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Council to fund community workshops on Bayshore/Laguna Drive safety alternatives
Summary
Following neighborhood concerns, staff proposed pausing a single‑block sidewalk design and expanding the study to evaluate alternatives for the full Bayshore/Laguna corridor. The city will amend the consultant work assignment for public workshops and corridor analysis at an estimated fee of $34,720, with a study period of up to 180 days.
City engineering staff said they will pause a narrowly focused sidewalk design and instead fund a corridor‑wide study and community workshops to evaluate safety and multimodal alternatives for Bayshore Drive through Laguna.
At the February 11 meeting residents pressed council over a single‑block sidewalk concept that had prompted neighborhood disagreement. "This is a speeding issue," resident Jim Leftwich said; "Maybe some of those flashing signs that tell you how fast you're going" could be a better fit than an expensive one‑block sidewalk.
Staff summary: Assistant City Engineer John Kramer reported that the consultant, DMK Associates, submitted a work‑assignment amendment to expand public engagement and study the entire Bayshore/Laguna corridor. The draft fee is $34,720 and the consultant estimates up to 180 days after notice to proceed. Kramer said funding for the study would be drawn from the sidewalk/construction allocation and that a larger construction budget would be needed if council later approves a corridor build plan.
What the expanded study will do: The consultant will hold public workshops, develop alternatives that balance pedestrian safety, neighborhood character and drainage constraints, and return recommendations and cost estimates. Staff cautioned that adding paved shoulders or widening without associated drainage work could increase runoff problems and might require additional permitting and costs.
Council direction and next steps: Council was briefed on scope, schedule and cost; staff will schedule the first public workshop once the amendment is finalized and will return with recommendations and any needed budget adjustments before construction. Council members emphasized the value of a corridor master approach rather than proceeding on a single‑block basis.
