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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecp_060810TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE UKIAH CIVIC CENTER Conference Room No. 3 300 Seminary Avenue Ukiah, California 95482 TUESDAY, June 8, 2010 3:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Kageyama, Jordan, Baxter, Seanor, Turner, Taylor, Lampi, and Whitaker 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: April 13, 2010 3. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: The Traffic Engineering Committee welcomes input from the audience. In order for everyone to be heard, please limit your comments to three (3) minutes per person and not more than 10 minutes per subject. The Brown Act regulations do not allow action to be taken on non-agenda items. 4. OLD BUSINESS: 5. NEW BUSINESS: a. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Illegal U-turns on School Street 6. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS: 7. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS: 8. ADJOURNMENT: Please be advised that the City needs to be notified 72 hours in advance of a meeting if any specific accommodations or interpreter services are needed in order for you to attend. The City complies with ADA requirements and will attempt to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities upon request. I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing agenda was posted on the bulletin board at the main entrance of the City of Ukiah City Hall, located at 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California, not less than 72 hours prior to the meeting set forth on this agenda. Dated this 4t" day of June, 2010. Amanda Davis, Administrative Secretary TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE MINUTES UKIAH CIVIC CENTER Conference Room No. 3 300 Seminary Avenue Ukiah, California 95482 TUESDAY, April 13, 2010 3:00 P.M. Members Present Steve Turner, Chair Dan Baxter, MTA, Vice-Chair John Lampi, Public Representative Trent Taylor, UPD Rick Seanor, Staff Ben Kageyama, Staff Jerry Whitaker, Staff Members Absent Kim Jordan, Staff 1. CALL TO ORDER: 3:05:35 PM Others Present Staff Present Amanda Davis, Recording Secretary 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MIS Taylor/Baxter it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to approve the March 9, 2010, minutes. 3. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: The Traffic Engineering Committee welcomes input from the audience. In order for everyone to be heard, please limit your comments to three (3) minutes per person and not more than 10 minutes per subject. The Brown Act regulations do not allow action to be taken on non-agenda items. 4. OLD BUSINESS: 3:06:23 PM a. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Possible Elimination of the Traffic Engineering Committee. Member Seanor presented the item. Recommended actions are: 1) Forward a copy of this report to the Director of Public Works/City Engineer, 2) Take no action. The Committee discussed and expressed their concerns over possible elimination of the Traffic' Engineering Committee. /S Turner/Lamp! to report to the Director of Public. Works/City Engineer the Committee's overall thoughts and concerns of possible elimination, including: The Committee agrees that they are very efficient in their actions and are resourceful; staff time is saved by having a review process by the Committee; the Committee meets on an as needed basis, and meetings do not occur every month; this Committee allows for an appeal process; the process of going through City Council with items that arise rather than TEC 4/13/10 Page 1 of 2 the Traffic Engineering Committee will be difficult, more time consuming and cumbersome; and there are a variety of members, each with an area of expertise which is a benefit to the Committee and to the public. 5. NEW BUSINESS: 3:18:43 PM a. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Park Boulevard-Request for School Zone Signage. Member Seanor presented the item. Recommended action:1) Recommend posting 25 mph speed zone signs on Park Boulevard, 2) Recommend posting 25 mph speed zone signs with the addition of "SCHOOL" sign plates on Park Boulevard, 3) Recommend posting another type of school zone sign, 4) Take no action. M/S Baxter/Seanor to recommend posting two 25 mph speed zone signs, one at Park Boulevard at Walnut and one at Barnes and Park Boulevard. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Members Seanor, Taylor, Baxter, and Lampi. NOES: Members Kageyama, Whitaker and Turner. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Member Jordan. 6. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS:3 : 33 :11 PM Member Seanor discussed the Transportation Improvements at Redwood Business Park. This project is currently in the design stages. The improvements include: constructing a second left turn on Talmage Road at Airport Park Boulevard, reconstructing asphalt concrete pavement on Airport Park Boulevard fromTalmage Road to Friedman Brother's, new traffic signal installation at Commerce Drive and Airport Park Boulevard, construction of a round-about at the South end in front of the brewery, and road improvements East of the brewery. The first design meeting with the Engineers will take place on April 14, 2010. Member Baxter expressed concern over the bus stop located near Wal-Mart and Commerce Drive. There is very poor access to the bus stop. Sidewalks do not exist around Wal-Mart, which requires bus passengers to walk through the parking lot. Sidewalk improvements and ADA ramps should be installed on both sides of Commerce Drive when Wal-Mart goes through its planned remodel. Member Taylor inquired on the State Street and Low Gap Road/Brush Street traffic signal construction. Member Seanor informed the Committee that this was put out to bid in the late 1990's and bids came in above staff's estimate. As development occurs on Brush Street, staff is going to try to get funding for intersection improvements through development projects. 7. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS: 3:41:27 PM Member Kageyama informed the Committee about a request he received regarding a Nursery School in the Empire Gardens area. A loading zone was requested to be installed curbside at the Nursery School. The caller is going to try and work with the neighbors instead of bringing this to the Traffic Engineering Committee. 8. ADJOURNMENT: 3:43:28 PM There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:43 p.m. Amanda Davis, Recording Secretary TEC 4/13/10 Page 2 of 2 MEMORANDUM DATE: June 8, 2010 TO: Traffic Engineering Committee FRO : Rick Seanor, Deputy Director of Public Worksg SUBJECT: Illegal U-turns on School Street Agenda Item 5a. REQUEST: Staff received a letter Attachment "A" from Cathy Haas regarding illegal u-turns on School Street in the downtown area. Ms. Haas has requested that the u-turn signs be made more visible and that enforcement be provided for drivers making illegal u-turns. City Manager Jane Chambers responded by letter (Attachment "B") to Ms. Haas regarding this issue and referred the matter to the Traffic Engineering Committee (TEC). DISCUSSION: On School Street there are nine u-turn signs in the downtown area. For northbound traffic, u-turn signs are located at Stephenson St., Church St., Perkins St., and Smith St. For southbound traffic, u-turn signs are located at Smith St., Standley St., Perkins St., Church St., and Stephenson St. An aerial photo map, Attachment "C", is provided to show the general layout of School Street in downtown Ukiah. RECOMMENDATION: Staff is submitting this report for review and discussion by the Traffic Engineering Committee (TEC). The following are suggested actions that the TEC may want to consider: 1. Recommend additional enforcement of illegal u-turns. 2. Recommend posting another type of no u-turn sign. 3. Take no action. enc. City of Ukiah 300 Seminary Ave Ukiah, CA 95482 April 13, 2010 Dear City Manager 1~ 1t Attachment # p This is my second letter addressed to the City of Ukiah concerning the same issue. The first letter was sent directly to the Chief of Police. This letter will go to you, the Mayor and the Chief of Police and deals with the issue of illegal u-turns on School Street for the purpose of parking. In my previous letter I documented a case where a man in a pick up truck made an illegal u-turn in front of a lady on a bicycle to park in a north bound space when he was traveling south bound. A lady, on a bike, who had obviously just come from the Farmers Market as the "saddle bag" baskets on the back of her bike were full of produce was north bound with a car following her with their right turn blinker going. I do not know whether the truck caught the front of the bike and tipped it or if , in and effort to avoid a collision with the truck the lady lost her balance, sending her melons rolling as he very callously walked away. She was not seriously injured, just a bump to her knee ...this time. The people in the car and myself retrieved her produce and she refused to allow us to call the police. I did document this in a letter and sent it to the Police Department and also informed the Chief that this is an on going problem in this area. Today an older gentleman in silver, smaller size pick-up made the same type of turn and a woman in a north bound car got out of her car parked in the lane of traffic, about 10 a.m. and proceeded to walk up to the mans driver side window and swear violently at him about how she had seen the parking place and done the right thing and gone around the block to be heading the right way to park there and how he was breaking the law. The man sat in his truck for some time with his head against the steering wheel and finally drove away. He sat there long enough that I was concerned for his well being. My business location has now been located on School Street for a year and I have witnessed this driving practice at least 4 times an hour, day after day, sometimes with very close calls. Sometimes the u-turn maker even takes up two parking places and if the parking enforcement officers comes across these she does ticket them. If I am outside my store and witness one of these parkers I do mention them that the turn they just made is against the law. Some do not realize it is, others just don't care and make the statement that there is little chance of getting caught. Many say they did not see the "No u- turn" signs which are often hidden by the trees. My fear this morning was that the gentleman in the silver pick-up may have been shaken enough to have had a heart attack as the woman slapped his truck and cursed at him never the less it was something should not have to endure, even if he was at fault ...I believe this to be a form of road rage and totally preventable. PLEASE, make the signs more visible and start enforcing it law before a tragedy does occur. Attachment ll 1311 - April 22, 2010 Cathy Haas 111 So. School Street Ukiah, California 95482 Dear Ms. Haas: Your recent letter was received in my office April 19, regarding the situation of illegal u-turns on School Street. I have discussed the situation with the Police Chief, who advises me that this same topic has been an issue before in the downtown area. He is going to take the issue before the Traffic Engineering Committee to review the present signage and discuss what other measures might be taken to discourage the u-turn activity. The Traffic Engineering Committee is comprised of engineering staff and public representatives. By copy of this letter, I am requesting that you be notified as to the meeting time and date in which this topic will be discussed. A few years ago, a concerted effort was made to ticket and monitor this activity. At that time, the merchants in the area complained to the City that the strict enforcement was discouraging customers. The challenge appears to be to find a solution that resolves the problem, but takes into account the different uses in the area. Thank you for making the City aware of this issue on School Street. Sincerely, a A. Chambers ity Manager cc: Chief Dewey Rick Seanor, Traffic Committee Mayor Thomas 300 SEMINARY AVENUE UKIAH, CA 95482-5400 Phone# 707/463-6200 Fax# 707/463-6204 Web Address: www.cityofukiah.com N w E Attachment # i` rr s 0 25 50 100 150 200 Feet