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All council members were present for the Tuesday, June 1 City Council meeting. Open session started at 6:11 p.m. and ended at 11:41 p.m. Here's what you missed:
Special Meeting called for June 16 to Continue the Public Hearing on the Relocation Impact Report due to Closure of Rancho Dominguez Mobile Estates. The council held a public hearing relating to the relocation impact report of 81 mobile home residents due to the closure of Rancho Dominguez Mobile Estates. Mainly, the public hearing was to figure out what relocation impact mitigation benefits the mobile home park owner must pay to park residents in closing the park. The council heard dozens of comments from the mobile home park residents and renters, many arguing that the appraiser never stepped into their homes due to COVID regulations. The majority of residents wanted more money and more time to help them relocate. The council decided to continue the public hearing to June 16 at 5 p.m. to allow staff time to create a more diverse benefit package.
Vax for the Win: Chance to win $1.5 million. $50 guaranteed to those not vaccinated yet. With the June 15 deadline to reopen California quickly approaching, the state is making a giant push to increase vaccination numbers by offering prize money. Assistant City Manager David Roberts presented Vax for the Win, an incentive program raffle where participants can win either $50,000 or $1.5 million grand prize. Any Californian who has received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination will be automatically entered into the raffle. Fifteen $50,000 winners will be announced Friday June 4, and on Friday June 15 another fifteen will win $50,000 while the grand prize of $1.5 million will be awarded to ten contestants. Prize money will only be paid after the winner has completed their vaccination series. Additionally, the program will award any unvaccinated patients a $50 virtual card (or a grocery card from Albertsons or Kroger) who complete their vaccination by June 15. Only two million $50 prizes will be given out so visit covid19.ca.gov/vax-for-the-win for more information.
City changes Mask Ordinance to align with County/State Rules. After being one of the first cities to implement a face mask ordinance on May 2020 and then face mask fines on October 2020, the council introduced and approved a resolution that will bring the local ordinance into compliance with the more lax county and state departments of public health laws. With zero California counties left in the most restrictive purple tier, the council understood the need to lighten up on its local mask enforcement and allow flexibility on mask violations. With the new ordinance in place, the city's law is ready for California's anticipated June 15 reopening.
Special Election called for Nov 2nd, 2021 to fill City Clerk Vacancy. The council voted to call for a special election and let the voters decide on who should fill the city clerk vacancy on November 2021. Despite the unanimous vote, Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes said that the ad-hoc committee consisting of her and Mayor Pro Tem. Jim Dear will be bringing back additional recommendations relating to the city clerk vacancy to the council. No decision or discussions were made today regarding the possible charter amendment which would permanently switch the City Clerk and City Treasurer positions from elected to appointed.
New Firework Fines adopted and implemented. With American Independence Day celebrations coming this July 4, the council conducted the 2nd reading and implemented a new ordinance which would increase fines for violations of the use of illegal fireworks. Under the new ordinance, anyone caught setting off non safe and sane fireworks will be fined $1,000 for a first violation, $2,000 for a second violation, and $3,000 for each additional violation after that. However, the fines only increase if the consecutive violations were made within one year of the first violation. These fine increases were recommended by the Bingo/Fireworks/Refuse Ad Hoc Committee and originally approved by the council during the May 18, 2021 meeting.
Chick-fil-A is looking to hire 200 residents from Carson. Councilmember Jawane Hilton announced that the fast food chain Chick-fil-A is looking to hire 200 individuals who live in Carson. Hilton explained that the company has an immediate need for workers and will pay "a livable wage, not a minimum wage." If interested text the word 'THRIVE' to 310 340-0764.
The council made the following Proclamations:
Men's Health Month for the month of June.
Philippine Independence Day, June 12.
Upcoming Events:
Carson/L.A. County Vaccine Clinic - 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., June 5 at the Carson Community Center. Free Pfizer Vaccines will be offered ages 12+. Register at TINYURL.com/5UBZEUFK.
