In Cerritos, it's now illegal to feed wild animals

The Cerritos City Council adopted a resolution that specifically prohibits feeding wildlife. Wikipedia photo

News and notes from Cerritos: 

■ The Cerritos City Council recently approved a ban on feeding wildlife at Cerritos recreation facilities with areas of water to protect the health and safety of the public and birds and animals.

The city's Parks Division has reported an increased accumulation of excrement and uneaten human foods at the bottom of the pond, walkways and surrounding areas of Heritage Park, which experiences the highest number of patrons feeding ducks, fish and turtles in the moat.

There has also been a continuous decline in the water quality of the moat, which is attributed to the increase in the duck, fish and turtle populations.

Signs banning wildlife feeding will be posted at all Cerritos recreation facilities with bodies of water.

■ The Cerritos Water Division started flushing the water mains throughout the city last month in response to the California State Water Resources Control Board's recommendation that all public water distribution systems be flushed to reduce stagnant water and sediment build-up.

Notices, placed on the front doors of residences, ask residents to refrain from using the water between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on their designated flushing days. If residents see discolored water during the flushing, they should refrain from using the water in their homes.

Residents should check the water at the front hose faucet periodically to see if the color has cleared up. If the water looks clear, residents may run the faucets in their homes to flush out remaining sediment.

Direct questions or concerns to the Water Division at (562) 860-0311, ext. 2031.

■ Cerritos has entered into an agreement with ES Engineering regarding the groundwater treatment system for the Cerritos Civic Center parking structure.

The arsenic levels in the water discharged from the Civic Center parking structure were found to exceed regulatory limits. ES Engineering has proposed a treatment system that will route water through filtration vessels that are designed to remove arsenic prior to the water being discharged into the storm drain system.

The installation and cost of the equipment is approximately $400,000 with an annual maintenance expense of about $50,000. Under a grant program with the California Energy Commission, ES Engineering will pay for the design, equipment acquisition, installation and maintenance of the system for two years.

At the end of the grant term, ES will transfer ownership of the system to Cerritos at no charge, thus saving the city approximately $500,000 in expenses.

ES is expected to install the system and begin operation no later than January 1, 2017.

■ The Cerritos City Council recently awarded a contract to Sully-Miller Contracting of Brea for $237,780 to repave the Liberty Park parking lot. The cost of the project was funded by a Proposition A grant awarded to the City by Los Angeles County.

The project included curb and gutter improvements, the installation of two ADA-accessible ramps, re-striping and the replacement of the existing chain-link fence with a three-foot-high wrought iron fence.

The project was completed last month.

■ The City Council recently renewed a two-year contract with Empire Pipe Cleaning & Equipment, Inc. in the amount of $243,435.50 for maintenance of the Cerritos sewer system.

Empire Pipe Cleaning & Equipment, Inc. of Orange will maintain the City's sewage system, which consists of about 103 miles of sewer main lines and six submersible lift stations.

Empire Pipe Cleaning & Equipment has performed maintenance on the system since 1986.

■ The County of Los Angeles Civil Grand Jury Office is seeking "well-qualified" citizens to volunteer for the 2017-2018 Civil Grand Jury that will be impaneled on July 3, 2017.

The Civil Grand Jury is virtually a full-time commitment for a period of one year. The deadline to submit the application form is Friday, November 4. Applicants must be a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age, a resident of Los Angeles County for at least one year, of ordinary intelligence and good character and have a working knowledge of English.

The responsibilities of the Civil Grand Jury include a careful examination of the operations of various government agencies within Los Angeles County, including special districts, to ensure that they are operating efficiently and managing taxpayer monies appropriately. A commitment of 30 to 40 hours a week is required.

Participation is strictly voluntary. Employers are not obligated to provide participants with time off or to pay their salary when they serve on the Civil Grand Jury.

Each year every Superior Court judge may nominate two persons that he or she deems qualified to serve as Civil Grand Jurors. To be considered for nomination, submit an application to the Superior Court Criminal Justice Center, 210 W. Temple Street, 11th Floor, Room 11-506, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Applicants will be interviewed by the Grand Jurors Committee to determine each person's qualifications. The applications of qualified individuals are then made available to all Superior Court judges for possible nomination.

