HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - TSP - 2000.11.08The City of Burlingame
CITY HALL - 501 PRIMROSE ROAD
CALIFORNIA 94010-3997
TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes - Approved
W ednesday, November 8, 2000
Commissioners Present:Lisa De Angelis, Chair
Jim McIver, Vice Chair
Tim Auran
Jim Evans
David Mayer
Commissioners Absent:None
Staff Present:George Bagdon, Director of Public Works
Frank Erbacher, Assistant Director of Public Works
Syed Murtuza, City Engineer, Public Works Department
Philip Ho, Traffic Engineer, Public Works Department
Jeff Dahlstrom, Police Officer, Police Department
Doris Mortensen, Administrative Secretary, Public Works Department
Staff Absent:None
Visitors:Joe Blanke, 23 Dwight Road, Burlingame
Hugo Curlionis, 26 Dwight Road, Burlingame
Frank Vasquez, 25 Dwight Road, Burlingame
Randy Grange, 21 Dwight Road, Burlingame
Whitney Murphy, 1121 Palm Drive, Burlingame
Michael Barber, 1316 Palm Drive, Burlingame
Frankie Meyer, 308 Lorton Avenue, Burlingame
Georgette Naylor, Chamber of Commerce
Bill Hurrell, Wilbur Smith Associates, Consultants
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1.CALL TO ORDER. 7:00 p.m. by Frank Erbacher.
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 Election of Chair and Vice Chair for Year 2000/01
It was moved and seconded (Comms. Mayer/Auran) to elect Comm. De Angelis as Chair and
Comm. McIver as Vice Chair. Unanimously approved by the Commission.
4.1.2 Minutes of October 12, 2000, were submitted and approved.
4.2 DISCUSSION ITEMS.
4.2.1 Burlingame Avenue Commercial District Parking Plan Implementation Study presented by
Bill Hurrell of Wilbur Smith Associates
Mr. Murtuza advised that staff would like the Commission to decide how the City should
proceed with an outreach to the community to advise them of the plan. Mr. Hurrell explained
the three steps needed to provide additional parking: ˛Management action; ˇ Modify rates
and time limits; and — Add Parking Lot J Structure. There is a need to provide a logical way
to phase in this program to enable monitoring of the program. There will be three phases:
Change 2-hour time limits on Burlingame Avenue side streets to 1 hour; change 4- and 10-
hour spaces in Lots C, D, J & E to 2-hour; and convert Lot F to a free lot (Lot H would
continue to provide free parking). These steps would create a more customer-oriented
environment with more frequent turnover of parked vehicles. These steps would also
discourage public behavior in feeding meters beyond the time limit and encourage greater use
of free City parking lots by employees. This would require more enforcement. Initially
increase Burlingame Avenue meter rates as follows: 1 hour meters from 25¢ to 50¢ per hour;
2 hour meters from 25¢ per hour to 75¢ for 2 hours; and 10 hour meters from 10¢ per hour
to 25¢ for 2 hours. Also, all 24-minute meter rates would be increased. This phase could be
implemented in about 1½ to 2 years, after acquisition of required area for Lot J structure.
Increase rates to a maximum of: 1-hour meters at $1 per hour; 2-hour meters at 50¢ per
hour; and 10-hour meters at 25¢ per hour. This could be implemented after the new Lot J
structure is completed, in 3-4 years. An alternative would be to raise rates in Lot J only under
Phase 3. The increased revenues would be: Phase 2: from $1 million to $1.6 million, and
Phase 3: to $2.2 million.
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Mr. Murtuza stated that staff would like to present this in a logical manner to the public
through community outreach and provide a public hearing for business community and
Chamber of Commerce input. Comm. Mayer suggested contacting the local newspaper with
the plan. Comm. McIver suggested contacting the new daily paper, too.
From the floor, Merchant Frankie Meyer stated that her business is on Lorton Avenue and the
local merchants had been instrumental in getting the time limit changed from 1 hour to 2
hours which is best to enable customers to shop and have a snack without worrying about a
parking meter. Ms. Meyer would like the merchants to provide input to this plan before
presenting it to the community. Mr. Bagdon suggested a meeting be facilitated by the
Chamber of Commerce for the merchants, City staff and Commissioners to discuss the
parking time limit issue. The Chamber of Commerce offered to help by providing the
merchants with the Executive Summary of the plan and will coordinate a meeting with the
business community in January 2001. Also, the Chamber will use its newsletter to notify
merchants when a meeting date and place is chosen.
4.2.2 Request for two STOP signs at Palm Drive/Crossway Road and a Speed Bump on Palm Drive
at Edgehill Road
Mr. Erbacher advised that this street is wide enough for two cars to pass with parking on both
sides of the street, so it feels safe to go fast. The problem is speed control for the entire block;
therefore, traffic control at the intersection wouldn’t affect mid-block speeds. Mr. Erbacher
suggested adding a double yellow centerline stripe on the street to make it appear to be
narrower and installing speed limit signs as a way to control speeds. Unwarranted stop signs
would eventually be ignored and cars would roll through them. Mr. Ho added that there will
be random speed studies; and, if necessary, bot dots could be added as an additional speed
deterrent.
From the floor, Mr. Barber, a school board member, asked about installing bulb-outs at the
corner to reduce the size of the pedestrian crossing. Mr. Erbacher advised that adding the
centerline stripe and speed limit signs could be done right away, but the process to get bulb-
outs installed is time consuming. It was moved and seconded (Comms. Evans/Mayer) to
install a double yellow centerline on Palm Drive between California Drive and Paloma
Avenue and to add speed limit signs. Unanimously approved by the Commission.
