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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-04-07; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES MEETING OF: DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: PLACE OF MEETING: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION April 7,2008 (Regular Meeting) 3:00 p.m. City Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER: Chair Roney called the Meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Absent: Staff Members Present: Chair Guy Roney Vice-Chair Gordon Cress Commissioner Steve Dorsey Commissioner Jack Cumming None Robert Johnson, City Engineer Carlton Urban, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation John Kim, Associate Engineer Lt. Don Rawson, Carlsbad Police Department APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 3,2008 Chair Roney stated that there was a correction to page 5 of the March 3,2008 minutes. The comment about "Jerry" Hill from Imagine Carlsbad should read "Gary" Hill. Commissioner Cumming confirmed that his name was Gary Hill and the minutes should be corrected to reflect that. ACTION: VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: Motion by Vice-Chair Cress, and duly seconded by Commissioner Cumming, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on March 3, 2008, as amended. 4-0-0 Roney, Cress, Dorsey, Cumming None None April 7,2008 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 2 ITEM 4 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: Public Testimony: Chair Roney called for Public Testimony. Al Torkar, 8018 Via Arce, Carlsbad, indicated that he wanted to speak of a traffic situation in La Costa Valley. He wanted the City to address this issue expediously. He stated there is a four lane highway from Paseo Lucio to Rancho Santa Fe Road with no stop controls. Citizens live on both sides of Calle Barcelona and have to cross the intersection to access the recreation facility and walking trail. Traffic is very fast at that intersection. The speed limit is 55 miles per hour. It is not unusual to see drivers going at 75 - 80 miles per hour down that stretch of road. At the intersection of Calle Barcelona and Paseo Avellano, motorists take chances to cross the street. The road curves coming from the east and from the west. If you are traveling the speed limit it may be okay, but if you're going faster than the speed limit, you can get hit by another motorist. In fact, my wife got hit a couple of weeks ago. Mr. Torkar stated that this is the 4th accident that has occurred at that intersection. This is not a new problem. In 2004,145 residents from the development signed a petition telling the City that this is a dangerous intersection. Pedestrians cannot cross the intersection safely. Additionally, cars cannot cross the intersection safely. Today, Mr. Torkar is asking that a stop light that has been talked about for awhile be expedited. He understands there is a stop light planned for the intersection. However, there has been a hold up because of some information required from Public Utilities. He is asking that in order to prevent future accidents from occurring, the Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) address this issue as expediously as possible. The TSC should contact whoever needs to be contacted at the Public Utilities facilities to give them the necessary documents for the City to complete it's design of the site. Furthermore, since this item has been on the agenda since 2004, Mr. Torkar is very concerned as a taxpayer of Carlsbad. He does not want to have someone get hurt or killed at the intersection. Hence, the City would be in a position effacing litigation. Some smart attorney may come along and claim that the City was aware of this since 2004. Why hasn't anything been done about it? He doesn't want that to happen. Therefore, he is appealing to the TSC as a body that can influence that decision to please expedite this traffic signal as soon as possible. Vice-Chair Cress asked the name of the intersection. Mr. Torkar said it was Paseo Avellano and Calle Barcelona. Chair Roney asked if this item was being processed or reviewed by the City at this time. April 7,2008 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 3 Mr. Johnson replied that the project is not being held up. It is moving along as quickly as it can. The project is in design. Within one month, it should go to City Council to authorize bidding of the project. It is on the Traffic Signal Evaluation Policy that the TSC approved a couple of years ago. The traffic signal was placed on the CIP, and it is being followed-up on. Chair Roney asked if there was an estimated time when the stop light would actually be installed. Mr. Johnson answered that authorization to bid will go out in one month. Probably by the end of summer or early fall the contractor would start. There is lead time to order the poles. It would be more like the end of the year, or early next year when the signal would be up and operational. Chair Roney asked if there was a liaison that was working with Mr. Torkar. Mr. Johnson said that Carlton Urban has been in contact with Mr. Torkar. Mr. Torkar can call him any time he wishes to for an update. John Kim is also here from staff if Mr. Torkar would like further review of the plans with him. Seeing no others wishing to testify, Chair Roney closed Public Testimony. ITEM 5 - PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Robert Johnson, City Engineer, reported that based on the previous actions and recommendations by the TSC, the City Council has adopted Resolution No. 2008-075, which approved the 2008 Traffic Signal Qualification List and Traffic Signal Evaluation Policy. Additionally, an ordinance was adopted for a stop sign on Contour Place at its intersection with Strata Drive. Lastly, an ordinance was adopted for a stop sign on Tern Place at its intersection with Spoonbill Lane to replace the existing yield sign. ITEM 6 - NEW BUSINESS: ITEM 6A: Update on Status of Proposed Changes to the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program (CRTMP). Mr. Johnson informed the TSC that this item was to present an update on staffs proposed revisions to the CRTMP. The procedures in the CRTMP require any changes to come to the TSC for recommendations and then to City Council for consideration. The staff report will be presented by Deputy City Engineer, Carlton Urban. April 7,2008 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 4 Mr. Urban stated that