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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-06-07; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES MEETING OF: TRAFFIC SAFETY CO5JMISSION DATE OF MEETING: June 7,1993 TIME OF MEETING: 3:OO p.m. PLACE OF MEETING: Clty Councll Chambers CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Blake called the meeting to order at 3:OO p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Blake, Fuller, Green, Stachoviak, and Courtney Absent: None Staff Members Present: Bob Johnson, Traffic Engineer Clyde Wickham, Associate Engineer Jim Murray, Associate Engineer Sgt. Don Metcalf, Police Department APPROVAL OF MINUTES: On motion by Commissioner Fuller, the minutes of the regular meeting held May 3, 1993, were approved as presented. AYES: Blake, Fuller, Stachoviak, and Green ABSTAIN: Courtney ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Bob Johnson reported that the on-street parking issue on Camino de 10s Coches that was before this Commission last month has been appealed to the City Council. It has been tentatively scheduled for the June 15 meeting. Commissioner Courtney stated his position on this issue and didn’t think there was a problem with on- street parking. NEW BUSINESS: A. Carlsbad Boulevard - Tamarack Avenue to Mountain View Drive - Request to Establish a New Prima Facie Speed Limit Bob Johnson gave the staff report, using transparencies to show location and limits of recommended speed zones. Bob mentioned a previous memorandum from City Attorney, Ron Ball, that was provided to each Traffic Safety Commissioner that discussed the definition of a Business District. Bob further clarified the California Vehicle Code description of a Business District as it pertained to Carlsbad Boulevard. Bob stated that staff conducted an engineering June 7,1993 TRAFFIC SAFM COMMISSION Page 2 NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) and traffic survey on Carlsbad Boulevard that included factors such as speed surveys, collision history, crosswalk locations and increased pedestrian activity in this area. Bob mentioned that Juniper Avenue, Cherry Avenue, Maple Avenue, and Sycamore Avenue all have painted pedestrian crosswalks. Bob also noted that mid-block crosswalks and various illegal pedestrian crossings are a reason to support a slower speed limit on Carlsbad Boulevard. Bob said that over a 5-year period, 63 accidents have been recorded. Of these, 7 were pedestrian involved and 25 were attributed to excessive speed. Bob stated that traffic volumes vafy on Carlsbad Boulevard between Tamarack Avenue and Maple Avenue. Staff has counted about 19,OOO vehicles per day. Between Maple and Carlsbad Village Drive, the volume increases to about 21,000 ADT. Bob said that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee discussed this issue in detail and based upon the engineering and traffic survey recommends that the prima facie speed limit be 30 MPH from Tamarack Avenue to Walnut Avenue, and 25 MPH from Walnut Avenue to Mountain View. The speed limit north of Mountain View would remain at 35 MPH and south of Tamarack the speed limit would remain at 35 MPH. Commissioner Blake asked Bob if the City has the discretionary ability to change speed limits and re-define or establish our own Business District. Bob replied that the Carlsbad Municipal Code would have to be changed to modify the speed limit, but we cannot modify the description of a Business District per the California Vehicle Code. Commissioner Blake asked Sgt. Don Metcalf, given the various critical speeds for this segment of Carlsbad Boulevard, if the Police will be able to enforce this change? Sgt. Metcalf answered affirmative, and said it would be much easier to enforce a Business District prima facie speed limit because the criiical speeds are not involved. He said that because the segment from Tamarack to Walnut does not qualify as a Business District, posting the proper speed limit is the next best method of regulation. Commissioner Blake asked if there would be a grace period on issuing tickets after the new speed limits are posted. Sgt. Metcalf stated there would be a period with warning tickets issued. Commissioner Stachoviak asked why staff didn’t consider extending the lower speed limit south of Tamarack Avenue towards Palomar Airport Road. Bob Johnson replied that the roadway widens south of Tamarack, the pedestrian crossings are significantly less, and the reported collisions are also less. He said a lower speed limit in this area could not be supported by an engineering and traffic survey and would probably not be upheld in court. Commissioner Fuller asked if TSCC recommendation was unanimous? Bob Johnson aclswered yes. Commissioner Fuller said that while he was reviewing this issue, he noted that gaps in traffic do not appear very often at certain times of the day. He asked if lowering the speed limit would help increase gaps. Bob said he hoped so and said that this issue was also brought up by residents in the beach area. Sgt. Metcalf discussed the interpretation he received from the traffic judge for crossing the street and when vehicles should stop. Sgt. Metcalf said whenever a child steps off the curb, all vehicles should stop, when an adult steps off the curb they usually have 112 the street before a violation of right-of-way exists. Sgt. Metcalf said the problems with pedestrian right-of-way violations increases during summer months, both with vehicles violating the pedestrian right-of- way or pedestrians violating the vehicle right-of-way. June 7, 1993 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) ACTION: Commissioner Green made a motion to adopt the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee to establish a prima facie 30 MPH speed limit on Carlsbad Boulevard from Tarrarack Avenue to Walnut Avenue and to establish a prima facie speed limit of 25 MPH on Carlsbad Boulevard from Walnut Avenue to Mountain View Drive, this portion of roadway qualifying as a Business District per the California Vehicle Code. Commissioner Courtney seconded the motion. AYES: Blake, Fuller, Stachoviak, Green, and Courtney None The motion passed unanimously. B. Prohibit Unattached Trailers or Semi-Trailers from Parking on Public Streets Bob Johnson gave the staff report. He said that staff did not target any one specific group or type of trailer, rather, all unattached trailers would be affected by the proposed ordinance. Bob stated that the City Attorney's opinion on this matter was sent to each Traffic Safety Commissioner. Bob stated that proper notification to the public must be provided if the ordinance is enacted. The Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee discussed different ways to post this notification. Bob said that the City has seven (7) freeway entrances and about ten (10) other access entrances to post. In total, approximately 24 locations would require signing. Bob concluded his staff report stating the City Attorney would like the Police Department to try and to locate owners of trailers by sending them a letter and informing them of a violation before the citation is issued. Bruce Hubba, 7221 Durango Circle, Carlsbad, California, address the Commission saying he wished that Carlsbad didn't need this ordinance, but trailers are a problem and a small portion of the C-Qts residents are trying to save storage charges at the expense of neighbors and neighborhood safety. Bruce mentioned a few examples in his subdivision with boats and travel trailers causing problems. John L Jones, 3044 State Street, Carlsbad, California, said the ordinance would force people from parking trailers on the street, and he didn't feel this is a problem citywide. Mr. Jones asked to only post and enforce specific areas of the City of Carlsbad. Commissioner Courtney asked aaff if there was a hardship case to not park trailers or motorhomes in the front yard setback. Sgt. Metcalf and Bob Johnson were not aware of such a case, but Code Enforcement is the department to follow-up on private property problems. Sgt. Metcalf agreed if there was no place to park one's trailer, another legal place must found. He added that many people go to great expense to provide legal spaces to park trailers, while others use storage lots. Commissioner Green asked Sgt. Metcalf if the policy to contact owners of trailers would last forever. c June 7, 1993 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) Sgt. Metcatf did not think so. He said after the usual 30-day period, the majority of violators would be notified. He added that the City's parking enforcement officer uses a computer and can track notices and repeat violations very efficiently. Commissioner Fuller asked if the City would publish or advertise this new restriction. Bob Johnson answered that a press release could be issued before the matter goes to the City Council and after the ordinance is adopted it is published in the Carlsbad Sun. Commissioner Courtney made a motion to adopt the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee to restrict parking of unattached trailers and semi-trailers on public streets or in public places, and to post signs at entrances to the City of Carlsbad, including streets at Interstate Highway 5. Suggested wording of signs should be as noted in staff report. Commissioner Stachoviak seconded the motion. AYES: Blake, Fuller, Stachoviak, Green, and Courtney None The motion passed unanimously. C. Establish a 25 MPH Prima Facie Speed Limit on Grand Avenue from Ocean Street to 1-5 Freeway Associate Engineer, Jim Murray, gave the staff report on this item, using overhead graphics to show location and details. Jim discussed roadway geometrics, pedestrian activii, signal locations, crosswalk locations, and the NCTD bus transfer station. Jim added that recent speed surveys indicate a criiical speed of 31 and 30 miles per hour in this segment and that from his collision investigation, excessive speed was not a factor for the majority of reported collisions in this area. Commissioner Fuller asked Jim why this road segment was not considered a Business District. Jim Murray said he was surprised to find that most businesses on Grand Avenue do not access directly onto Grand, that most have alley or side vehicular access. By Vehicle Code definition, this overall length does not qualify as a Business District. Commissioner Courtney asked if by City Council action they could declare the entire Redevelopment Area a Business District per the California Vehicle Code definition. Bob Johnson answered that the vehicle code is clear on this issue and that the roadways would require study segment by segment. He added that some streets simply would not qualify as a Business District per the California Vehicle Code. Commissioner Stachoviak made a motion to adopt the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee to establish a 25 MPH prima facie speed limit on Grand Avenue from Ocean Street to its terminus at Interstate Highway 5. Commissioner Fuller seconded the motion. June 7, 1993 TRAFFIC SAFEPl COMMISSION Page 5 NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) AYES: Blake, Fuller, Stachoviak, Green, and Courtney NOES: None The motion passed unanimously. REPORT FROM COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Stachoviak asked staff about the alignment of Tamarack Avenue and why it meanders and narrows down. Bob Johnson explained that this is the same alignment reviewed by this Commission several years ago. He said due to the available right-of-way and the need for four lanes at Jefferson Street. The four lanes near Jefferson Street will narrow to two lanes, one in each direction, westerly of Linmar Lane. He said that bicycle lanes would be provided on each side of the road and a two-way left-turn lane would be striped in the middle of the roadway. He added that the eucalyptus trees would remain and a raised median would be constructed around them. REPORT FROM THE TRAFFIC ENGINEER: Bob Johnson gave the following reports: 1. Stated that the truck parking problem on Haymar Drive west of El Camino Real mentioned by Commissioner Blake several months ago has been solved since Utilities and Maintenance improved the berm and shoulder of the roadway. 2. Advised the Commission that the terms of appointment for Commissioner's Fuller and Green will expire next month. He said it is customary for them to send a letter to Mayor Lewis before expiration, if they would like to serve on this Commission again. Bob added that the other three Commissioners' terms will expire in 1996. 3. Reported that following the appointment or reappointment of Commissioners, the Chairman and Vice-Chairperson selection by the Commission would be on the next agenda 4. Stated that the next TSC meeting will be July 12, 1993, because the 4th of July holiday will be celebrated on the first Monday of the month. He said that this meeting may be canceled due to the absence of agenda items and the Commission would be informed in several weeks if the July meeting will be canceled. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the regular meeting of June 7, 1993 was adjourned at 4:38 p.m. Respectfully submitted, CLY~E WICKHAM Associate Engineer Traffic Operations Section CW:jb