MINUTES OF THE
LOMITA CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 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, November 4,2025, 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. lnvocation
Mayor Waronek 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, City Attorney Rusin, Assistant City Manager Hernandez, Deputy City Manager/Administrative Services Director Kamada, Community and Economic Development Director Femandez, Parks and Recreation Director Kelley, and City Clerk Gregory
2. APPROVALOFAGENDA
Mayor Pro Tem Segawa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Uphoff, 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 City Council presented certificates of recognition to Eshelman Avenue Elementary
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 4, 2025
School Principal Kelly Gomez for being named a Cahn Distinguished Principals Fellow for school year 2025-2026; to the winning families of the Halloween Home Decorating Contest; and to Public Works employees Brandon Huntelman and Jose Rocha for their recent lifesaving efforts upon encountering an individual in distress.
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Waronek announced the time for oral communications. There being no 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:
. October 22 - Los Angeles County Division of Cal Cities Board Meeting . October 23 - Economic Roundtable
. October 30 - Los Angeles County Division of Cal Cities Meeting . October 30 - South Bay Workforce lnvestment Board Annual Awards Ceremony . October 31 - Local Governmental Services Commission Meeting o October 31 - Lomita Railroad Museum's "The Curse of the Red Caboose" Event . November 1 - Lomita Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cufting at MDL Accounting o November 2 - Lomita-Harbor City Kiwanis Club Annual Pancake BreaKast Councilmember Uphoff reported on the following:
. October 22 - Calitomia Contract Cities Association (CCCA) Legislative Committee Meeting
o October 22 - Los Angeles County Division of Cal Cities Board Meeting e October 23 - South Bay Cities Council of Govemments (SBCCOG) Board of Directors Meeting
o October 29 - Torrance Refinery Tour
. October 30 - Los Angeles County Division of Cal Cities Meeting . October 30 - South Bay Workforce lnvestment Board AnnualAwards Ceremony r November 3 - SBCCOG Transportation Committee Meeting
. November 3 - SBCCOG Steering Committee Meeting
. November 1 - Lomita Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting at MDL Accounting e November 2 - Lomita-Harbor City Kiwanis Club Annual Pancake BreaKast Councilmember Gazeley reported on the following:
. He thanked City staff for cleaning up a hoarder house Mayor Pro Tem Segawa reported on the following:
. October 25 - West Basin Municipal Water District's Water Harvest 2025 Event o October 27 - Street lmprovements Committee Meeting
. October 28 - State of the City Meeting
o October 29 - Tonance Refinery Tour
o October 30 - South Bay Workforce lnvestment Board Annual Awards Ceremony o October 3'l - Narbonne South Water Main Replacement and Street Reconstruction
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 4, 2025
Project Groundbreaking
. October 31 - Halloween in the Park at Lomita Park
o November 1 - Lomita Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting at MDL Accounting . November 2 - Lomita-Harbor City Kiwanis Club Annual Pancake BreaKast . November 4 - State of the City Meeting
Mayor Waronek reported on the following:
. October 22 - California Joint Powers lnsurance Authority Executive Board Meeting . October 23 - CCCA City Managers Summit
o October 25 - West Basin Municipal Water District's Water Harvest 2025 Event . October 26 - L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath Luncheon . October 26 - Prepared Peninsula Expo
. October 28 - State of the City Meeting
. October 30 - Torrance Chamber of Commerce State of the State . October 30 - Lomita Chamber of Commerce Mixer at the Boys and Girls Club of the L.A.
Harbor
. October 31 - Narbonne South Water Main Replacement and Streel Reconstruction Project Groundbreaking
o November 4 - State of the City Meeting
o He announced the Annual State of the City Event to be held on November 13 at 11:30 a.m. at Lomita Park
. He announced the Lomita-Harbor City Kiwanis Club's Mayor's Prayer Breakfast to be held on December 5
o He announced the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony to be held on December 5 o He commented on the City taking ownership of the Navy Fields site, which will double its parks space
6. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Vialpando announced the Veterans Day Observance will be held November 1 1 at 1 1 a.m. at Veterans Park.
7. CONSENTAGENDA
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That Consent Agenda ltems 7a-71 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
Motion to Waive Full Reading of Ordinances and That They be Read in Title Only.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve motion
a
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 4, 2025
b. Warrants/Payroll Register
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve and file Warrants/Payroll Register c. Resolution Authorizing the Submittal of Grant Applications and Related Authorizations for Grant Programs with The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-37 authorizing the submittal of grant applications and related authorizations for grant programs with The Department ol Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).
