Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
March 8, 2022
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Wood in the Council Chambers at the Civic Center, 5000 Clark Avenue, Lakewood, California.
INVOCATION was offered by Reverend Olu Harding, Lakewood First United Methodist Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Cub Scout Pack 208
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mayor Jeff Wood
Vice Mayor Steve Croft
Council Member Ariel Pe
Council Member Todd Rogers
Council Member Vicki Stuckey
. . .
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor Wood announced that Council Member Pe, Council Member Stuckey, the City Manager, Deputy City Manager and he, along with representatives from other cities, had gone to the State Capitol the previous week to advocate that cities be given back more local control over housing density policy and other matters that were important for local quality of life. He added that they also participated in a press conference, organized by the California Contract Cities Association, to support legislation to address the epidemic of catalytic converter thefts.
Mayor Wood expressed gratitude to those involved in the past weekend’s Community Run for their time and effort in making the event a success and helping to raise money for several causes sponsored by the Soroptimists International of Lakewood/Long Beach and the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station. The Mayor also thanked the organizers of the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast held earlier in the day and which had been well attended and had an inspiring message. He stated that both the Run and the Prayer Breakfast were great traditions in Lakewood.
Vice Mayor Croft announced that on February 23rd, he had been joined by Council Member Stuckey and Council Member Pe to receive a million dollar grant from Measure A for the Lakewood Equestrian Center. He stated that the City was also applying for other grant funding opportunities which would enable additional upgrades for the facility.
Council Member Rogers conveyed moral support to the people of Ukraine and expressed hope for a peaceful resolution.
Council Member Pe commended the Public Safety team on the success of the recent Donuts With a Deputy event.
City Council Minutes
March 8, 2022
ROUTINE ITEMS:
VICE MAYOR CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER PE SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 6.
RI-1 Approval of Minutes of the Meetings held February 22, 2022 RI-2 Approval of Personnel Transactions
RI-3 Approval of Registers of Demands
RI-4 Meeting Reports and Authorizations Pursuant to AB1234 RI-5 Approval of Permit for Street Closure for Block Party on Schroll Street RI-6 Authorize Purchase of Park Furniture for Public Works Project No. 2020-3, Improvements to the Existing San Martin Park
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Croft, Pe, Rogers, Stuckey and Wood NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTED ITEM:
Thaddeus McCormack, City Manager, made a presentation based on the report in the agenda regarding the proposed resolution affirming a vote of “no confidence” in Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón and explained the in-depth nature of the process that the City and the City Council had undertaken leading up to tonight’s action. He introduced Eric Siddall, Vice President of the L.A. Association of Deputy District Attorneys, discussed impacts of the policies and directives of District Attorney Gascón and the day-to-day effects in terms of the victims impacted and the public safety being neglected because of those policies.
Council Member Rogers thanked Mr. Siddall for his attendance at a recent Public Safety Committee meeting and noted the importance of the Deputy District Attorneys’ perspective.
He reviewed the communications from the City Council, City staff and councils and staffs from other cities, who had conveyed concerns to Mr. Gascón detailing opposition to his policies and sharing Lakewood’s position with every stakeholder within the County’s criminal justice community. He added that the City had sought input from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, the L.A. Deputy District Attorneys Association, and Lakewood residents. Council Member Rogers stated that Mr. Gascón’s policies were endangering every law abiding member of the community and its collective quality of life. He concluded by stating that since Mr. Gascón was unwilling to support the City’s priorities for public safety in the community, he no longer deserved the honor of serving as the District Attorney of Los Angeles County and urged a unanimous vote in favor of the proposed resolution.
City Council Minutes
March 8, 2022
COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTED ITEM: - Continued
The Mayor and Council Members expressed support for the resolution.
Brian Cuaron, Lakewood, spoke in support of the “no confidence” vote.
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-12; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD AFFIRMING A VOTE OF “NO CONFIDENCE” IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY GEORGE GASCÓN
COUNCIL MEMBER ROGERS MOVED AND VICE MAYOR CROFT SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-12. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Croft, Pe, Rogers, Stuckey and Wood NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.1 • 2022 LAKEWOOD YOUTH HALL OF FAME
Valarie Frost, Director of Recreation and Community Services, displayed slides and a video entitled, “When COVID Stopped the Clock,” and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda stating that Lakewood’s 40th annual Youth Hall of Fame would be held on March 31st. The program recognized the achievements of high school and collegiate athletes who either lived or went to school in Lakewood. She noted that the recipients selected for the Athlete of the Year recognition in 2021, sports season #1 were Arianna Jalomo of Saint Joseph High School and Kassandra Murguia of Artesia High School. For 2021, sports season #2, the Athletes of the Year were Nick Adimora of Mayfair High School and Laura Williams of Lakewood High School.
THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, MAYOR WOOD ORDERED THE ITEM RECEIVED AND FILED.
. . .
SUCCESSOR HOUSING ACTIONS
1. Approval of Register of Demands
VICE MAYOR CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROGERS SECONDED TO APPROVE THE REGISTER OF DEMANDS. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Croft, Pe, Rogers Stuckey and Wood NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
City Council Minutes
March 8, 2022
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Shaun Dolan, Lakewood; and Carlos Saavedra, Lakewood, addressed the City Council regarding crime in the neighborhood and the theft of catalytic converters.
Tami McAdory, Lakewood, expressed concerns regarding homelessness in the community.
Brian Cuaron, Lakewood, spoke about City Council compensation. . . .
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Wood adjourned the meeting at 8:47 p.m. to Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the Executive Board Room.
Respectfully submitted,
Jo Mayberry, CMC
City Clerk