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Public Works Commission Minutes July 17, 2002 - Hermosa
Beach
PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION
MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2002
ROOM 4, COMMUNITY CENTER
710 PIER AVENUE
HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA
7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
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Roll Call
Present: Commissioners Cheatham, Howell, Koch, Lombardo
Winnek arrived at 8:35 p.m.
Also Present: Harold Williams, Director of Public
Works/City Engineer
Michael Flaherty, Public Works Superintendent
Rhea Punneo, Administrative Assistant, Public Works
Department
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Flag Salute
Commissioner Chris Howell led the flag salute.
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Approval of Minutes: May 15, 2002
The
minutes of the May 15,
2002 meeting
approved as written.
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Public Comments
None.
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Correspondence
None.
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Items for Commission Consideration
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Proposed Taxi Zone Change
(PDF file)
Mr. Williams presented the item with the
recommendation that a new taxi zone on Hermosa Avenue
be established.
Mr. Flaherty presented the details of the report. He
noted that the biggest problem with the current
location of the taxi zone is the pedestrians jaywalking
to get a cab. In addition, over 200 cabs have paid fees
to work in the City - a situation the Police Department
will look into at a later date. At any one time, there
could be 10 to 12 cabs lined up waiting to get into the
legal taxi zone which creates a dangerous situation on
Hermosa Avenue.
He said that the change with the least amount of
negative damage would include moving the zone as noted
in the report, adjusting/relocating the meters, and
moving the green zone while accommodating the bank's
ATM machine customers. He noted that an email had been
received from the MTA supporting the proposal; they'd
prefer to have far side stops vs. near side stops for
safety reasons.
Mr. Williams requested the following changes to the
report:
- Page 2, under Alternatives, line 1, and please
delete this sentence entirely.
- Attachment 3 - delete text (convert taxi parking
to 4 metered parking spaces).
Discussion of the item highlighted the
following:
- The area was a left turn pocket before the Pier
Plaza was developed.
- There is concern that cabs may be turning into
the residential area as they leave the City with
passengers.
- Cab spaces are smaller than regular parking
spaces because taxis park bumper to bumper and
regular parking is not done bumper to bumper - the 5
spaces allotted for taxis would be 4 spaces for
regular parking.
- It is possible the new bus stop area could be
shared with taxis - buses stop running after 10:00
p.m.
- Taxi franchise does not go before the Public
Works Commission, only relocation of the zone.
- A review by the Chief of Police, 3 sergeants and
Mike Flaherty determined that this plan was the least
offensive to businesses in the area.
- Signage for the area would be difficult and
potentially difficult to enforce
- Could put the taxi zone in the alley.
- It is important the buses are able to swing in
and out of the bus zone easily therefore relocated to
the far side of the intersection.
- Suggested use of 13th Court as area for stacking
with a 15-minute green zone in front of the ice cream
store - problem is some of it is no parking and there
is 2-way traffic
- Suggestion was made to use center median vacated
by taxis as regular parking area - noted that this
could become an accident prone area for cars leaving
and/or backing into the spaces
- There isn't enough room to install a railing
along the sidewalk to prevent pedestrians from
jaywalking to the taxis.
MOTION
by Commissioner Howell to support the change and
request that staff obtain residents' comments
resident/taxi comments. Comments to be forwarded with
item when sent to Council. Seconded by Commissioner
Cheatham.
Ayes: Cheatham, Howell
Nays: Koch, Lombardo
Abstain: None
Absent: Winnek
Motion failed.
MOTION
by Commissioner Lombardo revised to support the
change, only after someone looks into widening the
center median towards Pier and narrowing the 11th
Street end, preserving the center median for
parking.
At this time Mr. Williams noted that a left turn
pocket onto 11th could mislead a driver into thinking
that the pocket is an open-ended left turn lane which
could lead to rear-end collisions with cars parked in
the median parking area.
MOTION
revised by Commissioner Lombardo to the following:
Support staff's recommendation and look into the
possibility of preserving or expanding center lane
parking where taxis were located. Seconded by
Commissioner Howell.
Ayes: Cheatham, Howell, Lombardo
Nays: Koch
Abstain: None
Absent: Winnek
Motion passed.
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Review of Proposed Speed Hump Policies
and Procedures
(PDF file)
Mr. Williams presented the item noting that concerns
for speeding on residential streets in the City have
prompted the request for speed hump policies and
procedures. Staff is requesting that the Commission
review and comment on the policies and procedures.
There are many treatments that are available but
most are not desirable in Hermosa Beach. It was noted
that speed humps are very different from speed bumps.
Speed humps are a road treatment, not a speed control
device and have been effective in many areas.
Discussion of the item highlighted the
following:
- The residents would request the speed bumps via
petition.
- Removal would be at the instigation of the
residents who would pay for that removal.
