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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_111015TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE MINUTES November 10, 2015 Minutes MEMBERS PRESENT Dan Baxter, TEC Chairman, Mendocino Transit Authority Roger Vincent, Public Representative Rick Seanor, representing the Director of Public Works, City Engineer Ben Kageyama, representing the City Manager Sean Kaeser, representing the Chief of Police Darin Malugani, representing the Supervisor of Public Works Kevin Thompson, representing the Planning Director MEMBERS ABSENT John Lampi, Public Representative OTHERS PRESENT Maureen Mulheren, Council Member Lory Limbird, Public Works Trent Taylor, UPD Brian Webb, UPD Penny Lauseng, UUSD Debbie Ornelas, UUSD Dick Selzer, Realty World Mereydth Reinhard Joan Mosedale, resident of 875 Grove Ave Diana Clarke, Holy Trinity Church Pete Hoyle, UPD Pinky Kushner Neil Davis, Walk Bike Mendocino Will Heimberg, Blue Drug 1. CALL TO ORDER The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Chairperson Baxter at 3:02 pm in Conference Room No. 3, Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — October 13, 2015 Motion/Second: Vincent/Kaeser to approve October 13, 2015 minutes as written. Motion carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present. 3. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS Council Member Mulheren inquired about when the 25 mph pavement markings will be installed at the entries to downtown. Member Malugani replied that the pavement markings are on order. 4. OLD BUSINESS none MINUTES of the Traffic Engineering Committee November 10, 2015 Page 1 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Public hearing regarding Appeal of Notice of Intention to Abate and Remove an Abandoned, Wrecked, Dismantled or Inoperative Vehicle or Parts thereof as a Public Nuisance as submitted by: Will Heimberg — 707 S. Dora St. This item was skipped because Will Heimberg was not present. b. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding a Request for a STOP sign on Grove Avenue at Live Oak Avenue Member Seanor introduced this item. Staff received a request from Roger Vincent for a STOP sign to replace an existing YIELD sign for westbound traffic on Grove Avenue at Live Oak Avenue. Mr. Vincent observed that drivers fail to look for pedestrians crossing at this intersection. Per Section 213.06 of the 2014 California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the Grove Avenue approach has restricted view of traffic traveling northwest on Live Oak Avenue. Since there is restricted sign distance, a STOP sign should be posted at this intersection. Motion/Second: Vincent/Kaeser to remove the existing YIELD sign and post a STOP sign on Grove Avenue at the intersection with Live Oak Avenue. Motion carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present. C. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding a Request for No Parking Zone at 640 S. Orchard Ave. Member Seanor introduced this item. The Traffic Engineering Committee (TEC) received a request from Diana Clarke to establish a no parking zone at 640 S. Orchard Avenue (Holy Trinity Episcopal Church). Ms. Clarke noted that more vehicles are parking along the west side of the street at 640 S. Orchard Avenue since the Ukiah Unified School District opened its new office across the street. Vehicles parking along the west side of the street at this location restrict the sight distance for drivers exiting the driveway at 640 S. Orchard Avenue. Member Seanor reported receiving a phone call and an email from Debra Kubin, Superintendent of Ukiah Unified School District. Member Seanor read the November 9, 2015 email from Ms. Kubin into the record. In general, Ms. Kubin expressed her concern of losing all the parking spaces on the west side of Orchard Avenue. She stated there is a great need for parking in this area and urged the city to study this further. Dick Selzer, Realty World, stated that red lining the curb in front of 640 S. Orchard will cause more parking problems. Most people who jay -walk across Orchard Avenue are people going to the DMV where there is inadequate parking. Mr. Selzer does not want that problem moving into his parking lot. Penny Lauseng, UUSD remarked that if the entire curb is painted red, this will force more drivers to park in the school district parking lot. This will just move the problem south toward the residential area. She supported painting one car length of the curb red on the north side of the driveway but reiterated that parking is desperately needed in this location to support the local businesses. MINUTES of the Traffic Engineering Committee November 10, 2015 Page 2 Council Member Mulheren asked if the church could post a sign saying "Right Turn Only" to encourage its members not to turn left from the church