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2007-58

A RESOLUTION

ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ELECTRONIC SPEED DISPLAY SIGNS IN LAKEWOOD COLORADO

WHEREAS, electronic speed display signs have been used in the City and have proven to reduce the average vehicle speeds; and

WHEREAS, speed display signs are recognized as traffic control signs; and

WHEREAS, the City will cost share with neighborhoods which have demonstrated a speeding problem; and

WHEREAS, the criteria and procedures for cost sharing and installation of speed display signs shall be as stated in the Resolution; and

WHEREAS, the City of Lakewood desires to allow the use of speed display signs on arterial, collector and primary fire response routes within Lakewood.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Lakewood, Colorado, that:

SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Lakewood hereby adopts the following procedures and criteria for the use of speed display signs:

1. Request Procedure. The request procedure used to consider installation of a speed display sign(s) in Lakewood, Colorado shall be as follows:

a) The installation of a speed display sign(s) shall be considered only upon written request of a resident living adjacent to the street where a speed display sign(s) installation is requested.

b) Upon receiving a written request, the City Traffic Engineering staff will investigate the street to ensure it meets the criteria adopted by this Resolution.

c) If the street is eligible based on said criteria, the City Traffic Engineering staff will send information to the resident making the request explaining the procedures to be followed. The procedures are as follows:

1) A petition supplied by the City with language approved by the Traffic Engineer shall be circulated and shall be signed by a minimum of 95% of the homeowners in the block where the speed display is requested. At least 80% of those signing shall be in favor of the installation in order for it to be eligible for installation. Each household will be entitled to express a single opinion regardless of the number of persons residing at the household.

2) The area where the signatures will be obtained will be within the limits of a block, which is normally defined as the length of the street between two intersecting streets. Due to unusual road configurations in parts of Lakewood, the City Traffic Engineer will define the limits of the "block" in such circumstances.

2. Installation Criteria.

a) Street Classification- Speed display sign(s) will only be allowed on streets that are not eligible for speed humps, specifically arterial and collector streets as defined by the City's Major Street plan and priority fire routes where West Metro has requested no speed humps be placed.

b) Spacing- A maximum of one sign per direction per mile on a single street.

c) Location- Signs will generally be placed on property lines as determined by the receptiveness of the residents adjacent to the signs. In the event that property owners adjacent to the sign are unable to reach agreement on this condition the funds will be returned and no signs shall be installed in that direction. The petitioner will be given the option of deciding if they wish to proceed with a sign for the remaining direction of travel. If one property owner is willing to have the sign on their property line at least 30 feet away from the closest adjacent property owner, this will be allowed and the approval of only that resident is required in lieu of both property owners.

d) Traffic Volumes- Average daily traffic must exceed 2000 vehicles/day.

e) Speed Limit and Traffic Speeds- Signs will only be installed on streets with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or greater and the 85th percentile speed is 5 mph or greater over the speed limit as determined by the a Traffic Engineering Division study.

f) School Zones- Signs may be added to existing school flashers if the above conditions are met.

g) Design- The design of the sign(s) is evolving as more manufacturers enter the marketplace. In general they will include the posted speed limit and a sign plate that reads "Your speed" with the speed display below. The City will determine the manufacturer and specific style for each location.

h) If the sign(s) requested are on a state highway, Colorado Department of Transportation's approval will be required.

3. Scheduling.

a) Due to budget restrictions a maximum of one set of signs (2) will be installed each year if budgeted. Requests for signs will be taken on an annual basis. Neighborhoods that provide a complete petition and funds will be placed on a list for installation based on first come, first served. If a neighborhood wishes to be removed from the list the funds will be returned.

b) Signs are usually installed in "sets" with one sign facing each direction. However, in some instances the problem may be specific to one direction such as a steep hill or curve. In these instances only one sign would be installed.

Additional signs will be installed during a year if solely funded by an outside source and the location meets the requirements of this resolution.

4. Cost Sharing.

a) Cost sharing will be on a 90%-10% basis with the City paying 90%. A fixed cost shall be established yearly by the City that shall include the cost of labor and materials to install the sign(s) and if needed the electrical point of service. The City will maintain the sign(s) and pay any scheduled charges and fees after the initial installation. The City will commit to replace the sign twice in the event of destruction. If a third sign is destroyed the Traffic Engineer will decide whether or not to replace the sign. If the decision is to not replace the sign, the neighborhoods original 10% will not be returned.

b) The resident requesting the sign(s) shall be responsible for collecting the required matching funds and submitting them to the City. The funds contributed by each household, if any, shall be on a voluntary basis and need not be of equal amounts. No representation shall be made by the resident(s) soliciting funds that a contribution is mandatory.

c) The sign(s) will be scheduled for installation only when the required funds are submitted to the Traffic Engineer. Payment will be returned for any request that does not meet the petition requirements.

5. Priority- All requests shall be considered on a first come first serve basis regardless of volume or speed data collected by the City.

6. Removal Request

a) If the residents on a street desire to have the sign(s) removed the petition approval procedures shall be followed that are identical to the installation procedures, with the exception that unanimous approval is not required of the households adjacent to the sign(s).

b) If the removal of the signs is approved by the homeowners on the street block that was originally defined for the installation, then the City of Lakewood will remove the sign and make it available for use elsewhere in the city or sell it for salvage. No money will be refunded.

7. Unusual Circumstances- It is anticipated there will be situations that are not addressed by the procedures and criteria in this resolution. In these cases the Traffic Engineer is delegated the authority to analyze and decide those cases.

8. Appeal Procedure- The initial decision on all matters relating to interpretation of this resolution shall be delegated to the Traffic Engineer. The residents on the street may appeal any decision of the Traffic Engineer to the Director of Public Works. The Director shall hold the hearing within fourteen days of receiving the appeal. The hearing shall be a new hearing, on the record, and the Director shall make his decision within fourteen days after the hearing. The decision of the Director may be appealed to Jefferson County district court.

9. Nothing in the resolution precludes the City from installing a speed display sign.

INTRODUCED, READ AND ADOPTED by a vote of 11 For and 0 Against at a regular meeting of the City Council on December 10, 2007, at 7 o'clock p.m. at the Lakewood Civic Center, 480 South Allison Parkway, Lakewood, Colorado.

Bob Murphy, Mayor

ATTEST:
Margy Greer, City Clerk

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