MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CERRITOS CITY COUNCIL AND THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CERRITOS REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HELD MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 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 Rory Corrigan, Church in Cerritos.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Girl Scout Troop 135.
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
A presentation was made by the City Council honoring:
California’s 175th Anniversary of Statehood, received by Skye Connors, Southern California Regional Coordinator, Governor Newsom’s Office.
Star Trek Day, received by The Fleet – A Star Trek Costuming Fan Group.
Pastor Xiang Gao, Evangelical Formosan Church of Cerritos (Recognition of service to the City of Cerritos and the Highway 91 Region Vicinity Cities).
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.
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5. Presentations/Appointments
5B. (continued)
MOTION: It was moved by Yokoyama, and seconded by Pulido, to approve Mayor Yokoyama’s nomination listed below for a two-year term of service, through April 30, 2027 (COUNCIL):
Name Advisory Board
Brian Hews Economic Development Commission
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
5C. Review and consideration of the Mayor’s nominations for appointments to internal ad hoc working groups and external boards, commissions, and committees (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 Yokoyama, and seconded by Tse, to:
1. Establish a new City Council Ad Hoc Working Group to serve as a liaison on matters related to the Bellflower Unified School District;
2. Approve Mayor Yokoyama’s nominations for service appointments for his 2025-26 Mayoral term, as listed below:
City Council Internal Ad Hoc Working Groups
Name Liaisons
Bellflower Unified School District 1. Yokoyama 2. Pulido ; and
3. Direct the Office of the City Clerk to prepare and post a “City of Cerritos Appointments Brochure” to the City’s website, and to coordinate the dissemination of contact information to the respective appointees (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSTAIN: None
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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 regarding Closed Session Reports and offered suggestions for additional, agendized periods of public comment at public meetings.
Sam Desai thanked the City Council for its recognition of Star Trek Day, encouraged additional public participation at the City’s Water and Sewer Rate Open House community meetings, and expressed concern regarding appointments to the City’s Advisory Boards.
Seeing no further speakers, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
7. Consent Calendar
7A. Approval of Minutes
Thursday, August 28, 2025, 7:00 p.m. City Council/Successor Agency Regular Meeting minutes (COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY).
MOTION: It was moved by Johnson, and seconded by Hong, to approve the Thursday, August 28, 2025, 7:00 p.m. City Council/Successor Agency Regular 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 September 08, 2025 (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Johnson, and seconded by Hong, to approve the Register of Demands as follows:
City of Cerritos September 8, 2025 $7,546,368.10 (COUNCIL)
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)
7B.2. City Council/Successor Agency Treasurer’s reports for the period ending June 30, 2025 (COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY).
MOTION: It was moved by Johnson, and seconded by Hong, to approve the City Council/Successor Agency Treasurer’s reports for the period ending June 30, 2025 (COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7B.3. Approval of 2024-25 Q4 budget & audit compliance report (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Johnson, and seconded by Hong, to:
1. Receive and file this report and its exhibits; and
2. Ratify the executed Budget Amendments from the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2024 - 25 as detailed in the attached Budget Adjustment Log of the agenda report associated with this item (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7C. Approval of right-of-way use agreement with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments (GCCOG) for the installation, maintenance, and operation of the Gateway Cities Regional Fiber Optic Network (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Johnson, and seconded by Hong, to:
1. Approve the Right-of-Way Use Agreement (Agreement) between the City of Cerritos and the Gateway Cities Council of Governments for the installation, maintenance, and operation of the Gateway Cities Regional Fiber Optic Network within City rights of- way;
2. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to administer the Agreement, including approval of finalized plans and related project actions; and
3. Approve an exemption to the City's street cut moratorium for Bloomfield Avenue between Lucas Street/SR-91 Freeway Westbound Onramp and Alondra Boulevard, as required to meet state grant deadlines and facilitate timely completion of the Gateway Cities Regional Fiber Optic Network project (COUNCIL).
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7. Consent Calendar (continued)
7C. (continued)
The motion carried (5 – 0) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7D. Approval of an amendment to the agreement between the City of Lakewood and the City of Cerritos for reimbursement of Helicopter Patrol Services for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2029 (COUNCIL).
MOTION: It was moved by Johnson, and seconded by Hong, to:
1. Approve the Amendment to Agreement for Reimbursement for Helicopter Patrol Services from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2029; and
2. Authorize the Mayor to sign the Amendment to Agreement for Reimbursement for Helicopter Patrol Services (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
REORDERING OF THE AGENDA
At this juncture, the City Council, by consensus, reordered the agenda to consider New and Old Business Item 9B prior to consideration of Item 9A.
