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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMins-PWC-05-19-22MINUTES CITY OF DOWNEY - PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE Regular Meeting May 19, 2022 MEMBERS PRESENT CITY STAFF PRESENT Timothy J. Horn, Dist. 1 Delfino R. Consunji, Director of PW/City Engineer Beth Gendreau, Dist. 2 Edwin J. Norris, Deputy Director of PW Kevin Ezeh, Dist. 3 Gigi Rodriguez, Engineering Div. Secretary, PW Dan Fox, Dist. 4 Dorothy Pemberton, Dist. 5 Efferem Sanchez, Dist. 5 MEMBERS ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT Denny Chavez, Dist. 1 – absent Annel Henry, 7974 Third Street - resident Anthony Jones, Dist. 2 - absent Abel Maldonado, Downey Avenue - resident Art Montoya, Dist. 3 - absent Adam Christin, Dist. 4 - excused I. CALL TO ORDER Public Works Committee Chair Gendreau called the meeting to order at 4:29 P.M. II. FLAG SALUTE – Committee Member Fox III. CONSENT CALENDAR Committee Member Fox made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 21, 2022 meeting. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Pemberton. The Minutes were approved as written. IV. OLD BUSINESS - None. V. NEW BUSINESS 1. Proposed Parking Prohibition within the Alley Located North of 2nd Street between Paramount Boulevard and Smallwood Avenue Mr. Norris reported that the City received a request on April 25, 2022 to install signs prohibiting parking within the alley located north of 2nd Street between Paramount Boulevard and Smallwood Avenue. The request was prompted by vehicles being parked in the alley and blocking access for residents’ garages as well as the parked vehicles hindering access for emergency response, utility and refuse vehicles. Upon further investigation of this request, staff concluded that posting signs prohibiting parking within the alley per Downey Municipal Code (DMC) Section 3195 (a) (b), giving the police department the authority to cite vehicles parked within the alley would be the best solution in order to address this issue. MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE May 19, 2022 Page 2 In order to effectuate the proposed parking prohibition, signage displaying the words “No Parking in Alley” will be posted at the alley entrances to authorize the Police Department to properly enforce the proposed parking prohibition within the alley. Staff recommends approval of this proposal. With the concurrence of the committee, staff will proceed with the issuance of a work order to the Public Works Maintenance Division to install the signs at the alley entrances accordingly. All residents located within an approximate 300-ft radius of the subject alley were notified of this proposal and invited to attend today’s meeting to voice their opinion. Comments were submitted on this proposal by Mr. Eduardo Schonborn via email which were read into the record by Mr. Norris. Mr. Schonborn stated in his email that the residents who reside on 2nd Street would be severely impacted by the alley parking prohibition due to the relatively high housing density and parking- impacted conditions on 2nd Street. Mr. Schonborn offered the following alternate solutions in lieu of the full-time parking prohibition within the alley: 1. Prohibiting parking between 6AM and 6PM within the alley on Wednesday (the designated trash collection day) only, or 2. Implementing residential preferential permit parking along 2nd Street to provide parking relief for residents on 2nd Street. Ms. Annel Henry of 7974 3rd Street stated that 3rd Street does have ample parking compared to 2nd Street. Ms. Henry pointed out that she does not have a driveway and that street sweeping day is every Thursday on both sides of 3rd Street, as well as 2nd Street and 4th Street at such close proximity, that it all takes place on the same day on a three-hour time period. On street sweeping day, residents have to find other parking spaces for their vehicles and behind their home in the alley is usually what is utilized. Ms. Henry added that she is in favor of prohibiting vehicles who do not move over 72-hour periods, some of these vehicles are stationary most of the time. If these vehicles park temporarily and do move, that would be something to be considered by the committee. Also, she is not opposed to restrictions but should consider trash pick-up, emergency vehicle access and street sweeping. Councilmember Trujillo suggested for staff to identify and designate safe parking spaces or commercial parking lots at which residents could park for the days that trash trucks have to go through those alleys. Committee Member Fox made a motion to table the item and directed staff to report back whether or not the days and hours of the alley parking can be altered to provide a part-time vs. full-time parking prohibition within the alley whereby parking would be prohibited within the alley on trash collection day only. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Pemberton. The motion was approved unanimously. MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE May 19, 2022 Page 3 2. Request to prohibit parking within the alley located west of Downey Avenue, between Adoree Street and Imperial Highway Mr. Norris reported that the City received a request on December 21, 2021 to install signs prohibiting parking within the alley located west of Downey Avenue between Adoree Street and Imperial Highway. The request was due to parked vehicles within the alley which hinder access to residents’ ability to park in the adjoining garages. In addition, parked vehicles within the alley are hindering access for emergency response, utility and refuse vehicles. Upon further investigation of this matter, it was determined that Downey Municipal Code (DMC) Section 3195 (a) (b), which prohibits parking within alleys, provided signs are posted at the alley entrances giving notice thereof, will give the Police Department the authority to issue citations to vehicles parked within the subject alley. In order to effectuate the proposed parking prohibition, signage displaying the words “No Parking in Alley” will be posted at the alley entrances in order to authorize the Police Department to properly enforce the proposed parking prohibition within the alley. Staff recommends approval of this proposal. With the concurrence of the committee, staff will proceed with the issuance of a work order to the Public Works Maintenance Division to install the signs at the alley entrances accordingly. All residents located within an approximate 300-ft radius of the subject alley were notified of this proposal and invited to attend today’s meeting to voice their opinion. Mr. Abel Maldonado a Downey resident who resides adjacent to the alley, expressed concern that prohibiting parking within the alley at all times would negatively impact the adjacent residents when the adjacent streets are being swept (Tuesdays 10AM-2 PM) and inquired if an alternate solution could be considered whereby parking could be prohibited within the alley at all times except during the aforementioned street sweeping time to reduce the impact on the nearby residents. Committee Member Pemberton made a motion to table the item and directed staff to report back whether or not the days and hours of the alley parking can be altered to prohibit parking at all times except during street sweeping days/times on the adjacent public streets (Tuesday 10AM- 2 PM). The motion was seconded by Committee Member Ezeh. The motion was approved unanimously. VI. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS 1. CM Ezeh – remarked “job well done” for the pavement rehabilitation project recently completed on Florence Avenue at Paramount Boulevard. 2. CM Pemberton – made a follow up comment regarding the request for speed humps around Golden Park. Mr. Norris responded that on Prichard Street in the vicinity of Golden Park was evaluated for the feasibility of speed humps as a result of an isolated incident involving an errant motorist who drove into a residence due to being impaired at the time. Based on the results of the evaluation, Prichard Street did not meet the criteria for the installation of speed humps. MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE May 19, 2022 Page 4 3. CM Ezeh – inquired what was the deciding factor that was not met? Mr. Norris replied that the two criteria that were not met included the minimum of 1,000 vehicles per day and the 85th percentile speed of 35 MPH or greater thresholds before the installation of speed humps or any other traffic calming measure can be considered. 4. CM Gendreau - Thanked the staff for inviting the committee members to the National Public Works Week breakfast. 5. CM Pemberton – inquired about the status of the roundabout project on Rives Avenue at Quill Drive. Mr. Norris responded that the preliminary design of the roundabout is currently underway. A trial will then be conducted involving a “mock” traffic circle which will be set up at the intersection and studied for a month or so to gauge its performance. A decision will then be made whether or not to pursue the construction of the permanent roundabout installation or not based on the results of the trial. If the trial proves successful, the project will be taken to the City Council for the award of the construction contract. VII. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Updates were given on the following projects: 1. CIP 16-05 - Telegraph Road Median Islands (Lakewood-WCL & Passons-ECL) – construction will resume by the end of the month. 2. CIP 19-03 - Pellet Street and Ryerson Avenue Water System Improvements – construction will commence soon. 3. CIP 20-34 - Florence Avenue Water System Improvement Project (Tweedy Ln. to Brookshire Avenue) – nearly complete. 4. CIP 22-02 - Residential Street Pavement Rehabilitation Projects (Areas 1 & 10) – currently under construction. 5. CIP 21-14 - Cole Street Water System Improvements (Birchdale Avenue to Brookshire Avenue) - authorization to bid. 6. CIP 22-24 - City Maintenance Yard Parking Lot Rehabilitation Project – authorization to bid. 7. CIP 17-09 - Paramount Boulevard Signalization & Safety Enhancements Project – project acceptance. 8. Four Intersection Improvement Projects under design: Florence Avenue and Lakewood Boulevard, Firestone Boulevard and Lakewood Boulevard, Imperial Highway and Lakewood Boulevard and Imperial Highway and Paramount Boulevard. 9. Residential Street Pavement Rehabilitation Project (Area 5, 7, 3 & 6) – currently under design. MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE May 19, 2022 Page 5 10. Upcoming City Council Actions – approval of real property purchase agreements for two properties located at the Imperial Highway and Paramount Boulevard intersection and one property adjacent to the Florence Avenue and Lakewood Boulevard intersection to facilitate the intersection improvement projects at these intersections. IX. NEXT MEETING: June 16, 2022 The Public Works Committee meeting was adjourned at 5:59 P.M.