TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Carrie Tai, AICP, Community Development Director
Erik Zandvliet, T.E., City Traffic Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Resolution to Install Stop Signs on Pacific Avenue at 18th Street as Recommended by the Parking and Public Improvements Commission (Community Development Director Tai).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 22-0133
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 22-0133 to install Stop Signs on Pacific Avenue at 18th Street.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
In June 2022, Mr. Paul Beswick, at 1729 Pacific Avenue, submitted a neighborhood petition requesting the installation of stop signs in all directions at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and 18th Street. The petition states that the intersection is unsafe for both pedestrians and drivers. The petition is signed by 24 residents representing 24 homes in the area. There are currently stop signs on the 18th Street approaches of this intersection only.
On July 28, 2022, the Parking and Public Improvements Commission (PPIC) reviewed the petition for stop signs and considered the analysis of the Traffic Engineer. After hearing public testimony and discussing the matter, the PPIC voted unanimously to recommend the installation of stop signs in all directions at the intersection.
On November 25, 2007, the PPIC reviewed a similar petition request for stop signs in all directions at this intersection. The PPIC did not recommend additional stop signs on the Pacific Avenue approaches, but did recommend the installation of 25 feet of red curb on the northeast and southwest corners for improved visibility, and the installation of new pedestrian crossing signs.
DISCUSSION:
Pacific Avenue is a 40-foot wide, two-lane major local street that connects with Valley Drive/Ardmore Avenue/Marine Avenue to the north and Manhattan Beach Boulevard to the south. Pacific Avenue provides north-south circulation for several streets in the area and has stop controls at 19th Street approximately 400 feet to the north and 17th Street 400 feet to the south. Pacific Avenue has stop controls at all cross-streets between 14th Street and Marine Avenue except at 18th Street. 18th Street is a 30-foot wide, two-lane local street that connects Ardmore Avenue to the west and Poinsettia Avenue to the east. 18th Street has stop controls at Pacific Avenue. The speed limit on both streets is 25 mph. Both streets have curbs, gutters and sidewalks. (See Attachment 1, Exhibit B)
The intersection of Pacific Avenue and 18th Street is located in a single-family residential area. There is a slight downhill slope on Pacific Avenue in a southerly direction near 18th Street. Parking is allowed on both sides of both streets. Pacific Elementary School is on Pacific Avenue at 17th Street one block south of subject intersection. American Martyrs Catholic Elementary School is located one block west of the intersection at 18th Street and Agnes Road. The intersection is painted with yellow crosswalks on all approaches, and high visibility school crossing signs are posted on Pacific Avenue at 18th Street. The intersection is a key crossing point for students walking to both schools.
The Traffic Engineer conducted an analysis of the existing conditions and evaluated the State warrants for the installation of multi-way stop signs. The full analysis is provided in the PPIC Staff Report (Attachment 2).
The Traffic Engineer determined that multi-way stop signs would not be justified at this intersection based minimum State warrant criteria for volumes, speed or collision history. However, the State warrants also includes criteria for other special circumstances that may also justify the installation of stop signs, namely: the need to control vehicle/pedestrian conflicts near locations that generate high pedestrian volumes. Based on the proximity to two elementary schools that generate high pedestrian volumes, school related traffic conflicts and designation as a crossing location on the Suggested Routes to School map, signs in all directions are warranted at this intersection. (See Attachment 2, Exhibit 3)
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
A courtesy notice was mailed to all property owners and residents within a 300-foot radius of the subject location as well as to the schools’ administrators and stop sign petitioners with instructions on how to comment on this agenda item and/or attend this meeting. Similarly, a courtesy notice was mailed to the same residents and schools for the PPIC meeting held on July 28, 2022.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Class 1(c) categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301 Existing Facilities of the State CEQA Guidelines, since the project involves a change in traffic regulations on an existing street that would not significantly increase or decrease the amount of traffic on either street. Thus, no further environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has approved the Resolution as to form.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 22-0133
2. PPIC Staff Report (July 28, 2022)
3. PPIC Draft Minutes (July 28, 2022)
4. Related Correspondence Received Prior to July 28, 2022