Transportation Commission Meeting

CITY OF ESCONDIDO MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMISSION April 10, 2014 The regular meeting of the Escondido Transportation and Community Safety Commission was called to order at 3:06 p.m., Thursday, by Chairman Blackstock, in the City Council Chambers, 201 North Broadway, Escondido, California. Commissioners present: Chair Blackstock, Commissioner Leone, Commissioner Berkstresser, Vice-chairman Durney Commissioner Dayani, and Commissioner Sarro. Commissioners absent: Commissioner Maes. Staff present: Ali Shahzad, Associate Engineer; Beth Kassebaum, Department Specialist; Julie Procopio, Assistant Director of Public Works; Abraham Bandegan, Associate Engineer; Sergeant Nelson, Escondido Police Department; and Ty Paulson, Minutes Clerk. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: MINUTES: Moved by Commissioner Durney, seconded by Commissioner Berkstresser, to approve the minutes of the January 9, 2014, meeting. Motion carried unanimously. CONSENT ITEMS: Hospital Signage on Citracado West, East Valley Parkway south of Citracado Parkway. Abraham Bandegan, Associate Engineer, referenced the staff report and noted staff recommended the Commission approve the sign installs for Palomar Hospital, which included way-finding signage along Valley Parkway, Citracado and Auto Parkway to North Citracado Parkway. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Berkstresser, seconded by Commissioner Durney, to approve Consent Item 1. Motion carried unanimously. 1 NEW BUSINESS: 1. Traffic Management Toolbox Abraham Bandegan, Associate Engineer, referenced the staff report and noted staff recommended the Commission review and approve the City of Escondido Toolbox. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Dayani, seconded by Chairman Blackstock, to approve staffs recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 2. Traffic management Process and 2014 Traffic Management Projects List (TMPL) Prioritization. Abraham Bandegan, Associate Engineer, referenced the staff report and noted staff recommended the Commission review and approve the City of Escondido management process and 2014 Management Projects List (TMPL) Prioritization. Commissioner Dayani asked if grants had been considered for the more expensive projects. Mr. Bandegan replied in the affirmative. Commissioner Durney asked if staff was aware of what traffic calming items would be used for Chestnut and Eucalyptus Mr. Bandegan replied in the negative. Commissioner Dayani felt the radar units were extremely affective in providing traffic calming. Angela Hill, Escondido, expressed her concern with not being able to safely cross the street in the area of 511 East Grand Avenue, noting her concern with the high speeds of vehicles and limited visibility. She also stated that a vehicle hit her when she was crossing the street in this area. Commissioner Dayani asked Ms. Hill if the accident occurred at a crosswalk. Ms. Hill replied in affirmative. Mr. Shahzad noted staff felt this area warranted a HAWK device. Commissioner Dayani suggested increasing police enforcement in the area for the present time. Gisela Calderon and Arturo Velasco, Escondido, Members of CX3, noted that they belonged to a youth advocacy group who focused on helping improve health in the Mission Park area between Ash and Broadway and Valley Parkway and Lincoln. They stated that they were advocating for safe crosswalks at Mission and Ash, Washington and Ash, and Valley Parkway and Ash due to the 2 amount of students being jeopardized by traffic. They asked that the Commission support their efforts with Caltrans to install crosswalks. Mr. Bandegan noted as a part of the City's repavement program, crosswalks at Ash and Mission, Lincoln, and El Norte Parkway would be installed as well as many other areas without crosswalks. Mr. Shahzad noted that as part of the repavement program crosswalks would be installed at all signalized intersections Commissioner Dayani asked that the crosswalks cited on Ash be included in the pavement management plan. Commissioner Sarro asked Ms. Calderon and Mr. Velasco to encourage students to use crosswalks. Fan i Sayre, Escondido, expressed her concern with not being able to safely cross the street in the area of 511 East Grand Avenue, noting her concern with the high speeds of vehicles and limited visibility. She then asked how long it would take to install a HAWK crosswalk. Mr. Shahzad noted that a HAWK system cost between $150,000 to $175,000, noting that the City would be applying for an HSIP grant. Discussion ensued regarding the speed limit on Grand Avenue. Commissioner Leone and Commission Shahzad requested staff to look into posting the speed limit at prima facie due to the care facility housing seniors. Richard Conwell, Escondido, thanked the City for installing active speed signs on