Laserfiche WebLink
Mr. Blank felt there was good empirical data and did not need a tool to analyze <br />what is clearly before the Council and Commission. He believed there was a formal <br />resolution by Council not to include the Stoneridge extension and West Las Positas <br />interchange. He was shocked that staff said there was a 'lendency" not to like these <br />ideas. It was his belief that a majority of the Planning Commission and the Council <br />were against these projects. Staff mentioned that these projects might improve traffic in <br />some parts of the city and he was also shocked at these conclusions. He was very <br />concerned that a very clear message from Council and the Planning Commission does <br />not appear to have been heard by the city staff. <br /> <br /> Mayor Hosterman felt staff had heard this message clearly but is trying not to be <br />political. <br /> <br /> Mr. Fialho indicated staff was trying to be objective in the analysis and <br />understands the sensitivity of these issues. It is trying to frame a process that allows for <br />discussion of pros and cons. At the end of the day, there are overriding considerations <br />such as quality of life. The data can be analyzed and can show the level of service <br />might improve, but the final decision can be based on the quality of life, which is a valid <br />decision. It is necessary to have at least one discussion on these five proposed <br />circulation elements at the next workshop and to have these five proposals narrowed to <br />what is the preferred circulation element. <br /> <br /> Mr. Brozosky acknowledged there was a resolution not to use the West Las <br />Positas interchange throughout the General Plan process until it was necessary for the <br />EIR, He believed it was possible to narrow the five proposed circulation elements <br />down to two at this meeting. <br /> <br /> Mayor Hosterman was concerned that other intersections in the city would be <br />impacted. She asked if it was important to know to what degree. If models are run for <br />the West Las Positas interchange and Stoneridge extension, is that data critical to make <br />decisions on mitigations for Santa Rita and Valley Avenues, for instance? <br /> <br /> Mr. Sullivan asked if the analysis could provide data on the component of <br />vehicles that cut through and the component of vehicles that go to and come from <br />Hacienda Business Park and go somewhere else? Will that information help to deal <br />with traffic without the proposed street extension and interchange? <br /> <br /> Mr. Fialho said he did not know what the impacts of the street extension and <br /> interchange would be because he has never seen it modeled. Before he can give a <br /> meaningful recommendation regarding possible impacts, he felt it was necessary to <br /> have discussions and to review the modeling. To specifically address where traffic <br /> goes, he felt if Stoneridge was modeled to show where traffic is coming from, then when <br /> it is removed, Council can address mitigations. <br /> <br /> Mr. Arkin felt it was wasting staff time and money to model something that is <br /> clearly unwanted. He preferred to spend time looking for ways to mitigate the impacts <br /> of the decision. He wanted to now how much the improvements would have cost and <br /> then determine how the funds could be reallocated to other improvements to mitigate. <br /> <br /> Joint Workshop <br /> City Council and Planning Commission 9 05/24/05 <br /> <br /> <br />