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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-04-02; Traffic Safety Commission; Minutes. MEETING OF: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION DATE OF MEETING: April 2,2001 (Regular Meeting) TIME OF MEETING: 3:OO P.M. PLACE OF MEETING: CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Frank Whitton called the Meeting to order at 3:OO p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairperson Frank Whitton, Commissioners Jerry Schall, Bob Mertz, Jim Courtney Absent: Commissioner Keith Gillfillan Staff Members: Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Cindie K. McMahon, Deputy City Attorney Lt. Mike Shipley, Carlsbad Police Department Debbie Fountain, Director, Housing & Redevelopment APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 5,2001 ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Me&, and duly seconded, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 5,2001 as presented. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Whitton, Mea, Schall, Courtney NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ITEM 4 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None ITEM 5 - PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation, referring to the distributed copy of signed TSC Resolution #2001-1, Commission Procedure Rules, noted that the Commission took action on this resolution March 5, 2001. Mentioning that Chairperson Whitton and he signed the resolution, Mr. Johnson noted that the resolution would be the standard rules of procedure in which the Commission will operate under for the next year. April 2,2001 c I'RAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 2 NEW BUSINESS: ITEM 6A: Request to establish a THREE-HOUR PARKING time on State Street from Beech Avenue north to Laguna Drive Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation, stated that agenda item #6A is a request to establish a THREE-HOUR PARKING time limit on both sides of State Street from Beech Avenue north to Laguna Drive and that Christine Gaare, with Arthur Brown Plumbing, initiated this agenda item. Ms. Gaare submitted a letter and a petition to the Housing and Redevelopment Director, Debbie Fountain, with 25 individuals signing the petition. The request is for the THREE-HOUR PARKING time limit to be extended from where it currently exists in the downtown area. Referring to the overhead slide presentation, Mr. Johnson mentioned that the request is for the THREE-HOUR PARKING time limit to be established from Beech Avenue to Laguna Drive with the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommendation to extend it to Carlsbad Boulevard. State Street is a two-lane road from Beech Avenue to Carlsbad Boulevard; parking is allowed on both sides of the road, however there are some locations where red curb has been installed, which precludes parking. The ADT of this portion of State Street is approximately 5,500 vehicles per day and the distance from Beech Avenue to Laguna Drive is approximately 1,177 feet. Observations by staff indicate that approximately 73 vehicles can park on both sides of State Street between Beech Avenue and Laguna Drive. A theoretical calculation indicates that fewer than 70 parking spaces exist, but drivers tend to park their vehicles closer together when there is parallel parking on the street. A THREE-HOUR PARKING limit was established in the Village Redevelopment area in January 2000 when the City Council adopted an ordinance to establish a THREE-HOUR PARKING time limit on various street segments and parking lots in the Village Redevelopment area between 7:OO a.m. and 6:OO p.m., except for Sundays and holidays. Those locations are indicated on Exhibit 2 in the staff report. Mr. Johnson mentioned that the petition was initiated due to the lack of on-street parallel parking on State Street from Laguna Drive to Beech Avenue. The petition indicates that Coaster patrons cause the parking shortage and parking on the street is needed for customers of all of the businesses located north of Beech Avenue. He stated this has been a common complaint for 10 years or more. In many cases complaints regarding the parking shortage on State Street were received prior to the Coaster Station being built. It was believed that prior to the Coaster Station, the lack of available parking for customers of the various businesses in the area was due to employees of the businesses in the area parking on the street. In the past, staff has received requests for varying parking time limits on State Street, e.g. 20 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours or more. Since 1997, staff has conducted public parking lot occupancy studies and determined that on a typical weekday, the 31 1 parking spaces in the Village Transit Station is approximately 96% full throughout the day. On Tuesday, March 13, 2001 a State Street parking lot occupancy study was conducted between 7:OO a.m. and 6:OO p.m. from Beech Avenue to Laguna Drive and the following was noted: 159 different vehicles were parked on the street at different times of the day . 