14-H
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 September 3, 2025, Special Meeting of the City Council.
DATE: September 22, 2025
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
None
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Approve the September 3, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENT
Minutes of the September 3, 2025, Special Meeting… ............... ………………………… 2
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MINUTES
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2025, 9:00 A.M.
BELLFLOWER CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Dunton called the Special Meeting to order at 9:06 a.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
Staff Participants:
Ryan Smoot, City Manager
Karl H. Berger, City Attorney (Attended Virtually)
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Len Gorecki, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Elizabeth Oba, Director of Planning and Building Services Alan Cook, Building Official
Anthony Weimholt, Plans Examiner
Wangsu Lee, Assistant to the City Manager
Dakota Wallace, Management Analyst I
For the record, Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines highlighted that the City of Bellflower incorporated on September 3, 1957, and wished the City a happy birthday.
3 PUBLIC COMMENTS
For the record, there was no one in attendance wishing to provide public comments.
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Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 4 -A September 3, 2025 Page 2 of 5
4 CONSIDERATION ITEMS
A Consideration and possible action to 1) read by title only, waive further reading and introduce Ordinance No. 1449 – An Ordinance adopting the 2025 Editions of the California Building Code, the California Residential Code, the California Electrical Code, the California Mechanical Code, the California Plumbing Code, the California Energy Code, the California Fire Code, the California Existing Building Code, the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, the California Green Building Standards Code, the California Referenced Standards Code, and the California Building Standards Administrative Code; making certain amendments based upon local conditions, and amending the Bellflower Municipal Code to reflect such changes; and 2) setting a public hearing for Septem ber 22, 2025 for second reading and adoption of the Ordinance.
CEQA: This Ordinance is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq., “CEQA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 California Code of Regulations §§ 15000, et seq., the “CEQA Guidelines”) because it consists only of minor revisions and clarifications to an existing code of construction -related regulations and specification of procedures. These will not have the effect of deleting or substantially changing any regulatory standards or fi ndings. Accordingly, the Ordinance (by itself) does not have the potential to cause significant effects on the environment. In addition, this Ordinance is an action being taken for enhanced protection of the environment and is exempt from further review un der CEQA Guidelines § 15308.
City Manager Smoot introduced the item and read the ordinance title into the record.
Building Official Cook 1) provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Staff Report; and 2) responded to Council Members’ questions along with City Manager Smoot, City Attorney Berger, Director of Planning and Building Services Oba , and Plans Examiner Weimholt.
For the record, Building Official Cook 1) stated that the 2025 California Building Standards Code (“CBSC”) does not alter the fees set forth in the City’s Comprehensive Fee Schedule; and 2) explained that Section 503 of the 2025 California Fire Code is in relation to fire apparatus access roads, which mandates that approved access roads be provided for every facility to ensure rapid and reliable access for fire apparatus unless impossible due to topography, further noting that this amendment now allows for the Building Official and/or Fire Chief to require or permit modifications if needed and is recommended for adoption.
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 4 -A September 3, 2025 Page 3 of 5
4 CONSIDERATION ITEMS – Continued
A Consideration and possible action to 1) read by title only, waive further reading and introduce Ordinance No. 1449; and 2) setting a public hearing for September 22, 2025 for second reading and adoption of the Ordinance. – Continued
At the request of Mayor Dunton and Council Member Koops, 1) Director Oba clarified that the proposed 2025 Fire Code is the State California Code, not the County of Los Angeles Fire Code; and 2) Building Official Cook a) explained that the most significant changes with the 2025 CBSC relate to the Energy Code regulations, which include changes to where electric vehicles and lithium type batteries are stored and repaired; b) clarified that electric vehicle regulations are governed by the State of California; and c) confirmed that the requirements relative to the distance of the storage and repair of electric vehicles and lithium batteries to surrounding facilities are governed by the 2025 CBSC.
In response to questions and comments provided by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, Building Official Cook confirmed that the updates to the 2025 CBSC do not limit or alter the Fire Chief’s duties and/or authority.