RESOLUTION NO. 2025.37 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF INDIVIDUAL GRANT
APPLICATIONS AND RELATED AUTHORIZATIONS FOR ALL CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES RECYCLING AND RECOVERY GRANT
PROGRAMS
d. Approval ofthe Fifth Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement for the South Bay Cities Council of Governments
RECOMMENOED ACTION: Authorize the Mayor to execute the Fifth Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), which allows the City of Los Angeles to designate a nonelected senior staff member as an alternate to the SBCCOG Governing Board representative.
e. Authorization to Proceed with Public Works Paint Poects at the Lomita Railroad Museum and Lomita Park
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve Purchase Orders to Evans Painting, CertaPro Painting, and California Banner Co. for painting of the Railroad Museum buildings and train cars, and Taylor Tennis Courts resurfacing and painting of the current Tennis and Basketball Courts and new Pickleball Courts, in a cumulative amount not to exceed $131 ,340; and authorize the City Manager to execute the Purchase Orders.
RECOMMENOED ACTION: Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Bob Murray and Associates for Executive Recruitment Services for Public Works Director.
8. SCHEDULED ITEMS
a. REPORT oN THE IRENE LEWS PARK (LOMITA RAILROAD MUSEUM) AND
UPDATE ON THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES WATERFRONT RED RAILCAR
PROJECT OFFERED TO THE CITY OF LOMITA
f. Agreement with Bob Munay and Associates to Provide Executive Recruitment Services RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discuss and consider options for lrene Lewis Park and the Waterfront Red Railcar offered to the City on loan by the Port of Los Angeles and provide City staff with direction.
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 4, 2025
City Manager Vialpando presented the staff report per the agenda material. Negotiations for the replica red car trolley loan with the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) began in November 2O23. The Ad Hoc Committee recommended the barn storage option wilh intermittent showings, and the City hired a poect manager and has had numerous meetings with POLA. He outlined alternative options, feasibility analyses, cost eslimates, funding including a possible POLA Community lnvestment Grant Program, and proposed terms and conditions. ln addition, other potential development options for lrene Lewis Park were shared, as were fiscal impacts of both the potential Red Car Project and two park development options. He presented four action options to Council.
Brief City Council discussion took place relative to potentially having both the red car and a new playground at the park and the need for community input.
As there was no further Council discussion, Mayor Waronek invited public comment.
Susie Dever, on behalf of the Lomita Railroad Foundation, shared a letter from the foundation stating its support for the Red Car Project, and its commitment of at least $50,000 toward its funding.
As there were no further requests from the public to speak on this item, Mayor Waronek invited further Council discussion or a motion.
Brief City Council discussion took place relative to park development options, security to prevent vandalism, and park property drainage.
Councilmember Waite made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Uphoff, lo approve Option 'l: Gather community input about whether residents prefer the Red Car Project, a playground, or a passive park to be constructed at lrene Lewis Park, as well as input on other potential options for developmenuimprovements of the park.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Uphoff, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa, and Mayor Waronek NOES: CouncilmemberGazeley
ABSENT: None
b. DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A
VACANT BUILDING AND ABANDONED PROPERW GHAPTER AND FENCING
ABANDONED PROPERTY CHAPTER
REGOMMENDED AGTION: Discuss and consider an ordinance establishing a vacant building and abandoned property chapter and fencing abandoned property chapter, and if supported, direct staff to introduce the ordinance for first reading at the next regular meeting of the City Council.
Director Fernandez presented the staff report per the agenda material. Objectives of the ordinance were outlined, including establishment of an abandoned property registry.
Brief City Council discussion took place relative to a property on Andreo Avenue which became a Code Enforcement case, including the process of City staff gaining access to an abandoned property.
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 4, 2025
As there were no requests from the public to speak on this item, Mayor Waronek invited a motion.
Mayor Pro Tem Segawa 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
c. 2025 STATE OF THE CITY
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and File
City Manager Vialpando presented the staff report per the agenda material. ln 2024 lhe State Attorney General opined that State of the City events are subject to Brown Act requiremenls, including soliciting public comment.
Mayor Waronek announced the time for public comment relative to the upcoming November 13,2025, State of the City event. As there were no requests from the public to speak on this item, Mayor Waronek invited a motion.
Mayor Pro Tem Segawa made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Waite, to conlinue this item and adjourn the meeting to the State of the City event to be held on November 13,2025, at 11:30 a.m. at Lomita Park,24428 Eshelman Avenue.
MOTION CARRIED by the following vote
AYES: Councilmembers Gazeley, Uphoff, Waite, Mayor Pro Tem Segawa, and Mayor Waronek
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None scheduled
Lomita City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
November 4, 2025
10. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Waronek adjoumed the meeting at 7:30 p.m. to November 13, 2025, 1 1:30 a.m. at Lomita Park Tom Rico Center, 24428 Eshelman Avenue.
ly Subm
Horn Gregory, City
Adopted: December 2, 2025