Transportation Commission Meeting

CITY OF ESCONDIDO MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMISSION October 09, 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, Vice-chairman Durney, Commissioner Dayani, Commissioner Spoonemore, and Commissioner Sarro. Commissioners absent: Commissioner Leone, and Commissioner Berkstresser. Staff present: Julie Procopio, Assistant Public Works Director/Engineering; Homi Namdari, Assistant City Engineer; All Shahzad, Associate Engineer/Traffic; Abraham Bandegan, Associate Engineer/Traffic; Beth Kassebaum, Department Specialist; Sergeant Varso, Escondido Police Department; and Ty Paulson, Minutes Clerk. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: Sandy Dabasinskas, Escondido, Board Member of Summer Creek, expressed her concern with having issues with excessive vehicular speed in the area of Willowbrook Street and Shadyridge Avenue and asked if the City could do anything to help reduce speeds. Peter Saltamachio, Escondido, noted that he lived on Willowbrook Street. He expressed his concern with having issues with excessive vehicular speeds in the area of Willowbrook Street and Shadyridge Avenue. He asked that the City consider traffic calming measures for the subject area. MINUTES: Moved by Commissioner Dumey, seconded by Commissioner Dayani, to approve the minutes of the July 10, 2014, meeting. Motion carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Classical Academy School Zone on Pennsylvania Avenue, Waverly Place, Kalmia Street and Juniper Street — Crossing Guard monitored crossing on Pennsylvania Avenue. Change Yield Control to Stop Control on Waverly Place & Kalmia Street with school zone crossings. 1 Ali Shahzad, Associate Engineer, referenced the staff report and noted staff recommended the following: 1) Upgrading the Yield Signs to Stop Signs on Waverly Place and Kalmia Street at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue as part of the School Zone Package; 2) prohibit parking on Kalmia and Pennsylvania along school frontage from 7 to 9 A.M. and 2 to 4 P.M. on school days per EMC 28- 143 (b); and 3) establish turn restrictions on Kalmia Street to prevent through traffic on Valley Parkway. Commissioner Dumey asked if there was some way to warn students related to crossing the street near the Parking Lot B. Mr. Shahzad noted that crossing guards would be present to prevent this. ACTION: Moved by Chairman Blackstock, seconded by Commissioner Durney, to approve staffs recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 2. Alexander at Citracado Parkway and Brotherton Road Abraham Bandegan, Associate Engineer, referenced the staff report and noted staff recommended installing two new Stop Signs on Alexander Drive at the intersection of Brotherton Road and install two new Stop Signs on Alexander Drive at the intersection of Citracado Parkway and all the necessary AWSC plaques. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Dumey, seconded by Chairman Blackstock, to approve staffs recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Caroline Way & N. Upas Street — No Parking restrictions Beth Kassebaum, Department Specialist, referenced the staff report and noted staff recommended supporting the request to install No Parking signs along the east side of Caroline Way and North Upas Street. Discussion ensued regarding a clarification of the location for the gaps between the red curbs. Commissioner Sarro asked staff to respond to the resident request for security lighting. Ms. Kassebaum noted staff felt adequate lighting currently existed. Commissioner Dumey and staff discussed who signed the petition for this item. 2 Chairman Blackstock asked if No Parking signage would be installed. Ms. Kassebaum replied in the affirmative. William Werson, Escondido, suggested adding another street light in the area of 121 Caroline Way, noting there was a base for one already. Tracy Bohlen, Escondido, noted that very few residents parked on the street, noting it was typically family and friends. She stated that the intent was to only restrict parking in the area of the curve and wall due to the amount of loitering occurring in this area. She asked that the item be pulled if any additional parking was slated to be removed. Jeff Bohlen, Escondido, stated that the intent was to only restrict parking in the area of the curve and wall. Joseph Dyal, Escondido, was opposed to staffs recommendation, feeling it would place the burden in other areas along the street. Jeff Johnson, Escondido, asked that the no parking restriction include his property frontage in order to mitigate the subject problem occurring in front of his residence. Felipe