Parking and Public Improvements Commission
Minutes of February 23, 2023 Page 1 of 3
CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH
PARKING AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS COMMISSION
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
February 23, 2023
A. CALL TO ORDER:
The regular meeting of the Parking and Public Improvements Commission of the City of Manhattan Beach, California was held in hybrid format (Zoom Call and in person at City Hall, 1400 Highland Avenue. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266) on February 23, 2023 at the hour of 4:03pm.
B. PLEDGE TO FLAG
C. ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners D’Amico, DaGiau, Apostol, and Kirschenbaum
Absent: Chair Paralusz
Staff Present: Erik Zandvliet, Traffic Engineer
Clerks: Fel Cortez, Agenda Host
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
02/23/23-1 Regular Meeting – December 01, 2022
MOTION: It was moved and seconded (DaGiau/ Apostol) to approve the minutes without corrections.
AYES: D’Amico, DaGiau, Apostol, Acting Chair Kirschenbaum NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Paralusz
E. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (3-minute Limit)
Acting Chair Kirschenbaum opened Audience Participation.
There were no speakers.
Acting Chair Kirschenbaum closed audience participation.
F. GENERAL BUSINESS
02/23/23-2 Consider a Request for 2-Hour Parking Restrictions on Flournoy Road between 31st Street and 33rd Street
Traffic Engineer Zandvliet summarized the staff report. In December 2022, the City received a request from residents Daniella Mondello and Timothy Ryan to post 2-hour parking restrictions on the west side of Flournoy Road between 31st Street and 33rd Street. The residents stated that parking is being used for long-term parking for several days by non -residents, which narrows the street down to one lane. The residents also discussed with staff a separate request for No -Parking restrictions on the east side of Flournoy Road on the same segment. The request for No-Parking restrictions on the east side of the street has been approved for emergency reasons and the work order has already been submitted (work pending).
Traffic Engineer Zandvliet stated that a study was conducted to determine the traffic and parking conditions in this area of the City. He stated that parking is moderate and that long-term parking was not observed but had been reported by adjacent residents. Staff determined that the 2-Hour parking request would discourage long-term parking on Flournoy Road between 31 st Street and 33 rd Street, but would redirect the parking demand to other streets in the area, most likely in front of the residents’ homes on 31st Street and 33rd Street. The City already has a 72-hour maximum parking rule that can be enforced without the need of installing signs if cars are parked long -term. City staff does not recommend limited 2-hour parking restrictions in residential areas. Traffic Engineer Zandvliet suggested that removing street parking on the northwest corner of Flournoy Road would be beneficial to improve the sight distance of Parking and Public Improvements Commission
Minutes of February 23, 2023 Page 2 of 3
that corner. Staff’s recommendation is for the Parking and Public Improvements Commission to approve a motion t o recommend a 40- foot long red- zone on the west -side of Flournoy Road just south of 33 rd Street and to deny the request for a 2-Hour Parking Restriction on Flournoy Road between 31st Street and 33rd Street.
Traffic Engineer Zandvliet directed the Commissioners to a late public comment submitted by Sadie Newell in opposition to the 2-Hour parking restriction.
Commissioner DaGiau asked if that section of Flournoy Road is the only section where the width of the street is an issue. Traffic Engineer Zandvliet responded no, there are other sections of Flournoy Road that have narrowed areas and that parking is addressed on a case-by-case basis.
Commissioner Apostol asked if residents are parking sloppily on this road and if installing painted parking lines would help alleviate the issue. Traffic Engineer Zandvliet stated there were no requests for installation of parking lines/tees but this has been used in other areas of the City with erratic parking conditions.
Commissioner DaGiau asked if there were any discu ssions with parking enforcement about this item.
Traffic Engineer Zandvliet responded that this item was brought to the staff -level Traffic Committee.
The parking supervisor did not have any recommendations for any changes to the parking restrictions in this area other than No Parking on one side.
Acting Chair Kirschenbaum asked if the area on the southeast corner of 31st Place and Flournoy Road, is the parking in that area private property. Traffic Engineer Zandvliet stated those are public parking pads.
Acting Chair Kirschenbaum opened Public Comment.
