El Segundo ignores millions in potential taxes from Chevron, records show – latimes.com

While Chevron and the city try to strike a deal, documents obtained by The Times show that in the mid-1990s, El Segundo ignored a preliminary audit showing Chevron owed as much as $9.5 million in back utility taxes and then ordered auditors to stop work.

City officials later reached an agreement with the oil producer that resulted in El Segundo receiving no money at all. At the same time, the city capped Chevron’s future natural gas taxes at $150,000 a year plus inflation — a fraction of what auditors said the city should be receiving.

The abrupt cancellation of the audit led a lawyer for the auditors to write a letter to El Segundo, saying the firm “has never encountered resistance from its client cities regarding the collection of such substantial and much needed tax revenues.”

Read the entire article at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-el-segundo-20120302,0,6137277.story?track=rss

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Former El Segundo mayor is arrested in alleged DUI – The Daily Breeze

Former El Segundo Mayor Kelly McDowell was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, police said Wednesday.

McDowell, 59, was stopped by an officer at 8 a.m. Feb. 21 in the 300 block of Center Street, where he was asked to do a field sobriety test, police Capt. Brian Evanski said.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.dailybreeze.com/crimeandcourts/ci_20080288

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Police Pursuit Involving 16 Year Old

On October 10, 2011 at approximately 1:45 AM, an El Segundo Police Department patrol officer observed a subject park and exit his vehicle near a construction site of two new homes at the corner of Washington Street and Oak Avenue.

After a few minutes, the subject re-entered the vehicle and drove away at a high rate of speed. The officer followed the vehicle a short distance and attempted to initiate a traffic stop suspecting that a crime may have just occurred. The driver failed to pull over and immediately sped away from the officer.

The officer initiated a vehicle pursuit which traveled through parts of the residential area, and ultimately westbound on Imperial Highway from California Street, where the suspect reached speeds near 100 mph.

As the driver attempted to turn northbound onto Vista del Mar from Imperial Highway, he lost control of the vehicle crashing into the west curb line barrier flipping the car onto its roof.

The 16 year old driver, an El Segundo resident, received minor injuries and was transported to UCLA Harbor General. He was subsequently arrested for possession of an unreported stolen vehicle, evading a police officer, and suspicion of DUI.

The Los Angeles Police Department is handling the single car traffic collision investigation.

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The Beach Reporter – El Segundo Car Show

El Segundo will be cruising this weekend when more than 350 hot rods and classic cars descend on the city this week for its 14th annual car show.

Hosted by the El Segundo Police Officers Association, the El Segundo Car Show has become one of the most renowned car shows in the South Bay. On Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Main Street will be lined with pre-1975 custom and classic cars, street rods, rats, cool daily drivers, antique sports cars and special-interest vehicles including special models brought in by Hot Wheels and El Segundo’s Automobile Driving Museum. The event will include free entertainment for all types of car enthusiasts, including live classic rock music and two raffles that will give away certificates from local eateries as well as a grand prize from Direct TV.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.tbrnews.com/articles/2011/08/18/el_segundo_news/news04.txt

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Mel Gibson fingerprinted, booked on misdemeanor battery conviction | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

Actor-director Mel Gibson avoided the prying cameras of the paparazzi by going to the El Segundo Police Department at night to be fingerprinted and booked in connection with his misdemeanor battery conviction.

Gibson arrived at the station about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and was released a half-hour later.

Read the entire article at:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/mel-gibson-fingerprinted-booked-on-misdemeanor-battery-conviction.html

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Utah official named to replace El Segundo City Manager Jack Wayt – The Daily Breeze

El Segundo officials have selected a Utah county administrator to take over for City Manager Jack Wayt, who will leave his post at the end of the month.

Doug Willmore, chief administrative officer of Salt Lake County, won the job Tuesday night with a unanimous vote by the City Council. His first day in City Hall will be April 18.

“It’s a big change, coming to El Segundo. Really, I look at it as a whole new set of challenges,” Willmore, 50, said before the meeting.

The council set his annual base salary at $218,000. He also will receive $14,400 in additional compensation that can be applied toward health insurance, and $62,000 in benefits, city staff members said.

In Salt Lake County, where Willmore has worked for a little more than six years, he manages 4,000 employees and oversees a $650 million budget. El Segundo, in comparison, employs a little more than 300 workers and has a general fund budget totaling roughly $56 million.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_17625395

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Helicopter crashes in El Segundo, setting building ablaze [Updated] | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

A helicopter crashed Sunday morning at a Raytheon plant in El Segundo, injuring the pilot and setting a building ablaze, according to the El Segundo Fire Department.

The accident occurred as a helicopter was lifting a large air-conditioning unit off the roof of a building at the defense contractor’s plant at 2000 E. El Segundo Blvd. at about 9:30 a.m., said Battalion Chief Richard Guyer. The pilot lost control, and the helicopter plunged into a patio and tunnel area, setting the first and second floors of the E-1 building on fire.

Read the entire article at:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/helicopter-crashes-in-el-segundo-setting-building-ablaze.html

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Thefts of cable company back-up batteries

Cities throughout Southern California, including El Segundo, are experiencing thefts of cable company back-up batteries from permanent gray utility boxes, which are located on sidewalks throughout town (pictured above). Since January 2011, nine boxes have been broken into in the City of El Segundo.

Unknown suspects pry open the utility boxes to remove the batteries, often times during early morning or daylight hours. It is not uncommon for the suspects to return to the same boxes multiple times.

It is important to note that residents, who use their internet provider for phone service, may lose the ability to call 9-1-1 if batteries are removed.

Time Warner is offering a reward for information leading to a suspect or suspects responsible for these thefts. Time Warner’s Tip Line is (877) 397-1706.

Residents are urged to call 9-1-1 if any suspicious activity is observed near one of these utility boxes.
If you have any information regarding these crimes, please contact Detective Eric Atkinson at (310) 524-2277 or eatkinson@elsegundo.org.

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Suspects Arrested for Metal and Manhole Cover Thef

EL SEGUNDO POLICE DEPARTMENT
Press Release

Suspect - Marciani
Booking # 2646187

Suspect - Reyes
Booking # 2646197

On February 15, 2011 at 6:15 PM an El Segundo K-9 Officer responded to a business in the 100 block of Nevada Street regarding the theft of engine parts, tools, and a truck tool bin from a gated and secured lot. The Officer recalled impounding a black 1970 Chevrolet ½ ton pick-up truck during his previous shift the night prior, which had similar items in the bed. During that traffic stop, the Officer cited the driver, Paul Marciani (18 yrs), for driving on a suspended license and identified the passenger; Norberto Reyes (19 yrs), both residents of Hawthorne.

The Officer drove to the impound yard where the truck had been towed, photographed the items still in the bed of the vehicle, returned to the business where he confirmed the property belonged to the victim. There were other items in the bed of truck that the victim said likely belonged to an adjacent business. The Officer contacted the second business owner and with the assistance of Detectives, the stolen property was identified and returned to the rightful owners.

Detectives researched several other crimes that occurred in the same geographical area, during similar timeframes, and prepared a search warrant for Marciani’s residence. The search warrant was served and Marciani and Reyes were at the location. Both suspects confessed to multiple metal thefts in town, which included stealing 2 manhole covers from El Segundo city streets. It was also learned the suspects may be responsible for numerous manhole cover thefts in the south bay. Please contact Detective Jeff Humphrey at 310-524-2216 if you have any information related to these types of thefts.

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El Segundo will not place fire department merger on ballot until 2012 – The Daily Breeze

El Segundo residents will have to wait until the spring of 2012 to vote on a proposed Fire Department merger with Los Angeles County.

The town’s firefighters association, which supports the plan, submitted an initiative petition in November to put the issue up for a citywide vote.

And although not specified in the initiative, the association had hoped that the City Council would call a special election this spring or summer.

But after a debate Tuesday night that touched upon costs and what would be fair for the electorate, a divided council chose to put off a public vote until the April 2012 municipal election. The vote was 3-2, with Mayor Eric Busch and Councilman Don Brann objecting.

Councilman Bill Fisher argued that waiting to put the issue on the ballot would be the easiest way to save money, considering the City Clerk’s Office estimated the town would pay up to $60,000 for a stand-alone special election, but that the expense would be “negligible” if the city held off until 2012.

“I think the thing to do is to save costs and not incur more costs to the city on this,” Fisher said, “because I think it’s going to go down.”

Read the entire article at:
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_17405496?source=rss

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