05/08/2001 MINUTESMINUTES
TRAFFIC COMMISSION
Tuesday, May 8, 2001
5:15 o'clock P.M.
Municipal Court Room
Police and Courts Building
811 Bonham Street
Paris, Texas
The Traffic Commission met in regular session Tuesday, May 8, 2001, with the following
members present:
1. Charles Thompson
2. Mary Lane
3. George Robinson
4. Kenneth Webb
5. Ed Ellis
6. Ricky Mackey
7. Cleo Holmes
The city staff was represented by Assistant Police Chief James Barnett.
Chairman George Robinson called the meeting to order at 5:15 P.M. in Assistant Chief Barnett's
office since the Municipal Court was in session in the courtroom.
The Minutes of the February 5, 2001 meeting were approved as submitted.
The first item for consideration was a request for a Stop Sign on Oak Creek stopping East bound
traffic at Silverleaf.
Assistant Chief Barnett said this request came from a resident in the area and she reported that
the traffic at this intersection was heavy and there had been several times when vehicles almost
ran together because no one knew who had the right of way. This is a T- intersection with Oak
Creek ending at Silverleaf and the law requires that vehicles on Oak Creek yield to traffic on
Silverleaf. After discussion Kenneth Webb made a motion to place the Stop Sign as requested.
Cleo Holmes seconded and the motion passed 7 ayes to 0 nays.
The second item for consideration was a request for Four Way Stop Signs at the intersection of
Clement Road and Fitzhugh Avenue.
Barnett said this request came from a lady who lives near the intersection and she reported there
had been several accidents at this location. Police records showed that there had been five (5)
accidents reported at the intersection during calendar year 2000.There has been at least two
accidents this year with one resulting in a fatality. The speed limit on Clement Road is 40 MPH
and the speed limit on Fitzhugh is 30 MPH. Since the five accidents in 2000 meets the warrant
for the four way stop signs Barnett recommended the signs be placed. After discussion Ricky
Mackey made a motion that the Stop Signs be placed as requested and that advanced warning
signs be placed on each approach to the intersection. Kenneth Webb seconded and the motion
passed 7 ayes to 0 nays.
The commission also recommended that All Way or 4 Way signs be placed on all four way stop
signs in the city.
The next item for consideration was a request for 20 MPH Speed Zones at the following
locations:
1. On West Shiloh Street, starting at the West curbline on NW 14th Street, to the West, to the
East curbline of NW 18' Street.
2. On NW 14t' Street, starting at the West curbline of W. Booth Street, to the North, to the
South curbline of West Shiloh Street.
3. On NW 18th Street, starting at the South curbline of W. Shiloh Street, to the South approx.
800 feet.
4. On NW 7t' Street, starting approx. 100 feet South of the South curbline off West Park
Street, to the South, to the North curbline of West Henderson Street.
5. On West Henderson Street, starting at the East curbline of NW 7th Street, to the East, to the
West curbline of NW 4th Street.
6. On SW 27' Street, starting at the South curbline of Bonham Street (US 82), to the South, to
the North curbline of West Austin Street.
7. On West Austin Street, starting approx. 100 feet West of the West curbline of SW 25t"
Street, to the West, to the East curbline of SW 27' Street.
On SW 4th Street, starting 100 feet South of the South curbline of West Sherman Street, to
the South, approx. 700 feet.
9. On SW 6th Street, starting approx. 100 feet South of the South curbline of West Sherman
Street, to the South approx. 700 feet.
10. On SE 13t1i Street, starting at the South curbline of East Neathery Street, to the South to
approx. 100 feet North of the North curbline on East Polk Street.
11. On East Hearon Street, starting at the East curbline of SE 13t1 Street, to the East, to the
West curbline of SE 17th Street.
12. On East Neathery Street, starting at the East curbline of SE 13th Street, to the East, to the
West curbline of SE 17th Street.
13. On East Washington Street, starting at the East curbline of SE 15th Street, to the West, to
the East curbline of SE 13t1i Street.
14. On NE 25t' Street, starting at the North curbline of East Price Street, to the North, to the
North, to the West curbline of Pine Bluff Street.
15. On Pine Bluff Street, starting at the East curbline of NE 22"d Street, to the East, to the West
curbline of NE 25' Street.
16. On Johnson Street, starting at the East curbline of NE 12' Street, to the East, to the West
curbline of NE 15 " Street.
17. On NE 10 ' Street, starting at the beginning of the 700 block and ending at the end of the
park in the 800 block.
18. On Clement Road, starting at the West end of the 1600 block and ending at the West
curbline of NE 17th Street.
19. On East Hickory Street, starting at the East curbline of NE 6"' Street, to the East, to the
West curbline of NE 8th Street.
20. On NE 6 ' Street, starting at the North curbline of East Hickory Street, to the North, to the
South curbline of Clement Road.
During discussion Barnett said this request was made by a city councilman and the areas
requested as 20 MPH Zones are streets adjoining city parks where small children play on a
regular basis.
An error was pointed out for correction on Agenda item 3 subsection 7 that the street listed as
NW 27 ' Street should read SW 27 ' Street.
Discussion was held concerning Agenda Item 3 subsection 4 concerning the fact that NW 7`
Street carries a lot of traffic and changing the speed limit is not justified since children old
enough to go to the park alone should be old enough to cross the street safely. The area on NE
25 "' Street was also discussed with the same concerns. This was Item 3 subsection 14.
Item 3 subsection 18 was also questioned. Barnett explained that the staff at the city pool had
requested the reduced speed on Clement Road because due to limited parking at the pool some
people had to park across the street. It was discussed that the pool is only open about 5 months
during the year and that anybody using good sense would be either driving slow going East since
they had just turned off the loop or NE 17 ' and people going West would be slowing to turn on
the loop or NE 17 '. The recommendation was made that we lower the speed limit on Clement
Road to 30 MPH and not make any other changes. Barnett said that would be on the next Traffic
Commission Agenda.
After discussion Ed Ellis made a motion that the requests for 20 MPH speed zones be combined
and considered together and that the requested speed zones be placed at all locations except on
NW 7t' Street, NE 25t" Street and Clement Road. Mary Lane seconded and the motion passed 7
ayes to 0 nays.
The fourth item for consideration was a request from The Texas Department of Transportation
for their recommended speed zones, inside the city, at the following locations:
1. US 271
2. US 82
3. FM 79 (NW 19"' Street)
4. FM 137 (SW 19t" Street)
Ricky Mackey asked to be excused before any discussion or action on these requests to avoid any
appearance of conflict since he is an employee of TxDOT.
After discussion that these changes included newly annexed portions of these streets or highways
as well as existing portions inside the city as shown on maps sent with this request Charles
Thompson made a motion that the speed zones be established as requested. Ed Ellis seconded
and the motion carried 6 ayes to 0 nays with Ricky Mackey not participating or voting.
There being no further bu ' ess the meeting adjourned at 5:30 P.M.
J mes Barnett