Committee reviews draft traffic-calming policy; staff to seek engineer, fire and MCPC input

The Public Health and Safety Committee discussed revisions to a proposed traffic-calming and safety policy, including adding an optional resident petition step, reconciling toolkit measures with an in-progress regional active-transportation plan, and clarifying budget language so it does not bind future councils.

"I did put in some language in there for an optional petition, added just to demonstrate support for an initiative," said Jeanie Bora, chair of the committee, describing a petition provision that would be considered but not required as part of eligibility for traffic-calming measures.

Committee members also asked staff to check the policy's list of toolkit measures against the Laramie and Ann Arbor active-transportation toolkits and the borough's in-progress Lower Meriden and Norbert active transportation plan, which staff said will be finalized at the end of the year. Staff noted some toolkit items in the draft '1ike pavement markings, landscaping and textured crosswalks '1are not yet reflected in the regional toolkit and requested engineering input.

On budget language, staff and members agreed the policy should not direct future councils to appropriate funds. Maggie, a staff member, said the draft will be revised to use permissive terms such as "endeavor to allocate" or "highly encouraged" so the policy anticipates annual budget requests without legally binding future councils.

The committee did not vote on the policy. Staff said they will send the draft to the borough engineer, the fire company and the regional planning commission (MCPC) for feedback, and aim to bring the item back to committee in about three weeks with the goal of scheduling it for an October agenda if comments are received on time.

Committee members also raised process questions: whether to adopt the policy before the regional transportation plan is final and how to route the policy through finance and administrative review; staff said the policy would go to the Finance and Administration committee for the administrative toolkit review before full council consideration.

No formal action was taken; staff will return with revisions and stakeholder feedback.