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Home My WebLink About05/11/2000 PRC Minutes - Joint MeetingPARKS AND RECREATION i TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION JOINT MEETING May 11, 2000 CALL TO ORDER: Annette Finnerty called the Joint Meeting of the Parks and Recreation and the Traffic & Transportation Commissions to order at 7:44 p.m. in the SCAQMD Headquarters Building, Room CC -8, 21865 E. Copley Drive. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Parks and Recreation Commission Chairperson Annette Finnerty. ROLL CALL: Vice Chairman Anis, Chairman Finnerty. Kung, Chairman Morris. Absent: Chairman Virginkar. Also Present: Parks and Recreation Commissioners Hull, Stone, Torres, Traffic and Transportation Commissioners Leonard -Colby, Traffic and Transportation Commissioners Istik and Vice Mayor Debby O'Connor. Staff Members Present: James DeStefano, Deputy City Manager; Bob Rose, Community Services Director; David Liu, Deputy Director of Public Works; Gary Olivas, Recreation Superintendent; Marsha Roa, Community Services Assistant; Rose Manela, Associate Civil Engineer; Linda Smith, Developmental Services Assistant; Sonya Joe, Developmental Services Assistant; Sharon Gomez, Public Works Administrative Secretary and Debbie Gonzales, Community Services Administrative Secretary. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None Offered. CSD/Rose welcomed the Commissioners and presented an overview of the Trails Master Plan and Parks Master Plan which are included within the City's General Plan. 1. CITYWIDE COMPREHENSIVE TRAILS MASTER PLAN - Recreation Trails and Bicycle Routes. Presentation by Marlene Roth, The Roth Group. The Parks and Recreation Commission and the Traffic & Transportation Commission are having a joint meeting to begin the formal process of developing a master plan for recreation trails and bicycle routes. The goal of this process is to develop a single document that addresses the community's needs and plans for future development of recreation trails and bicycle routes as recommended by both Commissions with their recommendation being forwarded to the r --F MAY 11, 2000 PAGE 2 JOINT MEETING OF THE; PARKS AND RECREATION AND TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONS City Council for approval. She stated that the goal is to update the 1995 plan. The consulting groups of The Roth Group, Hirsch Assoc., Austin -Foust (bikeways, Caltrans standards) and Dewan Lundin Associates(mapping) are in the process of completing their reports. All pertinent data is expected to be available to the City Council for approval in August of 2000. In the meantime, public hearings will be conducted after which the Commissions will discuss the matter and forward a recommendation to the City Council for public input, discussion and approval. The projected completion date for the Trails Master Plan is anticipated to be November, 2000. Marlene Roth reported that 609 residents responded to the trails survey. Following are the results: 85 percent wanted walking trails 35 percent wanted dirt trails 33.6 percent wanted bicycle trails 30.9 percent wanted running trails 15.6 percent wanted mountain bike trails 5.4 percent wanted horseback riding trails Marlene Roth detailed the survey results. She stated that safety is the #1 overall concern for these projects. DISCUSSION: Marlene Roth stated that the goal/objective of the study is to maximize opportunities for walkers and runners. The next step of this project is for Hirsch & Associates to complete the mapping in order to determine if there are any feasible linkages within the City. Marlene Roth answered questions from both the Parks & Recreation and Traffic & Transportation Commissioners. DCM/DeStefano stated that from a planning standpoint there may be additional areas of consideration such as the city's limited through system (dead end streets, etc), further exploration of the city and Grand Avenue, a pathway to each park, connectivity to adjacent cities and use of schools as connecting points. DCMMeStefano responded to P&R Chair/Finnerty that joint use agreement discussions with D.B. school districts has been a slow process and will likely continue to be in the short term. The district is exploring uses of their property such as the 80 acres adjacent to South Point Middle School which creates opportunities for an exchange of property and some type of interpretive trail possibly at the -..1.uw.��.u�i....w��lilV m„ 6ik,au�_•.��_�,.._�.—�---–,m�-�.,--rte.,-_-.��,«�,�.,�.��.•. ..._. _,. ';MAY 11, 2000 bottom of Sandstone Canyon. PAGE 3 JOINT MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION AND TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONS P&R Chair/Finnerty said that it would be nice to know if the Trails Plan could include anything in that' area. DCM/DeStefano reiterated that the potential partner is the school districts which have important land that could link existing amenities or create new amenities such as the area next to South Point Middle School. He explained the definition of Class I,11 and III bike lanes. He stated that the City's General Plan talks about retaining the country living character. He suggested that one way to do that is to where appropriate, create dirt pathways for equestrians and bicyclists in areas of prominence that establish a more rural country feel such as Grand Avenue/La Puente Road. Because the City is pretty much built out, there are limited opportunities. One of the areas of consideration is Brea Canyon Road from c Diamond Bar High School to the southerly city limits. Marlene Roth said that there are very specific requirements for Class I, II and III bike lanes. One of the more important aspects is the funding mechanism. If a dirt path with