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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafety Commission mins 1992/10/08 . MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA SAFETY COMMISSION Thursday, October 8, 1 992 7:08 p.m. Council Chambers Public Services Building CALL TO ORDER 1. Roll Call: Present: Chair Thomas, Vice Chair Padilla, Commissioners Braden, Chidester, Koester, and Matacia Excused Absence: Commissioner Pitts Also Present: Hal Rosenberg, Traffic Engineer; Frank Rivera, Associate Traffic Engineer; Shirley Buxton, Recording Secretary 2. Pledae of Alleaiance/Silent Praver 3. ODenine Statement Read by Chair Thomas 4. ADDroval of Minutes No Action Taken . MEETING AGENDA 5. REPORT on Country Club Estates Median Frank Rivera presented staff's report. David Leaf. 866 Country Club Drive. Chula Vista, CA 91911 said he has seen the traffic increase in this area. He felt if delineators were placed in the center of Sierra Way as a median, it would give motorists something to aim for. The existing delineators are in disrepair and have been struck many times. He felt the delineators should be removed from Palomar Drive and Country Club Drive and that installing delineators on Sierra Way was not a good idea. Chair Thomas asked if these delineators were the only available option. Hal Rosenberg said that all delineators could be removed at Sierra Drive and Palomar Drive and staff could observe the performance of the intersections. Staff felt the effect of the diversion of traffic occurred as a result of the action taken at First Avenue and Country Club Drive. Traffic has diverted away from those two streets, traffic volumes are lower, and the problem of the shortcutting has diminished significantly. There are still motorists speeding through the neighborhood, but determining the effect of delineators is difficult. The delineators could be removed and staff could report back to the Safety Commission in six months. Chair Thomas said he did not want to see this item coming back every six months for review. . Mr. Rosenberg said staff is recommending another trial installation to see if the new design pattern would work. If the new pattern works, staff could consider permanent improvements. Staff concurs that the delineators are not the best looking way of improving the situation, but the next step would be to reconstruct the intersection by installing new curbs and installing improvements such as a raised island made out of asphalt or concrete. Safety Commission Minutes October 8, 1992 Page 2 Chair Thomas asked if a concrete curb could be made without filling in the island. Mr. Rosenberg said that would be the next step. Clint Sad/8I'. 47 Palomar Drive. Chu/a Vista. CA 91911 said he agreed that the delineators are not pretty, but said the delineators have done more for safety on the street than anything traffic engineering has ever done. The streets used to be a race track for motorists who uprooted trees and bushes in the area. After reviewing the speed report, it showed the installation of the delineators reduced speeds in the area by 10 mph. The numbers support keeping the delineators. G/en G08l'ke. 877 Country Club Drive. Chu/a Vista. CA 91911 complimented staff on responding to his concerns. Mr. Goerke said that when vehicles run over delineators at a high rate of speed, it sounds like gunfire. The initial purpose of Mr. Goerke's correspondence to the City was to find out when the "experiment" of the delineators was going to end and something permanent be done. Slower speeds, proper stops, and proper turns are the desired result of whatever action is taken, with safety being the main concern for the residents. The experiment has taken three years. Mr. Goerke said if what has been done has been effective, then it's time to move on to a permanent solution. Mr. Goerke provided the Commission with his drawing of a permanent raised center-filled median which he would like to see the City construct. If the delineators have not been effective, they should be removed. Steve Savel. 53 Si8l'ra Way. Chu/a Vista. CA 91911 has experienced four vehicles losing control and landing on his property. In two of the incidents, the vehicles struck his home. Mr. Savel was speaking in favor of staff's recommendation for the trial at Sierra Way and Country Club Drive. He also supports a permanent median because it would make the intersection safer. Mr. Savel felt that a median would help deter people who are shortcutting through the area. He said if staff removed the current delineators and did not replace it with a more permanent solution, another accident would occur. Vice Chair Padilla asked Mr. Savel if he viewed the delineators as a permanent solution. Mr. Savel said he did not see the delineators as a permanent solution, because they were installed on a trial basis. He viewed the delineators as a way staff could evaluate the effectiveness of marking the streets for motorists. Chair Thomas said he always felt that the delineators were a temporary measure. He was more inclined to work on a permanent aesthetic solution, leaving the delineators at their current locations. He feels the problem has been solved. MSC (Thomas/Chidester) that the design of the delineators be kept on Country Club Drive at Palomar Drive and Sierra Way, but for staff to replace the delineators with a more permanent design. Approved 6-0-1 with Commissioner Pitts absent. 6. REPORT Follow Up Report on Speed Control for Bonita Long Canyon Frank Rivera presented staff's report. Staff amended their recommendation to include installing a double yellow centerline stripe only on the curves on Canyon Drive near Via Hacienda, Country Vistas Lane between White Birch and Canyon Drive, and on Country Vistas Lane near Sandy Creek Drive, not the entire length of Canyon Drive and Country Vistas Lane. Chair Braden asked if the stop signs were effective and asked for the accident history. frank Rivera reported that the stop surveys found 5 percent of motorists travelling through the inter- section at greater than 10 mph. This area appears to have a higher non-compliance rate than other Safety Commission Minutes October 8, 1992 Page 3 . areas. Mr. Rivera then reviewed accident history and said the accidents that occurred were not attributed to the stop signs. The Police Department has enforced the stop signs. Leslie Cavagnero, 1551 Country Vistas Lane, Bonita, CA 91902 concurred with staff's recommenda- tion regarding the stop signs. However, she and her neighbors requested that staff not install the double yellow centerline stripe. She said the centerline stripe would have negative impacts on her and her neighbors and would not make the street safer. Ms. Cavagnero felt the centerline stripe would decrease property values in the area by giving the appearance of a busy street. She also questioned why staff wanted to install the stripe now, when two years ago City Council did not want the stripe installed. Ms. Cavagnero then asked why the striping was not initially installed on the street. Frank Rivera said striping is not installed until after streets are accepted by the City, and by the time these streets were accepted, residents had already moved in and requested the City Council do something about the speeding in the area . Typically, striping and signing is completed prior to residents moving into a new subdivision. Ms. Cavagnero asked staff if they felt the striping would help the area in terms of safety. Frank Rivera's opinion was that if striping is installing around the curves, it would help deter motorists from shortcutting the curve and crossing over to the wrong side of the road. Vice Chair Padilla asked staff for a brief synopsis of Council's action at their previous meeting. . Mr. Rivera indicated that Council had agreed with the stop sign installation, but opted to take a "wait and see" attitude toward the centerline stripe. Deborah Campos, 1596 Country Vistas Lane, Bonita, CA 91902 said when she moved in during phase II of Bonita Long Canyon the area was peaceful, but when additional homes were added, traffic increased. She said the stop signs have been a great help and has seen the Police Department enforce the area. She is not in favor of the centerline stripe because she felt it would increase traffic through the area and also because it would reduce property values. She said if a centerline had been in place when she was bought her home, she probably wouldn't have bought her home, because the centerline stripe would have indicated that it was a thoroughfare for traffic. Vice Chair Padilla said the speakers were indicating that property values would decrease, but asked the speaker about prospective home buyers, purchasing a home in an area that needed a centerline stripe but did not have it. He wanted to know her feelings on this aspect. Ms. Campos indicated that safety is first, but feels the centerline stripe would bring more traffic through the area and it would be deemed a thoroughfare. She indicated that students going to Bonita Vista High and Southwestern College use the street now as a shortcut to Otay Lakes Road. She said these students speed through the area. Even though enforcement has been good, a centerline stripe would indicate a thoroughfare and bring more traffic and higher speeds through the area. . MSC (Braden/Koester) to accept staff's report and make permanent the all-way stops at the intersections of: 11 Canyon Drive and Via Hacienda; and 21 Canyon Drive and Cumbre View; 31 Country Vistas Lane and Cherry Hills Lane; and 41 Country Vistas Lane and Sandy Creek Drive and to install the double yellow centerline stripe on Canyon Drive near Via Hacienda, Country Vistas Lane between White Birch and Canyon Drive, and on Country Vistas Lane near Sandy Creek Drive. Approved 6-0-1 with Commissioner Pitts absent. Safety Commission Minutes October 8, 1992 Page 4 7. REPORT on Parking concerns for the 400 block of Nickman Street Frank Rivera presented staff's report. Vice Chair Padilla asked what the criteria was to red tip driveways for residents. Frank Rivera said that when a request is received for red tipping, staff investigates and determines the legal parking in front of a residence and meets with the property owner. When the area of legal parking is determined, the rest of the curb can be red tipped with the property owner's permission. Commissioner Koester asked how many residents would be affected on Nickman Street if the driveways were red tipped. Mr. Rivera said that generally it is first four of five houses from the intersection. Grine Rice, 477 Nickman StrBBt Chula Vista. CA 97977 presented the Commission with photos he took of the street. Mr. Rice indicated a speed problem and asked if speed bumps could be installed on Nickman. Commissioner Matacia asked Mr. Rice if he felt the proposed parking lot at Del Rey High School would help the situation on Nickman Street. Mr. Rice said it would not help the residents on Nickman Street. When the residents have visitors come to their homes, the visitors do not have a place to park. He also said that if the driveways are red tipped 8 feet, the residents would not have room to park their vehicles. He also said students leave their trash in the street and residents must sweep the streets, since the street sweepers cannot access the curbs. Commissioner Matacia again asked Mr. Rice about the proposed parking lot and asked why it would not help. Mr. Rice