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norwalk.orgNo The official communityr publicationwalk of Norwalk, November 2019, Volume 40,Now#11

Residents Have Opportunity to Ensure the City's Fiscal Future orwalk is a safe, family-oriented and businesses rely on. A recent community City Invites the Community to community. Our City prides itself survey discussed at the October 15 Council on providing exceptional public meeting indicated that residents believe “Honor our Heroes” safetyN and neighborhood services that are Norwalk needs additional funding to maintain on Veterans Day responsive to the community. From the City services. On Monday, November 11, the City Council and staff at all levels, to the volunteers The City Council has considered placing of Norwalk, in partnership with American that serve on our commissions, everyone is a measure before voters on the March Legion Post 359, presents the annual committed to a strong future for Norwalk. 2020 ballot to take the City’s sales tax Veterans Day program, which serves to But, like many neighboring cities we face from the current rate of 9.5% to 10.25%. honor the brave men and women of our challenges. Based on current projections, the It is estimated that such a measure could armed forces. The keynote speakers will City’s budget is forecasted to go into deficit generate approximately $7 million annually be Petty Officer Third Class, Fernando in 2021 and the deficit is estimated to grow to support local services. Lopez, US Navy and Signal Support from over $2 million to almost $18 million in Any money generated from this measure Systems Specialist, Andy Morales, US just five years. would go to the City’s general fund, which Army. City Council will also present How we got here is simple – the State the City Council could use to support all City Hometown Heroes banners to residents has reduced funding that we’ve used for services. This may include neighborhood currently serving in the military. The community services, and the demand and services like gang prevention and youth event begins at 11 a.m. in front of the cost for these high-quality City services anti-violence programs, repairs to streets and Freedom Memorial Art Installation at City continues to grow. This combination has sidewalks, parks and recreation programs Hall, and is free and open to the public. created a revenue situation that threatens and facilities, and homeless prevention Refreshments will be served. For more the City’s ability to maintain services that services, as well as expanding important information, please call Public Affairs at support the quality of life enjoyed by Norwalk emergency services like traffic and pedestrian 562-929-5735. residents. safety. Without additional revenue, the City In an effort to address fiscal challenges, may have to reduce these services. the City has taken multiple actions over the The sales tax measure would help past several years to keep expenditures in address the revenue challenges, and would line with revenues while striving to maintain include independent financial audits with high-quality services. Despite the progress all funds locally controlled. Ultimately any we have made, more is needed. measure would have to be approved by One potential solution to help ensure our voters. fiscal future is to identify ways to generate The City continues to explore all options Snow Fest & Tree more revenue, including through a voter- to protect and maintain the community Lighting Ceremony approved sales tax. Revenue from such a services that make Norwalk a special place Saturday, December 7 measure could help maintain the public safety to live and work. Snow Fest: 12 - 6 p.m. and neighborhood services that residents Tree Lighting: 6 - 8 p.m. Norwalk City Hall Lawn, 12700 Norwalk Blvd. Community Forum Bring your entire family to the City Hall As we near the end of 2019, the provide vital feedback necessary for Lawn on Saturday, December 7 and experience City of Norwalk invites residents stronger, safer neighborhoods a California Snow Fest! We’ll have snow slides, and business partners to a and the prosperity of our City. a snow play area, game booths, a holiday Community Forum on The event will begin with train ride, craft tents, face painting, and much Saturday, November 16 short presentations on more! Local entertainers will perform on stage at 10 a.m. in the Multi- services/programs and throughout the event and food will be available Purpose Room at Waite will be followed by an for purchase. After sundown, join the Norwalk Middle School, located open floor discussion. City Council as they ring in the holiday season at 14320 S. Norwalk Information on the by lighting our 30 foot Christmas tree! For more Boulevard. The forum, or upcoming Census 2020 information, please call 562-929-5702. town-hall meeting, reflects will also be available. Schedule: 12 - 5 p.m. City Council’s ongoing Light refreshments will be Snow Slides, Snow Play Area, Game Booths, commitment to provide for served. Translation services Holiday, Train Rides, Face Painting, enhanced opportunities for will be available for residents Arts and Crafts, and Food open dialogue with the community who speak Spanish. For more Booths Open: 12 - 6 p.m. on quality of life issues at varied information, please call Public Affairs Stage Entertainment: 6 p.m. locations and times. Share your concerns and at 562-929-5735. Santa Arrives: 6:15 - 8 p.m. Los residentes están invitados a compartir dialogo con el Concilio de Norwalk en un Foro Comunitario el sábado, 16 de noviembre a las 10 a.m. en la Santa Visits & Stage Entertainment escuela Waite. Habrá servicios de traducción.

Norwalk City Hall Hours of Operation Norwalk City Council City of Norwalk PRSRT STD Mayor Margarita L. Rios US Postage Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. 12700 Norwalk Blvd. PAID Vice Mayor Luigi Vernola Permit No. 1139 Alternating Fridays 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Norwalk, CA 90650 Whittier, CA Saturday & Sundays Closed Councilmember Tony Ayala Councilmember Jennifer Perez To Postal Patron Phone 562-929-5700 Councilmember Leonard Shryock Keepin' it Local: New and Coming Soon

THE COVE LA FITNESS Since the adoption of the Economic CHICK-FIL-A Development Opportunities Plan on October 5 2, 2018, the City has expanded its business 605 Y 5 porfolio. Check out our map to see the latest DON'S TERIYAKI and upcoming businesses! STUDEBAKER PIONEER Our efforts to diversify businesses have FIREST ORR & DA ALK made us a finalist in the 2019 Los Angeles ONE OOMFIELD

BL County Economic Development Corporation NORW Most Business Friendly City award. Stay tuned IMPERIAL THE BUFFALO SPOT CC PHO for the results! CITY HALL 2 As part of the effort to diversify the business LA MICHOACANA ZEN'S TEA HOUSE community, the City continues to work on the Natural Fruit Economic Development Nodes. Check out the FOSTER FOSTER graphic below to learn more about the vision for HOLA PHO SUSHI JOINT LA MICHOACANA the nodes. USA 4 Desde la adopción del Plan de Oportunidades Económicas en octubre SANONIO 2018, la ciudad ha aumentado su portafolio de negocios. Mire nuestro 3 ANT mapa para ver los recientes y próximos negocios. ROSECRANS

1 IMPERIAL FLORIST

ALK 6 5 SCHEDULED TO

OOMFIELD OPEN NORW EXCELSIOR BL DULCE CANELLA 1 TACOS GAVILAN 605 2 STINKIN CRAWFISH

PIONEER 3 BURGER IM SHOEMAKER STUDEBAKER ALONDRA 4 GROCERY OUTLET SMART CHOICES SUPERMARKET 5 PICK UP STIX 6 LA JARA BREWERY 166TH Norwalk Economic Nodes

Civic Center/Entertainment San Antonio/ Professional Office/ District Node Firestone Node Development Center Node Having AMC, DoubleTree and The City is working on Commonly known as Norwalk Fitness Village, City Hall, the City is working to grant deployment for the area features: L.A. Fitness, Chick-fil-A and masterplan the area. The City Firestone Corridor to Panera Bread. Coming soon, residents will see has entered into an Exclusive activate development. Pick Up Stix and professional office space. Negotiation Agreement (ENA) with Primestor. New in the area include: Don’s Teriyaki, CC Pho, The Buffalo Spot and reopening of IHOP. The City is also evaluating steps to make the Entertainment District more walkable and the feasibility of adding an additional hotel. Alondra/Pioneer Node The City is seeking Five Points development for retail Node and residential spaces, Geographically including master plan of centered in the adjacent parcels. City, the area yields potential Tank Farm Node to attract additional retail, The City has entered , and into an ENA with Lewis service uses. Group of Companies 605 FWY/Firestone Node Coming soon to masterplan the This active retail center will expand Grocery Outlet site for potential to attract additional retail and and Burger IM. sports center/retail/ commercial businesses. commercial/office and open space for California the community. Front Street Youth 105 FWY/ Node Authority Studebaker Node The City is Node This area is recognized as a working to The City has entered into an ENA with Lewis transit hub with potential for revitalize Management Corporation to master plan a transit oriented development. the area for transit oriented community. Assembly Bill 518 The City is currently in potential is scheduled to be considered by the State discussions with Caltrans and walkable Assembly and State Representatives for the City LA County Metro, the site owner shopping and to purchase site from the State. and operator respectively. dining. COMMUNITY SAFETY ZONE Preparing the Community for Encounters with Coyotes

Like many surrounding communities, the City of Norwalk is experiencing Back to School encounters with coyotes in its neighborhoods. To address the community's Shopping Spree concerns, the City Council adopted the Coyote Coexistence and Management Plan on October 1. On September 30, Public Safety The primary focus of the plan is to educate our community about the and Social Services Departments hosted importance of reporting coyote encounters, learning proper coyote hazing a shopping spree sponsored by Target for techniques, and how to identify and remove coyote attractants. Norwalk youth. Target awarded the City a As part of the plan, we have added a coyote reporting form on the $3,000 grant to be used for back-to-school City's website under, Public Safety - Coyote Information. The form will help clothing, shoes and supplies for local youth. the City document coyote behaviors, identify hotspots, and utilize data to The children were paired up with Public generate maps for residents on a regular basis. Coyote encounters may Safety Officers, Norwalk Sheriff Deputies, LA also be reported to Public Safety at 562-929-5732. County Firefighters, School Safety Officers, The City is also collaborating with the California Department of Fish and and Metropolitan State Hospital Police Wildlife to launch our first-ever Wildlife Watch Program in early 2020. The Officers, and shopped away. program will assist with additional education resources for coyote encounters. The event brought together our local youth, first responders and Public Charging Cable Scam business community for a great cause Please be aware of the latest scam involving public charging cables for and continued to strengthen our electronic devices. There have been reports of hackers being able to utilize positive relationships with the these phone charg ing cables to steal personal and sensitive information from community. your device. Ordinary looking phone charging cables can contain software that is specifically designed to disturb, damage, or obtain unauthorized access to computer systems.

How this scam works: Thieves place charging cables within public or phone, it can be controlled through a places so victims can connect their devices. wireless network that is built inside the cable. Once connected, thieves can steal personal Once a thief gains access to the information information from victims and use the information they need, they can stop all traces of evidence to make fraudulent purchases or open fake that ever existed on the compromised device. accounts. Please exercise caution when using public One charging cable can be used to take charging cables and understand the risk of control of any Mac computer, remotely gaining potentially giving hackers the opportunity to Battle access to passwords and sensitive information. steal private information. Once the cable is plugged into a computer Source: LA County Sheriff’s Department of the Badges On October 5, Public Safety Cadets attended the Battle of the Badges law enforcement scenario competition. The event took Working with place at the Firestone Scout Reservation Community Partners in Brea. The scenarios were hosted by several law enforcement agencies, and to End Homelessness involved scenarios such as Driving Under the Influence, Burglary in Progress, Vehicle Assault, and much more. The purpose behind In April 2018, the City adopted its families were assisted with getting off the the explorer competition is to test and expose homelessness plan and over the last year, streets in Norwalk. The City also assisted 287 youth to actual assignments law enforcement the City has seen a decrease in the number families with homeless prevention aid. officers may encounter during patrol. It also of people experiencing homelessness. The City believes that preventing develops teamwork, communication and According to the Los Angeles Homeless homelessness is key and has established critical thinking skills. Services Authority (LAHSA), the Greater Los an Emergency Assistance Program (EAP), Angeles 2019 Homeless Count Results for which assists individuals/ families who are the City of Norwalk was 200 people (98% experiencing financial hardship by providing unsheltered, 2% in shelters). The data reflects rental assistance. The City provides funding a decrease from the 2018 Homeless Count to support a Homeless Prevention and Rapid PizzaPizza Results, of 262 people. Rehousing Program administered by Kingdom CopCop Thursday, The decrease can be attributed to the Causes Bellflower. The City’s Housing Authority withwith aa November 21, City’s investment in homeless prevention sets aside housing vouchers for the homeless Bob's Pizza efforts carried out by our Public Safety, Social as well. Through the successful network and 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Services, and Housing staff, combined with partnerships established with our partners, 14505 Pioneer Blvd successful collaborative partnerships with the City will continue to collaborate with Norwalk, CA 90650 agencies like the Department of Mental Health, our homeless service providers to continue LAHSA, Kingdom Causes, LA County Sheriff’s making impactful strides producing positive Free Slice of pizza to HOST team, and more. Our City team is out results for our community. The next homeless the first 10 people in daily, exploring solutions to connect homeless count will be on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 attendance! individuals to a form of housing. From January at the City of Norwalk Social Services Center. 2018 to April 2019, 102 homeless individuals/ 2020 Census: Canned Food Drive Stay Warm Accessible to Everyone! Norwalk Transit’s (NTS) Annual Canned The Census Bureau is Food Drive will be held on Tuesday and this Winter making sure that the form is accessible Wednesday, November 19 and 20. Passengers With winter right around the Censushowever Corner individuals choose to respond will receive a free ride in exchange for one corner, it’s time to start preparing for – online, by phone, or by mail. Invitations to canned food item. Each year, NTS passengers the cold weather. While you get winter participate will be mailed beginning mid-March donate over 400 cans of food and perishable ready by dusting off jackets and scarves, 2020. The online questionnaire will be available food items and we’d like to collect even more don’t forget to also get your home winter in English and 12 additional languages. Moreover, this year! Collected food items are donated ready. Install or upgrade insulation in your the form will follow the latest web accessibility to the City of Norwalk’s Social Services attic and walls, caulk or weather strip doors guidelines. The website will also include a video Department - Community Emergency and windows, clean your furnace or heater in American Sign Language to guide participants. Food Cupboard - for distribution to local vents and make sure your heating system You’ll also be able to respond by phone in English, families during the Thanksgiving Holiday. is tuned up and ready to go. These simple 12 additional languages and TDD. For more information, steps can keep your house warm and save By mid-April, paper questionnaires will be call Customer Service you money on your gas bill. For more energy mailed to every household that hasn’t already at 562-929-5550 or and money saving tips please visit www. responded. Braille and large print guides will e-mail: transportation@ socalgas.com/save-money-and-energy. be available online to assist with the paper norwalkca.gov questionnaire. Lastly, Census takers will begin visiting households that have not responded beginning mid-May. Census takers who communicate in Norwalk Students Honored American Sign Language and additional languages