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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_080895TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE UKIAH CIVIC CENTER Conference Room 3 300 Seminary Avenue Ukiah, California 95482 AUGUST 8, 1995 MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT TURNER, Steve FERNANDEZ, William KENNEDY, Rick DEWEY, Chris FORD, Steve -Chairman STAFF PRESENT Marge Giuntoli Recording Secretazy Kathy Kinch Administrative Secretazy MEMBERS ABSENT HARRIS, Mike LOONEY, Jim The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Steve Ford at 5:48 p.m. Roll was called with the results listed above. ON A MOTION by Member Kennedy, seconded by Member Turner, it was carried by an all AYE vote to approve the Minutes of May 9, 1995 as written. ABSTAIN: Members Fernandez and Dewey. It was noted that in the May 9 Minutes reference was made that the April 19 Minutes were not available for approval. Kathy Kinch will research the status of the minutes of April 11, 1995 and report back to the Committee at the September meeting. ON A MOTION by Member Fernandez, seconded by Member Kennedy, it was carried by an all AYE vote to approve the Minutes of June 13, 1995 with the following correction: Page 5, change the signature line to read William Fernandez, Vice-Chairman. ABSTAIN: Members Ford and Turner. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Chairman Ford dispensed with reading "Audience Comments on Non-Agenda Items" since there was no audience present. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE August 8, 1995 1 DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS NEW BUSINESS a. Request for Deer Crossine Sign on South Bound Highland between Clay Street and Standley_ Resident Member Kennedy advised there is very little background on this matter. A woman came to the counter and mentioned that as a resident living neaz Highland Avenue she was concerned about the number of deer crossing that street and the speeding traffic that barely missed hitting them. There is a deer crossing sign for northbound traffic; she requested another sign for southbound traffic. Member Kennedy stated that the only dead deer he could recall Public Works picking up in that azea had apparently died on private property, and then moved itself to the side of the road to qualify for pick up. He questioned the need to spend $150 for another sign. A major problem is where to sign since all of the west side has deer present. Member Hernandez advised against the expenditure. ON A MOTION by Member Turner, seconded by Member Dewey, it was carried by an all AYE vote to take no action on the deer crossing sign request based on the infrequency of this type of incident. OLD BUSINESS a. Status Report on Downtown Parking Master Plan by Larrv DeKnoblough (Verbal Reoort) - Member Kennedv Member Kennedy reported for Assistant Redevelopment Director Larry DeKnoblough regarding the downtown master parking plan. He advised the plan needs some minor revisions, and there are requests for special time zoning. The merchants want time limits on public parking but are not in agreement on the number of minutes to be contained within the time limits. The County appazently is looking at incorporating in a new MOU some sort of parking arrangements with their employees, and have been in consultation with Mr. DeKnoblough regarding where they can park en masse, possibly in an underutilized existing lot. This topic will come back to the Traffic Engineering Committee for approval. Chairman Ford stated that it is difficult trying to balance the different demands of merchants downtown, and that it would be desirable to have centralized parking where a person could pay the fee when his car was picked up. Member Kennedy stated merchants have to be aware that downtown parking is public parking, and that because a stall is in front of a business doesn't give that business owner the say over that stall. Private businesses could establish off-street parking. Zoning requirements that are now in existence do require so many stalls for each business. Chairman Ford inquired of Member Kennedy about restriping North State Street from Henry to the City limits, and that he understood the funds had been taken out of the budget for that project to be used instead for staff time for working on downtown circulation as part of the master plan. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE August 8, 1995 2 Member Kennedy advised that the Redevelopment Agency was looking at designing a couplet going north and south. There is thought of rerouting westbound Perkins and tying it to State Street in something similaz to a traffic circle. Westbound Perkins would bend up towards State Street through the old police department property, possibly using Main and State as one-way couplets for around the Perkins/Standley azea. Eventually there will be public workshops with conceptual drawings, but as of now no one is working on them. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS None. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS a. Summer 1995 Traffic Safetv_Update from Caltrans (Information Onl Member Kennedy referred to the above report which was distributed to Committee members. He noted that they had just received the SWITRS Report for the first quarter of 1995, and he didn't notice any areas that stood out except rear end collisions along State. Discussion followed regarding traffic accidents within the City limits. Member Dewey displayed a pin map showing the frequency and type of accidents at the intersections. The majority of the reaz end collisions occur at the intersections where there is no left turn lane, with elderly people frequently being involved. Chairman Ford stated that he did an evaluation of all accidents from the City limits to Hensley Creek, and found that 75 percent of the accidents are caused by drivers making a left turn, by people waiting for someone else to make a left turn, or by people swinging around the traffic, possibly to make a right turn. The inside lane on State Street is inefficient because people are making left turns from there; a left turn lane is needed. Member Dewey stated that traffic lights at every intersection aze not the answer, and that in his opinion the problem comes down to more enforcement at known problem intersections. The majority of speed violations aze reaz enders, with the definition of speed as being "too fast for conditions." Left turn lanes are definitely needed. Member Dewey was thanked for bringing the map to the Committee's attention. Chairman Ford asked who was painting the red curbs around the City. Member Kennedy answered that the work has been done by community service groups, with the City purchasing the paint. Chairman Ford noted the work being done on the drain inlets, which was now noticeable all over town, and asked if the same groups were doing that project. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE August 8, 1995 3 Member Kennedy said that the project had started over a yeaz ago with a gentleman who wanted to do improvements and the City gave him approval. Other community groups also participate in the project. Chairman Ford asked about the sight distance at corners. Member Kennedy indicated that he is not aware of anything in the municipal code other than restrictions on the height of vegetation at the corner. He suggested referring to the traffic manual. Chairman Ford stated there are setbacks but they are for other uses. Member Kennedy replied under zoning in the Municipal Code it states nothing can exceed the 36" in the setbacks. Chairman Ford indicated the NE corner of Standley and Hortense and the NW corner of Standley and Dora aze a problem. Member Kennedy stated that the City's code enforcement works on a complaint basis, preferably in written form. Chairman Ford inquired whether the City code contained any information regazding planter strips in the City right-of-way. Member Kennedy replied that again it must fall under the 36" height restriction. He further stated that under the 1911 Improvement Act of the government code, it was defined that the property owner is responsible for the maintenance between the street and property line, (the parking strip) which includes the sidewalk and any vegetation, although the code does not define the street line. In another jurisdiction, we define street line as curb face, then behind the curb so if the curb is broken the property owner does not have to repair it. The property owner must maintain the parking strip. The City must notify the property owner when the parkway needs to be cared for. The City will replace damaged sidewalk if it is caused by a street tree. If it is damaged by any other cause, the City will participate in the repair. Member Dewey stated that the 25 mile per hour speed limit sign on south Orchard has been extremely effective. Member Kennedy asked if it had been challenged in court. Member Dewey said no, even though they had written a lot of tickets in that area. Kathy Kinch introduced Mazge Giuntoli as the new Recording Secretary for the Committee. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE Augus[ 8, 1995 4 AD.iOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:2~, p.m. o,.,r Steve Ford, ,- Marge Giuntoli, Recording Secretary R:I\TEC M080895 MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC BNGINEBRINC COMMITTHB August 8, 1995