[3:08] to order. First thing is to uh please stand for the pledge of allegiance.

[3:19] I aliance of America to the republic for which it

[3:26] stands. One nation indivisible andice andice for all.

[3:33] » All right.

[3:38] All right. All right.

[3:52] And then Kathy, whenever you're ready, let's do a roll call.

[3:55] » Vice Chair Bran Con, >> present.

[3:58] » Committee member Brennan, >> present.

[4:04] » Committee Committee member Coer, >> present.

[4:08] » Youth member Mansfield, >> present. Committee member Newman is not

[4:13] present. Committee member Hyrick >> present.

[4:16] » And Chair Lobinger >> present.

[4:18] » Thank you.

[4:25] » Let let the record show that committee member Deano and committee member Newman

[4:30] are not in attendance. >> All right. Next, we're going to um go

[4:35] get an approval for the agenda. Uh does anybody from the committee have any

[4:40] changes to the uh to the agenda? Okay, seeing none, um

[4:46] » make a motion. >> I make a motion to approve it.

[4:50] » I got to do one quick thing and then we'll take a motion. Is there any uh

[4:53] public comment just regarding the agenda itself? Nothing on the agenda.

[4:59] All right. Seeing none, can we ask for a motion to approve the

[5:06] agenda? There we go. I make a motion to approve the agenda.

[5:11] » I'll second

[5:18] it.

[5:22] » Vice Chair Branone. >> Hi.

[5:26] » Committee member Brandon >> here.

[5:29] » Committee member Foster. >> Hi.

[5:32] » Youth member Mansfield. >> Hi.

[5:34] » Committee member Newman. pass. Don't know the issue.

[5:38] » Um, approving the agenda.

[5:45] » Yes. >> Committee member Wyrick.

[5:49] » 10 time. >> Chair Love Singer.

[5:54] » I. >> Thank you. The motion passes

[5:56] unanimously. >> Okay. Caught up, Jay. All right. Um, at

[6:02] this time, we're gonna At this time, members of the public may

[6:08] comment on any item that does not appear on tonight's agenda. It is recommended

[6:12] that you keep your comments to three minutes or less under state law. Matters

[6:16] presented under this item cannot be discussed or acted upon by the traffic

[6:20] safety committee at this time. For items appearing on the agenda, the public will

[6:24] be invited to make comments at the time the item comes up for committee

[6:28] consideration. Upon being acknowledged by the chair, please step up to the

[6:31] podium and speak into the microphone and begin by stating and spelling your name.

[6:36] Is there any public comment on anything that does not appear on the agenda

[6:40] today? Okay, seeing none, we will move on to

[6:46] the consent calendar. And are there any questions about the

[6:50] consent calendar from um anybody from the committee?

[6:57] Okay, seeing none, are there any uh is there any public comment regarding the

[7:02] consent calendar?

[7:06] Okay, seeing none, is there a motion to approve the consent calendar?

[7:13] » I a motion to approve the consent calendar.

[7:16] » I second.

[7:21] » Vice Chair Branone. >> I.

[7:23] » Committee member Brennan. I >> committee member Coster.

[7:26] » Hi. >> Uh, youth member Mansfield.

[7:29] » Hi, >> committee member Newman.

[7:31] » Hi. >> You uh committee member Wyrick.

[7:34] » I and Chair Lobinger. >> I

[7:37] » thank you. The po the motion passes unanimously.

[7:41] » All right. Um, moving on. We're going to receive the minutes from the last

[7:46] meeting. >> That was part of the consent.

[7:50] » Oh, that was part Sorry. Move on. We're going to move on to the regular

[7:53] calendar. Sorry, getting ahead of myself or getting falling behind, I suppose.

[7:58] Um, okay. So, now the um on the regular calendar, we're going to review uh new

[8:04] traffic hazard reporting forms, and I'm going to turn it over to Ashley Carter

[8:09] from public works. Ashley, >> thank you, Chair Lobinger. Um, so this

[8:16] agenda item goes over new traffic hazard reporting forms that have received more

[8:20] five signatures or more um, as part of the convention that was established in

[8:24] the November 2025 traffic safety committee meeting. Um, so we did receive

[8:29] a total of 10 traffic hazard reporting forms, seven of which we covered under

[8:32] the consent calendar items. We will be reviewing the three traffic hazard

[8:36] reporting forms that have been submitted with more than five signatures. Um, as

[8:41] part of our standard process, we hosted a traffic engineering safety team

[8:45] meeting on June 10th, 2020 uh that should say 2026 and um discussed the

[8:51] Malay Street traffic hazard reporting forms, the 20 miles per hour speed limit

[8:56] reduction as well as the temporary traffic circle plans with the fire and

[9:00] police departments as well as the city traffic engineer. The 20 mile hour speed

[9:07] surveys are currently ongoing and being evaluated, worked on by GHD. um the

[9:13] presentation of those findings and the overall presentation for that will be at

[9:18] the November 2nd, 2026 traffic safety committee meeting. Following the traffic

[9:22] engineering safety team meeting on um we also had an ad hoc meeting to address um

[9:28] the broader corridors that was formed at the February traffic safety committee

[9:31] meeting and um we addressed the Malay Street traffic hazard reporting forms

[9:37] and um at that point we had had the speed survey data come in from Malay

[9:42] that was previously unavailable at the May um traffic safety committee meeting

[9:47] and so we utilize that data to evaluate the um previous traffic has a reporting

[9:52] form for speed bumps as well as the traffic has a reporting form requesting

[9:57] a closure. Um the average speed for westbound traffic was about 16 miles an

[10:03] hour and the average speed for eastbound traffic was about 15 miles an hour. The

[10:07] speed survey was done in May to account for um tra cut through traffic from the

[10:13] high school. So, it was done during school hours while school was in session

[10:17] in order to get an accurate picture of um what was going on. Um the ad hoc and

[10:23] the traffic engineering safety team reviewed this data and found that it

[10:28] didn't meet warrants for speed bumps. Um and additionally regarding the Fire

[10:33] Creek closure, um we did get a note from the fire department stating that the

[10:38] fire fire creek subdivision was approved um with access and water supply were

[10:42] evaluated together under the fire code. Um and the opening of of Malay for

[10:48] through traffic was integral to satisfying the secondary access for that

[10:52] subdivision. The road wasn't an incidental connection. It was part of

[10:56] the approved access network the subdivision depends on. Because of that,

[11:00] closing that road is not something the fire department would be comfortable

[11:03] supporting, and removing that connection would reduce the subdivision back to a

[11:08] condition that might not meet access requirements when it was approved under.

[11:12] And so, for that reason, we're recommending that those two be closed

[11:15] out. Um, after those meetings occurred, we did receive two additional traffic

[11:20] hazard reporting forms. One regarding the substandard width of Vign Street and

[11:26] the second regarding our traffic circle. The traffic circle will be evaluated

[11:30] under a separate item tonight. So that won't be covered under this agenda item.

[11:33] Um however, the Vign Street um traffic hazard reporting form was evaluated. Um

[11:39] the resident had also um started a review process with the fire department

[11:43] um in in um accompanyment of the traffic hazard reporting form. And so the fire

[11:50] department recommended that the north side of Vigna be red curbed due to the

[11:56] substandard width that to allow for additional um emergency access. So we're

[12:00] um public works has forwarded that request to the city traffic engineer.

[12:04] The city traffic engineer is in agreement and so per the Sonoma

[12:07] municipal code um we are we can red curb um narrow streets for um

[12:14] emergency access with the approval of the traffic engineer. fire department is

[12:18] also in agreement. So, we're recommending that that be completed. Um,

[12:24] and with that, those are all of the traffic hazard reporting forms that we

[12:29] have received with more than five signatures. And as part of this, our um

[12:34] this is our standard chart that we've used. Um, the committee

[12:40] should be relatively familiar with this. This goes over all of our old traffic

[12:44] hazard reporting forms that we have received and I have added some updates.

[12:47] Um, CALR has gone through and striped 7th Street at um, West Napa. However, I

[12:54] don't believe the signage has been completed yet. So, we um, have followed

[12:57] up with CALR regarding that and are hoping for an update on when the

[13:01] improvement plan will be completed in its entirety.

[13:06] Um, a couple of these things have updates um or are pending other um

[13:13] improvements like the overall citywide bicycle and pedestrian improvement plan.

[13:18] Um, and then these are the new ones with the public works recommendations if the

[13:23] committee has any questions.

[13:37] Ashley, can you scroll back up? >> Yes.

[13:41] » Right there just for one second.

[14:04] Okay. Uh any um any questions from the committee about

[14:10] this?

[14:13] » Uh from the May meeting, we had discussed on Spain Street the

[14:20] installation of the speed feedback sign. Has there been an additional speed

[14:25] survey after that last item was completed?

[14:31] » No, we have not conducted additional speed survey um after that was

[14:35] installed, but we are in the process of conducting speed surveys throughout the

[14:39] city for the 20 mph speed limit reduction.

[14:42] » Okay. Thank you. >> And just so I can just so we're all

[14:48] clear, the the three items we're looking at, Malay,

[14:53] vignette, and then the traffic circle. So the recommendation is to close out

[14:57] the Malay um traffic hazard reporting form and the other one is on Vignia

[15:04] basically >> per the fire marshal traffic engineer

[15:08] paint it red. >> Yes. And then just sorry I just realized

[15:11] that the other Malay Street one is right up here. Okay. Um it just had been

[15:15] received later so it wasn't marked >> but we do finally have the speed survey

[15:21] data to process this one. So that's why it's being prioritized tonight. Okay.

[15:25] And then uh one more question on the Spain street. Uh in the May 5th meeting,

[15:30] Chair Lobinger had asked about sidewalks and in the in front of the state

[15:36] property. You guys said you were going to look into that and see if there was

[15:40] issues there with right away and things like that. Uh what's the report back on

[15:44] that?

[15:49] » We're still looking into that. We'll get back to you on that next next meeting.

[15:53] Got it. And then I just wanted to clarify also that on Vigna Street there

[15:57] we are doing limited red curb next to adjacent immediately adjacent to the

[16:02] driveways on the street just so that people don't park too close to the

[16:05] driveway based on the width of that street.

[16:12] All right. Um is there any public comment regarding Malay or Vignya

[16:17] Street?

[16:24] Good evening everyone. My name is Elizabeth Rouse, but now it's legally

[16:28] Phillips. After three years of being married, I went to Social Security. So

[16:32] that's P I L L I S. And this is my prop for the evening, Emma, my eight-month

[16:38] old daughter. I hope everybody had a really good summer. And I want to thank

[16:42] everybody. Nice bangs, Ashley. I really like them. Um, I want to thank everybody

[16:46] again for um, looking into the Malay speed bumps for us as well as closure,

[16:51] which my fellow neighbors will be talking about. Um, I'm asking that you

[16:55] do not close the door on this just yet. While you have the data that shows that

[16:59] the average speed was 16 miles per hour, you also have the data that every

[17:04] resident on Malay Street is in agreeance that we have a speed issue on our street

[17:09] and that's per the signatures I collected towards the end of last year.

[17:13] You also know that Malay is the only street in that entire neighborhood that

[17:17] does not the only through street in that entire neighborhood that does not

[17:20] already have speed bumps like the others. We are also a more narrow street

[17:24] than the others. So, I think that poses a more an even larger safety risk.

[17:29] And while I loved having this police speed radar in front of the house uh for

[17:35] a few days, as I do believe it did help slow traffic down, I don't think it gave

[17:40] an accurate representation of what we experience on that street every single

[17:43] day. I ask that you attempt to install a more traditional survey equipment to

[17:49] collect the data that you need. I know you repeatedly ran into issues, but if

[17:53] we can still try to push for that um something that's a little bit more

[17:56] hidden, that would be really great. Um possibly one that isn't designed to slow

[18:02] people down when they see it. I want to thank the police department for sparing

[18:06] that piece of equipment for a few days. Thank you very much. And I want to thank

[18:09] you all for taking into consideration the safety of Malay Street. Thank you.

[18:17] » Thank you.

[18:26] Hello, my name is Raina. R A I N A last name Campbell will be speaking about VNA

[18:31] Street. Before I begin, committee members, please look at the physical

[18:36] packet I handed you. While I am happy the North Side Fire Lane is finally on

[18:41] tonight's agenda, public works has shown no urgency to schedule it. Furthermore,

[18:46] their plans completely leave out the critical southside curb pocket, which

[18:50] remains a severe safety issue. Because my correspondence, photos, and blueprint

[18:55] were emitted from your agenda packet, I provided this copy to ensure you have

[18:59] the actual facts. My house is located right at the

[19:03] intersection of Third Street West in Vigna, and my driveway sits on the south

[19:08] side of Vigna. I am directly impacted by the severe safety hazard. I personally

[19:13] identified this deficiency, initiated the fire department's investigation, and

[19:18] filed a THRF. As a result, the fire chief officially

[19:23] determined a fire code deficiency exists under Soma Municipal Code section

[19:28] 191230. While I am glad the fire lane is up for

[19:32] approval, the committee must direct public works to paint the entire north

[19:36] side hydrant immediately. In addition, we need a red curb on the south side

[19:41] directly to the left of my driveway. Originally, staff wanted to paint the

[19:47] south side right away as the designated fire lane instead of the north side

[19:52] hydrant with no explanation, which residents had to object to stop. Yet,

[19:58] when it came to painting the correct side and factoring in the rest of the

[20:01] red curbs, public works has dragged their feet and failed to share their

[20:06] layout and kept their engineering plans hidden. Even with the north side

[20:10] painted, our safety crisis remains unless you factor in the unpainted

[20:14] southside pocket. It measures exactly 26 feet 7 in from my driveway throat to the

[20:21] ADA ramp corner. By California state law, vehicles cannot park within 20 feet

[20:27] of a pedestrian ramp approach. That mandatory buffer leaves a mere six feet

[20:32] of legal curb space. A standard vehicle cannot physically fit in there. Living

[20:37] right at the intersection of Third Street West in Vigna, I see firsthand

[20:41] how the reduced parking from the traffic circle forces overflow traffic from the

[20:46] nearby dental offices onto our tiny narrow 24 street where drivers park from

[20:51] nearby dental offices onto our narrow 24 ft street blindly without realizing the

[20:58] hazard. Tonight I ask the committee to approve

[21:01] the agenda items with specific directives and one ensure the entire

[21:07] north side north hydrant side fire lane is painted red immediately. Paint the

[21:12] entire 26 foot 7in curb on the south side to the left of my driveway. Three,

[21:21] direct staff to give advanced notice and schedule the work after 10:00 a.m. so we

[21:26] have sufficient time to enter and exit our driveways without obstacles. And

[21:30] number four, guarantee no further construction or elements of the Third

[21:34] Street traffic project connect to Vigna Street. Thank you.

[21:41] » Thank you.

[21:50] Hi there. My name is Daniel Sinat, spelled Si N O T.

[21:56] Um, and I'm here to talk about the closing off of the end of Malay Street.

[22:02] Um, I got the

[22:05] message just now from um from public works about what the fire department had

[22:10] to say and you know I've had this immediate response in myself like oh

[22:15] well the fire department you know they're the you know they're the bosses

[22:18] so they say no then no it must be but um I have a very strong sense that there

[22:25] are practical workarounds to getting a fire truck or any other emergency

[22:30] vehicle through there um as needed. And in fact, my vision for the closure of

[22:35] the end of the street would be something that's somewhat permeable so that if

[22:37] there's some reason, you know, good reason to drive a trash truck or a

[22:42] 18-wheeler or whatever, you know, odd moment comes that a vehicle, a big

[22:47] vehicle can pull through there. Um, so, um, I would still like to keep this

[22:52] possibility open and find ways to make a really beautiful solution to the we want

[22:59] a walkable neighborhood with access as is needed, but to not compromise the

[23:06] broader vision of creating a beautiful place for people to walk. And in fact,

[23:10] in terms of surveys, I would love to see a walking survey because there's

[23:14] probably 10 times as many people, 20 times as many people walking the street

[23:18] every day as to live there. And it's a very big walking corridor. And it would

[23:22] change the quality of the neighborhood if there were no if it wasn't so

[23:28] trafficked. So that, you know, dogs are sleeping and, you know, old men are, you

[23:33] know, meandering across the street. And it creates a very different social

[23:37] moment if you're not looking for traffic because there is no traffic. So, I

[23:41] brought a little show and tell. I don't know if you guys have like a projector

[23:44] or something like that. Nope. Okay. Well,

[23:51] trust me when I say that um there are barriers like um I've seen them in

[23:57] Berkeley that are um low. The car can drive over them. Um, but you

[24:04] would be nervous to, but your car will get over it. And we would certainly have

[24:07] it engineered so that it's low enough for the cops to drive over and certainly

[24:11] low enough for trash trucks and fire trucks to get over. And so it's it's a

[24:16] wide birth for a big vehicle. Cars and bicycle, you know, cars can come up to

[24:21] it. Big sign. No, not for you. Bicycles and pedestrians, you know, come on

[24:26] through. And so we could have our cake and eat it, too. We could meet all the

[24:30] security, safety, access concerns that we have. and still have a nice walkable

[24:35] neighborhood. So that's my input. >> Thank you.

[24:49] » Uh my name is Jamie Johnson, J A Mi Johnson. Uh, I live along with my wife

[24:54] Karen Lulich at the north end of Mallay Street within a few yards of where the

[24:59] roundabout is currently where Malet uh um and Frier Creek uh meet and I'll

[25:05] present an opposing view. Um I'm pleased to hear the fire department identified

[25:09] the bottleneck issue. Um obviously that's the primary concern. I think

[25:14] there are other considerations though that are worth airing. Um the reduction

[25:18] of two escape routes is significant. I'm sure that's part of the fire

[25:22] department's deliberations. Other neighbors have raised the question

[25:25] whether that would impact our insurance costs. Um, it's an unknown as far as I'm

[25:30] concerned. Access for garbage, which uh a useful pointed out. Garbage, recycling

[25:36] trucks, street cleaners, delivery vehicles, mail trucks, um, all I believe

[25:42] would find it difficult to turn around in the at the junction as it's currently

[25:46] configured. Um, we I would say suffered through over a year of noise from the

[25:53] construction site at at uh Fifth Street West and MacArthur from the 5:00 a.m.

[26:00] Monday morning arrival of construction vehicles through the reversing alarms.

[26:05] And I have a concern that if um uh garbage trucks and the like were

[26:09] confronted with a similar need to turn around in a short space in that area,

[26:14] noise would become an issue for us as well. Um the increased traffic flows

[26:19] which would result from uh a barricade at that mark would redirect traffic down

[26:25] Frier Creek up Nukem and onto First Street West placing it in part in

[26:30] conflict with traffic that comes off of uh the high school exit from Broadway at

[26:35] Nukem there and on First Street West. Um, so there's an issue in terms of the

[26:40] traffic impact for the local area and frankly there's an inconvenience factor

[26:44] too for those of us on Frier Creek and Nukem. Uh, we can currently get to town

[26:48] by driving one block. Uh, this would divert us the length of Frier Creek, the

[26:53] length of Nukem and back down, increasing the cost, um, the time and

[26:59] the environmental impact of every trip we would take to town to do simple

[27:04] business or enjoy the amenities of the town.

[27:08] Um, so, uh, I I I hear the points. There may be workarounds. Uh, we have no

[27:15] objection to speed bumps on Malle. Sidewalks would be delightful on Malle.

[27:19] Um, but I do think we should be allowed to continue to uh, drive up and down it.

[27:23] And I think the costs of the proposed barrier are outweighed or sorry, the

[27:28] benefits are outweighed by the cost to the neighborhood. Thank you.

[27:34] » Thank you.

[27:40] Is there any other public comment regarding Malay? There we go. We got

[27:44] » Hi, Tom Conlin. Um, I'm here as an individual tonight. Uh, live just

[27:48] outside the city limits. I just want to say how excited and happy I am to see so

[27:53] many people out in Soma to talk about traffic safety. It's a good testimony to

[27:57] the work that your committee does and staff. And I want to thank the police

[28:01] department, fire department, our consulting engineer as well for the

[28:04] input to tonight's agenda. I have reviewed this list um of projects. I

[28:11] don't see any significant concerns. It looks like staff has been deliberative,

[28:15] looked through all of the input provided by the community and uh I don't have any

[28:22] concerns with this agenda item. I support staff's recommendations tonight.

[28:26] I'm I do point want to point out I it's a little ironic that like with the Malay

[28:30] Street there's many people asking for traffic calming measures on their street

[28:35] later in your agenda you have people who actually have the opportunity of traffic

[28:39] caling measures to be installed and and yet they're being opposed. So that's why

[28:43] you guys make the big bucks. So thank you for your service tonight.

[28:50] » We get we get a pay increase after tonight, right?

[28:53] » Double it.

[28:58] Hello. Um, my name is Katrina Wedell. I'm a resident of Frier Creek, right um,

[29:04] two houses in from LA. Um, and I'm happy to see my neighbors so civically engaged

[29:10] tonight. Um, I'm here to thank you for the work that you did um, surveying

[29:15] speed. um what the assessment showed is is my experience, but safety is a

[29:20] priority in the neighborhood. And so if speed bumps are determined necessary,

[29:24] fine. But a blockade puts me and my family at risk.

[29:30] Um the blockade would be between Fire Creek and Malay. And so it would mean

[29:34] that if a block was there and there was an issue, it's minutes that would impact

[29:39] my family. Um and that's not true for the residents on Malay. Um, and so I'm

[29:45] here to strongly urge that you continue with the recommendation. Again, safety

[29:51] is important. No problem with speed bumps. Um, and I also want to echo that

[29:57] blocking that off cuts us off from the heart of Soma. And I'm a new resident in

[30:02] Soma, but one of the things that I loved about this was the sense of community.

[30:07] And so to put a blockade between our neighborhood and the high school and our

[30:11] neighborhood and the town really does not um feel like the spirit that we love

[30:17] so much about this town. So in addition to the risks, there's a a disconnection

[30:23] that um hasn't proved necessary yet. So thank you for your time.

[30:30] Thank you.

[30:41] » Well, sir, you've already given your three minutes. I'll let you have one

[30:44] minute of a rebuttal just in the spirit of

[30:47] » um so the the the barrier that um barriers that I've seen barriers that

[30:52] I've seen um are more like invitations to connect as opposed to barriers to not

[30:57] connect. So they're planners with you know flowers and people on bicycles and

[31:04] and people walking and it it invites a more social connection. It's not a car

[31:08] centric connection. And it's a pedestrian centric connection. It's it's

[31:14] a big invitation to connect.

