Hughson council pauses proposed speed‑limit increases after safety concerns

HUGHSON — The Hughson City Council introduced Ordinance 2025-2 on April 28 to amend Municipal Code section 10.40.02 and update posted speed limits on several roads after a speed survey completed in 2023 and finalized in 2024.

The ordinance would revise speeds on arterial and collector streets including Santa Fe, Whitmore, Patch Road, Tolling Road and Euclid; most recommended changes in the engineer’s report raise posted limits by 5 miles per hour, while Euclid showed a larger increase. The survey and recommended limits were prepared using an 85th‑percentile methodology required by state law, the staff report said.

Council members, the police chief and multiple residents pressed for revisions before adoption, citing pedestrian activity, nearby parks and schools, short residential driveways and recent serious collisions. After more than 25 minutes of discussion and public comment, the council did not adopt the ordinance but gave staff direction to work with the traffic engineer and return with revised recommendations.

Miss Carmen, a city staff presenter, told the council that “the surveys have to be conducted every 5 years” to meet California Vehicle Code requirements for radar enforcement on designated nonlocal roads. She said the 2023 study, certified by a licensed traffic engineer from MVP Design (Mike Becker), recommended modest increases at many locations and that the city retains limited discretion to modify those recommendations where roadway conditions, collision history or pedestrian activity justify different limits.

City staff and the city attorney warned that any deviation from the engineering findings must be supported in writing to preserve design immunity and insurance coverage. A staff member summarized council options: adopt the engineer’s recommendations; send the survey back to the engineer with council feedback for revision; create special zones (school or business zones) that allow more council discretion; or pursue traffic‑calming measures.

Residents asked the council to keep several streets at lower limits. Catherine Casey, a former Tully Road resident, described a near collision involving her toddler and said the street has “a lot more pedestrian traffic” and short driveways. Several council members urged keeping Tully Road (Fox to Hatch) at 25 mph and reducing proposed increases on Euclid and Santa Fe.

The police chief told the council the department receives regular complaints about speeding in residential areas and said keeping lower posted limits in high‑pedestrian areas is “the most practical and best thing to keep safe.” Council members noted that raising a posted limit can encourage higher driving speeds, and that the city must support any change with findings and engineering analysis to withstand legal or insurance challenges.

Because the council did not waive the first reading and requested additional work, the ordinance will return to a future meeting after staff and the traffic engineer incorporate the council’s safety concerns, proximity to parks and schools, and other local conditions.

Votes at a glance: The council approved the consent calendar at the start of the meeting on a roll‑call vote; all members present voted aye. Ordinance 2025‑2 was introduced for first reading and sent back to staff for revision; no adoption vote occurred.

The council also read correspondence from Pacific Gas and Electric regarding pending rate changes and heard brief staff updates on ongoing projects including the SCADA system wrap‑up, a housing element transmittal to HCD for public review, and a new parks and recreation partnership. The meeting adjourned into closed session to address agenda items 9.1 and 9.2.