The Artesia City Council voted 5‑0 on July 14 to authorize temporary traffic‑calming demonstrations on Aug. 9 at four locations in the city as staff tests whether low‑cost changes can slow speeding on residential streets and improve pedestrian safety. The demonstrations will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will use temporary materials such as cones, delineators, straw wattles, potted plants and borrowed enhanced crosswalk panels.

Why it matters: Council and staff said the demonstrations are a low‑risk, low‑cost way to test treatments — mid‑block enhanced crosswalks, visual narrowing through striping and temporary miniature traffic circles — before building permanent infrastructure as part of scheduled repaving work. The project targets corridors where staff have received repeated speeding complaints.

What the council approved: The demonstrations will be held at two candidate mid‑block enhanced crosswalk locations (Elaine Avenue near Droxford Street and Grayland Avenue between 180th and South) and two intersections for temporary miniature traffic circles (180th Street at Clarkdale Avenue and 180th Street at Elaine Avenue). Staff will measure vehicle speeds before and during the demonstration, collect resident questionnaires and report results to the Public Works Committee for further action.

Funding and partners: Staff said the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) provided grant support for the demonstration. At the meeting staff described SCAG grant amounts for the demonstration as follows (reported in staff presentation): $6,500 in demonstration grant funds, $5,300 allocated for city staff time (setup, breakdown and safety oversight) and $11,200 for advertising and direct resident outreach. SCAG will lend two detachable artistic enhanced‑crosswalk panels for the demonstration. Staff said the City’s Public Works inventory already includes many of the temporary materials required.

Technical background: Staff explained the demonstrations are timed to coincide with planned repaving of several streets (including 180th Street, Grayland and Elaine avenues and small surrounding streets) and with separate federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding of about $209,000 that will pay for a rectangular rapid flashing beacon and eight enhanced crosswalks at unsignalized intersections. City engineers said miniature traffic circles can reduce approach speeds by about 40 percent in the immediate area and are used in nearby cities; Caltrans and FHWA design guidance informed the concept and site selection.

Public outreach and evaluation: Staff said workers will hand‑deliver flyers and invitations to residences in the project area and will deploy volunteers from the Beautification & Maintenance Commission as well as Strong Towns Artesia to gather questionnaire responses. Staff will collect before‑and‑during average speed data and report back to the Public Works Committee. SCAG requested photos of the demonstration and attendance by any elected officials who turn out.

Council questions and discussion: Councilmembers pressed staff on emergency vehicle access (staff and county fire guidance said the design accommodates fire‑vehicle passage and would remove existing stop signs in favor of yield movements around the traffic circles) and on notifying residents so the demonstration reflects typical traffic patterns. Staff said some temporary visual narrowing measures have previously slowed traffic in other locations.

Formal action: Councilmember Ramos moved the authorization, Mayor Pro Tem Trevino seconded, and the motion passed 5‑0. Staff will return to the Public Works Committee and City Council with evaluation results and design recommendations for any permanent installations.

Ending note: Demonstrations are scheduled for Aug. 9, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; staff will measure speed changes, record resident feedback and report results to the Public Works Committee to inform permanent traffic‑calming decisions.