The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m.

1. Roll Call

   Present: Commissioners Winnek (chairman, arrived at 7:21 p.m.), Cheatham (vice-chairman), Howell, Koch, Lombardo.

   Also Present: Harold Williams, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
   Michael Flaherty, Public Works Superintendent
   Ray Abassi, P.E., City Traffic Engineer
   Rhea Punneo, Administrative Assistant, Public Works Department

2. Flag Salute

   Mr. Cheatham led the flag salute.

3. Approval of Minutes

   The minutes of the September 18, 2002 meeting were approved as written with the following correction:

   Under Section 7. Commissioner's Reports, Commissioner Cheatham recommended providing a briefing on street repair standards to the City of Manhattan Beach.

4. Public Comments

   None.

5. Correspondence

   Mr. Williams directed the Commission's attention to a memo from Sol Blumenfeld, Director of Community Development, requesting participation in a survey on spending priorities. Mr. Williams requested that Commissioners give their completed surveys to Mr. Williams or the Community Development Department prior to October 28.

6. Items for Commission Consideration

   1. Request for Speed Control on 24th Street between Park Avenue and Valley Drive (PDF file)

      Mr. Williams introduced Mr. Ray Abassi, the City's Traffic Engineer who proceeded to present the item. In response to a request from Mr. Robert Woodie, a Hermosa Beach resident, Mr. Abassi visited the site and subsequently came to the recommendation of posting advisory signs noting the safe speed limit and the 8% grade.

      Review of the item and discussion among the Commissioners highlighted the following information:

      • Lowering the speed limit on 24th St. alone would require a much larger study of the area.
      • The street isn't wide enough to allow parking on both sides and two-way traffic.
      • Over a three-day period, it was determined that the 85th percentile of traffic speed was 18 mph (i.e., of the 2,167 cars that traveled the street in the three-day period, 85% were going 18 mph), 100-150 cars traveled in excess of 25 mph and only one car was clocked at a rate of over 30 mph.

      Coming forth to address the Commission:

      Mr. Robert Woodie, 524 24th Street

      Mr. Woodie commented that cars tend to go faster uphill rather than downhill, and tend to be louder since uphill travel requires more power. Mr. Woodie suggested that allowing parking on both sides of the street would create a natural barrier to excessive uphill speed. He also expressed concern that while 85% of cars are traveling at a reasonable speed, it is the other 15% that account for the speed and noise problem.

      Mr. Abassi explained that the street is not wide enough to allow parking on both sides, and changing the street to one-way would shift traffic to other streets. Mr. Williams pointed out that the advisory sign could be handled as an administrative matter without action by the City Council. These signs are advisory only; the prima facie speed limit on residential streets is 25 mph, and the 15 mph advisory is not legally enforceable.

      Further discussion highlighted the following:

      • A recent traffic study of the valley area would be made available to the Commissioners.
      • There should be 22' of pavement, 11' in each direction for safe two-way traffic.
      • The pavement is 21' wide in front of Mr. Woodie's house.
      • To change the parking from one side of the street to the other would require council action and an environmental study.

      MOTION by Commissioner Lombardo to place 15 mph advisory signs on 24th Street and direct Staff use its discretion in posting W6 sign (grade) with W29A (15 mph) as appropriate.

      Ayes: Cheatham, Lombardo, Howell, Koch, Winnek
      Noes: None
      Abstain: None
      Absent: None

7. Commissioners' Reports

   Newsracks

   Commissioner Cheatham met with Staff and the City Attorney regarding newsracks. Staff will meet with publishers to get comments before going to Council. Staff will obtain information regarding enclosures to match the new waste receptacles about to be purchased.

   Tree Subcommittee

   Commissioner Howell is on the tree subcommittee; Mr. Flaherty provided Manhattan Beach with the City's current tree policy. Manhattan Beach requires property owners to repair damage within a fixed time frame.

8. Council Agendas/Minutes - September, October

   Commissioner Cheatham commented that fixing streets and sewers is one of the highest priorities of the City.

9. Items Requested by Commissioners

   None.

10. Other Matters

    Commissioner Lombardo reminded the Commission that the Women's Club of Hermosa Beach is holding their tenth annual pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Sunday, October 20 at the Clark Building, 861 Valley Drive. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

    Commissioner Cheatham suggested that the new blue recycle bins are too large; the old ones fit conveniently in a garage. Mr. Cheatham talked to the mayor of El Segundo about the sewers. El Segundo has hired a lobbyist who supposedly has secured $300,000 in grant money for sewer projects, and this figure might rise to $1,000,000 next year; Hermosa Beach might explore this. Mr. Williams pointed out that according to his counterpart in El Segundo, this grant is a possibility but it hasn't happened yet.

    Commissioner Cheatham requested that when the street sweeping contract becomes due for renewal the Commission have the opportunity to review the statement of work to make comments and recommendations. Mr. Williams agreed that this would be done.

    Mr. Cheatham will not be at the meeting next month. The chair and vice-chair positions rotate annually; the procedure is in place for the next meeting.

    Mr. Flaherty mentioned that the Hazardous Waste Round-Up in Hermosa Beach is scheduled for Saturday, January 25, 2003. Mr. Cheatham advocated that this be widely advertised.

11. Public Comment

    None.

12. Adjournment

    The meeting was adjourned at 7:54pm. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 20, 2002 in Council Chambers.