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HomeMy WebLinkAbout121301 PTS MinutesMINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF TEMECULA PUBLIC/TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION DECEMBER 13, 2001 CALL TO ORDER The City of Temecula Public/Traffic Safety Commission convened in an adjourned regular meeting at 6:03 P.M., on Thursday, December 13, 2001, in the City Council Chambers of Temecula City Hall, 43200 Business Park Drive, Temecula, California. FLAG SALUTE The audience was led in the Flag salute by Commissioner Katan. ROLLCALL Present: Commissioners Connerton, Katan, Vice Chairman Lanier. Absent: Commissioner Coe. Also Present: Senior Engineer Moghadam, Associate Engineer Gonzalez, Battalion Chief Ritchey, Police Sergeant Steger, Administrative Secretary Pyle, Minute Clerk Hansen, and Minute Clerk Ice. PRESENTATION Senior Deputy Goss, School Resource Officer Senior Deputy Goss provided an overview of the Police Programs associated with the schools, relaying that in the City of Temecula there were five School Resource Officers; described the triad approach philosophy which involves three aspects of the Officer's role while serving in this capacity, listed as follows: 1) counselor/mentor, 2) teacher, and 3) law enforcer; provided additional information regarding the Juvenile Offender Law Enforcement Team (JOLT) Program, which is comprised of a District Attorney, a Probation Officer, and a Deputy Sheriff, and is a diversion program designed to keep the youth out of the Criminal Justice system while administering a more severe punishment; specified the school programs in which the Officers provide instruction (i.e., StrangedDanger, Gateway Drugs, Drugs and Alcohol Safety, Driver's Education, and Health); provided examples of the mentoring/counseling experiences with youth on an individual basis which has been extremely effective and rewarding; advised that violent incidents at the schools have decreased; noted the numerous benefits due to the City, the School District, the Police Department, and the citizens working together in a partnership; via overheads, presented the mission statement from the California State School Resource Officers Association which established a protocol for sharing information Statewide - among departments, and school districts; and advised that the City of Temecula's School Resource Officer Program would be used as a model program throughout California. Applauding Officer Goss, and the Police Depadment, Commissioner Connerton commended the excellent work with the youth in the community. PUBLIC COMMENTS No comments. COMMISSION CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Minutes of September 27, 2001, and October 25, 2001 RECOMMENDATION: 1.1 Approve the Minutes of September 27, 2001. 1.2 Approve the Minutes of October 25, 2001. MOTION: Commissioner Connerton moved to approve Consent Calendar item Nos. 1.1 and 1.2. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Katan and voice vote reflected approval with the exception of Commissioner Coe who was absent. COMMISSION BUSINESS 2. Red Curb - Nantes Court RECOMMENDATION: 2.1 That the Public/Traffic Safety Commission receive the staff report and provide direction to staff. Senior Engineer Moghadam presented the staff repod of record), relaying the initial request staff received from a resident (Mr. Snell), to establish a parking restriction between two residential dwelling units on Nantes Coud which appeared reasonable based on the resident's comments; advised that a work order was issued and subsequently the curb was painted red; noted that following the painting of the curb, staff received a request to remove the red paint from this curb from a resident (Mr. Scudder) living directly adjacent to the newly-established restricted parking area, this resident opining that the curb should not have been painted, and that this area was utilized for parking; advised that the initial causes identified by the first resident who had requested the restriction were not completely accurate; relayed that the second resident expressed numerous grounds for maintaining this area for parking; relayed that since the parking was currently restricted (in response to the first request), it was staff's determination to forward this matter to the Public/Traffic Safety Commission, relaying that the Commission could either recommend maintaining the red curb, or removing the restricted parking; and for the record, noted the letter to staff from Mr. Scudder, dated November 27, 2001 (per agenda material) requesting that the parking restriction be removed, additionally noting the signed petition (provided via supplemental agenda material) with the signatures of 17 Nantes Court residents, and one crossing guard for this area, who were all in support of maintaining the red curb. R:\trafficminutes~l 21301 2 In response to the queries of the Public/Traffic Safety Commission, for Commissioner Connerton, Senior Engineer Moghadam noted that the original request to paint the curb red was from Mr. Snell who resides on Nantes Court; provided the rationale for staff initially agreeing to paint the curb red based on the information received from Mr. Snell, noting that after receiving Mr. Scudder's comments, it was staff opinion that there was sound rationale for removing the restricted parking; and for Commissioner Katan, relayed that the request from the resident, Mr. Stan Horn, requesting that his curb be painted red was received after the staff report was completed. Mr. Gary Perrigo, 43530 Nantes Court, noted that there were six other 12-foot curb segments in this cul-de-sac; and queried what criteria was utilized in determining which curbs would be painted red. Mr. Joyce L. Whealon (wife of Mr. Snell), 43570 Nantes Court, relayed that in September her husband and she had submitted a letter