Good morning. Testing, testing.
So, he said it's good. Um, so then we'll check on
public comment. Good morning. I see audit LA on the line. Do you have
general public comment and comment our on our agenda items today?
» Good morning, Mr. Turski. Yes, I would like um general public and uh all items,
please. >> Wonderful. We will get to you when we
get started. >> Thank you.
breaking.
So this is for
Hello. How are you?
Sit up here. Sit up there.
» How nice. Everybody get 60 seconds to speak.
Okay.
Diane, hi John. How are you?
Good morning. Thank you for everyone joining us in person and on the Zoom
platform. I'm gonna do a call for hands raised before we get started shortly.
Good morning, Laura. Do you have general public comment or comment on any of our
items? >> Yes, please. General public and uh all
items, please. >> Thank you.
» And Georgina, good morning. I see you have your hand raised. Do you have
general public comment or comment on any of our items today?
» Public comment and all agenda items, please.
» Great. Thank you.
All right, let me put us into record mode. Okay, President Kang, we're now
recording. I can get started. Good morning everybody and welcome to
the regularly scheduled meeting of the board of public works for Wednesday,
February 4th, 2026. Miss Zatski, please take role and establish quorum.
» Of course. Good morning everyone. Devon Zatski with the board of public works
taking role in establishing quorum. We're joined by President Kang, Vice
President Chavez, President Prom Grant, Commissioner Mitchell, and Commissioner
Cardinas. We're also joined by our city attorney representative, Miss Virginia
Choy. Um, we do have public comment today and multiple item commentary all
on the Zoom platform only today and no neighborhood council comments.
» Thank you very much. We will get started with general public comment which is an
opportunity for the public to address the board on public interest items and
will be provided up to one minute per person up to a cumulative total of 10
minutes for the general public comment segment of each regular meeting.
Testimony shall be limited in content to subject matters which are within the
jurisdiction of the board of public works. The board may not take any action
on any matters discussed during the public comment period. We do not have
any inperson speakers, so we will transition to our virtual platform.
» Okay. Our first caller, Audit LA. Good morning. You'll have one minute for
general public comment. >> Good morning, everyone. Um, I want to
start off, I did ask before. I wanted to um ask for a an investigation into what
happened with the shrine, what went wrong, and why the Bureau of Street
Services did uh collude with CD9 and LAPD to create an area where the
sidewalks were um they were partially closed to only open to the public that
lived there, not to the general public, which is illegal. It's it goes against
your page two. The city attorney's office has already ruled on that that
no, you cannot close it is a, you know, unconstitutional to close the entire
sidewalk to a passing public. But they did it and they had Scientologists um,
you know, checking everyone's ID to see whether or not they belonged in that
block and to go down that street. And I don't know in what, you know, world that
Scientology gets to decide whether or not I get to go down a street or not. So
I am asking you to please this is something that really needs to be
addressed. It needs to be looked like what went wrong fix it if it's
internally. Thank you. >> Our next caller is Laura FM. Laura,
you'll have one minute for general public comment.
» Hi, good morning board. Again, I would like to bring up the revocable permit
that Elron Hubard Way. have a street that is named literally from a cult
human trafficking abusive organization that has been getting away with this as
you know as we've been talking about this for the last 3 years. And so we
would like that to be able to be put on the board uh on as a as an option for
people to vote or to be looked into specifically because a they're not
paying their insurance that they should be paying and there's many other fees
and the what they the reason they're using the Elron Hover naming and all of
that is because of their manipulative tactics of pretending they own the the
whole neighborhood in the city. So, please can we get that revocable permit
to get rid of Elron Hubard Way and put it back to North Barendo Street? Please,
please, please get that on the uh or give us the option for that to be. And
then also, if you can stop giving Scientology permits, that would be
» okay. Our next caller is Georgina. And Georgina, good morning. You'll have one
minute for general. >> Good morning. Thank you. Yeah. The fact
that they were IDing people are you're not allowed to have a guest that day.
You could only use a public street owned by the public if you lived on that
street. What if you had a guest? What if you had a delivery? What if you wanted
to order in pizza? You're not allowed to have uh services on a day where
Scientology happens to be doing something on that block that day. That's
ridiculous. It's amazing that you have allowed this to happen and their
revocable permit absolutely needs to be revoked. They should be denied all
permits as a consequence of their excessive abuses of every single permit
they've been given. Thank you. >> Thank you, caller. All right, President
Kang, that is the end of our hands raised for general public comment.
» Thank you very much. With that, we will close general public comment and move
forward with multiple agenda item public comment. The board will provide an
opportunity for members of the public wishing to speak on more than one agenda
item during multiple agenda item comment period for up to a minute per item up to
a total of three minutes. Today we only have the minutes and one agenda items.
So you have up to two minutes um for this meeting. This is the only time to
speak on more than one agenda item and please identify the items that you will
speak on when you are called. We do not have any inerson speakers, so we will
transition to our virtual platform. >> Okay, audit LA, um I see you have your
hand raised. You'll have two minutes. Please let us know which items.
» Good morning. Um let's start with the agenda item. Um I guess number one
first. Uh we're talking sidewalk and street amenities. Um amenities sounds
great. That sounds fancy and upscale. What we really need is just sidewalks
and streets that are paved, that are passable. I am already on my going on my
fourth set of wheels for a chair. I've only had not less than a year. It's just
insane. Um people go with me, they get shocked how I just like I can't navigate
so many much of it. So, I don't need amenities cuz actually the amenities
actually block things. it blocks my um my my travel uh because a lot of times
there's not enough room and the sidewalk is bad. But but the other sidewalk I
want to talk about is on Elron Harbor Way and amenities there is that if you
go down there, especially if you're a former Scientologist that wants to just
go back to maybe heal and relive the crimes against you, that you're going to
be chased away. You're going to be intimidated by guards, Scientology
guards who do not have a contract with the city to guard Elron Hoverard Way
Street or sidewalks. Their job is inside their property. That's the only place
that they have any authority, but they want to bring authority out to the
street and it needs to stop. It needs to be investigated. I don't know if it
needs to be just through public works or LA DOT or if you need to do a joint task
force to make it stop, but there cannot be a street in America anywhere where
the citizens feel intimidated to go down, especially people who are victims
or who, you know, or anyone. No one should be intimidated. The nurses at
Kaiser who want to pass through, people who want to go through protest, whoever.
Nobody should be intimidated. It needs to stop. As far as the minutes, um I'm
really glad you're getting Graticus. I hope you utilize it to its full um
potential with the minutes because I think it's really important and it's not
anything about, oh, we want to re we want to it's to see what we're saying.
No, we just want it documented. >> We've been persistent with this.
» Thank you. >> Our next caller is Laura FM. Laura,
you'll have two minutes for minutes in item number one.
» Thank you. I'm going to also uh echo Audit LA's comment there just now and um
again with the minutes. Same with the just being able to have something that
shows uh you know that the public call in and and but put in there exactly what
it is. There's a system now that you'll be able to use and hopefully that will
do that. But it's it's one thing if you feel like, oh, you're just, you know,
you can't really do anything or you got something going on and some, you know,
sometimes the permits and all this takes time and maybe you're sitting
there like thinking you can't do anything. These are certain things you
can do. It helps people like me who were raised in the cult of Scientology to
show that look, these are the things that they're doing, infiltrating public
works and public the city sidewalks and stuff like that by having fake programs,
fake permits, fake street names, all of this. All of it does wind up on you guys
and on the board of public works. So, I really do appreciate the whole thing
with the minutes and that you do have granite kiss now to be able to reflect
that because we need that reflection as the children born and raised in this
cult that has destroyed our families. We need that reflection so
that later we can go and show the judges and the court people what what legally
what's going on and why Scientology is so manipulative and abusive in public
works in the city. So, thank you for that and I yield my time. please revoke
their sign their permit on Elron Hardway.
» Thank you caller. Our next caller is Georgina. Georgina,
you'll have two minutes for minutes and item number one.
» Yeah, I'd like to speak on minutes first. I'm super excited about the
prospects that will come with Granus. I expect great things from you guys. U as
far as your YouTube channel goes, the fact that every video has the exact same
name. I mean, I'm just asking bare minimum from you guys. Throw in a date.
Make those records researchable. How are you supposed to look up anything when
you have thousands of videos each with the exact same title? That's really uh
shoddy worksmanship. I expect better. I'm just asking for bare minimum. Uh, as
far as agenda item number one, um, sidewalk repairs and sidewalk amenities,
you know what amenity I would like to see? I would like the public sidewalk to
be publicly accessible to people. The fact that they deny access to the public
on a public sidewalk. What gives them the right? They don't own the sidewalk.
It's ridiculous. You need to do better. Thank you. I yield back my time. Thank
you, caller. Um, all right, President Kang, that's the end of our hands raised
on the Zoom platform. We have one. >> Thank you very much. I know we uh closed
general public comment, but multiple is open. And so, I want to call up Jill
Jill Scientology. You have up to two minutes since we only have two.
» Thank you. Um, the reason why I'm late is because our public work is doing a
great job. So I'm very happy I lose my minutes because I'm seeing our public
work is doing the real work. So that's why the bus is delayed. So stop uh
talking about the minutes is that um I'm here to support our um public work
directors because in the past year actually past several years I've heard
multiple comments attacking on the all department officials uh uh protest on
all department appointment or or whether is LAPD chief, the public work director,
you know the mayor, the city council, uh those are criminal protesters, they are
just never happy with anyone. with anything. So I am here I'm the only one
in Los Angeles who want to voice our support that our public work department
needs improvement. There are room for improvement but at least I want to voice
my support to all agency directors in public works even though I am the only
one who support them. Uh number two, let's talking about the sidewalk issues.
Yes, sidewalk issues. Um again I am here to support our Bureau of Street
Services, Bureau of Sanitation. They need improvement but they are doing a
decent job. I want to give them a huge round of applause. And then one of my
friend DOA, one of my brother DOA actually uh lost um lost his truck his
van uh due to his uh um ex-wife is a is a theft or whatever and then uh they
steal his van and then the van was actually broken because of the broken
sidewalk because of the broken street surfaces, right? So definitely I really
wish uh my friend DOA can get his truck back and I definitely wish that in the
future when we have a old old cheap car we don't have to uh damage our car just
driving on the surface of the street support public work. Thank you sir.
» Thank you very much. Do we have any other speakers on the queue?
» No. >> All right. Thank you very much. With
that, we will close multiple item public comment portion of today's meeting and
move forward with the approval of minutes for Monday, January 26, 2026.
Uh, commissioners, any questions or comments? Seeing no other discussion, is
there a first and a second? >> So move.
» Second. >> First by President Proim Grant, seconded
by Commissioner Cardness. >> We will take the roll call starting with
you. President K. >> I.
» Vice President Chavez. >> I.
» President Prom Grant. >> Hi. Um, Commissioner Mitchell.
» And Commissioner Cardes. >> Hi.
» Great. All eyes. The minutes are approved.
» Thank you very much. Moving on to agenda item number one, sidewalk and transit
amenities program from the Bureau of Street Services.
» Good morning. Uh, good morning President Kang, uh, commissioners and city uh,
representative. Um, I'm here today to My name is Kenneth Tang. I am the uh
contract administrator for our sidewalk transit amendy program. Um today we're
here to provide an oral um presentation and then give you some update on the
previous uh two quarter starting July 1st to the end of the calendar year and
um we wanted to provide context for three major item right first one is
relating to the overall structure the contract how we doing is this new
contract work and yes that's the uh uh bottom line of that The second piece is
the implementation and roll out pace. How are we doing? Are we improving? And
the answer is also a yes in that one. And the third and final piece and a lot
of uh focus from you all for maintenance. And we also here to provide
you some updated result from our audit and brings you with the number and the
recommendation on how to proceed. Uh with that, starting off with the
contract. Uh for those of you who are not aware um staff uh contract is very
um uh innovative and h very uh new we are uh receiving over 65 and a half% of
revenue on each of the advertisement revenue. The rest go to the uh contract
to maintain and sell advertisement. And this is a new model. Um and the only
caveat for this particular contract is we have to invest in initial capital. Um
with that said the number that have been showing is very promising over the past
two quarter that reported we have over 7 uh 38 million reported in uh as a
revenue from the advertisement. portion that come to the city and that is the
highest we ever received uh for any two consecutive quarter in the entire
history of the program. Um the other number that I want to show
is that since the beginning of the contract in 2022 2023 we have received
over 36 uh million dollar. This number is significant because that
is represent over 40% of what the previous contract were able
to made over 20 years. So three year we already more than almost halfway through
the uh what the previous contract was able to make. So uh the bottom line here
is that this structure work and uh you see in the revenue um that is continue
to grow and we anticipate to continue to grow in the coming year as the we build
out more structure. Uh we anticipate we can bring up to uh
$60 million for the city um in the when fully built out in 2032.
The next item I want to uh talk about a little bit is the pace of
implementations. Uh the goal for the program is to bring uh uh put in 3,000
transit shelter uh 450 shaped structure and a few a bunch of other amenity as
part of the staff program. Um so that's why it's important for us to create a
process and a pace that we can sustain with the funding right and uh I'm happy
to report that we for the most part have uh resolved the logistic of each
department and process to get the location built and install the shelter.
There are some uh uh administrative and there's some other smaller uh resource
issue with vious department that continue to be the pipeline and
constraint for the program to fully uh um roll out but at least we have the
process established uh we're not figuring out for the first time it's
become a more steady rate now we're working on controlling that pace
um I also happy to report that during the that quarter we also resolve a
pending SQA challenge to the program. So those are fully uh resolved and that's
allow our program to uh uh uh get more freedom to actually do a lot of what we
need to do for the program. Um we also increased capacity. We had uh funded uh
12 position at BSL which allow us to increase uh the ability for us to access
BSL lighting and repair to our shelter. Um and we are hitting uh uh over 200
service requests that um BSL support us on meaning we also help
fix light as part of our program. So it's not just shelter program. We also
bring some of the light uh infrastructure uh back online.
I'm also uh happy to report that we continue to build partnership with Metro
who is one of the largest transit operator in the in the region. Um and
that partnership include um integrating our shelter design into
their uh bus rapid transit corridor along Vermont and a nohole to Pasadena
corridor. What that mean is they will be uh using our transit shelter on those
stations allowing us to put advertisement on those platform. So it's
revenue that's uh investment into the initial capital for the program that we
continue to sustain and use advertisement to continue maintain them.
We are working on finalizing the detail. Those will come to you once we have all
the maintenance and the uh final uh um agreement uh in place with metro. But
it's a exciting collaboration with Metro and we want to have a uniform uh look
and feel across the region that this is about stop.
Um the uh final thing that I want to uh
bring up is that the program is rolling forward and we anticipate we will meet
our goal this year. Um there are some constraint around material procurement.
It's a nationwide issue but we anticipate we will be able to resolve
those uh quickly and um uh bring to the uh goal for the year. Finally, the meat
of the report, the maintenance and this is something that uh we are um very
thorough in our uh investigation so that we present to you with fact and with a
matrix that can represent the actual issue at hand.
So from our uh uh analysis so far we uh see
there is a traumatic increase in the number of requests and uh uh maintenance
issue at bus stop. Um unfortunately this is not just at bus stop. Bus stop
doesn't live in that uh isolated bubble. This is a a city-wide kind of uh issue
that increase in vandalism and other uh type of requests is generally a trending
across the city. But let me just report on staff program for the last two
quarter.
Um over the last two quarter we have over 3,000 vandalism requests open and
closed. graffiti specifically
um and sticker on those shelter. We have over 2,157
uh report and and and address. Uh we also
have quite a few broken glass and uh panel repair that happened at these bus
stop over 900 of those. So um overall the last two quarter is following the
same trends we saw uh over the past five years and I can go into more detail
about the uh overall trend as well as part of the audit report but um the last
two quarter total over 6,500
um service requests was received and closed. that's averaging more than a
thousand per month. So it is a a a big hall for um us to uh
uh address and this is a systematic thing that we want to uh talk to you all
about some of the potential solution that we propose moving forward. But
before we dive into the uh solution, I do want to bring up a uh request by you
all about the audit itself. how what was the result of it and what was the
recommendation that came out of it. So the audit look at the data from 2019 uh
pre- pandemic all the way till 2025 and this examination is looking at the
trend of different kind of service requests that we receive and um here are
some of the highlight we had received an increase of over 200%
of graffiti incident over that past year five years we received over uh another
67% % increase since 2019. Uh overflow of trash and legal dumping
over 400% increase since 2015 uh 2019. Total work order for the entire uh uh um
staff program had increased over 200%. So the bottom line is uh it's a
issue that we see trending that cannot be addressed
only with the current contract obligations.
