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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafety Commission mins 1990/02/10 . MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA Saturday, February 10, 1990 9:01 a.m. Council Chambers Public Services Buildinq ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Decker, Vice Chairman Braden, Commissioners Arnold, Koester, Militscher, Thomas, Waller STAFF PRESENT: Hal Rosenberg, City Traffic Engineer; Frank Rivera, Assistant civil Engineer; John Lippitt, Director of Public Works OTHERS PRESENT: Agent Torn Leonard, Chula vista Police Department; Jeri Gulbransen, Public Information Coordinator: Mike Donnelly, Assistant civil Engineer; and Ray Morris, senior Public Works Supervisor. Also see attached attendance list. Chairman Decker, on behalf of the Commissioners and Staff offered condolences to the Pendergrafts. A moment of silent reflection was observed. . Chairman Decker explained the format of the Special Meeting--first, there would be the Staff presentation, they will outline the issue as they see them, they will recommend solutions to the issue; second, there will be Commissioners questions and comments; third, public comments will be heard on the issue; and finally, there will Commission motions on the issue. The issue at hand is improving pedestrian safety on Hilltop between Orange and Quintard. It is not who is at fault in the most recent unfortunate accident. The Chair expects proper decorum from all present at all times. without any further ado, Staff present their findings please. Hal Rosenberg, City Traffic Engineer, stated that at the last Tuesday City Council Meeting (February 6, 1990) the City Council received numerous requests from Mr. Pendergraft and others for improvements along Hilltop Drive to improve pedestrian safety, specifically between the area of Orange and Rienstra. Staff, with the limited amount of time that we had did do a study of the area and have prepared the report that you have before you. The report recommends a three-phase improvement program. Before I touch on the recommendations I think it would be worthwhile to view the conditions of Hilltop Drive and describe some of the features and uniqueness of the area in terms of the number of pedestrian activities, generators if you will, that we would like to talk about. Hilltop Drive is described as a four-lane collector roadway in our hierarchy of streets and it is a four-lane roadway that is 64 feet wide and it carries around 10,000 vehicles per day. At the south end--the Orange Avenue--and the traffic grows a little higher as you get to the high school and the junior high school . . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -2- Februarv 10. 1990 area by Quintard (12,000 vehicles per day). A number of years ago the City did receive a request for traffic improvements on Hilltop Drive at which time the striping was modified to create a left-turn pocket. [A photograph (viewgraph) of the area was displayed.] [A "hard copy" of the photograph is attached to these Minutes.] This picture does not show it because the aerial was taken before the improvement was made and that improvement was primarily to improve the traffic safety at the intersection of East Rienstra Street because there were some accidents occurring as a result of left turning vehicles. The turn pocket also provided a quasi-refuge area in the middle of the street. Pedestrians could walk out there and at least they would not be confronted with the opposing traffic as they were before. Additionally, the City at that time also reviewed the signalization of Rienstra Street and determined at that time--this is back in 1987-- that the intersection did not qualify in comparison with other central candidates throughout the city and therefore was not recommended for signalization. However, in that period of time the intersection of Quintard Street and Hilltop Drive was signalized basically because it was a high volume street and it was the main entrance into the Castle Park High School. The suggested route to school that has been prescribed for the Loma Verde Elementary School--and by the way let me just point out some of these generators in the area: of course we have the San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) easement that is a park-like setting and there are some recreational facilities that draws children and adults into the area. There is the recreation center adjacent to the Loma Verde Elementary School and the Loma Verde Elementary School itself is a pedestrian generator, of course, and then there is the junior high school and the high school up to the north and finally, there is a convenience store that is very popular in the neighborhood and with a pizza parlor next door. They too attract pedestrians. Our observations during this last week noted that there were a considerable number of pedestrians crossing Hilltop Drive, primarily in the area between the easement and East Rienstra Street. The closer you get to East Rienstra Street the higher the number of pedestrians crossing. Now of course you have to understand that the Police Department has provided some enforcement and have discouraged the elementary aged children from crossing in the area of the easement. This volume does not reflect probably those children according to the numbers here. [A viewgraph was displayed that tracked the number of crossings within 15 minute time frames between 7 and 9 a.m..] We have counted 239 pedestrians crossing between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. [A "hard copy" of the viewgraph is attached to these Minutes.] Frank Rivera, Assistant civil Engineer, explained that staff started at 6:45 a.m. and counted until 9:00 a.m. The earlier in the morning most of these were the students going to the high school and as it got towards 8:00 a.m., this was the elementary aged children. This (the 239 counted) also includes the adults that were crossing in the area. Chairman Decker asked if this was (the area) was Kingswood Drive. Frank Rivera pointed counting took place. these Minutes.] out (using the viewgraph) the area where the [A "hard copy" of the viewgraph is attached to . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -3- Februarv 10. 1990 Hal Rosenberg explained that the next viewgraph would illustrate the suggested route to school. [A "hard copy" of the viewgraph is attached to these Minutes.] For the students who live on the west side of Hilltop Drive, they are instructed to walk on the west side of Hilltop [this was noted on the graphic by an "x" line] and follow a route to Orange Avenue where there is a traffic signal, cross at the north leg and continue to Loma Lane and into the elementary school. However, there is another route that the children do use and that route crosses over the SDG&E easement area across Hilltop Drive, along the fence line of the Loma Verde Elementary School and back through the parking lot and into the school. That route is discouraged. The school and the Police Department attempt to discourage children from using that route because they do not want them crossing in mid-block. However, in terms of travel time the distance is about 1,000 feet shorter than the longer route (the suggested route) and represents about a 5 minute saving for the children using that route and so there appears to be some motivation on the part of the children to cross at that location. Taking all these factors into account, particularly because the SDG&E easement represents a magnet, if you will, where pedestrians are lured into walking and using it as a recreation facility and particularly because of the elementary school and the young children seem a little bit more difficult to deal with in terms of pedestrian safety, staff felt that a pedestrian school crosswalk at the south edge line of the SDG&E easement, providing a direct connection into the school, with an access point where it says "locked gate" [as shown on the viewgraph] there is a gate at the school at that point and it could be opened. Using that as a route we felt would provide additional protection for the children and that therefore that is why we are recommending it. We are also recommending that an adult school crossing guard be assigned during that period of time when children are going to and from school. We are also recommending in our three-phase program, that in the second phase--and by the way we would recommend that we implement this immediately and are prepared to install the crosswalk and assign the adult crossing guard as soon as next week. The second phase would be to immediately commence with the design and construction of a pedestrian activated signal at that location and when that is implemented we believe that the adult crossing guard would no longer be needed. We think that would provide positive protection for the pedestrians. I might point out that in looking at the solution(s) to the problem we looked at other al ternati ves and Mr. Pendergraft who will speak later will talk about a fence along the center of Hilltop Drive. We did look at that and discounted that because of the potential risk we thought we would be taken if the fence was hit by an errant motorist. Hitting the fence could create a missile or a whipping action and might result in more injury than what protection it is intended to provide. Secondly, the intersection at Jicama Way and Kingswood Drive and certainly East Rienstra Street and some of the driveways in between Kingswood Drive and East Rienstra Street have left turn access and a fence would deny those turns unless we left it open at these intersections and driveways. There is a problem with a fence down the center also that it does inhibit motorists from slightly seeing through it. I understand there is a fence on Palm . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -4- Februarv 10. 1990 Avenue near Montgomery High School that is installed primarily to keep the children from crossing mid-block. Even that fence, if one goes to look at it, does provide a slight restriction of visibility at the intersections and has a different purpose, I believe, because there already is a signal at that location and it is not really a necessity to cross mid-block at the Montgomery High School. To summarize, the fence we discounted because of: (1) sight restriction potential at the intersection or the driveways and (2) the problem that may occur if the fence was struck. The other option would be a pedestrian bridge. We discounted the pedestrian bridge because of our experience in the lack of use by pedestrians to use it. Besides that, we would have to design it to accommodate handicapped and that means a very long ramp and that would discourage even more of the pedestrian use of the bridge. I will conclude by saying that Phase I is immediately installing a crosswalk, Phase II would be to put the signal in and Phase III would be to monitor the situation even during Phases I and II to evaluate the success and effects of the improvements and continue to evaluate the intersections at Kingswood Drive and East Rienstra Street and take whatever appropriate action would be necessary after the pedestrian signal is turned on or even sooner if we find that there is a need to provide some extra traffic controls in the area. That concludes my presentation. Frank Rivera noted that staff has transparencies available also of the different phases if the Commission would like to see these. Chairman Decker indicated that the Commission would like to see the viewgraphs. Mr. Rosenberg mentioned that staff also had an illustration of a typical pedestrian activated signal in National City. the only one staff is aware of in the region. [slides] That is Commissioner Mili tscher requested that staff explain how the pedestrian activated signal works. Mr. Rosenberg explained that the pedestrian activated signal would include a traffic signal facing both northbound and southbound traffic at the crosswalk location. The beauty of the pedestrian crossway signal is that it would only interrupt traffic or stop traffic when a pedestrian needs to cross the roadway. He stated that the pedestrian traffic signal would provide protection not only for the children but also for adults who are frequent in the area jogging through the recreation-like grass area. The signal as shown here [referring to the viewgraph] is what you would observe on Plaza Boulevard in National City. [A "hard copy" of the viewgraph is attached to these Minutes. ] Frank Rivera stated that what we have in National City is similar to this (the viewgraph illustration) but where this one has the flashing beacons we would have a regular traffic signal head with the red, yellow and green lights. So this one basically shows the mastarm and the typical sign locations, but the one proposed to be installed would not be with the flashing beacons it would be a signal head. . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -5- Februarv 10. 1990 Commissioner Arnold asked where in National City is the pedestrian activated signal located. Frank Rivera responded that this signal is on Plaza Boulevard in National City. He showed the Commission the viewgraph of the actual pedestrian activated signal located in National city. commission Arnold again requested name of street where signal located. Mr. Rivera responded that it is on Plaza Boulevard, east of Euclid Avenue, west of Harbison Avenue. commissioner Militscher asked if the signal functioned as a regular traffic signal until it is interrupted by a pedestrian activating it. Staff stated that the signal remains green until a pedestrian pushes a button, but that it could also be fixed-timed but staff recommends that it be on green until the pedestrian pushes the crossing button. Commissioner Militscher requested if it would be in an intersection where cross traffic would be affected. Mr. Rivera responded that this is not the case at this location. Chairman Decker asked if the time could be controlled that it takes for the light to go green and how long it stays green. Mr. Rivera stated that yes this could be controlled. Chairman Decker asked that if by labeling it school, is there not some hazard involved in off-hours, will there be an associated warning sign some ways down the street that says pedestrian crossing ahead or something like that, because if you label something as a school crossing people that come through the area out of school hours do not expect to see something like that or do not expect to see any crossing problems. Mr. Rosenberg stated that staff agrees with Chairman Decker's statement. That staff would have to take that into consideration. That nonetheless the school package that staff uses states that when children are present even if it was not a traffic signal, it was just a regular school crosswalk, it still is useable by other pedestrians during other parts of the day. It is a difficult question to answer but the policies that staff has been using allow us to use the school designation and that if we clutter it with other signs it may allude the intent of the school signs themselves. Staff thinks it appropriate to just the school crosswalk symbols. Chairman Decker stated that he thought that a signalized school crossing ahead caution sign, until the neighborhood understands that it is there, and that since this is a major feeder street there are a lot of people that drive this street that are not normally in the neighborhood. . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -6- Februarv 10. 1990 Mr. Rosenberg stated that staff would probably assign it a pedestrian crossing, be prepared to stop, or some supplementary sign in addition to the school signs that have 25 mph when children are present. Chairman Decker asked staff to show a slide of the area itself. Mr. Rivera [using the slide] indicated that looking north on Hilltop Drive, east of Orange Avenue, approaching Jicama way and pointed to the intersection of Jicama Way, moving northbound, indicated the SDG&E easement and park. Mr. Rosenberg interjected at this point, stating that Hilltop Drive is a 64 foot wide street and that it does not have a median or area that would separate opposing traffic. In order to put a median in staff would have to move the traffic lanes out closer to the curb and that would put the driving lanes adjacent to the sidewalk area, which staff does not encourage. Mr. Rivera mentioned that northbound parking is allowed up to the middle of the SDG&E easement and on the southbound side of the street parking is restricted up to the middle of the SDG&E easement, so that parking would be allowed south of this point. Another view of the area [viewgraph] with pedestrians crossing, and as you can see, there are the No Parking signs. Mr. Rosenberg commented that there is no guarantee, of course, that with the traffic signal that pedestrians would still not cross mid-block. Secondly, that the most positive way of preventing pedestrians from crossing mid-block would be to put a fence along the center. But, there are tradeoffs in doing that. This is not atypical of conditions throughout the City, pedestrians do cross the street mid-walk and it can be done safely if pedestrians use due care. However, the problem is with younger children that dart out or the potential of not being seen. This is a problem that we are trying to address here. Chairman Decker asked staff if it would be feasible to think about a fence along the street here on Hilltop Drive, this side (east curb line), as an example near the street on the street side of the walk to restrict pedestrian movement across the street, except at the crosswalk that we are putting in. In other words, from somewhere down at the corner, not all the way to the corner, but where the driveway turns into the Circle K all the way down south to the end of the easement. Mr. Rosenberg asked if his understanding of Chairman Decker's inquiry was that a fence be located right at the curb line. Chairman Decker responded that yes, at the curb line. Chairman Decker asked if there were any problems with this, safety wise. SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -7- Februarv 10. 