Cerritos property preservation commission adopts nuisance resolutions for seven properties

The Cerritos Property Preservation Commission on July 29 adopted resolutions finding seven properties in Cerritos constituted property nuisances under Chapter 6.2 of the Cerritos Municipal Code and directed abatement or follow-up for each case.

Commissioners voted unanimously, 5-0, on each resolution after staff presentations and limited public comment. The actions covered exterior repairs, lack of landscape maintenance, dead vegetation, trash cans stored in public view and inoperable vehicles. Code enforcement staff recommended resolutions in every case to ensure compliance.

The decisions matter because they formalize enforcement steps under the city's property-maintenance ordinance and set timelines for owners to repair structures, remove trash cans or inoperable vehicles, and restore live ground cover. Several properties had multiple prior inspections and mailed notices before the commission hearing.

Code Enforcement Officer Darnell Jerry told the commission the case at the 13030 block of Bigelow Street documented repeated inspections dating to April and multiple mailed notices after staff observed overgrown vegetation and dead plant material. Staff recommended adoption of a resolution to secure compliance; the commission approved the motion (moved by Vice Chair Spitzer; seconded by Commissioner Westfall) by a 5-0 vote.

At the hearing, resident Lee Wright spoke about the property on which he lives and the surrounding parkway, saying the main issue was an aging street tree, irrigation damage and the time required to repair sprinkler lines. "I still heard what you said, but I didn't see any dead stuff," Wright said, adding he had been working on the yard but could not finish within the seven-day timeframes sometimes requested. He asked the commission for more time. The chair and staff replied that the city would work with him and Code Enforcement Officer Darnell Jerry agreed to meet with Wright after the hearing.

Senior Code Enforcement Officer Kim Artema presented three properties: 11700 Buford Street (exterior wood in need of repair and paint, lack of ground cover), 16700 Dorey Circle (wall and planter in need of paint and repair; trash cans in public view; lack of ground cover), and 16400 Betty Place (wood elements in need of repair and an unpermitted portable air-conditioning unit). For Buford Street, staff had previously given the owner seven days to remove holiday lights and 30 days for remaining violations; the commission adopted a resolution with a 30-day abatement period. For Dorey Circle, staff reported no contact from the owner and recommended a 30-day abatement period; the commission adopted the resolution. For Betty Place staff noted partial painting and remaining items (the air conditioner and a shared low wall) and recommended a resolution; the commission adopted the resolution.

Code Enforcement Officer Brian Lane presented three additional matters: 13000 block of Hart Place (trash cans stored in public view and two inoperable vehicles on the driveway), 16600 block of Moorbrook Avenue (recurring violations for lack of live ground cover; staff noted prior PPC resolutions in 2013 and 2018 and recent sod installation but one planter still lacked live vegetation), and 17800 block of Cybrandy Avenue (multiple exterior areas in need of repair and paint; owner reported recent planning-department paint approval and anticipated completing the work). Staff recommended a seven-day abatement for Hart Place, a 21-day abatement for Moorbrook Avenue with a requirement that live vegetation be installed and maintained in the remaining planter, and a 30-day abatement for the Cybrandy Avenue property; the commission adopted each resolution by unanimous votes.

All motions were recorded as 5 to 0 in favor. Where staff specified an abatement period, the commission adopted that period; where staff recommended adoption without a specified abatement timeframe in the hearing record, the resolution was adopted to ensure remaining items would be addressed and the matter referred to the City Council as required by staff procedure.

Before adjourning, commissioners and staff agreed code enforcement would meet with the resident who spoke to discuss repair timelines and available assistance. Staff reported no additional items for the record and the commission closed the meeting.

Votes at a glance: 6f (13030 block of Bigelow Street) ' resolution adopted to assure compliance (motion: Vice Chair Spitzer; second: Commissioner Westfall; vote: 5-0). Abatement period: not specified in hearing record.

6a (11700 block of Buford Street) ' resolution adopted; abatement period: 30 days (motion: Vice Chair Spitzer; second: Commissioner Robles; vote: 5-0).

6b (16700 block of Dorey Circle) ' resolution adopted; abatement period: 30 days (motion: Vice Chair Spitzer; second: Commissioner Ferrer; vote: 5-0).

6c (16400 block of Betty Place) ' resolution adopted to address remaining items (painting, removal of unpermitted AC unit, shared wall repairs); abatement period: not specified in hearing record (motion: Commissioner Ferrer; second: Commissioner Westfall; vote: 5-0).

6d (13000 block of Hart Place) ' resolution adopted; abatement period: 7 days (motion: Commissioner Westfall; second: Commissioner Robles; vote: 5-0).

6e (16600 block of Moorbrook Avenue) ' resolution adopted; abatement period: 21 days; staff required live vegetation in the remaining planter and ongoing maintenance (motion: Vice Chair Spitzer; second: Commissioner Ferrer; vote: 5-0).

6g (17800 block of Cybrandy Avenue) ' resolution adopted; abatement period: 30 days (motion: Commissioner Westfall; second: Vice Chair Spitzer; vote: 5-0).

(For all cases the commission directed staff to transmit the adopted resolutions to the City Council and the respective property owners as recorded in the staff reports.)