Cerritos Property Preservation Commission finds nuisances at seven properties, forwards resolutions to City Council

The Cerritos Property Preservation Commission on Sept. 30 adopted resolutions finding that property-nuisance conditions exist at seven separate properties across the city and directed staff to forward copies of the resolutions to the City Council and the respective property owners.

Commissioners voted 3-0 on each case. The properties were cited for a range of exterior maintenance violations including lack of landscape maintenance and ground cover, dead or overgrown vegetation, structural exterior elements in need of repair and paint, and visible inoperable vehicles.

Staff described repeated inspections and multiple mailed notifications at each address before the public hearings. Senior Code Enforcement Officer Kim Artema and Code Enforcement Officers Brian Lane and Darnell Jerry presented the reports to the commission, documenting inspection dates, contact attempts and which violations remained at the time each property was posted for a public hearing. For each case staff recommended adoption of a resolution to ensure compliance.

At 12700 block of Beach Street (Property Preservation Case 2025-55), Code Enforcement Officer Brian Lane reported inspections beginning Jan. 24, 2025, with periodic follow-ups; staff said parkways remained bare dirt despite some front-lawn work. Tenant Prince Williams spoke at the hearing and said he had hired a gardener, would have sod laid in the front portions within 10 days and would have the lawn professionally cut every two weeks going forward. "Going forward, the grass will be cut every 2 weeks professionally," Prince Williams said. Staff noted they would continue to work with the tenant but recommended adoption of the resolution.

At the 17800 block of Harvest Avenue (Case 2025-51), staff reported overgrown vegetation, missing ground cover and several architectural elements in disrepair; staff said the property owner’s grandson, who lives out of state, contacted staff and that staff would work with him on paint and repair timelines. At the 11900 block of Yellen Street (Case 2025-52), staff reported missing ground cover, dead vegetation and an inoperable vehicle in public view; the owner told staff she had removed the vehicle and planted some vegetation but still needed time to coordinate paint repairs because the home needs a new roof.

At the 12500 block of Brent Place (Case 2025-53) staff reported lack of landscape maintenance with some recent progress (new sod in the parkway) but recommended adoption of a resolution for full compliance. At the 12400 block of Riva Street (Case 2025-54), staff reported repeated inspections with no compliance and recommended adoption of a resolution. At the 16600 block of Laurel Brook Way (Case 2025-56), staff cited weeds, lack of ground cover and vehicles parked in an orientation the city code deems noncompliant; staff spoke with the owner on site and advised the owner about the parking-permit process. At the 17000 block of Yvette Way (Case 2025-57), staff reported wood trim, siding and garage door in need of repair and paint and a lack of ground cover.

For each case commissioners moved and approved staff’s recommendation. The roll-call votes recorded Commissioner Robles, Vice Chair Spitzer and Chair Chokshi voting yes on each resolution; motions were unanimous, 3-0. Where property representatives appeared, staff said it would continue to work with them on timelines for completing corrective work.

The meeting also included an introduction of Joseph Chacon as the City of Cerritos’ new Code Enforcement Manager. "I'm very excited to work with you guys," Chacon said, noting his 10 years of code-enforcement experience with the City of Bellflower.

Next steps: the commission’s adopted resolutions will be transmitted to the Cerritos City Council and to the respective property owners for follow-up enforcement or compliance work.