CITY OF MERCED Merced Civic Center
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
MERCED Minutes
Traffic Committee
Tuesday, July 9, 2024 2:00 PM
A. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson WEGLEY called the Regular Meeting to order at 2:03 p.m.
B. ROLL CALL
Present: 5 - Member Juan Olmos, Member Nathaniel McKinnon, Member Casey Wilson, Member Mike Wegley, and Member Jonnie Lan
Absent: 0
C. ORAL COMMUNICATION
Erica SOUTHWICK- Merced - asked for additional stop signs, a traffic light, or other possible traffic calming measures at the corner of Donna Drive and M Street due to the heavy traffic flow and car accidents that take place at this intersection. Citizen expressed concern for her and her family's safety since their home is on the corner of this intersection.
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
D.1 24-680 SUBJECT: Traffic Committee Meeting Minutes of May 14, 2024 ACTION:
Approving and filing the Traffic Committee Minutes of May 14, 2024
ATTACHMENTS
1. Traffic Committee Minutes of May 14, 2024
A motion was made by Member Lan, seconded by Member McKinnon, that this Consent Item be approved. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Aye: 5- Member Olmos, Member McKinnon, Member Wilson, Member Wegley, and Member Lan
No: 0
Absent:
E. REPORTS
CITY OF MERCED
Traffic Committee Minutes July 9, 2024
E.1. 23-976 SUBJECT: Committee Member Reports
Member OLMOS shared that the work orders issued by the engineering department for approved Traffic Committee requests have been completed Member OLMOS requested that previous agenda item #24-14 be brought to the following Traffic Committee meeting after planning review.
Member MCKINNON shared the source of the uncontrolled intersection regulation which is found in CVC 22352 (B) and (1).
Member LAN noted that City Council approved the adoption of the multi-jurisdictional Merced County Regional Act of Transportation Plan in June of 2024.
F. BUSINESS
F.1 24-666 SUBJECT: CONTINUED REQUEST #24-22 Requesting A Two Hour Parking Zone On 18th Street 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.
Member WILSON expressed his support after he had spoken with Mr.
Quintero and found that many complaints stemmed from drivers using these parking spaces for an extended period of time while others were unable to access these closer parking spots for quick business matters.
Member LAN agreed with Member WILSON and added that city staff and UC staff have designated parking areas and that the closer parking spots would be most beneficial for citizens coming to the Civic Center for official business.
Members discussed and agreed to approve this request. The modification of these parking zones are to be added to the Main Street project through the Engineering Department with 2 hour timed parking between normal business hours of Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm.
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Lan, that this agenda item be approved. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Aye: 5 - Member Olmos, Member McKinnon, Member Wilson, Member Wegley, and Member Lan
No: 0
CITY OF MERCED Page 2 Printed on 9/6/2024
Traffic Committee Minutes July 9, 2024
Absent: 0
F.2 24-667 SUBJECT: CONTINUED REQUEST #24-30 Requesting Bollards To Be Installed To Restrict Access To The Dead-End Road Of Nottingham Avenue.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen and community states that this neighborhood is filled with constant occurrences of illegal and dangerous activities, specifically taking place in the dead-end road of Nottingham Avenue. This poses a significant safety hazard for citizens in the area. Citizen adds that these dangerous activities also include an accumulation of debris that requires city cleanup resources.
The addition of bollards that restrict access to the dead-end road can support a safer environment for community members, while also reducing the opportunity for illegal activities to take place in this area.
Members are opposed to spending city funds in this area because of the possible unintended consequences that could result and would rather put this money towards improvements to the city such as sidewalks, but members would rather look into ways to support this issue with a long term resolution.
Member MCKINNON offered a trial run of temporary barricades in this area. If this issue continues in the future, he suggested this request to come back as a new agenda item.
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Lan, that this agenda item be denied and have PD complete a trial run of temporary barricades at this dead-end road to determine if this could alleviate the concerns/situations at hand. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 4- Member McKinnon, Member Wilson, Member Wegley, and Member Lan No: 1 - Member Olmos
Absent: 0
F.3 24-668 SUBJECT: CONTINUED REQUEST #24-31 Requesting Enhanced Traffic Control Evaluations At The Intersections Of MLK Jr Way And West 27th Street, West 23rd Street And I Street, And West 23rd And H Street.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that there is a lack of signage at the corners of these 3 intersections which can be confusing to drivers on who has the right of way.
Martin Luther King Jr Way and West 27th Street is a cause for concern with CITY OF MERCED Page 3 Printed on 9/6/2024
Traffic Committee Minutes July 9, 2024
the lack of signage due to this being a high vehicle traffic area with an elementary school a block away. Citizen adds that West 23rd Street and I Street, and West 23rd Street and H Street have no signage at either corner to yield or stop. An addition of proper signage would enforce safety measures for residents and school children in the community.
Member MCKINNON read the traffic data of these intersections, which ultimately concluded that there are no warrants for additional signage or traffic calming measures at these locations.
A motion was made by Member Olmos, seconded by Member McKinnon, that this agenda item be denied. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Aye: 5- Member Olmos, Member McKinnon, Member Wilson, Member Wegley, and Member Lan
No: 0
Absent: 0
F.4 24-669 SUBJECT: CONTINUED REQUEST #24-32 Requesting Proper Signage/Markings Of Public Or Private Parking And Parking/Code Enforcement To The Parking Spaces Along W Main Street Next To The Tioga Sequoia Brewery.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that the public parking spaces along W Main Street next to the Tioga Sequoia Brewery are consistently reserved for food trucks by the Tioga Sequoia Brewery without proper permits. The employees of the brewery place noncompliant traffic devices into the public parking spaces to reserve a space for food trucks, even when food trucks are not present or will not be providing services that day. This takes away parking for residents who already have a hard time finding a safe place to leave their vehicle and allows employees of the brewery to benefit by taking these spots when available instead. Citizen states employees will also illegally double park to save the spaces, place these traffic devices around community members cars who park there, and food trucks block the crosswalk and road to wait for a space to be available. Adding signage/markings and obtaining permits can eliminate these issues and allow a safer environment for all citizens, patrons, and vendors in the area.
Member MCKINNON explained he and a couple of other city officials had been in contact with the Tioga Sequoia Brewery and explained the rules of using the parking on Main St. MCKINNON added that there is a process of possibly leasing a parklet to the brewery, if approved by the City Council.
Member MCKINNON recommended not taking any action on this item but to continue to have PD take action when unlawful acts are committed.
CITY OF MERCED Page 4
Printed on 9/6/2024
Traffic Committee Minutes July 9, 2024
A motion was made by Member Lan, seconded by Member McKinnon, that this agenda item be tabled. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Aye: 5 - Member Olmos, Member McKinnon, Member Wilson, Member Wegley, and Member Lan
No: 0
Absent: 0
F.5 24-295 SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-24 Requesting A Speed Bump/Bumps Along Bodie Street.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen and community states drivers are speeding past this street at fast and unsafe speeds. The area is close to the Weaver Middle School, and is prone to pedestrians, children, and even pet traffic on a daily basis. The addition of speed bumps will help drivers slow down and obey the speed limit.
Member MCKINNON offered using a traffic data collector to determine if the speeds of vehicles would allow for further action to be taken. He recommended to refer this item to the traffic division before any further action is taken so that the committee may have more information on this area at the next meeting.
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Olmos, that this agenda item be continued and refer to the traffic division for traffic data collection. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Aye: 5 - Member Olmos, Member McKinnon, Member Wilson, Member Wegley, and Member Lan
No:
Absent:
F.6 24-664 SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-36 Requesting A Crosswalk on Mercy Avenue between G Street and Sandpiper Avenue.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen states that the Mercy Medical Center owns the parking lot on the south end of Mercy Avenue between G Street and Sandpiper Avenue.
Many patients, employees, students, and visitors use this parking lot, but there is no crosswalk in the area, which results in pedestrians crossing the street with no protected measures. Installing a crosswalk would increase safety for all pedestrians in the area.
Member MCKINNON stated that he is opposed to adding a crosswalk that could create a false sense of security. He suggested pedestrians going to CITY OF MERCED Page 5 Printed on 9/6/2024
Traffic Committee Minutes July 9, 2024
a better designated spot to cross the street.
