Sept. 14, 2018 | Vol. XL | No. 38

S IGNAL T RIBU NE Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill with 30,000 issues every Friday

VOL. XL NO. 38

IN THIS ISSUE NEWS LB will implement recommendations from an audit conducted last year of Long Beach Animal Care Services Animal Care Vision Task Force forms, meets for first time.

Page 3

COMMUNITY Three penguin chicks waddle their way to new home in exhibit

The trio of birds reunite with parents, siblings after spending months in nursery since hatching in May.

Page 7

LB, SH participate in National Preparedness Month 2018

Infograph details key dates and meetings.

Your Weekly Community Newspaper

A mosquito invasion

Infographic by Sebastian Echeverry | Signal Tribune

Aggressively biting and stealthy mosquitoes thriving in Long Beach area, eggs can survive throughout the upcoming winter season.

Sebastian Echeverry Production Manager

Barbecues, picnics and other outdoor activities can usually be considered staples of summertime. However, while participating in those activities, mosquito bites are rapidly becoming more frequent, and they could potentially lead to the outbreak of a virus Southern Californian officials have never dealt with.

In a Sept. 3 Nextdoor thread, many Signal Hill residents stated that they felt as if mosquitoes had invaded their yards. Residents wrote in their posts that they experienced numerous mosquitoes bites on their arms and legs throughout the day.

During a phone interview with the Signal Tribune last week, Kelly Middleton, director of community affairs for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD), said an invasive type of mosquito, one that primarily targets humans as its host, has found a home in the Long Beach area and other surrounding communities.

The Aedes aegypti and the Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are stealthy daytime biters that prefer humans over any other type of animal. They are approximately an eighth of an inch to a quarter of an inch in size and are identified by the black and white stripes found along their bodies.

Middleton said their aggressive nature may be the reason why residents

www.signaltribune.com

Aedes albopictus “Asian Tiger” mosquito

Source: GLACVCD

Aedes aegypti “Yellow Fever” mosquito

According to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, Aedes mosquitoes commonly lay eggs in standing water, which could be found in potter saucers or children’s toys.

1/8 inch

Infographic by Sebastian Echeverry | Signal Tribune

The information shown above indicates size, nesting habits and identifiable traits of Aedes mosquitoes– an invasive species that primarily bites humans.

fied to end up back on the streets.”

Notices that rent would increase for a majority of the tenants in the building, which is home for veterans and senior citizens, went out in June, and the increase took effect Sept. 1. Ellett said she could not afford to pay the increase, so she only paid the amount of rent that she was paying previously.

“I can’t eat, I can’t pay any other see APARTMENTS page 12

see COUNCIL page 15

website there is no confirmation of Aedes mosquitoes carrying and potentially transmitting Zika, dengue fever, yellow fever or chikungunya to people in Southern California at this time.

Middleton said the first time Aedes mosquitoes were found in Southern California was in 2001. The GLACVCD discovered its eggs inside of lucky brand bamboo shipments coming in through the Port of Los Angeles; however, Middleton said eggs were discovered at other ports throughout Southern California.

“We worked with other vector-control districts, the CDC and the folks see MOSQUITO page 14

Everyone Home Long Beach Task Force to put forth policy recommendations by fall.

Multimedia Editor

Page 9

A $200-to-$500 rent increase, a protest by tenants who fear they may end up homeless and a landlord acting within the bounds of the law by raising rent have recently fueled discussions in a city full of affordable-housing facilities with year-long waitlists.

Launched in the spring to address these and other issues contributing to

the housing and homelessness crisis, the Everyone Home Long Beach Task Force will convene for its fourth meeting next Friday before putting forth a set of policy recommendations for the Long Beach City Council to review this fall.

For Lori Ellett, a resident at the Lexanna Apartment building, where the aforementioned scenario has been unfolding all summer, the recent rent increase she was given has her “terri-

A variety of LATE-STARTING CLASSES begins Sept. 24 & Oct. 22

Signal Hill City Council approved Tuesday a number of measures, including allocating incoming grants for stormwater capture and traffic enforcement, making the City’s purchasing methods more efficient and updating employee pay schedules to reflect cost-of-living increases.

It also approved installing a dinosaur exhibit and mural for the children’s area at the new library under construction.

Sub-basin expansion The council authorized the city manager to enter into a memorandum-of-understanding (MOU) with the Los Angeles Flood Control District (LAFCD) to accept $7.5 million for the expansion of Los Cerritos Channel’s stormwater sub-basin storage by 10 acre-feet.

The unexpected offer for additional funding to expand the stormwater basin at the Long Beach Airport came in June, approved by the LA County Board of Supervisors.

“We’ve been very fortunate that our Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn and the rest of the board of supervisors have approved $7.5 million in additional funding to expand this project,” City Manager Charlie Honeycutt said. “This contribution adds to the $15.3 million that has been contributed by Caltrans.”

To implement the expansion, the council approved adjusting construction agreements and its MOU with the City of Long Beach. Most of the additional funding, or $6.5 million, will go to Mike Bubalo Construction Company, the principle firm involved in the stormwater-capture project.

The amount reimbursed to the City of Long Beach to allow for the expansion will increase by $215,000, from $350,000 to $565,000. MCM Management Co. will receive an additional $120,000 for project-management services, and Simplus will

Seniors continue to struggle to find affordable, appropriate housing in Long Beach Paige Pelonis

City council approves allocating those funds plus a $85K traffic-enforcement grant.

Staff Writer

1/4 inch

feel more bites than usual.

She also said GLACVCD has noticed an increase in service requests from residents.

Last year in August, Middleton said the GLACVCD recorded approximately 700 service requests to help identify mosquito-related problems around households. This year, there have been 1,400 service requests.

“People are complaining more about mosquito bites than they have prior,” Middleton said. “We are seeing a rise in the number of service requests that we receive from residents.

It’s doubled from the same time last year.”

The GLACVCD reported on its

SH receives $7.5 million to expand stormwatercapture basin

Anita W. Harris

Health officials advise residents to dump out still water around yards and scrub the container where the water was found to eliminate any eggs that may be left over.

Approximate sizes:

September 14, 2018

2

Signal Tribune

September 14, 2018

NEWS

September 14, 2018

Signal Tribune

Officials say implementation of ACS audit recommendations underway

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Animal Care Vision Task Force forms, meets for first time.

Cory Bilicko Staff Writer

The City of Long Beach is well underway in implementing the recommendations generated by an audit the City Auditor’s Office conducted last year of Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS), according to the official who runs the shelter.

In an emailed response to the Signal Tribune Wednesday, Ted Stevens, ACS manager, wrote that he and his colleagues in management within the Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine (PRM) agreed with all the recommendations of the audit– the second phase of which was released late last month– and are already addressing many of the various concerns in the audit report, adding that Mayor Robert Garcia’s Long Beach Animal Care Vision Task Force has been formed. That group met for the first time last week.

When the findings of phase 2 were released Aug. 27, they pointed to a shortage of staff as the primary problem at the shelter. In fact, the second phase of the audit determined all core functions at the shelter to be understaffed, and it recommended that the City make any possible improvements now, review its resources, make the most of its revenues and align those resources in an imminent strategic plan.

The report, which looked to organizations such as the National Animal Care and Control Association and the Humane Society of the United States for guidance and compared animal-control operations in

Long Beach to those in other cities, included 11 findings: that the volunteer program is not maximized to assist ACS service delivery; a lack of animal-care attendants to meet minimum-care requirements; not enough animal-control officers to meet basic coverage requirements; that ACS is below the peer average for veterinary staff per animal; that ACS is below the peer average for staff dedicated to life-saving programs; low staff morale; that ACS is not fully recovering the cost for services that it provides to neighboring contract cities; almost $1 million in citations have not been collected since 2009; that the animal-licensing compliance rate is comparable to those of other cities but increasing the number of licensed animals would improve ACS’s cost recovery; that vaccination and pet license data are not entered into the database in a timely manner; and that it is unclear if the license canvassing program is effective.

The audit report states that ACS and the City should use a three-prong approach in addressing the City Auditor’s Office’s 186 recommendations, including: implementing standard operating procedures to improve core functions; developing a shared vision and strategic plan to guide and set priorities; and reviewing resources and maximizing revenue to align with priorities.

The report includes a section for management response, which includes an Aug. 6 memorandum from Gerardo Mouet, PRM director, that expresses his department’s agreement with the recommendations and

an action plan.

“We are excited to report on some of the progress already being made on phase-1 recommendations, which will help PRM address some of the items contained in phase 2,” Mouet’s memo states. “One of the more significant findings in phase 1 was the need to develop a shared vision and strategic plan for ACS. The development of such [a] plan will help guide PRM with addressing many of the recommendations from both reports.”

The action plan is presented as a chart with: the audit’s recommendations; priority designations of high, medium or low; the actions to be taken; and target dates for implementation. There is also a column for whether PRM management agrees or disagrees with each recommendation and the party responsible for taking the action; PRM agreed with each, and ACS is identified as the responsible department for each.

One recommendation is to revise the formula used to calculate contract values to include a proportionate share of field services and administrative costs and update contract service costs to reflect changes in services provided each year. Another is to work toward increasing license compliance by 8 percent by expanding collection and public-outreach efforts. The report also recommends staff determine if license canvassing is cost-beneficial, including the consideration of shifting canvass positions to other shelter service areas or see SHELTER page 14

Denny Cristales | Signal Tribune

Robert Garcia, Long Beach mayor, recognized the efforts Tuesday of local fire and police departments who “fight for our freedoms every single day” in commemoration of the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 New York terrorist attacks.

