[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6623496,"mediaKeyId","2769770-8eecec910f58dbb3741218b4edc5cc8f","parentId",2769770,"title","Pico Rivera resident asks council to reconsider zoning after city cites home-based training business","audioSeconds",200,"startMs",2511000,"endMs",2711000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769770-8eecec910f58dbb3741218b4edc5cc8f&start=2511&end=2711","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769770-8eecec910f58dbb3741218b4edc5cc8f/thumbnail_2511000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6623496/Pico-Rivera/Los-Angeles-County/California/Pico-Rivera-resident-asks-council-to-reconsider-zoning-after-city-cites-home-based-training-business","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623496-6eca64450bfd019c879ef941ebb1e1eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181848&Signature=RyscLkpUddo1UjnreeMGaJLs8~foxgAdG5lO8heFi3~ieXsI1FWUSzYeTuhL~lZbHnmUwFsP35pm4rxbmAwh-WFpq-r6ayaydodiAzKEkUWEXqNrucl0IpybmJoXsWPO2E5psuoHl3XN2tZd94rKFQKCUn-HotQ5cFdOurb6C76ostjcooGCqhAN64DxSDHhm9yrUZ~xLhzKmwNTxFc78lVXzQuf~FUo6ym3KmTlj3nuSc0GtyFvaTCLv5z~kbVZJLx7k~eSW8DWSb8n03eDPWTt0bWLyqelfw13l5kTEQ~0q7jUA3TfelXXNBL2Aej8XrG67ktnkgf1sBdej2gPFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Pico Rivera, CA","date","2025-03-26T02:23:39.107Z","article","Nicholas Mitchell, a Pico Rivera resident, asked the city council to review zoning in his neighborhood after receiving a city complaint that his home-based strength-training business is not permitted under current residential zoning.

Mitchell said he moved his private, by-invitation training operation and $30,000 in specialized equipment into his garage to care for his son, who is 5 years old and was diagnosed with autism. He told the council he had been offering private 1-on-1 and small-group coaching while awaiting IHSS approval and that he had a DBA and an EIN. Mitchell said he received a neighborhood-improvement officer’s visit after a March 16 session and that written notice arrived the following day. He said he met on March 18 with Neighborhood Improvement Officer Ruben Benavides and senior planner Hector Hernandez, who explained that his property’s zoning does not allow his current operations and suggested mobile training as an alternative.

Mitchell asked for a chance to demonstrate his operation to city officials and requested that zoning in his area be reconsidered so he can continue to provide for his family while caring for his son. The city manager said staff would follow up on Mitchell’s request.

Why this matters: Mitchell’s request raises questions about how the city’s zoning rules apply to home-based businesses that provide services by appointment, use significant equipment, and operate with a limited client list. His appeal also connects to broader council discussion about zoning and code amendments earlier in the meeting.

What the council said and next steps

• Staff follow-up: The City Manager (on the record during the meeting) acknowledged the request and said staff would follow up with Mitchell. No formal zoning change or direction to staff to initiate a code amendment was recorded on the transcript for this item.

• Enforcement context: Mitchell said Neighborhood Improvement Officer Ruben Benavides informed him a complaint had been filed and that senior planner Hector Hernandez told him his residential zoning does not permit his operation as presented. Mitchell said Hernandez suggested mobile training as an alternative but that moving his equipment is not feasible given its size and cost.

• Resident details: Mitchell said his training crew is selective, charges dues, and he was preparing for a competition in San Diego on April 6; he also said he left full-time work two years ago to care for his son and that the training activity was a source of income while awaiting public benefits.

