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COUNCIL MEETING July 22, 1997
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JUl 2 2 1991
Santa Monica, California
TO. Mayor and City Council
FROM' City Staff
SUBJECT Recommendation to conduct a Public Heanng, Conceptually Approve the
Downtown Urban Design Plan, Authorize the CIty Manager to Negotiate and
Execute a Contract wIth C T & F I Inc for the ImplementatIon of the FIrst
Phase of the Plan, and Direct Staff to Prepare Design and Construction
Drawings for Phase II Improvements
INTRODUCTION
This staff report recommends that the City CouncIl conduct a public hearing, conceptually
approve the Downtown Urban DeSign Plan, and authonze the City Manager to Negotiate
and Execute a Contract With C T & F for the Implementation of the first phase of the plan
This report provides Information on the Downtown Urban DeSign Plan, including a
summary of key concepts and components of the plan, a phasing schedule for
Implementation of the plan, a summary of project costs, and a summary of the public
review and partICipation process Transmitted With thiS report are copies of the Downtown
Urban DeSign Plan, DeSIgn Plans and Sections, and a general cost summary
BACKGROUND
In conjunction With the City CouncIl's adoption of the Bayslde District SpeCific Plan In
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January 1996, the City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a contract with
Roma Design Group to prepare the Downtown Urban Design Plan for the area bordered
by Wilshire Boulevard on the north, the Santa MOnica Freeway on the south, the alley
between Seventh Street and Lincoln Boulevard on the east, and Ocean Avenue on the
west The Roma Design Group consultant team Includes Kim Yasuda, ArtiSt, Avacon
Corporation, CIVil Engineering and Cost Estimation, The Engineering Enterprise, Street
Lighting Consultant, EconomiC Planning Systems, Implementation, and Kaku ASSOCiates,
Traffic Consultant
The objectIves of the plan are to Improve traffiC Circulation Within the area, upgrade the
pedestrian quality of the downtown streets, Improve transit faCilities In the downtown, and
prOVide better linkages to adjOIning activity nodes such as the CIVIC Center, the Santa
MOnica Pier, Palisades Park, and surrounding reSidential areas
In order to assist In the development of the plan, and keep the Planning CommiSSion and
City CounCil Informed of the progress In developing the plan, the CounCil appOinted a five
member Downtown Urban DeSign Plan Steering Committee consisting of three City
CounCIl members and two Planning CommiSSioners
KEY COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN
The proposed streetscape plan outlines a number of street Improvements In the 28-block
downtown area One of the main objectives of the plan IS to balance the traffiC flow by
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altering the eXisting lane configuration and Improving slgnage to promote way-finding and
better dlstnbute traffiC In addition, the plan Includes a new street tree program, new
lighting, transit Improvements, street furniture and public art concepts A more complete
description of the plan objectives and concepts IS contained In the attached Downtown
Urban Design Plan dated July, 1997 (Attachment A)
Phase One - Roadwav Confiauration Modifications
In September 1996, the City Council appropnated funding for the design of the first phase
of the Downtown Circulation plan The first phase of the circulation plan Includes the
follOWing
o Restrrpe 4th Street to eliminate one lane northbound and add metered
parking on the east Side between Wilshire Boulevard and Broadway,
o Restnpe 5th Street to add one lane southbound and a two-way left turn
median, maIntaining two lanes northbound,
o Restnpe Broadway to carry two-way traffiC,
o Modify the Santa MOnica Place parking structure located at the southwest
corner of 4th Street and Broadway as necessary due to the Introduction of
two-way traffiC on Broadway,
o Eliminate left turns out of Santa Monica Place parking structure on to
Colorado Avenue,
o Establish a controlled nght-turn from northbound Ocean Avenue to
eastbound Colorado Avenue, eliminating the "free right",
o Convert the Intersection of Ocean Avenue and Colorado Boulevard to an "all
cross" Intersection where there Will be an exclUSive pedestnan signal phase
which Will allow pedestrian to cross the street In all directions on one time,
and
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o Modify traffic signals and timing to facIlitate new traffic flow
A detailed description of these changes IS contained In the Downtown Urban Design Plan
DesIgn Plans and Sections dated July 1997 (Attachment B)
The purpose of the proposed first phase changes is to redistribute traffic from northbound
Fourth Street and eastbound Santa Monica Boulevard onto less busy parallel streets (Fifth
Street and Broadway) The conversion of Fifth Street to two-way traffiC may reroute some
north bound traffiC from Fourth Street to Fifth Street, however, staff continues to have
Significant concerns over the elimination of one north bound lane and the introduction of
all day parking on the east Side of Fourth Street ThiS modification Will result In additional
delays and added congestion on Fourth Street Although staff has VOiced concerns over
the modification, the Steering Committee was Willing to accept the added congestion as
a necessary trade-off In order to Improve the pedestrian quality of Fourth Street and
prOVide on-street parking for Fourth Street bUSinesses ThiS change IS not a Significant
cost element, the only phYSical change required IS the modification of the eXisting parking
meter slgnage to allow all day parking on the east Side of the street ThiS change should
be Implemented on a pilot baSIS In order to measure the traffiC Impacts to 4th Street If It
IS determined that the resulting congestion on Fourth Street IS not acceptable, a Simple
change to the parkIng meter sIgnage would convert the parking lane on the east SIde of
the street back to a north bound traffiC lanee
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In September, 1996, when the Council appropnated funds for the design of the first phase
Improvements, staff was dIrected to return to the Council for appropnatlon of funds for the
Implementation of the Improvements Following the CouncIl's action, request for proposals
were sent to seven firms for the design of the first phase Improvements The consulting
firm of WPA Traffic Englneenng, Inc was selected to perform this task The plans and
contract documents were completed by WPA In June, 1997 FollOWing the published
advertisements, bidding packages for thiS project were requested by two contractors One
bid was received, and read by the Deputy City Clerk on June 30, 1997
C T & F . Inc was the only firm to submit a bid for the project Staff has checked the
references proVided by C T & F, Inc and all references found their work to be
satisfactory The State Office of Consumer Affairs. the DIVISIon of Labor Standards
Enforcement and the State Contractors License Board all venfled that the Contractor's
license IS current. active and In good standing Staff IS recommending that the City
Council authonze the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract With C T & F ,
Inc In the amount of $473,643 for the Implementation of the first phase roadway
configuration Improvements If approved by City Council, the roadway modifications would
begin In late August, 1997 and would be completed pnor to ThanksgiVing, 1997
Phase Two - Transit Circulation Improvements
In conjunction With the development of the streetscape plan, the consultant team and
Steering Committee have worked closely With the Santa MOnica Transportation
Department to develop a transit plan which IS consistent WIth the Transportation
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Department's efforts to Improve transit operations within the Downtown area The key
component of the plan IS the creation of a downtown transit loop to help balance circulatIon
by shifting some route segments off heavily traveled Fourth Street and Santa Monica
Boulevard and onto less busy parallel streets (Fifth Street and Broadway) As proposed,
this transit loop will result In the creation of transit pnonty lanes on the south side of Santa
Monica Boulevard and on the north side of Broadway, between Ocean Avenue and Fifth
Street The transit pnonty lanes will be located adjacent to sIdewalks that are 19' wide on
Santa MOnica Boulevard and 18' Wide on Broadway, which Will provide room for transit
related facIlities such as benches, shelters, and InformatIon kiosks
The addition of the transit pnonty lanes and Wider Sidewalks along the north Side of
Broadway between Ocean Avenue and Fifth Street and on both Sides of Santa Monica
Boulevard between Ocean Avenue and Fifth Street Will create a distinct "terminal"
character In the area of greatest pedestrian concentrations In addition to the Big Blue Bus
and the MTA, the Tide Shuttle Will use the transit loop to provide better service within the
downtown area In order to link the transit mall wIth the Santa MOnica Library, thiS phase
of the project WIll also Include new street furniture, lighting and landscaping on Santa
Monica Boulevard between Fifth Street and Seventh Street The combination of Improved
transit routing and a more pedestnan-onented downtown Will help make transit a more
attractive alternative
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The 1997/98 budget approved by the City Council Included an appropnatlon of five million
dollars for the Implementation of the transit mall Following Council approval of the
Downtown Urban Design Plan, staff will Issue a request for proposal for a design
consultant to finalize the plan for the transit mall and to produce construction drawings for
the project Staff will return to the City Council for authonzatlon to negotiate and execute
a contract With a design consultant
Additional Circulation Improvements
In addition to the phase one roadway configuration modifications, and the phase two
transit circulation Improvements, the Plan recommends that Second Street between
Wilshire Boulevard and Broadway be restnped to create a southbound bias (two
southbound lanes and one northbound lane) ThiS Improvement IS coupled With a
recommendation to reconfigure the Second/Main StreeUColorado Avenue Intersection from
two intersections to one intersection as Identified In the CIVIC Center SpecifiC Plan The
proposed circulation changes to Second Street will be reevaluated after the installation of
OlympIC Boulevard as part of future phases of the Downtown Urban Design Plan
Steerino Committee Recommendation
At the last Steenng Committee meetmg on June 12, 1997, the Committee discussed
several outstanding Issues and adopted a motion to recommend City CounCil approval of
the plan The attached Downtown Urban Design Plan documents reflect Steenng
Committee recommendations The Issues discussed by the Committee are outlined below
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Medians on Ocean Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard
The proposed plan Includes medians on Ocean Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard The
medians on Wilshire Boulevard were deSigned to provide a gateway entry Into the
downtown area and add greenery to the street The medians extend the entire length of
each block With left turn lanes at each Intersection The Ocean Avenue medians were
deSigned to provide a landscape area where the landscaping In the park would connect
With the downtown These medians were located on the north half of each block With the
south half of the block maintained as a left turn lane
Representatives from the Police Department and Fire Department expressed concerns
about the proposed medians and their Impact on emergency services In response to the
Issues raised by the Police and Fire Department, the Steering Committee recommended
a modified approach to address the public safety concerns POSSible solutions to the
emergency access Issues may Include deSigning the medians on Wilshire Boulevard With
rolled curbs at the alley Intersections so that emergency vehicles can cross at mid-block
On Ocean Avenue, Instead of a raised median, landscaping alternatives Will be evaluated
to enhance the street aesthetiC These options Will be further explored when the final
deSign for the medians IS developed
Location of Bike Lanes
The addition of the transit lane on the north Side of Broadway between Fifth Street and
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Ocean Avenue will require the removal of the Class II bike lane that currently runs west
on Broadway In response to this Issue, staff IS recommending that the bike lane be
rerouted to run from Broadway, north on Seventh Street and west on Anzona Avenue to
Ocean Avenue, where a Class II bIke lane currently eXists The section of Broadway
between Seventh Street and Ocean Avenue would be reclassified to a Class III bike lane
The Steenng Committee supports this recommendation
4th Street Wldenlna
A recommendation was made to reduce the sidewalk widths on both sides of Fourth Street
from 14' to 12' to provide parking on both the east and west sides of the street, while stili
maintaining two lanes southbound and one lane northbound ThIS would result In the
addition of 30 metered parking spaces on the west sIde of the street between Wilshire
Boulevard and Broadway Staff believes that the cost Involved with this proposal
outweighs the benefits and the resulting congestion would be detrimental to the downtown
Furthermore, redUCing the Sidewalk Width IS InconSistent With the overall plan objective of
increasing the amount of space available for the pedestrian Therefore staff does not
support thiS recommendation While the Steering Committee agreed With staff's concerns
about the Fourth Street Widening and felt that It should not be Included In the plan, they
are recommending that the City re-examine thiS Issue at a later date once the circulation
patterns have been modified and after Implementation of Phase II Improvements
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Santa Monica Boulevard between Fifth Street and Seventh Street
The onglnal concept for the transit mall on Santa MOnica Boulevard Included widening the
sidewalks to 19 feet bet'Neen Ocean Avenue and Fifth Street In an effort to link the Third
Street Promenade with the Mam Branch Library at Santa MOnica Boulevard and Sixth
Street, widened sidewalks were proposed to be extended to Seventh Street ThiS concept
has proven to be problematic since the extension of the Widened Sidewalks from Fifth
Street to Seventh Street would result In the loss of approxImately forty on-street parking
spaces which are relied upon by the bUSinesses fronting on Santa MOnica Boulevard,
since these bUildings do not have anyon-site parking Staff beheves that the linkage to
the hbrary can be accomplished with the addition of new street trees, lighting and street
furniture without Widening the Sidewalks and that transit can utilize the eXisting roadway
system, which has two lanes m each direction The Steering Committee concurs with
proceeding to Widen the Sidewalks on Santa Monica Boulevard between Ocean Avenue
and Fifth Street, and recommends revIsiting the additional Sidewalk WIdening adjacent to
the Library when the Library Master Plan IS developed
Post Office Box OraD-Off
The proposed conversion of Fifth Street from one-way northbound to two-way traffic Will
require the removal of the driver Side mall box drop-off at the Post Office Options for
relocating thiS drop-off box have been studied In addition to the creation of an Island
