As the Turlock City Council considers asking voters to approve road tax to pay for the nearly $100 million cost to bring Turlock’s roads to an “acceptable” rating, one small road improvement is on the council’s Tuesday agenda.
The improvement would add a traffic signal at the intersection of Golden State Boulevard and F Street, replacing what is currently a two-way stop for F Street traffic.
According to the staff report on the proposal, cars often backs up on F Street due to Golden State Boulevard traffic. Impatient drivers then turn when they shouldn’t, causing dangerous driving situations.
The safety-driven improvement would cost $766,670, with $606,149 coming from federal grants. The remaining $160,521 would be paid by the city.
The majority of the work, at a cost of $356,157, would be performed by George Reed Inc., of Modesto. The project would signalize the intersection, add a storm drain system, widen the north side of F Street west of Golden State Boulevard, improve pavement, and add new curb, gutter and sidewalks.
The upgrade work would also require $275,877 of work by the Union Pacific Railroad, tying the signal in with nearby train crossing guards, included in the total.
On Tuesday, the Turlock City Council is also expected to:
• Accept the donation of the Brandon Koch Memorial Skate Park sign, donated by Judith Suliman.
The solid granite sign, standing 33 inches high and 48 inches wide, commemorates Koch, a longtime Turlock skateboarder who passed away after a bout with cancer. The Turlock Parks, Recreation and Community Commission approved renaming the Turlock Skate Park in his honor on Aug. 14, 2012 after an outpouring of community support.
• Issue a proclamation in honor of Love Turlock, the annual city beautification project scheduled for April 27. New Life Christian Center Pastor David Larson will accept the proclamation.
• Consider approving a resolution in support of the Healthy Eating Active Living Cities Campaign, which offers wellness webinars for city employees. The HEAL Campaign also supports efforts to combat childhood obesity.
• Appoint new alternate members of the Turlock Planning Commission. A total of 12 individuals have applied for two seats currently held by Victor Pedroza and Aben Williams, both of whom are reaching term limits.
The applicants are:
◦ Anokeen Varani, Dental Spa manager
◦ Alice Pollard, Turlock Adult School Principal
◦ Yates McCallum, Director of Special Projects with AECOM
◦ Ashour Badal, Associate Dean of University Extended Education at California State University Stanislaus
◦ Bryan Tribble, a real estate broker
◦ Kris Klair, broker and owner of EXIT Reality Consultants
◦ Steven Hallam, former Oakdale City Manager
◦ Eric Gonsalves, broker and Vice President of Brownstone Equities, Inc.
◦ Michael Camara, entrepreneur and dairy farmer
◦ Jim Reape, a family nurse practitioner/physicians assistant
◦ Jim Shade, architect
◦ Timm LaVelle, an accountant and former Turlock Unified School District Trustee
• Finalize a city ordinance which would ban pedestrians from standing in roadway medians. The practice is a safety concern, the city says, both for pedestrians and distracted drivers.
The ordinance would also effectively ban panhandling in medians.
• Finalize an ordinance amendment to move a City of Turlock tow-away zone to reflect the new location of the Turlock Farmers Market.
The market will move one block southwest on South Broadway, stretching between A Street and West Main Street this season. The market will no longer operate on Broadway north of Main Street.
Cars will be prohibited from parking overnight Thursdays in that area from May through October, so as not to interfere with the market’s early morning setup.
• Place liens on five properties for costs related to the abatement of weeds, obnoxious growth, and debris.
• Conference with legal counsel in closed session, discussing potential litigation.
• Hold a meeting of the Successor Agency to the Turlock Redevelopment Agency to approve a cooperative agreement which would repay the City of Turlock from former RDA accounts for expenses related to the Successor Agency.
The Turlock City Council will meet at 7 p.m. March 26 in the Yosemite Room of Turlock City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.
