TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute the Artesia Boulevard Study Implementation Agreement with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments for an amount not to exceed $36,890. (District 9)
DISCUSSION
Artesia Boulevard is a major arterial that carries a significant amount of traffic, relieving heavy traffic volumes from the SR 91 freeway. Running east-west, Artesia Boulevard traverses the Gateway Cities of Compton, Long Beach, Bellflower, Artesia and Cerritos, as well as unincorporated Los Angeles County. Given the importance of the efficient operation of this arterial for all modes of transportation and its effect on the quality of life for surrounding neighborhoods, these Gateway Cities would like to develop an Artesia Boulevard Complete Street Evaluation and Master Plan. The Plan would encompass Artesia Boulevard from Central Avenue on the west to Valley View Avenue on the east. To prepare the plan, a study will be conducted to evaluate all modes of transportation, including automobiles, trucks, transit, bicycles, and pedestrians that travel along the corridor, as well as aesthetic treatments, resulting in a master plan. The development of a subregional arterial corridor plan would better position the participating jurisdictions to apply for and receive federal, state, and regional funding for improvement of the corridor.
On November 18, 2014, the City Council authorized the City Manager to work with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments (GCCOG) to form a committee and develop a master plan for the Artesia Boulevard corridor (Exhibit A). The result of that outreach is the Artesia Boulevard Study Implementation Agreement (Agreement). While in November 2014, the fiscal impact was uncertain, once the agreement was finalized it was evident that there would be a cost to the participating Gateway Cities. The estimated cost to complete the 12-mile plan is $147,560. This cost is being funded by the participating jurisdictions based on the linear miles of Artesia Boulevard within their boundaries.
Artesia Boulevard runs for three miles within City of Long Beach boundaries, resulting in a cost of $36,890. In order to fund this cost, three funding sources need to be utilized: Council District 9's non-recurring infrastructure funds; the Department of Public Works' Traffic Design funds; and the Department of Development Service's Long Range Planning funds. Each of these funding sources will provide $12,297.
In addition to contributing financially, the Artesia Boulevard Corridor Study Implementation Agreement (Agreement) requires participating jurisdictions to staff two committees. The Artesia Boulevard Corridor Cities Committee will be staffed by an elected member of each participating jurisdiction's legislative body to provide policy guidance and direction. Artesia Boulevard lies exclusively within the boundaries of Council District Nine; therefore Councilmember Rex Richardson would represent the City on this committee. The Agreement specifies that membership of the other committee, the Artesia Boulevard Corridor Technical Advisory Committee, will consist of the Public Works Director or equivalent from each jurisdiction. Ara Maloyan or his designee would staff the Technical Advisory Committee. The Technical Advisory Committee would report to and receive direction from the Artesia Boulevard Corridor Cities Committee.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Richard Anthony on April 16, 2015 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on April 23, 2015.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on May 12, 2015, to expedite execution and implementation of the Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
Given that the cost of the study plan was uncertain until the Agreement was finalized, funding was identified from three sources. The City's share of the Agreement is not to exceed $36,890, and will be funded in equal portions of $12,297 from existing appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Public Works Department (PW), the Development Services Fund (EF 337) in the Development Services Department (DV), and non-recurring infrastructure funds allocated to Council District 9 in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW). There is no local job impact associated with the recommended action.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK, AICP
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
ARA MALOYAN
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER