La Mirada Blog
Articles by Tony Aiello
Refuse Hauler Will Pay for Street Sweeping Services if City Extends Agreement
City expected to approve $60,000 mailing program; other news from recent city council study session and regular council meeting
La Mirada~The city is claiming it will save $238,000 per year by approving a three-year extension to its current 10-year agreement that went into effect on July 1, 2009 with EDCO Disposal for refuse services in La Mirada
EDCO has proposed to find a new company for street sweeping, and pay for it, in exchange for the three-year extension of its original deal slated to end in 2019. Now their agreement will be extended to 2022.
For street sweeping services, the city has contracted with R.F. Dickson Co. for the past 48 years-currently under the terms of a five-year agreement set to expire next month on June 24th.
The new street sweeping company would be approved by the city and would be bound by current specifications and level of services.
City of La Mirada Public Works Director Steve Forster told the La Mirada Blog it is expected that Dickson would be one of the applicants when EDCO searches for a new street sweeping provider.
The City of La Mirada, even in these tough economic times, allocates funding for social service agencies that provide services to residents in La Mirada.
"This is money that comes out of the general fund," said City Manager Tom Robinson.
The agencies submit their request through an application process, and then are scrutinized by the city's Community Services Commission. The commission then provides their recommendations.
New Housing Project Coming to La Mirada
Look for expanded version of this story in this weekend's La Mirada Lamplighter
La Mirada~After sitting vacant for more than eight years, the La Mirada City Council is expected to approve this month, a 41-unit new housing project for the former Alondra Center, after the project was recently approved by the city's Planning Commission.
"We're excited and ready to start swinging some hammers and moving some dirt," said Brett Whitehead, president of Brandywine Homes who is purchasing and developing the property, "we hope to begin grading by July, and have model homes open for viewing by January of next year."
Bounded by Alondra Boulevard on the south, Escalona Road on the west, Dalmatian Avenue on the east, and homes on the north, the new neighborhood is proposed to be a closed-gate community, with a private vehicular entrance and three controlled pedestrian access gates.
The City of La Mirada Redevelopment Agency (RDA) has acquired 10 of 11 parcels on the property. The execution of a purchase agreement for the remaining parcel (previous Arco gas station), is still under negotiation.
The Whittier Daily News is reporting the city stands to lose at least $7 million on the deal-paying $12.5 million to purchase the property and receiving only about $5.7 million from Brandywine.
Although other shopping centers in the city seem to fall into a similar category, in March 2004, then city manager Andrea Travis defined the center as "blighted", and the city began the process of demolishing the site, with the intent to ultimately purchase it and develop single family homes.
According to the recent report from the city's Community Development Department, the change was necessitated by the condition of the center, along with "poor tenant retention and an increase in vacancies leading to loitering, vandalism and public safety concerns. The overall condition of the center negatively impacted the aesthetics of the City"
In 2005, the decline of the housing market led to a failed attempt to develop the property.
The two-story homes of the Orchards housing project will vary from 1,995 sq. ft. to 2,720 sq. ft. and will range from $400,000 to $500,000.
VIDEO: See Brandywine Homes president Brett Whitehead briefly describe housing project to the planning commission here.
Photos: Artists rendering of proposed development; a view of the vacant lot
Crossroads Center to be Developed
New Walgreens Will Spur Development at Stagnant "Unsightly" Center;
VIDEO: See residents address commission here.
La Mirada~Something is finally happening at the Crossroads Center in La Mirada, at least part of it.
No, really.
At its last meeting, the La Mirada Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit to allow for a drive-thru as part of a new 13,650 square foot Walgreens 
retail pharmacy to be built on the southern portion of the site-which is mostly vacant- located at Telegraph Road and Imperial Highway.
"It's good to finally be at this point," said Ruben Arceo, director of community development for La Mirada, "we're excited."
The city has made numerous attempts to develop the center.
"Look for grading to begin this summer", says Tab Johnson, partner, associated with Rich Development, who owns the property, "we should have everything done by the fourth quarter of this year."
Jeanette Garcia who lives across the street on Goldendale Drive calls the property a "dumping ground."
"They told us 10 years ago that a Home Depot was going in there. It's looked like this since. We open our front door and this is what we see. There are always people dumping mattresses, furniture, dogs, puppies, you name it. And, in the summer we have the skateboarders. I've been going to the meetings so I can find out if this is really going to happen or not." she said.
"I am very excited and am looking forward to this. I really want something done there. We want to spend money in our city. Unfortunately, La Mirada does not have a lot of shopping options, but this will very convenient."
New Development Coming to Crossroads Center
La Mirada~Something is finally happening at the Crossroads Center in La Mirada.
No, really.
After what seems like a hundred years, partial development will happen at the site with a new 13,650 square foot Walgreen's retail pharmacy opening, maybe by Christmas of this year.
"I'm excited about this", says Jeanette Garcia who live across the street on Goldendale Dr.
In recent years, parts of the property have been described by some as a "dumping ground."
"Look for grading to begin this summer", says Tab Johnson, partner, associated with Rich Development, who owns the property.
VIDEO: http://youtu.be/T16xIwdpAK8
UPDATED: Power Line Falls, Catches Tree on Fire
La Mirada~An aging power line fell from its pole early evening tonight, about 5:50 p.m., in the backyard of a home at 14626 Hardaway Drive in La Mirada.
After a brief tree fire, power was disrupted in the area. No injuries reported.
Officer Sanchez of the La Mirada Sheriff's Station told us, "we received a report of a power line down, and Edison is on the scene to fix the problem."
We are getting reports electricity has been restored, however residents can expect sporadic outages as Edison continues repairs through the night.
Here is our video with a couple of residents who witnessed the incident: Watch Video
UPDATE: From Lauren Bartlett, Southern California Edison spokeswoman, "187 customers in La Mirada are without power in La Mirada at this time. The cause is under investigation and crews cannot estimate at this time when power will be restored. The area affected by the outage is Gardenhill Drive to the north; Mansa Drive to the south; Biola Avenue to the east; and Estero Drive as the western boundary"
Council Establishes Two New Speed Lmits in La Mirada
La Mirada~After a recent city traffic and engineering survey, and a recommendation from the City's Public Safety Commission, the La Mirada City Council adopted a resolution with an ordinance that will change the speed limits for two streets in La Mirada.
A 35 mile per hour speed limit is now set for Alicante Road, between Santa Gertrudes and Hillsborough Drive. Previously at 40 miles per hour, neighborhood and pedestrian activity justify the decrease, according to a city report.
Also, 35 miles per hour limit will now be the set limit on Phoebe Avenue (also down five), between Alondra Boulevard and Firestone Boulevard, this decrease attributed to the collision rate reflected in the study, and increased traffic exiting from driveways at slower speeds (trucks).
5 Freeway Project Closures To Begin This Week
UPDATE: Inclement weather have forced the closures to this week May 6-10
Santa Fe Springs~Caltrans will close up to two lanes on both sides of the 5 Freeway between Carmenita Avenue and Valley View Avenue from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday this coming week
Motorists are urged to exit at Rosecrans Avenue or Valley View Avenue to avoid delays.
The work is part of the $110 million I-5 Widening and Alondra Boulevard Bridge Project.
The overnight work involves placing concrete median barriers and re-striping the lanes.
Caltrans is constructing one carpool lane and one general purpose lane in each direction from North Fork Coyote Creek Bridge to Marquardt Avenue, reconstructing the Alondra Boulevard and North Fork Coyote Creek overcrossings, and realigning and upgrading adjacent frontage roads.
Also this week, the southbound Carmenita Road off-ramp will be closed from 7 p.m. Wednesday to 5 p.m. Thursday for work involving the $380 million Carmenita Road Bridge Project which eventually, will be widened from its existing two lanes to ten.
All this work is part of the 5 Freeway South Corridor Improvement Projects from the Los Angeles/Orange County line to I-605.
For more information call (855) 454-6335 or visit www.I-5info.com
Garcia Takes Over the Helm as Mayor of La Mirada
La Mirada's First Family
From the La Mirada Lamplighter Newspaper!
La Mirada~Gabe Garcia took over tonight as mayor of La Mirada replacing outgoing mayor Steve Jones after one year.
