[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5973276,"mediaKeyId","5830370-66094ddd99163a56fc753ce57795ee79","parentId",5830370,"title","Cerritos council changes park reservation rules to regain Measure A eligibility","audioSeconds",5071,"startMs",8783000,"endMs",13854000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5830370-66094ddd99163a56fc753ce57795ee79&start=8783&end=13854","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5830370-66094ddd99163a56fc753ce57795ee79/thumbnail_8783000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5973276/California/Cerritos-council-changes-park-reservation-rules-to-regain-Measure-A-eligibility","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973276-7fe876f3c6446de08204b027f033496c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776032987&Signature=YdH80HCOxVeNtYSEmWkjyGaUlBDAEwZCF9XcEy9KO6yQ4aatiyrqnSSvnBKV32HcL6cru7w8KZdE7pD8zj-2tKtHqZdVtW9YlXRnGciyvt3Cz20hhyPeVVT~TpV3BhkO2~3iS7DFRkwo1FrJt2QocWl~8KW5-lNB~60o6JJQsAw~RlfEDTwc4ax6WZ7BOaXVTswPiGhq6DrL3XBGNut9djBFCaNTf9iBaGs5qRe-T8hjLmHdzBg3zNtP9CmBxshQ-hrA-mgYOBdxTnzzVx3tLGMcTDIcqEBg6DItJHlIIWBG9SceUHl~0-b0MrHa0-maliVPmMa8tfSbnli29DRyJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Cerritos","date","2025-09-26T06:36:08.847Z","article","The Cerritos City Council voted 3–2 on Sept. 25 to direct staff to change reservation and class policies at Cerritos Park East and Liberty Park 2 effective Oct. 15, 2025, to comply with Los Angeles County Measure A requirements and restore the city’s eligibility for Measure A funding. The decision removes the resident-priority reservation and discounted class-fee rules at those two facilities that the county said made Cerritos “not in good standing.”

Council members and staff framed the vote as a tradeoff between local priority rules and access to park funding. Community and Cultural Services Director Annie Hilton told the council, “To regain eligibility to apply for any Measure A funding, the city would need to revise its policies to allow residents and nonresidents to reserve meeting rooms and picnic shelters at Cerritos Park East concurrently.”

Why it matters: staff said the city currently stands to forfeit about $1.9 million in Measure A formula funds already allocated to Cerritos and would be disqualified from applying for competitive Measure A grant cycles planned by Los Angeles County (staff cited roughly $58 million in competitive funds that will be available to eligible jurisdictions in 2025). The council had included a $1,000,000 Heritage Park Play Island renovation in the adopted 2025–26 Capital Improvement Program contingent on Measure A funding; staff warned that losing eligibility would postpone that project until alternative funds are found.

Council debate centered on the local impacts of compliance. Mayor Pro Tem Linda Johnson, who made the motion to change policy, said council members had visited Heritage Park and concluded the park improvements “outweigh our current reservation and registration policies.” Opponents warned the change would reduce priority access for Cerritos residents. Councilmember Jennifer Hong said, “I still say no. I prefer the residents should have the privilege of priority reservation, and we should have a discount on this.”

Staff and council members described what would change if the policy is implemented: residents and nonresidents would be able to reserve meeting rooms and picnic shelters at Cerritos Park East at the same times and rates; nonresidents would gain equal reservation access to athletic fields at Cerritos Park East; the Liberty Park 2 tot lot program would be charged the same fee for residents and nonresidents; and registration for classes and programs at those two locations would open concurrently to residents and nonresidents. Staff said programs at other facilities — the Olympic swim center, the golf course and the library — would remain on the existing resident-priority schedules and fee structures.

Annie Hilton and Public Works Director Alvin Papa told the council that the county requires a covenant on property to make the nondiscrimination clause run with the land and that compliance is intended to remain in effect in perpetuity for any Measure A funds expended on affected sites. Hilton also said some popular programs such as adaptive recreation and preschool classes would be affected and that eliminating resident priority may reduce access for some Cerritos residents.

