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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/13/19971 1 CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MARCH 13, 1997 CALL TO ORDER: Chair/Istik called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District Hearing Room, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by C/Virginkar. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Chair/Istik, Vice Chair/Leonard, and Commissioners Virginkar and Nice Staff: Deputy Director of Public Works David Liu; Assistant Engineer Rose Manela, Administrative Assistant Tseday Aberra, Sergeant Rawlings, and Carol Dennis, Contract Secretary. Chair/Intik announced the resignation of C/Tamaya from the Traffic and Transportation Commission. He wished him well and said the Commission will miss his participation. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes of January 9, 1997. VC/Leonard moved, Commissioner Nice seconded, to approve the minutes of January 9, 1997 as presented. The motion was approved 2-0-2 with C/Virginkar and Chair/Istik abstaining. B. Minutes of February 13, 1997. C/Virginkar moved, VC/Leonard seconded, to approve the minutes of February 13, 1997 as amended. The motion was approved 3-0-1 with C/Nice abstaining. II. COMMISSION COMMENTS - None III. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None MARCH 13, 1997 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION IV. CONSENT CALENDAR - None V. OLD BUSINESS: A. Traffic circulation at the driveways to Diamond Bar Post Office and Towne Centre Village on Diamond Bar Boulevard. DDPW/Liu presented the staff report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission receive and discuss input from the businesses, property owners, and managers of the Diamond Bar Post Office and the Towne Centre Village on Diamond Bar Boulevard. Ted Robinson, Towne Centre Village property owner, presented a map of the area including the Towne Centre Village and the Diamond Bar Post Office. He sold the westerly portion of the property to the Postal Service and maintains ownership of the property which is occupied by the Towne Centre Village. He stated that in his opinion, the current ingress/egress on Diamond Bar Boulevard is appropriate to allow vehicles to pass back and forth between the shopping center and the post office. In addition, he said he believes that if one entrance is closed and traffic is permitted to travel one way only from the shopping center through the post office property exiting onto Montefino Avenue a circulation problem will ensue. He indicated that he has owned the property since 1984 and has not had one complaint about the traffic circulation. Mr. Robinson responded to Chair/Istik that he would be available to discuss options with the City to improve the traffic circulation. However, he believes the center currently has the perfect circulation layout. Larry Todd, Supervisor, Diamond Bar Branch Post Office, responded to VC/Leonard said that he has not observed a problem with the current location of the mail drop boxes. The post office receives complaints about the lack of available parking spaces during the Christmas season. 1 i 11 MARCH 13, 1997 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION Responding to C/Nice, Mr. Todd said that when the original parking configuration was changed to accommodate employee parking and large rigs dropping off mail at the rear of the building, public parking spaces were eliminated. There is not sufficient room for vehicular movement if the mail drop boxes are relocated to the Montefino Avenue side of the building. C/Nice questioned why there is a perception that a problem exists in this area. Shelley Baxter, Owner, Frameworks, suggested a right turn only at the shared ingress/egress on Diamond Bar Boulevard. VC/Leonard suggested the Commissioners visit the Walnut Post Office facility to review the site improvements. DDPW/Liu suggested the Commission conduct a public meeting with respect to consideration of restriction implementations such as right -turn - only and invite public participation. He referred the Commission to the Country Hills Towne Center right -turn -only restriction on Fountain springs Road which was overturned by the City Council due to public input. VC/Leonard suggested further consideration of a right -turn -only installation at the shared ingress/egress. She said she is concerned that the City may be creating an issue of traffic circulation where no issue exists. DDPW/Liu responded to C/Nice that the City received no additional citizen input on this item. Chair/Istik indicated he has observed vehicles lining up waiting to make a left turn out of the shared driveway onto Diamond Bar Boulevard and he believes the situation will tend to cause additional circulation problems in the future. MARCH 13, 1997 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION C/Virginkar said that in his opinion there are two viable options: 1) move the mail drop boxes to a different location and 2) install a right -turn - only sign at the shared ingress/egress on Diamond Bar Boulevard. He indicated that since the post office was built the area has grown so that it now must service a much larger community. He concurred with Chair/Istik that the situation will only get worse. Chair/Istik said he would not like to see the post office install any additional "awful" speed bumps to mitigate a perceived speeding problem. He doubts that vehicles can speed in the parking lot. The Commissioners concurred with