HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - TSP - 2004.04.08The City of Burlingame
CITY HALL - 501 PRIMROSE ROAD
CALIFORNIA 94010-3997
www.burlingame.org
TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes - Approved
Thursday, April 8, 2004
Commissioners Present:Russ Cohen, Chair
Stephen Warden, Vice Chair
Eugene Condon
Lisa De Angelis
Jim McIver
Commissioners Absent:None
Staff Present:Augustine Chou, Traffic Engineer, Public Works
Sgt. Dawn Cutler, Police Department
Staff Absent:Doris Mortensen, Administrative Secretary, Public Works
Visitors:Mary Watt, 139 Primrose Road, Burlingame
Anna McClellan, 1443 Howard Avenue, Burlingame
Norman Utigard, 1252 Paloma Avenue, Burlingame
Ron Field, 1249 Paloma Avenue, Burlingame
Doug Judd, 2999 Canyon Road, Burlingame
Mrs. Doug Judd, 2999 Canyon Road, Burlingame
Rita Bell, 824 Cowan Road, Burlingame
Ron Poff, 828 Mahler Road, Burlingame
TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes - Approved
Thursday, April 8, 2004
1.CALL TO ORDER. 7:00 p.m.
2.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
3. ROLL CALL. 5 of 5 Commissioners present.
4.CURRENT BUSINESS.
4.1 ACTION ITEMS.
4.1.1 Approval of Minutes for March 11, 2004
It was moved and seconded (Comms. Warden/McIver) to approve the March 11, 2004 minutes;
unanimously approved by the Commission.
4.1.2 Confirm Citizen Committee for Occidental Avenue
Chair Cohen stated that he will be contacting other residents who have shown interest in serving on
the citizen committee with Mr. Kelly. These residents are to include people who are both for and
against the proposal to remove the parking time restriction on Occidental Avenue. He said that this
was to ensure a balanced representation for the citizen committee. Comm. Condon suggested not
removing the parking limit signs before membership on the committee is approved by the
Commission.
4.1.3 Proclamation Presentation
Chair Cohen presented Commissioner De Angelis with a proclamation thanking her for her
contributions to this Commission. Commissioner De Angelis will be resigning effective with the
conclusion of this meeting.
4.2 DISCUSSION ITEMS.
4.2.1 Poplar/Amphlett/US 101 Interchange Plans
Mr. Chou stated that the City of San Mateo won’t be holding any public meetings on this item until
September. He also stated that they expect this issue to increased voter turnout in November
regarding the vote for extension of Measure A taxes from 2008 to 2028. In the meantime, San
Mateo’s consultant (Hexagon Traffic Consultants) is in the process of collecting data on the potential
effects the proposed plans will have on Burlingame traffic, as requested by the City of Burlingame.
4.2.2 Request for crosswalk on Oak Grove Avenue at Burlingame Aquatic Center Parking Lot
Mr. Chou explained that the request was for a marked crosswalk across Oak Grove Avenue at this
site. He further explained that staff could not recommend this crosswalk since there was an existing
marked crosswalk, which is currently controlled by stop signs, within half a block of the requested
location.
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TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes - Approved
Thursday, April 8, 2004
A motion was made (Comms. Condon/Warden) to make this an Action item immediately. A
subsequent motion was made (Comms. Warden/McIver) to deny this request; both motions
unanimously approved by the Commission.
4.2.3 Evaluate on-street parking situation on 1300 block of Cortez Avenue and Cabrillo Avenue
Mr. Chou stated that staff has been working with Our Lady of Angels church and with the on-site
school and daycare center regarding parking and congestion issues on this street. During pickup and
drop-off times, the existing white zone on Cortez is being used for parking by parents who are
required by law to walk their pre-school children to class. He added that constant enforcement of the
existing parking restriction is difficult due to the lack of police department personnel to effectively
monitor this site. Mr. Chou explained that the situation was further exacerbated with the current
location of two on-street handicapped parking spaces. Additionally, Mr Chouexplained that
residents living across the street from the church/school/daycare encounter problems with parents
either blocking or actually using their driveways as parking places while waiting to pick-up or drop
off their children. Staff proposes moving the handicap spaces to either side of the mid-block
crosswalk and relocating the white zones.
