Ray Dunton

The regular meeting began with a recess to a closed session for a conference with a real property negotiator, which one council member had a conflict with. Upon reconvening to open session, there were no reportable actions from the closed session. The agenda included recognition for Commissioner Jerry Troutman for his nearly 18 years of service on the Public Safety Commission, during which he served five terms as chairman. A proclamation declaring March 2026 as National Women's History Month was read and presented to the Women's Club of Bellflower, detailing the historical contributions of American women and the club's history since its founding in 1921. Council members also provided announcements regarding upcoming community events, including a free compost pickup event, an appeal for participation in the Spring Basket Program by the Bellflower Volunteer Center, updates on the expansion of the Bellflower Looking Better Program featuring yard sales and free dumpsters, and details on networking events hosted by the Bellflower Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, there was an update on the citywide waste cart exchange program mandated by California's SB1383 requirements.

The special meeting focused on economic development matters, specifically discussing measures for potential ballot initiatives in June or November of the current year. Key discussion points included the parcel/property vacancy tax and the business license tax, following up on previous economic development sessions. A public commenter raised concerns regarding the structure and commitment period of a guaranteed tax related to cannabis business forecasts. Staff provided an extensive overview of parcel vacancy tax models implemented or considered in other cities, such as Oakland and San Francisco, detailing their methodologies (per parcel vs. per linear footage), definitions of 'vacant,' and noted legal challenges, particularly concerning residential vacancy taxes. The discussion highlighted the complexity of Oakland's per-parcel fee versus San Francisco's linear footage model, and the challenges associated with navigating constitutional requirements for special taxes. Staff recommended choosing a simpler flat-fee taxation method, similar to Oakland's model, while focusing only on commercial parcels. The council was asked to provide guidance on whether the proposed tax should be general or special, how to word ballot questions, and considerations regarding administrative burden and potential future litigation.

The meeting commenced with the Council recessing to a closed session to discuss two items (3A and 3B), during which multiple council members recused themselves from item 3A due to property conflicts. Upon reconvening, the invocation and pledge of allegiance were held. Council announcements included details regarding the Bellflower Volunteer Center's Spring Basket program, seeking donations and sponsors for children facing economic hardship. Another announcement concerned a free housing workshop with the Fair Housing Foundation in March, open to tenants, landlords, and property managers to understand fair housing laws. The Clifton M. Brackasen Library announced several creative workshops for March, including comics basics, paper rose crafting, and a beading workshop. The Bellflower Chamber of Commerce highlighted upcoming networking events: a St. Patrick's Networking Bingo Game Night and a monthly mingle morning meeting. Council member Wendy Morris informed attendees about the citywide waste cart exchange program scheduled from February through May to comply with California's SB 1383 requirements. The main presentation involved a discussion by the Los Angeles County Sanitation District regarding a proposed sewer rate increase effective in July 2026, necessitated by increased operating costs (chemicals, utilities), capital projects for system reliability, and a plan to increase recycled water production at the Carson facility. The presentation detailed that the rates are applied annually to property tax bills, with monthly increases ranging from $2.67 to $2.92, and mentioned programs like the low water rebate and procedures for public comment and protest.

The meeting included a closed session for real property negotiations concerning APN 7161-008-906 (9818 Artesia Boulevard) and APN 7161-008-905 with Jeff Hopkins of Hopkins Real Estate Group, and negotiations for properties at 9030 Somerset Boulevard and 9108 Somerset Boulevard with LA Metro, with the City Manager acting as the negotiator for both. The open session included presentations, public comments, and several consent calendar items. Key actions in the consent calendar included the consideration of receiving and filing Warrant Register No. 26-082, the Investments Report for January 2026, awarding a contract to Integrated Demolition and Remediation, Inc., for abatement and maintenance, and authorizing the City Manager to execute a License Agreement with Modern Vegan Cuisine LLC dba El Riqui for outdoor seating encroachment. A travel request for a delegation to Sacramento in February 2026 was also slated for review.

The meeting began with recognizing and honoring the outgoing mayor, Ray Danton, for his achievements and leadership. Key accomplishments highlighted during his tenure include the adoption of the city's first strategic plan, implementation of the public-facing 'My Bellflower' app, modernization of permitting and inspection systems, the groundbreaking of the Oak Center community center, and enhancing public safety through the implementation of license plate readers and the Shot Spotter gunshot detection system. Several community events led by the outgoing mayor were also noted. Following the tributes, there was a presentation made to the city in the name of the outgoing mayor for maintaining the US flag. The transcript ends before regular council business commenced.