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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5. PLN-13-00146 - 2012 Annual ReportSTAFF REPORT DATE: JUNE 19, 2013 TO: PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: BRIAN SAEKI, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT KEVIN NGUYEN, ASSISTANT PLANNER SUBJECT: 2012 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT (PLN-13-00146) LOCATION: CITY OF DOWNEY SUMMARY/ DISCUSSION The 2012 General Plan Annual Progress Report has been prepared in compliance with California Government Code Section 65400(a)(2), which mandates that the Planning Commission annually submit to the City Council, State Office of Planning and Research, and the Department of Housing and Community Development the status of the General Plan and the progress the City has made on implementing the goals and policies of the General Plan. The Annual Report summarizes the City’s progress with regards to implementation of the goals, policies and programs of the City’s General Plan. It also summarizes the activities of the Planning Commission and the Community Development Department from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. In 2012, the City experienced the continuation of the downturn in the national economy. As a result, counter activity in the Planning Division decreased from the previous year with 6,662 people assisted at the public counter. In 2011, Planning staff assisted 6,729 people. During the year, the Planning Division accepted and processed 305 Administrative, Planning Commission, and legislative applications to the City Council. The Planning Commission conducted 23 meetings and considered 69 items in 2012. A majority of the items considered by the Planning Commission were Conditional Use Permits. Some of the larger projects that the Planning Commission considered in 2012 include: The Tierra Luna Marketplace Project 46-Unit Townhouse Project An expansion to the Downey Regional Medical Center The Building and Safety Division also saw a slight decrease in plan checks and permits issued during 2012. The Building Division issued 1,932 permits in 2012 (2,131 permits issued in 2011). These permits are including minor improvements such as electrical, re-roof, plumping, window change out, which do not require plan check review. PLANNING DIVISION CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA A copy of the 2012 General Plan Annual Progress Report is attached hereto for the Planning Commission’s consideration. The report is broken into three major sections, an introduction, a review of the department activities, and a review of the General Plan policies that have been implemented in 2012. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS Staff has reviewed the General Plan Annual Progress Report for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Upon completion of this review, staff determined that this request is categorically exempt from CEQA, pursuant to Guideline Section No. 15306 (Class 6, Information Collection). Categorical Exemptions are projects, which have been determined not to have a significant effect on the environm ent and which have been exempted from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. Class 6 consists of projects which solely encompass information collecting and reporting, such as the annual report. CONCLUSION Staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve and forward the 2012 General Plan Annual Progress Report to the City Council. H:\Community Development\Nguyen\GP Annual Report\2012 Annual Report\Staff Report to PC.doc 2011 General Plan Annual Report May 16, 2012 - Page 2 Ý ± ³ ³ « ² · ¬ § Ü » ª » ´ ± ° ³ » ² ¬ Ü » ° ¿ ® ¬ ³ » ² ¬ Ù » ² » ® ¿ ´ Ð ´ ¿ ² ß ² ² « ¿ ´ Î » ° ± ® ¬ î ð ï î City of Downey - 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA CITY OF DOWNEY 11111 Brookshire Avenue Downey, CA 90241 CITY COUNCIL (at the time of adoption) Dn. Mario A. Guerra, Mayor District 2 Fernando Vasquez, Mayor Pro-Tem District 4 Luis H. Marquez District 1 Roger C. Brossmer District 3 Alex Saab District 5 PLANNING COMMISSION (at the time of adoption) Jim Rodriguez District 1 Robert Kiefer, Vice-Chairman District 2 Louis Morales, Chairman District 3 Matias Flores District 4 Hector Lujan District 5 CITY STAFF CITY ADMINISTRATION Gilbert A. Livas City Manager John Oskoui Assistant City Manager COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Brian Saeki Director of Community Development William E. Davis Ed Velasco City Planner Housing Manager Mark Sellheim, AICP Jose Vazquez Principal Planner Residential Rehab Technician David Blumenthal Rik Hobbie Senior Planner Acting Building Official Jessica Flores Kim Sodetani Associate Planner Executive Secretary Kevin Nguyen Mary Cavanagh Assistant Planner Secretary Darlene Escobedo Planning Intern This document was prepared by Kevin Nguyen, Assistant Planner City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Table of Contents Introduction………...………………….……………………………………………...……....5 Downey Background Report Acceptance Date Community Development Department Updates.…….…………..………………...……..7 Planning Division Building and Safety Division Code Enforcement Unit Housing Division Economic Development Division General Plan Implementat ion Status……………………………….………..…………...15 Chapter 1: Land Use Chapter 2: Circulation Chapter 3: Housing Chapter 4: Conservation Chapter 5: Safety Chapter 6: Noise Chapter 7: Open Space Chapter 8: Design Chapter 9: Economic Development 4 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Introduction The General Plan Annual Progress Report summari zes the City of Downey’s progress towards implementing the goals, policies and programs of Vision 2025, the City’s General Plan. It cov- ers the period from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012. The report also reviews the activities of the Community Development D epartment including the Planning, Building and Safety, Economic Development, and Housing divisions. This report is prepared in compliance with Cali fornia Government Code Section 65400(b), which mandates that all cities and counties submit to the St ate Office of Planning and Re- search an Annual Report on t he status and implementati on of the General Plan. Downey Background Downey is 12.8 square miles in ar ea and its topography is relatively level. The City is located in the southeastern part of Los Angeles County , about 12 miles southeast of downtown Los An- geles. It is bounded by: the Rio Hondo River channel to the west; Telegraph Road to the north; the San Gabriel River channel to the east; and Gardendale Street and Foster Road to the south. Cities bordering Downey include Pico Rive ra, Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk, Bellflower, Paramount, South Gate, and Commerce. The City of Downey is provided regional access by four interstate highways: the I-605 Freeway, the I-5 Freeway , the I-105 Freeway, and the I-710 Freeway. These freeways provide access to ma jor employment center s including Downtown Los Angeles and employment centers in Orange County. The City of Downey has matured from its farmi ng roots and its founding in 1873 to become the premier city in the southeast ar ea of Los Angeles Count y. Downey is one of the larger subur- ban cities in the region with a population over 113, 715 residents. In spite of these larger num- bers, the City has retained its small town character. The issues addressed by Downey Vision 2025 wi ll work towards achieving this vision by adher- ing to the values of providing excellent hous ing, education, employ ment, and recreation oppor- tunities plus the mission of providing a safe, c onvenient, and attractive community to those that live, work, or visit Downey. Acceptance Date The 2012 General Plan Annual Pr ogress Report was reviewed by the Planning Commission on June 19, 2013, and accepted by t he City Council on June 25, 2013. 5 Community Development 2012 Department Updates City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Community Development Department Planning Division This section outlines the activities of the Planning Division from January 2012, through Decem- ber 2012. The day-to-day plann ing activities include: Administrating the City’s Zoning Ordinance (Development Code). Answering public inquir ies on the telephone and ov er the public counter. Processing planning applications for the Planning Commission. Reviewing and approving business license a pplications for zoning compliance. Preparing reports fo r the City Council. Reviewing development plans for compli ance with City standards (Plan Checks). Yearly Counter Activity (2002-2012) Counter Activity 11,397 12,000 Counter activity represents the 10,968 10,368 number of counter visits re- 9,612 10,000 corded in the Pl anning Division. 8,448 7,996 7,489 8,000 Records of counter visits are 6,881 6,830 6,729 6,662 kept and tracked on a monthly 6,000 basis. 4,000 In 2012, the total counter vis- 2,000 its were 6,662. - 20022003200420052006200720082009201020112012 There was a slight decrease Year in counter activity in 2012. It was 6,729 visits in 2011. Historically, counter activity has Monthly Counter Activity 2012 been greater during the spring 900 and summer, while lower in the 800 786 winter. However, in 2012, May 700 was the only month that ex- 600 600 ceeded counter activity from 594 588 569566 560 537 514 2011 with 786 visits. 500 483 469 400 396 In 2012, September had the 300 highest decrease in counter ac- 200 tivity from the previous year with 100 469 visits. 