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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafety Commission mins 1991/03/14 , . . . . .illl1.l~i_~lIlrti.IBI~~t!li MINUTES OF THE SAFETY C()MMISSION MEETING CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA Thursday, March 14, 1991 7:04 p.m. Council Chambers Public Services Building 1. ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Braden, Co-Chair Thomas, Commissioners Arnold, Chidester, Koester, Matacia, Militscher None. None. EXCUSED ABSENCES: UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: STAFF PRESENT: Harold Rosenberg, City Traffic Engineer Frank Rivera, Assistant Engineer II OTHERS PRESENT: Sergeant Tom Schaefer See attached attendance list. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION Approve minutes of the February 14, 1991 Safety Commission. MSUC [Militscher/Koester] 5-0-2 (Braden/Chidester abstained) 3. WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE 1. Letter from Department of Transportation dated February 25, 1991 concerning 1-5 off-ramp at "L" Street. 2. Letter from Richard B. Walters, 536 Azalea Street, CV regarding vehicular speeds in the area of Oleander A venue between Redwing Road and East Orange Avenue 4. Report on Oleander A venue South of Palomar Street STAFF REPORT Mr. Rivera presented staffs report. This covers the area between East Palomar Street and East Orange A venue. Staff has had numerous requests from the residents that live on Oleander Avenue in this area to do something to reduce vehicular speeds on Oleander Avenue. Staff conducted speed surveys over a 48-hour period. The results are attached to the report. As a summary, the posted speed limit is 25 mph and we had, depending where one is on Oleander Avenue, the 85 percentile speed is approximately 10 miles over the posted speed limit. Staff has considered, and is recommending, that additional speed limit signs be added, that the existing speed limit signs be relocated to a more visible location, and that 25-mph pavement legends be added on the travel lanes. This will help to make the motorist more aware of what the speed limit is on Oleander . Safety Commi....ion Meeting March 14, 1991 . Minutes Avenue. An all-way stop study which was completed for all intersections on Oleander Avenue from Oak Place to Rivera Court; this area is north of East Palomar Street, south to just north of East Orange Avenue. None of the intersections met the City Council approved criteria for installation of all-way stops. Based on that, we cannot recommend the installation of an all-way stop at any of these intersections. The points possible total is 50, this takes into account all warrants which are used to evaluate an intersection for an all-way stop. Hibiscus Court and Azalea Street had the highest point totals, but were well below the 30 points that the City Council has established as a minimum requirement. PUBLIC COMMENTS Ray Sugel, 1429 Oca1a Court, CV 91911 Everyday I go to school at Park View and I always see cars going through Oleander and not stopping for stop signs. This past Friday my friend and I were almost hit while we were in the crosswalk by a car going 45 mph, it ran through two stop signs--the school patrol stop sign and a permanently placed stop sign. Today, there were so many cars speeding through there we were almost killed. . Commissioner Chidester asked Ray if he carne out of Oca1a Court on Quince Street to go to Oleander A venue to go to school. He asked at which intersection the car almost hit him and if he were crossing from west to east to follow Azalea Street to go up to the school. Ray responded yes, and the intersection was Azalea Street going into Oleander Avenue and that he did follow that direction. . John Clanton, 1431 Oca1a Court, CV 91911 I have a total of eight children and so far, five have attend Park View Elementary School. On any given morning the speed is so extreme that the safety patrol kids cannot stop traffic. I understand, that by the rules of CalTrans, they are not allowed to inhibit the flow of traffic. They can only stop it once it slows down to a speed that they can stop. The people just do not stop. So, children, in turn, are normally late for school. The principal has called several times and asked why are my kids always late for school. My kids leave 25 to 30 minutes to get to school. I have stood and watched with them and they will stand anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes for the traffic to slow down enough- -normally it takes a school bus to stop for the patrol kids to put their signs out so traffic will stop for the kids to cross. The normal speed is, I would say, at Azalea Street, which is the crosswalk for the school, they are doing at least 45 mph. They hit the down grade to go up past the Boys Club and I know they are doing more than 45 mph. Traffic is so fast that it makes it extremely difficult to come off Oca1a Court. I will not travel that road anymore. Wisteria Street onto Oleander Avenue is a blind corner. If there were some kind of interruption of speed through this section so that the safety patrol kids could do there job, they could perform their function if there were a stop sign at Azalea Street. -2- . Safety Commk~ion Meeting March 14, 1991 Minutes David Fithian, 1402 Oleander Avenue, CV 91911 I agree with Mr. Clanton. I have a petition with 202 names of people who would like to see a stop sign. We have given you to choices--one at the bottom of East Palomar Street and Oleander Avenue and/or at Azalea Street and Oleander Avenue. The people are on Oleander Avenue are excited at the prospect of having the traffic slowed. Staffs study was done on Memorial weekend. We did not have the flow, "the killer flow" I call it, that is there where school is in session. He handed out four pictures for the members to look at while he read a commentary to explain the situation. Commissioner Matacia suggested to Mr. Rosenberg that it might be well at this point for him to explain to those present so that they understand what his opinion is as it relates to slowing traffic down by the use of all-way stops. . Mr. Rosenberg was experiencing difficulty talking, therefore Mr. Rivera explained that all-way stops are generally installed on streets where the amount of traffic entering from each street is about equal. Stops are not generally installed on streets where there is disproportionate traffic entering an intersection. The street with the higher amount of traffic usually has the right of way, so stops are placed on the minor street. This is to reduce delay and pollution. The all-way stop, if they are installed at intersections where they are not warranted or not needed, they do slow down the traffic but only within 200 feet, or about three houses in each direction of the intersection. Most motorists will travel at the speed they are accustomed to driving and usually within the 200 feet limit before they reach the intersection they step on their brakes hard. After they have gone through the intersection, gone about 200 feet, they are back up to their accustomed speed and sometimes higher. For this reason, yes stop signs are effective, but only within 200 feet of the intersection. If we were to put a stop sign at every intersection along the way from East Palomar Street to Orange A venue, speeds would be reduced. If we were to only put them in at Azalea Street or East Palomar Street, we would only see the speeds reduced in that 200 foot area approaching each intersection. That is one of the reasons that an all-way stop is not installed. They generally are not effective for reducing the speed on the street, but only within the 200 foot limit. . Scott Mosher, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club of Chula Vista located at 1301 Oleander Avenue, I live at 829 LaSenda Way, CV 91911 I am extremely concerned about the rate of speed on Oleander Avenue. We service about 260 kids each day at the club. The majority of our kids come from Greg Rogers and Park View schools. They walk, many of them by themselves, to the club. We have been extremely fortunate, to date, that no children have been seriously hurt. I truly believe that speed is a real issue. He mentioned several accidents that occurred because vehicles are traveling at excessive speeds. The police have increased patrolling which is certainly helping to some extent. I think more visible signs, 25 mph speed, and painting legends on the road are very good ideas. I do not think that is enough-- I think that the plan to reduce speeds should extend to the top of the hill. I ask your consideration to do a little bit more here. -3- . . . Safety Commi~ion Meeting March 14, 1991 Minutes Maria Williams, 458 Oak Place, CV 91911 She explained that her back yard abuts Palomar Street. It is difficult to sleep at night because all you hear are screeching halts continuously in that area. There is also a blind spot, the white line to stop on Palomar Street and make either a left or right turn to go to Oleander, you cannot see anything. There are trees in the house that blocks the view. You have to go past the white line in order to see, and three times I've been almost hit because cars are also traveling very fast. I suggest either stop signs or something else at this location. Connie Sugel, 1429 Ocala Court, CV 91911 The signs are okay, but I think a stop sign is necessary at Azalea where the kids cross the street to get to school. The safety patrols are only children, but they told my children one time last year that they could not stop traffic, that they should go down to Hibiscus and cross on your own. I have a friend that you are all probably very familiar with--Jean Pendergraft. She lost her daughter last year to the same problem. I want to keep my children alive. I