Eucalyptus Avenue. He stated that he had videotaped 247 vehicles traveling on Eucalyptus in three hours, questioning how the City's traffic counts were calculated. He stated that individuals were continuing to speed given the statistics. He suggested installing speed bumps as well as an all-way stop at Hamilton and Eucalyptus. Ronny Savage-Doll, Escondido, representing Rancho Verde Estates Neighborhood Watch, noted that they had over 200 families and encompassed Hamilton and Eucalyptus. She stated that their main concern was for the excessive speeds on Eucalyptus and the City not listening to the citizens. She asked that the City help provide traffic calming for the area. Bob Gagliano, Escondido, suggested installing an all-way stop at Hamilton and Eucalyptus, noting his concern for excessive speeds of vehicles in the area and the number of accidents that had occurred to his property. Commissioner Dayani asked if any stop sign warrants had been conducted for the subject intersection. Mr. Bandegan replied in the negative but noted staff would conduct a study for this area. 3 Dario Paggiarino, Escondido, expressed his concern for the pedestrians on the walkways on Eucalyptus due to the excessive speeds of vehicles. He noted that he had been passed in his vehicle while observing the speed limit. He questioned whether the radar speed signage had resulted in a decrease in individuals speeding, noting that according to the studies over 8,500 individuals were speeding on Eucalyptus in a 60-day period. Commissioner Dayani suggested that the community create flyers informing the residents about the speeding issues. Greg Birch, Escondido, stated that he supported the concept of the Traffic Calming Tool Box and commended the City on their efforts to provide safe routes to and from school. He expressed his view that Escondido Creek was underused and an under evaluated thoroughfare and applauded any work being done to improve these thoroughfares. Patricia Borchmann, Escondido, commended the City for collaborating with the Bike/Walk organization. She stated that she was in favor of the Traffic Calming Tool Box. She indicated that she was a member of Reveal Escondido Creek and suggested the Commission consider Projects 6 and 7 and asked that they be allowed to provide a more detailed presentation about the Escondido Creek. Kathleen Ferrier, San Diego, stated that she was the Chair of Bike/Walk San Diego and a member of Circulate San Diego, which was a merger of Walk San Diego and Move San Diego. She was in favor of the Traffic Calming Tool Box and requested that the language in the third class about being reserved for grant funding be removed, noting this appeared to be ranking by a cost category. She also encouraged the use the Traffic Calming Tool Box as an educational tool. She then referenced the TMPL List and noted that the proposed sidewalk improvements would significantly help but also recommended high-visibility sidewalks as part of this project. She stated that they had walked the Escondido Creek Trail and did not make a recommendation for a HAWK signal, feeling rapid flash beacons signs would be sufficient. She asked that her staff be able to meet with staff to discuss possible solutions. Frank Fitzpatrick, Escondido, stated that he lived at the bottom of Eucalyptus Avenue, noting that any vehicle without using its brakes was traveling over 45 mph. He stated that in 1980s most of the speeders were residents, however, now a significant amount of traffic was generated from individuals cutting through to access Bernardo Elementary School, West Valley Parkway, and Del Dios. He invited the Police Department to use his property for enforcement. He also suggested using speed bumps to help slow traffic in the area. Mark Haines, Escondido, thanked the City for the radar signage on Eucalyptus Avenue. He expressed his concern for the residents in the area being jeopardized by the speeding traffic. He noted that he had been passed in his 4 vehicle while observing the speed limit. He felt most of the speeding traffic was by individuals cutting through the area. He stated that Eucalyptus had numerous potholes due to the excessive traffic. He also stated that a police officer was welcome to use his driveway for traffic enforcement. Margaret Davis, Escondido, felt most of the speeding traffic was by individuals cutting through the area. She suggested installing speed bumps on Hamilton and Eucalyptus if an all-way stop was not going to be installed. Commissioner Sarro and staff discussed how funding mechanisms for traffic projects were brought before City Council. Ms. Procopio noted that there was no funding for traffic projects at this time. Commissioner Sarro felt that City Council needed to be aware of the projects being identified. Commissioner Dayani concurred, feeling there would be more of a chance to fund the safety