Council introduces ordinance to add stop signs at Vine and R Streets

The Needles City Council voted to introduce Ordinance No. 661-AC, amending Needles Municipal Code section 13-33(d) to place stop signs at the southwest and northeast corners of the Vine and R Streets intersection after a traffic-engineering review recommended two-leg stop controls.

A staff presenter explained the traffic-engineering protocol: the engineer reviews speed, traffic volume and sight obstructions and in this case "recommended that there be a stop sign for two legs of the intersecting," keeping the predominant street free-flowing and placing stop signs on the subsidiary approaches.

Council discussion included questions about whether near-miss collisions had been reported; staff said a requester reported multiple near misses but traffic-accident statistics were not available. The staff noted that, if the council concurs, the ordinance will come back for second reading and adoption and would take effect 30 days after adoption.

The city introduced the ordinance on first reading by council motion and roll-call vote. The council did not take the second-reading vote at this meeting.

What happens next: the ordinance will return to council for second reading and adoption; if adopted, new signs would become effective about 30 days after publication.