220205 February 5 Weekend News and NotesFrom:Peter Grant
To:Peter Grant
Subject:February 5 Weekend News and Notes
Date:Saturday, February 5, 2022 9:13:42 AM
Mayor and Council,
+ You have another free Monday night. The next City Council meeting is February 14.
+ On January 25, Governor Newsom announced that he and Senate President pro Tempore Toni
Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon reached agreement on a framework that would
provide new COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave ("SPSL") entitlements to employees in the
state. While the announcement provided very few specifics on the forthcoming legislation, including
whether it will apply retroactively, the Governor indicated that the leave entitlements would be
available to employees through September 30, 2022. Our labor attorneys are closely monitoring
developments concerning the reauthorization of SPSL and will provide updates when more
information becomes available.
+ Los Alamitos Army Airfield (LAAAF) will serve as the staging point for the U.S. Air Force Heritage
Flight that will conduct the flyover on Sunday, February 13, over SoFi Stadium during the national
anthem performance at Super Bowl LVI. Heritage Flight aircraft will land at LAAAF on Tuesday,
February 8, and local residents may hear arriving and departing jet aircraft at times throughout the
remainder of the week leading up to Sunday’s game. Flight operations will be conducted during
regular airfield hours and there are no public events at Joint Forces Training Base in conjunction with
Super Bowl LVI.
+ This week we were served with a lawsuit from John Estrada arising from a trip and fall at Arnold
Cypress Park on January 16, 2021. The claim is currently open and under investigation by claims
adjusters at George Hills.
+ Saturday, Cypress Girls Softball will hold its opening day ceremonies at Arnold Cypress Park.
+ The Recreation Commission’s Concert on the Green ad hoc subcommittee is recommending the
following to the Commission in February: Friday evening concerts from June 24 to August 12; food
trucks at city concerts and the Kiwanis Club at FOCCA concerts; explore creating a drop-off zone and
increasing handicapped parking in the lot north of the library.
+ RCS will hold a teen workshop at the La Palma Community Center on Thursday, February 10. Teens
will hear from professionals in education, public service, and non-profits about career development
skills as well as volunteer and job opportunities. Vendors including Chili’s, Big Air, and the Red Cross
will also be onsite for employment and volunteer opportunities.
+ The Lexington Park general contractor is having issues with the dewatering subcontractor who is
sending various claims emails and copying everyone it can think of. Contractual disputes like this are
common on big, complicated projects and it will get worked out. The “email everyone” strategy is
unusual.
+ The Regional Water Quality Board visited Lexington Park Thursday to investigate an anonymous
complaint about discharge into the stormwater system over the weekend (probably from the
aggrieved subcontractor). PW is working with the Regional Board to address the complaint and
determine if it is legitimate. Veteran Council Members may recall that the city received a massive
water quality fine in the early 2000s and we are still probably on RWQB’s watch list.
+ If you receive an email from, or are contacted by, the dewatering contractor or RWQB, please do
not respond or engage and let me know ASAP.
+ At Council Member Marquez’s request, PW contacted Stanton Public Works regarding trash
around CR&R’s Knott Ave material recovery facility. The facility is across Knott Ave on our southeast
border.
+ Paving contractors are making good progress on the arterial street resurfacing project. Denni
Street (Cerritos to Ball) is set for Saturday to avoid impacting Grace Christian School and OC Kids
Childcare) and Valley View Street (Orangewood to Katella) on Monday.
+ Design is underway to upsize the sewer lateral at the Civic Center that serves City Hall, PD, and the
civic green restrooms. The existing line is undersized, contains sags and offset joints, and is prone to
backups. The civic green restrooms are closed until the sewer rehabilitation is complete and PW and
RCS will install temporary restrooms by the tennis courts
+ Tree trimming contractors started work on palm trees throughout the city this week and should
finish within a couple months.
+ Contractors will remove a declining Mulberry Tree on the civic green Friday and we will replace it
spring. This is part of our ongoing effort to refresh the green’s forest. Originally, all the trees were
planted at the same time (so they’re all dying at the same) and are the same type of tree (so they
are susceptible to the same diseases and blights). We hope to diversify the species and age of the
trees in a way that preserves and promotes the green’s canopy. When we put new trees in, we
spend a considerable amount of money to get the best kind of tree in as large a size as possible. This
has been, and will be, an ongoing effort.
+ 8121 Gay St. receivership petition update: Anna Makkouk’s attorney filed Opposition to the
Petition for Appointment of Receiver requesting an additional 120 days to clean up the property. On
Thursday, we replied reiterating that she has had two-plus years to correct the violations and has
not done so. We anticipate the petition will move forward as scheduled. The hearing is Thursday.
+ The Ball/Moody sidewalk vendor reappeared at Cerritos/Walker this week. In an effort gain
voluntarily compliance, Alicia visited the vendor to explain Federal ADA path of travel requirements.
The vendor and her boss started recording the conversation, became aggressive and attempted to
bait her into a confrontation. Rather than comply with the city’s reasonable and legally required ADA
rules, the vendor is clearly looking to enlist the city in a fight (something they would consider a
public relations win). We will continue to monitor the situation and respond to complaints. Follow-
up: I received an email of the video and a complaint about the interaction from the vendor. If they
contact you, please do not respond and let me know ASAP.
+ PD is planning a morning breakfast/open house for city employees to tour the new station. We’ll
keep you posted.
+ As I’m sure you’re aware, PD played Cypress High School varsity softball team. What I didn’t see
reported was that the stands were packed with students and parents who cheered on the girls and
even did the wave to help get them fired up and after the game, PD provided pizza and sodas for the
girls and the fans. A rematch has been accepted for next year. We also avoided any injuries!
+ From the dumb crook files: While PD were parked at the Ball/Moody Arco debriefing a prior call, a
suspicious vehicle pulled into the parking lot across the street at 5111 Ball (Joe Schmoe’s center).
Three subjects exited the car and walked to the front door of the Thai Place, shattered the door with
a crowbar, and entered the business. PD immediately surrounded the business and within seconds,
all three suspects fled out the front door in different directions. Officers from the Buena Park, La
Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Anaheim’s helicopter responded. After an extensive search, all
three suspects were arrested for conspiracy and burglary. The bad guys are from the
Lancaster/Palmdale.
+ An alert resident reported a male in dark clothing was checking the door handle to her vehicle and
then possibly entered her backyard. PD responded and located a male matching the description
leaving the neighborhood. The subject was in possession of property that was possibly taken from
the victim’s vehicle and he admitted to taking property from several unlocked vehicles. PD located
the victims and returned the stolen property. The thief was arrested petty theft, possession of stolen
property, and a parole violation.
+ Brooke, Communications LAB and I toured the Navy Golf Course banquet facility to prepare for the
February 15 CVRA/election system community forum and the facility appears well suited for our
needs. We will have the event run down and other forum protocols for you next week. We continue
to expand the information on the website and translate it to Spanish and Korean.
Have a great weekend!
Pete
Peter Grant
City Manager
City of Cypress
Office 714-229-6680
Cellular 714-335-1685
pgrant@cypressca.org