Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Paramount public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
13 issues in roads
20-MPH School Zones
Ordinance 1221 would drop speed limits to 20 mph when children are present on fifteen two-lane streets near schools across Paramount — Lincoln, Wirtz, Tanner, Los Cerritos, Keppel, Roosevelt, Jackson, Gaines, Paramount High and others. Limits take effect when new signs are installed.
Street Resurfacing and Civic Center Project Closeouts
The council was scheduled to formally accept completed work on the 2025 arterial street resurfacing project and the Civic Center Fountain, releasing the final retention payments to Onyx Paving and ARC Construction.
Bus shelter expansion at high-ridership stops
The city planned to spend up to $64,300 with Studio One Eleven for preliminary designs of alternate bus shelters, funded from Proposition A transit money.
I-105 Express Lanes Construction Impacts
Freeway construction is starting in Paramount's segment of the I-105 Express Lanes project — retaining walls, new pavement and overnight lane closures through 2029. Residents near Somerset can call a project noise line.
SB 1 Street Paving Program
About $1.4 million in state gas-tax money is headed for local streets: Colorado Avenue from Somerset to Alondra gets repaved this year with the 2025-26 funds, and Orange and Century follow next fiscal year.
City goals progress: street sweeping, school zones, sidewalks
Staggered street sweeping is expanding to two more neighborhoods this fall, school-zone speed studies are underway, alleyway parking citations are up, and sidewalk fixes on Indiana Avenue are done.
Alley improvement project completion
Vice Mayor Olmos asked staff to look at speeding up the alley improvement program, which currently only fixes one alley per year, saying that pace isn't enough for the city's aging alleys.
Median enhancements on Rosecrans and Garfield Avenues
The next phase of the city's median beautification program covers medians west of Anderson and east of Downey on Rosecrans, plus three sections on Garfield. It should make major corridors greener and more welcoming.
Limited-Time Parking Zone on Paramount Boulevard
Alert Cleaners gets a 20-minute green parking zone in front of its shop so customers can quickly drop off and pick up items, Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (2026-30)
The council adopted a five-year roadmap of infrastructure projects — some funded, some awaiting grants — to keep the city safe and attractive, with annual updates each budget cycle.
Downey & Jackson intersection safety fixes
A traffic study found the intersection performs within state norms, but the city is adding longer yellow lights, reflective striping, signal repairs and extra enforcement near Alondra Intermediate School — about $25,000, already budgeted.
Driveway Expansion Program
New guidelines were approved for the city's driveway expansion program, which helps homeowners widen driveways.
Freeway Ramp Cleanup and Caltrans Relations
The council renewed and expanded the Adopt-A-Highway contract to keep freeway on- and off-ramps clean, and pressed state legislators for better Caltrans maintenance and graffiti paint-out on the 91, 710 and 105.