do not think your criteria should be a dead child. That is where I think it is headed right now. Somebody is going to get hurt and they are going to get hurt bad, if not dead. That is all I can say. I think a stop sign is very important right now. Chair Braden asked staff when they took the survey. Mr. Rivera responded, saying the radar speed survey was taken on February 15-17, 1991 (Friday [late afternoon], Saturday, and Sunday). We had been told that the problem was more acute on the weekends. Of course, on weekends we do not take the children into account as school is not in session. The school patrol is on Azalea Street and Oleander Avenue. We have a painted yellow crosswalk and school series signing. The school safety patrol, by law, do not stop traffic. What they are to do is look for gaps in the traffic and when they judge there is an adequate gap, that is when they put their stop paddles down. At this juncture, Mr. Rivera showed a number of slides of various areas of Oleander Avenue to the Commission. Chair Braden asked if staff considered rumble strips on this street. Mr. Rivera stated, no. Commissioner Matacia asked Sergeant Schaefer, since the motor patrols are out there on a regular basis, if they found that the persons doing the speeding are locals, out of towners, or out of area residents. Sergeant Schaefer noted that, unfortunately, the majority of the tickets that are issued are to residents of that immediate area or people who work in the area. Several Park View Elementary school teachers have been cited. It is not a situation where a lot of transient population going through there causing the problem. It is a lot of residents using that -4- . Safety C()mmi~ion Meeting March 14, 1991 Minutes roadway that are speeding. It has been my experience from personally working radar on that street, that from East Orange to the area of Azalea Street and Hibiscus Court, the speeds are significantly lower in that stretch than they are once you get to Hibiscus Court and start down the bill toward East Palomar Street and back up the hill past the Boys and Girls Club up to Greg Rogers Park. We issue most of our citations between East Oxford Street and East Palomar Street--going both northbound and southbound. I have worked in the area of Quince Street and, while there are cars that do exceed the speed limit, but they are not in violation of the basic speed law as outlined by the Vehicle Code to the point where we can cite them for exceeding the speed limit. . MOTION That a stop sign be installed on Oleander Avenue at Azalea Street, stopping the traffic at Oleander Avenue at that intersection, to permit the crossing guards to have stopped vehicle and correctly use their signs. MSC [Militscher/Koester) Rt* (Braden ~~~rnii~~ opposed) MOTION Staff to check the sight distance at Oak Place and Oleander A venue where it was stated that foliage or trees inhibited the sight distance at that point and that correct methods be suggested. MSC [Militscher/Koester) 6-1 (Arnold opposed) MOTION That the Safety Commission accept staffs recommendation: 1) the installation of additional 25 mph speed limit signs; and 2) the addition of "25 mph" pavement markings adjacent to the speed limit signs on Oleander Avenue. MSUC [Matacia/Militscher) 7-0 5. Status Report on Shell Oil Company . STAFF REPORT Mr. Rivera presented the status report on the reconstruction of Bonita Glen Drive and Bonita Road. I would like to mention that we have been in contact with Mr. Brooks Herring and he has been very enthusiastically pursuing the completion of this project as he bad promised to the Safety Commission in October 1990. There are several issues that will delay completion of the reconstruction. Unknown to Mr. Herring, the City has undertaken a widening project along the south curb line of Bonita Road from East Flower Street through Sandalwood Drive and Bonita Glen Drive. This will add a bike lane in that area and widen the south side. Also, we have a widening project scheduled for the north side of Bonita Road from Love's Restaurant west to East Flower Street. In addition to that, we are pursuing the matter of having the west half of Bonita Glen Drive constructed in concrete at the same time that the east half is constructed in concrete which Shell Oil Company will be doing. The City's portion of this project needs to be approved by the City Council. It is scheduled to go before Council sometime in the near -5- . . . Safety Commk~ion Meeting March 14, 1991 Minutes future. We will be strongly recommending this project so that we do not have to have half the street in asphalt and the other half in concrete. These delays cannot be attributed to Shell Oil Company, but we hope the finished product will outweigh the few months delay. Shell is not holding the project up. The work on the south curb line on Bonita Road should be completed within two to three weeks. At