By Lisa Carolin
Phase 1 of the Traffic Calming Plan for the City of Chelsea was unanimously approved by the Chelsea City Council at its Aug. 7 meeting at a cost of $14,250.
The project will include three cross islands (like the one at Washington and Madison) that will be located at Freer and Meyer, Wilkinson and Chandler, and Wilkinson and Wellington.
“The cross islands will be in the middle of pedestrian crossings to slow down traffic,” said City Manager John Hanifan. “The focus of the Traffic Calming Plan is stops, signals, and speeds.”
The goal is to complete the cross islands in the next 30 days by the time students return to school. Hanifan said there will be additional patrol officers on duty the first week of school.
The Phase 1 expenditures will also include a radar sign and a Stop Ahead Stencil.
In other action, the city council unanimously approved Dog Park Rules and Regulations for the proposed dog park. The rules include that those who bring dogs to the park must be at least 18 years old and that anyone younger is allowed as long as they are with a parent or guardian. Children under 6 are not permitted in the dog park fenced area.
Owners cannot have more than two dogs at once, dogs must be at least four months of age, no dog toys including balls and discs are allowed, nor are pet food or treats.
The City Council considered a motion to approve the Chelsea Human Rights Commission’s By-Laws, but due to a number of changes suggested by council members, the council voted to wait until a second draft is presented in time for the council’s Aug. 21 meeting.
Mayor Jason Lindauer presented a proclamation to Lisa Allmendinger and her champion show dog Buzz.
“We’re here to honor a champion,” Lindauer said. “Buzz is one of the most highly regarded dogs in the U.S. Lisa has a gift for doing that.”
Allmendinger has had the four-year-old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever since he was a puppy and hopes to show him for another three to five years.
Lindauer also congratulated Allmendinger, who is the publisher of Chelsea Update, on the recent celebration of the fifth anniversary of the online news site.
Wow, these rules for the dog park are *considerably* more strict than I’ve seen for any other dog park we’ve attended! I’m not pleased. I would like to be able to play fetch with my dogs. And if I were a younger parent, I’d want to be able to wear my baby/toddler in a backpack while taking my dogs to the park.