CC SR 20220802 01 - Forrestal Reserve Update
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 08/02/2022
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive a status update on the Forrestal Reserve
Parking and Traffic Management Plan
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1) Receive and file a status update on the Forrestal Reserve Parking and Traffic
Management Plan; and,
2) Direct Staff to return with another status report in December 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted:
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s):
ORIGINATED BY: Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Cory Linder, Director Recreation and Parks
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. January 18, 2022, staff report
B. March 15, 2022, staff report
BACKGROUND:
On September 7, 2021, the City Council directed Staff to provide parking for the Forrestal
Reserve on Forrestal Drive behind the existing gate prior to the start of Ladera Linda
Community Park Project construction in spring 2022. On January 18, 2022, Staff returned
with the Forrestal Reserve Parking and Traffic Management Concept Plan, which
included short-term and long-term plans for managing Forrestal Reserve parking. In
response, the City Council directed Staff not to proceed with extensive and costly
improvements, and to instead implement a smaller-scale parking area that included the
following (Attachment A):
• Opening the existing Forrestal gate to provide parking for the Forrestal Reserve
only on the weekends and holidays between 7 a.m. and sunset.
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• Opening the Forrestal parking area at the start of construction of the new Ladera
Linda Community Park.
• Staffing the parking area while it is open to the public.
• Installing a small trailer for Staff on site.
• Collecting car counts via a pneumatic roller or similar device.
• Reporting back to the City Council 90 days after the Forrestal parking area has
been opened an assessment of the operations.
On March 15, 2022, Staff provided a brief update to the City Council as part of the agenda
item on installing a temporary trailer to accommodate Open Space Management Staff at
the Civic Center and indicated a status report will be provided 90 days after the Forrestal
Parking is implemented (Attachment B). After the meeting, procedures were finalized to
accommodate parking at the Forrestal Reserve when construction on the Ladera Linda
Community Park Project began a few weeks later.
Tonight, Staff is providing the City Council with an update on the Forrestal Reserve
Parking and Traffic Management Plan during its first four months of operation. The data
contained in this report covers the period from April 9 to July 17, 2022, and includes
information derived from traffic counts, Staff observations and car counts, cit ation levels,
Park Ranger hotline calls, and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reports.
DISCUSSION:
Currently, visitors to the Forrestal Reserve can park adjacent to the park beyond the
Forrestal gate on weekends only from 7 a.m. to one hour after sunset (see map on the
next page). Parking is otherwise available weekdays and weekends on Forrestal Drive
near Palos Verdes Drive South. A temporary second gate was installed and is utilized on
weekends and holidays to limit access for Forrestal Reserve visitors to a designated lot
that can hold approximately 55 unmarked spaces (see photos below).
Permanent Forrestal Drive Gate Temporary Forrestal Drive Gate
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Taken as a whole, the modest car counts, no incidents and accidents, low numbers of
citations and calls to law enforcement, and observations of minimal impact to the adjacent
neighborhood all point to the general conclusion that Forrestal Reserve parking is working
well during this initial period. Observations during the first several months of operation
show that the current plan is an appropriate approach to effectively manage the number
of visitors coming to the Forrestal Reserve area since the Ladera Linda Community Park
and its parking areas were shut down for construction on March 28, 2022.
Below is a list of observations and metrics between April 9 and July 17, 2022:
• Number of Incidents (e.g. car break-ins, dead batteries) and Accidents: None
reported
• Number of Citations: Three, consisting of two for failure to obey signs-parked past
gate on weekend, and one for parking along a fire lane in front of Ladera Linda,
not by gate.
• Requests for Equestrian Access: None
• Relevant Calls to Ranger Hotline: Nine, consisting of eight regarding vehicles
locked in/illegally parked or gate unsecured, and one regarding illegal dumping.
Perm. Gate
Temp. Gate
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• Number of Vehicles towed: None
• Number of calls received by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department regarding
parking violations in area: Four, as summarized below:
o April 29, 2022 at 9:20 p.m.: Red zone, vehicle not located. Response time: 10
minutes.
o June 21, 2022 9:43 a.m.: Permit violation. Vehicle located and red tag warning
issued.
o June 24, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.: Red zone, vehicle not located. Response time: 7
minutes.
o July 15, 2022 at 9:54 a.m.: Permit violation, vehicle not located. Response time:
23 minutes.
• Unpermitted Ladera Linda Neighborhood Parking: Recreation and Parks
Department Staff regularly report not observing Forrestal Reserve visitors parking
in adjacent Ladera Linda neighborhood.
• Forrestal Drive (south of gate) impact: Staff is reporting that the lower section of
Forrestal Drive is not filled to capacity on the majority of weekdays when parking
is not available beyond the Forrestal gate. Parking on Forrestal Drive appears
adequate to meet weekend visitor levels.