Public comment was split. Parents and park users urged keeping resident priority and discounted rates; others and council supporters argued the available Measure A funds are needed to repair long-neglected park facilities. Resident Catherine Pasquale, who said she spends time at local parks with children, urged the council to secure Measure A money to renovate Heritage Park and improve play equipment and shade.

The motion (Recommendation 2b in the staff report) passed 3–2; the council directed staff to implement the policy changes by Oct. 15, 2025, and to proceed with the process to access Measure A funds for the Heritage Park Play Island project. Staff said they would return with implementation details, a timeline and any contract awards related to the project.

Next steps: staff will prepare the administrative changes required to implement the policy by the Oct. 15 deadline and advance the Heritage Park Play Island renovation under the city’s adopted CIP if Measure A funding is confirmed. Council members who voted against the change said they will monitor impacts to residents’ access and requested regular updates.

(Reporting from the Sept. 25, 2025 Cerritos City Council meeting.)","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting: September 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Cerritos City Council voted 3–2 on Sept. 25 to direct staff to change reservation and class policies at Cerritos Park East and Liberty Park 2 effective Oct. 15, 2025, to comply with Los Angeles County Measure A requirements and restore the city’s eligibility for Measure A funding.","taxTitle","Cerritos City, Orange County, California","taxId",79642,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5973262,"Cerritos city attorney: California oath governs city officials; federal wording differs",784,3535000,4319000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5830370-66094ddd99163a56fc753ce57795ee79&start=3535&end=4319","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5830370-66094ddd99163a56fc753ce57795ee79/thumbnail_3535000.jpg","/articles/5973262/California/Cerritos-city-attorney-California-oath-governs-city-officials-federal-wording-differs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973262-d0576f16298671b5a977c9d9d1c63841/orig.mp4?Expires=1776032987&Signature=PpqjY3Ka60FC27eSm6Qi8P664nk-uKUwx5u~zis0dDBiTep2n3u~t~p9k32RlVvMBPqE~s7uGyt6aAIvdu7AXgIgvZ-XxXWj4QJrhKyKVtssthS7wrlANi5cSEfsAXiuTirdAQh09FSnZkOC~Cmu1RO7yCknYvZ5qOCjkAHAEnMM1MAkpgPgwtzGwHY1eoit~wvrSTFEWNnOC4JtWCFUPjHt9F1QFHiig-KtFiTUMMMM6n193m8uknMGqbWw3rLv6UF3JdPiEpH7pKWCNBbh5LUWWKH~IfG-19uJAvDnnb3kIlYbIF~bg6ATvAA9UoqI0UvrZQ9-xYmVXEyeQNy8UA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A retired Cerritos planning commissioner urged the City Council on Sept. 25 to restore the phrase “so help me God” to the city’s oath of office so local oaths would match the federal wording. Benjamin Au read portions of federal law and the Federal Judiciary Act of 1789, saying omission of the phrase renders the pledge an affirmation rather than an oath.

City Attorney Pam Lee responded on the council dais, explaining that federal and state oaths differ. “Although Mr. Au is correct with respect to oaths of office related to federal workers,” Lee said, “we as city employees and city officials are political subdivisions of the state of California, and the state subscribes its own oath of office for state employees as well as employees of all counties, cities, and other subdivisions of the state. And that is under California Constitution Article 20 section 3.” She said the city’s oath is the verbatim state-prescribed language and does not include the phrase “so help me God.”

Mr. Au had argued the presence or absence of the phrase has implications for consistency with other ceremonial references — he asked whether the city’s invocation and the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance should also be reconsidered if the phrase were to be added back. The mayor asked the city manager and city attorney to report back; Lee’s response at the meeting clarified that local officials must follow the state-prescribed oath.

