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X. 11
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order ,on March 19 , 1985 , by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers, Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson, Fanden
NOES: None
ABSENT : None
ABSTAIN: None
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SUBJECT : Local Control for Setting Speed Limits
On recommendation of Supervisor Powers, IT IS BY THE BOARD
ORDERED that the Public Works Director is REQUESTED to review the
feasibility of proposing legislation to provide authority to Contra
Costa County to lower speed limits below 25 miles per hour.
1 hereby certify that this 9s a trc,,:�and cor;aef copy of
an action taken and entetied on the minuses o� "si.e
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: ` 4" 'g-� 1,9 f 1 f
PHIL BATCHELOR, Clerk of the Board
CC: Public Works Director of Supervisors and County Administrator
By ` AA--i? — , Deputy
h•
SEAL, 0 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
p9 0 TOM POWERS
SUPERVISOR.FIRST DISTRICT
�osr4 cour"T�
i
March 12, 1985
To: Nancy Fanden, Chairperson - Board of Supervisors
Robert Schroder, District #3 Supervisor
Sunne McPeak, District #4 Supervisor
Tom Torlakson, District #5 Supervisor
From: Tom Powers, First District Supervisor
Subject: Authority of Local Governments to Set Local Speed Limits
Attached is a copy of a letter from a constituent in response
to our traffic engineer's explanation that the speed limit on a
very narrow road in Kensington cannot be reduced from 25 MPH because
state law will not allow it.
Therefore, I would ask the staff to pursue the possibility of
getting legislation that would authorize the county, and presumably
the cities as well, to set speed limits below 25 MPH when it is
deemed appropriate.
TP:bc
attach.
cc: . Philip Batchelor, County Administrator
Barbara E. Cook
100-37th STREET,ROOM 270,RICHMOND,CALIFORNIA 94805 • TELEPHONE(415)231-3231
SEAL O� BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
e o TOM POWERS
SUPERVISOR.FIRST DISTRICT
STA COU141-i
March 12, 1985
Barbara E. Cook
132 Ardmore Road
Kensington, CA 94707
Dear Ms. Cook:
I apologize for taking so long to reply to your letter regarding
the lack of county authority to place a- 15 mile per hour speed limit
in your neighborhood. I agree that such should be the authority of
local government and in the circumstances you identified, I believe
it would be appropriate to so designate a 15 MPH speed limit.
I will be asking the Board of Supervisors to seek from our Assem-
blymen and State Senator legislation authorizing us to reduce speed
limits below the prima facie so that we may identify and correct those
areas in Contra Costa County that require speed limits lower than
25 MPH. It is unfortunate that we cannot do it at, present, and the
time within which legislation can be developed is not rapid. I do not
wish to get your hopes up that we will , in fact, have success in
getting legislation through the Assembly and Senate andsigned by the
Governor. Traditionally, the state has liked to maintain control over
the regulation of speed and therefore may be reluctant to allow this
change to occur giving cities and counties the power to reduce speed
limits.
I will keep you apprised of the level of activity and success,
if any, on this issue.
Sincerer
TOM POWERS
First District Supervisor
TP:bc
cc: Board of Supervisors
100-37th STREET, ROOM 270,RICHMOND,CALIFORNIA 94805 • TELEPHONE(415)231-3231
February 4, 1985
Barbara E . Cook
132 Ardmore Road
Kensington, CA 94707
Phone : 415/526-2013
Supervisor Tom Powers
100 37th Street
Room 270
Richmond, CA
RE : Speed limit signs on small residential streets
Dear Supervisor Powers :
Leroy Vukad, County Traffic Engineer, has sent
you a copy of my January 14, 1985 letter to him. Enclosed
is a copy of Mr . Vukad' s reply to me.
From his letter, it would seem that my objective is to
gain for counties the authority to install speed limit signs
other than 25mph on residential streets (or other streets
where the public safety requires it) . Collector streets
like The Arlington and San Pablo Dam Road in Orinda are 25mph.
It is dangerous to drive 25mph on the narrow, winding and
rutted roads prevalent in Kensington, such as Ardmore Road.
Because motorists do not live according to a common
level of ediquette and reason, I feel a responsibility to
pursue this matter. It can stand as a contribution to
improving the quality of life in the county. Police simply
cannot do. the whole job . Signs would offer a clear and
reminding message to me and my neighbors , to the service
vehicles that arrive at our homes and to our visitors . I
would appreciate knowing your reaction to this matter, perhaps
some names of people to whom you think I should talk and any
advice that you can offer to this effort.
Thank you.
Sincerely yours ,
� v
Barbara E. Cook
I otj,POWEHS
SUPERVISOR.DISTRICT at
Enc. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
RICHMOND OFFICE
Colt r-a Public Works Department J.Michael Watford
Public Works Director
Costa 651 Pine Street, Fifth Floor
County Martinez, California 94553-1291 William R.Gray
Chief Deputy
January 30, 1985
Ms. Barbara E. Cook
132 Ardmore Road
Kensington, CA 94707
Dear Ms. Cook:
Traf: Road No. 1655
Reference is made to your letter dated January 14, 1985, in which you requested
the installation of either 15 mph or 20 mph speed limit signs on Ardmore Road in
Kensington.
In California, local agencies can only establish. traffic regulations pursuant to
the authority specifically granted to them under the California Vehicle Code.
The California Vehicle Code automatically establishes a prima facie speed limit
of 25 mph on a residential street such as Ardmore Road. For this reason, I
regret to inform you that the County has no legal authority to establish a speed
limit lower than 25 mph on Ardmore Road. Since State law automatically sets the
speed limit on residential streets, it has been a long standing County policy not
to install speed limit signs on every single one of the residential streets
within the unincorporated areas of the County. For this reason, it is our
opinion that the installation of speed limit signs are not warranted on Ardmore
Road.
It appears to us that you are primarily concerned about the way motorists drive
on Ardmore Road. It is our opinion that this matter can be best be handled
by the enforcement agency. For this reason, I am taking the liberty of sending a
copy of this correspondence to the Kensington Police Department to advise them of
your concern.
In you letter you also mentioned that the pavement condition on Ardmore Road was
in poor condition. Although this Department has no current plans to reconstruct
Ardmore Road, by copy of this letter I am asking our Road Maintenance Division to
review the condition of this road and to take whatever action they deem necessary.
Thank you for your interest in traffic and road matters.
Ver truly yours,
Leroy L. Vukad
Traffic Engineer
LLV:sj
ltr.Cook.tl
cc: Supervisor Tom Powers
Jack Christian, Chief
Kensington Police Department
M. Hollingsworth, Road Maintenance
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