Title
a. Consider Board Referral 2019.15 requesting to install watershed signage on State Highway 101 for the Elkhorn Slough, Gabilan Mountain, and Salinas River watersheds requested by the Communities for a Sustainable Monterey County (CSMC); and
b. Provide direction to staff.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors provide direction to staff regarding the desire and priority for installing watershed signage on State Highway 101 for the Elkhorn Slough, Gabilan Mountain, and Salinas River watersheds as requested by the Communities for a Sustainable Monterey County (CSMC).
As a referral, staff is providing information regarding resources required for this to be added as a project. With limited staff resources, staff also seeks Board direction if this is a project to pursue, and if so the priority for applying staff resources over other active projects. CSMC has raised funding for permits, materials and installation, but locating signs along a state highway (US 101) requires an encroachment permit from Caltrans. If the Board directs staff to pursue this project, the County would be required to file a Board Resolution with Caltrans that commits the County to maintain the signage indefinitely. Maintenance would be a county cost. Processing the resolution and encroachment permit, as well as performing inspections is estimated to take about 16 hours of staff time.
SUMMARY:
Board Referral 2019.15 is a request to install six (6) watershed signs along northbound and southbound US 101. These 6 signs in Monterey County would identify the Elkhorn Slough Watershed, Gabilan Mountain Watershed and Salinas River Watershed. This is a project by Communities for a Sustainable Monterey County (CSMC) intended to educate the public about watersheds in our county.
DISCUSSION:
According to the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD) 2014, watershed boundary signs provide information to road users to be aware of geographic boundaries of the geo-graphically named watersheds as recognized by the United States Geological Survey and promotes environmental stewardship of watersheds by the communities. The purpose of the signs is to serve as a reminder to road users that they are traveling through a watershed area and to promote awareness that the responsibility of preserving the cleanliness of the watersheds is shared by all.
Monterey County Resource Management Agency - Public Works (RMA-PW) reached out to CSMC and Caltrans. CSMC provided a cost estimate of approximately $5,000 for materials and installation. Furthermore, CSMC indicated that they have raised funds for this installation through private donations. Staff worked with the CSMC to determine the exact location of the proposed signage, shown on the map (Attachment A). Sign types are S36 (CA) (size 58” x 48”) with supplemental placards of “entering” or “leaving” the watershed areas and would be mounted on 6” x 6” wooden posts.
In conferring with Caltrans, an Encroachment Permit is required from Caltrans District 5 for installation on US 101. If the Board directs staff to pursue this project, the County would be required to file a Board Resolution that commits the County to maintain the signage indefinitely.
Adding signs contributes to the assets needing refreshing/replacement in the asset management program. While there are records that contain a large portion of the sign inventory and are GIS-based, a more complete GPS-based system with sign characteristics is needed. There is further needed to develop an asset management plan and a computer system to assist with effective management of programs such as signage.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
CSMC and Caltrans have been contacted about this request.
FINANCING:
CSMC has raised funds for the installation of the signage. Staff time involved for acquiring the Encroachment Permit is approximately 4 hours for processing the application and an additional 12 hours for the oversight of a contractor during sign installation. This equates to approximately $2400 and could be covered by the funds raised by the private donations. Beyond the initial private donation, signs need to be maintained or replaced due to knock-down damage, which would be a County cost (Road Fund).
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Staff is working to develop a more sustainable, physical infrastructure that improves the quality of life for County residents and supports economic development results.
X Economic Development
X Administration
__ Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by Randell Y. Ishii, M.S., P.E., RMA Chief of Public Works
Approved by: Leigh Ann Sutton, P.E., Deputy Director of Public Works, Parks, and Facilities
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, RMA Director
Attachments:
Attachment A: Location Map
Attachment B: Sign Types
(Attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board)