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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/8/1992CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION OCTOBER 8, 1992 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Chavers called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District Room, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Ury. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Ury, Cheng, Beke, Vice Chairman Gravdahl, and Chairman Chavers. Also present were Associate Engineer David Liu, Administrative Analyst Tseday Aberra, Deputy Clark, and Contract Secretary Liz Myers. MINUTES: Sept. 10, 1992 C/Ury requested that the Minutes of September 10, 1992 be amended on page 9 to indicate that the recommendation includes the request to "deny the W- 7 sign." C/Beke requested the following amendments: page 1, 5th paragraph, to correct the spelling of "indicate"; page 4, 1st paragraph, third line, to omit the word "on"; page 5, last paragraph, to correct the phrase, "as well as"; page 6, last paragraph, to correct the spelling of "median"; and page 7, third paragraph, to correct the spelling of "past", and add the word, "of", after "ECR", and, "on", between "end southbound". Motion was made by VC/Gravdahl, seconded by C/Ury and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to approve the Minutes of September 10, 1992, as amended. COMMISSION VC/Gravdahl stated that there is a pothole on COMMENTS: Gentle Springs Lane, located by MacDonalds, that needs to be taken care of. AE/Liu stated that staff has sent out letters, to all the property owners, informing them that they are responsible for maintaining Gentle Springs Lane. Staff has not yet received any responses from the property owners. VC/Gravdahl noted that the portion of Chino Hills Parkway, in the City of Diamond Bar, has a posted speed limit of 45 mph, but that the portion, in ' Chino Hills, has a speed limit of 55 mph. He suggested that a radar study, of the area, be conducted to investigate the appropriate speed in that area. October 8, 1992 Page 2 Chair/Chavers explained that the speed limit is not yet posted in Chino Hills. However, Chino Hills will soon be undertaking speed survey studies, and the discrepancy should be taken care of by them. C/Ury requested that the next agenda include information regarding the potential double right turn lane, off of Diamond Bar Blvd. and heading east on to Grand Avenue. C/Beke requested an update regarding the three way stop at Brea Canyon/ Pathfinder Road. There is a need for the stop sign, and it should be implemented, both now and during construction. AE/Liu stated that the 3 way stop control will definitely be implemented during the construction phase. However, it has not yet been determined, if it needs to be done during the bidding process. Staff will convey the Commission's request to the City Manager's office, and proceed accordingly. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Leroy Foster, 20933 Pasco Court, stated that he has corresponded to the Traffic Department regarding his concern of the safety of the Fallowfield and Brea Canyon Cut-off intersection. AA/Aberra stated that staff has received Mr. Foster's request, and has provided the Commission with a copy of that letter. Mr. Foster's concern will be handled administratively. CONSENT CALENDAR:Motion was made by C/Beke, seconded by VC/Gravdahl and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to pull item B from the Consent Calendar to item F of Old Business, and to approve item A, of the Consent Calendar, as recommended by staff. AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Ury, Beke, Cheng, VC/Gravdahl, and Chair/Chavers. NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None. ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None. OLD BUSINESS: Feasibility AA/Aberra presented the staff report. Staff met of constructing with the resident's representative, as was a block wall instructed at the August 13, 1992 Commission with wrought meeting, to discuss the feasibility of developing a iron fence "participation program" and/or to research the at Gold Nugget technical options available to address their concerns. It is recommended that the Commission recommend to the City Council the construction of the 3 -foot block wall with 3 -foot wrought iron October 8, 1992 Page 3 fence on Grand Ave. and that the three (3) residences/ property owners be the funding source of the project. Nina Goncharov, residing at 23621 Gold Nugget, stated that the recommended wall will not mitigate their concerns regarding fire hazard, debris, and noise. She suggested that the existing wall be continued up the hill, and that the speed limit be reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph to mitigate the noise. She noted that there were three accidents that occurred within the last year, and presented pictures to the Commission. She further requested that the political signs, still remaining in their area, be removed. Carlene Wilworth, a previous resident of 23922 Gold Nugget, confirmed the various accidents that have occurred in their area over the last few years. Heavy landscaping did not effectively reduce noise, or keep cars from rolling over the slope from an accident. The residents had, at one time discussed sharing the cost for a wall, however, because the ground on Grand Ave. is very unstable, the cost of the wall would have been very expensive. Any wall constructed would need to be a retaining wall. Larry Redinger, residing at 23999 Gold Nugget, confirmed the amount of accidents that have occurred. The fire dangers further exasperate the problems in the area. Simon Cohen, residing at 23631 Gold Nugget, also confirmed the number of accidents. He suggested that the noise level be measured during 4:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Ann Reyhan, residing at 23790 Gold Nugget, and Stan Granger, residing at 23800 Gold Nugget, concurred with the statement previously made. Patricia