that time, we hope to have gone to Council to determine if we are to do the entire street width. Construction can begin shortly thereafter. We are looking at construction to begin perhaps in late April or no later than early May. Commissioner Thomas express concern about the footage north of the 179 foot reconstruction (along Bonita Road). Mr. Rivera explained that Commissioner Thomas is mentioning that the limits of this project are the extension of the south curbline of Bonita Road, basically where the crosswalk would be located and working south to the extension of the south property line of the Shell Gas Station--that is a distance of approximately 179 feet. The water is now tracking onto Bonita Road and its covering the number 2 eastbound lane and the number 3 lane. We will be addressing this issue after the reconstruction project is complete. Commissioner Thomas noted that in the initial meeting with Shell representatives there was no problem at that time in this area, and that is why the project starts at the crosswalk; but the water problem on Bonita Road has been exacerbated in the last three months. Mr. Rivera, in response to Chair Braden's comment that this may be the time to request Shell to get the dryer, stated that this may be a recommendation that the Safety Commission may wish to incorporate into the minutes. Chair Braden stated that it is strongly recommended that Shell look at the water problem now occurring on Bonita Road. Mr. Rivera said that staff will bring a status report to next's months Safety Commission meeting. STAFF ACTION ITEM Place Shell Oil Company project on the April agenda. 6. Report on Traffic Concerns for Melrose Avenue in the Vicinity of Talus Street STAFF REPORT Mr. Rivera gave staffs report. We have looked at this street and have conducted speed surveys. The posted speed limit on this street is 30 mph. Staff is recommending that the speed limit signs be relocated and the addition of pavement markings. We have -6- Safety Commission Meeting March 14, 1991 . Minutes found on a number of these north/south corridor streets that the only thing we have to inform the motorists of what the speed limit is, is the signs. There is a long stretch with no stop signs and motorists are traveling as fast as they can from Orange Avenue to Otay Valley Road. They tend to forget they are on a residential street. We want to reinforce the idea that the speed limit is enforced by radar. We do have signs attesting to that. We do have 30 mph speed limit signs. We can relocate those signs to a more visible location. We could not justify the installation of an all-way stop. The intersections are spaced at quite a distance apart. To reduce speeds, especially in the area of the intersection of Talus Street, and the curve, just north of Turquoise Street, police enforcement, as they are continuing to do, will reduce speeds. Chair Braden commended the Police Department. They have been out working and writing a lot of tickets. In fact, they have written 76 percent more tickets this month than they did last month. It is the local people that are really guilty of most of the speeding. . In response to a question regarding reducing the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph, Mr. Rivera stated that speed limits are established using the California Vehicle Code and State laws. In that there are specific laws on speed traps, if the speed limit were to be posted at 25 mph, and the police were citing, our radar speed surveys and the roadway design would not justify a speeding ticket being valid. A judge would see that ticket and say the speed limit is arbitrarily set too low, that this is a speed trap, the ticket is no good and through it out of court. We have set the speed limit to be as close to the 85 percentile speed. The 85 percentile speed is 37 mph, so legally we could post the speed at 35 mph. When there is a high discrepancy between what 85 percent of the motorists are traveling at or below, then that tends to lose credibility with the speed limit. Mr. Rosenberg noted that studies have shown that reducing the speed limit does not have any effect at all on the speed that motorists will select. The law is written in a manner that assumes a motorist will drive at a prudent and safe speed based on the surrounding conditions. That is why it is called the prima facia speed limit, because on the face of it, a motorist could actually be driving at the maximum speed limit of 55 mph under certain conditions and claim that they are doing SO safety and show the court, in fact, that is acceptable. The courts have ruled that is the basis of the speed law. . PUBLIC COMMENTS John Williams, 1608 Melrose Avenue, CV 91911 In talking to a police officer I found out that 40 mph in a 30 mph zone is not unreasonable under certain conditions. I monitored traffic while the radar was in front of my house. In 30 minutes I had cars going from 45 mph to 53 mph past the sign saying the speed limit was 30 mph. What I am concerned with on Melrose A venue is that more and more people are finding out that you cannot get off the freeway at Main Street. You have a hard time in the morning getting on the freeway, you cannot get off the freeway very well, so they use the traffic signal at Melrose Avenue and Main Street -7- . Safety Commi"'Sion Meeting March 14, 1991 Minutes to go north. In our area it is transient motorists going to work who are using Orange Avenue to Melrose Avenue, from Orange to Main Street in order to bypass the freeway. Former Mayor Cox stated that we never want to create a situation where people will use our side streets to avoid the freeway. We have. Its right there. They have two choices- -they exit at Orange and go to Melrose Avenue or to Hilltop. If 40 mph is reasonable in a 30 mph speed limit area, what is reasonable in a 25 mph speed limit area. In other words, do they have to go above 35 mph to get a ticket. An officer told me that when they go to court, the first thing a judge asks is, what were the conditions. If the conditions weren't right, then the judge won't allow the ticket. . Leonard Krall, 1627 Melrose Avenue, CV 91911 I don't know what we are waiting to happen here, right now I count the dead animals on Melrose Avenue that I see laying in the street and I am wondering if next, it is going to be my granddaughter. I notice that your report listing the accidents on Melrose Avenue is not quite accurate. (At this point he presented photographs to the Commission.) He stated that these were reported accidents, but not within the timeframe of those listed on staff's report. People have moved from Melrose A venue because of the traffic. Melrose Avenue is a feeder road to 1-805. I agree with the Sergeant that most speeding is probably by local residents. Something has got to be done to slow traffic down before we have a fatality. I hope you consider this before you make a decision. Commissioner Matacia asked ifhe thought the speed limit should be reduced to 25 mph. Mr. Krall acknowledged that that would be better than nothing, but that he thought the stop sign is needed to slow the traffic flow down. Mr. Rosenberg pointed out that he agrees with the last two speakers that Melrose Avenue is being used as a bypass because of the freeway problem. The problem is really at the southbound off-ramp and well as the northbound on-ramp, where we do not have a traffic signal. The problem is so severe that, I'm sure, a lot of motorists are bypassing the interchange by turning off into a southbound direction, probably using Melrose Avenue so that they can access Main Street by virtue of a traffic signal. We do have in our Capital Improvement Program budgeted for FY91-92 signalization of the two ramps. We think that will help tremendously and divert a lot of this non-local traffic which I believe tends to speed because they are non-local and they are really trying to pass through the neighborhood as opposed to starting from that area or traveling into the neighborhood. I think the problem will probably abate with the signalization. . Deborah Frios, 1631 Melrose Avenue, CV 91911 She presented photographs to the Commission showing an accident that happened at her house on Christmas morning--where her husband's car was pushed through the front door of their home by another car. In December 1990 two more accidents happened right in front of our house. People come flying down that hill and they lose control, skidding down the hill. -8- Safety Commij;.~ion Meeting March 14, 1991 . Minutes James Russell, 1628 Melrose Avenue, CV 91911 I think a stop sign would do a lot of good. I also go along with the fact of reducing the speed limit. As you say, Melrose Avenue is used as a bypass. I agree with your putting signalization at the freeway entrance/exit on Main Street. I believe there is no other way to stop people from building speed coming down a hill other than putting a stop sign on Talus Street. It is extremely difficult to back out of my driveway. I am teaching my 16 year old son to drive the proper way, so I have him park his car out on the street, facing down hill. I don't want him to try and back out of my driveway. I agree with dropping the speed limit to 25 mph, more enforcement of the speed limit for the next couple of months, and really strongly stand behind the stop sign at Talus Street. Tina Browning, 1634 Melrose Avenue, CV 91911 I would first like to point out that the petition that we handed in last month that only had a few signatures, that was only an hour's worth of effort at the last minute. To review the accident history from January 1, 1990 through December 31, 1990 is inaccurate. I know that we had two accidents in one week, of which one was reported. If you put a 25 mph sign in, they do not obey the 30 mph sign, what makes you think they