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City Council Meeting Minutes September 15, 2020 <br />35. Receive an update and hold discussion on the road closures connected to the West <br />Hopkins Street project; and provide direction to Staff. <br />Mayor Pro Tem Mihalkanin and Mayor Hughson requested this item to be <br />added to the agenda. <br />Mayor Pro Tem Mihalkanin expressed his concerns with the closure of a major <br />street and how this causes disruption. Mayor Pro Tem Mihalkanin suggested <br />opening streets to thru traffic on residential streets, incorporate speed limits <br />that ensure safety and enforce them, and open multiple streets for flow of <br />traffic. He also suggested placing stop signs with flashing lights on West San <br />Antonio Street since they are not at every cross street. This would improve <br />safety by attracting the driver's attention. Mayor Hughson suggested reflective <br />strips on the stop signs, more driver feedback signs, and stated closing all the <br />streets is not working. Heavy trucks must use the detours. <br />Council Member Baker stated numerous complaints are being made from <br />businesses and individuals due to these closures. The city should enforce that <br />heavy trucks are not to use detours through neighborhoods. <br />Mayor Hughson asked for the speed limits to be kept at a lower level. <br />Council Member Derrick noted the need to keep Harvey Street closed to <br />through traffic. <br />Richard Reynosa, Senior Engineer provided a brief presentation on the <br />Hopkins Street Improvements Project from Bishop to Moore Street. Mr. <br />Reynosa stated the challenges of the traffic control plan is to find an <br />alternative route to Hopkins Street traffic to assist with the 16,000 vehicles per <br />day, as there are no nearby convenient detour routes. <br />Mr. Reynosa stated the goals are to look for safe routes that are efficient and <br />have adequate capacity. Mr. Reynosa is looking for new options and will <br />continue to adjust and he stated that success depends on driver willingness to <br />follow detour routes safely. <br />Mayor Hughson asked if the police department are issuing tickets for those <br />that are in the area who are not in their destination. Chief Klett stated that <br />officers are patrolling but not stopping vehicles just for going through <br />barricades.Their focus is on speeding and running stop signs. They are no <br />longer writing tickets just for driving on those streets. <br />City of San Marcos Page 19 <br />