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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_120997TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE Ukiah Civic Center Conference Room 3 300 Seminary Avenue Ukiah, California 95482 DECEMBER 9, 1997 3:00 p.m. MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT Mike Harris, Assistant City Manager Rick Seanor, Deputy Director of Public Works Robert Sawyer, Director of Planning Chris Dewey, Ukiah Police Department Jim Looney, Public Works Superintendent Steve Turner, MTA Donna Roberts, Public Member William Fernandez, Chairman MEMBERS ABSENT Rick Kennedy, Director of Public Works/ City Engineer OTHERS PRESENT Janet Orth Donna Worster Diane Daubeneck Andrea Werra STAFF PRESENT Kathy Kinch Recording Secretary The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Fernandez at 3:04 p.m. Roll was taken with the results listed above. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Chairman Fernandez read audience comments. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE DECEMBER 9, 1997 PAGE 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Turner, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to approve the minutes of October 14, 1997, as submitted. NEW BUSINESS a. Request for red curb in front of 643 South Main Street from 633 South Main Street IComouter Scene) to 154E Gobbi Street IThe Back Room Hair Salon) and the removal of 4 designated on-street Darking spaces -Donna Worster. Office of Rav Worster. Member Harris asked if all property owners were notified of the request. Ms. Worster responded yes with the exception of the Back Room Hair Salon. She noted from the driveway of the Back Room to the intersection of Main and Gobbi Streets is red curbed. Diane Daubeneck, Calfarm Insurance, 643-A South Main Street, stated it is impossible to make a left turn from the driveway due to the lack of sight visibility of on-coming traffic. Employees of Safeway park on Main Street to allow sufficient customer parking in the parking lot. Member Turner asked if there is adequate on-site parking, and did the problem exist before the construction of the new Safeway Store. Ms. Worster responded there is adequate on-site parking, and the problem did not exist before the construction of the new Safeway Store. Member Turner expressed a concern that after the demolition of the old Safeway Store and completion of the parking lot, will the property owners want the on- street parking back. Ms. Worster responded no. Chairman Fernandez asked how many entrances/exits will be on Main Street for the new Safeway Store. Member Sawyer responded two, one is the service entrance for the loading dock, and one is located at the south end of the new building entering the customer parking lot. Member Dewey stated he has no objection to the red curb. Member Looney advised there is a total of five on-street parking spaces, and would like to have all five parking spaces removed. The fifth parking space is located near the residential home on Marshall at Main. Member Harris asked if the resident on Marshall Street was notified of the request. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE DECEMBER 9, 1997 PAGE 2 Ms. Worster responded no. Member Harris expressed a concern that the property owner was not notified of the request. Discussion followed regarding the on-street parking may only be a temporary problem that will be solved with the demolition the old Safeway Store, and the west side of Main Street will continue to have on-street parking. Member Harris advised Ms. Worster and Ms. Daubeneck the request must be approved by the City Council. ON A MOTION by Member Turner, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote, that the Traffic Engineering Committee amend the request from "the removal of 4 designated on-street parking spaces" to "the removal of 5 designated on-street parking spaces." The Committee recommends to the City Council the removal of 5 on-street parking spaces located on the east side of Main Street between Marshall and Gobbi Streets. e. Request to designate and Dost "ELECTRIC VEHICLE PARKING ONLY" stir n at northeast oarkino space adjacent to Electric Vehicle Charging Station in Citv of Ukiah Darking lot at North Oak and Standlev Streets -Steve Turner - MTA Janet Orth, MCOG/REDI stated the ZEV project is conducted by the Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) as lead agency in its role of Regional Transportation Planning Agency, and by the Renewable Energy Development Institute (REDI), a charitable, non-profit educational and scientific 501(c)(3) corporation in Willits. Goals of the project include participate in state-wide clean-air strategies; evaluate practicality of ZEV/LEV use in rural transportation; collect data for future ZEV/LEV infrastructure planning; evaluate public response to ZEV/LEV ride and drive; and demonstrate net metering by feeding photovoltaic remotely-generated electricity into the utility grid of offset ZEV energy use. The participants include MCOG, public agencies, such as Air Quality Management District; Mendocino Transit Authority, California Energy Commission, and Brooktrails Township CSD; the private sector such as Pacific Electric Vehicles, InnEVations, Homestead Enterprises, Pacific Gas and Electric, Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., and Ovonic Battery Company and Green Motorworks. Phase I is a feasibility study that evaluated and compared production that electric vehicles have on the consumer market and performance in Mendocino County. Phase II is road testing several electric vehicles on the market, and focus on rural setting. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE DECEMBER 9, 1997 PAGE 3 Member Looney advised City parking lots are regulated by the Parking District and that this item be referred to Larry DeKnoblough. A lengthy discussion followed regarding driving distance and regharing of an electric vehicle. Member Harris advised on Thursday, December 18, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the electric car will be available for 10 - 15 minute public rides in town. f. Review of Vehicle Speed on West Standlev at Highland -Steve Turner for Scott Freeman Member Turner stated in the Ukiah Daily Journal -Letter to the Editor, Scott Freeman expressed a concern for the increased traffic speed on West Standley. Mr. Freeman's home is located on the corner of Highland Avenue and Standley Street. Andrea Werra stated traffic speed has increased over the last few years, and expressed a concern for the children who live within the area. She asked if speed bumps or stop signs could be installed to slow down traffic. Member Roberts responded there is currently a traffic calming study being performed on Ford and Clara, a process of installing islands to slow down traffic. Stop signs and speed bumps are not recommended to slow down traffic. Member Dewey advised the Police Department can provide additional patrol within the area. He noted, in the past, the area was given additional patrol and speeding tickets were issued to residents who lived on the street. It was later observed, when the additional patrol was discontinued the traffic speed increased. Member Turner noted Santa Rosa has a photograph ticketing process, and asked if the City might look into this type of program. Member Dewey responded the process is used for red light violations. A feasibility study is being performed in two locations. The question is, with this type of program, will the tickets be lawful in court. Member Seanor suggested on-street parking adjacent to each other creates a narrow street (bottle neck) and may help slow down traffic. b. Request to Remove the MTA Bus Stop from the Loading Zone on West Perkins Street, west of School Street. and relocate to Perkins Street adiacent the Public Parking Lot west of North Oak Street -Steve Turner MTA MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE DECEMBER 9, 1997 PAGE 4 Member Turner stated he has received complaints from MTA drivers regarding the sharing of the loading zone/bus stop adjacent to the Mendocino Book Company. Occasionally the loading zone is occupied with delivery trucks, and the MTA bus has to drive pass the loading zone to the nearest stop for passenger loading/unloading. The bus makes 28 trips daily each direction, loading/unloading 14-20 passengers. Member Turner is requesting to relocate the bus stop to the first two parking spaces on Perkins Street, west of Oak Street. To relocate the bus stop requires the removal of two 5-hour on-street metered parking spaces. The new location allows sufficient space for a bench, adequate clearance of the sidewalk and fire hydrant. There is no curb cut for wheelchair access, however there is sufficient space for wheelchair use. He advised MTA is required to have sufficient depth from the curb to operate the wheelchair lift. A lengthy discussion followed regarding the installation of an ADA ramp access; there is a driveway near the proposed bus stop that could be used for wheelchair access; and relocating the bus stop in front of the Rau Building. It was the consensus of the Committee that this location is within the jurisdiction of the Parking District, and that this request be forwarded to Larry DeKnoblough. c. Request to Relocate the MTA Bus Stop northbound on South State Street located in front of Ukiah Valley Lumber. 112 feet north to a location behind the existing Darking regulation sign -Steve Turner MTA Member Turner reported due to the height of the shrubbery in front of Ukiah Valley Lumber, approximately 6 feet tall, MTA bus drivers do not have clear sight visibility of passengers waiting at the bus stop. MTA has contacted the owner of Ukiah Valley Lumber to request the schrubbery be trimmed to approximately 3 feet in height. The owner does not want cut back the shrubbery. He advised the bus stop is located opposite the intersection of Luce Avenue and State Street. Member Turner is requesting to relocate the bus stop and bench 112 feet north, in front of the vacant lot. There are no driveways and no on-street parking. Chairman Fernandez expressed he would like to see the bus stop relocated to the proposed location due to safety reasons. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Sawyer, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote that the Traffic Engineering Committee recommend to the City Council approval of the request by MTA to relocate the bus stop on South State Street in front of Ukiah Valley Lumber, northbound 112 feet in front of the vacant lot creating a new bus stop zone on the east side of State Street. Steve Turner abstained. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE DECEMBER 9, 1997 PAGE 5 d. Request to Relocate MTA Bus Stop on northeast corner of Leslie Street at W. Gobbi Street 200 feet easterly in front of Harold Square Mobile Home Park; or westerly to the northwest corner of L slie at obbi Street located next to the convenience store - St ve Turner MTA Member Turner stated the existing bus stop is located in front of Ted Myer Insurance, 400 East Gobbi Street, and has been at this location for approximately 3 years. Mr. Myer's contacted MTA regarding passengers leaning against his new sign; standing under the eaves of the building; and waiting on the porch or in the lobby for the bus. MTA suggested the possibility of building a structure at the bus stop or in the parking lot 100 feet east of the location. Mr. Myer's responded no to both suggestions. Member Turner noted from an operation and traffic safety view the proposed location is safer. To relocate the bus stop west creates a liability with the left-turn pocket on Gobbi Street at Leslie; the travel lane would be blocked by the bus, and traffic would be forced into the left-turn pocket. Member Turner is requesting to relocate the bus stop east, adjacent to the property of Harold Square Park. The manager and owner of Harold Square Park has no problem with the bus stop or structure, or the possibility of connecting into the electricity for light in the structure at night. Discussion followed regarding the possibility of relocating the bus stop closer to the intersection of Gobbi Street and Orchard Avenue; to relocate the bus stop east of the driveway of Harold Square Park would block sight visibility of drivers existing the driveway; passengers for the bus are from Harold Square Park, Autumn Leaves, Waugh Lane, and Leslie Street; and the proposed location is red curb and posted no parking. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Dewey, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote that the Traffic Engineering Committee approve MTA's request to relocate the bus stop 200 feet east, located in front of Harold Square Mobile Home Park. Member Turner abstained. OLD BUSINESS N/A COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE DECEMBER 9, 1997 PAGE 6 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 D.m. Kathy Kinch, R ording Secretary Ril\TEC MI2IN9] MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE DECEMBER 9, 1997 PAGE 7