[00:00:04]
[Call to Order]
WELCOME TO OUR APRIL, 2021 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.TONIGHT'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY PASTOR MATT CHAVEZ FROM ONE IN ALL CHURCH, WEST COVINA AND COUNCIL WOMEN DIAZ.
WE'LL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, ALL RISE, LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT BEAUTIFUL DAY THAT YOU'VE MADE LORD THAT WE HAVE LIFE LORD, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER.
LORD, THAT YOU'VE ALLOWED US IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY THAT WE LIVE IN TO COME TOGETHER.
LORD, AND WE PRAY LORD THAT OUR CITY ARDEN WILL BE PROSPEROUS GOD, BECAUSE WE, YOU ASK US TO PRAY GOD, BECAUSE WHEN THE CITY PROSPERS, WE PROSPER, OUR PEOPLE PROSPER.
OUR, OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS PROSPER LORD, AND THEN MORE THAN EVER LORD, DO WE KNOW WE NEED YOU.
AND WE THANK YOU GOD, FOR YOUR EVER WISDOM LORD, THAT YOU PROVIDE YOUR GUIDANCE, YOUR DIRECTION.
AND WE ASK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE LORD, IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT, AS WE HAVE MANY DISCUSSIONS TO GO THROUGH LORD, IN MANY TOPICS, WE KNOW YOU ARE STILL GOD AND YOU WERE STILL IN CHARGE GUIDE.
AND WE ASK YOU JUST FOR YOUR, YOUR DIRECTION, LORD UPON US, WE ASK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSING UPON EACH AND EVERY PERSON HERE, ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OUR, OUR MAYOR, AND THEN ALL OF OUR TEAMS, LORD, ALL OF OUR OFFICERS, LORD, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL LORD FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR SERVICE.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THEIR FAMILY, THEIR MARRIAGES, THEIR CHILDREN.
AND WE JUST THANK YOU, GOD THAT WE CAN COME TONIGHT JUST TO BE UNITED LORD, WHATEVER WAY THAT LOOKS LIKE.
I KNOW WE GET TO EXPRESS SO MANY OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS AND IDEAS, BUT THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL NATURE OF, OF OUR GOVERNMENT LORD.
WE GET TO COME TO BE A PART OF IT, LORD, TO PARTICIPATE.
IN JESUS NAME, EVERYBODY SAID, AMEN.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, ROLL CALL PLEASE.
NOW COUNCIL MEMBER TO BY PRESIDENT COUNCILMAN WU COUNCIL, WOMAN DIAZ HERE, MAYOR PRO TEM CASTELLANO'S MAYOR LOPEZ V AUTO PRESENT A CITY ATTORNEY.
IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE REPORTED OUT OF CLOSED SESSION? THANK YOU.
[Proclamation for Global Love Day: The Love Foundation Announces the 18th Annual "GLOBAL LOVE DAY"- May 1, 2021]
ON TO PRESENTATION IS I LOVE FOUNDATION AND NOW ANNUAL GLOBAL LOVE BIGTHE LOVE FOUNDATION IS A FIVE OH ONE
IS THIS PEOPLE BY BUILDING PRACTICAL FOUNDATION AND EXPERIENCE LOVE INDIVIDUALS AND BY THEIR EDUCATION.
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT THEY WANTED TO SAY IN REGARDING TO THAT GLOBAL LOVE
[00:05:01]
DAY? OKAY.SO BEFORE MOVING TO ORAL COMMUNICATION, WE DO HAVE AN ADJOURNMENT GRACE PUG OR IN MARCH 11, 1937, HEAVEN BOUND APRIL SIX, 2021.
SHE WAS 84 YEARS OLD FOR OVER 38 YEARS.
GRACE PUG SERVED AS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY.
AND AS A LEGISLATIVE AMBASSADOR VOLUNTEER WITH THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK, GRACE SURVIVED BREAST CANCER.
SHE LOST HER MOM AND GRANDSON TO CANCER.
AND HER TWO OLDER SISTERS HAD CANCER.
HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE DISEASE HELP DRIVE HER DEEP AND PROFOUND COMMITMENT TO OR VOLUNTEER WORK, TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST CANCER.
SHE DEVOTED COUNTLESS HOURS OF HER TIME AND WORK TIRELESSLY TO HELP EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION AND SUPPORT PATIENTS, SURVIVORS, AND CAREGIVERS, WHETHER IT WAS THROUGH A REACH TO RECOVERY VISIT OR WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT OR DELIVERING SOME OF HER WONDERFUL COOKIES.
OUR GOAL WAS TO SERVE OTHERS, SEE A CURE FOR THIS DISEASE AND THE MOST IMPORTANT, THE ASSIST SHOW THROUGH EXAMPLE THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE HOPE THAT YOU HAD TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BEAT THE CANCER FOR OVER A YEAR.
AS THE HEALTH ISSUE ESCALATED.
SHE MET EACH ONE HEAD-ON AS AN ADVOCATE WITH THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK.
SHE USED HER BOUNDLESS ENERGY, PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM TO HELP BUILD SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC POLICY THAT HELPS ADVANCE THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER.
SHE WAS INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE AS USING HER VOICE TO HELP OTHERS TO ENSURE THAT FEWER PEOPLE HEAR THE WORDS YOU HAVE CANCER.
SHE HAD BEEN EMPLOYED AND WE RETIRED FROM QUEEN OF THE VALLEY HOSPITAL IN WEST COVINA.
SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER CHILDREN, BUD, KATHY AND KEN AND SIX GRANDCHILDREN AND EIGHT GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
AND NOW SHE'S RESTING IN PEACE.
WE ADJOURNED TONIGHT'S MEMORY ON HER BEHALF.
[ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - Five (5) minutes per speaker]
NOW ON TO ORAL COMMUNICATION.IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, PLEASE FILL OUT A YELLOW SPEAKER CARD AND SUBMIT IT TO THE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE TONIGHT? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.
AND THEN JUST TO LET THE AUDIENCE KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT THAT ONE WILL BE SAVED DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING TIME.
AND THIS IS FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS LCMS MEN FOLLOWED BY JERRY PATRISSE, FOLLOWED BY JOHN CARSON.
MY NAME IS ELSIE MOSMAN, A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA IN CASE THE COUNCIL DOESN'T KNOW WHAT A VULTURE LIST VOUCHER LIST IS.
I'M GIVING YOU ALL A FEW SAMPLES AND YOU SHOULD BE CHECKING THESE EVERY WEEK.
NOW REGARDING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY, WAS IT REALLY NECESSARY? IF A VOTE WAS TAKEN TODAY, IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT.
IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT OUTCOME BY THE PEOPLE.
MOST OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS WERE DONE BY THE GOVERNOR AND NOT BY THE LA HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
HOPEFULLY THE STATE WILL REJECT THIS IDEA.
WE ARE SPENDING TIME AND MONEY THAT COULD BE PUT TO BETTER USE.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST.
AND NOW, AND IN THE YEARS TO COME, THIS ITEM WAS APPROVED BY THE MAYOR THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CITY MANAGER, WHICH MOST OF US FEEL ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO MAKE THE DECISION WE NEED.
NUMBER ONE, WE NEED THE FIXING OF THE POT HOLES ON OUR STREETS AND KEEP IT UP TO THE GRAFFITI IS A MESS.
THERE IS NO COLOR MATCHING THE PAIN.
THEY SEEM TO OPEN ONE CAN OF PAINT AND PAINT ALL THE WALLS, REGARDLESS OF THE COLOR.
THE MEMBER'S DISEASE COUNCIL SHOULD GO ON AND LOOK AT IT FOR THEMSELVES, GO TO EMAR AND SHADOW OAK OR DOWN GALAS PAST THE SCHOOL.
I DON'T CALL IN ANYMORE BECAUSE THE PAINT IS WORSE THAN THE GRAFFITI.
I WENT UP TO SHADOW PARK AND THERE WAS GRAFFITI ON THE BUILDING AND THE FENCE.
THE FENCE HAS OVER 40 YEARS OLD AND THE WOOD IS ROTTEN AND THE PAINT, UH, LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED.
NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE SINCE EVERYONE, EVERYTHING IS DONE IN CAMERON PARK OR THE SENIOR SOON.
NUMBER THREE, WHAT HAPPENED TO DISCOVER WEST COVINA? EVERY HOME OWNER GETS IT TO READ AND ALL THE CHANGES THAT ARE MADE.
I DID NOT KNOW THE EASTER EGG HUNT UNTIL I READ IT IN THE PAPER THAT IT WAS AT THE SENIOR CENTER.
AND WE KNOW WHOSE DISTRICT THAT WAS IN, UH, CLEANING STREETS.
IS IT EVERY WEEK OR EVERY TWO WEEKS, WE HAVE NO PARKING SIGNS ON
[00:10:01]
FRIDAY, BUT NOBODY BOUGHT OTHERS TO GIVE OUT TICKETS AND WE DON'T NEED THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET CLEAN.NUMBER FOUR, I CHECKED ON CLEANING SUPPLIES FOR THE CLEANING PEOPLE.
AND WE HAVE SPENT OVER IN ONE YEAR OVER $73,000.
AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS SAID, SPENT $6,000.
THEY SHOULDN'T NEGOTIATE IN THE CONTRACT.
I JUST THINK WE ARE BEING USED ON A NUMBER OF FIVE.
OUR MAYOR SEEMS TO BE DOING A GOOD JOB ON A REGULAR JOB, BUT SHE FORGOT.
THERE'S ALSO PARKS IN WEST COVINA THAT NEED HELP.
WHAT HAPPENED TO BIGLEY DREAMS MAYBE INSTEAD OF COUNCIL, SHE SHOULD APPLY FOR THE OR COMMISSION JOB YOU'RE INSTEAD.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JERRY PATRAS FOLLOWED BY JOHN CARSON FOLLOWED BY DAVID WILLIAMS. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL JERRY PATRAS WEST COVINA RESIDENT.
UM, ON APRIL 7TH, I EMAILED THE HR COMMISSION A QUESTION ABOUT, UH, THE HEALTH OFFICER POSITION THAT WAS GOING BEFORE THEM.
AND IT IS ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT CALENDAR.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU PULL THAT OFFICE, THAT POSITION OFF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AND ANSWER A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
IT IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED.
UH, I HAVE CONSIDERABLE WORK EXPERIENCE AND FAMILIARITY WITH COMPARABLE JOBS AND WHAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
AND I REALLY LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF WHO GOT THE ANSWERS TO ME AND THE PROFESSIONALISM THAT THEY DID IT.
WHAT I CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME, FIGURE WHY WEST COVINA WOULD BE USING 19 CITIES TO DEVELOP A CHIEF ELSA OFFICER, THAT PUBLIC, THAT OFFICER POSITION FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND ONLY ONE OF THOSE CITIES AS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE NORMAL WAY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
AS YOU COMPARE COMPARABLE JOBS, WHICH WOULD MEAN I EXPECTED ONE OF THE THREE CITIES, AT LEAST BERKELEY LONG BEACH, PASADENA WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CITY'S COMPARED ELMANI COVINA, AZUSA, BALDWIN PARK.
THEY DON'T RUN HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
SO IT MAKES NO SENSE WHY THEY WOULD BE PART OF A HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CHIEF MEDICAL CHIEF PERSON.
SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD PULL IT OFF THE CALENDAR, UM, AND DISCUSS THE RATIONALE THAT IS BEHIND THIS.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS THE COMMISSION.
THERE IS USUALLY STAFF THAT DOES A SEARCH OR READ THE RESEARCH AND COMES UP WITH THESE THINGS.
IT'S JUST REALLY MAKES NO SENSE.
THANK YOU, JOHN CARSON FOLLOWED BY DAVID WILLIAMS FOLLOWED BY HERMAN.
IT'S OKAY TO TAKE THE MASK OFF.
AND THE REASON I'M HERE IS I'M ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO FILE A NO CONFIDENCE VOTE AGAINST GEORGE GASCON.
YOU START CURRENT DA OF LA COUNTY, AND THESE ARE MY REASONS.
THIS IS SO PERSONAL FOR ME, NOVEMBER THE SEVENTH, 2010, MY DAUGHTER MICHELLE WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED IN LAS VEGAS.
SHE WAS STRANGLED SET IN FIRE AND BURIED THREE AND A HALF MILES OUT IN THE LAS VEGAS DESERT.
THE PERSON WHO MURDERED MY DAUGHTER WAS ARRESTED FOUR MONTHS LATER BY THE FBI, US MARSHALS AND THE LAS VEGAS, METRO HOMICIDE DETECTIVES IN MISSISSIPPI, THE LAS VEGAS DA ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR JUSTICE AND THE VICTIM'S FAMILIES AND WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE.
I SEE WHAT GASCON IS DOING AND IT APPEARS HE IS ONLY FIGHTING FOR CRIMINALS.
EVEN THOUGH MY CASES IN NEVADA, I WILL SPEAK OUT FOR ALL MURDERED VICTIMS. FAMILIES WERE ALL PART OF A CLUB THAT NOBODY WANTS TO BE.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW THINGS THAT GASCON HAS DONE.
I ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES AND THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO COVER ALL THE DAMAGE
[00:15:01]
THAT HE HAS DONE.DEA REPS ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO ATTEND PAROLE HEARINGS.
VICTIM'S FAMILIES ARE ON THEIR OWN GAS.
GONE WILL NOT SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY NO MATTER HOW AWFUL THE CRIME IS.
EVEN THOUGH CALIFORNIA HAS VOTED FOR THE DEATH PENALTY PENALTY.
THE THREE STRIKES LAW, EVEN THOUGH VOTERS VOTED FOR IT, GASCON IS ELIMINATED GUN ENHANCEMENTS.
THIS WILL ONLY ENCOURAGE MORE GUN VIOLENCE.
GAVISCON WILL NO LONGER PROSECUTE MINORS AS ADULTS, NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY MURDER.
THIS IS A CALLING CARD FOR GANGS TO USE MINORS, TO MURDER THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CHARTER STATES, THE OFFICE OF THE DA SHALL VIGOROUSLY EFFECTIVELY UNFAIRLY PROSECUTE CRIMINALS.
HE'S TRYING TO REDUCE SENTENCES.
I BELIEVE MOST PEOPLE WANT DANGEROUS, VIOLENT CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS.
WE NEED OUR DA TO PROTECT US LAW, ABIDING CITIZENS.
I AM ASKING HOW ARE HIS POLICIES GOING TO MAKE WEST COVINA SAFER? VIOLENT CRIMINALS WILL BE BACK ON THE STREETS SOONER.
I WILL ASSURE EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, THE CRIME RATES WILL GO UP.
EVEN THE SHERIFF OF LA COUNTY IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST GASCANS POLICIES MORE ON THAT LATER.
BUT WHEN I WAS IN LAS VEGAS, IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO WORK WITH THE DA THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
UH, THE PERSON WHO MURDERED MY DAUGHTER WAS SENTENCED 15 TO 25 YEARS FOR MURDER EIGHT TO 20 YEARS FOR A DEADLY WEAPON CHARGE IN A PLEA DEAL.
