Bellaire holds public hearing on petition for speed humps on Braeburn Drive

A public hearing at the May 5 Bellaire City Council meeting drew residents and city staff to discuss a petition from more than 80% of property owners on the 5400 block of Braeburn Drive asking the city to install speed humps on that block.

The petition presentation was led by petitioner Reagan Heiner and by Travis Tanner, the city’s director of development services. Tanner said the police placed a speed trailer on the block between April 2 and April 21. From that period the city’s data showed 71% of vehicles were within the posted 30 mph limit and 29% were speeding; 12.6% were classified as “excessive” (five or more mph over the limit), Tanner said. The city clerk read the public-notice details and identified the enabling ordinance as No. 25-029; 101 mailed notices were sent to properties in the 5300–5400 blocks, the clerk said.

Why it matters: residents described daily foot traffic, children and pets on Braeburn and said physical calming would be more effective than signage or sporadic enforcement. Petitioners must pay the installation cost if the council approves the traffic-calming devices, and the council did not vote at the May 5 hearing; final deliberation is anticipated on June 2, 2025.

What petitioners and neighbors told the council Reagan Heiner, speaking for petitioners, described Braeburn as a mile-long cut-through with heavy pedestrian use and no sidewalks. Heiner said the petitioners initially requested three speed humps (to match a similar block on Valerie), but that some neighbors had suggested four; she told council she did not feel strongly about the exact count and asked neighbors to weigh in. Heiner also urged the city to consider whether the traffic study had been skewed by nearby construction at 5415 Braeburn and asked the city to extend the data-gathering period if needed.

Several residents backed Heiner’s request and recounted close calls and a reported collision. Elaine Frankel said she and family members witnessed a “very bad accident” in which a car struck another vehicle and ended up in a front yard; she said the event reinforced safety concerns on the block. Written comments submitted to the clerk — from homeowners including Jose Perez and Christina (5423 Braeburn), Brenda and Naveen Carrivi, Jill Wunsang and Richard Wagner, and others — expressed support for three speed humps and, in some cases, preference for concrete humps rather than rubber.

Opponents and alternatives Not all speakers supported humps. Boris Jenkins (5404 Braeburn) said speed humps can cause vehicle wear and would push traffic onto alternative streets; he suggested better enforcement for the small share of drivers who travel at “criminal speeds.” Jason Cohen, who said family lives on Evergreen, urged the city to consider a speed camera program that could also generate revenue. Laney Gordon and others favored sidewalks as a long-term solution but acknowledged trees and right-of-way limits make sidewalk installation difficult.

Staff responses and safety concerns Tanner told council the petition meets the technical threshold in the public notice and reiterated that petitioners would pay installation costs if the council approves the device. Council members and staff referenced prior debates on other streets, noting that emergency-response time was raised in a 2023 petition on Cedar; the fire chief and the police chief said the city regularly reviews response concerns. The police chief noted officers do patrol neighborhoods but said, as a practical matter, officers tend to avoid routes with speed humps when other patrol options exist; the fire chief said department vehicles have heavy-duty suspensions and would not be significantly hindered by properly designed humps.

Radar sign data and next steps Staff explained radar trailer displays have two modes: “active” (displaying speed) and a stealth mode used to capture speed data without the display’s influence. Several speakers said the trailer’s placement near active construction and its facing direction (toward Renwick) may have biased the captured speeds; Heiner and others asked the city to consider extending the study after construction activity subsides. The clerk read the public-comment procedures and a deadline for written comments: written material for the council’s final deliberation must be submitted by noon on Thursday, May 9, 2025. The council closed the public hearing and signaled the item will return for action on June 2, 2025.

Clarifying details - The public notice cited ordinance No. 25-029 and said the petitioners represent more than 80% of property owners abutting the 5400 block of Braeburn Drive. Notices were mailed to 101 addresses in the 5300–5400 blocks (Tracy Dutton, city clerk). - The police speed trailer was deployed April 2–21; results reported by staff: 71% within limit, 29% speeding, 12.6% excessive (≥5 mph over the limit) (Travis Tanner, director of development services). - Petitioners asked for three speed humps in the petition packet; some neighbors raised alternatives including sidewalks, closure of the west end, or speed cameras. - If the council approves speed humps, petitioners are responsible for installation costs (staff presentation).

Outcome and next steps The council held the public hearing, took public and written comments into the record and closed the hearing. No formal vote was taken; the council anticipates final deliberation and a possible decision on Monday, June 2, 2025. Staff said they will accept written comments through the clerk’s office for inclusion in the June record.

Speakers (as recorded for this item) - Gussey Pappas, Mayor, City of Bellaire (presiding) — government - Travis Tanner, Director of Development Services — government - Tracy Dutton, City Clerk — government - Sharon Satino, City Manager — government - Reagan Heiner, Petitioner / Resident — citizen - Jason Cohen, Resident / commenter — citizen - Laney Gordon, Resident — citizen - Elaine Frankel, Resident — citizen - Boris Jenkins, Resident — citizen - Resident (longtime resident at 5419 Braeburn; name not given in oral remarks) — citizen - Police Chief (role as recorded) — government - Fire Chief (role as recorded) — government

Authorities referenced - Ordinance No. 25-029 (referenced in hearing notice) — referenced by: City Clerk (Tracy Dutton)

Topics - Primary: traffic-safety — justification: central subject of hearing and city staff data; topic_relevance:0.95 depth_score:0.85 opinionatedness:0.05 controversy:0.50 civic_salience:0.70 impactfulness:0.65 geo_relevance:1.00

Provenance (selected excerpts from the meeting transcript) - topicintro: {"block_id":"s=1201.3_e=1236.245","local_start":0,"local_end":220,"evidence_excerpt":"Notice is hereby given that the city council has called by ordinance number 25 dash 0 2 9, a public hearing... There were 101 notices mailed."} - topfinish: {"block_id":"s=4207.8945_e=4245.07","local_start":0,"local_end":210,"evidence_excerpt":"It is anticipated that final deliberation will occur on Monday, 06/02/2025... Therefore, written comments should be submitted by noon on Thursday, 05/09/2025."}