Cerritos City Council Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CERRITOS CITY COUNCIL AND THE CERRITOS REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HELD JUNE 2, 2005
CALL TO ORDER
The Special City Council/Redevelopment Agency Meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Mayor/Chairman Crawley in the City Council Chambers at Cerritos City Hall, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, California.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Crawley led the assembly in the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
The Deputy City Clerk noted attendance of the following Members of the City Council/Redevelopment Agency:
Councilman/Member Jim Edwards
Councilwoman/Member Gloria Kappe
Councilwoman/Member Laura Lee
Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chairman Paul W. Bowlen
Mayor/Chairman John F. Crawley
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Those in the audience who wished to be heard were called upon. No one responded and the public comments portion of the meeting was closed.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR CONSIDERATION
Review and consideration of a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration.
Alon Barlevy, President of the Hubert Humphrey Democratic Club and Cerritos resident, referenced the staff report dated June 2, 2005, opposed celebration alternative 3, indicated alternative 4 could slip into a denominational service, and noted indifference to alternatives 1 and 2.
MOTION: Following City Council/Agency discussion, it was moved by Councilwoman/Member Kappe and seconded by Councilman/Member Edwards to implement alternative 2 contained in the staff report dated June 2, 2005, and incorporate into alternative 2 a component where selected Martin Luther King Jr. speeches would be recited. The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman/Member Kappe and seconded by Councilwoman/Member Lee to direct staff to work with the Friends of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to implement alternative 1 as an educational component of a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration similar to other educational programs offered by the Friends and not necessarily on the same day as a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. The motion carried unanimously.
Review and consideration of a ban on smoking in City parks.
Cynthia Perez, Los Angeles Children's Planning Council, addressed the ill-effects of smoking on public health and urged the Council to ban smoking in City parks.
Cynthia Okimoto, Asian American Drug Abuse Program, spoke in support of a ban on smoking in City parks and presented a video of a skit by Tetzlaff Middle School students in support of the smoking ban.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chairman Bowlen and seconded by Councilwoman/Member Kappe to direct staff to draft an ordinance banning smoking in City parks, excluding the Iron-Wood Nine Golf Course, for presentation at a future City Council meeting. The motion carried with Mayor/Chairman Crawley dissenting.
Mayor/Chairman Crawley expressed that such an ordinance would be unenforceable; would make criminals out of people who are not criminals; and observed that park areas are open spaces, which would negate the second-hand smoke argument.
Review and consideration of the structure of Let Freedom Ring celebrations in the City of Cerritos.
Alon Barlevy, Cerritos resident, suggested maintaining the fireworks component of the Let Freedom Ring celebration.
Randy Economy, Cerritos resident, opined that safety concerns at the event have become more evident in recent years and suggested that the spirit of the celebration should be emphasized. He suggested a parade in conjunction with the event.
Willodean Wiswell, Let Freedom Ring Committee Member and Cerritos resident, suggested implementation of a barbeque ban during the July 4th event at Cerritos Park East, while increasing the number of community organization food booths.
Tom Taylor, Cerritos resident, concurred with the comments of Willodean Wiswell.
Rosemary Economy, Cerritos resident, urged the City Council to eliminate the barbeques during the Let Freedom Ring celebration.
MOTION: Following City Council/Agency discussion, it was moved by Councilwoman/Member Lee and seconded by Councilman/Member Edwards to ban all barbeques at Cerritos Park East on July 4 starting next year. The motion carried unanimously.
RECESS AND RECONVENE:
At 7:25 p.m. the Mayor/Chair called for a recess. The meeting reconvened at 7:35 p.m., with all Council/Agency Members in attendance.
Review and consideration of ethics and law in public service.
Craig Steele, City Consultant from Richards, Watson & Gershon, discussed ethical issues associated with public service.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman/Member Kappe and seconded by Councilman/Member Edwards to direct staff to develop a Code of Ethics for City Council consideration. The motion carried with Mayor/Chairman Crawley dissenting.
Review and consideration of a 50th anniversary parade and celebration.
MOTION: Councilwoman/Member Kappe moved to direct staff to move forward with the 50th anniversary parade and celebration activities outlined in the staff report dated June 2, 2005. The motion was seconded by Councilman/Member Edwards and carried unanimously.
Review and consideration of potential alternative uses for the property located at 19033 Studebaker Road, Cerritos (former State Farm office building).
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman/Member Kappe and seconded by Councilwoman/Member Lee that the former State Farm office building at 19033 Studebaker Road remain vacant at this time in light of the uncertainty associated with the State's fiscal situation, and that the matter be brought back to the City Council/Redevelopment Agency at a later date. The motion carried unanimously.
Review and consideration of existing regulations concerning political signs in the City of Cerritos.
CONSENSUS: Following discussion regarding constitutional free speech issues associated with political signs, the City Council/Redevelopment Agency received and filed the June 2, 2005 staff reported related to political sign regulations.
CONSENSUS: Staff was directed to make preparations for another meeting to consider the remaining items on the agenda that were not considered this evening.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
/s/ Josephine Triggs
Josephine Triggs, City Clerk
/s/ Art Gallucci
Art Gallucci, Redevelopment Agency Secretary
Attest:
/s/ John F. Crawley
John F. Crawley, Mayor
Approved: June 8, 2005