Heads up, new street banners recognizing will be available and can be requested. local high school students are coming to Pioneer JOHN GLENN As a reminder, your participation is crucial. A Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue! For the second HIGH SCHOOL complete count ensures services like Medicaid, year, the City is acknowledging Norwalk students Medicare, Social Security, as well as our community for their academic achievements, school leadership programs, can support those who need them. community service, and for continuing their For details, visit 2020census.gov education. This year, we are recognizing 34 students from the following schools: Norwalk High, John Glenn and Election News Southeast Academy. A General Municipal Election will be held on March 3, 2020 to elect three Norwalk High banners will be placed on Pioneer individuals to serve as Members of the Boulevard, and John Glenn and Southeast Academy Norwalk City Council for four-year terms. banners will be located on Rosecrans Avenue by CAROLINA MUÑOZ Nomination Process Shoemaker Avenue. Stanford University To be a candidate for City Council, a person must be registered to vote in the City of Norwalk at the time nomination papers are issued. The filing period to be a candidate for Angel Tree Project 2019 this election will be from November 12, 2019 Be an Angel and help brighten donations year round. through 5 p.m. on December 6, 2019, unless an incumbent does not file. If this occurs, the the life of a child in need this holiday The Angel Tree Project brings joy and nomination period will be extended, except for season. You can make a difference in laughter to more than 1,500 children (ages the incumbent, through 6 p.m. December 11. the life of a child in Norwalk by picking 5-11) whose families face financial hardships Candidates must make an appointment with up a clothing tag to donate a gift to be during the holidays. Children attend a holiday the City Clerk to receive nomination papers distributed at a holiday celebration. Clothing tags celebration where they visit with Santa, and file them. are available at Social Services Center, Senior participate in holiday crafts, and receive gifts For more candidate information, a copy of the "Getting Started Candidate Center, Norwalk Arts & Sports Complex, and City of clothing, toys and other goodies. For more Information" pamphlet may be obtained Hall. Simply pick up a tag, purchase one article of information, please call the Norwalk Social at Norwalk City Hall, 12700 Norwalk clothing, and return the wrapped gift by Monday, Services Center at 562-929-5544 or visit our Boulevard, Room 10 or the City's website December 9. The project also accepts financial Social Services webpage at www.norwalk.org at www.norwalk.org. Una elección municipal general se llevara a cabo el 3 de marzo de 2020 para elegir tres personas para que formen parte del Concilio de la ciudad. El periodo de presentación de candidaturas será Holiday Schedule & Enforcement desde el 12 de noviembre hasta las 5 p.m. el 6 de diciembre de 2019, a menos que un titular no presente. Si esto ocurre, el periodo for Trash & Street Sweeping de nominación se extenderá, excepto para el titular, hasta las 6 p.m. el 11 de diciembre. The Public Safety Department will no longer For example, if an observed holiday falls be issuing parking citations for street on a Monday, and creates a one-day delay sweeping on any day where trash collection in trash collection, then street sweeping Let's Keep Norwalk Clean and street sweeping take place on the same enforcement will be exempt the rest of the day, as occurs following some holidays. week. and Litter Free! Dumped items in alleys and public right-of- Observed Holidays City Hall Closed Sweeping Trash Veterans Day Monday, November 11 No Yes ways are an eyesore and may pose a danger to Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 28 No No pedestrians or drivers. Day after Thanksgiving Friday, November 29 No Yes Items that cannot fit in your trash containers, such as couches, dressers and doors, are Street Sweeping: When there is no street collection due to a holiday, trash collection considered bulky items. sweeping due to a holiday, sweeping will WILL be made up. Trash will be collected Norwalk residents can schedule bulky item NOT be made up. Streets can only be swept the day after the normal collection day for pickups for FREE! Here are some guidelines: on the posted day. the remainder of the week. For example, • Single-family homes can pre-arrange collections of up to 5 bulky items once a week. Trash Collection: When there is no trash Monday’s trash will be collected on Tuesday. Apartment units can pre-arrange collections of up to 5 bulky • Reminder: On regularly-scheduled trash collection day, residents are requested to place their trash and recycle items once a month. bins at the curb for disposal up to 24 hours before the day of collection and removed and properly stored away To schedule a pickup, please call Athens from public view by 6 a.m. the following designated collection day. When trash collection occurs on the same Services at 855-557-1007. Bulky items pickups day as street sweeping, bins should be placed on the parkway/on top of the curb so that street sweeping activity are only scheduled on your regular trash service may take place. day. Questions? To help ensure the aesthetics of our Trash Collection Athens Services 888-336-6100 neighborhoods, please do not leave items out Street Sweeping Public Services Department 562-929-5511 on the curb more than a day ahead of your trash Parking Enforcement Public Safety Department 562-929-5732 service day. Photo Highlights: October 2019 City Council Meeting