March 1, 2016 City Council Meeting Preview
Councilman Richard Bailey’s complaint that there are too many signs in Coronado will receive a full hearing at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
Back in August he wrote his colleagues on the council complaining that “the number of signs our small community has installed around town creates visual clutter and distracts from our neighborhoods.”
To help winnow down the excess, he provided the city staff with a list of 131 signs around town that he believed could be removed. These fall into a number of categories including regulatory (e.g. no parking, or bike routes) and warnings (e.g. speed bumps or school crossings).
Removing a single sign costs around $160, according to the staff report. Each sign would have to be evaluated separately. Some of the signs on Bailey’s list are governed by other jurisdictions, such as the Port of San Diego and Caltrans. These agencies would have to be consulted. Besides the cost and the jurisdictional issues, removing some signs, for example no parking, would make enforcement more difficult. This type of sign is not only informative, but is needed for the “successful prosecution of violations,” the staff report said.
The council is now being asked to decide if it wants to move forward with a detailed review of the entire list, or to narrow it down to specific categories, specific signs, or abandon the idea entirely.
The council will also review and discuss the 2014 Annual Traffic Report.
Overall there were 63 fewer accidents reported 2014 than in the previous year, even though there was a slight increase in the number of vehicles entering and leaving the city on a daily bases, 118 more in 2014 than there were in 2013.
The majority of accidents (65%) occurred on the state highway. Orange Avenue from Third to Pomona Avenue (26%), followed by Silver Strand Boulevard, from Pomona Avenue to Imperial Beach (18%) and Third and Pomona Avenue (14%) and Fourth Street (7%). City streets are far safer, 30% of the accidents in 2014 occurred in the village and 2% in the Cays.
Historically the number of accidents increases during the summer; however in 2014 collisions peaked in April and declined for the rest of the year with November having the fewest.
While most accidents involve motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists are not immune. The number of pedestrian-related accidents nearly doubled in 2014, up to 14 from 8 the previous year. Unlike past years, nearly all of the pedestrian accidents were caused by drivers failing to yield the right of way. Three took place in a protected crosswalk with a signal.
Bicyclists were involved in 20 accidents in 2014, a slight decline. In 11 of those the cyclist was deemed at fault. As with pedestrians, the most common cause was right-of-way violations.
Bicycles are also the focus of a proposed ordinance that allows the police to seize bicycles left in bicycle corrals or racks for 72 hours. Facilities intended for longer-term parking, such as the lockers at the Coronado Club Room and Boathouse and the racks near the Glorietta Bay Marina are not affected.
Tuesday’s agenda also includes requests from Bailey and Councilman Bill Sandke to consider the following at an upcoming council meeting:
Bailey wants the council to clarify the city’s contribution rules and bring them in line with the Fair Political Practices Commission guidelines. Something Bailey contends most cities in San Diego County are already doing.
He specifically wants the council to consider amending the provision that restricts campaign contributions when held in private homes or office to $100. Offering your home or office to a candidate for a fundraiser is considered a nonmonetary contribution based on the fair rental value of the property.
“Given the high values of Coronado real estate, it is quite likely that the fair rental value of any property would exceed $100 [sic],” Bailey wrote.
Bailey also wants Ocean Drive sidewalk extended to include the perimeter of Sunset Park that borders Ocean Drive.
Sandke wants people to be able to walk leashed dogs in Bay View Park. Something that is no longer allowed. In a letter to the council he pointed out “leashed dogs had been a frequent presence in the park for years and the city even provided waste collection bags.” People who walk their dogs in the park have already launched a petition drive to show support for allowing leashed dogs back into the park, he noted in his request.
The council meeting is on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 4pm in the council chambers at 1825 Strand Way.
