MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CERRITOS CITY COUNCIL AND THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CERRITOS REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HELD MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2024, 7:00 PM , IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT CERRITOS CITY HALL, 18125 BLOOMFIELD AVENUE, CERRITOS, CALIFORNIA.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Invocation
The invocation was given by Pastor Ryan Klement, New Life Community Church.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Pat Nixon Musical Troupe.
4. Roll Call
The following members of the City Council/Successor Agency were in attendance:
Council/Agency Member Bruce W. Barrows
Council/Agency Member Lynda P. Johnson
Council/Agency Member Frank Aurelio Yokoyama
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair Chuong Vo
Mayor/Chair Naresh Solanki
5. Presentations/Appointments
5A. Presentations
A proclamation was made by the City Council honoring:
Dr. Nitin Shah (Recognition of humanitarian efforts and outstanding medical career).
5B. Informational update on the Tuesday, March 4, 2024 General Municipal Election.
An informational update on the Tuesday, March 4, 2024 General Municipal Election was given by Cynthia Nava, Acting City Clerk. A PowerPoint presentation was displayed.
There was no further action on this item.
Mayor Solanki announced the meeting rules of decorum.
6. Public Comments and Suggestions
The Mayor opened the public comments period for items not listed on the meeting agenda but that were within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council, the Consent Calendar, and Closed Session.
Cynthia Nava, Acting City Clerk, announced that prior to the meeting the Council/Agency members received full-text, unredacted copies of the one (1) written comment submitted for Item 6, by the deadline listed on the agenda and for inclusion in the official record. 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.
Mel Cortez requested public notification of Santa’s Holiday Float winners and float riders.
City of Cerritos Monday, December 2, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
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6. Public Comments and Suggestions (continued)
Case Van der Linden requested recently planted parkway magnolia trees be replaced with trumpet trees.
Sam Desai requested the public comment time at City public meetings be restored to a five (5) minute limit and spoke regarding City strategic planning priorities and resident participation in the strategic planning process.
Bani Mukherji requested continued stronger collaboration between the City and residents.
Anil Ramineni requested the addition of more pickleball courts in the City.
Devang Adharyu expressed concern regarding large groups playing soccer and consuming alcoholic beverages on Sundays at Frontier Park, and requested information on where to report if unpermitted teams and illegal activities occur.
Seeing no further speakers, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
7. Consent Calendar
7A. Approval of Minutes
7A.1. Monday, November 4, 2024, 7:00 p.m. City Council/Successor Agency Special Meeting Minutes (COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY).
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Johnson, to approve the Monday, November 4, 2024, 7:00 p.m. City Council/Successor Agency Special Meeting Minutes (COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7A.2. Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 6:00 p.m. City Council Special Meeting Minutes (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Johnson, to approve the Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 6:00 p.m. City Council Special Meeting Minutes (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
(minutes continue on the next page)
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7. Consent Calendar (continued)
7A. Approval of Minutes (continued)
7A.3. Friday, November 22, 2024, 8:30 a.m. City Council Special Meeting Minutes (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Johnson, to approve the Friday, November 22, 2024, 8:30 a.m. City Council Special Meeting Minutes (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7B. Approval of Financial Reports
7B.1. Register of Demands for the City of Cerritos dated December 2, 2024 (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Johnson, to approve the Register of Demands as follows:
City of Cerritos December 2, 2024 $5,980,555.40 (COUNCIL)
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7B.2. Approval of Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget amendments (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Johnson, to authorize administrative initiated Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget amendments in accordance with Joint Budget Resolution No. 2024-12/CSA No. 2024-01 and the Strategic Financial Plan and Budget Preparation Policy (Policy 2.04) as adopted by the City Council, as follows:
Account/Project: 110-451-61020 (Animal Control Services) Amount: $429,351
Justification: A budget amendment is requested to reallocate funds from the General Fund to cover outstanding invoices for Animal Control Services from Fiscal Year 2023-
24. Although sufficient budget was allocated for these services during Fiscal Year 2023- 24, the invoices for the last three quarters of the fiscal year, totaling $429,351, were not received until November 8, 2024. As the unspent allocation was returned to the General Fund at the close of Fiscal Year 2023-24, this amendment is necessary to ensure payment of the outstanding invoices (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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7. Consent Calendar (continued)
7B. Approval of Financial Reports (continued)
7B.3. An informational budget and audit compliance report and ratification of budget amendments from the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2024-25 (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Johnson, to:
1. Receive and file the agenda report associated with this item; and
2. Ratify the executed Budget Amendments from the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2024-25 as detailed the agenda report (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
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 remediation, repair, and improvement of the public golf course and other City-owned public property, as specified (COUNCIL).
