AgdaPkt 2020-04-27 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

From: ceasterbrook58 To: PublicComment Cc: Cheryl Easterbrook Subject: 04/27/2020 Council Meeting Agenda Item 8A "Slow Streets Program" Date: Monday, April 27, 2020 3:32:18 PM To be read into the record during council meeting by city clerk -- Good evening council members. My name is Cheryl Easterbrook and I both live and own property on lower Redwood Avenue. My residential street has yet to receive any relief from existing excessive vehicular traffic conditions that significantly compromise both the health and safety of the neighborhood. Since "shelter in place" became effective, the reduction in vehicular traffic on my residential street has been marginal. My concern is that the proposed "slow streets" action may have limited community benefit on some streets while increasing health and safety concerns on surrounding streets. The proposal does not address the potential for increased vehicular traffic volumes on surrounding neighborhood streets. Neither does it address the potential for undesirable driving behaviors as motorists' become frustrated with unusual and restrictive roadway configurations. Council is asked to approve an action of questionable community benefit without sufficient analysis and/or justification. I ask that any action be deffered until information is available to best assess both intentional and unintentional consequences. I do not think it advisable to provide relief to residents of one neighborhood at the expense of other surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, since "shelter in place", residents have noted city-wide traffic concerns that require immediate address. Residents report a significant increase in racing/dragging driving behavior and "concert car" activity. Funds may be better spent for PD efforts to ameliorate these immediate community -wide impacts. There is community concern that the city increases risk to it's own staff and/or contractors. Sewer mains certainly need to be kept clear and the water distribution system repaired. Those are necessary activities. But building and maintaining traffic barricades that provide questionable community benefit are not necessary activities. Regarding ongoing procedural issues: 1.) It is unclear to me from the staff report if the city's emergency authority to restrict travel on streets ceases when emergency conditions cease. If restricted, does unrestricted travel resume when "shelter in place" conditions conclude? 2.) Does a council action "to implement" in this case, mean to implement additional study of the proposed or to actually implement street closures. And, if the action is to implement the study, is staff required to bring the issue back before Council? 3.) The staff report claims that there has been community outreach regarding proposed. I find, again, that outreach insufficient. Did staff notify the neighborhood associations about the proposed? Did the neighborhood associations solicit input from area residents? Did the Transportation Advisory Committee have sufficient resources to adequately determine and represent the community interests they are impanelled to represent? Emergency conditions should not be viewed as an opportunity to act without due consideration of all foreseeable consequences. Thank you.