Benicia staff will ask the City Council on Tuesday for the go-ahead to seek Highway Safety Improvement Program grants to address two of the city’s intersections, including one at which a resident was struck and killed last year.

Public Works Director Graham Wadsworth wrote City Manager Brad Kilger June 10, saying the grants could improve the crossing and sidewalk along East Fifth Street at Vecino Street, where Arlen Ingle was killed when he was struck by a motorist.

The other intersection grant money could improve is that of Military West and West Seventh Street, Wadsworth wrote.

Improvements to the crossing and sidewalk at East Fifth at Vecino streets is expected to cost $270,000, of which $243,000 would come from the anticipated highway safety grant, he wrote. The balance would come from the city’s Major Roads Traffic Calming account.

Wadsworth wrote that Ingle’s widow, Melissa, has asked that a pedestrian improvement be made at that intersection.

The Traffic, Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee has given its support to the project, which would involve building a bulbout, or curb expansion into the street, and a crosswalk on East Fifth Street. The project also would extend the eastern sidewalk of East Fifth Street to Interstate 780.

Wadsworth wrote that his staff also frequently receives requests from residents to make improvements to the intersection of Military West and West Seventh Street, and some of those suggestions have been presented to the Traffic, Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee.

“This intersection is one of the busiest in the city of Benicia, and it is heavily used by schoolchildren and bicyclists compared to other locations throughout town,” he wrote.

“Because West Seventh Street does not line up and is offset on each side of Military West, drivers turning left from eastbound Military to northbound West Seventh Street try to cross the intersection before the westbound traffic on Military. If there are pedestrians in the crosswalk on the north side of Military, then northbound drivers have created an unsafe condition.”

In 2003, a contract firm prepared an analysis that listed several alternatives, including a traffic roundabout. Last March, the city contracted with Omni-Means Engineering Solutions to look at the intersection and suggest short-term improvements, as well as look at longer-term approaches that could address existing safety concerns, Wadsworth wrote.

If the city were to get a grant, he wrote, it would be able to install a protected left turning phasing on eastbound Military West at West Seventh Street; to remove the crosswalk on Buena Vista; and to restripe the crosswalks to high-visibility markings — which would “increase safety for all road users at this intersection,” he wrote.

Should the city be awarded a proposed $189,000 in grant money, it could apply $21,000 in Safe Routes to School funds, because the work is expected to cost $210,000, he wrote.

The Highway Safety Improvement Program is a federal aid program offered to states so they can reduce fatalities and injuries on public roads, Wadsworth explained. The grants’ Cycle 7 applications are due July 31.

Both items are on the Council’s consent calendar. They and several other matters could be decided by a single vote without comment unless a Council member or someone in the audience requests an item be discussed or voted on separately.

Among the other items on the consent calendar are the award of chemical contracts for the city’s water and wastewater treatment for Fiscal Year 2015-16. Benicia historically collaborates with agencies in Solano, Napa and Yolo counties as the North Bay Agency Chemical Pool to obtain the necessary chemicals at the best possible bulk rates. The city has budgeted $288,000 for water treatment chemicals and $225,000 for those used at the wastewater treatment plant.

Another item on the agenda is the $100,000 contract between the city and Benicia Main Street for community activities, and a $20,000 amendment to its contract with Bureau Veritas, for a new cap at $140,000, for building inspection and plan check services.

In preparation for closing out Fiscal Year 2014-15, which ends June 30, the Council also will adopt resolutions committing balances of government funds for use in future periods, a routine budgetary housekeeping procedure.

By the same vote, the Council may accept the city investment report for the quarter ending March 31.

It also would pass the three resolutions needed to proceed ordering, levying and collecting of Landscaping and Lighting District assessments for Fiscal Year 2015-16, and to give preliminary approval of the engineering report for the district. No increases have been proposed for the new fiscal year, but city employees are reviewing Benicia’s fee schedule.

The balance to levy is $427,662 once federal reserve credits and interest earnings are applied. Four of the five zones are expected to end Fiscal Year 2015-16 with a positive balance, but the largest zone, residential, would need a General Fund transfer of $110,108.

The Council also will consider staff recommendations to deny claims by Laura Eytan, who said her car was towed while she was parked legally, and Kenneth Gomes, who said his tire and wheel were damaged while he was driving to work on East Second Street.

In addition, by the same vote, the Council will consider approving an agreement through June 30, 2017, with The Herald for the publishing of legal notices at a rate of $4.50 per column inch for the first insertion, and $4.05 per column inch for subsequent insertions, plus $1 additional affidavit fee for each legal ad insertion.

Benicia City Council will meet at 7 Tuesday night in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 250 East L St.