In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (562) 804-1424, extension 2220 or [email protected]. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
Agenda Items are on file in the Office of the City Clerk and are available for public inspection during normal business hours. For your convenience, the Agenda is also posted on the City’s Website at www.bellflower.ca.gov with links to each Agenda Item (unless they are too lengthy or unavailable at the time of posting). Any supplemental material distributed to a majority of the members of the City Council after the posting of this Agenda will be made available for public inspection during normal business hours in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower. (Privileged documents and Closed Session documents are exempted.)
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2025
11:30 A.M. – STATE OF THE CITY
THE MAYNE EVENTS CENTER
16400 BELLFLOWER BLVD., BELLFLOWER, CA 90706
1 CALL TO ORDER
2 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 STATE OF THE CITY PRESENTATION
Presentation of the State of the City, highlighting key accomplishments, future initiatives, and the overall progress and direction of the City.
AGENDA
T h e C i t y o f B e l l f l o w e r
Families. Businesses. Futures.
16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706
Tel 562.804.1424 Fax 562.925.8660 www.bellflower.ca.gov
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Agenda
October 2, 2025
4 PUBLIC COMMENTS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.3(a), the public may address the City Council ONLY on matters listed on the Agenda. Those wishing to speak on a listed item should come to the podium, be recognized by the Mayor, and state your name for the record. Each speaker will be given three (3) minutes to address the City Council.
5 ADJOURNMENT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
1, Jennifer Russell, Management Assistant, of the City of Bellflower, do hereby declare under penalty of perjury, that the Agenda for the Special Meeting of the Bellflower City Council to be held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., was posted Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at the following locations in the City of Bellflower:
City Hall Lobby and Doors, 16600 Civic Center Drive
City Website at www.bellflower.org
Clifton M. Brakensiek Library
The Mayne Events Center, 16400 Bellflower Boulevard
Executed this 2nd of October 2025 at Bellflower, California.
Jennifer Russell,
Management Assistant
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(4.4'4',Nn Trouco °
SPEAKER SIGN -IN SHEET
(Voluntary)
BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
October 2, 2025
PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY
NAME
ORGANIZATION
(if applicable)
1.Enhance Public Safety
2.Increase Public Outreach, Education and Connection
3.Continue Investing in a High-Performing and Efficient Team at City Hall
4.Improve Quality of Life & Visual Appeal in the City
5.Strengthen Economic Development
1. ENHANCE PUBLIC
SAFETY
BELLFLOWER WILL BE A SAFE AND SECURE CITY.
BELLFLOWER PART-ONE CRIMES
1995 – 2025 (30-YEAR TREND)
Part-one crimes include
serious offenses such as:
Aggravated Assault
Criminal Homicide
Forcible Rape
Robbery
Burglary
Larceny
15001550160016501700175018001850190019502000205021002150220022502300235024002450250025502600265027002750280028502900295030003050310031503200325033003350340034503500 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
BELLFLOWER PART -TWO CRIMES
1995 – 2025 (30-YEAR TREND)
Part-two crimes include less
severe offenses such as:
Fraud
Drug offenses
vandalism
STATION CITIES PUBLIC SAFETY
JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY
PUBLIC SAFETY
OUTREACH
➢City is working to bridge
the gap between City
efforts and public
perception of public
safety in Bellflower
➢Bellflower is increasing
community education,
outreach and
transparency
➢Continue to host
community meetings such
as National Night Out, and
Christmas with a Cop
PUBLIC SAFETY SPENDING AND BUDGET
(M
i
l
l
i
o
n
s
)
8 $3.4 $3.1 $2.8 $3.0 $2.9 $3.0 $2.8 $2.9 $3.1 $3.1 $3.1 $3.0 $3.3 $3.5 $4.1 $4.3 $8.1 $8.3 $8.1 $8.5 $9.0 $9.3 $9.6 $9.8 $10.3 $10.6 $10.8 $11.6 $12.1 $12.3 $13.4 $13.0
$0.1 $0.1 $0.2 $0.5
$0.7 $1.1
$0.2 $0.1 $0.3 $0.4 $0.4 $0.5 $0.5 $0.2 $0.3 $0.4 $0.5 $0.6 $1.1 $0.6 $2.5
$0
$2
$4
$6
$8
$10
$12
$14
$16
$18
$20
$22
09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 17-18 18-19 19-20 20-21 21-22 22-23 23-24 24-25 Unspent Public Safety Budget
Southwest Patrol Security Costs
LA County Sherriff's Costs
Public Safety Administration and Other Support
Services
PUBLIC SAFETY
PARTNERS
➢Sheriffs are
challenged with
limited resources, so
the City has sought
out strategic
partnerships
➢Bellflower’s Public
Safety team includes
City personnel, Sheriff
Deputies, and
Southwest Patrol
HOMELESSNESS TOPS THE CITY’S
CONCERNS
NEW HOPE
TEMPORARY
SHELTER
➢Bellflower continues to be a
leader in tackling homeless
challenges in the LA County
through New Hope Shelter –
50 bed shelter.