Memorial held for 17th anniversary of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks Denny Cristales Managing Editor

Long Beach City officials hosted a commemoration ceremony Tuesday at Fire Station 1 for the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a sequence of events in New York City and Pennsylvania that led to the death of more than 3,000 people and the destruction of the World Trade Center and portions of the Pentagon.

Red, white and blue memorial wreaths were placed in front of the fire station in recognition of those who lost their lives during the attacks 17 years ago. The Long Beach

Fire and Police departments were present during the ceremony, which included a minute of reflection at 9:11am.

“We know that, since those moments, there’s been an opportunity for us as a country to reflect,” Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said.

“We have seen a lot of change. But, even after all this time of, often debate and wondering about where the future is of our country when it comes to the reaction of those events, we stand united always to remember and support the families, those who have lost people, those who were injured and certainly those who fight for our freedoms every single day.”

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OPINION

Signal Tribune

September 14, 2018 COMMENTARY

September is California Pedestrian Safety Month By the Long Beach Police Department

O

Oil– the tragic cost of doing business

n Thursday, June 23, 1921, the Shell Oil Company struck oil at its well at Temple Avenue and Hill Street. A new era was born, and a new city, Signal Hill, came into being. The city of Signal Hill has been built on oil, so has much of Long Beach, which has benefited from wells drilled on its properties in the Signal Hill oil field. The Signal Hill oil field runs from northwest to southwest, about five-miles long by one-mile across. In the northwest, the field begins near the junction of the San Diego Freeway (I-405) and the Long Beach Freeway (I-710) and roughly parallels the 405 Freeway near the intersection of Lakewood Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway at the traffic circle. Portions of the field also extend into the Alamitos Heights area by Recreation Park and the Los Cerritos area of Long Beach, though these areas are no longer productive.

Revenues from the oil industry fuel the treasury in both cities, but what brought much wealth also has had costs. There were numerous explosions, fires and deaths in the oil fields. Only a few of the tragedies have been remembered. I’ve included three of the most well known in this article, followed by a chronological list of other reported accidents and deaths I’ve been able to find in my research (which can be found on historicalsignalhill. blogspot.com). As you will realize when you see the list, there were many.

Fisher Fire Fires, explosions and accidents were common in the early days of Signal Hill oil. The newly formed city didn’t have its own fire department until 1926 and had to rely on Long Beach for fire protection. One of them was the 1924 Fisher Fire, which destroyed four derricks and two storage tanks at about 8am on July 15, 1924.

The blaze started at the Walter Fisher well No. 7, located in the densest part of the oil field around Lovelady and Crescent streets. The fire spread quickly to nearby wells, but approximately 350 fire fighters, recruited mostly from the oil workers of the Signal Hill field and two companies of the Long Beach Fire Department, fought the blaze. Signal Hill had no water system, and the nearest hydrant was at Hill and California avenues, nearly a mile away. However, connection was made with this hydrant through more than 5000 feet of hose.

The 2000 barrel Fisher Company tank burst into flames with a terrific explosion at 1pm after firefighters thought they had conquered the blaze and checked its spread. This was followed by a second explosion when tank no. 2 caught fire. Fearing these tanks might rip open due to the heat– potentially causing a river of blazing oil to rush down Lovelady Street and destroying everything in its path– a dike was hastily constructed across the street with tractors. Things continued to look bad as unrelenting flames shot from the tanks, and it was expected the steel walls would give way at any moment. However, by 8pm, the flames had died down and the danger lessened. The fire, which threatened to destroy the entire oil field, had taken firefighters 12 hours to control.

Wayne Fisher estimated a total damage of $100,000 ($14.3 million today). By all accounts, the Los Angeles Times reported Mrs. Z. T. Nelson, Signal Hill’s mayor, was the heroine of the fire. Jessie Nelson organized and headed a relief committee to aid the 350 firefighters and saw to it that they were fed in shifts.

She personally passed among them, giving them encouragement.

The day’s most spectacular feat was that of Alex Scott, one of the crew of the Foster wells. While fighting the Fisher Fire, he saw the top of his own derrick burst into flames, and he climbed to the top with a hose strapped to his back in sight of thousands of spectators. He later received $100 for his bravery.

Fortunately, there were no deaths; however, Fred Harold tripped and fell, badly burning his arm as a Courtesy Wikimedia Commons stream of blazing oil escaped from one of the oil tanks.

The cause of the explosion was thought to have been caused by one of the burning derricks falling into the oil tank, causing an instant explosion.

The story of well owner Walter H. Fisher is similar to many who made a fortune on oil. Fisher and his family arrived in Los Angeles with only $5. He opened an insurance business and made an early investment in see COMMENTARY page 7

September is Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) will be joining the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), along with other law-enforcement agencies, transportation agencies and pedestrian advocates, to promote public awareness aimed at pedestrian safety.

The LBPD supports efforts by OTS to educate drivers that “Pedestrians Don’t Have Armor.” This campaign highlights the importance of pedestrian-safety awareness, regardless of whether one is on foot or behind the wheel.

Both in California and nationally, the number of pedestrians killed or injured on roadways is rising at alarming rates. In 2016, 867 pedestrians were killed and more than 14,000 were injured in California alone, a nearly 33-percent increase from 2012. In 2016, the LBPD investigated 16 pedestrian fatal collisions and another 335 major injury collisions.

Traffic officers working this enforcement campaign and on routine patrol will be focusing on drivers, as well as pedestrians, who violate traffic laws such as the following: • Excessive speed • Making illegal turns • Distracted driving • Failing to stop for signs and signals • Failing to yield to drivers or pedestrians.

Safety goes both ways. Drivers and pedestrians must work together to exhibit safe behaviors that protect themselves and those around them, reducing injuries and saving lives.

The LBPD reminds pedestrians of the following safety tips: • Use crosswalks or intersections with a stop sign or signals • Make eye contact with drivers • Look before stepping into a crosswalk Drivers are also reminded of the following: • Be alert of pedestrians • Use caution when backing up • Always wait for pedestrians to safely cross the street; be courteous and patient Both drivers and pedestrians should avoid distractions by not using cell phones and being aware of their surroundings.

Funding for this enforcement campaign is provided to the LBPD by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

LETTERS, EMAILS, WEBSITE COMMENTS AND STATEMENTS

Singing our praises Anita, The article is fabulous! [“The show goes on at LB Shakespeare Company: Lit slams, a name change and a season of villains feature in the theater’s plans,” Sept. 7, 2018] You are such a terrific writer. I was reading the article out loud to a friend and my husband, and they both commented on how well-written it was. Thank you so much for covering so much about the theatre, Helen’s legacy and the work we are doing. You are such a wonderful supporter, along with being a great writer. I firmly believe that it is articles like this that make the Signal Tribune the true “local” paper. [...] It’s people like you who make papers worth reading. Thank you for the article, and thank you to your editor for putting out a paper that values the stories of the community it serves.

Dana Leach Long Beach Shakespeare Company

S IGNA L T R I BU N E

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Neena R. Strichart

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Barbie Ellisen Katherine Green Sharon McLucas

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Stephen M. Strichart

STAFF WRITERS

Cory Bilicko CJ Dablo Anita W. Harris

MANAGING EDITOR

Denny Cristales

CULTURE WRITERS

Adam Buchsbaum Ava Homa Rachael Rifkin

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Paige Pelonis

EDITORIAL INTERN

Lissette Mendoza

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Sebastian Echeverry

COLUMNISTS

Claudine Burnett Blair Cohn

The Signal Tribune welcomes letters to the editor, which should be signed, dated and include a phone number to verify authenticity. Letters are due by noon on the Wednesday before desired publication date. The Signal Tribune reserves the right to edit l­etters for grammar, language and space requirements. Letters must be 500 words or fewer. The Signal Tribune will publish no more than one “pro” letter and one “con” letter on a particular topic in a single issue. The Signal ­Tribune does not print letters that refer substantially to articles in other publications and might not print those that have recently been printed in other ­publications or otherwise presented in a public forum. Letters to the editor and commentaries are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Signal Tribune or its staff. Although the editorial staff will attempt to verify and/or correct i­nformation when possible, letters to the editor and commentaries are opinions, and readers should not assume that they are statements of fact. Letter-writers will be identified by their professional titles or affiliations when, and only when, the editorial staff deems it relevant and/or to provide context to the letter. We do not run letters to the editor submitted by individuals who have declared their candidacies for public office in upcoming races. This policy was put in place because, to be fair, if we publish one, we would have to publish all letters submitted by all candidates. The volume would no doubt eliminate space for letters submitted by other readers. Instead, we agree to interview candidates and print stories about political races in an objective manner and offer very reasonable advertising rates for those candidates who wish to purchase ads. The Signal Tribune is published each Friday with a circulation of 30,000. Yearly subscriptions are available for $50.

1399 E. 28th St., Signal Hill, CA 90755 (562) 595-7900 www.signaltribune.com newspaper@signaltribune.com

COMMUNITY

September 14, 2018

Signal Tribune

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Street performers gather to close out summer-concert series with annual Buskerfest festival.

