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271 <br /> <br /> Chief Rittenhouse said that the bulk of parking violations occur downtown, on <br />West Main Street and at the University. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he would be interested in researching practices in other cities, <br />including imposition of a "superfine" for speeding in residential zones. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said she would like information from staff on what would be <br />required to revise the fine structure for parking and moving violations, and 5/Ir. <br />Gouldman said he will compare the City's fines with state statutes. <br /> <br /> Ms.. Richards asked why the location of radar are posted in advance, and Chief <br />Rittenhouse said that it is used as a preventive measure to heighten awareness and reduce <br />speeds throughout the City. <br /> <br /> Mr. Mike Fontaine, City Transportation Engineer, provided Council with a <br />progress report on the City's traffic calming program. Mr. Fontaine said that most traffic <br />calming addresses concerns regarding speeding, traffic and pedestrian safety and cut- <br />through traffic on residential streets, not arterial roads. Mr. Fontaine said that the current <br />process for instituting traffic calming is fundamentally neighborhood driven. <br />Neighborhoods request traffic calming for certain areas, and staff review the proposal for <br />feasibility and develop design solutions and costs, which are then presented to the <br />neighborhood association. If the neighborhood association agrees, residents living near <br />the proposed project are notified. If more than one third oppose the project, it will not be <br />constructed. Mr. Fontaine noted that the process now used for neighborhood approval <br />considers silence as approval, though this process is recommended to be changed to <br />better determine neighborhood support.. Mr. Fontaine said that twelve traffic calming <br />projects have been completed and base line data was collected as of April to determine <br />how effective the measures are. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked how system wide impacts of traffic calming are being <br />determined, and Mr. Fontaine said that counts are being collected on all roads and if the <br />problem shifts to another road as a result of traffic calming, this can be addressed. Mr. <br />Fontaine noted that staff will be able to do computer modeling to help address impacts. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he hopes that staff will evaluate whether the change in the <br />notification process is required since only one problem has arisen as a result of the <br />current process, Mr. Cox said that he thinks it is a considerable burden to take a petition <br />door to door, especially in lesser organized neighborhoods. Mr. Cox said he thinks it <br />should be up to those who assume the idea is not good to prove that. Mr. Cox said that he <br />does not think the City should retreat from its commitment to fast tracking traffic <br />calming. <br /> <br /> Mr. Fontaine said staff want to assure that the neighborhood associations <br />represent the will of the people, and noted that many communities use the petition <br />process being recommended. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he would be interested in surveying West Palm Beach, considered a <br />vanguard of public participation, about their process for approval. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano asked if Park Street is considered an arterial road, and 5/lr: Fontaine <br />said that the intended use of Park Street is not arterial, but is classified as an urban <br />collector. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said that she is concerned about substituting a passive process for <br />approval of neighborhood projects for an active one, adding that many times only a few <br />people are advocating for a project and they need to sell their ideas to residents. <br /> <br />APPROPRIATION: $250,000 - WEED AND SEED GRANT <br /> <br /> Mr, Leon Churchill, Assistant City Manager, gave an overview of the Weed and <br />Seed Program and how it fits in with the City's neighborhood strategy. The Weed and <br />Seed program is a community-based initiative that encourages innovation and a <br /> <br /> <br />