CC SR 20200317 08 - Western Ave. Beautification
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 03/17/2020
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
Consideration and possible action to receive a presentation on enhancing the aesthetics
of Western Avenue
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1) Review potential design features to enhance the aesthetics of the City’s segment
of the Western Avenue corridor;
2) Provide Staff direction on the preferred design features; and,
3) If deemed acceptable, direct Staff to place the project in the City’s upcoming
Capital Improvements Program to compete with other projects for design and
construction funding.
FISCAL IMPACT: None at this time
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Nasser Razepoor, PE, Associate Civil Engineer
REVIEWED BY: Elias Sassoon, PE, Director of Public Works
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Sample Design Feature Illustrations (page A-1)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
Over the years, the City has received feedback from residents that landscaping and the
general aesthetic condition along Western Avenue is in need of refurbishment. The
streetscape currently consists of concrete sidewalks with paved medians containing
planting pockets that are not landscaped with the exception of a few pine and palm
trees. The current configuration of the landscaping presents as a hodge-podge medley
of several pieces of landscaping plans developed over the past several decades.
Landscaping and other key features within the corridor need to be redesigned to
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establish a continuous and uniform character along Western Avenue that is distinct and
unique to the overall character of Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV).
Western Avenue is the primary street corridor for the east side of RPV. This potential
project focuses on the two-mile stretch of street generally from Palos Verdes Drive
North to the north, to Summerland Avenue to the south. This segment of Western
Avenue, for most of its length, constitutes the municipal boundary between the cities of
RPV on the west and Los Angeles on the east, and has historically provided services,
amenities, connectivity, and residential opportunities to residents on the east side of
RPV. The corridor within the City of RPV accommodates various zoning designations
consisting of primarily commercial, single-family residential, multi-family residential; and
cemetery near the north end of the corridor.
Western Avenue is by no means homogeneous. It provides a multitude of amenities to a
multitude of users. The corridor is, however, dated. The existing patterns of
development are representative of a time and approa ch long past. The commercial
cluster on the south end was designed to accommodate automobile use, with a notable
poor pedestrian experience. The current residential uses in the middle segment do not
necessarily contribute to the street’s vitality. The goal of this project is to create a safe
and attractive roadway corridor that promotes the City’s identity and commercial
establishments by creating an attractive streetscape. It should be noted that this
potential project is separate from the now-shelved Western Avenue Vision Plan
between RPV and the City of Los Angeles.
Potential Project Design Features
In order to provide a future-selected design firm with a conceptual vision on how to
enhance the aesthetics of the Western Avenue corridor, Staff has compiled the
following list of design features and seeks the Council’s input on its preference
(Attachment A includes some sample illustrations of the proposed design for discussion
purposes only):
Installing new City entry monument signs
Replacing the concrete from medians with low-level plants
Replacing some of the existing pine trees with palm trees
Installing new low voltage up-lighting in landscaped medians
Installing new sidewalk benches and trash receptacles
Installing new decorative crosswalks
Installing new landscaped planter boxes and decorative finishes on the sidewalks
Installing new street banners
Featuring public art displays that may be coordinated with the PV Art Center
This potential project was presented to the Infrastructure Management Advisory
Committee (IMAC) at the February 26, 2020 meeting. The IMAC members were in
support of this project, and recommended this project to be presented to the City
Council for consideration.
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The proposed improvements must also be coordinated with adjacent property owners,
the City of Los Angeles (if any improvements are made to facilities within th at city) and
Caltrans, prior to commencing any work.
The estimated cost for designing this project is $150,000, while estimated construction
costs will not be known until a plan has been developed and approved by the City
Council. Following the design, it would then compete with all other City CIP projects for
construction funding.
CONCLUSION:
Staff seeks City Council’s direction in determining whether to include this project in the
City’s upcoming CIP program, as well as its input on what design features to be
considered in the overall project.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to Staff recommendations, the following alternative action is available for the
City Council’s consideration:
1. Direct Staff not to include this project in the CIP.
2. Discuss and make recommendations on other options, as deemed
appropriate by the City Council.
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Western Avenue Beautification
Presented by Nasser Razepoor, P.E., Associate Engineer
City Council meeting on March 17, 2020
Department of Public Works
A-1
Palm & Pierson median
(City of Costa Mesa)
Beach Boulevard median
(City of Stanton)
Examples of
potential
improvements
A-2
Madison Avenue median
(City of La Quinta)
Examples of
potential
improvements
A-3
Entry Sign
Examples of
potential
improvements
A-4
Median Landscape
and Crossings
Examples of
potential
improvements
A-5
Street Pole Banners
(City of El Segundo)
Examples of
potential
improvements
A-6
Example of Up-Lighting
(City of Culver City)
Examples of
potential
improvements
A-7
Examples of
potential
improvements Benches & Trash
Receptacles
A-8
Summary
The proposed project Improvements:
Installing new entrance signage
Installing new up-lighting
Installing new benches and trash receptacles
Removing some of the concrete from the median to replace with low-level plants
Replacing some of the pine trees with palm trees
Installing decorative crosswalks
Installing new landscaped planter boxes and decorative finishes on the sidewalks
Installing new banners
A-9
Thank You!
Questions?
A-10