Merced Civic Center
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
CITY OF MERCED
Minutes
Traffic Committee
2:00 PMTuesday, March 7, 2023
A. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Cardoso called the Regular Meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL
Member Juan Olmos, Member Julie Nelson, Member Joe Cardoso, Member Nathaniel McKinnon, and Member Morgan Madruga
Present: 5 -
Absent: 0
C. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no public comments.
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
D.1 SUBJECT: Traffic Committee Meeting Minutes of November 8, 2022 ACTION:
Approving and filing the Traffic Committee Minutes of November 8, 2022
ATTACHMENTS
1. Traffic Committee Minutes of November 8, 2022
This Consent Item was approved.
E. REPORTS
SUBJECT: Committee Member Reports
There were no reports from Committee Members.
F. BUSINESS
F.1 SUBJECT: Continued: Request #22-018 - Requesting a 4-Way Stop Sign or Traffic Signal at The Intersection of Parsons Avenue and El Portal Drive (Mayra Lopez)
March 7, 2023Traffic Committee Minutes
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states vehicles drive over the speed limit, go around school busses, and do not allow children to safely cross the street at the intersections.
Citizens states that even with the existing speed limit sign and double yellow lines this creates a dangerous environment and is requesting 4-way stop or traffic signals at the intersection of Parsons Avenue and El portal since there are three schools within a close distance.
Member McKinnon explained that until a traffic survey was done, the Police Department could not issue citations in this area.
Speakers in the Audience in Favor:
LuAnn Parson, Merced
There were no speakers in opposition to this item.
A motion was made by Member Nelson, seconded by Member McKinnon, to defer this item to the Police Department to conduct a speed survey. The motion passed unanimously.
F.2 SUBJECT: Continued: Request #22-019 - Requesting Stop Signs at the Intersection of East 19th Street and Cedar Avenue (Sarah Aguilar)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen is requesting to add stop signs on East 19th Street as cars speed around the corner coming from Highway 99 and Highway 140. There have been close calls with parked cars and pedestrian elementary school traffic.
A motion was made by Member Nelson, seconded by Member McKinnon, to deny Request #22-019. The motion passed unanimously.
F.3 SUBJECT: Continued: Request #22-020 - Requesting Stop Signs at Gardenia Ave and Daffodil Ave (Dan Abarca)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that Daffodil Avenue is the only way out for many courts in the community and children walk across this street to get to school. Citizen states there have been multiple accidents on this street as more homes are being built in the near subdivision.
Member Cardoso reported that there were no requests for stop signs when this subdivision was approved.
A motion was made by Member Olmos, seconded by Member McKinnon, to deny Request #22-020.The motion passed unanimously.
F.4 SUBJECT: Request #23-01 - Requesting a Handicap Parking Space at
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122 W. 20th Street (Delores Peterson)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that her mother requires a dedicated handicap parking space in front of her home.
Speakers in the Audience in Favor:
Delores Peterson, Merced
A motion was made by Member Olmos, seconded by Member McKinnon, to deny Request #23-01. The motion passed unanimously.
F.5 SUBJECT: Request #23-02 - Requesting a Reduced Speed Limit and Traffic Monitoring at the 400 Block of W. Donna Drive (Linda Hoskins)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that the speed limit needs to be reduced in this area and that large trailers should not be allowed to park on the street.
Member McKinnon explained that this area was eligible for traffic enforcement.
A motion was made by Member Cardoso, seconded by Member Nelson, to deferred to the Police Department for enforcement. The motion passed unanimously.
F.6 SUBJECT: Request #23-03 - Requesting Speed Bumps, Pedestrian Crossing with Lights, and a 4-Way Stop at the corner of M Street and 11th Street (Patty Camacho)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that the lack of speed limit signs and the excessive speeds of passing vehicles make this area dangerous for children and residents.
Citizen also states that her home has been damaged by a car accident.
Member Olmos recommended that the data gathered by Member McKinnon from this intersection be analyzed and continued to the next Regular Meeting.
Speakers in the Audience in Favor:
Patty Camacho, Merced
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There were no speakers in opposition to the project.
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Nelson, to continue this item to the Regular Meeting of Tuesday, May 9, 2023. The motion passed unanimously.
F.7 SUBJECT: Request #23-04 - Requesting No Parking Signs on Street Sweeper Days
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that due to a neighbor parking multiple vehicles on their cul-de-sac at all times, there is not access for the street sweeper to remove debris, and therefore would like no parking signs to enforce the removal of vehicles on street sweeping days.
Member McKinnon noted that he was unaware of any Municipal Code that requires people to move their cars on street sweeper days.
Member Cardoso suggested that this area be referred to the Police Department for enforcement.
A motion was made by Member Cardoso, seconded by Member Nelson, to deny Request #23-04 for No Parking Signs on street sweeper days, and to refer to the Police Department for enforcement of trailer parking. The motion passed unanimously.
