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11-02-2023 (Special Meeting)Item # MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CYPRESS TRAFFIC COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING November 2, 2023 3 p.m. A Special in-person meeting of the Cypress Traffic Commission was held in the Community Center, Garden Room, 5700 Orange Avenue, California. CALL TO ORDER Chair Ajello called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Commission Chair Ajello Commission Vice Chair Summers Commissioner Bestian — ABSENT Commissioner Shakespeare Commissioner Youngerman STAFF PRESENT: City Engineer, Nick Mangkalakiri Traffic Engineer, David Roseman Cypress Police Sergeant, Michael McBain — ABSENT Engineering Aide, Eric Dong Commission Secretary, Norma Vera 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) MINUTES It was moved by Commissioner Summers and seconded by Commissioner Shakespeare to approve the minutes of September 19, 2023. 1 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes November 2, 2023 The motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Ajello, Shakespeare, Summers, and Youngerman NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Bestian NEW BUSINESS 1. Request for Stop Controls on Corporate Avenue at Camden Drive. The Traffic Engineer received a request from Commissioner Shakespeare through the OpenGov portal regarding the possible need for stop signs on Corporate Avenue at its intersection with Camden Drive. The Commissioner indicated that southbound motorists on Camden Drive that are stopped at the intersection have limited visibility of conflicting eastbound traffic on Corporate Drive due to landscaping on the northeast corner. In reviewing the Commissioner's request for new stop signs on Corporate Avenue, the Traffic Engineer gathered traffic volume counts, researched traffic collisions, and observed traffic flow at various times. The traffic counts gathered in late September of this year revealed that peak hour traffic flow at the intersection amounts to less than 250 vehicles per hour, which is considered low or light traffic. According to the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD), a minimum of 500 vehicles per hour traversing an intersection for eight or more hours is the level of traffic at which all -way stop control should be considered. A search of Police Department collision records revealed only two reported traffic collisions at the intersection in the past five years, suggesting the intersection has a satisfactory safety performance considering the volume of traffic traversing it. Both of the reported crashes occurred during daytime hours and involved a southbound vehicle that entered the intersection illegally causing a crash with a legally approaching westbound vehicle. In both cases neither the involved parties nor the officer taking the report indicated that the landscaping on the northeast corner was a contributing factor in the crashes. Based on the traffic control guidance provided by CAMUTCD and the satisfactory safety performance of the intersection, the Traffic Engineer does not recommend adding additional stop signs on Corporate Avenue at its intersection with Camden Drive at this time. Although, an all -way stop is not recommended, the Traffic Engineer has previously directed that several minor signage changes be made at the intersection to enhance the visibility of the east leg crosswalk and to improve visibility of conflicting traffic movements. These changes should be completed by City crews in the coming weeks and are expected to enhance intersection safety. The Traffic Engineer will also reach out to the property owners responsible for the landscape maintenance on the northeast corner to encourage them to keep the trees and hedges trimmed. It was moved by Commissioner Youngerman and seconded by Commission Vice Chair Summers to concur with the Traffic Engineer's findings that the existing traffic controls at the 2 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes November 2, 2023 Corporate Avenue and Camden Drive intersection are sufficient and that additional stops on Corporate Avenue are not needed at this time. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: YES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Ajello, Shakespeare, Summers, and Youngerman NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Bestian 2. Holiday Meeting Schedule — Verbal Report The City Engineer indicated that typically the Commission is dark in December due to the holiday season, and he suggested the same for this year since staff has no pending matters needing immediate Commission review or action. It was moved by Commissioner Summers and seconded by Commission Chair Ajello to cancel the December meeting and reconvene next year for the January regular meeting. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: YES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Ajello, Shakespeare, Summers, and Youngerman NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Bestian STAFF REPORTS (NO ACTION OR DISCUSSION REQUIRED): 1. The Traffic Engineer reported that the second speed feedback sign, for eastbound traffic, has been installed on Orangewood Avenue and that the project is now complete. 2. The Traffic Engineer reported that the new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) were installed at Denni Street and Newman Avenue. The new beacons have fifty percent more light output than the old beacons and thus are much more visible. Commissioner Shakespeare asked whose responsibility it would be to install concrete pillars to protect the kids in case of an accident? The City Engineer responded it would be the School District's responsibility to protect their own property if they deemed it necessary. Commissioner Youngerman also inquired about the status of several other Commission approved pedestrian safety projects. The Traffic Engineer indicated that updates on those are forthcoming in this report. 