106 of the 159 vehicles were parked between 0-3 hours . 53 of the 159 vehicles were parked between 3-1 1 hours . 8 of the 53 vehicles were parked 8-9 hours = 6 out of the 8 vehicles were parked 11 hours . Some of the vehicles made frequent revisits to a particular place of business April 2,2001 - - iX4FFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 3 Mr. Johnson commented that the lack of parking spaces is not due 100% to commuter parking. The occupancy study does indicate that the THREE-HOUR PARKING limit will not be too impactful because two-thirds of the vehicles did park up to three hours, which indicates there is a turnover of on-street parking. Mr. Johnson mentioned that alternative parking is available in the downtown area in the various public parking lots where time limits have not been implemented. This includes locations on Roosevelt and Carlsbad Village Drive; near the railroad tracks south of Cadsbad Village; and on the west side of the railroad tracks. These different parking lot locations would be about the same walking distance to the Coaster Station as it would be from other parts of the City east of State Street. Establishing the time restrictions may have the benefit of more commuters utilizing the public parking lots. Mr. Johnson stated that establishing time limits becomes an enforcement issue, which was addressed when the current parking time limits were established. Any extension of additional enforcement areas would add to the current workload for the parking enforcement officer, as she attempts to enforce the THREE-HOUR PARKING limits in several of the parking lots and on the streets as indicated on the overhead slide. In conclusion, Mr. Johnson stated that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends that an extension of the THREE-HOUR PARKING be established on both sides of State Street from Beech Avenue to Carlsbad Boulevard between the hours of 7:OO a.m. to 6:OO p.m., except for Sundays and holidays. Chairperson Whitton opened public testimony. PUBLIC TESTIMONY Christine Gaare, 2865 Wilson Street, Carlsbad, CA, representing Arthur Brown Plumbing, concurred with staffs report and urged the Commission to adopt the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee's recommendation. Alice J. Brown, 5157 Shore Drive, Carlsbad, CA, representing Arthur Brown Plumbing, concurred with the staff report and requested that the THREE-HOUR PARKING limit be adopted as recommended by the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee. Mr. Johnson mentioned that immediately before this meeting, a letter was received from Robert J. Barbish, owner of California Sports Photo located on State Street. The letter states that Mr. Barbish supports the extension of the THREE-HOUR PARKING limit area. The letter will be entered into the record. Chairperson Whitton closed public testimony. Chairperson Whitton asked if there were questions of staff. Seeing none he called for a discussion. DISCUSSION: Commissioner Mertz stated that the request was reasonable and supports the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee. April 2,2001 1 - fRAFiFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 Vice-Chairperson Courtney indicated support of the THREE-HOUR PARKING limit area extension. He suggested that if in the future other areas in the downtown area request THREE-HOUR PARKING limit restrictions, the request should be brought before the Commission as a total Village Area THREE-HOUR PARKING limit package, excluding the private residences in the downtown area. Commissioner Schall noted that public parking lots D and E are not being used to capacity and supports the recommendation. Vice-Chairperson Courtney commented that many of the downtown business& do not have on-site parking for the employees and noted that by not placing a parking time limit on the parking lots in the area, employees of the business could use the parking lots. Chairperson Whitton closed discussion and called for a motion. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Schall, and duly seconded, to establish a THREE-HOUR PARKING time limit on both sides of State Street from Beech Avenue north to Carlsbad Boulevard between the hours of 7:OOa.m. to 6:00p.m., except Sundays and Holidays. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Whitton, Mertz, Schall, Courtney NOES: None ABSTAIN: None Mr. Johnson mentioned that agenda item MA would now be taken before the City Council for introduction of an ordinance in approximately one month. Noticing of the businesses in the area and to the individuals who signed the petition will be done so they are aware of the City Council meeting. ITEM 6B: Review and comment upon proposed draft agenda bill and ordinance regarding special requirements for ice cream bucks. Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation, stated that agenda item #6B is a request for review and comment upon draft agenda bill and ordinance to establish special requirements for ice cream trucks in the City of Carlsbad. Deputy City Attorney, Cindie K. McMahon, initiated the item. This item resulted from a new State law that was passed and is in California Vehicle Code Section 22456. The law imposes new safety requirements on ice cream trucks and vehicles selling those types of products on public ways. Throughout California, ice cream trucks sell their products to children and adults on public streets when the vendor stops the vehicle on the side of the road. Customers are attracted to the vehicle when the vehicle emits an amplified type of song or musical tune from a loudspeaker. Children typically then wait on the side of the road or rush from their yard to meet the vehicle, often crossing the street from the opposite side. The law was enacted as a result of a pedestrian fatality of a young girl. The law has been named the Destiny Nicole Stout Memorial Act. In Carlsbad over the years, there have been several similar type accidents, but none involving fatalities. April 2,2001 Page 5 The law does describe the ice cream truck as a motor vehicle engaged in curbside vending, selling a number of different variety products, such as frozen desserts, pre-packaged candies, etc. These types of products are geared for children 12 years of age and under. The new safety requirements are: ice cream trucks are required to display warning signs, 12 inches x 48 inches, to alert oncoming vehicles to the possible presence of children rn a driver of an ice cream truck is prohibited from stopping to vend on or near public ways with a posted speed limit greater than 25 miles per hour or when the driver has a limited view of traffic. The City Attorney’s office is recommending changes to the Municipal Code. The recommended changes to Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 8.32 are attached in the staff report. Mr. Johnson mentioned that several cities in California, namely San Jose and Ontario, currently have ordinances in their City Municipal Code to take this particular action just as Carlsbad is doing today. The advantage of including the State Law in the Municipal Code is that the code can be added to or supplemented if there is criteria the City wants to tailor to specific instances in Car-lsbad. In conclusion, Mr. Johnson stated that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends adoption by the City Council of the revisions and additions to the Carlsbad Municipal Code, Chapter 8.32. PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Chairperson Wion opened public testimony. Seeing no one wishing to testify, Chairperson Whitton closed public testimony. Chairperson Whitton asked if there were questions of staff. DISCUSSION: Vice-Chairperson Courtney asked if Chapter 8.32.10 would be incorporated into this revision. That chapter prohibits vending within a half of a mile of schools. Mr. Johnson deferred to Deputy City Attorney McMahon. Deputy city Attorney, Cindie McMahon stated that Chapter 8.32.10 would apply to any kind of vehicle that would be selling food, but in addition, if the vehicle is an ice cream truck the additional items would have to be complied with. Vice-Chairperson Courtney stated that he was in support of the recommendation. Chairperson Whitton asked if the ice cream trucks could be prohibited from the City. Ms. McMahon stated that the City did not have the ability to prohibit the ice cream trucks from the City entirely. April 2,200 1 c lXAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 6 Vice-Chairperson Courtney suggested that enforcing all of the motor vehicle laws on the ice cream trucks could eliminate the ice cream trucks from within the City of Carlsbad, due to the fact that most of the vehicles appear to be rattraps. Noting that large signs can be easily ignored, Commissioner Mertz asked if flashing yellow lights on the front and back of the ice cream trucks could be required. Vice-Chairperson Courtney mentioned that State Law mandates which type of vehicles are allowed to have flashing yellow lights. Chairperson Whitton closed discussion and called for a motion. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Mertz, and duly seconded, recommending adoption, by the City Council, of the revisions and additions to the Carlsbad Municipal Code, Chapter 8.32 as presented. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Courtney, Whitton, Mertz, Schall NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ITEM 7 None ITEM 8 None REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion the Regular Meeting of April 2, 2001, was adjourned at 3:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Dianna Scott Minutes Clerk