TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Stephanie Katsouleas, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:Title
Request by Councilmember Montgomery to Discuss Potentially Changing the Name of Sepulveda Blvd. to Pacific Coast Highway.
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss and provide direction on whether to explore changing the name of Sepulveda Blvd. to Pacific Coast Highway.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The fiscal implications associated with changing the name of Sepulveda Blvd. have not been evaluated, but costs would likely include undertaking a survey process, producing new street signage and installation.
BACKGROUND:
Sepulveda Blvd. is officially designed as Highway 1 (i.e., Pacific Coast Highway) by the California State Legislature, the governing body that oversees naming of the state’s highway systems. In the South Bay, both Pacific Coast Highway and Sepulveda Blvd. are used between LAX and the City of Torrance.
In June, 2018, The City of El Segundo, our neighbor to the north, formally changed the name of Sepulveda Blvd. to Pacific Coast Highway within its jurisdiction. This is also the name formally used by Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance, our neighbors to the south. Along the roadway segment where Sepulveda Blvd. and Pacific Coast Highway are synonymous, only Manhattan Beach and a small segment within the City of Los Angeles refer to the roadway as Sepulveda Blvd. rather than Pacific Coast Highway.
DISCUSSION:
In consideration of changing the name of Sepulveda Blvd., Caltrans has confirmed that the name change is feasible because Sepulveda Blvd. is officially designed as Highway 1 (i.e., Pacific Coast Highway). Caltrans indicated that Manhattan Beach would need to take several preliminary steps, including conducting outreach to, and receiving support from, a majority of affected property/business owners; approving the request for a name change through a City Council formal action (e.g., resolution of support); and submitting a formal request to Caltrans. Should Council decide to undertake these actions, additional considerations include:
• The cost to businesses to change their addresses on printed materials and legal documents;
• The cost and staff effort to conduct a survey and notification process to affected business owners; and staff time to prepare documents for City Council approval;
• The cost of the signs and installation for approximately 30 intersections; and
• Staff efforts to notify the post office, the county, map apps, utility companies, etc. of the new street name. Please note that the Post Office allows both streets to be referenced for approximately 18 months during the transition phase.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
No public outreach has yet commenced regarding this topic.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.