pages: CityCouncil/2020-04-22.pdf, 7
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CityCouncil | 2020-04-22 | 7 | incorporating the 3-Es: Educating Engineering, and Enforcement; expressed concern about over-emphasizing engineering; stated the topic cannot be looked at solely from the engineering lens; the enforcement position must also be considered; outlined citations data based on traffic speed that he received from staff; stated speeding citations increase with more Officers; there is an over-emphasis on engineering; more enforcement is needed; 2,300 average speeding citations are issued with five or more Traffic Officers; questioned the reason the item is not being looked at in the context of the Transportation Element; expressed support for use of education, enforcement and engineering; Council must remember that Webster Street has lost a lot of parking due to bulb-outs and other updates; the item should be looked at holistically; that he will not be supporting the item. Vice Mayor Knox White stated the environment and design of the environment is the number one thing to ensure safe streets; enforcement of behavior equates poorly designed streets; people are penalized for acting in ways that have been encouraged; the proposal is not an attack on parking; that he will protect the safety of residents, which is consistent with planning efforts; there is a solid Transportation Element; expressed support for the item; questioned whether the slow streets pilot is a first step; expressed support for building networks while coming out of COVID-19; stated a number of cities are moving forward with intersection access; expressed support for turning pedestrian buttons off during COVID-19, which should not require Council action; expressed support for having all sidewalks painted for visibility and ; using stripes within crosswalks; stated staff should look at balancing safety; the City should be smart and data driven, without planning into inactivity related to speed; stated bollards can be ugly, but are effective; proposed a change to the final bullet to read: "separated bike lanes should be provided instead of unprotected standard bicycle lanes, unless not feasible;" stated the goal is to provide the highest level of safety and encouragement. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether Vice Mayor Knox White's proposal is feasible. The Planning, Building and Transportation Director responded in the affirmative. Councilmember Oddie stated that he defers to the City Engineer on the topic of pairs versus quads; the more crosswalk opportunities, the better; he defers to staff on the limited resources and where to prioritize; each accident causes a lot of clamoring; there is high priority around schools and parks; bollards are not ugly, they serve a purpose; the more that can be done to change behavior, the better; expressed support for the hierarchy; stated parking is not a low priority; life, especially children's lives, are high priority; questioned whether one to two parking spaces have been removed from the Eastbound side of Central Avenue; expressed support for codifying the priorities; stated that he and Vice Mayor Knox White added the term "enactment" to a town hall previously held; the engineering side has been under emphasized; the City has previously not done enough engineering; expressed concern about enforcement being a human capital intensive activity; stated more is being asked of the Police Department with fewer resources; noted there has been concern for lack of traffic flow; stated a one to two minute delay is worth saving a life; there are things being done to abate Continued April 21, 2020 Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 7 April 22, 2020 | CityCouncil/2020-04-22.pdf |