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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_041701TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE April 17, 2001 3:00 P.M. MINUTES Steve Turner, Public Member Ben Kageyama, Public Member Michael F. Harris, Risk Manager/Budget Officer Diana Steele, Director of Public Works/City Engineer David Lohse, Associate Planner II OTHERS PRESENT Katherine LaRue Harold Phillips MEMBERS ABSENT Diane Zucker, Public Member Jim Looney, Public Works Supervisor Darren Wojcieszak, Ukiah Police Department STAFF PRESENT Rick Seanor, Dep. Dir. of Public Works Kathy Kinch, Recording Secretary The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Turner at 3:04 p.m. Roll was taken with the results listed above. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Lohse, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, to approve the March 20, 2001 minutes as submitted. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action regarding increased traffic speed on Lorraine Street-Katherine LaRue. Katherine LaRue, 7 Lorraine Street, stated since the development of Airport Park Boulevard there has been an increase of north- and southbound traffic on Lorraine Street. She advised over the past several years there have been a number of traffic calming solutions such as speed humps; reducing the speed limit to 15 m.p.h.; installing a barricade at Orchard Avenue and Marlene Street restricting traffic to travel one-way eastbound on Marlene Street; and eliminating straight through traffic from Airport Park Boulevard to Lorraine, and installing left- and right-hand turn lanes only for northbound traffic. The traffic signals and signage on Airport Park Boulevard for the left- and right-hand turns are not obeyed. She also stated the major problem is the 15 m.p.h. speed limit is not observed; the traffic noise is very loud; the street becomes very narrow when vehicles are parked on-street; and there are no curbs, gutters, and sidewalks. She noted that former Director of Public Works, Rick Kennedy, had suggested closing the south end of Lorraine Street to through traffic. She is requesting that the south end of Lorraine Street be closed to through traffic or have airb, gutter, and sidewalks installed. Chairman Turner asked if traffic speed exceeds 25 m.p,h., and what is the possibility of widening the street. Ms. LaRue responded yes. She advised to widen the street would encroach onto her property. Member Lohse suggested a traffic count study be done and the placement of the radar trailer on Lorraine Street. Member Kageyama asked if a speed study has been performed. Mr. Seanor responded the last traffic count study and speed study was completed several years ago A lengthy discussion followed regarding several years ago the City Council discussed the possibility of closing the south end of Lorraine Street, and the residents were opposed; it may be difficult to enforce the 15 m.p.h. speed limit due to the 85 percentile is higher than 15 m.p.h.; and if the street is widened there is the possibility of traffic speed increasing. Ms. LaRue stated she will petition the neighborhood asking for their comments and concerns, and which traffic calming measures would they like to see, speed humps, closing the south end of the street, changing Lorraine Street into cone-way street, etc. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Lohse, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, to continue this item to the July meeting. The Committee also requested that the Police Department place the radar trailer on Lorraine Street, and the Engineering Division perform a speed and traffic study on Lorraine Street. The Committee also requested Ms. LaRue to return all information from the neighborhood survey to the July meeting. b. Discussion of request by Harold Phillips of First Christian Church 140 N Spring Street reoardina diagonal parking on Spring Street between Perkins and Standley Streets -Harold Phillips. Mr. Phillips stated there are members of the Church over 70 years of age and have difficulty parking parallel on Spring Street. He is requesting on-street diagonal and handicap parking in front of the First Christian Church to accommodate eight vehicles. He advised the street is 55 feet wide curb to curb, and 139 feet from the corner to the next driveway. Across the street there are two driveways with 65 feet on either end to accommodate five vehicles. He noted the parallel parking spaces would be utilized on Sunday only. Member Steele advised for parking enforcement reasons, it is difficult to create time limited parking during certain days of the week. Chairman Turner stated he visited the site and diagonal parking in front of the church would not impact other property owners or the flow of traffic. He expressed he is opposed to the diagonal parking across the street. Member Harris asked if there is on-site parking. Mr. Phillips responded no. Mr. Seanor stated he spoke with Mr. DeKnoblough expressed there is less sight distance when backing out of a diagonal parking space and that the transition from parallel parking to diagonal parking can be confusing for traffic. There is a City Code regarding diagonal parking, which requires an ordinance. When he reviewed the site if there was diagonal parking on both sides of the street there would be 42' for parking spaces leaving only 14' total for the travel lanes. At a 45 degree angle on both sides there would be only 16'total for the travel lanes. He noted the shallower the angle the longer the stall length, thus losing space for the travel lane. Discussion followed regarding installing diagonal parking in front of the Church and maintain parallel parking across the street; the diagonal parking spaces would be occupied by members of the Church on Sunday mornings; notifying the residents within the neighborhood of the request and receive input; ON A MOTION by Member Lohse, seconded by Member Harris, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, to continue the request by Harold Phillips of First Christian Church, 140 N. Spring Street, regarding diagonal parking on Spring Street between Perkins and Standley Streets to the June meeting. It was also requested that the Public Works Department bring back to the Committee other possible options to on-street parking and a diagram showing the proposed diagonal parking on the west side of Spring Street (Church side) with options for possible islands to protect the diagonal parking at each end of the block. c. Discussion and possible action regarding on-street parking on Leslie Street at Perkins Street (where Leslie Street narrows) -Steve Turner. MTA Chairman Turner stated at the intersection of Leslie and Perkins Street, the northbound lane on Leslie, the street becomes very narrow when vehicles are parked along the street. On the southeast corner there is a recently remodeled house. There is no curb, gutter, or sidewalk, but there is an asphalt berm. When he visited the site there were four vehicles parked along the street. The vehicles do not restrict the lanes, but there is barely six inches between the parked vehicle and the vehicle pulling up to the stop sign. There is a red curb approximately half way down the length of the left-turn lane. He recommended there be a "No Parking" sign from the end of the red curb to the intersection, and install the sign at the end of the lane designation for the left- and right-hand turn pocket. Member Lohse advised the vehicles are being parked within the pedestrian path, which would force pedestrians out onto Leslie Street. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Lohse, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that this item be continued to the June meeting. The Committee requested that the Public Works Department make recommendations as to the appropriate red curb marking along the east side of Leslie, south of Perkins Street. OLD BUSINESS N/A COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS Chairman Turner reported MTA has a Hopland/Talmage service. Member Steele reported the City Attorney has recommended that Staff can place on the Consent Calendar recommendations on temporary traffic measures. However, Staff would have to return to the City Council with a permanent solution. Mr. Seanor reported the City of Ukiah received a request from Pomo TV to remove a portion of the sidewalk on the north side of Church Street, to make apull-in for delivery trucks. Currently, the delivery trucks park on the north side of Church Street causing traffic to be blocked. There is on-street parking on the south side of Church Street and no parking on the north side. Church Street is very narrow and is a one-way street. He stated the Public Works Department visited the site and denied the request. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS N/A ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m. s Chair teve urner Kathy Kinch Recording Secret R:1\TFC MOl U01