[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6298217,"mediaKeyId","2505153-ca91555ff721aa4fbf772189cd0f8453","parentId",2505153,"title","San Fernando council votes: remote participation approved, budget and housing grants, LAUSD letter tabled, zoning hearing continued","audioSeconds",4915,"startMs",311000,"endMs",5226000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2505153-ca91555ff721aa4fbf772189cd0f8453&start=311&end=5226","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2505153-ca91555ff721aa4fbf772189cd0f8453/thumbnail_311000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6298217/California/San-Fernando-council-votes-remote-participation-approved-budget-and-housing-grants-LAUSD-letter-tabled-zoning-hearing-continued","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298217-09f9290c3e11e9ff58bd566a0e96814c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169019&Signature=azCW41kP9QEKVoXyeVyLOqDl-sgA0e2LS38v2KshbHhU9jeuKxgLSfhPcE4SOYk4qD7lWcEYYIfHh5TQvjuy1NdLTWVribPW8aapL1tNQGh5fSFc8SJkCEBo8SRsZh5pLxKj-klO-RVbQnQoHwBdL1gkn5XG6C1uVPOZhKNcxKJrzcjuWEvGNfaNGMZ7afOKsKacKJxGGul8ShaODLCWmX88gfEwcoOegQ~SL3a~yZe2sPMItpy0pQV5fi~Ooa5apCddmAgptfKWBcx93-ift2MPfQT8s4Eh0i~Xv2x8sKbVirGAb~PO5zc5mutOjTeLwLh4jvDwAlMV4c1pkx7Rww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of San Fernando CA","date","2025-03-04T08:18:37Z","article","At its March 3 meeting the San Fernando City Council recorded a number of formal actions across administrative items and hearings. This roundup summarizes the votes and next steps.

Teleconference participation: The council approved Councilmember Joe Fajardo’s request to participate remotely under Assembly Bill 2449 and the city’s Resolution No. 8,215 (effective 03/01/2023). Roll call: Lopez yes; Garcia absent; Fajardo yes; Salodio yes; Mendoza yes. Outcome: approved.

Consent calendar and budget adjustment: The council approved the consent calendar items 1–3 and 6–7 and separately approved an administrative budget adjustment of $340,000 for labor attorney negotiations and administrative investigations. Staff said $200,000 of the increase covers legal services and arbitration and about $135,000 for administrative investigations. Roll call for budget item: all present voted yes. Outcome: approved.

PLHA (permanent local housing allocation): Staff recommended and council adopted a resolution to accept and allocate the city’s FY 2027–28 PLHA award of $79,615. Staff recommended $12,000 for an emergency shelter bed (Community Bridge Housing) and $67,615 for motel vouchers for families (Home Again LA). Outcome: motion passed by roll call.

LAUSD student safety letter (item 5): Councilmembers debated whether to send a community‑sourced letter to LAUSD board member Kelly Gonez requesting action on school safety. After public comment and council discussion, the council voted to invite Board Member Kelly Gonez to attend a council meeting and postponed further action until the first meeting in April so members could meet with her and review community input. Outcome: motion to invite Gonez passed; motion to continue the letter to the April meeting passed.

Zoning code comprehensive update (public hearing): The council opened public comment on a proposed repeal and replacement of the city zoning code (first full rewrite since 1985). Public commenters raised concerns including tree preservation, outdoor dining operations, enforcement capacity and effects on long‑standing merchants. Council members asked for more time to digest the extensive changes and continued the hearing to the April 7 council meeting to allow additional review and public input. Outcome: hearing continued to April 7, 2025.

Where to find details: Staff presentations, committee materials and minutes will be posted on the city website. Council directed follow‑up on a number of items including merchant surveys (ICON CDC), ad hoc meetings with Mall Association members, and distribution of PLHA documentation to the county program administrator.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular City Council Meeting (3/3/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 3 meeting the San Fernando City Council approved a remote participation request, passed multiple consent items including a budget increase for labor/legal services, adopted a $79,615 PLHA allocation plan, tabled a proposed LAUSD safety letter for further meetings and continued a zoning code public hearing to April 7.","taxTitle","San Fernando\tCity, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",70855,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6298222,"Downtown San Fernando market divides merchants; council backs Celebration Expo, agrees to split April market costs and ask ad hoc for review",0,5034000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2505153-ca91555ff721aa4fbf772189cd0f8453&start=5034&end=5034","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2505153-ca91555ff721aa4fbf772189cd0f8453/thumbnail_5034000.jpg","/articles/6298222/California/Downtown-San-Fernando-market-divides-merchants-council-backs-Celebration-Expo-agrees-to-split-April-market-costs-and-ask-ad-hoc-for-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298222-b15173281732a7161e9c437955cb1010/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169019&Signature=YRgR2l1Pk-lZ~11Cvy8RPejmRn6mc4hePAWJr7QV01wT9QYKkSYyUtZTyGmqMtJ4ojk6I4thim-5a~-w7b7LRdTRIQgWa-MShkuLRdU4O6BaheJssNMWm2eOSFcagQN8tHP3DGVlCwDxV-xeJ71yxjSR4x5nF3gwkLt2YFZYfjo~5xdA~NQKe5MVdsKn4m6MhEyx15X702pY8GhsnFJ-tYKGssJP4Hea0IFkZp4ROdTHsfOjgeCERXoSe44jhuF-ZSOpYAKiWsW9Hn2PTA3OqhAPGoM5pSsSZzeAjrL6iX6anuloAeYxHnmOtAOcbez1egtK5n-6N2m6Dx5QbcDJAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Fernando City Council spent more than an hour on March 3 on competing public testimony over the Downtown San Fernando Outdoor Market and a separate Bridal Celebration Expo, hearing merchants and residents who alternately urged the council to keep the market and others who said the monthly market harms brick‑and‑mortar businesses.

Council voted 5–0 to co‑sponsor the Celebration Expo set for March 16 and to waive the city’s normal application and street‑closure fees for that single event. Deputy City Manager Kanika Kieth told the council the city holds roughly $212,000 in a business‑improvement account (the mall association fund) that is intended to support retail promotion inside the mall district.

Public comment split sharply. Christina Bernal, president of the Mall Association and a mall merchant, said the outdoor market draws thousands and that the association has used revenue to hire outreach teams and marketing support. \"The outdoor market is a community driven event…We’ve created a destination,\" Bernal said. Several small business owners, including Lupita Gonzales and other bridal‑shop owners, said the market repeatedly forces merchants to close early, reduces customer parking and has reduced their Saturday sales. \"We have had losses up to between $5,000 and $6,000 in losses, especially on Saturdays,\" Lupita Gonzales told the council.

The council also approved a motion — 4 votes in favor, 1 opposed (Council Member Victoria Garcia) — to provide a partial cosponsorship for the April market. Under that action the city will cover about half of the permit/closure cost for the April 26 market by deducting the city’s labor cost from the mall association fund and waiving the remainder; staff will subtract the city labor reimbursement (about $6,972) and the mall association account will cover the remainder. The council directed the Mall Association MOU ad hoc to meet with merchants who submitted a petition opposing the market and to have ICON CDC finish and share a merchant survey. ICON CDC told the council it is conducting a citywide survey of mall merchants and will share results when it finishes.

Why it matters: The market has become a significant weekly draw for the downtown but merchants say it creates parking loss and trash problems on merchant business nights. Council members said they wanted a near‑term accommodation while city staff and the ad hoc collect data and propose longer‑term solutions.

What happens next: Staff will document the April funding arrangement, the ad hoc will meet with mall stakeholders and ICON CDC will finish its merchant survey; council asked staff to keep the merchant petition and interview notes confidential where requested and to return to council with recommendations.","After hours of public comment both supporting and opposing the San Fernando Outdoor Market, the council voted to co‑sponsor the March 16 Celebration Expo and to provide partial support for the April market while directing the Mall Association MOU ad hoc and ICON CDC to finish a merchant survey and report back.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6298227,"Metropolitan Water District chair tells San Fernando council region has reserves, urges federal support for Colorado River programs",461,502000,963000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2505153-ca91555ff721aa4fbf772189cd0f8453&start=502&end=963","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2505153-ca91555ff721aa4fbf772189cd0f8453/thumbnail_502000.jpg","/articles/6298227/California/Metropolitan-Water-District-chair-tells-San-Fernando-council-region-has-reserves-urges-federal-support-for-Colorado-River-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298227-9799466aa4887d20bdd4dec8c338c252/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169019&Signature=XnjYGSl8O1-99s0U~ScfvK-p1x7AtQs0384N3jfcoV0it6hdEQxzdG0vF3Ed5XUkYjIHWLIDJoFFxdAldnPJ29hK3w65liE1DRtE8HtPLgDIJ0G9OTRTMnffWLUYk-t9qMoKBzWe5rYjRkldXx72oGnvxBGnfGrpZK0yr79PQw6lFWLztvLfcllmYEIOrYmBBYu52YhzP2namU65m7T0Ml8WoDbX4~Ry4G25fdjwsHmUGHO~ciHiQ98ogdzrKJZnNUCpbsD6aQHWONfFf-Abwxqy4FLPzAFfOp-SSuoIahM5r6NcCqH5Wg9dOVAQvtoCbS07dKPfSkq2kDc8svhTEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adán Ortega, chair of the Metropolitan Water District board, briefed the San Fernando City Council on the district’s water-supply position, Colorado River negotiations and long-term projects at the council’s March 3 meeting. \"I can tell you that we have a lot of water right now in reserve. In fact, we ended 2024 with a 3,800,000.0 acre feet of water in storage,\" Ortega said during a 35‑minute presentation.

Ortega told the council Diamond Valley Lake was at about 97% capacity and said the Colorado River supplies roughly one‑third of Southern California’s water. He urged the federal government to fund agricultural-conservation projects included in the Inflation Reduction Act and said the regional partners are negotiating a 2026 agreement among the seven Colorado River states. \"One of the big threats that we have is whether the federal government is going to come through with the $4,000,000,000 that we were going to use to help farmers conserve water,\" Ortega said.

Ortega reviewed Metropolitan’s major infrastructure projects, including Pure Water SoCal, a water‑reuse program in Carson that Ortega said could produce about 150 million gallons per day when fully built. He described the program as a multi‑billion‑dollar regional investment; Ortega said the project has received roughly $100 million in grants so far and that interstate exchanges of capacity with water agencies in Arizona and Nevada are being negotiated.

Council members asked about local programs and whether materials could be translated into Spanish. Ortega described Metropolitan rebate programs for turf replacement and for trees, noting the district offers a $100 tree rebate tied to turf replacement. \"We have brochures in the back in English and Spanish,\" Ortega said. Council members also asked about Pure Water SoCal safety standards and the district’s efforts to give member cities more continuity of representation at the Metropolitan board; Ortega described pending state legislation (AB 523) that he said could allow a proxy when a city director cannot attend.

Why it matters: Ortega’s briefing aimed to update San Fernando leaders on regional water reliability, multi‑state talks over Colorado River allocations and how Metropolitan programs and grants might be used by the city and local residents. Council members and staff said they would share the presentation and explore local outreach on rebates and leak surveys.

What’s next: Ortega said he will return for a quarterly update in June and city council members requested staff follow up on available Metropolitan materials the council can distribute to residents.","Adán Ortega, chair of the Metropolitan Water District board, told the San Fernando City Council the region finished 2024 with large water reserves, described efforts on the Colorado River and Pure Water SoCal, and urged local residents to use district conservation and rebate programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

San Fernando council votes: remote participation approved, budget and housing grants, LAUSD letter tabled, zoning hearing continued

Downtown San Fernando market divides merchants; council backs Celebration Expo, agrees to split April market costs and ask ad hoc for review

Metropolitan Water District chair tells San Fernando council region has reserves, urges federal support for Colorado River programs