CITY OF MERCED
Merced Civic Center
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
MERCED
Minutes
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
2:00 PM
City Council Chamber, Merced Civic Center, 678 W. 18th Street, Merced, CA 95340
Traffic Committee
Traffic Committee Minutes March 5, 2024
NOTICE TO PUBLIC
WELCOME
Copies of the backup material relating to each item of business referred to on the agenda are on file in the office of the City Clerk. Any person who has questions concerning any agenda item may call the Engineering Department at 209-385-6846. Prior to each regular Traffic Committee meeting, a complete agenda packet is available for review in the Civic Center, 2nd floor Engineering Department, 678 West 18th Street, Merced, CA 95340 and on the City's website at www.cityofmerced.org. Any documents provided to a majority of the committee members after this agenda is posted will be available for public inspection in the City Clerk's office during normal business hours.
PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE BOARD/COMMISSION CLERK
Members of the audience who wish to address the Traffic Committee are requested to complete a speaker card available at the podium against the back of the Council Chamber. Please submit the completed card to the Traffic Committee Clerk before the item is called, preferably before the meeting begins.
For those not wanting to attend an in-person meeting, you may submit your public comment to the Engineering Department electronically no later than 10 am on the day of the meeting. Material may be emailed to [email protected] and should be limited to 300 words or less. Please specify which portion of the agenda you are commenting on, for example, oral communications, report item number, or business item number. Any correspondence received after 10 am will be distributed to the committee and retained for the official record.
You may provide telephonic comments via voicemail by calling (209) 388-7590 by no later than 10 am on the day of the meeting to be added to the public comment. Voicemails will be limited to a time limit of one (1) minute. Please specify which portion of the agenda you are commenting on, for example, oral communications, report item number, or business item number. Your comments will be played during the meeting to the traffic committee at the appropriate time.
To view video (if available) or to listen to the traffic committee meeting live, go to the city's Facebook live page.
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at (209) 388-8650. Assisted hearing devices are available for meetings held in the Council Chamber.
A: CALL TO ORDER
B. ROLL CALL
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C. ORAL COMMUNICATION
At this time, audience members who wish to speak on any matter not listed on the agenda, please identify yourself and city of residence, and if you intend on using technology for your presentation please leave a copy for the record.
Committee will not take action on an item that is brought to their attention at this meeting. If it requires action, it will be referred to staff and/or listed on the next Traffic Committee agenda.
Members of the public who wish to speak will be allotted 3 minutes. Avoid repeating what previous speakers have said. If two or more individuals are present as a group and wish to speak on one side of an issue, please select a single spokesperson to present your views.
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed under the consent calendar are considered routine by the Traffic Committee and will be adopted by one action of the Traffic Committee unless a member of the audience or Traffic Committee member has a question, statement or wishes to discuss an item. In that event, the clerk will remove that item from the consent calendar and place it for separate consideration.
D.1. SUBJECT: Traffic Committee Meeting Minutes of January 9, 2024 ACTION:
Approving and filing the Traffic Committee Minutes of January 9, 2024 Attachments: IC Minutes 1-9-2024
E. REPORTS
E.1. SUBJECT: Committee Member Reports
F. BUSINESS
F.1. SUBJECT: REQUEST #23-22 Requesting A Stop Sign At The Intersection Of Wildcat Drive And St Tropaz Avenue To Prevent Accidents From Occurring.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states cars speed past the intersection from both directions since there is no stop sign. This intersection creates many near misses on a daily basis.
Attachments: 23-22 Redacted.pdf
This Business Item was withdrawn.
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Traffic Committee Minutes March 5, 2024
F.2. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-09 Requesting A Barrier Along Highway 59 To Stop Drivers From Turning Against Traffic.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states vehicles have been stopping to turn against flowing traffic to go into either gas station located on both corners of the roadway. "With as turning left or right against normal traffic.
Attachments: 24-09 Redacted.pdf
A motion was made my Wilson and seconded by McKinnon to recommend the engineering department to contact Cal Trans regarding the addition of a temporary barrier along HWY 59 by Olive Ave. This Business Item was approved.
F.3. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-10 Requesting Destiny Dr. To Be Closed To Traffic As There Are No Houses In That Area As Of Now.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that Destiny Dr. is a frequent spot for trash dumping and suspicious vehicles and should not be open to traffic if there are no houses in the area.
Attachments: Request #24-10
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Nelson, that this Business Item be denied. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
F.4. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-11 Requesting A Four Way Stop And The Addition Of Crosswalks On KAnd 21st To Bring Awareness To Drivers Speeding Past.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states drivers are speeding past this intersection at fast and unsafe speeds. This intersection in prone to many pedestrians and children crossing to and from the Montessori school. Even teachers and staff have witnessed or encountered their own accidents. Creating a four way stop and adding crosswalks to the intersection will help bring safety and awareness to this area.
Attachments: REQUEST #24-11
A motion was made by Member Nelson, seconded by Member McKinnon, to deny the request of a four way stop, but extend the stop bars and refresh the paint.
The motion carried by a unanimous vote and the business item was denied.
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F.5. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-12 Requesting Signage Or Markings At The Loading Zone Off NAnd Main Street And Red Paint Or Markings To Distinguish The "No Parking" Spot.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states there are no marked time frames or signage to enforce the loading zone and no parking area. Residents and drivers are left confused when ticketed for using these zoned parking spots.
Attachments: Request #24-12
A motion was made by Member Olmos, seconded by Member Wilson, that this Business Item be continued and inquire if the loading zones are necessary. Item will be referred to property management as well as the Clty Managers office to establish responsibility or the removal of the zones. The motion carried by a F.6. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-13 Requesting Lights Under The Highway 99 Underpasses.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states there are multiple underpasses in South Merced in which the lights in the underpass are out. Many community members that walk the area feel unsafe at night.