AFTER EIGHT YEARS, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THE DA TELLING ME NOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO WAIVE THE DEADLY WEAPON CHARGE.
AN LA COUNTY, THE PERSON WHO MURDERED MY DAUGHTER WAS ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE JUST AFTER SERVING 10 YEARS.
MOST OF THAT TIME WAS IN JAIL.
THEY GET TIME OFF THEIR SENTENCE JUST FOR BEING IN PRISON.
HE WAS DENIED PAROLE LAST DECEMBER WITHOUT THE DEADLY WEAPON CHARGE, THE MURDER COULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED JUST AFTER 10 YEARS.
IT WASN'T JUST THAT HE MURDERED AND BURIED HER SO WE COULD NEVER FIND HER ALIVE.
FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS PEOPLE HUNTING AND THEY DID FIND HER FOR US.
OR WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE PARENTS LOOKING THE REST OF OUR LIVES FOR OUR DAUGHTERS, FOR MY DAUGHTER.
SO, AND THEN HE TOOK HIS CAR, THE CAR, THAT CAR THAT MY DAUGHTER DROVE OVER THERE PARKED AND ENDED UP IN THE PROJECTS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND HOPING SOMEBODY WOULD STEAL IT AND THEY WOULD GET BLAMED FOR THE MURDER.
UNLIKE OTHER THINGS IN LIFE, THERE IS NO CLOSURE WHEN YOU LOSE A CHILD THAT MURDER.
IF GAS GONE REMAINS IN OFFICE, MORE VIOLENT CRIMINALS WILL BE RELEASED EARLY AND THERE WILL BE MORE VICTIMS. AND THAT BREAKS MY HEART.
I NEVER WANT TO SEE ANOTHER FAMILY FEEL THE PAIN THAT MY FAMILY FEELS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE PICTURES OF MY DAUGHTER WITH EVERYONE.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE LEFT IS PICTURES OF MY BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES OF MY DAUGHTER, MICHELLE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
WE'RE SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS.
DAVID WILLIAMS FOLLOWED BY HERMAN FOLLOWED BY MY GREENSPAN.
WHAT DOES IT DEFINITELY WASN'T AS EASY AS I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE FOLLOWING THAT.
GOT ME FOR A SECOND CONSEQUENCE IS DEFINED AS A RESULT OR AN EFFECT OF AN ACTION OR CONDITION.
I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT ALL OF YOU KEEP THIS IN MIND FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MINUTES TODAY, THERE'S BEEN 64 MURDERS AND OVER 5,000 AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS IN LA COUNTY AREA.
AND WE'RE IN LA COUNTY, THE PROSECUTION OF THESE OFFENSES, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OFTEN UTILIZES SENTENCE ENHANCEMENTS IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THOSE THAT COMMIT THESE CRIMES, SENTENCE ENHANCEMENTS ALLOW, AND SOMETIMES REQUIRE JUDGES TO INCREASE AN INDIVIDUAL'S SENTENCE BEYOND A NORMAL RANGE.
THIS CAN INCLUDE A GANG ENHANCEMENT FOR INSTANCE, FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO COMMITS CRIMES FOR THE BENEFIT OR, UH, FOR IN ASSOCIATION WITH A CRIMINAL STREET GANG TO INCLUDE GRAFFITI.
THE LA COUNTY DA IS DOING A WAY WITH THE PEOPLE THAT'S US, BUT THE PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO UTILIZE THESE ENHANCEMENTS AND EFFORT TO PRESERVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SPECIAL DIRECTIVE, 20 DASH EIGHT ORDERS, ALL
[00:20:01]
DEPUTY DAS FROM THIS POINT FORWARD IN ANY PENDING CASES TO SAY THE FOLLOWING ON RECORD IN COURT AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPECIAL DIRECTIVE, 20 DASH EIGHT, CONCERNING ENHANCEMENTS AND ALL ALLEGATIONS AND THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE BY THE PEOPLE HERE BY JOIN THE DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO STRIKE ALL ALLEGED SENTENCE ENHANCEMENTS AND MOVE TO DISMISS ALL ALLEGED SENTENCE ENHANCEMENTS NAMED AND THE INFORMATION FOR ALL COUNTS.THIS IS A DIRECTIVE BY MR. GASCON.
I DON'T REFER TO HIM AS THE DA BY MR. GASCON.
AND THIS IS REQUIRED OF ALL OF HIS DEPUTY DA'S.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? LEGALLY, A DA WOULD NORMALLY BE ABLE TO HAVE CONSIDERATION FOR ENHANCEMENTS.
THEY COULD ASK THAT, BUT THIS DIRECTIVE PREVENTS THAT DEPUTY DA FROM ASKING FOR THIS CONSIDERATION, REGARDLESS OF THE CRIME, IT ALSO FORCES THE DEPUTY DA TO RECORD THAT THE PEOPLE JOIN THE OFFENDER TO REMOVE THE ENHANCEMENTS.
NO ENHANCEMENT MEANS LESS TIME AND LOCAL OR STATE CUSTODY.
MR. GASCON PRIDES HIMSELF ON BEING PROGRESSIVE IN JUSTICE REFORM.
BUT ALL I AND OTHERS HAVE SEEN AT THIS POINT IS THAT HE'S AN ADVOCATE FOR OFFENDERS WHO DISMISSES VICTIM'S CONCERNS AND HE IGNORES STATE LAWS.
FOR THOSE THAT VOTE FOR THOSE LAWS.
YES, I SAID, IGNORE STATE LAW EXAMPLE, PROPOSITION 62 WERE APPEALED.
THE DEATH PENALTY, 7 MILLION PEOPLE VOTED, UH, FOR THAT TO OVERTURN IT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A DEATH PENALTY IN THIS STATE, HIS DIRECTIVE DATED DECEMBER 7TH INDICATES THAT THE SENTENCE OF DEATH IS NEVER AN APPROPRIATE RESOLUTION IN ANY CASE.
SO THIS IS YOUR DA GOING AGAINST HER STATE LAW AND TELLING DAS THAT THEY ARE NOT TO ASK FOR THAT.
SO APPARENTLY THE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A VOICE.
ONCE IT GETS TO THE DA'S OFFICE PROPOSITION 25, REPLACE THE CASH BAIL WITH RISK ASSESSMENT.
THAT WAS ALSO DEFEATED 9 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA VOTED THAT DOWN AND IT WAS DEFEATED MR. GAS GONE, AND A SPECIAL DIRECTIVE DATED DECEMBER SEVEN SAYS CASH BAIL WILL ONCE AGAIN BE PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS, BUT WE WILL NOT WAIT FOR STATEWIDE REFORM BEFORE IMPOSING MEANINGFUL CHANGES AND THE USE OF CASH BAIL.
ALEX BASHIN IS A SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE DA.
HE BASICALLY SAID THAT THE NEW DIRECTIVES NOT ONLY ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THEY INCREASE EQUITY AND THEY PUT VICTIMS FIRST.
I DON'T KNOW ONE VICTIM WHO HAS COME FORWARD, WHO HAS SAID THAT THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF ANY OF THESE POLICIES, MR. GASKIN'S POLICIES MUTE THE ADVOCACY.
IT UNDERMINES STATE LAW AND REMOVES CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE WHO COMMIT CRIMES, HIS POLICIES DON'T PROMOTE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS NOTED THAT HE DISCOURAGED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR PROMOTE BEING A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN.
RECENTLY, THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, BEVERLY HILLS AND PICO RIVERA HAVE RECENTLY RECORDED A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE AGAINST MR. GASCON AND HIS POLICIES.
I'M RESPECTFULLY ASKING MAYOR LOPEZ AND THIS COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE SAME ON RECORD WITH 43 SECONDS LEFT.
I'LL SAY THIS, OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN THIS CITY ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE WEST COVINA POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU'VE NEVER DEALT WITH A PERSON WHO HAS NOTHING TO LOSE AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE, FEEL FREE TO ASK THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT I SAW HERE EARLIER, WHAT IS IT LIKE DEALING WITH A CRIMINAL WHO HAS NOTHING TO LOSE? AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
I'M RESPECTFULLY ASKING THAT THIS COUNCIL GET TOGETHER, JOIN THESE OTHER CITIES FOR A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE AND KNOW THAT IT WILL NOT STOP HERE.
IT WE'LL CONTINUE TO COVINA AND ALL THE OTHER CITIES WHO ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY HIS POLICIES.
HERMAN FOLLOWED BY MIKE GREENSPAN FOLLOWED BY YVONNE DIAZ.
SO WHAT'S OUR MAIN FOCUS FOR THE NIGHT.
YOU HEARD COMPLAINTS REGARDING SO-CALLED CITY MANAGEMENT FOR COMPARABLE APPROVAL OF SALARY GRADES FOR A HEALTH OFFICER POSITION.
WHY DO WE NEED MORE? MONEY'S COMING OUT OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
[00:25:03]
DISCOVERY IS WE HAVE A BUNCH OF IDIOTS CAN'T MAKE UP THEIR MIND WHETHER OR NOT TO SWITCH FROM THIS PHASE OR SWITCH TO THAT PHASE.KIND OF LIKE WHAT DUMB, DUMB BITE AND DID AT THE BORDER.
YOU KNOW, WATCHING THE KIDS FALL OVER, NEVER TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT IT BECOMES A CRISIS.
MATTER OF FACT, MESSING MAXINE WATERS, EXHIBITS HER, UH, STUPIDITY AND IGNORANCE AND BELLIGERENT TALKING ABOUT PAUL.
WHAT, WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS PARTICIPATING IN HIS EVENT, IT WAS A PUBLIC MEETING.
HE ADDRESSED THE PUBLIC AND YES, HIS DISCRETION OF WORDS MAY HAVE FALSELY MISLED.
SOME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS IN HIS SPEECH, BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY HATE SPEECH.
I DIDN'T SEE ANY REFERENCE TO DESTROY YOUR COMMUNITY OR BURN YOUR COMMUNITY OR TEAR DOWN YOUR STATUES OR RIP APART.
I'M BLACK, A BLACK AMERICAN LET'S FACE IT.
MATTER OF FACT, I WAS HERE IN MARCH 16TH.
WHEN YOU ORDERED SOMEONE TO GO OUT IN THE PARKING LOT AND DESTROY MY VEHICLE, MY HOME, WHICH, UH, COSTS YOU SOON, APPROXIMATELY ABOUT $4,000 IN DAMAGES.
BUT DO YOU FUCKING CARE? NOW, HERE WE GO.
THE MAYOR WANTS TO ATTACK OUR FIRST AMENDMENT.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS ALWAYS UNDER ATTACK BECAUSE WE'RE CENSORED.
THEY DISAPPROVE OF WHAT WE SAY NOW, WHETHER I'M PETITIONING YOU TO NOT BE OFFENDED, I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT'S APPARENT THAT OUR MAYOR AND OUR CONSOLE MEMBERS HATE THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
THEY HATE YOUR RESPONSE TO HOW YOU EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH IGNORANT, BELLIGERENT, HOSTILE PEOPLE AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING OUR ADMINISTRATION.
I KNOW THE COLOR BY SKIN REPRESENTS A THREAT.
WHAT I SAY REPRESENTS A THREAT, BUT YET NOT ONCE, NOT ONCE HAVE I EVEN SALTED THESE IDIOTS, BUT MAYBE A FEW TIMES, JUST A FEW TIMES, AND YOU SHOULD LAUGH.
OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AS SPONGEBOB WOULD PUT IT ARE IDIOTS.
AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY THERE WILL CONFESS TO THAT BECAUSE HE KNOWS I'M RIGHT, THAT WE LIVE IN A, IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS OUR SOCIETY.
WHY? BECAUSE WE LOCKED THE EDUCATION TO UNDERSTAND A FEW LAWS.
FIRST AMENDMENT, FOURTH AMENDMENT, SECOND AMENDMENT.
AND WHY, AGAIN, WE HAVE PEOPLE SITTING IN A POSITION WHO WANT TO ABSORB YOUR TAX, PAYING DOLLARS, GET FAT AND HEALTHY AND MAKE YOU BELIEVE THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND THE CAUSE FOR YOUR BENEFIT.
WE'LL LOOK AROUND WEST COVINA, HOMELESS PEOPLE, ALL OVER TOWN, WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY? WHY AREN'T THEY IN HERE OUTRAGE THAT YOU WANT TO RAISE OUR TAXES? CAUSE DUMB, DUMB BIDEN.
BUT SOME FOOLS IN HERE BELIEVE THAT WALL.
WE SHOULDN'T BE EXPOSED TO THIS TYPE OF, UH, BELLIGERENT SCRUPULOUS, MS. CIVITAS MALICE LIES FROM OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND AS YOU SEE THE MAYOR'S JUST LOOKING TO CENSOR ME ALREADY.
AND I REPRESENT A MAJORITY WHO ARE BLACK LIKE ME BECAUSE I'M NOT A RACIST.
I'M NOT MAXINE WATERS AND I'M NOT STUPID.
MY GREENSPAN FOLLOWED BY YVONNE DIAZ FOLLOWED BY J METER MIKE GREENSPAN.
AND IN THE WORDS OF PAULY SHORE, I'M BACK.
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, FIRST OF ALL, MOM, THANK YOU.
THAT PASTOR WHO CAME IN AND MENTIONED
[00:30:01]
JESUS, LET ME ALSO REFER HIM TO FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER FIVE, VERSE SEVEN, AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ'S HUSBAND WITH HER WITH IS A MULTICULTURAL CHURCH IN PASADENA AND ANYBODY ELSE IN THE ROOM.NOW ALSO BECAUSE I HAVE COME HERE BEFORE AND TALKED ABOUT THE RECALL OF OUR DICKHEAD, GOVERNOR GAVIN, NEWSOME, NANCY PELOSI, SPOILED BRAT NEPHEW, UM, INSTEAD OF HAVING A NO CONFIDENCE VOTE ON MR. GASCON, AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS STARTED, UH, AN ACTIVE RATE CALL.
I MEAN, I KNOW COMPETENCE VOTES FOR PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEMS, AND LET'S SAY LEDDY LOPEZ.
YAMATO IS PARTY A AND TONY WU IS PARTY B AND TONY WAS OUT OF GOVERNMENT.
WELL, THEY HAVE THE PARLIAMENT GETS A NO CONFIDENCE VOTE.
THEN THEY HAVE ANOTHER ELECTION.
WELL HERE, THE WAY TO DO IT IS TO HAVE A RECALL SIGN.
THE RECALL PETITION INSTEAD OF PUSHING A NO CONFIDENCE VOTE AND WE'LL HAVE IT UP FOR A VOTE.
ONE DAY, WE'LL BE VOTING GOVERNOR GAVIN, NEWSON OUT.
AND I'M CURRENTLY ON THE UNDECIDED ABOUT GAS CONE BECAUSE AT LEAST HE, HE BEAT THE DA WHO'S IDIOT.
HUSBAND GOES WAVING A PISTOL AT EVERYBODY.
HEY, IN SOME STATES HE COULD HAVE SHOT THEM, BUT WE'RE NOT IN LOUISIANA WHERE THEY HAVE DRIVEWAY RIGHTS.
I'M FROM FLORIDA TO DRAG THEM BACK IN STATE.
SO IF MR CASTILLANO BREAKS INTO MY HOUSE IN FLORIDA, I SHOOT HIM.
THE OFFICER SAYS, DRAG HIM BACK IN.
WELL, NOW ABOUT THIS PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER, I CALLED UP THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE YESTERDAY AND FOUND OUT THAT THE SALARY WOULD BE BETWEEN 150, 4,200 87,000.
AND I REMARKED, OH, THE PERSON COULD LIVE NEXT DOOR TO DR.
YOU KNOW THE ONE WHO'S NOW PRACTICING ON THE COUNTY LEVEL.
THE BEST THING YOU HAVE GOING FOR YOU IN THIS CITY IS THE COUNTY.
WE ARE AT AN OPEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WAS ANYBODY ABLE TO GO TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TODAY? NOT AT ALL.
SHE'S ABLE TO GO, BUT NONE OF US NOW, AS FAR AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN'S UNCLE ALWAYS CALLED HER WHEN SHE WAS A KID AND WOULD GO TO THE MEETINGS IN SAN FRANCISCO PAY.
DID THEY OPEN UP YOUR LIBRARY? NEXT DOOR? ONLY 30 OF THEM GOT OPEN AFTER ALL.
AND WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THEY WOULDN'T GIVE YOU THE CORONA BY RESPECTS DONATION HERE.
SO PERHAPS IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA, BUT PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE.
I DON'T CARE IF ALL FIVE OF YOU VOTE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ALL I'M SAYING IS LET THE PEOPLE VOTE ON IT.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT SOME FEATHERS IN YOUR CAP AND IF NOT, WELL, YOU GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, BUT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS THAT.
YOU'VE GOT THAT BROAD HILDA SELISE AND SHE SENDS HER DEPUTY BALDY HERE BECAUSE SHE WON'T COME HERE.
ARMANDO HERMAN HAS THAT BIMBO JANICE HAHN, WHO THINKS MONEY GROWS ON TREES AND HER LATE DADDY, KENNETH HAHN LOOKED UP THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND FOUND OUT WHEN YEARS AGO, WHEN HE GOT INTO OFFICE, IT WAS A WEAK GOVERNMENT.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY IT'S SUCH A WEAK GOVERNMENT.
THEY CAN'T HANDLE THIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PAL.
AND HE ALSO LEARNED THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PLANT TREES.
SO I GUESS JANICE THINKS THAT THOSE ARE MONEY TREES THAT YOU JUST PICK THE MONEY OFF THE TREES.
MY SUPERVISOR IS THE ONE WHO VOTED SHEILA CULE TO CLOSE DOWN YOUR OUTDOOR DINING.
AND THEN THAT SAME NIGHT WENT OUT TO AL FRESCO DINING.
I LEFT A VOICEMAIL AT HER NUMBER WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
AND I SAID, THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN A JIMMY SWAGGART IS A JEWISH JIMMY SWAGGART.
WE ALL KNOW OF JIMMY SWAGGART, THE TV PREACHER WHO PREACHED AGAINST PROSTITUTION AND THEN GOT CAUGHT WITH HIS PANTS DOWN AT THE BORDELLO.
SO THE BEST THING TO DO IS HAVE A VOTE.
YOU REMEMBER, WE ARE HERE TONIGHT AT A MEETING.
THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN GO TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS BARBARA HERRERA.
AND MAYBE IF YOU ARE ABLE TO SHOW HOW IT WOULD BE THE SAME MONEY, TONY WOO, THAT WOULD NORMALLY GO TO THEM TO MISMANAGE.
THAT COULD BE BETTER SPENT HERE THAT PEOPLE MIGHT VOTE FOR IT AFTER ALL, LET THEM VOTE.
YVONNE DIAZ FOLLOWED BY J METER, FOLLOWED BY GEORGE OGDEN.
[00:35:21]
I THINK REALLY HEAR YOU.UM, WE CAME TO SAY, THANK YOU.
SO YOU MADAM MAYOR, UH, FOR ATTENDING OUR, UH, VENDOR MARKET, IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.
AND, UM, THE COMMUNITY WAS REALLY EXCITED TO COME OUT AND HAVE A DAY TO KIND OF UNWIND FROM EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
UM, A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS VENDORS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.
SO WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE SOON AND WE WILL BE BACK TO INVITE YOU ALL.
WHEN WE HAVE THAT SETTLED AND YOU HAVE ALL OF THE VENDORS THERE, THEY WERE VERY EXCITED.
AND WHEN THEY SAW YOU WALKING AROUND AND YOU WERE ASKING THEM ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS AND YOU KNOW, THEY FELT IMPORTANT AND STRUGGLE WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING.
THIS REALLY WAS A PROSPEROUS THEME FOR THEM.
OUR GOAL IS TO MOTIVATE THE COMMUNITY AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE IS MORE OPPORTUNITY AND NOT TO GIVE UP BECAUSE IT'S BEEN VERY HARD FOR A LOT OF BUSINESSES.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE AT THE END AND WANTING TO GIVE UP, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, BRING THAT SPUNK BACK INTO THEM.
AND HE JUST WANTS TO COME PRESENT AND SAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT, MS. SHANNON, IT'S A GREAT EVENT.
GOOD NIGHT, J METER FOLLOWED BY GEORGE OGDEN, ALL LOAD BY GABRIELLE RODRIGUEZ.
I'M A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA AND I HAVE A HIGHLY DEVELOPED SENSE OF SELECTIVE HEARING.
UM, I'M ALSO GLAD TO SEE THAT THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE HAS BEEN MEETING REGULARLY.
I THINK THEIR EXPERTISE IS INVALUABLE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN OUR PRECARIOUS FINANCIAL SITUATION, ACKNOWLEDGING THE COMMITTEE'S INPUT AND IMPLEMENTING THEIR SUGGESTIONS WOULD HELP TO REBUILD VOTER'S CONFIDENCE IN THIS AND FUTURE COUNCILS.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND THE COUNCIL OF THE OUTSTANDING MOU IS THAT FOLLOW US AROUND LIKE A BLACK CLOUD IN THE CASE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IF THE CITY OBTAINS NEW ONGOING REVENUE, WHICH YOU ALL KNOW, BUT MANY PEOPLE DON'T ONGOING REVENUE EXCEEDING $3 MILLION ANNUALLY, WHICH IS A NICE WAY OF SAYING TAX INCREASE.
THE CITY WILL PAY AT ONE TIME CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ADJUSTMENT TO ALL FIREFIGHTER ASSOCIATION MEMBERS EQUAL TO A 3% INCREASE IN THEIR BASE PAY FOR THREE SEPARATE YEARS.
SO THAT IS THREE BONUSES PAID IN ONE LUMP SUM.
ALSO THIS MOU WELL ESTABLISHED THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION PERMANENTLY AS THE HIGHEST PAID DEPARTMENT AMONG AS THE THIRD HIGHEST PAID DEPARTMENT AMONG A 10 CITY SAMPLE.
IN ESSENCE, WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER HOW MUCH OUR EMPLOYEES ARE PAID.
IN THE CASE OF THE POLICE OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION, IF THE CITY OBTAINS NEW ONGOING GENERAL REVENUE EXCEEDING $4 MILLION.
AGAIN, THIS IS KNOWN AS A TAX INCREASE, THE 10 CITY SAMPLE OF A USER TO PERMANENTLY ESTABLISHED THE POLICE OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION AS THE THIRD PAID AMONG THOSE CITIES POLICE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE A LUMP SUM CONSUMER PRICE ADJUSTMENT EQUAL TO A 3% INCREASE TO THEIR BASE PAIR.
FOR THREE SEPARATE YEARS, WE WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE RATE OF PAY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THE TWO LARGEST PORTIONS OF OUR BUDGET.
AND THE REASON I'M BRINGING UP THE SITUATION OF THESE EMO USE IS THAT A TAX INCREASE FOR ANY REASON, REGARDLESS OF THE NEED FOR REVENUE WILL RESULT IN BONUSES AND RAISES FOR THE SAME EMPLOYEES THAT RECENTLY RECEIVED 12% RAISES.
IF THE VOTERS DECIDE THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT, THAT IS ONE THING.
BUT WHEN THE TIME COMES, THEY WILL BE MADE TO UNDERSTAND THAT ANY TAX INCREASE FOR ANYTHING BENEFICIAL TO OUR CITY WILL HAVE TO BE MADE THAT MUCH LARGER TO FIRST PAY PUBLIC SAFETY UNION BONUSES AND RAISES.
AND REMEMBER THE PROVISION THAT WILL ESTABLISH POLICE AND FIRE AS THE NEW THIRD HIGHEST PAID AND ATTEND CITY COMPARISON GROUP, WHICH AS I UNDERSTAND, IT WILL BE REEVALUATED ON ADJUSTED YEARLY FOREVER.
SO TO BE CLEAR, IF THE CITY WANTS TO FUND ANYTHING BENEFICIAL, FOR EXAMPLE, MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET,
[00:40:01]
WHICH WE NEED, OR AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE NEW BUSINESSES OR HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR OUR OWN ANIMAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT, ANY NEW TAX INCREASES WILL HAVE TO BE THAT MUCH LARGER TO ACCOMMODATE NOT ONLY THE EMPLOYER UNION NEMO USE, WHICH ARE FIRST IN LINE, BUT ALSO THE FUNDS NECESSARY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY NEW ENDEAVORS.THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA WILL NOT AGREE TO ATTACK TAX INCREASE THAT GIVES THE BONUSES RAISES AND GUARANTEED THIRD PLACE PAY STATUS TO PEOPLE THAT JUST RECEIVED 12% RAISES.
FINALLY, TO MY POINT, THE COUNCIL'S EFFORTS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER SPENT ELIMINATING THESE PAYBACK IOUS.
I MEAN, MOU IS THEN CREATING A NEW BUREAUCRACY THAT WE DO NOT NEED.
THANKS, GEORGE OGDEN FOLLOWED BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ, GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ FOLLOWED BY STEVE BENNETT.
I'M WAITING TO START THE TIMER STUFF.
MY NAME IS GEORGIA OGDEN WITHIN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
I'M HERE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
NUMBER ONE, A REBUTTAL TO THE FALL OF SOME DEFAMATORY ACCUSATIONS THAT WERE MADE.
I FELT THEY WERE PRETTY SLIDERS THEIR ACCUSATIONS AS WELL BY MR. MUNDO HERMAN.
WHEN HE STATED THAT I PHYSICALLY ATTACKED HIM UP HERE, YOU'RE ALL WITNESSES.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
WHAT DID HAPPEN IS I CAME UP AND I SAID, YOU NEED TO WATCH YOUR MOUTH SHALLOW RESPECT FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL, OUR STAFF, AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS, IN THIS, UH, CHAMBERS AND HAD TRIED TO MAKE REFERENCE TO YOUR DAUGHTER BEING HERE WHO WAS ONLY EIGHT YEARS OLD.
AND HE'S BEEN USING THE F BOMB ALL ALONG WELL, HE WAS MAKING COMMENTS LIKE, UH, YOU NEED TO PROTECT ME AND ALL THAT.
AND YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT WAS SIMPLE.
THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL CONTACT.
SO THAT CERTAINLY MAKES HIM A LIAR.
I'VE GIVEN YOU SOME INFORMATION ON THIS INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE IN MY OPINION WAS PRETTY DANGEROUS.
HE HAS A BAD HISTORY AND WE CAN GO BACK TO, UH, 2014 WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED.
AND YOU HAVE A LITTLE PACKET THAT I GAVE HIM.
HAS HIS ARREST RECORD ON IT AS WELL OF THE LATEST ARREST THAT HE HAD, RIGHT? THE BAIL WAS SET AT $50,000, A TWO 43 PC, THE CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE.
ALL RIGHT, YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY HAD THIS THING.
THERE'S NOBODY SEARCHES ANYBODY.
WHEN THEY COME IN HERE, WE DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS A GUN AND HE BROUGHT A WEAPON INTO ANOTHER COUNCIL.
WE NEED TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE IN THE CITIZENS IN HERE, AS WELL AS YOU FOLKS UP HERE.
AND THESE PEOPLE, IF YOU THINK THIS THING WAS GOING TO PROTECT YOU, YOU'RE SADLY MISTAKEN.
YOU'RE A MOTHER, YOU HAVE TWO KIDS, YOU ALL HAVE FAMILIES.
WE NEED TO DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
YOU WILL NOTICE A VICE THERE THAT MIGHT HELP US OUT.
OKAY? IT'S NOT THAT EXPENSIVE.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM BEING SEARCHED COMING IN HERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF META SEARCH, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SEARCH ME.
AND THEN WHEN HE WAS STAYING UP HERE THAT, UH, IF SOMEBODY VANDALIZED HIS AUTOMOBILE OR HIS CAR NAMED, SMASHED OUT A WINDOW, AND THEN THEY, I WASN'T UNDERSTANDING.
BUT HE SAID HE WAS DOING 80 MILES AN HOUR.
WHEN SOMEBODY SLASHED HIS TIRES, IF I HEARD IT RIGHT, I TRIED TO LISTEN TO THE TAPE OVER AGAIN.
AND HE HAD A BLOW OUT AND HAD TO SWERVE ANOTHER LANES.
AND HE ACCUSED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TOO, THAT THEY DON'T CARE.
YOU KNOW, IT SAYS AN ADMISSION THAT HE WAS BREAKING THE SPEED LIMIT.
SO MAYBE THE DMV NEEDS TO BE NOTIFIED AS WELL AS OTS OFFICER'S TRAFFIC'S WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND REVIEWERS LICENSE, EVEN CINEMA TICKET CHP MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THAT TAPE.
IT CAME, UM, HE ALSO SAID HE WAS ATTACKED IN THE PARKING LOT.
AND THAT HIS HOME WAS ALSO ATTACKED ON THAT SAME NIGHT.
I BELIEVE THE DATE HE GAVE WAS MARCH 17TH, THAT COUNCIL MEETING GO FIGURE THE ONLY COUNCIL MEETING ON THAT.
AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD ONE, UM, CITY MANAGER, UH, HE BROKE THE NEWS TO ME ABOUT IT.
AND THEN, UH, HE CERTAINLY ADVOCATES
[00:45:01]
THAT VIOLENCE IS NOT AN ANSWER TO ANYTHING.AND I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I COULDN'T HELP AND STILL SMILE.
NOW AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING KNOW, I'LL HAVE A PICTURE AT THE VERY BACK OF THAT PACKET THAT SHOWS HIM WITH A MESSED UP FINGER.
THAT IS VERY TYPICAL OF GOING UP AND SMASHING A WINDOW.
THERE'S MANY OTHER THINGS HERE I'D LIKE TO TOUCH BASE ON THAT.
HUGH AND LAURIE JOHNSON GOING TO CHINA.
IT WASN'T MAY I SAY, DAMN I WILL.
SINCE WE'RE TALKING FREEDOM OF SPEECH THERE, WASN'T A DAMN CENT SPENT FROM THE CITY OF WEST COVINA ON YOUR TRIP.
