Title
a. Introduce, waive first reading, and set November 22, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. as the date and time to consider adoption of an ordinance amending Title 12 of the Monterey County Code to:
i. Amend Section 12.12.010 to establish a 45-mph speed limit on San Miguel Canyon Road from a point 250 feet south of Wilson Way to its intersection with Hall Road; and
ii. Amend Section 12.28.010 to prohibit parking on both sides of San Juan Grade Road from Crazy Horse Canyon Road and continuing north along San Juan Grade Road to the County limit boundary.
b. Find that adoption of the ordinance is categorically exempt per California Code of Regulations (CCR) Section 15301(c) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
CEQA Action: Categorically Exempt per CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Introduce, waive first reading, and set November 22, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. as the date and time to consider adoption of an ordinance amending Title 12 of the Monterey County Code to:
i. Amend Section 12.12.010 to establish a 45-mph speed limit on San Miguel Canyon Road from a point 250 feet south of Wilson Way to its intersection with Hall Road; and
ii. Amend Section 12.28.010 to prohibit parking on both sides of San Juan Grade Road from Crazy Horse Canyon Road and continuing north along San Juan Grade Road to the County limit boundary.
b. Find that adoption of the ordinance is categorically exempt per California Code of Regulations (CCR) Section 15301(c) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Department of Public Works, Facilities and Parks (PWFP) routinely installs roadway improvements to enhance safety and access for the public. In some cases, these improvements require re-evaluating and updating the Monterey County Code (MCC) related to traffic, as codified in Title 12 of the MCC to reflect changes in condition or to implement measures for the benefit of the public. In this case, PWFP recommends amending MCC Title 12 to establish a speed limit along San Miguel Canyon Road, and to prohibit parking on San Juan Grade Road.
Due to safety concerns along San Miguel Canyon Road, generally between Strawberry Road and Hall Road, PWFP, with the support of District 2, installed safety improvements that incorporated traffic calming elements. An Engineering and Traffic Survey (E&TS) was performed along this section of San Miguel Canyon Road to evaluate the effects of these improvements on traffic flow. The E&TS demonstrates that a reduced speed of 45 mph can be supported along San Miguel Canyon Road from a point 250 feet south of Wilson Way to its intersection with Hall Road. Currently, the existing speed limits on San Miguel Canyon Road are 50 mph from a point 250 feet south of Wilson Way to a point 350 feet south of the centerline of Hamby Lane, and 55 mph from a point 350 feet south of Hamby Lane to its intersection with Hall Road.
The California Vehicle Code establishes the methodology for increasing and decreasing speed limits. For a speed limit to be enforceable by radar, it must have a current E&TS that supports the posted speed limit. The E&TS looks at the prevailing speed of traffic and conditions not readily apparent to the driver to establish the recommended speed limit. In addition, the E&TS must be updated every five years, or if conditions change.
Also, County staff received a request to designating the segment of San Juan Grade Road beginning at the intersection with Crazy Horse Canyon Road and continuing north to the County limit line as a “No Parking Any Time” zone, for both sides of the road. It is PWFP staff’s understanding from the requests that roadside parking on this segment of San Juan Grade Road has created a consistent and increasing public health and safety concern for the road users, particularly regarding traffic hazards caused by parked vehicles, the limited road pavement width, the narrow road shoulders, the limited availability of areas where vehicles can turnout during an emergency, and the dumping of waste in the area. In this segment of San Juan Grade Road, pavement width is approximately 20 to 22 feet wide with narrow road shoulders. During staff’s field review, turnout areas almost always contained garbage and waste debris. Staff identified approximately twenty-eight locations along this segment of San Juan Grade Road where garbage and debris was dumped. The majority of these locations were located in turnout areas. Applying a consistent, continuous prohibition of parking along this segment of San Juan Grade Road would provide use of the entire pavement width and the travel lanes free of obstructions caused by vehicles parked along the narrow road, would discourage the use of the available shoulder/turnout areas as parking areas except for emergencies, and have the turnouts and shoulders available to road users to pull over and allow for safe two-way travel. Moreover, the proposed parking prohibition in this area would promote public safety and a healthier environment.
MCC Section 12.28.010 identifies roadways where the County has prohibited parking at all times. This ordinance would prohibit parking on both sides of San Juan Grade Road from Crazy Horse Canyon Road north to the Monterey/San Benito County line as shown on Attachment A, authorize the installation of the requisite signage to alert motorists of the prohibition, and clarify and strengthen the ability to enforce and cite violators.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The adoption of this ordinance is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 15301(c) of the CEQA Guidelines because the action involves negligible changes to the regulations that govern existing highways and streets.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of County Counsel has approved the ordinance as to form.
FINANCING:
Adoption of this ordinance requires the posting of appropriate signage. These traffic control devices will be funded by the Road Fund. The estimated cost for the installation of new speed limit signs and ‘No Parking’ signs is $35,000. Funds are available in the FY 2022-23 Adopted Budget for the Road Fund 002, Unit 8559, Appropriation Unit PFP004 to finance this work.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The recommended action supports the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Initiative for Infrastructure, and Health and Human services. The recommended actions will
Improve health and quality of life by promoting healthy environments, protecting water quality, and by developing a sustainable infrastructure that improves the quality of life for County residents.
__Economic Development
__Administration
X Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Chad Alinio, PE, Senior Civil Engineer 831-755-4937
Reviewed by: Enrique Saavedra, PE, Chief of Public Works
Reviewed by: Tom Bonigut, PE, Assistant Director of Public Works, Facilities & Parks
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
The following attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board:
Attachment A - Map of Proposed Speed Limit on San Miguel Canyon Road
Attachment B - Map of Proposed “No Parking Any Time” on San Juan Grade Road
Attachment C - Proposed Ordinance for Title 12