Comm. Warden suggested 3-minute parking limitations instead of white zones to keep traffic
moving. Comm. Condon suggested enlisting volunteers to work as traffic monitors to help keep the
traffic flowing.
Mr. Chou explained that staff wanted the Commission to take a look at the proposal for a month
before further discussion. He stated that the next step is to notify the residents and the school
administration regarding attending the next meeting for further discussion.
4.2.4 Request to change existing yellow zone to a green zone at 1443 Howard Avenue (139
Primrose Road)
From the floor, Mary Watt, Executive Director of Call Primrose (139 Primrose Road), requested that
the underutilized yellow zone on the Primrose Road side of the church be removed and replaced with
a 24-minute green zone. Mr. Chou stated that according to the California Vehicle Code, yellow
zones are for use by commercially registered vehicles. Sgt. Cutler concurred that this location did
not qualify as a loading zone for individuals to conduct donation drop offs. Staff suggested that for
a donated-goods drop off site, a green zone would be more appropriate. Also, staff recommended
relocating the proposed green zone two spaces south, so that it would be closer to the CALL Center
and the daycare center at 139 Primrose Road.
It was moved and seconded (Comms. Condon/McIver) to make this an Action item immediately.
It was then moved and seconded (Comms. McIver/Warden) to change the existing yellow zone to
a 24-minute green zone and to relocate the zone as recommended by staff; both motions
unanimously approved by the Commission.
4.2.5 Request for traffic volume and speed data on Canyon Road near El Prado Road
Mr. Chou stated that since the roadway belongs to the county, he had asked them for the data as
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TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes - Approved
Thursday, April 8, 2004
requested. Both speed survey data and traffic volume count data were requested. Mr. Chou
explained that as of this meeting, he had not received any of the requested data. He was also
informed that speed survey data did not exist for this part of Canyon Road. Therefore, if data was
required, city staff would have to conduct an unofficial speed survey.
From the floor, Doug Judd, stated he lives on the corner and asked who to call for any information.
Mr. Chou advised that it would be San Mateo County Department of Public Works, and that he
could produce an unofficial speed count for him.
5. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF NEW ITEMS.
5.1 Request for temporary blue zone at 2668 Martinez Drive
Mr. Chou stated that the applicant has difficulty accessing their property from their won driveway;and,
that this was the reason for the request. He also said that the request was for a temporary zone because
the resident was concerned that the current spot in front of their home would be taken by construction
vehicles related to a house-remodel scheduled for this summer.
This will be a Discussion item next month.
5.2 Request for parking restriction/limitation in front of 824 Cowan Road
Mr. Chou stated that this is a possible handicap zone request. Comm. Warden asked why a sign was
posted in the lawn area stating that a handicap placard must be displayed to be parked there, even though
there currently is no blue zone at this site. Comm. Condon added that he also observed a green zone in
front of the building.
From the floor, Rita Bell, Office Manager, stated that airport limousines services park along this curb
area, making it difficult for their handicapped and elderly patrons to access the business entrance. She
added that this situation was not helped because the sidewalk is narrow.
This will be a Discussion item next month.
5.3 Request for green zone at 828 Mahler Road
From the floor, Ron Poff stated that they requested a green zone to free up on-street parking for their
patrons. He explained that large trucks and limousines park there now; and, with the other half of their
building ready to be occupied in the near future, parking availability would become more of an issue. He
concluded that although there is parking in the back of the property, it may not be enough once the
building is fully occupied.
This will be a Discussion item next month.
5.4 Request for 2-hour parking time limit for 1200 block of Paloma Avenue
From the floor, Norman Utigard stated that since nearby public parking lot time limits have been reduced
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TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes - Approved
Thursday, April 8, 2004
from 8 and 10 hours to 2 hours, Paloma residents are now inundated with Broadway merchants and
employees parking on Paloma all day. He stated that he conducted a personal survey of Lots P and Q,
and he felt that they were underutilized. He suggested rescinding the 2-hour parking time limits or
changing them to 4-hours; and, if the City imposed a 2-hour parking limit on Paloma, issuing parking
permits to residents.
