COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

December 19, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

January 7, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Resolutions Revising the Minimum Road Standards and the Procedures Used in Determining Minimum Road Improvements in the West Menlo Park Area

Recommendation

Adopt resolutions:

a.

revising the curbing to be used in conjunction with minimum road standards for the West Menlo Park area from a rolled curb and gutter, to a valley gutter;

b.

1.

determining that the minimum standard width of improvements, proposed to be constructed on those blocks where over 50% of the property owners desire improvements to be constructed, will be determined based on the responses received from the property owners;

2.

allowing for the 18-foot minimum standard to be used where the 22-foot standard is preferred, if existing drainage, driveways, utility or other obstructions in the public right-of-way make the wider standard impractical; and

3.

allowing for the construction of a centerline valley gutter or a valley gutter on one side of the road if limited right-of-way or obstructions makes the construction of valley gutters on both sides of a road impractical.

Previous Board Action

1.

Adopted minimum road standards for the West Menlo Park Area in 1997, consisting of a 22-foot-wide paved road with 3-foot-wide rolled curb and gutters.

2.

Adopted a road priority in 1997, which is used to sequence if and when road improvements will be constructed in the West Menlo Park Area.

3.

Adopted revised procedures in 1999 which allow property owners to determine a preference for either a minimum standard comprised of an 18-foot-wide roadway with 2-foot rolled curbs, or a 22-foot-wide roadway with 3-foot valley gutters.

Key Facts

1.

The current procedures used in determining if minimum improvements are to be constructed on a block in the West Menlo Park area, provides that the 22-foot wide standard width will be the width used if the majority of the property owners on a block want improvements, but where there is not over 50% of the owners requesting the 18-foot standard.

2.

We have received complaints that the 22-foot "default" is unfair where a majority of the property owners responding want the 18-foot standard, but where their responses do not constitute responses from the majority of the residents on the block.

3.

There have also been some drainage and driveway issues associated with the 22-foot standard that could have been, or be ameliorated if the 18-foot standard had been, or is used.

4.

We have also received complaints that the rolled curb and gutter is difficult for physically disabled persons in wheel chairs to traverse.

5.

There is limited right of way on some streets in the West Menlo Park area where other adjustments may be necessary in order to construct minimum standards.

6.

The proposed changes will not impact the priority list as established by your Board.

Discussion

Seven roads have been reconstructed in the West Menlo Park area based on the priority list and standards previously approved by your Board. These roads , based on the input from property owner surveys and public input before your Board, resulted in both 18 and 22-foot wide roads being constructed on both the east and west sides of the Alameda de las Pulgas. The intent of these projects is to provide minimum road improvements that would be paid for as a County contribution if the improvements were built through an assessment district process. These projects do not include those improvements (i.e. parking areas, sidewalks, etc.) that are normally paid for by the adjacent property owners. Property owners can still build the property related improvements through an encroachment permit process.

The proposed changes, as stated under the Recommendation portion of this report, are to align what is proposed to be built with the majority of the responses from the property owners that return our surveys; reduce conflicts that may occur with drainage facilities, driveways and other improvements that may be in the roadway areas where construction is proposed; and to address the concerns raised by the disabled community via the ADA Compliance Committee of the Commission on Disabilities regarding access across rolled curbs.

The proposed revisions in the procedure continues to allow the property owners to select between the 18- or 22-foot wide road options previously approved, but allows for the reduction in the width of the road to the 18-foot option if it is determined that this option is necessary to reduce conflicts with existing conditions.

Barney Avenue, Palo Alto Way and Perry Avenue in the West Menlo Park area have limited right of way widths. We are also recommending that we be authorized to evaluate an 18-foot road with the 2- or 3-foot valley gutter in the center, or on one side of the street as a means of providing minimum standards for these narrower rights of way as a design option, at the time when the property owners on these roads are surveyed to determine if they desire minimum improvements to be installed. This design would also include an "at grade" concrete curb at the edge of the road to protect the outer edge of the pavement from damage.

Attached is a revised decision tree that would be used in determining the standard to be used on a proposed project. We are also proposing to implement the revised procedures, if approved by your Board, on the blocks where we recently surveyed the property owners, and have also attached a summary of the changes that would occur based on the revised procedures. Construction of these roads is projected for the spring/summer of 2003. However, this assumes that the Alameda Streetscape Project, which was given priority by your Board over any other road projects in West Menlo Park Area, or the recent budget cuts as proposed by the Governor, does not require diversion of staff or funding resources from these projects.

Vision Alignment

We believe our recommendation is consistent with the Shared Commitment to "ensure basic health and safety for all," and Goal Number 7 "maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors," as it will improve the road surface for the benefit of the public that uses these roads while taking the opinions of the adjacent property owners into consideration to the maximum extent possible.

Fiscal Impact

The cost of staff time involved in rewriting the procedures has been paid for with Road Funds. The cost of a specific project will be reported as the projects are determined and recommendations on constructing the projects are made to your Board. Costs associated with the specific project will be paid for either with Road Funds or Mitigation Fees.

There is no impact to the General Fund.

A form of resolution has been approved by County Counsel.

Agencies and Residents Contacted

We sent a copy of our staff report to Aging and Adult Services in the Health Service Agency as they are the liaison with the ADA Subcommittee of the Commission on Disabilities, and to the residents on Ashton and Cedar Avenues that were recently surveyed about street improvements. We will report any comments that we receive.