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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 10-21RESOLUTION NO. 10-21 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA,AMENDING THE CITY'S POLICY ON NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING FOR •PUBLIC STREETS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS BY REPEALING THE EXISTING POLICY IN ITS ENTIRETY,ORIGINALLY ADOPTED UNDER RESOLUTION NO. 99-08; AND ADOPTING A REVISED POLICY. WHEREAS,on May 18,1999,the Mayor and City Council approved Resolution NO.99-08,establishing a neighborhood traffic calming policy; and WHEREAS,concerns about excessive traffic volumes and/or excessive traffic speeds along public streets in residential areas have become more frequent and widespread with continued development of the City and surrounding areas; and WHEREAS,since 1999,there have been substantial technological advancements in traffic calming devices,such as the new speed cushion alternative; and WHEREAS,it is beneficial to property owners within the City to make available such state-of-the-art devices,and to include changes in the policy pertaining to the approval process, a removal policy and appellate remedies; and WHEREAS,the City desires continued participation with neighborhoods and citizens in traffic calming requests; and WHEREAS,on May 17,2010,the Mayor and City Council directed staff to prepare appropriate changes to the existing traffic calming policy. NOW,THEREFORE,B E IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION ARIZONA, AS FOLLOWS: 1. The existing City of Apache Junction "Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy for Public Streets in Residential Areas" as adopted and approved in Resolution No. 99-08 is hereby repealed. 2. An amended "Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy for Public Streets in Residential Areas," as more fully set RESOLUTION NO. 10-21 PAGE 1 OF 2 forth in Attachment A,is hereby adopted and made a part hereof. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA,THIS 151M DAY OF JUNE 2010. SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 15TH DAY OF JUNE , 2010. Mayor ATTEST: 2 4 ;°A%Pt. KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: VZ. 20 o RICHARD J.STERN City Attorney RESOLUTION NO. 10-21 PAGE 2 OF 2 ATTACHMENT A NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY FOR PUBLIC STREETS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS Policy The City of Apache Junction ("City") is interested in preserving the quality of life within its neighborhoods.Many residents believe that control of traffic volumes and traffic speeds along local streets are critical to maintaining an acceptable quality of life.The purpose of this policy is as follows: 1.Acknowledge the necessity for sound traffic calming design in the planning and development of new residential subdivisions. 2.Set forth the process and criteria by which citizen requests for traffic volume and speed controls will be evaluated and potentially implemented. This policy only applies to roadways functionally classified, in the Apache Junction City Code Volume II, Land Development Code, Chapter 2, as local streets.This policy is applicable only to requests for traffic control measures initiated by residents in affected neighborhoods.This policy is not applicable to design and evaluation of traffic signals, signs and markings based on City, State or Federal policies and guidelines, including the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Neighborhood Traffic Management Design City staff and residential subdivision developers must be sensitive to quality of life, safety, comfort and convenience issues when designing new residential subdivisions.Planning for residential or local streets is a critical government responsibility.Residential street design and traffic control should provide neighborhoods quality of life protection. Neighborhood Traffic Calming Measures There are varying degrees of traffic calming measures.Low impact measures may be implemented by a single citizen request, and can include: 1.Temporary placement of mobile radar speed display trailers. 2.Increased traffic enforcement presence. 3.Installation of speed limit signs at all entries to a neighborhood from arterial or collector streets. 4. • Stop sign reversal or installation of all -way stop control at residential street intersections. 5.Installation of "Residential Area" warning signs and/or placards (on existing speed limit signs). Moderate and major impact traffic calming measures require full neighborhood participation. This participation is demonstrated through a neighborhood petition process.Petitions must be 1 circulated to all impacted property owners who own property in the neighborhood.Seventy percent (70%) or more of the property owners in the neighborhood must be in favor of the proposed traffic calming measure.Property owners who do not sign the petition are considered opposed to the installation.Additionally, 100% of the property owners owning property situated within 50 feet of the proposed location of the traffic calming device,as measured in all directions, must be in favor of the device and shall indicate such preference by signing the petition. Moderate impact measures are: 1.Turn prohibition signs (may be for selected times of day). 2.One-way traffic signs. 3.Speed humps. 4.Speed Cushions. 5.Marking bike lanes to reduce vehicular lane widths, where feasible with existing street width and on -street parking patterns. 6.Fixed mounted Radar Speed Display Signs. Major impact measures are: 1.Diverters (barriers)constructed to restrict selected turn movements or through movements at intersections. 2.Roundabouts. 3.Street Closures/ Cul-de-sac. 4.Chokers/Chicanes (narrowed street sections)to reduce vehicular lane widths and curvilinear movement along an existing straight street. 5.Others options suggested by residents. The Public Works Department has the option to utilize new technologies and concepts while conferring with the Police Department and Fire District before new traffic calming measures are deployed within the right-of-way. Traffic Calming Process The process for initiating a traffic calming request is as follows: 1.A resident shall contact the Police Department or the Public Works Department to report a neighborhood traffic problem. 