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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-09-12 SC MINUTESMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA SAFETY COMMISSION September 12, 2002 - Council Chambers 6:00 p.m. Public Services Building CALL TO ORDER 1. Roll Call: Present: Vice Chair Acton; Commissioners Gove, Liken, Lopez, and Perrett Absent: Chair McAlister and Commissioner White Also present: Ralph Leyva, Senior Civil Engineer; Majed AI-Ghafry, Civil Engineer; Patrick Moneda, Assistant Civil Engineer; Police Agent Steve Guthrie; and Florence Picardal, Recording Secretary MSC (Liken/Acton) to excuse the absences of Chair McAlister and Commissioner White. (5-0-2 McAlister and White absent) 2. Pledge of Allegiance/Silent Prayer 3. Opening Statement Opening statement read by Vice Chair Acton. 4. Approval of Minutes - March 14, 2002, July 11, 2002, and August 8, 2002 • Minutes of March 14, 2002 and July 11, 2002 were approved at a previous meeting. No minutes were available for August 8, 2002. MEETING AGENDA 5. Oral Communications • None. 6. Report on request for an All -Way Stop at the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Spruce Street/Spruce Court Staff has received a request to install an all -way stop at the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Spruce Street/Spruce Court from Chula Vista resident William Yancy, who resides at 305 Spruce Street. He suggested that an all -way stop would be beneficial to decrease the potential risk of vehicular accidents at the subject intersection due to the improper comer sight distance for motorists entering the intersection from Spruce Street/Spruce Court, and the excessive speed for motorists approaching the subject intersection traveling on Melrose Avenue. Mr. AI-Ghafry presented staffs report and Powerpoint Presentation. He stated that 9 phone calls were received with 5 in favor and 4 against the all -way stop. Staff Recommendation: That the Safety Commission concur with staffs recommendation to deny the installation of all -way stop control at the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Spruce Street/Spruce Court based on the location not meeting the City Council Policy #478-03, which requires a minimum of 45 points out of a possible 100 points. This location achieved a total of 24 points. Public hearing opened. Safety Commission Minutes September 12, 2002 Page 2 The following persons spoke in favor of staff recommendation: Bill Trautmann, 1409 Melrose, Chula Vista, CA Virginia Taylor, 298 Spruce Court, Chula Vista, CA The following persons spoke in opposition to staff recommendation: 1. Darren Belton, 325 Spruce Street, Chula Vista, CA 2. Mrs. Escobar, 285 Spruce Court, Chula Vista, CA 3. William Yancy, 305 Spruce Street, Chula Vista, CA Public hearing closed. Commission Discussion: Commissioner Liken stated there is speed problem, but there are no problems exiting or making turns from Spruce Street/Spruce Court. He is not in favor of the all -way stop. He believes that police enforcement would help. Commissioner Perrett concurred with Commissioner Liken and staff recommendation. Commissioner Lopez stated he was in favor of the all -way stop and supported the residents who were cohcerned about the speeding issue. MSC (Liken/Perrett) concur with staffs recommendation to deny the installation of all -way stop control at the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Spruce Street/Spruce Court and direct Police Department to place Smart Units and provide additional speed enforcement at this location. (5-0-2, McAlister and White absent) 7. Report on request for a 2 -hour Parking Zone on Sheffield Court. • Staff received a letter from James Rose and Gary Wright, residents of Sheffield Court, complaining that residents of the Windsor Heights Condominiums continuously park their vehicles on Sheffield Court. The letter mentioned that the residents of Windsor Heights have inadequate parking within their complex, and constantly choose to park their vehicles on Sheffield Court and in front of the single-family homes fronting that roadway, thereby causing safety issues with lack of driveway clearance, and creating problems with the automated trash pickup system being utilized by the Pacific Waste Corporation. The request for the 2 -hour parking zone was to discourage the residents of Windsor Heights from parking their vehicles in front of the single-family homes for the entire day. Mr. AI-Ghafry presented staffs report and Powerpoint Presentation. He stated only 1 call was received opposing the 2 -hour time limited parking. Staff Recommendation: That the Safety Commission accept this report and concur with staff to recommend to City Council that 2 -hour time limited parking be installed in all areas fronting single-family homes addressed with Sheffield Court, and that permits be issued for each single-family home to exempt the residents and their guests from the prohibition or restriction of the 2 -hour time limited parking. Public hearing opened. 