Item No. 9
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – PUBLIC HEARING
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
FROM: ROBERT OVADIA, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
DATE: SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
SUBJECT: INTRODUCE BY TITLE ONLY AND WAIVE THE FIRST
READING OF AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 10.06 TO THE
ATHERTON MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO SPEED LIMITS
RECOMMENDATION
Introduce by title only and waive the first reading of the attached Ordinance adding Chapter 10.06 to the Atherton Municipal Code relating to Speed Limits
BACKGROUND
Cities and counties in California are required to follow the California Vehicle Code ("CVC") Section 22358(a) to establish speed limits within their jurisdictions. CVC section 22358(a) permits a local agency to determine and declare via ordinance, upon the basis of an engineering and traffic study ("E&TS"), a prima facie speed limit lower than 65 miles per hour if certain conditions are met. Speed limits cannot be set arbitrarily and must be justified by an E&TS in accordance with guidelines set by the CVC and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
Atherton Municipal Code Section 10.04.010 provides the authority to the City Council to adopt, by resolution, such rules and regulations as it finds necessary for the governing of traffic and parking on various streets and highways within and under the jurisdiction of the Town and subject to the authority granted to local legislative bodies as set forth in the CVC. However, CVC Section 22358(a) requires certain speed limits be adopted by ordinance, not resolution. Speed limits are effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon the street.
ANALYSIS
This ordinance codifies existing speed limits in the Atherton Municipal Code. Changes to two existing speed limits are proposed by lowering those road segments by 5 mph. The other road segments' speed limits will remain the same.
Ordinance Adding Chapter 10.06
Relating To Speed Limits
SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
Previously, the Town has set speed limits via resolution in 2017, 2018, and 2020 for the following road segments:
Street or Roadway Segment Declared Speed
Limit
Alameda De Las Pulgas – (between Camino Al Lago and Stockbridge Ave)
30 mph
Alejandra Avenue – (between El Camino Real and Emilie Ave) 25 mph Atherton Avenue – (between Stevenson Ln and El Camino Real) 25 mph Atherton Avenue – (between Alameda de las Pulgas and Stevenson Ln) 30 mph Camino Al Lago – (between Alameda De Las Pulgas and End of Street) 25 mph Elena Avenue – (between Atherton Ave and Valparaiso Ave) 25 mph Encinal Avenue – (between Middlefield Rd and Laurel St) 25 mph Fair Oaks Lane – (between Middlefield Rd and El Camino Real) 25 mph Frederick Avenue – (between Greenoaks Ave and Ringwood Ave) 25 mph Glenwood Avenue – (between Laurel St and Middlefield Rd) 25 mph Isabella Avenue – (between El Camino Real and Elena Ave) 25 mph James Avenue – (between Middlefield Rd and Irving Ave) 25 mph Marsh Road – (between City Limits and Ringwood Ave) 30 mph Middlefield Road – Full Length (Encina Avenue to Ringwood Avenue) 30 mph Oak Grove Avenue – (between Marcussen Dr and Middlefield Rd) 25 mph Oak Grove Avenue – (between Middlefield Rd and Greenoaks Ave) 25 mph Park Lane – (between Elena Ave and Valparaiso Ave) 25 mph Polhemus Avenue – (between Alameda de las Pulgas and Selby Ln) 25 mph Selby Lane – (between El Camino Real and W. Selby Ln) 25 mph Selby Lane – (between W Selby Ln and Atherton Ave) 25 mph Stockbridge Avenue – (between Alameda las Pulgas and El Camino Real) 25 mph Valparaiso Avenue – (El Camino Real to Cotton Street) 30 mph Walsh Road- (between Alameda de las Pulgas and Valley Rd) 30 mph Watkins Avenue – (between El Camino Real and Middlefield Rd) 25 mph Under Assembly Bill 43, effective January 1, 2022, E&TS's are valid for an initial period of 7 years and can be valid for up to 14 years if a registered engineer determines that no 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. The Town of Atherton conducted E&TS's for streets where the initial 7-year period for the E&TS’s have or are expiring. The E&TS’s do not recommend any changes to the speed limits for those streets.
Also under Assembly Bill 43, the Legislature gave local authorities more discretion to lower speed limits. If a local authority finds that a speed limit is still more than reasonable or safe following an E&TS, an additional lowering of 5 mph is permitted if the portion of roadway has been designated Ordinance Adding Chapter 10.06
Relating To Speed Limits
SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
as a safety corridor. In 2024, the Town designated various segments of road as a safety corridor.
The two relevant segments to this proposed ordinance are Middlefield Road and Valparaiso Avenue.
As seen and highlighted above, the current speed limit for both Middlefield Road and Valparaiso Avenue is set at 30 mph. However, 25 mph is more than reasonable or safe for these road segments.
