El Segundo edition Issue #5 · September 4, 2026

El SegundoIntel

Tuesday's City Council meeting was short on votes, but long on opinions about data centers and the Tesla service facility approval. Plus: El Segundo police logged their quietest month of the summer, and the city has a new Emergency Management Coordinator. About 5 minutes.

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What Matters This Week

  • Residents push for a data center moratorium while Vision 2050 proceeds
  • Tesla facility appeal may face legal challenge over undisclosed speakers
  • ESPD call volume fell 27% over the summer — June to August
  • New Emergency Management Coordinator introduced
  • September is National Preparedness Month
  • Council honors local surfing legend Tyler Huizinga

City Council (Recap)

Residents push Council to pause new data centers

A West Maple Avenue resident asked the Council to consider a temporary moratorium on data centers to allow the city to study their impact. Council members did not respond directly during public comment, but the request may be placed on a future agenda.

The push follows a contentious July Planning Commission meeting where commissioners were asked to approve a 230,780-square-foot data center to replace an existing hotel. Residents packed the chamber — raising concerns about energy demand, water use, noise, and environmental impact — and the project was later withdrawn. A second speaker at Tuesday's meeting warned the city risks being caught flat-footed again: the July proposal relied on an environmental review nearly 25 years old that didn't account for the scale of a modern data center. Both speakers want the Council to pause new approvals while Vision 2050, the city's ongoing general plan update, works out whether and where data centers belong in El Segundo.

Timeline: data centers in El Segundo

June 16, 2026 — At the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Long Beach, Mayor Pimentel reports that data centers were the dominant topic "all day long" — cities and utilities grappling with how fast the industry is evolving and who bears the infrastructure costs.

July 2026 — The Planning Commission is asked to approve a 230,780-square-foot data center to replace an existing hotel. The proposal relies on a nearly 25-year-old environmental review. Residents turn out in force against it, raising concerns about energy, water, noise, and impact on the community. The project is subsequently withdrawn.

September 1, 2026 — Two residents speak at City Council public comment. One asks the Council to place a moratorium on new data center approvals on a future agenda. A second argues that the city is caught "on the back foot" each time a project arrives, and urges the Council to get ahead of the issue through Vision 2050 before the next proposal lands.

Watch the September 1 meeting

City Council — September 1, 2026 (Granicus) →

Source: City Council — September 1, 2026

City Council (Recap)

Tesla facility approved 3–2 — but a legal challenge may be coming

Correction (October 13, 2026): An earlier version of this story said the Community Development Director's June 19 determination found the EV facility to be a permitted use. That was backwards — the Director actually denied that finding, and the Planning Commission upheld the denial 4-1 on July 9. The City Council's 3-2 vote on August 12, reported correctly below, is what reversed that denial and approved the facility.

At the August 12 special meeting, the Council voted 3-2 to approve an appeal allowing a Tesla electric vehicle maintenance and delivery facility in the Corporate Office zone. Attorney Emily Murray appeared on behalf of Tesla and property developer Gryphon Capital. But other speakers who argued in favor of the project did not disclose their employer affiliations — and at the August 18 regular meeting, the Council directed staff to investigate.

At September 1 public comment, a resident urged the Council to consult City Attorney Mark Hensley in closed session, arguing there may be a valid legal cause of action under Code of Civil Procedure § 1094.5 — a writ of mandate used to challenge administrative decisions — to reverse the approval. The Council did not respond during public comment.

Timeline: the Tesla appeal

June 19, 2026 — Community Development Director issues Administrative Determination No. AD 26-01 / EA-1414, finding that an EV maintenance and customer service facility is not sufficiently similar to a listed use in the Corporate Office zone to qualify as a permitted use — effectively denying the applicant's request.

July 9, 2026 — The Planning Commission votes 4-1 to uphold the Director's denial, with Commissioner Taylor dissenting in favor of overturning it.

August 12, 2026 — City Council holds a special meeting on the appeal. Attorney Emily Murray argues on behalf of Tesla and developer Gryphon Capital. Other speakers support the project without disclosing their affiliations. Council votes 3-2 to approve the appeal (Pimentel, Boyles, Giroux in favor; Baldino and Keldorf opposed).

August 18, 2026 — Multiple residents raise the disclosure issue at regular public comment. Planning Commissioner Melissa McCaverty also speaks about the special meeting decision. The Council reaches consensus to direct staff to look into speakers who spoke on behalf of employers without disclosing those affiliations.

September 1, 2026 — A resident urges the Council to meet with City Attorney Mark Hensley in closed session, citing CCP § 1094.5 and describing a potential cause of action to challenge the approval. No Council response during public comment.

Watch the August 12 special meeting

City Council Special Meeting — August 12, 2026 (Granicus) →

Sources: what the record actually says

Director's June 19 determination (from the July 9 Planning Commission staff report): "the Director has made an administrative determination that an 'Electric Vehicle Maintenance and Customer Service Facility' use is not consistent with the purpose of the CO Zone; is not compatible with other uses allowed in the CO Zone; and is not similar in impacts and character to other permitted uses allowed in the CO Zone." The memo concludes: "the proposed use is not permitted in the CO zone through an Administrative Determination."

Planning Commission vote, July 9, 2026 (certified minutes): "MOTION: Uphold the Community Development Director's Administrative Determination... Motion carried, 4-1... Ayes: Maggay, Inga, Christian, and McCaverty. Nay: Taylor."

City Council vote, August 12, 2026 (certified minutes): "MOTION by Council Member Boyles, SECONDED by Council Member Giroux to approve the appeal... MOTION PASSED 3/2. AYES: Pimentel, Boyles, and Giroux. NOES: Baldino and Keldorf."

Speaker affiliations, August 12, 2026 (certified minutes): "Emily Murray, Esq., from Allen Matkins, spoke about Item C1." "Chris Shane, from Gryphon Capital, spoke about Item C1." Both are also identified as applicant representatives in the July 9 Planning Commission minutes.

Council direction to investigate, August 18, 2026 (certified minutes): "CITY MANAGER FOLLOW-UP COMMENTS: Council Consensus to look into employees who spoke on behalf of their employers at the August 12, 2026, Special Meeting without disclosing their employers."

September 1, 2026 public comment (Granicus caption transcript): "...encourage you to follow up with your City Attorney Mark Hensley, potentially in closed session... it looks like Code of Civil Procedure action ten-94.5 required is the cause [of] action..."

Source: City Council — August 12 & September 1, 2026

Public Safety

ESPD call volume fell 27% over the summer

El Segundo police responded to 2,195 calls in August, down from 2,629 in July and 2,986 in June — a 27% drop over three months. The most common calls were traffic stops, security checks, and illegal parking complaints. Weekdays are consistently busier than weekends.

Whether the decline reflects fewer incidents or seasonal patterns isn't clear from the data alone. South Bay Intel will track monthly going forward.

Source: ESPD CAD log — July & August 2026

City Council (Recap)

Meet El Segundo's new Emergency Management Coordinator

The city introduced Kristen Jo as its new Emergency Management Coordinator, who will lead preparedness efforts citywide. Jo emphasized a 'whole community' approach and plans to restart the Disaster Council and train staff across departments.

Source: City Council — September 1, 2026

City Council (Recap)

September is National Preparedness Month — here's what to do

The Council adopted a proclamation declaring September 2026 as National Preparedness Month, encouraging residents to build emergency kits and family communication plans. Fire Chief Ryan Allie accepted the proclamation and highlighted the city's commitment to community safety.

The city recommends having at least 72 hours of supplies on hand and a family meeting plan. More at ready.gov.

Source: City Council — September 1, 2026

City Council (Recap)

El Segundo surfboard shaper honored by City Council

The City Council presented a proclamation commending Tyler Huizinga for his contributions to surfing culture and his induction into the Hermosa Surfer Walk of Fame. Councilmember Boyles praised Huizinga as a local legend and entrepreneur.

Source: City Council — September 1, 2026

Upcoming dates

Upcoming Dates

Fri, Sep 11 · 5:30 PM
Planning Commission
Tue, Sep 15 · 7:00 PM
City Council Regular Meeting

One thing to watch

Data centers in El Segundo

Two residents asked the Council to put a data center moratorium on a future agenda. Watch for whether it shows up as a formal item — and whether the Council takes a position before the next proposal arrives. Worth noting: Mayor Pimentel came back from the U.S. Conference of Mayors in June saying data centers dominated the discussion there all day. The Council has been tracking this regionally for months.

The Tesla decision is also unresolved

A resident cited Code of Civil Procedure § 1094.5 at September 1 public comment and urged the Council to discuss a potential legal challenge to the Tesla approval in closed session. That conversation hasn't happened publicly yet. If the city has a cause of action, the clock on filing a writ of mandate is short — 90 days from the final decision.

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