Lissette Mendoza Editorial Intern

The Downtown Long Beach Alliance presented Summer and Music’s 10th annual Buskerfest festival on Saturday, Sept. 8, when local bands, throughout 1st Street in Long Beach’s East Village Arts District, competed for this year’s busker competition. The audience voted for its favorite band by tossing wooden nickels to the competing performers.

Full photo gallery and video available at signaltribune.com.

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AROUND TOWN

Sept 1st - 29th

562-494-1014 LBPlayhouse.org 5021 E. Anaheim St.

WALK THE WALK What Walking tour Who Hosted by Long Beach Heritage When Saturday, Sept. 15, from 9:30am to noon Where Meet at the WPA Mural, on 3rd and the Promenade More Info Tour highlights include the WPA Mural-Recreation in Long Beach, The Breakers, The Willmore Building, Farmers & Merchants Bank and the First National Bank. Free parking will be available at the 3rd and Promenade parking structure until noon. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased in advance at lbheritage.org.

proaches and activities. The workshops will be facilitated by Richard Harvey, cancer survivor, published author and artist. The cost is free.

Call (562) 933-0971 to RSVP.

PUTT-PUTT What Miniature golf Who Hosted by Leadership Long Beach When Thursday, Sept. 20, from 5pm to 9pm Where Expo Arts Center, 4321 Atlantic Ave. More Info Participants will meet at the Expo Arts Center and go on to “play through” other participating businesses along Atlantic Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard LISTEN UP with their own golf-hole locations, What Hands-on hearing-aid demo including Twig & Willow, RasselWho Hosted by the Hearing Loss bock, EJ Malloy’s, Bixby Joe CofAssociation of America Long fee & Tea and SteelCraft. The entry Beach/Lakewood Chapter fee is $50 per person. Visit leaderWhen Saturday, Sept. 15, from shiplb.org/putt-putt.

10:30am to noon Where The Weingart Center, 5220 APPLY AND LEARN Olivia Ave. What Resource fair More Info Participants will be Who Hosted by the Communiallowed to try more than 50 hear- ty Hispanic Association (Centro ing-assistive technology devices. CHA) and Mayor Robert Garcia Call (562) 630-6141 or visit hlaa- When Saturday, Sept. 22, from lb-lakewood.org.

9am to 1pm Where Jenny Oropeza CommuCREATIVE HEALING nity Center at Cesar Chavez Park, What Art workshops 401 Golden Ave. Who Hosted by the MemorialCare More Info Volunteers will be onTodd Cancer Institute hand to help participants apply for When First and third Mondays citizenship and eligible residents of the month beginning Monday, apply for naturalization applicaSept. 17 tions. Participants will also be Where Todd Cancer Pavilion available to get advice from immiTreatment Planning Room, 3rd gration attorneys. For a list of docFloor, 2810 Long Beach Blvd. uments needed and to RSVP, call More Info The classes will be de- Centro CHA at (562) 612-4180. signed for cancer patients, loved ones and survivors. Each session WHAT’S IN STYLE? will provide mini-lessons on a What Fashion-show fundraiser variety of creative techniques, ap- Who Hosted by Jewish Family and

Children Services of Long Beach (JFCS) When Thursday, Sept. 27, from 5:30pm to 8pm Where Alpert Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Willow St. More Info The event benefits the counseling and social services of JFCS. The show will begin with cocktail hour and will then be followed by the fashion presentation that will feature fall-clothing items from Macy’s. There will also be a drawing for a two-night trip to New York. Tickets cost $50. Visit jfcsrunway.com.

PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE What Seeds of Summer fundraiser Who Hosted by Partners of Parks When Saturday, Sept. 29, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm Where El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St. More Info The event will recognize organizations that have helped fund park events this past summer.

Officials will also provide an opportunity for community groups across the city to begin raising funds by directing proceeds to next summer’s events. Wine, craft beer and appetizers will be served, and a silent auction will be held during the evening event. Tickets cost $75. Visit bit.ly/popseeds19.

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Signal Tribune

COMMUNITY

September 14, 2018

First ever LBCC athletic logo introduced Sports emblem displays ‘classic’ Viking mascot while introducing modern elements, graphic designer says.

Denny Cristales Managing Editor

LBCC recently announced the unveiling of a new logo, described as a black-outlined side profile of a Viking wearing a red-accented helmet. The LBCC Public Affairs & Marketing Department designed and utilized student and faculty feedback to complete the illustration.

Recently celebrating its 90th anniversary, Long Beach City College (LBCC) has always been known as the home of the Vikings, a symbol-

ic display of the strength the Norse seafarers exhibited centuries ago.

Although the symbolism serves as a representation of all students at the community college, the school’s athletic department has never had its own personalized emblem to display in the nine decades athletes have performed– until last week.

Marinda Martin, graphic-design specialist with LBCC’s Office of Communications & Community Engagement, was the sole designer of the logo, and she said she simply

used “pen and paper and my laptop” to complete a Viking drawing that took more than 30 iterations to perfect.

Officials introduced the logo to faculty and staff during LBCC College Day on Aug. 24, but it was not formally introduced to the public until Sept. 6, Martin said.

“While we wanted to create a logo that was more modern and more up-to-date with our school, we still wanted to hold on to some of that see LOGO page 10

Marinda Martin, a graphic-design specialist with Long Beach City College who began in March, sketched out different versions of Long Beach City College’s new athletic logo before digitizing her drawings and finalizing the product.

BOAT 3rd ANNUAL LA HARBOR

Photos courtesy LBCC

Pictured is a display of the Long Beach City College Athletics Department’s new logo, which incorporates elements of Long Beach, such as palm trees and waves, according to Marinda Martin, graphic-design specialist with the college and creator of the illustration. The final version of the logo has the “Long Beach City College” text below the Viking head in black Montserrat regular font and red Daggersquare oblique font.

Food for thought

Upcoming City party event to encourage public to eat healthy, balanced diet.

Denny Cristales

Sept. 20-23 Cabrillo Way Marina

2845 Miner St., Berth 43, San Pedro, CA 90731

Managing Editor

With commercials blaring on television– advertising the McDonald’s Happy Meal and its latest toy, or cartoon characters splashing into a bowl of milk and raving about sugary cereals– it can be difficult for kids to find the appeal in “boring” fruits and vegetables.

Some foods are better than others– both in taste and health– and officials with the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services are aiming to promote healthy diets and active lifestyles to the community for its 6th annual Fruit and Veggie Party.

The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 15, from 10am to 1pm at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1950 Lemon Ave. The public will be able to sample homemade recipes and participate in fruit- and vegetable-themed games, activities in the park’s Peace Garden, mini-obstacle courses, dance-fitness sessions, rodeos and more.

Louisa Franco, program coordinator with Healthy Active Long Beach/Walk and Roll Long Beach and the City Department of Health and Human Services, told the Signal Tribune Wednesday that the event takes a couple of months to plan out.

“Some of the key is to figure out how to make fruits and vegetables exciting and fun, which is why we created the party theme,” Franco said. “So, in terms of planning, we’re thinking about, ‘OK. What does a party have? What can we do to make this fun?’ And, we kind of go from there and think about differ-

SHOW

Courtesy LB Department of Health and Human Services

The City of Long Beach will host the 6th annual Fruit and Veggie Party Saturday, Sept. 15, from 10am to 1pm, at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1950 Lemon Ave. The event will feature food tastings, active games, dance activities and more. Pictured is one of the Fruit and Veggie Party events in years past.

ent things you have at a party to promote eating fruits and vegetables.”

In a press release this week, the City of Long Beach cited recent studies in Los Angeles County that show fewer than 30 percent of those from ages 2 to 17 eat the United States Department of Agriculture’s recommended five or more servings of fruit and vegetables every day.

Franco said eating a healthy and balanced diet promotes longevity and prevention of chronic diseases.

“Maintaining that healthy and balanced diet has been showed to prevent chronic diseases that include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,” she said. “So, it’s really just a matter of making sure you’re

consuming the right fruits and vegetables, which prevent a lot of other issues down the road.”

Part of introducing a healthy diet begins in the kitchen, Franco said.

At the event, party organizers will demonstrate and share recipes with attendees to prepare at home. Some of the food recipes include kale chips and pear salsa. Recipe cards will be available in English and Spanish.

In an email Thursday morning, Lara Turnbull, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention division officer with the City Department of Health and Human Services, wrote that attendees will learn about emphasizing the importance of nutrition at see PARTY page 10

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September 14, 2018

COMMUNITY

Signal Tribune

Commentary

7

continued from page 4

oil, forming the General Petroleum Company. At the time of his death in June 1926, his estimated worth was $5,000,000 ($69.2 million in today’s money).

Denny Cristales | Signal Tribune

Three penguin chicks, who all hatched sometime in May, officially moved in with their parents and siblings Thursday at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s June Keyes Penguin Habitat, after spending months in the facility’s nursery.

Three penguin chicks waddle their way to new home in exhibit The trio of birds reunite with parents, siblings after spending months in nursery since hatching in May. Denny Cristales Managing Editor

Three penguin chicks reunited with their parents and siblings Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s June Keyes Penguin Habitat, officially making their

public debut after hatching in May. Thursday morning, the penguins– two females and one male ranging from eight to 10 pounds– were carted to the habitat, as media witnessed the trio of seabirds familsee PENGUINS page 11

Richfield Oil Fire Another disaster occurred 85 years ago on June 2, 1933. This time, it was an explosion at the Richfield Oil Company at 27th Street and Lime Avenue. The incident killed 10 and injured 35.

