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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-04-08 SC MINUTESa MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA SAFETY COMMISSION April 8, 2004 Council Chambers is 6.00 p.m. Public Services Building CALL TO ORDER 1. Roll Call: Present: Chair White; Commissioners Gove, Perrett, Rosario, and Willett Absent: Commissioners Acton and Lopez Also present: Jim Newton, Civil Engineer; Patrick Moneda, Assistant Civil Engineer; Police Agent Guthrie; Rich Whipple, Senior Planner; and Florence Picardal, Recording Secretary 2. Pledge of Allegiance/Silent Prayer 3. Opening Statement Opening statement read by Chair White. 4. Approval of Minutes for November 13 2003 January 8, 2004 and March 11, 2004 The minutes of November 13, 2003 could not be approved because there was no quorum (Members Gove and Rosario abstaining; and Members Acton and Lopez absent. MSC (Willett/Perrett) to approve minutes of January 8, 2004 as submitted. (4-0-2-1, Acton/Lopez absent, Rosario abstain) MSC (Willett/Perrett) to approve minutes of March 11, 2004 as submitted (5-0-2, Acton/Lopez absent) MEETING AGENDA 5. Oral Communications Mr. Hans Dieben, 7 Oxford Street stated he was concerned about potholes, repair of potholes, dirt/rocks in bike lanes, no sidewalks in the Castle Park area, and the stop light sensors for bikes are not functioning properly. Civil Engineer Newton responded that pothole repair is handled by the Public Works Operations Dept. and would inform the department of this complaint. He stated he would follow-up on the other issues and report back to the Commission. 6. Pro osea 1 ime L -11111«u 9�...... _.. — - Monarche Drive/Santa Andrea Street loyed on the south de of East The City's Planning Division has requested San at Rita to M nahat time e heaDrive/San Dd peIrking be rive/Santa a Street At helMarch 11, Palomar Street from Monarche Drive/ d. 2004 Safety Commission meeting, itw s voted d scussionimousloccurred 20-minute hat led to a new ' recommendationeof However, after the item was closed, establishing both 20 -minute and 1 -hour time limited parking for the subject parking spaces. Civil Engineer Newton stated that staff has worked Wlosely with ecommendation.the business ners R chard Whippae,Senior the las meeting. They have all signed a petition agreeingith st staffs overview of the of the Planner, with the Planning &Building Department a gave thatbrief sprovided on the telthan what waslocated in aoriginally Heritage Center. There is more than enough parking al on -street parking spaces were intended for very short term use. required. The diagon Safety Commission Minutes April 8, 2004 Page 2 Staff Recommendation: That the Safety Commission recommend to City Council that both 20 -minute and 1 - hour time limited parking be established on the south side of East Palomar Street from Monarche Drive/Santa Rita to Monarche Drive/Santa Andrea Street. Commission Discussion: Commissioner Willett concurred with staff recommendation and suggested that a "Parking in Rear' sign be located in front of the center. MSC (Willett/Perrett) to concur with staffs recommendation. (5-0-2, Acton/Lopez absent) 7. Request for an All -Way Stop at the Intersection of Hilltop Drive and Emerson/East Emerson Street City Staff received a request from a citizen for an all -way stop at the intersection of Hilltop Drive and Emerson Street. The intersection received a total of 57 points out of a possible 100 points, where 45 minimum points are required to justify the installation of all -way stop control. Also, the Unusual Condition Warrant was satisfied at 100% (21 points out of a possible 21 points). Therefore, staff recommends that an all -way stop be installed at the intersection of Hilltop Drive and Emerson Street/East Emerson Street. Civil Engineer Newton gave a brief summary and Powerpoint presentation. Staff Recommendation: That the Safety Commission concur with staffs recommendation to install an all -way stop control at the intersection of Hilltop Drive and Emerson/East Emerson Street. Public hearing opened. The following persons spoke in opposition to staffs recommendation: 1. Hans Dieben, 7 Oxford Street, Chula Vista • 2. Frank Bohm, 1155 Hilltop Drive, Chula Vista 3. Stephen Sprenkle, 1356 Hilltop Drive, Chula Vista (suggested a traffic signal) Public hearing closed. Commission Discussion: Commissioner Willett stated he concurred with staff recommendation. Chair White stated he saw the pros and cons of this issue and had no strong feelings one way or the other. Commissioner Gove asked if Castle Park Elementary School was notified. Civil Engineer Newton stated the notification signs were set up and no response was received by the elementary school. Commissioner Willett, while at the site, asked a safety patrol crossing guard his opinion on the proposed stop sign. The safety patrol crossing guard responded the stop sign would be beneficial to them. Commissioner Perrett stated because of the proximity of the school, he concurred with staff recommendation. Chair White stated he still was unsure about staffs recommendation due