34.000
 That was one of the things, because I read through the comments also that I noticed,

00:46:34.000 --> 00:46:40.240
 and particularly as a woman, you know, you feel more vulnerable than maybe Amanda's.

00:46:40.240 --> 00:46:46.720
 And, you know, I honestly don't, I don't, I'm not out at 2 in the morning in Denton, but,

00:46:46.720 --> 00:46:52.280
 you know, maybe 1030, and I don't ever feel unsafe, but at the same time, I'm with you.

00:46:52.280 --> 00:46:57.960
 Like, I will park remotely, but there are spaces in Denton where there's, the lighting is poor.

00:46:57.960 --> 00:47:04.960
 So, I realize that this is about the Meuse streets, and this is not about remote parking right now,

00:47:04.960 --> 00:47:10.600
 but I do feel like, you know, it would be helpful if there was additional lighting

00:47:10.600 --> 00:47:16.000
 that go towards the remote parking.

00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:23.360
 >> We do currently have a TIF project underway where we're doing sidewalks and we're doing lighting.

00:47:23.360 --> 00:47:27.320
 Oak and Hickory, we're doing lighting from the square to Carroll.

00:47:27.320 --> 00:47:35.320
 And then we're doing lighting on Elm, north to Parkway from the square, and then on Locust,

00:47:35.320 --> 00:47:40.640
 we're going all the way to McKinney and adding lights throughout that whole corridor.

00:47:40.640 --> 00:47:44.880
 So, there's some more lighting coming to portions of the square.

00:47:44.880 --> 00:47:45.400
 >> Great.

00:47:45.400 --> 00:47:56.800
 >> Anyone else have any questions?

00:47:58.160 --> 00:48:01.520
 >> Well, thank you for your consideration.

00:48:01.520 --> 00:48:02.680
 I appreciate it.

00:48:02.680 --> 00:48:05.640
 >> Do we need to make a recommendation?

00:48:05.640 --> 00:48:07.160
 >> Is this okay?

00:48:07.160 --> 00:48:10.880
 >> Just following the rules, Jim.

00:48:10.880 --> 00:48:13.160
 >> I'm right here.

00:48:13.160 --> 00:48:15.240
 Give the staff direction.

00:48:15.240 --> 00:48:18.240
 >> Direction or recommendation?

00:48:18.240 --> 00:48:20.360
 >> Direction, yes.

00:48:20.360 --> 00:48:26.880
 >> Direction, it's more of, are you on board with what direction we're going in?

00:48:26.880 --> 00:48:33.400
 And are comfortable or do you want, you know, just to have your opinion as a committee,

00:48:33.400 --> 00:48:39.440
 would you rather see one-way streets or bike lanes or all that other stuff that we've kind

00:48:39.440 --> 00:48:43.320
 of weeded out and we've selected this moving forward?

00:48:43.320 --> 00:48:45.880
 >> How do we weigh in on the options?

00:48:45.880 --> 00:48:47.760
 Obviously, there's different price points there.

00:48:47.760 --> 00:48:52.440
 Is that something we're commenting on or is it-- right, because it would change based

00:48:52.440 --> 00:48:55.200
 on those options on how much we're spending on it, correct?

00:48:55.200 --> 00:48:56.440
 >> Correct.

00:48:56.440 --> 00:48:59.480
 >> So currently, our recommendation is enhanced.

00:48:59.480 --> 00:49:01.720
 It's not the basic one.

00:49:01.720 --> 00:49:06.720
 And if you want, you can recommend the luxury option

00:49:06.720 --> 00:49:08.480
 but it just changes the parking spaces.

00:49:08.480 --> 00:49:10.440
 It doesn't change that much and put some--

00:49:10.440 --> 00:49:13.240
 >> Well, parking doesn't change between the options.

00:49:13.240 --> 00:49:15.680
 >> Parking space is, in a sense, the enhancement.

00:49:15.680 --> 00:49:17.160
 Just the stained concrete.

00:49:17.160 --> 00:49:18.720
 >> The stained, okay.

00:49:18.720 --> 00:49:20.920
 >> And a tree, additional tree.

00:49:20.920 --> 00:49:23.600
 >> It was additional trees, yes.

00:49:23.600 --> 00:49:31.560
 >> How much would that string lighting add to the project if we went with the enhanced?

00:49:31.560 --> 00:49:35.320
 >> I would need to look at-- I didn't bring the cost estimate with me.

00:49:35.320 --> 00:49:40.760
 I need to look at that but I can't imagine string lighting is actually that expensive.

00:49:40.760 --> 00:49:44.400
 >> Some of these alleys have real economic potential and so I do think like--

00:49:44.400 --> 00:49:47.640
 and I don't know if this goes in stages but like the string lighting could be ways

00:49:47.640 --> 00:49:52.080
 to really create, you know, placemake to create a space in those alleys and some

00:49:52.080 --> 00:49:57.800
 of them are succeeding with dumpsters right in front of it which is actually pretty amazing.

00:49:57.800 --> 00:50:01.960
 And so anyway, I'm not saying what we need to do that now but it just--

00:50:01.960 --> 00:50:04.000
 it seems like something even worth considering.

00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:07.680
 I know string lighting sounds funny but I think they could be real draws for people

00:50:07.680 --> 00:50:12.600
 and the string lighting would invite it and be like come off the square into this area too.

00:50:12.600 --> 00:50:16.800
 >> Yeah, I'm seeing maybe some sidewalk tables and service out there

00:50:16.800 --> 00:50:21.840
 and that this actually becomes a gathering and destination spot.

00:50:21.840 --> 00:50:24.520
 Is there room for the-- for patios?

00:50:24.520 --> 00:50:28.200
 >> There would be room in some of the-- some of the areas, yes.

00:50:28.200 --> 00:50:29.080
 >> OK. OK.

00:50:29.080 --> 00:50:34.320
 >> As a matter of fact, when we did our survey monkey, that was one of the options

00:50:34.320 --> 00:50:39.120
 that we presented was having patio, you know, type seating outside the restaurants.

