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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_021390MINUTES TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 13, ]990 The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Acting Chairman Beard in Conference Room 3, Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California. Members present at roll call were: Brown (representing Chairman Vara), Fernandez, Tindle, Turner, Yarbrough (representing Harris), and Acting Chairman Beard. Absent: Goforth and Keplinger. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS 3A. Request for Crosswalk across Park Boulevard to Park and School or "Children at Ylay" Sign on Walnut Avenue near Yark Boulevard - Janine Lieberman Acting Chairman Beard noted that a letter dated February 1, 1990, from Janine Lieberman of the Ukiah Co-Operative Nursery School had been provided in the agenda packet. He also distributed a letter dated February 12, 1990, from Art Kramer of the Faith Lutheran Pre-School and Day Care Center. He explained that both letters requested the placement of signs and/or crosswalks in the Park Boulevard/Walnut Street area and introduced Janine Lieberman to discuss this request. Mike Harris arrived at 2:10 p.m. Janine Lieberman, Ukiah Co-Operative Nursery School, stated that she felt that additional traffic controls were needed near Todd Grove Park and along Park Boulevard. She noted that this request was a safety issue for this entire area and that not only the Ukiah Co-Operative Nursery School would benefit from additional traffic controls, but also the Faith Lutheran Pre-School and anyone crossing the street from Anton Stadium to Todd Grove Park. She expressed concern that people are not aware that children are present in the area and distributed maps to the Committee which illustrated how narrow Park Boulevard is when vehicles are parked on both sides of the street. Discussion followed. Art Kramer, Faith Lutheran Pre-School and Day Care Center, discussed possible locations for appropriate signing while referring to the location map. Roy Tindle expressed concern that there are no traffic controls for entering and exiting Anton Stadium and suggested that the traffic circulation in the Anton Stadium/Todd Grove Park area be studied. Mr. Kramer suggested cross-hatching the entire area on Park Boulevard near Todd Grove Park, Anton Stadium, and the schools. He further suggested possibly making Park Boulevard a one-way street. Steve Turner agreed that these alternatives could be helpful as he felt that people travelled too fast in this area. Roy Tindle stated that he felt that some type of pedestrian walkway surrounding Todd Grove Park should be provided and felt that the traffic in this area should be studied further. Mike Harris asked Ms. Lieberman how many children attended the Nursery School. Ms. Lieberman responded that 15 children attend the School each day. Mr. Harris advised that a use permit is required for a day care operation with more than 12 children. Ms. Lieberman advised that the Nursery School has been in existence for over 40 years. Discussion followed wherein Mr. Harris advised that red curbing the area would eliminate street parking and provide additional visibility. He felt that traffic flow and off-street parking should be considered. Acting Chairman Beard explained that in similar situations where a street is very narrow, parking would be removed from one side of the street to alleviate the problem. He noted that stop signs are not deemed appropriate for speed enforcement and advised that speed problems are referred to the Police Department. Discussion followed. Mr. Kramer suggested reducing the speed limit in this area to 15 miles per hour as 25 miles per hour was too fast for this area. He advised that if cars are parked on both sides of the street, a person must go over the centerline to complete the turn. Daniel Pollesel, Ukiah Co-Operative Nursery School, advised that they had contacted the Police Department to express concern with speeding in the area. Discussion followed regarding the installation of "School Zone" signs in the area. Bill Fernandez felt that speeding in this area was a problem and felt that striping or cross-hatching the entire area, including the area by the Golf Course and Anton Stadium, could alleviate this problem. Roy Tindle stressed that the traffic flow for Anton Stadium should be studied. Pat Brown stated that she felt 15 miles per hour around Todd Grove Park would be appropriate. Ms. Lieberman asked if some type of signing could be installed at this time while the Committee studied a long-range traffic plan for the area. Discussion followed regarding an overall traffic study of the Todd Grove Park area, possible immediate signing for the Nursery School, and the street parking in the area. ON A MOTION by Tindle, seconded by Turner, it was carried by the following vote to approve the installation of a "Children at Play" sign on the south side of the intersection of Park Boulevard and Walnut Avenue: MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 13, 1990 PAGE 2 AYES: Brown, Fernandez, Harris, Tindle, Turner, and Acting Chairman Beard. NOES: None. ABSENT: Goforth and Keplinger. ABSTAIN: None. ON A MOTION by Tindle, seconded by Fernandez, it was carried by the following vote that the Traffic Engineering Committee would study the traffic circulation around Todd Grove Park, including Walnut Avenue, Park Boulevard, and Anton Stadium, in order to improve traffic circulation and pedestrian access to Todd Grove Park: AYES: Brown, Fernandez, Harris, Tindle, Turner, and Acting Chairman Beard. NOES: None. ABSENT: Goforth and Keplinger. ABSTAIN: None. Acting Chairman Beard advised that this matter would be placed on the March or April agenda and asked if any members of the Committee desired to be involved in the preliminary phase of the study. Bill Fernandez, Roy Tindle, and Steve Turner responded that they would participate in the preliminary phase of the study. Roy Tindle requested that this matter be finalized and implemented before Summer. Acting Chairman Beard explained the process by which traffic controls are determined. Mr. Tindle also requested traffic counts for Park Boulevard and Walnut Avenue. Mr. Beard advised that traffic counts would be conducted. Discussion followed regarding the overall traffic study for the area. 3B. Request to make Barnes, Clay to Betty, one way southbound McPeak to Oak Park, one way eastbound - Robert Swan Acting Chairman Beard introduced Mr. Swan and asked him to discuss his request. Robert Swan, 428 Oak Park, discussed the traffic problems on Barnes Street and noted that he had to back out of his driveway on to Barnes Street. He felt that Barnes Street was more similar to an alley than a street and should be travelled one way only. Acting Chairman Beard advised that Barnes Street was originally an alley. Bill Retallick, 422 South Barnes Street, advised that he had no objections to making Barnes Street a one-way street and noted that the neighbors he had contacted had no objections. He felt that from a safety aspect, Barnes Street was too narrow to be a two-way street. Roy Tindle agreed that Barnes Street should be a one-way street. He asked if the Fire Department would have access problems if Barnes Street was a one-way street. Discussion followed regarding emergency access and various alternatives to alleviate the problem on Barnes Street. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 13, 1990 PAGE 3 Mr. Tindle suggested making Barnes Street one way southbound between Clay and Betty Streets. Mike Harris concurred with this suggestion, but recommended that the Police and Fire Departments review emergency access prior to the matter being considered by the City Council. Acting Chairman Beard advised that before the Committee recommends a traffic change of this type to the City Council, all of the neighbors in the area should be notified that this matter is being considered by the Traffic Engineering Committee. He recommended that petitions of approval for a one-way street be circulated in the neighborhood. ON A MOTION by Tindle, seconded by Harris, it was carried by the following vote to continue this matter to the next meeting to provide Mr. Swan with an opportunity to circulate a petition of support among the affected property owners and for staff to obtain a recommendation from the Police and Fire Departments to make Barnes Street a one-way street, southbound, from Clay to Betty, and Betty Street a one-way street, eastbound, from McPeak to Oak Park: AYES: Brown, Fernandez, Harris, Tindle, Turner, and Acting Chairman Beard. NOES: None. ABSENT: Goforth and Keplinger. ABSTAIN: None. Mr. Retallick asked about the maintenance of Barnes Street. Acting Chairman Beard advised that since it is considered an alley, it is probably not scheduled to be repaved. He advised that he would research whether Barnes Street is scheduled to be patched. 3C. Request for recommendation regarding access from alleys - Planning Department (Alice Yarbrough) Mike Harris advised that the Planning Department was requesting a determination from the Traffic Engineering Committee as to whether or not access from alleys was appropriate. He noted that a lot split on Joseph Street and four proposed garages on Norton Street have recently raised this issue. Discussion followed regarding the proposed projects. Roy Tindle expressed concern with allowing primary access from an alley, but felt that allowing secondary access from an alley was not a problem. Acting Chairman Beard advised that he would not consider primary access from an alley appropriate as the City does not maintain alleys as it maintains streets. Discussion followed. ON A MOTION by Fernandez, seconded by Beard, it was carried by the following vote that the determination of the Traffic Engineering Committee was that alleys should not be utilized as primary access to any parcel, but that utilizing an alley for secondary access to existing parcels would be acceptable: MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 13, 1990 PAGE 4 AYES: Brown, Fernandez, Harris, Tindle, Turner, and Acting Chairman Beard. NOES: None. ABSENT: Goforth and Keplinger. ABSTAIN: None. 3D. Stop Sign on Hospital Drive at Orchard Avenue - Ted Goforth Acting Chairman Beard advised that the request for a stop sign on Hospital Drive at Orchard Avenue was submitted by City field crews. Discussion followed. ON A MOTION by Fernandez, seconded by Harris, it was carried by the following vote to recommend to the City Council that a stop sign be installed on Hospital Drive at Orchard Avenue: AYES: Brown, Fernandez, Harris, Tindle, Turner, and Acting Chairman Beard. NOES: None. ABSENT: Goforth and Keplinger. ABSTAIN: None. 3E. Stop Sign on Washington Court at Washington - Ted Goforth Acting Chairman Beard advised that the request for a stop sign on Washington Court at Washington was submitted by City field crews. Discussion followed. ON A MOTION by Tindle, seconded by Turner, it was carried by the following vote to recommend to the City Council that a stop sign be installed on Washington Court at Washington: AYES: Brown, Fernandez, Harris, Tindle, Turner, and Acting Chairman Beard. NOES: None. ABSENT: Goforth and Keplinger. ABSTAIN: None. Roy Tindle noted that no street sign exists on Washington Court. Acting Chairman Beard advised that he would notify the Street Department that the street sign on Washington Court needs to be replaced. 3F. General Discussion - Master Street Plan - Rill Beard Acting Chairman Beard advised that the City Manager had requested that the Traffic Engineering Committee review a Master Street Plan to coordinate with the Circulation Element of the General Plan which the Planning Department is currently updating. Mr. Beard displayed a large City map which included proposals from City Staff, Redevelopment activities, and field crews. Discussion followed regarding proposals included on the map, the Airport, and development occurring around the Airport. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 13, 1990 PAGE 5 Roy Tindle asked if the large map could be divided into smaller maps to make it more convenient to review. Acting Chairman Beard advised that he would provide the Committee with smaller maps. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Acting Chairman Beard advised that Joyce Milton from Century 21 had contacted him regarding the installation of a handicapped parking space on Warren Drive near Perkins Street. Discussion followed. Mike Harris stated that he felt it would be more appropriate to have a handicapped parking space in the parking lot rather than in the street. It was the consensus of the Committee that this matter would be agendized for the next meeting. Acting Chairman Beard advised that he would be agendizing for the next meeting the matter of setting a load limit on the Orr Creek Bridge on Orr Street. Discussion followed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 9, 1990 Acting Chairman Beard noted that approval of the Traffic Engineering Committee Meeting Minutes of January 9, 1990, would be continued to the next meeting due to lack of a quorum of members present who attended the January 9, 1990 meeting. Roy Tindle stated that he appreciated receiving additional information and maps with the agenda packet. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m. Bill Beard, Acting Chairman ATTEST: ~~//f.t ~'~L-~Cl.cc.- Kari Revheim, Recording Secretary MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 13, 1990 PAGE 6