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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - July 15, 1998 (55)Continued July 15, 1998 11. COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS a) Ken Jeffers, 2145 West Kettleman Lane, #329, Lodi, introduced himself as the President of the Highway 12 Committee, indicating that they are forming a task force regarding issues and funding pertaining to Highway 12. Mr. Jeffers invited representatives of the City to join them, along with representatives of the California Highway Patrol, the Chamber of Commerce, the County Council of Governments and the Board of Supervisors at this meeting which will be held at The Point Restaurant in Rio Vista at 12 noon on July 30, 1998. 12. COMMENTS BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS a) City Manager Flynn advised the community of the City's new 1250 AM radio station, which is a public information station to announce emergencies and general information regarding the City. It was announced that at a recent event attended by City officials, the new teachers of the community were introduced. b) Mayor Sieglock stated that he and Mayor Pro Tempore Land attended a recent function at the Loel Center where it was announced that the Center is planning to expand their facility. The opportunities that such an expansion will allow were outlined. The Mayor, following a request, received Council's tacit concurrence that the City would help them wherever possible as it pertains to permits, etc. for this expansion. c) Mayor Pro Tempore Land spoke about the heavy debt Toad Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) is carrying and the fact that they have done some debt restructuring which will result in a savings to NCPA of approximately $48 million. Mayor Pro Tempore Land stated that they are working hard to keep our rates low. d) Mayor Sieglock announced that Barbara Reed, Secretary to the City Manager, is retiring on July 31, 1998. She has worked for the City of Lodi for 27 years in various departments. Mrs. Reed will be working for the City part time after July 31, 1998. Council Member Johnson asked for a staff update on what has been done following the recent incident of a disabled man taking a fall from his wheelchair while attempting to cross the railroad tracks. Staff provided the City Council with information regarding letters that had been sent to the Union Pacific Railroad indicating that, because of the poor condition of the tracks, the crossings were in need of immediate repairs. Council Member Pennino added that $4 million had been allocated for these kinds of repairs; however, it was determined that these funds were being held by the railroad. Discussion followed as to whether or not the City could make the necessary repairs. The City Council indicated its concern that these repairs be made at the earliest possible time. 0 City Manager Dixon Flynn announced that City Engineer Bob Murdoch and his wife just became parents of a baby girl. g) Council Member Johnson announced that this Saturday between 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., the City of Lodi Parks and Recreation Department will be holding a water safety program at Blakely Park. h) City Manager Dixon Flynn introduced the new President/CEO of the Lodi District Chamber of Commerce, Bob Andosca. Mr. Andosca came forward and gave a brief synopsis of his background and indicated that he was very interested in working closely with the City of Lodi. 5 CITY COUNCIL JACK A. SIEGLOCK, Mayor KEITH LAND Mayor Pro Tempore ROBERT J. JOHNSON STEPHEN J. MANN PHILLIP A. PENNINO CITY OF LODI CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209) 333-6706 FAX (209) 333-6710 July 13, 1998 Mr. Bill Wimmer, Asst. Sr. Vice President Engineering Union Pacific Railroad 1416 Dodge Street, Room 1200 Omaha, NE 68179-1200 SUBJECT: Union Pacific Railroad Crossing Repairs H. DIXON FLYNN City Manager ALICE M. REIMCHE City Clerk RANDA. HAYS City Attorney Jut C,t= 1338 I'vana.ger, office 1 L On behalf of the citizens of Lodi, I am writing directly to you to request your assistance in repairing numerous Union Pacific Railroad crossings in Lodi. As you can see from the enclosed newspaper articles, the poor condition of the crossings is causing severe problems for those in wheelchairs in addition to motorists. The City has sent two previous requests to UPRR (copies enclosed) and has received no response to either. The problems with the crossings require immediate attention. At this time, we are not requesting that the crossings be completely rebuilt, as they need to be. We have previously expressed our interest in participating in the replacement of the asphalt - concrete surfaces with prefabricated concrete/rubber systems as part of our efforts to remove the railroad tracks from within Lodi Avenue and reactivating the Kentucky House Branch. (We have been working with George Sturm, Vice President and Director of Joint Facilities on this.) This project is still some months away from implementation. Please contact either me, (209) 333-6759, or our Street Superintendent, George Bradley, (209) 333-6740, to provide us with a local contact who can initiate the repairs. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Richard C. Prima, Jr. ei Public Works Director RCP/Im Enclosures cc: City Manager ' Street Superintendent Wayne K. Horiuchi, UPRR UPRR9801.DOC Saturday, July 11, 1998 — Lodi News -Sentinel — 3 Lodi man hits track, escapes with life The Lodi News -Sentinel Lodi resident Rodney Gull- liams was running errands Fri- day morning when, he explained, he had a brush with death. Confined to a wheelchair, Guilliams was backing over the crumbling asphalt at the rail- road crossing on Sacramento and Pine streets when his chair tipped backward and he hit his head on the pavement. Guilliams was taken by am- bulance to Lodi Memorial Hospi- tal where he was treated and re- leased. Irked by the incident, he actu- ally considers himself lucky in some respects. "I'm OK, but if I had not had any mobility, if I was fully paralyzed, I can tell you, you would be writing an obituary instead," he said. He explained that shortly af- ter he managed to get himself off the tracks, the crossing arms lowered and a train wheeled past. "I was trying to back across it with caution. The signal didn't start until the train was across the previous block south. I didn't see the train until I was on the track. The signals started right after I got off." It was a harrowing incident, the eastside resident said, con- sidering his mundane morning plans. "I was heading over to Longs. I was going to stop off at Son - shine and pick up some season- ing and then I was going to go to Wells Fargo and then Lucky's." The 53-year-old's accident came at a time when some local residents are mobilizing to get damaged track crossings re - Another disabled Lodi man, Joe Lindberg, 76, has ap- proached the city, which has con- tacted the rail companies that own the tracks —the California Traction Company and Union Pacific Rail Road. When con- tacted earlier, city officials said they had not received a response from CTC. Also, Lodian Lyman Nabbs re- cently settled a claim with Union Pacific and has filed another against the city concerning an in- cident in which he broke his fe- mur after bitting a pothole at a track while riding his bicycle. TO: CITY OF LODI ACTION SLIP PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Jay Jones - Union Pacific RR FROM: George Bradley - Public Works FOR ACTION INDICATED: ❑ As Requested 11 Information 0 Comment ❑ Approval ❑ Return ❑ Let's Discuss PHONE: 209 A. Cad. ❑ Phoned ❑ Retuned Your Call ❑ Was In Office ❑ Will Call Back ❑ Please Contact 0 0 0 Please Take Care of This 0 333-6740 DATE 6/8/98 TIME 11:30 a.m For Typing For Filing For Mailing Copy/Print Requested _ For Your Signature Due AMIPM • REMARKS: The following is our annual survey of your railroad crossings and branch lines. We had originally sent the packet to a Ms. Susie Bunch in Roseville, CA. To this date, we have not received a response and were unsure if the packet had been received. We shall make a note in the file to send the packet to your attention in the future. Thank you. na/ /fir/9-/ fry . ,g6i f2c ,tom., //z Jy ,Tor76S 33 1 51.0&72o,-2, Gra 95z CITY COUNCIL t J.,CK A. SIEGLOCK, Mayor KEITH LAND Mayor Pro Tempore ROBERT J. JOHNSON STEPHEN J. MANN PHILLIP A. PENNING Union Pacific Railroad Attention: Susie Bunch 10031 Foothill Boulevard Roseville CA 95747 CITY OF LODI CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209) 333-6740 FAX (209) 333-6841 April 16, 1998 SUBJECT: Railroad Crossings and Branch Lines Within the City of Lodi H. DIXON FLYNN City Manager ALICE M. REIMCHE City Clerk RANDALL A. HAYS City Attorney Our annual survey of your railroad crossings and branch lines located within the City of Lodi has been completed. A report of our findings is enclosed. Eleven hazardous areas need immediate repair. The enclosed photographs of the crossings illustrate the hazards listed in the report. These hazards could contribute to a major accident, resulting in damage to vehicles and/or injury to motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists or pedestrians. Seven hazardous areas were reported in the -1997 annual survey. They included Lodi Avenue (D-103.1), Pine Street (D-103.3), Lockeford Street (D-103.6), the 100 Block of East Lockeford Street (DE -103.72C), Ham Lane (DE -104.5), Turner Road (DE -105.3C), and Daisy and Roper Avenues were reported last survey. None of these reported areas have been addressed by the railroad. The pedestrian crossing at Daisy and Roper is restricted to pedestrians only and intended for school-age children. The rail cars drag on the raised pavement. Also, there is a Targe hole in the pavement. • In conjunction with the project to remove the Central California Traction Company tracks from Lodi Avenue, the City has obtained funds to improve the remaining rail crossings related to this project. Among these are locations #2 through 13 and 25 and 26. This improvement includes concrete/rubber crossing surfaces. We would like to review this project with you. Please contact me at (209) 333-6740 to discuss a repair schedule. / Geor.e M. Bradley Street Superintendent GMB/myn Enclosures cc: Public Utilities Commission, Autar China City Council City Manager Public Works Director City Engineer Risk Manager G:ISTRE ETS\UPRR98.00C 04/16/98