Encinitas mobility commission elects Patricia Trauth as chair, narrows work‑plan priorities

The Encinitas Mobility and Traffic Safety Commission on April meeting night elected Commissioner Patricia Trauth as its chair and took initial votes to trim and prioritize the commission’s draft work plan.

The commission unanimously approved the motion to make Patricia Trauth chair following a nomination by Commissioner Glenn Johnson. Commissioners then opened discussion of a long draft work plan and took roll‑call or show‑of‑hands votes to keep a number of proposed projects on the list for further development and possible referral to City Council.

Why it matters: The commission is the advisory body for local traffic, bicycle and pedestrian matters; its work plan guides what items the commission studies and what recommendations it brings to City Council. The commission’s near‑term choices will shape what traffic and safety projects the city advances, and which items staff will be asked to prepare cost estimates and designs for.

Most important outcomes: Commissioners voted to keep Santa Fe Drive revisions near the high school and a citywide focus on Leucadia roundabouts among top priorities, and to retain enforcement and education initiatives on the list. Several technical and staff‑initiated items already under way — including implementation of AB 43 and a state grant for upgraded signal controllers — were removed from the “candidate” list because they are already active projects.

Details and context: Director of Engineering Jill Bankston told the commission that the municipal code requires commissions to adopt work plans and that staff will help translate commissioners’ priorities into concrete scopes and cost estimates. Bankston noted that some items (for example, stop‑sign warrants, signal warrants and speed surveys) are routine staff tasks and can be handled within existing budgets, while larger studies or construction will require Council direction and funding.

Commission discussion focused on three high‑level themes the commission said City Council emphasized in previous direction: safety enforcement, circulation/mobility (including Highway 101/Santa Fe and Santa Fe near the high school), and bicycle education and infrastructure. Commissioner‑initiated proposals were discussed one‑by‑one and commissioners used brief votes to indicate which items they wanted to keep on the candidate list for prioritization.

Votes at a glance (items retained for further development): - Enforcement (sheriff enforcement / automated enforcement options) — 6 commissioners supported keeping this on the list for follow‑up and clarification between automated cameras vs. additional sheriff traffic enforcement. - Vulcan Trail / Safe Routes project — 5 commissioners supported keeping this project on the list. - Birmingham Drive pedestrian improvements (Leguay crosswalk) — 6 commissioners supported keeping it on the list. - Mid‑block crosswalks / New Encinitas pedestrian improvements — 4 commissioners supported keeping this on the list. - Quick‑build roundabout at Santa Fe & Crest — 3 commissioners supported keeping the concept on the list for study. - Leucadia Boulevard roundabout safety review/standard signage — 7 commissioners supported keeping it on the list. - Santa Fe Drive near the high school (revisions/reassessment) — 7 commissioners supported keeping it on the list. - Mobility/circulation review with emphasis on routes around schools — 6 commissioners supported keeping that study on the list. (Counts were taken by roll call or show‑of‑hands during the meeting; staff will tabulate and publish the final prioritized list.)

Next steps: Staff (Abe) said he will consolidate the commission’s votes into an updated table, add clearer descriptions of the top items, and bring the revised list back to the commission at the next meeting for final trimming and a recommended work plan for City Council consideration. Commissioners asked staff to provide more data where available — for example, up‑to‑date collision history and usage counts — before finalizing priorities.

Administrative notes: The commission briefly discussed a nomination for vice chair (a Commissioner was nominated verbally), but staff advised that selection of a vice chair was not on the published agenda and recommended the commission place that election on the next posted meeting agenda; the commission agreed.

Ending note: Commissioners said they will continue the work‑plan conversation at the next meetings, with a joint session with City Council scheduled later in May.