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Cerritos commission appoints Celia Spitzer chair, approves five nuisance abatement resolutions
Summary
The Cerritos Property Preservation Commission reorganized its leadership and unanimously or majority-approved resolutions finding property nuisances at five addresses, setting abatement periods ranging from 7 to 30 days. Two residents addressed the commission on enforcement and driveway-paver questions; staff offered follow-up assistance.
The Cerritos Property Preservation Commission on April 28 appointed Celia Spitzer as chair and Brian Ferrer as vice chair, then adopted resolutions finding property nuisances at five city addresses and setting abatement deadlines.
The reorganization began after the commission declared the chair position vacant and opened nominations. The motion to appoint Spitzer as chair and Ferrer as vice chair passed by roll-call vote. Commissioners congratulated the new leadership and briefly recessed to update meeting placards.
In the first public-hearing case, staff reported repeated inspections at a property in the 19400 block of Ellen Way documenting a trailer stored on the driveway despite multiple mailed notices. Senior code enforcement officer Kim Artema recommended adopting a resolution finding the property constituted a nuisance under chapter 6.2 of the Cerritos Municipal Code and setting a 10-day abatement period.
The tenant, Rudy, told the commission the trailer is in active use, is covered and maintained, and is essential to his work and family. "The trailer in question is not being stored, is actively used, properly maintained, and kept covered," Rudy said, asking the commission to consider the full context rather than treating the situation as abandonment. Commissioners discussed the code’s intent — allowing up to 72 hours for loading and unloading but not long-term storage — and whether the trailer should be treated as an inoperable vehicle. The resolution passed with the tally reported as three ayes, one abstention and one nay.
At the 11900 block of Gonsalves Street, staff described a repeated pattern of a vehicle parked on a planter and insufficient ground cover. Michael Ledesma, who said he manages the property for his family trust and is a builder by trade, told commissioners he had begun work and submitted plans to install pavers to match surrounding driveways. Ledesma said he was told previously that pavers were not permitted and that he submitted plans after that feedback.
Sabrina, the city’s director of community development, addressed permit and material standards, saying front-yard pavers can be reviewed and approved if they meet the city’s landscape and material requirements. "We have a manual," she said, and staff offered to work with the homeowner to review the paver plans. Staff recommended a resolution finding a nuisance and setting a 21-day abatement period; the commission approved the resolution unanimously and noted staff could extend the abatement period if active permitting or progress is shown.
Three additional properties were reviewed in separate hearings: the 16700 block of Greenbrook Circle for ongoing landscape maintenance (staff recommended a 7-day abatement period and the commission adopted the resolution); the 16400 block of Holmes Place for visible debris and an inoperable vehicle stored in public view (7-day abatement; resolution adopted); and the 12300 block of Viana/Yarnas Street for exterior repairs and ground-cover deficiencies after a compliance history stretching back to 2024 (staff recommended a 30-day abatement period; resolution adopted).
Staff repeatedly told the commission the intent of the municipal code in these matters is to secure compliance rather than to penalize owners when progress is being made, and staff indicated they would work with property owners who show evidence of remediation or active permitting. For the Gonsalves Street case, the planning department specifically offered to review submitted paver plans and clarify landscape-percentage requirements.
Votes at a glance
• 19400 block of Ellen Way — resolution finding nuisance; 10-day abatement; motion carried (3 ayes, 1 abstain, 1 nay). • 11900 block of Gonsalves Street — resolution finding nuisance; 21-day abatement; motion carried unanimously. • 16700 block of Greenbrook Circle — resolution finding nuisance; 7-day abatement; motion carried. • 16400 block of Holmes Place — resolution finding nuisance; 7-day abatement; motion carried. • 12300 block of Viana/Yarnas Street — resolution finding nuisance; 30-day abatement; motion carried.
The commission closed the meeting after brief reports and community-event updates and set its next regular meeting for May 26.
