Traffic Committee
Street Name Change Request Policy
DRAFT
Attachment E
1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide a consistent, fair, equitable, and objective process for the review of requests to rename existing streets within the City of Santa Maria. This policy is intended to provide City residents, property owners, business es, City staff, the Traffic Committee, and the City Council with clear procedures and evaluation criteria for consideration of street name change requests. This structure is consistent with the City’s existing Traffic Committee request procedure, which use s staff screening, committee review, neighborhood input, and final City Council action for other right-of-way related requests.
2. Applicability
This policy applies to requests to rename an existing public street, or a defined segment of an existing public street, within the City of Santa Maria. This policy does not replace the Municipal Code procedures governing the naming of new streets as part of the subdivision process.
3. General Policy
Street name changes are significant actions because they may af fect public safety response, wayfinding, property addressing, business operations, mapping systems, postal delivery, public records, and community identity. For that reason, requests to rename streets shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis using the pro cedures and criteria set forth herein. Final authority to approve, deny, or modify a street name change remains with the City Council.
4. Request Submission
A person or entity requesting a street name change shall complete and submit a request in writing to the Public Works Department, Engineering Division. The request form shall include, at a minimum:
name, address, telephone number, and email of the requesting party; identification of the street or street segment proposed to be renamed; the limits of the proposed street rename;
the reason for the requested change;
any proposed replacement street name or names, if known; identification of known affected properties, businesses, institutions, or agencies; and any supporting materials the requesting party wishes to provide.
As with other Traffic Committee requests, incomplete requests may be returned to the applicant without further processing until the required information is provided.
5. Staff Review for Completeness and Merit
City staff shall review the request for completeness and determine whether it merits additional review. The purpose of this initial review is to ensure that requests are evaluated against clear and objective standards before they advance.
Traffic Committee
Street Name Change Request Policy
DRAFT
Attachment E
A request may be found to merit additional review based on consideration of the following factors:
1. Substantial justification. The request presents a legitimate public purpose or substantial reason for renaming the street, and is not based solely o n personal preference.
2. Clear identification of the affected area. The request clearly identifies the street or segment proposed for renaming.
3. No duplication or confusion. The proposed replacement name, if known, would not duplicate or be confusingly similar to an existing or approved street name.
4. Feasibility. The request appears feasible from an addressing, signage, mapping, and emergency response standpoint.
5. Fairness and equity. The request would not create disproportionate impacts on a particular neig hborhood, property owner, business, or group without corresponding public benefit.
6. Consistency with City plans and standards. The requested action would not be inconsistent with the General Plan, Specific Plans, emergency response needs, or adopted City street naming conventions.
7. Administrative reasonableness. The anticipated public benefit appears sufficient to justify the administrative and fiscal burden of implementation.
If staff determines that a request does not merit additional review, that deter mination shall be documented in writing, transmitted to the requesting party, and retained in the Engineering Division files, consistent with the City’s existing Traffic Committee practice.
6. Interdepartmental Review
If staff determines that a request m erits additional review, staff shall circulate the request for preliminary review by the departments and agencies that may be affected by a street name change. At a minimum, this review should include Public Works, Community Development, Police, and Fire, consistent with the interdepartmental review approach already used for new street naming under the subdivision process. The review may also include other affected agencies or service providers as appropriate, including postal authorities, utilities, transi t providers, Santa Barbara County agencies, and school districts.
Staff shall evaluate, as applicable:
emergency response and dispatch implications;
addressing and postal impacts;
impacts to businesses, residents, and institutions;
required signage changes;
GIS, mapping, and records updates; and
whether a transition plan would be needed.
7. Traffic Committee Agenda and Petition Area Determination If the request merits additional review, staff shall prepare a Street Name Change Report and place the item on the Traffic Committee agenda as a discussion item. Similar to the City’s existing Traffic Committee process for permit parking and other neighbor hood requests, the Traffic Committee
Street Name Change Request Policy
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Attachment E
Traffic Committee shall review the request and determine the appropriate affected area for outreach and input.
The affected area may include:
properties directly addressed on the street proposed for renaming; adjacent or nearby properties likely to be materially affected; businesses or institutions located on the street;
other users or stakeholders identified by staff or the Traffic Committee.
The Traffic Committee may deny the request, request additional information, or direct outreach to proceed.
8. Public Outreach and Questionnaires
Following the initial Traffic Committee discussion, and when directed by the Traffic Committee, outreach shall be conducted within the affected area identified by the Committee. Similar to the Limited Time Permit Parking process and the City’s neighborhood questionnaire approach, public outreach may include mailed questionnaires, hand -delivered questionnaires, public notices, meetings, or other methods deemed appropriate by staff.
Questionnaires shall, at a minimum, provide:
a description of the proposed street name change;
the reason for the request;
the limits of the affected area;
an opportunity to support or oppose the request; and
a return deadline.
Unless otherwise directed by the Traffic Committee, unreturned questionnaires may be treated as unsupportive for purposes of evaluating neighborhood support, consistent with the Limited Time Permit Parking process.
9. Audit and Evaluation of Support
Returned questionnaires shall be reviewed and audited by City staff before they are presented to the Traffic Committee. Staff may use phone verification or other reasonable means to verify returned questionnaires, consistent with the City’s current permit parking process.
In evaluating support, the Traffic Committee may consider:
the percentage of returned questionnaires supporting the request; the percentage of all affected addresses supporting the request; whether the request affects a residential street, commercial corridor, or street of broader citywide significance;
the extent of direct addressing impacts; and
the nature of any objections received.
If 50% or less of the overall surveys are returned the Traffic Committee may deny the parking district or request re-evaluation of the parking district. A parking district request receiving less Traffic Committee
Street Name Change Request Policy
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Attachment E
than 85% approval will be denied the parking district. If 85% or greater approval of the parking district is received, the Traffic Committee will further review/consider the request.
10. Traffic Committee Recommendation
After reviewing staff’s report, interdepartmental comments, outreach results, and any testimony received, the Traffic Committee shall move to make a recommendation to the City Council to approve, move to deny, move to modify, or continue the request for additional information.
If the Traffic Committee denies the request, that determination shall be documented in writing, shared with the requesting party, and retained in the Engineering Division files, consistent with the current Traffic Committee procedure.
If the Traffic Committee recommends approval or further City Council consideration, staff shall prepare a City Council agenda report and draft resolution.
11. City Council Action
The City Council shall retain final authority to approve, deny, modify, or defer any proposed street name change. City Council action may occur in one or more steps, including:
declaration of intent to rename a street and direction to return with options and an implementation plan; or
final action approving a replacement street name by resolution.
The City Council may also direct staff to conduct additional outreach or return with alternative replacement names.
12. Replacement Name Standards
Any proposed replacement street name should, to the extent practicable:
avoid duplication or confusing similarity with existing or approved street names; be reasonably easy to pronounce, spell, and understand for emergency response and the public;
be compatible with existing City naming conventions and suffix usage; avoid names likely to create public confusion; and
comply with any other applicable City standards or legal requirements.
Where appropriate, staff may require one or more alternative names to be submitted in case the preferred replacement name is not recommended or approved. This is consistent with the City’s existing approach for new street names under subdivision review.
13. Implementation Following Approval
If a street name change is approved by the City Council, staff shall coordinate implementation, which may include:
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Street Name Change Request Policy
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notice to affected residents, businesses, and property owners; coordination with USPS and other addressing authorities; coordination with emergency response and dispatch agencies; updates to GIS, maps, databases, and public records;
fabrication and installation of street name signs; and establishment of an effective date and transition period, if appropriate.
14. Exemptions and Special Circumstances
The City Council or Traffic Committee may determine that a request warrants modified processing due to special circumstances, including:
streets with no addressed properties;
requests initiated by the City;
changes needed to resolve duplication, emergency response confusion, or map errors; requests involving citywide or historic significance; or requests where standard neighborhood questionnaires are not the most appropriate measure of community input.
In such cases, staff may recommend a modified outreach or review process.
15. Recordkeeping
All determinations made pursuant to this policy, including staff merit determinations, Traffic Committee actions, outreach summaries, and City Council actions, shall be documented and retained in the Public Works Department Engineering Division files.
Traffic Committee
Request Process
Start
Resident contacts City Staff
and/or submits request form
defining problem.
Is it a new
request?
Identify as current
project or previously
addressed.
No
City provides resident Petitions.
Resident to obtain Signatures
(85%) to demonstrate Qualifying
Support. One vote per household
Form
complete?
Present
signatures to
Traffic Committee
Staff reviews request for merit
Perform data collections.
Present at Traffic Committee (TC)
to define petition area.
City Staff to identify potential
solution.
