[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:03] Good evening, everybody. Good evening, series residents and members of our community. I'd like
[0:10] to call to order the Thursday, May 28, 2026, 6 o'clock p.m. City Council Special Meeting.
[0:19] Instructions for remote public participation are listed on the agenda for this meeting.
[0:24] This is our inaugural celebrating Cerritos quarterly program designed to recognize outstanding contributions within the Cerritos community.
[0:38] Madam City Clerk, will you please conduct the roll call?
[0:41] Council Member Hong.
[0:43] Present.
[0:44] Council Member Sey is noted absent for the record.
[0:47] Council Member Yokoyama is also noted absent for the record.
[0:51] Mayor Pro Tempalito.
[0:52] Present.
[0:53] Present.
[0:53] And Mayor Johnson.
[0:55] Present.
[0:55] And the roll call is complete with three members present.
[0:58] Great.
[1:00] At this time on the agenda, item number three, I will open for public comments.
[1:07] Item three, comments should be limited to speech regarding item number four, celebrating serritos.
[1:17] Comments will be limited to one minute per person with a total time not to exceed 15 minutes.
[1:24] Remote persons requesting to speak on item number 4, please use the Zoom raise hand feature now.
[1:34] Or if joining by phone, press star 9.
[1:39] City Clerk, do we have any remote participants requesting to speak?
[1:44] None at this time, Mayor.
[1:46] Okay, great.
[1:50] I will now ask for public comments if there's anyone in the audience.
[1:56] Anybody?
[1:57] None.
[1:58] Okay, great.
[1:59] I'll now close the public comment period.
[2:02] The next item on the agenda is item number four, celebrating Cerritos presentations.
[2:08] Thank you to everyone for attending tonight for our Inaugural Cerritos Celebration, Celebrating Cerritos event.
[2:17] As I previously mentioned, Celebrating Cerritos is a new quarterly recognition event conducted as part of a special meeting of the City Council.
[2:27] One of the greatest privileges of serving as your mayor is the opportunity to recognize the people and organizations who make Cerritos the extraordinary community it is.
[2:41] The City Council takes pride in honoring residents, local businesses, student achievers, community
[2:51] organizations, and dedicated volunteers for their significant accomplishments and contributions
[2:58] made to the Cerritos community.
[3:01] With our celebrating Cerritos event, we provide our deserving honorees a dedicated time
[3:08] for the city to express its appreciation.
[3:12] The event also serves as an opportunity for the city to give thanks for your collective efforts in helping make Cerritos a stronger and more connected community.
[3:26] In a moment, I'll turn the microphone over to our MC, Scott Harvey, the city's communications and marketing manager to facilitate tonight's proceedings.
[3:37] So at this time I ask my council colleagues to please join me on the stage in front of the backdrop to please greet our honorees.
[4:03] Good evening and thank you Mayor Johnson and members of the City Council.
[4:07] Good evening to our guests of honor, their families and our community members.
[4:12] The City of Cerritos is pleased to present tonight's honorees with a certificate of recognition for their outstanding accomplishments.
[4:19] As a token of the city's appreciation, honorees will also receive a ceremonial City of Cerritos
[4:25] 70th anniversary lapel pin.
[4:29] Tonight we will recognize two groups of students from the ABC Unified School District for their
[4:33] participation and commendations received at the 52nd annual National High School Model
[4:38] United Nations Conference, which was recently held in New York.
[4:43] Honorees will be invited forward and greeted by members of the Cerritos City Council.
[4:47] And after you've greeted each council member, please proceed to the other side of the chamber
[4:51] along this back wall and a staff member will guide you into position for our group photo.
[4:56] After being recognized, we invite the honorees to return to their seats until the conclusion
[5:00] of tonight's meeting when you may join friends and family for additional photos in our
[5:05] lobby area.
[5:06] And I now invite the members of Cerritos High School Model United Nations to come
[5:10] forward and be recognized.
[5:19] The annual National High School Model United Nations conference was recently held in New
[5:24] York City.
[5:25] This large-scale educational and academic simulation features students role-playing as diplomats
[5:30] from United Nations member states.
[5:32] For their performance, Cerritos High School Model United Nations was recognized with the
[5:36] award of distinction in debate and the award of excellence in research and preparation.
[5:42] SREDOS High School is among a limited number of schools to receive both awards,
[5:47] positioning SREDOS High School as one of the leading schools in the National
[5:50] High School Model United Nations Conference.