This item was pulled from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration by Mayor Pro Tem Vo.
An explanation of the local emergency was given by Robert A. Lopez, City Manager.
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Johnson, 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 containing 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: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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7. Consent Calendar (continued)
7D. Waive full reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS APPROVING AND ATTESTING TO THE VERACITY OF THE 2023 POWER
SOURCE DISCLOSURE ANNUAL REPORT AND POWER CONTENT LABEL TO THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Johnson, to waive further reading of and adopt Resolution No. 2024-28, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF CERRITOS APPROVING AND ATTESTING TO THE VERACITY OF THE 2023 POWER SOURCE DISCLOSURE ANNUAL REPORT AND POWER CONTENT LABEL TO THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7E. Waive full reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CERRITOS ADOPTING THE CERRITOS ELECTRIC UTILITY RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES PROCUREMENT PLAN, COMPLIANCE PERIOD 4 (2021-2024) PURSUANT TO PUBLIC UTILITIES CODE §399.30(a) (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Johnson, to waive further reading of and adopt Resolution No. 2024-29, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF CERRITOS ADOPTING THE CERRITOS ELECTRIC UTILITY
RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES PROCUREMENT PLAN, COMPLIANCE PERIOD 4 (2021-2024) PURSUANT TO PUBLIC UTILITIES CODE §399.30(a) (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7F. Authorization of an agreement with Pabco Paper for the lease of water rights by the City of Cerritos for Fiscal Years 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028 (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Johnson, to authorize the Mayor to execute a water rights lease agreement for a total of 500 acre-feet of groundwater by the City of Cerritos from Pabco Paper for each of Fiscal Years 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027- 2028 for a three (3) year total dollar amount of $255,000 (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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8. Public Hearings
8A. Review and consideration to waive full reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE
CERRITOS CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING UTILIZATION OF RESTRICTED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS, TOTALING APPROXIMATELY $181,000, DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026, TO CONSTRUCT AND RETROFIT ACCESSIBLE CURB RAMPS ALONG PARK PLAZA DRIVE WITHIN THE CERRITOS TOWNE CENTER (COUNCIL).
A staff report was given by Alvin Papa, Director of Public Works/City Engineer. A PowerPoint presentation was displayed.
The Mayor opened the public hearing and public comments period. Seeing none, the Mayor declared the public comments period and public hearing closed.
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Yokoyama, to waive full reading of and adopt Resolution No. 2024-30, A RESOLUTION OF THE CERRITOS CITY COUNCIL
AUTHORIZING UTILIZATION OF RESTRICTED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS, TOTALING APPROXIMATELY $181,000, DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026, TO CONSTRUCT AND RETROFIT ACCESSIBLE CURB
RAMPS ALONG PARK PLAZA DRIVE WITHIN THE CERRITOS TOWNE CENTER (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
9. New and Old Business
9A. Review and consideration by the City Council of the City of Cerritos of measures the City has taken to reduce crime, and review and consideration of additional measures that could be utilized to support crime reduction efforts, including consideration of the feasibility of creating a standalone City Police Department (COUNCIL).
Staff reports were given by Daryl Evans, Public Safety Manager and Cerritos Sheriff’s Station Captain Dru Strong. A PowerPoint presentation was displayed.
CONSENSUS (Vo): Directed the City Manager to take actions to broadcast future Community Safety Committee (CSC) Meetings and relocate the CSC regular meeting location to the Council Chamber.
The Mayor opened the public comments period.
Mel Cortez thanked the City for recent increased public safety measures and inquired whether fumigation alarms could still be checked out from the Community Safety Services Division.
Arti Adhvaryu expressed concern regarding the wait time to deliver public comment on this Item and reported a burglary instance in her neighborhood and inquired how to respond to an instance when witnessing a suspicious vehicle without license plates.
Jignesh Mehta expressed concern regarding a recent attempted burglary at a local pharmacy and thanked the City for increased public safety measures and the prevention of the burglary at this facility.
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9. New and Old Business (continued)
9A. (continued)
Anil Ramineni thanked the City for increased public safety measures and inquired regarding the potential use of bicycles for security patrol and expressed concern regarding the lack of lit homes in the evenings in the neighborhoods, providing suggestions for improvements. He also requested more scheduled Community Safety Committee meetings.
Unidentified speaker thanked the City for increased public safety measures and inquired regarding the implementation of Proposition 36; and inquired regarding the additional placement of gated communities in the City.
Amit Desai thanked the City for increased public safety measures and requested the City Council not authorize an additional funding allocation for a rebate program for residents who purchase new security cameras and/or home alarm systems, but use the funding instead toward additional increased City public safety measures.
Seeing no further speakers, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
MOTION: It was moved by Vo, and seconded by Solanki, to authorize Fiscal Year 2024- 25 budget amendments for, and direct staff to schedule an agenda report for City Council review and consideration of award of any necessary contracts, at the next scheduled City Council meeting, if feasible, to proceed with implementation of the additional crime abatement options presented in the agenda report associated with this item, as follows:
1. Authorize funding up to $140,400 to contract with a Southwest Patrol or another private security company, to provide three (3) unarmed private security guards to conduct high visibility patrols in residential neighborhoods eight hours per day, five days per week, in accordance with the City’s Purchasing and Contracting Policy;
2. Authorize funding up to $44,500 to hire an additional part-time Cerritos Community Services Officer (CSO) to provide high visibility patrols in neighborhoods, respond to service calls involving property crime, gather fingerprint/DNA evidence, provide traffic control as directed, and issue parking citations;
3. Authorize funding up to $40,000 for the law enforcement special operations fund, annually. This funding will be used to pay for overtime shifts for deputies engaged in dedicated crime suppression patrols;
4. Authorize funding in the amount of $68,000 for the purchase of an additional CSO patrol vehicle equipped with a hazard light bar, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) mobile digital computer, and LASD radio;
5. Authorize funding in the amount of $40,000 for a cost-sharing rebate program for residents who purchase new security cameras and/or a home alarm system, up to $200 per household, for a maximum of 200 households; and
6. Direct staff to schedule on a future agenda, a report for City Council review and consideration of potential amendments to the Cerritos Municipal Code, to update fines levied by the City for false alarm calls made to the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station (COUNCIL).
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9. New and Old Business (continued)
9A. (continued)
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
9B. Review and consideration to waive full reading of and adopt:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS PROVIDING FOR
CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS IN THE EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND THE PERSONNEL POLICIES,
FOR FULL-TIME NON-EXEMPT EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) LOCAL 619, AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2024-02 AND ALL RELATED AMENDMENTS.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS PROVIDING FOR
CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS IN THE EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND THE PERSONNEL POLICIES,
FOR ALL PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING TEMPORARY PART-TIME EMPLOYEES
REPRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) LOCAL 619, AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2024-03 AND ALL RELATED AMENDMENTS.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS PROVIDING FOR
CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS IN THE EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND THE PERSONNEL POLICIES,
FOR FULL-TIME EXEMPT EMPLOYEES, FULL-TIME CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES, PART- TIME CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2024-04 AND ALL RELATED AMENDMENTS (COUNCIL).
