CITY OF COSTA MESA
Department of Public Works/Administration
INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RAJA SETHURAMAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
DATE: SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
SUBJECT: ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS ON WEST 1 9
TH STREET AND
PLACENTIA AVENUE – BEFORE AND AFTER PROJECT EVALUATION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Public Works Department recently completed active transportation improvements along West 19th Street and Placentia Avenue, consistent with the City’s Active Transportation Plan.
During the design phase of the projects, Transportation Services staff reviewed the existing conditions along the corridors and identified active transportation improvements that could be implemented concurrently with the pavement rehabilitation. Staff obtained data six months after the projects were completed to evaluate the effectiveness of the improvements. This memorandum provides background and description of each project and summarizes the result s of the evaluation. Tables 1-1 and 1- 2 below summarize the results of the projects and their e ffects on average speed, 85 th percentile speed, and collisions.
Table 1-1: Average and 85th Percentile Speed (Before and After Project) Street Limits
Average Speed (mph) 85th% Speed
Existing
Posted
Speed
Limit
(mph)
Proposed
Posted
Speed
Limit
Per 2024
E&TS
(mph)
Average
Speed
Before
Project
(mph)
Average
Speed
After
Project
(mph)
Δ
Average
Speed
(mph)
% Δ
85th%
Speed
Before
Project
(mph)
85th%
Speed
After
(mph)
Δ
85th%
Speed
(mph)
% Δ
West 19th
Street
Parkcrest Dr to
Placentia Ave 34 33 -1 -3% 38 37 -1 -3% 35 25
Pomona Ave to
Placentia Ave 32 30 -2 -6% 36 34 -2 -6% 35 30
Placentia
Avenue
Adams Ave to
Estancia H.S. North 40 41 +1 +3% 44 44 0 0% 40 35
Estancia H.S. North
to 20th St 39 39 0 0% 43 42 -1 -2% 40 35
20th St to 16th St 39 37 -2 -5% 43 41 -2 -5% 40 35
2 Table 1-2: Collisions (Before and After Project)
Street Limits
Total Collisions
(24-month total
prior to Project)
Total Collisions
(Six-month total
after project)
Bicycle and
Pedestrian
Collisions (24-
month total
prior to Project)
Bicycle and
Pedestrian
Collisions (six-
month total
prior to Project)
W. 19th
Street
Parkcrest Dr to Placentia Ave 10 1 2 0
Placentia Ave to Pomona Ave 13 0 3 0
Placentia
Avenue
Adams Ave to Estancia H.S.
North 12 3 2 0
Estancia H.S. North to 20th St 24 6 4 0
20th St to 16th St 24 1 3 1
West 19th Street
Background
The recently completed rehabilitation project along West 19 th Street implemented major activ e transportation improvements from Pomona Avenue to the westerly terminus at Parkcrest Drive.
Transportation Services staff reviewed the existing conditions along Placentia Avenue and identified improvements to the existing bicycle facilities along the corridor. Staff identified opportunities to narrow the vehicular travel lanes to either add or widen bicycle lanes and buffers and add green bicycle markings and conflict zones along the corridor. The improvements were consistent with the community’s preferred street layout that was determined through several outreach meetings that took place prior to project implementation.
Between Parkcrest Drive and Federal Avenue, the center two-way-left-turn lane was removed and bike lanes in both directions were installed adjacent to the existing on-street parking. The westbound lane drop between Federal Avenue and Placentia Avenue from two lanes to one lane was relocated to between Pomona Avenue and Wallace Avenue. This allowed for the construction of a raised concrete bulb-out at the northwest corner of the intersection of West 19 th Street and Placentia Avenue. The
bulb-out reduces the crossing distance of pedestrians along the west leg of the intersection and slows right turning speeds for motorists traveling southbound on Placentia Avenue onto West 19th Street.
From Pomona Avenue to Placentia Avenue, the project narrowed the street to one westbound lane and constructed Class II buffered bicycle lanes with green conflict striping. A new traffic s ignal for pedestrians was concurrently installed at the intersection of West 19 th Street and Wallace Avenue as
part of a separate Capital Improvement Project.
