Bellflower council approves consent calendar after discussing Rotary donation, dog-park carve-out and proposed parks foundation

Bellflower’s City Council approved its consent calendar on Nov. 24 after a discussion about a Rotary Club donation, plans for a dog-park carve-out at Carruthers Park and a proposed Parks & Recreation foundation. The council recorded a roll-call vote in which five members voted aye.

Council members spent the meeting’s substantive discussion on item 14d, which concerns a donation and a partnership with the Bellflower Rotary Club for a dog-park carve-out at Carruthers Park and staff’s proposal to form a Parks & Recreation foundation. Lauren Yocomizo, president of the Bellflower Rotary Club, told the council: "On behalf of the Rotary Club, I'm here to ask your support of item 14d related to funding support for the city's dog park at Carruthers Park, donation for a future parks and recreation foundation, and proposed plan to develop a foundation." The Rotary celebrated its 100th anniversary and indicated the donation was made in honor of that milestone.

City staff described the foundation as a separate 501(c)(3) entity that would allow the parks department to partner with a nonprofit on grants and fundraising. The parks director said the council would serve as an interim board to draft articles of incorporation and bylaws, with the goal of turning governance over to an independent board within about 24 months. When asked directly about nonprofit status, staff replied, "So it's gonna be 501(c)(3?" and confirmed that was the plan.

Council members asked how the agreement with the Rotary Club would handle naming and signage. City attorney Tamayo said the agreement will be negotiated to preserve city control: "The city is not inclined to do any type of perpetual, or yield its discretion or control over the signage," he said, adding that final design authority would rest with the city in collaboration with the Rotary Club. Staff described the signage plan as including the city and Rotary logos and as incorporating "Rotary" into a creative park name for at least the agreement’s minimum term (three years).

Staff also provided timing for the dog-park carve-out: RFPs for the work had been issued and the project is targeted for completion in early 2026. Council members publicly thanked the Rotary Club; one councilmember noted the donation amount, saying it represented an $8,000 capital contribution toward the project.

Votes at a glance: A motion to approve the consent calendar was moved and seconded and passed by roll call; the clerk recorded five ayes. Council member Victor Sanchez earlier declared a conflict on item 14g and asked that item 14d be pulled for discussion during the meeting; the transcript records the conflict and the separate handling of 14g.