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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/10/1987 - Adjourned City Council MeetingROLL CALL ADJOURNED R93ULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF COSTA MESA November 10, 1987 The City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, California, met in adjourned regular session on November 10, 1987, at 7:00 p.m., in the Costa Mesa High Sclxool Lyceum, 2650 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. The meeting was duly and regularly ordered adjourned - from the regular meeting of November 2, 1987, and copies of the Notice of Adjourn ment were posted as required by law. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: OFFICIALS PRESENT: Hall, Amburgey, Wheeler, Hornbuckle, Buffa Dbne City Manager, Public Services Director, City Clerk Maureen Di Dcminico, President, Mesa del Mar Homeowners Association, welcomed everyone to the meeting. Traffic Circulation Mayor Hall presented the subject to be discussed, Westerly Portion of traffic circulation on Newport Boulevard frontage road Newport Boulevard between Bristol Street and Arlington Drive, and then Frontage Road turned the meeting over to Vice Mayor Amburgey, who Between Bristol resides in Mesa del Mar. Street and.Arlington Drive The City Manager reported the proposal for a two-way frontage road on Newport Boulevard has been on-going for approximately one year. Concerns have been expressed, and Council decided to hold this town hall meeting so that the project could be presented and input from citizens in the area could be obtained. The Public Services Director presented background infor- mation, staff's report, and reasons why the City had Mchle, Grover and Associates, 901 East Imperial Highway, La Harbra, traffic consultants, prepare a proposal to determine the feasibility of converting the west side of the Newport Boulevard frontage road to a two-way traffic operation between Bristol Street and Arlington Drive. The study addresses existing traffic, projected traffic to the year 2010, and reviews possible traffic signal requirements. He then presented a transparency and out- lined existing conditions and traffic flow, stating possible alternatives, and addressed concerns previously expressed, and opinions of staff regarding those con- cerns. The study determines 15 percent to be through traffic and 85 percent local traffic. At Mayor Hall's request, the Public Services Director explained (CALTRPNS) California Department of Transpor- tation, District 7, which maintains and operates the Newport Boulevard frontage road as part of their freeway system. He also spoke about two future connector ramps to be constructed for the 55/73 Freeway. Council Member Fbrnbuckle said the report indicates that whether or not additional work is accomplished on the Newport Boulevard frontage road, additional right- and left -turn lanes would be required at Bristol Street to maintain Level "D" service. The Director of Public Services concurred and said additional work is required on Bristol Street. 2.65 Aw In response to a question presented by Council Menber Buffa, the Public Services Director said the present count on Presido Drive is approximately 890 cars in the eastbound direction and 330 cars in the westbound direc- tion, with an average daily count on Presidio Drive of 1,200 autonnbiles per day. In response to questions frau Council Member Wheeler, the Public Services Director specifically defined areas where traffic flow improvements are anticipated should the two-way traffic operation of the westerly Newport Boulevard frontage road be instituted and presented current and anticipated levels of service on various roads, discussed stop signs and signals, and projected casts. Mayor Hall introduced the following people present in the audience: Dave Slaughter, Linda Dixon, Ron Bauer, Jack Lincoln, and Derald Hunt, Traffic Cammissioners; Roy Andreen, Planning Commissioner; and Trudy Olig, newly elected to the Mesa Consolidated Water District. At Mayor Hall's request, the Public Services Director explained level of service designations. Vice Mayor Amburgey opened the meeting to comments frau the audience. Mike Dunn, 913 Junipero Drive, felt the proposed project would add additional negative traffic impacts to the neighborhood and suggested other alternatives be consi- dered such as closing Presidio Drive to through -traffic. Council Member Wheeler asked if staff is recohuriendirg that the two-way traffic operation on the westerly Newport Boulevard frontage road be instituted, and then, if there are problems with through -traffic in the Mesa del Mar area, evaluate options to correct then. The Director of Public Services replied that the statements were correct. Julie Wiest, 2737 Drake Avenue, spoke in concurrence with the camnants made by Mike Dunn, and her concerns with traffic increasing within the tract. She opposes current recamrneandations. Frances Zeal, 1099 El Camino Drive, said the Traffic Commission had indicated more speed limit signs would be posted, vhich has not been done. He expressed his opinion that tore than 15 percent of the traffic is through -traffic. Lee Dean, 1199 El Camino Drive, a Director of the Mesa del Mar Hoineowners Association, Area 1, expressed con- cern about traffic increasing if the two-way traffic operation is instituted. He is opposed to the proposed project and recamm nded tore speed limit markings. Richard Schlesinger, 958 Presidio Avenue, corner Fre-Ont Lane, spoke in opposition to the project, which he feels would increase traffic on Presidio Drive. He said even though it would be an inconvenience, closing all but one entrance and exit to the tract would to help alleviate through traffic and noise. Vice Mayor AThurgey said there appears to be some con- fusion as to increased traffic on Presidio Drive and that staff has indicated, if the project is implemented, and the anticipated entrances and exits to the tract were ut i1 ized , traffic would not increase in the area of Presidio Drive and Fremont Lane. In response to a question frau Council Member Wheeler, the Public Services Director said it is not anticipated that traffic would increase if the 15 percent through traffic level stays the same or decreases, but there is the possibility of it increasing if traffic volumes increase. James (Rusty)- Lusk, 947 Serra Way, spoke in opposition of implementing the proposal which, in his opinion, would increase through -traffic. Council Member Wheeler asked if the 15 percent through traffic was an AM or PM count. Traffic Cammissioner Derald Hunt indicated a.PM count study was taken