Title
Receive a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral No. 2024.05 seeking to request that the Board of Supervisors implement a policy that will waive the fees for speed hump installment in low-income neighborhoods to create safer roads.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral No. 2024.05 and:
b. Direct staff to proceed with completion of its response to the referral based on the proposed project description in this report; or,
c. Direct that staff:
i. Proceed with completion of its response to the referral based on modifications by the Board; or,
ii. Return to Board with a more comprehensive analysis of the referral and anticipated effort for completion.
d. Rescind the referral.
e. Provide further direction, as appropriate.
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS:
Background:
On May 14, 2024, the Board added Supervisor Church’s Referral No. 2024.05 (Attachment A) to the County Board of Supervisors’ referral matrix. The referral seeks to request that the Board of Supervisors implement a policy that will waive the fees for speed hump installment in low-income neighborhoods to create safer roads.
Proposed Project Description:
The County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities and Parks (PWFP) department maintains a Speed Hump Policy that is implemented by the PWFP’s Traffic Engineering section. It is kept in brochure format. As per the County of Monterey's Speed Hump brochure, a Monterey County Encroachment Permit must be obtained once 60% of homeowners on the street are in favor of the speed hump, and the requesting party must bear all expenses linked to its installation. The cost of installing a speed hump range from $12,000 to $17,000, depending on location and the materials used. However, this cost analysis does not include engineering costs.
It is believed the current policy is discriminatory to low-income and underserved neighborhoods that do not have the financial resources compared to affluent neighborhoods. This referral requests that the staff investigate methods to cover or subsidize the costs of installing speed humps in low-income neighborhoods to promote road safety.
The referral involves completion of the following tasks:
• Define and identify disadvantaged communities.
• Develop framework for analytic factors, prioritization criteria, and selection.
• Develop application process, and policy amendments as appropriate.
• Develop process for removal of speed humps, for those who do not want them.
• Prepare the necessary project California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). documentation to comply with State and local requirements.
• Acquire funding for these betterments.
• Implement proposal.
• After trial period, assess the outcomes.
Due to the sometimes contentious nature of speed humps or other traffic calming countermeasures, staff recommends starting this as a pilot program for a 1 to 2 year period, and re-evaluate the proposed program.
Estimated Project Cost:
The costs to design and construct a speed hump are not fully-determined at this time, but will consist primarily of staff time and construction costs. While cost estimates for speed hump construction ranges from $12,000 to $17,000, the soft costs of engineering and administration will add to the total project cost. The range of costs for the options varies, depending on complexity of scope.
Staffing Level Estimate:
Staffing level estimates are undetermined at this time. Time impacts associated with this request may include staff time from PWFP, specifically Traffic Engineering; Housing and Community Development (HCD), Office of the County Counsel (OCC), and the County Administrative Office (CAO).
Departmental Challenges:
Acquiring funding.
Proposed Response Date:
Staff proposes to return to the Board prior to January 1, 2025.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The recommended action supports the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Initiatives for Infrastructure and Public Safety. These services may potentially reduce speeding on local roads in neighborhoods and may improve public safety.
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
__ Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Attachment: Attachment A - Board Referral No.: 2024.05