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Home My WebLink About9/13/2001CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 13, 2001 1. CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chairman Istik called the meeting to order at 7:14 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management/Government Center Hearing Board Room, 21865 E. Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Morris. ROLL CALL: Present: Vice Chairman Istik and Commissioners_ Kung, Leonard and Morris. Chairman Virginkar was excused. Also Present: David Liu, Director of Public Works, Kirk Phillips, Associate Engineer, Linda Smith, Development Services Assistant and Sharon Gomez, Administrative Assistant. If. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Minutes of August 9, 2001. C/Morris moved, C/Leonard seconded to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 9, 20.01 as presented. Without objection, the motion was so ordered. 111. COMMISSION COMMENTS: None Offered IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered V. CONSENT CALENDAR: None VII. NEW BUSINESS: A. Program Modifications for Diamond Ride (Dial -A -Cab) Program. DPW/Liu presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission receive public comments and review and discuss proposed modifications to the Diamond Ride Program. Lupe Cardiel, speaking for her mentally disabled son, Mark, said that he has club feet and has worn a cast for ten years. He works at Home Depot in West Covina five days a week and he needs the Dial -A -Ride SEPTEMBER 13, 2001 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION service to get to and from work. He also takes Dial -A -Ride to his doctors in Hacienda Heights. Occasionally he attends movies in the Puente Hills Mall. She would like to see the program continued. Rafael, Garcia expressed his gratitude to Diamond Bar for providing Dial -A -Ride services to him for his hospital and doctor visits. He is under treatment for first stage cancer. He cannot sit or stand on public transportation. When he rides he has to lie down because of his equilibrium. As a result, he is compelled to apply for the Dial -A -Ride services. Bertha Hernandez, 20725 Moonlake Street, said that because her husband broke his hip and she has never learned to drive an automobile, they must use the Dial -A -Ride service to visit his doctors in Brea and La Habra. She also uses the service for shopping. She would have no problem if the City increased thecostfor the service because people would then use it only for necessities. It is a wonderful program and she appreciates the service. Barbara Jones, 23750 Highland Valley Road, said she and most of the seniors she knows who reside at the Seasons truly appreciate the care and service they get from the Dial -A -Ride. It allows people to maintain their dignity. She has lung cancer and has mainly had to use the service to get to her doctor. Occasionally, she uses the service to visit the library or a book store. She feels a certain pride in being able to get about without being confined to her wheel chair and her apartment. Seniors tend to be depressed when they are confined. Most seniors are on a small, fixed income but the Dial -A -Ride service is a priority and she would forego food if this service would allow her to be an independent persona C/Morris said he would like a more in depth breakdown of services provided by other cities as well as, more information about other sources of transportation, supplemental or optional. He believes the City should consider Amtrak service to the airport. He is also interested in knowing the hours of service provided by other cities and the peak hours of service. He would like to know whether the service is used to get to and from school and what other services might be available to supplement this type of service. C/Leonard believes Dial -A -Ride is a wonderful program. There may be abuses by people traveling to and from the airport, but it is essential for medical and work. She believes there may be ways to cut down on the abuses but she does not want the program discontinued. C/Kung said the City should limit abuse of the programs in order to stay within the City budget. The service should be used for medical. With respect to the number of trips, it should be dependent upon the use. SEPTEMBER 13, 2001 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION C/Leonard said that if an emergency situation arises that requires use of the system at night, it should be considered. C/Morris said he agrees. However, he believes it may not be necessary to have the system available on a 24/7 basis and that perhaps the City should look at alternative measures for exceptions. VC/Istik said it would be good for the City to consider unlimited medical trips, job-related trips and shopping trips. DPW/Liu said the City is not planning to eliminate the service. Instead, the city is looking at options to keep the program economically feasible. DPW/Liu said that ChairNirginkar suggested setting up service based on zones. He believes that any service outside the boundary should be - considered extended service and that alternative transportation such as super shuttle should. be considered for airport trips. VC/Istik asked how many of the five people present would be willing to consider a fee increase if the city found it necessary to do so. Five people raised their hands. Fallowing discussion, the Commission concurred to continue this matter to the October 11, 2001 meeting. VI. OLD BUSINESS: A. Draft Residential Street Centerline Striping Determination Policy. AE/Phillips presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission review, discuss and provide further comments on the draft Residential. Street Centerline Striping Determination Policy. C/Leonard moved, C/Morris seconded, to recommend that the City Council approve the Residential Street Centerline Striping Determination Policy as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote; AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Kung, Leonard, Morris, VC/lstik NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: ChairNirginkar. VIII. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: None IX. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: C/Morris noticed that landscape work is in progress at Diamond Point Elementary School and Golden Springs SEPTEMBER 13, 2001 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION Elementary School. He thought the work could have been better timed so as not to conflict with the opening day of school X. ITEMS FROM STAFF: A. Monthly Traffic Enforcement Update for July and August, 2001 — continued to the October 11, 2001 meeting. B. Second Quarter Traffic Statistics — continued to the October 11, 2001 meeting. XI. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: A. Portable Speed Humps on Navajo Spring Road/Decorah Road. DPW/Liu reported that the speed humps are slated to arrive next week. Staff will meet with neighborhood representative and homeowners association representatives to determine the best possible locations. B. Chaparral Middle School Traffic Circulation. DPW/Liu reported that the City Council directed the Sheriff's Department, in working with school officials, to formulate a more comprehensive solution. As a result, the new plan was implemented last Wednesday. When the plan is refined, the City will implement appropriate street markings and signs. C. Brea Canyon Road and Golden Springs Drive Traffic Signal Repairs. AE/Phillips reported that he is currently scheduling the cutting -in of new loop protectors. Due to vacations, the scheduling has not yet been completed. He hopes to update the Commission in October that the signal is functioning correctly. D. Pantera Park Neighborhood Traffic Concerns. DSA/Smith referred the Commission to the flyer that was sent out to approximately 1100 participants of the User Group for Pantera Park. When the Planning Commission extended hours of usage for lighting at the park, the Commission included a condition of approval to require the Community Services Division to issue the flyer and strongly request that participants stop parking on the street and utilize the parking lot. DSA/Smith believes the flyer will address Mrs. Gill's concern for no parking on Bowcreek. C/Morris suggested closing the pedestrian walkway onto Bowcreek, fence the area and install shrubs thereby making it inconvenient for people to park on the street. C C 1 SEPTEMBER 13, 2001 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION VC/Istik pointed out that Mrs. Gill is also concerned with lights on the ball field and people driving too fast. C/Morris believed the area should be. patrolled at night to curb the speeding. D. Future Agenda Items. As agendized. - XII. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS — as agendized. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, VC/Istik adjourned the meeting at 9:04 p.m. Respectfully, David G. Liu, Secretary Attest: Vice Chairman Jack Istik