BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: AB 2095
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: Campos
VERSION: 6/27/12
Analysis by: Eric Thronson FISCAL: Yes
Hearing date: July 3, 2012
SUBJECT:
Highway signs
DESCRIPTION:
This bill permits Caltrans to erect highway signs on the state
highway system directing motorists to notable communities, when
consistent with existing law, if in receipt of a resolution in
support from the county and a letter on non-opposition from the
city in which the community is located.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating
and maintaining the state highway system, including the
installation and maintenance of highway signs. In administering
its duties, Caltrans developed guidelines to use when
considering whether to erect non-required signage along the
state's highways, in this case for "culturally unique and
historically significant communities." In 2004, the Legislature
codified these guidelines in order to ensure consensus and that
state, local, and community interests all are represented and
respected.
Under existing law, Caltrans erects signs directing motorists to
these communities if all the following conditions are satisfied:
The name of the community has resulted from the
influence of a culture over a significant period of time;
The general public and media commonly recognize the name
of the community;
Signs are consistent with the signing requirements for
the state highway system;
The geographical boundary of the community is within
three miles of the state highway exit;
Directional signs are installed on the local streets or
roads prior to installation of signs on the state highway;
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The local jurisdiction provides funds from nonstate
sources that cover all costs; and
The local jurisdiction's governing body adopts a
resolution designating the name and geographical boundaries
of the community and requesting Caltrans to post the signs.
This bill permits Caltrans to erect highway signs on the state
highway system directing motorists to notable communities, when
consistent with existing law, if in receipt of a resolution in
support from the county and a letter on non-opposition from the
city in which the community is located.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose . According to the author, San Jose is home to the
largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam. The
Vietnamese community's economic, social, and cultural
contributions have benefited all city residents and tourists.
For several weeks, the author has tried to guide the City of
San Jose through the administrative process necessary to
enable Caltrans to erect the requested signage. Santa Clara
County has passed a resolution in support of the directional
signs. Unfortunately, political division on the city council
has stymied the city's efforts to convey to Caltrans its
support for the signs. The city has provided a letter
clarifying that it does not oppose the signs, however. Due to
the city's lack of leadership on this issue, the author
believes this bill is necessary to enable Caltrans to move
forward with the requested signage based upon the clear and
overwhelming support for such signage within the surrounding
community.
2.What purpose do these types of signs really serve ? In
general, it is unclear what value cultural community
directional signs provide. One reason for highway signs is to
direct motorists to locations they may otherwise not be able
to find. Typically, those who wish to visit culturally unique
communities generally have those destinations in mind as they
travel and therefore do not need signs to find them. It is
unclear whether casual travelers would benefit from signs
directing them to these specific communities. Alternatively,
certain highway signs might be used to direct traffic to
neighborhoods for commercial purposes. Some contend that such
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signs would have the effect of promoting particular commercial
developments over others at the expense of the larger, diverse
community. This bill suggests that the signs provide
recognition to this particular community because of its
historical significance. Highway signs seem like a relatively
minor way to recognize a community, given various alternatives
available such as billboards or the naming of streets and
other public facilities.
3.What about local decision making ? As mentioned earlier, the
Legislature adopted the current law in order to give Caltrans
definitive direction relating to these types of signs, while
ensuring that every level of government is respected in the
process. Without these statutory guidelines, Caltrans can be
placed in the difficult position of trying to satisfy
competing demands from different governmental entities. For
example, prior legislation has urged Caltrans to put up signs
even in the face of local opposition. In order to avoid such
scenarios, the Legislature included in law the requirement
that the local jurisdiction adopt a resolution in support of
the erection of signs. This bill maintains some local control
on this process, while allowing Caltrans to legally erect the
requested signs.
4.Senate Rule 29.10 . When this bill passed Senate Education
Committee in May, it related to reporting requirements for the
California Interscholastic Federation. The author deleted
those provisions on the Senate Floor and inserted the current
version of the bill. Because of these amendments, the Senate
Rules Committee referred this bill back to this committee for
a hearing under Senate Rule 29.10, which provides that this
committee may by a majority vote do any of the following: (1)
hold the bill; (2) return the bill as approved by the
committee to the Senate Floor; (3) rerefer the bill to the
Committee on Appropriations.
Assembly Votes:
Previous votes are not relevant.
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday, June 27,
2012)
SUPPORT: City of San Jose - Councilmember Xavier E. Campos
Little Saigon San Jose Foundation
Santa Clara County
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Santa Clara County Supervisor - Dave Cortese
Vietnamese-American Community of Northern
California
OPPOSED: None received.