Garcia was joined by many family, friends and others, to congratulate and wish him well.
Garcia was elected to the city council in March 2009. Previously, he was elected to the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District's Board of Education for three consecutive terms from 1993-2005.
Garcia becomes the first Latino mayor in the city's 52-year history.
In La Mirada, mayor's serve one-year terms on a rotating basis, with council members basically, taking "turns" as mayor. So, the evening was mostly a ceremonial, nominating and voting process, with Garcia beginning his first stint at the helm.
Officially, the vote was 5-0.
Councilman Steve DeRuse was voted in as mayor pro tem.
Norwalk-La Mirada School Board of Education President, Darryl Adams presented a certificate of recognition to outgoing Mayor Steve Jones, thanking him for his contributions to the school district and the community saying, "You have been an exemplary model of what a leader is all about-leading with consistency."
Captain Pat Maxwell of the Norwalk Sheriff's Station also thanked Jones for his support on behalf of all the men and women at the station, and presented him with a $250 check for the charity of his choice. Jones said he would donate the money to the California School Project organization.
After the meeting, we asked Garcia if he has any priorities for his first term as mayor.
"First, the fiscal health of the city, second, would be the strategies in dealing with the loss of redevelopment, and attracting new businesses to our shopping centers with new incentives," he said.
Another “Original” Resident Bolts La Mirada for Wisconsin
La Mir
ada~Neighbors and family gathered this past Sunday to say goodbye to long-time La Mirada resident Audrey Floud, 91, who is moving away after living in her La Mirada home for over 55 years.
She and her husband Bill, who died in 1997, are the original owners of her home on Los Fuentes Road.
Dozens of friends stopped by the home of Jack and Nancy Jenkins, their next door neighbors, who hosted the gathering. They have lived next door since 1956-moving in shortly after the Floud's. Many years ago, they had a gate constructed that connects their adjacent homes through the back yard wall, which they still utilize today.
In 1953, Andrew McNally's famous olive-producing La Mirada land was sold to subdivision developers for 5.2 million dollars, one of the largest real estate transactions in California at the time. From 1953-1960 La Mirada had grown from a mere 100 homes to over 8,000. By 1960, the city was incorporated.
Today, there are still nearly a dozen original owners or "settlers" on Los Fuentes, many who stopped by for the party. Many of them have been the only occupants in their La Mirada homes since they were built in 1955-and most are still here.
Now, there is one less.
The Floud home will go up for sale, as Audrey is moving to Wisconsin to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Michele and Mark Johnson, and their family, where they run a RV Campground Resort.
We asked the high-spirited 91-year old how she and her husband ended up in La Mirada.
"Back then, my husband and I both worked at the LA County Hospital on State Street in Los Angeles."
She was a nurse and he was an ambulance driver.
La Mirada Baseball Begins League Play With Big Win
La Mirada~The La Mirada high school baseball team began its defense of the Suburban League title yesterday by beating the Bellflower Bucaneers 7-0, behind a strong pitching performance from Ali Anthony and assists from a shaky Bucaneers defense.
La Mirada shared the title with Mayfair last season, with both teams finishing 10-2. The Matadores have won 12 of the last 13 league crowns.
As in recent years, the Matadores this season have battled a tough pre-league schedule, so they entered league play with a losing record.
After getting out of a couple of jams early, Anthony settled down and pitched a complete-game shutout. He gave up just 3 hits, allowed three walks, and had four strikeouts-two looking. He also hit two batters.
Anthony also starred at the plate going 3-4 and driving in 2 runs.
The game got off to a precarious start when Anthony gave up a leadoff single to Brandon Polizzi in the first inning. A stolen base and fielder's choice followed, and the Bucs had a runner on third with one man out. Then, Bellflower's Victor Zepeda hit a sharp ground ball to La Mirada shortstop Austin Rojo who recorded the out with a nice play of knocking down the ball and holding the runner. Ali struck out the next batter to end the inning.
In the third inning, Ali this time gave up a leadoff triple, again to Polizzi. He responded by retiring three straight batters, one on a called third strike. In the bottom of the frame, Ali drove in a run with a single, and the Mats went up 2-0 after scoring in the previous inning.
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