SR 10-09-2018 7B
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: October 9, 2018
Agenda Item: 7.B
1 of 3
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Susan Cline, Director, Public Works, Civil Engineering
Subject: Introduction and first reading of a new ordinance in the Santa Monica
Municipal Code Section 10.08.565 (Pier Bridge-Vehicle Weight Restrictions)
setting the vehicle weight limitation of 15 tons for the Pier Bridge
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council introduce for first reading the attached
ordinance adding SMMC Section 10.08.565 to set a maximum vehicle weight of 15 tons
for the Pier Bridge.
Summary
After inspecting and assessing the Pier Bridge, the Los Angeles County Department of
Public Works (County) initially determined that the maximum allowable vehicle weight
on Santa Monica’s Pier Bridge may be 22 tons. The County provided the results of its
structural analysis to the City in November 2017 for further engineering review. City
Staff determined that the maximum allowable weight should be reduced to 15 tons,
because the adjoining Santa Monica Pier is rated for a maximum of 15 tons. The City
held a required public hearing on behalf of the County in May 2018 and subsequently
received concurrence from the County to modify the weight limit to 15 tons. Staff
recommends that the City Council introduce for first reading the proposed ordinanc e
that would codify a 15-ton weight limit for the Pier Bridge.
Background
The California Vehicle Code (CVC) sets the legal maximum vehicle weight (legal limit)
allowed on public roads and bridges. Any bridge that is not capable of supporting the
legal limit must have a sign posted stating the maximum vehicle weight it can support.
CVC Section 35751(a) grants each city or county with a population of 1,100,000 or
more the authority to calculate and post weight restrictions for all bridges within their
jurisdiction. Prior to legally posting a legally enforceable weight restriction, an ordinance
2 of 3
must be adopted. The County of Los Angeles typically defers to cities with bridges
within their jurisdiction to hold a hearing and adopt an ordinance setting the maximum
vehicle weight for such bridges. On May 8, 2018, Council held a public hearing on
behalf the County for the proposed 15-ton weight restriction on the Pier Bridge. Staff
from the County’s Department of Public Works was present at the May 8 th hearing to
support the 15-ton weight restriction and answer any questions. Also, in a June 2018
correspondence, the County confirmed it agrees to the 15-ton weight restriction.
Past Council Actions
05/08/18 (Attachment A) Public hearing on behalf of Los Angeles County to determine
the appropriate load limitation for the Pier Bridge
Discussion
Structural calculations from the County show that the Pier Bridge can support a 22-ton
vehicle. However, all vehicles entering the Pier Bridge must exit onto the Santa Monica
Municipal Pier (Pier), which has a maximum vehicle weight of 15 tons. Subsequently,
the lower weight limit of the Pier dictates the maximum allowable vehicle weight on the
Pier Bridge. Staff shared this information with the County, and the County agrees with
the 15-ton weight restriction.
The proposed ordinance, adding Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 10.08.565 (Pier
Bridge – Vehicle Weight Restrictions), would restrict the maximum vehicle weight
allowed on the Pier Bridge to 15 tons.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as result of the
recommended action.
3 of 3
Prepared By: Curtis Castle, Civil Engineer
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. May 8, 2018 Staff Report (Weblink)
B. Ordinance - Public Works - Pier Bridge Weight - 10092018
1
City Council Meeting: October 9, 2018 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER _________ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA MONICA CREATING SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION
10.08.565 TO ESTABLISH A VEHICLE WEIGHT RESTRICTION REQUIREMENT FOR
THE SANTA MONICA PIER BRIDGE
WHEREAS, the California Vehicle Code (“CVC”) Section 35751 permits a city or
county with a population of 1,100,000 or more to determine and post a vehicle weight limit
for a bridge within that city or county’s jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, based on engineering analysis and the fact that vehicle weight limit
on the adjoining Santa Monica Pier is only 15 tons, City of Santa Monica (“City”) staff
recommended to the County of Los Angeles (“County”) that the Pier Bridge vehicle weight
limit should be set at 15 tons; and
WHEREAS, on May 8, 2018, the City Council held a public hearing, at the request
of the County, regarding setting the Pier Bridge vehicle weight limit at 15 tons; and
WHEREAS, representatives from the County attended the hearing on May 8, 2018,
and did not object to the 15-ton limit; and
WHEREAS, representatives from the County later confirmed the County’s
agreement with the 15-ton limit;
2
WHEREAS, the City now desires to establish a 15 -ton vehicle weight limit on the
Pier Bridge.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 10.08.565 is hereby added to
read as follows:
10.08.565 Pier Bridge – Vehicle weight restrictions.
(a) No person shall drive, operate, tow, or otherwise propel on or onto the Pier
Bridge any vehicle the gross weight of which exceeds 15 tons.
(b) The term “gross weight” shall include the combined weight of the vehicle and
any load thereon.
(c) A validly issued community events permit issued pursuant Chapter 4.68 of this
Code may provide an exemption from the requirements of this Section. Any vehicle that
has obtained an exemption pursuant to a Community Events Permit and this subsection
shall display the Community Events Permit in the windshield of the vehicle at all times
while the vehicle is on the Pier Bridge.
Section 2. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices
thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to
effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
3
Section 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed
this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not
declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whe ther any portion of the ordinance
would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 4. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of
this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the official
newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become effective 30
days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________
LANE DILG
City Attorney