CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Approval of the Grant of an Easement to Southern California Edison (SCE) Across a Portion of Bristow Park MEETING DATE: June 23, 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider adopting a Resolution approving the grant of an easement to Southern California Edison (“SCE”) across a portion of Bristow Park, a City-owned property located at 1466 S. McDonnell Avenue, Commerce, CA 90040 and identified at Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 5244-005-902, -903, and -904 (“Bristow Park”), for the installation, operation, and maintenance of overhead electrical supply systems and internal communication systems for SCE’s sole use, consisting of poles, guys and anchors, crossarms, wires and other appurtenant fixtures and equipment necessary or useful for distributing electrical energy and for transmitting intelligence by electrical means, solely for the purpose of providing electrical power to electric vehicle charging stations, in, on, over across and along certain real property in the City of Commerce.
BACKGROUND:
As part of the County of Los Angeles’ (“County”) effort in promoting the use of electric vehicles (“EV”), the County is seeking to install 10 EV charging stations along with electrical infrastructures in the parking lot of Dorothy Kirby Probation Center located at 1500 S. McDonnell Avenue, Commerce, CA 90040. The County is partnering with SCE by utilizing SCE’s incentive program to subsidize the majority of the installation cost for the EV charging stations. The EV charging stations will benefit not only the County, but the community at large since the charging stations will be publicly available.
The County is seeking City assistance with this project by requesting that the City grant SCE an easement over the City property at Bristow Park. SCE’s role is to construct the necessary infrastructure and deliver power to the EV charging stations. For this project, that includes installing a small transformer on a power pole and running overhead electrical lines to the EV charging stations location. SCE will own and maintain all conduit, conductor and electrical equipment supplying energy to the EV charging stations.
The easement area at Bristow Park is a grassy area at the southern edge of the park near the entrance into to the Dorothy Kirby Probation Center as shown in Attachment 2.
ANALYSIS:
The County provided the City with preliminary drawings of the new EV charging stations contained in Attachment #.
According to the County, if the City Council approves the requested easement, SCE will schedule their crew to begin work in August 2026. The project is expected to take approximately four weeks to complete.
The proposed easement area and associated rights are detailed in the attached legal description and exhibit contained in Attachment 1. The Execution of this easement will not impact the use or function of Bristow Park since there will be no ground mounted structures. Only overhead electrical lines will cross a grassy area in the corner of the park to power the new EV charging stations. Additionally, the easement document states that the EV charging stations will remain operational for a period of ten years, after which the EV charging stations may be removed.
Staff recommends adoption of the attached Resolution approving the grant of an easement to SCE across a portion of Bristow Park for the installation, operation, and maintenance of overhead electrical supply systems and internal communication systems for SCE’s sole use, necessary to facilitate the installation of 10 EV charging stations along with electrical infrastructures in the parking lot of Dorothy Kirby Probation Center located at 1500 S. McDonnell Avenue, Commerce, CA 90040.
ALTERNATIVES:
Approve staff recommendation
Disapprove staff recommendation
Provide further direction to staff
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact expected as a result of the approval and execution of the proposed easement.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC GOALS:
This agenda item relates to the 2016 Strategic Plan, Goal of Economic Growth:
Guiding Principle 1:
Create and strengthen our identity, as a community that promotes opportunity and success for a business that meets the strategic focus for economic growth, will have a positive impact on the quality of life and the City’s financial sustainability.
Guiding Principle 3:
Support a long-range planning vision through the City’s General Plan, zoning ordinance, and related land use planning documents that incorporate community and stakeholder input and provide a compass for strategic economic growth, infrastructure investments and city fiscal planning.
Recommended by: Jessica Serrano, Director of Community Development Fiscal Impact reviewed: Alvaro Castellon, Director of Finance Approved as to form by: Noel Tapia, City Attorney
Respectfully submitted by: Ernie Hernandez, City Manager ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution, including Exhibit A – Grant of Easement to SCE Aerial Plan depicting the SCE Easement Area
Preliminary Plans for EV Charging Stations at Dorothy Kirby Probation Center located at 1500 S. McDonnell Avenue, Commerce, CA 90040