City Council Tackles Public Works Items

The Cerritos City Council met on May 10 to discuss a plethora of public works items involving the San Gabriel River, the Cerritos Pavement Management System and various street improvements.

Public Works

Regional Compliance With Maximum Daily Loads For Metals and Selenium in the San Gabriel River – Approved 5-0

According to Environmental Services Manager Mike O'Grady, in March of 2007 the United States Environmental Protection Agency established the maximum daily load of metals (TMDL) and selenium for the San Gabriel River. The regulation is intended to protect and improve the water quality of the river by limiting the amount of lead, copper and zinc that can reach the river by urban runoff.

“The City of Cerritos is one of 13 Los Angeles County cities that discharge storm water and urban runoff into the San Gabriel River and/or Coyote Creek,” O'Grady said.

Cerritos is part of the Los Angeles Gateway Region Integrated Regional Management Joint Powers Authority, which is comprised of the gateway region of the Southeastern Los Angeles County. To comply with the TMDL, the Authority prepared a Memorandum of Agreement that will coordinate funding of the required monitoring program, implementation plan and special studies required. The compliance group's budget for the current fiscal year is set at $50,000. Cerritos' share of this budget will be $5,690.

Street Improvements:
166th Street Improvements - Approved 5-0

The city council approved to add portions of 166th Street to the contract with Sequel Contractors for the Construction of Street Improvements in Residential Streets. Assistant City Engineer Kanna Vancheswaran said that $440,000 was set aside from the STPL exchange funds from the Los Angeles Metro Transit Authority, to be utilized for street improvements.

Shared Jurisdiction Street Improvement Project On Carmenita Road/Moody Street Approved 5-0

According to Vancheswaran, the border of Cerritos and La Palma is split down the middle of Carmenita Road and Moody Street. La Palma already has initiated a project to resurface its side of Moody Street. The price for the Cerritos side of the street improvement is $79,000.

Other News:

Sculpture Garden - Approved 5-0

Assistant City Manager Kathy Matsumoto said the Fine Arts and Historical Commission feels the Sculpture Garden is under-utilized, therefore a temporary sculpture installation program was created with plans of limited costs to the city. The initial budget for a two-year program would require about $30,000 in the first round. Statues would include identification plaques to identify the artist and name of the piece.

Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Barrows said the sculpture shouldn't be too lightweight so it's not easily vandalized. However, Barrows said he prefers a more balanced approach to the program, with attention to sturdiness against weather elements and vandalization. All submitted sculptures from artists must be no older than five years.

“If what we're asking for is just a colorful piece that's all contemporary, then in this situation my vote would be a “no,” Barrows said.

Councilwoman Carol Chen said she would rather there not be an age limit on the sculptures.

“I think I would probably be more open to not set an age limit in terms of the art piece,” Chen said. “I really think that we're going to be narrowing our choices if that's going to be a criterion for the selection.”

The motion approved and made by Barrows included not limiting the program to three contemporary pieces as originally suggested, as well as a four-foot size minimum requirement.

The next meeting will be held on May 24.