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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 11-C72RESOLUTION NO. 11-C72 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY SO THAT TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS ARE PLANNED, FUNDED, DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED, OPERATED AND MAINTAINED TO INTEGRATE WALKING, BICYCLING, TRANSIT, EMERGENCY, AND MOTOR VEHICLE USE, PROMOTING DEPENDABLE AND EFFICIENT OPERATIONS AND USABILITY FOR CITIZENS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES IN AZUSA. WHEREAS, streets constitute a large and valuable portion of public space; and 0 WHEREAS, streets need to be sound, convenient and connected corridors for all transportation modes and. users, with particular emphasis on the most vulnerable users; and WHEREAS, streets should be designed to complement and support the adjoining land uses, buildings, and community character, such that the resulting street environment is attractive and of appropriate scale; and WHEREAS, streets that integrate and support multiple transportation choices including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit, emergency transport, freight, and motor vehicles contribute to the public life of a community, sustainable economic development, and efficient movement of people and goods; and WHEREAS, encouraging non -motorized transportation improves public health, advances environmental stewardship, reduces fuel consumption, and maximizes the use of city infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the City of Azusa has committed to obesity prevention and adopted city design and planning principles that enable citizens of all ages and abilities to undertake exercise by adopting the Healthy Eating Active Living resolution (Resolution No. 10-C27); and WHEREAS, Complete Streets improve access for those who cannot or choose not to drive motor vehicles; and WHEREAS, the City of Azusa and the Azusa Unified School District have created and initiated a Safe Routes to School program and a committee to implement this work; and WHEREAS, this resolution is consistent with the mission of the Healthy Azusa Initiative, which is to promote health and wellness for those who live, work, and play in the City of Azusa, as a partnership between the city, educational institutions, health care services, businesses, community organizations, and residents; and WHEREAS, Complete Streets polices have been adopted by at least twenty-three states and two -hundred jurisdictions and agencies, including the United States Department of Transportation and the California Department of Transportation; and WHEREAS, the concept and principles of Complete Streets are compatible with the plans and direction indicated in the City of Azusa's General Plan, Built Environment Element (Chapter 3); NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. That the City of Azusa adopts this Complete Streets Policy as shown in Exhibit "A," attached hereto and made part of this Resolution, and that said exhibit is hereby approved and adopted. SECTION 2. That City staff is hereby authorized to do all deeds necessary in the accomplishment of the herein above. SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this resolution. PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 17`s day of October, 2011. /loseph R. Rocha, Mayor I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION WAS DULY ADOPTED BY THE CITY OF AZUSA AT A REGULAR MEETING THEREOF HELD ON THE 17"' DAY OF OCTOBER, 2011. AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: GONZALES, CARRILLO, MACIAS, HANKS, ROCHA NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: EMBERS: NOANE —Vera / Mendoza, C ity Clerk Attachment: Exhibit "A" Exhibit "A" Complete Streets Policy GUIDING PRINCIPLES: • Complete Streets are roadways designed to safely and comfortably accommodate all users, including, but not limited to motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, transit and school bus riders, delivery and service personnel, freight haulers, and emergency responders. "All users" includes people of all ages and abilities. • Each phase in the life of a roadway, including planning, funding, designing, constructing, reconstructing, operating, repairing and maintaining new and modified streets, will integrate all transportation modes into the roadway. • Sound engineering and planning judgment will produce context -sensitive designs that will account for the unique circumstances of different users, streets, neighborhoods, and activity centers. • The transportation network will be planned and constructed as a well-connected system that encourages multiple connections to destinations, which will include partnering with other agencies and organizations as appropriate. • Complete Streets will be achieved through broad planning measures, through single projects, incrementally through a series of smaller improvements, and/or through maintenance activities. DESIGN: • Whenever modifications are made to streets, Complete Streets features will be considered and incorporated. • Street improvements shall include facilities and amenities that are recognized as contributing to CompleteStreets. Such improvements may include street and sidewalk lighting, sidewalk and pedestrian improvements such as wider sidewalks, parkways, median refuges or crosswalk improvements, improvements that provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant accessibility, transit accommodations and access at train stations, shared use lanes and bike lanes, and landscaping, street furniture and drainage facilities. • The application of design standards will be flexible to permit context -sensitive design, fitting the roadway design within the context of the neighborhood, recognizing that all streets are different and user needs must be balanced. • Design standards shall include performance measures for tracking the progress of the implementation of Complete Streets projects, such as miles of walking or bike paths, and/or complete streets features added. EXCEPTIONS: • A project involves only ordinary or emergency maintenance activities designed to keep assets in serviceable condition such as mowing, cleaning, sweeping, spot repair, concrete joint repair, pothole filling, or when interim measures are implemented on temporary detour or haul routes. • The Public Works Director may exempt a project due to excessive and disproportionate cost of establishing a bikeway, walkway, transit, or other enhancement as part of a project. • The Public Works Director will determine if construction is not practically feasible because of significant or adverse environmental impacts, or due to impacts on neighboring land uses. IMPLEMENTATION: • Complete Streets elements, including those found in new design guidelines and those reflecting current best practices, will be considered when developing, modifying and updating City plans, manuals, rules, regulations and programs. • The City will partner with Los Angeles County, Caltrans, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Southern California Association of Governments to implement Complete Streets, as applicable. • The City will actively seek sources of appropriate funding to implement Complete Streets. • "Healthy Azusa" has been established by the City and is an inter -departmental advisory committee. This committee will oversee the implementation of this policy and will ensure integration with other health promotion activities. The committee will include a representative from Public Works, Recreation and Family Services, Economic & Community Development, and may include representatives from the walking, bicycling, disabled, youth and elderly community, and other advocacy organizations, as relevant.