HomeMy WebLinkAbout31 - Bike/Pedestrian Safety Around Schools (and Other Areas)CITY OF
NEWPORT BEACH
City Council Staff Report
TO:
FROM:
PREPARED BY:
TITLE:
ABSTRACT:
June 14, 2016
Agenda Item No. 31
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Dave Kiff, City Manager - 949-644-3001,
dkiff@newportbeachca.gov
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Bike/Pedestrian Safety Around Schools (and Other Areas)
Mayor Dixon and Council Member Petros have asked the staff to place a new focus on
improved bike safety around schools (as well as other key areas). The City Manager
placed this item on the agenda concurrent with their request and an apparent need.
RECOMMENDATION:
a) Determine that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines
because it will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or
indirectly; and
b) Direct staff to examine the concepts outlined in this staff report, seek additional
community perspectives on the subject, and to report back to the Council in the
near future on how to enhance and improve ways to get to and from schools and
other key areas frequented by children on bikes.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item at this time.
DISCUSSION:
Given the recent and heartbreaking death of Newport Heights Elementary School
student Brock McCann, members of the community (as well as the City Council) have
asked the City to take a fresh look at ways bicycle safety may be improved at and
around schools (and other key locations).
This proposed effort would study, suggest, propose funding for, and guide the
implementation of innovative and community -supported safety improvements around
schools. A later review might look at accessways to key parks (such as Sunset Ridge),
and to the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Program at the Balboa Pier.
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Bike/Pedestrian Safety Around Schools (and Other Areas)
June 14, 2016
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Input will be sought from community members, members of the Newport Beach Police
and Fire Departments, Public Works, parents and children from each studied school,
NMUSD, students from area high and middle schools, and from a representative of the
McCann family.
The initial focus area will be paths of travel to and from Newport Heights Elementary,
Ensign Middle School, and Newport Harbor High School.
Ideas and tasks may include, but would not be limited to:
• Review of on -street parking regulations.
• Consider needs relating to crossing guards.
• Consider allowing more on -sidewalk riding in certain areas.
• Consider widening and/or adding sidewalks if appropriate.
• Consider establishing more bike lanes, with buffer zone between lane and traffic.
• Review of uneven or bumpy pavement/storm drain/gutter interactions to improve
bike safety there.
• Discuss/consider more Police safety resources, more speed enforcement.
• Re-examine visibility (lighting, lines of sight, crosswalk design, use of beacons
etc.) improvements at each intersection.
• Expand upon/provide additional support for parent -led efforts (such as bike
caravans) relating to biking.
• Additional bike safety training at each school, including regularly reinforced bike
safety messages.
• Understand ways that older students are or could coordinate student distracted
driving awareness programs. Include speed limit awareness. Include awareness
of "texting while driving/walking/biking" dangers.
• Improving the use of social media for education (Next Door, FB, Nixle, Instagram,
more)
• Ways to make walking safer.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not
result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment)
and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA
Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no
potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENTS:
None
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