MINUTES OF THE HANOVER BOROUGH COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE April 2, 2024 at 6:001 PM Chairman Fuentes convened the meeting of the Hanover Borough Council Public Safety Committee at 6:00 PM, Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in the Hanover Municipal Building, 44 Attendance: Present were Committee Members Fuentes, Funk, and Greenholt; Staff Members Fire Chief Clousher, Secretary Felix, Public Works Director Grimm, Manager Approval of the Minutes: It was moved by Mrs. Funk, seconded by Mrs. Greenholt to approve the minutes of the March 5, 2024 Public Safety Committee meeting. Motion Chairman Fuentes asked that all public comment for the proposed rental registration and inspection ordinance be held after the agenda item is discussed by Committee and staff. Frederick Street, Hanover, PA, as advertised. Lewis, Police Chief Martin and Chief Code Enforcement Officer Miller. carried. Public Comment: Sandy Bialek, Owner of Fat Bat Brewery, 101 N. Railroad Street: Mrs. Bialek noted that she would like the Borough to allow a food truck to be parked near her business on Railroad Street, between Bank Lane and Broadway. Currently her business does not serve food, and the food trucks support local business in the downtown. 108 East Chestnut, Greer's Restaurant: Public Works Director Grimm noted that Greer's restaurant at 108 East Chestnut Street is requesting a loading zone (20 minutes) on Railroad Street, across the street from the After discussion, it was moved by Mrs. Funk, seconded by Mrs. Greenholt to move the advertisement of an ordinance to establish a loading zone for Greer's Restaurant, 1081 East Chestnut Street, on the Railroad Street side of the property to the Council Workshop Public Works Director Grimm stated that Greer's restaurant is also requesting one to two short-term parking spaces for pick-ups along Railroad Street and one short-term parking space on East Chestnut Street since they anticipate that 70% oft their business willl be carry- The Committee authorized staff to explore options for an ordinance for short-term loading zone at Royal Farms. agenda. Motion carried. out. parking. Minutes ofthel Hanover Borough Council Public Safety Committee. Meeting April2, 2024 Page 2 Intersection of Chestnut and Railroad Street: Public Works Director Grimm reviewed the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Local Technical Assistance Program traffic study results and accident rates at the intersection of Chestnut Street and Railroad Street. The study also referenced the proposed mid-block crosswalk at the Market House. The study found that Railroad Street had more traffic than Chestnut Street, and itnoted that PennDOT proposed an all- stop and an updated crosswalk at the intersection along with the possibility of a "road diet." PennDOT advised the Borough to work with a traffic engineer to determine the best options for the intersection, as well as traffic flow on East Chestnut from Broadway The Committee agreed to authorize staff to explore options for the intersection with a traffic engineer, with proposed costs coming back to the Committee for consideration. The lane restrictions on East Chestnut Street will stay in place while changes are being Mr. Grimm added that curb extensions at the proposed crosswalk at Greer's could be explored as a cost sharing option with the property owner for ADA compliance. to the signalized intersection at Chestnut Street and Carlisle Street. considered. Food Trucks Utilizing Loading Zones: Chief Martin noted that loading zones are considered restricted parking as the ordinance readsi now. Parking is restricted to within 501 feet oft thel Bank Laneintersection, sO parking Mrs. Funk was concerned about vehicle and pedestrian safety with the loading zone and Public Works Director Grimm noted that the request is whether to direct staff to explore the possibility to allow food trucks to park in restricted parking spaces. The Committee agreed to authorize staff to explore options and report back at the next Public Safety Public Works Director Grimm recommended that the loading zone on Railroad Street between Bank Lane and Broadway should have a time limit of 20 minutes, and the Committee was in consensus toi move the advertisement ofan ordinance tot the Workshop in front of the garage doors would not be an option. the increasing population density of the downtown. Committee meeting. agenda. Minutes of the Hanover Borough Council Public Safety Committee Meeting April2 2, 2024 Page 3 Rental Registration and Inspection Survey Results - Next Steps: Chief Code Enforcement Officer Miller reviewed the results of the recent survey from February 2024 by the Lepson Research Group. Chairman Fuentes encouraged public Chief Code Enforcement Officer Miller read his memo to the Public Safety Committee "Please consider the following recommendation of the Department ofCode Enforcement. Upon completion and review of the Residential Rental Registration and Inspection Program Survey thej following action is beingforparded, for review and action by the Councilofthe Borough 1. The original written proposed ordinance, modified with a few text changes to reflect the nevoly. formed department of Code Enforcement, shall be moved forward for approval of a. The registration program shall be implemented as written, effective July 1, 2024, including but not limited to, property owners that live more than 40 miles from the BoroughofHanover. limits who will have to assign a property manager as required by ordinance. After completion of data collection and certification of residential rental units for a period of two years starting July 1st of 2026, the rental unit inspection program will begin and will be repeated inj perpetuity or until such time b. An. annual report of registrations and certifications as well as the number of inspections will be provided to the Council of The Borough ofHanover. C. Rental registration data will only be shared with necessary public safety awareness of progress if the proposed ordinance moves forward. dated March 28, 2024: ofHanover. Council with the following stipulations. that it has been repealed. authorities." Mr. Miller noted that text changes were made in the proposed ordinance to reflect that the Code Enforcement Department is now a standalone department and no longer a part of thel Department of Planning & Engineering. Mrs. Greenholt asked for logistics of the effort. Mr. Miller stated that a period of 2 years will allow the department to gather data and create the certifications, and will also allow property owners to put a property manager in place for those who live more than 40 miles away. At the beginning of the third year the department will begin the rental inspections. This gives time to work with the finance department onl logistics toj justify fees and costs for the program. Chairman Fuentes stated that he would feel comfortable just moving forward with the registration aspect, and re- evaluating the program to include the inspections in the future. Minutes oft the Hanover Borough Council Public Safety Committee. Meeting April 2, 2024 Page4 4 Mr. Miller noted that both larger and smaller communities are implementing this type of program, and that Hanover's effort to implement this program has been in the works since 2021. The survey results have spoken to the positive aspect of moving forward. Mrs. Funk asked for periodic updates on progress. Mrs. Funk supported the effort to Chairman Fuentes asked for regular updates at the Public Safety Committee meetings. After discussion, it was moved by Mrs. Greenholt, seconded by Mrs. Funk, to move the advertisement of the ordinance to implement rental registration for 2 years prior to implementation of thel Rental Inspection Program after July 1, 2026. Motion carried. The community is engaged and supports the project. move both the registration and inspection forward simultaneously. Public Comment Isaac Riston, 36 East Hanover Street: Mr. Riston commented that 14 of the top 30 municipalities in the area have already initiated a rental registration ordinance. He cited various rulings and cases regarding rental registration and inspection ordinances, and stated his approval of the 2 year registration window before the implementation of the Robert Holt, 513 High Street: Mr. Holt noted that he was against the lack of an open container law in the Borough. He emphasized that public safety concerns should come inspections. first in all issues. Mrs. Funk stated her support of an open container law. Mr. Fuentes stated that this issue could be addressed by the Committee in the future. Mr. Fuentes thanked all for their attendance this evening. Adjournment: It was moved by Mrs. Funk, seconded by Mrs. Greenholt to adjourn the meeting at 7:14PM. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Bt Borough Secretary