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 - June 9, 2016 Council Passes Balanced Budget; Special Olympics Torch Relay Will Pass Through Lawndale By Haleemon Anderson With a new fiscal year rapidly approaching, the Lawndale City Council took measures Monday to insure the city’s continuing financial health, passing a balanced budget. Also on agenda were the 2016-17 budgets for the Lawndale Housing Authority and Cable Usage Corporation and the Redevelopment Successor Agency. All budgets were passed with unanimous approval. City Manager Steve Mandoki detailed additional items discussed at the May 9 budget workshop. Under council direction, funding for a concrete grinder was incorporated into the budget, and a surplus of $50,000 was allocated for additional staffing at Hopper Park. Mandoki noted more discussion would be needed on resources for a natural gas fueling station, an unfunded project. In addition, the $100,000 cost for an electronic marquee will need to come from reserves. The Consent Calendar included 11 items and was passed in totality. Contracts for citywide concrete repairs, tree trimming services, as well as landscaping and other claims and demands netted a total bill of just under $1.9 million. In other business, the council opened a public hearing on adoption of the LA County fee schedule for building and safety codes. Mandoki noted this action will update codes existing for several decades, and will represent $175,000 in savings. With the close of public comments, the measure was passed unanimously. Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles previewed a proposal from LA County to pursue funding to address homelessness. He received a letter requesting support for a future ballot measure seeking a 1 percent sales tax increase. “It’s a good idea,” Pullen-Miles said. “We need to see the details, but we can, at least, have a discussion.” Council Member Dan Reid agreed, saying, “This is a chance to ask the electorate.” Applicants for city advisory committees were invited to introduce themselves and make comments at will. Several community members cited their previous service to the city and desire to continue. Pullen-Miles expressed the council’s gratitude for their role in the shared governance of Lawndale. The mayor’s recommendations for approved unanimously. Appointees to the 2016-17 Planning Commission are as follows: Pedro Cordova, Sirley Cuevas, John Martinez, Uffe Moller and Scott Smith. Appointees to the Beautification Committee are: Charmaine Doty, Karen Escamilla, Olga Sierra Gonzalez, Douglas Keyser, Martin Martinez, Judy Oldziewski and Marco Sandoval. Mr. Mandoki introduced newly hired Director of Community Development, Sean Moore. The mayor asked staff to begin looking at potential tourism opportunities as a result of the new NFL, L.A. Rams franchise coming to Inglewood. “This is a regional event,“ Pullen-Miles said. “It will bring economic opportunity to this whole area.” The safety report was presented by Lieutenant Hocking. In the previous two weeks, several arrests were made. A suspect was arrested for vandalism after being identified using a baseball bat to shatter a window at Wiener Schnitzel on Hawthorne. A license plate run turned up a vehicle stolen from the Inglewood area. The car contained methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia. A patrol check in the 4500 block of Artesia, in response to complaints of bad odors and waste accumulating, turned up a vacant carport being used by transients in possession of heroin, meth and numerous syringes. A man was apprehended near Hawthorne and 162nd in possession of a 32-caliber hand gun with serial numbers removed. “These kinds of arrests keep shootings from occurring,” Hocking said. Public comments turned to crime and unseemly behavior, particularly in Hopper Park. Reports of drinking, drug usage and loud vulgar music are commonplace. Earl Wood, who lives near the park, said, “My house has been burglarized. The residents are suffering.” Pam London said she comes to the council repeatedly to bring issues and solutions. “We should take a look at Upland. They have a policy on weed abatement.” Council Member Pat Kearney pointed to the budget initiative to provide immediate staffing for Hopper. Ms. L. Unruh said she is thrilled there is a budget to staff the park. The entire council attended the Memorial Day Breakfast last week, giving staff kudos for planning the event. “The new breakfast format was fantastic,” Kearney said. Reid said that the local veterans who came out were very thankful. Lieutenant Hocking announced the Special Olympics Torch Relay will pass through the city on June 10 at approximately 10 a.m. Lawndale will receive the torch from Hawthorne Police Department at Hawthorne Boulevard and Rosecrans, and pass it to Rosecrans Police Department at Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Crenshaw Boulevard. He encouraged the community to come out. The council voted to cancel a calendared Tuesday, July 5 meeting, as the regularly scheduled Monday meeting fell on the national holiday of July 4. The Lawndale City Council will reconvene its normal bi-monthly schedule as of July 18. Mayor Pullen-Miles asked that the meeting be adjourned in the memory of Adolph Moran, a long-time resident of the city, who passed away recently. The next meeting of the Lawndale City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 20 at Lawndale City Hall. • Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................5 Classifieds............................3 Legals....................... 2, 4, 6-7 Looking Up...........................3 Pets........................................8 Police Reports.....................3 Sports....................................5 Weekend Forecast Friday Mostly Sunny 73˚/61˚ Saturday Mostly Sunny 72˚/61˚ Sunday Mostly Sunny 70˚/59˚ Woodcraft Rangers Receives Community Impact Arts Grant The Los Angeles County Arts Commission has awarded The Community Impact Arts Grant to Woodcraft Rangers. The grant will provide funding for Woodcraft’s mariachi and folklorico programs and their performing arts competition, Spirit Jam. This grant will allow the 94-year-old organization to expand its already amazing mariachi and folklorico programs into other schools. Woodcraft Rangers is a nonprofit organization serving the youth and communities of Southern California. Photo by David Perez
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