HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2008 0206 CC REG ITEM 09A ITEM A .
CITY OF MOORPARK,CALIFORW
City Council Meeting
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MOORPARK CITY COUNCI 773 .
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council l
FROM: Yugal K. Lail, City Engineer/Public Works Director
DATE: January 24, 2008 (CC Meeting of 02/6/08)
SUBJECT: Consider Options for the Modification of Traffic Flow on Lassen
Avenue East of Sierra Avenue
DISCUSSION
A. Background
When the second phase of the Mission Bell Plaza Shopping Center was
constructed, a northwest access to the parking lot was constructed at Lassen
Avenue. This access point has resulted in increased traffic volumes (and alleged
excessive vehicle speeds) in the Shasta Avenue/Sierra Avenue residential
neighborhood (Attachment 1). On the positive side, this connection allows local
residents to proceed to the traffic signal at Leta Yancy Road/Los Angeles Avenue to
turn left and proceed in an easterly direction from their neighborhood.
The traffic problems created by the Lassen Avenue connection have been discussed
with local residents in the past. As a result of those meetings, certain traffic control
improvements were installed, but the two-way access at Lassen Avenue was
allowed to remain in place. It is planned that this access would be closed when a
traffic signal at Los Angeles Avenue and Shasta Avenue is constructed.
B. Committee Meeting
In response to renewed concerns raised by local residents, the Transportation and
Public Works Committee ["Committee"] (Councilmembers Millhouse and Van Dam)
revisited this matter. On November 26, 2007, the Committee met at the intersection
of Sierra Avenue and Lassen Avenue with local residents, to discuss their concerns
and issues.
SAPublic Works\Everyone\Staff Reports\2008\February\Lassen_Sierra.doc +400085
Honorable City Council
February 6, 2008
Page 2
Subsequent to receipt and discussion of a number of concerns raised by those
residents present, the Committee recommended that a report be forwarded to the
City Council, for the purpose of discussion, at a public meeting, the following
options:
• No change;
• A full closure of the Lassen Avenue access; and
• Closure of the access point to westbound traffic (traffic exiting the parking lot),
with appropriate spikes preventing westbound traffic and signs warning of same.
C. Shasta Avenue Traffic Siqnal
At this time, and until the proposed Pacific Communities Project is constructed, this
signal is not warranted.
D. Sierra Avenue
Double yellow center lane striping was recently installed on Sierra Avenue and a
portion of Shasta Avenue as a traffic calming measure. It is staff's opinion that this
measure has reduced speeding on Siena Avenue.
E. Lassen Avenue (Moorpark Avenue to Park Lane)
At a future date staff will be returning to the City Council on the possible construction
of Lassen Avenue between Moorpark Avenue and Park Lane (Attachment 1). If
constructed, this would have impacts on traffic circulation in this neighborhood,
unless Lassen Avenue at Sierra Avenue was closed to vehicular traffic. This section
of Lassen Avenue is currently unimproved and the City Council, on September 20,
2007, authorized the construction of a walkway.
F. Public Meeting
Residents of the Shasta Avenue/Sierra Avenue neighborhood have been mailed a
notice advising them of a public meeting before the City Council on February 6 to
discuss the subject traffic issues.
SAPublic Works\Everyone\Staff Reports\2008\February\Lassen_Sierra.doc o00086 0086
Honorable City Council
February 6, 2008
Page 3
G. Fiscal Impact
The estimated cost of the construction of improvements designed to prevent
westbound egress traffic from using Lassen Avenue, is approximately $7,500. The
recommended funding source for such a project would be the General Fund (Fund
1000).
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Direct staff as deemed appropriate.
Attachment:
Vicinity Map
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Linda Williams ITEM 9.A.
From: Shari Collins [shari @verdantiandscaping.com]
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 9:23 AM
To: Linda Williams
Subject: Sierra/Lassen traffic issues
Mr. Lall,
I am unable to attend the February 6th Meeting this coming Wednesday,but would like submit my comments in
regards to the January 24th discussion. The recently installed double yellow line needs to be enforced. I have noticed
cars coming head on in my direction where they are driving right in the middle of the double line. Speeding is still an
issue. Why not install speed bumps. Wouldn't that be less costly than some of the alternatives suggested? This would
either reduce speeds of current traffic or allow traffic to take an alternative route,thus reducing traffic.
Thanks for your support in this matter.
Shari
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2/5/2008
02/06/2008 06:48 8054984941 CITY:OF TO MSC ITEM 9.A. PAGE 01/01
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Linda Williams
From: Oscar Barrera[obwankanobee @dslextreme.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 3:55 PM
jam
To: Linda Williams o
Subject: Comments on traffic flow issues at Sierra Av and Lassen Av
Ct i'Y LiE�n' ��
cry
Hi, OF MOORPAR.wN.
