Laguna Niguel Council discusses traffic solutions for speeding issues on La Plata Street

The Laguna Niguel City Council convened on May 6, 2025, to address pressing community issues, primarily focusing on traffic safety and the implementation of speed control measures in the Miguel Hills area. The meeting began with a review of a comprehensive 500-page agenda packet, which provided detailed insights into traffic patterns and proposed solutions.

Council members expressed appreciation for the extensive research conducted by city staff, particularly Director Scott, who presented findings on traffic speed and patterns. The discussions highlighted the complexities involved in traffic management, including the engineering rules and state laws that govern the installation of stop signs and speed humps.

Public comment was opened, featuring remarks from resident Drew Hall, who emphasized the ongoing speeding problem in the community. Hall noted that despite the thorough study, the proposed solutions were insufficient, with only a fraction of recommended speed bumps being considered. He urged the council to revisit the voting policy regarding traffic measures, suggesting that the affected residents should have a more significant voice in the decision-making process.

Following public comments, the council moved to discuss the staff recommendations. Council member Winstead, who has been involved with the traffic issue for a decade, supported the staff's proposals and acknowledged the need for future evaluations of their effectiveness. He also raised concerns about the outdated city policy on road humps, advocating for a review of best practices from neighboring cities.

Council member Jennings commended the thoroughness of the study and the efforts made to engage the community through town halls. He expressed confidence in the recommendations and the commitment to ongoing monitoring of traffic conditions.

Council member Otto echoed the sentiment for creating a family-friendly environment in Laguna Niguel and agreed on the necessity of updating the traffic policy to better serve the community's needs.

The meeting concluded with a consensus to approve the staff recommendations while committing to revisit the traffic policy in the future. The council's proactive approach aims to address the community's safety concerns while ensuring that residents' voices are heard in the ongoing discussions about traffic management.