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Marina del Rey Seawall Repair Project Now Underway

The first phase of a multimillion dollar construction project by Los Angeles County to repair several thousand feet of the seawall protecting Marina del Rey is now underway, Supervisor Don Knabe announced this week.

The Marina seawall consists of 728 reinforced concrete panels spanning approximately 7.2 miles of land within the Marina. Voids of varying sizes have been detected at the bottom of approximately 17,600 lineal feet of seawall resulting from consolidation and loss of underlying soils from groundwater fluctuations caused by tidal changes. The voids have the potential to compromise the long-term structural integrity of the seawall.

The first phase of the project is now underway and will target repairs along 1,600 feet of the seawall. The $5,350,000 budget for Phase I of the project will fund repairs on the largest and most critical gaps in the seawall. Construction includes grouting voids, placement of filter fabric and bedding stone, and installation of a 3-foot minimum layer of armor rock protection at the base of the wall.

Most of the work will be completed by a team of divers and a water-based derrick crane. In some areas, the rock will be placed using a land-based crane with the contractor coordinating the construction schedule with local businesses to minimize disruption of services and access to docks.

These seawall repairs are absolutely critical and will be completed as soon as possible, said Supervisor Knabe. This project is designed to further increase the safety of the residents and visitors of Marina del Rey.

Marijuana Dispensary to Close

The marijuana dispensary currently operating in Hacienda Heights will be closing soon, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The dispensary, which is located at 15838 Haliburton Road in Hacienda Heights opened in May 2005 and was the first medical marijuana dispensary in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. At that time, there were no regulations in the County that governed marijuana dispensaries. Supervisor Knabe led the effort to make sure that these dispensaries would be adequately regulated in order to keep neighborhoods safe, and on May 9, 2006, the Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance that regulated marijuana dispensaries in the County.

The new ordinance had a clause which stated that a marijuana dispensary must be at least 1,000 feet from a sensitive location like a school, church, library, etc. Under the new regulations the dispensary in Hacienda Heights was out of compliance with that clause. The operator of the dispensary, California Medical Caregivers Association, has settled with the County and agreed to cease all operations in the unincorporated area of the County for which they have not obtained permits or licenses required under the new regulation and will vacate the Hacienda Heights location on or before April 30, 2007.

This is a big victory for us, said Supervisor Knabe. As I have said before this issue is not about whether medical marijuana is right or wrong – the voters have already answered that question. What is most critical is ensuring the safety of our children and our neighborhoods. Closing this dispensary ensures we are keeping our neighborhoods safe.

Board Approves Plan for New County Office of Water Recycling

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted recommendations today that established the County Office of Water Recycling within the County Department of Public Works. Working with other entities, the Office of Water Recycling will strive to double the region’s use of non-potable recycled water by 2030, an annual increase of 54 billion gallons.

The projected increase in recycled water use would make enough potable water available to meet the demands of an additional 1.3 million people. Among the other recommendations: all County-maintained golf courses, parks, parkways, and expansive greenbelts to be connected to recycled water supplies, where available, by 2020; recycled water use for irrigation of all unincorporated area parks, golf courses and other large areas of open space where feasible; working with interested parties, the Office of Water Recycling will develop an ordinance requiring dual plumbing in new developments within unincorporated areas; increase in public awareness of recycled water benefits through a public outreach effort.

Two-thirds of the water supply used by County residents for potable purposes (drinking, bathing, landscape irrigation, etc.) comes from Northern California and the Colorado River. Consequently, a significant percentage of our water supply is threatened by aging infrastructure, climate change, drought and other natural occurrences.

The remaining one-third of our water supply is from local groundwater, surface water, and recycled water. The primary beneficial use of recycled water is for replenishing the local groundwater supply.

With an estimated 12 million people living in Los Angeles County by 2020, serious steps are needed to increase the use and longevity of our local water supply, said Supervisor Knabe. By adopting the recommendations of our Water Recycling Task Force, we are preparing to meet the water demands of the future with better infrastructure and increased collaboration among water agencies, businesses, the public, and municipal agencies throughout the region.

Download Recycled Water Task Force Report
Download Supervisor Don Knabe’s Motion

Two New Traffic Stops Coming to Rowland Heights

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved two traffic regulation orders today that are designed to improve traffic safety in areas of Rowland Heights. The approval establishes one-way stop controls for northbound traffic on Abeto Avenue at Fidalgo Street and eastbound traffic on Fidalgo Street and Gallio Avenue.

The goal of installing new traffic controls at these intersections is to improve traffic safety, enhance traffic flow, and better serve adjacent properties. As required by the California Vehicle Code, the Board of Supervisors had to officially adopt these regulations before the California Highway Patrol and the Sheriff’s Department can begin enforcing them.

Norwalk Clinic to Receive Major Financial Gift

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe will join local health leaders christen the new S. Mark Taper Foundation Building at the Norwalk Regional Health Center and celebrate the Foundation’s $300,000 gift that will help boost health care services at the facility, which opened in February 2006.

