Each week, the City of Coronado City Manager’s Office provides an update that includes information on programs, services and issues within the City, as well as news, project updates and follow-up information when applicable. Featured below are highlights from that update. The entire City Manager’s Weekly Update can be found on the City’s website.
Caltrans Speed Study, Enforcement Concerns
The California Department of Transportation presented the findings of its recent speed study for State Routes 282 and 75 at this week’s City Council meeting. Caltrans is required to set speed limits according to the results of engineering and traffic studies. As a result of the study, Caltrans agreed to maintain the current speed limit of 25 mph for the sections of Third and Fourth west of Orange Avenue and to increase the speed limit from 25 to 30 mph for the sections of Third and Fourth east of Orange. Although the City Council does not have a role in setting speeds on the State highway, the City Council opposed the proposed speed increase. The Council, however, directed staff to return at a future date with a report on ways the City can reduce speeding and increase safety along the Third and Fourth Street Corridor. During the meeting several statements were made as to traffic counts and the number of speeding tickets issued. The City would like to clarify some of the information. This quick list of statistics shows actual citations, collisions and other infractions, per the Coronado Police Department:
2014 1,115 citations in Third/Fourth Corridor
2014 436 for speed
2014 450 additional written warnings issued
2014 70 collisions in Third/Fourth Corridor
2014 6 speed related collisions (8 percent)
2014 46 related to unsafe turn or right of way violations (66 percent)
The Police Department enforces to reduce accidents. The most common accident along Third and Fourth results from turning movements. Consequently, illegal turns attract police officers’ attention. The average daily traffic for Third between Orange Avenue and C Street is 35,700 vehicles and the average daily traffic for Fourth between Orange and C is 28,500, for a total combined average daily traffic of 66,200.
Carrier Returns to Coronado
The Navy and local families welcomed back the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group yesterday. The USS Carl Vinson’s homeport is at Naval Air Station North Island. Coronado should expect increased traffic as the sailors settle in after their 10-month deployment. The USS Carl Vinson joins the USS Ronald Reagan, which also is homeported in Coronado.
Cal Am Water Alert Handout
Many Coronado residents may be wondering what they can do to save water amid the current California drought. The City’s water supplier, California American Water, recently held community meetings, the nearest of which was in Imperial Beach late last month, for its customers. The meetings consisted of a panel of company representatives answering questions about the drought, the state’s updated water restrictions and how the company can help its customers achieve their conservation targets. Coronado has requested that Cal Am hold a meeting in Coronado. Dates for this community meeting are being discussed. Cal Am sent this two-page Water Alert, which has been posted to the City’s website. As soon as a meeting has been set, the City will let the community know. The City published this Q&A to let the community know what it is doing.
125th Anniversary Commemorative Stickers
City crews have been installing the commemorative stickers for Coronado’s 125th Anniversary on all City vehicles. The work should be completed by early next week. The City plans to celebrate the milestone with a series of community-wide events and activities throughout the year. Organizers will honor Coronado’s history, accomplishments and its citizens. The Cultural Arts Commission will finalize a master calendar of 125th Anniversary events that will be made public in the next issue of the City’s six-page Currents newsletter, due out in August. In addition to events focusing on Coronado’s history, many more activities are planned, including “Movies on the Bay,” a summertime series of outdoor movies at various outdoor venues; special free concerts, such as “An Unforgettable Evening with the San Diego Symphony,” at Tidelands Park on August 15, and the “Mayors’ Dinner at the Del” on the anniversary day. For more information, contact Heidi Wilson at [email protected] or (619) 435-1108. An updated schedule of events will be featured on CoronadoARTS.com.
Library Door Update
The broken front door at the Library will be repaired and operational next week. The front door at the library is not your typical entrance. The door opens and closes about 2,000 times during an ordinary day. The motor that helps to automatically open the door failed several months ago. Buying a new replacement motor was not an option because the specific type of motor is no longer manufactured. Instead, arrangements needed to be made to rebuild the motor. The rebuilt motor was returned to the City this week. Meanwhile, because the motor sits just below the door, the door had to be removed in order to remove the motor, and then a new hinge had to be manufactured to support the door while the motor was being rebuilt. Everything is expected to be back to normal by the end of next week.
Silver Strand Clean-up Planned
At the City’s request, the California Department of Transportation will begin a weed abatement and vegetation clean-up on Monday, June 8, ahead of the Fourth of July festivities next month. The clean-up will start at R.H. Dana Place, near the Hotel del Coronado, and head south on State Route 75 to Tulagi Road. The City also has requested that this section be considered a routine priority in the Caltrans maintenance cycle. The City asked that the remaining part of SR 75, from Tulagi Road to Coronado’s southernmost city limits, receive the same maintenance soon thereafter. Coordination of this work is being actively monitored as significant traffic backups have resulted when the City was not notified and was unable to inform the community.
Upcoming Meetings
The Parks and Recreation Commission meeting is set for 3:30 p.m. Monday, June 8, at City Hall, 1825 Strand Way.
The Planning Commission meeting is set for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, at City Hall.
The Design Review Commission meeting is set for 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, at City Hall.
The Coronado Transportation Commission meets at 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, at City Hall.
The RSIP-3 group meets at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, at City Hall.
The Civil Service Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, at City Hall.
Naval Complexes Coordinating Group meets at 3 p.m. on Monday, June 15, at City Hall.
The City Council meets at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, at City Hall.
The Historic Resource Commission meets at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, at City Hall.
The Planning Commission meeting meets at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, at City Hall.
The Design Review Commission meeting is set for 3 p.m. on Wednesday June 24, at City Hall.
The Traffic Operations Committee meets at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, at City Hall.
The Golf Course Advisory Committee meets at 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, at the Golf Course, 2000 Visalia Row.
The RSIP-3 group meets at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, at City Hall.
The Historic Resource Commission meets at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, at City Hall.
Coronado Tourism Improvement District meets at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, at City Hall.
Cultural Arts Commission meets at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, at City Hall.