I am writing on behalf of my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Barrera Sr,who reside at 230 Sierra Ave and the corner of Lassen Ave
and may not be able to attend tonight's City Council meeting and also due to my dad not being a very good speaker in public. I
spend a lot of time at my parents at different times and days of the week and was present for the Nov. 26th meeting in their
neighborhood. During that meeting we voiced our concerns over the amount of traffic that:
• cuts though their neighborhood to drop off and pick children up at the back side of Chaparral Middle School
• work out at Maverick's gym
• shop/eat at the shopping center
• drop off kids and/or attend Little League games and water sports matches
• and any other activities in that area
One solution that we all agreed to try at the November meeting was to have double yellow stripes painted on Sierra Ave and part
of Shasta Ave and that was implemented very quickly, thank you. However,from what some of us have seen it does not seem to
have slowed much of the traffic down. It was mentioned in November that sometimes striping the streets like that tend to make it
appear to drivers that it is a major thorofare which seems to be the case. Last week, I personally had to contact DHL,for the 2nd
me in less than 7 months, to complain about their driver speeding, rather excessively, up and down Sierra Ave to make deliveries
in the Moorpark Estates neighborhood and to cut through to make deliveries at businesses in the adjacent industrial park. I also
witnessed a truck driven by a young lady last week who was speeding down Sierra Ave coming from Poindexter Ave.While she
stopped at the stop sign at Sierra Ave and Lassen Ave she continued to speed and when she passed my parent's house I yelled
at her to slow down to which she responded by"flipping me off'. This happens most of the times we tell someone to slow down or
when we comment on their lack of stopping at the stop sign. So it seems that the yellow stripes are not working very well although
we think they should remain.An increase in police presence in the way of a motorcycle officer spending some time during busy
hours parked hidden between parked vehicles and also parked in the open would help as well as the possibility of posting more
speed limit signage along Sierra Ave. We have seen officers in both motorcycles and cars occasionly park to monitor traffic but it
is usually on a Sunday afternoon or at times when traffic is very low.We do appreciate their presence but suggest it be done
during peak traffic times so they can witness the causes of our concerns. One other possible solution that was discussed in
November was the closure of the northwest entrance to the Mission Bell Plaza at Lassen Ave.After much thought we think it
should simply be closed all together, in both directions. The suggestion of closing it to westbound traffic only will cut down the
amount of traffic by a very small percentage because of the following:
• most of those who go to work out at Maverick's gym between 5a and 7a simply leave for work afterwards and exit the.
shopping center at Leta Yancy, or another exit, to access Hwy 118 to get to work
• most of the parent's who drop off their kids at the back side of Chaparral Middle School simply drop their kids off then exit
at Leta Yancy, or another exit, to access Hwy 118 to get to work or back to their homes on the opposite side of Hwy 118
• most of those who drop off kids and/or attend Little League games or water sports matches enter through Lassen Ave
however exit through another exit to take the kids out to eat or back home afterwards
Most of those drivers who go through the Lassen Ave entrance and come back through, aside from residents of the Moorpark
Estates, are those who work at the industrial park behind the neighborhood who go to either Maverick's gym prior to work or to the
shopping center to eat breakfast and lunch and they make up only a small percentage of the total amount of the area's
daily traffic.
That is why we believe it would be much better to close the Lassen Ave entrance all together. We are aware that it would be an
inconvenience to those Moorpark Estates residents who visit the Mission Bell Plaza regularly but it is a small sacrifice to pay in
exchange for making their streets a little safer. The only hope is that Caltrans is persuaded to install a traffic signal at Hwy 118
and Shasta Ave earlier than planned due to an increase of traffic there from the full closure of the Lassen Ave entrance or that the
proposed Pacific Communities Project begins construction soon so as to warrant the traffic signal there that would then make it
afer for Moorpark Estates residents to exit onto Hwy 118 from Shasta Ave and ease the inconvenience of fully closing the Lassen
Ave entrance to the Mission Bell Plaza. I would tend to venture that if enough pressure is put on Caltrans to install the light at
Shasta Ave, if the Lassen Ave entrance is fully closed, they should consider it for the safety of area residents who will utilize the
2/6/2008
Shasta Ave exit in increased numbers. I personally am not very happy when my elderly parents have to exit onto Hwy 118 in
ither direction without a signal there and I'm sure a lot of others feel the same way. Caltrans should consider the fact that the light
will have to be put in place in the very near future anyways due to the proposed Pacific Communities Project in that area. Another
solution would be to install speed bumps in the neighborhood which will cut down most, if not all, of the speeding.We are
aware of some of the drawbacks speed bumps could have which include slowing down emergency vehicles, although we all know
that it will not slow them down by very much at all.Another thing we all hear regarding speed bumps is that they tend to lower the
property values where they are installed.While that might be true in some cases I would tend to think the opposite and that they
would be viewed as more of a safety measure making those streets safer for residents and their children.Another item that was
briefly discussed at the November meeting was the installation of a stop sign at Palomar Ave and Sierra Ave, that would cut the
ength of Sierra Ave between Lassen Ave and Poindexter Ave almost in half giving through traffic shorter straight a ways on Sierra
Ave in which to speed on. It would also make it safer for those entering Sierra Ave from Palomar Ave as currently the small curve
in Sierra Ave there makes it difficult for them to see traffic travelling north on Sierra Ave. The benefits of increased safety the
above solutions can bring would seem to outweigh the minimal costs the city of Moorpark would incur implementing them and the
possible inconveniences they may cause.
One last thing we would like to bring up traffic related is the amount of noise generated by loud stereo systems and exhaust
systems used by some of the drivers in the area, some of which do include area residents unfortunately.There are many times
during the early morning hours or late at night that you can hear the thump of a subwoofer in a vehicle coming down the street
rom well over 100 ft away or the exhaust system utililized by alot of the small cars these days as well as on alot of cars and trucks
with v8 engines or similar. It seems that those things are no longer being looked at by officers as in years past. I can't tell you how
manytimes my brother was pulled over for having his car stereo"too loud"years ago but enforcement seems to have fallen "off
the radar"so to speak these days.
We would like thank the City Council, Council members Millhouse and Van Dam in particular, Mr. Lall and Mr. Klotzle with the
Transportation and Public Works Committee, Mr. Kueny, City Manager and Capt. Matson with the Moorpark Police Department for
being there on November 26th to listen to and address our concerns and hope that something positive for all sides can be worked
out soon.
Thanks again for listening and all your time.
Sincerely,
Oscar Barrera, Jr.
(on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Barrera, Sr.)
2/6/2008