West Central Reporter

City of Greenville City Council met Dec. 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Special Council Meeting was called to order on Monday, December 16, 2024 at 6:00 PM by Mayor George Barber.

1. ROLL CALL 

Council Present: Mayor George Barber, Council Member Ivan Estevez, Council Member Kyle Littlefield, and Council Member Lisa Stephens

Council Absent: Council Member Blake Knox

Staff Present: City Manager Jo Hollenkamp, City Clerk Jody Weiss, Economic Director Bill Walker, Chief Bryan Waugh, PW Director Jason Heckman

Public Present: Todd & Soodi Brown, Isaac & Morgan Gilmore, Suzanne Davis, Daniel Forsberg, Tori Gocey

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

3. CITIZEN INPUT / COMMENTS ON ANY AGENDA ITEM OR OTHERWISE 

3.1. Isaac Gilmore asked if Greenville University has formally told students to stay off of Prairie Street for Parking? Could there be permits for residents of Prairie Street?

4. CITY COUNCIL OR MAYOR COMMENTS 

4.1. Estevez asked if GU has told the residential students they are not supposed to be parking on Prairie Street? Littlefield answered it is in the student handbook that students are only to be parking on GU property, but not directly. Has it been communicated to the students they are only to be parking in the North Parking lot?

5. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS 

5.1. Hollenkamp contacted our legal team and we could do parking by permits if we had to; legally we can do this.

6. MATTERS OF COUNCIL CONSIDERATION 

6.1. Consideration of Prairie Street safety changes:

Change speed limit to 15 mph

Paint the curbs yellow to eliminate parking at the intersections

Paint two additional crosswalks

Note: See sketch

Stephens would like to modify the motion to 3 crosswalks as shown on the map. She asked if the kids know to not park on Prairie? GU President Suzanne Davis said the commuters may not know, but it is in the student handbook. She added they will send a reminder in January when the students return.

The map shows there will be no parking 30 feet from the stop signs and 9 feet from each driveway. Public Works Director Jason Heckman asked if anyone had discussed Monday through Friday Parking from 8-5 except holidays. Hollenkamp wanted to try the crosswalk and extra stop sign first to see how things progress. Heckman added paint for the crosswalks is not the greatest way to get students to walk on the crosswalks, as not everyone obeys signs.

Mayor Barber asked Chief Bryan Waugh about enforcement. Waugh said with the stripes being painted and decreasing the speed limit, they will have a reason to give tickets, whether it be local or state. The markings will also make it easier to identify the culprits. If someone is parked even an inch on the paint markings, they will be ticketed, regardless if they are a student or not.

Barber asked Waugh his thoughts on the flow of traffic if parking were only allowed 8-5. Waugh said the road is not as heavily traveled as Elm or Third St. The road width is maybe 1 1/2 cars wide, but emergency vehicles are able to get through.

Heckman stated they students will not use the crosswalks.

Prairie Street resident Isaac Gilmore said the City has already closed 1st and 2nd street, and does not feel the 8-5 concept would positively affect safety. He added not everyone works 8-5. His question is, "is this a thoroughfare or is it a residential area"? Not everyone will win.

Estevez stated most people and emergency vehicles go via Elm or 3rd Streets.

Heckman said the permit thing would be helpful. He added Monday is leaf pickup and Friday is Trash pick up for Prairie Street.

Stephens asked if we could add a stop sign? She would like to see 3 stop signs on Prairie.

Hollenkamp said enforcement is key, however, our police department can not stay fully staffed.

Daniel Forsberg suggested making Prairie a one way street going to the south. There is already no parking on the east side. He added all residents park southbound anyway. He feels going northbound to turn on Beaumont is harder to see due to the hill. Stephens said in another community the one way street curbed speeding.

Davis supports the stop signs. She is not opposed to a one way street, however, vendors could have issues getting to the dining commons. Her main focus is pedestrian safety, and felt another stop sign would be good. She is also in favor of permit parking.

Littlefield said we can do this incrementally. If this solution does not solve the issues, we can modify it later to make it better. Stephens agreed.

Tori Gocey does not think students will follow the rules. She also does not think the police will be looking for speeders. She does not believe stop signs will help. Students just do not care.

Barber asked if we can enforce a 15 miles per hour speed limit, and Waugh said yes.

Gocey has never seen any police presence on Prairie Street. Waugh said it is a targeted area. She feels this is more of a parking issue than a safety issue. Barber said parking will be addressed after the safety measures are put in place.

Davis said only GU commuters would be allowed to park there.

Todd Brown stated this is a good start. He suggested that the City police and campus security work together. It all comes down to enforcement. Waugh said campus security handles violations from the student handbook, and the police address state statute.

Parking tickets are $10, and traffic offenses are $165.

Heckman said he will look into temporary sticky tape tomorrow (12/17/24) He would need to have electric for flashers or potentially get solar lights. The crosswalk will definitely need to have some sort of lighting. Hollenkamp added this would come from the general fund so we will need to see how much everything costs. Davis said GU will help pay for the stop signs and lighting. Heckman has signs in inventory and will see what is available.

Motion by Kyle Littlefield, seconded by Lisa Stephens, Motion to approve the Prairie Street safety changes which include changing the speed limit from 30 mph to 15mph, paint no parking on the curbs (yellow paint) per the sketch, add two stop signs, and paint two additional crosswalks per attached sketch. 

RESULT: Carried MOVER: Kyle Littlefield SECONDER: Lisa Stephens AYES: George Barber, Ivan Estevez, Kyle Littlefield, and Lisa Stephens  ABSENT: Blake Knox

N Prairie St Parking Exhibit 12_17_2024 

7. ADJOURNMENT 

Motion by Lisa Stephens, seconded by Kyle Littlefield, to adjourn the Special Council Meeting at 7:20 PM.

RESULT: Carried MOVER: Lisa Stephens SECONDER: Kyle Littlefield AYES: George Barber, Ivan Estevez, Kyle Littlefield, Lisa Stephens, and Blake Knox

https://greenvilleillinois.civicweb.net/document/81511/