Attachments: Request #24-13
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Nelson, that this Business Item be tabled to review underpass once Cal Trans fixes/replaces lighting. City is to reach out to Cal Trans for temporary fix. The motion carried by F.7. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-14 Requesting Speed Bumps, Sidewalks, And Lighting On S. Canal St, From Childs Ave. Through 200 S. Canal St.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states speed bumps should be installed near the apartments because there are a lot of vehicles speeding in the area. The street is narrow due to vehicles parked on both sides of the street and not enough apartment parking spaces. There is a lack of street lighting throughout S.
Canal and this street can benefit from light posts since its close to the schools and streets are narrow. The corner of W. Childs Ave. and S. Canal can also benefit from sidewalks as they do not extend throughout the whole street on S. Canal.
Attachments: Request #24-14
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A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Wilson, that this Business Item be approved and Traffic Committee to support future agenda items regarding sidewalk additions after PW review. The motion carried by a F.8. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-15 Requesting Space On Golden Valley Health Center (GVHC) Property To Prevent Traffic And Accidents From Occurring On A Busy Street.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that there are only two lanes, one that goes in each direction on W Childs Ave. When the bus stops in front of the clinic, it does not leave space for vehicles on the road to keep going and nearly causes accidents.
There should be space on GHC property to prevent traffic and accidents from occurring on a busy street.
Attachments: Request #24-15
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Wilson, that this Business Item be denied but referred to GVHC and MCAG. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
F.9. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-16 Requesting A Controlled Crosswalk Across Golden Valley Health Center In Between N And R Street On W Childs Ave.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states residents that go to GVHC and students in the nearby schools do not have a crosswalk on W. Childs Ave. and have to either walk all the way to R St. where there is little public lighting at night, or at N St., to get across to the other side of W. Childs Ave.
Attachments: Request #24-16
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Nelson, that his Business Item be continued and reassessed after more data is found. Th notion carried by a unanimous vote
F.10. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-17 Requesting Flashing Light Alerting Drivers That School Children Are Crossing, Stop Signs To Slow Down Traffic, Or A Left Turning Signal To Prevent Speeding Cars That Are Turning To Go Before Or After Children Safely Cross The Street.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that the intersection at Alicia Reyes Elementary School, off of N St. and W. Childs Ave., currently does not have a left turn signal light at any of the 4 lights. During drop off and pick up times, when traffic increases the most, many children walk home and cross the street while vehicles CITY OF MERCED Page 5 Printed on 4/18/2024
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speed through and pose a safety risk to the children. There should be a flashing light alerting drivers that school children are crossing, stop signs to slow down traffic, or a left turning signal to prevent speeding cars that are turning to go before or after children safely cross the street. Citizen also states that a crossing guard would help but would not be enough.
Attachments: Request #24-17
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Olmos, that this Business Item be denied. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
F.11. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-18 Requesting Speed Bumps Or Stop Signs At The Intersection Of P And 5th Street.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that all 4 roads that intersect at P St.and 5th St. have no stop signs. It has nearly caused many accidents since there are many people that speed through that street. There should be some traffic calming measures such as speed humps or stops signs.
Attachments: Request #24-18
P St and 5th St Attachment.png
A motion was made by Member Wegley, seconded by Member Nelson, that this Business Item be denied. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
F.12. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-19 Requesting Traffic Calming Measures Near Tenaya Middle School.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states many vehicles speed on 8th street even though there is a stop sign on the corner of N St. and 8th St. Some additional pedestrian safety measures should be considered such as flashing lights indicating a school zone.
Attachments: Request #24-19
Tenaya TC Form Attachment.png
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Nelson, that this Business Item be approved with a high visibility crosswalk added at N and 8th Street. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
F.13. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-20 Requesting Stop Sign At Q And 10th Street As Well As Q And 9th Street.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that Q St and 10th St, and Q St and 9th St., are both
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Traffic Committee Minutes March 5, 2024
intersections that do not have stop signs at any 4 points where the streets meet. Driving through Q St, citizen states that they had to stop abruptly to prevent an accident with other speeding vehicles. Other community members have also mentioned that there are multiple streets in South Merced where there are no stop signs at 4-point intersections.
Attachments: Request #24-20
A motion was made by Member Nelson, seconded by Member Wilson, that this Business Item be denied. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
F.14. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-21 Requesting A School Bus Zone And "No Parking Zone" Along T Street At Sheehy Elementary.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Merced City School District is requesting the addition of both zones as part of their moderation at Sheehy Elementary School.
Attachments: Request #24-21
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Nelson, that this Business Item be approved. Motion to move forward with Traffic Committee's recommendation and continue with the encroachment process with the addition of "No Parking" red curb (length to be determined by engineering), and signage/verbage to be determined by public works. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
F.15. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-22 Requesting A Two Hour Parking Zone From N St. To The Shannon Parcade.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states drivers are parking in front of the Civic Center for long periods of time and leaving customers that need to pay their bills having to park at further distances.
Attachments: Request #24-22
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Wilson, that this Business Item be tabled and the area be reviewed along with the options and ordinances already in place. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
F.16. SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-23 Requesting A Two Way Stop Sign For North And South Bound Traffic On Q Street off of 23rd Street.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that accidents and near misses still occur with the posted yield sign on Q Street and stop signs are necessary for prevention.
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Attachments: Request #24-23
A motion was made by Member Olmos, seconded by Member McKinnon, that this Business Item be denied. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
G. ADJOURNMENT
APPROVED: Michel Zahey
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