1992-05-04
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CITY OF ENCINITAS
TRAJ'J'IC COKKISSION
MIJlU'rES
Meeting Date:
May 4,1992
7:00 p.m.
1.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chairperson Shelley called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Present:
Dan Shelley, Paula Goldbeck, Arnold Lewin, Charles
Ades, Robert Perry (abstained due to conflict of
interest)
Also
Present:
George Villegas, City Traffic Engineer; Lloyd Holt,
city Engineer; Rob Blough, Associate Traffic
Engineer; Joe Foust, Austin-Foust Associates, Inc.;
Sgt. DeJardine, Sheriff's Department; Randy Copher,
NCTD and Jackie Dakovich, Administrative Secretary
2.
PLEDGE OJ' ALLEGIANCE
3.
ADOUNCEMEN'!'S
None.
4.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
5.
CLOSING AND ADOPTION OJ' CONSENT CALENDAR
A.
Approval of minutes - April 20, 1992.
Chairperson Shelley opened the meeting to public input.
Ron Grimes, l4ll Crest Drive - noted that due to the fact
Greg Garrett, legal representation for the Palomares Heights
Assn., had not received a copy of the minutes for review, the"
approval of said minutes be postponed until the next Traffic
Commission meeting.
Chairperson Shelley closed the meeting to public input.
IN CONSENSUS, THE TRAJ'J'IC COHKISSION WILL POSTPONE APPROVAL OJ'
THE APRIL 20,1992 MINUTES UN'l'IL THE NEXT MEETING.
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6.
UNJ'XNXSHBD BUSINESS
A.
Discussion of Austin-Foust Associates, Inc., Crest Drive
Diverter Traffic study, with no public testimony.
Vice Chairperson Lewin inquired as to.how the license plate
study was conducted. y
Joe Foust, Austin-Foust Associates, responded that personnel
were stationed at three checkpoints and recorded license
plates of cars going north and south on Lake Drive,
checkpoints being Birmingham Drive, Santa Fe Drive and an
internal checkpoint. The license plate numbers and time were
recorded as they passed, and wi th the use of. a computer
program, license plates were matched within a 5-10 minutes
period to determine whether they passed through or lived in
the area.
Vice Chairperson Lewin questioned the response times by the
Sheriff's Department with regard to Crest Drive.
Sgt. deJardine noted that the Sheriff's Department response
time depends primarily on where the deputy receives the call,
since the deputies do not respond from a station, but from the
field. He further noted that calls are prioritized into four
types, with priority 1 being a life threatening situation, and
priority 2 being slightly less than priority 1. with regard
to the barricade, depending on the priority of the call, (lor
2), the deputy would make the decision on whether to go around
or' through the barricade with a degree of safety. He further
'noted that the Fire Department probably receives very few
routine calls, the majority being emergency calls.
Chairperson Shelley noted that Level of Service C capacity on
a two-lane local street is 11,200 vehicles per day, and
questioned what vehicle volume is on Level of Service A and B
streets.
City Traffic Engineer Villegas noted that Level of Service
(LOS) A and B streets have a better LOS and a lower traffic
volume than a LOS C street.
Chairperson Shelley further questioned if reducing the speed
limit from 40 mph to 30 mph with signage, would actually
result in speed reduction of 10 mph.
City Traffic Engineer Villegas responded that speed limit
signage have minimal affect on changing actual travel speeds.
Commissioner Goldbeck noted that the Austin-Foust report
fulfilled the requests of the City Council.
Vice Chairperson Lewin made several observations with regard
to the Austin-Foust report including the fact that Lake Drive
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is considered a circulation element stree~and was considered
at one time to continue from Santa Fe. Drive to Manchester
Avenue. However, these plans are no longer being considered.
He further commented on the signalization of Manchester
Avenue, reduction of speed on both Lake Drive and Crest Drive,
noise levels, accident history, air 'quality, and emergency
response time. In conclusion, took obj-ection to the fact that
the report gave credit for the positive benefits being
achieved through installation of the Crest Drive diverter,
with no credit being given to reduction of speed on both
streets and the aggressive enforcement on Lake Drive;
signalization of Lake Drive and Santa Fe Avenue; all way stop
at Lake Drive and Birmingham Drive; all way stop at Birmingham
Drive and Freda Lane; reduced speed limit on Birmingham Drive
east of 1-5; double striping center of Lake Drive and
Birmingham Drive; reduction of left turns from Wotan Drive to
Santa Fe Avenue; limit of commercial truck traffic on Santa Fe
Avenue; and installing a parking lane and driveway access with
a solid white line the full length of Lake Drive on the west
side.
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Commissioner Ades noted that pursuing the several
discrepancies in the report will not alter the end results or
the conclusion of the report, and accepts the report as
presented.
Chairperson Shelley agreed with many of Vice Chairperson
Lewin's comments noting that there were many positive
improvements to the area other than the Crest Drive diverter.
Hè further questioned why the measured noise levels at Crest
Drive and Lake Drive were not done with the same footage.
Joe Foust, Austin~Foust Associates, responded that the
measurements were done by the same people at the same time and
the calibration of these measurements follows the City
guidelines, as required.
Chairperson Shelley noted the traffic speed percentile
guidelines that were used and asked Joe Foust his opinion of
those standards.
Joe Foust, Austin-Foust Associates, responded that the
standards are in the range of reasonability, particularly on
a local or residential type of street. He further noted that
traffic speed was only one of several criteria that was
evaluated.
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. VICE CHAIRPERSON LEWIN MOVED TO RECEIVE '1'BB REPORT AND PORWARD
ON TO CITY COUNCZL WITH SEVERAL OBSERVATIONS THE
SIGNALZZATION OJ' KABCBESTER AVENUE; '1'BB SIGNALIZATION OJ' LAKE
DRIVE AND SAN'l'A J'E AVENUE; '1'BB ALL-WAY STOP AT LAKE D1UVB AND
BIRMZNGHAM DRIVE; '1'BB ALL-WAY STOP AT BIRMINGHAM DR:IVB AND
J'REDA LANE; REDUCTZON OP SPEED LIMIT ON BIRMZNGHAM DR:IVB ;
DOUBLE STRZPING OJ' LAlΠDRIVE AND BIRMINGHAM DR:IVB.
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commissioner Goldbeck questioned the possibility
separating out each item and evalua,tIng the impact,
improvement, on the overall Cardiff traffic situation.
Joe Foust, Austin-Foust Associates, responded that the
improvements work as a total package and his report is an
evaluation of this package. '
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commissioner Goldbeck wi thdrew her concurrence wi th Vice
Chairperson Lewin's motion, noting that to be effective, the
entire package must be considered. She further commented, that
it would be financially irresponsible to encourage further
studies.
Vice Chairperson Lewin clarified that his motion was to
receive the report and forward to City Council for a decision,
calling attention to several observations by the Traffic
Commission.
Chairperson Shelley clarified further that the motion did not
recommend conducting additional studies of the issue.
commissioner Goldbeck noted she had understood the motion to
call for further studies, and in fact, could now support the
motion.
VZCB CHAZRPERSON LEWIN,MOVED, ADES SECONDED TO RECEIVE THE
REPORT, AND J'ORWARD ON TO CITY COUNCIL, WITH CERTAIN
OBSERVATIONS: '1'BB RESULTS OF '1'BB EVALUATION INDICATE A NOKBER
OJ' POSZTIVE BENEJ'ITS THAT HAVE BEEN ACHZBVED THROUGH
INSTALLATION OJ' THE CREST DRIVE DIVERTER, HO1fBVBR, NO CREDIT
WAS GZVEN TO: '1'BB REDUCTION OP' SPEED LIMITS ON BOTH STREETS;
'1'BB AGGRESSIVE ENFORCEKBN'!' ON LAKE DRIVE, HAVING AN EJ'J'BCT ON
'1'BB REDUCTION OJ' '1'BB HUMBBR OJ' ACCIDEN'!'S; THE SIGNALIZATION OJ'
LAKE DRIVE AND SANTA J'E AVENUE; THE SIGNALIZATZON 'OJ'
KABCBBSTER AVENUE; THE ALL-WAY STOP AT LAD DRIVE AND
BIRKINGBAK DRIVE AND THE ALL-WAY STOP AT BIRKINGBAK DRIVE AND
J'REDA LANE HAVING AN IMPACT ON TRAJ'J'IC VOLUKB AND SPEED; PRE-
EXZSTING SPEED CRITERIA DID NOT MEET THB REQUIRED CRITERIA OF
'1'BB TRAJ'J'IC DIVERSION PROGRAM. MOTION CARRIED. 4-0.