AND HE'S OVER HERE, SPEWING STUFF.
I APPRECIATE YOU GOING, I APPRECIATE A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU DO, UM, WHICH HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON.
BUT WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PHOTO SO THAT I HAVE HERE, WHAT SHOWS WHERE HE ATTEMPTED TO INJURE A SPEAKER.
ALSO, I HAVE IT ON TAPE, AS WELL AS PICTURES SHOWING THAT HE PUSHED THE SHOE BEHIND A SPEAKER THAT WAS STANDING BACK HERE.
THERE'S NO OTHER REASON WHY HE WOULD'VE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO WE NEED TO TAKE THIS TO THE DA OR I CAN AND SEE IF THEY WANT TO MAKE A PROSECUTION ON TWO 43 PC IN CALIFORNIA, PENAL CODE.
AND ALSO THERE'S SOME OTHER INFORMATION THAT I KNOW YOU GOT TO CUT ME OFF FOR WHAT HE WAS DOING TO ONE OF OUR FEMALES, REACTING TO ONE OF OUR FEMALE EMPLOYEES THAT WAS UP HERE WAS UNCALLED FOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
AND IT WAS THE SAFETY TO ALL OF YOU.
GABRIELLE RODRIGUEZ FOLLOWED BY STEVE BENNETT FOLLOWED BY DANA SIKES, GABRIEL, GOOD EVENING, GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ, RESIDENT WEST COVINA, MAYOR LOPEZ.
I NEED YOU TO DO, TO DO BETTER THAN TO JUST TALK ABOUT BILL ELLIOTT'S FIRST AMENDMENT, RIGHT? I NEEDED YOU TO SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP.
HE HAS A FIRST, RIGHT, BUT YOU ALSO HAD THAT FIRST AMENDMENT, RIGHT? TO TALK TO TALK ABOUT HOW HE WAS WRONG, TO USE YOUR VOICE AS OUR MAYOR TO SHOW THAT HIS RHETORIC WAS NOT, WAS NOT WELCOME AT OUR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
IT WAS ACTUALLY, YOU SHOWED LEADERSHIP THAT MAYOR LOPEZ DID NOT.
WE, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A LEGAL RIGHT FOR HIM TO LAY THAT PERSONAL ATTACK ON MY FRIEND, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THAT RIGHT TO DEFEND A CITIZEN OF WEST COVINA.
WHEN I HEARD, WHEN I HEARD THAT, WHEN I HEARD THAT COMMENT, I WAS ENRAGED.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS A COMMENT THAT WAS ALLOWED IN OUR W WENT UNCHALLENGED.
PETER IS STILL A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL.
HOW COULD YOU NOT DEFEND HIM? THAT WAS ABSOLUTE.
THAT COMMENT THAT BILL ELLIOTT MADE WAS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING, ESPECIALLY IN, IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING RECENTLY WITH, WITH THE EDS TAX ON ASIAN AMERICANS.
IN, IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW LEADERSHIP, TO SHOW THAT THAT RHETORIC IS NOT, IS NOT WELCOME AT THIS CITY COUNCIL.
I WANT YOU TO DO BETTER BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I'M DISAPPOINTED IN YOU.
THANK YOU, STEVE BENNETT FOLLOWED BY DANA SEX FOLLOWED BY FREDERICK SEX.
WELL, WHEN I WAS UP HERE IN JANUARY, I SAID, SO YOURS IS GOING TO BE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
FIRST MEETING, WE'RE GOING FOR A RIDE.
I KNOW THAT RIDE WOULD BE AS CRAZY AS IT'S BEEN.
I MEAN, I KNEW IT'D BE CRAZY, BUT WE GOT SOME FUN ONES.
UM, WE ALREADY GOT THE CRAZY BILL ELLIOT WHO'S BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS.
[00:50:01]
OBVIOUSLY COMES A LOT MORE NOW BECAUSE HIS WIFE'S ON THE COUNCIL.BUT, UM, YEAH, WE'VE GOT A FEW OTHERS TOO, SO I WON'T GET INTO ALL THAT DETAILED CAUSE IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.
UM, SO I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO HIRE TWO INDIVIDUALS, A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, I BELIEVE EACH.
AND THE FACT THAT IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, DARRIO YOU STATED THAT YOU WOULDN'T VOTE FOR ANYTHING THAT WAS GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND.
I THINK THAT WAS WHY YOU VOTED FOR IT AS IT WASN'T GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO AFFECT OUR GENERAL FUND.
SO, UM, OBVIOUSLY IF WE'RE PAYING SOMEBODY, IT AFFECTS OUR GENERAL FUNDS.
I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE NO TONIGHT BECAUSE IT AFFECTS OUR GENERAL FUND AND BEING THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS YET TO ACTUALLY PROJECT ANY TYPE OF INCOME OR SPENDING, UM, THAT RESIDENTS CAN LOOK AT YOU CAN'T PROVE THAT IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S OBVIOUSLY COMING FROM THE THING.
SO IF YOU GOT SOMETHING THAT SHOWS ME, THAT'S NOT COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND, IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY TO PRESENT IT, BECAUSE THOSE WERE YOUR WORDS AT A COUNCIL MEETING.
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, I'M NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.
THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE GENERAL FUND.
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE, ACCORDING TO THE ENLIGHTENMENT, MY MISS, PATRAS A CITY THAT REACHED OUT TO CITIES THAT DON'T EVEN HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO GET INPUT ON WHAT THESE PEOPLE MAKE.
WHY WOULD WE BE REACHING OUT TO COVINA FOR WHAT A HEALTH OFFICER MAKES? THEY DON'T HAVE ONE.
SO IF THAT IS ALL TRUE, THAT, THAT RIGHT THERE HAS A LOT OF ISSUES IN MY MIND.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT IT'S, IT'S NOT SOMETHING I SUPPORT.
IF YOU ACTUALLY THINK THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES IS GOING TO DO A TAX TRANSFER, YOU GUYS ARE, YOU GUYS ARE OBVIOUSLY IN LALA LAND BECAUSE IF PASADENA AND LONG BEACH HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT, LITTLE WEST COVINA IS NOT GOING TO GET IT.
AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE NEGOTIATING SKILLS OF OUR CITY MANAGER WITH SOME OF THE MOU.
SO PRETTY SURE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT EITHER.
UM, LET'S JUST END THE CHARADE.
YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS.
YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY WENT TO FIND MONEY FOR RAISES IS J METER WAS REFERRING TO THOSE MOU USE.
EVEN IF YOU TRY TO GET DR AND I WILL MURDER HIS NAME.
V AT THIS POINT OR B OR WHATEVER INITIAL IT IS.
UM, EVEN IF YOU GET HIM TO DO IT FOR A DOLLAR STILL OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, BY THE WAY, AND TARGET, UM, EVEN IF YOU GET THEM TO DO IT FOR A DOLLAR, YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENT.
AND AGAIN, WHERE'S OUR COST STUDY.
WELL, AT LEAST THREE OF YOU, TWO OF THEM ARE STILL RELATIVELY NEW, BUT THREE OF YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF DOING THINGS WITHOUT A REAL GOOD COST ANALYSIS OR ON A WHIM AND A PRAYER, OR I'LL FIND THE MONEY OR SOMETHING THAT NO ONE'S FINDING IT.
SO I REALLY HOPE DARIA YOU STEP UP.
AND SINCE THIS AFFECTS THE GENERAL FUND, I'D LIKE TO REALLY SEE SOME, SOME INITIATIVE THERE AND SEE YOU NOT DO IT BECAUSE YOUR WORDS, OH, THAT GUYS, DANA SYKES FOLLOWED BY FREDERICK SYKES FOLLOWED BY COLEEN ROSATI.
I LAST TWO MEETINGS I'VE BEEN IN.
UM, I GUESS DISGUSTED IS A GOOD WORD.
I, UM, GOT A LITTLE HUMOR OUT OF THE FACT THAT JOHN MAYER, UM, MATT AMIR, AND YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE IN CHARGE OF THE MEETING.
I SAW CUTE THAT YOU THINK THIS IS WHAT IS YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF, YOU KNOW, AS, AS A WHAT'S GOING TO RESIDENT, I'M LOOKING AT YOU GUYS WHERE YOU GOT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS COMING OUT OF OUR EARS.
WE NEED POLICE, OUR STREETS, OUR POTHOLE, ALLIE, ALLIE EMAR ROAD.
IT'S, IT'S A LOAD FUN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DRIVE YOUR CAR WITHOUT HITTING A POT, POTRO, POTHOLE.
AND AS THIS IS GETTING JUST AS BAD, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO A HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR NOR ANY IDEA ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND THE MONEY FOR IT.
AND THERE'S ONLY ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, THIS ASKING QUESTIONS.
AND MY QUESTION FOR THE REST OF YOU IS WHY DON'T YOU? I KNOW WHY HE DOESN'T.
WE DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT WE KNOW WE KNOW WHY HE DOESN'T.
WHY DO YOU HATE THE FACT THAT HE'S ASKING THE QUESTIONS? THE RESIDENTS ASK QUESTIONS.
YOU GUYS DON'T EVEN ANSWER US.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS? I MEAN, THE GRANTS YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET THEM? YEAH, NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
UH, WE ALL, WHEN COUNCILMAN, JUST HOW ABOUT TO, BY SPEAKING, COUNCIL MEMBER, WU REPEATEDLY INTERRUPTED HIM YET.
AND WHEN THE MAYOR IS TALKING, COUNCILMAN WU INTERRUPTS HER
[00:55:01]
AND TELLS THE MAYOR WHAT TO DO AGAIN, YOU JUST MEEKLY, OBEY, UM, COUNCILMAN WU AND NEVER ADMONISHED HIM.AND MY QUESTION IS WHY IS THAT? WATCH A TAPE SOMETIME.
UH, WE, WE ONCE HAD A COUNCIL SIMILAR TO THIS ONE, THE COUNCIL THAT PUT US IN FINANCIAL JEOPARDY, THEIR AGENDA SEEMED TO BE ONE CENTERED ON BENEFITING THEIR BENEFACTORS.
ONE RUN RESIDENT REFERRED TO IT AS TWO WE TOWN, I GUESS THIS COUNCIL IS SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTING THE CITY'S CITIZENS OF WEST COVINA, NOT A CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBER.
IT'S WEST COVINA PROJECT SYKES FOLLOWED BY COLEEN ROSATI, ANY MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE CITY, COUNCIL, CITY STAFF MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.
I'M FREDERICK SYKES 42 YEAR RESIDENT TIDALLY COUNTY, DEPUTY SHERIFF, ALSO A FORMER MAYOR OF OUR CITY.
I ASKED, UM, THE MAYOR AND YOU'RE THE FEMALE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TO PLEASE GO AND SEE THE BATHROOMS. AND, UM, JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T GO, THE BATHROOMS IS STILL IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR.
I ASKED YOU AGAIN, PLEASE GO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF YOU CAN CORRECT IT.
AND LIKE BENNET AND SOME OTHERS BEFORE YOU, UM, BEFORE ME, HE CAME AND ASKED, I'M ASKING AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT GO FORWARD WITH ESTABLISHING THIS WEST COVINA HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THE CITY OF WEST COVINA IS NOT AN ISLAND STATE.
WE ARE PART OF A COUNTY AND A PART OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
AND ACCORDING TO THE LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AS OF YESTERDAY, 254 RESIDENTS IN WEST COVINA DIED DUE TO COVID-19.
THE CORONA VIRUS WAS TRANSPORTED HERE BY INFECTED PEOPLE.
THE MAJORITY OF THE WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL APPEARS TO BE IGNORING THE REALITY, THE SCIENCE AND THE FACT THAT THE CITY IS NEAR BANKRUPTCY.
WE ARE CONNECTED TO THE CITIES OF BOWEN PARK, COVINA CITY OF MINISTRY, AND THE CITY OF WALNUT.
AND WE'RE ALSO CONNECTED TO A NUMBER OF UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS COVINA HILLS AND SOUTH SAN JOSE HILLS AND BELINDA.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT ANY DISEASE THAT IS CONTRACTED SHED ARE TRANSPORTED BY PEOPLE WHAT COME AND GO IN WEST COVINA, WHETHER WE HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR NOT.
IF THE PANDEMIC BEGINS TO SURGE AGAIN IN LA COUNTY AND IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, HAVING OUR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHAT NOT STOP THE COUNTY AND THE STATEWIDE QUARANTINE AND LOCKDOWN, THAT MIGHT BE A DIRECTIVE TO TRY AND STOP THIS DISEASE FROM SPREADING AND EPIDEMIC AND PANDEMIC KILLER DISEASE THAT IS SPREAD BY PEOPLE WHEN NEVER BE CONTROLLED BY LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WITHOUT A WALLED IN CITY OR SOME SORT OF AIR DEFENSE.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO HIRE 30 ADDITIONAL POLICE THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED.
THEREFORE, A NEW HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
IT JUST SEEMS TO BE LUNACY AND TOTALLY ILLOGICAL, PASADENA AND LONG BEACH, EVEN WITH THEIR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
THOSE CITIES WERE PART OF THE COUNTY-WIDE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT ORDERS, THE CLOTHES AND STOP THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE.
AND THAT SITUATION WILL NOT CHANGE WITH THE NEXT PANDEMIC ATTEMPTING TO ESTABLISH A NEW UNNECESSARY AND VERY EXPENSIVE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WHEN WE ARE NEAR BANKRUPTCY IS EXTREMELY
[01:00:01]
BAD TIMING.AND DEFINITELY NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE REPRESENTS, THE RESIDENTS THAT YOU REPRESENT THIS MATTER SHOULD BE STOPPED AND SET ASIDE UNTIL OUR CITY HAS BEEN RESTORED TO A FULL SERVICE CITY WITH A HEALTHY EMERGENCY FUND IN THE BANK.
LAST YEAR, OUR GENERAL FUND WAS ONLY 66 MILLION AND THE RESIDENTS WERE TREMENDOUSLY UNDERSERVED AND MORE EMPLOYEES WERE LAID OFF.
HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY FOCUSING ON THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHEN THE BUDGET IS IN SUCH A SHAMBLE? INSTEAD WE HAVE A CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY STAFF.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON AND A NEW $18 MILLION HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S WHAT PASADENA IS TRYING TO COME UP WITH.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY SOMEHOW.
I SAID HE WOULD BE BETTER SERVED IF YOU DECIDE TO JUST PUT THIS ASIDE UNTIL WE'RE IN A BETTER POSITION.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE COLEEN ROSATIA ELECTED CITY TREASURER MEMBER OF AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, PRESIDENT OF WEST COVINA, BEAUTIFUL EDUCATOR AT WEST COVINA HIGH SCHOOL, SPECIAL ED.
I AM HERE SPEAKING AS THE PRESIDENT OF WEST COVINA.
AS MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, THIS IS THAT THE OLDEST NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION HERE IN THE CITY ESTABLISHED IN 1948 BY CIVIC MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO SAW THE BEAUTY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND KNEW THERE WAS A NEED TO PROTECT, PRESERVE, PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ALONG WITH BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE STILL IN EFFECT TODAY OVER THE LAST 73 YEARS, NOT ONLY HAS WEST COVINA BEAUTIFUL PROMOTED ENVIRONMENTAL SOUND, AS WELL AS BENEFICIAL BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMS. WE'VE PARTICIPATED IN THE NAMING OF VARIOUS STREETS, PARKS AND ASSISTED IN CHOOSING THE CITY FLOWER.
LILY OF THE NILE IN 1957 WAS COVINA BEAUTIFUL INITIATED THE FIRST ANTI-LITTER BUG CAMPAIGN, ALONG WITH THE CITYWIDE STREET CLEANING CLEANUP AND 81, WE JOINED FORCES WITH CALTRANS FOR OUR FREEDOM FREEWAY OFF RAMP CLEANUP.
AND HERE WE ARE, SEVEN DECADES LATER.
I'M PROUD TO SAY WAS CONVENIENT.
BEAUTIFUL CONTINUES TO PLAY AN INTRICATE PART IN SOME OF THE CITY'S MOST VALUED AND RESPECTED TRADITIONS WHILE CONTINUING TO BRING NEW PROGRAMS TO THE FOREFRONT LIKE HASHTAG IMPACT.
THIS YEAR MARKS 39TH ANNIVERSARY OF WEST COVINA BECOMING A TREE CITY USA IN THIS ONE.
IT'S NOT GIVEN TO ALL CITIES THROUGHOUT THE U S IN FACT, 19,495 CITIES NATIONWIDE.
THERE ARE ONLY 3,400 THAT ARE RECOGNIZED.
A TREE CITY USA AND WEST COVINA IS AMONGST THEM.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THE TREE CITY SIGNAGE ALONG WITH THE TREE CITY FLAG THAT FLIES PRACTICALLY OVER THE CITY HALL.
THIS NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM STARTED IN 1976 AND IS SPONSORED BY ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US FORESTRY SERVICE AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FORESTERS WEST COVINA.
BEAUTIFUL ALONG WITH THE CITY OF WEST COVINA WEST COAST ARBORISTS HAVE PARTNERED TOGETHER TO ENSURE THIS HONOR AND TRADITION CONTINUED TO BE UPHELD FOR THE LAST FOUR DECADES.
DOZENS OF TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND IN DOING SO, NOT ONLY HAVE THEY BEAUTIFIED OUR COMMUNITY, THEY HAVE SHADED OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES.
THEY'VE HELPED CLEAN OUR AIR AND WATER INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES, REDUCED ENERGY COST AS WELL AS MADE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS GREENER, SAFER AND HEALTHIER.
SO IN KEEPING WITH THE TRADITION WEST COVINA, BEAUTIFUL HOLDS AN ANNUAL ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING CEREMONY.
AND FOR THE LAST 39 YEARS, WE HAVE PLANTED THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN HONOR OF OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY LEADERS, HONORING THEM FOR THEIR PAST COMMUNITY SERVICE.
THIS YEAR, THE EXECUTIVE BOARD HAS DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
WE ARE PLANTING A REMEMBRANCE TREE, PLANTING IT IN MEMORY OF ALL THOSE WEST CONVENIENCE THAT HAVE WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST DURING THE CORONA PANDEMIC.
WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GIVE RESPECT AND HONOR TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN AN INTRICATE PART OF THE CITY'S TAPESTRY, WHETHER THEY WERE FIRST RESPONDERS, EDUCATORS, BUSINESS, PEOPLE, SOCCER COACHES,
[01:05:01]
OR OUR NEIGHBOR FROM JUST DOWN THE STREET, EACH OF THEM HAD MADE AN IMPACT AND A CONTRIBUTION TO THE LEADERSHIP AND THE BETTERMENT OF WEST COVINA AND IN DOING SO, WE HOPE THIS WILL, THIS WILL BRING COMFORT TO THOSE OF US THAT ARE LEFT BEHIND MAKING A SAFER PLACE TO REFLECT ON HAPPIER TIMES WITH THOSE LOVED ONES THAT ARE NO LONGER WITH US.THEREFORE WE WOULD LOVE FOR ALL OF YOU TO COME AND JOIN US AND HONOR, THOSE THAT HAVE PASSED ON MAY 1ST AT 11 O'CLOCK HONORING ARBOR DAY, AND THE TREE PLANTING CEREMONY, THE LOCATION IS TO BE ANNOUNCED, AND IT'LL BE SHOWN ON EITHER OF THOSE CITIES OR BOTH PROBABLY CITY'S WEBSITE, ALONG WITH WEST COVINA, BEAUTIFUL FACEBOOK, IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR LOVED ONE TO BE REMEMBERED PERSONALLY, SEND AN EMAIL TO US, COVINA BEAUTIFUL@GMAIL.COM WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
WE ARE WORKING ON ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ON A SIDE NOTE REALLY QUICK.
IT WAS ASKED TO ME, SO HOW MANY TREES DOES WEST COVINA ACTUALLY HAVE? SINCE WE ARE A TREE CITY, WE HAVE 25,623, THREE 23 TREES.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE HILLSIDES, WHICH BRINGS THE NUMBER UP TO ABOUT 33,000 TREES IN WEST COVINA.
I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE COUNTED THEM ALL.
UM, THESE TREES HAVE A CURRENT VALUE OF 109 MILLION, $283,888 IN VALUE.
SO ARE WE REALLY THAT BROKE? WE'VE GOT GREEN ALL OVER ANYWAY.
I'D LIKE TO EXTEND THE INVITATION TO ALL OF YOU TO COME OUT AND VISIT US ON MAY 1ST FOR OUR TREE PLANNING.
THAT ENDS OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU ALL, UH, CITY MANAGER, MAY YOU PLEASE RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT CONCERNS? UM, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'LL ATTEMPT BRIEFLY TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE MADE TONIGHT.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS TONIGHT TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S INTENTION TO CREATE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND I'D LIKE TO JUST NOTE PUBLICLY THAT WE WILL HAVE SOME FURTHER ACTIONS ON EACH OF YOUR AGENDAS BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
UH, NEXT MEETING, WE INTEND TO BRING BACK TO COUNCIL THE FEE RESOLUTION, WHICH WOULD ADOPT THE FEES THAT WOULD BE INTENDED TO FUND, UM, UPON ADOPTION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION, WHICH WOULD BE OPERATED ON A FEE FOR SERVICE BASIS.
UM, ONE OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT, UM, ASKED ABOUT THE PAY GRADE FOR THE HEALTH SERIES POSITION.
THAT POSITION WAS CREATED IN THE CITY'S, UM, PLAN OF ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION PLAN.
BUT THE INTENTION WITH RESPECT TO THAT POSITION IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE WAY THAT WE RUN BUILDING AND SAFETY ON A FEE FOR SERVICE BASIS, THAT WE WOULD SEEK PROPOSALS FROM QUALIFIED FIRMS THAT THEN WOULD OPERATE THAT DIVISION ON A FEE FOR SERVICE BASIS.
AND THAT'S FEES ARE COMING TO YOU ON YOUR, ON YOUR NEXT MEETING.
UM, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT THE COMPARABLE CITIES AND I VERIFIED WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
THE CITY DID USE AS COMPARABLE CITIES FOR THE HEALTH SERIOUS POSITION, THE, UM, HEALTH DEPARTMENTS OF LONG BEACH, PASADENA, THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND CITY OF VERNON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
AND SHE FOUND THAT THE POSITIONS THAT MOST CLOSELY MIRRORED WEST COVINA WERE THOSE IN PASADENA.
UM, COUPLE OF WEEKS HERE'S TONIGHT ASKED ABOUT, UM, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY GUEST CON, AND SUGGESTED SOME DIFFERENT APPROACHES.
THE CITY MIGHT TAKE LEGISLATIVELY TO ENCOURAGE DIFFERENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES, ALTHOUGH THE CITY HAS NOT YET SENT, UM, POSITION LETTERS ABOUT SOME OF THOSE POLICIES, SPECIFICALLY THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT ARE NOW BEING, UM, REMOVED OR FOCUS ON RECALL OR FOCUS ON, UM, SOME POSITIVE WORK FOR A SUCCESSOR, IF THAT WERE TO OCCUR.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE PUBLICLY THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THE COALITION OF AREA, UM, CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON GANG ACTIVITY.
AND AT THE MOST RECENT MEETING DID HAVE A SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, UM, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT TOOLS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COUNTY OR THAT THE CITIES MIGHT BE ABLE TO EMPHASIZE THAT WOULD FOCUS ON DIVERSION AND GANG, UM, CESSATION PROGRAMS THAT MIGHT HELP US, UM, MOVE FORWARD ON THAT ISSUE.
AND THERE'S A RESOLUTION ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT THAT MEMORIALIZED IT'S THE CITY POSITION IN THAT AREA.
UM, MR. METER TALKED ABOUT THE INVALUABLE EXPERTISE OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
I'D LIKE TO NOTE PUBLICLY THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD WITH
[01:10:01]
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.THEY'VE BEEN MEETING SEVERAL TIMES LATELY, AND WE ARE GOING TO BRING TO COUNCIL AT THE NEXT MEETING.
UM, A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE AUDIT COMMITTEE BE GIVEN THE PRIMARY TASK OF FOCUSING ON THE CITY'S FINANCIAL RECOVERY PLAN, IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT FINANCIAL COVERAGE.
AND INDEED WE ARE, WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE STATE GUIDELINES QUITE CLOSELY.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO REPORT OUT HOW WE'VE MONITORED AGAINST THOSE GOALS AND, AND, AND ACTION STEPS EVERY SIX MONTHS.
AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO PONDER AND DECIDE ABOUT IT, YOUR NEXT MEETING.
UM, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE THAT WAS COVERED TONIGHT THAT I, I WANTED TO RESPOND TO.
OH, I'D LIKE TO THINK I WROTE DOWN GEORGE GETS GONE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY GEORGE OGDEN, LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR HIS INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER PROCEDURES AND FOR DOING SOME HOMEWORK ABOUT BIDS FOR SCANNERS IN THIS CHAMBER, WHICH WAS NOT SOMETHING WE SERIOUSLY LOOKED AT, BUT I THANK HIM FOR HIS, HIS RESEARCH HAS ALWAYS, AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TONIGHT.
UH, NOW FOR YOUR CITY MANAGER'S
[CITY MANAGER'S REPORT]
REPORT BECAUSE WE'RE STILL RESPONDING TO THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC I WANTED TONIGHT IN THE MANAGER'S REPORT, JUST TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW WITH, UM, COVID VACCINATIONS.UM, AS OF APRIL 1ST, ALL CALIFORNIANS AGES, 50 AND BETTER WERE ELIGIBLE TO GET A VACCINATION AS OF APRIL 15TH, ALL CALIFORNIANS AGES 16.
AND OVER AS OF TODAY, THERE'S ABOUT 26 MILLION VACCINES ADMINISTERED IN THE STATE.
UM, AND, UM, WE ARE, WE ARE HELPING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
UM, WITH THAT EFFORT, WE'VE GOT, UM, MULTIPLE VACCINATION SITES UP AND RUNNING OPEN TOMORROW.
WE'LL BE AT CAMERON PARK WITH, UM, FULL GIANT TECHNOLOGIES.
PEOPLE CAN GO TO THEIR LINK AND SIGN UP FOR AN APPOINTMENT BETWEEN EIGHT AND FOUR.
AND AT OUR SENIOR CENTER, WE'RE NOW OPEN WITH VACCINATIONS BY APPOINTMENT OR BY WALK-UP OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND CITY STAFF HAVE BEEN ASSISTING IN THAT EFFORT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EAST VALLEY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.
UM, ONE LAST THING I WANTED TO MAKE MENTION OF WITH RESPECT TO VACCINATIONS IS WE HAVE MADE AN EXTRA EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO OUR BOUND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UM, WE INITIALLY TRIED TO QUANTIFY HOW MANY WOULD BE INTERESTED.
WE HAD A NUMBER INITIALLY OF ABOUT 1600 WE'RE NOW, UM, FOCUSED DOWN.
WE'VE BEEN VACCINATING ABOUT 60 OF THOSE A DAY.
AND WE'RE REACHING OUT TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HOME-BOUND AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH AN ADDITIONAL 1100 TO GO.
SO WE ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WHO WANTS A VACCINE BOUND OR NOT.
UM, WE WANNA, WE WANT TO REACH EVERYONE AND SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONTACT US.
AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT THIS EVENING FOR A MANAGER'S REPORT.
UM, NOW ONCE TO CONSENT CALENDAR
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
COUNSEL, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT MATTER, MAYOR? THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ME, UH, I'D LIKE TO PULL, UH, ITEMS EIGHT, EIGHT.ANY OTHER COUNSEL WOULD LIKE TO PULL ANYTHING UP? YEP.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE A CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM ONE THROUGH NINE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NUMBER EIGHT SECOND ROLL CALL BEFORE ROLL CALL MAYOR.
I'M GOING TO READ THE TITLE OF THE ORDINANCE ITEM NUMBER TWO, ORDINANCE NUMBER TWO FOUR EIGHT ZERO, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA AMENDING PORTIONS OF CHAPTER 26.
IF THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO AUTHORIZE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS.
I HAVE A MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN WU.
IT'S ABOUT TO BUY OR CONSENTS ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NUMBER EIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER
I MAY I APPROACH TIM CASTELLANOS, MAYOR LOPEZ BEATO AYE.
MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO ONTO ITEM
[8) CONSIDERATION OF JOB DESCRIPTION AND SALARY GRADE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER]
NUMBER EIGHT, HOLD BY COUNCILMANIS THERE A PRESENTATION FIRST OR ONTO QUESTIONS? I HAVE NO PRESENTATION BEYOND THAT, WHICH IS CONTAINING THE STAFF REPORT, BUT I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY COUNSEL? OKAY.
MA'AM MAYOR FOR, UH, GIVING ME THE FLOOR.
I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS BEFORE I YIELD.
UM, SO, UH, SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, UH, CITY MANAGER, WHAT YOU PRESENTED EARLIER, UH, THE CITY WILL NOT BE HIRING, UH, THIS POSITION.
UM, YES, IT'S OUR INTENTION THAT WE WOULD FILL THIS POSITION.
THE MAIN THING THIS ACCOMPLISHES TONIGHT IS THAT IT WOULD, UM, ESTABLISH THAT THE DUTIES AND THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION.
WOULD IT BE OUR INTENTION TO FILL THIS ON A, ON A SERVICE BUREAU BASIS? WE'D ENGAGE
[01:15:01]
A PRIVATE FIRM.WE ISSUED RFPS HAVE RECEIVED THOSE PROPOSALS BY THE DEADLINE ARE GOING TO BE INTERVIEWING THIS WEEK FOR THAT.
AND THEN THAT WOULD RETURN TO THE COUNCIL.
AND BEFORE A CONTRACT, THAT MODEL WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THE WAY IN WHICH THE CITY PROVIDES SERVICES ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR BASIS FOR CITY ENGINEERING AND FOR BUILDING AND SAFETY.
SO, SO, SO BASED ON YOUR ANSWER, UH, HOW HAVE WE IDENTIFIED THE FOR-PROFIT COMPANY? WE ARE OUTSOURCING WELL THROUGH THE CHAIR.
