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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/8/1991CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AUGUST 8, 1991 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Ortiz called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Diamond Bar Library, 1061 South Grand Avenue, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by ALLEGIANCE: Chairman Ortiz. ROLL CALL: Commissioner Beke, Commissioner Fritz, Commissioner Chavers, Vice Chairman Gravdahl, and Chairman Ortiz. Also present were City Engineer Sid Mousavi, Administrative Analyst Tseday Aberra, Parks and Maintenance Director Charles Janiel, Sergeant Rawlings, and Contract Secretary Liz Myers. APPROVAL OF C/Beke requested the Minutes of July 11, 1991 be MINUTES: amended on page 2, first paragraph to read "reconsider". Sgt. Rawlings requested that the minutes be amended Request for AA/Aberra addressed the Commission regarding the Road Closure: request to limit access to the Gateway Center, Ranch Festival Copley, Valley Vista, and Bridge Gate during the Ranch Festival. It is recommended that the area have a limited access between 3:00 p.m. September 27 and 10:00 p.m. September 29, 1991. It is further recommended that the Commission waive all fees required for road closure. VC/Gravdahl inquired where parking will be permitted. to properly spell the name "Randy Clute". Motion was made by VC/Gravdahl, seconded by C/Beke and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to approve the Minutes of July 11, 1991, as amended. COMMISSION C/Beke requested an update of the sidewalk project COMMENTS: on Brea Canyon under the 60 freeway. CE/Mousavi indicated that the contract for the project has been awarded. The City awaits CalTrans encroachment permit. Chair/Ortiz suggested that the Commission meet again later in the month to be able to discuss all the items on the agenda. The Commission will determine the date later in the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Pat Byham, resident of Diamond Bar, expressed her concern for the traffic problem on Grand Avenue. She requested a solution to the problem. NEW BUSINESS: Request for AA/Aberra addressed the Commission regarding the Road Closure: request to limit access to the Gateway Center, Ranch Festival Copley, Valley Vista, and Bridge Gate during the Ranch Festival. It is recommended that the area have a limited access between 3:00 p.m. September 27 and 10:00 p.m. September 29, 1991. It is further recommended that the Commission waive all fees required for road closure. VC/Gravdahl inquired where parking will be permitted. August 8, 1991 Page 2 AA/Aberra responded that parking will be permitted on the empty lots, as well as along Copley. Don Wise, Vice President of the Ranch Festival Board, further specified the parking locations, as well as the location of the Ranch Festival. He informed the Commission that a shuttle service will be provided to and from the Festival. The Rotary Club will direct parking, as they have in the past. Chair/Ortiz requested that the Rotary Club show proof of insurance to protect the City from liability. Motion was made by C/Fritz, seconded by C/Beke and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to approve the closure subject to staff's receipt of adequate assurances that the liability issue has been taken care of. Road Improvement:CE/Mousavi reported that the City has been working Brea Cnyn. Rd. atwith Caltrans to improve the signal at the on/off State Route 60 ramp at Brea Canyon Road at State Route 60 Westbound on/off Westbound. One of the requirements to install ramps double left turns onto the on ramp is the elimination of parking, as indicated on the map. In order to complete their designs, Caltrans has requested that they be formerly informed that this has taken place. Staff requested the Commission's approval to send this information to Caltrans, and authorize them to proceed with the design. C/Chavers suggested considering the elimination of parking on the southbound approach to cure the traffic on Colima at the same time. The Commission discussed other proposed projects, and the effects on this particular project. CE/Mousavi stated that staff, at this time, is requesting approval for the elimination of parking, so the design can be completed. When it is completed, it will be brought back to the Commission. The Commission will also be kept informed as more information is received regarding other projects, enabling a more complete picture of improvements in this area. August 8, 1991 Page 3 Motion was made by C/Beke, seconded by C/Chavers and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to accept staff's recommendation. AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Beke, Chavers, Fritz, VC/Gravdahl, and Chair/Ortiz. NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None. ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None. Circulation CE/Mousavi introduced Kathy Higley, from DKS and Element Study: Associates. It is desired that the Commission DKS & Assoc. give a recommendation to the Council, with respect to the Circulation Element Study, which can be incorporated into the General Plan concept. Kathy Higley stated that the emphasis on the entire General Plan, and the Circulation Element, has been on the environmental quality and the quality of life issue, within Diamond Bar as a unique community. Three fundamental premises were focused on regarding the Circulation Element: 1) the desire to return local streets to local use; 2) maintain and improve Grand Ave. as an arterial; and 3) work closely with other agencies and surrounding jurisdiction to insure that corollary improvements are made on the regional systems. She reviewed certain issues that will need reconciliation to finalize the document and prepare it for the public hearing. She then requested comments and direction from the Commission. The following comments were made by C/Beke: C/Beke, referencing page 6, regarding Diamond Bar Blvd. and Grand, stated that anything done to reduce through traffic within the City will be an inconvenience to the people in the City. If there is a need for a bypass to the freeway, people will take the path with the least resistance until the freeway is improved. C/Beke, regarding Sunset Crossing, stated that if the intent to cul-de-sac the street is to keep truck traffic from the City of Industry out, then simply open the street and put a weight restriction. Opening Sunset Crossing would be a benefit to the City's circulation element. C/Beke, referencing page 16, corrected the misuse of Diamond Bar Hills Parkway and Diamond Bar Ave. August 8, 1991 Page 4 7-1 C/Beke noted that the opening of Knoll/Tonner Canyon Road was discussed in great detail at the City Council meeting, but is not stressed in the report. Kathy Higley explained that this tends to be a dividing issue among the GPAC. There is a contingency that feels strongly that a Tonner Canyon is needed from a traffic engineering prospective. The argument from the other side is that Tonner Canyon has a limited capacity which will quickly fill up and return Grand Ave., and Diamond Bar Blvd., as it is today, or worse. However, the Canyon will have been forfeited. C/Beke indicated that if Tonner Canyon is not built, then traffic on Grand Ave. and Diamond Bar Blvd., will continue to get much worse. C/Beke commented that if this is to be the Circulation Element, then it is a one sided picture. The following comments were made by C/Chavers: C/Chavers concurred with C/Beke's opinion regarding Grand Avenue. He suggested that a number one policy should be to explore Tonner Canyon, and when that is filled up, begin exploring Soquel Canyon. The options to the south of us should be explored. The Canyon shouldn't be preserved at the sake of making Grand Ave. look like the 57 freeway. C/Chavers, noting the inconsistencies within the document, requested some technical discussion, from staff, relating to the inclusion of level of service standards and the definition of streets. He suggested pulling some of the numbers out, and replacing them with implementation figures, and practice figures, that reflect Diamond Bar standards. C/Chavers commented on some of the problems of the TIA guidelines document: the Circulation Element recommends TRB 212, however, the TIA guidelines request the use of the Intersection Capacity Utilization Method; the TTA document has capacity volumes for streets, but Diamond Bar should come up with its own level of service, and the numbers should be retracted until that time; and the Trip Generation used in the model for the Diamond Bar August 8, 1991 Page 5 circulation element is inconsistent relating to the ITE rates required of developers to utilize the TIA's. He suggested that the TIA guidelines be revisited. The following comments were made by VC/Gravdahl: VC/Gravdahl stated that the City would have a better bargaining tool if Sunset Crossing remained closed. It is better to grab the bull by the horn prior to, than after the fact, as it had happened with Grand Avenue. VC/Gravdahl inquired what the report addresses regarding public transportation, or car pooling, in Orange County, and how it is implemented. Kathy Higley responded that Diamond Bar's most sensible and cost effective measure will be to continue to work with, and pressure, Caltrans to implement car pool lanes along the 57 and 60 freeway, as well as improve the 60 freeway. Other programs that can be effective are Park and Ride Networks, van pools and car pools, biking and subsidizing transit. The following comments were made by C/Fritz: C/Fritz stated that if people must travel through Diamond Bar, then the traffic ought to be confined to arterial streets and be kept off of residential streets. C/Fritz indicated that there should be more emphasis on alternative modes of transportation. In twenty years, we may not have to develop Soquel Canyon, for example, because people are using alternative modes in a way not foreseen today. C/Fritz, regarding an article referring to the purchasing of Union Pacific rights, inquired if it referred to tracks that run on our City's border. He suggested that the item be looked into further. C/Chavers stated that LACTC leased right of way, and leased the ability to operate commuter rail on existing UP lines, which basically parallel Valley Blvd. C/Chaves inquired what affect the Commission's comments have regarding the Circulation Element and the public hearing process. August 8, 1991 OLD BUSINESS: Page 6 CE/Mousavi responded that the Commission is an advisory board to the Council. The Commission's comments and recommendations will be presented to the Council for their determination. The Commission concurred to have another meeting later in the month to be able to provide their comments to the Planning Commission, and allow time for the revision of the draft Circulation Element. The Commission also requested that DKS and Associates highlight the changes and additions made within the document. Motion was made by C/Fritz, seconded by C/Beke and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to continue the matter to a special session meeting of August 28, 1991 at 6:30 p.m. Parking Spaces CE/Mousavi addressed the Commission regarding the at DBHS, Brea existing parking problem, at Brea Canyon Road and Cnyn. & EvergreenEvergreen Springs, generated by students at Diamond Bar High School(DBHS). C/Fritz had volunteered to attend the next the School Board meeting to discuss this matter. C/Fritz stated that the School Board had not had a meeting, however, Mr. Chapped, of the School District, is present at tonight's meeting. Mr. Chaput, Assistant Superintendent for Fiscal Facilities Management with the School District (WVUSD) , indicated that because of the successful bond election there is now money to begin construction on DBHS. The first project, to be constructed by the end of January of 1992, is 113 parking spaces on the corner of Pathfinder and Diamond Bar Boulevard. Toward the end of the process, 67 spaces will be put in at the lower level by Evergreen Springs, and 19 additional spaces at the staff lot. The parking area on site will basically be built out at that point. C/Chavers suggested exploring the possibility of a parking structure above the 113 lots that could be tied into a Park and Ride lot. The Commission directed staff to contact the LACTC regarding the likelihood of getting a cooperative Park and Ride with the school's parking facilities. August 8, 1991 Pages 7 C/Fritz suggested that this item should be placed on the agenda of the liaison group, consisting of 2 Council members and School Board members, as was indicated by Mr. Chaput. . Request for Stop CE/Mousavi addressed the Commission regarding the Control: Racquet request for a stop control at Racquet Club Road and Club Rd./ Golden Golden Springs. The Racquet Club Road is a private Springs Rd. road, and a signal would have to be paid for by the Association. Staff did not begin preliminary studies determining if a signal is warranted until a commitment, regarding payment of a signal, has been confirmed. Staff recommended, as an alternative, a refuge area in the central part of the street, within the striped area, for an easier left turn. C/Beke stated that if the City has the commitment to fund a signal, the City may do the study. C/Fritz suggested that the Association may wish to try the refuge lane first before committing to a warrant study. Mr. Giamporcaro and Alice Mills, representing the condominiums, had been under the impression that the road was not a private road. After learning otherwise, they indicated that they will discuss the issue with the Association. Motion was made by C/Chavers, seconded by C/Beke and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to continue the matter until a response is received from the Association. Speed Zone Survey: CE/Mousavi addressed the Commission regarding the Chino Hills Pkwy. speed zone survey at Chino Hills Parkway. Staff recommended that the Commission approve a 45 mph speed zone. Motion was made by C/Chavers, seconded by VC/Gravdahl and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to accept staff's recommendation. Block Numbers on PMD/Daniel addressed the Commission regarding the Bus Shelters suggestion, by Mayor Forbing, to use bus shelters as a reference point for locating business addresses within the community. Bus Stop Shelters, Inc. has agreed to install the adhesive back type of lettering on the single vertical post in front of the bus shelter„ at no cost to the City. Motion was made by C/Fritz, seconded by C/Chavers and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to accept the project. August 8, 1991 Page 8 C/Chavers suggested that the City place illuminated numbers on the illuminated signs attached to the mast arms, as they are replaced by the City. Motion was made by C/Beke, seconded by VC/Gravdahl and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to carry all items to the Respectively, Sid Mousavi Secretary .Attest: meeting of August 28, 1991. STAFF COMMENTS: CE/Mousavi distributed brochures, regarding a workshop for Traffic Commissioners, put out by the City Traffic Engineers, and requested that he be contacted if any of the Commissioners are interested in attending it. COMMISSION C/Beke addressed the Commission regarding the COMMENTS: opening of Pathfinder Road to Fullerton, around December of 1991. He suggested that a design for an operational signal at Brea Canyon Road and Pathfinder be considered now. He asked staff to review a possible lead for a signal upon the opening of Pathfinder Road. ADJOURNMENT: Motion was made by C/Fritz, seconded by VC/Gravdahl and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to adjourn the meeting at 8:53 p.m. Respectively, Sid Mousavi Secretary .Attest: