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Politics & Government

Cerritos City Council Approves New Street Improvements and Massage Spa

The Cerritos City Council approves several public works items and a new proposed tenant at the Los Cerritos Center.

The Cerritos City Council met on the evening of Nov. 14 to discuss several public works items and with a 4-1 vote, approved a massage establishment to be opened at . 

Public Hearings

11A. A request by applicant Jie Jiang of Njoy Spa for the approval of a Conditional Use Permit to operate a massage establishment. The subject property is located at 562 Los Cerritos Mall, Cerritos, California, 90703, is zoned Regional-Commercial (CR)

According to Sandy Cisneros, the city's Senior Planner, applicant Jie Jang of Njoy Spa is requesting to open a full service massage establishment (as well as foot massage services) in Los Cerritos Center (between and the vacant Nordstrom building) in one of the lease spaces. Cisneros said Jiang will only employ state-certified massage therapists. Mayor Carol Chen was concerned with the process of hiring additional help as well as license certification.

“When I get busy, when I get maybe five or six customers at the same time, then I'll need to hire more,” Jiang said. “We can display the licenses in a frame hanging on a wall. Each therapist will have a wallet-sized license. They will have to get them laminated and hang it on their uniform.”

Councilmember Bruce Barrows and Mayor Chen were concerned with a conditional, part-time hiring process and how it will fit the licensing standards. Cisneros explained that all employees (including part-time) will have to submit their drivers and massage therapy license to the city within five days of being hired. Ken Kraus, senior property manager spoke in support of Jiang.

“We are looking at other possibilities of service tenants in other places in the mall,” Kraus said. “This is not going to be the only massage spa that we may have at Los Cerritos Center.”

Barrows did not lend his vote for approval as he is in favor of more tax-generating businesses such as retail stores in order to ensure the success of the shopping center.

Public Works

12A. Consideration of participation with the City of Lakewood in a shared jurisdiction street improvement project on Palo Verde Avenue between 183rd Street and South Street.

According to Assistant City Engineer, Kanna Vancheswaran, the city of Lakewood has agreed to take the lead on improving Palo Verde Avenue--a shared street between Cerritos and Lakewood--including designing the improvements and bids for the street. Cerritos will reimburse the city of Lakewood for the improvements, which is estimated to be approximately $79,000.

12B. Consideration of assignment of an existing agreement with Econolite Traffic Engineering and Maintenance for traffic signal and streetlight maintenance services to Aegis ITS.

Hal Arbogast, the city's Director of Public Works/City Engineer, reported that Econolite Traffic Engineering and Maintenance--the company that maintains and services and maintains Cerritos' traffic signals and streetlights--will be merging with its sister company, AEGIS ITS. Services will remain the same and the merger will be transparent. Upon the city's agreeing of the assignment of the contract with AEGIS ITS, AEGIS ITS will agree to the terms of the existing agreement.

12C. Consideration and approval of an agreement with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to construct bikeway improvements for the San Gabriel River Bicycle Trail at 183rd Street.

Vancheswaran said three phases of this four-phased project are complete. The fourth phase entails the realignment of the paths on 183rd Street. Currently, bikers will be re-rerouted off the bike lane and rerouted back on to Palo Verde Avenue during improvements. The estimated amount for completion of this project is $1.7 million.

“I think this is a great improvement, and it really is a safety improvement,” Mayor Pro Tem Jim Edwards said. “It's even greater that Los Angeles County is paying for it.”

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