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TC - 04-06-00AGENDA ROSEMEAD TRAFFIC COMMISSION 8838 East Valley Blvd. Rosemead, CA 91770 Regular Meeting May 4, 2000 CALL TO ORDER: Roll Call: Pledge of Allegiance: Invocation: 7:00 p.m. Chairperson Quintanilla, Vice-Chair Ruiz Commissioners Baffo, Herrera, Knapp Commissioner Herrera Commissioner Knapp 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -April 6, 2000 2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE - This is the time reserved for members of the audience to address the Commission on items not listed on the agenda. (Maximum time per speaker is three (3) minutes; total time allocated is fifteen (15) minutes) 3. OLD BUSINESS - NONE 4. NEW BUSINESS - NONE 5. STAFF REPORTS A. TEMPLE CITY BOULEVARD TRUCK ROUTE - STATUS 6. COMMISSIONER REPORTS - 7. ADJOURNMENT - Thursday, June 1, 2000, 7:00 p.m., Rosemead City Council Chambers, 8838 East Valley Blvd., Rosemead, CA 91770 ROSEMEAD TRAFFIC COMMISSION APRIL 6, 2000 A regular meeting of the Rosemead Traffic Commission was called to order by Chairman Quintanilla at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, 8838 E. Valley Boulevard, Rosemead. ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Quintanilla Commissioners: Ruiz, Knapp, Baffo & Herrera Absent: None Ex Officio: Administrative Aide: Jessica Wilkinson Deputy Traffic Engineer: Joanne Itagaki CALL TO ORDER The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Baffo The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Herrera 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Commissioner Herrera, seconded by Commissioner Baffo, and carried- unanimously to approve the minutes for the months of February, 2000 and March, 2000. U. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE Speaking before the Commission was: Helen Gunthrie 1754 Dubonnet Rosemead, CA 91770 Ms. Gunthrie inquired as to why schools are no longer teaching bicycle laws. Deputy Robles stated that the City of South El Monte has a company come out and teaches the kids about bicycle safety and pedestrian safety. He stated that he will recommend this to Sgt. Wallace and Lt. Heller. Speaking before the Commission was: Barbara Larson 3815 Ellis Lane Rosemead, California 91770 -Ms. Larson asked about the Von's Truck Issue. She stated that the trucks are still parking behind her home for hours and they still continue to use theirjake-brakes. Ms. Larson also stated that while taking a walk on Valley Boulevard, she noticed how dirty Valley Boulevard's sidewalks are. She feels that something needs to be done as it relates to the businesses on Valley to clean up the street/sidewalks. Administrative Aide Wilkinson stated that she will have the Code Enforcement Officer to go out there and talk to the businesses. Commissioner Ruiz requested that the Sheriff's go back out there and continue citing the truck drivers. Commissioner Ruiz asked that bushes on the north/west corner be removed. It was moved by Commissioner Knapp, seconded by Commissioner Ruiz, and carried unanimously to approve the Traffic Engineer's recommendation with the addition of installing reflective R.P.M.'s on the inside and removing the bushes on the north/west corner. IV. NEW BUSINESS A. REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL WESTBOUND RIGHT TURN LANE ON VALLEY BOULEVARD AT MISSION DRIVE Deputy Traffic Engineer stated that Commissioner Ruiz requested staff to review the intersection of Valley Boulevard and Mission Drive. Commissioner Ruiz indicated the westbound to northbound right turn volume is very heavy and that an additional right turn lane might be necessary. The intersection of Valley Boulevard and Mission Drive is controlled by a traffic signal. The signal is coordinated together with the intersection of Valley Boulevard and Rio Hondo Drive. Peak hour turning movement counts were taken at Valley Boulevard and Mission Drive. This included the 7:00 to 9:00 a.m., peak and the 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. peak. The reported accident history at and within 100 feet of the intersection of Valley Boulevard and Mission Drive was reviewed for the period from January 1, 1996 through September 30, 1999. This analysis will be presented at the Traffic Commission meeting. The addition of a turn lane at an intersection is based on the volume of turning traffic. The general rule of thumb is a turning volume of 300 or more indicates a need for an additional lane. During the p.m. peak this volume drops to 290 vehicles. Based on the existing traffic volumes, there is a need for an additional right turn lane. RECOMMENDATION: The addition of a westbound right turn lane on Valley Boulevard was recommended. This lane will be a shared right-through lane. Should the Traffic Commission support this recommendation, staff would like to review the traffic signal operation of Valley Boulevard and Mission Drive/Rio Hondo Avenue before the item goes before the City Council. This will insure there will be no problems with the addition of this shared lane. Also, staff will prepare a plan to identify striping and signing changes necessary to implement this recommendation. It was moved by Commissioner Knapp, seconded by Commissioner Baffo, and carried unanimously to approve the Traffic Engineer's