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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/11/2002CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION JULY 11, 2002 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Virginkar called the meeting to order at 7:19 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: Chairman Virginkar led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Virginkar, Vice Chairman Morris and Commissioners Vinod Kashyap, and Tony Torng. Commissioner Liana Pincher was excused. Also Present: David Liu, Director of Public Works, John Ilasin, Assistant Engineer, Sharon Gomez, Management Analyst, Debbie Gonzales, Administrative Assistant and Deputy Mark St. Amant, Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff's Department. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Minutes of May 9, 2002. VC/Morris moved, C/Torng seconded, to approve the minutes of the May 9, 2002 meeting as presented. Without objection, the motion was so ordered. B. Minutes of June 13, 2002. Following a lengthy discussion regarding C/Kashyap's contention that comments he requested to be included in the minutes were omitted, Chair/Virginkar asked that the matter of approval of the minutes for the June 13, 2002 be continued to the August 8, 2002 meeting. III. COMMISSION COMMENTS None Offered. IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS Kuei-Chiu (K.C.) Lin, 3315 Falcon Ridge Road, said that the main street entering her tract is at the intersection of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Cold Spring Lane. Diamond Bar Boulevard and Brea Canyon Road are two convenient pass-through roads for Orange County and Chino Hills traffic. As a result, residents pay a price for heavy daily traffic on Diamond Bar Boulevard. It is a dangerous intersection where motorists frequently make U-turns and impede traffic flow. When she travels from north Diamond Bar she must wait for an opportunity to make a left turn — sometimes through two or three green lights — because there is no left turn signal. She hoped that the City would one day recognize the problems associated with the intersection and install "No U-turn" JULY 11, 2002 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION signs and left hand turn signals. She provided information to support her concerns and asked the City to provide a solution. ChairNirginkar asked staff to agendize this matter for discussion at the August 8, 2002 Traffic and Transportation Commission meeting. Tom Ortiz, 3308 Hawkwood Road, said that staff provided him with a letter from DCM/DeStefano this evening addressing his gate problem. He requested that DPW/Liu read the letter. Mr. Ortiz asked if he could now drive the RV out of his gate to which DPW/Liu responded yes, that there would be no enforcement, and the City is requesting voluntary compliance. He felt all Commissioners shared equal authority and should be given the right to speak on any matter. If a Commissioner requests that his comments be placed on the record, it should be done. He agreed that the Diamond Bar Boulevard and Cold Spring Lane intersection is a problem. V. CONSENT CALENDAR None RECESS: ChairNirginkar recessed the meeting at 7:55 p.m. RECONVENE: ChairNirginkar reconvened the meeting at 8:04 p.m. VI. ITEMS FROM STAFF A. Traffic Enforcement Update — presented by Deputy Mark St. Amant. VC/Morris asked Deputy St. Amant if the Sheriff's Department could provide a comparison of cites versus accidents for cities of similar size to Diamond Bar. Deputy St. Amant responded that Chino Hills is very comparable to Diamond Bar and he will provide a comparison between the two cities at the August 8 meeting. VII. OLD BUSINESS A. Speeding Concerns on Gold Rush Drive. MA/Gomez presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission review and discuss all traffic mitigation options. Kwang. Ho Lee, 23746 Gold Rush Drive, recommended that the Commission consider following mitigation measures for his street; 1) extend the left turn lane by 40 feet from Diamond Bar Boulevard onto Gold Rush Drive to accommodate the current and future traffic volumes, 2) complete the unfinished sidewalk area at the eastbound entrance of Gold Rush Drive from Diamond Bar Boulevard, 3) install three-way stop signs at the JULY 11, 2002 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION intersection of Gold Rush Drive and Chandelle Place and 4) install two automated red light enforcement systems at the intersections of Diamond Bar Boulevard at Grand Avenue and Diamond Bar Boulevard at Gold Rush Drive. Residents have expressed these interests and problems to the City. To date, nothing has been done. Since 1985 the sidewalk has been left unfinished and the left turn lane pocket has not been extended since many new homes were built in the area. Thomas Poulson, 28737 East Gold Rush Drive, thanked MA/Gomez for her work. He felt the proposed mitigation measures were expensive but would be worth the money if it saved a life. He proposed closing the street at Pantera Drive for three months. VC/Morris felt the City should take the opportunity to look at Gold Rush Drive, Armitos Place, Summitridge Drive and Longview, the four feeder streets that serve the area as well as, the Parks and Recreation Department's use of Pantera Park because those activities have added traffic to the area. C/Torng felt the Commission should act soon to initiate good faith mitigation measures. DPW/Liu said that in the event the Commission requests staff to bring back remedies that can expeditiously be initiated, they will begin working on consideration of options for the next meeting. Staff met with Mr. Lee to discuss problems he identified. Staff favors installation of a multi -way stop sign on Gold Rush Drive at Chandelle Place if warranted. He believed that extending the left turn bay on Diamond Bar Boulevard at Gold Rush Drive might not be cost-effective. The left turn timing is already at maximum and a forty -foot extension would accommodate only two additional vehicles. Chair/Virginkar asked that two items be separately agendized for discussion next month — the matter of the left turn signal queue on Diamond Bar Boulevard at Gold Rush Drive and a three-way stop on Gold Rush Drive at Chandelle Place. VC/Morris moved, C/Torng seconded, to recommend to the City Council that the Decorative Asphalt Street Printing System be implemented on Gold Rush Drive during the slurry seal process, if possible, as a pilot program to determine its viability. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Kashyap, Torng, VC/Morris, Chair/Virginkar NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Pincher JULY 11, 2002 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION C/Torng moved, C/Kashyap seconded, to recommend the City Council to implement the Strict Citation Issuance Program on Gold Rush Drive. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Kashyap, Torng, VC/Morris, ChairNirginkar None Pincher ChairNirginkar asked that the remaining items be brought back to the Commission for discussion along with the items proposed by Mr. Lee. Further, staff is directed to provide information on Item 4 (Photo -Radar Speeding Enforcement System) and how effective that mitigation system has been for the City of San Jose, and Item 7 (Neighborhood Traffic Watch Program) and how effective that mitigation measure has been for the City of La Verne. VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. Speeding Concerns on Leyland Drive AE/llasin presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission receive public testimony, review and discuss all available traffic mitigation options for Leyland Drive. Jian Tsai, 791 Leyland Drive, said traffic problems have increased on his street. His number one concern is speeding. He worries about the safety of his children. He was also concerned about drag racing on his street. He does not believe that the City is currently employing techniques to mitigate the situation and asked the Commission to find the ultimate solution without involving a sheriff's deputy. One possible solution would be to install speed humps. As an interim solution, the Council might consider installing a stop sign on Leyland Drive at Newbury Way. Mr. Tsai responded to C/Kashyap that most of the drag racing occurs from 10:00 p.m. to midnight on weekends. Gordon Lee, 933 Leyland Drive, was concerned about the skate boarders using the street at night when it is dark. He asked the City to do something about the speeding on his street. He appreciates the stop sign and enforcement. DPW/Liu responded to C/Torng that once stop signs are installed, they should not be moved or modified. Stop signs are warranted for safety mitigation. JULY 11, 2002 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION VC/Morris preferred locating a stop sign at Wynnewood Drive if it met the warrant study. C/Torng reminded the Commission that residents indicated the major area of concern regarding speeding was between Highcrest Drive and Newbury Way. He felt it would be better to consider a stop sign on Wynnewood Drive at a later time after staff has had an opportunity to evaluate the matter. VC/Morris respectfully disagreed with C/Torng because he felt the problem originated at the other end of Leyland Drive from Summitridge Drive toward Highcrest Drive. In addition, that portion of the street has a higher grade. Between Benfield Place and Newbury Way there are 10 residences and no side streets. Between Wynnewood Drive and Summitridge Drive there are two side streets that carry traffic onto Leyland Drive. C/Kashyap felt stop signs should be installed in both locations at this time. C/Torng concurred. He believed that by installing stop signs it would also mitigate speeding on Gold Rush Drive. C/Torng moved, C. Kashyap seconded, to recommend installation of two multi -way stop signs on Leyland Drive at Newbury Way and Wynnewood Drive if warranted. DPW/Liu reminded the Commission that this matter was placed on tonight's agenda for discussion of all available traffic mitigation options. There has been no public notification about discussion regarding installation of stop signs. He recommended that the Commission request staff to notify residents about the recommendation for installation of multi -way stop signs at the two locations. If it is the Commission's desire to move this matter forward, the recommendation would be forwarded to the City Council and residents would be invited to the appropriate meeting to comment on the matter. It would be preferable to ask the residents to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission to comment on this matter. Based on staff's recommendation, C/Torng withdrew his motion and requested staff to have this agendized as a recommendation on the August 8 agenda. DPW/Liu stated that staff's intent is to notify residents along Leyland Drive between Highcrest Drive and Summitridge Drive as well as, residents along the adjacent side streets (Newbury Way, Benfield Place, Wynnewood Drive, Barker Drive, etc.). IX. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: DPW/Liu reported that the Commission's recommendation for multi -way stops signs on Cliffbranch Drive al Roundtree Circle has been placed on the City Council's agenda for Tuesday night. JULY 11, 2002 PAGE 6 T&T COMMISSION Next Tuesday night the Council will consider three sets of resolutions pertaining to the speed hump policy. DPW/Liu stated that tonight the City Council held a neighborhood meeting with the residents of Longview Drive/Summitridge Park area to discuss the Community/Senior Center project. X. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: C/Torng is pleased that the Commission is moving forward and putting mitigation measures into place for the good of the residents. He received complaints about the City doing nothing and he felt the City should explain the many things that have been accomplished to the residents through improved communication. He advised staff that there is a large pothole on Pathfinder at Brea Canyon Road in the plaza between the Chevron station and Denny's Restaurant. DPW/Liu explained that the area of concern is private property. Staff can make a site visit to advise the property management firm about the condition. C/Kashyap thanked ChairNirginkar for helping him resolve concerns he had about conduct of meetings. He thanked MA/Gomez for a fine job presenting her reports. He thanked AA/Gonzales for the mugs and shirts. VC/Morris asked staff to review the signal timing on Golden Springs Drive at Calbourne Drive. Deputy St. Amant referred VC/Morris to Vehicle Code 27007 that applies to excessive noise from loud car speakers. XI. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: None Offered. XII. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS -- as agendized. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, Chairman Virginkar adjourned the meeting at 10:28 p.m. Respectfully, Da G.4-6 6ecretary Attest: Chairman Arun Virginkar