1990 . Mr. Rosenberg stated that his fear of that arrangement would be that somewhere the fence has to stop and the children may then be tempted still to cross and then walk out into the street, on the wrong side of the fence. I think I would recommend against for that reason. Even if the fence were on both sides there is always that possibility that a child or pedestrian would certainly cross at the end of the fence line or if they get trapped in, there may be a reason to just walk in the street, not being able to get into the sidewalk area. Then you would eliminate the possibility of parking which is a secondary issue, but not very important I am sure, but it should be considered. Commissioner Militscher asked about a fence mid-street in that area, it would be a limited amount of fencing, but it would be mid-street rather than on curb. Mr. Rosenberg asked for clarification, asking if commissioner Militscher was referring to the center of the roadway. Commissioner Militscher stated yes. Mr. Rosenberg stated that in order for staff to do that, an island would have to be installed. Commissioner Militscher interjected that it could be an island or a berm. . Mr. Rosenberg responded that it was possible to do that. Further stating that this would move the traffic lanes closer to the sidewalk area. commissioner Militscher stated yes, but by how much. Commissioner Waller stated that the berms should not be more than 1 foot wide. Mr. Rosenberg stated that staff would recommend 10 feet. Commissioner Militscher stated he was thinking more or less of a 2 foot or less berm. Mr. Rosenberg responded, stating that he though that a risky situation because the motorists that drive the street would be right up against the edge of the lane line. Commissioner Militscher stated that these are installed in other areas in the City--just an amount that is as wide as a berm separating lanes. Mr. Rosenberg indicated that the City has berms that are 4 feet in width. . Commissioner Militscher asked if there were none less than this width. . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -8- Februarv 10. 1990 Mr. Rosenberg stated there may be some exceptions. Commissioner Militscher stated that he has seen several and they look just like a curb width. Mr. ilL" Rosenberg told Commissioner Militscher he was correct, Street island is only 2 feet wide. that the Commissioner Militscher said that was what he was thinking of something like that would not necessary throw the traffic so close to the sidewalk where it would be a problem but it would throw it a little bit closer, yes. But it could afford the area for a fence to be placed there. It would only be in the area of the easement just to assure the fact that nobody could cross successfully and get into the easement area. Mr. Rosenberg responded that it was physically possible to construct a fence on a 2 foot island. Commissioner Arnold questioned the location of the crossing. As was indicated in staff I s preparation for the meeting, the business of attractive nuisance, we are ignoring at the present time, at least, the business of the attractiveness of the center at the corner of East Rienstra Street to the kids that live on the west side of the street. You have put this crossing at the south crossing area of the right-of- way. How about the north end. Put it at the north end with an opening in a fence which is on the east side of the walk. Put the fence all the way from an opening up there by that, roughly where you are now clear down to attach to the school fence. Then all the crossing of the kids would up there at Kingswood Drive or roughly in that general area, where both the store area and the school and the recreational segment of the right-of-way. I think we are wasting time talking about what has been talked up to this point here. I was a little bit disappointed when I first read the fact that I voted 5-1 against the original statement. But when I got down into area of the records of that meeting of April 9, there was a comment in there which triggered me. My name was not there but I commented about the same attractive nuisances in the area. And another thing that has got to be considered is, according to Frank (Rivera) here, the School Department and/or the Park and Recreation Department operates after- school activities at the school as well as at the recreation center. so, you got that traffic going across there at all times of the week and month and as I say, my recommendation, I agree with the way you started out but the way you ended up in your recommendations I think stinks. You put it [the crossing] at the other end and there you meet more needs for the young people and the residents of the area. I have had my say. Mr. Rosenberg stated that there are residents and children who have a need to cross in the Jicama area, Jicama Way, which is south of the easement. Commissioner Arnold stated that they are not far from the traffic light. SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -9- Februarv 10. 1990 . commissioner Thomas asked Chairman Decker if there was a padlock on that fence on the backside of the school. Chairman Decker stated yes, there was. Commissioner Thomas asked that if the school were gate for school children, and changes were made, approved school route for children. to open the fence could that be an Chairman Decker responded that he would have no way of saying one way or the other but that he assumed that fence is closed because the school is discouraging the children to go that way and in the event that the City elects to put a crosswalk on the south side of the easement that he would assume that would become an approved route. He asked staff what they thought of that. Agent Tom Leonard, who is in charge of the elementary school safety patrol program, stated that he had talked to Betty Walsh, the Principal of Lorna Verde, and that the City provides the crossing, we can alter the suggested route to school. We would open that gate for the children in the morning and afternoon. We have agreed to do that provided we have a safe crossing. Commissioner Thomas stated that the draw of the park could not be removed. The park is there. . Commissioner Arnold stated that there was another problem in regards gates. There is a gate into the Lorna Verde parking lot, or a little bit further up the line, but it is a gate out into the parking lot of the Lorna Verde Center. I visited the school yesterday and that gate was open and the children come out that gate and/or they come out of the parking area and go up along the fence. If that gate is not open they come out of the parking area and go up along the fence where there is an opening between the building of the Recreation Center and go all the way up through there, so as far as the gates down here on the street versus the accesses through the east fence line up through to the right-of-way I think that is the best way to block that fence all the way up to Kingswood Drive. I spent some time there with Mr. Leonard and I spent some time by myself and as I say I tried to see as many of the options available and I did not receive staff's material until about 4:00 yesterday [February 9] and I reviewed it and I say that what is there, the ideas are good up to a point but I do not staff has gone far enough and you have not addressed all of the factors that take play here. Chairman Decker asked if there were a perceived need for some form of a crossing up the Rienstra area also. He asked staff if they had considered that in addition to the one at the south side of the access. I noticed your crossing scheme, your original one that shows the number of pedestrians crossing the street, there seems to be an excessive number crossing roughly at the Circle K. . . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -10- Februarv 10. 1990 Mr. Rosenberg alluded to the discussion about crosswalks, painted crosswalks versus unpainted crossways. The intersections, of course, are legal crosswalks--Kingswood Drive and East Rienstra Street. I think pedestrians realize or understand that they can cross there. The question of putting a painted line and implying that they have this extra protection, we believe is misleading. Particularly if there were a mid-block location that would even be more misleading I think to the pedestrian because at a location that is unexpected to the motorist would become somewhat of a surprise when a pedestrian crosses at a mid-block location. As much as we try to "sign it" and tell the motorists, they tend to drive oblivious to the surrounding area and that is our fear--that by painting a crosswalk either at Kingswood Drive or East Rienstra Street, a pedestrian, particularly a child, knowing that the crosswalk represents a safety device may think that they have extra protection when a 3,000 pound automobile that does not have any brains or the motorist probably does not have any brains either or is not aware, and so we have this potential problem. studies have borne this out that painted crosswalks are not the panacea and that, in fact, sometimes represent a higher risk to the pedestrians than an unmarked crosswalk. Commissioner Decker stated that he had more in mind crossing signal at East Rienstra Street, in addition to crossing one at the south side of the SDG&E easement. may well be another issue. of a standard the pedestrian However, that Mr. Rosenberg responded that the intersection of Kingswood Drive that the number of the amount of traffic that enters, coupled with the pedestrians that we have in the area, would not qualify it or would not give the intersection a high enough priority unless the City Council feels that this is unique and special that it deserves a recommendation for signalization, but from a technician using just the numbers, and that is what we are charged to do, is to evaluate the signals based on a recognized point system, if you will, and I do not mean to be so clinical and technical in our application, but there are a lot of other intersections throughout the City that are also competing for signalization and we have to use some means of making comparisons and we use the techniques and the measures that are outlined in not only our own Code but are recognized that the state and national level. And, that is our problem here. When we look at these two intersections, even if we combine them as one intersection-- and we are going to update our evaluation and we have not had enough time to complete this study--previous studies have indicated that neither intersection qualify or receive high enough points to compete favorably with other needs in the City. Commissioner Militscher asked staff if he were saying that this area is a typical area, that two schools and a park and an easement running through it is a typical area that you are going to use points to rate or is it an exceptional area that ought to be look at individually. Commissioner Arnold stated that there were three schools in that area, the junior high school is down at Quintard Street. SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -11- Februarv 10. 