The Wauwatosa Transportation Affairs Committee on Tuesday approved a package of street-specific parking changes recommended by the city's engineering and public works staff, citing garbage-truck operations, emergency access and weekday school traffic.

The committee combined items and voted on them after staff presented on-site observations and brief videos showing how garbage trucks and plows use alley entrances.

Two related items affecting the alley between Gridley Avenue and Portland Avenue (items 1 and 3) were approved together. Engineering recommended prohibiting parking along the north side in front of 8130 and 8124 Gridley Avenue and along the south side in front of 8131 and 8125 Gridley Avenue. For Portland, staff proposed no parking from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the south side in front of 8121 Portland Avenue; the committee amended that south-side restriction to apply on school days, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and approved the combined motion unanimously.

Several residents who live adjacent to the alley and on Portland told the committee that school pickup and drop-off at nearby Wilson School creates periodic gridlock, blocks driveways and has prevented plows and garbage trucks from accessing the alley on busy days. Resident Kelly Hay, 8122 Portland Avenue, said her garage sits between Portland and Gridley and described frequent congestion during afternoon student pickup; she told the committee she is "1000% in favor of the recommendation." Tim Cowling, who assists a disabled neighbor at 8121 Portland, said curb-to-curb widths leave little room for two-way traffic and recounted property damage from plows and trucks.

Separately, the committee approved making permanent a no-parking zone across from an alley on Kavanaugh (item 2) after staff and the homeowner reached agreement on sign placement. That motion passed unanimously.

The committee also cleared an engineering recommendation to remove parking restrictions on the east side of 70 Second Street between Milwaukee and Hillcrest, after spring and fall observations showed low utilization of the street by high-school drivers; that change was approved unanimously.

On Hillcrest Drive, staff recommended a 90-day trial of no parking on the south side between Eighth Street and Washington Circle because the roadway is only 22 feet wide and becomes impassable to fire apparatus when vehicles occupy both sides. The committee approved the 90-day trial unanimously.

At 80 Fourth Street near Joy's Ice Cream, staff proposed a targeted, spaced no-parking pattern to create yield points for passing and to leave a fire hydrant clear; residents said weekend business and double parking create safety risks. After public comment, the committee directed engineering to implement a trial and return with an update; the committee amended the recommended 90-day trial so engineering will report interim results to the committee on July 15.

Alder Meinl and other committee members said they would like the city to develop clearer guidance on parking trials and a consistent template for evaluating block-specific restrictions to avoid ad-hoc sign patterns.

The committee emphasized that most changes are trials or reversible sign changes and that staff will monitor operations and return if additional adjustments are needed.