7.
NEW BUSZNESS
A.
Selection of Traffic Commissioner(s) to the Ecke Specific
Plan Task Force.
City Traffic Engineer Villegas reviewed briefly the goals and
objectives of this Task Force and encouraged any interested
Commissioners to apply.
After a brief question and answer period, Commissioners Paula
Goldbeck and Charles Ades indicated their interest and will be
mailed applications for the Ecke Specific Plan Task Force.
Commissioner Ades noted he would like to participate on the
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Task Force as a citizen rather than a Traffic Commissioner.
Commissioner Perry was contacted by teléphone regarding the
Task Force and indicated no interest in participating, due to
time constraints.
B.
Updated High Accident Location Report -,for information.
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City Traffic Engineer Villegas gave a brief overview on the
Updated High Accident Location Report.
Vice Chairperson Lewin questioned what mitigation measures
were being considered by staff to avoid future accidents at
these ten intersections.
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City Traffic Engineer Villegas responded with regard to El
Camino Real and Encinitas Boulevard intersection, double left
turn lanes in all directions are being implemented, and also
some additional striping to mitigate the accident conditions.
Further, the raised Median Project will mitigate the traffic
and accident conditions on El Camino Real. wi th regard to the
intersection at Calle Magdalena and Saxony Road, a plan is
being developed to operate both intersections under one signal
system.
vice Chairperson Lewin asked what caused accidents at the
intersection of Encinitas Boulevard and Vulcan Avenue (listed
as No.2 on the Accident Location Report).
City Traffic Engineer Villegas responded that the short
distance between the intersection and Highway 10l does not
allow time for cars to change lanes safely and possibly during
certain times of the day, due to sunlight reflection.
commissioner Goldbeck asked what can be done at an
intersection that is already signalized, such as Via Molena,
to improve the accident rate.
ci ty Traffic Engineer Villegas advised that signal timing
changes, and larger signal heads might improve the situation
in addition to the proposed raised median.
Vice Chairperson Lewin questioned what plans were being
considered to mitigate the situation on Encinitas Boulevard
between Beechtree Drive and El Camino Real.
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City Traffic Engineer Villegas responded that there was a
proposed plan to install a raised median on Encinitas
Boulevard, however, due to funding constraints, it is not
currently under consideration.
Commissioner Ades requested an update on the El Camino Real
raised Median Project.
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City Traffic Engineer Villegas will research the current
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status of the Median Project and give the Commission an update
at the next meeting. , ,~
Commissioner Goldbeck requested information and diagrams with
regard to mid-block accidents on Encinitas Boulevard.
City Traffic Engineer Villegas will compile and provide the
information on mid-block accidents on Encinitas Boulevard at
a future meeting.
8.
COMK:ISSIONBR CORNER
Commissioner Goldbeck noted that the signal on First street at
Encinitas Boulevard is extremely erratic, going from yellow to
red in a blink.
City Traffic Engineer Villegas advised the City has been
experiencing power supply problems at this signal for some
time, with no final solution. Efforts to eliminate the
problems continue.
ADJ 0 URNHEN'!'
VICE CHAIRPERSON LEWIN MOVED, ADES SECONDED TO ADJOURN THE
MEETING. MOTION CARRIED. 4-0. MEETING ADJOURNED 8:30 P.M.
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Copied Arnold Lewin verbatim,
5/4/92. Jackie Dakovich
Traffic coQIssion Meeting tape
vice Chairperson Lewin made several observations beginning
with the reason that Lake Drive is considered a circulation
element street. He stated that apparently on the County
Circulation Map many years ago, Lake Drive was supposed to go
all the way through I believe to Manchester Avenue. Now as we
know Lake Drive stops southbound well before it' drops 'to
Manchester and apparently there are no plans to extend to
Manchester, but I thought that was rather interesting. I have
a couple of observations on the Austin Foust report and I am
going to read from something I typed up. A couple of points
I want to bring up wi th regard to the report in the
signalization of Manchester Avenue, previous to the
signalization traffic moved one at a time due to the four way
stop and about'6 months after the Crest Drive diverter was
installed the traffic signal was installed and in my opinion
the report failed to address the effects of the signal.
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Secondly, the conclusions of the study found at the end of the
executive summary it states a single dis-benefit in the
increase in traffic on Lake Drive, which is partially offset
by a substantial reduction in accidents and speeds. The
report does mention the reduction in speed limit from 40 to 30
mph on Lake Drive and f~om.35 to 25 on Crest Drive, but in my
opinion the report fails to address the impact of the
reduction of speed. Well before the di verter when in a
gèntleman from Crest Drive called me up to lobby my support
for the Crest Drive diverter and he told me that the big
reason for the diverter was that the people were speeding on
Crest Drive, there was no way to curtail the speed, can't put
a stop sign in the middle of the block, can't use speed humps,
can't use speed bumps and a barrier was the only answer.
Roughly before the diverter was installed, the Sheriff's
Department did not have a Traffic Section, and speed
enforcement was left up to the California Highway Patrol who
didn't [place the speed enforcement on Crest Drive high on
their list of priorities. They mainly patrolled I-5. Just
after the diverter was installed, the Sheriff's Department
added the Traffic section which was equipped to enforce speed
limits throughput Encinitas. I spoke to one of the original
Traffic Officers, Gary Steadman, and he spent considerable on
Lake Drive enforcing the speed limit when it was reduced from
40 to 30. He told me he spent an average of about three days
a week on the Lake and average about 5 citations per day. Two
of my neighbors received tickets on Lake Drive, one received
two tickets. With the transfer of Steadman other officers
have been most aggressive in speed enforcement. I spoke to
Traffic Officer Brett Wagner this morning of the Sheriff's
Department who advised me he currently spends an average of
two days per week on Lake Drive and averages 5 tickets per
day. Oddly enough about two years ago, I went to a party and
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somebody brought up in conversation "heL do you ever drive
Lake Drive and I said yes, while did yo\J'evèr get a ticket up
there, the cops are really out there enforcing the speed limit
there. So apparently word does get out. Going back to
Officer Wagner he said he cites mostly on the southbound as
the critical speed is 39 mph and thus ,writes tickets over 39
mph. In addition according to the Tràffic Diversion Program
an excessive speed exists when it is demonstrated over 50% of
vehicles exceed the speed limit by 20% or more. The report
found that only l5%'of the pre-existing traffic on Crest Drive
exceeds the speed limit by 20% or more. And I wonder ,does
this concern Austin-Foust Associates that the pre-existing
date did not meet the required speed criteria.
Thirdly, noise. The study notes the measured noise levels
were taken on Crest Drive 25 feet from center line and Lake
Drive 30 feet from center line. Why wasn't the same distance
from center line used on both streets. If the measurements on
Lake Drive wére taken at 25 feet from center line, it would
obviously be a lot noisier.
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Accident history, number 4. Accidents have been reduced on
both Lake Drive and Crest Drive, however, the report does not
offer any reasons why. Could the reduction in speed on both
streets and aggressive enforcement on Lake Drive have an
affect. In addition, the report states that the accident rate
on Crest Drive, betwee~ Birmingham Drive and Santa Fe Drive
nearly doubled the pre-existing accident rate for Crest Drive.