From the floor, Ron Field suggested that merchants and employees park in the public lots and allow
patrons to park on the street. He added that the merchants park for up to 12 hours on Paloma now. He
originally wanted to implement the 2-hour parking restriction on Paloma.
This will be a Discussion item next month.
6. FROM THE FLOOR.
6.1 Steve Wieranga asked when the 800 block of California Drive changes would be on the Council
agenda. Mr. Chou advised that the ordinance is scheduled to be introduced at the April 19th meeting.
7. INFORMATION ITEMS.
7.1 From Staff to Commission
7.1.1 Traffic Engineer’s Report
7.1.1.1 No left-turn sign at El Camino Real/Bellevue Avenue
Mr. Chou stated that Caltrans was having problems with placing the signage due to the very large
size of the northwest corner. He said that Caltrans was concerned that the placement of the sign
would not create a roadway hazard for right turning vehicles along southbound El Camino.
7.1.1.2 Relocation of bus stop at 827 California Drive
Mr. Chou stated that the City’s original proposal was to place the bus stop just north of its present
location, but that the owners of 841 California Drive became concerned about on-street parking
and asked for it to be located elsewhere. As a result, the bus stop was located south, at its present
location next to 821 California Drive. Mr. Chou explained that the city is now being asked by
the property owner of 821 California to relocate the bus stop. After detailed discussions with
Samtrans, it was determined that the original location requested by the bus company was the best
location. Mr. Chou explained that the property owners who will be contacted to discuss this
relocation.
7.1.1.3 Carolan/Morrell pedestrian crosswalk
Mr. Chou reported that the installation of reflectorized buttons to highlight the crosswalk was
completed. He also reported that two knock-down delineators were also installed at the
centerlines on either side of the crosswalk to further highlight the crosswalk.
7.1.1.4 Separate left-turn lane on Howard Avenue at California Drive
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TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes - Approved
Thursday, April 8, 2004
Mr. Chou stated that after looking into the situation, he found that under normal traffic situations,
that a dedicated left-turn lane is usually controlled by a dedicated left-turn signal. This was not
the situation for westbound Howard at California. He concluded that changing the arrow legends
on Howard would be contrary to standard traffic engineering conventions.
7.2 From Commission to Staff
7.2.1 Reports of citizen complaints or requests
Comm. McIver reported that on California Drive, between Bayswater and Peninsula, there are about
23 posts sticking out of the ground with no meters on them. He asked if staff could investigate the
situation and provide a response at the next meeting. He also suggested installing a “No Left-Turn
Between 4 PM and 6 PM” sign on westbound Broadway at Chula Vista because of the traffic
problems created by drivers avoiding the left-turn at California Drive. Mr. Chou said that he would
report back next month.
Chair Cohen stated that he noticed a very large tractor/trailer truck parked at Bloomfield and Oak
Grove. Sgt. Cutler said she would look into this situation.
7.2.2 Comments and Communication
Chair Cohen suggested that the Commission create an FAQ list (Frequently Asked Questions) for
citizens’ use which would address certain common issues that the Commission regularly addresses.
He said that this list could also show the steps that citizens would have to take in order to present
their traffic requests. He concluded that the list could be distributed to interested citizens and posted
on the City’s website. Mr. Chou suggested including guidelines for the Commission to follow on
requests such as handicap zones.
Vice Chair Warden asked about Council’s decision to replace Commissioner De Angelis. Mr. Chou
stated that Council decided to open the application period to the public rather than just use the
existing applicant list.
7.2.3 Expected absences of Commissioners at the Thursday, May 13, 2004 meeting - None.
7.3 Bicycle Safety Issues in Burlingame
Chair Cohen stated that the first subcommittee meeting would be held as soon as the Planning
Commission was ready.
Comm. Condon suggested the installation of a bike lane on southbound Carolan.
8. INACTIVE ITEMS. - None.
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TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes - Approved
Thursday, April 8, 2004
9. AGENDIZE FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
4.2.3 to Discussion item
5.1 to Discussion item
5.2 to Discussion item
5.3 to Discussion item
5.4 to Discussion item
10. ADJOURNMENT. 8:40 p.m.
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