On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council will continue to talk traffic calming improvements as well as reduced speed limits among other things.
Not on the agenda is a discussion about a possible ordinance change that would allow for the city council to have control to appoint, supervise and remove the Antioch Police Chief. Although a Public Notice was issued, it was not included on Tuesdays agenda.
Antioch Could Spend $1.51 Million on Traffic Calming Improvements
The Antioch City Council is being asked to approve $1.51 million in spending for traffic calming improvements on three city streets.
Nearly 8 months after the Antioch City Council directed staff to look at traffic calming measures, staff has put together a proposal for the following roads:
- Sycamore Drive ($425k)
- James Donlon Blvd from Somersville Road to Contra Loma Blvd ($220k)
- James Donlon Blvd from Contra Loma Blvd to Lone Tree Way ($545k)
- W 10th Street ($220k)
- + 10% contingency on all projects.
According to the staff report, $425k of funding would come from the gas tax for the Sycamore Drive portion. Staff also said they have met with the Antioch Police and Contra Costa County Fire Protection District where the proposed plans were supported and approved — see previous story
Antioch Could Reduce Speed Limits on Multiple Roadways
On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council is set to discuss “Special Speed Zones” which could reduce the speed limit on several city streets. Others will stay below the 85th percentile which typically increases speed limits.
Under a new law (AB 43), it allows speed limits can be rounded down when justified, instead of always increasing. It also allows CALTRANS to establish criteria for reducing speed by 5-mph based on collision history or high concentration of bike and pedestrian traffic (effective June 2024). It also allows a city, by ordinance, to retain the existing or previous speed limit if no additional lanes have been added to the road since the speed limit was established.
The Antioch City Council will look at speed limits in 4 of 34 segments to be certified through the ordinance to decrease speed that was increased last year.
- E 18th St (two segments) – this would stay below the 85th percentile
- Cavallo Road – below the 85th percentile
- James Donlon Blvd. – below the 85th percentile
- Laurel Road – would see drop from 45 mph to 40 mph
- Wild Horse – would see drop from 45 mph to 40 mph.
Resolution to Support Exoneration of The Port Chicago 50
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution to support local, state, and federal efforts to exonerate the Port Chicago 50.
On the night of July 17, 1944, two transport vessels loading ammunition at the Port Chicago naval base in Concord, California, were suddenly engulfed in a gigantic explosion, the incredible blast of which wrecked the naval base and heavily damaged the town of Port Chicago.
Everyone on the pier and aboard the two ships were killed instantly—some 320 American naval personnel, 200 of whom were African American enlisted men; and another 390 military and civilian personnel were injured, including 226 African American enlisted men. This single, stunning disaster accounted for nearly one-fifth of all African American naval casualties during the whole of World War II and was the worst home front disaster of the war.
The blame for the explosion went to the African American munitions handlers who had been killed in the disaster yet had not been properly trained in the handling of those explosives. Weeks later, seamen were ordered back to work loading munitions at the same location. Two-hundred fifty-eight African American sailors were ordered to load these munitions, but due to what they felt were unsafe work conditions and themselves not being adequately trained in the proper handling of munitions, they refused orders.
After being threatened with the death penalty, 208 of these men reluctantly returned to work. However, the remaining 50 were court-martialed and sentenced to 17 years in prison.
After the war had ended in 1945, the Navy announced that 47 of the 50 men would be released to active duty. Two remained in a hospital recuperating from injuries, while a third remained in prison due to bad conduct. Eventually, those of the 50 who had not committed later offenses were given a general discharge from the Navy under honorable conditions. Yet their convictions were never rescinded, and the “Port Chicago 50” carried with them charges of mutiny until they died.
Discussion on Hiring of Retired Police Officers
This item is for discussion and was placed on the agenda in response to a request by Councilmember Barbanica. The Acting City Manager, the Antioch Police Department, and the Human Resources Department are engaged in discussions to address current vacancies at the Police Department as soon as possible. Councilmember Barbanica suggested that the City consider hiring retired police officers to provide temporary coverage for certain non-sworn duties within the Police Department. The Acting City Manager will consider all options and make necessary efforts to address the current staffing concerns in the Police Department.
Antioch City Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Time: 5:30 P.M. – Closed Session
7:00 P.M. – Regular Meeting
Place: Council Chambers
200 ‘H’ Street
Antioch, CA 9450
Full Agenda – click here
10 comments
Tickets would calm speeders. I’d rather see more traffic enforcement than spending $1.51M on ineffective solutions that anyone with at least one working brain cell knows won’t bring about any meaningful change.
$1.51M on traffic calming efforts and zero dollars to improve quality of life in Antioch. Just this morning I saw a homeless panhandler encroaching into the residential area off Hillcrest and a man splayed out on the sidewalk in front of 7-Eleven. The council seems to love throwing resources at poorly reasoned solutions that don’t do anything to improve the quality of life or address “real” problems in Antioch.
You can pass all the traffic ordinces you want but until people get a head on their shoulders it won’t matter. The city has no officers to patrol these streets so it’s a feel good moment. Pat yourself on the back everything will be OK. LOL
Although what happened at the Concord Naval Weapons Station was a tragedy, it has been addressed numerous times. As recently as 2021 the East Bay Regional Parks District dedicated the new “Thurgood Marshall Regional Park – Home of the Port Chicago 50”.
I’m thinking that while this was an important incident from just about 80 years ago, it does not rise to the level of importance that would have the City of Antioch Council addressing it tonight.
It is my opinion that the City Council should be laser-focused on what they are going to do to turn the situation in Antioch around as it is related to their police department and what I would describe as a true wave of crime.
With hundreds and hundreds of car thefts in the last few months, regular shootings, and a large portion of the police department on administrative leave, the city council should be working constantly on this one problem, and not addressing any other “feel good” items.
Oh, and while we’re at it, let’s drop that “lowering the speed limit by 5 mph” in certain areas of the city to help curb all of the horrible traffic accidents they’ve had.
Does anyone really think that the guy racing down Lone Tree at 85 mph really cares whether the speed limit is 40 mph or 45 mph?
Stick traffic calming devices wherever you can but skip the fluff.
Let’s not focus on real issues, when you can focus on some speed bumps.
Let’s not focus on real issues, when you can focus on racism that only serves yourself Mr. FakeMayor Thorpe.
For the 2 years we have been in Antioch, we fail to see any RECALL EFFORT to get rid of Bad Actor Thorpe!
Who is the watchdog for the City Council? Nobody it seems. How on earth can they even begin to understand what Police Officers go through unless they were one. Barbanica was one and I’m sure he is not for the City Council to be able to hire, fire, manage, etc. the Police Department. I think I read that only one city in California has that ability. Why do these incompetent, unlawful people on our council get the right to do this. What is wrong with this country?
Until the people of Antioch vote some of these inept city council out of office nothing will change.reducing the speed limits by 5 mph!? Really? They reduced Hillcrest from 45 to 40..people still average 50..doesn’t do a thing..like someone commented..” a feel good moment”. and who is supposed to enforce these laws..I drive around town and never see a police presence. Remember all this next election time..
Wake up council – not paying attention to and investing in real solutions, as opposed to this nonsense, does nothing to help and it distracts to help other crime reducing efforts in the city.
Recall Thorpe & his gang of thugs!!
Recall Thorpe the Thug & Restore Antioch
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