During the Jan. 10 Signal Hill City Council meeting, City Clerk Robert Copeland swore in former Signal Hill Police Captian Christopher Nunley as the city’s new police chief. The council chamber was filled with people— mostly Nunley’s friends, family and colleagues— as well as former police chiefs from past years. The new chief told the public that he was honored to be in charge of such an institution in that position and recollected his beginnings with the City as a police explorer.
“To our citizens, I want to say that your police department will continue to expand our outreach programs and our community-oriented policing programs,” Nunley said. “As your chief, I will make myself as accessible as possible and will hold myself and your police department to the highest standards.”
Vice Mayor Tina Hansen told the public that she was impressed with Nunley during the chief-selection process. She said that when she asked Nunley what would be done differently if he was selected, the then captain proceeded to say that he had a two-page copy of his first-year plan with him if she wanted to see it.
Courtyard
The city council voted to deny, without prejudice, High Rhodes Property Group’s specific plan to alter zoning restrictions placed on the proposed construction site in order to carry on with the company’s Courtyard Residential condominium project, which is located near Temple Avenue. The language used— “prejudice” — is key, as it allows the company to quickly return to the council with a reworked plan instead of waiting one year to be able to present the council with a new project design.
Construction of the condominiums has faced a number of setbacks due to resistance from residents who live near the project site. High Rhodes Property Group has worked with the council and concerned individuals to create a project all parties involved would agree with. During community meetings hosted by City officials and company representatives in the early stages of the project, many of the residents voiced their concerns about the project’s height. Individuals said that the new buildings’ height would obscure the view they had from their homes— something, they fear, would reduce the value of their properties.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”300px” img=”https://signal-tribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-14-at-11.24.17-AM.png” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”Signal Hill Mayor Lori Woods presented Scott Williams as the new deputy finance director/administrative services officer with the finance department during the council’s Jan. 10 meeting last Tuesday.” captionposition=”right” revealfx=”off”] Dameon Brooker, a resident who lives adjacent to the project site, said that he was impressed with the work High Rhodes Property Group had done to hear the concerns of the people.
“I really appreciate you guys for doing this,” Brooker said.
Bradley Hillgren, founder of High Rhodes Property Group and company representative present during the meeting, told the Signal Tribune that he was pleased to know that they can continue to move forward with their project.
“We’ve looked at some different design options. All that, we think, have been well reviewed by the neighbors,” Hillgren said. “We have a pretty clear path going forward, and that is to work for what they want. We are looking forward to getting through that.”
Security
The council gave city officials direction to create a working group that will look into neighborhood concerns about criminal activities along the Hilltop Park walking paths. During the Dec. 13, 2016, council meeting, residents from the Promontory, Westbluff and Skyline Estates Homeowners’ Association (HOA) addressed the city council about public-safety concerns in their neighborhoods and sought the City’s assistance. The HOA specifically asked Councilmember Edward Wilson to meet with the HOA. In response, the city council directed staff to agendize the creation of a working group that could collaborate with residents to address their issue.
Concerns raised by the HOA included burglaries, car break-ins, vandalism of the trail system and the HOA pool. HOA members also felt that the City’s security measures associated with a 10pm closing time of Hilltop Park, Sunset View Park and the Panorama Promenade may be resulting in certain visitors going onto the trails after park closing hours rather than vacating the hilltop area.
During the January meeting, the council decided to appoint Wilson as the chair for a working group designed to collaborate with the police to investigate security concerns about the parks.
Municipal officials suggested that the working group should consist of a councilmember, the city manager, the chief of police, the director of public works, the director of community services and the director of community development.
Homeless
The city council appointed the Community Development Department to host the 2017 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count for Signal Hill on Wednesday, Jan. 25 from 7:30pm to 10pm. The department will also provide coordination and training to local volunteers interested in helping City officials during the event and the police department will provide transport for those wanting to get involved.
According to City Manager Charlie Honeycutt, the number of homeless people in the area is increasing, and the recent closure of two homeless encampments in downtown Long Beach and in the Atlantic Avenue and Spring Street area has helped add to the increase in the homeless population locally.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and more than 100 other agencies will be sponsoring the event. The Homeless Count will help these agencies determine where resources are needed to help the homeless effectively. In 2013 there were 10 known individuals in the Signal Hill city lines. Last year, the number of total homeless people found in the city was 35. The City is anticipating that 10 to 12 volunteers will be needed.
Sarah Tsao, of the community development department, can be contacted at (562) 989-7340 to answer any questions for citizens interested in helping.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”300px” img=”https://signal-tribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-14-at-11.25.22-AM.png” align=”left” lightbox=”on” caption=”Signal Hill Mayor Lori Woods introduces Tito Leulusoo and Arvin Pacheco as the Signal Hill Public Works Department’s newest maintenance workers during the city council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 10.” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off”] Recreation
Aly Mancini, director of community services, presented the council with an update on the collaboration efforts with Richard Fisher Associates to conduct a community recreation needs assessment. The goal is to prioritize the parks, recreation and library services needs of the community for the next five to 10 years. Citizens can begin to get involved in the assessment process during a community meeting hosted by City officials at the temporary Signal Hill Library on Feb. 8 at 5:30pm.
Also, throughout the month of February, there will be a randomized telephone survey conducted so the City can better understand the public recreational needs city residents would want to be addressed. Eventually, a finalized needs assessment document is expected to be presented to the council in June. At that time, the residents will have an opportunity to make public comments.
Street sweeper
The council agreed to contract with CR&R Incorporated for street-sweeping services at a three-year term. The Public Works Department supplements its maintenance operations by utilizing a contractor to provide the aforementioned service.
The public works representative said her department felt that CR&R was the best choice for the contract, stating that a contract deal was set at an amount of $121,296.
During the discussion period, Councilmember Larry Forester wanted to make sure that CR&R Incorporated would comply with the street cleaning schedule already announced throughout the city.
The contract states that the proposed company will adjust to the City’s schedule and that its street-sweeping vehicles will drive at a speed of six to eight miles per hour depending on the amount of debris found on the street.
Presentations
Mayor Lori Woods introduced Scott Williams as the new deputy finance director/administrative services officer with the finance department. The mayor also presented Tito Leulusoo and Arvin Pacheco as new maintenance workers for the public works department.
Woods presented a Sustainability Award in the category of water-efficient landscapes to Joy Spacht for water-conservation efforts at 3347-49 Lemon Ave.
The next Signal Hill City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7pm in council chambers, 2175 Cherry Ave.