to Associate Engineer Gonzales requesting the red curbing due to the visual impairment of the school children in the area; specified alternate curb segments which had been painted red earlier; noted that the majority of the residents support the red curb; specified that numerous children reside in this particular area; and presented photographs, demonstrating the congestion in the area. Mr. John Scudder, 43560 Nantes Court, noted that Mr. Snell has demanded that he not park his Jeep on this particular curb segment; advised that the Snells have called the Police Department and each time the Officers have relayed that the vehicle was legally parked; via photographs, specified the red curb where he used to park his vehicle, as well as displaying other similar curb segments; opined that the red curbing was a control issue, and not a safety issue; and requested that the red paint be removed. For Commissioner Connerton, Mr. Scudder specified, per photographs, the location of his residence; provided additional information regarding the rationale for parking his vehicle at this particular curb segment; and for Commissioner Katan, advised that he did not have a copy of the letter from the Snells admonishing him "to not park his ugly Jeep on this curb segment," suggesting that the Public/Traffic Safety Commission query Ms. Whealon (Mr. Snell's wife) as to the validity of the letter. Noting that parking on these shod segments can create negative visual impacts, in particular when attempting to ingress and egress from driveways, Commissioner Connerton supported maintaining the red curb. Referencing the photograph, Commissioner Katan noted that this curb segment was clearly half in front of one residence, and half in front of the other; advised that consistency with respect to painting red curbs was a vital issue, noting the numerous residential areas within the City that were proximate to schools and had parking concerns, advising that if the City allowed this area to be restricted then there would be a plethora of red-painted curbs; and recommended that the red paint be removed. Commissioner Connerton relayed the potential negative impacts due to non-compact vehicles parking at these short curb segments; and recommended that the Public/Traffic Safety Commission recommend to the Planning Commission and the City Council that in new development areas, these short curb segments be painted red to prevent visual impairment of oncoming traffic. R:\trafficrninutes\121301 3 Concurring that there were safety issues associated with this matter, Vice Chairman Lanier recommended that there be a criteria developed which clarified the warrants for red curbing; and with respect to this particular curb segment, noted that he could support maintaining this restricted parking. Per visiting the area of discussion, Commissioner Katan confirmed that there were six identical sections on this particular block, advising that if each one of these segments was painted red to address similar safety issues, the residents would most likely have difficulty parking in their own neighborhood; opined that in this particular situation the parking was not a safety issue but a neighborhood dispute issue, advising that the parking should not be restricted. Commissioner Connerton reiterated that a larger vehicle parking in this area could create a negative impact with respect to safety. MOTION: Commissioner Connerton moved to direct staff to leave this red curb segment in place; and that the residents' additional requests for small curb segments to be painted red be forwarded to the Public/Traffic Safety Commission and/or that the Public/Traffic Safety Commission develop a policy to clarify the criteria warranting red- painted curbs segments. The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Lanier and voice vote reflected approval with the exception of Commissioner Katan who voted no, and Commissioner Coe who was absent. 3. Turn Restrictions - Rancho Vista Road at Temecula Vallev Hiqh School RECOMMENDATION: 3.1 That the Public/Traffic Safety Commission receive the staff report and provide further direction to staff. Senior Engineer Moghadam provided an overview of the staff report (per agenda material), highlighting the request to review the feasibility of restricting left turns while exiting the Temecula Valley High School campus, and restricting U-turn movements at the District office; advised that it was staff's recommendation that these movements not be restricted until a future point when a traffic signal is installed at a proximate intersection; for Vice Chairman Lanier, relayed that at the time a traffic signal is installed, the driveways would need to be modified; and for Commissioner Connerton, noted that it was within the purview of the City Council to determine whether the City would fund the entire cost for the installation of this particular signal. Mr. Bill McKinney, Director of Transportation for the Temecula Valley Unified School district, concurred with staff's comments, noting that if left turning movements were restricted the traffic on Margarita Road would most likely increase; with respect to the installation of a signal, advised that the School District would most likely not be able to match funds with the City for this installation, relaying hopes that the City would move forward with this installation with a hundred percent funding by the City; for Commissioner Connerton, advised that it was against District policy for school monitors to direct traffic, relaying that he would investigate with the site administration as to whether school staff was directing traffic; and concurred with Commissioner Connerton's R:\trafficrninutes\121301 4 recommendations, to have assistance from the Police Department with respect to directing traffic, and to request that the City Council take action to install a signal. In response to Commissioner Connerton, Police Sergeant Steger confirmed that a school monitor had been directing traffic at this campus, Commissioner Connedon advising that this issue be addressed. MOTION: Commissioner Katan moved to recommend that the City Council approve the installation of a signal at the intersection of Avenida De La Reina/Rancho Vista Road. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Connerton and voice vote reflected approval with the exception of Commissioner Coe who was absent. MOTION: In light of the information presented by staff, Commissioner Connerton moved to deny the request to restrict left-turning movements from the school campus. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Katan and voice vote reflected approval with the exception of Commissioner Coe who was absent. 4. Traffic Conditions - Butterfleld Stacle Road RECOMMENDATION: 4.1 That the Public/Traffic Safety Commission: 1. Deny the request to install multi-way stop signs at the intersection of Butterfield Stage Road and Jerez Lane; and 2. Recommend to the City Council the installation of multi-way stop signs at the intersection of Butterfield Stage Road and De Portola Road; and 3. Deny the request to lower the existing speed limit from 55 MPH and 50 MPH to 45 MPH on Butterfield Stage Road; and 4. Deny the request to establish two-ton weight limit restrictions on Butterrield Stage Road. Via overhead maps, Senior Engineer Moghadam presented the staff report (of record); with respect to the request to install an all-way stop at Butterfield Stage Road/Jerez Lane, relayed that the warrant analysis conducted revealed that the requirements for an all-way stop at this padicular intersection were not satisfied, providing additional information regarding the temporary access in this area required by the Fire Department, noting that ultimately secondary access would be provided via alternate streets (i.e., Crowne Hill Drive), and this temporary access point eliminated; specified the intersections which would be signalized when the medians along Butterfield Stage Road were installed; with respect to the request to install a stop sign at Butterfield Stage Road/De Portola Road, relayed that this intersection did meet the requirements for an all-way stop sign, noting that ultimately this intersection would be signalized; with respect th to the request to lower the speed limit to 45 MPH, noted that based on the 85 percentile of traveled speeds, the existing 50 and 55 MPH limits are legal and enforceable, and that any reduction would not be justifiable, and ergo not enforceable by radar; and with respect to the request to restrict the weight limit to two tons, relayed that Butterfield Stage Road is one of the few north/south arterials, connecting to County roads both to the north and south of the City limits, and would ultimately serve as a major north/south corridor, advising that a weight limit would not only require County approval, but would R:\trafficminutes\l 21301 5 additionally divert this traffic to alternate streets (i.e., Meadows Parkway, Margarita Road) which were less desirable to handle truck traffic. In response to Commissioner Connerton, Senior Engineer Moghadam noted that Butterfield Stage Road had an 86' right-of-way, and the actual width of the road was 68'; confirmed that this roadway was in compliance with standards for truck travel; and confirmed that ultimately this road would be four lanes with a median. For Commissioner Katan, Commissioner Connerton provided additional information regarding the County's discussions with respect to this roadway. Mr. Bill McKinney, Director of Transportation for the Temecula Valley Unified School District, noted his support regarding staff's recommendations, in padicular the recommendation to install a multi-way stop at De Portola Road/Butterfield Stage Road. MOTION: Commissioner Connerton moved to deny the request to install multi-way stop signs at the intersection of Butterfield Stage Road/Jerez Lane. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Katan and voice vote reflected approval with the exception of Commissioner Coe who was absent. MOTION: Commissioner Connerton moved to recommend that the City Council approve the installation of multi-way stop signs at the intersection of Butterfield Stage Road/De Portola Road, and that this installation be expedited. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Katan and voice vote reflected approval with the exception of Commissioner Coe who was absent. MOTION: Commissioner Connerton moved to deny the request to lower the existing speed limit from 55 MPH and 50 MPH to 45 MPH on Butterfield Stage Road. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Katan and voice vote reflected approval with the exception of Commissioner Coe who was absent. MOTION: Commissioner Katan moved to deny the request to establish two-ton weight limit restrictions on Butterfield Stage Road. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Connerton and voice vote reflected approval with the exception of Commissioner Coe who was absent. 