0 JFMAMJJASOND Month 7 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Planning Applications Cases by Type (2012) Conditional Use Permits (CUP) 28 Planning applications in 2012, including Ad- ministrative, Planning Commission, and legis- Special Events (SE) 23 lative items to the City Council, totaled 305. Site Plan Reviews (SPR) 6 Records indicates Planning applications in 2012 have significantly decreased from the Zone Variances (VAR) 5 previous years with only 86 temporary banner Lot Line Adjustments (LLA) 2 permits, 46 permanent sign permits, and 68 parking lot sale permits. Conversely, the num- Planned Sign Programs (SIGN) 3 ber of Special Event (SE) applications have Certificate of Compliance 2 increased from 2011. Tentative Parcel Maps (TPM) 2 SE: 10 in 2011 vs. 23 in 2012 Code Amendments (CA) 3 Downtown Parking Credits 2 In addition to the above applications, Planning staff reviewed business licenses and con- General Plan Amendments 2 ducted plan check review to ensure the pro- Minor Modifications 3 posed business, impr ovement and new con- struction are in compliance to the zoning Permanent Sign Permits 46 code. Temporary Signs/Banners 86 Pumpkin Patch & Christmas Tree Lots 11 Accela (Permit Tracking System) Parking Lot/Sidewalk Sales & Fireworks 68 Planning staff members continue to attend Temporary Use of Land 2 Accela training/conferences. The Accela sys- tem allows staff to tr ack construction permits Miscellaneous Action 11 and property information efficiently. This in- 305 TOTAL struction has provided staff with additional tools and training to a llow for expansion and better utilization of the system. Planning Commission The Planning Commission conducts public hearings on most entitlements, including new build- ings, conditionally permitted uses, variances, etc. On legislative items such as General Plan Amendments (GPA), Amendm ents to the Zoning Ordinance, and Zone Changes, the Planning Commission acts as an advisory body to the Cit y Council. In 2012, the Planning Commission conducted 23 meetings, during whic h they considered 69 items. Street Faire Community Development staff pa rticipated in the ann ual Street Faire on Saturday, April 28, 2012. Planning, Building and Safety, Housing, and Economic Developm ent staff members were on hand to provide information on City programs and answer general questions in re- gards to development in the City. 8 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Housing Law Updated In January 2010, the City Council adopted an update to the Housing Element to the City’s Gen- eral Plan (Vision 2025) for the 2006-2014 planning per iod. Among the various policies con- tained in the Housing Element, the City Counc il approved programs to bring the City into com- pliance with SB 2. Chapter 633, Statutes of 2007 (SB 2), which t ook effect on January 1, 2008, modified State Housing Law to require cities to address the critical needs in housing opportuni- ties for special needs groups (eld erly, disabled, homeless, low in come, etc). In response to SB 2, the City of Downey is r equired to update the Zoning Ordinance to include provisions for emergency shelters, transitional housing, suppor tive housing, and single resident occupancies. In December 2012, City staff requested the Planning Commission to initiate the Code Amend- ment to update the Zoning Code. In May 2013, the City Coun cil adopted the N egative Declara- tion and approved the Code Amendment. The New Face of Firestone Boulevard Several recent façade modifications occurred along the south side of Firestone Boulevard in Downtown Downey: Cross Fit Training Center, Club DB Lounge, Kumon Learning Center, and the Downey Gateway project. Downey has seen a trend of business owners along Fire- stone improving the façades of their buildings, which is changing the streetscape. Taste of Downey 2012 The 3rd Annual Taste of Downey Arts & Wine Fe stival was a great succe ss! On September 20, 2012, an estimated 3,000 people were in attendance. Twenty-six restaurants provided tastes of all types of cuisines and Coca-Cola very grac iously provided the bev erages. Entertainment was provided by the band The Answer, and for the second time an art show was included fea- turing work from local Downey artists. Also, for the first time, a beer and wine garden was of- fered as part of the event. Code Enforcement Unit In August 2012, the Code Enforcement Unit jo ined the Community Development Department and are located in the City Hall. Previously, the Code Enforcement Unit was a Division of the Downey Police Department. Code Enforcement activity for the year of 2012 involved approximately 1,200 cases for various property violations. Code Enforcement also conducted approximately 2,500 business license inspections in addition to their property violat ion inspections. Code Enfo rcement staff partici- pated in the "Joint Terrorist Training Exercise," conducted at the Downey Studios, with the Fire Department, Police Department, FBI, L.A. County Sherriff's Departm ent Bomb Unit and Special Operations Unit, the Navy EOD Unit and t he Los Angeles Special Operations Unit. 9 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Economic Development Division Due to the California legislature’s decision to abolish redevelopment agencies in June 2012, the City took an enormous step in staff reductions, including eliminating Economic Develop- ment staffs. However, the City staffs strive to continue and init iatives to facilitate several key economic development projects in Downey. Tierra Luna Marketplace In January 2012, the City Council adopted an amendment to the Specif ic Plan and the Develop- ment Agreement for the Tierra Luna Marketplace mixed-use project. The requested amendment would change the existing land use designations, along with their accompanying development stan- dards and design guidelines, to allow the site to be redeveloped into the mixed- use project. Under the existing plan, these designations are intended to accommodate a business park and motion picture/ television production studio The project consists of 1.1 million square feet of retail comme rcial area, 300,000 square feet of office space and 116,000 square feet of hotel s pace (150 rooms). The 77-acre site is bounded by both Lakewood Boulevard and Columbia Way on the west, Congressman Steve Horn Way on the south, and Bellflower Blvd and Downey Landing Retail Center on the east and north, respectively. The entire site including exis ting buildings has just been demolished and con- struction of the new development is expected to begin in the fall of 2013. The View Housing Development The View project is on once again and on target for opening the summer of 2014. The six story 50-unit affordable housing complex will feature a 1,500 square foot community room for resi- dents, a second level courtyard, and roof-top garden. Rec ently, City staff rece ived confirmation on the final piece of financing required under the Development Agreement, which enables the project to move forward. The Developer was su ccessful with their latest application for federal tax credits, which resulted in $9.1 million in project financing. This is the largest source of fund- ing, representing 47 percent of The View’s financing. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2013. Downey Gateway The 26,232 square foot, high-end f ood court and retail shopping cent er referred to as Downey Gateway is now complete and open for business. The project is located at the southwest cor- ner of Firestone Boulevard and Do wney Avenue. The project also involves the reconstruction of a section of Nance Street, between La Reina and Downey Avenue. The project includes new eateries such as Waba Grill, Yogurtl and, Starfish Sushi, Burger Cit y, Pacific Fish Grill, Noodle World, Yogurtland and Roundtable Pizza. 10 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Walmart Grocery Store The building previously known as Alin Part y Supply store and located at 12270 Paramount Boulevard. The project has recently went thr ough minor façade and site modifications to allow a new Walmart grocery store. The traditional grocery store in cludes a fresh bakery, service meat counter, and pharmacy. The newly remodel ed building is painted with various shades of brown to bring out the reveal lines in the stucco as well as other subtleties in the architecture. The store has been opened for business since December 2012. New 46-Unit Townhouse Project On April 15, 2012, the Planning Commission approv ed several entitlements for a new 46-unit townhouse project. The project site is adjacent to the northwest corner of Lakewood Boulevard and Gallatin Road. The proposed development includes the construction of 46 townhomes within seven buildings on site. It offers three floor plans with sizes ranging from 1,464 square feet to 2,173 square feet. In all three plans, the units are three stories tall with the garage on the first floor, the general living area on the second floor, and sleeping area on the third floor. Additionally, all of the units have an atta ched private patio or de ck. The project will pro- vide a common recreation area t hat features a community s wimming pool. The community pool area will also feature a covered cabana, lounge ar ea, barbeque, and restrooms. All of the buildings have been designed with a Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style, which includes the use of light colored stucco siding, wood elements (such as trellis covers), recessed entries, semi-circular arcades, and wrought iron decorative element s. Construction of the townhouse project is expect ed to begin in the summer of 2013. Do It Best Hometown Hardware In July 2012, the Planning Division approved t enant improvements that allowed the Hometown Hardware & Garden to locate their business at 10001 Paramount Boulevard. This building was a Vons supermarket previously. Hometown Hard- ware & Garden is the second largest building ma- terials and hardware store in Downey. The pro- ject is completed and opened to the public in De- cember 2012. 