Item # 10 - Traffic control device at Patterson

1. CITY OF ALAMO HEIGHTS
POLICE DEPARTMENT
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Rick Pruitt, Police Chief
SUBJECT: Discussion and possible action to amend City Codes Chapter 18, Article VI,
Section 18-147, Schedule B (1) by creating a new stop intersection at
Patterson Avenue and Westover Road
DATE: September 14, 2020
SUMMARY
Residents have expressed concern for the lack of traffic control signs on Westover Road
at its intersection with Patterson Avenue. Historically, Patterson Avenue carries a heavy
traffic volume of residents and commuters traveling through the City of Alamo Heights
neighborhood streets. Staff recognizes the listed intersection would be safer for drivers
not familiar with the area if traffic control signs are erected.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
General information concerning the Westover Road @ Patterson Avenue intersection:
• Westover Road – non-typical intersection having 38 feet width at the west
intersecting point narrowing to 29 feet and 41 feet in width at the east intersecting
point narrowing to 21 feet, 100% residential, no sidewalks, front driveways,
obstructed/limited corner vision at both Westover Road corners.
• Patterson Avenue – 30 feet in width, 100% residential, front driveways, side
driveways to corner lots, no sidewalks, unobstructed vision approaching Westover
Road from either direction.
• The Westover Road intersection is the only four-way traffic intersection with
Patterson Avenue not controlled by a stop sign.
Traffic studies were not contracted for these roadways. Staff recognizes Patterson
Avenue historically carries a large volume of resident, commuter and delivery traffic
between Broadway and Estes Avenue Staff also recognizes Westover Road is primarily
used by residents with a limited volume of thru traffic. Although there is no traffic
accident history for this intersection over the past five years, the absence of traffic control
devices on Westover Road could be a contributing factor to future accidents.
Typically, the driving factors for placing traffic control devices at an intersection include
a combination of traffic volume, vehicle speeds, accident history, vision obstructions and

2. pedestrian traffic. While some of these factors are absent, Patterson Avenue does
experience a large volume of vehicle during the three typical commuter traffic times and
extending into the evening hours. The width of Patterson Avenue is slightly wider at the
intersection than a typical residential street which can contribute to higher vehicle speeds.
Narrower streets such as Westover Road can serve as traffic calming environments.
No adverse impact is projected for any adjacent street if the proposed traffic control
devices are approved for Westover Road where it intersects with Patterson Avenue.
When determining if traffic control signs at an intersection not having traffic control
signs are warranted, staff reviewed the Texas Transportation Code for current regulations
for vehicles approaching an intersection not controlled by traffic control devices. Section
545.151 (d) provides the following:
An operator approaching an intersection of a street or roadway that is not controlled by
an official traffic control device:
(1) Shall stop, yield and grant immediate use of the intersection to a vehicle that has
entered the intersection or is approaching the intersection in a proximity that is a
hazard; and
(2) After stopping, may proceed when the intersection can be safely entered without
interference or collision with traffic using a different street or roadway.
Staff also reviewed the Texas Manual on Traffic Control Devices for engineering
guidelines to best determine which street should be regulated by a stop sign. Staff has
already covered the primary justifications for a traffic control sign to be installed. Aside
from those mentioned, engineering guidelines recommend the lowest volume street
should be stopped. Therefore, the proposal for traffic control signs on Westover Road is
correct.
POLICY ANALYSIS
The request for consideration of new stop intersections is consistent with the Texas
Transportation Code and Section 18-98. “Stop Intersections” of the City Code providing
that the City Council may designate any street intersection as a stop intersection and
designate the streets upon which vehicles shall stop before entering such intersection.
FISCAL IMPACT
Two traffic control signs and one new pole, materials and labor – estimated cost $300.
COORDINATION
• Letters were mailed to all addresses on Westover Road and on Patterson Avenue for a
distance of two hundred feet from the proposed stop intersection informing residents
of the proposals, requesting input regarding the proposals and making notification of
the City Council meeting on September 14, 2020.

3. • Public works personnel will install the proposed traffic control devices.
• The City Manager has reviewed the proposal and the City Attorney prepared the
proposed Ordinance.
• Public Works personnel will assume responsibility for installing the sign poles and
stop signs.
• The Ordinance will be published in the San Antonio Express News and posted on the
City website in accordance with applicable law.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A – Proposed Ordinance
Attachment B – Citizen comments
____________________________
Rick Pruitt
Police Chief
____________________________
Buddy Kuhn
City Manager

