Cerritos City Council Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS
HELD MAY 22, 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 Leonard Tan with the First Evangelical Church of Cerritos offered the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Barrows 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
The following proclamations were presented: Liane Law and Michelle Rudolph for achieving the Girl Scout Gold Award; and Aaron Sandler in recognition of Older Americans Month and his community volunteerism.
Representatives of the Friends of the 1st CEB presented a plaque of appreciation and trophy on behalf of Major General Thomas D. Waldhauser, Commanding General, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, thanking the City for its tremendous support shown the Marines and Sailors of the 1st Marine Division.
The City received its designation as a Tree City USA for the 10th consecutive year from the US Department of Forestry and the Arbor Day Foundation.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Chris Fuentes, Cerritos resident, referenced the recent location filming in Cerritos and thanked those involved for their assistance. He commented on a recent home invasion robbery in his neighborhood and asked for placement on the next Council agenda the matter of establishing a Sheriff's substation in the ROP building at Studebaker Road and Artesia Boulevard; discount tickets for Cerritos residents of unsold seats at the Performing Arts Center; increasing Library hours of operation on Saturday and Sunday; audit of City services for the handicapped; and repeal of the tobacco license tax. He asked that the meeting be adjourned in memory of armed services members who have served in the past as well as those currently serving.
Paul Bellenbaum, Cerritos resident, commented favorably on a recent gasoline give-away promotion at a service station in the City.
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 May 22, 2008, Checks 99692 through 100125 in the total amount of $12,041,860.53. The motion carried unanimously.
Approval of Treasurer's Report for the period ending April 30, 2008
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Lee and seconded by Councilman Cho to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the period ending April 30, 2008. 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 Special and Regular Meetings of May 8, 2008. The motion carried unanimously.
PENDING LEGAL MATTERS
Ordinance for consideration
Consideration to waive reading of and introduce AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS ADDING CHAPTER 9.35 TO THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO RESIDENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR SEX OFFENDERS.
Chris Fuentes, Cerritos resident, suggested the ordinance be modified to identify the following as protected areas in an effort to expand buffer areas: future potential sites where protected uses could locate, the northern and eastern portions of the City, areas near the Los Cerritos Shopping Center, areas zoned for homeless shelters, and the City of Artesia.
It was noted during ensuing discussion that there are no current plans for a homeless shelter in the City; there are currently 13 registered sex offenders residing in the City; the proposed ordinance is applicable citywide, limits the number of registered sex offenders outside of the buffer zone, and prohibits sex offenders from residing within 2000 feet of schools, parks and childcare facilities, including licensed residential child care facilities; and the Code would require amendment to change commercial uses to residential uses.
MOTION: It was then moved by Mayor Pro Tem Barrows and seconded by Councilman Cho to waive reading of and introduce Ordinance No. 939 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS ADDING CHAPTER 9.35 TO THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO RESIDENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR SEX OFFENDERS. The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers - Cho, Lee, Barrows, Edwards
NOES: Councilmembers - None
ABSENT: Councilmembers - None
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers - None
PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES
Consideration of authorization by the City Council to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for citywide street sweeping services.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Barrows and seconded by Councilwoman Lee to direct staff to issue a Request for Proposals for citywide street sweeping services in the City of Cerritos. The motion carried unanimously.
NEW AND OLD BUSINESS
Review and consideration of a program to celebrate the arts in the City of Cerritos as a part of National Arts and Humanities Month and California Arts Day (October 2008).
Chris Fuentes, Cerritos resident and Member of the Fine Arts and Historical Commission referenced the State model for such a program, noting that it would promote Cerritos as an arts destination and lay the groundwork for a Cerritos sculpture festival. He suggested incorporating Festival of Friendship programming/funding as part of the proposal, adding that the proposal would complement the Friends of Arts Education Family Arts Festival and showcase the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, schools, and Cerritos talent. He suggested re-evaluating other events in an effort to fund this proposal and noted the Fine Arts and Historical Commission unanimously recommended the arts celebration program proposal with a budget of approximately $50,000.
