TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, including any subsequent amendments, with the City of Signal Hill, for the construction and maintenance of a new traffic signal along with related street improvements at Redondo Avenue and East 20th Street within the City of Long Beach. (District 4)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Signal Hill for the construction and maintenance of a new traffic signal and related street improvements in City of Long Beach (City) public right-of-way at Redondo Avenue and East 20th Street. The traffic signal project will enhance safety and improve mobility near Richard D. Browning High School. Construction of the traffic signal is warranted under criteria adopted by the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
The estimated cost of the traffic signal construction and related street improvements is $540,800 and is fully funded by the City of Signal Hill. The City of Signal Hill will be installing the traffic signal and performing the street improvements at no cost to the City. The City will be responsible for ongoing maintenance and operation of this traffic signal after construction.
On April 11, 2023, the City Council directed City staff to pause the process on this previously submitted item to gather public input via a notification and outreach program for a specific geographical area in the vicinity of the proposed traffic signal, then return to the City Council with the results of this outreach. Pursuant to this direction, on May 9, 2023, the Public Works Department mailed 1,302 proposed Construction Notices to residents and businesses within the affected area (Attachment A). On June 20, 2023, the City of Signal Hill reported that the City had “not received any concerns, comments, or questions from residents or businesses pertaining to the aforementioned project” (Attachment B). On June 22, 2023, the Public Works Department received a request from an area resident expressing concerns with the perceived proximity of this proposed traffic signal to nearby, existing signals and the potential confusion this close spacing may cause. In response, the Public Works Department forwarded this concern to the City of Signal Hill and will ensure that this concern is taken into consideration during the project’s final design phase.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Vanessa S. Ibarra on July 27, 2023 and by Budget Management Officer Nader Kaamoush on July 21, 2023.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to execute an MOU with the City of Signal Hill is requested on August 15, 2023, to ensure that the MOU is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City of Signal Hill will fully fund the construction costs associated with installing the new traffic signal and related street improvements. The Public Works Department, Public Services Bureau will be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the traffic signal, consistent with their established responsibilities. Operation and maintenance costs will be absorbed into the Public Service Bureau’s existing operating budget. Sufficient appropriation to support the construction cost is budgeted in the General Fund Group in the Public Works Department. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
ERIC LOPEZ
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER