[Call to Order ]
[00:00:06]
WELCOME TO OUR FEBRUARY 23RD, 2021 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING.COUNCIL MEMBER
YEAH, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, ROLL CALL, PLEASE PRESENT.
NOW SOME MEN WILL ANNOUNCE A WOMAN DIAZ, EAR MAYOR PRO TEM CASTELLANOS, MAYOR LOPEZ BEATO PRESENT.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ]
MOVE TO ORAL COMMUNICATION.IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, PLEASE FILL OUT A YELLOW SPEAKER CARD AND SUBMIT IT TO THE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK.
ADDITIONALLY, TO THE CURRENT ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOW BEING COMMITTED.
UM, BEING ACCOMMODATED VIA TELEPHONE REQUESTS, UM, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE? WE HAVE ABOUT 33 MAYOR.
UM, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS AND GIVING EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITHOUT, WITHOUT THEM WAITING SO LONG ON HOLD COUNCIL, DO YOU MIND IF WE LIMIT IT TO THREE MINUTES AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST OR PUBLIC COMMENTS? YES.
DO I NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL? I MEAN EMOTION, CITY ATTORNEY, NO.
UH, SO FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, THAT WILL BE THREE MINUTES.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS LISA SOUR FOLLOWED BY BILL CAGLE, FOLLOWED BY ELISE WEINBERG.
UM, C I'M A 23 YEAR RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA HERE.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AS A CITY, TRYING TO DEVELOP ITS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
MY MAIN FOCUS IS HOW AND WHY THIS IS BEING PUSHED THROUGH SO QUICKLY.
I RECALL ONE CITY MEETING WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL CAME TO SEE THE PODIUM TO DISCUSS IT.
WHAT I DON'T SEE IS A DISCUSSION OR INFORMATION MEETING WITH THE CITY RESIDENTS AS TO WHY THIS IS BEING PUSHED.
SOME OF US FEEL IT CAME ABOUT DUE TO THE RESTAURANTS, NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN AS RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.
HOWEVER, THIS PANDEMIC ISN'T GOING TO LAST THAT LONG.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE, AS THE RESIDENTS ARE MISSING? WAS THERE A MAJOR HEALTH PROBLEM THAT WE WEREN'T AWARE OF HERE IN THE CITY? AND WE'RE ALSO WONDERING WHY THIS WASN'T DISCUSSED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING BECAUSE THAT COUNCIL MEETING WENT BY PRETTY QUICKLY.
AND I THINK THERE WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO HAVE SUCH A DISCUSSION AT THAT TIME.
NOW WE HAVE A DEADLINE OF EARLY MARCH TO MAKE A DECISION.
YOU CAN'T BLAME US FOR FEELING LIKE WE HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN HEARD.
WE VOTED YOU IN BECAUSE WE TRUSTED YOU.
WE HAD FAITH IN YOUR DECISION-MAKING, BUT THIS IS NOT BEEN A VERY GOOD FEELING, NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE FORUMS IN ON YOUR FACEBOOK AND ALL THE OTHER FACEBOOK GROUP, UM, GROUPS THAT WE HAVE, ALL THOSE FORUMS, NOBODY IS FEELING COMFORTABLE ABOUT THE WAY THIS IS BEING PUSHED.
WE FEEL LIKE THERE HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSION WITH THE RESIDENTS ON THIS.
UM, I CAN RECALL WHEN WE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH BKK, WE HAD LOTS OF INFORMATION MEETINGS.
EVERYBODY HAD GOOD INFORMATION TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ON THIS, BUT HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK WE'VE REALLY HAD ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS WITH THE RESIDENTS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AS TO WHY WE'RE EVEN DOING THIS.
THERE'S GOTTA BE A GOOD REASON FOR IT.
THERE HAS TO BE BECAUSE WHY WOULD YOU GUYS WANT TO DO IT? BUT YOU JUST SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT SO QUICKLY.
I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
WE JUST KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE'RE KIND OF BEING KICKED TO THE SIDE AND NOT BEING PAID ATTENTION TO.
I THINK WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IS IF WE DON'T MAKE YOUR DECISION NOW HOLD OFF ON IT.
I'M SURE THERE'S GOTTA BE A GOOD REASON, BUT WHY CAN'T WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS LIKE WE HAD IN THE PAST, EDUCATE US, LET ME KNOW WHY WE NEED OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT IT'S JUST BECAUSE OUR RESIDENTS, OUR RESTAURANTS COULDN'T
[00:05:01]
OPEN UP BECAUSE OF PANDEMIC, BUT THAT'S ALL WE SEE.SO WE'RE NOT SAYING YES, WE'RE NOT SAYING NO, BUT WE JUST WANT INFORMATION.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS IS BEING DONE.
SO WE'RE ASKING YOU DON'T MAKE A DECISION ON GOING THROUGH WITH IT RIGHT NOW.
WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS.
I THINK THE ONE THING IS THAT WE'RE SO TIRED OF HEARING SUCH NEGATIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
GUYS, PLEASE, BILL CAGLE FOLLOWED BY ELISE WEINBERG, FOLLOWED BY GIUSEPPE MANCUSOS.
GOOD ENDING MEHTA MAYOR, MADAM MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.
I'M BILL CAGLE, A 40 YEAR RESIDENT.
AND I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT AS A CONCERN RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY THE POSSIBILITY OF US ESTABLISHING OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA AT THE LAST MEETING OR SET FOR 7:00 PM TONIGHT.
WHEN MORE PEOPLE COULD ATTEND TO EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER REPORTS FROM STAFF ON THIS MATTER? I REMEMBER ON THE MEETING FROM JANUARY 19TH, ONE COUNCILMAN IN PARTICULAR HAD LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON THE ISSUE.
HAVE YOU ALREADY MADE YOUR DECISION AND HER HAVING THIS MEETING AS A FORMALITY? WOULDN'T IT BE GOOD TO HEAR THE THOUGHTS OF RESIDENTS ON HOW OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT? WELL, THAT BEING SAID, THE COUNCIL IS HAVING A SPECIAL EMERGENCY MEETING.
WHERE DOES THE EMERGENCY AND THE RUSH? I WOULD SAY WE DO HAVE AN EMERGENCY.
AND THE EMERGENCY IS WORKING TOWARDS THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF OUR CITY.
CURRENTLY WEST COVINA RANKS AS THE NINTH, WORST CITY IN CALIFORNIA, IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL HEALTH, OUT OF 450 CITIES, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE PROCESS OF RESTORING FINANCIAL HEALTH IS GOING TO TAKE MUCH TIME, RESOURCES AND ENERGY.
THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE WORKING TOWARDS NEW REVENUE, GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS BRINGING IN NEW BUSINESS TO THE CITY, AS WELL AS MANAGING AND STAYING WITHIN THE CURRENT ANNUAL BUDGET.
WE DON'T NEED TO BE SPENDING MORE AND CREATING A LARGER DEFICIT.
WE CAN'T EVEN HANDLE A LEARNING LONGTERM COST OF OUR CURRENT STAFF.
HOW CAN WE AFFORD AN ENTIRELY NEW DEPARTMENT? WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE THINKING THAT RECENTLY TOOK A 10% PAY CUT? THERE ARE ONLY FOUR CITIES IN CALIFORNIA WHERE THEY'RE ONLY WITH THEIR OWN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THERE MUST BE GOOD REASON FOR THAT FUNDING ON HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD BE VERY COSTLY.
ONLY FOUR CITIES IN THE STATE HAVE THEIR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, CITIES FACE SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE STATE'S HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HEALTH OFFICERS AND STAFF ALSO FACED RIGOROUS VETTING, ASSEMBLING TEAMS OF TRAINED PROFESSIONALS.
ISN'T VERY CHEAP EXPERTS, CAUTION THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, MAKE SURE YOU'RE READY AND AREN'T DOING IT FOR THE WRONG REASONS.
LIKE MAKING A POLITICAL POINT.
THE SCOPE OF SUCH AN EMERGENCY EVEN FOR A SMALLER CITY IS IMMENSE QUOTING LORI TREMMEL FREEMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY AND CITY HEALTH OFFICIALS.
I JUST DON'T THINK ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY SAID FREEMAN, WHO NOTED THAT GATHERING THE EXPERTISE, MANNING THE NEEDED CERTIFICATIONS AND SCALING UP THE DIVERSITY OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY A HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS NOT EASY IN NORMAL TIMES, LET ALONE DURING A PANDEMIC MAYOR PRO TEM CASCIANOS WAS QUOTED IN SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE ON JANUARY 20TH, URGING A COST NATURAL PLAN.
HE SAID, IF THIS DIGS INTO OUR BUDGET, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF IT.
THE QUESTION IS, HOW CAN THIS BE DINING WITHOUT DIGGING INTO THE BUDGET? LISA, THE DARIEN SPOKESWOMEN PER PASEDENA SAID STARTING A HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS A MAJOR UNDERTAKING.
PASEDENA ESTABLISHED ITS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
WELL, LAST, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M AGAINST THIS FOR GOOD REASONS.
EVEN THE DOCTOR IN HIS COMMENT STATED IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF MONEY, LEAST WEINBERG FOLLOWED FO FOLLOWED BY GIUSEPPE MANKATO, FOLLOWED BY ELSIE METH, NAN HONORABLE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ELISE WEINBERG AND AS STAFF TO LA COUNTY SUPERVISOR HILDA ELLIS HOLIES, WHO REPRESENTS THE FIRST DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE CITY OF WEST COVINA SUPERVISORS.
HOLIES ASKED THAT I READ THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON HER BEHALF.
COVID-19 HAS DEVASTATED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA OF WHICH 200 RESIDENTS HAVE DIED OF COVID.
THAT IS WHY I LEVERAGED ALL RESOURCES POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS THE PANDEMIC.
THAT'S INCLUDING SETTING UP COVID-19 TESTING AT CAMERON PARK, WHICH WAS DONE AT MY DIRECTION.
IN FACT, EARLY ON, I WORKED WITH ULTIMATE TO STAND UP COVID-19 TESTING
[00:10:01]
AT THEIR WEST COVINA CLINIC.I ALSO DIRECTED THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO IMMEDIATELY BRING THE COVID-19 VACCINE TO RESIDENTS AND STAFF OF BRIDGE CREEK RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.
THIS WAS DONE QUICKLY AT MY REQUEST AND AS PART OF MY EFFORTS TO BRING THE VACCINE TO RESIDENTS, MY EFFORTS HAVE ALSO ENSURED THAT YOUS VALLEY COMMUNITY CLINIC HAS THE SUPPLY TO VACCINATE WEST COVINA RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS STANDING UP THE POMONA FAIRPLEX AS A MASS VACCINATION SITE, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN VACCINATING, MANY RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY AND BEGINNING NEXT WEEK WAS COVINA SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND POMONA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER WILL BEGIN VACCINATING THEIR EDUCATORS AND STAFF.
IN FACT, AS A FEBRUARY 14TH, ALREADY ALMOST 14,500 OR 17% OF WEST COVINA RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED WHEN COMPARED TO THE 12% RATE COUNTY-WIDE I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE SUPPORT AND SERVICES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA.
EVEN IF SOME MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF THIS NETWORK OF RESOURCES THAT EXTENDS TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES THAT WEST COVINA RESIDENTS UNDER I SHARE THE CONCERNS OF WEST COVINA RESIDENTS OF HER PLANS FOR FUTURE INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT ON OR NEAR THE BKK LANDFILL LOCATED IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, A THOROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IS NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT SUCH PLANS WOULD NOT CAUSE THE HARM AND IRREVERSIBLE RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES.
I COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT EVEN IF WEST COVINA ESTABLISHES ITS OWN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES CANNOT BE VIEWED IN A VACUUM.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH MATTERS OF ONE CITY'S RESIDENTS IMPACT THAT OF ANOTHER.
IT'S MY HOPE THAT EVEN IF THE STATE APPROVES WEST COVINA HIS ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ESTABLISHING ITS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE CITY WILL RECOGNIZE THAT IT NEEDS TO PARTNER WITH CITIES AND COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS CURRENT AND PUBLIC AND FUTURE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISES.
THAT INCLUDES THE SUPERVISOR STATEMENT.
THANK YOU ALL GIUSEPPE MANCUSO.
MESSMAN FOLLOWED BY THERESE GARCIA.
WHAT'S GOING ON GUYS? CAN I TAKE THIS OFF? IS THAT OKAY? ORDER BROUGHT PIZZA? I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GOING TO DO IT AT DINNER TIME, BUT UM, I JUST WANTED TO COME UP HERE AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
JUST GIVE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WE GO THROUGH.
UM, I FEEL LIKE FOR US TO BE LUMPED IN WITH LOS ANGELES AS A CITY, BECAUSE WE ALL ARE LA COUNTY, UM, HAS, HAS DONE NOT SO WELL FOR US.
I MEAN, WE'VE LOST OUR PATIO TWICE.
WE'VE BEEN OPENED IN THE DINING ROOM BECAUSE WE WERE GOOD TO GO AND SPENT $4,000 ON PLEXIGLASS ONLY TO BE CLOSED A WEEK LATER BECAUSE OF THINGS HAPPENING IN LOS ANGELES.
UM, I KNOW THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO COST A LOT OF MONEY AND MAYBE IT WON'T GO FOR THIS PANDEMIC, BUT I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.
GOD FORBID IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
BUT IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOES HAPPEN AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE MAYBE THE CITIES CAN GOVERN THEMSELVES.
AND BECAUSE OUR NUMBERS IN WEST COVINA ARE NOWHERE NEAR WHAT IT IS IN LOS ANGELES.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE BASING ALL OF OUR RULES OFF OF.
UM, I JUST THINK THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH AND WE'RE ALL FIGHTING AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE ON DIFFERENT SIDES.
EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, IT'S TOO MUCH MONEY.
AND FOR US, WE, WE WANT OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO BE GOVERNED JUST BECAUSE WE WOULD'VE BEEN OPEN BY NOW.
I THINK, I MEAN, AT LEAST WE WOULDN'T HAVE LOST THE PATIO TWICE.
UM, I, I KNOW FOR LIKE THE EVENTS THAT I'VE HAD, THAT I'VE BEEN SHUT DOWN BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TWICE, AND I CAN PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE YOU BOTH OF MY EVENTS THAT GOT SHUT DOWN WERE SAFER THAN WALKING INTO ANY TARGET OR ANY WALMART.
UM, IT'S JUST, IT'S ROUGH FOR US, MAN.
WE FIGHT EVERY DAY AND I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO CALL MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
CUSTOMERS, I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO CALL MOST OF YOU, GUYS' CUSTOMERS.
AND YOU KNOW, I JUST, WE JUST NEED SOME HELP.
AND A LOT OF US DIDN'T GET PPP.
A LOT OF US DIDN'T GET RENT RELIEF AND I WATCH ALL MY FRIENDS CLOSE ONE BY ONE AND I'M AT THE LAKES, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF LOOKING AROUND, WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE HEARTBEAT OF WEST COVINA AND WERE ABANDONED.
AND SO IT MIGHT NOT BE WITH THIS PANDEMIC, BUT I, I DO BELIEVE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO HELP US.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST STEP YOU GUYS ARE SHOWING ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT YOU GUYS DO CARE AND YOU KNOW, IT'S, YOU GUYS ARE, IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN AWHILE, WE'VE BEEN HURT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER YOU GUYS DECIDE WE'RE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY, BUT GOD, I JUST WISH THERE WAS SOME WAY TO HELP US OUT A LITTLE BIT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S VERY SAD WALKING INTO A SHOPPING CENTER AND SEEING EMPTY BUILDINGS EVERYWHERE.
IT DOESN'T MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO GO THERE, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S JUST, I HOPE WE GET IT.
WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU GUYS AND WE TRUST YOU GUYS.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU GUYS ARE SITTING THERE AND I'M STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLEXI GLASS.
BUT, UH, I JUST THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THIS GOES THE WAY EVERYBODY WANTS IT TO.
MESMAN FOLLOWED BY THERESE GARCIA FOLLOWED BY DOUGLAS OOZE.
MASSMAN A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA
[00:15:01]
LAST WEEK.YOU HAD A MEETING AND NOTHING ON THE AGENDA, AND NOW YOU HAVE TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING REGARDING CREATING A LOCAL HEALTH BENEFIT OR HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS THIS, THIS HAS GOT TO BE A JOKE AS WE ARE A LISTED NINTH WORST, AND I WILL REPEAT FOR THE NINTH, WORST FACILITY, HEALTHY CITY OUT OF 444 CITIES.
AND WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD MORE DEPTH TO THE CITY.
THE CITY HAS TO PUT UP, PUT UP COLLATERAL FOR THE STREETS, BUT OUR STREETS, I SHOULD SAY UP FOR COLLATERAL AND WE CAN'T AFFORD MORE POLICE OFFICERS.
THE STAFF TOOK A 10% CUT AND YET YOU WANT TO ADD MORE CLERICAL STAFF, HEALTH OFFICERS AND NURSING STAFF, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STAFF, AND PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY DIRECTOR.
JUST WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO PAY FOR ALL THIS? OR WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? IF YOU ARE THINKING OF TAXING THE RESIDENTS? I THINK YOU BETTER THINK AGAIN, THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT CAN TAKE THE LEAD AND WEST COVINA CAN FOLLOW.
WE HAVE PROVEN THAT WE CAN'T LEAD ANYTHING.
I HOPE THAT COUNCIL HAS COMMON SENSE AND DOES NOT APPROVE THIS PROJECT.
NOW, WHY DON'T WE PUT IT ON A BALLOT AND LET THE PEOPLE OF WEST COVINA DECIDE NOT JUST FIVE PEOPLE ON THE COUNCIL.
THERESE GARCIA FOLLOWED BY DOUGLAS FOLLOWED BY BILL.
MY NAME IS THERESE GARCIA AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY AS A CONCERNED RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA.
I AM A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER WHO LIKE MANY OTHERS IS FACING CHALLENGES IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE SEEN PLUMMETING REVENUE AT OUR BUSINESS, BEEN FACED WITH CONSTANTLY CHANGING MANDATES AND ORDERS THAT REQUIRE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS ADAPTATIONS TO OPERATIONS.
WE ARE PLAYED BY QUESTIONS OF HOW WILL WE CONTINUE TO PAY OUR STAFF, OUR RENT? HOW, HOW WILL WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE? IT'S NATURAL TO WANT TO PINPOINT SOME SOURCE OF BLAME.
AND IT APPEARS THAT THE CITY HAS CHOSEN THE LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THAT ROLE.
WELL, I'M HERE TO QUESTION THE PROPOSED DECISION TO TERMINATE THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WEST COVINA HAS WITH THE LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
THE RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT PRECISELY WE ACTUALLY GAIN FROM THIS AND WHETHER THE CITY APPRECIATES WHAT WE MIGHT LOSE FROM THIS.
THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE STATES THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DESIRES TO MAINTAIN LOCAL CONTROL OVER PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES AND BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
CAN WE TALK ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL? ARE WE FULLY APPRECIATING THE EXTENT OF THAT LOCAL CONTROL? ARE WE PREPARED TO UNDERTAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY INVOLVED WITH LOCAL CONTROL FISCALLY AND LOGISTICALLY WHILE LOCAL CONTROL MIGHT MEAN MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR BUSINESSES AND LOCAL ACTIVITIES? WE WILL STILL BE BOUND BY NUMEROUS CALIFORNIA, STATUTES REGULATIONS AND ORDERS WEST COVINA.
WON'T BE FREE TO DO WHATEVER IT CHOOSES.
FOR EXAMPLE, A LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO PROVIDE AT A MINIMUM, THE FOLLOWING BASIC SERVICES.
AND HERE IT'S IN YOUR STAFF AGENDA REPORT A THROUGH L AT A MINIMUM, OKAY.
COLLECTION, TABULATION AND ANALYSIS OF ALL PUBLIC HEALTH STATISTICS, HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL, MEDICAL, NURSING EDUCATION, AND OTHER SERVICES PROMOTE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AND SANITATION SERVICES.
ARE WE PREPARED TO COMPLETELY REINVENT THE WHEEL WHEN THIS ALREADY EXISTS? ARE WE FISCALLY PREPARED TO TAKE ON THIS RESPONSIBILITY? ARE WE LOGISTICALLY PREPARED? SO, AND WHAT DO WE LOSE? HAVE WE TALKED TO VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS, THE OTHER COMMUNITY, PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS? WHAT ABOUT THE SCHOOLS? THEY RELY ON THESE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
HAVE WE TALKED TO THE SCHOOLS? HAVE WE TALKED TO THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE, THE NONPROFITS, THE OTHER HEALTH, UM, BUSINESSES, THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED? YES, WE, I'M A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER.
WE CARE ABOUT OUR LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO CARE ABOUT EVERY OTHER STAKEHOLDER IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE RELY ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH CENTERS FOR, UM, FOR THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH, YOU KNOW, FOR THEIR, FOR THE MEDICAL CARE, ARE WE CONSIDERING THEM? WHAT ARE THEY LOSING? ARE WE GOING TO LOSE, UM, ACCESS TO VACCINES? WHAT DO WE LOSE? AND HAVE WE FULLY CONSIDERED THAT? SO I URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ALL THOSE THINGS TOO.
UM, YOU KNOW, LET US KNOW, ARE YOU HAVE YOU FULLY ADDRESS AND VETTED ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR ALL OF US? THANK YOU.
THAT LIST FOLLOWED BY BILL ELLIOTT, FOLLOWED BY GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ.
HELLO COUNSEL, HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? MY NAME IS DOUG
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT HERE IN WEST COVINA.
MY BUSINESS PARTNER ALSO IS A RESIDENT.
[00:20:01]
WE HAVE THREE BUSINESSES HERE, UM, BUN STREET, SCOOP STREET, AND TAMALE STREET.UM, AND WE ALSO, LIKE I SAID, WE LIVE IN THE CITY.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE RIGHT TIME IS TO MAKE OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I HAVE BEEN BULLIED BY LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I'M TIRED OF LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WHEN I WAS ON THE NEWS ON DECEMBER 3RD, LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT OVER THE NEXT 72 HOURS CAME IN, HARASSED, ME AND MY EMPLOYEES SEVEN DIFFERENT TIMES IN 72 HOURS AT NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT AT SEVEN IN THE MORNING WHEN WE WERE OPENING, JUST BECAUSE I SAID, HEY, MAYBE LOCAL CONTROL IS GOOD, BUT THEY, THEN THEY JUST TO TARGET ME.
UM, ONE FRUSTRATION IS WHEN WE WENT TO BUILD ONE OF OUR NEW BUILDINGS, WEST COVINA SIGNED OFF ON OUR, ON OUR PLANTS, LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SIGNED OFF ON OUR PLANTS AND THEN LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DECIDED THEY WANTED THE GREASE TRAP IN THE BATHROOM.
AND NOT NEXT TO THE DISH MACHINE.
I HAD TO TEAR UP MY BRAND NEW GROUND AND, AND COST THOUSANDS AND DELAY THE PROJECT TO PAY RENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO DO IT IF IT WAS ALL IN HOUSE.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT TIMING IS, IT WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER TO BUILD BUSINESS HERE IN WEST COVINA.
WE WANT TO BUILD MORE RESTAURANTS AND MORE BUSINESSES HERE IN THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE RIGHT TIME IS FOR YOU GUYS, BUT LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS JUST, IT'S HARD.
YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T TREAT ALL OF US THE SAME AND THAT IS THE TRUTH.
UM, AND I'VE EVEN ASKED THEM FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING WITH THEM AND THEY REFUSED.
THEY CAME IN AND FIND ME $500 ONE NIGHT BECAUSE WE HAD A DJ OUT FRONT.
I THEN AT, I THEN DID ALL THE PROPER PAPERWORK TO TRY AND TURN THAT AROUND AND TO TRY AND GET THAT FEE REDUCED OR FEE WAIVED.
I FOLLOWED THEIR EXACT RULES AND JUST GOT A NO ANSWER.
THERE'S NO REAL, LIKE TALK TO ME.
WE'RE, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATE WITH US.
THERE'S ZERO COMMUNICATION WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, ALSO JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, I PAY ABOUT $5,000 FOR MY THREE SMALL PLACES IN HEALTH DEPARTMENT FEES.
EVERY YEAR, I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO PAY THAT TO THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, FOR IF THE CITY DOES DO THEIR HEALTH DEPARTMENT FEES, I'M JUST A SMALL GUY.
BJ'S IS PAYING PROBABLY $20,000 A YEAR IN HEALTH DEPARTMENT FEES.
SO I NOT FOR COST IN THE CITY.
AND I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY DO IT BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL FOR PROFIT WITH ALL THOSE FEES.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME WORK TO DO IT, BUT I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THAT THOSE FEES COULD OFFSET YOUR GUYS' FEES FOR THE CITY.
THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH QUICK.
ONE QUICK THING THAT A MAYOR, IF I MAY, IF YOU WOULD BRING US THE, UM, THE FINE YOU RECEIVE FOR THE DJ A HUNDRED PERCENT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S UNDER THEIR PURVIEW, BUT I'D LIKE TO RESEARCH THAT DEFINITIVELY.
FOLLOWED BY GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ FOLLOWED BY PETER.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO WHAT THIS GENTLEMAN JUST SAID.
MY HEART REALLY GOES OUT TO THESE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE REALLY SUFFERING, UH, MAKE SURE YOU'RE ALL, EVERYBODY PATRONIZES WEST COVINA BUSINESSES THAT ARE STILL HANGING ON, BUT IT, IT MAKES ME SO ANGRY WHEN I SEE A TACO STAND TABLES AND A CANOPY AND ALL OF THAT SET UP IN THE PARKING LOT OF BENNY'S, WHO'S TRYING TO JUST SURVIVE THIS PANDEMIC.
AND, AND OBVIOUSLY THESE BOWLING'S AT THE LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WANT, THEY WANT TO CRACK THE WHIP ON EVERYBODY AND HAVE YOU JUST COWER TO THEIR AUTHORITY.
AND I'M GOING TO FIND YOU $500, YOU KNOW, LONGER.
IT TAKES A RESTAURANT TO MAKE $500 OF TAKE-HOME MONEY, LONG TIME.
SO I WISH THE CITY WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE TACO VENDORS THAT ARE POPPING UP, MAN.
THEY ARE, THEY'RE REALLY GETTING BOLD.
THEY'RE ON NO GALLUS IN FRONT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I KNOW THAT'S COUNTY AREA, BUT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET IS WEST COVINA.
AND IT STARTED AS A TACO STAND, A CANOPY, A COUPLE OF TABLES OF BUTANE, YOU KNOW, UH, NOW IT'S ABOUT SEVEN DIFFERENT FOOD TRUCKS AND HOW HAS BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES, PAN TAXES AND PERMITS AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AUTHORITY OVER THEM AND ALL THIS.
AND NONE OF THAT APPLIES TO THEM.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT BOTHERS ME.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO JUST TALK TO THIS OFF TOPIC TONIGHT, BUT I JUST WANT TO, IT'S NOTHING NEW FOR ME, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, UH,
[00:25:01]
POINT OUT TO EVERYBODY THAT THE 18TH STATE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, UTAH, THE 18TH STAY ON TOPIC FOR IT'S A SPECIAL MEETING.IF HERMAN CAN SCREAM AND HOLLER AND AT EVERYBODY, I'M GOING TO SIT ANYWAY, MUTE THE MIC.
YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE DIRECTION FROM THE GALLERY TO MUTE MY MIC.
IT PASSED CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY GO.
PERMIT REQUIRE IF YOU'RE A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN, THEY TRUST YOU.
WEST COVINA NEEDS TO RECALL OUR MOU WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE.
MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE THE CHIEF COME DOWN HERE AND GIVE A REPORT ON THE STATE OF CONCEALED CARRY IN WEST COVINA.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT FITS THREE CHIEFS AGO.
SKELETON CAME IN HERE AND TOLD US NOBODY GETS A CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT IN WEST COVINA SINCE 1978.
AND THE OTHER GUY, WHAT'S HIS NAME? THE GUY THAT GOT FIRED, JACKBOOTED THUGS DOESN'T WANT TO ISSUE ANY CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS.
LET'S GET THAT BACK NEXT TIME.
I'M GOING TO ADD TIME FOR YOUR INTERRUPTING GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ FOLLOWED BY PETER DAN FOLLOWED.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A POINT OF PRIVILEGE, UH, MATTER MAYOR, UH, POINT OF PRIVILEGE.
UH, IF, IF, UH, WE CAN, UH, UH, MAINTAIN, UH, ORDER AND, UH, SHARED TO THE AUDIENCE, UH, THAT, UH, THE, THE PEOPLE UP ON THE DEUS, INCLUDING, UH, CITY STAFF NEED TO BE, UH, SPOKEN WITH WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESPECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY TO THE COMMUNITY.
IF YOU COULD, UH, MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, DID HE ATTORNEY REMIT? IT'S JUST OKAY FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, PLEASE LET'S STICK WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER AT HAND.
UM, AND IF THEY DON'T, WHAT'S THE, IF THEY HAVE THEIR THREE MINUTES AND IF THEY DON'T STICK, WE COULD JUST STOP IT A SPECIAL MEETING AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO STAY ON TOPIC AND DISCUSS WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
MAYBE YOU CAN MUTE THEIR MIND.
MY NAME IS GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ AND I'D LIKE TO BEGIN MY PUBLIC COMMENT BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE LAND OF NATIVE PEOPLES TO WHOM THIS LAND BELONGS TO AS ORIGINAL CARETAKERS.
THIS LAND IS THE LAND OF THE TONGUE, THE NATIONS.
SO MY QUESTIONS ARE, WHAT IS THE ACTUAL TIMELINE OR THE LA CA FOR US LEAVING THE LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS FORMING OUR OWN, AND THEN HAVING THIS BE FULLY OPERATIONAL IN ORDER TO BEST DEAL WITH THE COVID CRISIS THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW, HOW WILL THE PEOPLE BE? AND WE TALK ABOUT, WE TALK ABOUT SEEING THE DATA, THE DATA ABOUT LIKE WHAT OF WEST COVINA IS INFECTION RATE? HOW WILL WE BEST BE ABLE TO SEE THAT DATA? SO THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THIS CITY IS STAYING TRANSPARENT, HOW WESCO AND HOW WEST COVINA AFFORD TO PROVIDE ALL THE SAME SERVICES AS LA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WAS PREVIOUSLY LISTED AS WAS PREVIOUSLY LISTED BEFORE.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO PAY FOR THIS THROUGH OUR USE OF PROPERTY TAXES.
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE TAXES IN ORDER FOR THAT TO IN ORDER FOR US TO COVER ALL OF THAT? OR ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO, TO TAKE IT THROUGH JUST THE 31% OF THE 1% OF THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT WE HAVE, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S ANOTHER OUTBREAK OF COVID-19 BEFORE WE FINISH FULLY TRANS, UH, TRANSFERRING FROM LA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH TO OUR WEST, GIVING A HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHAT HAPPENS THEN WHEN WE'RE NOT FULLY READY AND WE GET ANOTHER SURGEON CASE LIKE WE HAD IN DECEMBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, WE TALK ABOUT WEST COVINA BEING LESS TRANS, LIKE HAVING LESS TRANSMISSIONS RATES THAN LA COUNTY THAN THE REST OF LA COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY LOS ANGELES.
WHAT IF WE HAD OPENED UP IN DECEMBER? WOULDN'T THAT JUST MAKE IT SO THAT WAY EVERYONE ELSE FROM ALL THE OTHER CITIES JUST FLOCK OUR CITY SPREAD COVID-19 AND THEN EVENTUALLY WE WILL GET TO THE SAME EXACT COMMUNITY SPREAD RATES AS THE OTHER CITIES, AS THE OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTY.
THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
COVID-19 DOES NOT RECOGNIZE BORDERS, NATIONAL STATE OR LOCAL.
[00:30:02]
EITHER DAN FOLLOWED BY YUSUF, ARIF, ARAFAT FOLLOWED BY ANGIESO EVERYBODY, MY NAME IS PETER.
IF YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE ME, I, I BLEACH MY HAIR.
UM, ALSO WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT, UM, I, THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED SITUATION.
AND BY THE START OF COVID, IT SEEMED LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMUNITY CONSENSUS ON DEFEATING THE PANDEMIC, BUT I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS FELT LIKE YOU NEEDED TO PROTECT YOUR CITY.
AND THAT THE CONVERSATION WITH COUNTY WAS ONE-SIDED THAT'S, THAT'S A FACT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FAILED.
WE HAD STATEWIDE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT HURT OUR FINANCES AND HURT BUSINESSES.
THAT'S A FACT, HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO A FACT THAT IN ENTERTAINING THIS CONVERSATION, THERE NEEDS TO BE PRECISE AND CONCISE DATA TO BACK IT UP, RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW THE ACTUAL COST OF STARTUP LET ALONE THE COST OF PENSIONS, LET ALONE THE COST OF PERSONNEL, LET ALONE THE COST OF HOW MUCH IT TAKES TO MAINTAIN THIS DEPARTMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION OF WHAT DIFFERENT DECISIONS WE AS A CITY WOULD MAKE WITH LA COUNTY.
THE ONLY DECISIONS THAT I'M THINKING RIGHT NOW, THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IS THE BUSINESS OPENING DECISIONS.
BUT WHAT OTHER DECISIONS, BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOESN'T ONLY EXIST DURING A PANDEMIC.
IT EXISTS WHEN A PANDEMIC HAS GONE, IT TAKE CARE OF IT TAKES CARES OF PUBLIC HEALTH WHEN PUBLIC HEALTH IS HERE WITHOUT A PANDEMIC.
UM, AND DID WE FORGET THAT CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD IN REGARDS TO SWITCHING TO LA COUNTY FIRE HAD NO DATA AS WELL? RIGHT NOW? I KIND OF FORGOT ABOUT THAT.
I'M LIKE, I'M LIKE, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT? RIGHT? LIKE WHERE'S THE DATA? WHY ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT? AND THEN IT MAKES ME THINK THAT EITHER YOU HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS AND YOU'RE NOT TELLING US, OR ANOTHER THING, WHICH I MIGHT THINK IS MORE BELIEVABLE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS YOURSELF, RIGHT? LIKE WHEN, WHEN WE SEE WE COME UP HERE AND WE SPEAK AND YET, LIKE THERE'S NO DATA SHOWN.
AND YET, LIKE A WEEK LATER, WE FORGET ABOUT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE WEEK BEFORE.
IT'S KIND OF RIDICULOUS, BUT WE TRY TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER.
BUT WHEN WE SEE THAT, THAT THIS, THIS POWER IS EVADING TRUTH, LIKE IT MAKES US JADED.
AND MAYBE THAT'S THE POINT, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE WORK NINE TO FIVE, PEOPLE WORK UNTIL FIVE.
NEVERTHELESS, THIS MEETING'S AT FOUR.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A MULTITUDE OF QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ASKED.
NEVERTHELESS, THE ANSWERS AREN'T GOING TO BE GIVEN AND A DECISION MIGHT BE MADE.
BUT IF THERE WAS A COMMUNITY CONSENSUS ABOUT, IF WE WENT TO A HOUSEHOLD WITH A CLIPBOARD, WE ASKED PEOPLE WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF THIS.
IF THIS WAS ON THE BALLOT, I WOULDN'T BE OKAY WITH IT, REGARDLESS OF THE SCENARIO, REGARDLESS OF WHAT I BELIEVE IN MY PERSONAL OPINION ABOUT THIS, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO ENDURE.
I HAVE TO ENDURE THAT FACET OF DEMOCRACY WHEN IT DOESN'T GO MY, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN YOU ARE GOING TO DO EXACTLY TO THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE BEEN SAYING? LA COUNTY HAS BEEN DOING TO YOU? LACK OF COMMUNICATION, FEELING POWERLESS AS A CITY, ONE SIDED CONVERSATIONS.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
WE CANNOT FALL UNDER THAT HYPOCRISY.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS SITUATION IS COMPLICATED.
YES, YOU PROBABLY DID FEEL POWERLESS WHEN IT CAME TO LA COUNTY, BUT THE PEOPLE FEEL POWERLESS WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR COUNCIL.
WE NEED TO DO THAT, GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS THROUGH A BALLOT.
WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS DEMOCRATICALLY.
AND WE NEED TO ELECT LEADERS THAT, THAT TRUST US.
WE NEED TO ELECT LEADERS THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT TRUST THAT THEY DRESSED US.
AND IF WE DON'T, THEN WE WILL, WE'LL START, WE'LL START ELECTING LEADERS THAT DO SO.
IT'S A, VERAFIN FOLLOWED BY ANGIE GAYLENE AND FOLLOWED BY CHRIS MILLER.
HELLO? MADAM MAYOR, CITY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF.
NOW I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT WEST COVINA CURRENTLY LIVING IN DISTRICT THREE.
I'VE DECIDED TO COME HERE TODAY BECAUSE I, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION TO TERMINATE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH AL UH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS I WISH TO BE ANSWERED.
AND I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHY THESE SIMPLE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AT ALL BEFORE VOTING ON THIS RESOLUTION.
SO AFTER PUBLIC COMMENTS, I ANTICIPATE A LONG AND THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION BEFORE Y'ALL MAKE WHAT SEEMS TO BE A RASH DECISION.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST TO START IT UP TO STAFF TO MAINTAIN AN ENTIRE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS A MASSIVE ENDEAVOR.
SECOND IS WHY, HOW CAN OUR HYPOTHETICAL FUTURE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS COME UP WITH CONTRADICTORY MANDATES BROUGHT DOWN BY THE STATE AND COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS.
WEST COVINA IS NOT SURROUNDED WITH WALLS.
WE ARE CONNECTED TO THE REST OF LA COUNTY.
MY THIRD QUESTION IS WHAT ARE THE RISKS? WHAT DO WE RESIDENTS STAND TO LOSE FROM TERMINATING THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH LAC DPH? WHAT RESOURCES WILL WE BE CUT FROM? MY FOURTH QUESTION IS IF YOU CHOOSE TO VOTE TO TERMINATE, WHAT IS OUR BACKUP PLAN? YOU SHOW NO THOROUGH PLAN SINCE THE MEAGER PRESENTATION BY DR.
VEDANTA CHART THAT ARE REAL AND WORKING HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS IN THE WORKS.
YOU BARELY DISCUSSED ANY PLANS SINCE YOU COULD HAVE EASILY DONE IT AT THE LAST MEETING.
BUT HERE WE ARE ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON WHERE A LOT OF
[00:35:01]
RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE THE SAME PRIVILEGE ID TO BE HERE OR CALL IN BECAUSE OF WORK OR THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.AND FINALLY, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THAT IF YOU REALIZE THAT LEAVING WAS A MISTAKE, DO YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN OPT BACK IN LATER? I MEAN, HAVE YOU GUYS CONSIDERED THAT THESE ARE A FEW QUESTIONS AND I HAVE MANY MORE.
AND AT THE MOMENT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THESE QUESTIONS WEREN'T ANSWERED EARLIER.
MY LAST AND FINAL POINT, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND YOUR VOTERS AT THE BALLOT BOX COME 2022, ASKING THEMSELVES WHY YOU CHOSE TO GAMBLE OUR SAFETY AND OUR VERY FEW TAX DOLLARS FOR NOTHING SHORT OF A HEADLINE, BECAUSE LET'S BE HONEST HERE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T ANSWERED THESE BASIC QUESTIONS ALREADY, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT WE THINK THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS EVEN FEASIBLE IN OUR CURRENT STATE AS A CITY BECAUSE OUR FINANCIAL BURDENS DON'T PREDATE COVID.
I MEAN, OUR FINANCIAL BURDENS PREDATE COVID AND THEY PREDATE ALL OF YOU.
ANGIE GILLINGHAM FOLLOWED BY CHRIS MILLER FOLLOWED BY SHERRI FISHER.
I'M KIND OF CURIOUS WHY THE PRESENTATION BY YOU DIDN'T COME FIRST SO THAT WE CAN RESPOND TO THE PRESENTATION.
SO I'LL JUST SAY THAT MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE IDEA OF MOVING FORWARD AT THIS TIME TO CREATE OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE NUMBERS RELATED TO COVID AND HOSPITALIZATION ARE GOING DOWN AND WITH MORE AND MORE RESIDENTS LIKE MYSELF, WHO HAS BEEN VACCINATED AT EAST VALLEY CENTER HERE IN DOWNTOWN WEST COVINA, THE NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO DECLINE.
I'M CONFUSED ON WHY THE NEED FOR AN EMERGENCY MEDIA AND THE RUSH TO STOP SERVICES ALTOGETHER WITH THE COUNTY OF LA DEPART HEALTH DEPARTMENT UNDER THE UMBRELLA EXISTS MANY SURFACES THAT SOME OF THE RESIDENTS ARE CURRENTLY USING TODAY.
THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO RELY ON THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH FALLS UNDER THAT UMBRELLA.
AND I'M SORRY, I COULD NOT PRONOUNCE HIS LAST NAME.
UM, CITY COUNTY AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING MADE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS.
ONE WAS TRYING TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES THAT THIS COUNCILMAN WU EXPRESSED ON JANUARY, JANUARY 19TH, UM, HAS THAT TAKEN PLACE? DR.
BELIZE ALSO SAID, THIS IS A HUGE UNDERTAKING THAT WOULD BE THOUGHT, UH, THAT HE THOUGHT WOULD NOT BE FEASIBLE UNTIL 2022.
SO LESS THAN 30 DAYS WE'RE GIVING NOTICE TO THE COUNTY.
WHY HAS THIS SUBJECT NOT BEEN DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC? WHY WOULD THE RESIDENTS NOT BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO VOTE ON THIS? WOULDN'T THE RESIDENTS EVENTUALLY BE ON THE HOOK FOR MORE TAXES TO SUPPORT THIS VENTURE.
I WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL TO TAKE MORE TIME TO REVIEW THIS IDEA AND LISTEN TO YOUR RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT SUPPORT THIS MOVE AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU, CHRIS MILLER FOLLOWED BY SHERRI FISHER, FOLLOWED BY I'M HAVING DIFFICULTY READING THE WRITING, CAMERON SAILOR, SANELY TAYLOR, CHRIS MILLER, 21 YEAR RESIDENT.
UM, YO, A LOT OF PEOPLE BROUGHT UP A LOT OF GOOD POINTS TODAY.
AND ONE THING, YOU KNOW, I THINK OF HIS MOVIE, COOL HAND, LUKE, WHAT WE GOT HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE.
YOU KNOW, I SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BREAD AND BARLEY AND YOU KNOW, THE ACTIONS AGAINST LA COUNTY AGAINST HIM YET RIGHT UP THE STREET.
ME IS A TACO STAND THAT NO ONE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THERE EVERY DAY, NO ONE ENFORCES.
THERE'S NO HAND WASHING FACILITY.
SO WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENT STANDARDS ON THE FLIP SIDE? HOW CAN WE RUN THIS? YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN'T WORK WITH OUR UNIONS FOR EQUITABLE RESOLUTION TO LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO RUN ANOTHER HEALTH DEPARTMENT? REALITY IS WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS RIGHT NOW, BUT WE NEED SOMETHING.
PERHAPS THE ATTENTION SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON HOW TO WORK TOGETHER WITH LA COUNTY FOR FAIR TREATMENT OF OUR BUSINESSES.
BECAUSE THE OTHER ITEM IS, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE STARTING A HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND NOT AFFECT OUR BUDGET, YOU KNOW, RUN NEUTRALLY AS MR. CASTIANO SAID, THAT MEANS THAT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO BECOME TURNIPS.
YOU KNOW, LIKE WITH OUR ALARM, UH, RE UM, LEGISLATION TO, YOU KNOW, CHARGE OWNERS OF FALSE ALARMS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, GENERATE REVENUE.
IS THIS ANOTHER REVENUE GENERATOR THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT? AND THE OTHER FLIP SIDE IS BKK IF WE'RE ON HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
[00:40:01]
DOES THAT MEAN THAT ALL THE COUNTIES, UH, OR ALL THE COUNTY, UH, SIGN-OFFS ARE GOING TO BE BY US? THERE HAS, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S JUST PURELY BUSINESS FOR BUSINESSES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, IT HASN'T BEEN COMMUNICATED.YOU KNOW WHAT THE SCOPE OF INTENT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS PERHAPS THERE CAN BE AN ARRANGEMENT AND NEGOTIATION BETWEEN LA COUNTY AND US, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS A RESIDENT, I DON'T SEE WHAT LA COUNTY IS DOING.
AS FAIR AS A PROPERTY TAX, YOU KNOW, OWNER.
I DON'T SEE BRINGING OUT IN YOU, YOU KNOW, BUREAUCRAT IS FAIR TO US, SO LET'S JUST WORK TOGETHER.
SHERRI FISHER FOLLOWED BY CAMERON SAILOR FOLLOWED BY RACHEL MADAM MAYOR, COUNCIL PEOPLE, UM, SHERRI FISHER.
I'VE LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR LONGER THAN I WANT TO ADMIT.
UM, I, AND I RUN A BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
I'VE HAD EXPERIENCES WITH THE LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, PROFESSIONALLY AND PRIVATELY.
AND I WANT TO SHARE AN EXPERIENCE WITH YOU.
I HAD BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, I WAS IN A LOCAL SANDWICH SHOP, ENJOYING A MEAL IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WALKED IN, PUSH THE DOOR, OPEN, WALKED IN THE BACK, WAS AGGRESSIVE TO THE BUSINESS OWNER WHO I DID NOT KNOW.
AND I THOUGHT, WHAT THE HECK? AND I SAT THERE, DIDN'T EAT MY SANDWICH AND WATCH THE BEHAVIOR.
AND I THOUGHT, WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE? YOU GUYS GET AN IDEA WHO THEY THINK THEY ARE.
THEY THINK THEY'RE BETTER THAN US.
THEY THINK THEY DON'T HAVE TO SERVE US.
THEY THINK THAT WE'RE SOMEWHERE OFF IN THE EAST SAN GABRIEL VALLEY.
THEY'VE PROBABLY NEVER EVEN VISITED BESIDES SENDING A INSPECTOR THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
WHEN YOU HAVE COVID IN YOUR BUILDING, THEY COME, THEY VISIT, THEY CALL.
THEY DON'T PROVIDE YOU ANY SERVICES TO GET IT.
IF YOU DON'T GET IT DONE, I THINK WEST COVINA DESERVES BETTER.
AND IF WE'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SERVICES WE'RE GETTING, IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE DIFFERENT RESULTS.
COMMUNICATION WORKS, BUT NOT IF THE OTHER PARTY DOESN'T PICK UP THE PHONE, I I'VE HAD, UM, THE PLEASURE OF, OF THIS CITY.
AND YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD THINGS LIKE 90 MILLION IN FUNDING DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT NUMBER COMES FROM, BUT I KNOW THAT WE PAID PROPERTY TAXES AND THERE'S FEDERAL AID.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR EVEN PUTTING THIS OUT THERE.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IF IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG, THE WAY IT'S BEING HANDLED, I'M SAYING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR FUTURE.
WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.
AND PRAYING HAS NEVER BEEN A STRATEGY.
WE NEED A PLAN TO TAKE US THROUGH THE NEXT PANDEMIC.
I THINK IT WAS 1918 WAS OUR LAST PANDEMIC.
AND I SAT BACK IN MY CHAIR THE OTHER DAY GOING, WE HAVEN'T LEARNED A DAMN THING IN A HUNDRED YEARS BECAUSE THIS IS WORSE THAN IT WAS A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
BUT, BUT I, I THINK THAT I, AND I APPRECIATE US LOOKING FORWARD.
AMARIN SAILOR FOLLOWED BY RACHEL FOLLOWED BY DON C XENI GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL CAMERON SAILOR.
LET'S GIVING A RESIDENT MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY SINCE I WAS BORN IN LARK ON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OVER HERE AND LOVE THIS COMMUNITY.
I'M CURRENTLY HERE TO REPRESENT TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS.
CERTAINLY THE RESTAURANTS, I OWN PIZZA, CHALET, BUCKBOARD, BARBECUE, AND DAVINA.
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS KIND OF A COOPERATIVE POTENTIAL EFFORT FORWARD.
UM, AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT YOUTH SPORTS.
I MEAN, IT'S THE WEST CAVITA DUKE'S BASEBALL PROGRAM.
MAVERICK BASEBALL ACADEMY HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR 30 YEARS AS WELL.
UM, I GOT TO SAY, HERE IS THIS, THIS BIG PIECE IS WHAT WE NEED IS A VOICE AT THE TABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
UM, WHILE WE FOUGHT AND I'VE CERTAINLY BEEN A VOICELESS PERSON OUT ANYWHERE, I CAN GET PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION AND LISTEN, HEALTH DEPARTMENT
[00:45:01]
I'VE BEEN FINED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR A TV BEING DOWN, WHICH WAS BY ACCIDENT.I SPENT $40,000 BUILDING NEW PATIOS, DISTANCING, UM, NEW EQUIPMENT REARRANGING THE FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT, CREATING DISTANCING FROM MY EMPLOYEES TO BE HARASSED.
AS THE ONE GENTLEMEN SAID OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, AS ACTORS OF THE STATE, I HAD AT ONE POINT AND TOLD THEM THEY NEEDED A WARRANT TO COME BACK IN MY RESTAURANT BECAUSE THEY HAD EXCEEDED THEIR NUMBER OF VISITS FOR THE YEAR.
SOMEBODY WOULD COMPLAIN THAT WE WERE DINING INSIDE, BUT I HAD TO HAVE A PLACE FOR MY EMPLOYEES TO EAT ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS, AND SOMEBODY WOULD COME IN AND HARASS US AGAIN.
AT ONE POINT, YOU'RE GOING TO COME IN 14 TIMES IN ONE YEAR, UH, IN A NINE MONTH PERIOD, YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING WRONG AND HAPPENED TO BE.
OUR TVS WERE DOWN THAT I SPENT ON BUILDING A $30,000 PATIO.
I DIDN'T BUILD A TIAWANA TACO, STAND OUTSIDE WITH ALL THESE LITTLE, UH, TENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE OUTSIDE.
I BUILT A NICE PATIO FOR MY, MY CUSTOMERS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIG DUTY COME IN AND DINE.
WE PUT A PATIO IN, WE PUT DROPDOWN TVS, WE PERMITTED THE WHOLE THING.
WE DIDN'T JUST GO THROUGH THE TEMPORARY PIECE.
I PERMIT, WE DID IT RIGHT? AND THAT GOT SHUT DOWN TWICE.
AFTER SPENDING TENS OF THOUSANDS THERE, I COULDN'T EVER GET A VOICE TO THE TABLE.
AND THE VOICE OF THE TABLE REALLY MEANT WAS FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.
WE HAVE A NO SCIENCE SCIENCE SITUATION GOING ON.
THE CDC CAME OUT LAST WEEK AND SAID, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF FOOD BEING A SPREADER IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WHEN, WHEN THEY WENT TO COURT, WHEN GARRETT GHOST WENT TO COURT AGAINST THEM, HE SAID, FOLLOW US, GIVE US SOME PROOF.
WHEN SHE SAID SHE HAD SIX REPORTS THAT SAID THAT IT WAS A SPREADER, WE WERE LESS THAN 3% GOVERNMENT, 8% GROCERY STORES, 35% FAST FOOD WOULD HAVE EVERYTHING WAS DONE IN FOOD ACCOUNTED FOR 90%.
AND THEY NEVER HAD NEVER HAD INDOOR OR OUTDOOR DINING DURING THIS EPIDEMIC.
YOU, THE MOM AND POPS DIDN'T GET A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
I USE SPORTS, HAD THE SAME SITUATIONS, YOUR SPORTS.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF SPREADING A NEW SPORTS.
WE WERE SHUT DOWN AND THOSE THINGS WENT ON AND ON WE NOT HAVING THAT, WE NEED TO HAVE A SEAT THE TABLE WITH ITS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR NOT.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
RACHEL FOLLOWED BY DON C FOLLOWED BY JIM
I'M THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE WEST COVINA FOR FOUR YEARS.
AND I DO HAVE ANOTHER RESTAURANT IN PASADENA.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, HAS OWN LOCAL HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
I THINK I HAVE MORE EVIDENCE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I HAVE A VERY CLEAR COMPARISON.
UH, ONE OF THE TIME WE SHUT DOWN THE BUSINESS IN MARCH 16, THE FIRST TIME POSITIVE KNOW, SHUT DOWN AS WELL.
AND THE SECOND TIME WE REOPENED THE, UH, OUTDOOR DINING IN SEPTEMBER.
AND AT THAT TIME WE DISCUSSED, WE WORKED, UH, WITH THE CITY OF PASADENA FOR SIX TABLE, ALL DINING.
GUESS WHAT? WE TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR LIKE TWO MONTHS, THEY STILL NOT ALLOWED US TO HAVE TWO, UH, SIX TABLE OUTSIDE.
BUT WHILE WE WORK WITH THE CITY, UH, WEST COVINA CITY, TWO DAYS, WE GOT THE PERMIT TO OPEN 12 TABLES ALL DOOR.
SO BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT SIX TABLE OUTDOOR IN PASADENA.
SO ONE THE LA COUNTY SHUT DOWN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS.
AGAIN, EVEN PASADENA ALLOWED THE BUSINESS OPEN.
YOU HAVE THE POWER AND HOW YOU USE IT POWER.
SO THE PANDEMIC HAS HAPPENED ALREADY.
I THINK RHINO IS A TIME FOR THE LEADER, FOR THE RESIDENTS, FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS WORK TOGETHER TO REVEAL WHAT WE DID WRONG AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NEXT TO PROTECT US, NOT TO REPEAT ARE THE SAME FART.
FOR EXAMPLE, UNTIL TODAY, THERE IS NO EXAMPLE, NO STRONG SUPPORT NUMBERS TO SHOW, OH, THE RESTAURANT OPEN, WELL, SPREAD OUT MORE PANDEMIC.
NO, THERE IS NO SUCH NUMBER, RIGHT? BUT GUESS WHAT? MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS, THEY CANNOT GET WORK AS A RESTAURANT OWNER.
I MEAN A LEADERSHIP SAY, OKAY, YOU SHUT DOWN AND YOU OPEN AS EASY TO WORSE.
EVEN FOR THAT 12 TABLE OUTDOOR OUR RESTAURANT, I BELIEVE THE, UH, UH,
[00:50:01]
DIARRHEA COUNCIL, COUNCIL DIARRHEA.NO, OUR RESTAURANT FOR THAT 12 TABLE, WE SPENT 20,000 MORE TO BUILD A TENT, TO PUT THE PLANT, TO MOVE ALL THE TABLE OUTDOOR.
AND WE EVEN, BECAUSE WE HAVE 12 TABLE AND WE CANNOT GET IT BACK EVERY EVENING.
SO WE LOST, WE GOT STOLEN FOR TWO TABLE AND TWO CHAIRS.
EVERY SINGLE DETAIL IS MEAN SOMETHING.
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER AS A SMALL BUSINESS.
WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN SYNC AT THE BOTTOM.
TONY IS ASKING ME WHY YOUR ISRAEL HAS OPA.
I TOLD HIM, NO, I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I NEED TO FUNDING MYSELF.
I NEED TO PREPARE, YOU DON'T KNOW, OPEN THE RESTAURANT BEFORE YOU OPEN.
YOU NEED PUT SALT, TONS OF MONEY THERE.
THANK YOU, DON C FOLLOWED BY JIM GRIFFITH, FOLLOWED BY STEVE BENNETT, PERHAPS I'M SAYING IT WRONG.
HOW ARE YOU? UM, I'M A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE CITY.
I KNOW MOST OF YOUR HEROES KNOW ME.
UM, I UNDERSTAND, UM, THIS, UH, THEY'RE RESIDENTS, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM AND MAYBE LIKE THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION, BUT I DO AGREE THAT WE DO HAVE TO HAVE OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, MY OFFICE IS AT THE WEST COVINA MALL.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN SHUT DOWN.
THE RENT KEEPS ON GOING, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT CHEAP.
SO A LOT OF US HAD TO SHUT DOWN OF MIAMI.
WE HAD TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSED, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE LITERALLY LEFT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT.
I DO THINK THAT, UM, OUR NEEDS GET DILUTED FOR THE LACK OF A BETTER WORD, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE, YOU KNOW, TO THE COUNTY, BECAUSE WE ARE A SMALL, TINY EDBD CITY OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF LA, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHY WE DON'T GET THE HELP THAT WE HAVE TO GET, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IF WE, I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT.
IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A LARGE UNDERTAKING, BUT I DO THINK THAT IF WE CAN GET IT DONE, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITY.
UM, THE BUSINESS OWNERS, WE PAY TAXES, YOU KNOW, AND WE, YOU KNOW, W WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT.
UM, I'VE OWNED BUSINESSES IN DIFFERENT CITIES, IN DIFFERENT CITIES, EXCUSE ME.
AND THIS IS THE ONLY CITY THAT I ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET MORE DONE FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO COME HERE AND TALK TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, THAT I NEED A PERMIT, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY'VE ALWAYS, THEY'VE ALWAYS HELPED ME.
AND THAT'S WHY I STAYED IN WEST COVINA.
AND I'M PLANNING ON STAYING HERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
SO I DO HOPE, UM, THAT WE CAN MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT WORK.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET IT DONE.
AND, UM, MAYBE WE JUST DO A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION OF HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THAT DONE, YOU KNOW, SO THAT WE ARE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING TO COST AND HOW WE GOING TO GET IT DONE.
IF WE CAN GET IT DONE, THEN BY ALL MEANS, HAVE A GOOD DAY, GUYS.
BYE JIM,
I HAVE TWO POINTS OF VIEW ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
ONE IS THAT IT'S PREMATURE TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT.
THE REASON WHY HAS ALREADY BEEN STATED, THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN NO FISCAL ANALYSIS DONE.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST.
YOU DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS TO DO IT, OR HOW LONG IT'S GONNA TAKE.
UH, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH DOING THINGS IN GOVERNMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND ANY TIME YOU TRY TO DO THAT, IT TAKES FOREVER.
UH, I THINK YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.
MY PRIMARY OBJECTION IS THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO FISCAL ANALYSIS.
IT'S BEEN STATED SEVERAL TIMES, YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THIS.
AND IT ALSO IS VERY DISTURBING THAT THIS HAS BEING DONE CONTRARY TO THE STATE AUDITOR'S, UH, RECOMMENDATION.
AND I'VE ALREADY SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT I'M GOING TO KEEP REPEATING.
AND AS LONG AS IT KEEPS HAPPENING, THE CITY'S MANAGEMENT HAS FAILED TO PERFORM SUFFICIENT ANALYSIS WHEN MAKING
[00:55:01]
IMPORTANT FINANCIAL DECISIONS.AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THERE WAS NO ANALYSIS DONE ON THIS.
NOT EVEN IT'S WAY BELOW SUFFICIENT.
I THINK IT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO PROCEED WITH ANYTHING LIKE THIS WITHOUT DETAILED ANALYSIS.
BUT I THINK A LONGER RUN PROJECT IS REALLY WORTHWHILE CONSIDERING FOR A GREAT DEAL OF MY CAREER.
I WAS INVOLVED WITH WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND EVERYBODY THAT SAID THINGS LIKE THEY'RE OPPRESSIVE, THEY'RE DICTATORIAL, THEY'RE NASTY.
AND IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DEPARTMENT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UH, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HEALTH NOW.
I ACTUALLY THINK THERE'S A POSSIBLE PROJECT HERE, MUCH MORE GRAND THAN JUST DEALING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THIS SITUATION AFFECTS, I THINK A LOT OF CITIES IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, THIS VALLEY HAS BEEN PUT DOWN BY THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES FOREVER.
UH, I REMEMBER A BIG BATTLE THAT WENT ON WITH MIKE
HE WAS ONCE OUR COUNTY SUPERVISOR TRYING TO GET LIGHT RAIL INTO, UH, THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, UH, LA COUNTY COULD CARE LESS.
AND THAT'S JUST ONE, BUT I CAN, I CAN RECITE 15, 20 STORIES LIKE THAT.
HE OUT, HE WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE TO GET IT TO HAPPEN.
THERE WAS AN AVENUE, THE LEGISLATURE, THERE'S QUITE A FEW REPRESENTATIVES IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, HILDA SOLIS.
WHY ARE YOU GUYS BEING DICTATORS? WHY ARE YOU BEING OPPRESSIVE? WHY ARE YOU BEING SO NASTY? STEVE BENNETT FOLLOWED BY JERRY PATCHES FOLLOWED BY PEGGY MARTINEZ.
I FEEL LIKE I'M BACK IN SCHOOL DOING MY WORK IN AN ENCLOSED BIN.
FIRST OF ALL, GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU GUYS.
I NEVER REALLY GET TO SAY GOOD AFTERNOON, BECAUSE MOST MEETINGS ARE IN THE EVENING AND I'M NOT A SPECIAL MEETING.
UM, I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.
I'M NOT GOING TO REHASH A LOT OF THIS STUFF, BUT, UM, I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE STREET VENDOR THING, THAT'S A STATE LEGISLATURE THING.
THEY PASS THE RULE SAYING WE HAVE TO ALLOW THEM.
WE CAN SET UP AREAS WHERE THEY CAN BE, AND WE CAN SET UP CERTAIN GUIDELINES AS A CITY.
WE DON'T NEED THE COUNTY, BUT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LA COUNTY HEALTH.
AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WEST COVINA, REGARDLESS IF WE SET UP OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO THOSE STREET VENDORS, IF YOU WANT CHANGE, YOU BETTER TALK TO YOUR LEGISLATORS.
TIME TO CALL BLANCA RUBIO, SUSAN RUBIO, AND SOME OF THE OTHERS.
AND LET'S START LOBBYING FOR THAT CHANGE BECAUSE I AGREE.
I THINK THE RULES ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ARE.
AND I AGREE WITH KIM SAILOR, I'VE, I'VE KNOWN CAM'S BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME.
I FREQUENT BUCKBOARD BARBECUE AND SOME OF THE OTHER ONES, PIZZA, CHALET, I, THE DUDE'S, MY SON PLAYED YOUTH BASEBALL.
I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT WHOLE PROGRAM AND HE'S RIGHT.
AND HE GOT BLASTED FOR SOME OF THE THINGS WHICH I ACTUALLY SUPPORTED.
YOU'RE STAYING OPEN BY THE WAY.
AND THERE'S SEVERAL TIMES ONE STREET, SAME THING, THE SAME ABOUT THE BUSINESSES.
WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO OVERRULE A STATE RULING DECEMBER 9TH, THE GOVERNOR SET THAT RULING.
WHAT WOULD THIS CHANGE? THE ANSWER IS NOTHING.
THE STATE SET THAT RULE LA COUNTY COULDN'T OVERDO IT.
LA COUNTY ACTUALLY LOST IN COURT BECAUSE OF WHAT CAM ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP.
THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO OPEN RESTAURANTS.
BUT DURING THAT SAME TIME, THE GOVERNOR SET HIS MANDATE, WHICH SUPERSEDED THAT.
AND THEREFORE THAT RULING AT THE TIME WAS POINTLESS.
NOW LET'S PUT IT'S GOOD BECAUSE NOW THEY CAN OPEN UP BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR IS ALLOWING THINGS TO OPEN.
MR.
AND HE COMES UP HERE EVERY TWO WEEKS IN THIS CASE EVERY WEEK.
AND HE TALKS YOU ABOUT MONEY AND HOW WE DON'T HAVE IT.
AND UNLESS YOU'VE SAT DOWN WITH HIM AND REALLY UNDERSTOOD HIS ANALYSIS, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, HIS ANALYSIS IS BETTER THAN OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL DIRECTOR.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IF YOU CAN DISAGREE OR NOT, BUT HE FINDS THINGS SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT HALF THE TIME.
UM, SO I'M GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THAT'S THE FIRST THING I WOULD BE LOOKING AT SECOND THING.
AND I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS HOPEFULLY QUICK IS THIS IS TERRIBLY PLANNED.
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, YOU HAD AN AGENDA LAST WEEDING.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S A RUSH.
THIS MAY 1ST DEADLINE OR MARCH 1ST DEADLINE IS MARCH 1ST,
[01:00:01]
EVERY YEAR.YOU'RE TRYING TO GENERATE AN EMERGENCY, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY EVERY MARCH 1ST YOU CAN CHOOSE TO GET AWAY FROM IT.
JERRY PATCHES FOLLOWED BY PEGGY MARTINEZ, FOLLOWED BY THERESA CO'S AD.
UM, I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT EVERYTHING PEOPLE SAID.
I THINK YOU HAVE A PLOD FLAWED, SUPER FLAWED PROCESS GOING AT THE JANUARY 19TH MEETING.
ONE OF THE COUNCILMEN INTERRUPTED THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WAS TALKING TO TELL US WHY THIS WAS BEING DONE.
I TRANSCRIBED IT OF WHAT WAS SAID.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS WAS, IS BECAUSE OF VACCINES.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A VACCINATION CLINIC.
THIS IS A VERY SMALL DATA POINT, THE POPULATION NUMBER.
AND IF YOU CAN'T GET WEST COVINA AS POPULATION, CORRECT, HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REST OF THIS ROLLOUT THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO? THIS KNEE JERK THING? WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO COUNCILMEN, WHO REPEATEDLY SAYS WEST COVINA IS 120,000 POPULATION.
AND WE'RE A LARGE CITY AND GIVES US OTHER CITIES, UM, THAT WERE COMPARABLE.
I'VE GIVEN YOU ONE PIECE OF PAPER TRANSCRIBING WHAT THE COUNCILMAN SAID AND THE CITIES THAT, THAT COUNCILMAN USES AS EXAMPLES IN HIS REMARKS.
I'VE ALSO GIVEN YOU A CHART BECAUSE I REALLY AM TIRED OF 120,000 WHEN WE ARE NOT 120,000 AND YOU'RE TRYING TO INFLATE OUR SIZE.
WE ARE ARRANGING ACCORDING TO LEGITIMATE SOURCES.
AND I EVEN USED SOME WIKIPEDIA, WHICH I DON'T CONSIDER THAT LEGITIMATE.
I MEAN, IT'S HELPFUL, BUT IT'S NOT AS ACCURATE OR MY 105,000 AND SOME TO 112, EIGHT 90,000.
WE ARE THAT BIG YOU'RE INFLATING IT.
SO YOU CAN JUST DO POLITICS OR SOMETHING.
PLEASE, IF YOU, WE CAN'T GET OUR OWN POPULATION NUMBERS IN THE BALLPARK, HOW CAN WE TRUST ANYTHING? YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S JUST A LITTLE DATA POINT THAT THEY TEACH IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
IF THERE ARE ACTUALLY PROBLEMS. AND I DO BELIEVE THERE ARE WITH BUSINESS.
CREATE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, MAN, WORK WITH US AS SO LISA'S OFFICE GET A TASK FORCE WORK WITH, AT WORK, WITH THEM ON GETTING AREAS AND STUFF.
ONE OF THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT GOVERNOR, BUT PLEASE DO A BETTER ROLLOUT.
AGGIE MARTINEZ FOLLOWED BY TERESA.
KOZACK FOLLOWED BY FREDERICK SYKES.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY CONCERNS OVER DEVELOPING OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
OKAY, I'M COMING THROUGH THIS AS ONE FISCALLY, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
WE DON'T HAVE IN PREVIOUS THINGS.
AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY AGAIN.
AND IT'S NOT A LITTLE BIT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE SPEAK HERE TODAY AND BUSINESSES, AND YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA, NOBODY FEELS WORSE ABOUT OUR BUSINESSES THAN THE RESIDENTS.
I HAVE EATEN OUT MORE DURING THIS PANDEMIC PANDEMIC THAN I'VE EVER EATEN OUT BEFORE I JUST DISCOVERED SCOOP STREET.
I'VE LIVED IN WEST COVINA FOR 38 YEARS AND MAN, THEIR ICE CREAM SANDWICH DELICIOUS, OKAY.
EATEN THERE TWICE OR HAVE ORDERED OUT THERE TWICE.
SO I FEEL LIKE THE RESIDENTS ARE TRYING TO REALLY SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES OF WEST COVINA.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IS THIS IS JUST WAY TOO MUCH MONEY.
AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE NUMBERS THAT ARE IN YOUR CITY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE IT.
AND WE'VE HAD RESIDENTS, EVEN BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE DIED FROM THE SPIDERS.
I'M A REGISTERED NURSE COMING FROM THE POINT OF A REGISTERED NURSE.
[01:05:01]
ICU CAPACITY, YOU KNOW, NURSES STRUGGLING TO TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS, HAVING ROOM IN YOUR HOSPITAL TO SUPPORT PATIENTS.AND SO YOU CAN'T JUST LOOK AT IT AT HOW MANY PEOPLE IN WEST COVINA HAVE COVID YOU TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE BECAUSE THEY COUNT.
THEY REALLY COUNT HOW MANY HOSPITAL BEDS AND ICU BEDS ARE AVAILABLE.
SO I AM REALLY AGAINST THIS AND IT'S FRUSTRATING TO ME, SERIOUSLY, FRUSTRATING TO ME THAT WE CANNOT PUT THIS ON A BALLOT AND LET PEOPLE VOTE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BA-BYE FOR POSTING THIS BECAUSE I WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT, EXCEPT I SAW HIS POST ON FACEBOOK.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A WAY WE ARE.
I, YOU KNOW, AND I TRIED TO PREPARE FOR THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.
I READ AN ARTICLE WHERE YOU WERE IN, UH, COUNCILMAN LU TALKING ABOUT HOW THERE WAS A SELECT GROUP, UH, INCLUDING BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESSES AND THEREFORE THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA.
AND IT SEEMED LIKE YOU SUPPORTED IT.
OKAY? BUT THAT'S A SELECT GROUP.
WE'RE A CITY OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE.
YOU WORK FOR EVERYBODY, NOT A SELECT GROUP OF PEOPLE.
SO IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY FEEL OUR CITY NEEDS, THEN IT SHOULD BE ON A BALLOT AND WE SHOULD VOTE ON IT.
I, I HAD TO REALLY WORK HARD TO GET TO THIS MEETING TODAY, FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON.
I FELT LIKE IT WAS INTENTIONALLY PUT AT FOUR O'CLOCK.
YOU CAN SHAKE YOUR HEAD, COUNCILMAN RUE, ALL YOU WANT.
THAT'S HOW WE, THE PEOPLE, BUT IT WAS PUT IN SO THAT WE COULDN'T COME.
AND IT'S JUST WISHING BY JUST LIKE YOU DID WITH THE, WITH, YOU KNOW, THE 12% RAISE.
AND THEN YOU HEARD YOUR THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO CASES.
I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WE WE'D ALLOW THE OTHERS, OUR BUSINESSES, AND THEN THAT'S.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS.
THIS IS NOT HOW THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE.
FOLLOWED BY FREDERICK SITE, FOLLOWED BY DAVIS.
I WAS NOT GOING TO SPEAK TODAY BECAUSE I'M JUST TIRED OF BEING IN FRONT OF IT.
BUT THE REASON I'M HERE IS FOR EVERYONE WHO CAN'T COME LIKE YOUNG WOMAN, WHO WAS JUST BEFORE YOU AND LIKE HER, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY THAT EITHER CAN'T COME BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLE AND TO PAY THEIR RENT OR TO PAY THEM MORE OR THEY DIDN'T COME BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THERE'S A MEETING.
SO YOU NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT.
THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT CORRECT.
SO I'M NOT TERESA COZA AND TALKING TO YOU.
I AM ALL THE OTHER RESIDENTS IN WEST COVINA.
THAT CAN BE, THIS IS SHORT AND SWEET TODAY.
AS I WAS READING, I CAME ACROSS SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU OF YOU GET TO DECODE VIEWS MUST BE SURRENDERED OR THE GREATER, GREATER GOOD OF ALL THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA, NOT JUST FREDERICK SYKES, FOLLOWED BY MUNE TO DAVIS FOLLOWED BY JG GREEN CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.
I'M FREDERICK SYKES 42 YEAR RESIDENT OF THIS CITY, RETIRED HURLEY COUNTY, DEPUTY SHERIFF, AND ALSO FORMER MAYOR OF THE CITY.
FIRST OF ALL, TO ALL MY NEIGHBORS WHO CAME OUT TODAY, UH, THEY'VE BEEN EXCELLENT.
AND UH, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY TO COME OUT AND SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE.
ELLIOTT COUNTY HAS NOT FAILED OUR CITY.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE BY HER REPRESENTATIVE BEING HERE TODAY, SUPERVISOR ELISE HAS OUR BACK AND THE QUESTION NEEDS TO BE ASKED WHY THE DUPLICATION, THE NEIGHBORS HAVE PRETTY MUCH COVERED ALMOST
[01:10:01]
EVERY ASPECT OF THIS ISSUE.SO I WOULD LIKE TO REVISIT JULY, 2020 BECAUSE SOMEHOW THE CITY COUNCIL SEEMS TO HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT HAPPENED IN JULY, 2020.
WE AVOIDED BANKRUPTCY BY DOING THE LEAST REVENUE BOND SCHEME WHEREBY THE CITY IS LEASING BACK THE STREETS FOR $205 MILLION THAT PAID FOR THE UNFUNDED PENSION DEBT.
AND TO KEEP US IN A POSITION OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
ALSO WITH THAT PAYMENT PLAN EACH YEAR, THAT THAT PAYMENT WILL INCREASE.
AND THERE WASN'T IT'S, WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE PAYING THAT UNTIL 2045.
AND IF CAMPERS UNDERPERFORMS, THEN THE CITY HAS TO PAY MORE TO FILL IN THE LOSS OF REVENUES.
OUR FINANCIAL RISK IS WAY TOO HIGH ALREADY AT THIS POINT.
AND YOU'VE HEARD THE VARIOUS SPEAKERS SPEAK ABOUT THE HEALTH COST AND THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COST IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO PUT THIS HEALTH DEPARTMENT HERE AT OUR CONTROL.
SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE THINK HARD ABOUT WHAT YOU ABOUT TO DO.
THE DEBT IS ALREADY SO FAR DOWN OUR KIDS, OUR GRANDKIDS WILL BE PAYING IT, AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO HEAP ON AN EVEN GREATER DEBT WITH MORE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO CONTROL.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS A WISE MOVE.
THANK YOU, MOON TO DAVIS FOLLOWED BY J D FOLLOWED BY BRIAN MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I AM THE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME COMMENT REGARDING YOUR DECISION TO CONSIDER THE AGREEMENT, UH, BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, WHICH HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AT NO COST.
UM, ALTHOUGH IT IS WELL WITHIN THE CITY'S JURISDICTION AND, UH, TO CREATE ITS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, OUR DEPARTMENT IS NOT AWARE OF ANY PLANNING OR COORDINATION WITH THE CITY WITH THIS, FOR THIS DRASTIC CHANGE.
WE'RE CONCERNED THAT EVEN IF THE CITY HAS MADE PLANS TO CREATE AN OPERATIONALIZING INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO RUN AN EFFECTIVE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT HURDLES TO ENSURING, UH, THE PROTECTION OF THE HEALTH OF THE CITY'S RESIDENTS LIKE MANY OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH JURISDICTIONS RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN VERNON IS ACTUALLY NOT ONE OF THEM.
THE CITY OF BERKELEY, THE CITY OF PASADENA, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, UH, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE APPOINTED AND OR ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE, THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THE CITY WILL NEED TO APPOINT ITS OWN HEALTH OFFICER, WHICH NEEDS TO BE A PHYSICIAN AS WELL AS PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO OPERATE A LOCAL HEALTH JURISDICTION.
THOSE ARE LISTED WITHIN YOUR, YOUR ORDINANCE UNDER TITLE 17 OF THE CODE OF REGULATIONS, SECTION 1276 AND ITS AGREEMENTS WITH CITIES LIKE WEST COVINA, PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDES ALL OF THE REQUIRED SERVICES, UH, OF A LOCAL HEALTH JURISDICTION OF THOSE CITIES AT NO COST OR STATE LAW ONCE APPOINTED A CITY HEALTH OFFICER MUST ENFORCE AND OBSERVE ALL ORDERS, QUARANTINE, AND OTHER REGULATIONS, PUBLIC HEALTH PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER.
WE ARE AN EXTENSION OF THE STATE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER.
WE CAN NOT BE LESS RESTRICTIVE OR CAN BE MORE RESTRICTIVE OR LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN WHAT THEY ORDERED DURING THE PAST YEAR WHILE ACTING AS THE CITY'S HEALTH OFFICER.
UM, WE HAVE IN TERMS OF OUR COMMUNICABLE DISEASE UNIT AND OUTBREAK MANAGEMENT BUREAU INVESTIGATED 45 COVID OUTBREAKS WITHIN THE CITY TO ENSURE ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE MEASURES ARE IMPLEMENTED AS, AS TESTING WAS CONDUCTED AND ALL INFECTION CONTROL GUIDANCE WAS IMPLEMENTED FURTHER.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION HAS CONDUCTED 660 RELATED, UH, INSPECTIONS, UH, FOR COVID COMPLIANCE IN TERMS OF THE INFECTION CONTROL REQUIREMENTS.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE OVER 500 ROUTINE INSPECTIONS OF PERMITTED BUSINESSES ALONG WITH MANDATED SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE FOOD, HOUSING AND INSTITUTIONS, LAND DEVELOPMENT, MILK, AND DAIRY PRODUCTS, PUBLIC POOLS, WASTE MANAGEMENT, WATER, SUPPLY, BODY ART, AND OTHER SERVICES AND PROGRAMS AS REQUIRED BY STATE OR LOCAL LAWS.
SHOULD THIS COUNCIL ELECT TO CREATE ITS OWN CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
PUBLIC HEALTH WILL BE READY TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO TRANSFER ALL OF THE DUTIES OF A LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH JURISDICTION UNTIL THAT TRANSITION IS COMPLETE.
AND THE CITY'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS
[01:15:01]
RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE AS A LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH JURISDICTION.WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS COUNCIL AND THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA IN ITS CURRENT CAPACITY.
J D FOLLOWED BY BRIAN GUTIERREZ FOLLOWED BY ROBERT TORRES.
GOOD EVENING, JEFFERSON DURU RESIDENT AND OWNER IN WEST COVINA.
WHAT I CAME UP TO SAY HAS BEEN SAID TIMES FIVE, I WON'T REPEAT IT, BUT I DO WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT.
I WANT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE RESIDENTS FEEL THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT OR FRUSTRATION AND THEY'RE ANGRY, BUT WE ARE THEIR CUSTOMERS.
AND WE'RE HERE TONIGHT NOT TO OPPOSE SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP THEM RECOVER FROM THE SUFFERING THAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER AS THAT FIRST SMALL BUSINESS SPEAKER CAME UP AND ADMIT IT.
THIS PROBABLY WILL NOT BE A SOLUTION FOR THEM IN THIS CURRENT PANDEMIC.
MANY THINGS HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS CONSOLE IN THIS FASHION.
AND I THINK IT'S WRONG-HEADED BECAUSE IT DOESN'T AS ANOTHER BUSINESS OWNER SAID, BRING US TO THE TABLE.
WE DON'T HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AS RESIDENTS AS DO NOT, OR AS THE, A SMALL BUSINESS DO NOT.
AND THAT'S A MISTAKE FROM OUR CURRENT CITY COUNCIL.
SOMETHING THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME ON THE, UH, ON THE, UH, RESONATION THAT, UH, MR. TABET TO BUY POSTED WAS THAT THE GOOD DOCTOR USE THREE EXAMPLES, THREE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
WELL, HE CITED THREE, BUT IT USED TO.
AND THE ONE THAT HE LEFT OUT IS THE ONE THAT MOST REPRESENTS US.
I APOLOGIZE IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE ONES THAT HE USED TO ACCENTUATE THE GREATNESS OF HAVING OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR A CENTURY AS SEDENA LONG BEACH.
HAVE YOU MENTIONED ONE WITH A POPULATION? I BELIEVE OVER 120,000, THAT'S SIMILAR, BUT HE CHOSE TO NOT ELABORATE.
SO I HOPE TONIGHT WHEN HE COMES UP HERE, HE POINTS OUT THOSE DIFFERENCES BECAUSE I'M REALLY INTERESTED.
I MEAN, THIS, THIS IS NOT A BAD IDEA.
TOTALLY THE WRONG TIME FOR IT.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, BRIAN.
SIERRA'S FOLLOWED BY ROBERT TORRES FOLLOWED BY CARLOS.
MY NAME IS BRIAN GUTIERREZ, AND I BELIEVE THE MAIN ISSUE HERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IS THAT WHY DID LA COUNTY HEALTH DIRECTOR, BARBARA FERRER OVERRIDE A STATE ORDER? AND WHEN FURHTER TO HARM BUSINESSES IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, THAT IS THE ISSUE.
THE ISSUE IS, IS THAT THE CITY THAT MA CONSTANT MEMBER RURAL HAS LED THE EFFORT AND ITS COLLEAGUES HAVE LED THE EFFORT IN ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
AND IT'S MOST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR AND MOST, ESPECIALLY TO OUR RESIDENTS WATCHING AT HOME AND WHO ARE HERE TODAY, THE FALSE NUMBERS YOU SAW ONLINE BEING PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, BRIAN
IT'S NOT GOING TO COST THE CITY OF WEST COVINA $90 MILLION BECAUSE THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO BACK YOUR STATEMENTS.
YOU STATED AS STAFF CHILDREN, THAT NUMBER THAT'S INACCURATE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT INCLUDING FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDS AND COUNTY FUNDS THAT WILL COME WITH THE CITY DEVELOPING A HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND SO WE URGE CONCEPT NUMBER TO BUY, TO BUY, JUST STOP SPREADING FALSE NUMBERS ONLINE AS AN EDUCATOR, AS A TEACHER, AND AS A COACH, YOU LYING TO THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA IS MISLEADING AND MOST ESPECIALLY LINE TO MINORS, THE SAME MINORS YOU USE TO SPY ON MY RESIDENTS AND MY CAMERA SYSTEM PICKING UP JEAN'S TOMA STARTS TO LEAVE AND RUN.
PLEASE DOES NOT MEAN, AND MOST, ESPECIALLY TO THE RESIDENTS, IF THE CONCERT VOTES TO ELIMINATE DISAGREEMENT, I THINK IT CREATES A BIGGER AWARENESS
[01:20:02]
TO ENSURE THAT THE COUNTY WORKS WITH THE CITY TO MAKE A BETTER PLAN BECAUSE IN THE END OF THE DAY, JUST BECAUSE THE CITY LEAVES TODAY DOESN'T MEAN THE CITY CAN GO BACK, UH, IF IT CHOOSES.SO THERE'S NO ALTA MEND THEM SAYING THAT THE CITY CAN GO BACK AND MOST ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE OTHER MISINFORMATION THAT WAS SPREAD ONLINE WAS THAT SOMEHOW THIS WILL AFFECT RESIDENTS.
HEALTHCARE THAT'S FALSE AND MISLEADING.
UH, THE LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES NOT REGULATE, UH, PEOPLE'S HEALTHCARE INSURANCES.
NOW THE ALLIE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAFETY OF RESTAURANTS IN DIFFERENT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE HEALTH CODE, NOT HEALTH INSURANCES.
AND SO I URGE, UH, THE MAJORITY OF, UH, THIS, OF THIS CITY CONSULTS OR MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION BY TERMINATING DISAGREEMENT BECAUSE TERMINATING THIS AGREEMENT WILL CREATE AN OPENING AND A DOOR WIDE OPEN BY HYLO SELISE TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO DEVELOP A BETTER PLAN.
I KNOW HER FIELD REP MAY BE HERE TODAY, BUT WHY ISN'T SUPERVISOR SELISE HERE ADDRESSING THIS CONSOLE.
SO NANA THAT THEY, THE PEOPLE AT WEST CAMINO IS WHAT MATTERS.
ROBERT TORRES FOLLOWED BY CARLOS GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
UM, PUBLIC HEALTH IS AN ISSUE I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT MUSCLE PASSIONATE ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
SO FOR THESE REASONS I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY, OPPOSED TO TERMINATING LA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES DECISIONS ON PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT, THE WIDE ARRAY OF PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND INSTITUTIONS, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, UH, DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, SCHOOLS.
AND THOSE ARE SOME THAT COME TO MIND.
HOWEVER, THESE GROUPS AND MANY OTHER GROUPS ARE YET TO BE WELCOMING TO THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION REGARDING TERMINATING COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES.
UH, THE LACK OF PUBLIC OUTREACH ALONE, UH, CONCERNS ME DEEPLY.
UH, ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WE ARE HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE OF THE FRUSTRATION WE HAD WITH THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE COUNTY.
SO WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT, UH, WE'RE PRACTICING THE VERY COMMUNICATION WE'RE FRUSTRATED WITH BY RUSHING THIS ITEM, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY A, THE LACK OF TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION.
AND ALSO THE LAST MINUTE NATURE OF THIS MEETING IS A PRIME EXAMPLE.
SO IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONDUCT COMPLETE COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
BEFORE WE MAKE ANY MAJOR DECISIONS REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH.
I ASK YOU TO PLEASE PUT THIS MATTER ON HOLD UNTIL YOU HAVE A THOROUGH PUBLIC DISCUSSION WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS.
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WILL LIKELY COME UP OR INCLUDE WILL BE HOW, HOW THE SERVICES WILL BE AFFECTED.
COUNTY SERVICES WILL BE AFFECTED.
HOW WILL THEY CHANGE WHEN IT BECOMES WEST COVINA? HOW ARE SCHOOLS IMPACTED? UM, I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF THAT'S BEEN LOOKED AT, AT ANY LEVEL AT THE STAFF LEVEL, AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL, IF ANY ANALYSIS HAS DONE AS, AS HOW THE SCHOOLS WILL BE IMPACTED, UH, ARE RESIDENTS CURRENTLY SATISFIED WITH CURRENT COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES? I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WITH RESTAURANT OWNERS AS FAR AS THE INSPECTION PORTION OF IT, BUT HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO RESIDENTS AND GOT THEIR INPUT? SO AGAIN, I'M A BIG PROPONENT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I'M NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO IT COMPLETELY, BUT I WOULD SAY, UH, HOLD OFF AT LEAST FOR A YEAR AND THEN LET US ENGAGE, HAVE MEETINGS, WHETHER THEY'RE ONLINE, ZOOM AND GET INPUT FROM ALL STAKEHOLDERS, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION, BUT I DON'T AGREE WITH THE KNEE JERK REACTION WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM QUICKLY, UH, WITH, UH, A MAJOR CHANGE.
UH, THERE'S ALSO QUESTIONS ABOUT LEGAL EXPOSURE.
SO WHO KNOWS HOW, HOW MUCH THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT GETS SUED? ARE WE GOING TO PUT OURSELVES IN MORE LEGAL EXPOSURE? SO THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
SO AGAIN, I APPEAL YOU TO PLEASE HOLD OFF ON TERMINATING THE COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES UNTIL APPROPRIATE OUTREACH RESEARCH AND ALOUD ANALYSIS IS CONDUCTED.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, CARLOS.
AND AFTER CARLOS MAYOR, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR PHONE AFTER CARLOS.
HELLO, I'M CARLOS ROMAN, I OWN BREAD AND BARLEY, I'M COMING TO YOU GUYS FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT.
UM, I KNOW I'M YOUR NEIGHBOR, BUT I'M HOPING THAT YOUR DECISION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP CAN KIND OF
[01:25:01]
BLEED OVER AND, AND SOMEHOW HELP ME OUT AS WELL.UM, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I GET TO DEAL WITH THE EL DEPARTMENT NOW IN THIS PANDEMIC JUST ABOUT DAILY, PRIOR TO THAT CONSISTENTLY FOUR OR FIVE TIMES A YEAR.
UM, WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THIS CURRENT CLIMATE IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE US AS BUSINESS OWNERS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST, UM, IN OUR BEST INTERESTS IN THEIR MIND, IT'S A ONE SIZE FITS ALL FOR THESE TYPES OF DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE THIS LARGE, THAT ARE LOOKING AT A COUNTY AS LARGE AS LOS ANGELES THAT ARE LOOKING AT A HUGE SPECTRUM OF BUSINESSES.
BUT THEY'RE, I FEEL THAT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS MORE CONTROL OVER ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THEIR RESIDENTS, THEIR BUSINESSES, AND HOW THEY CAN BENEFIT US AS BUSINESSES AND WORK WITH US AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS HEALTH, HONESTLY, THEY'RE TRYING TO CRAM US ALL INTO ONE CATEGORY.
EVERY FOOD BUSINESS IS DIFFERENT.
THERE'S FOOD BUSINESSES THAT ARE SET UP TO BE PROFIT CENTERS AS A DRIVE IN, DRIVE OUT YOUR FOOD GO, AND THEY'RE DOING VERY WELL.
THERE ARE OTHER FOOD BUSINESSES THAT ARE SET UP AS ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE, THAT ARE ATTRACTIONS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO COME AND HANG OUT AND EXPERIENCE THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND, AND WITHOUT THAT ENVIRONMENT, WE FAIL, UM, THEY TRY TO CRAM US INTO THAT ONE SIZE FITS ALL AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WELL, YOU CAN DO TAKEOUT, SO NO BIG DEAL.
A BUSINESS LIKE MINE CAN'T SURVIVE ON TAKEOUT, A BUSINESS LIKE MINE HAS TIGHT MARGINS, EVEN IN THE BEST OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE RUNNING VERY TIGHT MARGINS.
WE HAVE GOURMET FOOD, WE HAVE HIGH QUALITY BEVERAGES.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST TRY TO THROW IN A BOX AND SEND SOMEONE ON THEIR WAY WITH.
AND SO THIS HAS GOTTEN REALLY DIFFICULT FOR US TO DEAL WITH.
AND WHAT I'VE SEEN IS THAT THERE ISN'T ANYONE ON THE COUNTY LEVEL THAT REALLY GIVES A DAMN ABOUT IT AT ALL.
AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LISTEN.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR US, BUT ON THE CITY LEVEL, AT LEAST WE HAVE LOCAL LEADERS FROM THE CITY THAT ARE GOING TO LOOK, PAY ATTENTION, RESPOND TO, AND UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THEIR BUSINESSES.
AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE THERE IS NO VOICE FOR US AS BUSINESS OWNERS.
THERE'S, THERE'S NO ONE TO TURN TO.
UM, I I'VE, I'VE CALLED SUPERVISORS.
I'VE CALLED THEIR, YOU KNOW, REGIONAL SUPERVISOR AND THEN THEIR SUPERVISOR AND THEIRS.
IT'S ALL, WELL, THAT'S MY JOB.
YOU KNOW, I, I GOTTA FOLLOW MY ORDERS.
AND SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE RIDICULOUS.
THEY'RE IMPOSING RULES ON US AS BUSINESSES THAT, THAT CAUSE IT TO, TO WHERE WE REALLY CAN'T MAKE ANY MONEY AS A RESTAURANT, ESPECIALLY AS A SIT DOWN FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT, IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE.
YOU KNOW, AND NOW THEY'RE PUTTING AN EIGHT FEET BETWEEN TABLES.
THEY'RE DOING THINGS THAT ARE MAKING IT SO THAT IT'S NOT PROFITABLE ANYMORE.
UH, AND THEY'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY SOLUTIONS.
THEY'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY WORK AROUND.
THEY'RE NOT, I MEAN, I SEE THINGS LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS BOX HERE, THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR SOLUTIONS.
THEY'RE JUST COMING IN WITH AN IRON FIST AND SAYING HERE, DO IT, PUT UP WITH IT.
IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE YOU.
SO I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO TAKE THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE AND DO IT.
YOU KNOW, LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT IT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. BRIAN.
JOBES FOLLOWED BY JAMES TOMA FOLLOWED BY MINERVA ABILA MR. JOB'S.
GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING.
THE 32 YEAR RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA.
THE STATE AUDITOR REPORT RECENTLY RANKED OUR CITY IS NEARLY WORST OFF IN THE STATE.
AND THAT IS QUITE RELEVANT TO THE CURRENT DISCUSSION.
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS COME DIRECTLY FROM THE STATE AUDITOR'S REPORT ABOUT THE CITY OF WEST COVINA CITY'S FINANCIAL CONDITION IS RAPIDLY.
DETERIORATING MAKES DECISIONS BASED ON INSUFFICIENT FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, UNABLE TO QUANTIFY FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES.
WEST COVINA CONTINUES TO BE AT RISK FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO ADEQUATELY PROVIDE BASIC PUBLIC SERVICES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THE LA COUNTY HEALTH IS FAR FROM PERFECT, BUT BASED ON THE STATE AUDIT, ANY NOTION THAT YOU WILL DO A BETTER JOB, FRANKLY, AS RIDICULOUS THIS WEEKEND, I RELISTEN TO THE JANUARY 19TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN WHICH THE NEW REGIONAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS DISCUSSED.
MR. WU INDICATED IN THAT VIDEO QUOTE, ALL OTHER SURROUNDING CITIES THAT I TALKED TO, EVERYBODY WANTS TO JOIN IN THE NEW REGIONAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MADAM MAYOR, MR. CITY MANAGER, WHICH CITIES ARE GIVING NOTICE TO LEAVE LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DECIDES THE CITY OF WEST COVINA DURING THE JANUARY 19TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
MR. WU, MR. CASTELLANOS AND DR.
BAZELL THE CITY'S MEDICAL CONSULTANT WEST COVINA MEDICAL CONSULTANT SAID REPEATEDLY.
WE HAVE REAL COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEMS WITH THE LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
[01:30:01]
CITY BUREAUCRACY THAT WE DON'T NEED CAN'T AFFORD, AND DON'T WANT WHEN YOUR FAUCET BREAKS, YOU FIX THE FAUCET.YOU DON'T MOVE TO A NEW HOUSE.
PLEASE FIX YOUR COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEMS WITH THE LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU, JAMES TOMA, UNMUTE FOLLOWED BY MINERVA FOLLOWED BY JOHN SHOEMAKER.
I'M A RESIDENT, A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR.
IT'S CLEAR FROM THE WRITTEN REPORT THAT THE CITY ISN'T PREPARED TO MAKE THIS DECISION TODAY.
THERE'S NO DESCRIPTION OF THE SERVICES.
THE CITY WILL PROVIDE, UH, HOW IT WILL PROVIDE THEM.
AND BY WHEN, AND THERE'S NO DISCUSSION OF THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT WILL BE REQUIRED AND NOT A SINGLE WORD ABOUT HOW THE CITY IS GOING TO FINANCE ITS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO FIRST ON THE PLANNING REGARDING THE CITY, THE SERVICES THAT THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS PREPARED TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO LAW, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS TO PERFORM THE DUTIES IMPOSED BY THE STATUTES OF THE STATE AND THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, THOSE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS, AREN'T ALL LISTED HERE.
THE REPORT DOES COPY ONE REGULATION, WHICH STATES THE BASIC SERVICES A LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT MUST PROVIDE, BUT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE A DESCRIPTION.
WHAT THEY MEAN IN THE REAL WORLD.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT TALKS ABOUT A COLLECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH STATISTICS, PROVISION OF MEDICAL NURSING, EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AND SANITATION SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND APPROVED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, CONCERNING FOOD, HOUSING, RADIOLOGICAL, HEALTH, WATER, RECREATION, SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE LAB SERVICES, NUTRITION SERVICES, NURSING SERVICES, AND ALL KINDS OF SERVICES THAT ARE LISTED HERE.
AND THERE'S NO DESCRIPTION WHAT THE CITY CAN PROVIDE OR HOW IT PROVIDES THEM.
THE SECOND THING, THERE'S NO ANALYSIS ABOUT THE RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THE CITY TO PROVIDE ANY OF THESE SERVICES.
SO ONE CITY MENTIONED THE CITY OF REPORT SAYS, UH, THAT IT HAS 121,000 RESIDENTS, AND THAT CITY HAS 246 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES IN ITS HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WILL BE NECESSARY TO HIRE IN WEST COVINA? YEAH, THERE'S NO NUMBER AND NO DESCRIPTION OF THE RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL THAT THE CITY MUST HAVE TO PROVIDE ANY OF THESE REQUIRED SERVICES.
AND THEN AGAIN, LASTLY, HOW WILL THE CITY PAY FOR THIS? AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST QUESTION THAT A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED, HOW IS THE CITY GOING TO FINANCES? YOU'VE ALREADY RENTED OUT THE CITY STREETS.
SO WHAT SERVICES WILL THE CITY NOT PROVIDE? IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON A NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HOW'S THAT GOING TO IMPACT OTHER CITY SERVICES THAT YOU SAY THAT YOU WANT? UH, THE BUDGETS OF THESE OTHER CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
SO WHERE'S THAT MONEY GOING TO COME FROM TAXES, FEES, GRANTS.
THERE ISN'T A SINGLE WORD IN THE ENTIRE STAFF REPORT THAT DISCUSSES THE FINANCING.
DO YOU REALLY NOT HAVE ANY IDEA HOW THIS WOULD WORK IN TERMS OF THE FINANCING? SO JUST DON'T PLAY POLITICS WITH THIS DECISION, THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF YOUR RESIDENTS, YOUR BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES ALL DEPENDENT ON THEY'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE WELL THOUGHT THROUGH.
IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING, PLEASE VOTE NOW, MINERVA, ABILA FOLLOWED BY JOHN SHOEMAKER FOLLOWED BY SHAHARA.
REVIVING THE WEST COVINA RESIDENT.
FIRST, I DO WANT TO ASK, SOME PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THAT, UM, I WANT TO REITERATE AND ASK THE QUESTION.
WHY IS THIS MEETING SCHEDULED SO EARLY ONE WOULD THINK THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PREVENT RESIDENTS FROM SPEAKING BEFORE YOU, I BELIEVE THE LAST TIME I ATTENDED A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING WAS BACK IN APRIL OF 2019.
AND IT WAS ALSO SCHEDULED AT AN AWKWARD AND INCONVENIENT TIME, 8:00 PM.
I HAD TO TAKE MY CHILDREN IN THEIR PAJAMAS TO THAT MEETING SO THAT I COULD SPEAK IN FAVOR OF OUR POLICE CHEAP, WHICH, UM, HOUMA THREE OF YOU FIRED.
IT SEEMS YOU SCHEDULE MEETINGS AT AN AWKWARD AND INCONVENIENT TIME WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT FROM RESONANCE.
SO MOVING ON TO THE SCOPE OF WORK OF LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IT'S BEST, THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BIRTH, DEATH CERTIFICATES, CLINICS, COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES, BEYOND THE SCOPE OF IMMUNIZATIONS SPECIAL PROGRAMS WITH SCHOOLS AND LOTS OF INSPECTIONS.
I DON'T THINK WEST COVINA CAN HANDLE THAT.
WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH OUR OWN WEST COVINA CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT.
YOU'VE CERTAINLY WITNESSED RESIDENTS COME BEFORE YOU TO EXPRESS THEIR FRUSTRATION LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTS HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY OR DISABLED, SUCH AS ASSISTED LIVING AND RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR MAINTENANCE AND SANITATION ISSUES.
OTHER INSPECTIONS INCLUDE RESTAURANTS AS MENTIONED FOOD MARKETS, APARTMENT BUILDING, CONDOMINIUMS,
[01:35:01]
SWIMMING POOLS, MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT, AND FOOD TRUCKS.THAT DEPARTMENT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH LAWS PERTAINING TO HOTELS, HOTELS, HOTELS.
SO THIS BRINGS ME TO AN IMPORTANT POINT HERE THAT I, I FOUND THAT I FIND VERY INTERESTING IS THAT IF A HOTEL IS BUILT ON THE BKK LANDFILL, WHERE TO TRUST THE CITY TO INSPECT IT, THE HOTEL ITSELF IT'S SWIMMING POOLS.
I MAY NOW SEE THE MOTIVATION FOR THE RUSH.
GIVEN THE SECRECY, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ABOUT ANYTHING RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT AT BKK.
I WONDER IF THERE'S A CONNECTION WITH A RUSH TO CREATE A WEST COVINA HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT I B K K.
IF YOU SERIOUSLY CARE ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT AT BKK.
ONE OF YOU STATED THAT THE PRODUCTION OF LANDFILL GAS IS DRAWING TO A CLOSE THAT BKK NOT ACCORDING TO EXPERTS.
THE LANDFILL GAS MONITORING PROBES ARE BEING REPLACED PRECISELY BECAUSE BKK WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE LANDFILL GAS WITH NO END IN SIGHT.
WHAT IS GOING ON AT BKK HAS THAT LAND BEEN SOLD? THERE IS IF WE ARE TO TRUST YOU.
SO WE ARE SUPPOSED TO TRUST THAT YOU WILL HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH IN MIND IN MONITORING AND INSPECTING A HOTEL UP THERE.
THIS IS SO BAD THAT THE WEST COVINA YOU AS A UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SUBMITTED A THREE-PAGE LETTER OF OPPOSITION TO THE CITY FOR THIS, FOR THIS MOVE.
DID YOU COMMUNICATE BEFORE TODAY WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT SERVE THE CITY, DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
I BELIEVE THERE'S MOVE IS TONIGHT.
IT'S RUSHED POLITICALLY MOTIVATED FOR HOPS PERSONNEL.
FOR SOME OF YOU, I URGE YOU TO VOTE.
NO THANK YOU, MR. SHOEMAKER FOLLOWED BY SHAHARA, FOLLOWED BY ANDREA.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TONIGHT ABOUT THE VARIOUS ISSUES RELATED TO THIS.
IN MY MIND, THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS YOU CAN'T ANSWER ANY OF THE QUESTIONS.
STAFF CAN ANSWER ANY OF THE QUESTIONS.
NOBODY CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN OUT AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RESEARCHED.
LET ME GO BACK OVER THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY.
WHEN IT COMES TO THESE BIG PROJECTS, REMEMBER THE MISTAKE BY THE LAKE, OR WE'RE GOING TO SPEND $20 MILLION FOR A 10, BY 160 FOOT PIECE OF GROUND.
IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR EVERYBODY TO REALIZE THAT IT WAS $20 MILLION FOR A 10, BY 160 FOOT PIECE OF GROUND.
YOU KNOW, IT WILL MOVE TO PRIVATIZED OUR MAINTENANCE AREAS AND WE FOUND, AND NOBODY'S EVER BEEN ABLE TO COME UP AND GO, WHAT DOES THE MONEY WE SAVED? MATTER OF FACT, IN SOME CASES, WE'LL START TO BRING THINGS BACK TO THE TOWN THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING.
YOU CONTINUE TO GO ALONG THESE LINES WITH STAFF WHO IS LAZY, THAT CAN'T DO THE BASICS THAT OUR CITY NEEDS TO DO.
WHERE'S THE 20, 20 FINANCIAL REPORTS.
WE'RE NINE MONTHS PAST THE END OF THE YEAR, NINE MONTHS.
IF YOU CAN'T GET THOSE THINGS RIGHT, HOW DO YOU GET ANYTHING ELSE? WHERE ARE WE GETTING THE MONEY TO PROPERLY FUND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT PROPERLY FUND OUR FIRE PROPERLY FUND STAFF THAT HELPS OUR CITY.
THAT IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE NOT.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP TONIGHT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY A REPORT.
WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR ANSWERS ON GOING TO LA COUNTY FIRE, STILL WAITING FOR THAT.
LET'S DO WHAT WE DO GET GET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER THAT WE HAVE ALREADY.
THEN LET'S START LOOKING AT OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
THIS MIGHT BE THE GREATEST IDEA IN THE WORLD, BUT OUR STAFF CRACK RECORD ON SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING AND EXECUTING A PLAN IS NON-EXISTENT.
THAT'S THE PRIME EXAMPLE OF INSANITY DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT.
NO, I'M WAITING SOMEBODY ONCE ASKED, CAN YOU NAME SOMETHING? OUR CITY PROPERLY EXECUTED? AND I WENT, NOPE.
I ASKED CITY STAFF, CAN YOU NAME SOMETHING? THEY CAN'T EITHER.
SO JUST PUT A HOLD AND GET THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
THE TIME THAT YOU'RE SPENDING HERE TONIGHT SHOULD BE WORKING ON GETTING OUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER, INSTEAD OF SITTING HERE DISCUSSING SOMETHING, THAT'S A PIPE DREAM.
SO SOMEBODY CAN GET THEIR MUG ON A TV OR GET A SOUND BITE ON THE RADIO.
THAT'S NOT HELPING OUR CITY ONE BIT, YOU KNOW, AND YOU ALREADY HAVE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ANSWERED THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A YEAR TO GET TO THAT POINT.
IF YOU CAN EVEN GET THEM, YOU CAN ALWAYS DO IT NEXT YEAR.
SO LET'S NOT HAVE, LET'S NOT GO DOWN THIS RABBIT HOLE AND JUST
[01:40:01]
WASTE EVERYBODY'S TIME.SO IS THAT FOLLOWED BY ANDREA FOLLOWED BY LAWRENCE? SHAZAD GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE YOURSELF.
MY NAME IS
A CITY IS IN TROUBLE FINANCIALLY AND COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
EVERYONE HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THE COUNCIL'S INTEREST IN FINDING ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS THE EFFECTS THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON OUR WAY OF LIFE.
PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND OUR SCHOOLS, ONE OF THESE ALTERNATIVE BUSINESSES WAS FOR WEST COVINA TO CREATE ITS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SUCH AS THOSE CREATED IN PASADENA IN LONG BEACH.
THE THINKING WAS THAT IF WE HAD OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE SOMEHOW WOULDN'T HAVE SUFFERED THE CONSEQUENCES OF BUSINESSES CLOSING AND OUR SCHOOLS WOULDN'T HAVE NEEDED TO BE CLOSED.
AND THE ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINES WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT SMOOTHER.
IF WE HAD OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, I WON'T HELP YOU, BUT WE'LL HAVE MORE LOCAL CONTROL.
WE'D BE BETTER ABLE TO HELP RESIDENTS AND BE MORE RESPONSIVE AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO TOUCH OUR GENERAL FUNDS.
WELL, THESE ARE ADMIRABLE AND DESIRABLE AMBITIONS.
I BELIEVE THAT IDEA HAS NOT BEEN WELL THOUGHT OUT.
BEST PROJECTS, TAKE A LONG TIME TO PUT INTO MOTION.
AND THE FACT THAT WHAT WAS ONLY A PRELIMINARY REPORT BY ONE MEDICAL CONSULTANT IN JANUARY, WE'RE ALREADY TAKING ACTION TO SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THIS IDEA IS BEING PUSHED ALONG AT AN ALARMINGLY FAST RATE AT THE JANUARY 19TH, UH, COUNCIL MEETING.
WE WERE PRESENTED WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HOW WE WOULD CREATE OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT WITHOUT TOUCHING OUR GENERAL FUNDS, THAT THE MONIES WOULD COME FROM STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH GRANTS AND DONATIONS FROM PHILANTHROPISTS AND LICENSING FEES AND PERMITS.
SO WHY DO I PROPOSE A PLAN? PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED THE COST.
THE CONSULTANT SUGGESTED THAT WE COULD FUND THIS PROJECT IN THREE WAYS, STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS.
MOST OF THE FUNDING WOULD BE OBTAINED FROM THESE ENTITIES AS IS THE CASE WITH OTHER, UH, OTHER HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
BUT I SHRUGGED TO THINK THAT WE WOULD WANT TO CREATE ANOTHER LAYER OF GOVERNMENT THAT THEN WOULD RELY ON THE EVER SHRINKING BUDGET THAT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS ARE STRUGGLING WITH BY USING LICENSING AND PERMIT FEES.
WOULDN'T THIS RESULT IN HIGHER FEES WITH BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE TO PAY.
THE SECOND REASON I OPPOSED THIS PLAN IS A LACK OF EXPERIENCE, PASSING IT ALONG BEACH.
I'VE HAD 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH SERVICING PEOPLE HUNDRED YEARS AGO, IT WAS MUCH EASIER TO DEVELOP A PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAD AN ALREADY ESTABLISHED SYSTEM TO PLUG INTO THE WEST.
COVINA HAS ZERO EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD, AND IT WILL TAKE YEARS TO ESTABLISH A WORKING PLAYBOOK THAT WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF ITS CITIZENS.
THAT SCARES ME BECAUSE WE COULD FACE LAWSUITS AS A RESULT, AS SOME OTHER SUBSET.
IT'S ALSO A BIG RESPONSIBILITY MEETING.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS OF A CITY IS A HUGE UNDERTAKING AND COMBINED WITH OUR INEXPERIENCE.
I DO FORESEE LEGAL ISSUES, WHICH THE COUNTY CAN NOT AFFORD.
I MEAN, FOR THE CITY CANADA FOR PLUS IF WE HAD OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY, EVEN THE CONSULTANT HAD TROUBLE ANSWERING THAT QUESTION AND FINALLY ADMITTED THAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE EXACTLY THE SAME THING BY THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDREA FOLLOWED BY LAWRENCE FOLLOWED BY RAQUEL ANDREA, GO AHEAD.
UM, I MEAN, I'M DOING A 40 YEAR HOMEOWNER AND WAS CLEANING THEM.
AND I DID LISTEN TO THE TESTIMONY OF DR.
BAZELL ON JANUARY 19TH WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.
ONE THING THAT PEOPLE HAVEN'T POINTED OUT IN HISTORY
UH, AND THEY WERE, THEY RELIED ON A, UM, CREATING PRIVATIZATION OUTSOURCING.
THAT WAS HIS RECOMMENDATION AS A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FOR FUNDING WAS WEAK BEYOND BELIEF.
UH, AND HE MAY HAVE, UH, INDEED SOME FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THIS ENORMOUS AND FISCALLY RISKY PROPOSITION TO PRIVATIZE, UH, CREATES A, UH, AN ADDITION TO, UH, A NEW GOVERNMENT, UH, DRAIN ON FEDERAL AND STATE RESOURCES
[01:45:01]
AS SHERIFF ZOD SAID IT ALSO, UH, THIS PROPOSAL AND THE WAY IT WOULD BE STRUCTURED WOULD CREATE A PROFIT DRAIN WITHIN THE SYSTEM, A NEW SOURCE OF, UH, UH, UM, UH, THAT WAS IT, UH, ABSORB SOME OF THE, UH, FINANCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.SO, UM, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THAT IT'S NOT, UH, UH, SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANT TO RELY ON.
UM, IN FACT, YOU KNOW, THE POINTING OUT, I THINK WE'RE POINTED OUT, UH, THAT, UH, HIS CONCERN WAS THAT WE DIDN'T GET VACCINATIONS, UH, THE WAY, UH, WE SHOULD HAVE FROM THE COUNTY.
HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOKED AT, UH, THE TWO, UH, CITIES THAT HE POINTS TO HIS EXAMPLES OF, UH, RUNNING THEIR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, UH, LONG BEACH AND PASADENA, UH, WE HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF VACCINATION THAN LONG BEACH DOGS AND ONLY SLIGHTLY LESS THAN PASADENA.
UM, UH, SO IN TERMS OF, UH, CREATING A PRIVATIZED, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN WEST COVINA AND OUTSOURCING, UM, I HAVE SEEN A RELIABLE ESTIMATES OF THE COST OF UPS, UH, STARTING THIS, UH, NEW, UH, WEST COVINA HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF AROUND $90 MILLION.
AND THIS IS FOR A CITY THAT'S ALREADY DEEPLY IN DEBT.
UM, SO I THINK, UH, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THIS.
I, UH, THE ENTIRETY OF THE RESEARCH PRIOR TO THIS EMERGENCY MEETING HAS BEEN, UM, RE RELATIVELY NON-EXISTENT.
UH, THERE HAS BEEN, UH, NO ANALYSIS THAT THE, UH, FISCAL ANALYSIS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH THAT I'M AWARE OF.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LAWRENCE FOLLOWED BY RAQUEL FOLLOWED BY ROBIN LAWRENCE.
YOU KNOW, I HAD A SERIES OF PREPARED POINTS, BUT THE SPEAKERS BEFORE ME, I STILL ELOQUENTLY SPOKEN ON THEM.
SO I'LL FOCUS ON WHAT'S IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW.
AS I SIT HERE IN THE PARKING LOT, AFTER PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM DAYCARE, I CAN'T HELP, BUT IMPRESS UPON THE UNIQUE TIMING OF THIS MEETING AT 4:00 PM ON A WORKDAY WHERE MOST PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF ARE WORKING TO NOT TO FOOT TO FIND A POINT ON IT.
THIS IS REALLY A FINDLAY VEILED ATTEMPT AT EVADING PUBLIC SECURITY, OVER A CONTROVERSIAL ACTION BY SOMEONE, THIS COUNCIL, THE SELECTION AT A TIME, THE SPEAKERS BEFORE ME HAVE BEEN VERY POLITE ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S MORE EVIDENT THAT THIS WAS DELIBERATE.
THIS WAS A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO OBSCURE AND HIDE AND TRY TO EVADE PUBLIC SCRUTINY OVER SOMEONE THAT'S COUNCIL, OVER THEIR DESIRE TO CHASE THIS ATTEMPT AT LOCAL CONTROL.
DURING A PANDEMIC PEOPLE DON'T LIVE IN WALL COMMUNITIES.
WE LIVE IN, YOU DRIVE TO WORK THROUGH OTHER COMMUNITIES.
THIS ATTEMPT IS ILL-INFORMED AT BEST.
WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE MONEY? WHAT OTHER ROADS ARE WE GOING TO RENT OUT IN OUR CITY? WHAT PLANNING HAVE YOU DONE? YOU HAVE DONE ALMOST NO PANIC AS DR.
SHE'S MY DAUGHTER WAS PUBLIC HEALTH HAS SAID YOU FOUNDED WITH NO COORDINATION WITH THE COUNTY ON THE TRANSITION.
SOME PEOPLE ON THE COUNCIL ARE, THIS IS MEMBERS.
AND IN FACT, I BELIEVE ONE OF YOU STATED HAVE THE VISION THAT YOU WOULD RUN THIS CITY LIKE A BUSINESS AND BE MORE SERVICE ORIENTED TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS.
SO IS THIS YOUR IDEA OF SERVING US HOLDING MEETINGS LIKE THIS OF SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC ON A WEEKDAY RUN LOOKS MORE LIKE ME ARE WORKING WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO CARE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
THIS IS OUR IDEA OF BEING MORE SERVICE ORIENTED.
YOUR IDEA OF RUNNING THE CITY, LIKE A BUSINESS IS TO BARREL FRUIT THROUGH ROUND ROCK, THROUGH AN IMPORTANT DECISION WITHOUT ANY REAL PAD, WITHOUT ANY COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY, PUBLIC HEALTH, WITHOUT STAFF INPUT.
THIS IS YOUR GREAT GRAND IDEA.
YOU REALLY EXPECT US TO TRUST THOSE OF YOU ON THE CONFERENCE ROOM, ADVOCATING FOR THIS.
YOU REALLY EXPECT US TO THINK YOU'VE GOT IT UNDER CONTROL AT A TIME WHEN YOU GAVE RAISE, WHEN YOU TRIED TO GET RAISES TO OUR STAFF, WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY, GOD, THE STAFF, YOU RENT OUT OUR ROADS TO PAY FOR PENSION OBLIGATIONS.
THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT.
THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED BY RUNNING YOUR CITY LIKE A BUSINESS.
AND THIS IS THE OWNER WHO SPOKE EARLIER.
WE UNDERSTAND YOUR PAIN, BUT LOOK AT THE PEOPLE.
[01:50:01]
NO, BECAUSE SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL WITH ALL DUE RESPECT IS THIS HOW YOU PLAN TO RUN A CITY WITHOUT TO GO FORWARD.BLINDLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THAT PEOPLE TEND TO MY DAUGHTER.
RAQUEL FOLLOWED BY ROBIN, FOLLOWED BY CHERYL RAQUEL.
I'M A RESIDENT FOR WEST COVINA.
UM, I THINK YOU GUYS, FOR YOUR SERVICE, UH, IT IS A THANKLESS JOB.
UM, I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT PART OF YOUR JOB IS TO USE COMMON SENSE AND TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS, UM, AS THEY DO HAVE A VOICE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU DID HAVE THIS MEETING AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE, UH, WAS VERY IRRESPONSIBLE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M JUST REALLY SURPRISED THAT SUCH A HUGE UNDERTAKEN TAKING IS BEING PROPOSED BY A CITY THAT IS NOT ABLE TO FINANCIALLY, UH, SHOW RESPONSIBILITY.
UH, WE'RE THE NINTH, UH, WORST.
UM, AND I ALSO LOOK AROUND ME AND I, AND I DO SEE DETERIORATING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS.
IT'S, IT'S IN A PRIME LOCATION AND WE HAVE SO MUCH POTENTIAL.
UM, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS WE HAVE AT HAND, WHICH IS CORRECTING OUR FINANCIAL STATE.
UM, AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE DESERVE RESPECT.
WE CANNOT HOLD MEETINGS A WEEK BEFORE A DEADLINE TO PULL OUT OF SUCH AN IMPORTANT, UH, PARTNERSHIP WITH LA COUNTY.
UM, LA COUNTY MIGHT BE A SHIT SHOW, BUT AT THE VERY LEAST THEY PROVIDE SERVICES AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR SO LONG.
UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOWING US TO SEE, UH, ALL THE STATISTICS, ALL THE INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE MENTIONED, OH, 90 MILLION, WHERE DID YOU PULL THAT NUMBER FROM? WHERE ARE THE OTHER NUMBERS? WHERE IS THE PROOF AND, AND, AND THE INFORMATION THAT WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS, THIS QUICK IMPULSIVE, UH, ACTION.
AND I JUST, UH, I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU, YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE SITTING BEHIND THAT DESK THERE TO REALLY USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT, UM, DON'T LET POWER OR POLITICS, OR ANY OF THIS PLAY A ROLE, LIKE REALLY THINK ABOUT THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA.
UM, I KNOW THE BUSINESSES ARE HURTING, YOU KNOW, WE DO SUPPORT THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN, UM, BUT THEY DON'T MAKE THE MAJORITY.
UM, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM.
AND I'M REALLY SORRY THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS HARDSHIP.
UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND PLEASE USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'VE LIVED IN WEST COVINA FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
UM, AS YOU NO LONGER READ EMAIL COMMENTS DURING MEETINGS, I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO CALL IN TODAY TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO WEST COVINA, FORMING HIS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I'M ALSO CURIOUS AS TO WHY THE SPECIAL MEETING IS BEING HELD AT FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, RATHER THAN A TIME WHEN MORE RESIDENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO COMMENT IN PERSON OR VIA PHONE FORMING A CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS A COMPLICATED AND EXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR GIVING THE CITY OFFICIALS PAST PERFORMANCE.
AND THE FACT THAT WE WERE FACING BANKRUPTCY, I DO NOT BELIEVE OUR CITY OFFICIALS ARE UP TO THIS TASK, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND NUMBER OF LEGAL HOOPS THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE TO, TO ESTABLISH AN INFRASTRUCTURE AND HIRE APPROPRIATE STAFF, TO OPERATE A DEPARTMENT THAT ENCOMPASSES SUCH A VAST SCOPE OF SERVICES.
I DO NOT THINK THAT FORMING A CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL HAPPEN IN TIME TO AFFECT BUSINESS CLOSURES.
DURING THIS PANDEMIC, DURING THE JANUARY 19TH MEETING, THERE WAS A PRESENTATION SUGGESTING THAT THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT COULD BE FUNDED IN PART WITH CLIMATE AND LICENSEES, AS WELL AS PHILANTHROPIC DONATIONS.
I'VE HEARD IT COULD BE FUNDED WITH PROPERTY TAXES, PERMIT, AND LICENSE FEES, AS WELL AS, UM, AS WELL AS PHILANTHROPIC ON, SORRY, I LOST MY THOUGHT, UM, AND FILL IT PHILANTHROPIC DONATIONS, PERMITS AND LICENSE FEES, AS WELL AS TAXES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE RAISED, WHICH WOULD PLACE MORE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
SUFFICIENT FUNDING CANNOT BE GUARANTEED
[01:55:01]
WHEN RELYING ON PHILANTHROPY, I'M CONCERNED THAT THE COST TO LAUNCH AN ENTIRELY NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT COULD POTENTIALLY COST MORE FOR RESIDENTS THAN REMAINING UNDER LA COUNTY HEALTH.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION YOU CHERYL, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
HI, MY NAME IS CHERYL CLEARWATER.
I'M A HOMEOWNER MOTHER OF FOUR AND HEALTHCARE WORKER IN WEST COVINA.
UM, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES DO NEED HELP DURING THIS PANDEMIC, AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING I'VE HEARD REFERENCE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL.
AND I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER, UH, IF OUR CITY CAN FIND THE FUNDING, CREATE OUR OWN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF WAY MORE THAN THAT.
IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD PROVIDE DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DURING THE PANDEMIC RIGHT NOW DIRECTLY TO OUR CITY, SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, BALANCING OUR ECONOMY WITH OUR HEALTH DURING A ONCE IN A CENTURY, DEADLY GLOBAL PANDEMIC AS A PULL SOUND IS COMPLICATED TOWNS.
IT REQUIRES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY EXPERIENCE, COLLABORATION, HUMILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND IT REQUIRES MAKING MISTAKES AND THEN REDIRECTIONS AS WE LEARN WHAT WORKS IN AN UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION.
UH, IT REQUIRES ADDRESSING VERY LONG STANDING SYSTEMIC ISSUES, SUCH AS POVERTY AND RACISM WHILE ALSO PROVIDING EVERY OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE THAT OUR COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROVIDES.
OUR CITY DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE THE ABILITY AND RESOURCES TO CREATE OUR OWN MANAGEMENT OF THIS.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO THINK WE COULD DO BETTER THAN THE COUNTY OR EVEN THAT WHEN WE CREATED OUR NEW CITY DEPARTMENT, WHETHER, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN POSITION OF LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY DEPARTMENT WOULD EVEN MAKE DIFFERENT DECISIONS THAN THE COUNTY.
SO I REALLY LIKED THAT CLUE SAY, UH, WITH THE COUNTY AND THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCES, A NUMBER OF RESOURCES THAT, UH, THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAVE AND THE RESOURCES THAT THEY PROVIDE TO US AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR CITY'S NEEDS, BUT THAT LEVEL.
THANK YOU, CALLER, ENDING IN PHONE NUMBER SEVEN SIX TWO FIVE.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
HI, MY NAME IS FRANCOISE COLTON.
I'M A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA.
UM, I, UM, I WANTED TO, UH, SOMEBODY ELSE NEEDS TO MUTE THE, UM, ANYWAY, I BASICALLY, I, I FEEL IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SPEAK AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SO ELOQUENTLY.
AND, UM, BASICALLY I OPPOSE THE CREATION OF A NEW PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THE CITY OF WEST COVINA IS IN A TERRIBLE FINANCIAL STATE RIGHT NOW WHERE THE NINTH CITY MOST LIKELY TO FALL BANKRUPTCY AND THE CITY AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
AND, UH, THAT ALONE, UM, SAYS TO ME THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING ANYTHING, ANYTHING OTHER THAN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY THE PEOPLE THAT WE DO HAVE AND BE MORE EFFICIENT AS, AS A CITY.
UH, WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW HEALTH, UH, YOU KNOW, HEALTH, UH, DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, I ALSO, YOU KNOW, MY, MY QUESTION ALSO WAS WHY, WHY IS THIS SPECIAL MEETING OCCURRING NOW WHEN THE RESIDENTS HAVEN'T EVEN HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN KNOW THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING? UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TRANSPARENCY OF TALKED AT CITY AT THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS IN THE PAST.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO IT JUST SEEMS ODD THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, UH, WITHOUT GIVING PEOPLE ENOUGH TIME, ESPECIALLY DURING THE WORKDAY FOR MOST PEOPLE, PEOPLE CAN'T TAKE THE TIME OFF TO DO THIS.
SO WE NEED TRANSPARENCY AND THE CITY HAS NOT COMPLIED WITH THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES, UM, YOU CAN'T RUSH THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM LINE IS PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.
THIS IS JUST A HORRIBLE TIME FOR MANY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW BUSINESSES ARE JUST HAVING A HORRIBLE TIME THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND PARENTS ARE SO FRUSTRATED TAKING CARE OF THEIR KIDS, YOU KNOW, 24 SEVEN NOW BEING TEACHERS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WITH ALL OF US, BUT CREATING SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO DIG US A DEEPER HOLE OF DEBT IS JUST NOT THE WAY TO GO, UH, OUTSOURCING FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN HR OUTSOURCING DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO SAVE MONEY.
THAT'S WHAT WAS THOUGHT IF YOU MOVE THE BUSINESS OUT OF THE COUNTRY, BUT IT'S GOING TO STILL BE HERE, THE PEOPLE DOING THE WORK, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO SAVE US ANY MONEY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE TALK
[02:00:01]
ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, WELL, MOST OF THE PANDEMIC DEATHS WERE NOT IN OUR CITY.WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD NEWS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE AT ANY TIME.
THERE ARE NO BOUNDARIES AROUND THE CITY.
UM, PEOPLE, MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE, WHENEVER I ASK THEM ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMETHING LOCALLY, THEY'RE LIKE, OH, I DON'T LIVE HERE.
I, I, YOU KNOW, I LIVE OVER THERE.
YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE CITY, SO WHAT, HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY THINK BY DOING IT OURSELVES? UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS WHY WE EVEN WASTING OUR TIME ON THIS.
BUT, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I FEEL BAD FOR THE PARENTS AND THE BUSINESSES OUT THERE.
UH, BUT ULTIMATELY I DO NOT TRUST THE CITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO US WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT NOT BUILDING NEXT TO THE BKK.
OF COURSE, THAT'S KIND OF ON HOLD RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, I DON'T TRUST YOU GUYS TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
YOU NEED TO STOP DOING ANYTHING IMMEDIATELY GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED.
UM, BECAUSE GOING DOWN THIS PATH IS JUST NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I KNOW WE HATE IT, BUT LET'S STAY HEALTHY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER MAYOR.
UH, SO CITY MANAGER, YOU HEARD ALL THE QUESTIONS AND PUBLIC COMMENT CONCERNS.
CAN YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THEM AND, UH, RESPOND TO THEM? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.
[1) Consideration of Termination of Health Officer Services Provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section 101375 ]
UM, MEMBERS, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.UM, WE HAD 40 SPEAKERS AND ALL THEM WERE ON POINT REGARDING THE TOPIC TONIGHT, WHICH IS THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD CONCLUDE HEALTH OFFICER SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH IN PURSUING ESTABLISHMENT OF A LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO WE INTEND TO ANSWER AS MANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS AS WE CAN, AS PART OF THIS REPORT.
FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM DR.
BAZELL REGARDING HIS FURTHER RESEARCH AND A PROPOSED STRUCTURE.
AND THEN WE'LL FOLLOW THAT WITH, UM, A REPORT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY.
I'VE ASKED HIM TO REVIEW THE STATE LAWS, THE DRAFT RESOLUTION, AND THE DRAFT ORDINANCE.
MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER WHY WE DOING UNDER FULL CLOCK BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE ARE ASKING, WHY ARE WE DOING IT FOUR O'CLOCK.
SO MAYBE YOU GO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE OF WHY YOU CHOOSE FOUR O'CLOCK AND SAY, CAN YOU SHOW YOURSELF WHY WE HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW? OKAY.
WHY IN THE MUCH FUSS? SO MAYBE ATTENDING, TELL US, OKAY, WHY WE ARE DOING THIS TODAY.
AND IT'S SUCH A, THE TIME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT FOUR, FOUR O'CLOCK, BUT TODAY I HAVE TO DO YOU HAVE TO APPROVE TONIGHT THE RESOLUTION AND AN URGENT ORDINANCE TONIGHT AND HAVE IT SERVED ON THE CLERK OF THE COUNTY BEFORE MARCH 1ST.
SO THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE BY FRIDAY.
WE COULD ADD IT TOMORROW, BUT TODAY.
SO, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE IT A MUCH FIRST DEADLINE, THERE'S NO REASON.
AND THE SECOND THING, SO FOUND A SEAT.
WHY WE CHOOSE TODAY? WHY NOT TOMORROW NIGHT? WELL, WE WERE TRYING TO COORDINATE AMONG, UM, FIRST CITY COUNCIL CALENDARS AND TUESDAY SEEMED TO BE A GOOD DAY.
WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER MEETINGS HAPPENING LATER THIS EVENING.
THIS IS OUR REGULAR NIGHT FOR CITY PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO WE WANTED TO FIND A TIME THAT WORKED FOR ALL OF YOUR SCHEDULES, AS WELL AS THE CITY CALENDAR.
THERE'S NO MAGIC TO DOING IT TODAY.
ALTHOUGH WE ARE FAST APPROACHING THE MARCH DEADLINE, MADAM MAYOR MA'AM MAY I ASK HOW MANY ITEMS ARE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA TONIGHT ONE.
I JUST KNOW I IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A QUESTION THAT NEEDED TO BE ASKED BECAUSE, UH, I, I DID OBJECT TO THE 4:00 PM TIME.
I'D ASKED FOR IT TO BE AT 7:00 PM.
UH, AND, AND SO I WAS, YOU KNOW, CURIOUS AS TO WHY THE PLANNING COMMISSION TOOK PRIORITY OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS WHEN THERE'S, THERE'S LITERALLY JUST ONE AGENDA ITEM.
UH, SO, SO, SO THERE THE REASONING AGAIN FOR THE FOUR O'CLOCK, IF YOU COULD JUST REPEAT ONE MORE TIME, WE WERE TRYING TO KEEP TO THE CITY CALENDAR THROUGH THE CHAIR.
WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE CITY COUNTER THAT IT'S THEIR NORMAL PUBLIC HEARING TIME FOR A NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING THAT THEY HAVE.
IF YOUR MEETING GOES LONGER, WE'VE MOVED THEM OR CAN MOVE HIM TO ANOTHER ROOM THIS EVENING.
SO WE'VE GOT ALL THE TIME WE NEED TODAY FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR MEETING.
COULD, COULD THEY HAVE HAD THEIR ORIGINAL SEVEN O'CLOCK MEETING AT, IN ANOTHER ROOM WHILE WE HAD A SEVEN O'CLOCK MEETING HERE.
[02:05:03]
THAT'S A QUESTION.I DON'T KNOW, PERHAPS LEGALLY, BUT WE DID.
WE HAD ALREADY NOTICED THAT MEETINGS WERE TRYING TO JUST COORDINATE AROUND THE CITY COUNTY.
I WONDER TH TH TH THE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE THE MEETING WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE, NOT THE TIME.
SO, SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING COULD HAVE STILL OCCURRED AT SEVEN, JUST IN A, IN A DIFFERENT ROOM, BECAUSE WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GO PAST SEVEN TODAY.
SO, SO THEY'RE STILL GONNA END UP IN A DIFFERENT ROOM.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WAS IT POSSIBLE LEGALLY TO HAVE BOTH MEETINGS STILL AT SEVEN, O'CLOCK STILL SAY, STAY CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S CALENDAR, UM, AND, AND HAVE A, A MEETING THAT AGAIN WAS MORE, UM, IN LINE WITH WHAT THE PUBLIC IS USED TO, WHICH IS AT SEVEN O'CLOCK, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I ASSUME IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LEGAL TO DO IT THAT WAY.
IT'S ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT CORRECT.
I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, COUNSEL, YOUR OPTIONS ARE TRULY MYRIAD.
YOU COULD CONDUCT YOUR BUSINESS TONIGHT.
YOU COULD CHOOSE TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING TO ANOTHER NIGHT THAT YOU CAN AGREE ON CALENDARS.
UM, I WOULD THINK THAT WE'D WANT TO PROCEED THIS EVENING BECAUSE WE'VE HAD 40 PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON, ON TOPIC TONIGHT THAT MANAGED TO FIND, I KNOW IN CALIFORNIA, THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
UH, IF A SPEAKER IS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AS 40 MEMBERS DID TONIGHT, UM, THEY IN FACT DID RECEIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD AND WERE HEARD.
I JUST WANT TO DO IS I'M ASKING AS CRASHING BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO OKAY.
BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE CONCERN IS SOME KIND OF CONSPIRACY.
WE ON PURPOSE ON FOUR O'CLOCK.
THIS IS NOT, WE WANT PEOPLE TO JOIN TO LISTEN.
WE WANT THEIR LESS THAN ANY QUESTION TO ASK ABOUT CD MANAGER AND DATABASE, OR REGARDING THE WAY CAN WE DO IT? WHY IS THE PLAN? HOW MUCH WE CALL SERVICE, WHETHER IT COST TOO MUCH.
I WILL AGREE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THEY TALKING ABOUT.
SO PROBABLY PEOPLE WERE THINKING ABOUT THIS, THIS CONCEPT, HOW WAS THE ABOUT, OKAY.
WE ALL TRIED TO MOVE THE TIME AND WHEN NOW IT'S ALREADY, WHAT WAS A TWO HOURS OF OVER-COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS SIX 15.
SO ANY, ANY PEOPLE CAN JOIN US TO LISTEN TO THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
AND SO THE QUESTION WE GOT INTO YOUR CONCERN, SO I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ANY CONSPIRACY REGARDING THE TIME WE, WE REALLY, OKAY.
QUICKLY COMING OUT SO WE CAN DISCUSS AND TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND THEN TWO, CAN WE DO IT? CAN WE AFFORD IT? I THINK TO DO WE ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS IN QUESTION, SO HOPEFULLY
AND WE CAN ASK QUESTION AND THAT WE HOPE ALL THE PEOPLE, THEY ARE REALLY GOING HOME, TURN ON THE TV OR TURN ON THE YOUTUBE.
LATER ON, WE HAVE A QUESTION THAT THIS OR THAT, BUT WE ALREADY LESS THAN TWO HOURS PEOPLE FROM BOTH SIDES, BUT OKAY.
AGAIN, I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE.
FOR THIS PRESENTATION, WE'VE HAD OUR, OUR, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM, AND THEN YOU SAID, NOW IT'S DR.
BASIL'S TURN TO SPEAK, CORRECT? WAIT, UH, COUNCILMEN D UM, COUNCIL, WOMAN DIAZ, PLEASE.
OH, I GOT QUICK A THREE MINUTE BREAK.
THREE, TWO, WE'LL TAKE A QUICK RECESS.
THE MEETING IS NOW BACK IN SESSION.
BAZEL UP TO THE FRONT AND, UH, DR.
BAZELL YOU HEARD ALL THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS FROM THE COMMENTS AND WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO ADDRESS THEM AND ANSWER THEM KINDLY.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD MEETING.
I REALLY ENJOY, UM, JUST LIKE THE LAST FEW MEETING WE HAVE, I ENJOY INPUT THIS COMMUNICATION BECAUSE WE, IT IS A COLLABORATION IS A NEW IDEA.
AND, UM, SO, BUT ANYWAY, UH, THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO COME TO SPEAK AGAIN.
UM, AS I SAY, I'M ACTUALLY ONE HIM MEDICAL CONSULTANT.
THE REASON I DO THIS IS SEVERAL THINGS.
WE HAVE A PASSION FOR THIS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES IN SEPTEMBER, ACTUALLY COME DOWN WITH COVID-19.
I WAS ACTUALLY NOT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN PARTYING, HAVING HOUSE PARTY EVERY NIGHT.
[02:10:01]
EVENING, I WENT TO SEE ONE OF MY PATIENT, 30 YEARS OLD.WE ADMITTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH COVID-19.
UM, SO ANYWAY, I WEAR ALL THE PROPER PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT.
AND GUESS WHAT? THEN I NOTICE, WOW, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STAFF? NOBODY WEAR ANYTHING.
I TRIED OUT ALL THE PLACE AS SOON AS I CAN, BUT ANYWAY, I'M MORE WORRIED FOR THEM THAN MYSELF AT THAT TIME.
SO, UH, TWO WEEKS LATER I GOT SICK.
UM, I WAS ACTUALLY ON A 15 LITERS OF OXYGEN AND 115 LITER PER MINUTE, A HUNDRED PERCENT OXYGEN.
SO 12 DAYS IN THE ICU, I DO ALL THE THINKING.
I SAY, WELL, THIS COUNTRY, WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY AND RESOURCES IN HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT ARE WE GOING ANYWHERE? UH, ACTUALLY EVEN WITH THIS PANDEMIC, WITH THIS MESS, UM, A LOT OF FACILITY I WENT TO SOMETIME, I'M NOT SURE I REALLY SHOULD BE THE ONE TO, WE CAN'T MENTION THE SECURITY AND THE LOBBYIST.
UH, I MEAN THE SECRETARY AND SO FORTH AND THE MESS, A LOT OF PEOPLE READ, DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE MESS.
THEY ACTUALLY HAND THEM INSIDE OUT TO THE VISITOR.
I SAID, I, I WORRIED IF AMERICA, THE SECURITY WHISPERING IN HIS EAR, YOU KNOW, IT'S 10, YOU SHOULD CHANGE THAT.
I GOT SO EXCITED AND THERE IS NOT ONLY THE FIRST TIME WE REPEATED, EVEN THOUGH I VOICED MY COMPLAINT AND SO FORTH, YOU STILL HAPPEN.
AND I TAKE SEVERAL PICTURES OF HER.
I SAID, I, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME PICTURES BECAUSE WHEN I'M SICK, UH, IN ICU, THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY CALL ME WHEN I'M SO SHORT UP TO TRY TO INTERVIEW ME FOR WHO OUR, TO I SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY SHORT OF BREATH HERE, BUT IF YOU WANT INFORMATION, I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU.
UM, SO ANYWAY, UH, AND I'M REALLY GLAD, UH, DR.
SHE ACTUALLY, I TEXTED HIM AND HE TEXTED ME BACK AND SAID, OH, BASS, HANG ON.
SO, UH, BUT ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE HIS, UH, BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
UH, SO ANYWAY, UM, UH, IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, WE HAVE POLICE CHIEF, WE HAVE FIRE CHIEF, WE HAVE A FIRE, WE HAVE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, WE CALL THE POLICE AND SO FORTH AND THEY COME AND KEEP THE CITY SAFE.
UH, BUT WHEN THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH HEALTHCARE COME ALONG, UH, IN THIS, I'M JUST TRYING TO BE NEUTRAL AND LOOKING AT THE WHOLE SITUATION, WHAT'S THE BEST.
UH, AND, AND THAT'S WHY I WILL EXPLAIN SOME OF MY THINKING HERE.
UM, BUT WHERE'S THE HELL CHIEF WE'VE REALLY HAVE NO, NOBODY HERE IN, UH, IN THE CITY TO PACK THE CITY UP.
AND I JUST, THE LAST FEW MONTHS WORKING WITH THE CITY HERE, I CAN FEEL YOUR FRUSTRATION HERE.
YOU HAVE TO RELY ON THOSE COLORS, AGAIN, MESSAGE, YOU KNOW, IN THE HOSPITAL, WE AT LEAST HAVE A DAILY CONFERENCE, THE HOSPITAL, THEY INVITE ME ADMINISTRATION.
LET'S LISTEN TO OUR COUNTY NEWS CONFERENCE.
SO PARTLY OF MY PRESENTATION BEFORE IT'S COMMUNICATING HOSPITAL HAVE WEEKLY BI-WEEKLY COMMUNICATION DIRECTLY TO THE HOSPITAL, AND YET THEY SEE THE COMMON THAT YOU ARE SO CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE.
I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY WAS MAKING COMMENTS TO YOU AND SO FORTH, BUT YOU'RE KIND OF RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL WHERE THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SO FORTH.
AND YET YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE NO INFORMATION THAT'S REALLY, UH, IS NOT RIGHT.
SO SOME, SOMEHOW, SOMEHOW SOMETHING HAS TO BE CHANGED.
UM, IS THAT A LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT? IS THAT I, UM, MAYBE WE DO A BASIC, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I SEE THERE VERNON, WE SELL OUR OWN.
AND FOR CERTAIN RU, UH, OR WE NEGOTIATE WITH THE CITY, I MEAN, WITH THE COUNTY TO DEDICATE SOME AUTHORITY OR MAYBE EVEN SEND A HEALTHY, UH, CHIEF OVER HERE IN THE CITY.
IF YOU CONTRACT WITH THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE A CAPTAIN IN THE CITY, FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY.
IF YOU NEED RESOURCE, HE IS THE PERSON THAT YOU GO TO AND GET THE RESOURCE.
BUT THE CITY HERE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
SO WHETHER YOU SET UP A HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR SOME FORM, SOMEHOW SOME REPRESENTATIVE HAS TO BE HERE.
AND I'M SO HAPPY TODAY TO SEE ACTUALLY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT, UH, FROM SALLY'S OFFICE.
AND ACTUALLY THEN SHIT ABOUT YOU HAVE VACCINE AND, UH, TESTING, AND ALSO, UH, ACTUALLY GO INTO THE INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY THAT SUNDAY, ACTUALLY, I WAS THERE BECAUSE THE LAST FEW WEEKS, WHEN COUNCILMAN VU CALL ME A FEW WEEKS AGO, HE SAID, ACTIVATE.
[02:15:01]
SO WE HAVE THIS INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY AND THEY ARE SENDING OUT SOS MADE.THEY MADE A UNIT TO COME AND SEE IF WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM HERE.
SO ANYWAY, I CALLED THE FACILITY UP AND FIND OUT THAT ALL THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM, NO CASUALTY OR ANYTHING UNTIL JANUARY WITHIN ONE WEEK, THEY HAVE 12 PEOPLE GOT INFECTED.
TWO PEOPLE DIE LOCALLY IN THE HOSPITAL, AND THEY HAD BEEN BEGGING AND BEGGING CALLING EVERYWHERE, ACTUALLY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY BEEN CALLING THEM AND SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING.
BUT WHEN THEY CALL ABOUT VACCINE, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL DISCUSS WITH SOME, OUR DEPARTMENT AND THAT'S GOING ON FOR A FEW WEEKS.
SO ANYWAY, I CALLED OUR LOCAL HOSPITAL HERE.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN LOCATIONS, BUT THEY CAN ONLY TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE.
SO I CHECKED SOME, OUR HOSPITAL, ONE HOSPITAL SAID, OH YEAH, WELL, WE HAVE SOME SPARE.
WE HAVE BEEN GETTING TO A POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE CAN SPARE SOME IN CASE THIS ONE IS NEEDED.
SO ARRANGEMENT, I SHOULD BE TRYING TO ME.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S, UH, UH, SO THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT, BUT ANYWAY, IT TURNED OUT, THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT TRANSPORT.
THERE'S SOME REGULATION THAT IT CAN DO IT.
I PUT AND MANY STRING AS I CAN USE, SAY OSHA.
SO LAST THURSDAY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING WITH 70 DEPARTMENT HEAD FROM USC.
THEY SAY, OKAY, NO, THAT'S FINE.
WE'LL, WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN.
EVEN THOUGH YOUR CITY IS 20 MILES AWAY FROM OUR CITY.
UH, THEY HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND THE COMMUNITY, GIVING THE LOCAL PEOPLE, VACCINATION, VACCINATION, SO FORTH.
UM, SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY PLAN ON THIS WEEK TO COME TO THE FACILITY, GIVE THE VACCINE, BUT SATURDAY IT WILL RECEIVE A CALL FROM LA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAY, YES, WE'LL BE HERE TOMORROW.
IS IT GREAT? I TOLD COCO THE FACILITY ADMINISTRATOR TAKE IT.
YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR RESIDENTS FIRST.
SO, AND ANYWAY, UM, THE FUTURE OF THE CITY IN TERM OF A HEALTH STATUS CANNOT BE THE STATUS QUO.
I'LL CDC IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
UH, I'LL CALL IT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE.
ACTUALLY THE PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, SERVICES IS ALSO ONE OF THE BEST IN THE, UH, IN THE COUNTRY AND OUR LA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS THE NUMBER ONE IN THE NATIONS.
SO WHAT FELL, IT SEEMS LATELY WITH THIS PANDEMIC REALLY DEMONSTRATE THIS, A PROBLEM, SOMEHOW COMMUNICATION PROBLEM, DISTRIBUTION ISSUE.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST FACILITIES, THE BEST INSTITUTION AND SOMETHING IS WRONG.
UM, WELL W AT LEAST WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS HERE.
SO I THINK AS A CITY, WE NEED TO THING WHAT WE SHOULD DO AND PLAN AHEAD.
WE NEED TO MAKE PLAN, UH, WHETHER IT'S NOW, I MEAN, THE SOONER, THE BETTER, BECAUSE IT'S JUST TIME.
YOU SEE HOW THE BROKER IN TERM OF YOUR HEAD HAVE THIS TIMELINE, THAT TIMELINE, BECAUSE THERE IS A NECESSITY TO GET FUNDING.
UH, IF YOU DIDN'T GET ENOUGH FUNDING, YES, IT'S HAVE TO DO, BUT THE STATE DO HAVE, UM, FUNDING TO HELP OUT, UH, TO ESTABLISH A PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT LOCALLY.
AND ACTUALLY ONE OF THE STATUES AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN ALWAYS CORRECT ME AS A LAYMAN.
I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, BUT I'M AS A PHYSICIAN, JUST CALL IN TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS SITUATION HERE, WHERE THEY'RE SET UP HEALTH DEPARTMENT, JUST LIKE MY PRESENTATION BEFORE.
AND I TOLD YOU THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO BEFORE THAT MY WELL HERE'S ONE YEAR WHERE THE LATE ON YOU WANT TO, UH, ENGAGE ME AND SO FORTH.
I'D BE GLAD TO SET THAT UP FOR THE CITY HERE AND DO THE BEST ONE CD FOR THE PEOPLE OF WEST COVINA.
UM, SO ANYWAY, UM, UH, IF, IF THE CITY OF WEST DOREEN AND I WANT TO DO SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME TIME.
WE FORMAL DEPARTMENT, FORMAL HIGHWAY ORGANIZED ORGANIZATIONS, WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE, SEE THE VERNON IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE, THE RECORD THEY'RE UNDER THE DEPARTMENT, OUR LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, THEY TRY TO BE INDEPENDENT, WHICH IS GOOD IF THEY THINK THEY'RE THE NEED AND THEY HAVE THE MEANS TO DO IT.
UM, SO, UH, WHAT THREE, WHAT CAN WE DO HERE? UM, UM, SO I'M THINKING ABOUT INNOVATION.
[02:20:01]
I KNOW THE CD REHAB BUDGET ISSUES, UM, HOW DETAILED, UM, I'M NOT PREPARED TO GET INTO ALL THE DETAILS, BUT ANYWAY, UM, MY THINKING IS THAT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DO ANYTHING, SO EITHER A LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THAT'S POPPY A, LONG-TERM PROBABLY THE BEST SOLUTIONS, BUT IF NOT, BECAUSE YOU SEE SOME WITH THE INDEPENDENT HEALTH, UH, FACILITY, WE LEAD TO HAVE TO GO THEN PLEAT AND BIG PEOPLE FOR VACCINE.CAN YOU COME, CAN YOU COME NOW, SOME PLACE THAT YOU CAN DO, YOU CAN TRANSFER AND THEN USA CALL AND SAY, OH, NO PROBLEM.
THEY HAVE BIG, THEY CAN DO IT.
SO UNLESS YOU HAVE A DEPARTMENT, A RECOGNIZED ENTITY, YOU WON'T BE IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU WON'T BE GETTING ANY FUNDING.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF EVEN FUNDING.
AND THAT'S WHY, UH, OTHER CITIES SEE THE LONG BEACH, SEE THE PASADENA CITY OF, UH, BERKELEY.
UH, OVER THE YEARS, THEY HAVE PEW UP THERE, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE KIA.
AND OF COURSE HE HAD TO START SOMEWHERE SOMETIMES NOW.
AND OF COURSE THE CD WHEN I DISCUSSED WITH THE CD ADMINISTRATION IS THAT THEY ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT FINANCES.
THAT'S THE LAST THING THEY WANT TO DO IS TAP INTO FUNDS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DRAIN THE GENERAL FUND.
I PERSONALLY, UH, AS I, MY PRESENTATION, UH, THE FIRST RECENT PATIENT HERE IS, UH, 40 YEARS AGO, WHERE THE HOSPITAL GO INTO BANKRUPTCY FROM A CITY HOSPITAL, GO INTO BANKRUPTCY, JOINING THE GENERAL FUND AS A PHYSICIAN, I CANNOT STAND IT.
I SAY, I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
I'M GOING TO STEP IN HERE AS A 28 YEARS.
SO 25, 26, I WAS A NAIVE GRADUATE FROM MEDICAL SCHOOL WALKING WAY.
WHAT NOT TRUSTEE CHAIRMAN OFFICE.
THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN KNOW HOW TO RUN THE OFFICE.
LET'S USE SOME COMMON SENSE AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THE HOSPITAL.
BUT ANYWAY, AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS, THE HOSPITAL GET OUT IMMERSED FROM THE CHAPTER 11 AND NOW IS THE WAY SUCCESSFUL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
UH, NOT UNDER ME, BUT I, I SAVED THE HOSPITAL AND SOMEBODY TAKE OVER, I HAVE NO INTEREST IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, IF IT'S THE SAME THING HERE, IF I CAN HELP THE CITY GREAT.
UH, IF WE CAN PUT IT FORWARD AND LATER ON, YOU HAVE HAVE OTHER HEALTH OFFICES AND SO FORTH.
THAT FULFILL MY OBJECTIVE HERE.
SO ANYWAY, SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO, HOW ARE WE GOING TO, UM, PROCEED HERE? LET ME JUST SEE, I, I, I DIDN'T PREPARE MY SLIDE QUITE THERE.
I'VE KNOW THE CITY, WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY FOR THE STATE TO HAVE YOUR OWN LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND, UH, IN ORDER TO GET CERTAIN AGE FROM THE STATE, YOU HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY, THIS, THAT SOME OF THE ESSENTIAL SERVICE, IF YOU HAVE THE, YOU SAID SO SERVICE YOU, BECAUSE SOME OF THE, UH, FUNDING.
UM, SO AS WE SAY EARLIER, THERE'S THREE CITY AND THEY VARY BETWEEN 120 TO HALF A MILLION, UM, UH, POPULATIONS, UH, CD ABUNDANT ABOUT ONE 26, BUT THEY'RE DOING WELL.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING WELL WITH THE INSPECTION AND SO FORTH.
AND THAT'S POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO WITH DIFFERENT CITY, UH, JOINT EFFORT, UH, BIG THINGS HAPPEN.
SOME OF THAT SAW THIS ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN ORDER FOR THE STATE TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND ALSO TO GIVE FUNDING.
SO THE QUESTION IS THAT TONIGHT I HEARD A LOT OF THIS.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO FUND THIS YEAR ON COST, PEANUT AND THOUGHTLESS, PASADENA SPEND $15 MILLION, UM, UH, TO, UH, RUN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
SO IF, IF WE HAVE TO DO IT, HOW WE CAN, CAN MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL.
SO WE NEED TO HAVE ALL THE BASIC CELLS, UH, SERVICE, ESPECIALLY FIRST OF COURSE, THE ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT, A LOT OF THIS ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT, WHEN I REVEALED THE CITY OF VERNON, UH, FINANCIALS, THEY ACTUALLY DO QUITE WELL JUST ON LICENSING AND PERMIT.
THEY'RE ABLE TO, UH, UH, SUPPORT THE ENFORCEMENT SERVICES AND SO FORTH.
THE HEALTH FUND ON THE STATE, WE MEET QUALIFY IS DIFFERENT.
OTHER GRANT IS YOU CAN DIFFERENT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, HAVE DIFFERENT FUNDING.
AND SOME OF THE BASIC FUNDING FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, DIRECTLY FROM THE STATE.
BUT WHEN YOU WANT TO DO SOME OTHER PROJECT LIKE COMMUNITY
[02:25:01]
SERVICE AND AGING SURVEY AND SO FORTH THIS OTHER FUNDING, SO YOU HAVE TO RE SET UP YOUR OWN SYSTEM AND START APPLYING FOR DIFFERENT FUNDING.SO, UM, SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IT PASADENA, UH, LONG BEACH AND BERKELEY, UH, PRETTY MUCH A SERVICE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, VERNON IS WE IN THE BASIC LIMITED HEALTH DEPARTMENT UNDER THE, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH, I MEAN THE LA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE, THE THIRD CHOICE IS REALLY TRY TO RE MAKE LA COUNTY UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED A HEALTH CHIEF HERE LOCALLY, WHERE WE GO TO THE INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY.
I WAS SURPRISED THAT'S HOW IT IS IN HERE.
I WAS TALKING TO THEM FIRST TO REASSURING THEM.
IT'S OKAY TO TAKE THE VACCINE.
HELLO, PAIN, ONE, A LITTLE FEVER, A LITTLE BIT MORE REACTIONS FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT I HAVE.
SO, UM, UH, AND I WAS SURPRISED THAT SOME, THIS RESTAURANT, ESPECIALLY A COUPLE OF TIMES, THEY SAY THEY NEVER RECEIVED ANY VACCINE.
I SAID, ARE YOU SERIOUS? I THINK I TALKED TO ADMINISTRATOR.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD TO FIND OUT WHO THE DOCTOR IS.
WE NEED TO BRING THEM TO GET, AT LEAST AT THE MORNING OF VACCINE.
THEY SAID THEY NEVER RECEIVED A VACCINE THIS THE FIRST TIME ANYBODY COME HERE AND GIVE THEM THE VACCINE.
SO, UM, SO WHEN YOU HAVE LOCAL PEOPLE, YOU'LL SEE THE COUNCIL, YOUR CITY STAFF, THAT DON'T THE PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, ARTISTS MAKE A SITE VACCINATION OR ACROSS THE COUNTY.
THAT'S WHAT I TALKED TO PAUL SIMON SAY IN THE NEWS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY, THEY THINK THEY SAY THEY FAIL ON THIS MASS VACCINATION SITE.
AT FIRST, THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT BRINGING ALL THESE METH, MECCA, VACCINATION, VACCINATIONS TO UNDERSERVED AREA.
SO HOPEFULLY THE SURROUNDING AREA, PEOPLE WILL COME AND GET THE SHOT, BUT TURNED OUT IT DIDN'T MATERIALIZE.
IT'S PEOPLE FROM EVERYWHERE ELSE, PROBABLY TO THE AREA.
YEAH, THE SHOT, THE PEOPLE LOCAL AREA.
SO, SO THEY, THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT IN THE, IN THE NEWEST COMPANY, HE SAY, THEY ARE WE THINKING MAYBE THE PROCESS AND IT'S TRUE.
HEISER ACTUALLY HAVE PROBLEM WITH GETTING A LOT OF PATIENTS IN COMPLIANCE.
LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, HYPER PRESSURE, CERTAIN PARTS OF LOS ANGELES HAVE A WHOLLY HIGH INCIDENT OF HYPERTENSION.
AND THEY DON'T LIKE TO TAKE MEDICATION SO PRICE OR FIND OUT THAT THE BARBER SHOP PROGRAM AND HOW THAT WORKS BECAUSE THE LOCAL PEOPLE TRUST THAT BARBARA.
SO THEY SET UP A BLOOD PRESSURE MACHINE NURSING STATION, RIGHT IN THE BARBER SHOP AND THE COMPLIANCE OF TAKING THE BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE GO UP DRAMATICALLY.
THEY TRUST THE LOCAL POPPER TO TELL THEM, YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.
YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A STROKE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK AND SO FORTH.
AND EVERY MONTH THE BABA COULD YOU FACE THE MICROPHONE? OKAY.
THE BABA ACTUALLY, UM, HELPED WITH THE STATISTIC, IMPROVING THE, UM, THE COMPLIANCE RATE FOR THE HYPERTENSIONS.
SO KAISER CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRAM IN WEST LOS ANGELES, KAISER TO IT, THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LOS ANGELES.
SO SAME THING WITH VACCINATION, YOU'LL BE MORE EFFECTIVE IF EVEN THE PANDEMIC, IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.
EVERYBODY NEEDED AND AREA THAT HAD A PROBLEM.
YOU NEED TO GET LOCAL PEOPLE, LOCAL CITY STAFF, SO FORTH TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY DON'T, THOSE PEOPLE JUST LATE TONIGHT, EVERYBODY YOU'VE BEEN HERE, THEY'VE BEEN HERE ATTENDING CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IF ANY, ONE OF YOU TELLING THEM, YEAH, NO, THIS, THEY JUST AS TOXIC.
I WAS IN A INDEPENDENT FACILITY SUNDAY, A LOT OF REST IN LOW HIS SUTTON, BUT THEN I TOLD THEM, NO, I HAVE MY SHOT.
AND IT'S REALLY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU.
AND YOU SHOULD RECAST SOME OTHER SHOT, PNEUMONIA, A FLU SHOT AND SO FORTH.
SO THOSE POVERTY IS SOMETHING THAT RESEMBLE THE CITY MAY WANT TO WORK ON A LOT OF THESE INDEPENDENT, UH, FACILITY.
SO THIS RESIDENT DOESN'T GO HOME.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, UNLESS YOU HAVE A PROGRAM HERE, THEN YOU CAN DO IT.
YOU HAVE TO COUNTY IS THERE IS A BIG SYSTEM.
THEY'RE NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION.
AND YET LOCAL LEVEL, I THINK SOMEWHAT IT FAIL.
UH, HOW OFTEN DO WE REALLY USE A LOT? I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY SERVICE LISTED AND I TRIED TO LOOK AT ALL GIVEN CITY AND DIFFERENT COUNTY, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF SERVICES, BUT NONE OF MY PATIENTS EXERCISE AND, UH, TO ANY OF THIS PROGRAM, UNLESS THEY KNOW ABOUT IT.
UM, SO IS IT JUST FOR SHOW OR IS IT JUST FOR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER PROGRAM IT IS.
[02:30:01]
ORDER TO WHAT I'M THINKING IS THAT IF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA WANTED TO A HEALTH DEPARTMENT, YOU CAN START OFF WITH THE LICENSING FEE AND SO FORTH.I FEEL A HEALTH INSPECTOR THAT IS FAMILIAR WITH THE LOCAL PEOPLE.
THEY STILL WANT TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL, EITHER THE BUSINESS, THE RESIDENTS, AND FOR EXAMPLE, UH, ONE OF THE CITY THAT THEY HAVE FOUR OR FIVE, UM, INSPECTOR, AND THEY WENT ALONG AHEAD, THEY HAVE FOOD INSPECTOR, THE ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALISTS, THEY DO OUGHTA THING AND A WAY, UNDERSTANDING THE LOCAL PEOPLE, THEY WORK WITH THE LOCAL PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE REALLY GOOD RECEPTION, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, PLAN REVIEW.
THEY SAY, IF YOU SEND TO LA COUNTY FOR A PLAN REVIEW, WHO KNOW HOW LONG THEY GET IT BACK, AND YET THE CITY SAY, OH, WE HAVE IN TWO WEEKS DONE, EVERYTHING IS DONE.
UH, AND YOU CAN DO IT WITH JUST THAT LITTLE BUDGET.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S, THE POSSIBILITY IS BASICALLY WHETHER THERE'S A WHEEL IN THE CITY OF ESCO WINNER TO DO ANYTHING OR NOT, UH, THERE'S OPTIONS THERE.
UM, BUT UNTIL YOU HAVE SOME TIME OF FORMAL STRUCTURE, FOR EXAMPLE, TONIGHT, CITI IS CHARGED WITH THINKING ABOUT TAKING A CERTAIN ACTION.
THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY COME OUT LIKE HANKY COME UP THIS THE FIRST TIME.
I MEAN, I REALLY HAPPY THAT THE COUNTY ACTUALLY COME UP, UH, NOTHING I'M AGAINST THE COUNTY.
WHETHER IT'S CITY, COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL, WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, SO THAT'S, THE PLAN IS REALLY BASICALLY START WITH THE BASIC LICENSING FEE TO SELL SUPPORT.
I DON'T BELIEVE IN USING GENERAL FUND FOR ANYTHING.
WE SHOULD KEEP IT AS NEUTRAL AS WE CAN JUST LIKE WHEN I RUN THE HOSPITAL HERE, I SAY, THIS HOSPITAL CANNOT TALK BACK.
WE JUST NEED TO BUDGET CORRECTLY AND SPEND CORRECTLY.
AND GUESS WHAT? UM, THEY, THEY, THEY'RE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY, SO I DON'T WANT TO MENTION THEM ANYWAY.
UM, SO, AND THAT'S WHY I PROPOSED THE CITY.
YOU HAVE DIFFERENT WAY TO DO IT.
WHETHER IF YOU HAVE A DEPARTMENT THAT GOING TO TRY TO SET UP A, UH, INTERNAL DEPARTMENT, THAT'S OKAY, TOO.
YOU CAN EITHER HIRE YOUR HEALTH, UH, OFFICER AT THIS TIME, I'M JUST, WON'T HEAR MY SERVICE.
WHETHER IN THE FUTURE I'M HELPING OR WORKING OR NOT IS I'M NOT READING HERE AND SEWING AND SET UP, GET GOING.
SO, UM, AND I THINK WE TALK WITH THE CITY MANAGER, WE VIEW DIFFERENT THINGS AND THERE'S A POSSIBILITY DEFENDANT'S ACTUALLY, DIDN'T LOOK AS BAD AS WE THINK.
YOU KNOW, THE MAIN THING I THINK IS BESIDE THE LICENSING FEE AND PERMIT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT IS REALLY, WE SHOULD START THINKING ABOUT RE CERTIFYING, GET THE STATE FUND TO TRULY MANNING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF THE FUNCTION HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
ACTUALLY, THE CITY CELL RIGHT NOW IS ALREADY, THE CITY ITSELF IS ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT FUNCTION HERE ALREADY.
YOU HAVE THE HOUSING, YOU'RE THE COMMUNITY SERVICE.
THOSE ARE REALLY PART OF A, A HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
FUNCTION IS NOT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A, YOU ALREADY HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT ORGANIZED STRUCTURE, SAYS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE.
SO IT'S SOMETHING TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE THING ABOUT, BUT SOMEHOW YOU HAVE TO SET SOMEWHERE.
YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT STRUCTURE YOU HAVE, WHICH IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE OFFICE.
WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR OWN, YOU SPEAK LOUDER.
WHEN THEY COME TO VACCINE A LOCATION, EVERYBODY SAY THOSE ALLOCATIONS IS FOR OUR OWN PEOPLE.
UH, SO ANYWAY, UM, I'LL OPEN FOR, FOR QUESTIONS.
UH, SO YOU SAID THAT LA COUNTY'S NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION.
THE BIGGEST HEALTH DEPARTMENT, YOU MEAN THE BIGGEST.
SO YOU MEAN THE BIGGEST QUESTION? LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH HAS A LOT OF RESOURCES.
UH, WHETHER THEY RUN EFFICIENTLY, I'M NOT AN EXPERT TO GO AND TAKE INSIDE THE, BUT YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, THE WAY THINGS GOING RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT REALLY WORKING.
WE HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS PUPPET HOUSE SERVICE BETTER.
BUT YOU HAD TO START SOMEWHERE.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE CITY IS WILLING TO TAKE THAT CALCULATED RISK AND TAKE CERTAIN ACTION TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
WELL, MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE BENEFITS OF HAVING OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WHAT IS THE RISK IF WE DO LEAVE NOW OR WHAT DO WE GAIN? YEAH.
WELL, UM, SO IF YOU HAVE PENDING TO LEAVE THE LA COUNTY, SO YOU HAVE TO DECIDE THE CITY
[02:35:01]
ATTORNEY'S THING, YOU HAVE THE SERVE, THE, UH, COUNTY CLERK, THE NOTICE MARCH 1ST.SO WE CAN, THEY CAN DO THE BUDGET AND YOU'LL BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST.
UH, IF WE DECIDE WHATEVER GOES FOR, WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG AND SO FORTH, THE WHOLE THING, YOU'RE THE BU YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT MARCH TO SEND IN THE NOTICING THAT, YES, WE DON'T WANT TO COME BACK TO THE COUNTY.
AND HE WAS SUCH A LIGHT FIRST.
AND ACTUALLY THIS EVENING, UH, DR.
DAVIS IS VERY GRACIOUS AND VERY KIND AND SAYING THAT IN CASE THE CITY NEED TO, FOR EXAMPLE, SAUDI A HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE COUNTY WOULD BE, WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP.
AT LEAST THAT'S WHY I GET A MESSAGE.
AND THAT'S THE WAY GRACIOUS OF THE LA COUNTY BECAUSE LA COUNTY, AFTER ALL, THEY HAVE TO LOOK AFTER ABCD TOO.
AND I WAS SURPRISED THAT A LOT OF THESE SERVICES ACTUALLY PROVIDE TO A CITY WITHOUT COST.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE STATEMENT.
I THOUGHT THERE IS GENERAL FUND OR POVERTY TAX OR ANYTHING TRANSFER TO, TO, UH, LA COUNTY BECAUSE THE CITY HAS A GENERAL SERVICE AGREEMENT LIST OUT ALL THE SERVICES YOU CAN CHOOSE, YOU KNOW, LIKE EMAN, YOU CAN CHOOSE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO.
AND MOST OF THE TIME, MOST CITY HAS JUST BANG EVERYTHING OUT TO THE COUNTY, WHICH IS OKAY.
AND THEN SEVEN CITY LIKE PASADENA APOQUEL IS, IS CHECKOFF.
UM, UH, THE POLE, YOU HAVE YOUR OWN DEPARTMENT.
NOW, FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD TRY TO, UM, UH, APPLY FOR A CERTAIN, UH, UH, SOCIETY.
AND SO LOOKING TO GRANT AND SO FORTH, THEY SAY, OKAY, WHICH DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY FOR EVERY CAN I SAY, I'M JUST A CONSULTANT.
I WANT TO SEE EXPLORE REMEDY HOW WE CAN GET FUNDING BECAUSE EVERY DAY YOU HAVE THIS GRAND THROATING I RECEIVED AFTER I RECEIVED GRANT REQUESTS, I MEAN, UH, INFORMATION ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS EVERY NIGHT BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP THIS EARLY IN THE MORNING, THEN THEY'LL COME UP AND ASKING YOU WHETHER YOU QUALIFY FOR THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS, UH, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T HAVE A TRUE DEPARTMENT THAT RE EMPHASIZE ON YOUR MISSION STATEMENT AND YOUR VISION AND SO FORTH, IT'S SOMETIMES A LITTLE HARD TO, TO ASK FOR GRANT AND, UH, MONEY FOR CERTAIN PROGRAM.
A LOT OF THE PROGRAM ARE FUNDED BY DIFFERENTLY, YOU KNOW, HEALTH DEPARTMENT, YOU, THE BASICS, UH, FUNCTION.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT GRANTS, DIFFERENT STRUCTURE TO BUILD UP THE SALARY, SUPPORT THAT PUT IN INTO YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S THE ADVANTAGE YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR VACCINE.
YOU CAN CHOOSE SHOW YOUR TESTING SITE.
YOU CAN, IF YOU WANT TO DO MORE TO LESS IS OKAY, BUT IT'S UP TO THE CITY, BUT THEN NOW YOU HAVE A HAVE YOUR OWN CONTROL.
UH, OF COURSE YOU GOING, DO YOU CANNOT COMPETE WITH, UH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
GIANT, BUT CAN WE DO THE SIMILAR SERVICE? OH YEAH, SURE.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SCALE, RIGHT? UH, LA COUNTY SOAPY 11 MILLION PEOPLE.
UH, THEY, THEY HAVE THE BUDGET I'LL SOMETIME, I'M NOT SURE.
AND IT WOULD BE GOOD TO MAYBE THE CITY, UM, DEPARTMENT CAN LOOK INTO IT WHERE THE, OUR PORTION TO THE CITY.
AND THAT'S WHY IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE EARLIER, UH, THAT ALL THE SERVICE PROVIDE TO A CITY, NO COST.
ACTUALLY, IF IT'S NO COST AND THEY'RE SO HAPPY, WE CAN SET UP A HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND LA COUNTY STILL SUPPORT US BECAUSE THERE'S NO COST TO THEM.
SO I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT STATEMENT IS CORRECT.
SO IT IS SOMETHING NEW BECAUSE I ALWAYS THINK OUR PORTION OF THE REVENUE IS BEING TO LA COUNTY AND THEN I TO DISTRIBUTE.
SO IN THIS CASE, IT'S LIKE THE PANDEMIC, THEY THINK CERTAIN AREAS NEED MORE THAN OTHER AREAS.
SO, SO THIS PROPORTION IS BEING TAKEN OUT WITH DIVERTED TO SOME OTHER AREAS.
SO MAYBE THE CITY CAN LOOK INTO IT.
I AM NOT SURE I HAVEN'T DONE THAT ANALYSIS.
UM, SO, UM, IF WE, WITH LA COUNTY, YOU STILL HAVE TO NEGOTIATE CERTAIN AUTHORITY BECAUSE YOU REALLY HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN LOCAL SOMEBODY, A HEALTH CHIEF.
LIKE IF I CHIEF, I POLICE CHIEF, THE SHERIFF, A CAPTAIN HERE LOCALLY TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION, YOU CAN GO TO THE CHIEF AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED A VACCINE.
IT'S LIKE SUNDAY, BOOM, 68 VACCINE HERE, GIVE IT THEN RIGHT.
NORMALLY IN THE SHERIFF'S STATION, YOU CALL THE CAPTAIN, HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THINGS, BUT HERE YOU DON'T, YOU GOT A STRUGGLE RUNNING AROUND.
SO THE SYSTEM IS NOT REALLY HIGH.
CORRECT? WE HAD TO THINK BECAUSE WE, IT'S NOT JUST THIS PANDEMIC, THIS PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN PREDICTING FOR YEARS.
WE MISS SEVERAL OF THEM ALREADY.
THIS ONE STICKS THROUGH, UH, AND
[02:40:01]
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A LAST YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE TO COME AND WE HAVE TO BETTER PREPARE IN ORDER TO HAVE OUR OWN HEALTH CHIEF, DO WE NEED OUR OWN DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH? WELL, IN ORDER TO START YOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE TO APPOINT, THAT'S THE RULE.NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE TO APPOINT A HEALTH OFFICER THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OVERALL SUPERVISE AND SO FORTH IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO HE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE JUST LIKE A FIRE CHIEF OR POLICE CHIEF.
I MEAN, I KNOW LA COUNTY HAS SERVES 10 MILLION RESIDENTS, AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THEY ONLY HAVE 4,000 EMPLOYEES.
SO THEIR RATIO IS LIKE 0.004%.
UM, BUT I, I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE LAST QUESTION OF HOW DOES WEST COVINA BENEFIT, WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES? WHAT IS THE PROS OF HAVING OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WHAT, HOW WOULD WE BE DIFFERENT FROM LA COUNTY AND HAVING OUR OWN? IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IF WE HAVE OUR OWN LA COUNT? I MEAN, I'M SORRY IF WE HAVE OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHEN, WHEN SCENARIO, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, UH, ADVICE I SAW THE, YOU HAVE BIG HOSPITAL, A SMALL HOSPITAL, A SMALL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO COMPARE OR COMPETE WITH CEDAR SINAI? RIGHT? SO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN NICHE.
YOU HAVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, YOU CAN DEVELOP SOME PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
NOBODY GOING TO TRAVEL TWO, OUR, TO SEE THE SINAI FOR SOMETHING YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF IT HERE.
OF COURSE, THAT'S WHY THE FEDERAL, THE STATE AND THE COUNTY AND THE LOCAL CITY ALL GOING TO WORK TOGETHER IN A PUBLIC HEALTH SITUATION, IN A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
AND JUST LIKE A FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE YOU HAVE A DISASTER COME UP, EVERYBODY PUT TOGETHER AND TAKE CARE OF THING.
AND JUST, I TALKED TO DAVE WAS SAYING, IS GRACIOUSLY.
WE, WE NEED TO BE THE ONE THAT THE CDC TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND SO FORTH, BUT THE COST AND SO FORTH.
SO IF WE CAN WORK OUT THE COST, UH, THEN WE'LL BE OKAY.
SO YOU GRADUATE PERIOD UP AND SOME OF THE SERVICE, YES.
YOU CAN HAVE
UH, YOU CAN HAVE A, UH, UH, NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM.
YOU HAVE A CHRONIC DISEASE, UH, PROGRAM TO MONITOR, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, THIS, UH, INDEPENDENT, UH, UH, DEPARTMENT, UH, I MEAN THE FACILITY HAS A LOT OF RESIDENTS.
THEY DON'T VENTURE OUT OF THE FACILITY.
THEY HAVEN'T EVEN RECEIVED ANY OF THIS BASIC PREVENTIVE VACCINATION THUMP ON THE MORNING.
I SAID, OH, ANYTHING YOU SHOULD GO TO GET YOUR THEN ONE YEAR SHOT.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S SO SIMPLE EVERY FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
SO, UM, UH, I THINK IT WAS AN ADVANTAGE BESIDES BETTER CONTROL IS YOU HAVE BETTER RESPOND TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
THEY SAY THEY HAVE A PLAN REVIEW, A CHECK AND APPROVE IN TWO WEEKS.
AND WHEREAS YOU GO TO A COUNTY, YOU HAVE LITERALLY CHASING AFTER THEM FOR MONTHS.
SO THEY'RE MORE FRIENDLY, MORE WORKING WITH YOUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AND DRIVEN PROGRAMS. SOMETIMES WE CANNOT OFFICER, UH, CANNOT DO EVERYTHING.
EVEN LA COUNTY ITSELF SOMETIMES CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, UH, CALIFORNIA STATE.
THAT'S WHY THERE'S CONTRACTING ARE CERTAIN CONTRACT CONTRACT ALLOW CERTAIN RADIATION PROBLEM, EVEN COUNTY, STATE CONTRACTS, CERTAIN, UH, ENTITY TO PERFORM CERTAIN SERVICE.
SO, UH, YOU THEN EXPECT A HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO PERFORM EVERY DUTY, BUT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY A SYSTEM COST EFFECTIVELY TO MAKE SURE THOSE ARE IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE.
I HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS, BUT I'M GONNA ALLOW MY COLLEAGUES TO, UM, GO AHEAD AND ASK QUESTIONS.
SO, UH, WOULD ANY, WOULD ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO S START ASKING QUESTIONS? YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN
THANK YOU FOR, UH, BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING, UH, YOUR, YOUR EFFORTS, UH, TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
UM, I AT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND OBVIOUSLY WE'LL, I THINK, TRY TO GO AROUND.
UH, SO, UM, ONE, ONE QUESTION I HAD WAS, UH, REGARDING, UH, OUTREACH, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, PART OF, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT WE MAYBE WERE, UH, OR I WAS EXPECTING, OR, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WERE ALL EXPECTING AUDIENCE AS WELL IS, UM, THAT THERE WOULD BE A MUCH FULLER REPORT.
[02:45:01]
COUNTY DOES, UH, DEAL WITH A LOT OF, UH, DIFFERENT AGENCIES AS WELL.UH, SO, UH, I WAS, I WAS WONDERING, UH, DID YOU OUTREACH TO, UH, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS? CAUSE I UNDERSTAND ONE OF THE MAIN ARGUMENTS TO HAVE OUR OWN, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS TO GET OUR SCHOOLS OPEN.
SO, UM, WHAT SERVICES ARE, DO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UH, RECEIVE FROM ALLIE COUNTY, UH, THAT WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
AND, AND DID YOU, UH, CONTACT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO, UH, GET US THAT INFORMATION? YEAH, UH, NO, I HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED TOO DIRECTLY WITH THE, UM, UH, WESCO IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT, UH, I HAPPENED TO BE ABLE TO KNOW A COUPLE OF THE RETIRED RECENTLY RETIRED ADMINISTRATIVE FROM THE, UH, COUNTY, UH, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
ACTUALLY THE PERSON I TALKED TO HIM LAST NIGHT, I HAPPENED TO TAKE CARE OF HER MOM AND THEN HIS MOM, AND THEN WE WERE TALKING, OH, YOU ARE THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR OR SUPERINTENDENT OR SOME CONSULTANT.
AND SO FOR SIXTH GRADE, YOU KNOW, UH, LET ME ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S THOSE A SCHOOL DISTRICT.
YOU DO HAVE YOUR OWN BUDGET AND FUNDING, SAME THING.
SO, UH, UH, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE CAFETERIA INSPECTIONS, UH, SO, UH, INSPECTION NURSING.
SO WE CAN ASSEMBLE, LET'S SAY THIS WAY.
IF, IF WE SET UP A QUICK, AS WE CAN TO BREAK AWAY FROM, UH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, WE HAVE TO PUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO START JULY 1ST WITHIN THAT BUDGET THAT WE CAN, CAN ABLE TO MANAGE FROM THE LICENSING FEE AND SO FORTH.
SO THE, THE FIRST, THE FIRST COUPLE WEEKS, THE FIRST 30 DAYS YOU REALLY NEED TO, OR THE WHOEVER THE HELL OFFICER IS WE HAVE TO GO OUT TO TALK TO THE LOCAL BUSINESS RESTAURANT OR STAKEHOLDER NEED TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING.
YOU DON'T WANT TO CUT OFF ANY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE COME TO, TO, TO SCHOOL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LUNCH PROGRAM AND YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BREAKFAST PROGRAM.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES, THOSE THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING EITHER ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AS FAR AS THE INFORMATION I GOT IS THIS COMING OUT FROM THE SCHOOL BUDGET, I HEARD DIFFERENT STORY AND SO FORTH, BUT WE HAD TO SIT DOWN AND TALK.
JUST, I SAY I WAS SO HAPPY TO KNOW WHEN THERE'S SO MANY COMMENTS FROM DIFFERENT PLACES THAT BRING UP QUESTION, BRINGING UP INFORMATION.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER AND COLLABORATE.
OKAY, LET'S SEE WHAT YOU NEED.
UH, DO WE, UH, IF THE SCHOOL REALLY DIDN'T HAVE THE BUDGET, THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT IF THIS SCHOOL HAD THE BUDGET AND BEEN PAYING FOR IT, THEN IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO TRY TO PUSH AT THIS TIME FOR US TO COME UP WITH A BUDGET, TO PAY FOR CERTAIN THINGS LIKE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE SCHOOL DAILY BASIS.
AND I HEARD THAT, UH, SOMETIMES THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE I SHOULD GO AROUND BETWEEN EVEN SCHOOL IS NOT JUST THAT SHE'S THERE ALL THE TIME.
THEN YOUR SPEECH THERAPIST, THAT EVERT, THE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT AND SO FORTH.
SO ALL THOSE, I THINK IT'S THE ANCHO.
WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE ESSENTIAL SERVICE AND IF NOT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WE HAVE TO GET THAT SERVICE BACK TO THEM.
WE HAVE TO APPLY FOR EVEN SPECIAL GRANT.
YOUR PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT, NOT JUST FROM HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS FROM DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO APPLY.
AND MAYBE LOS ANGELES COUNTY ALREADY HAD THE GRANT IN PLACE.
SO WE HAD TO DEFINITELY TALK TO THE STAKEHOLDERS.
UM, MATTER MAYOR, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SH TO SHARE, UM, BECAUSE I, I DID OUTREACH, UH, WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING, UH, TO THE WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, UM, UH, THEY, THEY SPOKE TO THEIR LEGAL, AND THIS IS THE LETTER.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HEARS IT.
UH, DEAR MAYOR LOPEZ BEATO AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WRITE ON BEHALF OF THE WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND IT'S NEARLY THOUSAND STUDENTS AND 1000 EMPLOYEES TO RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE THE CITY COUNCIL'S ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO ZERO TWO, ONE DASH ONE FIVE, AN URGENCY ORDINANCE, NUMBER TWO 47, SIX TO TERMINATE THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROVISION OF SERVICES TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2021.
THE DISTRICT'S OPPOSITION IS BASED ON ITS CONCERN THAT THE CITY'S PROPOSED HEALTH DEPARTMENT MAY NOT BE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING ALL OF THE SERVICES.
ALLIE CDPH CURRENTLY PROVIDES TO THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MATTER FOR THE WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I AM SUBMITTING THIS LETTER IN WRITING TO YOUR HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER, AS YOU KNOW, 17 CC R ONE TWO SEVEN SIX REQUIRES THAT THE PROPOSED HEALTH DEPARTMENT MUST OFFER AT LEAST
[02:50:01]
THE FOLLOWING SERVICES IN THE CITY, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE SERVICES ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF OF THE WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, A COLLECTION, TABULATION AND ANALYSIS OF ALL KINDS, PUBLIC HEALTH STATISTICS, BE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL, INCLUDING AVAILABILITY OF ADEQUATE ISOLATION, FACILITIES, D MEDICAL, NURSING EDUCATION, AND OTHER SERVICES TO PROMOTE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH E ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SANITATION SERVICES, PROGRAMS, FOOD, HOUSING, AND INSTITUTIONS, RADIOLOGICAL HEALTH, MILK, AND DAIRY PRODUCTS, WATER ORIENTED, RECREATION, SAFETY, VECTOR CONTROL, WASTE MANAGEMENT AMONG OTHERS, HALF LABORATORY SERVICES, GI SERVICES AND NUTRITION, AGE SERVICES, AND CHRONIC DISEASE.I SERVICES DIRECTED TO SOCIAL FACTORS AFFECTING HEALTH J SERVICES IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH K APPROPRIATELY SERVICES IN THE FIELD OF FAMILY PLANNING AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SERVICES TO PROVIDE FOR PREVENTATIVE AND THERAPY, PUBIC CARE, AL A C D P H PROVIDES ESSENTIAL DIRECT SUPPORT SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO DISTRICT STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF.
THESE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING, ALL OF WHICH FALLS SQUARELY WITHIN THE REQUIREMENTS OF 17 CCR ONE, TWO SEVEN, SIX, ONE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS WITH MEDICAL DENTAL, INSURANCE TO GUIDANCE AND CONSULTATION RELATED TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
WHEN AN OUTBREAK OCCURRED AT A SCHOOL SITE, THREE STRATEGIES FOR INFECTION CONTROL AND PREVENTION FOR GUIDANCE TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, WITH UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION REGARDING HEALTH AND SAFETY, FIVE HEALTH EDUCATION TRAINING, AND WEBINARS TO STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SIX CRISIS HOTLINES AT THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL SEVEN UPDATES RELATED TO IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS, EIGHT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS RESPONSE, SAFETY PLAN AND TOOLKITS, OKAY.
CARDIOVASCULAR GUIDES AND EDUCATION MATERIALS, AND FINALLY, ADOLESCENT HEALTH GUIDE, EEG, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, TEEN PARENTING RESOURCES, AVOIDANCE OF YOUTH AND GANG VIOLENCE, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND SEXUAL HEALTH INFORMATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE AREA OF OUTBREAK PREVENTION AND CONTAINMENT SCHOOL NURSES, CONTACT LA CDPH, WHENEVER THERE IS AN OUTBREAK, ALLIE CDPH IN TURN IMMEDIATELY PROVIDES A SCHOOL WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SANITIZING PROTOCOL IN THE AREA OF MENTAL HEALTH, L A C D P H PROVIDES ONGOING SUICIDE PREVENTION, RESOURCES AND TRAINING TO DISTRICT STAFF.
IN ADDITION, DISTRICT NURSES TAKE PART IN ALLIE CDPH WEBINAR TRAININGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SO THAT BEST PRACTICES CAN BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS WITHOUT MEDICAL DENTAL INSURANCE.
THE DISTRICT MAKES CALLS DIRECTLY TO ALLIE CDPH ON BEHALF OF PARENTS TO FACILITATE ENROLLMENT IN THESE INSURANCE PROGRAMS. THESE SERVICES ARE INTEGRAL TO THE OPERATION OF THE DISTRICT AND ARE EXPERTLY PROVIDED BY OUR A C D P H.
IF THE CITY TERMINATES ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH L A C D P H.
THE DISTRICT FEARS THAT THE CITY'S PROPOSED HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DISTRICT WITH THE SERVICES NEEDED TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SERVICES OF DISTRICT STUDENTS, FAMILY, AND STAFF.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THESE VERY IMPORTANT HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED BY ALLIE C D P H.
WHEN YOU DELIBERATE THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION AND ORDINANCE, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT AND ONGOING HEALTH SERVICES RELIED UPON BY THE DISTRICT IN PROVIDING A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF OF WEST COVINA.
CHARLES D HYNDMAN SUPERINTENDENT WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
NOW, TONIGHT, WE ARE HERE TO, TO, TO VOTE ON, UH, AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT MEASURE THAT IMPACT EVERY SINGLE FAMILY.
UM, I'M A, I'M A FATHER IN THE WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS DECISION WEIGHED HEAVILY WEIGHS HEAVILY ON ME FROM THE MOMENT I LEARNED OF THIS MEETING.
I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING, I'VE BEEN READING OUT, I'VE
[02:55:01]
BEEN TRYING TO GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION I EXPECTED IN A STAFF REPORT THAT I DID NOT RECEIVE.WE DID NOT RECEIVE A COPY OF WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO PRESENT.
WE RECEIVED, WE DIDN'T RECEIVE OUR NORMAL BINDERS.
I DID NOT SEE ANY OF THIS INFORMATION, UM, MUCH OF IT UNTIL PAST THREE O'CLOCK.
AND SO HERE WE ARE, WE'VE HAD ONE WHICH YOU DESCRIBED AS A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION ON JANUARY 19TH.
AND I, I JUST LIKE TO ADD AT THAT JANUARY 19TH MEETING, WHERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT NEEDING TO, TO HAVE OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO OPEN OUR BUSINESSES, THERE WAS ANOTHER PRESENTATION AT THAT MEETING.
AND IT WAS BY OUR CHIEF, RIGHT? OUR FIRE CHIEF.
AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU STATED WAS LISTEN TO YOUR, YOUR CHIEFS.
WELL, THIS IS WHAT OUR CHIEF SAID.
HE SAID, WE'VE MORE THAN DOUBLED OUR CALL VOLUME.
WE HAD ONE FIRE ENGINE GIVING CPR TO A 40 YEAR OLD, AND WE LOST HIM BECAUSE NO AMBULANCE, WE SAT ON A DECEASED BODY FOR THREE HOURS AGAINST THE POLICIES.
WE HAVE PATIENTS DYING EVERY SINGLE DAY, SIX, EIGHT, 10 CARTIER ACT ARRESTS.
EVERY SINGLE DAY COMMUNITY SPREAD IS REAL 35 YEARS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
AND THEN THE, THE ONE THAT, THAT REALLY JUST TOOK MY BREATH AWAY, DON'T CALL NINE ONE ONE, THE AMBULANCES AREN'T THERE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE ASKING US TO BE INNOVATIVE AND, AND TAKE THIS HUGE, HUGE RISK WITH THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU VOLUNTEERED TO DO THIS FOR THE CITY AND ARE NOT CHARGING US ANY MONEY, BUT THAT'S STILL NOT OKAY IF YOU'RE OKAY.
YOU A VOLUNTEER THAT SERVICE, THEN OUR EXPECTATION IS YOU GIVE US A FULL REPORT.
I HAVE A REPORT HERE FROM THE CITY OF SAN DEMAS.
COUNCILMEN, CAN YOU ASK THE CO CAN YOU ASK THE DIRECT QUESTION? OH, OKAY.
I'LL ASK YOU A DIRECT QUESTION.
ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY, WE PAY A 1% AND PROPERTY TAX, RIGHT.
GOES, IT GOES TO THE COUNTY OF THAT.
ABOUT A THIRD GOES TO, UH, THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, ACCORDING TO THE DATA, UH, AND ACCORDING TO STAFF REPORTS, UH, THAT MONEY IS NOT REIMBURSED THE COUNTY.
EVEN IF WE GO AWAY FROM THE COUNTY, THEY WON'T GIVE IT BACK IT TO BE THROUGH REFERENDUM OF THE VOTERS OF LA COUNTY.
SO, SO IS IT, WOULD IT BE PRUDENT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA TO CONTINUE TO SEND OUR, OUR MONEY THAT GOES FOR COUNTY SERVICES AND NOT RECEIVE THOSE SERVICES, AND THEN TRY TO FIND FUNDING TO PAY FOR OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN, IN YOUR, IN YOUR CALCULATION? WOULD, WOULD YOU SAY THAT IS, UH, THE BEST POLICY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA? THAT WE ARE BOTH PAYING FOR COUNTY SERVICES THAT WE NO LONGER CAN RECEIVE WHILE ALSO FUNDING OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT? LET YOU ANSWER.
UH, FIRSTLY, UH, YOU HAVE THREE QUESTIONS.
UH, YOU HAVE THREE QUESTIONS HERE.
ONE IS, UH, THE, ALL THE SERVICE YOU LISTED EARLIER FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE THE SERVICE THAT REQUIRES FOR A, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE, UH, I MEAN RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO KEEP FUNDING THE HEALTH FUND.
SO, UH, OF COURSE THE DETAIL OF ALL THIS FUNDING, I'M NOT THE EXPERT ON IT THAT WAY TO RELY ON THE CITY, UH, ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK INTO FURTHER AND SO FORTH.
I CAN ONLY SPEAK ON GENERAL TERM ONLY.
SO IF YOU, SO FIRST WE HAD TO PERFORM ALL THOSE SERVICES ANYWAY, IN ONE FORM OR THE OTHER, UH, SOME OF THIS MAY BE CONTRACTED SOME OF THIS DEPENDING ON THE NEED.
THEN WE MAY, DEPENDING ON THE NEED, THEN WE WILL HAVE, FOR YEARS, FOR EXAMPLE, TB CLEANING IN PASADENA IS NOT EVERY DAY IS ONLY ONE DAYS A WEEK OR HALF DAY OR SO A WEEK ONLY.
UH, SO, UM, ALSO THIS SERVICE, EVEN IN OUR LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, LIKE THE RADIATIONS, UH, CERTIFICATION AND INSPECTION AND NOT
[03:00:01]
HIS CONTRACT, IT DOESN'T HAVE THE ONLY INSPECTOR.THEY ACTUALLY CONTRACT AT LEAST IN MY OFFICE.
AND WHEN THEY COME IN, THEY SAY, OH, WE ARE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE LA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BUT WE ACTUALLY CONTRACTED, UH, UH, PERSONNEL, NOT THE EMPLOYEE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SOME OF THIS, WE PROBABLY HAVE THE CONTRACT AND SO FORTH AND TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENT AGAIN, WE WANT TO ACTUALLY EVENTUALLY GET ALL THIS FUNDING FROM THE STATE TO STAFF AND FUND A FOOD SERVICE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO, UM, NOW THE OTHER QUESTION YOU HAVE IS THE QUESTION JUST HOW YOU SAY, UH, ACTUALLY HALF A PERCENT OR THREE THIRD, ONE THIRD OF 1% OF THE POVERTY TAX ACTUALLY GO TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO WE DO, WE DO HAVE FUN FROM OUR POVERTY TAX TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE RECEIVING SERVICE FOR FREE.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE FUNDING GOING THERE.
SO IF THEY DON'T, IF, SAY FOR EXAMPLE, FIGHT WAS A SERVICE AT LEAST VERY COMMON SENSE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO START OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, WE WERE TRUE.
THEY SHOULD REALLY SUPPORT US, UH, FOR SOME IN MISERY.
UH, THEY HAVE, UH, A COUNTY LESS THAN 50,000 PEOPLE, BUT THEY REALLY, BECAUSE OF THIS PANDEMIC, THEY HAS BEEN GEARING TO START THEIR OWN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT THEMSELVES IN THE STATE, COME IN AND FUND THEM AND HELP THEM TO START THE HEALTHY BY HOURS, WATCHING THEM, THEY ALREADY IN READY TO, TO START THIS YEAR ON THEIR OWN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THE COUNTY LEVEL.
SO, UM, UH, SO WE STILL, AFTER THIS, YOU KNOW, BESIDE, WE GRADUALLY STARTING THE PROGRAM, THE COUNTY, WE HAVE CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITY IF THEY ARE RECEIVING PAYMENT OR SOME PORTION OR TEXTS TO US, EVENTUALLY COUNTY STILL, WE ARE ALL RELATED, JUST LIKE WERE MENTIONING LAST TIME, YOU, THIS HAVE NO BOUNDARY AND NOT KNOW ANYTHING.
SO WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.
SO THEY, IF THEY RECEIVE SOME FUNDING FROM LOCAL RESIDENT, I THINK MORALLY, ETHICALLY, THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO HELP SUPPORT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALSO.
BUT WITH OUR OWN HEALTH LOCAL DEPARTMENT, WE CAN DO A LOT MORE.
WE CAN APPLY FOR DIFFERENT THINGS INDEPENDENTLY.
WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP ON RELYING ON OUR COUNTY TO GET EVERY SERVICE.
SO, I MEAN, THERE'S A, AND THAT'S MAYBE SOMETHING CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER HAVE TO LOOK INTO.
IF WE GET ONE THIRD OF OUR, 1% OF THE TAX DOLLAR THERE AND SITTING THERE AND DOING NOTHING IS, IT'S NOT, WE DIDN'T GIVE THEM MONEY.
THEY DO HAVE THE MONEY AND THE MAN FOR THAT SERVICE.
AND THAT WOULD BE MAYBE IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE SURE OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT STYLE OF CORRECTLY AND PACK IT UP A LEVEL THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SUCCESSFUL BIGGER, THIS, UH, LA COUNTY RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, SO YEAH, IF THEY RECEIVED THE MONEY, GUESS WHAT, IF YOU PAY SOMEBODY, YOU EXPECT THE SERVICE.
SO I JUST, I HEAR YOU'RE PAYING THE SERVICE, BUT WHERE'S THE HEALTH CHIEF.
SOMEBODY YOU CAN CALL REGULARLY.
AND TONIGHT I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR OFFICE.
HE SAID, OH YEAH, WE ARRANGE SOMEBODY TO COME UP.
SO I DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT THREE WEEKS OF CALLING EVERY HOSPITAL.
I CAN PULL EVERY STRING I CAN PLEADING AND BEGGING SAY, OH, CAN YOU COME UP? UH, I MAKE SEVERAL CALLS EVERY DAY FOR EVERY DAY WAITING FOR EVEN HOSPITAL TO CALL ME BACK.
AND, UH, SO, SO, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK THE CITY IS WE NEED TO DEMAND.
THAT'S WHY THIS WHOLE THING, WHETHER IT'S THEIR OWN ONLY BEEN ON INDEPENDENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR SOME TYPE OF ARRANGEMENT IS REALLY HAS TO TALK IT OUT.
THIS PANDEMIC, BRING OUT THIS WHOLE ISSUES, THAT LOCAL LEVEL, I'M NOT REALLY, WE ARE RECEIVING THE PROPER ATTENTION AND PROPER PROPORTION OF FUNDING AND SERVICE.
I MEAN, YOU BRING UP A REALLY GOOD POINT.
AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT YOU TOUCHED ON, BUT ALSO WHAT THE DISTRICT WROTE IN THEIR LETTER THAT THEY FEAR THAT THIS PROPOSED HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DISTRICT WITH SERVICES NEEDED ACT.
BUT AS I EXPECTED, BASED ON THE FACT THAT NO MATTER WHAT OCCURS, WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE FUNDING THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT THROUGH OUR PROPERTY TAXES.
IT WAS, UM, I GUESS, PROPER, AND I THINK VERY WELCOMED THAT DR.
DAVIS, WHICH I WISH YOU WOULD'VE STAYED CLOSED, NOT ONLY HIS SPEECH HERE AT THE MICROPHONE, BUT ALSO THE LETTER HE SENT US AT 3:00 PM.
SO THE COUNCIL ELECT TO CREATE ITS OWN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
PUBLIC HEALTH WILL BE READY TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO TRANSFER ALL OF THE DUTIES OF A LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH JURISDICTION UNTIL THAT TRANSACTION IS COMPLETE.
AND THE CITY'S PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS
[03:05:01]
RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE AS A LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH JURISDICTION.UH, PUBLIC HEALTH WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS COUNCIL AND THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA IN ITS CURRENT CAPACITY.
BUT IN TERMS OF, UM, GOING BACK TO HOW THIS WOULD AFFECT ME, YOU POINT SOMETHING OUT YESTERDAY, THE LA TIMES REPORTED, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS.
SO LET ME ASK YOU, UH, THE LA TIMES REPORTED THAT VACCINE ACCESS CODES FOR BLACK AND LATINO COMMUNITIES WERE IMPROPERLY USED IN AFFLUENT LA AREAS.
I WOULD SAY THAT, UH, CONSIDERING OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD SQUARELY ELIMINATE THAT KIND OF THING, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THIS VACCINE ROLLOUT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING.
UM, TALK TOO NEGATIVELY ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS A MONUMENTAL TASK, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN SMOOTH.
UM, I THINK THE BEST WAY WOULD HAVE BEEN TO ALLOCATE VACCINE DOSES THROUGH MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE ALREADY FULLY STAFFED ALREADY, FULLY TRAINED, HAVE THE CAPACITY OF MEDICAL ASSISTANTS WHO DO THIS ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
THIS WOULD BE VACCINE NUMBER 17 INSTEAD OF 16, THAT THEY DO PROVIDE ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
UM, SO THE WAY IT WAS DEPLOYED, YOU UTILIZING, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, AT PROBABLY OVERTIME RATES, UM, PRIVATE CONTRACTORS, ADDING CREDIBLY EXPENSIVE RATES.
I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE BEST WAY.