Martinez, Escondido, stated that the area had very low traffic. He suggested limiting the parking restriction to the area with the curve and wall and include "No Loitering" signage. Daniel Martinez, Escondido, stated that vandalism has been an issue. He felt the street needed to be patrolled more often. He indicated that the issues that were occurring were happening in the early morning hours. He was opposed to loosing the parking in the area, noting there were very few cars traveling in the area. He also stated that more lighting was needed. Chairman Blackstock and staff discussed using restricted hour no parking signage. Commissioner Dayani and Ms. Kassebaum discussed the standards for emergency vehicles. Commission Dayani felt additional enforcement would help the subject problems. Sergeant Varso noted that most of their calls were in the area of the street curve. He also stated that parking restrictions would help enforcement. Chairman Blackstock questioned whether emergency services would now come forward and request no parking markers due to the street width being 24-feet and this item being brought to the attention of the City. Mr. Namdari noted that the fire department could request parking restrictions due to the street width. 3 The Commission asked staff to evaluate the lighting in the subject area. **ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Durney, seconded by Commissioner Sarro, to approve staff's recommendation with a modification to restrict parking in the area. Motion carried. Ayes: Blackstock, Sarro, and Dumey. Noes: None. Abstained: Dayani. (3-0-1) 4. Speed Surveys Citywide — New batch of speed surveys, including one new speed limit. Beth Kassebaum, Department Specialist, referenced the staff report and noted staff recommended approval to the City Council of updated Engineering and Traffic Surveys (E&TS) for posted speeds on various street segments Citywide. Commissioner Dumey referenced Speed Survey No. 6 on Rose Street at Lincoln Avenue. ACTION: Moved by Commissioner Dayani, seconded by Chairman Blackstock, to approve staffs recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. 5. Crosswalks on East Grand Avenue near Palomar Hospital Ali Shahzad, Associate Engineer, referenced the staff report and noted staff recommended the Commission direct staff to evaluate relocation of the crosswalk to Path A, working with the surrounding residents to receive their input. The item would come back to the Commission at the next meeting. Chairman Blackstock and staff discussed relocating the bus stop. Commissioner Dumey suggested using Crosswalk A as outlined in the staff report. Chairman Blackstock suggested looking at pedestrian activated flashing signage. ACTION: Moved by Chairman Blackstock, seconded by Commissioner Sarro, to approve staffs recommendation. Motion carried unanimously. OLD BUSINESS: 1. An overview of various projects involving the City 4  a. Chestnut Traffic Calming b. Eucalyptus and Hamilton Stop Signs C. Intersection Crosswalk Striping near Schools d. New Striping including Bike Lanes on Ash Street and 9 th Avenue e. MTS Rapid Bus deployment — San Diego Association Received update from staff. SCHOOL AREA SAFETY 1. Pedestrian Safety Escondido Union School District — Nine (9) walk audits that were conducted by the school district, draft responses submitted to EUSD. All Shahzad, Associate Engineer, provided the update and requested input. Discussion ensued regarding a clarification of the timeline for the projects. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: 1. Future Agenda Items — A briefing of future agenda items proposed to be presented to the Transportation Commission. Ali Shahzad, Associate Engineer, noted staff would be bringing back Item 5 at the next meeting as well as additional speed surveys. COUNCIL ACTION: Received. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Durney asked staff to look into the lane alignments at the eastbound intersection of 2 nd Avenue and Quince. He asked staff to agendize an item to discuss excessive vehicular speeds in the area of Willowbrook Street and Shadyridge Avenue as commented in Oral Communications. He also asked what the protocol was for oral communications when the public was addressing the Commission. Ms. Procopio noted that City Council oftentimes would direct individuals with oral communications to the proper staff after they had spoken. ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Blackstock adjourned the meeting at 4:38 p.m. The next meeting of the Commission would be held January 8, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 201 North Broadway, Escondido. All Shahzad, Associate Engineer Ty Paul , Minutes Clerk 5