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04-18-2023 MinutesItem # 2 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CYPRESS TRAFFIC COMMISSION April 18, 2023 3 p.m. A regular in-person meeting of the Cypress Traffic Commission was held in the Garden Room, Community Center, 5700 Orange Avenue, California. CALL TO ORDER Chair Ajello called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. ROLL CALL COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Ajello Vice Chair Bestian — ABSENT Commissioner Summers Commissioner Youngerman STAFF PRESENT: City Engineer, Nick Mangkalakiri Traffic Engineer, David Roseman Engineering Aide, Eric Dong PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The pledge was led by Commission Chair Ajello ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Limited to 30 minutes—three minutes per speaker, unless extended by the Traffic Commission) Mr. Troy Tanaka was present for Item No. 3 on the agenda. Mr. Leo Medrano was present as a visitor. 1 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes April 18, 2023 MINUTES It was moved by Commissioner Summers and seconded by Commissioner Youngerman to approve the minutes of February 21, 2023. The motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: 3 COMMISSIONERS: Ajello, Summers, and Youngerman NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Bestian NEW BUSINESS 2. Civility, Conduct and Governance Policy The City Engineer presented the annual Civility, Conduct and Governance Policy report to the Commission. He informed the Commission that the City Council adopted the Policy on February 13, 2023, and that all elected and appointed officials as well as City employees are expected to adhere to the standards of conduct established in the Policy. The Policy also requires that all Commissioners attest with their signatures that they have reviewed and agree to follow the Policy. 3. Orange Avenue Keep Clear Markings The Traffic Engineer received a request from Troy Tanaka, a resident living in the neighborhood south of Orange Avenue and east of the Cypress Community Center, for "Keep Clear" pavement markings on Orange Avenue at Sonwell Place. A review of traffic operations in the area by the Traffic Engineer has confirmed that eastbound Orange Avenue traffic queues can extend to and beyond Sonwell Place during peak morning and afternoon traffic conditions. Furthermore, it is commonplace that motorists queued along Orange Avenue fail to comply with the posted "Do Not Block Intersection" signs at both Peartree Lane and Sonwell Place. In such instances where "Do Not Block Intersection" signs have a high violation rate it is customary to install supplemental "Keep Clear" pavement markings to heighten motorist awareness that is it illegal to block the intersection. Based on the resident complaint and his personal observations, it is the Traffic Engineer's recommendation that supplemental "Keep Clear" markings be installed in the eastbound travel lanes on Orange Avenue at the Sonwell Place and Peartree Lane intersections. It was moved by Chair Ajello and seconded by Commissioner Summers to concur with the Traffic Engineer's recommendation to install "Keep Clear" markings for eastbound traffic on Orange Avenue at Peartree Lane and at Sonwell Place. The motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: 3 COMMISSIONERS: Ajello, Summers, Youngerman NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Bestian 2 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes April 18, 2023 4. Lakia Drive Traffic Safety Enhancements The Traffic Engineer was contacted by Robert Gerhardstein, a resident that lives in close proximity to the intersection of Lakia Drive and Truk Street, who expressed his concerns regarding traffic speeds on Lakia Drive and neighborhood cut -through traffic. In response to the inquiry, a traffic study was conducted. Traffic counts revealed that Lakia Drive carries almost twice as much traffic exiting the neighborhood than entering the neighborhood at a level far below what would be indicative of a commuter "short-cut". Furthermore, in reviewing the hourly volumes it appears that Lakia Drive has a fairly consistent volume of traffic throughout the day averaging just over one car a minute. This pattern of traffic suggests that Lakia Drive is functioning more as a collector street for the residents in the immediate neighborhoods of Cypress and Garden Grove than a commuter "short-cut". The traffic speed counts conducted on Lakia Drive revealed that most motorists are traveling at or below the posted 25 mph speed limit, with no recorded speeds exceeding 35 mph over the twenty -four-hour monitoring period. Although the travel speeds recorded in the count appear reasonable, Lakia Drive does have a series of curves, which would suggest that the average speeds should