During its Sept. 27 meeting on Tuesday, the Signal Hill City Council voted to approve an ordinance that changed the speed limit on 15 street segments located in Signal Hill and parts of Long Beach.
The City’s Public Works Department conducted a traffic survey in compliance with a California vehicle code that mandates City officials to do so every five years. The results helped the public works staff determine what sections of the city’s roads needed an adjustment to its speed limits.
Bill Zimmerman, the City’s traffic engineer, advised the council to increase the speed limit on three of the 15 roads as recommended by the survey’s results.
Alamitos Avenue to Hill Street increased to 30 mph, 33rd Street to 32nd Street climbed to 35 mph and I-405 to Spring Street was elevated to 35 mph.
Councilmember Larry Forester voted against the ordinance. He did not understand why the speed limit needed to change three times in a certain section of roadway.
“I’m really confused with the logic behind it, so I’m voting against it,” Forester said. “It is what it is.”
Speed-limit decreases were approved in 12 street segments, including the locations of Willow, Hill and 28th streets and Walnut, Obispo, Junipero and California avenues.
Marijuana
The city council voted to place an ordinance for a medical-marijuana tax on the next ballot. Recently, two petitions for medical marijuana passed through the city— one was about the selling of medicinal cannabis within city limits, and the other was a proposition for the City to tax the sale of said marijuana.
The petition that asked for the selling of medical marijuana failed to pass due to a lack of valid signatures. However, the second petition passed with 711 valid signatures, according to Robert Copeland, Signal Hill city clerk. During the meeting, the council had to decide whether or not to add the marijuana tax ordinance to the ballot for the next municipal election in March 7 2017, which would cost the City $12,000.
Signal Hill resident Tom Benson was opposed to the council’s decision, stating that the use of marijuana is illegal at the federal level of government.
“We are exposing our city by doing this,” he said. “It is something that our kids shouldn’t see.”
Language policy
In a 3-to-2 vote, the council approved a commemorative-language policy to be used for the City’s memorial brick program. The City staff’s creation of the policy resulted from concern over alleged inappropriate language used on the commemorative bricks. The City had recently received a brick message request that could have been offensive to some members of the public, according to officials. To avoid a potential lawsuit, the council asked its staff to research ways to have control of what can be written on the bricks without violating the first amendment.
The policy states that individuals wanting to purchase a brick to place on City property have to choose from 10 phrase options and are limited to 15 characters per line on the brick. For example, the policy states that phrases such as “In Honor Of” and “In Memory Of” are accepted.
Mayor Lori Woods and Vice Mayor Tina Hansen voted not to pass the language policy.
“This program has been in place for 15 years,” Hansen said. “Because of one potential brick, we are changing our whole policy. I’m going to vote against it.”
Water bonds
The city council agreed to produce legal documents for the refinancing of a 2006 bond for water facilities and reservoirs. Harrell & Company Advisers will aid municipal officials during the process of creating the documentation needed to refinance.
The council will make a decision on the issue during its meeting on Oct. 11, after the necessary paperwork is in place.
A study by City staff found that refinancing the water bond will result in saving $1 million in a span of 10 years. In 2006, the City refinanced outstanding debt from the original 1996 bond, leaving $5,655,000 left for the City to pay off.
RFP
The council voted to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a consulting company that could possibly aid the City in tasks better suited for part-time employees rather than full-time City officials.
CSG Consultants Inc. is the current agency the City employs to provide staff personnel to assist in tasks such as inspecting buildings and issuing permits.
The RFP lists the requirements that a potential consulting agency needs to fulfill while working with Signal Hill officials. CSG Consultants Inc. is able to reapply for the position with the City, but the council wanted to issue the RFP so other companies have a chance to submit proposals for the job.
Loan
At the start of the meeting, council members went over a successor agency agenda item involving the amendment of a loan between the City and the Signal Hill Redevelopment Agency. In 2008, the City agreed to a $10-million loan with the redevelopment agency to complete a property-acquisition program for the expansion of the Signal Hill Auto Center.
The amendment, voted into effect by the council, modifies and recalculates the loan’s interest rate and restates the terms of loan repayment.
Presentations
Woods introduced Wendy Kelly, senior account specialist, and Enisha Matthews, account specialist, as members of the City’s Finance Department. Terri Marsh, administrative services officer/finance director, joined Woods in congratulating the two new employees.
Woods also gave certificates of recognition to donors from the Signal Hill Rotary Club. The benefactors assisted with a school supply and backpack program to donate supplies to school children in the city. Councilmember Michael Noll said he was pleased with the volunteers’ work.
“I was very impressed,” he said. “The way it was so well organized. It was really nice.”
The city council congratulated the club’s president, Fredy Dominguez, and six volunteers who attended the meeting.
The next Signal Hill City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 7pm in council chamber, 2175 Cherry Ave.
