Consider the request from the Rancho Palos Verdes Estates HOA to construct a new sidewalk along Crest Road from its current terminus at the Camellia Trail to Avenida de Rosa.

In 1998 the residents of Rancho Palos Verdes Estates requested that a new sidewalk be constructed along Crest Road to provide safe access to their neighborhood from Palos Verdes Drive East. At that time pedestrian access from Palos Verdes Drive East ended at Ganado Drive. In response to this request a new asphalt sidewalk was constructed from Ganado Drive to the southerly Camellia Trail Head, a distance of approximately 500 feet. The cost of this construction was approximately $12,000. See attached exhibit map.

In early 2001 the residents of Rancho Palos Verdes Estates requested that the sidewalk constructed in 1998 be extended an additional 3400 feet to Paseo de Pino. The request was made at an April 21, 2001 budget policy workshop. At that time staff estimated construction costs at approximately $200,000. The principal reason for the high cost is that a significant amount of rock will need to be excavated along Crest Road to permit sidewalk construction within the parkway. Since that time the residents have revised their request and are now requesting that the new sidewalk be extended up to Avenida de Rosa, a distance of approximately 600 feet. However this reach still includes the need to excavate rock.

At their May 23, 2001 meeting, the City Council approved funding for an engineering study to consider sidewalk options and to prepare plans, specifications and cost estimate to provide pedestrian access along Crest Road. The City Council specifically requested staff to investigate an alternative that minimizes rock excavation by narrowing the roadway to provide a wider parkway. The City Council further requested staff to investigate potential funding sources and to request that the Rancho Palos Verdes Homeowners Association be approached about sharing costs.

Staff met several times with the residents of Rancho Palos Verdes Estates, and the engineering study has been completed. The report and discussions with residents determined the following:

• Sidewalks are generally constructed at the time a residential property is developed.

• Constructing a sidewalk as requested by the HOA would be a departure from the City’s past practice of not including sidewalks in the Capital Improvement Program.

• In 2001 the City Council authorized staff to construct a new sidewalk along Palos Verdes Drive East from Ganado Drive to Casalina Drive. This was constructed in response to a request from the Mediterranean Homeowners’ Association. The cost of that improvement was approximately $15,000

• The alternative of narrowing the traveled roadway along Crest Road to provide a wider parkway is not recommended because it results in the two 11’ lanes being reduced to two 9’ lanes at the point where the curvature of the roadway is at a maximum and would be too narrow.

• The most feasible method of constructing a new sidewalk within the parkway along Crest Road is to remove the rock within the parkway and install a slough wall.

• Given the characteristics of the parkway, a new sidewalk from its current terminus to Avenida de Rosa requires construction within two reaches of Crest Road parkway.

• If only Reach Two is constructed safe pedestrian access from Rancho Palos Verdes Estates to Palos Verdes Drive East will be provided. This will require pedestrians to utilize a portion of the Camellia Trail, which is within the boundaries of the Rancho Palos Verdes Estates, see attached exhibit.

• Requiring pedestrians to utilize Camellia Trail is less desirable than having a new sidewalk within the parkway for the entire reach of Crest Road. This is because the Camellia Trail is an earthen trail and it is steeper than the roadway. For these reasons some pedestrians will not or cannot utilize the trail.

• The only funding source identified for the project is the City’s General Fund.

• The Rancho Palos Verdes Estates Homeowners’ Association is not in favor of contributing funds toward this project.

Given the high cost of construction and the limited area of benefit, it would be consistent with the City Council’s past practice to deny the request from the Rancho Palos Verdes Estates HOA.

If the City Council is inclined to approve the construction of a new sidewalk there staff has developed three options for consideration:

There is no funding for this project in the adopted FY 2002 - 03 Budget. The only available funding source is the City’s General Fund.

If the City Council approves either Option One, Two or Three above, staff will establish a new capital project, return with a budget adjustment for funding, advertise the plans for construction, and return to the City Council when a construction contract is ready for award.

Submitted by,

Dean E. Allison

Director of Public Works

Reviewed by,

Les Evans

City Manager

Attachments:

July 10, 2002 correspondence from Ron Melendez, President of the Rancho Palos Verdes Estates HOA

Exhibit Map

Photographs of Reach One and Two

Engineer’s Estimate of Cost

Exhibit of Options One, Two and Three