14-N
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
ATTENTION: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
FROM: Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to approve the Minutes of the May 12, 2025, Special Meeting of the City Council.
DATE: May 12, 2025
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
None
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Approve the May 12, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENT
Minutes of the May 12, 2025, Special Meeting… ........................ ………………………… 2
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CITY OF BELLFLOWER
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025, 4:00 P.M.
BELLFLOWER CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Dunton called the Special Meeting to order at 4:07 p.m.
2 ROLL CALL
The following Members of the City Council responded present to roll call:
Mayor Ray Dunton
Mayor Pro Tem Sonny R. Santa Ines
Council Member Dan Koops
Council Member Wendi Morse
Council Member Victor A. Sanchez
Staff Participants:
Ryan Smoot, City Manager
Karl H. Berger, City Attorney
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Len Gorecki, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Tae Rhee, Director of Finance
Anna Garan, Finance Manager
Brian McNerney, Director of Public Safety
Wangsu Lee, Assistant to the City Manager
Dakota Wallace, Management Assistant
3 PUBLIC COMMENTS
For the record, there was no one in attendance wishing to provide public comments.
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2 Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 4-A May 12, 2025 Page 2 of 4
4 BUDGET STUDY SESSION
A Consideration and possible action to approve adjustments to the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Years 2025-2027.
Finance Manager Garan 1) provided a report of the modifications to the proposed budget; and 2) responded to Council Members’ questions along with City Manager Smoot, Director of Public Safety McNerney, and Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Gorecki.
For the record, City Manager Smoot added that minor inconsequential modifications were made to the Drug Education/Rehabilitation Fund of about $1,000 or so for City special events.
For the record, and without objection, Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines requested annual reports of 1) how many trees were planted and removed citywide; and 2) how much is spent for a grant writer and how much grant funding is received.
At the request of Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, Finance Manager Garan clarified that the proposed budget modifications impact the General Fund and the General Fund Capital Projects Fund, demonstrating that there is a 1) decrease of $204,045 in Fiscal Year 2025-26 and $208,085 in Fiscal Year 2026-27 to the General Fund surplus for the restoration of the Bellflower Sister City, Inc., budget and increase of funding for Public Safety services; and 2) decrease of $200,000 in Fiscal Year 2025-26 and $100,000 in Fiscal Year 2026-27 to the General Fund Capital Projects Fund surplus for the Bellflower Boulevard Street Lighting project and planting of additional trees.
Council Member Koops expressed support for purchasing technology for public safety, such as “ShotSpotter” and/or “ALPR cameras,” reiterating that this technology would be a supplemental option to increase public safety services due to the lack of resources provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
At the request of Council Member Sanchez, Director of Public Safety McNerney clarified that the purchase of additional “ALPR cameras” is included in the proposed budget, confirming that the additional cameras will be placed at “main entry points” throughout the City.
Relative to traffic management projects (Account No. 51606), 1) Council Member Sanchez a) reiterated his opinion that $75,000 is not sufficient to assist with traffic calming measures and does not demonstrate that the City is actively working on addressing the concerns of residents, highlighting that the City Council received written communication from a resident regarding traffic concerns earlier in the day; and b) proposed a budget of $150,000 annually for citywide traffic calming measures; and 2) City Manager Smoot a) stated that the proposed budget allocates $75,000 for traffic calming measures to complete a site-specific concept for the designated block of Park Street to Flower Street and Ardmore Avenue to Clark Street that examines the entire geographical area to mitigate and solve the problems identified in previous relative studies; and b) clarified that the allocation of $75,000 is sufficient to conduct the required studies and/or implementation of certain traffic calming measures.
3 Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 4-A May 12, 2025 Page 3 of 4
4 BUDGET STUDY SESSION – Continued
A Consideration and possible action to approve adjustments to the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Years 2025-2027 – Continued
For the record, 1) Council Member Sanchez expressed the opinion that the proposed traffic calming measures to complete the site-specific concept for the designated block should be done; however, additional funding for citywide traffic calming measures, such as the implementation of cameras or signage, should be allocated in the proposed budget as well; 2) Council Member Morse expressed support in allocating additional funding to develop solutions and alleviate the traffic concerns, noting that speeding occurs in her neighborhood and is a concern of the residents; 3) at the request of Mayor Dunton, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Gorecki stated that one radar feedback sign is approximately $10,000; however, the cost is dependent on the location and electrical needs; and 4) Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines suggested that the City Council wait for the results of the proposed study before allocating additional funding, further expressing that he cannot support the allocation of additional funding towards a non-specific project, noting that the budget may be amended in the future if additional funding for a specific project is needed.
In response to questions and comments provided by Council Member Sanchez and Mayor Dunton, Finance Manager Garan clarified that projects for traffic improvements, such as signage, are paid out of the General Fund Street Signs Account (Account No. 010-43180-3100), not the Traffic Management Projects Account.
For the record, it was moved by Council Member Sanchez, seconded by Council Member Koops, to allocate $150,000 annually for citywide traffic calming measures. The vote was taken following additional discussion.
For the record, relative to the motion on the floor, 1) Mayor Dunton a) expressed concern with allocating additional funding for a non-specific project, highlighting that if the additional funds are not fully spent, the funding cannot be disbursed to other line items or accounts due to restrictions; and b) stated he would like to see traffic enforcement conducted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to better assist with traffic calming and safety; 2) Council Member Morse reiterated that the funding may be used to develop solutions to assist with traffic calming citywide and could be utilized to purchase signage; and 3) Council Member Koops expressed support in allocating additional funding specific to traffic calming measures, expressing the opinion that changes to the current traffic patterns must be made to keep children in the community safe.
At the request of Council Member Koops and Mayor Dunton, 1) Assistant City Manager/Director Gorecki stated that a radar feedback sign may assist with traffic calming; however, feedback from residents may vary, noting that a radar feedback sign was recently placed on Rosecrans Avenue approximately four to five months ago and no feedback has been received; and 2) Finance Manager Garan stated that the $75,000 currently allocated for traffic calming measures is funded by Measure M, further clarifying that the reallocation of these funds must be used in accordance with Measure M guidelines; however, Measure M funds in addition to the General Fund surplus may be utilized to implement certain traffic calming measures.
4 Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 4-A May 12, 2025 Page 4 of 4
4 BUDGET STUDY SESSION – Continued
A Consideration and possible action to approve adjustments to the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Years 2025-2027 – Continued
Following lengthy discussion, Council Member Sanchez amended his original motion, seconded by Council Member Koops, and carried by the following roll call vote, to allocate $75,000 to the General Fund Street Signs Account (Account No. 010-43180-3100) for citywide traffic calming measures:
AYES: Council Members – Koops, Morse, and Sanchez
NOES: Council Members – Santa Ines and Mayor Dunton
5 ADJOURNMENT
Without objection, Mayor Dunton adjourned the meeting at 4:47 p.m.
Ray Dunton, Mayor
City of Bellflower
ATTEST:
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Approved: May 27, 2025
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