Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - TSP - 2000.08.10The City of Burlingame CITY HALL - 501 PRIMROSE ROAD CALIFORNIA 94010-3997 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 10, 2000 Commissioners Present:Maureen Laks-Harber, Chair Aldo J. Simonetti, Vice Chair James Evans, Jr. Tim Auran Lisa De Angelis Jim Mclver Commissioners Absent:David Mayer Staff Present:Frank Erbacher, Assistant Director of Public Works, Public Works Department Philip Ho, Traffic Engineer, Public Works Department Bob Ransom, Traffic Sergeant, Police Department Doris Mortensen, Administrative Secretary, Public Works Department Staff Absent:None. Visitors:Karen Williams, 1351 Rollins Road, Burlingame Harrison Holland, 2967 Frontera Way, Burlingame (Senior Commissioner) Patricia K. Stratigos, 1709 Ray Drive, Burlingame Gary Joyce, 1535 Albemarle, Burlingame G.A. O’Brien, 1544 Albemarle, Burlingame Aaron Steinfeld, 1604 Albemarle, Burlingame Dennis Preger, 1012 Chula Vista, Burlingame Joe Blanke, 23 Dwight Road, Burlingame Alan Beice, 1558 Albemarle, Burlingame Diane Beice, 1558 Albemarle, Burlingame Denise Bernardini, 1534 Albemarle, Burlingame Charles Rundel, 1534 Albemarle, Burlingame Dina Bernardini, 1537 Albemarle, Burlingame Elio Bernardini, 1537 Albemarle, Burlingame Nick Fortis, 1503 Ray Drive, Burlingame Mame Hansen, 1503 Ray Drive, Burlingame Igor Yagolnitser, 1501 Davis Drive, Burlingame M. Scott, 1526 Albemarle, Burlingame Minutes for 8-10-00 Meeting.wpd Page 1 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 10, 2000 Visitors (cont’d):M. Nordstrom, 1526 Albemarle, Burlingame T. Willis, 1526 Albemarle, Burlingame Toby McClain, 1502 Ray Drive, Burlingame Andrew Pelto, 1501 Ray Drive, Burlingame Amy Pelto, 1501 Ray Drive, Burlingame Ed Gigliotti, 1553 Albemarle, Burlingame Mrs. Ed Gigliotti, 1553 Albemarle, Burlingame Diana Malonchi, 1515 Ray Drive, Burlingame Michael Malonchi, 1515 Ray Drive, Burlingame Suzie O’Halloran, 1713 Ray Drive, Burlingame J. Gottschalk, 1859 Broadway, Burlingame Minutes for 8-10-00 Meeting.wpd Page 2 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 10, 2000 1.CALL TO ORDER. 7:00 p.m. by Chairwoman Harber. 2.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. Led by Chairwoman Harber. 3.ROLL CALL. 6 of 7 Commissioners present. 4.CURRENT BUSINESS. 4.1 ACTION ITEMS. 4.1.1 Minutes of July 13, 2000, were submitted and approved. 4.2 DISCUSSION ITEMS. 4.2.1 Millbrae BART Station - potential impacts on City streets Comm. Harber is waiting for Fremont to call on 8/16/00. Comm. Auran reported that queried Pittsburg residents preferred permit parking. Mr. Ho asked those commissioners contacting other cities to provide him with their notes. Comm. Auran advised that the Chamber of Commerce’s “Chamber Coffee” event for September will include BART, Caltrans, Engineering, Traffic Commissioners and residents to share information to raise awareness of BART’s impact. Continue as Discussion for next month. 4.2.2 Request for two disabled spaces for Recreation Center Mr. Ho provided a sketch of the Recreation Center staff parking lot and on-street parking on Burlingame Avenue. Mr. Erbacher met with the Recreation Center and the Planning Department to discuss this issue. The Center has a high turnover of staff using their parking lot all day, everyday. The lot is narrow and congested. Mr. Ho advised that 11 spaces would be lost if they provided standard sized spaces. Two disabled spaces are already in place in front of the building. Staff recommends installing two disabled spaces on Burlingame Avenue with signage for use Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The intent is to provide assistance to those with limited mobility. Mr. Erbacher advised that in the future, some of the senior activities will be held at the new Teen Center which will alleviate some of the parking issues at the Recreation Center. From the floor, Senior Commissioner Harrison Holland endorsed staff’s recommendation. It was moved and seconded (Comms. Auran/Evans) to approve staff’s recommendation. Unanimously approved by the Commission. Minutes for 8-10-00 Meeting.wpd Page 3 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 10, 2000 4.2.3 Request for height limit signs at 1351 Rollins Road Mr. Ho provided