AND AS I JUST MENTIONED WHAT THE LA TIMES REPORTED YESTERDAY, I THINK THAT'S TESTAMENT TO HOW WE'RE NOT BEING SERVICED THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.
UM, WELL, NOT ONLY THE LETTER CITES, WHAT, WHAT, UM, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LETTER CITES WHAT IS REQUIRED OF A, OF A HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO ANOTHER BULLET POINT ASIDE FROM WHAT ELSE WOULD BE OFFERED THROUGH OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ASIDE FROM THE, UH, I GUESS VACCINE AND QUALITY STANDPOINT, UH, YOU KNOW, LETTER F STATES LABORATORY SERVICES.
WELL, I COULD SAY UNEQUIVOCALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC POPULATION WAS NOT OFFERED LABORATORY SERVICES ADEQUATELY.
I KNOW THAT IT WAS, IT WAS BROADCAST ON TELEVISION BY DR.
FERRERA AND OTHERS, UM, THAT ASK YOUR PCP.
YEAH, I EMAILED THEM AND I SAID, I'VE TALKED TO THE AMA AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS.
EVERYONE I COULD TALK TO EVERYONE WAS SAYING, NO, NOBODY KNOWS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM WAS SHORTAGE OF SWAPS, JUST COTTON SWABS.
SO W PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSES.
LET'S MANUFACTURE THEM AT IT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE LIMITATION.
SO LABORATORY SERVICES AILED, IT WAS NOT PROVIDED.
IN FACT, AT ONE POINT IT WAS SO SCARCE TO BE ABLE TO FIND SWABS.
I PERSONALLY WAS ADMINISTERING COVID SWABS FOR WHOEVER WHENEVER NEEDED IT TO ASSIST MY STAFF, UM, LETTER C IN, IN, IN THE LIST OF ITEMS THAT THAT SHOULD BE PROVIDED.
SO THAT WAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT HOW MAYBE, UH, OR HYBRID CONSIDERATION COULD POTENTIALLY DO BETTER ISOLATION FACILITIES.
I KNOW PERSONALLY STAFF, AS WELL AS A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DID NOT HAVE ANY NEVER FOUND ISOLATION FACILITIES.
SO IF THE COUNTY DOES PROVIDE THAT, I DON'T THINK IT WAS COMMUNICATED WELL ENOUGH DISSEMINATED WELL ENOUGH, BUT I KNOW FOR SURE THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HAVE THE ADEQUATE ISOLATION FACILITIES.
SO THAT'S, UM, THAT'S ANOTHER BULLET POINT.
DAVIS THAT THERE WERE 45 OUTBREAKS AND CONTRACT, UH, TRACING IN OUR CITY.
SO THERE'S KIND OF A BREAKDOWN OF COMMUNICATION THERE WHO HAD IN SHOULD LOOK AT WAYS TO IMPROVE THAT COMMUNICATION.
ALSO, ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE DISCUSSED BY OUR, SOME OF OUR BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE CITY, UM, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TREATED FAIRLY, THEY'VE BEEN KIND OF BULLIED.
I THINK WE GOT A LOT OF EVIDENCE FOR THAT, THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE, DOES THAT DOESN'T SERVE ANYBODY.
UM, SO I GUESS TO HELP YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION, THAT'S WHAT I SEE AS SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING OUR OWN, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR INITIATING PROCESS.
A LOT OF VALID CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED TODAY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE, AND AS WE'RE DISCUSSING, UM, AND AS I'VE SAID, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF ANYTHING BECAUSE OUR GENERAL AND SAID THAT TOO.
[03:10:01]
UM, BUT I THINK THIS IS IT'S A GOOD DISCUSSION TO BE HAD IS, UM, IT'S MAY NOT BE THE LAST LARGE HEALTH ISSUE WE'VE GOT, I'LL STOP THERE AND LET MY COLLEAGUES.THANK YOU DOCTOR FOR COMING AND SPEAKING WITH US.
UM, BUT, UH, ONE OF THE ISSUES I NOTICED WAS WE HAD A LOT OF RESTAURANT OWNERS, A LOT OF, UH, BUSINESS OWNERS THAT CAME THROUGH AND NOBODY MENTIONED THE SENIORS.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN ELDERLY MOTHER AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TRY TO GET HER A VACCINE.
UM, I CONTACTED THE COUNTY WITH NO, NO, UM, I WASN'T ABLE TO GET HER AN APPOINTMENT.
SO I NOTICED NOBODY SPOKE ABOUT THE SENIORS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS THAT CAN NOT GO TO THESE FACILITIES, GO TO THE DRIVE-THROUGHS AND GET TESTED OR GET VACCINES.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR OUR SENIORS, THAT CAN'T LEAVE THEIR HOMES OR THEIR FACILITIES OF WHEREVER THEY'RE AT.
SO THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY A GOOD EXAMPLE, JUST THIS PAST SUNDAY, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
THE OTHER 30 IS THE FAMILY, BRING THEM OUT.
SOME WORK AT THE VACCINE WITH GIRLS, WHEN THEY FIRST CALL ME, THEY SAY THEY NEED 90 VACCINE.
SO IN CASE OF STAFF AND SO FORTH IN USC, SAY, YES, WE'LL COME UP, BUT YOU KNOW, GIVE THEM TIME BECAUSE THERE'S A BIG INSTITUTION.
THEY NEED TO GET ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEAD TOGETHER.
LIKE WE ON THE LARGE LOGISTIC AND SO FORTH.
AND WE HAVE A, SO MEETING IS ABOUT, I THINK, 14 PEOPLE IN THE MEETING JUST TO DECIDE HOW TO VACCINATE 60 PEOPLE.
SO, UM, BUT I'M GLAD THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT COME UP.
AND FOR EXAMPLE, UM, NOW THEY, WITH THE, UM, CO COVID-19 AND I'M NOT SURE, UH, ANY OF YOU AWARE OF IT, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A, MY MODERATE DISEASE AND THIS, WE HAD NOT BEEN PUBLICIZED AND REEDUCATE HER COMMUNITY.
AND I MYSELF GET EXCITED WHEN PATIENT, FOR EXAMPLE, SO THEY HAVE SEVERAL PATIENT CALL, HEY, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE YOU A VACCINE? WE JUST CAN'T PUT ONE.
THEN WE HAVE PATIENT CO OH, BY THE WAY, I COME UP POSITIVE, I'VE BEEN SITTING HOME.
I JUST DISCHARGED A PATIENT A COUPLE OF DAYS.
AND I GO TWO WEEKS SITTING AT HOME COUGHING COMPETENCY.
I SAY, WHEN YOU'RE DONE, WHEN YOU'RE SICK, HOW COME YOU DIDN'T CALL ME? BECAUSE NOW A DAY, IF YOU HAVE IN MY MODERATE DISEASE, YOU DON'T REQUIRE OXYGEN YET.
NOW YOU CRASH IT, COME TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
THEY PUT YOU IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 10 DAYS ON HEIGHT, A HIGH FLOW OF OXYGEN.
WHEN IN THE FIRST FEW DAY YOU CALL ME, I CAN ARRANGE YOU TO HAVE THE PRECEDENTIAL.
I CALL IT A PRECEDENTIAL AND MERCEDES TREATMENT, WHICH IS A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY INFUSIONS.
AND YET THIS MESSAGE HAVEN'T BEEN COMING UP.
ACTUALLY, FIRST THING THAT I'LL BE DOING CONTINUING EDUCATION TO ALL OUR MEDICAL STAFF AND ONE OF THE TOPICS I'M GOING TO BE DISCUSSING TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW.
SO WE CAN OFFER THIS SERVICE IS PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL COMMON FEE OF CHARGE.
WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP GETS HIS REGENERON, WHICH IS MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY INFUSIONS.
THAT ONE THOUGH IS LIKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PRICE IS, BUT I CALL HELP PATIENT THEATERS, A PRESIDENTIAL AND THE MERCEDES TREATMENT.
YOU WANT A MERCEDES OR YOU WANT TO LIVE.
SO, BUT ANYWAY, IT'S PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL COMMON AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT IMMEDIATELY.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF PATIENTS JUST HAVE THE INFUSION THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS OVER THE WEEKEND.
WELL, MY ORANGE, A RANGE OF DIFFERENT EMERGENCY ROOM GIVEN HOSPITAL, YOU GOT SAY, YOU HAVE SOME SYMPTOM, YOU MEET A QUALIFICATION, YOU GO AND GET AN INFUSION AND STOP THE PROCESS.
AND YET THIS ISSUE HAVEN'T BEEN BROUGHT UP FOR EXAMPLE, NOW THE CITY.
SO FROM THE HOSPITAL LEVEL, I CONDUCT EDUCATION FOR OUR MEDICAL STAFF OR COMMUNITY LEVEL.
WE NEED TO EDUCATE THE RESIDENCY.
IF YOU READ THE CRITERIA, YOUR HIGH RISK TYPE, PATRICK YOU'LL HAVE ATTENTION.
THEY, FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE ENOUGH ISSUES ON PREGNANCY FOR IT IS RHEUMATOID.
I SAID, YOU HAVE THE COUGHING AND FEVER AND ALL THIS.
I WANT YOU TO GO TO CHECK FOR THE COVID IMMEDIATELY.
YOU BETTER GO FOR A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY.
DON'T WAIT TILL YOU GOT REALLY SICK.
MY BILL IN THE HOSPITAL FOR CHOCOLATE IN THE IC IS OVER 370,000.
I THINK THE REASON WE SIT OVER HERE AND, UH, GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS BECAUSE WE WANT TO OH, OKAY.
IT'S NOT ONLY THE SMALL BUSINESS THAT WE ARE WORRIED
[03:15:01]
ABOUT.IT'S JUST A SMALL POTION THING.
I THINK THE REASON WE SITTING OVER HERE, WE WANT TO TAKE THIS RISK.
OR THIS SOMETHING, BECAUSE THE HUMAN LIFE IS IRREPLACEABLE.
YOU CAN, THE BUSINESS POSSIBLE.
MAYBE LOSE THE BUSINESS, LOSE THE FOUNDING.
MAYBE THEY CAN HOPEFULLY COME BACK, BUT WE WILL TRY TO HELP THEM.
BUT THE POINT IS, IS I THINK MORE AND MORE THAN THINKING IS THE HUMAN LIE WE ARE TO HELP.
WE WENT THROUGH WHICH CREEK FIASCO THAT WE'VE BEEN CALLING COUNTY.
AND, AND DO YOU DIDN'T GET THEIR VACCINE AND THEN NOW THEY TEND TO HAVE A OKAY.
AND THEY HAVE ABOUT 12 PERSON HOSPITAL LIES ABOUT A HUNDRED RESIDENT.
THERE'S AN OUTBREAK AND 2%, INCLUDING NANCY FOX.
AND, UM, PASS AWAY OF A KOBE COMPLICATION AND VERY, VERY HORRIBLE DEATH SUFFERING IN THE HOSPITAL BY HERSELF BECAUSE SHE GOT A KOBE POSITIVE.
SO WE WANT TO AVOID LET THINGS.
SO AS A SENIOR IS PRIORITY AND WHY THAT THING FELL THROUGH THE CRACK BECAUSE THEY ARE IN, IN THE CRITERIA OF COUNTY IS AN INDEPENDENT, OKAY.
AND HOW MANY WE HAVE? WE HAVE 10.
SO HOW MANY IS INDEPENDENT? AND THEY'RE NOT IN THE SYSTEM OF A COUNTY.
SO THIS IS THE THING I THINK, OKAY.
WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY LIKE, OKAY, COUNCILMAN, OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER, TOPIC THAT WE SAY OUTREACH.
WE WANT TO OUTREACH ALL THE PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO SURVIVE AND TO GIVE FAILED TREATMENT, TO HAVE VACCINE.
AND THEN WE ALLOW, OKAY, WE ARE CALLING THE COUNTY NUMEROUS TIME.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CHANCE TO DO IT.
MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE PRESS, WE ARE THE FIRST ONE OR INDEPENDENT.
AND THE FACILITY, RETIREMENT HOME TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE FOR THOSE 60, 70.
I THINK IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM MORE AROUND, BUT HERE MY QUESTIONS OVER HERE.
WE HAVE A ONE YEAR OF THIS PANDEMIC SINCE LAST YEAR TILL NOW WE SEE ANY IMPROVEMENT OF A COUNTY POLICY THAT CAN SAVE OUR COMMUNITY.
IF WE CONTINUE DOING THE SAME THING, REPEAT AGAIN, AGAIN LIKE COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBER, TABATABAIE SAY WHAT WE LEARN ON THIS PANDEMIC.
WHY WE LIVE ON THIS PANDEMIC? WE LENDED PANDEMIC IS WE CANNOT GO INTO THE OUTREACH TO MAKE SURE TOLD TO DOE WHO GET THE VIRUS.
SO I THINK LET'S, WHILE WE WANT TO SET IT UP IS GO TO VERY PERSON.
NO SERVERS GO TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS A SWAP.
WE WANT TO TRACK THE PERSON HE CONTACT, WHO YOU'LL CONTACT AND THEY'LL, AND EVERYBODY'S SWAMPED OR SOMEBODY, IF YOU GET POSITIVE, THIS IS WHY, WHY ARE WE THINKING ABOUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO IT SO WE CAN STOP THIS PANDEMIC OR FUTURE PANDEMIC.
SO, SO WHAT IS THE PLAN TO TWO THING? WE ARE GOING TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH, MAKE SURE, OKAY, EVERYBODY CAN GET SOMEBODY GET POSITIVE.
THEN WE WILL CHECKING ABOUT SOMEONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND MAKE SURE THE QUARANTINE, THIS IS HOW ALL THE COUNTRY DOING SUCCESSFULLY, WHY WE ARE NOW DOING THAT BECAUSE COUNTY IS SO BIG AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE THESE KINDS OF SERVICE.
THEY ONLY HAVE A 4,000 EMPLOYEE AND TAKING CARE OF 10 MEDIUM POPULATION.
SO THIS IS THIS FAR AND THE, WE ARE SO FAR AWAY FROM THEM.
SO THAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT WE, WE LOSE IN LIFE.
AND, AND, AND THERE IS, I THINK IT'S AVOIDABLE IF WE DOING THE THING.
SO WHY IS THE OLD POLICY? TWO THINGS.
HOW CAN WE DO BETTER JOB? OTHERWISE, NO POINT WE SIT OVER HERE WANTING TO DO SOMETHING.
WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WITH HOW THE FOUNDING, WE HAVE POWER, POVERTY TAGS.
OH, IT WAS ALL FUNDING THAT SHOULD BE COME TO US NOW, COUNTY MANAGER FOR US, BUT HE DIDN'T COME TO US.
SO HOW CAN WE SET IT UP? OKAY.
AND SAFELY AND SECOND THING, AND TO DO THIS SAME COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY IS PROTECTED.
WELL, ACTUALLY I I'LL SHARE WITH, UH, DAVID, UH, LAST WEEK, I THINK THE PERFECT SCENARIO IS, IS WE SET UP A HEALTH DEPARTMENT, RIGHT.
AND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILLING TO BACK US UP AND NURTURE US TO GROW INTO INDEPENDENTLY BECAUSE THEY ARE HUGE.
THEY JUST NOT ABLE TO REACH A LOCAL LEVEL, JUST LIKE THE POP-UP SHOP,
[03:20:01]
THAT THE LOCAL RESTAURANT TRUST A POPPER, THEY CUT THEIR HAIR.THEY THOUGHT YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR MEDICINE IS GOOD FOR YOU.
YOU WON'T HAVE A STROKE, A HEART ATTACK AND SO FORTH.
SO LOCAL LEVEL IS WE IT'S WAY IMPORTANT.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE UNDERSERVED AREA, YOU HAVE THE MINORITY, THE LATINO, THE BLACK, UH, THAT REALLY THIS SPECIAL TARGET ATTENTIONS HERE, YOU CAN MAKE A VACCINATION SITE, EVERYBODY FROM EVERYWHERE, COME HERE TO GO SHUT THE LOCAL PEOPLE.
NOW THEY SAY, STATISTICALLY, THEY SAY IT'S VERY LOW.
I'LL BE THINKING THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN, BECAUSE WHATEVER THEY PLAN IS NOT WORKING.
SO THEY NOW ARE GOING TO PROBABLY GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY SETTING.
UM, SO, UH, I GUESS WITH THE NEW VACCINE COMING OUT, THE ONE SHOT, JOHNSON, JOHNSON, MAYBE THAT'S POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, JUST A REFRIGERATOR THAT MAY BE HELPED WITH THE WHOLE PROCESS.
SO, UH, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS SOMEHOW ORGANIZED FORM.
YOU GET RECOGNITION, YOU GET CERTIFIED, YOU GET THE FUNDING AND YOU'RE ABLE TO SET UP, CALL THEM.
AND, UH, ANOTHER QUESTION IS WHY WE DO THE VACCINE IN THAT KIND OF A REFUGEE CAMP.
EVERYBODY HAS TO TRY THROUGH, AND THESE AREN'T LED WHY NOW WE JUST GIVE TO THE TATTOO CLINIC, JUST LIKE A FLU SHOT, HAVE PEOPLE JUST LIKE OUT OF STATE, OTHER STATES DOING THE SAME THING.
THAT'S A NOTE THEY'RE PATIENT.
THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE 65 YEARS OLD OR THEIR TEACHER, SO THEY CAN CONTACT THE PATIENT AND SAY, HEY, I GOT THE FLU.
I GOT A SHOT OVER HERE FACING OVER HERE, PLEASE.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY, MY STAFF.
WHY NOT DOING THIS WAY? MUCH MORE SAFER BECAUSE DOCTOR KNOW YOUR SITUATION NOW, NO SAVE YOU PREGNANT OR NOT TO GIVE YOU THE VACCINE, WHY WE HAVE TO DOING THIS WAY.
LIKES CENTRALIZED BY THE COUNTY.
AND THEN THEY HAVE A FAIRNESS ISSUE.
WHY NOT JUST GO ONE OH ONE THINGS THIS, IF WE HAVE OUR, OKAY.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE SHOULD TRUST.
AND OUR DECISION HAVE TEND TO IMPLEMENT, OKAY.
IN TODAY, A PATIENT, I THINK THERE'S A MUCH MORE SAFE, SAFE WAY, A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT AND MUCH IT COSTS ALMOST MUCH LESS THAN CURRENTLY.
YOU HIRE A BUNCH OF CONTRACT NURSES LIKE PIG PRODUCTION.
YOU SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY SHOW UP? I THINK 20 PEOPLE SHOW UP AT TWENTIES, 25 PEOPLE SHOW UP TO SERVICE.
IT, THIS INVESTMENT IS JUST NO WONDER THEY CANNOT MAKE THE BUDGET OF RYAN.
SO, SO HOW CAN WE DO IT EFFICIENTLY BASED ON HOW WE HAVE AND TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP TO EVERYBODY.
SO WOULD YOU PLEASE DEBRAY ABOUT THIS? YEAH.
UH, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SERVICE THAT WE REQUIRE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY CONTRACT, YOU DON'T NEED A TB CONTROL OFFICER.
UH, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ONLY HAVE ONE HOSPITAL HERE.
NOW WE IN CHARGE OF, YOU MAY BE JUST NEED A, A TB OFFICE CONSULTANT ON STANDBY, BASICALLY.
UH, SO, SO YOU, YOU HAD TO TALK TO A STAKEHOLDER, HOW OFTEN YOU SEE A TB PATIENT COME TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THEY NEED A CLEARANCE IN ORDER TO DISCHARGE THAT PATIENT WITHOUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT CLEARANCE, THEY CANNOT DISCHARGE THAT PATIENTS.
SO ALL THESE STAKEHOLDERS, SCHOOLS, DISTRICT, HOSPITAL, WE HAVE TO TALK TO THEM.
I MEAN, WE ARE ALL TOGETHER HERE.
AND, BUT IF YOU HAVE A LOCAL, YOU CAN SERVICE AND MORE PERSONNEL.
FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK WHAT A WEEK AGO OR TWO WEEK AGO, ONE A BREWERY WAS INSPECTED BY A HEALTH INSPECTOR AND THE INSPECTOR WAS DANCING IN THE FLOOR.
THERE WAS TAPE IN THE TV, IT LOOKS TERRIBLE HERE.
YOU'RE CLOSING THEM, PEOPLE WITH THAT DUNG AND YOU ARE DANCING IN THE, IN THE HALLWAY.
AND I REALLY TOLD HER UNPROFESSIONAL, UH, MY MYSELF UPSET TOO.
I MEAN, SEEING HOW CAN YOU, YOU SHOULD BE, AND YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION REGARDING THE BUDGET AND HOW WE STARTED.
STARTING, BREAKING AWAY WITH COMPANIES.
SO YOU BASICALLY, YOU START WITH THE, UH, I WAS FOR EXAMPLE, UH, IF WE CAN, AND THAT'S THE NEXT PHASE WE HAD TO GET THE FUNDING FROM THE STATE.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT NOW, FOR SURE.
WE KNOW THE LICENSING AND PERMIT, YOU KEPT PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT MAYBE A TWO OR 300,000, UH, INCOME ON THAT SECTION THERE.
UH, SO THEN WHAT YOU DO IS BASED ON THAT INCOME, YOU'RE GOING TO HIRE SOME INSPECTOR, UH, SOME, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST COUPLE OF INSPECTOR DEVINS, SO THEY DON'T HAVE BE FULL-TIME.
WE, WE ONLY HAVE A LOOK AT THE, YOUR LIST THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT 300 OR LESS, UH, RESTAURANT OR FOOD SERVICE ENTITY, AND MAYBE EVEN LESS, BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE CLOSE.
SO, UH, SO YOU DON'T REALLY NEED A FULL-TIME INSPECTOR.
UH, AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME OTHER, UH, HOSPITAL.
THEN WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT ALL JUST HAD TO BE THAT INITIAL BUDGET, UH, TO START OUT WITH, AND THEN GROW FROM THERE.
UH, WE DON'T EXPECT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE $15 MILLION TO LIGHTS, PASADENA TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START SMALL, BUT WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE, UH, FOR SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS CERTAIN FUNDING.
[03:25:01]
OKAY.WE DEFINITELY NEED TO TALK TO THEM HOW THEY GET FUNDING.
IS THAT NOT FROM THE SCHOOL SCHOOL BUDGET? IS IT FOR SOMEWHERE ELSE? WE NEED TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE ACTION TO MAKE SURE THOSE MONEY COME BACK TO THE SCHOOL.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THEN, UH, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, HOSPITAL, HOSPITAL FUNDING IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
UH, SO, SO THAT, THAT REALLY DOESN'T.
SO BASICALLY WE, THE BUDGET SHOULD BE NEUTRAL AND YET WE'VE TRIED TO PROVIDE A LOT OF THE SERVICE THAT WE NEED TO, BUT IN SMALL, AMONG, UH, YOU CAN HAVE FAMILY PLANNING ONCE A WEEK, UH, AND IMMUNIZATION, MOST OF THE CHILDREN'S IMMUNIZATION IS FUND BY THE STATE.
THE STATE ACTUALLY SEND YOU A, ALL THIS VACCINE, THOSE TWO ACCIDENTS, VERY EXPENSIVE.
I STOPPED GIVING VACCINE MYSELF BECAUSE THE LAST QUESTION, AND THEN WE'LL BE OKAY.
UH, IF WE DECIDE TO DO THIS, OKAY, YOU NEED TO TELL US, OKAY, THE CITY COUNCIL, HOW CONFIDENT YOU ARE THAT WE CAN DO THIS, THAT YOU CAN HELP US TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
WELL, UH, SEE, UH, UH, THE DISCUSSION IS WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE BUDGET BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.
WE HAVE THE HEIGHT INSPECTOR, AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE SOUND OF THE, UH, HEALTH FUND COMING IN.
UH, SO IF NOT, AT LEAST WE HAVE TO RELY ON THE LICENSING AND PERMIT FEE TO GET THE ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT.
SO THIS, UH, HEALTH EDUCATION AND NOT, I READ DOESN'T MIND TO DONATE MY TIME AND SO FORTH.
UH, I DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY, UH, HEALTH FAIR.
I DO A REGIONAL HEALTH IN PASADENA.
I TAKE OVER THE WHOLE PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER AND RUN MULTILANGUAGE 3000 PEOPLE WITH 200 VOLUNTEER COME IN.
AND THERE IS ANOTHER AREA THAT WE CAN REALLY TAP INTO IS WE WANT THE MEDICAL FORCE.
I MYSELF IS A LA COUNTY, A DISASTER SOCIAL MEMBERS.
SO IN CASE THERE'S ANY ISSUE, IPO, I GUESS, TAX FROM THEM, ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO COME TO A CERTAIN AREA? WE MIGHT NEED HELP, LIKE THE VACCINATION THEY NEED TO HAVE.
SO WE MIGHT TAP INTO A COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET COMMUNITY INVOLVED, YOU, YOU, YOU SHARE BETTER WITH THEM.
SO WHATEVER WE DO, WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING, WHATEVER BUDGET WE HAVE.
AND SO THIS PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE, I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO W WAY MINIMUM THE, UH, AND I CAN, FOR SOME RECRUIT, SOUND, THE PHYSICIAN, MAYBE THEY CAN DONATE THE PUMP.
FOR EXAMPLE, INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
I HAVE A PHYSICIAN THAT IS ACTUALLY SAY, UH, JOINT COMMISSION, HOSPITAL, SURVEYOR, UH, THAT HE SAY SHE'S IN MIND TO COME IN TO HELP.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, REQUESTS FOR HELP, BECAUSE IF YOU TRULY WANT TO HAVE IT, THEN I'M HERE TO TRY TO HELP THE CITY MAKE IT HAPPEN.
UH, YEAH, I ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, TWO QUESTIONS AND THE CITY MIGHT, UH, PROBABLY ASSIST IN HELPING THIS.
SO THE FIRST QUESTION, UM, IN ORDER TO START OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IS IT NEEDED TO TERMINATE A CONTRACT WITH LA COUNTY.
CAN YOU ANSWER? SO THAT IS BY MARCH 1ST, WELL TAKEN BY MUSH FIRST, BUT, UH, I GUESS THE OTHER DAY, THERE'S THE MEETING COLOR.
AND BY THE WAY, THERE'S CONTRACT OVER THIS CONSENT.
SO THE CONTRACT YOU HAD TO BUY MUCH FROM THE CONTRACT, UH, YOU NEED TO GIVE NOTICE BY MAY 31ST.
WELL, THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE CONTRACT AND IT SHOWS THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO BE TERMINATING THE HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH ON HERE, THE CONTRACT, UM, HEALTH, UH, THE PERFORMANCE OF HEALTH OFFICER AND OTHER EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY OF ALL FUNCTIONS RELATING TO THE ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY OF ALL ORDINANCE, THERE ARE RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION AND THE MAKING OF ALL INSPECTION AND THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL FUNCTIONS IN CONNECTION.
UM, THEY'RE IN WITH THE COSTS.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S INSPECTION FEES, WHICH GOES TO COUNTY, BUT THEN I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS FUNDED ON OUR PROPERTY TAX.
AND THOUGH THEY DO GET 1% OF PROPERTY TAX FROM CITY OF WEST COVINA, CITY OF WEST COVINA, UH, GIVES, UM, LA COUNTY, APPROXIMATELY $31 MILLION.
SO WHEN WE TRANSITIONED TO, UM, OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, OBVIOUSLY I KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN LOTS OF, I MENTIONED ABOUT GETTING OUR TAX MONEY BACK BECAUSE THEY HAVE OUR PROPERTY TAX MONEY.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY STILL WILL CONTINUE TO, UM, PROVIDING US SERVICES? SO WE'RE JUST CANCELING, I MEAN, WE'RE JUST TERMINATING THE CONTRACT OF HEALTH SERVICES.
DOES IT MEAN THAT ALL THE SERVICES THAT COUNTY PROVIDES BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE OUR MONEY? I MEAN, THAT'S $31 MILLION.
UM, CAN WE, IS IF WE TERMINATE THE CONTRACT? YEAH, IT WON'T STOP.
WE STILL WILL HAVE COUNTY SERVICES SO WE CAN TRANSITION.
I MEAN, THAT'S MY, MY QUESTION PRETTY MUCH.
AND I UNDERSTAND COUNTY WAS HERE TO HELP US WITH THAT TRANSITION SO THAT DOESN'T WE'LL HAVE, WON'T HAVE ANY BURDEN ON COSTS WITH US, FOR US, CORRECT.
[03:30:01]
WELL, AND THAT WAS REAFFIRMED BOTH IN HIS PRESENTATION NIGHT AND IN HIS LETTER BY DR.DAVIS, THAT IT WAS HIS INCOME MAYOR, PRO TEM IS HOLDING LETTER IN HIS HAND WITH A IT'S THEIR INTENTION TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT WHOLE ARRAY OF SERVICES IN TERMS OF THE CITY, GETTING THAT MONEY BACK FROM THE COUNTY TO BE AN ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT AND PROVIDE THE FULL ARRAY OF SERVICES WITH THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT ARE, OUR RESIDENTS ARE NOW PAYING.
UM, THAT WOULD BE A MAJOR THING.
AND IT WOULD REQUIRE A TAX TRANSFER AGREEMENT.
IT COULD POSSIBLY REQUIRE A REFERENDUM OR STATE LEGISLATION, BUT I THINK WHAT, WHAT THEY GAVE US TODAY WAS, UH, AN INDICATION THAT THEY WANT TO BE OF ASSISTANCE AND THAT SERVICES WOULD CONTINUE ON INTERRUPTED.
SO WE WOULD STILL, IF WE DO BECOME OUR DEPARTMENT, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE WILL BE DOING THE INSPECTIONS AND EVERYTHING, AND ALL THOSE FEES WILL GO TO WEST COVINA.
UM, AND, UH, THERE WAS OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.
I JUST, UM, YEAH, SO, SO PRETTY MUCH WE DON'T HAVE TO BE A FULL BLOWN OPERATING HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE CAN HAVE A SMALLER HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THAT LOCAL CONTROL TO BE ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, MEET OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.
I MAYOR LOPEZ YADDO AND COUNCIL, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO THINK OF THESE AS IMPLEMENTATION STEPS, ASSUMING YOU GIVE THIS DIRECTION TONIGHT, TAKE A VOTE AND DECIDE THIS ISSUE.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT FOLLOWS IMMEDIATELY.
THERE'S GONNA BE RESEARCH BY THE CITY ATTORNEY INTO ORDINANCES, ADOPTIONS OF THE ORDINANCES AND CODES.
UM, WE HAVE TO PURSUE THAT, THAT PROPERTY TAX QUESTION, BE A TAX TRANSFER AGREEMENT OR STATE LEGISLATION, OR SOME OTHER MEANS WE'RE GONNA NEED TO IMMEDIATELY MEET WITH THE COUNTY REGARDING TRANSITION ISSUES AND, AND WORK OUT A LOT OF THE DETAILS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO WORK DR.
BAZELL AND, UM, ROBIN, ET CETERA, ON A REASONABLE, UM, STRUCTURE, A REASONABLE, UM, STAFFING MODEL, PREPARATION OF FEE RESOLUTIONS PREPARATION OF AN OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH WOULD BE PART OF YOUR ANNUAL MUNICIPAL BUDGET.
SO THIS DOESN'T END THE WORK THE NIGHT.
IT REALLY BEGINS IT, AND IT'S A, IT'S AN ENORMOUS TASK, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A DIRECTION FOR US TO BEGIN DOWN THAT ROAD DURING THE WHOLE TRANSITION PROCESS.
WE'RE NOT SPENDING UPFRONT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF COSTS.
WELL, THE ONLY, NO, THE, THE ONLY AUTHORITY WE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND WOULD BE IF YOU GAVE THAT AUTHORITY AS PART OF A BUDGET, AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN PREPARED YET NOR CONSIDERED BY YOU NOR APPROVED.
COUNCILMAN'S ABOUT TO BUY, UH, I'LL, I'LL STICK WITH STAFF FOR NOW.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS, UH, DOCTOR.
SO, UH, ACCORDING TO THE STATE, THERE, THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MEET IN ORDER TO, UM, FUNCTION AS, AS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WE, WE LISTED THOSE IN YOUR STAFF REPORT.
IT WAS THE SAME ONES THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S ATTORNEY WROTE IN THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT OVER AS WELL, ITEMS A THROUGH L RIGHT.
THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF WHAT THE STATE STATUTE.
SO, SO, SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE, WE HAVE TO MEET IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED A HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
OTHERWISE WE WERE NOT THAT CORRECT.
W ALL THOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE MET THE WAY THAT THEY WOULD BE MET.
I'M SURE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO WORK THROUGH.
UM, STAFF HOURS, UM, BECAUSE THAT, THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A COST, UM, WHICH, WHICH DEPARTMENTS YOU ALREADY MENTIONED, UH, OUR FINANCE, UH, YOUR OFFICE, UH, HR, UM, THE, THESE ARE, THESE ARE DEPARTMENTS THAT, UH, ACCORDING TO YOUR PRESENTATIONS ARE UNDERSTAFFED.
