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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-09-11 SC MINUTESMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA SAFETY COMMISSION September 11, 2003 Council Chambers 6:00 p.m. Public Services Buildinq CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 6:01 p.m. 1. Roll Call: Present: Chair McAlister; Vice Chair Acton; Commissioners Gove, Perrett, White and Willett Absent: None. Also present: Majed AI-Ghafry, Civil Engineer; Sgt. Scott Arsenault; and Florence Picardal, Recording Secretary 2. Pledge of Allegiance/Silent Prayer 3. Opening Statement Opening statement and statement in remembrance of September 11, 2001 was read by Chair McAlister. Member Gove stated that the new Fire Station #7 was dedicated today in memory of the firefighters that lost their lives on September 11, 2001. 4. Approval of Minutes for July 10, 2003 • MSC (White/Acton) to approve the minutes of July 10, 2003 as submitted. (5-0-2, McAlister and Willett abstain) MEETING AGENDA 5. Oral Communications None. 6. Report on decreasing the existing speed limit on Halecrest Drive between Telegraph Canyon Road and Douglas Street to 25 mph Based on the provisions of California Vehicle Code Section 40803, and pursuant to authority under Chula ' Vista Municipal Code Section 10.48.020, the City Engineer has determined, based on a Traffic Engineering s Study, that the speed limit on Halecrest Drive between Telegraph Canyon Road and Douglas Street be decreased from the existing 30 mph limit to 25 mph. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated one call was received in favor of the decrease in the existing speed limit. Staff Recommendation: That the Safety Commission recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance decreasing the existing speed limit on Halecrest Drive between Telegraph Canyon Road and Douglas Street to 25 mph. Thereafter, Schedule X of the register maintained in the Office of the City Engineer will be revised to include this speed reduction. Public hearing opened. The following persons spoke in favor of staffs recommendation: . 1. Brian Bane, 821 Halecrest Drive, Chula Vista 2. John McNulty, 611 Douglas Street, Chula Vista Safety Commission Minutes September 11, 2003 Page 2 Public hearing closed. Mr. AI-Ghafry explained the speed hump policy and other traffic calming measures. MSUC (White/Acton) to recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance decreasing the existing speed limit on Halecrest Drive between Telegraph Canyon Road and Douglas Street to 25 mph. Thereafter, Schedule X of the register maintained in the Office of the City Engineer will be revised to include this speed reduction and also request more Police presence at this location. 7. Report on establishing speed limits on East Palomar Street between Oleander Avenue and Olympic Parkway Based on the provisions of Division 11 -Chapter 7 -Article 1 (Sections 22348 thru 22366) and Division 17 - Chapter 3 -Article 1 (Sections 40800 thru 40808) of the California Vehicle Code (CVC), and pursuant to authority under Chula Vista Municipal Code Section 10.48.020, titled "Established Speed Limits In Certain Zones", the City Engineer has determined that, in the interest of minimizing traffic hazards and for the promotion of public safety, the speed limit on East Palomar Street between Oleander Avenue and Olympic Parkway should be established at 35 mph except at the two segments (from Monarche Dr./Santa Rita to Monarche Dr./Santa Andrea and from Santa Cora Ave. to Vista Sonrisa Ave.) where the posted speed limit would be established at 25 mph. The segment between Paseo Ladera and Santa Olivia Rd. will be additionally posted as a "School' "25 MPH Speed Limit" "When Children are Present' zone. These speed limits will then be added to Schedule X of the register maintained in the Office of the City Engineer. Mr. AI-Ghafry added that an information item went to Council for the removal of bike lanes on East Palomar Street from Heritage Road to Olympic Parkway. Bicycle lane striping was inadvertently included in the improvement plans in lieu of the approved parking lanes as required in the SPA plan. These plans were approved long before the multi -family developments in the village cores were approved by the Design Review • Committee to include the allowance of on -street parking. In an effort to correct this oversight, the city removed bike lanes and striped parking lanes in front of several multi -family developments on East Palomar Street in accordance with the DRC approval process. There was an effort (requests and petitions) by residents to restore the removed bike lanes. However, staffs recommendation was to completely remove the bicycle lane from East Palomar Street between Heritage Road and Olympic Parkway and to provide new signing and striping along this entire length to clearly inform the motoring public that this street has a 10 foot bike path, thereby allowing recreational bike use. Staff Recommendation: That the Safety Commission recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance establishing a 35 mph speed limit on East Palomar Street between Oleander Avenue and Olympic