Meeting days
At its Oct. 6 meeting, the Signal Hill City Council voted 4—1, with Councilmember Edward Wilson dissenting, to change its meeting days from the first and third Tuesdays of each month to the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. This change will go into effect on Nov. 24, meaning that the city council meetings that month will be on Tuesday, Nov. 3 and Tuesday, Nov. 24. The next meetings thereafter will be Tuesday, Dec. 8 and Tuesday, Dec. 22.
City Attorney David Aleshire requested that the city council’s meeting dates be changed as such because of a schedule conflict with another city that he serves.
Ordinance No. 2015-09-1479 was introduced at the city council meeting on Sept. 15, 2015 and was presented for second reading and adoption at last Tuesday’s meeting. The ordinance amends Sections 2.08.040 and 2.36.060 of the Signal Hill Municipal Code to change the meeting days for the regular city council meetings and the regular Planning Commission meetings.
People Assisting the Homeless
Meredith Berkson, a representative from People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), gave a presentation on the organization’s Gateway Connections program, which is funded by the Gateway Cities Council of Governments via funding by Los Angeles County.
Berkson said the program was started in October of 2012 and was recently extended through July of 2016.
“Some of our goals for the program are to reach out to people on the streets, to help them to move into permanent homes and to create new units of permanent housing throughout the Gateway Cities region,” she said. “Our deliverables are to serve 500 people living on the streets and to help 665 households move into permanent supportive housing by the end of 2017.”
In describing the program’s outreach in Signal Hill, in particular, Berkson said the homeless population that is encountered there is “transitory” and those individuals report moving about in Signal Hill, Long Beach and Lakewood regularly.
The program’s primary goal is to establish contact and build rapport with the homeless population to facilitate either permanent housing or bridge housing, as appropriate. Individuals are linked to health— including mental health— services and shelter.
Berkson said individuals are assessed based on the Vulnerability Index & Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool score.
In sharing successes in Signal Hill, she said: 101 unduplicated individuals have been connected to Gateway services; 32 people were assessed at “hot spots” ; 54 percent of those assessed accepted case-management services; 10 percent were linked to medical services; and approximately 15 percent were placed in emergency housing.
New staff member
Mayor Larry Forester introduced Dan Bartelson as the new deputy city manager.
PSA
Staff screened a public-service announcement that the City recently produced with Asset Media. The video features Mayor Forester sharing information about the City’s drought programs and aims to instruct the public on what measures they should take to conserve water.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/SH-Council-2-for-FP.jpg” align=”left” lightbox=”on” caption=”During the Oct. 6 Signal Hill City Council meeting, Mayor Larry Forester (left) introduces the new deputy city manager, Dan Bartelson.” captionposition=”left”] Forester also proclaimed October 2015 as National Community Planning Month and introduced Ginny Hellerud, administrative assistant in the Community Development Department, who gave a presentation on how the City has promoted active lifestyles for residents.Community Planning Month
“In Signal Hill, you only have to take a look along Skyline Drive and Hill Street to see a host of people investing in their health by walking, running or cycling,” Hellerud said. “Also, incorporating walking trails has played a large role in our planning for our developments.”
She also discussed various ways the City is honoring National Community Planning Month, including the involvement of children in the after-school recreation club, who were tasked with creating and painting model buildings and deciding where to place them on a table display representing a city.
Water-conservation program
The city council voted unanimously to revise Signal Hill Municipal Code Chapter 13.03, which enables the council to establish a water-conservation program to minimize the effect of a shortage of water supply on the City’s residents and businesses. As required by Signal Hill Municipal Code, the city council must hold a noticed public hearing and make appropriate findings to amend the City’s conservation program.
The revisions bring the City’s program in line with the State’s mandated water-conservation goals.
Service-rate adjustments
The city council unanimously adopted a resolution for a proposed Signal Hill Waste and Recycling Services (EDCO) rate adjustment for solid-waste collection services, establishing maximum rates for those services for each residential and commercial/industrial establishment.
The resolution adjusts the rate pursuant to a schedule that the city council had adopted in September 2014.
View park project
Staff presented construction drawings that are halfway completed for a new view park, which will be constructed on the southwest corner of Cherry Avenue and Burnett Street.
Community Services Director Aly Mancini presented a historical background of the project, as well as a virtual tour of the park.
“Tonight’s presentation affords the council one remaining opportunity to make any design or changes to the site plan, as the final plan is set to be brought back to the council at the meeting of Nov. 3,” Mancini said. “Once the final plan has been approved, we will begin working on the bid package, with construction anticipated to begin in late spring of 2016.”
Watershed management
Because the Public Works Department sometimes utilizes the services of professional consultants to provide specialized work for the City, staff recommended the city council approve a contract services agreement with Tetra Tech Inc. for the preparation of a total maximum daily load compliance plan, including preliminary design, for a stormwater infiltration facility for the Los Cerritos Channel Sub-basin 4 drainage area.
The council voted to authorize the city manager to enter into a professional services agreement with Tetra Tech in the amount of $436,938 for the preparation of the compliance plan.
The next Signal Hill City Council meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 20 in the council chamber of City Hall, 2175 Cherry Ave.