[31:21] » Okay. All right. Thank you.

[31:25] » One comment. Um I uh am Karen Lolich. Um Jamie Johnson's wife.

[31:31] » Could you spell your name, please? >> Sure. Uh L O L I C H. Karen with a K.

[31:38] And I would also like to say this is my first city council meeting and I'm

[31:42] pretty impressed with the process and the turnout and all of that. And um you

[31:48] know I I kind of wanted to I I strongly um agree with the suggestion to close

[31:55] out the Mallay um traffic forums. And I just would like to add a small thing

[32:01] because I think we've covered a lot of the big points. I walk up and down

[32:05] Mallay Street often two or three times a day and I've rarely have ever had a

[32:12] problem or felt unsafe or you know occasionally there might be a little

[32:17] traffic. It's very occasional. It's to me it's a lovely street and I know I

[32:21] don't live on there but we would know we're right at the corner of where those

[32:26] streets intersect and when we drive in we know we have to slow down because you

[32:30] can't take that culde-sac fast. So I'm not dismissing what the people on

[32:35] Malleet are experiencing. I'm just saying that it doesn't seem to be

[32:39] chronic from the vantage point that that we have. So, thank you very much.

[32:48] » Thank you. >> Hey, how are you? Uh Steve Stanfeld, 215

[32:54] Mallay Street. It's S Tan Fel. And um I just again I'm up here kind of making

[33:03] sure that we really look at the speed bumps on Mallay Street. It's it's not a

[33:08] wide street. We do have a lot of traffic that do come through there at certain

[33:12] times of the day. And um we do have a ton of walkers. Um I have a one and a

[33:20] half year old that you know we're strolling around on that street every

[33:24] day, at least three times a day. Um, so, um, to at least whatever we can do to

[33:31] slow down the traffic, um, I'm in favor for, um, I don't know the results. I

[33:39] don't know if the if the if the machine was out there at the right time of the

[33:44] year, whether we got a lot of the high school activity on that survey or not,

[33:50] but, um, I would certainly like to see us, you know, take another look at that.

[33:56] Thanks. >> Thank you.

[34:05] » Okay. Is there any Oh, do you have public comment? Oh, please come on up.

[34:10] » Hi, I'm Katie D. Young, 190 Malay Street, and I just would like to

[34:16] advocate for anything we can do to slow down traffic. If it's speed bumps, that

[34:21] would be great. Um there are a lot of young families, a lot of new babies that

[34:26] were just born in the last couple of years and it's really not safe. Uh there

[34:32] are a lot of workers that a lot of people during the day that go through

[34:35] really fast. The high school traffic is terrifying. Um we all know that we can't

[34:41] change the high school students. We could ask them to go slower, this and

[34:45] that, but I think we all know that they're probably not going to slow down.

[34:50] So, anything we could do to make it safer for our community would be greatly

[34:55] appreciated. Thank you. >> Thank you.

[35:07] Is there any more public comment on Malay or Vignia?

[35:12] Okay, seeing none, I'm going to throw it back to the committee for any comments

[35:18] or questions.

[35:26] Do you guys mind sharing a little bit about what the ad hoc was for Malay? I

[35:31] mean, I'm I'm assuming you just went over the report for

[35:35] the speed um speed tables.

[35:39] Anything anything noteworthy for those that are here tonight?

[35:47] Um it was essentially just the uh results from the speed surveys

[35:54] that we discussed. Um no real indepth discussion on plans

[36:00] or anything like that.

[36:07] » So >> just for your discussion I'm just

[36:08] pulling up the speed survey data for you guys now.

[36:11] » What's that? I just pulling up the speed survey data

[36:15] that was discussed at the ad hoc. This is attached to the agenda meeting. Um,

[36:18] and it's not displayed on your computers if you'd like to use it for your

[36:22] discussion. >> Just kind of tidbit a little bit off

[36:25] that. We did talk about the 20 mph speed limit uh proposed to in different

[36:31] various parts of Soma, which I'm in favor of.

[36:38] And then I can't remember um Frank's program with the vehicle data. Had we

[36:45] applied that to this area as well or was it just the speed survey data we had?

[36:52] Maybe uh Frank could elaborate on that. >> Yeah, the uh the connected vehicle data

[36:57] that I um have access to um really is was not definitive with regards regard

[37:05] to results. it didn't have a lot of vehicles primarily because of the

[37:10] anonymity. Um the anonym uh the process the data goes through to be anonymous

[37:15] when vehicles are entering their home driveways or private roadways or things

[37:20] like that. It truncates the data um which would be indicative that there is

[37:26] maybe not a lot of cut through traffic that is of significant distance. Um,

[37:32] it's just one of the ways. It's just some of the data doesn't show up because

[37:37] we don't take it from the way that somebody comes out of their driveway. We

[37:41] we have an anonymization process to preserve privacy. Um, other roadways in

[37:46] town, it's been fairly significant. Um, you'll see some of the results when we

[37:51] review the 20 mph speed limits um and other speed limits in town, but on this

[37:56] roadway in particular, it wasn't viable. It did not produce any

[38:01] statistically significant data. >> Thank you, Brick.

[38:08] » So, I'm So, the people who are here tonight are saying speeding is

[38:14] significant on Malay, but the survey says otherwise.

[38:21] The times that I've been out there, and it's anecdotal, so there's I don't

[38:28] see a lot of traffic. I can appreciate that high schoolers

[38:33] could could make traffic. I I even looked at that today. I was out there

[38:37] today looking and I take the neighborhood

[38:43] uh at at their word. It does I don't understand why a teenager would cut

[38:48] through there because it doesn't seem like it's going anywhere. But that's

[38:52] again I don't live there. I'm not there 24 hours a day.

[38:57] Um, the other thing I noticed about the street was

[39:02] it has a lot of what I call the poor man speed bumps. It's really not very well

[39:06] paved. Uh, and if it got paved, then that would certainly increase

[39:13] traffic just by its own nature. I so how what with the measurement the traffic

[39:19] you know the the traffic measurement the speed measurement versus citizens going

[39:26] oh the traffic's horrible it speeds crazy how do we how do we sync those or

[39:32] otherwise relate to that

[39:38] » one of the parameters that you can reflect on for the speed surveys one for

[39:42] each direction is the the miles per hour that were indicated and

[39:48] police's speed radar trailer was out there. They left it out there. We did

[39:55] not have anywhere to put our radar device because there's no telephone

[40:02] poles to catch one direction of travel. So even though this the police trailer

[40:06] was out there, it wasn't on it was just sitting on the side of the road. But we

[40:11] did attach one of our devices to it and we put another device on the other side

[40:16] where there was a pole because of the trees and the location of the poles. We

[40:20] couldn't just attach two devices to two poles. The devices were out there for

[40:23] three and a half days and recorded the speed during school of all vehicles that

[40:28] went up and down Malay Street in both directions.

[40:32] And the two the two speed limits average were 15 miles an hour and 16 miles an

[40:37] hour. And that everybody remembers when we were doing the um

[40:43] speed table location next to the Catholic cemetery on West Napa Street at

[40:49] 5th. Those speeds were 30 to 32 miles an hour on average. These are 16 and 15.

[40:58] And so I understand that people are concerned

[41:02] about cars driving too fast and I can accept that for people that live

[41:08] there and walk there. But these are the numbers and hopefully they can help you

[41:12] try to sift through it and the durations that we put the uh the devices out

[41:17] there.

[41:23] » Sorry. >> So um

[41:27] just couple of thoughts that I have. I think um the person who brought up the

[41:34] methodology of the speed survey, I think there is some validity there, right?

[41:38] With it being attached to a speed trailer, whether the device is on or not

[41:43] still grabs your attention um and could affect the data. So, that's just one

[41:48] thought I have. And then the other thought was um the fact that all the

[41:53] other streets that run the same direction in that neighborhood have

[41:57] speed bumps. You know, it is something that definitely makes me want to take

[42:02] into account the um desire to have uh speed bumps. And I'm trying to think of

[42:09] the negatives that would come from it. It's not like we're talking about what

[42:14] we did on East Napa and Fifth where it's a very welltraveled street. So, um, you

[42:22] know, just trying to to balance the data versus what the community wants and,

[42:32] um, the, you know, also putting in our

[42:38] documents that we use to help guide this stuff. So, little bit of a balancing act

[42:44] here because it doesn't truly meet the criteria, but you know, with almost

[42:50] unanimous support and even the folks who are came here and spoke out against the

[42:55] closure, um, nobody spoke out against speed bumps. So, um, just kind of a

[43:02] couple thoughts I had. >> Yeah, I'm going to piggy back off of

[43:06] what Mark said. Um, pretty much same thing what Miss Phillips brought up

[43:10] about the the the methodology, but we created the the traffic calming handbook

[43:18] as a guide, but not the end all beall. And in this case, you know, it's a guide

[43:23] for us, it's a guide for the community. Um,

[43:27] so based on the data, it says no to pretty much anything, but we're not data

[43:33] driven alone. We're also very sympathetic to what the community wants.

[43:37] Now, I for one, I walk down Frier Creek and Mallay quite a bit. Um

[43:43] I I've gone during school, after school, during the summer, and I haven't seen a

[43:48] lot of issues. Um but that being and and it would support

[43:53] the data that I'm hearing tonight. However, the fact that it is a through

[43:57] street to Frier Creek and high schoolers do have a tendency to be high schoolers

[44:02] sometimes and delivery drivers tend to be delivery drivers sometimes. I would

[44:07] oppose closing it at that at the culde-sac where Frier Creek meets Malay.

[44:10] I I I I don't see the need for that. But I would be even though the data doesn't

[44:16] support it, I would be in support of a speed bump. I think the community, the

[44:22] the folks that live on LA Street, you see it more than I do. I just walk

[44:25] through there every couple days. So, I'm of the opinion that a speed bump

[44:31] would be feasible and worth trying. So I guess my question would be can we

[44:35] install a temporary speed bump and see what the result would be and what and

[44:39] more importantly what's the cost?

[44:44] If the committee's done talking about this item certainly one of staff's tasks

[44:49] for the next meeting would be to be able to look into this and either install

[44:54] something or bring back something for the committee to review at the next

[44:59] meeting.

[45:04] The the other thing I was wondering about kind of relative to what you were

[45:08] saying and it would be interesting to hear what you would find out traffic

[45:13] cushions versus a speed table versus a speed bump. I think those are all the

[45:20] speed bumps that are there permanent as permanent can be uh because they're

[45:24] piles of asphalt, you know. So, what other options? What other arrows are in

[45:29] the quiver? >> Yeah. And the other thing, too, I just

[45:32] took a look on Google Earth and Clay and Nukem both have those speed bumps. Those

[45:36] were put in prior to this committee being formed. And so, basically, what

[45:40] sort of a an approval process they went through to install those, we we can't uh

[45:46] elaborate on, but it's something that we could definitely look into.

[45:51] » Um, just opinion here. Um considering that uh the community has talked about

[45:58] Malay for I think this is what the second or third meeting I would I would

[46:02] really like to push for us to make a decision on whatever we do next meeting

[46:07] I think um to show that there's resolution um and would would like to

[46:12] see the cost if if possible if we do if it's temporary permanent whatever what's

[46:17] the the financial impact on the budget and what's the best option long term

[46:25] Um before I forget, I don't want to leave Vignia off because I know we're

[46:30] talking about Malay, but I know Vignia um is my comment with that would be as

[46:34] long as the traffic engineer um and the fire department is as long as

[46:38] everything's within code, I'm all for painting. Um you said that we've already

[46:43] done we're starting some and I would just make the recommendation let's get

[46:47] that area up to code and as soon as we can. That would be my first

[46:51] recommendation. My second one, I agree with Shelby. Malay has been on the has

[46:55] been on a topic for a couple times now. Maybe we don't act on it tonight, but by

[47:00] next meeting, let's come up with a resolution. Let's have a couple options,

[47:04] speed bump, whatever it might be, and we can make a final resolution on our next

[47:08] meeting. That's >> two items on the item on the barrier.

[47:15] » Um I I would my thought is to consider them. I know they're two separate items,

[47:21] but consider them one and the same, but I don't hear a lot of

[47:25] It doesn't sound like there's a lot of support for a full barrier. I would not

[47:29] support that. I can say that right out the gate, but I'm definitely in favor of

[47:33] some type of some type of traffic calming measure for cars passing up and

[47:38] down Malay. >> It It seems we got three things here and

[47:41] each one deserves its own vote and resolutions, right? So, do we

[47:47] do we have a barrier or not? Do do we direct staff to come up with

[47:56] uh research relative to speed bumps to satisfy

[48:00] or to attempt to slow down traffic on the street. And then the third one is it

[48:04] feels it just even geographically it's completely separate which is V Street

[48:09] and and what to do about that. Um, so I I guess I'm making a recommendation we

[48:17] take each one one by one and go from there.

[48:22] » Do we need any formal motion? I don't think

[48:25] » Yeah, I don't think we would need a formal motion for any of those three

[48:28] items other than just the staff is obviously very aware of our

[48:30] recommendations and then we'll come to final uh resolution at next meeting. Can

[48:36] we um close out the because it's a separate line for the um barrier or the

[48:43] closing uh on Malay versus the speed bumps.

[48:46] » Yes, your recommendation. >> I would say that we should probably

[48:49] close that out um pending the speed bumps and things. If somebody

[48:56] wants to resubmit a traffic hazard reporting form at that point, then we

[49:00] can do that. Um and then we'll leave that

[49:04] um vignia. I I would agree with um Chair Lobinger that we need to get that done.

[49:11] Um and then that can come back just as a report out item. Um I forget the color

[49:16] code on that Ashley. I apologize. Um but if hopefully by I believe it's November

[49:22] 2nd, if that gets completed, you guys can report out that that's completed. We

[49:26] can close it out at that point. Um and then come back with a couple of options

[49:32] for Malay um as far as traffic calming whether it be speed bumps, cushions,

[49:37] tables, whatever um Frank and the GHD folks might uh recommend and then uh we

[49:44] can make a decision at that point on uh November second.

[49:49] » So one one question about vignette. So I are are we suggesting then that there

[49:57] are two locations, one on the north that gets red curved as well as a significant

[50:03] portion on the south part by Third Street.

[50:08] Is that what >> um so I believe the recommendation is

[50:11] currently for the entirety of the north side to be red curbed and then a pocket

[50:16] red curved on the south side to accommodate driveway access because it

[50:19] is quite narrow and the street is narrow.

[50:22] » Yeah, it so then the only the I've got no problem with it. It makes

[50:28] sense to me but uh that's going to make parking there even

[50:34] tougher for the residents because they mostly houses with car garages if

[50:39] everybody's got two cars or more. >> Um we will also be noticing the

[50:42] residents prior to the work being done. So um whether that's done mail or just

[50:46] posting notices. Um we'll definitely be doing that to both the um residents as

[50:51] well as the property owners if that differs.

[50:56] » Okay. So I think it's Vignia up to code and try and make it a priority. What we

[51:00] can't direct public works but we can make a suggestion to to get Vignia up to

[51:04] code. And as for Malay, the two separate issues, I I don't think we see a need to

[51:09] close the street, but we would definitely like some wrecks on um on

[51:14] traffic cal the next meeting. So, we can close this item out for good. All right,

[51:18] I think we're good. Anybody? All right, let's let's close this item out

[51:26] and we will move on to item 4.2, to the review of the traffic circle on Third

[51:33] Street West at Perkins. And I will turn it back over to Ashley.

[51:50] Thank you, Chair Lobinger. So, today we have prepared a PowerPoint to go over

[51:56] this. Um, So we will be addressing the overall broader citywide bicycle and

[52:02] pedestrian improvements project as which of which the third street west bike

[52:06] boulevard is a component of as well as the traffic circle element which is

[52:10] included on the bike boulevard. So just brief road map. Oh I think I have the

[52:15] wrong my bad. Let me turn that off for a

[52:18] second. Sorry I have the wrong version. I'm

[52:22] gonna go ahead and put the right version up. Apologies.

[52:30] What happens when you have too many versions of the same thing?

[52:42] Okay, this is right.

[52:48] Okay, perfect. Is it

[53:02] is not.

[53:11] Okay. Okay. So, just a brief road mapap for

[53:14] everyone. We're going to be going over all of the elements of the citywide

[53:18] bicycle and pedestrian improvements project. the relevant background

[53:21] information, public feedback perceived, just going over what a bike boulevard

[53:25] is, the third street west boulevard elements, the temporary traffic circle

[53:30] at Third Street West and Perkins, engineering analysis, renderings and

[53:34] plans of the overall traffic calming elements that are proposed,

[53:37] alternatives, as well as lining out next steps, and then we'll be open for

[53:41] questions. So, this graphic we have here is a map

[53:46] of overall project. This is supplied by Sonoma County Transit climate agencies.

[53:51] And so this gives a very good representation of the overall project.

[53:55] Um the temporary traffic circle is one element of a larger project. It's not a

[54:00] standalone project that was initiated by the city. And so that is why we're going

[54:03] to go over um spend a few minutes going over all of the elements so that we can

[54:06] be totally on the same page about this. Um the citywide bicycle and pedestrian

[54:11] improvements project is also known as CIP6 and it's funded by the goma tax

[54:16] measure as a competitive project under the build bikeways and pathways program

[54:21] with the Sonoma County Transit and Climate Authorities administering the

[54:24] funds. The GOMA tax measure as a competitive project is funding 1.6

[54:29] million of a construction allocation. The city match is 227,000 for

[54:34] construction. Um, we are also fronting all of the costs for design.

[54:39] There are constraints to this funding. It can only be used for projects that

[54:42] are in the city's active transportation plan or comprehensive transportation

[54:46] plan. The city recently adopted an updated active transportation plan in

[54:50] January of 2025. The original purpose of this project when submitted in 2021 was

[54:56] to create a high quality bicycle and pedestrian network, provide a safe and

[55:01] well-maintained transportation infrastructure for pedestrians and

[55:04] bicyclists, and focus on strategies that >> I'd like to close that door.

[55:09] » Um that support a walkable community and prioritize funding for zero mission

[55:14] transportation strategies. So the full scope of this project includes elements

[55:19] that I'm going to call out on this map. So we've got a raised crosswalk at Nero

[55:22] Sarah Drive bike path crossing crossing improvements at Fifth Street West. Bike

[55:26] path crossing. Pedestrian upgrades at Fifth Street West and Studley Street.

[55:31] Bike path crossing improvements at Fifth Street First Street West. Bike path

[55:35] crossing improvements at First Street East. Bike path crossing improvements at

[55:38] Second Street East. And then Seventh Street West and West Main Street

[55:42] crosswalk improvements as well as the Third Street West by Boulevard.

[55:48] So, the background and public process for this um we have one of the reasons

[55:53] that we're we pulled this item out. We did get a traffic hazard reporting form

[55:57] for this particular element. Um and again reiterating that the traffic

[56:02] circle is not a standalone project but part of the larger project and the

[56:06] larger project originally had a different scope. This was presented at

[56:10] the October 7th, 2025 special traffic safety committee meeting as an amendment

[56:15] to the overall project. Because the funds are administered through Sonoma

[56:18] County Transit Agency, there was a process that we had to go through in

[56:23] order to amend the scope to remove the Sasserini school trail, which was

[56:27] originally what was included in the project scope. So, when we were looking

[56:31] for replacements, we did review the active transportation plan by

[56:35] facilities, multi-use paths, and crossing enhancements. And we had a few

[56:39] criteria that we were evaluating this against. The pro the selected project

[56:43] needed to have um no substantial rightway issues. Um not be a feasibility

[56:48] or planning study as our um allocation was specifically for construction phase.

[56:51] So the end of the at the end of all this we needed to build something. Um and

[56:57] then the the proposed replacement for the project grant funding um also needed

[57:02] to be commensurate with the scope of the Sasserini trail project and we also

[57:06] wanted to avoid CALR rightway. The third street west bike boulevard is identified

[57:12] in the updated 2025 uh trans ATP um as project 191 and is a tier three

[57:18] priority. Tier one being the highest priority. This project is part of the

[57:23] Metropolitan Transportation Commission regional active transportation network.

[57:27] And the bike boulevard would connect the Frier Creek Trail which runs from Frier

[57:31] Creek Drive over West MacArthur Street and dead ends at Aurora Way to Third

[57:35] Street West and West Main Street at the entrance of General Blade's home where

[57:38] the Soma bike path picks up. Um there is not currently a north south connector to

[57:44] the two main bike trails which is why we um were looking at this. Additionally,

[57:48] in September of 2025, the also received a final complete streets safety

[57:53] assessment from UC Berkeley's safet program. Um, SAP had applied for this

[57:58] program in 2024 and were selected in early 2025. This included a consultant

[58:03] from the safe safet program visiting the city and exploring problem areas as well

[58:08] as a comprehensive review of all planning and policy documents in place

[58:12] including the ATP. The third street west bike boulevard was identified as an

[58:16] ideal location. Um while it was ranked year three in the ATP, we believe that

[58:21] this recommendation in the report rep prioritized it. This project had also

[58:26] met the criteria we laid out. It was not on Calrance rightway. It is not a

[58:31] planning or feasibility project and it is a commensurate alternative to the

[58:35] Saster School Trail. There were no significant rightway issues that could

[58:39] potentially delay this process. So as part of switching this out, this

[58:44] included several county level meetings. So, we brought this to the special

[58:48] October meeting for traffic safety. We then brought it again to the technical

[58:53] advisory committee meeting on October 23rd. Um the citizens advisory committee

[58:58] meeting on October 27th and then again final board approval for Sonoma County

[59:02] Transit Agency board approval on December 8th, 2025. Um it was again

[59:07] brought back to the traffic safety meeting February as a report out and

[59:10] then May as an update with the traffic circle.

[59:14] Um and then it was also brought to city council on April 15th as part of a

[59:18] contract amendment with GHD, our design engineers. And then um after that the

[59:23] the temporary traffic circle installation was completed on July 9th.

[59:29] Public feedback received um the majority of the feedback we have gotten has been

[59:36] um kind of contained within these three bullet points. safety and driver

[59:40] behavior, vehicle access and maneuverability, as well as our overall

[59:44] public outreach process as it relates to this temporary traffic circle.

