Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - TSP - 2004.08.12The City of Burlingame CITY HALL - 501 PRIMROSE ROAD CALIFORNIA 94010-3997 www.burlingame.org TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes - Approved Thursday, August 12, 2004 Commissioners Present:Russ Cohen, Chair Stephen Warden, Vice Chair Eugene Condon Victor James Jim McIver Commissioners Absent:None Staff Present:Augustine Chou, Traffic Engineer, Public Works Officer Chuck Witt, Police Department Doris Mortensen, Administrative Secretary, Public Works Staff Absent:None Visitors:Sue Martinez, 1321 Cabrillo Avenue, Burlingame Patrick Barrett, 1361 Cabrillo Avenue, Burlingame Peg Hactedt, 1324 Cabrillo Avenue, Burlingame Dorothy Collopy, 1345 Cabrillo Avenue, Burlingame Joanne Cassanego, 1316 Cabrillo Avenue, Burlingame Gilda Cassanego, 1316 Cabrillo Avenue, Burlingame Bob Giorni, 1445 Balboa Avenue, Burlingame Pat Giorni, 1445 Balboa Avenue, Burlingame Al Lovotti, Jr., 818 Mahler Road, Burlingame Al Lovotti, Sr., 1588 Gilbreth Road, Burlingame Mark Asbury, 1300 block of Cortez Avenue, Burlingame TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes - Approved Thursday, August 12, 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 July 8, 2004 It was moved and seconded (Comms. Warden/Condon) to approve the July 8, 2004 minutes; approved unanimously by the Commission. 4.2 DISCUSSION ITEMS. 4.2.1 Evaluate on-street parking situation on 1300 block of Cortez Avenue and Cabrillo Avenue Mr. Chou presented the letter which will be sent to Our Lady of Angels (OLA) school and church requesting they implement suggestions with the start of the school year. The suggestions are a result of meetings held at OLA with school and church staffs, local neighbors and facilitated by Commissioners Condon and Cohen. Chair Cohen agreed to send a copy of the letter to residents of Cabrillo Avenue and neighbors who attended the meetings. From the floor, Mr. Asbury, thanked the commission for their efforts and urged implementation and subsequent enforcement. Ms. Martinez, asked when street markings will be added. Mr. Chou said approximately late next week or following week. Officer Witt advised residents to call the police if drivers continue to block their driveways. It was moved and seconded (Comms. Warden/McIver) to adopt the recommendations contained in the letter to Our Lady of Angels and to authorize sending the letter to the school principal and to the parish priest; unanimously approved by the Commission. 4.2.2 Request for various improvements to Parking Lot H and 1513 Burlingame Avenue Mr. Chou provided a synopsis of actions completed and pending to accommodate petitioner. 4.2.3 Parking options for Ecco Restaurant patrons Mr. Chou reiterated petitioner’s request for a passenger loading zone in front of restaurant for after 6 p.m. He further explained that adding such a sign to the existing parking meters would require enforcement and potentially towing violators after 6 p.m. when meters in general are no longer enforced. For a simple drop off location, two sites are available at each end of the block at Starbucks and at Stacks’ Restaurant. Comm. Condon viewed the site with the petitioner and suggested he work with his neighbors on getting a plan for signage established. Comm. Warden stated that the rear The City of Burlingame Page 2 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes - Approved Thursday, August 12, 2004 parking lot is for Ecco employees and suggested the possibility of a shuttle service to and from a specific location, perhaps the high school parking lot. The valet service at Il Fornaio across the street is provided for all restaurant patrons in the immediate area; however, one of the valets had stated its use was for Il Fornaio patrons only. Chair Cohen suggested that a letter be sent to Il Fornaio to remind them that the valet service is for all restaurants in the vicinity and to change the existing valet signs confirming that. From the floor, Ms. Giorni, said that since this is a short block in a small town, it would be an extravagance for a restaurant to have its own drop-off space. It was moved and seconded (Comms. Condon/Warden) to deny this request for two spaces for pedestrian unloading zones at Ecco Restaurant; unanimously approved by the Commission. Chair Cohen suggested the petitioner contact the Business Improvement District to explore possible solutions for the restaurants in this area. 5. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF NEW ITEMS. 5.1 Request for 4-way stop signs at Lincoln Avenue and Laguna Avenue Mr. Chou stated that he will bring the accident history and warrants and volumes for this site to the next meeting. Comm. Warden requested that Mr. Chou also look at Lincoln Avenue at Paloma Avenue. 