HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - TSP - 2007.08.09
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The City of Burlingame
CITY HALL - 501 PRIMROSE ROAD
CALIFORNIA 94010-3997 www.burlingame.org
TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes – Approved
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Commissioners Present: Victor James, Chair
Dan Conway, Vice Chair
Mark Noworolski
Stephen Warden
Commissioners Absent: Michael Bohnert
Staff Present: Augustine Chou, Traffic Engineer, Public Works
Sgt. Dean Williams, Police Department
Joanne Louie, Administrative Secretary, Public Works
Syed Murtuza, Assistant Director of Public Works
Randy Schwartz, Director of Parks and Recreation
Jane Gomery, Project Manager
Maureen Brooks, Senior Planner
Visitors: Lorraine Smith, 1820 Broadway
Scheherezade Sharabiandlou, 220 California Drive
Jean Silverira, 2331 Poppy Drive
Farris Horak, 1332 Edgehill Drive
Sharon Menicucci, 3021 Atwater Drive
Glenn Harvey, 200 California Drive
Jeriann Flores, 1552 Ralston Avenue
Stephen Hamilton, 105 Crescent
Rudy Horak, 1332 Edgehill Drive
Quent Cordair
Pat Giorni, 1445 Balboa Avenue
1. CALL TO ORDER. 7:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
3. ROLL CALL. 4 of 5 Commissioners present.
4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
None.
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5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES –
Motion: To accept the minutes of July 12, 2007 as submitted.
M/S/C: Conway, Warden; 4/0/1 (Bohnert absent)
6. CHAIR’S PROLOGUE
Chair James acknowledged Sharon Menicucci for her advocating the Safety Awareness
Week. Ms. Menicucci worked with Comcast to develop a public service announcement on
safety awareness. Additionally, she submitted an item for the City’s eNews. Chair James
commended her for her citizen participation and noted how one person could make a
difference.
7. CONSENT
Chair James recommended that Item 9.2 be moved to the Consent Agenda and there were
no objections.
Item 9.2 Commission discussion and consideration of a final version of Critical Minimum
Street Width Policy to be incorporated into the overall Urban Forest Management Plan.
Motion: To approve the Consent Agenda
M/S/C: Conway, Warden; 4/0/1 (Bohnert absent)
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Pat Giorni suggested that the second pedestrian sign a t Hillside Drive & Balboa Avenue not
be removed. The second signs appear to be effective and are not over -signage. Ms. Giorni
expressed her concern that she had submitted this evening a Request to Speak on Item 9.2
however it was just approved on the Consent Agenda and questioned how the public could
comment on such a matter. Chair James replied that this matter had been fully discussed at
the last meeting without any objections and also that any concerns c ould be raised when
this matter goes before the Council.
Sharon Menicucci expressed her thanks to Doris Mortensen, City Clerk, for her assistance
in getting her article in the Burlingame eNewsletter. Additionally, Ms. Menicucci, expressed
her appreciation to Regina Schaurte of Comcast TV for her assistance with the public
service announcement regarding Safety Awareness.
14. COMMISSION & COMMITTEE REPORTS
14.2 Biannual Commission Report (Item taken out of order)
Commissioner Warden suggested that in the future the Biannual Commission Report
be written by the Chair and then reviewed by the Commission before submission , as
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opposed to each Commissioner writing their portion on their quad . He said this would
produce a document with one writing style for a smoother flow.
Chair James explained the genesis of this report and what recently occurred with their
first report.
It was agreed that in the future, the Chair would prepare the report for fellow
Commissioners to review prior to submitting it to Council.
9. CURRENT BUSINESS
9.3 Commission consideration of dates to hold the Traffic, Safety and Parking Seminar
series. (Item taken out of order)
Chair James explained the rationale for the Traffic, Safety and Parking Seminar series.
This series would include Managing Parking, 21st Century, Science of Traffic
Engineering, and Citizen Participation.
The date for the first seminar was determined to be October 2007 and the topic would
be Science of Traffic Engineering. The actual seminar date would be established
based on the availability of panel guests.
Commission discussion and public hearing on the City Lot V parking study.
Discussion occurred clarifying that the purpose of the Commission review was to
determine whether the study was missing any crucial elements, or if there were any
fundamental flaws in the evaluation process. Mr. Chou stressed that the main focus of
the discussion for this item should be whether or not the Commission w ould accept the
basic results of the study and recommend any particular option.
Chair James opened the floor to public comment.
Quent Cordair, President of the Downtown Business Association, thanked the
Commission for allowing the time for businesses to review the study results. Mr. Cordair
stated that some merchants question whether this is the right time to pursue converting
this lot into a plaza. He said the restaurants downtown were concerned about loss of
parking. Mr. Cordair spoke on behalf of Mr. Garcia of Steelhead Brewery, stating that a
plaza would provide a nicer view, but felt that there was also a higher potential for
loitering. Mr. Cordair also spoke on behalf of Mejano and Ecco which expressed dismay
at losing any parking spaces. Mr. Cordair also expressed concern that parking spaces
that are taken away would eventually need to be replaced at the rate of today’s dollars.
Chair James read letters from Heriz Music & Art and Heriz Rugs Center, which both
requested that the spaces in Lot V be left as they are.
Scheherezade Sharabiandlou, of PIP Printing, also requested that Lot V remain as it is
now.
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Lorraine Smith concurred that Burlingame has a parking problem and stated that the
loss of 10-19 spaces should not prevent consideration for a plaza, which would be for
the greater good of the City.
Rudy Horak expressed the need for a drop-off point as it is a major thoroughfare for
trains, cars and bicycles.
Stephen Hamilton read a letter to the Commission on behalf of Bobbi Benson , which
enthusiastically supported the elimination of Lot V for a full plaza.
Glen Harvey, spoke on behalf of Mike Harvey and expressed his concern that if this lot
was eliminated, the parking would backup to the nearby businesses. Mr. Harvey
expressed his concern about customer and service parking as opposed to employee
parking, and also the safety issues with a plaza near a high traffic area between a train
station and California Drive.
Gene Condon, a former TSPC Chair and a Centennial Event Committee member,
stated that whatever this Commission decided, they would work with it. Mr. Condon also
mentioned mixed use of the lot, which was using the lot for parking during lull periods
for the plaza.
Commissioner Conway asked Mr. Condon, as a former TSPC Chair , what he was
advocating in this matter.
Chair James allowed Mr. Condon to reply based on his past experiences as a
Commissioner and Chair.
Mr. Condon replied that the current lot needed to be redesigned to make it safer.
Jeriann Fleres supported the elimination of Lot V in favor for a plaza and felt that there
was plenty of parking near the donut shop.
Pat Giorni agreed with Staff to accept the results of the study and supported Option #1
which was no change of the lot. Ms. Giorni stated that the discussion as to where the
plaza should be located should be up to the Council and not before this Commission.
She suggested that the Commission pass this study forward to the Council.
Jennifer Pfaff stated that Lot O has plenty of available parking spots due to the difficulty
of using this lot. Ms. Pfaff suggested that Lot O be made more usable.
Commissioner Noworolski stated that he was inclined to accept the report in regards to
completeness of the report.
Commissioner Warden reported that he had spoken with the restau rant businesses and
that there was concern if parking spaces were taken away. Commissioner Warden also
stated that repaving with pavers as a part-time plaza would be unacceptable with motor
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oil making it unsafe for foot traffic. He added that this intersection could be prime
location for a “T-bone” crash and that safety at this intersection should be a ma jor
concern.
Mr. Chou once again reiterated that this discussion was not to be about the location of
the plaza. The issue was whether or not the city could absorb the loss of spaces at Lot
V.
Chair James asked Mr. Chou for the parameters of this discussion to comment on the
assessment district, historical intent of the lot, and the intent of the Howard family when
Lot V was donated to the city.
Mr. Chou did not have information on that history available this evening.
Motion: Accept the City Lot V Parking Study
M/S/C: Warden, Noworolski; 3/1/1 (James – dissented, Bohnert – absent)
Motion: Make a recommendation of no change to Lot v and pass on our concerns to
Council regarding the safety of using that area for a plaza.
Motion died due to a lack of a second.
Motion: Support Option 1 – Total Elimination of Lot V
Motion died due to a lack of a second.
Motion: Support Option 2 – Partial or Mixed Use of Lot V
Motion died due to a lack of a second.
Motion: Support Option 3 – No change to parking at Lot V
M/S/C: Warden/Conway; 3/1/1 (Noworolski – dissented, Bohnert – absent)
Commission discussion and consideration of a final version of Critical Minimum Street Width
Policy to be incorporated into the overall Urban Forest Management Plan.
Approved on the consent agenda.
Commission consideration of dates to hold the Traffic Safety and Parking Seminar series.
Item taken out of order under current business
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10. STAFF REPORTS
Traffic Engineer’s Report
Mr. Chou reported that staff had not heard back from MTC regarding the
authorization for Broadway/Paloma Avenue lighted crosswalk.
Mr. Chou also reported that Caltrans had been doing some work on US101; and, that
the construction of the new Rollins Road sound wall ha d begun.
Traffic Sergeant’s Report
None.
11. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT
None.
12. PENDING ITEMS
None.
13. COMMUNICATIONS
None.
14. COMMISSION & COMMITTEE REPORTS
Burlingame Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Mr. Chou reported that plans for bike racks in the Burlingame Avenue area were
presented at the P/BAC meeting earlier this evening, and that they are prepared to
go forward with notification or a presentation to Council.
Biannual Commission Report
Item taken out of order after public comments.
Miscellaneous Reports
None.
15. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m.