Planning Commission finds 2025–26 capital improvements plan conforms with general plan

The City of Hermosa Beach Planning Commission on Tuesday voted 5'0'00 to find the 2025'26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act and in conformance with the city's General Plan.

Planning manager Alexis Orpiza described the CIP as the city's comprehensive program for infrastructure and facility improvements and said the 2025'26 program contains 36 projects, 28 carried over from the prior year and eight new projects. Orpiza told the commission the projects address multiple General Plan elements, including mobility, infrastructure, open space and safety; examples noted by staff included pedestrian-safety and ADA improvements, street and sewer repairs, park upgrades, downtown lighting and utility-box art, and early design work for wayfinding signage.

Commissioners asked only clarifying questions and made brief comments about the volume of work and the level of detail presented to the City Council. After the staff presentation the commission opened public comment; no speakers appeared in chambers or online for the item. A commissioner moved to find the CIP in conformance with the General Plan and exempt from CEQA; the motion was seconded and the commission carried it 5'0''00.

Under the commission's purview, the review is limited to consistency with the General Plan; staff emphasized that project scope and budgeting decisions are matters for the City Council. The Planning Commission record notes the CIP's alignment with mobility, infrastructure, open space and safety policies but does not adopt or change project prioritization or budgets.

The action was taken by minute order; no appeal period was announced at the hearing for this specific commission determination.