Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
July 12, 2022
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Croft in the Council Chambers at the Civic Center, 5000 Clark Avenue, Lakewood, California.
INVOCATION was offered by Pastor Candace Kelly, Acts Community Bible Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Girl Scout Troop 2993
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mayor Steve Croft
Vice Mayor Ariel Pe
Council Member Todd Rogers
Council Member Vicki Stuckey
Council Member Jeff Wood
. . .
JUNE 7, 2022 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
DECLARING RESULTS OF THE ELECTION
The City Clerk reported that the canvass of votes for the June 7, 2022, General Municipal Election had been completed by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
She reported 8,866 ballots had been cast, and that the successful candidates were Todd Rogers for Member of the City Council District 1; Steve Croft for Member of the City Council District 2; and Cassandra Chase for Member of the City Council District 5. It was the recommendation of staff that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2022-45, declaring the election results.
Mayor Croft stated that the June 7th election had been the first in Lakewood’s history where council members were elected by residents of a particular district in the City. He added that it was a new experience for candidates, staff and residents. Mayor Croft noted that only three of the five Council seats were elected by district in this election and that Vice Mayor Pe and Council Member Wood would remain at-large council members until the 2024 election.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROGERS MOVED AND VICE MAYOR PE SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-45, DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION.
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-45; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, RECITING THE FACT OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD IN SAID CITY ON JUNE 7, 2022 DECLARING THE
RESULTS THEREOF, AND SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS PROVIDED BY LAW UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Stuckey, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
City Council Minutes
July 12, 2022
FAREWELL TO OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER VICKI STUCKEY
The Mayor and Council Members expressed appreciation to Council Member Stuckey for her years of service on the City Council, the Planning and Environment Commission and the Community Safety Commission. They cited her dedication, leadership and professionalism in her advocacy for the residents and as an exceptional City representative.
State Assembly Member Anthony Rendon, on behalf of the 63rd Assembly District of the State of California, commended Council Member Stuckey for her leadership and selfless devotion to Lakewood.
Council Member Stuckey thanked her colleagues stating that it had been an honor to serve with them on the City Council over the past two years. She congratulated Mayor Croft, Council Member Rogers and Council Member-elect Chase on their successful elections.
Mayor Croft presented outgoing Council Member Stuckey with a bouquet of flowers as a symbol of lasting friendship and appreciation.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE
The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office to Council Members-elect Cassandra Chase, Steve Croft and Todd Rogers. Each Council Member signed the oath and was presented with a Certificate of Election.
Each of the Council Members-elect expressed gratitude to their families and to Lakewood residents for their support and stated that they looked forward to continuing to serve the community.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor Croft announced the continuing Concerts in the Park series and noted that there would be food sales from a variety of vendors. He also announced the series of Neighborhood Watch “Connect” meetings were scheduled over the summer at the parks and were part of an ongoing effort to enable Lakewood residents to meet their Deputy Sheriffs and public safety personnel.
Council Member Wood stated that the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) had recently reached out to cities looking for community participants to serve on the Community Leadership Committee Task Force for the 710 Freeway and that Dan Wamba, President of Lakewood Pan American Association, who was in attendance, had been selected to represent Lakewood.
Vice Mayor Pe expressed thanks to the community for supporting the fireworks booths noting the fundraising benefits to the various nonprofit groups. . . .
City Council Minutes
July 12, 2022
ROUTINE ITEMS:
Mayor Croft stated that selecting the delegate for the annual League of California Cities meeting would be considered under Reports Item 3.1 and would designate Council Member Chase as the primary delegate and Mayor Croft as the alternate. He explained that under RI-5, the City Manager would be listed as the alternate in case both were unable to attend.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROGERS MOVED AND VICE MAYOR PE SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 9.
RI-1 Approval of Minutes of the Meetings held June 28, 2022 RI-2 Approval of Personnel Transactions
RI-3 Approval of Registers of Demands
RI-4 Report of City Council Committees’ Activities
RI-5 Designation of Voting Delegate for League Annual Conference RI-6 Approval of Professional Services Agreement with Kosmont Companies for Economic Development Consulting
RI-7 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-46; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD APPROVING THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD AND THE LAKEWOOD CITY
EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION AND ESTABLISHING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS,
DEFINING THE CONDITIONS AND HOURS OF EMPLOYMENT AND
ADOPTING A CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN FOR CITY
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
RI-8 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-47; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2020-16 PERTAINING
TO HOURLY-RATED PART-TIME EMPLOYEES AND ENACTING A
PERSONNEL RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE COMPENSATION, RULES
AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO HOURLY-RATED PART-TIME
EMPLOYEES
RI-9 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-48; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD ESTABLISHING PAYING AND REPORTING THE
VALUE OF EMPLOYER PAID MEMBER CONTRIBUTION FOR CITY
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
City Council Minutes
July 12, 2022
1.1 • CONFIRMING REPORT OF DELINQUENT FEES AND CHARGES FOR
GARBAGE, WASTE AND REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
Finance and Administrative Services Director Jose Gomez made a presentation based on the report in the agenda regarding the policy relative to unpaid charges for garbage, waste and refuse accounts. He stated it was recommended that the City Council conduct a public hearing and adopt the Resolution confirming the Report of Delinquent Fees.
Mayor Croft opened the public hearing at 8:11 p.m. and called for anyone in the audience wishing to address the City Council on this matter. There was no response.
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-49; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKEWOOD CONFIRMING THE REPORT OF DELINQUENT FEES AND
CHARGES FOR GARBAGE, WASTE AND REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
WITHIN THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, MAY 31, 2022
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD MOVED AND VICE MAYOR PE SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-49. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
1.2 • COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION FINES Abel Avalos, Director of Community Development, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda pertaining to unpaid fines related to administrative citations for code violations, which may be collected by placement of a lien on the property on which the violations occurred, provided the fine owed by the cited party had been delinquent for ninety days or more. He concluded by stating it was recommended that the City Council conduct a lien hearing and consider all competent evidence presented related to any outstanding delinquent fine amounts, late fees and related costs from fiscal year 2021-2022; adopt the proposed resolution finding that the final list of delinquent 2022 fines and related costs are due to the City as cost of nuisance abatement; order the outstanding delinquent fines to be paid within five days; and direct staff to forward after five days a final list of the unpaid fines to the County Tax Assessor for collection as a lien on the related property, as part of the annual property tax assessment.
Mayor Croft opened the public hearing at 8:16 p.m. and called for anyone in the audience wishing to address the City Council on this matter. There was no response.
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-50; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD CONFIRMING REPORT OF 90-DAY DELINQUENT
ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION FEES WITHIN THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, JULY 12, 2022
City Council Minutes
July 12, 2022
1.2 • DELINQUENT ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION FINES - Continued
VICE MAYOR PE MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD SECONDED TO APPROVE STAFF’S RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-50.
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
2.1 • APPOINTMENTS TO CITY COMMISSIONS
Mayor Croft called for appointments to the City’s commissions. He stated that Council Member Chase would appoint her commissioners at a future Council meeting.
COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMISSION
Lourdes Baez by Council Member Wood
Erin Stibal by Vice Mayor Pe
Sarah Mendoza by Council Member Rogers
Robert Nelson by Mayor Croft
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION
Peter Samaniego by Council Member Wood
Joe Ung by Vice Mayor Pe
Bill Baca by Council Member Rogers
Vicki Stuckey by Mayor Croft
RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION
Dave Allen by Council Member Wood
Stacy Valdez by Vice Mayor Pe
Ted Spaseff by Council Member Rogers
Veronica Lucio by Mayor Croft
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-51; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKEWOOD APPOINTING MEMBERS OF THE VARIOUS COMMISSIONS OF
THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD
MAYOR CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROGERS SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-51. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
City Council Minutes
July 12, 2022
2.2 • CITYWIDE GOVERNANCE POLICY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
City Manager Thaddeus McCormack made a presentation based on the report in the agenda.
He explained that the change to by-districts elections did not change the Council-Manager form of government or the fact that each Council Member would get one vote. He reported that a majority of the City Council would still be required to make policy; however, there might be some confusion and differing expectations by members of the public about what Council Members should be doing in the individual districts. He stated it was staff’s recommendation that the City Council review the attached materials and adopt the proposed resolution establishing a citywide governance policy; and/or make changes deemed appropriate.
Alan Gafford, Long Beach, addressed the City Council regarding the materials provided in the report.
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-52; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AND ESTABLISHING A CITYWIDE
GOVERNANCE POLICY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
VICE MAYOR PE MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROGERS SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-52. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.1 • APPOINTMENTS TO GOVERNMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS
AND COMMITTEES
Mayor Croft presented the list of appointments to governmental associations, organizations and committees.
ORGANIZATIONAL APPOINTMENTS
California Contract Cities
Association Wood - Representative Pe - Alternate
California Joint Powers
Insurance Authority Croft - Representative Wood - Alternate So. Calif. Association of Governments (SCAG)
General Assembly Pe - Representative Chase - Alternate
Gateway Cities COG Board Pe - Representative Rogers - Alternate Greater Los Angeles County
Vector Control District Croft - Representative
City Council Minutes
July 12, 2022
3.1 • APPOINTMENTS TO GOVERNMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMITTEES - Continued
Job Training Partnership Act Wood - Policy Board
SELACO WIB
League of California Cities
L.A. County Division Pe - Representative Chase - Alternate City Selection Committee Croft - Representative Rogers - Alternate Annual League Conference Chase - Representative Croft - Alternate L.A. County Sanitation
District #3 & #19 Croft - Representative Pe - Alternate Southeast Water Coalition Rogers - Representative Chase – Alternate Southeast Resource Recovery
Facility (SERRF) JPA Wood - Representative Croft - Alternate
STANDING COMMITTEES
Intergovernmental Relations Croft - Chair Pe - Member
Lakewood Schools Rogers - Chair Chase - Member
Environmental Management Pe - Chair Wood - Member
Public Safety Rogers - Chair Croft - Member
Park Development Wood - Chair Pe - Member
Water Resources Pe - Chair Croft – Member
Community Promotion Chase - Chair Pe – Member
Economic Development Croft – Chair Wood – Member
Hall of Fame - Board of Electors Wood - Chair
Audit Chase - Chair Rogers - Member
Capital Improvement Plan Croft - Chair Wood - Member
Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Pe - Chair Croft - Member City Council Minutes
July 12, 2022
3.1 • APPOINTMENTS TO GOVERNMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMITTEES - Continued
COUNCIL MEMBER ROGERS MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD
SECONDED TO APPROVE THE ORGANIZATIONAL APPOINTMENTS, AS PRESENTED. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
SUCCESSOR HOUSING ACTIONS
1. Approval of Register of Demands
COUNCIL MEMBER ROGERS MOVED AND VICE MAYOR PE SECONDED TO APPROVE THE REGISTER OF DEMANDS. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Sarah Mendoza, Lakewood, commended outgoing Council Member Stuckey for her service. . . .
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Croft adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jo Mayberry, CMC
City Clerk