(Reporting from the Sept. 25, 2025 Cerritos City Council meeting.)","A resident asked the council to restore the phrase “so help me God” to the city’s oath of office; the city attorney replied that California Constitution Article XX, section 3 prescribes the oath for state and local officials and does not include that phrase, which applies to federal officers under federal law.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5973267,"LA County registrar briefs Cerritos on Nov. 4 special election timeline and voting options",619,2921000,3540000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5830370-66094ddd99163a56fc753ce57795ee79&start=2921&end=3540","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5830370-66094ddd99163a56fc753ce57795ee79/thumbnail_2921000.jpg","/articles/5973267/California/LA-County-registrar-briefs-Cerritos-on-Nov-4-special-election-timeline-and-voting-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973267-8ff3819c2520cc8b2deaef94d4ba1e05/orig.mp4?Expires=1776032987&Signature=WIk90U29BRuNzpWVKv5h1-cLMUPg-85YAZhYyScyjXK~80EWOCrxo-rT~Q1ChTlD67s5Ysup5AceZ0P9JwtPn7c4b8dY0wSBi0FZs6~48xcbefyjKH6FT-AP~bPEmYEji16eHZrY7A3IWNqYVVR8qv5gSvEn1-me3WEw08fU0f8IuRUELe88-l3mnm3RtbB~btQA6cqTE7~~7U~RgGve3nTueDusgwjiMwr49HcNprqxH-wApI74BvIJ51rCMj23h-HoPdP4rV8~a-DoSvGcrmycSLG32j71Lyqs-NbqBqW~02G0WQRFWRbJgyR6hkvyecK2Pv31sEZVHHY1Gz84EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A representative from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder delivered a timeline and voter-information briefing to the Cerritos City Council on Sept. 25 about the Nov. 4, 2025 statewide special election that will include Proposition 50.

Adrian Avelar of the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office told the council the state called the special election for Nov. 4 to let voters decide on a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow temporary changes to congressional district boundaries through Feb. 1930 if approved. Sample ballots and the state voter information guide began mailing Sept. 25; county officials planned to begin mailing vote-by-mail ballots the week of Oct. 2 and complete that mailing by Oct. 6. Ballot drop boxes opened when vote-by-mail mailings began. Vote centers will open in two phases: 111 centers on Saturday, Oct. 25, and the remainder on Saturday, Nov. 1; on election day, Nov. 4, centers will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The county currently expects to certify the election on Dec. 2.

Avelar summarized vote options under the California Voter’s Choice Act: every registered voter will receive an official vote-by-mail ballot; voters may return ballots by prepaid mail, at unlocked ballot drop boxes (many open 24 hours) or at any vote center. He said the county will have about 418 drop boxes and 251 vote centers for the election; the nearest Cerritos vote centers are Artesia Library, Huerta Elementary School and Cerritos College, and local drop boxes include the Cerritos Civic Center Plaza, Cerritos Park East, Artesia Library, Alondra Library and Cerritos College.

Avelar noted the county’s “vote-by-mail continues to be the most popular method of voting. For example, for the 2024 general election, approximately 82% of Cerritos residents voted by mail.” He encouraged voters to use lavote.gov to confirm polling and drop-box locations.

Avelar also alerted the council to a local street-name change scheduled for Oct. 1: Sun Valley Way will replace Squall Valley Way, affecting 27 residential properties and about 50 active registered voters. He said vote-by-mail ballots were already in production and would be mailed to the original addresses, and the county would monitor delivery and assist voters with registration updates. Voters who expect an address change were advised to update registration at lavote.gov; conditional voter registration will be available at vote centers.

Councilmembers asked procedural questions, including about the Oct. 28 deadline to request a vote-by-mail replacement (Avelar said that deadline applies to replacement ballots and other supplemental requests). The registrar’s office said it would remain available to answer questions and help residents with registration issues.

Key dates: sample ballots and state guides mailing began Sept. 25; vote-by-mail ballots mailing Oct. 2–6; first vote centers Oct. 25; vote-by-mail request deadline Oct. 28; election day Nov. 4 (7 a.m.–8 p.m.); expected certification Dec. 2.

(Reporting from the Sept. 25, 2025 Cerritos City Council meeting.)","A representative from the LA County Registrar-Recorder outlined dates, vote-center locations, drop-box sites and the vote-by-mail schedule for the Nov. 4, 2025 statewide special election (Prop 50), and flagged a pending Cerritos street-name change that could affect delivery for about 50 registered voters.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5973271,"Cerritos establishes sister-city relationship with San Carlos, Pangasinan",4117,3080000,7197000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5830370-66094ddd99163a56fc753ce57795ee79&start=3080&end=7197","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5830370-66094ddd99163a56fc753ce57795ee79/thumbnail_3080000.jpg","/articles/5973271/California/Cerritos-establishes-sister-city-relationship-with-San-Carlos-Pangasinan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973271-97246bb12607b167cb6a49d45f6b3cc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776032987&Signature=gOoYh~A-D9vzv0Ly1MP2NyyKgv4P-Eh5qHt-SljYAKMTfo9tbwCcSmo~Q7VLJ5Z1fI-wJ6aebE0kPpz2Fycsg~s2DSpuWtRvH03~zG2LigGt83yFZ-Au9si6aCNa0I5OdSU2YCO3ah5n3kfADzECuR7VV1CIn5B0V6pJXO0QryQi6d1s0-T-dd~0BJUm0fOHVg5zh4Mu1fydtGGz8m368-mpIW-1NF4RME6Dz6bAqjL1TPCR7HWBIsiUSyRJdR~V9e52IOEXfB7wr8SWocdh4NQLUinGlxc~-E7VDMXvqqjTjj-FsKq6YKsIJJQ0tdDFFR4IQASahERVRM14-3cPQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cerritos City Council unanimously approved a sister-city relationship with the City of San Carlos in the Province of Pangasinan, Republic of the Philippines, on Sept. 25, a measure council members said recognizes long-standing community ties and opens the door to cultural and educational exchanges.

The request came from local nonprofit groups — Pangasinan Brotherhood USA Inc. and the San Carolinian Organization of Southern California — and included a reciprocal letter of intent signed by San Carlos Mayor Julia Rosuelo. During a public presentation, Sue Ann Estrada Tumake, president of Pangasinan Brotherhood USA, described San Carlos’ cultural and economic profile and said a formal partnership would “promote cross-cultural understanding and collaboration between The United States and the Philippines.” Deputy Consul General Maria Almi Gamble of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles also attended and spoke in support.

City staff said the groups that initiated the request will take primary responsibility for organizing exchanges and events; the sister-city policy specifies that city staff and funds are not committed unless the council specifically authorizes expenses. Community and Cultural Services Director Annie Hilton told the council that the organizations have offered to assist with planning and coordination and that any incidental dignitary-event expenses would be covered by existing program funds.

Council members praised the Filipino-American organizations and the consulate for their work. Councilmember Mark Pulido said he could “personally attest to the involvement” of the Pangasinan Brotherhood and San Carolinian Organization in Cerritos and the region. Mayor Pro Tem Linda Johnson, who led an exploratory visit to the Philippines earlier this year, said she looks forward to cultural and economic programs that could benefit both cities.

The council adopted a resolution affirming the sister-city designation; staff noted that the designation does not commit ongoing city funding unless later approved by the council. The groups that requested the sister-city relationship will begin planning exchange activities and ceremonial events under the policy’s terms.

(Reporting from the Sept. 25, 2025 Cerritos City Council meeting.)","The council unanimously approved a sister-city designation with San Carlos, Province of Pangasinan, Philippines, after nonprofit groups and Philippine consulate representatives urged cultural, educational and economic exchanges; local organizations will lead program work with minimal city expense.","actionData","errors"]

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Cerritos establishes sister-city relationship with San Carlos, Pangasinan