Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Adjourned Regular Meeting held
June 27, 2023
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER at 6:01 p.m. by Mayor Croft in the Executive Board Room, 5000 Clark Avenue, Lakewood, California.
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mayor Steve Croft
Vice Mayor Ariel Pe
Council Member Cassandra Chase
Council Member Todd Rogers
Council Member Jeff Wood
. . .
GRANT FROM U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION FOR MINI-PITCH AT PALMS PARK Valarie Frost, Director of Recreation and Community Services, introduced Sarah Bowers-Neal, who was in attendance and the mother of Jalen Neal, Lakewood resident and Los Angeles Galaxy soccer player.
Recreation and Community Services Assistant Director Kevin Bright displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda. He reported that Jalen Neal had approached staff about his interest in partnering with the City of Lakewood and the U.S.
Soccer Foundation, Inc., (USSF) to install a mini pitch soccer system (Mini Pitch) at a Lakewood park. The Mini Pitch entailed an acrylic resurfacing of the existing hardscape, installation of sideboards and goals to keep the game of soccer enclosed for small sided, which were typically five-versus-five to seven-versus-seven types of soccer games, and the installation of a single-post lighting standard. Mr. Neal’s intention was to get the project funded through grant monies. Staff presented the idea to the Park Development Committee and the game courts at Palms Park were identified as the ideal site. It was staff’s recommendation that the City Council approve the grant award from the United States Soccer Foundation, Inc. for fiscal year 2024 to provide a $100,000 grant for the installation of a Mini Pitch at Palms Park and authorize the Mayor sign the donation agreement between the City of Lakewood and USSF, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney. Staff requested direction from the City Council on whether to proceed with additional site improvements at the basketball courts at Palms Park, to include retrofit of court lighting, demolition of existing and installation of new basketball standards, and court resurfacing for the two courts not directly affected by the Mini Pitch.
A video prepared by Jalen Neal expressing his enthusiasm and support for a mini-pitch in the City was presented.
Staff responded to questions and comments from Council Members.
City Council Minutes
June 27, 2023
GRANT FROM U.S.S.F. FOR MINI-PITCH AT PALMS PARK - Continued
MAYOR CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD SECONDED TO
APPROVE EXECUTION OF THE AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. SOCCER
FOUNDATION AND PROCEED WITH ADDITIONAL SITE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE
BASKETBALL COURTS AT PALMS PARK, TO INCLUDE RETROFIT OF COURT
LIGHTING, DEMOLITION OF EXISTING AND INSTALLATION OF NEW
BASKETBALL STANDARDS, AND COURT RESURFACING FOR THE TWO COURTS NOT DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE MINI PITCH. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Pe, Chase, Rogers and Croft NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Croft adjourned the meeting at 6:57 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jo Mayberry, CMC
City Clerk