The Murrieta City Council with a light meeting agenda, Tuesday, Oct. 2, spent time discussing the placement of a 4-way stop sign at the Jackson Avenue and Magellan Street intersection on the request of the staff.
Bob Moehling, Murrieta City Public Works Director, presented the request to place the all-way stop at the intersection because more traffic has been seen on the busy highway, and the line of sight on that portion of the roadway has been reduced by growing trees and vegetation creating a traffic hazard. He said the proposal is not new and went over the Jackson Avenue changes that have taken place.
He said the staff is recommending the all-way stop be constructed to mitigate the traffic problems and at less cost than other options. However, the staff offered three other alternatives to the request. They included: removing all vegetation from the sight distance corridor; installing a traffic signal or just leaving it as it is.
Each of the four options was discussed with the council at some length. The council questioned the number of vehicles passing that intersection that is adjacent to a housing tract on the east and a major retail business on the west. More than 10,000 cars a day going north and south now pass through that intersection.
The possibility that by removing or cutting the trees and vegetation on that portion of the roadway would help improve the line of sight now hindered by the growth was discussed. It was determined that could be possible with the permission of the HOA in the housing tract, but the cost of making that removal might be expensive, but not as much as a traffic signal.
The public works staff showed detailed information on how each of the options might work with more questions coming from the council. A proposal to keep clear signs at the intersection was advanced and if it would be difficult to request the HOA remove the vegetation.
Finally, a motion was made by Councilmember Ron Holliday to approve option two and talk to the HOA about the vegetation removal, adding a “keep clear” before the current stop signs and to report back to the council with the result. It was seconded by Mayor Lori Stone. In the vote, Stone, Holliday and Councilmember Lisa DeForest voted yes while Councilmember Jon Levell and Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Warren voted no. The measure passed.
In an earlier portion of the council meeting, Murrieta City Clerk Cristal McDonald outlined her and the registered voters’ responsibilities in voting in the November 5 general and municipal election.
She explained that Murrieta registered voters will soon receive their ballots for both the General election for President and Vice President and a number of state Propositions but a municipal election will include voting to fill two city council seats for the next four years.
The Municipal Vote includes candidates for Murrieta Council seats for Districts 3 and 4. District 3 candidates include Lisa DeForest (incumbent), and John Nakagawa. District 4 candidates include Lori Stone (incumbent), Frank Madrid and Javier Rubalcaba.
McDonald reminded potential voters aged 16 and 17 in California that they can now pre register to vote and be eligible to actually vote on their 18th birthday while adult voters have until Oct. 21 to register. Voting in person at their designed precincts may begin on Oct. 26 if they wish. They have through Nov. 5 to make or mail in their voting choices. Those ballots mailed on or before Nov. 5 will be counted in the 2024 election.
She said she was more than willing to further explain the election process to residents but is not allowed to discuss issues or candidates with them. “I must remain neutral,” McDonald said. She gave the Murrieta city clerk’s number as 951-461-6030.
Off agenda items were presented to the council by several residents during the public comment session. One Bear Creek resident asked the city code enforcement and fire department to look into the growing trash and debris in a control basin in their private community and another argued the placement of a new Murrieta Valley School District school planned on Hayes Street in the community.
During the public comment session on the all-way stop on Jackson and Magellan, resident Kassen Klein said the issue should be discussed in a public meeting or hearing before any action is taken by the council.
The Murrieta Council proclaimed the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They recognized the effort in the city to forward the “We are More Than Pink Day” coming to the city on Oct. 15 with more than 4,000 expected to participate, including members of the city council and city staff.
Tony Ault can be reached at tault@reedermedia.com.
