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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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