Cerritos City Council Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS
HELD OCTOBER 25, 2007
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Cerritos City Hall, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, California.
INVOCATION
The Mayor Pro Tem offered the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Girl Scout, Brownie, Daisy and Junior Troop 767 led the assembly in the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
The attendance of the following Members of the City Council was noted:
Councilman Bruce W. Barrows
Councilman Joseph Cho, Ph.D.
Councilman John F. Crawley
Mayor Pro Tem Jim Edwards
Mayor Laura Lee (Excused absence)
PRESENTATIONS
Plaques were presented to former Property Preservation Commissioners Doris Iglesias and Ray Lovell for their service to the community.
Consideration of appointments to vacancies on various commissions, boards and committees
MOTION: Councilman Barrows moved to appoint John Dawson to the Let Freedom Ring Committee, with a term expiring March 31, 2009. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cho and carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Sally Havice, Cerritos resident, suggested the City Council and School Board conduct joint hearings regarding pedestrian safety, noting that a fatality involving a junior high school student had recently occurred on Gridley Road between Artesia Boulevard and 183rd Street, and that Del Amo Boulevard near Artesia High School and Studebaker Road near Cerritos College were other areas of concern.
At the request of the Council, City Manager Gallucci noted that an engineer's report had been ordered in response to the Gridley Road incident, which took place in the City of Artesia, and indicated that upon its completion the report would be transmitted to the City Council as well as to the City of Artesia.
Larry Caballero, representing Assemblymember Tony Mendoza, invited the community to an anti-drug/gang awareness forum "Plain Talk for Parents" to be held at Artesia High School on November 3, 2007.
Paul Bellenbaum, Cerritos resident, suggested a foot bridge or tunnel over/under the Gridley Road/South Street intersection to accommodate pedestrians in that area.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
Approval of Register of Demands
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Barrows and seconded by Councilman Crawley to approve the Register of Demands dated October 25, 2007, Checks 94398 through 94843 in the total amount of $15,560,363.06. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
Approval of Treasurer's Report for the period ending September 30, 2007
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Barrows and seconded by Councilman Crawley to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the period ending September 30, 2007. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
Approval of Minutes
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Barrows and seconded by Councilman Crawley to approve the Minutes of the October 11, 2007 Regular City Council Meeting. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
Consideration and award of Bid No. 1060-08, purchase of one new 3/4 ton pickup truck with lift gate.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Barrows and seconded by Councilman Crawley to award Bid No. 1060-08 for the purchase of one new 3/4 ton pickup truck with lift gate to Raceway Ford in the amount of $26,290.68. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
A request for authorization to exchange the unexpended Community Development Block Grant Funds allocated to the City of Cerritos for general funds from the City of Lawndale.
Consideration to waive reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CERRITOS AND THE CITY OF LAWNDALE, CALIFORNIA, REGARDING THE EXCHANGE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS FOR GENERAL FUNDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008.
The Chair declared the public hearing open and called for a report from staff.
Redevelopment Manager Anthony reviewed the contents of the staff report dated October 25, 2007. In response to Council inquiries, Mr. Anthony commented on the trend toward less favorable exchange rates resulting from a decline in demand for CDBG funds due to decreased community development activities, adding that use of these funds for the ABC senior housing project would be infeasible due to administrative costs associated with age criteria identification as required by CDBG national objectives.
Interested parties were invited to comment on this matter. Hearing no response, the public hearing was closed.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Crawley and seconded by Councilman Barrows to waive reading of and adopt Resolution No. 2007-17 entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CERRITOS AND THE CITY OF LAWNDALE, CALIFORNIA, REGARDING THE EXCHANGE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS FOR GENERAL FUNDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008; and direct that the general funds that the City receives as a result of said exchange be deposited into the trust fund established for the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
PENDING LEGAL MATTERS
Consideration to waive reading of and introduce AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS ADDING CHAPTER 6.10 TO THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS DIVERSION.
Consideration to waive reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS ESTABLISHING THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS DIVERSION ORDINANCE PROGRAM PARAMETERS.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Crawley and seconded by Councilman Barrows to waive reading of and introduce Ordinance No. 929 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS ADDING CHAPTER 6.10 TO THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS DIVERSION. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Crawley and seconded by Councilman Barrows to waive reading of and adopt Resolution No. 2007-18 entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS ESTABLISHING THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS DIVERSION ORDINANCE PROGRAM PARAMETERS. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
Consideration to waive reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS APPROVING THE SANITARY SEWER MANAGEMENT PLAN - DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND SCHEDULE AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD ORDER NO. 2006-003 - STATEWIDE GENERAL WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS FOR SANITARY SEWER SYSTEMS.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Barrows and seconded by Councilman Cho to waive reading of and adopt Resolution No. 2007-19 entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS APPROVING THE SANITARY SEWER MANAGEMENT PLAN - DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND SCHEDULE AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD ORDER NO. 2006-003 - STATEWIDE GENERAL WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS FOR SANITARY SEWER SYSTEMS. The motion carried with Mayor Lee absent.
