LOS AL N EIGHBORLY N EWS 07.01.20
Dear District 1 Residents,

This Saturday, we celebrate the Fourth of July, honoring the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of our great nation. While we celebrate with hot dogs, cold beverages, and fireworks, let us be thankful for our freedom and our ability to affect change in our surroundings. While we have come a long way since 1776, let us look to the future to continue to progress and continue to improve this Great American Experiment.

As a reminder, all fireworks, including Safe and Sane fireworks, are illegal in Los Alamitos. If you are looking for a firework show, I hope to see you at the Joint Forces Training Base (see details below).

If you have comments, questions, or concerns about anything regarding the City, you can email me at deanlosal@gmail.com or call me at (562) 241-0235.

God bless you and God Bless America.

Dean Grose
Los Alamitos City Councilmember
City Hall, Police Department, Community Center and other City facilities to reopen to public .
As the State of California moves through its reopening stages aimed at gradually reopening businesses, the City of Los Alamitos will reopen City Hall, Police Department, and the Community Center with modified hours of operation and procedures for visiting. Beginning Monday, July 6, 2020, Los Alamitos City Hall located at 3191 Katella Avenue will be open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for walk-in visits, and 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. by appointment only. It is recommended for visitors to schedule an appointment to ensure staff availability and reduce wait times.

·  Planning Division – (562) 431-3538, ext. 303  ·  Building Division – (562) 431-3538, ext. 302  ·  Engineering Division – (562) 431-3538, ext. 110

The Los Alamitos Community Center located at 10911 Oak Street will be open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. beginning July 6, 2020. Only participants that are enrolled in a class and/or program will be allowed to enter the Community Center Friday through Sunday. On-Line registration is highly encouraged to limit the number of visitors to the Community Center. Please contact the Los Alamitos Community Center at (562) 430-1073 for more information.

Visitors to City Hall and the Community Center will be required to wear face coverings and staff will greet all visitors at a check-in station prior to entering the buildings. The check-in station will include a temperature check and a visual check for Covid-19 symptoms. Social Distancing markers along the outside for those waiting to enter will be placed.

The public is encouraged to stay at home if you are exhibiting any Covid-19 symptoms. City facilities will be sanitized frequently and hand sanitizers will be readily available for both City staff and the public.
My City My Los Al: Celebrating 90720 on 9/7/20
The Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department brainstormed a new event to celebrate the 90720 zip code date approaching Labor Day, September 7, 2020. Below are the details of the proposed event:

  • Street Fair from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (close Oak Street from the Oak Middle School driveway entrance to the back parking lot)
  • Vendors (Social Distanced)
  • Farmer’s Market
  • Restaurant Tasting (ticket based/half proceeds to restaurant/half to Recreation Dept. Scholarship fund)
  • A couple different bands spaced out throughout the street
  • Bike to/walk to event
  • Arts and crafts
  • Art display depicting Los Alamitos history, living, and experiences
  • Giveaways branding 90720
  • Silent Auction to benefit participating local service non-profits
  • Possible Dinosaur Egg Hunt Area
  • Parking available at Oak Middle School
I-405 Freeway Widening Project

The Northbound I-405 exit onto Seal Beach Blvd will be closed until approximately July 29th to accommodate the freeway widening project. As demolition, excavation, grading, and more will be taking place in this area, please be mindful that work be loud around this area.
Issues of Speeding
Residents on Walnut Street and Chestnut Street in Old Town West have done petitions suggesting some type of methods to decrease speed of cars on their streets. Speed studies have been done on both streets and the Traffic Commission is considering options.
 
I have discovered there are NO speed limit signs in the entire Old Town West; and suggested posting signs and even painting the speed limit on the pavement (low cost alternative). Crosswalks were painted yellow with hash lines, in preparation for opening of schools in late August. I have also suggested painting “School Zone” on pavements leading up to the middle school. Many of the cars speeding belong to our neighbors and hopefully we can help identify those moving faster than permitted and get them to recognize that youngsters are out playing and speeding is a danger for our kids.
 
Other suggestions to the police department include positing “Kids at Play” signs, perhaps holding a town hall in the neighborhood with our police to consider further mediation. Residents are encouraged to email recommendations to the City Police and Traffic Commission. Please copy me on those:  deanlosal@gmail.com .

Infrastructure Update




Stansbury Park: Staff fixed a leaking irrigation valve.




Bradbury Road: Staff weeded, trimmed the median islands along the street.
West Cities Police Communications Center
I was selected to represent Los Alamitos on the Joint Powers Authority of the West Cities Police Communications Center, and at the meeting I was elected Chairman. The Joint Powers Authority was set up to handle 911 emergency calls for the cities of Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and Cypress. The Board got a briefing on their operations security for web traffic and overall sensitive public safety items. We also approved the operating budget for 2020-2021.
Construction Update



3131 Katella Ave, EPSON: Concrete work and interior painting are underway. The pedestrian bridge (left) is finished. EPSON will look to open in August, with 600 employees, after relocating from Long Beach


10650 Los Alamitos Blvd, Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites: Landscaping and paver installation is in progress. In addition, the hotel is working to put up its sign.
New Police Hires

The City of Los Alamitos is pleased to welcome to its Police Department Officer Brent Arnold and Police Aide Belinda Roman. Officer Arnold is a lateral officer from Updland, and Ms. Roman is a former intern from the Seal Beach Police Department.
District Elections
Starting in November, 2020, the City of Los Alamitos voters will be selecting Council Members based on district representation, instead of city-wide elections.

District 1 is primarily bounded by Cerritos Avenue on the north; Bloomfield Avenue on the east; Katella and Farquhar on the south; and the Coyote Creek on the west. Neighborhoods include Old Town East, Old Town West, a portion of the Bungalows (in Long Beach) and one short street, also west of the San Gabriel River of about eight homes, and a portion of the Apartment Row West, from Reagan St. west to Los Alamitos Blvd.

The city has an estimated 11,700 residents and about 6,000 registered voters citywide.  As required of the California Voters Act, the city hired a demographer and hosted 5 public hearings to create a map containing roughly 1,400 voters per district.
Have you completed the 2020 census?
It is not too late to fill out the 2020 Census. It is vital that as many people fill out the census as possible as the census is used to allocate federal funds for schools and infrastructure. It takes 15 minutes and is done online.
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This communication was not created at City or taxpayer expense.

Paid for by Friends of Dean Grose
FPPC ID#1245627