To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Public Infrastructure
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2550
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): First
Title:
Title
Ordinance Reducing Permissible Weight of Vehicles and Loads upon Arnold Drive Bridge 20C-0213 and Repealing Related Ordinance No. 3423 - Adopt (Urgency)
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt an urgency ordinance reducing the permissible weight of vehicles and loads upon Arnold Drive Bridge over Sonoma Creek at Postmile 17.38 and repealing Ordinance No. 3423. (4/5th Vote Required) (First District)
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Department of Public Infrastructure (PI) has received and concurs with a Record of Critical Findings issued by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), which concludes that weight restrictions for vehicles and loads on Arnold Drive Bridge over Sonoma Creek need to be reduced to 17 tons per vehicle, 28 tons per semi-trailer combination, and 34 tons per truck and full trailer, based on a load rating review. The current vehicle and load restrictions were established by Ordinance No. 3423, which was adopted on April 23, 1985. These existing restrictions will be repealed by the proposed ordinance. The proposed ordinance is an urgency ordinance for the immediate preservation of health and safety, which shall take effect immediately upon passage by four-fifths vote of the Board. The related signage has already been posted by PI as an emergency measure.
Discussion:
Arnold Drive carries an average daily traffic (ADT) volume of approximately 5,700 vehicles per day. Arnold Drive services the transportation needs of the immediate unincorporated area and provides a direct connection north to Glen Ellen, Kenwood and Santa Rosa and south to Sonoma. The bridge in question spans Sonoma Creek and was installed in 1930.
Caltrans performed a load rating review for the bridge and issued a Record of Critical Findings on April 12, 2023. This review resulted in a weight downgrade to 17 tons per vehicle, 28 tons per semi-trailer combination, and 34 tons per truck and full trailer. The bridge is currently posted for 20/31/31 tons established by Ordinance No. 3423 on April 23, 1985.
California Vehicle Code Section 35706 authorizes the Board to reduce the permissible weight of vehicles and loads on county bridges. Government Code Sections 25123(d) and 25131 authorize the Board to adopt an urgency ordinance effective immediately upon four-fifths vote for the immediate preservation of the public health and safety with a declaration of facts constituting the emergency. The urgency here is based on the fact that vehicles with loads greater than Caltrans’ recommendations could cause catastrophic failure of the bridge and loss of life and property.
Accordingly, PI is requesting that the Board introduce and adopt an urgency ordinance reducing the permissible weight of vehicles and loads on Arnold Drive Bridge and repealing Ordinance No. 3423.
The estimated cost of labor and materials to implement the ordinance is $2,000 and appropriations are available within the 2022/2023 Road Maintenance Budget. As an emergency measure, PI has already replaced the bridge weight limit signage and notified Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department of the weight posting downgrade.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
04/23/1985: Adoption of Ordinance No. 3423 establishing weight restrictions for Arnold Drive Bridge over Sonoma Creek.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$2,000 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$2,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$2,000 |
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$2,000 |
|
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Expenses associated with installing new signage on the bridge is estimated at $2,000 and are available in the FY 2022-23 Road Maintenance adopted budget (11051-34010102). Any ongoing costs will be incorporated in future Roads Division annual budget requests. Road Maintenance utilizes multiple sources of funding for ongoing maintenance including: the State Highway Users Tax (HUTA), Senate Bill 1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program (SB1), contributions from Sonoma County’s General Fund, and allocations from Measure M.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Urgency Ordinance
Location Map
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.