00:50:39.120 --> 00:50:46.400
 >> Yeah. And depending on what's allowed by code in terms of murals and other paint jobs,

00:50:46.400 --> 00:50:53.320
 the way I believe Warren Lutt did the electrical boxes behind cart rights

00:50:53.320 --> 00:50:55.000
 and those were pretty neat.

00:50:55.000 --> 00:50:56.600
 >> Yes, those were hand painted.

00:50:56.600 --> 00:50:59.560
 >> Yeah. He did a good job on those.

00:50:59.560 --> 00:51:02.880
 >> We're hoping that the, you know, the wraps, the vinyl wraps that go

00:51:02.880 --> 00:51:06.080
 around the transformers will also, you know, look a lot nicer

00:51:06.080 --> 00:51:09.760
 than the standard green color that they are now.

00:51:09.760 --> 00:51:14.880
 >> Well, I don't know how it fits in the overall budget but, I mean,

00:51:14.880 --> 00:51:21.240
 I'm not against like the more expensive and the more expensive options for really making these,

00:51:21.240 --> 00:51:25.320
 you know, but if we're going to do it, to go all the way and really make them special spaces.

00:51:25.320 --> 00:51:29.080
 So, I'm not against that recommendation.

00:51:29.080 --> 00:51:30.880
 >> Yeah. Not against that recommendation.

00:51:30.880 --> 00:51:35.520
 >> I know. It's a-- it's a good head-- it's a good hedge when someone gets mad at me

00:51:35.520 --> 00:51:37.760
 about taxes or something like that.

00:51:37.760 --> 00:51:44.640
 >> Well, I'm all for the additional tree because ultimately, you know,

00:51:44.640 --> 00:51:51.720
 it's going to create shade and then cut down on maybe some air conditioning cost maybe.

00:51:51.720 --> 00:51:54.320
 >> And we did have a number of people, you know,

00:51:54.320 --> 00:51:59.040
 that really wanted to see the additional shade structures.

00:51:59.040 --> 00:52:03.760
 So, that was, you know, a big appeal to a number of people.

00:52:03.760 --> 00:52:08.400
 >> And I mean, in the end, the council have to determine whether-- what they can afford.

00:52:08.400 --> 00:52:11.560
 So, recommending it just as saying that we're--

00:52:11.560 --> 00:52:12.560
 >> We like it.

00:52:12.560 --> 00:52:13.760
 >> Yeah, we like it.

00:52:13.760 --> 00:52:19.200
 >> And if it's doable, then-- so, I'm in favor of the luxury layout option.

00:52:19.200 --> 00:52:20.080
 >> I like the luxury too.

00:52:20.080 --> 00:52:24.480
 >> Yeah, I think if funds are available, that's what you could say, if funds are available,

00:52:24.480 --> 00:52:30.120
 some elements we can look into incorporating some elements of the luxury option.

00:52:30.120 --> 00:52:34.560
 >> It sounds like the tree is what's-- oh, sorry.

00:52:34.560 --> 00:52:36.640
 I don't speak that often.

00:52:36.640 --> 00:52:41.080
 It sounds like the tree is more the favor for the luxury.

00:52:41.080 --> 00:52:41.920
 >> It's a good one.

00:52:41.920 --> 00:52:45.560
 >> As opposed to the paving coloring, is that correct?

00:52:45.560 --> 00:52:46.280
 Is that what I'm hearing?

00:52:46.280 --> 00:52:46.840
 >> Yeah.

00:52:46.840 --> 00:52:47.040
 >> Yeah.

00:52:47.040 --> 00:52:50.440
 >> It's not that you want the luxury, it's that the trees were more important.

00:52:50.440 --> 00:52:52.640
 >> Yeah, but I mean, I do-- I think the--

00:52:52.640 --> 00:52:53.560
 >> The contrast.

00:52:53.560 --> 00:52:57.920
 >> Yeah, I'm not like-- again, it's not something I'm like really that worried about,

00:52:57.920 --> 00:53:00.240
 but I think it can create a nice aesthetic though.

00:53:00.240 --> 00:53:05.960
 The-- what is it, how do you say it, like the coloring of the pavement?

00:53:05.960 --> 00:53:06.880
 >> Yeah, the stain.

00:53:06.880 --> 00:53:08.320
 >> Stain, that's right.

00:53:08.320 --> 00:53:11.200
 I think that can help to also like give character to the area.

00:53:11.200 --> 00:53:15.000
 So I'm in favor of that too, but, you know, again, it's council.

00:53:15.000 --> 00:53:17.640
 If we had to prioritize, we could do the trees first.

00:53:17.640 --> 00:53:24.360
 >> Yeah, and the trees also help with that visual reminder to slow down.

00:53:24.360 --> 00:53:26.560
 It helps with traffic calming.

00:53:26.560 --> 00:53:29.040
 And yeah, the stamped and stained.

00:53:29.040 --> 00:53:31.520
 >> Yeah, all of those elements there too.

00:53:31.520 --> 00:53:32.200
 >> Yeah.

00:53:32.200 --> 00:53:38.360
 >> The lighting, even the stained sides will cause people to take a look at it and slow down.

00:53:41.880 --> 00:53:43.880
 [ Inaudible Remarks ]

00:53:43.880 --> 00:53:47.320
 >> That's our recommendation.

00:53:47.320 --> 00:53:51.320
 >> Funds pending, we prefer the luxury option.

00:53:51.320 --> 00:53:52.520
 >> Always.

00:53:52.520 --> 00:53:55.000
 >> Thank you very much.

00:53:55.000 --> 00:53:57.280
 >> All right, thank you.

00:53:57.280 --> 00:54:06.360
 >> All righty, that brings us to item 1C, TSC 19-016, which is staff reports.

00:54:06.360 --> 00:54:09.720
 >> Okay, a couple of things.

00:54:09.720 --> 00:54:14.520
 I want to start with the street construction report, point out a couple of important things.

00:54:14.520 --> 00:54:21.320
 Mayhill Road, it was planned to be switched to the northbound lanes,

00:54:21.320 --> 00:54:23.960
 the brand new ones that are constructed.

