City Council Agenda Report
TO: Mayor Clauzel and Members of the City Council
FROM: Fernando Ulloa, City Manager
BY: Nubia Goldstein, City Attorney
MEETING DATE: February 4, 2025
ITEM NO: 8.1
SUBJECT: Approve First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance No. 881 Reading by Title Only, Waiving Further Reading, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Patterson to Amended Chapter 10.40, Speed Limits, of Title 10, Vehicles and Traffic, of the Patterson Municipal Code to reflect the recommended speed limit changes in the 2024 Engineering and Traffic Survey (“E&TS”)
RECOMMENDATION
Motion to Approve First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance No. 881 Reading by Title Only, Waiving Further Reading, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Patterson to Amended Chapter 10.40, Speed Limits, of Title 10, Vehicles and Traffic, of the Patterson Municipal Code to reflect the recommended speed limit changes in the 2024 Engineering and Traffic Survey (“E&TS”)
BACKGROUND
The Vehicle Code establishes default speed limits on city streets. Vehicle Code section 22357 permits the City of Patterson (“City”) to determine by ordinance based upon an E&TS that a speed greater than twenty-five (25) miles per hour would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and would be reasonable and safe. Further, if the City enforces speed limits by way of radar, Vehicle Code Section 40802 requires periodic preparation of an E&TS to justify the speed limits on those designated streets.
In December 2024, TJKM completed an updated E&TS for the City, attached as Exhibit A to the proposed Ordinance. The E&TS Report recommends changes to the City’s existing speed limits at multiple locations and examines speed limits on road segments that are not currently included in Chapter 10.40 of the Patterson Municipal Code.
ANALYSIS
The requirements and guidelines for performing an E&TS are set forth in Vehicle Code section 627 and in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. According to the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the posted speed limit established after 2006 must be set at the nearest 5 mph increment of the 85th percentile speed that was surveyed, with the City Engineer having the option of lowering it by an additional 5 mph to address traffic safety needs of the community. For example, if the 85th percentile speed surveyed for a roadway is 37 mph, the posted speed limit will be set at 35 mph (the nearest 5 mph increment), with the City Engineer having the option of lowering it down to 30 mph. If the 85th percentile speed surveyed is 38 mph, the posted speed limit will be set at 40 mph (the nearest 5 mph increment), with the City Engineer having the option of lowering it down to 35 mph. The E&TS may also consider residential density, collision history, pedestrian and bicycle activity, and roadway traffic and roadside conditions not readily apparent to the driver.
City speed limits are currently codified in Chapter 10.40 of the Patterson Municipal Code. The proposed Ordinance updates Chapter 10.40 to reflect the recommended changes in the 2024 E&TS Report. The speed limits changes will only go into effect once posted speed limit signs have been placed on streets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed Ordinance No. 881 will result in costs for sign replacements and pavement marking changes.
POLICY ALTERNATIVES:
1. Motion to waive first reading, read by title only, and introduce the proposed Ordinance No. 881; or
2. The City Council may continue introduction of the proposed Ordinance No. 881 to a later City Council meeting, with direction to staff to provide changes; or
3. Reject the adoption of the proposed Ordinance No. 881.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance No. 881
2. 2024 Engineering & Traffic Survey completed by TJKM