11.20.18 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes November 20,2018 is a public health epidemic.In Texas, nearly 10 people die from traffic fatalities every day. Another 50 people suffer life-altering injuries every day.Because this happens so frequently,we've become numb to it. We accept it,we use euphemisms like traffic "accident"to remove responsibility. We design "roads" for speed, for flow, to make large vehicles easy to maneuver,we've turned our public streets over to private vehicles and designed them to make people think our public rights of way are just for cars. We blame the victims.But we must remind ourselves that 10 times the number of Americans die in traffic crashes each year than die in fires.We must remind ourselves that traffic crashes are the#1 cause of death for individuals under 24 years of age.And, remind ourselves that the median age in San Marcos is 24.These deaths are not unavoidable.They are preventable.The idea that the only acceptable number of traffic deaths is ZERO started in 1997 in Sweden. At the time, they had traffic fatality rates comparable to the US. After implementing a policy to redesign their streets,Sweden's fatality rate is now just a quarter of the US rate. What is now frequently referred to as a Vision Zero policy has been adopted by many states and cities across the US. Minnesota,Utah,and Washington state have all adopted polices that have led to reductions in fatalities over 40%. Sunday at the Texas Capital,the non-profit Farm&City hosted a vigil in remembrance of the victims of traffic violence as they prepare to ask the Legislature to adopt Vision Zero policies. San Marcos should join in these efforts.As San Marcos grows and promotes more walkable and bikeable places,this Council should take action to make its streets safer, particularly for vulnerable street users. While education and enforcement can play a role, posting a speed limit doesn't do much. Reducing road deaths in the long term means redesigning roads to restrict motor traffic.That is where political will and commitment are required.The TMP before you tonight sets only modest goals such as creating a Vision Zero Action Plan by 2023.I'm here tonight to challenge this Council to make this a priority for 2019: 1. Adopt a Resolution committing to Vision Zero in the first quarter of 2019 2. Make certain your CAMPO representative and alternates carry these priorities forward to an organization that is in need of them 3.Tell the Texas Legislature that San Marcos supports state legislative action 4. Create and adopt a Vision Zero Action Plan for San Marcos by the end of 2019,not 2023 Thank you in advance for your commitment to this critical issue There being no further comments,Mayor Hughson closed the Public Hearing at 6:20 p.m. Staff recommended postponement of this item. The appendices have been City of San Marcos Paye 5