MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CERRITOS CITY COUNCIL AND THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CERRITOS REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HELD THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025, 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 Dustin Parker, Concordia Lutheran Church.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cub Scout Pack 529.
4. Roll Call
The following members of the City Council/Successor Agency were in attendance:
Council/Agency Member Jennifer Hong
Council/Agency Member Mark E. Pulido
Council/Agency Member Sophia M. Tse
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair Lynda P. Johnson
Mayor/Chair Frank Aurelio Yokoyama
5. Presentations/Appointments
5A. Presentations
Proclamations were made by the City Council honoring:
Saahas for Cause; United Indian Associations of So Cal; and Smita Vasant (South Asian Heritage Month).
Asuncion "Annie" Dela Cruz (100th birthday).
5B. Review and consideration of City Council appointments to the Cerritos Advisory Boards (Boards, Commissions, and Committees) (2025-2027 term) (COUNCIL).
A staff report was given by Cynthia Nava, City Clerk.
The Mayor opened the public comments period. Seeing none, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
MOTION: It was moved by Hong, and seconded by Tse, to approve Councilmember Hong’s nomination listed below for a two-year term of service, through April 30, 2027 (COUNCIL):
Name Advisory Board
Grace Hu Economic Development Commission
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5. Presentations/Appointments (continued)
5B. (continued)
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Cynthia Nava, City Clerk, administered the oath of office to appointee Grace Hu.
5C. Review and consideration of the Mayor’s nominations for appointments to internal ad hoc working groups and external boards, commissions, and committees (COUNCIL).
The Mayor opened the public comments period.
Linda Troxell, at the discretion of the Mayor, provided general public comments regarding her frustration with the current state of her home and requested assistance in securing toxic substance remediation services. General public comments are generally reserved for Agenda Item 6.
Seeing no further speakers, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
No action was taken on this item.
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.
David Pylman expressed concern and requested information regarding the Del Amo Bridge replacement and traffic signal synchronization project, including potential impacts from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Southeast Gateway Line (SEGL) Light Rail Project.
Vicky Kirkwood expressed concern regarding the practice of banning books in public libraries.
Sam Desai thanked the City Council for recognizing South Asian Heritage Month and offered suggestions for advising local business owners on how to navigate federal tariffs.
Kirit Chauhan requested consideration of a future City event in recognition and celebration of South Asian heritage and culture.
Catherine Pascual requested staff include additional context and clarity in future agenda reports related to the City’s ongoing water and sewer rate studies.
The Mayor 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.
Seeing no further speakers, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
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7. Consent Calendar
7A. Approval of Minutes
Monday, July 28, 2025, 6:00 p.m. City Council/Successor Agency Special Meeting Minutes (COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY).
MOTION: It was moved by Tse, and seconded by Johnson, to approve the Monday, July 28, 2025, 6:00 p.m. City Council/Successor Agency Special Meeting Minutes (COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7B. Approval of Financial Reports
7B.1. Register of Demands for the City of Cerritos dated August 14, 2025 (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Tse, and seconded by Johnson, to approve the Register of Demands as follows:
City of Cerritos August 14, 2025 $10,962,152.37 (COUNCIL)
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7B.2. Register of Demands for the Successor Agency to the Cerritos Redevelopment Agency dated August 14, 2025 (SUCCESSOR AGENCY).
MOTION: It was moved by Tse, and seconded by Johnson, to approve the Register of Demands as follows:
Successor Agency August 14, 2025 $6,639,454.00 (SUCCESSOR AGENCY)
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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7. Consent Calendar (continued)
7C. Adoption of Ordinance:
Ordinance introduced at the Monday, July 28, 2025, City Council/Successor Agency Special Meeting:
Waive full reading of and adopt Ordinance No. 1050, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS AMENDING CHAPTER 13.12 OF THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT
THE CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL POLICY HANDBOOK AS REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD* (COUNCIL).
*Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, this administrative activity is not a "project" under CEQA and is therefore exempt from CEQA review.
MOTION: It was moved by Tse, and seconded by Johnson, to:
1. Waive full reading of and adopt Ordinance No. 1050, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS AMENDING CHAPTER 13.12 OF THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL
CODE TO ADOPT THE CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL POLICY HANDBOOK AS
REQUIRED BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD (COUNCIL); and
2. Direct the City Clerk to publish a notice of adopted ordinance within fifteen (15) days after adoption of Ordinance No. 1050, as required by California Government Code Section 36933 (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
8. Public Hearings
None.
9. New and Old Business
9A. Review and consideration of an informational report regarding existing City of Cerritos Municipal Code regulations pertaining to self-storage facilities (COUNCIL).
A staff report was given by Kristin Aguila, Director of Community Development.
The Mayor opened the public comments period.
Mike McCoy requested clarification regarding whether the local business community expressed an interest in additional self-storage facilities.
