Agenda Item A.3
CONSENT CALENDAR
Meeting Date: September 3, 2024
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
SUBMITTED BY: Luz “Nina” Buelna, Interim Public Works Director
PREPARED BY: Derek Rapp, Contract Traffic Engineer
SUBJECT: Ordinance Amending Chapter 10.01 of the Goleta Municipal Code Reducing Speed Limits
RECOMMENDATION:
Conduct a second reading by title only, waiving further reading of Ordinance No. 24-___ entitled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, Amending Chapter 10.01 of the Goleta Municipal Code Establishing Certain Streets as Safety Corridors or Facilities that Generate High Concentrations of Bicyclists or Pedestrians , Reducing Speed Limits on Said Streets, and Finding that the Ordinance is Exempt from the Environmental Quality Act”
BACKGROUND:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that excessive speed contributes to approximately one-third of all roadway fatalities. Speed plays an even more significant role in the severity of collisions involving cyclists and pedestrians. The mortality rate doubles when speeds increase from 25 to 35 miles per hour.
At the August 20, 2024, City Council meeting, staff presen ted changes to state law , providing new methods to reduce enforceable speed limits and introduced an ordinance reducing speed limits on various city streets , under these new laws. The new methods include the establishment of Safety Corridors , defined as the 20 percent of the overall roadway network where the highest number of serious injury and fatal collisions occur , and streets that are within one -quarter mile of land uses or infrastructure that can generate high concentrations of bicyclists and pedestrians. These methods allow cities to reduce enforceable speed limits an additional 5 miles per hour below what was previously allowed.
1 Meeting Date: September 3, 2024
DISCUSSION:
Staff proposes to amend Chapter 10. 01 of the Goleta Municipal Code to establish (1) safety corridors and facilities with high concentrations of bicyclists or pedestrians pursuant to AB 43 and (2) speed limits on roadway segments in the subject areas.
At the August 20, 2024 Council meeting, two questions were raised: (1) whether Berkeley Road could be signed at 25 miles per hour and (2) whether the proposed speed for Hollister Avenue from Storke/Glen Annie to Los Carneros could be lowered from 40 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour. Upon research by the City’s Traffic Engineer, the prima facie speed limit on Berkeley Road is currently 25 miles per hour. Therefore, staff will install signs to this effect. On the second question, staff conducted more research and found that the collision data on the segment of Hollister at issue did not justify lowering of the speed limit by five miles. Therefore, the ordinance is proposed for second reading as it was included in the agenda packet for August 20, 2024 without amendment for the two issues raised during the meeting.
The Vehicle Code section 22358.7(d) requires the City to issue warning citations for violations exceeding the speed limit by less than 10 miles per hour for the first 30 days that the lower speed limit is in effect.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The fiscal impacts consist of installing new speed limit signage and replacing speed limit legends placed on the pavement . The estimated cost for this work is $ 120,000. Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget from account 101-50-5800-51031 Special Department Supplies will be used to purchase the signs and account 101-50-5800-51300 Contract Services to install the signs. There is sufficient budget for these expenses.
