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04-16-2024 MinutesItem # 1 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CYPRESS TRAFFIC COMMISSION April 16, 2024 3 p.m. A regular in-person meeting of the Cypress Traffic Commission was held at the Community Center, Garden Room, 5700 Orange Avenue, Cypress, 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 — Left at 4:13 p.m. Commissioner Bestian Commissioner Shakespeare Commissioner Youngerman — Arrived at 3:40 p.m. STAFF PRESENT: City Engineer, Nick Mangkalakiri Assistant City Engineer, Daniel Co Traffic Engineer, David Roseman Cypress Police Sergeant, Michael McBain 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) Ms. Aurora Safreed addressed the Commission asking the Commission to consider adding a crosswalk on Orangewood Avenue connecting the two parks of Maple Grove Park South and Maple Grove Park North. The Traffic Engineer responded that he had received Ms. Safreed's petition and attempted to contact Ms. Safreed about the request; however, he had an incorrect phone number for her. He also indicated that the matter would be discussed as Item 3. Mr. Leo Medrano, a City of Cypress Parks and Recreation Commissioner, asked about the possibility of installing a left turn onto Katella Avenue from Enterprise Drive. Commissioner Bestian asked if it would be helpful if a Cypress and/or Los Alamitos resident would go before 1 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes April 16, 2024 the City of Los Alamitos to ask for the change in traffic controls. The City Engineer informed Commissioner Bestian that they have met with their counterparts in the City of Los Alamitos and they are aware of the situation and continue having discussions with them. Additionally, the City of Cypress has included an unfunded project in the 7 -year Capital Improvement Program to install a traffic signal at the intersection, so we have demonstrated that the City of Cypress is willing to cooperate on the matter. MINUTES It was moved by Commissioner Bestian and seconded by Vice Chair Summers to approve the minutes of February 20, 2024. The motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Ajello, Bestian, Shakespeare, and Summers NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Youngerman NEW BUSINESS The City Manager suggested that the Commission take up Item 3 first since Ms. Aurora Safreed was present and had just spoke on the matter. Chair Ajello agreed. 3. Request for Crosswalk at Maple Grove Park The Traffic Engineer presented the matter by reminding the Commission Members that Ms. Aurora Safreed addressed the Commission during public comment at their February meeting asking the Commission to consider adding a crosswalk on Orangewood Avenue connecting the two parks of Maple Grove Park South and Maple Grove Park North. She also submitted a petition to staff containing signatures of neighbors that supported the installation of a new crosswalk. At the time the Traffic Engineer indicated that he would investigate the matter and report back to the Commission and this item is the culmination of his investigation into the matter. The Traffic Engineer indicated that decisions regarding changes in traffic controls, such as adding stop signs, traffic signals, or crosswalks are not made based on petitions. Such decisions are made based on engineering principles, best practices, and guidelines as outlined in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD). He also indicated that the CAMUTCD does not prescriptively direct when or where crosswalks are to be placed; rather it provides guidance and leaves those determinations up to the best judgement of the Traffic Engineer. 2 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes April 16, 2024 If a crosswalk were to be installed connecting the two parks, that crosswalk would be considered a mid -block pedestrian crossing since Maple Grove Park South is not located on a street corner of Orangewood Avenue. With respect to such mid -block crossings, the CAMUTCD does provide the following guidance, which was read to the Commission by the Traffic Engineer: "Mid -block pedestrian crossings are generally unexpected by the motorist and should be discouraged unless, in the opinion of the engineer, there is strong justification in favor of such installation. Particular attention should be given to roadways with two or more traffic lanes in one direction as a pedestrian may be hidden from view by a vehicle yielding the right-of-way to a pedestrian." The Traffic Engineer also noted that the two parks have been intentionally constructed with similar amenities such that residents living on either side of Orangewood Avenue wouldn't have to cross Orangewood Avenue to experience similar park amenities. Furthermore, while Maple Grove Park North is accessible from all sides, pedestrian access to Orangewood Avenue at Maple Grove Park South is mostly blocked by landscaping and a wooden fence. If a crosswalk connecting the two parks were to be installed on Orangewood Avenue, Maple Grove Park South would have to be reconfigured to provide an ADA compliant pedestrian walkway through the park to connect to its amenities at substantial cost. The Traffic Engineer then provided a summary of the information he gathered during his investigation related to the volume and speed of traffic on Orangewood Avenue, traffic crash statistics near the two parks, and pedestrian crossing activity between the two parks. He also indicated that last year the City installed two speed feedback signs on Orangewood Avenue in an effort to calm traffic speeds and if a new crosswalk were to be installed connecting the two parks the two speed feedback signs would have to be relocated at substantial cost to another location since they would conflict with CAMUTCD required crosswalk warning signs, markings, and devices. Based on the configuration of the two parks, low pedestrian crossing activity between the two parks, and the arterial nature, high volume, and high speed of traffic on Orangewood Avenue, the Traffic Engineer stated that there isn't a strong engineering justification to ignore the guidance provided in the CAMUTCD. Therefore, he recommended that the request for the installation of a new marked crosswalk be denied. He also indicated that a denial of the request doesn't mean that pedestrians can't cross Orangewood Avenue in the vicinity of the two parks if they so choose. However, without a marked crosswalk such crossings are not being encouraged by unwarranted traffic controls. Therefore, those pedestrians choosing to cross Orangewood Avenue will most likely do so with great caution and attention leading to increased personal safety. After some discussion it was moved by Commissioner Bestian and seconded by Commission Vice Chair Summers to concur with the Traffic Engineer's recommendation that a resident request for a new marked crosswalk on Orangewood Avenue connecting Maple Grove Park South and Maple Grove Park North be denied. 