Transportation and Community Safety Commission Meeting

CITY OF ESCONDIDO MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMISSION January 12,2017 The regular meeting of the Escondido Transportation and Community Safety Commission was called to order at 3:02 p.m., Thursday, by Chair Dumey, in the Mitchell Room, 201 North Broadway, Escondido, California. Commissioners present Chair Dumey, Vice-chair Spoonemore, Commissioner Simonson, Commissioner Thornburgh, Commissioner McManus, and Commissioner Black.stock. Commissioners absent: Commissioner Leone. Staff present Julie Procopio, Assistant Director of Engineering; Homi Namdari, Assistant City Engineer, Ali Shatmad, Associate Engineer/Traffic Division; Virpi Kuulcka-Ruotsalainen, Department Specialist; Miriam Jim, Associate Engineer, Mark Petersen, Traffic Sergeant; and Ty Paulson, Minutes Clerk. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. MINUTES: Moved by Commissioner Simonson, seconded by Commissioner McManus, to approve the minutes of the October 13, 2016, meeting. Motion carried unanimously. CONSENT ITEMS: None. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Review of Citracado Parkway and Avenida Del Diablo Turn Restrictions Miriam Jim, Associate Engineer, referenced the staff report and noted that given the turn restrictions were implemented as part of an EIR, additional environmental analysis would be required to remove the turn restrictions. This was not recommended because of the minor inconvenience affecting few (4% of the traffic). Staff recommended the turn restrictions at the intersection remain with no changes made. 1 Chair Dumey and staff discussed the funding, timing, and history for completing the Citracado Parkway project. Chair Dumey questioned whether the City had the funding to complete the project in the past and then had to stop the project due to unforeseen issues. Ms. Procopio replied in the affirmative and noted that the costs today were substantially higher than the previous estimates along with funding sources being limited. She also noted that another issue was the approximately $1 million that had to be spent in archaeological recovery work. Commissioner Simonson asked if the developers of Harmony Grove provided their fair share towards street improvements. Ms. Procopio replied in the affirmative. Commissioner Thornburgh and staff discussed the timing for the Harmony Grove EIR and Citracado Parkway EIR (2012). Commissioner Thomburgh asked if public notice was provided for the subject turn restrictions. Ms. Procopio replied in the affirmative. Commissioner Thomburgh requested clarification regarding why the left turn at Citracado Parkway and Avenida Del Diablo was allowed to remain. Mr. Namdari noted that after receiving extensive public input during the EIR phase and staff analysis, the subject left turn was allowed for the best interest and public safety. He also noted that Harmony Grove Village added significant traffic to Citracado Parkway. Bill Ziegler, Escondido, noted that vehicles were knocking down the pylons in order to cut through the subject area. He felt an all-way stop at Avenida Del Diablo and Citracado Parkway would help the area, noting his concern for the seniors in the area. He also noted that the area had bad lighting. Leona Stringfleid, Escondido, noted that the neighbors were concerned with having to come up to the stop sign and being difficult to turn onto Citracado Parkway safely due to the high speeds of traffic and visual impairments. She felt an all-way stop would help with safety. She also stated that the City's engineers had stated at a neighborhood meeting that her complex would be receiving a light at their entrance as well as walls to help shield noise to no avail. Cindi Shimkus, Escondido, asked for an all-way stop at the intersection of Avenida Del Diablo and Citracado Parkway, feeling it would create a safer condition for the residents, pedestrians, and seniors. She stated that traffic counts had been reduced due to the street not being accommodating. She expressed her concern with the Harmony Grove traffic volumes and speeds making it very difficult for mobile home park residents to access Citracado Parkway. She stated that the vegetation along Citracado Parkway created visual impairments. She also expressed concern with the hospital signage being difficult 2 to see. Dr. Shirley Michael, Escondido, expressed her concern with having to roll past the stop sign at the Casa de Amigos Mobile Home Park in order to access Citracado Parkway safely. She stated that she was in favor of an all-way stop at Avenida Del Diablo and Citracado Parkway, feeling it would create a safer condition for the seniors, bicyclists, children and pedestrians in the area. She also expressed her concern with the vehicles speeding in the area. Chair Dumey noted that the stop limit line at Casa de Amigos was very recessed and asked if this could be modified. Mr. Namdari noted that staff had conducted a warrant analysis for an all-way stop at Avenida Del Diablo and Citracado Parkway as well as at the mobile home park and found that it would not meet the Federal and State standards. He stated that staff was monitoring the intersection and would continue monitoring the population of Harmony Grove. He also noted that staff would look at the line of site at Casa de Amigos. Chair Dumey asked staff to look into the median vegetation maintenance with regard to line of site and the limit line at Casa de Amigos. Mr. Namdari replied in the affirmative. 2. Calvin Christian Crosswalk retrofit with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) Miriam Jim, Associate Engineer, referenced the staff report and noted staff recommended the Commission note and file the proposed design for the Calvin Christian School crosswalk retrofit with rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB). Commissioner Thornburgh asked if the retrofit was paid for by the school. Ms. Jim replied in the affirmative. 3. Radar Speed Data: Gamble Speed Analysis Virpi Kuukka-Ruotsalainen, Department Specialist, referenced the staff report and noted that the radar speed feedback sign had been effective at reducing the average speed at or below the speed limit. Between 87% and 95% of drivers were now travelling at or below 35 MPH (within 10 MPH of the speed limit). No future Traffic Calming was recommended. Chair Dumey asked staff if they had the ADTs before and after the radar signage was installed. Ms. Kuukka-Ruotsalainen noted they would provide this at a future meeting. 3 Commissioner Biackstock asked if putting the radar signage in a stealth mode was considered. Mr. Namdari replied in the negative. 4. Speed Surveys — Various Citywide Virpi Kuukka-Ruotsalainen, Department Specialist referenced the speed surveys and recommended the Commission forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council of the updated Engineering and Traffic Surveys for posted speeds on the following streets: 1) Bear Valley Parkway from Boyle Avenue to Oak Hill Drive; 2) Bear Valley Parkway from Oak Hill Drive to Citrus Avenue; 3) Bear Valley Parkway from Citrus to Valley Parkway; and 4) La Terraza Boulevard from 9th Avenue to Valley Parkway. Chair Dumey asked if the 25 MPH When Children Are Present signage was being taken down. Ms. Kuukka-Ruotsalainen replied in the negative. Discussion ensued regarding a clarification of the speed limits along Bear Valley Parkway. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Simonson, seconded by Commissioner Blackstock, to approve staffs recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 5. Municipal Code, Chapter 28 (Traffic) Article 1, Update Homi Namdari, Assistant City Engineer, referenced the staff report and recommended the Commission adopt the updated Chapter 28, Section 28, Article 1 of the Escondido Municipal Code to the City Council. Chair Dumey suggested future updates show the updates in bold or strikeouts. Discussion ensued regarding a clarification of what constituted a simple sign. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Thornburgh, seconded by Commissioner McManus, to approve staffs recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. OLD BUSINESS: 1. An overview of various projects involving the City a. Traffic Signals in Design. El Norte/Fig & East Valley Pkwy/Date — Design 100% complete, NEPA revalidation received from CaItrans. Submitted documents for Construction Authorization of funds — 4  Awaiting Approval. Felicita/Escondido Blvd LW signal modification — Design in progress. b. Traffic Signals — in Planchedc: Hotel Traffic Signal on La Terraza Blvd. (rd check). Centre City/Mission signal modification. El Norte/Bike Path crossing near bridge over flood control channel (Planchedc in progress). Under Construction: North Ash/Vista Ave., North Ash/Sheridan Avenue, El NorteNista Verde Way, Centre City/Washington signal modification, Emmanuel Faith Traffic Signal on Encino/17th Ave. (to be constructed) Construction finished: Harmony Grove/Citracado Pkwy., County/City Signal on Boyle/Bear Valley Pkwy. (pending Maintenance Agreement). c. FY 15/16 TMPL Project Progress — Gamble St Radar Signs, N. Broadway Radar Sign installation. Complete and Radar Signs are active, data downloaded. d. Centre City Pkwy ICM 1-15 corridor and 9th Avenue corridor— Traffic signal timing synchronization. Received. SCHOOL AREA SAFETY: a. Construction at Central Elementary — Temporary bus zone. b. Construction at Orange Glen Elementary — New crosswalk striping by school district (Hold) c. Future bond projects coordination. Received. COUNCIL ACTION: a. Municipal Code revision for Sec. 28-142. (October 26,2016) b. All-Way Stop at N. Escondido Blvd. and W. Lincoln Ave. (Sept 14, 2016) c. Pilot Residential Parking Permit Program (RPPP) for NW #2 (Sept 28, 2016) d. Downtown Parking from 2 to 3 hr. from CCP to Valley Blvd. (Sept 28, 2016) e. Establish Engineering and Traffic Surveys (Speed Zones) at Seven Locations Citywide (Nov. 16, 2016) ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONERS: Chair Dumey and staff discussed the status East Valley Parkway and Valley Center Road. 5 ADJOURNMENT: Chair Dumey adjourned the meeting at 4:21 p.m. The next meeting of the Commission would be held April 13, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 201 North Broadway, Escondido. 4.4 . All Shahzad, Associate Engineer Ty Pau n, Minutes Clerk 6