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 - November 19, 2015 Children’s Bureau Wine Tasting Raises $340,000 for Child Abuse Pastry chef Stephanie Franz and executive chef Greg Hozinsky of the Strand House at the 6th Annual Celebrity Chefs & Wine Tasting Event at Casa Vertigo in downtown Los Angeles. The event, hosted by the Children’s Bureau on October 22nd, raised more than $340,000 for child abuse prevention and brought out more than 400 guests, 15 of Los Angeles’ top chefs, and 18 renowned wineries from around the world. Photo by Danielle Klebanow Photography. City Council Passes Urgency Ordinance for Synthetic Turf By Nancy Peters In order to comply with the California Governor’s mandate in October for all cities in the state to allow synthetic turf and droughttolerant plants in residential yards and city parkways and medians, Lawndale’s Planning Department, Planning Commission and the City Council explored the necessary amendments to Municipal Code. The result is an Urgency Ordinance, passed by a unanimous vote on Monday, November 16 at the City Council meeting, following a public hearing. The word “urgency” attached to the ordinance means that it is effective immediately. Thus, residents can begin exploring the possibilities for their properties to change the landscape, continuing to conserve water that has not been allowed to keep their live grass in acceptable patterns. With the new ordinance, there are requirements in order to install synthetic turf. Any plans to change landscaping must be presented to and approved by the Community Development Department. Requirements include that the artificial portion of the landscaping can only account for 50 percent of the overall front and/or side setback and/or corner properties; 50 percent can be drought-tolerant plants, trees, a rock garden, live bark covering, designer gravel, shrubbery, etc.; the color must be an approved green color, i.e., not light green, not blue-green, not dark green, or mixed shades of greens; the material must be polypropylene; blade length must be one and one-quarter (1¼) inches. The minimum warranty accepted for all synthetic material is eight years. Installation of any artificial grass or synthetic turf must be completed by a licensed contractor and must include proper removal of any existing irrigation, with a base installation and weed barrier and then securely fastened to give the appearance of a continuous landscaped lawn. The appearance must be continually maintained and will be subject to Code Enforcement inspection. No parking can be permitted on any synthetic turf landscape. This ordinance is exempt from any CEQA guidelines. The Public Works Department submitted a presentation of the status of the Inglewood Avenue Widening Project. After the presentation, which included the refusal and/or denial by certain property owners to the required rightof way easements at the intersections, north and southbound, east and west, at Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Marine Avenue, and considering the expense of nearly eight million dollars from grants, bonds, and budgeted amounts, the Public Works Director recommended that the project be reconsidered as a striping correction of lanes, with creation of right-turn-only lanes and adjustments to signals and timing of red to green and vice versa. The City Council agreed by consensus that a redesign of the project as recommended will return to their agenda in the future with striping and other mechanical and cosmetic street changes to accommodate a similar result to improve traffic flow on Inglewood Avenue between Rosecrans Avenue, Marine Avenue, Manhattan Beach Boulevard, and the 405 Freeway entrance. As part of the consent agenda, the ordinance first read at the last meeting was approved to prohibit gas-powered weed and debris blowers and vacuums from use in the city and designating only the use of mechanical blowers or vacuums that are portable and powered by electrical or mechanical means. The ordinance also prohibits any debris from being left after being deposited on any adjacent parcel of land, lot, or public right-of-way and should not be left by blower or vacuum operators to blow onto parcels, lots, or public rights-of-way. Additionally, any nongasoline powered blowers or vacuums may not be operated in close proximity to any window, door or intake duct of any building. A presentation by the three finalists who submitted proposals for development of the property at the southwest corner of Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Hawthorne Boulevard is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers for the City Council to hear the proposals firsthand from the developers. It is an open public meeting and all residents are invited to attend. Also approved is a resolution adopting an improved energy efficiency in all city operations and in the community, with a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as part of the Climate Action Plan. The city accepted a $2,500 stipend from the County-wide Park Assessment for completion of the Lawndale Community Engagement Workshop. It was announced by Mayor Robert Pullen- Miles that the city of Lawndale is a recipient of the 2015 Project of the Year Award for the design of Hogan Park. The award will be presented at a dinner on December 9, 2015. The Angel Tree Ceremony will take place at the Civic Center Plaza on Monday, November 30 at 4 p.m. The public is invited to attend the tree lighting ceremony and participate in the festivities planned for children and adults. A free flu shot clinic will be held at Lawndale Public Library on Thursday, December 13 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Lawndale Library will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28. In the Public Safety report the Sheriff’s Captain noted that the suspected vandal who spray painted his nickname on the window of City Hall on November 8/9 was apprehended and arrested on November 13 and it was discovered that several other warrants are outstanding for this individual. A Facebook threat against a Sheriff’s Deputy Patrol Car was investigated and the suspect discovered. A high-risk search warrant was issued for his residence in Hermosa Beach and he was arrested after being seen on the street, with a court date pending. The Sheriff’s Department reminds citizens “If you see something, say something” by calling the Sheriff’s Department. The next City Council meeting is Monday, December 7 at 6:30 p.m. • Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................4 Classifieds............................3 Film Review..........................5 Food.......................................8 Legals............................2, 6-7 Looking Up...........................2 Police Reports.....................3 Sports....................................4 Seniors..................................5 Weekend Forecast Friday Sunny 79˚/57˚ Saturday Partly Cloudy 77˚/55˚ Sunday Partly Cloudy 73˚/57˚
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