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Council hears disputes over stop signs and speed‑control requests; staff explains petition and study process
Summary
Council members debated recent stop‑sign installations and a resident petition for speed humps on Wisteria Road. City staff described the formal study process, a reduced review for locations within 1,000 feet of schools/playgrounds, and recommended posting a 25 mph sign on Wisteria pending further review.
Council members and residents raised several traffic‑safety items, including newly placed stop signs on Gramercy Avenue, a resident petition seeking a speed hump on the 600 block of Wisteria Road, and a proposal to post a 25‑mph speed limit on Wisteria between Filbert and Crossen.
Councilwoman Laca and Councilman Crouch led questions from the dais about why stop signs were installed on Gramercy Avenue without broader notice. Director Roosevelt explained the city follows a formal study process: the police and traffic staff collect field data and compare conditions to the manual criteria, then make recommendations to the director and project manager. Roosevelt said when an intersection is within 1,000 feet of a school, playground or similar facility the city can act under a simplified process that does not require the full study.
On the resident petition for speed humps on Wisteria Road, staff told council the petition was reviewed and that the recommendation in this case was to install a 25‑mph speed limit sign rather than a speed hump; staff noted the petitioners were notified of the result in this case but council asked the administration to ensure formal written notifications are provided when a petition is rejected. Council members discussed the public‑notification process and agreed that if the ordinance does not already require formal written notice to petitioners, the council should consider amending it.
Council also approved a set of stop‑sign and speed‑limit ordinances by roll call during the meeting; one vote on a speed‑limit installation (Wisteria Road) passed with seven affirmative votes and one absence recorded. Several council members asked staff to provide the exact placement location of any new speed‑limit signs so ward representatives could inform residents.
Council and staff reiterated that requests for traffic calming require field evaluation, police data and adherence to an established process; staff said they will provide more transparent notifications to petition organizers and may propose clarifying ordinance language to require formal written notice for petition outcomes.
