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Home My WebLink About1/10/2008CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 10, 2008 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Shay called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management/Government Center Hearing Board Room, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner House led the Pledge of Allegiance ROLL CALL: Commissioners Kevin House, Liana Pincher, Vice Chairman Kenneth Mok and Chairman Michael Shay Absent: Jimmy Lin was excused. Also Present: David Liu, Public Works Director; Rick Yee, Senior Engineer; Kimberly Molina, Assistant Engineer and Marcy Hilario, Senior Administrative Assistant. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Minutes of the November 8, 2007 meeting. C/Pincher moved and C/House seconded to approve the minutes of the November 8, 2007 meeting as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Pincher, VC/Mok, Chair/Shay NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Lin II PUBLIC COMMENTS: Iris Gay, 423 N. Rock River Drive, and Office Manager of Lorbeer Middle School, stated that in 1990 the school committee requested a "right turn only" sign at the exit of the school parking lot. She requested that the sign be changed to restricted times and that it specify "during school days only." She further requested that the phrase "do not block traffic" be added to the sign. She felt that the changes would benefit residents who regularly travel northbound Diamond Bar Boulevard and would help prevent accidents. Many staff members have expressed a desire to have the sign changed. DPW/Liu said that staff has always worked very closely with the school regarding circulation and access issues at Lorbeer Middle School. In fact, the school district 'and the City with assistance from the City's Traffic Engineer mutually agreed to the current circulation pattern. PWD/Liu said that staff would investigate the situation and report back to the Commission. Safety is the overriding concern. JANUARY 10, 2008 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION III. ITEMS FROM STAFF: A. Traffic Enforcement Update: Citations: October, November & December 2007 2. Collisions: October, November & December 2007 3, Street Sweeping: October, November & December 2007 IV. NEW BUSINESS A. Request for Do Not Block Intersection Signs on Diamond Crest Lane at Emerald Lane AE/Molina presented staffs report and recommended that the Commission concur with staff for installation of a Do Not Block Intersection Sign on Diamond Crest Lane at Emerald Lane. VC/Mok asked for confirmation that vehicles are parking in the red. AE/Molina clarified that motorists are resting in the red area in the travel lane of the roadway. AE/Molina responded to Chair/Shay that people are waiting for a green light in the travel lane from South Point Middle School back behind Emerald Lane. Chair/Shay asked about safety concerns. PWD/Liu responded thatthe Public Works Superintendent as well as the Sheriff's Department did not indicate that pedestrians were an issue. Perhaps residents could provide a better picture. Based on staff's limited observation, the long traffic queue's, especially during morning drop off and afternoon pickup, were creating problems for the residents. Chair/Shay asked if a "Do Not Block Intersection" sign was subject to law enforcement and PWD/Liu responded "absolutely." The proposed signage recommended by staff is a regulatory sign and carries a fine of $136. C/Pincher asked if there was a problem with eastbound blockage. PWD/Liu responded that Mr. Torng as president of the association would provide the Commission with his understanding of the situation during the public comment period. C/House asked if the City and the school district planned to include parking spaces for student pickup and drop off. PWD/Liu referred C/House to Exhibit A and discussed the original circulation program. When there are so many cars that descend on a given area at one time it creates a difficult issue for that particular block of time only. ed that in facteitfelt did t This school is much behe school culd have tter than better. DPW/Liu respond most schools in the City. JANUARY 10, 2008 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION VC/Mok asked if cars blocked the gate to the community and PWD/Liu said that residents had previously spoken about such a situation and tonight the public speakers would be able to address that issue. Tony Torng, 20985 Jade Court, spoke about the need for signage and pavement markings at Diamond Crest and Emerald Lane to prevent parents blocking the intersection while waiting to pick up or drop off their children at South Point Middle School. Sarbani Sharma, 1508 Ruby Court, stated that when she has asked drivers to move out of the way so that she can exit her community through the gate she is met