The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m.

1. Roll Call

   Present:	Commissioners Beste, DiVirgilio, Lombardo, Marinelli, Winnek
   Also Present:	Richard Morgan, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Michael Flaherty, Public Works Superintendent Rhea Punneo, Administrative Assistant, Public Works Department
   Absent:	None

2. Flag Salute

   Commissioner Winnek led the flag salute.

3. Approval of Minutes

   Minutes of March 15, 2006, were approved.

4. Public Comments

   None

5. Correspondence

   Mr. Morgan commented on an email sent regarding a stabbing on 2nd Street at Ardmore with the following request for more lighting on the south end of the City. Mr. Morgan reported that he’d had a conversation with the police chief and the chief did not believe lighting was an issue in this incident. Mr. Morgan also reported that allegations of crime being on the rise in said email were false according to the police chief.

6. Items for Commission Consideration

   1. Cypress Avenue North of 8th Street – Parking Problems

      Mr. Morgan presented a striping plan for Cypress Avenue from 8th Street north to Clark Field. This street is a fairly steep street with a 40-foot right of way and a 28-foot wide road with sporadic curb on both sides. The issue is to create adequate emergency access on a street that has a combination of perpendicular, double, and parallel parking at any given time due to no clearly designated parking format.

      The proposal by staff is to stripe a 4”-wide white edge along a 14’ line-of-travel-way on both sides of the street to provide equal parking on each side. In response to a question

      from Commissioner DiVirgilio, Mr. Morgan stated that any part of any vehicle over the white line would be in violation thus eliminating the need for Parking Enforcement to make judgment calls.

      Staff also proposes that STOP signs be installed on 8th Street at Cypress Avenue to create a 4-way STOP. In response to a question by Commissioner DiVirgilio, Michael Flaherty noted that brand new STOP signs are oversized until replaced after 30 days with a standard STOP sign in an effort to attract attention and create a safe transition. Per Commissioner DiVirgilio’s request, a temporary STOP AHEAD sign will be placed on lighted barricades on both sides of the intersection for advance warning.

      Coming forward at this time to address the commission were:

      Kathrina McElhenney homeowner on Cypress Avenue for 18 years, is in support of installation of this new STOP sign for safety reasons.

      Chad Feilke, homeowner on Cypress Avenue since 2004, and fiancé Jade Dillon, are in full support of striping and installation of STOP sign. They stated that parking is erratic and does not allow for emergency access.

      Mike Weissen, resident of a corner house on 8th Street and Cypress Avenue, stated that houses were built too close to their property lines creating problems for space to park. He is in full support of striping as emergency access is limited, but he expressed concern as to where the excess vehicles will find parking.

      John McElhenney inquired about speed “bumps” possibly being installed to control speeding on Cypress Avenue. Mr. Morgan responded that speed humps would be inappropriate due to the incline of this particular street.

      General discussion among the commissioners highlighted the following:

      Commissioner Lombardo is in full support of STOP sign due to inability to see oncoming traffic and believes striping is needed also.

      Commissioner Marinelli stated that he believes striping is the best solution for everyone in order to solve the problem of limited emergency access and also egress with installation of new STOP signs.

      MOTION by Commissioner Beste to approve staff recommendation. Seconded by Commissioner Lombardo.

      Commissioner DiVirgilio amended the motion to include additional notice of STOP sign ahead on 8th Street such as street painting and barricades.

      MOTION by Commissioner Beste to approve staff recommendation as amended. Seconded by Commissioner DiVirgilio.

      AYES: Beste, DiVirgilio, Lombardo, Marinelli, Winnek
      NAYES: None
      ABSENT: None
      ABSTAIN: None

   2. 13th Street Parking on Opposite Side During Sweeping Day

      Mr. Morgan reported that this section of 13th Street east of PCH to Ocean is a 25-foot roadway with parking on north side only and no parking at all from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on street sweeping day, Thursday. He stated that opposite side parking on street sweeping days has been successful on neighboring streets but can cause more ticketing if residents do not move cars promptly. Mr. Morgan recommended that the commission hear public input.

      Coming forward to address the commission:

      Cary Bichlmeier, Hermosa Beach, stated that he has to park many blocks away on street sweeping day and supports opposite side parking.

      General discussion among the commissioners highlighted the following:

      Commissioner Beste recommended that a petition be made by residents to decide if majority of neighborhood is in favor.

      Commissioner Marinelli suggested that residents come together with plan to help the commission decide.

      Commissioner Winnek inquired as to policy regarding residents parking immediately after street sweeper goes by; Mr. Morgan said although not official, that was policy held by parking enforcement.

      Commissioner Lombardo suggested the hours be extended to the entire day. Mr. Flaherty stated that the 4-hour street sweeping window is rarely enforced exactly and extending the hours would create parking problems for residents on the day following street sweeping.

      Commissioner DiVirgilio added that extending the opposite side parking hours to all day on street sweeping days would be solving a problem that nobody presented.

      MOTION by Commissioner Winnek to approve parking from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on opposite side of 13th Street on Thursday, street sweeping day. The motion was not seconded.

      MOTION by Commissioner Beste to approve staff recommendation subject to petition with at least 50 percent resident approval. Seconded by Commissioner DiVirgilio.

      AYES: Beste, DiVirgilio, Lombardo, Marinelli
      NAYES: Winnek
      ABSENT: None
      ABSTAIN: None

7. Commissioners' Reports

   None

8. Public Works Department Reports

   1. Monthly Activity Report – February

      Received and Reviewed

   2. Project Status Report – February

      Received and Reviewed

9. Items Requested by Commissioners

   None

10. Other Matters

    Commissioner Marinelli relayed concern by Chamber of Commerce as to how striping of upper Pier Avenue project, if approved by Council, will affect Memorial Day Fiesta. Mr. Morgan stated that he believes new striping will work without difficulty. Mr. Flaherty stated that the delineation has already been experimented with.

    Mr. Morgan reported that signal at 16th Street and PCH is currently active. He noted that street sign has brown background identifying City of Hermosa Beach and looks forward to funding all street signs along PCH in Hermosa to brown background. Mr. Morgan noted that as previously discussed, a traffic study will be done after the signal has been running for three months and the results will be brought back to the Commission.

    Mr. Morgan briefly noted some traffic surveys going on in the City and topics coming before commission in the future.

11. Public Comment

    None

12. Adjournment

    Commissioner Winnek adjourned the meeting at 7:58 p.m. to the meeting of Wednesday, May 17th, 2006.

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 April 19, 2006.