BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS CITY OF DEPARTMENT OF MEMBERS CALIFORNIA PUBLIC WORKS

CYNTHIA M. RUIZ BUREAU OF PRESIDENT ENGINEERING

ANDREA A. ALARCÓN GARY LEE MOORE, P.E. VICE PRESIDENT CITY ENGINEER

PAULA A. DANIELS 1149 S. , SUITE 700 LOS ANGELES, CA 90015-2213 PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

STEVEN T. NUTTER COMISSIONER WILLIAM P. WEEKS EXECUTIVE OFFICER

VALERIE LYNNE SHAW COMMISSIONER ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA http://eng.lacity.org MAYOR

NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR SOTO STREET WIDENING - MULTNOMAH STREET TO NORTH

Date: June 29, 2009

To: All Interested Persons

The City of Los Angeles (City) proposes to widen the stretch of Soto Street lying between Multnomah Street and North Mission Road to preserve it as a vital north-south regional transportation link. This would require relocation of the existing eastern edge of right-of- way (ROW) 45 feet to the east and acquisition of ROW that currently accommodates numerous billboards. The resulting widened ROW would be configured to include two (one in each direction) 10-foot interior traffic lanes, two (one in each direction) 11-foot exterior lanes, two (one in each direction) 5-foot shoulder lanes striped for bikeway use, one 4-foot median lane, and one 9-foot sidewalk adjacent to the western side of Soto Street with new railings. No sidewalk is proposed on the eastern side of the street.

The proposed project would require cutting as much as 45 feet of ROW into the hill that rises from the east side of Soto Street and the construction of a retaining wall. The proposed retaining wall would have a maximum length of approximately 2,300 feet and a maximum height of approximately 35 feet. Overhead power lines and poles, which currently extend along the east side of the roadway, would be relocated to east of the new edge of roadway.

The project would be designed, constructed and operated following all applicable laws, regulations, ordinances and formally adopted City standards (e.g., Los Angeles Municipal Code and Bureau of Engineering Standard Plans). Construction would follow the uniform practices established by the Southern California Chapter of the American Public Works Association (e.g., Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction and the Work Area Traffic Control Handbook) as specifically adapted by the City of Los Angeles (e.g., The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Additions and Amendments to the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction (a.k.a. “The Brown Book,” formerly Standard Plan S-610).

AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Recyclable and made from recycled waste. This project is subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In compliance with CEQA requirements, an initial study has been prepared to assess the potential environmental impacts of this proposed project. Based on that study, no significant impacts on the environment are anticipated. Potential impacts to migratory or nesting birds will be determined based on project timing and absence/presence of suitable nesting habitat within close vicinity to the project site, and mitigation measures would be implemented to protect or to avoid impacts on nesting birds. Therefore, the City proposes to adopt a mitigated negative declaration. This notice is intended to give interested parties an opportunity to comment on the initial study.

The mitigated negative declaration and initial study are available, in English, for review at:

 Los Angeles Public Library, El Sereno Branch, 5226 South, Los Angeles, (323) 225-9201. Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays Noon – 8:00 pm Fridays 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm Sundays Closed

 Bureau of Engineering, Bridge Improvement Program office. Please call Chen-Min (George) Huang at (213) 202-5589 to schedule an appointment.

 Online at: http://eng.lacity.org/techdocs/emg/

Comments on the environmental document must be submitted in writing to:

Chen-Min (George) Huang City of Los Angeles, Dept. of Public Works Bureau of Engineering, Bridge Improvement Program 221 N. , Suite 350 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Or via fax to (213) 202-5518 Or via e-mail to [email protected]

The 20-day public comment period begins Thursday, July 22, 2010. Comments must be in writing and received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 11, 2010. All comments will be entered into the record and submitted with the environmental document to the City Council for adoption of the negative declaration and consideration of the project.

Project Location and Vicinity Map

Soto Street Project Area between Multnomah Street and North Mission Road.

Map Not to Scale Source: Google, 2006.