[59:49] Um the uh we have also received positive uh

[59:54] supportive feedback. They've included support for additional traffic calming

[59:57] on Third Street West. Um residents reporting that they feel more

[1:00:00] comfortable walking on uh or bicycling with children along the corridor. Um and

[1:00:04] interest from residents in other neighborhoods and similar traffic

[1:00:07] calming treatments. Um the third street west bike boulevard and its elements

[1:00:11] were considered through multiple publicly noticed meetings as we just

[1:00:13] laid out and as the project uh progressed through planning, funding and

[1:00:18] design. The project has also moved on a relatively expedited schedule associated

[1:00:22] with grant funding design and anticipated construction timelines. Um

[1:00:26] we addressed this I think at a couple other meetings but as you know our

[1:00:30] construction allocation with SCTCA we are eligible to draw down from that this

[1:00:34] fiscal year which essentially means we need to get this project out to bid. And

[1:00:37] so that was part of why we had a criteria for evaluating the overall

[1:00:42] replacements for the Sasarini school trail. Essentially, were we going to be

[1:00:45] able to do something that was going to accommodate this schedule as well as

[1:00:50] getting it through all of the publicly noticed meetings as well.

[1:00:54] Um, feedback received following the installation of traffic's traffic circle

[1:00:57] indicates that a number of nearby residents and other community members

[1:01:00] did not feel that they had sufficient awareness of proposed improvement or the

[1:01:04] opportunity to provide input before the temporary installation had occurred. We

[1:01:08] recognize this concern and while the project proceeded through the applicable

[1:01:12] public meeting and approval processes, the response to the temporary

[1:01:15] installation demonstrates the value of a more direct project specific

[1:01:19] communication when introducing transportation treatments that may be

[1:01:22] unfamiliar to the community. And we will incorporate lessons from this experience

[1:01:26] into outreach for future transportation projects.

[1:01:31] And moving on, what is a bike boulevard? Um the overall bike boulevard is a

[1:01:36] street designed to prioritize non-vehicle travel while maintaining

[1:01:39] local vehicle access. The goal would be to um introduce traffic calming measures

[1:01:44] to cultivate a lower stress environment for people who are walking, biking, and

[1:01:48] rolling down that street. The it is a shared facility. So there are no shared

[1:01:53] bike lanes. It um and in order if we did want to accommodate bike lanes, it would

[1:01:59] result in a significant loss of parking. So, we wanted to prioritize that, which

[1:02:04] is part of why we went um for a bike boulevard.

[1:02:08] Um this again fits with the overall theme of the project, which was to

[1:02:12] create a high quality bicycle and pedestrian network, provide a safe and

[1:02:15] well-maintained transportation infrastructure for pedestrians and bike

[1:02:18] bicyclists, and focus on strategies that support a walkable community, and

[1:02:22] prioritize funding for zero emission strategies. Um bike boulevards are also

[1:02:26] more ideal on a street with a lower average daily traffic volume. We're

[1:02:30] estimating Third Street West is probably about under 2,000 average daily traffic.

[1:02:36] Um, so this, you know, varies. A comparison would be West Bane, which is

[1:02:39] in, you know, 10,000 to 15,000 average daily traffic. West Napa is probably

[1:02:43] around two 20,000. Um, and so that was also taken into consideration with that

[1:02:50] selection. So, we are also going to go over all of

[1:02:54] the traffic calming elements that are in the Third Street West Bike Boulevard.

[1:02:58] This is what was currently approved under the special October 7th traffic

[1:03:03] safety committee meeting and has been approved by Snow County Transit Agency.

[1:03:06] So this includes um painted curb extensions on Third Street West up to

[1:03:10] West Napa Street. Painted and curb extensions. Um these are what we have

[1:03:15] also installed on West Bain Street. So residents should be relatively familiar

[1:03:19] with this traffic calming element. Um speed cushions on Third Street West

[1:03:23] between Westbane Street and West Napa Street. Speed cushions on Third Street

[1:03:26] West between West Napa and Robinson Street. Traffic Circle at the

[1:03:30] intersection of Perkins Street and Third Street West. Painted curb extensions,

[1:03:34] new crosswalks, and reversing straw control from Third Street West where it

[1:03:37] currently is to the proposed on Andre Street. And then painted curb

[1:03:41] extensions, new crosswalks and reversing stall control on Third Street West,

[1:03:45] where currently is to Benton Court Street, which is proposed.

[1:03:49] So all of this is supposed to work together in tandem to create an overall

[1:03:54] traffic calming out feel vibe for this street in order for it to be a bike

[1:03:59] boulevard shared facility.

[1:04:04] So, the temporary Third Street West um and Perkins Street traffic circle. Um we

[1:04:09] did this temporary installation to evaluate how the intersection functions

[1:04:13] under everyday conditions while the project team finalizes the permanent

[1:04:17] design. During this period, city staff, project engineers, public safety

[1:04:20] personnel, and community all had an opportunity to experience the

[1:04:24] intersection, and those observations are being evaluated alongside engineering

[1:04:28] considerations to help inform the final design. The proposed um permanent

[1:04:35] installation does differ slightly from the temporary traffic circle in that it

[1:04:39] is going to be mountable, and we'll go over that with the AI renderings later.

[1:04:44] Um, and I want to preface that though they're AI rendering, so this is not um

[1:04:49] supposed to give you an idea of what it's supposed to be like. Um, and then

[1:04:52] also just to clarify the roundabout versus a traffic circle. Roundabouts are

[1:04:57] very heavily uti utilized in high congestion areas. An example is um what

[1:05:01] we have outside of the valley on Arnold Drive and Boyce Boulevard or what we

[1:05:05] also are the SCTCA and um CALR recently installed on 121 and 116. They are built

[1:05:12] to convey um high volumes of vehicles and there are accommodations for that

[1:05:16] like locating crosswalks. The traffic circles exhibit a similar stop control

[1:05:21] to a four-way stop and it's not meant to alleviate congestion. I just want want

[1:05:24] to highlight that because um a lot some of the public feedback is also kind of

[1:05:29] questioning the placement for this and citing some higher volume streets and so

[1:05:33] just want to clarify the difference between the traffic circle and the

[1:05:36] roundabout.

[1:05:40] So the engineering analysis um we did surveys before installation and after

[1:05:45] installation. The temporary traffic circle is showing that

[1:05:50] vehicles are slowing down. The 85th percentile dropped from 24 miles an hour

[1:05:55] to 19 miles per hour. It's about a 5 mile per hour drop which is not

[1:05:58] insignificant. Um the highest recorded speed dropped from 43 miles an hour to

[1:06:03] 32 miles an hour. Um and so this data al shows that it is meeting the traffic

[1:06:08] caling goal. Um, but the permanent design should address how the

[1:06:12] intersection functions for all users. So speed is not the only metric we're going

[1:06:16] to be using to um review this and qualify whether or not it's successful.

[1:06:24] So again, we're just going to go through brief roadmap refresher. We This is um

[1:06:28] one of my lengthier presentations. So, just want to go over um what we've

[1:06:31] currently covered, which are the project elements, background information, public

[1:06:35] feedback received, um what a bike boulevard is, and the bike elements that

[1:06:40] are elements that are included in the third street west bike boulevard. Now,

[1:06:43] we're going to move forward through the renderings, plans that we currently

[1:06:47] have, possible alternatives, and next steps.

[1:06:52] So, this is the AI rendering that um chat GPT was super helpful in helping me

[1:06:57] out with this. Um I Just want to have super disclaimer on this that the sign

[1:07:01] is not to plan, but this was this was put together to give the traffic

[1:07:06] committee and um residents an idea of what the permanent is going to look like

[1:07:10] based on the plan set that we received from the project team. Um it is going to

[1:07:15] be mountable. It does definitely differ from the uh temporary installation. The

[1:07:20] temporary installation is not mountable. that can cause problems for you know it

[1:07:24] can appear that it cause problems with larger vehicles because you they would

[1:07:28] be able to go over this in the permanent. So just want to highlight

[1:07:31] that that there is a difference between what's currently installed and this AI

[1:07:35] rendering which also just take it with a grain of salt.

[1:07:41] These are the traffic circle plans that we received from GHD as part of our

[1:07:45] overall plan set. And then I just also want to highlight included in the agenda

[1:07:49] item are the plan set for the entire bike boulevard. Um and so we are going

[1:07:54] to call out element snippets of this but if you want a whole review of that that

[1:07:58] is included in your agenda packet as an attachment in addition to the traffic

[1:08:03] hazard reporting form that was submitted.

[1:08:05] This goes over all of the elements that we have here. And I do want to highlight

[1:08:10] that we have red curve here. Um the loss of parking was noted. Um, but also just

[1:08:15] to highlight under the daylighting law AB413, there is no parking within 20 ft

[1:08:19] of the crosswalk marked or unmarked. We did a presentation for traffic safety in

[1:08:24] August of 24. This is what led to the midblock crossings on the plaza. So, um,

[1:08:29] parking that close to the crosswalk is, um, citable for ticketable and

[1:08:36] enforceable with or without the red curve. Um, but for the plans do call it

[1:08:40] the red curve here. I just wanted to highlight that um, While this is

[1:08:44] installed on the traffic circle plans, um residents actually should not be

[1:08:49] parking there because it's not. And then um here's another AI rendering

[1:08:56] of speed cushions. Again, this is not exactly to plan. This is just to give

[1:09:00] residents, um kind of an idea or a feel of what the proposed improvement is.

[1:09:08] And then we have that those proposed currently in two different sections. We

[1:09:12] have those on Third Street West, between Spain Street and Napa Street, and then

[1:09:16] between Banchero and Robinson currently in those snippets of the plants that are

[1:09:20] included.

[1:09:23] These are the speed cushion details and the markings leading up to the speed

[1:09:29] cushions. Currently, they are modular rubber speed cushions.

[1:09:35] The intersection improvements, we also discussed the painted bullouts on Third

[1:09:39] Street West at West Napa, as well as West Andreas. This shows painted

[1:09:43] crosswalks and reverse stop control.

[1:09:48] And pretty much the same thing here on Bon Court.

[1:09:55] So alternatives to consider um would be additional speed cushions

[1:10:00] throughout the roadway. So the current proposal includes two. So, we would be

[1:10:03] adding to that additional stop sign possibly at Perkins Third Street West, a

[1:10:08] four-way stop at Andrex, four-way stop at Benton Court. Um, right now we're

[1:10:12] reversing the the proposal includes reversing the um the stop control, which

[1:10:18] is essentially going to create a throughway for West or Third Street

[1:10:21] West. So, that's part of why implementing the traffic circle and

[1:10:25] evaluating all of it as a whole um is important. But there are alternatives

[1:10:30] that can um provide a similar traffic calming effect. Um various other traffic

[1:10:34] caling elements, we can do ballards at the intersection improvements, painted

[1:10:37] pullouts or um center lines driving which um can all be traffic caling

[1:10:42] elements. And then next steps for our project u

[1:10:47] we'll re reevaluate the third street west bike boulevard project elements

[1:10:51] following traffic safety committee and community feedback incorporate lessons

[1:10:55] learned and inform possible design alternatives. revise with the the design

[1:10:59] with project engineers if needed and um get the project out to bid as soon as

[1:11:04] design is finalized. The temporary traffic circle is going to be removed um

[1:11:09] soon. The idea behind the installation was that it's only going to be up until

[1:11:12] the slurry seal project started as part of our capital projects update. we do go

[1:11:17] over um just kind of an overview schedule of that work is anticipated to

[1:11:21] start in the next few weeks and so we the traffic circle is going to come out

[1:11:26] um shortly and so um just want to highlight that that was addressed in the

[1:11:30] initial plan but um just to reiterate the plan is for that to be removed

[1:11:36] as per the plan that was lined out in May

[1:11:41] question.

[1:11:45] Thank you, Ashley. Um I have a

[1:11:49] well at least one, not more, but um you mentioned uh Andrew and Bettton Court.

[1:11:54] The uh part of the bike boulevard would be addressing those intersections as

[1:11:58] well. Third West at Andrew and Bettin Court. Um there's been suggestions of

[1:12:02] four-way stops, reversing the stops, or maybe leaving it alone. Is we haven't

[1:12:08] landed on anything yet, have we? Or are we leaning towards switching the stop

[1:12:13] signs? In other words, and people driving on Andrew and Bettton Court

[1:12:16] would stop, Third Street would not. >> Yeah. And in the current plans,

[1:12:23] which include the traffic circle, reversing stop control from third to the

[1:12:29] side from the side streets to third was the plan.

[1:12:33] » Now, if we take the traffic circle away, we would look at the intersections again

[1:12:37] in conjunction with losing the ability to slow cars down at that intersection.

[1:12:42] And so effectively, Benton Court and Andros are both

[1:12:49] four-way stops when you take the dips into consideration. Cars traveling east

[1:12:54] west have to really slam on their brakes or they're going to hit their oil pan.

[1:12:58] So

[1:13:03] » basically, um, putting stop signs out there will

[1:13:08] probably have little effect on the east west traffic. And so if we turn it into

[1:13:12] a four-way stop, one of the benefits of doing that is it gives bicycles

[1:13:17] basically as much priority as cars because as you come up to a stop sign,

[1:13:23] the car comes up to a stop sign, they're both going to recognize each other's

[1:13:27] position and proceed properly. Whereas if you only have two-way stop control

[1:13:32] there, it would it could be uh a a little pro semi-proatic for somebody on

[1:13:38] a bicycle. So,

[1:13:42] it all needs to be looked at in conjunction. And once again, um you

[1:13:46] know, staff's presentation's concluded and I just want to emphasize that one of

[1:13:51] the goals of the meeting tonight is to and Ashley's presentation appropriately

[1:13:56] framed that. It's to let the traffic committee know that there are

[1:14:01] alternatives that can be considered tonight. And we're going to be promoting

[1:14:06] discussion and feedback. And feedback to staff is what we're hoping to get in the

[1:14:10] form of taking all the results of what's talked about here tonight and um having

[1:14:17] a a good discussion about it.

[1:14:23] » Any any other uh questions from the committee?

[1:14:29] » I just just a point of clarification. So this the money from the grant has to be

[1:14:35] spent before the end of the year. >> No, that the money does not need to be

[1:14:40] spent before the end of the year, but we do want to be mindful about how we move

[1:14:44] this project forward because it's only one element of the overall project. Um,

[1:14:48] and it's also takes a very considerable amount of time to process an amendment

[1:14:54] to the scope. Um, so while the money doesn't necessarily need to be expended

[1:14:59] this year, we do have a construction allocation this year and we would have

[1:15:04] to justify not moving forward with that with Sonoma County Transit Agency and it

[1:15:11] could possibly be a major grant amendment and reflect the timing and

[1:15:15] process it took to remove the Sasarini school trail and add this in. So, no, we

[1:15:21] don't have to spend it all this year. We don't anticipate that we're going to

[1:15:24] spend it all this year. It's a big project. Um almost 1.8 million when you

[1:15:28] consider the city match. However, we do have to timing into consideration. Um,

[1:15:33] we do have all of the appropriate paperwork filed with Sonoma County

[1:15:36] Transit Agency to draw down now. >> Okay. So, sorry, just want to clarify

[1:15:42] this too. So, if if an amendment is made, is that like what what defines

[1:15:48] that? Can we make small changes here or do you have to bring everything that we

[1:15:53] are >> we have? Yes. Um, so it is a competitive

[1:15:58] Let me just go back here. So, there's two different types of amendments that

[1:16:01] you can make to this project. A major amendment, which is what we did with the

[1:16:04] Third Street West Bike Boulevard, removing the Sasarini School Trail,

[1:16:08] adding in the Third Street West Bike Boulevard, or a minor amendment. Minor

[1:16:12] amendments do not have to go through the whole process. Unfortunately, that is

[1:16:15] not up to us. That's up to Snow County Transit Agency as the administration of

[1:16:20] the funds. The reason that the pol the the policy is um was is implemented is

[1:16:25] because this is a competitive project and so we submitted all of this in 2021

[1:16:30] and funds were selected based on the project um that was selected

[1:16:35] essentially. And so um Sonoma County Transit Agency is implementing this in

[1:16:39] order to make sure that the projects um that the board has some say over the the

[1:16:46] major amendments. So the timeline for a major amendment is really kind of

[1:16:49] dependent on one rescoping two um the process. So the process um depending on

[1:16:56] if it's major which is again to county transit agency could either be approval

[1:17:01] at the technical advisory committee meeting which happens monthly or if it's

[1:17:05] a major amendment would follow the same process as what we currently did which

[1:17:08] is three um publicly noticed meetings and I just also want to highlight that

[1:17:13] we would not um bring an amendment for um a fully designed project if it didn't

[1:17:21] get approved. Right? So that's part of it needs to be able to be put back on

[1:17:26] track if that makes sense. They're approving the concept and we're not

[1:17:29] going to approve a contract amendment for a design if the amendment isn't

[1:17:34] approved by the administering agency.

[1:17:40] » So I do have a question, maybe you've covered it and I just missed it. If the

[1:17:45] traffic circle is on the dock to be potentially taken out, how does that

[1:17:52] impact the rest of the plan since it's part of a larger

[1:17:57] scope? Is there a domino effects like it's just going to start to affect

[1:18:01] everything? >> No. Um, so this it was approved as this

[1:18:04] particular project element. Um, so we would bring the update to Sonoma County

[1:18:09] Transit Agency and given that we would have a replacement traffic calming

[1:18:13] effect whether that's four-way stop signs or

[1:18:16] what have you. Um hopefully they would treat that as a um a minor amendment

[1:18:20] which I have every faith that they would because we're not removing the bike

[1:18:24] boulevard. We're not drastically changing the project. Um but we are

[1:18:28] removing a traffic element element would have to replace it with something that

[1:18:32] could accommodate commensurate results.

[1:18:37] So, if I'm hearing you correctly and I that this the the traffic circle would

[1:18:44] we would think would be treated as a minor amendment. So, it wouldn't need to

[1:18:47] go through the whole process. It sounds like major amendments are the entire

[1:18:51] projects themselves for the most part. I'm sure there are plenty of major

[1:18:55] amendments in larger projects. So, as a committee tonight, we're going to be we

[1:19:01] it sounds like we're going to be exploring other options outside of a

[1:19:05] traffic circle, but knowing that we're we assuming it's a

[1:19:11] minor amendment, we wouldn't have to make a recommendation tonight.

[1:19:17] » Correct. The action item that is listed on the agenda item is specifically to

[1:19:22] elicit feedback. We'll incorporate the feedback into the design and then move

[1:19:27] forward appropriately. Um, so everything would need to be vetted through the

[1:19:31] project engineer as well as the traffic engineer which are both represented by

[1:19:36] GHD but are different people. I also want to highlight that the project

[1:19:39] engineer is on Zoom currently and is available for questions.

[1:19:44] » Awesome. Um, Frank, would you be willing to just kind of give us an overview of

[1:19:54] or maybe the project engineers the better person. But if we were to look at

[1:20:02] removing the traffic circle as a component of the overall plan,

[1:20:10] what the downstream effects are and what specifically

[1:20:15] you would recommend as far as efficacy of slowing traffic

[1:20:21] uh might be included in that. So whether that be more cushions or you know things

[1:20:27] like that. Do we put the paddles in the middle of the road, four-way stops, you

[1:20:32] know, all that. Just kind of your vision with this being in your wheelhouse of

[1:20:37] take that component away. What the rest of the project might look like to still

[1:20:44] have the same efficacy of slowing uh vehicular traffic.

[1:20:50] » Yeah. Yeah. Excellent. Um and I will say that uh while the project engineer is on

[1:20:55] the phone, we have conversed on this as well to be able to give you some some

[1:21:00] thoughts. Um so the the entirety of the project as as Ashley had indicated from

[1:21:05] Spain Street down to um Benton Court, actually a little further than Benton

[1:21:09] Court, the next block. Um those elements, the the one that really was

[1:21:15] kind of critical was the the traffic circle, right? it had a a big influence

[1:21:19] especially as we were trying to change the condition at Andrix and Benton Court

[1:21:25] to accommodate that that directional change in the stop signs. Right. So um

[1:21:31] north of the traffic or north of uh uh u the traffic circle location

[1:21:40] » Perkins. Thank you. I was just drawing a complete blank. I had the other two in

[1:21:44] my head. uh north of Perkins, uh there's already two, as identified, two speed

[1:21:50] hump arrays up in that portion. Um given the removal of the traffic circle, we

[1:21:55] probably given the distance between Perkins and Napa, we'd probably put

[1:22:01] another speed hump in that section, equally spacing those between Third

[1:22:06] Street or Perkins and Napa. I think that will probably help slow the same way

[1:22:12] that we saw the reduction in speeds with the third street traffic circle. We saw

[1:22:16] that 5 mph reduction, leaving that speed bump so far away, I'd go ahead and add

[1:22:22] an additional one. And then with regard the uh both the two-way stop

[1:22:27] intersections, Andrex and Perkins, reversing those stop signs would not be

[1:22:31] appropriate given not having the speed reductions that we were anticipating.

[1:22:36] And as Ashley indicated, um, all of the elements people do slow having the

[1:22:42] always stop at that intersection. And I did say, um, again, we've had many of

[1:22:47] conversations about stop stop warrants. Um, there is addition and when that's

[1:22:52] engineering judgment for the sanctity of the project and reversing given the

[1:22:58] speeds that Andrex has because of the swale and the uh, it does cause a little

[1:23:03] bit of indecision, right? cars are slowing where they would typically go

[1:23:06] through that intersection at speed whatever that posted speed is. They

[1:23:10] would be going through there and that would allow more gaps. Having everybody

[1:23:14] slow doesn't create the adequate gaps that we would like for a bike boulevard.

[1:23:19] So that's where I am with the allway stop condition. It gives not only

[1:23:23] cyclists but everybody approaching that intersection the same bite at the apple

[1:23:27] to cross it. um facilitating the bike traffic is the primary um recommend or

[1:23:33] opportunity that exists. Um if you chose not to do those either changing the stop

[1:23:40] signs to an all-way stop or even leaving them the way they are, that would again

[1:23:45] not be as promoting of the bike boulevard. Um but probably look to try

[1:23:51] and do some additional speed humps probably in the block south of Herkins

[1:23:57] and then the south of Benton Court as well. We just we need to get those

[1:24:01] speeds down and the traffic circle did that accommodate it, but again we we've

[1:24:06] heard what what the concerns are. So we would look towards additional traffic

[1:24:10] calming in the way of speed humps. the allway stop really in my opinion kind of

[1:24:16] does everything we're looking for those intersections um the additional speed

[1:24:20] hump does help um so that kind of pulls it together um

[1:24:28] Mike what am I forgetting >> so just to clarify I think what I'm

[1:24:31] hearing is that one of the potential recommendations

[1:24:35] to circumvent the removal of the traffic circle and come up with commensurate

[1:24:40] speedcomming measures ers would be to have four-way stop control potentially

[1:24:46] at Benton Court and four-way stop control at Andros in addition to a speed

[1:24:51] bump north of Perkins so that we're dividing those three speed bumps that

[1:24:56] are currently shown on the project plans in three equal segments more or less.

