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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-12-07; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES Meeting of: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Time of Meeting: 3:OO p.m. Date of Meeting: December 7, 1987 Place of Meeting: City Council Chambers COMMISSIONERS \1 CALL TO ORDER: Commissioner Erwin called the Meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present -- Commissioners Erwin, Fuller and Herring. Absent -- Commissioners O'Day and Melideo. Staff Members Present: Bob Johnson, Principal Civil Mike Shirey, Engineering Tech I1 Martin Lauber, Assistant Civil Officer Shipley Engineer Engineer APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the Meeting held November 2, 1987, were approved as presented. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: No one was present to speak before the Commission. OLD BUSINESS: Bob 3ohnson reported Commissioner Fuller had requested some type of identification for the Commissioners while out in the field. Mr. Johnson stated business cards are being printed for the Commissioners, which will identify them to the public when they are out researching a traffic item. Mr. Johnson reported two items will go before City Council tomorrow night--the Pontiac Drive 35 m.p.h. and through street designation and the Calavera Hills no parking designation. NEW BUSINESS: A. Elm Avenue/Chatham Road Intersection - Request to establish a 4-way STOP intersection. Bob Johnson gave the staff report as contained in the packet, reading from the Traffic Manual Policies and using a transparency to show the chart on Intersection Approach Volumes at Chatham Road/Elm Avenue. Mr. 3ohnson stated that based on the low entering volumes, the excellent accident record and adequate sight distance at this intersection, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee did not recommend creating a four-way STOP intersection by installing STOP signs on Elm Avenue at this time. Mr. 3ohnson concluded his report, stating staff wwld continue to monitor this intersection, and as volumes increase or conditions change, the need for a four-way STOP would be re-evaluated. Erwin Fuller Herring MINUTES n i December 7 During Commission discussion, Mr. 3ohnson added he had helped establish a "Safe Route" for the school children in that area and felt there should be an educational program for the children and the parents to see that the proper route was used. which would be a sign showing school children walking and alert the motorists to the fact that school children were in that area. Staff did recommend a W 63 on Elm Avenue, Commission discussion determined the suggested route to school would take pedestrians an additional 665 feet. Also, there is a crossing guard at Tamarack and Elm, Cheryl Ernst, 3065 Valley Street, Principal of Hope School, addressed the Commission, relating the events of the opening of school this fall and her program for the parents and students to explain the safe routes to school. She stated a safety patrol has been established for the front of the school, and if a 4-way STOP is not possihle, she would like to discuss any other alternatives. Ms. Ernst used a map to indicate the location of the school and the route taken by the children using Chatham Road. She stated over 375 of the children at Hope School live in the area west of the intersection at Elm. Marian Shipley, 3608 Kingston Street, addressed the Commission, stating some of the parents had observed the area in question and compiled statistics and a video. The number of children crossing at Chatham and Elm averaged 61.5, which is one out of every ten students in the school. Mrs. Shipley felt the traffic was traveling faster than the speed limit and she added the sight distance is extremely bad. She cited examples of children having one lane of traffic stop for them, only to have the other lane go through almost striking the children. stops in that area, and this also creates a sight hazard. There are two bus Using the map, Mrs. Shipley indicated the safe route of Tamarack is a hill, and most children will avoid traveling up that hill and will take the shorter route, which is Chatham. Diana Packard, 3608 Santa Clara Way, spoke about bicycle riders, indicating they also take the shorter and easier route of Chatham Road. Commission discussion centered on the changing of driver patterns for all hours of the day and night for the convenience of the people using that area during two short periods of the day. when people would be forced to stop when there was no traffic in sight. This could result in people ignoring the stop signs--and could result in their ignoring them while students were present. Also, motorists are supposed to stop when a pedestrian steps off of the curbing--although they no longer do this with any consistency. Also, the possibility of a crossing guard at Chatham was discussed, as well as moving the guard from Tamarack to make a guard crossing at Chatham. That would mean there would be times \ \ MINUTES Traffic Safety Commission recommended 4-way STOP signs be installed at Chatham Drive and Elm Avenue. Bob Johnson stated this item would now have to go to the City Council with an Ordinance. 8. Elm Avenue - Establish a prima facie speed limit between Donna Drive and El Camino Real. Bob 3ohnson gave the staff presentation as contained in the staff report. Traffic Safety Commission approved the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommendation to establish a prima facie speed limit of 35 miles per hour on Elm Avenue REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER: Bob 3ohnson stated the Commissioners would be receiving the Council Minutes as recommended at the meeting of Commission/Committee members with Council Member Larson. Traffic Safety Commission voted to thank staff for its support during 1987. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the Meeting of December 7, 1987, was adjourned at 4:14 p.m. Minutes Clerk Erwin Fuller Herring Erwin Fuller Herring Erwin Fuller Herring \ \ k c !