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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecp_041090TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE A G E N D A Golf Course Club House 599 Park Boulevard Ukiah, CA 95482 April 10, 1990 2:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER BEARD, FERNANDEZ, GOFORTH, HARRIS, KEPLINGER, TINDLE, TURNER AND CHAIRMAN VARA 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MARCH 13, 1990 3. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: A. Crosswalks and Access to Todd Grove Park (Continued from March 13, 1990.) B. Request for Handicapped Space on Warren Drive, West Side, Near Perkins Street - Joyce Milton (Continued from March 13, 1990.) C. Crosswalk Pedestrian Accidents at State and Perkins Streets (Continued from March 13, 1990.) D. Possible one-way Streets - Barnes, Clay to Betty and Betty, McPeak to Oak Park E. Myron Street Circulation and Street Width - Harris 4. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS 5. ADJOURNMENT BB: fm s:tec TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 13, 1990 The meeting was called to order at 2:07 p.m. by Chairman Vara in Conference Room 3, Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California. Members present were: Beard, Fernandez, Harris, Keplinger, Tindle and Chairman Vara. Absent: Goforth and Turner. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - January 9, 1990 and February 13, 1990 Roy Tindle asked for clarification of paragraph 5 on page 2 of the January 9, 1990 minutes. ON A MOTION by Harris, seconded by Chairman Vara, it was carried by the following vote to approve the minutes of the Traffic Engineering Committee meeting of January 9, 1990, pending clarification by staff of paragraph 5, page 2: AYES: Beard, Harris, Keplinger and Chairman Vara. NOES: None. ABSENT: Goforth and Turner. ABSTAIN: Fernandez and Tindle. ON A MOTION by Harris, seconded by Beard, it was carried by the following vote to approve the minutes of the Traffic Engineering Committee meeting of February 13, 1990, as submitted: AYES: Beard, Fernandez, Harris and Tindle. NOES: None. ABSENT: Goforth and Turner. ABSTAIN: Keplinger and Chairman Vara. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS 3a. Request to improve sight distance for cars eastbound on Clay at State Street - Norman deVall. Mike Harris stated he had contacted Mill Creek Nursery and had their crews trim the hedge. He explained there is still about one foot of hedge going east/west along Clay Street access and extends about one foot into the sidewalk on State Street. He asked if there was a possibility that could be trimmed back. Rill Fernandez noted that in order to see clearly before entering State Street a driver would need to pull into the crosswalk. Bill Beard stated that consideration of removing one or more parking spaces in the area had been discussed. Bill Linsteadt explained that currently parking in this area is at a premium and requested parking spaces not be removed. He suggested the possibility of removing the red curb from the block north of the building on State Street to allow for additional parking and/or to contact the owner of the adjacent vacant lot to inquire if he would be willing to allow parking on his property. Also discussed was a pending ordinance that will allow enforcement of parking on private property at the property owners request. The Committee was reminded by Fred Keplinger that one of the goals of the Traffic Engineering Committee is to increase parking downtown, not eliminate it. Bill Linsteadt stated he felt the owner of the building would be willing to have the hedge/vegetation trimmed. ON A MOTION by Beard, seconded by Fernandez, it was carried by the following vote to contact the property owner and request he voluntarily lower the hedge 6" from what it presently is and remove vegetation from the sidewalk on State Street to improve site distance at the corner of Clay and State Streets: AYES: Beard, Fernandez, Harris, Keplinger, Tindle and Chairman Vara. NOES: None. ABSENT: Goforth and Turner. ABSTAIN: None. 3b. Crosswalks and Access to Todd Grove Park. Bill Beard reviewed an aerial map of the traffic area around Todd Grove Park. He also reviewed a vehicle volume summary. He explained that Walnut Avenue carries 379 of the traffic, Park Boulevard by the park carries 42%, and Park Boulevard leaving the park area carries 217. Janine Lieberman, parent of a child attending the Ukiah Co-Operative Nursery School, stated she feels that additional measures are needed for safety and that a sign reading "pedestrian crossing" is not a strong enough cue to drivers to alert them that small children may be in the area. She explained that traffic heading east from the park (from Walnut Avenue to Park Boulevard) cannot see that a school is nearby and has no warning for caution. She noted that there is a stop sign in the opposite direction to approach the Walnut circle, but no signage whatsoever as drivers approach Park Boulevard which she feels is a much more narrow street with cars parked on both sides and the school on the south side. Ms. Lieberman stated that there are no crosswalks at all on the west side of the park leading to the park. She advised the Committee that a new develop- ment of 14 - 16 houses is under construction at the south end of the Golf Course which will increase traffic in the area. She expressed concern for the safety of people using this area. Considerable discussion ensued regarding the park not being designed for people to walk on the outside of the park, converting a loading zone and handicap parking space which is presently between Anton Stadium and the swimming pool, making handicap parking closer to the wall, striping out from MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE MARCH 13, 1990 PAGE 2 the wall to channel traffic and pedestrians to the park, ingress/egress avenues to the park, red curbing, broad hash marking for slowing traffic, and the fact that the public considers crosswalks, stop signs and traffic signals as safety zones. Bill Beard stated that a crosswalk at Park Boulevard and Walnut Avenue would need to be extremely long. He expressed concern regarding whether this would be safe. Discussion followed regarding possible City liability for damages if an accident occurs due to people not understanding the reason for broad hash marking on streets. Ms. Liberman stated that the City should be liable if a study has been done and no action has been taken by the City to correct the situation. Roy Tindle expressed a need for traffic speed control in this area. He asked Fred Keplinger if a Police Officer could patrol this area more frequently. Fred Keplinger asked if the streets in the area were dedicated streets. He explained that speed bumps could be installed in an area if the streets are not public dedicated streets. He noted that it is not illegal for pedestrians to cross a street in the middle of a block except between controled intersections. It was determined this item needs additional study and to reconvene this meeting on April 10, 1990, at the Golf Course Club House to do an on-site evaluation of this matter and examine alternatives. ON A MOTION by Keplinger, seconded by Tindle, it was carried by the following vote to check with the City Attorney regarding street dedication in the area to determine where the City may be able to install meaningful speed controls, and to identify the Park entrance with signage: AYES: Beard, Fernandez, Harris, Keplinger, Tindle and Chairman Vara. NOES: None. ABSENT: Goforth and Turner. ABSTAIN: None. 3c. Reconsideration of removal of red curb on south side of Smith adjacent to Palace Hotel to create one parking space - Goforth. Bill Beard stated that Ted Goforth requested this item be placed back on the agenda since the red curb on the south side of Smith Street adjacent to the Palace Hotel has not been removed due to the sale of the Palace Hotel. He explained that the new owner indicated they plan to renew the hotel and may need the red curb in place since this is the only trash collection bin for this building. Fred Keplinger stated he feels the red curb should be removed and this space be used for parking. He said if down the road there is a need again to have this area zoned it could be put back in. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE MARCH 13, 1990 PAGE 3 Susan Billie, small business owner on Standley Street across from Palace Hotel, stated last October she contacted the Committee to get the red curb removed. She stated that there is a real need for additional parking spaces in this area and requested the Committee approve the removal of the red curb. Discussion ensued regarding possible relocation of the dumpster, timing of refuge pickup, and signage regarding no parking between certain hours. ON A MOTION by Keplinger, seconded by Tindle, it was carried by the following vote to remove the red curb on the south side of Smith Street adjacent to the Palace Hotel to create one parking space: AYES: Fernandez, Keplinger, Tindle and Chairman Vara. NOES: Beard and Harris. ABSENT: Goforth and Turner. ABSTAIN: None. 3d. Crosswalk pedestrian accidents at State and Perkins Streets. Bill Beard reviewed two accidents at State and Perkins Street where a pedestrian was hit in a crosswalk. One on December 14, 1988, and one on February 22, 1990. Discussion ensued regarding off-setting traffic lights in relation to pedestrian crossing lights, blocking off pedestrian crossing at this inter- section, and having left turn traffic yield to pedestrian traffic. ON A MOTION by Vara, seconded by Harris, it was carried by the following vote to request the Public Works Department review and report back to the Committee with suggestions regarding the following four options; 1) stopping all traffic to let pedestrians go, 2) blocking off all pedestrian crossings at this intersection, 3) the possible need to stop south bound traffic on State Street to permit pedestrian crossing, and 4) having left turn traffic yield to pedestrian traffic: AYES: Beard, Fernandez, Harris, Keplinger, Tindle and Chairman Vara. NOES: None. ABSENT: Goforth and Turner. ABSTAIN: None. 3e. Request to ading zone, north side of St - Norman deVall. at State Street to Bill Beard stated he had received a verbal request from Norman deVall to change the loading zone on the north side of Standley Street at State Street to handicapped parking. Bill Fernandez reminded the Committee that previous review of parallel handicap parking spaces was determined to be unsafe because of unloading handicap persons in the street. ON A MOTION by Fernandez, seconded by Keplinger, it was carried by the following vote to deny Mr, deVall's request to change the loading zone on the north side of Standley at State Street to a handicapped parking space because MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE MARCH 13, 1990 PAGE 4 it has been determined to be unsafe to unload handicapped persons in the street: AYES: Beard, Fernandez, Harris, Keplinger, Tindle and Chairman Vara. NOES: None. ABSENT: Goforth and Turner. ABSTAIN: None. 3f. Request for handicapped parking space on Warren Drive, west side, just south of Perkins Street - Joyce Milton, Century 21 Realty. Bill Beard advised that Joyce Milton from Century 71 had contacted him regarding the installation of a handicapped parking space on Warren Drive near Perkins Street. Joyce Milton explained she works at Century 21 and has an oversized van with a side loading handicap ramp which makes it impossible to park in the Century 21 parking lot. She noted that presently she is parking in the back of Med-a-Rents which is a graveled lot. She explained it is difficult to maneuver her wheelchair from this area. Ms. Milton requested the installation of a handicapped parking space on