MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING
LOMITA CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 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, April 1, 2025, in the Council Chambers at Lomita City Hall, 24300 Narbonne Avenue, Lomita, California.
b. Flag Salute
Phoenix Rusin, daughter of City Attorney Rusin, led the salute to the flag. c. Invocation
Councilmember Waite gave the invocation.
d. Rol| Call
PRESENT: Councilmembers Gazeley, Uphoff, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa, and Mayor Waronek
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Vialpando, City Attorney Rusin, Assistant City Manager Hernandez, Public Works Director Gonzalez, Administrative Services Director Kamada, Community and Economic Development Director Fernandez, Parks and Recreation Director Kelley, and City Clerk Gregory
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tem Segawa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Gazeley, to approve the agenda.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Gazeley, Uphoff, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa, and Mayor Waronek
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
3. PRESENTATIONS
The Council recognized the 2025 Lomita Park Youth Sports Basketball Champions. Each participant and coach in attendance was presented with a certificate.
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 1, 2025
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Waronek announced the time for oral communications.
Winona Phillenbaum, Lomita Library Manager, announced upcoming programs and events.
Sebastian Boegner, Behavioral Health Services, encouraged participation in the DEA National Rx Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26; Sam's Club in Torrance will be a drop-off site.
George Kivett, Lomita resident, stated that the three-minute speaker time limit is inadequate for project applicants who appear before the Planning Commission and City Council. He shared concerns with the time it has taken for the Cypress Water Facility to resume operations, and with Lomita's CERT program, which he said needs to get up to speed Arohi Sharma, volunteer with the League of Women Voters - Torrance Area, invited participation in an Earth Day event hosted by the League on April 21 at Torrance Main Library.
She clarified that League membership is open to all, not just women.
There being no further requests to speak, Mayor Waronek closed oral communications.
5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND MEETING ATTENDANCE REPORTS FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL
Councilmember Waite reported on the following:
• March 19 - Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation's (LAEDC) 88 Cities Summit
• March 27 - South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) General Assembly • He stated that the Council has been asked by the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) to send a letter to County Supervisor Janice Hahn advocating for the reduction of deputy vacancies in the sheriff's department; it was the consensus of the Council to bring this item back for discussion at the next meeting.
Councilmember Uphoff reported on the following:
• March 19 - L.A. County Library Commission Meeting
• March 26 - California Contract Cities Association (CCCA) Legislative Meeting Councilmember Gazeley reported on the following:
• March 19 - L.A. County Sanitation District No. 5 Meeting Mayor Pro Tem Segawa reported on the following:
• March 19 - CCCA Board of Directors Meeting
• March 22 - Red Cross Sound the Alarm Event
• March 26 - Lomita Chamber of Commerce Mixer
March 31 - Founders Day Committee Meeting
• March 31 - Finance Committee Meeting
Mayor Waronek reported on the following:
• March 31 - Founders Day Committee Meeting
• March 31 - Finance Committee Meeting
• April 2 - upcoming CCCA Executive Board Meeting
• April 3 - upcoming Lomita Sheriff's Station Foundation Meeting
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 1, 2025
• He announced the Golden Apple Awards will take place on May 9
6. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT (information only)
City Manager Vialpando introduced the City's new Public Works Director, Andres Gonzalez, and shared his background and experience.
Mr. Gonzalez stated that he is excited to be part of Team Lomita.
City Manager Vialpando stated that Lina Hernandez has been promoted to Assistant City Manager, and he shared some of her accomplishments while working for the City.
Parks and Recreation Director Kelley gave an update on the upcoming Concerts on the Lawn, taking place on April 11 and May 9, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at City Hall.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That Consent Agenda Items 7a-7e be approved.