LEGAL REVIEW BY: Megan Garibaldi, City Attorney
APPROVED BY: Robert Nisbet, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance No. 24-___ entitled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, Amending Chapter 10.01 of the Goleta Municipal Code Establishing Certain Streets as Safety Corridors or Facilities that Generate High Concentrations of Bicyclists or Pedestrians, Reducing Speed Limits on Said Streets, and Finding that the Ordinance is Exempt from the Environmental Quality Act”
2 ATTACHMENT 1
Ordinance No. 24-___ “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, Amending Chapter 10.01 of the Goleta Municipal Code Establishing Certain Streets as Safety Corridors or Facilities that Generate High Concentrations of Bicyclists or Pedestrians, Reducing Speed Limits on Said Streets, and Finding that the Ordinance is Exempt from the Environmental Quality Act”
3 ORDINANCE NO. 24-__
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GOLETA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 10.01 OF
THE GOLETA MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING
CERTAIN STREETS AS SAFETY CORRIDORS OR
FACILITIES THAT GENERATE HIGH CONCENTRATIONS
OF BICYCLISTS OR PEDESTRIANS , REDUCING SPEED
LIMITS ON SAID STREETS AND FINDING THAT THE
ORDINANCE IS EXEMPT FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT
WHEREAS, Section 21351 of the California Vehicle Code authorizes the City to place and maintain, or cause to be placed and maintained, such appropriate signs, signals or traffic control devices as may be necessary properly to indicate and carry out the provisions of the Vehicle Code or local traffic ordinances, or to warn or guide traffic; and
WHEREAS, Section 22357 of the California Vehicle Code and Section 10.01.260 of the City’s Municipal Code authorizes the City to establish speed limits by ordinance to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic; and
WHEREAS, Engineering and Traffic Surveys have been conducted in accordance with California Vehicle Code and California Department of Transportation requirements, said Engineering and Traffic Survey being identified as Speed Surveys, and
WHEREAS, Section 22358.6 of the Vehicle Code provides rules for the setting of speed limits, including performing an engineering and traffic survey; and
WHEREAS, Section 22358.7 of the Vehicle Code states that if a local authority, after completing an engineering and traffic survey, finds that the speed limit is still more than is reasonable or safe, the local authority may, by ordinance, reduce the speed limit by an additional five miles per hour for either of the f ollowing reasons: (1) the portion of highway has been designated as a safety corridor or (2) the portion of highway is adjacent to a land or facility that generates high concentrations of bicyclists or pedestrians, especially those from vulnerable groups s uch as children, seniors, persons with disabilities, and the unhoused; and
WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code section 22358.7(b)(1) and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD ) defines “safety corridor” as a roadway segment constituting one-fifth of a roadway network where the highest number of serious injury and fatality crashes occur, and
4 WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code section 22358.7(b)(2) and CA MUTCD defines land or facility that generates high concentrations of bicyclists or pedestrians as roadway segments within 1,320 feet of these lands or facilities, and
WHEREAS, based upon the last five years of collision data, City staff has identified certain roadway segments, constituting one-fifth of Goleta’s roadway network, to have the highest number of serious injuries and fatalities; and
WHEREAS, many roadway segments in the City are within 1,320’ feet of land or facilities that generate high concentrations of bicyclists or pedestrians, especially those from vulnerable groups such as children, seniors, persons with disabilities.
NOW THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GOLETA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Recitals
The City Council hereby finds and determines that the foregoing recitals, which are incorporated herein by reference, are true and correct.
SECTION 2. Environmental Assessment
The Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, Chapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations) because the activity is not a “project” as defined in Section 15378(b)(5) as an organizational or administrative activity by government that wi ll not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. The Ordinance is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because the activity is covered by the general rule which exempts activities that can be seen with certainty to have no possibility for causing a significant effect on the environment. If the Ordinance is a project, it is categorically exempted under CEQA Guidelines 15301 because it involves the operations of existing facilities and the Ordina nce, does not expand the use of the streets.
SECTION 3. Ordinance
Section 10.01.260, Speed Limits, of Title 10 of the Goleta Municipal Code, Vehicles and Traffic, is replaced to read in its entirety:
10.01.260 Speed Restrictions
It is hereby determined, pursuant to applicable California Vehicle Code sections, that the speeds permitted by state law upon the highways hereafter designated in this chapter are greater or less than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exi st upon such highways. Unless otherwise provided, i t is hereby declared that the prima facie speed 5 limits shall be as designated in this article, effective when signs are erected giving notice thereof, pursuant to the provisions of the California Vehicle C ode and any amendments or successors thereto.
