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16. Item No. 5 Consent Calendar - Pulled for Regular Meeting Agenda Item 16: Waived first reading and introduced Ordinance No. 2087 amending Title 11, Chapter 11.20, Section 11.20.010 of the Pleasanton Municipal Code, changing various speed limits on City of Pleasanton streets as part of the speed limit review and update of engineering and traffic surveys Mr. Tassano provided a brief staff report. For background, he explained that the California Vehicle Code requires that any posted speed limit (other than 25 or 55 mph) which a jurisdiction wishes to enforce wth radar be supported by a valid engineering and traffic survey which identifies the prevailing speed and any unusual conditions. The Stoneridge Drive extension, when extended from its previous terminus at Trevor Parkway, was assigned an interim speed limit of 35 mph. Once the roadway opened and vehicles had time to acclimate to the new route, staff conducted a speed survey which identified a critical speed of 43 mph. State law directs that this stretch of road should then be posted at 45 mph, however certain provisions allow the survey to recommend up to a 5 mph reduction based on unusual conditions. Staff cited both the neighborhood park and senior center as conditions that are not readily apparent to drivers in order to facilitate a reduction to 40 mph. The requested action relates to the aforementioned section of Stoneridge Drive as well as a minor adjustment on Vineyard Avenue. Councilmember Brown noted that the extension has only been open approximately 6 weeks and questioned whether this could really provide valid data. Mr. Tassano explained that a traffic survey is customarily the first action taken any time a roadway changes. While there is no predetermined waiting period, staff did make a point to hold off on this location for several weeks after its opening. This was primarily due to increased police enforcement, which can create artificially low speeds. He also explained that people tend to drive the speed at which they feel comfortable, regardless of the posted speed or familiarity with the road. Councilmember Brown referred to Public Hearing Item 12 and said that what people feel is right or comfortable is not necessarily safe. She reiterated that the extension has been open only a short time, noted there is an elementary school in the area, and stressed what a concern speed and cut through traffic was to the immediate neighborhood. She said the request makes this feel very much like what neighbors were afraid of, which was essentially an expressway in front of Moore Elementary leading to El Charro Road and 1-580, and justifies their original concerns. Mr. Fialho said there has been a lot of internal discussion since surveying the entire roadway. Staff believes it is important to keep the current environment in place for residents accustomed to living that area and acknowledges that there should be no speed adjustment to the portion between Santa Rita Road and Trevo Parkway. What they are trying to accomplish here is the ability to slow traffic, through radar enforcement and ticketing if necessary, as vehicles approach this older portion of Stoneridge so that they operate more in the customary 30 to 35 mph range. Vice-Mayor Cook-Kallio acknowledged Councilmember Brown's frustration and agreed that the concept seems counterintuitive. She explained however, that it is really a choice between leaving the speed limit at 35 mph and hindering the ability to enforce that limit or setting it at 45 mph and enabling enforcement. Mayor Thorne asked if a vehicle travelling 60 mph could be cited if the roadway were posted at 35 mph. Chief of Police Spiller explained that it would be exceptionally difficult without the ability to rely on radar, but that they could attempt to bumper pace. Councilmember Brown suggested that 60 mph would constitute reckless driving. Chief Spiller agreed that anything reaching the point of recklessness or unsafe operation could be enforced under other sections of the vehicle code. City Council Minutes Page 18 of 20 December 17, 2013