14-I
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 8, 2025, Regular Meeting of the City Council.
DATE: September 22, 2025
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
None
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Approve the September 8, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
None
ATTACHMENT
Minutes of the September 8, 2025, Regular Meeting…............... ………………………… 2
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MINUTES
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 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 5:32 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, 1) City Manager Smoot announced the titles of the Closed Session items; 2) Council Member Morse announced that she would recuse herself from Items 3-A and 3-B as she owns property within 500 feet of the subject propert ies; and 3) there being no one from the public in attendance, without objection, Mayor Dunton recessed the Meeting at 5:34 p.m. to a Closed Session regarding:
A CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR
(Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.8)
Property: 9849 Flower Street
Agency Negotiator: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
Negotiating Party: David Pai Trust
Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
B CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR
(Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.8)
Property: 9855 Flower Street
Agency Negotiator: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
Negotiating Party: Jim McFadden
Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
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Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 3
September 8, 2025 Page 2 of 6
3 RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION – Continued
C CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(d)(2):
FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES: Letter Dated May 21, 2025 (see attached).
D 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.
For the record, Closed Session adjourned at 6:59 p.m.
4 RECONVENE FOR OPEN SESSION
Mayor Dunton reconvened the Meeting at 7:05 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 7:05 p.m.
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
Len Gorecki, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works N. Richard Shreiba, Deputy City Attorney
P.J. Mellana, Director of Parks and Recreation
Brian McNerney, Director of Public Safety
Wangsu Lee, Assistant to the City Manager
Dana Hang, Human Resources and Risk Manager
Dakota Wallace, Management Analyst I
Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 7
September 8, 2025 Page 3 of 6
7 INVOCATION
Mayor Ray Dunton offered the Invocation.
8 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Director of Parks and Recreation P.J. Mellana led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
9-A CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Dunton provided details relative to the Los Angeles County Fire Museum’s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony to be held on September 11, 2025.
Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines provided details relative to the State of City presentation to be held on October 2, 2025, at the Mayne Events Center.
Council Member Koops provided details relative to an upcoming community survey conducted by the City to gather input for the development of the Urban Forest Master Plan.
Council Member Morse provided details relative to Los Angeles County’s free lead-based paint hazard remediation services for eligible Bellflower residents with enrollment accepted through October 31, 2025.
Council Member Sanchez provided details relative to the Parks and Recreation Department’s Leadership Experience and Development (“LEAD”) Program with applications for the eight-week fall session accepted through September 22, 2025.
9-B PRESENTATION: National Hispanic Heritage Month
Mayor Dunton and his City Council colleagues declared September 15 through October 15, 2025, as National Hispanic Heritage Month in the City of Bellflower and presented the proclamation to Jose Luis Ruiz , Founder and Chief Executive Officer of La Carniceria Meat Market.
Jose Luis Ruiz 1) accepted the proclamation and thanked the City Council for their recognition; and 2) highlighted that La Carniceria Meat Market located in the City of Bellflower has the highest sales out of their 24 locations.
10 PUBLIC COMMENTS
Cheryl Williams, resident, 1) stated that she is representing the participants of the line dancing class held at Simms Park; 2) explained that the participants of the class must pay $20 for a four-week session; however, if a participant misses a class, they do not receive a refund or have the option to attend a make -up class, further suggesting there be a per class fee or fee structure similar to the “punch cards” offered at the Bellflower Aquatic Center; and 3) commended the Parks and Recreation Department for their great customer service.
Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 10
September 8, 2025 Page 4 of 6
10 PUBLIC COMMENTS – Continued
In response to comments provided by Cheryl Williams and a t the request of Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, Director of Parks and Recreation Mellana 1) explained that the Bellflower Aquatic Center offers “punch cards” to those wishing to utilize the pool at the Aquatic Center and the card allows a participant to utilize the pool for a certain number of days for a set fee; and 2) noted that pay structures and fees for contract instructors are handled differently, but confirmed that he would look into new ideas regarding the payment structure of future classes.
Robin Snow, resident and Owner of Snow Funeral Services, 9706 Somerset Boulevard, provided information on restaurants within the City and a brief history of how it is believed that the City of Bellflower was named.
11 PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
12 ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
None
13 CONSIDERATION ITEMS
None
14 CONSENT CALENDAR
For the record, 1) supplemental material was distributed to the City Council and made available to the public prior to the start of the meeting for Item 14-F (Minutes); and 2) Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines requested that Item 14-C (Contract with George Chevrolet) be pulled for questions only.
With regard to Item 14-C (Contract with George Chevrolet) and at the request of Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, Director of Public Safety McNerney clarified that the lowest bid was from Fairfield Chevrolet; however, the bid was deemed non-responsive as it did not provide a quote for the vehicle specified in the Request for Proposal.
Following brief discussion, it was moved by Council Member Koops, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, and carried without objection, to approve the actions stipulated on the Consent Calendar.
Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 14
September 8, 2025 Page 5 of 6
14 CONSENT CALENDAR – Continued
A Consideration and possible action to receive and file City Council Warrant Register No. 26-031, dated September 8, 2025.
Action: Received and filed Warrant Register No. 26-031.
B Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to Agreement File No. 663.2, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Golden Star Technology, Inc. (“GST”), for Information Technology and Consulting Services.
Action: Authorized the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to Agreement File No. 663.2, in a form approved by the City Attorney, for Information Technology and Consulting Services.
C Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with George Chevrolet, in a form approved by the City Attorney, for the purchase of two 2026 Chevrolet Blazer EV Police Package vehicles for the Public Safety Department.
Action: Authorized the City Manager to execute a contract with George Chevrolet, in a form approved by the City Attorney, for the purchase of two 2026 Chevrolet Blazer EV Police Package vehicles.
D Consideration and possible action to adopt Resolution No. 25 -30 – A Resolution approving and certifying the Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP).
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 25-30.
E Consideration and possible action to adopt Resolution No. 25 -31 – A Resolution amending the Operating Budget to carryover and adjust various capital projects, activities, programs, and revenues; and authorizing the City Manager to implement this Resolution.
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 25-31.
F Consideration and possible action to approve the Minutes of the August 25, 2025, Regular Meeting of the City Council.
Action: Approved the August 25, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes.
15 COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, Council Member Koops, and Mayor Dunton made various comments and reports.
For the record, Mayor Pro Tem Santa Ines, Council Member Koops, and Mayor Dunton thanked Director of Finance Tae Rhee, who recently retired, for his 32 years of service in the City of Bellflower.
For the record and without objection, Council Member Koops requested the meeting be adjourned in memory of Phyllis Larsen.
Bellflower City Council Minutes Item No. 16
September 8, 2025 Page 6 of 6
16 ADJOURNMENT
Without objection, Mayor Dunton adjourned the meeting at 7:41 p.m., in memory of Phyllis Larsen, to the next Regular Meeting of the Bellflower City Council at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 22, 2025.
Ray Dunton, Mayor
City of Bellflower
ATTEST:
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Approved: September 22, 2025