MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING
LOMITA CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2025
1. OPENING CEREMONIES
a. Call Meeting to Order
The regular meeting of the Lomita City Council was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Segawa at 6:01 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in the Council Chambers at Lomita City Hall, 24300 Narbonne Avenue, Lomita, California.
b. Flag Salute
Councilmember Gazeley led the salute to the flag.
c. Invocation
Councilmember Uphoff gave the invocation.
d. Roll Call
PRESENT: Councilmembers Gazeley, Uphoff, Waite, and Mayor Pro Tem Segawa ABSENT: Mayor Waronek
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Vialpando, City Attorney Rusin, Deputy City Manager/Public Works Director Hernandez, Administrative Services Director Kamada, Community and Economic Development Director Fernandez, Parks and Recreation Director Kelley, and City Clerk Gregory
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Councilmember Uphoff made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Gazeley, to approve the agenda.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Gazeley, Uphoff, Waite, and Mayor Pro Tem Segawa NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Waronek
3. PRESENTATIONS
Code Enforcement Supervisor Lawson introduced presenters Ronson Chu, Senior Project Manager of Homeless and Senior Services with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), and Shannon Murray, Director of Homeless and Housing Services with the Watts Labor Community Action Committee. Housing Focused Case Management (HFCM) is a new program and resource seeking to increase outreach-focused case management services in
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March 18, 2025
local communities with the goal of permanent housing for those in need. The program's upcoming outreach schedule including Lomita/Harbor City was shared, as well as contact information for residents to inform the program of individuals in the area who might need assistance.
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Pro Tem Segawa announced the time for oral communications.
George Kivett, Lomita resident, spoke about completed and pending street improvement projects and suggested that term limits for City Councilmembers be considered.
There being no further requests to speak, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa closed oral communications.
5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE REPORTS FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL
Councilmember Gazeley reported on the following:
• March 6 - Southern California Association of Governments Transportation Committee Meeting
• March 13 - L.A. County West Vector Control District Meeting Councilmember Waite reported on the following:
• March 6 - Lomita Chamber of Commerce Annual Installation Ceremony and Awards • March 8 - WSS Grand Opening
• March 10-12 - National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional City Conference Councilmember Uphoff reported on the following:
• March 6 - City Council Team Building and Goal Setting Workshop • March 9-12 - NLC Congressional City Conference
• March 17 - South Bay Cities Council of Governments Regional Housing Trust Strategy Planning Advisory Committee Meeting
Mayor Pro Tem Segawa reported on the following:
• March 6 - Lomita Chamber of Commerce Annual Installation Ceremony and Awards
6. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT (information only)
City Manager Vialpando had nothing to report.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That Consent Agenda Items 7a-7k be approved.
Councilmember Gazeley made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Uphoff, to approve the recommended action.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote:
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March 18, 2025
AYES: Councilmembers Gazeley, Uphoff, Waite, and Mayor Pro Tem Segawa NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Waronek
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 City Council Meeting of February 18, 2025 RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve minutes.
C. Warrants/Payroll Register
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve and file Warrants/Payroll Register d. Monthly Report for the Administrative Services Department RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and file the report.
e. Monthly Report for the City Manager's Department
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and file the report.
f. Monthly Report for the Community and Economic Development Department RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and file the report.
g. Monthly Report for the Parks and Recreation Department RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and file the report.
h. Monthly Report for the Public Works Department
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and file the report.
i. February 2025 Treasury and Investment Report
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and file the report.
j. Change Order to the Contract with Excel Paving for Construction and Construction Management of the Lomita Boulevard Repair
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve a change order to the City's contract with Excel Paving for the pavement repair of a segment of Lomita Boulevard in the amount of $164,467, plus a 20% contingency of $72,893 for unexpected costs, for a total project amount not to exceed $437,360 inclusive of the previously approved $200,000 in Prop C transportation funds.
k. Professional Services Agreement with Psomas for Engineering Services for Sewer System Management Plan 2025
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Psomas for completion of the Sewer System Management Plan 2025 in the amount of $34,150
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plus a 15% contingency amount of $5, 123 for unexpected costs for a total project amount not to exceed $39,273; and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement.
8. SCHEDULED ITEMS
a. LOMITA SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ANNUAL CRIME REPORT (NO STAFF REPORT) RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and file.
Lomita Station Captain Kimberly Guerrero presented the 2024 Annual Crime Report. She shared statistics on traffic-related incidents and crime, compared overall crime (both Part I and Part Il offenses) stats from 2023 to 2024, and outlined calls for service and average response time in 2024 as compared to 2023. She also summarized fireworks suppression efforts, LASD detective bureau operations, CORE team operations and Lomita events in which LASD participated. She dedicated the presentation to the memory of Deputy Daniel Okamoto who tragically passed away last year.
Brief discussion took place relative to LASD staffing for City events and the fireworks suppression program.