For Middlefield Road, the additional 5 mile per hour reduction is warranted based its accident history, the significant bicycle and pedestrian traffic associated with Encinal Elementary School and Menlo-Atherton High School, its High Injury Network designation in the San Mateo County C/CAG Countywide and Town of Atherton Local Roadway Safety Plans, and its listing in the San Mateo County Safe Routes to School Youth-Based High Injury Network. For Valparaiso Avenue, the additional 5 mile per hour reduction is warranted based on the significant bicycle and pedestrian traffic associated with Menlo School and Sacred Heart Schools, its High Injury Network designation in the San Mateo County C/CAG Countywide and Town of Atherton Local Roadway Safety Plans, and its listing in the San Mateo County Safe Routes to School Youth-Based High Injury Network. For the reasons explained, and because both Middlefield Road and Valparaiso Avenue have been designated by the Town as safety corridors, staff recommends lowering the speed limit of Middlefield Road and Valparaiso Avenue by 5 mph as permitted by CVC section 22358.7, thus making the speed limit on those segments of road 25 mph. This reduction in speed limits by 5 mph is lawful pursuant to CVC section 22358.7 because Middlefield Road and Valparaiso Avenue are safety corridors and currently have speed limits that are more than reasonable and safe.
If the ordinance is adopted, the speed limits listed in the table below will be codified in the Atherton Municipal Code. The only changes in speed limits are to Middlefield Road and Valparaiso Avenue, which are highlighted and bolded:
Street or Roadway Segment Declared Speed
Limit
Alameda De Las Pulgas – (between Camino Al Lago and Stockbridge Ave) 30 mph Alejandra Avenue – (between El Camino Real and Emilie Ave) 25 mph Atherton Avenue – (between Alameda de las Pulgas and Stevenson Ln) 25 mph Atherton Avenue – (between Stevenson Ln and El Camino Real) 30 mph Camino Al Lago – (between Alameda De Las Pulgas and End of Street) 25 mph Elena Avenue – (between Atherton Ave and Valparaiso Ave) 25 mph Encinal Avenue – (between Middlefield Rd and Laurel St) 25 mph Fair Oaks Lane – (between Middlefield Rd and El Camino Real) 25 mph Frederick Avenue – (between Greenoaks Ave and Ringwood Ave) 25 mph Glenwood Avneue – (between Laurel St and Middlefield Rd) 25 mph Isabella Avenue – (between El Camino Real and Elena Ave) 25 mph James Avenue – (between Middlefield Rd and Irving Ave) 25 mph Marsh Road – (between City Limits and Ringwood Ave) 30 mph Ordinance Adding Chapter 10.06
Relating To Speed Limits
SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
Middlefield Road – Full Length (Encina Avenue to Ringwood Avenue) 25 mph Oak Grove Avenue – (between Marcussen Dr and Middlefield Rd) 25 mph Oak Grove Avenue – (between Middlefield Rd and Greenoaks Ave) 25 mph Park Lane – (between Elena Ave and Valparaiso Ave) 25 mph Polhemus Avenue – (between Alameda de las Pulgas and Selby Ln) 25 mph Selby Lane – (between El Camino Real and W. Selby Ln) 25 mph Selby Lane – (between W Selby Ln and Atherton Ave) 25 mph Stockbridge Avenue – (between Alameda las Pulgas and El Camino Real) 25 mph Valparaiso Avenue – (El Camino Real to Cotton Street) 25 mph Walsh Road- (between Alameda de las Pulgas and Valley Rd) 30 mph Watkins Avenue – (between El Camino Real and Middlefield Rd) 25 mph If the above speed limits are adopted, the CVC 22358.7(d) mandates a thirty (30) day grace period for traffic citations on Middlefield Road and Valparaiso Avenue due to the lowering of the speed limit pursuant to CVC 22358.7. For 30 days after the new speed limit signs are posted on Middlefield Road and Valparaiso Avenue, if a driver is going 0-10 mph over the new speed limit, the driver shall only be issued a warning citation. If a driver is going 11 mph or greater over the new speed limit, the driver may be issued a traffic citation.
FISCAL IMPACT
Limited impacts. The recommended speed limits are the same as the existing posted speed limits with the exception of Middlefield Road and Valparaiso Avenue. New speed limit signs will be required for Middlefield Road and Valparaiso Avenue. There are sufficient funds in the existing Public Works operating budget to cover the cost of the new signs. For the existing posted speed limits that will remain the same, other than adoption of the proposed ordinance, no action from the Town is needed.
GOAL ALIGNMENT
This Report and its contents are in alignment with the following Council Policy Goals:
• Goal B - Improve Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness
POLICY FOCUS
There are no significant policy issues related to this Report.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notification was achieved by posting the agenda, with this agenda item being listed, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting in print and electronically. Information about the project is also disseminated via the Town’s electronic News Flash and Atherton Online. There are approximately Ordinance Adding Chapter 10.06
Relating To Speed Limits
SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
1,200 subscribers to the Town’s electronic News Flash publications. Subscribers include residents as well as stakeholders –to include, but be not limited to, media outlets, school districts, Menlo Park Fire Protection District, service provides (water, power, and sewer), and regional elected officials.
COMMISSION/COMMITTEE FEEDBACK/REFERRAL
This item has not been before a Town Committee or Commission
ATTACHMENTS
ATTACHMENT 1 – Draft Ordinance adding AMC Section 10.06 - Speed Limits ATTACHMENT 2 – Resolution and attachments from October 21, 2020 ATTACHMENT 3 – Resolution and attachments from September 19, 2018 ATTACHMENT 4 – Resolution and attachments from September 20, 2017 ATTACHMENT 5 – 2025 Engineering and Traffic Surveys (E&TS’s)