Fat Clogging City Pipes, Reduce Palm Ave. to One Lane at City Council Meeting

The Imperial Beach City Council, meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, will discuss issues including reducing part of Palm Avenue from two lanes of traffic to one for the Eco Bikeway and the creation of a special project manager position for former Finance Department Director Michael McGrane.

The council will vote on whether to adopt additional ordinances that regulate the city's Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Control Program. The law will require that particular businesses follow best practice strategies to prevent fat from clogging city pipes. New or remodeled commercial kitchens will be required to purchase grease traps.

When the city began to explore changes to its FOG program last year, city staff found that among 43 businesses that would need to comply with grease control laws, about half already grease traps in place.

This is agenda item 4.1.

If agenda item 6.4 is approved, the city will advertise request for bids for a $2.1 million portion of the Eco Bikeway. The proposed portion of the Eco Bikeway project will install Class 2 bike lanes on Palm Avenue from 3rd to 7th streets and a Class 3 bikeway for shared bike-car use from the Bayshore Bikeway, down 7th Street to Palm Avenue.

As a result of the project, Palm Avenue from 3rd to 7th streets will be reduced from two lanes to one in both directions to install a dedicated Class II bikeway as well as beautification and traffic calming measures.

If the project goes ahead at its current pace, it will be completed by June 4, but city staff warn that the project may stretch into the summer and once again bring construction near the waterfront during the busiest time of year for the local tourism industry.

Once complete, the Eco Bikeway will bring bicyclists from 7th Street, down Palm Avenue, along the beach to Imperial Beach Boulevard and back to the Bayshore Bikeway.

As part of Senate Bill 1186, all business licenses applicants will be charged a $1 annual fee until 2018. Along with changes to how disability access laws function in California, SB 1186 is designed to provide cities and businesses with more services to confront lawsuits filed due to a lack of disability access.

This is agenda item 5.1.

Design Review Board terms end Dec. 31. Mayor Jim Janney recommends that Janet Bowman, Shirley Nakawatase and Harold Phelps be re-appointed. The three board members were appointed in 2008. New members will remain on the board until Dec. 31, 2016.

This is agenda item 6.1.

Agenda item 6.2 would allow for Capital Improvement Program funds from the Port of San Diego to be used for street improvements near the new Pier South hotel instead of being spent on other projects the city requested the money for like a shower and restroom for beachgoers south of Seacoast Drive or an expanded playground in Pier Plaza.

With agenda item 6.3., City Council will consider a resolution to allow the city to create the temporary position of Special Projects Manager and hire former Finance Department Director Michael McGrane.

In this role, McGrane would oversee implementation of projects, conduct audits and continue to assist the city in transition following the dissolution of the Imperial Beach Redevelopment Agency.

City Council, which is also the Imperial Beach Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency, will pay debt services on a 2003 bond if agenda item 7.1. is approved.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the city and the city employees' union SEIU, Local 221 will be considered with agenda item 2.4. If approved, city employees will be allowed to use sick leave days to spend time with a new born or newly adopted child.

City Council will vote whether to approve a letter of commitment to the 2012 Recovery Strategy for the Tijuana River Valley. The city is one of more than 30 local, state, and federal agencies partnering to try and reduce trash and sediment entering the Tijuana River Valley. See the attached PDF to view the strategy.

This is agenda item 2.5.

Including payroll, the city spent $1.7 million from Oct. 29 to Nov. 9.

Expenses above $100,000 include payments to the City of San Diego for sewage treatment and PAL Gen. Engineering for street improvements.

This is agenda item 2.2.