HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2016-004 N.C.S. 01/04/2016Resolution No. 2016-004 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION ADOPTING A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY
WHEREAS, the term "Complete Streets" describes a comprehensive, integrated
transportation network with infrastructure and design that allow safe and convenient travel along
and across streets for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, persons with disabilities,
motorists, movers of commercial goods, users and operators of public transportation, seniors,
children, youth, and families; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma acknowledges the benefits and value for the public
health and welfare of reducing vehicle miles traveled and increasing transportation by walking,
bicycling, and public transportation; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma recognizes that the planning and coordinated
development of Complete Streets infrastructure provides benefits for local governments in the
areas of infrastructure cost savings; public health; and environmental sustainability; and
WHEREAS, the State of California has emphasized the importance of Complete Streets
by enacting the California Complete Streets Act of 2008 (also known as AB 1358), which
requires that when cities or counties revise general plans, they identify how they will provide for
the mobility needs of all users of the roadways, as well as through Deputy Directive 64, in which
the California Department of Transportation explained that it "views all transportation
improvements as opportunities to improve safety, access, and mobility for all travelers in
California and recognizes bicycle, pedestrian, and transit modes as integral elements of the
transportation system"; and
WHEREAS, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (known as AB 32)
sets a mandate for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in California, and the Sustainable
Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (known as SB 375) requires emissions
reductions through coordinated regional planning that integrates transportation, housing, and
land -use policy, and achieving the goals of these laws will require significant increases in travel
by public transit, bicycling, and walking; and
WHEREAS, numerous California counties, cities, and agencies have adopted Complete
Streets policies and legislation in order to further the health, safety, welfare, economic vitality,
and environmental well-being of their communities; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, through its One Bay Area
Grant (OBAG) program, described in Resolution 4035, requires that all jurisdictions, to be
eligible for OBAG funds, need to address complete streets policies at the local level through the
adoption of a complete streets policy resolution or through a general plan that complies with the
California Complete Streets Act of 2008; and
Resolution No. 2016-004 N.C.S. Page 1
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma therefore, in light of the foregoing benefits and
considerations, wishes to improve its commitment to Complete Streets and desires that its streets
form a comprehensive and integrated transportation network promoting safe, equitable, and
convenient travel for all users while preserving flexibility, recognizing community context, and
using the latest and best design guidelines and standards; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma Complete Streets Policy, attached, summarizes and
implements policies already contained in the City's General Plan, including in its mobility
element, and involves no new policies, programs, projects or potential environmental impacts not
already analyzed in the EIR certified for the City's General Plan on May 19, 2008 by Resolution
Number 2008-085 N.C.S.;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Petaluma:
1. That the City of Petaluma Complete Streets Policy, attached, will cause neither a direct
physical change in the environment nor a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in
the environment such as would require review under the California Environmental Quality
Act ("CEQA"), because the Complete Streets Policy summarizes and implements policies
already contained in the City's General Plan, including in its mobility element, and therefore
involves no new policies, programs, projects or environmental impacts not already analyzed
in the EIR certified for the City's General Plan on May 19, 2008 by Resolution No. 2008-085
N.C.S.
2. That the City of Petaluma adopts the Complete Streets Policy ("Policy") attached hereto as
Exhibit A, and made part of this Resolution.
3. That the next substantive revision of Petaluma's General Plan shall incorporate Complete
Streets policies and principles consistent with the Policy.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the Approved asfrlb
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 41h day of January,Ir form:
2016, by the following vote:
City Attorney
AYES: Albertson, Barrett, Mayor Glass, Healy, Kearney, Vice Mayor King, Miller -
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Resolution No. 2016-004 N.C.S.
ayor
Page 2
EXHIBIT A
This Complete Streets Policy was adopted by Resolution No. 2016-004 N.C.S. by the City
Council of the City of Petaluma on January 4, 2016.
PETALUMA COMPLETE STREETS POLICY
A. Complete Streets Principles
1. Complete Streets Serving All Users. The City of Petaluma's General Plan 2025
Mobility element identifies long-range transportation needs for moving people and
goods in and around Petaluma. It is comprehensive and far-reaching, addressing
bicycle, motor vehicle and pedestrian travel as well as public transit, rail, air, and
water travel. A wide range of public safety, environmental, and social equity issues
associated with transportation are addressed through the goals, policies, and programs
identified in the Mobility element. All transportation improvements will be planned,
designed, constructed, operated and maintained to support safe and convenient access
for all users, and increase mobility for walking, bicycling and transit use.
