MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CERRITOS CITY COUNCIL AND THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CERRITOS REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HELD THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024, 7:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT CERRITOS CITY HALL, 18125 BLOOMFIELD AVENUE, CERRITOS, CALIFORNIA . COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON PARTICIPATED VIA
TELECONFERENCE FROM THE LOBBY AT THE HOTEL ROYAL CONTINENTAL, VIA PARTENOPE 38/44, NAPLES, ITALY 80121, AND THIS AGENDA WAS POSTED AT THAT LOCATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Invocation
The invocation was given by Cynthia Nava, City Clerk Division Manager.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Lady Tigers – Cerritos Youth Basketball Team (Girls Pee Wee Division).
4. Roll Call
The following members of the City Council/Successor Agency were in attendance:
Council/Agency Member Lynda P. Johnson (via teleconference) Council/Agency Member Chuong Vo
Council/Agency Member Frank Aurelio Yokoyama
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair Naresh Solanki
Mayor/Chair Bruce W. Barrows
5. Presentations/Appointments
5A. Presentations
Proclamations were made by the City Council honoring:
Cerritos High School Varsity Football (CIF-Southern Section Champions).
Big 5 Electronics Inc. (Business Spotlight).
Cerritos Macerich, LLC (Festival of Friendship – 25th Anniversary).
6. Public Comments and Suggestions
Cynthia Nava, City Clerk Division Manager, provided the following disclaimer concerning written comments submitted for all agenda items: Written comments submitted by the deadline listed on the agenda are considered public record. Prior to the meeting, the Council/Agency members received full-text, unredacted copies of any written comments submitted for items listed o n the agenda , including general public comments . Public requests for copies of the written comments submitted for this meeting can be made during regular business hours to the Office of the City Clerk/Treasurer.
The Mayor opened the public comments period.
In-Person Public Comments:
Case Van der Linden expressed concern regarding a potential Metro light rail transit line running through Cerritos and communication from the City to the public, related to this issue.
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6. Public Comments and Suggestions (continued)
Sam Desai spoke in opposition to the renaming of Cerritos Park East and submitted a document for the official record. He also expressed concern regarding a potential Metro light rail transit line running through Cerritos and communication fro m the City to the public, related to this issue. (Documents submitted to the City Council at a public meeting are considered public record. Public requests for copies of the full -text redacted written correspondence can be made during regular business hour s to the Office of the City Clerk/Treasurer).
Ernie Nishii invited the City Council to various upcoming ABC Unified School District events.
Kirit Chauhan spoke regarding upcoming ABC Unified School District Town Hall meetings and expressed concern regard ing declining enrollment . He also requested additional pickleball courts to be located at Cerritos Park East.
Margaret Villa requested the City Council take action to support H.Res. 786 – Calling for an immediate de-escalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine.
Murali Vasudevan requested additional free-use pickleball courts at Cerritos Park East or Heritage Park, inquired a bout follow-up to City Council c onsensus items, and inquired regarding various City Fiscal Year 2024-2025 annual budget plans.
Rodolfo Cortes requested the City Council take action to support H.Res. 786 – Calling for an immediate de-escalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine.
Al Barlevy expressed concern regarding the City taking action to support H.Res. 786 – Calling for an immediate de-escalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine.
Jay Gray requested additional free-use pickleball courts at Cerritos Park East and spoke in opposition to the renaming of Cerritos Park East.
Written Correspondence:
David Amin requested additional free-use pickleball courts at City facilities located on the east side of Cerritos.
Bernard Chu requested additional free-use pickleball courts at City facilities located on the east side of Cerritos and expressed opposition to the renaming of Cerritos Park East.
Murali Vasudevan requested additional free-use pickleball courts at City facilities located on the east side of Cerritos.
Noting there were no other individuals who elected to provide public comment, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
7. Consent Calendar
7A. Approval of Minutes
Thursday, January 11, 2024, 7:00 p.m. City Council/Successor Agency Regular Meeting Minutes (COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY).
MOTION: It was moved by Solanki, and seconded by Vo, to approve the Thursday, January 11, 2024 , 7:00 p.m. City Council/Successor Agency Regular Meeting Minu tes (COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY).
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7. Consent Calendar (continued)
7C. (continued)
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Johnson, Vo, Yokoyama, Solanki, Barrows
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7B. Approval of Financial Reports
7B.1. Register of Demands for the City of Cerritos dated January 25, 2024 (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Solanki, and seconded by Vo, to approve the Register of Demands as follows:
City of Cerritos January 25, 2024 $6,816,544.76 (COUNCIL)
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Johnson, Vo, Yokoyama, Solanki, Barrows
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7C. Continuance of the existence of a local emergency concerning a gasoline leak from a privately owned existing pipeline on the Cerritos Iron-Wood Nine public golf course, and potential threat to the safety of persons and property requiring remedia tion, repair, and improvement of the public golf course and other City-owned public property, as specified (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Solanki, and seconded by Vo, to:
1. Continue the local emergency as proclaimed in Resolution No. 2023-05, at the Cerritos Iron-Wood Nine Golf Course and the nearby City property with the C-4 well site;
2. Make the findings set forth in Sections one (1) through eight (8) of Resolution No. 2023-05, and incorporate by reference those findings, as they relate to the continued existence of a local emergency as specified; and
3. Direct staff to provide a report to the City Council regarding the local emergency at least once every sixty (60) days, pursuant to Section 8630(c) of the California Government Code, until the City Council terminates the local emergency (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 - 0) as follows:
AYES: Johnson, Vo, Yokoyama, Solanki, Barrows
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7D. Award of contract for annual traffic engineering services in the Cit y of Cerritos, RFP No. 1525-23* (COUNCIL).
*Pursuant to Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(5) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the contract is exempt from CEQA Review.
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7. Consent Calendar (continued)
7D. (continued)
MOTION: It was moved by Solanki, and seconded by Vo, to:
1. Award a contract to Hartzog & Crabill, Inc. for annual traffic engineering services in the City of Cerritos, RFP No. 1525-23 for a twelve-month term, with provisions for four (4), twelve-month extensions, and reject the other proposals; and
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute any project-related change orders, in accordance with the City’s adopted Purchasing and Contracting Policy (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Johnson, Vo, Yokoyama, Solanki, Barrows
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7E. Award of contract for annual civil engineering services in the City of Cerritos, RFP No. 1526- 23* (COUNCIL).
*Pursuant to Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(5) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the contract is exempt from CEQA Review.
MOTION: It was moved by Solanki, and seconded by Vo, to:
1. Award a contract to Willdan Engineering for annual civil engineering services in the City of Cerritos, RFP No. 1526 -23, for a twelve-month term, with provisions for four (4), twelve-month extensions, and reject the other proposals; and
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute any project-related change orders, in accordance with the City’s adopted Purchasing and Contracting Policy (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Johnson, Vo, Yokoyama, Solanki, Barrows
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7F. Waive full reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF T HE CITY OF
CERRITOS ACCEPTING AN EASEMENT DEED FOR PUBLIC UTILITY PURPOSES FROM CBG INVESTMENT PROPERTY AND RONALD W. GREGOIRE FAMILY TRUST, OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 11011 SOUTH STREET, CERRITOS, CA 90703 (APN 7038 -013- 018)* (COUNCIL).
*Pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, this project is categorically exempt from CEQA Review.
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7. Consent Calendar (continued)
7F. (continued)
MOTION: It was moved by Solanki, and seconded by Vo, to:
1. Waive full reading of and adopt Resolution No. 2024-05, A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS ACCEPTING AN EASEMENT DEED
FOR PUBLIC UTILITY PURPOSES FROM CBG INVESTMENT PROPERTY AND RONALD W. GREGOIRE FAMILY TRUST, OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 11011 SOUTH STREET, CERRITOS, CA 90703 (APN 7038 -013-018) (COUNCIL); and
2. Authorize the City Clerk to record the easement documents (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 - 0) as follows:
AYES: Johnson, Vo, Yokoyama, Solanki, Barrows
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
8. Public Hearings
8A. Review and consideration of a comprehensive assessment of the City’s existing transportation services, the Cerritos on Wheels (COW) fixed-route service and the Dial-A- Ride demand-response service, and a request for City Council direction regarding potential modifications to the City’s transportation services (COUNCIL).
Staff reports were given by Sabrina Chan, Advance Planning Manager and the City’s transportation consultant Jim Moore, Program Manager , Moore and Associates , Inc. A PowerPoint presentation was displayed.
CONSENSUS (Barrows): Directed the City Attorney to provide information to the City Council on the issues related to an unfunded State mandate, prohibi ted by the State Constitution, as they relate to conversion to alternative fuel vehicles by transportation providers.
The Mayor opened the public hearing and the public comments period.
In-Person Public Comments:
Brian Tom spoke in support of maintaining the Dial-A-Ride demand-response service, or a similar curb-to-curb service, to provide safe and accessible public transit for disabled and senior residents of Cerritos.
Catherine Pascual spoke in support of a demand-response micro-transit service in the City, and the provision of safe and accessible public transit for the disabled and senior community.
