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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGTF Minutes 03-26-12 MINUTES CITY OF DOWNEY JOINT MEETING OF THE GREEN TASK FORCE AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE 5:00 PM Monday, March 26, 2012 Downey City Library – Cormack Room 11121 Brookshire Ave., Downey CA 90241 I. CALL TO ORDER: Due to lack of quorum, the Public Works Committee meeting was adjourned. The Green Task Force meeting was called to order at 5:21 PM by Vice Chair Sean Ashton. II. ROLL CALL: Green Task Force Members Present: Sean Ashton, Jonathan Cousimano, Jose Magaña, George Manzanilla, Mario Mendoza, Janet Molinaro, Pat Owens, Anna Valcarcel Members Absent: George Manzanilla, Alex Saab Staff: Shannon DeLong, Staff Liaison, Office of the City Manager Ed Norris, Deputy Director, Public Works III. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was none. IV. TWENTY’S PLENTY INITIATIVE (INFORMATION & DISCUSSION) Ms. DeLong presented an overview of the Twenty’s Plenty initiative, explaining how it had been implemented in Europe and in the United States. She discussed various statistics related to the initiative, including accident/casualty rates, greenhouse gas emission studies and fuel consumption rates. Mr. Norris described the current California State Vehicle Codes related to Prima Facie speed limits and the Engineering & Traffic (E&T) studies necessary when a local municipality seeks to set or change speed limits. Mr. Norris explained that in order for speed limits to be enforceable by police (through radar or vehicle pacing) the speed limit th must be set at the 85 percentile of speed on the particular roadway. He also provided estimates for the cost of implementation of a Twenty’s Plenty program if the E&T studies provided findings that would allow the City to set speed limits lower than the 25 mile per hour prima facie limit and noted that because of the width of most residential streets in Downey, it is highly unlikely that the City could legally set limits lower than prima facie. Mr. Norris then provided an overview of the City’s Traffic Calming program, application process and the criteria for First Tier and Second Tier traffic calming measures. Green Task Force members discussed the prospect of the Twenty’s Plenty initiative and the limitations of the California State Laws. Questions were asked regarding deployment of signs and coordination with schools to reduce speed (the latest California Vehicle Code allows the city to coordinate with the school district to lower speed limits near schools under certain circumstances). Other questions included: - Would Public Works Entertain citizens’ requests for speed surveys? (Yes – through the current traffic calming application procedures) - Considering the costs for implementation of a program, if it could be legally implemented, is the City in a position to undertake the program? (there is no funding budgeted for this program) - Could Twenty’s Plenty be brought into the school system? (The concept could be promoted through PTA meetings, cooperation with staff, and the school’s outreach to parents and students) - Are there streets currently under consideration for 20 mile per hour zones? (not currently – the adopted traffic calming program has various measures for helping to reduce speeds) Vice Chair Ashton asked whether Twenty’s Plenty could be considered as the Public Works Committee conducts its regularly-scheduled Engineering & Traffic surveys. It was explained that E & T surveys are not performed on residential streets because they are set at Prima Facie limit of 25 miles per hour, and therefore the California Vehicle Code doesn’t require E & T surveys. Lars Clutterham, resident, stated that the Twenty’s Plenty goals were great – health, safety, and greenhouse gas reduction – and reported on some results from the implementation of the program in Hoboken, New Jersey. However, he noted that Downey’s streets are much wider and straighter than those in older cities and towns, particularly in Europe. He noted his support of the concept but felt that initiatives such as Complete Streets (CalTrans) and Safe Routes to School could accomplish the same goals and could be implemented legally, according to processes with which cities are already familiar. Kent Halbmaier, resident, stated his agreement with Mr. Clutterham and suggested the City explore the Complete Streets and Safe Routes to Schools initiatives in order to accomplish the same goals. He also noted the concerns over safety, traffic calming and fuel efficiency. Mr. Halbmaier noted that there would be redundancy between the Green Task Force and Public Works Committees should they pursue the initiatives separately, and suggested that a joint committee could be formed or a master plan could be developed to avoid duplication as the initiatives are studied. He also asked what defined a residential street according to the City. Task Force Member Janet Molinaro noted that it sounded very unlikely that Twenty’s Plenty could be incorporated in the City, but urged the City to address speeding, safety, and a reduction in greenhouse gas initiatives. She also asked how the item had ended up on a Green Task Force agenda. Vice Chair Ashton stated that the Green Task Force members had requested the item be presented by staff. Ms. DeLong further explained that because Twenty’s Plenty involved items under the purview of both the Green Task Force and the Public Works Committee, staff had hoped to present the information to both groups at the same time to facilitate communication from both groups’ perspectives. Steve Perez, resident, noted that he had encouraged members of the Green Task Force to look into this initiative, spoke in favor of the simplicity of Twenty’s Plenty, noted a recent fatality near a Norwalk school, and remarked upon the acceleration on his own residential block. Mr. Halbmaier also remarked that a reduction in speed would require a cultural shift. Task Force Member Ana Valcarcel stated that regardless of the campaign or initiative, she was concerned with speed reduction and awareness in the City, noting unsafe conditions in other countries and her experience as a pedestrian on her wait to this evening’s meeting. Task Force Member Jose Magana asked whether it would be legal for the City to reduce the speed limit on all residential streets to 20 miles per hour. Mr. Norris explained that the California Vehicle Code does not give the City discretion to set a speed limit lower than Prima Facie without specific findings of an Engineering & Traffic Study. If the City did set a speed limit lower than the Prima Facie without those specific findings, the Police Department would not be able to enforce the speed limit. It was further noted that the City would need a specific exemption in the Vehicle Code that would need to be granted by the State Legislature, an action that was unlikely because the Legislature does not favor city- specific exemptions. Vice Chair Ashton, noting the time, motioned that the item be continued to the next Green Task Force meeting. Task Force Member Molinaro seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. V. TASK FORCE AND COMMITTEE COMMENTS There were none. VI. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS There were none. VIII. ADJOURNMENT : 5:00pm The Green Task Force adjourned at 6:34pm to Monday, April 23, 2012 at in the nd Downey City Hall 2 Floor Training Room, noting that the next Public Works Committee meeting would be on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 4:00pm in the Downey City Hall 2nd Floor Training Room