DOWNEY -- The city of Downey is now a member of the county-wide Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System/Joint Powers Authority (JPA), a radio communications system designed to provide voice and data information across the entire county for public safety operations.Adoption by the city of an ordinance Tuesday to this effect made it official. The city charter requires that all contracts that have a term of more than 10 years be approved via an ordinance. The idea behind JPA is to allow for improved communications among the various public safety agencies that operate in the county, especially in the event of a major disaster. Currently, local police and fire departments do not have inherent capabilities for inter-agency communications. Ad hoc and locally designed systems provide some inter-agency communications capabilities but a county wide system does not exist. JPA fills this need. In other action, the Council: •Approved an amendment to the professional services agreement with Kabbara Engineering for the preparation of plans, specifications and engineer's estimate (PS&E) for the pavement rehabilitation of Paramount Blvd. between Florence Ave. and Lubec St. in the amount of $43,580; in order to meet the timeline required to qualify for federal funding (via the federal economic stimulus package funds), the services of a professional engineering consultant are necessary to prepare PS&E and bidding documents suitable for the awarding of a public works construction contact; this is where Kabbara's expertise comes in; •Approved the professional services agreement with the Bronstein Company (a company the city has dealt with before) for real estate appraisal services; this will be the third renewal of the two-year service agreement with Bronstein, necessary as the city continues with its right-of-way acquisition efforts for Phase 3 of the Lakewood Blvd. Improvement (LBI) Project (between Telegraph Road. and Fifth St., as well as for other roadway improvement projects; •Approved the professional services agreement with APA Engineering for the preparation of environmental studies, legal descriptions, plans, specifications, engineer's estimate (PS&E) and bid documents for the Paramount Blvd. at Firestone Blvd. intersection improvement project in the amount of $137,453; it is anticipated that there will be an estimated 23 percent increase in traffic volume (including truck volume) at this intersection by 2030; •Adopted a resolution approving the final subdivision map of Parcel Map No. 70230 (8102 Third St.), approving an agreement with the subdivider and accepting a subdivision improvement cash deposit as surety; •Adopted a resolution approving the final subdivision map of Parcel Map No. 26124 (10415 Brookshire Ave.), approving an agreement with the subdivider and accepting a subdivision improvement cash deposit as surety; •Adopted a resolution approving the appointment/reappointments to boards, commission and committees for Council District 1: Vivian Durkee, Art in Public Places Committee; Rachel Villalobos, City Hospital Commission; Dorothy Van Zuilen and Jan Scott, Emergency Preparedness Committee; Patti Brode and Bill Minasian, Health and Environmental Sanitation Committee; Susan Bouris, Library Advisory Board; Nikki Utermohlen, Personnel Advisory Board and Public Facilities Financing Corporation; Michael Murray, Planning Commission; Mark Vasquez, Recreation and Community Services Commission; Dee Bacus, Traffic Committee; and Martin Susnir, Water Board and Water Facilities Corporation; •Adopted another resolution approving the appointment/reappointment to boards and committees for Council District 3: Janet Molinaro, Emergency Preparedness Committee; and Theresa Ford, Library Advisory Board; and •Presented certificates of reappointment to Diane Boggs to the Downey City Hospital Commission and Water Facilities Corporation, District 5. The next regular public meeting of the City Council will be at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10 at City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave. The second and concluding session of the unprecedented City Council Priority Workshop has been re-scheduled for Saturday, March 21 at the Barbara J. Riley Community and Senior Center's John Downey Room, located at 7810 Quill Drive. ********** Published: February 27, 2009 - Volume 7 - Issue 45