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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMins-PWC-04-18-13 MINUTES CITY OF DOWNEY - PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE April 18, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Patrick Owens, Dist. 1 Ed Norris, Deputy Director of PW Joan Frey, Dist. 3 Dan Mueller, Principal Engineer Stephen Chu, Dist. 3 Gigi Rodriguez, Engineering Div. Secretary Carmen Vasquez, Dist. 4 Lars Clutterham, Dist. 5 OTHERS PRESENT Maria Lourdes Cotaya, Dist. 5 Brian Andrews Gerry Andrews MEMBERS ABSENT: Marybeth Vergara, Dist. 1 - Absent Patricia Kotze, Dist. 2 - Excused Kent Halbmaier, Dist. 2 - Excused Agustin Duran, Dist. 4 - Excused I. CALL TO ORDER: In the absence of the Chairperson, Patricia Kotze, Vice-Chair Lars Clutterham called the meeting to order at 4:05 P.M. II. CONSENT CALENDAR: Committee Member Maria Lourdes Cotaya made a motion to approve the Minutes of the March 21, 2013 meeting. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Patrick Owens. The Minutes were approved as written. III.OLD BUSINESS: None. IV. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Request for marked crosswalk(s) at the intersection of th Downey Avenue at 6 Street Mr. Ed Norris gave a report on a request received by the City from Our Lady of th Perpetual Help Church to install a crosswalk at the intersection of New Street at 6 th Street. The intersection of New Street and 6 Street is controlled by stop signs at the th 6 Street, or east-west approaches, of the intersection and the New Street approaches to the intersection are currently uncontrolled. New Street is a one-way street on the MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE April 18, 2013 Page 2 southbound approach to the intersection. Mr. Norris discussed the speed limit, pedestrian volumes and parking prohibitions for both streets. Mr. Norris mentioned that pedestrian volumes were collected at the intersection on Sunday, April 7, 2013. The count data collection times coincided with the scheduled begin and end times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, which is located at the th southeast corner of New Street at 6 Street. Based on the count data, the predominant observed pedestrian movements between the parking lot in which the church parishioners park on the northwest corner of the intersection and the church are across the west and south legs of the intersection, as well as diagonally across the intersection. Therefore, staff recommended the installation of a marked crosswalk on th the west leg of the intersection, across 6 Street as well as pedestrian crossing warning signs on New Street in advance of the existing unmarked crosswalk on the south leg of the intersection. A marked crosswalk is not recommended across the south leg of the intersection due to the fact that vehicles which queue at the existing th stop-controlled (eastbound) approach to the 6 Street at Downey Avenue intersection will inevitably block the crosswalk, if installed across the south leg of the intersection, th given its close proximity to the Downey Avenue at 6 Street intersection. Committee Member Carmen Vasquez recommended that once the actual work has been done to remind the church to announce to the parishioners not to cross the intersection diagonally and explain why a crosswalk was installed. Discussion followed. Committee Member Joan Frey made a motion to approve the installation of a marked crosswalk on the west leg of the intersection. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Owens. The following vote was unanimous in favor thereof. V. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS Mr. Gerry Andrews commented that the Public Works Committee is doing a great job. VI. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS Committee Member Stephen Chu inquired about the Caltrans I-5 Widening project update. Mr. Norris responded that the City will be holding a community meeting at the Redeemer Covenant Church on Monday, April 22 at 7:00 PM. Caltrans representatives, Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Vasquez, and a representative from Assembly Representative Garcia’s office will be in attendance. Mr. Norris also th informed the committee that the January 29 I-5 community hearing was very well attended. MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE April 18, 2013 Page 3 Committee Member Frey reported several potholes on Consuelo Street west of Paramount Blvd. Mr. Norris replied that Consuelo Street is owned by the county and will bring the issue to their attention. Committee Member Owens commented on illegal dumping on Burns Street and possible solutions were discussed. Vice-Chair Clutterham gave a brief update regarding the grant application that was submitted to Caltrans through the Community and Transportation Planning Grant Program. Mr. Norris added that if the City’s application is successfully funded, it will take about six months before the funds become available and approximately 18 months to develop the master plan. Concerns regarding committee member attendance were discussed. A consensus was reached to request Chair Kotze to send out a reminder to all committee members that per the Public Works Committee by-laws, members must notify the Engineering Division secretary at least 24 hours in advance if they are not able to attend the meeting; otherwise, it is considered an unexcused absence. VII. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS: Mr. Norris gave updates on the ongoing Capital Improvements Projects. Mr. Mueller gave an update regarding the on-going litigation with the Water Replenishment District. Storm water regulation through the Gateway Authority was briefly discussed. VIII. NEXT MEETING: May 16, 2013 The Public Works Committee was adjourned at 5:25 P.M.