Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
January 14, 2025
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER at 7:31 p.m. by Mayor Rogers in the Council Chambers at the Civic Center, 5000 Clark Avenue, Lakewood, California.
INVOCATION was offered by Bishop Larry Carlton, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Scout Pack 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 expressed sadness with the devastation of the fires that had ravaged large parts of the Southern California region and added that Steve Skolnik, for the City Attorney, had been affected and displaced by the fires. The Mayor thanked Ivy Tsai, City Attorney, for filling in for Mr. Skolnik. Mayor Rogers announced that the meeting would be adjourned in memory of those who had lost their lives in the Southern California fires; in memory of former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29th at the age of 100; Ron Call, a retired member of the city staff, who served as an Environmental Resources Supervisor; Thomas Alan Shindledecker, the father of longtime Park Maintenance Worker Keith Shindledecker; Russell Johnson, who coached hundreds of Lakewood youth; and Signal Hill Police Chief Wayne Byerley, who died from a medical emergency while at work.
Mayor Rogers noted the importance of honoring those who meant a lot to the City, the region and the nation.
The Mayor also announced that the City had offered assistance to the overall firefighting and recovery effort and had fulfilled a request to send four recreation assistants to the L.A.
County Arboretum to help sort and organize donated clothing for teens and youth.
Vice Mayor Chase acknowledged the losses related to the fires and the impacts to the environment and commended first responders and those who provided support.
Council Member Arellano and Council Member Wood reported their attendance at the Contract Cities Association Annual Legislative Tour in Sacramento. Council Member Wood stated that he also joined his colleagues in presenting certificates and supply backpacks to the graduates of Lakewood’s Community Emergency Response Teams. He also noted his attendance at the meeting of the Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame Board of Electors to select the honorees for 2024.
City Council Minutes
January 14, 2025
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS: - Continued
Mayor Rogers requested that staff follow up and check with other cities regarding drones and the associated safety and privacy issues.
. . .
ROUTINE ITEMS:
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND VICE MAYOR CHASE SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 6.
RI-1 Approval of Personnel Transactions
RI-2 Approval of Registers of Demands
RI-3 Report of City Council Committees’ Activities
RI-4 Approval of Meeting Reports and Authorizations Pursuant to AB1234 RI-5 Approval of Monthly Reports of Investment Transactions - October and November 2024
RI-6 Approval of Additional Funds for Regional Government Services Authority for Management and Administrative Services
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
2.1 • INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 2025-1; REGARDING SHOPPING CARTS
Patrick McGuckian, Acting Director of Community Development, displayed slides and made an oral presentation based on the report in the agenda and stated that the purpose of the proposed ordinance was to require commercial property owners and tenants to take more responsibility to create programs and procedures to prevent the theft and removal of carts from store premises, including parking lots, and to facilitate the retrieval and return of abandoned carts from both, public and private property, as permitted by State law. It was the recommendation of the Public Safety Committee that the City Council introduce the 2025 Shopping Cart Retention and Retrieval Ordinance, as prepared, for a first reading and review.
Staff responded to questions and comments from Council Members regarding enforcement of the regulations; the role and responsibilities of the businesses; low cost approach for business owners; and reporting back to the City Council on community feedback.
City Council Minutes
January 14, 2025
2.1 • INTRODUCTION OF O2025-1; REGARDING SHOPPING CARTS - Continued ORDINANCE NO. 2025-1; AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD ADDING SUBSECTION 4323 Q. TO THE LAKEWOOD MUNICIPAL
CODE TO REQUIRE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES TO HAVE A PROGRAM FOR
SHOPPING CART IDENTIFICATION, RETENTION, AND RETRIEVAL AND TO FIND THAT ABANDONED CARTS ARE A PUBLIC NUISANCE was read by title by the City Clerk.
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD MOVED AND MAYOR ROGERS SECONDED TO
WAIVE FURTHER READING AND INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NO. 2025-1. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.1 • CALPERS ACCELERATED PAYMENT OPTIONS
Director of Finance and Administrative Services, Jose Gomez, displayed slides and made an oral presentation based on the report in the agenda and explained that the report was included in both the study session and regular meeting agendas noting that the item was partially presented to the City Council at the November 12, 2024 study session. He concluded by stating it was recommended that the City Council consider reducing the cost of long-term financial obligations by setting an appropriation and payment of $1 million from General Fund set-aside reserves toward the CalPERS Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) account or setting aside a different appropriation and payment amount from General Fund set-aside reserves toward the CalPERS UAL account.
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD 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 Registers of Demands
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD SECONDED TO APPROVE THE REGISTERS 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
January 14, 2025
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Sheila Fike, Lakewood; Steve Barba, Lakewood; Mike Dietrick, Lakewood; Tim Moore, Lakewood; and Sarah Prosak, Lakewood; addressed the City Council regarding issues associated with accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
Bert Johnson, Lakewood, spoke about honoring former President Jimmy Carter.
Daisy, Lakewood, and Anita Gutierrez, Lakewood, shared concerns regarding rodent and infestation issues in their neighborhood.
. . .
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Rogers adjourned the meeting at 8:57 p.m. to Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Executive Board Room. A moment of silence was observed in memory of the victims of the recent fires in Los Angeles County, former President Jimmy Carter, Ron Call, Thomas Alan Shindledecker, Russell Johnson and Police Chief Wayne Byerley.
Respectfully submitted,
Jo Mayberry, CMC
City Clerk