will obey the 25 mph sign. The stop sign is the only thing and I will not quit, I will bug you until the day I die if! don't get the sign. . MOTION That the Safety Commission accept stafrs recommendation: 1) that the reqUEst for additional stop signs be denied; 2) additional speed limit signs and pavement markings be added on Melrose Avenue. MSC [Militscher/Chidester] 6-1 (Thomas) Mr. Rosenberg informed those concerned with this item that staff is obligated to take the item to the City Council at which time another hearing will be conducted and present to the City Council the Safety Commission's decision. You can appear and present your case to the Council and they certainly could overrule the Safety Commission and staff. All of you will be advised when this item will be going before the City Council. Mr. Rivera explained to those concerned with this item that the Safety Commission has approved that we deny the request for the all-way stop at Talus Street and Melrose A venue. They have approved that staff add additional speed limit signs and pavement markings on Melrose Avenue. This is just a recommendation. This recommendation, with tonight's Minutes, and our report will be sent forward to the City Council. The City Council is the one with the authority to adopt a recommendation and that work be done. At that time you will all be notified of the City Council meeting. Chair Braden called a recess at 8:18 pm. . Safety Commission reconvened at 8:28 pm. Item 11 was taken out of order to accommodate the public. -9- . Safety Comrni"o;ion Meeting March 14, 1991 Minutes 11. Trial Traffic Regulation: All-way Stop at Melrose Avenue/East Rienstra Street STAFF REPORT Mr. Rivera gave staffs report. An all-way stop was installed on August 21, 1990 as a trial traffic installation. We need to return to the City Council within eight months to affirm it and keep it at that location. If we do not go back to the City Council within the eight month timeframe, then we have to remove the stop sign. Tonight the item is brought before you so that you can make your recommendation whether to affirm or deny the all-way stop traffic installation at this intersection. Staff is recommending that this all-way stop remain and be made permanent by the City Council. PUBLIC COMMENTS William Hedrick, 299 East Rienstra Street, CV 91911 I would like to thank the Traffic division for installing the temporary sign. I would like to thank all the Police Officers who have been out there issuing tickets. . Tony Carbajal, 1432 Melrose Avenue, CV 91911 I have lived at this address for 15 years. Thank you for having recommended and having installed this sign. I am here to support the permanent placing of the all-way stop. I believe that the eight month trial period has proven to be very effective. There have been no accidents, Mr. Henrick's wall is not being crashed into any more. I think we are all in agreement that that is a good placement. MOTION That the Safety Commission accept staffs recommendation: that the Safety Commission recommend to the City Council to affirm the all-way stop trail traffic regulation at the subject intersection. MSUC 1~!8 [Militscher/Koester] 11. ~!~_19. 7. Report on Suggested Route to School Maps . STAFF REPORT Mr. Rivera informed the Commissioners that in their packet is only part of the material they will be receiving on this item in the very near future. There will be a suggested route to school map for each elementary school in the City. Each map is the boundary of the school limit, it will show the stop signs in the area where the safety patrols are located, where the crosswalks are located. This is given out to each child at the elementary school and they are to go over it with their parents to make sure that they follow the suggested route to school established by the parents and the schools. We have approximately 26 schools and at present we have updated about 18 of the school maps. We will be providing each of you a complete packet as soon as the others are updated in the very near future. Earlier I passed out an excerpt from the CalTrans traffic manual which covers the school zones and the types of signs and the school safety patrols. -10- Safety Commi,,~ion Meeting March 14, 1991 . Minutes Mr. Rosenberg added an additional comments, that it may be a little misleading because the title says suggested route to school, but yet it is really not recommending a particular route or suggesting anything really. It is just a map showing all the traffic controls that are present and it is really at the discretion of the parents to decide which route the child should take. After they mark it up, then it becomes truly a suggested route to school map. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Militscher asked if this was a function of the PTA at each school or guidance given. Mr. Rivera said no. The map is gone over by the child and their parents. The suggestion is that they use the crosswalks and cross at locations that have stop signs and use as many traffic control devices as possible. Mr. Rosenberg interjected, saying that this is not necessarily common for other school districts. In the City of San Diego, where I worked, we, in fact, worked with the PTA and the school and actually prepared a route map. . Commissioner Militscher asked if he were laboring under a misapprehension. I understood that the PTAs at each school laid out a recommended route to travel to and from school. Mr. Rivera stated that the route is recommended, but you can't make everybody follow that route. They all live in the area around the school. So their suggestion is that when they are on their way to school, generally, they walk to school using the established crosswalks or follow a typical pattern to school. I am not sure if the PTA marks up a map. I believe they hand it out and it is the parents responsibility. 8. Request for Additional On-Street Parking at Hilltop Jr. High School . STAFF REPORT Mr. Rivera stated that this was a request staff received. I have been working with the Assistant Principal, Mr. Sebastian Perez, and he mentioned that he has had many requests to increase the parking on the junior high school site. We discussed this report and our recommendation and came to the consensus that we could add parking along the east curb line of Hilltop Drive. Presently it is prohibited. We can accommodate a parking lane on the east curbline as the street is now 48 feet wide. The two lanes are currently 24 feet wide. If we take 8 feet off for a parking lane, that would leave a 16 foot wide through lane going north. The problem that could come up is parents double parking on Hilltop Drive. The space we are providing for will accommodate about 25 vehicles. We feel Hilltop Drive better lends itself to a student drop off area than does East "J" Street, given that it is a narrower street. We are recommending that a parking area be provided along the east curbline of Hilltop Drive. -11- . Safety Commk~ion Meeting March 14, 1991 Minutes COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Militscher asked if this would be striped. Mr. Rivera stated that staff would modify the signs. At the south end, there would be a No Stopping Any Time End sign and from there, north, one could park. Close to East "J" Street where there is a turn pocket, then staff would place a No Stopping Any Time Begin sign. We could put an edge line 8 feet off the face of the curb. Chair Braden asked that monitoring be conducted after this is accomplished to prevent double parking. Commissioner Matacia asked how staffs recommendations relate to those recommended in a letter to the Vice Principal from Terry Perondi, who is a parent of a student. Mr. Rivera, discussing each recommendation in the letter, informed the Commission as to how staff took these recommendations under advisement and responded or incorporated same. . MOTION That the Safety Commission accept staffs recommendation: that the Safety Commission recommend that the City Council approve a resolution amending schedules III and V of the Chula Vista Municipal Code to allow for a parking area along the east and west curblines of Hilltop Drive between East "J" Street to Telegraph Canyon Road. MSUC [Chidester/Matacia] 7-0. 9. Report on I-80S Southbound Off-ramp at Bonita Road . STAFF REPORT Mr. Rivera gave staffs report. This item was brought to our attention by Safety Commission Bob Thomas. His concern was about the cars doubling up on the off-ramp for southbound to westbound at this location. We met with CalTrans engineers. We do not have the authority to change their signs or their striping. We mentioned to them the concerns, we discussed the striping and signing in the area and asked that they perform a thorough investigation of the striping. We gave them a copy of our plat which shows a truck turning template and they stated they would look at narrowing the lanes. They felt they could not narrow them too much on the west side as they did not want the tractor trailers rear wheels to go over the sidewalk. They will look at redoing the striping and the signage. In the meantime they are going to be notifying the California Highway Patrol to do enforcement of the illegal maneuvers coming off the off-ramp-- driving on the shoulders specifically. If there is anything we can do on our part to help alleviate congestion or confusion at that area, we offered to work with them. We pointed out that this was an item generated from our Safety Commission and they agreed to give it a higher priority than normal, given their workload, and that they would keep in touch with us on it. -12- . . . . Safety Commi~ion Meeting March 14, 1991 Minutes 10. Establishing an All-way Stop at EastLake Parkway and Lake Shore Drive STAFF REPORT Mr. Rivera stated that staff had a request