Council Recap: Lakewood is first recipient of CARRT award
Published on December 14, 2022
At their Tuesday, Dec. 13 evening meeting, Lakewood City Council Members extended funding for extra Deputy Sheriff and overnight security guard patrols through at least the end of June 2023. The funding for the extra patrols was first passed on a trial basis in March 2022 as part of the Lakewood “Neighborhood Safety Enhancement Plan.”
Staff reported that in the four months after the extra patrols started, catalytic converter thefts leveled off in Lakewood compared to continued large increases in neighboring cities. Staff also reported on 150 arrests made by the extra sheriff’s patrols, which focused on reducing burglaries, auto thefts and vandalism, along with thwarting a street takeover before it could begin in October.
At a “Lakewood Celebrates” community reception that preceded the meeting, the City Council was presented an award for its Neighborhood Safety Enhancement Plan.
In photo above, from left is Council Member Cassandra Chase, Mayor Steve Croft, John Kabateck of the National Federation of Independent Business, Nate Haderlie of CARRT, Council Member Jeff Wood, Vice Mayor Ariel Pe and Council Member Todd Rogers.
Lakewood is the first recipient of the award from CARRT (Californians Against Retail & Residential Theft), an organization that includes the California Grocers Association, National Federation of Independent Business, Crime Victims United, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, and the California Black Chamber of Commerce.
In other action on Tuesday night, the City Council received a report from the city’s independent auditor who presented the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR, formerly known as the CAFR).
Lakewood’s finances and accounting procedures received the highest rating possible from the auditor. The city’s financial position is even better than originally expected under Measure L, which provides even more assurance that Lakewood’s financial health will be sustainable well into the future.
Finally, the City Council approved the lease of 1,500 acre-feet of water pumping rights to the City of Compton for the next three years for $742,500. Lakewood is fortunate to have pumping rights to underground aquifers in the region that fully satisfy the city water system’s needs. The rules governing the aquifer’s use require cities to fully use their pumping rights, lease portions of them temporarily, pay in advance to store them as carryover, or lose their unused rights each year.
To prevent Lakewood from losing its valuable water rights, the city has strategically leased an amount that it determines it will not have to use for a period of time to a neighboring city or water agency in need. The funds that Lakewood receives from the lease, by law, can only go to the city’s Water Fund where they are used to pay for maintenance and upgrades to the water system and where they are used to keep city water rates as low as possible for Lakewood customers.