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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-05-02; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES MEETING OF: DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: PLACE OF MEETING: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION May 2,2005 (Regular Meeting) 3:OO p.m. Citv Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER. Chair Cress called the Meeting to order at 3:OO p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Absent: Staff Members Present: Chair Gordon Cress Vice-Chair Steve Dorsey Commissioner Guy Roney Commissioner Bonnie Bradshaw Commissioner Susan Gardner Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation James Murray, Associate Engineer, Transportation Sgt. Jeff Chapman, Carlsbad Police Department Sgt. Marc Reno, Carlsbad Police Department APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chair Cress stated that there was no Traffic Safety Commission meeting held on April 4,2005 due to a lack of a quorum. March 7,2005 ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Roney, and duly seconded by Vice-Chair Dorsey, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 7, 2005 as presented. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Cress, Dorsey, Roney, Bradshaw NOES: None ABSTAIN: None May 2,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 2 ITEM 4 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. ITEM 5 - PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, stated that at the March 7,2005 Traffk Safety Commission meeting, the Commission recommended that a stop sign be installed on Rancho Cortes at Carrillo Way. That item was taken to City Council and they adopted an ordinance. The sign and striping has now been installed at that location. ITEM 6 -NEW BUSINESS: ITEM 6A: Report on the City of Carlsbad Pedestrian Action Plan. Mr. Johnson stated that this item was a request by Thelma Hayes for an update of the Carlsbad Pedestrian Action Plan. This is an item that periodically is reported on to the Commission since the date of adoption by the City Council of the Pedestrian Action Plan in March 1988. Mr. Johnson stated that he would not go through each of the items in the Pedestrian Action Plan because most of those items have now been completed since the Pedestrian Action Plan went into effect 1988. There are five Key Elements to the Pedestrian Action Plan. The consideration of pedestrian issues is something that is an ongoing effort by all departments throughout Carlsbad. In addition to the Engineering Department, the Planning Department and Police Department are also actively involved with pedestrian issues, such as the Adult Crossing Guard program administered by the Police Department. For the record, the following are the five key elements to the Pedestrian Action Plan: Kev Element No. 1 - Expand the Pedestrian Section of the Circulation Element at the time revisions to the General Plan take place. Insert a policy statement@) that relates to pedestrian needs and objectives . Kev Element No. 2 - Develop an action plan for adopting and expanding the Downtown Pedestrian Circulation Study prepared by Willdan Associates in 1984. This action plan will inventory, evaluate, and prioritize locations within the City where sidewalks or other pedestrian facilities are missing or in need of repair and identifl areas where it is necessary to complete pedestrian linkages. Funding for the study will be requested from SANDAG. Key Element No. 3 - Develop a Pedestrian Education Program. This program will focus on providing guidelines and information to pedestrians on a variety of subjects such as crosswalks, traffic signal pedestrian push buttons and signal indications, ways to provide input to the planning May 2,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 3 process, pedestrian safety, designated City department to report maintenance problems, pedestrian - vehicle relationship and funding availability in the yearly Capital Improvement Program for pedestrian facilities. New articles, leaflets, post cards, information meetings, and other resources would be used to accomplish this objective. Kev Element No. 4 - Develop a program to provide attention to the pedestrian planning and implementation process. This program will focus on the steps to ensure follow-through on the entire pedestrian process and facilities implementation, fiom initial design concepts to construction. Key Element No. 5 - Designate an engineering and/or planning staff member to have specific pedestrian related responsibilities. An employee(s) of the City of Carlsbad will have responsibilities to oversee the comprehensive planning for pedestrian needs and ensure that the overall planning process meets the needs of the pedestrian, but not necessarily as a full-time responsibility. Mr. Johnson stated that he would provide some examples of what has been involved with pedestrian- oriented issues over the past year. e e The Circulation Element of the General Plan has provisions for the staff to address the goals and objectives and implementing policies and action programs associated with pedestrians. Chapter 10 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code specifically mentions that "traffic" does include pedestrians. The Jefferson Street sidewalk in hnt of Jefferson Elementary School was installed and completed. There is a proposed sidewalk project in the 2005/2006 Capital Improvement Program in which the City Council will consider during the budget meetings next month. That project will include a request from staffto authorize money for design and construction of a sidewalk on Valley Street between Chestnut Avenue and Magnolia Avenue, and for a small portion Magnolia Avenue at the location of the two schools in that area, the Magnolia Elementary School and Valley Middle School. On El Camino Real near Poinsettia Lane, developers of several of the housing development projects have installed sidewalks as part of their obligation. The Coastal Rail Trail, although intended for bicycles, will also have a pedestrian element. Pedestrians are allowed to use the Coastal Rail Trail. Construction will be starting on that project this month. Eventually, the Coastal Rail Trail will extend the entire length of Carlsbad, but this particular segment will extend fiom Tamarack Avenue to Oak Avenue. In the downtown area on Christiansen Way, a private developer has installed a sidewalk on the north side of Christiansen Way fiom just east of Carlsbad Boulevard down to Washington Street. Sidewalk construction has been completed on Avenida Encinas on the west side fiom Poinsettia Lane to Embarcadero Lane. May 2,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 4 Portions of the citywide trail system have been constructed in various private developments in the last few years. More trails are scheduled to be constructed. Development improvements at the corner of Laguna Drive and Roosevelt Street continue, and that project will be installing sidewalks on both of those streets. Residential development projects such as Villages of La Costa, Bressi Ranch, and Calavera Hills have been constructing the livable street concepts, including non- contiguous sidewalks and the installation of traffic calming measures to improve the walking environment for pedestrians. The Ponto Master Plan has been in development for several years, and it goes to the City Council soon for consideration. It includes a strong pedestrian scale orientation, such as wayfaring signs, a livable streets concept, live-work units to minimize the number of vehicles that have to drive in and out of the project, and there would be a pedestrian under-crossing tunnel under Carlsbad Boulevard so that the pedestrians do not need to cross at grade on Carlsbad Boulevard. A new elementary school in the Villages of La Costa to be opened in the fall of 2006 will have traffic signals to help provide ingress and egress for those parents who drive their children. Poinsettia Lane will be open shortly and well in advance of the school, and pedestrians will be able to walk to school. There will be bicycling capabilities on Poinsettia Lane via the bicycle lanes that will be installed. With respect to schools, in the last year Sgt. Reno andor Lt. Rawson and Mr. Johnson have met with a number of the principals to address the various pedestrian issues in the school zones. Special events in Carlsbad, such as the Village Faire yesterday, require significant planning for pedestrian issues during these special events. Many of the special events include walking or running events. There is going to be a modification of the traffic signal on Carlsbad Boulevard at Breakwater Road, the intersection just to the north of Poinsettia Lane. Currently, there is no pedestrian signal at that location and one installed with the modifications of the intersection and the upgrade of the tr&ic signal. A two-year goal of developing a Pedestrian Master Plan is being proposed. If that gets final approval, it would start in July of this year. A conceptual study is being completed to install a pedestrian pathway on Carlsbad Boulevard on the east side of the Buena Vista Lagoon from State Street to the north city limits. In the last year, city crews have installed bus benches at various locations at NCTD bus stops. Rlr. Johnson stated that the above examples include the variety of pedestrian-oriented projects that the staff in various departments have been working on during the past year. It’s not so much that staff only focuses on vehicles, bikes, or pedestrians, but depending on which mode of travel staff is working on, the appropriate considerations are given to enhance that mode of travel. May 2,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 5 In conclusion, Mr. Johnson stated that elements of the Pedestrian Action Plan are being implemented on a yearly basis. DISCUSSION: There was no discussion by the Commission. PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Chair Cress opened public testimony. Thelma Hayes, 580 