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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/12/2020 - Minutes - Regular MeetingCITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING WINDMILL COMMUNITY ROOM, DIAMOND BAR CITY HALL 21810 COPLEY DRIVE, DIAMOND BAR MARCH 12, 2020 CALL TO ORDER: Commissioner Gonzalez called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Diamond Bar City Hall Windmill Community Room, 21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Quan led the Pledge of Allegiance. , ROLL CALL: Commissioners Michael Gonzalez, Kim Hsieh, Surendra Mehta, Cynthia Quan, Andrew Wong Also Present: David Liu, Public Works Director; Christian Malpica, Associate Engineer; Fabian Aoun, Associate Engineer; Nicholas “Nick” Delgado, Engineering Technician; and, Marcy Hilario, Administrative Coordinator. I. INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMISSIONER – PWD/Liu introduced Kim Hsieh II. REORGANIZATION OF THE TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION C/Quan nominated C/Gonzalez to serve as Chair of the Traffic & Transportation Commission for the upcoming term. C/Wong seconded the nomination. There were no other nominations offered. C/Gonzalez was unanimously elected to serve as Chairman of the Traffic and Transportation Commission by the following Roll Call vote: C/Gonzalez Yes C/Hsieh Yes C/Mehta Yes C/Quan Yes C/Wong Yes C/Quan nominated C/Wong to serve as Vice-Chair of the Traffic and Transportation Commission. Chair/Gonzalez seconded the nomination. There were no other nominations offered. C/Wong was unanimously elected to serve as Vice-Chair of the Traffic and Transportation Commission by the following Roll Call vote: Chair/Gonzalez Yes C/Hsieh Yes C/Mehta Yes MARCH 12, 2020 PAGE 2 T&T COMMISSION C/Quan Yes C/Wong Yes III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Traffic and Transportation Commission Meeting Minutes of January 9, 2020. C/Quan moved, C/Mehta seconded, to approve the Meeting Minutes of January 9, 2020 as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Mehta, Quan, VC/Wong, Chair/Gonzalez NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: Hsieh ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Dr. Christopher, Principal, Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church and School, 23300 Golden Springs Drive, reiterated his three recommendations provided during the October 2019 meeting for planting or not planting trees or shrubs at the church site on Golden Springs Drive. The Commission chose a fourth option which was to do a study. During the week of February 24th, three (3) new trees were planted (before and after photographs presented to the Commission) and the after photo gives an idea of the line-of-sight hindrance drivers experience entering and exiting Mt. Calvary. Over 200 people a day enter the property via an “entrance only” at the south end of the property and exit on the north end of the property, where it seems to be a problem for drivers. Thus, Dr. Christopher is sharing his disappointment that there was no “give and take” between the community and the City. He fully expected that when the study was taking place, City staff would contact him and, because he was not, he is present this evening to appeal the planting of those trees because of his concern about the safety of the children and families. PWD/Liu stated that staff would provide the Commission a report presentation on this item under Item V.B. V. ITEMS FROM STAFF: A. TRAFFIC STATISTICS – December 2019 and January 2020. Chair/Gonzalez requested that PWD/Liu speak to the two traffic fatalities on Page 16 of the report, as to whether it was an issue related to traffic safety and whether the City needed to address the issue. PWD/Liu responded to Chair/Gonzalez that the traffic fatalities have nothing to do with safety to motorists or to the general public. In one case, the fatality MARCH 12, 2020 PAGE 3 T&T COMMISSION involved a police pursuit by the Pomona Police Department involving a motorcyclist. Unfortunately, toward the end of the pursuit, the cyclist crashed into a tree. In the second case, the fatality involved an older gentleman pedestrian who was crossing a private street as a vehicle was proceeding along the private street and the driver of that vehicle was unable to stop. Chair/Gonzalez moved, C/Quan seconded, to Receive and File the December 2019 and January 2020 Traffic Statistics. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Hsieh, Mehta, Quan, VC/Wong, Chair/Gonzalez NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None B. MONTHLY UPDATES OF VARIOUS PROJECTS/PROGRAMS: a) Adaptive Traffic Control Signal System (ATCS) – AE/Malpica – Staff continues to fine-tune and monitor the system to address potential fluctuations in traffic flow through the City’s main arterials. b) Pantera Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan – AE/Malpica – Staff is working with the City’s Traffic consultant on the preliminary design plans and on-line petition process to obtain 67 percent majority approval. c) Castle Rock NTMP between Cold Springs Lane and Fountain Springs Road – AE/Malpica – The Notice of Completion was filed and the project has been deemed complete. Active improvements will be in place for six months, at which time staff will conduct an after-study to assess the effectiveness of the NTMP tools including the collection of traffic volumes, speed data and observing data of additional improvements. If after the six months residents elect to have the permanently installed devices removed, staff will consider such a request upon receipt of 67 percent of the residents. d) Traffic Delineators at Grand Avenue and Cleghorn Drive – ET/Delgado – Staff has received complaints from residents living along Cleghorn Drive and associated communities regarding westbound traffic on Grand Avenue when exiting at Cleghorn Drive. As a result, staff is considering implementing a pilot program to install delineators on Grand Avenue in the right-turn pocket at Cleghorn Drive to protect traffic and ensure the right turn into the Cleghorn Drive neighborhood. This would hinder drivers from using that lane to continue along Grand Avenue toward Diamond Bar Boulevard. MARCH 12, 2020 PAGE 4 T&T COMMISSION e) Street Name Sign for Niagara Bottling Company (Niagara Way) – ET/Delgado – Niagara Bottling Company has moved to the City of Diamond Bar with headquarters at 1440 Bridge Gate Drive. At that location is a signalized intersection with signage that references 1440 Bridge Gate Drive, which was set in place for the previous business occupant. Niagara has proposed for the sign to be personalized to state “Niagara Way” which would be dedicated to the sole tenant of that parcel, Niagara Bottling Company. Staff has reviewed this request and has determined that it will improve wayfinding on Bridge Gate Drive for employees, visitors, couriers and emergency services. Niagara will be responsible for paying all costs associated with ordering and installing the sign. Approval of this item is on the April 7, 2020 City Council agenda. At that time Niagara Bottling Company will also be recognized as the “New Business of the Month”. Staff will retain the existing street name signs that read “1440 Bridge Gate Drive” to be reinstalled should this property be vacated by Niagara Bottling Company in the future. f) Grand Avenue/Golden Springs Drive Intersection Improvements – AE/Aoun – Construction on golf course hole #3 is tentatively scheduled to commence next month. Diamond Bar is awaiting confirmation from the City of Industry and LA County Parks and Recreation that construction will move forward as scheduled. g) Diamond Bar Boulevard Complete Streets Corridor – AE/Aoun – The design consultant is scheduled to submit the 90 percent plan submittal for plans, specs and estimates by the end of March for staff review. Staff continues to pursue additional funding for construction of the project. h) Area 7 and Diamond Bar Boulevard Road Rehab Project – AE/Aoun – This project is complete. The last phase restored all traffic signals to normal operations by restoring the ground detector loops and synching them with the traffic system. i) Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church/School Driveway Line-of-Sight Study – AE/Aoun – Staff directed our traffic engineering consultant to perform a line-of-sight evaluation and look at the specific concerns of Dr. Christopher and the school parents, as well as other opportunities to improve the safety at that intersection. The line-of-sight and engineering study was completed and submitted to the City. The study found that when a vehicle is exiting the school driveway and looking left, the sight distance is limited by two factors; 1) curvature of the roadway, and 2) landscaping on the slope on private property next to the school in the vicinity of the bus stop, which is visible in the first photo that Dr. Christopher provided to the Commission this evening. The study did not find that the trees were a limiting factor for sight distance in their original state, as planted. It was concluded that three MARCH 12, 2020 PAGE 5 T&T COMMISSION (3) trees could be replanted in the sidewalk area, to be spaced at a minimum of 40 feet apart and have a maximum trunk diameter of 24 inches when fully grown. Staff confirmed that both of these requirements have been met with the spacing currently between 50-59 feet per tree, exceeding the minimum 40-foot requirement; and, the diameter of the trees when fully grown are under 24 inches. These standards have been confirmed by the City’s Traffic Engineering Consultant. In the update email staff sent to Dr. Christopher, he was asked if he and his team would like to meet out in the field with staff to explore other opportunities to improve the safety because the Traffic Engineering Study, while it did not find that the trees were an issue, identified opportunities for safety improvements. The study recommends a stop sign and a stop bar be installed on the driveway just before one exits the school. The stop bar would be installed at a location that would best allow drivers to see in between the trees as they are laid out and would aid drivers in knowing where to best stop to see the oncoming traffic. Staff would be able to assist the school team, make any adjustments necessary and mark out where the stop sign and stop bar should be located. Additionally, staff and the City’s Code Enforcement Officers can work with the neighboring private property owners to potentially trim and/or remove the landscaping within the line- of-sight and, the neighboring property owner would be responsible for maintaining those trees that are currently in the line-of-sight. In addition, staff contacted the Sheriff’s Department to let them know of these concerns, because it is a potential that along this stretch of roadway, cars will likely proceed at speeds faster than the speed limit. Increasing enforcement in that area will allow drivers to notice the Sheriff’s presence and perhaps slow their speed down. Staff can also look at opportunities for additional signage along the corridor to make it clear that drivers should follow the speed limit by reducing their speed, thereby increasing the safety of that intersection. As a matter of information, the study is available at City Hall to be reviewed and when such documents are released, the City requests that the receiver fill out a Public Document Request on-line so that the City has a record of all documents released. Chair/Gonzalez asked Dr. Christopher if he believes a “right-turn-only” at the exit would solve the problem. Dr. Christopher responded that it would certainly make it safer, but less convenient for many of those that enter and leave the school property. However, there are instances when safety requires inconvenience. He said he agreed with staff that the problem was the speed of vehicles. The speed limit is 40 or 45 and at their property, it begins to announce a 25mph speed limit because of Lorbeer Middle School; however, it does not slow down traffic for Mt. Calvary’s school. Perhaps it would help if the speed limit were reduced all of the way down to Diamond Bar Boulevard. MARCH 12, 2020 PAGE 6 T&T COMMISSION Dr. Christopher asked for an explanation of a “stop bar” and AE/Aoun responded that a stop bar is a striped line on the ground, adjacent to the stop sign. Dr. Christopher said that one of the members suggested that the entire intersection could be redesigned to incorporate the exit driveway to be controlled by the nearby traffic signal, which might be worth exploring as well. C/Quan, retired principal of Golden Springs Elementary School, stated that matters of safety are very concerning to her. In her experience, what is effective when she drops off her two grandsons, is a large flashing light that reports the driver’s speed at the furthest point of getting to the school. It might encourage drivers to reduce their speed. Dr. Christopher said he drives by such a flashing sign every morning in Anaheim Hills. It blinks and reports the speed, which he believes is an effective measure that should be considered. Chair/Gonzalez said he did not recall any signage on Golden Springs Drive eastbound that indicated there was a school coming up and, If his recollection is correct, he would recommend such signage be installed in addition to what C/Quan suggested. AE/Aoun suggested a meeting be organized for staff and Dr. Christopher’s team to review these opportunities. In addition, staff can include a copy of the Engineering Study in the next Commission meeting packet. PWD/Liu reminded the Commission that this item is on tonight’s agenda as an “informational” item. Therefore, no decisions can be made on further action until the item is placed on the agenda as an “action” item. In order to continue the dialogue to reach a conclusion acceptable to both parties, PWD/Liu would like staff to have further discussions with Dr. Christopher and his team. In addition, he proposes to place in the record as part of the next Commission meeting agenda, the entire study which contains a considerable amount of detail regarding facts and statistics. Once the meeting between staff and the school has concluded, both findings and recommendations could be presented to the Commission. j) 2020 INFRA Grant Application for the SR-57/60 Confluence Chokepoint Relief Program – PWD/Liu – On Monday, February 24th, the City of Diamond Bar partnered with LA County Metro and submitted the grant application for the Confluence Project to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) seeking $50 million in funding for the current 2020 Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program. For the last several years, the City has been diligent and consistent in submitting funding and grant applications to the federal government to help with this project of both national and regional MARCH 12, 2020 PAGE 7 T&T COMMISSION significance. This year, the City of Diamond Bar actively participated in the preparation of this application along with Caltrans, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) and the City of Industry. This project is currently estimated to cost about $420 million and with any federal assistance, construction will commence in August 2022 rather than July 2024. Currently, the design is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. Chair/Gonzalez moved, VC/Wong seconded, to receive and file the updates on Various Projects/Programs. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Hsieh, Mehta, Quan, VC/Wong, Chair/Gonzalez NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None PWD/Liu offered to meet with C/Hsieh to bring her up to speed on public works projects. VI. OLD BUSINESS: None VII. NEW BUSINESS: None VIII. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: IX. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: C/Mehta reported that he observed overgrown tree branches near the stop sign at Gold Rush and Chandelle that he felt needed to be trimmed back. VC/Wong stated that a couple of residents reported to him that during rush hour when the traffic lights on Diamond Bar Boulevard at Quail Summit are not operating properly, it flashes red and acts as a stop sign which has caused a big delay for parents who have to take their children to the school. He asked if there was a solution to assist the traffic to move more effectively such as placing a traffic deputy at the site during certain hours. PWD/Liu said it might be possible at any given location or signalized intersection, depending on the time of day and the level of congestion. The City’s system alerts when signals are on flash due to power outages, etc. and upon receiving these notices, staff can, from the traffic management center, diagnose the situation. If it occurs during peak hours, staff can request that a deputy be dispatched to service the area, if warranted. If the situation occurs during non-peak hours and traffic is moving as it should be, that resource may not be utilized. MARCH 12, 2020 PAGE 8 T&T COMMISSION X. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY EVENTS: As noted in the Agenda PWD/Liu reported on changes to the schedule as a result of Covid-19. Today at 5:30 p.m., City Hall, the Diamond Bar Center and Heritage Park were closed to the public. Temporary changes are being implemented to the City’s operations as indicated in the memorandum provided to the Commission this evening. All March events have been canceled and updates will be available on the City’s website as they become available. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, Chair/Gonzalez adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this day of , 2020. Respectfully Submitted, ______________________________ David G. Liu, Secretary Attest: _____________________________ Michael Gonzalez, Chairperson