median In the southbound direction on Fifth Street City staff presented thiS Idea to the
Post Master, who Indicated that the postal service would not allow their personnel to cross
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traffic to the median to empty the mail boxes The Post Master proposed that mall boxes
could be located on both sides of the street for drop-off from the passenger side of the car
The Steenng Committee IS recommending that staff continue to work with the Post Master
to place a mall box In a location where dnver Side drop off IS pOSSible Options may
Include one way alleys or city owned parking lots
Street Trees
The Plan consists of a street tree program which expands the use of palm trees on the
artenal streets surrounding the downtown area (Wilshire Boulevard, Ocean Avenue and
Colorado Avenue) The eXisting palm trees on Wilshire Boulevard and Ocean Avenue
would remain and additional palm trees would be planted on Colorado Avenue
Along the north-south streets, an alternating pattern of London Plane trees IS proposed on
Second Street, Fourth Street and Sixth Street, With Jacaranda trees on Fifth and Seventh
Street to complement the eXisting Jacarandas on the Promenade The plan calls for the
eXisting FICUS trees to be "reforested" over time With the lighter canopied Jacaranda The
replacement of every other FICUS WIth Jacaranda IS proposed as a first phase
Improvement In five to seven years, after the trees are well-establIshed, a second phase
of replanting Will replace the remaining FICUS ThiS Will enable the street tree change to
take place Without lOSing the tree-lined quality of the streets
Additionally the plan calls for the creation of a gateway entrance on Fifth Street between
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the Freeway and Colorado Avenue which may Include enhanced landscape treatment
On Arizona Avenue, Santa Monica Boulevard, and Broadway, the plan recommends large,
broad-canopied deciduous trees (such as LlqUldambar straclflua) to be planted to give
dramatic fall These trees Will provide shade In the warmer months and help toward the
cItywide goal of extending the community forest Into pavement-domlnated areas The final
tree selection Will be made when the final designs for the Individual phases of the plan are
developed In order to ensure that all new street trees are properly maintained, the plan
Includes an automatic Irngatlon system throughout the downtown area The Steenng
Committee IS recommending approval of the street tree program In their recommendation
to approve the overall plan
Street Lighting
The proposed street lighting plan for the project area calls for uSing a hlstoncal light
standard that was once used In the CIty and IS currently being reinstalled on Broadway
The pole IS a traditional prestressed fluted concrete pole with double ornamental arms and
acorn-type prismatic lumlnanes The light standard IS approximately 19 feet tall The plan
proposes uSing thiS light standard on all downtown streets within the project area The
eXlstlng cobra head light standards would be maintained at Intersections Downtown
alleys Will be lit with single teardrop luminaries hung on a catenary cable between adjacent
bUilding walls Poles Will be used where adjacent bUilding walls are not available The
Steering Committee IS recommending approval of the lighting plan In their recommendation
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to approve the overall plan
Public Art
The primary concepts that were developed by the team for the public art program Include
a pedestrian paving treatment which would Involve a narrow strip of design within the
eXisting sidewalks with a narrative on local history and native landscape, the design of the
transit related street furniture within the transit mall area on Santa Monica Boulevard and
Broadway, and the creative use of light to emphasize significant bUildings and locations
throughout the downtown area The Steering Committee felt that while the public art plan
IS conceptual, certain aspects of the plan should be focused on as the various phases of
the plan are further developed SpeCifically, the Committee recommends that the
pedestrian paving program and the lighting plan be Included as part of the final Urban
DeSign Plan The Committee did not feel that the transit shelters should be part of the art
program because they felt that the City should use commercially available shelters, which
would be more affordable than custom bUilt shelters and would be consistent with shelters
used In other areas of the City
Role of Steerlna Committee Followlna Adoption of the Plan
- - -
This phase of the Downtown Urban DeSign Plan IS conceptual, and the Implementation of
each phase Will require preparation of detailed deSign plans The Steenng Committee has
recommended that they remain active on this project to assist In the development of the
final deSign and Implementation of the plan ThiS IS a departure from how other public
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Improvement prOjects have been Implemented and Staff has some concerns that this
process may delay Implementation of Phase II Improvements However, should the
Council decide to continue the Involvement of the Steering Committee, Staff will work with
