CD4 Councilmember David Ryu told residents at the Hancock Park homeowners association annual meeting last month that his number one budget request last year and this year was funds for concrete street repairs in Hancock Park. He also told residents to vote no on Proposition 6 that would repeal the gas tax funding much of the repairs among other infrastructure project. (This week voters statewide rejected the proposition by 55% – 45%)
Ryu explained that he assembled almost $2 million dollars for street repairs in the district over the last two years and has spent nearly half of it doing some repairs and the pilot project to determine the cost of repairing concrete. The pilot projects concluded last fall ahead of schedule and under budget Ryu reported to residents at last year’s meeting but at this year’s meeting, he said he is still waiting for the report.
According to CD4 staff, the cost and other data are being reviewed by the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) and City Administrative Officer (CAO) office.
“They are drafting a joint report we hope to see reach Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee (which Councilmember Ryu sits on) by the end of 2018. Councilmember Ryu is very excited to move forward once we have this report,” wrote Communications Deputy Mark Pampanin in an email to the Buzz.
When Ryu discovered that city officials didn’t have any reliable numbers because the city hadn’t repaired any concrete streets in the 80 years since they were first installed, he sponsored a pilot project with funding from his District 4 discretionary funds, to repair two locations in Hancock Park.
To prevent further degradation of the streets, Ryu’s office announced last week the City Council voted to approve the Street Damage Restoration Fee (SRDF) ordinance.
“This new law means anyone – private construction firm to government agency – pulling a permit to excavate a street must pay a fee proportional to the hole they plan to leave in the street. That fee would go into a special fund for repairing streets damaged after construction and excavation. “But what about our concrete streets??” you ask, “They can’t be patched up like asphalt streets!” How right you are! That’s why I fought from the beginning for full slab replacement on concrete streets damaged during excavation. I’m proud to say that in the final ordinance approved this week, there is a special requirement that anyone excavation on a concrete street replace the entire slab affected in lieu of paying the Street Damage Restoration Fee.” according to an email newsletter from Ryu’s office.
Hancock Park is not the only local neighborhood with concrete streets, there are also a number of streets in Windsor Square that could benefit from the council office’s efforts to repair the concrete streets. However, only Hancock Park’s streets are included in their Historic Preservation Overlay Zone’s preservation plan requiring the city to maintain them.
Speaking of the HPOZ, Ryu assured residents the new transit neighborhood plans currently being developed will not affect any HPOZ neighborhood. He said residents would hear more about it the plan when the process to update the Wilshire community plan starts next year.Â
Ryu also told residents that he is a champion for dockless bikes or scooters. He urged residents to be patient saying they scooters are a new technology that is constantly changing.
“We have to look at all options,” said Ryu. “Scooters aren’t for everyone, but millennials aren’t driving, they are using public transportation.”
Several residents raised the question of filming and expressed concern about making the current voluntary filming guidelines mandatory. The current guidelines request limiting filming to 14 days per calendar year on each block unless a majority of residents support filming additional days. In addition, the association asks that film companies to limit their shoots to five days and give the neighbors a 30 day break when between filming on immediately adjacent blocks. They also request that filming take place from 7 am- 10 pm and not be permitted during other hours, nor on the weekends and holidays (federal, state and religious). Ryu praised the HOA board for their work and their efforts to reach out to residents saying the thought the filming discussion was an opportunity for community engagement.
Security Chair Peter Gorelick and Senior Lead Office Dave Cordova spoke to residents about a recent trend of burglaries where intruders gained entry from a second story window or door, often by using ladders that are on site. Gorelick urged residents to be vigilant and careful. They suggested parking cars behind a gate or consider using your garage. He told residents they need to work together, “people really are the police; we live here; we have to watch out for each other,” said Gorelick. He also urged residents to sign up for security patrol, noting that only 50 precent of the residents actually pay for the service.
Arborist, Cy Carlberg started a presentation on street trees but was unable to continue because the meeting ran late and the group had to vacate the room so Third Street School officials could close the building.
The final announcement was the slate of board members had been duly elected.