11 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Champion Fiat Dealership Champion Fiat dealership has just completed it s construction at the former Downey Suzuki site. The newly constructed 3,000 square foot building includes a new showroom, guest service area, and offices. The new façade will have a com- bination of gray fiber ce ment panels, red aluminum composite panels, and gla ss store front for the showroom. Also, Champi on Fiat has installed a charging station locating in front of their building. This self-service charging unit can only be used for the new all electric Fiat vehicles. Downey Regional Medical Center On August 1, 2012, the Planning Commission approved a Site Plan Review application (SPR) to allow Downey Regional Medical Center (DRMC) for t he construction of a 3, 731 sq. ft. confer- ence center that will replace the existing 3, 794 sq. ft. rotunda-shaped conference facility at 11500 Brookshire Avenue. The approval included the following site improvem ents to the hospital: A one-story building fea- turing a 3,731 sq. ft. basement-level conferenc e center and a ground-leve l roof; new stairs leading to the basement level c onference center; a retaining wa ll; landscaping; a shear wall; and a signage tower to conceal the shear wall. Cons truction of the project is expected to begin in the fall of 2013. Davis Street Medical Office Building Construction plans have been approved and per- mits have been issued by the Building and Safety Division for the new medical office building at 8317-8323 Davis Street. The 6,876 square foot two-story building will repl ace the existing noncon- forming residences on the subject site. On De- cember 5, 2012, the applic ant demolished the ex- isting buildings. Constructi on of the project will be- gin in the summer of 2013. Downey Surgical Clinic In 2012, the Planning Commission approved a Site Plan Review application to remodel and add additional square footage to t he existing medical office bu ilding at 7862 Firestone Boule- vard. Previously, this building wa s a 3,850 sq. ft. single-story medi cal office. The applicant is adding a 2,700 sq. ft. addition on t he south side of the building. C onstruction of the project is expected to begin in the summer of 2013. 12 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Housing Division In July 2012, the Housing Division relocated its offi ce to the Community Development Depart- ment and is located in the City Hall. Previously, the Housing Division was located at Barbara J. Riley Community & Senior Center on Quill Drive, Downey. The Divis ion’s goal is to provide an effective and efficient customer service to our citizens. Over the past two years, the sour ces of funding utilized to offer lo w interest loans, zero interest deferred loans, grants, and cash rebates for the home improvement program and first time homebuyer program have been signific antly reduced. Assembly Bill ABx1 26 resulted in a loss of more than $900,000 in redevel opment funds for affordable hous ing activities, a twenty per- cent (20%) reduction in federal Community De velopment Block Grant (CDBG) and a fifty per- cent (50%) reduction in federal HOME Investment Partnership Grant (HOME) funding during this current fiscal year. Due to these signif icant reductions, the Community Development De- partment has had to initiate personnel reducti ons in the Housing Division and suspend the Home Improvement Deferred Loan Program and the Paint and Fix-up Program as of June 30, 2012. The Housing Division proposed a home improvement program whic h required less staffing to implement and encouraged a higher le veraging of public funds with private investment. The proposed incentives replaced the Home Impr ovement Deferred Loan Progr am and the Senior Paint & Fix-Up programs. Staff replaced last year’s incent ive programs with a Rebate and a Grant Program. The Rebate Program is offered to households who fall within the eighty (80) percent Annual Median Income (AMI) as defined by the federal Department of Housing and Ur- ban Development (HUD). The Grant Program is offered to househol ds who fall within the fifty (50) percent AMI as defined by HUD. Both incentive programs are available to owner occupied residential properties. The Housing Division is glad to report on the re cent completion of twelve (12) home improve- ment projects that included four (4) disabl ed persons under the R ebate and Grant programs. On May 13, 2013, The Housing Division co- hosted a property managem ent training with the Fair Housing Foundation geared towards landlo rds, managers, property owners, attorneys, realtors, and management compani es at Downey’s City Librar y in the Cormack room. The training was a certificate program that covered general guidelines, lead disclosure, rental proc- ess guidelines, people with disabilities, modifi cations and accommodations, rules for tenants with minor children, occupancy standards, adverti sing guidelines, prohibited practices, and sexual harassment and hate crim es. The workshop will end with a Fair Housing Training Exam. 13 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Building and Safety Division The Building and Safety Div ision is responsible for a variety of tasks including issuing permits, processing plan check submittals, and inspections . The Building and Safety Division reviews all plans and permits for compliance with the 2010 California Building Code. New building con- struction and a majority of tenant improvements require plan check review for Zoning and Building Code compliance. These plan checks ar e reviewed by the Building and Safety Divi- sion, the Planning Division, the Fire D epartment, and the Engineering Division. The total number of building permit applications accepted by the Building and Safety Division in 2012 was 1,935 and the City issued 1,932 permits. T hese applications include all construction related projects and installation of mechanical and utility equipment. In addition to reviewing plans, the Building and Safety Division also issues permits. These types of permits include all construction related pr ojects, patio additions, roofing, installation of mechanical and utility equipments, construction of walls and fences, and repaving of drive- ways. The number of permits issued in 2012 was 1,932. This is a 10% decrease in permits is- sued from 2011. Since 2006, the City has experienced a 33% decr ease in permits issued. 14 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 General Plan 2012 Implementation Status 15 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Chapter 1: Land Use Element The Land Use chapter establishes the policies fo r determining where ce rtain land uses, such as residential, commercial, industrial, are mo st desirable. The Land Use chapter defines the physical areas in the City serving the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors. Updates: Adopt a comprehensive update of the Zoning chapter of the municipal code (Program 1.3.2.1.). The new Zoning Code was adopted by the City Council and be- came effective in November of 2008. Periodically, the Pl anning Division amended a “clean-up” to the Zoning Code to correct typographical, grammatical errors, and minor inconsistencies. Continue the revitalization of commerc ial and industrial corridors (Program 9.1.1.5.). With the new addition of the Downey Gateway project, Firestone Boulevard between Downey Avenue and La Reina Av enue have become the new face in the downtown area. The improvem ent of new store front include: Porto’s Bakery, Club DB Lounge, Kumon Learning Cent er, Tacos Don Chente, and Cro ss Fit Training Center. Promote Downtown Downey as a destinat ion draw for entertainment and dining uses (Program 1.1.5.2.). The View Housing project and the recently constructed Downey Gateway project hope to promote Down town Downey as a destination. Addi- tionally, in 2012, a few restaurants and l ounges opened to the downt own. Bastards BBQ Restaurant replaced the fo rmer Downey BBQ Restaurant. Establish a permit tracking syst em (Program 9.4.2.3.) Since the adoption of Accela Automation in 2010, City staff members continue to attend Accela training/conference. The Accela system allows staff to better tr ack construction permits and property infor- mation. This instruction has provided staff wi th additional tools and training to allow for expansion and better utiliz ation of the system. Expand the use of the city internet we b site for public information (Program 9.4.2.5.) Staff continues to monitor and update the Department’s webpage to provide new and important documents to the public. In addition, Staff provides PDF versions of Planning Commission Minutes, Agendas, and staff reports on the City webpage (www.downeyca.org). This allows easy access to various projects in the City. A link to the Department’s documents can now be f ound on the Community Department’s web- page. 16 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Chapter 2: Circulation Element The safe and efficient movement of people and goods through cities is provided by a circula- tion system ranging from sidewalks to roadways. As population and econo mic growth contin- ues, cities have the challenge of improving the circulation system to deal with increased de- mands. The growth also impacts the infrastr ucture needed to provide utilities and other ser- vices needed for those who live, work, and visit the City. Updates: Traffic Congestion Maintain intersections and street seg ments at acceptable service levels and not worsen those intersections and street segments currently operating at unaccept- able levels (Program 2.1.1.1.). The Bellflower Boulevard at Imperial Highway Intersec- tion improvement Project will in volve widening each of the four approaches of the inter- section in order to construct additional le ft-turn lanes in the southbound and northbound directions and provide exclusive right-t urn lanes in the eastbound, southbound and northbound directions, in order to maintain an acceptable leve l-of-service at this inter- section during peak hours into the future. Curr ently, this project is in the right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation phases. Projec t completion is anticipated by December 2013. The Paramount Boulevard at Firestone Boulev ard Intersection Improvement Project will involve the widening of each of the four approaches of the in tersection to facilitate con- struction of additional left-turn lanes in each of the four dire ctions and an exclusive right- turn lane and additional through lane in the eas tbound direction in order to maintain an acceptable level-of-service at this intersection into the future. The re-design for this pro- ject to include the additional left-turn lanes is complete. Project completion is antici- pated by December 2013. The Lakewood Boulevard Improvem ents Project - Phases 3B and 3C will extend previ- ously-completed phases of t he Lakewood Boulevard Improv ements Project northerly from Florence Avenue to Gallatin Road (Phase 3B) and from Gallatin Road to Telegraph Road (Phase 3C). This project will involve the widening of Lakewood Boulevard in order to provide three lanes in each direction. Th e project is currently in the design phase and right-of-way acquisition phases. In addition, the design proc ess is under way for the re- location of existing overhead utilities to under ground. Project comple tion is anticipated by December 2015. 17 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Develop a signal system master plan to pr omote state-of-the-art intelligent trans- portation system (ITS) improvements to better service on-going traffic conditions. (Program 2.1.1.3.). Over the past several years, the City of Downey has been expand- ing the traffic signal control system incrementa lly. Initially, the Traffic Management Cen- ter (TMC) was implemented at City Hall and the first fiber-opt ic traffic signal communica- tions systems were installed along the Lak ewood Boulevard and Firestone Boulevard corridors. Additional systems have since been implemented in the field and the City is currently in the process of upgrading the system software and other elements of the TMC to maintain pave with technologies and replace obsolete hardware and software. The Paramount Boulevard Traffic Signal Comm unication System Project between Tele- graph Road and Lubec Street, was completed in December 2011. The second phase of this project, which will involv e the expansion of the City’s traffic signal communication system on Paramount Blvd. between Lubec Str eet and Gardendale Street , is anticipated to commence in the fall 2013 and be completed by Spring 2014. The Florence Avenue Traffic Signal Communi cation System was completed during sum- mer 2012. The Bellflower Boulevard & Stewart and Gr ay Road Traffic Signal Communication Sys- tem was completed during summer 2012. Los Angeles County installed fiber-optic communications along Telegraph Road be- tween Paramount Boulevard and the east city limit and along Imperial Highway between Old River School Road and Bellflow er Boulevard as part of the Gateway Cities Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Forum. Both systems have been integrated into the City’s system and connect with the cities of Santa Fe Springs and Norwalk to the east. Los Angeles County also recent ly installed Closed-Circuit Te levision (CCTV) cameras at the intersections of Firestone Boulevard at Paramount Boulevard, Firestone Boulevard at Lakewood Boulevard, Imperia l Highway at Paramount Boulevard, Imperial Highway at Lakewood Boulevard and Imperial Highway at Bellflower Boulev ard in order to allow for remote traffic surveillance at these locati ons. The CCTV images can be viewed from the City’s TMC. Encourage appropriate turn lanes and ot her operational improvements at major arterial intersections identified as congested (Program 2.1.1.6.). Major capacity improvements were added to the following intersections: The Paramount Boulevard and Firestone Boul evard Intersection Im provement Project will add additional left-turn lanes on each of the four approaches at the intersection and will add an additional through lane and an exclusiv e right-turn lane in the eastbound di- rection. The Bellflower Boulevard at Imperial Highway Intersection Improvement Project will add additional left-turn lanes in the northbound and southbound directions as well as exclu- sive right-turn lanes in the eastbound, southbound and northbound at the intersection. 18 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 The Lakewood Boulevard Improv ements Project Phase 3B will add exclusive right-turn lane in the westbound directi on at the Gallatin Road inters ection. The Lakewood Boule- vard Improvements Project P hase 3C will add exclusive right-turn lanes in the east- bound and northbound directions and additional le ft-turn lanes in the westbound and northbound directions at the Telegraph Ro ad and Lakewood Boulevard intersections. The City is also in the process of implement ing operational improvements at several in- tersections involving traffic signal upgrades, in cluding recent upgrades completed at four intersections along Paramount Boulevard ei ght intersections along Florence Avenue and upgrades soon to be completed at the intersections of Woodruff Avenue at Washburn Road, Woodruff Avenue at Via Amorit a Street (involving a new installation) and Imperial Highway. at Columbia Way. Establish a development recovery fee pr ogram to require new developments and expansions of existing developments to pay the cost of circulation improvements (Program 2.1.2.1.). The Public Works Department collec ts developer fees on a case-by- case basis by the Public Works Department through the development plan review proc- ess. Over the last seven y ears, approximately $411,000 has been collected. In addition, the City recently participated in a pilot study sponsored by the Los Angeles County Met- ropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) in volving a proposed countywide developer fee which, if established, w ould provide the mechanism for collecting fees from develop- ers in order to mitigate their traffic impacts. Ensure the mitigation of off-site traffic impacts by development projects to the maximum extent feasible, incl uding the installation or upgrade of traffic signals at intersections and/or contribution of its fair-share towards mitigating impacts (Program 2.1.2.2.). The Public Works Department cont inued to monitor the potential traffic generation on a case-by-case basis. If trip generation thresholds in accordance with the LA County Congestion Management Program of 50 ve hicle trips during either AM or PM peak hour ar e exceeded, a traffic impact analysi s study is required which will determine mitigation measures necessary to o ffset the impacts created by the develop- ment or the amount of development fee to be collected. For example, traffic studies were recently completed for a proposed condom inium complex located at the northwest corner of Lakewood Boulevard at Gallati n Road as well as a proposed commercial de- velopment involving a restaurant at 8613 Firestone Blvd. Promote site designs, street patterns, an d street signalization that discourage the use of local streets as through routes (Program 2.1.2.4.). The Lakewood Boulevard Improvement Project wil l involve the widening of the fac ility to provide three through lanes in each direction between Florenc e Avenue and Telegraph Road. Furthermore, the traffic signal communicati on system projects mentioned in Program 2.1.1.3 will im- prove mobility along the Paramount Boulevar d, Florence Avenue, and Bellflower Boule- vard corridors. These improvements will help minimize intrusion through residential neighborhoods. In addition, sp eed bumps were recently installed along Ardis Avenue between Imperial Highway and Gardendale Street in order to discourage speeding and the use of this street for through traffic. 19 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Truck Traffic Co-ordinate with local, regional, and stat e agencies involved in mitigating truck traffic impacts in the regi on (Program 2.3.1.2.). The Public Works Department issues overload permits to ensure that the correct haul routes are utiliz ed through the City and that proper arrangements have been made in advance. In addition, the City partnered with the Gateway Cities Council of Government s for the implementation of truck circula- tion improvements at the Fl orence Avenue at I-5/ I-605 off-ramp and Studebaker Road. intersections. Widen street right-of-way to accommodate truck turning movements (Program 2.3.1.3.). The two intersection improv ement projects referenced in Programs 2.1.1.1 and 2.1.1.6 will include the reconstruc tion of the curb returns at each of the four corners of the two intersections to provide larger turn radii (40’-50’) in order to accommodate truck turning movements at the two intersections . Also, the Lakewood Boulevard Improve- ment Project will involve sim ilar improvements at the Florence Ave and Telegraph Road intersections along Lakewood Blvd in order to fa cilitate truck turns at these intersections. Discourage truck parking on public streets (Program 2.3.2.1.). Municipal Code Sec- tion 3185(b) prohibits parking of commercial vehicles ex ceeding 6,000 lbs. manufac- turer’s unladed weight or 84 inches in height or width on all public streets with the ex- ception of those streets loca ted within areas zoned industrial. The Public Works Depart- ment continues to implement parking prohibitions of large co mmercial vehicles on public streets where transient parking of these vehicles has been observed. Maintain landscape islands on and/or adj acent to truck routes with mature speci- men fully grown landscape screens to mini mize noise, dust, a nd visual impacts (Program 2.3.2.2.). The Lakewood Boulevard Improvem ent Project (Phase 3A) com- pleted in February 2012, included new landsc aping and irrigation within the median is- th lands between 5 Street/Cecilia Street and Florenc e Avenue. The Firestone Boulevard (West) Improvement Project will include the construction of new landscaped median is- lands and irrigation between Old River School Road and Paramount Boulevard. Project completion is anticipated by December 2013. In addition, the Lakewood Blvd. Improve- ment Project Phases 3B & 3C will involve the construction of masonry walls along the median islands adjacent to t he frontage roads along this portion of Lakewood Blvd. in order to replace the large sh rubbery, to be removed as par t of the project, which cur- rently screens the adjacent residential nei ghborhood from noise, dust and visual impacts created by the busy Lakewood Blvd. corridor. Ensure that land uses generating high amount s of truck traffic provide compensa- tion to the City for projected pavement wear of public streets (P rogram 2.3.2.4.). The City receives up to $5 m illion annually from the Capital Improvement Program for the rehabilitation and reconstructi on of the City’s arterial, collector, and local streets. Kelterite Asphalt Plant company recently co mpleted, the resurfacing of Pangborn Ave- nue between Washburn Rd. and Seaaca St. to mi tigate the impacts created by the large volume of semi-trucks which travel to and fr om the asphalt plant via this section of Pangborn Avenue. 