1990 . Commissioner Militscher asked if staff did not think that requires a little special consideration. Mr. Rosenberg consideration. stated that absolutely this requires special Chairman Decker requested any further questions or comments from the Commissioners. Commissioner Waller stated that he had several comments regarding Phase II--direct staff to commence with the design of the pedestrian activated traffic signal. He requested clarification of "when does commence" mean, immediately. Mr. Rosenberg responded that yes, it means immediately. Commissioner Waller continued his comments on Phase II--also, "authorize City forces to construct traffic signals as soon as possible." Soon as possible did not happen in 1985, soon as possible did not happen in 1987. I am wondering how long is soon as possible. Mr. Rosenberg responded that staff were talking within two to three months. Commissioner Waller asked if staff could make this timeframe faster. He asked staff what it took to start the study and get the design completed and so forth. . Mr. Rosenberg responded that he thinks staff can do it quicker but there are some design issues, construction problems that staff may encounter. He stated that he does not wish to be overly optimistic in his estimate. In the SDG&E easement there is a high tension line nearby, actually there are some restrictions in putting up a high poles in that area, so we have to deal with SDG&E. There is a utility line on the south side that needs to be relocated, we need to negotiate that. There are some hurdles that staff had to overcome and using three months as actually being somewhat optimistic, but actually for construction purposes we could probably put it in even sooner, but I think three months is my best estimate at this point. Chairman Decker stated that he understood from staff's Phase I, that in the interim there will be a, assuming that the recommendation is accepted by the City Council, that there would be a crossing guard stationed immediately at that crossing and that staff would paint in a suitable crossing. Mr. Rosenberg responded that this would be done next week. Chairman Decker further stated that he assumes this would be with some portable flashing signs. . . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -12- Februarv 10. 1990 Mr. Rosenberg responded that Chairman Decker was correct in his assumption. He further stated that staff plans to put some flashing beacons in advance of the crosswalk and leave it in place until the signal is activated. commission Waller asked if it was possible that when staff install the crossing to also install prior to the crossing, whatever distance it needs to be, a flashing beacon that would be activated with the light when it is pushed that it would start flashing so that it would alert motorists that are coming down the road at 60 mph, they had better slow down. Mr. Rosenberg responded that staff could look into this, that that is a possibility. Commissioner Waller stated that he knows such arrangements exist. Mr. Rosenberg stated that such arrangements do exist, that advising the motorists that the signal is about to turn on them. Commissioner Waller thought that this arrangement would be a help. Chairman Decker requested additional questions of staff. commissioner Arnold asked what would the objection be to putting the crosswalk up at the north edge of the right-of-way or at the corner of Kingswood Drive versus where it is now. Mr. Rosenberg responded that there were actually three locations or maybe even four--one would be at the south line we are recommending, one at the north edge, and if it is to be a mid-block pedestrian activated signal that those would be the most effective locations. If you put it on the north edge you might as well put it at Kingswood Drive. The further north you put staff felt that it would not provide equal treatment for all the pedestrians that have a need to cross. At the easement area, based on staff I s judgment staff felt that the location on the south line would provide the greatest opportunity for all pedestrians--those who are accessing the activities and using the park-like facility because of the attraction of it, the Recreation Center, the Elementary school, we thought it better to put the crosswalk at the south line. Certainly it could be located anywhere. Commissioner Thomas asked staff if there were any current radar estimates on Hilltop. Mr. Rosenberg responded that staff did some speed surveys. He asked Commissioner Thomas if he was asking what the 85 percentile speed is on the street. Mr. Rosenberg believes that it is 39 mph [sic 41 mph]. Commissioner Waller asked how recent was the survey. Frank Rivera responded that staff did the survey within the last few weeks. SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -13- Februarv 10. 1990 . commissioner Waller asked Frank (Rivera) if he knew what time of day the survey was conducted. Mr . Rivera responded that staff did the survey between 7: 45 a. m. to about 8:30 a.m. Commissioner Waller asked if the 85 percentile was 39 mph [sic 41 mph] . Mr. Rivera responded that yes, that was correct. Mr. Rosenberg interjected that staff had the statistics for the 1987 speed survey and that staff would tell the commission how it compared if that were of interest to the Commission. . Commissioner Arnold asked staff regarding the business of barriers in the middle of the street, that he was advised by a phone call, that there is one near the intersection of Balboa Avenue and Clairmont Avenue. I believe most of you are familiar with the intersection I am talking about. clairmont High School is one side and Clairmont Junior High School is on the other and they have on the east branch of Balboa, as I understand it, a barrier there that was the solution to a very hazardous situation prior to them taking the action of putting in this barrier. One of the problems apparently, as I understand it is there is a City bus stop involved in the area too, so that was part of the problem of children trying to get on the bus. But in any event, have you contacted the city of San Diego schools to find out what there situation was and how they consider the situation as it is today versus what it was before. Mr. Rosenberg responded that no he had not. However, I can tell you because I was with the City of San Diego as you know for 28 years. I am familiar with the location, Clairmont Drive is a high volume street, about 25,000 cars a day and the roadway had a very large median. There is a lot of interaction between the pedestrians crossing from one side to the other and the fence did solve the problem in that particular situation, it made basically for safety for the pedestrians and also because traffic was being interfered with and the pedestrians were causing congestion and making the situation unsafe. In that particular case the fence was a good solution. Chairman Decker called a 5 minute recess before the Commission received comments from the public. . Chairman Decker reconvened the Special Meeting of the Safety Commission at 9:59 a.m. and asked for public comments. I have a stack of Request to Speak forms and only those who have submitted a request will be allowed to speak as per the rules. Anyone present can in fact speak on this issue as long as you please give me a Request to Speak (form) . We will use a timer, I am allowing everyone 4 minutes to speak. You may say whatever you wish on your issue--for or against the staff's recommendation--you may ask staff questions but that time staff takes to answer your questions is reasonably a part of your . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -14- Februarv 10. 