A staff report was given by Drew Schneider, Director of Administrative Services.
The Mayor opened the public comments period. Seeing none, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
MOTION: It was moved by Barrows, and seconded by Solanki, to waive full reading of and adopt the following captioned resolutions:
Resolution No. 2024-31, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CERRITOS PROVIDING FOR CERTAIN ADJUSTMENST IN THE EMPLOYMENT
SYSTEM AND THE PERSONNEL POLICIES, FOR FULL-TIME NONEXEMPT
EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) LOCAL 619, AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2024-02 AND ALL RELATED AMENDMENTS (COUNCIL);
Resolution No. 2024-32, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CERRITOS PROVIDING FOR CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS IN THE EMPLOYMENT
SYSTEM AND THE PERSONNEL POLICIES, FOR ALL PART-TIME EMPLOYEES,
INCLUDING TEMPORARY PART-TIME EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED BY THE
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) LOCAL 619, AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2024-03 AND ALL RELATED AMENDMENTS (COUNCIL); and
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9. New and Old Business (continued)
9B. (continued)
Resolution No. 2024-33, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CERRITOS PROVIDING FOR CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS IN THE EMPLOYMENT
SYSTEM AND THE PERSONNEL POLICIES, FOR FULL-TIME EXEMPT EMPLOYEES,
FULL-TIME CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES, PART-TIME CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2024-04 AND ALL RELATED AMENDMENTS* (COUNCIL).
*During the staff report, it was noted State law governs the timing of when the City Council may take official action for certain non-exempt, management level employees defined as “local agency executives” in California Government Code section 3511.1(d).
Pursuant to Government Code sections 54953(c)(3) and 54956(b), approval and ratification of adjustments for these employees will occur at the next publicly noticed regular City Council meeting, scheduled for Thursday, December 12, 2024.
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Barrows, Johnson, Yokoyama, Vo, Solanki
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
Robert A. Lopez, City Manager, announced the recent hiring of Scott Harvey, Communications Manager, and thanked Andrew Baumgartner, who recently served as an Acting Manager in the Communications Division.
11B. City Council Communications/Committee Reports/Meeting Reports
Reports were given by Councilmembers Yokoyama and Johnson, and Mayor Solanki.
12. Closed Session
Bill Ihrke, City Attorney, announced the City Council would recess to Closed Session to discuss Items 12A and 12D, as listed on the Closed Session agenda. Items 12B and 12C would not be discussed.
12A. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957(b) (COUNCIL) Title: Position of City Clerk
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12. Closed Session (continued)
12B. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957.6 (COUNCIL) Agency Negotiators: Robert A. Lopez, City Manager; Drew Schneider, Director of Administrative Services; Amy Thomas, Enterprise Services Manager; Joseph Larsen, City Attorney’s Office
Employee Organization: AFSCME Local 619
12C. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957.6 (COUNCIL) Agency Negotiators: Robert A. Lopez, City Manager; Drew Schneider, Director of Administrative Services; Amy Thomas, Enterprise Services Manager; Joseph Larsen, City Attorney’s Office
Unrepresented Employees: Full-Time Exempt
12D. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) (COUNCIL) Name of Case: Castro v. City of Cerritos (U.S. Dist. Ct., Central Dist. Cal., Case No. 2:24-cv-09625-CBM-Ex)
The City Council recessed into Closed Session.
The City Council reconvened into Open Session.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
Bill Ihrke, City Attorney, provided the following Closed Session report:
The City Council convened into Closed Session to discuss Items 12A and 12D. Items 12B and 12C were not discussed. There was no reportable action taken and there was nothing further to report.
13. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:17 p.m.
/s/ Cynthia Nava__ __
Cynthia Nava
Acting City Clerk/Agency Secretary
ATTEST:
/s/ Naresh Solanki ______ __
Naresh Solanki
Mayor/Agency Chair
APPROVED: December 12, 2024