the CRTMP, which was approved by the City Council in May 2001, provides citizens a three phase approach to address traffic concerns in Carlsbad neighborhoods. The first phase was designed to investigate the problems in the neighborhood. The second phase was devoted to study the traffic problems, design measures needed to solve those problems, and assignment of priority ranking. The third phase brings allocation of funds and permanent installation of the traffic calming measure. The final phase culminates with the monitoring of the finished program for effectiveness in solving the issue(s) that generated the whole process. Since inception of the CRTMP, staff desired to update the document language, insert a minimum threshold point ranking system, and introduce two new elements in the traffic calming toolbox. These elements include: (1) a reduced all-way stop control warrant; and (2) vertical deflection measures. Mr. Urban indicated that staff conducted nationwide research of other local governments adopting a reduced all-way stop control warrant for local streets. There are six items staff is evaluating the language of a reduced all-way stop control warrant. These six items include: 1. Sight Distance 2. Residence District 3. Hourly Volume Requirements 4. Daily Volume Requirements 5. Collision History 6. Petition Additionally, staff is evaluating vertical deflection measures with the Carlsbad Fire and Police Department for acceptability. Vertical deflection measures include: 1. Speed Cushions 2. Speed Lumps 3. Speed Tables Mr. Urban stated the difference between a speed cushion and speed lump is that a speed cushion is a manufactured device, whereas a speed lump would be placed by City crews with asphalt. The speed cushions are placed in a series to allow emergency service vehicles access and not impact emergency response time. The speed table spans the entire width of the roadway, usually 22 feet in length. Dimensions of this device include a rise of 3-1/4 inches over 6 feet, 10 feet flat, and a fall of 3-1/4 inches over 6 feet. An information package regarding these vertical deflection measures was presented to the City's Fire Department. A review of the information package was conducted with Jim Weigand, Fire Marshal, on March 13, 2008. At the request of Mr. Weigand, a "test-deck" should be constructed so that April 7,2008 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 5 emergency response vehicles could navigate the speed cushion and speed table. An April 2008 evaluation is planned. Mr. Urban stated that staff continues to evaluate a reduced all-way stop control warrant and the vertical deflection devices. At the request of the Fire Department, a "test deck" utilizing vertical deflection will need to be established before including vertical deflection elements in the new Residential Traffic Management Program publication. The revised publication is being prepared for review and approval for the TSC meeting in May 2008. DISCUSSION. Commissioner Gumming stated that his understanding of a conventional speed bump is that it is constructed to specifications so that it does not damage vehicles. The real problem is that emergency response time is slowed down. On the other hand, speed cushions are a manufactured product such that the wheel base of standard emergency vehicles can go past it without being bumped, whereas ordinary passenger vehicles would have to contend with it. Mr. Urban stated that with the standard vehicle, either one axle would go up or encounter the speed cushion. Staff measured the wheel bases of several emergency vehicles. The fire ladder truck works well, but other fire vehicles need to be tested. A standard vehicle would have to encounter or hit the speed cushion. Vice-Chair Cress asked if that included police cars. Mr. Urban said that it would. Lt. Rawson explained that currently the Police Department is in discussion on this issue. Obviously, police cars are the same as other vehicles in terms of the width. Most studies have been with the larger emergency vehicles. Lt Rawson stated he did not have an official opinion as a police representative. It is still being discussed. There is a police management meeting on April 9, 2008 where this topic will be discussed. Vice-Chair Cress stated he thought this would also include ambulances as far as standard width was concerned. Lt. Rawson agreed. April 7,2008 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 6 Mr. Johnson indicated that in the past when the CRTMP was approved in 2001, any of the vertical elements on the traffic calming measures was not approved by the Fire Department. That is why such measures as the speed lump are not included or any other vertical measure. That is being reevaluated both with the Police Department and the Fire Department. They may still take the position that they do not want a vertical measure as a tool in the toolbox of CRTMP. If that is the case, then it will be dropped. It would not be brought forward for consideration by the TSC or the City Council. There are a number of updates, edits, other parts of the program that Mr. Urban didn't mention that is being looked at. They are trying to do a comprehensive revision at one time and bring that forward. It will be processed appropriately with the different departments so that when staff brings items in the program to the TSC, they can provide their comments. Staff doesn't want to bring forward something that is being opposed by the Police Department and/or the Fire Department. Public Testimony: Chair Roney called for Public Testimony. Tom Flanagan, 3331 Donna Drive, Carlsbad, stated that the residents in his neighborhood are doing their own traffic calming measures for their street. He has a street with a 3-way stop that comes out of a high school, Vale Drive and Donna Drive. A 3-way stop sign can be a solution. The original estimate of the hardscape changes to Donna Drive is going to be approximately $600,000 - $700,000. They hope the Fire Department will work with the speed lumps. The speed lumps and 3- way and 4-way stop signs could probably be done for $ 100,000. He felt it was important to put these items in the toolbox. He would not want to be taken over any bumps in an ambulance when in critical condition. He would really like to see a 3-way stop added. Seeing no others wishing to testify, Chair Roney closed Public Testimony. DISCUSSION: Commissioner Gumming clarified that an all-way stop would include the 3-way and 4-way stops. Commissioner Dorsey stated that the