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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafety Commission mins 1992/04/09 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA SAFETY COMMISSION . Thursday, April 9, 1992 7:02 p.m. Council Chambers Public Services Building CALL TO ORDER 1. Roll Call: Present: Chair Braden, Commissioners Thomas, Koester, Chidester, Matacia, Padilla, and Pitts Also Present: Harold Rosenberg, Traffic Engineer; Frank Rivera, Associate Traffic Engineer; Sgt. Tom Schaefer, Police Department; Shirley Buxton, Recording Secretary 2. Pledoe of Alleoiance/Silent Praver 3. QDenine Statement Read by Chair Braden. 4. ADDroval of Minutes MSUC (Koester/Thomas} to approve the Safety Commission Minutes of March 12, 1992 as presented. MEETING AGENDA . 5. Affirmino Trial Traffic Reoulation - All-way stop at the Intersection of lakeshore Drive and Eastlake Drive. MSUC (Thomas/Pitts} to approve Affirming Trial Traffic Regulation - All-way stop at the Intersection of Lakeshore Drive and Eastlake Drive. 6. Affirmino Trial Traffic Reoulation - Parking Prohibited at all times on a portion of Paseo Del Rey. MSUC (Thomas/Pitts} to approve Affirming Trial Traffic Regulation - Parking Prohibited at all times on a portion of Paseo Del Rey. 7. Verbal ReDort - Status of Apache Drive in Charter Point Subdivision. . Frank Rivera reported that he and Dennis Davies from Engineering Construction Inspection met with the Charter Point Homeowners Association and discussed the traffic control plans that will be implemented in the area due to the Phase III construction of Otay Lakes Road and Telegraph Canyon Road. The Homeowners Association had concerns about the amount of traffic that is currently going through Apache Drive in the morning. Students on the way to Southwestern College shortcut through Charter Point. Staff counted approximately 137 cars during a one hour period from 7:00-8:00 a.m. and, of that, 104 were students going to Southwestern College. Traffic does not become a problem again until 5:00-6:00 p.m. when the same situation occurs. The Homeowners Association wanted a left turn prohibition from 7:00-9:00 a.m. from Telegraph Canyon Road to Apache Drive. Mr. Rivera said that placing a sign is not a problem, however, enforcement of the no left turn would be the key to its success. The Chula Vista Police Department cannot guarantee how often they can enforce the left turn prohibition. Staff suggested waiting until the construction is completed, and the intersection of Telegraph Canyon Road and Otay Lakes Road is signalized. This signal should reduce the incentive for students to shortcut through Apache Drive. Mr. Rivera proposed to the residents the possibility of installing a median on Telegraph Canyon Road that would prohibit left turn access to Apache Drive and another median on Otay Lakes Road also prohibiting left hand turns to Apache Drive. This would provide no advantage to people trying to Safety Commission Minutes April 9, 1992 Page 2 shortcut through the subdivision. The only people using Apache Drive would be the residents. Some of the residents were in favor of this recommendation, but others said it would be too much of an inconvenience to make U-turns at Otay Lakes Road and Telegraph Canyon Road. Mr. Rivera assured the Commission that closing the medians was not in any current plans. He also reviewed the construction detour plans with the Homeowners Association. There was a misunderstanding that traffic would be re-routed through Apache Drive for three to four months. Traffic will actually only be re-routed for three days maximum. It is a one day job, but staff will allow three days to complete the process of raising the intersection of Telegraph Canyon Road and Otay Lakes Road. The detour will not affect all traffic on Telegraph Canyon Road. The east/westbound through traffic will not be re- routed through Apache Drive, but traffic will be routed to the south on a temporary roadway. Traffic from eastbound Telegraph Canyon Road wanting to go north on Otay Lakes Road will be re-routed on to Apache Drive as well as southbound traffic from Otay Lakes Road to westbound Telegraph Canyon Road. The Homeowners Association was satisfied with this arrangement. The Homeowners Association still desires the left turn prohibition from Telegraph Canyon Road to Apache Drive and the president of Homeowners Association said he will submit a letter to request the no-left turn sign be installed. Co-Chair Thomas asked if additional traffic enforcement will be provided when traffic is re-routed for those few days. Sgt. Schaefer said the area will be monitored. Hal Rosenberg explained that there will be a median on Telegraph Canyon Road between intersections and there will be break at Apache Drive on Telegraph Canyon Road. There will a problem when the road and development in the eastern territories is completed. The traffic volume will grow to 40,000- 50,000 vehicles per day (currently approximately 20,000 cars per day). Attempting left turns from Apache Drive to Telegraph Canyon Road (east) will be difficult. It would be beneficial to the residents if they supported a permanent closure of the Apache Drive/Telegraph Canyon Road intersection. At this time, the Homeowners Association is not supporting this proposal. Frank Rivera reported that the signal at Otay Lakes Road/T elegraph Canyon Road is scheduled to be installed later this year, possibly between October and December. The all-way stop will remain in effect until the signal is functional. Hal Rosenberg said he doesn't view the problem on Apache Drive as a safety issue. It is not a typical residential street since it doesn't have driveways or much on street parking demand. Even though the shortcutting by students is an inconvenience, it is not extremely hazardous and it can be endured. Mr. Rosenberg recommended that the