[5:53] Members of the SREDOS High School Model United Nations team include
[5:58] Trenton Bowie, Sophia Del Castillo,
[6:04] Matthew Galvin Navarro,
[6:09] Emily Yang,
[6:12] Siddhi Karthikeya,
[6:16] Harrison Kim,
[6:20] Adita Komu Ruggihi,
[6:26] Alina Lee,
[6:30] Emeline Muvini,
[6:33] Ashon
[6:34] Patil,
[6:37] Ayan Rahman,
[6:40] Christian Schwartz,
[6:43] Ethan Sohn,
[6:47] Silas Supacek,
[6:50] Avery Updike,
[7:01] Alan
[7:01] Yung,
[7:04] Helen Zeng, Arya Bhakta,
[7:11] Hamanshu Buddha Maganta,
[7:18] Manas Gol,
[7:21] Samantha Gomez,
[7:24] Rachel Hawara, Jeremy Young,
[7:30] William Morante Jr., Jaleen Merguia,
[7:37] Nandini Panchal,
[7:41] Zabir Rahman,
[7:44] Seshu Shan Vadella,
[7:48] Timothy Yang,
[7:48] Jenny Lee, Anushka Zumale, and we also want to recognize faculty advisor Jason
[8:00] Wanta-Nabi,
[8:05] and the chaperones Roshni Bhakta,
[8:09] Neha Panchal, and Rota Pima.
[8:17] The City of Cerritos is proud to present Cerritos High School Model United Nations.
[8:28] At this time members of the Cerritos Council will join the students to take
[8:31] a group photo.
[10:18] Congratulations again to Cerritos High School Model United Nations.
[10:25] Now invite our City Council to return to the backdrop display as we honor our next group.
[10:32] And will the members of GAR High School Model United Nations please come forward to be recognized.
[10:38] At the annual National High School Model United Nations Conference, Gar High School earned the prestigious honor of outstanding delegation.
[10:47] The top tier recognition is a reflection of the Gar High School team's collective excellence across multiple categories at the national conference.
[10:55] Gar High School was the sole school from California to be awarded the Outstanding Delegation Recognition.
[11:01] members
[11:05] of the Gar High School Model United Nations team includes Hannah
[11:09] Kirsten Cruz,
[11:15] Sophia Diva,
[11:19] Binyon Saisei,
[11:24] Jason Quack,
[11:28] Sebastian Sendinham,
[11:32] Troy
[11:32] Rogers,
[11:37] Amoa Arun Kumar,
[11:41] Yankee Shenz,
[11:44] Andrea Ferguson,
[11:48] Fallon Robles, Alisa
[11:51] Lisa Sock,
[11:54] Jaila Brown,
[11:57] Maria Alberto,
[12:00] Arush Choudhury,
[12:03] Nicholas Arzate, Mackay Jordan,
[12:10] Brooke Nam, Jaya Sedana,
[12:16] Jacob Gutierrez, Vanessa Vasquez, Damian Tamayo, Arlene Cardenas.
[12:26] And we also want to recognize faculty advisor Patrick Gordon.
[12:34] The City of Cerritos is proud to present Gar High School Model United Nations.
[12:43] And at this time we ask our city council to join our students for a group photo.
[14:32] Congratulations again to Gar High School Model United Nations.
[14:38] And congratulations again to tonight's honorees.
[14:41] I will now invite the City Council back to their seats for closing remarks.
[15:10] Thank you, Scott. On behalf of the Cerrito City Council, we were honored to recognize students
[15:16] and advisors from Cerritos High School and Gar High School from the ABC Unified School
[15:23] District for their performances at the National Model United Nations Conference. Your accomplishments
[15:32] are a point of pride for the community and worthy of a celebration amongst friends, family,
[15:41] and fellow residents as part of our Celebrating Cerritos event.
[15:46] I want to thank everyone for attending tonight's event to show their appreciation to the deserving honorees.
[15:53] Following this special meeting, our honorees are encouraged to gather in the lobby for additional photos
[16:01] with friends and family in front of the City Step and Repeat banner. This
[16:07] concludes agenda item number four. Thank you all for your attendance. We will now
[16:13] adjourn this special meeting. The seven o'clock meeting will be called to order
[16:18] at seven o'clock. Thank you.