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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/12/1997CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION JUNE 12, 1997 CALL TO ORDER: Commissioner Istik called the meeting to order at 7:08 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 Commissioner Istik. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Commissioners Istik, Nice and Morris Staff: Deputy Director of Public Works David Liu; Assistant Engineer Rose Ma.nela, and Administrative Assistant Tseday Aberra. SELECTION OF ACTING CHAIRPERSON: C/Nice nominated C/Istik to serve as Acting Chairperson for tonight's meeting. C/Morris seconded the nomination. Without objections, the nominations were closed. L APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes of April 10, 1997. C/Morris moved, C/Nice seconded, to approve the April 10, 1997 minutes as presented. Without objections, the motion was so ordered. H. COMMISSION COMMENTS: DDPW/Liu responded to C/Nice that typically, the Traffic and Transportation Commission monthly meeting packets are entered into City On -Line the weekend prior to the meeting. M. PUBLIC COMMENTS: JUNE 12, 1997 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION Craig Clute furnished copies of Planning Commission minutes pertaining to Dr. Cho's building discussion item. He stated that the red curbing is technically on the southwest side of Fountain Springs Road and not the west side. He suggested the Commission refer to the side of the street containing the Country Hills Towne Center Fountain Springs Road driveway as the smith side. He reminded the Commission that DDPW/Liu will provide information regarding actions taken by the City's Planning Department regarding compliance issues related to Dr. Cho's building. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR -None V. OLD BUSINESS: A. Evaluation of Heritage Tract Signing/Striping Improvements. Staff recommends that this item be continued to the July 10, 1997 Traffic and Transportation Commission meeting. There was no one present who wished to speak on this item. The Commission concurred to continue this item to July 10, 1997. VI. NEW BUSINESS - None VII. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: DDPW/Liu reported that the Diamond Bar Boulevard/ Goldrush Drive traffic signal installation will commence Monday, June 16, 1997. Construction is expected to take approximately 90 days. A 90 day construction period is anticipated for the Diamond Bar Boulevard from Grand Avenue north to Palomino Drive street rehabilitation program which will commence Monday, June 16, 1997. The Pathfinder Road (between Diamond Bar Boulevard and Shaded Wood Road)/Brea Canyon Road (between Golden Springs Road and the northerly City limit line) street rehabilitation projects are slated to commence in approximately one month. JUNE 12, 1997 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION Two Commission items will be presented at the July 1, 1997 City Council meeting: The Minnequa Drive centerline striping issue, and parking prohibition for commercial vehicles on Washington Street. VIII. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: AC/Istik asked for "No Parking Anytime" signs on Walnut Drive west of Lemon Avenue on the south side where red curbing is located. IX. ITEMS FROM STAFF: A. Monthly Traffic Enforcement Update: Sgt. Rawlings presented the April and May, 1997 traffic enforcement update. The April traffic enforcement index was 36.9 and the May index was 48.8. B. Future Agenda Items: Evaluation of Heritage tract signing and striping 2. Comprehensive School Traffic Access and Circulation Study. C. Centerline Striping Guidelines for Residential Streets. Staff provided the requested information in the Commissioner's packets. X. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: A. Comprehensive School Traffic Access and Circulation Study. oe Foust, Austin -Foust Associates, Inc. presented preliminary information on the following school sites: Lorbeer Middle School, Chapparal Middle School and South Point Middle School. A final draft will be forwarded to the Traffic and Transportation Commission for review and discussion. Mr. Foust indicated he has received preliminary approval as well as, total cooperation for the study from the administration for each of the twelve school sites involved in the study. He provided videography and analysis JUNE 12, 1997 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION reports to support his findings and conclusions. AC/Istik asked for public testimony. LORBEER MIDDLE SCHOOL. Craig Clute asked if there is a turn restriction at either of the driveways. Mr. Foust responded that there is an implied restriction at the most northerly driveway due to a raised center median. There are no turn restrictions at the more southerly driveway. Mr. Clute asked if the existing red curbing is a "No Parking" or "No Stopping Anytime" zone. He indicated he is concerned that if the red zone is converted to a green zone, drivers will park for the indicated time rather than use the area for pickup and dropoff only. Mr. Foust stated that a red curb denotes "No Stopping Anytime" which is the tightest restriction available. He suggested the red curb area be changed to a white striped "Passenger Loading Zone" to denote the current usage. Sgt. Rawlings stated the Sheriffs Department enforces the red curbing because the Traffic and Transportation Commission has requested enforcement. DDPW/Liu responded to Craig Clute that the school request installation of red curbing approximately four years ago. Responding to C/Nice, DDPW/Liu indicated he believes that "No Parking Anytime" signs were placed at the school street curb prior to the red curbing installation. Mr. Foust responded to C/Nice that school administrators concur with recommendations for the twelve schools involved in the study. Sgt. Rawlings pointed out that white curbing tends to fade and will need to be refurbished more often than the red curbing. JUNE 12, 1997 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION DDPW/Liu indicated to C/Nice that individual schools and school district staffs were invited to tonight's meeting. Isela Lovato, Pomona Unified School District Facilities Department Assistant Planner, acknowledged that the study is a joint effort between the district, the consultant and the City of Diamond Bar. The school district is in total accord with the consultant's recommendations. She thanked the Commission for allowing the school district to participate in the study. Mr. Foust stated he made a personal and professional pledge to the school administration, the City administration, and to the Sheriffs Department that they would all participate in the study analysis and recommendation process. Mr. Foust stated that his recommendation for a right -turn -out only at the southerly school driveway is in coordination with the Diamond Bar Boulevard/Goldrush Drive traffic signal installation which will provide a U- turn signal for school traffic to return north on Diamond Bar Boulevard. CHAPARRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL: Mr. Foust responded to C/Nice that traffic circulation information is provided to parents and students at the beginning of each school year. C/Nice asked about safety concerns involving students who cross Ironbark Drive to be picked up by their parents. Mr. Foust stated there are no crosswalks in the area. Pickup occurs on both sides of Ironbark and it may be a potential crosswalk location. However, the concern is whether a crosswalk is safer than no crosswalk. Mr. Foust responded to Craig Clute that crossing guards are technically warranted only for elementary school grades K through 6. Mr. Foust indicated to C/Nice that no pedestrian accidents have been reported on Ironbark. Mr. Foust responded to AC/Istik that the school indicated that street JUNE 12, 1997 PAGE 6 T&T COMMISSION pickup works better than the previous on-site pickup. AC/Istik stated he believes Mr. Foust should include all recommendations that involve increased student and vehicular safety in his report whether or not the school's administration agrees with the recommendation. Mr. Foust responded to AC/Istik that the school study reflects consensus, AC/Istik said he does not want to move beyond consensus. He would like to be advised regarding issued involving pedestrian or vehicular safety that the City should consider. Craig Clute asked if intersections adjacent to the school site that have previously been discussed by the Commission continue to present problems and were considered in the school study. He said he understood the study would reach beyond the immediate perimeter of the school site and that the study recommendations would include public input. DDPW/Liu reiterated that the intent of tonight's meeting is to receive input from the public. Residents were notified about tonight's meeting and will be notified about subsequent meetings. Tonight Mr. Foust is presenting his preliminary findings for which he has received concurrence from school officials. Mr. Foust stated to AC/Istik that as a licensed professional, he is duty bound to present the City with information regarding any potential safety or liability issue. Sgt. Rawlings stated that on-site pickup often lends itself to school congestion which may be hazardous. Mr. Foust indicated to Mr. Clute that consideration of intersections adjacent to the schools will be considered in the study. He reiterated that he would not recommend a no -left turn out of the southerly Lorbeer Middle School driveway if a traffic signal was not available at the intersection of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Goldrush Drive. C/Nice asked if surrounding residents have been asked about their concerns regarding school traffic circulation. JUNE 12, 1997 PAGE 7 T&T COMMISSION DDPWYLiu responded that all complaints and concerns that the City has received from residents over the years were forwarded to Mr. Foust. C/Nice suggested the City conduct a survey of surrounding residents. Mr. Foust indicated the schools share neighbor's concerns and complaints with him. C/Nice reiterated he wants to be certain that surrounding property owners have an opportunity to provide input. City videographer Tom VanWinkle said he is frequently approached by citizens who question why he is in their area. He stated he conveys citizen concerns to City staff or the consultant. He indicated he believes the majority of school area residents have been notified and are aware that a City-wide study is being conducted. He said he is surprised about the amount of interest expressed by residents. Mr. Foust indicated that he believes public input is directly proportionate to the school's issues. Sgt. Rawlings stated that his department refers school related problems to the City and to Mr. Foust. SOUTH POINT MIDDLE SCHOOL; Mr. Foust commented that the school's dropoff and pickup policy is one of the best examples he has witnessed within the last several years. Rial Flesher, Larkstone Drive resident, vehemently disagreed with Mr. Foust's assessment of South Point Middle School's traffic circulation. He explained the problems experienced by the area residents as a result of the school traffic. He said the eight school buses arrive at and leave the school throughout the school days and on weekend days as well. Residents routinely request Sheriffs Department intervention to relieve the school traffic bottleneck. He indicated that both sides of the cul-de-sac area are routinely clogged from the school down to Golden Springs Road which is the only school access road. The residents desperately need for Mr. Arciero to complete the secondary ingress/egress road in order to relieve JUNE 12, 1997 PAGE 8 T&T COMMISSION the congestion in the neighborhood. Craig Clute said he understood that the Arciero project was approved and that Larkstone Drive would continue to Brea Canyon Road where a signalized intersection would be constructed. DDPW/Liu responded to Mr. Clute that his understanding is that Mr. Arciero's development will have a roadway connecting to Brea Canyon Road. He does not have information with respect to whether the road will be connected to the school site. 1&. Clute reiterated his understanding of the through road. He said he believes the information should be forwarded to Mr. Foust for the school traffic circulation study. He concurred that South Point Middle School's use of buses be considered by other schools. He asked if State funding is available to help pay for busing students which would help alleviate the traffic problems. He suggested Mr. Foust include the possibility of school busing in his study. He said he believed that the issue of granting Walnut School District citation power would also be a part of this study; DDPW/Liu stated the City notified residents within a 500 foot radius of each school site about the public meeting. C/Nice recommended that information related to the proposed secondary, access roadway to South Point Middle School be included in the traffic access and circulation study. B. City Council Goals and Objectives. Received and filed. XI. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY MEETINGS: Received and filed. XII. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, C/Nice moved, C/Morris seconded, to adjourn the meeting. AC/Istik JUNE 12, 1997 PAGE 9 T&T COMMISSION adjourned the meeting at 9:45 p.m. to July 10, 1997. Attest: Jac � Istik Acting Chair 1 Respectfully, David G. Liu Secretary