CERRITOS – The Cerritos City Council adopted a $122.3 million combined financial program for fiscal year 2016-17 on June 20. 

The program includes a city operating budget of $87.8 million, $13 million for capital projects and a Cerritos Successor Agency budget of $21.5 million. The new fiscal year began on July 1 and concludes on June 30, 2017.

The budget maintains the city’s level of municipal services while taking into account the prolonged economic downturn and the State of California’s dissolution of redevelopment agencies. The dissolution of the Cerritos Redevelopment Agency has cost the city more than $32 million per year in revenue.

Capital Improvements: Some of the major capital improvement projects proposed in the budget include:

$250,000 for sidewalk, curb and gutter rehabilitation
$185,000 for alley rehabilitation (Palo Verde/Droxford)
$25,000 for wheelchair-accessible ramps
$100,000 for arterial street slurry seal
$400,000 for residential street rehabilitation
$78,000 for parkway planter improvements
$730,000 for Del Amo Boulevard rehabilitation

Legislative and Administrative: Legislative and administrative operating expenses outlined in the budget total $2.6 million. This reflects the entire amount required to fund the ongoing operations of the City Council, City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk.

Community Development: The Community Development Department, which includes advance planning, building and safety, current planning, geographic information systems and economic development, was allocated $5.6 million for its operations.

Public Works: Approximately $16.9 million has been designated for the Public Works Department, which manages engineering, traffic circulation management, parks maintenance, sewer maintenance, facility maintenance, landscaping, trash collection, recycling, custodial services and the supervision of the City’s capital improvement projects.

Department of Water and Power: The Department of Water and Power includes the City’s water division and the electric utility. The department’s $15.5-million budget will cover items necessary for the operation of the Magnolia Power Plant, Cerritos Electric Utility and water operations, including utility maintenance, power expenses, operational charges and administrative fees.

Community and Safety Services: The Department of Community and Safety Services has been allocated roughly $24.7 million for community participation, recreation services, law enforcement and code enforcement. The Community and Safety Services budget includes funds that will allow the City to continue offering quality community programming at the Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park, in addition to cultural programming, excursion opportunities, sports and fitness programs and recreation classes. Some $14.1 million is budgeted for the ongoing priority of law enforcement and safety services, including Sheriff’s deputies, motorcycle officers and detectives.

Administrative Services: The Department of Administrative Services will receive $15.2 million for its operations, which include communications, finance, human resources, management information systems, support services, water billing and the Cerritos Library. The department’s budget includes costs to maintain the city’s water billing system, provide internal support to other departments and continue to provide amenities and services at the Cerritos Library.
Theater Department: The Theater Department will receive $7.2 million for the operation of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA). The Theater Department budget encompasses theater administration; business management; marketing and management of the CCPA performances; operations and security; special event services; and ticket office personnel.

■ The community is invited to attend a Cerritos Air Disaster 30th Anniversary Remembrance at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31. 

The remembrance will be held at the Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial in the Cerritos Sculpture Garden, which is located in the Civic Center.

The event is in memory of the victims of the Cerritos Air Disaster, when two planes collided mid-air above a Cerritos neighborhood on August 31, 1986. The accident claimed 82 lives, including 67 people on the planes and 15 people on the ground.

The Cerritos Air Disaster 30th Anniversary Remembrance will include a brief formal ceremony with the Cerritos City Council; a reading of the victims’ names; a prayer for the victims and their loved ones; and a moment of silence.

■ A new sculpture titled “Aria” was recently installed at the Aria luxury for-rent apartment homes on the northeast corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Artesia Boulevard. The artwork and fountain are part of the city’s Art in Public Places program.

The fountain and sculpture were created by artist Kathleen Caricof, who was also commissioned for the Cerritos Air Disaster Memorial. The National Sculptor’s Guild member also designed the “Balance” art piece on the corner of South Street and Carmenita Road.
Incorporating the Feng Shui elements of earth, water and fire, the “Aria” artwork consists of two dark, vertical basalt stones, reminiscent of a musical figure. The stones are accented with bold-colored bands of steel. The sculpture stands approximately 8 feet high and 3 ½ feet wide. The piece sits on top of a black granite platform.

The entire piece stands amid a circular pool covered with decorative natural stone, which is approximately 6 feet in diameter. The water cascades about 3 feet to the secondary pool, which was designed to follow the curvature of the Aria property. This secondary pool, made of cast concrete and stucco, measures approximately 49 feet across and 6 ½ feet in width.

“Aria” was commissioned for the Aria luxury apartment homes by the property owner and developer, The Picerne Group. Through the City’s Artwork in Public Places program, property owners/developers are required to provide a piece of artwork, or donate one percent of the building permit valuation to a trust fund. 

■ The Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold the “Taste of the Region & Business Expo” on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. 

The one-day event, a nod to “Cuisine, Culture, and Commerce,” showcases the best of the region’s food, music, restaurants and local businesses.

The $10 admission includes a wristband for all-access tastings from more than 20 local restaurants and caterers. Children under age 5 get in free with a paying adult. The event features exhibitor booths, live music, raffle prizes, auto displays and more. Parking is free. Booth spaces and sponsorship opportunities are available.

■ The Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) is pleased to present a 2016-2017 pre-season summer special with Dick Van Dyke & The Vantastix on Sunday, August 28 at 3 p.m.

Broadway, television and film legend Van Dyke – of “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Mary Poppins,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show” – performs popular tunes from his stage and screen work and shares his insights about showbiz.

The legend is joined by his award-winning vocal a cappella quartet The Vantastix. The group has performed at the Hollywood Bowl and appeared on television in TV Land Awards and “Larry King Live.”

Ticket prices start at $65 and are available at cerritoscenter.com or by calling (562) 916-8500.

■ Cerritos will host a special Evening of Remembrance on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Heritage Park.

Honoring the victims and heroes affected by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the event will include performances by local entertainment, a formal ceremony with the Cerritos City Council, a candlelight memorial and a moment of silence. In recognition of National Preparedness Month in September, representatives from the City’s Volunteers on Patrol will be on hand to offer information about how to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

■ Earlier this year the Cerritos City Council authorized the use of approximately $154,000 in leftover funding from capital projects for the re-paving of a segment of South Street from Gridley Road to the eastern city limit (Park Place Center). 

This paving project was completed at the end of June along with striping and adjustment of utilities.