Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
May 13, 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 Tommy Forrester, ONE Church Lakewood 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 announced that the meeting would be adjourned in memory of a nine year old Lakewood resident Lei Mason Spicer.
The Mayor commended those involved in the success of the recent Pan Am Fiesta held during the Mother’s Day weekend. He noted that the start of the festivities occurred a few days earlier with the awarding of scholarships to high school students by the Pan American Association.
Mayor Rogers briefly addressed an issue involving water use and water agencies in the region. He noted the City’s efforts to maintain water quality and reliability while keeping water rates as low as possible for the region. The Mayor reported that recently, one of the elected Directors of the Water Replenishment District (WRD) had made comments at a public board meeting that were factually incorrect and that called in to question the management of the City of Lakewood and its Water Resources system. He continued by stating that the elected Director’s remarks were in response to Lakewood and many other cities of the region working together to get the WRD to justify the rate increases it proposed to charge the region. Mayor Rogers explained that Lakewood and neighboring cities hoped to work in a collegial way with the WRD in the future, but also expressed hope that everyone involved would commit to being accurate and forthright in their discussions and to not make unfair or erroneous statements that sullied the reputation of the City and its dedicated employees.
The Mayor and Council Members congratulated Communications Director Bill Grady on his impending retirement and thanked him for his capable handling of the City’s social media, community messaging, civic engagement and communications responsibilities.
City Council Minutes
May 13, 2025
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS: - Continued
Vice Mayor Chase stated that she was honored to have been recognized as a WRD Groundwater Ambassador at the recent Groundwater Festival and expressed her interest in advocacy to drive groundwater awareness forward. She commended Dr. Derek Nguyen, Director of Water Resources, for his dedication and leadership.
Council Member Arellano reported on his attendance at the League of California Cities’ leadership summit. He expressed thanks to his family for their support.
Council Member Wood enumerated the various meetings he had attended, which included the Southern California Association of Governments regional conference, the Lakewood Leadership Academy meeting, the WRD Groundwater Festival and the Contract Cities Association executive board meeting. He commented on his alma mater, California State University Long Beach, having won the 2025 National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship.
Mayor Rogers introduced Anastacia Nwosu, Field Representative for Jose Luis Solache, California State Assembly, 62nd District, who stated that it was her honor to serve and that she looked forward to working with the City.
. . .
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS IN THE AGENDA: None
. . .
ROUTINE ITEMS:
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 11.
RI-1 Approval of Minutes of the Meetings held March 25, April 8, and April 22, 2025 RI-2 Approval of Personnel Transactions
RI-3 Approval of Registers of Demands
RI-4 Report of City Council Committees’ Activities
RI-5 Report and Authorizations Pursuant to AB1234
RI-6 Approval of Monthly Report of Investment Transactions - April 2025 RI-7 Approval of Purchase of Stacking Chairs and Transport Chair Dollies for Recreation Facilities
RI-8 Authorization to Use Proposition A Funds for Bus Stop Improvements City Council Minutes
May 13, 2025
ROUTINE ITEMS: - Continued
RI-9 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-14; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD APPROVING THE AMENDED AND RESTATED JOINT
EXERCISE OF POWERS AGREEMENT FOR THE LOS ANGELES GATEWAY
REGION INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
RI-10 Approval of Transfer Amendments No. 3 and No. 4 with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District – Safe Clean Water Program for Regional Program Funds for Bolivar Park and Mayfair Park
RI-11 Approval of Special Event Permit for Public Display of Fireworks - Artesia High School
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.1 • CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR REHABILITATION OF LAKEWOOD
AND GOLDEN STATE WATER COMPANY EMERGENCY INTERCONNECTION
VAULT AUTHORITY
Derek Nguyen, Director of Water Resources, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda pertaining to an agreement with Golden State Water Company for construction and maintenance of an emergency interconnection with the City’s water system.
Staff recommended that the City Council approve a construction contract with Doty Bros.
Construction Company for rehabilitation of the Lakewood and Golden State Water Company emergency interconnection for $125,333 plus 20% contingency for a total not-to-exceed amount of $150,400; and appropriate $150,400 from the Water Enterprise Funds for the project and authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Staff responded to questions and comments from Council Members regarding the benefits of maintaining the system, interest in seeing before and after configurations, the timeline for the project and the cost sharing arrangement.
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT 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
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City Council Minutes
May 13, 2025
3.2 • INCREASE AUTHORIZATION - WILLDAN, INC., CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR HSIP PROJECT
Kelli Pickler, Director of Public Works, displayed slides as well as a video and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda. She stated that the City had secured a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant to fund the modification of traffic signals at various intersections. It was staff’s recommendation that the City Council award “Budget Amendment Request No. 1 for Construction Engineering Services – HSIP Traffic Signal, Twelve Locations, State Funds, Public Works Project No. 24-01” to Willdan, Inc. in the amount of $94,753 to be funded with Measure M funds, for a total amount of $230,070.00; and authorize staff to execute contract change orders, as needed, within a project contingency of the available balance of HSIP funds, not-to-exceed $607,755.51.
Staff responded to questions and comments from Council Members pertaining to spelling out the various funding sources and receiving data driven statistics.
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD 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, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.3 • SUMMER PROGRAMS, CIVIC CENTER BLOCK PARTY PREVIEW AND
CATALOG PREVIEW
Valarie Frost, Director of Recreation and Community Services, displayed slides as well as a video and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda. She explained that Lakewood’s tradition of providing fun, safe, family-friendly programming had been detailed in the summer’s Recreation and Community Services catalog. She highlighted the various programs and special events offered which included contract classes, Concerts in the Park, Finally It’s Friday family programs, Lakewood Youth Sports, park programs, older adult programs, aquatics and the Civic Center Block Party. She concluded by stating that staff recommended the City Council receive and file the report.
MAYOR ROGERS STATED THAT THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, THE REPORT WAS ORDERED RECEIVED AND FILED.
. . .
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Phillip Norris, Lakewood, addressed the City Council regarding crime data, bulky trash items, defaced license plates, red curb, stop signs, pickleball and Los Coyotes Diagonal. . . .
City Council Minutes
May 13, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Rogers adjourned the meeting at 8:31 p.m. to Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Executive Board Room. A moment of silence was observed in memory of Lei Mason Spicer.
Respectfully submitted,
Jo Mayberry, CMC
City Clerk