And on that note, the contractor are performing above and beyond uh what is
listed on a contract on a regular basis. They are visiting each site over uh um
two and a half time uh per furniture per weeks. So two and a half time uh per
weeks per furniture. Uh the contract only require about 1.6
per weeks. So
they are uh meeting the application and beyond. Uh the challenge right now is
more than just the uh contract themsel not uh performing or not performing up
to par is the increased volume of vandalism and all these requests.
Uh our recommendation and step forward
we uh are working on a uh privatization exercise to
target location that consider hotspot. So there will be more uh stopped by
these uh contractor at that hotspot locations and then less on the other
that doesn't need that same cleaning or have other kind of resource that already
associate with it. Maybe a bit is already taking care of some of these
spot, right? So, we wanted to make sure that we have a a method that fairly
judge where location is needed more or less and monitor it, not just release it
after we change the um the schedule maintenance. The second thing we also
plan to do is lessen the target of uh thing at the amenity for people to tag
on. Remove the back panel where it's not needed. This is like a white uh back
panel that people place um for various reason but if it's not needed for that
location we'll remove it and that would be less things for people to tag on. The
a few other thing that uh our program is also uh working on is an audit of the
other side of the house
at bus stop right now. Um there's two major player right. Uh one is the
shelter over 2,000 of them. The other one we have over almost 56 5700 bus
bench that also require the same maintenance. So we are auding the other
side of the house to see how we can marriage this and align the way they do
things out there so that it's not just optimizing a shelter and not taking care
of the bench contract. And that's something that we are working on and we
will present with you a separate audit for the bus bench and that would lead to
our recommendation also for a renewal or the uh request of proposal for a new bus
bench contract. And finally, uh we are anticipate to
submit to the board for a campaign for keeping our bus stop clean to help uh uh
um you get information out there how to get our shelter clean and help keep the
shelter clean because it's not just a solution with uh with our contract
continue to increase the maintenance but also community uh buying in and also own
that location that's amenity for them. So we also like to have that campaign
and work with you all to sponsor these and so that we can uh put that out there
on our shelter as part of the public service announcement.
Um finally just conclude the maintenance issue. Uh we understand that a a lot of
eyes on bus stop because it's the most visible and a lot of people stop by it.
Um but it is a more broader issue and we would recommend if uh uh with your
leadership to help bring stakeholder together and we will be at the table to
talk about how all the amenity that under staff program and the bus bench
program can support the entirety but uh we are not the only player at the table.
There are a few other that also uh work at bus stop and we would like to uh
under your leadership to bring that uh cohesiveness across the department and
other entity to help address the bus stop cleanliness issue. And with that I
conclude my oral presentation. Um let me know if you have any question or other
uh clarification you would like to hear.
» Thank you very much. Um, I have several questions, but commissioners, uh,
Commissioner Mitchell, >> thank you for your report. Do I
understand you say that there's a court challenge pending
» as to the program? >> Can you repeat
» a court challenge pending >> uh
» lawsuit? >> As far as I know, we don't have any
pending. >> Okay.
» All the uh um legal challenge to the program have been resolved.
» Okay. And with regard to these maintenance repair issues
pursuant to the contract is who's responsible for maintenance of the
staff? >> Uh a contractor named Shelter Clean.
They've been in uh and maintain our shelter over 40 years. So you have some
recommendations with regard to because of the overwhelming need and obviously
you mentioned the current contractual obligation doesn't really address it
adequately because of the number of requests for service right
» that's correct uh we do have the list recommendation that we provide earlier
they are more smaller uh recommendation uh but we like to try all these other
thing before revisiting contract negotiations.
» Okay. If if possible, I'd like to be further briefed on it. Maybe we can
discuss some some resolutions. It might be like you said with regard to any
further contracts that we let we might need to be a little bit more creative
about how we address ongoing maintenance issues. It's kind of hard with graffiti
abatement all over graffiti all over the city in terms of how to prevent it andor
act on it sooner given the uh as large as the city is these issues aren't
confined to any particular area. They're all over so to speak even to the extent
that you know even city signs get graffiti or we with regard to the
protest we've had with regard to ice and those issues we find that you know even
the the pavement gets graffiti so I don't know how to address that maybe
we can talk about that further and develop some ideas and maybe it's also
possibility of talking about how other cities may address similar concerns.
Thank you. >> Thank you,
» commissioners. Um I'm happy to ask a couple questions. So I um I'm a little
puzzled by um the findings in your audit because that is not what I've seen and
that is not what I hear. And um I think all of us here recently got an email
from a constituent saying they reported on January 21. It's been 10 days no
change. The first staff that was installed Western and Olympic
that's been heavily graffiti damaged for over a month. So,
you're saying they're going above and beyond, and I know there are challenges
uh um for graffiti and others, but our in my estimation, I think our graffiti
contractors are doing a better job of removing graffiti when reported most are
completed within 48 to 72 hours. um and staff there's no funding issue because
clearly the revenue is there and Transto is uh an external third party vendor so
they're not restricted by many of the city processes so I'm not sure where um
the disconnect is happening um and I'm sure we'll have further thoughts but in
the current contract um what is their um contractual agreement to visit Is it?
How often do they need to visit each shelter?
