Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
November 12, 2024
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER at 7:39 p.m. by Mayor Rogers in the Council Chambers at the Civic Center, 5000 Clark Avenue, Lakewood, California.
INVOCATION was offered by Reverend Andrew Chung, Saint Pancratius Catholic Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Scout Troop 134
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mayor Todd Rogers
Vice Mayor Cassandra Chase
Council Member David Arellano
Council Member Steve Croft
Council Member Jeff Wood
. . .
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor Rogers announced that the meeting would be adjourned in memory of original Lakewood resident Naomi Humphrey; in memory of original Lakewood resident and former City employee Anita Sheldon; in memory of Guadalupe Pacheco, mother of Sergeant Gil Pacheco of the Lakewood Special Assignment Officer team; and in memory of his sister-inlaw Carol Vreeland. He stated that the annual Award of Valor luncheon held last week was a wonderful event and commended staff and all involved for their hard work. The Mayor also announced that he appointed Council Member Jeff Wood to serve as Lakewood’s representative on a county-wide 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee and thanked him for his service.
Vice Mayor Chase shared that she attended several events over the past few weeks which included two playground openings; Chamber of Commerce events; and the grand opening of the new Cassidy’s Corner Cafe.
Council Member Arellano announced that he visited all eight Lakewood parks on Halloween and commended the Recreation and Community Services Department for organizing the great events. He added that he attended ceremonies for outgoing Council Members of neighboring cities.
Council Member Wood expressed appreciation for the appointment to the Olympic Games Committee and noted that he had been reappointed to the Consumer Affairs Advisory Commission. He added that he visited two parks on Halloween and recently attended a playground opening and SCAG meeting. He also acknowledged Rosa Talag, who was in attendance, and Scout Troop 134 for the success of the Scouting for Food event which collected 9,333 pounds of donated foods for the community.
City Council Minutes
November 12, 2024
ROUTINE ITEMS:
Mayor Rogers stated that Routine Item 8 would be considered separately.
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 7.
RI-1 Approval of Minutes of the Meetings held June 25, and October 22, 2024 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. 2024-63; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD ESTABLISHING DISABLED PERSON DESIGNATED
PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF GONDAR AVENUE WITHIN THE CITY OF
LAKEWOOD
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-64; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD ESTABLISHING DISABLED PERSON DESIGNATED
PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF OCANA AVENUE WITHIN THE CITY OF
LAKEWOOD
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-65; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD RESCINDING A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A
DISABLED PERSON DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE WITHIN THE CITY OF
LAKEWOOD
RI-6 Authorization of Design Proposal with Hirsch and Associates, Inc. (HAI) for Design of Basketball Court Improvements
RI-7 Approval of Agreement Assignment of the Professional Services Agreement for Homeless Services Liaison
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
RI-8 Update of ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection, Alert and Analysis Services City Manager Thaddeus McCormack reported that this item was discussed at the earlier study session where four months of data from the ShotSpotter System evaluation period was presented and staff reported that the system worked as promised. He explained that an agreement was approved and entered into in May with SoundThinking, Inc. for ShotSpotter City Council Minutes
November 12, 2024
ROUTINE ITEMS: - Continued
and the original term was for 40 months, including a four month evaluation period for $10,000, which commenced on July 15. With the conclusion of the evaluation period, the City was at the point to notify SoundThinking, Inc. if the services would be discontinued or continued for the remaining 36 months of the term. The City Manager noted that in the study session, it was proposed that services continue for a 12 month period at the cost of $60,785.
Steve Skolnik, for the City Attorney, explained that the Council’s options were to continue the agreement for the remaining 36 months of the term; discontinue the agreement; or amend the agreement term with 12 months for a total of 16 months from the start of the service at the price of $70,785, including the initial $10,000 for the evaluation period.
The Council Members shared comments regarding the data from the evaluation period; cost of the system; ShotSpotter coverage area; using technology as a law enforcement tool and multiplier; and interest in gathering more data from the system.
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER ARELLANO
SECONDED TO AMEND THE INITIAL TERM OF THE SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SOUNDTHINKING, INC. TO 16 MONTHS; AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF $60,785 FOR 12 MORE MONTHS OF SERVICE; AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE AMENDMENT IN A FORM AS APPROVED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY;
AND RECEIVE MONTHLY REPORTS OF SHOTSPOTTER DATA TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood
. . .
1.1 • RESOLUTION SETTING FORTH FINDINGS REGARDING ANTICIPATED
ENERGY COST SAVINGS AND ENTERING INTO AN ENERGY SERVICE
CONTRACT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES AT CERTAIN CITY SITES [Continued from September 10, and October 8, 2024]
Steve Skolnik, for the City Attorney, stated that while progress was being made, the project was not ready to proceed at this time and staff recommended continuing the item to the City Council meeting to be held on December 10, 2024.
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND MAYOR ROGERS SECONDED TO CONTINUE THE HEARING TO THE MEETING OF DECEMBER 10, 2024. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
City Council Minutes
November 12, 2024
3.1 • HOLIDAY RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Valarie Frost, Director of Recreation and Community Services, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda. She highlighted the various upcoming holiday activities including the 11th annual tree lighting event; the senior holiday luncheon; older adults events and activities; Pathways Light Up a Life; holiday instructional classes; adaptive recreation holiday movie and cocoa night; and Project Shepherd holiday distribution. She outlined the winter holiday school recess park programs and hours of operations and concluded by stating that the Recreation and Community Services Department would end the year with a variety of activities for all residents that provided opportunities to celebrate the holiday season and prepare for the new year with loved ones.
MAYOR ROGERS STATED THAT THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, THE ITEM WAS ORDERED RECEIVED AND FILED.
. . .
3.2 • ACCEPTANCE OF NOTICE OF COMPLETION FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT NO. 2024-3, TOT LOT PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS TO
BISCAILUZ PARK AND PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT NO. 2024-5, PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS TO BOYAR PARK, ORTCO, INC.
The Director of Recreation and Community Services presented a video of the playground improvements and ribbon cutting events and gave a presentation based on the report in the agenda. Director Frost noted the importance of playgrounds in a community; shared features of the new playgrounds; and discussed the work completed by the contractor. She concluded by stating it was the recommendation of staff that the City Council accept the work performed by Ortco. Inc. in a final contract amount of $664,409.37, and authorize the City Clerk to file the notice of completion for Public Works Contract No. 2024-3 and No. 2024-5.
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD MOVED AND VICE MAYOR CHASE SECONDED TO APPROVE STAFF’S RECOMMENDATIONS. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
SUCCESSOR HOUSING ACTIONS
1. Approval of Register of Demands
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD SECONDED TO APPROVE THE REGISTER OF DEMANDS. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
City Council Minutes
November 12, 2024
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Phillip Norris, Lakewood, addressed the City Council regarding the Water Resources Department, gunshots, security cameras, and the Civic Center holiday tree. . . .
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Rogers adjourned the meeting at 8:47 p.m. to Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in the Executive Board Room. A moment of silence was observed in memory of Naomi Humphrey, Anita Sheldon, Guadalupe Pacheco, and Carol Vreeland.
Respectfully submitted,
Isabelle Schultz
Assistant City Clerk