20 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Regional Traffic Coordinate with CalTrans, MTA, SCAG, Gateway Cities COG and other agencies to promote multi-modal improvement strategi es to improve the regional transporta- tion network (Program 2.4.1.1). The Public Works Departm ent coordinates with Cal- trans, Metro, SCAG and Gateway Cities CO G through discretionary funding processes and other programs such as the Congesti on Management Program, Highway Perform- ance Monitoring Survey (HPMS) on an on-going basis to promote multi-modal improve- ment strategies to improve t he regional transportation network. In addition, staff coordinates with the I-5 Join t Powers Authority (JPA) on the I-5 Widen- ing Project and with the Gateway Cities C OG on the I-710 Freeway, I-605/I-405/SR91 Corridors and the I-605 Freeway Congestion Ho t Spots Studies. The Gateway Cities COG has also initiated the preparation of a comprehensive transportation study of the Gateway Cities subregion. This study will ev aluate all modes of transportation through- out the subregion, inclusive of tr ansit and non-motorized transportation. Comply with provisions of the Congesti on Management Plan, adopted by Los An- geles County (Program 2.4.1.4). The City complies with the L.A. County Congestion Management Plan (CMP) annually through the prepar ation of the Local Implementation Report (Community Development Department) and Biennial Highway Monitoring (Public Works Department), as required by statute. In addition, t he City holds land developers accountable for their impacts by requiring tr affic impact analyses (TIA ) to be completed in accordance with L.A. County CMP TIA guidelines. Infrastructure and Maintenance Promote the expansion of communication networ ks to meet the needs of city resi- dents, businesses, and other la nd uses (Program 2.7.1.2.) The Public Works Depart- ment continues to maintain and update the Cit y’s traffic signal communication system on all major and primary arterials (i.e., Lakew ood Boulevard, Firestone Boulevard, Para- mount Boulevard, and Florenc e Avenue). The projects will integrate with water well sites, as they recently have with the Pub lic Works Maintenance and Utilities Yards, to enhance communications with City Hall in terms of speed, capacity, and reliability. Develop master plans to identify needs, priorities, and cost for infrastructure maintenance and upgrades (Program 2.7.2.2). The Public Works Department recently updated its Pavement Management Information S ystem (PMIS) in fall 2012, to reflect current pavement conditions on the City’s arte rial, collector and local streets to comply with funding requirements and to provide the latest information in terms of pavement maintenance and rehabilitation priorities. The City also recently applied for a grant th rough Caltrans to fund the development of a Bicycle Master Plan (BMP). The BMP will serve as a bluepr int for the planning and im- plementation of the City’s bi cycle transportation system. T he City is also proposing a facilities master plan to asse ss the needs of impr oving the City’s facilities to current standards. 21 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Chapter 3: Housing Element The California State Legislatur e has identified the “Attainment of a decent home and suitable living environment for every citiz en”, as the State’s major housing goal. Accordingly, the State of California mandates t hat each county and city maintain a Housing Element in their General Plan. Section 65583 of the Government Code sets forth the specific components to be con- tained in a community’s housing element, includ ing the City’s share of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). In addition to providing assistance and guidance for the City’s Housing Element, the Housing Division administers a variety of programs. The followi ng is in regards to Chapter 8 of The Housing Element programs administe red under the Housing Division: 2. HOUSING IMPROVEMENTS Objective: Fund 30 rehabilit ation projects per year. Time Frame: Hous ing Element 2008-2014. Status: 12 rehabilitation projects were funded in 2012, with a total of $160,000 in improvements to residential properti es occupied by low or moderate income households. 3. SENIOR PAINT/FIX-UP PROGRAM Objective: Assist 30 households annually. Time Frame: Hous ing Element 2008-2014. Status: This program was inactive in 2012 and replaced with Grant and Rebate Program. 8. TRANSITIONAL AND SUPPORTI VE HOUSING AND EMERGENCY SHELTERS Objective: Revise Zoning Code to permit land use. Time Frame: By June, 2014. Status: In May 2013, the City Counc il adopted the Negative Declaration and approved the Code Amendment to bri ng the City into compliance with SB 2. The approval of the Code Am endment will include provisions for emergency shelters, transitional hous ing, supportive housing, and sin- gle resident occupancies. 10. AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM Objective: Provide rehabilitation grants for affordable housing units. Time Frame: H ousing Element 2008-2014. Status: Due to the loss of funding, the City’s redevelopment agency has been eliminated. As a result, the program was replaced by Grant and Rebate Program. Twelve (12) affordable hous ing units were rehabilitated in 2012. In addition, “The View” 50-unit housing project was successful with their latest application for federal tax credits, which resulted in $9.1 million in project financing. This is t he largest source of funding, repre- senting 47 percent of The View’s fi nancing. Construction is expected to complete in the spring of 2015. 22 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 12. FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER Objective: Assist low income homebuyers. Time Frame: Hous ing Element 2008-2014. Status: No new loans were financed in 2012, because the program was inac- tive as funding was unavailable. 13. MORTGAGE CREDI T CERTIFICATE PROGRAM Objective: Provide ongoing promotional and marketing suppor t of the County’s Program. Time Frame: Hous ing Element 2008-2014. Status: There were a small number of r eal estate transactions in Downey that utilized this Program in 2012. The Cit y continues to participate and ad- vertises its availability. 14. SECTION 8 RENTAL ASSISTANCE Objective: Continue support of the County’s Program. Time Frame: Housing Element 2008-2014 Status: An average of no less than 500 households were assisted in the Sec- tion 8 Housing Program and received r ent subsidies from the County of Los Angeles, Housing Authority, enabl ing them to preserve affordable housing. (This space left intentionally blank) 23 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Chapter 4: Conservation Element The City of Downey and the rest of southern Ca lifornia enjoy a temperat e climate, access to both beaches and mountains and many other amenities not found in many other parts of the world. The quality of life that the region offers its residents is one of the main reasons the re- gion continues to attract visitors and newcomers . However, southern California is a semi-arid desert environment with lim ited natural resources. These lim ited resources, need to be pre- served for continued use by existing residents and by future generations. Water Supply Continue providing information to the pub lic promoting the benefits of water con- servation (Program 4.1.1.1.). The Public Works Department continues to provide pub- lic education on water use habits and drought tolerant landscaping via the Environ- mental Fair, Street Fair, and landscaping workshops; the LivingWise school and house- hold conservation education and coordination wit h CBWMD for the distribution of rebate incentives and plumbing retrofit hardware to the City’s wate r customers. The Public Works Department has also dev eloped a handout of key water conservation tips along with a more exhaustive list of conservation id eas which included on the City’s website. Develop, through the municipal water comp any financial incentives for water us- ers, to conserve water, including indivi dual meters and a tiered billing structure that charges excessive wate r use at a higher rate (Program 4.1.1.2.). The City adopted new water rates beginning the month of No vember 2012 for the first time in 16 years. The new rate structure has both a fixed bi-monthly water meter charge based on the size of the meter and a variable bi monthly water usage component based on me- tered bi-monthly water use. The Public Works Department requires developers of multi- ple unit residential and busines s to install separate meters for each unit thereby making the tenant of each unit responsible for their own water use. This method of making each tenant/owner responsible for their own water use has been proven to promote water conservation. Promote the continued use of water con servation methods at city-owned facili- ties, such as parks and golf courses (Program 4.1.1.3.). The City currently maintains 26 recycled water services/meters for use at City Park and golf course ponds, and for irrigation of landscaping at parks, golf course, and medians/p arkways. The City contin- ues to look for additional opportunities to ex pand its use of recycled water at City-owned and other sites as recycled water becomes avail able. Some of the larger City locations where recycled water is currently used incl ude: Downey Cemetery, Independence Park, Rio San Gabriel Park, Wilderness Park, Rio Hondo Golf Course, Crawford Park, and Temple Park, as well as the new Columbia Memorial Space Center and Sports Park. Encourage the use of reclaimed water, or re-use of water on-site, for new and re- development projects (P rogram 4.1.1.4). The Public Works Department continues to require developers to install recycled water services/piping and meters where recycled water is located in proxim ity to the development. 