Cerritos City Council Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS
HELD MARCH 23, 2006
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Paul Bowlen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Cerritos City Hall, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, California.
INVOCATION
Pastor Bill Ebling of First Baptist Church of Downey offered the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilman John Crawley led the assembly in the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
The City Clerk noted attendance of the following Members of the City Council:
Councilman John F. Crawley
Councilman Jim Edwards
Councilwoman Gloria A. Kappe
Mayor Pro Tem Laura Lee
Mayor Paul W. Bowlen
PRESENTATIONS
Mayor Bowlen presented proclamations to the following: Dell and Jean Jensen in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary on March 16, 2006; and Patricia Hager, Principal of Whitney High School, commending Whitney High School on the occasion of its 30th anniversary.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Merri Wheaton, Cerritos resident, offered a prayer.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
Approval of Register of Demands
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Crawley and seconded by Councilwoman Kappe to approve the Register of Demands dated March 23, 2006, Checks 79385 through 79475, Checks 79476 through 79655 and Checks 79656 through 79821, in the total amount of $5,837,732.14. The motion unanimously carried.
Approval of Minutes
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Crawley and seconded by Councilwoman Kappe to approve the Minutes of the March 9, 2006 Regular City Council Meeting and the March 15, 2006 Joint Special Meeting of the Cerritos City Council and Cerritos Redevelopment Agency. The motion unanimously carried.
Pending legal matters
Resolution for consideration
Options and timeline for actions regarding the Los Coyotes Lighting and Landscaping District.
Consideration to waive reading of and adopt A resolution OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS, PROPOSING THE CONTINUATION OF THE LOS COYOTES LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPING DISTRICT AND ORDERING THE CITY ENGINEER OR DESIGNEE TO PREPARE A REPORT, PURSUANT TO THE LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ACT OF 1972 AND THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE XIII D OF THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION.
MOTION DIES FOR LACK OF SECOND: Councilman Crawley moved to discontinue the Los Coyotes Lighting and Landscaping District. The motion died for lack of a second.
RESOLUTION NO. 2006-8
A resolution OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS, PROPOSING THE CONTINUATION OF THE LOS COYOTES LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPING DISTRICT AND ORDERING THE CITY ENGINEER OR DESIGNEE TO PREPARE A REPORT, PURSUANT TO THE LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ACT OF 1972 AND THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE XIII D OF THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lee and seconded by Councilwoman Kappe to waive reading of and adopt Resolution No. 2006-8. The motion carried with Councilman Crawley dissenting.
New and Old Business
An informational report regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it pertains to reasonable accommodations related to zoning issues.
Assistant City Attorney Steres presented an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) pertaining to reasonable accommodations relating to zoning issues as outlined in the staff report dated March 23, 2006, noting that the report is a result of a reasonable accommodation request presented to the Planning Commission to allow a concrete driveway strip to accommodate a disabled resident. He addressed the provisions of ADA; the process of granting a reasonable accommodation request; the key elements of reasonable accommodation; the removal of property improvements when the disabled resident no longer resides at the property; the benefits of adopting a reasonable accommodations ordinance; and presented applicable cases relative to reasonable accommodations. Mr. Steres also noted that the Planning Commission recommends the adoption of a reasonable accommodation ordinance.
Community Development Director Contreras indicated that staff also recommends the adoption of a reasonable accommodation ordinance.
In response to Council inquiry, Mr. Steres further elaborated on the benefits of adopting a reasonable accommodation ordinance; and staff addressed the installation of handicapped ramps in the City.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Edwards and seconded by Councilwoman Kappe to direct the Planning Commission to prepare an ordinance relative to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it pertains to reasonable accommodations related to zoning issues for City Council consideration. The motion unanimously carried.
Consideration of an official flag for the City of Cerritos.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Bowlen and seconded by Councilwoman Kappe to direct the Fine Arts and Historical Commission to provide recommendations for an official flag for the City of Cerritos for City Council consideration. The motion unanimously carried.
Consideration of an amendment of Southeast Water Coalition Joint Powers Agreement.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Crawley and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Lee to approve an amendment to the Southeast Water Coalition Joint Powers Agreement. The motion unanimously carried.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS/COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilman Edwards reported on the success of the Youth Basketball Awards Night held on March 20, 2006; and announced that Cerritos’ 50th anniversary celebration will be held April 28 through April 30, 2006, and encouraged participation in the parade scheduled on Saturday, April 29, 2006.
Councilman Crawley announced that he may be unable to attend the next City Council Meeting because he will be traveling with the Orangeline Development Authority to observe the Shanghai Maglev high speed ground transportation system in Shanghai, China.
Mayor Pro Tem Lee reported on her attendance at the Gahr High School First Annual Music Showcase; and referenced the Cerritos Crime Prevention Town Hall Meeting and suggested offering rewards to residents for their involvement in apprehending criminal suspects.
CONSENSUS: It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to place the matter of offering rewards to residents for their involvement in apprehending criminal suspects on a future agenda.
Mayor Bowlen commented on his family’s recent visit to Cerritos from Massachusetts; and indicated that it his honor and pleasure to serve as Mayor.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. in memory of Bharti Amin, wife of Community Safety Committee Member Ron Amin.
/s/ Josephine Triggs
Josephine Triggs, City Clerk
ATTEST:
/s/ Paul W. Bowlen
Paul W. Bowlen, Mayor
Approved: April 13, 2006
