Cerritos City Council Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS
HELD NOVEMBER 20, 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
Councilwoman Gloria Kappe offered the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilman Jim Edwards 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
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Charles Sooter, Cerritos resident, suggested placing on a future agenda a proposal for the City to adopt United States Marine Corps 1st Combat Engineer Battalion from Camp Pendleton for the purposes of mutual association, friendship and support.
CONSENSUS: It was the consensus of the City Council to place on a future agenda the matter of a proposal for the City to adopt United States Marine Corps 1st Combat Engineer Battalion from Camp Pendleton.
Mayor Bowlen referenced the comments made by Jerry Kamashian at the previous City Council meeting regarding code enforcement and indicated that the matter would be placed on the December 14, 2006 City Council agenda.
Richard Hong, Cerritos resident, opposed an affordable housing development concept at the existing ABC Unified School District offices site at 166th Street and Norwalk Boulevard, and suggested the southeast corner of 183rd Street and Bloomfield Avenue as an alternate location. He discussed the potential costs to the City in building new school district offices at the southeast corner of 183rd Street and Bloomfield Avenue, expressing concern with associated revenue generation. Mr. Hong suggested moderate and above-moderate income housing as a means of meeting the City's 1998-2005 Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) requirements.
Gavin Riley, Cerritos resident, retired ABC Unified School District teacher and teacher’s union representative, supported the proposed housing development concept. He opined that misleading project information was being circulated; commented on previous public suggestions to disregard the state housing requirements; noted an article in the Orange County Register regarding legal issues involving the City of Mission Viejo’s failure to meet state housing mandates; and encouraged the Council to make the right decision regarding the proposal.
Sally Havice, Cerritos resident, expressed opposition to the housing development concept, noting concern with the loss of school district property for future school facilities. She commented on the district's shared assets, noting that Cerritos has the major responsibility to protect the future of education and children in the school district. Ms. Havice observed that school district offices could be located in another city within the school district.
Benjamin Ao, Cerritos resident, concurred with comments made by Galvin Riley concerning the circulation of false information relative to the project. With regard to rental and leasing fees, Mr. Ao discussed taxable status, funds generation, non-profit organizations and RHNA requirements.
Marino Visciglio, Cerritos resident, expressed concern with checks and balances between the City and school district associated with the proposed housing development concept. He commented on problems in his neighborhood associated with the use of Juarez Elementary for soccer leagues; and expressed uncertainty as to where students would be placed with the loss of the school district property.
Linda Kennedy Frisbey, Cerritos resident, opposed the housing development concept and referenced the previous loss of school district property for the housing development adjacent to Whitney High School, noting that the school district should not make the same mistake with the proposed project and should retain the property for the community’s future. She suggested developing housing in smaller segments throughout the City to meet the state housing requirements.
Paul Carlson, Cerritos resident, expressed concern regarding the proposed housing development concept. He argued that once the property is developed for affordable and senior housing, it would never be utilized again for educational purposes at the end of the fifty-five year lease period. He opined that the decrease in ABC Unified District schools enrollment is only temporary and suggested supplementing rental fees of low-income residents throughout the City to meet RHNA requirements. He suggested Sheriff personnel attend future meetings to address crime-related issues relative to the project.
Julian Ely, Cerritos resident, discussed his concerns with the proposed housing development for low-income residents. He noted that Cerritos Villas has experienced problems associated with the adjacent neighborhood in Norwalk; and concurred with the previous concerns expressed this evening and the suggestion by Paul Carlson to supplement rental fees of low-income residents throughout the City.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
Approval of Register of Demands
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Edwards and seconded by Councilwoman Kappe to approve the Register of Demands dated November 20, 2006, Check 85988, Checks 85989 through 86086, Checks 86087 through 86278 and Checks 86279 through 86443, in the total amount of $6,405,288.72. The motion carried unanimously.
Approval of Minutes
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Edwards and seconded by Councilwoman Kappe to approve the Minutes of the November 9, 2006 Regular City Council Meeting. The motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES
Consideration and approval of contract extensions with TruGreen Land Care and Valley Crest Landscape Maintenance for landscape maintenance services.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lee and seconded by Councilwoman Kappe to approve a one year contract extension, commencing January 1, 2007, between the City of Cerritos and Tru Green LandCare, Branch 6246 for landscape maintenance services; approve a one year contract extension, commencing January 1, 2007, between the City of Cerritos and Valley Crest Landscape Maintenance for landscape maintenance services; and adopt the findings outlined in the staff report dated November 20, 2006.
The motion unanimously carried.
NEW AND OLD BUSINESS
Review and consideration of proposed design concepts for the City of Cerritos flag.
Following a report by staff, the Chair invited comments from interested parties.
Julian Ely, Cerritos resident, indicated his preference for the letter “C” or other indication placed on the flag to represent the City of Cerritos.
No one else wished to comment, and the public input portion of this item was closed.
MOTION: Following discussion, it was moved by Councilwoman Kappe and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Lee to concur with the recommendation of the Fine Arts and Historical Commission and approve the design concept for the City of Cerritos flag presented in Attachment D of the staff report dated November 20, 2006, with modifications to the design concept substituting the eight gold bars with the City of Cerritos logo. The motion carried, with Councilman Crawley dissenting.
Consideration of a five-year lease agreement extension for Rosewood Park from the Artesia Cemetery District.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lee and seconded by Councilman Edwards to approve a five-year lease agreement extension from the Artesia Cemetery District for Rosewood Park, commencing March 5, 2006. The motion unanimously carried.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS/COMMITTEE REPORTS/REPORT ON MEETINGS
Councilmembers extended to the community best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving holiday.
Councilman Edwards commented on the success of City’s annual holiday tree lighting event and dedication of the City’s 50th anniversary mosaic art piece held at the Civic Center prior to this evening’s meeting; and encouraged everyone to remember military personnel serving our country during this holiday season.
Mayor Bowlen also commented on the success of the City’s annual holiday tree lighting event and dedication of the City’s 50th anniversary mosaic art piece; commented on the Veterans Day Ceremony; inquired about and staff responded regarding the decorating schedule for the City’s Tournament of Roses Parade Float; and commented on the State’s housing requirements.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
/s/ Josephine Triggs
Josephine Triggs, City Clerk
ATTEST:
/s/ Paul W. Bowlen
Paul W. Bowlen, Mayor
Approved: December 14, 2006
