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BACKGROUND
Cerritos
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CIVIC CENTER • 18125 BLOOMFIELD AVENUE 1111
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P.O. BOX 3 130 • CERRITOS, CALIFORNIA 90703-3 130 ,.
PHONE: (5 62) 860-031 I • CERRITOS.GOV
AGENDA REPORT
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Robert A. Lopez, City Manager?~
2008
Kristin Aguila, Assistant City Manager~ .:0 .
Chris Kuebert, Acting Director of Publi~ fof1-~
Samir Patel, Recreation Services Superintendent-ltP
Sofia Taylor, Management Analyst 1f1if' • V
July 27, 2026
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
On December 19, 2022, a gasoline leak was identified on a privately owned, existing underground 16-inch pipeline at the Cerritos Iron-Wood Nine Golf Course (Golf Course). The leak was stopped and repair work began immediately. The driving range at the Golf Course was not directly impacted by the leak and reopened on May 14, 2023. The Golf Course, however, was significantly affected and required a considerable amount of repair in order to restore the grounds to a usable condition.
Consequently, the Golf Course remained closed until the necessary site repair work was completed. In April 2024, nearly one year and a half after the gasoline leak was first identified, rehabilitation of the Golf Course was completed and it was reopened to the public on May 24, 2024.
In response to the initial incident, on January 12, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-05, proclaiming a local emergency (see Exhibit 1, City Council Resolution No. 2023-05: Golf Course Emergency Declaration). This proclamation allows the City Manager, in the capacity of Director of Emergency Services, the ability to make and issue rules and regulations on matters reasonably related to the protection of life, health, and safety at the Golf Course and to enter into agreements and contracts for the expeditious remediation from residual effects caused by the leak as well as the restoration of City property to a usable condition. The emergency declaration for the Golf Course (16449 Piuma Avenue, APNs 7016-004-800, 7016-004- 801, 7016-005-816, 7016-005-817, 7016-005-901, 7016-004-904, 7016-005-907, and 7016-005-908) and City-owned property housing the City's C-4 groundwater well LYNDA P. JOHNSON
MAYOR
MARK E. PULIDO
MAYOR PRO TEM
JENNIFER HONG
COUNCILMEMBER
SOPHIA M. TSE
COUNCILMEMBER
FRANK AURELIO YO KOY AMA
COUNCILMEMBER
7D
2 Continuance of a Local Emergency at the Golf Course
July 27, 2026
and facility (16807 Studebaker Road, APN 7016-012-902) is limited and applicable only to these confined areas in the City; all other City functions and facilities continue to operate under normal, non-emergency conditions. In accordance with Government Code Section 8630(c) and Resolution No. 2023-05, the City Council must review the need for continuing the local emergency once every sixty (60) days.
At its June 22, 2026, meeting, the City Council reviewed the continuance of the local emergency and directed staff to report back within sixty (60) days.
STATUS OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
As noted above, rehabilitation of the Golf Course is complete and it is now open to the public for normal operation. With the construction work now complete, the Golf Course must now undergo ongoing monitoring and testing for any environmental contamination. Much of the remaining underground testing for contamination, and determination by the appropriate state and regional agencies as to any required remediation, has not yet been completed and remains pending. The owner of the pipeline, Kinder Morgan, Inc. (Kinder Morgan), is required to perform the aforementioned environmental testing and detailed monitoring. It should be noted that the Settlement Agreement and Release of Certain Claims executed between the City of Cerritos and Kinder Morgan, expressly does not release Kinder Morgan from any "contamination claims" that, in general, include costs or damages that arise from any environmental contamination related to the gasoline leak.
On January 2, 2026, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Jacobs), consultant to Kinder Morgan, provided a status update on previously approved environmental field work.
