City Council Wrap Up - Redevelopment and Overnight Parking Fees to Increase

The Cerritos City Council's first meeting of February included heated public comments regarding the redevelopment agency issue and the approval of an increase in fees for certain parking violations.

Public Comments - Dissolution of Cerritos Redevelopment Agency

Resident Jay Gray voiced his concerns on the city's situation regarding the recent dissolution of the Cerritos Redevelopment Agency by the state.

Gray said the money put into the agency could have been used on various projects in Cerritos, but that opportunity has passed now that the agency is gone.

He then went on to criticize the council members saying they are "millionaires up here collecting lifetime benefits once they leave."

Gray also said the city is favoring big businesses demanding high fees.

Mayor Carol Chen responded to Gray, clarifying some of the specifics of redevelopment.

"There are strict rules as to what the city can and can't spend," Chen said. "What we spend on are the infrastructures and facilities in the city. I think if you were to look at the program more specifically and what the law allows us to do, then you'll have a clear understanding as to what the city has done," she said.

Gray immediately proceeded to respond from his seat as Chen was finishing her comments, albeit with a turned off microphone. Chen attempted to remind him his time allotted for speaking was up.

"I'm sorry, you misunderstood me," Gray said. "That's the problem with the council: you don't want to listen. You can cut the mic off so nobody hears me, but sooner or later people are going to speak up," he continued. 

"See, you don't care do you? You didn't care before; you don't care now," said Gray.

11B: Consideration of an increase in fine amounts for selected parking citations in the City of Cerritos.

Gregory Berg, the city's Community and Safety Service's Director, said the State of California sets the amount of fines for moving violations and let cities set the amount for parking citations.

Berg presented a request to increase the fines for a number of parking violations, in particular, the $13 parking violations.

The city issues over 20,000 parking citations a year and a majority of the citations are the 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. violations that carry a $13 fine.

"We're actually losing 98 cents every time we issue one," Berg said.

According to Berg, the matter went before the Community Safety Committee recently with no consensus.

The committee agreed the cost of the citation should at least cover the administrative and overhead fees that come along with the citation. Conversely, the committee said the citations shouldn't be higher than the overhead fees and citation costs associated with the ticket.

The council agreed on a new fee of $25.50 with a vote of 3-2. Council members Joseph Cho and Mark Pulido did not vote for the increase.

The next Cerritos City Council meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 27.