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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_112100TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 21, 2000 3:00 P.M. MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT Steve Turner, Public Member Ben Kageyama, Public Member Diane Zucker, Public Member Diana Steele, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Michael Harris, Risk Manager/Budget Officer David Lohse, Associate Planner Jim Looney, Public Works Supervisor Dan Lockhart, Ukiah Police Department MEMBERS ABSENT None. OTHERS PRESENT STAFF PRESENT Rick Seanor Deputy Director of Public Works Larry DeKnoblough Director of Community Services Kathy Kinch Administrative Secretary The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Turner at 3:15 p.m. Roll was taken with the results listed above. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Harris stated that Member Looney's name appeared under Members Present and Members Absent. Member Looney's name should appear under Members Absent. ON A MOTION by Member Lohse, seconded by Member Zucker, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, to approve the October 24, 2000 minutes as corrected. Members Lockhart, Looney, and Harris abstained. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE10F7 Introduction of Diana Steele. Director of Public Works/City Engineer Chairman Turner welcomed and introduced Diana Steele, Director of Public Works/City Engineer. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: NEW BUSINESS a. Request to change traffic soeed on Washington Avenue between Cresta and Dora from 30 m ~ h to 25 m o h -Pat Stefani 225 Washington Avenue. Chairman Turner stated at the October 24, 2000 meeting, Pat Stefani, 225 Washington Avenue, expressed that since the speed limit was increased to 30 m.p.h. from 25 m.p.h. there has been an increase of traffic speed on Washington Avenue, between Cresta and Dora. She is requesting that the speed limit be changed back to 25 m.p.h. Member Seanor stated on March 15, 2000, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1027 which established a 30 m.p.h. speed zone on Washington Avenue between State Street and Helen Avenue. This speed zone was recommended by the City Engineer based on an engineering and traffic survey. The speed zone of 30 m.p.h. on Washington Avenue was established in accordance with the 85th percentile vehicle speed which was 31.1 m.p.h. California Vehicle Code Section 22358.5 addresses downward speed zoning. Since there are no conditions on Washington Avenue not readily apparent to drivers, downward speed zoning is not justified. Staff does not recommend a re-evaluation of the speed limit on Washington Avenue. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Steele, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, to deny the request to reduce the traffic speed on Washington Avenue from 30 m.p.h. to 25 m.p.h. based on Staff's recommendation and Public Works engineering and traffic survey. It is also recommended that the Public Works Department notify Ms. Stefani of the recommendation. Discussion followed requesting the Police Department place the radar trailer on Washington Avenue. c. Remove parking meters on Seminary Avenue. between Oak and State Street, and change from 5 hour parking zone to 2 hour parking zone -Larry DeKnoblough Larry DeKnoblough stated the City Council took action to remove the parking meters on Seminary Avenue. Staff at that time noted that the removal of the parking meters, leaving the 5 hour parking zone would allow vehicles to be parked there all day. He is proposing to change the 5-hour parking zone to a 2-hour parking zone. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE20F7 Chairman Turner stated Liz Buford of Rebecca Lynn's Flower and Gift Shop, 475 South Oak Street, requested at the October 24, 2000 meeting, that two parking spaces on the east side of South Oak Street be designated as 30-minute parking, green curb, and signage. She also requested that the six parking spaces located on the west side of Oak Street, that currently have no time limit restrictions, be posted as 90-minute parking. Because the parking spaces are utilized all day by the Courthouse and Conference Center. There was a motion to approve the request to change two on-street parking spaces in front of 475 South Oak Street to 24-minute parking zones. The remaining three on-street parking spaces will be included in the Time Zone Changes for Seminary Avenue. Discussion followed regarding the west side of Oak Street is within the parking district, and the east side of Oak Street is outside the parking district; change the parking zone from 5-hour parking to 2-hour parking on Oak Street from the Civic Center driveway north to Clay Street, and from the Civic Center driveway south will remain 5-hour parking; and parking zone regulations are in effect Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 