MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING
LOMITA CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2024
1. OPENING CEREMONIES
a. Call Meeting to Order
The regular meeting of the Lomita City Council was called to order by Mayor Uphoff at 6:04 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3,2024, in the Council Chambers at Lomita City Hall, 24300 Narbonne Avenue, Lomita, California.
b. Flag Salute
Councilmember Segawa led the salute to the flag.
c. lnvocation
Mayor Uphoff gave the invocation.
d. Roll Call
PRESENT: Councilmembers Gazeley, Segawa, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Waronek, and Mayor Uphoff
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Vialpando, City Attorney Rusin, Assistant City Manager Sugano, Deputy City Manager/Public Works Director Hernandez, Administrative Services Director Kamada, Community and Economic Development Director Fernandez, Parks and Recreation Director Kelley, Administrative Analyst Gastelum, and City Clerk Gregory 2, APPROVALOFAGENDA
Councilmember Segawa made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Waronek, to approve the agenda.
MOTION CARRIEO by the following vote
AYES: Councilmembers Gazeley, Segawa, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Waronek, and Mayor Uphoff
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
3. PRESENTATIONS
Heidi Butzine, PresidenUCEO of the Lomita Chamber of Commerce, presented Pearl Hope, CEO of Lucky Lemonade Co., with lhe 2024 Lemonade Day National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She spoke of Pearl's accomplishments, including two-time Lomita Lemonade Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
December 3, 2024
Day Entrepreneur of the Year, and thanked those who supported the event. Miss Hope thanked everyone who had supported her efforts, and she was presented with a certificate of recognition by the Council.
The council also recognized Assistant city Manager Sugano upon his upcoming retirement after 21 years of service with the City of Lomita. City Manager Vialpando shared some of his noteworthy accomplishments during his tenure and the Council presented him with a plaque and a commemorative "sugano Way" sign. Former City Manager Smoot also reminisced about his time working with Assistant City Manager Sugano and wished him a happy retirement.
Assistant City Manager Sugano stated that it has been a wonderful 21 years serving in Lomita and thanked everyone for their well wishes. He also thanked current and past City councilmembers and city staff, as well as his wife and son, for their support over the years.
City Manager Vialpando invited everyone to stay after the meeting for refreshments in honor of Assistant City tvianager Sugano.
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Uphoff announced the time for oral communications.
George Kivett, Lomita resident, urged the city to be reasonable with allowed uses in comriercial zones, and remarked on how much residents appreciate the Public Works field staff.
There being no further requests to speak, Mayor Uphoff closed oral communications.
5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE REPORTS FROM THE
CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Gazeley had nothing to report.
Councilmember Segawa reported on the following:
o November 20 - California Contract Cities Association (CCCA) Board Meeting o November 21 - State of the City
. Recent Ceremonies Honoring Lomita Park First Place Youth Sports Teams . December 2 - L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn's Swearing ln . December 2 - Rancho Palos Verdes Holiday Party
Councilmember Waite reported on the following:
o November 21 - South Bay Cities Council of Governments Board Meeting o November 21 - State of the CitY
. December 2 - L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn's Swearing ln Mayor Pro Tem Waronek reported on the following:
o November 20 - California Joint Powers lnsurance Authority Executive Committee Meeting . November 21 - State of the City
. November 2'l - Lomita Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting o December 2 - L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn's Swearing ln
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
December 3, 2024
. December 2 - State of the City Debriefing Meeting
. December 4 - CCCA Executive Board Meeting
. He invited everyone to the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at the Lomita-Harbor City Kiwanis Club on Friday, 7:30 a.m.
Mayor Uphoff reported on the following:
o November 19 - Zone G Phase 1 (Walnut St) Street Reconstruction Project Groundbreaking
. November 20 - L.A. County Sanitation District Tour of the A.K. Warren Water Resource Facility
o November 20 - California Contract Cities Association (CCCA) Board Meeting o November 21 - State of the City
. Recent Ceremonies Honoring Lomita Park First Place Youth Sports Teams . December 2 - L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn's Swearing ln e December 3 - CCCA Legislative Committee Meeting
6. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT (information only)
City Manager Vialpando announced the following upcoming events:
o December 6 - Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. o December 8 - Lomita Railroad Museum Santa Event and Ribbon Cutting for the Alice Abbott Railroad Research Library at 1 1 a.m.
. December 14 - West Basin Municipal Water District Rain Barrel Distribution Event at City Hall,8-11a.m.
. December 19 - Holiday Open House at City Hall, 2:30-5 p.m. o December 21 - L.A. County Sanitation Districts Household Hazardous Waste Roundup and E-Waste Drive-Thru Event, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
7. CONSENTAGENDA
RECOMMENDED AGTION: That Consent Agenda ltems 7a-7d be approved.
Mayor Pro Tem Waronek made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Segawa, to approve the recommended action.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Gazeley, Segawa, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Waronek, and Mayor Uphoff
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
a. Motion to Waive Full Reading of Ordinances and That They be Read in Title Only RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve motion.
b. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 1, 2024, Regular and Special Meetings of October 15,2024, and Regular Meeting of November 5, 2024 RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve Minutes.
c. Warrants/Payroll Register
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve and file Warrants/Payroll Register. d. Renewal of the Professional Services Agreement with Administrative Services Co-Op for the Dial-A-Ride Program (DAR)
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Authorize the City Manager to execute a one-year contract renewal with Administrative Services Co-Op to provide Dial-a-Ride (DAR) program services.
8. SCHEDULED ITEMS
a. DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF CANCELLING THE JANUARY 7, 2025'
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING (NO STAFF REPORT)
RECOMMENDED AGTION: Cancel the Tuesday, January 7,2025, Regular City Council meeting due to the holiday break.
City Manager Vialpando stated that this item is purely administerial and cancellation is requested because preparation for a January 7,2025, meeting would place an undue burden on staff due to the holiday closure of City Hall.
As there were no requests from the public to speak on this item, Mayor Uphoff invited discussion or a motion.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Gazeley, Segawa, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Waronek, and Mayor Uphoff
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT NO. 2024-06 - AN UPDATE TO THE LOMITA MUNICIPAL
CODE REGARDING ACGESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS TO COiVIPLYWITH RECENT CHANGES IN STATE LAW RECOMMENDED AGTION: Open the public hearing, receive public testimony, close the public hearing, and by motion: Find that the adoption of the proposed urgency ordinance is statutorily exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEOA) under Public Resources Code section 21O8O.17; waive full reading and adopt by title only Urgency Ordinance No. 865: "An Urgency Ordinance Amending Section 11 -1 .30.06 of Lomita Municipal Code Relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units and Finding the Action to be Statutorily Exempt from CEQA Under Public Resources Code S 21080.17"; and introduce on first reading, by title only, Ordinance No.
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
December 3, 2024
Councilmember Waite made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Segawa, to approve the staff recommendation.
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
December 3, 2024
866: "An Ordinance Amending Section 11-1.30.06 of Lomita Municipal Code Relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units and Finding the Action to be Statutorily Exempt from CEQA Under Public Resources Code $ 21080.17" Community and Economic Development Director Fernandez presented the staff report per the agenda material. This text amendment would replace all existing development standards related toADUS and JADUs to comply with Assembly Bill 2533 and Senate Bill 't 211 , which will become effective January 1 , 2025. The new State requirements can substantially reduce the number of on-site parking spaces. To protect onsite parking, a provision was added that permits an oplion for property owners to construct ADUs over the ground floor to preserve required parking spaces below. A provision was also included to require a deed restriction to maintain the ground level as parking and an agreement that should the ground floor be replaced to permit anything else other than parking, the portion permitted under this provision must be removed.
Mayor Uphoff opened the public hearing at 6:44 p.m, There were no requests from the public to speak on this item, therefore, Mayor Uphoff closed the public hearing at 6:44 p.m. and brought the item back for Council discussion.
City Attorney Rusin read the title of the urgency ordinance to be adopted and the regular ordinance to be introduced.
Councilmember Waite made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Gazeley, to approve the recommended action.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Gazeley, Segawa, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Waronek, and Mayor Uphoff
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Adopted the following titled urgency ordinance:
URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 865 . AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 11-1.30.06
OF LOMITA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ACCESSORY OWELLING UNITS AND
JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE
STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEOA UNDER PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE s 21080.17
lntroduction and first reading of the following titled ordinance:
ORDINANCE NO. 866 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AMENDING SECTION 11.1.30.06 OF LOMITA
MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER PUBLTC RESOURCES CODE S 21080.17 b. ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT NO. 202+07 - AN UPDATE TO THE LOMITA MUNICIPAL
CODE REGAROING DEFINITIONS, RESIDENTIAL LAND USES ANO RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR IN-HOUSE CLEAN UP
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
December 3, 2024
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Conduct public hearing; and afterthe City Attorney readsthe title introducing the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 867 to amend Sections 11- '1.15, 11-1.30.01 ,11-1.3O.O2, 11-1.30.03, 11-1.30.04and 11-1.30.05of LomitaMunicipal Code (LMC) l rtle Xl (Planning and Zoning) Chapter 1 (Zoning) and finding the action to be categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), direct staff to schedule the second reading and possible adoption of the ordinance for the December 17 , 2024, City Council meeting.
Community and Economic Development Director Fernandez presented the staff report per the agenda material. He stated that with the recently adopted General Plan, the Council also approved revised development standards to comply with the Housing Element. The proposed Code changes are a result of recent Code updates to comply with the Housing Element, ADU and JADU Code updates, and to address other Code clean-up. He outlined the following key revisions: remove provisions requiring a site plan review (SPR) for a parking pad in the front yard; remove provision for SPR and modification for carports; remove the provision requiring 50 percent dedication of front yard to drought-tolerant landscaping; and modify the restriction not permitting garages to occupy more than 50 percent of the building's linear frontage facing the road.
Brief discussion took place relative to the revision allowing parking in front yards. Director Fernandez clarified that this provision would apply to all residential zoned property.
City Manager Vialpando recommended tabling the item to allow staff the opportunity to return with a more comprehensive update.
Mayor Uphoff opened the public hearing at 6:57 p.m. George Kivett spoke in opposition of front yard parking but acknowledged there might be an overriding need in some cases as with the addition of an ADU. He supported tabling the item forfurther thought and public input.
As there were no further requests from the public to speak on this item, Mayor Uphoff closed the public hearing at 6:58 p.m. and brought the item back for further discussion or a motion.
Mayor Pro Tem Waronek made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Segawa, to table the item and continue to a date uncertain.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Gazeley, Segawa, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Waronek, and Mayor Uphoff
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
December 3, 2024
10. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Uphoff adjourned the meeting, in honor of Assistant City Manager Sugano, at 6:59 p.m.
submitted,
Horn , MMC, CitY
February 4,2025