1990 time. The questions should be directed through the Commission. I would ask any of you who in fact speak to first state your name and address for the record and then to remain at the podium for a moment or two so that any of the Commissioners or staff who might have a question of you and if not you can please be seated. First of all I would ask Mr. Vernon Pendergraft. Vernon Pendergraft, 1 Kingswood Drive, Chula Vista, CA. Chairman Decker, Commissioners, I want to thank you for your serious intent and the comments that you have made. The Safety staff I think have done a tremendous job in about a week's time putting that report together. On the other hand I have studied this street for 14 years. I regret bitterly hearing those words at my door, come quick your little girl is down on the street and it's bad. I tried in '85, '86, and '87 to get something done for the pedestrians crossing the street. The young and foolish, and the old and foolish. Mr. Rosenberg said something I thought was very relevant and that is that if we are going to move the proposed selection of a site for crossing it should be Kingswood Drive. I don't think we have put enough thought to what happens there in the morning. In a hal f hour you can count a 100 kids running across to that store to get chewing gum and candy with their lunch money. And they come through Kingswood Drive. In fact it is so heavy that the store has had to restrict the number of children in their to five at one time. I am proposing and making the motion from the floor that we do three things. One, immediately reduce the speed limit to 25 mph. Two, put in that fence down the middle. Yes, a 2 foot median will move the traffic over 1 foot. And three, put the light at Kingswood Drive. The crossing at the south end of the park would handle the children in the morning and the evening but people are crossing that street all day long and the liquor store stays open until 2:00 in the morning. What got me into this were the two large apartment complexes west of us with children as young as four years of age racing across that street. I go across that street to get milk and newspaper and I have trouble getting across the street. I thank you for your serious effort. I don't think we are approaching this in an emergency way if we put it off to three months down the road. I believe we can tell a contractor under an emergency method that we want a street light out there in one week and I believe they can put it in seven days. This is America and I thank you. Commissioner Militscher asked if staff would put the viewgraph of the overhead aerial photograph back on the screen. Chairman Decker asked if anyone had any questions of Mr. Pendergraft. Chairman Decker asked Mr. Pendergraft that when he says in the morning you see at least 100 children crossing, can we assume that this is probably consistent, even during the weekends, especially in the summertime when there are people out and about and children are out playing all the time. Mr. But yes Pendergraft responded that the 100 related to the year around. that during the summer when they are going to the swimming pool, they come racing across there. . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -15- Februarv 10. 1990 Jean Pendergraft, 1 Kingswood Drive, Chula Vista, CA. I have had two degrees in my lifetime. The first one was wife and the second one was mother. I would like to show you Pamela's picture once again so that perhaps that we will remember that we are not talking about points, statistics, numbers on a sheet of paper, we are talking about children, we are talking about people both big and little, foolish and wise, who for a minute forget what they doing and take that fantastic leap across the street. I have in my possession a copy of Minutes from the Council Agenda that was dated November 7, 1989 in which a Mrs. Carradine had requested and a study was done for First Avenue to be opened up to Orange Avenue. That is another issue and I don't want to get into that. But in that study it did point out that all the traffic that entered into Kingswood Drive from Hilltop Drive, exited at Tobias Drive out on Quintard Street and the one that entered in at Tobias Drive and Quintard Street exited at Kingswood Drive. Kingswood Drive is used as a main connection street between Hilltop Drive and Quintard Street and services which you see here on your map Kingswood Drive, Sherwood Street, all the streets, Friars Place--the other plate was a little bit better than this one--these are all mUlti-family dwellings. We are not talking about your single-family home on a quarter acre lot. We're mid-income if not a little below (mid-)income in this area. We have mUlti-family dwellings, we have apartments, we have a high density population in this area and they are using Kingswood Drive to cross Hilltop Drive. They're using it to get their milk from Circle K, they're using it to run over to the gas station to get that quarter tank of gas so they can run off somewhere else, they're using it to get their six-pack in the afternoon, and they are using it for their children to run across the street--get that pack of gum and head across the park to school. And you can put a crosswalk anywhere else in the world, but you are not facing the true issue that it is at Kingswood Drive and Hilltop Drive that the majority of the traffic crosses and that's where it needs to be done. We can get people to the moon, we can get children and adults across Hilltop Drive safety surely. I thank you. Chairman Decker thanked Mrs. Pendergraft and asked if there were any questions of Mrs. Pendergraft. Commissioner Militscher asked Mrs. Pendergraft if she were saying that the crosswalk would be more beneficial at Kingswood Drive than where it is proposed by staff. Mrs. Pendergraft responded that from observing the people that run the streets, that she feels that yes, that is where it would be more beneficial. That is where the majority of the people cross. Commissioner Militscher violations in crossing easement is. further asked if she felt there would be any at the open space there where the SDG&E . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -16- Februarv 10. 1990 Mrs. Pendergraft stated she would dearly love to see a fence down the center of that street to prevent the foolish from running across the middle of it. If we'd had a fence I'd have a Pamela hopefully. Something has just got to be done. We've just got to stop this. When you did your study and your count that was after Pamela. Some people did learn. We did start seeing people with cars packed full of children driving these children to school, which was not (the case) before. The day that Pamela was killed, January 26, I stood at my front window and I actually saw mothers running as many as six children across that street. Herding them, if you would, so that they could get hit collectively by the traffic instead of singularly. We've got a murderous speed limit in our area. Murderous. If it is 35 you know very well everybody is going to do 10 miles over that. They come down that hill and it's whistling. Thank you. Mary Haymes, 1423 Eckman Avenue, Chula Vista, CA. Eckman Avenue runs off of East Rienstra Street. I have to try to not bring my emotion into this because I am the one that initiated a petition and I got almost 2,000 names on it. I have to represent those 2,000 people. I feel I owe it to them to let you know what it is that they wanted. It is a couple of issues that wasn't per se what I wanted, nor the Pendergraft's, but it is what 2,000 people in this City want that live in that area, at least close enough to do their shopping at Alpha Beta or the Circle K. Yesterday [February 9] I had a meeting with Mayor (Greg) Cox, and I thought it was a very productive meeting. I certainly left there in very high spirits. I thought that we had accomplished a great deal. One of the things that we had discussed was where to put the stop light and what kind of stop light and we were all in agreement that it should be where the two parks coincide. That's where the people want it. That's where they were willing to stop to let these kids across. We wanted the left turn signal at Hilltop and Orange Avenue reinstated. As it is now there was an arrow one afternoon, the next morning we've got a green dot saying you have to yield. So if these children are walking down Hilltop Drive to cross at Orange Avenue, and I am turning left onto Orange, I going to be able to strike down five or six at a time, that are doing what you want them to do. We need that arrow reinstated. We need the crosswalk at East Rienstra Street and Hilltop Drive repainted so that these high school students have an option of getting across that street at least in a crosswalk. You are dealing a with higher age group there of children. At Kingswood Drive if you put in a crosswalk there you are going to be taking children across four lanes of traffic directly into the parking lot of the liquor store. The driveway coincides with Kingswood Drive. That is exactly where they are going to be crossing. They are going to be going into a parking lot of a liquor store. I don't want my children going into a liquor store parking lot. We want Hilltop Drive posted that there is an elementary school there. We want the back gate at the school opened up and Mayor Cox said he would definitely try to get a sidewalk from the crossing walk to the back of the school. The only thing that we did not decide on or that was in question was what color to paint that sidewalk (curb), whether to make it red, where there would be no drop off zones or to paint it yellow which would allow parents to drop their children . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -17- Februarv 10. 