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Bellflower council backs sidewalk plan for Koch Avenue and asks staff to seek extra right‑of‑way from LADWP
Summary
Council directed staff to pursue a conventional west‑side sidewalk design for Koch Avenue but to open talks with LADWP about acquiring a 3‑foot strip of land that would allow room for bulb‑outs and wider pedestrian infrastructure near Collins Elementary.
The Bellflower City Council on Jan. 26 discussed two design concepts for pedestrian improvements along Koch Avenue — a conventional two‑way street with a five‑foot sidewalk on the west side, and a one‑way street redesign with pedestrian bulb‑outs — and directed staff to pursue a hybrid approach that starts from the conventional option while negotiating with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for additional right‑of‑way.
Public Works presented the two options, noting constraints from irregular lot lines, utility poles and existing city trees. Option 1 would keep two‑way traffic and place a five‑foot ADA‑compliant sidewalk on the west side; Option 2 would convert the street to one‑way to create space for bulb‑outs that calm traffic.
Council members, including Mayor Emeritus Ray Dunton and Mayor Pro Tem Victor Sanchez, expressed support for pedestrian safety improvements near Collins Elementary and signaled that the council prefers to avoid narrowing the driving lanes. Dunton proposed staff contact LADWP to explore acquiring or licensing roughly three feet of the utility easement area on the west side, which could allow a wider sidewalk and still permit bulb‑outs.
"One sidewalk is better than none," the mayor said, and Paramount Unified trustee Eddie Cruz spoke in support on behalf of Collins Elementary students, thanking council for prioritizing safe walking routes.
Council did not adopt a final engineering plan at the meeting but asked staff to: 1) refine Option 1 as the baseline design, 2) engage LADWP about an easement or license for additional width, and 3) return with engineered dimensions and cost estimates that show whether bulb‑outs would still be feasible. Public Works said it would coordinate with the engineering consultant and report back.
What happens next: staff will pursue discussions with LADWP and prepare refined designs and cost estimates for council review; the council expressed an interest in funding the construction through the city’s CIP if negotiations are successful.