[1:25:01] » Yeah, it'd probably be somewhere in the vicinity of Vigna. um just if you look

[1:25:05] at that distance and the reason is that the same thing happens between Napa and

[1:25:09] West Spain is they're not full intersections. So T intersections do not

[1:25:14] have as much of an impact on traffic, people going all the way across and so

[1:25:18] we have that along the shopping center. So Third Street from Napa down to

[1:25:21] Perkins. It's there's three T intersections, but we would equally put

[1:25:27] in those speed humps in that area there as well between Perkins and

[1:25:31] » and that would be significantly less expensive I would imagine

[1:25:36] like four-way stop signs, things like that in replacement, which is probably

[1:25:40] good. Reallocate this money somewhere else.

[1:25:43] » Okay. Just one quick question. We were talking about four-way stops at Benton

[1:25:47] Court, uh, Andrew, and additional speed humps or speed cushion. Did you would

[1:25:53] there also be a four-way at Perkins? Just just to be clear,

[1:25:56] » no. No. Okay. >> Um, I'm just I'm just curious with the

[1:26:02] recent feedback from what's currently happened, do we have a report from PD,

[1:26:07] um, chief cutting or fire on recommendations?

[1:26:17] I don't technically have a recommendation. We received a lot of the

[1:26:20] same uh feedback that I think you guys have seen. Uh we've spent a good bit of

[1:26:24] time out there observing the the roundabout temporary roundabout that's

[1:26:28] in there now. Um and we've seen some um confused driving is what I would say.

[1:26:34] When we're present, the driving is is very different when we're present

[1:26:39] because we're in marked cars. But um I've watched it in unmarked car as well

[1:26:42] and I've seen the same circumstances. I don't have a a recommendation for what

[1:26:46] the best is. I think I would support what uh what you've heard here tonight.

[1:26:50] I think those are probably the best ideas.

[1:26:57] » A question about the um the final uh traffic circle which you had the

[1:27:04] picture of. How is that different or how will conceivably will it be different

[1:27:10] than what is there now? I understand one of the things is that it's going to be

[1:27:15] able to be passed driven over and was so maybe you could elaborate on that a

[1:27:21] little bit.

[1:27:24] » The temporary install is um using temporary material. So it was in it was

[1:27:28] installed with the intention to be removed. That was the what we had

[1:27:32] initially lined out and that was the goal in mind with material selected. So

[1:27:37] the m the what's currently out there you cannot drive over. There are like um

[1:27:43] sign poles basically um is essentially what they are which

[1:27:48] differs from the permanent plan which is to create something mountable. Um, so

[1:27:54] you you cannot currently drive over what is installed out there. And again, that

[1:27:58] is because it was always meant to be temporary. It was not meant to be

[1:28:02] permanent. The idea was to give people a chance to weigh in and let us know what

[1:28:08] they think. And I think they certainly have. Um, but that's why it differs from

[1:28:13] the permanent. >> And I mean, is that is that part of what

[1:28:18] the problem is right now is that it is a temporary and people

[1:28:24] are facing it and that you know with these challenges.

[1:28:28] » Yeah, that could be leading to a little bit of the issue with the bigger trucks

[1:28:32] and this will the temporary will be down very shortly and so it won't be a

[1:28:38] problem for long but the permanent would not have that issue.

[1:28:43] So, I was out there today and saw I've seen the videos.

[1:28:50] I appreciate that. I was there for more than an hour and

[1:28:55] there was a FedEx ground truck making his rounds out there. It's the largest

[1:28:59] panel van FedEx has on the road and he easily navigated going northbound on

[1:29:06] Third Street. He easily navigated going uh east on Perkins and then coming back

[1:29:14] on Perkins, he made a left going southbound

[1:29:19] on uh on Third Street. So, um and what I particularly appreciated

[1:29:27] about it is watching UPS and FedEx trucks race through town. He was well

[1:29:32] under the speed limit when he was doing the driving in the neighborhood. So, I

[1:29:36] didn't see uh problems with with that. I saw a Sonoma County bus once northbound

[1:29:43] and once southbound fine, you know, navigated that uh traffic circle fine. I

[1:29:50] saw um uh there was there was a confused person

[1:29:56] out of probably 250 cars in that hour. Uh and that person came out of the

[1:30:04] » I'm sorry, I'm talking. Please, please, please. Public comments coming up next.

[1:30:07] » Yeah, I'm talking and I know what I saw and you don't know what I saw. So, there

[1:30:13] you have it. Um so so the

[1:30:19] uh the what I don't understand generally is um how

[1:30:28] the money is getting spent to to relative to that traffic circle and

[1:30:34] relative to the $1.8 8 million and how is that? I think you you brought

[1:30:41] up that it would be more cost effective for four-way. And then of course, Chief,

[1:30:46] the question about a four-way is how often do people actually honor those?

[1:30:50] » So, >> were you asking about how much the

[1:30:52] permanent could cost? >> Right. Yeah,

[1:30:54] » I could pull up the opinion um the opinion of probable construction costs.

[1:30:58] Um it's it's minor in the overall um a fraction of the overall 1.8 or arguably

[1:31:04] spending way more at Fifth West and subly on those intersection improvements

[1:31:09] which is going to, you know, redo that intersection bouts. We're also repaving

[1:31:14] that section of the road from um West Napa up to um Studley. And so there's

[1:31:22] it it's not it's most certainly not 1.8 million. It's a fraction of that.

[1:31:32] I have one last question. So, going back to the proposed change of or potential

[1:31:39] proposed change of having some speed humps and potentially the four the four

[1:31:46] stop signs. Um, how many speed humps would that be in to in total if you're

[1:31:52] looking at Third Street West? Right. >> From Hurricanes, yes. Yes. To Napa

[1:31:58] Street would be three in total. Right now there's currently two.

[1:32:01] » Okay. >> Yeah, there would be one additional and

[1:32:03] they'd be equally spaced more or less between Perkins Street and Napa Street.

[1:32:08] » And have we consulted with fire at all over this? And

[1:32:12] » fire supports them and they can be straddled by fire.

[1:32:15] » Okay. Just want to make sure. Um just I'm I'm just curious if that's

[1:32:18] excessive. I'm all for speed reduction, but I'm just curious if with the the

[1:32:24] stop signs plus the speed humps, is that is that going to even create we already

[1:32:30] have some issues with Fifth Street. Um and so is that going to create um some

[1:32:34] safety issues there with people avoiding it and going around and stuff like that.

[1:32:38] So just >> yeah, point that out. the speed tables

[1:32:41] that we have on Fifth Street at the cemetery that are offset, you won't be

[1:32:47] able to chicane around these speed table the speed humps that Ashley showed the

[1:32:51] demo of. They're all in one line and they go into the parking stall.

[1:32:56] So basically you can see yeah you can see on the cross-section there that

[1:33:00] first I believe 8.5 ft is where cars would park and you could park right on

[1:33:04] top of one of these >> straddling it and then basically you've

[1:33:08] got your 11.5 ft section to the center line of the road and the same on the

[1:33:12] opposite side. Yeah. So there's this the reason why we chose this design. Yeah.

[1:33:17] And there won't be any chicaneing. >> Great. Thank you.

[1:33:21] So one way or another, once these speed cushions are in, no matter how much a

[1:33:25] car would try and avoid it, at least one side of the car is going to hit.

[1:33:29] » Okay, that's So basically what we're looking at in

[1:33:33] as a potential alternative, if I can just hopefully

[1:33:37] summarize this as a potential alternative to the traffic circle,

[1:33:42] we have two sets of speed cushions already. add one more set and then make

[1:33:48] Ben Court and Andrew Street a four-way stop. That's kind of the alternative

[1:33:52] we're looking at right now. Okay. Um I have a number of thoughts on this

[1:33:59] specific issue, but I'm not going to voice them quite yet. Um is there any

[1:34:02] other questions from the committee? Um there's no other questions from the

[1:34:09] committee. I will open it up to public comment. Um, I think there will probably

[1:34:13] be one or two public comments, maybe three, but please keep it to uh three

[1:34:19] minutes, please. >> Hi, I'm Eris Weaver. I'm the executive

[1:34:23] director of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition. I also serve

[1:34:27] » Could you Could you please give me your first name again? I'm sorry.

[1:34:29] » Eris, E R I S. >> Thank you.

[1:34:32] » Um, I also serve on the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authorities

[1:34:36] Citizen Advisory Committee along with Mr. Conlin over here. So part of my job

[1:34:40] in both of these roles is to understand and advocate for infrastructure

[1:34:45] improvements that improve safety for all users, for cyclists, for pedestrians,

[1:34:51] for drivers, because anything we do that makes it easier for our children to walk

[1:34:54] to school or our elders to get somewhere makes it safer for everyone on the road,

[1:34:59] including drivers. Um my staff spent hours involved in the city's uh active

[1:35:06] transportation plan um making comments most of which were incorporated into

[1:35:10] that plan and before this meeting I made sure to go out this weekend and check

[1:35:15] out this whole corridor that's been being um discussed. Traffic circles are

[1:35:20] a proven intervention for slowing traffic and improving safety. They

[1:35:24] reduce head-on and t-bone collisions. They allow traffic to flow smoothly. I

[1:35:28] prefer them to four-way stops. as a cyclist because then I don't have to put

[1:35:31] my foot down. Nobody has to stop. Everybody can just keep going around. It

[1:35:37] still slows the traffic without the stop and go, stop and go. Everybody just goes

[1:35:42] around. Do my little dance here. I know that it's confusing if you haven't seen

[1:35:47] one, right? Any construction uh road configuration changes um can be

[1:35:52] discombobulating. I know I don't like changes in my routines. Um, now I

[1:35:57] actually live in the only city in the US that had a voter-approved ordinance on

[1:36:02] the books banning traffic circles and roundabouts within the city limits. Two

[1:36:06] years ago, uh, my neighbors and I successfully uh, circulated um,

[1:36:11] petitions, initiated an ordinance to rescend that ban and it passed with a

[1:36:16] huge margin. So why did we spend all those hours wanting to bring this tool

[1:36:21] back into our toolbox in Katady? And why did all the voters go for it?

[1:36:28] There was a roundabout where they had a year of experience with a roundabout

[1:36:33] nearby that everyone got to learn how to use it. Uh saw that the sky didn't fall

[1:36:39] and that it actually uh improved everyone's experience through that

[1:36:43] particular intersection. And so they got to see the benefits and

[1:36:49] voted for it. So I urge you to keep the uh traffic circle in the plan and um the

[1:36:58] project looks great. Thanks. >> Thank you.

[1:37:04] » My name is Loretta Carr. L O R E T A C A R R. I live at 7053rd Street West,

[1:37:12] exactly at the intersection where the roundabout is placed. I hope you've

[1:37:18] watched the three videos that were sent to you showing the dangerous driving

[1:37:23] conditions caused by that roundabout at Third West and Perkins. Video number one

[1:37:29] showed numerous vehicles cutting across the intersection instead of going

[1:37:34] around. Video number two showed numerous vehicles not stopping at the stop signs

[1:37:40] on Perkins Street because signs with circular arrows were placed below the

[1:37:46] stop signs, leading drivers to believe they were to proceed into the

[1:37:51] intersection without stopping. Video number three showed large commercial

[1:37:57] vehicles cutting across the intersection instead of going around because their

[1:38:03] vehicles won't fit. This was proven by the large trucks driving up on the

[1:38:08] sidewalk. The first two videos were filmed in

[1:38:12] early July with an average of 15 to 20 traffic violations a day. The third

[1:38:20] video was filmed in late August with an average of 14 violations a day. This

[1:38:26] shows that it's not a matter of drivers getting used to the roundabout. The

[1:38:31] problem is that the intersection is not large enough to safely accommodate these

[1:38:38] commercial trucks, buses, fire engines, post office trucks, big pickup trucks,

[1:38:46] big SU SUVs. I have witnessed all of those cutting across and not all

[1:38:54] vehicles slow down. You may have been there for an hour, but I am there 24/7.

[1:39:02] I don't understand how anyone could see this visual documentation of the threat

[1:39:08] to pedestrians, wheelchair users, bicyclists, and other vehicles and still

[1:39:14] think that this street obstruction is more important than the safety of human

[1:39:19] beings. This is the hospital neighborhood with many walking elderly,

[1:39:26] vulnerable individuals in wheelchairs, and caregivers from medical offices and

[1:39:32] long-term care facilities, adults pushing baby strollers,

[1:39:38] carts of infants from the nearby child care center, pedestrians have already

[1:39:44] been hurt or killed on Broadway, Fifth Street West, Veron Bono Avenue. Let's

[1:39:52] not contribute to another tragedy. The city knows the intersection is too

[1:39:58] small. The bicycle boulevard plan states that there will be no bicycle lanes

[1:40:04] because the street is too small. The plan also states that large vehicles

[1:40:10] such as buses, fire engines, and delivery trucks can drive over the

[1:40:14] roundabout if needed. So then what's the point of putting an obstruction in the

[1:40:19] middle of the intersection? In addition, parking has been removed

[1:40:24] from the four corners of the intersection because large vehicles will

[1:40:29] not fit between the roundabout and the parked cars.

[1:40:33] » Miss Car, I'm have to ask you to wrap it up, please.

[1:40:36] This loss of parking causes hardship for elderly patients trying to access the

[1:40:42] ramp to medical offices on the 600 block of Third Street.

[1:40:49] I have one last point that I think feel is significant and it has not been

[1:40:53] brought up yet. Instead of installing a dangerous street

[1:40:58] obstacle, the city should be protecting this neighborhood.

[1:41:03] Do you recognize the names Charles Perkins, Matthew Andrew, Robert

[1:41:09] Bancherero, Raymond Barack, Lawrence Bettincourt,

[1:41:14] Ross Hayes, Eugene Robinson, Joseph Figna. They are sons of Soma who served

[1:41:22] and died in World War II. So in 1950, the city of Sonoma decided that those

[1:41:29] Sonomans who had died during the war should be honored in a permanent and

[1:41:33] substantial way. Wine maker August Sebastiani had developed housing on land

[1:41:39] west of Broadway near the new hospital, the area we're talking about. He offered

[1:41:44] to name the streets in memory of the war heroes selected by the city. a veterans

[1:41:50] committee named the eight which the city approved. Their photographs are posted

[1:41:55] in the lobby of the veterans building right across the street. Take a look so

[1:42:00] you can put a face to the names. So besides the roundabout safety issue that

[1:42:06] I have documented, it matters to me that Perkins Street named in memory of one of

[1:42:12] Soma's deceased military is honored, not defaced. not the site of a traffic

[1:42:20] catastrophe. It should matter to you, too. Keep the neighborhood safe and

[1:42:26] remove the roundabout permanently.

[1:42:37] Hi again, Tom Conlin, live outside the city limits. Um, as Eris Weaver

[1:42:43] mentioned, I serve on the Sonoma County Trans Climate Transportation Authority

[1:42:48] Citizen Advisory Committee, which is the body that recommends whether these

[1:42:52] projects should be approved for funding. So, we've been watching this for at

[1:42:56] least five years. Government moves slowly. We are finally in front of you

[1:43:00] with a project. Um, but I'm here tonight speaking as an

[1:43:04] individual uh in a personal capacity as a

[1:43:08] grandparent of a 5-year-old who just got her training wheels off and she wants to

[1:43:12] ride all over this town on a bicycle and you have to say you can't do it. It's

[1:43:16] not safe yet. So, that's why I'm here is to try and make this community safer.

[1:43:23] Following that last speaker, I c I cannot see how that speaker could say

[1:43:28] that currently Perkins is a dangerous street or that this traffic calming

[1:43:34] improvement that's been so rigorously studied and you have data to show that

[1:43:39] speeds have dropped is going to create dangerous conditions.

[1:43:44] I I just find that to be outside of the bounds of acceptable reality.

[1:43:50] um your your data shows that the speed were was at a max of 43 and it's gone

[1:43:56] down to 32 with that with that improvement.

[1:44:00] Now, many community members in the comments submitted to you previous to

[1:44:03] this meeting said that they see few cyclists on the route currently. That's

[1:44:08] exactly the problem that we're trying to address is it's too safe, too unsafe to

[1:44:12] ride a bicycle through many parts of Soma.

[1:44:16] The other thing that was raised is that perhaps this tra perhaps this is not the

[1:44:20] best location in the city for a traffic circle that there may be other locations

[1:44:24] that are more deserving. I raised that concern myself back in October

[1:44:30] because this is a significant amount of money. It's taxpayer money. We have to

[1:44:34] spend it well. the but however at that October meeting I was convinced by this

[1:44:41] staff's analysis by consultants analysis that this north south route connecting

[1:44:48] to the uh creek trail all the way down to the south side of town this becomes a

[1:44:55] major bicycle thoroughare a major pedestrian thoroughfare that's why the

[1:44:59] um Tim Donner with the tourism board believes that this is an important

[1:45:04] improvement for for the community as well. Um, and so I I have accepted that

[1:45:11] this is an important project and it was worthwhile to take the funds as a major

[1:45:15] project change from the Satarini class one bike lane and invest it in this

[1:45:21] street. Now, if the alternatives you've discussed tentatively so far were to be

[1:45:27] sub sub uh substituted for the traffic circle as designed, I personally do not

[1:45:34] think that we would be hitting the threshold necessary to achieve the

[1:45:41] traffic calming outcomes, the objectives. I don't think you're going

[1:45:44] to get the uh mileage reduction and I don't think you're going to get the

[1:45:48] level of traffic stress reduction for pedestrians and and cyclists. So, I

[1:45:53] would probably be asking you to do more. And so, my alternative, it's not on your

[1:45:57] list currently. >> Mr. Con, I have to ask you to wrap it

[1:45:59] up, please. >> I'm sorry. I will try. My my suggested

[1:46:03] alternative would be to put a class 4 cycle track along this condemning

[1:46:08] parking on one side of the street because that would be necessary to

[1:46:12] create the level of traffic stress reduction that you would otherwise be

[1:46:17] achieving with the current design. >> Okay, I need to ask you to wrap it up

[1:46:20] please. We have a lot of people online. >> Understood. Thank you for your

[1:46:24] consideration my comments tonight. >> Thank you. And please once again please

[1:46:26] try to keep your comments limited to three minutes.

[1:46:30] Hi, my name is Christine Kuner. I'm an occupational therapist in the city of

[1:46:34] Soma. I've only lived here about six years. Um,

[1:46:39] I do driver training for seniors in an acute care facility in Soma. So, I know

[1:46:47] we have a lot of senior drivers here. Um before that I did home health driving

[1:46:54] many counties in the area and I saw a lot of other other traffic patterns

[1:47:00] other crosswalks painting in other counties that seem to be done very well.

[1:47:06] And since I've lived in Soma all I see are faded and missing crosswalks. I see

[1:47:12] the kids trying to get across the street at Andrix and First Street West on their

[1:47:18] bikes and it makes me really really sad that a little kid, a first grader, can't

[1:47:24] even cross the street um to get to school. They're trying to get to school.

[1:47:29] They don't know where the crosswalks are because the crosswalks are faded and

[1:47:32] painted and not painted. Um, when I first moved in at Nukem and Broadway,

[1:47:39] there were no crosswalks coming out of the high school. So, how are these kids

[1:47:43] gonna stop? Um, so I started writing emails to a lady named Kathy Martindale,

[1:47:49] and she would CC a lot of people saying, you know, we need more paint. We need

[1:47:54] more paint. And I told her about the intersection at Andrix and First Street

[1:48:00] West. It's these little kindergarteners are trying to get to Presswood. They're

[1:48:04] trying to get us across the street. There are no crosswalks or they're so

[1:48:07] faded you can't see them. Um, and that was a year ago and still no painting has

[1:48:15] happened at that intersection. Um, it really upsets me because I have a

[1:48:21] nine-year-old son who rides his bike in that neighborhood and I think you're

[1:48:25] sitting on a time bomb. It's a matter of time before a senior with decreased

[1:48:31] visual acuity and decreased reaction time. This city is

[1:48:38] full of seniors. A lot of people come here to retire. I work with the seniors.

[1:48:42] There are a lot of people who should not be driving in Soma who are driving um

[1:48:47] because they don't want to give up their independence and it's a huge safety

[1:48:52] hazard. I've complained to um Chief Cutting before about First Street West,

[1:49:00] but my biggest problem right now is the paint. It's like we pay all these taxes,

[1:49:06] you know, property taxes, and there's no paint on the street. Also, the blind

[1:49:11] curbs. Um the red paint needs to go on the curb. You get a giant twostory van

[1:49:17] on the corner. You can't see around the corner. Kid comes out with a bike. Boom.

[1:49:22] done. So that's all I want to say. Please paint in Soma. Thank you.

[1:49:32] » My name is Anna Morales. I live at Barach and Robinson and I'm all for

[1:49:37] slowing down the cars on Third Street. They fly down Third Street. I try to

[1:49:41] come out of Robinson and there's large cars parked there and I have to inch out

[1:49:46] and they're flying down. So there are not a lot of bikes that go down that

[1:49:50] street and probably for that reason. So I am for all slowing it down. I don't

[1:49:54] think it's the traffic circle. I walk all day along with all of these other

[1:49:58] people trying to cross Andrew. They slow down for the dip and you think it's safe

[1:50:03] to step in front of them and then they gas their car. They're only slowing down

[1:50:07] because they don't want to ruin the bottom of their car. They're not slowing

[1:50:11] down for a pedestrian or a dog or a stroller. We need to stop the cars. If

[1:50:16] you want bicycles to be able to go down Third Street safely because there's no

[1:50:21] way that a traffic circle a block away is going to create that. They're just

[1:50:25] going to pick up speed again. The bicyclists are going to pick up speed.

[1:50:28] They're supposed to stop. Andrew keeps going. It's not doing anything. Also,

[1:50:34] all the corners need to be painted red. Isn't it a law at all of the crosswalks?

