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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - TSP - 2019.06.131 TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND PARKING COMMISSION Approved Minutes Regular Meeting of Thursday, June 13, 2019 1. CALL TO ORDER 7:05 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG 3. ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Bush, Israelit, Londer, Martos, Wettan MEMBERS ABSENT: 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) May 9, 2019 Meeting Minutes Motion: To accept the May 9, 2019 meeting minutes as written. M/S/C; Londer/Israelit, 5/0/0 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS – NON-AGENDA Alon Carmeli, the owner of a 15-unit apartment building located at 1220 El Camino Real indicated he only has six assigned parking spaces for his tenants. He inquired as to how he can obtain reserved parking for the residents of his building. 6. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS a) Community B/PAC Update (Informational Only) No update. b) TDA Article 3: Grant Application Alternatives Mr. Wong provided a presentation to the Commission and public regarding two potential CIP projects for the upcoming TDA Article 3 Grant application. The two projects reviewed were the Ray Parking Pedestrian Improvements and the Highway Road Path 2 Improvements. The intent was to obtain feedback on both potential projects and select a project for the TDA grant application. Chair Bush opened public comment. Manito Velasco questioned the calculations for the Ray Park plan and the visibility of the proposed flashing beacons. He also questioned the usability of the walking path and lack of wheel blocks as he felt the parked cars would infringe upon the walking path. Lastly, he stated the danger is still the 90-degree parking. In regards to the Highway Road project, he stated Caltrans is willing to work with the City. Commissioner Martos confirmed with Management Analyst Karen Hagar that the Ray Park project plans can be tweaked. Although he was not against having trees in the area, he also expressed concern regarding the trees blocking visibility of the park from the street and suggested that Parks and Recreation take into consideration the height of the trees. Commissioner Martos also confirmed with Mr. Wong that the Highway Road project can be included in the City’s annual resurfacing effort with the caveat that City Council would have to allocate separate funds for the Highway Road effort. In closing, he stating that based on his observations, he favored the Ray Park project as it was more of a concern to a broader audience than the Highway Road proposal. Commissioner Wettan asked a number of clarifying questions pertaining to both of the proposed projects. He also inquired about Caltrans’ support for the Highway Road project as he felt in one regard, that it might score higher than the Ray Park project, but without the support of Caltrans, there would be no project. Commissioner Wettan pointed out the difficulty choosing a project as both are important to the City but he also felt there was missing pieces. He conveyed that he would especially like to see a pedestrian/bicycle path through or around Ray Park. Commissioner Wettan also agreed with fellow Commissioner Martos that the Ray Park project would serve a larger audience than the Highway Road project. In contrast, he also stated that the Highway Road improvements were strongly needed, especially for bicycle commuters, but thought the project could be accomplished with City funds and therefore leaned more in favor of the Ray Park project with the addition of a pedestrian/bicycle path. Commissioner Londer agreed with Commissioner Wettan’s remarks and felt the Ray Park project was the stronger candidate with added features such as a pedestrian/bicycle path. Vice-Chair Israelit maintained her original stance from the previous meeting and stated the Ray Park project is still the top candidate in her opinion. She felt strongly that the Ray Park project would benefit far more people—especially children. Although she understands the Highway Road paving issue, she felt there are work arounds such as the bike route on California Drive. Chair Bush also asked a number of clarifying questions pertaining to both of the proposed projects, including the feasibility to create a pathway on the north side of Ray Park so people do not have to walk by the parking lot to enter the park. He also felt the need for a 3 more comprehensive plan in regards to the Highway Road proposal. Chair Bush also felt that with enhanced bicycle and pedestrian facilities, the Ray Park project was a stronger candidate, served a larger population, and therefore supported the project for the TDA grant application. The Commission wrapped up the discussion by confirming the possible timing to incorporate a bicycle and pedestrian path in Ray Park. Ms. Hagar suggested the best time would be during construction of the fields at Ray Park, which is anticipated to open for bids in August. Ms. Hagar stated she would inquire as to whether or not a bicycle and pedestrian path can be added to the plans in time for the TDA grant application. Motion: To support going forward to seek a TDA grant for the Ray Park Project with incorporating a new element of a north/south bike and pedestrian path as part of the project on the inside of the park. M/S/C: Wettan/Martos; 5/0/0 c) Sanchez Avenue Traffic Calming Update Mr. Wong provided the Commission and members of the public a presentation regarding speeding concerns on Sanchez Avenue. He explained a multi-way stop sign was requested at Sanchez and Chula Vista Avenues but based on an engineering study, stop signs were not warranted. Mr. Wong stated the City is interested in alternative methods of traffic calming to discourage speeding and cut-through traffic. As a result, Mr. Wong proposed a speed cushion pilot program for the residents to consider. No public comments were received. Commissioner Londer inquired about the number of locations for the pilot program to which Mr. Wong said staff has not yet determined that. Commissioner Israelit asked if the City attempts other traffic calming measures before installing speed bumps/cushions. Mr. Wong indicated that was something staff could look into as part of the pilot program process. Commissioner Wettan liked the idea of piloting a process. However, he didn’t feel that the installation of stop signs should be off the table and pointed out that a stop sign was installed at Grove Avenue under similar conditions. Commissioner Wettan did not feel a “robotic” approach was necessarily the way to address the concerns of residents on Sanchez Avenue. In response, Mr. Wong agreed to check the warrants for the new stop sign on Grove Avenue. Commissioner Israelit felt with the installation of stop signs, they should stick to a protocol, otherwise she wondered where they would draw the line. Commissioner Martos felt there are other ways to reduce speeds and mitigate traffic 4 issues such as with pinch points and chicanes—not just stop signs and speed humps. Mr. Wong explained that stop signs and speed humps are easy to remove and less costly than other traffic calming measures. Commissioner Martos also stated he agreed with fellow Commissioner Wettan in that the stop signs should remain an option for the residents on Sanchez Avenue. Chair Bush wanted to create a uniform process for implementing traffic calming measures and as a step in the process, the data collection efforts would help identify the extent of the problem and whether or not stop signs are warranted. He felt this would help residents make an informed decision and also not be overzealous about installing stop signs. Commissioner Wettan felt the best way to serve the residents of Sanchez Avenue is to test the data and utilize good judgement—not just solely relying on the data. Mr. Wong stated he would modify the petition based on the Commission’s feedback and will take another look at the data. 7. INFORMATION ITEMS a) Engineering Division Reports Mr. Wong provided the following updates regarding Public Works – Engineering projects and activities. • Lyon-Hoag Neighborhood Update – A community meeting was held on June 10 at the Recreation Center. • Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan Update – The project team and the Community B/PAC hosted the project’s first community meeting on April 24. The project team is now working on compiling the feedback from this meeting as well as the online effort. • Electric Vehicle Charging Station – Work continues for the installation of EV chargers in Lot Y (1133 Chula Vista). PG&E night work to occur for a month. City Hall charging station is complete and has been used. • Broadway Grade Separation – Preliminary engineering and environmental clearance efforts are still underway. JPB presented an update to City Council, SMCTA CAC, and SMCTA Boards last week. • TSPC Priority List (revised June 2019): TSPC Led Effort 1 Downtown Parking and Access 5/9/19: Item 6b 5 2 Bike\Ped Plan Update: fwd to BPAC 6/13/19: Item 7a 3 School Traffic and Safety Issues 5/9/19: Item 6c 4 Neighborhood Traffic Calming 6/13/19: Item 6c 5 Citywide Transportation Alternatives 6 Electric Vehicles 5/9/19: Item 7a 7 Broadway Parking 5/9/19: Item 6b 8 Bike Share Feedback 9 Parking and traffic considerations w/Planning * 10 Joint meeting with City Council * 11 Halloween Traffic Impacts (July) * Staff Update via Report 1 Caltrans’ ECR Corridor 2 Hoover School Update 3 Downtown Parking Strategies 5/9/19: Item 6b 4 City Hall Traffic Calming/Floribunda 4/11/19: Item 6b 5 California Roundabout 5/9/19: Item 7a 6 Oak Grove/Carolan Traffic Signal 7 Bike\Ped Plan Update: fwd to BPAC 6/13/19: Item 7a 8 Rec Center Parking 9 Old Bayshore Corridor Study 10 Grant Opportunities 6/13/19: Item 6b 11 Broadway Grade Separation 12 San Mateo's Peninsula Ave OC 13 School Speed Limit Updates 14 School Safety Improvements 5/9/19: Item 6c 15 Lyon-Hoag Neighborhood Traffic Calming 6/13/19: Item 7a 16 300 Burlingame Point Traffic Impacts 17 Broadway/California Update 2019 Agenda Item Action Status 1 Council Direction Regarding Improving Short-Term Parking in the Burlingame Avenue Downtown Area Lots A-3, C, and K-1 have been converted. 2 TSPC’s Lot N Parking Structure Recommendation Completed 3 School Speed Reductions 4 North Carolan Avenue Parking Restrictions Restrictions adopted. Working on sign installations. 5 McKinley Turn-Restrictions Implemented on 4/8/19 6 Stop Signs at 3 locations Restrictions adopted. Working on sign installations. 6 b) Police Department Reports Sergeant Dave Perna reported 17 documented accidents in this reporting period. During the reporting period he noted that there was six minor injury, two DUI, and two pedestrian related accidents. No bicycle related accidents or accidents at the intersection of Floribunda and ECR. One accident was reported in the new roundabout, with the cause being a failure to yield to another vehicle in the roundabout. c) Farmer’s Market Commissioner Londer indicated the next Farmer’s Market is scheduled for Sunday, June 16. The Commission agreed there would be no participation as it falls on Father’s Day. d) TSPC Chair/Commissioner’s Communications Commissioner Londer reported discussions regarding the roundabout to which people have stated that some of the signs are not properly spaced, drivers are not yielding to cars in the roundabout, and that speeding is a normal occurrence. Commissioner Londer stated he has also witnessed cars traveling faster than 15 MPH. Chair Bush shared an observation that the pedestrian crossing at Carolan and Broadway does not function correctly, leading pedestrians to cross Broadway without the walk sign. Mr. Wong explained that staff is reviewing the timing of the signal, but there are limitations due to one controller managing two locations. Chair Bush also shared a few emails he received regarding concerns related to bicycle issues, pedestrian issues, and Sanchez Avenue. Chair Bush spoke about one of the emails from a BPAC member regarding bicycle and pedestrian issues. Commissioner Wettan and Chair Bush spoke about the resident’s email and the resident’s relation to BPAC. 8. COMMISSION & SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS a) Downtown Parking (Martos & Wettan) No update. b) Broadway Parking (Bush & Israelit) Chair Bush reported he and Vice-Chair Israelit exchanged emails regarding the data collected and stated there were a few data points that needed additional attention. Chair Bush stated once all the data is compiled, they will discuss Broadway Parking at the July meeting. c) School Traffic (Israelit & Londer) No update. 7 d) Citywide Transportation Alternatives (Londer & Wettan) No update. 9. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Broadway Parking • Sanchez Traffic Calming • Halloween 10. ADJOURNMENT 9:47 pm