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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 05/26/1992 lr j. T-RANSP-,ORTAT[t3N ADVISORYCOMMITTEE MINUTES (for the meeting of May-26-;19-9-2)-3 Meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m. Minutes of the April 27th regular meeting were approved. Minutes of the May 11th Special Session were approved with the addition that there was a consensus of the Committee, suggested by Mr. L. Brandrup, that the Chairperson Mr. Plunger appear before the City Council to respond to comments made by Councilmember Leo Guerrero. Messrs. L. Brandrup and B. Sley were absent. Mr.Pillinger informed the Committee of a meeting that was being held in the City Council Chambers,that neither the TAC or Traffic Engineering staff had been made aware of, between the County Commissioners and the City Council. They were discussing what items would be recommended in a meeting on 5-27-92 to the Highway Commission in Austin. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Mr. Pillinger: • Thanked the members for calling in to notify someone when they will be absent from a meeting. o Advised the Committee of a letter that was given to him by Councilmember Moss from Mary Carroll High School in regard to the need for a better signal light system at Weber and Tiger Lane. Carroll High School is expecting between 2,200 and 2,400 students this summer session which will create an even greater traffic problem when attempting a left turn from Tiger Lane onto Weber Road. Mr.Seiler responded that he had already taken action on this concern. • Read the statement that he had given to the City Council,at the request of the TAC,and informed them of Mr. Guerrero's response which basically stated that "there is nothing that makes it necessary for a member of an advisory committee to appear before the City Council unless their presence is so requested", and that his earlier comments were not directed at all members of the TAC but only to the Chairperson "who on numerous occasions had tried to circumvent the decisions of the City Council and Staff in pursuit of his own political agenda". He further suggested that the Chairperson should read the fourth sentence of the duties and responsibilities of the TAC which states that the TAC is to act in an advisory capacity mly to the City.Council and City Manager. Mr. Pillinger stated that all future responses to Mr. Guerrero would not be on the behalf of the TAC. Also, he wished to make it very clear that he does not have a personal agenda and if at any time the Committee feels that his actions are not in the best interest of the Committee and the City, he would gladly resign. TRAFFIC FATALITY REPORT Capt.C.H.Byrd presented the Fatality Report. The Police Department has recorded two (2)fatal traffic accident since the last Committee.meeting. There has been a total of eight (8) fatal traffic accidents for 1992. The Police Department has arrested 485 people for DWI in 1992 compared to 451 at this same time last year. MR. E. HECHT REPORTED TREE LIMBS CAUSING A VISION OBSTRUCTION AT WOOLDRIDGE/RODD FIELD ROAD. MONTHLY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE REPORT Accepted as presented by Mr. Seiler. SCAN N ED 2 DISCUSSION ITEMS • Subcommittee report on publication of traffic safety'information'and traffic-safety related public interests'issues'. o The Chairperson called for a report on the meeting between the Caller-Times, Ms. Hoist and Messrs. Hecht and Seiler. Mr. Hecht reported that the Caller-Times would be"happy" to make the traffic safety issues a regular item. FY 1992-93 Unified Work Program budget issues/Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. o Mr.Seiler introduced this discussion item as a necessary educational topic for the Transportation Advisory Committee,and further explained that the staff is proposing adding the review of MPO-UPWP/TIP staff recommendations to the responsibilities of the Transportation Advisory Committee,which will be discussed in detail further in the meeting. Presentation was then turned over to Mary Frances Teniente, Special Services Engineer. Ms. Teniente explained that the Federal Government makes funds.available to urbanized areas for street improvements as well as planning activities and has established a specific set of requirements. The funds are requiredto be used to maintain a coordinated,comprehensive,continuing transportation planning process for that urbanized area. The Governor's office has designated Corpus Christi as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the urbanized area as defined by the U. S.Bureau of the Census. The MPO consists of representatives from the participating governmental jurisdictions and are organized into two committees, the Transportation Planning Committee and Technical Advisory Committee. The committees meet annually to review the Unified Planning Work Program that outlines how these planning funds are to be used to maintain the planning process. Ms.Temente explained that there is a need for additional input and requested the TAC become the public forum for hearing citizen input. Motion was made by Mr.F.Braselton,seconded by LCDR.M.Williams and passed unanimously to include becoming an advisory committee to the MPO be added to the duties and responsibilities of the Transportation Advisory Committee and to become as involved as possible in the planning process. 