Traffic Safety Committee Meeting

CITY OF LOS BANOS TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES July 1, 2025 ACTION MINUTES - These minutes are prepared to depict action taken for agenda items presented to the Traffic Safety Committee. CALL TO ORDER: Police Chief Reyna called the Traffic Safety Committee Meeting to order at the hour of 2:02 p.m. ROLL CALL - MEMBERS OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE PRESENT: Brandon Dorenbush, Assistant Fire Chief (Fire Department), Ray Reyna, Police Chief (Police Department), Joe Heim, Acting Charles Bergson (Public Works Director/City Engineer), Steven Nunes. STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Sara Blevins, Assistant City Clerk/Human Resources Analyst, Carlos Granillo, Public Works Operations Manager. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion by Heim, seconded by Nunes to approve the agenda as submitted . The motion carried by the affirmative action of all committee members present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Heim, seconded by Dorenbush to approve the April 2, 2025 Traffic Safety Committee Meeting 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. ALEX TERRAZAS, resident in College Greens neighborhood, spoke to the intersection of Mercey Springs and Scripps and how there is a Hawk System there but traffic flow does not follow the proper protocols of that light and has witnessed this personally on multiple occasions. There was an incident that occurred yesterday where he was heading through the intersection and a car failed to stop for him. It's a dangerous intersection. He further spoke to the many different instances he's experienced and doesn't believe increased enforcement is going to solve the issue. He believes the study done for the credit union is no longer accurate due to Shaunessy Village and other things that have gone on in that area. Wanted to bring it to the committee's attention in hopes they can do something better. JOE LOVE, resident of Los Banos, spoke to how he brought forward the striping item on today's agenda. He spoke to how Badger Flat from Cardoza is a straightaway and how it's a race track. There is no measure in place where people can tell where the middle of the road is. The park down there on the corner of Ortigalita is a popular spot on holidays and weekends and kids/pedestrians just dart across the street. People have almost been run over. He would like to see the striping pattern run all the way down as it is on the other side of Cardoza. He spoke to the roundabout and how he would like to see maybe a speed hump before the roundabout to slow down that race way on Cardoza going towards the roundabout. He spoke to where he lives and how his road is starting to break down. He would like to see that road taken care of if possible. REVIEW OF SPEED CUSHION REQUEST FOR MADISON AVENUE BETWEEN 10TH AND 11rH STREET. Operations Manager Granillo spoke to how the department has completed its review of the request. The item will be continued to the next meeting. STUDY OF VINEYARD DRIVE BETWEEN STONEWOOD DRIVE AND NANTES AVENUE FOR ANY APPROPRIATE/NEEDED TRAFFIC SAFETY MEASURES. Chief Reyna spoke to how the vendor they had lined up for these studies has pulled out of their contract. Because of this, this item will be continued to a future meeting until a vendor has been secured. STUDY REGARDING A REQUEST FOR A 3-WAY STOP AT THE INTERSECTION OF PAGE AVENUE AND 5TH STREET. Chief Reyna explained that this item would also need a traffic study conducted and because there is currently no vendor secured, this item would also be pushed to a future meeting. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR STRIPING TO BE PAINTED ON CARDOZA ROAD FROM ORTIGALITA ROAD TO BADGER FLAT ROAD. Director Heim spoke to Ortigalita Park and how it does pose some unsafe conditions for pedestrians. As far as the actual request for striping goes, he would need to look to Public Works staff for guidance but does feel some mitigation is warranted. There was committee member discussion regarding the inconsistencies of the striping going from one end of Cardoza to the other. Curiosity arose about what other safety measures are in place in some of the other bigger parks in the City. Motion by Heim, seconded by Dorenbush to continue the existing striping on Cardoza Road all the way down to Badger Flat Road. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR "2-HOUR PARKING" SIGNS TO BE INSTALLED ON 5TH STREET. Chief Reyna spoke to how this request came directly from the Mayor and how he wants to add additional temporary parking in the downtown area. There is already 24-minute temporary parking marked by green curbing, but this request would be adding to that. A study is needed and there are some ADA considerations that need to be taken into account. Funding for this study would need to be approved by Council. Committee members spoke to the item and how there are beauty shops and things of that sort downtown and sometimes those services take longer than 24 minutes to complete. There were also concerns about enforcement and the lack of stack to provide this service and whether this aligns with the Downtown Master Plan. Motion by Heim, seconded by Dorenbush to recommend this item be taken to council for consideration. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR RED PAINTED CURBS ON THE "NO PARKING" SIDE OF CENTER LANE. Operations Manager Granillo spoke to how Mid- Valley Disposal is having a hard time collecting trash in this area because cars are parking where they shouldn't which is why this request came about. The committee members spoke to concerns about the amount of red curbing that would then need to be maintained, but agreed that if it helped the garbage trucks and increased public safety in the area, then it should be done. Motion by Heim, seconded by Nunes to paint the curbs red on the "No Parking" side of Center Lane. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS: Director Heim spoke to how this was his first meeting and that he appreciated the guidance. Planning Commissioner Nunes spoke to how this was his first meeting and how he was nominated by the Planning Commission. Chief Reyna thanked the members of the public for speaking and assured them their comments are heard. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting was adjourned at the hour of 2:30 p.m. APPROVED: Ray Reyna, Police Chief ATTEST: \~~ ~ Sara Blevins, Assistant City Clerk