At the request of Council Member Sanchez, relative to Section 105.6.1 (Expiration of Permit for Unlawful Structure) of Ordinance No. 1449, Building Official Cook confirmed that an issued building permit is valid for 12 months and an inspection must occur within that 12 month period; however, the Building Official may extend the validity of the permit for a period not exceeding 90 days beyond the initial 90 day limit with “just cause”.
In response to Council Member Sanchez, relative to Section 111 (Board of Appeals – City Council) of Ordinance No. 1449, 1) Building Official Cook confirmed that it is standard practice for the City Council to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions or determinations; however, if the appeal is beyond the City Council’s purview, which is determined by the State of California, an expert would be needed; and 2) City Attorney Berger stated that in his 30 years of practicing law, only one appeal has gone beyond the City Council’s purview, expressing the opinion that it is highly unusual for this to occur.
In response to questions and comments provided by Council Member Sanchez, 1) Director Oba a) stated that the City will communicate to the public that the 2025 CBSC will become effective January 1, 2026, and projects for which a building permit application and building plans were submitted before the effective date, and for which building permits are obtained within 90 days of the effective date, are exempt for the updated regulations; however, if the building permit expires after that timeframe, all building plans must comply with the updated regulations; and b) expressed the opinion that 90 days is sufficient for projects to go through the plan check process and be approved; and 2) City Manager Smoot clarified that Ordinance No. 1449, in addition to an Urgency Ordinance, will be brought to the City Council for consideration at the September 22, 2025, City Council Meeting, further explaining that if adopted, the Urgency Ordinance would take effect immediately, while the 2025 CBSC would take effect January 1, 2026.
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 4 -A September 3, 2025 Page 4 of 5
4 CONSIDERATION ITEMS – Continued
A Consideration and possible action to 1) read by title only, waive further reading and introduce Ordinance No. 1449 – Continued
At the request of Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, relative to Section 107.6 (Self- Certification Program) of Ordinance No. 1449, Building Official Cook explained that self-certified plans are reviewed by the Building and Safety Division and staff provides comments to the applicant as a courtesy; however, it is not a requirement for staff to provide comments because the applicant is certifying that the plans comply with the applicable State and City laws, codes, rules, and regulations.
In response to questions and comments provided by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines and Council Member Koops relative to Section 111.4 (Temporary occupancy) of Ordinance No. 1449, 1) Plans Examiner Weimholt explained that the Building Official must set a time period during which the temporary certificate of occupancy is valid, which is typically 90 or 180 days depending on the proposed use; however, the time period may be extended i f needed; and 2) Building Official Cook clarified that a temporary certificate of occupancy can be issued to a commercial property only.
At the request of Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, Director Oba stated that the updated Comprehensive Fee Schedule will be brought to the City Council for consideration in approximately three months.
At the request of Council Member Sanchez, relative to Section 116 (Unsafe Structures and Buildings) of Ordinance No. 1449, City Attorney Berger explained that Section 116 is a local amendment to the building code and is not in the 2025 CBSC standard because the State of California does not define what a “yellow tag” or “red tag” is, noting that with the proposed amendment, the Building Official is authorized to designate the condition of the unsafe building or structure, noting that language to provide additional authority to the Building Official is not needed.
Following lengthy discussion, it was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, seconded by Council Member Koops, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to 1) read by title only, waive further reading, and introduce Ordinance No. 1149; and 2) set a public hearing for September 22, 2025, City Council Meeting for second reading and possible adoption of the Ordinance:
AYES: Council Members – Sanchez, Santa Ines, Koops, Morse, and Mayor Dunton
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Minutes Item No. 5 September 3, 2025 Page 5 of 5
5 Adjournment
Without objection, Mayor Dunton adjourned the meeting at 9:53 a.m.
Ray Dunton, Mayor
City of Bellflower
ATTEST:
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Approved: September 22, 2025