[1:50:38] No cars can be within 20 ft of the crosswalks. None of them are painted

[1:50:42] red. Even we put up temporary signs that you couldn't park there. People turned

[1:50:47] the signs around and parked right in front of those hospitals and everything

[1:50:51] else. I understand they're elderly people dropping off other seniors and

[1:50:55] stuff, but they ignored them. So those corners need to be painted red, not just

[1:50:59] for this traffic circle, but for every corner so that people can cross. Cars

[1:51:03] park all the way up and you can't see the pedestrian until you're out there.

[1:51:07] And then the cars just look at you and go, "Oops, sorry, I'm running you over."

[1:51:10] I mean, they just keep going. So yes, those speed bumps I think are a much

[1:51:15] better idea. You know, some of them at Robinson than some of them again at

[1:51:19] Perkins and some of them again at Benton Court. That's the only way you're going

[1:51:22] to slow them down. Thank you. >> Thank you.

[1:51:30] » Good evening. My name is Caitlyn Cornwall and I'm representing Sonoma

[1:51:33] Valley Collaborative, uh, which you might not have heard of. Cinema Valley

[1:51:37] Collaborative is a cross- sector coalition of the widest possible array

[1:51:44] of uh sectors and interests in Cinema Valley gathered together around one

[1:51:50] table to work on big issues facing the Cinema Valley community that are too big

[1:51:55] and too complicated for any one organization or sector to take on. So

[1:52:00] our membership includes um business groups like the chamber and several

[1:52:05] small businesses, restaurants, hotels, etc. Uh health organizations like the

[1:52:10] hospital and the health center. Um a lot of nonprofits that serve kids and

[1:52:15] families, um environmental organizations,

[1:52:19] uh health, faith, schools, um like I say, the broadest possible array. And a

[1:52:26] lot of our work over the last nine years, which is how long the

[1:52:29] collaborative has been in existence, has been working on um the issue of how to

[1:52:35] increase housing affordability in Soma Valley. Uh which is an issue that is

[1:52:40] causing a lot of pain across all sectors. But that's not what I'm here

[1:52:43] about. I wanted just to tell you that in the nine years that the collaborative

[1:52:47] has existed um consistently one of the issues that

[1:52:51] has been of greatest interest to our members is the issue of how people get

[1:52:57] around in Soma Valley and it's I just want to emphasize to you that leaders in

[1:53:02] many of these different areas you know like I say the chamber of commerce the

[1:53:06] visitors bureau the hospital the school district the faith leaders um people who

[1:53:12] work with the schools and families, the Latino community, the moms, all of

[1:53:17] across the board, the feeling that this is a community that could be a paradise

[1:53:21] for walkers and bikers and rollers. And it it feels like something we just don't

[1:53:26] quite arrive at. And so I don't have really specific commentary on the exact

[1:53:32] design of this project because we didn't have I didn't have time to take this to

[1:53:35] my members on the detail level. But in the broad sense, the idea of making Soma

[1:53:41] and the valley better for people who are white biking and walking, kids, families

[1:53:48] and small business owners who we want to attract to Soma and not have them move

[1:53:52] away. We need to be designing our streets and trails and sidewalks for who

[1:53:57] we want in the future to live here, not just for who's here now. And the idea of

[1:54:02] change is hard, but we've all been in many, many, many towns where there's

[1:54:05] lots of traffic circles and it works fine and people slow down and people get

[1:54:10] used to change. And if this is a good change, which my membership thinks that

[1:54:14] slowing traffic down and making it more possible to not just be in your car is a

[1:54:18] good change, that's what we would recommend. Thank you.

[1:54:28] First of all, thank you so much for caring caring about Sonoma. I know this.

[1:54:32] » Can I get your name? Sorry. >> Lesie Lie E Karath. K A R A T H.

[1:54:41] » Thank you. >> I'm nervous,

[1:54:44] so I wrote things down. I wanted to thank you. first of all. When I grew up

[1:54:50] here, there was one stoplight. So, I think we're doing pretty good. And

[1:54:54] there's going to be more building and more developments. So, thank you for

[1:54:59] thinking about this stuff. I live right on Third Street West in Perkins, right

[1:55:04] where the roundabout is. And when I heard that it was going to be there, I

[1:55:08] thought, "Good, this is going to be a good thing because it's going to slow

[1:55:11] people down." It's been a cluster mess. And I know people will get used to it.

[1:55:17] It's not the right corner for it. There are wheels chairs.

[1:55:22] I should read my thing here. Oh. Oh, the the picture of the roundabout on the

[1:55:27] poster for the Bike Boulevard project is beautiful, but it does not represent

[1:55:32] reality. At first, I was happy about the

[1:55:36] roundabout. Like everyone everywhere, I want people to slow down, especially on

[1:55:41] the street that I'm on. Seems like Sonoma's going to have a bunch of speed

[1:55:45] bumps everywhere. Um, from what I've witnessed, the

[1:55:48] roundabout has made things worse, not better. I love roundabouts, but not

[1:55:53] here. Um, it's a residential street. Think about your house being right there

[1:55:58] where a bus comes right next to your living room. Um, the corner is not big

[1:56:03] enough to accommodate pedestrians and vehicles. It's a residential street with

[1:56:07] many medical offices. I see wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, much more than

[1:56:13] bikes. I'm all for bikes. Let's get the bikes. But I think it's even dangerous

[1:56:17] for bikes. Um we have trucks, buses, and by the way, not everyone slows down.

[1:56:23] Like some maybe there are kids in their 20s, they speed up and go fast because

[1:56:27] it's fun. Um I did hear that um buses and trucks could go over the over the

[1:56:33] thing in the center, but it's like why why would you do that? That seems kind

[1:56:36] of odd. Um I understand that there are grants and grant money to be spent on

[1:56:42] projects. I've even heard it doesn't matter what we think, it's going to

[1:56:46] happen anyway. Um, I think stop signs or speed bumps would make much more sense

[1:56:52] and be a much safer and smarter choice. I really am worried about the

[1:56:55] wheelchairs. There's a ton of them and walkers and like when a person's

[1:57:00] walking, just the way it's configured, it's dangerous. I look at it 24 like a

[1:57:06] lot right there. I I just I want to thank you though for doing your work. I

[1:57:11] really want to thank you for for um helping us because we're going to need

[1:57:15] it. We're seven miles across and 22 miles long and a lot of building is

[1:57:20] going to be going on pretty soon. Like a lot. So, let's do really good.

[1:57:26] » Thank you.

[1:57:32] » Laura Farmer L O R E L E. Farmer like farmer in the Dell Donner Avenue. Uh,

[1:57:40] the first time I encountered the so-called calming circle, which is

[1:57:43] simply a roundabout, I was stunned by how close my car came to the curb at the

[1:57:47] corner of the house at 7053rd Street West. My immediate reaction was, "How

[1:57:52] can this possibly be safe for bicyclists and pedestrians? The space is so

[1:57:57] constrained that a driver and a bicyclist cannot safely navigate the

[1:58:02] roundabout at the same time." I raised this directly with Ashley Carter the

[1:58:07] next day. I explained that drivers would be forced to stop at the roundabout

[1:58:11] whenever a bicyclist or pedestrian was present because there was no safe way to

[1:58:16] share that space. She agreed and assured me, and maybe I misunderstood her, that

[1:58:21] signage would be installed within a few weeks to warn drivers. To date, I have

[1:58:25] yet to see that signage. Not long after that, I finally encountered my first

[1:58:30] bicyclist, and I've lived in Soma for over 50 years on Third Street West. The

[1:58:36] bicyclist entered the roundabout just as I approached to my car. I stopped, of

[1:58:41] course, but what happens at night when visibility is low and a driver doesn't

[1:58:46] see the bicyclist soon enough? How is this design safer for anyone? Without

[1:58:52] the roundabout, drivers and bicyclists can can simply continue along Third

[1:58:56] Street West as they do any other part of the street. The roundabout forces an

[1:59:02] unpredictable interaction in a space that is too small to accommodate it. No

[1:59:08] driver wants to be in a situation where they might not see a bicyclist or

[1:59:13] pedestrian until it's too late. And the gentleman talked about his little

[1:59:16] 5-year-old grandson or whatever. I would not want to encounter his grandson going

[1:59:22] in that roundabout in my car or have somebody else who doesn't see him

[1:59:26] because he's down low to the ground. Um,

[1:59:30] the index commune article quotes that city planners say that transportation

[1:59:34] networks must be built for future community needs. I heard the same

[1:59:38] argument during the Broadway bike lane discussions. The bicycle coalition

[1:59:42] promised, "Build it and the bike riders will come." Yet years later, I have not

[1:59:46] seen an increase in bicyclist bicyclists on Broadway, Second Street East, or

[1:59:51] Fifth Street East. Streets that have long been designated as bicycle routes.

[1:59:57] The median age in Sonoma is 57.3 years. Among my friends and acquaintances, only

[2:00:04] one woman I know occasionally rides her bike around the neighborhood. Why do we

[2:00:08] continue planning as though half our residents over the age of 57 will

[2:00:12] suddenly become daily cyclists. Everyone I've spoken to has said the

[2:00:17] same thing. This roundabout is a bad idea in a location that is not big

[2:00:22] enough. Not one person has said to me, "This is great. My friends ride bikes

[2:00:26] all the time. In addition, bicyclists must come from somewhere to use Third

[2:00:30] Street West. Are we going to be putting up roundabouts all around the city to

[2:00:34] protect the bicycle rider? We all want safer streets, but safety requires

[2:00:39] designs that fit the actual conditions of the neighborhood. This roundabout

[2:00:43] does not make it any safer for a bicycle. In fact, and even the stroller,

[2:00:48] we saw somebody in a stroller, my husband and I. In fact, it makes it more

[2:00:51] dangerous. And I would like to know at what time you were on and saw 250 cars

[2:00:56] because I would like to go the same time and see the 250 cars that you saw on

[2:01:00] Perkins Street. >> This is for public comment. We're not

[2:01:03] okay. >> Going to do a back and forth, but we

[2:01:06] will have a chance to discuss later. Once again,

[2:01:13] » good evening, Chair Lobinger and uh traffic committee. Thank you first of

[2:01:17] all for the work you do on behalf of our residents. I appreciate it. Could I get

[2:01:21] your name, please? >> Diane Thompson, 559 Barach. Um, I

[2:01:26] support the concept of a bicycle boulevard and traffic circles in

[2:01:30] general, but the reason I'm here tonight is because I have concerns that have to

[2:01:35] do with the process of this project and the impacts on the neighborhood as a

[2:01:39] whole. There has been no direct notification to the neighbors. It's not

[2:01:43] necessarily required, but it would have been appreciated and or at least I

[2:01:49] didn't receive any direct notification and my neighbors that I spoke to have

[2:01:54] not and we would have appreciated it and it could have made this process go

[2:01:58] smoother. Um, also there has been no final plan for the project available to

[2:02:05] the public until the agenda was posted for tonight's meeting a few days ago.

[2:02:10] And so that is a problem just in terms of informing the public of what's going

[2:02:15] on. Um and also the engineering drawings that you're showing are not necessarily

[2:02:20] the best way to communicate to the public. Simplified drawings would be

[2:02:24] very helpful. Um there was no data online that I could find uh regarding

[2:02:30] the project impacts or a feasibility study. And I wanted to mention in terms

[2:02:34] of impacts, Third Street is our only exit from the neighborhood. And as has

[2:02:39] been pointed out earlier and as you discussed about VNA, the visibility when

[2:02:44] you're leaving those feeder streets onto third is really scary now with a car

[2:02:51] because you're pulling out onto third and there are large vehicles, trucks,

[2:02:55] SUVs parked very close to the corner. So you really don't know what you're up

[2:03:00] against until you get out into the intersection. Um, and usually it's cars,

[2:03:05] right? That's one thing. But when you draw bicyclist onto that roadway, um

[2:03:10] that's a scarier situation than car versus car. So that has to be addressed

[2:03:16] as you discussed with VNA on those other streets um that feed on to third. So my

[2:03:22] request to you is please slow the project down. Don't rush into

[2:03:26] construction this fall. Please conduct meaningful public engagement with direct

[2:03:31] notification and consider impacts on the neighborhood as a whole. Thank you so

[2:03:35] much.

[2:03:40] » Thank you.

[2:03:46] » Hi. >> Uh William Nuome. Um Nwso M. Um I live

[2:03:52] on Third Street Third Street West. I'm actually Loretta's neighbor. Um I'm a

[2:03:57] former engineer. I'm also a big advocate for bicycling. Uh, I love the project in

[2:04:02] general, but uh, I'm very grateful for the temporary traffic circle because

[2:04:08] it's demonstrated just how bad of a solution it is for that intersection.

[2:04:12] Um, I know a lot of folks called it a roundabout and as I think Ashley pointed

[2:04:15] out, it's not a roundabout. A roundabout would require a much larger

[2:04:19] intersection. I think the engineering reports actually reference that you

[2:04:22] couldn't fit a roundabout there and I think it's too small for a traffic

[2:04:25] circle as well. um watching it every day. I do see a lot of bikes there.

[2:04:29] Actually, there's a lot of folks on like tourists are biking around there all the

[2:04:33] time. Hopefully, we'll get more bikes. Um but seeing like the buses, the Sonoma

[2:04:37] County buses that come through when they come through, I don't doubt that they do

[2:04:41] slow down. So, the data is probably right that we've gone from whatever it

[2:04:45] is a high speed 40 to high speed of 30. But when the buses go through the

[2:04:49] intersection around the circle, they're swerving almost into if we had really

[2:04:55] good, you know, marked crosswalks, it would certainly be into the crosswalks

[2:04:59] there. It just seems very dangerous. Um, you know, this is me speaking

[2:05:03] anecdotally, but we have folks on wheelchairs,

[2:05:07] bicyclists, we have lots of little kids, lots and lots of people walking their

[2:05:11] dogs. Um, and it just seems like a very dangerous intersection with the traffic

[2:05:15] circle. I don't really understand the mountable aspect of the permanent

[2:05:20] solution and I don't really know how buses would I guess they would just

[2:05:24] drive straight through and bump up. Um, but it it seems like a poor solution. I

[2:05:29] would just suggest that as I think some of the folks here have discussed

[2:05:34] get rid of the traffic circle, throw a couple speed bumps maybe on either side.

[2:05:38] We talked about three sets of speed bumps, maybe make it four. And that

[2:05:42] feels like a much more workable solution that would still slow things down. I'm

[2:05:47] at Andreu and Third Street West. That's a bad intersection. I know you said it's

[2:05:52] like close to a stop sign. We see and hear people blowing through that

[2:05:57] intersection all the time. I love the idea of reversing stop signs or putting

[2:06:01] in a four-way stop. I think that will really slow things down. Um so yeah, o

[2:06:04] overall very much in support of the project, but the circle just doesn't

[2:06:08] make any sense. Thank you.

[2:06:31] Oh, the timer started. No, it's it's totally fine. My name is Joyce Carlson.

[2:06:37] I live on Barachi Way and I too want to thank all of you guys. Ashley, your

[2:06:42] presentation was very thorough. I didn't realize the scope of this project and

[2:06:47] it's much bigger than I knew. Um, and part of that is because I don't feel as

[2:06:54] a resident in that area that we were really communicated with. And that to me

[2:06:59] is a big part of the negativity that you might be hearing is people didn't know

[2:07:03] what was going on and then all of a sudden there was a traffic circle. So I

[2:07:07] too agree with what the people have said prior to me. So I won't go into all of

[2:07:12] that but I wanted to reference something that um this woman said. I'm sorry your

[2:07:17] name is >> Eerys is she talked about Katad and

[2:07:21] roundabouts and traffic circles. My sister lives there and there was they

[2:07:27] put one on Myrtle Street and it was terrible. It was just like what's

[2:07:31] happening on Third Street. And guess what they did? They took it out and

[2:07:35] mitigated it with stop signs. So there's ways to satisfy the residents and still

[2:07:41] achieve your project, which I also am in support of the project. So I have no

[2:07:47] qual about that. I just want it to be safe because I don't feel safe when I'm

[2:07:51] in that area of the traffic circle. It feels very dangerous and I am kind of

[2:07:56] worried about the liability to the city, you know, to be aware of this level of

[2:08:01] discomfort with the community and the potential hazards that are involved and

[2:08:05] then to have something tragically happen. So, thank you guys all and I

[2:08:08] just wanted to share that. Thanks.

[2:08:17] Good evening. Uh Chris Woodcock, 235 West Spain Street. Um is it possible Can

[2:08:22] I direct a question to the chair really quick? Um

[2:08:26] » is it possible to not clap? I know that we can raise our hands or something, but

[2:08:31] you know it just clapping is kind of encourages one belief just a personal

[2:08:37] you know. Um anyways, I just wanted to speak about uh I overall well thank you.

[2:08:44] I just appreciate you know you know we just respect each other and I think that

[2:08:48] that's an important thing. Um and I have a slightly different uh take on it. I

[2:08:53] I'm encouraged by the overall design I spoke about in October. I thought it was

[2:08:57] clearly um presented to us like I I had all this information. and I saw the

[2:09:03] design in the October meeting and I just um whether or not this is the right

[2:09:08] design for this spot, I just really am encouraged by um what the engineers came

[2:09:12] up with for this. Um I would really like to get away from stop signs and speed

[2:09:18] humps if possible. And I think, you know, going through there, I ride a

[2:09:22] bike, I drive, I walk through there. And um I think it's a great opportunity to

[2:09:27] try something that we have not been able to do. And I've been pushing for this

[2:09:31] since I was sitting on this committee for 10 years, chaired it for five and

[2:09:35] also sit on the um cinnam county uh bike and pedestrian advisory committee. And

[2:09:39] this is something that's happening in the county. And I think it's something

[2:09:43] that we need to think about. Um I forget who it was. Ma Caitlyn was talking about

[2:09:47] it, but we need to think bigger in terms of the different things. And I agree

[2:09:51] with you guys totally that a temporary roundabout is like horrible. And I think

[2:09:57] that that is resolved when we get to the actual design. And I I find that like

[2:10:02] I'm really against what we've done on Spain Street by putting up signs. I find

[2:10:06] that, you know, things like that don't really work. More signage not such a

[2:10:11] good idea because with the speed sign there, you know, whatever that is, it's

[2:10:15] a dynamic speed display. People slow down at first, but then they learn that

[2:10:19] habit. And so I want to get away from um thinking about stop signs as an

[2:10:24] opportunity. And to me, it looks like it'll fit. The designers or the um

[2:10:29] everybody seems to think that it works in terms of the engineers. Um and I

[2:10:33] would just encourage us to go with something like that. And there's better

[2:10:36] I feel like the crosswalks are better lines of sight. People were talking

[2:10:41] about safety there. I think it's improved safety overall based upon my

[2:10:46] reading of it. Um and I think confusion a little bit where we have to question

[2:10:51] what's going on. That's the importance of a traffic circle. Definitely not a

[2:10:55] roundabout that we have to kind of question which way to go. Look to the

[2:11:00] arrows for people that are new to this. But once we get this design in, it's

[2:11:04] going to change and overall people will be comfortable with it. So I'd like to

[2:11:07] maintain the design that we have um understand that, you know, how change is

[2:11:13] really difficult and just want to encourage everybody on the committee to

[2:11:17] uh take that into consideration when you guys are looking at this and bring it to

[2:11:20] committee. So thank you very much. Thank you.

[2:11:29] » Thank you for everything that you've been doing. Um, my name is Lori

[2:11:32] Parmally. P A R M E L E. I live on Third Street West in the 500 block. There's

[2:11:38] nothing calming about riding your bike through this traffic circle. I um I'm a

[2:11:43] recreational bike rider. I do bike trails. I don't ride on streets. When

[2:11:47] you go and ride around the bike the roundabout, it is very stressful. The

[2:11:52] only time I felt calm tonight was when you guys said you were gonna take it

[2:11:55] out.

[2:12:09] All right, got up.

[2:12:18] I'm Michael Karath. I live at 697 Third Street West. Um

[2:12:25] I I also like the idea of the bike paths. I like what you're doing. Um, I

[2:12:31] don't sit out there in a rock and chair and watch all day, but I have seen um,

[2:12:38] there are some cars that just go through there like there's there's it's not even

[2:12:42] there. And as far as I think the point that people will get used to that thing.

[2:12:48] All it takes is one person that doesn't un you know is not familiar with that

[2:12:52] because it's very confusing in a residential area

[2:12:57] and it it's just it's not the right place for it. There is a lot of people

[2:13:02] who aren't from the area. Those are the people are going to be u very dangerous

[2:13:06] driving around the thing. And I'd like to know why wasn't the stop sign studied

[2:13:12] first because I think you would find the same reduction in speed or the uh speed

[2:13:19] bumps as well. Why did it go right to the roundabout? It seemed like the stop

[2:13:25] sign of the, you know, the, you know, the bump sale would be a lot less

[2:13:31] expensive to study first. And if you didn't get the the uh speed reduction

[2:13:38] there, then you could go to the next step that would be more expensive. Maybe

[2:13:42] I missed something on that. But but I would like to know why the speed signs

[2:13:47] weren't studied for us or the bumps put down first. I think there's this big

[2:13:52] rush for this roundabout. I've, you know, I don't want to, you

[2:13:57] know, say the same things that other people have said. They work in some

[2:14:01] places really great and sometimes they don't. And I don't think I've ever seen

[2:14:06] in my whole life a roundabout or whatever you want to call it in a

[2:14:09] residential area. And as far as those trucks, what I have

[2:14:14] seen, and I'd also like to know where, if you're calculating the speed, where

[2:14:21] is that speed bump? Is it before? Is it after? Is it right at the I don't know.

[2:14:27] You know, that's something that that I would definitely like to know. Um I just

[2:14:33] think it would be a bad idea. And when I see trucks going up on the curb, you

[2:14:41] know, particularly those trucks that have to, you know, I I I think one

[2:14:45] speaker said, oh, you know, I think it was the chairperson who said he saw

[2:14:49] trucks and it wasn't a big deal. But if they have to do that turn where it's

[2:14:53] like you're turning past three streets, I mean, they're like those things are

[2:14:58] like on two wheels almost trying to like navigate around. It's very dangerous and

[2:15:03] the sightelines are really bad. That's all I have to say. I really hope you

[2:15:08] reconsider this. It's not a very good idea. I'm I just think those other stop

[2:15:14] signs and the bumps should have been studied first. Thank you.

[2:15:19] » Thank you.

[2:15:28] All right. Is there any other public comment before we turn it back to the

[2:15:31] committee?

[2:15:34] Okay, seeing none, we will close public comment on this issue. I will turn it

[2:15:41] back to the committee for discussion and I think I will start on this one.

[2:15:47] Um,

[2:15:51] I'm all for bike boulevards and I'm all for traffic circles and I

[2:15:56] think this traffic circle has achieved its

[2:16:00] purpose of slowing traffic down. Um, so I believe all the data. I also

[2:16:05] believe that it fits the specs. I trust the city that the specifications are

[2:16:10] correct. I also walk down Third Street every day of my life. Sometimes

[2:16:17] almost every day I've recognized a lot of the faces in the crowd. I'm the one

[2:16:20] that's walking really quick with quickly with my dog. It's pretty much the only

[2:16:23] exercise I get. Um

[2:16:28] I think on paper it checks the boxes, but it doesn't pass the eye test. Every

[2:16:33] time I walk down Third Street, I walk on the

[2:16:37] east side. So I'm going to call it the Whole Food side. Um I walk back and

[2:16:42] forth every like I said every day except for when I'm walking down um Mallet

[2:16:45] Mallet and Frier Creek and um one thing that I noticed is that when I'm crossing

[2:16:52] Perkins on the third street side I have to stop at the corner and Miss Farmer

[2:16:57] said unpredictable interactions. So, I have to stop. I stop and I don't know

[2:17:04] what the cars that are driving straight. I don't know what they're going to do

[2:17:07] because no matter what, they're going to have to make a veering movement. And

[2:17:12] anybody who's a police officer in this room knows that sometimes people don't

[2:17:15] use their turn signal. So, you can't trust them. We can't prevent everything.

[2:17:20] I know stop signs aren't always the solution. I do think traffic circles are

[2:17:25] a progressive way of looking at this, but this one doesn't pass my test. I

[2:17:29] want to trust the process and I want to see this come to fruition. I don't know

[2:17:34] if this is it. Um I during the week I'm walking just

[2:17:40] myself and my dog, but on the weekends it's my wife and my daughters. And

[2:17:43] pretty soon my daughter's going to be going to school because we live right by

[2:17:46] the hospital and they go to St. Francis and they're going to be walking and

[2:17:49] riding their bikes. And just that intersection alone, I don't feel like

[2:17:53] this is the perfect solution. Um so I'm all for alternative solutions. I'm not

[2:17:58] completely out on it, but I'm fairly close to out on it. Um, I think there

[2:18:03] are better options. Um, I do know what Mr. Woodcock is saying about stop signs,

[2:18:08] stop signs, stop signs. We as a committee know that they aren't act the

[2:18:11] the true solution, but maybe in this case it might be. And in terms of

[2:18:17] people not seeing pedestrians, bicyclists,

[2:18:21] part of the goal is to make this a bicycle and pedestrian more safe

[2:18:26] corridor to get people off of Broadway, Second Street, whatever it might be. So,

[2:18:31] I'm all for the project. I think the project is a great idea. I support it

[2:18:34] completely. Um, but I don't know if the traffic

[2:18:38] circle is the right answer, and I really really interested in alternatives.

[2:18:45] And that's that's all I'm going to say for right now.

[2:18:49] » I have to agree with you, Adam. I don't have a dog in a fight. I don't live in

[2:18:52] the area. Um, but you have to listen to the neighbors. And I think an element

[2:18:58] that hasn't been brought up is one, the key thing that jumps out at me is the

[2:19:02] hospital. You're going to get people, regardless of what's their four-way stop

[2:19:06] sign or the calming circle, they're going to rush to that hospital to meet

[2:19:11] their loved ones who's in the hospital. they're going to speed no matter what.

[2:19:15] Um, I kind of agree with you. I think we should slow it down a little bit and

[2:19:18] kind of reconsider an alternative.

[2:19:26] » I you guys have heard me, you guys haven't. No big deal. Um, the we've as a

[2:19:33] community face really significant infrastructure challenges uh because uh

[2:19:40] because we're just we grow more The state of California has legislated

[2:19:45] that we have more housing. That's fair. Uh people who work in our neighborhood

[2:19:53] deserve to try to live in our neighborhood. Uh but when there's a

[2:19:58] restricted number of houses, the cost goes up. We see what happens.

[2:20:02] um most of the infrastructure of Sonoma was

[2:20:08] created

[2:20:11] 70 or 80 years ago uh Napa Street for example was probably 500 cars, 300, 200

[2:20:18] cars a day when people were just going over to Thornsbury and Levelvel Valley

[2:20:24] uh road. Um and and and we see that uh throughout as they added uh I think it's

[2:20:32] 15 houses by Denova on the corner of Fifth Street West. And you know, if you

[2:20:38] give every house two cars, that's 30 more cars for that corner. There's

[2:20:44] strong consideration for a project on Napa Road and Fifth Street East. 50 plus

[2:20:49] homes plus potential uh businesses. So, you're

[2:20:55] looking at a situation where there are going to be another at least a hundred

[2:20:59] cars in that particular area. We're going to continue to have increased

[2:21:04] traffic. Um, one thing that's obvious to all of us up here because we hear it

[2:21:10] every time, people don't pay too much attention to

[2:21:14] the stop signs. people speed in my neighborhood. It's a drag race when

[2:21:20] people leave a stop sign. Uh the chief has explained to us that

[2:21:26] people who live in the neighborhood take stop signs as suggestions. People who

[2:21:33] don't live in the neighborhood tend to go quite fast through it. Um

[2:21:39] my comment uh earlier this evening was that I was mesmerized by the traffic

[2:21:46] calming effect that this traffic circle has on that intersection. Um

[2:21:54] I know there are problems. I know there are traffic scoff laws. Uh when you look

[2:22:00] at Fifth Street East and uh East Napa Street,

[2:22:08] many people don't bother to worry about the the the traffic tables and they

[2:22:13] drive through it like there are lemons and they only accelerate in either

[2:22:16] direction. Um we we'll never eliminate scoff laws.

[2:22:22] That's why we have police. Um,

[2:22:27] I I saw a man pushing a baby in a wheelch in a in a wagon. I saw a woman

[2:22:35] with a walker cross over Perkins. Um, I saw the the FedEx truck making its

[2:22:42] deliveries. I saw Sonoma Transit making safe trans transit through the traffic

[2:22:47] circle. Uh, traffic circles

[2:22:54] have You can look it up. Traffic circles have

[2:22:58] an astounding success rate on making traffic calmer.

[2:23:04] We need collectively without any hesitation calmer traffic throughout

[2:23:09] Soma. This is the first chance of that.

[2:23:14] Uh, and I think when you look at on the east side,

[2:23:20] there are 17 intersections on the east side that are controlled by a stop sign.

[2:23:26] People don't stop at them quite frequently. On the corner of Second

[2:23:30] Street East and Patton there in one of the concerns,

[2:23:36] the traffic hazard concern, people just drive right through that. They don't

[2:23:40] stop.

[2:23:44] Um, I don't I don't have a horse in it

[2:23:48] either. I don't live in the neighborhood. I see it as a really

[2:23:52] valuable valid way to make

[2:23:57] and it's proven just simply by the numbers. It's been difficult to see what

[2:24:01] happens with other numbers, but if you've taken a top speed of 35 and

[2:24:06] reduced it to 29, I think is what it was. about a 25%

[2:24:12] uh reduction in in top speed. That's a terrific

[2:24:18] number. Um is it

[2:24:23] absolutely perfect? No. Nothing ever will be. We can go live on 10 acres of

[2:24:29] of property and be by ourselves and that's it. But we live in a community.

[2:24:34] Um I I hear you. You don't like it. you're you're outraged by it in many

[2:24:41] cases. I feel you. Uh I I'm not convinced. In

[2:24:48] fact, I'm certain stop signs are not an answer. Uh I'm not certain people are

[2:24:55] going to be thrilled with a a third or a fourth set of bumps either. Um, but I I

[2:25:00] think this is the first move the city of Soma has made to make our community

[2:25:10] calmer with traffic. And I'm all about traffic calming, not

[2:25:15] traffic stopping.

[2:25:26] Um, I just I don't want to belabor this anymore. We have I just want to first

[2:25:31] and foremost thank all of you for coming today. Um, regardless of your stance,

[2:25:37] whether you're pro or con for what's happening. Um, it takes a lot for a

[2:25:41] community to get involved and to voice your opinion and for the petitions and

[2:25:45] whatnot. Um, so we hear you loud and clear on both sides. I also want to

[2:25:49] thank the city. I know, Ashley, that presentation is extensive. Um, and so

[2:25:55] the level of detail that you put into that today is very helpful. Um, I think

[2:25:59] there's two things that I want to point out. One, we have a we have a bigger um

[2:26:04] issue at hand. And I think this is what our committee is here to do is to really

[2:26:07] take a look at how do we how do we address the issues of speed, right? And

[2:26:13] and and the fact that people need to get around. I'm a mom of two kids. um both

[2:26:20] of them just started riding bikes and I get nervous in certain areas of Sonoma

[2:26:24] because I don't know if they're going to, you know, I I don't want to be the

[2:26:28] one to receive that phone call. Um so I do think that there's things that we do

[2:26:32] need to look at a higher level. Um I also am not a fan of putting stop signs

[2:26:37] everywhere, but it does make sense in certain places. I don't support um the

[2:26:43] traffic calming circle, not a roundabout, but I I'm not in support in

[2:26:48] this specific location. I think that we should look into other alternatives, but

[2:26:53] if it does make sense for other parts of Soma, clearly the statistics are there,

[2:26:58] but it is it serves a purpose. Um so, I'm happy to look into other um

[2:27:04] initiatives around that.

[2:27:10] So maybe I'm a bit naive around this, but I'm wanting to believe that the

[2:27:17] permanent circle will which look which is very different than the what's there

[2:27:23] now. It's visually different uh structurally different um that

[2:27:29] somehow that's going to make a difference. Um, I'm very familiar with

[2:27:35] res traffic circles in uh residential neighborhoods. I worked in Berkeley for

[2:27:40] 35 years. You want to talk about trafficcoming measures drive through

[2:27:44] Berkeley? Um, they've tried everything. Uh, some of it has worked, some of it

[2:27:50] hasn't worked, but there's lots of traffic circles in Berkeley

[2:27:54] neighborhoods and it's effective. And I don't I I guess what what I'm a little

[2:27:59] confused about is the comments about vehicles not being able to traverse that

[2:28:07] area. It seems like if it's been engineered that

[2:28:13] that should be already have taken into a consideration that there would be

[2:28:17] problems actually making the turns. I'm a little bit confused how that could be

[2:28:24] if in fact there is enough area to put that in there. So, um, but I've heard

[2:28:29] those comments and you I believe you know you've had you've witnessed it

[2:28:33] happening and you've have videos showing it. But anyway, so that's where I'm at.

[2:28:37] I'm not totally sure that it isn't the right

[2:28:45] area because I think it's been studied and I think the argument for where it is

[2:28:49] makes sense, but um I'm also open to to considering the fact that maybe it

[2:28:56] isn't. Um so those are just my my thoughts right now.

[2:29:05] I think the biggest thing that I'm taking into consideration here and

[2:29:09] trying to kind of digest is the the difference of 34 miles an hour in

[2:29:15] the 85th percentile to 29. Um,

[2:29:20] sure it's 5 miles an hour different and we're slowing things down and that

[2:29:24] likely would increase with the additional um cushions and things like

[2:29:29] that, but adding the potential pedestrian

[2:29:34] or um bicycle conflict at that intersection

[2:29:39] um is pretty concerning to me. I've seen firsthand

[2:29:44] all of the potential collisions that could occur. Um, and I don't think that

[2:29:52] getting hit on a bicycle at 35 or 34 miles an hour versus 29 is going to make

[2:29:59] a huge difference. Um, but increasing the potential likelihood of a conflict

[2:30:06] at the intersection is what I see as the biggest um, threat. And uh as Chair

[2:30:13] Lobinger said um just the unpredictability of is this person's

[2:30:20] turning movement because they intend to turn right here or is it that they're

[2:30:26] navigating the circle? um the the stuff that I've seen um intersections, whether

[2:30:32] it be vehicle ped or what um or vehicle bike, um that tends to be where the

[2:30:40] worst outcomes are for the pedestrians. Um and so I I that's what I'm kind of uh

[2:30:48] struggling with on this circle is I think that it potentially introduces

[2:30:53] conflict um where currently there is no conflict.

[2:31:04] Yeah. What what what I'm getting is earlier I mentioned I don't know if it

[2:31:10] was me, it could have been someone else. Um we're talking about Malay Street and

[2:31:13] the and the the data does not support traffic calming measures, but when you

[2:31:20] look at the non-data side, it does. this to me

[2:31:27] the data does support having a traffic circle in here.

[2:31:31] So, but the eye test it it's just not passing for me. And and I I know Mark

[2:31:39] just kind of said the same said what I and I'm going to say it again. It's that

[2:31:43] unpredictability because yeah, you get hit by a car at 35 versus

[2:31:48] 29. Okay, maybe there's a slight difference, but

[2:31:52] it's you're trading the trade-off is you're increasing for a greater

[2:31:56] likelihood of something going wrong. And that's whether minor or not. I don't

[2:32:01] want any I I don't want any collisions right there. And um

[2:32:08] I'm just I'm going to say it looks on paper it's working, but I don't think

[2:32:14] this is the solution. Again, I'm not 100% out on it, but I think for our

[2:32:19] committee for tonight, we're supposed to come up with some resolution or

[2:32:24] recommendation, but I think we've all sort of landed on I think we should come

[2:32:28] back next time with some recommendations because I would venture a guess that

[2:32:34] we're going to lean towards not having a permanent traffic circle there. So, that

[2:32:37] would be my recommendation for right now.

[2:32:41] » Thank you, Chair Lozinger. Um I just wanted to quickly clarify that the um

[2:32:46] recommendation tonight was to provide feedback. We'll take that feedback back

[2:32:49] in informed design. This is um we are nearing nine o'clock and um there has to

[2:32:55] be an agreement amongst all of you that to continue on. We do have two

[2:32:58] additional items. One of which is a capital projects update with the 90%

[2:33:02] plan set for this and it also gives the team an opportunity to form an ad hoc.

[2:33:07] Um delaying it until November for the overall project. Again, this is one

[2:33:11] element of the overall project is um not favorable. Just throwing that out there.

[2:33:20] So just to clarify the if we were to look at alterations of the current plan

[2:33:29] um probably the best route would be ad hoc and that can be an interactive

[2:33:34] process with GHD both Frank and the project manager and then come up with

[2:33:40] some potential options for uh November.

[2:33:47] No, more along the lines of we've heard a couple of suggestions tonight.

[2:33:51] We could have GHD draw something up, present that to the ad hoc, and if it

[2:33:56] passes the test of basically what we heard tonight and the ad hoc favors it,

[2:34:03] we're going to make the changes to design and keep moving the project

[2:34:06] forward.

[2:34:10] » Yeah, I'm keeping an eye on the on the clock, too. And I know that we still

[2:34:14] have more items to go over. So, I'm all for um creating an ad hoc and

[2:34:20] moving on to the next item. >> We can do that. Um just for as you guys

[2:34:25] figure out who wants to be on the ad hoc, which usually would take place

[2:34:27] after you establish the ad hoc within this item. Just please keep in mind it's

[2:34:31] probably gonna we were going to want to have to have the ad hoc happen

[2:34:35] » sooner than later. >> Yes.

[2:34:37] » Yeah. >> Okay. Uh do we I forget. Do we need a

[2:34:41] formal motion for an ad hoc? >> No.

[2:34:44] » No. So you can just choose to and then volunteer.

[2:34:48] » Okay. I'm choosing to do an ad hoc and I will be the first volunteer.

[2:34:54] » Hobby two. >> Hobby three.

[2:34:58] » So that was Adam, Greg, and Peter. >> Oh, I can I would be hobby two.

[2:35:04] » Yeah, >> we can't have four. We can only have

[2:35:06] three. >> So

[2:35:09] » Okay.

[2:35:17] Um, what's the easiest way to solve a We

[2:35:21] want three people. >> Yeah, I'm I'm

[2:35:25] » do it on Saturday. If you do it on a Saturday, I'm it. I just went back to

[2:35:28] work full-time. >> Jay, don't

[2:35:31] » I can't take days off for a year. >> Some of us are more relaxed about that.

[2:35:34] I'm available anytime.

[2:35:41] So, um, I'll just address like I I think that having the ad hoc make the final

[2:35:51] decision on what the alterations would be, um, I think that is a disservice to

[2:36:00] the committee as a whole and the process as well as uh the public.

[2:36:06] um just in the interest of having an open meeting and um I think ad hocs are

[2:36:13] obviously a great tool for getting things done, but um my concern is that

[2:36:22] it defeats the purpose of open meeting and that kind of interactive process and

[2:36:31] also shuts three of the committee members out of a very um

[2:36:39] you know interactive item um probably one of the most that we've had in recent

[2:36:47] time. So um that's my only concern um with with not bringing it back in

[2:36:55] November. We're talking about you know a couple of months and we don't have to

[2:37:01] spend the money right away >> as was said earlier but

[2:37:06] If we're talking about a minor alteration,

[2:37:09] » if I could jump in real quick. We've done it once with this issue already.

[2:37:11] I'm happy to do it again. A special meeting

[2:37:15] if because it seems like a lot of people want to be involved. Three might not be

[2:37:18] enough. And it will will it be a final product with an ad hoc? I think we would

[2:37:22] still have to vote on as a committee, but I would say a special meeting.

[2:37:26] » Does it does it make a difference? I mean, we all want to be there. So, can

[2:37:29] we all meet or does it need to be public here?

[2:37:32] » It needs to be public. It needs to be public. So it's either ad hoc and advise

[2:37:36] or special meeting among all of us. >> Um I think the the the reason in terms

[2:37:43] of delaying the um Okay, let me go back. As we've discussed before, this is part

[2:37:47] of a larger project, right? This is one element of one element of a project, an

[2:37:52] overall project that is being funded by Sonoma County Transit Agency as

[2:37:57] construction. Um and so that is the interest of moving the whole project

[2:38:02] forward. Um, not being able to present and bid a final plan set puts us at a

[2:38:10] disadvantage. Um, and so I'll just leave you with

[2:38:13] that. Can >> Can we do an ad hoc and then come back

[2:38:17] with a special meeting? >> Yeah, that can happen. uh regarding a

[2:38:23] special meeting. One of the things that we could do is we

[2:38:27] could put together a draft set of plans to present a couple of the alternatives

[2:38:33] that have been discussed tonight, present that to an ad hoc and then

[2:38:37] basically present that in a special meeting in the short term.

[2:38:43] I mean, I would say if we're going to do a special meeting, I would eliminate the

[2:38:46] ad hoc. I I don't know what kind of time the city needs for us to have a meeting

[2:38:50] and I don't know how much time uh public works and the design engineers we to put

[2:38:54] together a couple of alternatives but if we can do let's say it's a month you

[2:39:00] know because time is of the essence I think an ad hoc and a special meeting is

[2:39:03] a little too repetitive.

[2:39:12] » Yeah. as part of um just throwing some different options around. We did put a

[2:39:17] plan together tonight. We could present that plan. It's a draft, but it includes

[2:39:23] a couple of the different options that we discussed tonight. And if we can get

[2:39:27] consensus right now, we go ahead and do that.

[2:39:32] » I'm okay with that. And as far as a nine o'clock thing,

[2:39:37] that's if you guys agree to do any new things after 9, it's all dependent on

[2:39:43] you guys voting on that. It's not like nine o'clock we're done. It's up to you

[2:39:47] guys. But I also realize everybody's had a long day.

[2:39:54] » H how long, Ashley? How long would it take to present these options?

[2:39:58] » It's up right now, so no problem. This >> It's It's up on the screen. I don't

[2:40:03] recognize that though. Can you go down? >> Yeah.

[2:40:08] » Yeah. So, here's one of the alternatives that we discussed tonight, which was

[2:40:12] four-way stop control at both Andros. On the bottom slide there, we've got the

[2:40:19] Benton Court intersection with the crosswalk upgrades and a four-way stop.

[2:40:24] And then the match line on the left hand side of that lower sheet connects with

[2:40:29] the right hand side of the upper sheet. The next street up is Andros and there's

[2:40:34] a four-way stop represented there along with Continental Crosswalks.

[2:40:40] Then you have the Perkins intersection that's currently there. And I just want

[2:40:44] to be really clear about the Perkins intersection. The red striping that's

[2:40:48] shown there, that's not taking away any parking that isn't consistently already

[2:40:52] taken away with state law AB13 413. And any cars that are parked there are all

[2:40:58] sightable whether the curb is red or not. And if we painted all the red curbs

[2:41:03] in the city where there was no parking, we'd have a guy full-time painting those

[2:41:07] curbs all year round like the Golden Gate Bridge.

[2:41:10] » So the the whole argument that we're taking away parking,

[2:41:13] » there's no parking being taken away. >> Okay.

[2:41:16] » Those red those red marked cars at Perkins and Third are no parking zones

[2:41:22] by AB 413. And it's ticketable whether it's red striped or not. It's just we

[2:41:28] don't have time to write tickets. And we also don't have time to paint all these

[2:41:32] corners red and red stripe them and maintain the striping. So then as you go

[2:41:37] up to the north, you're getting to Vna Street and that is where the third speed

[2:41:45] cushion would be. And these plans haven't been 100%

[2:41:49] vetted, >> but this concept has been vetted and

[2:41:52] we've discussed it with the traffic engineers

[2:41:56] and it is an alternative to the traffic circle.

[2:42:05] » How many sets of speed bumps? >> Total of three currently in the plan

[2:42:08] set. There's two right now. Right. And those two are shown uh actually

[2:42:13] yeah one is shown they're at church in between Napa and Spain Street.

[2:42:20] » No that's okay. And then the third one is south of Napa Street.

[2:42:24] And those two speed cushions that are on Third Street that are north of Perkins

[2:42:28] are about symmetrical to where you're dividing it up into thirds. What would

[2:42:34] » in between Perkins? >> A fourth

[2:42:36] » in between Perkins and Napa Street. >> Was there a fourth Christian? No.

[2:42:43] » Suggestion? No. Okay. I thought someone >> Well, not not in this alternative.

[2:42:51] » And this is this is an alternative that hasn't really been tested. I mean, it's

[2:42:57] just we're not we we're not necessarily in the business of testing things that

[2:43:03] we're about to implement. Okay. We put in temporary speed cushions on Napa

[2:43:08] Street by the Catholic Cemetery at Fifth Street East. Those are still in today.

