Title
POLICY REGARDING MEMORIALS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY
COUNCIL INITIATIVE ADDRESSED:
Address quality of place issues
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: REQUIRED
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Several high profile fatalities on roadways in the community in recent years have led to spontaneous roadside memorials, most notably memorials have been placed on Pacific Way near Country Club Drive, on Ocean Beach Highway near 38th Avenue, and on SR 432 at Memorial Park Drive. The City does not have a policy addressing memorials in the public right of way and received complaints about at least one of the memorials. This presents a challenge for staff to deal sensitively with grieving families and friends, and respond to complaints from other community members.
Staff has prepared two draft policy options to address memorials in the public right of way. Policy option no. 1 prohibits any memorials in the public right of way. Policy option no. 2 allows for the placement of temporary memorials for a period of up to ninety (90) days as long as the memorial complies with the conditions of the policy. Memorials cannot impede operations and maintenance in the right of way, or create a safety hazard.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
A policy regarding memorials in the public right of way will have negligible financial cost to the City.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Direction to staff regarding a policy addressing memorials in the public right of way.
STAFF CONTACT:
Manuel Abarca PE, Traffic Engineer
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