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HomeMy Public PortalAbout03) 7A1 CC MIN 2015-06-10 Las Tunas Drive1. CALL TO ORDER CITY COUNCIL TEMPLE CITY, CALIFORNIA SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 10, 2015 AGENDA ITEM ?.A-1. Mayor Chavez called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:19p.m. 2. ROLL CALL PRESENT: ABSENT: ALSO PRESENT: Councilmember-Man, Sternquist, Yu, Chavez Councilmember-Fish City Manager Cook, City Clerk Kuo, Assistant to the City Manager/Economic Development Manager Haworth, Community Development Director Forbes Mayor Pro Tern Yu made a motion to excuse Councilmember Fish. Seconded by Councilmember Sternquist. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Frank Ruedel, Temple City resident, led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A REVIEW OF LAS TUNAS DRIVE SAFETY ENHANCEMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT In February 2015, the City Council reviewed the proposed design of the Las Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project and the traffic impact analysis that was prepared to analyze the potential traffic impacts resulting from the project. The City Council directed staff to prepare an improved and more cost effective project design. Per City Council direction, the revised design would incorporate certain elements of the previously proposed design and be consistent with the original design concept. Staff has accordingly prepared a revised design for City Council consideration. City Manager Cook gave a brief introduction and overview of the Las Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project. He stated the five goals of the Las Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project: revitalize Downtown, provide new public amenities, repair aging City Council Minutes June 10, 2015 Page 2 of 6 infrastructure, create safe access for all users (i.e., complete street), and take advantage of grant funding. Community Development Director Forbes gave a brief history and update on the Las Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project. Councilmember Sternquist left the meeting at 7:53 p.m. and returned at 7:55 p.m. Mayor Chavez opened public comments. Joe Yobaccio, Temple City resident, spoke against lane reduction on Las Tunas Drive. Charles Greninger, Temple City resident, expressed his concerns regarding lane reduction on Las Tunas Drive and the impact it will have on residential side streets. Mike Palmieri, Temple City resident, expressed concerns regarding installation of bulb outs and the reduction of travel lanes on Las Tunas Drive. Ray, Temple City resident, spoke against changes to Las Tunas Drive. He requested additional street lights for the City. John Nahas, Mobil gas station owner, expressed concerns regarding lane reduction and the effect this project will have on the businesses along Las Tunas Drive during construction. Bobbie McGowan, Temple City resident, spoke against the project. Tom Disalvo, Temple City property owner, expressed concerns regarding increased traffic for residential side streets if lanes on Las Tunas Drive are reduced. Marlene Stohr, Temple City resident, expressed concerns regarding possibility of increased traffic and would like Las Tunas Drive to remain unchanged. Dale Case, Temple City resident, expressed his concerns regarding the reduction of lanes on Las Tunas Drive. He commented that he would like to see better street lights throughout the city. City Council Minutes June 10, 2015 Page 3 of6 Michael Rosenberg, Temple City resident, commented on the Traffic Impact Analysis and streets that were not considered in the study. He also commented regarding the proposed landscaping. Elizabeth DeClue, Temple City resident, commented that it appears the City is allowing the available funding to lead the change. She expressed concerns for increased traffic and proposed landscape. T.K. Washuta, member of the public, commented regarding the buses that travel on Las Tunas Drive and the elevated curbs along Rosemead Boulevard. Spoke against lane reduction on Las Tunas Drive. Bhanu Topani, Temple City resident, expressed concerns that reduction of lanes on Las Tunas Drive will increase the response time for emergency vehicles. Conrad Unquidi, Temple City resident, spoke against bicycle lanes and reduction of lanes on Las Tunas Drive. Henry Ransons, Temple City resident, commented regarding the increase of traffic on Encinita during the Rosemead Boulevard construction project and that the concrete median is causing problems for emergency vehicles. He also spoke against bicycle lanes on Las Tunas Drive. Patricia Hendrix, spoke in favor of new lighting and new stores on Las Tunas Drive. She spoke against reduction of lanes on Las Tunas Drive. She shared that she has observed emergency vehicles stuck on Rosemead Blvd due to the concrete median. Gail Theilacker, Temple City resident, asked questions regarding the Traffic Impact Analysis Report, shared her experience as a business owner when City of Arcadia installed concrete medians along Huntington Drive (i.e., Santa Anita and 2nd Street), and commented about installing bulb outs. Rodrigo C., Temple City resident, spoke against reduction of lanes on Las Tunas Drive and bicycle lanes on Las Tunas Drive. He also asked about how the change to Las Tunas Drive would affect the special events in the City (i.e., Camellia Festival Parade, Light on Temple City Christmas Parade, etc). Brian Keefe, Temple City resident, spoke in favor of no change on Las Tunas Drive. City Council Minutes June 10, 2015 Page 4 of 6 Don Hendrix, Temple City resident, spoke against changes to Las Tunas Drive. He expressed concerns for reducing lanes and creating bicycle lanes on Las Tunas Drive. Bryan Matsumoto, former Temple City resident/Withers & Sandgren Landscape Architecture, spoke in favor of updating Las Tunas Drive but felt the redesign lacks charm. Elizabeth Castro, Temple City resident, expressed concerns regarding traffic from the 210 and 10 freeways if lanes were reduced on Las Tunas Drive. Ann Baziak, Temple City resident, commented that instead of bicycle lanes on Las Tunas Drive, City should consider adding bicycle lanes for north /south bound traffic (i.e., Temple City Boulevard) for children to be able to bike to school. She also spoke in favor of more street lights in the City. John Rollofson, Temple City resident, spoke against changes to Las Tunas Drive. William Lopez, Temple City resident, spoke against reducing lanes on Las Tunas Drive. Spoke in favor of adding more parking for businesses in the City. Mary Kokayko, Temple City resident, commented that there is not enough variety of businesses in town to attract shoppers. She spoke in favor of imposing a limit on allowing same type of businesses in the City. Bill Green, Temple City resident, expressed concerns about reducing lanes on Las Tunas Drive and how it might affect mail delivery service. Min Wun, commented regarding the Traffic Impact Analysis and safety hazards bulb outs will create. He also spoke against reduction of lanes on Las Tunas Drive. Jimmy Lao, Temple City resident, commented regarding accidents on Rosemead Boulevard due to the bulb outs and expressed concerns that cars might actually speed up instead of slow down due to the change to Las Tunas Drive. Hearing no additional request to speak, Mayor Chavez closed public comment. City Council meeting recessed at 9:21 p.m. and reconvened at 9:35 p.m. City Council Minutes June 10, 2015 Page 5 of 6 City Manager Cook and Community Development Director addressed written questions from the public (i.e., validity of the Traffic Impact Analysis; funding driving the project; how the project will affect special events/parades in the City; protected bicycle lanes on Las Tunas Drive; lost revenue during construction period-phased construction; and loss of parking spaces due to bulb outs). City Council discussed regarding the Las Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project. Jimmy Law, Temple City resident, shared that bulb outs are being installed on Las Tunas Drive between Rosemead Boulevard and San Gabriel Boulevard. Linda, Temple City resident, shared that she has observed many accidents on Fair Oaks in Pasadena due to the bulb outs. She feels they create unsafe traffic conditions. She also spoke against reducing lanes on Las Tunas Drive. City Council commented on the Las Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project and thanked the public for their participation and comments. City Council directed staff to meet with the Las Tunas Downtown Revitalization Standing Committee and consider comments from the public and City Council. A future community meeting will be planned per City Council's request to provide updates to the City Council and public regarding the project. Mr. Lam, Temple City businessman, shared why he thinks the businesses are not coming to Temple City. He also commented on the risks and liability of the redesign. A member of the public commented and suggested for the City to look into why the businesses did not attend the meeting tonight. Maybe the meeting time and day was not convenient for them. A member of the public commented that residents are paying (i.e., maintenance) for people to use Las Tunas Drive. He also commented spoke against reducing lanes on Las Tunas Drive. 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA-None City Council Minutes June 10, 2015 Page 6 of6 6. ADJOURNMENT City Council meeting adjourned at 11 :06 p.m. Tom Chavez, Mayor ATTEST: Peggy Kuo, City Clerk