00:54:23.960 --> 00:54:29.120
 And it was planned to happen this morning, but given the temperatures that plan was pulled out,

00:54:29.120 --> 00:54:31.680
 it's going to happen tomorrow.

00:54:31.680 --> 00:54:34.600
 So all the traffic is now switching to the new lanes.

00:54:34.600 --> 00:54:39.480
 They'll start constructing the older, and they'll demolish or take out the old lanes

00:54:39.480 --> 00:54:44.040
 and put in newer pavement in that area and then construct the bridges

00:54:44.040 --> 00:54:46.800
 and whatnot needed over the creek.

00:54:46.800 --> 00:54:50.040
 So traffic switch is happening on Mayhill.

00:54:50.040 --> 00:54:54.320
 We're moving forward as scheduled, so things are going.

00:54:54.320 --> 00:55:00.080
 The other thing I want to point out is another traffic switch that is happening this month is

00:55:00.080 --> 00:55:05.680
 on 35E in front of Buckies or on Brinker.

00:55:05.680 --> 00:55:09.760
 So there is a lane switch happening.

00:55:09.760 --> 00:55:16.160
 The entire traffic, the freeway traffic, both northbound and southbound lanes are switching

00:55:16.160 --> 00:55:23.040
 to the new bridges, both on Brinker as well as Loop 288.

00:55:23.040 --> 00:55:23.840
 They're working on it.

00:55:23.840 --> 00:55:26.320
 They're wrapping up the Loop 288 approaches.

00:55:26.320 --> 00:55:29.680
 I think the Brinker approaches are already wrapped up.

00:55:29.680 --> 00:55:36.800
 But once that lines up, the entire freeway traffic moves and then they are going to start working

00:55:36.800 --> 00:55:42.960
 on under the bridges, both Loop 288 as well as Brinker will be their priority

00:55:42.960 --> 00:55:48.880
 to actually make the connection for Brinker and then upgrade the drainage

00:55:48.880 --> 00:55:54.680
 and everything under the loop so they have to raise the actual Loop 288 street level

00:55:54.680 --> 00:55:57.880
 because it's so low that water just floods there.

00:55:57.880 --> 00:55:59.080
 It doesn't go anywhere.

00:55:59.080 --> 00:56:04.240
 So to make it drain, you can notice that the current height of the bridge is pretty high.

00:56:04.240 --> 00:56:08.440
 The new bridge is higher, much higher than the existing bridge.

00:56:08.440 --> 00:56:10.840
 So that's what will be happening.

00:56:10.840 --> 00:56:18.800
 I think they'll be working under the bridges through the summer and their next deadline most

00:56:18.800 --> 00:56:24.320
 likely is sometime in summer to open up the Brinker connection and make it a full interchange.

00:56:24.320 --> 00:56:26.440
 So that's what's happening.

00:56:26.440 --> 00:56:33.120
 Originally, March 9th was the switch for I-35E, but they're kind of behind

00:56:33.120 --> 00:56:38.720
 with the temperatures and weather delays, but it's going to happen this month.

00:56:38.720 --> 00:56:44.640
 That's what I, at least for now, you know, two main switches on the construction projects.

00:56:44.640 --> 00:56:52.680
 And then we can talk about the matrix.

00:56:52.680 --> 00:57:03.080
 Item number three, we just heard the presentation, so I might want to take that off.

00:57:03.080 --> 00:57:06.960
 And then item number five is happening this week.

00:57:06.960 --> 00:57:13.240
 So we are putting in the stripe at, well, changing it at Eagle.

00:57:13.240 --> 00:57:19.240
 So that way you can easily turn it in and out and it makes it much more better and safer

00:57:19.240 --> 00:57:22.360
 for cars not to back out when the bus is turning especially.

00:57:22.360 --> 00:57:25.640
 So those two are happening.

00:57:25.640 --> 00:57:31.800
 We are working on gathering information for the item number two,

00:57:31.800 --> 00:57:37.360
 which is the, you know, collision reports for pedestrians.

00:57:37.360 --> 00:57:41.080
 And we started looking at the data.

00:57:41.080 --> 00:57:49.320
 There's a lot of data and there are certain intersections that we have started identifying

00:57:49.320 --> 00:57:56.800
 and talking about light is that is the easiest and fastest way to address some of these concerns.

00:57:56.800 --> 00:58:03.440
 So we're pulling out intersections that may have some collision data

00:58:03.440 --> 00:58:06.320
 that is dependent on, you know, visibility at night.

00:58:06.320 --> 00:58:15.240
 So if these, we've identified them and now we're looking for or going to find funds to,

00:58:15.240 --> 00:58:19.520
 if light exists, increase the amount of wattage so that it's brighter

00:58:19.520 --> 00:58:24.160
 and if it doesn't, see how we can install lighting at some of these intersections.

00:58:24.160 --> 00:58:31.160
 There, I think the important one is the two intersections on Carroll, Hickory Oak.

00:58:31.160 --> 00:58:35.440
 There is light but it doesn't light up the whole thing.

00:58:35.440 --> 00:58:40.040
 It doesn't light up the corners where the pedestrians are or the sidewalks really well.

00:58:40.040 --> 00:58:42.960
 So we want to increase the intensity.

00:58:42.960 --> 00:58:48.200
 Currently, the wattage is, I think it is 250 watts.

00:58:48.200 --> 00:58:50.560
 We're going to raise it to 400.

00:58:50.560 --> 00:58:54.120
 That will increase the amount of lights.

00:58:54.120 --> 00:58:59.520
 There are a few intersections on US 380 that we want to increase the light on.

00:58:59.520 --> 00:59:05.040
 Carroll and 380 is one location.

00:59:05.040 --> 00:59:09.480
 There's Alice, there's Malone, so we're going to take it one step at a time.

00:59:09.480 --> 00:59:13.480
 So that's what we're working towards on this particular item.

00:59:13.480 --> 00:59:15.840
 But we'll bring a report and discuss all these.

