Residents praise new speed cushion policy; call for ladder truck and improved flood/evacuation measures

Several residents used the Jan. 6 public-comment period to thank staff for a newly adopted speed cushion policy and to press the council on local emergency-response and flood-safety concerns.

Carmen (public commenter) praised the Public Works team and volunteers for developing and implementing the speed-cushion policy on Lake Street, explained community petition steps and emphasized that speed cushions allow larger emergency vehicles to pass while slowing everyday traffic. "Speed cushions are different than speed bumps," she said, urging the council to prioritize neighborhood safety.

Another resident urged the council to add a ladder truck to the Fire Department before the June 30 budget deadline, citing three-story senior apartments on Washington Street and uncertainty about mutual-aid response times from neighboring jurisdictions. The commenter also recommended reassessing the Centennial Walkway and installing a full driving bridge or retaining wall to improve evacuation routes and reduce erosion risks.

Council members acknowledged the concerns during the city manager report exchange and recommended clearer after-hours contact information (a phone-tree or recorded after-hours message directing callers to Calistoga Police dispatch) and noted the police dispatch center maintains an on-call public-works list to mobilize response when needed.

The council did not take a formal action on the ladder-truck request at the Jan. 6 meeting; speakers asked staff and the council to consider the request during upcoming budget discussions.