[2:43:13] We're going to be finalizing the the keeping those in. But bottom line, we're

[2:43:19] not going to spend a whole lot of time putting in temporary speed bumps. We're

[2:43:23] going to vet the location and then we're going to put the speed bumps in. The

[2:43:27] traffic circle was something completely different. And the reason that we put it

[2:43:31] in was we wanted to give everybody the opportunity to see what it looked like

[2:43:34] to test it out and to give comment. And I think it was super successful on that.

[2:43:40] This is the most people we've had at a traffic safety meeting in a long time.

[2:43:44] And and we appreciate that. And we appreciate all your time tonight and we

[2:43:47] appreciate all your comments and all the time that you spent on that. And I mean,

[2:43:52] we appreciate it. That's that's from the heart. And basically though, um, we're

[2:43:58] not looking at if we put another speed circle in, darn right, we're putting a

[2:44:02] temporary one in first because we want the input from the public. We want to

[2:44:06] see how this thing works with our own two eyes. I've spent time out there.

[2:44:10] I've watched the videos. I've read all the correspondence that's come in and

[2:44:15] I've I've listened and I've heard and but the bottom line is that something

[2:44:19] like a traffic circle, you have to put up a temporary. If we're going to

[2:44:24] propose to put a speed bump somewhere, we're going to put it in

[2:44:27] and we're going to vet the location prior to doing that

[2:44:31] and it's going to be in response to people wanting it like on Malay.

[2:44:36] So this this type of a scenario we have discussed extensively with the design

[2:44:42] engineer and the traffic engineer that are both here tonight

[2:44:46] and we can take further comments or questions about these and we've already

[2:44:51] vetted the fact that we believe this is going to have a similar effect and based

[2:44:56] on what I've heard tonight I think that Andrews is a candidate for a four-way

[2:45:00] stop regardless of what because when you know people are going there and you're

[2:45:05] not sure if the car stopping or slowing or going through the dip that that

[2:45:11] that's an issue and I've heard that and we have a similar situation at Benton

[2:45:14] Court and so um I feel like uh based on the

[2:45:21] discussion I've had with the project engineers, the traffic engineer, the

[2:45:25] design team at public works, I'm comfortable moving this forward as the

[2:45:30] item for the traffic safety committee to approve or to make a recommendation on

[2:45:35] or actually give me feedback. >> Uh, can you go ahead?

[2:45:39] » Sorry. Um, can you show us the um Andrix and Bettton Court uh mockup in the this

[2:45:49] proposed plan.

[2:45:53] » This is Andrix. And then this is this is Benton Court, right? Yeah.

[2:46:00] Can I ask why there's only marked crosswalk on Betton Court and Andrew are

[2:46:04] only three and not four? Frank anticipated my question.

[2:46:10] » Yeah. So, um that's because of the ditch itself. It's concrete and thermoplastic,

[2:46:17] even paint doesn't stick to concrete, especially when it's going to carry

[2:46:20] water. Um, so state law doesn't preclude

[2:46:25] somebody from using a marked versus an unmarked crosswalk.

[2:46:30] Um, not marking it doesn't mean somebody can't cross there. The preference would

[2:46:35] be to use the marked crosswalks. As we've heard through public comment,

[2:46:38] people want something that they can actually see and utilize. um if again

[2:46:44] not fully you know vetted is do we need to put signs up that now say that is not

[2:46:50] a crosswalk and and I'm hesitant to do that but that would be the alternative

[2:46:56] is that it's not marked and it's not a crosswalk or it's not marked because it

[2:47:01] would just fall apart and it is still a crosswalk. It's the allway stop that's

[2:47:06] really we wouldn't uh for instance you don't mark for the crosswalk with

[2:47:10] warning signs when it's an allway stop because the stop control is the control

[2:47:16] you guys >> but there'll be a limit line

[2:47:20] stop legend there'd be a sign yeah anything inside the limit line would be

[2:47:24] the crossing area the cross well even think about this way the gutters often

[2:47:29] look like a crosswalk right >> so what you're saying is if we move

[2:47:35] forward with this I would have to walk on the west side of Third Street.

[2:47:42] Um Frank, one quick question just kind of

[2:47:47] with Ashley's presentation of the whole concept and trying to facilitate this

[2:47:54] being a bike boulevard. Um, in your opinion, if Andrix becomes a

[2:48:01] four-way stop, if there was an opportunity to put cushions between

[2:48:06] Bettin Court and Andrix, would you see it necessary to have a

[2:48:12] four-way stop at Bettin Court or could we do that reverse

[2:48:17] um with the stop sign there to help facilitate that and make it only one,

[2:48:24] you stop for the bicycles or you know

[2:48:29] traffic in the north south in that area as opposed to you know just it seems

[2:48:36] clunky from the concept point of it being a bike boulevard if you're

[2:48:44] stopping at every intersection. >> Yeah. Other than the fact that the stop

[2:48:48] sign itself is what's relegating an equal bite for the cyclist. Um, Eris,

[2:48:55] uh, you know, with the work that we do from a bicycle perspective, it's at

[2:48:59] least an opportunity. It's not the perfect opportunity, but it's a better

[2:49:03] opportunity than the indecision of the vehicles slowly going through the

[2:49:08] intersection because of the um the the swale. So, that's where it adds a little

[2:49:16] bit of order to everything. Um, I think Mike was I saw Mike kind of squirming a

[2:49:22] little bit because we uh not squirming. We discussed that. Could we do

[2:49:26] potentially the other speed hump between Ben Court and H Andrix and not do the

[2:49:32] allway stop? It's an option. That's that's one of the

[2:49:36] things we we kind of went with the full because I knew I had this and we we had

[2:49:40] this in hand. So that's where we kind of sat. That's the allocart. It's a sum of

[2:49:46] parts. So if we don't do the allway stop or we reverse the stops at Benort, we

[2:49:51] need to do something else and is it potentially one additional speed hub? Is

[2:49:55] it a second one? Probably just the one, but you know holistically.

[2:50:01] » Well, and we've got the project engineer on Zoom also. Roman, are you there?

[2:50:07] » Yes, I am. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Yeah, we can hear you just fine. Did you

[2:50:11] hear the question that was just asked to Frank? And have you had the time to look

[2:50:14] into additional speed bumps south of Andros and possibly in the Benton Court

[2:50:21] area so that that stop sign could potentially be eliminated at Benton

[2:50:25] Court. >> We've looked at it as a highle option.

[2:50:29] Uh and by the way, just a quick introduction, I'm Roman Beltran with GHD

[2:50:33] uh civil engineer of record for this project. Um so yeah, so we've looked at

[2:50:39] it as a highle option. a agreed with everything Frank stated that if if we

[2:50:43] eliminate the we abandon the option of allway stop control then we do need

[2:50:48] another traffic calming measure either before or south of Benton Court or

[2:50:53] between Benton Court and Andrix um from an engineering standpoint the

[2:50:59] allway stop you know in addition to the order it's providing it's also providing

[2:51:05] predictability you know it removes all ambiguity from from those vehicles that

[2:51:09] are decelerating ating at the speed bump um and at the same time giving the

[2:51:15] bicyclist an equal shot at crossing the the intersection. Um so

[2:51:22] I'm a little torn between, you know, putting in that speed measure

[2:51:29] but then allowing that ambiguity to to remain at the intersections with those

[2:51:34] swailes there. Um, so, um, I think I have to sit on, you know, sleep on that

[2:51:40] one a little bit, but I tend to favor the always stops versus the fourth

[2:51:48] uh, speed cushion at this location due to that uh, the removal of that

[2:51:52] ambiguity that that we're discussing. >> Okay. Thank you. the bikes. The

[2:51:57] challenge with the bikes is as a bicyclist,

[2:52:03] that's the stop sign is a suggestion because you don't want to take your feet

[2:52:09] out of the clips. Uh you you'll slow, you'll pay

[2:52:13] attention, but I've seen people not pay too much

[2:52:17] attention. And and that's my concern about a four-way stop over at least with

[2:52:26] the speed cushions. The the bicycle is still going to have

[2:52:31] to pay attention as they go through the intersection, but

[2:52:35] the ambiguity is actually to me less because there's

[2:52:41] there's no stop sign. Is the guy going to stop? Is the guy not going to stop?

[2:52:48] Yeah. And just if we did go without a four-way stop at Benton Court, we would

[2:52:52] still do we would still reverse the stop control, meaning Third Street would have

[2:52:59] a clear route for bicycles and cars. There wouldn't be any more ambiguity

[2:53:04] with the dip. There would be a stop sign there. And if we come up with a a second

[2:53:09] loca, a secondary location, fourth location for another speed cushion,

[2:53:15] it's something to consider. I mean, my thought is if this truly is

[2:53:19] supposed to be a bike boulevard, the bikes that are coming from the Frier

[2:53:23] Creek Trail and in theory heading to Valo's home already have to stop at Bet

[2:53:29] Court and Andrew Street. And really what you're doing is giving that added

[2:53:33] protection for east west traffic to stop and making it um less am

[2:53:41] getting rid of the ambiguity. Um so I think bicycles are going to have to stop

[2:53:46] regardless if you're truly traveling down the bike boulevard.

[2:53:50] Um, >> not if there's a stop sign on

[2:53:54] » if there's a stop sign. >> I'm talking about the plan that that's

[2:53:57] in front of us where Bettin Court and Andrew are four-way stops.

[2:54:01] » Right. So I'm my thing is I'm liking to I'm trying to suggest you just do the

[2:54:08] cross street of Bettin Court gets a stop sign and you get the speed cushions and

[2:54:13] then that one four-way stop grudgingly that one four-way stop.

[2:54:21] I would also say that we are running up on nine o'clock and so um there's a

[2:54:27] couple things I think we are going to we do need to do the report up for um for

[2:54:33] capital improvements. I think we might need a break in a moment, but in order

[2:54:37] to bring this to a close because time is of the essence with the two options that

[2:54:42] are presented in front of us right now at this moment, the two four-way stops

[2:54:46] and an additional speed cushion versus traffic circle and as is if we need to

[2:54:52] make a decision right now, I'm of the opinion I would favor what is on the

[2:54:56] screen the two. >> What happened to cross street of Bett?

[2:55:01] Why is that being considered? Why? I mean, I like it seems to me

[2:55:07] there's three under discussion. And if we're going to make it a bicycle

[2:55:12] boulevard, we open it up to bicycles better.

[2:55:16] And that means not having a four-way stop at Bon Court.

[2:55:28] I think a possible way to move this forward. The original intention of the

[2:55:32] agenda item was to get feedback from the public, get feedback from the committee

[2:55:36] and incorporate into that into the final design. I think it sounds pretty clear

[2:55:42] that everyone for the most part majority is in favor of this particular

[2:55:46] alternative. The nuances between the bet and court

[2:55:51] always stop and possibly adding in a speed hump is something that we could

[2:55:56] work through in design and would probably not impact. I mean it would

[2:56:05] impact but things that we could work out in design if the overall you guys are

[2:56:09] supportive of this pro concept. We could move forward and um hammer out the

[2:56:16] minutia of the this

[2:56:20] » uh because I know time is obviously the essence now. It really is. But here's my

[2:56:26] question. I'm wondering if we just put it to a vote right now. The the plan

[2:56:30] that's in front of us, the the two four-way stops and the three speed

[2:56:34] cushions speed um traffic circle removed.

[2:56:44] » Yeah, I'm that that's what I'm saying. the and we're not going to get a

[2:56:48] consensus, but I'd say we're 90% there as a as a committee and that's why we

[2:56:53] have these votes because they're never going to be they're not always

[2:56:55] unanimous. So, >> just to clarify, the third and Perkins

[2:57:02] in this plan has a four-way stop or no, no, it's essentially as is. We're

[2:57:10] relying on the speed cushions to do the calming.

[2:57:18] My question to public works because I know we have to go through the county

[2:57:22] and um and speed this process up. Would it benefit public works and the city and

[2:57:29] everybody here right now for us to come up with to land on an idea right now?

[2:57:40] Ideally, if you could provide feedback, right? If and that makes it better for

[2:57:46] us to update the design, right? From the county perspective, we could take that.

[2:57:50] We have a technical advisory committee meeting on Thursday. We could do a

[2:57:53] report out, let them know about um you know, the commit the community and

[2:57:59] committee feedback, what the preference is, and then work out the amendment.

[2:58:03] That would probably make things go faster. But we but we wouldn't have

[2:58:06] until our next meeting in November to make a final decision.

[2:58:11] » Correct. If you want if you Yeah. If you didn't make a decision, I just want to

[2:58:15] clarify the overall >> there is no vote required from the

[2:58:19] committee and that is not me discounting or public works discounting the feedback

[2:58:23] at all. That is not We absolutely value the committee's feedback. We value the

[2:58:26] community's feedback. That's a big reason why we did the temporary traffic

[2:58:30] installation. However, um we do It would be great to

[2:58:35] have your feedback in that um you are supportive of the alternative. It it

[2:58:39] would be wonderful um but you don't necessarily need to it.

[2:58:42] » So I guess to put it differently assuming we're removing the traffic well

[2:58:47] assuming the traffic circle isn't a permanent aspect. Can public works move

[2:58:52] forward without any vote from the committee whether it's tonight October

[2:58:56] November or anything? >> Yes.

[2:58:57] » Because you've received our feedback. >> Yes.

[2:58:59] » Then I'm okay with that because our feedback has been given and then some.

[2:59:05] Great. Thank you. >> Unless somebody is opposed to that,

[2:59:09] » I think

[2:59:13] » I'm saying no vote. The goal was for feedback. We've had plenty of feedback

[2:59:18] and it also gives public we don't public works is not going to be is isn't going

[2:59:22] to be bound if we don't make a recommendation tonight or at all.

[2:59:27] » Correct. You're everyone's feedback is absolutely going to be included in the

[2:59:31] design. The final design will probably be somewhat similar to what is front in

[2:59:34] front. >> Okay, I'm okay with that.

[2:59:41] » All right, let's close out this item. >> Yeah. And just just

[2:59:45] » to be clear, so close. >> I just want to make sure that we do have

[2:59:49] different opinions >> by the committee and we cannot

[2:59:52] incorporate two different opinions into one intersection. So, we're going to

[2:59:56] take it back to engineering. We're going to go through the process. We're going

[3:00:00] to come up come up with a final design and move the project forward.

[3:00:02] » Perfect. >> Thank you.

[3:00:04] » All right, let's close this out. It's nine o'clock. Two things. We do need to

[3:00:08] do the capital improvements. Is the committee okay with continuing to press

[3:00:11] forward with the needed items? >> Yes. I'm going to say yes. Second, do we

[3:00:15] need a water break, personal break, five, 10 minutes?

[3:00:20] » Let's do a five minute break.

[3:10:47] Yep. Exactly. All right, >> let's keep this going.

[3:10:55] the route for the home. >> Okay. All right. Item 4.3.

[3:11:01] » The >> Oh, speed tables at East. Oh my gosh. I

[3:11:05] need to >> All right. I'm turning over.

[3:11:09] » Um, so the current configuration of the speed tables on East Napa was approved

[3:11:12] for installation at November 15, 2023 city council meeting. The meeting

[3:11:17] materials presented at the city council meeting which is also conveniently

[3:11:20] linked in your agenda item is covers the meetings where this was presented at the

[3:11:25] traffic safety committee meeting on August 22nd 2023 and October 3rd 2020

[3:11:30] 23. Since the November 15th meeting the speed tables have been installed and

[3:11:35] have worked to slow vehicles down. We do acknowledge that there is some issue

[3:11:38] with chicaining. We have put down bots dots um there to prevent people from

[3:11:43] doing that or discourage that. Um we have gotten two traffic hazard reporting

[3:11:47] forms. Both have been submitted with less than five signatures and um have

[3:11:51] been addressed on consent calendars. Um since the installation, we've also

[3:11:57] worked with um the traffic safety committee ad hoc to adopt the

[3:12:00] neighborhood trafficcoming toolbox with guidance from the city's traffic

[3:12:03] engineer. This was adopted by the traffic safety committee on May 6, 2025.

[3:12:07] Speed tables are an allowable intervention as part of this

[3:12:10] neighborhood traffic caling toolbox. So, with this MA manual now in place, staff

[3:12:13] is recommending that the traffic safety revisit the speed tables and if in

[3:12:16] agreement, recommend them for permanent adoption.

[3:12:20] All right. Uh, any questions from the committee about the speed tables?

[3:12:26] Um,

[3:12:30] all right. I guess I'll open up to public comment then.

[3:12:35] » I speak in favor of making the speeds permanent.

[3:12:39] » Noted. Perfect. Um

[3:12:45] » do uh does chief cutting have any feedback on that?

[3:12:54] » So um the speed tables were applied to slow down vehicles. I believe the uh

[3:13:00] speed surveys that have been conducted um have shown pretty conclusively that

[3:13:06] they were effective in slowing traffic. what we I I think we had some insight

[3:13:11] into this potential of the chicaining around the uh speed tables. Uh we at the

[3:13:18] police department get a significant number of complaints from drivers who

[3:13:22] have observed it uh have seen the uh dangerous driving uh going around them.

[3:13:28] We spent a good deal of time out there. I you're going to hear in a in a minute

[3:13:31] when I give my statistics report. I I can't focus on just one area of the city

[3:13:35] only. Uh but we do give it a good amount of time and I spent a good amount of

[3:13:40] time out there watching uh in a mark car and and I observe it every time I go

[3:13:45] there I observe multiple vehicles will chicane around them. Uh the way they are

[3:13:51] currently designed I'm I'm not saying um make them permanent or not. Uh but what

[3:13:57] I am saying is that the offset is going to create the chicane that we have and

[3:14:02] that problem is not going to stop um without some engineering change in those

[3:14:08] in that design. Uh outside of that uh we'll continue to police it. Uh we'll

[3:14:13] continue to enforce it. We wrote, I believe, six or seven um citations last

[3:14:18] week out there uh for that very incident. Um and as we have time, we

[3:14:22] will give that area attention. But our attention is not the solution to the

[3:14:28] chicane. That's all I have. Unless you have questions for me about

[3:14:33] » Are we adding comment on this or no? >> Uh yeah, I mean it's back to the

[3:14:37] committee at this point unless someone has question for Chief Cutting.

[3:14:42] » Um I I live fairly close to these. Um and at the time when it was when we had

[3:14:49] the meeting um I was in favor of it, but I am not anymore. I think it's my own

[3:14:55] father who is visiting from out of town almost got hit. Um so I think we need to

[3:14:59] look into other options um specifically from the chicane. So

[3:15:04] » yeah I I I think we all know that this was kind of the first big issue that we

[3:15:08] tackled and we didn't get pushed into it but I think we were I think we we came

[3:15:14] to a decision quicker than we should have. I like the speed tables. I don't

[3:15:18] like the offset speed tables. So I guess my question would be

[3:15:23] can we make them even speed tables because I think the

[3:15:29] chicane is going to be an issue and I completely agree it will keep happening

[3:15:31] but I do think there needs to be something there.

[3:15:34] » Yeah. And that's with no offset. >> No offset. They're right next to each

[3:15:37] other. >> The reason we have the offset is

[3:15:39] » the fire department I and all due respect to the fire department. I I

[3:15:44] don't think it's going to slow them down that much. Um, but if that's something

[3:15:48] that we need to check in with Chief Achre or anybody else from the fire

[3:15:52] department, I'm happy to do that. But, um, I I I think the

[3:15:57] chicaining issue is a larger issue than the fire department than the ambulance

[3:16:02] getting out there needing to slow down, costing them 10 to 15 seconds of of

[3:16:09] response time. So, the the speed tables are there right now. Would would the

[3:16:15] existing ones become the permanent ones? And in terms of redesign and making them

[3:16:22] not offset, having them next to each other, is that going to be again, it's

[3:16:26] going to come back to the budget. >> Well, and just that

[3:16:29] the reason they're offset is it was at fire's request. They did not want them

[3:16:35] not offset. Yeah. So, you can take those speed

[3:16:39] tables and you can put them adjacent to each other. Um, there might be there's a

[3:16:45] driveway there, but I don't I think that that could be

[3:16:52] dealt with, but I'm not as much worried about the engineering component as I am

[3:16:58] the agreement that we made with fire to put them in offset. Yeah. What we could

[3:17:02] do is we could, like you said, this was early on when our um traffic handbook

[3:17:09] was just it wasn't even done yet and this was one of the first ones that we

[3:17:13] did and so it and this is a tier three implementation.

[3:17:18] So, you know, that's why they were temporary and we decided to come back at

[3:17:22] a later date. Um, what we could look what we could do is we could look into

[3:17:26] alternative design and do further discussion with the fire department and

[3:17:32] see if we can't come back with a different alternative in November.

[3:17:37] » Yeah, I' I'd be in favor of that one because I I like having something there,

[3:17:41] but I don't know if that was the right answer.

[3:17:44] » Yeah. And if that's the consensus of the committee, uh, staff could work on that.

[3:17:49] » Yeah. it uh just the quality of life has improved. Uh

[3:17:57] they've had a positive effect and I I think such a positive effect I'd

[3:18:04] certainly encourage the city to deploy more of them throughout just just to

[3:18:10] take the edge off. Again, what I said earlier tonight, it's we're just going

[3:18:15] to get more cars just within it's, you know, within the city, the empty lots

[3:18:20] that are available to build on. And they're going to put as many houses,

[3:18:25] many front doors into an empty lot as possible. That's going to add more and

[3:18:29] more cars. And I I think they do uh an adequate job

[3:18:37] of of reducing speed. And what I've talked

[3:18:45] about earlier too is the noise from traffic. Once that's once

[3:18:53] the speed is reduced, the noise is concurrently reduced as well. So, uh,

[3:19:00] God, whatever we can do to keep that something like that, make it better, I'm

[3:19:06] all for it.

[3:19:16] » Okay. Then I I mean, I'm I'm all for having something there, but maybe some

[3:19:23] come up with some alternatives and talk more about it. November.

[3:19:28] » Chief cutting. Uh just do you have any input if the if the sha canes removed?

[3:19:34] Obviously patrol cars are a little more agile than fire engines, but could have

[3:19:39] an effect on the deputies. >> No, I I I said in the very beginning the

[3:19:45] the impact on a patrol car is is negligible to any issue. So if they're

[3:19:51] parallel to or alongside in a linear line across it would have no effect on a

[3:19:56] patrol car. We don't chicane around them now. Not supposed to

[3:20:02] » a little more fun the other way.

[3:20:07] » Cuz cops treat patrol cars like they're their own.

[3:20:16] » Okay. I I think I think uh for this item it's uh come up with some alternatives,

[3:20:21] talk to fire and and revisit in November.

