TRAFFICCOMMITTEE
MINUTES
May 11, 2021
A. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 2:01 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL
Present: Chairperson: Michael Beltran, City Engineer
Committee Members: Michael Hren, Planning Manager Designee Juan Olmos, Public Works Designee
Craig McKeeman, Police Chief Designee
Derek Parker, Fire Chief
Absent:
C. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Traffic Committee Minutes of March 9, 2020
RECOMMENDATION:
Amend, approve, and file.
Michael Hren Moved, Juan Olmos Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Michael Beltran, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Craig McKeeman, Derek Parker
Clerk's Note: Staff recommendation approved.
Traffic Committee Minutes May 11, 2021 Page 1 of 7
E. REPORTS
1. Committee Member Reports
F. BUSINESS
1. Request #21-008 - Requesting Speed Humps Along Gardner Ave. Between Destiny Dr. and Dunn Rd. (Lawrence & Alice Pressley, Clarence & Colleen Eisberg, Navtar & Ranjeet Singh, , Christi Workman, Vince & Sandra Clemons, Dulceney Zaragoza, Eric Perez, Paul & Robin Geyer)
(Citizens state there is excessive speeding in the area all hours of the day, racing, cars doing doughnuts, and several accidents have occurred.)
Citizen Colleen Eisberg, and Alice Pressley discuss their concerns of speeding, accidents and overall safety in the area.
Committee Member Hren recommended additional police enforcement.
Chairperson Beltran said he will check the speed study that was done for that area and check for any warrants at Dunn and Gardner.
Committee Member McKeeman recommends citizens call and report when there are issues regarding speeding happening.
MOTION: To take this item to the next Traffic Committee meeting, review the speed study, increase police enforcement to the area, and check the warrants for the intersections.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: No
Hren Moved, Parker Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Michael Beltran, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Craig McKeeman, Derek Parker
2. Request #21-009 - Requesting Access Ramps Be Put in On the Corner of 20th St. and Glen Ave., and A Speed Limit Sign to Be Placed in Front of Charles Wright Elementary School (Lisa Dalrymple)
(Citizen states crossing is difficult for bikes, strollers, and wagons to access the sidewalks with all the traffic.)
Traffic Committee Minutes May 11, 2021 Page 2 of 7
Citizen Lisa Dalrymple discusses her concerns for the safety of people having access to the sidewalk without going into the street, no ramps or crosswalks available, and there are no speed limit signs.
Chairperson Beltran recommends working with Public Works to see what they can do to improve the areas safety measures. Merced Police department will check with the schools. They will discuss the speed limit sign on the next item.
MOTION: Engineering Dept. to work with Public Works to implement the installation of ramps in the area.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: No
Olmos Moved, Hren Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Michael Beltran, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Craig McKeeman, Derek Parker
3. Request #21-010- Requesting A Speed Limit Sign to Be Posted in Both Directions on E. 20th St. Near Charles Wright Elementary School (Jennifer Fosgate) (Citizen states there aren't any posted speed limit signs on E. 20th St. near the school.) Committee Member Olmos residential streets are not required to have speed limit signs due to the fact residential areas are 25-mph speed limit areas, he suggests more police enforcement in the area.
MOTION: To take this item to the next Traffic Committee meeting and have the Engineering Dept. and Public works check and see what is beneficial to the area as far as signage and including enforcement.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: No
Hren Moved, Parker Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Michael Beltran, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Craig McKeeman, Derek Parker
Request #21-011 - Requesting Speed Bumps Along Bancroft Dr. in Front of Elmer Murchie Park and Add A "Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalk" Sign Near the Crosswalks (Dana Ghassemi)
Traffic Committee Minutes May 11, 2021 Page 3 of 7
(Citizen states high speeds and reckless driving occur along Bancroft Drive and the crosswalks in the area are not protected.)
Committee Member Hren stated speed bumps are not recognized as a speed control device according to the US Department of Transportation Manual on Uniform Traffic Control devices (MUTCD).
Chairperson Beltran recommends looking into the signage in the area.
Committee Member Olmos recommends putting signage in the area to enhance visibility.
MOTION: Install pedestrian crossing signs on Bancroft Dr.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: No
Olmos Moved, Parker Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Michael Beltran, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Craig McKeeman, Derek Parker
Request #21-012 - Requesting a Barrier Be Put in Place at The End of Cormorant Dr (Katelyn Mayo)
(Citizen states cars park in the area throughout the day, smoking pot, drinking, or engaging in other behavior, speeding and doing doughnuts, not allowing walking access to the path.)
