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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-01-09; Traffic Safety Commission; Minutesi MINUTES MEmNG OF: TRAFFIC SAFW COMMISSION DATE OF MEmNG: January 9,1995 TIME OF MEmNG: 3:OO p.m. PLACE OF MEETING: City Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Green called the Meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Green, Blake, Courtney and Stachoviak. Absent: Commissioner Anear. Staff Members Present: Bob Johnson, Traffic Engineer Sgt. Don Metcalf Ken Price, Recreation Superintendent, Parks 81 Recreation Carl Pope, Aquatic Supervisor APPROVAL OF MINUTES: On motion by Commissioner Stachoviak, the Minutes of the November 7, 1994, Meeting were approved as presented: AYES: Blake and Stachoviak ABSTAIN: Green and Courtney On motion by Commissioner Courtney, the Minutes of the December 5, 1994, Meeting were approved as presented: AYES: Green and Courtney ABSTAIN: Blake and Stachoviak ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were no requests to address the Commission on a non-agenda item. PREVIOUS BUSINESS Bob Johnson stated there was no previous business to discuss. January 9, 1995 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 2 NEW BUSINESS: A. Carlsbad Swim ComDlex - Request to change time of day restrictions for the TWO-HOUR PARKING limit Bob Johnson gave the staff report, using a transparency to show the parking lot of the swim complex. This item was before the Commission in 1989; at which time the Commission recommended, and the City Council adopted, an ordinance to establish time restrictions at the swim complex. At that time a two-hour limit between 6:OO a.m. and 2:OO p.m., Monday through Friday, September 1 through June 30 was established. This restriction was initiated in response to a request by those operating the swim complex due to the high school students parking there in the early hours of the day before the patrons of the swim complex arrived. This eliminated the parking spaces to the patrons of the swim complex. Mr. Johnson stated that this restriction on the parking has had only limited success over the years, as they would park there unless there was continuous Police Department surveillance. The students park there in the morning and leave at lunch time. Mr. Johnson said that Ken Price and Carl Pope initiated the request to have this Commission recommend to the City Council a change in the restrictions for the 25 parking spaces in that parking lot to expand the TWO-HOUR PARKING LIMIT to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This will eliminate the parking there for high school activities, whether daytime, night time or on weekends. Mr. Johnson reported that Mr. Price and Mr. Pope have been authorized by City Council to give citations at the swim complex, and with Mr. Pope there, the restrictions will be enforced. He said that because of the limited manpower in the Police Department, there will be no need for the staff at the complex to wait for a Police Officer to come there to mark tires and issue citations. The Parks and Recreation staff, after a training period, will be able to issue the citations on their own and this should control the illegal parking. Mr. Johnson indicated that Mr. Price and Mr. Pope are available for questions by the Commissioners. Mr. Pope explained that there is a swim class for seasoned citizens at 9:30 a.m. This morning 14 of the 25 spaces in the swim complex lot were taken up by high school students. There are 15 to 20 people in the swim class and some have difficulty in walking and the class is therapy. When they have to park three or four blocks away, it makes walking to the swim complex very difficult. Mr. Pope stated that the students have the north parking lot, which the City deeded over to the School District three or four years ago. The lot was paved and marked and the District owns it. Often times that lot is empty, while the lot at the swim complex is full with student parking. The students don’t want to walk the extra distance. Mr. Pope, in reply to query about whether this was the only solution, stated that staff has tried education and working with the school; sending out notices through the student body and putting courtesy notices on the windshields. The only thing that has been effective is citations. He said that people do park there and leave their cars for extended periods of time. January 9, 1995 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) Sgt. Metcalf stated that they only enforce the present ordinance on complaints. In reply to query regarding the legality of staff personnel issuing citations, he said that the City can authorize other people to issue citations; that is being done on the Lagoon. Commissioner Courtney stated that posting does not solve the problem. He had suggested to the School Board Members that the high school should institute parking permits, and that would solve some of the problem. He asked Sgt. Metcalf if towing cars had been tried, and Sgt. Metcalf said that has been tried--but the $85 to tow and the irate parents proved that to not be acceptable. Mr. Pope stated that when staff has completed their training and can issue citations, he will be there five to six days a week all day long and can provide the day-to-day enforcement. The issuance of tickets will occur mainly while the swim complex is open. In reply to query, Mr. Price stated he made this request due to the situation existing at the complex; particularly the last year. He said something needed to be done and this is the last resort. In answer to whether there was a problem from the nearby apartments, Mr. Pope said there may be parking by those people during the street sweeping time, which is from 3:OO to 5:OO a.m., and that poses no problem for the swim complex. He added that some people do leave their cars parked there over the weekend, and he does not know why this is done. However, the main problem is the students. Mr. Johnson stated that the signage will be changed and the Principal of the school will be notified to let the students know about the different enforcement and times. The High School is aware of this action. Mr. Pope said this will not solve all of the problems. They are working on additional parking that may be used by the pool patrons or students at the High School on the south grass area. If the City decides to develop that area and create additional parking for the swim complex, staff may request TWO-HOUR PARKING in that area as well. Chairman Green inquired about how staff will protect themselves if there is a confrontation in the parking lot. Mr. Pope said that will be part of their training and they will be taught how to handle those issues. Sgt. Metcalf stated that 80 percent of parking enforcement people are civilians, and there is no problem with that. If there is a problem, the enforcement officer is to walk away and call the Police. Commissioner Stachoviak inquired about the length of time pool patrons are there and Mr. Pope answered about an hour and a half. Mr. Johnson stated that there is an ordinance in effect at this time, and this is just expanding that ordinance. January 9, 1995 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Blake, the Traffic Safety Commission adopted the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee to designate the 25 parking spaces located at the swim complex as TWO-HOUR PARKING, 24 hours a day, seven days per week, 365 days a year. AYES: Green, Blake, Courtney and Stachoviak B. Rancho Santa Fe Road, La Costa Avenue to Olivenhain Road - Request to revise the existing prima facie speed limit. Bob Johnson gave the staff report, stating this another area where the speed limit is being updated in order to have a speed limit that is enforceable. The existing 45 MPH prima facie speed limit for this segment of road cannot be supported according to the results of the updated Engineering and Traffic Survey. Mr. Johnson used a transparency to show the segment of Rancho Santa Fe Road involved, and stated that the recommended speed for this area is 50 MPH, based upon the results of the Engineering and Traffic Survey and the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Courtney, the Traffic Safety Commission adopted the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee to establish a prima facie speed limit of 50 MPH on Rancho Santa Fe Road from Olivenhain Road to La Costa Avenue. AYES: Green, Blake, Courtney and Stachoviak Bob Johnson stated that Sgt. Metcalf has to leave the meeting at this time, and he wanted to thank him for the work he has done over the last four years as Traffic Officer and commend him for his help to the Traffic Engineer and this Commission. C. Review and Comment on TSC Rules and Procedures and adopt TSC Resolution No. 95-1. Bob Johnson stated that this item is placed on the agenda each year for review by the Commission. He referred to the Memorandum dated December 7, 1994, from Jim Murray, Associate Engineer, listing the Boards, Commissions and Committees in the City and indicating the six that do have the salute to the flag at the beginning and the fourteen that do not. Chairman Green stated he felt the salute to the flag should be given at the beginning of the Traffic Safety Commission meetings. Commissioner Blake stated he did not believe the salute to the flag was necessary at Traffic Safety Commission meetings, because most of the time there is no public present. If the Commission held a meeting where there was a large audience, then they could ask for a salute to the flag at that time. Commissioner Courtney stated he concurred. January 9, 1995 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 5 NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Blake, the Traffic Safety Commission adopted Resolution no. 951, as presented, with no amendments. AYES: Blake, Courtney and Stachoviak NOES: Green D. Elect New Chairman and Vice-chairman Chairman Green stated that the custom in this Commission has been for the Vice-chairman to become the Chairman and another Commissioner to be elected Vice-chairman. Mr. Johnson stated that the normal term of office for this Commission was from July to July; however, since the election has been postponed several months, this next term would be for either six months or a year and six months. Commissioner Courtney has indicated that he would be willing to serve for a year and six months, if that is the decision of the Commission. ACTION: On motion by Chairman Green, Commissioner Courtney was elected Chairman of the Traffic Safety Commission. AYES: Green, Blake, Courtney and Stachoviak ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Blake, Commissioner Anear was elected Vice- Chairman of the Traffic Safety Commission. AYES: Green, Blake, Courtney and Stachoviak ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Blake, the term of Chairman Courtney and Vice- Chairman Anear will be from February, 1995, to July, 1996. AYES: Blake, Green and Stachoviak ABSTAIN: Courtney REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFW COMMISSIONERS: Chairman-elect Courtney thanked Commissioner Green for his work as Chairman of the Traffic Safety Commission for the past year. Commissioner Green stated that he would like to have a letter from the City to all public utilities, including cablevision, asking them to not park on the City sidewalks when they are working on sites. If it is a narrow street and they are working on one of the cable boxes, they now park right on the sidewalk. If the sidewalks are stressed to the point where they crack, the citizens will pay for the repair. Mr. Johnson stated there is a bi-monthly Utility Coordinating Committee meeting and he will mention this at the next meeting and will also tell the City Engineer about writing a letter. January 9, 1995 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 6 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER: This item was not called. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the Regular Meeting of January 9, 1995, was adjourned at 4:lO p.m. g@sp Harriett Bab Minutes Clerk