from the school principal and our Traffic Safety Task Force that evaluates the safety patrols at various locations throughout the City and one item that was brought up for review at a future date was this all-way stop. This was brought to our attention because of the recent completion of the UPS facility and the UPS trucks traveling through the EastLake area as well as the work being done on the EastLake Greens area. Our evaluation of the all-way stop did not meet the minimum requirements and so we could not recommend that it be installed at this time. But with the construction of the EastLake Greens area, we will continue to monitor this area since traffic volumes are expected to increase. We will bring this item back at such time that we feel we can recommend that an all-way stop be installed. MOTION That the Safety Commission accept staff's recommendation: that the Safety Commission deny the reqUR-st for an all-way stop at the eastern intersection of Lakeshore Drive and EastLake Drive. MSUC [Koester/Militscher] 7-0. 12. Staff Informational Report: C.I.P. Status Report FY90-91 Mr. Rosenberg responded to several inquiries from Chair Braden concerning monies budgeted for engineering study data and the Broadway/"I" Street traffic signal modification, an inquiry from Commissioner Koester regarding the traffic signal installation at Anita Street and Industrial Boulevard, and a concern of Commissioner Matacia regarding signalization timing east- and westbound. No action required on this item. STAFF ACTION ITEM When presenting the C.I.P. Status Report at the April Safety Commission meeting, provide a better breakdown of budgeted monies and the work anticipated, e.g., signalization at Palomar and 1-5, signalization of Otay Valley Road and 1-805, and the like. 13. Staff Informational Report: Chula Vista Police Department Traffic Summary for January 1991 STAFF REPORT Sergeant Schaefer commented that the Traffic Bureau has been recently reorganized to enable officers to spend more time on enforcement and that is one of the main reasons you are seeing more citations being issued. In response to an inquiry from Chair Braden, Sergeant Schaefer noted that the Police Department does have Community Service Officers that do take non-injury accident reports. They are not detailed to take any injury or fatal type collisions. -13- . . Safety Commk~ion Meeting March 14, 1991 Minutes 14. Oral Communications None 15. Staff Reports Mr. Rosenberg. Mayor Pro Tempore Moore has requested that signs be placed at all the southbound off-ramps of 1-5 and 1-805 to the City of Chula Vista to welcome the return of the Desert Shield servicemen and women. I am working with CalTrans and seeking their permission to put up these 4' x 8', they will have an American flag on one-haIf of the sign and the other haIf will say Welcome Home. We have asked them to give us authorization to erect these signs starting next week. The Navy League and volunteers are fabricating the signs and with the help of City forces will be insta11ed. We are asking CalTrans to leave the signs up for 60 days. Normally, they would not agree to such signs, but since it is a patriotic effort, they will take it under advisement. 16. Commi,,~ioner Comments Commissioner Chidester. On Oleander Street, 900 block, at foot of Telegraph Canyon there are two large storm drain openings, east side and west side of street, approximately 30 feet long. The center of these openings are about 9 inches and taper down to about 7-112 inches. I have seen children chasing a ball down Oleander Street and the ball goes down the drain. It might be a good idea in the interest of safety to weld some rebars . longitudinally to reduce the openings on those storm drains. Commissioner Chidester. In the 700 block of First Avenue on the east side of the street, starting at 703 First Avenue there is no sidewalk; students, adults and joggers have to walk in the street. Commissioner Chidester. Does the Chula Vista Fire Department have a program whereby they check for safety in hotels and motels. Check into this, especially for the gas heaters. STAFF ACTION ITEM Staff will check with the Fire Department. 17. Recess to Regular Monthly Workshop Session I almost forgot, this is really the most important item of the night, it involves a recommendation. I recently passed my Traffic Engineering exam so now I am registered in the State of California as Traffic Engineer 1583. Chair Braden on behalf of the Commission members, extended congratulations to Frank and lauded him on his professionalism. . -14- .. . . . Safety Commi,,~ion Meeting March 14, 1991 Minutes 18. Acljournment to next regularly scheduled meeting of April 11, 1991. MOTION That we adjourn this meeting. MSUC, [Koester/Militscher] 7-0, approved. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. '~ -if ~X- Berlin D. Bosworth, Recording Secretary [CIWP51ISAFETY\3-14-91.MIN] -15-