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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-05-09 SC MINUTES't 14 • • 0 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA SAFETY COMMISSION May 9, 2002 Council Chambers 6:00 p.m. Public Services Building CALL TO ORDER 1. Roll Call: Meeting was called to order at 6:06 p.m. Present: Chair Liken; Commissioners Acton, Gove, McAlister, and White Absent: Commissioner Lopez and Perrett Also present: Ralph Leyva, Senior Civil Engineer; Majed AI-Ghafry, Civil Engineer; Sgt. Scott Arsenault; Florence Picardal, Recording Secretary; and Adrean Andres, Intern MSC (Liken/Moorq) to excuse the absence of Commissioner Perrett and the absence of Commissioner Lopez be listed as unexcused. (5-0-2, Lopez and Perrett absent) 2. Pledge of Allegiance/Silent Prayer 3. Opening Statement Opening statement read by Chair Liken. 4. Approval of Minutes - March 14 2002 and April 11, 2002 Minutes were not available. MEETING AGENDA 5. Oral Communications None. 6. Report on Request for an All -Way Stop for the Intersections of Nacion Avenue with Pearlwood Street and with Quail Place On March 8, 2001, Raul Gomez of 1345 Nacion Avenue sent staff a letter concerning the high speed of motorists traveling through the 1300 thru 1500 blocks of Nacion Avenue (between East Palomar Street and Princess Manor Court). Mr. Gomez stated that an all -way stop installation at the intersection of Nacion Avenue and Pearlwood Street would be beneficial to control the high speed of motorists traveling on Nacion Avenue and to resolve intersection safety concerns. Upon review of field conditions in the vicinity of Pearlwood Street, staff concluded that the intersection of Nacion Avenue and Quail Street should be simultaneously studied for a possible all -way stop installation because of its proximity to Pearlwood Street. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that 13 calls were received, 10 in favor of the all -way stop and 3 against. Mr. AI-Ghafry showed the Powerpoint presentation. Commissioner Gove wanted clarification on the location of the proposed stop signs - no stop signs are proposed on Nacion, only on the side streets. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that was correct. " U 1_ Safety Commission Minutes May 9, 2002 Page 2 • Staff Recommendation: 1) That the Safety Commission concur with staff's recommendation to deny the installation of all -way stop control at the intersection of Nacion Avenue and Pearlwood Street based on the intersection receiving 17 points of a possible 100 points. However, staff proposes to install a stop sign to control traffic on Pearlwood Street the intersection with Nacion Avenue. 2) That the Safety Commission concur with staffs recommendation to deny the installation of all -way stop control at the intersection of Nacion Avenue and Quail Place based on the intersection receiving 14 points of a possible 100 points. However, staff proposes to install a stop sign to control traffic on Quail Place at the intersection with Nacion Avenue. Public hearing opened. The following persons spoke in opposition to staffs recommendation: 1. Matt Flach, 1399 Nacion, Chula Vista. 2. Ms. Roble, Quail Place, Chula Vista 3. Sara Nava, 1410 Nacion, Chula Vista Public hearing closed. Commission Discussion: Commissioner McAlister stated he would recommend that it might be appropriate to consider at least one three-way stop at Quail/Nacion to break up the distance and create a safe a buffer. Commissioner White stated that with the increased traffic in the eastern territories, he would be in favor of one three-way stop at Quail/Nacion to break up the distance and slow down traffic. Commissioner Gove stated she was in agreement with Commissioner White's recommendation. Commissioner Acton stated she also concurred with the recommendation of a three-way stop at Quail/Nacion, stating that peak hours are not slow. Chair Liken stated that a 24-hour speed report would have been beneficial for the traffic counts in this report. • Unfortunately, the devices were being used at another location. He stated that high speeds were a problem in this area. He stated that stop signs should not be installed as speed control devices. Other alternatives should be looked at to slow down traffic. Commissioner McAlister suggested that possibly staff could look at "traffic calming" methods, but in the absence of that, he felt that the citizens have waited quite a while and that any further delays could leave that area open for accidents in the future. Commissioner Acton asked staff what some other alternatives could be taken. Mr. Leyva stated that red curbing could be installed for better visibility, but that would not slow down traffic. He stated that stop signs are considered a "traffic calming" device. In applying the points, staff did not assign the 10 points bonus in areas where traffic is encouraged to use parallel route (1-805 or the next arterial to the west). He also stated the distance that's uncontrolled is about 6/10ths of a mile. If there was control within that space, then that street would no longer need the 85th percentile, it would then qualify as a local street and could be posted 25 mph. It would be exempt from the speed trap definition of the California Vehicle Code. So, theoretically, if an all -stop was installed, staffs recommendation would be at Quail/Nacion because of the distance and the visibility is worse at this location than at Nacion/Pearlwood. He stated that if the Safety Commission were to recommend an all -way stop at Quail/Nacion, staff would recommend to the City Engineer that this item not be forwarded to the City Council for appeal. MSC (McAlister/Acton) 1. To concur with staff recommendation to deny the installation of an all -way stop at the intersection of Nacion Avenue and Pearlwood. 2. To not concur with staff recommendation for denial, but recommend to install an all -way stop control at the intersection of Nacion Avenue and Quail Place. (5-0-2, Lopez and Perrett absent) 7. Action Summary Update/Staff Comments No comments. 8. Traffic Accident Summary — March 2002 • No comments. A Safety Commission Minutes May 9, 2002 Page 3 • 9. Commissioner Comments Commissioner McAlister requested that the Chula Vista Police Department conduct a short study of the intersection of Eastlake Parkway and Clubhouse Drive at the Eastlake High School intersection during the periods of 6:30-7:30 am and 1:30-2:30 pm and provide a report to the Safety Commission on the intermingling of students in the crosswalks and the vehicles in the intersection. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that a CIP project has been submitted to request the immediate installation of a traffic signal at Eastlake Parkway and Clubhouse Drive. If that is approved, then staff will proceed with the design work in July 2002 and hopefully the signal will be installed by the end of 2002. Commission Acton stated she will not be in attendance at the meeting scheduled for June 13, 2002. Chair Liken read aloud the letter from Safety Commission to City of Chula Vista/Traffic Engineering re: Grants for School Traffic Programs. Commissioner White asked staff about high speed transit in the eastern territories. Mr. Leyva stated that there is a project proposed by MTDB (H Street Rapid Transit System). He stated that the Otay Ranch Development was designed with transit in mind. Next year, there should be some type of approved plan and project with funding finalized. Chair Liken requested that the minutes be brought up-to-date and encouraged staff to keep them current. ADJOURNMENT AT 7:13 P.M. to a regular meeting scheduled for June 13, 2002. is J:\Engineer\SAFETY\050902—MIN.doc 9. Respectfully submitted, Florence Picardal, Recording Secretary