a copy of the applicant’s new letter requesting a 6-foot height limit sign with no additional red curbing. From the floor, Ms. Williams stated that to exit the main driveway, your car has to be in the first lane before you can see cross traffic - even with a truck parked more than 13 feet away. Mr. Preger, the City’s representative to the Mosquito Abatement District, confirmed the difficulty he has had exiting the driveway and that an accident with one of their trucks carrying mosquito abatement supplies could be disastrous. Mr. Erbacher advised that since this is an industrial area, an added height limit sign could lead to more signs covering the entire Rollins Road. It was moved and seconded (Comms. Evans/McIver) to approve the 6-foot height limit signage at this site. Unanimously approved by the Commission. Comm. DeAngelis stated that the applicant made a good point in her letter as to businesses storing and repairing their vehicles on city streets and why permitted uses are not accommodated. Mr. Ho will relate these concerns to the Planning Department. 4.2.4 Request for Stop signs or Crossing Guards at the Ray Drive/Lassen Way intersection Mr. Ho provided a sketch of this site. Currently, there are no school crosswalk or speed limit signs on Ray Drive. The traffic volume and accident data indicate that Stop signs are not warranted during regular school session. Installing Stop signs at a low volume intersection is ineffective since drivers will ignore them; and per Caltrans’ standards, a crossing guard is not warranted and has not been budgeted by the Police Department. Mr. Erbacher advised that the school is educating the students and parents on traffic safety. Comm. Evans stated that since there are no controls now we need to post signs and provide radar enforcement. It was moved and seconded (Comms. Evans/Simonetti) to approve staff’s recommendations to post speed limit signs and school crossing signs and not install Stop signs at this time. Approved by the Commission with a 4-2-1 vote. Comms. Harber and Auran voted no since they would like Stop signs installed. Mr. Ho advised that signage will be in place before school starts in September. 4.2.5 Request for eastbound left turn prohibition on Ralston Avenue at El Camino Real Mr. Ho advised that 1 of 3 accidents is related to a left turn onto El Camino Real from Ralston Avenue. Traffic volumes show that 24 turn left in the morning, and 30 in the afternoon. With this prohibition, drivers will re-route to Chapin Avenue or Howard Avenue; however, those turning right onto El Camino Real might re-route to Ralston Avenue. Caltrans has no problem with this request. Three signs are needed: at the right of the intersection, before it, and at the tree for a far-side warning. It was moved and seconded (Comms. Evans/Auran) to approve three signs to be posted to prohibit left turns from Ralston Avenue onto El Camino Real. Unanimously approved by the Commission. Minutes for 8-10-00 Meeting.wpd Page 4 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 10, 2000 4.2.6 Request for “No Parking 2 A.M. to 6 A.M..” sign on Albemarle Way south of Ray Drive Mr. Ho provided handouts of public comments to the Commission. He advised that of those responding to this issue, many more were opposed than in favor of this request. The Municipal Code already prohibits parking from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. and the Police respond to complaints; therefore, this sign would change nothing. Also, “No Overnight Parking” signs are posted at the entrance of and throughout the city. Staff recommends denial of this request. Sgt. Ransom stated that there is a dispute between the applicant and another resident on Albemarle Way. Sgt. Ransom spoke to both parties and referred them to the Conflict Resolution Center for mediation. It was moved and seconded (Comms. Evans/Simonetti) to deny the request for a sign to prohibit overnight parking. Unanimously approved by the Commission. From the floor, neighbors were concerned that the applicant will continue to call the Police to enforce overnight parking prohibition. Most of the neighbors have obtained permits for parking but feel they are being penalized by the applicant every time he calls the Police. Comm. DeAngelis stated