Consideration to waive reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS DECLARING THE ADOPTION OF THE 1ST COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION (CEB), UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA.
Assistant City Manager Matsumoto presented the staff report dated October 25, 2007.
In response to Council inquiry, the City Manager responded that at this time there is no budget associated with the adoption process/committee activities, noting that any funding requests would be presented to the Council on a case-by-case basis until next budget year when funding allocations are considered. It was confirmed that the Adoption Committee would be placed in the "A" Group (Community Group) category.
Chuck Sooter, Cerritos resident, offered to answer any questions of the Council and noted that all Adoption Committee board members are Cerritos residents.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Barrows and seconded by Councilman Cho to modify the proposed 1st CEB adoption resolution by removing the words "or its authorized representative" from the fourth and sixth paragraphs. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Cho and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Edwards to waive reading of and adopt Resolution No. 2007-20 entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS DECLARING THE ADOPTION OF THE 1ST COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION (CEB), UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, as amended. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES
Final approval of Parcel Map No. 68395 subdividing Lot 48 of Tract No. 25229 located at 19327 Gridley Road, Cerritos, California (APN 7049-022-042).
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Barrows and seconded by Councilman Cho to accept, file and authorize recordation of Parcel Map No. 68395, subject to the final approval of the City Engineer. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
Consideration and award of a professional services contract to Albert Grover & Associates to perform a citywide engineering and traffic study.
Sally Havice, Cerritos resident, requested and received clarification from the City Manager that the study will encompass both sides of arterial streets, including those arterials where one side of the street is in Cerritos and the other side of the street is in another municipality, and that a traffic study has been completed and made available for public review for the area of and around the affordable senior housing proposal at the ABC Unified School District property at 166th Street and Norwalk Boulevard.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Barrows and seconded by Councilman Cho to award a professional services contract to perform a citywide engineering and traffic survey to Albert Grover & Associates in an amount not to exceed $57,635. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
NEW AND OLD BUSINESS
Consideration and review of smoking policy at Cerritos Iron-Wood Nine Golf Course.
Recreation Superintendent Titus provided an overview of the staff report dated October 25, 2007.
Ken Cha, Cerritos resident, spoke in support of a ban on smoking at Cerritos Iron-Wood Nine Golf Course and commented on the detrimental health effects of second-hand smoke.
The following points were raised during ensuing discussion: the open space environment of the golf course makes second-hand smoke impacts negligible; if there is a smoking ban at City parks, a similar ban should be imposed at the golf course; and the possibility of prohibiting smoking in areas where golfers are in close proximity to one another, while allowing it on the golf course.
MOTION: Following discussion, it was moved by Councilman Barrows and seconded by Councilman Crawley to direct staff to bring back an ordinance amending the Cerritos Municipal Code to prohibit smoking at Cerritos Iron-Wood Nine Golf Course, including the patio, putting green and driving range, and excluding the golf course itself. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
Consideration of mileage reimbursement for City commissioners.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Barrows and seconded by Councilman Crawley to authorize an auto allowance of $50 per month to members of the Planning Commission, Park and Recreation Commission and Property Preservation Commission; and authorize mileage reimbursement to members of the Fine Arts and Historical Commission, Economic Development Commission, Community Safety Committee and Let Freedom Ring Committee for designated City-related use of personal vehicles, to be paid at the IRS reimbursement rate. The motion carried, with Mayor Lee absent.
REPORT ON PENDING LEGISLATION
The City Manager reported that the City Council would be meeting with Assemblymember Tony Mendoza to discuss items of mutual concern and interest as well as assistance with introduction of two legislative bills, one relating to authorizing a redevelopment agency to pay its local school district a portion of the agency's annual deposit into the agency's low and moderate income housing fund; and the second to amend the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) to allow the carry-over of excess housing units of a particular income level to a subsequent planning cycle.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS/COMMITTEE REPORTS/REPORT ON MEETINGS
Councilman Cho announced that a public hearing would be held at the November 8, 2007 City Council meeting regarding the affordable senior housing project in conjunction with the ABC Unified School District.
Consensus: Upon suggestion of Councilman Barrows, it was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to report back on the City providing a central location for the shredding of personal documents of residents.
Councilman Barrows suggested a report be brought back to the City Council regarding speaker cards at City Council meetings. The City Attorney pointed out that speaker cards are public records.
Consensus: It was the consensus of City Council to direct the City Clerk to report back on the matter of speaker cards at the City Council meetings.
Consensus: At the suggestion of Mayor Pro Tem Edwards, staff was directed to report back to the City Council on the B&B stables request.
Mayor Pro Tem Edwards announced a fundraising car wash for the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, United States Marine Corps, on Saturday, October 27 at the Los Cerritos Shopping Center former Todai restaurant site; reminded everyone to vote at the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 6; and asked that everyone remember those who lost their homes to the Southern California fires as well as the fire fighters who continue to battle those fires.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
/s/ Josephine Triggs
Josephine Triggs, City Clerk
ATTEST:
/s/ Laura Lee
Laura Lee, Mayor
Approved: November 8, 2007