[3:20:24] » We will reagendize this in November with some alternatives.

[3:20:27] » In that case, I'm going to close the item and uh move on to 44, which is the

[3:20:31] capital projects update. >> So the capital projects update um does

[3:20:36] kind of touch on the traffic circle in that it does address the citywide

[3:20:40] bicycle and pedestrians improvement project. Um so let me just start from

[3:20:43] the top. Um we have previously brought the fire Nash rehabilitation project.

[3:20:47] CIPT5, this is an evergreen project, but Frier Picket Nash neighborhood has kind

[3:20:51] of been where our efforts have been circulating. Um that project was

[3:20:55] substantially completed in May. It was awarded in March and so um we're happy

[3:21:00] to report that that has been done. The citywide bicycle and pedestrians

[3:21:04] improvement project has overall the project has met an important um

[3:21:08] milestone 90% um that's part of why um the conversation with regard to the

[3:21:13] traffic circle is geared towards making a decision being able to move it

[3:21:16] forward. This is the overall project and the 90% plan set is comp is included as

[3:21:21] part of your agenda packet. Um again the elements include the raised crosswalk

[3:21:26] crossing improvements and then um the third street west bike boulevard.

[3:21:31] The um all of the elements are accurately or all of the elements are

[3:21:36] represented in the project plans. Um this does currently include the traffic

[3:21:40] circle. We have not included the design revision, but we will work with

[3:21:43] designers to implement the feedback we received um on the traffic circle item

[3:21:47] before the project goes out to bid. And then um moving on to our citywide slurry

[3:21:52] seal project. This was awarded to Sierra Nevada Construction at the regular

[3:21:56] council meeting of July 15, 2026 and construction is expected to start um

[3:22:01] midepptember is our current estimate from the contractor. This is also going

[3:22:05] to apply slurry application um and well the map for slurry application is um

[3:22:10] attached to this agenda item as well. So this is our our standard um slurry seal

[3:22:15] maintenance that we do for road maintenance increasing our PCI every two

[3:22:18] years. And then item number four is our safe router school. Um it's a key

[3:22:23] strategy of um Sonoma County vision zero action plan. This is coming up because a

[3:22:29] fiscal 23 grant that SCTCA had applied for is now available for funds and um

[3:22:37] this is a a project that SCTCA is going to be driving in conjunction with city

[3:22:42] staff. Um we are encouraged to look at corridors and identify improvements that

[3:22:50] also align with the active transportation plan that we have

[3:22:53] adopted. And um in looking at all of the city or

[3:22:58] all of the school sites within the city and this um overall review period

[3:23:03] happened in I believe 2024 2025. So when Presswood School was still Presswood

[3:23:08] School and not MacArthur Charter um or MacArthur Park. Apologies for the

[3:23:12] misnomer on that. But um so in evaluation of that we will be looking at

[3:23:17] the high school and um what was previously Preswood Elementary and now

[3:23:21] MacArthur Park Charter School. um they are planning on coming to the November

[3:23:25] traffic safety committee meeting and they will be presenting um the corridor

[3:23:29] as an attachment to this um agenda item and I'll just go ahead actually I don't

[3:23:33] want to scroll through all the project plans but um can I just click on this?

[3:23:37] There we go. >> Yeah.

[3:23:38] » Okay. So this is overall the list of corridors that have been identified. Um,

[3:23:43] I took a look at the active transportation plan and we also talked

[3:23:46] about some um, you know, east side, west side connectivity, looking at like way

[3:23:52] maybe possibly where students are actually living. You know, on my part

[3:23:56] that's really just more anecdotal data. Um, but this um, is something that we

[3:24:00] worked on with Sonoma County Transit or I'm sorry, SCTCA and um, they are going

[3:24:06] to be working on with on this with their designers are presenting a much more

[3:24:09] tailored version of this at the November meeting. The overall project allows for

[3:24:13] about three miles of corridor improvements. As you can see here, we

[3:24:16] have about 5.67. So, this is going to come down significantly. Um, and it it

[3:24:22] that will be done in consideration with their design engineers. Um, this is a a

[3:24:28] project heavier on the SCTCA side in terms of driving design, etc., but it is

[3:24:33] intended to be a very collaborative process with city staff. That's part of

[3:24:37] why they're coming in November. And we do anticipate having meetings with the

[3:24:41] the Sonoma Valley Unified School District as well. So the intention of

[3:24:44] this is to be very very collaborative and the end goal is to have a safe route

[3:24:47] to school plan that we will be able to apply for future grant funding to

[3:24:51] actually implement some of these improvements.

[3:24:58] » All right. Thank you, Ashley. Uh does the committee have any um questions?

[3:25:02] » I just have one quick question. This is amazing. I love this. uh did they take

[3:25:07] into consideration each school and um headcount and allocate that

[3:25:13] appropriately to the the um total mileage?

[3:25:17] » I believe they did. Yes, there was a um a selection criteria that they worked

[3:25:22] through in order to come to Sonoma Valley High School and um Presswood. and

[3:25:26] I can pass along feedback to have them elaborate more on that at the November

[3:25:30] meeting.

[3:25:34] » But it's not going to be all 5.67 miles. >> No, it will be limited to three miles.

[3:25:39] Um being totally honest, I beefed it up to six miles because I it basically it

[3:25:44] covers a lot of um east west connection. Um I grew up in the broader Snow Valley,

[3:25:49] not necessarily like you know city limits. And so, um, you know, trying to

[3:25:54] figure out if they're going to focus more on like other areas of town, that

[3:25:58] kind of thing. Um, but that's something that's going to be fleshed out with

[3:26:01] their design engineer. So, they're going to be presenting a much more tailored

[3:26:04] version. So, not all of this is going to be included because our budget's only

[3:26:07] about three months. I >> I'm only asking just with the recent

[3:26:11] changes of the school district. And so if this is old data, if they're

[3:26:17] considering the new um headcount per school, you know, per elementary school,

[3:26:22] etc. Um >> yeah, and that's a great point and we'll

[3:26:26] emphasize that so that they're prepared to have a full discussion at the

[3:26:30] meeting. >> Yeah.

[3:26:31] » In November, >> we did let them know about the change

[3:26:34] that would at at this meeting um to come up with these corridors. We did let them

[3:26:39] know that Presswood Elementary had closed and it was replaced with a

[3:26:42] charter school. >> I think with the charter I think it's

[3:26:45] 200 roughly 200 for enrollment right now and it I pretty sure was close to 300

[3:26:50] and a lot of them have been moved to Sasarini

[3:26:53] um or other schools and so from what I'm seeing here there's a lot focused on the

[3:26:58] east side but I'm wondering if we should take a look at other areas um just a

[3:27:03] thought. >> We can definitely pass that along and

[3:27:06] make sure that feedback's incorporated. Not to belver the point, but I literally

[3:27:11] right before this meeting spoke to the new director principal of MacArthur Park

[3:27:15] and um I specifically asked about enrollment and while it's slightly

[3:27:20] offset, they had they did move obviously a lot of students around, but they're

[3:27:24] just over 200 and they anticipate coming back to around Prestwood levels. Um

[3:27:30] they're they have applications for their school. Um they the biggest thing the

[3:27:35] the ESN students from Prestwood are no longer there. They've been shifted

[3:27:38] throughout the district, but the numbers will remain are anticipated to remain

[3:27:43] relatively the same, probably down a little bit.

[3:27:50] Anything else from the committee? I will open it up to public comment.

[3:27:56] » Thank you, Tom Conlin again. Um, so I learned some things tonight. uh the

[3:28:04] that are of relevance to this uh CIP going forward. Um I'm encouraged to hear

[3:28:11] that the city's considering 16 miles per hour average speed as a threshold for

[3:28:20] speed bumps if uh the community members actually

[3:28:24] want it. So, that's something that I'll probably be encouraging more uh hazard

[3:28:31] forms to recommend that solution because it sounds like it's a it's a viable

[3:28:35] thing around the city. there's support for it even from the community that

[3:28:38] doesn't want to see more aggressive more more um other kinds of measures in the

[3:28:44] um

[3:28:49] I I'll be talking with Aerys about whether the changes that you guys are

[3:28:54] going to be going back to finalize on the uh Third Street West uh whether that

[3:29:00] rises to the level of a major change. I don't think we consider it to be a major

[3:29:05] change at this point and um I think we're probably going to be able to

[3:29:09] support the minor adjustment at your TAC meeting upcoming this week. Um I'm a

[3:29:15] little disappointed obviously I got a little emotional tonight. Um but

[3:29:20] obviously the community came out and told you that they're concerned about it

[3:29:23] and I I support the community and I support your judge good judgment in

[3:29:27] making a a decision there. I do encourage the city staff and this

[3:29:32] committee and council to keep moving forward, to keep moving people out of

[3:29:36] their comfort zone and to make the city a safer place. And I think we're we all

[3:29:40] making progress on that. specifically on the safe routes to school um opportunity

[3:29:46] that's in front of us right now. My understanding is that the um the injury

[3:29:54] network where the high injury potential is in the city is much closer to

[3:29:58] Sasserini than it is to uh MacArthur Park or the high school even at this

[3:30:04] time. So um and I also believe that the there are some equity related points in

[3:30:11] the scoring for these projects. I may be getting two projects mis mixed up in

[3:30:16] terms of the funding streams, but I think I'm hearing about the same

[3:30:19] project. So I'd encourage you all to sure that if you're if it is a

[3:30:23] competitive grant that we're setting ourselves up for that we are leaning

[3:30:28] into the equity points as well as the injury network.

[3:30:34] uh you know where we really need it the most and I believe I know we're making

[3:30:38] some major improvements to Fifth Street West uh in the current CIP, but are we

[3:30:45] are we going to be able to get all the way there with the money we have to

[3:30:48] date? If not, we might want to look at this as another source of funding. I

[3:30:53] know that Chief Brandon uh Chief Cutting has um

[3:30:59] indicated that there are some problems at that uh crossing at formerly Press

[3:31:04] Wood, but I think they put a stop sign in there or something and that has been

[3:31:07] rectified already. So, um looking forward to more safe routes to schools.

[3:31:12] Thank you. >> Thank you.

[3:31:19] Okay, I think uh move it back to the committee. Any further discussion from

[3:31:24] the committee? I also just wanted to clarify we did

[3:31:29] give you the team the option to do an ad hoc for the 90% if you guys still wanted

[3:31:34] to do that for the CIP the overall larger traffic the citywide bicycle and

[3:31:39] pedestrian improvement plans kind of I feel like you maybe you passed possibly

[3:31:43] passed on that in the traffic circle item but I just wanted to clarify that

[3:31:47] you do have that option it would have to happen relatively quickly as I explained

[3:31:50] um but I just wanted to bring that to your attention because that was called

[3:31:53] out as a recommendation if you wanted

[3:31:59] This would be an ad hoc for reviewing the 90% plan submittal for CIP6 the

[3:32:04] entire project.

[3:32:11] If some if if if someone wants to do an ad hoc on this one,

[3:32:22] » I I I don't I don't think I can.

[3:32:29] » Um I mean, would we would we need three people or

[3:32:32] » you just have up to three? >> Yeah.

[3:32:38] I I mean if Greg if you want to do it on your own that's I think I'm I have no

[3:32:42] problem with that. I think >> is that

[3:32:46] » Yeah. If you want to include Greg in it >> I say go for it.

[3:32:56] » No that's fine. And we'll do an adop report out in November.

[3:32:59] » Perfect. All right. With that, I will close out this item.

[3:33:06] And um are there any reports or comments

[3:33:10] from the traffic safety committee? No. Staff comments and announcements,

[3:33:18] chief cutting. Oh, Mike

[3:33:23] point.

[3:33:27] I will speak quickly. Um and so if you need me to repeat something, just call

[3:33:32] me back to it. Um, I was asked to give some statistics related to traffic

[3:33:37] enforcement. Um, I'm going to give you a little bit more because I think it has

[3:33:40] to have context into what all goes on in the city because it is beyond just uh

[3:33:44] speeding and stop signs. Uh, so to to touch on it real quick, uh, Sonoma

[3:33:50] Police Department is staffed with uh, two traffic safety officers specific.

[3:33:54] However, they are dual purpose, meaning they answer calls for service. They are

[3:33:57] a part of our patrol staffing. In 2020, uh we had to reduce uh one full-time

[3:34:03] traffic enforcement officer uh based on budget. Uh that has not come back yet.

[3:34:07] The only position that we have brought back um as a standalone uh position is

[3:34:12] our community resource officer, which is focused on the schools. And in the

[3:34:15] summertime, we usually appoint that person to uh handle calls for service so

[3:34:20] that we can have our traffic enforcement focus on traffic. Uh this summer um I

[3:34:24] selected uh to have that person focus on ebike safety and bicycle safety. Um it

[3:34:32] you you guys haven't had a lot of the complaints, but I've received a

[3:34:36] significant amount of complaints as has city council and city staff. So u that

[3:34:41] was our focus and our emphasis throughout the summer. And our community

[3:34:44] resource officer was actually on a bicycle um on the trails making contact

[3:34:48] with students and adults alike. Um quite honestly a lot of the uh the bike

[3:34:52] violations were more uh related to adults than they were to kids or youth.

[3:34:58] Um but we did a lot of education. Um so those statistics are not represented

[3:35:02] what I'm talking today. I'm just trying to give you an example of why uh our our

[3:35:07] traffic enforcement is is focused on certain areas. So total traffic stops

[3:35:12] and I when I did these statistics I went back to January of this year. So the the

[3:35:16] numbers I'm giving you are from January 1st of this year till today. I ran these

[3:35:21] these uh statistics just a short time before I came in here. Total number of

[3:35:25] traffic stops year to date, 573 traffic stops by Sonoma Police Department. 60

[3:35:31] written citations, 413 uh reprimand and release or verbal warnings. Um and then

[3:35:38] in context, total calls for service for Sonoma Police Department, 2,913

[3:35:44] year to date. So they handle those calls for service in addition to traffic

[3:35:49] enforcement. So just to be clear, uh total number of reports written from

[3:35:53] those calls for service of the 20 2,913 295 reports have been written. That does

[3:35:59] not that's not citations, those are reports. Um total officer initiated

[3:36:03] calls, 1438. So about 33% of the calls for service were officer initiated. Um

[3:36:09] total number of arrests 77. And then accident data total number of non-injury

[3:36:15] accidents 30 reports have been made. Uh possible injury three 13 on the minor

[3:36:22] injury and I'll talk about that in a second. And then we've had we did have

[3:36:26] the one fatality this fiscal year uh on Broadway. The uh differentiation between

[3:36:31] possible injury, minor injury and no injury. Obviously no injury is pretty

[3:36:35] self selfexplanatory. uh three possible injuries. Uh meaning

[3:36:39] that when deputies were at the scene taking the report, somebody said, "I may

[3:36:43] have an injury, I may get it checked out later." Uh we don't have a there is no

[3:36:47] recourse for follow-up on that. So if they go to the hospital or doctor later

[3:36:50] and have injuries, it's an insurance issue at that point. Minor injuries

[3:36:54] sometimes are transports. Um sometimes are not. Sometimes they'll self

[3:36:57] transport, but we have we document that there is some known injury at the time

[3:37:02] of the accident. Uh we had 26 DUI arrests this fiscal year so far or this

[3:37:07] calendar year so far. And I did want to make a note that uh Deputy Todd Stenis,

[3:37:11] one of our assigned patrol officers, did receive the MAT award um just about a

[3:37:16] month and a half ago. That was for uh the number of DUI arrests he personally

[3:37:21] made, which was 30 in a in a fiscal year or in the calendar year for that

[3:37:26] particular award. you as traffic safety are getting some

[3:37:31] complaints about um traffic issues around town. We also receive them. The

[3:37:36] city receives them. City council receives them. They all get funneled to

[3:37:39] us in in more than one way. Um and I just kind of wanted to focus on or give

[3:37:43] you an idea of the emphasis and the focus areas that we are working on. Um

[3:37:48] it's beyond just the ones that are limited in here. And uh yes, Mr.

[3:37:53] Brandon, beyond just uh East East East Napa Street.

[3:37:58] I know. >> So, these are the areas that we spent a

[3:38:01] lot of time on. Obviously, beginning of the school year, the the high school,

[3:38:04] Broadway, First Street West, uh MacArthur, all around, uh and then also

[3:38:09] um on Fifth Street West around Sasserini. Um but in the broader picture

[3:38:14] um so Fifth Street West uh spanning from um West Spain uh north of West Spain for

[3:38:22] speed um south of of uh Napa Street for stop sign viol or actually from uh Spain

[3:38:29] Street south all the way to MacArthur for stop sign violations. Uh less of a

[3:38:34] speeding issue there. Um Malay Street uh for speed issues. East Napa Street, uh

[3:38:40] the chicaneing around the speed tables, Loel Valley from Fourth Street to 7th

[3:38:45] Street East. Uh West Spain Street, almost the entirety of it. Seventh

[3:38:49] Street West, uh stop sign violations. Um Highway 12 at the Maxwell Shopping

[3:38:54] Center, speeding and red light violations. Broadway at Napa Street, the

[3:38:59] intersection violation, stop sign violations. first street west at Napa

[3:39:02] Street stop sign and actually wrongway driving because it is actually a right

[3:39:06] turn only if you're southbound and a right turn only if you're northbound. Um

[3:39:10] so a lot of that um we did a significant amount of time um on the short time over

[3:39:17] the uh the uh traffic circle. Sorry I used the wrong word earlier. Um, we did

[3:39:23] not do any traffic enforcement or citations over there as we were trying

[3:39:27] to uh get an idea of whether or not it was intentional or unintentional. There

[3:39:31] was not a lot in our presence because of the mark cars. Uh, Second Street North,

[3:39:36] uh, Second Street West, north of Andrix, MacArthur from First Street West to

[3:39:40] Fifth Street West. Um, and then the ebike stuff. So, just just bringing that

[3:39:44] up because those are the areas that we're getting the most of our complaints

[3:39:47] in. And so I have to give those areas attention as well as the ones that are

[3:39:51] coming before this committee. And so I just wanted you to be clear that we're

[3:39:54] not not giving attention to any specific area. We have to give it to everything.

[3:39:59] And as I already stated, I have two daytime patrol officers. One who is

[3:40:03] supposed to be uh traffic expert, but we can't just designate them for traffic

[3:40:10] only. They have to handle calls for service. So, I kind of gave you that

[3:40:12] volume so you understand they have to handle the the 911 calls. At the same

[3:40:17] time, we're trying to do traffic enforcement on an intersection. We often

[3:40:21] get pulled away from being able to be consistent in those locations. Bringing

[3:40:25] it back to a lot of um the lawfulness of of driving around the city of Soma still

[3:40:34] comes into a voluntary compliance. Drivers need to respect the laws. They

[3:40:38] need to respect stop signs and they need to follow those laws. It it makes it

[3:40:42] safer for all of us and it quite honestly um we can't police our way out

[3:40:47] of stop sign and speed violations. Do you have any questions for me?

[3:40:55] Next time I bring statistics, I'll try to give you some comparables yeartoear

[3:40:59] so you have an idea. We are increasing a significant amount. I can tell you that

[3:41:03] our our traffic enforcement stops are significantly higher than they were even

[3:41:07] last year.

[3:41:10] » Just real quick, how's the what's your success uh in movement to getting a

[3:41:15] court down here? I think you talked about that at one point.

[3:41:18] » Yeah. Uh so we have to we had to wait till the new courthouse opened which

[3:41:21] just opened two weeks ago, I believe. Um so we'll reapproach it. I'll I'll bring

[3:41:26] it back up again with the courts. Um there's a title for that person, but

[3:41:30] I'll bring it back up again and see what kind of conversations we can have. I

[3:41:35] have a lot of support from the CHP office out of Napa who covers our area.

[3:41:39] Uh they are really requesting it even more so than we are.

[3:41:45] » Thank you, Chief. >> Thanks, Chief. Um Mike, did you have

[3:41:48] some >> Yeah, just a real quick report out two

[3:41:51] items that have been discussed tonight. Um one is the 20 mph speed reduction

[3:41:56] project that we've been working on. That's currently with GHD. They had to

[3:42:00] come out and do speed surveys and they got to input all that data into the big

[3:42:05] picture model. And we're going to come back with a recommendation

[3:42:10] of the streets. Uh this is going to be something we're going to want to get

[3:42:16] some input on. It's going to be something we're going to want to involve

[3:42:18] the community in because basically why not my street is something that we

[3:42:24] want to get out ahead of. We've talked to this group before. These are the

[3:42:29] streets that we have been hearing about problems. They're near schools. They're

[3:42:34] near hospitals. And so trying to get a nice focused um group of streets for

[3:42:40] that will be the goal. The other one, Ashley already talked about it. It's

[3:42:44] safe rout. They'll be here presenting next meeting. This is a big one and

[3:42:50] getting out ahead of this. making sure that we've got some community support,

[3:42:54] community buyin, comments from the community. We want to have a nice

[3:42:57] opened, transparent, publicized process. That's going to be the goal and we'll be

[3:43:03] bringing that forward at the November meeting for um some discussion and

[3:43:07] hopefully we have a nice big audience like we did tonight.

[3:43:11] Thank you. >> All right. Thanks, Mike. Um okay, now

[3:43:17] before we wrap it up, I need to point out two things. Uh, the first one, uh,

[3:43:22] recognize Ashley for all the work she's been doing. I mean, I know Mike is the

[3:43:26] director, but Ashley, you've been putting so much work into this. Um, I I

[3:43:33] it's you've been wonderful, so thank you. The other one is, uh, now we're in

[3:43:37] an empty room, but everybody may notice that U. Member Mark Deo isn't here. Uh,

[3:43:43] we thought he would be here tonight, but I was told just before this meeting that

[3:43:47] he no longer lives in the city of Sonoma, which means he cannot be part of

[3:43:51] this committee anymore. Um, I was hoping he would be here so we could give him

[3:43:54] some recognition. But Mark, if you're out there, thank you for your many years

[3:43:58] of uh being part of this committee. We appreciate the input and everything that

[3:44:01] he has done. So, a big thank you. And um >> I will be giving him his name plate,

[3:44:07] too. >> Oh, cool. Well, there you go. Is that

[3:44:10] what we get at the end? He asked for it >> set of steak knives.

[3:44:13] » Yeah. >> Um and that was it. That's all I have.

[3:44:17] » All right. Ajourned.

[3:44:21] » Thank you guys.

Traffic Safety Committee - 25 Aug 2026

Transcript