REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 28, 2014
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: ANDREW J. BENELLI, PE, City Engineer/Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Traffic and Engineering Services Division
BY: JILL GORMLEY, TE, Assistant Traffic Engineering Manager
Public Works Department, Traffic and Engineering Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
BILL NO. B-35 - (For adoption; introduced August 21, 2014) Amending the uncodified ordinance to adopt changes and additions to the official list of designated special speed zones for various streets within the City of Fresno pursuant to Section 14-1501 of the Fresno Municipal Code (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the attached amended Special Speed Zone Ordinance be adopted.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This City Council agenda item is for the purpose of adopting an amended Ordinance to update the official list of designated special speed zones pursuant to Section 14-1501 of the Fresno Municipal Code (FMC). The update is to reflect speed changes and additions which are needed due to development, increased traffic volumes, annexations, locations left off of previous ordinance and construction of new streets and various locations in the City of Fresno. Engineering and traffic surveys have been completed for each speed zone listed, in order to determine speed limits which are "reasonable and safe" as defined in accordance with the requirements of the California Vehicle Code (CVC).
BACKGROUND
The CVC authorizes local authorities to determine and regulate speed limits on streets under local jurisdiction, subject to certain requirements. Pursuant to CVC Sections 22357 and 22358, speed limits may be adopted in five (5) miles per hour (mph) increments ranging from 25 mph to 65 mph, and must be justified on the basis of engineering and traffic surveys. At the local level, Section 14-1501 of the FMC provides for an Official List of Special Speed Zones to be kept in the form of an uncodified ordinance. For this reason, it is not necessary to amend the FMC itself each time speed zones are changed or added.
A comprehensive speed zone ordinance was adopted by Council on February 1, 1965, and minor updates were made on July 26, 2005, August 29, 2006, September 18, 2007, July 22, 2008, September 30, 2010, September 22, 2011 and March 7, 2013. This amendment (or regular update) is relatively minor in scope. The updated list includes ten (10) previously "unposted" and/or newly constructed segments of roadway, lowering the speed limit on two (2) segments of roadway, listing two (2) segments omitted from previous Speed Ordinances and removing one (1) road segment that no longer exists. Engineering and traffic surveys in compliance with CVC requirements were completed for each zone listed.
The chart below summarizes the proposed speed limit changes and additions:
STREET |
FROM |
TO |
PREVIOUS SPEED LIMIT |
RECOMMENDED SPEED LIMIT |
Broadway |
Divisadero |
Tuolumne |
35 MPH |
25 MPH |
Fir |
Prospect |
Marks |
(NP) |
25 MPH |
Prospect |
Herndon |
Fir |
(NP) |
25 MPH |
Riverside |
Alluvial |
Spruce |
(NP) |
25 MPH |
Sixth |
Herndon |
Spruce |
(NP) |
25 MPH |
Fancher Creek |
Tulare |
Fowler |
(NP) |
30 MPH |
Tulare |
Argyle |
Fowler |
(NP) |
30 MPH |
Blythe |
McKinley |
Clinton |
40 MPH |
35 MPH |
Chestnut |
Shelbourne |
Copper |
(NP) |
35 MPH |
Huntington |
Chestnut |
Maple |
35 MPH1 |
35 MPH |
Riverside |
Spruce |
Veterans |
(NP) |
40 MPH |
Shaw |
Blythe |
Golden State |
40 MPH1 |
40 MPH |
Veterans |
Riverside |
Hayes |
(NP) |
40 MPH |
Copper |
Chestnut |
Willow |
(NP) |
50 MPH |
Monterey |
Broadway |
Golden State |
40 MPH |
REMOVE* |
MPH = miles per hour NP = Speed limit "not posted" 1 = Not included in previous updates * = Segment of roadway has been removed |
|
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and has determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) (Existing Facilities). This exemption applies because this project involves changes to the official list of designated special speed zones for various streets within the City of Fresno. Staff determined under the CEQA Guidelines this project fits within the definition of existing facilities in the 15301(c) Class 1, as Categorically Exempt from further CEQA review. Furthermore, staff has determined that one of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not used because amending an uncodified ordinance does not include a bid or award a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact will occur as a result of updating the Special Speed Zone Ordinance. Maintenance and replacement of traffic signs is a regular budgeted expense which will not change as a result of this update.
Attachment: Ordinance