Commission take no action at this time. Chair Braden asked about accident history in the area. Frank Rivera said there was one reported accident at the all-way stop two days after the sign was installed and that no injuries were reported. At Apache Drive and Telegraph Canyon Road, there were only two reported accidents. Commissioner Padilla asked about enforcement history of Apache Drive. Sgt. Schaefer said Apache Drive was surveyed at 25 mph. Even though the road is windy, 25 mph is a safe speed. He felt the reason that there were not many accidens at Apache Drive and Otay Lakes Road is because of the slow speeds and congestion involved. Motorists can see when a car is trying to merge. The Police Department has issued over 100 citations for speed on Apache Drive since the problem was brought to their attention. He said it was mostly an inconvenience problem for the residents. . Safety Commission Minutes April 9, 1992 Page 3 Commissioner Matacia asked to keep this item on the agenda for an update next month. Commissioner Pitts asked for the re-routing dates. Frank Rivera said the closure of the intersection will most likely occur in August 1992, during the college's summer session when there are less students. 8. REPORT - Bonita Road/I-805 Frank Rivera reported that at the March meeting, Co-Chair Thomas asked staff to check on the intersection of westbound Bonita Road to northbound 1-805. Motorists were not stopping for right-of- way traffic. On April 7, 1992 a "Right Turn On Red After Stop" sign was installed. Co-Chair Thomas said this area was not a priority item, but he was just concerned about accidents. Sgt. Schaefer said that an officer monitored the area to enforce the sign and the officer did not see any violations. 9. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS . Carole E. Walker, 224 - A Rancho Drive. Chula Vista. CA 91911 Ms. Walker expressed her concern about the truck traffic and speeds on Main Street. She said that trucks are beginning to use the 7-11 store on the corner of Main Street and Melrose Avenue as a truck stop. Other trucks are parking on Main Street during peak traffic hours and causing sight obstructions. Children cross Main Street to get to their school bus and more condominiums are being built in the area. She reported that the speeds along Main Street are increasing. Ms. Walker would like to see the prohibition of truck parking on Main Street and the speed limit reduced. Staff will report back at the May meeting. STAFF REPORTS 10. 1991-92 CIP Status Reoort - Distributed for Commissioner information. 11. Chula Vista Police DeDartment Traffic Summary for Februarv 1992 - Distributed for Commissioner information. 12. Memorandum on Bicvcle Rodeo - Distributed for Commissioner information. 13. San Dieao Union/Tribune Article on Street liahtina - Distributed for Commissioner information. . OTHER BUSINESS 14. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Chidester reported that he received a call from the local representative of the American Association of Retire Persons (AARP), Mr. John Greene. Mr. Greene told Commissioner Chidester that there is a safety program for senior citizen drivers in the area and, that he would like to come to the Safety Commission Minutes April 9, 1992 Page 4 May Safety Commission meeting to make a presentation. The Commission agreed to have Mr. Greene placed on the agenda. Chair Braden asked for an update on the Shell Oil Car Wash and the Alley between E and F Streets that was discussed at the March meeting. Shirley Buxton reported that the contract for street improvements with Shell Oil was approved by Council on March 24, 1992. Frank Rivera reported that the Building and Housing Code Enforcement section is working with the property owner to correct the encroaching wall in the alley. 15. Commission Workshoo Mr. Rivera said that on April 7, 1992, he and Hal Rosenberg met with Assistant City Attorney Rich Rudolf to work on the Safety Commission/City Council policy. Mr. Rudolf felt there is a liability problem since the City Council is the only body authorized to pass resolutions or ordinances for traffic control devices. The Safety Commission has not been granted authority. Mr. Rudolf is researching case law that would back up the proposed change in authority. Mr. Rivera said that the City of San Diego operates under City Manager system, similar to the City of Chula Vista, but has no Safety Commission. At the City of San Diego, the City Manager is authorized to approve traffic control devices. Hal Rosenberg defined the liability issue. He said if the Safety Commission overruled a staff recommendation and forced staff to install a traffic control device where it was not recommended and someone was injured, the City would have problems justifying in court installing the control device. Staff is considered to be the experts as it relates to traffic, and the Commissioners are lay people. The biggest question still to be resolved was the issue of appeals, would there be appeals to the City Council and under what circumstances would they take place. Mr. Rosenberg recommended no citizen appeal process regardless of Safety Commission vote. The only appeal would be if a Councilmember brought the issue to the Council for discussion. Commissioner Matacia asked why the City of Chula Vista needed a Safety Commission, when the City of San Diego didn't have one. Hal Rosenberg said that San Diego has district representatives, where Chula Vista does not. A citizen can always appeal to their district representative. Mr. Rosenberg encouraged the Commission to speak with staff if they had any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the issue and reported that staff was preparing a report to the City Council. ADJOURNMENT MSUC (Braden/Koesterl to adjourn at B:30 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, SB:SAFETYI040992.MIN 041492