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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_061416 TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE MINUTES June 14, 2016 Minutes MEMBERS PRESENT Carla Meyer, Mendocino Transit Authority John Lampi, Public Representative Keith Hewett, Public Representative Ben Kageyama, representing the City Manager Jarod Thiele, representing Director of Public Works Kevin Thompson, representing the Planning Director MEMBERS ABSENT Tim Eriksen, Director of Public Works, City Engineer, TEC Chairman Sean Kaeser, representing the Chief of Police Darin Malugani, representing the Supervisor of Public Works OTHERS PRESENT Maureen Mulheren, Council Member Lory Limbird, Public Works Wayne Hunt, T&T Towing Selah Sawyer, Charter Academy of the Redwoods 1. CALL TO ORDER The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Member Ben Kageyama at 3:10 pm in Conference Room No. 3, Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California. Ben introduced new public member, Keith Hewett. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES— May 10, 2016 Motion/Second: Thompson/Lampi to approve May 10, 2016 minutes as written. Motion carried by an AYE voice vote of four members present. Carla Meyer and Jarod Thiele abstained. 3. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS 4. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Revisions to City Code Section 7154 to Allow Tow Trucks and Commercial Recovery Vehicles to Park in Residential Neighborhoods. Member Ben Kageyama pointed out to the new member, Keith Hewett that he cannot vote on this item since he is a tow truck company owner. This item was brought back from the April 12, 2016 meeting at which time the TEC Committee reviewed a request to modify City Code section 7154 to allow tow trucks and commercial recovery vehicles the opportunity to park in residential zoned districts. The TEC Committee requested staff to revise the City Code and return it to the committee for review and discussion. Staff prepared a revision to the City Code section 7154 as shown on Attachment"A"which is a draft ordinance with a redline section that adds an exemption to the City Code to allow tow service vehicles and commercial recovery vehicles to park in residential districts. Adoption of ordinances MINUTES of the Traffic Engineering Committee June 14, 2016 Page 1 is a two part process. At the first City Council meeting the ordinance is introduced by title only. At the second meeting, the City Council would adopt the ordinance. The changes then become effective 30 days after adoption of the ordinance. Motion/Second: Lampi/Thompson to approve the redline version of City Code section 7154 and recommend adoption of the ordinance to the Ukiah City Council. Motion carried by an AYE voice vote of two members. Member Kageyama opposed this item. Carla Meyer and Jarod Thiele abstained. Member Hewett did not vote. b. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Proposed MTA Bus Stop at 671 South Orchard Avenue. Member Ben Kageyama introduced this item which was continued from the previous meeting of May 10, 2016. Staff received a request from MTA to establish a bus stop adjacent to the US Post Office at 671 South Orchard Avenue. A bus stop/no parking zone at this proposed location would occupy approximately 5 on-street parking spaces. Staff has not observed this location to be in high demand for on-street parking. Member Carla Meyer reported that the request for a bus stop in front of the Post office came from a senior who lives in this area. Many seniors have limited mobility and need access to the Post Office. MTA is not requesting a shelter for this area, only the painted bus stop/no parking zone. In the future, if it is found that this bus stop in not used, the area could easily be converted back to on-street parking. Carla has visited this area many times and has not observed a great demand for on-street parking in front of the Post Office. Member Kevin Thompson asked if there is a set standard for the distance between bus stops. Member Carla Meyer responded that the ADA sets the standard at % of a mile between bus stops. She added that 5 parking spaces are the minimum needed at the bus stop for a 40 foot bus. Council Member Maureen Mulheren stated that the TEC Committee should consider this entire section of Orchard Avenue instead of piecemealing it all together. There should be a plan for the entire section of street instead of just meeting the needs of the moment. Member Ben Kageyama stated bike lanes are planned for Orchard Avenue. Orchard Avenue is wide enough to accommodate both the bike lane and the bus stop. Member Carla Meyer restated that MTA is not asking for a shelter so the bus stop could be easily removed if it is determined that there is not enough use of this one. She explained that visibility is always limited when a bus is stopped in an area but this is not an issue in this area. Member Ben Kageyama stated that a Post Office is the type of facility that warrants a transit stop and he is in favor of this bus stop. MTA should study the bus stops in the city and remove locations that are not needed. MINUTES of the Traffic Engineering Committee June 14, 2016 Page 2 Member Carla Meyer stated she will be working on a grant to fund a consultant to study the trends in ridership on MTA and the location of bus stops could be a part of that study. Motion/Second: Thiele/Thompson to recommend the bus stop/no parking zone at 671 South Orchard Avenue for approval by the City Council. Motion carried by an AYE voice vote of five members. Carla Meyer abstained. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Removal of Existing Crosswalk on North State Street at Fairgrounds Driveway. Member Ben Kageyama introduced this item. Due to concerns regarding the crosswalk at the intersection of North State Street with the fairgrounds driveway, the City Council authorized the construction of a new safety enhanced crosswalk at the intersection of Garrett Drive and North State Street to replace the existing crosswalk at the fairgrounds driveway. Prior to removal of any marked crosswalk, California Vehicle Code Section 21950.5 requires a 30-day notice to allow for public comment. The 30-day notice for removal of the existing crosswalk has been posted on both sides of the existing crosswalk since May 18th and the end of the 30-day notice period will occur on June 17t Selah Sawyer, Charter Academy of the Redwoods thanked the TEC Committee and the City of Ukiah for taking action to improve the safety of the crosswalk in the area of North State Street and the fairgrounds. The schools she represents are very happy with the new Garrett crosswalk and she is In favor of removing the old crosswalk. She asked if a barrier would be constructed when the existing crosswalk is removed to prevent pedestrians from crossing State Street in that area. Jarod Thiele responded that a barrier will be constructed in the area of the existing crosswalk when that crosswalk is removed.. Motion/Second: Hewett/Thiele to approve the removal of the existing crosswalk provided no substantive comments are received prior to the end of the 30-day notice period on June 17th Motion carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present. 6. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS Council Member Maureen Mulheren informed the TEC Committee that the addition of a public member to the TEC Committee to represent alternative transportation is on City Council Agenda for June 15, 2016. 7. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS none 8. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:37 p.m. Lory Lim.'; •, kcording Secretary MINUTES of the Traffic Engineering Committee June 14, 2016 Page 3