HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - TSP - 2000.07.13The City of Burlingame
CITY HALL - 501 PRIMROSE ROAD
CALIFORNIA 94010-3997
TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, July 13, 2000
Commissioners Present:Maureen Laks-Harber, Chairperson
Aldo J. Simonetti, Vice Chairperson
James Evans, Jr.
Tim Auran
David Mayer
Lisa De Angelis
Jim Mclver
Commissioners Absent:None.
Staff Present:Syed Murtuza, Senior Civil Engineer, Public Works Department
Philip Ho, Traffic Engineer, Public Works Department
Bob Ransom, Traffic Sergeant, Police Department
Randy Schwartz, Recreation Supervisor, Parks & Recreation Department
Staff Absent:Doris Mortensen, Administrative Secretary, Public Works Department
Visitors:Richard Johnson, 1335 Rollins Road, Burlingame
Karen Williams, 1351 Rollins Road, Burlingame
Harrison Holland, 2967 Frontera Way, Burlingame (Senior Commissioner)
Randal Patterson, 816 Fairfield Road, Burlingame
Laura Escobar, 733 Concord Way, Burlingame
Elizabeth Johnson, 721 Concord Way, Burlingame
Katie McCormack, 1530 Meadow Lane, Burlingame
Tula Gieseker, 1605 McDonald Way, Burlingame
John Gieseker, 1605 McDonald Way, Burlingame
Patricia K. Stratigos, 1709 Ray Drive, Burlingame
Susan Cartner Paine, 728 Concord Way, Burlingame
Tom Pame, 728 Concord Way, Burlingame
Christopher Kitts, 732 Concord Way, Burlingame
Lori Chun, 740 El Camino Real, Burlingame
Joseph Moy, 740 El Camino Real, Burlingame
Pat Toft, 408 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame
Minutes for 07-13-00 Meeting.wpd
TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, July 13, 2000
1.CALL TO ORDER. 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Harber.
2.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. Led by Chairperson Harber.
3.ROLL CALL. 7 of 7 Commissioners present.
4.CURRENT BUSINESS.
4.1 ACTION ITEMS.
4.1.1 Minutes of June 8, 2000, were submitted and approved.
4.2 DISCUSSION ITEMS.
4.2.1 Millbrae BART Station - Potential Impacts on City Streets
Comm. Auran reported that he has collected some survey data from Pittsburg which he will
bring to staff. Comm. Evans stated that Pleasanton and Dublin prohibited parking prior to
the BART Station opening. Comm. De Angelis reported that Daly City experienced overflow
parking problems from the BART parking lot and subsequently issued permits to local
residents. Daly City also experienced problems with intersection capacity and staging of
buses. Daly City suggested that updating the General Plan may be beneficial. Comm. De
Angelis also reported that the Colma BART Station parking lot of 3,700 spaces and the
adjacent Samtrans parking lot of 3,200 spaces are currently at capacity. Comm. Evans stated
that it is very important to put in place a restrictive plan or a permit program before the BART
Station opening. Mr. Murtuza stated that staff needs to first identify the potential impacts to
determine the necessary course of action and to obtain Council approval. Comm. Mayer
stated that police enforcement is essential in the successful implementation of any program.
No survey data was available from Comm. Harber and Comm. Mayer. Continue as
Discussion for next month.
4.2.2 Proposed TSPC Agenda and Schedule
In response to input from TSPC, staff has made a number of changes to our agenda and
schedule. Mr. Murtuza stated the objective of the proposed agenda and schedule is to
improve communication with staff, reduce action time, and allow staff to complete
investigation in a timely manner. The City Attorney advised staff to replace New Business
with Acknowledgment where the Commission will acknowledge new requests and accept
testimony, but will not discuss possible solutions until such items are agendized as
Discussion. The proposed agenda also included expanded Information items. At the
conclusion of the meeting, staff will confirm with the Commission the agenda for the next
meeting. The schedule shows a 2-week time frame for staff investigation and defines other
Minutes for 07-13-00 Meeting.wpd
staff action including communication with the TSPC Chairperson and the Police Department.
Comm. Auran suggested that Items 5 and 6 be renamed so that new items as well as items
from the floor are acknowledged.
