Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff Writer
Traffic signals and updating the flood plain on the master drainage plan dominated discussion Wednesday at the Clovis Public Works Committee.
Two Clovis citizens requested the committee take action on modifying the late-night traffic signals along Prince Street and the cross streets. They suggested replacing certain streets flashing red traffic signals with yellow.
“Currently how they are set up is Prince Street and 60/84 flash yellow, and then side streets flash red,” said City Engineer Justin Howalt. “All other local streets that have signals are red flashing all directions.”
Howalt, City Manager Joe Thomas and Traffic Director Kevin Musick recommended leaving the signals as they are for safety reasons. The committee unanimously approved the motion.
Engineers with Molzen Corbin presented the committee with updated information for the cities master drainage plan, including the drainage ordinance, policies, funding possibilities and a more detailed flood plain survey.
A representative with Molzen Corbin said Clovis residents spend $388,000 per year on flood plain insurance premiums.
“The whole reason why we are doing this is to get some of your areas out of the flood plain, because it could result in blighted areas.”
The presentation compared information from the current 25-year, one-hour event policy which is used by subdividers to develop property, and a 100-year, 24-hour event industry standard used by FEMA.
The engineers discussed options for storm drainage that could coincide with planned road development along 7th Street and U.S. 60/84 and expanding area playas using environmentally friendly methods.
The committee discussed a request for Alma Street to become a city maintained right of way. It is currently a private drive in disrepair. The committee unanimously approved a motion to notify requested parties that if they want the city to consider taking responsibility for the street, they need to bring it up to minimum standards.
The committee also unanimously approved a recommendation to leave a parking lot as it is at 601 Main Street. The real estate agent marketing the property requested the front parking on Main Street be modified from parallel parking to diagonal parking.
