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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 04/27/2009 REC EU`MrED Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes CITY SC OFFICE Monday, April 27, 2009 Call Meeting to Order— Mr. Green, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 2:32 p.m. II. Approval of Minutes — Motion made by Ms. Beard, seconded by Mr. Rock to approve the minutes for March 23, 2009. Motion passed. Ill. Presentations and Discussions — a. Monthly Traffic Fatality Report: Police department representative was not present. Bill Green tabled the item. b. Mr. Cardenas discussion on: • Municipal Maintenance Agreement Update — Mr. Cardenas specified that this is a recurring item and he would like to keep this item on the agenda. He explains that he is not discussing this issue with TXDOT at the moment, but that staff is now discussing this item within themselves as far as operations and budgeting issues. c. Upcoming Transportation Advisory Committee members' appointments: Bill Green would like TAC to note that there are three (3) resignations being, Joe Ortiz, David Seiler and Jerry Trevino. These individuals have elected to move off the TAC and he can assume that TAC has at least one vacancy. Mr. Green inquires on whether there are any nominees or whether the city council is entertaining nominees for this committee. Mr. Cardenas states that because the new council will not go into effect until May 19, 2009, nominations can be put on the city council agenda after that date. Mr. Green questions if the city secretary's office has any nominees. Karen Beard adds that city secretary's office should have at least one nominee, because she submitted the application. Mr. Cardenas affirms thathe is unaware of any nominees at this point, but knows that a notice was sent out to Jerry Trevino regarding his resignation. Mr. Cardenas will inquire about any nominees. d. Recommending to the city that the use of cell phones while driving be made illegal in the city limits: Mr. Cardenas briefly explains that Sheila Cudd wanted to further discuss passing a city ordinance of some sort on the use of cell phones while driving. Sheila Cudd addresses that using a cell phone while driving has become a traffic nuisance and would like TAC to discuss this issue further. Glenn Jones asks Mrs. Cudd whether enforcement would be a police officer observing it. Mrs. Cudd adds that SCANNED Page 1 of 5 California has such laws now and police there have said that it is easy to observe. Mr. Green compares to the Click It or Ticket program enforced by the police department where observation is the key. Karen Beard takes the unpopular view on the topic and advises TAC of studies that showed no difference between using the cell phone or a hands free,device. Mrs. Beard states that in her line of work she sees more people distracted by reaching to a child in the backseat. Mrs. Beard argues that cell phones take a rap because they can be easily removed versus banning children in cars. Mr. Green voices that there is resignation when asking a government entity to impose its will on free choice, but sometimes it must be done to consider the greater good. Mr. Green inquires whether city staff has been directed to develop policy or ordinance considerations for TAC's review. Mr. Cardenas replies that there is not, but adds that public education.programs should be considered as an alternative as well. Mr. Cardenas adds that the Assistant City Manager suggested showing city support on this by establishing city policy prohibiting city employees from using cell phones while driving city vehicles. This cannot be implemented, of course, without going through Risk Management. Additionally, Mr. Cardenas informs that TXDOT, Department of Public Safety and other state agencies have adopted this policy already. Mr. Green comments that we (TAC members) are all champions in our community by serving on this committee and as an experiment he would like all members to abstain the use of a cell phone while driving. Keeping this item on the agenda, he encourages everyone to try it and discuss at the next meeting. e. Legacy Point: Glenn Jones withdraws this item because there has already been a resolution. f. Staples Delineator Project (Montana Mike's): Karen Beard speaks on Daniel Carrizales' behalf on this item. Mr. Carrizales wants to make it known that as the MPO, they do not want to compromise on a ,_project with delineators. Mr. Carrizales informs TAC that this item deals with redistricting and advises not to move forward with delineators because it can cause problems. Mr. Cardenas tells the board that he spoke with TXDOT, and is not aware of the redistricting issue, but states that a median project is scheduled for 2010 on Staples from Saratoga to Yorktown and on Saratoga from Staples to Roddfield Rd. With that said, TXDOT is not in favor of delineators because of monetary issues and design time. Mr. Cardenas states that funding of the median project is an MPO structure. g. Striping Maintenance on Staples and Saratoga: Sheila Cudd notifies the TAC that pavement striping cannot be seen when turning from Staples St. onto eastbound Saratoga Blvd. Mr. Cardenas informed the committee that TXDOT is responsible for both of these areas and with budgeting issues, TXDOT will most likely wait until the median