La Habra Heights advisory committee hears progress update on roads project; PMP work budgeted at about $1 million

Staff and committee members at the Rhodes Advisory Committee meeting in La Habra Heights on Jan. 28 received a multi-part update on the town's road improvement program, including clearing and grubbing progress, changes to planned drainage work, safety and striping measures, and the launch of a pavement-management plan contract with Bucknam.

The meeting opened with public comment noting concerns about incomplete clearing and grubbing. Staff (identified in committee materials and speaking as project staff) said clearing and grubbing is not finished, crews are still working on steep vertical cuts especially on Dorothea, and inspectors met the contractor to address those locations. Staff added that clearing will sometimes be repeated during the grinding phase as crews prepare for overlay.

Staff told the committee that an originally planned drain near the west end of Avocado Crest could not be installed because a gas line occupies the exact planned location. Staff, the inspector and the contractor are pursuing alternatives including rebuilding a berm and adjusting a shared driveway to divert water away from the roadway and adjacent resident driveway.

Traffic-safety work was also discussed. Staff explained the southbound left-turn onto Avocado Crest is actuated and only turns green when several cars occupy the turn lane; committee members said a single waiting car can sometimes sit a long time. Separately, staff reported the new traffic signal installation is nearly complete but one battery-backup unit is being replaced by the manufacturer and is expected to be installed next week, after which the project closeout bill will be forwarded to council.

On striping and geometry, staff said re-striping at the Citrus-to-Avocado Crest intersection is out to bid, with bids due soon and a contract award planned at the next council meeting. The reconfiguration will tighten the lane approach and add delineators to help force perpendicular turns and improve sight lines where the two streets meet at an angle.

Guardrail plan reviews returned engineer comments focused on end-cap treatments and the width/hinge-point area behind guardrails; Gerald (city reviewer) is checking responses before guardrails go to bid. Committee members suggested adding reflective shoulder striping on roads with drop-offs and noted private residents had installed flashing yellow lights at a gate on East Road to mark a hazardous corner; staff confirmed the lights were privately installed and not a city action.

Staff also reviewed schedule details: bulk grind and overlay operations are expected to begin in early to mid-February with paving, dig-out repairs and final striping following; finishing striping and punchlist work were estimated around mid-March, weather permitting.

On planning and long-term funding, staff said the city executed agreements with Bucknam to provide a pavement-management plan (PMP). Bucknam will perform street surveys in February and March, produce PCI (pavement condition index) calculations and deliver a draft PMP in April that will include phased schedules under different funding scenarios. Committee members discussed funding options; staff said council will hold a mid-February workshop to review department needs and funding sources and that the council has discussed possible ballot measures or parcel taxes to address declining revenues.

Staff described the current PMP contract budget as about $1,000,000 to run surveys and forecasting and to provide scenario-based phasing and backlog cost estimates; staff said the contract can be adjusted later if the city increases funding levels.

On public outreach and follow-up, a resident asked who will notify commenters about how their concerns were addressed; staff said they will communicate directly with residents who submitted comments and that contractors will complete outstanding clearing/grubbing work before final follow-up. Committee members noted low turnout at a recent workshop and discussed strategies to improve resident engagement.

Staff closed with a brief community-organizing update: the Improvement Association and staff plan the annual yard sale and an Easter egg hunt, the yard sale will include a roll-off and donation options, and staff will coordinate volunteer hauling assistance where possible.

The committee set its next meeting for Feb. 25 and adjourned. No formal motions or votes were recorded during the meeting.