HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_011006Minutes Members Present Dan Baxter Ben Kageyama, Chair Dave Lohse Rick Seanor Jerry Whitaker Trent Taylor Traffic Engineering Committee January 10, 2006 Others Present Lee Enemark Don Wiles David Meyer Barbara Meyer Ernie Wipf Tim Eriksen Staff Present JoAnne Campbell, Recording Secretary Members Absent Steve Turner Sue Goodrick 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Kageyama called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. in Conference Room No. 3, Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 11, 2005 ON A MOTION by Member Baxter, seconded by Member Seanor, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to approve the October 11, 2005, minutes as submitted. 3. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS The Traffic Engineering Committee welcomes input from the audience. In order for everyone to be heard, please limit your comments to three (3) minutes per person and not more than 10 minutes per subject. The Brown Act regulations do not allow action to betaken on non-agenda items. No one from the audience came forward. 4. OLD BUSINESS None. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action regarding request for STOP signs at North School Street and Smith Street. Member Seanor submitted and presented report, which consisted of a letter from David and Barbara Meyer, aerial photo of intersection, excerpts from the 2003 Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the MUTCD 2003 California Supplement regarding STOP sign applications, a traffic count report, and staff recommendation (1. Post a STOP signs on School Street at the intersection with Smith Street 2. Refer to staff for further analysis). Open discussion regarding where to place the signs, if the other signs on Smith Street should be removed, and traffic conditions. The signs would be placed in both directions, the street would be painted, the other signs on Smith Street would remain, and all were in agreement traffic conditions need to be improved. Audience Comments: David and Barbara Meyer stated the need for the STOP signs and said thank you to the committee for taking the time to address and research their request. Traffic Engineering Committee Page 1 January 10, 2006 The City of Ukiah complies with ADA requirements and will attempt to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities upon request ON A MOTION by Mer~,,,er Lohse, seconded by Member Baxter, oased on Staff's determination that the project site meets MUTCD Warrants, post STOP signs at the north-bound and south- bound lanes of School Street where it intersects with Smith Street; the location of sign shall be determined by Public Works Director, it was carried by an all AYE vote. b. Discussion and possible action regarding request for STOP signs at East Gobbi Street and Waugh Lane. Member Seanor submitted and presented report, which consisted of a letter from Lee Enemark, excerpts from the 2003 MUTCD and the MUTCD 2003 California Supplement regarding STOP sign applications, sections of the Ukiah City Code, documentation that 3 out of 5 traffic signal warrants are met, traffic counts, and staff recommendation (1. Post STOP signs on Gobbi Street at the intersection with Waugh Lane 2. Refer to staff for further analysis). Open discussion on the traffic conditions, how the closing of Hopland schools have had impact, cost of installing a signal, and the potential impact on traffic with installation of signs occurred. Chairman Kageyama generally disagrees with disrupting the flow of traffic, but in this situation agrees with the staffs recommendation. Member Whitaker commented on the need to warn drivers of the sign addition; a press release may be adequate. Audience Comments: Lee Enemark explained traffic conditions pulling out of Waugh lane and heading west on Gobbi and expressed his appreciation to the committee for all the work and research that was done. ON A MOTION by Member Lohse, seconded by Member Whitaker, based on Staffs determination that the project site meets MUTCD Warrants, post STOP signs on Gobbi Street at its intersections with Waugh Lane; the location of sign shall be determined by Public Works Director, it was carried by an all AYE vote. c. Discussion and possible action regarding request for no parking zone at 615 Talmage Road. Member Seanor submitted and presented report, which consisted of a letter from Ernie Wipf, excerpts from the Caltrans Highway Design Manual, photograph of the subject intersection, and staff recommendation (1. Recommend to the City Council the establishment of a no parking zone on Talmage Road of sufficient length to provide corner sight distance of 426.5 feet 2. Refer to staff for further analysis). Open discussion on traffic conditions, possible solutions (height limit, no parking on all or part of area, no overnight parking, weight limit, etc.), along with repercussions and enforceability, and how current height restrictions are working in other areas. Audience Comments: Don Wiles has been at this address for 27 yrs and there hasn't been a problem with visibility until now. He does not want the curb painted red as he feels his business will be hurt. Ernie Wipf informed committee the parking of a 40' truck is what is obstructing visibility and the owner of the truck is uncooperative. He also stated a 3' red curb placed in the center area would work. Both expressed their appreciation to the committee for time spent on this issue. ON A MOTION by Member Whitaker, seconded City Council approve the posting of "no parking AYE voice vote of the members present. by Member Lohse, to recommend that the Ukiah over 6"' signs at 615 Talmage Road by an all Traffic Engineering Committee Page 2 January 10, 2006 The City of Ukiah complies with ADA requirements and will attempt to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities upon request 6. COMMITTEE MEMBER RETORTS a. Update on City Traffic Circulation Study Member Seanor reported Tim Eriksen, Senior Civil Engineer with the City of Ukiah is to become the City Engineer/Public Works Director, is coordinating with consultant on this study. Tim Eriksen reports, currently the study is 6 months behind schedule due to purposed developments, land use changes, and anticipation of how Mendocino County is laying out the roadways. (All involved want to use the same model.) Currently at a stand still with the possibility that the consultants can come up with different scenarios so the study can move forward. No date of completion has been identified. Chairman Kageyama asked if there is a preferred alternative. Eriksen stated 12 options were given, none of which appear ideal. The consultant's preferred alternative is one-way couplets. Oak Street could be used as a major thoroughfare and the School Street atmosphere would be extended to State Street. One-way couplets are not preferred by City Council or MTA. Member Baxter stated this would increase operation costs for MTA (have to add to routes and time). One- way couplets have worked very well for other areas; points of view might change with more education. A copy of the working plan will be submitted to TEC when available. b. Update on City Parking Study Nothing to report. Need to have patterns from circulation study. Dave asked who is contact, Member Seanor will investigate and update him. c. Update on Crosswalks No report. 7. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Member Seanor proposed the City of Ukiah hosting a Web Seminar on using round-abouts and asked if the Committee is interested. Committee expressed interest in attending. Member Seanor will keep them posted. 8. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m. i l1N l oAnne Campbe , Re rding Secretary Traffic Engineering Committee Page 3 January 10, 2006 The City of Ukiah complies with ADA requirements and will attempt to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities upon request