2.If the traffic problem requires intervention by the Public Works Department, Public Works shall schedule a survey of the conditions, including a review of street type, street design, land uses, traffic volume and/or speeds. 3.Based on the survey of conditions, low impact traffic calming measures are suggested to the resident. 4.If the low impact measures have been implemented in the neighborhood,but are ineffective based upon follow-up surveys by the Public Works Department,more significant traffic calming measures shall be pursued upon request of the resident. 2 5.The resident shall complete a Traffic Calming Request form provided by the Public Works Department.The form must include the names of at least five residents, from separate households in the neighborhood,who will assist City staff with the neighborhood participation process. 6.Public Works Department staff shall help the five member resident's group organize and distribute notification about a neighborhood meeting on traffic calming. 7.A neighborhood meeting shall be held to identify traffic -related concerns, to focus on the area of greatest concern,and to form a committee of residents willing to work on identification and evaluation of traffic calming measures. 8.Through a series of meetings, Public Works and Public Safety staff shall assist the citizen committee in evaluating the positive and negative aspects of proposed traffic calming measures. 9.A follow-up neighborhood meeting shall be held by the committee to obtain comments on their proposed traffic calming solution.If the proposed measures are not favored by a majority of residents,the committee may choose to work on alternative measures, circulate petition forms, or discontinue the project.Public Works staff will assist with the development of petition boundaries defining the impacted area(s) which would be subject to final approval by the City Engineer. 10. When the committee's proposed traffic calming solution is acceptable to the residents, petition forms provided by the City shall be circulated among the impacted neighborhood residents. 11. The Public Works Department will provide traffic calming implementation cost estimates for measures found to be warranted and provide this information to the neighborhood committee. 12. A location may not be studied by the Public Works Department more than once in a twelve month period, unless significant changes in traffic conditions occur. Petition Requirements 1.The committee circulating petitions must contact 100% of the impacted neighborhood residents including, property and business owners. 2.Completed petitions must contain signatures from not less than 90% of the property owners or businesses,including persons in favor of or in opposition to the proposed traffic calming measure(s). 3.The Public Works Department shall provide the petition forms and other documents, which shall include an exhibit showing the placement of the traffic calming device(s). 4.The petition form shall discuss the implementation cost and how the device shall be funded. 5.The Public Works Department shall provide the boundary of the neighborhood area for which the petition is to be circulated by the committee.The petition area boundary must include streets to which traffic may be diverted due to implementation of the measure. 6.Any moderate or major impact traffic calming measure must receive support by not less than 70% of the property owners signing the petition.Only one signature per household or business shall be counted to determine 70% approval. 3 7.One hundred percent (100%)of the property owners located within 50 feet,in any direction, of the moderate or major impact traffic calming measure, to be constructed in a public street, must be in favor of the traffic calming measure. 8.Completed petitions must be returned to the City no later than 90 calendar days from the date they were obtained from the Public Works Department by the petitioners. 9.The Public Works Department shall review the completed petition forms to verify Property ownership.The Public Works Director shall not accept petitions that exceed 90 calendar days. Evaluation Proposed traffic calming methods shall be evaluated as follows: 1.The Public Works Department shall maintain a list of criteria justifying the implementation of each type of traffic calming device. 2.Traffic calming measures shall not be implemented unless traffic count standards are met. 3.Petition requirements shall be met as outlined above. 4.The proposed traffic calming measures shall not be implemented if a majority of the emergency service providers,identified as police,fire and ambulance service,cite adverse impacts and do not approve the measure. 5.All traffic calming measures involving reconstruction in the roadway such as barriers, speed humps, traffic circles and street closures, may affect storm water runoff.The City Engineer shall evaluate the drainage impact of the proposed measure. Financing 1.The residents shall contract with a registered professional civil engineer to design a major traffic calming measure and revise the subdivision drainage report.These documents shall be stamped by the civil engineer and submitted to the Public Works Department for review and approval. 2.The residents shall be responsible for contracting and funding the installation work when the vehicle traffic count is recorded at less than 500 trips per day.When a vehicle traffic count of between 500 and 999 trips per day is recorded, the installation cost of the traffic calming measure will be equally split between the neighborhood and the City.The work shall not be performed until the neighborhood share of the installation cost is provided to the Public Works Department.When vehicle traffic counts exceed 1,000 trips per day, the Public Works Department will contract for and fund the installation of the traffic calming measure. 3.The work shall be subject to all applicable plan review,permitting and inspection requirements of the City. 4.The Public Works Department shall provide and install the necessary advance warning signs and pavement markings. 5.The City shall be responsible for the perpetual maintenance of the traffic calming measure, once accepted by the Public Works Department. 