UM, WE HAVE A STATE AUDIT REPORT, UM, THAT TALKED ABOUT LONG-TERM PLANNING, UH, THAT WE STILL HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THAT STAFF IS, IS WORKING ON.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE NOW GOING TO ASK, UH, THE STAFF TO ALSO THEN WORK ON CREATING, UH, THIS, THIS HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO, SO AS THE CITY MANAGER, HOW, HOW FEASIBLE DO YOU USE, DO YOU SEE, UM, ACTUALLY CREATING, UH, THIS, THIS PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT? THAT, THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION.
AND I HAVE A COUPLE MORE, IF I COULD ANSWER YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION IN A GENERAL WAY, I'VE BEEN GIVEN THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT.
[03:35:01]
DAYS, COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY FROM I'D SAY CELEBRATING, BUT NOBODY'S CELEBRATING THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THIS PANDEMIC.UM, TO THIS POINT WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN, IT'S BEEN PERMANENT WHITEWATER FOR YOUR CITY AND YOUR CITY STAFF.
YOU'VE RIDDEN SOME OF THAT ROLLERCOASTER AS WE'VE PROGRESSED THROUGH THE SURGES THAT FOLLOWED AFTER THE THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS AND BOWL, UH, PEAKS.
IT WAS, IT WAS A WILD TIME FOR US AS WE WORKED HARD TO JUST RESPOND AND MAINTAIN BASIC SERVICES THROUGH, THROUGH THIS.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY THIS OUT LOUD.
UM, TO THIS POINT, IT SEEMS LIKE THE EPIDEMIC'S BEEN CALLING THE SHOTS, NOT US.
UM, A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS SHARED STORIES OF ONE PARTICULAR INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY THAT WAS ABLE TO GET RESOURCES.
I COULD SHARE MORE, UM, FIRE CHIEF AND I SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, ENGAGED WITH ONE, UM, THE WORKERS, THE UNION MEMBERS OF ONE PARTICULAR FACILITY THAT I WON'T NAME PUBLICLY HERE.
UM, WE'RE JUST, UM, QUITE JUSTIFIABLY UPSET ABOUT HORRIFIC CONDITIONS WITHIN ONE OF THOSE FACILITIES.
AND WE RESPONDED TO, UH, CAUSE IT WASN'T OUR JOB, BUT WE HAD A NEED.
AND, AND, AND THE RESPONSE OF GOVERNMENT TO THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN, UM, PONDEROUSLY SLOW.
AND I THINK ONE COMMON THEME I HEAR THROUGHOUT, I HEAR IT FROM, FROM OUR BUSINESSES, FROM OUR, EVERYWHERE I GO, IS THAT ALL OF THESE ASPECTS OF THE RESPONSE BY GOVERNMENT TO THE PANDEMIC, BE IT, UM, CONFUSING ARRAY OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT ORDERS OR COVID TESTING OR VACCINATIONS OR PATIENT TRANSPORT, OR AN OVERWHELMED HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
THE COMMON THEME, PLEASE DON'T INTERRUPT ME.
I WANT TO ANSWER IT'S IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
IF I MAY HAVE THE FLOOR
I'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE POINTS I WANT TO MAKE IT'S IN REGARDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, I ASKED FOR THE FEASIBILITY OF THE STAFF, HOW MANY HOURS THAT WAS THE QUESTION CITY MANAGER.
UH, I, I UNDERSTAND, AND, AND I, I CAN ASK OTHER QUESTIONS THAT CAN GET TO THOSE, THOSE ASPECTS, BUT TRYING TO GET, UM, SOME ANSWERS TO HOW MANY HOURS IN STAFFING WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T GET A REPORT ON THOSE THINGS, UH, FEASIBILITY OF STAFF.
I MEAN, HE'S ALSO EXPLAINING HOW WE'RE BEING AFFECTED REGARDING WITH THE COVID THE STAFF THAT IS BEING UTILIZED CURRENTLY DURING THIS COVID TIMES, THAT ALSO HAS A BEARING THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN CONSIDERING THAT WHEN COUNTY SERVICES IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE THESE THINGS YET, OUR CITY IS DOING THE RESOURCES AND PROVIDING THAT WE ARE VOTING AS, AND OUR CITY MANAGER IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK.
I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF THAT THE NUMBER ONE COMMON THEME I HEAR FROM RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC, AND IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE THAT HAVE GREAT JOBS AND GREAT HEALTHCARE, BUT IT'S PEOPLE ON THE FRINGE IS THEY WANT US TO GET IT TOGETHER.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT.
UM, FROM, FROM A CITY MANAGER'S PERSPECTIVE, FROM A MUNICIPAL PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THAT THE COUNTY AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAVE FAILED TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND.
IT'S JUST, HASN'T BEEN SUFFICIENT AND NO DOUBT GIVEN THE ENORMITY OF THE TASK, THERE'S REASONS WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO, BUT THERE'S SUCH CONSIDER ONE MET NEED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I THINK IT'S, IT'S CERTAINLY WORTH A LOOK HERE.
I HAVEN'T COSTED OUT THE HOURS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION IN TERMS OF HOW MANY STAFF TIMES WILL BE, WILL BE, WILL BE NEEDED.
BUT, UM, I THINK IT'S JUST A PANDEMIC RESPONSE THAT'S REQUIRED GIVEN THE ENORMITY OF THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION.
UH, SO, UH, ANOTHER, UH, QUESTION, UH, I HAD, UH, REGARDING, UH, THE S THE STARTUP COST.
SO, UH, AGAIN, BECAUSE WE, WE DIDN'T, UH, GET ANYTHING COSTED OUT BY STAFF.
UH, I, IN 2000, UH, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DID THEIR, THEIR LONG-TERM STUDY ABOUT STARTING A COUNTY, UH, OR STARTING THEIR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT SEPARATING FROM COUNTY.
UH, THEY, THEY IDENTIFIED THAT IT WOULD BE A COST TO THEM, A $50 MILLION A YEAR, BUT THAT THE STARTUP COST A TWO YEAR STARTUP COSTS WOULD BE $330 MILLION.
[03:40:01]
WHO PUT OUT THEIR REPORT ON JANUARY 12TH, UH, ALSO PROJECTED THAT THEIR, THEIR COSTS WOULD RUN ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO $15 MILLION, UH, SIMILAR TO OURS.AND THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THAT IT WOULD COST THEM UPWARDS OF SIX TIMES THE ANNUAL COST TO START UP, WHICH IS ANYWHERE FROM 60 TO $90 MILLION TO START UP.
SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THESE OTHER CITIES, UH, HAVE, ARE, HAVE STARTED TO PROVIDE NUMBERS.
DO, DOES THE STAFF HAVE ANY NUMBERS FOR US THAT WE CAN THAT DISPUTE WHAT, UM, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, UH, THE CITY OF SAN DEMAS, UM, PROVIDED TO, TO THEIR, THEIR COUNCIL? UH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS ACTUALLY, UH, IS, UH, PIGGYBACKING AND THE CITY OF WEST COVINA IS SUBSIDIZING, UH, THE STUDY FOR THEM.
UH, THEY SAID, UH, STAFF REACHED OUT TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA PER DISCUSSION BY THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING NEWS, THAT THEY WERE LOOKING TO CREATE THEIR OWN PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER.
UH, IT SAYS HERE THIS LAST ONE, UH, STAFF ALSO CONTACTED THE CITY OF LAVERNE CLAREMONT GLENDORA ON POMONA, WHO ARE ALL INTERESTED IN THE WEST COVINA ANALYSIS STAFF PLANS TO REMAIN IN DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO DO ALL THE WORK FOR THE SURROUNDING CITIES.
SO, UH, AGAIN, THE, THE STARTUP COST FROM THE JANUARY 19TH MEETING TO NOW, WHAT, WHAT HAS STAFF RESEARCHED IN TERMS OF ACTUAL NUMBERS OF STARTUP COSTS? WE HAVEN'T YET PREPARED BUDGETS AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION STEPS.
I WOULD, I WOULD CHARACTERIZE THESE COSTS AS A DIRECT AND REASONABLE RESPONSE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC.
AND, AND PERHAPS THE, THE PRICE OF LEADERSHIP, THE OTHER CITIES ARE QUITE INTERESTED IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
YOU NAMED SEVERAL, AND I COULD NAME SEVERAL MORE WHERE THEIR CITY MANAGERS HAVE CALLED ME, BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU MIGHT BE DOING WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET BEING $67 MILLION.
I WON'T COME IN WITH ANY $90 MILLION SOLUTIONS, BECAUSE NOBODY'S MORE AWARE OF WHAT OUR BUDGET LIMITATIONS ARE THEN THAN ME.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING THAT'S APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLE IN A STARTUP BUDGET THAT WOULD ENABLE US TO GET A FUNCTION UP AND RUNNING APPROPRIATE, TO TRY TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THESE NEEDS.
I DON'T HAVE A BUDGET FOR YOU THIS EVENING.
I KNOW NONE OF US ARE COMFORTABLE WITH AMBIGUITY, RIGHT? TH THIS, THIS GOES TO, TO, TO THE QUESTION, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE CITIES THAT HAVE DONE, DONE THE WORK AND THEY'VE PROVIDED US WITH, WITH NUMBERS.
YOU KNOW, SO I, I GUESS I'M, I'M ASKING, CONSIDERING THE RULES BY THE STATE, RIGHT? SO THE STATE HAS REQUIREMENTS THAT, THAT WE MUST, UH, WE MUST MEET.
AND, AND AGAIN, UM, LIKE I SAID, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IS REALLY THE LAST MAJOR CITY TO ATTEMPT THIS AND, AND THEY DID A LONG-TERM STUDY, UH, AND THEY, THEY FOUND THAT THE STARTUP COSTS WERE ACTUALLY JUST TOO PHENOMENAL.
DID THAT INCLUDE BUYING REAL ESTATE OR CARS? THAT JUST THAT NUMBER MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.
I, I, I WOULD ASK FOR NUMBERS FROM, FROM OUR CITY.
I, I W I WISH I HAD OTHER NUMBERS TO GO BY.
I HAVE, I HAVE WITH THE CITY OF SAN DEMAS STAFF REPORT, THE CITY OF SAN MS. STAFF REPORT PROVIDED NUMBERS THAT THE CITY OF LOSS IN REAL ESTATE, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES PROVIDED NUMBERS, THE CITY OF SAN DEMONS.
AND I GUESS I WOULD LET ME ASK THE QUESTION TO, UH, LEGAL.
SO THE, THE CITY OF SAN DEMAS, UM, WHEN THEY DID THE PRESENTATION AND WHY THEY, UH, WERE AGAINST, UM, REALLY THEY RECOMMENDED NOT TO, TO BREAK AWAY, WAS THEY THE TAX ASSESSMENT, RIGHT? THAT THE 1% GOES TO COUNTY.
AND AGAIN, THEY, THEY SAID, UH, AND HERE HERE'S THE, THE QUOTE, ACCORDING TO OUR PROPERTY AND SALES TAX CONSULTANT, IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT IF THE CITY WERE TO CREATE ITS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IT WOULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX THAT IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE COUNTY FOR SERVICES.
IF THE CITY WERE TO CREATE OUR OWN DEPARTMENT, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND AND FEDERAL STATE
[03:45:01]
GRANTS.SO DUE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, THE OBLIGATION OF THE COUNTY TO RETURN MONEY TO US, ARE THEY OBLIGATED TO RETURN MONEY TO US? MADAM, I REMEMBER THAT THE COUNTS ON LEAVE CITY MANAGER RESPONDED TO THAT QUESTION EARLIER, AND HE WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN ME.
I'VE, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATING TAX TRANSFER AGREEMENTS WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES.
IT GOES THROUGH THE COUNTY FISCAL OFFICER.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, UM, THAT IS A DAUNTING TASK TO GET THEM TO VOLUNTARILY AGREE.
SO, UM, I'M SURE IT WOULD BE A POLITICAL PROCESS.
IT MIGHT REQUIRE A VOTE, A COUNTYWIDE VOTE OR REFERENDUM.
IT MIGHT REQUIRE STATE LEGISLATION MIGHT REQUIRE A MULTIPLE MULTITUDE OF SOLUTIONS, A PACKAGE OF SOLUTIONS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S IN ANY WAY TODAY, A CERTAINTY, WHAT WE DO KNOW, AND WE KNOW IN WRITING IS THAT THEY'VE GUARANTEED FOR THE MONEY WE'RE PAYING.
THEY'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES ARE NOT PROVIDED.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT OTHER ANALYSES OMIT IS THE FEAR THAT THEY'LL CEASE TO PROVIDE THOSE, WHICH THEY WILL.
SO, SO THIS IS THE QUESTION FOR THE ATTORNEY.
SO THAT LETTER WE DID RECEIVE, UH, FROM THE COUNTY, WHICH FEELS REISH ASSURING, DOES THAT, IS THAT A LEGAL GUARANTEE, OR CAN THEY ADD A CERTAIN POINT ONCE THEY SEE WHAT THE CITY OF WEST COVINA HAS INTENDED? CAN THEY SAY, ALL RIGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT, AT THIS POINT WE ARE GOING TO STOP RENDERING SERVICES.
THAT LETTER IS NOT MATTER OF MERIT.
THAT LETTER IS NOT A LEGAL GUARANTEE.
IT'S JUST, IT'S A LETTER, BUT I WOULD, I WOULD DEFER TO DR.
BAZELL WITH REGARD TO WHEN THEY CAN STOP.
AND WHEN THEY, AND, UH, SO JUST, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT IS NOT A LEGALLY BINDING.
SO IT WAS A LETTER SAYING THEY WANT TO REACH OUT AND WORK WITH US SAME FLAT WAY.
BAZEL, CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION IN REGARDS TO, UM, OUR MONEY GO WITHIN COUNTY, UM, AND SERVICES CAN, CAN LA COUNTY SAY WE'RE NOT GONNA PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AND TRANSITIONING THAT I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION? NO, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IT.
IT BE SERVED BY THE DAY BY THE LEGAL COUNSEL.
UH, I LISTEN TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TABATA BY REGARDING HOW MUCH OKAY.
OAC TEA, BUT AOCD, DOESN'T NEED A HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS THEIR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WE BASICALLY BASED ON WHAT THE NUMBER OF AACT, BECAUSE THEY ARE BIG CITY, SO WHY THEY NEED TO PROVIDE A NOD OF A OKAY.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THE SERVICE AND THE REASON WE WANT TO DO IT.
ON WEST COVINA, BECAUSE WE JUST LACK OF SERVICE.
WE VERY DIFFICULT USING GABRIEL VALLEY TO RECEIVE ANY SERVICE OKAY.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING HERE.
IF WE, IF, UH, IF, UH, IF A COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DO SUCH A GOOD JOB, WE'LL SIT OVER HERE.
SHALL WE DO THIS? WE JUST DIDN'T RUN IT.
RESIDENTS, TAKE CARE OF OUR SENIOR TO GET OUR CHILDREN, TO GET OUT OF SCHOOL, TO GALLUP BUSINESS.
AND IF THEY'RE DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB, WE WON'T BE ONE YEAR LATER, WE STILL INDEPENDENT MC AND LAC LA COUNTY IS STILL IN THE WORST COUNTY IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES.
SO IT MUST BE SOME POLICY THAT IS REALM.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE OKAY.
OR THIS PANDEMIC AFTER IF WE CAN OPEN THE SCHOOL, IF WE CAN GET THE TEACHERS OKAY.
VACCINATE, AND WE OPENED THE SCHOOL, CAN WE GO INTO, WE DON'T HAVE ALL BREAK AGAIN AND WE CAN SHUT DOWN AGAIN.
CAN WE, CAN WE GUARANTEE YOU, WE HAVE ANOTHER STREAM FOUND SOUTH AFRICA AND THE, WITH THE VACCINE DOESN'T WORK.
SO WE ARE GOING TO SHUT DOWN AGAIN.
HOW MANY TIMES WE HAVE TO GET SHUT DOWN.
SO WHILE WE LEARN, OKAY, WHAT WE'RE DOING, THIS IS WHY WE TRY TO PROACTIVE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO THE LOCAL, TO WHICH ODOR OR THE HOME, OR THE PEOPLE AS A PERSON THAT WE KNOW EVERYBODY WE KNOW.
ALL THE WAIT TIME AT HOME, WHEN THEY NEED HELP, WE DARE FOR THEM RIGHT AWAY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THEM.
AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A RESOURCE.
AND, UH, THAT'S WHY WE, WE, WE, WE STRUGGLING AND WE'RE SCREAMING AND WE TRY TO GET RESULTS.
AND THAT, AND THEY CANNOT REACH ALL THE AREAS, ESPECIALLY OUR AREA.
FOCUS IS SO, SO, SO, SO THE POINTS, THIS IS HOW WE STOP THIS PANDEMIC, HOW WE STOP THE FUTURE.
AND THE ROOM DOESN'T BELIEVE IN ONE DAY, RON, DOESN'T BELIEVE IN LIKE ONE DAY WE HAVE TO IN THE INVENTORY FROM THE BEGINNING IN A SMALL, BASIC SERVICE.
AND LIZ TRIED TO GET RESOLVED, HELP THE PEOPLE IN NEED FOR PEOPLE CANNOT GET VACCINE FOR PEOPLE CANNOT HAVE A MOBILITY FOR PEOPLE HAVE ISSUE.
[03:50:01]
REACH OUT TO THEM.AND ANOTHER THING THAT HAVE SOME COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER, OKAY.
WITH OUR MEDICAL DOCTORS, OKAY.
LEADERSHIP GO TO OUTREACH FOR THE PEOPLE, FIND OUT THE PEOPLE, THEY NEED A SWAB, THEY NEED SERVICE AND LESS, ONLY WAY WE CAN STOP THIS PANDEMIC.
BUT WITHOUT DOING THAT, I CAN GO INTO WITH COUNTY THAT, THAT HISTORY WHERE REPEAT AGAIN, AND ADD TO NOW, WANT TO SEE MY CHILDREN CONTINUE TO INCREASE AGAIN AGAIN.
AND WE WANT TO DO THIS AND THAT WE WANT YOUR HELP.
AND THE STARTING BUILDING, UH, INFANT HEALTH.
AND THE, WE WILL TELL THE COUNTY, WE WOULD TELL DAN, WE'RE VERY UPSET WITH YOU BECAUSE IN GABRIEL VALLEY, WE DON'T HAVE A RESOURCE AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF A SAY, WE WILL HAVE A SAY, WE WILL, OUR TAXPAYER WILL PAY YOU $10 MILLION TO HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHILE WE HAVE, THEY MAY BE MOVE OUT MONEY TO SOMEPLACE ELSE.
SO WE, WE DON'T MIND, THEY MOVE OUR MONEY SOMEPLACE ELSE, GIVE A HOUR WHILE WE NEEDED THE PROPER TREATMENT TO OUR RESIDENT, TO OUR SENIOR, TO OUR KID, TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.
I WANT TO MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
SEND A LETTER TO QUICK AWAY FROM LA COUNTY MATTER MATTER MATTER MATTER TONIGHT, TONIGHT, TONIGHT ON YOUR STAFF REPORT, YOU HAVE TWO ACTIONS, THE OPTA RESOLUTION TERMINATING AND TERMINATING THE HEALTH OFFICER SERVICES.
THE SECOND MOTION IS TO, IS TO INTRODUCE AND ADOPT BY FOUR FIFTH VOTE OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL TO TERMINATE THE HEALTH OFFICER SERVICES AS WELL.
SO YOU NEED TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS.
MY QUESTION THOUGH, BEFORE WE CONTINUE ON.
UM, SO CAN WE, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT IN ORDER TO CREATE OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE NEED TO TERMINATE THAT'S BY LAW.
SO CAN WE, I MEAN, IF WE DO PROCEED, ARE WE ABLE TO TERMINATE SO THAT WE CAN CREATE OUR OWN DEPARTMENT HEALTH, BUT DURING THAT TRANSITION OF FINE CLAUSE, THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT WE PAID 31 MILLION TO LA COUNTY, THAT THE TRANSITION THAT THEY CONTINUE THE SERVICES UNTIL WE TRANSITION.
SO IT'S NOT 100%, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THEY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO ASSIST, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE'RE STILL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER AS WE TRANSITION THROUGH.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE, THEY'VE SAID TO US.
I ALSO KNOW THAT FOR A INDEPENDENT LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO BE, UM, RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE WOULD REQUIRE A STATE CERTIFICATION, WHICH IS ANOTHER SUBSEQUENT PROCESS.
SO THERE'S, THERE WOULD BE SEVERAL STEPS THAT HAVE TO BE GONE THROUGH BEFORE THE CITY WERE COMPLETELY, UM, DRIVING THIS BICYCLE WITHOUT TRAINING WHEELS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVING OUR OWN TO HEALTH DEPARTMENT COULD TAKE ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO YEARS IN TRANSITION.
UM, BUT MY, UH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SERVICES ARE NOT BEING BROKEN.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRANSITION IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S SMOOTH IF I DON'T WANT TO GO BY JUST THE WORD WITH WHAT THE LA COUNTY IS, IF YOU DO THE TERMINATION LETTER, CAN THAT ALSO BE INCLUDED ON THAT? I ASSUME WHEN WE WERE TO SEND A TERMINATION LETTER, WE COULD, UM, REPEAT BACK TO THEM THE SAME LANGUAGE THEY GAVE US IN THE LETTER TODAY.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING TO THIS POINT? NO, NO GUARANTEE THEY HAVE OUR MONEY, BUT NO, I UNDERSTOOD, BUT LEGALLY THERE'S, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE MADAM MATTER, WE'RE STILL UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY SERVICES.
SO TONIGHT YOU ARE TERMINATING THE HEALTH OFFICER SERVICES TO ENFORCE WARRANTIED ORDERS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT REQUIRES A FOUR MONTH, UM, NOTICE.
AND THAT HEALTH SERVICES IS ONLY A PORTION OF OFFICER SERVICES, A HEALTH OFFICER.
IT'S NOT THE WHOLE, WHAT EVERYBODY'S DISCUSSING OF THE WHOLE COMPONENT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, JUST THE HEALTH SERVICES.
AND, AND YOU HAVE TO GIVE 30 DAYS NOTICE TO TERMINATE THE COUNTY SERVICES THAT WE WERE IN CONTACT WITH THEM NOW.
ONE OF THE OPTIONS WAS TO REACH OUT.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE SOME OPTIONS WE'LL W DAVE AND I WILL DISCUSS THAT.
AND WHEN WE SERVE THIS ON THE CLERK OF THE BOARD, WE'LL ADD THAT LANGUAGE IN THERE AS WELL.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR CITY HAVE OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD LIKE THAT IT FOCUSES ON OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS AND THAT RESOURCES ARE GIVEN.
UM, I KNOW AT TIMES WE'RE BEGGING, UM, THERE, YOU KNOW, DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHEN
[03:55:01]
THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESSES WERE HAVING ISSUES, WE, AS A COUNCIL WROTE TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, WHICH BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ARE THE ONES WHO DIRECT COUNTY.AND WE WERE OUT VOTED THREE TO TWO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO OPEN OUTDOOR DINING, EVEN THOUGH WE STATED OUR CASE, WE HAD THE DATA, WE HAD THE FACTS THAT WE HAD A LOW COVID CASE.
UM, AND I KNOW MOST OF THE RESIDENTS JUST WENT TO ANOTHER COUNTY TO ANOTHER, UH, LOCATION WHERE THEY HAD THE OUTDOOR DINING.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE, WE'VE SENT THINGS.
IT'S JUST, IT GOES TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO SAYS YES OR NO.
UM, AND SO LET ME SEE, I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN, BUT, UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS I, I DID OR DO, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THIS IS A, WE'RE GOING TO WEAN OURSELVES SLOWLY FROM THE COUNTY AND THAT MAY TAKE YEARS.
SO I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD START OFF WITH THE THINGS THAT WE WANT DONE, WHICH IS MAYBE THE VACCINES.
AND AS FAR AS GETTING INCOME FROM OUR, UM, WHAT IS IT, THE INSPECTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR THE INCOME.
AND, AND THEN, UM, WORK ON TRYING TO GET OUR VACCINES AND, AND, UM, I, WHAT DOES THE TESTING AND WE GOT TO START SLOW.
IT'S IT'S, TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE JUST GONNA WEAN OURSELVES OFF OF THE COUNTY, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS AND IT'S NOT GONNA, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE, UM, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, ABANDONED.
I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A SLOW PROCESS.
THAT'S THE WAY IT SOUNDS AND SOUNDS TO ME LIKE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO, UM, TAKE CARE OF US, TAKE CARE OF THE WEST KOREAN RESIDENTS THAT ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING ANY OF THEIR BENEFITS, WHICH I DON'T KNOW WHAT BENEFITS THEY'RE RECEIVING RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A BIG CONCERN AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HELP US.
I DO SEE A CON UH, CONSENSUS, EVEN THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE CITY GO TO COUNTY AT THIS TIME.
I KNOW SOME WOULD EVENTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT GO THROUGH THERE.
THE CONSENSUS IS THAT LA COUNTY, THE SERVICE PROVIDES NOT THE SERVICES OF THE CALIBER THAT EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE.
UM, I MEAN, WE DO SEE IT THROUGHOUT DELAY SERVICES.
IF YOU SEE OUR LOCAL NEARBY OFFICE LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, YOU COULD SEE THE REVIEWS AND ALL THE NEGATIVE AND FRUSTRATION OF WHAT IT OCCURS.
UM, EVEN THE DELIVERANCE OF CERTAIN THINGS WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PRIVATE, UM, DEPARTMENT HEALTH, THE TURNAROUND IS QUICKER VERSUS LA COUNTY, ANYWHERE FROM 30, 60, 90 DAYS.
I KNOW CITY OF VERNON, A TURNAROUND IS ONLY 14 DAYS.
UM, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH TERMINATION, THAT THE TRANSITION IS THE SUPPORT IS THERE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
I ACTUALLY, I HAVE, UH, LET ME FINISH MY MOTION.
UH, I'VE UH, I HAVE A STAFF QUESTION I HAVE TO PULL AWAY SO INDIVIDUALLY OR BOTH TOGETHER, SO I'M GOING TO MOVE THE FIRST MOTION.
AYE, MAN, MAN, I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION REGARDING, UM, UH, UH, PERMITTING AND INSPECTIONS.
SO, UH, UH, CITY MANAGER, UH, ACCORDING TO, UH, OUR FIRE CHIEF, UM, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE HAD, UH, 25 LOCATIONS THAT WE IDENTIFIED AS NOT BEING INFECT INSPECTED, UH, THROUGH BUILDING INSPECTIONS.
SO, UH, AS, AS A CITY, UM, THAT RUNS ITS, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND INSPECTS, UH, ITS BUILDINGS.
UM, WE, WE HAVE FAILED TO, TO MEET THAT, THAT NEED.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, UH, HOW, HOW CONFIDENT DO YOU FEEL ONE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO, TO RECTIFY WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE NOT BEEN DOING? UH, TWO, HOW CONFIDENT DO YOU FEEL THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO NOW AS A, AS A CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT FALL, UM, VICTIM TO NOT CONDUCTING HEALTH INSPECTIONS AND OPENING UP THE CITY TO LITIGATION AND LIABILITY.
I BELIEVE THE CITY CAN MAKE THE INSPECTIONS THAT IT'S REQUIRED TO MAKE UNDER THESE CODES.
OH, SO, SO I GUESS THE, THE QUESTION ON FIRE.
SO WE, WE ARE RECTIFYING THE, UH, 20, OR WAS THE FIRE CHIEF INCORRECT WHEN HE PRESENTED, UH, EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, APPROXIMATELY 25, 2,500 LOCATIONS WERE IDENTIFIED AS NOT BEING INSPECTED.
[04:00:01]
IS THAT ACCURATE FROM THE FIRE CHIEF, UH, THROUGH THE CHAIR? I BELIEVE THAT IS ACCURATE.SO I GUESS, UM, WHAT, WHAT IS PROVIDING YOU THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO, UM, MEET THE NEEDS OF, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH IN TERMS OF INSPECTIONS? WHEN, WHEN CURRENTLY WE AREN'T MEETING THE NEEDS OF BUILDING SAFETY, UM, THROUGH OUR FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU, WE'VE DONE SOME INITIAL WORK IN TERMS OF THE INSPECTIONS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED BY A CERTIFIED HEALTH INSPECTOR FOR, UM, RESTAURANTS AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT KINDS OF OCCUPANTS THAT ARE COVERED UNDER THOSE CODES.
AND WE THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING IN SUPPLEMENTAL STAFF TO BEGIN AN INSPECTION PROGRAM ON A, ON A REGULAR AND ROUTINE BASIS FOR THOSE KINDS OF OCCUPANCIES AND FOR THE OTHER PIECES OF THE CODE THAT WOULD NEED TO BE, UM, MONITORED, BE IT UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS OR WHATEVER THOSE CODES WOULD REQUIRE.
IT IS GOING TO MEAN WE'LL HAVE TO DEVELOP A STAFFING PLAN AND MODEL AND A BUDGET, AND TO HAVE THOSE EXPERTISE AS PART OF THOSE INSPECTIONS THAT WE'RE SENDING OUT, PEOPLE THAT ARE QUALIFIED TO DO THEM.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T PUT TOGETHER YET, BUT THAT'S A PIECE THAT WE WOULD OWE YOU AND WE'LL RETURN WITH THAT.
AND I HA I HAD A FEE QUESTION.
SO, UH, ACCORDING TO THE STATE AUDIT REPORT, UH, OUR, OUR FEES, UH, BUILDING FEES, UH, LICENSING FEES AND THINGS, UH, FOR, FOR MANY YEARS WAS WAY BELOW.
UM, OTHER CITIES, BASICALLY THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA HAVE BEEN SUBSIDIZING SMALL BUSINESSES AND, AND BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS.
UM, SO ONE OF THE, WE, WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING A FEE STUDY, RIGHT.
UM, SO, UM, MY, MY QUESTION, BECAUSE WE ARE THINKING OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THOSE, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT FEES, WHICH, WHICH THEY SPOKE ABOUT, UM, YOU, YOU COMMUNICATED TO ME THAT, UH, IT'S, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THOSE FEES WOULD, WOULD BE ABOVE WHAT, UH, THE COUNTY CURRENTLY CHARGES, UM, UP TO TWO TIMES, UH, THE, THE FEE RATE THAT THEY CURRENTLY PAY IN ORDER TO, UH, FUND, UH, THIS HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE, THE STATE LAW THROUGH THE CHAIR, THE STATE LAW WOULD REQUIRE THAT WHEN WE SET FEES BY COUNCIL RESOLUTION, THAT IF WE SET THEM IN LINE WITH THE COST REASONABLY BORN IN THE PROVISION OF THE SERVICE.
SO WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE THEM AS A, AS A PROFIT CENTER OR A MONEY MAKER, BUT WE ARE ALLOWED TO RECOVER FULL COSTS, INCLUDING, UH, THE OVERHEAD THAT THE THIRD FLOOR OF CITY HALL, HR AND LEGAL AND FINANCE AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
IT, UM, ONE OF THE PIECES OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL RECOVERY PLAN IS THAT WE ARE COMMITTING AS PART OF THAT PLAN, WHICH WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE STATE AUDITOR IN JUNE, THAT WE'LL DO A FEE STUDY.
THE FEE STUDY IS, UM, NOT ONLY APPLYING TO THESE KINDS OF FEES, BUT TO THE CHARGES THAT ARE LEVIED FOR ASSESSMENT, DISTRICTS, AND OTHER PIECES.
UM, THE, UM, RFP HAS BEEN DRAFTED.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF IT'S BEEN ISSUED, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PART OF THE WORK PROGRAM IN RESPONSE TO THE STATE AUDIT AND THE FINANCIAL RECOVERY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE FINDING THE, MOVE, MY MOTION, PLEASE.
AND THEY'LL FIRST, UH, FIRST AGENDA, RIGHT? OKAY.
COULD YOU TO CLICK AND YOU'LL READ IT.
THE MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN LEWIS FOR RESOLUTION 2021 DASH 15, ALL SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER TBA, COUNCILMAN WILL ANNOUNCE A WOMAN DIAZ.
AND I WANTED TO MOVE THE MOTION FOR THE SECOND AGENDA.
SO AGAIN, BEFORE I TAKE ROLL, I'M GOING TO READ THE TITLE URGENCY ORDINANCE NUMBER TWO, FOUR SEVEN, SIX, AND URGENCY URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA TERMINATING THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER SERVICES RELATING TO ORDERS AND QUARANTINE REGULATIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH,
[04:05:01]
OR THE REGULATIONS ISSUED UNDER THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE AND STATUTES RELATING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL MEMBER TO BOSSA BY COUNCILMAN WU, COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ.I MAY APPROACH HIM CUSSED ALONZO'S MAYOR LOPEZ.
BEATO I JUST MAKE SURE YOU PUT IN THE TRANSITIONAL PRINT.
OCEAN IS APPROVED FOR ONE, ANY OTHER, OKAY.
SO, UH, I ADJOURN THE MEETING.
THANK YOU FOR MEETING ADJOURN.