Additional groundwater monitoring had been conducted to further evaluate site conditions, and an additional monitoring well was approved, pending final federal permit approval prior to installation. On June 1, 2026, Jacobs informed staff that federal permit approval had been obtained. Jacobs also submitted a request to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board for approval of two additional groundwater monitoring wells at the Golf Course. On June 11, 2026, Jacobs obtained its fully executed Los Angeles County Flood Control District Flood Construction Permit, and installation of the previously approved monitoring well commenced on June 23, 2026. Periodic groundwater monitoring will continue while the environmental field work is underway.
In light of the ongoing monitoring activities outlined above, the need for the current local emergency proclamation remains. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council find that the local emergency proclamation be continued. Staff will report back to the City Council within the next sixty (60) days, in accordance with Section 8630(c) of the California Government Code, at which time the City Council may evaluate the need to continue the local emergency.
FISCAL IMPACT
The executed settlement agreement with Kinder Morgan covered all costs associated with the repair and restoration of the Golf Course. The total settlement amount was $2,353,000. No City General Fund revenues have been expended for repair and restoration work performed in connection with the ongoing local emergency dee la ration.
3 Continuance of a Local Emergency at the Golf Course
July 27, 2026
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Cerritos City Council:
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 1 through 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 60 days, pursuant to Section 8630(c) of the California Government Code, until the City Council terminates the local emergency.
Exhibit List:
1. City Council Resolution No. 2023-05: Golf Course Emergency Declaration 4 CITY OF CERRITOS
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-05
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS
PROCLAIMING 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 CITYOWNED PUBLIC PROPERTY, AS SPECIFIED WHEREAS, Section 8630 et seq. of the California Government Code and Chapter 2.20 of the Cerritos Municipal Code authorizes the City Council to proclaim the existence of a local emergency concerning the actual or threatened existence of conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within this City; and WHEREAS, Cerritos Iron-Wood Nine Golf Course (Golf Course) is owned and operated by the City of Cerritos (City) and is located at 16449 Piuma Avenue, Cerritos, California. A portion of the Golf Course lies along the Artesia Freeway (State Route 91) and San Gabriel River flood control channel, and said portion of the Golf Course is subject to lease agreements by and between the City and Southern California Edison, and the City and Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 2, respectively.
WHEREAS, on or about December 19, 2022, a gasoline leak was identified on a privately owned existing pipeline on a portion of the Golf Course, and on or about December 20, 2022, the Golf Course was closed so that the company owning the existing pipeline, Kinder Morgan, Inc. (Kinder Morgan), could commence repair work to stop the gasoline leak. On or about December 26, 2022, substantial repairs and remediation work was underway, which included the stopping of the gasoline leak, and sequestering of soil exposed to gasoline from the leak.
WHEREAS, on or about December 29, 2022, the City Manager, City Engineer, and other Senior Management Staff met with representatives from Kinder Morgan to assess the status of the repairs and remediation work, as well as review further repairs and remediation work necessary and proper because of the gasoline leak; and WHEREAS, although repair and remediation work on the gasoline pipeline is anticipated and expected to be performed continuously with the utmost safety and precautions, the leak of the gasoline pipeline, and the repair and remediation work resulting from that leak, remain a potential threat to the safety of persons and property on the Golf Course and the other Cityowned public property in the immediate vicinity of the area of the gasoline leak caused by, among other actual or threatened conditions, air pollution, soil pollution, groundwater pollution, fire, and other related conditions extenuating from leaked gasoline; and WHEREAS, the City's ability to mobilize local resources, coordinate interagency response, accelerate procurement of vital supplies, use mutual aid, and seek future reimbursement by State and Federal governments will be critical to successfully responding to the on-going local emergency; and
WHEREAS, the City Council does hereby find that these ongoing conditions warrant and necessitate that the City of Cerritos declare the existence of a local emergency.
EXHIBIT 1
City Council Resolution No. 2023-05
Golf Course Emergency Declaration
5 NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED:
SECTION 1. That a local emergens:y now exists in the City of Cerritos. Specifically, the areas of the City causing the need for the proclamation of a local emergency are the following: (1) The Golf Course {APNs 7016-004-800, 7016-004-801, 7016-005-816, 7016- 005-817, 7016-005-901, 7016-004-904, 7016-005-907, and 7016-005-908), (2) The Cityowned Property in the vicinity of the Golf Course that houses the City's C-4 groundwater well and facilities (APN 7016-012-902), which provide potable water for the Cerritos Water Utility.
SECTION 2. That the recitals listed above are hereby incorporated into this resolution.
SECTION 3. That the City Manager, acting as the City's Director of Emergency Services and Emergency Organization of the City, is authorized and directed to take any necessary steps for the protection of life, health and safety in the City of Cerritos, including but not limited to the following :
(a) Exercising any and all necessary or proper powers delegated to the City Manager, as the City's Director of Emergency Services, set forth in Section 2.20.060 of the Cerritos Municipal Code;
(b) Obtaining vital supplies, equipment, and such other materials found lacking and needed for the protection of the residents and other persons within the City, and to bind the City for fair value thereof and, if required immediately, to commandeer the same for public use;
(c) Negotiating and entering into arrangements and agreements that are necessary or proper for the remediation, repair, and improvement of City-owned and City-leased property affected by the leak from the gasoline pipe, including but not limited to: (1) A Reimbursement Agreement by and between the City and Kinder Morgan for reimbursement by Kinder Morgan of all costs and expenses incurred by the City, and by any of the City's consultants and contractors, for such remediation, repair, and improvement work on Cityowned and City-leased property, (2) Professional services agreements necessary or proper for such remediation, repair, and improvement work on City-owned and City-leased property when said services are subject to reimbursement by Kinder Morgan, (3) Public works contracts necessary or proper for such remediation, repair, and improvement work on City-owned and City-leased property when said contracts are subject to reimbursement by Kinder Morgan; (d) Requisitioning the personnel or material of any City department or agency necessary or proper for the remediation, repair, and improvement of City-owned and Cityleased property affected by the leak from the gasoline pipe;
(e) Promulgating orders and regulations necessary to provide for the protection of life and property, including orders or regulations imposing a closure of the Golf Course and/or curfew within designated boundaries where necessary to preserve the public safety, provided that, such orders and regulations and amendments and rescissions thereof shall be in writing and shall be given widespread publicity and notice, as authorized pursuant to Section 8634 of the California Government Code.
SECTION 4. During the existence of said local emergency the powers, functions, and duties of the Emergency Organization of this City shall be those prescribed by State law and the City's ordinances, resolutions, and approved emergency plans. 6 SECTION s. That all City Departments shall track costs for staffing, supplies, and equipment related to the local emergency and forward that information, as directed by the City's Director of Emergency Services/City Manager or designee, to applicable entities and agencies.
SECTION 6, That a copy of this Resolution shall be forwarded to such other applicable entities and government agencies and officials as the City's Director of Emergency Services/City Manager deems and directs as prudent or necessary.
SECTION 7. That the City Council of the City of Cerritos, pursuant to Section 8630(c) of the California Government Code, shall review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the City Council terminates the local emergency.
SECTION 8. That the local emergency identified in this Resolution shall be deemed to continue to exist until its termination is proclaimed by the City Council of the City of Cerritos.
SECTION 9, The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED THIS 12th day of January, 2023. c:::: ::t#?'K h ___
Chuong Vo, Mayor
ATTEST:
Vida Barone, City Clerk
7 STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF CERRITOS }
I, Vida Barone, City Clerk of the City of Cerritos, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 2023·05 was duly approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Cerritos at a Regular Meeting held on the 12th day of January, 2023, and that it was so adopted as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
Councilmembers -Councilmembers -Councilmembers -Councilmembers - DATED: January 12, 2023
Johnson, Solanki, Yokoyama, Barrows, Vo
None None None