Mr. Ho expressed his appreciation of recent feedback from various TSP Commissioners and
affirmed that it helped staff in better refining the necessary courses of action to make the
meeting more productive and useful for review by TSPC. Mr. Ho explained that a new item
from the floor is being acknowledged at the time it is presented to TSPC. New items or items
from the floor are naturally continued as Discussion item in the next month. However, staff
may receive new requests (with numerous signatures, being highly controversial or involve
a potential safety hazard) late in the 2-week staff investigation time period. For these items,
staff will consult with the TSPC Chairperson and determine if it needs to be agendized as
Discussion. Comms. Auran, Harber and other Commissioners thanked staff for all the good
work. Comm. Auran moved to approve the proposed agenda and schedule. Seconded by
Comm. Mayer. Motion approved unanimously.
5.INACTIVE ITEMS / ITEMS UNDER STUDY.
5.1 Request for eastbound left turn prohibition on Ralston Avenue at El Camino Real.
TSPC had directed staff to study this request. The study will be completed in late July. Agendize
as Discussion for next month.
6.NEW BUSINESS.
6.1 Request for three disabled spaces on Fairfield Road
Mr. Ho distributed to TSPC a letter of support from the School District Superintendent. Staff
recommended installing one disabled space on Fairfield Road adjacent to the pedestrian walkway.
Staff does not support a “wheel chair only” sign because it is a non-standard sign and is not
enforceable. Moved to Action. Motion approved. Comm. Auran would like a red curb by the
driveway to provide adequate visibility. Comm. Auran motioned to approve staff recommendation.
Comm. Mayer seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously. The applicant is concerned
that if only one disabled space is provided, it will be occupied by other users for long periods of
time. Comm. Harber asked the applicant to return to the Commission if the applicant encounters
a problem.
6.2 Request for two disabled spaces on Concord Way for Senior Center
Mr. Ho distributed to TSPC a petition (with 21 signatures) and several letters from residents who
are opposed to the request. These were received after the packets were sent out to TSPC. Mr. Ho
also distributed a parking occupancy survey to TSPC based on data collected by the Parks and
Recreation Department. Mr. Ho stated that the use of the term “Senior Center” can be misleading.
The Recreation Center offers recreational programs for people of all ages and is not exclusively for
seniors. There is a room within the Recreation Center which is used primarily for senior activities.
Minutes for 07-13-00 Meeting.wpd
Staff determined that Concord Way is not a desirable location for installing disabled spaces because
of problems with accessibility, loss of on-street parking spaces, traffic impact to local residents, and
a relatively long walking distance of 400 feet to the Recreation Center. Staff recommends installing
one disabled space on Burlingame Avenue outside the Recreation Center. This will reduce the
walking distance to about 150 feet.
Comm. Auran questioned the usefulness of the 16-foot red curb at the entrance driveway. Mr. Ho
stated that the red curb is not critical for vehicles to pull into the driveway. Comm. Mayer wanted
to use part of the staff parking lot for disabled parking. Mr. Ho stated that use of the staff parking
lot by the general public is undesirable and requires prior agreement from the Parks & Recreation
Department. Sergeant Ransom explained that the Parks & Recreation Department need to provide
on-site parking for its employees. Mr. Schwartz explained that the staff parking lot of 21 spaces are
used by full-time employees, instructors and volunteers who work at the Parks & Recreation
Department. The staff parking lot is often full and staff have to park on the street. Any loss in staff
parking will result in fewer recreational programs offered by the Department.
Local residents are strongly opposed to pre-empting and wasteful use of on-street parking spaces on
Concord Way for disabled parking. Staff recommend denial of request. Motion to deny request.
Motion approved unanimously. TSPC directed staff to further investigate the feasibility of using the
staff parking lot for disabled parking. Agendize as Discussion for next month.
6.3 Request for height limit sign at 1351 Rollins Road
Mr. Ho stated that Rollins Road is zoned industrial and truck parking is unavoidable. Mr. Ho
recommended that the red curb on the south side of the northern driveway be increased by 8 feet
from 5 feet to 13 feet. This will provide adequate visibility for vehicles entering Rollins Road
without a loss of on-street parking on Rollins Road. The applicant stated that parked vehicles often
violate the red curb, so additional red curb will not be useful in ensuring adequate visibility. Comm.
