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MINUTES <br />Parks & Recreation Commission <br />December 7, 2000 <br />Johnson stated that typically, adults are the only ones walking/biking on the street by her <br />house. The street is not a safe place for children to be walking/biking, especially since the <br />smoother, wider streets have resulted in cars driving faster. She also commented that <br />surrounding cities do not have parking restrictions like Little Canada's. <br />Bremner stated that the City should not be labeling the shoulders on streets as "trails." The <br />City should be pursuing off-street trails which are morn safe for pedestrians and bikers. With <br />no parking on the streets, Brenner felt the cars seem to drive faster. <br />Anderson stated that the Commission is aware that the roads posted as "no parking" should <br />not be considered to have on-street trails, but they are being used by pedestrians and bikers, <br />and it is the desire of the Commission to keep pedestrians and bikers as safe as possible. <br />Anderson also indicated that parked cats should not be used as a deterrent to speeding. <br />Sanders stated that this issue is a difficult one. He indicated that the Commission prefers off- <br />street trails, and had asked for one on County Road B2, but the residents there were not in <br />favor of one. Brenner commented that the goal should be off-street trails, but if that cannot <br />be obtained, a compromise with the residents would be nice. <br />Bianchi stated that she attended all of the meetings on the Viking Drive road improvement <br />and there was never any mention of the "no parking" issue. She has a short driveway with no <br />place for her kids or their friends to park. Her kids' friends come unamuoutrced so a parking <br />permit cannot always be obtained. She does not let her children walk on the street because it <br />is too dangerous. They walk on the grass through the neighbors' yards. Bianchi felt that the <br />new restriction is very inconvenient for the residents and has affected her quality of life. She <br />stated that Viking Drive has never had a problem with pedestrian safety in the past so the <br />restrictions are unwarranted. <br />Anderson informed the residents of the discussion that took place at the last Commission <br />meeting. He stated that the Commission felt that pedestrian safety was the most important <br />issue. They were not in favor of limiting parking to one side since bikers and pedestrians use <br />opposite sides of the road depending on which direction they are traveling. At their last <br />meeting, the Commission also indicated their desire that parking issues be discussed at all <br />future road improvement hearings. <br />Johnson stated that the City Council had studied her parking situation in the past and they <br />allowed on-street parking by her home at that time. Gray stated that the roads were striped <br />for the safety of pedestrians. If cars are allowed to park there, that contradicts the reason for <br />striping. <br />Bianchi felt that the City should be able to work with the residents to come up with a <br />compromise. Anderson stated that the City did have residents that favored the "no parking" <br />policy. Johnson commented that if streets with parking are dangerous, every street in the <br />City should be posted as "no parking," not just certain streets. All attending the meeting <br />agreed that speeding is a problem on the newly improved roads. <br />Page 2 of 5 <br />