Laguna Drive, Carlsbad, stated that she is a member of the original Pedestrian Action Group. She stated that the origin of having a report on the anniversary of the City Council adopting the plan was celebrated. The first few years, nothing happened, but on the third year, they inquired what happened to the money that had been collected. It had been collected, but not spent. That is why they started asking for progress reports. As seen today, much is being done; it’s really astounding how much is being done for the pedestrians. Ms. Hayes stated that in the Village area in the original redevelopment area, the worst pedestrian area is Madison Street north of the post office. If one tries to walk down that street, you walk right in the middle of the street. The two intersections, which are going to be addressed, are at Laguna Drive and Madison Street. It’s so close to the post office that maybe by next year when we meet, the Commissioners could have made that trip on foot to see what it is like. The other area that Ms. Hayes said she met with a City staff member is crossing the lagoon on the Coast Highway. She is that the weeds be cut and the ground graded until the plans that Mr. Johnson spoke of are underway. Right now, even as they were standing along side of the Coast Highway and bikes were coming, they had to crawl up a raised area .full of weeds to get out of the traflic. She feels that is a small thing that could be done. All in all, Ms. Hayes felt very pleased that they had come as far as they had. Margie Monroy asked to add a few words. Chair Cress allowed her to do so. Ms. Monroy, 749B Magnolia Avenue, Carlsbad said she has observed that the speed limit on Jefferson Street is not being obeyed. The turn over onto Magnolia Avenue is a shortcut between Tamarack Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive. The particular offenders are the tow trucks coming from the tow truck company that is located on Roosevelt. She was wondering if a little special attention or enforcement might help that situation, because there are a lot of school children there. Most of the children who go to Jefferson walk to school. Their mothers and grandmothers all come to walk them home, and sometimes it’s quite dangerous. She would appreciate staff looking at this problem. Mr. Johnson stated that staff would pass Ms. Monroy’s comments on about the tow trucks to the Carlsbad Police Department, and Lt. Rawson can have his officers check into that. May 2,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 6 ITEM 6B: Request to establish an all-way stop on Camino de las Ondas at the intersections of Lemon Leaf Drive, Camphor Place, and Lonicera Street. James Murray, Associate Engineer, stated that this request was initiated by the Mariners Point Community Association to establish an all-way stop on Camino de las Ondas at three intersections - Lemon Leaf Drive, Camphor Place, and Lonicera Street. In March 2004, these three intersections were evaluated for all-way stops based on a request of the Mariners Point Community Association. At that time, none of the three intersections met any of the all-way stop warrants. The Association is requesting that the intersection be reconsidered for establishing all-way stops because of limited comer sight distance. Mr. Murray stated that Camino de las Ondas is unclassified on the Circulation Element of the General Plan. The subject area, the easterly one-third mile segment, has a curvilinear alignment. Staff did an Accident Analysis at all three intersections dating back to January 2002, and there were no reported collisions at Lonicera Street or Camphor Place during that time period. However, in 2002 there were two reported traffic collisions at the Lemon Leaf Drive intersection, and the primary collision factor was violation of right-of-way. Mr. Murray said that staff evaluated corner sight visibility at all three intersections. Staff conducted measurements of the existing corner sight distance available for drivers on the side streets to view an approaching vehicle. The driver position was assumed to be 9.9 feet behind the prolongation of the curb line with the front of the vehicle at the curb prolongation. For a roadway such as Camino de las Ondas with a posted speed limit of 40 miles per hour, the required sight visibility is 455 feet. Staff conducted measurements of the existing corner sight distance available for drivers at all three intersections, and all three had limited corner sight visibility. Lemon Leaf Drive from both the north and the south legs looking to the west is less than the 455 feet. At Camphor Place looking to the east is also less than the 455 feet. On Lonicera Street when looking to the west does not meet the comer sight visibility. Mr. Murray stated that staff measured stopping sight distance at all three intersections. The Caltrans Highway Design Manual states that when corner sight visibility is not being met, staff can try to achieve comer sight visibility or if stopping sight visibility can be attained when