Parkway except at the two segments (from Monarche Dr./Santa Rita to Monarche Dr./Santa Andrea and from Santa Cora Ave. to Vista Sonrisa Ave.) where the speed limit will be established at 25 mph. The segment between Paseo Ladera and Santa Olivia Rd. will be additionally posted as a "School' "25 MPH Speed Limit" "When Children are Present" zone. Thereafter, Schedule X of the register maintained in the Office of the City Engineer will be amended to include the established speed limits on these portions of the aforementioned roadway. Commissioner Willett stated that there is insufficient parking on East Palomar for apartment complexes and condos. Mr. AI-Agha responded that staff is looking for a balance of providing an acceptable level of service while at the same time providing adequate parking. He clarified that even though the "bike lanes" are being removed, there are 10 -ft. bike paths on the south side of East Palomar Street. MSUC (McAlister/White) to concur with staff recommendation. 8. Report on establishing a 50 mph speed limit on Olympic Parkway between Brandywine Avenue and La Media Road • Based on the provisions of Division 11 -Chapter 7 -Article 1 (Sections 22348 thru 22366) and Division 17 - Chapter 3 -Article 1 (Sections 40800 thru 40808) of the California Vehicle Code (CVC), and pursuant to authority under Chula Vista Municipal Code Section 10.48.020, titled "Established Speed Limits In Certain Safety Commission Minutes September 11. 2003 Paae 3 Zones", the City Engineer has determined that, in the interest of minimizing traffic hazards and for the promotion of public safety, the speed limit on Olympic Parkway between Brandywine Avenue and La Media Road be established at 50 mph. This speed limit will be added to Schedule X of the register maintained in the Office of the City Engineer. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that if this item is approved, the 40 mph construction zone signs would be replaced with the 50 mph speed limit signs. Staff Recommendation: That the Safety Commission recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance establishing a 50 mph speed limit on Olympic Parkway between Brandywine Avenue and La Media Road. Thereafter, Schedule X of the register maintained in the Office of the City Engineer will be amended to include the established speed limit on this portion of the aforementioned roadway. MSUC (Perrett/Acton) to concur with staff recommendation. 9. Update on All -Way Stop at Santa Cora Avenue and Bridlevale Road A letter was sent to the McMillin Lomas Verdes Master Association with a recommendation that an all -way stop on Santa Cora Avenue and at Bridlevale Avenue not be installed at this time. The Homeowner's Association was to have a Board meeting on September 9th and this item was to be presented. The Association was to contact City staff if there were any further concerns. Staff has not been contacted by the Association, therefore, the all -way stop will not be installed. The City will not reconsider the installation of an all -way stop at Santa Cora and Bridlevale Road unless a petition is submitted with 75% of the residents in favor of the installation. 10. Traffic Accident Summary - June 2003 and July 2003 Sgt. Arsenault commented that there has been a significant increase in citations; accidents have gone down significantly; and there have been 3 fatalities this year (this time last year there were 13). He requested that a safety presentation by Agent Cummings be placed on next month's agenda. 11. Action Summary Update/Staff Comments No comments. 12. Election of Chair and Vice Chair MSUC (Gove/Acton) to nominate/elect Commissioner White for Chair. MSUC (White/Acton) to nominate/elect Commissioner Gove for Vice Chair. 13. Staff Comments None. 14. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Gove expressed her concerns on road work being done at East "H" Street between Hidden Vista and the northbound on-ramp to 1-5. She requested that better signage be provided to alert motorists of the single on-ramp lane. Commissioner White thanked the Commission for their show of support for the Chair election. He also stated that he would be on vacation next month. He asked why there isn't a painted crosswalk at the pedestrian crossing at Southwestern College/Ralph's intersection, but there is a pedestrian button. Lastly, at East Orange and Olympic Parkway, he noticed surveyors on the overpass, and asked if this was going to be • widened by CalTrans. Mr. AI-Ghafry stated that if it is a signaled intersection with pedestrian button, it is implied that there is a crosswalk. He stated that the City is working with CalTrans on widening the interchange at Olympic Parkway and 1-805. Work should start very soon and will take 1-1/2 years to complete. Safety Commission Minutes September 11, 2003 Pa-ge 4 Chair McAlister announced that he would be resigning from the Safety Commission this month. He expressed his appreciation and applauded the efforts of the other Commissioners. ADJOURNMENT AT 6:55 P.M. to the next regularly scheduled meeting of October 9, 2003. JAEngineerlSAFETY1071003_MIN.doe C, C Respectfully submitted, Florence Picardal, Recording Secretary