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MINUTES
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BELLFLOWER CITY COUNCIL
AND BELLFLOWER FINANCING AUTHORITY
CITY denotes City Council items
BFA denotes Bellflower Financing Authority items
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026
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 Santa Ines called the Regular Meeting to order at 5:33 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 Sonny R. Santa Ines
Mayor Pro Tem Victor A. Sanchez
Council Member Ray Dunton
Council Member Dan Koops
Council Member Wendi Morse
3 RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
For the record, 1) City Manager Smoot announced the titles of the Closed Session items; 2) Council Member Dunton announced that he would recuse on Item 3-A (APN 7161-008-906 and 7161-008-905) as he has property interests within 500 feet of the subject properties; 3) Council Member Morse announced that she would recuse on Items 3-A (APN 7161-008-906 and 7161-008-905), 3-B (16730 Bellflower Boulevard and 9855 Rower Street), 3-C (9835 Flower Street), and 3-D (9831 Belmont Street) as she has property interests within 500 feet of the subject properties; 4) City Manager Smoot noted that Item 3-A (APN 7161-008- 906 and 7161-008-905) would not be considered, as staff did not receive the information they were waiting for; and 5) there being no one from the public in attendance, without objection, Mayor Santa Ines recessed the Meeting at 5:34 p.m. to a Closed Session regarding:
Bellflower City Council/Bellflower Financing Authority Minutes January 12, 2026
3 RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION — Continued
Item No. 3
A [Item not considered.]
CONFERENCE W TH REAL PROPERTY NEGOT ATOR
( rsuant to Government Code § 54956.8)4G Y-}
Property:
Agency Nego iator:
Ncgotiaing Party:
Under Negotia on:
APN 7'6' 008 906 (9818 Artesia Boulevard)
and 7'6' 008 905
Ryan Smoot, City Manager
Jeff Hopkins, Hopkins Real Estate Group
Price and terms o- payment
B CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR
(Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.8) [CITY]
Property:
Agency Negotiator:
Negotiating Party:
Under Negotiation:
16730 Bellflower Boulevard and 9855 Flower Street
Ryan Smoot, City Manager
Jim McFadden
Price and terms of payment
C CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR
(Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.8) [CITY]
Property:
Agency Negotiator:
Negotiating Party:
Under Negotiation:
9835 Flower Street
Ryan Smoot, City Manager
United States Postal Service
Price and terms of payment
D CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR
(Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.8) [CITY]
Property:
Agency Negotiator:
Negotiating Party:
Under Negotiation:
9831 Belmont Street
Ryan Smoot, City Manager
John Giries
Price and terms of payment
For the record, Closed Session adjourned at 6:44 p.m.
4 RECONVENE FOR OPEN SESSION
Mayor Santa Ines reconvened the Meeting at 7:03 p.m. with all Council Members present and announced that no reportable action was taken during Closed Session.
Bellflower City Council/Bellflower Financing Authority Minutes January 12, 2026
7:00 P.M. - OPEN SESSION
5 CALL TO ORDER
Item No. 5
Mayor Santa Ines called the Open Session of the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
6 ROLL CALL
The following members of the City Council responded present to roll call:
Mayor Sonny R. Santa Ines
Mayor Pro Tem Victor A. Sanchez
Council Member Ray Dunton
Council Member Dan Koops
Council Member Wendi Morse
Staff Participants:
Ryan Smoot, City Manager
Karl H. Berger, City Attorney
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Len Gorecki, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Joaquin Vazquez, Deputy City Attorney
Jim DellaLonga, Director of Economic Development
Anna Garan, Director of Finance
P.J. Mellana, Director of Parks and Recreation
Elizabeth Oba, Director of Planning and Building Services Brian McNerney, Director of Public Safety
Wangsu Lee, Assistant to the City Manager
Dana Hang, Human Resources and Risk Manager
Karla Pineda, Management Analyst II
Misty Diaz, Management Assistant
7 INVOCATION
Mayor Sonny R. Santa Ines offered the Invocation.
8 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Director of Economic Development Jim DellaLonga led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
9 REQUEST TO APPEAR REMOTELY
None
Bellflower City Council/Bellflower Financing Authority Minutes January 12, 2026
10-A CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Item No. 10-A
Mayor Santa Ines provided details relative to the Spring 2026 City Life brochure, which highlights City news along with Parks and Recreation program information in one convenient guide, noting that residents can expect the brochure in mailboxes by January 21, 2026.
