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Home My WebLink About2002-10-10 SC MINUTESMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA SAFETY COMMISSION October 10, 2002 Council Chambers 6:00 p.m. Public Services Building CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 6:07 p.m. 1. Roll Call: Present: Chair McAlister, Vice Chair Acton; Commissioners Gove, Liken, Lopez, Perrett, and White Absent: None Also present: Majed AI-Ghafry, Civil Engineer; Patrick Moneda, Assistant Civil Engineer; Sgt. Scott Arsenault; and Florence Picardal, Recording Secretary 2. Pledge of Allegiance/Silent Prayer 3. Opening Statement Opening statement read by Chair McAlister. 4. Approval of Minutes —for May 9 2002 and August 8, 2002 and September 12, 2002 MSC (Acton/White) to approve minutes of May 9, 2002. (5-0-2, Lopez and Perrett abstain) No minutes were available for August 8, 2002 and September 12, 2002. MEETING AGENDA 5. Oral Communications None. 6. Report on request for an All -Way Stop at the intersection of East Palomar Street and Raven Avenue Staff has received a request to install an all -way stop at the intersection of East Palomar Street and Raven Avenue from Chula Vista resident Linda Gracia, who resides at 1349 Raven Avenue. She 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 corner sight distance for motorists entering the intersection from Raven Avenue, and due to the blinding effects of the sun during morning and afternoon hours. Mr. AI-Ghafry showed the Powerpoint Presentation. He stated that 14 calls were received, 5 in favor and 9 against the all -way stop. Staff Recommendation: That the Safety Commission concur with staff's recommendation to deny the installation of all -way stop control at the intersection of East Palomar Street and Raven Avenue based on the location not meeting the points per City Council Policy #478-03, which requires a minimum of 45 points out of a possible 100 points. This location achieved a total of 26 points. Public hearing opened. Safety Commission Minutes October 10, 2002 Page 2 The following persons spoke in favor of staff recommendation: Hans Dieben, 7 Oxford, Chula Vista, CA The following persons spoke in opposition to staff recommendation: Kevin Jones, 1299 Raven Avenue, Chula Vista, CA Public hearing closed. Commission Discussion: Commissioner White stated that he is not in favor of the all -way stop, but a police presence may be helpful. Commissioner Liken questioned staff about public notification. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that signs were posted and postcards were mailed to all residents. Commissioner Liken agreed that if there are too many stop signs, there is a tendency to ignore the signs. Discussion ensued regarding bike lanes and bike sensors/detectors. Commissioners Acton and White requested that this intersection be given additional police enforcement. MSUC (Liken/Acton) to concur with staff's recommendation to deny the installation of all -way stop control at the intersection of East Palomar Street and Raven Avenue based on the location not meeting the points per City Council Policy #478-03, which requires a minimum of 45 points out of a possible 100 points. This location achieved a total of 26 points. 7. Report on Safety Issues on Anita Street at the Light Rail Train (LRT) Crossing east of Industrial Boulevard Over the past several months, City staff and Metropolitan Transit District Board (MTDB) staff have been working together to resolve the recurrence of crossing gate damage at the Light Rail Train (LRT) crossing located on Anita Street just east of the intersection with Industrial Boulevard. These crossing arms are designed to break away upon impact with vehicles. Once those gates are sheared off, the trolley operators must treat that crossing as an all -way stop, thereby causing delays in service and potential safety issues. Staff members from both the City and MTDB are proposing to take some remedial measures in an attempt to reduce the number of such incidents in the future. Mr. AI-Ghafry showed the Powerpoint Presentation. He stated no calls were received regarding this item. Staff Recommendation% That the Safety Commission concur with staffs recommendation to prohibit northbound tractor -trailer trucks on Industrial Boulevard from turning right at Anita Street within the MTDB right-of-way until the roadway is widened to its ultimate width. Commissioner White stated he was in favor of staff recommendation and asked when Industrial Boulevard would be widened. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that the City would be working with MTDB on this project with possible construction within the next 5 years. Staff will also look at available grants and funding sources. Chair McAlister submitted into record a letter sent by Mr. William Lorenz, MTDB Director of Engineering & Construction, dated October 10, 2002 to Cliff Swanson, City Engineer. Public hearing opened. The following person spoke in favor of staff recommendation: 1. Frank Owsiany, Senior Transportation Engineer, representing Metropolitan Transit Development • Board (MTDB) Public hearing closed. Safety Commission Minutes October 10, 2002 Page 3 Commission Discussion: Commissioner Liken asked if this left -turn prohibition is approved, could there be a potential problem with truckers continuing south to Palomar, going to Industrial and making a left -turn onto Anita? Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that the likelihood of truckers having problems at that location is less than at Industrial/Anita. MSUC (White/Gove) to concur with concur with staff's recommendation to prohibit northbound tractor -trailer trucks on Industrial Boulevard from turning right at Anita Street within the MTDB right-of-way until the roadway is widened to its ultimate width. 8. Action Summary Update/Staff Comments Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that on October 9th, Ralph Leyva, Senior Civil Engineer/Traffic met with Patricia Aguilar and 10 other residents from Surrey Drive to discuss safety issues on Surrey Drive. Some possible solutions were: installation of rumble strips, installation of 25 mph pavement legends, and a future all -way stop on the straight segment of Surrey Drive next to the Allen School area. Staff will continue to work with the residents on possible solutions. He stated that staff is still working on a design for striping additions on Melrose Drive. Commissioner Gove asked for an update on Corte Maria and "E" Street. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that staff is looking at the possibility of using rumble strips and is still pursuing the solar powered flashing beacon. Vice Chair Acton stated that the Safety Commission heard this item in September 2001. Commissioner Liken asked police staff if they have had feedback on Corte Maria. Sgt. Arsenault stated yes, since September 2001, hundreds of tickets have been issued at that location. 9. Staff Comments None. 10. Commissioner Comments Commissioner White asked about a letter he submitted requesting an all -way stop at Brandywine and East Palomar. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that bids were recently opened for the project at that intersection. Once the contract is awarded, work will start by mid-January and by March 2003, the traffic signal should be fully functional. Commissioner White asked about the left turn light at Olympic Parkway/Oleander. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that the traffic signal modification has just been designed and will be going out to bid soon. Commissioner Lopez asked if staff would like the Commissioners to call staff directly regarding any requests or updates on projects. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that Commissioners may call at any time. Commissioner Acton asked when the minutes for August or September would be ready for review. Recording Secretary Picardal stated that they should be ready by the November meeting. Commissioner Gove asked about the legality of parking next to the curb right at the intersection causing a sight distance problem. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that on residential streets it is a minimum of 15 feet from the intersection. Commissioner Gove stated that at Fifth/Flower there are large trucks parked right at the intersection causing sight distance problems. Commissioner Perrett asked about parking in the bike lanes on Palomar east of Heritage. Mr. AI-Ghafry • stated that issue goes back 3 years ago, where the Planning Dept. agreed to certain parking allowances to the multi -family developers on Palomar. The item did not go before the Safety Commission because the City has not accepted the street and changes can still be made. • C: 0 Safety Commission Minutes October 10, 2002 Page 4 Commissioner Liken asked when the Sheffield item will be going to Council. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that it is tentatively scheduled for October 22"d. Commissioner Liken asked that a copy of the item be forwarded to the Chair before the Council meeting. Chair McAlister thanked Vice Chair Acton for presiding at last month's meeting. He congratulated Commissioner Liken on his appointment to the Growth Management Oversight Committee (GMOC). He also reminded everyone to vote on November Stn ADJOURNMENT AT 7:37 P.M. to a regular meeting scheduled for November 14, 2002. J AEngi neeASAFETY\101002_MI N.doc Respectfully submitted, Florence Picardal, Recording Secretary