It was a horrible tragedy that began with a tremendous refinery blast that was felt in cities 30 miles away. The fire that followed reached two homes, but the heroic efforts of 500 men, armed with shovels, prevented the oil that flowed from broken storage vats from igniting and spreading the fire further into residential areas. All in all, 50 dwellings were damaged and a dozen other small buildings destroyed.

One body taken to Seaside Hospital was so mutilated, staff could not tell if it were a man or woman. A belt buckle was all that helped identify what was left of 34-year-old Robert Bennett, of 3056 E. 2nd St., whose remains were pulled from beneath a pile of charred building. Equipment numbers found near other remains were traced back to those who had checked them out, allowing for further identification. One of the victims was Carl Robinson (226 ½ Covina St.), whose wife told local police that, the day of the blast, had been the first job her husband had been able to obtain in nine months.

Not all casualties were oil workers. The Carlyons were “oil people,” having spent 17 years in the oil fields surrounding Bakersfield.

The family moved to Long Beach when the oil in the Kern River fields began to close down. Little did they realize it would be the mother and daughter, not the oil worker husband, that would die because of oil.

Lottie Carlyon and her 8-yearold daughter, Marilyn, were burned to death before firemen could get near enough to put out the flames that engulfed their home. The mother and the little girl had been knocked unconscious by the blast and were unable to get out of the house before it caught fire. Ironically, Lottie Carlyon’s husband, Tom, was directing a crew of men in a derrick near his home when the blast snuffed out the lives of his family. He was closer to the explosion than his wife and daughter, but he was able to stagger from the burning area before being trapped by flames. The rest of the dead were trapped inside the absorption plant when the blast flattened it.

Witnesses said there were actually two explosions. The first, a minor one, caused the second. The second blast was so intense, it wrecked homes and other structures within a radius of several blocks and shattered plate-glass windows 30 miles away. At first, everyone thought another earthquake had hit (the massive Long Beach earthquake had occurred March 10, 1933), but they quickly realized it was an explosion when an immense column of smoke and flame shot skyward.

Five hundred firemen, police, sailors, marines and volunteers fought for four hours to put out the fire that razed an area of two city blocks. 15,000 spectators gathered to watch the inferno and the thousands of barrels of crude oil that flowed through Long Beach streets like a river.

A storage-tank failure was ruled as the cause of the explosion– the worst in the history of the Signal Hill oil field.

Hancock Fire Many may still remember the shattering explosions and raging flames from the Hancock Oil refinery fire in Signal Hill in 1958.

Several articles were written about the event on the 50th anniversary of the disaster, which occurred on May 22, 1958. It was indeed a day to remember, as a sea of sticky, boiling oil streamed down from Signal Hill, while firemen tried to contain the flames to the tankfarm area of the 10-acre plant.

Homes for miles around– in San

Pedro, Long Beach, Wilmington, Seal Beach, Lakewood and other communities– shook, as if hit by a series of sonic booms, as the explosions continued. One resident a block away said he heard at least 15 to 20 explosions within a five-minute period.

It seemed to have started with an explosion in the loading area of the refinery, located south of the municipal airport and Spring Street. The first blast tore up a tank containing crude oil. Burning petroleum gushed to the ground and quickly spread the fire from tank to tank. Other explosions followed in rapid succession. 50 workers fled for their lives; two, Woodward Langford and James Edwards, didn’t make it.

The stream of oil threatened the airport and the Long Beach Municipal Gas Department plant, with its huge storage tanks. Firefighters concentrated efforts around this area to prevent further devastation.

A vast cloud of black smoke spread eastward, forcing the evacuation of Long Beach General Hospital’s 410 patients. Sooty oil from the billowing ebony cloud was carried by the wind over neighboring areas, damaging homes, cars and everything else in its path. Bulldozers roared through the night, as high earth dikes were built in the area of Termino and Spring to halt the flow of oil from the burst tanks. Yet, some of the oil escaped and entered storm drains, emptying into the Los Cerritos drainage channel. A quantity also found its way to Marine Stadium, despite attempts to suck it up using vacuum trucks at points along the channel.

After a 52-hour fight by 600 men, the Hancock Refinery Fire was extinguished. However, firefighters could still see the grotesque shapes of twisted metal though lingering ribbons of smoke. Woodrow H. Langford, 44, and James W. Edwards, 66, lost their lives, eight were injured and property loss was estimated to be in the millions.

The exact cause of the fire was never determined, but it happened at the same time that rumors surfaced that a large eastern oil company was interested in buying the company.

Burnett is a former Long Beach librarian who, during her 25 years of researching local history, has uncovered many forgotten stories about Southern California that she has published in nine books. She has degrees from UC Irvine, UCLA and Cal State Long Beach. For more information, visit claudineburnettbooks.com.

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Signal Tribune

September 14, 2018

Parents: are your kids texting, socializing and doing homework on their ride to school?

They should be.

No parent wants their kids to drive to school distracted. That’s what makes the safe, comfortable buses of Long Beach Transit the perfect vehicles to connect your high schooler to and from campus.

Not only do LBT buses offer regular service to all Long Beach area high schools for just $1.25 a ride, but 30-day student passes are available for only $40. For more route and fare information, visit lbtransit.com

September 14, 2018

COMMUNITY

9

Signal Tribune

LB, SH participate in National Preparedness Month 2018 Long Beach, Signal Hill Participate in National Preparedness Month, 2018

Paige Pelonis Paige Pelonis Multimedia Editor Multimedia Editor

The Federal Emergency Management Agency observes September as National Preparedness Month annually in order to provide information and opportunities for communities, households and individuals to prepare for emergency and disaster-type situations. This year, the theme is “Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How.” Each week of the month this year has a unique angle along the lines of the theme, according to Ready.gov.

Week 1: Sept 1-8 —Make and Practice Your Plan

To launch National Preparedness Month, the Signal Hill North Neighborhood Association incorporated a presentation by the American Red Cross into the Sept. 6 meeting.

“Disasters don’t plan ahead, but we can,” Chris Wilson, president of the Signal Hill North Neighborhood Association said in a press release. “It is important to make sure our neighbors are prepared, and their neighbors are prepared. This has to be a team effort and a shared responsibility that begins with our own household.”

Week 2: Sept 9-15 — Learn Life-Saving Skills

Sept. 15 is National Day of Action.

READY Long Beach, created in 2014, will host its annual emergency preparedness expo Saturday.

Event Details When: Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 Time: 10:00AM to 4:00PM Where: Cal State Long Beach;1250 N. Bellflower Blvd (Outside the Walter Pyramid) Courtesy Signal Hill North Neighborhood Association

“Tragedies are somber reminders that preparedness is a shared responsibility and that it is critical to maintain readiness,” President Donald Trump said in the Presidential Proclamation on National Preparedness Month, 2018, published Aug. 31, which officially marks September National Preparedness Month for this year.

SIGN UP TODAY! The wacky and fun miniature golf tournament invades Bixby Knolls for an evening of food, drinks and fun playing custom golf holes at the businesses in ‘the Knolls’!

A LEADERSHIP LONG BEACH EVENT Thursday, September 20, 2018 5:00 - 9:00 PM 5:00 pm: Check-in, Hole-in-One contest, raffle Expo Arts Center, 4321 Atlantic Avenue 5:30 pm: Shotgun Start Your foursome will play a 9-hole course visiting businesses along the way. Free shuttle provided by Long Beach Transit.

8:30 pm: 10th Hole @ Expo Arts Center More fun & desserts while awards and prizes for golfers and businesses are presented.

Awards include Best Wacky & Winning Golf Teams - Most Creative Golf Hole Most Challenging Hole - Tastiest Food $50 entry fee per golfer $200 for a foursome $500 for a sponsored foursome (early deadline by September 7th) Enter a foursome or solo players will be added to a team

Register at www.leadershiplb.org/putt-putt Putt-Putt in the Knolls is a Leadership Long Beach 30th Anniversary Experience with proceeds to support the Leadership Long Beach programs.

Week 3: Sept 16-22 — Check Your Coverage

Web resources: • fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program • floodsmart.gov

Week 4: Sept 23-29 — Save For an Emergency

The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit is a joint publication by FEMA and Operation Hope to provide tips on preparing for the fiancial impact of disasters. It is available online at FEMA.gov.

Sources:

FEMA.gov READY.gov whitehouse.gov Signal Hill North Neighborhood Association readylongbeach.org

Design by Paige Pelonis | Signal Tribune

Sponsored by:

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

Signal Hill Community Services Department Presents

H UNDS HILL ON THE

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For more information, please call 562-989-7330.

10

Signal Tribune

Logo

COMMUNITY

September 14, 2018

continued from page 6

traditional imagery,” she told the Signal Tribune Wednesday, adding how elements of the logo also incorporate some aspects of the city. “The bottom of the logo, you see that kind of wave shape? It kind of looks like his fur. That could be interpreted as an ocean wave or the leaves of a palm tree or, of course, it’s his armor.”

