TO: TARA SCHULTZ, CITY MANAGER
FROM: BRAD JOHNSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: FEBRUARY 25, 2020
Reviewed by:
City Manager: TS
Finance Director: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 10.48.010 OF THE CLAREMONT MUNICIPAL CODE ADDING THE SPEED LIMIT ON CERTAIN STREETS
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SUMMARY
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) states that an Engineering and Traffic Speed Survey must be conducted every seven years in order for law enforcement officers to use radar to enforce posted speed limits. In accordance with the requirements of the CVC, once a speed limit has been in place for a seven-year period, the roadway must be evaluated to determine whether a new survey is required.
In addition, the CVC outlines criteria which allow for the extension of the existing speed survey to a maximum period of ten years. With these criteria, findings must be made that show no significant changes have been made to the street width, adjacent land uses, or traffic volumes on the roadway.
Staff has evaluated the following street segments, which were last surveyed in 2012:
1. Indian Hill Boulevard Speed Limit
Eighth St. to Foothill Blvd. 30 mph
Foothill Blvd. to Base Line Rd. 35 mph
2. Mills Avenue
Base Line Rd. to Alamosa Dr. 40 mph
Alamosa Dr. to Mt. Baldy Rd. 40 mph
3. Monte Vista Avenue
Claremont Blvd. to Base Line Rd. 40 mph
4. Mountain Avenue
Foothill Blvd. to Base Line Rd. 35 mph
Thompson Creek to Northerly End 30 mph
5. Mt. Baldy Road
Mills Ave. to Padua Ave. 45 mph
6. Padua Avenue
Base Line Rd. to Alamosa Dr. 40 mph
Alamosa Dr. to Mt. Baldy Rd. 40 mph
Based on the requirements outlined in the CVC, it has been determined that the existing speed limits of these street segments may be retained for an additional three-year period, thereby extending the effective date of the survey to a maximum ten-year period.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council introduce AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 10.48.010 TO THE CLAREMONT MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE SPEED LIMIT ON CERTAIN STREETS.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Continue this item and request additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The staff cost to prepare this report is estimated at $944 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Development Department.
ANALYSIS
As stipulated in the CVC, speed surveys are valid for a period of seven years from the time of the initial survey evaluation. Once a seven-year period has elapsed, local jurisdictions are required to re-evaluate the surveyed streets to determine if a new radar survey must be completed. Evaluated streets that do not require a new survey can continue to be radar enforced with the posted speed limit but must then be re-surveyed ten years from the date of the original survey.
The determination of whether a speed survey is required (or could instead be extended for a three-year period) is based on the criteria outlined in Section 40802 of the CVC, as stated below:
“Following a period of seven years from the original survey completion date, if a registered engineer evaluates the section of the highway and determines that significant changes in roadway or traffic conditions have occurred, including, but not limited to, changes in adjoining property or land use, roadway width, or traffic volume”, a new survey is required.
The City Engineer in consultation with the Director of Community Development have evaluated the above standards to determine the status of the existing speed survey on the following street segments: (1) Indian Hill Boulevard, Eighth St. to Foothill Blvd., (2) Indian Hill Boulevard, Foothill Blvd. to Base Line Rd., (3) Mills Avenue, Base Line Rd. to Alamosa Dr., (4) Mills Avenue, Alamosa Dr. to Mt. Baldy Rd., (5) Monte Vista Avenue, Claremont Blvd. to Base Line Rd., (6) Mountain Avenue, Foothill Blvd. to Base Line Rd., (7) Mountain Avenue, Thompson Creek to Northerly End, (8) Mt. Baldy Road, Mills Ave. to Padua Ave., (9) Padua Avenue, Base Line Rd. to Alamosa Dr., (10) Padua Avenue, Alamosa Dr. to Mt. Baldy Rd. With respect to the roadway configuration, these street segments have remained the same width over the last seven years. In addition, there have been no significant changes with the adjacent land use of these street segments. Based on these findings, it has been determined that these ten street segments meet the criteria within the Vehicle Code for the extension of the speed survey, therefore extending the effective date of the survey for an additional three years.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds the following:
Council Priorities - This item is not shown as a Council Priority.
Sustainability Plan - This item does not apply to the Sustainability Plan.
Economic Sustainability Plan - This item does not apply to the Economic Sustainability Plan.
General Plan - This item meets the following Public Safety Goals and Policies, 6-1.2: “Facilitate traffic safety for motorists and pedestrians through proper street design and traffic monitoring.”
2019-20 Budget - This item meets the following Community Development Department Work Plan Goal CD-11: “Monitor and evaluate traffic circulation throughout the community to ensure that a safe and efficient traffic system is provided.”
Youth and Family Master Plan - This item does not apply to the Youth and Family Master Plan.
CEQA REVIEW
Maintaining existing speed limits is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2) because to maintain the status quo will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
Even if this item were subject to CEQA, it would be exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3)’s “general rule” that CEQA applies only to projects that have potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Here, it can be seen with a certainty that maintaining existing speed limits will not cause a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no additional environmental review is needed at the time.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. Copies are available at the City Hall public counter, the Youth Activity Center, the Alexander Hughes Community Center, and the City website. A copy of this report has been provided to the Claremont Police Department.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Brad Johnson Enrique Villalobos
Community Development Director Associate Engineer
Reviewed by:
Maria B. Tipping, P.E.
City Engineer
Attachment:
Ordinance