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All council members were present for the Tuesday, Jul. 19 City Council meeting. Open session started at 5:00 p.m. and ended at 8:24 p.m. Here's what you missed:
Federal Legislators push for Congressional Directed Spending for Carson. Congresswoman Nanette Barragán and Senator Alex Padilla are advancing bills through the floor to send federal dollars to improve the City of Carson. Jayson Braude from Kiley & Associates provided a brief update of promising legislations looking to be signed in the near future that would benefit Carson. Congresswoman Nanette Barragán has been fighting to grant Veteran’s Park $2 million of Congressional Directed Spending to put solar panels on the roof of the park’s community center and parking lot. According to Braude, while the bill has not been officially signed into law, the Congressional Directed Spending Committee has already approved funding for Veteran’s park. Senator Alex Padilla, who was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to fill in the position left by Vice-President Kamala Harris, is requesting Senate’s approval for $2 million to plant 550,096 trees throughout the City and $1.2 million for ADA improvements at Anderson Park. Additionally, the House of Representatives have agreed to allocate $25 million for water quality improvements at the Dominguez Channel. Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes requested staff to send thank you letters to Congresswoman Barragan and Senator Padilla once the bills have been officially signed into law.
Braude and Councilmember Cedric Hicks concluded the item by urging residents to call the Long Beach airport to complain about loud planes flying over the City. According to Braude, the Federal Aviation Administration can not get involved until enough official complaints have been filed. They advise residents to call (562) 670-2665 whenever a flying airplane can be heard.
Later in the meeting, the council announced receiving $4.25 million grant for Foisia Park Improvements. According to the City's press release, "California State Parks announced that Foisia Park will receive $4.25 Million in Land and Water Conservation fund (LWCF) matching grant to construct a new amphitheater, picnic area, exercise stations, pedestrian pathway, baseball and athletic fields, playground, restroom and parking lot."
Resolution amending budget for high-quality traffic cameras at major intersections. The council approved a maximum $629,009.85 budget allocation with DataGear to replace an old 2012 camera system along Avalon Boulevard with new state-of-the-line traffic monitoring system. Public Works Director Eliza Whitman shared that while the bid purchases 13 new cameras for the intersection, the new broadband system would allow a maximum of 200 cameras be set up across the City. Councilmember Cedric Hicks, had been pushing for new traffic cameras at multiple meetings for years, suggested looking at City Parks and the Community Center for new camera locations in the future. The proposal also calls for a five-year maintenance period.
CSUDH Innovation Incubator partners with Council to offer Small Business Growth Academy for Fall 2022. Beginning Fall 2022 semester, small businesses in the City can sign up for the California State University Dominguez Hills Carson Small Business Growth Academy (CCSBGA) to learn the necessities on growing a business. The council approved sponsoring the program at $9,995 while the CSUDH Innovation Incubator inside the College of Extended and International Education agreed to run the program. CCSBGA will be a 10-week pilot course focusing on ten different growth topics from Sales and Marketing growth strategies to technical infrastructure growth. Mayor Pro Tem. Jawane Hilton motioned to approve the sponsorship saying, “I want to applaud this council and staff members for this partnership with CSUDH… Business is more than just a post, more than just showing up saying you have a product. The way to execute it and the things you will learn from this academy could be life-changing for your business.” The inaugural pilot semester will start at the first or 2nd Friday in September and has only 30 spots for any business/company with up to 100 employees or $20 million in revenue. In addition to professional assistance, the program should teach participants of all the pro-business programs the City has to offer. Participants who complete the program, will be eligible for two continuing education units.
City will test-run completely subsidizing youth sports registration fees for one year. The City’s Youth Sports programs will be free for the next 12 months thanks to a proposal passed by the City Council. Specifically, the proposal waives registration fees for all youth sport seasons starting this summer until the end of Fall 2023. Individuals, who already paid the registration fee for 2022 summer season, can be reimbursed via a refund or credit. However, team jerseys will not be covered by the proposal. According to Community Services Director Michael Whittiker, the city would forego an estimated $100,200 in revenue by covering registration fees. Councilmember Jim Dear expressed concern that without paying a fee, registrants may not be motivated to consistently attend games, and asked that the program be reviewed at the end of the trial-run.
You can find more information on Carson’s Youth Sports program by visiting the City website here.
Mayor Pro Tem. Jawane Hilton requests signing a letter at the next council meeting to support fining warehouse owners $17 million for causing Dominguez Channel odor. The owners of a warehouse facility in the City could be fined $17 million in penalties after an investigation by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board into hydrogen sulfide odors that emanated for miles from the Dominguez Channel Estuary in fall 2021, according to a press release by the Los Angeles Water Board. Right before the meeting ended, Mayor Pro Tempore Jawane Hilton cited the press release and requested city staff draft a letter in support of the fines for the council to deliberate on Aug. 2. According to the press release, the was improperly storing large amounts alcohol-based products, which caught on fire and polluted the Dominguez Channel Estuarty on Sep. 30, 2021. The Los Angeles Water Board will decide whether to officially impose the $17 million fine on Oct. 12.
The council made the following Proclamation:
Recognizing July 23rd as Heroes' Day.
Events:
Community Night Out - A March Against Crime and Violence: Wednesday, Aug. 3, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., at the Carson Sheriff Station
Red Cross Blood Drive: Thursday, Aug. 25, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., at the Community Center
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