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Estacada panel approves chair, reviews sidewalks, crosswalks and speed-hump timeline
Summary
At a meeting of the Estacada Traffic and Public Safety Committee, members appointed leadership, reviewed a downtown sidewalk and ADA access inventory, were told Pierce speed humps are approved for next fiscal year, and discussed routes, ODOT jurisdiction and enforcement needs following recent crashes.
The Estacada Traffic and Public Safety Committee on an organizational agenda appointed Jim Moriarty chair and Gary Hobbs co-chair, reviewed a large packet on downtown sidewalks and ADA access, and heard that speed humps requested for Pierce will be included in the next fiscal-year budget.
The meeting, led by staff support Elena, opened with a review of committee duties and Oregon public-meeting and ethics rules. Elena told members that “all committees and commissions are advisory boards and as such considered public bodies under Oregon law,” and reviewed requirements on notice, minutes, public-records and conflict-of-interest disclosures.
Committee members spent the bulk of discussion on sidewalk and crosswalk gaps downtown, ADA ramps and how projects are funded. Staff described a mapping effort by Alan to inventory sidewalk and curb ramp needs and said the city will use that map to align work with grant opportunities such as Safe Routes to School. Elena and other members explained that existing code generally requires property owners to maintain sidewalks and that a requirement to install new sidewalks is typically triggered by certain levels of building improvement; otherwise the city pursues grant-funded projects or city-led capital projects so property owners do not bear the cost.
On a separate street-safety item, committee members were told the Pierce speed-hump request was approved and will be included in next fiscal year’s budget. Staff said the actual installation on Pierce likely will not occur until after July, while other new speed-hump work on the Hillway extension will be posted when installed. Members asked about timing and were told the city will not widely publicize projects until work is actually underway to avoid repeated public inquiries.
Members also reviewed the committee’s crosswalk inventory and pedestrian-safety devices. Staff said the city plans to bring 13 additional flashing or enhanced crosswalks to the town list next month, and listed existing flashing crosswalks at locations including Main Street near Ace Hardware, Clackamas River Elementary, the high school, and Broadway near the library.
Committee discussion covered crashes on regional routes and the limits of city authority on state highways. Several members described recent serious wrecks on highways (U.S. 224/State 212 area and other approaches) and asked how to pursue changes. Staff said the state agency Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) controls the state highways and that the committee can request that the city or council ask ODOT to review speed limits or geometry; Elena agreed to follow up with the city on the formal procedure to ask ODOT for changes.
Committee members also requested increased enforcement in residential neighborhoods such as Cascadia Ridge where speeding has been reported; staff said reported locations will be forwarded to the sheriff’s office for targeted patrols and, when available, the city’s portable radar speed sign can be deployed.
The committee heard brief event and communications reports: the Event Subcommittee confirmed National Night Out on Aug. 5 with local food vendors and public-safety displays planned, and the Communications Subcommittee noted proposed signage and school-area speed reductions tied to a larger Thriving Communities grant study of traffic patterns near schools.
Votes at a glance - Approval of March 18 minutes: motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor; motion passed. - Appointment of Jim Moriarty as committee chair: motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor; motion passed. - Appointment of Gary Hobbs as co-chair: motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor; motion passed.
Why it matters The committee’s work ties capital improvements, grant applications and enforcement to public safety for pedestrians, schoolchildren and drivers. Mapping sidewalk and curb-ramp needs and coordinating with county, state and grant programs determines which sidewalks or ADA ramps can be installed without imposing costs on property owners, and how quickly speed-mitigation measures can be deployed.
What’s next Staff will provide the committee with Alan’s GIS sidewalk map at the next meeting, follow up on the formal process to request changes from ODOT, and notify members when the Hillway and Pierce speed-hump projects reach installation. The committee also plans to assign responsible members to specific target dates in its work plan at a future meeting.
