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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMins-PWC-12-19-19MINUTES CITY OF DOWNEY - PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE December 19, 2019 MEMBERS PRESENT CITY STAFF PRESENT Carrie Uva, Dist. 1 Edwin J. Norris, Deputy Director of PW Beth Gendreau, Dist. 2 Baruc Bravo – Assistant Civil Engineer, PW Vacant – Dist. 2 Gigi Rodriguez – Engineering Div. Secretary, PW Joan Frey, Dist. 3 Dan Fox – Dist. 4 Maria Lourdes Cotaya, Dist. 5 OTHERS PRESENT Don Lamkin, Dist. 5 Residents of 7900 block of Devenir Avenue MEMBERS ABSENT Mariana Pacheco, Dist. 1 – absent Margarita Rogers, Dist. 3 – excused Adam Christin, Dist. 4 – excused I. CALL TO ORDER: Public Works Committee Chair Cotaya called the meeting to order at 4:13 P.M. II. CONSENT CALENDAR: Committee Member Uva made a motion to approve the Minutes of the November 21, 2019 meeting. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Gendreau. The Minutes were approved as written. III. OLD BUSINESS: None. IV. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Petition for Closure of Pedestrian Access between Paramount Boulevard and 7900 Block of Devenir Avenue Mr. Norris reported that during the month of October the City received multiple requests from Ms. Christina Reyes of the 7900 block of Devenir Avenue to close a pedestrian access between Paramount Boulevard and the 7900 block of Devenir Avenue due to security concerns in the area. Currently, the 7900 block of Devenir Avenue is physically accessible from Paramount Boulevard through an opening that provides accessibility for pedestrians to and from the 7900 block of Devenir Avenue and Paramount Boulevard. Staff prepared a petition and conveyed to Ms. Reyes to circulate among the residents of the 7900 block of Devenir Avenue. On December 9th the City received the completed petition which showed 92% level of support for the closure of the pedestrian access at Paramount Boulevard. On December 11th all residents located on the 7900 block of Devenir Avenue as well as those located within a 300 ft. radius MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE December 19, 2019 Page 2 were notified and invited to attend today’s meeting regarding the proposed closure of the pedestrian access. In order to implement the closure of the pedestrian access, the residents will be required to pull an encroachment permit from the Public Works Department, hire a contractor at their expense to install the gated closure and to execute an indemnity agreement with the City holding the residents responsible for the maintenance of the gated closure. Also, this matter was reviewed by other departments (i.e., Police and Fire Departments) who provided feedback in return that access to the gated closure will be required by both departments in the event of an emergency. Committee Member Lamkin raised two issues regarding the proposal. First, the City’s public safety (i.e., Police and Fire Departments) should have access to the gated closure for emergencies and secondly, the proposed gated closure at Devenir Avenue should be constructed to the same standard as other gates on adjacent street blocks (i.e., Comolette Street) and that a standard drawing of the gate should be prepared by the City in order to ensure uniformity. Mr. Norris replied by confirming the City will follow through with both suggestions. Committee Member Lamkin made a motion that the Public Works Committee approve the petition for closure of pedestrian access between Paramount Boulevard and 7900 block of Devenir Avenue. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Fox. The vote was unanimously in favor thereof. V. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS 1. Pavement marking standards 2. Flickering and flashing streetlights on Lakewood Blvd. near Fifth Street and Cherokee Drive 3. SB1 funding - goes towards residential street resurfacing, Paramount Blvd. Median project, active transportation projects, pedestrian plan and South Downey Safe Route to School projects. 4. Tweedy Ln Repaving Project – waiting for authorization to proceed from Caltrans. VI. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Updates were given on the following: 1. Paramount Blvd. Median Island Project between Firestone Blvd. and Imperial Hwy. 2. Paramount Blvd. Median Island Project, Phase 2 to start construction by mid January. 3. Firestone Blvd. West of Old River School Road on hold during the holidays. 4. Woodruff Ave. Traffic Signal Upgrades and Communications Project will be done by end of March. 5. Stewart & Gray Road from Old River School Road to Firestone Blvd. Traffic Signal Upgrades and Installation of Fiber-optic Communications is currently out for bidding. 6. Traffic Signal Upgrades on Paramount Boulevard at Alameda Street, Gardendale Street, Lubec Street, Vista del Rosa and Brookmill Avenue. 7. New traffic signals on Paramount Blvd. at De Palma Street and Fire Station 1. 8. Telegraph Road Water Improvements 9. Old River School Road Pavement Rehabilitation Project – waiting for authorization to proceed from Caltrans. 10. Intersection projects involving the construction of additional left-turn lanes on Lakewood Blvd. at Florence Avenue, Lakewood Blvd. at Firestone Blvd., Lakewood Blvd. at Imperial Hwy and Paramount Blvd. at Florence Ave. are currently in the environmental/design stages. 11. Residential Street Pavement Rehabilitation Project. MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE December 19, 2019 Page 3 VII. NEXT MEETING: January 16, 2020 The Public Works Committee meeting was adjourned at 5:15 P.M.