ACR 173 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS ACR 173 (Gloria) As Amended August 20, 2018 Majority vote ASSEMBLY: 74-0 (April 26, 2018) SENATE: 39-0 (August 24, 2018) Original Committee Reference: TRANS. SUMMARY: Designates specific exits on State Route 15 (SR 15) in San Diego County for reaching the cultural landmark, the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District. " The Senate amendments delete the Mission Gorge exits on Interstate 8 from the resolution and clarify the north and south exits on SR 15 as those to be designated for reaching the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District. EXISTING LAW: Assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating and maintaining state highways. This includes the installation and maintenance of highway signs. AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, this resolution: 1) Recounted the virtuous nature and substantial Vietnamese American cultural and commercial activity along the six-block commercial corridor of El Cajon Boulevard between Euclid and Highland Avenues in San Diego. 2) Designated the El Cajon Boulevard exits on SR 15, as well as the Mission Gorge Road exits on I-8, as the defined routes for reaching the cultural landmark, the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District". 3) Requested that the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) determine the cost of appropriate cultural landmark signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this designation and, upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering that cost, to erect the cultural landmark signs. FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, but this resolution requests that Caltrans only erect the appropriate signage upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering the cost. COMMENTS: Existing law assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating and maintaining the state highway system, including the installation and maintenance of highway signs. In administering its duties, Caltrans developed guidelines to use when considering whether to erect non-required signage along the state's highways, in this case for "culturally unique and historically significant communities." In 2004, the Legislature codified these guidelines in order to ensure consensus and that state, local, and community interests all are represented and respected. Under existing law, Caltrans erects signs directing motorists to these communities if all the following conditions are satisfied: 1) The name of the community has resulted from the influence of a culture over a significant period of time; ACR 173 Page 2 2) The general public and media commonly recognize the name of the community; 3) Signs are consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system; 4) The geographical boundary of the community is within three miles of the state highway exit; 5) Directional signs are installed on the local streets or roads prior to installation of signs on the state highway; 6) The local jurisdiction provides funds from non-state sources that cover all costs; and, 7) The local jurisdiction's governing body adopts a resolution designating the name and geographical boundaries of the community and requesting Caltrans to post the signs. On June 18, 2013, the City of San Diego passed an ordinance designating the name and geographical boundaries of the community. With that ordinance, it appears all of the conditions in existing law for Caltrans' erection of signs directing motorists to the Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District have been met. Given this, it is unclear why Caltrans has not fulfilled its responsibility or why this resolution is necessary. Analysis Prepared by: Eric Thronson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN: 0004565