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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_031098MINUTES TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE March 10, 1998 MEMBERS PRESENT Chris Dewey, Ukiah Police Department Mike Harris, Assistant City Manager Rick Kennedy, City Engineer Jim Looney, Public Works Superintendent Charles Stump, Senior Planner (for Robert Sawyer) Steve Turner, MTA William Fernandez, Chairman MEMBERS ABSENT Donna Roberts Robert Sawyer OTHERS PRESENT Betty Austin STAFF PRESENT Marge Giuntoli, Recording Secretary The Traffic Engineering Committee was called to order by Chairman Fernandez at 3:06 p.m. in Conference Room 3, Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California. Roll was taken with the results noted above. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -February 10, 1998 ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to approve the minutes of February 10, 1998, as submitted. III. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS No comments were made. IV. NEW BUSINESS a. Request to Establish an Additional Handicapped Parking Space on Dora Street near Perkins Street -Betty Austin. Chairman. Board of Trustees. First Presbyterian Church. Betty Austin, 599 Plum Drive, referenced her letter to the Committee of March 3, 1998, and reviewed First Presbyterian Church's request for an additional handicapped parking space on Dora Street. She stated that the church would be willing to give up one space in the current white- curbed loading zone just to the south of the current handicapped space, if necessary, to gain the one additional space they need. Member Turner inquired whether utilizing the existing controlled parking spaces and redefining a loading zone as a handicapped zone would require City Council adoption of an ordinance. Traffic Engineering Committee March 10, 1998 Page 1 Member Kennedy replied that these types of matters are generally listed as consent items on the Council agenda; however, he would review the vehicle code relative to establishing handicapped zones to determine the correct procedure. He commented that since it appears the church has need of the loading zone, the ideal recommendation would be to establish an additional blue zone north of the current one, and maintain the existing loading zone in its entirety. Member Turner voiced his support of Member Kennedy's proposal, noting that the blue zone would probably not be continuously occupied except for Sunday morning, so it would effectively improve sight distance at the intersection for most of the time. Discussion followed relative to the necessity for a handicapped curb, wherein it was determined wheelchair access could be obtained through the existing ramp at the corner crosswalk. ON A MOTION by Member Kennedy, seconded by Member Harris, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to recommend to the City Council that one additional handicapped loading zone be established on the east side of Dora Street, south of Perkins Street, and contiguous to the Ukiah First Presbyterian Church. Member Kennedy noted the item would appear on the City Council agenda for the regular meeting of March 18, 1998. Ms. Austin thanked the Committee for their recommendation for approval. She also commented on an unrelated matter, alerting the Committee to the situation that on Leslie Street towards Perkins Street, there are double painted white lines for pedestrian right-of-way; however, a local bank's sign impairs the sight distance so that a driver attempting to make a left hand turn cannot see until they reach the first line of this right-of-way. b. Request to Establish a Northbound Bus Stop on North State Street at Henry Street in the Existing Red Curb Area -Steve Turner. Mendocino Transit Authorit~(MTA~ Member Turner reviewed the request, and inquired relative to Fire Marshal Bruce Evans' written comments from the Project Review Committee, which read as follows: "A fire hydrant is located in the immediate vicinity of this project. Uniform Fire Code Section 1001.7.2 requires that a minimum 3-foot clear space be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants. No structure or obstructions of any kind may be placed within this clear space." Member Kennedy replied that since the bus will never be left unattended, the comments were not applicable. Discussion followed regarding the existing red curb area and whether there was sufficient distance for both the bus to stop and pedestrians to use the crosswalk, wherein it was determined the bus would only block the crosswalk for approximately one minute at a time, unless a person in a wheelchair was boarding, in which case it could take five minutes. Traffic Engineering Committee March 10, 1998 Page 2 ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Kennedy, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to approve the establishment of a bus stop zone on North State Street north of the intersection of State and Henry Streets on the east side of State Street, within the existing red zone. Member Turner abstained from the vote. Member Harris noted that the sign pole would not be installed within three feet of the fire hydrant. c. Engineering Report on Airport Park Boulevard Speed Zone -Rick Kennel Director of Public Works/City Engineer Member Kennedy reviewed his report, and stated that a 30 mile per hour speed limit was being recommended on Airport Park Boulevard because of the various conditions in the area, including the, median island, vegetation and condition of the road. Member Harris inquired relative to what would occur if the road was reconstructed to the appropriate City standards. Member Kennedy replied it would be proper to complete another speed survey and determine the 85th percentile. Member Harris voiced his concern relative to the proposed speed limit since the street was designed for large volume, through traffic movements, and stated his preference to reflect the 34.8 mile per hour 85th percentile with a 35 mile per hour speed limit. Member Dewey stated the concern from the Police Department perspective has been that 12 out of the 13 accidents on that roadway have been at the Airport Park Boulevard and Commerce Drive intersection. It is not the street capacity so much as the fact that north and southbound vehicles are at speed at that intersection which presents the problem, and an increased speed will increase the danger. Member Stump offered his opinion that 25 miles per hour would be more appropriate, since Airport Park Boulevard is a long stretch of road to get across, and as buildout occurs in the Business Park the situation can only worsen unless the traffic is slowed down. Member Kennedy clarified that the 30 mile per hour speed limit is recommended not only for that portion of Airport Park Boulevard from Friedman Bros. to Talmage Road, but also for the half street south of Friedman Bros. to the Mendocino Brewing Company. Chairman Fernandez inquired regarding the reasons for the accidents at the intersection of Airport Park Boulevard and Commerce Drive. Member Dewey replied that although the sight distance is adequate, motorists are not using sufficient caution to avoid the northbound/southbound traffic. He noted that the width of the street makes the distance of the actual danger zone the widest in the City. Traffic Engineering Committee March 70, 1998 Page 3 Member Kennedy stated that this traffic study appears to indicate this intersection may meet the accident warrants for afour-way stop. Discussion followed regarding traffic problems at the intersection. ON A MOTION by Member Turner, seconded by Member Stump, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to recommend to the City Council the establishment of a 30 mile per hour speed limit for the entire length of Airport Park Boulevard, as submitted in the engineering report. OLD BUSINESS None. V. Member Turner reported that MTA will be starting a new State Street jitney service beginning Monday, March 16, funded with the "unmet needs" funding distributed by the Mendocino Council of Governments. In addition, local bus Saturday service and Willits to Ukiah service will begin this weekend. Member Looney reported that the "Senior Facility' signs were installed on Leslie Street, which will limit the traffic to 25 miles per hour. He further reported that the painted traffic island near MacDonald's on Orchard Avenue was realigned, allowing greater stacking capacity in the southbound left turn lane, further opening it up to northbound traffic. VI. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS None. VII. ADJOURNMENT ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Kennedy, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to adjourn the meeting. There being no further business, the meeting was ~j'ourned at 3:43 p.m. Chairman Traffic Engineering Committee March 10, 1998 Page 4 b:meg\tec31098.min