Cerritos City Council Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS
HELD APRIL 10, 2008
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
Pastor Bill Ebling with the First Baptist Church of Fullerton offered the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Boy Scout Troop 394 led the assembly in the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
The following Members of the City Council were in attendance:
Councilman Joseph Cho, Ph.D.
Councilwoman Laura Lee
Mayor Pro Tem Bruce W. Barrows
Mayor Jim Edwards
PRESENTATIONS
Proclamations were presented to the following: Los Cerritos Shopping Center for its Kids Care…About the Planet! program; Sheel Choksi for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout; and Valley Christian High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team for being named the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division IV-A Champions and being named the Alpha League Champions.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Luis Terrazas, Cerritos resident, submitted a petition containing approximately 40 names of Cerritos residents expressing three-story construction, dust, and privacy concerns related to the unincorporated County area generally located southwest of Gridley Avenue and 166th Street and asking the City to write a letter to County Supervisor Don Knabe requesting a moratorium on future developments in the area until these issues are explored.
It was noted during ensuing discussion that the County did not notify the City of the construction referenced by Mr. Terrazas; the City was recently made aware of the construction; a letter is being prepared for transmittal to the County; and Supervisor Knabe has been apprised of the situation. A brief reference to annexation was also made.
Paul Bellenbaum, Cerritos resident, commented on his attendance at the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration on Sunday, March 30, 2008 at California High School in Whittier.
Carol Chen, Cerritos resident, referenced the testimony of Mr. Terrazas and suggested City staff develop a memorandum of understanding with surrounding cities and the County that notification be made when construction projects occur within 500 feet of the neighboring city or County area.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Approval of Register of Demands
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Lee and seconded by Councilman Cho to approve the Register of Demands dated April 10, 2008, Checks 98676 through 99069 in the total amount of $12,247,770.95. The motion carried unanimously.
Approval of Minutes
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Lee and seconded by Councilman Cho to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 27, 2008, as corrected. The motion carried unanimously.
Ordinance for second reading and adoption. Reading of ordinance waived and ordinance adopted.
ORDINANCE NO. 936 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS DETERMINING AND DECLARING PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS ON CERTAIN STREETS IN THE CITY OF CERRITOS AND AMENDING CHAPTER 10.04 OF THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Lee and seconded by Councilman Cho to waive reading of and adopt Ordinance No. 936 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS DETERMINING AND DECLARING PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS ON CERTAIN STREETS IN THE CITY OF CERRITOS AND AMENDING CHAPTER 10.04 OF THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers - Cho, Lee, Barrows, Edwards
NOES: Councilmembers - None
ABSENT: Councilmembers - None
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers - None
Miscellaneous
Consideration and award of Bid No. 1068-08, purchase of one new 3/4 ton pickup truck.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Lee and seconded by Councilman Cho to award Bid No. 1068-08 to Raceway Ford for the purchase of one new 3/4 ton pickup truck in the amount of $23,166.67. The motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Consideration to waive reading of and introduce AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE AS IT RELATES TO CONSTRUCTION TIME LIMITS.
Development Code Amendment 2007-5*
*Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project is exempt from CEQA review.
Title was read to the foregoing item, the public hearing opened, and staff called upon for a report.
Associate Planner Vega provided a review of the staff report dated April 10, 2008.
Interested parties were invited to present testimony. There was no response and the public hearing was closed.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Barrows and seconded by Councilwoman Lee to waive reading of and introduce Ordinance No. 938 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE AS IT RELATES TO CONSTRUCTION TIME LIMITS.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers - Cho, Lee, Barrows, Edwards
NOES: Councilmembers - None
ABSENT: Councilmembers - None
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers - None
PENDING LEGAL MATTERS
Resolution for consideration
Consideration to waive reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSITION 98 REGARDING REGULATION OF LAND USE.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Barrows and seconded by Councilman Cho to waive reading of and adopt Resolution No. 2008-12 entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSITION 98 REGARDING REGULATION OF LAND USE. The motion carried unanimously.
NEW AND OLD BUSINESS
Review and consideration of the proposed design for the 2009 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade float.
Paul Bellenbaum, Cerritos resident, commented in favor of the Ben-Hur design concept.
It was noted during a brief discussion that the Fine Arts & Historical Commission unanimously recommended the Camelot design concept.
MOTION: It was then moved by Councilwoman Lee and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barrows to approve the Camelot design concept for the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade float. The motion carried, with Councilman Cho dissenting and expressing a preference for the Ben-Hur design concept.
Review and consideration of a contract extension with JJ's Café as food and beverage concessionaire for the Cerritos Iron-Wood Nine Golf Course.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Cho and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barrows to extend the concessionaire contract for the Cerritos Iron-Wood Nine Golf Course to Anthony and Jun Ji Thomas (JJ's Café) for an additional period of one year expiring March 11, 2009. The motion carried unanimously.
Consideration of a proposal to enter into a non-binding Letter of Intent and exclusive negotiating agreement with Carmel Valley Residence Inn, LLC, 7969 Engineer Road, Suite 108, San Diego, California, with respect to the development of an extended stay hotel and related improvements located at 17423 and 17501 Studebaker Road. The subject properties are respectively zoned Open Space (OS) and Industrial Commercial (MC) and all parcels are located within the Los Cerritos Redevelopment Project Area
(APN 7034-016-905, APN 7034-016-906, APN 7034-016-908, APN 7034-016-909).
Discussion was held regarding use of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) right-of-way for extra parking, and in response to Council inquiry, City Manager Gallucci indicated that staff would contact the MTA regarding the affect on future use of its right-of-way if parking is permitted within the right-of-way in conjunction with this project.
Hunter Oliver, Carmel Valley Residence Hotel, LLC, applicant, indicated that the MTA parking will create additional surface parking and landscaping to improve the aesthetic value of the area around the hotel, which can be removed if the area is taken back; noted that the design will take into consideration views from Studebaker Road as well as the 605 Freeway; and commented on the architect's previous projects.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Barrows and seconded by Councilman Cho to:
1. Authorize execution of the Letter of Intent contained in the staff report dated April 10, 2008 and the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement set forth within the Letter of Intent;
2. Authorize the City Manager/Executive Director, or his designee, to further negotiate with representatives of Carmel Valley Residence Inn, LLC, to develop a formal development agreement for review and approval by the City Council/ Redevelopment Agency; and
3. Authorize City staff to commence the processing of the required entitlements and to prepare and/or compile supplemental information in support of the proposed extended stay hotel to be located at 17423 and 17501 Studebaker Road including, but not limited to, the preparation of an environmental assessment in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act;
as recommended in the staff report dated April 10, 2008. The motion carried unanimously.
REPORT ON PENDING LEGISLATION
Mayor Edwards reported on a recent trip to Sacramento to offer testimony on Assembly Bill 2000 regarding roll-over of units that are greater than the Regional Housing Needs Assessment allocation.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS/COMMITTEE REPORTS/REPORT ON MEETINGS
Councilwoman Lee reported on her attendance at the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration on Sunday, March 30, 2008 at California High School in Whittier; and asked that staff address resident complaints regarding conservation issues related to Regional Park lights operated by the County remaining on into the later morning hours, the bathrooms operated by the City opening later than the County-operated bathrooms; and the reporting by custodians of broken bathroom lighting.
Councilman Barrows referenced his attendance at a League of California Cities Transportation Policy Committee meeting and reminded staff about transportation bond funding application deadlines; and commented on a dead animal request that went unanswered because the current animal control contractor was not open at the time and asked that staff report back on possibly contracting with another animal control provider during those times when the current contractor is closed.
Mayor Edwards commended those involved in the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration on Sunday, March 30, 2008 at California High School in Whittier, and in particular Jose Ramos.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
/s/ Josephine Triggs
Josephine Triggs, City Clerk
ATTEST:
/s/ Jim Edwards
Jim Edwards, Mayor/Chair
Approved: April 24, 2008
