Lawndale Tribune AND lAwNDAle News The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - March 6, 2014 Lawndale Council Opposed to Any Water Rate Hikes By Nancy Peters The Lawndale City Council received a presentation at a recent meeting that provided reasons for a rate increase for water consumption. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which governs the West Basin Municipal Water District and the Metropolitan Water District and make the rate increase decisions, will be holding hearings on the proposed new rates--the first requested in several years. At Monday evening’s meeting, the elected officials discussed an agenda item to send a letter of opposition to the PUC and the districts for any water rate hikes. A representative from West Basin was in attendance and answered questions about the reasons for the requested rate increases. The reasons given included having the ways and means in the future to make necessary purchases of water and to fund rehabilitation and renovation of old systems. When a drought is declared there is always the possibility of rationing, but Southern California has a current sufficient supply of water due to the management by the two districts. The gradual rate hikes that could occur after approval of the requested increases are to avoid larger percentages of rate increases and not alarm users with higher rates all at once. Lawndale Council members voted unanimously to send a modified letter from the one referred to on the agenda as “Over- Collection of Revenues” to ask for concise justifications for any requested increases and express opposition and advocate for no increase at this time. An application process was approved to request a grant from the Metro (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) for the Youth Day Parade and Bike Ride in the 2015 fiscal year. Various street improvements funded by CDBG monies and a surplus from bonds were approved for George G. Bogohossian & Associates. The replacement of playground equipment at William Green Park was also approved. Claims against the City by two different individuals were rejected and denied as part of the consent calendar. The South Bay Cities Council of Governments presented a Gold Level Energy Leader Certificate to the City of Lawndale for the conservation of energy achieved throughout the community and in City-owned buildings. The topic of fireworks on the Fourth of July holiday, whether of the safe-and-sane or illegal variety, reached the Council once again from the podium as several citizens opposed the allowance of any fireworks in the city. They cited dry brush and disturbance of the peace after 10 p.m. as the noise curfew is extended for that one night, and generally oppose fireworks use by individuals in a non-controlled atmosphere. It was pointed out that citizens voted (with 80 percent affirmative) in two different referendums to allow fireworks in Lawndale. The Sheriff’s Department will make a presentation at the next Council meeting of the proactive plan for dealing with the fireworks issue on July 4 and the days leading up to the holiday. Fines will be levied and confiscation of illegal fireworks will be made by an added force of deputies at that time. Signs will also be posted at various entrances from the freeway into Lawndale noting that fireworks are not allowed. The Utility User’s Tax (UUT) does have a built-in discount for senior citizens and those declared as disabled who are not senior citizen-age, but the information is not readily available to the public. The Lawndalian will publish how to apply for the discount from UUT in every other issue. The Safety Report from the Sheriff’s Department included the announcement of a school safety cable show that will air soon on Channel 22 Lawndale Cable. The Sheriff’s Department lists school safety as a top priority and there is zero tolerance in all schools, but felt a reminder of the importance of school safety systems was necessary. The robbery on February 27 at the 99 Cents Store on Hawthorne Boulevard resulted in an arrest of the alleged thief despite his escape on a Metro bus as the store manager chased the suspect and noted his actions. Deputies were able to follow the bus and locate the suspect, who also possessed narcotics paraphernalia. In anticipation of the municipal election on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, the Council voted to cancel its scheduled meeting on Monday, April 7. The next meeting of the Lawndale City Council will be held on Monday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. • Inside This Issue Calendar...............................3 Classifieds............................2 Hawthorne Happenings....3 Food....................................4,5 Legals............................. 2,6,7 Pets........................................8 Police Reports.....................3 Sports....................................4 Weekend Forecast Friday Mostly Sunny 69˚/54˚ Saturday Partly Cloudy 78˚/55˚ Sunday Mostly Cloudy 77˚/56˚ Hawthorne Soccer, Best Year Ever Hawthorne's Luis Coronado gets past Chino defender Alex Lopez in last week's CIF-Southern Section Division II boys' soccer action. Photo by Joe Snyder. When a drought is declared there is always the possibility of rationing, but Southern California has a current sufficient supply of water due to the management by the two districts.
Lawndale 03_06_14
To see the actual publication please follow the link above