the west side of Warren Drive. Mike Harris stated that he feels it would be more appropriate to have a handicapped parking space in the parking lot of Century 21 rather than in the street. Discussion followed. Fred Keplinger and Mike Harris volunteered to review the on-site parking at this location and report back to the Committee at the April 10, 1990 meeting. AD.TOIIRNMFNT ON A MOTION by Beard, seconded by Harris, it was carried by unanimous voice vote to dismiss this meeting at 4:10 p.m., and reconvene at the Golf Course Club House at 2:00 p.m., April 10, 1990, to study the traffic circulation and pedestrian access around and to Todd Grove Park. ATTEST: Faye Afee,'Rec, ding Secretary ~ ~i ~. George V ra, Chairman MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE MARCH 13, 1990 PAGE 5 FAITIi LUTHERAN PRE-SCHOOL AND DAY CARE CENTER February 12, 1990 City of Ukiah Traffic Engineering Committee Attention: Bill Beard Dear Mr. Beard and Committee Members: This is a letter of support for traffic signs and crosswalks near Todd Grove in the general vicinity of where Park Blvd and Walnut Streets intersect. The Ukiah Co-operative Nursery School has written to you with their concerns and suggested placement of signs. While our school has similar concerns we do not necessarily support the exact locations of cross walks and signs that the Ukiah Co-operative have indicated. We would like to see something done to help those crossing near the Park Blvd/ Walnut St, intersection to do it safely. There are several alternatives available which would allow children, parents with children, and school groups to go to the park safely. In addition to the ideas stated by the Co-operative, there could be signs informing drivers that the area is congested, that there are school children present, and so forth. Alsa, the entire area between the the Anton parking lot and the swimming pool entrance could be cross-striped to warn drivers of the possible presence of children. Thank you for your consideration in this. Sinc~/~~/~ w ~'`^^" ~ Art Kramer°, President, Hoard of Directors, Faith Lutheran Pre-School and Day Care Center Copys Jani.r~~ Lieber-m:jn, U4 ich Lu-04~erative~ IUuser'/ Cch~~ol Su~"~"``~- 2-i z - y February 1, 1990 City of Ukiah Traffic Engineering Committee Attention: Bill Beard SUBJECT: SAFETY ISSUE - TRAFFIC SIGNS AND CROSSWALKS UKIAH CO-OPERATIVE NURSERY SCHOOL Dear Mr. Beard and Committee Members, In December 1988 the Co-Op School requested signage and cross- walks on Park Boulevard and Walnut Avenue which circles Todd Grove Park. We are pleased and wish to thank you for putting in a cross- walk on either side of the School on Park Boulevard and a "Pedestrian Crossing" sign heading west past the School. We feel, however, that additional measures are needed for safety and that "Pedestrian Crossing" is not a strong enough cue to drivers to alert them that small children may be in the area. The problems are: 1. Traffic heading east from the Park (from Walnut Ave. to Park Blvd.) cannot see that a school is nearby and have no warning for caution. There is a stop sign in the opposite direction to approach the Walnut circle, but no signage whatsoever as drivers approach Park Blvd., a much more narrow street with cars parked on both sides and the School on the south side. 2. There are no crosswalks at all on the west side of the Park, leading to the Park. There are at least three groups who could benefit from a cross- walk here: - The Co-Op School - Faith Lutheran Church Pre-School (who also has after- school care for children up to fifth grade) - People parking in Anton Ball Field and walking across to the swimming pool in the summer. Additionally, a new development of 14 - 16 houses is under construction at the south end of the Golf Course which will increase traffic. Mrs. Evelyn Parducci, a principle owner here, is in agree- ment with our request for signs and crosswalks. Her letter of support is