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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-14; Traffic Safety Commission; MinutesMEETING OF: DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: PLACE OF MEETING: CALL TO ORDER MINUTES TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION April 14, 2014 (Special Meeting) 5:00 p.m. City Council Chambers Vice Chair Muir called the Meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Present: Absent: Chair Hope Wrisley Vice-Chair Fred Muir Commissioner Chuck Hunter Commissioner Kathryn Fox Commissioner Chris Chauncey Staff Members Present: John Kim, Associate Engineer Doug Bilse, Acting City Traffic Engineer David de Cordova, Principal Planner Jennifer Jesser, Senior Planner APPROVAL OF MINUTES March 3, 2014 ACTION: VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: Motion by Commissioner Fox, and duly seconded by Commissioner Hunter, to approve the minutes of the meeting held on March 3, 2014, as presented. 3-0 Muir, Hunter, Fox None Hope Wrisley ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: Fred Chambers, 235 Pine Avenue, informed the commissioners that he has some concerns with the crosswalk at 1-5 Southbound Off-Ramp and Carlsbad Village Drive. Fred, who is visually impaired and uses a service dog, stated that he has been struck by oncoming traffic twice in the past while using the crosswalk and would like to know how this intersection can be made safer for all pedestrians. Chair Wrisley stated that staff will take it under advisement. March 3, 2014 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 2 John Kim stated that he has been in contact with Mr. Chambers and will investigate the concerns, coordinate with Caltrans if necessary and identify improvements to enhance pedestrian safety at the intersection. PREVIOUS BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: ITEM 6A: Receive presentation of draft General Plan, including proposed Mobility Element. David de Cordova and Jennifer Jesser of the Planning Department presented an informative presentation on the General Plan Update. The General Plan was last updated in 1994. The General Plan guides the development of the city and will incorporate the community vision and values that resulted from the Envision Carlsbad process. Commissioner Fox asked how the General Plan would be presented to the public since it is such a large document. Mr. De Cordova stated they are currently working on the specifics as to how it will be presented to the city council and to the public. Commissioner Muir asked what prompted the general plan update at this time. Mr. De Cordova stated that is standard practice for local agencies to update their general plans every 15-20 years. During the past 20 years, Carlsbad has experienced major growth and must now consider the state of the city by focusing on such things as in-fill development. Incremental updates to the General Plan have been incorporated over the past several years. Commissioner Muir asked what the estimated population would be at build out (approximately 2035). Mr. De Cordova stated the city's population is projected to be approximately 130,000 in twenty years. Commissioner Muir asked what year the general plan was updated prior to 1994. Mr. De Cordova stated 1976 and 1987. Commissioner Muir stated that 176 traffic signals seems like a lot for one city and asked if there are any plans to remove some traffic signals. Mr. Bilse stated that there is a need for signals but the city would be considering roundabouts as an alternative to traffic signals in the future. Commissioner Fox asked how close the city was to build out. He had heard a figure of 85% but wasn't sure if that was accurate. Mr. De Cordova said that 85% is a good rough estimate, although March 3, 2014 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page 3 we have less room for homes and more room for commercial. Commercial is at about 75% of build out. Commission Muir asked if there are plans to finish constructing College Boulevard and Poinsettia Lane. A newly constructed portion of Poinsettia Lane at Cassia Road exists and won't be used for some 10 years. Would it need to be redone when Poinsettia Lane construction finally begins? Mr. Bilse stated that both roadways are waiting for developer activity to construct the roadways. ITEM 7: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Muir inquired about the possible use of variable message signs around schools based on signs he observed while on vacation in Utah. Utah has speed limit signs that vary based on weather conditions. Mr. Kim said he would take a look at what is available and report back. ITEM 8: REPORT FROM TRAFFIC ENGINEER Mr. Kim wished to report back on a couple of items that were brought to staff's attention at the last meeting. The low hanging branches on Alicante Road near Alga Norte Park, as observed by Commissioner Fox, was reported to the appropriate landscape maintenance company and would be corrected. Based on Commissioner Muir's observation of the potential for collisions at the intersection of Aviara Parkway and Manzanita Street, staff evaluated the collision data and performed a field analysis of the intersection. Staff noted that the traffic signals at El Camino Real and Manzanita Street are visible simultaneously to eastbound drivers approaching Manzanita Street and could cause confusion. Staff will be incorporating programmed visibility signal indications for eastbound Aviara Parkway at El Camino Real. This improvement would prevent drivers on eastbound Aviara Parkway approaching Manzanita Street from seeing the signals at El Camino Real until after they had passed Manzanita Street. Commissioner Muir stated that he thought the problem at the intersection was the conflict between northbound and southbound traffic. Southbound vehicles often turn left even though northbound through vehicles have the right of way. Mr. Kim stated that the appropriate LEFT TURNS YIELD sign has been placed on both the northbound and southbound approaches and wasn't sure if there was any other way to address this issue other than to consider split-phase signal timing. March 3, 2014 ADJOURNMENT: Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Page4 By proper motion, Chair Wrisley adjourned the meeting of March 3, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, r~~ Janean Hawney, Minutes Clerk