driveway as a safety measure. Neil Davis, Walk Bike Mendocino, observed that all of Orchard Avenue needs a plan for controlling and calming traffic Member Seanor stated that several years ago the DMV requested a no parking zone in front of the business because of visibility issues. First the parking in front of the DMV was restricted for parking vehicles less than 6 feet in height. Soon after that the entire curb in front of the DMV was painted red for a no parking zone. The DMV has a small inadequate parking lot which does not allow any large vehicle parking at all. Member Vincent observed that the red curb in front of the DMV has pushed the parking problem south down the street. He asked if there is a possibility of the staff studying the parking in front of the church and the DMV to develop a different recommendation. Council Member Mulheren stated that staff and the DMV should have a discussion about the parking problem in this location on Orchard Avenue. Member Kageyama stated he supports a minimal amount of red curb as needed to open sight distance for driver sight distance leaving the church but to leave as much parking in this area as possible. He further suggested that staff should study how much of a red no parking zone is necessary in front of both the DMV and the Episcopal Church. Motion/Second: Kageyama/Vincent to install a minimal amount of red curb for a no parking zone to the north of the Episcopal Church driveway to improve the sight distance for drivers leaving the church. Staff will study how much red no parking zone is needed in front of both the DMV and the Episcopal Church. Motion carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present. a. Public hearing regarding Appeal of Notice of Intention to Abate and Remove an Abandoned, Wrecked, Dismantled or Inoperative Vehicle or Parts thereof as a Public Nuisance as submitted by: Will Heimberg — 707 S. Dora St. Member Seanor introduced this item. Staff received an appeal request from Mr. Will Heimberg regarding a Notice of Intention to Abate and Remove an Abandoned, Wrecked, Dismantled or Inoperative Vehicle or Parts thereof as a Public Nuisance (notice) he received from Community Service Officer Brian Webb on August 31, 2015. Will Heimberg, Blue Drug, stated the pharmacy building at 707 S. Dora Street is not large enough to store to store all of the records he is required by law to keep. He hopes to build a storage building but has problems with a water/sewer easement. He stated the 3 U -Haul trucks are not an environmental hazard because the oil and gas have been removed from them. It is essential for his pharmacy business to have storage for records. MINUTES of the Traffic Engineering Committee November 10, 2015 Page 3 Captain Taylor, UPD stated he continues to receive complaints from the community about the 3 U -Haul Trucks permanently parked in the parking lot at 707 S. Dora Street. All 3 vehicles are inoperable. All 3 vehicles were last registered in Arizona. None of the vehicles are registered in Mr. Heimberg's name. Captain Taylor urged the committee to order abatement of the 3 U -Haul vehicles. Will Heimberg, Blue Drug stated he was told he could not get a permit for a storage container. He cannot put up a storage building because of the way the property is subdivided. He is willing to investigate the possibility of a storage container with a fagade placed over it. Member Thompson stated he is willing to work with Mr. Heimberg to investigate how to obtain a permit to allow a storage container. He invited Mr. Heimberg to come to the Planning Department to talk about ideas to solve this problem. Motion/Second: Kaeser/Malugani to deny the appeal and order the vehicles to be removed from the property in accordance with City Code Section 7611. Motion carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present except for Member Vincent who voted NO. 6. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS Member Vincent noticed that the Rail Trail signs disappeared for a while. Member Kageyama explained that the signs did not have a clear protective coating on them that is required so the signs were returned. The signs have been returned to the City and will be installed next week. Member Kageyama stated that Phase II of the Rail Trail was recommended for funding and has been approved so the Phase II project will proceed. Funding will be available next July at which time the environmental phase will start. Construction will probably begin in 2018. Phase II will include the area from Gobbi Street south to Commerce Drive with crossings at Talmage Road and Commerce Drive. 7. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS none 8. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Wry Lim' d, ecording Secretary the meeting adjourned at 4:16 p.m. MINUTES of the Traffic Engineering Committee November 10, 2015 Page 4