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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-12-02; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMEETING OF: TMlC SAFElY COMMtSSION DATE OF MEETING: December 2,2002 (Regular Meeting) TIME OF MEETING: 3:OO P.M. PLACE OF MEETING: CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER: Wce-Chairperson Bob Mea called the Meeting to order at 3:Ol p.m. ROU CALL: Present: Vice-Chairperson Bob Mer& Commissioner Jeny Schall Commissioner Howard Heffner Commissioner Gordon Cress Absent Chairperson Jim Courtney Staff Members Present: Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Lt. Mike Shipley, Carlsbad Police Department APPROVAL OF MINUTES: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Schall, and duty seconded by Commissioner Heffner, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of August 5,2002 as presented. VOTE: 3-0-1 AYES: Mertx, Schal!, Heffner NOES: None ABSTAIN: Cress NO Traffic Safety Commission meeting was held in the months of September, October, and November, therefore no minutes were approved. December 2,2002 1TEM 4 - ORAL COMMUNtCATIONS: None ITEM S - PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation stated that at the August 5,2002 regular meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission, agenda item 6A, a citizen requested that a 20 mile per hour speed limit be established on La Costa Avenue, and that traffic calming measures, i.e, speed humps, be installed on La Costa Avenue. The Commission denied this request. The request was appealed to the City Council. The City Council did hear the appeal presented by Mr. Mohammad Mehdi Zomormdian, but denied his request for a 20 mile per hour speed limit and the construction of traffic calming measures on La Costa Avenue. This request was denied by a 4-0 vote of the Ciry Council. However, the City Council directed staff to investigate various ways to aMe the residents wlth safe egress and ingress via their driveways on La Costs Avenue. Staff Is looking into the matter and wilt write a report that will be given to the City Council, in a few months, as directed. Mr. Johnson noted that the residents in the area would be involved In reviewing the report and providing their input. Mr. Johnson stated that the other agenda item (sgenda item 6s) at the August 5,2002 regular meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission was for the establishment of a prima facie 40 mile per hour speed limit upon Avenida Encinas from Palomar Airport Road to 0.87 miles (3,500 feet) south of Palomar Airport Road. This item has gone to the City Council based on the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Commission and an ordfnance was adopted by City Council. NEW BWINESS: ITEM BA Establish B 35 mlfe per hour prima facie speed limit upon Cassia Road from Poinsettia lane to El Camino Rea!. Robert Johnson, Deputy Ctty Engineer, Transportation DvZsion, stated that item 6A is a quest to establish a prima facie speed limit upon Cassia Road From Poinsettia Lane to El Camino Real as indicated on the overhead slide and the map provided in the staff report. He mentioned that Cassia Road is a two-lane road that connects El Camlno Reat on the east with Poinsettia Lane on the west. Portions of Cassia Road on the northerty side are compteted with curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and streetlights. However, portions on the southerly side are not completed at this time. When development occurs on the southedy side of Cassia Road, west of El Camino Real in this vicinity, the project at that time will be conditioned to widen the road by a few additlonaf feet and City standard impvements, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and streetlights, will be installed. ConUnuing, Mr. Johnson noted that the road varies in grade from 1.0% to 8.03%. It will ultimately have 40 foot cu#to-curb width. The road in essence will function as a colfedor road, although it k unclassified on the Circufation Element of the Generai Plan. There is a traffic signs1 at El Camion Real. Where Cassia Road currently intersects Poinsettfa Lane it basically functions as a 90 degree turn going from Cassia Road to westbound Poinsettia Lane or coming back eastbound Poinsettia Lane to turn on to Cassia Road. Poinsettia Lane terminates as a dead-end just to the east of the intersection of Cassia Road and Poinsettia Lane. December 2,2002 - 5 dAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Mr. Johnson stated that staff did conduct a speed survey on Cassia Road. The critical speed was found to be 36 miles per hour. Noting that a copy of the speed survey is provided in the staff report, he mentioned that the critical speed is that speed which 85% of the vehicles are traveling at or betow. It conjunction with the speed survey, it was found that 88% of the vehictes wefe in the pace speed of 29 to 39 miles per hour. Mr. Johnson explained that the pace speed is the 10 mile per hour increment having the highest number of vehicles. Cassia Road has a low traffic volume, only 2, 047 vehicles per day near Poinsettia Lane. As one nears El Camino Real, because of the additional driveways that lead to El Camino Real, the volumes are higher. This count was determlned to 4,ZI 3 vehicles per day. Referring to the location map in the staff report, Mr. Johnson noted that Verbina Circle is actually catted Kalmia Circle. In addition, he noted the correct spelling of Nicolia Drive. In summary, Mr. Johnson informed the Commission that the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee reviewed the Engineering and Traffic Survey. Based upon the results of the Engineering and Traffrc Suwey, the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee did recommend that a prima facie speed limit of 35 mites per hour be established upon Cassia Road from El Camino Real to Poinsettia Lane. Vice-Chairperson Bob Mertz asked if there were questions of staff. Commissioner Heffner questioned if a left hand turn could be made fmm Cassia Road onto Poinsettia Lane. Mr. Johnson stated that legally one could make a left hand turn, but noted that because of the banicades at the dead-end portion of Poinsettia Lane further travel on the roadway was not permitted. He mentioned that, in the future, at the intersection of Cassia Road and Poinsettia Lane a traffic signal might be installed. As there were no additional questions of staff, Vice-Chairperson Bob Mea opened public testimony. PUBUC TESTIMONY: As there: was no public testimony, Vice-Chairperson Bob Mertz closed public testimony and called for a discussion. DISCUSSION: Commissioner Schall mentioned that he drwe the roadway. He stated that the recommendation for a 35 mile per hour prima facie speed limit upon Cassia Road from Poinsettia Lane to El Camino Real was very reasonable. Commenting thst 35 mites per hour was a very reasonable speed, Commissioner Cress concurred with Commissioner Schall. Vice-Chairperson Mettz questioned when Poinsettia Lane would go through to the east. Mr. Johnson stated that the portion of Poinsettia Lane where it terminates just to the east of Cassia Road to El Camino Real is designated, for planning purposes, as Reach 'E". tie noted that it is a very difficult piece December 2,2002 c r'RAFPIC SAFETY COMMISSION Page 4 of land to bufld a road through because it is envimnmentally constrained and currently there is no financing plan in place to pay for the road. Mr. Johnson mentioned that it is proiected that it could be at least five years before this portion of the roadway is completed from Cassia Road to El Camino Real. The segment of Poinsettia Lane from Ambrosia Lane westerly to Blackrail Road is under construction and is designated as Reach 'C". Reach 'CY will be completed in approximately one year. By the end 2003 the mad should be open. Once this occurs, traffic will be able to go from Interstate 5 easterly on Poinsettia Lane to the intersection at Cassia Road and up to El Camino Real. Wce-Chairperson Mertz noted that the trafffc density could be impacted once the roadway 6pens. Mr. Johnson mentioned that traffic volumes are expected to increase On Cassia Road at that time 8nd staff will monitor the situation. As there was no further discussion, Vice-Chairperson Bob Mea closed discusslon artd called for a motion. ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Schafl, and duly seconded by Commission Neffner, to accept the recommendation of the Traffic Safety Coordinating Committee, establishing a prima facie 35 mile per hour speed limit upon Cassia Road from Poinsettia Lane to Et Camino Real. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Me&, Schall, Heffner, Cress NOES: None ABSTAIN: None fTEM 66: Consider adoption of a Traffic Safety Commisskn Resolution of Commendatton for Keith Gillfillan. Robert Johnson, Deputy City Engineer, Transportation Division, stated that agenda item $El is provided for consideration of the Commission to adopt a Resolution of Commendation for former Trafflc Safety Commissioner Keith Gillfillan. Mr. Gillfillan was appointed to the Traffic Safety Commission by the City Council on October 1, 1996. He sewed on the Commission from November 1996 through October 2002. We sewed on the Commission until the appointment of the new commissioner, Mr. Gordon Cress, in October 2002. It is standard procedure for the Traffic Safety Commission to adopt a Resolution of Commendation, He noted that a drafl of the resolution was provided in the staff report. Mr. Johnson stated that the commendation would be framed and presented to Mr. Gillfillan at the next meeting or delivered to his residence. 1 December 2,2002 - r'RAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION paSe 5 DISCUSSION: Commission Schall asked if Chairperson Courtney needed tu be present before a vote was taken. Mr. Johnson stated that if it was the desire of the commission that the Chairperson Courtney be present, the item could be canled over to the next meeting. It is customary for the Chairperson to sign the resolution. The Chairperson can sign the document even through he does not vote on the commendation. As there was no further discussion, Vice-Chairperson Bob Mertz closed discussion and catled for a motion. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Schall, and duly seconded by Commissioner Heffner, to adopt a Traffic Safety Commission Resolution of Commendation for Keith Gittfillan. VOTE: 4-0-0 AYES: Mertz, Schall, Heffner, Cress NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ITEM 7 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS None ITEM 8 REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Mr. Johnson mentioned that the next regufar meeting of the Traffic Safety Cornmission would take place on Monday, January 6,2003. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion the Regular Meeting of December 2,2002 was adjourned at 3:18 p.m. (3" Respectfully submitted, Dianna Scott Minutes Cferk