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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Committee - 11/28/2011Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, November 28, 2011 I. Call Meeting to Order - Mr. Curtis A. Rock, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 2:32 p.m. II. Approval of Minutes - Minutes of October 24, 2011 were approved. III. Presentations and Discussions - a. Monthly Traffic Fatality Report: Capt. Vesely reported seven (7) new fatalities, which brings the total to thirty -three (33) for year 2011. b. Monthly Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee Report: Mr. Cardenas reported the "Safe Passing" ordinance would be going to City Council for the briefing on December 13. He said December 20 would be the first reading for the first action item. Mr. Cardenas commented he believes the second week in January would be the second reading. c. Police Department Traffic Enforcement Complaints: Capt. Vesely reported the complaints for last month are down. He said they have not seen the number of complaints in school zones they normally have. Therefore, for some unknown reason there has been 1/3 as many complaints as there have been in previous months. Ms. Beard asked since you have to get a subpoena for phone records for accidents, what if it is in the school zone and they want to dispute, they were on the phone. Do you get a copy of the phone records? Capt. Vesely responded they do not. It is usually the word of the officer; compared to the word of the person that gets the ticket. He said not too many people fight these tickets because it is very embarrassing and they just pay the tickets. d. Top 20 Traffic Accident Locations for the Month: Capt. Vesely said the top traffic accident locations are the usual ones that we normally see. He said there is a new number one, which is the Harbor Bridge. This has brought some discussion at least in the circles around the Police Department about the off ramp on US -181 SB at the Harbor Bridge and the possibility of closing it down. Capt. Vesely said he and Mr. Cardenas have been working on this. He said other than that there are still the same perennial favorites, like Everhart /SPID, Staples /SPID and Airline /SPID. Nothing that is surprising. Capt. Vesely said approximately 2/3 to 3/4 of the accidents are caused by failure to control speed. More often than not, people are busy texting or talking on cell phones. He said failure to control speed for the police world is a very common reason for traffic accidents. e. Unified Development Code (UDC): Mr. Cardenas discussed the code of ordinances for driveways. Mr. Cardenas said what he wanted to convey to the committee is how to qualify for a driveway, whether it is business, industrial or residential. He said in some cases there is a house in the corner, they want two driveways, and they want a horseshoe type of scenario. This does not always work because sometimes there are intersecting arterial streets. Mr. Cardenas said this would be a reoccurring item and it would be on the agenda on a permanent basis. They are still discussing changing the code; therefore, if it is the wish of this committee, it Page 1 of 4 does not go through this committee for driveway approval. He said simply because we certainly do not want to impede any kind of development where they would have to wait a month to get on the agenda or we have to have a special meeting just to approve a driveway. Mr. Cardenas stated we do want to cut the red tape as much as we can. It is the city's intention to be a development friendly city and definitely, we do not want to impede in that kind of development, even if it is for a home. He said he does like the committee's input and wants the committee to be aware on how the city selects driveways. Mr. Cardenas commented he would distribute the proper packet next month. f. Discussion and Presentation of Possibility of No Cell Phone Use While Driving: Item tabled for next meeting. g. Update on Municipal Maintenance Agreement (MMA) with City and TxDOT: Mr. Cardenas stated this is still moving forward and it has been rekindled. They are going through details now in different operational departments with the City. He said as far as Traffic Engineering is concerned we do handle some of the signs and markings; therefore, there is a small additional cost to our operational budget. Mr. Cardenas explained how the City and TxDOT install their traffic signs. Mr. Cardenas said these are some of the things we have to take into account when the City goes into an agreement with TxDOT. Mr. Cardenas reported the big operating departments that are going to be affected are Storm Water and Street Services. He said Storm Water does a lot of the mowing and litter clean up and Street Services does a lot of the sweeping. He said there are non - control TxDOT roadways, like Saratoga Blvd. and Staples St., where