the proliferation of stop signs/lights on Hilltop. Commissioner Willett stated that with the increase in population and vehicles, there is an increase in stop signs. He supported staff recommendation. Commissioner Rosario stated that the school issue was important and he concurred with staff recommendation. Agent Guthrie stated that stop signs are used to control right-of-way, not speed. Studies have shown when stop signs are installed to control speed, drivers tend to speed up mid -block after stopping. If stop signs are installed for the wrong reason drivers will violate the stop sign. Commissioner Willett asked staff if this intersection has been considered for a traffic signal. Civil Engineer Newton stated that this intersection has not been considered for a traffic signal and is not included in the traffic signal priority list. Chair White stated he could not concur with staff recommendation. He stated although he was sensitive to the school issue, there is a stop sign on one end, stop light at the other end, and a crosswalk with school patrol (during school hours). He felt that another stop sign at this location would impede traffic flow. MSC (Perrett/Willett) to concur with staffs recommendation to install an all -way stop control at the intersection of Hilltop Drive and Emerson/East Emerson Street. (3-2-2, Gove/White voting "no", Acton/Lopez absent) 0 f .1 Safety Commission Minutes April 8, 2004 Page 3 8.' Increase the speed limit on East "H" Street from the 1-805 Northbound Ramps to Terra Nova Drive Based on the 85th percentile speeds and the design speed of the roadway, as well as other roadway characteristics outlined in the Engineering/Traffic Survey, staff has determined that the speed limit on East "H" Street should be increased to 45 mph from the 1-805 northbound ramps to Hidden Vista Drive and increased to 50 mph from Hidden Vista Drive to Terra Nova Drive. The existing 50 mph speed limit from Terra Nova Drive to Buena Vista Way would be retained. Mr. Newton gave a brief report and a Powerpoint presentation was shown. Agent Guthrie stated that the 85th percentile is very important for the Police to be able to enforce the speed limits due to, speed trap laws. He stated that the section between Hidden Vista Drive and Terra Nova Drive, at one time, was enforceable. The motor officers were able to position themselves on the center median to monitor speeds. The police motorcycles have incurred considerable damage from access on and off the median. They can no longer enforce at this location because there is no place to safely position a police vehicle or motorcycle . Mr. Newton clarified that if the speed limit is not increased, according to the California Vehicle Code, this location will be a speed trap and unenforceable by the Police. Staff Recommendation: That the Safety Commission concur with staffs recommendation to increase the existing speed limit. Public hearing opened. The following persons spoke in opposition to staffs recommendation: 1. Robert Solomon, 490 Belle Vista Drive #221, Chula Vista (suggested red light camera) 2. Raymond T. Dobbins, 475 Belle Vista #198, Chula Vista 3. Janet Amacker, 435 Sanibelle Circle #157, Chula Vista • Public hearing closed. Commission Discussion: Commissioner Willett stated he did not concur with staff recommendation and the speed limit should be left as is. Commissioner Gove stated she understood the 85th percentile, but did not concur with staff recommendation. Commissioner Perrett and Rosario stated they concurred with staff recommendation. Chair White stated he was apprehensive about increasing the speed limit, but understood the 85' percentile and felt that we should be in conformance with State procedures. He concurred with staff recommendation. MSC (White/Perrett) concur with staffs recommendation. (3-2-2, Gove/Willett voting "no", Acton/Lopez absent) 9. Traffic Accident Summary - January 2004 Agent Guthrie added 2 fatal accidents have occurred this year. Also, total fatal accidents have decreased from previous years. This is attributed to increased enforcement and motor officers doubling their citations. He stated they are working with the DMV to get the total number of registered cars in our area code so those could be added to the statistics. 10. Action Summary Update/Staff Comments Civil Engineer Newton stated the stop at Oxford/Tobias was installed this morning. 12. Staff Comments None. 0 Safety Commission Minutes April 8, 2004 Page 4 13. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Willett asked if the Commission would be interested in an update of SR -125. He stated he is the Vice Chair of the SR -125 Community Advisory Committee and could make a short presentation at a future meeting. Chair White gave a summary of 1-805/Caltrans improvements (handout received in mail); he thanked the motorcycle patrol for ticketing at Olympic Parkway; and he will be absent (on vacation) for the next two meeting dates. ADJOURNMENT AT 7:25 P.M. to the next regularly scheduled meeting of May 13, 2004. Respectfully submitted, Florence Picardal, Recording Secretary J:\Engineer\.safeTY\040804—MIN.doc