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Community Workshop #2 was held on August 7, 2008 at the Artesia-Cerritos Methodist Church. The purpose of this meeting was to get input from the residents, property owners, and business owners regarding the preliminary design concepts that where develop based on the comments received from the initial series of meeting/workshops. More than a dozen residents and several business owners attend the 2-hour long session.   The meeting started of with a brief summary of the progress of the project and a discussion of the comments, concerns, ideas, and reoccurring themes that resonated from the first series of meetings. After this brief discussion the meeting transition to an overview of the design concepts developed and the key issues that where address during the conceptual design phase. The consultant team explained the rationale behind some of the features and designs that where implemented specifically focusing on circulation and the pedestrian environment enhancements. After this short overview of the design features the meeting participant broke off in several round-table discussions where members of the consultant team had free-form discussion with the meeting participants.
During the round-table discussions portion of the meeting a informal free-form dialog occurred which allowed the meeting participants the forum to express their feeling and opinions of the design and to provide additional feedback regarding there concerns and opinion of what was presented.
Circulation was the predominant issue of concern and was the element that drove most of the round-table discussions. The overriding sentiment was that Pioneer Boulevard must remain 2-lanes in each direction and that the availability of parking was paramount to the success of this area of Pioneer. The general consensus was that they like the elements that where incorporated in the design that created a pedestrian-friendly environment but had voiced some concerns that if the mid-block crossings and diagonal cross walks or “pedestrian scrambles” as they are referred to on the plan, where not synced properly that they would add to the existing traffic congestions issues.
Generally, the meeting attendees were pleased with the overall direction the conceptual design was taken and expressed how grateful they where that the City took such an effort to really listen to the community and felt that the City genuinely cared about addressing their needs and concerns.
The following is a list of some of the key comments, concerns, and ideas presented during the round-table discussions;
- Would like to see more historic elements incorporate into the final design specifically more historic 1920s themed street lights.
- Would like to see seasonal decoration on the street.
- Would like to see more outside eating/dining.
- Façade improvements and consistency in design a high priority.
- Need improved signage and better signage standards.
- Pleased with the pedestrian friendly elements incorporated such as; sidewalk bulb-outs, enhanced paving, and improve landscaping.
- Metered parking needed to help with parking issues.
- Need better Parking Enforcement.
- Grateful that city has made such an effort to really listen to the community.
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