El Segundo edition Issue #6 · September 11, 2026

El SegundoIntel

Light week at El Segundo City Hall — no Council or Planning Commission meeting (the PC's Sep 10 session was cancelled). But candidate filing for the November ballot just closed, and there's real news in who's running. Next Tuesday's Council meeting brings a public hearing on a proposed commercial wave pool. Plus: a heads-up on Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant odors this week, and a status check on the data center moratorium residents have been asking for. About 4 minutes.

What Matters This Week

Two Council seats, three candidates — both incumbents are running again
Coming Sep 15: a public hearing on a proposed wave pool at the South Campus Specific Plan
Coming Sep 16: five youth sports leagues face residency probation; the Chargers' flag football league wants a field-policy carve-out
Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant: possible odors Sep 11–16 during equipment inspection
Data center moratorium: still just a request — not on the Sep 15 agenda

City Council

Both incumbents are running again — one challenger has entered the race

Nomination filing for El Segundo's two open City Council seats closed August 7. Per the City Clerk's official filing record, three candidates pulled and returned papers: Mayor Pro Tem Ryan W. Baldino (filed August 4), Mayor Chris Pimentel (filed July 30), and challenger John Pickhaver (filed August 6).

Both incumbents are seeking another term. Pickhaver is the only new name in the race. The election is November 3, 2026, alongside Manhattan Beach's own City Council race and other local contests.

The candidates

City Clerk — Nomination Papers Pulled/Returned →

Source: El Segundo City Clerk — Nomination Papers Pulled/Returned for City Council

Community Notice

Heads up: Hyperion odors possible this week

Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant is inspecting one of its Intermediate Pumping Station (IPS) screws — the massive rotating lifts that move wastewater between treatment stages — alongside the equipment manufacturer. To do the inspection, the screw covers have to come off and the channel drained and cleaned.

Covers come off Friday, September 11. Cleaning runs September 11–15. The formal inspection is September 15–16, with covers going back on the day after. Hyperion says odors may occur while the covers are off, and that mitigation measures will be in place. Questions or concerns can go to Hyperion's 24-hour community hotline: (310) 318-8232.

Source: Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant community notice

Watching

The data center moratorium residents asked for hasn't actually been proposed yet

Two weeks ago, residents asked Council to consider a temporary hold on new data center approvals while the city's Vision 2050 general plan update is underway. As of this week, no moratorium ordinance has actually been introduced — it remains a request, not a pending Council action.

The real venue to watch is Vision 2050 itself. Per the city's own project timeline, staff have been refining land-use alternatives through the summer, and a City Council study session on those alternatives is expected sometime this fall. It is not on the September 15 Council agenda — we checked. We'll report a study session date once it's actually posted, rather than guess.

Source: City of El Segundo Vision 2050 project page; September 15, 2026 City Council agenda

Coming Up

Next Tuesday: a proposed wave pool, and two $500K/year contracts

El Segundo's next City Council meeting is September 15, and two items stand out. A public hearing will consider the 'El Segundo Surf Club' — a commercial wave pool recreation facility proposed for 100-200 South Nash Street within the South Campus Specific Plan. It would need a development agreement amendment, a specific plan amendment, and several use permits, including one for onsite alcohol sales.

Separately, Council will consider third amendments to two professional services agreements — with Willdan Engineering and True North Compliance — for building plan check review and inspection services, extending both through June 2030 at up to $500,000 per year each. Both are on the consent calendar, meaning they'll pass without discussion unless a Council member pulls them.

Source: September 15, 2026 City Council agenda

Coming Up

Five youth sports leagues face residency probation — and the Chargers want in

At the September 16 Recreation and Parks Commission meeting, staff will ask the Commission to place five youth sports organizations — El Segundo Babe Ruth, El Segundo Girls Softball, El Segundo Lacrosse, El Segundo Inline Hockey, and El Segundo Football and Cheer — on a one-year probationary period for failing to meet the city's 75% or 60% residency requirements for using city athletic fields.

On the same agenda: the Los Angeles Chargers' 'Snoop and Hoosh' flag football league is asking to join the Youth Sports Advisory Committee and to operate outside the city's normal field-use allocation policy. Both are staff recommendations, not yet decided.

Source: September 16, 2026 Recreation and Parks Commission agenda

Upcoming dates

Upcoming Dates

Tue, Sep 15 · 6:00 PM: City Council Regular Meeting — wave pool public hearing, building-plan-check contract extensions
Wed, Sep 16 · 6:00 PM: Recreation and Parks Commission — youth sports league residency probation, Chargers-affiliated flag football field request
Thu, Sep 17 · 3:00 PM: City Council Finance Committee — cell tower easement, fleet study, film ordinance, PD/FD overtime
Thu, Sep 24 · 5:30 PM: Planning Commission

One thing to watch

Two threads worth tracking

The Council race: with only one contested seat effectively in play (Pickhaver vs. two incumbents), this is a low-drama race by the numbers — but worth watching whether a real campaign develops before November.

Data center zoning: no ordinance yet, but Vision 2050's land-use study session — whenever it lands — is where this actually gets decided, not a resident comment period.