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 the parking zone on Seminary Avenue between Oak and State Streets, and the parking spaces on the west side of Oak Street from the Civic Center entrance on Seminary Avenue, north to Clay Street, be changed from 5 hour parking to a 2 hour parking zone. b. Request to change on-street parking spaces to 24-minute parking zone located in front of Photo Finish, 125 North State Street -Ester Ballard, Photo Finish. Chairman Turner stated Ester Ballard, owner of Photo Finish, 125 North State Street, sent a letter opposing the request from MTA to remove one parking space and lengthen the red zone on Standley at Main Street an additional 20 feet. Ms. Ballard requested in her letter to change the on-street parking on North State Street and Standley Street to 24- minute parking. He noted the parking is currently 90-minute parking. Discussion followed regarding there is off-street parking located to the rear of the building; there are 5-parking spaces on Standley Street and 4-parking spaces on North State Street; the adjacent businesses have not been notified of the request from Photo Finish; with the increase of limited parking spaces could impact the schedule and route of the Parking Enforcement Officer; and there are two restaurants located within this area. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Zucker, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that this request be continued to the January 16, 2001 meeting. City staff is to prepare a feasibility study on how the 24-minute parking will impact the Parking Enforcement Officer, and contact the businesses within one block of this MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE30F7 location on North State and Standley Streets to identify their concerns regarding the request. Request to review site distance at the corner of S. Oak and Gobbi Streets (southbound on Oak to the west of Gobbi), and possibly remove or establish restricted parking on the north side of Gobbi Street, west of the intersection of South Oak Street -Steve Turner. MTA Chairman Turner stated this item was brought to him by an MTA bus driver. He is requesting an additional 20 feet of red curb. Chairman Turner presented a short video. Discussion followed regarding the resident at the corner of S. Oak and Gobbi Streets was not notified of the request; occasionally there is a vehicle parked on the north side of Gobbi Street blocking clear site visibility of traffic traveling east on Gobbi Street; and the large volume of traffic and the high traffic speed. Member Seanor advised in working with the Planning Department and Mendocino County Air Quality there have been discussions of possibly extending the bike lane from South State Street to Dora, and removing on-street parking on one side of West Gobbi Street. He also advised there will be a survey distributed to residents and businesses within this area for the bike lane project. Chairman Turner asked if the survey will be completed before the January meeting. Member Seanor responded yes. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, to continue this request to the January 16, 2001 meeting, and receive all information from the Planning Department on the bike lane project and the neighborhood survey. OLD BUSINESS Request from MTA to lengthen red zone on Standley at Main Street an additional 20 feet -Steve Turner. MTA Chairman Turner stated at the June meeting MTA requested the removal of one on- street parking space (the first parking space west of the driveway) and to lengthen the red zone an additional 20 feet. The bus stop is located across from Travel Time, there is approximately 40 feet of existing red curb and a 20 foot driveway, and the bus stops at this location every 30 minutes for approximately 1 minutes, and carries 400 to 500 passengers. Because the bus is 45 feet in length, the approach is not long enough for the bus to fully MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE 40F7 pull in, and the rear of the bus remains in the travel lane approximately ~/z car width. He noted there is a bus stop on Main Street located across from the Library. Chairman Turner presented a short video showing the approach of MTA buses at this location at 1:50 p.m., (three parking spaces were unoccupied), and at 4:00 p.m. (three parking spaces were unoccupied). At each time Chairman Turner parked his vehicle in the first parking space west of the driveway to show the approach of the buses. Member Zucker noted there is more traffic movement versus the issue of parking. Member Harris stated on the south side of Standley from State Street there is a distance from the curb return to the first parking space. He questioned if the parking spaces could be moved back closer to the curb return. Chairman Turner responded an additional 5 to 6 feet of red curb would be very helpful. He also responded he spoke with Member Lohse regarding adequate distance a parking space should have from a curb return, with traffic making right turn from N. State Street to Standley Street, to avoid hitting parked vehicle. Member Seanor reported he visited the site and observed an MTA bus pull up and stop completely to the curb with a vehicle parked in the parking space. He advised that Candace Horsley, City Manager, strongly opposed the removal of the parking space. He spoke with Belinda Early, Manager of Photo Finish; the manager of Rain Forest Fantasy; Mary Johnson of Travel Time; and Ukiah Valley Radiology regarding the proposal. All were opposed to the removal of the parking space. Member Looney suggested making the parking space a 24-minute parking zone. A lengthy discussion followed regarding as the bus approaches the stop, the front bumper goes over the curb and stops behind the crosswalk; the buses are 40 foot and 35 foot in length; when the bus leaves the stop it makes a left turn onto Main Street; and if the bus encroaches to far over the curb and sidewalk there is a liability issue of the bumper hitting a passenger. Member Lohse stated since the last discussion regarding this issue, there has only been one time the parking spaces were full and that was at noon. The video clearly shows that at different times of the day the parking spaces were not occupied. He also noted the video clearly shows that traffic is hesitant to pass the bus when the bus is stopped at the bus stop. He supports the removal of the parking space based on the safety issue of the bus not being able pull up and stop completely at the curb, and MTA provides transportation to the public. He also stated there is adequate on-street parking spaces on S. State and Main Streets and the public parking lot. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE 5OF7 Member Looney expressed he is opposed to any street being partially blocked because it then becomes a safety issue. Member Harris stated he would like to see the parking space temporarily changed to 24- minute parking, and the results of this change brought back at the January 16th meeting. Member Steele stated if the bus is unable to be parallel to the curb this could be a hazard to passengers getting on and off the bus. Chairman Turner responded it is a hazard and liability issue when the front door step is at an angle from the curb. The back door step is far enough from the curb the passenger would step onto the street then the curb. Member Seanor advised the signs may be too close to the curb face. Chairman Turner responded the bus stop sign is 12' or 15' back from the stop sign to prevent blocking the view of the stop sign. Member Kageyama stated he supports the removal of the parking space. He expressed changing the space to 24-minute parking will not solve the problem. ON A MOTION by Member Zucker, seconded by Member Lohse, it was carried by a roll call vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee recommend to the City Council approval of the request from MTA to lengthen the red zone on Standley Street at Main Street an additional 20 feet. AYES: Members Zucker, Kageyama, Lohse, Lockhart, and Steele. NOES: Members Looney and Harris. ABSTAIN: Chairman Turner. e. Discussion expanding the role of the Traffic Engineering Committee to include bicycle and pedestrian trials. facilities, and circulation. Possible action to work with City Departments to formulate a recommendation to the City Council -Steve Turner, MTA Member Lohse stated Planning Director Charley Stump is in favor of expanding the role of the Committee to review bicycle and pedestrian trails, facilities, and circulation. However, Mr. Stump would like to talk with the City Manager before approving. A concern is there will be time lines for certain grants. Member Harris stated he in favor of expanding the Committee's role. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE60F7 It was the consensus of the Committee to continue this item to the January 16, 2001 meeting. f. Discussion to cancel December 19 2000 meeting for Christmas Holiday. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Zucker, it was carried by an AYE voice vote of the members present, to approve the cancellation of the December 19, 2000 Traffic Engineering Committee meeting, for the Christmas Holiday. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS N/A MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Member Seanor advised the street striping has been completed. On Clara Avenue a centerline, reflectors, and fog lines were painted. Chairman Turner reported Mendocino County Air Quality has a Honda EVS electric car for approximately 2 weeks. The range is 75 miles plus, take approximately 4 hours to recharge on the larger charger. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m. ~~ Chairman Steve Turner Kathy Kinch, Recddding Secretary R:1\TEC M 112101 MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 21, 2000 PAGE 70F7