Photos by Amanda Del Cid
(right) Jessie Elwin Nelson Academy Principal Denise “Sparkle” Peterson hugs Natalia Rios after the 8th-grader was presented the Student of Character Award at the Jan. 12 Signal Hill City Council meeting.
Medical marijuana
In its first meeting of 2016, the Signal Hill City Council moved to pass two ordinances on Jan. 12. The
first ordinance prohibits the growing of medical marijuana in commercial and industrial city zones as well as a home occupation.
The council established that its discussion about medical marijuana should include the topic mobile delivery services. The second ordinance prohibits medical-marijuana dispensaries and delivery services citywide.
A roll-call vote finalized the decision, and all the members of the council voted to adopt the ordinances as stated.
According to Mayor Larry Forester, the ordinances gives the City of Signal Hill control when deciding where medical marijuana can or cannot be grown in the city.
Plants grown at home and used with a doctor’s recommendation are not included in the ordinances and are still legal under state law.
State law says that by March 1 control over designating zones for cultivating medical marijuana will be surrendered to the State by any agency or city that does not meet the deadline.
If an agency or city does not respond with a vote of some sort to the ordinances, then the State will take over zoning rights.
“I’m in favor of these ordinances,” Forester said. “Because what it says is, ‘we now have local control and we can then think about things and talk to the police department and modify accordingly.”
The ordinances need 30 days after the date they were approved to become law.
Signal Hill resident Maria Harris declared that she was neither for nor against the ordinances, however, she spoke during public comments and asked council members to think about the people who, because of an illness, are immobile and find it difficult to leave home to acquire medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana mobile delivery services outside of Signal Hill will not be allowed to deliver in the city, and those looking to receive medical marijuana have to go to stationary dispensaries already legal by state law.
“I agree with [councilmember] Ed [Wilson],” councilmember Michael Noll said. “We need to keep local control, and we can always modify as needed.”
Hourly pay increase
In a unanimous vote, the city council approved an hourly pay increase for the legal firm Filarsky & Watt LLP, which has worked for Signal Hill since 1980. The hourly pay is now $280.
Before the increase, the city paid the legal firm $225 per hour. There has not been an increase in
the hourly pay since 2007 and, on a yearly average, there are 106 billable hours.
The firm represents the City in labor negotiations, administrative hearings, legal proceedings and various employment-related trainings.
According to City Manager Charlie Honeycutt, Signal Hill is the only client of Filarsky & Watt LLP receives a retainer from the firm. The retainer, or a fixed pre-negotiated rate, is set at $1,000 per month for legal advice and consulting.
Noll questioned if the pay for the firm was already budgeted. Honeycutt assured him that the money was
budgeted in the legal representation services on an as-needed basis.
Student of Character
Jessie Elwin Nelson Academy student Natalia Rios received an award for her personal conduct, a proclamation from the City, a $100 gift card from Target Corporation and another $100 gift card for Target from the newly formed Signal Hill Police Foundation.
Senior Officer DeAngelo Gossett usually only advises the teaching staff as to whom should receive
the award, but this time he actually chose who would win.
Recipients of this award must display the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship and also do well in both academics and behavior toward others.
According to teaching staff, Rios has been highly praised and has been keen to do the right thing when her back was against the wall.
“I want to thank Denise Peterson,” Rios said with a quiver in her voice. “And Officer Gossettt, thank
you and thank you for coming to support me.”
[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Screen-Shot-2016-01-14-at-5.40.55-PM.png” align=”left” lightbox=”on” caption=”Scott Brown pins a police badge on his wife, Sergeant Kelli Brown, in recognition of her promotion. Also pictured are Jacob Brown, 12, Sarah Brown, 9, and Barbara Brown, Kelli’s mother-in-law. ” captionposition=”left”]
Retiring SHPD lieutenant
With over 25 years under his belt, Signal Hill Police Lieutenant Melvin Krizo has retired from service. In addition to a proclamation given by the mayor, Krizo also received recognition from California Governor Jerry Brown.
He joined the Signal Hill Police Department on Oct. 27, 1991 after serving with the Long Beach Police
Department.
At Tuesday’s meeting, SHPD Chief Michael Langston said Krizo is known for his courteous attitude
toward others and his cool nature under pressure.
Krizo said he now looks forward to spending more time hiking with his family.
Recently promoted officers
In recognition of recently promoted SHPD staff members, both Langston and Forester introduced Sergeant Kelli Brown, Senior Officer Gossettt and Lieutenant Brian Leyn during the meeting and had
their loved ones pin the police department’s badge on their uniforms.
Gossettt joined the SHPD in 2012 and was appointed to the position of range master in 2013 and school resource officer in 2014.
“I came here because of the people,” Gossettt said. “So I hope I can do the people proud in the next 20 to 30 years or so.”
Brown graduated from St. Mary’s College with a bachelor’s of science degree in psychology in 2004. She started working for Signal Hill in August 2005 and graduated from the Los Angeles Sheriffs Academy
in 2007.
“It’s been an amazing 10 years so far. I can’t believe it’s been that long already,” Brown said. “I still have at least 18 more years working here, so I look forward to what’s to come, but I’m enjoying the ride.”
Leyn began with the SHPD as a reserve police officer in 1998. He was assigned to the detective bureau
for seven years. He has been involved with children’s hospitals and charitable organizations.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Leyn said. “I’ve learned so much in the many years that I’ve been here, and I still feel like I haven’t learned enough. I’m very excited for this new position.”
After the presentations, the three officers recited the code of ethics to the council and the audience.
Water-rate workshop
Seeking feedback and direction from the city council, multiple members of a subcommittee for the water
department presented a casual water rate workshop showing where Signal Hill stands in the way it is pumping, storing and moving water across the city as well as how much it is costing the city.
Those presenting only asked the council to provide feedback and direction. Raftelis Financial Consultants recommended water-rate adjustments after a review on Nov. 24, 2015 of the finances used by the water department.
Well 9 will now be the leading water pump over Well 7 and 8. Do to its advanced technology, Well 9 is
capable of pumping more water and allowing the other two wells to work at a slower rate to let them rest. There will be a public workshop sometime in late January or early February.
The date was originally Jan. 23, but the subcommittee requested more time to prepare for the workshop. The next Signal Hill City Council meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7pm in Council Chamber, 2175 Cherry Ave.