recommendation. V. STAFF REPORTS Administrative Aide Wilkinson stated that at the City Council meeting of March 28m, the following items were approved: _ a. The installation of reflectors and red curb on Fendyke Avenue. b. The 25 mph speed limit sign was installed at Rockhold and Marshall. VI. Commissioner Ruiz would like to have staff write a letter to Cal-Trans at the Encinita Yard, regarding an incident that took place on March 18'h. Commissioner Ruiz stated that on that date, at approximately 8:30 a.m., he requested that they block off Temple City and Loftus so that the traffic would be detoured back to Valley, but that didn't happen, traffic was still going into Olney Street while doing maintenance on the on/off ramp. Commissioner Ruiz also stated that regarding installing a "Temporary No Truck Parking" sign up. Deputy Traffic Engineer Itagaki stated that she would she Temple City Boulevard to see what the standard sign is. Deputy Robles stated that the residents can call the station regarding the trucks parking for extended period of times and have the vehicles impounded and towed away. Deputy Robles stated that he will pull up all the sections/ordinances that pertain to this and distribute it to everyone that works the Rosemead streets including the desk personnel. Mrs. Barbara Larson stated that she called the Sheriff's Department to report a neighbor that was playing his music very loud from about 8:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. The Sheriffs _ came out asked them to lower the music, left, and the music continued after the Sheriff's left. Deputy Robles stated that this kind of call if very difficult, because there is a search and seizure, and you can't go in without a search warrant. Speaking before the Commission was Dexter Chung Mr. Chung stated that him and his friends were pulled over by the Sheriffs Department, they were searched, their cars were searched, nothing was found, and they did nothing wrong. He felt as though they were being harassed by the Sheriffs Department and that their rights were violated. Commissioner Herrera asked staff to look at the signal on Walnut Grove and Marshall (north bound), she feels the light is too short. Commissioner Herrera commented on the water fountain in front of City Hall working and looking very nice. Commissioner Knapp stated that People for People was honored by the City of Monterey Park. At this function, Brightwood School in Monterey Park was awarded for Valet _ Parking Service. They had students block off a section and had the parents drive up and they opened the doors and let people out. They are going to take it to the rest of the schools because it's working so well. She would like staff look into this idea. Commisssioner Knapp invited everyone to attend the Easter Egg Hunt on April 22„ d from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., at the Neighborhood Community Church. Commissioner Knapp invited everyone to attend the Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, May 6'h, at 8:30 a.m, at the Rosemead Community Recreation Center. Chairman Quintanilla stated that the signage is missing at Savannah School VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned. The next regularly scheduled meeting is set for May 4, 2000. ROSEMEAD TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS ROSEMEAD TRAFFIC COMMISSION FROM: JOANNE ITAGAKI, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DEPUTY JESSICA WILKINSON, ASSOCIATE PLANNER DATE: APRIL 26, 2000 SUBJECT: TEMPLE CITY BOULEVARD TRUCK ROUTE - STATUS REQUEST Commissioner Ruiz requested that staff investigate the feasibility of removing Temple City Boulevard from the City's ordinance regarding truck routes. Commissioner Ruiz has indicated the number of trucks traveling on Temple City Boulevard has increased in recent years. This increase has resulted in an increase in noise and pollution in the area. DISCUSSION Staff solicited comments from the Temple Sheriff's Station and from Caltrans regarding this issue. Additionally, staff reviewed the information provided by Commissioner Ruiz regarding the procedures other cities have taken to remove truck routes within their cities. Each city had different procedures depending on how the truck route was established. As such, staff discussed with the City Attorney and Planning Director what procedures would be necessary to remove a truck route specifically within the City of Rosemead. The Temple Sheriffs Department initially indicated no objection to the removal of Temple City Blvd. as a designated truck route. In preparation for discussing this item before the Traffic Commission, Liaison Sergeant Wayne Wallace met with Rio Hondo Court Judge Richard Van Dusen to review procedures for handling truck route violations. The Court indicated that regardless of the city's anticipated action, the Court would not uphold citations issued for commercial truck route violations. RECOMMENDATION In light of this development, staff recommends the Traffic Commission approve a recommendation to the City Council for the removal of existing truck route signs on Temple City Boulevard and instruct the City Manager to correspond with El Monte city administration requesting their cooperation in diverting El Monte truck traffic onto more appropriate commercial routes.