Chair/Istik. Chair/Istik stated that circulation flow can be improved by allowing one way traffic. He further stated that diagonal parking increases parking spaces. C/Nice concurred with VC/Leonard that he believes the best solution offered is the right -turn -only suggestion. He said he would like staff to study the issue and offer the Commission its recommendations. Mr. Robinson said that diagonal parking creates less parking. Chair/Istik said he believes the only advantage would be to create diagonal parking where landscaping currently exists. VC/Leonard indicated she believes the post office's front property setback is too shallow to allow for a row of diagonal parking. VC/Leonard compared this situation to the traffic circulation problem at the Pic -N -Save location. C/Nice commented that a right -turn -only at the shared ingress/egress would make a left turn into the center from Diamond Bar Boulevard much easier. 1 i 1 MARCH 13, 1997 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION Chair/Istik stated another option would be to review the situation following installation of the traffic signal at Montefino Avenue and Diamond Bar Boulevard. Chair/Istik made a motion, seconded by VC/Leonard, to direct staff to provide the Traffic and Transportation with a current sketch of the property, an amended sketch reflecting the proposed traffic signal installation and its projected effect on the traffic flow, prepare a staff report with recommendations for traffic circulation mitigation, and schedule a public meeting for the April 10, 1997 Traffic and Transportation Commission meeting and invite property owners and citizens to participate. Sgt. Rawlings stated that a right -turn -only installation will be a frequently violated regulation. The motion was carried 4-0. VI. NEW BUSINESS: A. Reorganization of the Traffic and Transportation Commission. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission select a Chair and Vice Chair to serve the Commission for a term of one (1) year until March, 1998. Chair/Istik said he has enjoyed serving as Chairperson for the past year. He thanked his fellow Commissioners and staff for their assistance and support. Commissioner Istik nominated Commissioner Leonard to serve as Chair of the 'Traffic and Transportation Commission. Commissioner Virginkar seconded the nomination. MARCH 13, 1997 PAGE 6 T&T COMMISSION There were no further nominations. Commissioner Leonard accepted the gavel. Chair/Leonard opened nominations for Vice Chair. Chair/Leonard nominated Commissioner Virginkar to serve as Vice Chair. Commissioner Nice seconded the nomination. There were no further nominations. VC/Virginkar accepted the nomination to serve as Vice Chair. VII. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: DDPW/Liu acknowledged the following multi -way stop sign installations recommended by the Traffic and Transportation Commission and approved by the City Council: Mountain Laurel Way at Maple Hill Road, Country View Drive at Deer Crossing Road, and Fern Hollow Drive at Los Cerros Drive. DDPW/Liu reported that consultant Joe Foust has scheduled a kick-off meeting with the school districts to discuss traffic circulation at all school sites. The City intends to complete the study prior to the end of this year's school session. DDPW/Liu responded to C/Nice that the Brea Canyon Road Parkway Improvements is progressing with requests for fee proposals. The City Council approved $50,000 for the improvements design. The City has identified additional funding sources for the construction. C/Nice stated he favors going forward with the project as soon as possible because it will be a great improvement for the City. VIII. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: C/Istik asked that the Sunset Crossing Road cul-de-sac issue be discussed under Information Items at the April Commission meeting. 1 1 1 MARCH 13, 1997 PAGE 7 T&T COMMISSION DDPW/Liu stated the cul-de-sac construction began on March 9, 1997 and is scheduled to be completed by Friday, March 21, 1997. C/Istik stated he believes that the City of Industry can join the asphalt if it is left intact at the boundary line. He indicated he is concerned that cul- de-sacing will not sufficiently address the issue of the dedicated public roadway. DDPW/Liu responded to C/Nice that he will post a response to Debbie O'Connor's traffic signal timing inquiry through City On -Line tomorrow. Responding to Chair/Leonard, DDPW/Liu indicated the traffic signal on Diamond Dar Boulevard at Pathfinder Road was converted from a protected/permissive left turn phase to a protected left turn phase. IX. ITEMS FROM STAFF: A. Monthly Traffic Enforcement Update: February, 1997. Sgt. Rawlings presented the February Traffic Enforcement Update. The February Enforcement Index was 41.9. B. Future Agenda Items: Included in Commissioner's packets. DDPW/Liu responded to VC/Virginkar that the Booster Club's recommendations for a Diamond Ranch High School secondary access roadway are being reviewed by the City, X. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: Chair/Leonard asked that interested Commissioner's contact AA/Aberra if they wish to participate in the annual Contract Cities Workshop. MARCH 13, 1997 PAGE 8 T&T COMMISSION XI. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, CINice moved, VC/Virginkar seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 4-0. Chair/Leonard adjourned the meeting at 8:40 to April 10, 1997. Respectfully, avid G. Liu Secretary Attest: Jo/yc- - Leon rd Cof air