[{"_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",[32,75,87],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6553382,"mediaKeyId","5070582-890bf2169cb36cfd37c18a13595851fa","parentId",5070582,"title","Residents press council for traffic study at upcoming McDonald’s site and complain about late‑night parties","audioSeconds",391,"startMs",577000,"endMs",968000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070582-890bf2169cb36cfd37c18a13595851fa&start=577&end=968","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070582-890bf2169cb36cfd37c18a13595851fa/thumbnail_577000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6553382/Bellflower/Los-Angeles-County/California/Residents-press-council-for-traffic-study-at-upcoming-McDonalds-site-and-complain-about-latenight-parties","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553382-85ba3a3ad857952120ec537eced67ada/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191044&Signature=I46Z5drFm9rfadO7H9ANjXIjt5sz7YD0HqeOn9Mbw3mIQuPGE253kwZ74kjcD75qjR2X7JCPEIwa5jfyTkvAzG12YLMPkh~42MtkI394cSMUkmigQjUKImp8cRv6-BXI3zdE4uL4Y8QysGRX-pfSt0LUYbriKsxWG2Uzk2o-vaH8SK9tFaXcXCYMqvHqSljKUokvALB6KxDFBZTFKD8LPNLd2-mrSw4XHjUPCqFrNBebPB0Q~8M82pZh9xz6kFEDqfEE29H6G7bRGp9BfM494dobLFWpcIMfE4Pqei0tvIPqgRhQfy-A7XDVuFM3WAFXhNEcNWMZWTdykHmMbb7GeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bell flower","date","2025-06-24T14:01:13Z","article","Two residents used the public‑comment period at the June 23 Bellflower City Council meeting to press the council for help with neighborhood quality‑of‑life and traffic safety.

Tony Veltri, identifying himself as a member of the Bellflower Manor Homeowners Association, told the council the planning commission had approved a McDonald’s at the corner of McNabb and Hayford and said existing circulation at the intersection cannot safely absorb the new traffic. \"There's no way to get out now. There's only one stop sign,\" Veltri said. He asked the council to order a traffic study that accounts for school hours and peak events and to consider additional signs, signals or red curbs to improve safety.

Kelly Torres, a Bellflower resident of 30 years, described repeated late‑night live bands and parties on the 9900 block of Potter Street that have rattled windows and persisted after calls to the sheriff's department. Torres said she had called the sheriff and was advised to contact the city’s public safety department; the council and public‑safety staff asked her to meet staff after the meeting and to file reports so the city can compile a case file. Torres also raised concerns about pervasive marijuana smoke and repeated weekend events on her block and said the situation had made her consider moving.

Staff response and next steps: Public works and city staff told Veltri that a traffic study and intersection review are already in progress for that location and said staff would follow up with the homeowner association. Public safety staff clarified that parking structures do not have the two‑hour parking limit on street‑fest nights and that the city generally relaxes enforcement informally for downtown lots during the Thursday street festivals. The council asked staff to contact the commenters after the meeting to document concerns and provide next steps.

Why it matters: Both public comments raised operational issues—traffic safety at a newly approved commercial site and recurring noise/quality‑of‑life issues—where residents asked the city to use its permitting, traffic and public‑safety tools to reduce risks and disturbances. The council did not take immediate formal action during the meeting but directed staff to follow up with the individuals and compile any necessary studies or enforcement records.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bellflower City Council Meeting - June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Two residents urged the Bellflower City Council on June 23 to address neighborhood traffic and persistent late‑night noise: one asked for a traffic study after a McDonald’s approval at McNabb and Hayford; another described recurring loud live bands and marijuana smoke on her block.","taxTitle","Bellflower, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",4604,"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},6553385,"Bellflower council discusses new online permitting system; staff say inspections scheduling and AI features are possible future additions",687,4146000,4833000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070582-890bf2169cb36cfd37c18a13595851fa&start=4146&end=4833","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070582-890bf2169cb36cfd37c18a13595851fa/thumbnail_4146000.jpg","/articles/6553385/Bellflower/Los-Angeles-County/California/Bellflower-council-discusses-new-online-permitting-system-staff-say-inspections-scheduling-and-AI-features-are-possible-future-additions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553385-1284db8a717d3b6605a1d321a01c9a1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191044&Signature=lHTy6Z8ThnUB-~vp5cGn4cfEFHS7w4mWaA36O6BXo-SWaKx3BOjP51RjK-hL2Z1HQxo86nv2-samDD4U8~AFzwGkv6k0m0ssKSMohgdswHN8Np0xwHZmYfLsp21R1nfWJp7yvYuDsmFF2Tno4VuVhF6jQoaWikxzC9mjQmoP~yjzO0STr93rceipDvXc6G-NvcxC6fw-vIT6vgkmk93KbzJsH7aGPLjPLkSS7xa1rUmffmb-E~xwZO30mma-rG2TyEbktWGjm4KRv1vyW34hCdW8pNIau-dGwVKQmhyN32h5xrw7Jy34HNUi5MZcWBQRdCRJUipIYYQXlhMbdikCNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bellflower staff presented and the city council approved as part of the consent calendar on June 23 a multi‑phase replacement of the city’s aging permit and permitting‑software system.

Staff said the current permitting system was implemented in 2007 and the vendor will stop supporting it, which prompted the proposed upgrade. The new platform will enable online permitting, online payments and digital plan review; staff estimated a roughly nine‑month build period for the first implementation phase. Staff described future integration options including an online plan‑check module, online inspection scheduling, and optional AI tools that could answer applicant questions using the city’s local code and system data.

Council members urged staff to prioritize user features that reduce back‑and‑forth at the counter. One council member said an online scheduling module that lets applicants pick inspection dates and windows is a high priority and asked staff to make that a firm planned feature. Staff responded that scheduling is a likely module and that plan‑check integration is already under negotiation.

Another council member asked about AI capabilities. Staff said AI features are a future possibility but implementation is premature until the city’s workflows are fully digitized; staff said small pilots are underway to explore municipal uses of AI.

The item was pulled for discussion from the consent calendar, discussed with staff, and then included in the consent calendar motion. The consent calendar passed by roll call; the record shows Mayor Pro Tem Sonny Santaynes, Council member Coops, Council member Morse, Council member Victor Sanchez and Mayor Dutton voting aye. Recusals on specific consent items were noted on the record where applicable.

Why it matters: City staff and council framed the project as a step toward faster turnaround for applicants, fewer paper copies and lower administrative costs for resubmittals. Staff said digital red‑lining of plan corrections will reduce the need for multiple printed sets and speed resubmittal review. The first phase emphasizes core permitting functions with optional modules to be phased in later.

Next steps: Staff will begin configuration and workflow mapping for the new system and expects to take roughly nine months to build the first phase. Council directed staff to prioritize online inspection scheduling and to continue exploring AI tools that draw only on the city’s internal data and municipal code to assist applicants.

","City staff presented a plan to replace an 18‑year‑old permitting system with a modern online permitting platform; council members asked staff to prioritize online inspection scheduling and explore AI assistance for applicants. The item was approved as part of the consent calendar.",{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6553390,"Bellflower OKs right-of-way agreement for Gateway Cities regional fiber network",2424,1356000,3780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070582-890bf2169cb36cfd37c18a13595851fa&start=1356&end=3780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070582-890bf2169cb36cfd37c18a13595851fa/thumbnail_1356000.jpg","/articles/6553390/Bellflower/Los-Angeles-County/California/Bellflower-OKs-right-of-way-agreement-for-Gateway-Cities-regional-fiber-network","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553390-cf255c45e763fccec6b038d7b797740f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191044&Signature=HcHiWS4RV0Td-epUX-0OIYkjqbUmYuiDZbU3Gpo1cJkX54yeW9h~h6M4JuTHN11h-poIXFolWsZbu0FAKSREs50cHXmCoHErB9L46mfPeqRj234O6hMZ3Bsp~aYpEdk~NxnRw3RdhJgzxMs~V4nvEnEgL0iwRtMlLaGsjIet0LmVHnXc-YXeVLwLJrk7PXylcpFnFBjsP7b1xPxYdHFpZD311Myab5GUv596bCga8NTLtfb4EmA4VlKOilxZqlc9sPNd3gJuOqV3xcKQAFW7Kg~ksrjEDF~uP8g6DhU~5bTI-gFZQgqhPLkN36Pq4ZK4KSCW-k4eZ2yysZOqYGB1fw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bellflower City Council voted unanimously on June 23 to authorize a right-of-way use agreement with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments to install, maintain and operate a regional fiber-optic network through Bellflower.

The agreement, presented by Hector Torres of the Gateway Cities COG, will connect 24 city halls in the region, provide two redundant fiber strands to Bellflower for city use, and bring fiber to federally-identified underserved \"pink square\" neighborhoods in the city. Torres told the council the network and related \"final mile\" work are funded by a combination of California Department of Technology and California Public Utilities Commission grants totaling roughly $104 million and that the project must be completed under the state contract by December 2026.

The council’s authorization directs the city manager or a designee to execute and administer the right-of-way agreement in a form approved by the city attorney and authorizes the city engineer to approve final plans per the Bellflower Municipal Code. The motion to approve staff’s recommendation was made by Council member Victor Sanchez and seconded by Mayor Dutton; roll-call votes recorded Mayor Pro Tem Sonny Santaynes, Council member Morse, Council member Sanchez and Mayor Dutton voting aye. Council member Coops had recused himself from this agenda item earlier in the meeting because of a stated property conflict.

Why it matters: Torres said the network will deliver free fiber connectivity from city hall into the statewide middle‑mile system and will include drop connections to multiple underserved blocks the Public Utilities Commission identified. He said the COG will manage project routing and construction and that the city will own what is installed in its right of way. \"Bellflower Broadband. The gateway city's regional fiber network will connect 24 gateway city halls, with very high speed fiber optic cable from two directions for redundancy at no cost to the cities,\" Torres said.

Council members pressed staff and the COG on implementation details. Questions included which neighborhoods would be served initially, how the \"dark fiber\" would be lit and paid for, how construction would affect city streets and sidewalks, whether the agreement’s perpetual term could conflict with law, and how the new network would interface with Bellflower’s existing Bellflower Connect Wi‑Fi plan. City attorney Tamayo answered a legal question from the dais by saying, \"the law would prevail,\" when asked whether the agreement’s in‑perpetuity language could be overridden by statute or court interpretation.

Torres said the grants cover construction and that the COG will issue an RFP to select an operator that would light the dark fiber and provide maintenance and operations. He cited South Bay experiences where municipal fiber projects produced faster service at lower monthly costs for cities. \"We have the example right next door in South Bay,\" he said, describing lower per‑month costs and higher speeds after those cities built their networks.

Council members and staff noted follow-on decisions that would remain the city’s to make, including whether to use the two free fiber strands to extend service to additional municipal facilities or to pursue grants or city funding to expand service beyond the PUC‑identified underserved blocks. Public works staff and the COG said routing adjustments are possible during final design but urged timely decisions because construction is scheduled to start in July to meet the December 2026 completion requirement.

The vote: The council approved the right‑of‑way use agreement and the staff recommendations to execute and administer it and to allow the city engineer to approve final plans. The COG will continue to coordinate maps and construction plans with Bellflower staff.

Next steps: Staff will work with the COG’s engineers to resolve routing or utility conflicts, finalize plans to the city’s construction and restoration standards, and coordinate any potential drops to public facilities or parks the council may later authorize. The COG said it expects multiple phase approvals across the 24 cities and to begin physical work in July.

","The Bellflower City Council authorized a right-of-way use agreement with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments to install and operate a regional fiber-optic network that will connect city hall and underserved neighborhoods at no direct cost to the city; the council also noted timelines, funding sources and local implementation questions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press council for traffic study at upcoming McDonald’s site and complain about late‑night parties

Bellflower council discusses new online permitting system; staff say inspections scheduling and AI features are possible future additions

Bellflower OKs right-of-way agreement for Gateway Cities regional fiber network