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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafety Commission mins 1992/06/11 . MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA SAFETY COMMISSION Thursday, June 11, 1992 7:05 p.m. Council Chambers Public Services Building CAll TO ORDER 1. Roll Call: Present: Chair Braden, Vice Chair Thomas, Commissioners 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. Pledge of Allegiance/Silent Praver 3. Opening Statement Read by Chair Braden. 4. Approval of Minutes MSUC (Koester/Padilla) to approve the Safety Commission Minutes of May 14, 1992 as presented. . 5. Special Orders of the Dav - Nominations and elections for Chair & Vice Chair for FY 1992-93 MSC (Koester/Chidester) to nominate Vice Chair Thomas as Chair for 1992-93. Approved 6-0-0-1 with Commissioner Thomas abstaining. MSC (Thomas/Chidesterl to nominate Commissioner Padilla as Vice Chair for 1992-93. Approved 6-0- 0- 1 with Commissioner Padilla abstaining. MEETING AGENDA 6. REPORT - Traffic Concerns for Main Street in the vicinity of Melrose Avenue Staff briefed the Commission on this item which was continued from May 14, 1992 and amended their recommendation to include the prohibition of parking on the north side of Main Street fronting the Woodland Park subdivision. Frank Rivera reported that tractor trailer trucks are being parked for extended period of times on Main Street. Staff is prepared to install "No Parking" signs. MSUC (Braden/Koester) the accept staff's recommendation and recommend to the City Council to approve a resolution: 11 lowering the speed limit on Main Street from Industrial Boulevard to Otay Valley Road and Otay Valley Road from Main Street to 1-805 southbound ramps from 45 mph to 40 mph. and 2) to prohibit parking along the north curb line on Main Street fronting the Woodland Park Subdivision. . 7. REPORT - Status of Apache Drive in Charter Point Subdivision Frank Rivera reported to the Commission the costs of installing a raised median which would prohibit left turns from Telegraph Canyon Road to Apache Drive. The cost would be approximately $20,000- Safety Commission Minutes June 11, 1992 Page 2 25,000. The residents of the Charter Point subdivision would like a left-turn prohibition from 7:00 am - 9:00 am to help reduce shortcutting to Southwestern College. Staff looked at having a median installed with the current construction and it does not appear to be a problem. The residents are strongly opposed to left-turn prohibitions 24 hours a day. If a study is performed at a later time and a raised median is deemed needed, there may be problems with the funding and it could be delayed two or three years. This matter will be going before the City Council. Commissioner Matacia asked if the Commission and staff were overlooking the left turn from Apache Drive to eastbound Telegraph Canyon Road. He felt that this was a more severe issue than the left turns from Telegraph Canyon Road to Apache Drive. He asked why staff was changing their position. Hal Rosenberg said that staff was not changing their position, but that the Commission should wait until the project is completed and assess the total impact of the new intersection. The report being prepared for Council will include all alternatives for this area. The actions of the Safety Commission will be included in the report. Mr. Rosenberg concurs with the problem of turning left on to eastbound Telegraph Canyon Road from Apache Drive. One alternative solution would be to allow left turns into Apache Drive, but not left turns out of Apache Drive. Vice Chair Thomas asked why the funding would take two or three years and if there is a contingency fund for change orders on this project. Frank Rivera said that since this project is underway, it would be easy to execute a change order and do the construction. If later it is deemed necessary to install a median, then new funds would need to be appropriated. The construction projects for the next few years have already been budgeted and are currently being designed. Mr. Rivera said he believed contingency funds were available. Chair Braden reiterated that it would be easier to do a change order now and said the addition of a median would need to occur anyway. Commissioner Matacia said if the recommendation was to prohibit left turns during certain hours, it did not cost any more to put up a sign to prohibit left turns all day. Hal Rosenberg said that staff is not recommending the part-time left turn prohibition. Frank Rivera told Commissioner Matacia that it is the homeowners who are requesting the part time left turn prohibition. Mr. Rosenberg reminded the Commission that at the May meeting they voted to install a temporary barrier at the intersection of Telegraph Canyon Road and Apache Drive, remove it during the re-route period, and then replace the median. He said staff had a responsibility to take their recommendation to the City Council and also offer any other options. Commissioner Padilla asked for a clarification on staff's position on the permanently installed raised median. Mr. Rivera said the Homeowners Association requested the part-time left turn prohibition which would be difficult to enforce. The raised median adds cost to the project and is not needed at this time. Once the intersection of Telegraph Canyon Road/Otay lakes Road is completed, it will have the necessary capacity to handle the