1990 off on Hilltop Drive which would relieve part of the parking problem inside the school parking lot. That is a disaster there and needs definitely to be investigated. I really don't think that they want fences put up. We don't want to block off our park, we don't want to distract the drivers by looking at a fence. If we can get this crosswalk put in, I would like to see that stop light put in a lot faster than three months, if at all possible. I understand there is the problem with SDG&E. These people want the crosswalk put there. It is going to serve the small children coming down from the apartments to get to the school. I don't care if they get to a candy store, that's not my problem. My problem is getting them to school safely. The high school students coming up Hilltop Drive would be allowed to cross there and continue on to the convenience stores if they so choose. You've got to bear in mind that we have high school students driving other high school students to school. Let's face it they are not experienced drivers. We've got to take care of this problem. That crosswalk on East Rienstra's got to be repainted, you've got to reinstate that left turn arrow on Hilltop Drive and Orange Avenue. That was a big major problem. I, myself, almost had an accident there. And, we've got to get those kids to school safely. If you leave that back gate open to get into the school [the 4 minute timer rang]... It's a bad situation there, the children are walking through bushes and things and it is not a safe place for them to get to school. Melinda J. Martinez, 122 East Rienstra Street, Chula Vista, CA. [Representing Loma Verde Community] Our concern, of course, has been Hilltop, even though our children don't have to walk that way on their way to school. There is a problem that I can foresee with putting the stop light crosswalk directly at Kingswood Drive. I drive that street several times a day and coming down the hill towards East Rienstra Street there is not a long distance that you can see where there would be a lot of warning to a car that there is a crosswalk there. Secondly, again going directly into the liquor store parking lot is a danger because we see so many cars, high school students and things in the morning and afternoon barreling in and out of there and I think that would be a danger to the children who are trying to get across that parking lot section. I would see nothing wrong with putting it in the center of the easement, between the two park areas, or to the north of the easement. My only concern is that it doesn't go so far north that it goes right into that parking lot area. I also would like to see the crosswalks repainted at East Rienstra Street. It's a big danger to our children. And also, the left turn signal at East Orange Avenue reinstated. Chairman Decker pointed out that [placing a crosswalk] in the center of the easement is impractical because of the power lines overhead. You really do not want to have a high pole underneath those power lines. . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -18- Februarv 10. 1990 Melinda Martinez reiterated that even the northern section of the easement, but directly into that parking lot for the crossing of students going to school as a big problem because of the students that we have driving in and out of there [liquor store] every morning and afternoon. Mary S. Chilcott, 1423 Eckman Avenue, Chula Vista, CA. I have a couple of points I would like to make. First of all, I don't know if you realize, coming down from Castle Park High School going south on Hilltop Drive, downhill right there until you get to East Rienstra Street and like they said they have the left turn lanes to go in and out of the gas station to make it more convenient and how they changed the pattern of the street there, that's good and that's another reason why I don't think we should have the light at Kingswood Drive because we have already set it up there so they can get in and out of the stores safely with their cars. I understand that we can't have it at the middle of the easement because of problems, I think either at the north side of the easement would be best or the south side. I don't agree with Kingswood Drive because it does go right into a parking lot and because the speed picks up coming down the hill. I also feel that it is not our job to make sure that children get to a candy store safely, I think it is our job to make sure that children get to school safely. If that would mean having it at the northern end of the easement so it is more convenient for the kids maybe to cross and then go up to the store just a few hundred yards, not even that far, and then go to school, well that's fine, and during the summer I'm sure they would, so preferably at the northern end of the easement. For two to three months, I understand there probably would be some problems with SDG&E, but I too would like to see it come in sooner than that. I think there should also be a 25 mph speed zone when children are present, but during regular time I think 30 mph is fine. Pretty much I agree with the staff recommendations and I think that their findings that they found have been correct. I don't think that we should have a fence there. I think that is totally impractical and unsafe because there is parking but is not [shown] on this map, but there is a parking lot going into the park on the west side of the street, there is a parking lot to go into that park right there, so if are going to have a fence we have to have a break somewhere so people can make a left turn into the park, so kids can cross right there. I think a fence is impractical and unsafe so I agree with the staff's recommendation as far as a fence goes, and it is quite unsightly as well. Commissioner Arnold commented that having driven through that shopping complexes there, you can't go from one to the other. There is a barrier there and that creates a problem too, of people going in or out of those complexes. Commissioner Arnold suggested that the City possibly contact the property owners and see if they couldn't combine all of those, he thinks there are three separate segments. Jean Pendergraft pointed out to commissioner Arnold that that was open at one time and the people would speed down East Rienstra Street, turn into the open of that parking lot and go zooming across the three . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -19- Februarv 10. 1990 parking lots. It was what is Circle K now, then it would go to the liquor store, and then there was another little store, there has always been something in that other little building down there, and then from there it was open back out onto Hilltop, so they had just a wonderful raceway through those parking lots and back out to Hilltop Drive. Well when Circle K came they built it up so that you couldn't cross from one parking lot to another. And then when the Tae Kwon Do Center remodeled the building down there, they closed off the one drive to Hilltop Drive because it was such a danger to the children in the parking lot with people being able to come and go through there, so that is why that has been closed off. Linda Rothschild, 75 Third Avenue, unit 34, Chula Vista, CA. [Loma Verde Elementary School] We are certainly supporting anything for the safety of our students coming to and from school, and one would be reducing the speed limit, and also the light that would control the pedestrian as well as car traffic. One concern that we have regardless of the light is children crossing if there is not a barrier there to stop them--if I can cross 20 feet ahead of the crosswalk I will probably do that rather than walking down to where the light is and the crosswalk is--so of looking at the possibility of some type of barrier down the middle of Hilltop that would keep the children guided to just the crosswalk area. John Cekalski, 231 East Olympia Street, Chula Vista, CA. East Olympia is about four blocks east of Hilltop Drive. I have lived on Hilltop Drive for about 10 years and I want to say that it is a war zone between Quintard Street and Orange Avenue. I have had many encounters with speeding cars, where I actually went out and hollered at them, said 'hey you nut, slow down.' They'd come out of the car and I'd go in the house. Because I had to take my kids to school, we lived directly across the street from Castle Park High School, walk them across. I would like to suggest that they put this stop and go light or whatever it is at Kingswood Drive because kids cross there constantly--day in and day out. I still drive down Hilltop Drive many, many times during the week going to the stores there and I constantly see people crossing there, adults as well as children. And like I say, it's a war zone there. We asked for a stop and go light on Quintard Street a couple of years back and we finally got it because somebody got hit, got hurt, so they came and finally put one. I would also like to suggest that they put a, just as you come up, leave Palomar Street coming up Hilltop Drive to Quintard Street, they put up a sign posted on each side with a sign saying 'Slow - 25 mph', like you have on "L" Street. Just as you're going east, off of Monserate Avenue you will see a sign saying 'Slow - 25 mph' because there is a stop sign on the other side, yet there is no school. So I am all in favor of a fence also because as unsightly as it may be, I've heard a lot of talk here tonight about the concern for the motorists--you know, might hit the fence, curb and all this--heck with the motorists, if we don't worry about our children and adults we're not going to have any around, especially in that particular street. That is all I have to say. Thank you very much. . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -20- Februarv 10. 