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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-12-01; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES Meeting of: TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Time of Meeting: 3:OO p.m. Date of Meeting: December 1, 1986 'a. Place of Meeting: City Council Chambers COMMISSIONERS CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Fuller called the Meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present - Chairman Fuller, Commissioners Erwin, Herring, Melideo and O'Day. Absent - None. Staff Members Present: Lloyd Hubbs, City Engineer Bob Johnson, Principal Civil Engineer Mike Shirey, Engineering Technician I1 Officer Shipley, Police Department APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the Meeting held November 3, 1986, were approved as presented. REPORT ON ACTION OF PREVIOUS MEETING: There was no report given at this time. ACTION ITEMS: 1. Kelly Elementary School - request for crossing guards Bob Johnson gave the staff report as contained in the packet, stating the request was initiated by Thomas K. Brierley, District Superintendent of the Carlsbad Unified School District. He referred to the pedestrian count taken at the site and reported the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommended the request for adult crossing guards be denied. Commissioner Erwin commented if the school proceeded with obtaining a crossing guard, they would be reimbursed for the cost by the City. Mr. Johnson stated the City Attorney would have to interpret those sections of the Code. Commissioner Erwin stated he did not understand why the City was responsible for funding the hiring of crossing guards. He felt the City was living with a bad precedent. Commissioner Erwin felt a resolution should be sent to the City Council recommending funding for adult crossing guards be returned to the school district. Officer Shipley stated the funding was not the problem. The main problem is the staffing. The school district has a number of teacher aides in each school. They have good knowledge of the children in that school and know the schedule of the school. They could work these locations easier without as many administrative problems. Officer Shipley stated approximately ten percent of his time is spen working with crossing guards. He recommended the school district staff the adult crossing guards with the Police Department aware of the time. Commissioner Herring suggested establishing crossing guards that do not meet warrants would set a bad precedent. Fuller Erwin Herring Melideo 0 ' Day \ X X X X X MINUTES TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION December 1, 1986 Page 2 COMMISSIONERS Chairman Fuller stated the only justification for a crossing guard is for the afternoon when the children are trying to get to the bus on El Camino Real. However, they are still crossing Kelly Drive mid-block with a teacher. The school safety patrol is working at this time and using stop signs. The children are on the south side of Kelly when they get to El Camino Real. He added he did not feel the problem was severe enough to warrant a guard at this time . Commissioner O'Day concurred the guard would not be warranted at the present time. Commissioner Erwin reiterated his belief it was inappropriate for the City of Carlsbad to be directly involved in the adult crossing guard funding. He felt the staffing and funding should be done through the school district itself, and they should deem where it is appropriate to have these guards. Article 12, Particular Employees, sections 45450 and 45451 were read regarding the employment and reimbursement of districts for crossing guards. Commissioner O'Day stated two concerns; there is a standard, and that standard is not met. Also, Officer Shipley said it is very hard to maintain personnel for this work, and when the guards do not show up, it takes the time of a Police Officer to guard the crossings. Chairman Fuller stated he felt Commissioner Erwin wished to make a policy statement to Council, but he did not feel that was appropriate at this time. Traffic Safety Commission approved the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommendation to deny the request fo adult crossing guards. 2. Calle Madrid and Calle San Felipe Intersection - request for stop sign Bob Johnson gave the staff report, stating the request was initiated by Laura Wineholt, agent for Colinas De Oro Home- owners Association. In answer to query by Commissioner Erwin about one stop sign areas, Mr. Johnson said if the sign were unwarranted, it would tend to increase accidents. This would be an unwar- ranted area. Commissioner O'Day commented this area is in a changing mode with different developments being built at the present time. Chairman Fuller said he stopped at Calle Madrid and felt the sight distance was impeded by shrubbery on private property. There is adequate sight distance to the left. Commissioner O'Day questioned whether in the case of sight distance, whether the City could request the owner to trim such obstacles. Mr. Johnson answered the city has been suck requests recently, and the owners do comply with the request The Commissioners agreed this shrubbery needs to be trimmed. Fuller Erwin Herring Me 1 id eo 0 ' Day A F, \ $ - X X X X X MINUTES TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION December I, 1986 Page 3 COMMISSIONERS \ Traffic Safety Commission approved the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommendation to deny the request fo a stop sign at the corner of Calle Madrid and Calle San Felipe. 3. Segovia Way - request for 25 m.p.h. speed limit signs and "CHILDREN AT PLAY" signs Bob Johnson gave the staff report, indicating the request was initiated by Mary Witherall. 25 m.p.h. speed limit sign has been recommended by the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee, but the "CHILDREN AT PLAY" signs are not recognized by California law. The installation of a Traffic Safety Commission approved the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommendations to install a 25 m.p.h speed limit sign on Segovia Way approximately 0.30 miles from Levante Street, and to deny the request to install "CHILDREN AT PLAY" signs on Segovia Way. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: Chairman Fuller inquired about the new State Law prohibiting discussion of items not on the agenda. Mr. Johnson stated City Council and the City Attorney will develop standards by the January meeting. Commissioner Erwin thanked Mr. Johnson and Mr. Shirey for their assistance in resolving the question he had regarding residents on Garfield Street being informed about the proposed closing of the street for a public parking lot. He stated he found the residents had been notified. ITEMS FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER: Bob Johnson announced the AAA Seminar has been set for Friday, January 16, 1987, from 1:OO p.m. to 5:OO p.m., in the Council Chambers. Representatives from the Automobile Club will conduct the seminar and Traffic Safety Commissioners from Oceanside, Vista and possibly Del Mar wil attend. Mr. Johnson invited this Commission to be present and said a mailer will be sent out giving the details. Commissioner Erwin suggested video taping the meeting, and volunteered to bring his video equipment for the taping. Mr. Johnson stated the Chief of Police had requested the Traffic Safety Commission consider whether a separate pedestrian committee was required or necessary. The Coordinating Committee felt the Traffic Safety Commission performed that function and a separate committee was not necessary. He asked for Commission recommendations. Chairman Fuller inquired of staff whether this Commission reviewed all pedestrian items, and staff stated they did. Commissioner O'Day read from the municipal code stating the duties of the Traffic Safety Commission, and added he felt this would create more problems by adding another committee. Commissioner Melideo commented some people have difficulty understanding vehicle and pedestrian problems must be considered together. The consensus of the Commission was to have the Traffic Safety Commission consider all traffic and pedestrian problems as they have been doing, without adding any other committees. Fuller Erwin Herring Me 1 ide o 0' Day Fuller Erwin Herring Melideo 0' Day $ P - X X X X X x x Y! Y! Y! MINUTES \\\\\ Chairman Fuller asked staff to determine whether a new Chairman should be elected in January, and if so, to put that item on the agenda. Commissioner Melideo stated her concern with the traffic flow in the post office parking lot. She said to deposit letters in the drop boxes is extremely dangerous as far as traffic in the parking lot. Mr. Johnson said the post offic would have to study that problem. Commissioner O'Day said this problem has been discussed before, with no resolution for the problem. Commission discussion determined a letter from the Mayor to the postal people might be the proper procedure to follow. Chairman Fuller added the City should go to the post office people with a concrete solution. The traffic staff was requested to check into this matter, and report whether a simple solution was possible. If this would involve a complicated redesign of that parking lot, that would not be practical for staff to become involved. Commissioner Melideo inquired about the crosswalk and/or signal to be installed on Carlsbad Boulevard by Tamarack Shores. Staff said a consultant will be recommended to design the streetscape along Carlsbad Boulevard. Also, ther was a suggestion to close Lincoln Street between Oak and the Boulevard. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the meeting of December 1, 1986, was adjourned at 3:45 p.m. Harriett Babbitt Minutes Clerk