5.2 Request for 75-foot green zone at 706 Carolan Avenue Mr. Chou stated that this request is from businesses affected by high school parking. 5.3 Evaluate limited-time parking at 818-826 Mahler Road Mr. Chou stated that there are concerns about limos and trucks parking along Mahler and will notify all businesses there of the next meeting. Officer Witt stated that this is a commercial district designed for trucks to keep side streets available for long-term parking. From the floor, Mr. Lovotti stated that on Mahler tenants can’t park in front of their own offices and they want “no overnight parking” signs with parking limited to 8 hours. 6. FROM THE FLOOR. 6.1 Pat Giorni requested enforcing overnight parking permits to make drivers park off-street; and with more large vehicles (SUV’s, etc.) parking near intersections, it’s hard for cyclists to see cross traffic. Bob Giorni stated that street cleaning is futile with all the parked cars on the street. He also said there is a problem getting from one point to another through the city on a bicycle, and that it is a riddle to get through a commercial street like El Camino Real. 7. INFORMATION ITEMS. The City of Burlingame Page 3 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes - Approved Thursday, August 12, 2004 7.1 From Staff to Commission 7.1.1 Traffic Engineer’s Report 7.1.1.1 Traffic counts on Trousdale Drive at Burlingame Plaza for Mills/Peninsula Hospital project Mr. Chou advised that the commission received a letter which will be forwarded to the traffic consultants working on the hospital remodel. 7.1.2 Traffic Sergeant’s Report Officer Witt stated that the Police Department received four new automated citation devices from the county. He also reported on staff assignment changes. 7.2 From Commission to Staff 7.2.1 Reports of citizen complaints or requests Comm. McIver provided a letter he received about the corner of El Prado and Canyon Roads which contains foliage so high you can’t see cross traffic on Canyon. Mr. Chou will contact code enforcement. Comm. Warden asked for an update on the Auto Exec cars with For Sale signs still being parked on California Drive. Officer Witt will check on it. Chair Cohen asked for an update on Bellevue. Mr. Chou stated that there is a design problem and cannot get Caltrans’ agreement on a good sign location. Chair Cohen asked about complaints received since Caltrans removed signals on El Camino Real at Adeline and at Cambridge. Mr. Chou stated that Caltrans is asking the City to install graphic signs to educate drivers. Comm. Condon asked if there is an update on Occidental. Mr. Chou advised that the signs will be removed by Monday. 7.2.2 Comments and Communication - None. 7.2.3 Expected absences of Commissioners at the Thursday, September 9, 2004 meeting - None. 7.3 Bicycle Safety Issues in Burlingame Chair Cohen advised that this committee has drafted a global plan and will schedule a public meeting next week. From the floor, Pat Giorni made the following comments: Bike lanes make cyclists feel safe, but has been hit by parked drivers who open their car doors without looking; if a cyclist then rides out in the main The City of Burlingame Page 4 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes - Approved Thursday, August 12, 2004 traffic lane, drivers complain so suggests wider bike lanes; the bike detectors at every signal on El Camino Real are a good idea but some signals aren’t timed long enough; Ray Drive should be included in the plan; the DMV Handbook and driver education classes should cover information that cyclists are supposed to follow the rules of the road, e.g., her right hand signals are treated as waving by drivers; a second bike crossing at Anza is good; likes the idea of having shower facilities at the train stations; likes the idea of a bike path between stations; also need a path from Broadway to Millbrae near California Drive; where East Lane becomes Carolan Avenue creates awkward traffic flow; Carolan Avenue at Oak Grove Avenue is difficult since it’s only a 3-way stop; using Adeline or Hillside to get to Skyline is not good, it’s better to use Hillsborough Blvd. to Black Mountain Road to Skyline; recommends installing “Share the Road” signs; Burlingame Avenue merchants need to be aware that they need to make room for bike racks; likes the zebra crossings; requests bike rack at City Hall be fixed. She provided a website of interest to cyclists: www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org Comm. Warden suggested moving Item 7.3 close to Item 6 so attendees can input their comments earlier in the meeting. 8. INACTIVE ITEMS. 9. AGENDIZE FOR THE NEXT MEETING. 5.1 to Discussion 5.2 to Discussion 5.3 to Discussion 10. ADJOURNMENT. 8:50 p.m. The City of Burlingame Page 5