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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_041602TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE UKIAH CIVIC CENTER Conference Room No. 3 300 Seminary Avenue Ukiah, California 95482 TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2002 MINUTES Kevin Cotroneo, Public Member Michelle Agulia-Brown Michael F. Harris, Risk Manager/Budget Officer Clint Jackson Dan Walker, Ukiah Police Department Pete Halsted David Lohse, Associate Planner II Genevieve Tollini Jim Looney, Public Works Supervisor Ruth Toxqui Doug Pilant, Public Member Chuck Yates, Fire Chief/Fire Marshal Ben Kageyama, Public Member MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF PRESENT David Lohse, Associate Planner II Rick Seanor, Dep. Dir. of Public Works Diana Steele, Dir. of Public Works/City Engineer Kathy Kinch, Recording Secretary The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Kageyama at 3:03 p.m. Roll was taken with the results listed above. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FEBRUARY 19, 2002 ON A MOTION by Member Looney, seconded by Member Seanor, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to approve the minutes of February 19, 2002, as submitted. MARCH 19, 2002 Rick Seanor, Deputy Director of Public Works, made a correction on Page 2, Paragraph 4, add the word width, and delete the word an, the sentence to read: "Rick Seanor, Deputy Director of Public Works stated he visited the site to measure the parking width distance from the curb to the fog line. Beginning at the curb cut of the driveway, the parking area width measures less than 8 feet in width at a location approximately 20-feet west towards the railroad tracks, and the parking area measures 8-feet in width." TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE APRIL 16,2002 Page 1 of 6 ON A MOTION by Member Looney, seconded by Member Seanor, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to approve the minutes of March 19, 2002, as corrected. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action regarding continuing problems caused by narking along the east side of North Bush Street aooroaching Low Gan Road as stated by Ruth Toxqui 821 North Bush Street. Letter dated February 5 2002. Continued from March 19. 2002 meeting. Rick Seanor, Deputy Director of Public Works, reported Ms. Toxqui submitted a letter requesting restricted parking on the east side of North Bush Street, with the exception of weekends and holidays. Ms. Toxqui and other residents within the area signed the letter. He stated that he forwarded a letter to Mr. James Andersen, Administrator for the County of Mendocino, regarding the issues of on-street parking on the east side of Bush Street. Pete Halsted, General Services Director, County of Mendocino, stated he received a copy of the letters from Mr. Seanor and Ms. Toxqui. Mr. Andersen recognizes the problem and forwarded a memorandum addressed to the Departments Heads of the Administration Center, dated February 28, 2002. The memorandum states'~it has come to my attention that County employees parking on Bush Street across from the Administration Center Building complex have been on occasion partially blocking driveways and prohibiting access to the residence of Bush Street. Please remind your employees to parkin designated employee parking areas whenever possible and to be mindful and respectful of the residents of Bush Street. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and please feel free to contact me." A copy of the memorandum was forwarded to Ms. Toxqui. He stated the Public Health Department located at 860 North Bush Street is moving to the former General Hospital building on South Dora Avenue. It is expected that renovations of the new facility will be completed and occupancy by Public Health staff will be towards the end of July 2002. This will result in a reduction of 50 - 75 full-time employees and 30 - 50 clients per day. The Board of Supervisors has approved preoccupancy of the Public Health building and parking spaces by employees currently at the Administration Center. All relocation of the Public Health staff and other staff members will be completed by the end of September. After Public Health relocates to the new building this hopefully will resolve the parking issue. Ruth Toxqui, 821 North Bush Street, stated each side of the driveway transitions have been painted red. There have been several occasions when vehicles are parked in the red zones, and parked in front of her home for eight hours or until 10:00 p.m. in the evenings. There have been occasions when spaces in the parking lot or on-street parking on the west side of North Bush Street have been available. However, they still choose to park in front of her home. She noted the memorandum did not change the issue. Mr. Halsted asked Ms. Toxqui and Ms. Tollini to contact him when vehicles are partially blocking her driveway or are parked in front of her home for long period of time, and he will investigate the situation. Ms. Toxqui stated she has spoken to employees of the County and they informed her the Administration Office is aware of the parking issue, but has refused to take action. TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE APRIL 16,2002 Page 2 of 6 Geneiveve 7ollini stated there is on-site parking during morning hours. She also stated it is the same vehicles parking in front of her home on a daily basis. Mr. Seanor stated in his letter to Mr. Andersen he suggested placing a letter on the windshields of vehicles parking long-term on the east side of North Bush Street. Mr. Halsted responded he will speak with the employees who will be relocating to 860 North Bush Street, that as a condition the employees and clients are not to park on the east side North Bush Street. He will also talk with Mental Health employees. He indicated he would prepare a letter to post on the windshield of vehicles parking on the east side of Bush Street. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that this item be continued to the September 2002 meeting, to revisit the site regarding the status of the on-street parking issue on the east side of North Bush Street after Public Health staff has moved to their new office and the preoccupancy of the old Public Health building by employees currently at the Administration Center. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action regarding safety concerns due to pedestrian/vehicle interaction at the corner of Smith Street and North Main Street, as stated in Rick Seanor's a-mail record dated April 3, 2002. Mr. Seanor stated he spoke with Katherine Fengler of the Red Velvet Youth Center, who expressed a concern of traffic issues at the corner of North Main and Smith Streets. The Youth Center is located on the corner. She expressed concerns with traffic taking the corner too fast and that the drivers are not aware of youths arriving and departing from the Center. The traffic problems occur during the peak hours of 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. He noted the speed limit is 25 m.p.h. within this area. Clint ]ackson, Red Velvet Youth Center, expressed that vehicles making alert-turn from Main Street onto Smith Street is a blind corner because drivers do not notice students in the area. The vehicles are traveling between 25 m.p.h. and 30 m.p.h. There have been occasions when vehicles turn the corner too short and are not aware of children arriving and department the Center. Member Walker asked if the students have been educated regarding crosswalks and the traffic. Mr. ]ackson responded yes. The children attending the Youth Center come from homes that do not have much going on or they are at risk children. Member Looney asked whether parents or other adults picking up children and parking across the street. Ms. Michelle Agulia-Brown responded the children arrive and leave on foot. They attend the Center for certain activities and when finished they leave. The students arrive and depart at different hours of the day. She advised there is one on-street parking space located on the west side of Main Street, when a vehicle is parked in the parking space it creates unclear visibility of the corner. TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE APRIL 16,2002 Page 3 of 6 Member Harris asked what are the ages of the children attending the Youth Center. Mr. Jackson responded the children are 12 to 20 years of age. There are no toddlers. Ms. Michelle Agulia-Brown stated on several occasions Staff has contacted the Ukiah Police Department to patrol the area during the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. She asked if a sign could be installed indicating activity of children. The adult staff does go outside and monitor the children to make sure they cross the street correctly. Mr. ]ackson asked if a stop sign could be installed at the intersection for north/south bound traffic. There is currently a stop for east/west bound traffic. Member Looney stated pedestrian or school signs are used for advance warning for schools, playgrounds, parks, or pedestrian crosswalks, and are not used as traffic calming devices. Member Harris suggested relocating the one on-street parking space located on the west side of Main Street south of the intersection to allow more site visibility. Member Looney responded there is a driveway and 15-feet of red curb south of the intersection. A lengthy discussion continued regarding posting signs indicating children are in the area; bot dots in the crosswalk; bot dots are a hazard to bicyclists; a barrier between the parking lot and the Center; a sandwich board sign on the sidewalk; the possibility the sidewalk sign would be a distraction to traffic or tripping hazard; fluorescent cones; and hatch marks in the crosswalks. Member Walker advised there is a UCC Code against sandwich board signs on the sidewalk. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, for Staff members of the Red Velvet Youth Center to meet with Public Works staff to coordinate atemporary/part-time device to indicate children are in the area during peak hours, and that will meet the needs of the Red Velvet Youth Center. OLD BUSINESS b. Update from Subcommittee regarding oarkino and public safety issues in the neighborhood of Dora Hiohland Standlev Clav and Smith Streets Continued from March 19, 2002 meeting. Mr. Seanor reported Fire Chief/Fire Marshall Yates asked a Fre Crew to take digital photographs of the area to identify where problems occur. He asked for direction from Committee if recommendations are to go the Committee or directly to the City Council. Member Harris responded he would prefer recommendations from the Subcommittee be presented to the Committee, and if needed, a recommendation can be forwarded to the City Council. TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE APRIL 16,2002 Page 4 of 6 c. Discussion to relocate MTA bus stop adjacent to Diamonds and Gold, 102 North School Street. Continued from March 19, 2002 meetino. As reported at the March 19, 2002 meeting, Staff received a telephone call from Stephanie Ricker of Diamonds and Gold Jewelry, located at the corner of School and Perkins Streets. Ms. Ricker stated there is an MTA bus stop located on the corner Perkins and School Streets. There is a recessed side door entrance into the store located on Perkins Street, which Ms. Ricker utilizes to enter the store with merchandise. MTA customers are using the side door alcove during the winter months to stay out from the winter weather while waiting for the bus. Ms. Ricker is requesting the MTA bus stop be relocated to another area. Member Pilant stated he visited the site. The bus stop adjacent to Diamonds and Gold is the only bus stop within this location of the downtown area, has been a long established stop, it is a very important stop, and carries a lot of passengers. There were options to relocate the stop across the street one-half block west, however there is metered parking. He asked if the City of Ukiah has a transit program to be integrated into the City or is there is a program plan for integrating transit service into the community. Member Looney responded transit issues are discussed, as needed, by the Committee. Member Harris asked could the bus stop be relocated to the west end of the block. Member Looney responded the west end of the block, north side, is designated as a loading zone, a double driveway, three on-street parking spaces, and a small gravel parking lot. He stated the bus stop is a combination loading zone/bus stop. Member Walker suggested the installation of an awning attached to the side of the building with a MTA sign underneath the awning. This would protect passengers from the weather. He also suggested MTA contact the building owner to discuss the possibility of the awning and sign. Chairman Kageyama asked if a bench could be placed under the awning against the building. Member Pilant responded there are two style benches -one being a metal bench of urban design. He stated he liked the idea of an awning attached to the side of the building, with the MTA logo, and a bench. 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 Public Works and MTA staff meet with Redevelopment Director Larry DeKnoblough regarding the faSade renovation program in which MTA could contribute 50%; and MTA to contact the properly owner regarding the possibility of installing an awning on the side of the building, with the MTA logo, and metal bench. It was the consensus of the Committee to continue this item to the May 21, 2002 meeting. MMITTEE MEMBER. REPORT Member Pilant stated there is an agreement between the Board of Supervisors and the residents on Dora, that MTA buses would not travel in this area unless requested by passengers. However, with the methadone clinic located on Laws Avenue there has been an increase of request for passenger pick-up of at least 36 passengers per day. MTA is receiving telephone calls from the TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE APRIL 16,2002 Page 5 of 6 neighborhood complaining about the buses. With the relocation of the Public Health office to their new location on Dora Avenue there is no public transit service between the Public Health office and the Clinic on Laws Avenue. Member Harris requested this item be placed on the May agenda with MTA bringing back to the Committee a proposal for transit service. Mr. Seanor stated there was a letter to the Editor regarding a witness to a traffic accident at Sidnie and Ford Streets. The situation, there are stop signs on Sidnie with Ford Street being a through street. A truck was traveling west on Ford Street when another vehicle was attempting to cross Ford Street from Sidnie, and the truck broadsided the vehicle. He stated the City Manager requested the Committee discuss this item. Discussion followed regarding there were traffic calming devices at this intersection, however, they were continuously vandalized and the neighborhood requested they be removed; stop signs are not for speed control; and there may not be sufficient warrants for the installation of the stop sign. Member Harris requested this item be continued to the May meeting to further discuss the issue with a copy of the accident report available, and review traffic reports to determine if the establishment of a stop sign is warranted. M~ELLANEOUS ITEM None. AD]OURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m. AZtin Chai p Kageyama Kathy Kinch Recording Secretary R:1\MINUTES\TEC M041602 TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE APRIL 16,2002 Page 6 of 6