F.8 SUBJECT: Request #23-05 - Requesting Mirrors and Sidewalk Painting to Increase Visibility While Crossing the Alley Behind Doe Court, off E. Paulson Drive (Mary Lincoln Brown)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that it is difficult to see pedestrians or oncoming traffic when exiting the alley on to E. Paulson Avenue, which is made worse by traffic turning onto E. Paulson Drive from Yosemite Avenue.
Member Cardoso stated that this driveway is classified as a commercial driveway, and therefore could require truncated dome on either side of the sidewalk.
Member Cardoso also suggested contacting the property owner at the corner to trim back the vegetation to increase visibility.
Speakers in the Audience in Favor:
Mary Lincoln Brown, Merced
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A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Cardoso, to install truncated domes at the entrance to the Doe Court alley and to contact the owner at the corner to trim the vegetation to increase visibility. . The motion passed unanimously.
F.9 SUBJECT: Request #23-06 - Requesting Restricted “No Right Turn on Red” Signage and Zone for the Intersection of R Street (Southbound) onto 22nd Street (Westbound) During the Hours of 7:00AM to 9:00AM and 1:00PM to 3:00PM, Monday through Friday (Dr. Doug Williams)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that the addition of restricted “No Right Turn on Red” signage and zone during the hours of 7:00 AM to 9:00AM and 1:00PM to 3:00PM, Monday through Friday (Fremont Elementary School) would increase the safety for students and parents using the crosswalks at this intersection while also assisting in slowing traffic during active school zone time frames when students are present.
Member CARDOSO recommended tabling this item until a traffic engineer can be consulted regarding this area and the planned Traffic Synchronization Study.
Speakers in the Audience in Favor:
Dr. Doug Williams, Merced
A motion was made by Member Cardoso, seconded by Member Madruga, to table request #23-06. The motion passed unanimously.
F.10 SUBJECT: Request #23-07 - Requesting Restricted Right-Hand Turn Lane from Eastbound Childs Avenue onto Southbound N Street during school drop off and pick up hours (Alicia Reyes Elementary School) and Curb Enhancements (Dr. Doug Williams)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that the addition of curb enhancements at Alicia Reyes Elementary School and a restricted right-hand turn from Eastbound Childs Avenue onto Southbound N Street during school drop off and pick up times would increase the safety of pedestrians utilizing the crosswalk and assist in slowing traffic.
A motion was made by Member Cardoso, seconded by Member McKinnon, to approve a red curb from Childs Avenue to the North driveway of Alicia Reyes School, white curb and signage between the entrance and exit driveways for bus only parking, extending the existing red curb to the entrance driveway, re curb 100 feet from the exit drive way, and to refer the no right turn form Childs Avenue
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onto to N Street to a Traffic Engineer to be addressed at a later date. The motion passed unanimously.
F.11 SUBJECT: Request #23-08 - Requesting a Traffic Signal at the Intersection of McKee Road and East Olive Avenue (Andy Xiong)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that this intersection is very busy and would benefit from having a traffic signal to improve the flow of traffic and minimize accidents.
A motion was made by Member Nelson, seconded by Member McKinnon, to deny Request #23-08. The motion passed unanimously.
F.12 SUBJECT: Request #23-09 - Requesting Traffic Calming Measures on W. 11th Street, between R Street and West Avenue/X Street (Jerry Perezchica)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that this due to an increasing volume of traffic on W. 11th Street, various traffic calming measures are needed for the safety of the neighborhood.
Member Cardoso recommend refreshing the crosswalk at V Street and 11th Street and adding hash marks and pedestrian crossing signage.
Member Nelson noted that the original requestor could submit another Citizen Action Request for this area of they chose to do so.
Speakers in the Audience in Favor:
Lisa Chavez, Merced
Joette Cotta, Merced
Delia Gallardo, Merced
A motion was made by Member Nelson, seconded by Member McKinnon, to refresh the crosswalk at V Street and 11th Street, including the addition of hash marks, and installation of pedestrian crossing signs. The motion passed unanimously.
F.13 SUBJECT: Request #23-10 - Requesting a handicap parking spot at 1035 W. 21st Street (Rogelio Vega)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen is requesting a handicap parking spot outside of their home.
A motion was made by Member Nelson, seconded by Member Madruga, to deny
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Request #23-10. The motion passed unanimously.
F.14 SUBJECT: Request #23-11 - Requesting speed bumps on Redwing Drive (Alex B. Basurto)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that due to new construction near Redwing Drive there is an increase in speeding vehicles on their block and they believe that speed bumps would discourage this behavior.
A motion was made by Member Madruga, seconded by Member McKinnon, to deny Request #23-11. The motion passed unanimously.
G. ADJOURNMENT
Clerk's Note: The Regular Meeting adjourned at 4:33 PM
A motion was made by Member Nelson, seconded by Member McKinnon, to adjourn the Regular Meeting. The motion carried by the following vote: