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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009/10/14 - Minutes - SpecialOctober 14, 2009 CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MINUTES REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Special Meeting A. CALL TO ORDER A special meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council/Fire Protection DistricURedevelopmentRgency was held on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, at Valle Vista Elementary School, 7727 Valle Vista Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California 91730. Mayor/Chairman/President Donald J. Kurth, M.D. called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present were Councilmembers/Boardmembers/Agencymembers: Sam Spagnolo, Diane Williams, Mayor Pro Tem/Vice PresidenWice Chairman L. Dennis Michael; and Mayor/President/Chairman Donald J. Kurth. Councilmember/Boardmember/Agencymember Gutierrez arrived at 6:25 p.m. Also present were: Jack Lam, City Manager; Linda Daniels, Interim Deputy City Manager/RDA Director; Mark Steuer, Director of Engineering Services/City Engineer, Jon Gillespie, Traffic Engineer and Debra McKay, Assistant City Clerk/Records Manager. B. PUBLIC COMMi.JNICA"PIONS B1. Hank Stoy noted that he does not speak for all of the Red Hill residents. He indicated that when the survey was done, most residents were not supportive of medians. Mr. Stoy did not support the installation of medians on Foothill Boulevard and Base Line Road to prevent left-turns. He asked that the Council survey the residents again before considering something like that. B2. Bill Hanlon stated that it was obvious that a decision had already been made. He did not support the placement of a median and was opposed to the expansion of Foothill Boulevard. Mr. Hanlon indicated that the amount of traffic has decreased and indicated that most people were stopping at stop signs. He expressed a concern with the use of Robert's Rules of Order and noted that it is not being followed properly. B3. Jim Moffatt indicated that traffic problems are way down and accidents have decreased. He did not have any traffic concerns as everything is going fine. B4. Bruce Zwissler noted that if it was necessary, he would support the placement of a median on Foothill Boulevard as long as it is possible to turn east when drivers are coming down the hill or there is opportunity for a U-turn. B5. Kathleen Schmidt stated that the Council and community have been discussing this since 2006. There have never been sidewalks in the Red Hill area and people should have recognized that fact when they purchased their home. Ms. Schmidt noted that two surveys have been time and pointed out the cost of the surveys and the time in holding all of the public meetings. She stated that the amount of traffic has decreased and indicated that any other action should wait until after the widening of Foothill Boulevard is accomplished. 66. Edward Clark indicated that he has been watching the City waste time and money beating a dead horse. Mr. Clark noted that there is no problem and wondered why a meeting had been called to discuss traffic calming strategies. Redevelopment Agency, Fire Protection District, City Council Special Meeting Minutes October 14, 2009 -Page 1 of 3 B7. Edmund Wolski stated that many residents who live in the Red Hill area do not stop at stop signs. He expressed a concern with the cost of the traffic calming measures. Mr. Wolski noted that people should pick up after their dogs and walk against the flow of traffic. Also, golf cart drivers need to obey the law. Mr. Wolski noted that the speed limit on Alta Cuesta to Haven is 40 mph but noted that as drivers leave the hill the speed limit becomes 45 mph. He did not support the placement of medians but supported less expensive traffic calming measures. Mr. Wolski inquired if the overpass was going to be removed. B8. Ray Keeney noted that fines are doubled for people speeding in construction areas and suggested that a similar practice be followed for people speeding in the Red Hill area. B9. Gail Sanchez suggested that the staff presentation be made first before public comment is heard so that the residents can have more information on what is being proposed. She was opposed to closing off Foothill Boulevard and inquired if a decision had previously been made on the placement of medians. In response, City Manager Jack Lam reported that a meeting was held in June to discuss traffic in the Red Hill neighborhood. At that meeting, the City Council decided to not install a gate and directed staff to prepare a report on traffic calming measures. Unrelated to this discussion are the Foothill Boulevard improvements as this is part of the Foothill Master Plan. Mr. Lam noted that the purpose of tonight's meeting is to discuss traffic calming measures. If there is not interest in pursuing additional traffic calming measures, he expected that this would be the last meeting with the Red Hill neighborhood. If it is decided that additional traffic calming measures are warranted, staff will need direction on which measures are desired and their location. Rita Warshaw stated that the people who are most affected are the residents on Alta Cuesta. She did not believe that enough has been done to remedy their concerns. More street and ground signage is needed as well as some solar powered speed signs. C. ITCtvt of DISCUSSION 1. Report on Neighborhood Traffic Calming Strategies in the Red Hill Area Jon Gillespie, Traffic Engineer, presented the staff report. Mr. Gillespie