01-03-1995 - Policy for Approving Red Curb InstallationsCity of West Covina
Memorandum
TO: City Manager and City Council
AGENDA
ITEM NO. C-8a
FROM: Patrick T. Glover DATE January 3, 1111
City Engineer/Public Works Director
® PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
SUBJECT: Policy for Approving Red Curb Installations
SUMMARY: AT THE DECEMBER 6, 1994 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
THE COUNCIL REFERRED THE ISSUE OF RED CURB
INSTALLATION TO THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE FOR
REVIEW. THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE IS
RECOMMENDING THAT THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA
BE MET PRIOR TO ANY RED. CURB INSTALLATION:
1) That a postcard survey of within 200 feet on both sides of
the street be done prior to consideration.
2) That the Traffic Committee review. the request for possible
traffic safety considerations.
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3) That the final Traffic Committee recommendation be acted
upon by the City Council.
HISTORY:
Each year the Traffic Committee receives approximately 30 requests for red curb installations.
Each request is reviewed by the Traffic Committee except for those requests which have been
administratively approved by staff. At the December 6, 1994 City Council Meeting, the Council
referred the methodology for processing red curb requests to the Traffic Committee for review.
The existing requirements for red curbs are contained in Chapter 22 of the Municipal Code and
in summary provide that red curbs must be authorized by the Traffic Committee and that the
determination to install any traffic control device "shall be made only upon the basis of traffic
engineering principles and traffic investigations." The Code also . provides that the Traffic
Committee shall install traffic control devices as "may be so directed by the City Council. " The
Code does not touch upon the process, manner or procedures that the Traffic Committee uses
to conduct its business.
The City Council had an extensive discussion on red curbs at the December 6th Council
Meeting. The main areas of concern expressed by the Council at that meeting were as follows:
1. That all red curb requests be followed up with a post card survey with some level
(percentage) of approval.
2. That the post card survey extend a given distance from the residence requesting
the red curb.
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3. That administrative approvals of red curbs be eliminated and any
red curb recommendations, be formally reported to the City
Council for approval prior to installation.
ANALYSIS:
Adopting a policy for processing red curb installation requests will assist staff, Traffic
Committee, and the City Council in providing a set of uniform standards upon which to evaluate
such requests. The policy proposed by the Traffic Committee does address all major areas of
concern raised by the City Council at their December 6, 1994 meeting.
The Traffic Committee recommended that all written requests for red curb installations be
followed up with a post card survey of the neighborhood. Trying to determine how far away
from the requesting resident this survey should extend was difficult. With the average city
Red Curb Policy
Page Two
lot being 70 feet wide, the Committee arrived at a distance of 200 feet in both directions
(200 foot radius). This would require the post card survey be .sent to approximately 13 Lots
surrounding the requesting ' residence. This should be sufficient to include all parties who have
an interest in the request. The post card survey. results will be reviewed by the Traffic
Committee. The Traffic Committee expressed a concern with setting an approval rating or
percentage as the determining factor to i install or not install a red curb. There may be an
identifiable need for some red curb that might not be apparent to the neighborhood or likewise
there may be a reason to not install red curb where the neighborhood is in favor of such. The
Committee will consider the request favorably when a majority of the surveyed residences
approve of the ' installations, unless there is anoverriding safety consideration.
The Traffic Committee will then make a recommendation to the. City Council via the Traffic
Committee Minutes for approval or denial of each red curb request.'
FISCAL IMPACT:
There will be some minor increase in costs for postage and stationary associated with the
extended notification procedure.
RECOMiVIENDATION:
The recommendation by staff and the Traffic Committee is that all requests for red curbs shall
be directed to the Traffic Committee for.review. A postcard survey of all residences within 200
feet on the street which the red curb is being requested shall be conducted. The Traffic
Committee will review the request for traffic safety considerations and the Traffic Committee
will then make a recommendation to the City Council via the Traffic Committee Minutes.
atrick J. 1 ver
City Engineer/Public Works Director
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