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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_091598TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 15, 1998 3:00 p.m. MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT William Fernandez, Chairman N/A Donna Roberts, Public Member Norma Wilson for Steve Turner, MTA Larry Woods, Senior Civil Engineer for Rick Kennedy, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Jim Looney, Public Works Superintendent David Lohse, Associate Planner for Robert Sawyer, Director of Planning Michael Harris, Risk Manager/Budget Officer Pete Hoyle, Ukiah Police Department STAFF PRESENT Kathy Kinch Recording Secretary The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Fernandez at 3:03 p.m. Roll was taken with the results listed above. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Chairman Fernandez read audience comments. No audience comments. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Hoyle, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, to approve the minutes August 11, 1998, as submitted. Members Looney and Roberts, and Chairman Fernandez abstained. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE September 15, 1998 PAGE 1 NEW BUSINESS a. Reouest to relocate bus stogy on the west side of South State Street from 1070 South State Street (Super 8 Motell north to 84' south of the curb return from Observatorv Street, and mount the sign on the existing narking sign post. MTA request that the Citv Council designate the 84' of curb as red curb (No Parkinol - Steve Turner, MTA. Ms. Wilson reported the 84' red curb INo Parking) is to accommodate a 40' bus and to allow sufficient space for the bus to pull in and pull out. Member Woods noted that there is currently 18' of red curb, and that the request is for an additional 66'. Member Harris advised that there are no businesses fronting the proposed 84' area that would be affected with the red curb/no parking designation. He asked if signage will be required in addition to the red curb/no parking designation. Member Looney responded the proposed location will be painted red curb (No Parkingl. signage is appropriate on lengthy streets, such as Gobbi Street, where the curb is not painted red for no parking. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee recommend to the City Council approval of MTA's request to relocate the bus stop on the west side of South State Street from 1070 South State Street (Super 8 Motel) north to 84' south of the curb return from Observatory Street, and mount the sign on the existing parking sign post, and designate 84' of curb as red curb INo Parking). b. Reouest that the temporary bus stop located aooroximately 100' west of Despina on westbound Low Gap Road be made permanent. This will provide the safest possible northbound stop for MTA's expanded service to the High School -Steve Turner, MTA. Chairman Fernandez made a correction that the temporary bus stop is located 100' east of Despina. Member Roberts questioned if the temporary bus stop is for the summer school students. Ms. Wilson responded yes. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE September 15, 1998 PAGE 2 Discussion followed regarding that there is currently a crosswalk and bike lane within the proposed location; the MTA bus travels up Despina and down to Empire; and the proposed location is a safer location for the children because the area is currently designated a no parking area. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Woods, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee approve MTA's request that the temporary bus stop located approximately 100' east of Despina on westbound Low Gap Road be made permanent, to provide the safest possible northbound stop for MTA's expanded service to the High School. c. Receive input from Traffic Engineering Committee to Planning Deoartment regarding the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan -David Lohse. Associate Planner. Member Lohse reported that the consulting firm of Whitlock and Weinberger Transportation is preparing a 20 year Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan for Ukiah as part of the City's implementation of the General Plan goals and policies calling for a user-friendly bicycle and pedestrian facilities. He advised that there are two chapters pending, the implementation plan and financial strategy plan. Staff has reviewed the projects as mostly very large improvement projects, that will be funded through grants. Staff would like to present the plan to the Planning Commission in November or December, to the City Council in January, and submit for grant funding in April of 1999. The Consultant, Steve Weinberger, has done several traffic studies for the City, and is currently working on the County's circulation element. Mr. Weinberger is very familiar with the area and recognized pedestrian authority and safety. Mr. Weinberger teamed with Mike Jones who is an authority on writing and implementing bicycle plans, and had some interesting concepts. Member Lohse advised that there were two public hearings held in which Staff received a lot of positive input and good suggestions; the County has been integrated into the planning process; Staff is currently reviewing a safety plan for bicycle and pedestrian trails from the City to Mendocino College, Lake Mendocino, and Cow Mountain; and under the project "Rails with Trails", where trails are located along the railroad tracks, Staff is considering the possibility of having two paved lanes, one for pedestrians and one for bicycles. Member Roberts stated she was very pleased that the Plan mentioned the implementation of traffic calming devices in neighborhoods, and plans for the Orchard Avenue bridge. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE September 15, 1998 PAGE 3 Member Looney stated that the plan did not mention a comprehensive traffic control plan. Member Lohse responded the Plan has to acknowledge the existing comprehensive traffic control plan. The Plan discusses only the implementation of bicycle and pedestrian components of the General Plan, not traffic circulation. The plan is designed to justify the demand for pedestrian and bicycle lane projects, and an educational chapter on programs for children on how to ride bikes safely. Member Woods suggested the possibility of implementing pedestrian ramps for the handicap. It was the consensus of the Traffic Engineering Committee that this item be carried to the October 13, 1998 meeting. d. Presentation of traffic issues and complaint concerning pickup and drop-off area for Elementarv School children at Mendocino Drive and Dora Street -Officer Pete Hoyle. Ukiah Police Department. Chairman Fernandez noted that this issue was discussed by the Committee on November 8, 1994. At that time a site investigation of this location indicated that there were no sidewalks on the north side of Mendocino Drive, and a slight rise in the ground to the fence. The School proposed to install a sidewalk on the north side of Mendocino Drive with an asphalt path connecting to the new gate. The bus loading and drop-off area would be moved from the present location on South Dora to the north side of Mendocino Drive west of Alice Avenue. This proposed location change was to take place during the winter months. The Committee approved the request for the installation of a crosswalk and sidewalk on Mendocino Drive and Alice Avenue, and red curb or appropriate signage in both directions from Alice Avenue, as determined by the Public Works Department. Member Hoyle reported that the Ukiah Police Department has received numerous on- going complaints regarding the increase of vehicle traffic on Mendocino Drive from parents picking-up and droping-off their children at the elementary school, and safety of the school children. Because there is no sidewalk, this allows vehicles to park next to the fence forcing the children to walk in the street and between vehicles. He suggested the possibility of establishing a no parking area within this area to allow the children to walk safely. The school buses park on school property for loading/unloading of school children. Discussion followed regarding the possibility of prohibiting vehicles from making aleft- hand turn onto northbound Dora Street at peak hours; have motorists travel south on Mendocino Drive to prevent traffic from backing up on Gobbi Street to Mendocino Drive. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE September 15, 1998 PAGE 4 Member Lohse advised that the Planning Department has received approximately 5 complaints from businesses to the north of Mendocino Drive expressing that during those peak hours parents are parking in front of their business, walking their children to and from school, preventing customer parking. He noted that most of the customers for those businesses are elderly and are not capable of walking long distances. Member Looney expressed it should be the responsibility of the School to provide a designated area for loading and unloading of school children. He also expressed that the development of a sidewalk would help control the parking and allow children to walk safely on the sidewalk. Member Harris expressed that the School District should be contacted regarding the traffic issues and concerns expressed, and the safety of the school children between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Member Roberts expressed that the development of a sidewalk would help with the safety of school children, however, it will not alleviate the vehicle traffic problem. A lengthy discussion followed regarding there is sufficient space from the fence to the street for the development of a sidewalk; the possibility of increased vehicle speed on Gardens Avenue and Mendocino Drive; and the development of a sidewalk will give a safe area for the school children to walk. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Public Works Department write a letter to Ukiah School District identifying the safety problems along the north side of Mendocino Drive at Yokayo School, refer to the minutes of a previous meeting that improvements were to be made which included the construction of a sidewalk, and that Staff receive a response prior to the next meeting. OLD BUSINESS N/A COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS N/A MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS N/A MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE September 15, 1998 PAGE 5 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m. ~ ,/ ~~ ChaXtman Fund ~_ Kathy Kinch, R ording Secretary Ril\TEC A09i598 MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE September 15, 1998 PAGE 6