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Council Tackles Bird Droppings, Human Debris, Parking Rates at Santa Monica Pier

By Lookout Staff

July 31, 2009 – The Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved contracts on Tuesday to prevent bird droppings from hitting the water under the pier and to clean after humans on the surface of the wooden structure.

The council on consent awarded a $107,758 contract to bird busters to install bird netting under the pier “to eliminate or reduce bacterial pollution due to pigeon feces and debris.”

The netting is required to meet LA Regional Water Quality Control Board requirements and continue to implement the Pier Water Quality Improvement Project.

The move comes after the City and Heal the Bay found that pigeons were the likely source of fecal bacteria. Eliminating roosting sites underneath the Pier will “reduce bacterial pollution due to pigeon feces.”

A City consultant found that netting was one of the most effective and proven methods of “bird deterrence for reducing or eliminating a major source of contamination.”

In a separate action, the council voted on consent to extend the current month-to-month agreement with High Tech Building Maintenance to provide custodial services at the pier through June 30, 2010. The contract is not to exceed $426,000.

The City brought in High Tech Building Maintenance after the previous contractor, Resource Collection, failed to pay its employees. The contract was terminated in May.

In another pier-related item, the council raised the parking rates for the celebration of the Pier’s Centennial Anniversary on September 9, which is expected to attract a large crowd.

“To help mitigate traffic and parking congestion and to create a safe and enjoyable environment, the City and the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation (PRC) are encouraging the use of public transit, bicycles or walking to the event,” staff wrote in its report to the council.

To help offset the City’s costs and manage traffic congestion in and around the Downtown, the council voted to raise parking rates to $25 on beach parking lots beginning at 2:00 p.m., $15 in the Downtown public parking structures beginning at 6:00 p.m., and $10 at the Civic Center Parking Structure beginning at 6:00 p.m.

“Revenues from the increased parking rates are anticipated to generate approximately $65,000 which is expected to cover all City related expenses including increased public safety staffing, traffic control, increased pier, beach and park maintenance, increased solid waste collection and additional parking attendant coverage,” staff said.


 


 

 

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