comer sight visibility is not being met, then that is acceptable. Staffmeasured the stopping sight distance at these deficient legs of the three intersections. Once again, at Lemon Leaf Drive looking to the west from both the north and the southerly legs, the required stopping sight distance was not attained. The stopping sight distance required for a 40 mile per hour roadway is 308 feet. Stopping sight distance is from the motorist’s point of view on the major roadway approaching the intersection. The motorist’s eyes are assumed to be 42 inches above the pavement surface to an object 6 inches high on the roadway. Camphor Place, also looking to the east, did not meet the required stopping sight distance. At Lonicera Street looking to the west, it did not meet the 308 feet of stopping sight visibility. May 2,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 7 In situations when the minimum required stopping sight distance is not being provided, sight visibility should be improved to provide at least the minimum required stopping sight distance. Other actions, such as the installation of stop signs, may be considered. Mr. Murray stated that Lemon Leaf Drive looking to the west has a crest vertical curve and a horizontal curve located on Camino de las Ondas west of the Lemon LeafDrive intersection limiting sight visibility to the west from both legs of Lemon Leaf Drive. On Camphor Drive, a horizontal curve and a crest vertical curve located on Camino de las Ondas east of the Camphor Drive intersection limits sight visibility to the east from Camphor Place. In addition, landscaping that is growing on the northeast comer of the intersection and along the north side of Camino de las Ondas also limits sight visibility to the east fiom Camphor Place. Trimming back, lowering and maintaining this landscaping will improve the comer sight visibility to the east at this intersection. However, trimming of the landscaping alone will not provide the required minimum stopping sight distance. On Lonicera Street a horizontal curve and a vertical curve located on Camino de las Ondas west of the Lonicera Street intersection limits sight visibility to the west comer of the intersection along the north side of Camino de las Ondas and it limits sight visibility to the west from Lonicera Street north. This landscaping needs to be either removed, or lowered and regularly maintained, to help to improve the comer sight visibility to the west at this intersection. Removal or trimming of the landscaping alone will not provide the required minimum stopping sight distance. Mr. Murray stated that the sight visibility of 308 feet is not being provided in specific directions at all three of these intersections. Other actions can be considered to reduce the potential conflicts caused by these sight visibility limitations. Looking more closely at Camphor Place, it is 366 feet fiom the intersection of Lemon Leaf Drive. Field studies revealed that from an assumed stop on Camino de las Ondas at Lemon Leaf Drive, a westbound vehicle on Camino de las Ondas attained a speed of 33 miles per hour when the driver reached the intersection of Camphor Place. For a speed of 33 miles per hour, a stopping sight distance of 233 feet is required. The existing field measurements of stopping sight visibility for Camphor place was 267 feet, which exceeds the stopping sight visibility needed for the 33 miles per hour. It can be concluded that if there were an all-way stop installed at the intersection of Lemon Leaf DrivelCamino de las Ondas, an all-way stop would not be required at Camphor Place. This is based upon the existing 267 feet of stopping sight distance being greater than the 233 feet of stopping sight distance for a 33 mile per hour speed (267 feet is the minimum required stopping sight distance for 36.1 miles per hour). Mr. Murray stated that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends that an all-way stop be established on Camino de las Ondas at the intersection of Lemon Leaf Drive and also at the intersection of Lonicera Street, and that the HOA or individual property owner trim landscaping at the intersections of Camphor Drive and at Lonicera Street to help lengthen the available corner sight distance. The City Council would be required to adopt ordinances to establish the all-way stop signs as recommended. May 2,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 8 DISCUSSION: Chair Cress asked if the same logic that Mr. Murray spoke about not having a stop sign at Camphor Drive because one would only travel at about 30 miles per hour, wouldn’t also apply to cars turning from Aviara Parkway going west on Camho de las Ondas? Wouldn’t they also be going about 30 - 33 miles per hour when they got to the Lemon Leaf Drive intersection? Mr. Murray agreed that they would be traveling at about the same speed, but this is not the direction of the issue of the limited sight visibility. The limited sight visibility is west of the intersection due to the vertical and horizontal curve of the roadway. So