Reservoir Area Repairs Shared by County, City

Dear Traffic Talk:

Every day we drive around the Chatsworth Reservoir along Valley Circle Boulevard--north of Roscoe Boulevard.

The road is in serious disrepair with many potholes. In fact, we had to replace a tire a few weeks ago after accidentally hitting one of the deeper holes.

About two or three weeks ago the really bad holes were repaired, but new ones seem to occur faster than the repair crews can get to them.

This street really needs a serious repaving. Who is responsible for this street and how do I contact the appropriate agency in order to get it fixed properly?

Debby Stopp

West Hills

Dear Debby:

Valley Circle Boulevard does not run continuously through the city of Los Angeles. Consequently, two different entities are responsible for repairs in the Chatsworth Reservoir area.

The section starting 200 feet east of Smith Road and Johnell Road belongs to Los Angeles County, said Richard Evans, an engineer with the Bureau of Street Maintenance under the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

Questions regarding repairs there should be directed to Don Smith, a county Department of Public Works engineer, at (818) 889-0323.

The sections between Plummer Street to 200 feet east of Smith Road and from Johnell Road to Roscoe Boulevard belong to the city, Evans said, adding that crews just finished doing some work there on Jan. 10.

That latest work is an example of ongoing gradual repairs that consist mainly of pothole repair and minor skin patching, Evans said. He said the department plans to continue such work until the street reaches satisfactory standards.

Additional and more permanent repairs to any street or alley are possible, but at the expense of neighboring property owners, Evans said.

For more information on that course of action and general repair questions around the reservoir, residents should contact the city’s Bureau of Engineering at 14410 Sylvan St. in Van Nuys.

That office can be reached by calling (818) 756-8436, Evans said.

Dear Traffic Talk:

A couple of my neighbors have recently purchased large motor homes and have decided to store them on the street near our house--parked there continuously since they bought them.

Before I say anything to them, is it legal for them to do that, and is there much I can do about it?

Angel Luna

Chatsworth

Dear Angel:

The Municipal Code states that property owners can generally park any vehicle in front of their homes, but there are some restrictions, according to T.K. Prime, senior transportation engineer in the parking regulation division of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

According to the Municipal Code: “It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or who has possession, custody or control of any vehicle to park such vehicle or leave it standing upon any highway, street or alley for more than 72 hours in the aggregate during any period of 73 consecutive hours.

“A vehicle shall be deemed parked or left standing for such 72 hours unless during that period is either driven a minimum of one mile after leaving the location where it has been parked or left standing or, within that period, is removed from any highway, street or alley.”

Traffic Talk appears Fridays in The Times Valley Edition. Readers may submit questions about traffic in the Valley to Traffic Talk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Include your name, address and phone number. To record your comments, call (818) 772-3303. Fax letters to (818) 772-3385. E-mail questions to valley@latimes.com