BILL ANALYSIS Ó ACR 91 Page 1 Date of Hearing: August 29, 2016 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION Jim Frazier, Chair ACR 91 (Alejo) - As Amended August 17, 2016 SUBJECT: Memorial highways SUMMARY: Designates an overpass passing over United States Highway 101 (US 101) in San Benito County as "The Red Barn Overpass," a portion of State Highway Route 183 (SR 183) in Monterey County as the "Chief Warrant Officer 2 Edward Balli Memorial Highway," a portion of US 101 in Monterey County as the "Specialist Ricardo Cerros, Jr. Memorial Highway," and another portion of US 101 in Monterey County as the "Sgt. Javier Sanchez Memorial Highway." Specifically, this resolution: 1)Recounts the significance of the Big Red Barn, a landmark located in Monterey County. 2)Recounts the lives and accomplishments of Edward Balli, an United States Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 from Salinas, Ricardo Cerros, Jr., an United States Army Specialist from Salinas, and Javier Sanchez, a United States Army Sergeant from Greenfield, who were killed in action in Afghanistan. 3)Designates the overpass of San Juan Road passing over US 101 in Aromas in San Benito County as "The Red Barn Overpass," the ACR 91 Page 2 portion of SR 183 from Davis Road in the City of Salinas to Espinosa Road in Monterey County as the "Chief Warrant Officer 2 Edward Balli Memorial Highway," the portion of US 101 from John Street in the City of Salinas to Exit 317 in Monterey County as the "Specialist Ricardo Cerros, Jr. Memorial Highway," and the portion of US 101 from Arroyo Seco Road to Teague Avenue in Monterey County as the "Sgt. Javier Sanchez Memorial Highway." 4)Requests that the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) determine the cost of appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing the special designation and, upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering that cost, to erect those signs. EXISTING LAW: Assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating and maintaining state highways. This includes the installation and maintenance of highway signs. FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, but the measure requests that Caltrans only erect the appropriate signage upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering the cost. COMMENTS: Edward Balli, of Salinas, was a Chief Warrant Officer 2 in the United States Army and was killed in action in Afghanistan on January 20, 2014. He received two Bronze Stars for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ricardo Cerros, Jr., also of Salinas, was a Specialist in the United States Army and was killed in action in Afghanistan on October 8, 2011. He received a Purple Heart. Javier Sanchez, of Greenfield, was a Sergeant in the United States Army and was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 23, 2013. This resolution designating specific segments of highways in the honor of these fallen soldiers acknowledges the sacrifices they made for their ACR 91 Page 3 country. The Big Red Barn is a landmark and site of a flea market in Monterey County built in 1945. It is recognized for its significance to the communities in the region of Monterey County and San Benito County. Advertising on the state highway system is strictly regulated by existing law. Because the Big Red Barn is also the site of a commercial enterprise, designating a component of the state highway system and erecting signs with its name may constitute an advertising display, and as such, may be illegal under existing law. Separate processes exist for the designation and signage of historical landmarks on the state highway system. Those processes may be the appropriate means to recognize this particular landmark. Proposed author's amendment: To avoid any potential questions of legality, the author proposes amendments striking all clauses relating to the Big Red Barn from this resolution. REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION: Support None on file Opposition ACR 91 Page 4 None on file Analysis Prepared by:Justin Behrens / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093