reported that the City Council decided in June to leave Red Hill Country Club Drive open and presented a summary of the 13 meetings and 2 surveys that were done to address the traffic concerns in the neighborhood. He reported that 8 new stop signs have been installed and identified their locations for the Council and the audience. Mr. Gillespie discussed traffic calming and presented information, photographs and physical displays of traffic calming measures to the City Council and the audience. The pros and cons of various traffic calming devices were discussed, which included discussion regarding centerline striping and reflective markers, speed limit signs, stop signs, enforcement, rumble strips, uneven brick pavers, traffic islands and chokers, speed humps and speed bumps, rubber speed humps, speed pillows and solar powered radar speed signs. Mr. Gillespie noted that a traffic count was collected. He compared the recent daily traffic volume summary of 2,109 at Alta Cuesta, Base Line to Red Hill Country Club Drive with the traffic count of 4,275 experienced on May 20, 2008. Also, he reviewed the accident history, reporting that compared to 12 accidents in 2008 there has only been 1 accident this year. Lastly, Mr. Gillespie presented a matrix of the various neighborhood traffic calming devices, including information regarding their effectiveness, noise and cost per location. In response to Mayor Kurth, Mr. Gillespie stated that the decrease in traffic could be attributed to the development of the Colonies project, which has now been completed. Using that that scenario, Mayor Pro Tem Michael noted that he would expect 6 accidents this year instead of 1. He indicated that the placement of the stop signs also helped. In response to Councilmember Spagnolo, Mr. Gillespie stated that his recommendation on speed humps and speed bumps would be that residents need to be consulted on their placement and perhaps sign a waiver recognizing the noise of the devices before these devices were installed. Mr. Gillespie concurred with Councilmember Gutierrez that the actual amount of noise created would depend upon the speed in which the vehicle was traveling. Redevelopment Agency, Fire Protection District, City Council Special Meeting Minutes October 14, 2009 -Page 2 of 3 Mayor Pro Tem Michael noted that drivers would likely speed up between the speed humps/bumps in order to reach their destination on time. He expected that if speed humps were placed on Alta Cuesta that drivers would move to other streets. The City Council would then need to put speed humps on those streets as well. Lastly, he pointed out that speed humps were shown on streets with sidewalks and noted that there are no sidewalks on Alta Cuesta. Also, Mayor Pro Tem Michael noted that the street is very narrow. In response to Councilmember Spagnolo, Mr. Gillespie addressed the placement of stop signs in various locations. As compared to the initial 14 stop signs that were proposed, 8 have been installed. Councilmember Spagnolo commented that the installation of stop signs has been effective. Councilmember Gutierrez concurred with the effectiveness of the stop signs. He wondered if enough has been done to address the concerns of the residents on Alta Cuesta. Councilmember Spagnolo stated that not everyone wants a traffic calming device in front of their home. He would have considered the placement of speed humps, speed bumps or speed pillows if the residents wanted them but believed that much of the concern regarding traffic has been addressed. Councilmember Gutierrez referenced Ms. Warshaw's comments and wondered if the needs of the residents on Alta Cuesta had been met. He requested that the audience indicate by raising their hands if they lived on Alta Cuesta. 3-4 hands were raised. Councilmember Gutierrez inquired if they were satisfied with the measures taken and 2-3 hands were raised. Councilmember Gutierrez indicated that he would support such measures if the people most affected by them agreed with them. Councilmember Williams commented that the City Council addressed the needs of the community. She noted that the cause for a lot of the traffic appears to be gone. Councilmember Williams noted that the Foothill widening project has been planned for many years and expected that once this project is completed that it would alleviate the traffic concerns even further. She encouraged the residents to contact the City Council immediately if the problem started to peak again. Mayor Pro Tem Michael stated that 2 surveys and 13 community meetings were held. He stressed that the City Council serves the community and noted that this is what effective government looks like. The matter has been dealt with and looked at extensively. Mayor Pro Tem Michael did not support further traffic calming measures at this time. In response to Mr. Wolski, he confirmed that the bridge would be replaced and would accommodate people riding and walking on the City's trail system. Mayor Kurth thanked the audience for attending the meeting. He stressed that the City Council is here to listen to the concerns of the community. Mayor Kurth did not believe that any additional steps needed to be taken at this time but noted that the situation would need to be monitored. D. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned 7:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, 'J~~~ Debra L. McKay, MMC Assistant City Clerk/Records Manager Approved: November 4, 2009 Redevelopment Agency, Fire Protection District, City Council Special Meeting Minutes October 14, 2009 -Page 3 of 3