14-C
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 July 14, 2025, Regular Meeting of the City Council.
DATE: August 11, 2025
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
None
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Approve the July 14, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENT
Minutes of the July 14, 2025, Regular Meeting… ........................ ………………………… 2
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MINUTES
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, JULY 14, 2025
BELLFLOWER CITY HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS
5:30 P.M. CLOSED SESSION / 7:00 P.M. OPEN SESSION
5:30 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
1 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Dunton called the Regular Meeting to order at 5:36 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Bellflower City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower.
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
3 RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
For the record, City Manager Smoot announced the title of the Closed Session item, requested the City Council add an additional item that arose after the posting of the agenda, and read it into the record as follows:
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR
(Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.8)
Property: 9030 Somerset Boulevard and
9108 Somerset Boulevard
Agency Negotiator: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
Negotiating Party: LA Metro
Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
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Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 3
July 14, 2025 Page 2 of 8
3 RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION – Continued
It was moved by Council Member Koops, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, and carried by the following roll call vote, to add Closed Session Item 3 -B to the agenda by determining that the matter arose after the posting of the agenda and there is an immediate need to take action:
AYES: Council Members – Sanchez, Santa Ines, Koops, Morse, and Mayor Dunton
There being no one from the public in attendance, without objection, Mayor Dunton recessed the Meeting at 5:38 p.m. to a Closed Session regarding:
A CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
(Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6)
Agency Negotiators: City Manager, City Attorney, Deputy City Attorney N. Richard Shreiba
Employee Organization: All represented employee bargaining units.
B CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR
(Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.8)
Property: 9030 Somerset Boulevard and
9108 Somerset Boulevard
Agency Negotiator: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
Negotiating Party: LA Metro
Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
For the record, Closed Session adjourned at 6:47 p.m.
4 RECONVENE FOR OPEN SESSION
Mayor Dunton reconvened the Meeting at 7:01 p.m. with all members present and announced that no reportable action was taken during Closed Session.
7:00 P.M. – OPEN SESSION
5 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Dunton called the Open Session of the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 6
July 14, 2025 Page 3 of 8
6 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
Justin A. Tamayo, Assistant City Attorney
Solange Fortenbach, Deputy City Attorney
N. Richard Shreiba, Deputy City Attorney
Len Gorecki, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Melanie Paz, Management Analyst II
Brian McNerney, Director of Public Safety
Anna Garan, Finance Manager
Wangsu Lee, Assistant to the City Manager
Jennifer Russell, Management Assistant
7 INVOCATION
Council Member Dan Koops offered the Invocation.
8 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Len Gorecki led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
9-A CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Dunton provided details relative to the Parks and Recreation Department’s “Summer Streetfest” concert series held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Bellflower Boulevard between Flower Street and Mayne Street in Downtown Bellflower.
Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines provided details relative to the Penny Carnival to be held on July 30, 2025, at Thompson Park.
Council Member Koops provided details relative to the City’s Adaptive Recreation Swim Party to be held on August 1, 2025, at the Bellflower Aquatic Center.
Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 9-A
July 14, 2025 Page 4 of 8
9-A CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS – Continued
Council Member Morse provided details relative to the City’s Summer Movie Night to be held on August 5, 2025, at Thompson Park.
Council Member Sanchez provided details relative to the Bellflower Chamber of Commerce’s next Monthly Morning Mingle to be held on July 29, 2025, at the Chamber Office Conference Room located at 16730 Bellflower Boulevard.
10 PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ed Gutierrez, resident (9332 Flower St.), requested the City trim or remove the tree in the right-of-way in in front of his house, stating that the tree is lifting the sidewalk, drops seeds which makes it difficult for the public to walk on the sidewalk, and that he has made several calls to the Public Works Department, but expressed the opinion that his requests were quickly dismissed.
In response to comments provided by Ed Gutierrez, 1) Mayor Dunton requested his address; and 2) Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Gorecki confirmed that he would search for the request in the system and look into the matter.
11 PUBLIC HEARINGS
A Consideration and possible action to conduct a public hearing to consider delinquent refuse service charges; and adopt Resolution No. 25 -27 – A Resolution ordering delinquent refuse service charges be assessed against the property owners and properties and such charges be transferred to the County tax rolls.
City Manager Smoot introduced the item.
Management Analyst II Paz 1) provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Staff Report; and 2) along with Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Gorecki and CR&R’s Regional Vice President Chrystal Denning, responded to Council Members’ questions.
It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, seconded by Council Member Koops, and carried without objection, to open the public hearing.
Mark Lucas, resident (14509 Syble Avenue), with regard to a billing issue, 1) stated that Monesha James who is listed on the account is not his tenant and expressed concern about being held responsible for charges related to her account; and 2) explained that the tenants in the units during the referenced billing period had to be evicted, the account was originally in his father's name and later transferred to his, and that it was never reestablished in between the old tenant leaving and the eviction proceedings.
Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 11-A
July 14, 2025 Page 5 of 8
11 PUBLIC HEARINGS – Continued
A Consideration and possible action to conduct a public hearing to consider delinquent refuse service charges; and adopt Resolution No. 25-27 – Continued
Following discussion, it was moved by Council Member Koops, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, and carried without objection, to close the public hearing.
In response to comments provided by Mark Lucas and at the request of Mayor Dunton, Regional Vice President Denning explained that there is no way to verify whether the individual is the exact tenant listed on a lease when someone calls to schedule service with CR&R, but the timing described by the property owner aligns with their records of a move -out and move-in, and therefore the account was established according to standard procedures and service was provided, with no justification found to remove the account from the tax roll.