Mayor Pro Tem Sanchez provided details relative to new waste carts that will be provided to residents from February 9, 2026 through May 9, 2026, as a citywide effort to comply with Senate Bill 1383, noting that the City's waste hauler (CR&R) will empty carts and replace them with new ones on a scheduled collection day.
Council Member Dunton provided details relative to a free employment services workshop hosted by the Southeast Los Angeles County Workshop Development Board to be held on January 15, 2026, at Belflower City Hall.
Council Member Koops provided details relative to a Fair Housing Workshop to be held on January 21, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., in the Green Room at Bellflower City Hall.
Council Member Morse provided details relative to an upcoming e -waste recycling event to be held on January 17-18, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Woodruff Elementary School located at 15332 Eucalyptus Avenue. 11 PUBLIC COMMENTS
Berenice Cristerna, Dynasty Alliance, addressed the City Council to discuss her revoked Cannabis Business Permit (CBP), requesting the matter be added to the next City Council meeting agenda and explaining that she has been actively working toward compliance by resubmitting her application and undertaking a traffic study to support a reduction in parking spaces.
At the request of Mayor Santa Ines, and in response to comments provided by Berenice Cristerna, City Manager Smoot described the process and timeline for processing an application for a permit.
Berry Nester, Dynasty Alliance, requested and received clarification from City Manager Smoot relative to the probability and timeframe for Dynasty Alliance's application to be scheduled on a City Council meeting agenda for consideration.
12 PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
Bellflower City Council/Bellflower Financing Authority Minutes January 12, 2026
13 ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
Item No. 13-A
A Consideration and possible action to read by title only, waive further reading, and introduce Ordinance No. 1452 - An Ordinance adding § 2.04.080 to Bellflower Municipal Code to implement the Bellflower City Charter by establishing voting requirements for ordinances, resolutions, and other City Council actions. [CITY]
CEQA: The Ordinance is exempt from additional 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, under CEQA Guidelines §§ 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(5), the Ordinance establishes internal governmental procedures that have no potential to cause a significant effect on the environment.
City Manager Smoot introduced the item.
Deputy City Attorney Vazquez 1) provided a PowerPoint presentation of the staff report; and 2) responded to Council Members' questions along with City Manager Smoot.
At the request of Mayor Pro Tem Sanchez, Deputy City Attorney Vazquez 1) explained that Section 2.04.080(B) of the Ordinance does not modify any voting requirements established by the City Charter; 2) noted that the City Charter requires supermajority votes, such as four -fifths votes, for urgency ordinances or actions to amend the City Charter and that remains the same; 3) clarified that the Ordinance applied only to routine City business which includes ordinances, resolutions, and minute orders, which would need to be approved by a majority of the Council Members present when a quorum exists; and 4) added that emergencies or zoning moratoriums would still require a supermajority vote.
Following brief discussion, it was moved by Council Member Dunton who read the Ordinance title into the record, seconded by Council Member Koops, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to read by title only, waive further reading, and introduce Ordinance No. 1452, adding § 2.04.080 to the Bellflower Municipal Code to establish voting requirements for ordinances, resolutions, and other City Council actions consistent with the City Charter:
AYES: Council Members — Sanchez, Dunton, Koops, Morse, and Mayor Santa Ines
Bellflower City Council/Bellflower Financing Authority Minutes January 12, 2026
14 CONSIDERATION ITEMS
Item No. 14-A
A Consideration and possible action to approve the City of Bellflower Department of Parks and Recreation Special Event Calendar for calendar years 2026 and 2027. [CITY]
City Manager Smoot introduced the item.
Director of Parks and Recreation Mellana 1) provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Staff Report; and 2) responded to Council Members' questions along with Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Gorecki.
Without objection, Council Member Dunton requested Director Mellana provide information relative to the cost and staffing needed for the City to add a seventh Street Fest event to the calendar.
At the request of Council Member Dunton, Director Mellana explained that 1) a budget amendment would be needed; 2) the proposed timing could possibly conflict with existing events, including the beginning of the school year at the end of summer and the Summer Kick -Off Event at the beginning of summer; and 3) planning for an additional Street Fest in 2027 would be more feasible, as it would allow sufficient time for the Department to properly organize the event.
