Report Prepared by: Daryl Jordan, P.E., City Engineer, Engineering Department
Title
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution to Dissolve the Traffic Committee and Transfer the Duties to City Staff
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers adopting a Resolution to dissolve the Traffic Committee and transfer the related duties to City Staff for internal management and administration.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion adopting Resolution 2026-07, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, Dissolving the Traffic Committee and Transferring its Duties to City Staff.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to modifications by City Council; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2025-26 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
The Traffic Committee was created to review requests related to traffic issues, including matters relating to parking regulations, speed limits, traffic signs, loading zones, safety, and handicapped zones. The Traffic Committee may approve or deny these requests or may make recommendations to the City Council.
The membership of the Traffic Committee consists of the City Engineer, Chief of Police, Fire Chief, Director of Public Works, and Planning Manager.
At the December 3, 2012, meeting, Council adopted Resolution No. 2012-83, approving the rules, regulations and procedures for the Traffic Committee.
At the September 8, 2015, meeting, Council approved an amendment to the Rules, Regulations, and Procedures to allow for the designation of a Chairperson Pro-Tempore, an alteration to the Director of Public Works Title, and a technical change to the procedure for meetings to require official action with affirmative votes of the majority.
Currently, the Traffic Committee is administered through the Engineering Department with the City Engineer as the chairperson. The meetings are held the second Tuesday of the odd months at 2:00 pm in the Council Chambers. Each meeting has an average of four or five requests per meeting, and statistically those requests are denied due to lack of information, or lack of warrants to meet the legal requirements for safety improvements.
On November 25, 2025, staff met with the Transportation Subcommittee to discuss options on streamlining the Traffic Committee process and improving response times on citizen requests. Staff presented the option to create online request forms and to have the process administered internally to allow requests to be addressed in a timely manner, rather than every two months when the Traffic Committee is scheduled to meet. Handling traffic matters internally will allow staff to address safety issues quickly and assist in reducing the workload of agenda preparation, minutes, staff time, and meeting coordination.
The transportation subcommittee supported this request with the goal of increasing efficiency and responding to citizen requests in a timely manner.
Staff has coordinated with the IT Department to create an online form and update the website to create a more streamlined and user-friendly process. The Engineering Department will retain the oversight of the citizen requests and coordinate with the departments responsible for information pertaining to the requests. Any requests that will require an ordinance adoption will be agendized for the next available Council meeting after the request is approved.
Staff recommends adopting the Resolution to dissolve the Traffic Committee and transfer its duties to City staff for internal administration.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No impact on city resources.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution 2026-07