CC 2023-03-28_11a Supplemental 2
MEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Jessica Matson, Legislative & Information Services Director/City Clerk
SUBJECT: Supplemental Information
Agenda Item 11.a – Discussion and Consideration of a Project Status
Update and Direction Regarding the Brisco-Halcyon Interchange
Modification Project
DATE: March 28, 2023
Attached is correspondence received before 4 PM for the above referenced item.
cc: City Manager
Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director
Community Development Director
City Attorney
City Clerk
City Website (or public review binder)
From:Claudine Lingo
To:Caren Ray Russom; Kristen Barneich; Lan George; Jim Guthrie; Kate Secrest; Jessica Matson
Subject:MARCH 28, 2023 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS 11.A AND 12.B
Date:Monday, March 27, 2023 8:52:53 PM
Provided below are comments regarding the subject agenda items.
11.a Discussion and Consideration of a Project Status Update and Direction
Regarding the Brisco-Halcyon Interchange Modification Project
As several of you know, I have provided input regarding the Brisco project to the City on
numerous occasions in the past regarding why I am very much opposed to Alternative 4C.
Briefly, my opposition was based on the following:
1. Most respondents to the survey conducted several years ago, overwhelmingly indicated
residents were opposed to Alternative 4C for various reasons.
2. The cost of the project was growing by leaps and bounds and the City General Fund could
not absorb the increasing costs. The General Fund money would be better spent to fix the
roads and sidewalks.
3. The impact of the significant traffic resulting from the roundabout will have on local
residents, especially Grace Lane residents is unconscionable. None of the Grace Lane
residents were informed (via disclosures, as required by law, when they bought their houses)
about the Brisco project and that the street was going to be a "connector road" resulting in a lot
more traffic than what would be expected on a residential street.
4. The traffic study conducted by the contractor before Grace Lane was even in existence (and
wasn't reflected on the various driving direction apps) indicated there would be no impact on
traffic by having a roundabout that would push traffic up a "residential street" instead of to the
shopping area between Camino Mercado and Rancho Parkway. The organization that
conducted that study was not local and apparently did not understand the traffic pattern and
was not qualified to predict what the traffic patterns in the area would become. It is
unfortunate that City staff at that time did not reject that traffic study. The director of AG
Community Development either failed to review the traffic study objectively, was not familiar
with the area (James Way, Mesquite, and Rodeo) or had some reason that was not disclosed to
residents about why the City accepted the flawed traffic study.
5. The danger of locating a roundabout in such close vicinity to a school is concerning. When
a youth sports event is held at St. Patricks, cars are parked up and down the street, visibility is
limited, and it is not unusual for pedestrians to be in the street.
6. The speed that drivers travel on Grace Lane (on a hill with several curves with limited
visibility) to get from James Way to Patrick's School and Branch Street, and from Branch
Street to Grace Bible Church and James Way is not controlled. After seeing some scary near
misses as a result of significant speeding up and down Grace Lane, I am still very much
opposed to Alternative 4C and do not support pursuing the roundabout. When the Brisco
on/off-ramps were closed several years ago, the congestion at the Brisco, Branch and El
Camino interchange was significantly alleviated.
12.b Consideration of a Resolution Rescinding the Declaration of a Stage 1 Water
Shortage
I think it is very short sighted to rescind the water usage limitations. While we may be
temporarily out of drought as a result of all of the rain we've had the last few months, it is
unlikely that this weather pattern will continue next winter and the winter after that.
As you know, it is very difficult to get residents to conserve water; so we'll likely be right back
to a water shortage within a couple of years. Therefore, I have a suggestion, rather than
rescind the declaration, revise it to be a temporary suspension of the declaration and give the
City the authority to reinstitute the declaration when needed by simply notifying residents so
water usage restrictions can be re-implemented without delay when the Lopez Lake water
level gets to 35% of capacity or less (or whatever level would provide water to residents for at
least 2 or 3 years).
Sincerely,
Claudine Lingo
AG District 1 Constituent