4 Traffic Calming Measure Design The City Engineer shall be responsible for approving the design of all traffic calming measures and such design shall serve as the approved plan for construction by the installation contractor. Traffic Calming Device Removal Requests for removal can be made no earlier than 12 months after the project has been completed unless for health and safety reasons.The process to remove traffic calming devices shall be the same process used to install such devices.If approved, the neighborhood shall pay for any associated street repairs.Once traffic calming devices are removed from a location under this process, that location cannot be reconsidered for a traffic calming device installation for three years after such devices are removed unless significant changes in traffic conditions occur. PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTING SPEED HUMPS OR SPEED CUSHIONS Purpose Due to the increasing demand for speed control devices on residential and collector streets, the Public Works Department has established a mechanism by which speed humps or speed cushions can be installed to address speeding and cut -through traffic concerns on residential and collector streets.Speed humps are raised devices placed perpendicular across the street to slow traffic. They are 3 inches in height and 6 feet in width.Speed cushions are three small speed humps placed equal distance apart and placed perpendicular across the street to slow traffic.Speed cushions will allow wider axle emergency vehicles to pass through without slowing them down. They are typically 3 inches in height and 36 inches and up in width. Process The City of Apache Junction needs to be assured that strong neighborhood support exists, particularly by residents living nearest the speed humps or speed cushions.The neighborhood residents need to be aware that they are financially responsible for the speed hump or speed cushions installation costs depending on the vehicle traffic counts.The Traffic Calming Process section of the Policy on Neighborhood Traffic Calming for Public Streets in Residential Areas shall guide residents through the process to request speed humps or speed cushions. Questions about this process should be directed to the City Engineer at (480) 982-1055. Criteria for Speed Hump/Speed Cushions Qualification Speed humps or speed cushions shall be considered for installation only when a location meets all of the qualification criteria listed below: 1.Must be a paved, residential or collector street with a speed limit of 30 miles per hour or less. There are no fewer than six houses per one -eighth mile with driveways onto the street. The street must be a minimum of 600 feet in length with a maximum length of one mile. 5 2.Streets must have a crown or high point in the center of the street that enables water to flow toward and to drain along the sides of the street. 3.Street drainage must not be significantly compromised, as determined by the City Engineer. 4.Vehicle traffic counts must be met as described below. 5.Surveyed speeds must show at least 15% of the motorists exceeding the speed limit by at least eight miles per hour. 6.Speed humps or speed cushions shall not be implemented if a majority of the emergency service providers identified as police, fire and ambulance service cite adverse impacts. 7.Speed humps or speed cushions will not be installed on unpaved streets; on grades of more than 3%; within 200 feet of a stop sign; within 200 feet of a curve; on a curve; over manholes, water valves, junction boxes or other appurtenances; or where the logical result would be to divert traffic to a parallel residential street. 8.All of the petition requirements that are used for other traffic calming devices shall be met. Appeals Any aggrieved property owner may appeal any decision of the Public Works Director or his or her staff by filing a Notice of Appeal with the City Clerk within 10 calendar days after such decision has been rendered.The City Clerk shall forward such notice to the City Manager within 3 business days after receipt thereof The City Manager or his designee shall hear such appeal within 60 calendar days after receiving the Notice of Appeal, and shall render a written decision on the matter and forward such decision to the aggrieved party within the same 60 calendar day period.Such decision shall be binding and final, subject only to a judicial appeal at the Pinal County Superior Court pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-901,et seq. 6 RESOLUTION NO. 10-22 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA, APPROVING THE SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY FOR PROPOSITION 202 FUNDS. WHEREAS,in 2002,Proposition 202 authorized new gaming compacts between the State of Arizona and Arizona Indian Tribes which included sharing of gaming revenues; and WHEREAS,a portion of this state -shared revenue in an amount of 12% can be retained by an Indian Tribe and distributed to cities,towns or counties for government services that:1) benefit the general public; 2) mitigate the impacts of gaming; and/or 3) promote commerce and economic development; and WHEREAS,the Gila Indian Community (the "Community")has decided to exercise its option to retain and administer the 12% share itself and has adopted guidelines and procedures for this new program; and WHEREAS,the Community developed an expanded list of "priority areas"for which funding will be concentrated, including public safety,transportation,healthcare services, economic development, and education. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: Staff is authorized to submit an application to the Gila River Indian Community for Proposition 202 funds,and the Mayor is authorized to sign the application,contracts and grant documents for receipt and use of Proposition 202 for the purchase of 3 mobile data terminals in an amount not to exceed $18,405. Section 2: The Mayor is authorized to take any and all actions necessary to implement and complete the activities submitted in the application. RESOLUTION NO. 10-22 PAGE 1 OF 2 Section 3: The City Manager or his or her designee is hereby authorized to take whatever steps necessary to administer and procure the funding. Section 4: The City may expend up to $6,300 to match the funds provided by the Community,taken out of the Public Safety Department's City budget for Fiscal Year 2010-2011. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION, ARIZONA, THIS 15TH DAY OF JUNE , 2010. SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 15TH DAY OF JUNE , 2010. ZJp1-1K S. INSALACO M*or ATTEST: KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: 0 RICHARD J. STERN City Attorney RESOLUTION NO. 10-22 PAGE 2 OF 2