Rolling Hills Traffic Commission receives reports, hears gate‑widening update and multiple signage, enforcement concerns

The Rolling Hills Traffic Commission on March 27 received and filed a written public comment asking the city to consider street barriers at two curves and slowdown signage, received a citation summary from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's station, and heard an informational update from the Rolling Hills Community Association about a proposed widening of the Crest Road East gate for emergency access.

Commissioners unanimously voted to receive and file the public comment, the sheriff's citation report and the association update; no regulatory action or code change was adopted at the meeting.

The public comment read into the record by city staff, submitted by Judith Henell, asked the commission to "bring to the attention to 2 areas for consideration of street barriers. The first is a curve on Eastfield Drive just past 44 Eastfield" and a second at "Crest Road East between Eastfield and Caballeros Road." The written comment also asked the city to "please consider slowdown signs along the main thoroughfare roads, Portuguese Bend Road, Crest Road, Eastfield Drive" and cited a Long Beach example, "Slower is Safer. Safe drivers make better neighbors." The commission voted to receive and file that item with no immediate directive to change city infrastructure; commissioners suggested the commenter first seek input from the homeowners association before the commission pursues a later agenda item.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's representative summarized citation activity for January through March and said "there was about 14 citations given between the month of January to the March" concentrated on streets the city had flagged, including Buggy Whip, Crest Road, Portuguese Bend and Blackwater Canyon, and that many citations were for speed. The deputy told the commission that overnight parking enforcement is constrained by a local allowance and enforcement practice: "You have a 2 hour window in the middle of the night that, so they are allowed to park in the easement for 22 hours of the day. Until 02:00? Between 2 and 4? Between 2 and 4AM, I believe." The deputy said overtime patrol focus had shifted recently because deputies were assigned to fires, and invited commissioners to identify locations for spot enforcement.

Commissioners raised resident concerns about vehicles parked in evacuation easements and asked staff to notify the sheriff's early morning shift to cite vehicles seen parked on easements when appropriate. Staff said parking enforcement outside the city's routine overtime patrol is typically complaint-driven but confirmed they could ask deputies to periodically check specific areas.

On infrastructure, Artie, representing the Rolling Hills Community Association (RHCA), gave an informational update about staged work at the Crest Road East gate. He said the RHCA board has cleared vegetation on the north side of the easement, moved a wrought‑iron fence back, is coordinating with Edison to relocate a utility line mounted in a tree and plans eventual gate changes to improve emergency access. Artie said the association's goal is to allow two lanes for evacuation and described options under consideration: "It could be just like DG, over the the main concern is allowing emergency access and evacuations for 2 lanes into at the gate rather than just the 1 that's currently there. It's for evacuation." He added boards have discussed a "double swing gate" rather than a sliding gate and noted the work is being done incrementally; surfacing options under consideration included decomposed granite (DG) or road base, not full paving.

Commissioners pressed on potential downstream effects of widening — including whether a wider or paved opening would prompt calls to open the gate to general traffic — and were told the association intends the work only for emergency access and is considering design choices to avoid making the entry more inviting for regular traffic. The RHCA has not approved final surfacing or gate hardware and the association is also planning a protective island for the gate camera pole to delineate two lanes.

Other items discussed included: - Speed‑limit signage inconsistencies on Eastfield Drive and portions of Crest Road and Portuguese Bend. Commissioners said past traffic evaluations led to a mix of 25 and 30 mph postings on short adjacent segments. City staff (Christian) said he will drive the corridor, compile sign locations and pull the prior speed evaluation for the commission to review ahead of the May meeting. - Replacement of stop sign posts at an intersection on Lower Blackwater (near Williamsburg). Artie said the existing stop signs are mounted in hardware designed to shear away on impact (county breakaway hardware) and that the association had purchased posts to replace them but has not yet been able to remove the old fittings; he said the change is on the association's work list. - A weathered "fire station" sign on Crest Road near a remodeled corner property that commissioners asked staff to check with the fire chief about whether the sign is required and whether it should be replaced. - A convex safety mirror installed at Rancho/Portuguese Bend to improve sightlines; Artie confirmed the association installed it to assist older drivers on Rancho and said the mirror was not utility work. - Commission membership: staff reported Commissioner Var Margueta likely will be unable to continue and asked for direction to check with the commissioner's caretaker and the city attorney about options to declare a vacancy if needed. Staff said a simple resignation letter would suffice if the commissioner can provide one; otherwise the city attorney will be consulted about removal for missed meetings or incapacity.

Votes at a glance: the commission took three formal, noncontroversial votes to receive and file documents and reports. The votes were recorded as unanimous with all present commissioners voting yes.

1) Motion: "Receive and file" (public comment from Judith Henell, blue folder). Outcome: approved (unanimous). 2) Motion: "Receive and file" (LA County Sheriff citation summary). Outcome: approved (unanimous). 3) Motion: "Receive and file" (Rolling Hills Community Association Crest Road East gate update). Outcome: approved (unanimous).

No ordinances, resolutions or budget actions were proposed or adopted. The commission did not direct staff to draft code changes at this meeting but asked staff to gather more information (existing speed evaluation, sign locations, and the city attorney's guidance on a commissioner vacancy) and to coordinate with the RHCA and the county sheriff on enforcement and the gate project. The commission set its next meeting date in late May.