Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02022010 - SD.3RECOMMENDATION(S): 1. Direct the Directors of the Departments of Public Works, Conservation and Development, Health Services, and the Chiefs of the County-dependent fire districts to coordinate with the independent fire districts, and city fire departments in making a request to the City-County Engineering Advisory Committee to sponsor a forum to consider revisions to local fire codes which provide a superior balance between complete life safety, environmental quality and emergency vehicle access; 2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign letters to the Mayor's Conference and the independent fire districts requesting their support for this forum; 3. Authorize staff from the aforementioned departments and districts to seek funds for consultant support of this forum, if appropriate; and 4. Direct staff from the aforementioned Departments and Districts to report to the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee on the progress of this effort no later than the May 2010 and to make subsequent reports as directed by the Committee. APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 02/02/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Susan A. Bonilla, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: Steve Kowalewski 313-2225 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: February 2, 2010 David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: June McHuen, Deputy cc: Steve Goetz, John Cunningham, Contra Costa Joint Road Design Committee SD. 3 To:Board of Supervisors From:Steve Kowalewski Date:February 2, 2010 Contra Costa County Subject:Update on Process to Revise Street Standards FISCAL IMPACT: None. The report directs staff to identify funds to support the recommendations if not available in adopted budgets. BACKGROUND: The Board of Supervisors adopted the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program in February 2007. As a part of that adoption the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure (TWI) Committee was requested to review the County’s design standards for residential streets to address traffic calming and neighborhood livability issues. The Board of Supervisors, in December 2008, accepted a report from the County's Planning Integration Team for Community Health (PITCH) which included the goal of revising the County's street standards to encourage more pedestrian friendly design. Pursuant to these initiatives, staff reported to the TWI Committee that there was an opportunity to address street design issues at the national level through participation in the International Code Council's code development process. The 2009/2010 code develelopment cycle included three proposals which, if passed, have the potential to substantially effect road design. The TWI Committee directed staff from the Departments of Conservation and Development, Public Works and Health Services to meet with the cities and fire professionals from numerous jurisdictions in the County (See attached roster for the meeting) to develop comments for consideration by the Board of Supervisors, and to report directly to the Board on this matter. This report is the response to that direction. The group met as the Contra Costa Joint Road Design Committee (JRDC) on January 11th, 2010. The Committee came to the conclusion that the efforts of the group would be more effectively spent addressing local codes rather than attempting to achieve improvements and/or eventual consistency with international, national, or state level fire codes. The JRDC committed to initiate a process in which the members would re-convene to address local fire codes in pursuit of a balance between neighborhood livability, environmental quality, public health, traffic safety, and emergency vehicle access (See attached excerpt from the August 17, 2009 TWI Committee Report: Influence of Components of Street Design on County Goals). A forum to review the relationship between fire codes and road design will bring a diverse set of stakeholders together to discuss a common set of issues from different perspectives. It would be worthwhile for staff to consider whether this process would benefit from facilitation by an independent disinterested party. If staff determines this forum would benefit from professional facilitation services, they should be authorized to seek funds for such services. The Board of Supervisors should be aware that comments by the Fire Code Hearing Officers during the November 2009 hearings where the three road design proposals were discussed, encouraged local jurisdictions to participate in the very type of forum being recommended by staff in this report. CLERK'S ADDENDUM DIRECTED the Directors of the Departments of Public Works, Conservation and Development, Health Services, and the Chiefs of the County-dependent fire districts to coordinate with the independent fire districts and city fire departments in making a request to the City-County Engineering Advisory Committee to sponsor a forum to consider revisions to local fire codes, which provide a superior balance between complete life safety, environmental quality and emergency vehicle access;  AUTHORIZED the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign letters to the Mayor's Conference and the independent fire districts requesting their support for this forum; AUTHORIZED staff from the aforementioned departments and districts to seek funds for consultant support of this forum, if appropriate; and DIRECTED staff from the aforementioned Departments and Districts to report to the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee on the progress of this effort no later than the May 2010 and to make subsequent reports as directed by the Committee.  ATTACHMENTS Joint Road Design Committee Roster Influence of Components of Street Design on County Goals Influence of Components of Street Design on County Goals COUNTY GOALS Increase Walking, Cycling and Transit Use1 Reduce Greenhouse Gases Reduce Emergency Response Time Improve Traffic Safety Improve Water Quality Reduce Congestion + + + ○ ○ + Increased Connectivity More direct & shorter routes to desired destinations and bus stops Fewer trips by auto (by encouraging walking and cycling) reduce greenhouse gases. Redundancy in the street network provides multiple paths to, and points of access for a given location N/A N/A Multiple paths available to a given location disperse traffic. + + - + + - Narrow Width Encourages walking and cycling by slowing automobile speeds and reducing street crossing widths. Fewer trips by auto (by encouraging walking and cycling) reduce greenhouse gases. Increases response time by slowing vehicles and impairing access for non-emergency vehicles. Reducing vehicle speeds increases time for driver to avoid collisions and reduces severity of collisions. Peds can cross street more quickly. Less impervious surface Slower moving vehicles can increase congestion. + + │ + - + + ○ Other2 Traffic Calming Encourages walking and cycling by slowing automobile speeds and reducing street crossing widths. Fewer trips by auto reduce greenhouse gases. Some traffic calming measures can include a landscaped component (see below) Measures designed to slow vehicles can increase response times. Reducing vehicle speeds increases time for driver to avoid collisions, reduces severity of collisions, and gives peds more time to cross street. Some traffic calming measures such as roundabouts and bulbouts can include a landscaped component (see below). N/A + + │ + ○ ○ + + COMPONENTS OF STREET DESIGN Landscaping Attractive and more comfortable routes can encourage pedestrian and bicycle travel. Vegetation consumes CO2. Increased cycling and walking reduces greenhouse gasses. N/A N/A Mature street trees reduce runoff and landscaped areas can be used to mitigate impervious surfaces. Increased cycling and walking can reduce congestion. + = Indicates positive direct influence on noted goal + = Indicates positive indirect influence on noted goal - = Indicates negative direct influence on noted goal - = Indicates negative indirect influence on noted goal ○ = Indicates no influence on noted goal g:\transportation\cunningham\title9review\matrix.doc NOTE: Matrix must be viewed in color to be meaningful. 1 Non-motorized travel also has a direct impact on public health increasing physical activity. 2 “Other” traffic calming is to be distinguished from Narrow Streets which is also considered a traffic calming mechanism. Other traffic calming measures include engineering techniques (horizontal and vertical deflections), enforcement (increased police presence) and education (campaigns to raise awareness and skills).