Committee approves parking limits on Hamilton and Twelfth streets; allows limited bicycle use on Randolph-Burick sidewalk

The Wausau Common Council Infrastructure and Facilities Committee on March 13 voted to approve parking restrictions on Hamilton Street between Tenth and Twelfth streets and on Twelfth Street between Hamilton and Steuben streets, and approved a proposal to permit bicycles to use a sidewalk corner near Randolph Street and Burick Avenue as described in the city’s Safe Routes to School plan.

The actions were unanimous. The committee recorded 5-0 votes to advance the Hamilton and Twelfth Street parking changes and to approve the bicycle sidewalk allowance; each item will move to full council where final action will be taken.

The Safe Routes to School–linked change would permit bicycles to use the sidewalk at the corner between Randolph and Burick with a short driveway-style ramp for westbound riders to access the sidewalk and re-enter the roadway using an existing parking-lot ramp. Committee members said the proposal mostly relies on existing infrastructure and is intended to improve student routes to nearby schools.

A Hamilton Street resident, Josh, who lives at the corner of Hamilton and Twelfth, addressed the committee during public comment and urged consideration of a seasonal parking restriction instead of a year-round ban. He raised two technical points that he said informed his view: differences in plow blade widths and the frequency of heavy snow events. "A 10 to 11 foot, even 12 foot, plow, I don't think it would be necessary to make a change," he said, adding that "13, 14 foot plow, then you're talking about a necessary change." He also asked whether a restriction could be limited to winter months when plowing is frequent.

Dustin of public works replied with equipment details: "The machine that runs that route has a 12 foot plow blade on the front, and then we run a 10 foot wing on the side," and added that, when angled, the plow combination creates a wider clearing in practice.

Committee members noted the committee’s action is an intermediate step and that the ordinance or order will go to the full council before final approval. The committee chair said amendments could still be considered by council and the committee could revisit the issue after council discussion.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: motion to approve as presented. Moved: Alder Neal; Second: Martins. Vote: 5-0 (approved). - Parking restriction — Hamilton Street (Tenth to Twelfth): Moved: Alder Neal; Second: Alder Larson. Vote: 5-0 (approved). Item will go to full council for final action. - Parking restriction — Twelfth Street (Hamilton to Steuben): Moved: Alder Larson; Second: Alder Watson. Vote: 5-0 (approved). Item will go to full council for final action. - Bicycle sidewalk allowance — Randolph Street and Burick Avenue (Safe Routes to School proposal): Moved: Alder Larson; Second: Alder Neal. Vote: 5-0 (approved). Item will go to full council for final action.

The committee’s approvals were routine and passed without additional amendments. The committee clerk will include public comments in the meeting minutes and the Hamilton Street item will appear on the council agenda, where members said they could amend the timeframe (for example, making any restriction seasonal) before final adoption.