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TC - Minutes - 11-07-24Minutes of the Regular ROSEMEAD TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING November 7, 2024 The special meeting of the Rosemead Traffic Commission was called to order by Chair Drange at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 8838 E. Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. FLAG SALUTE: Vice Chair Lang INVOCATION: Chair Drange PRESENT: Commissioner Tran, Vice -Chair Lang and Chair Drange ABSENT: Commissioner Nguyen, Commissioner Trieu STAFF PRESENT: Director of Public Works Gutierrez, Interim City Engineer Leung and Commission Liaison Nguyen INTRODUCTION OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR: Sam Gutierrez shared a brief overview of his experience in the public works field and the cities he has previously worked in. 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS None 2. CONSENT CALENDAR Chair Drange asked Traffic Commissioners if anyone would like to make revisions or additions to the minutes of September 5, 2024. Vice Chair Lang made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Tran, to accept consent calendar. Vote resulted in: Yes: Drange, Lang, Tran No: None Abstain: None Absent: Nguyen, Trieu 3. NEW BUSINESS A. Traffic Calming Review along Grand Avenue between Muscatel Avenue and Rosemead Boulevard Chair Drange opened the public comment period. The City received a public comment via email from Fred Sumi expressing safety concerns about speeding vehicles along Grand Avenue. He highlighted a recent traffic accident on October 8, 2024, involving a speeding vehicle with three occupants performing donuts at the Grand Avenue and Ivar Avenue intersection before crashing into a brick wall and fleeing the scene. Mr. Sumi reported frequent speeding on Grand Avenue and Ivar Avenue and requested the installation of speed bumps and stop signs to address the issue. Chair Drange closed the public comment period. Rosemead Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes offovember 7, 2024 Page 1 of 6 Associate Engineer Richter provided a brief description of the item and presented a PowerPoint presentation of the studies that were conducted. Associate Engineer Richter explained that the City received a resident request to conduct a traffic review along Grand Avenue between Muscatel Avenue and Rosemead Boulevard. The resident expressed concern about vehicles speeding along this segment of Grand Avenue and requested for the installation of speed humps and other traffic calming measures. After a thorough review of existing field and traffic conditions and per the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), California Vehicle Code (CVC), based on the traffic review and engineering judgement, it was determined that this segment of Grand Avenue between Muscatel Avenue and Rosemead Boulevard does not qualify for speed humps, however, the street segment would benefit from other recommended traffic calming measures. Vice Chair Lang asked if this traffic area was looked into by Traffic Commission previously. Associate Engineer Richter replied the City had looked into an all -way stop request at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Muscatel Avenue prior at the August Traffic Commission meeting. Chair Drange asked why it was only recommended to refresh the centerline striping along Grand Avenue from Rosemead Boulevard to Ivar Avenue, and not from Ivar Avenue to Muscatel Avenue. Associate Engineer Richter replied the centerline striping along that segment was refreshed when the City had reviewed the all -way stop request at Grand Avenue and Muscatel Avenue. Commissioner Tran asked what the proposed recommendations for the Grand Avenue and Muscatel Avenue traffic item in August were. Associate Engineer Richter replied the all -way stop request did not meet the stop warrants, however, it was recommended to add the white side striping on both sides of the street, along with installing channelizers on both southside comers on Grand Avenue. Vice Chair Lang asked if City Council had approved those recommendations and if they have been implemented yet. Interim City Engineer Leung replied it was approved at a city council meeting and pending installation by the Public Services division. Chair Drange asked if the speed limit is also 35 mph on the street segment of Grand Avenue going parallel to Rosemead Boulevard. Associate Engineer Richter replied it has a posted 15 mph sign for the curve, but it is 35 mph along that entire street segment. Vice Chair Lang made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Tran, to approve staff recommendations. Vote resulted in: Rosemead Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes of November 7, 2024 Page 2 of 6 Yes: Drange, Lang, Tran No: None Abstain: None Absent: Nguyen, Trieu B. Traffic Calming Review along Muscatel Avenue between Fern Avenue and Klingerman Avenue Chair Drange opened the public comment period The City received a public comment via email from Lorraine Keeland, urging action to slow down traffic on Muscatel Avenue between Klingerman and Fern Avenue. She expressed concerns about the safety of the area due to Edison workers and other vehicles on the road. Ms. Keeland suggested implementing speed bumps or other traffic mitigation measures. Chair Drange closed the public comment period. Associate Engineer Richter provided a brief description of the item and presented a PowerPoint presentation of the studies that were conducted. Associate Engineer Richter explained that the City received a resident request to review the segment of Muscatel Avenue between Fern Avenue and Klingerman Street. The request is to implement traffic calming measures such as speed humps due to speeding vehicles. After a thorough review of existing traffic conditions and per the Califomia Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), California Vehicle Code (CVC), based on the traffic review and engineering judgement, speed humps are not recommended for the segment of Muscatel Avenue between Fern Avenue and Klingerman Street, however, the segment would benefit from other traffic calming measures. Chair Drange asked why staff is not recommending the "25' pavement legend marking on the east side of Muscatel Avenue to be installed further north, similar to what is being recommended for the west side of Muscatel Avenue. Associate Engineer Richter replied it was recommended installing the pavement legend next to the existing sign, however, it could be recommended to relocate that sign further north away from the intersection. Vice Chair Lang asked if there is an existing stop sign at the intersection of Muscatel Avenue and Dubonnet Avenue. Associate