The Gardena City Council on Oct. 28 approved acceptance of the 2024–25 pedestrian-safety sidewalk trip-hazard removal phase (project JN 545) and authorized staff to file a notice of completion, a procedural step that limits subcontractor claim periods.

Councilmember Paulette Francis asked what comes after the "removal phase" and staff explained the city uses a two-step approach: a precision-concrete contractor walks assigned sections, identifies hazards and performs grinding/cutting for smaller displacements; panels displaced more than two inches are placed in a separate removal-and-replacement program with a different contractor. "The smaller trip hazards... they cut and grind those to eliminate those," a public-works staff member said. The staff presentation said the city divided Gardena into six maintenance areas and expedited the schedule to complete the entire city more quickly.

Councilmember Love noted the agenda showed $142,006.26 for the removal-construction portion of the project and asked about unit costs; staff said the precision-concrete work is generally less expensive than full replacement and described an example cost differential in the staff discussion. Staff also told the council the city uses Gardena Direct for resident reports of raised sidewalks, illegal dumping and similar issues.

Councilmember Francis made the motion to approve the notice of completion; Councilmember Henderson seconded. The motion passed 5–0 (Serta, Henderson, Tanaka, Francis, Love).

Staff told the council it will return with contracts for removal-and-replacement work for those panels that require full replacement once the contractor finishes identification of the remaining hazards.