Minutes
Lakewood City Council
Regular Meeting held
July 14, 2026
MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER at 7:07 p.m. by Mayor Chase in the Weingart Ballroom at the Civic Center, 5000 Clark Avenue, Lakewood, California.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Mayor Cassandra Chase
Vice Mayor Jeff Wood
Council Member David Arellano
Council Member Steve Croft
Council Member Todd Rogers
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS IN THE AGENDA – None
For the record, Mayor Chase recessed the meeting at 7:12 p.m. for a brief break.
Mayor Chase reconvened the meeting at 7:33 p.m. with all members present.
INVOCATION was offered by Chaplain Rick Rodriguez, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Scouting America Troop 134 JUNE 2, 2026, GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
For the record, 1) Mayor Chase introduced the item; and 2) City Clerk Wallace provided a brief verbal report of the Agenda report.
It was moved by Council Member Croft, seconded by Council Member Rogers, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to adopt Resolution No. 2026-33 declaring the results of the General Municipal Election:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Wood, Croft, Arellano, Rogers, and Mayor Chase For the record, Mayor Chase 1) recognized Council Member Croft upon the conclusion of his service on the City Council, expressing her appreciation for his years of dedicated service, friendship, and commitment to the City; and 2) presented a gift to Council Member Croft on behalf of the City Council.
Council Member Croft expressed gratitude to 1) his wife for her support throughout their forty-four years of marriage; 2) Council Member Rogers for appointing him to the Planning Commission, which began his involvement in City government; 3) City staff, Commissioners, current and former City Council Members, and the residents of Lakewood for their trust and support during his twenty-five years of City Council Minutes
July 14, 2026
public service.
JUNE 2, 2026, GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION – Continued
City Clerk Wallace 1) administered the Oath of Office to Council Members-elect Todd Rogers, Cassandra Chase, and Rudy Villarreal; and 2) presented Council Members Todd Rogers, Cassandra Chase, and Rudy Villarreal each with their Certificate of Election.
For the record, 1) Council Member Rogers a) thanked his wife, son, and family for their support; b) reflected on beginning his seventh term on the City Council, expressing his longstanding commitment to education, connection to Lakewood, and continued commitment to protecting and preserving the community; and c) expressed gratitude to the residents of Lakewood for allowing him to serve; 2) Council Member Chase expressed gratitude for being reelected to a second four-year term and thanked the community for the opportunity to continue serving; and 3) Council Member Villarreal a) thanked his parents, family, community organizations, campaign team, Commissioners, and elected officials for their support and attendance; b) expressed appreciation to former Council Member Croft for his confidence and mentorship; and c) thanked Vice Mayor Wood and the City Council for their guidance, further pledging to serve the residents with honor and dedication.
Following brief discussion, Mayor Chase reflected on her year serving as Mayor, 1) highlighting the theme “Lakewood Together: A Year of Kindness, Care, and Civic Action”; 2) noted the accomplishments related to youth engagement, community wellness, leadership development, financial stewardship, and community events; and 3) thanked her family, current Council Members, City staff, and the residents of Lakewood for their partnership and support.
ANNUAL REORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Chase introduced the item and turned the meeting over to Deputy City Attorney Skolnik to conduct nominations for the Office of Mayor.
Deputy City Attorney Skolnik opened nominations for the Office of Mayor.
Council Member Arellano nominated Vice Mayor Wood for the Office of Mayor.
There being no further nominations, without objection, nominations for the Office of Mayor were closed. The nomination of Jeff Wood as Mayor of the City of Lakewood unanimously carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Rogers, Villarreal, Wood, Arellano, and Chase Mayor Wood presented outgoing Mayor Chase with a commemorative scrapbook and thanked her for her service.
City Council Minutes
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ANNUAL REORGANIZATION OF CITY COUNCIL – Continued
Following brief discussion, Mayor Wood 1) expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve alongside the City Council, reaffirming the Council’s shared commitment to maintaining Lakewood’s quality of life through investments in public safety, infrastructure, and economic development; 2) highlighted the importance of Lakewood’s partnership with neighboring cities, school districts, public agencies, and regional and statewide organizations in advancing priorities including public safety, transportation, housing, and workforce development; 3) recognized visiting elected officials from neighboring cities in addition to current and former Commissioners for their service and contributions to the community; 4) identified expanding resident engagement, volunteerism, and civic participation as a mayoral priority, further reiterating the City Council’s commitment to encouraging community involvement and strengthening Lakewood’s tradition of public service; 5) thanked City staff for their professionalism, dedication, and service to the community; 6) highlighted the planned development of the community town square at Clark Avenue and Del Amo Boulevard, in addition to preparations for Lakewood’s 75
th Anniversary celebration to commemorate the
City’s history and recognize the residents and leaders who have contributed to its success; and 7) reaffirmed the City’s continued commitment to building a welcoming, resilient, and thriving community for future generations.
Mayor Wood opened nominations for the Office of Vice Mayor. Council Member Rogers nominated Council Member Arellano for the Office of Vice Mayor.
There being no further nominations, without objection, nominations for the Office of Vice Mayor were closed. The nomination of David Arellano as Vice Mayor of the City of Lakewood unanimously carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Rogers, Villarreal, Arellano, Chase, and Mayor Wood
For the record, Vice Mayor Arellano thanked his family for their support and expressed gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to serve the community.
Following brief discussion, Mayor Wood acknowledged former Mayor Robert Wagner and Ron Piazza, who were present in the audience.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor Wood highlighted the 1) Lakewood Block Party and America’s 250 th
Anniversary Celebration held on Saturday, June 27, 2026; 2) Public Safety efforts related to illegal fireworks enforcement, including responses to calls for service, citations issued, and the seizure of illegal fireworks; and 3) monitoring and enforcement efforts related to recent teen takeover activities in the City.
Council Member Rogers recognized the memorial service recently held honoring former Mayor Diane DuBois and her lasting contributions to the City.
Council Member Chase congratulated the newly elected Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council Member Villarreal.
Council Member Villarreal 1) expressed gratitude for those in attendance; and 2) congratulated the newly elected Mayor and Vice Mayor.
Vice Mayor Arellano 1) expressed appreciation to outgoing Mayor Chase for her leadership during the past year; 2) congratulated Council Member Villarreal; and 3) expressed excitement for the great things to come to Lakewood.
ROUTINE ITEMS:
For the record, it was moved by Vice Mayor Arellano, seconded by Council Member Chase, and carried unanimously by the following roll call vote, to approve the balance of the actions stipulated on the Routine Items:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Rogers, Villarreal, Arellano, Chase, and Mayor Wood
RI-1 Approval of Minutes of the Meetings held June 23, 2026 RI-2 Approval of Personnel Transactions
RI-3 Approval of Registers of Demands
RI-4 Approval of June Monthly Report of Investment Transactions RI-5 Approval of Amendment No. 3 to Agreement with Gateway Cities Council of Governments for Local Solutions Fund Grant
RI-6 Approval of Agreement with Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. for Planning Services
RI-7 Approval of City Council Committees’ Activities
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1.1 COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT RUBBISH FEES AND 1.2 COLLECTION OF 90-DAY DELINQUENT ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION FINES.
Mayor Wood introduced the item.
Director of Finance and Administrative Services Gomez 1) provided a verbal report of the Agenda report for Item 1.1 (Collection of Delinquent Rubbish Fees); and 2) stated that additional payments received after the posting of the Agenda reduced the number of delinquent accounts from 294 to 266, with approximately $76,000 remaining outstanding, noting that the payment deadline is July 31, 2026.
For the record, Deputy City Attorney Skolnik stated that Item 1.1 (Collection of Delinquent Rubbish Fees) and Item 1.2 (Collection of 90-Day Delinquent Administrative Citation Fines) would be presented together for Agenda reports, followed by a single public hearing, with separate City Council actions.
Director of Community Development Cervantes 1) provided a verbal report of the Agenda report for Item 1.2 (Collection of 90-Day Delinquent Administrative Citation Fines); and 2) responded to Council Members’ questions and comments.
At the request of Vice Mayor Arellano, Director Cervantes confirmed that 1) liens are collected upon the sale or transfer of property; and 2) staff continue to work with property owners to achieve compliance.
Following discussion, Mayor Wood opened the public hearing at 8:45 p.m. and called for anyone in the audience wishing to address the City Council on the matter.
