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File Number: 15-049 <br />could reduce the number of trucks on the roadways, leading to less congestion on the <br />roadways, less fuel consumption and less diesel exhaust (greenhouse gases) emitted into the <br />atmosphere. <br />Overweight vehicles require additional regulation because the increased weight can affect the <br />safe starting, stopping and handling of the vehicles. Increased weight may cause stress on a <br />vehicle that could potentially cause a critical item component to fail, leading to a traffic <br />collision. The increased weight can add extreme pressure to the roadway which could cause <br />the roadway and underlying infrastructure to fail. <br />Staff from the Engineering and Transportation Department and the Police Department met <br />with business and Chamber of Commerce officials to discuss risks associated with permitting <br />overweight vehicles. Staff believes that the benefits out -weigh the risks and with proper <br />regulation and control the City can allow vehicles to operate with an increased weight of not <br />greater than 95,000 lbs. <br />Regulations on the operation of overweight vehicles include proper driver training, approval of <br />a designated overweight route by the Engineering and Transportation Department, and proof <br />that the overweight vehicle has undergone proper safety inspections. Vehicles found out of <br />compliance with these conditions will be cited and in some cases taken out -of -service. <br />In 2010, the San Leandro Police Department created a full time commercial enforcement <br />officer position. This commercial enforcement officer is an expert in commercial vehicle <br />matters and drives a specialized vehicle equipped with inspection tools including portable <br />scales. <br />This specially trained commercial enforcement officer patrols, locates and inspects <br />commercial vehicles. This officer is trained by the California Highway Patrol and holds the title <br />of M.R.E. (Mobile Road Enforcement). <br />The attached Ordinance will provide clear guidelines for overweight vehicle operators and will <br />allow the commercial enforcement officer and other peace officers to appropriately regulate <br />overweight vehicles. <br />San Leandro Administrative Code Title 8 Chapter 4 provides that the City will not issue <br />permits for any vehicle or load that exceeds the maximum specified in the California Vehicle <br />Code. Thus, staff recommends that the City Council repeal this provision of the <br />Administrative Code, effective on the effective date of the attached Ordinance. <br />Pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 35795, the City Council must conduct a public <br />hearing prior to the adoption of the overweight vehicle permit fees under the Ordinance. Staff <br />recommends that after the public hearing the City Council adopt the attached resolution <br />amending the fee schedule to include the associated overweight vehicle permit fees. <br />Current Agency Policies <br />The City's Fee Schedule is codified in Title 6, Chapter 4 of the San Leandro Administrative <br />Code. <br />City of San Leandro Page 2 Printed on 2111/2015 <br />