At the request of Council Member Sanchez, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Gorecki provided an update of the soccer field installation and stormwater capture projects at Simms Park, noting that staff was waiting for a response to a grant application modification request.
Following lengthy discussion, at the request of Mayor Santa Ines, and without objection, it was the consensus of the City Council that the soccer field discussion would be scheduled for a special study session to further discuss that particular matter.
At the request of Mayor Santa Ines, and without objection, Director Mellana confirmed that the Earth Day event would be moved from April 18 to April 25, 2026, and requested the flexibility to adjust the event date in future years, as needed, to accommodate for the Easter holiday.
Following discussion, it was moved by Council Member Morse, seconded by Council Member Dunton, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to approve the City of Bellflower Department of Parks and Recreation Special Event Calendar for calendar years 2026 and 2027; and directed staff to 1) change the date of the Earth Day Event to April 25, 2026; and 2) research what would be needed to incorporate an additional StreetFest event into the 2027 Special Events Calendar:
AYES: Council Members — Sanchez, Dunton, Koops, Morse, and Mayor Santa Ines
Bellflower City Council/Bellflower Financing Authority Minutes January 12, 2026
14 CONSIDERATION ITEMS — Continued
Item No. 14-B
B Consideration and possible action to provide direction to the City Manager regarding the redesign options of Friendship Plaza utilizing unused Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Relief ("CDBG-CV") funds. [CITY]
For the record, 1) Council Member Morse announced that she would recuse on this item as she has property interests within 500 feet of the subject area; 2) Council Member Dunton announced that he would recuse on this item as he has a property interests within 500 feet of the subject area; 3) Council Member Morse and Council Member Dunton left the dais and Council Chambers at 7:48 p.m.; and 4) City Manager Smoot introduced the item.
Director of Economic Development DellaLonga 1) provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Staff Report; and 2) responded to Council Members' questions along with City Manager Smoot, Director of Parks and Recreation Mellana, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Gorecki, and City Attorney Berger.
At the request of Mayor Pro Tem Sanchez, Director of Parks and Recreation Mellana clarified that the Friendship Plaza designs were meant to create a space that could be utilized without programming; therefore, no programming has been planned for the site at this time, though it may be considered in the future.
For the record, 1) without objection, Mayor Santa Ines recommended seating options that discourage overnight camping and skateboarders, noting that he prefers design Option 2A, as it provides more green space; 2) without objection, Mayor Pro Tem Sanchez requested the space include appropriate seating for young children, such as swivel chairs; 3) Council Member Koops stated that he prefers design Option 2A as it provides better canopies for shading and more green space, also noting that he recommends renovating Pirate Park located adjacent to this space in the future.
Following brief discussion relative to Pirate Park, City Manager Smoot confirmed that staff would gather initial design options for the renovation of Pirate Park and bring them back for City Council consideration at a later time.
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council (Morse and Dunton recused) to direct staff to move forward with design Option 2A for Friendship Plaza with consideration of City Council comments and discussion.
For the record, Council Member Dunton and Council Member Morse returned to the Council Chambers and dais at 8:12 p.m.
Bellflower City Council/Bellflower Financing Authority Minutes January 12, 2026
15 CONSENT CALENDAR
Item No. 15
For the record, 1) supplemental materials for Item 15-G (Director of Finance's duties and obligations) were provided to the City Council and public prior to the start of the meeting; and 2) Council Member Koops requested that Item 15-C (Caruthers Park — Dog Park Fencing Project) be pulled for discussion only.
Regarding Item 15-C (Caruthers Park — Dog Park Fencing Project), 1) at the request of Council Member Koops, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Gorecki confirmed that there would be funding left over from the project; 2) at the request of Mayor Santa Ines, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works Gorecki provided an overview of the project; and 3) at the request of Council Member Dunton, Director of Parks and Recreation Mellana confirmed that there will be a walking path to the bike trail in the future, but that will come forward as a separate project.
Following discussion of Item 15-C, it was moved by Council Member Koops, seconded by Council Member Morse, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to approve the actions stipulated on the Consent Calendar:
AYES: Council Members — Sanchez, Dunton, Koops, Morse, and Mayor Santa Ines
A Consideration and possible action to receive and file Warrant Register No. 26-071 dated January 12, 2026. [CITY" Action: Received and filed Warrant Register No. 26-071.