AGAIN, WE, WE DID REQUEST RFPS OR QUEUES.
UM, I'M GOING TO BE DOING SOME INTERVIEWING IN FACT TOMORROW, AND THEN THAT WOULD RETURN TO THE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION OF A CONTRACT.
SO UNTIL THE COUNCIL WOULD APPROVE THAT THE ANSWER IS IT'S STILL, UM, UNDER DEVELOPMENT GROUP.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, INDICATION, UH, FROM THE STATE THAT THEY'LL CERTIFY A FOR-PROFIT MODEL? OKAY.
STATE STATUTES REQUIRE, I FORGET 10, 11, OR 12 DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE FULFILLED IN ORDER FOR US TO GARNER STATE APPROVAL OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE WILL BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM.
WE'RE STILL FILLING OUT THOSE DIFFERENT BRANCHES AND A CHANCE TO THE QUESTION DIRECTLY.
I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PRIVATE SECTOR MODEL WOULD BE APPROVED HERE.
I KNOW THE INTENTION IS TO MEET THE INTENTION IS TO NOT ONLY MEET, BUT EXCEED A LEVEL OF SERVICE WITH THIS SERVICE BUREAU MODEL.
SO, UH, SO I UNDERSTAND FROM, FROM YOUR ANSWER THAT WE'LL BE OUTSOURCING THE OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIREMENTS TO MULTIPLE FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES.
UH, HAVE WE IDENTIFIED THE NUMBER OF FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES THAT WILL MAKE UP THE WEST COVINA HEALTH DEPARTMENT? WELL, UM, THROUGH THE CHAIR, THAT'S NOT PART OF THIS ACTION TONIGHT, BUT I'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING I KNOW, WHICH IS WE'VE GOT, UM, BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH A NUMBER OF COMPANIES AND I THINK HAVE FILLED IN WHAT WE BELIEVE, BE THE BEST FOR EACH OF THOSE DIFFERENT BRANCHES.
AND THEY ARE ALL PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDERS.
IF THE QUESTION IS HOW MANY STARS ARE IN THE SKY, THE ANSWER IS ALL OF THEM.
SO THE LAST QUESTION, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, UH, AT OUR COUNCIL MEETING ON MARCH 16TH, UH, DR.
BAZELL VETS IN CHART, UH, STATED THAT HE AND HIS GROUP WOULD PROFIT FROM THE OUTSOURCE MODEL.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY CITY REGULATIONS TO PROTECT THE CITY FROM CONSULTANTS PROFITING FROM THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS? WELL, ME ANSWER THAT QUESTION IN THIS WAY, THIS POSITION THAT'S NOW BEEN CREATED, HASN'T BEEN FLOWN.
AND SO WE'D HAVE TO HAVE A PROCESS WHEREBY WE WOULD INVITE PEOPLE TO THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT POSITION TO SUBMIT THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND TO BE CONSIDERED.
UM, WE ARTICULATE THE BUSINESS TERMS IN EVERY CONTRACT THAT WE BRING TO COUNCIL, SO THAT WOULD BE KNOWN AND IT WOULD BE PUBLICLY VETTED AT THAT TIME.
SO, SO, SO, SO THEN BASED, BASED ON YOUR ANSWER, THE, THE, THE CONSULTANT, UH, COULD AFTER THE RECOMMENDATION ALSO THEN PROFIT FROM THAT RECOMMENDATION, WE MAY ANSWER THAT IN THIS WAY, WE CONTRACT WITH SOME PRIVATE SECTOR FIRMS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SERVICES AND THEY DO IN FACT, PAY THEIR STAFFS AND RUN THEIR COMPANIES AND THE BUSINESS OF THEIR COMPANIES IN RETURN FOR THE, THE SERVICES PROVIDED.
SO YES, THE, THE, THE, THE CITY ENGINEER IS SELECTED BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS.
AND WHEN THEY DO ENGINEERING WORKFORCE, THEY'RE PAID OUT OF THE GRANTS THAT THEY GARNER, ET CETERA.
UM, SAME WITH BUILDING AND SAFETY.
THE COUNCIL SETS THE FEES, AND THEN IT'S A PERCENT OF THE FEE ARRANGEMENT THAT, THAT THE COMPANY GETS IT.
SO THEY, THEY MAKE THEIR, THEIR WAY BASED ON THE FEES THAT THE COUNCIL SETS, MADAM MATT AMERICAN.
I CLARIFY THE QUESTION, UH, BECAUSE I, I, I MAY HAVE A REFERENCE FOR THIS.
SO, SO THE W WE, WE COULDN'T, WE CONSULTED, UH, FOR A RECOMMENDATION TO CREATE OUR OWN PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER POSITION.
AND, AND IS THIS THE CITY PROTECTED FROM THE CONSULTANT WHO MADE THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THEN, UH, BEING ABLE TO PROFIT AS THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER?
[01:20:01]
SO, SO, SO, SO W WE HAD A CONSULTANT WHO SAID, YOU SHOULD CREATE YOUR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER, AND THEN ARE WE PROTECTED FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL OR THAT GROUP FROM THEN APPLYING AND THEN PROFITING FROM BECOMING THAT PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE.SO, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING THAT PROTECTS US FROM THAT OCCURRING FROM THE CONSULTANT THEN PROFITING FROM HIS RECOMMENDATION, MAYBE CITY ATTORNEY? I DON'T KNOW, MATT, I DON'T KNOW IF PROTECTED IS THE CORRECT WORD, BUT WE DO HAVE A PROCESS THAT I THINK THE CITY MANAGER EXPLAINED YOU FLOAT THE RFP, YOU GET RESPONSES, YOU CAN INTERVIEW YOU SELECT THE BEST ONE YOU PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL.
THE COUNCIL WILL THEN APPROVE THAT INTO MEALS SO THAT I WOULD SAY I DON'T PROTECT IS THE CORRECT WORD, BUT THAT IS THE PROCESS THAT WE MUST FOLLOW TO ENSURE THAT, OKAY, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, I MAY ADD TO THAT IN NO WAY DISAGREEING WITH IT.
I JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, THAT THE CONSULTANT REFERRED TO DR.
BAZELL HAS BEEN DOING CHARITABLE WORK FOR US.
IT'S A VOLUNTEER ARRANGEMENT, WHICH IS DEFINED IN THE CONTRACT, BUT HIS COMPENSATION HAS BEEN ZERO.
HE'S BEEN GIVING NUMEROUS HOURS IN THE INTEREST OF THIS QUESTION, BUT HE'S NOT BEEN PAID FOR HIS WORK.
HE'S BEEN, HE'S BEEN VOLUNTEERING.
OR DO YOU ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS? I HAVE NO QUESTIONS, BUT I DO HAVE ONE, ONE COMMENT.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE FOR THE RECORD THAT THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY I'LL QUOTE, IT SAYS IN THE EVENT THAT THE CITY ELECTS TO SET, COLLECT, AND RETAIN ITS OWN PERMIT FEES AT SHELL.
SO NOTIFY THE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER, AND SHE'LL THEREAFTER PAY THE COST OF THE SERVICE UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH PURSUANT TO THE PARAGRAPH NINTH.
SO, UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING WAS ALWAYS STIPULATED AS ALLOWED, AND WITHOUT REMINDER, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE NUMBER EIGHT.
AND I'LL SECOND IT, I'M SORRY.
CAN I GET, UH, WHO SECONDED? THANK YOU.
COUNCILWOMAN MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM.
CASTELLANO SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DIAZ, COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT SUB-I NO, COUNCILMAN WILL ART COUNCIL, WOMAN DIAZ.
CASTELLANO'S MAYOR LOPEZ, VETO MOTION PASSES FOUR TO ONE ON TO PUBLIC HEARING
[10) CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 2021-27 IMPOSING TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT ON THE WEST COVINA FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 3505.4, 3505.5, AND 3505.7]
ITEM, NUMBER 10, CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 2021 DASH 27, IMPOSING TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT ON THE WEST COVINA FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION THREE, FIVE ZERO 5.43 AND THREE FIVE ZERO 5.5 AND THREE FIVE ZERO 5.7 A CITY CLERK.CAN YOU VERIFY THE PROPER LEGAL NOTICE THAT IT HAS BEEN GIVEN? LEGAL NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN ME OKAY.
AT THIS TIME, I SHALL OPEN TO PUBLIC HEARING ON THE RESOLUTION IMPOSING TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, THE FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE OF WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.
UM, THERE WILL BE FIRST THE PRESENTATION OF STAFF REPORT.
THEN WE SHALL HA HEAR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, UH, CITY MANAGER WHO WILL BE GETTING A STAFF REPORT.
UM, MARIN COUNCIL, I'LL BE GIVING THIS REPORT TONIGHT WITH HELP FROM THE HR DIRECTOR.
SHOULD THERE BE QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE TONIGHT? THE CITY COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO TAKE TWO ACTIONS FIRST, AS WAS MENTIONED TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE IMPASSE THAT WE'VE COME TO BETWEEN THE CITY AND ITS, UM, FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE HEARING, WE'RE ASKING THE COUNCIL, UM, ADOPT AN ORDINANCE, UM, IMPOSING TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THIS, THIS ASSOCIATION.
I'D LIKE TO SPEND A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S A QUITE SERIOUS MATTER.
THIS IS, UM, A MEET AND CONFER BUSINESS THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH HERE.
THE CITY HAS A DUTY TO MEET AND CONFER WITH ITS ASSOCIATIONS.
UM, IT'S, IT'S AN OBLIGATION WHEREBY WE ENDEAVOR TO REACH AGREEMENT, UM, ON ALL MATTERS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF REPRESENTATION.
IN THIS CASE, SPECIFICALLY WAGES AND BENEFITS.
UM, THIS IS A REQUIREMENT OF STATE LAW UNDER THE MEYER'S MALAYAS BROWN ACT.
UM, THE CITY HAS TO MEET AND CONFER BEFORE IMPLEMENTING ANY SUCH RULE OR MAKING ANY CHANGES TO WAGES.
UM, THE CITY HAS BEEN AT THIS FOR SOME TIME AND I'D LIKE TO SPEND A MOMENT REVIEWING THE FINDINGS OF THE RESOLUTION, THE SEVERAL CLAUSES IN THE RESOLUTION, DEALING WITH THE CITY'S FINANCIAL CONDITION, WHICH I BELIEVE CERTAINLY THE COUNCIL IS AWARE OF.
AND I'M EXPECTING EVERYONE IN THIS CHAMBERS IS, IS AWARE OF WE AFTER DECLARATION OF FISCAL EMERGENCY AND PANDEMIC EMERGENCY BEGAN TO SEE A UNFORESEEN, BUT SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN THE CITY'S ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND THE BUSINESS ACTIVITY WITH THE CLOSURE OF ALL THE NON ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES, UM, OUR REVENUES WERE OFF
[01:25:01]
AND THEY CONTINUED TO BE OFF IN THE BUDGET.YOU'RE SOON TO CONSIDER THEY'RE GOING TO BE OFF SOME TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS AS OF TODAY.
UM, THE MOST IMPORTANT PROVISIONS HERE ARE THAT THE CITY IN THIS RESOLUTION IS MEMORIALIZING THAT BETWEEN MAY OF 2020 AND JULY OF 2020 REPRESENTATIVES, THE CITY, OUR HR DIRECTOR AND OUR KEY MANAGEMENT STAFF, FINANCE DIRECTOR, ET CETERA, MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL OF OUR LABOR GROUPS, ALL NINE FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS A SUB THIS HEARING TONIGHT, THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, LOCAL 32, 26, THE POLICE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, THE NON-SWORN SAFETY SUPPORT EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, THE WEST COVINA CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, THE WEST COVINA MAINTENANCE AND CRAFTS GROUP.
THE WEST COVINA MID-MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, THE WEST COVINA GENERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION TO DISCUSS THIS, UM, UNFORESEEN FISCAL EMERGENCY.
AND WE MET WITH EACH OF THEM MULTIPLE UPON MULTIPLE TIMES.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO TELL, I'M PROUD TO TELL YOU ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH EIGHT OTHER LABOR GROUPS.
SO IF WE'VE GOT 300 PEOPLE WORKING FOR US, WE CAME TO FULL AGREEMENT WITH 297, OUR EMPLOYEES AND ALL THE MANAGEMENT TEAM ALSO GAVE BACK THESE REQUESTED REDUCTIONS.
AND I'M SORRY TO REPORT TO YOU THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO WITH THIS GROUP ON AUGUST 21ST, OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM SUBMITTED THE CITY'S LAST BEST AND FINAL OFFER.
UM, WE, WE MADE REPEATED EFFORTS TO ENGAGE IN GOOD FACE DISCUSSIONS AND, UM, NOT WITHSTANDING ALL OF THESE EFFORTS, WE'VE ARRIVED AT IMPASSE.
SO, UM, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE LAWS, I'M RECOMMENDING THAT YOU CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE HEARING, UM, ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION AND WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY, OR HAVE ANY CITY COUNCIL WHO HAS QUESTIONS SEEING NONE? UM, IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? MAYOR? I HAVE ONE SPEAKER MR. STEVE BENNETT.
I MARKED A FAINT NOW AND HE'S ALREADY LEFT UNFORTUNATELY, BUT, UH, GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS AGAIN.
I KNOW YOU GUYS MISS ME SO MUCH.
SO TONIGHT YOU HAVE THE FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, UH, IMPASSE AND IN READING THE 16 PAGE DOCUMENT THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS, UH, REFERENCED, UM, DATING ALL THE WAY BACK TO JANUARY, 2020.
UM, THE MAJOR THEME OF THIS PROPOSAL OF COURSE IS THE FACT THAT THE FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION WANTS MONEY.
I MEAN, IT'S A PAY RAISE TYPE THING.
UM, YOU KNOW, BENEFITS, THINGS THAT GO WITH THAT.
UH, THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS AS YOU READ THIS REPORT AND YOU GUYS CAN PROBABLY FIND THIS, UM, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PARODY, THAT'S THE WORD USED BY THE, UH, CALLED A MEDIATOR.
BUT IT'S A FACT FINDING THING BECAUSE YOU GUYS GAVE RAISES ALL THREE OF YOU, SORRY, BRIAN, AND, UH, GINGER, UM, THREE OF YOU GAVE RAISES TO THE FIRE, UH, FIRES, FIRES, THE RANK AND FILE AS THEY REFER TO IN THIS 12%, YOU HAVE A GREAT MOU.
J MADE HER ACTUALLY ALLUDED TO IT IN PUBLIC COMMENT, GAVE HIM 12% PAY RAISE.
AND THEN IF WE GET THAT $3 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT DOESN'T HAVE AN ENDING CLAUSE IN THAT MOU.
SO IT COULD BE JUST, HE MENTIONED TAX INCREASES, BUT IT COULD BE JUST INCREASES IN GENERAL PEOPLE SELLING HOUSES AND PROPERTY TAXES, GOING UP $3 MILLION IN REVENUE BASED ON A CERTAIN CALENDAR YEAR.
