The City of La Palma is making plans now for a major party this fall when the city celebrates the 70th anniversary of being proclaimed a city.
City officials said at their March meeting that it is prepared for the Festival of Nations April 26 but is also planning for somewhat of a civic birthday party this fall to celebrate the city’s 70th year.
Alan Rivera, a management assistant at the city, reported to the Council that the city has hired a graphic artist to develop special artwork for the city’s 70th Anniversary.
Several members, including Council member Debbie Baker, said they really liked the proposed new logo. Baker asked planners to keep the event on Sunday, especially because that is the actual date.
The actual date of the 70th anniversary is Sunday, October 26, officials say.
While there is a committee working on final details, Rivera told Baker that might be possible because they are planning to incorporate the Anniversary celebration into the city’s Halloween Carnival.
“The committee has a recommendation to incorporate a 70th anniversary component into the existing or the planned annual Halloween carnival, which is scheduled for Saturday, October 25,” he said.
“Of course, we’ll return to you to give you updates on the planning proceedings at upcoming city council meetings,” he added.
“We are also planning to host commemorative booth at upcoming signature events,” Rivera told the Council, “and what we’re thinking for this booth is it’ll highlight the city’s history and the community, and in commemoration of the 70th anniversary,” he said.
Rivera said planners hoped to engage the Community Activity and Beautification Committee “to assist us with planning for these commemorative activities.”
“I love the new logo,” said Mayor Pro-tem Nitesh Patel, who asked questions about the colors being used and other details surrounding the city’s ongoing development of commemorative activities.
The City Council got to see the “exiting” new logo along with everyone in the Chamber but residents watching at home could only listen, since the city refuses to share video of their meetings with the public
The Council also agreed in March to pass amendments to make mid-year budget adjustments following a report by consultant Mike Matsumoto.
“While sales tax collections are down regionally,” Matsumoto suggested several transfers in budget categories that will leaver the city’s reserves in place and still leave the budget with a potential surplus of about $82,000.
Also, the Council heard a presentation from John Silverman of SmartLink who represents wireless carrier AT&T seeking to add a new cell tower in La Palma.
“In this situation, what we are starting to see is that one tower or two towers within a city is no longer capable of covering specific needs, because a lot of the network is drawn down by data usage,” he said.
hard).
Therefore, “to maintain our ability to make calls, this coverage gap was noted about five years ago, originally, and we have been working to close it,” Silverman said. After much planning, the company proposed a lease in the city.
The Council was considering a resolution authoring New Cingular Wireless PCS to construct a freestanding wireless communications tower at 8415 Meadowlark Lane (city yard).
Nitesh Patel told his fellow Council members that federal law gives cities little flexibility or authority to deny the location of mobile phone towers in cities.
The Council voted unanimously to approve the lease.
In other action, the Council:
- Issued proclamation celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the local Toastmasters International chapter.
- Honored the American Red Cross celebrating March as Red Cross month.
- Voted 4-0 not to approve a Conditional Use Permit for a local beauty salon seeking to add massage services to its existing operations. Mayor Mark Walden recused himself citing ownership interests in one of the enterprises located near the proposed location.