Tom Gilroy (657 33rd Street) stated there is no way an emergency vehicle could navigate Flournoy Road for most of the length of the street. He stated his opposition to two-hour parking restrictions on Flournoy Road as this would push the parking impact to other streets in the area.
Brent Enright (648 33rd Street) asked if there would be any exclusions to the 2-hour parking restriction.
Traffic Engineer Zandvliet responded there would be no exclusions for anyone.
Daniella Mondello stated that because of their retaining wall, they experience high parking demand in front of their home. She further stated that the way people park on Flournoy Road contributes to the difficulty in driving down Flournoy Road. Daniella Mondello stated her family would be impacted by the 2-Hour parking restriction but was in support of them for safety and fairness reasons.
Sadie Newell stated she is in opposition to the restriction and referred the Commission to her late public comment.
Acting Chair Kirschenbaum closed Public Comment and opened for Commissioner Discussion.
Commissioner Apostol agreed with staff’s recommendations and stated parking tees or lines would help alleviate the sloppy parking.
Commissioner D’Amico agreed with staff’s recommendations.
Commissioner DaGiau stated that rather than just addressing the issue on one block of Flournoy Road, that the issue be mitigated along the entire length of the street. Commissioner DaGiau further stated he agreed with staff’s recommendations.
Traffic Engineer Zandvliet stated to the Commissioners that the City has a paving job planned for Flournoy Road that would widen the street to 22 feet wide. Traffic Engineer Zandvliet further clarified that due to the City’s narrow roads, the Fire Department only requires 15 feet for access. The City does not require two travel lanes on local streets.
Commissioner DaGiau asked what the estimated time for the No Parking sign installation. Traffic Engineer Zandvliet stated within a week or two (imminent).
Acting Chair Kirschenbaum stated he agreed with staff’s recommendation. He further suggested that increased enforcement would help alleviate the parking issues in this area.
MOTION: It was moved and seconded (Kirschenbaum/DaGiau) to recommend a 40-foot long red- zone on the west-side of Flournoy Road just south of 33 rd Street and to deny the request
for 2-Hour Parking Restrictions on Flournoy Road between 31st Street and 33rd Street.
AYES: D’Amico, DaGiau, Apostol, Acting Chair Kirschenbaum NO
ES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Paralusz
G. OTHER ITEMS
02/23/23-3 Staff Updates
Traffic Engineer Zandvliet provided the following staff updates on the following items:
• Joint City Council/PPIC Meeting Work Plan
• Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plans
• Living Streets Manual
• Outdoor Street Dining – Ending February 28, 2023
• Sidewalk Dining
• Long-Term Outdoor Dining Task Force
• Fel Cortez ’s promotion to Planning Technician – Recruitment open for open Engine ering T
echnician position
• Mall Project – Culvert area opening
02/23/23-4 Commissioner Items
Acting Chair Kirschenbaum asked if there was an estimated date for the start of the Long Term Outdoor Dining Task Force meeting. Traffic Engineer Zandvliet stated there was no scheduled start date yet.
Acting Chair Kirschenbaum asked about commercial parking permits. Traffic Engineer Zandvliet stated that the City Council’s position has always been that public parking is on first come, first serve basis for everyone.
Acting Chair Kirschenbaum asked what would be the best forum for bringing more items into the agenda in compliance with the Brown Act. Traffic Engineer Zandvliet stated that the December meeting of each year is typically a discussion of possible work plan items. A genda items are not set by the Commission, but are set by the City Council and other items sent in from the general public. The second opportunity to bring items to the Commission is for the Commissioners to speak directly to the City Council members so that the items can be raised at a City Council meeting and then added to the PPIC Agenda.
Traffic Engineer Zandvliet informed the Commissioners that there would be a Brown Act Training held at the City Hall Council Chambers on February 28, 2023.
Traffic Engineer Zandvliet informed the Commissioners that they would be required to attend future meetings in-person starting in March due to the end of the California and local State of Emergency.
H. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:59p.m. to the Brown Act Training Meeting on February 28, 2023 at 2:00p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers (1400 Highland Ave. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266).
Parking and Public Improvements Commission
Minutes of February 23, 2023 Page 3 of 3