Car Counts
The number of cars visiting the area is determined by two methods: Staff counts and
counts derived from mechanical traffic counters positioned underground.
Staff Counts: Counts are done by Recreation and Parks Department Staff during
weekends. The actual numbers are likely higher because Staff spend some of its time
educating the public, enforcing rules, picking up litter and other routine tasks. The counts
provide a general sense of the number of cars and fluctuations based on time of day.
The tables below show car counts in the Forrestal Reserve parking area for weekends
and holidays (Memorial Day and Fourth of July) between April 9 and July 17. Counts are
divided into morning (7 a.m. – 1 p.m.) and afternoon/evening (1 p.m. – 8 p.m.) totals.
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APRIL FORRESTAL PARKING
PARKED CARS 7AM-1PM 1PM-8PM TOTALS
Saturday, April 9, 2022 62 55 117
Sunday, April 10, 2022 45 48 93
Saturday, April 16, 2022 41 54 95
Sunday, April 17, 2022 43 64 107
Saturday, April 23, 2022 51 43 94
Sunday, April 24, 2022 53 47 100
Saturday, April 30, 2022 77 59 136
GRAND TOTALS 372 370 742
MAY FORRESTAL PARKING
PARKED CARS 7AM-1PM 1PM-8PM TOTALS
Sunday, May 1, 2022 35 46 81
Saturday, May 7, 2022 66 52 118
Sunday, May 8, 2022 63 56 119
Saturday, May 14, 2022 58 47 105
Sunday, May 15, 2022 43 56 99
Saturday, May 21, 2022 86 41 127
Sunday, May 22, 2022 52 44 96
Saturday, May 28, 2022 56 38 94
Sunday, May 29, 2022 67 41 108
Monday, May 30, 2022 61 35 96
GRAND TOTALS 587 456 1043
JUNE FORRESTAL PARKING
PARKED CARS 7AM-1PM 1PM-8PM TOTALS
Saturday, June 4, 2022 27 23 50
Sunday, June 5, 2022 32 37 69
Saturday, June 11, 2022 48 31 79
Sunday, June 12, 2022 42 35 77
Saturday, June 18, 2022 32 42 74
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JUNE FORRESTAL PARKING
PARKED CARS 7AM-1PM 1PM-8PM TOTALS
Sunday, June 19, 2022 22 24 46
Saturday, June 25, 2022 27 33 60
Sunday, June 26, 2022 25 38 63
GRAND TOTALS 255 263 518
JULY FORRESTAL PARKING
PARKED CARS 7AM-1PM 1PM-8PM TOTALS
Saturday, July 2, 2022 61 41 102
Sunday, July 3, 2022 35 43 78
Monday, July 4, 2022 31 18 49
Saturday, July 9, 2022 48 37 85
Sunday, July 10, 2022 23 31 54
Saturday, July 16, 2022 28 37 65
Sunday, July 17, 2022 28 38 66
GRAND TOTALS 254 245 499
Staff counted a total of 2,802 cars between April 9 and July 17, 2022. The table below
shows the average daily number of cars counted during that time period.
Average # of Cars 7 a.m. – 1 p. m. 46 cars
Average # of Cars 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. 42 cars
Average Daily Count Total 88 cars
Traffic Counter Information: A traffic counter is currently positioned across Forrestal Drive
north of Pirate Drive. The data from this counter shown below captures the combined
average weekend and holiday traffic going northbound (toward the designated Preserve
parking area or American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) fields) in two-hour
increments from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends between April 9 and July 17. While this
data likely includes cars that approached the Forrestal gate and then turned around, it
does provide a useful approximation of the total number of cars passing the Forrestal
gate on weekends.
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The figures show that the highest levels of weekend and holiday car visitation are between
the hours of 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. with the highest numbers between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. where
the average number of cars is between 28-31 in a two-hour block. Numbers are low before
8 a.m. in the early mornings and drop off considerably after 6 p.m.
Trail Use
Three trail counters are positioned in the Forrestal Reserve area at Purple Sag e Trail,
Fossil Trail, and Pirate Trail. These counters recorded the number of hikers at Purple
Sage and Fossil Trails, and the number of hikers and bikers at Pirate Trail. Weekend
numbers are shown below. Typically, between 100-200 hikers use each of these three
trails every day, with over 200 hikers counted occasionally on the Pirate and Purple Sage
Trails. Bike use at Pirate Trail ranges from 0-11 cyclists per day.