A. Safety Corridors
In accordance with the California Vehicle Code section 22358.7(a)(1), as amended, and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the streets, or portions thereof, are hereby designated to be Safety Corridors and pursuant to Vehicle Code section 22358.7(d), the City shall issue only warning citations for violations exceeding the speed limit, established under this section, by 10 miles per hour or less for the first 30 days that a lower speed limit is in effect :
Roadway From To
Calle Real Brandon Drive Glen Annie Road
Calle Real Los Carneros Road Valdez Avenue
Calle Real Valdez Avenue Fairview Avenue
Calle Real Fairview Avenue Kellogg Avenue
Cathedral Oaks Road Winchester Canyon Road Paseo Del Pinon Cathedral Oaks Road Paseo Del Pinon Glen Annie Road
Cathedral Oaks Road Glen Annie Road Los Carneros Road
Cathedral Oaks Road Los Carneros Road Carlo Drive
Cathedral Oaks Road Carlo Drive Eastern City Limit
Covington Way Los Carneros Road La Patera Lane
Fairview Avenue Hollister Avenue US 101 NB Ramps
Fairview Avenue US 101 NB Ramps Berkeley Road
Fairview Avenue Berkeley Road Cathedral Oaks Road
Glen Annie Road Calle Real Cathedral Oaks Road
Hollister Avenue Pebble Beach Dr. Pacific Oaks Road
Hollister Avenue Pacific Oaks Road Storke Road
Hollister Avenue Storke Road Los Carneros Road
Hollister Avenue Fairview Avenue Kellogg Avenue
Hollister Avenue Kellogg Avenue Ward Drive
Hollister Avenue Ward Drive East City Limit
Kellogg Avenue Hollister Avenue Kellogg Way
Los Carneros Road Calle Real Cathedral Oaks Road
Patterson Avenue Hollister Avenue Northern City Limit
Storke Road South City Limit Phelps Road
Storke Road Phelps Road Hollister Avenue
Storke Road Hollister Avenue Calle Real
6 Ward Drive S. City Limit Hollister Avenue
B. Facilities that Generate High Concentrations of Bicyclists and Pedestrians
In accordance with the California Vehicle Code section 22358.7(a)(2), as amended, and the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the streets, or portions thereof, are hereby designated to be facilities that generate high con centration of bicyclists and pedestrians, especially those from vulnerable groups such as children, seniors, persons with disabilities, and the unhoused, and pursuant to Vehicle Code section 22358.7(d), the City shall issue only warning citations for violations exceeding the speed limit, established under this section, by 10 miles per hour or less for the first 30 days that a lower speed limit is in effect:
Roadway From To
Calle Real Cathedral Oaks Road Winchester Canyon Road
Calle Real Winchester Canyon Road Brandon Drive
Calle Real Kellogg Avenue Northeast City Limit
Cambridge Drive Cathedral Oaks Road Marbury Drive
Cambridge Drive North City Limit Cathedral Oaks Road
Cathedral Oaks Road Hollister Avenue Winchester Canyon Road Fairview Avenue South City Limit Carson Street
Fairview Avenue Carson Street Hollister Avenue
Hollister Avenue Cathedral Oaks Road Pebble Beach Drive Kellogg Avenue Hollister Avenue Depot Road
Kellogg Avenue Kellogg Way Thornwood Drive
La Patera Lane Covington Way Cathedral Oaks Road
La Patera Lane Calle Real Covington Way
Los Carneros Road South City Limits Hollister Avenue
Los Carneros Road Hollister Avenue US 101 SB Ramps
Los Carneros Road US 101 SB Ramps Calle Real
Pacific Oaks Road Phelps Road Hollister Avenue
Patterson Avenue Ekwill Street Hollister Avenue
Phelps Road Pacific Oaks Road Storke Road
7 C. Speed Limits
In accordance with the California Vehicle Code, the prima facie speed limits for streets, or portions thereof, in the City are hereby declared to be as follows:
Roadway From To
Declared
Speed
Limit
Calle Real Cathedral Oaks Road
Winchester Canyon
Road 35
Calle Real Winchester Canyon Road Brandon Drive 35
Calle Real Brandon Drive Glen Annie Road 40
Calle Real Los Carneros Road Valdez Avenue 40
Calle Real Valdez Avenue Fairview Avenue 30
Calle Real Fairview Avenue Kellogg Avenue 30
Calle Real Kellogg Avenue Northeast City Limit 40
Cambridge Drive Cathedral Oaks Road Marbury Drive 20
Cambridge Drive Patterson Avenue Cathedral Oaks Road 30 Cathedral Oaks Road Hollister Avenue
Winchester Canyon
Road 30
Cathedral Oaks Road Winchester Canyon Road Paseo Del Pinon 35 Cathedral Oaks Road Paseo Del Pinon Glen Annie Road 30
Cathedral Oaks Road Glen Annie Road Los Carneros Road 45 Cathedral Oaks Road Los Carneros Road Carlo Drive 35
Cathedral Oaks Road Carlo Drive Eastern City Limit 35
Covington Way Los Carneros Road La Patera Lane 25
Encina Road Fairview Avenue Kingston Avenue 25
Fairview Avenue South City Limit Carson Street 35
Fairview Avenue Carson Street Hollister Avenue 30
Fairview Avenue Hollister Avenue US 101 NB Ramps 30
Fairview Avenue US 101 NB Ramps Berkeley Road 30
Fairview Avenue Berkeley Road Cathedral Oaks Road 30
Glen Annie Road Calle Real Cathedral Oaks Road 40
Hollister Avenue Cathedral Oaks Road Pebble Beach Drive 40 Hollister Avenue Pebble Beach Drive Pacific Oaks Road 40 Hollister Avenue Pacific Oaks Road Storke Road 35
Hollister Avenue Storke Road Los Carneros Road 40
Hollister Avenue Fairview Avenue Kellogg Avenue 25
Hollister Avenue Kellogg Avenue Ward Drive 25
Hollister Avenue Ward Drive East City Limit 40
8 Kellogg Avenue Hollister Avenue Depot Road 20
Kellogg Avenue Hollister Avenue Kellogg Way 30
Kellogg Avenue Kellogg Way Thornwood Drive 35
La Patera Lane Covington Way Cathedral Oaks Road 20
La Patera Lane Calle Real Covington Way 30
Los Carneros Road South City Limits Hollister Avenue 40 Los Carneros Road Hollister Avenue US 101 SB Ramps 35
Los Carneros Road US 101 SB Ramps Calle Real 35
Los Carneros Road Calle Real Cathedral Oaks Road 35
Pacific Oaks Road Phelps Road Hollister Avenue 20
Patterson Avenue Ekwill Street Hollister Avenue 30
Patterson Avenue Hollister Avenue Northern City Limit 35 Phelps Road Pacific Oaks Road Storke Road 25
Storke Road South City Limit Phelps Road 40
Storke Road Phelps Road Hollister Avenue 40
Storke Road Hollister Avenue Calle Real 30
Ward Drive S. City Limit Hollister Avenue 30
SECTION 4. Severability
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase be declared invalid.
SECTION 5. Certification of the City Clerk
The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and, within 15 days after its adoption, shall cause it to be published in accordance with California Government Code section 36933.
SECTION 6. Effective Date and Termination
This Ordinance shall take effect on the 31st day following adoption by the City Council.
9 INTRODUCED ON the 20th day of August 2024.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of September 2024.
_________________________
PAULA PEROTTE, MAYOR
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________ _________________________
DEBORAH LOPEZ MEGAN GARIBALDI
CITY CLERK CITY ATTORNEY
10 STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ) ss.
CITY OF GOLETA )
I, DEBORAH S. LOPEZ, City Clerk of the City of Goleta, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 24-__ was introduced on August 20, 2024, and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Goleta, California, held on the 3rd day of September, by the following roll-call vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
(SEAL)
_________________________
DEBORAH S. LOPEZ
CITY CLERK
11