1989 11 08 TTC MinutesDEPAR NTAL REPORT'
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MIEMORANDUM
TO: Ron Kiedrowski, City Manager
FROM: Frank Reynolds, Director of Public Work~~
City Engineer
DATE: November 14, 1989
SUBJECT: Technical Traffic Committee
A regular meeting of the Technical Traffic Committee was held at
11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, November 8, 1989. Attendance included:
Members: Gene Marshall, District Local Roads & Streets
Engineer, Caltrans District 11, San Dieao
Richard Barrera, Traffic Engineer
Riverside County Road Department, Riverside.
Gayle Janes, Lieutenant, Riverside County Sheriff's
Department, Indio
Roger Hirdler, Community Safety Director
City of La Quinta
Frank Reynolds, Director of Public Works
City of La Quinta
Staff: Jerry Herman, Planning and Development Director
City of La Quinta
Steve Speer, Senior Civil Engineer
City of La Quinta
Guests: Eldon Lee, Director of Public Works
City of Indio
Nancy Sappington, Landscape Consultant
TDK Associates, Palm Springs
Mr. Reynolds brought the meeting to order at 11:00 A.M.
Technical Traffic Committee - November 8, 1989
Page 2
New Business Item # 1- Introduction of Landscape Consultant
Mr. Reynolds gave a brief review of the City's progress related to
developing a program to install and maintain landscaped median
islands in the City's arterial streets. Nancy Sappington with TDK
Associates of Palm Springs was introduced to the Committee and
presented with written comments raised by the Committee at its
December 1988 and January 1989 meetings. Nancy addressed the
Committee and stated she believed that TDK Associates could develop a
landscape "signature" that would address the concerns of the
Committee as well as be unique to the City of La Quinta.
New Business Item # 2- Median islands on Jefferson at Hiahway 111
Mr. Reynolds gave a brief oral synopsis of the Jefferson Street
improvement project between Highway 111 and Westward Ho Drive. For
visual aid, Mr. Reynolds provided construction blueprints of the
project with the median islands highlighted in yellow. The City's
aerial photograph of the area was also used to help apprise the
Committee members of the setting. Mr. Reynolds informed the
Committee that business enterprises located on the east side of
Jefferson just north of Highway 111 objected to the median island
installation on Jefferson Street and were threatening to litigate the
matter if an access opening(s) to their businesses isn't provided.
Following Mr. Reynolds presentation, the Committee members asked a
few relevant questions to further clarify their understanding of the
situation concerning the nature of access and alternate access, once
the median island is installed.
The median island/access issue focused on Lwo aspects: 1) should an
opening be provided in the median island for access to the businesses
north of Circle K; and 2) should the nose of the island be extended
farther south at Highway 111 intersection. All discussion and
comments of the topic favored no mid-block opening for access, and
extension on the island nose farther south.
IT WAS MOVED by Mr. Barrera (Riverside County Road Department) AND
SECONDED by Mr. Marshall (Caltrans) that: 1) the median island
improvements be installed per the plan with no new median island
openings and 2) the median island nose should be extended farther
south at the terminal end near the Highway 111 intersection. THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Reynolds identified and requested committee comments regarding a
second mid-block median island opening near the north end of the
project that is being provided per plan for a golf cart crossing.
Mr. Barrera and Mr. Marshall both favored closure of this opening
with an alternate golf cart crossing provided such as a tunnel or a
.race level crossina at *_he -ntersection ~f Jefferson Street and
Westward Ho Drive.
~p'Hii,
Technical Traffic Committee - November 8, 1989
Page 3
IT WAS MOVED by Mr. Marshall (Caltrans) AND SECONDED by i~[r. Barrera
(Riverside County Road Department) that: The Committee recommends
closing the golf cart crossing at mid-block and the City should
assist the golf course operator in directing golf carts t:Yirough the
intersection of Jefferson Street and Westward Ho Drive. THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting adjourned at 12:00 P.M. (Noon)
ENGMMO/MEMO18/S