» So, at minimum uh let me just give you a quick rundown on this uh number. um
regular uh visit on-site visual uh they have to do at least weekly uh 100% of
the time or 100 of the sh uh% of the shelter hotspot
uh all the preventative and regular maintenance they have to do three time
per weeks up to 30% of the total inventory that we have deep
cleaning power washing um and structural repair they have to you 100%
uh at least once per year uh every six months.
» Every six month. Every six month at least once.
So, if you're saying they're visiting each shelter once a week,
clearly they're not visiting um once a week and we're only at 3
and uh 32 shelter constructed with the goal of 3,000. [snorts]
I don't think the graffiti issue is going anywhere anytime soon. So, I I
think this board is very concerned. Um, I'm sure you heard that the mayor just
announced a new clean corridor initiative on major corridors and these
staff shelters are installed on ma many of these you know major corridors and if
you know we're the city is maintaining our responsibility of cleaning the
streets and the sidewalks and the weed abatement but if the staff shelters
are looking like it is today that is going to be very problematic. So
» yeah, um just one one more point of clarification. Um the 300 is a new one
that we put in the we still have over 1,600 of legacy shelter that's still
being maintained uh to transition out. So total we have over 1,800
shelter with trash receptacle and many of those site to still to be maintained.
With that though uh we also have the same kind of input from constituent and
various entity about this kind of maintenance concern. One of the thing
that we um express and put in other budget request in the coming year is to
get more eyes and ear to better quality control the uh contractor. Currently our
staff is small and focusing on a lot of implementation and uh overseeing the
service requests uh that coming in and make sure the contract perform those the
quality and the level of service that we need for them to perform would need
additional staff for us to keep an eye out there. It doesn't have to be all us.
It could be other people who help monitor this constituent um bit who see
things we like to see that those reported to us so we can actually keep
these contractor uh and hold them to their quality of that we expect. So we
understand on the uh audit itself it's based on purely number that uh was
reported based on the system that was generated by the system. How uh the
quality of their work at each of these location we uh request that we have
additional staff to help us monitor these kind of uh uh and manage that
activity uh better. So what what would be are there any penalties or
repercussions about not them not meeting the contractual obligations?
» Yes. So there is ability for us to site them for the first incident that they uh
don't meet that obligation is a $200 and then
» how many how much >> uh $250. Let me just get that number for
you. Exactly. >> Per per site
» per incident >> per incident.
» So we report it and they didn't address it. Right. that's escalate um and we can
do as many as so this become hey get it done right
» what if it wasn't reported but they're not doing their weekly checks
» uh the system that they are reporting in shonet that they are um if the narrative
and the what we shown out there isn't uh aligned
we will uh dive deeper into those uh number as well um and also perform
additional internal audit about the uh quality rather than the number of visit.
Um again the process right now because of staffing uh issue for our bureau we
focus on the higher level management of the program and in order for us to go
out there and do more of quality check spot by spot on a regular basis we uh
asked to get more resource and we did request it as part of the upcoming year
budget >> and anything higher than the 250. Yes.
Uh this an escalating cost I can provide it back to you here. Uh the second
incident this increase to additional cost the third incident. So it's an
escalating and will continue until they address the issue. Um so again I think
the the major thing that we can hold them to the fire is report get more
people to report and keep an eye on it and so that we can um
uh see whether they are meeting that obligation or not and we can use that to
help them um change their uh practice. What would be the the the the most
severe penalty that the city can levy on Transito?
» Will be the contract itself, right? Uh but that's a very um extreme
end. Um but uh there is a financial uh penalty for each incident that can be
imposed until resolved and it could be very significant for a uh contractor
that uh optim operating at their um at the very optimal of their program.
Their people are uh working really really really uh uh stretch forward to
make to meet the city need right now. So it is will be a big penalty if we start
issuing those citations. >> The last question and then I'll have um
the commissioners chime in as well is so after they are reported um how how
quickly do they need to respond? What's the expectation?
» So for emergency within 24 hour broken glass or something like that that you
know caused some harm um a car hit it or something we need to address it and
remove the the uh the the the the challenge out of the way at least
mitigate it right. Um we might take some more time to replace the glass and other
thing because it take time to order those in but uh they have to get someone
out there within 24 hour. the uh regular request uh the obligation for uh the
contract is within the week. >> Within one week, you're saying
» one week. >> One week.
» Okay. Um Commissioner uh President Tim Grant.
» That's all. I may have not turned on my mic. Um, I may have not heard this, but
with respect to the scheduled visits, every site is supposed to be visited
weekly. >> That's right.
» Do we have is there a report out of just because they visit it, do they maintain
or clean it or they just I mean it could just be a driveby with no action taken.
So apart from the request where someone takes the initiative a resident takes
the initiative on their own I think what one aspect we're looking at is what is
the obligation responsibility that transito is taking when they visit
every week do we know how many repairs how many um
cleaning up um repairing that they're doing each week do we get a report
» we do um and that's also part of the audit that was reported out. Um
the visit is a primary driver on getting the eye out there and generate work for
location that need uh power washing. They will be uh creating a a new uh work
order for them to go out and and actually perform those power washing. So
um we have the work order creation associated with each site after that
visit. >> Okay. And
» we have those we have those numbers for each week. How many power washes, how
many repairs are being done. >> That's correct.
» And that's where the number that I report at beginning of the uh
presentation came from. The number of vandalism, the number of graffiti. So
those are recorded uh uh as part of that visit.
» And similarly on the hotspots which are visited three times a week,
my assumption would be that there are repairs or washing
at least one of those three three visits a week. Correct.
» Can you repeat? >> Well, there's the hotspots are visited
three times a week as I understood. >> That's correct.
» And we have report on those of of those three visits a week for the hotspots.
What actions been taken on those? Is that also listed in the audit?
