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Page 10 June 20, 2019 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
Wiseburn from page 3
They may not know what they going to do
without us.” Kaneda wished them a fulfilling
retirement, noting, “No one ever says I wish
that I had worked longer.”
The Herndon competition team, under the
guidance of Dana STEM teacher Andy de Sierre,
explained their first place-winning project that
included utilizing low-cost underwater robots.
The students spoke to a probably scientifically
overwhelmed crowd about the specifics of their
project. One of the students said their group had
toiled on the project for more than 150 hours.
The Herndon team consisted of Michael
Consolazio, Joseph Beard, Logan Padilla,
Mathew Banuelos, Emma Enriques and Adam
Tittle. Mentor de Seriere said, “The competition
has provided us with the opportunity to
challenge students to solve real-world problems
and work alongside engineers to develop the
skills required to become future engineers and
students. I am really proud of these guys. It
was an awesome experience.” He also thanked
parents who provided behind-the-scenes support
to the team.
Next up, members from the public were
front-and-center to opine on District issues. Each
audience member could voice their thoughts for
a maximum of three minutes. Board members
are not allowed to comment on the opinions
expressed because the item addressed was not
listed on the official agenda.
The topic was the proposed cutting of
the VA program at the elementary school
level. Speakers questioned whether this was
a budgeting move and wondered if this was a
decision made behind “closed doors,” with one
parent speaking of a District “dumpster fire.”
The speakers spoke emotionally, decrying the
pending loss of the program and noting how
participating in the VA program provided a
“safe space” for their children. The final public
speaker, long-time Wiseburn teacher Michael
Spiwak, took a different view, supporting the
proposed realignment of the Arts program.
Post-meeting, Silvers emailed, “The WUSD
is committed to the Arts. We will continue to
offer exemplary arts programming across our
district and will ensure access and opportunity
for all students to receive an experience
in music. Further, we are fortunate to have
a partnership with the Wiseburn Education
Foundation and P.S. Arts to help us provide
for visual arts for our students.”
Board member reports then followed with Dr.
Neil Goldman saying that the VA proponents’
thoughts were heard by him and his colleagues
and he thanked all involved for making 2018/19
a successful school year. He also said he was
“thrilled to see this happen,” referring to the
District’s efforts to make financial education
available to students.
Member Israel Mora noted the passion of the
VA proponents, saying “We focus on trying to
make decisions that are the best for the kids.”
Member Nelson Martinez commented on
how he appreciated the “concerns and passions”
of community members, and that the
Board “understands the differences visual arts
can make in student’s lives.” He said he values
the importance of a robust music program and
that he and the Board are striving to make
sure that there is equity in programs offered
for all students.
Vice President/Clerk Roger Banuelos commented
on the emails that members have
received regarding the VA shake-up, reading
a few of the names of concerned citizens who
had reached tout and touting the importance
and relevance of the program.
In her comments, Kaneda recognized the
culmination of the first year on the job for
Superintendent Silvers and other new-tothe
job administrators, calling it “a year of
change.” She also thanked the time spent by
the unpaid Board members, calling them “a
fantastic board.”
Silvers acknowledged the community
members and their concerns about the VA
program, and gave thanks to District teachers,
saying “we don’t do that enough…you are so
valuable to us.” He also echoed Goldman’s
comments about teaching students financial
literacy and lauded parental participation in
District programs.
Two new hires were front and center during
the action item personnel portion of the
90-minute meeting. Monique Ingram won approval
to become the lead elementary counselor.
Silvers said Ingram comes to Wiseburn from
Palos Verdes’ school district, has received a
PhD from Penn State and “is ready to provide
great service to kids.”
The hiring of the new assistant principal at
Anza Elementary, Katie Masterson, was also
approved. She comes to Wiseburn from the
Culver City Unified School District. Silvers
called her “a tech leader at her school site,”
and highly proficient in the job skills needed
to assume her post at Anza.
The next regularly scheduled Wiseburn
School Board meeting is slated to take place
on Tuesday evening, June 25. •
City Council from front page
attorney, current Council members and former
mayors for their support during his tenure as
city manager that began in 2012 (at the time,
he headed the Planning and Building Safety
Department). “They [the City Council] had
more faith in me that I had in myself,” he
said of his hire, adding that he was “extremely
humbled to be asked.”
Carpenter was effusive about the quality
of employees he has overseen over the years,
pointing out that virtually all of them “come to
work to make the City better.” He later added,
“If you see a City employee on the street…
regardless of what they do, please thank them.”
Last but not least, Carpenter thanked his
family (several members were in the audience
Tuesday) for their support over his entire 33-
year career in public service – with special
mention of his two sons and wife.
After wrapping up his remarks, Carpenter
received a surprise video tribute interspersed
with still images of him and his family spanning
the decades as well as well wishes from
the Council, several former mayors, department
heads, his office support staff, local commission
members and Los Angeles Air Force
Base officials. In congratulating him on his
retirement, former Mayor Suzanne Fuentes
referred to Carpenter as “our native son city
manager.” Two of her predecessors, Eric Busch
and Bill Fisher, added some comedic relief to
the proceedings. “We can say we hired him
and take the credit,” Fisher playfully suggested.
Carpenter’s wife Julie also joined in the fun.
“I’m happy to finally have you all to myself,”
she said before adding that she had a list of
projects for him –with dozens of items scrawled
on a giant board in the background.
After the video, City Attorney Mark Hensley
gave Carpenter a high compliment, emphasizing
that “he treats everyone with dignity and
respect” no matter who it is and regardless if
it is in a public or private setting. “He always
managed to keep his composure and stay very
even-keeled. I’ve never seen him get upset,”
Hensley said.
Tuesday’s meeting did include a couple of
additional agenda items. Continuing a discussion
from the April 16 session, representatives from
homebuilder D.R. Horton made a presentation
about the Waypointe residential development on
Imperial Avenue to address previous Council
concerns about proposed affordable housing
units on the site.
The applicant had earlier asked to provide
eight moderate level affordable units instead of
the original six (that specified two extremely low,
two very low and two low). The Council wanted
clarification on the specifics of the overall selection
process, marketing and pricing as well
as the ability to prioritize military personnel.
Looking at buyer income brackets and assuming
a four-person household, a moderate
affordable unit sales price came in at $423,800
(in vast contrast, extremely low was $25,100),
while the market rate is $910,000. The monthly
mortgage payment projection is $1,395. The
Waypointe affordable homes are 1,242 square
feet, with two bedrooms and 2.5 baths, a twocar
attached garage, two outdoor decks and
various other amenities.
Under the process, the City and D.R. Horton
will coordinate advertising efforts of homes via
various media with a month-long application
process to follow. Those who get through an
initial prequalification to satisfy eligibility requirements
will get to the next level. The first
selection pool will consist of qualified households
that are military veterans, with the second
pool comprised of non-military candidates.
Concern that the military pool can also
include active duty personnel was enough to
sway Councilmember Chris Pimentel to vote
against the item. His worry was that the units
will “run the risk of creating rental properties”
because those on active duty get deployed
elsewhere every three or four years.
Once the City has a list of qualifying households,
its affordable housing consultant will
conduct a lottery-style public drawing event,
with four “winners” picked randomly from the
military pool. Remaining military applicants
will then be moved into the general pool. The
eight qualified households will get the first
opportunity to purchase homes presuming
they are still interested and will then proceed
if they obtain final loan approvals. Should any
fall out, remaining qualified households will
be put on a reserve list in the order drawn.
While the eight units will be moderate, it
won’t preclude those on the lower income
levels to apply for the purchase. Whether or
not they can get through the early screening
stage is a different story.
The Council ultimately voted in favor of the
item 3-2, introducing it Tuesday with adoption
set for July 16. Though the goal in providing
affordable housing is to move El Segundo
in the right direction to comply with state
regulations (the City’s current obligation is
69 such units), Brann thought this particular
transaction makes no sense, won’t move the
needle much and will create a “complicated
system” requiring the City to hire someone to
“monitor it for two decades.” He preferred to
accept D.R. Horton’s previous offer of a $3.3
million in-lieu fee to the City (which Boyles
later confirmed is no longer an option on the
table) and build no affordable units there.
Councilmember Scot Nicol disagreed, feeling
that it’s important to move forward given
“Sacramento is coming after cities” and this
“shows we’re doing something.” Mayor Pro
Tem Carol Pirsztuk, while feeling Brann’s
comments were valid, said it was crucial to
address the prescribed guidelines with “the
State of California breathing down our necks.”
In another presentation, consultant Kenneth
Pun provided a summary of his firm’s independent
audit of the City’s basic financial
statements for the previous fiscal year. The news
was good, with only two findings that need fixing
(the fewest in three years of audits) and confirmation
that the City’s financial statements
are fairly presented with significant accounting
polices consistently applied, along with reasonable
estimates and properly reflected disclosures.
Due to the holiday proximity, the Council
canceled its July 2 meeting and will next
convene on July 16. •
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