Harry Phillips, resident, 1) stated that he appeared before the City Council last year regarding the same matter, further explaining that the Community Development Department has continued issuing citations and fines for failing to repair his home, even though repairs are actively underway; 2) explained that the City takes photographs of the property while sitting in a vehicle, expressing the opinion that this does not accurately reflect the work being completed inside the home, which includes window restoration, painting, and other improvements; 3) noted that he was informed that staff from the Community Development Department would contact him relative to the matter; however, he did not receive a call but instead received an email requesting a projected completion date for the repairs, further stating that he is unable to provide a definite completion date because the work is still in progress; and 4) expressed the opinion that he should not have been cited or fined while actively making repairs and was unaware that the City could place a lien on a property without first providing a hearing.
In response to comments provided by Harry Phillips, Mayor Wood suggested he leave his contact information with the City Clerk’s Office or Public Information Office.
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1.1 COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT RUBBISH FEES AND 1.2 COLLECTION OF 90-DAY DELINQUENT ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION FINES – Continued James Smith, resident, 1) stated that he believes he was not treated fairly regarding his property, explaining that a mechanic repaired his vehicle, but a neighbor objected and reported the matter to the City; 2) expressed the opinion that the City has been targeting and harassing him regarding the matter; and 3) stated that he received a citation based on hearsay and is now facing the possibility of a lien being placed on his property.
In response to comments provided by James Smith, Mayor Wood 1) suggested he speak with Director of Community Development Cervantes; and 2) confirmed that if he was unable to get into contact with Director Cervantes, he could call City Hall to request to speak with the Mayor directly.
For the record, City Clerk Wallace stated that no members of the public participating remotely wished to address the City Council on this matter.
There being no one else in the audience wishing to address the City Council on the matter, Mayor Wood closed the public hearing at 8:50 p.m.
For the record, it was moved by Council Member Rogers, seconded by Vice Mayor Arellano, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to adopt Resolution No. 2026-38 confirming the Report of Delinquent Fees:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Rogers, Villarreal, Arellano, Chase, and Mayor Wood
For the record, it was moved by Council Member Rogers, seconded by Vice Mayor Arellano, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to 1) 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 2025-2026; 2) adopt Resolution No. 2026-34, finding that the final list of delinquent 2025-2026 fines and related costs is due to the City as the cost of the nuisance abatement; 3) order the outstanding delinquent fines to be paid; and 4) direct staff to move forward with a final list of the unpaid fines to the County Tax Assessor for collection as a lien on the related properties, as part of each property’s annual property tax assessment:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Rogers, Villarreal, Arellano, Chase, and Mayor Wood
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1.3 COLLECTION OF NUISANCE ABATEMENT COSTS FOR 5557 GONDAR AVENUE.
Mayor Wood introduced the item.
Deputy City Attorney Skolnik 1) stated that the property owner requested a continuance; and 2) recommended opening the public hearing before continuing the matter.
Following discussion, Mayor Wood opened the public hearing at 8:52 p.m. and called for anyone in the audience wishing to address the City Council on the matter.
For the record, City Clerk Wallace stated that no members of the public participating remotely wished to address the City Council on this matter.
It was moved by Vice Mayor Arellano, seconded by Council Member Chase, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to continue the public hearing to the August 11, 2026, Regular City Council Meeting:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Rogers, Villarreal, Arellano, Chase, and Mayor Wood
2.1 ADOPTION OF SIGNATURE RESOLUTIONS FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
For the record, 1) Mayor Wood introduced the item; and 2) Deputy City Attorney Skolnik provided a verbal report of the item.
It was moved by Council Member Rogers, seconded by Council Member Villarreal, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to 1) adopt Resolution No. 2026-35 authorizing the City Treasurer to deposit funds for safekeeping and investment and authorizing withdrawal of funds from depositories; 2) adopt Resolution No. 2026-36 authorizing the use of facsimile signature of Mayor in execution of public securities and instruments of payment; and 3) adopt Resolution No. 2026-37 authorizing the use of facsimile signature of Vice Mayor in execution of public securities and instruments of payment:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Rogers, Villarreal, Arellano, Chase, and Mayor Wood
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LAKEWOOD HOUSING SUCCESSOR AGENCY
1 REGISTER OF DEMANDS
It was moved by Council Member Chase, seconded by Vice Mayor Arellano, and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, to approve the register of demands:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS – Rogers, Villarreal, Arellano, Chase, and Mayor Wood
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS – None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the City Council, Mayor Wood adjourned the meeting at 8:56 p.m. to Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Executive Board Room.
Respectfully submitted,
Dakota Wallace, CMC
City Clerk