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HomeMy WebLinkAbout072408 PTS MinutesMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF TEMECULA PUBLIC/TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION JULY 24, 2008 CALL TO ORDER The City of Temecula PubliclTraffic Safety Commission convened in a regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2008, in the City Council Chambers of Temecula City Hall, 43200 Business Park Drive, Temecula, California. FLAG SALUTE Commissioner Youmans led the audience in the Flag salute ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners: Hagel, 'Curran, Youmans and Chairperson Arbogast Absent: Ramos PRESENTATION Senior Management Analyst Middlecamp, by way of DVD, highlighted the City's produced safety vignette for the cable channel, informing that the safety vignette airs three times a day on Channel 3 and is posted on the City's website; and noted that the safety vignette was professionally produced The Public Traffic Safety Commission thanked Ms. Middlecamp for her presentation. PUBLIC COMMENTS No comments at this time. COMMISSION REPORTS No reports at this time. COMMISSION CONSENT CALENDAR Minutes of June 26. 2008 RECOMMENDATION: 1.1 Approve the Minutes of June 26, 2008. R:Uvlin utes\PublicTrafficSafetyCom mission072408 MOTION: Commissioner Hagel moved to approve the Consent Calendar. Commissioner Youmans seconded the motion and voice vote reflected approval with the exception of Commissioner Ramos and Commissioner Curran who were both absent. COMMISSION BUSINESS 2. Request for Crosswalk -Deer Hollow Way RECOMMENDATION: 2.1 That the Public/Traffic Safety Commission deny the request for a marked crosswalk on Deer Hollow Way in front of Great Oak High School. By way of overheads, Principal Engineer Moghadam provided a brief staff report (per agenda packet, advising that the distance between the marked midblock- crosswalk request and the signal light on Pechanga Parkway would be around 600 feet. At this time, the public hearing was opened. A. Ms. Cinday Whritenour, Temecula, relayed her concern with the amount of traffic on Deer Hallow Way, and requested that the Publiclfraffic Safety Commission consider the feasibility of installing a marked midblock crosswalk on Deer Hallow Way to provide a safe crossing for students between Birdsall Sports Park and Great Oak High School. At this time, the public hearing was closed. Understanding Ms. Whritenour's concern with safety, Chairperson Arbogast noted that although the controlled signal would be 600 feet away, students should be crossing at the controlled signal, not midblock; that staff has identified that Great Oak High School has adequate on-site parking and that there would be no valid reason for students or parents to use Birdsall Park to cross Deer Hallow Way; and that it would be her opinion that motor officers should be patrolling the school area to ensure that no gridlock is occurring. For Commissioner Hagel, Ms. Whritenour advised that a variety of drop-off scenarios have been explored and have been moved several times in order to secure safety. In response to Chairperson Arbogast's query, Principal Engineer Moghadam advised that staff met with the school officials over a year ago to address issues regarding modification to driveways, parking, and bike lanes, noting that the issue of crossing Deer Hallow did not come up at that time. Chairperson Arbogast relayed that it would be her opinion that staff should meet with the school officials to discuss and explore safe drop-off points for students. After listening to the concerns of Ms. Whritenour and understanding staff's report, Commission Youmans noted that it would be his opinion that the parents dropping of students may need to be made aware of the dangers of their drop-off choices; and concu[red with Chairperson Arbogast that staff work with school officials to explore safer alternatives and discuss these concerns with parents. R:\Minutes\PublicTrafficSafetyCommission072408 ~ Having spent some time driving and exploring the area, Commissioner Hagel stated that up by Via Colorada is an entrance to the school that exits onto another street, noting that this may be a better drop-off location for students, entering one direction and exiting onto another street; and relayed his support of staff working with school officials to explore safer drop-off points for parents. MOTION: Commissioner Youmans moved to approve staff recommendation and dent/ the request for marked midblock crosswalk on Deer Hallow Way in front of Great Oak High School; and requested that staff work with school officials to seek safe drop off routes. Commissioner Hagel seconded the motion and voice vote reflected approval with the exceation of Commissioner Curran and Ramos who were both absent. 3. Traffic Conditions -Solana Way and Motor Car Parkway RECOMMENDATION: 3.1 That the PubliclTraffic Safety Commission recommend maintaining the present level of control and direct Staff to continue monitoring conditions at the intersection of Solana Way and Motor Car Parkway. Principal Engineer Moghadam provided a staff report (of record) At this time, the public hearing was opened. A. Representing Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac, Mr. Jesse Slagill, relayed concerns of vehicles losing control of their vehicles causing damage to private property due to collisions with the raised median; and requested that a sign be posted at Motor Car Parkway making it illegal to turn left onto Solana Way and noted Paradise Cadillac's desire to have Motor Car Parkway and Solana Way made into afour-way stop. At this time, the public hearing