HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/14/2009CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING
MAY 14, 2009
CALL TO ORDER:
Chair Lin called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality
Management/Government Center Hearing Board Room, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar,
California 91765.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Chair House led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: Kenneth Mok, Liana Pincher, Michael Shay, Kevin
House, Vice -Chair and Jimmy Lin, Chair
Also Present: David Liu, Public Works Director; Rick Yee, Senior
Civil Engineer; Erwin Ching, Assistant Engineer;
Christian Malpica-Perez, Associate Engineer, and
Marcy Hilario, Senior Administrative Assistant.
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A. Minutes of the April 9, 2009 regular meeting.
C/Shay moved, C/Mok seconded, to approve the April 9, 2009 minutes as
presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES:
COMMISSIONERS:
Pincher, Mok, Shay, Chair/Lin
NOES:
COMMISSIONERS:
None
ABSTAIN:
COMMISSIONERS:
VC/House
ABSENT:
COMMISSIONERS:
None
II. PUBLIC COMMENTS: John Harbaugh, 23347 Wagon Trail, spoke about the lack
of parking at the D.B. Library, plastic pillars that prevent the ability to make u -turns,
inability to enter the center median to make a safe left turn as well as, the six (6)
parking spaces lost to employee parking. He was also concerned about the changes
by Pomona Unified School Distract in converting Golden Springs Elementary School
into an intermediate school and whether an EIR was required. His third issue was
with the Pulte Homes Tract. He thought he understood that the back gate at
Highcrest Drive provided a second entry/departure point. As of today he was
informed that the second gate was a "fire exit" only. He wanted to know what
happened to the original plan to grant permission for an alternate exit.
May 14, 2009 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION
PWD/Liu responded to Mr. Harbaugh that the City has facilitated an arrangement with
Century 21 and the Library to possibly allow for extra library parking through a shared
parking agreement. The City provided a site plan to both property owners for their
consideration. The City has not received information about proposed changes at
Golden Springs Elementary School and will contact school administrators to discuss
possible traffic increases. With respect to the Pulte Homes Development, he will
discuss the second gate issue with the City's Community Development Department.
C/Shay asked staff to take a close look at the streets to see if there is a possibility for
restructuring to address Mr. Harbaugh's concern regarding left hand turns and to
follow up on the potential agreement with Century 21 for additional library parking. He
commented on the inadequacies of the current library and the matter of residents
leaving the community to use facilities in other cities.
Chair/Lin said he lives two homes down from the gate in the Pulte Homes tract and
served as Homeowner Association President for three years. There is an existing
document between Pulte Homes and the City that states that the gate is to be used
for emergency access only. He believed that the Fire Department and Sheriff's
Department had keys. In addition, two of the homeowners have keys in the event the
residents need to vacate the area in case of fire or other emergencies.
Nancy Harbaugh explained that the problem is that residents of the Pulte Homes tract
are cutting through their neighborhood. She was disappointed when Council
Members voted against a new library and encouraged residents to vote against
Measure L because great cities have great libraries and D.B. needs a great library.
She invited Commissioners to visit the library on a Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 to
observe what happens. She refuses to take her 4 -year old granddaughter to the
library. If the City cannot come up with a way to mitigate the traffic issue perhaps
staff should recommend to the City Council to provide shuttle service (from Sycamore
Canyon Park).
On a separate issue, Mrs. Harbaugh requested installation of a traffic signal at the
intersection of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Morning Canyon Road because of the
pre-school at Diamond Bar Congregational Church.
In response to Mrs. Harbaugh's request, Chair/Lin explained that the City must meet
the warrant study in order to install anew traffic signal. PWD/Liu responded to Mrs.
Harbaugh that staff will proceed with some basic data collection to determine whether
the intersection warrants a traffic signal study.
C/Pincher shared with Mrs. Harbaugh that there is a procedure for involving their
neighbors in a Neighborhood Traffic Management Program and petition process for
possible resolution.
C/Shay commented that, in his opinion, the concept of shuttle service is very good;
however, to have that type of service five days a week might be cost -prohibitive and
impractical. If Mrs. Harbaugh is recommending this type of service on particular days
at particular times for particular groups it might be feasible.
May 14, 2009 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION
III. ITEMS FROM STAFF:
A. Received and Filed Traffic Enforcement Updates for:
1. Citations: February, March & April 2009
2. Collisions: February, March & April 2009
3. Street Sweeping: February, March & April 2009
VC/House said he had not seen the Code Enforcement Officer following the street
sweeper any time during this year. There are usually about seven cars parked on the
street in the neighborhood in which he lives when the sweeper comes through and he
has not seen those cars ticketed.
IV. OLD BUSINESS — None
V. NEW BUSINESS — None
VI. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS:
PWD/Liu stated that at its April 21St meeting, the City Council approved the
maintenance agreement with Caltrans forthe proposed medians on Pathfinder Road
just east of the SR -57. At the May 5th Council meeting, the Council adopted the
Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Goals and Objectives, a copy of which has been provided to
the Commissioners this evening.
VII. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS:
C/Shay commented that the maintenance at the City's entries and exits and along the
freeways is concerning due to overgrown vegetation and litter. Whatever staff could
do to get Caltrans to respond would greatly improve the City's appearance. PWD/Liu
reiterated Caltrans' position in not having a set maintenance schedule and said that
staff would continue to attempt to influence them to be more responsive.
VC/House asked about the USA markings on Grand Avenue. SE/Yee responded
that the City is waiting until completion of the work by the current permittee, NextG. In
fact, the City has requested a quote from a contractor to determine the cost of
removing the markings.
VC/House reiterated his concern about the height of the Verizon HOS lines going into
residential yards and bending poles. After discussing the matter with MA/Gallegos,
they met with Verizon officials at the site. At all four sites there were multiple
violations that needed to be corrected and he felt the City should be more aware of
substandard work.
C/Pincher pointed out that at the southbound SR -57 split, where the SR -60 goes west
and the SR -57 goes south, there is a large poorly lit concrete pillar. She expressed
May 14, 2009 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION
her concern about the lack of visibility for freeway drivers. She suggested installing
some type of reflector.
C/Mok reported that on April 13th there was an NTMP meeting with the Maple Hill
Neighborhood. He was fortunate to attend and AE/Molina and AE/Ching conducted
an excellent presentation. Attendees appeared to be pleased with the information
they received and wanted to continue on to the next step by acquiring the necessary
signatures from neighborhood residents. He thanked staff for their continued effort
and presentation at the meeting. He wondered why this item was not on the list of
Informational Items this evening to provide an update. PWD/Liu reiterated the
process and reported that staff is in the data collection process; therefore, no updates
are available at this time
VIII. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
A. Diamond Bar TMS/Traffic Signal Interconnect Links — Phase 1 — SE/Yee
reported that there are currently 38 intersections connected online with the
system awaiting completion of functional testing. Staff is required to
participate in a week-long training on operation of the system. It appears that
the earliest staff will be able to have the system in use and provide benefit will
be August 2009. Phase II is out for bid. Chair/Lin suggested the City make a
short promotion video to run on DBTV.
B. Lycoming Street Rehabilitation Project - SE/Yee stated that staff received
project bids and can report that the lowest bid amount was significantly lower
than the engineer's estimate. Staff expects to award the contract at the City
Council's first June meeting with construction commencing the end of
June/beginning of July.
C. Sunset Crossing Road/Prospectors Road Traffic Calming Project — SE/Yee
reported that improvements have been made to the medians with installation
of the landscaping, trees, etc. The final landscape plantings are imminent. A
portion of Sunset Crossing Road was slurry sealed today. There will be a
slight delay on the landscape plantings as staff works through minor issues
with SCE in terms of providing electrical service to the irrigation controls.
D. Industry's Grand Avenue Bridge Widening/Interchange Project — PWD/Liu
reported that at the end of March, DB staff and City of Industry staff met with
Senator Feinstein's representative to provide her office with the latest
information regarding this project. The staff member concurred that this was
indeed a regionally significant project after witnessing the afternoon
interchange bottleneck.
E. Lemon Avenue On/Off Ramps Project — PWD/Liu stated that this project is still
in design phase and anticipates approximately 65 percent of the plans and
specs to be completed by July. Staff continues to dialogue with the state
regarding the landscape concept, as well as completing the project in two
phases.
F. SR -57160 Feasibility Study — PWD/Liu reported that the modeling for the
interchange was recently completed and he hoped to be able to receive the
final draft report within a month or so.
May 14, 2009 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION
G. Residential Area 5 Slurry Seal Project — AE/Malpica-Perez reported that the
project is scheduled for bid opening on Wednesday, May 20th. The award for
contract is anticipated to go to the City Council on June 2"d
H. Arterial Zone 3/Zone 4 Slurry Seal Project (American Recovery &
Reinvestment Act) — AE/Malpica-Perez stated that the Request for
Authorization was sent to Caltrans on April 16th. Staff has since been notified
that it was forwarded to Sacramento for approval. Authorization is expected
by mid-May. Once authorization to proceed with construction is received,
plans will be finalized and staff will go out for bid with an expected award of
contract by July.
I. Chino Hills Parkway Street Rehab Project — AE/Malpica-Perez reported that
pavement investigation for the project is underway to help determine the
method of rehabilitation with the report of the results expected by the end of
May. The award of construction is anticipated by late summer/early fall.
C/Shay inquired about the amount of stimulus funds the City will be receiving.
PWD/Liu responded to C/Shay that the City will receive $1,770,000 of federal
stimulus monies for street improvements. The City will also receive about
$550,000 of energy efficiency and conservation block grant program funds.
VIII. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS: As listed in the Agenda.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and
Transportation Commission, Chair/Lin adjourned the meeting at 8:09 p.m.
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 11-T day of _fWt , 2009.
Respectfully,
G�
id G. iu, Secretary
Attest:
Chairman Jimmy Li