Cerritos City Council Approves Electric and Sculpture Maintenance

City maintenance was the topic of the evening during the Cerritos City Council's May 24 meeting.  

Electrical Maintenance in Cerritos – Approved 5-0

Director of Public Works/City Engineer Hal Arbogast explained the need for electric maintenance due to the half million square feet of building space, over 200 acres of park containing water features and hundreds of miles of landscape medians and parkways. Electricity powers things such as lighting, heating and irrigation controllers that require occasional electrical repair.

On April 10, Cerritos staff received five proposals – qualifications, experience and fees being considered for contracting. Staff recommended Dantema Electric, a Cerritos-based company, to be the primary contractors for the ongoing maintenance of electrical systems. Additionally, due to amount of maintenance in Cerritos, two additional companies (ranked 2nd and 3rd during the evaluation process) were also considered for additional electric work -- Sutton Electric from Mission Viejo and Service First Contractors in Costa Mesa.

In response to Councilman Mark Pulido's concerns, Arbogast stated that the amount of maintenance was necessary in the aging city.

“It is an occassional need, however our facilities are getting older; we never really know what to expect,” Arbogast said. “We plan for the worst.”

Arbogast said staff estimated electric services will have a cost of $125,000 to $150,000 a year.

Statue Maintenance – Approved 5-0

According to Assistant City Manager Kathy Matsumoto, maintenance is needed for the George Lundeen's “Dolphins” statues at , as well as the Sharles' “Amaryllis” sculpture at the Civic Center. The water and the associated spray have over time greatly contributed to the deterioration of the highly colored patina surfaces.

Matsumoto said special skills and talents are needed for this job, and that it would be in the best interest of the city for the original artist to come and refinish and repatinate the pieces. However, due to the respective artists not being able to travel to California, the staff recommended contracting the National Sculptors Guild for the maintenance and restoration, which, in total, would amount to $33,750.

Other News

The City Council approved a request by applicant Conant Properties V, L.P. Located at 20322 Southwest Acacia Street, Suite 100, Newport Beach, California, 92660, for a time extension to previously approved Conditional Use Permit 2011-6 for an automobile reconditioning facility, which will be located at 17720 Studebaker Road.

The Council also approved an appeal of an action of the Cerritos Planning Commission approving a residential development proposal by the property owner to construct a first-floor addition and a new second floor to an existing, one-story residence at 12320 Elgers Street, Cerritos.

The next city council meeting will be held on Monday, June 11.