enclosed. SAFETY ISSUE -TRAFFIC SIGNS AND CROSSWALKS UKIAH CO-OPERATIVE NURSERY SCHOOL Page 2 The Pre-school teacher, Donna Noyd, at Faith Lutheran Church, is in agreement with this request also. She anticipates greater numbers of children in her after-school program as Year-Round- Education goes into effect. The Co-Op School, being a nursery school for children aged three to five, naturally requires that parents escort the children to and from cars and school. And to increase our safety we have installed a porch gate. Nonetheless, we feel crossing the street to vehicles can be hazardous in this area during our peak hours at 9 a.m. and 11:30 - 12:00 noon, Monday through Friday. Further, crossing the street to the Park is a distinct danger with a small child in each hand, not to mention a group of 15, which is the class size. Our request is for: 1. A sign along Walnut Avenue heading toward Park Boulevard. Sugges- tions are: - Stop - School Crossing - School Ahead Feet (with straight-ahead arrow) - Slow, Children at Play (or Crossing) 2. A crosswalk to the Park on the west side placed anywhere from the Church to the corner of Walnut and Park Blvd. ' Please remember this is a safety issue. The type of institution, whether preschool or upper school, whether private, parochial or public is not a factor. We are all citizens of Ukiah and we all de- serve the protections the City can provide. Thank-you for respecting our concerns as parents and our childrens' right to safety. Very Truly, Janine Lieberman, parent 462-1706 Ukiah Co-Operative Nursery School 462-6638 Encl.: Map of Area Letter of Support January 30, 1990 City of Ukiah Traffic Engineering Committee Dear Sirs: I have been briefed on the traffic concerns of the Co-Op Nursery School and been asked to write a letter supporting their request to the City. They have approached me because I am a part owner of the subdivision near the Park which may contribute to increased traffic in the area. I support the Schools request and feel that an additional sign, such as "Children at Plaq" would be appropriate on the approach to Park Boulevard. The request for a crosswalk to the Park along this street is also quite reasonable, in my r;pinion. Sincerely, -~' Nrs. Evelyn 462-4883 Parducci ,~ Q a '1aa~ ~z ~ ~ TT 3 ~~ (~~ I `-`~I ~~ l ~ w ~~ C~. - = w 1' ~~ ~~ ~ -~ ~ v H ~ ~~~ J ~ ~ ~aa~ £~ ,a -~ $ ro u W O (~ 4 fl 1 11 ..,,, ~ ., --~. 1 r •1 7~l ~1 ?1 4.1 ~i ~ 11 1 1 1 11 E 1 I ~! t 1 ,~' ~J e~ jf1 J( r ~t 1 ~l ~ j f ~( ~ 1.~1 ~ :i 1 ~t' i "1 ~3 't~ i ~i~ i.~, `4 1~ ,`r 1 ~~ ~ 1 r '~ ~J6- `~. ~<y \\~~~ a$ ~ ~ ~~ c~ L•. VEHICLE VOLUME SUMMARY AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC and PERCENT ~ OF DAILY TRAFFIC LOCATION! WALNUT AV. - P/iRk 8[.VD TIME 2y HR. CoyNTS DATE Ro z 27 o To 3/i~Jo YJEATrfER PARTLY C1ovDY PREPARED BY COUNTED BY 6~ ~. ~~ a ~ ~~ . o ~ Q n ~ S 1 ~ ~ ~ 11 1 ~ J\ {~~--- 633 V, P, D, ~ \ i'i I \ ~~ 1 ~ ~T ~ 36. I i ~~`~ r- - ~ r/ iJ i i r i , ~~" ~ ~ y i WALNUT AV. ~ r -STREET I ~ I .i ~ Q M ~ I~ br •q cj t~1 q ~' ~w (w ~'N Q 1 li- ~i a ~~ ~'~ ~~ a Z a l~ aC ~1., a 4 O- _" 1 M W N Q a AlL MEASURCM ENTS ARE AFVROXIM PTE PNO NOT TO SCALE UNLESS ST ATED (SCALE I S-2 5-I t1-~ ~-2 OD a0 o _ __ v i 1 ~ z' ~ ~ I ~` lo' I P` 12' E R K I N S I Jo S ODD 40 15S / I9r ~~ti yo j~~~ J i / C ~ ~~ V J 20''x{ i 10' ~' - i z' ~ - I o' ! 8' i I ~ S. S TATC ST. D.AM~i-a~C~_AH 17_ZyE,Irz-r~f-8~. ~,E~,.w.,=,..... Io. o.. ., CHP 555-Page 4 IRev Ib851 OPI Oat F~=1,CTUAL DIAGRAM ~..