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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_080905Minutes TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE August 9, 2005 Members Present Patsy Archibald Dan Baxter .Ben Kageyama, Chair Dave Lohse Rick Seanor Jerry Whitaker Others Present Seth Freedland Bruce Poma David Poma Chuck Yates Staff Present Cathy Elawadly, Recording Secretary Members Absent Steve Turner Trent Taylor The meeting was called to order by Chair Ben Kageyama at 3:05 p.m. in Conference Room No. 3, Ukiah Civie Center, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 14, 2005 ON A MOTION by Member Archibald, seconded by Member Seanor, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to approve the June 14, 2005 minutes, as submitted. III. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS No one from the audience came forward. IV. OLD BUSINESS a. None V. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action regarding Church Street Loading Zone. Member Seanor addressed the staff report as follows: - The Director of Public Works/City Engineer has requested the TEC review the yellow loading zone on Church Street between South Oak Street and School Street. Church Street at this location is one-way, eastbound with a 45-foot existing yellow loading zone located on the north side of the street and curb side parking on the south side of the street. - The Pomas own and operate a busiriess on the corner of Church Street and School Street and have indicated that the existing loading zone is utilized by a variety of vehicles, including periodic parking by 40-foot truck- trailers. Traffic Engineering Committee August 9, 2005 o..,.o ~ - Church Street is narrow and 25-feet wide, curb to curb between South -Oak Street and School Street. City Standards allow an eight-foot width for curbside parking and 12-foot wide travel lanes. There is a substandard lane width for through traffic when trucks are stopped at the loading zone and vehicles are -parked along the south side of Church Street. As a solution to this situation, staff proposes that the existing 45-foot yellow loading zone be relocated to the south side of the street and at the west end of the block; which .would eliminate two spaces. The proposed- relocation of the loading zone may require further review pending the outcome of the Downtown Parking Improvement Study. - Attachment "A" of the staff report shows the location of the existing and proposed relocation of the loading zone. Attachment "B" provides the City Code standards for a yellow loading zone. David Poma is not supportive of the proposed relocation of the loading zone. As an alternative option, he recommended the loading zone be located closer to School Street by eliminating the first two parking spaces on the south side. of Church Street rather than the proposed last two parking spaces on the west end of the block. Member Whitaker stated this would not be feasible because it would be problematic for a large truck to park. DavidlBruce Poma supported the concept of leaving the existing loading zone by extending the length to compensate for the driveway adjacent to the loading zone. Member Archibald inquired whether other merchants in the downtown use the existing loading zone. Mr. Poma stated various merchants use this loading zone. Member Archibald commented that parking on the south side of Church for this particular block is time-zoned and there are not parking meters. She recommended maintaining the existing loading zone and changing the parking designations from the south to the north side of the street. Member Whitaker stated parking space(s) would be lost if parking were allowed on the north side of the street, since there is a driveway adjacent to the existing loading zone. Also, it would be very costly to change the parking designations from the south to the north side of the street. Member Seanor recommended that parking remain on .the south side. of the street. Traffic Engineering Committee August 9, 2005 o.,.... n Chuck Yates stated emergency vehicles cannot pass through this block with the existing loading zone in its present location and people do not always park as they should to comply with the parking requirements. A general discussion followed whether it would be feasible and possible to reduce the width of the sidewalk on the north -side and still comply with the five- foot minimum sidewalk width requirement to allow the existing loading zone to remain and to -allow emergency vehicles the necessary space to pass through. The members determined the overall proposal to construct a loading zone turn- out by removing a section of curb, gutter, ahd sidewalk would be very costly and unfeasible. Member Lohse inquired regarding the status of the Downtown Parking Improvement Study, as the matter of relocating the loading zone would be subject to further review, pending the outcome of the parking study.. Member Archibald stated the parking study is contingent upon the information provided in the City Traffic Circulation Study conclusions/recommendations, which is not available. Potehtial changes to traffic-flow can impact parking, especially in the Downtown area. However, it would not likely be premature for the TEC to make a recommendatioh concerning the relocation of this particular loading zone without the study results/recommendations. A general discussion followed regarding the feasibility of moving the existing loading zone further east to allow for additional parking. The problem with emergency vehicles being able to pass through the narrow width .with parking on the south side and with a truck in the loading zone would still remain. Member Seanor stated that the loading zone is required to be 45-feet long and reconfiguration of the existing parking spaces to ensure sufficient parking may be an option. Chair Kageyama supported deferring a decision concerning relocation of the loading zone until staff further reviews the proposed location and whether reconfiguration of the existing parking spaces would be necessary. ON A MOTION by Member Lohse, seconded by Member Baxter, it was carried by the following roll call vote of the members present to continue the matter to the next regular meeting to allow staff time to further .review/consider the Church Street loading zone. AYES: Members Archibald, Lohse, Baxter, and Whitaker Chair Kageyama NOES: Member Seanor VI. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS Traffic Engineering Committee August 9, 2005 . Panes A a. Update on City Traffic Circulation Study Member Seanor reported the City has received "Working Papers" regarding study information and proposed traffic circulation alternatives. The City and County staff have met to discuss the proposed alternatives since both agency jurisdictions would be affected. However, the study results and/or potential recommendations are not available for review by staff and the City Council b. Update on Downtown Parking Improvement Study Member Seanor stated Member Archibald commented on this matter in the above-referenced discussions concerning the loading zone. c. Update on Crosswalks There was no discussion of this agenda item. VII. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS There was no discussion of this agenda item. VIII. ADJOURNMENT T re being n further business, the meeting was adjourned. at 3:52 p.m. ya a, ai Traffic Engineering Committee Cathy E awadly, Recor ing Secretary August 9, 2005