24 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Expand the availability of reclaimed wate r by extending the dual-pipe water sys- tem (Program 4.1.1.5.). The City has taken the lead on the construction of recycled water facilities through several of its recent capital improvement projects allowing for ex- tension of recycled water mains on several ma jor streets over the past years including Lakewood Boulevard and Congressman Steve Ho rn Way. Additional expansions are currently planned in conjunction with t he Tierra Luna development project. Review periodically water service rates a nd fees to ensure that adequate funds are available for maintenance of the system (Program 4.1.2.3.). The City adopted a new tiered water rate structur e beginning the month of Nove mber 2012. The new rate structure was designed to establish a self -supporting Water Fund to recover the annual operation and maintenance and capital improvem ent program costs of providing water service as the City’s Water Fund had fallen into a deficit due to the lack of a water rate increase over the previous 16 y ears. To minimize impacts to customers, the recently adopted rate increase is being phased in over five years. Stormwater Quality Provide treatment of runoff generated by properties on-site before release into the storm drain system (P rogram 4.3.1.1.). During 2012, 11 development and redevelop- ment projects were approved for constructi on with infiltration systems to capture and store runoff to reduce pollutant transport and augment local water levels beneath the ground. As public, commercial and residential projects are redevel oped, runoff control measures are implemented in the form of infiltration result ing in a steady improvement in water quality and local water levels. Promote effective street cl eaning (Program 4.3.1.3.). Publically owned streets in the City of Downey are vacuum swept at leas t weekly by Nationwide Environmental Ser- vices. These streets are posted with “No Pa rking” signs during the appointed period and Parking Enforcement Officers accompany the sweeper vehicle. Residents utilizing a Street Sweeping Parking Permit are responsib le for maintaining the street area that their vehicle prevents from being cleaned. T he sweeper truck also cleans City parking lots weekly. Encourage proper storage and handling of construction materials to avoid the contact of pollutants with storm water runoff during construction (Program 4.3.1.4.). Public Works, Code Enforcement, and Bu ilding and Safety staff continue to share responsibility for implementing this pr ogram. Public Works focuses on construc- tion projects in the public right of way, prepar ation and review of erosion control plans by developers, compliance by large state per mitted construction sites and responding to complaints of materials in the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4), which in- cludes streets, alleys and drains. Building and Safety is prim arily responsible for on-site or private property conditions, while Code En forcement responds to resident complaints and provides more aggressive enforcement capabilities to suppl ement other st aff efforts. 25 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Preserve existing naturally vegetated areas and encourage re-vegetation and soil restoration where feasible (Program 4.3.1.5.). For many years there have been no “existing naturally vegetated ar eas” within the City of Downey. There is a small area to the south of Wilderness Park planted with nat ive vegetation, but resource limitations have limited maintenance at this site or furt her implementation or this program. Devel- opers are required to provide landscaping during redevelopment to encourage percola- tion of storm water runoff for water quality improvement. Tree Preservation Discourage the removal of trees on pr ivate and public property (Program 4.4.1.1.). The revised landscape standards in the new Zoning Code (adopted October 28, 2008), encourages the preservation of mature landscaping when a site is redevel- oped. The Public Works Department continues to discourage the remo val of trees from public property in general and requires permits to be pulled when a tree is considered for removal, particularly mature trees. A dditionally, Section 7607 of the Downey Munici- pal Code outlines specific criteria for remova l of street trees withi n the public right-of- way, but does not apply to private trees. The City also conducts a public outreach effort to educate its citizens about t he benefits of planting and pres erving trees. Also, informa- tive pamphlets that include tips on purchasi ng, planting and caring for trees are avail- able at all City facilities, incl uding City Hall, Downey Librar y, the Community Center, and Barbara Riley Center. Adopt a tree preservation ordinance requi ring a permit to remove mature trees (Program 4.4.1.2.). In 1998, the City Coun cil adopted Ordinance No. 1059, adding Sec- tions 7600 – 7611 to the Downey Municipal Code pertaining to th e management of park- way trees and it is continuously enforced. Section 7605 of the Downey Municipal Code specifies… “No public str eet tree will be removed/plant ed without having obtained a per- mit from the Public Works Department. Additiona lly, it is the policy of the Public Works Department that when a tree is removed from public property, a new tree from the list of approved species is planted in its place. Promote the installation of new trees when damaged or dying trees are removed (Program 4.4.1.3.). The City’s development standards encourage planting increased tree canopy to offset the loss of significant trees on private proper ty and to reap the maximum benefits that trees provide. Se ction 7605 of the Downey Municipal Code specifies that… “Any public st reet tree removed shall be repl aced if a replacement is deemed appropriate and if it is mutually ag reed to by both the City and the Property owner.” The Public Works Department continues to enforce this program. 26 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Air Quality Coordinate with other agencies, including school districts, transit agencies, and regional agencies, including S outh Coast Air Quality Mana gement District and the Southern California Associat ion of Governments, in their efforts to implement the regional Air Quality Management Plan a nd otherwise improve air quality (Program 4.5.1.1.). Annually, the City submits it’s emissions reduction program for approval by the Air Quality Management District (AQMD). Support regional and sub-regional efforts in strategically managing goods move- ments in order to reduce emissions from truck traffic (Program 4.5.1.2.) and re- duce air particulate and other pollutants cr eated by, but not limited to the opera- tion of diesel engine and increased truck traffic from marine and port operations in the Long Beach and Los Angeles ports and City operations, especially along the I-710 freeway corridor (Program 4.5.1.3.). The Public Works Department and City Manager’s office continue to coordinate with various regional agencies (i.e., Caltrans, Gateway Cities COG, I-5 JPA, etc.) in the planning and implementation process for the widening of the I-710 and I-5 Freeways. Both projects will provide improved mobility for trucks and a reduction in truck-related emissions. Encourage alternative modes of travel, su ch as walking and cycling, to vehicle use and alternative modes of employ ment, such as telecommuting and home- based businesses, to reduce emissions asso ciated with vehicle use (Program 4.5.1.4.). The Public Works Department continues to encourage walking as an alternate mode of travel through the impl ementation of various projec ts. In addition, the City’s “Thumbs Up Commuting Program” offers incent ives for those who use alternate modes of travel to get to work. This includes ca rpools, rapid transit, bicycling and walking. Fur- ther, the permission of “home o ccupation” in all residentia l zones allows business own- ers to work and communicate with busine ss partners and custom ers without leaving their homes. Energy Resources Provide incentives for people to use renewal energy sources such as solar energy (Program 4.6.1.1.). With the availability of Stat e and Federal rebates and incentives programs, the City continues to encourage the use of sola r panels on residential, com- mercial, industrial and public facilities. With the exception of residential properties, how- ever, the installation of the solar systems may require the approval of a Site Plan Re- view application from the Planning Commissi on. This helps to ensure such solar equip- ments will not aesthetically impact s the surrounding properties. Solid Waste Disposal Promote educational programs to explain th e benefits of recycling and source re- duction (Program 4.7.1.1). Due to cutback on State and Federal funding, the Public Works Department eliminated their annual recycling program involving school artwork contest to promote used oil recycling. 