1. Announcements and Public Comment Period a. Three residents of King Farm Blvd. presented testimony to support their petitions to implement permit parking on the 500 and 400 blocks of King Farm Blvd. b. Commissioner Rosselle inquired of the residents what the existing red and green tags on cars parked on King Farm Blvd. represent. Resident Ted Task explained that the tags distinguish “top priority” and “second priority” parking eligibility for the parking lots behind the condos on the 400 and 500 blocks. MPDU residents are granted “second priority” tags and are not allowed to park in the parking lots, just on the streets adjacent to the condos. c. There was discussion and clarification about the amount of parking spaces approved with the development. Resident Joan Hannon stated that the issue which prompted her to submit a request for permit parking request is not the number of spaces but rather the availability of spaces for visitors (i.e., petitioners want visitors to be able to park close). d. Resident Ted Task stated that he was in favor of the 400 block being granted permit parking. e. Commissioner Thomas inquired about the fees levied on residents to pay for the King Farm shuttle service. Ted Task stated that the King Farm Conservancy (the developer) operates the shuttles. The King Farm HOA charges $64/unit/month, the HOA pays the King Farm Conservancy $12/unit/month, but he is not sure how much of that goes toward operating the shuttles. f. Chair Oberg inquired when permit parking would be implemented on the private streets. Ted Task said he was not sure but expected a target date of this fall.
2. Permit Parking Submissions: 500 and 400 block of King Farm Blvd. a. Chair Oberg outlined the process to approve or disapprove permit parking requests. b. There was discussion about the permit parking request for the 500 block of King Farm Blvd. - There was concern that the 10AM – 2 PM parking restrictions would affect the lunch time crowd.
- A majority of the commissioners stated that they felt parking is not a problem now but do foresee parking being a problem when permit parking is implemented on private streets.
- Commissioners Crane expressed that the 10AM – 2PM permit parking would not alleviate a parking problem in the evening – especially for MPDU residents who are not allowed to park in the parking lots behind the condos.
- Commissioner Resnick stated that he feels parking is not a problem at this time but may become a problem when the private streets are granted permit parking. He also stated that the permit parking met a majority of the guidelines set forth in the City Code.
- Commissioner Thomas stated that residents who signed the petition to request permit parking should not have to reapply if parking did become a problem.
- Commissioner Klein stated that the King Farm development was approved with an insufficient supply of parking.
- A motion to approve the following language was called to question and seconded:
"In accordance with Rockville permit parking ordinance 27-05, the Traffic and Transportation Commission establishes a permit parking area on both sides of the 500 block of King Farm Boulevard, to be implemented with the same hours and conditions and at the same time as any permit parking area established or recognized by the City of Rockville for contiguous private streets". The motion was approved by a vote of 5 in favor, 2 opposed. c. Commissioners decided to also vote on the permit parking request for the 400 block of King Farm Blvd. A motion to approve the following language was called to question and seconded "In accordance with Rockville permit parking ordinance 27-05, the Traffic and Transportation Commission establishes a permit parking area on the north side of the 400 block of King Farm Boulevard, to be implemented with the same hours and conditions and at the same time as any permit parking area established or recognized by the City of Rockville for contiguous private streets".
The motion was approved by a vote of 6 in favor, 1 opposed.
3. Draft of Permit Parking Principles and Guidelines a. Commissioners approved the draft Principles and Guidelines for Permit Parking Approval document with minor amendments. b. Chair Oberg requested that when staff discuss or hand out the Guidelines to petitioners, it be made clear that anecdotal evidence of a hardship is not acceptable. c. There was discussion about who might be required to research whether or not a “hardship” exists (beyond anecdotal)– the petitioner, staff, or another source. Commissioners agreed that this should be a topic at next month’s meeting.
4. Review July 2006 Meeting Minutes a. July 2006 meeting minutes were approved with minor amendments. b. Commissioners inquired if there would be another chance for them to review the Sidewalk Prioritization Project. Staff relayed that the plan was for the Commission to review the item again in late fall 2006.
5. Staff Report and Updates (Weekly) a. Commissioners reviewed the weekly staff report. There were no questions about items in the report.
6. Discussion Regarding Transportation Demand Management Strategic Plan a. Ms. Kelly provided an update on the next steps for the TDM Strategic Plan. The item is scheduled to go before Mayor and Council in the fall. b. A strategic plan will incorporate principles, goals, and objectives discussed by the Commission in spring and early summer 2006. c. Ms. Kelly updated Commissioners on the Greater Shady Grove Transportation Management District. d. Chair Oberg offered to help with research on best practices, measurable objectives, etc. Everyone agreed that the Commission will help with this research and that staff will consult with the Commission on TDM programs on an ongoing basis.
Additional Items for Discussion 1. Commissioner Thomas requested that the following be included on next month’s agenda: a. Update on the MD28/586/911 SHA project (project team mtg. at SHA on 8/28/06) b. Discuss possible elimination of right-turns-on-red in the Town Center area c. Update on request to install paddle signs or another pedestrian safety measure on W. Edmonston, between Wootton Pkwy. and MD355.
2. Commissioner Klein requested an update on a previous request that staff investigate unsafe pedestrian crossings of Congressional Lane near Rockville Pike. These crossings appear to be induced by a walkway along the Staples store parallel to the sidewalk on Rockville Pike that intersects the sidewalk on Congressional Lane opposite the vehicular driveway entering Congressional Plaza (near the exit from Wachovia Bank). He suggested a barrier, sign, or markings to encourage peds to use the crosswalk at Rockville Pike. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 P.M. | 
