AGENDA #4j
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Request for Street Closing May 8, 2005, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Dedication Ceremony
DATE: April 25, 2005
INTRODUCTION
The attached resolution would approve a street closing requested by the Town Observances Committee from noon through 5:00 p.m. May 8, 2005.
The Town Observances Committee is planning a ceremony to dedicate Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and has requested that Stephens Street be closed between noon and 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 8, 2005, to accommodate equipment setup, the processional and other functions planned for the dedication of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
DISCUSSION
The Town of Chapel Hill is planning a Dedication Celebration for the renaming of Airport Road to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on May 8, 2005. The event requires the setup of a stage for invited church choirs and presentations, and the crowd size is expected to be at about 500. For this reason, for pedestrian safety and to facilitate traffic and parking operation the Town has requested closure of Stephens Street.
Town staff will notify residents of the street and control traffic at the barricaded intersections during the closure period. Most of the event function will occur on the eastern portion of the street, and Town staff will coordinate to provide alternate parking for residents during this time period.
Coordination will occur as necessary with Chapel Hill Fire Department and Orange County Emergency Management to allow emergency vehicles access into the closed area.
That the Council adopt the attached resolution approving the closing of Stephens Avenue from noon through 5:00 p.m. May 8, 2005.
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A STREET CLOSING FROM 2 TO 5 P.M. ON MAY 8, 2005 (2005-03-25/R-7.1)
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby approves the Observances Committee’s request to close Stephens Street between noon and 5:00 p.m. May 8, 2005, subject to conditions to be set forth by the Town Manager or Manager’s designee, which may include the following:
1. Personnel shall be on duty at the ends of the closed street areas to ensure access for Town and other emergency vehicles into the closed area if needed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the Manager to approve minor adjustments in the time and location of the requested street closing.
This the 25th day of April, 2005