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 - August 4, 2016 Lawndale Ready for Future with Advisory Boards, Public Works Projects Complete By Haleemon Anderson The Lawndale City Council continued its efforts to set the stage for the coming year, finalizing appointments to advisory groups and signing off on extensive public works projects, at this week’s meeting. The Council approved eight appointments to fill seats still vacant on advisory bodies. These positions are filled by residents and provide vital information and guidance to the council, allowing it to have the eyes and ears of the community on issues that directly affect Lawndale residents. The appointments are as follows: Daniel T. Woods, to the 5-member Parks, Recreation and Social Services Commission, Ray E. Rapp to the 12-member Senior Citizen Advisory Committee and April Owens to the 7-member Youth Advisory Committee. All five seats on the Personnel Board were appointed Monday. They are: John Stephen Clark, Marcela Paez Pak, George J. Pelzl, Mercedes Santacruz and N. Golden Thrower. The City engages eight total advisories, including the already filled Planning Commission (5 members) and Beautification Committee (7 members). The 5-member Cable Commission still needs to fill a sole remaining seat. All posts are for two years, and run concurrent with general municipal election cycles. Notices of completion were accepted on upgrades to the traffic signals systems and concrete-related repairs at Hawthorne and Manhattan Beach Boulevards, and Marine Avenue. The massive projects were under contract to Kalban, Inc and PTM General Engineering Services, Inc., respectively, at a combined cost of $1,150,390. Both projects came in slightly under budget. Staff performed a final inspection, approving compliance. Action on both projects was included in the consent calendar, and was unanimously approved by the Council for forwarding to the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office. Other items on the consent calendar included filing of the city’s quarterly investment report and routine bill paying of claims and demands at $970,139. The city continues to monitor crime through community policing. Lieutenant John Hocking gave the public safety report for the period of July 18 through 31. Two suspects were detained and booked on robbery charges, on July 17 and July 26. A vehicle stop resulted in an arrest on July 27. Hocking said deputies searched a vehicle, after marijuana odor was detected. They discovered what appeared to be a large quantity of supplies from Home Depot. Deputies believed the items to be stolen. The driver could not provide evidence to the contrary, and was subsequently booked for receiving stolen property. Lieutenant Hocking also gave report of continued monitoring of Hopper Park. Last week, he and two other officers engaged a transient group attempting to set up on the park grounds. The makeshift encampment was put down. Hocking admitted that dealing with the homeless problem is a “balancing act.” “We don’t violate their rights,” he continued, saying that when officers make contact, they try to point the homeless to available services and other resources. Public comments continued to focus on illegal fireworks and building permits. New concerns include parking of vehicles on lawns and work trucks. Several residents complained of work trucks taking up desired space on residential streets, seemingly skirting the 72- hour parking rule. City Manager Steve Mandoki asserted that residents should call Municipal Services. “They will come out and mark [the vehicle],” Mandoki said. Resident and business owner Donna Hamilton appeared before the council. Her concern is city ordinance 932-02, which Hamilton said has “cut the diversity” of shops along the Lawndale stretch of Hawthorne Boulevard. She said the ordinance, which was intended to encourage a variety of shops has had the “opposite effect,” and has impeded her efforts to re-open a consignment shop. Council reports proceeded with Councilman Jim Osborne noting the upcoming volunteer recognition dinner this week. Previously, Osborne said he would like to see commendations brought forward for the deputies who have assisted in keeping Hopper Park safe. Mandoki also noted that the increased staffing allocation at Hopper has been effective. Mayor Pro Tem Pat Kearney attended the health fair at Jane Addams Park, sponsored by Assembly Member Autumn Burke’s office. He thanked Burke, saying the event, which provided free eye exams and back-to-school supplies was “a great event.” Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles thanked Lawndale park staff and Mike Estes for their help with the event. “They did an outstanding job with the facilities,” said Pullen-Miles. The mayor continued his report, citing a meeting with Mayor James T. Butts of Inglewood, where they discussed the impending Metro and NFL expansion. With the NFL stadium coming to Inglewood, Pullen-Miles has said the council is keen on finding ways for Lawndale to benefit from its proximity to this project. He said Butts was willing to share some useful information. “Butts is our representative on the Metro board, also,” Pullen-Miles said. The two discussed the Measure R (working title) ½-cent sales tax initiative, and how to capture those taxes. “We want to incorporate that into our development agreement (with Metro),” said Pullen-Miles, who also recently met with Mayor Eric Garcetti on the Metro project. The council went into closed session near the end of the meeting. The half-hour session, in which anticipated litigation and property negotiations were discussed, netted no actionable items. The Lawndale City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Aug. 15, at 6:30 p.m., in the City Hall at 14717 Burin Avenue. • Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................5 Classifieds............................2 Community Briefs...............2 Film Review..........................2 Hawthorne Happenings....3 Legals.............................4,6-7 Looking Up...........................7 Pets........................................8 Police Reports.....................3 Seniors..................................4 Sports....................................5 Weekend Forecast Friday Partly Cloudy 71˚/64˚ Saturday Sunny 71˚/64˚ Sunday Sunny 72˚/64˚ Protecting America on the World’s Ocean Machinery Repairman 3rd Class Hamali Enriquez from Los Angeles, re-threads a valve stem in USS John C. Stennis’ (CVN 74) repair shop. Providing a ready force supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, John C. Stennis is operating as part of the Great Green Fleet on a regularly scheduled 7th Fleet deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class DeAndrae McDaniel
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