TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Raul Saenz, Interim Public Works Director
Keith Darling, Maintenance Manager
Anna Luke-Jones, Public Works Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Potential Downtown Maintenance Enhancements (Interim Public Works Director Saenz).
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff Recommends that City Council Discuss and provide direction on Potential Downtown Manhattan Beach Maintenance Enhancements.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City has made an effort to engage residents and community members in dialogue regarding visions to improve the Downtown and North Manhattan Beach experience. During this evaluation time, multiple comments were made from residential and commercial stakeholders about changes in regards to maintenance practices. The input received has been categorized into five main areas:
Area 1: Cleaning Practices
Area 2: Refuse Management
Area 3: Code Enforcement/Municipal Code
Area 4: Parking Control
Area 5: Education/Outreach
The following report is organized as follows:
The Discussion section identifies specific complaints within each of the five areas, a summary of current practices, along with only those solutions where consensus was reached based on stakeholder input. More detail is included in Attachment 1, where staff has provided a thorough explanation of each complaint, existing practices in place to address the issue, all solutions provided by Staff and stakeholders, and any additional feedback provided by stakeholders. Attachments 2 - 6 are charted quick lists of the complaints and all solutions, and will be utilized during the Staff presentation at the Council Meeting to address each area. Attachment 7 includes a summary of the correspondence with stakeholders through multiple meetings. With this information, Staff recommends that City Council discuss the options and provide direction on which, if any, solutions to explore.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Several potential options for maintenance enhancements are provided for Council consideration. Based on Council discussion and direction on which if any items to explore, staff will return to Council with a resource analysis, feasibility of items, and overall costing.
BACKGROUND:
At the April 18, 2016 City Council Meeting, City Council directed Staff to return with a report and presentation addressing the beautification of Downtown. Staff established correspondence with the stakeholders through multiple meetings, and those meetings are summarized in Attachment 7. Stakeholders in this process have included the Downtown Residents Group, the Downtown Business Association, the Manhattan Commercial Property Owners Association, Waste Management, Athens, and Cleanstreet.
As a point of reference, the Downtown Streetscape boundaries run east to west on Manhattan Beach Blvd. from Valley Dr. to the Manhattan Beach Pier, and north to south on Highland Ave. from 15th St. to 9th St., and north to south on Manhattan Ave. from 13th St. to 6th St.
DISCUSSION:
Due to the requests of maintenance enhancements in Downtown Manhattan Beach, staff has prepared a summary of potential solutions. The North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District, although not the main focus of this report, provided input as well. This report will serve as a model for other commercial districts requesting assistance with similar issues. The suggestions and/or new approaches City Council directs staff to explore may be considered for another business district in the city if the request arises.
As noted above, concerns, current practices, and solutions within the following areas were provided by staff and stakeholders:
Area 1: Cleaning Practices
Area 2: Refuse Management
Area 3: Code Enforcement/Municipal Code
Area 4: Parking Control
Area 5: Education/Outreach
The stakeholders who met at the June 17, 2016 meeting wanted staff to convey the importance of enforcement, and its necessity regardless of the maintenance changes pursued.
Attachments 2-6 provide a charted summary of the concerns, existing practices, possible solutions provided by Staff or Stakeholders for City Council consideration, and identifies whether the Stakeholders reached consensus to recommend a solution. The identified concerns and solutions which were agreed upon by the stakeholders are presented below. City Council direction is needed on which, if any, solutions to explore.
Maintenance Enhancements for Consideration
The following areas include the specific concerns, a brief current practices overview, and solutions which reached consensus among the stakeholders. The complete list of solutions is available in Attachment 1 or by category in Attachments 2-6:
Area 1: Cleaning Practices
There are three main areas of concern regarding cleaning practices:
1.1: The alleys are dirty and need maintenance similar to the main thoroughfares (Manhattan Beach Blvd., Highland Ave., Manhattan Ave, etc.).
1.2: Downtown area is especially messy looking the day after a major event.
1.3: Pest control needs additional attention.
Summary of Current Practices: The City currently contracts to street sweep the Downtown twice per week, power wash the main streetscape thoroughfares (Manhattan Beach Blvd., Highland Ave., Manhattan Ave., Metlox & Civic Plaza) and “hot spots” and provide porter service 7 days per week (mornings M-F, all day on weekends). Pest control is handled on a case-by-case basis.
Consensus was reached amongst stakeholders on the following enhancements:
1.1: Expand porter service/hand sweeping, and power washing to entire right-of-way in Downtown & North Manhattan Beach Business District (including alleys) once per week. Initial cost estimates range from $104,000 - $312,000 annually.
1.2: As part of event permit, the Maintenance Manager will determine during the event permit process whether additional Downtown porter service is needed, as well as street cleaning after an event that takes place in the Downtown area. Initial cost estimates for porter service are $600 per day, and street cleaning at least $2,000 per cleaning.
1.3: Schedule all utility boxes to be sprayed 2-4 days per year for pest control. Initial cost estimate is $7,000 per day of spraying for all boxes in the Downtown & NBID. 4 days of spraying annually is estimated at $28,000.
City Council Direction Needed
Attachment 2 includes a summarized list of all possible solutions for City Council to consider and provide direction to staff on following up with further information. Upon City Council direction, staff will return with final costs, information and program details.
Area 2: Refuse Management
There are six main areas of concern regarding Refuse Management
2.1: Businesses who have inadequate or outdated refuse facilities need to be addressed.
2.2: Some businesses experience overflow issues with trash and recyclables.
2.3: Cigarette butts are littered throughout the Downtown area.
2.4: Public (City-owned) refuse containers are not sufficiently meeting volume needs.
