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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/8/1999CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION APRIL 8, 1999 CALL TO ORDER: Chair Morris called the meeting to order at 7:05 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 Chair Morris. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Chair/Morris, Vice Chair Virginkar, and Commissioner Lin. Absent: Commissioners Istik and Leonard -Colby were excused from the meeting. Also Present were: David Liu, Deputy Director of Public Works, Rose Manela, Assistant Engineer; Sonya Joe, Development Services Assistant; Sharon Gomez, Administrative Secretary and Deputy John Rodriguez, Walnut Valley Sheriffs Station. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Minutes of March 11, 1999. VC/Virginkar moved, C/Lin seconded, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 11, 1999 of the Traffic and Transportation Commission. Motion approved 3-0 with C/Istik and C/Leonard-Colby being absent. H. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Chair/Morris stated he attended the April 6, 1999 City Council Traffic Impact Solutions Study Session. He was pleased with the tone of the discussion. He agreed with Council's proposed solutions that have been echoed by the Traffic and Transportation Commission. M. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: None V. OLD BUSINESS: APRIL 8, 1999 A. Investigation of Longview Drive. PAGE 2 AE/Manela presented staffs report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission review and discuss with staff any traffic concerns along Longview Drive. VC/Virginkar said he originally recommended a stop sign at the intersection of Tallyrand Drive because of the grade coming down from Leyland Drive. Either way, from Brookwood Drive going up toward Leyland Drive it is like a clear field for vehicles to increase their speed the entire distance to Leyland Drive. He said he is more concerned about vehicles on the downgrade because of the speed of vehicles and he feels if the street is broken up by a stop sign at the halfway point, it will improve the vehicle speed. Chair/Morris said he would prefer to see a stop sign located at Nan Court because of its location. DDPW/Liu indicated to Chair/Morris that residents were not notified about this meeting. However, Longview Drive and Summitridge Drive residents were previously invited to give their input to this Commission. If the Commission determines that it is prudent to install a multi -way stop sign, staff will notify the residents and bring the matter back for discussion at the next meeting. Chair/Morris suggested residents from Eastgate Drive through Thunder Trail be invited to the meeting to determine what location they may wish to consider the installation of a multi -way stop sign. DDPW/Liu asked the Commission to state its intention for staff to investigate the feasibility of a multi -way stop sign at Nan Court and Longview Drive and notify the Longview residents between Eastgate Drive to the north to Thunder Trail on the south. The interior streets off of Nan Court will be notified as well. VC/Virginkar moved, C/Lin seconded, to direct staff to investigate the feasibility of a multi -way stop sign at Nan Court and Longview Drive, and inform the residents along Longview Drive between Eastgate Drive and Hedgewood Court that this matter will appear on the Commission's May 13, 1999 agenda for discussion. VI. NEW BUSINESS: A. Installation of multi -way stop signs at the intersection of Palomino Drive and Ballena Drive. DDPW/Liu presented staff s report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation 8, 1999 PAGE 3 Commission discuss this matter and make a recommendation regarding the matter of installing multi -way stop signs at the intersection of Palomino Drive and Ballena Drive. Should the Commission determine that multi -way stop signs are appropriate, it is recommended that this recommendation be forwarded to the City Council for final approval. Following discussion, C/Lin moved, VC/Virginkar seconded, to recommend that the City Council approve installation of multi -way stop signs at the intersection of Palomino Drive and Ballena Drive. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS NOES: COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS Lin, VC/Virginkar, Chair/Morris None Istik, Leonard -Colby Chair/Morris asked staff to include the concerns previously expressed by the Commission and residents along with the changes that have occurred in the area in its report to Council. B. The Traffic and Transportation Commission's Meeting Time. VCNirginkar moved, C/Lin seconded, to continue this matter to the May 13, 1999 Traffic and Transportation Commission meeting. Motion carried 3-0 with C/Intik and C/Leonard-Colby being absent. VII. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: DDPW/Liu reported that on March 16, 1999, the City Council approved the Commission's recommendation to reinstall the crosswalk at the Walnut Elementary School and approved the establishment of a school passenger loading zone in front of the school. On April 6, 1999, the City Council approved the red curbs on Pathfinder Road at Presado Drive and the "No Right Turn on Red 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on school days for the intersection of Golden Springs Drive at Diamond Bar Boulevard. DDPW/Liu reported that on April 6, 1999 the City Council discussed possible traffic solutions for Grand Avenue and Diamond Bar Boulevard. Staff presented information pertaining to the origins and destinations study along with information regarding turning movement counts for the commercial driveways along Grand Avenue and Diamond Bar Boulevard at all four corners of the intersection. The Council is very concerned with the resident's quality of life. Staff and the consultants will provide a menu APRIL 8, 1999 PAGE 4 of alternatives with cost estimates to the City Council in May for their consideration. VIII. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: VC/Virginkar asked that staff include the minutes of the study session and handouts in the Commission's May packet. He asked to be notified regarding the date and time of the City Council's study session during which the traffic impact solutions will be discussed. C/Lin stated he has noticed that the traffic has drastically improved on Grand Avenue and Diamond Bar Boulevard and asked if there are current counts available. DDPW/Liu responded that the last traffic counts were conducted in February prior to the installation of the traffic signals at Montefino Avenue and Quail Summit Drive. An after study will be conducted in order to complete the project. The conditions at those intersections have been greatly improved, especially with respect to the side streets. However, coordination timing for adjacent signals has not yet been completed. Staff is working with Los Angeles County to synchronize all signals along Diamond Bar Boulevard. Chair/Morris pointed out that the point was made during the City Council Study Session that the traffic along Diamond Bar Boulevard has lessened since the opening of the carpool Ianes along the SR 60. The consultants pointed out that with an extra lane on Grand Avenue to increase the traffic volume, the benefit to Diamond Bar residents would be virtually nil and that the benefit would be to the cut -through traffic. Each time there is a sig alert Diamond Bar would likely be used for a shortcut. The City's goal is most likely to keep people on the freeway and off the City's streets in conjunction with the "quality of life" issue. IX. ITEMS FROM STAFF: A. Monthly Traffic Enforcement Update: Deputy Rodriquez presented the monthly traffic enforcement update for January, February and March, 1999. He explained that while traffic collisions have decreased, parking citations have increased 120%, 30% in total cites and 400% in DUI arrests. He said he believes the increase in parking citations is a result of enforcement around the City's schools. Deputy Rodriquez said he received a call from a First Mortgage Corporation employee who asked about the two hour parking limitation because a number of employee vehicles have recently been cited. X. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 8, 1999 PAGE 5 DDPW/Liu stated that the First Mortgage Corporation matter and the Commission's recommendations have not yet been forwarded to the City Council because staff is waiting for the final response from the Los Angeles County. Staff has been told that the County will contact First Mortgage Corporation to establish an agreement with First Mortgage Corporation to provide for the signage on County property (about 1,000 feet along Diamond Canyon) and Diamond Bar will implement a parking permit program within the County area for the First Mortgage Corporation employees. Chair/Morris said he believes that allowing commercial businesses to obtain parking permits to park on City streets is a dangerous precedent. He suggested a four hour limit to eliminate the outside carpool parking potential. A. Future Agenda Items. In addition to the items contained in the packet, the matter of the Longview Drive multi -way stop sign and future Commission meeting times will be agendized for the May 13, 1999 meeting. B. Verbal Presentation: Status of seepage areas by DDPW/Liu. C. Verbal Presentation: Irrigation schedule of Diamond Bar Boulevard medians at Brea Canyon Cut - Off off ramp by AE/Manela. C/Lin said he is concerned that during the morning time of 6:30 to 7:00 a.m. the traffic is very heavy in that area. Chair/Morris recommended that the Commission hold a joint session with the Parks & Recreation Commission or invite CSD/Rose to discuss the City's parkways. The Traffic & Transportation Commissioners are frequently asked about the parkways and park systems and streetscapes. DDPW/Liu indicated he will speak with CSD/Rose regarding this matter and ask him to attend the May 13, 1999 Commission meeting. DDPW/Liu stated that today staff began the installation of diagonal parking spaces along the section of Brea Canyon Road immediately south of Diamond Bar High School driveway to Fallowfield Drive. Brea Canyon Road will be maintained as a two lane roadway. Approximately 150 diagonal parking spaces will be created with a 12 foot wide backup manuever area adjacent to the through lane. 17 APRIL, 8, 1999 PAGE 6 XI. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY MEETINGS: As agendized. ADJOURNMENT: VC/Virginkar moved, C/Lin seconded, to adjourn the meeting. There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission Chair/Morris adjourned the meeting at 8:06 p.m. Respectfully, David . Liu Secretary Attest: a Roland Morris Chair