Cerritos City Council Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS
HELD FEBRUARY 12, 2009
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 693 led the assembly in the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
The following Members of the City Council were in attendance:
Councilwoman Carol Chen
Councilman Joseph Cho, Ph.D.
Councilwoman Laura Lee
Mayor Pro Tem Bruce W. Barrows
Mayor Jim Edwards
PRESENTATIONS
Frederick Shen received a proclamation for his dedicated service and leadership as President of the Cerritos Chinese-American Senior Citizens Association.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Irantzu Pujadas, Senator Alan Lowenthal's liaison, announced March 31, 2009 as the deadline for acceptance of nominations for Women of the Year nominations.
Lori Kim, on behalf of Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, announced a low income workshop on March 14 at the Norwalk Library and congratulated Cindy Yen Chen for being selected the 56th Assembly District woman of the year in the business sector.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Approval of Register of Demands
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Barrows and seconded by Councilman Cho to approve the Register of Demands dated February 12, 2009, Checks 106125 through 106519, in the total amount of $7,762,989.73. The motion carried unanimously.
Approval of Minutes
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Barrows and seconded by Councilman Cho to approve the Minutes of the Special Meeting of January 29, 2009. The motion carried unanimously.
PENDING LEGAL MATTERS
Resolution for consideration
Consideration to waive reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS DETERMINING THAT THE PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY WOULD BE SERVED BY THE ISSUANCE OF AN OFF-SALE RETAIL LIQUOR LICENSE FOR A RETAIL SALES FACILITY, FRESH & EASY, LOCATED AT 17504 CARMENITA ROAD, CERRITOS, CALIFORNIA, 90703 (APN 7027-020-036).
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Lee and seconded by Councilwoman Chen to waive reading of and adopt Resolution No. 2009-1 entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS DETERMINING THAT THE PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY WOULD BE SERVED BY THE ISSUANCE OF AN OFF-SALE RETAIL LIQUOR LICENSE FOR A RETAIL SALES FACILITY, FRESH & EASY, LOCATED AT 17504 CARMENITA ROAD, CERRITOS, CALIFORNIA, 90703 (APN 7027-020-036). The motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES
Consideration of an exchange of Federal Surface Transportation Program – Local funds with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and authorization of the City Manager to execute the necessary exchange agreement.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Chen and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Barrows that the City Council approve the exchange of Federal Surface Transportation Program – Local Funds for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) STP-L Local Transportation Funds in the amount of $404,045.00; and authorize the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Cerritos and the LACMTA. The motion carried unanimously.
NEW AND OLD BUSINESS
Consideration and review of a proposed voluntary green development program.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Lee and seconded by Councilman Cho that the City Council direct staff to establish and implement a voluntary green development program; and direct staff to review the voluntary standards within the California Green Building Code and, upon incorporation into the 2010 edition of the California Building Standards Code, determine whether additional green provisions should be added to the Cerritos Municipal Code to further regulate green building and development practices in Cerritos. The motion carried unanimously.
PENDING LEGISLATION
The City Manager reported that it is anticipated Congress would pass and the President would soon sign the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, noting that at present it appears a majority of the funding would be allocated to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, with anticipated reduced allocation to cities. He also reported that negotiations with regard to the State budget are ongoing, noting that staff is monitoring the status of both the Federal and State legislation.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS/COMMITTEE REPORTS/REPORT ON MEETINGS
Councilwoman Lee commented on a tour of the City given to Taiwan visitors on
February 3; commended the Friends of Arts Education programming; reported on the dedication of a flag pole on February 8 at Sunshine Park in memory of Boy Scout Troop 693 Scout Master Loring Hughes and inquired about memorial dedication procedures, to which staff responded that the previously approved procedures would be distributed to Council. She referenced the Cuesta Villas affordable senior housing validation lawsuit and noted the court ruled in favor of the project, and pointing out that the ruling included two points: the project is not required to be submitted to the voters for approval and does not qualify as a low-rent housing project under Article 34 of the California Constitution and no conflict of interest of incompatibility of the office exists by virtue of the simultaneous membership of the City Councilmembers on the governing board of Cuesta Villas and Redevelopment Agency. It was noted that copies of the ruling could be requested from City Hall by phone or e-mail.
Councilman Cho commented on his attendance at the Festival of Friendship and the Loring Hughes memorial dedication. He referenced a recent candidate forum and requested and received clarification that the Orangeline Development Authority (OLDA) membership fee is approximately $15,000 per year and the City has not provided millions or thousands of dollars in funding to OLDA, noting that the OLDA project is a long-term project.
Mayor Pro Tem Barrows provided background information on the Orangeline Development Authority and noted that rumors that the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts is for sale are unfounded.
In response to inquiry of Councilwoman Lee, the City Manager indicated that the expense associated with the All America City Award was less than $50,000.
Mayor Edwards reported on his attendance at the City's Festival of Friendship; discussed a recent Gahr High School student exchange activity involving the hosting of 15 students from Normandy, France; commented on the Loring Hughes flag pole dedication ceremony; and read a letter from Sgt. Major Smith of the Marine Corps 1st Combat Engineer Battalion thanking the City for its support, particularly for travel assistance for injured Marines.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
/s/Josephine Triggs
Josephine Triggs, City Clerk
ATTEST:
/s/Jim Edwards
Jim Edwards, Mayor
Approved: February 26, 2009
