Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/22/2006 - Study SessionCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Study Session August 22, 2006 — 4:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Council Member Curry, Council Member Selich, Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky, Mayor Webb, Council Member Ridgeway, Council Member Daigle, Council Member Nichols 1. CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. At the request of Council Member Curry, City Manager Bludau provided an update on the construction schedule for the Back Bay Science Center, Item No. 6. Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky confirmed with City Manager Bludau that Item No. 4, Newport Coast Residential Refuse Collection, would be pulled from the Consent Calendar and continued to a future City Council meeting. 2. NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING GUIDELINES. [100 -2006] Tony Brine, Principal Civil Engineer, reported that draft neighborhood traffic management guidelines, with criteria and thresholds, are included in the staff report. He stated that the guidelines are intended to be fair and consistent, and will assist staff in addressing resident concerns. The goals are to manage traffic speeds in residential neighborhoods, reduce the amount of cut - through traffic, provide an educational program, and address any impacts that traffic calming measures may have on emergency response times. Mr. Brine reported that the City's use of traffic calming measures has been limited in the past. Approximately five to six streets in the City have speed bumps. Public Works Director Badum added that the program is the culmination of the work done by the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Ad Hoc Committee, which included Mayor Webb, Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky, the City Manager, Public Works Director, Traffic Engineer, Police Chief and Fire Chief. Using a PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Brine showed photos of the City's existing use of speed bumps. He reported that the draft guidelines include a "traffic calming toolbox ". The level one tools include measures already utilized by the City, and include education, radar trailers, and police enforcement. The level two tools address speed concerns, and include narrowing lanes, chokers, traffic circles and speed bumps. The level three tools address volume concerns, and include neckdowns, turn restrictions, cul -de -sacs and partial closures. Mr. Brine displayed photos of the various methods, and listed some of the positive and negative aspects of each. Mr. Brine stated that the guidelines include thresholds, which define what level of Volume 57 — Page 769 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes August 22, 2006 speed and what volume of traffic is considered reasonable when determining whether to implement a measure. He stated that the guidelines also establish a step -by -step review process for responding to resident requests. He displayed a flowchart of the process and stated that resident involvement is an important element. City Manager Bludau expressed his concern that it only takes one resident to begin the process, and explained that there is considerable staff time involved early in the process. He suggested that requiring five residents to express a concern in a neighborhood might be more appropriate. Council Member Ridgeway stated that the impact might be unique to only one resident, however. Mr. Brine referred to step two of the process and stated that collecting speed data is a worthwhile effort. Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky noted that the traffic management measures aren't mandatory and would have to be subject to available resources. Council Member Nichols agreed with the suggestion of City Manager Bludau. Mr. Brine stated that the annual budget for traffic calming is $50,000, and noted that it limits the number of measures that can be installed in any given fiscal year. In closing, he asked for the City Council's guidance on how to proceed. Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky thanked those involved in the development of the program, and expressed his support for moving forward with it. He stated that once in place, changes or modifications could be made, if necessary. Council Member Curry also complimented staff and expressed his support for the program. In response to his question, Public Works Director Badum stated that the traffic calming measures would currently not be eligible for Measure M funding, but could be in the future. He also explained where the funding in the budget would come from for the measures. Council Member Ridgeway stated that the program is well written and also recommended moving forward with it. Council Member Selich stated that it appears to be a workable program, but felt that more than one resident should be required to initiate the process. It was the general consensus of the Council Members to require five residents in the draft guidelines that will return to the City Council for action. Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky suggested that staff be given more leeway in step two of the process to determine what measures will be put into place. Mr. Brine noted that staff also informs residents of the measures to expect. Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky confirmed that the Traffic Affairs Committee, referred to in step five of the process, is a staff -based committee. Mr. Brine noted that money separate from the $50,000 was also budgeted for specific projects in Newport Heights and Newport Hills. Mr. Brine further confirmed that with the minor changes recommended, he was prepared to bring the guidelines back to the City Council for consideration. In response to Council Member Nichols' concern, Mayor Webb noted that the guidelines include an evaluation of the projected shift in traffic for measures under consideration. Council Member Daigle requested that sufficient flexibility be built into the Volume 57 - Page 770 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes August 22, 2006 guidelines, and explained that some neighborhoods have unique conditions. Ron Hendrickson stated that there is an ongoing problem in the Newport Hills section of Harbor View at the San Miguel Drive entrance with vehicles with "for sale" signs parked there on the weekends. He stated that he has learned that an ordinance that would prohibit this is no longer enforced by the Police Department, and he asked why it was abandoned. Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky confirmed that there is a court case challenging the prohibition of "for sale" signs as it relates to the right to free speech. He stated that the City Attorney is looking into the matter. ADJOURNMENT - at 4:43 p.m. The agenda for the Study Session was posted on August 16, 2006, at 1:30 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. O City Clerk Volume 57 - Page 771