Presenter says new traffic‑calming ordinance would give council final authority and emphasize signage, rumble strips before speed humps

A presenter (Speaker 4) described a proposed traffic‑calming ordinance and the decision framework it would create for the City of Anniston. Speaker 4 said the ordinance would give the council final say over whether to install traffic‑calming devices and would allow staff to present a range of alternatives rather than be limited to speed humps.

Speaker 4 said the ordinance includes a set of minimum street characteristics to guide recommendations and that the council could approve or disapprove installations even if staff did not recommend them. “This ordinance gives you the authority to override that,” Speaker 4 said, describing council authority to accept or reject staff recommendations.

Speaker 4 emphasized concerns about emergency response and drainage when discussing device selection. He said some devices are less aggressive and less likely to affect emergency vehicles’ response times and that measures such as LED signage and rumble strips should be used before resorting to speed humps. “If we can get some good signage, make it LED, make it very visible. And then the next approach would be the rumble strips. They are less aggressive than the speed hump,” Speaker 4 said.

The presenter also noted curb and gutter is recommended where drainage could be affected and that rumble strips and signage are generally less damaging to yards and local drainage than speed humps. No vote on the ordinance was recorded in this session; Speaker 4 described the ordinance’s standards and the administrative appeal path to council.