Cerritos City Council Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS
HELD MAY 11, 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 of the First Baptist Church of Fullerton offered the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Girl Scout Troop 678 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 Jim Edwards
Councilwoman Laura Lee
Mayor Pro Tem Joseph Cho, Ph.D.
Mayor Bruce W. Barrows
PRESENTATIONS
The following proclamations were presented: May 2009 as Muscular Dystrophy Association Fire Fighter Appreciation Month; May 16 and 17, 2009 as Relay for Life days; May 2009 as Physical Fitness and Sports Month; May 2009 as Aquatic Safety Month; Girl Scout Gold Medal Award recipients Melody Chern and Nicole Osako; Boy Scout Eagle Scout recipients Austin Chang, Stephen Lee, Andrew Park, Justin Wang, Chih Yu Joey Chen; and Sherman Ng; and 2009 United Spirit Association Cheerleading National Champions Cerritos High School Varsity Song Team.
CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO VACANCIES ON VARIOUS COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Edwards and seconded by Mayor Barrows to confirm the appointment of Tricia Hyun to the Let Freedom Ring Committee. The motion carried unanimously.
The City Clerk then administered the oath to Ms. Hyun.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Ken Cha, Cerritos resident, suggested WiFi hours be extended in the Civic Center beyond 9:00 p.m. and the service be better publicized.
CONSENSUS: It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to place on a future agenda the possibility of extending the hours of WiFi in the Civic Center.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Approval of Register of Demands
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Chen and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cho to approve the Register of Demands dated May 11, 2009, Checks 108202 through 108687, in the total amount of $13,475,683.04. The motion carried unanimously.
Approval of Treasurer's Report
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Chen and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cho to approve the Treasurer's Report for the period ending February 28, 2009. The motion carried unanimously.
Approval of Minutes
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Chen and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cho to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 23, 2009. The motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES
Consideration and award of contract for emergency repairs of the freight elevator at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (APN 7030-011-910).
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Lee and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cho that the City Council:
1. Make a finding that an emergency exists requiring the immediate repair to the freight elevator at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts;
2. Make a finding that staff has negotiated fair and reasonable terms for the services through an informal bid process;
3. Find that staff has satisfied the purposes of the Bidding Statute of the Cerritos Municipal Code, and that it is reasonable and necessary to utilize an informal bid process to expedite the repair process;
4. Appropriate sufficient funds to complete the proposed work; and
5. Award a contract for the emergency repair of the freight elevator at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corp. in the amount of $30,689 and reject all other proposals;
as recommended in the staff report dated May 11, 2009. The motion carried unanimously.
NEW AND OLD BUSINESS
Consideration of pending legislation and taking action regarding same if appropriate – Assembly Bill 521 (De La Torre): A proposal to authorize a public utility to lease real property to a governmental entity for purposes of maintaining a public park with the utility retaining the right of way easement.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Edwards and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cho to direct staff to prepare and transmit letters in support of Assembly Bill 521 to author Assemblymember Hector De La Torre, Assemblymember Tony Mendoza, Senator Alan Lowenthal, and the Senate Policy Committee reviewing this legislation, as recommended in the staff report dated May 11, 2009. The motion carried unanimously.
Review and consideration of a proposal of the Department of Finance to the Governor of the State of California to borrow local government property taxes.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Lee and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cho that the City Council:
1. Direct staff to prepare a letter to the Governor opposing the proposal of the Department of Finance to borrow local government property taxes; and
2. Actively participate with the League of California Cities and other coalition groups to oppose any efforts to take local revenues that are intended for local purposes;
as recommended in the staff report dated May 11, 2009. The motion carried unanimously.
PENDING LEGISLATION
A brief discussion was held regarding Assembly Bill 139 related to storm water runoff clean-up, and appropriation of funds as well as lack of guarantees that the funding would be used for the stated purpose were questioned. It was noted the Gateway Cities Council of Governments City Manager Steering Committee in addition to the League of California Cities Los Angeles Division recommended opposition to the bill unless it is amended.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Barrows and seconded by Councilman Edwards authorizing a letter from the Mayor on behalf of the City Council in opposition to Assembly Bill 139. The motion carried unanimously.
In response to Council inquiry, City Manager Gallucci suggested waiting for action from the City Council of Long Beach prior to taking a position on the inner harbor expansion.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS/COMMITTEE REPORTS/REPORT ON MEETINGS
Councilman Edwards commented on the City's 53rd birthday celebration and Spring Festival, commending staff for a job well done. He requested the meeting be adjourned in memory of former Cerritos resident Craig Kimsey who recently passed away.
Councilwoman Chen indicated that residents had brought to her attention the reduction or elimination of certain classes offered at the Senior Center. In response, City Manager Gallucci indicated that these classes are offered by the ABC Unified School District and have been discontinued due to budget cutbacks. He reported that staff has negotiated with Cerritos College to offer some of the discontinued classes, indicating that the remaining classes would be offered by the City for a fee, since the school district and college district receive average daily attendance funding for these classes while the City does not.
Councilwoman Chen indicated she had attended the Cerritos Library Teen Contest awards ceremony, noted that May is Asian Pacific Heritage Month, and commented on her attendance at the First Evangelical Church of Cerritos National Prayer Day.
Councilwoman Lee referenced Mother's Day and extended her good wishes to all mothers; commented on the Spring Festival and commended staff for their efforts; and noted her attendance at a Cerritos Elementary School speech contest for children who have studied Mandarin Chinese through a Federal grant and do not speak this language in their homes.
Mayor Pro Tem Cho commented on his attendance at the Spring Festival, Library Teen Contest awards ceremony, National Prayer Day at First Evangelical Church of Cerritos, the ribbon cutting ceremony for CCC Information Services, and the Public Service Recognition Week Award Luncheon hosted by the Greater Los Angeles Federal Executive Board and the Combined Federal Campaigns of Greater Los Angeles and Orange/San Bernardino at which the City won the Team Accomplishment Award for the City of Cerritos Adaptive Recreation Program. He referenced the City of La Palma's cultural training program and suggested a similar program for the City of Cerritos to help employees understand the various cultures and backgrounds of its residents.
Mayor Barrows addressed the Spring Festival and commended staff for a successful program; commented on the Library Teen Contest awards ceremony; and indicated he had attended meetings with Gateway Cities Council of Governments and League of California Cities. He discussed the monitoring of bills and legislation by the Council and staff.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m. in memory of former Cerritos resident Craig Kimsey who recently passed away.
/s/Josephine Triggs
Josephine Triggs, City Clerk
ATTEST:
/s/Bruce Barrows
Bruce Barrows, Mayor
Approved: May 26, 2009