Engineer Richter replied there is an existing stop sign on Dubonnet Avenue and the recommended "cross traffic does not stop" is to remind drivers to make a complete stop as vehicles along Muscatel Avenue do not stop. Commissioner Tran made a motion, seconded by Vice Chair Lang, to approve staff recommendations, and to amend 2a to be 160 feet instead of 40 feet for the installation of the pavement legend, and remove and relocate the existing speed limit sign that is located on the north- east corner of the intersection of Muscatel Avenue and Klingerman Street. Vote resulted in: Rosemead Trak Commission Meeting Minutes of November 7, 2024 Page 3 of 6 Yes: Drange, Lang, Tran No: None Abstain: None Absent: Nguyen, Trieu C. Traffic Calming Review along Fern Avenue between Del Mar Avenue and New Avenue Associate Engineer Richter provided a brief description of the item and presented a PowerPoint presentation of the studies that were conducted. Associate Engineer Richter explained that the City received a resident request for a traffic review of Fern Avenue, between New Avenue and Del Mar Avenue. The resident reported that vehicles tend to speed along this segment of Fern Avenue and is requesting the installation of Speed Humps. After a thorough review of existing traffic conditions and per the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), California Vehicle Code (CVC), based on the traffic review and engineering judgement, it was determined that Fern Avenue, from New Avenue to Del Mar Avenue does not meet the minimum requirements for the installation of a midblock crosswalk. Due to the number of pedestrians crossing midblock, as well as the presence of an onsite drop off and pickup zone, a midblock crosswalk is not recommended for installation at this time. However, the street does qualify for the installation of other traffic calming measures. Vice Chair Lang asked if there is anything in place that could address the jaywalking that occurs Chair Drange asked if a sign prohibiting U-turns and student drop-offs could be installed, mentioning that similar signs have been used in other cities to address jaywalking issues. He also mentioned there would be a police officer patrolling the area every few weeks to issue citations for impeding or obstructing traffic. Associate Engineer Richter replied that schools usually have designated drop-off areas with no parking during specific times but was unaware of the specific type of sign mentioned by Chair Drange. Chair Drange explained that a school in Arcadia has city signs indicating no U-tums and no student drop- offs on the opposite side of the street from the school. Public Works Director Gutierrez added that he has seen and installed similar signs in his previous city, specifically for prohibiting student drop-offs and pick-ups. He will have staff look into it. Vice Chair Lang recalled a previous meeting where a traffic item involving Shuey Elementary School proposed installing yellow channelizers to prevent vehicles from making U-tums. Chair Drange stated he would not consider adding those in this area, as Wells Street is more open and has higher through traffic compared to Fern Avenue. He also mentioned that the main issue seems to be more from parents stopping in the middle of the road during student drop-offs. He explained that on Garvey Avenue and Jackson Ave, there's a traffic light with an arrow, and after it turns red, several drivers try to run it. However, one driver often moves only about 25 feet before stopping to drop off their child, causing a backup of vehicles in the intersection because they did not continue driving. Associate Engineer Richter replied there is a no student drop-off sign that can be special order made, however, it is not CAMUTCD conforming. Rosemead Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes of November 7, 2024 Page 4 of 6 Commissioner Tran made a motion, seconded by Vice Chair Lang, to approve staff recommendations, and to amend staff recommendation 9 to include installation of a no student drop-off sign with the two proposed no U-turn signs on the south side of Fern Avenue. Vote resulted in: Yes: Drange, Lang, Tran No: None Abstain: None Absent: Nguyen, Trieu 4. MATTERS FROM STAFF None 5. COMMISSIONER REPORTS Vice Chair Lang recalled a traffic concern that was brought up on Mission Drive, particularly in the east - westbound direction. Since then, they have noticed changes, such as a new crosswalk near Mission and Newby with hanging lights. They inquired if there are any additional plans for improvements further west, closer to the In -N -Out. Interim City Engineer Leung replied the hybrid beacon project in that location, which spans from the intersection near Rosemead High School to the Rosemead Park side, is in progress. The project is expected to improve the crossing, though there is a long lead time on some of the materials required. Chair Drange asked for a follow-up from the last traffic meeting on the traffic concerns reported at the intersection of Garvey Ave and Jackson Ave. Interim City Engineer Leung replied a request will be created and added to the que for review if one has not already been created. Chair Drange inquired about the jurisdiction of the bridge on Garvey Avenue, located on the east side of Rosemead, where it crosses the Rio Hondo River. Interim City Engineer Leung replied the bridge belongs to the City of Rosemead. Chair Drange explained when he is bicycling, there are two lanes of traffic, however, during evening rush hour vehicles make three lanes of traffic because people on the far right are making a right tum. He suggested either having it a designated lane or marking it to not be a lane. Chair Drange asked what the best practices are for using motorized scooters on sidewalks, especially in areas like Valley and Garvey where they're commonly seen. A big issue is when they are being ridden in the wrong direction. Some cities have banned them on sidewalks altogether. He asked if staff could look into what other cities have done and consider whether we should impose similar restrictions. Interim City Engineer Leung replied the city currently does not have an ordinance restricting bicycles, however, we are looking into motorized bicycles. Rosemead Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes of November 7, 2024 Page 5 of 6 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.'The next Traffic Commission meeting is scheduled for December 5, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. and will take place at the Rosemead City Hall, City Council Chambers, 8838 East Valley Boulevard. /ch' I Cha 4Sa utie of Pu lic Works Rosemead Traffic Commission Meeting Minutes of November 7, 2024 Page 6 of 6