In a joint phone interview with Martin, Joshua Castellanos, exec-

utive director with LBCC’s Public Affairs & Marketing Department, said the college’s athletic director, Randy Totorp, reached out to them around March or April about conceptualizing a unique logo for the athletic department.

“I started in January as the new executive director,” he said. “Marinda started in March. The two of us are relatively new. And, I had to go back and look. And, in our 90-year

history– we just had our 90th anniversary– we’ve never had a logo.

It was perfect, because one of the things that I wanted to bring back to the campus is kind of a Viking pride.”

Miranda, who moved from Georgia earlier this year, began working on a series of sketches, eventually digitizing distinct versions to present to LBCC officials. Castellanos said there were short conversations

Party

with students and faculty to garner feedback of Martin’s drawings.

From there, minor tweaks and details were made to complete the final product.

“It’s been a process, really just starting from scratch,” Castellanos said. “[...] We have a really diverse population, but we also wanted to display this strong Viking image. [...] I’m really proud, because this is all internal, and it came from our

marketing department of public affairs.”

The athletic logo is not intended to replace the current iteration of the LBCC emblem, which was introduced in 2008, the college announced. ✦

VIRGINIA COUNTRY CLUB

continued from page 6

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The above graphic is one of many recipes that City of Long Beach organizers will display and share to public on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Martin Luther King Jr. Park for the 6th annual Fruit and Veggie Party event.

home.

“The Fruit and Veggie Party provides an opportunity for the community to come out and learn, in a fun and engaging way, practical tips and ideas for eating healthy and making sure that half of their daily plate is made up of colorful fruits and vegetables,” Turnbull wrote to the Signal Tribune. “We hope the public discovers that eating healthy doesn’t have to take a lot of time or cost a lot

of money– and that fruits and vegetables are yummy!”

The City wrote in its press release that the Fruit and Veggie Party is the final event in Healthy Active Long Beach’s “Power Up Your Summer” campaign, an initiative that encouraged children and families to get at least one hour of active play every day.

More information is available at longbeach.gov. ✦

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September 14, 2018

Signal Tribune

LBPD announces confiscation of Penguins continued from page 7 multiple firearms as a result of five-month investigation The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) announced Thursday, Sept. 13, via a press release, that an illegal-firearm operation officers conducted from February through June of this year resulted in multiple arrests and the confiscation of numerous weapons.

The investigation was conducted in collaboration with the California Department of Justice’s Firearms Bureau, the Long Beach Office of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Offices’ Firearms Relinquishment Program.

Collectively, the operation resulted in 62 arrests, 42 of which were felony arrests, and 13 of them gang-related. Additionally, 73 firearms, which included handguns, shotguns and assault rifles, were confiscated.

The five-month operation was funded through discretionary overtime that was provided to the LBPD by the Long Beach City Council.

“Removing firearms from the hands of individuals who have shown a propensity for violence and cannot legally possess them helps see INVESTIGATION page 13

Port of LB to host public advisory meeting about CAAP progress The Port of Long Beach announced this week that the third advisory meeting regarding the progress of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) 2017 Update will take place Wednesday, Sept. 26, from 9am to 11am at the Port of Long Beach Interim Administrative Offices, 4801 Airport Plaza Dr. The meeting, open to the public, will be located in the first-floor training room of the building. The discussion was originally scheduled for Sept. 19, but the date was changed late Thursday afternoon.

Port officials previously hosted CAAP update meetings in Long Beach on March 29 and in San Pedro on June 26. The Long Beach and Los Angeles boards of harbor commissioners approved up to four CAAP stakeholder-advisory meetings per year as part of the CAAP update plan on Nov. 2, 2017.

During the advisory meeting, Long Beach and Los Angeles officials will discuss the ports’ 2017 annual air-emissions inventories, updates on the new Clean Truck Program, technology-feasibility as-

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sessments, technology demonstrations and information on regulatory developments. Port officials will receive public comment on CAAP implementation issues.

According to the ports, the CAAP 2017 Update is a comprehensive strategy for accelerating progress toward a zero-emission future, while protecting and strengthening the ports’ competitive position in the global economy. Since 2005, port-related air-pollution emissions in San Pedro Bay have dropped 87 percent for diesel-particulate matter, 58 percent for nitrogen oxides and 97 percent for sulfur oxides. Targets for reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) from port-related sources were introduced as part of the 2017 CAAP. The document calls for the ports to reduce GHGs 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

The CAAP was originally approved in 2006.

For more information, visit cleanairactionplan.org.

Source: Port of LB

Denny Cristales | Signal Tribune

On Thursday, Sept. 13, in front of the June Keyes Penguin Habitat, Sara Mandel, penguin expert with Aquarium of the Pacific (right), explains to the press that the three new penguin chicks (left) will soon reunite with their parents and siblings, all whom inhabit the aquarium’s exhibit. The trio of birds were officially moved into the habitat after spending months at the facility’s nursery since hatching in May.

iarize themselves with the outside surroundings of their soon-to-be new home.

Before experts placed them inside the exhibit, penguin expert Sara Mandel with Aquarium of the Pacific explained that Charles Annenberg, who sponsors explore. org, named one of the penguins Cleopatra, or “Cleo” for short, with his daughter. The other two will be named by an aquarium donor and any individual who signs up and pays $100 for the Adopt an Animal Program, respectively.

Roxy and Floyd, two inhabitants of the June Keyes Penguin Habitat, are the parents of two of the new

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A total of 679,543 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were moved through the port. Imports declined 3.6 percent to 343,029 TEUs, while exports increased, inching up 1.9 percent to 119,546 TEUs. Empty containers sent overseas dipped 1.1 percent to 216,968 TEUs. “Our port’s decline in cargo over the last two months is in large part due to a realignment of ocean-carrier alliance services and port calls,” said Mario Cordero, Port of Long Beach executive director. “Another factor is higher tariffs by the United States and China. Thus far, that appears to have helped increase traffic, as shippers act to beat duties imposed on goods this summer.”

August 2017 was one of the busiest months in the Port of Long Beach’s 107-year history, officials said. They added that, at the time, it was the port’s third-busiest month on record, having been exceeded three times since.

Long Beach’s volumes through the first eight months of the year stand at 5,320,930 TEUs. The figure is 9.4 percent above the pace of 2017.

“The higher container volumes earlier this year showed the ability of international trade to bring prosperity and jobs to the U.S. and world economies,” said Tracy Egoscue, Board of Harbor Commission president.

For detailed cargo numbers, visit polb.com/stats.

Source: Port of LB

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Mandel said four of the penguins– Robbie, Roxy, Avery and Kate– in the aquarium’s habitat were rescued from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“We’re not quite sure how they ended up there,” she said. “We think maybe they got lost along the way. Maybe they were trying to follow the source of food, and they made a sort of u-turn and ended up in Rio, Brazil.”

Mandel said that penguins mate for life, jokingly adding that Roxy and Floyd have done a “really, really good job here at the Aquarium of the Pacific.”

“People ask if they are happy,” she said. “And, if they weren’t laying eggs and getting ready to make new penguins, then we would think something else. But, since they do lay eggs for us and have chicks for us every single year, we think that they are very happy birds, because that means they are in the right conditions to lay those eggs and raise their young.”

Minutes before the aquarium opened, aquarium experts grabbed the penguins and placed them inside the exhibit, where the trio seemingly waddled in a mixture of delight and awe, all while the other penguin inhabitants observed their new roommates.

It wasn’t long before Cleo and her two fellow penguins stretched their muscles and swam alongside one another inside the June Keyes Penguin Habitat.

The public can observe the penguins at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s exhibit during regular hours as of this week.

Port of LB numbers dipped in August compared to same month last year, officials announce

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juvenile chicks, who hatched one day apart on May 18 and 19. Cleo is daughter to Kate and Avery.

In a media release this week, the aquarium wrote that Floyd and Roxy are also parents to other penguin inhabitants, including Skipper, Lily, Heidi, Anderson and Gatz.

Kate and Avery’s children are Jade and Fisher.

The aquarium also noted in its release that this is the sixth year penguin chicks have hatched on site.

With the three new penguins, the total number of birds in the habitat is 23, according to Michele Sousa, assistant curator of birds and animals with Aquarium of the Pacific.

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Signal Tribune

TST5748 / 2018 207698 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: LIFE IS SHORT TRAVEL, 2520 Quiet Sands Drive, Signal Hill, CA 90755.

Registrant: BLEVINS STACI, 2520 Quiet Sands Drive, Signal Hill, CA 90755. This business is conducted by: an Individual.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Blevins Staci. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in April, 2008. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on August 16, 2018. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: August 24, 31, & September 7, 14, 2018.

TST5749 / Case No. NS034531 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, 275 Magnolia Ave., Long Beach, CA 90802.

PETITION OF KEVIN GREGORY STEINBERG. TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: KEVIN GREGORY STEINBERG has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing his name as follows: Present Name: KEVIN GREGORY STEINBERG to Proposed Name: KEVIN MICHAEL GREGORY. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: September 25, 2018; Time: 8:30A M; Dept. S26. The address of the court is the same as above. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE, 1399 E. 28th, Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755: August 24, 31, September 7, 14, 2018 ___//ss//___ Michael P. Vicencia, Judge of the Superior Court Dated August 14, 2018 TST5750 / 2018 209318 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: FASTBENDER CONDUIT, 1941 San Anseline Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815. Registrant: FASTBENDER LLC, 1941 San Anseline Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815. This business is conducted by: a Limited Liability Company. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Ramon Clyde Dawson, CEO. The registrant has not begun to use this fictitious business name. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on August 17, 2018. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: August 24, 31, & September 7, 14, 2018.