So similar uh on the regular location the hotspot get the same type of uh
treatment um just more frequence uh trash or empty and any loose debris
graffiti uh stickers and stuff get removed right so those uh hotspot is
increased frequencies >> and the list of hotspots how is that
determined and how often is that updated?
So the hotspot itself um the list is determined by the number of work order
that's get generated >> by the number of what
» the work order uh that generated per of each of these location um the
rep prioritization or revising that list it's uh based on adjustment of that work
order that get generated. Um we uh as part of this exercise we want to
incorporate a more thorough way to prioritize.
Uh when we consider hotspot it may not be the same as how they see as hot spot
for them is just the number of frequency >> right for us it's also including the
important of those locations and the uh uh how uh the cleanliness uh that also
provide by external entity at that locations. So again this
is something that we would like to revisit oursel in the coming month to
rep prioritize those hot spot
» and we happy to share those result. >> Thank you v uh vice president chavez.
» Thank you. Um I had some questions about um just the rate. I know that there has
been challenges on the installations with parts procurement, you know,
delays, um, initial uh, challenges with um, coordination. Um, how are we today
in terms of the rate of installations, the coordination with the, you know,
internal bureaus and public works, both BSL and BCA as well as LWP. Are we in a
good place? And what's our rate of installation currently?
» So, um, our current, uh, rate of installation is roughly around, um, 20,
uh, or so per month. Um, so about one to two per day. Um the like I brought up at
the beginning of the presentation we know
what are the landscape of the implementation are. Now the challenge
here is within that parameter or that landscape. How can we make things
faster?
The main bottleneck for us right now is the ability to energize and activate our
shelter with DGP. And this is a resource constraint um that uh we
seeing on a regular basis. We install a shelter out there that's have no power
until someone go out there and connect us to power and in some cases we wait a
while. Um so that's where uh where we are in term of that me primary uh
bottleneck for us is that uh resource uh constraint to come out and do our
energization at bus stop. And are you staff actively working at um
improving you know whether it's expediting or um improving the
coordination or whatever information that is needed is this more on the LWP
like permitting side or is this just what like where is the source of getting
the approvals I know it's it depends but >> correct
» most of them >> uh to answer your question we are in in
fact we have a regular check-in with each of these department every on a
weekly some case bi-weekly basis and DP is one of them. Um the uh permitting and
the review side I think we're at a pace that we're comfortable to uh move things
along. Um but the constraint is the construction crew that need to go out
there and actually connect us to power or um you know um create a new service
location for our program. So it's more of the field side that is concerned and
this is something that we understand that there are other demand on their on
them across the city. They are not only supporting staff program. So they are uh
doing what they can uh in term of process it's an ongoing thing and we uh
have there at the table with us to figure out the challenge but again I
think this is bottom line is resource um to how we can bring more shelter online
each day we don't energize we lose money right and bus stop will be less safe
how can we bring our bus stop priority above of uh some of the other um it's a
significant loss and we won't get it back. Once you lose that advertisement
window, you're not going to regain that money back for the city.
» So, what's the plan to address that? >> So,
uh we've been uh in active communication with EDP to see uh the commitment that
they uh are willing to um go out there and address on a weekly basis. um 10 to
12 location per weeks. We are um not seeing that number yet for various
reason. Maybe there are you know a rain events or um other uh uh holiday issue.
We have not seen the 10 or 12 that we were expecting and that's become a main
bottleneck for our program.
And so and so the bottleneck on the utility coordination I understand that
um is not necessarily revenue funded but the positions at street services and
street lighting are correct NBCA as well right there's they're basically it's
this unique model where we're specifically have identified positions
and funding to to um cover the cost of that work because this is revenue
generating for the city. Um, have there have there been or do you expect any
future impacts to those staffing levels given the budget situation? Have you
heard of any potential issues um coming down the frey so that we know
uh because again these are revenue funded. They're not special funded per
se, but they're revenue fund. They're revenue generating positions. So I want
to make sure that um wanted to hear from you if there's any concerns on the
budgeting side. >> The projected staff revenue is uh like I
reported it's continue to look positive and stable moving forward. Uh at the
very least we can uh sustain the the existing staff that is funded right for
BCA, BSL and uh BCA BSS. Um but again the uh constraint of other department
that is not funded by our revenue is where we run into issue. We don't fund
them and we don't control that pace. Um but our revenue on our side it continue
to uh be positive and look like the trend is
growing. So we don't see that as an issue. Where that become an issue is as
the program uh grow we need to install more site the capital for those are
taking from the same bucket of money and so that's where uh as the trends grow we
like to also uh uh do more site um based on those uh revenue increase um but we
don't anticipate seeing the the the uh funding for that part uh decreasing. Uh
we also seeing a lot of interest in grant developer and metro specifically
to invest into uh bus stop infrastructure.
Um in fact uh in next few weeks I'll be coming before the board asking for
authorization to execute part of year two of our agreement with Metro which is
worth around $16 million that Metro will be investing into staff program. So in
term of funding I don't anticipate that we have uh that major uh challenge
moving forward but I think the pace and the control of the installation will
become a major issue for at least the the folk outside the the department the
the sphere influenced by the staff program.