It was the consensus of the City Council to receive and file the report. b. SKYPARK COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES UPDATE - PRESENTED BY THE LOS
ANGELES REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD (NO STAFF REPORT) RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and file.
Deputy City Manager/Public Works Director Hernandez introduced the item. The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board is the lead agency on this investigation.
The following board members participated in the presentation via Zoom:
Susana Arredondo, Executive Officer
Dr. Arthur Heath, Remediation Section I Manager
Dr. Angelica Castaneda, SCP Unit 4 Supervisor
Devin DiNapoli, Project Manager
Susana Lagudis, Public Participation Specialist
Stephanie Yu, Legal Counsel
Dr. Amanda Palumbo, OEHHA Toxicologist
The following topics were discussed:
• Water Board's Organizational Structure
• Site Cleanup Program
• Skypark Commercial Properties Project Overview
• Results of Investigation to Date Including Vapor Intrusion Investigation-City of Lomita • Remediation Status
• Public Participation Activities
• Next Steps
Brief discussion took place relative to plume boundaries, contaminant levels, and status of barrier construction.
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As there were no requests from the public to speak on this item, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa brought the item back to Council, whereupon the consensus was to receive and file the presentation.
c. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION OF PARK AND SEWER
DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES - PRESENTED BY WILLDAN FINANCIAL SERVICES RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and file.
Community and Economic Development Director Fernandez provided background on the item. When Willdan Financial Services was previously hired by the City to conduct a water rates study, it was determined that some local cities have development impact fees for parkland and sewer as well, so the scope of work was expanded to include such analysis.
Carlos Villarreal, Principal, Willdan Financial Services, outlined the following aspects of their analysis:
• Definition of Development Impact Fee
• Mitigation Fee Act Findings
• AB 602 Requirements
Methodology
Growth Projections
• Cost Allocation Methodologies
Major Planned Facilities
Projected Impact Fee Revenue Fee
Maximum Justified Impact Fee Schedule
• Policy Options
Brief discussion took place relative to such fees allowing the City to grow and maintain its parks, the aging sewer system infrastructure, whether there has been a negative effect on new development in other local cities who have increased their fees, and what neighboring cities are charging to give regional context to the study.
As there was no further Council discussion, Mayor Pro Tem opened public comment.
George Kivett, Lomita resident, stated that the City's parks are sufficient for the current population, but believed that increased development rates could place an undue burden on developers and ultimately, on tenants of new properties.
As there were no further requests from the public to speak on this item, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa brought the item back to Council, whereupon the consensus was to receive and file the presentation.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT NO. 2025-01 - AN UPDATE TO THE LOMITA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING DEFINITIONS,
COMMERCIAL LAND USES AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
FOR IN-HOUSE CLEANUP
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Conduct a Public Hearing and by motion adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 870U and Ordinance No. 871, finding the actions to be categorically
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exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and direct staff to schedule the second reading and possible adoption of Ordinance No. 871 at the April 1, 2025, regular City Council meeting.
Community and Economic Development Director Fernandez presented the staff report per the agenda material.
The following aspects of the zone text amendment were outlined:
• Background and Overview
• Commercial Land Uses
• Mixed Use Standard
• Definitions
• Miscellaneous Code Changes
Brief discussion took place relative to legal, nonconforming properties as a result of various zoning changes over time, compliance with RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) numbers, and amending the definition of a laundromat.
As there was no further discussion, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa opened the public hearing at 8:02 p.m.
George Kivett, Lomita resident and member of the now-defunct General Plan Committee, praised staff on the General Plan Update, but suggested some further amendments should be made.
As there were no further requests from the public to speak on this item, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa closed the public hearing at 8:06 p.m. and invited further Council discussion or a motion. There being no further discussion, City Attorney Rusin read the titles of the urgency ordinance to be adopted and the ordinance to be introduced.
Councilmember Gazeley made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Uphoff, to approve the recommended action.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Gazeley, Uphoff, Waite, and Mayor Pro Tem Segawa NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Waronek
Adopted the following titled ordinance:
URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 870U - AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AMENDING SECTIONS 11-1.15, 11-1.41.01, 11-1.42.01, 11-1.42.03, 11-1.43.01 AND 11-1.43.05 OF CHAPTER 1 (ZONING) OF TITLE XI (PLANNING AND ZONING) OF THE LOMITA
MUNICIPAL CODE, FINDING THE ACTION TO BE CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT
FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT, AND DECLARING THE
URGENCY THEREOF
Introduced the following titled ordinance:
ORDINANCE NO. 871 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AMENDING SECTIONS 11-1.15, 11-1.41.01, 11-
1.42.01, 11-1.42.03, 11-1.43.01 AND 11-1.43.05 OF CHAPTER 1 (ZONING) OF TITLE
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XI (PLANNING AND ZONING) OF THE LOMITA MUNICIPAL CODE, AND FINDING
THE ACTION TO BE CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
10. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m.
Kathleen Horn Gregory, MMC, City Clerk Y
Adopted: May 6, 2025