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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - TSP - 2003.02.13 The City of Burlingame CITY HALL - 501 PRIMROSE ROAD CALIFORNIA 94010-3997 www.burlingame.org TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes - Approved Thursday, February 13, 2003 Commissioners Present:Jim McIver, Chair Russ Cohen, Vice Chair Lisa De Angelis David Mayer Stephen Warden Commissioners Absent:None Staff Present:Augustine Chou, Traffic Engineer, Public Works Officer Chuck Witt, Police Department Doris Mortensen, Administrative Secretary, Public Works Staff Absent:Frank Erbacher, Assistant Public Works Director Dawn Cutler, Traffic Sergeant, Police Department Visitors:Alan Steele, 1320 Drake Avenue, Burlingame Elisa Steele, 1320 Drake Avenue, Burlingame Terri Boesch, 1325 Drake Avenue, Burlingame David McKean, 1345 Drake Avenue, Burlingame Olive McMahon, 1304 Drake Avenue, Burlingame Yaja Maloney, 1329 Drake Avenue, Burlingame Jackie Maloney, 1329 Drake Avenue, Burlingame Matt Maloney, 1229 Drake Avenue, Burlingame TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes - Approved Thursday, February 13, 2003 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 January 9, 2003 The minutes were approved as submitted. 4.1.2 Request for Stop sign on Easton Drive at Drake Avenue and other traffic safety issues Mr. Chou ran warrants for this intersection and found the volumes lacking. He also performed a visibility study from the stop bar on Drake which is correctly aligned with the sidewalk; and looking towards El Camino Real, there is 150 feet of visibility. When cars stop at the stop bar, visibility is no problem in spite of the trees. Therefore, staff cannot recommend a stop sign on Easton Drive at Drake Avenue. Regarding the speed issue on Drake between Hillside and Easton Drives, he found the 85%-ile at 27 mph. The prima facie speed is 25 mph. At the south end of Drake there is a rise that causes drivers to lose site visibility if driving faster than 15 mph. Comm. Mayer asked if the Drake Avenue rise could be cut down. Mr. Chou stated it would be an expensive project; the rise should be cut down 2 to 4 feet to improve visibility. Staff recommends installing an advisory speed plate sign. Since the 85%-ile is 27 mph and according to Section 40802 of the California Vehicle Code, the police can use radar to enforce residential prima facie speed limit on this part of Drake. Officer Witt agreed with staff’s recommendation and recommended putting this site on their Selective Enforcement list. Comm. Mayer stated he lives near this site; and since the trees prevent you from seeing the full length of the street, he recommends a tree survey be performed to determine if the trees are a hazard to drivers and then sending a letter to the Street Division, the City Council and the Beautification Commission to see if the trees could be removed. He stated that the trees are the problem and could be replaced with smaller trees. It was moved and seconded (Comms. Mayer/Warden) that staff perform a tree survey and a letter be prepared recommending removal of those trees on Easton that obstruct Drake vehicles’ line of sight. The motion was approved with a 4-1 vote (Comm. Cohen dissenting). Comm. Cohen further stated that he sees the trees as traffic-calming devices since drivers are more careful; and if trees are removed, cars will speed up. Chair McIver stated that he will draft the letter. Officer Witt advised there has been one accident in the last four months due to a right-of-way error. Comm. Mayer stated there have been other accidents that have gone unreported because there were no physical injuries and drivers don’t want their insurance companies to find out. The City of Burlingame Page 2 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes - Approved Thursday, February 13, 2003 It was then moved and seconded (Comms. Cohen/Mayer) to install an advisory speed plate sign recommending 15 mph speed near the Drake Avenue rise for both directions. Unanimously approved by the Commission. Comm. Mayer suggested Drake Avenue be made a one-way road. From the floor, Ms. Boesch said one way is a terrific idea since now she has problems backing out of her driveway. She stated that northbound traffic uses Drake as a shortcut to avoid the traffic light at Cabrillo on Hillside. She requests the one way direction be southbound. Comm. Mayer suggested the Drake residents send a letter and petition addressed to the Commission requesting the one way direction. Officer Witt stated that making this a one-way street would move the commute problem to another street. Chair McIver asked the Traffic Engineer if he would have time to look at the feasibility of making Drake a one-way street and present it at the next meeting. Mr. Chou stated that he could have some information available, but he will need to make directional counts first of the current commute time and would need to see if the neighbors would agree. He suggested that if the