1990 Barbara Schwendinger, 64 East Rivera Place, Chula Vista, CA. [Loma Verde School] I live up behind the little shopping center area in question. I have lived there for 16 years and have seen many, many near misses right in front of that little shopping area. My proposal is that we have a traffic light involving the area of East Rienstra Street and Kingswood Drive at Hilltop Drive. I don't know what kind of light you will need to do that, but that is such a high risk area. We not only have elementary kids crossing, we have high school kids crossing. Traffic in the morning there is so backed up--my children go to Hilltop School so I travel that route every morning, I go out on East Rienstra Street to get on Hilltop Drive, traffic is backed up sometimes 10 cars deep to get onto Hilltop Drive--we need a control there for traffic as well as pedestrians. I do not believe a crosswalk at the sound end of the park is appropriate. You'll notice by our map [referring to the viewgraph being exhibited] that we have a curve right at the south end of the shopping center. Your vision is restricted of that south end of the park area until you get around that curve. When you're traveling south, cars coming down from the high school do travel at a speed of 40 mph. I would like to restate that my suggestion is a traffic light to control the area of Hilltop Drive, East Rienstra Street and Kingswood Drive for the safety of our children. Thank you. commissioner Arnold asked a question of a traffic signal near the location Kingswood Drive, is that area under the staff regarding the placing of of East Rienstra Street and computer control system. Mr. Rosenberg responded in the negative. It probably would not be tied into the control system, but it could be. Are you asking whether or not the Citywide computerized signal system would operate this intersection? It is possible, we could tie it together with Quintard and Orange Avenue so that there is synchronization if that is the question. Commissioner Arnold stated that he drove that segment from Quintard to Orange and based on his odometer it was roughly 1/2 mile and he thought Kingswood Drive is roughly 1/4 mile, which would fit into the 1/4 mile grid spacing sequence. Mr. Rosenberg informed the Commission of the distances that staff measured: that it is 2,400 feet from Orange Avenue to Quintard Street, minus the 900 feet, that would be about 1,300 from Orange Avenue to Quintard Street. commissioner Arnold stated that it would be another 200 feet to Kingswood Drive. Mr. Rosenberg agreed with Commissioner Arnold's statement. commissioner Arnold noted that if staff were traffic signal, it should be synchronized progression between Quintard and Orange Avenue. going to so that consider a you have . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -21- Februarv 10. 1990 Mr. Rosenberg commented on the possibility of a traffic signal to East Rienstra Street, that if someone wanted a sign that indicated that Tobias Drive does provide another connection to Quintard Street. In order to make the intersections operate adequately, there may be a possibility of just closing the intersections of Kingswood Drive and just have the signal at East Rienstra Street. We have not evaluated that alternative, but that certainly could be considered and perhaps then direct, if in fact a signal is decided at East Rienstra Street, then the pedestrians could be directed to East Rienstra and deny that crossing at Kingswood Drive and direct all traffic that wants to access the Kingswood neighborhood, and I am not sure this is a good idea, but it is just an alternative that we would have to look at, route them to Quintard Street from the south if they are traveling northbound, or we could leave the intersection open for northbound left turns but exclude the exiting out of Kingswood Drive and deny that left turn out of the intersection, that may be another alternative. But there are a lot of options that would be open to us once we consider and design the signal at East Rienstra Street. Commissioner Arnold further stated that given the conversation that was conducted here this morning that the north side of the easement seems to be the most logical place to put in a median and that would work right into what the future may hold as design and funds become available to putting in a controlled traffic signal. I think we ought to be concerned with the pedestrians at the earliest possible time. Julie Pendergraft, 625 Dahlia Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA. I just want to say as a parent I teach my children to cross at the corner and I think by putting the crosswalk between the two parks is not correct, it is against all rules. We teach our children to cross at a corner and if the crosswalk was located a little bit, so that it wouldn't end up into the driveway [of the liquor store] but it would still basically be at the corner and even if we had to go a little bit south. Thank you. One quick thing also, I think the chain link fence is a good idea. Even though we may teach our children and enforce upon them not to cross, we still don't have any control over them once they are out of our sight. But if there is something there to block them, would force them not to do something, then they cannot do it. Thank you. commissioner Arnold commented that in staff preparation for this meeting he noticed that the comment was made of Bruce Herms who is a the Traffic Engineer up in San Diego, who incidentally lives here in Chula Vista. He comments about the 1970 study which Commissioner Arnold has a copy of, and the Commissioner thinks a lot of the people don't realize, and in talking with Mr. Leonard, that there is a crosswalk at any intersecting street, whether it is painted or not. Unfortunately, a lot of people are not aware of that and they don't take that into account when they want to cross the street if it is close by. They just go out into the area where it is jay walking and I would like to just emphasize what the young lady was just saying. Chairman Decker would entertain motions. SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -22- Februarv 10. 1990 . Commissioner Militscher made the motion: That we immediately implement the installation of a school crosswalk at the intersection of Hilltop Drive and Kingswood Drive and install a fence mid-street on Hilltop Drive to extend the entire length of the SDG&E easement, employe an adult crossing guard to be used when children are present, establish a 25 mph speed limit when children are present and establish a safe route to school using these modifications. Commissioner Koester seconded. Chairman Decker read the motion. It has been moved and seconded to immediately implement the installation of a school crossing walk at the intersection of Hilltop Drive and Kingswood Drive and install a fence mid-street on Hilltop Drive to extend the entire length of the SDG&E easement, employe an adult crossing guard to be used when children are present, and establish a 25 mph speed limit when children are present--if we make this a school crossing zone that would be quite obvious, that would have to go anyway--and establish the suggested route to school using these modifications. Chairman Decker asked for discussion on the motion. Commissioner Braden asked where the crossing guard would be stationed. Commissioner Militscher stated that the crossing guard would be stationed at the corner of Kingswood Drive and the Hilltop crosswalk. . Commissioner Braden asked if the crosswalk were to be lighted [controlled with a traffic signal]. Commissioner Militscher explained that this is what he wanted now. Commissioner Braden clarified an ambiquity--that the crossing area was to be now, and the traffic signal later. Chairman Decker requested to modify the motion to say: that the immediate installation of the crossing guard until such time as the traffic signal is installed. Commissioner Militscher agreed to this modification. Chairman Decker stated that he assumed it was meant that the traffic signal was to be pedestrian activated. Commissioner Militscher stated that he would use the motion to install the traffic signal and then remove the crossing guard. Commissioner Arnold asked if Commissioner Militscher was making a motion on page one only [referring to page one of the five page staff report] . Commissioner Thomas asked if the motion could be made without the chainlink fence and make the chainlink fence another motion. 4It Commissioner Militscher declined to alter his motion in this regard. . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -23- Februarv 10. 1990 Chairman Decker reiterated that the motion stands on the floor with the chainlink fence, as is. Being there is no discussion he called for the vote. MOTION: MSC: 6-1 (Militscher/Koester) Thomas opposed. Commissioner Thomas asked that the record be clarified to show that he was for the motion, but opposed to the fence and therefore voted against the motion. Chairman Decker requested any other motions to the floor. commissioner Militscher made the motion: that we accept staff's report and recommendations for Phase II of the recommended procedures. Chairman Decker asked if he was correct in assuming that Item 1 of Phase II is in fact the crossing that you recommended. Commissioner Mili tscher stated that all he did was modify staff's Phase I. He would now like to accept staff's Phase II. commissioner Koester seconded. Chairman Decker stated that it had been moved and seconded to accept staff's Phase II as recommended. Commissioner Waller asked if it could be reworded and take out as soon as possible and to take immediate steps to expedite that, try to get it sooner than three months. Chairman Decker stated that the previous motions passed. A new motion would need to be made after the motion on the floor was acted upon. The motion on the floor is to accept staff's recommended Phase II. Commissioner Thomas interjected that someone from the audience would like the Commission to read what they are voting on. He asked if that were appropriate. Commissioner Militscher responded in the negative, Commissioners had to work on the motion first. saying the Chairman Decker read: Phase II, direct staff to commence with the design of a pedestrian activated traffic signal for the crosswalk location as recommended in the original motion (it would be at the intersection of Hilltop Drive and Kingswood Drive), authorize City forces to construct traffic signals as soon as possible utilizing traffic signal funds for equipment, if required and remove adult crossing guard when pedestrian traffic signal is completed. commissioner Arnold asked that when you go down through Phase I and Phase II you talk about traffic signal. Are we talking about three- way and four-way traffic signals or are we talking about a pedestrian . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -24- Februarv 10. 1990 traffic signal. The last three [Phase III) it mentions a pedestrian traffic signal. I would like to suggest that we put in the word pedestrian before the word traffic in both Phase I and Phase II. Add the word pedestrian between construct and traffic in two. Chairman Decker stated that the motion is that all signals are pedestrian activated traffic signals. commissioner Militscher responded in the affirmative. Mr. Rosenberg stated, in clarification, that the Phase II that was originally recommended by staff, was fully a pedestrian activated traffic signal. commissioner Militscher is, I believe, recommending a traffic signal--correct me if I misunderstand--that you are actually including traffic actuated signals that provide pedestrian push buttons and walk indications that are typically found at other signalized intersections. commissioner Militscher asked if that were not a pedestrian activated signal. Mr. Rosenberg responded that, not primarily. Staff refers to it as just a traffic signal which has provisions for pedestrian activation. commissioner Militscher responded that whatever staff said that is what he wants. Mr. Rosenberg asked if Commissioner Militscher wanted to control cars as well as pedestrians at the intersections. Chairman Decker, seeking further clarification, stated that that would mean then that the original motion would state that it is a standard traffic signal at Kingswood Drive, activated by pedestrians. with street activation for the automobiles. John Lippitt, Director of Public Works, made a point of clarification that the staff recommendation, of course, is based just a pedestrian signal not at a street. From that we said that we could get that done with City forces, probably in a fairly reasonable period of time. Once you bring a street into it, you start talking about loop detectors and designs such as that, I do not believe that our staff is able to do that and we would have to go out to contract and that may take a little longer. It still may be what you want, but I want to make that clear that that may have to be a contract situation. Chairman Decker asked if a little longer meant four months. Mr. Lippitt responded, stating that staff would have to design the traffic signal, we would have to prepare the plans, we would have to go out to bid. Staff could still look at the possibility of doing it in-house but he did not believe that the Department had the forces to do the job. When you bring in vehicles, loop detectors that are in the street, this would be somewhat more complicated--we will still . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -25- Februarv 10. 1990 give it a very high priority. staff recommendation, where we one at the north side or south But I want to make it clear said it would be quicker, was side of the park. that the based on commissioner Militscher asked if there would still be Phase I in effect until that [the traffic signal] is established. Mr. Lippitt stated that Phase I would go in next week. crosswalk and an adult crossing guard. A painted Chairman Decker stated that all of this was subj ect to council's approval. It was stated that this was going to Council Tuesday night [February 13] because it is the Safety Commission's recommendation. Chairman Decker asked Commissioner Mi1itscher if he was correct in assuming that the Phase I implementation assumes that the crossing guard would be at Kingswood Drive and Hilltop Drive. Commissioner Mi1itscher stated that that was exactly the case. Mr. Lippitt stated that Commissioner Militscher's Phase I motion also requires a fence. Mr. Lippitt asked if the motion required a fence. commissioner Militscher responded that it did. Mr. Lippitt asked if the fence was required before the crosswalk was put in or as soon as possible after. Commissioner Militscher stated that both at the same time preferably. Mr. Lippitt responded that the fence would delay the crosswalk if both were to be installed at the same time as a median would have to be installed and move the striping. commissioner Mi1itscher said that he was not talking about the Taj Mahal. He was talking about perhaps a berm, 2 feet wide to establish a fence. Now approximately 1 to 1-1/2 weeks should be ample time to do this. Mr. Lippitt stated that he recommends that the crosswalk be installed next week with the adult crossing guard and then put the fence in as soon as possible afterwards. Commissioner Militscher responded that he wanted everything as soon as possible. Chairman Decker stated that the motion was on the floor to accept Phase II with the exception that the comments in Items 1 and 3 where it says pedestrian activated traffic signal should be a standard traffic signal activated by pedestrians. . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -26- Februarv 10, 1990 MOTION: MSUC (MilitscherjKoester) 7-0, carries. Chairman Decker asked that since there was some concern at Orange Avenue Avenue in that the signals there--the left arrows--. To solve that to some extent, is it possible to have No Right Turn at red on Orange at the northeast and northwest intersections so that the children crossing that corner would be given some motion of protection by no right turns on red at those corners. Commissioner Militscher stated that there was not much success with no right turn on reds. We have had a request to do that on "F" and Third for six months. Chairman Decker asked Mr. Rosenberg if it were reasonable to say no right turn on reds between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. or something like that during the school week. Mr. Rosenberg responded that that was possible. But actually he was not sure that was the problem at the intersection that the lady was referring to. The problem is that the left turns are encroaching across the path of the children crossing Orange Avenue and about four or five months ago there was a change in the operations signal. The traffic would alternate north and south, what we call a split phase, at which time when the northbound traffic moved on Hilltop Drive then the children were able to walk across the east lane of the intersection with a walk indication because there were no left turns to compete with. When the southbound traffic moved on Hilltop Drive then the pedestrians were able to cross the west lane of Orange Avenue. It sounds a little complicated and I hope you are following my description. When we changed the signal phasing to allow north and south to operate concurrently the left turns are curved and the pedestrians do get the walk indication where they are now encountered with cars turning left across their path, where they weren't before. Chairman Decker asked if it were possible to examine this situation and come up with a conclusion. Mr. Rosenberg responded that staff were evaluating the numbers and looking to changing it back to the way it was before. Hopefully by Tuesday night [February 13] staff will have an answer and a recommendation on this matter. I do not think the right turn on red is the problem. Chairman Decker asked if staff could report back to the next regular meeting of the Safety Commission the results of any study that staff has concluded on this matter. Mr. Rosenberg stated that staff would put this on the Agenda for the March meeting. Chairman Decker asked for Commissioner comments. . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MINUTES -27- Februarv 10. 1990 Commissioner Thomas commented that he has a nine year old daughter who walks to school and this situation with Pamela does hurt me deeply. I believe the City is portrayed as the bad guy in this situation and I don't believe that that is necessarily true. When this situation came up before the city, the City activated all of its appropriate departments to study the request. I have read all the traffic reports, I have stood at the intersection of the Circle K and I believe that if the City would have acted by what has been proposed I don't believe this accident would have been prevented. Installing signs and lights and traffic walks, crosswalks, etc. do care about pedestrians that still need it. And though I am extremely sad and can relate with a nine year old daughter I don't like to see the City portrayed as the bad person because they did not act. Chairman Decker thanked the people for coming to the Special Meeting and asked that they please go to the Council Meeting [Tuesday, February 13] because this [issue] will be brought up to Council and all those who are concerned please attend the meeting on Tuesday because Council will be the final say on this. We only recommend. You will have to plead your case, as it were, again, and make your recommendations again. We will make our recommendation and staff will make their recommendation and it will be up to Council to make a decision at that time. I thank you very much for attending this meeting. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Decker adjourned the Safety Commission at 11:50 a.m. 21, 1990. Special Meeting of the Chula vista until our Workshop Meeting on February '-fj~ 4. ~ Berlin D. Bosworth Recording Secretary (A:SC-FEB10.MTG)