MINUTES

TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION COMMISSION

City Council Chambers---------City Hall
MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2002 - - - - - 4:00 P. M.

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:

Brent Hardwick
Vince Buck
J. Michael Cochran
Sean Francis, Vice Chairman

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:

Edward Ginter, Chairman
LeAnn French
Patrick Robeson

STAFF PRESENT:

Robert Hodson, Director of Engineering
Mark Miller, City Traffic Engineer
Dave Langstaff, Traffic Engineering Technician II
Teri Carlson, Senior Traffic Engineering Aide
Lt. Greg Mays, Police Department
Amy Inzunza, Recording Secretary

CALL TO ORDER:

Vice Chairman Francis called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m.

MINUTES:

Vice Chairman Francis made a motion to extend approval of the February 4, 2002, minutes to April 1, 2002, to permit Chairman Ginter an opportunity to review them. The motion passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

1. ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON AND VICE-CHAIRPERSON

Commissioner Hardwick nominated Vice Chairman Francis as Chairman for the Transportation & Circulation Commission for 2002, and Commissioner Buck seconded. The nomination was approved unanimously.

Chairman Francis nominated Commissioner Hardwick as Vice Chairman for the Transportation & Circulation Commission for 2002. Commissioner Hardwick declined. Commissioner Buck nominated Commissioner Cochran for Vice Chairman. Chairman Francis seconded and the nomination was approved unanimously.

2. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO INSTALL 2-HOUR PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF BALCOM AVENUE BETWEEN WALNUT AVENUE AND ITS SOUTHERLY TERMINUS.

City Traffic Engineer Mark Miller presented staff's report regarding consideration of a request to install 2-hour parking on the east side of Balcom Avenue between Walnut Avenue and its southerly terminus. Mr. John Lawson, Jonel Engineering at 500 East Walnut Avenue, requested 2-hour parking due to unavailability of short-term parking for his customers. Mr. Lawson's concern is that employees of Premier Auto Body located on the north side of Walnut Avenue, park customers' vehicles for extended periods of time, resulting in reduction of the number of available spaces.

Balcom Avenue is a 36-foot-wide commercial street. Parking is permitted on both sides of Balcom Avenue, and overnight parking is allowed between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. with the exception of the area being requested to have limited parking. Staff conducted a parking utilization study that indicated three to four vehicles can park on the east side. Based on the apparent need for short-term parking adjacent to the business, staff is supportive of the request although it is likely that the approval will result in parking cars in other sections of the surrounding area.

The hearing was opened to public comment.

John Lawson, 500 East Walnut Avenue, stated that the Auto Repair Shop takes advantage of the opened parking spaces because it does not have enough space to store its customers' vehicles, which is the reason for his request for 1/2-hour parking.

Chairman Francis asked if Mr. Lawson's request is on behalf of his customers or because the Auto Repair Shop takes up all available parking spaces. Mr. Lawson said that it is for both reasons. Chairman Francis stated that Mr. Lawson's request would provide parking for other businesses in the area as well, not just for Jonel Engineering.

The public comment segment was closed.

Commissioner Hardwick asked if the Auto Repair Shop is parking cars on the north side of Walnut Avenue for numerous days; and is the auto body repair shop or the owner of the vehicle being ticketed. Mr. Miller advised that the registered owner would receive the ticket.

Vince Buck asked why overnight parking is permitted. Dave Langstaff, Traffic Technician II, stated that the apartments on the east side of Walnut Avenue requested that there be overnight parking, and it is previously approved.

Commissioner Hardwick made a motion to accept staff's recommendation to install 2-hour parking on the east side of Balcom Avenue between Walnut Avenue and its southerly terminus. Commissioner Buck seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

3. INFORMATIONAL ITEM: PROPOSED TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT KRAEMER AVENUE AND BUTTONWOOD COURT/SATURN WAY.

Mr. Miller presented to the Commission a proposal to install a traffic signal at Kraemer Avenue and Buttonwood Drive/Saturn Way. Several months ago, a Fullerton resident, John Milton, requested staff to consider the possibility of installing traffic signals at Kraemer Avenue, Buttonwood Court, and Placentia Avenue. The developer of the project was conditioned to deposit funds to install traffic signals at three locations. Currently the development is approximately 95-98% built and occupied. Staff conducted a traffic warrant study based on the traffic manual. Kraemer Avenue at Buttonwood did satisfy the warrants in the traffic manual; however, the other two intersections did not. Staff contacted the City of Brea Traffic Engineer and sent him a copy of the report. Brea staff concurred with the report and presented it to their Traffic Committee, which approved the signal on Kraemer.

This condition for the development was previously approved by the Fullerton City Council. The City of Brea would be responsible for the signal operation at this intersection because it is outside of the sphere of the signals in the City of Fullerton. The maintenance costs will be shared by both cities. Staff will be studying the other two intersections at Rolling Hills and Placentia Avenue, and Placentia Avenue and Cedarbrook in about a year.