you see the median project going in and FM -624 in Calallen. Mr. Cardenas said a controlled TxDOT roadway is a freeway, like IH37, SPID and Crosstown. He said these are controlled freeways because you can control traffic, how they get up and down by the on ramps. Mr. Cardenas stated the other ones you cannot control how they get in. Therefore, Storm Water does all the mowing so they are going to have increased mowing cycles, which means increased cost to the City to do some more areas of roadway. Street Services is also going to schedule more sweeping cycles. These are the operating departments that are going to require more effort and this is what is being discussed as we speak. We are trying to expedite the process and to come up with the Municipal Maintenance Agreement (MMA). Mr. Cardenas stated that signals and lighting is a separate agreement, it is not part of the MMA. Technically, it is part of the MMA but it is a separate agreement the City has with TxDOT. Mr. Rock stated this is an important agreement so we can beautify our community. Mr. Cardenas commented this agreement has not been updated since 1983 so there are some issues out on Park Rd. 22 and SH361 at the Island. He said that area has since been annexed by the City and there are some other roadways that have been widened and need to be maintained by the City or TxDOT but there needs to be some clarification. h. Update on Aquarius St. Project: Mr. Cardenas reported the City Council had approved the speed limit reduction on Aquarius St. from 35 mph to 30 mph. He said Aquarius St. is not really a residential street yet it functions as a residential street because houses front the roadway. Because it is a straight shot, it is very easy to speed on. Mr. Cardenas said as far as the alignment, from Dasmarinas to Commodores, there still has not been a decision made regarding the alignment. Mr. Cardenas said he believes that area is still under litigation and they are Page 2 of 4 working on what is going to happen and what type of design is going to be used. Mr. Rock stated there was a judgment already on it. Mr. Narvaez with the Legal Department said the judgment was basically that the City exceeded the description of the project provided to the voters on the bond election. Therefore, the City was not allowed to use bond money for the road project and then the City Council decided to use other funds to fund the project. Mr. Rock asked if the City could not use any of the bond money. Mr. Narvaez said the money that was set aside for the Aquarius St. Project was not allowed to be used according to the judgment. Mr. Jacobi commented he thought this project would be funded from the reserve fund. Mr. Narvaez said yes. Mr. Jacobi said looking at the financial statement of the City, you see numerous reserve funds. Mr. Jacobi inquired which reserve fund this project is coming from. Mr. Narvaez responded that he did not know. IV. V i. Discussion and Possible Action of Committee Member Vacancy on the TAC: Mr. Cardenas read an email to the committee that was sent by the City's Secretary Office. He said this email is the clarification to Mr. Colosi's vacancy. Mr. Cardenas stated if the committee would like to recommend someone to the council or the council has someone to recommend to the committee that is fine as well. Mr. Rock stated this is a City Council call anyway. Mr. Price asked if Mr. Colosi had formally resigned. Mr. Cardenas responded yes he had. Ms. Beard inquired if the committee is requesting a person or category because on the agenda it states recommending a new category in place. Mr. Cardenas said it is up to the committee to keep or remove this category or make a new category. He said this does not recommend the member's vacancy; this is just talking about the category. Mr. Rock said that there has been a dismal attendance by NAS and he would be in favor of removing this traditionally category and making it an at large position. Staff Recommendations requiring Committee Review for Recommendations / Actions - a. Appointments to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Sub - committee: None b. Recommending a New Category in Place Officer Category: Ms. Beard motioned to Officer Category and create an At Large Motioned passed. Identify items to be placed on a future agenda of the Historical NAS Security remove the current NAS Security Category. Mr. Jacobi seconded. • TxDOT Presentation of No Cell Phone Use While Driving Campaign • Discussion of Stop Light at Sinclair St. and Alameda St. • Discussion of Possibility of No Cell Phone Use While Driving • Update on Crossing Guard Issues • Update on Red Light Cameras Page 3 of 4 VI. Public Comment - Arnold Montoya (owner of Nueces Auto Parts) C 4409 Kostoryz Rd. Mr. Montoya talked about some concerns he had with the Kostoryz Rd. 6t Gollihar Rd. Construction Project. VII. Adjournment - Meeting adjourned at 3:29 p.m. Page 4 of 4