Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
February 25, 2025
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Rogers in the Council Chambers at the Civic Center, 5000 Clark Avenue, Lakewood, California.
INVOCATION was offered by Pastor Petero Taufagu, Vai O Le Ola Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Scout Troop 823
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 condolences to Director of Recreation and Community Services, Valarie Frost, on the passing of her mother, Patricia Lewis, earlier this month. He stated that the previous meeting had been adjourned in her memory.
Mayor Rogers announced the upcoming Lakewood Run event, which was in it’s 34th year raising funds for charitable projects of the Soroptimists of Lakewood/Long Beach and the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station fund.
Vice Mayor Chase stated that Council Member Wood and she had attended an event and taken a tour of the facilities of the L.A. County Youth Climate Commission.
Council Member Arellano commented on some success stories of homeless outreach and the Bell shelter. He stated that he had recently toured the Equestrian Center and noted the work being done by the operator, Pilmore Equestrian LLC.
Council Member Wood reported on some recent events including the Miss Greater Lakewood pageant, the Blue and Gold banquet and a Contract Cities meeting. He reported on a recent decision by the League of California Cities pertaining to public safety. He encouraged participation in the Pan American Association’s annual Poetry and Poster contest and its Ambassador Scholarship program.
. . .
ROUTINE ITEMS:
Mayor Rogers stated that Routine Items 1 and 10 would be considered separately.
City Council Minutes
February 25, 2025
ROUTINE ITEMS: - Continued
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 2 THROUGH 9.
RI-2 Approval of Personnel Transactions
RI-3 Approval of Registers of Demands
RI-4 Approval of Monthly Report of Investment Transactions - January 2025 RI-5 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-1; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD ESTABLISHING NO PARKING, STANDING, OR
STOPPING, BUS LOADING, PASSENGER LOADING, TIME LIMITED
PARKING, AND DISABLED PARKING ZONES AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON
THE EAST SIDE OF HACKETT AVENUE AND THE WEST SIDE OF JOSIE
AVENUE WITHIN THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-2; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD RESCINDING RESOLUTIONS ESTABLISHING BUS LOADING ZONES AND 3 MINUTE PASSENGER LOADING ZONES ON THE
EAST SIDE OF HACKETT AVENUE AND ON THE WEST SIDE OF JOSIE
AVENUE WITHIN THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD
RI-6 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-3; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD ESTABLISHING “NO PARKING, 10:00 PM TO 6:00 AM” ON BOTH SIDES OF INDUSTRY AVENUE FROM 36TH STREET TO COVER
STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD
RI-7 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-4; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD ESTABLISHING DISABLED PERSON DESIGNATED PARKING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 212TH STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF
LAKEWOOD
RI-8 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-5; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD AMENDING JOB CLASSIFICATION TITLES IN
ATTACHMENT B OF RESOLUTION NO 2024-25
RI-9 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-6; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD ADDING A JOB CLASSIFICATION TO SCHEDULE B OF RESOLUTION NO. 2024-26 PERTAINING TO HOURLY-RATED PART-TIME
EMPLOYEES AND ENACTING A PERSONNEL RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING
THE COMPENSATION, RULES AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO
HOURLY-RATED PART-TIME EMPLOYEES
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
City Council Minutes
February 25, 2025
ROUTINE ITEMS: - Continued
Philip Norris, Lakewood, spoke about distribution of meeting minutes and the use of transportation funds.
RI-1 Approval of Minutes of the Meetings held January 14, January 28, and February 11, 2025
RI-10 Approval of Proposition A Transit Fund Exchange and Assignment Agreement with the City of West Hollywood
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND VICE MAYOR CHASE SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 1 AND 10. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
1.1 • COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ACTION PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT NO. 1 AND RESULTANT
AWARD OF CONTRACT AND CHANGE ORDERS
Aldo Cervantes, Community Development Director, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda regarding a Substantial Amendment of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 Action Plan to shift funds dedicated to the Weingart Senior Center Project to a Curb Replacement Project. He stated that staff recommended that the City Council conduct a public hearing for citizen input for the proposed FY 2024-2025 Action Plan, Substantial Amendment No. 1; and following the public hearing, move to direct staff to take into consideration all comments received by the public and recommend approval of the proposed Action Plan Amendment by the City Council on February 25, 2025; award a contract for FY 24/25 CDBG ADA Ramp Replacement, PW Project 25-03 in the amount of $222,000 to CJ Concrete Construction, and authorize the Mayor to sign the contract in a form approved by the City Attorney; authorize the Mayor to sign Change Order #1 in the amount of $42,000, thereby amending, and reducing the contract amount to $180,000; authorize staff to approve a cumulative total of contract change orders, as necessary, not to exceed $20,000; and adopt the specifications and working details for the project.