primar- ily frau the Saint Clair Street and Mendoza Drive entrances with exiting at Fairview Road arra E1 Camino Drive. Mary Crimes, 913 Presidio Drive, spoke about the increasing amount of traffic and noise, automobiles not stopping . at the traffic light, and her belief that through traffic is more than 15 percent of the total. She is in favor of making Presidio Drive a cul-de-sac. Dorothy MacAvey, 2428 Drake Avenue, expressed her con- cerns with traffic speeds within the tract and cars not stepping at step signs. She is opposed to the project as proposed. Kathy Melgar, 2821 Monterey Avenue, expressed her opinion that the study does not indicate how impacted the area will be if the project is implemented and her belief that the purpose of the project was not aimed at reducing the traffic through the area. She spoke about the large amount of traffic and the need for something to be done about it. Vice Mayor Pmburgey restated the streets on which staff anticipates conditions would improve if the project were implemented. Council Member Wheeler said this is staff's opinion only and the study does not address the issue of through traffic. David Stiller, 2879 Regis Lane, said any increase in traffic to the tract would be undesirable, and then asked how traffic counts were taken. The Public Services Director said the traffic counts indicated on the transparency are a canpilation of counts taken over the last six to 12 months, and then addressed antici- pated traffic benefits if improvements are made. Vice Mayor Amburgey introduced former Mayor Dan Raciti who was in the audience. Don Morris, 2832 Drake Avenue, corner of Rortola Drive, was concerned with traffic speeds and increased traffic. He recanme nded installing more stop signs. Harold Reed, 2726 San Lucas Lane, spoke in opposition of any increase in traffic within Mesa del Mar. Janet Schlesinger, 958 Presidio Drive, spoke in favor of closing Presidio Drive at Newport Boulevard. Maureen Di Daninico, 941 Coronado Drive, felt traffic on Coronado Drive would be impacted by any increase in through -traffic fran Fairview Road. She expressed concern about the large developments being built in the area and anticipates that they will increase through traffic in Mesa del Mar if the Newport Boulevard frontage road is made two-way. Roy Andreen, 2769 Cibola Avenue, suggessted Arlington Drive be widened to four lanes for its entire length arra agrees that soirething needs to be done about traffic on Presidio Drive. Council Member Hornbuckle asked if widening Arlington Drive were mentioned in the feasibility study, and the Public Services Director replied it was not and that it is designated as an arterial highway on the City's Master Plan. The City has an agreement with the Orange County Fairgrounds which states they will provide the right-of-way arra widen Arlington Drive as the fair- grounds are developed along the frontage road. The feasibility study assumes Arlington Drive is developed to its ultimate four lanes. Jeannine Bodenhoffer, 2858 Drake Avenue, spoke in favor of the proposed project and does not believe through traffic would be increased in Mesa del Mar but that it would be better distributed. Robert MacAvey, 2824 Drake Avenue, indicated the traffic on Drake Avenue moves like a raceway and he finds it very dangerous to back out his driveway. He is against anything which would add additional traffic in Mesa del Mar. Jean Brown, 951 Presidio Drive, spoke about speeding traffic and in opposition to making the Newport Boule- vard frontage road two-way. Joe Balough, 2734 San Lucas Lane, Board member, Mesa del Mar Homeowners Association, said the opinions expressed concern speeding through traffic and spoke in opposition to the project which, in his opinion, would create additional through-traf f is . Todd Kausen, 767 Olympic Avenue, suggested Junipero Drive and Presidio, Drive be closed to through -traffic. John Feeney, 1154 Dorset Lane, said, in his opinion, the homeowners have indicated further study needs to be done. Morris Beaver, 2868 Drake Avenue, expressed concern with increased traffic and.speed and would be opposed to closing off Presidio Drive. Rusty Lusk felt Imre study needs to be done. RECESS Vice Mayor Amburgey declared recess at 8:55 p.m., and the meeting reconvened at 9:10 p.m. Mayor Hall said after hearing the conments made by the residents in the area, it appears they do not see much merit in the proposed traffic improvement program. IKOTION Abandon Study A motion was made by Mayor Hall, seconded by Council and Project Member Tpheeler, to abandon the study and project. Council Member Buffa believes some of the recanmenda- tions in the proposal are positive steps toward improving traffic and suggested the residents in the area decide what they feel would be most appropriate for their area and discuss those options with staff and the Traffic Conmiss ion. is 269 Council Member Hornbuckle said she opposes the motion arra, in her opinion, the residents have not expressed a desire to have the proposal dropped altogether but are concerned about what the impact might be on their neigh- borhood. She believes a specific study could be accan- plished to indicate what the impacts on the Mesa del Mar tract streets would be, and she supports some of the recarnmndations contained in the study. Council Member Wheeler canmented that in weighing the benefits and costs of what has been presented, he does not believe the project should proceed any further and believes the single-family residential neighborhoods should be protected against the unwarranted effects of increased density, traffic, and noise. Mayor Hall cammmented his motion was not based on whether or not traffic would decrease in the neighbor- hood. In his opinion, the project is positive arra analyzes present and future traffic flow patterns and improvements, but the residents have indicated they do not want this.specif is project. Vice Mayor Amburgey said he would feel canfortable with the project and that traffic would not significantly increase on any street other than Presidio Drive east of Drake Street. He said the residents have indicated they believe the project would have a negative impact on their neighborhood and for this reason he will support the motion. The motion carried 4-1, Council Member Hornbuckle voting no. Vice Mayor Amburgey asked if anyone wished to address Council on any other subjects and no one responded. ADJOURNMENT On motion made by Mayor Hall, seconded by Council Member Buffa, and carried 5-0, the as adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa ATTEST: Ci1ty,Q.1erk of the City of Costa Mes