REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution to Establish 15 Miles Per Hour School Zones and Extend the School Zone near Laurelwood Elementary School, and Find the Action is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15031(c)
Report
BACKGROUND
Laurelwood Elementary School was formerly located in the City of Santa Clara at 955 Teal Drive. The school was relocated to and started classes at 1095 Dunford Way in the City of Sunnyvale, at the border of the Santa Clara/Sunnyvale city limits, in August 2026. The school continues to serve students from both Sunnyvale and Santa Clara.
During the design of the new campus, throughout the construction phase, and following the school’s opening, City departments, including the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Department of Public Works, and the Office of the City Manager, have worked closely with the Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD), Laurelwood Elementary School, and the City of Santa Clara to coordinate and improve traffic conditions near the new school location. DPS and SCUSD have requested that the City establish a 15-mile-per-hour (mph) school-zone speed limit along the school frontage on Dunford Way and Teal Drive.
Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 10.08 authorizes the City Traffic Engineer to place and maintain official traffic control devices as required under the City's traffic ordinances and resolutions or pursuant to the California Vehicle Code (CVC). These traffic control devices are to be installed in accordance with applicable City regulations and the latest standards and guidelines established by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
The California Manual for Setting Speed Limits published by Caltrans provides guidance for establishing speed limits through the conventional speed-limit-setting process, including the use of Engineering and Traffic Surveys. The California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices provides standards and guidelines for the signage and implementation of school-zone speed limits. In addition, CVC Section 22358.4 provides specific authority for a local agency, by ordinance or resolution, to establish a 15-mph prima facie speed limit within 500 feet of a school on qualifying residential streets and to establish an extended 25-mph school-zone speed limit between 500 and 1,000 feet from a school or school grounds.
EXISTING POLICY
• Land Use and Transportation Element Goal LT-3: An effective multimodal transportation system - offer the community a variety of transportation modes for local travel that are also integrated with the regional transportation system and land use pattern.
o Policy LT-3.17: Set speed limits at the lowest practicable levels consistent with state law.
o Policy LT-3.18: Facilitate safe and orderly traffic flow and promote school pedestrian and bicycle safety.
• Safety and Noise Element, Policy SN-3.5: Facilitate the safe movement of pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles.
• 2020 Sunnyvale Active Transportation Plan, Safe Routes to School Plan, Goal 1: Increase safety for people walking and bicycling by improving school travel routes to be safe, convenient, and comfortable for all users and modes.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The project is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c), which applies to the operation or minor alteration of existing highways, streets, and similar facilities involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.
DISCUSSION
CVC Section 22358.4(b)(1), as amended most recently by Assembly Bill 382 (2025), authorizes a local agency, by ordinance or resolution, to establish a 15-mph prima facie speed limit in a residential district, on a highway with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or slower, in a school zone. The statute also authorizes an extended 25-mph prima facie speed limit on a highway when approaching a school zone, at a distance of 500 to 1,000 feet from a school or school grounds.
Under CVC Section 22358.4(b)(2), the 15-mph school-zone speed limit may be established only on a highway with no more than two traffic lanes and with a posted speed limit of no more than 30 mph immediately prior to and after the school zone. The speed limits established under this provision apply to all lanes of the affected highway in both directions of travel.
CVC Section 22358.4(b)(4) requires the local authority to take into consideration the factors identified in CVC Section 627 when determining the need to lower the prima facie speed limit. These factors include:
• Prevailing speeds, as determined by traffic engineering measurements;
• Accident records;
• Highway, traffic, and roadside conditions not readily apparent to the driver;
• Residential density; and
• Pedestrian and bicyclist safety, with an increased consideration for vulnerable pedestrian groups including children.
The proposed school-zone speed limits are being established pursuant to the specific authority provided under CVC Section 22358.4(b)(1), rather than through the conventional speed-limit-setting process applicable to other speed zones. CVC Section 22358.4(b)(1) does not itself require a conventional Engineering and Traffic Survey to establish the school-zone speed limit.
With respect to the new location of Laurelwood Elementary School, staff reviewed the roadway characteristics and surrounding school conditions, and considered the factors identified in CVC Section 627 based on available information. The proposed locations are residential roadways with a posted speed limit of 25 mph and meet the applicable roadway criteria under CVC Section 22358.4(b). Based on this review, staff determined that the locations listed in Table 1 are appropriate for establishing 15-mph school-zone speed limits, and that the location listed in Table 2 meets the applicable criteria for extending the school zone.
Table 1: Proposed 15-Mph School-Zone Speed Limits Pursuant to
California Vehicle Code 22358.4(b)(1)
|
Name of Street or Portion Affected |
From |
To |
Speed Limit (MPH) |
|
Dunford Way |
500 feet east of Teal Drive |
Along Laurelwood Elementary School grounds to 500 feet west of the school grounds (approximately 500 feet west of Quail Avenue) |
15 |
|
Teal Drive |
Dunford Way |
Along Laurelwood Elementary School grounds to 500 feet north of the school grounds (approximately 1,155 feet north of Dunford Way) |
15 |
Table 2: Proposed Extension of School Zone Pursuant to
California Vehicle Code 22358.4(b)(1)
|
Name of Street or Portion Affected |
From |
To |
Speed Limit (MPH) |
|
Dunford Way |
500 feet west of Laurelwood Elementary School grounds (approximately 500 feet west of Quail Avenue) |
1,000 feet west of Laurelwood Elementary School grounds (approximately 1,000 feet west of Quail Avenue) |
25 |
The proposed 15-mph school-zone speed limits would apply within 500 feet of the school grounds. The proposed extension on Dunford Way, between 500 and 1,000 feet from the school grounds, would maintain the existing 25-mph speed limit while extending the school-zone designation farther from the school. This expansion would allow the Department of Public Safety to continue enforcing the proposed 15-mph school-zone speed limit whenever students are present.
Teal Drive south of Dunford Way and Dunford Way east of Teal Drive are within the City of Santa Clara. Staff has coordinated with the City of Santa Clara regarding the proposed school-zone speed limits and requested that the appropriate school-zone signage be installed on the roadway segments within its jurisdiction. At this time, the City of Santa Clara does not plan to implement a 15-mph school-zone speed limit within its jurisdiction near Laurelwood Elementary School. Santa Clara staff has requested that Sunnyvale staff provide an update on the City’s implementation progress and may consider presenting the matter to its City Council for future consideration.
FISCAL IMPACT
Fabrication and installation of signs to establish a 15 miles per hour school zone and the extended school zone is estimated at $10,000. This cost would be absorbed within the operating budget for traffic signs and pavement markings in the General Fund under Program 13300 - Street Lights, Signs and Debris.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution to Establish 15 Miles Per Hour School Zones and Extend the School Zone near Laurelwood Elementary School, and Find the Action is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c).
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
___ Contract under $50,000 or non-fiscal
___ Contract between public agencies
_X_ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: Thinh Le, Transportation Engineer
Reviewed by: Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer/Planner
Reviewed by: Angela Obeso, Transportation and Traffic Manager
Reviewed by: Aaron Bert, Director, Department of Public Works
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
2. Proposed 15 mph School Zone and Extended School Zone Map