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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-12-14 - AGENDA REPORTS - NEIGHBORHOOD TRAF MGMT PILOT (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT NEW BUSINESS DATE: December 14, 1999 City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: SUBJECT: NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAM FUNDING DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Engineering Services RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council approve the attached plans (Exhibits A, B and C) for the Old Orchard I and II Traffic -Calming Program (27 speed humps in the Old Orchard I and II communities, and a traffic circle at the intersection of Tournament Road and Avenida Crescenta). City Council ratify the attached agreement between the City and the Old Orchard I and II HOA's. City Council authorize City staff to advertise for bids to install the Traffic -Calming measures. City Council approve the transfer of $90,000.00 from City Council Contingency Account No. 1240-7401 to Traffic Engineering Contractual Services Account No. 4331-8001, to fund the cost to implement the project. BACKGROUND Original Surveys In late 1997 and early 1998, the board members of the Homeowners Associations (HOAs) of both Old Orchard I and II requested that the City investigate and evaluate both neighborhoods for traffic -related issues, including speeding and cut -through traffic. In subsequent discussions with City staff, both HOAs expressed an interest in traffic -calming measures (e.g., speed humps and traffic circles) being installed along the through -streets in both neighborhoods. Community Involvement In January 1999, the City, with the assistance of its hired consultant, Ed Cline of Willdan Associates, conducted a survey of all residents in the Old Orchard I and II communities to determine the perceived traffic problems. The response rate was almost 50 percent. Over half of the residents who returned the questionnaire indicated that they believed there was a traffic problem serious enough to require some type of action. 1�1 NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAM FUNDING December 14, 1999 — Page 2 The results of the survey were presented at a community meeting that was held at Old Orchard Elementary School on January 28, 1999. This meeting also provided an opportunity for the community to provide additional input and comments. The comments from the residents who attended the community meeting mirrored those on the survey forms. A follow-up meeting was held at the Old Orchard I clubhouse on April 29, 1999. HOA Votes on Plan Based on the residents' desire to implement traffic -calming measures, Willdan Associates developed a traffic -calming plan that was put to a vote by both HOAs. A majority of the members of both HOAs participated in the vote. The results were as follows: • Old Orchard I 51% Yes (74% of members voted) • Old Orchard II 62% Yes (67% of members voted) Traffic -Calming Proposal The traffic -calming plan consists of 27 speed humps and one traffic circle. The speed humps would be located on Avenida Rotella, Avenida Rondel, Avenida Ronada, Avenida Crescenta, Avenida Entrana, and Avenida Cappela. The traffic circle would be located at the intersection of Tournament Road and Avenida Crescenta. The locations of these measures are indicated in Exhibit A. Exhibit B depicts the detail for the proposed speed humps. Exhibit C depicts a conceptual sketch of the proposed traffic circle. Speeding and cut -through traffic in residential neighborhoods are two of the most common concerns expressed by the residents to the City's Traffic Division staff. This traffic -calming plan is considered to be a pilot -program. Eighteen months after installation, City staff will perform a follow-up study in the Old Orchard communities to determine the effectiveness of traffic -calming measures in residential neighborhoods and to establish criteria for the further use of such measures in other areas of the City. Agreement The total estimated cost of the entire project is $100,000.00 (requesting $90,000.00, plus the already budgeted landscaping cost of $10,000.00, from the City's Fiscal Year 1999-2000 budget). The cost to install 27 speed humps at approximately $2,500.00 each is $70,000.00, and the cost to install the traffic circle is $30,000.00. The construction cost for the traffic circle is $20,000.00 and will include landscaping (additional $10,000.00) in its interior to provide an aesthetic enhancement to the area. The $70,000.00 cost of the speed hump portion will be shared between the City and the two HOAs at a 50/50 split. The contribution from each HOA will be 25 percent of $70,000.00, or $17,500.00. Each HOA will reimburse the City in four installments over four years. See attached agreement letter for additional details. NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAM FUNDING December 14, 1999 — Page 3 ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Other action as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT The necessary funds for this expenditure are $90,000.00 and are currently available in the City Council Contingency Account. ATTACHMENTS Exhibit "A" — Vicinity Map Exhibit "B" — Speed Hump Detail Exhibit "C" — Traffic Circle Detail Agreement Letter IJP:twb council\=1l ng.doc =1"'CIA-TM AYENID," 1 :2o' ffa EN 20, =17 AVENII7A CRESCENTA CITY OF SANTA GLARITA �(] WLLDM ASSOCIATES �f �' OldlflRS wO M1�N,ERS TRAFFIC CIRCLE CONCEPT APRON E7CHIBIT� "C" City of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Blvd. Suite 300 Santa Clarita Califomia 91355.2196 Website: www.santa-clarita.com October 8, 1999 Mr. Frank Schranz, President Board of Directors Old Orchard I HOA 23552 Via Amado Santa Clarita, CA 91355 Phone (661) 259-2489 Fax (661)259-8125 Mr. Jeff Melodia, President Board of Directors Old Orchard II HOA 25382 Avenida Cappella Santa Clarita, CA 91355, Subject: Old Orchard I/II Traffic -Calming Proposal Dear Frank and Jeff: Thank you for your continuing work with City staff, and your efforts in making progress towards the potential establishment of a traffic -calming pilot program in the Old Orchard I and II neighborhoods. This letter is in response to your August 11, 1999 letter, and includes the information contained in the September 23, 1999 e-mail sent by Mr. Bahman Janka. City staff has informed me of your concerns regarding the liability issues and the financial costs, and I have made the compromise suggested below to reach consensus and move on with this project. As you know, City staff has shared with me the tentative proposal of constructing 27 potential speed humps and one traffic circle in both neighborhoods. My understanding is that the total package of improvements will be approximately $100,000, which includes $70,000 for the speed hump program, and $30,000 for the landscaped traffic circle. I have reviewed the financial aspects and am offering you the following final proposal. If you agree with the City's position, I will recommend the concept and the financial package to the City Council for its consideration and approval: 1. Since the traffic circle lies exclusively in one of the two neighborhoods, and in order to minimize the cost burden to your associations, the City will assume the responsibility of the $30,000 cost impact. We will include the landscaping of the median at a cost of $10,000 in the area landscape district, and will request the City Council to appropriate $20,000 to construct the traffic circle. 2. The $70,000 cost of the speed hump program shall be shared between the City and the two associations at a 50/50 split. This will require a 25 percent contribution ($17,500) from each association. PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Mr. Frank Schranz Mr. Jeff Melodia October 8, 1999 Page 2 3. The City will consider each association's contribution to be paid to the City in. four installments over four years, to minimize the overall financial impact. 4. The City will assume the liability issues associated with the speed humps. The two associations agree to actively educate their members regarding the potential cost impact to the City for any litigation. As you know, the City is self-insured for all claims up to $250,000. Any significant claim brought against the City as a result of the speed humps will have to be paid directly from the City's general fund, which could have a financial impact on all of the City's residents. 5. Should any of the associations in the future request removal of any of the installed speed humps, the cost of the removal shall be split between the City and the associations at a 50/50 level. 6. The City and the associations shall respond in a cooperative manner to all citizen complaints that might be generated as a result of the installation of the speed humps in the two neighborhoods. The City will respond to all complaints concerning legal issues, and the associations will respond to all complaints regarding the need for and use of traffic -calming techniques. Other matters would be handled as appropriate. All correspondence will be shared between both associations and the City. 7. The Sheriff and Fire Departments shall agree with the overall speed hump program in these neighborhoods. S. It is agreed that this is a pilot program, and as such, the City will perform traffic studies to establish the merits of the program and potential application in other parts of the City. The duration of the program shall not be less than 18 months. The City reserves the right to remove any or all speed humps if future studies justify their removal. If any speed hump is removed at the discretion of the City, the City shall pay the total cost of the removal. The City agrees to involve the associations in the decision-making process, should it decide to remove any of the speed humps. Mr. Frank Schranz Mr. Jeff Melodia October 8, 1999 Page 3 I thank you again for working with City staff to bring this issue to where it is today. I request that the associations' board members consider the City's offer, and if you would like to proceed as indicated, sign below and return one signed original to the City. I will then schedule this on the City Council's agenda and recommend their approval of the pilot program. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bahman Janka, City Traffic Engineer, at (661) 286-4172. GAC:IJP:W traTic\bahm=\oldomh2.dx cc: Mayor Darcy and City Councilmembers Anthony J. Nisich, Director of Transportation & Engineering Services Rick Putnam, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services Bahman Janka, City Traffic Engineer Ken Striplin, Risk Manager Carl Newton, City Attorney Capt. Don Rodriguez, L. A. County Sheriffs Department Gene Wolfe, Assistant Fire Chief Ed Cline, Willdan Associates Agree: Frank Schranz Date effMelodia Date President, OOI H A President, OOII HOA