Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
October 11, 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 Dr. Fardad Mogharabi, Bahá’i Faith Community PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Cub Scout Pack 208
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mayor Steve Croft
Vice Mayor Ariel Pe
Council Member Cassandra Chase
Council Member Todd Rogers
Council Member Jeff Wood
. . .
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor Croft thanked staff for their hard work on the success of the past Saturday’s Fest-OfAll multicultural food and music festival. There were over 7,000 attendees who enjoyed the festivities which furthered the City’s goal of making the community the safest and most welcoming place for everyone.
Council Member Rogers also commended staff and the attendees of Fest-Of-All. He shared that one of the purposes of the event was to strengthen equality for everyone in the City and, noting the unfortunate recent events of the Los Angeles City Council, he emphasized that bigotry in any form was not welcome in Lakewood.
Curt Kurtz, President-elect of the Rotary Club of Lakewood, stated that the Project Shepherd program was in its 50th year, and that 417 families had been assisted during the 2021 holiday season. He requested Mayor Croft consider serving as the honorary chairperson for the program. Mayor Croft stated it would be his honor to serve and congratulated the program on their 50 years of service.
. . .
ROUTINE ITEMS:
VICE MAYOR PE MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 6.
RI-1 Approval of Minutes of the Meeting held September 27, 2022 RI-2 Approval of Personnel Transactions
City Council Minutes
October 11, 2022
ROUTINE ITEMS: - Continued
RI-3 Approval of Registers of Demands
RI-4 Approval of Report of City Council Committees’ Activities RI-5 Approval of Meeting Reports and Authorizations Pursuant to AB1234 RI-6 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-74; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD FINDING AND DETERMINING THAT THERE IS
A NEED TO CONTINUE TAKING EMERGENCY ACTION REGARDING THE
NEED TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE BOLIVAR PARK STORMWATER
CAPTURE BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.1 • CONSIDERATION OF ESTABLISHING UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICT 14 City Manager Thaddeus McCormack noted that this preliminary report would precede an in-depth presentation at a future study session should the Council choose to move forward with Underground Utility District 14. This District along Lakewood Boulevard was part of the Lakewood Boulevard Corridor Capacity Project and staff felt that if this project did not move forward, it would still benefit the community to underground the utilities.
Kelli Pickler, Director of Public Works, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda. She stated that the establishment of Underground Utility District 14 would allow for undergrounding of the distribution lines from South Street to the north City limits on Lakewood Boulevard. It was staff’s recommendation that the City Council authorize staff to prepare the necessary Resolution of Intent for consideration at a future study session, setting a Public Hearing for a subsequent meeting.
Council Members shared concerns that they would like to be addressed at the study session including future maintenance; disruption to streets and sidewalks; and impacts to residents.
Staff and Bill Pagett of Willdan responded to questions from Council Members.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROGERS MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHASE
SECONDED TO APPROVE STAFF’S RECCOMENDATIONS. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
City Council Minutes
October 11, 2022
3.2 • LAKEWOOD STATE LEGISLATIVE BILL POSITIONS AND FINAL OUTCOMES IN 2022
Paolo Beltran, Deputy City Manager, made a presentation based on the report in the agenda and provided a summary of the State legislative bill positions and final outcomes. He concluded by stating it was recommended that the City Council receive and file the report.
Council Member Wood acknowledged the hard work of the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Lakewood staff and executive board members of Contract Cities for opposing Assembly Bill 1886, which ultimately led to its failure and avoided major impacts to cities.
MAYOR CROFT STATED THAT THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, THE REPORT WAS
ORDERED RECEIVED AND FILED
. . .
3.3 • 2022 HALLOWEEN CARNIVALS PREVIEW
Valarie Frost, Director of Recreation and Community Services, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda. She reported it was anticipated that over 10,000 children and adults would attend this year’s annual Halloween carnivals, which offered a safe environment for the community and elements included games, a Red Ribbon booth to promote a drug free society, specialty contests and appropriately scary haunted houses at some parks. She noted that Palms Park would not have a haunted house this year due to the space being utilized as a Vote Center. She concluded by stating that with the support of community volunteers and staff coordination, the Halloween carnivals were the most fun night in Lakewood for the community to enjoy.
Mayor Croft suggested posting signage at Palms Park stating that there would not be a haunted house at this year’s Halloween carnival due to the Vote Center.
MAYOR CROFT STATED THAT THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, THE REPORT WAS
ORDERED RECEIVED AND FILED
. . .
SUCCESSOR HOUSING ACTIONS
1. Approval of Registers of Demands
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD 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
. . .
City Council Minutes
October 11, 2022
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Bert Johnson, Jr., Lakewood, spoke in opposition to Proposition 29, which would require an on-site licensed medical professional at kidney dialysis clinics.
Jerry A. Montero, Lakewood, addressed the City Council regarding neighborhood safety and requested more events in his area.
. . .
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Croft adjourned the meeting at 8:19 p.m. to Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. in the Weingart Ballroom B.
Respectfully submitted,
Isabelle Schultz
Assistant City Clerk