Kia Opens its Doors at Cerritos Auto Square

By Jerry Bernstein

Kia of Cerritos opened its doors this month at the Cerritos Auto Square, becoming the latest dealership to make its home in Cerritos. Last May the Cerritos City Council approved a 15-year lease agreement with Kia for a 4.74-acre parcel at 18201 Studebaker Road in the Cerritos Auto Square and has eagerly awaited its opening.
The two-story automobile dealership has a total gross building area of 58,863 square feet. The dealership is the largest Kia store in the United States. The dealership is expected to generate an additional $14 million of revenue for the City/Redevelopment Agency through the generation of rent and sales tax over the 15-year lifetime of the lease.
When fully staffed, the dealership is anticipated to provide the community with 95 jobs. Fifty-seven jobs will be preserved from the closure of the Cerritos Saturn dealership, and an additional 28 jobs will be immediately created to accommodate the larger facility. Within two years, 10 additional jobs will be added.
At its July 8 meeting, the council approved an amended agreement with the city of Lakewood which increases the cost of reclaimed water sold to Lakewood.
In his report to the Council, Senior Assistant City Manager Vince Barr said the new contract with Lakewood is more reflected of the current cost of the delivery of recycled water. Under the new agreement, which became effected July 1, Cerritos will charge a base rate of $1 per 100 cubic feet [unit]. On July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013, this fee will increase annually by 10 cents per unit to the price of $1.30 per unit or a rate equal to 80 percent of Cerritos’ unit raye for potable water, whichever is greater.
The term of the new agreement is for 10 years and will expire on June 30, 2020 unless ended before that time under terms of the agreement.
Cerritos irrigates more than 200 acres of city-owned land, mostly parks, parkways and mediums with reclaimed water. The water originates from industries, businesses and homes. It is treated by a three-way stage process by the Sanitation District before being used for irrigation. The use of reclaimed water by the city saves approximately 815 million gallons of potable water a year.
In other business the council awarded a low bid of $128,422 to Trend Offset Printing located in Los Alamitos in the amount of $128,422 for the printing of the Cerritos Center for the Performng Arts 2010-11 Seasonal Calendars. Six bids we received ranging from a high bid $171,256.35 and the low bid of $128,422.