'Vehicles-for-Hire'general issues report to Committee o Mr.Pillinger stated that immediately following the May Special Session meeting he met with Mr.J.Bray, City Attorney. Mr.Bray pointed out to Mr:Pillinger that there is an ordinance pertaining to the issuance of taxicab permits and a specific procedure that must be followed. Mr. Bray agreed to review the ordinance containing the TAC duties and responsibilities and the ordinance governing taxicabs to see if there are any conflicts. . THE CHAIRPERSON REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLES-FOR-HIRE ISSUE. BE DELAYED TO BE DISCUSSED WITH THE PURPOSE/DUTIES OF TAC. Billboard (traffic safety related) regulations. o The decision was made to postpone discussion of this item until a later meeting. Park Plaza Annex preliminary plat submittal o Mr. Seiler presented this item explaining the opposing view of the staff to the plat submittal based on traffic conflict concerns. During the April monthly meeting a quorum was not available,but the consensus of the TAC with one member abstaining was in opposition of the plat. Motion was then made by Mr. Hecht, seconded by Mr. Routh and passed unanimously to re-confirm the consensus of the Committee in opposition of the preliminary plat submitted by Park Plaza Annex. THE CHAIRPERSON REQUESTED TO HEAR THE CONCERNS OF A CITIZEN IN THE AUDIENCE TO AVOID HAVING THE CITIZEN WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE MEETING TO BE HEARD. .J a 3 Mr.John Pavlasek addressed the Committee in regard to an on-going problem with the closure of a gate at Richard King High School. As he has previously requested, Mr. Pavlasek would like to see the gate on Lambert Street permanently closed forcing traffic to exit on Gollihar Street instead of on Lambert Street which causes an excessive amount of traffic and speeding vehicles in this residential area. Motion was made by Mr.Hecht seconded by Mr.Routh/Mr.Bosquez and passed to recommend the closure of the Lambert Street gate. The motion passed with Ms. Hoist and Messrs. Pillinger, Williams,.Routh, Hecht and Bosquez voting"yes" and Mr. Braselton voting"no". Mr. Pillinger suggested that Mr. Pavlesek appear before the school board also to voice his concerns. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS REQUIRING COMMITTEE APPROVAL Staff recommendation on proposed revisions to City Code of Ordinances Section 2-120 and 2-121 regarding the composition, organization, terms and purposes/duties of the Transportation Advisory Committee. • • Mr. Seiler introduced this recommendation pointing out the addition of(1) oversight of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Technical Advisory Committee and Transportation Planning Committee regarding staff proposals for annual Unified Work Program and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) elements and (2) matters involving Vehicles-for-Hire. Ms.Teniente also addressed the Committee explaining that the oversight of the Vehicles-for-Hire includes taxicabs,limousines,sight-seeing vehicles and horse drawn carriages. She further explained the permitting process and turned the presentation over to Mr. Guillermo (Willie) Medina. Mr. Medina gave a brief overview of the vehicles-for-hire and advised the Committee of the most recent problem of the local taxicab companies complaining of having to pay street usage fee and yet out of town companies that do not pay this fee are coming into the city picking up and dropping off passengers. One nearby city does not allow other companies to pick up or even drop off passengers inside their city limits. Mr. Medina is presently working with the surrounding cities on a solution to standardize the permitting procedures, inspections and policies. After some discussion of the need for the TAC to become involved in this process, motion was made by Mr. Braselton and seconded by LCDR. Williams to adopt the changes as recommended to Section 2-120 and 2-121 regarding the composition, organization, terms and purpose/duties of the TAC to include the revisions relating to Vehicles-for-Hire and the Metropolitan Planning Organization. THE CHAIRPERSON RECOGNIZED MR. NED MIDDLETON WITH THE TEXAS SAFETY ASSOCIATION AND THANKED HIM FOR HIS CONTINUED INTEREST IN THE TAC. Staff recommendation to increase the speed limit on the So.Padre Island Drive Expressway(Park Road 22) from 50 MPH to 55 MPH from a point 850 feet west of Waldron Road to the east city limit. o Mr.Seiler presented the recommendation to increase the speed limit on S.Padre Tcland Drive Expressway from 50 MPH to 55 MPH. After little discussion motion was made by Mr.Hecht seconded by Mr.Routh and passed unanimously to accept the staff recommendation. Staff recommendation to establish a 25 MPH speed limit on the newly dedicated section of Carmel Parkway Extension between Staples Street and Gollihar. o Mr. Seiler presented this recommendation which had been brought before the TAC during their March, 1992 meeting. At that time the recommendation was for 20 MPH but died for lack of a second. Motion was made by Mr.Hecht seconded by Mr.Bosquez and passed with Ms.Hoist and Messrs.Pillinger, Bosquez, Hecht, Routh voting"yes" and LCDR. Williams and Mr. Braselton voting"no". 4 ACTION ON ABSENT MEMBERS.FROM APRIL MEETING Motion was made by Mr. Braselton and seconded by.Ms.Hoist to excuse Messrs.Bosquez,Hecht and Routh from the April 27, 1992 TAC meeting. Mr. Sley was not excused from the April 27 meeting because he was absent from this meeting and unable to request to be excused. NEW CONCERNS Mr. Ned Middleton, Texas Safety Association, informed the Committee of several upcoming items: o National Safety Week-June 8 - 14 o TSA's 11th Annual Professional.Development Conference -July 21-22, 1992 ° Ground breaking of Safety town Mr. Plunger questioned the staff on the possibility of the addition of a brief report on the number of DWI's and their disposition. ADJOURNMENT ° Meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m. Minutes.May