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Cerritos council denies ordinance to codify new boards-and-commissions handbook, orders further review
Summary
The Cerritos City Council voted 4–1 on March 27 to deny the second reading of an ordinance that would have codified changes from a newly adopted boards, commissions and committees handbook into the municipal code. Councilmembers cited timing, lack of review by newly seated members and concerns about appointments and oversight.
The Cerritos City Council on March 27 voted 4–1 to deny the second reading of Ordinance 1049, an ordinance that would have amended multiple chapters of the municipal code to implement a recently adopted Boards, Commissions and Committees (BCC) handbook.
Mayor Pro Tem Linda Johnson moved to oppose adoption of the ordinance, arguing newly seated council members had not had adequate time to study the handbook and that the previous council’s late-term adoption had imposed procedural changes on the incoming body. The motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote of 4–1.
City staff had presented the ordinance as the implementing action required to align the city code with the handbook adopted in February. The proposed changes would have established two new committees (a Disability Advisory Committee and a Senior Services Committee), split the Fine Arts and Historical Commission into separate bodies, and renamed the Property Preservation Commission as a board, among other procedural and scheduling modifications.
During public comment, residents urged the council to table the change to allow new members time for review; speaker Celia Spitzer urged postponement so the newly seated council could “read the handbook, talk about it and discuss it.” Council members echoed that view. Council member Jennifer Hong said she wanted more time for study. Council member Mark Pulido described the timing — nine days after the municipal election — as a reason to reject immediate codification.
City Attorney’s office told the council the ordinance’s denial would maintain the status quo in the municipal code and that the handbook’s proposed structural changes would not take effect without the ordinance passing.
Council directed staff to agendize further consideration, including a staff report and public outreach, and Mayor Yokoyama asked staff to place rescission of the protocol manual and related handbook issues on the April 10 agenda for council review.
What happens next: Staff will bring back a timeline and additional materials for council consideration, including the relationship between handbook provisions and pending appointment items. The council’s decision preserves current advisory-board structure until the council votes to adopt changes.
Attribution: Staff overview by Deputy City Manager Ryan Carey; motion and remarks by Mayor Pro Tem Linda Johnson; public comments by Celia Spitzer and others.
