Marion City Council on Oct. 9 received and filed a traffic‑advisory committee report on a petition to add a four‑way stop or other controls at the intersection of Twelfth Avenue and Twelfth Street, and later tabled two resolutions proposing yield control for eastbound and westbound Twelfth Avenue so staff could investigate visibility and potential remedies.

City traffic staff presented a report recommending yield control for east‑ and westbound Twelfth Avenue while leaving north‑south traffic free flowing. Council members raised a separate visibility issue: Councilman Johnson said a tall shrub at the southwest corner substantially restricts sight lines and argued that, with the hedge present, “stop signs are more prudent than yield signs” because yields might not be effective if drivers cannot see approaching vehicles.

Staff said the traffic analysis does not meet volume warrants for a full four‑way stop and that sight‑triangle issues make yield signs a lower‑invasiveness first step. City staff also said they could examine visibility remedies such as trimming or removal of landscaping at the corner.

Action taken: council voted to receive and file the traffic‑advisory committee report and subsequently tabled both draft resolutions (Resolution No. 32,589 and Resolution No. 32,590) that would have placed yield signs for eastbound and westbound traffic; tabling was intended to give staff time to explore trimming or other measures and return with additional information.

Why it matters: the intersection drew attention because a visibility obstruction may reduce the effectiveness of less restrictive controls such as yield signage; council members asked staff to assess whether trimming or removal of the hedge could resolve the sight‑triangle problem before installing signs.

Council members noted that the accident history for the intersection was limited — staff reported only one reported crash in the last 11 years — but argued that visual obstruction can justify more decisive action if trimming is not possible. City manager suggested tabling to allow staff time to investigate and to report back with options.