3 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes November 2, 2023 3. Eric Dong provided an update on the Crescent Avenue speed feedback signs and the Moody Street and Newman Avenue RRFB project. The engineering designs are complete for both projects, and he is soliciting bids from contractors. Hopefully, contractors will be selected for each project by the end of January and work will begin shortly thereafter. 4. The Traffic Engineer indicated that the project to replace faded indications and add new nearside indications at the Moody Street and Ball Road traffic signal is complete. He reviewed the completed job in the field and is impressed with the improved visibility provided by the newly installed equipment and is hopeful that the changes will result in a decrease in the accident rate at the intersection. 5. The Traffic Engineer indicated that the project to install right turn arrows for eastbound and westbound traffic at Cerritos Avenue and Walker Street is underway. The City issued a purchase order to Yunex and they are waiting for the new signal equipment to be delivered from their vendor so that installation can proceed. It is likely that the work will be completed in January. 6. The Traffic Engineer indicated that the special accessible pedestrian push buttons for the blind at Denni Street and Ball Road adjacent to Veteran's Park have been ordered. These new push buttons are contactless and will be the first of their kind in the City. The new buttons can be activated by waving one's hand in front of the button; alternatively, pedestrians can still push the button like normal if they prefer. This new type of button was selected to test out the technology because it improves hygiene and accessibility for all pedestrians, not just blind pedestrians an maybe someday in the future nobody will want to touch buttons anymore. As soon as the buttons arrive, the City's maintenance contractor, Yunex, will install and program them. Commission Chair Ajello asked how much the buttons cost versus the other kind. Eric Dong indicated that the new buttons cost about $8,000 for an intersection or about $1,000 per button, which is comparable to other accessible buttons on the market. Commissioner Youngerman asked about the Arnold Cypress Park project traffic impact on the ingress and egress. She wanted to know if staff is going to look at that aspect of the project ahead of the park reopening. The City Engineer responded that the ingress and egress were shifting slightly but will be more or less in the same location; therefore, no other traffic improvement plans are contemplated at this time. The City Engineer informed the Commission that project bids, equipment costs, and labor charges have increased significantly in recent months. City pavement projects are coming in 60 percent higher than they were two years ago and the OC Sanitation sewer relining project is now projected to cost two and a half times more than compared to similar projects completed last year. It is very difficult for staff to predict project costs right now because of inflation, commodity shortages, and general global uncertainty and instability. Furthermore, many of the things the City purchases for our projects are closely tied to the costs of raw materials such as oil for asphalt and plastic and steel for traffic signal poles/cabinets and playground equipment. This uncertainty in equipment pricing creates challenges for longer duration projects such as Arnold Cypress Park since subcontractors will only hold their prices for 30 -days leaving the 4 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes November 2, 2023 general contractors to try to predict what the pricing will be eight months from now when they actually need those services or equipment. Staff is closely monitoring the situation as the City Engineer is recommending contract awards to City Council. The contract award for Arnold Cypress Park is anticipated to go before City Council on November 13th The City Engineer informed the Commission that Sergeant McBain could not be present at the meeting so there is no traffic collision report for this month; however, we anticipate there will be a report at the next meeting in January. The City Engineer informed the Commission that at the State of the City event that he gave Commissioner Youngerman a tour of the Engineering staff offices and traffic management center. He made an open invitation to the rest of the Commission to provide a similar tour for anyone that is interested. He suggested that Commissioners give him a call and/or send him an email to schedule a tour. Commissioner Summers asked about the landscape on Cerritos Avenue near Walker Street. The City Engineer responded that contractor bids were opened this week and they came in higher than expected. He is looking at taking the bids to City Council and presenting potential options to either award the full contract or alternatively reduce the scope of project. Assuming City Council provides direction and approves the project, he hopes to start work early next year. Commissioner Shakespeare asked if this would fall under traffic's budget? City Engineer responded that no, the costs would be charged under medians/parkways category which is funded by gas tax. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Five minutes per speaker, unless extended by the Commission) COMMISSION MEMBERS REPORTS AND REMARKS Commissioner Shakespeare inquired about the status of his school signage request for Oxford Academy that he had mentioned at the last Traffic Commission meeting. When heading eastbound on Orange Avenue there is a 40 mph just past Moody Street and then a little farther down the block there is a 25 mph school zone sign but it's blocked by a tree. The Traffic Engineer indicated that he thought the matter had been resolved by trimming the tree in question; however, staff will recheck the visibility of the signage. Commissioner Youngerman announced there is a Holiday Sing on December 5th on the Civic Center green. She also announced she attended the Cypress Citizen's Police Academy which was a six-week course /training, she toured the West -Com dispatch center, the Fire Department came with all their equipment, and she found it very interesting. ADJOURNMENT Commission Chair Ajello adjourned the meeting at 3:42 p.m. 5