COUNTY OF LOS ANGEL_S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Me 200 rH FKLMONE SEALE ALHAM@RA, CALIFORNIA 914831311 “Teephone (18) S100 ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: 7.0.BOX 14 ‘ALIFORNTA sian. 4st THOMAS A. TIDEMANSON. Dieetor ALHAMER March 20, 1969 soma Bo? perentomue = 850.18.2 Ms. Joanne Allen 23408 Valdez Road Topanga, CA 90290 Dear Ms. Allen: This 1s 1n response to your recent lette: ta thts Department regarding road conditions on Valdez Road west from Old Iupanga Canyon Road. As discussed with you by telephone by our staff, only the portion of Valdez Road from Old Topanga Canyon Road westerly approximately 800 feet to the “End County Naintained Road" sign near house 23346 is maintained by the County. Its present condition 1s due to several factors. The pavement surface is old. Large run- offs of storm water overload the natural drainage course, which lies generally on private property adjacent to the road and the excess water softens the road bed. Also, there are numerous springs in the general area, Including some within the paved area. This softening of the road bed has accelerated the deterioration of Valdez Road. The public portion of Valdez Road was scheduled for reconstruction during the summer of 1988. This project also included the construction of a storm drain to handle the storm runoff in the area. Unfortunately one of the property owners along Valdez Road has declined to dedicate the necessary easements needed for this project causing numerous delays. Until the necessary easement is obtained, the status of this project 1s uncertain. In the meantime, we will continue to maintain this road as necessary. Our crews patched potholes on Valdez Road {n December, 1988, and reconstructed several deteriorated areas on February 21, 23, and 24, 1989. We will also reconstruct the failed area near Old Topanga Canyon Road as soon as it dries out. As you know, Valdez Road adjacent to your property is beyond that portion maintained by this Department. Local streets such as Valdez Road have historically been mproved by the subdivider or the owners of the adjacent properties. This Department maintains only those roads that were accepted tor maintenance prior to 1955 or those local roads which have subsequently been constructed to County standards. The streets in the Calabasas Park area we maintain were developed and improved to County standards as a part of that development. Therefore, we maintain those streets. Existing law provides that a nonmaintained road shall not become a County highway until it has been accepted into the County road system by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. Tf you and your neighbors desire to dedicate additional right of way to make @ minimum of 40 feet of right of way and construct improvements to County Standards, the road could thereafter be maintained by this Department. This type of improvement is normally accomlished by a cooperative effort of the property owners adjacent to the nonmatntained roadway. If you want to pursue this type of improvement please contact Mr. Don Jordan of our Planning Division at (818) 458-4336 for more information.Ms. Joanne Allen -2- March 20, 1989 The existing road easement can only be vacated by the County 1f all property ouners adjacent to the planned vacation agree to this. If you want to pursce Riis option, you may cal! Mr. Harry Asato of our Mapping and Property Managenent Division at (818) 458-7047 to obtain additional information regarding this procedure. If you need further information, please call Mr. Al Kelm, Road Maintenance District Engineer at (213) 776-7552, Very truly yours, T. A. TIDEMANSON Director of Public Works Cath phe, DONALD Y. MYCNE Deputy Dyfector CEC:ds/5-OTCR