Pastor Steve Tiebout of New Hope Community Church delivered the invocation. Mr. Abney acknowledged the collaboration with the merchant community to help reach a more favorable solution but also added to date the project has not been completed. Engineering and Construction Manager Patterson opened the report with a synopsis of the traffic situation to date and the need to have local involvement at the regional level in light of various projects either being planned or discussed that impact the City. Mr. Patterson asked City Council to endorse a plan to be utilized at the local neighborhood level that expedites traffic calming measures. Jim Smith, traffic consultant, began his report indicating that streamlining is the key in handling various issues.
Local traffic is controversial and residents' interests and viewpoints vary greatly.
Sought recognition that all situations may not result in a perfect scenario and would like to see a decision rather than a deferral while understanding that there may be conflict. Mr. Smith described their process for local street issues and requested acknowledgement or revision. Enforcement instead of traffic calming is an issue to many residents. The Capital Improvement Process is not understood, prompting frustrations as to why traffic devices are not being installed. Mr. Smith proposed an education program by utilizing a library of movable message signs to cause behavioral change.