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Day Purple Sage Trail Counter Fossil Trail Counter Pirate Trail Counter
Saturday, April 9 Hikers:144 Hikers:158 Hikers: 199
Bikers: 2
Sunday, April 10 Hikers:158 Hikers:185
Hikers: 162
Bikers: 4
Saturday, April 16 Hikers:162 Hikers:115
Hikers: 153
Bikers: 9
Sunday, April 17 Hikers:110 Hikers:168
Hikers: 250
Bikers: 10
Saturday, April 23 Hikers:179 Hikers:204
Hikers: 283
Bikers: 7
Sunday, April 24 Hikers:111 Hikers:115
Hikers: 211
Bikers: 3
Saturday, April 30 Hikers:220 Hikers:161
Hikers: 210
Bikers: 4
Sunday, May 1 Hikers: 166 Hikers: 92
Hikers: 196
Bikers: 4
Saturday, May 7 Hikers: 161 Hikers: 130 Hikers: 208
Bikers: 3
Sunday, May 8 Hikers:138 Hikers: 137
Hikers: 290
Bikers: 10
Saturday, May 14 Hikers: 100 Hikers:136
Hikers: 161
Bikers: 6
Sunday, May 15 Hikers:204 Hikers:124
Hikers: 135
Bikers: 12
Saturday, May 21 Hikers:209 Hikers:201
Hikers: 231
Bikers: 8
Sunday, May 22 Hikers:151 Hikers:113
Hikers: 216
Bikers: 3
Saturday, May 28 Hikers: 138 Hikers:115
Hikers: 165
Bikers: 1
Sunday, May 29 Hikers:152 Hikers: 80 Hikers: 184
Bikers: 4
Saturday, June 4 Hikers:123 Hikers: 101
Hikers: 195
Bikers: 10
Sunday, June 5 Hikers:143 Hikers: 132
Hikers: 198
Bikers: 8
Saturday, June 11 Hikers:134 Hikers: 69
Hikers: 180
Bikers: 7
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Day Purple Sage Trail Counter Fossil Trail Counter Pirate Trail Counter
Sunday, June 12 Hikers:111 Hikers: 96
Hikers: 201
Bikers:11
Saturday, June 18 Hikers:145 Hikers: 133
Hikers: 189
Bikers: 4
Sunday, June 19 Hikers:146 Hikers: 111
Hikers: 272
Bikers: 6
Saturday, June 25 Hikers:126 Hikers: 92
Hikers: 96
Bikers: 6
Sunday, June 26 Hikers:126 Hikers: 117
Hikers: 147
Bikers: 8
Saturday, July 2 Hikers: 188
Hikers: 98
Hikers: 82
Bikers: 12
Sunday, July 3 Hikers: 129
Hikers: 134
Hikers: 216
Bikers: 5
Saturday, July 9 Hikers: 156
Hikers: 117
Hikers: 183
Bikers: 3
Sunday, July 10 Hikers: 129
Hikers: 131
Hikers: 155
Bikers: 0
Saturday, July 16 Hikers: 178
Hikers: 111
Hikers: 162
Bikers: 4
Sunday, July 17 Hikers: 118
Hikers: 106
Hikers: 198
Bikers: 1
Staff Monitoring
To monitor Forrestal Reserve Parking, a staffing plan was developed and implemented
on April 9, 2022 which includes basic procedures for managing parking in the area. In
summary, Staff opens and closes the primary and secondary Forrestal gates, educates
the public, and monitors activity in the area. Staff spends the majority of its time at
Forrestal Drive providing public education of the parking area and Preserve rules, minor
maintenance, and litter removal. Staff conducts roving patrols of Forrestal Drive by vehicle
and by foot, and occasionally checks on adjacent facilities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
AYSO
AYSO has held practices and games during the summer, typically from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
weekdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. The secondary gate is open on these
occasions so teams can drive to the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
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(PVPUSD) owned soccer fields located to the north of Ladera Linda Community Park.
Staff reports that most weekend Forrestal Reserve visitors are parking in the designated
Preserve parking area while soccer visitors are utilizing the area past the Preserve
parking area for parking. No significant problems have been reported even though the
gate has occasionally been left open by AYSO coaches. Staff will continue to work closely
with AYSO and PVPUSD personnel to address any concerns, especially with the
approaching fall soccer season which is AYSO’s busiest time of the year. Staff is working
with AYSO to ensure that the gate is closed behind them by any AYSO coaches
accessing the field on weekdays to keep Preserve visitors from parking beyond the gate.
Staff Trailer and Restroom Status Update
The installation of a Staff trailer and restroom on Forrestal Drive near the gate is
scheduled to be installed in the near future. This was considered at the start of the project
but was delayed due to the need to work with Southern California Edison (SCE) to supply
power to the location.
CONCLUSION:
The combined data points and Staff observations indicate that the initial Forrestal
Reserve Parking protocols and procedures are working effectively. Given that this
program has only been in operation since early April, there is admittedly only limited
comparative data. Staff intends to maintain the current Forrestal Reserve Parking
protocols and will provide another update to the City Council before the end of the year.
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