Long Beach, CA
File #: 07-1415    Version: 1 Name: PW-Speed Limits amendment to LBMC
Type: Agenda Item Status: Approved
File created: 11/26/2007 In control: City Council
On agenda: 12/4/2007 Final action: 12/4/2007
Title: Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare an amendment to the Long Beach Municipal Code, Section 10.12.010 relating to speed limits on City streets. (Districts 3,4,5,9)
Sponsors: Public Works
Indexes: Ordinance request
Attachments: 1. 120407-R-26sr&att.pdf
TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare an amendment to the Long Beach Municipal Code, Section 10.12.010 relating to speed limits on City streets.  (Districts 3,4,5,9)
 
DISCUSSION
Under the provisions of Section 40802 of the California Vehicle Code, engineering and traffic surveys are a necessary prerequisite to radar enforcement of speed limits. Any posted limit, other than the maximum limit of 65 miles per hour (mph) or the prima facie 25 mph limit on local streets in a business or residential district, must be justified by such a survey in order to employ radar enforcement. The City updates the engineering and traffic surveys for each speed zone every five years to validate speed limits and to facilitate enforcement within the City.
 
Based upon the results of 75 engineering and traffic surveys recently conducted and approved by the City Traffic Engineer, 5 street segments warrant a 5 mph decrease of their existing speed limits. In addition, a change in length of two street segments along Stearns Street is recommended to reduce confusion associated with adjacent school zones. The speed limit along Stearns Street would remain the same. The remaining 68 segments warranted no change in existing limits, but remain enforceable based upon their updated surveys. The following street segments, as highlighted on the attached vicinity maps, are recommended for change in speed limit:
 
 
 
 
This letter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Burton on November 19, 2007 and Budget Management Officer, Victoria Bell on November 19, 2007.
 
 
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
Council action on this matter is not time critical.
 
 
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of materials and installation of the proposed "Speed Limit" signs is estimated at $2,000. Sufficient funds are budgeted in Capital Improvement Project No. PW511 0 in the Capital Projects Fund (CP 201) in the Department of Public Works (PW) to support this activity.
 
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
 
BODY
 
1. Request the City Attorney to prepare an amendment to Section 10.12.010 of the Long Beach Municipal Code, as listed below:
 
A. Subsection 39, referring to speed limits on Park Avenue, by modifying paragraphs "b" and "c" to read as follows:
 
"b.  Seventh Street to Fourth Street, twenty-five (25) miles per hour,"
"c.   Fourth Street to Livingston Drive, twenty-five (25) miles per hour,"
 
B. Subsection 50, referring to speed limits on Seventieth Street, by modifying paragraph "b" to read as follows:
 
"b.  Atlantic Place to Orange Avenue, twenty-five (25) miles per hour,"
 
C. Subsection 54, referring to speed limits on Stearns Street, by modifying paragraphs "a" and "b" to read as follows:
 
"a.  Redondo Avenue to Clark Avenue, thirty (30) miles per hour,"
"b.  Clark Avenue to Marwick Avenue, thirty-five (35) miles per hour,"
 
D. Subsection 58, referring to speed limits on Walnut Avenue, by modifying paragraph "a" to read as follows:
 
"a.  Sixty-Eighth Street to Harding Street, twenty-five (25) miles per hour",
 
E. Subsection 70, referring to speed limits on Donald Douglas Drive, by modifying paragraph "a" to read as follows:
 
"a.  Lakewood Boulevard to Seven Hundred Fifty Feet (750') west of Lakewood Boulevard, twenty-five (25) miles per hour,"
 
Respectfully Submitted,
 
Christopher J. Garner
Acting Director of Public Works
 
NAME
APPROVED:
TITLE
 
 
                                                  
 
PATRICK H. WEST
 
CITY MANAGER