Shortly after the project was completed, staff installed green flexible K -71 posts between Pomona Avenue and Placentia Avenue as well as some additional posts between Placentia Avenue and Federal Avenue. To address circulation ch allenges near Federal Avenue, s taff also made modifications to restore the center two-way-left-turn lane between Placentia Avenue and Federal Avenue by narrowing the bicycle lane buffers.
3 The following photos show the project implementation along West 19th Street:
West 19th Street – Parkcrest Drive to Placentia Avenue West 19th Street – Placentia Avenue to Pomona Avenue
Evaluation:
According to Table 1 -1, the speeds along West 19 th Street experienced minor decreases in average and 85 th Percentile Speeds. The average and 85 th Percentile Speed between Parkcrest Drive and Placentia Avenue decreased by one mph (3%) while the segment from Placentia Avenue to Pomona Avenue decreased by two mph (6%). Though the changes in 85th percentile speeds were minor, they provided staff the flexibility to be able to recommend speed limit decreases along West 19th Street. As part of the City’s ongoing 2024 E ngineering & Traffic Study (E&TS), the existing 35 mph speed limit between Placentia Avenue and Pomona Avenue will be decreased to 30 mph and the speed limit from Parkcrest Drive to Placentia Avenue will be decreased to a 25 m ph prima facie speed limit for a residential district.
Table 1-2 shows the collisions along Wes t 19
th Street during the two- year period before the project and the six months after the project. According to the data collected, both study segments along West 19 th Street experienced significant reductions in collisions. During the two- year period, there were 23 total collisions along West 19 th Street. In the first six months after the project was completed , there has been only one reported collision. This de crease shows that the project’s effect on both the motorist and bicyclist environments is trending towards a decrease in collisions.
The active transportation project along West 19
th Street is also anticipated to reduce collisions related to non-motorized users. During the two- year period before the project, the collision data shows that there were a combined total of five pedestrian and bicycle-related collisions. During the first six months after the project, there have been no pedestrian and bicycle-related collisions along the West 19th Street corridor.
Next Steps:
Though the project did not significantly change the speeds along West 19 th Street, the minor
decreases in speed allowed City staff to propose a reduction of the posted speed limit. Staff are working to finalize the 2024 E&TS and, when complete, will update all the speed limit signage along the corridor. Staff’s evaluation also showed that there was a significant decrease in the occurrence of collisions as shown by the number of collisions during the first six months after the project . Staff will continue to monitor the collisions to document the long-term benefits of the project.
4 Placentia Avenue
Background
The recently completed rehabilitation project along Placentia Avenue implemented active transportation improvements from 16th Street at the southerly City limits to its northerly terminus at Adams Avenue. Transportation Services staff reviewed the existing conditions along Placentia Avenue and identified improvements to the existing bicycle lanes along the corridor. Staff identified opportunities to narrow the vehicular travel lanes to either add or widen bicycle lanes and buf fers and add green bicycle markings and conflict zones along the corridor.
The project upgraded the existing Class II bicycle lanes from 16 th Street to Estancia High School’s northern driveway by adding a new two-foot striped buffer to provide separation between motorists and bicyclists, adding green conflict markings at driveways and at intersection approaches, and installing green bike boxes at various intersections. From the northern high school driveway to Adams Avenue, the existing Class II buffered bicycle lanes were upgraded with green flexible K -71 posts in the bicycle buffer and green conflict striping at driveways and at the approaches to intersections.