Staff responded to questions and comments from Council Members pertaining to backfilling of funds and potential delays to the project.
Mayor Rogers opened the public hearing at 7:51 p.m. and called for anyone in the audience wishing to address the City Council on this matter. There was no response.
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
City Council Minutes
February 25, 2025
3.1 • COLLECTION OF NUISANCE ABATEMENT COSTS FOR 2803 HARDWICK STREET, RESOLUTION NO. 2025-7
The Director of Community Development displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda pertaining to execution of an Inspection/Abatement/Administrative Warrant to fumigate rodents and remove overgrown vegetation at 2803 Hardwick Street. It was staff’s recommendation that the City Council adopt the proposed resolution ordering the costs of abatement to be assessed as a lien for $5,008.20 against the parcel of land commonly known as 2803 Hardwick Street, Lakewood California. He added that notice of the proposed assessment and lien had been mailed to all persons concerned.
Staff responded to questions and comments from Council Members regarding the owner’s inaction and absence during some of the process and volunteer day opportunities.
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-7; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKEWOOD ORDERING THE COSTS OF ABATEMENT TO BE A SPECIALLY ASSESSED LIEN AGAINST THE PARCEL OF LAND COMMONLY KNOWN AS 2803
HARDWICK STREET, LAKEWOOD, CALIFORNIA
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER ARELLANO
SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2025-7. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.2 • FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2024-25 MIDYEAR BUDGET REVIEW AND ADJUSTMENTS AND PRESENTATION OF THE FY 2025-26 BUDGET
PREPARATION CALENDAR
Jose Gomez, Director of Finance and Administrative Services, and Josh Yordt, Director of Public Safety, displayed slides and made presentations based on the report in the agenda.
The City was currently in the first year of the FY 2024-26 Two-Year Budget adopted in June 2024. With approximately seven months of FY 2024-25 data available, it was appropriate to review current budget estimates and revise where needed. It was recommended that the City Council adopt the noted changes for inclusion into the City’s FY 2024-25 Revised Budget and direct staff to make all related adjustments to the City’s budget appropriations; and receive and file the FY 2025-26 Revised Budget Preparation Calendar and provide direction to staff regarding the preparation of the upcoming budget.
Staff responded to questions and comments from Council Members pertaining to emerging technologies related to public safety, augmentation efforts utilizing retired deputies and vehicles for use by the homeless liaison.
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD SECONDED TO APPROVE STAFF’S RECOMMENDATIONS.
City Council Minutes
February 25, 2025
3.2 • FY 2024-25 MIDYEAR BUDGET REVIEW AND ADJUSTMENTS AND FY 2024-26 MID-CYCLE BUDGET PREPARATION CALENDAR - Continued UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.3 • PREVIEW OF 2025 EARTH WALK EVENT
Valarie Frost, Director of Recreation and Community Services, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda. She explained that Earth Walk was a family friendly event coordinated by the Recreation and Community Services Department, with assistance from the Public Works Department. She stated that the free event educated the public on protection of the environment and natural resources as well as general conservation. The event was scheduled for Saturday, March 15, at Monte Verde Park and this year’s collectible item featured “Henrietta” the Chicken. It was the recommendation of staff that the City Council receive and file the report.
MAYOR ROGERS STATED THAT THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, THE REPORT WAS ORDERED RECEIVED AND FILED.
. . .
SUCCESSOR HOUSING ACTIONS
1. Approval of Register of Demands
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD MOVED AND VICE MAYOR CHASE 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
. . .
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Ted Spaseff, Lakewood, addressed the City Council regarding South Coast Air Quality Management District’s proposed regulations on the usage of gas appliances.
Chris Wood, Lakewood, stated his concerns regarding homelessness issues.
Philip Norris, Lakewood, spoke about government funding, surveillance cameras, turn signals and license plate readers.
. . .
City Council Minutes
February 25, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Rogers adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jo Mayberry, CMC
City Clerk