from this direction, you can see beyond Aviara Parkway into the hills. It’s not an issue in that direction. Chair Cress stated that he drove Camino de las Ondas today, and the Homeowners common area needs to be trimmed, because a lot of the landscaping interferes with sight distance. PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Chair Cress opened public testimony. Klaus Kirchhoff, 1258 Veronica Court, Carlsbad, member of the Board of Directors of Mariners Point Community Association and cosigner of the application as submitted earlier in March 2005. Mr. Kirchhoff thanked the Traffic Safety Commission for being as professional as they have been to the homeowners and by researching the traffic problems so thoroughly. Based on the Commission’s findings and recommendations, while some homeowners might feel this is enough since they only go in and out of Lonicera Street, other homeowners at Camphor Place cannot accept and take exception to the finding of not getting the all-way stop signs at this particular intersection. He stated that the Board when they decided on the language of their application and then approaching each homeowner to state their support for the signs, they did not approach it by saying, “We’ll ask for three signs, maybe we’ll get two, maybe we get one.” Knowing the professional level of who we’re dealing with, we asked for three signs because we truly felt we needed to have all-way stops at all three intersections. The major concern that Mr. Kirchhoff has is the danger that currently exists is that the portion of Camino de las Ondas to the west of Lemon Leaf Drive is not visible enough. The point is that not only the street curvature but also the height of branches makes it impossible to see somebody coming over that hump. When he is exiting Lemon Leaf Drive, he approaches it softly. He can see everything to the right of him fiom Aviara Parkway and he correspondingly stops. To the left, every time he exits, he and his wife have several close calls. If you do not have stop signs at Camphor Place, the people will come up traveling east on Camino de las On& and they will not know until the last second, “Oops! There’s a stop sign on Lemon Leaf Drive” unless they’re getting large language painted onto the street itself saying “stop sign ahead.” He feels strongly that if Camphor May 2,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 9 Place gets stop signs not only do we enhance the safety at this particular intersection, but we also get more safety to the homeowners that exit Lemon Leaf Drive into Camino de las Ondas. Right now, if you assume these two intersections get all-way stop signs, he still has to be very careful turning left because it is too dangerous. Camino de las Ondas definitely needs a 4-way stop signs to assure people exiting or entering Camino de las Ondas from Lemon Leaf Drive to give them the safety requested. William Barnes, 6720 Camphor Place, Carlsbad. Mr. Barnes stated that he has had several close calls exiting Camphor Place onto Camino de las Ondas. Referring to Exhibit 1, he stated that you can see to the west okay, but to the east is there an uphill curve so the drivers are accelerating coming down the hill, often going to the schools. Therefore, the scariest times are when school is starting or getting out. He has knowledge that there is some vegetation at that corner, some on private property, some maybe on the Association property. If he gets his nose out there, he has to get way out there to look, and his latest one was Friday morning and he started going, and here came this car flying down the street. He has had several close calls. Mr. Barnes respectfully requested that the Commission consider a stop sign at Camphor Place for safety purposes. Edward Crotty, 6713 Camphor Place, Carlsbad stated that he was going to read from his notes in order to expedite things and not to leave anythmg out. Mr. Crotty stated that he was speaking for himself, one of seventeen homes on Camphor Place, 14 of which signed a petition that the Commission has, requesting review of the earlier tra& control findings. He first approached the traffic department when he met Mr. Murray in the fall of 2003 after a long period of concern about traffic growing and the risk on Camino de las Ondas and Camphor Place. In February 2004, there were some speed limit signs and intersection symbol signs installed along Camino de las Ondas. Aside fiom volume on that street, he has seen no change in traffic due to those signs. People still drive the way they always drove. He believes that most drivers drive by habit and intuition and so signs other than stop signs get little attention. Mr. Crotty stated that he has lived on Camphor Place for nearly eight years and has seen traffic on Camino de las Ondas grow considerably. He has no objection to the present growth only to the risks that it represents to him and his family and other residents on the street. Leaving Camphor Place to enter Camino de las Ondas requires a combination of skill and luck. For