Mclver stated that vehicles drive at high speed on Rollins Road. Sergeant Ransom suggested that
the southern driveway gateway be opened to allow one-way traffic circulation between the two
driveway. The applicant cannot keep the southern driveway gate open for security reasons. Motion
to continue this item as Discussion for next month. Motion approved unanimously.
6.4 Request for white passenger zone at 1510 Newlands Avenue
Acacia Manor residents currently use Redi Wheels paratransit service four times a day on weekdays.
No confirmation is available from Redi Wheels about the drivers’ complaints. The parking problem
appears to be caused by the construction activities at the corner of Newlands Avenue and El Camino
Real which will be completed in 3 months. Staff recommend denial of this request. Mr. Ho stated
that he will issue a parking permit (valid for 3 months) to the applicant for one parking space
adjacent to the driveway at 1510 Newlands Avenue. Comm. Auran thought that Redi Wheels
drivers can pull into the driveway to load and unload. Mr. Ho stated that Redi Wheels drivers would
likely prefer double parking or parking in the driveway. Comm. Harber motioned to approve staff
recommendation. Seconded by Comm. Auran. Motion approved unanimously.
Minutes for 07-13-00 Meeting.wpd
6.5 Request for STOP signs or Crossing Guards at the Ray Drive/Lassen Way intersection
Staff received numerous signatures from residents and parents of Lincoln School. Mr. Ho stated that
there is no STOP sign at the Lassen Way/Ray Drive intersection. However, there are yellow
crosswalks. There are no reported accidents at this intersection in the last five years. When school
is in session, 330 students attend Lincoln School and some of the parents drop off and pick up
students on Ray Drive. There are currently 60 students attending summer school, and there are no
student activities on Ray Drive. A recent radar sampling of vehicle speeds on Ray Drive shows a
top speed of 32 mph with most vehicles traveling well below 30 mph. These speeds do not appear
excessive by residential street standards. Mr. Ho stated that since there is currently no student
activities on Ray Drive, we should wait till school starts up in September before staff resume field
investigation.
Residents stated that vehicles which park at Ray/Lassen to drop off students block visibility of
approaching vehicles. Students emerged from pedestrian walkway and crossed Ray Drive at the
crosswalk without observing approaching vehicles. Comm. Auran did not think we should wait till
school to start to make a decision since he is very familiar with the school area and the nature of the
problem. Comms. Harber and De Angelis also stated that they are also very familiar with Lincoln
School. Comm. Auran motioned to continue as Discussion for next month. Seconded by Comm.
Mayer. Motion approved unanimously.
Mr. Ho reminded the Commission that any recommendation of STOP signs or a crossing guard will
need to be approved by Council for staff action. Mr. Ho stated that a STOP sign is not warranted
based on traffic volume and accident data. Staff will investigate the crossing guard warrant and
report back to the Commission next month. Comm. Auran stated that there used to be a crossing
guard at Ray/Lassen. Comm. De Angelis stated that when she attended Lincoln School years ago,
it was safe to walk to school, but that was changed by all the vehicular activities before and after
school hours. Mr. Ho stated that the use of STOP signs will result in lower vehicular speeds within
100 to 150 feet on either side of the sign, but all vehicles will be required to stop 24 hours a day, and
not just during certain school hours when students are crossing.
7.INFORMATION ITEMS.
7.1 From TSPC
7.1.1 Reports of citizen complaints or requests from TSPC.
No report from TSPC.
7.1.2 Comments and communication from TSPC to staff.
Comms. Auran, Harber, Evans and other Commissioners praised the work presented by staff
at this meeting.
7.1.3 Expected absences of Commissioners at the next meeting.
No absentees expected.
Minutes for 07-13-00 Meeting.wpd
7.2 Traffic Engineer’s Report
Mr. Ho gave a brief status report of several projects including California Drive (Carmelita and
Morrell Avenue) signals, Rollins Road/Cadillac Way signals, Broadway Signal Interconnect, Laguna
Avenue parking lot, Howard Avenue street lighting, Burlingame Avenue Commercial District
parking study, and Safe Route to School Program. Mr. Ho also provided some information to TSPC
on pedestrian access improvements by Caltrans to the Broadway bridge and signal improvements
at the Broadway/Rollins Road intersection.
7.3 Staff Action Log
No comment.
8.FROM THE FLOOR. None.
9.ADJOURNMENT. 10:05 p.m.
Minutes for 07-13-00 Meeting.wpd