Blue Lake Public Safety Commission Addresses Resident Concerns, Plans I Street Improvements

The Blue Lake Public Safety Commission convened on June 2nd for a meeting that saw lively discussion on several key issues impacting the community. While the meeting addressed routine business like approving the agenda and tabling the May 5th minutes due to a missing copy for one commissioner, much of the focus centered on public safety concerns and upcoming improvements.

**Public Safety Pamphlet Update:** The commission's oldest public safety pamphlet, last updated in 2011, is slated for a much-needed revision. Commissioners plan to distribute the updated version at the next Thursday food distribution event. This move is expected to make crucial safety information readily accessible to a wider segment of the community.

**I Street Traffic Calming:** A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to addressing concerns about traffic on I Street. Following a resident survey conducted by Commissioner Hales and input from City Engineer Mike Fogarty, who discussed strategies like roundabouts and speed tables, the commission decided to conduct a broader community survey to determine the most effective traffic-calming measures.

**Resident Concerns and Criticism:** The meeting also saw robust public comment. Kent Swatski voiced concerns about the commissions responsiveness to past safety concerns, citing a past incident that resulted in a fatality. He also questioned the suitability of some commissioners. Rebecca Collins and Salina Rain echoed these concerns, referencing the municipal code's definition of the commission's role and specifically requesting that two commissioners resign due to what they described as disrespectful behavior towards the city council. Lori Ponti highlighted the absence of sidewalks on Third and J Streets, adding to the ongoing discussion about community safety and infrastructure.

Mr. Fogarty provided technical information on traffic calming measures, clarifying that the Greenwood truck route was not designed with bicycle lanes and emphasizing the safety benefits of roundabouts and stop signs, citing data on reduced fatalities and injuries.

**Next Steps and Community Involvement:** The commission will review the minutes from the May 5th meeting and distribute the updated public safety pamphlet at its next meeting. The results of the I Street traffic calming survey will inform future decisions and actions by the commission. While the meeting did not offer specific dates for future meetings, information can be found on the City of Blue Lake website: https://bluelake.ca.gov/city-council/council-commissions/public-safety-commission/.

The meeting highlighted the importance of community engagement in public safety initiatives and the ongoing need for effective communication between residents and their local government.