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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_120815TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE MINUTES December 8, 2015 Minutes MEMBERS PRESENT Dan Baxter, TEC Chairman, Mendocino Transit Authority John Lampi, Public Representative Roger Vincent, Public Representative Tim Eriksen, Director of Public Works, City Engineer Sean Kaeser, representing the Chief of Police MEMBERS ABSENT Ben Kageyama, representing the City Manager Darin Malugani, representing the Supervisor of Public Works Kevin Thompson, representing the Planning Director OTHERS PRESENT Lory Limbird, Public Works Corey Christensen, 125 Court Street resident Michael Hooper Robert Rankin James Cahall, 151 Court Street resident Martha Lewis, 151 Court Street resident Matisse Knight 1. CALL TO ORDER The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Chairperson Baxter at 3:03 pm in Conference Room No. 3, Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — November 10, 2015 Motion/Second: Eriksen/Vincent to approve November 10, 2015 minutes as written. Motion carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present. 3. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS none 4. OLD BUSINESS none 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and Possible Action regarding Establishing a Passenger Loading Zone on South Dora Street near St. Mary of the Angels School. Member Vincent presented the history of this item. In March 2015, TEC received a letter from Jim Werner of St. Mary's School requesting the removal of two passenger loading zones located adjacent to the school. This request was approved and unrestricted parking areas were made where the loading zones had been. Matisse Knight, the parent of a St. Mary's student, attended the October 13, 2015 TEC meeting to express his concern about dropping off and picking up students from St. Mary's School. MINUTES of the Traffic Engineering Committee December 8, 2015 Page 1 Matisse Knight stated there used to be a passenger loading zone directly in front of the school which he used for dropping his daughter off at school. This area was being used for parking so he made a complaint and the Ukiah Police Department gave out tickets. The parents who received the tickets complained to the school. Last April the school came to TEC to take out the loading zone and make it an unrestricted parking area so now there is no place to drop off students. He asked TEC to reconsider and reinstate the loading zone in front of St Mary's School to provide a drop off area for students. Mr. Knight continued, stating that he initiated conversations with St. Mary's School about the need for a loading zone in front of the school for the safety of the students. Member Eriksen stated a letter had been received from Jim Werner which stated, "The length of the parking between our southern driveway and the red marked crosswalk is 73 feet. We request that the southernmost third (24 feet) be designated as a loading zone and the rest (49 feet) be left as unrestricted parking." James Cahall asked if a 24 foot loading zone would provide an area for one vehicle only. He stated there is a need for at least a 2 vehicle capacity for a loading zone. Matisse Knight observed that yesterday (December 7, 2015) there was a bomb scare at St. Mary's School. He asked why would unrestricted parking be allowed in front of a school. If that area had remained a loading zone, the police could quickly park in the loading zone to investigate the bomb scare. He also agreed that the loading zone needs to allow an area for more than one vehicle. Motion/Second: Eriksen/Lampi to have city staff meet with St. Mary's School to come up with a solution and revisit this discussion at the next TEC meeting. Motion carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present. b. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Request for No Parking Zones on West Gobbi street near Court Street and Regarding Vehicle Speed Concerns on West Gobbi Street. Member Eriksen introduced this item. TEC received a request from James Cahall to establish no parking zones on West Gobbi Street near Court Street. A large pickup truck has been parking on Gobbi Street east of Court Street restricting sight distance for drivers turning from Court Street onto Gobbi Street. Member Eriksen stated a speed study conducted on April 30, 2012 on W. Gobbi Street in the Court Street vicinity showed vehicles travel an average of 25 mph which is the posted speed limit. Corey Christensen stated his mother, Linda Christensen, is the owner of the property at 125 Court Street, on the eastern side of Court Street. She is out of the area on an extended mission. She requested that her brother, Robert Rankin, read an email in which she expresses her concerns. Robert Rankin read the email from his sister, Linda Christensen, in which she expressed her concern that if parking spaces are removed from Court Street, business customers will be forced to park further down Court Street into the MINUTES of the Traffic Engineering Committee December 8, 2015 Page 2 residential neighborhood. Chairman Dan Baxter read a letter from Neil Davis of Walk & Bike Mendocino which stated, "The Gobbi Street corridor from Oak Manor to Dora Street is designated in the draft Ukiah Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan document to be improved to a class II bike lane. The corridor is currently a class II bike lane with the exception of the section from Oak Street to Dora Street. We would like to suggest that the south side of Gobbi from Oak to Dora be closed to parking to allow the room necessary to provide a bike lane. Walk & Bike staff and volunteers have observed that there are usually at least twice as many parking spaces as are used. Alternatively, the two block section could be marked with "Sharrow" with the hope that it would help slow traffic speeds." Member Vincent stated that this means there will be red curb on the south side of Gobbi Street from Oak Street to Dora Street. Resident James Cahall explained this will take away too much parking on Gobbi Street forcing customers and residents to park further south along Court Street. Chairman Baxter stated the Ukiah Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan concerning Gobbi Street is an item that will be put on the agenda for a future meeting. Motion/Second: Eriksen/Vincent to recommend to city council to install red curb on the west side of the intersection from the driveway on Gobbi Street around to the end of the curb return on Court Street. On the east side of the intersection, install red curb from 15 feet south of hydrant on Court Street around to and onto Gobbi Street all the way to the driveway. Motion carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present. Member Eriksen stated this recommendation will be on the agenda of the January 6, 2016 city council meeting. 6. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS none 7. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS none 8. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:54 p.m. Cory Limbirff Recording Secretary MINUTES of the Traffic Engineering Committee December 8, 2015 Page 3