Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
April 14, 2026
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Chase in the Council Chambers at the Civic Center, 5000 Clark Avenue, Lakewood, California.
INVOCATION
was offered by Father Miguel Cabrera, Saint Pancratius Catholic Church
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
was led by Scouting America Pack 75
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT:
Mayor Cassandra Chase
Vice Mayor Jeff Wood
Council Member David Arellano
Council Member Steve Croft
Council Member Todd Rogers
. . .
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor Chase 1) announced that the meeting would be adjourned in memory of Denny Reed, who was a volunteer at Lakewood Sheriff’s Station for many years; 2) highlighted that April is Autism Awareness month and presented Recreation and Community Services Director Valarie Frost with a proclamation, further thanking her and her staff for leading Lakewood’s Adaptive Recreation Program and Special Olympics efforts; 3) recognized Black Maternal Health Week and presented a proclamation to Reverend Dr. Candace Kelly, Staff Chaplain at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, who worked to provide emotional and spiritual care to patients, families and staff; and 4) noted that Lakewood Volunteer Day was the coming Saturday, April 18, 2026, and is an opportunity to make a visible difference throughout the city.
Vice Mayor Wood 1) shared that he was honored to have served with Denny Reed as a Volunteer on Patrol; 2) reported his attendance at the a) Government Connections Networking Seminar; b) Emerging Leaders Summit; c) Cerritos City Council reorganization; and d) CPRS District 10 Awards where Emergency Preparedness Manager Chuck Martucci received the Career Achievement Award for his previous work in Recreation and Community Services.
Council Member Arellano 1) thanked Director Frost and Community Services Supervisor Noel Munoz for their meaningful work running the Adaptive Recreation and Special Olympics programs; and 2) shared he attended a senior event with Assembly Member Jose Solache Jr.
Mayor Chase 1) introduced Maria Jimenez, Ambassador from Donate Life America, who spoke about her personal experiences with organ donation and encouraged becoming a donor; City Council Minutes
April 14, 2026
and 2) presented Ms. Jimenez with a proclamation declaring April as “DMV/Donate Life Month” in the City of Lakewood.
. . .
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS IN THE AGENDA
For the record, the following individuals addressed the City Council relative to Item 3.3 and spoke in opposition to the proposed agreement with (Vigilant) Motorola for Automated License Plate Readers: 1) Heather Rodriguez; 2) Kay Ewing Donato; 3) Maegan Moo; 4) Stephanie Terronez; 5) Parvesh Cheena; 6) Jesse Gilgoff; 7) Garren Bell; and 8) Gaurav Datta.
For the record, the following individuals addressed the City Council relative to Item 3.3 and shared their support for the proposed agreement with (Vigilant) Motorola for Automated License Plate Readers: 1) Charlie Chase; and 2) Yosemite Hamilton. . . .
ROUTINE ITEMS:
It was moved by Council Member Croft, seconded by Council Member Arellano, and carried unanimously by the following roll call vote, to approve the balance of the actions stipulated on the Routine Items:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Wood, Croft, Arellano, Rogers, and Mayor Chase RI-1 Approval of Minutes of the Meetings held March 10 and March 24, 2026.
RI-2 Approval of Personnel Transactions
RI-3 Approval of Registers of Demands
RI-4 Approval of Resolution No. 2026-11; Adjusting the Maximum Fees or Charges for Bin and Special Refuse Service
RI-5 Approval of Designation of Applicant’s Agent Resolution for Non-State Agencies RI-6 Approval of Professional Services Agreement with Stetson Engineers, Inc. to Provide Engineering Services for 2025 Urban Water Management Plan Update . . .
1.1 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 2026-4; AMENDING THE LAKEWOOD
MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO PROVISIONS FOR THRIFT STORES [Continued from March 24, 2026]
Deputy City Attorney Skolnik introduced the item.
Community Development Director Cervantes provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Agenda report.