4. Attachment A
ORDINANCE NO. ________
AN ORDINANCE BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ALAMO HEIGHTS, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 18, TRAFFIC,
SECTION 18-147, SCHEDULE B, STOP SIGNS BY CREATING A
NEW STOP INTERSECTION AT PATTERSON AVENUE AND
WESTOVER ROAD; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY; REPEALING
ALL PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND OPEN MEETINGS CLAUSE.
WHEREAS, the regulation of traffic, motor vehicles and conveyances upon all public streets,
roadway and right-of-ways within the City limits of the City of Alamo Heights (the “City”) is
essential and necessary to protect the traveling public and to preserve and protect the public safety
of the City; and
WHEREAS, sections 311.001 and 542.202(a) (10) of the Texas Transportation Code provides
that a municipality has exclusive control over and under the public highways, streets, and alleys
of the municipality and the authority to designate which streets will have no parking locations; and
WHEREAS, residents have expressed the need for traffic control signs on Westover Road at its
intersection with Patterson Avenue because Patterson Avenue carries a heavy traffic volume of
residents and commuters traveling through the City neighborhood streets;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ALAMO HEIGHTS,TEXAS THAT:
SECTION 1: Findings. The recitals are hereby found to be true and correct and are hereby
incorporated as part of this Ordinance.
SECTION 2: Amendments to Chapter 1 8 . Chapter 18 ("Traffic ") Section 18-147 shall be
amended, which is entitled "Schedule B-Stop Signs" and which shall be amended to include
the following intersection to add a stop sign and to read as follows:
Sec. 18-151. - Schedule G - Parking Prohibited or Limited on Certain Streets
(1) At the following intersections stop signs will be installed so that on the first named
street, traffic will have the right-of-way; and on the second named street or group of
streets, traffic will stop;
Patterson Avenue with Westover Road.
SECTION 3. All remaining provisions of Chapter 18 ("Traffic ") Section 18-147, " Schedule
B-Stop Signs” shall remain unchanged except for the amendment to add the intersection outlined
in Section 2 of this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. Conflicting Ordinances or Resolutions. All resolutions or ordinances or parts
thereof conflicting or inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance as adopted and amended

5. Attachment A
herein, are hereby REPEALED to the extent of such conflict. In the event of a conflict or
inconsistency between this ordinance and any other resolution, code or ordinance of the City, or
parts thereof, the terms and provisions of this ordinance shall govern.
SECTION 5. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this
ordinance is declared unconstitutional or invalid for any purpose, the remainder of this ordinance
shall not be affected thereby and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are declared to be
severable.
SECTION 6. Open Meetings. It is hereby officially found and determined that the meeting at
which this ordinance is passed was open to the public as required and that public notice of the
time, place, and purpose of said meeting was given as required by the Open Meetings Act.
SECTION 7. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective from and after its approval and
passage in accordance with the Texas Local Government Code and the city charter.
PRESENTED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMO
HEIGHTS, TEXAS THIS 14th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2020.
BOBBY ROSENTHAL, MAYOR
ATTEST:
JENNIFER REYNA, CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
FRANK J. GARZA, CITY ATTORNEY

6. Attachment B

7. Attachment B

8. 1
Jennifer Reyna
From: Richard Pruitt
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 8:39 AM
To: Jennifer Reyna
Subject: FW: Stop sign at Westover Rd and Patterson Ave.
Please attach this recent email to the citizen comments regarding the stop sign. Thank you.
Rick
Richard L. Pruitt Sr.
Chief of Police
Alamo Heights Police Department
6116 Broadway
San Antonio, Texas 78209
(210) 822-6433
rpruitt@alamoheightstx.gov
“I saw that”. - Karma
-----Original Message-----
From: Donna Shafer
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 8:16 AM
To: Richard Pruitt <rpruitt@alamoheightstx.gov>
Subject: Stop sign at Westover Rd and Patterson Ave.
I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the upcoming discussion regarding the stop sign on our street. I am a
frequent walker in the designated area and have never been in need or wanted a stop sign. I also take this route In my
car many times a day without any difficulty regarding traffic. This is unnecessary in our City of Beauty and Charm.
Thank you,
Donna Shafer
Sent from my iPad
Please be cautious
**This email is not from your organization, please verify the Sender's Name matches the From Email Address!**
________________________________

9. 1
Jennifer Reyna
From: Richard Pruitt
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 10:34 AM
To: Jennifer Reyna
Cc: Buddy Kuhn
Subject: FW: Stop Signs at Westover Road
Please attached this to the citizen comments on the Westover stop sign. Thank you.
Rick
Richard L. Pruitt Sr.
Chief of Police
Alamo Heights Police Department
6116 Broadway
San Antonio, Texas 78209
(210) 822-6433
rpruitt@alamoheightstx.gov
“I saw that”. - Karma
From: Carol Lee Klose >
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2020 7:39 PM
To: Richard Pruitt <rpruitt@alamoheightstx.gov>
Subject: Stop Signs at Westover Road
Dear Rick,
Carolyn A. Seale and I definitely think it would be good to place Stop Signs at Westover Road and Patterson. Thank you
for work in keeping Alamo Heights a safe environment.
Please be careful and safe!
My best,
Carol Lee Klose
210.260.0374 (Mobile)
Sent from my iPhone
Please be cautious
**This email is not from your organization, please verify the Sender's Name matches the From Email Address!**