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RESOLUTION NO. 2015-198 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ADOPTING THE COMPLETE STREETS POLICY
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
On March 5, 2015 City Council held a workshop on the Healthy Chula Vista Initiative, including a presentation on Complete Streets concepts. At this time, staff is bringing forward a policy that will assist in the design of right-of-ways to ensure safe, comfortable, and convenient access to all transportation users of all ages and abilities. The City’s Complete Streets Policy will help institutionalize many of the multi-modal design features incorporated into recent capital improvement projects and will help align the City with new state and regional transportation agency guidance.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined the adoption of the Complete Streets Policy will not result in any physical development in and of itself, and thus will not have an impact on the environment. Further, any future development which utilizes the policy will require environmental review specific to the proposed project.
Therefore, the Complete Streets Policy is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) based on CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3), which states that where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that an activity has the potential to have a significant effect on the environment that it is not subject to CEQA.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
On May 6, 2015 the Safety Commission approved (4-0) recommendation of the Complete Streets Policy. At that time, a letter was submitted by Circulate San Diego with additional recommendations for consideration. A subsequent meeting on July 15, 2015 was held with BikeWalkChulaVista and subsequently, staff incorporated minor changes to the Policy.
DISCUSSION
Jurisdictions are becoming increasingly aware that cities play a critical role in supporting the health and well-being of their communities. Factors contributing to a community’s health can include walkable neighborhoods, quality parks and open space areas, efficient transportation, and safe, clean environments. As such, the Chula Vista City Council reiterated the importance of creating a healthy community in adopting the Chula Vista Strategic Plan in 2013. Over the last year, the City has also been implementing its multi-department Healthy Chula Vista initiative, which focuses on integrating public health considerations across municipal capital projects, plans, and services.
In recognition that roadways play an especially important factor in determining a community’s health, jurisdictions are working to transition to more “complete streets,” which are designed to ensure safe, comfortable, and convenient access to all users (pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders) of all ages and abilities. A complete street may include sidewalks, bike lanes (or wide paved shoulders), special bus lanes, comfortable and accessible public transportation stops, frequent and safe crossing opportunities, median islands, accessible pedestrian signals, curb extensions, narrower travel lanes, and roundabouts. Many jurisdictions have developed and adopted formal Complete Streets policies to direct their transportation planners and engineers to routinely design and operate the entire right of way to enable safe access for all users.
As part of the Healthy Chula Vista initiative, a multi-departmental team has developed a Complete Streets Policy for the City of Chula Vista. The Policy follows the suggested framework of the National Complete Streets Coalition and includes sections on design criteria, context sensitivity, performance metrics, and initial implementation actions. The Policy builds off of multi-modal design features incorporated into recent capital improvement projects in the City and was greatly informed by community stakeholder input through two workshops and a bicycle tour. The Policy will also help align Chula Vista with new state and regional transportation agency guidance. The Complete Streets Policy’s future implementation will be guided by ongoing consultations with the Safety Commission and through ongoing updates to the Bikeway & Pedestrian Master Plans.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section 18704.2(a)(1), is not applicable to this decision. Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City’s Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. This item supports Section 3.1.1 - Implement policies and programs that support a healthy community, by providing for more complete planning and design of streets that address all users.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact for adopting the Complete Streets Policy. However adoption of the policy may result in fiscal impacts as the design aspects and amenities contained in the Complete Streets Policy are incorporated in future street projects. These fiscal impacts will be disclosed at the time when such projects are brought forward for approval.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
The ongoing fiscal impacts will be disclosed at the time when street projects implementing the design and amenities aspects contained in the Complete Streets Policy are brought forward for approval.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Complete Street Policy
Staff Contact: Stacey Kurz, Senior Project Coordinator, Development Services Dept.
Frank Rivera, Principal Civil Engineer, Public Works