But the report fails to address the reason.
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Air Quality - Number 5. The report states the installation of
the Crest Drive diverter resulted in a small decrease along
Crest Drive and a smaller increase along Lake Drive. Air
quality on Crest Drive south of Santa Fe Drive fell from .8
parts per million to .3 parts per million or a 62% decrease.
Air quality on Crest Drive north of Birmingham Drive fell from
.7 parts per million to .2 parts per million or a drop of 71%
and I would be reluctant to call that a small decrease. The
air quality on Lake Drive both south of Santa Fe Drive and
north of Birmingham Drive showed an increase from. 6 parts per
million to .8 or and an increase of 33% and to me that is
rather significant.
Emergency Response Time - Number 6. The study gives the
response time from the fire department stations, but does not
discuss the station in Village Park which would be the second
end station and the extended response time from that station.
Secondly, it fails to address that if an ambulance responds to
a call on the north end of Crest Drive near the diverter, the
most direct route to the clos~st hospital, Scripps/Encinitas,
is to jump the barrier or go through the barrier, around the
barrier, possibly causing additional harm to the patient or
patients. Also this would force the ambulance to go against
the flow of traffic placing the patients in additional harm.
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If the ambulance chooses to go the route Birmingham Drive to
Lake Drive to Santa Fe Drive, this is ~úChlonger and places
the sick or injured patient in additional' jeopardy. The
report discusses the response time by the San Diego Sheriff's
Department in relation to the station located on El Casino
Real north of Encinitas Blvd. The report fails to discuss
that the patrol cars are usually on patrol 'in Encinitas and
rarely area dispatched from the, station. The same scenario,
if a Sheriff's car has responded to the north end of Crest
Drive with the diverter and received an emergency call to any
point north of the original call, the responding deputy has
the option to go around the diverter and again going against
the flow of traffic. If the deputy does not chose to go
against the di verter , he or she will have to add an
additional mile and 1/2 to the additional transit time to
their response.
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And lastly, I take obj ection to the first sentence in the
Conclusion of the Executive Summary which states: liThe
results of the evaluation indicate a number of positive
benefits that have been achieved through installation of the
Crest Drive diverter - absolutely no credit was given to
reduction of speeds limits on both streets and the aggressive
enforcement on Lake Drive, the signalization of Lake Drive and
Santa Fe Drive, the all way stop at Lake Drive and Birmingham
Drive, the all way stop at Birmingham Drive and Freda Lane,
reduced speed limit on ~irmingham Drive east of I-5 to 3- mph,
double stripe the center of Lake Drive and Birmingham Drive to
reduce or eliminate passing, reduction of left turns from
WOtan Drive to Santa Fe Drive, the limit of commercial truck
traffic on Santa Fe Drive, the reduction of Lake Drive to a
Circulation Element Local Street designation (two lanes) for
purposes of the new General Plan EIR, install a parking lane
and driveway access with a solid white line the full length of
Lake Drive on the west side, and the requirement of future
subdivisions on the east side of Lake to include interior road
network to prevent indiscriminate easements and driveways.
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VICB CBAJ:RPERSON LEWIN MOVED TO RECEIVE THE REPORT AND J'ORWARD
ON TO CZTY COUNCIL WITH CERTAIN OBSERVATIONS THAT SHOULD BE
BROUGHT TO 'l'BB ATTEN'!'ION OJ' CITY COUNCZL WHBN THEY KAKB 'l'BBIR
DECISIOB (ISSUES THAT WERE NOT TAKEN IN'!'O ACCOUN'l') - 'l'BB DY
ONES ARB THE SIGNALIZATION OF MANCHBSTER AVENUE; THE
SIGNALIZATION OJ' LAD DRIVE AND SAN'l'A J'E AVENUE; 'l'BB ALL-WAY
STOP AT LAD DRIVE AND BIRMINGHAM DRIVE; 'l'BB ALL-WAY STOP AT
BIRMINGBAK DRIVE A¥D J'REDA LANE; REDUCTION OF SPEED LIHIT ON
BIRKINGBAK DRIVE; DOUBLE STRIPING OJ' LAIœ DRIVE AND BIRMINGHAM
DRIVE (ARB PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTAN'l').
