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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafety Commission mins 1991/07/11 -' . SAFETY COMMISSION Thursday, July 11, 1991 7:02 p.m. Council Chambers Public Services Building 1. ROLL CALL: MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Braden, Co-Chair Thomas, Commissioners Chidester, Koester, Matacia, Padilla, Pitts 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Koester to approve Safety Commission Minutes of May 9, 1991. Second by Thomas. MSC 5-0. (padilla, Pitts abstaining) 3, SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY: Mr. Militscher declined to attend the Safety Commission Meeting to receive his eight year service award. It was presented to him by Frank Rivera and Commissioner Bill Koester on Monday, July 8, 1991. . 4. WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE: a) Letter from Dr. and Mrs. A. Nagy dated 5/13/91 For commissioners information. 5, REPORT ON TRAFFIC CONCERNS ON POINT BARROW DRIVE Staff received a letter and petition from residents of Point Robinhood requesting help to resolve speeding problems with vehicles on Point Barrow Drive and West Point Drive. Point Barrow Drive is the street leading into seven cul-de-sacs which includes access to 53 homes. It is the only access point to the subdivision. Mr. Rivera indicated the traffic division conducted speed surveys in the area and found the average speed is approximately 26 MPH with the 85% speed at approximately 30 MPH. The 100' radius curve has a design speed of approximately 15 MPH. The area is a residential zone with an unposted 25 MPH speed limit. Staff felt the best recommendation for the area would be install a center line stripe and curve warning signs with an advisory 15 MPH speed limit sign. Currently, there is no center line on this street. . The letter received from residents referred to speed bumps that are being utilized in the city of San Diego. The speed bumps were installed on Westbrook Avenue in Paradise Hills and Granada Avenue in North Park. Commissioners were shown slides of the speed bumps on Westbrook. The traffic division conducted speed surveys on this stretch of road and found that speeds were in the 22 MPH range. It was discovered that cars tended to speed up in between bumps. Because of the curve at Point Barrow and West Point Drives, staff did not feel speed bumps would be a good alternative since you would not see the speed bump ahead. The reduced visibility indicated to staff that the striping and curve warning signs should be tried in order to help reduce speeds. Westbrook Avenue and Granada Avenue are situated such that they are used as shortcuts through the neighborhood. Point Barrow Drive is a cul-de-sac and is used only by residents. If there is a speeding problem, it is being caused by the residents. . SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING JULY 11,1991 MINUTES Page 2 Staff also conducted a speed survey in the Point Barrow Drive area and most speeds were approximately 30 MPH. Over 90% of the vehicles were traveling at less than 30 MPH and thus, a significant speeding problem was not indicated. Staff recommendation is to install curve warning signs and center line stripe with reflectors. Bea Eley, 1550 Pt. Hueneme Court, Chula Vista, CA 91911 Ms. Eley lives past the curve on Point Barrow Drive and sees near accidents everyday. Children are riding bicycles and dart on the street. Ms. Eley was the initiator of the petition received. She felt the teenagers who drive the area will not heed warning signs. In her opinion, teenagers do a majority of the speeding. Ms. Eley felt that the speed survey conducted was not accurate because drivers tend to slow down when they are being monitored. Ms. Eley asked if the police would be in the area to enforce the warning signs. Mr. Padilla asked staff if the 15 MPH sign is an advisory sign and, therefore, not enforceable. Mr. Rivera said that the yellow curve warning sign is an advisory sign and not enforceable. . Ms. Braden asked why the City couldn't post a 15 MPH sign and thus make it enforceable. Mr. Chidester asked if a City ordinance would be required to change the speed limit to 15 MPH. Harold Rosenberg stated that the Vehicle Code allows for lower speeds (under 25 MPH) only under two conditions: a) If the street is less than 25' in width, or b) in the vicinity of a school. Neither of these conditions applied to this situation. Mr. Matacia asked staff for reasons that speed bumps are used in the City now. Mr. Rivera indicated that we currently do not have any speed bumps in the City. The only speed bumps in the City are on private parking lots. Mr. Rivera indicated that speed bumps have not been used on City property because they cause more out of control accidents, noise increases as the vehicles go over the bumps, also they need to be placed in succession in order to get the desired reduced speed effect, and emergency vehicles have difficulty going over the bumps. Mr. Chidester asked if the rumble strips or reflective buttons might help the situation in conjunction with the speed limit signs. Mr. Rivera indicated that it