City Council Minutes
April 14, 2026
1.1 INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 2026-4; AMENDING THE LAKEWOOD
MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO PROVISIONS FOR THRIFT STORES [Continued from March 24, 2026] - Continued
For the record, City Manager McCormack, Director Cervantes, and Deputy City Attorney Skolnik responded to questions and comments from the City Council stating 1) the City does not have the authority to prevent a thrift store from opening next to an established thrift store; 2) the proposed Ordinance a) is an effort to regulate thrift store uses as the law allows; b) requires donations to be accepted indoors during business hours only and enforcement would include citing the property owner for illegal dumping; and c) signage to discourage illegal dumping would be required; and 3) the City would exercise discretion on a case by case basis regarding enforcement for the donation guidelines and illegal dumping.
Following discussion, Mayor Chase opened the public hearing at 8:40 p.m. and called for anyone in the audience wishing to address the City Council on the matter.
There being no one in the audience wishing to address the City Council on the matter, Mayor Chase closed the public hearing at 8:40 p.m.
For the record, ORDINANCE NO. 2026-4; AMENDING THE LAKEWOOD MUNICIPAL
CODE PERTAINING TO PROVISIONS FOR THRIFT STORES AND AMENDING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 3 ARTICLE IX (DEFINITIONS) INCLUDING AN
EXEMPTION FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(b)(3) was read by title by Assistant City Clerk Schultz.
For the record, it was moved by Council Member Rogers, seconded by Vice Mayor Wood, and carried unanimously by the following roll call vote, to 1) waive further reading; 2) introduce Ordinance No. 2026-4; and 3) approve the associated California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Categorical Exemption, based on Section 15061.(b).(3) of the CEQA Guidelines:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Wood, Croft, Arellano, Rogers, and Mayor Chase . . .
3.1 • AWARD OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO T.E. ROBERTS, INC. FOR WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT FY 26 - PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT 25-12
Mayor Chase introduced the item.
Director of Water Resources Nguyen provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Agenda report.
For the record, Council Member Croft stated this project 1) focuses on areas with the highest service requests; 2) is part of ongoing maintenance of the water system; 3) will be paid for by water rates; 4) will cause minimal water disruption; and 5) was recommended for approval by the Water Resources Committee.
City Council Minutes
April 14, 2026
3.1 • AWARD OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO T.E. ROBERTS, INC. FOR WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT FY 26 - PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT 25-12 - Continued
At the request of Council Member Arellano, Director Nguyen explained that 1) the contractor will a) move from area to area throughout the City to complete their work; and b) post signs with an estimated time of how long they will work in the area; and 2) City staff would ensure that residents in the project areas are thoroughly informed.
For the record, it was moved by Council Member Croft, seconded by Council Member Arellano, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to 1) award a construction contract for the Water Main Replacement Project FY 26 - PW Project 25-12 in the amount of $3,845,835 to T.E. Roberts, Inc. of Irvine and authorize the Mayor to sign the contract in a form approved by the City Attorney; 2) authorize staff to approve a cumulative total of change orders as needed not-to-exceed $384,583; 3) adopt the plans, specifications and working details for the Water Main Replacement Project FY 26 - PW Project 25-12; and 4) appropriate a total of $4,480,418 from the Water Enterprise Fund and authorize staff to approve services for inspection, soil compaction and miscellaneous tests as necessary for the corresponding project:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Wood, Croft, Arellano, Rogers, and Mayor Chase . . .
3.2 • STUDEBAKER ROAD – TRAFFIC CALMING CHANGE ORDER
Mayor Chase introduced the item.
Director of Public Works Pickler provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Agenda report.
For the record, Council Member Croft stated 1) the Capital Improvement Program Committee worked on the traffic calming improvements for a lengthy time and recommended approval of the change order; 2) the proposed measures have proven to reduce speeds and increase safety; 3) there would be an extensive public information campaign to prepare the public for the proposed changes; 4) the change order allowed the City to take advantage of a cost break for asphalt which has skyrocketed in price due to various world issues; and 5) there was a concern voiced in an email to the City Council regarding safety vehicles maneuvering the proposed roundabouts; however, Director Pickler confirmed that safety vehicles would be able to safely maneuver them.
