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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_062000TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE JUNE 20, 2000 3:00 P.M. MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT Steve Turner, Public Member Charles Ruelle Ben Kageyama, Public Member Otto Bertolero, Interim Director of Public Works David Lohse, Associate Planner Jim Looney, Public Works Supervisor MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF PRESENT Pete Hoyle, Ukiah Police Department Michael F. Harris, Risk Manager/Budget Officer Diane Zucker, Public Member Rick Seanor Deputy Director of Public Works Kathy Kinch Administrative Secretary The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Vice-Chairman Kageyama at 3:15 p.m. Roll was taken with the results listed above. Chairman Turner arrived at 3:27 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES APRIL 18. 2000 Member Seanor made a correction Page 2, Paragraph 2, change the spelling of site to sight, the sentence to read: "Member Kageyama advised Caltrans has a sight distance criteria for intersections, that when a vehicle approaches an intersection the driver has clear sight visibility of on-coming traffic 6 or 7 seconds before the vehicles passes. He asked if there is a sight distance criteria for intersections based on speed limits." Member Seanor made a correction on Page 2, Paragraph 5, delete the word large, the sentence to read: "Member Seanor advised he also spoke with Bob McCraley, President of Parnum Paving, regarding the concerns of the large trucks parking on State Street." MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE JUNE 20, 2000 PAGE 10F ON A MOTION by Member Lohse, seconded by Member Bertolero, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present,. that the Traffic Engineering Committee minutes of April 18, 2000, be approved as corrected. MAY 16. 2000 ON A MOTION by Member Lohse, seconded by Member Bertolero, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee minutes of May 16, 2000, be approved as submitted. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: NEW BUSINESS a. Vice-Chairman Kageyama introduced Charles Ruelle. Charles Ruelle, 980 North Oak Street, stated he has resided at this location since 1965. His home is located across the street and south of the intersection. He reported the Sizemore's purchased their home in the 1980's and planted a hedge on the southwest side of the intersection for privacy, and on the north side of Gibson Street there is a blackberry patch and no sidewalk. The hedge has created a visual restriction when making a turn onto Oak Street from Gibson Street. Approximately five years ago, the Planning Commission requested that Mr. Sizemore move the hedge behind the sidewalk. Mr. Ruelle stated vehicles have to enter the intersection for clear sight visibility, and there has been an increase of traffic speed. He is requesting athree-way stop sign. Member Lohse asked if the hedge were trimmed to three-feet in height, would there be a clear line of sight. Mr. Ruelle responded yes. Member Looney advised the Municipal Code states "no fence shall be constructed and no hedge or other screen planting shall be grown or permitted to grow, to a height exceeding three feet (3') and within ten feet (10') from any property sine abutting a street." The shrubbery is 10 feet parallel with the street not just the corner. A lengthy discussion followed regarding any portion of a lot fronting a public right-of-way being considered a frontyard; the Municipal Code requires shrubbery to be 10 feet from the property line and from the radius of a corner for the entire frontage of the property. Because the property is located on a corner, the requirements would apply to both sides of the frontage. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE JUNE 20, 2000 PAGE20F Member Lohse stated the City enforces all citizen complaints and would like to see the Code enforced regarding this issue. Member Bertolero asked how much footage would need to be cleared, starting from the corner, as opposed the entire frontage. Member Looney stated 10 feet in each direction from the corner. ON A MOTION by Member Lohse, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Planning and Public Works Departments coordinate in contacting the property owner regarding the issue of the line of sight at the intersection of Gibson and North Oak Streets. If there is no compliance by July 18, 2000, staff will contact the City Code Enforcement Officer regarding the removal of all vegetation in the area. Member Seanor asked if there is a code that addresses sight distance and visibility for corner/triangle property. Member Lohse advised these issues should be reviewed as part of the zoning code and monitored by the Public Works Department. He advised a letter should be addressed to the property owner from the Public Works Department. b. Request from MTA to lengthen the red zone on Standlev at Main Street an additional 20 feet to the west -Steve Turner, MTA Chairman Turner reported there is a bus stop on Standley Street across from Travel Time. There is approximately 40 feet of existing red curb and a 20 foot driveway. Because the bus is 45 feet in length, there is not enough approach for the bus to fully pull in, with the rear of the bus remaining in the travel lane approximately'/: car width. MTA is requesting the removal of one on-street parking space (the first parking space west of the driveway) to lengthen the red zone an additional 20 feet. He noted the bus stops at this location every 30 minutes, Standley Street is a one-way street, and there is also a bus stop on Main Street located across from the Library. Member Seanor asked how long the bus stops at this location, and is there on-street parking on both sides of the street. Chairman Turner responded the street is approximately 19-20 feet wide with on-street parking on the south side only. The bus stops for approximately 1 minute. Member Looney advised the on-street parking spaces are utilized daily, however, he did not know the condition on the flow of traffic. Member Lohse agreed that the on-street parking spaces on Standley Street are utilized MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE JUNE 20, 2000 PAGE 30F daily, however, the parking spaces north of the Library are not utilized daily. He expressed that the removal of one on-street parking space would not impact or reduce on-street parking. Member Bertolero asked if the businesses and business owners had been notified of the request. Member Looney asked if there had been any situations or incidents at this location to request the additional red curb. Chairman Turner responded the businesses have not been informed of the request. He advised that he does not know of any accidents or situations for this location. Member Bertolero asked the standard length required for a bus stop. Member Turner responded there is no standard requirement. The bus stop is based on parking, available red zones, and length requirements for the bus. He noted a 35 foot bus has to stop in a 65 foot bus zone with the rear wheel 18 inches from the curb. He also noted this route carries 400 to 500 passengers daily. Member Lohse advised the only business fronting Standley Street is Travel Time. He stated he is not opposed to the removal of the parking spaces as there is additional parking on State Street and Main Street. Chairman Turner advised employees of Rain Forest Fantasy (the floral shop) and possibly Photofinish utilize the back parking lot located on Main Street. ON A MOTION by Member Looney, seconded by Member Lohse, 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 the request from MTA to lengthen the red zone on Standley Street at Main Street an additional 20 feet to the west. Motion fails. Member Bertolero requested that this item be continued to the next scheduled meeting to be addressed by the Parking District, notify businesses within the area of the request; the removal of one parking space; and to discuss the safety issues of the bus being unable to fully pull into the stop. It was the consensus of the Committee to continue this item to the next scheduled meeting to discuss this issue with Larry DeKnoblough with the Parking District; review the site; notify the businesses within the area on the removal of the on-street parking space; and address the safety issues. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE JUNE 20, 2000 PAGE 40F C. Chairman Turner reported there is approximately 70 feet of red curb on southbound Despina, south of the driveway next to the high school tennis courts. MTA would like to install apassenger/shelter bus stop. He noted the last five feet of the shelter would be in the parking lot area. MTA is requesting to lengthen the existing red curb an additional 10 feet to prevent vehicles from parking in front of the shelter. He noted there is sufficient off- street parking, there are no marked parking spaces, the additional red zone would not reduce on-street parking spaces, and the bus stops at this location five times daily picking up 6 to 15 passengers. Summer school has 60 passengers daily and 60 to 70 passengers to and from the college daily. Member Lohse asked if the high school had been notified of the request regarding the installation of the shelter. Chairman Turner responded yes, and will be addressed at the Ukiah Unified School Board meeting. ON A MOTION by Member Lohse, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee approve the request from MTA to lengthen the existing red curb on Despina south of the High School tennis court entrance an additional 10 feet, subject to the Ukiah Unified School Board approval of the bus shelter. OLD BUSINESS N/A COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS Member Lohse advised he will be presenting to the Committee and the Parking District for discussion the on-street parking on the northwest corner of Oak and Smith Streets. This item was brought to him by a City Councilmember. The issue of concern is the large trucks, owned by Rainbow Construction, utilizing on-street parking on Oak Street making it very difficult to have clear sight visibility of southbound traffic. He noted there is an existing red curb and the request is to lengthen the red curb. He advised Rainbow Construction will be occupying their new building on Hastings, however, the administrative office will remain at their present location. Member Looney asked if traffic counts will be required for this area. Chairman Turner advised traffic counts may have a positive feedback for staff and the Councilmember. He requested that staff prepare a traffic count and that this item be MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE JUNE 20, 2000 PAGE 50F placed on the next agenda. Member Bertolero reported CTC awarded the City of Ukiah $500,000 for trees on North and South State Street. The project will include preliminary field work and aerial work, and the parking lot on Standley Street. Chairman Turner reported the MTA Board of Directors voted to suspend the transit center project because of numerous open ended potential delays. The two grants expire in September 2001, the environmental process and grade crossing is not completed, and the relocation expenses to relocate the existing two businesses is unfunded. At the next Board meeting, there is a closed session agenda item to discuss the transit center and the depot location. The alternative locations being considered are Standley Street adjacent to the big parking lot and the old Fjords Restaurant area. He asked what is the possibility of the Courthouse Annex Building parking lot being available for public parking after 5:00 p.m. Member Lohse advised when the Brewery project was proposed he spoke with General Services, and received a verbal agreement from the County that the parking would not be enforced after 5:00 p.m. The parking lot can be utilized for parking, it is private property, and the only thing preventing the parking are the signs. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS None. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m. Chair n S eve Turner Kathy Kinch, Record R:1 \TEC M062000 MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE JUNE 20, 2000 PAGE 60F