TST5752 / 2018 2018193756 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: SHORELINE NOTARY, 3748 Gaviota Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. Registrant: JASON C. PARKS, 3748 Gaviota Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Jason C. Parks. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in July, 2018. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on August 6, 2018. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new

fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: August 31, & September 7, 14, 21, 2018.

TST5756 / Case No. YS030395 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, 825 Maple Ave., Torrance, CA 90503 PETITION OF Angela Curtis.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: ANGELA CURTIS has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing her name as follows: Present Name: ANGELA CURTIS to Proposed Name: ANGELA STOKES. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: October 26, 2018; Time: 8:30A M; Dept. M. The address of the court is the same as above. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE, 1399 E. 28th, Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755: September 7, 14, 21, 28, 2018 ___//ss//___ Eric C. Taylor, Judge of the Superior Court Dated August 31, 2018 TST5757 / 2018 226289 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: MORRISSEY FABRIC, 2692 Dawson Avenue, Signal Hill, CA 90755. Registrant: ANITA J. MORRISSEY, 30 VIA DI ROMA WALK, LONG BEACH, CA 90803. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Anita J. Morrissey. The registrant has begun to use this fictitious business name. The registrant began using this fictitious business name in September, 2015. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on September 6, 2018. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code).

Pub. The Signal Tribune: September 14, 21, 28 & October 5, 2018.

TST5758 / Case No. NS034565 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, 275 Magnolia Ave., Long Beach, CA 90802.

PETITION OF Natalia Bermudez Trujillo.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: NATALIA BERMUDEZ TRUJILLO has filed a petition with this court for a decree changing her name as follows: Present Name: NATALIA BERMUDEZ TRUJILLO to Proposed Name: NATALIA JASMIN BERMUDEZ TRUJILLO. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: October 19, 2018; Time: 8:30A M; Dept. S27, Room 5400. The address of the court is the same as above. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE, 1399 E. 28th, Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755: September 14, 21, 28 & October 5, 2018 ___//ss//___ Mark C. Kim, Judge of the Superior Court Dated September 7, 2018

September 14, 2018

Apartments

continued from page 1

Paige Pelonis | Signal Tribune

Tenants of the Lexanna Apartment building meet with Long Beach Residents Empowered Thursday, Sept. 6, to discuss next steps to address significant rent increases in their building.

bill, and I am still in the hole another $192,” Ellett said in a meeting last Thursday.

Ellett said she is afraid her “homeless tendencies” are kicking back in, as her fear of ending up without a home for the second time grows. Approximately 20 years since she was last homeless, Ellett would face the streets this time confined to a walker due to a disability.

The City of Long Beach identified significant “gaps and lack of coordination in the services it currently offers its older residents,” according to the Establishing Care Systems for an Age-Friendly Community GAP Analysis, which was published in May. The report indicated that 14 percent of people 65 years of age or more in Long Beach were living below the poverty level between 2011 and 2015. Lack of affordable and appropriate housing for seniors were listed as areas in need of improvement in the report, as well.

Long Beach Director of Health and Human Services Kelly Colopy said the City does not often capture data by age specifically and that there are ongoing efforts to gather those numbers through the Long Beach Multi-Service Center and other agencies in order to “get a better feel for what those numbers look like.”

“There are a lot of conversations out there right now where we’re hearing about older adults whose rents have been raised, and they can’t afford to live there anymore, and so they’re falling out of housing and looking for different options,” Colopy said. “There are a couple different senior-only, low-income senior developments out there, but they are full and the waitlists are long. There’s not a lot of opportunity in those spaces right now.”

For renter Phillip Holmes, who has lived in the Lexanna building for approximately nine years, if he could be given housing at an alternative facility, such as the nearby Beacon Senior Apartments, he would gladly take it.

“There are new apartments being built right here on the corner of

CITY OF SIGNAL HILL TST5762 NOTICE OF ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION Ordinance No.2018-09-1502 was introduced by the Signal Hill City Council at their meeting of Tuesday, September 11, 2018. A summary of the ordinance is as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, AMENDING SIGNAL HILL MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS 3.20.100 AND 3.20.195 AND ADDING SECTIONS 3.20.220 AND 3.20.230 RELATED TO PURCHASING

A copy of the full text of the ordinance is available in the City Clerk’s Office and on the City’s website: www.cityofsignalhill.org Second reading and adoption of the Ordinance is scheduled for Tuesday, September 25, 2018.

Keir Jones City Clerk Published in the Signal-Tribune newspaper on September 14, 2018.

Posted at City Hall, Signal Hill Library, Discovery Well Park, and Reservoir Park on September 14, 2018

Anaheim and Long Beach Boulevard,” Holmes said. “The buses ride right through there, the Blue Line stops right by there, I can walk half a block down and pay my phone bill, my bank isn’t that far away, the supermarket is two blocks away. It’s a perfect location for me.”

Holmes said he is worried about the application process and the waitlist at the Beacon property, which broke ground last summer. Colopy said that, in addition to long waitlists at the facilities that are available for seniors, homeless seniors with Section 8 Vouchers for subsidized housing are often left waiting, as well.

She said there are approximately 700 to 800 people– not just older adults– with vouchers in Long Beach who are unable to utilize them.

“If someone is homeless, and they’re coming in through our Multi-Service Center, and if they qualify, we can work with them to have a Section 8 Voucher, but it’s been very difficult because we have a lot of people on the streets with Section 8 Vouchers right now, and because the market is so tight for places to live, we find that they’re not able to utilize their vouchers,” Colopy said.

“So, even if we have older adults who have a voucher, it’s very difficult for them to find a place to go.”

After 180 days, vouchers expire per the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rules, and extensions are not made. Colopy said she and the City of Long Beach are continually working on housing trackers and other programs to better identify where vouchers can be used, and they are also working on an incentive program for landlords to accept vouchers, which she said has been somewhat successful.

Holmes, a veteran, said he isn’t looking to move due to the rent increases, necessarily; rather, he is unhappy with how the facility is run.

He said, for example, there have been too many incidents where the water is off with no notice to tenants. “[The rent increase] is not affecting me that much, because I’m a veteran, and I got my apartment through the [Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing] program through the Veterans Administration,” Holmes said, adding that his rent did actually increase by approximately $250, but he is only paying $1 of that amount. “I pay a minimum amount of rent, and the rest is paid for me. But, I had to go to war for that.”

Holmes and other tenants in the Lexanna building have been meeting regularly with Long Beach Residents Empowered (LiBRE) since the notices of the rent increases went out, and the group assisted the tenants with a rally outside of the building in August. Organizers from LiBRE and other similar organizations joined the tenants for the demonstration, carrying large signs with messages such as, “Rent is too damn high,” and

calling out mantras of, “Housing is a human right– fight, fight, fight.”

At their most recent meeting, approximately six tenants joined two representatives from LiBRE in a patio on the property but outside of the building. The group discussed possible next steps and agreed that they would need to take collective action before next month’s rent is due on Oct. 1.

Tenants said they used to convene inside the building in the community room, but approximately three weeks ago, the room was closed with little explanation. Some tenants said they feel their landlord locked the room in order to prevent them from meeting with LiBRE to discuss the next steps in protesting the rent hikes.

Landlord Kenneth Voight did not return calls or emails to the Signal Tribune for his comment, and tenants and representatives from LiBRE said he has not agreed to meet with them since giving the notices.

“I’m not in disagreement with him raising the rent,” said Lexanna tenant Barbara Smith, whose rent increased nearly $300. “I am in disagreement with the extreme amount. It’s a lot of money for seniors who are on a fixed income [...] and we just had an increase around 10 percent [last year.]”

The group discussed the possibility of a rent strike, and they agreed they would need the majority of the tenants to participate in order to be successful. They also discussed options like increasing their social-media efforts to pressure Voight to meet with them or hosting another rally, either outside of the apartment building again or one outside of Voight’s home, which they did last month, as well. “[Lexanna supporters] have been at a lot of council meetings, and we have been working very hard behind the scenes to find ways to support them,” Colopy said. “We’re looking at how many of them living there had Section 8 […] which actually can support them with the increase.

For others, we’re looking for other locations, we’re looking for other mechanisms to utilize Section 8. [...]

I know there’s a lot of conversation where they don’t feel like anybody is doing anything, but I will tell you, there’s a lot of people trying to figure out how to support the people in the Lexanna.”

Colopy said she and her colleagues have reached out to Voight on several occasions to work with him. She said she is hopeful that the policy recommendations that come out of the Everyone Home Long Beach Task Force process will include new items to specifically address the needs of adults in Long Beach.

The intended last meeting for the task force will be held at Century Villages at Cabrillo from 9am to noon Friday, Sept. 21, and drafts of the recommendations are expected to be shared online shortly thereafter. ✦

NEWS

September 14, 2018

EYE ON CRIME CRIMES REPORTED BY THE SIGNAL HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT Friday, Sept. 7 12:24pm Auto burglary 2700 block Cherry Ave. 12:54pm Identity theft 2600 block E. PCH

6:21pm DUI with prior; driving while license suspended/ revoked; hit & run with property damage; misdemeanor warrant 2400 block Cherry Ave (suspect arrested)

Forgery 1700 block Creston Ave. 7:51am Auto burglary 2500 block E. Willow St. 8:07am Auto burglary 2500 block E. Willow St.

Signal Hill Historical Society’s 9:49pm

Saturday, Sept. 8 1:54pm Auto burglary 2700 block Cherry Ave.

9th Annual Pancake Breakfast

Sunday, Sept. 9 7:05am Indecent exposure With all 2000 block Alamitos Ave.

Stolen vehicle– recovered E.32nd St./California Ave. Tuesday, Sept. 11 1:10am Auto burglary 3300 block Brayton Ave.

you can eat 10:22am Pancakes, Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, 9:49am Auto burglary Hash Browns, Coffee and O.J. Grand theft– motor vehi- California Ave./E. Willow cle Great Historic Photos St. & Raffle Prizes

8:09am Burglary 2500 block E. Willow St. 9:13am Auto burglary 2000 block Stanley Ave. 10:23am Forgery 3300 block Lewis Ave.

E. 28th St./Gaviota Ave.

10:25am Possessing controlled substance 3300 Gundry Ave.

Larry Blunden at 562-208-0040 1:18pm 7:33pm for tickets and reservations Burglary; retail merchan- Grand theft Or visit shhs90755.org dise less then $950 2700 block Walnut Ave.

4:55pm Auto burglary 2500 block E. Willow St.

6:11pm Monday, Sept.

10 Grand theft: money/labor/ Reservations /Advance Tickets - $15 12:16pm property over $400 Call Sylvia at 562-597-4220 Spousal abuse 700 block E. SpringorSt. Cherry Ave./E. 28th St. (suspect arrested)

700 block E. Spring St. (suspect arrested)

7:05pm Robbery 1900 block Stanley Ave.

Signal Tribune

13

Police investigating motive, potential suspects in Sept. 8 killing The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) is investigating a motive and suspect in the Sept. 8 killing of a male adult at the 500 block of Rhea Street, according to a recent LBPD press release.

The department dispatched officers to Rhea Street that Saturday, at approximately 2am, to assist the Long Beach Fire Department with “a person down” call, according to police.

When officers arrived, they located the victim, who had been struck in the upper torso by gunfire, on the sidewalk in front of a residence. The Long Beach Fire Department pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s

Office will identify the victim and make notification to next of kin, according to police.

There is no suspect information available. A motive or whether the shooting is gang-related is unknown and remains under investigation.

Those with information regarding the incident can call Long Beach Police Homicide detectives Malcolm Evans and Robert Gonzales at (562) 570-7244. Call -800-222-TIPS (8477) or text “TIPLA,” plus the tip, to CRIMES (274637) to submit anonymous information.

Visit lacrimestoppers.org.

Source: LBPD

Suspect responsible for hit-and-run death of LB resident arrested in separate incident The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) arrested a suspect responsible for murdering a victim in a hit-and-run incident in the intersection of Market Street and Orange Avenue Saturday, Sept. 8, according to an LBPD press release.

The LBPD dispatched officers to the area at 11pm that Saturday. When officers arrived, they learned the victim was walking in the area of Market Street and Orange Avenue, where he got into an argument with the male driver of a red sedan. The argument continued, and while the victim was standing in the center median area of the roadway, the suspect ran him over and fled westbound on Market Street. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

The victim has been identified as 40-year-old Victor Salvador Herrera of Long Beach, according to the LBPD. Shortly thereafter, in the area of Temple Avenue and Willow Street, officers

observed what appeared to be an intoxicated driver and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. When the vehicle collided into a parked car at 10th Street and Obispo Avenue, the suspect was taken into custody.

The LBPD, upon further investigation, determined the intoxicated driver was the same suspect involved in the previous hit-and-run.

The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Sokhorn Hor of Long Beach.

He has been booked for murder and is being held at the Long Beach City Jail on a $2-million bail.

Those with information regarding the incident can call Long Beach Police Homicide detectives Malcolm Evans and Robert Gonzales at (562) 570-7244. Call -800-222-TIPS (8477) or text “TIPLA,” plus the tip, to CRIMES (274637) to submit anonymous information.

Visit lacrimestoppers.org.

Sept. 12 MARK YOURWednesday, CALENDAR7:15am When: Saturday, Sept. 29th 2018 Time: 8-10am Where: Applebee’s Signal Tribune email newsletter coming soon!

2201 E. Willow St. Ste D-180. Signal Hill, CA 90755 Source: LBPD 899 E. Spring Street Signal Hill Sign up on our website. Never miss a headline. shhs90755@icloud.com signaltribune.com

Signal Hill Historical Society’s

9th Annual Pancake Breakfast

With all you can eat Pancakes, Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Hash Browns, Coffee and O.J. Great Historic Photos & Raffle Prizes Reservations /Advance Tickets - $15 Call Sylvia at 562-597-4220 or Larry Blunden at 562-208-0040 for tickets and reservations Or visit shhs90755.org

MARK YOUR CALENDARWhen: Saturday, Sept. 29th 2018 Time: 8-10am Where: Applebee’s 899 E. Spring Street Signal Hill

Investigation

continued from page 11

prevent gun violence and makes our community safer,” said LBPD Chief Robert Luna in the press release.

According to the LBPD, those prohibited from possessing firearms may include felons, ex-felons, individuals restricted by conditions of their probation/parole or restraining orders, dishonorable discharge from military and those placed on mental-evaluation holds.

The department wrote that officers became aware of these individuals through various means, which include tips from the community, court processes, information from other law-enforcement agencies and through information sharing between LBPD detectives and patrol officers.

Source: LBPD

The Signal Tribune has reached over 400 followers on Twitter!

Connect with us. @signaltribune

14

NEWS

Signal Tribune

Mosquito

Shelter

continued from page 3

continued from page 1

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes in California Detection Sites by County/City Updated September 7, 2018

Aedes aegypti Aedes albopictus

Fresno

Kings

Tulare

Kern

San Bernardino

Los Angeles Orange

Riverside Imperial

San Diego

Counties with Aedes aegypti only: Fresno, Imperial, Kings, Madera, Riverside, Merced, Tulare Both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus: Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego See pages 2 and 3 for Aedes detections by city or censusdesignated place in each county.

1

Map of Aedes mosquitoes found throughout California

down at the ports,” Middleton said.

“We did inspections of all the cargo containers that were coming in. The CDC put an embargo on how the lucky bamboo could be shipped into California, and it literally changed the way that the product was brought into the states.”

Middleton said vector-control officials are not sure if the current Aedes spike is the population of eggs left over from the bamboo embargo, or if the mosquitoes are being shipped in again through a different method.

“Genetic testing shows that the ones we have now are virtually identical to the ones we had in 2001,” she said. “So, there was either continued importations, or it was a held-over population that was able to survive.”

If mosquitoes were to become infected with Zika, dengue fever, yellow fever or chikungunya, health officials are concerned Aedes mosquitoes already present in the area can easily transmit the diseases from person-to-person.

Officials with Long Beach Health and Human Services (LBHHS)– Judeth Luong, Emily Holman and Lamar Rush– told the Signal Tribune Tuesday during a phone interview that the Aedes mosquito population could survive throughout cooler months later in the year, prompting a year-round surveillance of the insect’s local population.

Both LBHHS and GLACVCD officials are asking residents to help identify areas near their homes

where mosquitoes can lay eggs, specifically in areas with still water.

Aedes mosquitoes mostly lay eggs in small containers that are holding water in yards– mostly in saucers under potted plants, vases that have flowers in them, buckets where plants are being rooted, old tires and water found in stems of plants.

They commonly lay their eggs around the edges of the containers or stems filled with water. Middleton said the eggs can remain alive in people’s yards for years. She suggested residents scrub out areas where water may be found in order to fully eliminate the eggs.

The GLACVCD uses Bacillus thuringiensis serotype israelensis bacterias, which produces toxins that are effective at killing various species of mosquitoes, to control adult-mosquito populations. However, Middleton said this process is not as effective compared to directly targeting mosquito eggs and larva.

Aedes mosquitoes do not fly too far from where they hatched, a pattern that could help in identifying where the other eggs could be found, according to Middleton.

Holman added that residents can call the LBHHS hotline to report mosquitoes near their homes. The number on its website is (562) 5707907.

The CDC has identified LA County as one of the top-risk areas for the importation of diseases, such as dengue or Zika virus, because of the

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large population.

“We have 10 million people that travel south of the border and to Asia,” Middleton said. “They come back home, and if they have the virus in their system, and they get bitten by our local Aedes mosquitoes, then those mosquitoes could continue to spread it around. So, we could have an outbreak.”

During Tuesday’s joint interview with Luong and Holman, Rush explained that Brazil’s Zika virus outbreak in 2016 put global-health officials on alert, but he pointed out that while Brazil was experiencing its summer season, the United States was undergoing winter. However, he said cases of patients with Zika have been recently recorded in Mexico, which is on a similar seasonal pattern as the U.S. “One infected mosquito could infect numerous people,” Middleton said, “and if the mosquito population is high, an outbreak can happen very quickly.” ✦

LIVES LIVED

Edward Toohey 94 Carolyn Bremer 60 Thomas Nickerson 75 Edward Robinson 72 Consoline Muzzarelli 100 Marian Fleming 96 Jennie Simon 96 John Brodie 73 Charles Steward Jr. 82 Norma Patterson 89 Robin Prudhomme 67 Edythe Sullivan 80 Margaret Borren 83

The families were assisted by McKenzie Mortuary.

For more details on service dates and times, contact (562) 961-9301.

functions that are prioritized or may add more value.

PRM management provided responses– in some cases, detailed– to each item, as well as target-implementation dates for all but four.

“As you can see in our response, some of the items are aligned with our upcoming strategic planning process, scheduled to begin early in 2019, but [that] has already begun, to some extent, with the creation of the mayor’s ACS visioning task force,” Stevens wrote. “The item related to the contract cities was already completed and implemented in the recent contract renewals. The recommendations related to the licensing program and canvassing operations [are] currently being worked on through the [request-for-proposal] process to determine if this can be contracted out to a vendor. We have begun the initial steps of communicating with the Financial Management Department to assist with the collection efforts for the unpaid debt. And, lastly, we are currently working on a plan to attempt to increase our licensing compliance and revenue generation based on the recommendations from the report.”

However, Stevens emphasized that the report was based on 2017 information and that ACS has since been able to add key staff members because of city council approval.

“Since then, some things have changed,” he said. “In [Fiscal Year] 2018, council approved the addition of a third [registered veterinary technician] position and a full-time marketing person, and in FY ‘19, council approved an additional part-time veterinarian position and $120,000 of one-time funds for adoptions. So, improvements are being made in those areas with regard to staffing.”

Stevens also indicated that ACS generates almost $2 million in annual revenue, which, he said, is almost 40-percent cost recovery for its $5-million budget.

“This wasn’t in the comparison with the other shelters,” he said, “but I believe that, as a percentage of budgetary-cost recovery, we would be the highest or at least at the top part of the list.”

The full audit report is available at cityauditorlauradoud.com, under “Reports.”

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Pets of the week: Evan and Mitchell

The research firm of Evan and Mitchell say that evidence points strongly to the idea that orange cats are special. Here are two of them submitted for your approval.

Evan is a 6-month-old lad who looks like the class valedictorian in his photo, but don’t let that fool you. He’s as playful as a kitten (which he still is). His pal, Mitchell, is 9 years old and would be a perfect lap cat, but he can do “kitten” when he feels like it!

Come test the data for yourself—meet them on the shelter side of the Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring St., (562) 570-PETS. Ask for ID#A610448 for Evan and ID#A566417 for Mitchell.

NEWS

September 14, 2018

Council

Signal Tribune

15

continued from page 1

groundwater to help ensure that more of the water is usable.

She said that the new total storage capacity represents about 23 percent of the total design capacity of 134 acre-feet.

City Manager Charlie Honeycutt affirmed that the City would keep looking for opportunities to build out the remaining 90 acre-feet of storage capacity.

“When you look long-term, it’s a daunting task to try to figure out how we’re going to pay for all of this,” he said. “LA County is proposing on the November ballot a parcel tax to offset some of the cost of some of these stormwater regulations.”

Anita W. Harris | Signal Tribune

Part of a planned mural for the children’s section of the new Signal Hill Public Library under construction, discussed at the Signal Hill City Council meeting Sept. 11

receive an additional $300,000 for construction-management support. The remaining funds, about $310,000, will be allocated to contingency and other administrative costs associated with the project.

Previous funds from Caltrans allowed the City to build 21 acre-feet

Sponsored by:

of storage for stormwater runoff at the site, which will now increase to 31 acre-feet by June 2019.

Kelli Tunnicliff, public works director, said that the facility is designed to clean trash out of stormwater runoff and then further filter the water as it percolates down into

Traffic enforcement The council authorized the chief of police to accept an $85,000 grant from the State’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to offset Signal Hill Police Department (SHPD) costs of participating in public-safety enforcement and training. The funds are allocated through OTS’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP).

“The grant will be used to offset police department costs to participate in public-safety education and enforcement events that are aimed at lowering traffic collisions citywide,” Police Chief Christopher Nunley said.

Nunley said OTS has granted the police department such funds since the early 1990s to finance training classes, enforcement activities and purchasing traffic-safety equipment, such as the department’s DUI trailer, alcohol-screening devices, traffic-calming devices and RADAR trailers.

He further said SHPD will use this new grant to promote traffic safety and reduce collisions, such as by creating a program to identify repeat DUI offenders, establishing DUI and driver-license checkpoints, conducting DUI-enforcement patrols, targeting drivers distracted by cell phones and educating the public

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

in traffic safety.

In its grant application, SHPD noted that it handled 396 traffic collisions in 2017– up from 361 in 2016– resulting in 286 injuries and three fatalities. It found that unsafe vehicle speeds and drivers under impairing influences resulted in the three fatalities. In one collision, a pedestrian was struck and killed in a crosswalk.

The OTS program will also provide funding to train up to 10 police officers in impaired-driving enforcement and drug recognition.

As part of STEP, Nunley said SHPD will participate in several government programs promoting traffic safety, including National Walk to School Day, National Teen Driver Safety Week, National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, National Bicycle Safety Month, National Motorcycle Safety Month, National “Click It or Ticket” Mobilization, National Child Passenger Safety Week and California Pedestrian Safety Month.

“The kickoff [will be] in November,” Nunley said.

Salary increases The council approved updating pay schedules for City employees to reflect recently reported cost-of-living increases. The updates, effective as of July 2018, are consistent with previously agreed upon employee MOUs. Deputy City Manager Hannah Shin-Heydorn explained that, according to a recent report, the past year’s local consumer-price index increased by 3.9 percent, and therefore, as calculated by employee MOUs, the City will update pay schedules to reflect a total of three percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the Police Officers Association and two percent for the Signal Hill Employees’ Association (SHEA).

The council further adopted a resolution updating management salaries.

“The management resolution is tied to the provisions contained in the SHEA MOU,” Shin-Heydorn said. “As such, the proposed management resolution incorporates a two-percent COLA per the SHEA MOU.” Purchasing methods The council agreed to introduce an ordinance amending the Signal Hill Municipal Code to update the City’s practices regarding purchasing agreements in order to allow cooperative-purchasing agreements and master “on-call” agreements.

Specifically, the ordinance amends sections 3.20.100 and 3.20.195 of the municipal code and adds sections 3.20.220 and 3.20.230 related to purchasing.

Shin-Heydorn explained that the City’s municipal code regarding purchasing guidelines had not been updated since 1989 and did not reflect more modern and efficient purchasing and contracting practices.

“The purpose of the ordinance […] is to memorialize the City’s ability to use cooperative-purchasing agreements and master agreements to promote administrative efficiencies, as well as cost savings,” Shin-Heydorn said.

One of those practices is establishing competitively awarded oncall agreements with a number of companies that the City can draw on as needed for maintenance and repair work.

“An on-call agreement is different from a traditional agreement in that the consultant, contractor or service provider is ready and waiting to meet the City’s needs as they arise,” Shin-Heydorn said. “Rather than going through a three- to four-month competitive process after a need is

identified, the process is completed in anticipation of identified needs.”

Although the council generally supported the principles behind the changes, it only approved the ordinance after reducing the proposed threshold amount that staff could contract without council approval from $175,000 to $100,000.

Shin-Heydorn explained that staff had based the $175,000 threshold on best practices specified in the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act, which the State uses.

Councilmember Edward Wilson questioned whether the amount in the act applied equally to big cities as small.

“I’m generally in favor, but I’m also very conservative when it comes to public money,” he said.

“I’ve always thought that anything over $100,000 should come back to council.”

The rest of the council agreed, except for Vice Mayor Larry Forester, who disagreed with amending the threshold amount. The motion thus carried with a four-to-one vote.

“Everyone at staff level [including the public works director] is comfortable with $100,000,” Honeycutt said after consulting with Tunnicliff.

“We presented the $175,000 because that’s what, at the state level, they allow, but […] if council is more comfortable with $100,000, staff is fine with that.”

Library news Mayor Tina Hansen introduced Coral Rios, a recently promoted library assistant with a degree from Cal State Fullerton in English literature who is working on her master’s degree in library and information science.

“Coral has worked as a library aide for the City of Signal Hill for four years and also has experience working in school libraries,” Hansen said. “Coral has led and planned many activities to help teens build social and team-working skills during the library after-school program.”

Tunnicliff said that construction of the new library is “starting to take shape” with framing and is still on schedule to be completed by March 2019.

Finally, the council approved a contract for $118,600 with design-installation firm The Shop @ ShowReady to construct a 3D dinosaur-themed children’s area in the library, as well as a $20,000 contract with artist Tracey Maloney’s firm, My Art and Soul, for a related wall mural.

“Both of these elements were presented to the library-design committee,” Honeycutt said.

Architect Robert Coffee, with whose company the City has contracted for library construction, said that the design includes the 3D dinosaur emerging from a wall, a rock that children can walk through that has pictograms and fossils embedded in it and a 3D tree.

“The mural becomes a backdrop for these three-dimensional elements,” he said. “Plus, we’re having a three-dimensional pterodactyl flying.”

The next Signal Hill City Council meeting will take place Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 7pm, in the council chamber at 2175 Cherry Ave.

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Signal Tribune

September 14, 2018

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