09-25-14 MINUTES OF
A REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
TRAFFIC COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF ROLLING HILLS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Traffic Commission of the City of Rolling Hills was called to order by
Chairman Hill at 830 a.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2014, in the City Council Chambers, at City
Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, California.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Heitzler, Margeta, Wilson, Vice Chairperson Virtue and Chairman Hill.
Commissioners Absent: None.
Others Present: Raymond R. Cruz, City Manager.
Vanessa Munoz, Traffic Engineer.
Heidi Luce, City Clerk.
Art Beckler, RHCA Maintenance Supervisor.
Deputy Johann Schloegl, LA County Sheriffls Dept., Lomita Station.
Kristen Raig, RHCA Manager.
Ed Smith, 85 Eastfield Drive.
Roger Hawkins, 37 Crest Road West.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MINUTES OF JULY 24, 2014
Vice Chairperson Viriue moved that the Traffic Commission approve the minutes of a regular meeting
of the Traffic Commission held on July 24, 2014. Commissioner Wilson seconded the motion, which
carried without objection.
PRESENTATION
PRESENTATION BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT, LOMITA STATION, ON TRAFFIC STATISTICS FOR THE CITY OF
ROLLING HILLS.
Deputy Schloegl presented the traffic statistics for June, July and August stating that there were no
collisions and the Deputies issued 56 citations during that time period. He also reported that Deputy
Knox will be retiring soon.
Having heard concern from a resident regarding cars speeding on Crest Road, the Traffic Commission
asked the Sheriffs Deputies to monitor the speeding on Crest Road and issue citations when
appropriate.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
CONSIDERATION OF A NEW PARKING/VEHICLE WAITING AREA AT THE CREST
ROAD WEST GATE.
Chairman Hill introduced the item and asked for staff's comments. City Manager Cruz presented the
staff report. He stated that the Rolling Hills Community Association is proposing a pull out area
alongside the Crest Road West Gate and the purpose is to provide a visitor lane where individuals who
aze awaiting clearance to enter the Ciry can wait unYil their entry has been authorized. He stated that the
current proposals are in response to concerns raised regarding the impact the lane would have on trees in
the area when the matter was originally heard by the Planning Commission and the proposal has been
reviewed by the City's Traffic Engineer.
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Traffic Engineer Vanessa Munoz stated that she reviewed a previous proposal that is similar to the
current two-stall layout except that it had three stalls. She stated that the configuration complies with the
required standards for a 45-degree stall but she expressed concern for circulation and safety if a vehicle
needed to back out during peak hours when there is more traffic. Regarding the second proposal for a
parallel waiting area, she stated that she feels it would be easier to pull out into traffic.
Kristen Raig, Association Manager, RHCA addressed the Traffic Commission to provide background on
the reasons for the proposal. She stated that with the new gate system delays sometimes occur in
allowing guests to enter the City and those needing to wait are currently sent over to the gravel area to
wait which poses difficulty for the gate attendants to inform the guest that they have been cieared
because it is so far away. She also commented that sometimes the guests leave rather than waiting
causing the resident to not get the service or delivery they were requesting. She stated that the current
proposals address the Planning Commission's concerns with regazd to the visual impact the previous
proposal had on the entrance to the City. Ms. Raig also commented that the other two gates currently
have a pull out waiting azea. Commissioner Heitzler, RHCA Board Member commented that this
proposal is also a proactive measure to alleviate potential issues at the Main Gate.
In response to Vice Chairperson Vir[ue, Ms. Raig reviewed the issues related to using the gravel azea
waiting area currently located near the Crest Gate which include having to leave the gate house
unattended when notifying the individual and creating a further backup; having guests just speed into the
City when they are allowed in to turn around; and having guests leave.
Roger Hawkins, 37 Crest Road West addressed the Traffic Commission in opposition to the proposal.
He suggested that there is no urgency to this matter and suggested that the matter be analyzed over six
months to a year to determine if there really is a problem that needs to be addressed. Mr. Hawkins also
suggested that if the proposal is to move forward a landscape designer be consulted with regard to the
aesthetics of the proposal.
Commissioner Heitzler commented that this matter is before the Traffic Commission to ask for input on
the design of the proposal from a traffic safety perspective not to determine the merits of the proposal
itself.
Discussion ensued concerning how many vehicles both configurations would accommodate with it being
estimated that both proposals could accommodate two vehicles. Traffic Engineer Munoz commented
that both proposals are preliminary in nature and have only been assessed for circulation and once the
plans are finalized, she will assess the proposal for site visibility and traffic safety. Brief discussion
ensued concerning the need for a waiting area and it was suggested that reminding residents of the
policy may be a more effective way to address the issues associated with entry to the City.
Chairman Hill reminded the committee that its charge is to determine from a safety standpoint which of
the two designs proposed is most practical. City Manager Cruz commented that the Committee may
also wish to make a site visit. Vice Chairperson Virtue expressed concern that neither proposal will
address issues where big trucks are not immediately allowed access. The Traffic Commission discussed
the option of putting in an actual pull out ]ane rather than a parking space with the thought that doing so
would be a safer alternative. Association Manager Raig commented that their original proposal was that
type of configuration but the Planning Commission did not support that configuration. Chairman Hill
commented that the proposal needs to be something that works from a traffic safety perspective and
aesthetics is secondary. In response to Chairman Hill, Traffic Engineer Munoz commented that of the '
two current proposals, the parallel configuration is the better choice; but if she were to design an optimal
situation, she would suggest a separate lane with a second gate arm.
Following discussion, the Traffic Commission did not recommend approval of either configuration
proposed by the applicant and it was suggested that the applicant reconsider the proposal based on the
Traffic Commission's wncerns relative to traffic safety specifically. Commissioner Heitzler was
opposed to the Traffic Commission's decision because he felt that traffic safety was a primary
consideration in the applicanYs request.
OPEN AGENDA - COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None.
Minutes
Traffic Commission Meeting
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MATTERS FROM MEMBERS OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION
None.
MATTERS FROM STAFF
CONSIDERATION OF AN ALTERNATE DATE FOR THE NOVEMBER MEETING OF
THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION(ORAL).
The Commission determined that should there be matters requiring Traffic Commission review in
November, a meeting will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 830 a.m. since the regulaz
meeting date conflicts with the Thanksgiving holiday.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no further business before the Commission, Chairman Hill adjourned the meeting at 1020 a.m.
The next meeting of the Traffic Commission is scheduled to be held on Thursday, November 20, 2014
beginning at 830 a.m. in the Rolling Hills City Counci] Chamber at City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Rd.,
Rolling Hills, CA.
Respectfully submitted,
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Heidi Luce �
City Clerk
Approved,
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Frank E. Hill ✓�
Chairman
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Traffic Commission Meeting
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