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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/12/2003CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION JUNE 12, 2803 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Morris called the meeting to order at 7:07 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: Commissioner Kashyap led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Morris, Vice Chairman Pincher and Commissioners Kashyap and Torng. Commissioner Virginkar was excused. Also Present: David Liu, Public Works Director, Sharon Gomez, Management Analyst; John Ilasin, Assistant Engineer; Debbie Gonzales, Administrative Assistant and Deputy Diane Dodd. I1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Minutes of May 8, 2003. C/Torng moved, VC/Kashyap seconded to approve the May 8, 2003 minutes as presented. Without objection, the motion was so ordered. III. COMMISSION COMMENTS: VC/Pincher said that recently Cal State Fullerton held graduation exercises during which staff member AE/Ilasin received a Masters of Science in Civil Engineering with a Specialty in Construction Engineering and Management. She was impressed with his drive and congratulated him on his wonderful achievement. The Commissioners offered unanimous congratulations to AE/Ilasin on his accomplishment. Completing advanced degrees while working is a formidable task. IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered. V. CONSENT CALENDAR: None VI. ITEMS FROM STAFF A. Traffic Enforcement Update — Report by Deputy Dodd - Received and filed on the following items: 1. Citations: April 2003 Deputy Dodd reported that citations continue to increase. JUNE 12, 2003 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION 2. Collisions: April 2003 Deputy Dodd reported that the number of collisions have decreased from 57 in March to 33 in April. As a result of the changes in the street sweeping ordinance, she has dismissed a lot of citations. Overall, citations should continue to decrease when additional signs are installed. During a traffic operation on April 27, citations were issued for non-compliance of the seat belt and child safety restraint laws. 3. Radar Trailer Development 4. Results of Traffic Operations 5. Future Deployment of the Radar Trailer VII. OLD BUSINESS: None VIII. NEW BUSINESS: A. Street Parking Evaluation in front of 20905 Golden Springs Drive. AE/liasin presented staff's report. Staff recommends that parking be prohibited at all times on the north side of Golden Springs Drive between two driveways in front of the business center. Dr. Blake, owner, Life Chiropractic, 20905 Golden Springs Drive, said that the problem is not with small sized vehicles and the business owners do not want to lose the ability to park normal sized vehicles on the north side of Golden Springs Drive. Additionally, he does not want Coco's to suffer loss of business. His concern is with oversized vehicles obstructing the view for drivers pulling out of the center and would like them banned from the area. Greg Jones, District Manager, DCS Cabinets, 20885 Golden Springs Drive, said his firm was opening a showroom in the center two doors from Dr. Blake's office. His employees often have breakfast at Coco's. As they leave the Coco's parking lot, they must use the westerly ingress/egress to exit the center. Often, there are commercial big -rigs parked along the north side of Golden Springs Drive that make it impossible to see whether vehicles are approaching from an easterly direction. He supported the notion that commercial big -rigs should be prohibited from parking on the north side of Golden Springs Drive. Greg Moore, Owner, DCS Cabinets, 20885 Golden Springs Drive, agreed with previous speakers. His concern is that the businesses do not want to lose parking for regular sized vehicles. On Saturdays and certain days of the week the parking lot is bulging at the seams and they need the six to JUNE '12, 2003 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION eight parking spaces for cars. He requested the Commission consider limiting only commercial parking instead of a complete restriction of all parking. Dr. Wolfgang Shane, 20905 Golden Springs Drive, echoed the sentiments of previous speakers. During lunch and dinner times and because of the number of fast food and sit down restaurants, the area is quite congested. However, the businesses really need the street parking. It is very bad to allow commercial truck parking on the street. There is no safety concern with regular sized cars. He recommended that the Commission vote to restrict commercial parking and allow regular sized vehicles to park. VC/Pincher spent time walking and driving the area. The trucks are a problem and have been a problem for a long time. She asked if it was legal for the City to restrict commercial rigs and not restrict normal passenger cars on a truck route. PWD/Liu responded that the City's truck route ordinance allows oversized and overweight vehicles to use Golden Springs Drive as well as portions of other arterials in the truck route system. In order to identify the needs from a business perspective, staff would have to consider a much more detailed analysis of the situation. The one accident that was referenced in staff's report had nothing to do with an oversized vehicle. In this case, recreational vehicles could also be an issue. Safety and line -of -sight issues are the basis for restricting certain types of vehicles. There are many variables involved in that area such as the close proximity to a busy intersection and freeway off -ramp, etc. At the same