TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a quitclaim deed to Los Angeles County for a pedestrian bridge crossing the Coyote Creek in the vicinity of Woodson Street, and to execute and enter all necessary documents to assign $150,000 of Federal Surface Transportation Program-Local funds (STP-L) to Los Angeles County as the City's contribution toward the removal of this bridge structure. (District 5)
DISCUSSION
The subject pedestrian bridge spans the Los Angeles County Flood Control District's Coyote Creek southerly of Woodson Street in the City of Long Beach (Attachment A - location map). The bridge has been closed for several years and there is no current or future purpose for the bridge. Additionally, the bridge has been determined not to meet current seismic design standards. Accordingly, the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works is developing a project to demolish the bridge and vacate the underlying easement. The project will also include a leveling and straightening of the channel access roads.
Over the years, there has been uncertainty regarding ownership and responsibility for the bridge, and the County needs to resolve all ownership issues prior to moving forward with demolition and removal of the bridge. The County has requested that the City of Long Beach, the City of Hawaiian Gardens, and the ABC Unified School District quitclaim any and all rights, title, and interest in the bridge and easement for the bridge, whatever they may be, to the County. Upon obtaining each agency's executed quitclaim deed, the County will proceed with recording the quitclaim documents, finalizing the project plans, obtaining any necessary regulatory approvals, and scheduling demolition and removal of the bridge. Both the City of Hawaiian Gardens and the ABC Unified School District have already executed their respective quitclaims for the bridge structure.
The project cost is currently estimated to be $450,000. To facilitate project delivery, the County is requesting the City of Long Beach to contribute a fixed amount of $150,000, and the County will contribute the remaining amount.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Trang and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on March 17, 2011.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this matter is requested on April 5, 2011 to allow the County to initiate removal of the pedestrian bridge.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City's share of the proposed work by the County to demolish and remove the bridge will be funded through an assignment to the County of $150,000 of Federal Surface Transportation Program-Local funds (STP-L). There is no impact to the General Fund and no local job impact associated with this recommendation. These federal highway funds are held by the state and allocated to local agencies based on a formula distribution.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MICHAEL CONWAY
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER