Council also hears update on storm preparations
DEL MAR — The City Council voted to lower speed limits in eight areas of the city and directed staff to explore the impact of converting two roads to one-way streets to free up additional parking. The council also received an update on ongoing winter storm preparations.
At last week’s meeting, the council heard a staff report on a state-mandated traffic and engineering survey. The California Vehicle Code prohibits what the state considers “speed traps” — speed limits that are artificially low to collect unjustified fines.
For posted speeds to be legally enforceable, including allowing sheriff’s deputies to use radar to measure speeds, traffic surveys must be conducted at least every seven years. These surveys determine how fast drivers actually travel along specific stretches of road. The state generally uses the 85th percentile speed to set a safe and reasonable speed limit.
Cities and counties can lower speed limits by 5 mph if they meet certain criteria. A newer state law allows local jurisdictions to lower limits by an additional 5 mph below the 85th percentile if they can demonstrate specific, documented safety concerns, such as the presence of pedestrians or bicyclists, a high rate of collisions or a traffic-related death.
Based on those criteria, staff identified eight stretches of road in Del Mar where speed limits could be lowered to improve safety:
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Camino Del Mar from Via de la Valle to the San Dieguito Bridge, from 40 mph to 30 mph (two consecutive segments).
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Camino Del Mar from Coast Boulevard to Del Mar Plaza, from 35 mph to 30 mph (two consecutive segments).
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Jimmy Durante Boulevard from Via de la Valle to Fairgrounds Gate 2, from 45 mph to 40 mph.
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Jimmy Durante Boulevard from Gate 2 to San Dieguito Drive, from 45 mph to 30 mph.
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Jimmy Durante Boulevard from San Dieguito Drive to Camino Del Mar, from 35 mph to 30 mph.
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Via de la Valle from Camino Del Mar to Jimmy Durante Boulevard, from 40 mph to 35 mph.
Following the staff presentation, Councilmember Dan Quirk expressed support for the proposed reductions.
“I’m very supportive of lowering speeds everywhere. I want to make Del Mar as pedestrian- and bike-friendly as possible.”
Quirk also asked staff whether it would be possible to post signs displaying lower speed limits even if they were legally unenforceable, suggesting the signs could encourage drivers to slow down.
Staff said doing so would likely create legal issues and that traffic-calming measures, such as striping narrower lanes, would be a better approach.
Councilmember Terry Gaasterland asked whether the speed limit on Camino Del Mar near Hotel Indigo could be lowered because of the hotel’s uphill driveway entrance and the volume of traffic entering and leaving the property.
Mayor Tracy Martinez agreed with Gaasterland, noting that bicycle and pedestrian traffic in the area also presents safety concerns.
Staff told the council that the speed limit had already been lowered as much as state law allows without exposing the city and sheriff’s deputies to legal liability.
Gaasterland questioned whether the city would have to wait for a serious collision before taking further action.
“Do we need to wait for somebody to get run over, either on foot or on a bike, before we say, ‘Oh, it actually is a problem’?”
City Manager Ashley Jones said state requirements limit the city’s options.
“We’re really constrained by the law as to what we can do, and having a basis for it, unfortunately.”
The City Council approved the staff recommendation and adopted an ordinance establishing the new speed limits.
Street parking
City staff also presented a proposal to modify on-street parking along two roads.
Staff recommended removing all street parking from the east side of Stratford Court between 12th and 13th streets because of the narrow roadway.
With vehicles parked on both sides, the street becomes dangerous for bicyclists and pedestrians and makes it difficult for residents to access their driveways safely. The change would eliminate 14 parking spaces.
Staff also suggested moving parking from the west side of Ocean Avenue to the east side along the segment from 13th Street to Seagrove Park. The change would create six additional parking spaces because the east side of the street has fewer driveways.
Another option to create additional parking would be to convert both Stratford Court and Ocean Avenue to one-way streets between 13th and 15th streets.
Staff did not recommend immediately adopting the one-way configuration but encouraged the council to consider it in the future. Converting the streets to one-way traffic would allow curbside parking on both sides because only one travel lane would be needed, potentially adding 41 parking spaces.
Quirk asked whether the California Coastal Commission could interpret reduced parking as restricting public access to the coast.
Principal Planner Amanda Lee said the commission generally allows local governments to make such decisions, particularly when safety is involved.
“The Coastal Commission generally defers to the local agency on traffic circulation and parking – particularly related to public safety.”
Jones told the council that additional studies would be needed before converting the streets to one-way traffic.
In response to a question from Deputy Mayor John Spelich about traffic-calming measures to prevent speeding on one-way streets, Jones said the Fire Department has concerns about such approaches.
“More and more, traffic calming is being discouraged by the Fire Department. Any kind of speed humps, things like that, it’s very difficult for the engines, so that’s becoming more of a thing that the fire departments are recommending against.”
Spelich suggested approving the Stratford Court parking proposal, returning the Ocean Avenue parking issue to staff for additional resident feedback, and directing staff to study whether converting both streets to one-way traffic would make sense.
The council approved the recommendations in two separate votes.
Storm preparations
The City Council also heard the second part of a staff report on winter storm preparations, ahead of potentially powerful El Niño conditions this year.
The council had declared an emergency related to sediment levels in the San Dieguito Lagoon following the first part of the storm preparation report at its Sept. 22 meeting.
At the latest meeting, staff explained how large sand berms are constructed using beach sand to protect streets that end at the beach. Those efforts are being expanded this year in anticipation of severe storms.
The city has also formed an El Niño Task Force, with the city manager’s office meeting weekly with representatives from the Public Works Department, Planning and Community Development, Community Services, the Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Department.
In a separate action, the council authorized a $48,000 contract with Dudek to explore ways to address ongoing flooding along Coast Boulevard.
Dudek, an Encinitas-based engineering firm, is under contract with the city to provide engineering services as needed. The proposal was approved as part of the consent agenda without discussion.
The city is still awaiting word from Southern California Edison and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on when dredging of the San Dieguito Lagoon will begin.
The dredging is intended to increase the lagoon’s capacity to absorb water from ocean storm surges and river flows, particularly if Lake Hodges Dam reaches capacity.
Spelich encouraged staff to take all legally permissible steps to prepare for the storms.
“Our basic feedback is do all you can legally.”
Spelich then moved to approve the staff recommendation to waive emergency permit fees for property owners seeking to protect their properties from the anticipated storms and to accept the report.
The motion passed unanimously.
