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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_092402TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE UKIAH CIVIC CENTER Conference Room No. 3 300 Seminary Avenue Ukiah, California 95482 SEPTEMBER 24, 2002 MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT Kevin Cotroneo, Public Member Michael F. Harris, Risk ManagerlBudget Officer Diana Steele, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Dan Walker, Ukiah Police Department ]im Looney, Public Works Supervisor David Lohse, Associate Planner II Doug Pilant, Public Member Ben Kageyama, Chairman Bart Kaplan John Newfield MEMBERS ABSENT Rick Seanor, Dep. Dir. of Public Works STAFF PRESENT Kathy Kinch Recording Secretary The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Kageyama at 3:00 p.m. Roll was taken with the results listed above. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ON A MOTION by Member Looney, seconded by Member Walker, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to approve the minutes of July 16, 2002, as submitted. Members Steele and Pilant abstained. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: b. Discussion and possible action regarding installino a crosswalk on Leslie Street in front of River Oaks Charter School, 555 Leslie Street -Bart Kaplan. Bart Kaplan, River Oaks Charter School, stated the school has been at this location four years, and is a permanent site for the school. There are 174 students, 12 teachers, and 5 staff members. In the morning and afternoon there are approximately 100 vehicles dropping-off and picking-up students, causing traffic delays on Leslie Street. He is requesting amid-block crosswalk located in front of River Oaks Charter School to allow parents to drop-off and pick-up their children on the west side of Leslie Street. The older children would serve as crossing guard monitors to help children cross the street safely. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 24, 2002 Page 1 of 6 Member Looney reported the Senior Center is south of the Charter School and there is an existing mid-block crosswalk located next to the Center's driveway to the Mobile Home Park. There are signs posted indicating a school zone and crosswalk, and the speed limit is posted 25 m.p.h. He stated he is opposed to mid-block crosswalks, because motorists are not aware of mid-block crosswalks. Member Walker asked what is the distance from the School to the mid-block crosswalk. Member Looney responded approximately 150 feet north of the Schools parking lot. Member Steele suggested relocating the mid-block crosswalk to serve both the School and the Senior Center. Member Walker stated he is opposed to two mid-block crosswalks. Crosswalks provide a false sense of security to pedestrians. Member Pilant asked was a traffic circulation plan submitted to the City of Ukiah for review and comment when River Oaks Charter School was first established four years ago. Member Lohse responded no. Schools and charter schools are exempt from submitting traffic circulation plans. The Planning Department did advise the School to consider adrop-off and pick-up location for the children. Member Pilant noted he has two children who attend the School. He stated he utilizes the parking lot for picking-up and dropping-off his children, because he does not want his children crossing a heavily traveled street. Traffic delays occur during the morning and afternoon for approximately 20- minutes. He stated there are no crossing guards during those times and there is no painted curb for short-term parking. Member Lohse asked what is the possibility of re-striping the parking lot to accommodate a pick- up/drop-off area. He is opposed to an on-street drop-off/pick-up area. He expressed he would like to see the School take responsibility for establishing an on-site drop-off/pick-up area. Mr. Kaplan responded the older students would be trained as crossing guards. Member Steele stated the teachers or parents serve as crossing guards at other schools. Mr. Kaplan suggested the front parking spaces could be removed to establish apick-up/drop-off area, leaving 30 parking spaces. Member Walker suggested establishing apick-up/drop-off area in the parking lot. The vehicles would enter the south driveway from southbound Leslie, and exist the north driveway to northbound Leslie. A sign could be posted at the north driveway "right-turn only." He stated he is opposed to two mid-block crosswalks. Member Looney stated crosswalks are used to control where pedestrians cross a street, crosswalks do not control traffic. Crosswalks are not safe zones and give a false sense of security to pedestrians. It is the responsibility of the School to establish apick-up/drop-off area for the children. Member Walker stated he would like to see the School take responsibility for establishing a pick- up/drop-off area for the children. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 24, 2002 Page 2 of 6 ON A MOTION by Member Steele, seconded by Member Walker, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee request River Oaks Charter School establish an on-site pick-up/drop-off plan, such as modifications to the parking lot and crossing guard training, and return all information to the Committee at a future date. The Committee authorizes the Public Works Department to present the request to the residents of the Mobile Home Park and Senior Center regarding the relocation of the crosswalk, and review ADA accessibility. c. Discussion and possible action reaardino the installation of flashing liohts at City crosswalks - John Newfield John Newfield stated he uses the crosswalks on State Street on a daily basis. He is requesting the installation of flashing lights at all crosswalks throughout the City of Ukiah. Member Walker stated after a long period of time motorists do not acknowledge the flashing lights because the lights are set off by pranksters. The Ukiah Police Department will be educating the public on pedestrian safety, pedestrians violating the law, and vehicles violating pedestrian right-of- way. In the last several weeks' citations have been issued to both pedestrians violating the law and vehicles violating the right-of-way of pedestrians. He is opposed to the installation of flashing lights at crosswalks. Member Steele reported the cost to install flashing lights is $18,000 per crosswalk. Information received, shows flashing lights are not valuable. The City of Fort Bragg reported the flashing lights create long traffic delays in the downtown area. Member Pilant noted both vehicles and pedestrians need to be aware of their surroundings. Chairman Kageyama suggested advanced warning signs such as "Watch for Pedestrians" or the possibility of installing diamond shape markings on the street. The markings allow vehicles to stop approximately 35-feet in advance behind the crosswalk. This would allow other vehicles to have clear site visibility of pedestrians crossing the street. ON A MOTION by Member Cotroneo, seconded by Member Walker, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee continue to review the issue of pedestrians violating the law and vehicles violating the right-of-way of pedestrians. The Public Works Department is directed to contact Mr. Newfield when this issue is brought back to the Committee. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action reoarding continuing problems caused by parking along the east side of North Bush Street aporoachino Low Gao Road as stated by Ruth Toxoui 821 North Bush Street. Continued to September 17. 2002 meeting. As discussed at the February 19, 2002 meeting, Ms. Toxqui requested restricted on-street parking along the east side of North Bush Street opposite the Mendocino County Administration Buildings. At the March 19, 2002 meeting, Member Looney reported five-feet on each side of the driveway transitions, including any space not adequate for on-street parking, has been painted red. He noted with the exception of the northern most property where a resident has two driveways; the resident requested the space between the two driveway transitions not be painted red. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMM1TfEE SEPTEMBER 24, 2002 Page 3 of 6 At the April 16, 2002 meeting, Pete Halsted, County of Mendocino reported the employees of the Public Health Department would be relocating to their new location on Dora Avenue. The oid building would be remodeled and employees currently located at the Administration building will be relocated to the old Public Health building. In a telephone conversation with Recording Secretary Kathy Kinch, Mr. Halsted reported renovation of the former Public Health building would cost more than expected, therefore the move of County employees into this building will not take place. Ms. Toxqui has contacted Mr. Halsted on several occasions regarding vehicles parked in front of her home. At each occasion Mr. Halsted visited the site only to find the vehicles were no longer parked on Bush Street. On another occasion there were three vehicles parked in front of Ms. Toxqui's home in which he noted the license numbers to determine if the vehicles belonged to County employees. ON A MOTION by Member Steele, seconded by Member Lohse, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that no further action is requested at this time. This item will be revisited should Staff receive further complaints from the residents. The Committee requested the Public Works Department to notify Ms. Toxqui of the findings. b. Update from Subcommittee regarding oarkina and public safety issues in the neighborhood of Dora. Highland, Standlev. Clav and Smith Streets nearTrinity School -Continued to September 17. 