may help but that this will increase the noise level in the area. Mr. Rivera stated that botts dots probably would not help because they become loose, can become wet and slippery, bicyclists and pedestrians have problems going over them. They are a high maintenance item. Ms. Braden asked what violations could the police enforce if advisory signs were posted and the striping added. Mr. Rivera said that violations could include travelling unsafe for conditions or crossing over the double center line strip. . Mr. Matacia moved that the Commission follow staffs recommendation that the curve at Point Barrow Drive and West Point Drive be delineated with a centerline strip with reflective pavement markers and that curve warning signs with a 15 MPH advisory speed plate be posted in advance of each end of the curve. Koester Second. MSUC 7-0. . . . SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING JULY 11, 1991 MINUTES Page 3 6. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. 7. STAFF INFORMATIONAL REPORT: C.I.P. STATUS REPORT FY 91-92 Frank Rivera informed the Commission that the traffic signal modification at Broadway and "I" Street is complete with the exception of the re-striping on "I" Street west of Broadway. The intersection is operating much better with the permissive-protective left turn phasing. 8. CHULA VISTA POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAFFIC SUMMARY, JANUARY - MAY 1991 Chair Braden asked for comments. Mr. Chidester asked Sgt. Schaefer if there was a correlation between a higher amount of citations and a fewer amount of accidents. Sgt. Schaefer said that this is a common interpretation but was unsure if a conclusion could be drawn by the data presented. Mr. Koester asked how many radar units the City has. Sgt. Schaefer said there are six in the Traffic Bureau and there are very few in the patrol section. There are a few units installed in vehicles, but most are handheld units. Sgt. Schaefer also reported that the City utilizes on advisory unit that displays how fast a vehicle's speed is and posts a speed limit sign for that area. This unit is deployed four days a week at different locations. 9. REVIEW OF SAFETY COMMISSION ANNUAL SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES Chair Braden asked for comments. Mr. Koester asked what the current status of the car wash and the Shell Gas Station on Bonita Road. Mr. Rivera stated that Shell's plans were completed for 1/2 of the roadway. This item went to the City Council for approval to make the entire street concrete. Therefore, the design had to be redone. Staff was not sure of the status of this project. The same contractor that is working with Shell Oil will be doing the west half of the street as well. The City will be providing the inspection of the project. Ms. Braden asked if there was any indication whether Shell was going to be modifying their car wash equipment. Mr. Rivera has not heard anything regarding a modification. Ms. Braden asked Mr. Rivera to follow up on this item. 10. STAFF REPORTS None. 11. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Mr. Thomas asked staff if they could check into putting botts dots on the centerline curve of East Flower Street near "E" Street. There is off street parking on half of the curve and the width of the yellow line varies. Mr. Rosenberg said staff would look into the matter and report back at the next meeting. Mr. Koester said he is experiencing problems with the traffic signal at East "L" Street and Cuyamaca Avenue. East and west traffic on East "L" Street does not flow through the . SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING JULY 11, 1991 MINUTES Page 4 intersection. It is a constant stopping situation. Mr. Rosenberg stated that staff will check into the matter. Sgt. Schaefer concurred that the signal is a hinderance to east-west traffic. 12. SAFETY COMMISSION ROSTER FY 91-92 Commissioners were asked to check their information including address, phone number, and appointment dates. A corrected sheet will be sent to City administration. Mr. Rivera will be checking into the correct appointment date to the Safety Commission for Ollie Braden. 13. ATTENDANCE LIST FY 90-91 Mr. Rivera asked commission to phone in when they will not be able to attend a meeting. Commissioners can contact either Prank Rivera at 691-5237 or Shirley Buxton at 691-5021. According to the Boards/Commissions/Committee Handbook, commissioners cannot have more than 3 unexcused absences per year (25%). 14. SAFETY COMMISSION BUDGET FY 91-92 Ms. Braden indicated that the Commission budget did have cuts over last year. . 15. WESTERNITE SUBSCRIPTION Prank Rivera will be sending the current list of commissioners addresses to the publisher. The publication is received bi-monthly. 16. Recess to Regular Monthly Workshop Session, Immediately Following (if necessary) Not necessary. 17. Adjournment (to the Safety Commission meeting scheduled for Thursday. August 8. 1991) Motion by Koester to adjourn the meeting. Chidester Second. MSUC 7-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m. j,hM)~~~ Shirley Buxt , Recordmg Secretary . SB,SAFETY /7-11-91.MIN