Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
June 24, 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 Terence Brooks, One Church Lakewood PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Scout Pack 208, Troop 67 and Troop 212 ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mayor Todd Rogers
Vice Mayor Cassandra Chase
Council Member David Arellano
Council Member Steve Croft
Council Member Jeff Wood
. . .
Mayor Rogers thanked the scouts for leading the pledge and noted a special reason for the attendance of Pack 208. He explained that 15-year-old Manuel “Carlos” Ramirez, who had previously been a part of Pack 208, had lost his life in a tragic car accident. The Mayor stated that the meeting would be adjourned in his memory.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor Rogers announced the meeting would also be adjourned in memory of long-time resident Sandy Richardson, who was deeply involved in the community as a former Tot Lot mom, LYS coach and member of the Lakewood Women’s Club. Council Member Arellano expressed gratitude for his friendship with Ms. Richardson citing her positive outlook and supportive nature.
Mayor Rogers remarked on the previous week’s Juneteenth celebration and thanked City and County staff for their collaboration on the StoryWalk event. He invited the public to attend the upcoming annual Block Party event to be held on Saturday, June 28th.
Each of the Council Members extended condolences to the families and friends of Manuel “Carlos” Ramirez and Sandy Richardson.
Vice Mayor Chase commended those involved with the Juneteenth Story Walk event on their efforts.
Council Member Arellano discussed his recent participation at an ABC Unified School District Board meeting regarding proposed school closures.
Council Member Wood reported on his attendance at a recent Gateway Cities Council of Governments meeting discussing the World Cup and Olympic Fan Zones; at the first Concert in the Park event; at the LYS Opening Day; and at the Southeast Los Angeles County Policy Board meeting.
City Council Minutes
June 24, 2025
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS: - Continued
Mayor Rogers introduced Caroline Gongora, Public Information Coordinator, Greater Los Angeles Vector Control District, who displayed slides and made a presentation regarding mosquito control. She provided information regarding mosquito-borne diseases, integrated vector management, low, medium and high visibility operations and sterile insect techniques and benefits.
Ms. Gongora responded to questions and comments from Council Members regarding outreach and education efforts.
. . .
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS IN THE AGENDA: None
. . .
ROUTINE ITEMS:
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 4.
RI-1 Approval of Personnel Transactions
RI-2 Approval of Registers of Demands
RI-3 Approval of City Council Committees’ Activities
RI-4 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-34; 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 NORTH SIDE OF BOMBERRY STREET, AND ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE
EAST PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD SERVICE ROAD, AND ON THE SOUTH
SIDE OF GREENTOP STREET WITHIN THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-35; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD RESCINDING RESOLUTIONS ESTABLISHING
LIMITING PARKING ZONES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF BOMBERRY STREET,
AND ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE EAST PARAMOUNT BOULEVARD
SERVICE ROAD, AND ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF GREENTOP STREET WITHIN
THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
City Council Minutes
June 24, 2025
3.1 . SUPPORTING PARTICIPATION IN THE BEACON PROGRAM
Paolo Beltran, Deputy City Manager, made a presentation based on the report in the agenda pertaining to participation in the Beacon Program, which would provide an opportunity to showcase existing efforts to promote sustainability and increase the City’s visibility in the region and statewide. He stated that staff recommended that the City Council adopt the proposed resolution supporting the City of Lakewood’s participation in the Beacon Program.
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-36; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKEWOOD APPROVING PARTICIPATION IN THE INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT’S BEACON PROGRAM
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD MOVED AND VICE MAYOR CHASE SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2025-36. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.2 . AUTHORIZE PROPOSAL FROM ARDURRA FOR PALO VERDE TRAFFIC
CALMING MEASURES
Assistant Director of Public Works, Dario Simoes, displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda regarding a proposal from Ardurra for the Palo Verde Avenue Pilot Project, as identified in the Draft Neighborhood Traffic Calming report. It was staff’s recommendation that the City Council authorize the use of $97,728 from Measure M funds, for the engineering services from Ardurra, related to the neighborhood traffic calming pilot programs; and authorize Ardurra’s engineering services proposal to provide the Palo Verde traffic engineering services, under their existing Agreement for Engineering Services, in an amount of $97,728, and authorize the Mayor to sign the proposal.
Staff responded to questions and comments from Council Members pertaining to temporary improvements, traffic and pedestrian safety, types of cameras, speed studies, accident histories and public outreach.
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
. . .
City Council Minutes
June 24, 2025
3.3 . ACCEPTANCE OF FEDERAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING AND
AUTHORIZE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL FROM WILLDAN
FOR THE WEINGART SENIOR CENTER IPROVEMENTS
The Public Works Assistant Director displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda about the City’s receipt of the executed grant agreement for the Congressional Federal earmarks in the amount of $1,122,279 for use towards the Weingart Senior Center Improvements Project. He concluded by stating that staff recommended that the City Council accept the award of the Federal Community Project Funding in the amount of $1,122,279, for Weingart Sr. Center Improvements; and authorize Willdan Engineering’s proposal dated June 12, 2025, to provide construction management and labor compliance services for the Weingart Sr. Center project, under their existing Agreement for Engineering Services, in an amount not-to-exceed $777,392.
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD MOVED AND VICE MAYOR CHASE SECONDED TO
ACCEPT THE AWARD OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,122,279, FOR WEINGART SR. CENTER IMPROVEMENTS; AND AUTHORIZE WILLDAN ENGINEERING’S PROPOSAL DATED JUNE 12, 2025,
TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND LABOR COMPLIANCE SERVICES FOR THE WEINGART SR. CENTER PROJECT, UNDER THEIR EXISTING
AGREEMENT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES, IN AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $777,392. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Chase and Rogers NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.4 . AWARD OF BID FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT NO. 2025-11; STREET
IMPROVEMENTS AT VARIOUS LOCATION
The Assistant Director of Public Works displayed slides and made a presentation based on the report in the agenda and reported that bids had been received for a project to resurface approximately 13.5 centerline miles of street segments using various transportation funds. It was recommended that the City Council award a contract for Public Works Project No. 2025−11, Annual Streets and Alley Resurfacing, in the amount of $12,320,469 to Hardy and Harper, Inc. of Santa Ana and authorize the Mayor to sign the contract in a form approved by the City Attorney; authorize staff to approve a cumulative total of contract change orders, as needed, not to exceed $2,000,000; adopt the plans, specifications and working details for the project; increase the appropriation of special restricted Measure M funds toward the project in the amount of $24,738; increase the appropriation of special restricted SB1 (RMRA) funds toward the project in the amount of $1,232,931; and authorize the funding source and amounts to be used on the project.
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND MAYOR ROGERS 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
June 24, 2025
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Sally Brayton, Lakewood; Terri Belch, Lakewood; Rose Nelson, Lakewood, shared memories and expressed gratitude for the City Council’s recognition of Sandy Richardson.
Mr. Whitehead, Lakewood, addressed the City Council regarding refuse services and ADA ramps.
Olina Benson, Senior Field Representative for 33rd District Senator Lena Gonzalez, introduced herself and offered resources to the Gonzalez family on their loss.
Philip Norris, Lakewood, spoke about Federal funding, commission meetings, vector control, code enforcement and parking on major streets.
Ben Chavez, Lakewood, stated concerns about traffic on Palo Verde Avenue, street markers, traffic circles, street sweeping, speeding and parking issues. . . .
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Rogers adjourned the meeting at 9:16 p.m. A moment of silence was observed in memory of Manuel “Carlos” Ramirez and Sandy Richardson.
Respectfully submitted,
Jo Mayberry, CMC
City Clerk