STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of March 25, 2024
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
SUBMITTED BY: Nanda Gottiparthy, Acting City Engineer
Christie Crowl, City Attorney
SUBJECT: Amendment to Hercules Municipal Code section 3-4.1601 to reflect adopted Kimley-Horn Speed Survey RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Waive second reading and adopt an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Hercules Amending the Hercules Municipal Code Section 3-4.1601 “Changed Speed Limits” to Reflect the Results and Recommendations of the Kimley-Horn Speed Survey DISCUSSION:
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) generally requires that cities prepare Engineering and Traffic Surveys (i.e. speed surveys) every 5 years for most types of roads in order to allow the continued use of radar for traffic enforcement of posted speed limits. Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (Kimley-Horn) was commissioned in the Fall of 2024 to complete a new speed survey by 2025.
Speed limits are codified in Section 3-4.1601 “Changed Speed Limits” of the Hercules Municipal Code. Kimley-Horn’s speed survey included 4 new street segments (identified as segment numbers 4, 13, 16 and 17 in the survey) that are not listed in the Municipal Code: John Muir Parkway between Alfred Nobel Drive and Bayfront Boulevard, Sycamore Avenue between Palm Avenue and SR-4, Willow Avenue between Canterbury and Palm Avenue, and Willow Avenue between Palm Avenue and Sycamore Avenue. There were also two codified speed limits in Section 3-4.1601 that are inconsistent with both the survey and what is actually posted: San Pablo Avenue from City limit to City limit, and Turquoise Drive from Sycamore to Cinnabar.
The City Council approved the speed survey at its February 11, 2025 meeting and authorized the City Manager to accept its recommendations and prepare changes to Hercules Municipal Code section 3-4.1601 consistent with the survey, including corrections necessary to reflect existing posted speed limits confirmed by the survey. The City Council introduced the proposed Ordinance (attached as Attachment 1) amending Section 3-4.1601 at its March 11, 2025 meeting with one clerical note to fix the existing reference to “Bayberry Street” (which is now Willow Avenue). At this time, staff recommends waiving the second reading and adopting the Ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact involved with adoption of this Ordinance.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Draft Ordinance
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