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Everman adopts ordinance requiring traffic-management plans for utility road closures after residents complain about construction impacts
Summary
Council adopted an ordinance requiring utility and telecommunications companies to submit traffic-management plans for any work that closes public roadways, following resident complaints about construction on Enon Avenue and trailers parked in neighborhood streets.
The Everman City Council on Oct. 14 adopted an ordinance adding a road-closure permit requirement for utility and telecommunications work in the public right-of-way.
Council said the ordinance requires companies to submit a traffic-management plan whenever planned work will close a roadway, giving city staff the ability to review plans, provide public notice and coordinate timing to minimize local disruption. The ordinance does not impose a fee for the permit, staff said; the requirement is managed under existing franchise agreements.
The change followed public comments from neighborhood residents who said utility construction has temporarily converted streets to one-way travel and that trailers parked on small residential streets are creating parking and safety concerns. Resident Barbara Woods told council that work on the street leading to Forest Hill is currently one-way and that trailers parked on the street reduce available parking for residents. “I want to know if it's going to be a one way or if they're just doing some repairs,” Woods said during public comment.
Staff told council that at least one recent construction project on Enon Avenue is not a city-led project and that the city has been pressing the contractor to expedite completion. The ordinance, staff said, is intended to prevent future instances in which utility companies close roads without notifying the city and residents.
Council action and vote: The ordinance (listed as ordinance number 844 in the meeting materials) passed on a unanimous roll call vote after staff described the ordinance as a way to require communication and traffic-management submissions from utility firms.
What to expect next: Staff will implement a process to accept traffic-management plans for review and will work to publicize the permit requirements to franchise utilities. Residents with street-parking or code-enforcement concerns were told to contact the city’s code-enforcement officer.