with hostility or been ignored. She has also witnessed children running down Diamond Crest toward Brea Canyon, which she felt was very dangerous for the children as well as for the drivers. She sought help from the Sheriff's Department but they informed her there was nothing they could do. She has been forced to use the back gate and that access is also blocked by traffic. To her it was an inconvenience for the residents and more importantly represented a fire and safety hazard. Mayuri Pathak, 1513 Sapphire Lane, said she has experienced the same problem as the previous speaker. People drive fast and do not want to give her time to make a turn into her community and indeed, she has been confronted by rude drivers who refuse to allow her access. VC/Mok asked if there was also ingress and egress at Sapphire Lane and whether an equal number of residents were using both gates. Tony Torng stated that Sapphire Lane at Brea Canyon Road has no traffic signal. Diamond Crest has a traffic signal and it is safer for residents to make a left -turn onto Brea Canyon Road out of the gated community. Sean Sun, 21023 Jewel Court, said he was concerned for safety of the kids because they have no concept of acting cautiously when they rush out into the street to get into their cars. Light poles have been hit and it could have been a child that was hit. Chair/Shay asked how many more students the school could accommodate. Mr. Sun said he did not know the number but said there was a 107 - condominium unit project going in across from the school AE/Molina said there was a 98 -residential project approved. PWD/Liu said that from a circulation point of view the development would use Larkstone as its main access. Mr. Tong said that according to the principal the school was at capacity. However, there is a potential for another school at that location. PWD/Liu again referred the Commissioners to Exhibit A and indicated that the pad across from the middle school belongs to the school district. If the school expands it is planned to accommodate Special Ed students. PWD/Liu said he had no information about the potential number of students. In addition, JANUARY 10, 2008 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION whenever the school district improves property, the City has no jurisdiction and no authority over the school district. Michelle Chen, 1509 Sapphire Lane, said the school has an average of 800- 1100 students. She has monitored the area and asks drivers to move their cars away from the prive area and they she calls the Sheriffander there is the deputy tells that can her b done. In that ca herr the eis nothing that can be done because it is a private property matter and the Deputy cannot issue tickets unless vehicles are outside the private property area. PWD/Liu said that the City has little jurisdiction over private property. However, staff could assist the redassociation curb does not fully convey the matte that would discourage parking since a r. C/Pincher suggested that the school partner with parents to encourage carpooling; the school needs to partner with the parents to instruct on an ongoing basis for children not to run in traffic; the Sheriff's Department needs to start writing a lot of tickets; is this street appropriate,for speed cushions to slow the traffic?; is there room on Brea Canyon Road for a "no left turn -no U - Turn?; she wondered if the people who blocked Emerald Lane would be in violation of a fire code; and, is there room for additional lanes on the street? Chair/Shay felt there should be a deputy on foot directing traffic during peak hours. He said he was in favor of staff's recommendation but felt it would not do much good absent enforcement. C/House encouraged the residents to work with the school to provide flyers to parents on an ongoing basis that speaks to traffic circulation and parking issues. He believed that over time, parents would respond. The sign is a good idea and enforcement is necessary. Chair/Shay reminded residents that enforcement is costly. DPW/Liu stated that perhaps the association could contract for enforcement. This may be an opportunity for the association to speak with the Sheriff's Department and look at their bylaws to see what can be done to get the Sheriff's Department to provide specific enforcement for the gated community. C/Pincher moved and VC/Mok seconded, to concur with staff's revised recommendation for the following: Installation of "Do Not Block Intersection" signs on Diamond Crest Lane at Emerald Lane in both directions; placement of "Keep Clear" striping at the intersection; and supplementation of the installation with red curbing at the top of the T. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: JANUARY 10, 2008 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION AYES: COMMISSIONERS: House, Pincher, VC/Mok, Chair/Shay NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Lin PWD/Liu stated that work would commence as soon as possible and that staff would report back to the Commission regarding the work performed. V. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: None VI. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: VC/Mok reported on the Commissioner's meeting with the Palomino neighborhood residents and staff that he was very encouraged that so many residents attended to express their concerns. C/House commented that his wife became an accident statistic as she was driving on Pathfinder Road and was struck by a juvenile making an illegal U -Turn. What impressed him was that prior to the ambulance arriving on scene and prior to the Sheriff's Department being fully engaged, he saw two City trucks arrive and staff members cleaned up the site. He said he felt proud about the Public Works Department's responsiveness. C/House reported that there are different speed limits according to the direction of travel on Pathfinder Road, which he said he would address at a later time. VII. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS A. ACE Grade Separation on Brea Canyon Road — SE/Yee reported that the project continues to move forward with completion scheduled for Fall 2008 pending a request by the project team to consolidate the remaining two phases of the project that would entail closure of the Metrolink station access road. B. Various Traffic Signal Improvements on Golden Springs Drive — SE/Yee reported that the City is currently working on the final of three intersections at Golden Springs Drive and Racquet Club Road. C. NTMP/Sunset Crossing Road and Prospectors Road Traffic Calming Improvements — SE/Yee reported that this project is in the design phase with completion anticipated early February for residents to review. D. Industry's Grand Avenue Bridge Widening/Interchange Project — PWD/Liu stated that there was not a lot of movement on the project during the holidays. Regarding the rumor that there may be an NFL stadium built in the City of Industry, D.B. has asked to meet with the City of Industry and Majestic Realty to learn more about the proposal. VC/Mok asked about the disposition of the sale of the Diamond Bar Honda and Burger King sites. PWD/Liu stated that as Chair/Shay indicated, escrow closed the first part of November. Diamond Bar Honda is moving to City of Industry. Staff has no knowledge of what will be proposed for the site. JANUARY 10, 2008 PAGE 6 T&T COMMISSION E F G H PWD/Liu responded to VC/Mok that he believed the buyer was a private individual. Lemon Avenue On/Off Ramps Project — PWD/Liu reported that the Caltrans public meeting regarding this project would be held on January 29th from 6:30 to 8:30 p,m. in Room CC -6 of the AQMD/Government Center. SR57/60 Feasibility Study — PWD/Liu stated that the MTA tentatively scheduled a Technical Advisory Meeting (Caltrans, MTA, City of Industry and D.B. staff) on January 24th to review all alternatives that have been proposed. NTMP Pilot Project/Palomino Drive — AE/Molina stated that the second meeting for the neighborhood was held on December 10th with approximately 30 neighborhood residents in attendance. Staff presented testimony that the 85th percentile speeds along Palomino averaged 35-37 mph in the 25 mph zone. Staff proposed concepts of speed cushions along Palomino, Platina and Ballena; raised crosswalks at already designated crosswalk areas; and installation of bulges or medians at stop signs along Palomino Drive. All residents in attendance accepted the concepts. As a result, staff presented the residents with the petition and informed them that they were required to obtain signatures from re able to % of the esidents obtain85.7 in favor of f the moving 8residential Residents we forward with the design phase. Prospectors Road Rehab Project —AE/Molina reported that the asphalt would be grinded and removed from gutter to gutter with construction commencing on Monday, January 21St. All residents within the neighborhood of Prospectors including all side streets were notified of the pending construction. There will be adverse traffic situations during the project. AE/Molina reported that the large Edison transmission pole at the Target entrance on Grand Avenue would be relocated to the Chili's site in April or May of 2008. In the meantime, Edison will be working in the pavement area along Grand Avenue to install lines to the new site. PWD/Liu announced that the City has a new traffic sergeant, Marc Saunders, who replaces Chris Blasnek in that position. VIII. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS: As listed in the Agenda. JANUARY 10, 2008 PAGE 7 T&T COMMISSION ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, Chair/Shay adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this day of i��B�2{c�jR 2008. Respectfully-,-- %lam Da G. Liu, Secretary A Ll__1_