Mayor Pro Tem Segawa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Uphoff, 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. Warrants/Payroll Register
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve and file Warrants/Payroll Register. c. Resolution No. 2025-06 Approving Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 5 and 7, Non-Discrimination Grievance Procedure Policy for Recipients of Federal Assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-06 approving Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 5 and 7, Non-Discrimination Grievance Procedure Policy for Recipients of Federal Assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-06 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A POLICY ON NON-DISCRIMATION
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES FOR RECIPIENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 1, 2025
d. Public Health Services Contract with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health RECOMMENDED ACTION: Authorize the City Manager to execute a public health services contract with the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health effective when signed by all parties through June 30, 2029, followed by ongoing automatic five- year renewals, unless terminated by either party.
e. Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Approving Zoning Text Amendment No. 2025-01 Updating the Lomita Municipal Code Regarding Definitions, Commercial Land Uses and Commercial Development Standards for In-House Clean Up RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Ordinance No. 871 and find the action to be Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, (CEQA).
ORDINANCE NO. 871 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
1.2.07, 1-1.4503, 1, 301 AND 114305 OF CHAPTER 120N NG) OF TITLE XI (PLANNING AND ZONING) OF THE LOMITA MUNICIPAL CODE", AND FINDING
THE ACTION TO BE CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
At this time Mayor Waronek reopened oral communications to allow a resident to speak.
Loretta Guitierrez, Lomita resident, shared concerns that water used to flush the City's water lines is not reclaimed, and with how long it is taking to get the Cypress Water Facility back online.
There being no further requests to speak, Mayor Waronek closed oral communications.
8. SCHEDULED ITEMS
a. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE 247TH STREET AREA WATER MAIN
REPLACEMENT PROJECT AND REVISED MATCH COMMITMENT LETTER TO FEMA RECOMMENDED ACTION: Appropriate an additional $930,517 in addition to the previously approved $1,499,846, plus 20% contingency of $486,073 for unexpected costs, for a project total not to exceed $2,916,436 for the City of Lomita's 247th Street Area Water Main Replacement Project; and authorize the City Manager to execute a revised Match Commitment Letter to FEMA.
Assistant City Manager Hernandez presented the staff report per the agenda material.
Due to the COVID pandemic, the City received grant approval in May 2021, almost two years after its application was submitted. Finally, in 2024 the City awarded the construction contract, but by this time the total project cost estimate had increased to over $2.4 million.
Staff worked extensively with CalOES (the in-between agency for FEMA) for a budget modification consideration, behind a long line of other projects also requesting additional funding. Finally, in March 2025 the City was advised of available funding and was invited to submit a formal budget increase request and an updated commitment letter for $607,590.75, the City's 25% cost share.
As there were no questions for staff and no requests from the public to speak on this item, Mayor Waronek invited Council discussion or a motion.
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 1, 2025
Councilmember Waite 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
b. DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO PREPARE THE ENGINEER'S REPORT FOR LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt a resolution directing the Public Works Director to prepare the Engineer's Report for Landscape Maintenance District No. 1.
Assistant City Manager Hernandez presented the staff report per the agenda material.
This is the first step to establishing the annual fees for the district, as the Engineer's Report estimates the costs for maintenance for the following fiscal year.
There was brief Council discussion relative to the cost to the City and whether the expense to is high enough to warrant consideration of discontinuing the district at some point.
As there were no questions for staff and no requests from the public to speak on this item, Mayor Waronek invited Council discussion or a motion.
Councilmember Uphoff made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Waite, 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. 2025-07 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA, ORDERING THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO
PREPARE AND FILE THE ENGINEER'S REPORT FOR LOMITA LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ACT OF 1972, DIVISION 15, PART 2 OF THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS
CODE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JULY 1, 2025, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2026
Councilmember Waite invited those in attendance to the Lomita-Harbor City Kiwanis Club after the meeting where he will be speaking on Lomita's demographics.
Mayor Waronek led those in attendance in singing "Happy Birthday" to City Manager Vialpando.
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 1, 2025
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None scheduled.
10. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Waronek adjourned the meeting at 6:49p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Adopted: May 6, 2025