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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMins-PWC-09-20-12 MINUTES CITY OF DOWNEY - PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE September 20, 2012 MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Martin Susnir, Dist. 1 - Vice-Chair John Oskoui, Director of PW Bill Minasian, Dist. 1 Ed Norris, Deputy Director of PW Joan Frey, Dist. 3 Louis Atwell, Deputy Director of PW Stephen Chu, Dist. 3 Dan Mueller, Principal Civil Engineer Carmen Vasquez, Dist. 4 Gigi Rodriguez, Engineering Secretary Agustin Duran, Dist. 4 OTHERS PRESENT Marybeth Vergara, Dist. 5 Lars Clutterham Ernie Garcia, Dist. 5 Jerry Andrews MEMBERS ABSENT Kent Halbmaier, Dist. 2 - Absent Patricia Kotze, Dist. 2 - Excused I. CALL TO ORDER: In the absence of Chairperson Patricia Kotze, the Vice- Chairperson, Martin Susnir called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M. II. CONSENT CALENDAR: Committee Member Marybeth Vergara made a motion to approve the Minutes of the July 19, 2012 meeting. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Agustin Duran. The minutes were approved as written. III.OLD BUSINESS: None. IV. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Speed Limit on Ardis Avenue between Imperial Highway and Foster Road Mr. Ed Norris reported that as part of the seven year cycle for updating Engineering & Traffic (E&T) surveys to support posted speed limits throughout the City, Ardis Avenue was reviewed for the validity of its existing 25 mph posted speed limit. An E&T survey was conducted along Ardis Avenue between Imperial Highway and Foster Road to validate the current posted speed limit and determine if any change is necessary. The portion of Ardis Avenue between the I-105 Fwy and Foster Road does meet the definition of a residential district per the California Vehicle Code th (CVC). The E&T survey results also revealed that the 85% speed was measured at MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE September 20, 2012 Page 2 32 mph. Per state law, the agency can only round down once to the nearest 5 mph increment, which in this case is 30 mph. Therefore, staff recommends a posted speed limit of 30 mph on Ardis Avenue in order to continue to legally enforce through radar techniques, which is the most reliable method in enforcing speed limits. A traffic calming request was also received from a resident on Ardis Avenue for the installation of speed humps to reduce speeding on this street. Staff is still investigating this request. Discussion followed. The Public Works Committee moved to recommend forwarding this item for adoption by the City Council of an ordinance of the City of Downey amending Section 3186 of the Downey Municipal Code relating to the speed limits for the portion of Ardis Avenue between Foster Road and Imperial Highway. The following vote was seven to one in favor with Committee Member Susnir in dissent. 2. Request for Additional Street Sweeping Permit – 12046 Old River School Road Mr. Ed Norris gave an update on a request received by staff for an additional street sweeping permit from a resident at 12046 Old River School Road. The applicant who requested the additional permit owns two vans, neither of which can be parked on-site due to a height limitation in the carport to which the applicant is assigned to park. Therefore, the vans must be parked on Old River School Road. The applicant currently has one street sweeping permit. 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. The applicant, Mr. Sterling, addressed the committee regarding his hardship and asked the committee to grant his request for an additional street sweeping permit. The applicant also requested the overlapping times of street sweeping signs, (i.e., Friday 10: AM – 2:00 PM and Friday 1:00 – 4:00 PM.) be corrected, given that he currently cannot park the second vehicle on-street on Fridays during the one overlapping hour. Discussion followed. Staff concluded that a hardship has been demonstrated and recommends that the Public Works Committee grant the applicant one additional street sweeping permit. Committee Member Bill Minasian made a motion to approve the staff recommendation to grant the applicant one additional street sweeping permit. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Joan Frey. The following vote was seven to one in favor with Committee Member Susnir in dissent. MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE September 20, 2012 Page 3 V. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS Mr. Lars Clutterham gave an updated on the following: 1) Kiwanis Green Team and Downey High School (HS) Kiwins and other groups started a monthly bike ride. 2) Downey HS student group to possibly present at the next Public Works Committee meeting in October. 3) City of South Gate’s Bicycle Master Plan VI. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS Committee Member Frey mentioned that the posted speed sign on Gallatin Road between Paramount Bl and Tweedy Lane has not been changed since the subcommittee recommended an increase from 25 to 30 mph. Committee Member Carmen Vazquez inquired about Calmet trash billing on line. VII. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Mr. John Oskoui mentioned that Mr. Louis Atwell has accepted a position as Public Works Director for the City of Inglewood. Mr. Ed Norris gave an update on the following CIP Projects: 1) Treasure Island Park, 2) Fence/Shade Structure at Columbia Memorial Center, 3) Traffic Signal Upgrade at the Woodruff Avenue and Washburn Road Intersection, 4) Water Facilities Upgrade along Brookshire Avenue (Imperial Hwy and Davis Ave.) and Columbia Way (Lakewood Blvd. and Foster Rd.), 5) Via Amorita Traffic Signal installation, 6) Annual Sidewalk Concrete Repair, 7) Annual Slurry Seal Project, 8) Construction of median islands on Telegraph Road between Lakewood Blvd. and Passons Rd.- City of Pico Rivera rebidding project, 9) Striping the third lane on Firestone Blvd. east of Rives Ave. and Downey Ave. for purposes of maintaining mobility throughout the city and minimizing traffic on residential streets, 10) Meeting with businesses on Firestone Blvd. in regards to the trial period to start after the Nance Ave. construction, 11) Supplementary Billing for Lighting & Landscaping District Assessments. MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE September 20, 2012 Page 4 VIII. NEXT MEETING: October 18, 2012 The Public Works Committee meeting was adjourned at 5:00 P.M.