0 Safety Commission Minutes Is September 12, 2002 Page 3 The following persons spoke in favor of staff recommendation: 1. James Rose, 614 Sheffield Ct., Chula Vista, CA 2. Gary Wright, 613 Sheffield Ct., Chula Vista, CA 3. Paul Welebob, 612 Sheffield Ct., Chula Vista, CA 4. Alex Fernandez, 616 Sheffield Ct., Chula Vista, CA The following persons spoke in opposition of staff recommendation: 1. Mark Pelowitz, 600-3 Sheffield Ct., Chula Vista, CA 2. Lori Sanna, 600-9 Sheffield Ct., Chula Vista, CA 3. John Sanna, 600-9 Sheffield Ct., Chula Vista, CA 4. Pat Talese, 600-6 Sheffield Ct., Chula Vista, CA 5. Thomas Mitchell, 600-28 Sheffield Ct., Chula Vista, CA 6. Elizabeth Best, 600-41 Sheffield Ct., Chula Vista, CA 7. Sue Wright, 600-32 Sheffield Ct., Chula Vista, CA 8. Brad Wilson, 600-31 Sheffield Ct., Chula Vista, CA Public hearing closed. Commission Discussion: Vice Chair Acton asked Agent Guthrie to clarify the City's 72 -hour parking ordinance. He stated that it is illegal to store your vehicle on a public street for more than 72 hours. The Police Dept. at the owner's expense may tow cars in violation. Cars may also be cited for any parking or registration infractions. When the Police Dept. is called regarding a 72 -hour violation, an officer is dispatched that day and the tires will be marked with the 72 hours beginning when the tires are marked. Commissioner • Perrett stated that possibly a parking restriction can be in effect during trash days. Commissioner Liken stated that there is a lot of sentiment from both sides and finds it disturbing that the situation has been aggravated to the point that vandalism is occurring. He felt that the situation is "boiling" in this neighborhood and the staff recommendation be approved and the item can be heard by City Council. Commissioner Lopez agreed with Commissioner Liken. Commissioner Gove stated while delivering Meals on Wheels, she visits the Windsor Heights complex on a regular basis. She has observed that between 11:00 am and 12:00 noon, Mondays or Thursdays, there are no vehicles parked in the guest parking spaces. She is also in agreement with Commissioners Liken and Lopez. Commissioner Gove stated that the CC&R's for guest/resident parking can be changed. Vice Chair Acton agreed with the comments made by Commissioners Liken, Lopez, and Gove. MSC (Acton/Perrett) to concur with staff to recommend to City Council that 2 -hour time limited parking be installed in all areas fronting single-family homes addressed with Sheffield Court, and that permits be issued for each single-family home to exempt the residents and their guests from the prohibition or restriction of the 2 -hour time limited parking. (5-0-2, McAlister and White absent) 8. Action Summary Update/Staff Comments Accepted into record. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that staff is still looking at the option of solar operated flashing beacons for E Street/Corte Maria. 9. Traffic Accident Summary — July 2002 Accepted into record. 11 Safety Commission Minutes • September 12, 2002 Page 4 10. Staff Comments None. 12. Commissioner Comments Vice Chair Acton stated that in an 8/14/02 program/article, Chula Vista was in the "Top 20 Cities with Unsafe Walking Conditions". Agent Guthrie stated that this year the City has had one pedestrian fatality (pedestrian at fault, alcohol-related). He stated that pedestrians are at fault in 80-90% of most pedestrian -related collisions. The biggest concern now is the 65+ populations and educating the walking public that the blacktop is for vehicles and sidewalks are for pedestrians. Commissioner Liken questioned staff about: a. The cameras/sensors for traffic signals (virtual video detectors). b. Traffic backup at westbound East H St. to southbound 1-805. c. New notification signs. d. Letters from residents included in Commission packets. e. Traffic congestion in Chula Vista. Mr. Leyva explained the SCATS system, which is a new traffic adaptive signal timing system that has just been installed at 7 intersections along East "H" Street and Otay Lakes Road. Staff is in the process of re - timing those signals. Staff is also adjusting the amplifiers on the "chattering detectors" so that false information does not enter into the computers. It is a very complex system, but once the final adjustments are made, the traffic should be handled more efficiently. • Vice Chair Acton thanked Majed AI-Ghafry for his very moving speech at the City's 9/11/02 Memorial Service. ADJOURNMENT AT 8:17 P.M. to a regular meeting scheduled for October 10, 2002. J ,\Engin eer1SAFETY\091202_M I N.doc 11 Respectfully submitted, Florence Picardal, Recording Secretary