~~~0«1,, .2 Z „ cl U ALL MEASUREMENTS ARE APPRO%IMATE AND NOT TO SCALE UNLESS STATED SCALE =..S~F/-~1/ I,.Y~~E ~-ZLt-ate v~~_,.,,...E I ~~_,ys 2303 ~oZ .A~c Z `~o -o ~y~ CHP 555 Paqe 4 IHev II$51 OPI 042 ~-~'c~ Sr B6 f=Er3.z,l9Ra THS ess DEMOCRAT Santa Rosa, California Lynn O. Matthews, Publisher Michael J. Parman, Editor Bruce W. Kyse, Managing Editor PeterGolis, Editorial Director ~~•~ ANew York Times COmpony :. Pedestrian deaths raise safety issues Santa Rosa Traffic Engineer Gene Benton . believes three new factors are contributing to "the risk of pedestrian accidents: ^ As Santa Rosa grows, more cars and more pedestrians increase the mathematical probabil- ' - ity of accidents. ^More-demanding lifestyles mean more pea ' pie in a hurry. ' ^ Newcomers to the state are unfamiliar with mid-block crosswalks. . ~ . This last observation confirms what many new '-hrrivals say: Nothing in their past experiences ' prepares them for the ways in which pedestrians and cars cross paths in California. Pedestrian safety is a major concern in the aftermath of two deaths in recent weeks. In each case, people inside a crosswalk assumed an . oncoming car would stop. This false sense of •'securtty proved fatal. Los Angeles and San Diego are eliminating ,crosswalks located away from intersections. Notwithstanding the popular notion, traffic engi- neers in those cities concluded that certain ' ~ crossings increase the risk of accidents. In Santa "Rosa, Benton said, the city is moving to reduce the number ofmid-block crosswalks. The choice isn't always easy. Should the city retain a crosswalk to channel pedestrian traffic or create a situation in which large numbers of -people jaywalk? (Benton said traffic engineers ',consider crosswalks to be devfces to channel • 'pedestrians -not safety devices.) - And even stop lights don't guarantee safety. In ,places where they are used, many motorists are conditioned to expect a green light. The one certain conclusion is that everybody tftust raise their attention levels. Motorists must ' learn to watch for pedestrians -even if the lesson requires a more aggressive program to cite violators. .And pedestrians must abandon the idea that a crosswalk guarantees their safety. As Benton said: "In an accident, the pedestrian never wins." Crosswalk safety Editor: Asa member of CROSS (Children Require Our Safes[ Streets), I have serious concern about unsafe streets in and around Richard Crane Elementary School in Rohnert Park. My fear involves the crosswalks at Southwest Boulevard and Camino Col- egio. Aside tram the numerous times I and my children were almost victims ourselves, I have witnessed many more near-fatal accidents with car vs. pedestrian. The only solution is a crossing guard to assist students during school hours. The traffic lights have not been our answer. During the last 18 months, we have had two children hit. They were not seriously injured, I am happy to report. I often wonder how long our luck will hold out. With many CROSS members and other concerned parents, working to- gether, we have made some progress for safer streets with the Cotati/Roh- nert Park school board. On Feb. 27 we will be addressing [his issue with the Rohnert Park City Council. If there is a concern for your children's safety, in or about their school in Rohner[ Park, please come and let your concerns be known. Together, we can make a differ- ence. TRISH WALSH Rohnert Park i ~ 1~. ~~; ~ ..~~- ~~ '~ ~ ~ ~y J~ ~ ~~ ~y~ ~ ~. ~~ _I ..~ `~ ,, 'C) ~~~~~~ ~ i ~~~ ~~ . ~ ~: J J ~~ ~~ ~. ~ ~ ~ ~- ~ ~: ~~, ~ r~ .~1~ ~. a ~- ~~ ~~: ~ ~ ~ s u~ ~7 y ~ p~. ~~ .~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ d ~' ~y 3 .~ O ~~` _`~ "~) v \~ ~l l~l ~~ .~ ~~ , ~~,\~ / The undersigned residents, fronting either on BARNES or BEPl'Y streets and ~ including those residents that have access to those streets, do agree to their being designated as one way streets -recommending that the city determine the mast advantageous direction for the designation of each. TeN~`~tDf` 1. //%~- v°~I4' ~~''~~~~"~---.i /,f2G~ SO, ~.n~-r"'2~ ~~ YO.sA 3. /vl~~ ~'~1u~ G~ ~ G, ~~~~c ~°`~ Ste, ~j~r~ve..+~s ~ i ~u~rt~l s. ~~/'fi_( a~~-~' 'y~11//~-,c/,/~~SL/~~ ~~ ~ ~I1,~/~'yCJ~~/~~c2~( - Q~ i A ~~ t ~ K 6. ' ,vim' 'Y ~liL, / V , d "` . 6(L~~A~;t',cv+C ~'"~C ~ ~c/ , D~~i~P~ ~ {~~.-EPA 7. ~ //C~~~ 7 /o ~S; ~'Z, ~ c.~' ~ ~S~ A YA LA 9. (r C~7L~Ii.(C~ ~~,. 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