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Vice Chairperson Lewin clarified that his motion was to
receive the Austin-Foust Associates report and forward to city
Council for a decision, calling attention to several
observations made by the Traffic Commission with regard to the
report.
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He further clarified it was not his int~ion to engage Mr.
Foust or recommend to staff that any .ddi~ional studies or
investigations be done. He noted that his motion stated the
report be received and forwarded to City Council and if they
want to engage Mr. Foust further that would be fine.
neB CDZRPBRSON LEWIN MOVED TO RECEIVE THE REPORT, AND
J'ORWARD 011 TO CITY COUNCIL, WITH CERTAZN OBSERVATIONS: '1'BB
RESULTS OJ' THE EVALUATION INDICATE A NUMBER OJ' POSITIVE
BBBBJ'ITS THAT HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED THROUGH INSTALLATION OJ' '1'BB
CREST DR:IVB D:tVBRTBR, HO1fBVBR, NO CREDZT WAS GIVDt TO: '1'BB
RBDUC'l'ZON OJ' SPEED LIXITS ON BOTH STREETS; '1'BB AGGRESSIVE
BDORCBKBN'!' ON LAKE DRZVE, HAVING AN EJ'J'ECT ON '1'BB REDUCTION
OJ' THE NUMBER OJ' ACCIDENTS; THE SIGNALIZATION OF LAKE DRIVE
AND SANTA J'E AVENUE; '1'BB SIGNALIZATION OJ' MANCHESTBR AVEN1JB;
'1'BB ALL-WAY STOP AT LAKE DRIVE AND BIRXINGBAK DlUVE AND THE
ALL-WAY STOP AT BIRXINGBAK DRIVE AND J'REDA LANE HAnNG AN
IXPACT ON TRAFJ'IC VOLUKB AND SPEED; PRE-EXISTING SPEED
CRITERIA DID NOT MEET THE REQUIRED CRITERIA OJ' THE TRAFJ'IC
DIVERSION PROGRAM.
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My other concern is the speed limit and just to go over it -
according to the Traffic Diversion Program an excessive speed
problem exists when it is demonstrated over 50% of the
vehicles exceed the speed limit by 20%. The report found that
only 15% and I want to draw the Council's attention to that as
well, that the speed 9ri teria did not meet those of the
Traffic Diversion Program. This is pre-existing, pre-existing
was only 15% but the requirement is over 50%, so as Mr. Foust
sàid about 1/3.
The noise, I think I understand Mr. Foust was saying that no
matter where you put this device that measures the sound, if
you put it 25 feet, 30 feet it somehow takes into account the
distant of someone's front yard, you can set this device for
say 60 feet for the front yard and it is all relative. Do I
understand you correctly? '
So you could take a reading at 20 feet, 25 feet, 30 feet, does
not matter, you are setting it for a certain footage.
Do you see any reason to carry on with the noise situation?
Do you accept that?
The accident history, I would like to forward on to the City
council the situation regarding the reduction in speed on both
streets and the aggressive enforcement on Lake Drive and I
would like them to know that might have a reason for
decreasing the number of accidents and yet it wasn't mentioned
in the report.
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The air quality is maybe it is percentages or whatever but it
was really dropped on Crest Drive and it went way up on Lake
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Drive and I would like the City Council to-be aware of that as
well, bring that to their attention.
Does the Commission wish to pursue air quality issue?
we will pass that one up.
Well,
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The response time - anybody want to bring that up? OK, as
long as it is part of the record, I would like to bring it to
the City Council's attention that the emergency vehicles on
Crest Drive would have to come out and go against the barrier
and against the flow of traffic, that is the only thing that
I would like to bring up. It is up to you folks. OK well
that is my motion.
Chairperson Shelley asked for a second to the motion.
ADES SECONDED.
MOTION CARRIED.
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