HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 6965
City of Palo Alto (ID # 6965)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 6/27/2016
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Approval of Transfer of Transportation Contingency Funds
Title: Approval of Budget Amendments in the General Fund’s Transportation
Contingency Fund and in the Capital Fund in the Amount of $45,000 for
Citywide Engineering and Traffic Speed Surveys
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council amend the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Appropriation Ordinance
for:
a. the General Fund by:
i. Increasing the transfer to the Capital Improvement Fund in the amount of
$45,000; and
ii. Decreasing the Transportation Contingency in the amount of $45,000.
b. The Capital Improvement Fund by:
i. Increasing the transfer from the General Fund by $45,000; and
ii. Increasing the appropriation to Safe Routes to Schools Project (PL-00026) by
$45,000.
Background
The contract for Citywide Engineering and Traffic Speed Surveys provides for preparation of
Engineering & Traffic Speed Surveys for arterials, residential arterials and collector streets and
identifying an appropriate target speed for each of the streets surveyed, in accordance with the
requirements of the California Vehicle Code and the California Manual of Uniform Traffic
Control Devices.
The City has several expired Engineering & Traffic Speed Surveys and the proposed contract
would allow regrouping the Speed Zone Segments based on adjacent land use and roadway
geometry. Target speed would be identified based on factors such as residential density, bicycle
safety, roadside conditions, adjacent land use, and potential conflicts with pedestrians,
bicyclists, and residential or business districts.
City of Palo Alto Page 2
Discussion
The City executed Contract C16163201 with Stantec for $79,299. A budget appropriation is
needed because a portion of the contract will be funded from the Transportation Contingency,
and will be moved from the General Fund into the Safe Routes to Schools Project in the CIP.
Timeline
Staff anticipates kicking off this project in Summer 2016 and expects to begin data collection in
Fall 2016.
Resource Impact
Funding for this contract will come from two sources. Staff requests approval of a Budget
Amendment to appropriate $45,000 to the Safe Routes to Schools Project (CIP PL-00026) from
the Transportation Contingency to fund a portion of this contract. The remaining balance of
$34,299 will be absorbed by the Police Department FY 2016 budgeted funds.
Policy Implications
The City’s Comprehensive Plan recommends that Traffic Safety be among the City’s top
priorities. This project is consistent with Comprehensive Plan “Goal T-4: An Efficient Roadway
Network for All Users and Goal T-6: A High Level of Safety for Motorists, Pedestrians, and
Bicyclists on Palo Alto Streets.
Environmental Review
Approval of this Budget Amendment is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act.