MINUTES OF THE REGULAR STUDY SESSION MEETING
LA MIRADA CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 11, 2022 - 5 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Eng called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. in Council Chambers, La Mirada City Hall, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California.
ROLL CALL
The City Council was present with Councilmember De Ruse, Councilmember Lewis, and Mayor Eng responding to roll call. Councilmember Sarega and Mayor Pro Tem Otero were absent.
The following staff members were present: City Manager Jeff Boynton, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Anne Haraksin and City Attorney James Markman.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
REVIEW AND DISCUSSION
4.1 LA MIRADA SYMPHONY FUNDING REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021- 2022-
City Manager Boynton introduced the item. Theatre Director BT McNicholl and La Mirada Symphony President David Derks were present to give a report.
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funding, and upcoming concerts. He also said that the Symphony would be working with local schools to enhance student involvement in its annual youth concerts.
Theatre Director BT McNicholl said the Symphony submitted a funding request in the amount of $37,500. He said the funding request would support the Symphony's performances at the Theatre, rehearsals at the Activity Center and operating expenses.
The City Council discussed the La Mirada Symphony's funding request for Fiscal Year 2021-22 and expressed support for the La Mirada Symphony's funding request in the amount of $30,000 for in-kind funding to be used towards performances at the Theatre; in-kind funding in the amount $5,000 for rehearsals at the Activity Center; and $2,500 in direct funding to support Symphony operations.
Minutes of the Study Session Meeting
January 11, 2022
4.2 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE
City Manager Boynton introduced the item.
Public Works Director/Engineer Mark Stowell provided an update on the build upon the City's efforts to upgrade and improve the aging infrastructure to meet modern public works standards.
Public Works Director/Engineer Stowell also provided an update on projects recently completed: Residential Street Rehabilitation Project, Phase 6A; Valley View Avenue Median Landscape Renovation Project; Alondra Boulevard Slurry Seal and Pavement Rehabilitation from Valley View Avenue to Mottley Drive; Slurry Seal of Santa Gertrudes Avenue and Hillsborough Drive; City Hall Carpet Replacement; Neff House Window Repairs and Front Porch Deck Replacement; Replacement of the South Side Neff Barn Doors; Planting of over 1,200 Trees Throughout the City's Parks and Parkways; and Frontier Park Community Garden.
Members of the City Council asked questions regarding the Capital Improvement Program and expressed their appreciation to staff for completing the high volume of work.
4.3 CREEK PARK RENOVATION FUNDING REVIEW
City Manager Boynton introduced the item. Public Works
Director/Engineer Mark Stowell and Project Manager Eric Villagracia were present to give the report.
Project Manager Eric Villagracia reported on the funding strategies for renovating Creek Park. He said staff would be moving forward on the replacement of the pedestrian/vehicle bridge and pursue funding from the State of California, Natural Resources Agency grant program in the amount of $208,000. He said the City also received $800,000 from Assemblymember Lisa Calderon. He said the design phase would begin in early 2022 with construction expected to start in 2023. He said this bridge would be one of the five bridges shown on the master plan for replacement and would re-establish authorized vehicle access across the creek.
Project Manager Villagracia said he plans to prepare grant funding through the competitive regional Safe, Clean Water Grant Program. He said to be eligible for the 2022-23 regional grant funding, a feasibility study and application must be submitted by July 31, 2022. Staff plans to take advantage of multiple grant opportunities to fund the project. He said the 2 Minutes of the Study Session Meeting
January 11, 2022
City would be re-applying for a RMC grant, apply for a grant from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District Grant Program when available, and pursue a grant from the Safe, Clean Water Grant Program.
Members of the City Council reviewed and discussed the Creek Park renovation funding strategies.
4.4 DRIVE-THROUGH STANDARDS FOR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
City Manager Boynton introduced the item.
Associate Planner Arturo Cervantes provided information on the existing drive-through facility standards. He said that in 2008, the City adopted Ordinance No. 624 amending the Commercial Zoning section of the La Mirada Municipal Code (LMMC) to include standards for drive through facilities. He said the standards apply to all businesses proposing a new drive-through aisle such as restaurants, banks, or pharmacies, and require that such businesses receive approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) prior to construction of the facility.
Associate Planner Cervantes said the City was recently approached by a developer who proposed to redevelop the site located at 14861 Imperial Highway. He said the developer proposed to raze the site and construct two new, fast-casual dining restaurants with drive-through aisles. He said the developer has expressed its inability to design the site to accommodate both restaurants, while complying with the drive-through standards currently in place. He said specifically the requirement that prohibits drive-through aisles from being located between the structure and the public street make it difficult for the site to be developed with two separate restaurants with drive-through aisles since the parcel is somewhat undersized and bound by streets on three different sides (Imperial Highway, Wicker Drive, and Telegraph Road).
Members of the City Council discussed the proposed site and the drive- through requirements that prohibit drive-through aisles from being located between the structure and the public street. City Council supported the proposed development project including modifying the Code language to allow the drive through aisle to pass between the building and street at locations where the site is bound by three public streets with each street frontage measuring less than 500 linear feet. Council expressed concern with interior traffic circulation and requested staff to provide additional information regarding the traffic flow.
City Manager Boynton said additional information would be provided as the project proceeds through the Planning approval process. 3 Minutes of the Study Session Meeting
January 11, 2022
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
The City Manager had no reports.
6. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the City Council adjourned the meeting at 6 p.m.
Leticia Revilla, Assistant City Clerk
ATTEST:
Ed Eng, Mayor