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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMins-PWC-01-17-13 MINUTES CITY OF DOWNEY - PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE January 17, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Martin Susnir, Dist. 1– Vice-Chair Ed Norris, Deputy Director of PW Bill Minasian, Dist. 1 Gigi Rodriguez, Engineering Div. Secretary Patricia Kotze, Dist. 2 - Chair Kent Halbmaier, Dist. 2 Joan Frey, Dist. 3 Agustin Duran, Dist. 4 OTHERS PRESENT Lars Clutterham MEMBERS ABSENT Steve Perez Stephen Chu, Dist. 3 - excused Jerry Andrews Marybeth Vergara, Dist. 5 - absent Ernie Garcia, Dist. 5 - excused Carmen Vasquez, Dist. 4 - absent I. CALL TO ORDER: The Committee Chairperson, Patricia Kotze, called the meeting to order at 4:15 P.M. II. CONSENT CALENDAR: Committee Member Kent Halbmaier made a motion to approve the Minutes of the th November 15 meeting. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Joan Frey. The Minutes were approved as written. III.OLD BUSINESS: Committee Member Minasian mentioned the newly-installed speed humps on Ardis Avenue between Adoree Street and Foster Road. Mr. Norris explained the purpose of the speed humps. He added that an after study will also be conducted to evaluate their effectiveness. IV. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Woodruff Avenue Parking Restriction Mr. Norris reported that the residents of the Woodruff Avenue frontage road located south of Imperial Highway submitted a request for the establishment of a two-hour parking restriction between the hours of 7 am to 6 pm daily, except holidays and weekends, along the east side of the frontage road to provide relief from a nuisance created by parked vehicles for sale along the frontage road. The purpose of the requested parking restriction is to discourage the parking of vehicles for sale along MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE January 17, 2013 Page 2 the frontage road. The parking of vehicles for sale is an ongoing issue that has been experienced in other areas of the city as well, such as Paramount Boulevard in the vicinity of Imperial Highway. Two-hour parking restrictions have been effectively used in the past in other areas of the City to mitigate nuisances which have also resulted due to parked vehicles for sale, such as the Lakewood Boulevard frontage road south of Gardendale Street. Discussion followed. Committee Member Frey made a motion to approve the staff recommendation to establish a two-hour parking restriction between the hours of 7 am to 6 pm daily, except holidays and weekends, along the east side of the Woodruff Avenue frontage road on the south side of Imperial Highway. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Halbmaier. The following vote was unanimous in favor thereof. 2. Speed Limits on Florence Avenue Mr. Norris reported that as part of the seven-year rotation for updating speed limits within the City as required by the California Vehicle Code, staff conducted a series of Engineering and Traffic (E&T) surveys along Florence Avenue from the west city limit to the east city limit. Currently, the posted speed limit on Florence Avenue is 40 MPH between the west and east city limits. As a result of the surveys, staff recommended that the segment on Florence Avenue between Woodruff Avenue and Little Lake Road/I-605 Fwy. be increased from the current posted speed limit of 40 MPH to 45 MPH. Discussion followed. Committee Member Susnir made a motion to approve and recommend adoption by the City Council of an ordinance of the City of Downey amending Section 3186 of the Downey Municipal Code to increase the existing posted speed limit along Florence Avenue between Woodruff Avenue and Little Lake Road/I-605 Fwy. from 40 MPH to 45 MPH. The motion was seconded by Chairperson Kotze. The following vote was unanimous in favor thereof. 3. Public Works Committee By-laws Review Chairperson Kotze reminded the committee members to review the Public Works Committee by-laws which will be discussed at the next meeting. V. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS: Mr. Lars Clutterham gave a Powerpoint presentation on the proposed Bicycle Master Plan. Mr. Steve Perez inquired of the “Share the Road” bicycle warning signs and whether they could be installed at various locations, such as the entry points to the City. Mr. Norris replied that staff needs to research the state policy on these signs more in detail MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE January 17, 2013 Page 3 prior to considering their installation. In addition, it is the City’s preference to wait until the proposed Bicycle Master Plan is in place so these signs can be posted strategically. Mr. Clutterham requested that the preparation and submittal of the grant application for the proposed Bicycle Master Plan be agendized at the next meeting. VI. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS: Committee Members Susnir and Minasian commented on recycled water. Committee Member Halbmaier commented on the asphalt paving recently constructed on Nance Street as part of the Gateway project. VII. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS: Mr. Norris gave updates on the upcoming projects. VIII. NEXT MEETING: February 21, 2013 The Public Works Committee was adjourned at 5:45 P.M.