Commissioner Cochran asked if the developer money is available for the other intersections. Mr. Miller stated that the developer has deposited sufficient funds for the signals when they are warranted.

The hearing was opened to public comment.

John Milton, 2954 Oakberry, would like to recommend reassessing the study due to the buildings that have recently been built on Placentia Avenue.

The public segment was closed.

There was no action required for this item.

4. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST TO INSTALL GREEN CURB (15-MINUTE PARKING) ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SANTA FE AVENUE IN FRONT OF 115 W. SANTA FE AVENUE.

Chairman Sean Francis made a motion to postpone this item to the next T&CC meeting. Vice Chairman Cochran seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

The Transportation & Circulation Commission adjourned and convened as The Board of Parking Place Commissioners.

5. CONSIDERATION OF A STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO SUBSTITUTE PARKING SPACES WITHIN PARKING DISTRICT NO. 2.

Mr. Miller presented a staff recommendation to substitute parking spaces within Parking District No. 2. Last year the City Council approved the Morgan Group project, which will affect parking within this district. The parking spaces affected are located between Harbor Boulevard and Pomona, and south of Whiting Avenue. Staff recommended that the surplus parking available in the Wilshire parking structure be used to substitute the displaced parking on the Whiting Avenue parking lot. This will allow staff to exclude District No. 2 parking spaces from the new parking structure that will be built in the Morgan Group development.

The Wilshire Parking structure consists of 44 3-hour public parking spaces, 2 disabled people's parking spaces, and 165 employee spaces marked in yellow. There are also 112 long-term parking spaces. Employees may secure a permit which allows them to park all day in the yellow striped stalls. However, an employee with a permit cannot park in the white striped stalls for more than 3 hours. The total number of parking spaces within the parking structure is 323.

Recently, the firm of Meyers, Mohaddes & Associates conducted a parking utilization study and determined that the percentage of available parking within the Wilshire structure is the lowest between the hours of 11 am to 12 noon. The Morgan Group project construction will be displacing 33 spaces in District No. 2. Approximately 28 spaces are being reserved for future office space in the Chapman building. Approximately 45 spaces will be available for additional use. An additional 89 parking spaces outside of District No. 2 are being removed and will be replaced in the new parking structure along with an additional 105 public parking spaces.

The recommendation before the Board of Parking Place Commissioners is to find that the substitution of parking spaces is not detrimental to the Wilshire parking structure.

Chairman Francis asked how residents will be prevented from parking in the parking structure during the day. Mr. Hodson said residents will be ticketed if parked for more than two hours.

Vice Chairman Cochran verified if the Morgan Group parking structure would be considered a private structure. Mr. Hodson stated that the ground level is for public use and the basement level will have resident parking.

Commissioner Buck asked if the Morgan Group Block will be a structure. Mr. Miller said it will be primarily a structure and will have alley access on the west side.

The hearing was opened to public comment.

Paul Birkman, 211 N. Pomona, feels that moving people around will only cause confusion. He stated that staff has not taken into consideration that the Pacific Bell employees will park in the Wilshire structure. Chairman Francis asked how full the Wilshire structure gets. Dave Langstaff, Traffic Technician II, said that about 66% of the parking lot is full during the peak lunch hour.

Pat Vannoy, First Christian Church, stated the Church sold property to Morgan Group for the project. Church members believe they will be losing the 33 spaces in the Wilshire parking structure. Mr. Hodson clarified that what was paid for originally within the District was a surface lot where the structure now sits. He further stated that there were a specific number of surface spaces that were part of the total count in the District. When the structure was built the same number of spaces was available.

Jim Bailey, 314 W. Whiting Avenue, said that the signage on the top floor does not indicate that all day parking is available. Mr. Bailey is also concerned about the disposal truck getting in and out of the parking structure.

The public segment was closed.

Commissioner Buck asked what the change in number of public parking spaces was from prior to the plaza being built until it was completed. Mr. Hodson said that it is approximately 30 spaces.

Commissioner Hardwick made a motion that the substitution of parking spaces is non- detrimental to the parking structure, and that the Board of Parking Place Commissioners approve staff's recommendation. Commissioner Buck seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Chairman Francis adjourned as the Board of Parking Place Commission and reconvened as Transportation & Circulation Commission.

Adjourn as Board of Parking Place Commission and reconvene as T&CC

NON AGENDA ITEMS

None.

COUNCIL REVIEW

Mr. Hodson said that Council will be hearing the item on Highland and Chapman. Mr. Miller said Council will also be hearing the Deerpark parking at the Spectrum Club issue.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None.

ADJOURNMENT

The regular meeting of the Transportation & Circulation Commission was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.