Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
April 11, 2023
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 Ms. Wanda Kenlow, Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’í of Lakewood PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Scout Troop 247
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 announced that the meeting would be adjourned in memory of the five people killed in Louisville, Kentucky in a mass shooting.
The Mayor presented a Certificate of Recognition to Scout Troop 247 for their humanitarian work in raising funds for the International Red Cross for humanitarian relief, which yielded a donation of $11,000 to help the people of Ukraine and were recognized by the International Red Cross and by the news media.
Mayor Croft welcomed Field Representative Christopher Perez of U.S. Congressman Robert Garcia’s office.
The Mayor explained that he had signed a proclamation declaring April to be Donate Life Month in Lakewood. He introduced Lakewood resident and Ambassador for Donate Life, Maria Jimenez, who spoke briefly about her personal connection to the issue and encouraged becoming an organ, eye and tissue donor.
Council Member Wood reported his attendance at the previous week’s Annual Los Angeles County Local Advocacy Day, which served to bring together elected officials and local government staff in LA County to discuss high-priority legislative items and develop advocacy strategies.
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City Council Minutes
April 11, 2023
ROUTINE ITEMS:
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD MOVED AND VICE MAYOR PE SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 5.
RI-1 Approval of Minutes of the Meetings held March 28, 2023 RI-2 Approval of Personnel Transactions
RI-3 Approval of Registers of Demands
RI-4 Report of City Council Committees’ Activities
RI-5 RESOLUTION NO. 2023-16; 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
. . .
1.1 • ORDINANCE NO. 2023-1; AMENDING ARTICLE IX OF THE LAKEWOOD
MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND
JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
Abel Avalos, Director of Community Development, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda stating that the proposed ordinance amendment would revise and establish development standards for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) that implemented new and existing State laws and that the proposed amendments were designed to clarify and protect, where possible, local expectations for architectural consistency, neighborhood character and accessibility in the design of ADUs and JADUs. He reported that on April 6 2023, the Planning and Environment Commission adopted Resolution 2-2023 recommending that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance and approve the related Notice of Exemption. Staff recommended that the City Council hold a public hearing, introduce the proposed ordinance amending the Lakewood Municipal Code, pertaining to standards and regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) and approve the related CEQA Notice of Exemption.
Staff responded to questions and comments from Council Members.
Mayor Croft opened the public hearing at 8:18 p.m. and called for anyone in the audience wishing to address the City Council on this matter.
City Council Minutes
April 11, 2023
1.1 • ORDINANCE NO. 2023-1; PERTAINING TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS - Continued
Ted Spaseff, Lakewood, stated his opposition to the legislation and suggested a joint effort among cities to fight the State’s control.
City Manager Thaddeus McCormack explained that the City, along with 15 cities, was currently engaged in litigation challenging SB9.
ORDINANCE NO. 2023-1; AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKEWOOD AMENDING ARTICLE IX OF THE LAKEWOOD MUNICIPAL CODE
PERTAINING TO STANDARDS, REVIEW PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONS FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS was read by title by the City Clerk.
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROGERS
SECONDED TO WAIVE FURTHER READING, INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NO. 2023-1 AND APPROVE THE RELATED NOTICE OF EXEMPTION. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
1.2 • ORDINANCE NO. 2023-2; AMENDING ARTICLE IX OF THE LAKEWOOD
MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO THE PROHIBITION OF SHORT-TERM
RENTALS
Andrew Camacho, Administrative Services Manager, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda. He provided background information and discussed ongoing enforcement pertaining to short-term rentals. He identified the proposed changes and stated that the Planning and Environmental Commission met on April 6th and held a public hearing where the owner of one currently permitted short-term rental spoke in favor of continuing to allow them. After a wide-ranging discussion, including the specifics of the owner’s delinquent fee status, the Commission adopted a resolution recommending that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance pertaining to the prohibition of all short-term rentals in the City. He concluded by stating that it was recommended that the City Council hold a public hearing, introduce the proposed ordinance and approve the related CEQA Notice of Exemption.
Mayor Croft opened the public hearing at 8:27 p.m. and called for anyone in the audience wishing to address the City Council on this matter.
Natalie Ruiz, Lakewood, expressed support for banning short-term rentals and cited public safety and code violation issues.
City Council Minutes
April 11, 2023
1.2 • ORDINANCE NO. 2023-2; PERTAINING TO THE PROHIBITION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS - Continued
ORDINANCE NO. 2023-2; AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD PROHIBITING SHORT TERM RENTALS was read by title by the City Clerk.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROGERS MOVED AND VICE MAYOR PE SECONDED TO WAIVE FURTHER READING, INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NO. 2023-1 AND APPROVE THE RELATED NOTICE OF EXEMPTION. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.1 • QUARTERLY BUDGET REPORT OF MAJOR FUNDS AS OF MARCH 31, 2023
Finance and Administrative Services Director Jose Gomez displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda reporting that the City was in the first year of a two-year budget, adopted in June 2022. He presented a quarterly budget review as of March 31, 2023, for the City's two major funds, the General Fund and the Water Utility Enterprise Fund. He added that in addition to scheduled formal budget reviews, staff continually monitored the year-round inflow and outflow of funds to make sure that the City remained on a sound fiscal path. He stated it was recommended that the City Council receive and file the report.
MAYOR CROFT STATED THAT THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, THE ITEM WAS ORDERED RECEIVED AND FILED.
. . .
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
. . .
City Council Minutes
April 11, 2023
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
David Arellano, Chairman of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, distributed membership packets and provided an update of recent and upcoming Chamber events. . . .
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Croft adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m. to Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Executive Board Room. A moment of silence was observed in memory of the five people killed yesterday in Louisville, Kentucky.
Respectfully submitted,
Jo Mayberry, CMC
City Clerk