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
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026, 3:00 P.M.
BELLFLOWER CITY HALL – GREEN ROOM, 2ND FLOOR
1 CALL TO ORDER
2 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 PUBLIC COMMENTS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.3(a), the public may address the City Council 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.
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.govv
Bellflower City Council Special Meeting Agenda
February 9, 2026
4 REQUEST TO APPEAR REMOTELY
5 STUDY SESSION
A Consideration and possible action to discuss and provide direction regarding the City’s economic development priorities.
Recommendation to City Council: 1) Discuss and provide direction to the City Manager regarding the City’s economic development priorities; or 2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
6 ADJOURNMENT
5 -A
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
ATTENTION: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
FROM: Jim DellaLonga, Director of Economic Development
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to discuss and provide direction regarding the City’s economic development priorities .
DATE: February 9, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this study session is to address Goal #5 – Strengthen Economic Development, in the City’s 2025-27 Strategic Pla n , adopted by City Council in Spring 2025, and get City Council’s direction regarding the direction of economic development going forward.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Discuss and p rovide direction to the City Manager regarding the City’s economic development priorities; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
BACKGROUND /DISCUSSION
Over the past 15 to 20 years, the City of Bellflower has seen considerable success with its economic development program. However, to address the priorities of the City of Bellflower 2025-27 Strategic Plan , the economic challenges facing Bellflower, and to ensure the Economic Development Department’s energies are align ed with the City Council’s vision for economic development in Bellflower, this study session has been scheduled in an effort to discuss and get direction from City Council regarding the City’s economic development priorities.
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS
CITY OF BELLFLOWER )
I, Misty Diaz, 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 Monday, February 09, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., was posted Thursday, February 5, 2026, 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
Executed this 6th day of February 2026 at Bellflower, California.
Misty Diaz
Management Assistant
The Next Chapter
February 9, 2026
Economic Development Workshop
•Economic Development Introduction
•Successes
•Challenges
•Where do we go from here?
•Direction and Discussion
What is Economic Development?
Economic Development is the creation of wealth
in which community benefits are realized. It is
more than a jobs program, it’s an investment in
growing your economy and enhancing the quality
of life for all residents.
California Association of Local Economic Development (CALED)
Why Economic Development?
Economic Development is the creation of wealth
in which community benefits are realized. It is
more than a jobs program, it’s an investment in
growing your economy and enhancing the quality
of life for all residents.
California Association of Local Economic Development (CALED)
What is Economic Development,
in Bellflower?
City Marketing and Promotion for Retail/Development
Development Facilitation/Process Streamlining
Small Business Concierge (point of contact)
Entrepreneurial/Small Business Assistance/Training
Public Art
Housing Efforts
Downtown Development, Placemaking & Stewardship
Property Acquisition & New Development
Business Expansion, Attraction, Retention
Successes
U C C E S S E S S
U C C E S S E S S
U C C E S S E S S
U C C E S S E S S
U C C E S S E S S
U C C E S S E S S
U C C E S S E S S
U C C E S S E S S
U C C E S S E S S
U C C E S S E S S
U C C E S S E S S
Economic Development
3 Major
Challenges
1 Built-Out City
-Minimal Developable Land
-Historical Development Patterns
-Many absentee owners, some long-term
1 Built-Out City
63% - 88%
Estimated percentage of absentee owned vacant commercial property 2022 Economic Development Dept.
-Development around Bellflower
(Adjacent and Nearby Cities)
-Retailers/developers more selective
-State Mandates
Competition2
Competition2
Challenging Demographics
Competition2
Positive Outlook
47%
3-5 Person
Households
12,413/mi
Population Density
3 Specialization
-Economic Development inexperience
-Public Affairs/Community
Development duties
-Revolving door of staff since
established
Todd Smith, Prim Pal
RyderChristine
Tod $rtin, DifeGtOf
enior Bus Hess Anatys�
Christine Marlin.
KY1ie Sun,
Completed March V25
City Council’s Vision
1.New Business/Development Attraction
a.Development/Project Support
2.Small Business/Entrepreneurial Programs
3.Maintain HOME/CDBG/SHA programs and
compliance
a.support above programs where possible
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RE-ALIGNMENT
Provide
Development
and Project
Support
HOME/
CDBG/SHA
Administration
Property
Management
Business
Assistance
Program
Entrepreneurial
Programs
Outreach to
Small and
Large
Businesses/
Developers
Determine
Locational/Property
Needs
Identify Real
Estate
Opportunities
Real
Property &
Housing
Business
Outreach and
Support
Find Existing
Locations
Circling Back
1.Despite the challenges, Bellflower has had lots of Economic Development success over the past 20 -years.
2.With the Strategic Plan, we’re at a point where we need to re - align our efforts with City Council’s vision.
3.With the department’s updated structure, we can be
responsive to the City Council’s specific vision and direction.
Discussion and Direction
1.Downtown Bellflower?
2.Housing as an Economic Development tool?
3.Public Art – Murals/Utility Box Art?
4.Business Assistance Program (BAP)?
5. Uses you want to see?
6. Strategic Property Acquisition
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RE-ALIGNMENT
Provide
Development
and Project
Support
HOME/
CDBG/SHA
Administration
Property
Management
Business
Assistance
Program
Entrepreneurial
Programs
Outreach to
Small and
Large
Businesses/
Developers
Determine
Locational/Property
Needs
Identify Real
Estate
Opportunities
Real
Property &
Housing
Business
Outreach and
Support
Find Existing
Locations
Director of Economic
Development
Executive Assistant II
Senior Marketing Specialist Management Analyst II
Management Analyst I
Pre-2025-27 Department Organization
Director of Economic
Development
Executive Assistant II
Senior Project Manager
Business Development
Senior Project Manager
Housing/Real Property
Economic Development
Specialist
Economic Development
Specialist
FY 2026-2027
Current Department Organization
Director of Economic
Development
Executive Assistant II
Senior Project Manager
Business Development
Senior Project Manager
Housing/Real Property
Economic Development
Specialist
Economic Development
Specialist
FY 2026-2027
Director of Economic
Development
Executive Assistant II
Senior Marketing Specialist Management Analyst II
Management Analyst I
Refresh Parapet
Example: Neighborhood Center Rehab
Business Improvement District
BID: Levied through business license fee
PBID: Levied through property tax bill
HOW MONEY IS SPENT: (BID, not the City, determines how the revenues are spent) Services – security, maintenance, landscaping, graffiti removal, sidewalk cleaning, ED services Streetscape – furniture, lighting, planters, street lighting Special Events – food tours, seasonal attractions
Signage – Décor, banners, murals, art pieces
Marketing – ads, brochures, website, social media, promos 91 FWY SPLIT:
North BID – 154 properties (14 city owned)*
South BID – 50 properties (5 city owned)*
Common ways to do BID Assessments: Street/building frontage – OR - Lot/building square footage * Property counts may have changed since City last looked at BID formation
SPEAKER SIGN -IN SHEET
(Voluntary)
Special City Council Meeting
February 9, 2026
PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY
NAME
ORGANIZATION
(if applicable)