TITLE
Recommendation to support reinstatement of citywide street cleaning program, including enforcement on May 4, 2020, consistent with the temporary modification plan, initiated on March 17, 2020, to suspend operations while an alternative neighborhood parking program was put in place; or
Adopt a policy directing staff to defer full reinstatement of the citywide street cleaning program by continuing to suspend enforcement until the City’s Safer-at-Home Order is lifted; or
Direct City Manager to work with City Attorney to develop an implementation plan for a new citywide street cleaning program that would provide services twice a month (e.g., first and third Wednesday each month); conduct all necessary meet and confer requirements for any impacted employees; and, work to place all impacted employees into other vacant positions within the City. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Cleaning City of Long Beach (City) streets is a critical public health and safety function managed by the Public Works Department. This service is supported by a staff of 51 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions and a fleet of 52 street sweepers and parking control vehicles. The street sweeping operation provides weekly service to Long Beach residents and businesses, including sweeping of City streets, alleys, medians, beach lots, bike lanes, and special events, through both scheduled and emergency response. Each year street sweepers cover over 140,000 miles and collect 11,000 tons of debris. Keeping streets clean is one of the City’s most important tools in complying with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. To maintain that compliance, the City cannot exceed specific limits on the amount of debris entering the surrounding waterways as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Los Angeles Water Quality Control Board. Street sweeping serves as a source control mechanism by removing litter and waste that would otherwise make its way into the storm drain system, and eventually to the ocean. Street sweeping not only removes debris like litter, but also sediment that many pollutants adhere to such as heavy metals and bacteria. Without street sweeping, natural water bodies are susceptible to contamination from these types of pollutants. The street sweeping operation is an integral part to both keeping the roads clean and our waterways healthy for the marine life that thrives within the ocean.
To achieve the City’s street cleaning requirements, street sweepers need an unobstructed, clear path to drive through. To encourage people to move their vehicles along the street sweeping route, parking citations are issued when vehicles are in violation of posted no parking signs. Each week a Sweeper Operator and a Parking Enforcement Officer work in tandem to provide the street cleaning services. While this is the normal practice, on March 17, 2020, staff temporarily suspended issuing citations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The community was advised to continue to move their vehicles during posted street sweeping hours, but, would not be cited for failing to do so.
To support the City’s Safer-at-Home Order, residents were provided the opportunity to receive free parking permits to park at various City lots and garages that are currently underutilized due to business and facility closures. This provided additional parking options for residents to help remove vehicles from roadways for street sweepers to be more effective. To give residents time to apply for and receive parking permits, the City also extended the suspension of street sweeping citations through May 1, 2020. Since the initial roll out of the free parking program, staff has worked to include more locations and currently have an inventory of about 4,294 spaces. Locations include:
To date, 1,133 permits have been issued, leaving 3,161 spaces available.
Street cleaning operations continue, but the effectiveness varies greatly in different neighborhoods. Sweeper Operators are reporting that their ability to perform in areas with primarily single family homes is about 80 percent effective; however, areas with a high number of multi-family homes is only about 15 percent effective. The most commonly reported challenge is from the obstruction of parked cars. As a result, debris is not being removed and is collecting in storm drains. This is impacting the City’s ability to efficiently manage flooding during rain events. Attachment A is an example of impacts resulting from inadequate street cleaning.
Next Steps
City staff plan to reinstate the full street cleaning program on May 4, 2020. This includes parking enforcement. While moving forward is the best practice, staff also understands there are potential community challenges, especially in parking impacted neighborhoods. Sufficient capacity exists for residents to utilize the alternate parking program, understanding many prefer to not have to move their vehicle for street sweeping.
An alternative approach would be for the City Council to adopt a policy that continues the temporary suspension of street sweeping parking enforcement through the duration of the Safer-at-Home Order. This approach would have impacts to the City’s requirement to clean streets under the NPDES permit, and would have a negative fiscal impact on the City’s General Fund.
Staff have been asked to consider different operating models to the current practice of weekly street sweeping. Many cities sweep twice a month (for example, the first and third Wednesday of each month). The impacts of this approach are not fully known, but it is an alternative that staff could study and return to the City Council with further information and recommendations. Initial analysis suggests that this approach would greatly influence the cleanliness of the City’s streets. It would also require a reduction in the number of staff providing street cleaning services. This option may have a significant negative impact on City’s General Fund.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on April 16, 2020.
STATEMENT OF URGENCY
The suspension of street sweeping citations has been extended through May 1, 2020. City Council action is requested on April 21, 2020, prior to the expiration of this deadline.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on April 21, 2020, to ensure direction is provided regarding the current street cleaning program.
FISCAL IMPACT
With the implementation of the Safer-at-Home Order and the temporary suspension of street sweeping parking enforcement, it is estimated there will be a one-time revenue loss of $1.7 million through May 1, 2020. Staff estimate an additional revenue loss of $974,000 per month if the City continues to suspend street sweeping parking control until the Safer-at-Home Order is lifted. The fiscal impact of any alternative operating model will require further evaluation. It would likely have significant impacts to General Fund revenue and overall operating costs for the street cleaning program.
In the memorandum released on April 13, 2020, on the preliminary fiscal impacts of COVID-19, the initial assessments were projecting a FY 20 shortfall of $14 to $22 million in the General Fund. This projection did not include the full potential impacts of the suspension of the street sweeping parking enforcement. Pending City Council’s direction, future projection updates will need to incorporate any fiscal impacts of changes to the street sweeping parking enforcement program. This recommendation has minimal staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with the existing City Council priorities.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
CRAIG A. BECK
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER