Traffic Safety Committee Meeting

CITY OF LOS BANOS TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES January 2, 2024 ACTION MINUTES - These minutes are prepared to depict action taken for agenda items presented to the Traffic Safety Committee. CALL TO ORDER: Commander Melden called the Traffic Safety Committee Meeting to order at the hour of 2: 14 p.m. ROLL CALL - MEMBERS OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE PRESENT: Stacy Elms, Community & Economic Development Director (Community & Economic Development Department); Paul Tualla, Fire Chief (Fire Department), Justin Melden Police Commander (Police Department), Jose Lemus, Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer (Public Works Department), Katherine Uhley (Planning Commission Representative). STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Sara Blevins, Assistant City Clerk/Human Resources Analyst. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion by Uhley, seconded by Tualla to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion carried by the affirmative action of all committee members present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Elms, seconded by Uhley to approve the October 3, 2023 and December 4, 2023 minutes as submitted . The motion carried by the affirmative action of all committee members present. PUBLIC FORUM: MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE ON ANY ITEM OF PUBLIC INTEREST THAT IS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY; INCLUDES AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO A FIVE (5) MINUTE PRESENTATION. No one else requested to speak and the public forum was closed. OLD BUSINESS: UPDATE REGARDING A REQUEST FOR AN ALL-WAY STOP AT THE INTERSECTION OF MADISON AVENUE AND CENTER AVENUE. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Lemus presented the item and stated that the Police Department would need to do a study on the intersection. Motion by Elms, seconded by Uhley to ask that Police Department staff survey the conducted at that intersection OLD BUSINESS: CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF LAS PALMAS STREET/WILLMOTT ROAD AND LAS PALMAS STREET/SAN LORENZO STREET. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Lemus presented the item. Motion by Elms, seconded by Uhley. The motion carried by the affirmative action of all committee members present. NEW BUSINESS: CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR PAINTED CURBS SIGNALING "NO PARKING" AT/NEAR STOP SIGN LOCATED IN FRONT OF 1829 SPADAFORE STREET. Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Lemus presented the item. There was discussion pertaining to the area in question and how those streets are very narrow especially when vehicles are parked on the street. Motion by Lemus, seconded Elms to paint curbs signaling "no parking" at/near stop sign that coincide appropriately with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices guidelines. The motion carried by the affirmative action of all committee members present. NEW BUSINESS: CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR FLASHING STOP SIGN OR ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC MEASURE AT THE CORNER OF PINE STREET AND COLORADO AVENUE. There was staff discussion regarding the area in question for which it was noted that there is already a stop sign in the area and that it may be dated and could use some maintenance. Enforcement measures are difficult to put in the area already due to established parking spaces for the park and the cost of beacon signs. Interim Director Lemus suggested the stop bar and lettering be changed to thermoplastic as a method to catch people's eyes more for the stop. He additionally suggested a "stop ahead" sign. Motion by Lemus, seconded by Uhley to replace the current stop sign with thermogenic plastic and to install a "Stop Sign Ahead" sign in the appropriate area. The motion carried by the affirmative action of all committee members present. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS: Interim Director Lemus commented on how these meetings are very important for the public to have an opportunity to come and speak regarding their concerns on their street. Commissioner Uhley spoke to Badger Flat and Birch and how it looks much better. She spoke to roundabouts and how a lot of people do not like them and how they are confusing. She further referenced speeding issues on Birchwood and how speed cushions may be appropriate for that area. Director Elms briefly spoke to the policy and process of the speed cushions. Chief Tualla had no comment. Commander Melden had no comment. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting was adjourned at the hour of 2:45 p.m.  APPROVED: ATTEST: Sara Blevins, Assistant City Clerk