WESTMINSTER MALL at Bolsa Avenue and Goldenest Street in Westminster (OC Tribune photo).

The future of Westminster Mall and the term of the mayor will top Wednesday’s meeting of the Westminster City Council.

On the agenda is an agreement with PlaceWorks to prepare a specific plan for the mall, located at Bolsa Avenue and Goldenwest Street alongside the San Diego (405) Freeway.

The cost of the agreement will be $283,385. The mall opened in 1974 and prospered until recently when competition from the nearby Bella Terra center in northern Huntington Beach and changes in the retail industry lead to many vacancies in the enclosed center.

One of the mall’s anchor stores, Sears, will be closing this year. PlaceWorks will create a plan for the center, which is considered a likely candidate for mixed-use development, including some residential uses. Formal approval of the specific plan is schedule for 18 months from Wednesday’s action.

WESTMINSTER MAYOR Tri Ta speaking at a Memorial Day event in 2017 (OC Tribune photo).

Also on the agenda for Wednesday will be the calling of a special municipal election for June 5 to place a measure on the ballot asking voters to extend the term of the mayor from two years to four.

Currently, only the mayor’s post covers two years; the other four members of the city council serve for four years. One argument in favor of the change is that it creates “an imbalance and unlevel playing field” by requiring a mayor who wishes to serve four years to run twice during that time.

Westminster’s current mayor is Tri Ta. The election would cost $85,000.

The council meets in its chambers at 8200 Westminster Blvd., starting at 7 p.m.