RESOLUTION NO. 5469_
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MAYWOOD CALLING UPON THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TO AVOID THE DESTRUCTION OF RESIDENTIAL HOMES, TO CONSIDER OTHER PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE SITES AND TO PROVIDE AN OPEN PUBLIC PROCESS AS TO THE CURRENT SITE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE PROPOSED SOUTH REGION HIGH SCHOOL NO. 8.
WHEREAS, with more than 28,000 people living in a square mile, the City of Maywood (“City”) is the most densely populated U.S. city outside the New York metropolitan area, and more than a third of the City’s residents are children;
WHEREAS, the City is presently facing both a tremendous overcrowding problem within its schools and an on-going shortage of safe, sanitary affordable housing within the City;
WHEREAS, the Los Angeles Unified School District (“LAUSD”) is proposing to construct and operate a high school, known as the South Region High School No. 8 project, in LAUSD Local District 6 which is located within the City;
WHEREAS, the proposed project is intended to relieve overcrowding at the nearby Bell High School;
WHEREAS, the proposed site will result in the destruction of a significant number of affordable homes within the City;
WHEREAS, on Thursday, February 19, 2009, the City Council held a special meeting in its City Council chambers to receive citizen input regarding the proposed location of the South Region High School No. 8; and
WHEREAS, in this meeting attended by approximately 160 residents, an overwhelming majority raised objections to the proposed site location as it would result in a severe reduction in the City’s limited supply of affordable housing and would lead to the displacement of a number of families and residents;
WHEREAS, based on this past meeting and prior community meetings on this matter, the City would like to formally request a working group be established comprised of both City and community leaders to assist LAUSD in its consideration of other viable alternative locations for the proposed school that will result in reduced overcrowding within the City’s existing schools, but that will not do so at the expense of the City’s affordable housing supply; and
WHEREAS, as a measure of good faith, the City has identified four alternative locations for LAUSD to consider instead of the current proposed site.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MAYWOOD RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. First, the City Council calls for LAUSD to find a proposed location for South Region High School No. 8 that avoids a reduction in the City’s limited affordable housing supply.
SECTION 2. Second, the City Council formally requests the formation of a Maywood working group where community residents, City leaders and the LAUSD can collaborate in the review and decision making process involving current and future decisions involving South Region High School No. 8, including but not limited to environmental review, mitigation planning, design review, and other planning and safety related concerns.
SECTION 3. Third, the City Council formally requests LAUSD to explore four alternative sites, in revised configurations previously suggested by the City at stakeholder meetings held by the LAUSD, that do not require the taking of residential property. The alternative site configurations relate to: (1) Site 25; (2) Site 26; (3) the Thermador Site; and (4) the HP/Maywood Option. These alternative sites are further identified and discussed in the attached letter signed by Mayor Veronica Guardado on behalf of the City Council which shall also be submitted to LAUSD under separate cover.
SECTION 4. Finally, to the extent that LAUSD is considering any property in the City of Maywood for the construction of the South Region High School No. 8, the City Council hereby requests that LAUSD hold any public hearings or meetings relating to the proposed site within the boundaries of the City of Maywood.
SECTION 5. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective upon its adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Maywood this 24th day of February, 2009.
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Veronica Guardado, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Patricia Bravo, City Clerk
