HomeMy WebLinkAbout21 - Back Bay Drive Temporary Street ClosureCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 21
September 9, 2008
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: City Manager's Office
Dave Kiff, Assistant City Manager
949/644 -3002 or dkiff@city.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: Temporary Street Closure — Back Bay Drive
ISSUE:
Should Back Bay Drive be closed to bicycle and vehicular traffic on Saturday, September 20th,
2008 between 7:00 a.m. and not later than 2:00 p.m. to accommodate the volunteers working
on Coastal Cleanup Day?
RECOMMENDATION:
Direct the City Manager to close Back Bay Drive on Saturday, September 20th, 2008 between
7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to cyclists and vehicular traffic (excepting vehicles associated with
Coastal Clean -up Day).
DISCUSSION:
California Coastal Clean -up Day is sponsored statewide by the California Coastal Commission
and is set for Saturday, September 20th, 2008. During 2007's Coastal Clean -Up Day, more than
60,000 volunteers worked together to collect more than 900,000 pounds of trash and
recyclables from our beaches, lakes, and waterways. Since the program started in 1985, over
800,000 Californians have removed more than 12 million pounds of debris from our state's
shorelines and coast.
The two major locations for coastal clean -up in Newport Beach are at the Muth Interpretive
Center at the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve and at the Back Bay Science Center (also
in the Upper Bay) off of Shellmaker Road. Hundreds of volunteers, ranging from pre - schoolers
to senior citizens, will help clean up the Upper Bay that day.
Many of the hundreds of volunteers will use Back Bay Drive to access the parts of the Bay
where much of the trash resides. Back Bay Drive is also used by hundreds of bicyclists, often
on group rides, and significant vehicular traffic on any given weekend day.
The Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends has asked the City to consider closing Back Bay Drive
to bicyclists and vehicles (except for vehicles associated with the Clean -Up Day) to protect the
safety of the Clean -Up Day Volunteers. NBMC Chapter 12.62 sets forth a process for
temporary street closures, including an application requirement. But the code also exempts
Chapter 12.62's requirements if the road closure is associated with a government agency's
activities.
Back Bay Drive Road Closure
September 9, 2008
Page 2
To appropriately notify the public of the request, and in support of that request, City staff
believes that a formal action by the City Council should occur to direct the City Manager to close
Back Bay Drive on Saturday, September 20th, 2008, between 7:00 a.m. and not later than 2:00
p.m. (event organizers suggest that the road closure may not be necessary after 1:00 p.m.)
The City's General Services Department will place signage 'up the weekend before the event,
and Police explorers or similar personnel will monitor Back Bay Drive during these hours to
ensure compliance. The key areas of traffic control will be where Back Bay Drive connects with
Jamboree, Eastbluff, and San Joaquin Hills Road (as shown below).
Back Bay Drive
Road Closure Control Locations
Environmental Review: The City Council's approval of this Agenda Item does not require
environmental review.
Back Bay Drive Road Closure
September 9, 2008
Page 3
Public Notice: This agenda item may be noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in
advance of the public meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
Submitted by:
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Dave Kiff
Assistant City Manager