9A. Review and consideration of options related to Measure A funding compliance requirements (COUNCIL).
A staff report was given by Annie Hylton, Director of Community and Cultural Services.
The Mayor opened the public comments period.
Joan Pylman expressed support for maintaining the City's current reservation and class policies, affording priority reservations and reduced class fees for Cerritos residents. She also expressed concern regarding the City’s facility reservation process, and requested the ability to make reservations for recreation facilities at various recreation facilities, or City Hall.
David Pylman expressed concern regarding potential impacts to City facilities and programming, if City policies are not amended, resulting in a “Not in Good Standing” for Measure A status, for the City.
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9. New and Old Business (continued)
9A. (continued)
Seeing no further speakers, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
MOTION: It was moved by Johnson, and seconded by Hong, to direct staff to continue the City's current reservation (City Facility Use and Rental Policy, Policy No. 7.08) and class policies at Cerritos Park East and Liberty Park II, that provide priority reservations and reduced class fees for Cerritos residents, resulting in the City being "Not in Good Standing" for Measure A funding (COUNCIL).
The motion carried (3 – 2) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Tse, Johnson
NOES: Pulido, Yokoyama
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
9B. Review and consideration of consultant services for the provision of City of Cerritos Building and Safety services (COUNCIL).
A staff report was given by Sabrina Chan, Advance Planning Manager. A PowerPoint presentation was displayed.
The Mayor opened the public comments period.
Melissa Demirci, Transtech Engineers, Inc., expressed support for continued negotiations and contracting between the City and Transtech Engineers, for Building and Safety Services, and provided additional information regarding contract services offered.
Jeff Goldenberg expressed concern regarding the existing level of service provided under the current Building and Safety Services contract with the County of Los Angeles.
Jeff Stewart, Willdan Engineering, expressed support for continued negotiations and contracting between the City and Willdan Engineering, for Building and Safety Services, and provided additional information regarding contract services offered.
Seeing no further speakers, the Mayor declared the public comments period closed.
ORIGINAL MOTION (HELD PENDING): It was moved by Yokoyama, and seconded by Pulido, with acceptance of a friendly amendment by Hong, to direct staff to:
1. Invite the two (2) consulting firms presented to the City Council for consideration of award of contract, for RFP No. 1562-25, City of Cerritos Building and Safety Servies, to submit a final-and-best proposal: (Transtech Engineers, Inc. and Willdan Engineering, alphabetically listed); and
2. Prepare an agenda report for City Council for review and consideration of the final proposals submitted at the scheduled 7:00 p.m., October 13, 2025 City Council/ Successor Agency Special Meeting (COUNCIL).
SUBSTITUTE MOTION (ADOPTED): It was moved by Johnson, and seconded by Tse, to direct staff to continue to contract building and safety services to the County of Los Angeles (COUNCIL).
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9. New and Old Business (continued)
9B. (continued)
The motion carried (3 – 2) as follows:
AYES: Hong, Tse, Johnson
NOES: Pulido, Yokoyama
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, invited residents to participate in the City’s upcoming Community Open House event on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, related to consideration of water and sewer rate adjustments, at the Cerritos Senior Center.
11B. City Council Communications/Committee Reports/Meeting Reports
Reports were given by Councilmembers Hong and Pulido, Mayor Pro Tem Johnson, and Mayor Yokoyama.
CONSENSUS (Johnson): Directed the City Manager to: 1. Identify several professional conferences for education and training of the City’s Planning Commission (PC) members; and 2. Provide the conference/training information to the PC, requiring members to attend at least one (1) training within the first year of their term.
CONSENSUS (Johnson): Directed the City Manager to: 1. Identify several professional conferences for education and training of the City’s Economic Development Commission (EDC) members; and 2. Provide the conference/training information to the EDC, requiring members to attend at least one (1) training within the first year of their term.
12. Closed Session
Pam Lee, City Attorney, announced the City Council would recess to Closed Session to discuss Item 12A, as listed on the Closed Session agenda.
12A. 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)
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12. Closed Session (continued)
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 Item 12A. There was no reportable action taken and there was nothing further to report.
13. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:38 p.m.
/s/Cynthia Nava_____________________
Cynthia Nava
City Clerk/Agency Secretary
ATTEST:
/s/Frank Aurelio Yokoyama__________________
Frank Aurelio Yokoyama
Mayor/Agency Chair
APPROVED: September 25, 2025