City Hall News: Council approves plans for next Measure I phase

La Mirada-  The City Council recently approved plans for the next Measure I phase which is scheduled to begin this winter covering the largest area of the city undertaken yet.

The residential roadway rehabilitation project would cover a large section of the western end of La Mirada between Valley View and Biola Avenues, and from the Milan Creek which runs just south of Plantana Drive up to but not including Stage Road.

The city will begin accepting bids to perform the 5th phase of work which carries an estimated price tag of $8 million and covers pavement rehabilitation, as well as repair or replacing curb and gutters, sidewalks, and installation of ADA compliant curb access ramps.

Just over $5 million remains from the one-cent Measure I sales tax that has not been collected since the end of March, and the city will use other funds from gas taxes, as well as from a number of other transportation measures including SB1.

It appears the city could have two or three additional capital projects underway at the same time this winter including a major center median project on La Mirada Blvd and Rosecrans Ave, at Splash! for the new sllide, and improvements at the La Mirada Theatre sound system.

Residential areas north of Biola University, near Kling Center, as well as Green Hills and parts of Hillsborough still remain to complete the project which began in 2013.

Work on Phase 5 is scheduled to begin this winter.

On street parking eliminated on two streets

Also, at its last meeting, the city council gave its blessing to a staff request to remove the two-hour parking zone along the entire length of Trojan Way, and change the street to a 'No Stopping' zone to growth in the area.

Anticipating traffic will grow once construction on a large industrial project is completed on the west side of Trojan Way near Northam Street, the city plans on adding a second lane of travel will be in both directions of travel between Alondra Blvd and Desman Road,

Council also abolished a two-hour parking zone on a portion of northbound Valley View Ave between Gannet Street and Alondra Blvd in order to improve sight lines for vehicles entering and exiting the road.

The entire length of Valley View Ave from Imperial Hwy to Artesia Blvd will be a posted 'No Stopping' zone.

City Hall notes

• The next regular session of the council on Tuesday, November 27 has been canceled and are expected to meet next on Tuesday, December 12 in the monthly Study Session as well as on regular session later on the same day.  Traditionally they meet just once each in the month of December.

• Staff and council discussed during its monthly study session recreation activities offered for adults.  With a majority of city assets used by youth sports activities, little is left for use by adults, and the grumbling has grown louder on local social media during the calendar year.
• The number of complaints about RV's and other oversized vehicles parked on city streets has fallen sharply in the year since the practice was banned. 74 citations have been issued, while education has been the preferred route to address first-time complaints.  Residents can obtain up to 20 temporary permits good for a 2-hour period per year for loading and unloading of R.V. trailers etc.

• Council member Andrew Sarega missed the meeting due to an illness.

La Mirada Councilman accused of harassment

Lamplighter editor Brian Hews alleges that La Mirada Councilman Andrew Sarega and his father Ion Sarega are now harassing him in apparent retaliation for it's coverage of election campaign irregularities.

The investigation by Hews outlined in a series of articles, were critical of the election campaigns by Sarega who won re-election, and Tony Aiello, owner of a local blog who lost his bid for the District One seat to newcomer John Lewis last March.

After the election Hews filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practises Committee requesting that his findings be investigated.  The case is still under investigation.

Hews reports as he was leaving his office last Tuesday both Sarega's were waiting for him in the parking lot to depart.

Hews alleges that both Sarega's approached him in an aggressive manner, but quickly retreated to their car when Hews began snapping photos.

http://lmlamplighter.com/la-mirada-councilman-andrew-sarega-and-his-dad-ion-harassing-lamplighter-publisher/

Final Results: Andrew Sarega hands Pauline Deal stunning defeat, John Lewis to join La Mirada council

LA MIRADA    Despite an election mailer controversy and repeated battles with the council majority Andrew Sarega surprised Pauline Deal, both incumbents, by handing her a defeat for the District Two council seat by a wide margin.

In District One John Lewis a member of the planning commission was the winner in District One defeating three other contenders, beating his closest contender Diane Gramajo 34% to 26%.

The victory by the embattled Sarega was even more surprising to many, with Deal enjoying the endorsement of the other three members on the council and endorsements or support from what many consider the La Mirada political establishment comprised of  former city council members and the well-respected and former city manager Gary Sloan.

Sarega received no such support, but still received 19% more votes than Deal, with the final tally standing at 349 votes for Andrew Sarega (54%) and 292 votes (46%)  for Pauline Deal.

Local politics won out in District One as the favorite of past and many present on the council, John Lewis (340 votes 34%) finished far ahead of his nearest challenger Diane Gramajo (264 votes 26%), despite her endorsements from area Democratic party heavyweights.

Lewis ran on a platform that emphasized economic development and public safety versus Gramajo pledging to give a voice to district voters at City Hall for the first time.

Public safety commission member Jim Emmerling tallied 20% of the vote (203 votes) finishing third in District One and Tony Aiello was fourth with 194 votes (19%). This was Aiello's second attempt at a city council seat in as many elections.

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday's vote recurring tension that resurfaced between Sarega and some of the other members of the council during a series of verbal attacks at recent meetings and Sarega denying responsibility for an election mailing attacking Pauline Deal.

Sarega has been at odds with some members of the council after he was bypassed in 2015 to serve as mayor-pro-tem, then as mayor as tradition would have dictated.