title
CC- CONSENT ITEM: Authorization to the Public Works Director/City Engineer to Design and Construct a Sidewalk Extension Along the North Side of Washington Boulevard Under the 405 Freeway to Increase Pedestrian Access.
body
Contact Person/Dept.: Yanni Demitri/PW
Phone Number: (310) 253-5635
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (03/23/2022); (Letter) Property Owners within 500 feet (03/23/2022).
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer (03/18/2022)
______________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the Public Works Director/City Engineer to design a sidewalk extension along the north side of Washington Boulevard under the 405 Freeway to increase pedestrian access (Project).
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
With City Council’s approval, staff proposes to design a sidewalk extension known as a “bulbout” along the existing (north side) sidewalk under the 405 Freeway on westbound Washington Boulevard. The bulbout would include installation of a guard rail along the length of the bulbout to enhance pedestrian safety.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and on-going regional housing pressures, the population of unhoused persons living on the sidewalk under the 405 Freeway on Washington Boulevard has grown. To alleviate concerns that the tents and shelters of the unhoused persons may make it more difficult for pedestrians to traverse the sidewalk, utilizing the parking spaces for the bulbout will provide additional space needed by the public using this portion of the sidewalk while issues concerning unhoused individuals are resolved.
The proposed sidewalk bulbout will remove approximately 15 parking spaces. These parking spaces are 10-hour meters, at 25 cents an hour. These parking spaces are regularly fully utilized by the adjacent businesses. Also, the existing bicycle lanes will have to be removed in order to accommodate the proposed sidewalk bulbout.
City Engineering staff will design the Project and return at a later date to request approval of the plans and a budget amendment to fund the construction of the Project.
Since this area is also within the jurisdiction of Caltrans, a review of the plans and a permit will be required from them. There is a possibility that Caltrans may deny the permit and not allow the construction of the sidewalk bulbout.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
A budget amendment will be requested to fund the Project when the plans are presented to the City Council for final approval and authorization to advertise for construction bids. At this time, it is estimated that the construction cost will be approximately $100,000.
Installation of the sidewalk bulbout will also result in loss of revenue from parking meters at 15 parking spaces. If all 15 spaces were utilized continuously, the revenue generated would be $32,850 per year.
ATTACHMENTS
None
RECOMMENDED MOTION
That the City Council:
Authorize the Public Works Director/City Engineer to design and construct a sidewalk extension along the north side of Washington Boulevard under the 405 Freeway to increase pedestrian access.