The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 107, No. 12 - March 22, 2018
Inside
This Issue
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.....................14
Classifieds............................4
Crossword/Sudoku.............4
Entertainment......................6
Legals..................................13
Obituaries.............................2
Pets......................................14
Police Briefs........................2
Real Estate.....................7-11
Sports......................... 5,12,13
Weekend
Forecast
El Segundo High Assembly
Honors Florida Shooting Victims
On Wednesday, March 14 – one month after the tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida that resulted in the deaths of 17 students and staff – El Segundo High School held a morning assembly in the quad to
honor those lost in the incident. Similar events as well as student walkouts occurred at the same time at campuses across the country to show solidarity and protest gun violence. Photo by Gregg McMullin.
Council Candidates Tackle the
Issues: This Week-Chris Pimentel
With Suzanne Fuentes and Mike Dugan
opting not to seek reelection, the El Segundo
City Council will soon welcome two new
members. Four candidates threw their hats
into the ring to vie for the available spots
and voters will decide on April 10 who joins
Drew Boyles, Don Brann and Carol Pirsztuk
on the dais. To introduce the candidates to
the community and to get their thoughts on
important local issues, the Herald reached out
to each with questions on a variety of topics.
After growing up in an Air Force family that
settled in Kansas, Chris Pimentel attended
the University of Virginia on Marine ROTC
and Echols scholarships. He served in the
Marine Corps on deployments throughout the
world, including to Operation Iraqi Freedom
for which he was awarded a Bronze Star with
a combat distinguishing device. After early
selection for Major, he led a Department
of Homeland Security contract before fully
joining the private sector in risk management.
Pimentel noted that his wife Laura is native
City Council Almost Ready to Roll
on Lakes RFP; Sets Fee Increases
By Brian Simon
On Tuesday night, the El Segundo City
Council moved one step closer to finalizing
the Request for Proposal (RFP) for The
Lakes at El Segundo’s future operations,
management and/or development that
will go out to potential bidders on April
5. Responding to Council feedback two
weeks ago, The Lakes RFP Task Force
made several modifications to the document.
Among the most notable changes,
acceptable uses for the site will encompass
the gamut of recreational possibilities and
not just golf. Also the group eliminated
prior references to a lease agreement
requirement or set rent amount. It also
removed provisions for a prescribed
financial return to the City or payback of
the existing golf course loan.
At the request of Mayor Pro Tem Drew
Boyles and suggestion of Councilmember
Don Brann, bidders will also get an extra
three weeks (June 15 instead of May 24)
to submit their proposals to the City.
This came out of Boyles’ concern that
someone considering a radical repurpose
(non-golf use) of The Lakes won’t have
ample time to put a bid together – especially
considering that the mandatory site
walk-through is scheduled for April 24.
That would have left bidders with just
30 days from that date to complete their
proposals. “It will limit what comes back
to the South Bay and that El Segundo
has provided them the “forever community”
they’ve always sought. He served on the
boards of Eagles Nest, Little League, and
Kesem charities for children affected by
parental cancer. He also coaches baseball,
softball and AYSO and volunteers at Run-for-
Education. Pimentel is additionally a member
of the Military Officer’s Association, Dad’s
Club, and, via Laura, support execution of
the Richmond Street Fall Festival and PTA/
School Site Council activities.
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Why are you running for City Council?
CP: My parents emphasized the importance
of doing versus saying. Listening, working,
and when helpful, leading, are important
principles by which I try to live. When I was
17, I saw something horrible on the news and
said to my father, “Why isn’t someone doing
anything?” He responded flatly, “Do you
mean someone else, or you?” El Segundo is
the home I hope to never leave and I want
to help it continue to thrive.”
What unique skill sets do you bring to
the table that will benefit the city?
CP: The city needs problem-solvers. By
career, and by temperament, my jobs have
been to find issues, look for solutions and
implement them quickly. In the Marines, the
decision-making cycle is nearly a sacrament
for combat leaders -- and as a consultant
for global companies, timely solutions have
outsized financial impacts. I’ve run a war-torn
city with 70,000 people. My pragmatic approach
and fresh viewpoints can help bridge
divides and ensure our city stays safe.
Issues
What are the two most important issues
facing El Segundo and what would you do
to address those?
CP: The pension burden is the third worst,
per household, in the state. It is a bill that we
see coming, but can’t appreciate the magnitude
of until it arrives. The only viable answer
for us is to grow our local economy to meet
it. Our impulse is to cut our budget as you
would your household, but there is a decade
Friday See Chris Pimentel, page 5
Mostly
Sunny
61˚/51˚
Saturday
Mostly
Sunny
60˚/52˚
Sunday
Partly
Cloudy
59˚/49˚
See City Council, page 13