Public works committee speed limit recommendations to the POA board

As one of his last acts as chairman of the public works committee Bill Monson sumitted the following recommendations to the POA board of directors.
2011 SPEED LIMIT CHANGES
The Public Works Committee was requested by board members specifically to review three areas of current speed limits and make recommendations for any changes. We reviewed both the 1997 and 2008 reports. A chart was completed compiling both of the report recommendations and the current postings of all major roads.
The 2008 study was previously reviewed by a subcommittee and a report was issued in August 2008. At that time, the subcommittee and PWC made a recommendation that no speed limits be changed on DeSoto Boulevard. The Public Works Department then took that recommendation to the Board at a work session. The only recommendation taken to the board was to change the speed limit on a portion of Ponce de Leon Drive.
At the regular meeting, the POA Board voted to change many speed limits to be "UNIFORM" without any further input from the Public Works Department or the PWC. I know of no entity that changes speed limits just to be "UNIFORM". States and cities change limits throughout their systems. The limits are normally started at the 85th percentile and then adjusted lower based on geometrics, sight distance, conflict points, and accident history. The final limits usually approach the 67th percentile which is the lowest limit advised. Yellow advisory signs are usually ignored except at curves. There is also no enforcement with an advisory sign.
The committee along with the PWD have therefore made three speed limit change recommendations at this time.
DeSoto Boulevard - The 2.5 mile section from Route 7 to Allicante has several hills, curves, intersections. It has the highest average daily traffic count in the village and is in a area with a high density of housing units. This section is used by many visitors to the village as the entrances to several time share units and condominiums. The section from West Villena to Calella represents only 0.5% of the village roads, but has 10% of the total accidents for the last two years and has been a high accident location for many years. The committee recommends the speed limit be lowered to 40 MPH in the section between the intersection of West Villena to 500 feet east of Alicante Road. This is still faster than the 35 MPH that was suggested in the 2008 study.
East Ponce de Leon Drive - This section was previously posted at 35 MPH but changed by the board to 40 MPH. The committee had a request from the Human Resource Safety Committee to review this section as it has two golf cart crossings and several intersections in the area between DeSoto and the golf course entrance. The PWC Safety Subcommittee reviewed this area. There is minimum sight distance at the crossings and that could be considered only minimally safe at the posted limit. However, the past study for this area recommended a 35 MPH limit. The PWC recommends this section be lowered to 35 MPH.
Balearic Road - The 1.5 mile section of Balearic Road from Fineza Way to the east intersection with Murillo Way in front of the fire station is one of the longest straight sections of roadway in the village. The PWC recommends to increase the limit in this location to 45 MPH which is consistent with the last study of this area.
The PWC would like to review other locations as well as locations that are not now posted and the 30 MPH limit does not seem to be appropriate.
The last full traffic study was completed in 1997. It is recommended that traffic studies should be done about every ten years. The PWC suggests that the POA consider funding a new study within the next two years. Stop sign warrants can also be reviewed at that time.
This board should only approve speed limits and stop sign locations based on an engineering study as outlined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and not determine them.