27 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Chapter 5: Safety Element Natural and non-natural hazards present a variet y of risks to persons who live, work, and visit the City. The aim of the City is to reduce the potential risk of death, injuries, property damage, and the economic and social disloc ation resulting from hazards. Disaster Response Maintain an emergency operation plan to provide response to a variety of poten- tial hazards (Program 5.1.2.1.). In 2012, the Downey Em ergency Preparedness Com- mittee (EPC) and the Community Emergency Re sponse Team (CERT) distributed over 1,000 emergency storage water barrels to comm unity members. The program is aimed at the biggest emergency pr eparedness problem for most communities, a lack of pota- ble water immediately after an emergency. Monitor the location, type of facility, and amount of hazardous materials kept at properties (Program 5.2.1.2.). The Fire Department continues to monitor and inspect all facilities that handle hazar dous materials at or above t he reportable quantities as set forth in the California Health & Safety Code (§25503.5). Inspections are conducted every other year to ensure compliance with both the Fire and Health & Safety Codes. These inspections frequency exceed the Stat e’s requirement for hazardous materials inspection to occur once every three years. Promote public information regarding the types of hazardous materials, which may include common household items, and the proper method of disposal (Program 5.2.1.3.). The Downey Fire Department cont inues to update its website to provide the up-to-date information on the sa fe handling and disposal of hazardous mate- rials. The website’s Em ergency Preparedness section contains information on hazard- ous material awareness and safety, in addition to educational information on fire safety. Hazardous Materials Ensure proper disclosure of amounts of ha zardous materials by existing uses and proposed uses, during the business r eview process (Pr ogram 5.2.1.4.). All new businesses handling hazardous materials are c aptured during the business license ap- plication process. Once identified as a handler of hazardous ma terials, these busi- nesses receive an inspection from Downey Fi re Department’s Hazardous Material Sec- tion to ensure accurate disclosure of t he hazardous substances, and the safe handling and storage of the materials. The facilities are then entered into the Fire Department’s database, issued an operational permit, and pl aced on a routine inspection frequency. Ensure that properties involving hazard ous materials dispose of waste properly (Program 5.2.2.1). Residential properties hazardous waste disposal is managed by Downey Public Works Integrated Waste C oordinator. Businesses handling hazardous waste are permitted and inspec ted by the County of Los Angeles Fire Department Health-Hazardous Materials Division. 28 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Promote the convenient “drop-off” collect ion for the disposal of hazardous waste generated by residential households and other land uses (Program 5.2.2.2). Over the years the convenient dr op-off hazardous waste collection sites were managed by Downey Public Works Integrated Waste Coor dinator. However, due to cutback on State and Federal funding and the limited of City’s res ources, the residents are referred to dis- pose hazardous waste materials to either the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County Household Hazardous Waste Co llection Program or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Safe Drug Drop-off Program which accepts ex pired prescription medications and sharps (i.e., needles). Adapt a code amendment to require a c onditional use permit for existing and pro- posed facilities with hazardous materials (Program 5.2.2.3). At present, the Downey Municipal Code requires an approv al of a Conditional Use Pe rmit for all proposed facili- ties handling hazardous materials (i.e. servic e stations, automobile washing facilities, ambulance storage & repair facilities). Monitor continually the natural gas pipelines for leaks (P rogram 5.2.2.4). Natural gas pipelines are regulated by the California State Fire Marshall. Review continually that Hazardous Mate rials Emergency Response Plan has ade- quate resources (Program 5.2.2.6.). The City of Downey’s Hazardous Materials Emer- gency Response Plan (or Hazmat Area Plan) was completed and approved by the Cali- fornia Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) in 2010. However, under State Law, the plan is required to be updated every three years. Current ly, the Fire Department is working on updating the plan and is expectin g to complete in the fall of 2013. Downey Fire’s internal hazardous mate rials emergency response policies and proce- dures are reviewed annually as part of the department’s contin uing education. Addition- ally, Downey Fire Department annually par ticipates in a regional hazmat drill. Fire Protection Promote adequate widths on travel lanes along street and alleys to accommodate emergency vehicles (Pr ogram 5.3.1.2.). The Fire Prevention Bureau personnel, under the direction of the Fire Depar tment Chief, continues to diligen tly review plans to ensure emergency vehicle access through str eets and alleys will be accommodated. Ensure that development projects install fi re hydrants, water mains, or otherwise contribute its fair share towards mitiga ting impacts on the fi re flow system (Program 5.3.2.3.). Requirements for additional fire hydrants are determined through the plan check process. In 2012, seven new fire hydrants were installed at various loca- tions throughout the City. 29 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Fire Protection Promote the use of fire sprinklers for new, expanded, and remodeled develop- ments (Program 5.3.2.4.). The Downey Municipal Code r equires sprinkler systems for new commercial development over 3,600 sq. ft . and tenant improvements of commercial properties, whose permit valuat ions exceed 50 percent of the value of the building. Ensure access for emergency vehicles thr ough security pedestrian and vehicular gates (Program 5.3.2.6.). Downey Municipal Code Sect ion 9710.04 requires vehicle access through security gates fo r multiple family residential developments is to be main- tained at not less than 20 feet in width and 40 feet in depth (measures from the street property line). Police Protection Maintain an acceptable response time for police emergency service calls (Program 5.4.1.2.). The Police Department continues to maintain a swift response time to high priority emergency calls that require immediate assistance to ensure the public’s safety. Coordinate with Federal, State, and C ounty agencies to address illegal activities (Program 5.4.1.7.). The Police Department’s Special En forcement Team continues to work in conjunction with the State’s Alcoho l Beverage Control (ABC) to monitor and en- force applicable liquor laws at alcohol es tablishments throughout the City. Promote the increased visibility of poli ce in neighborhoods (Program 5.4.2.1.). The Neighborhood Preservation Unit continues to proactively patrol areas in need of upkeep and maintenance. The unit consists of offi cers and a Sergeant assigned to specific tar- get areas of the City. The goal of the program is to a ssist the community with quality of life issues such as trash, graffiti, and abandoned vehicles. Support community organizations and neighborhood awareness programs that promote crime prevention, including preventi ng gang activity (Program 5.4.2.2.). The Department continues to participate in aw areness programs, such as Gangs Out of Downey, and promotes crim e prevention through its par ticipation in Neighborhood Watch. In addition, the Department is invo lved in other programs such as School Re- source Officers and Robbery & Burglary Suppre ssion. These programs allow officers to work closely with school administrators dea ling with various issues on campuses and provide extra support for patrol personnel. 30 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Earthquake Safety Monitor groundwater table levels as they re late to liquefaction hazards (Program 5.5.1.3.). Public Works regularly monitors ground water levels at well sites around the City of Downey. The ground water table is typically about 50’ below the soil surface, which limits the risk of liquefaction to re sidential and typical commercial structures. Lar- ger structures and those with significant subterranean components may be requested to provide additional seismic eval uations during the development process or as a condition of Site Plan Review (SPR) approval. Ensure the placement of utility lines underground (Program 5.5.1.6.). The Depart- ment of Public Works continues to implem ent Underground Utility Districts (currently construction in District 21 and designing Distri ct 22). Office Engine ering plan checks call for the use of vaults and pull boxes when appr opriate, but many utilities assert the need to use above ground structures to protect their lines from the intrusion of moisture. Floods Continue to participate in the Federa l Emergency Management Agency flood pro- gram (Program 5.6.1.1.). The City of Downey participates in the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) program. However, sinc e 2002, all but a small portion of the City within the Rio Hondo Channel it self is in the X flood zone. All plan checks are required to note the flood map and flood zone fo r the parcel and proposed project. Educate the public that the City is located in an “X” flood zone where flood insur- ance is no longer mandatory (Program 5.6.1.2.). Handouts regarding the current FIRM and flood zoning are available from the Public Works counter, or can be faxed, or emailed. While the public may be educated that flood insur ance is not mandatory, they must also be cautioned that a flood risk re mains, normally between 1 percent and 0.2 percent per year. FIRM information can be found at www.fema.gov website. Mitigate hazards from possible dam or levee failure, including the raising of bridges and levees along rivers, includi ng in areas outside the City (Program 5.6.1.3.). The City of Downey conti nues to support efforts by the Army Corps of Engi- neers (ACOE), FEMA, Caltrans, and the County of Los Angele s, in reducing the flood risk from dam or levee failure; however, maintenance and replacem ent of bridges, lev- ees, and dams is primarily under the cont rol and undertaken with funds provided by these agencies. 31 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Minimize increases in the amount of stor mwater generated by existing and pro- posed land uses (Program 5.6.2.1.). Downey Public Works D epartment continues to enforce National Pollutant Discharge Eliminat ion System (NPDES) requirements, during plan checks for new and redevelopment projec ts with 5,000 square feet or more of new or replacement impervious surfaces, which are generally required to provide infiltration volume commensurate with an instantaneous 0. 