Administrative
Report
H.8., File # 23-5648 Meeting Date: 3/14/2023
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: TED SEMAAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
TITLE
APPROVE INSTALLATION OF ALL-WAY STOP CONTROLS AT THE INTERSECTION OF CLARK
LANE AND STEINHART AVENUE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In response to a motion made by the City Council on October 4, 2022, staff is bringing forward a request for all-way stop (AWS) controls at the intersection of Clark Lane and Steinhart Avenue. The subject intersection was discussed during the October 4 meeting, along with consideration of requests for AWS controls at eight other intersections in Council District 4. The Clark and Steinhart Intersection could not be voted on at the time, because the location was not included in the list of eight intersections appearing on the agenda item’s title.
Following the referral, preliminary testing for the Clark/Steinhart intersection did not reach typical thresholds for safety and public support and therefore was not initially recommended for AWS by the Public Works & Sustainability Commission (Commission). Later, in working to develop alternative traffic calming measures in the area, the traffic engineering staff noted changes in field conditions that now warrant installation of an AWS control at the site to improve safety.
As a related, but future matter, it should be noted that the Public Works Commission supports maintaining the 66% support threshold needed to advance an AWS request on public support alone, but recommends modernizing the City’s survey techniques to bolster response to future inquiries.
Staff plans to make use of these improved techniques as part of any new AWS request and will report back to City Council on the impact on public responsiveness.
BACKGROUND
At a meeting of the City Council on October 4, 2022, the City Council directed staff to install AWS controls at eight intersections in Council District 4. A ninth location was also brought forward but could not be voted on due to it not being identified in the Agenda title for the item. As part of the approval motion, Council directed staff to return with a recommendation for AWS control at this ninth intersection of Clark Lane and Steinhart Avenue. Staff performed its evaluations for this intersection in early 2022 and since policy thresholds for public support and safety were not met, the matter was considered closed.
After the motion was made, staff presented the AWS request to the Public Works & Sustainability Commission on January 23, 2023. The previous work for Clark and Steinhart resulted in insufficient resident support and identified no outstanding safety concerns, so the staff recommendation at the
H.8., File # 23-5648 Meeting Date: 3/14/2023
resident support and identified no outstanding safety concerns, so the staff recommendation at the January Commission meeting did not include advancement of the matter. The Commission denied the AWS request but did request that staff work with the resident to pursue more appropriate traffic calming measures. The attached administrative report for the January 23, 2023 Public Works & Sustainability Commission meeting provides more information on the request and the analysis of the intersection.
The traffic engineering staff visited the site in the days following the Public Works & Sustainability Commission meeting. After meeting with the resident and hearing the concerns, staff noted that field conditions (new construction, private property vegetation growth, etc.) had changed since the previous evaluation. There are now line of sight concerns significant enough to recommend an AWS installation. As such, staff is seeking Council approval to install an AWS control at Clark Lane and Steinhart Avenue.
The Council’s motion on October 4, 2022 included direction to staff to reevaluate the 66% threshold required to bring an AWS consideration forward on the basis of resident support alone. After much deliberation, the Commission recommended that the 66% threshold be maintained, believing that new AWS controls should be widely supported by neighboring residents. However, the Commission recommended that staff work to improve it methods to bring the response rate up. The Commissioners noted that response rates were routinely low and that, even if the threshold was lowered, there may not be sufficient public input to know what is actually preferred.
Staff is in the process of researching tools, such as online surveys, that will allow an easier way for residents to respond. The City’s pending website software may contain such capabilities but if not, there are other commercial products available. Staff intends to bring this part of the discussion back to the City Council after a period of time when these new techniques can be tested to see if response rates are improved.
The recommendation for this item is therefore to approve installation of AWS stop controls at the intersection of Clark Lane and Steinhart Avenue and allow staff to continue research work and trials related to the Commission’s survey improvement recommendations prior to presenting a discussion item related to the appropriate threshold for public support at a future date.
COORDINATION
Coordination of the public outreach, safety evaluation and the preparation of this report occurred within the Public Works Department.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost to install additional signage and the associated appurtenance to complete the AWS control at this intersection is estimated to be $2,000. Funding for the installation is available in the City’s Traffic Calming budget.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
H.8., File # 23-5648 Meeting Date: 3/14/2023
ATTACHMENTS
· Administrative Report from Public Works & Sustainability Commission, January 23, 2023 · Minutes from Public Works & Sustainability Commission Meeting, January 23, 2023