The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.

1. Roll Call

   Present:	Commissioners Beste, DiVirgilio, Lombardo, Marinelli
   Absent:	Commissioner Winnek Rhea Punneo, Administrative Assistant, Public Works Department
   Also Present:	Richard Morgan, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Michael Flaherty, Public Works Superintendent

2. Flag Salute

   Commissioner Beste led the flag salute.

3. Approval of Minutes

   None at this time.

4. Public Comments

   Laura Raymond, Cypress Avenue, Hermosa Beach (President, Friends of the Parks)

   • Announced the following upcoming event: Grand reopening of Fort Lots o’ Fun and Pumpkins in the Park, Saturday, October 22, 2005 at 6th Street and Prospect Avenue from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
   • Expressed appreciation on behalf of Friends of the Park and residents to the Public Works staff for all their efforts at Fort Lots o’ Fun.

5. Correspondence

   None

6. Items for Commission Consideration

   (Item 6b was heard out of order, but is presented here in order for clarity.)

   1. Hermosa Beach Museum Signage

      Mr. Morgan requested that signage be approved as installed. Due to a mix-up this item was not presented to Commission beforehand.

      Continued Discussion among the Commission:

      • Sign looks great.

      MOTION by Commissioner DiVirgilio to approve signage as installed. Commissioner Marinelli seconded.

      AYES: Beste, DiVirgilio, Lombardo, Marinelli
      NAYS: None
      ABSENT: None
      ABSTAIN: None

   2. Two-sided parking on 1st Street east of PCH

      Mr. Morgan explained that he has received requests from residents regarding the difficulty of parking on street sweeping day on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Mr. Morgan noted that he looked at the parking today and there was parking on both sides of the street until approximately 6:00 p.m. tonight and there have only been 58 parking tickets issued for this violation over the past year. 1st Street, east of PCH to Barney Court only allows parking on the north side of the street on all other days of the week. Mr. Morgan stated that he would be hesitant to make any changes if even minimal opposition is given as the street does not meet the standard for two-way traffic.

      Commissioner Marinelli asked about the standard of parking provided for the units on the south side of the street. Mr. Morgan answered that he did not know the standards but noted that the units are old and may not provide adequate parking.

      Commissioner Lombardo asked about the number of responses received on this subject. Mr. Morgan stated that in all six (6) responses were received: 5 against and 1 for. All responses are included in the Commissioners packets.

      Commissioner Beste cited instructions for public comment and opened the floor.

      Norman Mah, 1020 1st Street

      • Resident for 7 years.
      • Is in possession of the letters of opposition.
      • Has three (3) small children.
      • Safety is the primary issue for his family. Can Commission guarantee safety?
      • Is concerned over two-way traffic and the blind spots in this area.
      • Is opposed to two-way traffic.
      • Believes there is some good advice and suggestions in the opposition letters
      .

      Jody Rasco, 1010 1st Street

      • Lives next to Norm with a multi-unit across the street.
      • Resident for 7 years.
      • Answered the question from Commission regarding parking – there is adequate parking provided with a garage and space in front of the garage.
      • Believes residents choose not to utilize the garages.
      • Can find parking anytime of the day along the street, except for Friday and Saturday nights.
      • Has a window that overlooks the entire street. Volunteered to take pictures during the day to show available parking.
      • Garbage trucks are on the street Monday – Thursdays. Has asked in the past that the trash pick-up days be consolidated to one (1) day.
      • Her parked vehicle has been hit by a car trying to maneuver around a trash truck.
      • Safety an issue. Has 1 ½ year old triplets.
      • Traveling on south PCH and making a left on 1st Street will be a problem if it is a two-way street.
      • Suggested parking permits, limited time.
      • Used by Range Rover for test drives.

      Greg Leibert, 916 1st Street

      • Is married and has three grown children – there are four cars in his family.
      • Lives at the bottom of this steep hill and believes there is a different dynamic than the top of the hill.
      • Cars race down this steep hill.
      • Parking at the ends of the street is a problem.
      • Believes all 58 parking tickets are his. Has received parking tickets at 2:02 and 2:03.
      • He is extremely frustrated that he cannot find parking on his street with Wednesday being the worst day. With the family’s schedule, there is always one car parked on the street.
      • Conceded that parking cars on both sides of the street may not be the solution. Commented on the large parking lots owned by Range Rover and Verizon in the immediate area. Verizon’s lot could be used initially, but is now fenced in.
      • Showed Commission a photograph taken of cars parked along his driveway and blocking the sidewalk due to the parking problems in the area.
      • Wants to avoid getting more parking tickets.

      Danny Miller, 1010 1st Street

      • Opposed.
      • Concerned about the safety issue.
      • Two-way parking would not allow any oversized vehicle or delivery would be able to make a right hand turn onto Barney Court. Currently on Wednesdays, trucks are backing into his driveway to make a u-turn.
      • Emergency vehicles would be affected.

      Bill Power, 1215 1st Street

      • Opposed.
      • Did not receive a notice and wondered why the notices stopped at Barney Court.
      • Lives farther up the 1st Street which is one-way. Measured his street and it is 15 feet across, from car to car. Also measured 2nd Street at 17 – 18 feet across and also one-way.
      • No passage around delivery or trash trucks.
      • Arrives home and notes cars are still parked on both sides at 4:00pm.
      • Range Rover uses street all the time.
      • Right of way is not adhered to and impedes passage up the hill.
      • Believes this is a bad idea and another solution should be found.
      • Suggested renting out Verizon’s parking by apartment owners.

      Discussion among the Commission included the following:

      • Suggested extending the no parking hours to all day during street cleaning alleviating tickets, moving cars by 8:00 a.m. the following morning.
      • Status/ownership of Range Rover parking lot will be investigated.
      • Several streets with two sided parking are smaller than 1st Street causing traffic to slow down.

      Request from Commission for comments regarding Commissioner Lombardo’s suggestion for all day parking on one side only on Wednesday.

      Response from Mr. Leibert: Agrees with this suggestion. Parking still a problem during the rest of the week and weekends. People are racing down the street and this is a problem.

      Mr. Flaherty explained the history behind the limited hours of parking on one side during street cleaning days. 20-30 years ago residents asked for assistance as they could not find parking during these days. Block after block asked for this same relief. As a policy, you are allowed to park on the restricted side immediately after the street sweeper goes by, even if it is still within the restricted time. Concerned that if this window is expanded, parking on both sides of the street will be increased.

      Continued Discussion among the Commission:

      • Implementing extended no parking hours on a trial basis.
      • Less parking on the south side of street than on the north.
      • Any policy changes would need to include signage which is expensive and would need to include the Police Department and all would need to be notified.
      • Safety issue is cars being hit. Two sided parking may have a traffic calming effect.
      • Standard is lanes are not smaller than 9 feet.
      • Mr. Morgan apologized for noticing residents beyond Barney Court.
      • Will continue looking for solutions.
      • Verizon and Range Rover parking lots will be investigated and report back to Commission.

      MOTION by Commissioner Lombardo to take no action at this time. Commissioner DiVirgilio seconded.

      AYES: Beste, DiVirgilio, Lombardo
      NAYS: Marinelli
      ABSENT: None
      ABSTAIN: None

   3. Re-surfacing of 19th Street between PCH and Rhodes Street

      Mr. Morgan stated that the last Council meeting approved the design of the CIP street improvement project. One of the streets included is 19th Street between PCH and Rhodes. Although in the past, residents opposed street improvement. With the new project, it was suggested by Council that a public hearing be held to poll residents on street improvement. Mr. Morgan has received one letter of support. 19th Street is concrete and in very bad condition and the improvement project would consist of grinding and asphalt overlay and perhaps some curb work on missing curbs.

      Commissioner Beste cited instructions for public comment and opened the floor.

      Michael E. Henderson, 848 19th Street

      • 33 year resident of Hermosa Beach at the same location.
      • Majority of residents who are opposed to the improvements, want the concrete street to remain due to sentimentality.
      • The area of concern is directly in front of his property where grinding machine created damage when working on Rhodes. Feels this is a liability.
      • Mr. Henderson’s property, his next door neighbor and three houses across the street are all without curbs and feels confident that he can speak for them that they want it to remain this way.
      • Suggested re-cement area in front of his house and leave the rest of the street as it is in good condition.
      • Hold construction company that did the damage liable for repair of the damaged section of street.

      Danny Piper, 804 19th Street

      • Thank Mike for talking to the residents today.
      • No preference for concrete or paving, will support the majority of the residents’ wishes.
      • There are cracks in the street near his house and should be repaired.
      • Wants encroachments to remain.

      Discussion among the Commission included the following:

      • Mr. Morgan explained that this street is ranked 10 or lower out of 100 and is considered in poor condition.
      • Grind and overlay has been the method often utilized for concrete streets. Once streets are street are overlaid, they can then be part of the slurry program every five years.
      • No permits have been issued for encroachments.
      • Problem with encroachments is drainage and need to keep water out of manhole. There would be no significant loss.
      • Numerous requests cited by Commissioner DiVirgilio for repair of streets. Believes support is owed to City to repair damaged streets.

      MOTION by Commissioner DiVirgilio to support and approve staff’s recommendation to repair 19th Street. Seconded by Commissioner Lombardo.