be slightly lower. Therefore, the Traffic Engineer is recommending that the two roadway curves on Lakia Drive be upgraded with solid double -yellow centerlines and that new high -visibility curve warning signs with 15 mph speed limit advisory signs be installed, four sets in total. These changes should enhance safety by heightening motorists' awareness of the curves in the road, reducing the tendency for motorists to "cut" the corners of the curves, and clearly indicating the speed at which motorists should be traveling. It was moved by Chair Ajello and seconded by Commissioner Summers to concur with the Traffic Engineer's recommendation to install solid double -yellow centerline markings through the roadway curves and curve warning signs on Lakia Drive west of Truk Street. The motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: 3 COMMISSIONERS: Ajello, Summers, Youngerman NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Bestian STAFF REPORTS (NO ACTION OR DISCUSSION REQUIRED): 5. Lexington Park Update — Verbal Report The City Engineer provided a project update to the Commission indicating that the last elements of work needed to complete the utility and street work on Cerritos Avenue are underway and that the last of the communications cables should be relocated onto the new steel poles within two 3 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes April 18, 2023 weeks. Once that work is complete, Edison will schedule the removal of the old wooden poles and complete the asphalt paving repairs in the right turn lane leading to the park's vehicle entrance. The City anticipates that all the work should be complete by the end of May. 6. Orange County Sanitation District (OC San District) Project Update — Verbal Report The City Engineer updated the Commission on the sewer work that has been underway for the last six months along Orange Avenue. This project work is necessary to rehabilitate major sewer lines that are serving the City and surrounding areas, some of which are up to 70 years old. The OC San District is in the final stages of the first phase of the work with asphalt restoration commencing next week and slurry seal following shortly thereafter. The current phase of the work is a small segment of the overall project to rehabilitate multiple sewer lines within the City. The next phase of the work includes replacement of sewer lines and manholes along Denni Street, Moody Street, and Orange Avenue, from Lexington Park to north of Forest Lawn. This next phase of the work is anticipated to take up to two years to complete. OC San District has been very cooperative and attentive to residents with a fully staffed 24/7 project hotline to respond to resident and staff inquiries. During this current phase of the work the contractor worked many nights and weekends and over the course of the last six months the City has only received three phone calls and OC San District only received seven phone calls from residents. 7. Traffic Improvement Projects Update — Verbal Report The Traffic Engineer provided an update on the progress of previous Commission recommended traffic improvements. The project to upgrade the signage and markings for the crosswalk on Cerritos Avenue at Florence Street is complete. The design of the upgraded flashing beacon at Denni Street and Newman Avenue is complete and the project is out to bid. The Orangewood Avenue improvement project is underway with the City having selected a consultant for the design and communications work. Staff is hoping to be able to begin conceptual design work on the Crescent Avenue project in the coming months so that staff can begin discussions with the neighboring cities. In order to expedite Commission recommended projects in the future, next year's Capital Improvement Program will have funding set aside to implement various projects as they get approved rather than having to wait for an allocation of funds in the subsequent budget year. The City Engineer provided a brief update on the Arnold Cypress Park project. He informed the Commission that the design is currently at a 60% level and that they are hoping to present plans to the City Council at the second meeting in June. Once the plans and specifications are approved, the City will solicit contractor bids for construction. It is anticipated that a contractor could be selected in August or September with construction commencing in the fall of this year. 4 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes April 18, 2023 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Five minutes per speaker, unless extended by the Commission) Commissioner Summers commented on Trader Joes getting ready to open. STAFF REPORTS (NO ACTION OR DISCUSSION REQUIRED) None. COMMISSION MEMBERS REPORTS AND REMARKS None. ADJOURNMENT Chair Ajello adjourned the meeting at 3:34 p.m. 5