2002 meeting. ON A MOTION by Member Lohse, seconded by Member Cotroneo, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, to continue this item to the January 21, 2003 meeting. EW BUSINES a. Discussion and possible action regarding on-street parking on State and Standlev Streets located near the Courthouse and the removal of the red zones on Standlev Street and the law enforcement oarkina area on School Street and established disabled on-street parking -Tony Xabier. Fort Bragg. Member Steele reported Captain Chris Dewey was contacted by Tony Xabier of the Mendocino County Grand Jury, regarding a parking ticket he received on August 8, 2002, for parking in a loading zone. Mr. Xabier stated he is disabled and his vehicle has the disabled license plate and his Grand Jury identifier was displayed in the window. Mr. Xabier expressed the handicap or disabled parking laws supersede other traffic codes and his vehicle was improperly cited. The City and County should recognize members of the Grand Jury might need additional disabled parking near the Courthouse, and these are individuals who volunteer their time as Grand Jury members. He is requesting the red zones and law enforcement parking area located on Standlev Street next to the Courthouse be rezoned for handicap parking. Captain Dewey responded to Mr. Xabier that Vehicle Code Section 22511.5 outlines areas where disabled parking is allowed and that loading zone are not included in these areas where unlimited disable parking is allowed. Based on the Vehicle Code relating to disabled parking the citation was issued properly for the violation. Regarding the red zone and law enforcement parking area, Captain Dewey informed Mr. Xabier his concerns would be referred to the Traffic Engineering Committee for review. Member Walker reported Mr. Xabier was advised he would need to approach the County regarding the removal ofthe on-street parking spaces designated for law enforcement. The on-street parking MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 24, 2Q02 Page 4 of 6 spaces were designated for law enforcement officers who are attending trials at the Courthouse and need to respond to emergency responses. Discussion followed regarding standard requirements to establish on-street handicap parking spaces; and establishing additional handicap parking will allow others disabled individuals to use the spaces, it cannot be restricted for Grand Jury members only. ON A MOTION by Member Walker, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee recommend that the Grand Jury, as a group or individually, contact the Mendocino County Superior Court to provide off- street parking for the Grand Jury. d. Discussion and possible action reoardina issuance of commercial truck oarkino on Seminarv Avenue -Captain Chuck Yates. Ukiah Fire Department. 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 this item to the next scheduled meeting. e. Discussion and possible action regarding extending the existing red curb an additional 40- feet located on the north side of Mendocino Drive east of the crosswalk-Greg Heitkamo Ukiah Police Department. Member Walker reported he received a memorandum from Sergeant Heitkamp dated September 19, 2002, requesting to extend the existing red zone an additional 40-feet, on the north side of Mendocino Drive at Alice Avenue. Upon completion of the sidewalk project on Mendocino Drive, a 15-foot red zone was established on both sides of the crosswalk. The red zone assist in identifying pedestrians in the crosswalk, and although it is safe for eastbound traffic, the site visibility is not clear for westbound traffic. Member Looney stated he visited the site and supports the request to extend the red curb an additional 40-feet for a total of 55-feet red curb. Traveling west on Mendocino Drive there is a slight curve to the right blocking the view of the crosswalk. The children have to enter the crosswalk look past parked vehicles to cross safely. Because the additional red curb would include the removal of 1.5 on-street parking spaces, the request would have to be approved by the City Council. ON A MOTION by Member Lohse, seconded by Member Cotroneo, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee approve the request to extend the existing red curb an additional 40-feet located on the north side of Mendocino Drive, east of the crosswalk. The Committee authorizes the Public Works Department to recommend to the City Council approval to remove 2 on-street parking spaces on the north side of Mendocino Drive. MMITTEE MEMBER REPOR' None. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 24, 2002 Page 5 of 6 MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Update on crosswalk stamoino machine. Member Steele reported the Public Works Department received funds from Air Quality to improve the crosswalk at Perkins and State Streets. Staff has been investigating the possibility of a decorative treatment for crosswalks. An option is a stamping machine that would allow a pattern and color to be impressed into the asphalt. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m Chah• I Be Kage ~ 1n ~r ~~r~ F~~~~~ Kathy Kinch Recording Secretary R:1\MINUTES\TEC M092402 MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 24, 2002 Page 6 of 6