Jim Tiao spoke in support of maintaining the Dial -A-Ride demand-response service, or a similar service, to provide safe and accessible public transit for the disabled and senior community.
Written Correspondence:
Don and Evelyn Mildner requested the continuance of COW fixed -route service and a restoration of pre-COVID service hours.
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8. Public Hearings (continued)
8A. (continued)
Seeing no further speakers, the Mayor declared the public comments period and public hearing closed.
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Johnson, to direct staff to:
1. Work with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to determine an alternative or best use of a $4.4 million grant that was previously awarded to the City for the purchase of zero emission transit buses in support of fixed- route transit operations, including the purchase of "green" vehicles and/or use in support of a mi cro-transit service, and provide an update to the City Council accordingly;
2. Establish parameters for amending the existing Cerritos on Wheels (COW) fixed-route service, in pursuit of a micro -transit demand-response COW service available to the general public, and maintain a separate demand -response Dial -A-Ride service for transportation of Cerritos seniors and persons with disabilities; and
3. Solicit proposals for contract services for the implementation of a micro-transit demand-response COW service available to the general public City-wide with access to the Metro Green “C” Line and Metrolink stations in the city of Norwalk, as well as a separate micro-transit demand-response Dial-A-Ride service for Cerritos seniors and persons with disabilities (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (4 - 1) as follows:
AYES: Johnson, Vo, Solanki, Barrows
NOES: Yokoyama
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
9. New and Old Business
9A. Review and consideration of Budget Study Session No. 1 – Updating the Cerritos City Council on the status of the City's FY 2024-25 budget preparation process, and considering potential objectives for achieving the City Council's priority goals for the upcoming fiscal year and inclusion in the FY 2024-25 Combined Financial Program (COUNCIL).
A staff report was given by Peter Kemp, Budget Manager. A PowerPoint presentation was displayed.
The Mayor opened the public comments period. Seeing there were no individuals who elected to provide public comment, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
MOTION: It was moved by Solanki, and seconded by Vo, to:
1. Approve the proposed updates to the titles for Goals 1 and 2 , the proposed goal descriptions, and the proposed objectives with their corresponding funding allocations for incorporation into the FY 2024-25 Budget, as follows:
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9. New and Old Business (continued)
9A. (continued)
Goal 1: Enhance Public Infrastructure and Community Aesthetics G1-01: Maintain accelerated rehabilitation of arterial streets that are in poor conditions
G1-02: Maintain accelerated rehabilitation of residential streets that are in poor condition
G1-03: Rehabilitate arterial parkway landscaping
G1-04: Proactively inspect residential parkway trees/sidewalks for needed repairs before they are reported
G1-05: Maintain accelerated processing/completion of Residential Pine Tree Reforestation Program Applications
G1-06: Proactively inspect and replace deteriorated street signs G1-07: Revitalize Towne Center street signage
G1-08: Rehabilitate the Cerritos Sports Complex sports fields
Goal 2: Boost Economic Growth and Prosperity
G2-01: Retain and attract Cerritos-based sales tax generating uses G2-02: Update the existing Cerritos Economic Development Strategic Plan G2-03: Develop comprehensive vision and marketing strategy
; and
2. Direct staff to complete the process to develop a business plan and complete high-speed broadband implementation as soon as possible (Goal 4, Objective 1), at a cost of up to $15 million and begin the installation of conduit at the Cerritos Towne Center prior to July 1, 2024 (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 - 0) as follows:
AYES: Johnson, Vo, Yokoyama, Solanki, Barrows
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
10. Legislative Items
10A. Report on pending legislation.
None.
10B. Review and consideration to support or oppose specific legislation in the State or Federal legislature or in the State or Federal Executive Office for signature.
None.
11. Reports
11A. Report from City Manager/Executive Director
None.
11B. City Council Communications/Committee Reports/Meeting Reports
Reports were given by Councilmembers Johnson, Vo, and Yokoyama, Mayor Pro Tem Solanki, and Mayor Barrows.
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11. Reports (continued)
11B. (continued)
CONSENSUS (Johnson): Directed the City Manager to provide information on the feasibility of installing pickleball courts on the east part of the City as part of the upcoming scheduled report on the feasibility of installing pickleball courts at Liberty Park .
12. Closed Session
None.
13. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:52 p.m. in memory of Paul W. Bellenbaum.
_/s/ Cynthia Nava___________
Cynthia Nava
City Clerk Division Manager
ATTEST:
/s/ Bruce W. Barrows
Bruce W. Barrows
Mayor/Agency Chair
APPROVED: February 8, 2024