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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMins-PWC-07-19-12 MINUTES CITY OF DOWNEY - PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE July 19, 2012 MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Martin Susnir, Dist. 1 - Vice-Chair Ed Norris, Deputy Director of PW Bill Minasian, Dist. 1 Louis Atwell, Deputy Director of PW Kent Halbmaier, Dist. 2 Gigi Rodriguez, Engineering Secretary Patricia Kotze, Dist. 2 - Chair Stephen Chu, Dist. 3 Carmen Vasquez, Dist. 4 OTHERS PRESENT Marybeth Vergara, Dist. 5 Lars Clutterham Ernie Garcia, Dist. 5 Jerry Andrews MEMBERS ABSENT Steve Perez Joan Frey, Dist. 3 – excused Agustin Duran, Dist. 4 - excused I. CALL TO ORDER: The Chairperson, Patricia Kotze called the meeting to order at 4:05 P.M. II. CONSENT CALENDAR: Committee Member Bill Minasian made a motion to approve the Minutes of the June 21, 2012 meeting. The minutes were unanimously approved as written. III.OLD BUSINESS: None. IV. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Request for Additional Street Sweeping Permit – 12046 Old River School Road Mr. Ed Norris gave a report on a request received by staff for an additional street sweeping request from one of the residents at 12046 Old River School Road. The current City policy for street sweeping permits is two permits for single-family residential dwellings and one permit for multi-family residential dwellings. The purpose of the street sweeping permit is to provide on street parking relief for residents within the city that demonstrate a hardship created by posted on-street parking restrictions for street sweeping purposes. Also, the permit system provides on-street parking relief for residents given that both sides of the street are swept on the same day. One of the conditions, if a permit is issued, is that the resident is MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE July 19, 2012 Page 2 required to sweep the gutter in front of the particular residence. If the resident qualifies and receives a permit, the permit must remain on the vehicle in order to be exempted from the posted-on street parking restriction. Up to one additional permit may be issued for each single family dwelling if the resident can demonstrate a hardship in terms of parking on-site. The subject property at 12046 Old River School Road is unique in that it is a blend of four single family as well as two apartment buildings on the same property. One of the residents of one of the single-family homes applied for two additional street sweeping permits but was informed that only one can be issued because of the City’s policy. The applicant owns three registered vehicles, two of which are vans, but has only one carport, available on-site and, therefore, must park the two vans on Old River School Road because they don’t fit within the carport due to a vertical height restriction. Therefore, staff concluded that a hardship has been demonstrated and recommends that the Public Works Committee grant the applicant one additional street sweeping permit. Discussion followed. Committee Member Halbmaier made a motion for staff to further investigate and table the item until the September 2012 meeting and to give the applicant an opportunity to present responses to the following questions raised by the committee: 1) Does he (applicant) have a business? 2) How does his lease read? 3) Is the applicant running a business on the premises? 4) If so, does it go against his lease? 5) Do the street sweeping permits specify if the vehicles are commercial? 6) Who is the primary driver of the vehicles? The following vote was seven to one in favor, with Committee Member Susnir in dissent. 2. Update on Public Works Projects and Activities Reports on CIP Updates were distributed and discussed. V. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS th Mr. Lars Clutterham gave an update on the July 4 Bicycle Parade sponsored by Calvary Chapel. In addition, Mr. Clutterham mentioned that Warren High School participated in Bike-to School Day. Mr. Steve Perez communicated the following: th 1) Five-mile bike ride fund raiser scheduled on August 25. rdth 2) The street trees on Lakewood Blvd. between 3 St. and 5 St. need to be trimmed. MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE July 19, 2012 Page 3 VI. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS 1) Chair Kotze suggested for Mr. Atwell to write a follow-up article for the Downey Patriot to let the community know about on going capital improvements projects. 2) Committee Member Minasian inquired about the relocation of the Farmer’s Market to Downey Avenue. 3) Committee Member Vasquez thanked staff for obtaining the grant for Furman Park. 4) Committee Member Minasian mentioned that he read an article regarding the proposed stormwater initiative be placed on the ballot. It was suggested to add this on the agenda for the Public Works Committee August meeting. 5) Committee Member Halbmaier inquired about a tree grant awarded to the City. Staff will check if already funded. 6) Committee Member Halbmaier mentioned a tree sucker problem involving City trees along Downey Avenue, north and south of Imperial Highway, and city trees hanging too low and needing trimming along Downey Ave. from Imperial Highway to the railroad tracks. The following committee members asked to be excused from the August 16, 2012 meeting: Joan Frey Agustin Duran Stephen Chu Carmen Vasquez VII. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS The Capital Improvements Project Status Updates list was discussed and distributed. Mr. Norris also updated the committee on a request to provide left turn-signals at the Intersection of Imperial Highway and Downey Avenue (Imperial Highway approaches). Staff has submitted an application to Caltrans through the Highway Safety Improvement Program, Cycle 5 to request funding for this improvement. VIII. NEXT MEETING: August 16, 2012 The Public Works Committee meeting was adjourned at 5:25 P.M.