Lawndale Tribune The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale SBWIB Hosts Teen Center’s Ninth Anniversary Celebration Neighboring Hawthorne Teen Center’s outstanding youth volunteers were honored during the ninth anniversary celebration hosted by the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) on December 7 at the Hawthorne Memorial Center. More than 100 youth, parents and civic and educational leaders attended the event. Pictured with the students are, from left, Dr. Greg O’Brien, Superintendent of the Lawndale-based Centinela Valley Union High School District; SBWIB CEO Jan Vogel; and Gloria Garcia, Teen Center Director. Photo Courtesy of SBWIB Council Aims to Balance Budget By Haleemon Anderson and implementing a cost-sharing arrangement The Lawndale City Council ended the with Lawndale and Centinela Valley school year with a look to the future, making plans districts. Staff also suggested running two at Monday’s meeting to tighten spending ballot measures, noting a one-quarter-cent for the 2018-19 fiscal year. Staff requested sales tax could generate $700,000. A twopercent and received unanimous approval to begin increase to the transient occupancy looking for ways to ensure a balanced budget, tax would result in a $140,000 increase. including cutting back or eliminating some Council members generally rejected the City-provided amenities. idea of a ballot measure of any kind, but City Manager Steve Mandoki explained the were amenable to other suggestions. “A request. “Since 2015, we’ve had significant sales tax increase should be a last resort,” increases in our law enforcement budget, said Councilmember Bernadette Suarez. just to maintain the status quo,” he said. She expressed support for bringing in the Mandoki gave figures that suggest a consultant to review the Sheriff’s budget. ballooning trend. In 2015-16, the Los Angeles Councilmember Jim Osborne said, “The County Sheriff’s Department budget jumped liability trust fund is an issue. The county an additional $470,000, said Mandoki. The is settling these cases and they know they projected increase in the 2018-19 fiscal year can pass the cost on to the cities.” is $361,000, bringing the total cost of the Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles expressed annual contract with the Sheriff’s Department interest in the Sheriff’s Department contract to well over $6 million. review process. “My question would be, ‘What Included in the action was a request to is the appropriate level of police protection secure Edward F. Rogner as a consultant for a city of our size?’” he said. The Mayor to review service levels in the Sheriff’s also agreed with negotiating a cost-sharing Department. The retired commander has arrangement with the local schools. Currently, worked in contract law, according to the Lawndale provides videotaping services staff report, and performs this service for for the sports programs at Centinela Valley cities at a nominal fee. Unified School District. The budget for staff Mandoki pointed to another significant and equipment is $75,000. The City funds increase in next year’s budget--pension another $70,000 for crossing guard contracts liability funding for the Sheriff’s Department. at Lawndale elementary schools. The CalPERS payout is projected to increase Other staff proposals to balance the budget by $87,000. include returning control and support of Several other areas are targeted for review. local parks to Lawndale Elementary School Staff recommendations include reducing or District; fast-tracking development projects; eliminating several non-essential City services, reducing or eliminating dispute resolution services; and dropping City Attorney notices from four to one. In other action, the Council approved two nominees for the 2017 Lawndale Wall of Distinction. The nomination packets of two longtime residents, Lertis R. Ellett and Ella Travers, both deceased, will be reviewed in committee and moved forward for induction. The closure of the Blue Bonnet Mobile Home was approved by unanimous vote. Craig Justice reported on the relocation and conversion impact, saying that eligible occupants have 18 months to file a claim, regarding resettling costs. “If there is a price differential [between former housing costs and current], they will get the difference for a 42-month period,” said Justice. Director of Community Development Shawn Moore announced the projects for next year’s Block Grant funding. Forty-five-thousand will be allocated to the Senior Activities Program for the nutrition program. Also Grevillea Avenue will be resurfaced, between Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Marine Avenue. The cost estimate is $450,000. The Council also approved a Climate Action Plan, bringing Lawndale in line with state initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Lawndale City Council meets the first and third Mondays of every month, unless otherwise noted. The first meeting of 2018 will be held on Tuesday, January 16, at 6:30 p.m., in the Lawndale City Hall Council Chambers. • AND lAwNDAle News Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - December 21, 2017 Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................5 Classifieds............................3 Finance..................................2 Food.......................................4 Hawthorne Happenings....3 Legals............................... 6-7 Pets........................................8 Politically Speaking............6 Seniors..................................4 Sports....................................5 Weekend Forecast Friday Mostly Sunny 63˚/48˚ Saturday Partly Cloudy 64˚/50˚ Sunday AM Clouds/ PM Sun 66˚/52˚
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