Katlyn Mayo and Ann Rye stated their concerns with the increase of illicit activity, vehicular traffic, and safety issues at the end of the cul-de-sac going into the bike path area.
Committee Member Parker stated a permanent barrier is not acceptable due to the need of access to the bike path and the creek, possibly a moveable gate.
Chairperson Beltran stated Gating may cause more trash to be dumped in the area. Not in favor of blocking a city road. He would like to work with Public Works for different options to prevent the unwarranted vehicular traffic and illicit activity.
MOTION: To take this item to the next Traffic Committee meeting and have the Engineering Dept. and Public Works review additional options for Traffic Committee Minutes May 11, 2021 Page 4 of 7
eliminating the undesirable traffic in the area.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: No
Hren Moved, Parker Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Michael Beltran, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Craig McKeeman, Derek Parker
6. Request #21-013 - Requesting Additional Traffic Enforcement, Narrowing of The Street With Chicanes, Putting Up a Sign To Slow Car Traffic-- "Bike Path Crossing" w/Picture And "Slow" At The Entrance To The Bike Path, Flashing Lights On Sign, 4 Way Stop Signs, Striping of The Street Along El Portal Dr., And Placing A Crosswalk By Chenoweth Elementary School (Jose & Mayra Lopez, Joe Brucia, Robin Donovan, Jolene Schadler, LuAnn Parson, Edwardo Zamora Sr., Ben French, Ronald Ringstrom) (Citizens state there is no enforcement of the new speed limit, speeding/racing is still happening making it difficult to back out of driveways and cross the street to the community mailboxes. Regular flooding of the Rahilly Park bike path bridge causes pedestrians/cyclist to cross on the street.)
LuAnn Parson, Mayra Lopez, and Ronald Ringstrom stated their concerns on speeding traffic, over all safety in the area and lack of Police enforcement. They would like to see some of the safety items they have recommended implemented. The newly installed speed limit signs are not enough.
Committee Member Olmos agrees with the recommendation of adding additional speed limit signs midway in both directions to the area. He will check on the work order, to fix the issue of the flooding at the entrance of the bike path.
Chairperson Beltran stated putting Chicanes in becomes difficult monetarily due to limited funding. El Portal from Parson to McKee is considered a local road, and local roads in general do not have striping, but they can look into the cost of putting in striping through Engineering and Public Works or as a City project due to the size of that specific roadway. He will bring this item back to his staff additional ideas.
Committee Member Hren stated the implementation of the speed trailer in the area would help enforce the new speed limit would be a good solution, along with Police enforcement. He recommends researching putting in striping due to the uniqueness of the roadway in that area. Recommends keeping the signage limited, agrees to looking into other options.
MOTION: To take this item to the next Traffic Committee meeting and have the Engineering Dept. and Public Works dept. review the feasibility and Traffic Committee Minutes May 11, 2021 Page 5 of 7
costs of striping and the possibility of putting it into the budget. Public vorks to put in additional speed limit signs and the Police dept. to plac he speed trailer and increase Police enforcemen
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: No
Hren Moved, Parker Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Michael Beltran, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Craig McKeeman, Derek Parker
7. Request #21-014 - Requesting to Increase the Bus Stop Space on K St. North of 18th Next to the Alley, by Red Curbing the Parking Space Just Behind the Current Red Curb to Prevent Vehicles from Parking So Close to The Actual Bus Stop (Christine Chavez)
Citizen states vehicles are parking so close to the bus stop, it makes it difficult for th us drivers to pull in, and the extra curb/sidewalk is needed for the passenger boarding through the rear doors.)
Committee Member Olmos stated this is not the proper set up for a bus stop that has at least 50 stops or so a day.
Chairperson Beltran stated he will check with MCAG to see if they would desire to re- do the bus stop, there is a desire for them to have proper ADA there.
MOTION: To approve the additional red curb parking space.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: Yes
Hren Moved, McKeeman Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Michael Beltran, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Craig McKeeman, Derek Parker
Traffic Committee Minutes May 11, 2021 Page 6 of 7
G. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:03 p.m.
By: Approved:
Nicelim. Tabares tele
Nicole Tabares Michael Beltran
Administrative Assistant/ City Engineer/ Chairperson
Recording Secretary
Traffic Committee Minutes May 11, 2021 Page 7 of 7