Commission really wanted to pursue the idea of one-way streets, then residents of the neighboring streets should be invited to a Traffic Commission meeting to discuss the matter. Officer Witt agreed to send a letter to Our Lady of Angels administration office reminding them of traffic safety and for students and parents to be careful. From the floor, Ms. Boesch stated that with two schools, two churches and a public library nearby, the need for a stop sign is great; and it would be easier and cheaper to install a stop sign than use other methods. Ms. Steele stated that drivers from Easton turning onto Drake are already speeding and continue to do so on Drake causing them to approach the blind rise too fast to avoid a head-on collision. The street is only one lane wide due to parked cars narrowing the driving lanes. Comm. De Angelis stated that although warrants need to be met to recommend installation of a stop sign, some signs are installed without enough warrants because of extenuating circumstances. She stated that perhaps the tree hazard survey will provide reasons for recommending a stop sign due to extenuating circumstances. A motion was made (Comm. Mayer) recommending installation of a stop sign on Drake Avenue at Easton Drive. The motion was not seconded. Comm. Mayer recommended that the Drake residents petition the Council for a stop sign. Comm. Warden suggested that the residents wait until the tree survey is completed. Mr. Chou stated he would have the survey ready in two months. 4.2 DISCUSSION ITEMS. 5. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF NEW ITEMS. 5.1 Parking Issues on City Hall Lane Mr. Chou stated that the Fire Department has complained about cars and dumpsters being parked on City Hall Lane which obstruct traffic. Some of the properties provide room for a parked car or dumpster at the rear of their stores; however, other buildings were built out to the property line The City of Burlingame Page 3 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes - Approved Thursday, February 13, 2003 allowing no extra room on their property for a parked car. Consequently, cars parked at the rear of those buildings are in the City’s right-of-way as well as any dumpsters placed there. Mr. Chou suggested the City may be able to mark the lane for either metered parking spaces or a loading zone. This will be a Discussion Item next month. FROM THE FLOOR. 7. INFORMATION ITEMS. 7.1 From Staff to Commission 7.1.1 Traffic Engineer’s Report Mr. Chou stated that the resurfacing project is almost complete with some striping still needed to be done. He has been effective in having redundant traffic signs removed throughout the city. He also advised that the traffic signal at Cabrillo Avenue and Hillside Drive is not actuated anymore because of an electrical short in the controller and there are plans to replace the entire controller system. The Police Department is working on a meter pole security project to prevent theft of any meters. 7.1.2 Staff Action Log - Attached. 7.1.3 Burlingame Parking Study Mr. Chou provided a copy of the Parking Study staff report to the Commissioners. The Council will be reviewing the study at its February 18th Study Session meeting. 7.2 From Commission to Staff 7.2.1 Reports of citizen complaints or requests 7.2.2 Comments and communication Comm. Warden suggested placing double yellow lines on Burlingame Avenue and Broadway in the downtown areas to discourage u-turns. Mr. Chou advised that double yellow lines are needed to enforce citing for u-turns. Comm. Cohen asked for an update on the status of the El Camino vehicle parked on Douglas Avenue at California Drive. Also, Comm. Cohen asked the status of the subcommittee working with the neighborhood of the 800 block of California Drive to resolve parking issues. Comm. Warden advised that they will be meeting this month. The City of Burlingame Page 4 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes - Approved Thursday, February 13, 2003 7.2.3 Expected absences of Commissioners at the Thursday, March 13, 2003 meeting - None. 8. INACTIVE ITEMS. 8.1 Request for traffic control on Dwight Road - Phase I Gateway Improvements Mr. Chou stated that the landscaping and centerline are completed. 8.2 Request for speed limit enforcement on Trousdale Drive - Results of Traffic Data Gathering - Speed limits Officer Witt submitted the Selective Enforcement Report which shows 33 citations issued. 8.3 Request to Review Speed Concerns on Hillside Drive Officer Witt submitted the Selective Enforcement Report which shows 13 citations issued. Mr. Chou requested that this item be removed from Selective Enforcement. Speed enforcement is no longer a priority on this street. 8.4 Hillside Drive uphill of Alvarado Avenue - Additional Speed Controls Staff is waiting for a County review on the effect of the existing speed bumps. 9. AGENDIZE FOR THE NEXT MEETING. 4.1.2 Tree Hazard Survey to Discussion Item 5.1 to Discussion Item 10. ADJOURNMENT. 9:10 p.m. The City of Burlingame Page 5