- Commissioners would like to review the
applications for speed humps as they are received -
possibly as a precaution for the first year.
- Policy being put into place in an effort to speed
up the process.
- Speed humps would be installed on local streets
as defined by the General Plan; streets would have to
meet all criteria in the policy; speed humps would
not be installed on streets with over a 5%
grade.
- Speed humps would not be installed on collector
streets or were emergency vehicles frequently
travel.
- The first test case is on Hillcrest - council
approved the installation of speed humps without a
policy being in place. Any new requests will need 65%
of the neighbors to sign the petition.
- The Public Works Commission would hear
appeals.
- The requirement that the hump be at least 200'
from an intersection would be flexible.
MOTION
by Commissioner Cheatham that the Commission support
the adoption of the Speed Hump Policies &
Procedures and add a paragraph to the procedures noting
that the application be brought to the Commission prior
to going to City Council. Seconded by Commissioner
Lombard.
Ayes: Cheatham, Howell, Koch, Lombardo
Nays: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Winnek
Motion passed.
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Summary of the Updated 5-Year Plan, 2002-03 through
2006-07
Mr. Williams presented the item noting that it was
not yet complete due to 02-03 budget preparation and
the move back to City Hall.
Discussion highlighted the following:
- The CIP's still follow the original list as
prioritized by the subcommittee.
- Priorities change when the time comes for
funding; the City Manager makes the final decision as
to which projects get to Council for funding.
- Projects may have moved back because there was no
available funding in the current year.
- Some new projects may be added (example: 02-147
Handicap Ramp Upgrades) because specific funding is
available.
- TyCom project is funded and will be added to the
list.
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Commissioners' Reports
Infrastructure Subcommittee
The subcommittee met with a member of the City Council
to ensure they were on the right track. They will meet with
staff to review their materials at a date yet to be
determined.
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Council Agendas - April & May Minutes, June
agendas
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Monthly Activity Report -
April
(PDF file)
,
May
(PDF file)
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Project Status Reports -
April
(PDF file)
, No May Report
All received and filed.
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Items Requested by Commissioners
List of
updated action items
(PDF file)
presented.
Discussion at this time highlighted the following:
- The pedestrian sign at Pier and Bard was stolen -
sign had been attached with epoxy. New signs will be
bolted to the street.
- Commission would like to be involved in the
development of the requirements for the PCH median
enhancements being prepared by the Economic Development
Review Committee (EDRC).
- Staff hasn't yet received a schedule of projects as a
work item but once received, it will be made available
for the Commission.
- There is no formal sharing of information with regard
to projects being done at the City border streets.
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Other Matters
Commissioner Howell said he'd like to see a Tree
Sub-Committee that could develop protocol and update
existing tree policies, procedures and the approved tree
list. Is there a proposal to provide an up-to-date list of
trees that are favorable with proper tree selections and
added to the Tree Sub-Committee?
It was noted that this may actually be in the purview of
the Parks & Recreation Department and perhaps this
could be a joint subcommittee with that commission.
MOTION
by Commissioner Cheatham that a Tree Subcommittee is
formed. Seconded by Commissioner Lombardo. Commissioner
Howell will provide the current policy and procedure
information with the currently acceptable tree list.
Ayes: Cheatham, Howell, Koch, Lombardo
Nays: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Winnek
Motion passed.
Commissioner Cheatham noted that a television special
would be on the Discover Channel on July 27 at 9:00 p.m. It
is entitled "Deadly Crossings" and may be of interest to
all Commissioners as it is about street crossings.
Commissioner Cheatham asked about the status of the
newsracks and was advised that the department was having
some difficulty obtaining the pricing information in
writing from the manufacturer - Kjack. There had been some
progress that day and it was hoped that some definite
information would be available by the next Commission
meeting.
Commissioner Cheatham asked in a deceleration lane had
been considered for the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and
Pier Avenue where the new bank is being constructed. Mr.
Williams advised that it had been considered but, if it was
constructed, the bank wouldn't have had enough land to
complete their project as planned.
Commissioner Cheatham asked about any improvements to
the traffic signal at the intersection of Pacific Coast
Highway and 2nd Street. Mr. Williams advised that the
contract had been let and that Caltrans would be upgrading
the signal heads, not changing the timing. Per John Hill of
Caltrans, the overall coordination of the signals will not
change. Second Street is the only location where the timing
will be changed in order to assist with congestion at that
intersection.
Mr. Williams requested that the date of the August
meeting be changed as he and Mr. Flaherty will not be
available. Ms. Punneo will coordinate rescheduling the
meeting.
8:35 p.m. Chairman Winnek arrived.
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Public Comments
None.
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Adjournment
At 8:38 p.m. Vice Chairman Cheatham adjourned to the
August meeting, date to be determined.
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