Sierra Madre Council Tackles Water Upgrades, E-Bike Rules, and Downtown Parking

Kersting Court (File Photo – cityofsierramadre)

The Sierra Madre City Council met Tuesday evening for a packed agenda that touched on transportation, infrastructure spending, historic preservation, and downtown parking. The council also heard a presentation from the Clean Power Alliance on its Power Ready Project, a regional energy resilience initiative that Councilmember Robert Parkhurst had previewed at an Executive Board meeting in March.

By Shashank Tongaonkar

A new Memorandum of Understanding with the Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society will continue operation of the Richardson House and Lizzie’s Trail Inn as a community history center. The MOU replaces an expiring 25-year lease and splits maintenance costs between the city and the nonprofit. The city committed to replacing the Lizzie’s Trail Inn roof and repairing the Richardson House shed within the first year of the agreement. SMHPS will continue operating the facilities as a volunteer-staffed historical information center.

The council approved a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society to continue operating the Richardson House and Lizzie’s Trail Inn as a community history center. The MOU replaces an expiring 25-year lease and splits maintenance costs between the city and the nonprofit. The city committed to replacing the Lizzie’s Trail Inn roof and repairing the Richardson House shed within the first year of the agreement. SMHPS will continue operating the facilities as a volunteer-staffed historical information center.

Also on the consent calendar, the council took up the second reading of Ordinance No. 1492, formally reauthorizing nonprofit bingo games in Sierra Madre. The ordinance restores a regulatory framework that was stripped out during a 2023 municipal code overhaul. It passed its first reading unanimously at the March 24 meeting without drawing any public comment.

The night’s biggest-ticket consent item was Resolution No. 26-30, awarding a $1.16 million construction contract to General Pump Company for the Well No. 4 Rehabilitation Project. The project is funded by a supplemental appropriation from Water Fund reserves and is part of the city’s continued push to maintain and modernize its water infrastructure, following the $625,313 Lima Street water main replacement contract the council approved at its March 24 session.

Among discussion items, the council considered launching a pilot program with Uber Transit for local rideshare services. Members also took up a citywide special events policy review, and the council moved toward final adoption of Ordinance No. 1491, regulating electric mobility devices like e-bikes on city streets and in parks. The e-bike measure had already cleared its first reading unanimously on March 24, but not before drawing five written public comments and testimony from resident John Lloyd, who urged a more holistic safety program rather than outright bans in the downtown area.

The council also revisited its downtown parking study through Resolution No. 26-29, which would rescind the previously approved $49,995 agreement with Transpo Group USA and seek new direction on funding. At the March 24 session, the original Transpo deal passed unanimously after public comment suggested timed parking and meters near Kersting Court.

The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for April 28, 2026.