In response to Vice Mayor Wood’s inquiry if the proposed traffic calming measures could be applied on Woodruff Avenue between Harvey Way and Carson Street, City Manager McCormack 1) noted that roundabouts were becoming more common and were proven to increase safety; and 2) stated that one purpose of the traffic calming improvements wasto study them for effectiveness and implement them in other areas of the City.
For the record, Council Member Arellano 1) noted that speeding was a top concern in the project area; and 2) stated he was hopeful the measures would increase safety.
City Council Minutes
April 14, 2026
3.2 • STUDEBAKER ROAD – TRAFFIC CALMING CHANGE ORDER - Continued For the record, Council Member Rogers noted 1) speeding was a top concern for residents; 2) the proposed measures were the result of traffic studies, which state that the measures will improve safety; 3) the lessons learned from the measures may benefit residential streets; and 4) if unintended consequences occurred, the measures could be removed.
For the record, it was moved by Council Member Croft, seconded by Council Member Arellano, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to 1) adopt the working drawings for Traffic Calming Improvements at Studebaker Road; 2) adopt the working drawings for Traffic Calming Improvements at Palo Verde Avenue; 3) authorize staff to approve a change order with Hardy and Harper for the “Phase 1” Traffic Calming Improvements at Studebaker Road in the amount of $360,450; and 4) authorize staff to approve a change order with Hardy and Harper for the final pavement rehabilitation and traffic calming improvements at Studebaker Road in the updated amount of $1,681,780:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Wood, Croft, Arellano, Rogers, and Mayor Chase . . .
3.3 • COUNCILMEMBER REQUESTED ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF AN
AGREEMENT WITH (VIGILANT) MOTOROLA FOR THE PURCHASE OF
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS (ALPRS)
City Manager McCormack 1) introduced the item; and 2) stated that a) Council Member Rogers requested this item for consideration; b) staff is supportive of acceptance of the (Vigilant) Motorola proposal; c) ALPRs were an effective law enforcement tool; d) the City has contracted with (Vigilant) Motorola for 14 years and the purchase of additional ALPRs would build on the City’s existing network; e) there were no issues of data sharing since the City began their contract with (Vigilant) Motorola; and f) the vendor would not have access to the data and the City would own the cameras and all of their collected data.
Director of Public Safety Yordt provided a verbal report of the Agenda report.
At the request of Council Member Rogers, Director Yordt confirmed that 1) (Vigilant) Motorola would not have access to the ALPR data; 2) only the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) could access the system and data; 3) the City could turn off the cameras if they were misused by LASD, or for any reason, since the cameras would be owned; and 4) this information was applicable to the current ALPRs from (Vigilant) Motorola.
For the record, Council Member Rogers stated 1) the City Council was unified in prioritizing public safety; 2) his concerns relative to the current gap in public safety due to the discontinuation of the Flock contract; 3) if this agreement was approved, the City Council would ensure the system was only used for its intended purpose to fight crime; and 4) due to the issue free history with (Vigilant) Motorola, he did not believe an Advisory Committee for the agreement was necessary and he encouraged participation at Public Safety Committee meetings since ALPR reports were presented there before being shared with the City Council.
City Council Minutes
April 14, 2026
3.3 • COUNCILMEMBER REQUESTED ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF AN
AGREEMENT WITH (VIGILANT) MOTOROLA FOR THE PURCHASE OF
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS (ALPRS) - Continued
At the request of Council Member Arellano, 1) City Manager McCormack confirmed the City would utilize a 1.03 million dollar grant and allocated general fund monies for this contract; and 2) Director Yordt explained that the cameras took photos of vehicles which were run against a “hot list” of stolen/wanted vehicles and any match would alert deputies.
For the record, Council Member Arellano 1) echoed Council Member Rogers’ comments about the City Council’s unified view of public safety as a top priority; 2) noted the importance of ALPR cameras as a tool to assist law enforcement; and 3) stated that the concerns he had with the previous system were not applicable to the (Vigilant) Motorola system.
At the request of Vice Mayor Wood, 1) City Manager McCormack clarified that the cost of the agreement would be paid over five years with a payment plan; 2) Deputy City Attorney Skolnik noted the five year term of the agreement was to the City’s benefit because it a) amortizes the cost; and b) includes maintenance and software upgrades; and 3) Director Yordt explained that a) it would take 3-4 months for the 44 ALPR cameras to be installed, b) the five year term would begin once all cameras were installed and confirmed to be working correctly; and c) a camera could be moved after installation for a cost.