End of Process.
No Project.
End of Process.
No Project.
Add to prioritized Traffic
Calming CIP list during
annual budget process.
Yes
No
Yes TC Deny
TC Approve
Insufficient Support
Present solution to
Traffic Committee.
Update/revise as
necessary.
Staff Prepare Report
for City Council
TC Approve
RESIDENT STAFF
Approved projects are not guaranteed to be
installed immediately. Approved projects will be
placed on the City CIP project list. The Public
Works Director reserves the right to prioritize the
construction of approved project based on funding,
safety, demonstrated need, etc.
Approved Projects Funding Source
There are a number of different pots of money that can be used to fund approved project.
The specific pot of money that is most appropriate for a particular project will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of project (ie traffic control device, parking permits, traffic signal, etc), the location of the project, and the availability of funding.
Capital Improvement Program/Growth Mitigation
The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is a list of projects that the city has identified as priorities for funding. The CIP is funded by a variety of sources, including property taxes, sales taxes, and development impact fees.
Some requests for intersection control devices may be able to utilize funds from the CIP. However, the specific projects that are funded by the CIP are determined by the city council.
Grant Funding
There are a number of grant programs that can be used to fund intersection control devices. Some of the most common grant programs include:
Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP): This program provides funding for projects that improve highway safety.
Active Transportation Program (ATP): This program provides funding for projects that promote walking and biking.
Safe Streets for Seniors and People with Disabilities (SS4A): This program provides funding for projects that improve safety for seniors and people with disabilities.
Grant funding often requires a local matching fund, which means that the city must contribute some of its own money t o the project. Grant funding can also be competitive, so the city must carefully develop and apply for grant proposals.
Gas Tax
The gas tax is a tax that is paid on gasoline and diesel fuel. The revenue from the gas tax is used to fund transportation projects, such as road repairs and construction. Some intersection control devices, such as speed bumps, can be implemented using slurry seals or chip seals. These types of projects can be funded with gas tax revenue.
Measure A
Measure A is a voter -approved initiative that provides funding for alternative transportation projects. Alternative transportation projects include projects that promote walking, biking, and public transportation. The Alternative Transportation Funds from Measure A can be used to fund intersection control devices, such as raised crosswalks and chicanes.
General Funds
General funds are the city's general operating budget. General funds are used to fund a variety of city services, including police, fire, and parks and recreation. General funds are the least likely Traffic Committee
Request Process
source of funding for intersection control devices. This is because general funds are often limited, and they are typically used to fund essential services.
Traffic Committee Request Form
Primary Contact Information
Name Email Address Phone Number
Street Address
Request Category
Parking Restrictions Intersection Control
Devices Traffic Calming Permit Parking
No Stopping Zone (Red Curb) Stop Signs Speeding
Passenger Loading Zones (Yellow
Curb) Traffic Signals
ADA Parking (Blue Curb) Roundabout
Limited Time Parking (1-hour, No
Overnight, etc.)
Other (Provide Brief Description)
Specify the Location and Concerns
City of Santa Maria Staff will evaluate these requests on a case by case basis. Please specify the location of the request.
from to
Your Street Cross Street Cross Street
Feel free to provide more detailed information about the nature of your traffic committee request:
NOTE: TRAFFIC COMMITTEE REQUESTS FOR NON NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL STREETS WILL BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
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Request Process
Traffic Committee
The City of Santa Maria Traffic Committee is responsible for the review, approval, or denial, and recommendation to City Council on items relating to traffic circulation and safety within public rights-of-way of the City. The Traffic Committee is also responsible for hearing appeals to street tree removal directed by the Director of Public Works.
Neighborhood Questionnaires
Signatures are required as part of the application process to ensure community support before the planning process begins. If your request is approved for a No Stopping Zone, Traffic Calming, or Permit Parking District, neighboring residents will be given the opportunity to vote on the proposed No Stopping Zone, Traffic Calming, or Permit Parking District.
To get the signatures you need, you can:
Go door-to-door and ask your neighbors to sign the petition. This is the most effective way to get signatures, as it allows you to explain the proposal to your neighbors in person. Set up a table at a local event or community gathering. This is a good way to reach a large number of people at once.
Send out an email or letter to your neighbors. This is a more passive way to get signatures, but it can be effective if you have a large mailing list. Post flyers in your neighborhood. This is a good way to reach people who may not be home when you go door-to-door.
