HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-86 - Authorizing Installation of Stop Signs on Belfast Avenue at Fernheath LaneRESOLUTION NO. 06-86
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING
INSTALLATION OF STOP SIGNS ON BELFAST AVENUE
AT FERNHEATH LANE.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, under the provisions of Section 10-131(a) of the Costa Mesa
Municipal Code, the City Council is authorized to designate and establish stop signs
at intersections within the City; and
WHEREAS, 57 households in the Halecrest Hall of Fame Homeowners
Association neighborhood have signed a written petition to the City requesting that
stop signs be erected on Belfast Avenue at Fernheath Lane; and
WHEREAS, the Council has carefully considered the testimony of residents of
the neighborhood and the City's traffic engineer, including extensive testimony
about the risks and benefits of installing the stop signs requested; and
WHEREAS, this Council deems it to be in the best interest of the City that
said stop signs be erected.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, based on the entire record before
the City Council and all written and oral evidence presented, the City Council of the City
of Costa Mesa finds that there is substantial evidence justifying the requested
installation of stop signs on Belfast Avenue at Fernheath Lane in the City of Costa
Mesa and that the benefits of installing the stop signs outweigh any risk of injury from
installation of the stop signs, based upon the following findings and evidence:
1. Staff has studied the Halecrest Hall of Fame neighborhood extensively
over the past several years. Despite installation of new traffic signals, stop signs
and additional speed signs and pavement markings, residents in the area testified
there are frequent incidents involving traffic law violators speeding, illegally
passing, and otherwise endangering the safety of the neighborhood and its many
children. The neighborhood has a high concentration of young children who are
particularly vulnerable to injury caused by traffic violations.
2. Belfast is a common route to the elementary school in the neighborhood.
It is a long, straight stretch of road that may make it easier for drivers to increase
their speed above the posted speed limit. This increased speed of vehicles on
Belfast in turn makes it more difficult for vehicles turning out of the many
residential streets perpendicular to Belfast to do so safely, and may distract drivers
from the pedestrians, particularly children, in the neighborhood as they try to
navigate these turns.
3. Providing new traffic controls on Belfast at Fernheath will reduce the
speed of drivers on Belfast, ease the entry of cross -traffic from adjacent residential
streets onto Belfast, and reduce overall hazards to pedestrians and bicyclists, and
particularly children, in the neighborhood. The City Engineer is of the opinion that
stop signs do enhance overall safety by giving drivers an assigned right of way.
4. Other appropriate traffic control measures have not adequately reduced
the speed and other unsafe conduct of motorists in the neighborhood and no other
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options remain immediately available to address the present safety concerns in the
neighborhood.
5. There is nothing unusual about the placement of the stop signs on Belfast
which would create a trap for unwary motorists. Belfast is a straight road and
sufficient sight distance will be maintained to allow drivers approaching from either
the east or west to easily observe the stop signs with adequate time to stop safely.
Staff will be directed to place the stop signs in such a way as to ensure that they
are clearly visible to approaching traffic and are not obstructed by any shrubs,
trees, or other obstacles of any kind.
6. While the Council understands there may be some traffic hazard created
by placement of the stop signs on Belfast at Fernheath, the Council believes that
the benefits of installing the stop signs outweigh any hazard created by installation.
In particular, the studies of the neighborhood have demonstrated that most of the
traffic in the neighborhood is neighborhood, not cut -through, traffic. The residents
of the neighborhood are more likely to become aware of, and to obey, the new stop
signs on Belfast, thus decreasing the overall number of vehicular conflicts and
traffic violations. Many members of the neighborhood of expressed support for the
installation of the stop signs, while simultaneously recognizing that the stop signs
cannot guarantee neighborhood safety.
6. Any potential safety hazard from the new stop signs will be minimized
by painting 'STOP' legends on the pavement at the location of the stop signs and
painting 'STOP AHEAD' an appropriate distance before the stop signs so as to
clearly warn drivers of the existence and location of the stop signs. Staff shall
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ensure that flashing lights are installed on top of the new stop signs for a period of
thirty (30) days to bring attention to the stop signs until drivers have adjusted to
the existence and location of the stop signs. Any additional signage as may be
appropriate and necessary in the judgment of the City Engineer shall be installed to
provide maximum notice to users of Belfast of the existence and location of the
stop signs.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 17I" day of October, 2006.
ATTEST:
4Jie Folcik�Clerk
Allan R. Mansoor, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Kimberly all Barlow, City Attorney
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, JULIE FOLCIK, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, DO HEREBY CERTIFY
that foregoing is the original of Resolution No. 06-86 and was duly passed and adopted
by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa at a regular meeting held on the 17" day
of October, 2006, by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: MANSOOR, BEVER, DIXON, FOLEY, MONAHAN
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the
City of Costa Mesa this 18`" day of October, 2006,
JULA FOLCIK, CITY CLERK