The 23 Civil Grand Jurors and Alternates are required to complete the financial disclosure forms in compliance with California Government Code Sections 81000-91015. Swearing-in for the Civil Grand Jurors is July 1 of each year (or the earliest day thereafter if July 1 falls on a weekend.) Jurors are required to be present for the Swearing-In Ceremony in July to receive the Charge to the Civil Grand Jury.

All Civil Grand Jurors must be available during July and August. For more information or to request an application form, call (213) 628-7914 or go to grandjury.co.la.ca.us.

■ Planning is under way for Cerritos' annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Ceremony to be held on Monday, January 16, 2017.

The Community Participation Division is seeking resources from the public for the event. Members of the community are invited to suggest speakers, inspirational text, quotations or other resources by calling (562) 865-8101 or submitting suggestions to the Community Participation Division, P.O. Box 3130, Cerritos, CA 90703.

Suggestions may also be submitted by e-mail to webmaster@cerritos.us.

■ "Cerritos Celebrates the Arts," a month of art-themed activities, will be offered by the city of Cerritos throughout October. The Americans for the Arts has designated the month of October as National Arts and Humanities Month.

The city's Recreation Services Division will hold art-themed children's activities throughout October. A variety of art classes highlighting painting, ceramics and drawing will be featured. Special events include "Starry Night," "Artsy Artists" and "Parent/Child Create Art With Me." A children's poster contest with a theme of "The Arts Are Alive in Cerritos" will also take place in October. For more information, call the Recreation Services Division at (562) 916-1254.

The Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park will feature art and music courses in October. Yoga, magic and crafts classes will also be offered. For more information, call the Cerritos Senior Center at (562) 916-8550.

Cerritos Library's October schedule highlights numerous art-themed events, including arts and crafts for kids; the Young Rembrandts art class; a presentation by Rob Kapilow; an art contest featuring the theme "Colors of the Rainforest"; and a "Why I Was Late to Class" short story contest.

For more information about the Cerritos Library's programs, call (562) 916-1388.

■ The "Join the Parade" collection was recently installed in the Cerritos Sculpture Garden.

The ensemble, by artist Jane Rankin, was previously displayed at the Cerritos Plaza Shopping Center. The piece originally featured seven limited-edition bronze statues of young children using utensils and cooking tools as their band instruments.

The city added an eighth sculpture, "Wheels," of a band member in a wheelchair. In 2014, it was discovered that three sculptures were missing. The remaining pieces were moved into storage.

The pieces, valued between $43,000 to $45,000, were donated to the city by the property owners of the Cerritos Plaza Shopping Center. The replacement of the three stolen sculptures, costing $45,000, was paid from the Art in Public Trust Fund.

The older five pieces were restored to match the three new pieces before the completed collection was installed in the Sculpture Garden in August.

■ Registration is underway for the Cerritos on Two Wheels community bike ride, scheduled for Saturday, October 1. The event takes place at the Cerritos Sports Complex at 19900 Bloomfield Avenue.

Ride times start at 7 a.m. for the Half Century riders; 8 a.m. for the 30-mile riders; 9:30 a.m. for the 15-mile riders; and 11 a.m. for the Family Ride riders. The ride routes were designed by professional racer Tony Cruz.

Through Thursday, September 29, the registration fee is $65 for the Half Century riders; $45 for the 30-mile riders; and $25 for the 15-mile riders and $10 for Family riders. On Friday, September 30 and on the day of the event, the fee is $75 for Half Century riders; $55 for the 30-mile riders; and $35 for 15-mile riders and $15 for Family Ride participants.

Registration fees include a T-shirt and medal. Meals are included for all pre-registered riders. The post-ride event will include entertainment and family games.

Register at active.com. For more information, contact the Recreation Services Division at (562) 916-1254.

■ Local residents are invited to the Cerritos Sheriff's Station for a family-friendly Haunted Car Show and Haunted Jail event on Saturday, October 22.

The jail is at 18135 Bloomfield Avenue. There is a $3 suggested donation for entry.

The Cerritos Sheriff's Station's second annual Haunted Car Show is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be awards for the best interior, best paint, best engine, best original, best Halloween theme and best in show.

The Haunted Jail and Kidz Zone takes place from 3 to 9 p.m., offering music, candy and a raffle. Food, face-painting, drinks and creepy desserts are offered for a fee. A costume contest, for children age 10 and younger, starts at 5 p.m.

For more information, call the Cerritos Sheriff's Station at (562) 467-6842.