HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/16/2016 13 Complete Streets Policy Adoption; YMC Section 8.96 Addition I AN/ (11111111 10,1,
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDASTATEMENT
Item No. 13.
For Meeting of: August 16, 2016
ITEM TITLE: Ordinance adopting a Complete Streets Policy and adding Section
8.96 to the Yakima Municipal Code
SUBMITTED BY: Brett Sheffield, PE, Chief Engineer
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
In an effort to encourage healthy, active living and improve the safety and quality of life of
residents in the City of Yakima, it is desirable to develop a Complete Streets Ordinance that will
provide direction for the evaluation of construction and reconstruction of roadways within the City
of Yakima for all users. The proposed Complete Streets Ordinance is attached for your review.
Staff presented the proposed Complete Streets Ordinance to the Public Safety Committee on
July 28, 2016.
ITEM BUDGETED: NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Safety
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Pass Ordinance.
BOARD /COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
The Public Safety Committee recommended presenting the proposed Complete Streets
Ordinance to the full Council.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
d C pm pll . e , ,freer s Ordnance 8/512016 Ordrna nce
ORDINANCE NO. 2016 -
AN ORDINANCE adopting a Complete Streets Policy and adding Section
8.96 to the Yakima Municipal Code.
WHEREAS, in evaluating construction and reconstruction of road in the City that all
road users should be planned for and their needs taken into account, including, but not
limited to those who are traveling by bike, vehicle or foot; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the City to encourage healthy, active living, reduce
traffic congestion and fossil fuel use, and improve the safety and quality of life of
residents in the City of Yakima by providing safe, convenient and comfortable routes for
walking, bicycling and public transportation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to formalize a policy to ensure that street
construction and reconstruction projects take into account the various needs and abilities
of the residents of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds and determines that adopting this ordinance is in
the best interests of the residents of the City of Yakima and will promote the general
health, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1: Chapter 8.96: Complete Streets Policy, shall be added to the Yakima
Municipal Code as follows:
Chapter 8.96
COMPLETE STREETS POLICY
Sections:
8.96.010 Purpose
8.96.020 Definitions
8.96.030 Freight/Truck Routes
8.96.040 Implementation
8.96.050 Exceptions
8.96.060 Performance Measures
8.96.010 Purpose
The purpose of the Complete Streets Policy is to ensure all users are planned for in the
construction of all City transportation improvement projects as outlined in the
Comprehensive Plan and detailed in the soon to be adopted Bike Master Plan and
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. By enacting this ordinance the
City of Yakima encourages healthy, active living, reduction of traffic congestion and
fossil fuel use, inclusion and maintenance of trees and appropriate landscaping, and
improvement in the safety and quality of life of residents in the City of Yakima by
providing safe, convenient and comfortable routes for walking, bicycling and public
transportation. The Complete Streets Policy will improve street connectivity for all
modes.
8.96.020 Definitions
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall be defined as follows:
"Complete Street" means a road that is designed to be safe and accessible for
drivers; bicyclists; transit vehicles and riders; and, pedestrians of all ages and
abilities. The Complete Street Policy focuses not just on individual roads but on
changing the decision - making process so that all users are routinely considered
during the planning, designing, building and operating of all roadways.
"Street" means any public right -of -way, including arterials, connectors, alleys, ways,
lanes and roadways by any other designation, as well as bridges, tunnels, and any
other portions of the transportation network, that is open for use by the general
travelling public.
"Street Project" means the construction, reconstruction, retrofit, maintenance,
alteration or repair of any street, and includes the planning, design, approval and
implementation processes, except that "Street Project" does not include minor
routine upkeep, such as, cleaning, sweeping, mowing spot repair or interim
measures on detour routes. If safety and convenience can be improved within the
scope of pavement resurfacing, such as, grind and overlay and restriping, such
projects should evaluate and make every attempt to implement Complete Streets as
outlined in the soon to be adopted Bike Master Plan and ADA Transition Plan to
provide access and increase safety for all users. Grind and overlay and restriping
projects are limited to striping elements as called for in the soon to be adopted Bike
Master Plan and ADA Transition Plan. Signalization changes shall not trigger
additional Complete Streets elements.
"Users" means individuals of all ages and abilities, including children, youth, families,
older adults and individuals with disabilities who use streets, including pedestrians,
bicyclists, motor vehicle and freight drivers, public transportation riders and drivers.
8.96.030 Freight /Truck Routes
Because freight is important to the basic economy of the City of Yakima and has unique
right -of -way needs to support that role, freight will be the major priority on streets
classified as truck routes. Complete Street improvements that are consistent with freight
mobility but also support other modes should be considered for these streets.
8.96.040 Implementation
All street projects will include Complete Streets elements as called for in the Bike Master
Plan and ADA Transition Plan. Complete Streets will be achieved either through single
projects or through a series of smaller improvements or maintenance activities over time.
It is the City's intent that all allowable sources of transportation funding be drawn upon to
implement Complete Streets projects. The City believes that maximum financial
flexibility is important to implement Complete Streets principles. The City believes a
Complete Streets policy will increase connectivity for all modes of travel within the City.
The implementation of various Complete Streets elements will utilize the latest and best
design criteria and the design of various complete streets components to be
implemented shall be based on a context sensitive approach, with the analysis of the
street's existing conditions, and the present/future needs of all users.
8.96.050 Exceptions
Facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and /or people of all abilities may not be
required in new construction or reconstruction of street projects when:
A. A documented absence of current or future need exists, as identified in city plans
and future travel demand models; or
B. Non - motorized uses are prohibited by law; or
C. Routine maintenance and repair of the transportation network is performed that
does not change the roadway geometry or operations; or
D. The cost exceeds more than twenty percent of the total project cost for new
construction; or
E. The city engineer, or his or her designee, issues a documented exception
concluding that application of complete streets principles is unnecessary or
inappropriate because it would be contrary to public safety; or
F. Where there are significant adverse environmental impacts to streams, wetlands,
steep slopes, or other critical areas; or
G. Where the establishment would be contrary to the transportation element of the
comprehensive plan; or
H. Where their inclusion in a small, isolated project would create a very short
section of improvements with problematic transitions on either end of that are in
an isolated area unlikely to be followed by similar improvements at either end,
resulting in little progress on implementing complete streets networks.
Any requested exemptions may be reviewed by the City's Bike and Pedestrian
Committee, or prior to the formation of the Bike and Pedestrian Committee, the
exemptions may be reviewed by either the Public Safety Committee or the Community
and Neighborhood Building Committee. The exemptions must be approved by the city
council in conjunction with the annual adoption of the Six Year Transportation
Improvement Program.
8.96.060 Performance Measures
Performance measures monitoring the progress of the Complete Streets implementation
will be established and an annual progress report will be submitted to the city council.
Section 2: If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance should be held
to be unconstitutional, unlawful or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other
section, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 2n day of August,
2016.
Avina Gutierrez, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sonya Claar -Tee, City Clerk
Publication Date:
Effective Date: