FacilitiesTransportation Highlights 2007 1212

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4. Discussion Regarding Traffic Calming Reh-Lin Chen gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Traffic Calming Program. From 1997 to 2003, the predecessor of the Traffic Calming Program was the Speed Hump Program. Since the speed humps alone could not alleviate all traffic problems, the City established the Traffic Calming Program in 2003. This Program includes speed humps, speed tables, as well as other devices. Council typically approves $100,000 each year. The more simplistic the issue is, the more streets you can help. Some streets repeat the cycle if there's a problem. Even though the City usually gives special attention to the highest ranking street, the other high-ranking streets are also helped. Since the Program's inception, the City has completed one successful project on Broadmoor Boulevard. However, the project on Best Avenue was stalled. The Best Avenue project made it apparent that the voting system was flawed. Thus, a composite voting system was proposed to the City Council and was subsequently passed. When a resident puts in a request to have his or her street evaluated as part of the Traffic Calming Program, the City measures the speed and volume of the traffic on that street and then the City uses an objective method to determine how the street ranks as a priority in the Program. Each year the City selects the highest priority street to be the Program's focus. Sometimes the City hires a consultant to find ways to alleviate the traffic. For the streets near the top of the list the City implements speed humps if not opposed by the Alameda County Fire Department. Thus far, the Program has resulted in the speed lumps on Broadmoor, the safety improvements on Castro Street, and speed humps on Evergreen Avenue. Now that the City has a new voting system, Best Avenue may return to the cycle. A discussion ensued regarding bringing Best Avenue back into the traffic calming cycle. Councilmember Souza asked if the City plans on meeting once more with the residents of Best Avenue. Reh-Lin answered yes. Councilmember Gregory commented on the delineators on San Leandro Street at Castro Street Uche explained that the City originally intended to use the delineators as a temporary fix and was going to replace them with a permanent measure, but has since decided to keep things the way they are because it works. Uche expressed his concern that the delineators are not aesthetically pleasing. 5. Discussion Regarding Public Safety Building (PSB) Conceptual Plan Ken Joseph discussed the status of the conceptual plan for the Public Safety Building. Additional space is required to accommodate the larger communication consoles, address both ADA and ergonomic issues, and provide room for an additional console for the 911 service center. Because the dispatch center cannot be shut down for the length of the project, the City must build a new area for the center. Once the new center is functioning, the old space can be used for something else. The expertise for building an emergency communications facility is a niche specialty. The City received a proposal from a consultant who has done most of these types of projects in California. The City expects to bring a contract to the City Council in January or February to get started on the design process. Once design begins, it will take about a