75” storm falling on the new or replace- ment impervious surface. Larger developments are requi red to prepare a Standard Ur- ban Stormwater Mitigation Plan and demonstrate that no increase in peak runoff rate will be observed as a result of t he development and that at leas t the instantaneous first 0.75 inch of projected runoff can be infiltrated. Vehicular Traffic Promote the parking and access agreements and parking consolidation to reduce the number of driveway access points on streets (Progr am 5.7.1.6.). The City con- tinues to encourage the consolidation of par king and imposes reciprocal access agree- ments upon adjacent developments through the plan review process, for the purpose of minimizing driveway curb cuts. Require street lights for new devel opments (Program 5.7.1.2.). For certain develop- ments, the City requires develop ers to install new street li ghts adjacent to the develop- ment within the public-right-of-way as a conditi on of approval where streetlights currently do not exist. In addition, as a condition of approval through the development plan review process, applicants are required to give their consent to the annexation of their property into the City of Downey Lighting Maintenance District in accordance with Division 15 of the Streets and Highways Code, and to incorpor ate or annex into a new or existing Benefit Assessment or Munici pal Improvement District, in accordance with Division 10 and Division 12 of the Streets and Highways Code and/or Division 2 of the Government Code of the State of California. Establish a development recovery fee pr ogram to require new developments and expansions of existing developments to f und the cost of str eetlights (Program 5.7.1.3.). A development fee program co vering the cost of the installation of new street lights will be considered as a component of the Street Light Master Plan. Adopt a Master Plan for inst allation of sidewalks for major arterials, secondary ar- terials, collector streets and sc hool routes (Program 5.7.2.1.). Sidewalks are con- structed along major arterials, secondary arteri als, collector streets and school routes on a prioritized, as-needed basis as funding will allo w. Priority is given to school routes. Encourage the installation of sidewal ks in new developments and major remodel- ing consistent with the sidewalk Master Plan (Pr ogram 5.7.2.2.). The City requires the construction of new sidewalks and the r epair of existing sidewalks and disabled ramps for new developments as a condition of approval through the development plan review process. 32 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Promote street intersection design and si gnalization that are safe and convenient to pedestrians and bicyc lists (Program 5.7.2.3.). Signalized and un-signalized inter- sections are designed to function in a safe and convenient manner for pedestrians and bicyclists to the extent possible through the implementation of Capi tal Improvement Pro- jects and through the Development Plan Revi ew and plan checking process when such improvements are construct ed by private development. Chapter 6: Noise Noise can be defined as unwant ed sound and is known to have several adverse effects on people. The most critical impact of noise exposure is hearing lo ss. Other effects are speech interference, sleep interference and annoyance. The City continues to enf orce noise ordinances. (This space left intentionally blank.) 33 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Chapter 7: Open Space Element Typical of most communities located within mature urbanized settings, Downey has a limited amount of open space areas. Open s pace areas are important not only to provide recreational activities for residents but also as a vi sual break from the built environment. Updates: Maintain an adequate level of recreational staffing at park facilities (Program 7.2.2.1.). Due to the downside of the economy and the loss of State and Federal fund- ing, the City of Downey was unable to add new staff member to the Community Ser- vices Department. Develop a Park Maintenance Master Plan to identify needed upgrades to existing park facilities (Pr ogram 7.2.2.2.). The Community Services D epartment is currently in partnership with the Cal Poly Pomona Department of Urban and Region al Planning to conducts a Needs Assessment program, whic h identifies needed upgrades to the exist- ing park facilities and other fac ilities operated by the Department. Provide funding for park improvements in the upgrades to existing park facilities in the Capital Improvement Pr ogram (Program 7.2.2.3.). The Community Services Department did not receive any fundi ng in 2012 for park improvements. Secure alternative means of funding, su ch as grants, donations, user fees and public/private partnerships, for park upgrades (Program 7.2.2.5.). The Department received a mini-grant from SCMAF for in-fie ld improvements at Columbus Adult School worth of $2,500. Construction started in la te 2012 to begin a park site improvement pro- ject at Treasure Island Park. Promote the creation of new parks, especially in areas of the city in the greatest need of additional parks (Program 7.3.1.1.). No public parks were added or proposed in 2012. Develop an open space area or plaza in the downtown area (Pr ogram 7.3.1.3.). The recently adopted Downtown Specific Plan encourages several open space opportunity sites that include green areas, plazas, and c ourtyards within the community. Addition- ally, a large civic center master plan devel opment within the City Hall that includes a civic park was recently approved by Souther n California Association of Governments (SCAG). 34 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Chapter 8: Design Element Most residents, visitors, and businesses in Downey recognize the City as the premiere City in the southeast area of Los Angeles County. However, others less fa miliar with the City’s history may not share this perception and judge Down ey solely on the physical appearance of the area. For this reason, it is important that the vi sual appearance of the community portray a positive image and that the community image disp lay the distinct and numerous resources it has to offer. Promote quality design for new, expanded, and remodeled construction (Goal 8.1). The City continues to implem ent the Site Plan Review pr ocess that requires Plan- ning Commission review and approval of the ex terior design, materials and colors for new constructions and/or additions to commercial building in the City. Lack of property maintenance may exhibit a negative image of th e City (Issue 8.2). The Code Enforcement Division continues monitoring and working with a significant number of property owner s, including residential properti es, commercial and industrial businesses, in an effort to keep these properties maintained. Promote compliance with code regulations (Policy 8.2.1.). The Code Enforcement Division continues to enforce citywide tem porary sign enforcement program and contin- ues issuing notices of violations. (This space left intentionally blank.) 35 City of Downey General Plan Annual Progress Report 2012 Chapter 9: Economic Development A strong community owes much to the spirit and involvement of its residents. Community pride and civic-mindedness, however, are not enough for a city to prov ide all necessary and desired services to maintain the local quality of life. A city needs a vari ety of employment and shopping opportunities to create balance, make it a de sirable place to live, and enhance its image. Develop economic strategies for business attraction and retention (Program 9.1.1.1.). City staff worked with 26 local restaurant s in the community to bring forth the third annual “Annual Taste of Downey Arts & Wine Festival” experience that was launched on September 20, 2012, in front of City Hall. Approximately 3,000 residents and visitors of Downey enjoyed the tastes and live entertainment throughout the event. Continue the revitalization of commerc ial and industrial corridors (Program 9.1.1.5.). The City continues to promote façade modifications along Firestone Boule- vard in Downtown lately …. Porto’s Bakery, Club DB Lounge, Kumon Learning Center, Tacos Don Chente, and the Downey Gatewa y project have been a catalyst to encour- age other property owners to invest in thei r properties. Downey has seen a trend of businesses along Firestone improving the façades of their buildings, which is changing the streetscape. Promote through public information the benefits of businesses locating in Downey (Program 9.1.1.7.). Economic Development staf f continues to update the “Opportunity Sites” and “R edevelopment Areas” web pages to facilitate development citywide at various locations. It’s a great tool to help attract and retain quality busi- nesses in Downey. The pages contain informa tion materials for businesses coming to the City and includes a guide to start up a business and links to view maps of different redevelopment project areas. Additionally, staff member s are engaged in entitlement assistance to attract key bus inesses to Downey and actively profile and market the many opportunity sites located in Downey. Convert paper-based informati on to digital-based formats to facilitate integration into interdepartmental information networks (Program 9.4.2.4.). The City contin- ues to operate and maintain Accela Land Management program, a software product that manages all land use and community devel opment activities such as permits, in- spections, reviews, zoning, project plans, and permits issued by Fire Administration, Code Enforcement, Business License, and Public Works. Expand the use of the city Internet we b site for public information (Program 9.4.2.5.). City Departments continue to work toward improved customer service by de- veloping handouts for the public that includ e information about City services, the per- mitting process, and business licensing. T he City continues to updat e it’s website and provide more information to constituents via the Internet. 36