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By Tammye McDuff
Commerce City Council latest meeting continued long into the night, Tuesday, April 7, 2015. With six special presentations, numerous proclamations, introduction of the new Miss Commerce Court, Staff Reports and scheduled matters, the assemblage went well into the midnight hour.
At the request of council, research was conducted with Fenix Merchandise, USA for the establishment of a farmers market within the city. Fenix has run marketplace operation for the past seven years in Boyle Heights and for the Montebello Unified School District. The location will tentatively be placed Thursday afternoons, in City Hall parking lot. The market will accept EBT and will run April to August. Exact dates of the opening will depend on licensing and receipt of permits and the market will also include resident arts and crafts booths.
In other news, Council will consider the authorization of a Commerce Summer Youth Education and Service Leadership & Mentoring program to begin July 1, 2015. For the past 18 summers the Leadership & Mentoring program has given resident youth a chance to experience City government and the opportunity to serve the City. The cost of the program, with 85 teenage participants will cost $42,000.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department presented eight officers with a commendation for Commendable Restraint. In October of 2014 Sergeant Raymond lam and seven deputies responded to an incident involving an agitated man with a knife, wanting to harm himself and a bus full of passengers. The actions taken resulted in a zero injury incident. Deputies Daniel Estrella, Braulio Robledo, Raul Gutierrez, Luis Hernandez, Jennifer Strollo, Christopher Gomez and Luis Mendoza were commended for their efforts to protect and enhance the quality of life for the suspect and passengers.
The 2015 Miss Commerce Pageant was held on Saturday, March 14, 2015 to select a new Queen and Court to represent the City of Commerce. The Pageant Steering Committee worked behind the scenes with Recreation Manager Adolfo Marquez to ensure a successful experience for all participants. The 2015 Miss Commerce and her Court are: Miss Commerce-Diana Lizbeth Lopez, Miss Dodgers/Miss Friendship -Destanee Rose Cortes, Miss Clippers -Alyssa Rubio, Miss Fourth of July-Cecilia Campos, Miss Cinco de Mayo -Dayana Ruiz Marquez and the 2015 Young Man of the Year is Gage Torres.
An introduction of the new Regional Manager for Southern California Edison, Adeline Yoong was made to Council. Yoong is a former staff member of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal Allard, was manager of a regional ground water management agency for 16 years and is now working with SoCalEdison.
A new program entitled ‘Commerce Caught in the Act’ will be implemented May 2015. Special cards will be designed that will be given to employees who demonstrate excellent customer service. The idea is to provide an informal recognition to staff and employees who go above and beyond for residents. These cards will be exchangeable for a meal at a participating Commerce restaurant or redeemed for gift cards or certificates.
