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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 86-2012 RESOLUTION NO. 86-2012 CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO ADOPTING A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY WHEREAS, the term "Complete Streets" describes a comprehensive, integrated transportation network with infrastructure and design that allows safe and convenient travel along and across streets for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, users and operators of public transportation, seniors, children, youth, and families; WHEREAS,the City of South San Francisco acknowledges the benefits and value for the public health and welfare of reducing vehicle miles traveled and increasing reliance on alternative modes of transportation such as walking,bicycling, and public transportation; WHEREAS, the City of South San Francisco recognizes that the planning and coordinated development of Complete Streets infrastructure provides benefits for local governments in the areas of infrastructure cost savings; public health; and environmental sustainability; WHEREAS, the State of California has emphasized the importance of Complete Streets by enacting the California Complete Streets Act of 2008 (also known as AB 1358), which requires that when cities or counties revise general plans, they identify how they will provide for the mobility needs of all users of the roadways, as well as through Deputy Directive 64, in which the California Department of Transportation explained that it "views all transportation improvements as opportunities to improve safety, access, and mobility for all travelers in California and recognizes bicycle, pedestrian, and transit modes as integral elements of the transportation system"; WHEREAS, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (known as AB 32) sets a mandate for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in California, and the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (known as SB 375) requires emissions reductions through coordinated regional planning that integrates transportation, housing, and land-use policy, and achieving the goals of these laws will require significant increases in travel by public transit,bicycling, and walking; WHEREAS, the City of South San Francisco adopted a Healthy Eating Active Living Policy, which promotes a healthy environment for residents and employees by: Planning and constructing a built environment that encourages walking, biking and other forms of physical activity; Continuing to expand pedestrian, bicycle and transit access throughout the City through the use of new public projects and improvements and public-private partnerships for joint use access agreements when possible; and, Revising comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances to increase opportunities for physical activity including compact, mixed-use and transit-oriented development; WHEREAS, the City of South San Francisco adopted the Grand Boulevard Initiative Principles (Resolution No. 09-2008), which envisions that El Camino Real will become a corridor for residents to work, live, shop and play by creating links between communities that promote walking and transit by: Creating a pedestrian-oriented environment and improving streetscapes, ensuring full access to and between public areas and private developments; Developing a balanced multimodal corridor to maintain and improve the mobility of people and vehicles along the corridor; Improving safety and public health; and Strengthening pedestrian and bicycle connections with the corridor; WHEREAS, numerous California counties, cities, and agencies have adopted Complete Streets policies and legislation in order to further the health, safety, welfare, economic vitality, and environmental well-being of their communities; WHEREAS, the City of South San Francisco therefore, in light of the foregoing benefits and considerations, wishes to improve its commitment to Complete Streets and desires that its streets form a comprehensive and integrated transportation network promoting safe, equitable, and convenient travel for all users while preserving flexibility, recognizing community context, and using the latest and best design guidelines and standards; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council adopts the Complete Streets Policy attached hereto as Exhibit A, and made part of this Resolution, and that said exhibit is hereby approved and adopted. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the next substantial revision of the South San Francisco General Plan circulation element shall incorporate Complete Streets policies and principles consistent with the California Complete Streets Act of 2008 (AB 1358) and with the Complete Streets Policy adopted by this Resolution. I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced and adopted by the City Council of the City of South San Francisco at a regular meeting held on the 24'' day of October, 2012 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Mark Addiego, Karyl Matsumoto, and Kevin Mullin, Vice Mayor Pedro Gonzalez and Mayor Richard A. Garbarino NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None A TEST:-Ir. 4 City r erk Exhibit A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO A. PRINCIPLES 1. Complete Streets Serving All Users The City of South San Francisco expresses its commitment to creating and maintaining Complete Streets that provide safe,comfortable, and convenient travel along and across streets (including streets, roads,highways,bridges, and other portions of the transportation system) through a comprehensive,integrated transportation network that serves all categories of users, including pedestrians, bicyclists,persons with disabilities,motorists, movers of commercial goods,users and operators of public transportation, seniors,children, youth, and families. 2. Context Sensitivity In planning and implementing street projects, the City shall maintain sensitivity to local conditions in both residential and business districts as well as urban and suburban areas, and shall work with residents,merchants, and other stakeholders to ensure that a strong sense of place ensues. Improvements that will be considered include: sidewalks, shared use paths,bicycle lanes,bicycle routes,paved shoulders,street trees and landscaping,planting strips, accessible curb ramps, crosswalks, refuge islands,pedestrian signals,signs, street furniture,bicycle parking facilities,public transportation stops and facilities,transit priority signalization, traffic calming circles,transit bulb outs,road diets,and those features identified in local bicycle,pedestrian, transit,automobile, multimodal, and other relevant plans. 3. Street Network/Connectivity As feasible,the City shall incorporate Complete Streets infrastructure into existing streets to improve the safety and convenience of users and to create employment, with the particular goal of creating a connected network of facilities accommodating each category of users, and increasing connectivity across jurisdictional boundaries and for existing and anticipated future areas of travel origination or destination. B. APPLICABILITY 1. All Projects and Phases Complete Streets infrastructure sufficient to enable reasonably safe travel along and across the right-of-way for each category of users shall be incorporated into all planning, funding, design, approval,and implementation processes for any construction,reconstruction, retrofit, operational changes,alteration, or repair of streets(including streets,roads,highways,bridges, and other portions of the transportation system),except that specific infrastructure for a given category of users may be excluded if an exemption is approved via the process set forth in section D.1. -3- Exhibit A 2. Revisions to Existing Plans and Policies Complete Streets principles shall be incorporated into any revisions to: the General Plan Circulation Element,General Plan Transportation Element, Specific and Area Plans, and any other applicable plan,manuals,rules,regulations and programs. 3. Non City Agencies Agencies not under the City of South San Francisco's permitting authority, including, but not limited to the South San Francisco Unified School District,water agencies, electrical utilities, gas and petroleum utilities, communications utilities,and service contractors are encouraged to satisfy this policy. • C. IMPLEMENTATION 1. Complete Streets Routinely Addressed by All Departments All relevant City departments shall work towards making Complete Streets practices a routine part of everyday operations, approach every relevant project,program, and practice as an opportunity to improve streets and the transportation network for all categories of users, and work in coordination with other departments, agencies,and jurisdictions to maximize opportunities for Complete Streets, connectivity, and cooperation. The following projects provide opportunities:pavement resurfacing,restriping,modifications to signalized operations, and alteration of landscaping/related features. 2. Plan Consultation and Consistency Maintenance,planning, and design of projects affecting the transportation system shall be consistent with local bicycle,pedestrian, transit,multimodal, and other relevant plans. Any deviations shall be presented to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for review and comment. 3. Technical Advisory Group/Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Consultation All transportation projects shall be reviewed by the Technical Advisory Group and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee early in the planning and design stage, to provide both committees an opportunity to provide comments and recommendations regarding Complete Streets features to be incorporated into the project. 4. Evaluation All relevant Departments shall perform evaluations of how well the streets and transportation network of the City are serving each category of users. D. EXEMPTIONS 1. Allowable Exemptions -4- Exhibit A Complete Streets principles and practices will be included in street construction,reconstruction, repaving,and rehabilitation projects, as well as the development or updating of other plans and manuals, except under one or more of the following conditions: a. Project involving only ordinary maintenance activities designed to keep assets in serviceable condition, such as emergency road repair,cleaning, spot repair,concrete joint repair,pothole filling,or when interim measures are implemented on temporary detour or haul routes. b. The Public Works Director,in consultation with related City Department Directors, exempts a project due to excessive and disproportionate cost of establishing a Complete Streets enhancement as part of a project. 2. Documentation for Exemptions Projects that seek Complete Streets exemptions must provide written documentation of why accommodations for all modes were not included in the project. The documentation shall be submitted to the Public Works Director for consideration prior to approval of project design. Projects that are granted exceptions must be made publically available for review. -5-