Mr. Erbacher advised that due to low attendance, staff will send a copy of these minutes to
the petitioners to advise them that the above motion is only the first attempt to reduce
speeders on this street. This will be on Inactive status pending updates.
4.2.3 Request for traffic control on Dwight Road
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Mr. Erbacher advised that this is a wide street which encourages speeders. He suggested
installing a double yellow centerline stripe and double-wide raised markers in the street at
the east and west corners of Dwight Road at Peninsula Avenue to make the street appear more
narrow which would encourage slower speeds.
From the floor, Mr. Blanke and Mr. Grange displayed a professional drawing of proposed
bulb-outs on both sides of the street with added entrance-type walls facing San Mateo on both
sides of Dwight Road depicting “City of Burlingame.” They also would like the centerline
added. Mr. Ho advised that a fire truck turning left onto Dwight Road would need more
clearance than the drawing provides to avoid swerving. It was moved and seconded (Comms.
Evans/Mayer) to install a double yellow centerline stripe on this block of Dwight Road and
to install the raised large markers as recommended by staff. Unanimously approved by the
Commission. Mr. Ho advised that he will be monitoring speeds after installation of the stripe
and raised markers. This will be on Inactive status pending updates.
The residents of this block would like to design and construct their proposal with City
approval. Mr. Erbacher advised this might be a $50,000 project. Mr. Erbacher stated that he
would be the contact for such a presentation to Council.
4.2.4 Request for 6-foot height limit sign at 1846 Rollins Road
Mr. Ho advised that this site is a laundry service with a 70 foot frontage for parking. The
problem is when exiting the driveway and a truck is parked there, site distance is diminished
making it difficult to exit. Mr. Ho recommends a height limit sign. It was moved and
seconded (Comms. Auran/Mayer) to install a height limit sign. Unanimously approved by the
Commission.
4.2.5 Millbrae BART Station - Potential Impacts on City streets
Mr. Ho advised that he is waiting for one more city to be contacted. Comms. De Angelis and
McIver volunteered to make the contact if no one else is available to do so.
5.ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF NEW ITEMS.
5.1 Request by City Council to investigate traffic safety on Adeline Drive (Hoover Avenue to
Vancouver Avenue)
Mr. Erbacher advised that next month staff will provide alternatives since there is a need to
facilitate room for two lanes. As it is now, there is room for only one lane when cars are
parked on both sides of the street. Eliminating parking on one side of the street would provide
enough room for two lanes. This will be a Discussion item next month.
5.2 Request for speed limit signs and speed bumps on Alvarado Avenue (Adeline Drive to
Hillside Drive)
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Staff acknowledged this request which will be a Discussion item next month.
6. FROM THE FLOOR.None.
7.INFORMATION ITEMS.
7.1 From Staff to TSPC
7.1.1 Planning Department’s Memo on U-Haul trucks parked along Rollins Road by Michael’s
Rental, 1336 Rollins Road
Mr. Ho advised that the Planning Department wrote to Michael’s Rental that it has violated
its Use Permit by parking U-Haul trucks on the street. Their trucks should be parked on site,
not on the street. Officer Dahlstrom advised that the Police will inform the Planning
Department of the status.
7.1.2 Letter from Reverend Thomas Hand about new STOP signs on Adeline Drive at Cortez
Avenue
Mr. Erbacher advised that staff received another letter complaining of too many stop signs on
Adeline already. Council, at their next meeting, will reconsider their passage of a recent
ordinance adding these stop signs.
7.1.3 Article on Pedestrian Accidents in Crosswalks, ITE Journal, September 2000
Mr. Ho advised that this article summarizes a study showing that marked crosswalks removed
from intersections significantly reduce the accident rate. He also stated that this study
provides valuable information for the Commission when considering requests for crosswalks.
He will add this article to the Traffic Manual for new TSPC Commissioners.
7.1.4 Traffic Engineer’s Report
Mr. Ho advised that the City received no funding from Caltrans for the Safe Routes to School
program. There had been an overwhelming amount of applications received and Caltrans
could only give to 15% of the applicants. Next opportunity to apply will be in the spring.
Also, there are two new projects that are about to start which will affect traffic: in December
(for three months) a sewer project on the 400 block of Rollins Road between Broadway and
Peninsula, and in January (for six months) a storm drain improvement project in the Mills
Avenue area.
Mr. Erbacher advised that the Broadway Streetscape Project’s master plan has been
suspended due to a parking loss controversy. It will be about 2002 before there is any further
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construction.
7.1.5 Staff Action Log. Updated.
7.2 From TSPC to Staff
7.2.1 Reports of citizen complaints or requests from TSPC. None.
7.2.2 Comments and communication.
Comm. Auran suggested future meetings be conducted by the Chair according to standard
protocol and to advise the public in attendance of that protocol.
7.2.3 Expected absences of Commissioners at the next meeting. None.
8.INACTIVE ITEMS.
9.AGENDIZE FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
9.1 Mr. Ho advised of December’s Agenda Items as follows:
4.2.1 City Engineer to schedule meeting with Chamber of Commerce and merchants in January
2001
4.2.5 Discussion Item - as needed
5.1 Discussion Item
5.2 Discussion Item
10. ADJOURNMENT. 9:25 p.m.
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