APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL 2583
(BERMAN), THE SAFER SCHOOL ZONE ACT, THAT WOULD
INCREASE SAFETY IN SCHOOL ZONES BY REDUCING SPEED
LIMITS AND USING CLEARER TI ME FRAMES FOR WHEN SUCH
LOWER SPEED LIMITS ARE IN EFFECT
WHEREAS, the City of Oakland holds public safety in the highest regard; and WHEREAS, traffic violence has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic nationwide, and Oakland is experiencing this trend as well; and WHEREAS, the Safe Oakland Street report found that 36 people were killed by traffic violence, up from 26 in 2019
1; and
WHEREAS, schools are considered vulnerable populations when OakDOT investigates an area for traffic improvements and given higher priority due to their nature of high pedestrian traffic; and
WHEREAS, research shows that reducing speed limits in school zones can bring significant safety benefits, decreasing fatal and injury crashes by 45% as the result of a 20km reduction in speed limits2; and
WHEREAS, California is just one of 8 states with a school zone speed limit greater than 20mph; and
WHEREAS, the risk of severe injury from a crash at 23mph as opposed to 16mph is 250% greater; and
WHEREAS, California currently uses the vague and confusing language of “when children are present,” requiring drivers to make a snap decision if school zone speed limits currently apply; and
1 https://oakland.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M=F&ID=11bb359a-9bbe-4939-a712- 4ee6f86d456a.pdf
2 https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjce-2018-0060 2 3346542/LL
WHEREAS, a majority of other states use a set time frame as to when school zone speed limits apply, making it easier for drivers to understand when school zone speed limits apply and comply with the law; and
WHEREAS, AB 2583 would increase safety in school zones through lower speed limits, clearer timeframes when the lower speed limits would be in effect, and improved planning practices; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the City of Oakland supports the passage of AB 2583 in the California legislature; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Council direct s the City Administrator or his designee to immediately distribute this Resolution upon its adoption to Governor Gavin Newsom and State Assemblymember Berman.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID, AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California