Staff Report - April 2, 2002 - Agenda Item

The purpose of this report is to update the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency Board on the progress of the Burbank Boulevard Streetscape Project (from Victory Boulevard to Clybourn Avenue) including: presentation of a conceptual design; the proposed project schedule; and to request appropriation of funds for traffic/engineering studies and preliminary improvements to the area.

The 2004-05 Work Program called for continuing networking efforts with the Burbank Boulevard merchants group and for coordinating possible streetscape plans. Staff initially met with the Burbank Boulevard Merchants last summer to discuss potential improvements to the area. As a result, the Burbank Boulevard banner program was initiated last November. At that time, staff began analyzing the Burbank Boulevard Streetscape Project.

The first step of the process included two community meetings with the residents, property owners and merchants in the area. The meetings were held on February 23^rd and February 24^th, 2005. These meetings were well attended with heavy participation, community involvement and a consensus supporting the streetscape project.

Community feedback from the meetings included similar suggestions proposed by both groups as well as contradictory comments. Both groups favored improvements such as street trees, planters and gateway treatments at the ends of the corridor to create a more pedestrian friendly atmosphere. Parking was a concern shared by both groups as was general traffic circulation. Improving traffic signal synchronization and implementing traffic calming measures were identified by members of both groups. There was a concurrence that a theme or identity would benefit the corridor, which could also help with marketing efforts by the Burbank Boulevard merchants group. �The Boulevard� emerged as a popular theme among those present at both community meetings.

Staff also received some conflicting comments. Both groups were in favor of street trees, although some would like to see palm trees while others did not want palm trees. There were conflicting opinions regarding the installation of landscape medians. Some felt medians would help the appearance of the corridor while others felt they would hinder traffic and property access. Both groups commented that traffic travels too fast along Burbank Boulevard, however, some comments were against traffic calming measures while others favored better traffic signal synchronization which tends to move traffic more efficiently.

On March 29, 2005, staff presented an update to the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency Board on the progress of the Burbank Boulevard Streetscape Project and requested that two City Council/Redevelopment Agency Board members be appointed to the Burbank Boulevard Streetscape Oversight Committee. Mayor Jef Vander Borght and Vice-Mayor Todd Campbell were appointed to the Oversight Committee.

At the first Oversight Committee meeting on April 12, 2005, staff received additional input on issues including:

Since construction of the streetscape project would take some time to implement, the Oversight Committee discussed what could be done sooner rather than later to begin improving the overall appearance of the corridor. It was decided that painting the existing light standards and traffic signal standards as well as extending the Burbank Boulevard Banner Program were items that could be accomplished right away. As a result, Burbank Water and Power is planning to start painting the cobra light standards as part of their city-wide maintenance program beginning in July 2005. Currently, there are no funds available to paint the traffic signal standards along the Burbank Boulevard corridor. Staff proposes to include this expense in the project budget and is currently seeking a budget appropriation for these items as well as funding to enhance the street name signs. Additionally, a new design for the banner program was created and implemented on the corridor from Buena Vista to Clybourn in May 2005. The remaining area (Buena Vista Street to Victory Boulevard) will be enhanced with the banner program once additional funds are allocated as part of this process.

In order to mitigate some of the ongoing traffic issues in this area, it was proposed that the seven traffic signals on the corridor be better synchronized. Eventually, through the streetscape project, traffic could be improved through a traffic signal interconnect system. Staff is working with Public Works and Transportation Planning on a funding source and timing of this project to synchronize the signalization of these traffic signals for better traffic flow. Public Works is also conducting a study of the corridor to see if additional traffic lights can be added to certain areas of the corridor to improve public safety.

There are numerous opportunities to improve �The Boulevard�, from both the perspective of enhancing a commercial corridor as well as creating a more pleasant environment for the residential neighborhoods that envelop Burbank Boulevard. One of the most notable conditions that currently exists is the �heat island� or more befitting in this case, the �heat corridor� that is caused by the predominance of concrete and asphalt. There is a severe lack of street trees, a lack of pedestrian amenities and an overall bleak �feel� to this 2.5-mile corridor. With the opportunity and need to improve this arterial, combined with direction from the Project Oversight Committee as well as community input, staff proposes the following list of corridor improvements:

Please refer to Exhibit A that shows which components are included in each level of improvements.

