HomeMy WebLinkAbout20 - Neighborhood Traffic Calming Ad Hoc CommitteeCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No, 20
August 10, 2004
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Public Works Department
Stephen G. Badum, Public Works Director
949 - 644 -3311
sbadum @city.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: City Council Formation of a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Ad Hoc
Committee
ISSUE:
What is the best procedural mechanism to establish a City Council policy to address
residential traffic concerns?
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 2004- creating a Neighborhood Traffic Calming
Ad Hoc Committee to establish a City Council policy addressing
residential traffic concerns.
2. Confirm Mayor's appointments of two (2) Council Members to the
Committee.
3. As a first committee priority, determine if a speed hump demonstation
project on Port Provence is warranted.
BACKGROUND:
At the July 28, 2004 City Council Study Session, staff presented information regarding
neighborhood traffic calming techniques and the increasing number of citizens
requesting that the City investigate their concerns of excessive speed and traffic
volumes in residential neighborhoods. City Council heard public testimony and several
policy issues were discussed including the potential formation of an ad hoc committee
to establish City policy. Robert and Susan Caustin presented their proposal for a
demonstration project to install speed humps on Port Provence. It was the Council's
general concensus that staff should bring these issues to the next regularly scheduled
City Council meeting for formal action.
SUBJECT: Formation of the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Ad Hoc Committee
August 10, 2004
Page 2
DISCUSSION:
Staff recommends that a City Council Neighborhood Traffic Calming policy be created
to establish procedures, thresholds, and design criteria for the implementation of traffic
calming measures within residential neighborhoods. Additionally, staff recommends
that an ad hoc committee be established to evaluate the various traffic calming
measures, implementation thresholds, and potential funding programs to craft a City
Council policy addressing neighborhood traffic calming. The membership of this ad hoc
committee would be Composed of two City Council members appointed by the Mayor.
Staff support for the Ad Hoc Committee would Come from the City Manager, Public
Works Director, Traffic Engineer, Fire Chief, and Police Chief.
The committee would be charged with developing a draft Neighborhood Traffic Calming
policy addressing the following key subjects:
Problem, identification and evaluation - How do we determine what is a real problem
as a community versus a perceived problem by one or more residents? Is the threshold
based upon percentage of drivers exceeding the 85 "' percentile speed? What will be the
evaluation criteria and minimum level of improvement to justify implementation? Do
higher volume residential streets get some form of extra consideration? Accidents in
residential areas tend to be rare compared to arterial streets and are more likely to go
unreported. How should accidents be factored into the evaluation?
Policy and process — What traffic calming techniques (speed bumps, roundabouts,
mini circles, chokers, diverters, cul -de -sacs) will be supported by the City? How are
requests from various neighborhoods to be prioritized? What is the minimum level of
neighbor support? Previous use of 60% support was too low, but should it be 75 %,
80 %, or even higher?
Funding — How will we fund the studies and traffic calming improvements? What level
of funding is the City desirous of committing to traffic calming? Will there be an annual
program? Will proponents be required to share in the construction and /or maintenance
costs?
Upon formation of the committee, staff recommends that the first priority should be to
determine if the requested speed hump demonstration project on Port Provence is
warranted.
Submitted by:
U�L'Q-WORKS DEPARTMENT
Steppe'G. Badum, Director
Attachments: Resolution No. 2004-
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF NEWPORT BEACH
ESTABLISHING THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING AD HOC
COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP CITY COUNCIL POLICY CONCERNING
RESIDENTIAL TRAFFIC ISSUES
WHEREAS, increasing traffic levels and vehicle speeds in residential areas is of great
concern to the community; and
WHEREAS, in response to concerns from several residential areas, City Council has
authorized several studies to be performed analyzing various neighborhoods and
anticipates additional requests in the future; and
WHEREAS, the City does not have any definitive policy on the implementation of
potential traffic calming measures;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF NEWPORT
BEACH, that a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Ad Hoc Committee is established, to be
comprised of the following members:
Two (2) City Council Members, appointed by the Mayor
City Manager
Public Works Director
Traffic Engineer
Fire Chief
Police Chief
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the term of the Steering Committee shall expire on
June 30, 2005 unless extended by action of the City Council, or upon successful
adoption of a City Council Policy on Neighborhood Traffic Calming.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Ad Hoc Committee
shall have as its charge the following oversight responsibilities;
1) To develop criteria to prioritize public requests for traffic calming,
2) To develop residential traffic problem identification and evaluation criteria,
3) To investigate and evaluate potential traffic calming measures,
4) To establish implementation thresholds,
5) To investigate potential funding strategies for neighborhood traffic calming studies
and capital projects,
6) To make a recommendation to the City Council to establish a policy for
Neighborhood Traffic Calming.
ADOPTED on this 10" day of August 2004
Mayor Tod Ridgeway
ATTEST:
LaVonne Harkless, City Clerk