B Consideration and possible action to receive and file the Treasurer's Report for the Month of November 2025. [CITY]
Action: Received and filed the Treasurer's Report.
C Consideration and possible action to award a contract to California Landscape and Design, Inc., for the Caruthers Park — Dog Park Fencing Project City Project No. 47240A and authorize the City Manager to execute Agreement File No. 1070.2 in a form approved by the City Attorney. -CITY] Action: Authorized the City Manager to execute Agreement File No. 1070.2 with California Landscape and Design, Inc., in a form approved by the City Attorney.
D Consideration and possible action to approve the Minutes of the December 8, 2025, Regular Meeting of the City Council. [CITY] Action: Approved the December 8, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes.
E Consideration and possible action to approve the Minutes of the December 11, 2025, Special Meeting of the City Council. [CITY] Action: Approved the December 11, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes.
Bellflower City Council/Bellflower Financing Authority Minutes January 12, 2026
15 CONSENT CALENDAR — Continued
Item No. 15
F Consideration and possible action to ratify the 2026 Mayor's Appointments to the various City -associated organizations. [CITY"
Action: Ratified Mayor Santa Ines's 2026 appointments to the various City -associated organizations.
G Consideration and possible action adopt Resolution No. 26-01 — A Resolution confirming that the Director of Finance's duties and obligations include those historically assigned to a City Treasurer. jCITY Action: Adopted Resolution No. 26-01.
H Consideration and possible action to receive and file Bellflower Financing Authority's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. IBFA1
Action: Received and filed Bellflower Financing Authority's audited financial statements.
Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 3 to Agreement File No. 553.2, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Transdev Fleet Services, Inc., for maintenance and repair services for the City's fleet vehicles and equipment. [CITY" Action: Authorized the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 3 to Agreement File No. 553.2, in a form approved by the City Attorney. 16 COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Pro Tem Sanchez, Council Member Koops, and Mayor Santa Ines made various comments and reports.
At the request of Mayor Pro Tem Sanchez, brief discussion ensued relative to the scheduling of a study session for the soccer field at Simms Park. For the record, 1) at the request of Mayor Pro Tem Sanchez, City Manager Smoot confirmed that the study session regarding the soccer field at Simms Park would be scheduled within a couple of months upon receipt of the response of the grant amendment request, as they wanted to bring the item back to the City Council with answers relative to the funding of the project; and 2) in response to questions posed by Council Member Dunton as to the funding of the project and the Council Members' interest in pursuing the project, City Manager Smoot reminded the City Council that there may be potential conflicts of interest relative to the matter and it was best to schedule it for a future City Council Meeting.
Without objection, Council Member Koops requested the meeting be adjourned in honor of passed Mayor and Council Member Joe Cvetko's 98th birthday.
Bellflower City Council/Bellflower Financing Authority Minutes January 12, 2026
16 COUNCIL REPORTS — Continued
Item No. 16
For the record, pursuant to AB 1234, Mayor Santa Ines reported on his recent official travel to the California Contract Cities Association Annual Legislative Orientation Tour with Mayor Pro Tem Sanchez, City Manager Smoot, and Assistant to the City Manager Lee, on January 5-6, 2026, in Sacramento, California, noting the following: 1) they met with State Senator Bob Archuleta and Assemblymember Jose Solache who were very accommodating and receptive to their requests; 2) they attended various seminars regarding topics, noting that public safety remains the number one concern across California; 3) Sacramento has an $18 billion structural deficit; 4) they advocated for the slowing down of bills passed relative to housing to give cities time to implement changes; and 5) the City received compliments from a Bellflower resident on the City's social media platforms and website, relaying kudos to the Parks and Recreation Department and the City's communications consultant, Tripepi Smith, for the effective communication to the public. Therefore, Mayor Santa Ines's report was made pursuant to California Government Code Sections 53232.2 and 53232.3 and Bellflower Resolution No. 06-02.
17 ADJOURNMENT
Without objection, Mayor Santa Ines adjourned the meeting at 8:29 p.m., in honor of Joe Cvetko's 98th birthday, to the next Regular Meeting of the Bellflower City Council at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026, in the Green Room for the Outgoing Mayor's Ceremony.
fa 7
Sonny R. Santa Ines, Mayor
City of Bellflower
ATTEST:
A
`'Mayr. �c iqui, G4 y`GIer
App •ve:January 26, 20