City Tackles Issues Of Speeding, Cars In Yards, Speeches

Speeding, public speaking and cars in yards were among the items addressed by the La Grange City Council Monday night, April 26.

The Council’s General Services Committee (GSC) met the week before and presented several recommendations to the City Council. Unsafe speeds on City streets remains a high priority for the City. The speed limit on most residential streets in La Grange stands at 25 miles per hour (15 MPH in a school zone), regardless of whether a speed limit sign is posted.

City Manager Shawn Raborn said the City recently conducted a traffic study that showed most people drive close to the speed limit. However, the study showed a significant minority of vehicles travelling well above the speed limit.

Raborn said the committee looked at several options for reducing speed on streets. One of those options involved installing “traffic calming devices” such as speed humps or speed bumps on residential streets. Raborn presented information to the committee which suggested speed humps work better at slowing traffic and the moreabrupt speed bumps. He said speed bumps are also associated with increased liability for vehicle damage and maintenance issues for the City.

Instead, the committee recommended launching an education campaign for citizens.

“It involves educating people about what the street speeds are,” Raborn said. “Also, maybe put up some more signage.”

Concerning speed humps or bumps, Raborn said the committee decided “that would be the last thing we do, not the first thing we do.”

Councilman Pat Janca proposed increasing enforcement and fines for speeding.

“I think we’ve been lenient with writing warnings,” Janca said. “I think its probably time to start pulling some cash out of their pockets to get them to slow down.”

Raborn said police officers always have discretion to write a ticket or a warning when they conduct a traffic stop.

Janca proposed doubling the fines for speeding. According to the City’s municipal court, the current penalty for driving 30 miles per hour over the speed limit on a residential street would be $216.

Raborn said most of the money collected for speeding tickets goes to the State of Texas.

“It doesn’t matter where the money goes,” Janca said. “It’s money out of their pocket. Maybe they’ll slow down.”

“A lot of these are younger folks, I’m just going to say it because I see it,” said Councilwoman Kathy Weishuhn. “That behavior is hard to change, especially if mommy and daddy are going to pay for it.”

Raborn said the City may install some flashing speed signs in certain areas to raise attention to the speed limit. He said the City would also work with La Grange High School to educate students about the speed limit on city streets.

Mayor Janet Moerbe proposed working with the high school to take away off-campus lunch privileges for students who get speeding tickets in town.

“It’s something to consider,” said Councilwoman Bonnie Busch. “It could be a partnership and we could start that discussion with the school. It’s a good thought.”

The GSC also recommended a new limit on public comments during city council meetings, which Council approved on Monday. The new public participation policies adopted by the Council reduces the amount of time a person can address the City Council from five minutes to three minutes.

“That’s the norm,” Raborn said. “Most (other cities) have a three minute time frame.”

In addition, the GSC considered a new ordinance concerning cars parked in lawns.

“We don’t have a huge problem, but we do have a number of citizens using their front yards as parking lots,” Raborn said.

He described the problem as a “visual issue.”

“There are probably 10 or 15 at the most,” he said.

Raborn said an ordinance against cars in yards could create additional problems for the City. For example, if residents begin parking vehicles on the street instead, the City’s street sweeper would not be able to sweep all the way to the curb. The committee decided to study the issue further before making a recommendation to the City Council.

The General Services Committee is comprised of four council members: chairman John “Honza” Cernosek, Jan Dockery, Kathy Weishuhn and Violet Zbranek.