By Francis Taylor, Executive Editor
Newly elected District 1 Council Member, Gloria Gray received a warm welcome from the Council Members and the City of Inglewood Staff, on the occasion of her first city council meeting on April 11, 2023. Before Mayor James T. Butts entered the council chambers Council Member Gray was presented with a bouquet of flowers and her council colleagues surrounded her for a photo opportunity.
When the meeting got underway, the council accepted the City Attorney’s recommendation and rejected several claims pursuant to Government Code, Section 913 and returned one late claim pursuant to Government Code, Section 911.2
The council authorized payment of an invoice submitted by American Bike Patrol Services (ABPS) for bicycle parts and services in the amount of $1,579.25 and authorized payment of invoices submitted by Medico Healthcare Linen Service (Medico) for linen rental services in the amount of $3,431.09.
The council accepted Fiscal Year 2022 Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Funds in the amount of $8,453.90 and accepted decreases in tow fees and daily storage that were recommended by the Chief of Police.
The council authorized payment of an invoice submitted by American Bike Patrol Services (ABPS) for bicycle parts and services, in the amount of $1,579.25 and payment of invoices submitted by Medico Healthcare Linen Service (Medico) for linen rental services, in the amount of $3,431.09.
A public hearing was conducted to consider adoption of the Relocation Plan for the Inglewood Transit Connector Project. The council entertained public comments and a staff presentation about the impact of the project. 41 businesses must be relocated to accommodate the people mover plan that will connect the Metro Transit Line with Downtown Inglewood and the entertainment venues. The few public comments were positive.
With the eventual completion of the Clippers’ Intuit Dome as well as the Forum, SOFI Stadium, and Hollywood Park Casino, it is anticipated that the City of Inglewood will experience over 450 events annually, which will wreak havoc on the city’s traffic congestion. The Inglewood Transit Connector Project (ITCP) will provide a comprehensive, intelligent transportation network and will improve transit across the board.
The proposed ITCP will feature an elevated people mover and three stations. It will provide thousands of jobs and minimize traffic congestion. It is significant to note that the City of Inglewood has already garnered $765 million in state, federal and local grant funds towards the cost of the project and no city funds will be used for the construction of the project that is expected to be completed before the Olympics returns to Los Angeles.
The council adopted a resolution affirming that the Inglewood Transit Connector Project, as modified, is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act; approved and adopted the first Addendum to the Certified Final Environmental Impact Report SCH # 2018071034 for the Project; approved and adopted the California Environmental Quality Act Findings of Fact; and approved and adopted revisions to Project Design Feature CUL-1 included in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Project.
The council adopted a resolution approving the modified Project as the ITCP, a locally preferred alternative for the Federal Transit Administration and approved revisions to the Design Standards and Guidelines for the ITCP. The council also adopted the Relocation Plan.
###
