These Updates from the City Manager are designed to keep Lomita residents informed about the City’s ongoing projects, programs and priorities. These updates provide timely information on community improvements, public safety efforts and infrastructure investments, along with highlights of recent accomplishments and what’s coming next.

Published every two weeks, the Updates from the City Manager aim to offer transparency into City operations and ensure residents stay connected to how Lomita is working to enhance the quality of life across the community.

Dear Lomita Residents,

Here are some notable updates that may be of interest to you.

City Council Meeting Preview

The next City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. Prior to the regular meeting, the City Council will hold a Special Meeting beginning at 4:15 p.m. to interview applicants for Commission vacancies.

The regular meeting agenda includes several important items, including implementation of new state requirements affecting City Council meetings, Planning Commission appointments, and a minor amendment to the City’s Oversized Vehicle/RV Ordinance. Visit the Agendas and Minutes webpage for more information.

New Requirements for City Council Meetings (SB 707)

Beginning July 1, cities throughout California must comply with significant updates to the Ralph M. Brown Act resulting from Senate Bill 707 (SB 707), which was signed into law last year. The legislation modernizes several aspects of local government meetings and public participation requirements. Staff has prepared a summary memorandum outlining the key changes and the steps the City must take to ensure compliance.

Boys & Girls Club Staffing Reductions Impact Fleming Middle School

The City recently received notice that, due to budget reductions within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), several Boys & Girls Club after-school programs throughout the district will experience staffing reductions. In Lomita, the program at Fleming Middle School is expected to lose one Academic Coordinator, one Music Instructor and five Youth Development Professionals.

At the June 16 City Council meeting, staff will present a new partnership between the City and the Boys & Girls Club at Lomita Park. The partnership is expected to introduce new youth programming opportunities for local families and may provide opportunities to retain some of the affected staff members within the community. To learn more, please read the provided notice.

Technology Infrastructure Improvements

During the recent Budget Workshop, the City Council requested an update on the City’s technology investments. Since transitioning to Lan Wan Enterprise (LWE) as the City’s information technology provider, several significant improvements have been completed, including:

  • Implementation of a Microsoft 365 cloud backup system
  • Installation of a secondary domain controller to improve network reliability
  • Upgrades to all City-owned computers and laptops from Windows 10 to Windows 11
  • Ongoing network cable management and equipment modernization at City facilities (see pictures to the right)

Additional technology projects currently underway or planned include:

  • A new citywide security camera system
  • Development of a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan
  • Microsoft SharePoint implementation for secure document management and staff collaboration
  • Modernization of the City’s phone system
  • Backup internet connectivity for the Railroad Museum
  • New firewall installations, pending City Council approval, to strengthen network security

These improvements continue to enhance operational efficiency, reliability, and cybersecurity throughout City operations.

A side-by-side comparison of a network equipment rack at City Hall. The "Before" image on the left shows a chaotic, tangled mess of thick black, blue, and white Ethernet cables completely blocking the view of the switches and patch panels. The "After" image on the right shows the same rack meticulously organized, with short blue patch cables neatly routed from the patch panels into the switches, a Fortinet firewall clearly visible, and lower devices organized neatly on a shelf with coiled, managed cables below.
A side-by-side comparison of network hardware at Lomita Park. The "Before" image shows loose routers, switches, and modems stacked haphazardly on an open wooden shelf with a messy cluster of white, black, and blue wires hanging down. The "After" image shows the shelf cleared, with the network equipment now cleanly housed inside a professional, wall-mounted black server cabinet with a glass door, and a Lenovo small form factor PC standing neatly on the shelf below it.
A side-by-side comparison of IT equipment at the Railroad Museum. The "Before" image shows a cramped, cluttered workspace under a wooden ledge filled with tangled cords, a Yealink desk phone, paperwork, sticky notes, and loose network devices crammed together. The "After" image shows a clean, minimalist wall setup where the network hardware is neatly enclosed in a secure, wall-mounted black server cabinet near the ceiling, with a single white cable raceway cleanly running down the wall and an Aruba Wi-Fi access point mounted neatly beside it.

Street Sweeping Route Adjustments and Warning Period

All updated street sweeping signage has been installed throughout the City, and Lomita remains in a citywide warning period as residents adjust to the new street sweeping and trash collection schedules. City staff and Athens Services have been actively monitoring operations and gathering community feedback. Based on observations and resident input, staff anticipates bringing recommended route modifications to the City Council for consideration in July.

To minimize confusion, the City will continue issuing only warning notices, with no monetary penalties, until any Council-approved changes are implemented and any necessary signage updates are completed. The City and Athens remain committed to refining the program to ensure clean, safe and well-maintained streets.

As a reminder, no street sweeping citations have been issued since April 1. To see the updated maps and see frequently asked questions, visit the 2026 Street Sweeping and Trash Collection Updates page.

Wireless Emergency Alert Test Scheduled for June 10

Alert South Bay will conduct a regional Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) test on Wednesday, June 10, at 1 p.m. During the test, mobile devices may:

  • Emit a loud alert tone
  • Vibrate
  • Display a test message
  • Read the alert aloud

The test is being conducted in preparation for the FIFA World Cup and will help emergency management agencies evaluate regional alerting capabilities and understand how alerts are received by both residents and international visitors. No action is required. This is only a test.

Thank you for reading this “Update from the City Manager.” In case you missed it, we encourage you to review past updates to stay informed about important City efforts and the ongoing progress in our community. If you have any questions, please visit us at City Hall or call (310) 325-7110.

Warm Regards,

Andrew Vialpando
City Manager