study was asked for at the request of City Council, and he wanted to know what their concern was. Mr. Johnson stated that City Council, when they were evaluating the Qualifications List late last year, wanted staff to see if there could be reduced warrants for a residential all-way stop. Currently, an all-way stop is not approved in the CRTMP. It was not approved because City Council did not approve that particular option in the toolbox. However, City Council has asked if there could be April 7,2008 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 7 reduced warrants from the current California MUTCD in a residential area. It would not be applicable to collector streets or arterial streets, but in a residential neighborhood they wanted staff to look and see if there could be reduced criteria so that could be one of the measures in the toolbox. Currently, putting in an all-way stop at any location is not approved by the City Council. Commissioner Gumming asked if that would be an alternative to a roundabout. Mr. Johnson replied that it would just be one of the tools. It would not be an alternative. None of these are alternatives to the other. When staff does a comprehensive traffic calming program, they work with the neighborhood. Staff presents different tools in the toolbox that provide the flexibility and the various options as to what may work best in the neighborhood. A roundabout or traffic circle would still remain in the toolbox. There are several additional tools or traffic calming measures that could be added. Staff is trying to expand the availability of options that could be considered on a particular street. Commissioner Dorsey commented that using stop signs as a speed control measure is something that has not been done before. Mr. Johnson agreed. The City Council has indicated that a stop sign would not be used as a speed control device, because it simply does not work. It slows the vehicle to within 100 feet or so of the stop sign. However, the City Council is willing to have staff look at that option, and ultimately it will be the City Council's decision whether they want to include it in the CRTMP. If it moves forward, it would come to the TSC for recommendation. Commissioner Dorsey stated that he was well satisfied with the usage of stop signs as an assignment of the right of way rather than traffic speed control. He can just picture where residents are going to have a proliferation of stop signs all over residential areas. There have been many requests in the past year for stop signs where they are not warranted. If it is made easier to get stop signs, he pictures the day when residents "just ask" and there will be a stop sign. Vice-Chair Cress indicated that in the past, all-way stops were turned down in residential areas. The residents signed petitions and went to City Council. City Council obtained it even though the TSC adopted the recommendation of the TSC and turned them down. When this went to the City Council, they saw voters and said okay to a stop sign. That has happened a number of times, in his neighborhood especially. April 7,2008 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 8 Mr. Johnson explained that any item before the TSC can be appealed before the City Council. City Council has final say on what happens in Carlsbad. It is part of the procedure that everyone recognizes. The TSC provides their best recommendation. If it goes to City Council, the City Council performs a review of the TSC's recommendation. City Council will make their best decision under the circumstances. It is just the way things are done in Carlsbad. Over the years, in some cases, City Council has denied and concurred on all-way stops. In other cases, they have over-ridden the TSC's recommendation and gone along with the requests of the citizens. ITEM 7: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Dorsey asked about the training for the Commissioners that was tentatively scheduled to be held April 19, 2008 if it had been firmed up or cancelled. Mr. Johnson stated that the training will not happen on April 19th. The engineer coordinating the training was unable to tie up all of the loose ends in time. It will probably be held later in the Spring. As soon as he knows something more definitive, he will let the TSC know. ITEM 8: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Mr. Johnson stated that there will be a meeting at S ANDAG April 10th where he will get an update on the training. The City Council has not received any applications to process for replacement of a Traffic Safety Commissioner yet. The next regular meeting of the TSC is scheduled to be held on May 5, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Commissioner Gumming asked Mr. Johnson his opinion about City Council's action on Afton Way and Celinda Drive. Mr. Johnson stated that City Council listened to the requests for an ordinance to establish a no parking zone on both sides of Afton Way. There were some residents living on Celinda Drive that were experiencing some problems such as: noise at night, trash, cars being worked on and leaking oil, etc. These residents went to the City Council requesting that there be a parking ban from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. The City Council agreed with the request of the citizens and directed staff to return with an ordinance to establish no parking on Celinda Drive through the Brentwood Heights subdivision. The ordinance is tentatively scheduled for April 15,2008 for City Council to consider introduction of the ordinance. If the City Council introduces the ordinance on April 15, then on April 22,2008, the City Council will adopt the ordinance. Thirty (30) days later, the ordinance would then be in effect. April 7,2008 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 9 Commissioner Gumming was concerned about the appeal procedure which disadvantages those who go through the normal procedure. It was a little disturbing. He wasn't convinced that the City Council in it's deliberations really focused on the problem. It didn't seem that the problem was with the parking so much as the inappropriate and criminal activity in the area. That is something he didn't feel could be addressed by City Council's action. It seems to him that this is a police enforcement issue of a difficult sort. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, Chair Roney adjourned the Regular Meeting of April 7, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ruth Woodbeck Minutes Clerk