Seeing no further speakers, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
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9. New and Old Business (continued)
9A. (continued)
ORIGINAL MOTION (DID NOT CARRY): It was moved by Yokoyama, and seconded by Pulido, to direct staff to:
1. Initiate a development code amendment to Municipal Code Section 22.40.730(2)(b), formally removing the limitation prescribing that a maximum of four (4) self-storage facilities may operate within the City at any given time, and a CEQA environmental analysis for such an amendment;
2. Present the development code amendment, related CEQA environmental analysis, and information regarding the 2024 sale of a self-storage facility located at 17900 Crusader Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703, to the Planning Commission at a future publicly noticed meeting; and
3. Present the Planning Commission’s recommendations to the City Council at a future publicly noticed meeting (COUNCIL).
SUBSTITUTE MOTION (ADOPTED): It was moved by Johnson, and seconded by Tse, to direct staff to prepare an expanded informational report, addressing current self-storage facility operating capacities and the details of the above-referenced 2024 sale, for City Council consideration at a future publicly noticed meeting (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (3 – 2) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Tse, Johnson
NOES: Pulido, Yokoyama
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
9B. Review and consideration of an informational report on the Sister City program history and designation policy (COUNCIL).
A staff report was given by Annie Hylton, Director of Community and Cultural Services.
A PowerPoint presentation was displayed.
The Mayor opened the public comments period.
Adrian Ayub shared a personal anecdote of his experience hosting a Japanese exchange student and expressed concern regarding the tangible benefits of a Sister City program.
Seeing no further speakers, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
MOTION: It was moved by Johnson, and seconded by Pulido, to receive and file this report (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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9. New and Old Business (continued)
9A. (continued)
MOTION TO RECONSIDER A VOTE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING
MOTION: It was moved by Johnson, and seconded by Yokoyama, to reconsider the vote taken earlier in this meeting generally described as the preparation of an expanded informational report concerning self-storage facilities (COUNCIL) (the specific motion and vote to be reconsidered is detailed on Page 5 of this document).
The motion to reconsider the vote described in the motion above carried (5 – 0), as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECONSIDER OF VOTE ON SELF-STORAGE FACILITIES
The matter under consideration is described on the agenda and within the agenda report, as follows:
Agenda Item 9A.: Review and consideration of an informational report regarding existing City of Cerritos Municipal Code regulations pertaining to self-storage facilities (COUNCIL).
The matter may be discussed and debated as if it were on the floor for the first time. If no new motion is put forth, it would stand as if action on the matter under consideration never occurred.
NEW MOTION (ADOPTED): It was moved by Yokoyama, and seconded by Pulido, to direct staff to:
1. Prepare an agenda report, for consideration by the Planning Commission at a future publicly noticed meeting, inclusive of:
a. A development code amendment to Municipal Code Section 22.40.730, formally removing the limitation prescribing that a maximum of four (4) self-storage facilities may operate within the City at any given time;
b. Information regarding the 2024 sale of a self-storage facility located at 17900 Crusader Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703;
c. An overview of the four (4) existing self-storage facilities operating within the City, inclusive of rental rates, square footage, number of units, and percentage capacity;
d. A comprehensive history of City Council action related to the existing Municipal Code regulations on self-storage facilities; and
2. Present the Planning Commission’s recommendations to the City Council at a future publicly noticed meeting (COUNCIL).
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9. New and Old Business (continued)
9A. (continued)
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
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 Tse and Hong, Mayor Pro Tem Johnson, and Mayor Yokoyama.
CONSENSUS (Yokoyama): Directed the City Manager to provide a memorandum to the City Council identifying cost-saving opportunities in the Cerritos Library’s operational (non-personnel) budget.
12. Closed Session
Pam Lee, City Attorney, announced the City Council would recess to Closed Session to discuss Item 12A, 12B, and 12C as listed on the Closed Session agenda.
12A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957.6 (COUNCIL) Agency Negotiators: Robert A. Lopez, City Manager; Pam Lee, City Attorney; Drew Schneider, Director of Administrative Services; Amy Thomas, Human Resources Manager
Employee Organization: AFSCME Local 619
12B. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957.6 (COUNCIL) Agency Negotiators: Robert A. Lopez, City Manager; Pam Lee, City Attorney; Drew Schneider, Director of Administrative Services; Amy Thomas, Human Resources Manager
Unrepresented Employees: Full-Time Exempt
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12. Closed Session (continued)
12C. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - POTENTIAL LITIGATION Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) (COUNCIL) Number of Potential Cases: One (1)
The City Council recessed into Closed Session.
The City Council reconvened into Open Session.
Pam Lee, City Attorney, provided the following Closed Session report:
The City Council convened into Closed Session to discuss Items 12A, 12B, and 12C. There was no reportable action taken and there was nothing further to report.
13. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 p.m.
/s/Cynthia Nava_____________________
Cynthia Nava
City Clerk/Agency Secretary
ATTEST:
/s/Frank Aurelio Yokoyama______________
Frank Aurelio Yokoyama
Mayor/Agency Chair
APPROVED: August 28, 2025