THAT'S ALLUDED IN THAT MOU AND THEY GET RANK AND FILE GETS MOVED TO NUMBER THREE AND THEY GET, AS HE POINTED OUT 9% IN COLA INCREASES, WELL, I CAN'T BLAME THE FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.
THEY SAW YOU GUYS BE FREE WITH MONEY.
ASK THEM THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT YOU GUYS GOING, HEY, WE'RE BROKE, BUT HEY, HERE'S SOME MONEY.
AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY NOW TO GO TO A MEDIATOR AND BASICALLY SAY IT AIN'T RIGHT.
AND THAT MEDIATOR WENT YOU'RE RIGHT.
SO RIGHT NOW YOU CAN'T DO THIS.
SO THEY'VE AGREED IN THE MEDIATOR SCENARIO TO ONLY DO A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THERE'S NO RAISES, BUT THIS HAS CONTINUED REPERCUSSIONS FROM WHAT YOU GUYS DID IN 2019, RESIDENTS CAME UP HERE AND TOLD YOU WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
CITY MANAGER I'LL FIND THE MONEY WAITING FOR THAT MAGIC POT OF GOLD TO SHOW UP, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
NOW WE'RE DOING A PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, BUT YOU GUYS GAVE THE RANK AND FILE.
NOT SAYING THAT THEY WEREN'T RIGHT AND ASKING FOR IT, BUT YOU GAVE THEM MONEY.
WE DON'T HAVE COULD ARGUE IF IT WAS BASED ON THE FACT, YOU THOUGHT A TAX INCREASE WAS GOING OR NOT, WHICH FAILED, BUT YOU GAVE MONEY.
AND NOW WHAT HAPPENS IS WE GO THROUGH THE PERP, THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RELATIONS BOARD, BECAUSE WE GAVE THEM
[01:30:01]
MONEY PARODY.YOU KNOW, IT'S THREE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEFS, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY'VE GOT AN ARGUMENT BECAUSE YOU GUYS WERE IRRESPONSIBLE FINANCIALLY, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
AND NOW, YEAH, WE GOT AGREEMENTS FOR SIX, UH, SIX MONTHS FROM EIGHT OF OUR NINE EMPLOYMENT GROUPS, ALL THE ONES THAT CITY MANAGER LISTED IT'S AWESOME.
SIX MONTHS WHILE THAT'S EITHER OVER OR JUST ABOUT OVER THAT ALL GOES BACK TO THEIR NORMAL MOU.
NOW, NORMALLY WHEN THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WAS THE FMA.
BUT EITHER WAY, EITHER WAY, YOU HAVE NOW SIX OTHER BARGAINING GROUPS WHO, IF THEY HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT ARE WATCHING THIS GOING, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'LL GO TO PERP TWO, WE'LL CREATE AN IMPASSE.
I KNOW THEY HAVE TO DO IT WITH TRUE INTENTIONS.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO LIKE WHAT YOU'RE OFFERING AND THEY CAN DISAGREE.
THEY CAN TAKE A VOTE AND DISAGREE WITH IT, WHICH MEANS WE GO TO CURB AGAIN, WHICH MEANS NOW WE HAVE PARODY AGAIN.
SO BY GIVING RAISES THAT WE COULDN'T AFFORD, WE COULD BE FORCED TO GIVE MORE RAISES LATER THROUGH AN ARBITRATIONAL SITUATION.
THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE SITUATIONS THAT YOU GUYS CREATED.
AND I LAUGH BECAUSE IN HERE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY COUNCILS, UH, WELL, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE WHO I'M ASSUMING IS AN ATTORNEY.
CAUSE HE'S GOT ESQUIRE AFTER HIS NAME, YOU KNOW, IN HERE, HE EVEN STATES IN HIS CONCURRENCE THAT THE STATE AUDITOR LISTED THE STATE AS FISCALLY CHALLENGED, WE ALL KNOW WHERE NUMBER NINE.
AND IT'S BEEN, UH, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO NUMBER ONE, EVENTUALLY THEIR CHIEF, UM, LIKE YOU LIKE, UM, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS, THE CITY HAS AN UNASSIGNED GENERAL FUND BALANCE AND CONTINUOUSLY DECLINING GENERAL FUND BALANCE.
THREE OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON HERE TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
I KNOW YOU KEEP TRYING TO SAY IT'S PREVIOUS COUNCILS.
I KNOW I I'VE HEARD OF THAT ALL THE TIME ON YOUR ADVERSARIES OR YOUR PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SUCH.
AND THEN IT SAYS, MOREOVER, THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND BALANCE RESERVES WERE BELOW THE CITY POLICY AND SHOWED CONTINUED DECLINE GOING FORWARD, GOING FORWARD YOUR FAULT.
AND IT HAS TO DO WITH YOUR DECISIONS, START BECOMING FINANCIALLY SMART AND YOUR DECISION.
YOU'RE KIND OF STUCK NOW BECAUSE WE DID AN ARBITRATION, UNFORTUNATELY, AND IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FMA.
I DON'T HAVE A FAULT WITH THEM.
THEY'RE JUST DOING WHAT I WOULD DO AS IF I WAS IN THEIR POSITION.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM THERE? I HAVE NO OTHER SPEAKER CARDS.
WELL, I SHALL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THIS HEARING AND ASK FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? GO AHEAD.
UH, SO MY QUESTION WILL BE, UM, SO BASICALLY WHY NOW ALL THE, ALL THE UNION GROUP HAS BEEN SETTLED WITH CITY YESTERDAY THROUGH THE CHAIR.
WE'VE GOT AGREEMENTS WITH EIGHT OF NINE UNIONS.
SO WE'VE GOT ALMOST THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE THAT IS AGREED TO CURTAIL THEIR BENEFITS DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
SO, UH, HAVE YOU TRIED EVERYTHING, DOCUMENT, EVERYTHING TO TALK TO THE, THE, THE FIRE MANAGEMENT GROUP? UM, YES, AGAIN, THROUGH THE CHAIR WE HAVE MET WITH, UM, ALL OF OUR ASSOCIATIONS, INCLUDING THIS ONE MULTIPLE UPON MULTIPLE TIMES.
AND WE'VE REACHED THE END OF THE ROAD WHERE WE'VE GIVEN OUR LAST BEST AND FINAL.
AND WE ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE RECOMMENDING IMPASSE BECAUSE WE ARE, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO COME TO AGREEMENT AT THE TABLE.
SO BASICALLY DOES CT ON YOUR END, YOU EXHAUSTED ALL WAY TO TALK TO DAN TO GET SOME KIND OF A COMPROMISE FROM BOTH SIDES.
IT'S THAT THE CHOOSE, UM, AGAIN, THROUGH THE CHAIR, IT IS THE TRUTH AND THE CITY HAS INDEED MET AND CONFERRED IN GOOD FAITH.
UM, THESE ARE OUR EMPLOYEES AS WITH ALL THE OTHER GROUPS, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND WE'VE MET WITH THEM AND BEEN QUITE HONEST ABOUT THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POSITION AND ABOUT THE NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS EPIDEMIC BY PULLING IN THE BELT TO NOTCH OR TWO.
UM, BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO COME TO AGREEMENT, WHICH BRINGS US TO THIS IMPASSE.
METHOD TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO SET UP.
SO IN THAT WAY TO BE FAIR TO THE OTHER GROUP AT THE RAILWAY, DO YOU WILLING TO SETTLE WITH CITY? I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
AND HONESTLY, WITH ALL THE GROUPS WE ASKED FOR THE SAME KINDS OF CONCESSIONS UP AND DOWN THE ORGANIZATION AND THE, EVEN THE NON-REPRESENTED MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES, EVERYONE THAT'S WORKING FOR US TODAY SAVE THIS GROUP HAS, HAS COME TO AN AGREEMENT
[01:35:01]
ABOUT THESE REDUCTIONS.UH, AND, UH, MY LAST QUESTION WOULD BE IF WE DECIDE TO, BECAUSE WE TRUST THE MANAGEMENT, WE'VE WE AGREE WITH THE IMPACT.
CAN THEY STILL COME BACK TO NEGOTIATE SUCH ALWAYS US.
WE'RE GOING TO, ONCE THIS PROCESS CONCLUDES HE RIGHT BACK AT THE TABLE WITH ALL THE GROUPS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.
BECAUSE OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION, UM, THIS IS WHERE THE REVENUE GOES.
THIS IS THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF THE EQUATION.
SO WE WILL IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO THE TABLE ONCE THIS ENTIRE PROCESS CONCLUDES.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A QUESTION? UM, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST KNOW DURING THAT THESE DIFFICULT TIMES THROUGHOUT THE NATION, US, A LOT OF CITIES, A LOT OF EMPLOYEES HAS BEEN TAKEN TO CUT.
UM, THERE HAS BEEN A REDUCTION I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED WORKING FOR CITY OF LA, MY COUSIN, WHO WORKS FOR THE STATE, THEY'VE HAD THAT IMPACT.
SO EVERYONE THAT I KNOW AND I'M AWARE WE HAD A IMPACT ON A REDUCTION.
UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION? AND I MOVED A MOTION TO APPROVE AND I'LL SECOND IT.
UH, WELL, THIS MOTION IS IN ORDER TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION IMPOSING TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND EMPLOYMENT ON THE WEST COVINA FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION SECTIONS THREE FIVE ZERO 5.4350 5.5 AND THREE FIVE ZERO 5.7.
WE HAVE A SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DIAZ, COUNCIL MEMBER TABATA BY BY COUNCIL, WOMAN, EXCUSE ME, COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ.
I MAY APPROACH TIM CASTELLANOS, MAYOR LOPEZ FIATO AYE.
MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO ONTO THE NEXT TOPIC.
[MAYOR/COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS]
UH, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS, ANY AB ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR CONFERENCE AND MEETING REPORT FROM THE COUNCIL? UH, YES.UH, I WANTED TO, UH, UM, MAKE A REQUEST FROM STUFF.
SO ANY, UH, AB ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR CONFERENCE.
[CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS FOR REPORTS, STUDIES OR INVESTIGATION]
CITY COUNCIL REQUEST.UM, I I'D LIKE TO RE REQUEST, UH, MAKE A REQUEST FROM STAFF, UM, TO DO STUDY AND, UM, PRESENT THE CITY OF WHITTIER IS A RECENT, UH, HOMELESS PLAN, UH, ALONG WITH, UH, LEGAL REQUIREMENTS TO ACCESS, UH, MEASURE H FUNDS, UH, WITH, UH, EXAMPLES OF PROPOSALS USED BY OTHER CITIES TO OBTAIN TAX DOLLARS.
UH, SO WE CAN, UH, START TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, AND, AND, UH, PROACTIVELY ON, UH, OUR HOMELESS, UH, ISSUE.
UM, WELL ACTUALLY I, DAVID AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS.
UM, I HAVE RESEARCHED THAT WITH YOUR PROPOSAL.
UM, BASICALLY IT JUST TAKES MONEY, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE.
I THINK I, WHEN I RESEARCHED IT, IT TOOK ABOUT $20,000 JUST TO CLEAN UP THE PARK, BUT THEN PUTTING UP THE FENCING AND MONITORING IT AT, UH, IT TAKES A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE, UH, IF, IF I COULD SUGGEST AN ALTERNATIVE MOTION.
I MEAN, UH, WHEN I BROUGHT THIS UP AND THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE YOU YOUR TIME, AND I BROUGHT THIS UP WITH, UM, OUR SUPERVISOR HILDA SOLIZ, UM, ABOUT ALLOWING US TO ACCESS MEASURE H FUNDS FOR, FOR THIS PURPOSE, FOR, FOR OUR HOMELESS PROBLEM.
UH, SHE DISMISSED IT AS A TOO BAD, SO SAD.
YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE FUNDS TO MATCH.
UM, IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE SHE KNOWS THE DIRE FINANCIAL SITUATION, OUR CITY'S IN AND ALMOST, UH, UH, WAS GLOATING AT THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE, UH, MONEY TO MATCH THE FUNDS.
TH THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE TO MATCHING FUNDS FOR A SOLUTION IS TO PROVIDE A LOCATION FOR A SHELTER, WHICH I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE, WHERE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT THAT ELBOW.
UM, THAT BASICALLY WHAT CITY OF WHITTIER DID WAS TURN THE PARK INTO A SHELTER IT'S JUST KIND OF EXPENSIVE.
SO, UM, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY RATHER THAN HAVING OUR STAFF RESEARCH IT, MAYBE WE COULD REQUEST THE COUNTY TO EXPLAIN TO US HOW THEY'VE SPENT MEASURE H FUNDS.
CAUSE I DON'T, UH, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE SEEN NOT ONLY IN OUR CITY, BUT IN THE WHOLE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY AND MAYBE LA COUNTY, MUCH OF AN IMPACT AT ALL IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE RESOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM MEASURE H PASSED IN NOVEMBER OF 2017, WE'RE GOING ON OVER
[01:40:01]
THREE YEARS AND STILL, UM, STILL NO RESOLUTION.SO MAYBE WE SHOULD ASK THE COUNTY.
THAT WOULD BE MY, MY COMMENT ON, ON THAT.
AND BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND THEN WE STARTING WITH THE WEST COVINA HOMELESS INITIATIVE AND THEN THIS YEAR, OKAY.
THE MAIL CONTINUED TO CARRY ON.
THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE WEST COVINA, INCLUDING WE HAVE OUR POLICE CHIEF WITH A WHOLE TEAM AND THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HELP OUR HOMELESS BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
HOW CAN WE HELP THEM UP THE STREET? OKAY.
I THINK WE ARE DOING A LOT OF STUFF CURRENTLY NOW ONLY BY HOURS, CT AND A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBER.
WE WANT, WHAT I'M SAYING? IS THIS OKAY? WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST.
THE MALES ALREADY AS A LEADER, I CAN HELP US.
TRY TO, EVEN WE, LAST TIME WE HAVE A COUNTY.
AND WHEN THE MENTAL HEALTH, OKAY.
WITH THE COUNTY PEOPLE SEE HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
BUT THE ANSWER IS PRETTY DEPRESSING BECAUSE WHAT THEY ANSWER IS THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IN SACRAMENTO OR THE COUNTY.
SO MEANING AND THE FALLS, THE CITY LEVEL CURRENTLY, WE DON'T HAVE A RESOURCE.
SO, SO, UH, AND RIGHT NOW I THINK PUT, OKAY, OUR CURRENT MOST PRIORITY WAS STAFF TIME.
I THINK WE HAVE A MAJOR BUDGET.
WE NEED TO TRY TO WALK IT DOWN.
SO I REALLY WANT TO OUR STAFF, OKAY.
FOCUS ON WHAT IS PRIORITY THAT THE DEADLINE IS COMING UP FOR THE BUDGET.
SO, SO, AND THE SAME TIME SINCE THE CITY ALREADY, WE ALREADY HAVE THE OKAY.
WEST COVINA HAS INITIATIVE AND ALREADY WORK ON WITH, INCLUDING THE POLICE.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WANT TO REDUNDANT TO DO THE THING THAT THE MONEY WE DON'T HAVE ON THIS COUNTY COUNTY TOOK $60 MILLION, THREE OR FOUR YEARS OVER SALES TAX, QUARTER OF A MAJOR AGE MONEY.
