Agenda Item: 10
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: October 25, 2022
SUBJECT: ESTABLISH NO STOPPING ZONES ON SCHOOL DAYS ONLY
ALONG THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES OF ESPUELLA DRIVE
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Joel Bareng
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Adopt a resolution to establish a No Stopping zone between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and between 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on school days only on the north side of Espuella Drive, starting at 150 feet and extending a distance of 295 feet west of Caballeta Drive and on the south side of Espuella Drive between Bouquet Canyon Road and Caballeta Drive.
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clarita (City) has been working with Emblem Academy and Saugus Union School District staff for the past three years to improve traffic circulation throughout the neighborhood during peak school hours. Emblem Academy is an elementary school located at Espuella Drive and Caballeta Drive. The school and the surrounding neighborhood have only one ingress and egress via Espuella Drive at Bouquet Canyon Road.
Measures have been taken to improve traffic circulation, such as signing and striping within the school parking lot and an updated arrival and dismissal circulation plan that provides a suggested route for parents to follow when dropping off and picking up students. The improvements also include a trail connection to Central Park that allows parents to park and students to walk to school. The City is also working with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Emblem Academy, and Saugus Union School District to coordinate the first Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day.
This event will encourage parents and students to take alternative transportation to school from Central Park while being accompanied by CHP officers, school staff, and City staff.
On February 9, 2022, City staff met with Emblem Academy and Saugus Union School District to discuss additional improvements to traffic circulation. On March 8, 2022, the City Council received a public comment from an Emblem Academy parent regarding traffic safety concerns and emergency access during school arrival and dismissal periods. After observing and confirming the necessity to improve emergency access, City staff installed signage that temporarily restricted parking along Espuella Drive, between Bouquet Canyon Road and Caballeta Drive. These restrictions allow motorists to pull over and ensure unimpeded access for emergency vehicles during emergencies. After installing these temporary signs, staff observed that motorists obeyed the posted signs, enhancing traffic safety and circulation. However, over time, staff observed that the temporary signs were being displaced, creating confusion for motorists.
The recommended actions will ensure that parents utilize the valet line when picking up and dropping off students, maintaining a constant traffic flow. Further, the installation of permanent No Stopping signs will allow emergency vehicles to ingress and egress the neighborhood.
The six residents fronting the areas of the proposed parking restrictions, Emblem Academy, and the Saugus Union School District are in support of the recommended actions.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adequate funds are available in Street Maintenance expenditure account 2304504-514108 to support the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Exhibit A
Location Map