Committee approves no-parking zone, accessible space and several sign removals near schools and neighborhoods

The Public Safety and General Government Committee voted to install no-parking signage on one side of a short street near Edson School, add an accessible parking space at 8 Smith Avenue, and remove two other parking-related signs.

Committee member Sarah Paske described a traffic and pickup backup on Marylina (also referenced as a short block entering Edson) caused when cars line both sides of the narrow street during school drop-off and pick-up. She said neighbors and the school resource officer, John Kurtz, supported limiting parking on the side of the street closest to Edson so buses and through traffic would not be blocked.

"We discussed all the options. And they agreed...that would be a good sign," Paske said, reporting neighbors' support and explaining that most adjacent households have driveways.

A motion to install no-parking/no-standing signs on one side of the two-block stretch (the side closest to Edson) passed during the meeting. The motion was phrased to allow the city Department of Public Works to use standard sign language and placement.

The committee also approved the mayor's request to add an accessible parking space at 8 Smith Avenue; members made the motion contingent on the city engineer's recommendation and recorded a positive vote. A separate motion to remove an ADA sign at 170 Downing Street — because the person for whom the sign was placed no longer has a vehicle — was approved. The committee also approved removing a parking sign at 10 Walmart after an alderman submitted a letter that the resident no longer needs the space.

John Kurtz, the school resource officer, was credited in the discussion for patrolling during drop-off and helping direct traffic; members noted the change should reduce idling and improve safety for buses and pedestrians. The motions passed without recorded objections; individual vote tallies were not specified in the transcript.