HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/5/2004CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL AND TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
OCTOBER 5, 2004
I. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Zirbes and Chairman
Pincher called the Study Session to order at 5:02 p.m. in Room CC -8,
SCAQMD/Government Center, 21825 Copley Dr., Diamond Bar.
II. CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL: Bob Zirbes, Mayor; Carol
Herrera, Mayor Pro Tem and Council Members Wen Chang, Bob Huff and
Debby O'Connor.
TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION ROLL CALL: Liana Pincher, Chairperson; and
Commissioners Roland Morris, Jack Shah, and Arun Virginkar. Tony
Torng Vice Chairman was excused.
Also Present were: Linda Lowry, City Manager;
Michael Jenkins, City Attorney, James DeStefano, Deputy City Manager;
David Doyle, Deputy City Manager; David Liu, Public Works Director; Bob
Rose, Community Services Director; April Blakey, Public Information
Manager; Fred Alamolholda, Senior Engineer; Susan Full, Accountant 11
and Tommye Cribbins, Executive Asst.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT: None Offered.
IV. DISCUSSION TOPICS:
I. Neighborhood Traffic Management Program.
SE/Alamolhoida introduced Joel Falter, Vice President of Katz,
Okitsu & Associates and Project Manager for the Citywide
Neighborhood Traffic Management Program who presented the
four -step proposed Scope of Work using a slide presentation.
C/Shah asked Mr. Falter if his firm conducted a follow up after the
initial six-month startup period.
Mr. Falter explained that generally, the first six months is the period
during which the community's initial reaction is studied to determine
the effectiveness of the initial goal to reduce speeding. He felt it
took about six months to change people's behavior and six months
to a year to see if people would revert back to their old habits. At
that point, it would be up to the City whether it wanted to spend
money to go back and re -monitor the same streets.
C/Morris asked if Mr. Falter had previously dealt with the type of
topography found in D.B. Mr. Falter responded that he had dealt
OCTOBER 5, 2004 PAGE 2 JTCC&TTCOMM STUDY SESSION
with steeper grade streets on a regular basis. He explained that
some mitigation tools have limits on steeper grade streets. For
instance speed humps or speed cushions on 4-5% grade and
higher would not be recommended because they create problems
for cyclists and motorists in general. His firm tailors the tool for the
type of street and surrounding topography.
CNirginkar stated that based on his experience on the
Commission, one of the challenges would be to persuade people to
participate in the process. The Commission receives a lot of
complaints that come to the body for discussion. Staff prepares
excellent reports and proposed solutions, but the participation by
residents is very minimal. Another challenge would be to convince
community members that speeding is the problem and that speed
humps are not the only solution.
Mr. Falter agreed that it was often a challenge, but very often the
affected residents were desperate to incorporate a solution.
Residents realize that when cities are fiscally challenged, medians,
Botts dots and other solutions are expensive and time consuming.
Whereas, speed humps offer a quick and relatively inexpensive
solution. His challenge would be to offer other solutions on a trial
basis.
C/Morris said that in one case speed humps were installed to
protect neighbor from neighbor.
Mr. Falter said that during presentations he would overlay
mitigation tools onto topo's of other communities to help residents
make educated decisions.
In response to C/O'Connor PWD/Liu stated that this year's budget
included $100,000 for the study.
M/Zirbes thanked Mr. Falter for his presentation.
C/Morris hoped that this study would take a close look at the
beautification issue because in his opinion, some of the traffic
mitigation measures he had viewed were ugly.
Chair/Pincher was also concerned about getting adequate
community participation and hoped that the consultant could entice
residents to join in the process.
M/Zirbes thanked the Traffic and Transportation Commissioners for
their participation in tonight's meeting and for the time they dedicate
to their positions on the Commission.
OCTOBER 5, 2004 PAGE 3 JTCC&TTCOMM STUDY SESSION
Vl. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered.
VII. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, Mayor
Zirbes adjourned the City Council at 5:40 p.m.
With no further business to conduct, Chairman Pincher adjourned the Traffic and
Transportation Commission at 5:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Linda Lowry, City er 4Oad G. Liu, T & T Secretary
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this day of
2004.
We -sWT
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Zx;Lia4nPincher,
Chairman