3 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes April 16, 2024 The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: YES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Ajello, Bestian, Shakespeare, and Summers NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Youngerman 2. Update from the City Manager The City Manager addressed the Commission to thank them for their service and to provide an annual update on accomplishments, key issues, and projects for the City. In his remarks, the City Manager provided updates on Commissioner recruitment, the Citizen's Academy, the City budget, housing and business development, and the newly established District boundaries, representation, and future elections. Commissioner Bestian inquired further about how the district boundaries were selected. The City Manager provided an in-depth explanation of the process of how the proposed district maps were developed and ultimately how one was selected. He also indicated that the City Council seats representing Districts 3 and 4 will be up for election in November. Commissioner Shakespeare inquired about pop-up taco stands and the rules and regulations regarding street vending. The City Manager responded by indicating that essentially the State has taken away the City's ability to regulate and control most street vending activities. The City can still require that vendors have business licenses and permits as required and that they don't block pedestrian access. The Commission took no action on this item. 4. Proposed Red Zones on Evergreen Avenue The Traffic Engineer indicated that he received a request from Ms. Josephine Sanders, a Cypress resident who lives on Windsor Circle, requesting that consideration be given to install red zones along Evergreen Avenue to keep motorists from parking too close to the corners of the intersections of Moody Street & Evergreen Avenue and Windsor Circle & Evergreen Avenue blocking pedestrian access ramps and making it difficult to see conflicting traffic when making turning movements on to and off of Evergreen Avenue. Based on the Traffic Engineer's field review of parking and traffic conditions, he confirmed that vehicles are regularly parked close to the corners along the southside of Evergreen Avenue. Therefore, he recommends that a 10 -foot red zone be installed adjacent on the southside of Evergreen Avenue just east of Moody Street and two 20 -foot red zones be installed along the southside of Evergreen Avenue on each side of Windsor Circle. These new red zones should provide enhanced intersection visibility for motorists turning and pedestrians crossing the street. 4 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes April 16, 2024 It was moved by Commissioner Youngerman and seconded by Commissioner Bestian to concur with the Traffic Engineer's recommendation to install 50 feet of new red zones along the south curb of Evergreen Avenue east of Moody Street. The motion was unanimously carried by the following roll call vote: YES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Ajello, Bestian, Shakespeare, Summers, Youngerman NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None 5. Traffic Signal Battery Back-ups The Traffic Engineer presented this item outlining that the City currently has 19 battery backup systems deployed in its traffic signals along Katella Avenue and along Valley View Street. The battery backup systems are sized to run the traffic signals in the event of a power failure for up to two hours under normal operation and four hours under flashing red operation. The systems are also equipped with electronics that automatically test, load, and charge the batteries. The battery backup systems in use in the City were installed at various times; however, most are over ten years old. Over the past year, there have been a number of power outages in the City that have resulted in the loss of power to one or more traffic signals along Valley View Street. Unfortunately, in each case the battery backup systems have failed, and the traffic signals have gone dark. Upon investigation it has been determined that despite the battery systems appearing to be in good health, when placed under sustained load of the traffic signal, either the batteries couldn't produce sufficient power to run the traffic signals or the battery control system itself failed. New batteries and components have been replaced or are on order to repair the known defective systems. Rather than wait for a power outage to occur to find out if the City's battery backup systems are functioning appropriately, the Traffic Engineer recommended that the batteries be replaced at five-year intervals regardless of the automated testing performed by the battery backup system itself. By proactively replacing batteries before they begin failing, the City can be assured that they will function appropriately when needed. It was moved by Commissioner Bestian and seconded by Commission Chair Ajello to concur with the Traffic Engineer's recommendation to periodically replace batteries and associated charging equipment in the City's traffic signal battery backup systems. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote: YES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Ajello, Bestian, Shakespeare, and Youngerman NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Summers 5 Cypress Traffic Commission Minutes April 16, 2024 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Five minutes per speaker, unless extended by the Commission) None. STAFF REPORTS (NO ACTION OR DISCUSSION REQUIRED): Sergeant McBain provided the commission with a verbal traffic collision report update covering the period of February 20th to April 16th. The Sergeant provided information on total crashes, types of crashes, crash times, and other contributing factors. He also reported that there were no fatalities to report so far this year and no hit and run collisions this reporting period. Overall there has been a 36% decline in collisions. Commissioner Bestian inquired as to where the Sergeant sees more speeding. The Sergeant indicated that Cerritos Avenue tends to have higher speeds. The Traffic Engineer inquired about street takeovers and whether or not the Sergeant has seen an increase in the City in recent months. The Sergeant indicated that such activity tends to be sporadic, averaging one to two occurrences a month. Commissioner Shakespeare asked if there were specific individuals or groups engaged in this activity or are occurrences just random events organized through social media? The Sergeant indicated that it appears that the activity is related to "meet ups" so when they encounter "meet ups" occurring they do their best to disperse such groups the best they can. COMMISSION MEMBERS REPORTS AND REMARKS Commissioner Bestian asked staff when his term expires. The City Engineer responded that he has at least a year left on his current term. Commissioner Summers' term; however, is up this summer so he will need to reapply if he wants to serve another term. Commission Chair Ajello inquired as to why there are five Traffic Commissioners when other commissions have seven. Commissioner Youngerman speculated that the recreation and senior commissions have more items on their agenda and maybe that is why they have more members. ADJOURNMENT Commission Chair Ajello adjourned the meeting at 4:41 p.m. 6