Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
July 8, 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 Reverend Tamara John
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Scout Troop 113/3433
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mayor Todd Rogers
Vice Mayor Cassandra Chase
Council Member David Arellano
Council Member Steve Croft
Council Member Jeff Wood
. . .
ANNUAL REORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Rogers reflected on some of the positive accomplishments as well as noting some difficult challenges over the past year during his fifth term as mayor. He expressed gratification at being able to represent Lakewood in various aspects and to celebrate milestones in the City’s history. He thanked his family for their support and acknowledged his colleagues and staff for their commitment and service to the community. He also stated his gratitude to Lakewood voters for the honor of serving on the City Council and as Mayor.
Steve Skolnik, for the City Attorney, explained the process of nominating the mayor and vice mayor.
ELECTION OF MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR
COUNCIL MEMBER WOOD NOMINATED CASSANDRA CHASE TO SERVE AS MAYOR. THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, CASSANDRA CHASE WAS DECLARED MAYOR BY ACCLAMATION.
Mayor Chase expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community and expressed appreciation for her Council colleagues. She announced the theme for her mayoral term as “Lakewood Together: A Year of Kindness, Care and Civic Action.” Thaddeus McCormack, City Manager, introduced State Assembly Member Jose Solache, who congratulated incoming Mayor Chase and commended outgoing Mayor Rogers.
COUNCIL MEMBER ARELLANO NOMINATED JEFF WOOD TO SERVE AS VICE MAYOR. THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, JEFF WOOD WAS DECLARED VICE MAYOR BY ACCLAMATION.
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City Council Minutes
July 8, 2025
ROUTINE ITEMS:
VICE MAYOR MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT SECONDED TO APPROVE ROUTINE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 5.
RI-1 Approval of Personnel Transactions
RI-2 Approval of Registers of Demands
RI-3 Approval of City Council Committees’ Activities
RI-4 Approval of Monthly Report of Investment Transactions – May 2025 RI-5 Approval of Right-of-Way Agreement with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments for Regional Fiber Optic Network within the City’s Boundaries UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Rogers and Chase NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
1.1.a • CONFIRMING REPORT OF DELINQUENT FEES AND CHARGES FOR
GARBAGE, WASTE AND REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL,
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-37
1.1.b • COLLECTION OF 90-DAY DELINQUENT ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION FINES, RESOLUTION NO. 2025-38
Jose Gomez, Director of Finance and Administrative Services, made a presentation based on the report in the agenda regarding the Report of Delinquent Fees as of May 31, 2025. He stated it was recommended that the City Council conduct a public hearing and adopt the proposed resolution confirming the Report of Delinquent Fees.
Aldo Cervantes, Director of Community Development, made a presentation based on the report in the agenda pertaining to administrative citations for code violations that may be collected by placement of a lien on the property on which the violations occurred, provided the fine owed by the cited party has been delinquent 90 days or more (§ 4908.1). He concluded by stating it was staff’s recommendation that the City Council conduct a lien hearing pursuant to LMC Section 4908.3 and consider all competent evidence presented related to any outstanding delinquent fine amounts, late fees, and related costs from fiscal year 2023-2025; adopt the proposed resolution finding that the final list of delinquent 2023−25 fines and related costs is due to the City as the cost of nuisance abatement; order the outstanding delinquent fines to be paid; and direct staff to forward a final list of the unpaid fines to the County Tax Assessor for collection as a lien on the related property, as part of the annual property tax assessment.
Mayor Chase opened the public hearing at 8:34 p.m. and called for anyone in the audience wishing to address the City Council on this matter.
City Council Minutes
July 8, 2025
1.1.a • CONFIRMING REPORT OF DELINQUENT FEES AND CHARGES FOR
GARBAGE, WASTE AND REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
1.1.b • COLLECTION OF 90-DAY DELINQUENT ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION FINES - Continued
Jerry Walker, Lakewood; Scott Lynn Randell; “Donald Trump”; and Jessica Vargas, addressed the City Council regarding property liens.
Staff responded to questions and comments from the City Council regarding hardship assistance and resources.
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-37; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKEWOOD CONFIRMING THE REPORT OF DELINQUENT FEES AND
CHARGES FOR GARBAGE, WASTE AND REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
WITHIN THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, MAY 31, 2025
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-38; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD CONFIRMING REPORT OF 90-DAY DELINQUENT
ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION FEES WITHIN THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, JULY 8, 2025
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER ARELLANO
SECONDED TO APPROVE STAFF’S RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADOPT
RESOLUTIONS NO. 2025-37 AND NO. 2025-38. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Rogers and Chase NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
2.1 • ADOPTION OF SIGNATURE RESOLUTIONS
Steve Skolnik, for the City Attorney, advised that the proposed resolutions were procedural documents that were legally necessary to enable the City’s financial transactions and could be enacted with a single motion and vote.
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-39; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKEWOOD AUTHORIZING THE CITY TREASURER TO DEPOSIT FUNDS FOR
SAFEKEEPING AND INVESTMENT AND AUTHORIZING WITHDRAWAL OF
FUNDS FROM DEPOSITORIES
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-40; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKEWOOD AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE MANUAL, FACSIMILE AND/OR
ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OF CASSANDRA CHASE, MAYOR, IN THE EXECUTION
OF PUBLIC SECURITIES AND INSTRUMENTS OF PAYMENT
City Council Minutes
July 8, 2025
2.1 • ADOPTION OF SIGNATURE RESOLUTIONS - Continued
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-41; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKEWOOD AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE MANUAL, FACSIMILE AND/OR
ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE OF JEFF WOOD, MAYOR PRO TEM, IN THE
EXECUTION OF PUBLIC SECURITIES AND INSTRUMENTS OF PAYMENT
COUNCIL MEMBER ARELLANO MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT
SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTIONS NO. 2025-39, NO. 2025-40 AND NO. 2025-41.
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Rogers and Chase NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
3.1 • DECLARING JULY AS PARKS MAKE LIFE BETTER! MONTH
Valarie Frost, Director of Recreation and Community Services made a presentation based on the report in the agenda regarding the Parks Make Life Better! brand initiative which provided member agencies with the tools and resources to brand parks and recreation as an essential community service. She stated that staff recommended the City Council adopt the proposed resolution declaring the month of July as Parks Make Life Better! month as part of the California Park & Recreation Society campaign to encourage cities to maintain parks and recreation programs and facilities in the forefront of public policy.
RESOLUTION 2025-42; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD DECLARING JULY AS PARKS MAKE LIFE BETTER!® MONTH
VICE MAYOR WOOD MOVED AND COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2025-42. UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Rogers and Chase NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
SUCCESSOR HOUSING ACTIONS
1. Approval of Register of Demands
COUNCIL MEMBER CROFT MOVED AND VICE MAYOR WOOD SECONDED TO APPROVE THE REGISTER OF DEMANDS.
UPON ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Wood, Croft, Arellano, Rogers and Chase NAYS: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
. . .
City Council Minutes
July 8, 2025
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Eddi Witt, Lakewood, expressed gratitude for the City’s support for Lemonade Day.
Ben Chavez, Lakewood, addressed the City Council regarding a traffic study of Palo Verde Avenue and Studebaker Road.
Jennifer Padilla, Lakewood, spoke regarding tree trimming, house numbers, security patrol staff, neighborhood thefts and street vendors.
Scott Lynn Randell spoke about public safety.
Phillip Norris, Lakewood, stated concerns pertaining to RV parking, Los Coyotes Diagonal striping, security cameras and safety issues at a park. “Donald Trump” spoke about videotaping.
. . .
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Chase adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m. A moment of silence was observed in memory of the victims of the recent flooding in Texas.
Respectfully submitted,
Jo Mayberry, CMC
City Clerk