The city provides petitions to be distributed among the neighboring residents. Once you have the signatures, you will need to submit them to the Public Works – Engineering Department. The city will then review the signatures and determine if there is enough community support for the proposal.
If there is enough support, the Traffic Committee will hold a vote during the Traffic Committee Meeting. Residents in the affected area are encouraged to attend the virtual meetings and will have the opportunity to voice their support or opposition to the proposal.
TRAFFIC CALMING QUESTIONNAIRE
The City of Santa Maria is considering a proposal to implement a traffic calming measure in [insert street/neighborhood name]. Traffic calming measures are designed to reduce vehicular speed and make the streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Some examples of traffic calming measures include:
Striping
Chicanes
Speed Humps
Speed Cushions
Speed Tables
Raised Crosswalks
Median Islands
Traffic Circles
Curb Extensions/Bulb-outs
Bicycle Boulevards
The city has determined that the most appropriate traffic calming measure for this area is [insert traffic calming measure]. The city is seeking feedback from residents on whether they support this proposal. To be approved, 85% of the residents must agree on the installation of the [insert traffic calming measure]. Please respond by [insert date]. Failure to respond is considered unsupportive of the installation of the proposed traffic calming measure in your [neighborhood/street] and will count as a “NO” v ote. Only one response is needed per household.
Address:
Please write your address above
Do you own or rent your residence:
A. I own my residence
B. Tenant/Renter
Please mark your preference:
A. I agree with the proposal to install [insert traffic calming measure] on my street B. Leave my street as it is.
Information/comments/modifications that you believe would be helpful:
Name:
(Please print)
Signature:
Telephone:
If you would like additional information, please contact:
Contact: Luis A. Magallón, PE
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (805) 925-0951 ext. 1742
Traffic Committee
Request Process
Mail: 110 S. Pine Street, Suite 101, Santa Maria, CA 93458
INTERSECTION CONTROL
DEVICE QUESTIONNAIRE
The City of Santa Maria is considering a proposal to implement intersection control devices at the intersection of [insert intersection]. The purpose of this document is to determine your interest regarding this proposal.
Intersection control devices are traffic calming measures that are designed to reduce traffic speed and volume, and make the streets saf er for pedestrians and cyclists. Some examples of intersection control devices include:
Roundabouts
Traffic signals
Stop signs
Yield signs
Markings
The city is seeking feedback from residents on whether they support this proposal. In order to be approved, 85% of the residents must agree on the limited time parking restriction. Please respond by [insert date]. Failure to respond is considered unsupport ive of installing the Intersection Control Feature and will count as a “NO” vote. Only one response is needed per household.
Address:
Please write your address above
Do you own or rent your residence:
A. I own my residence
B. Tenant/Renter
Please mark your preference:
A. I agree with the proposal to establish the intersection control feature B. Leave my street as it is.
Information/comments/modifications that you believe would be helpful:
Name:
(Please print)
Signature:
Telephone:
If you would like additional information, please contact:
Contact: Luis A. Magallón, PE
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (805) 925-0951 ext. 1742
Mail: 110 S. Pine Street, Suite 101, Santa Maria, CA 93458
Traffic Committee
Request Process
PERMIT PARKING QUESTIONNAIRE
The City of Santa Maria is considering a proposal to establish a limited time parking zone in the [insert street/neighborhood name]. The purpose of this document is to determine your interest regarding this proposal.
Limited time parking means on-street parking will be limited to [insert time limit grace period] with the exception for vehicles that display parking permits issued from the City of Santa Maria. These permits are available only to residents of this [street/neighborhood] and exclude any vehic le displaying the permit from the limited time on -street parking restriction if properly displayed.
Visitors would be required to borrow a permit from the resident if parking on the street [insert time limit grace period]. Five permits would be allowed per residence at a cost of $7.00 per permit. The permits would be valid for a period of five years. Any vehicle parked on this street longer than [insert grace period] without a permit will be in violation of the limited time parking restriction and subject to parking fines per Santa Maria Municipal Code Section 7-5.14.
In order to be approved, 85% of the residents must agree on the limited time parking restriction.
Please respond by [insert date]. Failure to respond is considered unsupportive of establishing permit parking in your neighborhood and will count as a “NO” vote. Only one response is needed per household.
Address:
Please write your address above
Do you own or rent your residence:
A. I own my residence
B. Tenant/Renter
Please mark your preference:
A. I agree with the proposal to establish one (1) hour limited time on-street parking for my street with exception for residents who purchase and display permits.
B. Leave my street as it is.
Information/comments/modifications that you believe would be helpful:
Name:
(Please print)
Signature:
Telephone:
If you would like additional information, please contact:
Contact: Luis A. Magallón, PE
E-mail: [email protected]
Traffic Committee
Request Process
Phone: (805) 925-0951 ext. 1742
Mail: 110 S. Pine Street, Suite 101, Santa Maria, CA 93458
Traffic Calming Measures
City staff has noted a continual need/request for the implementation of traffic calming devices in residential neighborhoods. The common theme in the requests is related to speeding and the hope is that the installation of Traffic Calming Measures will prompt drivers to slow down.
In general, the types of Traffic Calming measures will consist of the following:
Striping
Chicanes
Speed Humps
Speed Cushions
Speed Tables
Raised Crosswalks
Median Islands
Traffic Circles
Bulb Outs
Bicycle Boulevards
Please note that the list in not exclusive and other alternatives may be proposed if deemed appropriate.
STRIPING – LATERAL SHIFT
Traffic Committee
Request Process
CHICANE
A chicane is a series of alternating mid-block curb extensions or islands that narrow the roadway and require vehicles to follow a curving, S-shaped path, discouraging speeding.
Chicanes can also create new areas for landscaping and public space in the roadway.
Traffic Committee
Request Process
SPEED HUMP
A speed hump is an elongated mound in the roadway pavement surface extending across the travel way at a right angle to the traffic flow. A speed hump is typically 3 inches in height (with applications as high as 4 inches) and 12 feet in length along the vehicle travel path
Traffic Committee
Request Process
Traffic Committee
Request Process
SPEED CUSHION
A speed cushion consists of two or more raised areas placed laterally across a roadway.
The height and length of the raised areas are comparable to the dimensions of a speed hump.
A speed cushion has gaps ( often referred to as "cutouts") between the raised areas to enable a vehicle with a wide track (e.g., a large emergency vehicle, some trucks, some buses) to pass though the feature without any vertical deflection.
Top of speed cushion is level
Traffic Committee
Request Process
SPEED TABLE
A speed table is a raised area placed across the roadway designed to physically limit the speed at which a vehicle can traverse it.
Speed table extends across the travelway and has a long enough flat top (typically, 10 feet) to accommodate the entire wheelbase of most passenger cars.
The longer longitudinal depth in the direction of travel enables comfortable and safe vehicle operating speeds that are faster than for a speed hump. Figure 3.12.1 illustrates a typical application.
Traffic Committee
Request Process
RAISED CROSSWALK
A raised crosswalk is marked and signed as a pedestrian crossing. The 10 -foot flat top on a typical speed table conforms to a desired crosswalk width.
A raised crosswalk is typically between 3 and 6 inches above street level. It is commo n for a raised crosswalk to be level with the street curb.
A raised crosswalk can be placed midblock or at an intersection.
Traffic Committee
Request Process
Traffic Committee
Request Process
MEDIAN ISLAND
A median island narrowing is a raised island located along the street centerline that narrows the travel lanes at that location.
A median island can often double as a pedestrian refuge island if a cut in the island is provided along a marked crosswalk. Where there is an existing midblock crosswalk, it is desirable to locate the median island at the crosswalk.
When placed at or near the entrance to a neighborhood, a median island provides a visual cue to the motorist about the preferred vehicle speed.
Traffic Committee
Request Process
TRAFFIC CIRCLES
A traffic circle is a raised island, placed within an unsignalized intersection, around which traffic circulates. A circle forces a motorist to use reduced speed when entering and passing through an intersection, whether the vehicle path is straight through or involves a turn onto an intersecting street.
Traffic Committee
Request Process
CURB EXTENSION/BULB OUTS
Extend the sidewalk into the parking lane to narrow the roadway and provide additional pedestrian space at key locations; they can be used at corners and at mid-block.
Bulb outs enhance pedestrian safety by increasing pedestrian visibility, shortening crossing distances, slowing turning vehicles, and visually narrowing the roadway.
Traffic Committee
Request Process
BICYCLE BOULEVARDS
Bicycle boulevards are streets with low motorized traffic volumes and speeds, designated and designed to give bicycle travel priority.
Use signs, pavement markings, and speed and volume management measures to reduce vehicular speeds.