HERCULES CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 26-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERCULES APPROVING INSTALLATION OF STOP SIGNS AS FOLLOWS: CHANGE THE INTERSECTION OF TSUSHIMA STREET/YOSEMITE WAY AND JOHN MUIR PARKWAY FROM A TWO-WAY STOP TO A 4-WAY STOP; PLACE A STOP SIGN AT THE END OF JOHN MUIR PARKWAY BEFORE THE LEFT TURN ONTO BAYFRONT BOULEVARD; AND PLACE A STOP SIGN AT THE END OF BAYFRONT BOULEVARD BEFORE THE RIGHT TURN ONTO JOHN MUIR PARKWAY WHEREAS, pedestrian safety and the mitigation of traffic speed have been a concern for the residents of Hercules who live in the vicinity of John Muir Parkway for some time; and WHEREAS, staff consulted with Kimley-Horn, an independent traffic engineering firm, to study the data and make recommendations, particularly in regards to the intersection of John Muir Parkway and Tsushima Street/Yosemite Way, and the study concluded that the conditions at the intersection of John Muir Parkway and Tsushima Street/Yosemite Way did not meet the strict warrant requirements for placement of the proposed additional stop signs, and recommended other traffic calming measures which involved significant construction costs; and WHEREAS, City staff believes that placement of the proposed 4-way stop signs at this location is prudent and justified by local knowledge of site-specific conditions; and WHEREAS, Staff’s research into similar practices in other Bay Area cities indicates that many have installed all-way stops without engineering studies because they have made the same determination that stop signs would increase pedestrian and vehicular safety; and WHEREAS, in addition to the intersection of John Muir Parkway and Tsushima Street/Yosemite Way, staff have identified two other locations that were not part of the Kimley-Horn study but which, in the opinion of City staff, require single stop signs to increase pedestrian and vehicular safety, which are the end of John Muir Parkway before the left turn onto Bayfront Boulevard, and the end of Bayfront Boulevard before the right turn onto John Muir Parkway; and WHEREAS, section 3-4.401 of the Hercules Municipal Code grants the Public Works Director the authority to install traffic control devices if the Council does not require its own, express authorization; and WHEREAS, while the Hercules Municipal Code does not expressly require City Council authorization for stop sign placement at the identified locations, the Public Works Director has not historically placed stop signs absent support of a warrant study; and WHEREAS, staff accordingly desires that the City Council confirm that stop signs are appropriate for these locations to protect public health and safety.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council, after due study, deliberation, and review of the staff report, record of proceedings, and Kimley-Horn study all of which are incorporated herein by reference, hereby finds that stop signs are needed to protect the public health and safety, promote slower auto speeds, provide increased visibility for motorists/bicyclists/pedestrians, provide safer crossing of streets for pedestrians at identified crosswalks, and encourage increased driver courtesy and awareness at three specific locations and thereby directs the Public Works Director cause the placement of stop signs as follows:
Change the intersection of Tsushima Street/Yosemite Way and John Muir Parkway from a 2-way stop to a 4-way stop; Place a stop sign at the end of John Muir Parkway before the left turn onto Bayfront Boulevard; and Place a stop sign at the end of Bayfront Boulevard before the right turn onto John Muir Parkway.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council finds that the above action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301 as stop sign placement is a minor alteration to an existing street, and is further exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that stop sign placement in an existing street will have an impact on the environment.
The foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Hercules held on the 23rd day of June 2026, by the following vote of the Council:
AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT:
Chris Kelley, Mayor
ATTEST:
Eibleis Melendez, City Clerk