Signal Tribune Newspaper

BY NICK DIAMANTIDES
Staff Writer

During its August 12 meeting, the Signal Hill City Council appointed four local residents to the recently created Sustainable City Committee. The 16-member advisory body will meet once a month to discuss and develop strategies to make Signal Hill a more environmentally friendly city. The committee will make recommendations to the council, which may respond by issuing directives to city staff, or adopting ordinances and regulations that apply to residents, businesses and contractors undertaking projects in the city.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the council appointed Timothy Williamson, Robert Copeland, Elsie Mustaller and Albert Warot to the committee. Two councilmen, Larry Forester and Ed Wilson, were appointed to the committee on June 10. The other 10 members include one member from each city commission, and various city staff. The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., September 2 in the third-floor conference room of City Hall.
The council also approved the update of the city’s General Plan Housing Element and directed staff to submit it to the State Department of Housing. In addition, the council adopted ordinances changing the zoning of property at 1500 Hill Street in order to develop it as a 60-unit affordable housing project. In another action, the council and Signal Hill Redevelopment (RDA) Agency adopted resolutions authorizing the expenditure of RDA funds for the acquisition of land and the design and construction of a new police station at 2750 Walnut Avenue. The RDA will use its eminent domain powers to acquire the four-acre site. The project is expected to cost about $15 million.
The next meeting of the Signal Hill City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m., August 26 in the City Hall Council Chambers.