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Home My WebLink About2004-05-13 SC MINUTESMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHULA VISTA SAFETY COMMISSION May 13, 2004 Council Chambers 6.00 p.m. Public Services Building CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 6:04 p.m. 1. Roll Call: Present: Vice Gove, Lopez, Perrett, and Willett Absent: Chair White, Commissioners Acton and Rosario Also present: Samir Nuhaily, Sr. Civil Engineer; Jim Newton, Civil Engineer; Police Sgt. Arsenault; and Florence Picardal, Recording Secretary 2. Pledge of Allegiance/Silent Prayer 3. Opening Statement Opening statement read by Vice Chair Gove. 4. Approval of Minutes for November 13, 2003 and April 8, 2004 The minutes of November 13, 2003 could not be approved because there was no quorum. (Member Gove abstaining and Members White, Acton and Rosario absent.) The minutes of April 8, 2004 could not be approved because there was no quorum. (Member Lopez abstaining and Members White, Acton, and Rosario absent.) MEETING AGENDA 5. Oral Communications None. 6. Increase the speed limit on East "H" Street from the 1-805 Northbound Ramps to Terra Nova Drive At the meeting of April 8, 2004, the Commission voted 3-2-2 (Acton, Lopez absent) to concur with staff's recommendation to increase the speed limit on East "H" Street from the 1-805 Northbound Ramps to Terra Nova Drive. The item is being returned to the Safety Commission since four votes are required for approval of an item. Civil Engineer Newton showed a brief Powerpoint presentation. The City Engineer has determined the need to increase the posted speed limit on East "H" Street between the 1-805 Northbound ramps and Terra Nova Drive in order to comply with California Vehicle Code Section 40803, "Speed Trap Evidence", which requires that a Traffic and Engineering Survey be conducted every seven (7) years that justifies the posted speed limit. Speed limits that are not justified by a valid survey and, which are enforced by the use of radar or any other electronic device that measures the speed of moving objects, constitute a speed trap and cannot be enforced. The old survey for East "H" Street will expire on July 10, 2004. Two new surveys for East "H" Street, which will be valid until October 6, 2010, justify the increased speed limits between the 1-805 northbound ramps and 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. Safety Commission Minutes May 13, 2004 Page 2 Staff Recommendation: That the Safety Commission concur with staffs recommendation that the existing speed limit on East "H" Street 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. . Public hearing opened. Vice Chair Gove stated that a letter was received from Mr. Robert Solomon, 490 Belle Vista Dr., #221, Chula Vista disagreeing with Safety Commission's decision last month on this item. The following persons spoke in opposition to staffs recommendation: 1. Robert Solomon, 490 Belle Vista Dr., #221, Chula Vista 2. Yoko Takeda, 431 Sanibelle Circle, #147, Chula Vista Public hearing closed. Commission Discussion: Commissioner Willett asked if the Smart Units have been placed at this location. Sgt. Arsenault responded that the Smart Units cannot be placed there because of the bike lanes. Vice Chair Gove asked Sgt. Arsenault to explain the "speed trap law". He read aloud Section 4803, "Admissibility of evidence from speed traps." He went on to explain that speed limits that are not justified by a valid survey and, which are enforced by the use of radar constitute a speed trap and cannot be enforced. This road is wide with the houses setback far from the roadway, there are nice curves, the lanes are wide, and it gives the appearance that drivers can travel at faster speeds. He explained that if the speed limit was increased, the drivers will still drive at the faster speeds, but it will give the Police an opportunity to do enforcement. . Sr. Civil Engineer Nuhaily stated this roadway was designed for 50 mph. He stated that construction of the off - ramps is scheduled before the end of the year. Commissioner Willett, Perrett, and Lopez supported staff recommendation, thereby giving the Police the opportunity to enforce the speed limits. Commissioner Willett requested that City staff be more proactive in informing the community about the speed limits on this roadway. MSC (Willett/Perrett) to concur with staff recommendation. (4-0-3, White, Acton, and Rosario absent) 7. Request for an All -Way Stop at the Intersection of Hilltop Drive and Emerson/East Emerson Street At the meeting of April 8, 2004, Commission voted 3-2- 2 (Acton, Lopez absent) to concur with staff's recommendation to install the all -way stop. The item is being returned to the Safety Commission since four votes are required for approval of an item. Civil Engineer Newton gave a brief presentation. City staff received a request from a citizen for an all -way stop at the intersection of Hilltop Drive and Emerson Street and is forwarding this report to the Safety Commission for consideration. 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) since this site is adjacent to Castle Park Elementary School and St. Pius School A letter of opposition to staffs recommendation was received from Hans Dieben, 7 Oxford Street, who spoke at last month's meeting. 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,- Safety ecommendation. Safety Commission Minutes Page 3 May 13 2004 Safety Commission Minutes May 13, 2004 Page 3 is 1. Stephen Sprenkle, 1356 Hilltop Drive, Chula Vista (suggested a traffic signal with pedestrian sensors) 2. Alma Sprenkle, 1356 Hilltop Drive, Chula Vista Public hearing closed. Commission Discussion: Commissioner Willett stated he visited the site on 2 different occasions and noticed there was traffic backup before and after school due to parents dropping off children. Many cars were double parked. He suggested that a letter addressing the double parking situation be sent to the schools for distribution to the parents. Commissioner Willett asked if a traffic signal would be an option for this intersection. Senior Civil Engineer Nuhaily stated at this time the intersection does meet the minimum warrants for a traffic signal. If at a future time, one or more warrants are met, then the intersection would be programmed for a future traffic signal. Vice Chair Gove asked about the traffic signal at Hilltop between East Rienstra and Orange. Senior Civil Engineer Nuhaily stated that traffic signal is a pedestrian crossing signal. He stated the pedestrian crossing signal at the Hilltop location was installed per Council direction after a fatality occurred. He stated that an all -way stop is the right thing to do at this time. MSC (Willett/Perrett) to concur with staffs recommendation. (4-0-3, White, Acton, and Rosario absent) 9. Traffic Accident Summary - February 2004 Sgt. Arsenault stated the data is not accurate. Data entry is behind by 800 citations. He stated that the stats are ahead of last year's counts. 10. Action Summary Update/Staff Comments Civil Engineer Newton stated the time-limited parking on East Palomar went to Council this week and was approved. The signs should be constructed soon. 12. Staff Comments Senior Civil Engineer Nuhaily stated that in calendar year 2004 staff will be: 1) developing a traffic calming program for the City; and 2) revising the speed hump policy. He stated that new traffic accident software "Crossroads", has been installed. This software will give staff some insight on what's going on with traffic in the City. It will also help to prioritize capital projects. 13. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Willett stated that the new streets are being added to the GIS, so that system is up-to-date. He stated he is the sub -Chair for the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for SR -125 and could provide an update on the progress of SR -125. Vice Chair Gove asked if the Fire Dept. would be asked to comment on the Traffic Calming Program. Senior Civil Engineer Nuhaily stated yes, they would be included. Commissioner Lopez asked if there was a specific area in Chula Vista that would addressed in the Traffic Calming Program. Senior Civil Engineer Nuhaily stated that the Traffic Calming Program would cover the entire City, but would cover only certain classifications of roadways. The roadway classification that most likely would be the focus would be residential streets. ADJOURNMENT AT 7:15 P.M. to the next regularly scheduled meeting of June 10, 2004. Respectfully submitted, Florence Picardal, Recording Secretary J.\Engineer\safety\051304_M I N.doc