» Okay. And then shifting over to maintenance, your your report talks
about um the obviously the overwhelming
maintenance demands that were not foreseen when we issued the contract. Um
but obviously it's a new day and we're seeing increases
um of dramatic proportions that that we haven't seen in a long time. I see that
um the contractor did submit a plan in October
outlining data driven strategies um and reallocating maintenance resources. Have
any of these been implemented? >> So the uh reason why we Oh, so we have
implemented one of the um back panel removal at Saba Pacific site. The reason
why we uh are taking a slower action is because we need to justify each of these
actions because we are taking a certain maintenance activity for location and
put it somewhere else. We need to be uh uh make sure that we do a systematic and
show that this actually doesn't have a negative impact on the location that
getting less right. That's why we create wanted to make sure we create a
structure to actually review each of these location each of these action so
that we don't uh um just broadly put out a lot of these initiative without
monitoring and seeing result before we put it out citywide. So the one that I'm
uh bringing uh a talk about today is the back panel removal, right? We uh working
on a few uh removal to see how would that work first. Did that uh removing
that panel actually uh lessen the graffiti or people simply put the
graffiti on another part of the shelter? So we want to study and make sure that
we're not just implement a solution citywide without having a thought and a
a a process to review whether something is uh working effectively or not. So uh
that's where it take us a time to uh develop that process and see make sure
that these uh uh approach that we that proposed are roll out in a methodical
methodical uh fashions. Um but again we are uh at that phase that we are able to
see more of those roll out um of these solution that proposed by the the the
contractor because we have the uh process in place now. So you'll see um
few location here with shelter back panel remove the location hotspot that
get shift around and monitor the effectiveness of this. So um again we at
that stage where we can start seeing a lot of those improvement.
Okay. Can you include in the next update more detail about what's been
implemented and when and what the, you know, what the data shows in terms of
has this been effective or not? Because if this was submitted in October, now
we're in February and you're um waiting to justify I'm still unclear by whom. Um
and then you're testing certain thing ideas right now. Is that is that
correct? Are you in the process of testing certain things? That's correct.
So let me give you just a quick example. >> Back panel. It's simple, right? Just
remove it. >> But uh we are looking at a parameter on
what criteria should we select to remove those back panel because there are uh if
it's behind a gas station that could use it for a barrier against um traffic. So
there all criteria need to be created to see hey what is a a list of location
that we can test out without um have major impact but also measuring what is
success look like uh decrease by 5% is that effective or
increase by 50%. So that kind of a success uh matrix we know that this is
uh something that we should be um execute uh as fast as we can as well. Uh
but we want to do it methodically so that we don't uh uh roll this out
citywide and seeing a bigger uh um uh blowback on the the the new solutions. I
mean, I know we tend to address the symptoms as as opposed to the root
causes of vandalism and dumping and graffiti. Um,
but I'm just curious if if what if any coordination currently exists with LAPD
or sanitation or homeless outreach teams or office of community beautifification,
graffiti abatement teams. Are you sharing is this information being
shared? Like for example, if there's a serious um issue, you know, at a
shelter, I would hope that that's being reported. Uh it's a public safety item,
but I just think information sharing, especially hotspots, is that being
actively shared with with with other departments.
» So for the uh uh trash receptacle, that's the one of primary one that we
coordinate with. >> I'm sorry, what?
» Trash receptacle. >> Oh, trash recept. Yeah.
» Yeah. This is the one that we primary coordinate a lot with sanitations and so
uh sanitation uh actually getting a lot of their um
requests uh and routed to our program when it is on our shelter or on our
bench. So that coordination happened during the service request stage
and where I think we uh need to take a step further is actually identify site
that need more of those trash receptacle cleanliness of
this area need an increase whether that from that from the staff uh program or
the bus program or sanitation right I think that's there's a gap that we can
improve there um the uh other discussion around LAPD uh this something that is an
ongoing uh issue. We have repeated location that have
vandalism, breaking glasses, same location and this is uh uh with the
support from LAPD. We report those uh to make sure it get into a record so that
uh further investigation and track down on uh perpetrator
uh in term of graffiti abatement with OCB and other this is an area also that
we wanted to bring all the pieces together. Um as I mentioned at the
beginning of the uh or report we um our bureau uh and our program will continue
to optimize the way bus stop with our amenity uh uh maintains. Uh but again
we're not the only one. uh if we uh you know continue uh have
conversation and with your leadership to bring a lot of these energy to the table
would really appreciate and bring our uh solution more holistic rather than just
individual location or individual program that have a certain
stake at bus stop. So yes um I agree that's the next uh uh piece that we uh
would be interested in continue that conversation with other identity other
agency to uh improve that uh quality of service.
» Okay. So I mean I would recommend we put together a working group with um all the
affected entities. I want LA sanitation there. I want OCB there and their
contractors. Um we need someone from LAPD. I think that um and you know also
the homeless outreach teams. I think that this is I've seen a lot of camping
at staff locations. Um I think we need to sort of address sort of deterrence
um deterrence. Uh I know a novel concept. Um things like you know
enhanced cameras, lighting, extra lighting. You know are there street
lights out? I bet you there are near these locations. Um and so just have a
better coordinated um method of addressing some of these issues because
as you said there might be graffiti and vandalism happening at that loc shelter
but I guarantee you there's other activity happening in that area and I
think if everyone is on notice everyone who's doing work in that vicinity is on
notice that there's extra eyes and ears on it there can be better communication
um to address and deter some of this um activity and make
it safer for the people that are riding transit.
» Appreciate that. And your leadership will be uh uh very much uh uh needed for
uh bring the conversation together and we'll uh bring all the contractor and
making sure that they are uh by the contractual obligation and even beyond.
So um thank you for your leadership for that.
Thank you very much, Commissioner Cartness. Uh,
» yeah, thank you. Just going back [clears throat] to the citations or the
infractions, um, how many locations have had a first,
second, or even a third infraction imposed because they didn't they didn't
complete the work or or didn't satisfactory
um, hold hold up their end of the of the contract.