➢County has approved $2M
funding to assist with the
purchase of the shelter
➢City Council recently
approved the extension of
homeless shelter operator
contract with Mercy House
BELLFLOWER ENFORCEMENT AND SAFETY TEAM (B.E.A.S.T)
➢BEAST is a dedicated
outreach and
encampment
enforcement team
consisting of public safety
officers, southwest patrol,
sheriff deputies, and public
works staff
➢BEAST will conduct daily
checks of encampment-
prone areas.
➢City issued nearly 20 illegal
camping citations last year
LEVERAGING MODERN
TECHNOLOGY
➢Bellflower has license plate readers in
multiple intersections, and we are
expecting to add more to 17
intersections
➢Shotspotter, gunshot detection system,
will be implemented in our City.
2. INCREASE PUBLIC
OUTREACH, EDUCATION
AND CONNECTION
BELLFLOWER WILL BE AN OPEN AND CONNECTED CITY THAT TELLS ITS STORY.
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
➢Centralize all citywide communications under
Parks & Recreation to streamline and improve
communication systems
➢Rebrand seasonal Parks & Recreation
brochure into a City News publication
➢Conduct full communications assessments to
identify the most effective ways to reach the
community and improve transparency,
coordination and community connection.
COMMUNITY
COMMUNICATIONS
➢Increasing social media
presence to provide awareness
campaigns, code enforcement
updates and crime watch
highlights
TRANSPARENCY & ACCESSIBILITY
CITY CLERKS - PUBLIC RECORDS
➢The City Clerk’s Office is the cornerstone of
government transparency and maintaining
open communication between the City and
the public
➢24/7 access to City Records on the City’s
website
➢More than 700 requests for Public Records
are processed each year
3. CONTINUE INVESTING IN A
HIGH-PERFORMING AND
EFFICIENT TEAM AT CITY HALL
BELLFLOWER WILL BE A CITY THAT WISELY INVESTS IN ITS FUTURE AND BUILDS ON ITS STRENGTHS.
CHANGES AT CITY HALL
➢The increasing demand on our
City staff has led to some
changes at City Hall:
➢Restructured Economic
Development – Housing and
Small Businesses Division
➢Added new positions citywide
➢Created advanced planning
division for long-term planning
initiatives
➢New HR Manager to improve
recruitment and staffing
EFFICIENT STAFF
➢Over the last two decades demands for
our staff have risen but our staff levels
have not kept up
➢So, we are increasing staffing to allow for
effective and efficient service levels
➢City is also investing in training and career
development for employees through
workshops, seminars, conferences, and
educational reimbursements.
Authorized Full-Time Positions
2008-2026
STREAMLINING BUILDING SERVICES
➢As a part of our shift to the
digital age, Bellflower is
working with Willdan to
modernize our services
➢Bellflower contracts with
Willdan Engineering to
provide full in-house
Building and Safety
services as well as fire plan
check and inspection
services
➢City is thinking outside the
box by adopting the
California Fire Code
INVESTING IN
TECHNOLOGY
As a part of our
modernization process,
the City is in the process
of building our online
cloud-based permit
tracking, online
permitting, and
electronic plan checks.
SELF CERTIFICATION
PROGRAM
➢City of Bellflower is a model for
the rest of the state and has
received numerous inquiries
over the last year
➢The City’s self-certification
process is intended to allow
the licensed professional and
contractor to start
construction as quickly as
possible and accept the
professional responsibility for
any corrections during the
inspection process.
The IT department plays a critical role in upgrading
technology
Completed Projects
1.Citywide Computer Refresh – Upgraded all
employee workstations to modern hardware for
better reliability and performance.
2.Phone System Replacement – Transitioned to a
modern, feature -rich phone system to improve
communication and support remote work.
3.Security Platform Upgrade – Enhanced
cybersecurity tools to strengthen defenses and
reduce ransomware risk.
CITY OF BELLFLOWER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) PROJECTS
In Progress & Upcoming
1.City Mobile App & Work Order System – Launching a
mobile app to connect residents and staff, streamline
service requests, and improve response times.
2.Planning & Building Software Upgrade – Modernizing
permitting and inspection systems for greater efficiency.
3.Finance System Upgrade – Improving financial
management with updated, more capable software.
4.Meeting Room Technology Enhancements – Upgrading AV
systems for seamless hybrid and in-person meetings.
5.Digital Queuing for Residents – Implementing a digital waitlist in the Planning Department to reduce in-person wait times.
6.Centralized Email Signature Management – Standardizing city email signatures to strengthen brand recognition and ensure consistency.
CITY OF BELLFLOWER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) PROJECTS
4. IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE
& VISUAL APPEAL IN THE CITY
BELLFLOWER WILL BE A CITY THAT DEMANDS HIGH
PERFORMANCE AND EXCELLENCE AND SETS A MODEL FOR
OTHER COMMUNITIES.
The Parks & Recreation Master Plan provides a
10-year framework to improve parks, facilities,
programs and events
The Master Plan guides staff, officials, and
stakeholders in making informed decisions to
enhance the quality of life in Bellflower
Council also adopted a Capital Improvement
Plan that aligns with the Parks & Recreation
Master Plan
PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS➢The City offers a wide variety of
recreation programs, activities,
leadership programs, and special
interest classes for all ages and
abilities
SPECIAL EVENTS
➢The City hosts over 40 community
events every year including the
student art festival, movie nights,
family campout, carnivals,
concerts, community walk, home
decorating contests, Christmas
Tree Lighting… and more
➢The biggest event is the Streetfest
which drew over 20,000
attendees last year!
VOLUNTEER CENTER
ACTIVITIES
➢Family assistance
programs serving 1,082
families in need
➢LEAD (Leadership,
Experience and
Development) Program.
135 volunteers completed
5,163 hours
THE OAK CENTER
➢New 11,834 square foot
community center serving
youth and seniors
➢Oak Center will provide a
dedicated space for
people of all ages to
connect, grow and thrive
➢Groundbreaking was held
March 24, 2025;
Construction in progress
➢This project adds to
the beautification of
our City and
provides enhanced
safety for visitors
➢New Playground,
Walking Path, Fitness
Stations, Extended
Fencing, and
Security Cameras
CONSTITUTION PARK
REVITALIZATION
PROJECT
TRAFFIC SIGNALS, SLURRY, AND
CONCRETE PROJECTS
➢7-year slurry cycles
➢Periodic new traffic signals &
traffic signal restorations
➢Ongoing concrete work
including: ADA compliance
work, sidewalk removal and
replacement, curb ramp
improvements, curb & gutter
repairs, and more.
URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN
The City of Bellflower is in the final stages of
developing its first Urban Forest Master Plan
The Plan will guide the City in sustaining a
healthy urban forest that maximizes the
benefits of trees for residents, workers, and
visitors
City Council has approved additional funding
for future tree planting projects to fill our
vacant tree sites.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
➢The most common code violations last
year was for visual blight violations
➢City of bellflower is addressing visual
blight throughout the City by increasing
efforts to hold property owners
accountable for property upkeep
➢Code enforcement opened over 900
cases last year with 233 citations and 12
court warrants.
5. STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
BELLFLOWER WILL BE A CITY THAT SUPPORTS AND ATTRACTS
HIGH-QUALITY DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
37 2010-11 TOTAL REVENUES – $36M
DISCRETIONARY VS RESTRICTED
Restricted
35%
Discretionary
65%
$12.7M
$23.3M
Note: Due to rounding, the revenue details may not add up to the total revenues.
38 2024-25 TOTAL REVENUES – $75.3M
DISCRETIONARY VS RESTRICTED
Restricted
31%
Discretionary
69%
$23.2M
$52.1M
Note: Due to rounding, the revenue details may not add up to the total revenues.
SALES TAX REVENUE
$-
$2.0
$4.0
$6.0
$8.0
$10.0
$12.0
$14.0
$16.0
$18.0
FY
07-08
FY
08-09
FY
09-10
FY
10-11
FY
11-12
FY
12-13
FY
13-14
FY
14-15
FY
15-16
FY
16-17
FY
17-18
FY
18-19
FY
19-20
FY
20-21
FY
21-22
FY
22-23
FY
23-24
FY
24-25
$4.9 $4.1 $4.3 $4.5 $4.6 $5.0 $5.2 $5.3 $6.3 $6.0 $5.9 $6.3 $6.2 $10.3
$15.9 $16.1 $15.9 $16.1
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
s
AVAILABLE GENERAL FUND RESERVE
(M
i
l
l
i
o
n
s
)
$8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $8.0 $10.0 $10.0 $10.0 $9.4 $7.2 $7.1 $7.7 $6.4 $6.6 $6.6 $4.4 $5.3 $3.9 $4.2 $5.3 $7.9 $16.0
$22.9
$33.2
$42.3 $44.6
$2.2 $2.9 $2.9 $2.3
$1.8
$1.9
$5.0
$5.0
$9.0
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
$60
07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16 16-17 17-18 18-19 19-20 20-21 21-22 22-23 23-24 24-25 Property Held for Development/Reserve and
Developer Loan
Unassigned General Fund Reserve
Contingency Reserve ($8M / $10M)
PROPERTIES HELD FOR DEVELOPMENT / RESALE, LOAN AND
CASH RESERVE
The City will continue
to make strategic
and creative
property acquisitions
and execute on city-
controlled property
to make lasting
impacts on our
community.
16730 Bellflower Boulevard (Former MPower)General Fund $1,951,000 16824 Bellflower Boulevard (Former Bank of the West)General Fund 1,701,000 9443 Artesia Boulevard (Vacant lot across the street from DMV)General Fund 175,000
LOAN TO DEVELOPER - 9903 Flower Street General Fund 3,660,000 CASH RESERVE General Fund 1,520,000
TOTAL PROPERTIES, LOAN AND CASH RESERVE (GF)$9,007,000
9835 Flower Street (USPS)
Public Projects
Fund 5,009,000
9818 Artesia Boulevard (Shoe Kingdom)
Public Projects
Fund 1,201,000
TOTAL PROPERTIES, LOAN AND CASH RESERVE $15,217,000
NEW BUSINESSES REVITALIZING VACANT SITES
GANAS AUTO & BEST BUY OUTLET
➢Ganas Auto opened at Passage Ave and
Artesia Blvd, reactivating a longstanding
dormant site – boosting sales tax revenue
➢Best buy Outlet replaced the former Stater
Bros on Lakewood Blvd and Artesia Blvd,
drawing customer activity and strengthening
the City’s general fund
COMPLETED PROJECTS
➢First “On-the-go” McDonalds
in the United States here in
Bellflower.
➢El Pollo Campero, an
internationally recognized
chicken restaurant, opened
➢Mirame Sports Cantina
opened in our downtown
after extensive renovations,
replacing the former French
Quarter restaurant
➢New 7-Eleven gas station
with Laredo Taco company
opened
IN PROGRESS
➢Bellflower puts a lot of effort in our
economic development, but sometimes,
businesses close
➢Fronk’s has closed and our Economic
Development Team successfully worked
very quickly to find a replacement
restaurant
Gold Site - Bellflower Blvd. between Ramona St. and Cedar St.
DEVELOPMENT IN PROGRESS
➢This site has remained vacant
and development has been
delayed for years
➢Property owner recently cleaned
up the site and is working with
City staff to get businesses on the
site
➢The anticipated tenants include
Dutch Bros, Habit Burger, 7-Eleven
and EV Charging Stations
DEVELOPMENTS IN PROGRESS
Bellflower Blvd. / Cedar St.
➢Starbucks and
Firehouse Subs are
currently operating at
the Belle Fleur Centre;
but Wing Zone and
Chipotle are coming
soon!
➢Bellflower is
committed to being a
business-friendly city
and attracting more
businesses to the City
DEVELOPMENTS IN PROGRESS
➢City’s first Chick-Fil-A in
development
➢The Former K-Mart building on
Rosecrans has remained
vacant for some time, but
Vallarta Supermarket recently
signed a lease to occupy the
building. They are currently in
plan check for tenant
improvements
➢City is finding continued
success in filling vacant building
DEVELOPMENT IN PROGRESS
Former White’s Funeral Home – Flower St.
➢Project is set to deliver ~30 new
townhomes within the next 12 -18 months
➢Adds housing to support and sustain
downtown Bellflower growing
momentum
SMALL BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEW BUSINESS WELCOMING PROGRAMBELLFLOWER ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMSFARMER’S MARKET OPERATIONS/MAKER TO MARKET
1.Enhance Public Safety
2.Increase Public Outreach, Education and Connection
3.Continue Investing in a High-Performing and Efficient Team at City Hall
4.Improve Quality of Life & Visual Appeal in the City
5.Strengthen Economic Development
THANK YOU
FOR
ATTENDING!
October 2, 2025, Special City Council Meeting (State of the City)
AGENDA POSTING
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