Ube, residing at 23656 Gold Nugget, also supported the statements previously made. She stated that the residents of Diamond Bar should not have to pay for problems created by the increased traffic from Chino Hills. May Lee, residing at 23988 Gold Nugget, stated that teenagers often walk through her property from Grand Avenue, and that they have found evidence of a small fire, with empty beer cans all around. October 8, 1992 Page 4 C/Beke stated the following: if a wall is to be built, it should be a solid, 6 foot block wall; the cost of the wall will be expensive; a noise study is not needed because everyone is quite aware of the problem; and the speed limit cannot be reduced to 35 mph because it cannot be enforced. Speed limits cannot be artificially lowered just to try to get people to drive slower. C/Ury pointed out that the Commission has already made a decision to send this issue to the City Council. He inquired if anything has been done in regards to a possible guardrail. AE/Liu stated that it is feasible to construct such a protective measure, however, the cost would be very expensive. The intention was to keep costs low. The Commission's recommendation tonight will be forwarded to the City Council. C/Ury requested staff to investigate if the City could arrange to have the political signs picked up from these residents' properties. Chair/Chavers explained that the Commission has no authority to expend City funds. He reiterated the Commission's last recommendation that, whatever staff and the residents concur is a solution, it should be presented to the City Council for the City Council to take action. Motion was made by C/Beke, and seconded by C/Ury to deny staff's recommendation, and to direct staff to consult the minutes of the August 13, 1992 meeting, for the Commission's direction. Chair/Chavers noted that staff did investigate the technical options, as was requested, and brought their findings back to the Commission. C/Ury suggested that, as an alternative to the motion, the item be accepted as an informational item, and staff be directed to continue as previously designated. He withdrew his second, therefore, C/Beke's motion died for lack of a second. AE/Liu explained that staff brought the item back to inform the Commission that staff has investigated options, as was requested. Staff would like to present this option, along with the recommendation previously made by the Commission. October 8, 1992 Page 5 Motion was made by C/Ury, seconded by C/Beke and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to accept this issue as an informational item, and to request staff to continue with the prior recommendations made at the August 13, 1992 meeting. AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Ury, Beke, Cheng, VC/Gravdahl, and Chair/Chavers. NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None. ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None. Development of AA/Aberra presented the staff report. In a uniform determining the feasibility of establishing a warrant analysis uniform crossing guard warrant analysis standard standard for that meets the community's needs and requirements, crossing guard the Commission was presented with a report. which services was prepared by Austin -Foust Associates, Inc. This item is continued from the September 10, 1992 to allow the representative from the Walnut Valley Unified School District (WVUSD) additional time to provide his comments in identifying future intersections for crossing guard services. It is ' recommended that the Commission review and discuss the report submitted by Austin -Foust Associates, Inc. and recommend to the City Council to continue utilizing the crossing guard warrant guidelines established by CalTrans. Clyde Evans, from WVUSD, reviewed the requests for crossing guard services, as indicated in his report submitted to the Commission. He stated that he has also submitted, as was requested at the last meeting, a 1990 crossing guard study for Lemon and Colima. All of our crossing guards have this kind of study conducted for each placement of that crossing guard. In response to an inquiry from the last meeting, he stated that the LA County Office of Education follows the guidelines of the criteria used from the Automobile Club: School Crossing Guard Programs. Their guidelines are concerned with the safety of children, and they count the number of cars differently than what is recommended by CalTrans. C/Beke pointed out that those intersections suggested for school crossing guards, by the WVUSD, are not on the agenda and cannot be considered at this point. The issue before the Commission is the standards that should be applied to existing and future crossing guard services. He pointed out that the LA County warrants are more lenient than CalTrans. He noted that the Austin -Foust Associates, Inc. report seems to be a.m. and p.m. averages for student counts, and not the count October 8, 1992 Page 6 during the one peak hour in the morning and the afternoon. VC/Gravdahl, concerned with the State cutting back funds this year and next year, suggested that the City continue using CalTrans warrant guidelines, as opposed to using a more lenient guideline. This way, the service can be cut back, if so needed. The requests for crossing guard services can be reviewed yearly, on a case by case basis. Motion was made by C/Beke and seconded by C/Ury to accept staff's recommendation to continue using CalTrans warrants. AE/Liu, in response to C/Beke, stated that the existing nine intersections will continue to receive those crossing guard services for the school year of 1992/93. Chair/Chavers stated that he prefers the LA County standards over CalTrans warrants. The City has never had CalTrans standards in effect, to his i knowledge. AE/Liu explained that the Public Works Department has been utilizing CalTrans' standards. C/Beke suggested that the Commission should first find out what guidelines the City has been operating under before taking action. C/Beke