00:59:15.840 --> 00:59:19.720
 Just wanted to give you a quick update of where we're going.

00:59:19.720 --> 00:59:23.480
 Any other questions on the matrix or we can add?

00:59:23.480 --> 00:59:25.440
 >> Yeah, I'd like to ask a question if I could, please.

00:59:25.440 --> 00:59:35.360
 On the I-35 transition or exchange, switch, do you anticipate any positive traffic flow changes,

00:59:35.360 --> 00:59:39.200
 no change or negative changes for that?

00:59:39.200 --> 00:59:44.480
 >> Positive for some people, negative for some others.

00:59:44.480 --> 00:59:52.000
 So on the 35E, I think it will be a much positive change,

00:59:52.000 --> 00:59:55.640
 especially for the people that are using the freeway.

00:59:55.640 --> 01:00:03.120
 The section between the loop and Mayhill has been an old pavement for years,

01:00:03.120 --> 01:00:06.040
 even after the completion of the widening project.

01:00:06.040 --> 01:00:10.480
 So once they make the switch, this will be brand new pavement for starters.

01:00:10.480 --> 01:00:12.960
 So there are no potholes, no issues.

01:00:12.960 --> 01:00:22.360
 And the other thing is the lanes won't merge or be dropped or have some ramps that are,

01:00:22.360 --> 01:00:25.880
 I wouldn't say substandard, but ramps that are really short.

01:00:25.880 --> 01:00:31.360
 All of those issues, the safety concerns will be eliminated for the freeway riders.

01:00:31.360 --> 01:00:38.480
 As far as brinker connection opening, that will reduce some traffic off of the loop.

01:00:38.480 --> 01:00:42.920
 So some of the traffic that's arriving at 35 in the loop will probably,

01:00:42.920 --> 01:00:48.640
 the southbound folks will use brinker to get to the interchange and go south on 35E, so.

01:00:48.640 --> 01:00:50.920
 >> Right, I guess my question was more the highway itself.

01:00:50.920 --> 01:00:54.400
 I mean, obviously the brinker in Mayhill is not going to be done for a while, so.

01:00:54.400 --> 01:00:54.800
 >> Correct.

01:00:54.800 --> 01:00:55.440
 >> Yeah.

01:00:55.440 --> 01:00:56.240
 >> But highway is--

01:00:56.240 --> 01:00:57.200
 >> The traffic flow.

01:00:57.200 --> 01:01:01.960
 >> Traffic flow, the ingress and egress ramps will be much different.

01:01:01.960 --> 01:01:05.080
 Right now they're construction, they're still in construction.

01:01:05.080 --> 01:01:09.120
 So the size of the ramp, the length of the ramp, they're short

01:01:09.120 --> 01:01:11.360
 and it's because of the construction constraints.

01:01:11.360 --> 01:01:16.360
 So once the switch happens, all these will go away.

01:01:16.360 --> 01:01:20.080
 The new connections are consistent with the final plan.

01:01:20.080 --> 01:01:24.960
 So once the switch happens and the northbound lanes open,

01:01:24.960 --> 01:01:29.000
 the exit and entrance ramp will be standard tech stock ramps

01:01:29.000 --> 01:01:32.520
 that are much longer at the appropriate location.

01:01:32.520 --> 01:01:33.880
 So they'll be a positive--

01:01:33.880 --> 01:01:35.880
 >> In the short term, it's going to be a positive change right now.

01:01:35.880 --> 01:01:36.360
 >> Correct.

01:01:36.360 --> 01:01:37.520
 >> Thank you.

01:01:37.520 --> 01:01:42.040
 >> I have just two quick comments.

01:01:42.040 --> 01:01:45.920
 I'm trying to make sure the matrix just has my concerns on it, which we're--

01:01:45.920 --> 01:01:47.240
 we're almost there.

01:01:47.240 --> 01:01:48.520
 >> Yes, take it over.

01:01:48.520 --> 01:01:50.400
 >> I'm getting really close.

01:01:50.400 --> 01:01:51.320
 Okay, two questions.

01:01:51.320 --> 01:01:55.600
 We-- I think we've discussed this before, but maybe I admit I-- I'm not sure if we ever talked

01:01:55.600 --> 01:01:56.560
 about why, the reason why.

01:01:56.560 --> 01:02:01.280
 I was curious about why there's-- or what the possibilities are for a crosswalk

01:02:01.280 --> 01:02:04.240
 on the north side of Hickory at Bell.

01:02:04.240 --> 01:02:08.200
 So right now it's just on the south side where the-- this is where DCTA is, right?

01:02:08.200 --> 01:02:10.320
 You get off the train, you walk straight across that sidewalk,

01:02:10.320 --> 01:02:14.040
 but the other side doesn't have a crosswalk across.

01:02:14.040 --> 01:02:14.520
 >> Correct.

01:02:14.520 --> 01:02:22.000
 >> So that intersection is currently under design for replacement of a new signal.

01:02:22.000 --> 01:02:29.200
 So we're going out to bed in the-- in the next couple of weeks on the signal contract.

01:02:29.200 --> 01:02:36.120
 So there will be 11 signals and out of the 11, one of the signals is Hickory at Bell.

01:02:36.120 --> 01:02:36.720
 >> Okay.

01:02:36.720 --> 01:02:40.800
 >> It has old equipment we need to redesign and once that redesign happens,

01:02:40.800 --> 01:02:42.520
 there will be a crosswalk as part of that.

01:02:42.520 --> 01:02:42.800
 >> Perfect.

01:02:42.800 --> 01:02:44.400
 >> And then there has to be a--

01:02:44.400 --> 01:02:48.400
 >> And that's the reason it probably went away because you've got the same answer of it.

01:02:48.400 --> 01:02:49.400
 >> Okay. Okay.

01:02:49.400 --> 01:02:50.240
 I don't know if we ever put it on--

01:02:50.240 --> 01:02:50.600
 >> I can put it in--

01:02:50.600 --> 01:02:53.440
 >> We may never put it on the matrix actually, but-- okay.

01:02:53.440 --> 01:02:57.240
 Then my other one, this is relevant to the one on checking on cars.

01:02:57.240 --> 01:03:00.560
 So I walked from-- we now have a new coffee shop, right?

01:03:00.560 --> 01:03:02.400
 The people will go maybe walk between.

01:03:02.400 --> 01:03:04.200
 So I walked from the Golden Boy coffee shop.

01:03:04.200 --> 01:03:06.560
 You haven't been there down Elm.

01:03:06.560 --> 01:03:10.440
 And it's pretty much the same issue as one block over that I already have

01:03:10.440 --> 01:03:12.760
 on here at Hercules Mulfur and Radiator.

01:03:12.760 --> 01:03:13.920
 This is actually a good case.

01:03:13.920 --> 01:03:16.480
 The cars are literally only parked on the sidewalk.

01:03:16.480 --> 01:03:17.600
 They don't even go off of it.

01:03:17.600 --> 01:03:18.920
 They're like right on the sidewalk.

01:03:18.920 --> 01:03:23.680
 So they're using the sidewalk as a place, as an alley to park cars.

01:03:23.680 --> 01:03:25.680
 So this is-- but this is similar.

01:03:25.680 --> 01:03:28.280
 So I think we need more enforcement in the areas kind of--

01:03:28.280 --> 01:03:29.560
 >> So Elm at where?

01:03:29.560 --> 01:03:35.800
 >> And so it's on north-- it's just north of McKinney on Elm.

01:03:35.800 --> 01:03:39.280
 >> The TIF project is making improvements to that.

01:03:39.280 --> 01:03:40.680
 >> To that, those sidewalks.

01:03:40.680 --> 01:03:42.080
 >> So that they can't park there.

01:03:42.080 --> 01:03:42.880
 >> Yeah. Okay.

01:03:42.880 --> 01:03:45.240
 And so I had previously reported one--

01:03:45.240 --> 01:03:46.320
 these are just for me walking.

01:03:46.320 --> 01:03:47.200
 I noticed them.

01:03:47.200 --> 01:03:50.840
 But, you know, they probably haven't been told in a while not to park across them.

01:03:50.840 --> 01:03:53.400
 But this one I found interesting because they weren't like parked--

01:03:53.400 --> 01:03:58.800
 they were parked like horizontally with the sidewalk or using it as parking spaces.

01:03:58.800 --> 01:04:01.800
 So-- which just again, it makes it unclear for pedestrians where to go.

01:04:01.800 --> 01:04:05.040
 And it's particularly harder for anyone with strollers, wheelchairs,

01:04:05.040 --> 01:04:06.080
 or any kind of disabilities.

01:04:06.080 --> 01:04:09.400
 They're having to navigate through their parking lot to get to it.

01:04:09.400 --> 01:04:11.720
 So that was the only other thing.

01:04:11.720 --> 01:04:15.640
 And so-- and I used the Engaged in App, by the way, to report that one.

01:04:15.640 --> 01:04:17.560
 I don't know how that process is working.

01:04:17.560 --> 01:04:22.040
 I will say if this feedback is helpful to anyone, it's submitted,

01:04:22.040 --> 01:04:25.240
 but it kept buffering when I did it.

01:04:25.240 --> 01:04:27.760
 And so it had to actually submitted.

01:04:27.760 --> 01:04:30.960
 And so then when I went to-- I tried to do it three times.

01:04:30.960 --> 01:04:31.880
 I closed the app.

01:04:31.880 --> 01:04:34.840
 And then when I went to my email, I submitted it three times.

01:04:34.840 --> 01:04:37.480
 So it was going in.

01:04:37.480 --> 01:04:39.280
 It was just showing me a continued buffer.

01:04:39.280 --> 01:04:42.880
 And I don't know if that's my technology or my VPN

01:04:42.880 --> 01:04:43.880
 or something messing with it.

01:04:43.880 --> 01:04:46.000
 I have no clue.

01:04:46.000 --> 01:04:49.160
 >> OK. You wanted to make sure that we got it.

01:04:49.160 --> 01:04:52.080
 >> Well, I didn't think it was going through because it never quit.

01:04:52.080 --> 01:04:54.040
 It just would keep buffering.

01:04:54.040 --> 01:04:59.120
 Yeah. So I know now to check my email before I submit a second time.

01:04:59.120 --> 01:05:02.600
 >> So we'll add this on the matrix and then come back with a response.

01:05:02.600 --> 01:05:05.360
 There are a couple of responses, but I'll put it in.

01:05:05.360 --> 01:05:06.080
 >> Thank you.

01:05:06.080 --> 01:05:06.440
 >> Yes, sir.

01:05:06.440 --> 01:05:09.480
 >> I want to ask the group if you all have any interest in this.

01:05:09.480 --> 01:05:16.720
 You know, when UNT comes to the parking about UNT police taking over the parking.

01:05:16.720 --> 01:05:18.400
 >> Your mic, please.

01:05:18.400 --> 01:05:22.440
 >> When UNT comes to-- and we've been very accommodating

01:05:22.440 --> 01:05:26.080
 to let the UNT police department take over the parking on Hickory,

01:05:26.080 --> 01:05:29.360
 on Wilshire, and some other places.

01:05:29.360 --> 01:05:33.560
 And they're not enforcing the parking.

01:05:33.560 --> 01:05:42.320
 I drive a bus down Hickory every day and what they're not doing is they're not towing the cars

01:05:42.320 --> 01:05:44.480
 that are parked illegally on the end.

01:05:44.480 --> 01:05:49.440
 So when I'm making a turn with a 35-foot bus, you know, and most of our accidents

01:05:49.440 --> 01:05:55.440
 over there are hitting a fixed object on coming up Eagle, on Crescent, at different places.

01:05:55.440 --> 01:06:01.040
 So my point is this, next time that UNT comes with a request

01:06:01.040 --> 01:06:10.280
 that we invite chief rentals to come and talk to us about what, you know, what his plans are.

01:06:10.280 --> 01:06:15.720
 >> It is good timing, they're asking personally.

01:06:15.720 --> 01:06:16.240
 >> Everybody?

01:06:16.240 --> 01:06:16.560
 >> Sure.

01:06:16.560 --> 01:06:18.520
 >> Yes, that would be great.

01:06:18.520 --> 01:06:19.280
 >> All right.

01:06:19.280 --> 01:06:22.000
 >> Yeah, we can definitely have someone from UNT come in.

01:06:22.000 --> 01:06:27.360
 It could be the transportation department along with the PD, so everyone.

01:06:27.360 --> 01:06:30.280
 Because I think some of them is through the transportation department.

01:06:30.280 --> 01:06:33.760
 I don't know how that works enforcement-wise.

01:06:33.760 --> 01:06:35.600
 >> Lots of things we can discuss with them.

01:06:35.600 --> 01:06:40.040
 Bike lanes, scooters, we got all kinds of stuff.

01:06:40.040 --> 01:06:41.920
 >> Oh, wow.

01:06:41.920 --> 01:06:47.240
 >> Well, and then you got the thing going on if you're with the bicycle lanes and, you know,

01:06:47.240 --> 01:06:49.560
 all that's, maybe some of that will be resolved by that time.

01:06:49.560 --> 01:06:50.280
 >> Yeah.

01:06:50.280 --> 01:06:56.720
 >> You know, if they take out all those businesses on, you know, over on the other side on Eagle,

01:06:56.720 --> 01:07:03.320
 there's a lot of, there's four streets to be parking on, you know.

01:07:03.320 --> 01:07:07.880
 >> Yeah, I think we, I can talk to UNT and put something on the agenda.

01:07:07.880 --> 01:07:10.960
 But we need to know exactly what we want to put on the agenda

01:07:10.960 --> 01:07:15.400
 because we cannot talk outside of the, that particular.

01:07:15.400 --> 01:07:20.520
 So if we want to add bike lanes, if we want to add parking.

01:07:20.520 --> 01:07:25.840
 >> Well, that's why I said, wait until they come with another proposal.

01:07:25.840 --> 01:07:29.640
 I think they've already emailed me about something, so.

01:07:29.640 --> 01:07:31.920
 >> Okay.

01:07:31.920 --> 01:07:33.240
 >> I have a question for you.

01:07:33.240 --> 01:07:34.360
 >> Yes.

01:07:34.360 --> 01:07:42.080
 >> Okay. So on Locust, before you get to Hercules, there's a new development.

01:07:42.080 --> 01:07:48.200
 And they have put in sidewalks on the outside of that development that would be

01:07:48.200 --> 01:07:51.560
 between the development and Locust.

01:07:51.560 --> 01:08:02.000
 And then the development right before it, on the south side of that, there is sidewalks also.

01:08:02.000 --> 01:08:03.920
 But then it goes to the drainage ditch.

01:08:03.920 --> 01:08:08.520
 Like the sidewalk goes all the way to the drainage ditch and ends.

01:08:08.520 --> 01:08:11.480
 And there's nowhere for you to go.

01:08:11.480 --> 01:08:17.440
 Now, on one side of that is where they put the new bike walk lanes.

01:08:17.440 --> 01:08:19.480
 They put a new bridge in.

01:08:19.480 --> 01:08:21.880
 Awesome, awesome, awesome, I love it.

01:08:21.880 --> 01:08:25.720
 But I'm kind of wondering, like if you were to head down that road and you don't know that's

01:08:25.720 --> 01:08:33.400
 in there, you just end at the sidewalk and then you would have to either go way back down

01:08:33.400 --> 01:08:40.640
 to that bridge or you get on the Textot Road, Locust, and walk across to Ephra's Park.

01:08:40.640 --> 01:08:45.960
 So I'm curious, like, was there any plan for this or was this just one of those things

01:08:45.960 --> 01:08:50.240
 like it was, you had to put it in and they did and then they were done?

01:08:50.240 --> 01:08:51.720
 Does that make sense?

01:08:51.720 --> 01:08:57.960
 I'm not sure I get where the location is.

01:08:57.960 --> 01:09:07.160
 So if you go to Ephra's Park and then there's some town homes, I guess.

01:09:07.160 --> 01:09:14.000
 And then there's the drainage area and then the McKamey.

01:09:14.000 --> 01:09:16.440
 So there's sidewalks.

01:09:16.440 --> 01:09:21.520
 Yeah, go north.

01:09:21.520 --> 01:09:27.960
 Yeah, so there's sidewalks from that McKamey area right there, right, yeah, see that little

01:09:27.960 --> 01:09:35.920
 sidewalk and then it ends and then I'm curious, is there any plan to do anything with that?

01:09:35.920 --> 01:09:41.700
 Because you can get, because otherwise how do you get across?

01:09:41.700 --> 01:09:51.040
 You can go all, if you go west, you can get to the bridge and go across, but otherwise

01:09:51.040 --> 01:09:58.040
 you'd have to get, the quickest thing would just be get on Locust and walk to the park.

01:09:58.040 --> 01:10:01.480
 So I'm curious if there's any plans to do anything with that or if that's, because I

01:10:01.480 --> 01:10:07.840
 know like these town homes, maybe that property is owned such a way that you couldn't put

01:10:07.840 --> 01:10:08.840
 anything there.

01:10:08.840 --> 01:10:09.840
 I don't know.

01:10:09.840 --> 01:10:14.360
 Yeah, let us look into it and then come back with a...

01:10:14.360 --> 01:10:15.840
 Because there's, see where that truck is?

01:10:15.840 --> 01:10:22.400
 There's a crosswalk right there, which is awesome, but there's sort of like this area

01:10:22.400 --> 01:10:28.040
 where if you were walking from those homes, the quickest way would be to get that, but

01:10:28.040 --> 01:10:35.000
 you can go in, you can go west and there's a bridge down in there and there's that one,

01:10:35.000 --> 01:10:36.240
 but you don't, I mean...

01:10:36.240 --> 01:10:41.200
 So you're talking about the west side gap?

