To: PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION
From: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
TITLE
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UPDATE TO COUNCIL APPROVED TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City Council recently approved staff recommended modifications to the policies guiding the City’s response to all-way stop and traffic calming requests from residents. Potential modifications were discussed previously with the Public Works Commission (“Commission”) and presented to the City Council on May 17, 2022. A copy of the administrative report for the City Council meeting in which the modifications are described, is included in the attachments. Staff is presenting the item again to inform the Commission of the Council’s decision and to gather input regarding implementation of the policy modifications.
BACKGROUND
[On March 28, 2022, the Commission considered potential improvements to the City’s policy guiding response to resident initiated traffic calming and all way stop requests. Staff had presented this in advance of an anticipated presentation to the City Council on this topic pursuant to the Council’s Strategic Plan, Goal # 6 “Enhance the Delivery of City Services.”
On May 17, 2022 staff presented proposed modifications to these policies that highlighted a recent history of traffic calming studies, certain barriers in the current process, suggestions of ways to reduce these barriers and improve communications and flow charts meant to inform resident expectations by providing some clarity to the process. The Council was very supportive of the proposed modifications and approved them unanimously.
Staff’s recommendations include elimination of the resident driven stop sign request petition process and instead implement a City staff directed neighborhood survey that accelerates community feedback and allows for a more expeditious request before the Public Works Commission and City Council.
Staff recommended, and is in the process of implementing, software that will help track traffic calming requests and provide an “open ticket” status report for both internal and external customer review.
Staff’s recommendations also include elimination of pilot installations of proposed traffic calming improvements that have been widely discussed and approved and instead implement attractive more permanent construction solutions.
Staff intends immediate implementation of these policy changes. A copy of the report presented to the City Council on May 17, 2022 is included in the attachments.
COORDINATION
Coordination of the this item took place within the Public Works Department.