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HomeMy WebLinkAbout032802 PTS MinutesCALL TO ORDER MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF TEMECULA PUBLIC/TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MARCH 28, 2002 The City of Temecula Public/Traffic Safety Commission convened in a regular meeting at 6:00 P.M., on Thursday, March 28, 2002, 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. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Coe, Connerton, Katan, Wedei, and Chairman Lanier. Absent: None. Also Present: Deputy Director of Public Works Parks, Associate Engineer Gonzalez, Fire Captain McBride, Police Lieutenant Pingel, Police Sergeant Lohman, Police Officer Nelson, Administrative Secretary Pyle, and Minute Clerk Hansen. PUBLIC COMMENTS No comments. COMMISSION CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Minutes RECOMMENDATIQN: 1.1 Approve the Minutes of February 28, 2002. MOTION: Commissioner Connerton moved to approve Consent Calendar Item No. 1. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Katan and voice vote reflected approval with the exception of Commissioner Coe who abstained. At this time Police Lieutenant Pingel introduced the newly appointed Officer to head the Traffic Division of the City of Temecula's Police Department, Sergeant Mark Lohman, providing a history of his previous work which was inclusive of addressing issues with the media. Sergeant Lohman noted that he looked forward to serving as the Traffic Division Officer for the City of Temecula; and advised that he was available for the Public/Traffic Safety Commissioners anytime for questions or comments. The Public/Traffic Safety Commission welcomed Sergeant Lohman aboard. COMMISSION BUSINESS Multi-Way Stop Si.qns - Vail Ranch Parkway at Harmony Lane/Terzich Drive and Vail Ranch Parkway at Camino Piedra Rolo RECOMMENDATION: 2.1 That the Public/Traffic Safety Commission recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution establishing multi-way stop controls at the following intersections: Vail Ranch Parkway at Harmony Lane/Terzich Drive; and Vail Ranch Parkway at Camino Piedra Rojo. Associate Engineer Gonzales provided an overview of the staff report (of record), noting that following the annexation of the Vail Ranch community, staff had conducted a review of traffic conditions in this area, subsequently determining the need for two multi-way stop controls to improve the safety of school pedestrians when crossing Vail Ranch Parkway; relayed that at Harmony Lane the County had installed an uncontrolled school area crosswalk, advising that it was the City's policy to solely install school crosswalks where controlled by either a stop sign or a crossing guard; noted that at Camino Piedra Rojo there had also been a school area crosswalk installed; specified data from the analysis regarding the average daily trips, the collision history, and vehicular volumes and speeds at these locations; advised that although the intersections did not meet all the criteria warranting a multi-way stop on the side streets, it was staff's opinion that the installation of stop controls was justified due to the pedestrian activity and the Io¢ical location for a crossing; relayed that there was a third crosswalk placed at Camino Rubano, and that staff would continue to monitor this area, investigating the removal of this particular uncontrolled crosswalk. While commenting that the recommendation to install a stop sign at a location where the warrants were not met was atypical in the City, Commissioner Coe, echoed by Commissioner Wedel, relayed strong support of the installation. For Commissioner Connerton, Associate Engineer Gonzales provided additional information regarding the rationale for staff's recommendation to install stop signs at these two locations, as follows: at the T-intersection (at Camino Piedra Rojo) the 85~h percentile of speed traveled on this road was 47 MPH, the crossing provides school access which currently has a plethora of pedestrian activity, and the lack of a crossing guard or stop sign at a school area crosswalk; additionally relayed that at T-intersections the warrants need only be met by 70% which this intersection did meet; confirmed that the stop control on Vail Ranch Parkway at Harmony Lane/Terzich Drive would be an all- way stop, advising that the installation of stop signs would create a safer condition; noted that typically after a grace period, the Police Department would enforce stop sign laws at the new installations; and relayed that if it was the Public/Traffic Safety Commission's desire, staff could be directed to contact the School District to request that a crossing guard be placed at the crossing. In response to Chairman Lanier, Associate Engineer Gonzales confirmed that the crosswalks at these locations were installed by the County. For Chairman Lanier, Officer Nelson relayed that the Police Department typically enforced stop sign laws at Nicolas/North General Kearny Roads on a daily basis. Commissioner Connerton, as well as Chairman Lanier, recommended that staff contact the School District regarding placing a crossing guard at the school crossing. In light of the proactive action of the City with regard to creating greater school crossing safety, Commissioner Coe noted that this action could stimulate the Vail Ranch residents to pursue contact with the School District requesting that a crossing guard be placed at the school crossing. For informational purposes, Associate Engineer Gonzales additionally noted that at the Harmony Lane, there was a park located at the southwest corner of that intersection, which further contributed to the need for a stop control. MOTION: Commissioner Coe moved to approve staff's recommendation. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Connerton. (Ultimately this motion was amended; see below.) In response to Commissioner Coe, Officer Nelson relayed that during the 30-day grace period regarding enforcement of a new stop control, some citations would be issued; and advised that he would not recommend extending that grace period to 60 days. At this time Commissioner Connerton clarified that it was not his recommendation for the Police Department to extend the grace period but to extend enforcement by 30 days. AMENDED MOTION: Commissioner Coe moved to approve staff's recommendation, and to direct the Police Department to extend the typical added enforcement at the new stop sign installations by 30 days. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Connerton and voice vote reflected unanimous approval. TRAFFIC ENGINEER'S REPORT No additional comments. POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT Updating the Public/Traffic Safety Commission, Officer Nelson noted that during the month of February, 321 Stop Light Abuse Program (SLAP) citations were issued, 770 hazardous vehicle violations were issued, and that thus far in the month of March, 150 SLAP citations have been issued. Chairman Lanier recommended that the new child safety car seat/restraint program the Police Department was implementing (whereby parents could obtain aid from Police Officers regarding the proper installation of the safety devices) be published in the newspaper. In response, Police Lieutenant Pingel noted that this information would be relayed to the Public Works Department. FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT Fire Captain McBride noted that laptop computers were going to be installed in all the Fire Department vehicles which would provide Fire Department personnel the building history for sites during fire inspections, as well as providing other data, advising that the equipment was scheduled to be installed by July 1st; and noted that at that time he would provide a demonstration regarding the operation of the equipment for the Public/Traffic Safety Commission. Chairman Lanier commended the Fire Department, as well as the City Council, for the plan to install laptop computers in the Fire Department vehicles which would enable the Fire Department to access the addresses of residents more efficiently. Fire Captain McBride confirmed that Temecu~a was taking the ~ead with respect to this implementation, advising that numerous alternate fire departments were still utilizing The Thomas Guide ® to locate residences. Noting that fire prevention was a focus of the Fire Department, Fire Captain McBride relayed that in order to address the Public/Traffic Safety Commission's desire to concentrate on prevention and public education, efforts were being made to allocate additional Fire Department staff hours for this purpose. For Commissioner Coe, Fire Captain McBride noted that fire season predictions this year were grave, advising that fire conditions would be improved if there was additional rainfall; and enumerated safety tips residents could implement to aid in fire prevention (i.e., the clearing of brush, and cleaning rain gutters.) COMMISSION REPORTS In response to Commissioner Wedel's queries as to whether the Public/Traffic Safety Commission should make a recommendation to the City Council for the purchase of additional radar trailers, Officer Nelson noted that the Police Department has two Community Service Officers assigned to the radar trailers, relaying that one of the trailers is operated via solar power with battery back up, noting that the trailer can be rendered inoperative during cloudy weather; and advised that the operation and maintenance of the trailers was addressed on a regular basis. R:~rafficminutes\032802 4 For Commissioner Connerton, Police Lieutenant Pingel noted that via a grant, the Police Department was in the process of purchasing a new radar trailer and that with this third trailer there would be a positive impact regarding traffic in the City. Apprising the Commission, Associate Engineer Gonzales noted that the Public Works Department was in the process of purchasing signs which function similarly to the radar trailers, and would be installed at various locations in the city. For Commissioner Wedel, Deputy Director of Public Works Parks noted that staff would provide a report regarding the status of a pedestrian bridge being installed at the location where a youth was fatally injured while crossing the roadway. Regarding the 4.6 K Walk held on Saturday, March 23rd, which Councilman Pratt had organized in order to gain public support regarding traffic solutions, Commissioner Connerton noted his attendance, relaying that approximately 100 participants attended; and commended Councilman Pratt for his efforts. Commissioner Connerton commended the Police Department, noting that he has been witnessing fewer red light runners, noting that the violations still appear to be occurring at the freeway offramp signals. For Commissioner Connerton, Police Lieutenant Pingel noted that he had no additional data regarding the accident which occurred over the weekend at Ynez/Rancho California Roads. In response to Commissioner Connerton, Police Lieutenant Pingel relayed that it was his understanding that the next City Safety Exposition would be held in November. Commissioner Connerton recommending that the Public/Traffic Safety Commission be actively involved in this event. Commenting on his recent attendance to a traffic seminar, Commissioner Katan advised that he had provided informative data to Administrative Secretary Pyle which would be distributed to the Public/Traffic Safety Commission; and noted that this information included data regarding a city that conducts a traffic survey at every school site on an annual basis; and advised that the Public/Traffic Safety Commission may desire to agendize this concept for implementation in the City of Temecula. Per discussions with a resident, Commissioner Katan noted that at approximately 5:00 A.M., at the intersection of RoripaughNVinchester Roads (coming from Roripaugh Road crossing Winchester Road), the timing of the light appeared to be off, noting that this particular resident believed that he waited 15 minutes at this signal. With respect to the intersection at Willows AvenueNVinchester Road proximate to the senior community development, Commissioner Katan noted that five accidents were witnessed by his son at this location. In response, Deputy Director of Public Works Parks noted that a signal was being proposed at this location as part of the City's Capital Improvement Plan for next year, advising that the costs of the signal would be shared with the County. Offering thanks to Fire Captain McBride, Commissioner Katan noted that at tonight's meeting Fire Captain McBride had provided the best Fire Chief's Report he had ever heard. For Commissioner Coe, Associate Engineer Gonzales advised that staff would investigate the timing of the signal at the left-turn lane westbound at Rancho California Road/Hope Way, as well as the signal's functioning on Sundays. Commissioner Coe relayed kudos to staff for the Pala Road Widening Project, noting that in the City of Temecula traffic was being actively addressed. Commissioner Coe noted an interest in reviewing the reports regarding major accidents which occur in the City of Temecula, advising that it was his opinion that primarily these incidents have not occurred due to the lack of traffic control. Updating the Public/Traffic Safety Commission regarding the safety tips to be included in the Public Works news release, Chairman Lanier noted that on April 7th emergency telephone numbers would be provided to the public. Per his experience with residents who have expressed traffic concerns to him which he subsequently has relayed to staff in order to obtain additional data, Chairman Lanier expressed thanks to staff for the comprehensive information consistently provided. ADJOURNMENT At 7:00 P.M. Chairman Lanier formally adjourned this meeting to Thursday, April 25, 2002 at 6:00 P.M., in the City Council Chambers, 43200 Business Park Drive, Temecula. C~ier