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
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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.
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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
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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.
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