said the parking lot would help, it was the red tipping that wouldn't help. He said he did not know what kind of effect the parking lot would have on the residents until it was built. Currently, there are approximately 50 cars parking on Nickman Street, and the proposed parking lot is scheduled to hold 40 vehicles. Mr. Rice said he called the police department and a driver was cited, which he felt bad about. Mr. Rice then placed notes on the cars asking them not to block the driveways. Commissioner Matacia said until the parking the lot is completed and the vehicles move to the lot, he didn't see how the Commission could make a safety decision. Stanley PatBBt 456 Nickman StrBBt Chula Vista, CA 97977 lives west of the cul-de-sac. He felt the Sweetwater Union High School District (herein after "District") has "dropped the ball" on the parking lot. Last year, seven mobile classrooms were brought to the campus and placed on permanent foundations. No additional parking was added. He said the school is building more structures with no additional parking. The parking lot is not lit during the evening, so students feel safer parking on Nickman Street where there are street lights. Another reason students park on Nickman Street is because it is closer to the school than the parking lot. He felt the problem on Nickman Street is being caused by the District. Vice Chair Padilla asked Mr. Poteet about enduring the situation until the issue with the District is addressed. He said the residents do not have a choice but to endure the situation. He said the District must provide parking for their students and indicated that police enforcement is needed in the area. Safety Commission Minutes October 8, 1992 Page 5 . JOB CIfNTIflllt, 443 Nickman Strflflt, Chula Vista, CA 91911 is against red tipping the driveways because it would push the parking onto Fourth or Fifth Avenues. If motorists parked on Fourth Avenue, they would have to cross Fourth Avenue to get to school which isn't safe. He said he does not like the students parking on Nickman Street, but if the District is building a parking lot, he wanted to wait and see what would happen after the parking lot is built. Chair Thomas asked the background on the high school parking lot. Frank Rivera spoke with the Assistant Principal from Del Rey High School and said the design for the parking lot is complete and the project is out to bid. The parking lot should be constructed within two months provided there is good weather. He said he was unaware of any new buildings being constructed on the campus. Chair Thomas asked if the District must follow the same procedures for new constructions as homeowners. Frank Rivera said the District does not go through the City's Planning or Engineering Department, but is regulated by the State Architects Office. Chair Thomas said he found it difficult to believe that the District could build a school or add more buildings without a concern for parking. . Frank Rivera said the District is trying to arrange a lease agreement with property owners for a vacant lot on the north side of Moss Street. An agreement has not yet been reached. Chair Thomas did not feel the solution was to red tip the driveways, but to deal with the District on the parking issue for the high school. Frank Rivera mentioned that the City has a residential parking permit system. Some of the streets affected include streets around the Chula Vista Shopping Center and Chula Vista High School. Staff originally recommended that Nickman Street residents use the residential parking permit system in hopes that after the parking lot was complete, it would alleviate the problem. He then explained the residential parking permit system. Chair Thomas said he had difficulty supporting staff's recommendation without involving the District and their plans about the new parking lot. MSC (Thomas/Chidester) that the School District be invited to the next Safety Commission meeting and have staff research the District's requirements for buildings and parking lots. Approved 6-0-1 with Commissioner Pitts absent. 8. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. STAFF REPORTS . 9. 1992-93 CIP Status ReDort - Distributed for Commissioner information. 10. Chula Vista Police DeDartment Traffic Summary for July and Auaust 1992 - Distributed for Commissioner information. Safety Commission Minutes October 8, 1 992 Page 6 OTHER BUSINESS 11. Information Items - Distributed for Commissioner information. 12. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Chidester said the Auto Club presented Safe Driving A wards to some Chula Vista Police Officers. The Safe Driver awards are open to Sheriff deputies and fire fighters. He asked the Commission's okay for him to contact the fire chief to see if any fire fighters qualified for this award. The Commissioners did not have a problem with Mr. Chidester proceeding with this action. Commissioner Braden said she has noticed palm trees that need to be trimmed and is concerned about them being a safety hazard. Seeds are falling on the sidewalk and people have slipped and fallen because of these seeds. Staff will look into this. Chair Thomas stated that the Safe Route to School for Rosebank School had changed and was not in the format that was prepared by Traffic Engineering. Frank Rivera said he was not aware of this and asked for a copy of the map. The map is made in conjunction with the City's Police Department and Traffic Engineering as well as the school district. He will check into the change that was made to the map. 13. Commission WorkshoD None. ADJOURNMENT MSC (Koester/Thomasl to adjourn at 9:02 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, fb4-/ SB:SAFETYf100882.MIN 102092