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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-02-01; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES OF: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION DATE OF MEETING: February 1, 1971 - 3:OO P.M. PLACE OF MEETING: City Manager's Conference Room Present: Clifton Nooncaster, Laughlin, Don Absent: Bill Harkins Guests: Mrs. Apodac, Mrs. Curry, Magnolia Avenue PTA; and Mr. Gene Thibault, Principal, Magnolia Avenue School The minutes of the meeting of January 4, 1971 were approved as submitted. 1. Requests From Maqnolia Avenue PTA. Mrs. Curry presented three requests from the Magnolia Avenue PTA regarding traffic safety: (a) A request to designate Magnolia Avenue as a one-way street west, between Monroe and Highland, was submitted. Letters from Ted Knudsen, principal of Valley Junior High, and Gene Thibault, principal of Magnolia School, supporting this, were presented. The reason for the request is based upon the hill just east of Highland Avenue with less than optimum sight distance for auto- mobiles traveling eastbound. There are no sidewalks in this area and children walk in the street. After considerable discussion, it was concluded that side- walks in this area would probably solve the pedestrian problem and would not create inconvenience to the motoring public. A motion (Cook-Nooncaster) was adopted, directing that a recommendation be submitted to the City Council that Chapter 27 of the 1911 Act be used to complete installation of sidewalks along the south side of Magnolia Avenue between Highland and Monroe. (b) The need for a crossing guard at Chestnut Avenue and Monroe was discussed in detail. There is considerable conflict between automobiles driven to the high school and pedestrians walking to the elementary and junior high schools at certain hours of the day. Mr. Thibault suggested that a crossing guard be provided between the hours of 8:15 and 9:00 a.m. and 2:lO and 3:45 p.m. The elementary school presently has a crossing guard operating immediately in front of the -2- school where there are two mid-block crosswalks which lead nowhere. The school requested that these two crosswalks be removed and that the children be counselled to cross at intersections only. This suggestion re- ceived the full support of the Commission. Mr. Priday will have the crosswalks removed this week. It was concluded that without the crosswalks, the crossing guard in front of the school is not needed and ' could be relocated to the subject intersection. The school and the Police Department will take appropriate steps to effect this transfer. A police unit will be assigned to patrol the subject intersection during the stated hours, when available, to assist the guard in traffic control. Chief Laughlin stated that he has been attempting to hire a bilingual crossing guard and requested anyone knowing of an interested party to contact the Police De par tme n t . (c) It was requested that action be taken to prohibit parking in the unpaved parkway area along Monroe Street east of the high school. The "no parking in sidewalk area" signs presently installed in this area are in- effective. The possibility of placing physical barriers along the parkway was discussed. The only logical barriers other than full scale curb and gutter which may be available are telephone poles. This was not favored because of the possibility that children might be injured as a result of climbing the poles. It was moved (Nooncaster-Cook) that the area which is presently without curb, qutter and sidewalk, between the church and the apartments to the north, be posted "no parking from 8:OO a.m. to 5:OO p.m. on weekdays", and that the use of Chapter 27 of the 1911 Act for the installation of improvements including curb, gutter and sidewalk be pursued at a later date. 2. Crosswalks on Carlsbad Boulevard. A letter from Major Rader ' was received and filed (Nooncaster-Priday) . 3. School Pedestrian Policies and Warrants. Colonel Nooncaster reviewed draft policies and warrants submitted by the League of California Cities, San Diego County, Orange County, and San Bernardino County. the League and San Dieqo County drafts are almost identical, Colonel Nooncaster pointed out. that -3- with the exception that San Diego County's may be more complete. He recommends that the City adopt the San Diego County draft policies and warrants. A motion (Priday- Nooncaster) was passed, adopting the San Diego County School Pedestrian Safety Policies and Warrants, dated August 11, 1969, in principle, and directing that the City Engineer contact the school district regarding their adop- tion of the palicies and warrants. Upon receipt of the comments from the school district, a final draft of the policies and warrants will be submitted to the Council and school board for adoption. 4. The meeting was adjourned at 5:OO p.m. t