MINUTES YORBA LINDA TRAFFIC COMMISSION August 23, 2012

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1 MINUTES YORBA LINDA TRAFFIC COMMISSION August 23, 2012 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Behura, Carbone, Long, Rafter, Wu STAFF PRESENT: Mercado, Song, Wang Commissioner Long led the flag salute. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Rafter, seconded by Commissioner Wu, made a motion to approve the Minutes of the May 24, 2012 Traffic Commission Meeting. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Behura, Carbone, Long, Rafter, Wu None None PUBLIC COMMENTS Chairman Behura opened the public comments period. Larry Wetta, resident, requested the Commission s assistance in getting a signal on Bastanchury between Valley View Avenue & Lakeview Avenue. He stated there are approximately 200 residents north of Bastanchury between Lakeview and Valley View, and the only crossing is a painted crosswalk at Denver Avenue. With the development at north Yorba Linda and the alignment of Bastanchury between Imperial Highway and Casa Loma the traffic flow & speed has increased considerably. A signal there would provide a safer crossing. He also requested a speed monitoring warning signal be installed on west Bastanchury between Denver and Villa Grande. Lee Day, resident, stated that residents along Eureka north of Bastanchury have one egress point that must merge onto Bastanchury or continue south on Eureka. In either case safety issues exist because of the speeds of motorists traveling along Bastanchury during rush hours. Bastanchury will be further congested from the development of new housing tracts. These developments by themselves will involve overcrowding along Bastanchury during the morning and evening rush hours. Seeing and hearing no speakers, Chairman Behura closed the public comments period. OLD BUSINESS 1. Approval Of Construction Of Two New Traffic Signals At The Intersections Of Bastanchury Road/ Secretariat Way/Emerald Downs Drive And Bastanchury Road/ White Pine/Clydesdale Traffic Engineering Manager Wang stated in August 2011, the Traffic Commission considered and approved the proposed traffic signal installation for Bastanchury at Emerald Downs/Secretariat and Bastanchury Road at White Pine/Clydesdale. This project was subsequently approved by the City Council in September 2011 for the 2012/2013 Fiscal Year budget as part of the capital improvement program. The plans and specifications

2 are completed and ready for advertisement. As procedure for any CIP project, staff took the plans and specifications to the City Council for approval at their August 7 th meeting for the purpose of design immunity, whereupon City Council directed staff to bring the project back to the Commission to ensure that the design is consistent with the community s desire. Mr. Wang explained the design plan for the signal installations. Upon Commissioner Wu s inquiry, Traffic Engineering Manager Wang explained that a year ago, when the Traffic Commission heard this item, they discussed the concept of relocating the current signal to the new location at the intersection of Emerald Downs/Secretariat Way, which involves removing the crosswalk and making a connection to the trail system. Commissioner Carbone stated she believes they never discussed moving the equestrian crosswalk and putting a trail on the north side. Chairman Behura inquired if anyone can provide their input to him on the design aspect. Mr. Wang nodded affirmatively. Chairman Behura opened the public comments on this item. Lee Day questioned the need for a traffic signal at White Pine / Clydesdale when there s an all-way stop control there. Dennis Bryant stated during the morning and evening rush hours you can wait up to 15 minutes to make a left turn. There are 350 plus cars coming out of Emerald Downs every day, mostly during the rush hours. Annette Gilbert, resident on Emerald Downs Drive, stated the community is in favor of having the signal, and requests that they move ahead with the project. Renee Burk, resident on Emerald Downs, stated she has to whip around the corner when she makes a left turn out of Emerald Downs to avoid getting hit. Ted Lee, resident on Emerald Downs, stated with the sun s glare, you can t see cars coming down the hill. They need a light badly there or someone s going to be killed. Chickie Capotrio, resident of the San Lorenzo community, says the equestrian crossing there is hardly used; she s only seen it used once. When there are horses, they re on the south side of the street. She believes most of the equestrians on that trail go up Bastanchury and circle around and come down the back way; very few of them come across. She stated she s also very concerned for the seniors coming out of their community. Dennis Bryant stated most people make a right turn out of the community, that s why there haven t been many accidents there. Larry Wetta stated he supports the traffic control on Bastanchury for the residents. Paul Radtoff, resident of San Lorenzo Community, stated there s a high school that just opened, and every year they open up another grade. With growth in the area, the traffic will keep getting worse. 2

3 Joe Capotrio, member of the San Lorenzo Community Board of Directors, indicated they had a meeting in which the homeowners strongly endorsed the signals for safety reasons. He indicated their letter of endorsement was forwarded to the Commission. Angela stated there s a school bus with handicapped children that has difficulty getting out of there. Putting a light there would help. Seeing and hearing no other speakers, Chairman Behura closed the public comments on this item. Commissioner Wu stated she remembers previously discussing the equestrian signal being moved. She stated she s disappointed that the City Council was not confident in the Commission s recommendation the first time around, and hopes this doesn t become a common occurrence as it lengthens the time for important construction projects to begin. It also wastes residents time and City s staff time in doubling up on work that was done a year ago. She stated her decision remains the same as a year ago. Upon Chairman Behura s inquiry, Traffic Engineering Manager Wang confirmed that $300,000 includes the cost for removing and replacing the signal. Upon Commissioner Carbone s inquiry, Sgt. Mercado stated he didn t have any independent recollections of any accidents at either of the intersections to date. In response to an inquiry that was made referencing accidents at Emerald Downs/Bastanchury, they did a records check which showed a total of 3 injury collisions occurring between 2009 and July Commissioner Wu, seconded by Chairman Behura, made a motion to reaffirm their prior decision to recommend approval of the construction of two new traffic signals at the intersections of Bastanchury Road / Secretariat Way/ Emerald Downs Drive and Bastanchury Road/ Emerald Downs Drive and Bastanchury Road/ White Pine/ Clydesdale. Motion passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS 1. Main Street Temporary Closure - Yorba Linda Food for Families Traffic Engineering Manager Wang stated staff received a request from the Main Street Merchants Association to close Main Street, from Lemon Drive to Imperial Highway, for the Yorba Linda Food for Families event on Sunday, September 16, 2012, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. All the conditions listed in the staff report are the same as for their previous events. Traffic Engineering Manager Wang stated representatives for the Association are present to answer any questions they have. Chairman Behura opened the public comments on this item. Seeing and hearing no other speakers, Chairman Behura closed the public comments on this item. Commissioner Rafter, seconded by Chairman Behura, made a motion to approve the request to close Main Street for the Yorba Linda Food for Families event subject to the conditions of approval within the staff report. Motion passed unanimously. 3

4 2. Fiesta Days Temporary Street Closures on Imperial Highway, Main Street and Eureka Avenue Traffic Engineering Manager Wang stated staff received a request from Craig Hall of the Yorba Linda Fiesta Days Foundation to close the following streets on November 10, 2012 for the Fiesta Days event: He stated the conditions are the same as major street closure events. Imperial Highway from Bastanchury to Yorba Linda Boulevard, 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., November 10, 2012 Main Street from Imperial Highway to Lemon Drive, 12:00 a.m., November 10, 2012 to 12:00 a.m., November 11, 2012 Eureka Avenue from Imperial Highway to Wisteria Drive, 6:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., November 10, 2012 Valley View Avenue from Bastanchury Road to Imperial Highway, 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., November 10, 2012 Mr. Wang indicated Mr. Craig Hall is in the audience to answer any questions the Commission may have. Upon Commissioner Carbone s inquiry, Mr. Hall stated the street festival is taking place on Main Street, and will officially begin at noon and end at 10 p.m. The 12 to 12 closure is to prepare the street, which will include placing traffic barriers for safety. (Discussion ensued.) Mr. Hall stated they re in talks with over 40 parking lots throughout the city, and will be arranging shuttle service. Upon Commissioner Behura s inquiry, Mr. Hall stated their parking plans are involved on private properties and private shuttle services, so the only impact will be the traffic going into the lots. Ms. Carrie Buck, with the Fiesta Days Foundation, stated they re speaking with churches in the community regarding use of their parking lots. Mr. Hall stated they sent out 945 notification letters regarding tonight s meeting. He received a handful of phone calls; all of them giving overwhelming support and asking how they can get involved in the event. Upon Commissioner Carbone s inquiry, Mr. Hall stated the event is to benefit the community and the community organizations. When this festival disappeared a few years ago, so did several of the non-profits and the work that they did in the community. The foundation wants to provide that platform to bring back the community spirit, support the non-profit organizations, and celebrate Yorba Linda. Upon Commissioner Long s inquiry, Mr. Hall stated they ll be using Imperial Highway as the parade route, as it is the main artery of the City and goes directly to Main Street. Upon Commissioner Long s inquiry, Mr. Hall stated they would like the attendance to be at 30,000. They will start their advertising campaign in mid September. Included in that campaign will be parking and traffic closures. They will be working with the police department, but will be bringing in their own private security for the crowds. He indicated the Yorba Linda Fiesta Days Foundation will be absorbing all costs. (Discussion ensued.) 4

5 Mr. Hall stated the festival is on Main Street so you should be able to see the whole thing pretty quickly. Mr. Larry Wetta stated during this extended period of time that Imperial Highway will be closed, the traffic is going to be diverted onto Bastanchury and Yorba Linda Boulevard. With that amount of traffic, there s going to be some impact. Seeing and hearing no other speakers, Chairman Behura closed the public comments on the item. Commissioner Wu, seconded by Commissioner Rafter, made a motion to approve the request to temporarily conduct street closures on Imperial Highway between Bastanchury Road and Yorba Linda Boulevard, Main Street between Imperial Highway and Lemon Street, Eureka Avenue between Imperial Highway and Wisteria Drive, and Valley View Avenue between Bastanchury Road and Imperial Highway for the Fiesta Days event subject to the conditions of approval within this report. Motion passed unanimously. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Report from Police Department Commissioner Wu, seconded by Commissioner Carbone, made a motion to receive and file the report. Motion passed unanimously. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Carbone indicated at the last City Council meeting, the City Council brought up two items that they wanted to go before the Traffic Commission. One was putting a fence along the overcrossing of Lakeview because horses that have to cross Lakeview to get to the trail are too close to the traffic. The other item was that Council wanted the Commission to provide public awareness on pedestrian/equestrian/bicyclist safety. Commissioner Carbone suggested that the Traffic Commission host an informative meet & greet at the community center, and have the mounted enforcement unit talk to the public about vehicular safety in their community. Commissioner Rafter, seconded by Commissioner Wu, made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Saralynn Song Recording Secretary 5