On the heels of a decision granting Campolindo area residents new four-way stop signage at the intersection of Campolindo Drive and Calle la Montana, the Moraga Town Council is spreading the word that it is willing to discuss traffic calming projects that do not necessarily satisfy to the letter all of the strict requirements contained the Traffic and Safety Calming Guide.
The Guide stipulates that a precise percentage of neighbors must be in favor of a specific traffic calming measure, such as a stop sign, in order for the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) to make a positive recommendation to the Council. "The guide sets guidelines for TSAC to make a recommendation to the Council, but it is the Council that makes the final decision," responded Town Manager Jill Keimach to a question from Mayor Karen Mendonca.
"People need to know that even if they do not get the exact number of signatures, they can appeal to the Council," said Mendonca, "and that needs to be clearly indicated in the Guide."
Due to a lack of responses, the Campolindo petitioners failed to show the 70% of yays that is required by the Guide. However, the Council felt that there was enough evidence that the signs were a matter of public safety, and there was no clear opposition to them, to allow petitioners to purchase the new signs and pay for their installation.
During the discussion, Council members more than once referred to a previous Larch neighborhood stop sign project; the supporters of four new stop signs dropped the petition after failing to get enough signatures. Keimach noted, "If they want to have the Council review the question they should bring it back to TSAC, which would either make a positive or negative recommendation to the Town Council; the Council would then debate the issue and make the final decision."
The Guide stipulates that a precise percentage of neighbors must be in favor of a specific traffic calming measure, such as a stop sign, in order for the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) to make a positive recommendation to the Council. "The guide sets guidelines for TSAC to make a recommendation to the Council, but it is the Council that makes the final decision," responded Town Manager Jill Keimach to a question from Mayor Karen Mendonca.
"People need to know that even if they do not get the exact number of signatures, they can appeal to the Council," said Mendonca, "and that needs to be clearly indicated in the Guide."
Due to a lack of responses, the Campolindo petitioners failed to show the 70% of yays that is required by the Guide. However, the Council felt that there was enough evidence that the signs were a matter of public safety, and there was no clear opposition to them, to allow petitioners to purchase the new signs and pay for their installation.
During the discussion, Council members more than once referred to a previous Larch neighborhood stop sign project; the supporters of four new stop signs dropped the petition after failing to get enough signatures. Keimach noted, "If they want to have the Council review the question they should bring it back to TSAC, which would either make a positive or negative recommendation to the Town Council; the Council would then debate the issue and make the final decision."
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA