The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 106, No. 46 - November 16, 2017
Inside
This Issue
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.....................14
Classifieds............................4
Community Briefs...............3
Crossword/Sudoku.............4
Entertainment......................6
Legals............................ 12,13
Pets......................................15
Police Briefs........................2
Real Estate................8-11,16
Sports.............................. 5,13
Weekend
Forecast
ESHS Cast of “Almost, Maine”
The El Segundo High School Drama Department will present their fall drama production “Almost, Maine” by John Cariani. The play runs Nov. 16th at 7:00 PM., Nov 17th at 7:00 PM. and Nov. 18th at
2:00 PM. & 7:00 PM. Tickets are $10 without ASB, and $8 with ASB. Photo by Chase’s Mom. •
Council Considers Future of The
Lakes After TopGolf Decision
By Brian Simon
use to public recreation, which so far has
With the El Segundo City Council vote
been for the purposes of golf.
last month to reject the TopGolf project,
Consulting the golf course manual for The
the question becomes what’s next for The
Lakes, Councilmember Mike Dugan provided
Lakes at El Segundo. While the Council
a usage description that he felt checks all
majority felt the proposed deal wasn’t in
the boxes well. Among the points he cited,
the community’s best interests, it still leaves
the facility should be safe for people of all
the driving range, restaurant and nine-hole
ages, be able handle minors dropped off by
course in a decidedly dicey spot given lack
their parents, be clean and well-maintained,
of funding for much-needed maintenance,
provide learning opportunities for all age
repairs and upgrades to the facility. Along
groups, comply with City zoning and land
with that, the golf enterprise fund has also
use requirements, be self-sustaining, and
been unable to make loan payments owed
be affordable for patrons. Dugan identified
to the City of El Segundo’s general fund.
the under-performing restaurant as the most
To address the matter, City staff recently
significant opportunity for upgrades and
presented the Council with options for the
formation of The Lakes Task Force charged
with evaluating current usage and considering
School Board Hears Distinguished
future opportunities for golf or other outdoor
recreation. Among the objectives listed for
School Presentation from Apple
the Task Force are studying usage data and
financial performance at The Lakes, reviewing
By Duane Plank
earned their prestigious selections.
budget forecasts and their implications,
Both El Segundo Middle and High schools
El Segundo High School received the
discussing community values and guiding
received recognition as Apple Distinguished
designation in 2015, and the certification is
principles for decision-making related to
Schools during Tuesday evening’s El Segundo
being renewed. El Segundo Middle School
parks and community spaces, identifying
School Board meeting. The iconic
achieved its recognition for the first time
problems to be solved, studying potential
worldwide brand of Apple, Inc., has established
in 2017. Said School Board President Bill
alternatives, assessing the need for outside
a program in which campuses that
Watkins: “Working with Apple, our students
consultation and/or professional analysis,
Apple deems “centers of leadership and
are able to work with the latest electronic
and…last, but not least, drafting a Request for
educational excellence,” and demonstrate
equipment and our teachers to provide
Proposals (RFP) to obtain bids from outside
Apple’s vision of “learning with technology”
innovation in the classroom. It has truly
companies for the site. The Task Force will
are rewarded with two-year designations as
enhanced our education program.”
present its findings to the City Council for
distinguished schools.
After Oldfield made his brief presentation,
review and approval.
Jeff Oldfield, U.S. Education Development
a quick photo op ensued, and then
According to Recreation and Parks Director
Executive for Apple, made the presentation
the School Board’s student representative
Meredith Petit, the main goal at this juncture
honoring the schools’ innovative achievements.
Jake Nichols made his quick report, as El
is to determine “the scope of the RFP” and
He read a letter from Apple that
Segundo Unified School District students
who is to develop that vision. Current grant
delineated the reasons that the schools
deed restrictions (by Chevron) limit the land
revenue growth if leased out to another party.
“A management contract won’t sustain itself,”
he said. “We’ll need some outside money.”
Mayor Pro Tem Drew Boyles hoped to see
the RFP extend beyond the boundaries of golf.
He asserted on more than one occasion that in
a hypothetical start-over scenario (i.e. if The
Lakes property were vacant land in 2017), the
community likely wouldn’t choose golf as the
preferred use. “I hear [people saying there are]
not enough soccer fields or baseball fields,”
Boyles said. “…Let’s cast a wide net and see
what we get.” Dugan expressed he may be
open to other uses provided those are in the
Friday See City Council, page 14
Partly
Cloudy
68˚/54˚
Saturday
Sunny
72˚/52˚
Sunday
Partly
Cloudy
71˚/56˚
See School Board, page 5