Cerritos Redevelopment Agency Update, Stacked Artwork Gets Greenlight

Last Thursday, the Cerritos City Council gathered for a brief, regularly scheduled meeting. The council received an update to last week’s item regarding the voluntary alternative redevelopment program, as well as approved artwork for the upcoming restaurant, Stacked.

On August 11, the city council approved opting in to the Alternative Voluntary Redevelopment Program, which is designed to preserve the functions of the agency, allowing for agreements that were entered into by the city and the agency in March to remain valid. The program also allows for maintaining local control of redevelopment decisions. This is a result of legislation adopted on June 29, which dissolves redevelopment agencies across California (Assembly Bill 26), but also allows for cities to participate in programs to preserve their agency’s status (Assembly Bill 27).

However, according to Geri DeMasi, the city’s Budget Administrator, the California Supreme Court issued a “partial stay” regarding suspension of portions of Assembly Bill 26 and Assembly Bill 27 until it can rule on the constitutionality of both of the bills.

“Redevelopment agencies continue to be suspended from such activities as incurring new debt, adopting new redevelopment plans and enacting new amendments,” DeMasi said.

DeMasi said the city’s legal counsel advises the adoption of an Enforceable Obligation Payment Schedule (EOPS), as part of Assembly Bill 26, due to the Supreme Court’s partial stay on legislation. This schedule requires all agencies to list all enforceable obligations, including bonds, loans of money from the agency, pass-through payments, judgements, settlements or other agreements in contract through December 2011.

“This schedule would be utilized by successor agencies to ensure that such enforceable obligations are honored, while other assets are liquidated and transferred to taxing entities,” DeMasi said. “Agency council and staff believe that the adoption of an EOPS will mitigate the risk that necessary agency payments could be challenged at some later date.”

The council approved the second reading, as well as the additional EOPS, but Councilmember Barrows motioned the council would be adopting these ordinances under duress.  

Stacked Artwork Approved

The council also approved the artwork, by Jordan Mozer, which will be featured in the newest restaurant to open in the fall, Stacked. Recently approved for construction, Stacked will be a high-tech eatery, utilizing iPads designated to tables, allowing customers to construct (or “stack”) their meals to their liking. Mozer specializes in hotel interior/exterior designs.

The artwork will include large, colored glasses panels to enhance the building’s façade, metal-cast models and similarly-themed murals inside the eatery. Mozer's artwork already adorns the walls at Stacked Restaurant's Torrance location.

“I think once people come inside and they see the murals, plus the colorful windows, tying in with the theme of the public art outside, it makes a lot of sense,” said Councilman Mark Pulido.

Absent from the meeting was Mayor Pro Tem Jim Edwards, who was attending his uncle, Ted Williams’ funeral. The meeting was closed in memory of Williams, who served in World War II and the Korean War in the United States Air Force.

The next city council meeting will be held on September 8.