The following photos show the project implementation along Placentia Avenue:
Placentia Avenue - Adams Avenue to Estancia H.S. North Driveway Placentia Avenue – Estancia H.S. North Driveway to 20th Street
Placentia Avenue – 20th Street to 16th Street
5 Evaluation
After the project was c ompleted in February 2024, staff obtained six months of data to perform an interim evaluation of the effectiveness of the improvements. This new data was compared to existing data collected prior to the project . As shown in Table 1- 1, the speeds along Placentia Avenue experienced minor decreases in average and 85 th p ercentile speeds. The 85 th p ercentile speed between Adams Avenue and the northern driveway at Estancia High School did not change and remained at 34 mph while the average speeds increased by one mph. The average speed between the northern Estancia High School driveway and 20 th Street did not change while the 85 th percentile speed decreased by one mph (2%). These changes are minor and have been determined by staff to be less than significant. The most notable change occurred between 20th Street and 16th Street where both the average speed and 85 th percentile speed decreased by two mph (5%). Though the changes in 85th percentile speeds were minor, the project’s active transportation improvements provided staff the flexibility to be able to recommend speed limit decreases along Plac entia Avenue. As part of the City’s ongoing 2024 E&TS, the existing 40 mph speed limit s along Placentia Avenue will be decreased to 35 mph.
Table 1-2 shows the collisions along Placentia Avenue during the two- year period before the project and the six months after the project. According to the data collected, the segment between 20 th Street
and 16th Street experienced a significant decrease. The active transportation project along Placentia Avenue is anticipated to reduce collisions related to non-motorized users. During the two- year period before the project, the collision data shows that there were a combined total of nine pedestrian and bicycle-related collisions. During the first six months after the project, there has been one pedestrian and bicycle-related collision along the Placentia Avenue corridor.
Next Steps:
Though the project did not significantly change the speeds along Placentia Avenue, the minor decreases in speed allowed City staff to propose a reduction of the posted speed limit. Staff are working to finalize the 2024 E&TS and, when complete, will update all the speed limit signage along the corridor. Staff’s evaluation also showed that the project has reduced bicycle-related collisions thus far and that any increases or decreases in the total collisions cannot be definitively attributed to the project. Staff will continue to monitor the collisions to document the long-term benefits of the project.
Staff is also working on a pilot project to install additional flexible K -71 posts in the narrower two-foot- wide bicycle lane buffer s along Placentia Avenue between Victoria Street and West 19 th Street.
Implementation is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
CONCLUSION:
The Transportation Services Division implemented active transportation improvement s along West 19th Street and Placentia Avenue corridors as part of the City’s recent rehabilitation projects. New buffered bicycle lanes, green bicycle conflict striping at driveways and at intersection approaches, bicycle boxes and flexible K -71 posts were installed at various locations along the corridors. When comparing the speeds before and after the project, the data collection results showed that there are minor decreases in average and 85th percentile speeds. The largest benefits with the improvements were realized from the decreas es in total collisions along West 19 th Street, where both the motorist and bicyclist environments were altered to enhance safety . There were significant reduction on pedestrian and bicycle- related collisions along both corridors with the implementation of active transportation improvements. Staff will continue to monitor the speeds and collision rates along the streets and work with the Police Department on enforcement of the new proposed speed limit changes that will be implemented as part of the City’s 2024 Engineering and Traffic Survey.
6 If you or any member of Council desires additional information, please contact Ramin Nikoui, Senior Engineer, at extension 5184.
C Lori Ann Farrell Harrison, City Manager
Ramin Nikoui, Senior Engineer
Brett Atencio Thomas, Active Transportation Coordinator Kole Bussell, Engineering Technician III
File
September 17, 2024
APPROVAL OF SIDE LETTER WITH CMCEA
AND UPDATES TO POLICE DEPARTMENT
HIRING AND REFERRAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Overview
• Current Communications Staffing
• CMCEA Side Letter
• Hiring and Referral Incentive
Program
• Fiscal Review
• Recommendations
Current Communications Staffing
• The Police Department is currently budgeted at 21 full-time communications employees in the following classifications:
• Communications Officer: 11 positions
• Senior Communications Officer: 6 positions
• Communications Supervisor: 4 positions
• There are currently 6 full-time vacancies in addition to a number of employees currently out on leave or under work restrictions.
3 Current Communications Staffing
• In the past 12 years, the Bureau has hired 46 employees, and of these 46 hires, only 9 still remain as full-time employees resulting in an 80% turnover rate.
• Over the past several months, the City and the Costa Mesa City Employees Association (CMCEA) held several
collaborative meetings to discuss recruitment and retention issues.