projects. Commissioner Durney suggested taking the northbound radar signs on Eucalyptus Avenue and installing it on the southbound side as well as installing a stop sign half way down Eucalyptus. Mr. Shahzad noted that the radar signs could be relocated. He stated that an all-way stop at Eucalyptus and Hamilton had been in been reviewed in the past but did not meet the warrants. He noted that staff could reanalyze this along with a possible midblock stop sign. Commissioner Durney felt this would be a less costly solution for the subject area. Commissioner Durney stated that he was in favor of Item No. 1, Item No. 3 and Item No. 4, which were school related and moving Item No. 2. to another priority level. He then referenced Item No. 6 and 7 and suggested using signage to help provide more safety. He felt this would help spread the funding around. He questioned whether the Grand Avenue crosswalk near the hospital should be eliminated, thereby requiring individuals to use the signalized intersection to cross the street. Discussion ensued regarding reducing the lanes of travel on Grand Avenue in the area of the hospital. The Commission consensus was for staff to look at alternatives for Grand Avenue in the area of the hospital. Chairman Blackstock felt the public comments needed to be taken into consideration and for staff to re-evaluate the priority list for rankings. Mr. Conwell asked if the City would accept funds from residents to pay for the installation of the stop signs at Eucalyptus and Hamilton as well as another stop sign on Eucalyptus. Commissioner Dayani noted the issue was whether the stop 5 signs met the traffic warrants. He also concurred with re-evaluating the subject area. Commissioner Berkstresser asked if the City would allow residential funding for stop signs. Ms. Procopio replied in the affirmative. Discussion ensued regarding removing the centerline on Eucalyptus. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Dayani, seconded by Commissioner Sarro, to approve staff's recommendation. The motion included staff reviewing measures for Eucalyptus and Hamilton, and alternatives for the crosswalk at Grand Avenue near Villa Escondido. Motion carried. Ayes: Leone, Berkstresser, Blackstock, Dayani, and Sarro. Noes: Durney. (5-1) 3. City of Escondido — General Plan Chapter III — Mobility and Infrastructure insert for Commissioners Binder — A Brief Overview Presentation on "Complete Streets". Ali Shahzad, Associate Engineer, referenced the staff report and requested input. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Project Status Update — An overview of various projects involving the City Ali Shahzad, Associate Engineer, provided the updates to the Commission and requested input. a. Active Transportation Program Grant — Received Julie Procopio, Assistant Director of Engineering, noted that they were submitting safe routes to school grant application for a planning grant as well as an infrastructure grant for some improvements on Juniper and Felicita. SCHOOL AREA SAFETY 1. Pedestrian Safety — Reidy Creek School — Traffic Congestion - Received All Shahzad, Associate Engineer, noted that the staff was working on "No Right Turn" at Reidy Creek as well as looking at the proposed alternate striping at North Broadway. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: 1. Future Agenda Items — A briefing of future agenda items proposed to be 6  presented to the Transportation Commission. Commissioner Durney asked if the photo enforcement signs would be taken down. Mr. Shahzad replied in the affirmative. COUNCIL ACTION: Mr. Shahzad noted that City Council approved limited time parking signage for 2- to 3-hour parking on Lincoln Avenue and on 9th Avenue. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. Tom Stigler, Escondido, asked if the minutes were available for this meeting and where he could access them. Mr. Shahzad noted that the minutes and agenda could be accessed on the City's website. Frank Fitzpatrick, Escondido, asked if the City was communicating with the County regarding funding for Citracado Parkway from 1-15 to Palomar Hospital. Ms. Procopio replied in the affirmative and noted that the City was working with SANDAG and the County for funding sources for Citracado Parkway as well as looking at Tiger Grant funding and an economic development grant. Commissioner Durney asked if this only encompassed the extension near the hospital and not the area from 1-15 to Valley Parkway. Ms. Procopio replied in the affirmative. TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONERS: No discussion. ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Blackstock adjourned the meeting at 5:21 p.m. The next meeting of the Commission would be held July 10, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 201 North Broadway, Escondido. - Ali Shahzad, Associate Engineer Ty , Minutes Clerk 7