An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday, April 30, 2002 commencing at 7:00 a.m.

Present: Council Members – Howard, Land, and Mayor Pennino

Absent: Council Members – Hitchcock and Nakanishi

Also Present: City Manager Flynn, City Attorney Hays, and City Clerk Blackston

City Clerk Blackston reviewed the weekly calendar (filed).

C-1 "Kettleman Lane Widening Project, Lower Sacramento Road to Ham Lane, and Stockton Street to Cherokee Lane"

Paula Fernandez, Senior Traffic Engineer, introduced Rob Himes consultant from Mark Thomas and Company.

Mr. Himes reported that his company has been working on the Kettleman Lane Widening Project for approximately one year. It is a safety and traffic operations improvement project and extends from Lower Sacramento Road to Cherokee Lane. While reviewing wall maps of the project, Mr. Himes explained that the improvements to the segment between Tienda and Ham Lane are to provide two through lanes in the westbound direction, eliminating the merge, improving the pavement, and filling in gaps with curb, gutter, and sidewalk. It will also provide a continuous bike lane and pedestrian access in that segment. Another portion of the project is to construct a landscape median to control crossover turns. He explained that when the Average Daily Traffic (ADT) reaches 24,000 to 25,000 cars a day it becomes important to control crossover turns due to the increased number of accidents. Route 12 is a Caltrans facility and they have accident records for the past three years, which indicate that segments on Kettleman Lane between Ham Lane to Lower Sacramento Road and Stockton Street to Cherokee Lane have two times the state average of what is expected for accidents. Many of the accidents are due to rear-end collisions and sideswipes, which are indicative of cars turning in and out of driveways and using the center lane. The ADT for Kettleman Lane is currently 27,000 and projected to increase.

Improvements to the segment between Stockton Street and Cherokee Lane will include a raised median. The existing signals would stay in place. Left turns would be provided at Stockton Street, Central Avenue, and a second left-turn lane would be added at Cherokee Lane. Staff is working with Pacific Gas and Electric and PacBell in the hope of eliminating poles and placing the lines underground.

Mayor Pennino supported placing lines underground whenever possible and believed the City should have a policy for doing so.

Council Member Howard noted that a letter was received from Les Appliance with concerns about entrance and exit capabilities for their delivery trucks.

Mr. Himes stated that he was aware of concerns expressed by Les Appliance and he and City staff will be meeting with the owner to discuss the issues.

Council Member Land stated that he received a call from groups in the Lakeshore professional offices on the 1800 block of west Kettleman Lane questioning how they would enter the property.

Mr. Himes stated that with the proposed plan they would have to make a U-turn at Mills Avenue.

Public Works Director Prima added that when the property develops there will be access through Lakeshore.

Council Member Land suggested putting in a temporary turn lane near the day care property, or the driveway to the east, due to heavy traffic congestion in that area.

Ms. Fernandez reported that landscaping on the Kettleman Lane widening project will include ground cover, bushes, and one primary tree (red bark eucalyptus) designed for drought tolerance and low maintenance. Two public meetings on this project have been held, at which approximately 30 people attended each meeting. Staff also plans to put dual lefts into the Walmart shopping center driveway.

Mr. Himes reported that the preliminary design on the project began at the end of 2000. The project study report, which established a cost estimate and schedule has been completed and signed off by Caltrans. The environmental process has also been completed and found that there were no significant impacts on the project. Right of way plats and descriptions for two or three acquisitions and public utility easements have been developed. Appraisers have been meeting with the property owners. Appraisals are anticipated to be complete the first week of May. Final design and construction plans are at 65% completion. Caltrans has been reviewing them and comments are expected back within two weeks. Subsequent to that, revisions to the plans will be made with completion anticipated by September 2002. Right of way acquisition will take place in August or September and relocation of the lines will be done in the fall and winter months. It is hoped to go out to bid in January and start construction of the six-month project in March 2003.

Diane Grindall, San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG), reported that Lodi was successful in securing $2.6 million in federal funding from the state Transportation Improvement Program, which flows through SJCOG. She explained that projects are selected by the SJCOG board and ultimately the funding is approved by the California Transportation Commission. Due to the state’s cash flow situation the $2.6 million has been approved for the project, but the money has not been programmed until 2006-07. SJCOG and City staff are mobilizing to examine the following options to meet the schedule:

• Request approximately $500,000 of the money from the California Transportation Commission for the right of way phase.
   

• Determine whether the federal funds can be exchanged for other funds that can flow during the summer.
   

• Secure a loan provision, which allows a local agency to proceed in delivering a project with its own funds and get paid back when the cash flow is available.

In reply to Council Member Howard, Ms. Grindall stated that the way the loan program works, it will eventually become a wash. She explained that though the work would take place on schedule, the funding would be escalated to the cost of the project in 2006-07.

David Casey of Caltrans stated that Tony Singh is the project manager for the Route 12 area. Mr. Casey stated that City staff has been a pleasure to work with throughout the process and had a clear vision for the project at the outset and for the importance of the medians.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

• Bob Johnson asked whether traffic heading westbound would be able to turn left onto Lakeshore.

Ms. Fernandez replied in the affirmative.

None.

No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 a.m.

ATTEST:

Susan J. Blackston
City Clerk