The third community meeting was held on May 25, 2005. The proposed conceptual �plan� for the streetscape project was presented and the following is a summary of the recurring comments from residents, business owners and property owners:

In response to the comments mentioned above, Public Works staff offered that time limits for on-street parking could be implemented to alleviate the visibility problems caused by large trucks parking on Burbank Boulevard. In areas with limited visibility, red curbs can be painted to prohibit parking. They are also scheduling synchronization of the traffic signals along the corridor within the next few months and are researching the feasibility of adding additional traffic signals. As for the concerns regarding alleys, License and Code Enforcement staff has been notified of the public�s concerns so that existing violations can be resolved and future violations avoided.

Proposed Project Costs - The project costs for the Burbank Boulevard Streetscape Project will include infrastructure improvements such as resurfacing and re-striping the roadway and additional enhancements consisting mostly of street trees and other landscaping improvements. Staff is working with Burbank Water and Power staff to determine the feasibility of supplying reclaimed water to the Burbank Boulevard corridor for irrigation of the trees and various landscape improvements, which will require further design and engineering work. The preliminary cost estimate for reclaimed water is $1.7 million. Staff is also working with Public Works staff to include traffic signal interconnects for the seven existing signals along the corridor to improve traffic circulation. The preliminary cost estimate for the interconnects is $1.0 million. Below is a summary of the project cost estimates.

To help reduce landscape costs, staff will be working with Burbank Water and Power to obtain grant funds from their Shade Tree Program. These grant funds can be applied towards the cost of the project�s street trees. The South San Fernando Streetscape Project, for example, received a Shade Tree Grant of $75,000.

Attached as Exhibit B is a cost estimate breakdown for most of the streetscape improvements (including street resurfacing, reclaimed water and traffic signal interconnect estimates). The Arts in Public Places estimate is not included as the components of this project have not yet been identified. As plans are developed, staff will request the City Council and Agency Board to appropriate the actual construction costs at the end of the design and construction bidding phases.

Additionally, there is an opportunity to have at least one major Art in Public Places piece featured in the gateway area by Victory Boulevard (�Five Points�) and at other possible public art opportunities elsewhere along the corridor. The scope of this component has not yet been determined but the area at �Five Points� provides a great opportunity for a meaningful statement of public art because of the location and space available. If it is desired by City Council, a portion of the funding could be appropriated from the Public Arts Fund, or some or all could be funded by Golden State Bond proceeds (the funding source for the larger streetscape project).

Immediate Costs � As directed by the project Oversight Committee, staff proposes to proceed with some improvements that can take place immediately, such as painting the traffic signals throughout the corridor, enhancing street name signs and implementing the final phase of the banner program. In addition to cost of these improvements, staff anticipates that additional funds may be required for traffic surveys, traffic signal design work and engineering studies. These costs are summarized as follows:

In order to proceed with a certain level of immediate improvements, conduct the necessary surveys and studies, and continue with the Design Development Phase, staff recommends that a total of $225,000 be appropriated at this time out of Golden State Bond proceeds for the proposed project.

Below is the proposed project schedule for the Burbank Boulevard Streetscape Project:

A total of $225,000 in Golden State Bond Proceeds is requested for preliminary costs including painting traffic signal standards, expanding the Burbank Boulevard Banner Program and anticipated traffic surveys, traffic signal design work and engineering studies. Funds for landscape architectural design services for the Design Development Phase ($120,000) were appropriated as part of the approved Fiscal Year 2005-06 Budget.

Staff recommends that the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency Board approve the conceptual design, the Agency appropriate $225,000 from Golden State Bond Proceeds and direct staff to proceed with the Design Development Phase of the project.

[1] The Australian willow is the proposed species for the standard treatment since it provides sufficient shading without overly screening commercial signage and is a species already located in the area.

[2] Accent and flowering tree types have not yet been determined.

[3] King or Queen Palms are the proposed species for the accent areas. Palm tree types for the major intersections have not yet been determined.

[4] Staff is working on creating a special environment at the major intersections with stately trees that help define the space.

[5] Accent areas were chosen in locations that provided opportunities to create an enhanced pedestrian atmosphere such as intersections with traffic lights, crosswalks or similar safety factors.

[6] Includes a 20% contingency.

[7] The banner program costs include a third phase for the current design as well as funding for two separate designs which will be installed during the Fall and Spring seasons.

[8] Costs for the first three items (painting traffic signals, banner program and enhancing street signs) are hard costs included in the Estimate of Probable Costs (Exhibit B).

BURBANK REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Tuesday, July 19, 2005