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Traffic Safety Committee unanimously adopts neighborhood traffic‑calming toolbox
Summary
The Sonoma City Traffic Safety Committee voted unanimously to adopt a tiered neighborhood traffic‑calming toolbox that guides how public‑works staff and the committee prioritize measures (tier 1: operational; tier 2: small capital; tier 3: large capital). The toolbox will be posted on the city website; staff will refine some items after public feedback.
The Sonoma City Traffic Safety Committee unanimously adopted a draft neighborhood traffic‑calming toolbox after a presentation by Public Works staff and the ad hoc committee.
"This first page goes over what the neighborhood traffic calming plan is, and what its overall goals are," Ashley said while briefing the committee on a draft that organizes measures into tiers and provides a prioritization matrix.
Under the proposed toolbox, tier 1 measures — low‑cost, operational items such as striping, speed enforcement signage and radar feedback signs — can be implemented by public‑works operations with minimal engineering. Tier 2 measures require some design and construction (angled parking, temporary traffic calming demonstrations), while tier 3 are larger capital projects that may need significant funding and right‑of‑way work.
The draft removed or limited a small set of items including decorative resurfacing and raised intersections; staff said the document is intended as a living guidance tool rather than a municipal code change.
Some public commenters asked that temporary or pilot traffic‑circle demonstrations remain a clearly authorized option. Armando Zimmerman urged the committee not to eliminate temporary trials, saying community pilots in other cities had slowed traffic. Staff replied that pop‑up or quick‑build demonstrations remain possible but the draft clarifies where measures are appropriate.
Committee member Dimanno moved to adopt the toolbox; the motion was seconded and carried by unanimous roll call. Chair Lobsinger said a cleaned‑up version will be posted to the city website and the toolbox will be used to evaluate traffic‑hazard reporting forms going forward.
Director Berger provided a staff update after the vote and said the city is completing plaza crosswalk trials, finalizing RRFBs at Spain & 3rd, refreshing plaza striping, and wrapping up a permit‑parking rollout. "We've already got some good stuff done," Berger told the committee.
Because the toolbox is not being codified into the municipal code, staff said it can be revised as needed and will guide operational decisions and prioritization of future neighborhood requests.
