La Habra Heights council approves $100,000 for public‑works site beautification; budget shows $60,000 gap

The La Habra Heights City Council voted May 18 to add $100,000 to the draft FY 2026–27 budget to pay for cleaning up and landscaping a public‑works property, after Councilmember Greg Steppler reported a Coleman Landscape estimate "slightly $91,000, slightly less than 100 grand."

Steppler moved to add the $100,000 budget line; the motion received a second and passed with recorded votes of Norm yes, Greg Steppler yes, Carol Engelhart no and Brian Bergman yes. Councilmember John Pespiza was excused. Staff cautioned that the addition creates a roughly $60,000 gap in the draft budget but suggested the shortfall could be offset with investment earnings or by reducing other capital items not expected to be spent this fiscal cycle.

During discussion, councilmembers argued both for and against adding the item now. Supporters described it as a "one‑time win" to address a property that residents find visually bothersome and noted the city could reassign funds from capital projects unlikely to proceed in the near term. Opponents urged caution given remaining uncertainty in projections and competing capital needs, and one councilmember withdrew an earlier second to further consider the planning commission’s review.

Staff said the planning commission will continue review of the property and that if commissioners narrow a preferred option, neighborhood outreach would follow before substantive implementation. The council agreed that any adjustments to the draft budget could be made before the formal adoption hearing at the June meeting.

The vote adds a discrete budget line for beautification and directs staff to identify offsets or revenue changes as the budget is finalized.