Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: October 9, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: Dave Klotzle, Public Works Director
Subject: Introduction of Ordinances to Set Reduced Speed Limits on Various Streets in Camarillo as Authorized Under AB 43
BACKGROUND
The City of Camarillo implements a speed limit program whereby a speed survey is conducted for a portion of the streets in the City each year, resulting in all posted speed zones in the City being reviewed every seven years. The annual surveys result in recommendations of increasing, decreasing, or no change to posted speed limits for the streets surveyed each year.
In order for speed zones to be enforced using radar or other electronic devices, the California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires that speed zones be based on an Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS) no more than seven years old. If the surveys are older than seven years, the CVC defines the zones as “speed traps” and consequently citations, evidence and testimony are inadmissible in court if radar or other electronic devices are used for enforcement.
The E&TS uses radar to measure the prevailing speed for vehicles during free flow conditions. The collected data determines the 85th percentile speed, which is the speed that 85 percent of drivers do not exceed. Per the CVC, the speed limit must be posted within five miles per hour (mph) of the 85th percentile speed. Recently enacted State Assembly Bill 43, Traffic Safety (AB43), became effective July 1, 2024, and provides that a speed limit reduction of five mph can be implemented if special circumstances exist, such as proximity to any land or facility that generates high concentrations of bicyclists or pedestrians, especially those from vulnerable groups such as children, seniors, persons with disabilities, and the unhoused.
DISCUSSION
The findings and recommendations of the 2023 Speed Limit Program (2023 SLP) were presented to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on March 28, 2024, and
Ordinances to Set Reduced Speed Limits on Various Streets October 9, 2024
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the Committee concurred with the recommendations further described below. The 2023 SLP surveyed the eleven streets listed below and shown on Attachment 1 and verified the existing posted speed limits are valid for most current traffic conditions; however, speed reductions of five mph are recommended for three roadway segments as noted below and described in the Summary of Recommendations (Attachment 2).
1. Adolfo Road
2. Bridgehampton Way
3. Crestview Avenue
4. Davenport Street – reduction recommended
5. Dawson Drive
6. Overland Road
7. Petit Street
8. Upland Road
9. Ventura Boulevard – reduction recommended for 2 segments
10.Village Commons Boulevard
11.Village at the Park Drive
Staff recommends applying AB43 to reduce the posted speed limit by five mph for the following three roadway segments:
•Davenport Street from Bridgehampton Way to Village at the Park Drive – reduction of the posted speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph. There is an elementary school with a driveway on the north side of Village at the Park Drive at Davenport Street.
The intersection is all-way stop controlled with an adult school crossing guard.
There is an assisted living and memory care facility on the west side of the street between Village at the Park Drive and Fountain Street. Due to the residential development, the elementary school, and the assisted living and memory care facility it is recommended that the posted speed limit be reduced and set at 30 mph.
•Ventura Boulevard from Camarillo Center Drive to Carmen Drive – reduction of the posted speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph. There is vacant land, a motel, a mobile home park, and residential backyards to the south. There is a fast-food restaurant with a drive thru that routinely queues onto Ventura Boulevard to the north. There are traffic signals at Carmen Drive, and at Granada Street at the 101 Freeway southbound on/off ramps. A new traffic signal is under construction at Camarillo Center Drive. Due to the residential development, the fast-food restaurant, and the new traffic signal, it is recommended that the posted speed limit be reduced and set at 30 mph.
•Ventura Boulevard from Carmen Drive to Cedar Drive – reduction of the posted speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph. There are residential apartments and commercial developments to the south. There is some limited on-street parking from Carmen Drive to Colonia Place. From Colonia Place to Cedar Drive there is angled on-street parking on the south side of Ventura Boulevard. Due to residential Ordinances to Set Reduced Speed Limits on Various Streets October 9, 2024
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apartments, angled parking, and to be consistent with the rest of Old Town, it is recommended that the posted speed limit be reduced and set at 25 mph.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for the installation of new speed limit signs are available in the Public Works, Traffic and Signal Maintenance, Supplies and Materials Account No. 101-3130-431.61-52.
CEQA DETERMINATIONS
The establishment of speed limits is not subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines, which exempts from CEQA review projects that consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, or topographical features. Reducing the posted speed limit affects an existing public facility with no expansion of the facility.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Find the ordinances establishing the speed limits exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines; and
2. Introduce an ordinance establishing the speed limit at 30 MPH on Davenport Street between Village at the Park Drive and Bridgehampton Way and set for adoption at next council meeting; and
3. Introduce an ordinance establishing the speed limit at 30 MPH on Ventura Boulevard between Camarillo Center Drive and Carmen Drive and set for adoption at next council meeting; and
4. Introduce an ordinance establishing the speed limit at 25 MPH on Ventura Boulevard between Carmen Drive and Cedar Drive and set for adoption at next council meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Location Map
2. Summary of Recommendations
3. Ordinance No. 1
4. Ordinance No. 2
5. Ordinance No. 3
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None