CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: April 22, 2026 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF A NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING REQUEST FOR TOLEDO AVENUE IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000 AND AUTHORIZATION
TO PURCHASE AND IMPLEMENT TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Engineering Services Department
SUMMARY:
The City adopted a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (Program) in 2002 to facilitate a cooperative process with neighborhoods that have identified traffic concerns warranting review and resolution by the City. The Engineering Services Department is currently coordinating with several neighborhood organizations on various traffic calming requests, primarily related to speeding traffic and/or “cut-through” traffic. The range of traffic calming solutions include radar speed feedback signage, speed cushions, traffic striping, stop signs and pedestrian crosswalks. This item presents a traffic calming request by the residents on Toledo Avenue that have followed the procedures outlined in the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program and is recommended for approval by the City Council and implementation by the City.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve a traffic calming request for the Toledo Avenue Neighborhood, which consists of the installation of two electronic speed feedback signs, one on the east side and one on the west side of S. Toledo Ave, between E. Sierra Way and Madrona Dr.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
BACKGROUND:
On August 21, 2002, the City Council approved a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program to address neighborhood concerns over traffic safety, traffic speeds, traffic volumes, and cut-through traffic. The primary purpose of the City’s Program is to provide a systematic approach to address these various requests, implement a communication structure,
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Approval of Traffic Calming Measures
obtain objective data, and demonstrate resident support to determine the recommended traffic calming measures for implementation.
Traffic calming is intended to reduce vehicle speeds, improve safety, and enhance the quality of life for residents living in neighborhoods. The Program addresses a wide range of traffic related issues by working closely with residents to identify existing problems, define neighborhood goals, and build community support. The Program relies heavily on community participation and includes the use of Community Action Request Forms (CARF), which document neighborhood concerns, identify potential traffic calming solutions, and demonstrate initial support through resident signatures.
Upon receipt of a CARF, a neighborhood working group is established to coordinate directly with City staff throughout the traffic calming process. This process includes collecting and analyzing objective traffic data such as speed surveys, traffic volumes, and pedestrian activity. Based on this data and ongoing coordination with the working group, staff develops recommended traffic calming measures. The working group then assists with outreach to the broader neighborhood to communicate the process and build support for the proposed improvements. After development of a neighborhood driven traffic calming plan, actions may be implemented using a staged approach.
From June 2020 through December 2022, Engineering Staff worked with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and their consultant, KOA, to develop a Pedestrian Master Plan aimed at improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety citywide through infrastructure improvements, enforcement strategies, safety education, and incentives. These efforts relied heavily on community feedback and data analysis. Some of the recommended improvements identified in the Pedestrian Master Plan overlap with projects already initiated through the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program.
Summary of Traffic Calming Program: 2025-26
There are currently 27 traffic calming requests on file. During the 2025/2026 fiscal year, three new Community Action Request Forms were received. Of these, one did not meet the warrants for the requested traffic calming measure, while two are actively in process but have not yet reached the community voting stage and will be brought forward to City Council for review at a later date.
In addition, two projects were carried over from prior fiscal years. One of these is the subject of this staff report, while the other did not receive the required two thirds (or 67%) community support to move forward. The remaining 22 projects are either on hold or have been cancelled as a result of:
A request is received, but no follow-up CARF is submitted. In these cases, City staff attempts to contact the requestor to encourage completion of the process, but if no response is received, the project is placed on hold. A CARF is submitted and field study initiated by Staff, but the working group has become non-responsive.
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Approval of Traffic Calming Measures
The requested measure(s) are planned under the City’s Pedestrian Plan, Highway Safety Improvement Projects (HSIP) or are larger scale, such as the proposed lane reconfigurations for South Palm Canyon and Racquet Club Drive.
The most common reason projects are cancelled or suspended are:
The requested traffic control measure(s) are found to be not feasible or warranted. The working group cannot agree on measure(s) for traffic calming in their neighborhood.
The preferred traffic control measures cannot be implemented because affected property owners are not in favor of the proposed location and no other locations are feasible.
Even when affected property owners consent to locating traffic control devices adjacent to their property, there is insufficient support from the overall neighborhood “study zone” survey (less than 2/3 of those surveyed vote in favor of the proposal).
STAFF ANALYSIS:
On October 10, 2022, neighborhood residents submitted a CARF requesting a solution be provided to reduce speed on Toledo Ave. between E. Sierra Way and Murray Canyon Dr. The CARF highlighted concerns with excessive speeds and pedestrian safety. The posted speed limit on Toledo Ave. is 40 miles per hour (mph). The requested solutions included, ideally, enforcement but open to other traffic calming measures. The working group decided to consider speed feedback signs (SFS) to encourage drivers to slow down. A speed study warrant analysis was undertaken and concluded that the 85 th percentile speeds were more than 7 mph over the speed limit, thereby meeting warrants for SFS.
On October 4, 2023, the second working group meeting was held to establish SFS locations. The working group was split between those in support of SFS and those wanting to consider an all-way stop sign at the intersection of Toledo Ave. and Canyon Estates Dr. Because the working group could not reach a consensus, the project was suspended in October 2023.
On June 16, 2025, the working group leader contacted staff to reactivate the project. A meeting was held at City Hall on September 17, 2025 with the working group, Canyon Estates neighborhood board members, City staff, and the District 5 City Councilmember, to discuss traffic issues on Toledo Avenue and traffic calming options. The working group reached a consensus that speed feedback signs would be the best option to consider.
Staff met with the working group to establish locations for SFS. In the southbound direction, it was determined that a SFS could replace an existing speed limit sign at E.
Sierra Way. In the northbound direction, a zone showing the most feasible location for a SFS was mapped and the working group leader communicated with those residents to determine where there was support.
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Approval of Traffic Calming Measures
On October 16, 2025, a letter was sent to the two residents that would be most affected to respond if they were in favor or not in favor of the traffic calming measure. Approval was received from both residents shortly thereafter.
On November 10, 2025, a survey package was sent to the larger neighborhood study zone along S. Toledo Ave to determine whether they were in favor of SFS. The survey closed on December 18, 2025, with response from 80% of the study zone. Response in favor of the project was received from 71% of the study zone, comfortably exceeding the required 2/3, or 67%, needed to pass the measure. A follow up meeting was held with the working group in January 2026 to review next steps. Figure 1 below shows the location of the proposed improvements.
Figure 1 - Proposed Speed Feedback Signs at S. Toledo Ave.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
In accordance with Section 15301 “Existing Facilities,” Class 1 projects consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing facilities of both investor and publicly owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services. Therefore, the installation of traffic calming equipment on existing City streets is considered categorically exempt from CEQA.
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Approval of Traffic Calming Measures
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:
This item aligns with the following City Council Strategic Plan Broad Goal: Public Safety and Community Services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total costs associated with the proposed traffic calming projects are estimated to be $30,000. This includes construction costs, design costs, and staff time. There is adequate funding budgeted for this project.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director: Joel Montalvo
Assistant City Manager: Flinn Fagg
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:
None.