01:10:41.200 --> 01:10:42.200
 Yeah.

01:10:42.200 --> 01:10:47.480
 Let us look into this and see what our options are.

01:10:47.480 --> 01:10:48.480
 Okay.

01:10:48.480 --> 01:10:52.480
 I mean, can you see that little, they have the bridge to the left right there where they

01:10:52.480 --> 01:10:54.280
 have all the new bike.

01:10:54.280 --> 01:11:00.960
 Yeah, there's that one and then there's the other one there, which is awesome, but I suspect

01:11:00.960 --> 01:11:05.360
 a lot of people may not, if they're walking down that way, they're not gonna know, may

01:11:05.360 --> 01:11:09.400
 not know that's over there.

01:11:09.400 --> 01:11:11.240
 No.

01:11:11.240 --> 01:11:12.240
 Let us look at it.

01:11:12.240 --> 01:11:13.240
 Okay.

01:11:13.240 --> 01:11:14.240
 Okay.

01:11:14.240 --> 01:11:23.160
 Anybody else want to add something to the matrix?

01:11:23.160 --> 01:11:26.680
 Yeah, let me get my thing up here.

01:11:26.680 --> 01:11:35.120
 I had a couple of things from a couple of citizens and we've probably talked about Alice

01:11:35.120 --> 01:11:38.640
 and university before.

01:11:38.640 --> 01:11:47.920
 This particular citizen bicycles over to Kroger in the shopping area and also walks over there.

01:11:47.920 --> 01:11:54.920
 And last time she was walking over there, she was heading back south to Alice.

01:11:54.920 --> 01:11:59.060
 She was having a lot of trouble crossing the street.

01:11:59.060 --> 01:12:06.040
 Three cars almost hit her as she was crossing the street as they're making a left turn to

01:12:06.040 --> 01:12:10.880
 go west on 380.

01:12:10.880 --> 01:12:14.800
 And having driven out of that parking lot and stuff, is there anything we can do to

01:12:14.800 --> 01:12:22.640
 help with signaling or anything on Alice and to give maybe a little bit more time for people

01:12:22.640 --> 01:12:27.200
 to cross Alice to go over to that area for shopping?

01:12:27.200 --> 01:12:31.040
 So you're saying that there was no pedestrian phase?

01:12:31.040 --> 01:12:33.800
 There is, I believe there is a pedestrian phase there.

01:12:33.800 --> 01:12:37.680
 Yeah, but she was having problems because cars just weren't seeing her.

01:12:37.680 --> 01:12:38.680
 Yeah.

01:12:38.680 --> 01:12:39.680
 I agree.

01:12:39.680 --> 01:12:45.400
 I think that needs to be a more important pedestrian crosswalk.

01:12:45.400 --> 01:12:52.320
 And there is a lot of turning at that intersection because it goes into Denton Center.

01:12:52.320 --> 01:12:56.200
 It goes into Denton Center parking lot.

01:12:56.200 --> 01:13:02.840
 And it's not an intersection that if you're coming-- that people frequently just go straight

01:13:02.840 --> 01:13:04.840
 ahead on, no matter where they go.

01:13:04.840 --> 01:13:05.840
 They're turning.

01:13:05.840 --> 01:13:09.760
 There's a lot of turning that goes on at that intersection.

01:13:09.760 --> 01:13:14.040
 And I think that it is currently poorly lit.

01:13:14.040 --> 01:13:19.760
 And so that even if there is a pedestrian signal there, it's difficult to get across

01:13:19.760 --> 01:13:24.400
 in time if you are indeed not sprinting.

01:13:24.400 --> 01:13:32.160
 And it also doesn't call attention to itself as an important place for people to safely

01:13:32.160 --> 01:13:33.160
 cross.

01:13:33.160 --> 01:13:34.160
 As a pedestrian.

01:13:34.160 --> 01:13:35.160
 Yeah.

01:13:35.160 --> 01:13:36.160
 As a pedestrian.

01:13:36.160 --> 01:13:37.160
 Yeah.

01:13:37.160 --> 01:13:38.160
 And really on a bike.

01:13:38.160 --> 01:13:39.160
 Yeah.

01:13:39.160 --> 01:13:43.640
 Well, all of university is really bad for pedestrians and bikes.

01:13:43.640 --> 01:13:49.600
 But I wonder if a good starting point would be to pick the most logical intersection to

01:13:49.600 --> 01:13:54.520
 really make more friendly and more inviting for a crossing point for people coming from

01:13:54.520 --> 01:13:56.760
 T.W.U. across and people going to Kroger.

01:13:56.760 --> 01:13:58.360
 I think Carroll may be it.

01:13:58.360 --> 01:14:01.360
 Like Carroll where Kroger is maybe the best one.

01:14:01.360 --> 01:14:06.440
 But it might be like identifying let's pick one intersection and make it really more walkable

01:14:06.440 --> 01:14:08.760
 and do all the little things we can.

01:14:08.760 --> 01:14:12.520
 And then hopefully people will start using that one to cross if they're even in the vicinity.

01:14:12.520 --> 01:14:19.640
 But what's tricky about that space is because all the businesses between Alice and Carroll

01:14:19.640 --> 01:14:25.280
 because it's mostly like there's like an auto body place there and there's restaurants there.

01:14:25.280 --> 01:14:29.720
 And so to me it's just like it's all parking lot.

01:14:29.720 --> 01:14:33.280
 You know so people there's a lot of cars.

01:14:33.280 --> 01:14:36.760
 So I don't need I don't know that I would feel I mean you have to be really like you

01:14:36.760 --> 01:14:43.020
 have to have your head on a swivel and making sure that you know people are seeing you and

01:14:43.020 --> 01:14:44.400
 you're visible.

01:14:44.400 --> 01:14:49.080
 It's almost even like thinking about I'm not saying thinking planners for this area because

01:14:49.080 --> 01:14:52.160
 I don't think it makes sense but some kind of things that like give you an enclosed space

01:14:52.160 --> 01:14:55.240
 like as you're waiting for the intersection does that kind of make sense like when you're

01:14:55.240 --> 01:14:56.240
 leading up to it.

01:14:56.240 --> 01:14:57.240
 Maybe that's trees.

01:14:57.240 --> 01:15:00.040
 Maybe that's I don't know what the answer is but I think there's got to be something

01:15:00.040 --> 01:15:04.200
 that could help pedestrians because you feel vulnerable like I mean if you've ever stood

01:15:04.200 --> 01:15:08.280
 on university you feel very vulnerable cars are going by high speed you just you don't

01:15:08.280 --> 01:15:09.280
 want to stand there.

01:15:09.280 --> 01:15:12.560
 So psychologically people probably just don't even try it.

01:15:12.560 --> 01:15:16.860
 And I've tried because I'm on bike and I tried to convince my wife to like you know ride

01:15:16.860 --> 01:15:20.480
 our bikes to the movie tavern and she just is like no I'm not crossing university she's

01:15:20.480 --> 01:15:21.720
 just refused.

01:15:21.720 --> 01:15:26.680
 So if we could pick one intersection to make clear I think that would just be a possibility

01:15:26.680 --> 01:15:29.480
 but I don't know maybe that we just need to fix it all I don't know.

01:15:29.480 --> 01:15:33.280
 That seems unrealistic to happen that's why I'm thinking if we can pick one and fight

01:15:33.280 --> 01:15:39.560
 for that maybe we could but yeah totally I mean it needs some kind of you need to delineate

01:15:39.560 --> 01:15:43.560
 where the parking lots start where the sidewalks are and have like clear boundaries between

01:15:43.560 --> 01:15:45.520
 those and I think that's what would help pedestrians.

01:15:45.520 --> 01:15:51.720
 Yeah because cars are not looking for for pedestrians or bicyclists right yeah.

01:15:51.720 --> 01:15:56.600
 I mean maybe I don't know I don't know what the what the answers would be there.

01:15:56.600 --> 01:16:01.120
 We can look into some options yeah.

01:16:01.120 --> 01:16:04.200
 The second one is communication from another citizen.

01:16:04.200 --> 01:16:09.960
 I'm just going to read what she wrote I've been meaning to bring this up for a while.

01:16:09.960 --> 01:16:13.480
 The corner of Congress in Oakland is extremely dangerous.

01:16:13.480 --> 01:16:18.680
 There's a really bad blind spot that a lot of people speed or unaware of right by Emily

01:16:18.680 --> 01:16:19.680
 Fowler Library.

01:16:19.680 --> 01:16:23.680
 If you know the area Quaker Town Park is across the way.

01:16:23.680 --> 01:16:27.380
 Lots of kids dogs pedestrians bikes and cars.

01:16:27.380 --> 01:16:32.560
 From the other direction North one is TWU students that are parking and it blocks the

01:16:32.560 --> 01:16:33.560
 view also.

01:16:33.560 --> 01:16:36.600
 I've lived by this spot for six years.

01:16:36.600 --> 01:16:42.480
 I and many people I know have been there have been hit almost hit many times.

01:16:42.480 --> 01:16:46.840
 There needs to be a stop sign before someone is hurt or killed.

01:16:46.840 --> 01:16:52.440
 I'm really surprised has anything been done really already such a busy public city traffic

01:16:52.440 --> 01:16:58.240
 area and I'm trying to remember if there is a stop sign it I think there is an Oakland

01:16:58.240 --> 01:17:07.640
 isn't there Congress Congress has a stop Congress yeah I don't know that stop sign on Oakland

01:17:07.640 --> 01:17:14.360
 would necessarily be right way to go but and we don't even have a sidewalk in front of

01:17:14.360 --> 01:17:18.120
 Emily Fowler on Oakland right it starts on the other side yeah but on Oakland you don't

01:17:18.120 --> 01:17:22.080
 even have a sidewalk so you literally as a pedestrian just have to walk right into the

01:17:22.080 --> 01:17:24.880
 parking lot.

01:17:24.880 --> 01:17:31.160
 So we do have long-term plans for Parkway and Oakland to be road diet because it doesn't

01:17:31.160 --> 01:17:37.040
 need four lanes right once we have the road diet there'll be a center line for cars to

01:17:37.040 --> 01:17:42.280
 just cross one area and have a refuge area before they cross into the through traffic

01:17:42.280 --> 01:17:49.280
 so long-term there's a plan we just want to evaluate I'm aware of that and we're working

01:17:49.280 --> 01:17:54.640
 on some collecting some data understanding how it works.

01:17:54.640 --> 01:17:59.200
 When you say long-term how long is long-term?

01:17:59.200 --> 01:18:03.440
 We just have to go through the process.

01:18:03.440 --> 01:18:11.000
 Now I think part of that project is removing signals at Parkway both Elm and Locust and

01:18:11.000 --> 01:18:16.800
 that's where the long-term comes in it because we have to deal with tax time yeah at this

01:18:16.800 --> 01:18:21.440
 point if once we prove and go through the process that those intersections don't need

01:18:21.440 --> 01:18:27.920
 to be signalized they can be stopped signs on Parkway then it's a matter of restriping

01:18:27.920 --> 01:18:30.360
 the whole thing.

01:18:30.360 --> 01:18:36.640
 I don't know if any traffic calming would help that or not it's just something okay

01:18:36.640 --> 01:18:41.280
 the just one question were bike lanes ever considered for I'm always curious what where

01:18:41.280 --> 01:18:45.480
 is it okay I was always I've always thought wondered where would the bike lanes from TWU

01:18:45.480 --> 01:18:50.120
 to the Square B Oakland or do you try to make Bell work seems like Oakland's always been

01:18:50.120 --> 01:18:51.120
 more logical.

01:18:51.120 --> 01:18:52.120
 Oakland's always logical.

01:18:52.120 --> 01:19:01.240
 All right nothing nobody else anything for the matrix sounds kind of light to me but

01:19:01.240 --> 01:19:04.680
 we can adjourn at 650 thank you.

