Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Traffic Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council votes 4–1 to add stop signs in Carmel-by-the-Sea commercial district; six-month review ordered
Summary
The council approved a resolution to install additional stop signs in the commercial district, including signage at the post office, Fifth/Lincoln and other intersections; Acting Chief Todd Trier will report back in six months on traffic impacts.
The Carmel-by-the-Sea City Council on Aug. 5 approved a resolution to install additional stop signs at intersections in the downtown commercial district and directed the police department to report back in six months on their effectiveness.
The 4–1 vote (Council member Barron opposed) authorizes signs at multiple intersections including Fifth Avenue and San Carlos (near the post office), Fifth and Lincoln, Sixth and Lincoln, and addresses Monteverde intersections where downhill momentum has raised safety concerns. Acting Police Chief Todd Trier recommended four-way stop signage at the post office location and asked the council to allow a public outreach and signage rollout before enforcement begins.
Chief Trier told the council he had personally observed drivers failing to stop and that improved signage would change behavior. He provided a cost estimate for materials: about $639 per stop sign and roughly $10,000 to install 16 signs if the council chose to include north–south stops on Monteverde; removing those two would lower the total cost by roughly $2,400.
Council discussion focused on safety, traffic patterns and the risk that adding many stops could increase downtown congestion. Several council members said they favor the upgrades and the planned community notification; one member said he remained concerned about added congestion. The council voted to move forward and requested a six-month traffic-impact report from the Police Department to measure accidents and traffic flow after installation.
Public comment included residents who described near-misses at Monteverde intersections and urged the council to prioritize pedestrian safety. Several speakers recommended public outreach, firm enforcement once the signs are in place and an initial period of warnings and public education.
Action taken: the council approved Resolution 2025-071 and directed staff to install the new signs and for the police department to report back in approximately six months with data on collisions and traffic impacts.