the Committee to expedite the Improvements whIle affording the Committee the opportunity
to review the plans
PROJECT PHASING AND COSTS
The phasing and costs of the proposed streetscape project are detailed In the Conceptual
Summary of Probable Cost General Summary (Attachment C) As previously stated,
Phase One of the project will Include Circulation modifications to Fourth Street, Fifth Street
and Broadway, and modifications to the Santa Monica Place parking structure The
estimated cost for the Phase One Improvements IS $568,000 As previously stated, the
actual bid for thiS phase of the project came In at $473,643
Phase Two of the project will be Improvements to the transit priority streets (Santa MOnica
Boulevard and Broadway) to Include wider sidewalks between Ocean Avenue and Fifth
Streets for transit amenities, street lighting, landscaping and street furnishings ThiS
phase also Includes new street lighting, street furnishings and landscaping for Santa
MOnica Boulevard between Fifth Street and Seventh Street The cost for Phase Two IS
$4,885,853 The 1997/98 budget contains an appropriation of $5,000,000 for thiS phase
of the project
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Phase Three of the project would Include street lighting, landscaping and street furnishings
on Second and Fourth Streets at a cost of $1 ,572,345 Phase Four would Include street
lighting, landscaping and street furnishings on Ocean Avenue, Fifth Street (Including the
Fifth Street Gateway) at a cost of $2,236,018, Phase Five would Include street lighting,
landscaping and furnishings for the remainder of the project area Including alley
Improvements at a cost of $9,453,045 The total cost of the project would be $18,715,261
Funding sources have not been Identified for phases three, four and five The order of the
prOject phases can be changed In response to needs and availability of funding
SUMMARY OF PUBLIC REVIEW PROCI;SS
Since January, 1996, staff and the consultants have been working with the Downtown
Urban DeSign Plan Steenng Committee and the communIty to develop the components of
the plan In addition, a Technical AdVISOry Committee (TAC) with representatives from
vanous City departments was formed to address technical Issues related to the plan
Members of the TAC Included representatives from the Pollee Department, the Fire
Department, EnVironmental and Public Works Department, Community and Cultural
Services Department, Resource Management Department, the Transportation Department
the Library, and the Planning and Community Development Department The public
review process has Included the follOWing meetIngs and workshops
o Twelve stakeholder Interviews with vanous representatives
from the downtown area bUSiness community
o Three informational meetings Including a bUSiness group
Informational meeting, a neighborhood group Informational meeting,
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and a hotel/vIsitor Informational meeting
o Three meetings with the City staff Technical AdvIsory Committee
o Nine Steering Committee meetings
o Two Community-Wide workshops
o Planning Commission Heanng
o Presentation to the Commission on Older Amencans
o PresentatIon to the Public Art Committee
Pubhc notice for the steenng committee meetings and the community Wide workshops has
included extensive mailings to all property owners and tenants In the proJect area, mailings
to all neighborhood groups and other Interested parties, and display ads and articles In the
Outlook
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
When the CIty Council adopted the Bayslde DJstnct SpecIfic Plan In January of 1996, the
CounCil certified the Bayslde Dlstnct SpecifiC Plan Environmental Impact Report which
contained an analysIs of the traffic in the downtown area The traffic consulting firm of
Meyer Mohaddes Associates has examined the Impacts of the proposed circulation
changes which would result from the adoption of the Downtown Urban Design Plan, and
has concluded that the proposed clrculatlon changes would not result In any additional
Impacts to intersections within the plan area
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BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
Staff IS recommending that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a contract with C T & F , Inc In the amount of $473,643 for the Implementation
of the first phase of the Downtown Urban DeSign Plan Funds In the amount of $675,000
have been budgeted for the first phase Improvements and are available In CIP account
number 01-770-266-20098-8905-99464
RECOMMENDATION
It IS recommended that the City Council hold a public hearing, conceptually approve the
Downtown Urban DeSign Plan, authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a
contract with C T & F I Inc for the Implementation of the first phase of the plan, and direct
staff to prepare deSign and construction draWings for Phase II Improvements
Prepared by
Suzanne Fnck, Dlfector of PCD
Karen Ginsberg, Planning Manager
David Martin, Acting Semor Planner
Attachments
A
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C
Downtown Urban DeSign Plan dated July, 1997
DeSign Plans and Sections dated July, 1997
Cost Summary dated July, 1997
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