time, staff understands that the center needs additional parking, a problem that exists throughout the City. VC/Pincher said she had great difficulty exiting the center at the westerly ingress/egress. With the big rig parked on the street, there was no way to make a left turn so she went to the light and made a U-turn to return to the complex, walk the area, and then exit the center via the easterly driveway. C/Kashyap visited the area. He observed that as traffic proceeds in a westerly direction the elevation increases at the westerly driveway. An SUV would not cause a major threat and one would likely be able to see over the top of the vehicles. He felt that staff should reconsider restricting the load limit without restricting parking. Leo Wong, representing Diamond Properties (owner of the center) asked if it was feasible to set a height restriction on vehicles. PWD/Liu explained that during a recent study session, the City Council considered some of the issues being discussed this evening with respect to oversized vehicles and weight of vehicles. If the City were to consider such restrictions it would have to be on a citywide approach. JUNE 12, 2003 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION Chair/Morris drove the area this evening prior to the meeting. The problem begins before Brea Canyon Road. When driving westerly vehicles have to maneuver through the In `n Out line that stretches out onto Golden Springs Drive. When you cross the intersection there were a number of vehicles waiting to get on the eastbound SR 60. By the time you pass that area you're ready to get moving. Also, the business center is the only area that has parking restrictions. He asked staff to provide additional information to the Commission so that it could make an informed recommendation to the Council. He felt the traffic flow for the entire area should be studied. VC/Pincher said the ordinance was passed in 1990. She felt that in 13 years there had been a considerable increase in population and traffic. There is also a concern about the business parking needs. She wondered if it was possible to have "Saturday Only Parking." C/Kashyap felt that staff's recommendation was a good recommendation and should be approved. However, if the Council approved the recommendation the businesses would lose parking. C/Kashyap moved to approve staff's recommendation to prohibit parking on the north side of Golden Springs Drive between the two driveways in front of the business center at 20905 Golden Springs Drive. PWD/Liu reminded the Commissioners that after preparation of the staff's report, the recommendation was amended to consider the entire frontage including Coco's Restaurant frontage. Staff concluded that it would not make sense to take a piece -meal approach to this matter. Currently, there is a "no parking" zone in front of Jack in the Box. C/Kashyap withdrew his motion. Chair/Morris felt there were two issues to evaluate — 1) to consider the business owners needs and 2) to consider safety as the primary concern. IX. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: PWD/Liu reported that at its May 20 meeting, the City Council approved the design contract for the proposed signal on Brea Canyon Cutoff Road at the SR 57 on-off ramp. Staff proposes several items for Council consideration at its June 17 meeting: Area 5 slurry seal project and award of construction contract for a number of traffic signals (Pathfinder Road at Brea Canyon Road/Fern Hollow Drive; the westerly entrance to Diamond Bar High School and left turn at Evergreen Springs Drive on Pathfinder Road; Grand Avenue at Shotgun Lane; left turn for Golden Springs Drive at Ballena Drive and Brea Canyon Road at Lycoming Street). That evening the Council will also consider a contract to install additional street sweeping signs, a contract renewal with Yellow Cab for ongoing Dial -A -Ride services and adoption of the 2003/04 Fiscal Year Budget. JUNE 12, 2003 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION X. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: C/Torng said he received a complaint about the southbound Diamond Bar Boulevard left turn to Shadow Canyon Drive. He wanted to know if there was a possibility for a left turn into "The Country Estates." Chair/Morris said that he took advantage of a garage sale in front of Pro Sports because Diamond Bar High School students were selling items to raise money to assist the traffic circulation at the high school. The students were successful in getting staff to give up 10 administration parking spaces for carpool spaces with four or more students in a vehicle. He felt it was a good step in the right direction and the City should encourage students and staff to be more involved in issues that affect the school. He felt that the meeting minutes were too long, that they should be action minutes and not verbatim and requested the Commissioners to consider his request. XI. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: A. Diamond Bar High School Traffic Circulation. B. Diamond Ranch High School (Phillips Ranch Road) Signal E/B 60 Phillips Ranch Road — No Striping/No Division of Lanes C. Citywide Traffic Signal Timing Plan D. NTMP E. SR 57/60 Direct HOV Connector Project F. Access Point/Circulation at the Diamond Bar Town (Big Lots) and Diamond Bar Towne Center (Ralphs). X11. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS — as agendized. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, Chairman Morris adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m. Attest: Chairman Roland Morris Respectfully, David G. Liu, Secretary