MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING
LOMITA CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2025
1. OPENING CEREMONIES
a. Call Meeting to Order
The regular meeting of the Lomita City Council was called to order by Mayor Waronek at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in the Council Chambers at Lomita City Hall, 24300 Narbonne Avenue, Lomita, California.
b. Flag Salute
Councilmember Waite led the salute to the flag.
c. Invocation
Mayor Pro Tem Segawa gave the invocation.
d. Roll Call
PRESENT: Councilmembers Gazeley, Uphoff, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa, and Mayor Waronek
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Vialpando, Associate City Attorney Castillo, Deputy City Manager/Public Works Director Hernandez, Administrative Services Director Kamada, Parks and Recreation Director Kelley, Community and Economic Development Director Fernandez, and City Clerk Gregory
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tem Segawa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Uphoff, to approve the agenda.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote:
Councilmembers Gazeley, Uphoff, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa, and Mayor Waronek
NOES:
ABSENT: None
3. PRESENTATIONS
None scheduled.
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 4, 2025
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Waronek announced the time for oral communications. There being no requests from the public to speak, Mayor Waronek closed oral communications.
5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE REPORTS FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL
Councilmember Waite reported on the following:
• February 20 - Lighting Zone Ribbon Cutting
• February 26 - Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) Economic Forecast
• February 26 - Cal Cities L.A. County Division Board of Directors Meeting • February 27 - Appian Way Pump Station Roof Replacement Ribbon Cutting Councilmember Uphoff reported on the following:
• February 19 - National League of Cities (NLC) Streamlining Federal Grants Webinar February 19 - California Contract Cities Association (CCCA) Board Meeting February 20 - Lighting Zone Ribbon Cutting
February 25 - Smart Growth America and Transportation for America Executive Orders and Reauthorization: Navigating the Future of Federal Transportation Funding Webinar February 26 - CCCA Legislative Committee Meeting
February 27 - Appian Way Pump Station Roof Replacement Ribbon Cutting February 28 - SBCCOG/Cal Cities/South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce South Bay Legislative Meet and Greet with Local Officials • March 1 - Lomita Little League Season Opener
• March 3 - Measure G Governance Reform Task Force Meeting • March 4 - South Bay Aerospace Association Meeting
Councilmember Gazeley reported on the following:
• Recognized Mayor Waronek for taking over his longstanding position as delegate to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Council Mayor Pro Tem Segawa reported on the following:
• February 19 - CCCA Board Meeting
• February 20 - Lighting Zone Ribbon Cutting
• February 27 - Appian Way Pump Station Roof Replacement Ribbon Cutting • February 28 - SBCCOG/Cal Cities/South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce South Bay Legislative Meet and Greet with Local Officials • March 2-6 - Read Across America Week
Mayor Waronek reported on the following:
• February 19 - L.A. County Sanitation District No. 5 Meeting • February 19 - CCCA Board Meeting
• February 25 - Ride Along with Lomita Sheriff's Station Deputies • February 26 - Lomita Station 50th Anniversary Committee Meeting • February 26 - Joint Powers Insurance Authority (JPIA) Meeting • February 27 - Appian Way Pump Station Roof Replacement Ribbon Cutting
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 4, 2025
• February 27 - CCCA City Managers Meeting
• February 27 - Lomita Sheriff's Station Foundation Meeting • February 28 - SBCCOG/Cal Cities/South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce South Bay Legislative Meet and Greet with Local Officials • March 1 - CCCA City Council Academy (first of four sessions) • March 2-6 - Read Across America Week
• Announced annual Golden Apple Awards to take place on May 9 • Recognized Councilmember Gazeley for 15 years as the City's delegate to SCAG
6. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT (information only)
City Manager Vialpando reported on the following:
• Thanked Lt. Mike White of Lomita Sheriff's Station for obtaining the steering wheel locks for residents to receive for free at City Hall, and stated they are already out of stock The Annual Red Cross Sound the Alarm event is to take place Saturday, March 22 • The Walnut Street Project is near completion and vehicles can access the area again • The sandbox in the City Hall parking lot is full so residents can stock up on sandbags in anticipation of rain
• City staff have cleaned the catch basins to prepare for storms • The Lomita Chamber of Commerce's annual installation and awards ceremony is to take place on Thursday, March 6; a City employee will receive the President's Award • Recognized Oscar Caviedes who was promoted to full-time Maintenance Worker I, and he read aloud part of a statement written by Mr. Caviedes expressing his appreciation for the opportunity
7. CONSENT AGENDA
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That Consent Agenda Items 7a-7d be approved.
Councilmember Uphoff made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Segawa, to approve the recommended action.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Gazeley, Uphoff, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa, and Mayor Waronek
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 and Special City Council Meetings of February 4, 2025 RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve minutes.
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 4, 2025
c. Warrants/Payroll Register
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve and file Warrants/Payroll Register. d. Approve funds to install an Automatic Transfer Switch at Appian Way Pressure Reducing and Pump Station
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve a change order to the Agreement with AEPC Group for the installation of an Automatic Transfer Switch at Appian Way Pressure Reducing and Pump Station in the amount of $72,746.40, plus a 15% contingency of $10,912 for unexpected costs, for an amount not to exceed $83,658.40.
SCHEDULED ITEMS
a. DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 2025-05, A RESOLUTION
TO INITIATE THE PROCESS TO AMEND THE CONTRACT WITH CALPERS TO
REMOVE COST SHARING FOR THE UNREPRESENTED EXECUTIVE
MANAGEMENT GROUP
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-05 to initiate the process to amend the contract with CaPERS to remove cost sharing for the Unrepresented Executive Management Group.
Director Kamada presented the staff report per the agenda material. The Unrepresented Executive Management Group was implemented in 2019 and has one member, the City Manager. City Manager Vialpando has been required to contribute since his hire, and in order to remove this requirement, the contract must be amended via resolution. The staff report references a reimbursement for the additional contributions made but the City Attorney will instead return with alternative solutions (due to some CaPers restrictions) at a later date.
As there were no requests from the public to speak on this item and no Council discussion, Mayor Waronek invited a motion.
Councilmember Uphoff made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Gazeley, to approve the recommended action.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Gazeley, Uphoff, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa, and Mayor Waronek
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Adopted the following titled resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-05 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA, RELATING TO GOVERNMENT CODE 20516 COST
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
March 4, 2025
b. DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTING A COMMISSIONER TO THE
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION TO FILL CURRENT VACANCY RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discuss, take nominations, and by majority vote appoint a candidate to fill the vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Commission with a term that ends June 2028.
City Clerk Gregory presented the staff report per the agenda material. A special meeting was held earlier this evening to interview the six applicants.
After brief Council discussion relative to the high caliber of candidates, Mayor Waronek invited public comment.
George Kivett, Lomita resident and candidate, commented on the list of duties outlined for the parks and recreation commissioners and stated that he is ready to take a proactive approach if appointed.
Councilmember Gazeley, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa, and Councilmember Waite all ominated Allen Danielson. As commissioners are appointed by a majority vote, it wa he consensus of the Council to appoint Allen Danielson to the Parks and Recreatio Commission.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None scheduled.
10. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Waronek adjourned the meeting 6:35 p.m.
Talen How my
athleen Horn Gregory, MMC, City Clerk
Adopted: April 15, 2025