      AYES: Beste, DiVirgilio, Lombardo
      NAYS: Marinelli
      ABSENT: None
      ABSTAIN: None

   4. Installation of new street light in Noble Park

      Mr. Morgan received a letter (and concurrence from other residents via phone calls) that the park is very dark and believes that a light will discourage loitering. There is currently a 15 foot pole in the yard and a light can be installed by maintenance with minimal cost. Will install a luminary with cut-off to keep glare to a minimum. Wants to hear from resident north of the park and the beach house to see if they support installation. There are a lot of restrictions placed on Noble Park but it does include lighting and park benches – park benches have been installed. One light would not be enough to illuminate the entire park, but the center area which is the darkest.

      Commissioner Beste cited instructions for public comment and opened the floor.

      Bernard Rawlings, 1510 The Strand

      • 15 year resident
      • Lives north of the park
      • Concerned about lighting. Lighting from the temporary lifeguard stand creates a shadow in his bedroom.
      • Neighbors who would be affected by this light as well is currently on vacation.
      • Believes this light will cast a shadow in his bedroom as well.
      • Have never noticed any one loitering.
      • If lights are placed, he would suggest placing a series of smaller, lower voltage lights.

      Discussion among the Commission included the following:

      • Attachments on lights to keep down glare, similar to the Strand.
      • Preference to install pedestrian lighting over one center light, but very expensive, approximate cost $100,000.
      • The challenge of maintaining pedestrian with current landscaping would be very difficult.
      • A lighting study was considered. It was decided that this would be a burden to staff based on one complaint and one response.
      • Lighting may attract loiterers.
      • Believes lighting was not placed in park to discourage use at night by residents.
      • Strand lighting is being evaluated by Mr. Morgan and Mr. Flaherty with $60,000 in the budget earmarked for this project – this will not affect the park.

      MOTION by Commissioner DiVirgilio to install lighting but be diligent that it is not intrusive to the neighbors. Seconded by Commissioner Lombardo.

      AYES: DiVirgilio, Lombardo, Marinelli
      NAYS: Beste
      ABSENT: None
      ABSTAIN: None

7. Commissioners' Reports

   Commissioner DiVirgilio – Centennial Committee: Gave an update on meeting last week. This meeting discussed one of the aspects of the Centennial Celebration – ‘100 Acts of Beautification’. The Centennial Committee along with Public Works will seek to identify as many projects as possible that will enhance the city and promote community involvement. These projects, once identified and approved, will be completed over the course of the year. Different, possible, ideas were discussed. At this time, no plans have been finalized. Commissioner DiVirgilio requested Commission’s involvement to brainstorm tasks and present at the next meeting.

   Further discussion continued about work budgeted for and being done at the Clark Building: prior to exterior painting maintenance will replace windows and substantially trim back trees on the south and east sides.

8. Public Works Department Reports

   • Reminder: Sandbags available for residential use at 1315 Valley Drive, City Hall parking lot. Sandbags are replenished weekly.
   • Pier Phase 3 Ceremony, Saturday, November 19th at 11:30 a.m. Lifeguards will move in next week.
   • Walk of Jazz, Saturday, October 22nd. Plaques have been installed. Will also install Surfer Walk of Fame plaque.
   • Mr. Morgan will be taking the new policy for handicap parking to Council first meeting November, along with tree ordinance.

9. Items Requested by Commissioners

   Commissioner Marinelli - 20th Street Improvements: Mr. Morgan stated this has been completed and residents were pleased with contractors and the resulting work.

   Commissioner DiVirgilio – Crosswalk and light at PCH and 16th Streets: Mr. Morgan stated the traffic is being funded by the developer of the pavilion and have reached an impasse with Caltrans over a handicap ramp not meeting standards and will now be taken to the State Architect for approval. Mr. Morgan estimates that the light may be in place by the end of the calendar year.

   Map to see priority streets for repairs: Mr. Morgan replied that he has the pavement management plan with a color coded map showing pavement index numbers. Commissioner DiVirgilio will visit Mr. Morgan to view map and schedule.

   Commissioner Beste – 8th Street Signage: Received a request for signage of caution, or slow down. Mr. Morgan stated that slow has been placed on pavement markings and this can be done. Have received this request before, done stealth monitoring and did not detect speeding in this area.

   Commissioner Beste – Kay Ito Park: Received requests for Public Works to investigate improvements needed at this park located on Monterey. This is the next project planned by Friends of the Park. Mr. Flaherty just ordered a new bench. Mr. Flaherty stated the following four items that can be handled by Public Works: sidewalk, irrigation, lawn and benches.

10. Other Matters

    None.

11. Public Comment

    None

12. Adjournment

    Chairman Beste adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m. to the meeting of November 16, 2005.

CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and complete record of the action taken by the Public Works Commission of Hermosa Beach at the regularly scheduled meeting of October 19, 2005.