RESOLUTION NO. RES-2022-167
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA ADOPTING THE SONOMA COUNTY VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN WHEREAS, one death on our streets is one too many; and
WHEREAS, between 2016 and 2020, there were 26 traffic fatalities and 126 crashes that resulted in severe injury in the City; and WHEREAS, eight percent of all Sonoma County trips are made on foot or on bicycle, but these modes account for 19% of traffic deaths; and WHEREAS, impaired driving, unsafe turns, speeding or failure to follow right-of-way rules are the primary causes of traffic deaths and severe injuries in City; and WHEREAS, the City includes 41 of Sonoma County’s High Injury Intersections (HII) and 48.8 miles of the High Injury Network (HIN),which are within Equity Priority Communities; and WHEREAS, Equity Priority Communities, especially those who have reduced access to transportation or who travel without using private vehicles are most impacted by traffic fatalities and severe injuries; and WHEREAS, between May 2019 and March 2021, the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority, the County of Sonoma, and each of the incorporated jurisdictions adopted Climate Emergency Resolutions and committed to working on activities to address this state of climate emergency; and WHEREAS, on March 8, 2021, the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority adopted a Sonoma Climate Mobilization Strategy which sets a goal of reaching countywide carbon neutrality by 2030; and WHEREAS, transportation accounts for 60 percent of GHG emissions in Sonoma County with the burning of gasoline and diesel fuel for transportation as the leading cause of GHG emissions in this sector; and WHEREAS, the Sonoma Climate Mobilization Strategy 3: Drive Less Sonoma County Campaign is designed to reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector by shifting trips from driving to biking, walking, and transit; and WHEREAS, one of the objectives of the Sonoma Climate Mobilization Strategy 3: Drive Less Sonoma County Campaign is to make biking and walking safer by implementing recommendations from the Sonoma County Vision Zero Action Plan; and WHEREAS, community input gathered through listening sessions and surveys in 2021 and 2022 found that many community members feel unsafe while walking, bicycling, or using mobility devices; and WHEREAS, choosing active transportation options like walking and biking also decreases mortality and morbidity from obesity-related diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, and creating safer streets is likely to encourage more active transportation, thereby increasing population health; and WHEREAS, 67% of community members across Sonoma County responding to the survey indicated enhanced safety features like protected bike lanes, and streets designed to slow traffic are the most favorable measures to addressing these challenges; and WHEREAS, the Sonoma County Vision Zero Action Plan supports policies in the City's recent specific plan documents that include improvements for walking, biking and transit as well as the Climate Action Plan and the City's General Plan update currently underway which will all address transportation and land use strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG); and WHEREAS, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update 2018 recommends that the City consider whether adoption of a Vision Zero Policy is an appropriate step to increase the City’s existing commitment for all users of its diverse transportation system; and WHEREAS, other ongoing initiatives in the City, including Safe Routes to School programs, Local Road Safety Plan, etc. are supportive of the Vision Zero goal; and WHEREAS, the adoption of the Sonoma County Vision Zero Action Plan will increase the City’s eligibility and competitiveness for future Federal and State grant opportunities; and WHEREAS, the City has adopted “Complete Streets” policies, which require that they design transportation projects for the safety and convenience of people walking, bicycling, and taking transit as well as driving and has made significant investments in improving bicycle and pedestrian facilities as part of the regular Capital Improvement Project (CIP) process; and WHEREAS, a commitment to Vision Zero is a commitment to life and equitable opportunity for people in the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Santa Rosa hereby:
Adopts the Sonoma County Vision Zero Action Plan, attached to this resolution as Exhibit A and made a part of herein, as a comprehensive and holistic approach to eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries.
Will put equity at its forefront when setting goals and implementing recommendations from the Sonoma County Vision Zero Action Plan, aiming to reduce harm for the most vulnerable users of the City’s roadway system.
Acknowledges and accepts that the Vision Zero Action Plan may involve changes to the City’s approach to the planning and design of streets, education and communication techniques, enforcement policies and procedures, and legal and legislative frameworks.
Will work with partners that own, manage, design, and regulate streets within its jurisdiction to implement Vision Zero Action Plan strategies.
Is committed to using the standardized Vision Zero tracking tool to monitor their progress toward key actions outlined in the Sonoma County Vision Zero Action Plan or as defined by the city.
Will also consider tracking investments by neighborhood to ensure an equitable distribution that accounts for historical patterns of disinvestment.
IN COUNCIL DULY PASSED this 26th day of July, 2022.
AYES: (7) Mayor C. Rogers, Vice Mayor Alvarez, Council Members Fleming, MacDonald, N. Rogers, Sawyer, Schwedhelm
NOES: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
ATTEST: _________________________ APPROVED: ______________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________
City Attorney
Exhibit A – Sonoma County Vision Zero Action Plan
Reso. No. RES-2022-167
res master agreement federal aid (002).docx