4235 Monterey Road |
SAFETY & MAINTENANCE SAFETY Park Rangers Los Angeles Police Department
Onsite Conditions
Persons drinking alcoholic beverages and an ongoing lack of Park Rangers and authority figures in the park cause several issues of concern, including the safety of personnel in evening or nighttime hours. Adding new safety features would be a benefit, such as call boxes and the posting of emergency phone numbers to contact public services in case of an accident or to report a crime in progress. Given the existing condition, all new or improved facilities will require a constant form of security system to prevent graffiti and vandalism. An option is to provide a ranger sub-station or ranger residence that would consist of a 24-hour presence in the Park, consisting of three shifts of park rangers. Under this scenario, the park rangers assigned to Debs Park would also be responsible for other City parks along the Arroyo Seco, including Arroyo Seco Park and Sycamore Grove Park. Safety Recommendations: • It is suggested that there be a Park Ranger dedicated to Debs Park and nearby Parks. • Require new or improved facilities to install a security system to reduce graffiti and vandalism. • Replace and repair vandalized facilities, such as all missing light fixtures or bathrooms fixtures. • Provide park programming and construct the Los Angeles Nature Center to increase safety by discouraging the presence of unlawful activities. • Reduce inappropriate nighttime use by officially closing the park, entrance gates, and asking visitors to leave. However, to provide for community evening use, dedicate a location within Area I and Area II for nighttime activities (i.e. picnics, art festival). This area shall be properly lighted and patrolled. • Close vehicular access to the interior of the park at sunset. • Post telephone numbers to call for an emergency or to report unlawful activities. • Install call boxes throughout the park: possible locations include the parking lots, and top of hill near the reservoir. • Conduct a lighting analysis for areas of public safety concern and identify locations for new lighting poles. The lighting analysis must consider any potential light and glare impacts on neighbors and must be compatible with natural/wild areas. • Select lighting fixtures that are vandal-proof. • Promote ongoing liaison with local safety committees and community associations to continually work on safety issues. • Provide graffiti-resistant signs. • Place signs at a height to prevent their being easily spray-painted. Fire Protection Fire-Fighting Water System Recommendations: • Provide a fire hydrant near the Nature Center, provided by Audubon as part of the construction project. • Improve the existing irrigation/fire prevention system so that is capable of serving two fire hydrants at a time while it is still able to serve the fire hydrant at the end of the line with 1,500 GPM. Brush Clearance
Recommendations of the Draft Framework Plan are designed to protect public safety from the dangers of fire and other hazards, while also allowing for the soil, grasslands, coastal sage scrub, and woodlands to recover from years of degradation. Based on LAFD guidelines, fuel modification areas are to be strategically placed as a buffer between natural areas and the perimeter of future structures. The park is subject to fuel modification activities within areas of natural vegetation. As defined in the County's Fuel Modification Plan Guidelines, which have been adopted by the LAFD:
As part of its ongoing fuel modification plan, the Department of Recreation and Parks (DRP), in accordance with LAFD guidelines, annually clears combustible vegetation within 10 feet of both sides of the trails that are accessible by emergency vehicles. In addition, the DRP is required by the LAFD to annually clear combustible vegetation within 200 feet of any onsite or offsite structures. Brush Clearance Recommendations: • Where possible, conduct all brush clearance by mowing, using hand-held tolls, and/or using equipment that does not turn over the soil. • Do not allow brush clearance contractor or City staff to perform brush clearance beyond the minimum City requirement. • Discing may be necessary along roadsides outside the 200-foot buffer zone for buildings and ancillary structures. • Depending on available resources, all trees within brush clearance areas will be trimmed 6 feet from the ground and all dead material removed. • Trim branches 5 feet from any roof structure. &8226; Keep all roofs free of a substantial accumulation of leaves, needles, twigs, and other combustible material. • It is suggested that cut vegetation, which is not an invasive exotic weed, may be machine processed (chipped) and spread back onto the property. If feasible, prior to cutting and spreading vegetation, a qualified botanist would review the materials and approve the vegetation to be spread. • Do not exceed a 3-inch depth of chips within 100 feet; and 6" inch depth beyond 100 feet of any structure, per LAMC requirements. • Clear brush from roadways to allow safe passage of vehicles without risk of igniting fire. MAINTENANCE Several types of maintenance activities are involved in the upkeep of Debs Park. Mowing, minor repairs, collecting refuse, and cleaning restrooms are performed on an ongoing basis. By contrast, replacing roofs or re-paving roads are long-term maintenance activities. In order to improve the efficiency of each, prevention is the third element of park maintenance. Maintenance Recommendations: · Enlarge the Maintenance Yard refuse truck turn-around to allow for an increased range of movement. · Adopt a wildlife friendly maintenance regime based on recommendations developed in this plan and through collaboration with Audubon. |