2.5: City-owned containers compensate for the waste levels of businesses who distribute a lot of disposable products.
2.6: Create Municipal Code mandating participation in Food Waste recycling.
Summary of Current Practices: Refuse enclosures are evaluated upon new construction or improvements greater than 50% of the property. Commercial customers set their own collection schedules. Waste Management is currently performing an in-depth commercial audit to assist businesses with adjusting their service levels.
Consensus was reached amongst stakeholders on the following enhancements:
2.1.A: Adjust Municipal Code to require all refuse enclosures be evaluated every time a business changes hands or any size tenant improvement is performed.
2.2.A: Develop and enforce a refuse management plan throughout the city.
2.2.B: Food service establishments should utilize compactors in their kitchens when able.
2.3.A: Inform and empower the public on what they can do when encountering someone smoking.
2.3.B: Close off the west end of the Manhattan Beach Pier late at night to prohibit smokers who congregate at the end of the Pier.
2.3.C: Increase the size of Non-Smoking signs.
2.3.D: Add ash trays throughout Downtown with signage that says “Put your cigarette out - Manhattan Beach is a smoke-free city.”
2.3.E: Spend some time educating and enforcing the smoking ban with taxi cab drivers
2.4.A: Replace 6 Downtown public container locations with Big Belly Solar Compactor units. Initial cost estimate is apx. $250 p/month, p/location - annual cost $18,000.
2.5.A: Establish a fee for “to-go” disposable food establishments to help cover the cost of additional refuse collection and street collection.
City Council Direction Needed
Attachment 3 includes a summarized list of all possible solutions for City Council to consider and provide direction to staff on following up with further information. Upon City Council direction, staff will return with final costs, information and program details.
Area 3: Code Enforcement
There are three main areas of concern regarding Code Enforcement:
3.1: Individual businesses instead of landlords are handling trash complaints.
3.2: Best Management Practices such as breaking down boxes should be required in the Municipal Code.
3.3: There is not enough proactive enforcement of current codes.
Summary of Current Practices: Enforcement is “complaint-based” and issues regarding sanitary conditions are addressed with the user/generator of the waste. If a letter is sent to a commercial business, the property owner is often included. Enclosure issues may involve both parties as owners may make tenants responsible for enclosure maintenance in tenant agreements.
Consensus was reached amongst stakeholders on the following enhancements:
3.1.C: Require property owners to include a refuse clause in tenant agreements, requiring 30 minute training with city on proper refuse practices.
3.2.A: Create refuse related Best Management Practices in the Municipal Code.
3.3.A: Increase enforcement of the city’s current smoking ban.
3.3.B: Integrate the efforts of Code Enforcement and the Police Department.
3.3.C: Designate one Code Enforcement Officer for “Environmental Codes” such as refuse, smoking, plastic bags, NPDES (storm water), etc.
City Council Direction Needed
Attachment 4 includes a summarized list of all possible solutions for City Council to consider and provide direction to staff on following up with further information. Upon City Council direction, staff will return with final costs, information and program details.
Area 4: Parking
There are two main areas of concern regarding Parking:
4.1: Parking regulations are not being adhered to, and refuse and emergency vehicles may not be able to have access in key alleys.
4.2: Delivery vehicles illegally park during non-operational hours, congesting the Downtown.
Summary of Current Practices: Waste Management works with Code Enforcement to assist with vehicles impeding enclosures.
Consensus was not reached by all stakeholders in this area.
City Council Direction Needed
Attachment 5 includes a summarized list of all possible solutions for City Council to consider and provide direction to staff on following up with further information. Upon City Council direction, staff will return with final costs, information and program details.
Area 5: Outreach
There are four main suggestions for new outreach programs to inspire the community to keep Downtown beautiful:
5.1.A: Community competition to beautify Downtown through Streetscape service projects (City recognizes participants).
5.1.B: Create a beautification award program for the cleanest businesses.
5.1.C: “Adopt a Street” program where businesses & property owners keep a specific street clean (City recognizes participants).
5.1.D: Create educational campaign on impacts of sanitation on health and environment.
The stakeholders had no additional comment on the outreach enhancements.
Summary of Current Practices: Outreach is spearheaded by Staff or one of its contractors.
City Council Direction Needed
Attachment 6 includes a summarized list of all possible solutions for City Council to consider and provide direction to staff on following up with further information. Upon City Council direction, staff will return with final costs, information and program details.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
Attachment 7 of this report includes a list of all stakeholders who provided input for this report and detail regarding specific outreach meetings and correspondence. Staff also provided an update of this item to a Downtown Business Association meeting on July 14, 2016.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Some of the Parking suggestions may require Coastal Commission approval.
Categorical Exemption
The City has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Class 1, categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and Class 21, categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15321(Enforcement Actions by Regulatory Agencies) of the State CEQA Guidelines. Thus, no further environmental review is necessary.
Statutory Exemption
The City has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project falls under the statutory exemption pursuant for Feasibility and Planning Studies in accordance with to Section 15262 of the State CEQA Guidelines. Thus, no further environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW
If City Council directs staff to explore changes to Municipal Code(s) or make amendments to contracts, City Staff will consult with the City Attorney on those draft adjustments.
Attachments:
1. Details on Each Enhancement Option
2. Area 1: Cleaning Practices Enhancement Quick List
3. Area 2: Refuse Management Enhancement Quick List
4. Area 3: Code Enforcement Enhancement Quick List
5. Area 4: Parking Enhancement Quick List
6. Area 5: Outreach Enhancement Quick List
7. Summary of Stakeholder Meetings in 2016
8. Downtown Enhancements PowerPoint Presentation