Council reviews speed‑hump pilot; staff to combine ward requests and confirm funding

Council and staff discussed two resolutions authorizing speed‑hump installation in different wards as part of a pilot program to slow traffic.

City Manager Charles Simpson said the city has pilot funding and provided contractor cost estimates for both temporary rubber speed humps and permanent asphalt speed humps. Simpson noted published guidance that permanent humps are generally recommended where speeds are lower and bus traffic is limited; temporary humps were proposed in some locations as a short‑term test.

Councilman Donald Herring pressed for quick action and said he wanted the specific locations he had raised to be included. Other members suggested combining the two separate resolutions into a single ordinance covering all proposed locations so the contractor could proceed efficiently. "Can we just have it all in one resolution? I think the intent was is overall traffic safety," one member said.

Council direction and next steps: staff was asked to combine the Ward 1 and Ward 3 proposals into one resolution, confirm that the pilot funding (approximately $50,000 in the pilot program) covers the preferred scope, and to arrange a field walk‑through with council members to finalize locations and to return with an itemized cost estimate and funding confirmation before the public hearing.

What remains unresolved: exact locations, whether to use temporary versus permanent humps at each site (bus routes were cited as a reason to avoid permanent humps in some locations), and final budget line items. Staff will return with a consolidated resolution and a site plan for council review.