• As a result of these meetings, the parties have reached tentative agreement regarding a proposed Side Letter of Agreement for compensation.
4 CMCEA Side Letter of Agreement
The following are the key provisions of the negotiated Side Letter of Agreement:
• Classification Updates – renaming classifications and realigning job functions as follows:
Current Proposed
Communications Officer
Responsible for call-taking, Fire and
Police dispatch functions
Public Safety Dispatcher
Responsible for call-taking and Fire
dispatch
Senior Communications Officer
Responsible for call-taking, Fire and
Police dispatch functions and training
Senior Public Safety Dispatcher
Responsible for call-taking, Fire dispatch
and Police dispatch
Communications Supervisor
Responsible for day-to-day supervision
of shift
Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor
Responsible for day-to-day supervision
of shift
5 CMCEA Side Letter of Agreement
• Compensation Updates
o Creation of training officer assignment, with an internal selection process, and adding special assignment pay of 12.5% for all hours worked as a training officer
o Effective September 22, 2024, a 12.5% adjustment to the pay range for Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor to address compaction with the training officer o With the removal of the 5% Move Up Pay for Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor, the net increase will be 7.5%
• Retention Bonus
o $15,000 one-time retention bonus for current full-time employees to be paid in two installments:
o $7,500 paid upon Council approval
o $7,500 paid one year after initial payment
6 CMCEA Side Letter of Agreement
• Overtime
o Effective June 18, 2023, an additional ½ time at base rate for all hours worked above 60 physical hours in a week
• PT to FT Conversion
o Waiver of probationary period for employees who convert from PT to FT status
7 Part Time Employees
In addition to the proposed CMCEA Side Letter, the following updates to part-time staff are also recommended:
• Creation of a Reserve Senior Public Safety Dispatcher classification for dispatchers working part-time that are fully trained.
• Adding special training assignment pay of 12.5% for all hours worked as a training officer similar to the full time benefit, to assist with training staff, if needed.
8 Hiring and Referral Incentive Program
(Dispatchers and Police Officers)
• In order to enhance recruitment efforts for both Dispatchers and Police Officers, a two-year Hiring and Employee Referral Incentive Pilot Program is recommended.
• Hiring incentives in Orange County and other surrounding counties range from $5,000 - $25,000 on average for Police Recruits and Police Officers and as high as $40,000 and $100,000 in two other agencies. A few agencies have also implemented hiring incentives for Dispatchers. • The pilot program also includes an employee referral incentive to encourage employees to refer applicants to the City.
9 Hiring and Referral Incentive Program
The Program includes the following hiring incentives:
Incentive Total
Payment
1st Payment 2nd Payment 3rd Payment
Lateral Police Officer $25,000 $7,500
Upon hire
$7,500
Upon completion of
training
$10,000
Upon completion of
probation
Entry Level Police
Recruit/Non-Lateral
$10,000 $3,000
Upon completion of
academy (Recruit)
or upon hire (Non-
Lateral)
$3,000
Upon completion of
training
$4,000
Upon completion of
probation
Lateral Public Safety
Dispatcher
$15,000 $5,000
Upon hire
$5,000
Upon completion of
1 year
$5,000
Upon completion of
probation
Entry Level Public
Safety Dispatcher
$10,000 $5,000
Upon hire
$5,000
Upon completion of
probation
N/A
10 Hiring and Referral Incentive Program
Orange County Hiring Incentives:
Los Angeles County Lateral Police Officer Incentives ($20,000 and over):
Alhambra - $20,000 Glendale - $20,000 Pomona - $25,000 Beverly Hills - $20,000 Inglewood - $40,000 South Gate - $20,000 Downey - $25,000 Long Beach - $78,000 Torrance - $100,000 Agency Lateral Officer Recruit/ Non Lateral Officer Lateral Dispatcher Anaheim $15,000 $10,000 N/A
Buena Park $12,000 $10,000 N/A
Cypress $5,000 N/A N/A
La Habra $10,000 N/A N/A
La Palma $13,000 N/A N/A
Orange $10,000 N/A $10,000
Santa Ana $20,000 $20,000 N/A
Tustin $40,000 N/A $15,000
Westminster $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
11 Hiring and Referral Incentive Program
The Program also includes the following employee referral incentives:
Incentive Total Payment 1st Payment 2nd Payment
Employee Referral $2,000 $1,000
Upon hire or referred
applicant
$1,000
Upon referred applicant’s
completion of probation
12 Fiscal Review
• The estimated annual ongoing impact for Public Safety Dispatch compensation adjustments are $485,219. For FY 24/25, the estimated pro-rated impact is $270,650. The cost of the retention bonus, one-time retroactive OT pay and hiring incentives is estimated at $319,000 for FY 24/25.