2. Context Sensitivity. The transportation objectives of the Mobility element include a
street classification system based on street "typologies: Street typologies are an
expansion of functional classifications that consider street context and alternate travel
modes. This approach ensures that street standards are not uniformly applied but
consider a street's relation to surrounding land uses, appropriate travel speeds, and the
need to accommodate multiple travel modes and users. For example, a street that has
an arterial function and a commercial type will have different characteristics and
design features than a residential street with a collector or local access function.
In planning and implementing street projects, departments of the City of Petaluma will
maintain sensitivity to local conditions in both residential and business districts as well as
urban, suburban, and rural areas, and work with residents, businesses, and other
stakeholders to ensure that a strong sense of place is maintained. Improvements that will
be considered include sidewalks, shared use paths, bicycle lanes, bicycle routes, paved
shoulders, street trees and landscaping, planting strips, accessible curb ramps, crosswalks,
refuge islands, pedestrian signals, signs, street furniture, bicycle parking facilities, public
transportation stops and facilities, transit priority signalization, and other features
assisting in the provision of safe travel for all users, such as traffic calming circles, transit
bulb outs, road diets, and features identified in the City of Petaluma Bicycle and
Pedestrian Plan.
Complete Streets Routinely Addressed by All Departments. All relevant
departments of the City of Petaluma will work towards making Complete Streets
practices a routine part of everyday operations, approach every relevant project,
program, and practice as an opportunity to improve streets and the transportation
network for all categories of users, and work in coordination with other departments,
agencies, and jurisdictions to maximize opportunities for Complete Streets,
connectivity, and cooperation.
4. All Projects and Phases. Through the Mobility element's goals, policies, and
programs; Petaluma will ensure that Complete Streets infrastructure sufficient to
enable reasonably safe travel along and across the right-of-way for each category of
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users is incorporated into the planning, funding, design, approval and implementation
processes for new construction, reconstruction, retrofits, repaving, rehabilitation, or
changes in the allocation of pavement space on an existing roadway, as well as those
that involve new privately built roads and easements intended for public use.
B. Implementation
1. Plan Consultation and Consistency. In maintaining, planning, and designing
projects affecting the transportation system, Petaluma requires consistency with the
City's General Plan, Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, Safe Routes to School Plan, Short -
Range Transit Plan, Station Area Master Plan, and other relevant transportation plans
for consistency.
2. Street Network/Connectivity. The transportation system should provide a
connected network of facilities accommodating all modes of travel. This includes
opportunities for repurposing rights -of -ways to enhance connectivity for cyclists,
pedestrians and transit users. A well-connected network should include non -
motorized connectivity to schools, parks, commercial areas, civic destinations and
regional non -motorized networks on both publically owned roads/land and private
developments as outlined in Figure 5-2 of the Mobility Element — Proposed and
Existing Bicycle Facilities. Petaluma will work with other agencies where applicable
to ensure that projects immediately adjacent to the City's jurisdiction, particularly
those that provide access to Petaluma's transportation network, provide similar
accommodations and connectivity to City facilities.
3. Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee Consultation. Transportation and
development projects are reviewed by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory
Committee early in the planning and design stage, to provide the Pedestrian and
Bicycle Advisory Committee an opportunity to provide comments and
recommendations regarding Complete Streets features to be incorporated into the
proj ect.
4. Evaluation. Petaluma evaluates projects based on the Complete Streets (Routine
Accommodation) Checklist. The checklist assures all modes of transportation are
considered when scoping and designing a project. The City will establish a means to
collect data and indicate how it is evaluating implementation of complete streets
policies.
C. Exemptions
Process. Projects that seek Complete Streets exemptions must provide written findings
of why accommodations for all modes were not included in the project and be signed off
by the Public Works and Utilities Director or his/her designated representative. Projects
that are granted exemptions must be made publically available for review. Based on the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) exemption policy, exemptions to Petaluma's
Complete Streets Policy may be granted if one of the following criteria is met:
a. Bicyclists and pedestrians are prohibited by law from using the roadway.
b. The cost of establishing bikeways or walkways would be excessively disproportionate
to the need or probable use. In unusual circumstances, such as where natural features
(e.g. steep hillsides or shorelines) make it very costly or impossible to accommodate
Resolution No. 2016-004 N.C.S. Page 4
all modes, "excessively disproportionate" is defined as exceeding twenty percent of
the cost of the larger transportation project.
c. Where scarcity of population or other factors suggest an absence of need or lack of
practicability. For example, all construction or reconstruction of public streets must
include sidewalk improvements on both sides, unless the street is a cul-de-sac with
few dwellings or the street has severe topographic, natural resource, or right of way
constraints.
d. Transit accommodations are not required where there is no existing or planned transit
service.
e. Routine maintenance of the transportation network that does not change the roadway
geometry or operations, such as mowing, sweeping, and spot repair.
f. Where a reasonable and equivalent project along the same corridor is already
programmed to provide facilities exempted from the project at hand.
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