5. Roadway Stril~incl - Jefferson Avenue at the Primecare Buildinq Driveway RECOMMENDATION: 5.1 That the Public/Traffic Safety Commission receive and file the staff report. By way of overheads, Senior Engineer Moghadam provided an overview of the staff report (per agenda material), noting the request for staff to investigate the ingress and egress at the Primecare facility located on Jefferson Avenue; relayed that after evaluating the visibility, that the visibility looking south was somewhat restricted due to the parkway landscaping and the curvature of the road, advising that staff would make efforts to remove some of the vegetation to improve the visibility of the vehicles exiting this driveway; clarified that the visibility to the north was unobstructed; noted that due to the driveway location across the street, occasionally two vehicles enter the center left- turn lane simultaneously which also occurs at times along the entire length of Jefferson R:\tra ffio~inute$~121301 6 Avenue, in particular further north, south of Winchester Road, advising that due to the existing driveways and roadway striping, it was staff's recommendation that the Public/Traffic Safety Commission request the City Council to expedite the installation of the raised medians on Jefferson Avenue. For Commissioner Connerton, Senior Engineer Moghadam noted that the speed limit in this area was 45 MPH. While concurring with the recommendation to request the City Council to expedite the installation of the medians on Jefferson Avenue, Commissioner Connerton advised that in the interim period a designated right-turn lane should be installed which would assist vehicles egressing and ingressing this use, clarifying that it would be his desire to restrict left-turning exit movements from this particular driveway (similar to the Target Center.) For Vice Chairman Lanier, Senior Engineer Moghadam confirmed that it appeared that restricted left-turn exits could be restricted with the existing striping, advising that staff would bring the matter back to the Public/Traffic Safety Commission if there was difficulty in restricting left-turning movements out of this driveway. In response to Commissioner Katan, Senior Engineer Moghadam relayed that the median project would most likely not be installed for a few years. Vice Chairman Lanier noted his concern if delineators could not be installed with the left- turning exit restrictions. MOTION: Commissioner Connerton moved to recommend that at this particular driveway left-turning exit movements be prohibited, and that delineators be installed to create a protected left turn into the driveway, if feasible, and that if this recommendation was not feasible that staff bring the matter back to the Public/Traffic Safety Commission. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Katan and voice vote reflected approval with the exception of Commissioner Coe who was absent. Vice Chairman Lanier requested staff to additionally investigate whether the proximate driveways allowed only right-turn exiting movements. MOTION: Commissioner Connerton moved to recommend that the City Council accelerate the installation of the raised medians on Jefferson Avenue due to the associated safety issues, and that the design of the project be reviewed by the Public/Traffic Safety Commission prior to installation. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Katan and voice vote reflected approval with the exception of Commissioner Coe who was absent. TRAFFIC ENGINEER'S REPORT Commending staff, Vice Chairman Lanier noted the excellent work in compiling the thorough staff reports, as well as staff's diligence in addressing the residents' concerns. POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT With respect to the Temeku Hills neighborhood, Police Sergeant Steger noted that 16 citations have been issued since the installation of the 25 MPH speed limit, sixty percent to non-residents, and fody percent to residents, advising that prior to issuing citations the radar trailer was placed in this area. For Vice Chairman Lanier, Police Sergeant Steger relayed that for the month of December every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, a roving DUI enforcement team will be out in force. Commissioner Connerton commended the Police Depadment for the excellent work with respect to DUI enforcement in the City of Temecula. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Battalion Chief Ritchey noted that the temporary Fire Station No. 92 was in operation. Battalion Chief Ritchey provided additional information regarding the recent transformer incident at Rancho California RoadNintage Hills Drive. COMMISSION REPORTS In response to Commissioner Katan's queries regarding the timing of the signal at James L. Day Middle School, Senior Engineer Moghadam noted that since installation there have been problems with false detections, advising that the technicians have thus far not located the problem; and noted that this signal was required to be installed as a Condition of Approval by the Planning Commission. For Commissioner Katan, Senior Engineer Moghadam noted that half of Butterfield Stage Road was still in the County, relaying that when the subdivision is completed east of Butterfield Stage Road, the issue of pedestrian crossing proximate to Vail Ranch Middle School will need to be addressed. Commissioner Connerton requested that the issue of the backing up of traffic at the Post Office located at Margarita/Rancho California Roads be agendized sometime in 2002. For Commissioner Connerton, Senior Engineer Moghadam relayed that the median proximate to the Target Center will most likely be completed by the summer of 2002. Commissioner Connerton noted that on Moraga Road proximate to the school site, the lane closest to the median has an uneven surface, requesting that staff investigate this matter. For informational purposes, Commissioner Connedon relayed that at MargaritaNVinchester Roads, in the left-turn lanes, five to six vehicles are running the red light, impeding traffic; and additionally noted the same problem on Ynez/VVinchester Roads. For Commissioner Connerton, Senior Engineer Moghadam relayed that the Surveillance Camera Project is in the process of obtaining Caltrans' approval, advising that hard-wired fiber optics would be utilized. H. Vice Chairman Lanier wished all a safe and happy holiday. ADJOURNMENT At 8:00 P.M. Vice Chairman Lanier formally adjourned this meeting to Thursday, January 24, 2002 at 6:00 P.M., in the City Council Chambers, 43200 Business Park Drive, Temecula. ~ Scott Lanier (acting Chairman)