A motion was made by Member Wegley, seconded by Member Olmos, that this agenda item be denied. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Aye: 5- Member Olmos, Member McKinnon, Member Wilson, Member Wegley, and Member Lan
No: 0
Absent: 0
F.7 24-670 SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-37 Requesting A Four Way Stop At The Intersection Of El Portal Drive And Parsons Avenue.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen explains that there has been a surplus of speeding vehicles in the neighborhood after the grocery stores/new homes were added in the Yosemite Ave area. The installation of a four-way stop at the intersection of El Portal Dr and Parsons Ave could mitigate the speeding issue and support safety measures in the community.
Member MCKINNON explained this intersection does not meet the warrants due to traffic data. He mentioned the roadway is very wide, so it may be out of Traffic Committee's hands being that it may turn into a City project.
A motion was made by Member Lan, seconded by Member McKinnon, that this agenda item be denied. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Aye: 5 - Member Olmos, Member McKinnon, Member Wilson, Member Wegley, and Member Lan
No: 0
Absent:
F.8 24-671 SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-38 Requesting The Installation Of Speed Bumps And A Temporary Speed Trailer On Northwood Drive.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen explains many drivers use Northwood Drive as a throughway to avoid the traffic on Olive Ave and Bear Creek Dr. These vehicles travel a high speeds, causing safety hazards to residents of this area, many of whom include both children and elderly veterans who enjoy spending time outside frequently. The potential risk of an accident has led some fearful residents to discontinue the walks outdoors. The installation of speeds bumps could urge drivers to slow down and would allow for a safer environment for all residents and drivers in the area. A temporary speed radar would be beneficial until speeds bumps are installed.
CITY OF MERCED
Traffic Committee Minutes
July 9, 2024
Residents of the area expressed concern of speeding vehicles. They no longer enjoyed spending time outside due to their fear of vehicles striking them, their children, or their homes. Residents urged the committee members to add speed bumps, watch the area, and add additional signage to the street.
Member MCKINNON shared that there were two traffic data collectors along Northwood Drive and the average speed of all 30,000 cars that drove through that street within the week was 34 mph. He added that there would be a new battery put into these traffic data collectors to get additional data.
Members explained to the residents that adding Northwood Dr to a speed study would risk the speed limit being increased.
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Lan, that this agenda item be continued and refer to the Traffic Division for traffic data to be presented at the following meeting, Public Works to trim the trees for clearer view of speed limits and determine if additional signage is necessary, and engineering to add the sidewalk along Northwood Drive and M Street to a future sidewalk project. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Aye: 5 - Member Olmos, Member McKinnon, Member Wilson, Member Wegley, and Member Lan
No: 0
Absent: 0
F.9 24-673 SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-39 Requesting Signage For 15 Mph Or to "Slow Down" At 1017 W Santa Fe Avenue.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen expresses concern and fear of being struck by vehicles traveling quickly down W Santa Fe Avenue. Posting signage to slow down or enforce a 15-mph speed limit could support traffic and pedestrian safety in the neighborhood.
Member MCKINNON stated there is no traffic collision data in this area.
Due to the lack of warrants, the request must be denied.
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Wilson, that this agenda item be denied. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Aye: 5 - Member Olmos, Member McKinnon, Member Wilson, Member Wegley, and Member Lan
No: 0
Absent:
CITY OF MERCED Page 7 Printed on 9/6/2024
Traffic Committee Minutes July 9, 2024
F.10 24-674 SUBJECT: REQUEST #24-40 Requesting Installation Of Signage With Reflectors To Alert Drivers Of The Bend In The Road At 199 E Santa Fe Avenue.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Citizen explains how many drivers traveling westbound may be distracted or simply cannot see the bend in the road which causes drivers to jump the curb and damage personal and city property. There have been two occurrences at this location within the past few years. The installation o eflective signage announcing the bend in the road can provide preventative/safety measures for drivers and citizens in the area.
Member MCKINNON and LAN agreed that adding a directional arrow sign where the bend of the road starts to go downhill would support traffic safety during the night.
Member OLMOS stated that PW could add additional signage.
A motion was made by Member McKinnon, seconded by Member Lan, that this agenda item be approved and that Public Works and the engineering department are to determine the proper signage for the area after they review it.
The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
5 - Member Olmos, Member McKinnon, Member Wilson, Member Wegley, and Member Lan
No:
Absent: 0
G. ADJOURNMENT
APROVED I
CITY OF MERCED Page 8
Printed on 9/6/2024