The council did not make a decision on zoning based on the public comment. Staff committed to follow up with Mitchell to explore options.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Meeting of the City Council 3/25/25","oneSentenceSummary","Nicholas Mitchell told the council he operates a private strength-training program from his garage and asked the city to review local zoning so he can continue supporting his family while caring for his autistic son.","taxTitle","Pico Rivera, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",3842,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6623499,"Pico Rivera council approves zoning updates, purchasing code changes and housing plans; greenlights Purple Heart monument",86,3776000,3862000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769770-8eecec910f58dbb3741218b4edc5cc8f&start=3776&end=3862","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769770-8eecec910f58dbb3741218b4edc5cc8f/thumbnail_3776000.jpg","/articles/6623499/Pico-Rivera/Los-Angeles-County/California/Pico-Rivera-council-approves-zoning-updates-purchasing-code-changes-and-housing-plans-greenlights-Purple-Heart-monument","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623499-7adf9c40b08c856b30fdb846ad2c38b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181848&Signature=H1eM4-Aw6QJzbkkpUXbM-pPIvC6d8kIwFy8UvrbdtXD7gwn7nXZugHJk5lNiB16A6B4G0Ap5zTN4dHH0aBHCXTtVIaFrwVyaEiomhxF9StJWnJ-A5aJ6J538SAHdV-lEG7neE43UdFKUmpK5BxwZ2hsgviPjSa1W8pFO68U6Gxj2anYfR0~~QnvufsTt6NY604fG26N4Tq2KokD0I4MaiJJP8vihFvWPCocdVYOrCKvfiY7yoNxWuhwYYwruHFeWYjLYwsW4aalMXXe-hsPxPkzy2uMKzQrqUpuey0fA2dK5P8ZRJjpe2PWlbxUM63silowiv-8orD8vH6uJdm1aLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pico Rivera City Council approved a slate of ordinances and agency items at its meeting, including two zoning code amendments, adoption of housing-agency plans, an amendment to municipal purchasing rules and installation of a Purple Heart monument at the Viet Veterans Memorial Plaza.

Council members voted unanimously on each recorded item. The actions included: adoption of Zone Code Amendment No. 197 (amenity chapter); adoption of Zone Code Amendment No. 199; approval of the Housing Assistance Agency five-year public housing agency plan; approval of updates to the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) administrative plan; adoption of an ordinance amending Chapter 3.2 of the Pico Rivera Municipal Code (purchasing); and approval to install a Purple Heart monument at the Viet Veterans Memorial Plaza. The council also approved the consent calendar (items 5–11) without discussion.

Why this matters: the zoning amendments and purchasing-code changes update local rules that shape where and how developments and city purchases proceed. Housing-plan approvals guide how the city’s housing-assistance programs operate. The Purple Heart monument will alter the layout at an established veterans memorial and is scheduled for installation after procurement of the monument.

Most important votes and details

• Zone Code Amendment No. 197 (amenity chapter): Moved by Council Member Laura; seconded by Council Member Lutz. Roll call recorded five affirmative votes; the motion passed. (Transcript: council introduced the item, moved/seconded and the clerk announced “Motion passes 5 0.”)

• Zone Code Amendment No. 199: Moved by Council Member Laura; seconded by Council Member Lutz. Roll call recorded five affirmative votes; the motion passed. (Transcript: hearing closed, motion moved/seconded, clerk announced “Motion passes 5 0.”)

• Housing Assistance Agency — Five-Year Public Housing Agency Plan: Moved by Commissioner Laura; seconded by Commissioner Lutz. The hearing was closed with no written communications reported; roll call recorded affirmative votes and the motion passed. (Transcript indicates the hearing was closed and the motion passed.)

• Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Administrative Plan (Housing Agency item): Moved by Commissioner Laura; seconded by Commissioner Lutz. The hearing was closed with no written communications reported; the motion passed (tally not specified on the record used here).

• Ordinance amending Chapter 3.2 (municipal purchasing): Presented by staff as an amendment to purchasing and surplus property treatment, including change-order limits and a definition for subscriptions. Moved by Council Member Lahr; seconded by Dr. Sanchez. Roll call recorded five affirmative votes; the motion passed 5–0.

• Purple Heart Monument (installation at Viet Veterans Memorial Plaza): Staff presented design and location vetted by the Veterans Commission; Pam Ugart described the monument dimensions and placement. Council Member Laura moved approval; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Camacho. The council voted 5–0 to approve the installation. Staff said granite procurement will take about 6–9 months after ordering, with installation targeted for Memorial Day 2026 if approved.

Consent calendar

• Items 5–11 (consent calendar) were approved on a single motion; the clerk announced the motion passed 5–0.

What the council did not do

• The agenda’s closed-session item referring to labor negotiations for “Ali Ricks” was removed before recessing to closed session; the council recessed to closed session on the remaining items.

Recording of motions and votes

All motions and roll-call results recorded in the official transcript were included above. Where the transcript explicitly recorded a numeric tally, that tally is reported. Where the transcript excerpt available to this report did not include a clear numeric tally for an item, the report states that the tally was not specified in the excerpt.","The Pico Rivera City Council approved two zoning code amendments, two housing-agency items, an ordinance revising purchasing rules and the installation of a Purple Heart monument during its regular meeting. All recorded votes passed unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pico Rivera resident asks council to reconsider zoning after city cites home-based training business

Pico Rivera council approves zoning updates, purchasing code changes and housing plans; greenlights Purple Heart monument