Cerritos commission reviews July 4 celebration, senior programs and a proposal to study a 5K run-and-walk for 2026

The Cerritos Parks and Recreation Commission on Aug. 7 reviewed reports on the July 4 "Let Freedom Ring" celebration, the SPICE intergenerational program and a Grandparents Day event at the Cerritos Senior Center, and discussed a commissioner-initiated feasibility study into staging a 5K run-and-walk for the city's 2026 Spring Fling and Fireworks Spectacular.

Recreation services administrator Stephanie Lin summarized the July 4 event, saying it "took place on Friday, July 4 at the Cerritos Civic Center campus" and included carnival rides, food trucks, entertainment and a fireworks show. Lin gave the commission an estimated attendance figure of "about 14,000." She recommended the commission "review and file the information provided in the report and receive any comments from the public." Commissioners moved to accept and file the report and opened the item to electronic voting; the transcript records motions and votes being taken electronically but does not include a final vote tally in the record.

The SPICE program and Grandparents Day were presented by community services supervisor Jesse Zavala. Zavala described two program components: a year-long partnership between Cerritos Senior Center volunteers and Carver Academy Elementary students, and a sold-out Grandparents Day held in July. He said "442 students had the opportunity to participate" in grade-level activities during the 2024-25 school year and that the July event hosted "45 children and 50 grandchildren." He noted the program currently uses 43 senior volunteers for eight activities and that all volunteers must be fingerprinted before participating. The commission moved to receive and file the SPICE/Grandparents Day report; the motion was seconded and put to electronic vote, though the transcript does not record a final tally.

On a motion by Commissioner Jose Iglesias, seconded by Chairperson Liana Prado, commissioners voted to pursue Option 1 from staff's report: to modify and approve a draft scope for a commission-initiated special evaluation project to study the feasibility of adding a 5K as part of the 2026 Spring Fling. Commissioners amended the scope during discussion to specify a combined "5K run and walk," a change several commissioners supported to encourage senior participation. Staff clarified that, per the city's Commission and Committee Scope of Authority Policy (6.02), the commission must request authorization from City Council before using city resources to perform the feasibility study; if council approves, staff would return with detailed research (timing, staging, route, participation categories, safety and logistics). The transcript records the motion and a second and that the item was opened to electronic vote; a final recorded vote tally is not present in the transcript.

During reports, Lin also announced that the community services program brochure will switch to a digital-only distribution beginning with the next edition: "the 2025 fall community services program mailed... July 25 was the last printed copy of the brochure. Moving forward, the community services program will be delivered via email in digital format." She provided instructions for residents to subscribe at cerritos.gov and listed several upcoming registration dates and programs for August and September (registration windows for residents and nonresidents, family and adaptive activities, chess tournaments, CPR training and youth clinics). Community services staff asked residents to contact the division at (562) 916-1254 with questions.

Senior services highlights from Jesse Zavala included recent and upcoming excursions and classes: a full bus to the Pageant of the Masters (49 participants), a planned Angels baseball trip (Sept. 10, $50), workshops on wills and trusts, long-term care planning and artificial intelligence use for seniors, an ice cream social (Aug. 26) and a shredding/compost event (Sept. 27). Zavala also outlined the Health & Wellness Fair scheduled for Oct. 3 with more than 50 vendors and free health screenings.

In public comment, resident Teddy Lloyd praised the city's new pickleball courts and offered volunteer help to staff courts earlier in the morning and later into the evening. Lloyd suggested residents could assist with opening the courts and offered to donate funds to replace nets if theft became an issue; commissioners noted public comment items are not action items but said staff would follow up.

The commission recorded motions to approve the consent calendar minutes and to receive and file the reports described above; the transcript captures motions and seconds and that electronic voting was used, but it does not include detailed vote tallies or a final roll-call outcome in the text provided.

Questions and clarifications raised by commissioners during the meeting focused on attendance counts for the July 4 event (Lin's estimate of about 14,000, which several commissioners said was lower than the prior year), volunteer recruitment for SPICE (Zavala said volunteers are being fingerprinted and recruiting is open), and next steps for the 5K feasibility study (staff will present logistics to council first as required by Policy 6.02).