and C/Ury withdrew the motion and the second. Motion was made by C/Beke, seconded by C/Ury and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to deny staff's recommendation, and to direct staff to evaluate LA County Public Works Department standards versus CalTrans standards versus the LA County School Crossing Guard Committee standards, and come back with a recommendation. AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Ury, Beke, Cheng, VC/Gravdahl, and Chair/Chavers. NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None., ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None. Conceptual AE/Liu presented the staff report. Staff has signing & prepared a conceptual signing and striping plan for striping plan Prospectors Road for the Commission's review and for Prospectors discussion. It is recommended that the Commission at Fall Creek review the conceptual signing and striping plan, condo entrance and direct staff as necessary. October 8, 1992 Page 7 VC/Gravdahl suggested the following: a lane be striped so that motorists coming down the hill will not hug the curb; and trim the evergreen tree to improve visibility. C/Beke noted that the sight distance, to the north, is poor because of the parked vehicles. The striping plan presented by staff will eliminate that parking, and increase sight distance. He made the following suggestions: move the centerline one foot to the west, which would allow for an eleven foot travel lane, and a ten foot right turn lane; painting the island on the north end will clear up sight distance; the island should be pulled back 100 feet from that driveway so that there is a right turn lane; the striping, in staff's plan, should be corrected so that the striping is in the direction that you want traffic to move; and there should be a "Right Lane Must Turn Right", and maybe a "Through Traffic Merge Left". The same treatment was done for Fullerton and Sunrise. He stated that he will give staff a copy of his suggested striping plan. Motion was made by C/Ury, seconded by C/Beke and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to accept staff's conceptual signing and striping plan, indicated modifications and comments of C/Beke with respect to the striping. AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Ury, Beke, Cheng, VC/Gravdahl, and Chair/Chavers. NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None. ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None. Traffic signal AE/Liu presented the staff report. On September priority list 10, 1992, the Commission requested that the Priority List be scheduled as an agenda item for discussion. The Priority List consists of two categories: those intersections warranted for traffic signals; and those intersections that are candidates for warrant studies. It is recommended that the Commission discuss the subject matter and direct staff as necessary. Following discussion, the Commission requested a staff to footnote the priority list. The following ' comments were made: Staff should investigate what happened to the warrant study for the intersection of Silver Hawk/Diamond Bar Bvld.; the intersection of Pathfinder Road/Brea Canyon Road is scheduled to be accomplished with the widening project; the warrant study for the intersections of Diamond Bar Blvd./Northbound off ramp SR 57 and Brea Canyon October 8, 1992 Page 8 Cut -Off Road/Fallow Field Drive, were done by the developers' engineers as part of the traffic impact study report for the Diamond Bar Corporate Terrace project in the unincorporated area in the County; staff should determine if there is a letter of credit, from the Corporate Terrace, for the signal at the intersection of Brea Canyon Cut -Off Road/Fallow Field Drive; the intersections of Golden Springs Dr./Prospectors Road and Golden Springs Dr./Golden Prados Dr. along with the intersections of Diamond Bar Blvd./Tin and Diamond Bar Blvd./Goldrush, should be studied as a unit to determine the best approach to resolving which intersection gets a traffic signal; the intersection of Diamond Bar Blvd./Shadow Canyon Drive should be put back on the list, with an asterisk noting that a policy, for funding traffic signals at private and public street intersections, is to come before the City Council. Frank Barkowski, residing at 20910 Pasco Court, stated that 30 to 40 employees, from First Mortgage Corporation park on Fallow Field Drive to Pasco and Pasco Court, as well as on Corporate Center Drive. The vanpoolers have pretty much left the area. Also, the delivery trucks continue to double park. He suggested that parking be restricted all day. AE/Liu, in response to C/Ury, stated that he was unable to find any records of a warrant study request for the intersection of Quail Summit/Diamond Bar Boulevard. Motion was made by C/Ury, seconded by VC/Gravdahl and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to continue the matter, with direction to staff to footnote the list per the comments made by the Commission, for the next meeting. "No Parking" AE/Liu presented the staff report. The "No signs on Parking" signs on Fallow Field Drive and Pasco Fallow Field Dr./Court, reinstalled August 27, 1992, were observed Pasco Ct. by staff, as was requested by the Commission. It appears that some vehicles (presumably carpoolers) have now begun to park along Diamond Bar Blvd./Brea Canyon Cut -Off road, under the SR 57 overpass. The use of the street space along Fallow Field Drive continues to be utilized by the First Mortgage Corporation employees and others due to the inadequate on-site parking. It is recommended that the Commission recommend to the City Council the installation of Al2-Hour Parking, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday -Friday" signs on Fallow Field Drive and Pasco Court. Frank Barkowski, residing at 20910 Pasco Court, stated that 30 to 40 employees, from First Mortgage Corporation park on Fallow Field Drive to Pasco and Pasco Court, as well as on Corporate Center Drive. The vanpoolers have pretty much left the area. Also, the delivery trucks continue to double park. He suggested that parking be restricted all day. October 8, 1992 Page 9 Sharon Foster, residing at 20933 Pasco Court, stated that the First Mortgage Corporation should be required to take care of additional parking for their employees. She suggested that parking be restricted up to Malad Court. C/Beke stated that the City would need to have a substantial majority of support, from the residents in the area, in order to install "No Parking" signs, otherwise, there is a possibility that the City could receive many complaints. C/Ury stated that he does not like the recommendation for 112 -Hour Parking" because it is difficult to enforce. Deputy Clark concurred. Frank Barkowski stated that there might be voluntary compliance from the First Mortgage Corporation. He stated that he recalls that the "No Parking 6:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. was observed. However, the employees may have complained, which may be the reason why the Mortgage Corporation requested that the signs to be removed. Following discussion, Motion was made by C/Beke, seconded by Chair/Chavers and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to accept staff's recommendation to install 112 -Hour Parking, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday -Friday" signs from Diamond Bar Blvd., all the way on Fallow Field Drive and Pasco Court, as noted on staff's drawings, and request that there be heavy enforcement, in the area, by the Sheriff Department, for the first and second week after the signs are installed. AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Ury, Beke, Cheng, VC/Gravdahl, and Chair/Chavers. NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None. ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None. Request for AA/Aberra stated that item B, of the Consent temp. parking Calendar, has been combined with this request for restriction on temporary parking restriction on Fountain Springs Ft. Springs/ Road at Diamond Bar Boulevard. She presented the Diamond Bar Blvd staff report regarding the request, by Nucon International, Inc., to designate Fountain Springs Road at Diamond Bar Blvd. as a temporary "No ' Parking" zone, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m.. Nucon International, Inc. is also requesting that the trucks, involved with the remediation of contaminated soil project, be permitted to park. It is recommended that the Commission recommend to the City Council the installation of temporary "No October 8, 1992 Page 10 Parking, 12 noon and 6:00 p.m., Monday -Friday" signs on the south side of Fountain Springs Road, 60 feet from the intersection of the west right-of- way line of Diamond Bar Blvd. and Fountain Springs Road for approximately 80 feet. Furthermore, it is recommended that the Commission recommend to the City Council said signs be installed upon receipt of payment for costs associated with the signs and installation. AE/Liu, in response to C/Beke, explained that the City will issue a letter, permitting parking, to the environmental company. That letter will also be forwarded to the Sheriff Department. Motion was made by C/Ury, seconded by C/Beke and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to accept staff's recommendation, with the addition of "By Permit only". AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Ury, Beke, Cheng, VC/Gravdahl, and Chair/Chavers. NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None. ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None. "Right Turn Only"A revised conceptual signing and striping plan is lane on Diamond brought before the Commission for further review Bar Blvd. & and discussion. Said revised plan has been relocation of a prepared pursuant to the Commission's stop sign limit recommendations of September 10, 1992. line on Ft. Springs Don Long, residing at 2640 Rising Star, questioning the need for a "Right Turn Only" lane, stated that the problem has to do with the left turn, northbound Diamond Bar Blvd. on to Fountain Springs. He inquired why the City is not going to cut into his wall to improve visibility on Fountain Springs, as was discussed with ICE/Wentz. Chair/Chavers explained that there is very little that can be done to prevent people from turning left in to oncoming traffic. He then explained that the reason the striping plan has been recommended is because it is a more economically feasible project than the wall. October 8, 1992 Page 11 Motion was made by C/Beke, seconded by VC/Gravdahl and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to accept staff's recommended conceptual signing and striping plan, as presented in the staff report for item B, of the Consent Calendar. AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Ury, B eke, Cheng, VC/Gravdahl, and Chair/Chavers. NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None. ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None. ITEMS FROM C/Ury suggested that those items that are going to COMMISSIONERS: be controversial be placed first on the agenda. ITEMS FROM AE/Liu requested that the Commission direct staff STAFF: as to what is intended ,for the intersection of Diamond Bar Blvd. and Grand Avenue. The Minutes of March 14, 1991 indicate that the Commission has requested the following two recommendations to the City Council: add a right turn arrow, northbound Diamond Bar Blvd.; and to provide a "No U-turn" sign to the westbound Grand Avenue left turn. Chair/Chavers stated that the right turn arrow is to have overlap capabilities. He requested that the item be placed as an agenda item for the next meeting if it is determined that staff needs further clarification of the Commission's intent as it is stated in the minutes of previous meetings. ADJOURNMENT: Motion was made by C/Cheng, seconded by VC/Gravdahl and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Respective , ,i �Uavid G. Li Secretary Attest: � r odd Cave :!5 ' Chairman