SR-506-000-01 (5)
EPWM:CC:AA:DP: F:\DATA\SPFILES\SP-MISC\cc Reports\ccStreetNames.doc
City Council Meeting: March 26, 2002 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Renaming of Ocean Avenue South of Pico Boulevard and Naming of the
Access Road Between Pacific Coast Highway and Ocean Avenue
Introduction
This report requests the City Council rename Ocean Avenue between Pico Boulevard
and Barnard Way and the access road between Ocean Avenue and Pacific Coast
Highway.
Background
In April 2000, to eliminate confusion and duplication with similarly-named streets,
Council approved the renaming of what is now Ocean Way, Ocean Front Walk, and
Pacific Terrace. At that time, Council asked staff to evaluate renaming a segment of
Ocean Avenue, south of Pico Boulevard, and the access road (former route 187) to
Pacific Coast highway.
Ocean Ave
In 1966, Council honored former Mayor Benjamin Barnard by renaming The Speedway
and a portion of Ocean Avenue to Barnard Way. Within a couple of months of the
dedication, Council modified its decision and the Ocean Avenue portion was reinstated.
Only that street formerly known as The Speedway retains the Barnard Way name.
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Access Road Between Pacific Coast Highway and Ocean Avenue
In 1933 Route 187 began at Pacific Coast Highway and traveled across Southern
California to the Lucerne and Morongo Valleys in the Mojave Desert. As freeways and
Interstates were built, the route was shortened. In 1994, Assembly Bill 3132 eliminated
the portion of State Route 187 in the City of Santa Monica, including the currently
unnamed access road between Pacific Coast Highway and Ocean Avenue.
Discussion
Ocean Avenue
Ocean Avenue runs from the northern City limits to Pico Boulevard, where it veers
towards the Pacific Ocean and continues to Hollister Avenue. The portion between Pico
Boulevard and the northern City limits provides unparalleled views of the ocean as it
travels atop the Palisades Bluffs. Traveling south of Pico Boulevard and continuing
south on Ocean Avenue past Hollister Avenue the street name changes suddenly to
Barnard Way. Staff believes that it may be less confusing for residents and visitors if the
entire street from Pico Boulevard to the southern City limit had the same name,
"Barnard Way.? The name change would affect nine apartment buildings, one single-
family residence, and one motel.
Access Road
Since 1994, the access road between Ocean Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway has
been known only as ?former route 187.? As there are no addresses on this roadway, no
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private properties would be financially impacted by a name change. Staff believes that
naming of this street segment may be less confusing for residents and visitors.
Next Steps
Should Council direct staff to proceed, staff will meet with affected property owners and
residents on Ocean Avenue and return to Council to set a public hearing date. Staff will
also initiate a community process to solicit public input regarding the naming of the
access road to Pacific Coast Highway.
Budget/Financial Impact
Staff will present financial impact information when returning to Council to set the public
hearing date.
Recommendations
Staff recommends that Council direct staff to proceed with renaming Ocean Avenue
south of Pico Boulevard to Barnard Way and initiate a community process to determine
an appropriate name for the access road between Ocean Avenue and Pacific Coast
Highway.
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director of Environmental and Public Works Management
Anthony Antich, P.E., City Engineer
Ruth Firestone, Support Services Supervisor
Donald Patterson, Senior Administrative Analyst
Attachment: Map
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