was closed. For the Public Traffic Safety Commission, Principal Engineer Moghadam advised that a left turn restriction or a four-way stop would not be feasible on a major arterial; advising that Motor Car Parkway would be a privately owned street. Relaying her opinion, Chairperson Arbogast noted that perhaps closing the island completely would be the best situation, noting that this will force drivers to make aright- hand turn making a u-turn at the light. In response to Commissioner Youman's query, Principal Engineer Moghadam noted that it would not be the City's intention of installing a No left-hand turn off Motor Car Parkway onto Solana Way; and advised that it would be important to understand why accidents are occurring on Solana Way before signs could be installed; relayed that the median on Solana Way would be the exact length of any other median in the City; and noted that any changes to the roadway would need to be the benefit of the roadway in its entirety as well as its surrounding businesses. R:\Minutes\PUblicTrafficSafetyCommission072408 ~ Having driven Solana Way and Motor Car Parkway on many occasions, Commissioner Hagel noted that it would be his opinion that the design of the median on Motor Car Parkway would not be adequate and noted that the median should be extended. Chairperson Arbogast noted that because Motor Car Parkway is a private road, the City at this time, cannot make changes to Motor Car Parkway; but would be in favor of extending the median on Solana Way noting that drivers can make a u-turn at either end of Solana Way. For the Public/Traffic Safety Commission, Principal Engineer Moghadam noted that several businesses own Motor Car Parkway; advising that if the owners of Motor Car Parkway were interested in changing the design of the street, an application to do so would be necessary. Adding some clarification, Director of Public Works Hughes noted that if the City were to make any changes to the design and/or controls of a street, it would need to be based on activity that would be within the boundaries or normal driving behavior; that any corrective measure taken would be a normal measure, not accommodating an excessive driving situation; that closing the median would affect many property owners in the area; that if the Commission were desirous of closing the median, property owners would need to be notified; and that all impacts and turning movements at that location would need to be examined carefully; and stated that it would be his opinion that if Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac were to install permanent barricades along that section of Solana Way, this would help to deter reckless drivers from ending up on the property in question. Concurring with Mr. Hughes' comments, the Public Traffic/Safety Commission requested that this issue be explored. 'Commissioner Curran arrived at 6:59 p.m. For Mr. Slagill, Principal Engineer Moghadam requested that copies of the tapes be forwarded to the City's Public Works Department for review. Because of the time span and hours of the incidents in the area, Police Chief Williams noted that that area would be difficult to patrol, noting that the cause of accidents would be important. Stating that staff would be happy to monitor the present level of control at the intersections of Solana Way and Motor Car Parkway, review tapes issued by Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac, and return with a report in four to six months, Director of Public Works Hughes clarified that the median in question would not be a design deficiency issue, but rather a "driver behavior issue". MOTION: Commissioner Youmans directed staff to continue to monitor the present level of control, that staff review the tapes by Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac, and that this issue be brought back in four months to review staffs statistics. Commissioner Hagel seconded the motion and voice vote reflected approval with the exceation of Commissioner Ramos who was absent. R:\Minutes\PublicTrafficSatetyCommission072408 q, 4. Traffic En4ineer's Report Principal Engineer Moghadam advised that due to safety concerns, a No Parking sign will be placed on Old Town Front Street, west side of the street south of Arch (near Starbucks), per the request of Chairperson Arbogast. 5. Police Chief's Report By way of handout, Police Chief Williams provided a brief staff report with respect to standard citations for the month of June, 2008. Commissioner Youmans commended the Temecula Police Department for their efforts with respect to the SLAP program. For Deputy City Manager Yates, Chairperson Arbogast noted that she will forward information to him with respect to a designated driver (breathalyzer) program when she receives the information from a colleague in Madera County. 6. Fire Chief's Report Chief Fulcher, by way of handout, provided a brief staff report with respect to the May and June 2008 monthly statistics as well as update to the recent fires. Chairperson Arbogast requested that an update with respect to the Emergency Operation and Communications Update be provided. For the Public TrafficlSafety Commission, Deputy City Manager Yates advised that an update with respect to the Emergency Operation and Communication will be brought forward for review. The Public Traffic/Safety Commission thanked Chief Fulcher for his report ADJOURNMENT At 7:40 p.m. Chairperson Arbogast formally adjourned this meeting to Thursday, August 28, 2008, at 6:00 P.M., in the City Council Chambers, 43200 Business Park Drive, and Temecula. Senior Office Spe alist Maria Hilton R:\Minutes\PublicTrafficSafetyCommission072408