that the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center will respond to their issues and to help effect resolution; the next step, if unresolved, is a civil suit. 4.2.7 Request for change in parking time limit at 1155 California Drive Mr. Ho provided a sketch of the site. He advised that the applicants at Rosedale Florist previously requested that the two parking meters time limits be changed from two hours to one hour. This request was granted and the work was completed in accordance with the Code. Since then, according to the applicant, there has been a big improvement in available parking at those two metered spaces. Patrons of the nearby Pisces Restaurant usually need a parking space for more than an hour, so they do not park at the 1-hour metered spaces. Mr. Ho surveyed the Chula Vista City parking lot, the City lot behind Goodwill, and the private parking lot at 1155 California Drive and found many vacant spaces during the lunch hour. Staff recommends no reduction in time limit and retaining the 1-hour time limit. It was moved and seconded (Comms. Auran/Evans) to deny this request. Unanimously approved by the Commission. 4.2.8 Request for change in parking time limit on South Lane at 222-224 California Drive Mr. Ho provided the Commission with a sketch of the site. This location has had a change in business and the yellow zone is no longer needed. Adjacent streets have 2-hour parking meters. Staff recommends removal of the yellow zone and replaced with three 2-hour metered parking spaces. It was moved and seconded (Comms. Auran/Simonetti) to recommend to Council staff’s recommendation. Unanimously approved by the Commission. Minutes for 8-10-00 Meeting.wpd Page 5 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 10, 2000 5.ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF NEW ITEMS. 5.1 Dwight Road Petition Mr. Ho advised acknowledgment of a petition received by City Council at their August 7th meeting. This will be a Discussion Item next month. From the floor, the applicant, Joe Blanke, stated that a lot of kids live on Dwight Road and 90% of the drivers on this street go over 25 mph, driving up to 50 mph. He believes the traffic signal at the corner of Peninsula Avenue encourages drivers to try to make the green light. This is a 24-hour problem and he and his neighbors would like to slow these drivers down. He no longer thinks that speed bumps are a good idea and suggests narrowing the street with “chokers” placed within the street requiring drivers to maneuver through the street rather than being able to drive straight through. Mr. Blanke also noticed that there is an 8-ton weight limit sign on his street as you enter Burlingame but the same street entering into San Mateo has a 3-ton weight limit sign and asked that we please check it out. 6. FROM THE FLOOR. None. 7.INFORMATION ITEMS. 7.1 From TSPC 7.1.1 Reports of citizen complaints or requests from TSPC. No complaints or requests. 7.1.2 Comments and communication from TSPC to staff. Comm. Evans suggested prioritizing agenda items based on the various issues at hand - for example: 1.School 2.Parking 3.Height limit 7.1.3 Expected absences of Commissioners at the next meeting. No absentees expected for September. Comm. Simonetti will be out of town for the October meeting. His term expires in November 2000, and he is not planning to seek reappointment. Minutes for 8-10-00 Meeting.wpd Page 6 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 10, 2000 7.2 Traffic Engineer’s Report Mr. Erbacher handed out a memo to the Commission announcing the enhanced Street Sweeping Program. Mr. Ho advised he is continuing to work on the same projects. The Parking Study will be ready in about one month providing information for the Parking Management Plan for Downtown. 7.3 Staff Action Log Mr. Ho advised that the Planning Department will be meeting with the Temple Shin-yo En secretary to discuss the parking situation on Easton Drive, but Mr. Ho has not yet heard from the Planning Department. 8.INACTIVE ITEMS. None. 9.AGENDIZE FOR THE NEXT MEETING. Mr. Ho stated that the two Discussion Items for next month will be Millbrae BART Station parking impact and the Dwight Road Petition. 10. ADJOURNMENT. 8:55 p.m. Minutes for 8-10-00 Meeting.wpd Page 7