Public Works Committee Meeting - October 15, 2024
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Public Works Committee Meeting - October 15, 2024
The Public Works Committee of the City of Winston-Salem met on October 15, 2024, at 2:00 PM to consider a consent agenda and several discussion items. The meeting lasted approximately one hour, adjourning at 3:00 PM. Key actions included approval of routine street closures, naming of a private right-of-way, authorization of a street mural, and a major modernization of downtown parking systems, including rate increases and a mobile payment app.
Consent Calendar
- C-1: Petition to Close a Portion of Morning Star Lane (Southeast Ward) – Approved unanimously; referred to City Council on November 4, 2024.
- C-2: Petition to Close a Portion of White Meadow Lane (Southeast Ward) – Approved unanimously; referred to City Council on November 4, 2024.
- C-5: Abandonment of a Portion of Right-of-Way off Water Works Road (East Ward) – Approved unanimously; referred to City Council on November 4, 2024.
- C-6: NCDOT Supplemental Agreements for Sidewalk and Intersection Project Funds (Various Wards) – Approved unanimously; referred to City Council on November 4, 2024.
- C-7: Resolution Amending Addressing and Street Naming Manual – Approved unanimously; referred to City Council on November 4, 2024.
- C-8: Approval of Public Works Committee Summary of Minutes, September 10, 2024 – Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the public hearing for item G-1 (naming of Bradford Meadows Lane); no one signed up to speak.
Discussion Items
- C-3: Street Mural at Hawthorne Road and Northwest Boulevard (Northwest Ward) – Jeff Fansler, Director of Transportation, presented an application from the Public Art Commission for a street mural at the intersection. Council members discussed neighborhood outreach, timing to avoid school/athletic events, use of reflective paint (not used to avoid confusion with traffic markings), and the need for permits. Councilmember Mundy requested improved communication with adjacent neighbors. The committee recommended approval unanimously; referred to City Council on November 4, 2024.
- C-4: Changes to State Highway Secondary Road System – Jeff Fansler explained that per a municipal interlocal agreement, streets constructed by NCDOT and past warranty are transferred to the city for maintenance, eligible for Powell bill funds. Councilmember Scippio questioned financial impacts. The committee recommended approval unanimously; referred to City Council on January 6, 2025.
- G-1: Naming of Unnamed Private Right-of-Way to Bradford Meadows Lane (West Ward) – Shaylee Bowen, Geographic Information Officer, presented a petition from Molly Bradford to name a driveway serving three structures. The name is unique within Forsyth County. Council discussed fees for street naming (paid by petitioner) and the process for future name changes. A public hearing was held with no opposition. The committee recommended approval unanimously; referred to City Council on November 4, 2024.
- G-2: Modernization of Downtown Parking Systems – Reid Hutchins, Transportation Operations Manager, presented a plan to replace outdated meters and pay stations with a mobile payment app (PayByPhone) and license plate recognition (LPR) enforcement. Key elements include:
- On-street rate increase from $0.25 (meters) or $1.00 (pay stations) to $1.50 per hour; off-street decks/surface lots remain at $1.00 per hour.
- Parking violation fines increase from $15 to $30.
- Removal of meters and pay stations; no cash accepted.
- City will cover transaction fees so the advertised rate is the actual cost.
- Off-street decks will use LPR cameras; monthly renters retain card access.
- Implementation targeted for spring 2025, with back-end changes later in 2025.
- Two public meetings were held (approximately 25 attendees daytime, 40-50 evening), with feedback largely supportive after education.
- Council discussion addressed concerns about equity for those without smartphones, security of the app, the $700,000 annual subsidy of the parking program, and the need for a marketing campaign. Councilmember Larson abstained, citing concerns about the rate increase and lack of clear justification for the deficit. The committee recommended approval by a vote of 3-1 (MacIntosh, Burke, Scippio in favor; Larson abstaining); referred to City Council on November 4, 2024.
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items approved and referred to City Council as noted.
- C-3 (street mural) approved unanimously; referred to City Council on November 4, 2024.
- C-4 (state highway changes) approved unanimously; referred to City Council on January 6, 2025.
- G-1 (Bradford Meadows Lane naming) approved unanimously; referred to City Council on November 4, 2024.
- G-2 (parking modernization) approved 3-1 (Larson abstaining); referred to City Council on November 4, 2024. Staff will provide a memo detailing the $700,000 parking program subsidy components and will develop a marketing plan for the rollout.
Meeting Transcript
Works committee. In attendance, we have Councilmember. If you have Council Member Larson, including Councilmember to speak. Also in a tax, Councilmember Monday. And uh and uh this we have items on our consent agenda as well as our general agenda. My new Jersey is not coming through as well without a microphone. Is that okay? Uh council members, are there any items on the consent agenda that we would like to pull to discuss? C4. C4, Councilmember Mundy. C three, please. C three. I was gonna pull C three as well. Is there anything else? Okay, if I could get a motion to uh approve the balance. So moved. Second. We have a motion and a second. Uh we'll approve the rest by voice vote. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any negatives. And that is approved. Okay. We could have C3, please. Item C three resolution authorizing the installation of a street mural at the intersection of Hawthorne Road and Northwest Boulevard, pursuant to section 7416 of City Code. Mr. Fansler. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, Jeff Fansler, Director of Transportation. So uh as the item mentions, uh section 7416 of City Code uh does uh regulate and authorize the ability for street murals to within our public rights of way. And what we have before you for consideration today is uh an application that our department received, and this is on behalf of the public art commission. And I believe the contact there with is Elizabeth Cohn. Um I might be missing. In attendance with us today. Excellent. Thank you. In attendance with us today regarding some uh artwork in the intersection of Northwest and um and Hawthorne. And so this application was reviewed by our staff and then in accordance with the policy, we vetted that materials uh fit and finish and then the installation methods, and we agree that this meets the intent of section 7416. And we have uh got and uh one thing I wanted to mention too is because this does come out of the recommendation of the public arts commission, and so it has been vetted there as well. And this does meet and satisfies the orders requirement. So I'm happy to answer any questions. And further questions? Comments? I didn't know that Bibby was going to be here, but I was gonna say I I worked with her at Sawtooth, and and she's incredibly creative and artistic, and I can't wait to see this. My question is what is our communications plan for the neighbors around this uh intersection, and also what is the timing to make sure that we don't interfere with uh daytime schools or evening athletic events? And so great question, Councilmember Mundy. So any time we're working in the street, they will require a street closure permit, and so which we will often establish some time parameters on that. So upon approval of this body in Ultima City Council, they would have to get a street closure permit to do this work, performance work, and we'll issue some time parameters to make sure that we don't impact with the thing that you're just talking about now.
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