Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
March 25, 2025
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER at 7:34 p.m. by Mayor Rogers in the Council Chambers at the Civic Center, 5000 Clark Avenue, Lakewood, California.
INVOCATION was offered by Father Mina Ghebrial, Christ the Redeemer American Coptic Orthodox Church
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Scout Pack 208
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mayor Todd Rogers
Council Member David Arellano
Council Member Steve Croft
Council Member Jeff Wood
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Cassandra Chase (excused)
. . .
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor Rogers commended staff and those involved for their efforts on a successful Earth Walk event which had been held earlier in the month.
Council Member Arellano expressed appreciation for the women honored during Women’s History Month and shared success stories related to efforts by the Sheriff’s Department and City staff regarding the homeless.
Council Member Wood reported on his attendance at Ziggi’s Coffee ribbon cutting, the recent Chamber mixer, Earth Walk, and Contract Cities monthly Board of Director’s meeting. He requested information regarding ADA accessibility at Arbor Road between Woodruff Avenue and Del Amo Boulevard and the Mayfair High School Stadium project.
He acknowledged the outreach to longtime residents and encouraged loans or donations of memorabilia for the City’s historical display.
. . .
ROUTINE ITEMS:
Mayor Rogers stated that members of the public wished to speak on Routine Items.
Mistress Transgender Queen and Fredrick Douglas spoke about disabled parking and services.
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER ARELLANO
SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 6.
City Council Minutes
March 25, 2025
ROUTINE ITEMS: - Continued
RI-1 Approval of Minutes of the Meetings held February 25, February 26, and March 11, 2025
RI-2 Approval of Personnel Transactions
RI-3 Approval of Registers of Demands
RI-4 Approval of Monthly Report of Investment Transactions RI-5 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-10; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD ESTABLISHING DISABLED PERSON DESIGNATED
PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF ADENMOOR AVENUE WITHIN THE CITY
OF LAKEWOOD
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-11; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD ESTABLISHING DISABLED PERSON DESIGNATED PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 207TH STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF
LAKEWOOD
RI-6 Award of Informal Bid for Public Works Project No. 2025-6, Improvements to the Existing Mayfair Park Bleachers
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chase
. . .
3.1 . AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT
FOR CITY HALL - PIO AND ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENTS
Kelli Pickler, Director of Public Works, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda regarding refurnishing City Hall with new furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E). She stated that staff recommended that the City Council authorize staff to purchase the FF&E for PIO and Administration departments at City Hall in an amount not to exceed $162,000, and authorize the Mayor to sign the proposal.
Mistress Transgender Queen and Fredrick Douglas spoke about the equipment purchase and expenditures.
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER ARELLANO
SECONDED TO APPROVE STAFF’S RECOMMENDATIONS.
City Council Minutes
March 25, 2025
3.1 . AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT FOR CITY HALL - PIO AND ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENTS - Continued UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chase
. . .
3.2 . APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT WITH FLOCK SAFETY, INC. FOR PILOT
PROJECT
Josh Yordt, Director of Public Safety, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda pertaining to Flock Safety, Inc. (Flock), a leading company providing AI powered technologies that operated within a single end-user platform. He concluded by stating it was staff’s recommendation that the City Council approve an agreement with Flock Safety, Inc. for a no-cost pilot program of managed subscription services to include a variety of camera and audio detection technologies for a period of 6-months, and authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement in a form as approved by the City Attorney.
Staff responded to questions and comments from Council Members regarding subsequent subscription costs, community partners, cameras’ range, evaluation of metrics data, and the technology’s crime solving capabilities.
Mistress Transgender Queen and Fredrick Douglas spoke about racial profiling.
Mayor Rogers, noting that the two speakers were non-Lakewood residents and had been banned from attendance by other agencies for their disruptive behaviors and language, remarked on the rules of decorum and freedom of speech rights.
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER ARELLANO
SECONDED TO APPROVE STAFF’S RECOMMENDATIONS. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chase
. . .
SUCCESSOR HOUSING ACTIONS
1. Approval of Registers of Demands
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT SECONDED TO APPROVE THE REGISTERS OF DEMANDS.
City Council Minutes
March 25, 2025
SUCCESSOR HOUSING ACTIONS - Continued
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Chase
. . .
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Bert Johnson, Lakewood, addressed the City Council commending the City’s Neighborhood Watch program.
Ben Chavez, Lakewood, spoke regarding the need for speed bumps, daylighting laws and honoring the flag.
Mistress Transgender Queen and Fredrick Douglas spoke about disruption and hate speech. . . .
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Rogers adjourned the meeting at 9:01 p.m. to Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Executive Board Room.
Respectfully submitted,
Jo Mayberry, CMC
City Clerk