project is underway. Mr. Cardenas assures that he will check into striping maintenance with TXDOT. Page 2 of 5 h. Long Meadow left turn onto Saratoga: Mr. Cardenas advises the TAC that a concern was brought up on adding a protected left turn driving out of Long Meadow to Westbound Saratoga. Mr. Cardenas adds that the problem is there is not enough right-of-way space to add a left turn lane. Additionally, when looking at the studies, there are other things to look at such as, split phase sequence or a lead lag on the traffic lights at that intersection. However, this would take away the green light time on Saratoga, which is more critical than the left turn movements from Long Meadow. Mr. Cardenas informs that the best solution is to acquire right-of-way and squeeze in a left turn lane, but this becomes unpopular with residents because you take away from their parking spaces. IV. Staff Recommendations requiring Committee Review . for Recommendations/Actions— a. City of Corpus Christi Residential Parking Permit: Mr. Green addresses Mr. Cardenas confirming that a resident brought up this issue because they received a parking ticket for parking in a No Parking by special permit only area. Mr. Cardenas confirms and goes on to say that the special permit is not in a city ordinance but is established by signage. Mr. Green questions who the regulating agency that put up this restriction was. Mr. Cardenas informs TAC that fifteen (15) years ago Traffic Engineering department put together a pilot program that was never completed and Traffic Engineering now wants to discuss further and find the best solution and action to take. Mr. Green voices that removing signage and allowing parking as it is done in other neighborhoods would be best, unless it is a public safety issue requiring restrictions. Mr. Green adds saying the city would not want to engage themselves in administering and enforcing such neighborhood parking. Mr. Cardenas states two issues, one being cars bottlenecking in school areas and the other being university students parking in neighborhoods. Mr. Cardenas justifies that enforcing this requires police and fire department approval. Mr. Jones suggests bringing the old pilot program for review at the next meeting and continuing discussion with the facts. b. Appointments to the Bicycle Subcommittee: The committee addresses this item and the following item together as one. Karen Beard notifies the committee that the current Council of Neighborhoods is not clear anymore and would like to change the name to Communities in Schools because they are involved more with the school system and latchkey programs. Mrs. Beard requests to add a member of the MPO into the Communities in Schools. Mrs. Beard would like to nominate Kirby as CCISD representative and Amanda as TAMUCC representative. Mrs. Beard would like to change the name to Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee. Mr. Cardenas informs TAC that there is already a pedestrian committee with the ADA committee Page 3 of 5 addresses pedestrians. Mr. Green advises Mrs. Beard to entertain three motions. Mrs. Beard entertains a motion to change Bicycle Subcommittee to Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee. Mr. Jones seconds that motion. Motion is passed. Mrs. Beard entertains a motion that membership of committee be changed from Council of Neighborhoods to reflect Communities in Schools and add one (1) representative from the MPO and one (1) representative from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee to serve on this committee. Mr. Jones seconds that motion. Motion is passed. Mrs. Beard entertains a motion to appoint Kirby as the CCISD representative, Amanda Drum as the TAMUCC representative, and Gretchen Arnold from the Bicycle Subcommittee to serve on the committee. Curtis Rock seconds that motion. Motion is passed. c. Amendment to the composition of the Bicycle Subcommittee: Previously addressed in item IV-b. d. Establish a School Zone: • On Park Road 22 near Bob Hall Road — Mr. Cardenas discusses the establishment of a school or speed drop in this area because parents are using Park Road 22 to pull over and drop off students. Mr. Cardenas adds that any decision made on this issue would have to go to TXDOT for approval. Mr. Green, chairperson, moves to table this item until more information is made available. Karen Beard seconds that motion. • At Sands Drive adjacent to Flour Bluff High School — Mr. Cardenas informs the committee that this issue came from a resident who lives on Greer. Currently there is no stop sign at Greer and Sands Dr. because the area did not meet warrant studies, but the concern is only a problem during the school year at the end of each school day. Mr. Green voices that until there is better communication between the city, residents in that area, and school officials from Flour Bluff High School can this move forward. Sheila moves to table this item until better exhibits showing school zone limits and endorsements of school district are provided. • On Leopard Street in front of Oak Park Elementary School — Karen moves to table Oak Park item until next meeting. Glenn Jones seconds that motion. V. Identify items to be placed on a future agenda— Page 4 of 5 • Any other items — None VI. Public Comment— None VII. Adjournment— Meeting adjourned at 4:06 pm Page 5 of 5