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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-11-06; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMINUTES MEETING OF TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION DATE OF MEETING: November 6,1995 TIME OF MEETING: 3:OO p.m. PLACE OF MEETING: City Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER: Traffic Engineer Bob Johnson called the Meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. He stated that the first order of business for the Commission would be to elect a Temporary Chairman for today’s meeting. By unanimous consensus, Commissioner Green was elected to serve as Temporary Chairman for the meeting. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Blake, Green and Stachoviak. Absent: Commissioner Courtney. Staff Members Present: Bob Johnson, Traffic Engineer Sgt. Jim Byler APPROVAL OF MINUTES: On motion by Commissioner Stachoviak, the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held September 11, 1995, were approved as presented. AYES: Green, Blake and Stachoviak ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: There were no requests to address the Commission on a non-agenda item. PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Bob Johnson reported that the Ordinance setting a prima facie speed limit on Camino De Los Coches was introduced by the City Council last Tuesday and will be adopted tomorrow night and will be in effect 30 days later. Mr. Johnson stated that the question arose at the last meeting whether the City Council had appointed a new Traffic Safety Commissioner, and no appointment has been made at this time. However, the item is on the City Council agenda for their meeting tomorrow night, November 7. November 6, 1995 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 2 NEW BUSINESS: A. Calle Acervo, Camino De Los Coches to Calle San Blas - Request to establish a prima facie speed limit. Bob Johnson gave the staff report, stating this item was initiated by staff to establish a prima facie speed limit on Calle Acervo due to the construction of new homes in the area and the construction of the La Costa Canyon High School. He said that eventually the road will be extended south to connect De Los Coches with Rancho Santa Fe Road. The road is not posted at this time and required an Engineering and Traffic Survey, the results of which were included in the report. Mr. Johnson stated that California Vehicle Code Sections 22357 and 22358 authorized local authorities to establish a prima facie speed limit on the basis of the results of the engineering and traffic survey, and the critical speed now is 32 miles per hour. The critical speed is an important factor, but not the only factor considered in establishing the speed limit. The accident history on this road is good, with no collisions over the last five years, At the present time the traffic volume is low on the street, but will increase when the high school is completed. Mr. Johnson stated that the high school students will use this road as a shortcut to go to Rancho Santa Fe Road, and for that reason staff feit they should be proactive and establish a speed limit before the school opens. Mr. Johnson stated that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends that the prima facie speed limit upon Calle Acervo between Calle San Blas and Camino De Los Coches be established at 30 miles per hour. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Blake, the Traffic Safety Commission adopted the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee to establish a prima facie speed limit of 30 miles per hour on Calle Acervo between Calle San Blas and Camino De Los Coches. AYES: Green, Blake and Stachoviak 8. Calle Barcelona, Via San Clemente to Calle Acervo - Request to establish a prima facie speed limit. Bob Johnson gave the staff report, using a transparency to show the area, and stated this is similar to the previous item for Calle Acervo. He said that in 1989, an ordinance was adopted by the City Council to establish a 30 mile per hour prima facie speed zone on Calle Barcelona from Rancho Santa Fe Road to its terminus at Via San Clemente. The roadway has since been extended to Calle Acervo and the limits of the existing prima facie speed zone need to be extended as well. Mr. Johnson stated that Calle Barcelona functions as a local collector street, and is bordered by Rancho Santa Fe Road on the west and Calle Acervo on the east. Mission Estancia Elementary School is located on the north side of Calle Barcelona where it intersects with Calle San Felipe. There are signs there to indicate a 25 mile per hour speed limit when children are present. Mr. Johnson continued, stating that an Engineering and Traffic Survey has been completed for the road, and the critical speed is 33 miles per hour, with no accidents. Engineering Staff and the Police Department are of the opinion that this will be a shortcut for the high school students when the high school opens. In order to avoid complaints at that time about speeding through this area, staff wants to have a speed limit in place prior to that time. November 6, 1995 TRAFFIC SAFW COMMISSION Page 3 NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) Mr. Johnson stated that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommends a 30 mile per hour prima facie speed limit on all of Calle Barcelona, including the portion west of Via San Clemente, in which a 30 mile per hour speed limit already exists. In reply to Commission query about any special plans for extra police enforcement after the school opens, Sgt. Byler stated that they have just completed a short-range planning session at the Police Department and the top priority for the Police Department was a request to be made in January for a School Resource Officer. This Officer would be assigned full time to the high school in the south, and would be different from the other Officers working there. He said that this Officer would be there to deal with the traffic and/or any complaints about the traffic and speeding from the surrounding community. Sgt. Byler said this is the one increase that the Police Chief will be requesting at budget time and the Officer would be in place before the high school opened. Sgt. Byler stated that the program started by Bob Johnson and Sgt. Metcalf has now been expanded and is now a formally organized adult crossing guard group. Sgt. Byler stated he trained 15 volunteers last month, and those volunteers are on duty at the school sites in the mornings and afternoons. Staff is working specifically with the volunteers who will be impacted from the high school traffic in that particular area. Bob Johnson, replying to query about the traffic at the corner of Rancho Santa Fe and Barcelona, stated he had a meeting with the Principal and the PTA coordinator and discussed a number of traffic problems at the Mission Estancia School. He said that a formal program with adult crossing guards will help in that area. As a result of the meeting, the bicycle lane on Barcelona will be removed up to the school entrance to allow onstreet parking due to the limited parking in that area. The three nearest intersections will be monitored for traffic studies, and if they meet stop sign warrants, staff will recommend installation. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Stachoviak, the Traffic Safety Commission adopted the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee recommendation to establish a 30 mile per hour prima facie speed limit on all of Calle Barcelona, including the portion west of Via San Clemente, in which a 30 mile per hour speed limit already exists. AYES: Green, Blake and Stachoviak C. Elect a New Vice-chairman ACTION: On motion by Commission Blake, and unanimous consensus, the Traffic Safety Commission elected Commissioner Green as Vice-chairman. REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Blake stated that some time ago he inquired about the cutoff from the north end of Haymar. He said there are a lot of trucks parking in that area and he suggested the Police look at a restricted time for parking there, Staff will investigate this and report back to Commissioner Blake. Temporary Chairman Green said that the cars are parking on the corner of Tamarack and Carlsbad Village Drive and blocking the sight distance. Sgt. Byler stated that he will re-evaluate the situation there. November 6, 1995 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS: (Continued) Temporary Chairman Green requested a list of the top ten Police enforcement sites in Carlsbad. Sgt. Byler stated he will make. copies of the monthly report outlining the locations and the statistics for citations and accidents and send them to the Commissioners. REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER: Mr. Johnson stated he had no report at this time. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the Regular Meeting of November 6, 1995, was adjourned at 3:40 p.m. Resppctfully submfied, Har i/&(F iett Babbitt Minutes Clerk