a rural country feel is desired it meets the same community need as having a safe bike lane but it would not necessarily qualify as a technical class of bike lane for funding purposes under some grant specifications. Therefore, there has to be a decision between the aesthetics of the community and standards that are established by other agencies. T&T Chair/Morris said he believes that it is important for the Commissions to decide where the priorities lie. He believes that connecting Summitridge and Sycamore Canyon Park has numerous possibilities and should be at the top of the list and he would place this as a much higher priority than connecting a bike route that allows residents from other communities to bike through D.B. to another community. The area along Brea Canyon at Heritage Park offers an opportunity for a mini trail for pedestrians and bicyclists. The potential for a meandering trail in that area should be high on the priority list. ' Marlene Roth stated that when subdivisions are built which include standard sidewalks and parkways, one of the considerations would be to look at something that is more aesthetically pleasing i.e., meandering sidewalks, wider parkway areas to accommodate park benches. DDPW/Liu indicated that most of the newer subdivisions are gated communities and do not offer this type of opportunity. However, one of the areas that will be improved is the area along Brea Canyon Road between Pathfinder Road and Golden Springs Drive which provides an opportunity to incorporate ter., certain sidewalk and parkway improvements. The biggest opportunity is with the Brea Canyon Road MAY 11, 2000 PAGE 4 JOINT MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION AND J TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONS street scape project which is a joint effort with the State and MTA for a Class I bike path system. T&T Chair/Morris stated that the City of Cerritos did some marvelous things with meandering elevation sidewalks. An undeveloped area that offers potential in D.B. is the length of the Diamond Bar Golf Course area along Golden Springs Drive. Marlene Roth responded to P&R C/Stone that for bike paths some CalTrans and Prop C Funds are available for Class I trails and there are special grant programs available. DDPW/Liu said that as an example, 1.3 million dollars of the total cost of approximately 2 million dollars will be funded through an MTA approved grant for the Brea Canyon Road improvement project. Another consideration is the City's right-of-way. For instance, the City has a 6 or 7 foot right of -way along Golden Springs Drive in front of the Diamond Bar Golf Course. Unfortunately, the only, type of sidewalk you would see in such an area would be a linear sidewalk which limits the aesthetic value. Acquisition of additional right-of-way is a very difficult process. DDPW/Liu responded to T&T C/Kung that there are many issues involved in the cost of a bicycle path. P&R Chair/Finnerty said she believes that it is not up to the Commissions to consider cost. The goal is to attempt to put together the best Trails Master Plan possible for this community. It is up to the City Council to determine whether they like the proposed plan and then to determine the method for financing the elements. It is likely that such a plan will be implemented incrementally in conjunction with other projects. CSD/Rose explained that the Council is looking for funding sources in conjunction with the proposed Trails Master Plan. Marlene Roth asked the Commissions to remember that funding mechanisms change constantly. The concept of this discussion is to come up with a system that is desired by the city and it does not mean that it needs to be the system that the city can pay for in the next five year capital improvement program because this will be an ongoing process. Planning gives the city an opportunity to be prepared,when various funding mechanisms occur. Therefore, it is important that the plan not be limited to things that can be paid for in the short run. The plan should be good for many years in the future. P&R C/Torres asked about the status of bike paths/lanes within and adjacent to The Country Estates and whether these elements are available to the general public. q 4 MAY 11, 2000 -- PAGE 5 JOINT MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION AND TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONS Marlene Roth stated that the issue of easements is a matter to be investigated and brought back to the group at its next discussion. T&T Chair/Morris suggested that map overlays and felt tip pens be provided at future sessions in order for participants to indicate possible locations for future bike paths/hiking trails, etc. FUTURE MEETING SCHEDULE: The Commissions concurred to hold joint study sessions to discuss plan elements. The Commissions further concurred to hold their next joint sessions to immediately follow the Traffic i and Transportation Meeting on Thursday, July 13, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. with a second meeting scheduled to immediately follow the regular Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Thursday, July 27, 20M at 7:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the joint session of the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Traffic & Transportation Commission, P&R Chair/Finnerty adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m. Respec ul Su tted, f Bob ose Secretary Attest: I � , i An etteinnerty Chairman, Parks & _eation Commission I i MAY 11, 2000 PAGE 6 JOINT MEETING OF THE; PARKS AND RECREATION AND . TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONS Respectfully Submitted, David Liu Secretary Attest: Roland Morris Chairman, Traffic & Transportation Commission