Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
May 9, 2023
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER at 7:32 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 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 announced that the meeting would be adjourned in memory of the eight victims of the mass shooting in Allen, Texas. The Mayor also stated that on behalf of the City Council, he had signed a proclamation declaring May 14-20, as National Police Week in Lakewood, which was a time to recognize the valuable service that law enforcement personnel, including the Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriffs, provided. He asked residents to lower their flags to half-staff on Sunday, May 14, to honor those who had made the ultimate sacrifice in service, including the six Sheriff’s personnel who died in Lakewood in the line of duty.
. . .
ROUTINE ITEMS:
VICE MAYOR PE MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 5.
RI-1 Approval of Minutes of the Meeting held April 25, 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. 2023-20; 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
City Council Minutes
May 9, 2023
ROUTINE ITEMS: - Continued
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
1.1 • COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ACTION PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024
Abel Avalos, Director of Community Development, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda. He explained that the Five-Year Consolidated Plan for the Community Planning and Development Programs was required in order to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and the Annual Action Plan for each year of the Consolidated Plan listed the total funding amount and the proposed activities for the upcoming fiscal year. He stated that staff recommended that the City Council conduct a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed Action Plan and following the public hearing, approve the FY 2023-2024 Action Plan, and authorize the City Manager to direct staff to submit to HUD the approved Action Plan along with the required CDBG certifications.
Mayor Croft opened the public hearing at 7:47 p.m. and called for anyone in the audience wishing to address the City Council on this matter. There was no response.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROGERS MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHASE
SECONDED TO APPROVE THE FY 2023-2024 ACTION PLAN AND AUTHORIZE THE
CITY MANAGER TO DIRECT STAFF TO SUBMIT TO HUD THE APPROVED ACTION PLAN ALONG WITH THE REQUIRED CDBG CERTIFICATIONS. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.1 • FY 2023-24 WATER REPLENISHMENT DISTRICT REPLENISHMENT
ASSESSMENT RATE UPDATE
Derek Nguyen, Director of Water Resources, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda regarding the Water Replenishment District Board’s approval of an upper limit increase of 8.7% to the Replenishment Assessment. He explained that staff from the cities of Lakewood and Whittier had initiated an active protest campaign against the proposed upper limit increase and collected 44 protest letters from various agencies. While the protest did not result in a zero-percent rate increase, it did result in the changes necessary to ensure a similar situation would not occur in the future. He concluded by stating it was staff’s recommendation that the City Council receive and file the report.
City Council Minutes
May 9, 2023
3.1 • FY 2023-24 WATER REPLENISHMENT DISTRICT REPLENISHMENT ASSESSMENT RATE UPDATE - Continued
Council Members commended staff on their efforts and encouraged residents to continue holding the District accountable by engaging in the process.
MAYOR CROFT STATED THAT THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, THE ITEM WAS ORDERED RECEIVED AND FILED.
. . .
3.2 • MEMORIAL DAY PREVIEW
Bill Grady, Director of Communications, displayed slides and highlighted various elements of the Memorial Day Ceremony to be held on May 29th at Del Valle Park at the Veterans Memorial Plaza. He described some of the features including the presentation of colors, singing of patriotic music, salute to armed forces, keynote address, honoring veterans’ organizations and the reading of “The Boys of Del Valle Park.”
MAYOR CROFT STATED THAT THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, THE ITEM WAS ORDERED RECEIVED AND FILED.
. . .
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Phillip Norris, Lakewood, addressed the City Council regarding response times for emergency services; trash on Carson Street in the vicinity of the Long Beach Towne Center; and code enforcement.
Bert Johnson, Jr., Lakewood, expressed gratitude for an upcoming medical procedure. . . .
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Croft adjourned the meeting at 8:09 p.m. to Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., in the Executive Board Room. A moment of silence was observed in memory of the eight victims of the mass shooting in Allen, Texas.
Respectfully submitted,
Jo Mayberry, CMC
City Clerk