Traffic Committee Minutes July 12
, 2022
TRAFFIC COMMITTEE
MINUTES
July 12, 2022
A. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL
Present: Chairperson: Joe Cardoso, Chairperson Designee Committee Members: Michael Hren, Planning Manager Designee Juan Olmos, Public Works Designee
Tom England, Fire Chief
Nathan McKinnon, Police Chief Designee
C. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Traffic Committee Minutes of July 12, 2022
RECOMMENDATION:
Amend, approve, and file.
Hren Moved, Olmos Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Joe Cardoso, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Tom England, Nathan McKinnon
Clerk's Note: Staff recommendation approved.
Traffic Committee Minutes July 12
, 2022
E. REPORTS
1. Committee Member Reports
None
F. BUSINESS
1. Request #22-011 – Requesting Red Curbing Along Approximately 20 Feet of the Northeast Part of Buena Vista Drive, Proximal to San Lorenzo Way (Lee Pevsner)
(Citizen states when they have frisbee golf activities on the weekend, cars often park right up to the corner of Buena Vista Drive and San Lorenzo Way. This obscures the visibility of anyone wanting to turn left onto Buena Vista Drive from San Lorenzo Way.
Citizen is requesting that the curb be painted red on Buena Vista Drive in order to make this intersection safer.)
Public Comment by Lee Pevsner: Request for Red Curbing on East and West Portions.
Question by Hren: Has traffic been abated since R street shutdown? Answer: Traffic has been abated.
Question by Cardoso: Hard time seeing Westbound or Eastbound? Answer: Eastbound. A car was parked closer to the intersection where an accident almost occurred. The issue mostly occurs on weekends during Frisbee Golf Tournament
MOTION: To approve Red Curbing on the Northeast and West Part of Buena Vista Drive, Proximal to San Lorenzo Way. Distance to be determined by Engineering/ Public Works.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: Yes
Cardoso Moved, Hren Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Joe Cardoso, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Tom England, Nathan McKinnon
2. Request #22-012 – Requesting Stop Signs at the Intersection of 20th Street and T Street (Dan Cresci)
(Citizen is requesting to add stop signs on 20th Street and T Street in the north and south direction to slow traffic down.)
Traffic Committee Minutes July 12
, 2022
Police Department provided information regardi ng accidents found at the intersection. These incidents do not meet the necessary warrants for an additional stop sign.
MOTION: To deny the request.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: No
Hren Moved, Olmos Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Joe Cardoso, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Tom England, Nathan McKinnon
3. Request #22-013 – Requesting No Parking Signs on Whitewater Way Between Explorador Drive and Vaca Way (Dan Hicks)
Hren explains how it is a reasonable request considering how narrow the street is already known For. Olmos adds that a “no fire lane” posted by the HOA of the location.
MOTION: To recommend engineering to reach out to the HOA to fulfill the needs and obligations to put fire lane signs in all requiring areas.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: No
Hren Moved, Olmos Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Joe Cardoso, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Tom England, Nathan McKinnon
4. Request #22-014 – Requesting a 3-Way Stop at the Intersection of Whitewater Way and Mariner Way (Robert Yuen)
(Citizen states when traveling westbound on Mariner Way, it is near to impossible to see the oncoming traffic from the right on Whitewater Way. During heavy usage it is extremely dangerous because of the children that cross this street as well combined with the excessive speed through this intersection.)
Intersection does not meet the criteria based on the fact that the last collision was in 2015. A driveway also prohibits the installation of a three-way intersection.
MOTION: To deny the request.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: No
Traffic Committee Minutes July 12
, 2022
Cardoso Moved, McKinnon Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Joe Cardoso, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Tom England, Nathan McKinnon
5. Request #22-015 – Requesting a Review for Any Possible Enhancements for Safety at the Intersection of East 15th Street and D Street (Darlene Ingersoll)
(Citizen states there are frequent near miss accidents at this intersection and there isn’t a stop sign on D St. heading south to the intersection of 15th Street. There is one east and west on 15h Street and at the entrance to the Merced County Warehouse Facility.
Maybe make this intersection a 4-way stop.)
No statistical collision data to approve the request. However, due to the homeless shelter, election office, and mental institute, these factors are worth considering. *
Discussed the idea of adding extra signage or add reflective lines for crossing.
MOTION: To deny the request.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: No
Cardoso Moved
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Joe Cardoso, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Tom England, Nathan McKinnon
*Clerk note: the microphone went off for a period of time.
6. Request #22-016 – Requesting a Centerline Strip Be Painted on 15th Street from R Street to B Street (Corey Plagenza)
(Citizen states there is no centerline striping on 15th Street between R Street and B Street. With increased traffic and truck parking, vehicles are put into a head on conflict.)
Olmos received information from Corey where he explained there is more traffic and truck parking. People are moving past the lanes to deter awa y from the trucks causing chances for a head on collision.
MOTION: To request from engineering to determine feasibility to reassess adding the stripe afterwards.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: No
Traffic Committee Minutes July 12
, 2022
Hren Moved, McKinnon Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Joe Cardoso, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Derek Parker, Nathan McKinnon
7. Request #22-017 – Requesting to Have a Stop Sign Added at a Convenient Corner to Make Vehicles Slow Down, and Add a Speed Meter or More Patrolling to Prevent High Speed and Future Accidents (Cesar De Alba)
(Citizen states assigned speed limit is too high and poor planning of traffic control. No crosswalks or stops between G Street and Parson Avenue which makes most of the vehicles exceed the posted speed limit of 40 and have been the cause of more accidents after the one that affected his vehicle and home.)
Public Comment by Cesar De Alba: Went into detail to his own accident and the number of other accidents including why they have occurred. For student, family, and residential safety, there should have an added stop sign and maybe more patrolling to ensure safety.
Hren asked Cesar at what time of day does racing occur, he answered with both day and night.
Location is considered an arterial roadway where too many stop signs are not advised. 47 collisions between G St and Parsons, with 280 citations given. Traffic division can control the area as much as they can, however there are only four on staff.
MOTION: To recommend addition police enforcement but take no action regarding addition of stop signs.
COUNCIL ACTION REQUIRED: No
Hren Moved, McKinnon Seconded
Vote: 5-0
Voting Aye: Joe Cardoso, Michael Hren, Juan Olmos, Derek Parker, Nathan McKinnon
Traffic Committee Minutes July 12
, 2022
G. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
By: Approved:
Nicole Tabares Michael Beltran
Administrative Assistant/ City Engineer/ Chairperson
Recording Secretary