traffic to Southwestern College, thus reducing the need or desire for motorists to shortcut through Apache Drive. Mr. Rosenberg said that tonight's report was in response to the Commission's request to have staff research the possibility of installing a permanent median. He said that staff is not recommending that a median be installed at this time. Staff is not opposed to a median, but said that City management Safety Commission Minutes June 11, 1992 Page 3 . felt that due to the strong opposition from the residents, it would be best at this time to take a "wait and see" position. Commissioner Matacia recalled that the residents said shortcutting has always been a problem and a safety issue because of the volume of cars. He said that if the Commission did not address the safety issue, then they were not doing their task. Hal Rosenberg said that the perceived problem may not exist once the construction work is completed. He asked the Commission to wait and give staff a chance to assess whether the students continue to shortcut through the area. He felt the improvements would solve the problem. Chair Braden asked how wide the median would be if installed. Hal Rosenberg said it would be 24' wide and explained the dimensions necessary for a center land- scaped median. Commissioner Matacia said that he did not see any reason to change their voting on the temporary median and asked if staff was going to recommend this to Council. Mr. Rosenberg said he would forward the Safety Commission recommendation to the City Council. . MSUC (Padilla/Thomas) That the Safety Commission accepts staff's recommendation to deny the installation of a raised median on Telegraph Canyon Road across Apache Drive until such time when the construction on Telegraph Canyon Road is completed and a traffic study of the area shows that a significant impact of vehicles shortcutting through Apache Drive affecting the safety of area residents can only be mitigated by the installation of a raised median. 8. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Gloria Attaway, 252 Sea Vale Street. Chula Vista, CA 91910 addressed concerns of parents whose children use the area of Second Avenue from E Street to Sweetwater Road. Second Avenue is a major thoroughfare, and it is not only neighborhood traffic. There are no signal lights, cross walks, or stop signs between E and Sweetwater Road. She said the Chula Vista Police Department has done a good job enforcing the area, but it is not enough to deter all motorists. There are approximately 15 kindergarten and first graders who wait on Second A venue for the Rosebank school bus between D and C Avenues. There are 20-25 elementary school children who walk the area to Rosebank. There have been three accidents in the last six months, one resulting in a death. one an injury to an elementary school boy, and one resulting in property damage. She felt stop signs on Second Avenue at both C and D Streets will provide the necessary traffic control measure for this "family populated area." . Donald Stell, 210 Sea Vale Street. Chula Vista. CA 91910 repeated Ms. Attaway's recommendation for the stop signs on Second Avenue on C and D Streets. He asked that a study be performed and for this item to be placed on next agenda of the Safety Commission. Not only are there children in this area, but elderly people walk along Second Avenue. He said it is not safe to cross Second Avenue, unless pedestrians go up to E Street and cross at the light. Children cross Second A venue to play with friends and it is unsafe for these children to cross. Mr. Stell stated he does not allow his children to cross Second Avenue. He pointed out that every letter street in Chula Vista that intersects with a numeric street has a traffic control device. Vice Chair Thomas asked Frank Rivera if he recalled this issue coming up before the Commission approximately one year ago. Safety Commission Minutes June 11, 1 992 Page 4 Frank Rivera recalled that at that time, the Safety Commission tabled this item until SR-54 was completed. He informed Mr. Stell and Ms. Attaway that this item will be on the agenda for July 9, 1992. STAFF REPORTS 9. 1991-92 CIP Status ReDort - Distributed for Commissioner information. 10. Chula Vista Police DeDartment Traffic Summary for ADril1992 - Distributed for Commissioner information. 11 . Status ReDort on Shell Oil Car Wash at Bonita Glen Drive - Distributed for Commissioner information. OTHER BUSINESS 12. Roberts Rules of Order Frank Rivera distributed three Roberts Rules of Order booklets that he had purchased. There are six more on order. The books were distributed to the new Chair Bob Thomas and Vice Chair Steve Padilla and Ollie Braden. 13. Commissioner Comments None. 14. Commission WorkshoD Staff distributed another draft report in response to Council Referrals 1267 and 2557 regarding the Role of the Safety Commission. Vice Chair Thomas said that since he did not see any real difference in recommendations, he was ready to recommend Option 1 which would require a charter amendment to make the Safety Commission a decision making group. MSC (Thomas/Pitts) to accept Option 1 and prepare a report to the City Council. Approved 6-1 with Commissioner Chidester voting no. ADJOURNMENT MSUC (Koester/Matacia) to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, .JhJ1} 1/1. jJy J-,y}e-r--- Shirley Buxto , Recording Secretary SB:SAFETY/OS1192.MIN 061692