The following points were raised during ensuing discussion: the matter should be tabled until a discussion on the budget is undertaken; the efforts of the Fine Arts and Historical Commission are to be commended; given the state of the economy and an anticipated 2008-2009 fiscal year budget reduction, expenses should be streamlined; due to the number of festivals already celebrated by the City, a re-evaluation of all festivals and celebrations should be undertaken during the budget study session; the Family Arts Festival sponsored by the Friends of Arts Education covers more activities than the proposal; and ABC Unified School District sponsors arts programs throughout the year.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilman Cho and seconded by Councilwoman Lee to limit the activities to celebrate the arts in Cerritos to existing programs at no additional cost as outlined in the staff report dated May 22, 2008 in the first part of Attachment C under the heading Activities that can be provided/promoted through existing programs at no additional cost. The motion carried with Mayor Pro Tem Barrows dissenting and expressing a preference to table the matter pending a discussion on the budget.
Review and consideration of a public artwork donation in accordance with the City of Cerritos Policy for Accepting Donated Artwork/Collectibles for possible location in the Cerritos Civic Center.
Assistant City Manager Matsumoto reviewed the staff report dated May 22, 2008 and provided an overview of the art work entitled Non-Fiction Book Bench being offered for donation by Mr. and Mrs. Dennis J. McGorman.
Chris Fuentes, Cerritos resident and Fine Arts and Historical Commissioner, offered the following as input from the Fine Arts and Historical Commission: thanked the McGormans for their donation; expressed that locating the piece on the pad next to the existing Illuminations artwork was too close to that piece of art; suggested temporarily displaying the piece inside the Library possibly in the Children's area to allow the McGormans to relocate it from their garage and until a location is identified, which could be selected by the Commission for Council review; the bench is very small and would be a prime target for graffiti; and the piece should be located somewhere near the Library.
During discussion that followed the City Council thanked Mr. and Mrs. McGorman for their generous donation of Non-Fiction Book Bench. Additional discussion ensued regarding anticipated cost to maintain the piece and application of additional patina and anti-graffiti coat to protect the piece; location of the piece in the sculpture garden or at an appropriate location outside of the Library; and possibly referring the matter back to the Fine Arts and Historical Commission for location recommendations.
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Barrows and seconded by Councilwoman Lee to approve and accept the donation of Non-Fiction Book Bench from Mr. and Mrs. Dennis J. McGorman to the City of Cerritos and direct that the donation be appropriately acknowledged. The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: It was moved by Councilwoman Lee and seconded by Councilman Cho to authorize placement of Non-Fiction Book Bench in the general vicinity of the Amaryllis fountain and red willow tree area facing the Cerritos Library, if feasible, and authorize staff to select an alternate location as appropriate. The motion carried unanimously.
CONSENSUS: It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to look into a motion detection theft deterrent device for Non-Fiction Book Bench.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS/COMMITTEE REPORTS/REPORT ON MEETINGS
Councilwoman Lee reported on her attendance at a recent International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Summit in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and announced a Whitney High School Band fundraising e-waste collection event from 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 31.
Councilman Cho suggested the State of City presentation materials be posted to the City's website.
Councilman Barrows commented on his involvement in a variety of meetings involving representatives of Orange County Transportation Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Southern California Association of Governments, the Governor's staff, and State Senate and Assembly Members with regard to transportation issues involving the Pacific Electric right-of-way.
Mayor Edwards invited everyone to the Family Arts Festival on Sunday, June 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; discussed the recent visit by Zhang Yun, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Los Angeles; and invited the public to the upcoming Memorial Day Service at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 26.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. in memory of all those who have given their lives in service to our Country.
/s/ Josephine Triggs
Josephine Triggs, City Clerk
ATTEST:
/s/ Jim Edwards
Jim Edwards, Mayor/Chair
Approved: June 12, 2008
