WEST HOLLYWOOD—The West Hollywood City Council recently approved a new plan during its meeting on Monday, April 16 that will deliver enhanced sidewalk cleaning and security services for commercial areas in the region.
The city of West Hollywood website notes that the funding for the programs will be a result from an increase in parking meter fees, as part of the city’s proposed fiscal year 2018-2019 fee resolution, which was approved by the City Council. Effective on July 1, 2018, parking meter rates will be raised to $2 per hour, from their current rate of $1.50 per hour. Enhanced Sidewalk Cleaning and Security Services programs will be implemented in phases from July 1 and September 1. The additional cost of the enhanced security and cleaning efforts is approximately $1.8 million annually, which a large portion will be covered by parking meter fees.
The new Sidewalk Cleaning program will implement a cleaning process that removes deep stains, grime, and gum and use specialized equipment with a deep-penetrating concrete sealer, which gets applied to provide a uniform sidewalk surface. The process aims to minimize waste and was tested in a pilot program, launched in 2017, that focused on four test site locations on the north side of Santa Monica Boulevard (at San Vicente Boulevard, at Fairfax Avenue, and at La Brea Avenue) and on the north side of Sunset Boulevard at Hammond Street. The enhanced program will broaden the process to sidewalks in commercial areas in locations throughout West Hollywood and areas largely impacted by pedestrian traffic will be cleaned on a weekly basis.
Security Services enhancements include augmenting current services being delivered by Block by Block security ambassadors, which helps with public safety. Law enforcement services are provided by the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station; Block by Block security ambassadors are contracted by the region to assist in identifying and addressing a wide variety of quality-of-life issues. With highly recognizable Block by Block bike patrol teams, Ambassadors work with local businesses, residents, and visitors to promote neighborhood livability and provide friendly customer service while out on the streets in West Hollywood. There will also be more PacWest security in West Hollywood Park and Plummer Park.
There will be added services for after-hours nighttime clean-up services in heavily impacted areas of West Hollywood including the Sunset Strip and Santa Monica Boulevard entertainment areas. There will be an expansion of daytime trash and litter-pick by hand crews, as well as shopping cart removal services.
For more details, contact Steve Campbell, Director of Facilities and Recreation Services, city of West Hollywood, at (323) 848-6850 or at scampbell@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, call TTY (323) 848-6496.