WE HAVE TO SEE THE MONEY COMING BACK TO US.
SO I THINK I WANT TO ASK, OKAY, TO OUR COUNTY SUPERVISOR, YOU SAY, WHERE IS THE MONEY AND THE CONDUCTIVE FOR SOME, WE DON'T HAVE TO MENTION FUND THE GATE.
AND SHE KNEW WE DON'T HAVE THE MENTIONED FUND CURRENTLY.
SO HOW CAN WE MATCH $5 MILLION TO THE $5 MILLION? SO IN THAT WAY, I THINK IT'S WASTE OF TIME.
WE SHOULD CONTINUE CARRY ON WHILE WE HAVE THE RESULTS WEST COVINA INITIATIVE.
STILL CONTINUE WITH OUR POLICE.
WE SAY THERE'S THREE OFFICER AND THEY HELP US WITH ALL THE HOMELESS AND FIND A WAY AND THEY OFF THE STREET.
SO THAT IS WHAT I CAN NOT SUPPORT THIS.
UM, BUT CURRENT HOMELESS INITIATIVE, UM, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WERE AT, UH, THAT WAS THE ONE I PUSHED EARLY ON.
AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR TO WHITTIER IS MODEL.
UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO IMPLEMENT CAME TO A HALT DUE TO COVID.
UM, AND I KNOW AT THE END IT COMES TO FUNDING AND RESOURCES.
AND I, I KNOW ON MY LAST REQUEST TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE STATE BECAUSE COUNTY DOES RECEIVE STATE MONEY AND MEASURE H UM, IT'S CLOSE TO HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS.
AND WE DON'T SEE THAT IN OUR CITY, UM, THAT I I'D LIKE TO PUSH IF YOU'D LIKE TO AMEND THAT.
I DO AGREE WITH, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CASIANOS IN, REGARDING TO OUR MAJOR MEASURE H MONEY.
I MEAN, THERE'S THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO PUSH AND DO, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO DO THAT.
UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO AMEND THE, UH, THE COUNCIL REQUESTS, UM, TO THAT, THEN WE CAN, BUT GO AHEAD, COUNSEL.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE A CLOSE CONNECTION TO MS. SELISE.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THEY DIDN'T HELP US IN THE PAST.
SO MAYBE IF YOU TALK TO HER, MAYBE WE CAN GET THIS MEASURE H MONEY THAT WE CAN START THIS.
CAUSE I THINK WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HOMELESSNESS.
AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING.
IF WE GET OUR FUNDING, WE NEED THAT FUNDING FROM MEASURE H SO I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA.
IF YOU CAN MAYBE HAVE DIRECT CONNECTION WITH HER, MAYBE SHE'LL LISTEN TO YOU AT THE THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR FOR GIVING ME THE FLOOR.
AND, UH, SO MY, MY REQUEST FOR HIM FROM STAFF IS BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF A MISCONCEPTION THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE AND THE PUBLIC HAS ABOUT, UH, ABOUT WHAT WHITTIER HAS DONE, UH, AND ALSO, UH, THE REGULATIONS TO ACCESS MEASURE H MONEY.
AND SO AS A, AS A PUBLIC GOOD, UH, THE PRESENTATION BY STAFF DURING, DURING COUNCIL MEETING WOULD GO TO, UH, SHED LIGHT ON EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN WHITTIER, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO SEE, UH, BUT ALSO SO THEY COULD SEE, UM, AND, AND HAVE IT DETAILED FOR THEM.
WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MEASURE H MONEY, UH, AGAIN, SEEING WHAT OTHER CITIES HAD DONE AS YOU SUGGESTED, UH, YOU KNOW, DID OTHER CITIES MATCH FUNDS IN ORDER TO GET MEASURE H MONEY AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? SO
[01:45:01]
RESIDENTS WOULD UNDERSTAND THESE, THESE ARE THE STEPS WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS.AND THIS IS WHERE THE COUNTY HAS FAILED, OR, UH, SO TH THIS IS WHY I WAS, UH, MAKING THAT REQUEST OF STAFF.
UM, I DID SEE THAT MODEL BECAUSE OF COURSE THE HOMELESS THING IS SOMETHING THAT HAS MY GIVE YOU, I KNOW THAT WITH THE, STILL, WITH THE FUNDS THAT THEY DID RECEIVE, THEY DID SPEND ABOUT ONE 50 OR 200,000 ON THEIR OWN PERSONAL GENERAL FUND.
AND THAT JUST CAUSED LIKE A RED FLAG ON, ON US TO BE SPENDING.
SO EVEN IF WE HAVE THEM PRESENT, WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO DO THAT.
AND I KNOW THEY SAID MATCHING.
SO AT THE END, IT, IT COMES BACK DOWN TO FUNDING AND RESOURCE.
UM, SO THAT'S, BUT IT, ANYBODY ELSE CAN, CAN I ADD SOMETHING QUICKLY? OKAY.
THE HOMELESS IS REALLY, UM, OKAY.
AND I THINK, UH, TODAY JUST SAY, HAVE A JUDGE ALREADY.
AND WE REQUEST TO CTE AND THE OCT AND THE COUNTY REGARDING THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE HOMELESS ISSUE.
THEY SPENDING ALL THE MONEY AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, BUT THE HOMELESS EVEN MORE.
SO MEANING MORE MONEY DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
MORE MONEY MEANS MORE BUREAUCRACY, MORE BUREAU CREDIT HIGHER.
SO WE'LL JUST MAKE EXAMPLE IN POMONA, THE BILL, A SHELTER, IT COST $30 MILLION WITH A SHELL.
AND IT'S, DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A BATHROOM.
PATRICK WOULD GO OUTSIDE SHARE WITH THE BATHROOM.
AND IT'S CALLED 13, $14 MILLION.
SO, SO IF THIS WILL PRIVATE SECTOR OKAY.
POSSIBLE LESS THAN $2 MILLION.
WE CAN NEVER GET ANYTHING DONE.
A LOT OF A PROBLEM THAT LEVEL, WE REALLY OKAY.
HAVE AN ISSUE WITH WHAT I THINK IT'S TO GO BACK TO HOW WE'VE BEEN REQUEST SINCE I WAS IN THE, OKAY.
AND I'VE BEEN, ALWAYS ASKING ABOUT, OKAY, HOW TO HAVE A, OKAY.
IMAGINE EACH MONEY GO TO EACH CITY, LET THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROBLEM.
SO WE CAN TELL, WE KNOW WHERE'S THE HOMELESS, WE KNOW WHERE'S IN CHEM.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH.
THE, THE, THE PERSONNEL, WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FUND THAT.
WE PAY THEM TO HELP THEM TO OFF THE STREET.
WE ONLY CAN TALK TO THE HOPE TEAM.
WELL, THEY CAN HELP, HELP A UNION HELP US TO, UH, HOUSING THEM, BUT IT'S TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.
SO IF WE CAN GET THE, REALLY, THEY TRUST THE CTE SINCE THEY TOOK THE MONEY FOR EACH CT ISSUE, GO BACK TO THE CITY.
BUT I DON'T THINK YOU WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE MATCH.
ANOTHER THING I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU.
BILL VALLEY, COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE MEETING FINANCIAL TIME AND THEY, THE COUNTY WILLING TO GIVE US, LIKE, I FORGOT $2 MILLION A SHARE WITH A THREE 30 OF 35.
SO I'M GOING TO BE OCT AND EVERYBODY HAS TO APPLY.
AND THAT WAS ALL THE PROPOSAL.
SO, AND NOW WE ONLY GET LIKE 30, $40,000, NOT EVEN ENOUGH TO OUR STAFF TIME TO TRY TO GET A 30, $40,000.
SO I THINK THIS IS THE ISSUE, THE PROBLEM WE HAVE.
SO I DON'T KNOW, THIS RESEARCH CAN GET ANY OUT OF A THING.
I THINK A HOMELESS ISSUE IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT CITY, WE NEED OUR RESOURCE.
WE NEED THE FUNDING AND THE CO AND THE, WE DON'T HAVE.
SO NO MATTER HOW YOU SPEND THE OKAY, STEP TIME THAT WE RESOLVE THE SAME, WHERE IS THE FUNDING? WHERE IS THE MONEY AND THE MONEY WE DON'T HAVE? DID YOU WANT TO AMEND IT REQUEST? NO, THAT THAT'S FINE.
UM, DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A REQUEST? I ACTUALLY HAVE A FEW.
UM, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST, TO HAVE A PRESENTATION ON GUESTS, GUNS DIRECTIVE, AND POLICIES, HOW IT IMPACTS OUR CITY AND RESIDENTS, PREFERABLY FROM SOMEONE IN HIS OFFICE, ALONG WITH Q AND A.
SO WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HIS, UH, DIRECTIVE AND POLICIES.
DO I HAVE, UM, I MEAN, ARE YOU GUYS OKAY WITH IT? ARE YOU GUYS BOUGHT INTO ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.
SO THAT ONE WE'LL, UM, MOVE FORWARD.
UH, THE NEXT ONE, WHICH I KNOW YOU MENTIONED IT, UH, WE ARE, SAFETY IS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, NOT JUST, UH IT'S TO THE COUNCIL.
SO, UM, I KNOW GEORGE OGDEN MADE A VERY VALID POINT IN REGARDING TO, UM, SAFETY CONCERNS.
WE DO HAVE SEEN, WE'VE SEEN MASS.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD ADD A METAL DETECTOR FOR THE PROTECTION OF JUST ALL THE CITIZENS WHO ENTER INTO THESE CHAMBERS, THAT THEY ARE ALSO PROTECTED AS WELL.
DO I HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT?
[01:50:01]
UM, ONLY THING IS TO BUY THE MACHINE IN THE FUNDING.SO MEANING DO WE HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THE THING? SO IT'S OKAY.
SYDNEY IN A JOKE AND LOOKING FOR $2,000 OR WE MAYBE NEED SOME, OUR RESIDENT OPEN THE POCKET TO TOTE TO DONATION.
OH, FUND MIRRORS CALLED FOUND ME THE GATES YEAH.
TO SAVE, TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.
SO HE DOESN'T HAVE AN EXTRA ONE.
YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A PETTY CASH.
HAS THE, UM, I FORGOT WHAT FUN, BUT IF THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR FUNDS LOOK LIKE MATTER.
MAYOR CAN, CAN I ADD A, AN, AN AMENDMENT, UH, TO, TO ADD, UH, IF, UM, UH, CHIEF PAL AND, AND, AND THE POLICE COULD, UH, HAVE US, UH, AND STAFF GO THROUGH, UH, A MASS SHOOTING, UM, PROTOCOL.
SO WE WOULD KNOW IN CASE I KNOW WE DO IT AT OUR SCHOOL, DO IT AT WORK TOO.
THANK YOU SPENT ABOUT TO BUY ANYTHING ELSE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE MORE THING, UH, I KNOW GRAFFITI HAS, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE OF GRAFFITI FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF OUR CITY STILL HAS THAT REPORT OF GRAFFITI WHERE THE RESIDENTS ACTUALLY GET A REWARD FOR.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS, IF YOU COULD JUST KEEP US REWARD THEIR PAINT, THERE WAS A REWARD AT ONE TIME.
I KNOW I PERSONALLY FOLLOWED SOMEBODY WHO GRAFFITIED, UH, TWO YEARS AGO I WAS ON THE LINE AND THEN THEY FINALLY CAUGHT HAVE NO MONEY FOR REAL ONES KIND HAVE NO MONEY.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WE HAVE CERTIFICATE MAYBE RECOGNITION AT COUNCIL RECOGNITION OR PAINTED OVER WHO DONATE OR SOMETHING.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I KNOW GRAFFITI, IT IT'S, IT'S EVERYWHERE.
IT WE'VE SEEN INCREASE IN GRAFFITI, JUST EVERYONE IN SOME OF THEM.
YES, IT IS GANG RELATED, BUT THERE'S OTHER ISSUES.
I MEAN, THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT ARE CORRELATED.
SO I, YEAH, THERE IS A LOT OF, I MEAN, YEAH.
I KNOW THE LOAD IS JUST PAINTED LAST MONDAY.
THEY GOT HIT AGAIN VERY NEXT DAY, EVERYWHERE.
I MEAN, MAYBE, UH, SOME, SOME BUSINESSES WANT TO DONATE SOME GIFT CARDS, UH, AND WE CAN SET UP SOME TYPE OF REWARD SYSTEM WITH THE GIFT CARDS TO LOCAL.
THE BURDEN IS NOT ALL ON OUR POLICE.
IT'S ALSO, UH, RESIDENTS HAVE A SHARE TO HELP DETER CRIME AND THEY CAN WORK.
AND I THINK A LOT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES WOULD WELCOME, YOU KNOW, ANY, YOU KNOW, JUST ANY WAY TO NOT HAVE THEIR BUSINESSES.
IT MIGHT BE A GOOD, BECAUSE A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE GETTING HIT.
WE'VE BEEN GETTING WHAT IT IS TOO IS VIDEO CAMERAS.
I KNOW THEY'RE EXPENSIVE, BUT WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE BECAUSE WHAT I KEEP SEEING THE BUSINESSES, THEY GET HIT THE MOST DON'T HAVE CAMERAS.
UH, I'LL JUST ADD, UH, WE GOT AN, A CAMERA, UH, REGARDING THE POLICE.
I FORGOT THE NAMED A CAMERA SYSTEM LOCK SYSTEM.
UH, ONE COUPLE OF THE BUSINESS OR WE WILLING TO HELP OUT.
I THINK IT'S A HOLIDAY INN AND THEY, THEY, THEY, I THINK THEY DISCUSS WITH OUR CAPTAIN REGARDING THEY WANT TO INSTALL THAT AND TO HELP OUT OKAY.
THEY WANT YOU TO INSTALL THE CAMERA TOO.
SO I THINK THIS IS WHAT CENTRAL COMMUNITY, EVERYBODY HELP OUT.
SO WE CAN HAVE LATIN TO DETER CRIME IN OUR CITY BECAUSE WITH THIS PANDEMIC, YOU CAN SEE CRIME RATE WILL GO UP.
AND THEN IT GOES BACK TO OUR RESIDENTS.
IF YOU HAVE SOME VIABLE SOLUTIONS, PLEASE BRING IT ON.
UM, SOMETIMES THEY SAY CITY, CITY, CITY DO THIS, BUT WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T DO EVERYTHING.
SO, BUT WE ARE WILLING TO LISTEN.
WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH ANY IDEAS OUT THERE.
SO IF ANY RESIDENTS OUT THERE HAVE OTHER IDEAS, SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS JUST, UH, HERE WITH OUR COUNCIL AMONG US, UM, FEEL FREE TO BRING IT ON AND MORE THAN HAPPY TO GO UP.
AND UTILIZE THE GO APP REQUESTS.
SO THEN THIS CONCLUDES OUR MEETING.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN? THIS IS LIKE THE SHORTEST MEETING EVER.
WE NEED HIM ALONG, BUT HANG OUT.