westbound drivers approaching the crest of the hill, they see open road toward the visible ocean and an implied invitation to move along too quickly. More accidents or fatalities have been reported at this corner and close calls are not reported. There have been many close calls, rarely commented on by residents when the subject arises. He made a less risky right hand turn out of his street, but even that is a calculated risk. He has had cars pass him sometimes with a honk within a few seconds of making a clean turn. Skid marks on pavement is not an objective measurement of risk, but they have been there. May 2,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 10 h4r. Crotty stated that the proposed stop sign at Lemon Leaf Drive may mitigate some of the risk they face at their intersection, but it does not change the posted speed limit of 40 miles per hour, it does not change the fact that most westbound traffk on Camino de las Ondas comes off Aviara Parkway where about 50 miles per hour is the normal speed, that 85% will still allow for nearly one vehicle in five to traveling above the target speed, and the wide open environment at the top of the hill is tempting to westbound drivers. Reducing the out of code landscaping will help the sight line issue considerably. When done, there will still be a combination of curved street and crest of hill to contend with. The risk will remain unusual and likely to eventually contribute to property damage or accident. His personal recommendation and request is to implement a two-way or all-way stop sign at the intersection of Camphor Place and Camino de las Ondas. The situation cannot be understood or appreciated fully with drawings and words alone, but should be seen. He asks that each of the Commissioners to take 1 5 - 20 minutes to drive the area with special attention to the intersection to Camphor Place and Camino de las Ondas. DISCUSSION: Vice-Chair Dorsey asked staff about the 360 feet from Lemon Leaf Drive to Camphor Place, where is the crest of the hill between those two? Mr. Murray pointed to Exhibit 1 showing where the crest of the hill is located. Commissioner Roney asked if there would be any warning or caution lights that would be put in the area between Camphor Place and Lemon Leaf Drive like they have on Carlsbad Village Drive? Mr. Murray stated that they would typically put a “Stop Ahead” sign and “Stop Ahead” pavement legends, but flashing beacons would not be installed. Chair Cress asked how far ahead of a stop sign of a boulevard stop do you normally put the “Stop Ahead” sign? A couple of hundred feet? Mr. Murray concurred that is was several hundred feet. Commissioner Bradshaw stated that she went out and drove the area and she agreed that there were sight distance restrictions, but she didn’t feel comfortable with putting all-way stops at any of the three locations. Lemon Leaf Drive is too close to Aviara Parkway, and a car turning that corner is going to hit a block wall because the distance is too close. She has looked at the vehicular volumes and she would say that you’re stopping too many vehicles for a select few. She didn’t feel that that May 2,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 11 was fair. Driving on Camino de las Ondas, she felt the sight distance restrictions could have been avoided in the planning and plan check process. She really feels that the City should be more particular in the planning and plan check process. Commissioner Bradshaw stated she didn’t feel that that warrants all-way stops. Chair Cress stated that possibly if City Council followed the Traffic Safety Commission’s recommendation of putting an all-way stop at Lemon Leaf Drive, it would alleviate some of the problems at Camphor Place because people would have to stop at Lemon Leaf Drive and as Mr. Murray pointed out, they would only be going about 30 miles per hour when they went by Camphor Drive if we decide to go that way. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Vice-Chair Dorsey, and duly seconded by Commissioner Roney, to recommend that an all-way stop be established on Camino de las Ondas at the intersection of Lemon Leaf Drive and at the intersection of Lonicera Street, and that the HOA or individual property owner trim landscaping at the intersections of Camphor Drive and at Lonicera Street to help lengthen the available corner sight distance. VOTE: 3-1-0 AYES: Cress, Dorsey, Roney NOES: Bradshaw ABSTAIN: None ITEM 6C: Establish uniform hours for parking time restrictions at night for designated segments of Carlsbad Boulevard. Mr. Johnson stated that this item addresses the establishment or modification of time limits for parking at night on Carlsbad Boulevard. Sgt. Jeff Chapman from the Carlsbad Police Department is in the audience and has been involved with the issue associated with this project. We have also had input fiom the Rangers fiom the State of California Parks and Recreation Department about some of the problems. Those problems are associated with individuals that sleep in