Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - unsigned - 1991-09-10 - Adjourned Regular Meeting1 09/10/91 City Council Adjourned Regular Meeting City Hall Conference Room Redding, California September 10, 1991 5:16 p.m. The joint meeting of the City Council and the Traffic and Parking Commission was called to order by Vice Mayor Moss with the following Council Members present: Arness, Fulton, and Moss. Council Members Buffum and Dahl were absent. Traffic and Parking Commissioners Kehoe, Knaebel, Knepp, Lynch and McLaughlin were present. Also present were City Manager Christofferson, Assistant City Manager McMurry, City Attorney Hays, Director of Public Works Galusha, Transportation Coordinator Duryee, Assistant City Clerk Strohmayer, and Secretary/Stenographer Rudolph. DUTIES OF THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING COMMISSION (B-080-550) Council Member Arness stated he is impressed with the Commission's proposal, as outlined in the memorandum to the City Council dated September 9, 1991, incorporated herein by reference; and he is appreciative of the fact that it is positive and focused. Commissioner McLaughlin indicated that in reviewing the items which have been before the Commission, it appears that the duties of the Commission are more operational in nature and can be handled by staff, with the Commission handling any appeals. In order to possibly foresee and eliminate traffic related problems, it is the Commission's desire to become more proactive in the planning process, reviewing such items as the Circulation Plan, Congestion Management Plan, and Transportation Demand Management Plan. Vice Mayor Moss stated that if the City Council were to identify a number one problem facing the City of Redding, it would be traffic-related problems. He indicated a more proactive Traffic and Parking Commission will not only assist the City Council in the project prioritization process, but also help to make the public knowledgeable about the City's traffic-related problems and the associated costs. Commissioner McLaughlin explained that Caltrans is providing information regarding the implementation of forthcoming legislation concerning alternatives to use of single occupant vehicles and the effects it will have on transportation systems. She related that these are issues which the City must address. Commissioner Knepp explained that he personally found that the method in which the City sets speed limits intriguing, however, it is routine and can be handled at the staff level. Commissioner Lynch stated he does not want the Commission to become another step in the already lengthy development process, but part of the process which handles appeals relative to traffic issues and reviews such items as the Circulation Plan, etc. In addition, he perceives the Commission not meeting on a regular basis, but more as it is necessary. Commissioner Knaebel indicated that the Commission is presently performing duties which are based upon standards and warrants and are non- controversial in nature. He stated he favors staff handling the routine items, with the Commission handling appeals and those items which staff determines warrants a lay body's review. As far as expanding the duties of the Traffic and Parking Commission, he indicated he is not clear as to the Planning Commission's role, and possibly there are sufficient lay people currently involved in the review process. Vice Mayor Moss concurred that the Traffic and Parking Commission is currently performing perfunctory duties which can be handled at the staff level. He indicated that there are other areas in which he visualizes the 2 09/10/91 Commission playing an important role and providing guidance to the City Council, such as the prioritization of traffic projects. In response to Commissioner Knaebel, Public Works Director Galusha indicated that presently staff makes project recommendations directly to the City Council and are not reviewed by a lay body. Council Member Arness reiterated that one of the largest problems before the City is traffic and transportation, and once the DKS Report is received, Council will most likely have to reconsider the traffic impact fees. Assistant City Manager McMurry related that the Planning Commission is involved in project prioritization to a degree, in that there is a provision in the Government Code which requires the Planning Commission to review the City's Capital Improvement Program and Circulation Element and provide a recommendation to the City Council. Vice Mayor Moss related that having been a Planning Commissioner for several years, he can state that the Planning Commission does not have the time to thoroughly study such items as the Circulation Element, and any relief the Traffic and Parking Commission can provide will be beneficial to the Planning Commission, as well as the City Council. He stated that when there is a legitimate problem associated with either the Redding Area Bus Authority's (RABA) or the City's circulation pattern, the Traffic and Parking Commission should be involved. In response to Council Member Arness, Mr. Galusha stated that there is an eight to nine member Traffic Task Force composed of members of the Chamber of Commerce, Shasta Builders Exchange, Shasta County Board of Realtors, Private Industry Council, and Economic Development Corporation which review the City's traffic impact fees. Council Member Fulton related that, if handled in a meaningful way, the broadening of the Traffic and Parking Commission's duties can be very important to the City, as well as alleviating some of the work placed upon other commissions. In response to Commissioner Lynch, Transportation Coordinator Duryee explained that the Planning Commission and City Council conduct public hearings on the General Plan, as well as the Circulation Plan update, prior to inclusion in the General Plan. He related that the Congestion Management Plan is new and because it is a Regional Plan, public hearings will be conducted by the City, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors, the Regional Transportation Planning Agency and possibly the City of Anderson. Commissioner Kehoe indicated that there are proactive issues which he believes the Commission can provide assistance with; although, he does not desire to add layers to the approval process. He stated, however, that if the City Council is not able to develop efficacious tasks for the Commission to perform, then perhaps the City Council should consider eliminating the Commission and transferring any remaining duties to the Planning Commission. Council Member Arness opined that if the Traffic and Parking Commission is focused and able to review projects concurrently with the Planning Commission, it will be beneficial. Vice Mayor Moss said he can see the Commission expanding their purview and that it is appropriate for the Commission to become involved in the up- front review of issues which are not project oriented. He stated that it will be beneficial for the Planning Commission to have back-up assistance regarding traffic issues. Commissioner Knaebel related that most of the items noted in the Commission's memorandum to Council did not exist five years ago, and some do not even exist today. Such items as the Congestion Management Plan and Transportation Environmental Plan are part of the new planning process, however, are traffic oriented. He indicated that possibly the times dictate a new role for the Commission which is not within the purview of what the Planning Commission should be doing. 3 09/10/91 Council Member Fulton stated his support of expanding the responsibility of the Traffic and Parking Commission. 4 09/10/91 Commissioner Knaebel explained that there are issues before the City which do not necessarily fall within the Planning Commission's purview, and for which there is not a designated group of citizens responsible for their review. He stated that the Traffic and Parking Commission might play such a role in reviewing such items as the Transportation Management Plan and the Congestion Management Plan. Vice Mayor Moss stated that the Planning Department is heavily involved in the projects noted in the Commission's memorandum, and he would like to see the Commission become involved without placing an additional burden upon the Planning Department. Mr. Duryee indicated that in the Planning Department's presentation to the Commission, it was related that the approval process for a project is approximately two and one half months. Because of this timeline and the fact that the Commission will be reviewing issues up-front, there should be minimal impact upon the Planning Department. City Manager Christofferson stated that if Council requests the expansion of the Traffic and Parking Commission's responsibilities, staff will accommodate the request. In response to Council Member Arness, City Attorney Hays related that authority does exist for staff to handle such issues as stop signs, traffic signals, etc. Commissioner Lynch commented that in order for the Commission to properly perform their responsibilities, it may be necessary for the Commission to conduct public hearings. Mr. Hays related that an issue which the Commission might wish to address is the need for additional river crossings. Because of recent concerns regarding the river's habitat and destruction, and the limited number of crossing possibilities, the City should begin to formulate a plan and perhaps the Traffic and Parking Commission is a place to start. Vice Mayor Moss stated that a major planning effort is currently underway in the Benton Ranch area. He related that decisions are apparently being made concerning traffic patterns without the Traffic and Parking Commission's input. He stressed the importance of the Commission being involved in such issues. MOTION: Made by Council Member Arness, seconded by Council Member Fulton, delegating the authorization and placement of traffic control devices, such as, but not limited to, stop signs, traffic lights, speed limits, to the Director of Public Works, with all appeals going before the Traffic and Parking Commission and assigning the Commission the responsibility of reviewing long-range planning issues relative to the City of Redding's Public Transportation System, in concert with the County of Shasta, City of Anderson and Redding Area Bus Authority (RABA). Voting was as follows: Ayes: Council Members - Arness, Fulton and Moss Noes: Council Members - None Absent: Council Members - Buffum and Dahl ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at the hour of 6:06 p.m, Vice Mayor Moss declared the meeting adjourned to September 17, 1991, at 6:15 p.m., at the City Council Chambers, 1313 California Street. APPROVED: _________________________________ Vice Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________ Assistant City Clerk 5 09/10/91