For the record, Vice Mayor Wood 1) stated he would safeguard the public’s data like it was his own; 2) assured if there was a breech of trust with the system, the cameras would be turned off; and 3) encouraged the public to a) reach out to County and State representatives; b) become a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain; and c) attend the upcoming Neighborhood Watch seminar.
At the request of Council Member Croft, Deputy City Attorney Skolnik confirmed 1) there would be no change to the current agreement with (Vigilant) Motorola that’s been in place for the past 14 years; and 2) the proposal being considered was more of a purchase order for additional cameras versus an actual contract.
For the record, Council Member Croft stated 1) law enforcement staff shortages were not unique to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; 2) law enforcement academy graduation rates were down across the board; and 3) some academy graduates were joining federal and other agencies with attractive signing bonuses.
At the request of Mayor Chase, 1) Director Yordt clarified that a) the cost of each (Vigilant) Motorola camera per year for five years was similar to the costs of the agreement with Flock for the same time period; and b) an additional safeguard for data sharing protection was that LASD utilized Memorandum of Understanding agreements with agencies who request data sharing, further noting that LASD ensures those agencies have appropriate policies in place to safeguard the data; and 2) Deputy City Attorney Skolnik added that the City would own the (Vigilant) Motorola cameras in perpetuity which was not the case with Flock.
City Council Minutes
April 14, 2026
3.3 • COUNCILMEMBER REQUESTED ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF AN
AGREEMENT WITH (VIGILANT) MOTOROLA FOR THE PURCHASE OF
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS (ALPRS) - Continued
For the record, Mayor Chase stated 1) her vote to discontinue the Flock contract was based on community trust and the public’s concerns that the company did not reflect the values of the City; 2) public safety and public trust must move together; 3) if the agreement was approved, data access must remain tightly controlled and resident privacy must be protected; 4) her concurrence with Council Member Rogers’ comments that the Public Safety Committee meetings were open forums to continue the dialogue about the ALPR system.
For the record and without objection, Vice Mayor Wood requested 1) an agenda report to the City Council detailing success stories from the system once the cameras were up and running; and 2) pictures of what the cameras look like be included in a public information campaign.
At the request of Council Member Arellano, Director Yordt stated that he would research if the cameras could be commissioned and validated individually as they were installed versus having to wait for all 44 to be installed before commissioning and validation.
Following lengthy discussion, it was moved by Council Member Rogers, seconded by Council Member Croft, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to 1) accept the proposal from Motorola Solutions for the purchase and installation of Automated License Plate Readers for $979,496 and an additional $290,000 for preventative maintenance services, for a total amount not to exceed $1,269,800; and 2) authorize the City Manager to execute appropriate documentation to bind the city in a form subject to the approval of the City Attorney:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Wood, Croft, Arellano, Rogers, and Mayor Chase . . .
LAKEWOOD HOUSING SUCCESSOR AGENCY
1 • REGISTER OF DEMANDS
It was moved by Vice Mayor Wood, seconded by Council Member Rogers, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to approve the register of demands:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Wood, Croft, Arellano, Rogers, and Mayor Chase . . .
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Ben Chavez, resident, 1) shared his concerns regarding speeding near Del Valle Park and parking close to intersections; 2) expressed gratitude for well-maintained streets and the addition of roundabouts; 3) inquired about a sidewalk at Gridley Road and Centralia Street; and 4) proposed increasing fines for illegal fireworks.
City Council Minutes
April 14, 2026
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: - Continued
Philip Norris, resident, 1) stated that Flock cameras have more capabilities than Motorola cameras; 2) suggested law enforcement utilize residential security cameras; 3) requested the ability to put up your own streetlights; and 4) discussed broken window policies. . . .
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Chase adjourned the meeting at 10:08 p.m. to Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Executive Board Room. A moment of silence was observed in memory of Denny Reed.
Respectfully submitted,
Isabelle Schultz, CMC
Assistant City Clerk