» Uh, we have not issued any citations. Um and uh so from uh
we again we have not issued any of those uh infractional citation for not meeting
the quality of and the contractual obligations because uh again the data
has shown that they have u meet those obligations.
» So they met their obligations self-reported met their obligations.
So, I mean, based on the information that we're getting from from the
community, it looks like locations haven't been meeting those obligations.
So, I find it um you know, both things can't be true. So, something something's
going on here. And moving on to to the construction, you were saying there's
approximately 20 plus locations per month that are [snorts] slated or
scheduled for installation. Is that was that the right number I was listening
to? >> Uh yeah, monthto month is
» roughly 20 plus. >> Um so but some of those aren't getting
the power installations that are needed and like you're saying because there's
no power the city's not getting their revenue but we're just continuing on to
the next month and starting another 20. So what what's the you know if if if the
first month isn't getting completed and you and you're working on the second
month what's [snorts] the backlog on the power installations that are
accumulating uh you know you know say when you get to month number three
» right uh but I just want to also uh they are doing some not at the rate that
» no that's exactly they're doing some which means they're not doing others and
the ones that are not being done are still not done and we're going on the
next month and building another 20. Not all of the 20 are power uh have power
requirements, but that number isn't getting smaller. It's getting bigger in
terms of the backlog of the of the power that's being installed. Is that what I'm
hearing? >> That's correct. Uh right now we balloon
to roughly 20 30 locations of uh location that need some sort of actions
uh either connect to power or pull new service point. So, does it make sense to
continue doing power locations if the power backlog I mean, would it make
sense to go ahead and just install the ones that don't require power until the
backlog is completed? That way, you don't you're not you're the number of
locations you have to go back to to complete isn't getting bigger. Does is
that logical or does that make sense or were you thinking about anything like
that? the uh even if we don't have power uh for location that uh do sidewalk
construction and uh transit shelter is still providing that benefit of um shade
and advertisement during the day. >> Understood. But that but what you were
saying but what we were saying earlier is the the city wasn't benefiting from
the advertisement right >> for location that is digital for
location >> for the digital
» digital because you splat screen in the cases where we have uh um uh the static
the poster one those during the day can be seen just not at night
» correct correct okay so just curious on how that's how that's working um what's
the number of you said there was rough roughly 1400 existing shelters.
» 1,600. >> 1600. Thank you. So, what's the what's
the number or percentage of locations that are considered on the hot hotspot
list? Do you know what that number is? >> So, 30% of the 1,800
» approximately or 30% are are >> uh currently slightly lower. Uh but
we're working to bring that back up to 30% uh of the contractual obligation.
the number could uh you know enter and exit. So this flux throughout uh each on
a regular basis but we try to get that sailing
» understood trying to do it but the say we install another 300 locations
and all 300 of those are hotspot locations. So the percent of the percent
of hotspots are going to go up. Right? So it's not a it's not a it's not a it's
not a static number. it is what it is in terms of hot hotspot locations of of
locations that have to be monitored on a regular basis and and and and need more
more attention. So, is that um how do we how are we going to figure that out? I
mean, when we're when when the locations are being uh reviewed prior to
construction, are we looking at the amount of graffiti in the area or the
amount of activity, homeless activity that's going on in the area? what what
what goes into that that discussion pre preconstruction to figure out okay we
know this is going to be a hot spot and and the contractor is going to know day
one it's going to be a hot spot is that is that the communication that that's
that's happening with with our vendor >> the current process that hotspot
identification happened after >> can't hear you
» the current process uh the hotspot identification happened after
» understood but Can you agree that some locations, you know, it's going to be a
hot spot? >> We can. Again, it's up to us to
establish criteria and when we input this uh location into the hotspot list.
» So, so day one, day one, they're going to know, you know what, this this one's
going to be a problem. We got to stay on top of it.
» That's correct. we can and uh I I think that's a great suggestion for us to uh
take 311 and other graffiti uh vandalism information to our design process and
the construction process so that we could uh um on day one have that as part
of this. >> So 30% every uh three of them that we
put in one of them could be hotspot. >> Okay. Well, I I see you this this is a
great program. I don't want to be all negative but we have to understand that
once we we increase our numbers and and we get up to the additional 1400 plus or
1300 plus when we we complete the 3,000 uh locations.
» Um we need to really have a good understanding of how we're going to
maintain these because buildings buildings one thing maintenance never
ends. So, we need to make sure that we're on top of that and and that we do
it successfully so that the the city can benefit, you know,
as much as they can and still keep these uh locations for the public accessible
and and safe. So, I look forward to seeing what our plan is going forward.
Thanks. >> Thank you.
» Thank you very much. Any last minute comments or questions, commissioners?
» Yes. Is it possible to get a copy of the report?
C >> can you repeat? Do you have a report
sent to all the commissioners so we can actually review it and if we have some
further questions or comments we can direct them directly to you.
» A report for the uh >> is there an audit report?
» Yes. >> Okay.
» Yeah, we can definitely share this is a copyright.
» Okay. We just want you to make it available to the commissioners through
the executive officer. >> Yes. Uh we can share this after the
meeting. >> Thank you.
» All right. Any other last minute questions or comments? So, we would uh
given the urgency of the item, I would love to I would like to reschedu um uh
for you to come back sooner than later. So, uh we'll coordinate with our
executive officer and our team to schedule another briefing in the next
couple of weeks uh to follow up. Um with that, thank you very much.
» Thank you. I believe that concludes our items for
today. All right. Thank you very much. Our next regular meeting of the board of
public works will be on Friday, February 6, 2026. The meeting is now adjourned at
11:08 a.m.