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AGENDA ITEM NO. 12.
CITY OF HAWTHORNE City Council AGENDA BILL For the meeting of 10/14/2025 Originating Department: Planning |
City Manager:
Department Head:
SUBJECT:
Appointment of volunteers to the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC).
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Approve the slate of applicants for the GPAC
DISCUSSION:
A General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) is a volunteer-based working group established to guide the update of Hawthorne’s General Plan. Recruiting was done on the City's social media and website, and 18 applications were received before closing the application process. While the GPAC does not make decisions, its input is instrumental in grounding the General Plan in community values, ensuring the final product is both equitable and reflective of Hawthorne’s unique identity. The GPAC's responsibilities will include reviewing and commenting on technical reports, land use alternatives, draft goals and policies, and serving as a sounding board for engagement strategies. Members are expected to attend eight regular meetings and participate in discussions. Members will bring their lived experiences and local knowledge to the table and act as ambassadors to their networks—helping to disseminate information and encourage participation. They will help identify community concerns, highlight equity considerations, and ensure that a range of voices are considered throughout the process. The GPAC’s input, combined with technical analysis and public engagement, help make the General Plan both visionary and grounded in community needs.
The GPAC will meet eight times over the next two years at key points in the plan's development. Meetings of the GPAC are open to the public and will be well noticed and advertised. The focus of each meeting is tentatively set as follows:
Meeting 1: Introduction to the General Plan Update, GPAC's role, and visioning exercise
Meeting 2: Issues and Concerns, SWOT analysis, and survey
Meeting 3: Vision finalization, guiding principles, land use alternatives
Meeting 4: Land use and circulation alternatives presentation and feedback, survey
Meeting 5: Preferred land use and circulation discussion, focus area plan discussion
Meeting 6: Land use and circulation policy discussion
Meeting 7: Policy discussion for other elements
Meeting 8: Final plan presentation and send off
Proposed slate of GPAC members:
Jesse Acosta; Joselyn Barrios-Villagran; Bethany Bauer; Andrew Cook; Frank Di Pasquale; Patricia Donaldson; Kathleen Harris; Claudia Huezo; John Jefferson; Elizabeth Mercado; Jennifer Myers; Mara Pagniano; Joseph Quan; Carmen Rodriguez Lopez; Nicole Ruiz; Melissa Segal; Amy Squires; and Olivia Valentine.
This slate represents many age groups, including one representative from the Hawthorne School District. Both owners and renters are represented, and the group includes residents, people who work in Hawthorne, go to school in Hawthorne, own income property or a business in Hawthorne, or some combination of relationships with the City.
The GPAC will meet eight times over the next two years at key points in the plan's development. Meetings of the GPAC are open to the public and will be well noticed and advertised. The focus of each meeting is tentatively set as follows:
Meeting 1: Introduction to the General Plan Update, GPAC's role, and visioning exercise
Meeting 2: Issues and Concerns, SWOT analysis, and survey
Meeting 3: Vision finalization, guiding principles, land use alternatives
Meeting 4: Land use and circulation alternatives presentation and feedback, survey
Meeting 5: Preferred land use and circulation discussion, focus area plan discussion
Meeting 6: Land use and circulation policy discussion
Meeting 7: Policy discussion for other elements
Meeting 8: Final plan presentation and send off
Proposed slate of GPAC members:
Jesse Acosta; Joselyn Barrios-Villagran; Bethany Bauer; Andrew Cook; Frank Di Pasquale; Patricia Donaldson; Kathleen Harris; Claudia Huezo; John Jefferson; Elizabeth Mercado; Jennifer Myers; Mara Pagniano; Joseph Quan; Carmen Rodriguez Lopez; Nicole Ruiz; Melissa Segal; Amy Squires; and Olivia Valentine.
This slate represents many age groups, including one representative from the Hawthorne School District. Both owners and renters are represented, and the group includes residents, people who work in Hawthorne, go to school in Hawthorne, own income property or a business in Hawthorne, or some combination of relationships with the City.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal 4: Update the Zoning Code for the 21st Century
Objective 4.2: Create a public outreach program for community stakeholders to seek input and explain possible changes.
Objective 4.2: Create a public outreach program for community stakeholders to seek input and explain possible changes.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
NOTICING PROCEDURE:
Not applicable