Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-12-03; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES Meeting of: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Time of Meeting: 3:OO p.m. Date of Meeting: December 3, 1990 Place of Meeting: City Council Chambers COMMISSIONERS CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Fuller called the Meeting to order at 3:OO p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Fuller, Blake and Stachoviak. Commissioner O'Day arrived at 3:04 p.m. Absent: Commissioner Melideo. Staff Members Present: Eob Johnson, Traffic Engineer Sgt. Don Metcalf, Police Department Bob German, Risk Manager APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the Regular Meeting held November 5, 1990, were approved as presented. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: There were no requests to address the Commission on a non- agenda item. OLD BUSINESS: Bob Johnson reported that the item of Tamarack between Jefferson and Carlsbad Boulevard and the alternatives for widening that street will be before the City Council on December 18, 1990. He said that staff will present the recommendation from this Commission, as well as their recommendat ion. NEW BUSINESS: A. Tamarack AvenueIWilshire Street Intersection - Request for Adult Crossing Guard. Bob Johnson gave the staff report, stating that the request was initiated by the Principal of Hope Elementary School. A transparency was used to show Hope Elementary School, and Mr. Johnson explained that there were not enough gaps in traffic as required by the Traffic Manual, resulting in the school patrol students stepping out into the street to allow the students to cross. This should not be done without an adult present to supervise this activity. The school did provide a teacher to work with the student patrol and this has been in effect since shortly after the school year started. The City provides an adult crossing guard at the intersection of Elm and Tamarack, and due to the unusual circumstances at that intersection, with two of the legs constructed to the total width, and two not, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee felt that the crossing guard must remain at that intersection. The Coordinating Committee recommended that the adult supervision continue at the Tamarack/Wilshire intersection. Fuller Blake Stachoviak 1 MINUTES \ NEW BUSINESS : ( Continued) The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee discussed alternatives; such as should the City provide a guard; moving the crosswalk and re-striping it north of the school driveway. However, that location is not ideal from a sight distance standpoint. The intersection is a more normal place for a crossing, rather than mid- block. There would perhaps be an advantage in moving the crosswalk north of the driveway, as the patrol could work there without an adult. However, the pedestrians would continue to cross at Wilshire, so that alternative was rejected. After a thorough discussion, the Coordinating Committee felt the school should take the responsibility in providing an adult supervisor at that particular location. This could be any adult, including parent volunteers. Although there is a problem in case the volunteer fails to show up, that is also a problem when a City crossing guard fails to show up. Mr. Johnson stressed the importance of being responsible when you are supposed to be a supervisor or guard at any school intersection. This is regardless of whether you are a parent volunteer or a paid City crossing guard. In summary, Mr. Johnson said that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommended that the City leave the guard at the Elm and Tamarack intersection and not move that guard to Wilshire. Also, the school should pursue having an adult at the Wilshire location--either a school employee or a parent volunteer. Chairman Fuller opened the meeting for public testimony at 3:16 p.m., and issued the invitation to speak. Betty Jean Campbell-Lahr, Principal, Hope Elementary School, addressed the Commission, stating the parent volunteer program does not work well, and there would be times when no one would be there to assist the children. She said there was a question whether a teacher could be on the City sidewalk directing activities outside of the schoolgrounds. Ms. Campbell- Lahr said at the present time there is a teacher assigned to the driveway and currently someone on the sidewalk. Ms. Campbell-Lahr said that to comply with the California Code, she wanted to know who is the responsible person in this case. There is no money given to the school to hire another person, and how can the school legally comply and provide safety. The children cannot cross without someone there to help stop the traffic. Chairman Fuller asked about a volunteer pool, with at least three volunteers for that responsibility. Then, if one is not able to be there, there would be someone else to cover for them. Ms. Campbell-Lahr said that volunteers are scarce these days, particularly with the dual-working parents. Since no one else wished to speak on this matter, the public testimony was closed at 3:20 p.m. I MINUTES December 3, 1990 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) In reply to Commission query regarding how far from the school can the School Patrol go, Mr. Johnson replied they must be contiguous to the schoolgrounds. The intersection at Tamarack and Elm would not be considered schoolgrounds. The consensus of the Commission that the parent volunteer pool should be pursued to ensure having someone to be on duty at all times. The Traffic Safety Commission approved the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee to have the City of Carlsbad continue to provide an Adult Crossing Guard at the Tamarack/ Elm intersection until a traffic signal is installed at this location. At that time, a re-evaluation of the need for an Adult Crossing Guard should take place. Second, adult supervision shall assist the School Student Patrol at the TamaracklWilshire intersection. Hope Elementary School should furnish a teacher or parent volunteer to work with the School Student Patrol. B. Jefferson StreetICarol Place Intersection - Request for Adult Crossing Guard. Bob Johnson gave the staff report, using transparencies to show the school and conditions existing at the school with regard to the intersection and the crosswalk. Mr. Johnson stated that the 6th graders walking from Pine Elementary School assist the K through 3rd grade students crossing at that location. The Police Department brought to the attention of the school principal that there was no adult helping the students and no gaps in traffic--only by the Student Patrol. Since no adult was provided, the Carol Place/Jefferson patrol is no longer there. There is an adult crossing guard at the Tamarack and Jefferson intersection. The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommended moving the adult crossing guard at Tamarack and Jefferson, on a temporary basis, and relocate them to Carol Place and Jefferson, so these young students would have the benefit of help to cross the street. The second recommendation of the Coordinating Committee was to have the school provide a teacher, school employee or parent volunteer at the Carol Place/Jefferson intersection to allow the City crossing guard to be moved back to Tamarack and Jefferson. Mr. Johnson stated that a yellow crosswalk will be painted and training to the students for the TamaracklJefferson intersection so they are aware of how the pedestrian button operates. Commissioner Blake stated there would be a hazard to the children with the guard removed at Tamarack and Jefferson, as the traffic eastbound is held up and the westbound can proceed. Fuller Blake O'Day Stachoviak MINUTES December 3, 1990 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 COMMISSIONERS NEW BUSINESS : ( Continued) Chairman Fuller opened the public testimony portion at 3:41 p.m., and issued the invitation to speak. Steve Ahle, Principal, Pine School, stated the School Patrol was not on duty in the morning--just in the afternoon. He stated there are two or three teachers in the parking lot to control the traffic there, and it is almost impossible to have another teacher on duty on the street. He said there is a question as to whether parents want to take that liability and whether teachers can take it. He felt this was a liability issue and whether the teachers could take on another duty. Since no one else wished to speak on this matter, the public testimony was closed at 3:45 p.m. Mr. Johnson stated that the volumes of children crossing is higher in the morning and he showed a transparency of the numbers tabulated of children crossing in the morning and in the afternoon. The consensus of the Commission was to leave the Adult Crossing Guard at Tamarack and Jefferson and have the teachers take care of the crossing at Jefferson/Carol Place. The Traffic Safety Commission recommended that the Adult Crossing Guard stationed at Tamarack Avenue/Jefferson Street, be left there; that the Jefferson Elementary School provide a teacher or parent volunteer to assist students at the Jefferson/Carol Place intersection. Yellow crosswalks should be provided across Tamarack Avenue on the west side of Jefferson Street at the intersection. C. Carlsbad Boulevard, East Side from Tamarack Avenue to Svcamore Avenue - Request for Bus Stop Locations, Bob Johnson gave the staff report, using a transparency to show the section of Carlsbad Boulevard affected by this request from NCTD. He said that bus stops had been placed along Carlsbad Boulevard, but after complaints from the property owners, had been removed. The complaints listed were noise, smoke and loitering. Mr. Johnson stated that in order to get more people on the buses and out of their cars, there must be ample bus stops. People cannot or will not walk a long distance to a bus stop, and more stops are needed in that area to provide the necessary service for the beach area and for the seniors. After discussing this at length at the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee meeting, the recommendation was to establish two new bus stops; one midblock between Juniper Avenue and Cherry Avenue and 50 feet southerly Of Chestnut Avenue. These stops could be implemented immediately, allowing Route 301 to take advantage of the shorter walking distances. Fuller Blake O'Day Stachoviak MINUTES December 3, 1990 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 5 COMMISSION NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) Commission query concerned having just one stop in the middle of that area, rather than two stops. Staff indicated the two recommended stops would satisfy the requirements distance-wise, and avoid the complaint area. Chairman Fuller opened the public testimony portion at 4:lO p.m., and issued the invitation to speak. Tom Lichterman, 311 South Tremont, Oceanside, Manager of Operations, NCTD, addressed the Commission stating NCTD wanted to have the added support of the City staff in determining the bus stops. He said the two stops chosen were the best and would not pose undue hardship on the property owners. The buses on Carlsbad Boulevard have more "offs" than "ons" in that area. Mr. Lichterman stated that NCTD does not permit flag stops, except in a couple of rural routes, as they contribute to traffic accidents. He said there are some happening at this time on Carlsbad Boulevard, due to the long walking distances between bus stops. Mr. Lichterman stated that Acacia would be the closest to the center as far as distance between the existing two stops, but there was a complaint from the property owner there. Kent Andrews, 3492 Carlsbad Boulevard, stated he was the Acacia owner that had complained, and the bus stop at that point had increased accidents and created a health problem. He favored the stops being placed in the recommended areas. Edward Van Doorne, Oceanside, representing North County Transportation Management Association, stated he agreed with Tom Lichterman, and hoped to see the additional bus stops. Morris Schreiber, 3570 Carlsbad Boulevard - #D, spoke in favor of the additional bus stops, stating that the seniors need more bus stops, as there is too much distance between the bus stops on Carlsbad Boulevard. Since no one else wished to speak on this matter, the public testimony was closed at 4:30 p.m. Commission consensus was in favor of three, rather than four stops on Carlsbad Boulevard, but the Commissioners deferred in favor of staff recommendation and the seniors' need for more bus stops. The Traffic Safety Commission adopted the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee to establish two new bus stops on the east side of Carlsbad Boulevard at midblock between Juniper Avenue and Cherry Avenue and 50 feet southerly of Chestnut Avenue. Fuller Blake 0' Day Stachoviak MINUTES -. December 3, 1990 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 6 COMMISSIONERS REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFEm COMMISSIONERS: In reply to query regarding the red curbs on State Street, Mr. Johnson stated he had researched the files and found no work orders for those red curbs. They had evidently been painted by merchants and/or property owners at some time. There are no plans to remove that red paint. Commissioner O'Day inquired about the ticketing that was done on Alga and Poinsettia in the construction area, and Sgt. Metcalf stated they were ticketing people driving at 40 plus in that area, although a construction area is 25 miles per hour. The reason the Police were ticketing, was to slow the traffic down and provide more safety for the children in that area. Chairman Fuller, on behalf of the Commission, thanked staff for another successful year and wished them a happy holiday season. REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER: Bob Johnson thanked the Commissioners and the Minutes Clerk for their hard work during the past year. Mr. Johnson reported that the next meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission would be January 7, 1991. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the Meeting of December 3, 1990, was adjourned at 4:40 p.m. Minutes Clerk