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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. -1- 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 09-25-14 -2- 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, �� C j':�; ; � � Heidi Luce � City Clerk Approved, / i .. ! �.., � �r, , r '��Z`i`Z ` '�/� �'.� : � Y••1.,.�1% Frank E. Hill ✓� Chairman Minutes Traffic Commission Meeting 09-25-14 -3-