• The City Manager’s contingency funds from FY 24/25 and Citywide salary savings are sufficient to support the recommended costs.
Item One-Time
Cost
Recurring
Cost FY 24/25
Total Ongoing
Impact
Retention Bonus $105,000
OT Retroactive FY 23/24 $14,000
Hiring Incentive $200,000
Supervisor Pay Adjustment $53,139 $70,853
Classification Updates $198,506 $389,026
Training Assignment Pay $19,005 $25,340
TOTAL $319,000 $270,650 $485,219
13 • Authorize and adopt the Side Letter with CMCEA
• Approve Resolution renaming Communications classifications and updating pay rates
• Approve Resolution establishing the Reserve Senior Public Safety Dispatcher classification
• Approve the certified fiscal analysis
• Authorize the City Manager and Negotiations Team to execute Side Letter documents
• Approve appropriation increase of $319,00 for FY 24/25 for one- time incentives and overtime costs
• Approve appropriation increase of $270,650 for FY 24/25 for recurring costs due to compensation adjustments for Public Safety Dispatchers
Recommendations
14 QUESTIONS?
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024
COSTA MESA BRIDGE
SHELTER CONTRACT
AMENDMENTS
2 BACKGROUND
• April 2021 – The City opened the 72-bed Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter, with Mercy House as the Shelter Operator.
• April 2022 – The City Council named Bracken’s Kitchen as the Bridge Shelter Kitchen Operator.
• July 2023 – The City Council approved increasing Shelter capacity to 85 beds.
• August 2023 – The City Council approved the submission of a joint application with the Orange County Health Care Agency to apply for Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) funds to add 15 behavioral health care beds, increasing total capacity to 100 guests. • March 2024 – The City was awarded $3,555,128 in BHBH funds to add 15 behavioral health care beds and associated services through June 30, 2026.
3 SHELTER OPERATOR AGREEMENT
Mercy House is proposing to operate the Bridge Shelter for up to 100 guests at an annual cost of $2,383,180 (+$197,894). The cost increase includes:
• Market rate salary adjustments for Shelter staff
• Hiring additional Logistics and Safety staff to accommodate the increased capacity
• Increased costs related to security, client services & supplies, transportation, insurance, and IT & communication needs. 4 KITCHEN OPERATOR AGREEMENT
Bracken’s Kitchen is proposing to operate the Bridge Shelter’s commercial kitchen for up to 100 guests (109,500 meals) at an annual cost of $492,750 (+$91,250). The cost increase includes:
• Additional staffing and supply costs to provide meals for the +15 guests
• Increasing the cost per person, per day from $12.50 to $13.50 (+$1.00)
5 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BRIDGE HOUSING
The BHBH Program reimburses the City up to $972,051 annually for the implementation and ongoing provision of behavioral health care services for up to 15 Shelter guests. Eligible expenses include:
• $570,001 for Shelter and Kitchen Operations
• $118,000 for services and supplies
• $200,591 for staff salaries and benefits
• $83,459 for indirect costs
6 Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Mercy House, increasing the compensation by $197,894 for a new annual not-to-exceed amount of $2,383,180.
2. Approve Amendment No. 4 to the Professional Services Agreement with Bracken’s Kitchen, increasing the compensation by $91,250 for a new annual not-to-exceed amount of $492,750.
3. Authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute all agreements and any amendments to the agreements.
RECOMMENDATIONS
QUESTIONS?