their vehicles at night. There are three areas south of Avenida Encinas where parking is allowed during the day and night because it is not signed no parking at night. Individuals park for 72 consecutive hours, which they are allowed to do. When they do that, many of them sleep in the vehicles at night. Consequently, they are on the beach after the beach closure times. This generates complaints and vandalism and the problems that the police and State Park Rangers have to address. Mr. Johnson stated that some of the other locations currently have no parking at night, but on Carlsbad Boulevard there are four different sets of time for parking restrictions at night which can May 2,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 12 cause some confusion for the public to know which parking time limit they are in. It also causes enforcement problems for the police. The goal of this particular item is to limit the variety or number of different parking time restrictions at night so there is only one or two time limits for Carlsbad Boulevard. This would then facilitate the police to be aware of that, and it would also help the public be aware of the time limits at night when they cannot park. Mr. Johnson stated that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommended the proposed changes or additions and the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee is a staff committee. Those recommendations are provided on Table 2 in the staff report. There are seven locations with modifications or additions for time limits. Staff is trying to get a more uniform parking restriction from 1 1 :00 p.m. to 5:OO a.m. in most areas, and there are three areas where staff would recommend establishing no parking fiom 2:OO a.m. to 5:OO a.m. The 5:OO a.m. time limit appears to be appropriate in most locations along the beach where people want to get to the beach early and walk the beach, perhaps go fishing or do what they might want to do at 500 a.m. There does not seem to be a problem to allow parking to begin at 5:OO a.m. The 11 :00 p.m. restriction coincides in many locations with the closure of the beach times by the state. It is also appropriate that time at night to be off the beach and not cause the kind of problems that the police and the rangers are dealing with now. Mr. Johnson concluded that the recommendation is as indicated in the staf€report and as indicated on Table 2 to establish a new parking restriction where there currently is no restriction at night in the three locations on the west side of southbound Carlsbad Boulevard south of Avenida Encinas, and to modify the other locations on Carlsbad Boulevard as indicated in Table 2. DISCUSSION: Vice-Chair Dorsey asked if the parking restrictions fiom 3:OO a.m. to 5:OO a.m. or 3:OO a.m. to 6:OO a.m. are going to be uniformly changed to 2:OO a.m. to 5:OO a.m.? Mi, Johnson stated that the recommendation is to have a uniform 2100 a.m. to 5:OO a.m. no parking allowed in the designated locations. Chair Cress stated that he agreed it was a good idea to standardize it. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Roney, and duly seconded by Commissioner Bradshaw, to establish uniform hours for parking time restrictions at night for designated segments of Carlsbad Boulevard as given in the staff report. May 2,2005 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 13 VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Cress, Dorsey, Roney, Bradshaw NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ITEM 7: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS None. ITEM 8: REPORT FROM TRAFFlC ENGINEER Mr. Johnson stated that in July of 2005, the term of two Trafic Safety Commissioners will expire, those being Commission Dorsey and Commissioner Gardner. As is customary, if Commissioners are interested in continuing on the Commission, you can have your term extended at the pleasure of the City Council, especially by virtue of recently being appointed to the Commission. It would be appropriate to send a letter indicating your interest to Mayor Lewis at 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive. Mayor Lewis will give that to the city clerk, and it will be placed on a future agenda for consideration. Conversely, if not interesting in serving, as a courtesy it would be appropriate to indicate that for whatever reason you cannot continue and would not want to be considered for reappointment and send a letter to Mayor Lewis. Commissioner Dorsey asked if it was necessary to use the usual application form? Mr. Johnson stated that it was appropriate to use a standard letter stating whether or not you’re interested in being reappointed. Mr. Johnson reported that next month’s regular meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission would be held on June 6,2005 at 3:OO p.m. in the City Council Chambers. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Cress adjourned the Regular Meeting of May 2,2005 at 350 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ruth Steckdaub Minutes Clerk