Supervisor Knabe, Norwalk City Councilmember Gordon Stefenhagen, JWCH Institute CEO Al Ballesteros and others will unveil new building signage to recognize the grant that will provide additional medical services for low-income, under-insured and uninsured residents, regardless of their ability to pay. According to the County’s Health Department, nearly 27,000 people in the City of Norwalk have no health care insurance.

With this health center being open for the past year – we are giving the gift of hope to many of these thousands of people who have not had access to these services, Knabe said. I also want to express my deepest thanks to the Taper Foundation for their support of this health center. This type of partnership works well to benefit our communities.

The Norwalk Health Center had closed in 2002 because of budget cuts, but reopened in 2006 with the help of Supervisor Knabe, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, L.A. Care Health Plan and Kaiser Permanente.

Los Angeles County Health Leaders See Increase in Flu-Like Illnesses

Los Angeles County public health officials announced this week that they have recently recorded an increase in cases of the flu and flu-like illnesses being seen in local hospital emergency rooms and doctor offices. At the same time, County health leaders reminded local residents that there is still time to get a flu shot since the flu season typically runs through mid-May.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, influenza accounts for more than 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the United States on average each year. Receiving the flu shot is the most effective way to prevent the flu and its complications.

Los Angeles County residents are urged to contact their regular provider of health care to arrange for a vaccination against the flu. People who do not have a regular health care provider or who are otherwise unable to obtain the vaccine may contact their local public health center.

For information regarding the hours and locations of Los Angeles County Public Health Centers and other clinics that offer flu vaccination, visit
www.lapublichealth.org or call the Los Angeles County Information Line: 211.

Newborn Safely Surrendered in Glendale

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success again today with the report of another safely surrendered newborn, the second such report in as many days. This most recent report of a safe surrender occurred in the City of Glendale at Glendale Memorial Hospital.

The newborn female was surrendered on Saturday, February 10 and is reported to be in good health. Although the surrender occurred on Saturday, confirmation was just received today. It is normal for surrenders to take several days to be verified under the rules of the program. As is standard practice, the baby girl is in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

This is the fourth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2007. Another newborn was also surrendered on Saturday in Downey and two others were surrendered in Brentwood and Bellflower in January. This most recent surrender is the 51st since the program began six years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

Traffic Signals Will Receive Upgrades in Long Beach and Whittier

Damaged traffic signals and equipment in Long Beach and Whittier will be replaced with new equipment, Supervisor Don Knabe announced recently.

The project in Long Beach is at the intersection of Del Amo Boulevard and Susana Road, and involves the installation and modification of the traffic signals at the intersection. The estimated cost of the project is $1,718,375. Construction will begin this month, and the projected completion date is February 2008.

The Whittier project is located at the intersection of Beverly Boulevard and Pioneer Boulevard. This project will involve the installation of conduits, conductors, pull boxes, retrofit kits and lamps to convert the existing out-dated, poorly functioning street light system to a more modern and reliable system. The cost estimate for the project is $192,260. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2007 and be complete by June 2008.

Fiftieth Newborn Safely Surrendered

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is happy to announce that a baby girl was safely surrendered in the City of Downey over the weekend.

The newborn Hispanic female was surrendered at Downey Regional Medical Center on Saturday, February 10 and is reported to be in good health.

As is standard practice, the baby girl is in protective custody and will eventually be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

I want to thank this newborn’s mother for doing the right thing, said Knabe. We have a law on the books to protect babies from abandonment and give the mother a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands. That’s exactly what happened this weekend.

This is the third Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2007 and the fiftieth Safe Surrender since the program began six years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001.

It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

Street Name Sign Upgrade Coming to Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has embarked on a project to upgrade street name signs in the Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights areas. The project is part of a County program to increase the visibility of street name signs along roadways with speed limits of 30 mph or greater.

Working with the Department of Public Works and Chief Administrative Office, the Board of Supervisors has selected the communities of Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights as the next areas to implement the new street name signs. These new signs will have larger lettering and greater reflectivity at night to increase safety and mobility on the major streets of the communities. The signs will also include the community names of Hacienda Heights or Rowland Heights along with the Los Angeles County Seal to help bring a unifying theme of neighborhood to these unincorporated areas. Over 740 signs will be installed along the major streets of these communities.

"These new street signs will not only bring increased safety to these communities, but they will act as a Community Branding of sorts," said Supervisor Knabe. "Most of the cities throughout the County have street signs that signify the city, and our unincorporated areas deserve the same. Hopefully, these signs will help to bring these neighborhoods together."

Colima Road and Azusa Avenue have been upgraded with the new signs already and Hacienda Boulevard is currently under way. The remaining streets in the Rowland Heights and Hacienda Heights communities will follow Hacienda Boulevard. Public Works expects to complete this project by this spring.