In response to Council Member Sanchez who suggested the idea of implementing a process to verify the identity of individuals who are attempting to establish service, CR&R Regional Vice President Denning stated that they are working on a system feature that would flag when an account is established by a tenant and notify the property owner so that they can be aware if the account becomes delinquent.
Following discussion, it was moved by Mayor Dunton, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, and carried without objection, to re-open the public hearing.
Mark Lucas, resident, with regard to the account and billing issue noted previously, 1) stated that if the individual in question were one of his tenants, he would understand being held responsible and would accept the outcome; and 2) expressed concern about anyone having the ability to create an encumbrance on a property without the owner's knowledge, expressing the opinion that it would set a troubling precedent.
Following discussion, it was moved by Mayor Dunton, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, and carried without objection, to close the public hearing.
It was moved by Council Member Koops, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to adopt Resolution No. 25-27:
AYES: Council Members – Sanchez, Santa Ines, Koops, Morse, and Mayor Dunton
Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 12
July 14, 2025 Page 6 of 8
12 ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
None
13 CONSIDERATION ITEMS
A Consideration and possible action to adopt Resolution No. 25-28 – A Resolution to record a Notice of Special Assessment for Nuisance Abatement against the property at 13825 Charlemagne Avenue, Bellflower, CA 90706 (APN 6282-018-020).
City Manager Smoot introduced the item.
Deputy City Attorney Fortenbach 1) provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Staff Report; 2) noted for the record that supplemental material was provided to the City Council and made available to the public prior to the start of the meeting; and 3) along with City Attorney Berger, responded to Council Members’ questions.
At the request of Mayor Dunton, and without objection, City Attorney Berger confirmed that he would work with City Manager Smoot to provide the City Council with a “top ten” list of properties of concern to receive further direction from the City Council as to how they would like the concerns addressed.
Following discussion, it was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to Adopt Resolution No. 25-28 to record a notice of special assessment for nuisance abatement on the owner of 13825 Charlemagne Avenue (approved via Resolution No. 25-28, adopted July 14, 2025):
AYES: Council Members – Sanchez, Santa Ines, Koops, Morse, and Mayor Dunton
B Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute Agreement File No. 1097, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with SoundThinking Inc., to implement ShotSpotter and PlateRanger systems to enhance public safety.
City Manager Smoot introduced the item.
Director of Public Safety McNerney 1) provided a brief verbal report of the Staff Report; 2) introduced representatives Jamie Algatt and Richard Reyes of SoundThinking; and 3) responded to Council Members’ questions.
SoundThinking Representative Algatt provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Council Members’ questions.
Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 13-B
July 14, 2025 Page 7 of 8
13 CONSIDERATION ITEMS – Continued
B Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute Agreement File No. 1097 – Continued
Following brief discussion, it was moved by Council Member Sanchez, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to authorize the City Manager to execute Agreement File No. 1097 with SoundThinking Inc., in a form approved by the City Attorney:
AYES: Council Members – Sanchez, Santa Ines, Koops, Morse, and Mayor Dunton
14 CONSENT CALENDAR
For the record, 1) Council Member Koops announced that he would recuse himself from Item 14-C (Task Order No. 2 for Agreement File No. 163.16 with Willdan Engineering) as he has property interest within 500 feet of the subject area ; and 2) requested Item 14-A (Warrant Register) be pulled for discussion only.
With regard to Item 14-A (Warrant Register) and at the request of Council Member Koops who sought clarification regarding several checks that were issued, reversed, and reissued, Finance Manager Garan 1) explained that the issue was the result of an error during the check printing process and confirmed the affected checks were reissued correctly; and 2) confirmed that due to prior issues with missing mail, checks are currently being taken directly to the Lakewood Post Office for mailing, noting that the U.S. Postmaster has contacted the City with regard to checks that have gone missing in mail sent to the Bellflower Post Office.
Following discussion and noting the aforementioned recusal, it was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, seconded by Council Member Koops, and carried without objection, to approve the actions stipulated on the Consent Calendar.
A Consideration and possible action to receive and file Warrant Register No. 26-011 dated July 14, 2025.
Action: Received and filed Warrant Register No. 26-011.
B Consideration and possible action to approve the Minutes of the June 23, 2025, Regular Meeting of the City Council.
Action: Approved the June 23, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes.
C Consideration and possible action to Authorize the City Manager to approve Task Order No. 2 for Agreement File No. 163.16 with Willdan Engineering for On-Call Design Services for the Pedestrian Right-of-way Improvements Project CIP No. 51611.
Action: Authorized the City Manager to execute Task Order No. 2 to Agreement File No. 163.16 with Willdan Engineering, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 14
July 14, 2025 Page 8 of 8
14 CONSENT CALENDAR – Continued
D Consideration and possible action to Authorize the City Manager to execute Agreement File No. 1098 with Day-Lite Maintenance Company, Inc., for On-Call Maintenance Services.
Action: Authorized the City Manager to execute Agreement File No. 1098 with Day-Lite Maintenance Company, Inc., in a form approved by the City Attorney.
15 COUNCIL REPORTS
Council Member Sanchez, Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, Council Member Koops, Council Member Morse, and Mayor Dunton made various comments and reports.
For the record and without objection, 1) Mayor Dunton and Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines requested the meeting be adjourned in memory of Kay Minihan; and 2) Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines requested the meeting be adjourned in memory of Dr. Darlene Valiquette.
16 ADJOURNMENT
Without objection, Mayor Dunton adjourned the meeting at 8:52 p.m., in memory of Kay Minahan and Dr. Darlene Valiquette, to the next Regular Meeting of the Bellflower City Council at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 11, 2025.
Ray Dunton, Mayor
City of Bellflower
ATTEST:
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Approved: August 11, 2025