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IT'S COLD.[Call to Order]
GOOD EVENING.WELCOME TO OUR DECEMBER 5TH, 2023 CITY, CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IT IS 7:08 PM MEETING IS NOW IN SESSION.
TONIGHT'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY PASTOR KELLY DUPEE FROM FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH, AND MAYOR PRO TEM WU WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE BLESSING OF LIVING AND WORKING IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA TONIGHT.
LORD, WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON OUR CITY COUNCIL, LORD, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM WISDOM IN THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE AND THE DELIBERATIONS.
THANK YOU LORD, FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT'S GATHERED HERE TONIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION AS WELL.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK BEING DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OUR CITY, AND WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THIS MEETING FATHER AS WELL.
LORD, WE LIFT UP ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE SERVING US OUT ON THE STREETS TONIGHT IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, LORD, THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH THEM AND KEEP THEM SAFE, AND USE THEM, LORD, TO DO YOUR WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, LORD, TONIGHT, WE COMMIT THIS EVENING TO YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
YOUR WILL IS GOING TO BE DONE HERE IN THIS MEETING.
EVERYONE, PLEASE PULL YOUR RIGHT HAND TO YOUR HEART AND FACE THE FLAG AND FOLLOW MY LEAD.
READY, I PRAY, TO ALLEGIANCE, TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, THE INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
MAYOR CALDERONE TABBA, PRESENT CITY ATTORNEY.
IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE REPORTED OUT OF CLOSED SESSION? NOTHING TO REPORT ON, MR. MAYOR.
[PRESENTATIONS]
ARE GONNA START WITH A SPECIAL PRESENTATION, UH, FROM OUR STATE SENATOR, UH, SENATOR SUSAN RUBIO.UH, SHE'S HERE TO PROVIDE THE CITY OF WEST COVINA WITH LEGISLATIVE UPDATES FOR THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY AND INLAND EMPIRE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME REALLY QUICKLY, BRIEFLY TO UPDATE ALL OF YOU ON SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN, IN SACRAMENTO, AND OF COURSE, ALL OUR GUESTS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
UM, I WANTED TO COME, UH, TO ENSURE THAT AT LEAST, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN SACRAMENTO ARE NOT A SURPRISE, AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT'S COMING YOUR WAY.
UM, USUALLY WE HAVE, IT'S, I DON'T, SHE'S, YEAH.
SO I WANTED TO JUST SHARE THAT.
UH, CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE? SINCE I'VE GOT ELECTED IN 2018, SO FAR, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING, UH, 130 MILLION DIRECTLY TO THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY FOR DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
UH, IN PARTICULAR, ONE THAT I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF IS, UM, YOU KNOW, CREATING THE LARGEST HOUSING TRUST IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
I DID THAT IN 2019 WITH A BILL, AND I WAS ABLE TO SECURE $36 MILLION TO ENSURE THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAVE FUNDING, UM, WHEN THEY WANTED TO BUILD, UH, HOUSING FOR SENIORS, VETERANS AND, AND OTHER FOLKS IN NEED.
AND SO, SO FAR, UM, WE STARTED WITH FIVE CITIES.
THAT MEANS THAT EVERYONE'S COLLABORATING REGIONALLY TO ENSURE THAT, THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES, BUT THOSE OUT OUTSIDE AS WELL.
UH, SO RIGHT NOW, UM, I WANNA ENSURE THAT, UM, THERE'S A PROJECT WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THERE ARE LITTLE, UH, TINY COMMUNITIES WHERE WE TAKE THE HOMELESS IN PARTICULAR, UH, FROM, UM, SEVERAL COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE TAKE DIRECTLY OFF THE STREETS ARE BEING FED THREE TIMES A DAY.
WE MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.
AND WE ALSO HOUSE FAMILIES OF THREE.
WHEN WE SEE CHILDREN IN THE STREET, THEY'RE ABLE TO NOT ONLY HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO, TO EAT AND SLEEP AND BE TAKEN CARE OF, BUT WE HAVE A LEARNING CENTER FOR THEM AS WELL.
AND THAT HELPS BECAUSE AFTER A CERTAIN, UM, MONTHS AMOUNT OF, UH, MONTHS, WE ARE ABLE TO TRANSITION THEM INTO PERMANENT APARTMENTS, UH, WITH AN OPPORTUNITY OF A JOB.
UH, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HOUSING TRUST.
I WAS ABLE TO BRING $1 MILLION TO THE COG TO DEVELOP SSGV WORKS, WHERE WE TAKE, UH, THOSE THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE, THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE SKILLS THAT HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING, EITHER
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HOMELESS OR ON THE VERGE OF BEING HOMELESS.NOT ONLY DO THEY GET, UH, TRAINING, BUT THEY GET PAID WHILE, WHILE THEY LEARN.
AND SO, UM, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
I WANTED TO ALSO SHARE SOME OF THE, UM, THE NEXT ONE.
NORMALLY WE'RE NOT AS SUCCESSFUL AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, OUR BILLS GET VETOED.
I HAVE, UM, A GREAT SUCCESS RATE.
I WAS ABLE TO PASS 15 OF THE 15 BILLS THAT I BOUGHT FORWARD.
AND, AND SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.
ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU IS A, A BILL THAT I JUST PASSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LOSS OF A, OF A CHILD.
MEANING, UM, A LOT OF THE TIMES WE HAVE BEREAVEMENT LEAVE WHEN SOMEONE LOSES A, YOU KNOW, GRANDPARENT OR, OR, OR SOMEONE, RIGHT? BUT WE DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE A LOT OF THE, UH, FAMILIES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING A LOT OF MISCARRIAGES.
A LOT OF, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, EITHER FAILED ADOPTIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE TRAUMATIZED AND IT REALLY IS A LOSS FOR THEIR FAMILY, BUT THEY NEVER REALLY ARE GIVEN ANY DAYS TO, TO GRIEVE AND FEEL BETTER AND, AND TRY AGAIN.
AND SO, MY BILL WILL ALLOW A FEW DAYS OF, UH, PROTECTED LEAVE, MEANING THEY'RE ABLE TO ASK FOR TIME OFF JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY HAD A MISCARRIAGE, YOU KNOW, THEY FEEL SUPPORTED.
AND SO THAT'S GONNA BECOME LAW IN JANUARY.
THE OTHER ONE IS, UH, THE CANCER REGISTRY.
UH, SINCE I STARTED, I'VE BEEN WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF HOPE.
UM, I HAVE, AS I'M SURE MANY OF YOU FAMILY MEMBERS THAT STRUGGLE WITH CANCER OR EITHER SURVIVORS OR HAVE PASSED.
AND SO I DO A LOT IN THAT SPACE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH FUNDING FOR RESEARCH.
UM, THE FIRST, UH, PROGRAM I CREATED WAS A RECYCLING PROGRAM IN CALIFORNIA.
WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TRANSFER MEDICATION FROM ONE PATIENT TO THE OTHER.
AND THIS WAS, UH, BROUGHT TO ME BY A, A HUSBAND OF A WOMAN WHO HAD BREAST CANCER, AND THEY HAD AUTOMATICALLY ORDERED MEDICATION, SO IT WOULD KEEP COMING IN THE MAIL.
UH, THE WIFE PASSED AWAY AND HE HAD ABOUT $13,000 OF UNOPENED UNUSED MEDICATION.
AND WHEN HE TRIED TO DONATE IT TO SOMEONE THAT NEEDED THE, THE MEDICATION, IT JUST, IT WASN'T ALLOWED.
AND SO HE HAD TO THROW IT AWAY.
SO, BASED ON A BILL THAT I PASSED, NOW, DOCTORS ARE ABLE TO TAKE THE MEDICATION IF IT'S UNOPENED AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IT TO SOMEONE THAT CANNOT AFFORD THE MEDICATION.
AND MOST OF YOU, UM, IF YOU DO KNOW IT, IS REALLY EXPENSIVE.
SO HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOME FAMILIES, SOME LIVES THAT WE'RE GONNA SAVE.
UM, SO I'LL SKIP THE REST 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, I HAVE THE AGENDA.
UM, THE OTHER, UH, UH, FUNDING THAT I WANTED TO SHARE, UH, IS THAT, UH, THIS YEAR I WAS ABLE TO BRING $1.5 MILLION TO OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW WHERE MY POLICIES LIE AND WHERE MY HEART IS.
I WORK A LOT WITH MOTHERS OF MURDER CHILDREN.
I WORK A LOT WITH, UH, SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND I WORK A LOT WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR POLICE OFFICERS ACROSS THE STATE.
UH, AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT, UM, WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO I WAS ABLE TO GIVE SEVEN CITIES AROUND THE SANGER VALLEY FUNDING TO EITHER UPGRADE THEIR EQUIPMENT OR JUST HAND IT OVER TO SEE WHAT THE NEED WAS IN, IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE RIGHT NOW, UM, A DISPATCH CENTER TO, TO ENSURE THAT, UH, IF ANY CITY IS STRUGGLING WITH SOMEONE THAT WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, OR SOMEONE THAT'S HOMELESS, A LOT OF THE TIMES, UH, THEY'RE TURNED AWAY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE BED CAPACITY.
I SAY WE AS A CITY, WHEREVER YOUR COMMUNITY IS, WE DON'T HAVE BED CAPACITY.
AND SO HOPEFULLY THE DISPATCH CENTER THAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO CREATE WITH DIRECT TRAFFIC TO WHERE THERE ARE BETS AVAILABLE, WHERE THERE'S MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
SO, SO WE DON'T LEAVE PEOPLE OUT IN THE STREET, BUT, UH, EVERY CITY FEELS SUPPORTED.
I WAS ABLE TO PUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST IN THE, UM, EXPLORATORY FACE TO ENSURE THAT WE VET IT.
WE WORK WITH OUR LOCAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR, UH, LOCAL ORGANIZATION, NONPROFITS, TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THAT WORK.
AND I ALSO BROUGHT THIS YEAR, $8.5 MILLION.
UM, I COLLABORATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LAVERNE.
UM, YOU KNOW, LAVERNE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE AFFLUENT COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, THERE'S AREAS IN PARTICULAR ACROSS OUR REGION THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE UNDERSERVED.
AND SO, LAVERNE, UM, WITH THE $8.5 MILLION THAT I BROUGHT THEM, WE'RE GONNA BUILD A COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN ONTARIO RIGHT NEXT TO POMONA.
THERE'S A REGION THERE THAT'S, LIKE I SAID, UNDERSERVED THAT COULD USE THE SUPPORT.
AND, UH, THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S GOING TO PRODUCE THE NEXT GENERATION OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AS WE KNOW.
THE PANDEMIC, REALLY, UM, I GUESS IT, IT PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON HOW HARD, UH, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, UH, YOU KNOW, WORK AND A LOT OF 'EM RETIRED.
SO WE NEED TO START WORKING ON REPLACING THOSE THAT, THAT RETIRED.
AND NOT ONLY WILL OUR STUDENTS WALK AWAY WITH A CAREER, BUT HOPEFULLY DEBT FREE BECAUSE, UM, THE, UM, COMMITMENT FROM LAVERNE IS THAT THEY WILL PAY TUITION TO THOSE THAT CANNOT AFFORD IT.
UH, AND THE OTHER, UH, COLLEGE THAT I WORK WITH THIS YEAR WAS, UH, EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I WAS ABLE TO BRING THEM $2.5 MILLION.
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HAVE A LOT OF CREATIVE, VERY INNOVATIVE STUDENTS, AND YOUNG INDIVIDUALS AND ADULTS, AND A LOT OF 'EM WILL NOT SPEND FOUR YEARS IN COLLEGE.THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT, OR, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST HAVE GREAT IDEAS.
THEY JUST NEED SOMEONE TO PROPEL 'EM TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
SO WITH THE FUNDING THAT I BROUGHT, ELAC 2.5 MILLION, UH, WE'RE GONNA CREATE THE SMALL BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER.
SO ANYONE THAT'S CREATIVE THAT HAS AN IDEA THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET YOUR BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND, YOU GO AND THEY WILL PROVIDE, UH, MENTORS AND, AND PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP YOU WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO CREATE A BUSINESS.
AND WE'LL ALSO, UH, ENCOURAGE THOSE THAT HAVE LOST THEIR BUSINESSES DURING THE PANDEMIC TO REINVENT THEMSELVES AND BE ABLE TO GET SUPPORT FROM FROM THE CENTER.
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE BILLS THAT I'VE, UH, PASSED.
UM, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, I'M REALLY, UM, REALLY ADAMANT ABOUT, UH, MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.
AND I WORK A LOT, MOST OF MY POLICIES, UH, ESPECIALLY, UM, UH, ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE FROM VIOLENCE, UM, UH, IT NEEDED ATTENTION.
SO THIS YEAR, I WAS ABLE TO PASS, AS BEFORE 14, WHICH WILL HOLD, UH, PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
IF SOMEONE WAS, UH, SELLING OUR CHILDREN FOR SEX, IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SERIOUS FELONY, THEREFORE, WE COULD NOT PROSECUTE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.
SO MY BILL, SB 14, IN COLLABORATION WITH MY COLLEAGUE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM, UM, FROM THE SENATE, UH, NOW, UH, CHANGES THE LAW AND IT WILL NOW BE A SERIOUS FELONY.
IF SOMEONE COMMITS THAT HEINOUS CRIME, THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
UH, AND THE OTHER ONE THAT I WANNA POINT OUT TO YOU IS, UM, PINKY'S LAW I WANTED TO POINT OUT TO ESTEVE IS NEXT TO ME.
IN THAT PICTURE, HER LITTLE BOY WAS MURDERED.
UH, HE WAS FIVE YEARS OLD, UH, MURDERED BY HER EX-HUSBAND, WHO HAD A RESTRAINING ORDER, OR WAS, UM, I'M SORRY.
HE HAD ALREADY SHOWN SIGNS OF BEING VIOLENT.
AND THE LITTLE BOY HAD EXPRESSED IT TO HIS MOTHER.
AND, UH, THE COURT DID NOT REMOVE THE CHILD.
AND THE CHILD ENDED UP BEING TAKEN, I THINK YOU MAY REMEMBER THE STORY, LIKE NINE, NINE MONTHS, HE DISAPPEARED.
AND SO, PKIS LAW WILL NOW, UM, FORCE JUDGES TO REVIEW THESE CASES IN A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, IN A MORE SPECIFIC WAY.
UH, NOT ONLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, CHILD CUSTODY CASES, TO UNDERSTAND THE PATTERNS OF ABUSE AND WHAT HAPPENS DURING THESE, UH, DIVORCE AND SEPARATING, UM, SITUATIONS.
UM, AND THERE I HAVE, UH, ABOUT 14 MOTHERS THAT I WORK WITH, ALL WHO HAVE LOST THEIR CHILDREN FROM 15 ALL THE WAY DOWN.
UH, WE ARE APPROACHING 1000 CHILDRENS, UM, WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES THIS YEAR IN THE, IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE TACKLE HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND, AND THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SAFER.
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE.
UM, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS AND DATA, AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ALL OF YOUR TIME, BUT WE'RE PUSHING REALLY HARD TO CREATE 11,000 PLUS NEW BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BEDS AND 26,000 PATIENT TREATMENT SLOTS.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WHAT WE STRUGGLE WITH IS THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT NEED THE HELP, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO BRING FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT WE DO HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR, FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT, WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE.
I WANTED TO SHARE THAT CURRENTLY I'M THE CHAIR OF THE ST.
AND OUR JOBS COLLECTIVELY, ALL THE MEMBERS FROM, UH, THE ST.
GROVE VALLEY, IS TO BRING FUNDING TO THE REGION TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER NEEDS.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO OVERALL BRING $33.2 BILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION THIS PAST YEAR.
AND MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE GROUND OPENINGS.
AND, AND SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST MY WORK IN PARTICULAR, BUT IT'S THE CAUCUS, THE SAN VALLEY CAUCUS.
SO THAT'S ALL YOUR ASSEMBLY MEMBERS AND SENATORS AND, UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO PUSH THIS YEAR.
WE ALREADY HAVE OUR PRIORITIES, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP.
SO I WAS ABLE TO BRING ALSO TO DIRECTLY TO THE SINGLE MOUNTAINS, $12 MILLION THAT SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCY.
AND WE'RE WORKING A LOT ON WATER CONSERVATION PROJECTS, BUILDING PARKS, OPEN SPACE, AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE CLEAN AIR.
UM, AND I'M ALSO A CO-AUTHOR TO SSB 8 67, WHICH WE'RE PUSHING TO ENSURE THAT, UH, WE GET $75 MILLION DIRECTLY, ONCE AGAIN TO OUR REGION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED.
UM, SINCE WE KNOW THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT CONTINUES TO, TO BE, YOU KNOW, OPPRESSING.
AND SO I'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
UM, AND LIKE I SAID, THERE'S SO MUCH TO TO SHARE, BUT I WANNA JUST AT LEAST GIVE YOU AN OVERALL, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WANNA, YOU KNOW, HAVE COMMENTS, AND SO I WANNA BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME.
AND SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, MY OFFICE IS ALWAYS HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
AND, UH, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANYTHING THAT I CAN ANSWER FOR YOU? YES.
UH, STATE SENATOR RUBIO, UH, I BELIEVE A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SOME QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
WOULD THAT BE ALL RIGHT? OF COURSE.
THANK YOU, SENATOR TO COME TO WEST COVINA.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN AROUND ALL THE TIME, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I THINK YOU ARE THE CHAMPION TO BRING ALL THE FUNDING FOR SAN GABRIEL VALLEY.
UH, THE ONLY ISSUE I HAVE IS LOOK LIKE WEST
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COVINA DIDN'T GET A PIE, A PIECE OF PIE FOR ALL THIS FUNDING.WEST COVINA CAN GET A PIECE OF PIE.
CHOOSE, FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK WE ARE, WE HAVE TO BUILD A STATION, NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE THE STATION NUMBER ONE CONDEMNED, AND THE STATION NUMBER THREE, UH, WE HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE.
SO IS THAT POSSIBLE AS YOU ARE JUMPING FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND MAYBE WELL, FROM THE STATE TO GIVE US SOME FUNDING FOR THAT? NO, ABSOLUTELY.
UM, I THINK YOU MIGHT BE FORGETTING, BUT, UH, THE REASON OTHER CITIES GOT FUNDING THIS YEAR IS THAT YOU WERE MY FIRST CITY, IF YOU REMEMBER, I PASSED A BILL SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR CITY THAT WAS ABLE TO GIVE YOU $3 MILLION FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR STREETS AND UPGRADES.
AND I ALSO GAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY $300,000 BECAUSE THEY WERE, I THINK, NEEDING, UM, AN AMBULANCE OR CARS OR, YOU KNOW, I DON'T REMEMBER.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I AM TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CITY GETS SOMETHING AND YOU'RE MY FIRST CHOICE.
SO I'LL CIRCLE BACK, MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU THE FUNDING THAT YOU NEED.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.
AND AS OUR REPS, OUR SENATOR, HOPEFULLY WE CAN HELP OUR OKAY.
STATION ONE AND STATION THREE.
AND, UH, THAT WILL COST SO MUCH MONEY AND WE TRY TO USE OUR GENERAL FUND AND ALL THE ISSUE TO BUILD AND HOPEFULLY CAN HAVE A STAY HELP.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, I WANNA THANK PUBLIC SAFETY.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAD A GREAT TOY, UM, GIVEAWAY, TURNOUT THIS WEEKEND, AND THEY'RE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, MANAGING THE TRAFFIC AND, UH, AND HELPING OUT, AND IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
SO I WANNA THANK THE POLICE AND FIRE WHO WERE OUT THERE WITH ALL THE CHILDREN.
IT WAS THIS WEEKEND, AND HOPEFULLY A LOT OF FAMILIES, UM, YOU KNOW, NOW HAVE A SMILE ON THEIR FACE.
UH, I BELIEVE, UH, COUNCILMAN CONTOS, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR QUESTION? UH, JUST REAL QUICK, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, SENATOR RUBIO, FOR, FOR ALWAYS JUST BEING AROUND OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE ALWAYS SO WONDERFULLY ENGAGED.
WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD YOU HAVE FOR US TO, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE, LET'S SAY, WITH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS FOR THE COMMUNITY? SO WE CAN HAVE WEST COVENA RESIDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THAT, OR LET'S SAY THE EAST LOS ANGELES, UH, COLLEGE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS, SO THAT WAY WEST COVINA BUSINESS OWNERS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE.
SO CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY COULD, COULD ACTUALLY, UM, BE, BE LEVERAGED FOR, FOR WEST COVINA RESIDENTS SPECIFICALLY? SURE.
UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, ANYONE THAT WANTS TO ENROLL IN EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UH, WE'RE JUST GAINING THE PROGRAM OFF THE GROUND, UH, TO BE CLEAR.
BUT ONCE IT'S UP AND RUNNING, ANYBODY CAN, CAN, UH, REGISTER AT EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
UH, SAME THING WITH THE EXTENSION OF, UH, UNIVERSITY OF LAVERNE.
UH, IT'S BEING, UH, CURRENTLY, UH, CREATED AND BUILT, WHICH WILL BRING A LOT OF GOOD, YOU KNOW, PAYING JOBS.
BUT, UH, ONCE IT'S UP AND RUNNING, SAME SITUATION, UH, ANYONE FROM ANY COMMUNITY COULD ENROLL AND, AND IF YOU'RE LOW INCOME AND STRUGGLING, YOU WOULD GET THAT TUITION PAID.
UM, WHAT I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND IS, YOU KNOW, UH, I DID BRING THREE $6 MILLION THAT'S SITTING IN A HOUSING TRUST, AND WE DO HAVE A BOARD, UM, JUST TO, BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, POMONA LEVERAGED THAT, AND THEY CREATED TWO AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, UH, WHEN BEFORE THE BOARD, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET $4 MILLION.
AND FOR THE PUBLIC LISTENING, THAT IS FREE MONEY THAT I BROUGHT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO HELP BUILD THOSE MUCH NEEDED UNITS.
UM, UH, HAMBRA WAS ALSO ABLE TO TAKE $2 MILLION, I BELIEVE BALL AND PARK HAS TAKEN, UH, $3.5 MILLION.
UM, I, I THINK IT WAS ALSO ASS IS TAKING ADVANTAGE MONTEBELLO.
SO REALLY WHAT IT REQUIRES IS FOR YOU TO DECIDE, LIKE IF THERE'S A PROJECT THAT YOU WANT IN YOUR CITY, I, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN LOCAL CONTROL AS A FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I LEAVE IT UP TO THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT, WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE, WHAT LOCATION.
AND ONCE YOU HAVE A SHOVEL READY PROJECT, THAT MEANS IT HAS TO BE READY TO GO.
AND BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PROJECTS BEING BUILT, ALMOST ALWAYS, EVERYONE GETS THE FUNDING THAT THEY REQUEST.
UM, I, I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE OUR YOUTH, UM, AND THOSE STRUGGLING WITH, UH, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, UM, TO REACH OUT TO THE COG.
THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT IS THE ONES THAT THEY RECEIVED A MILLION DOLLARS THAT CREATED SGB WORKS.
AND SO IF SOMEONE'S STRUGGLING WITH A JOB OR, YOU KNOW, OUT OF A JOB, YOU CAN GO TO THE COG AND MAYBE RECOMMEND SOME OF YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, TO SEE IF THEY QUALIFY.
AND IT'S A, I BELIEVE IT'S A 15 WEEK PROGRAM.
ONCE THEY GRADUATE, THEY'RE ABLE TO BE PLACED, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I BELIEVE THEY GET PAID A SALARY WHILE THEY LEARN A SKILL.
WELL, THANK YOU SENATOR RUBIO FOR, UH, BEING HERE TODAY AND GIVING US THIS PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
AND TO ALL OF YOU, HAPPY HOLIDAY.
I KNOW I MAY NOT BE BACK, SO, UH, THANK YOU AND BE SAFE.
OKAY, NOW, UH, A PRESENTATION THAT I THINK WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR
UH, SO I INVITE, UH, JESSE WALKER LANS, UH, ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR FOR LA COUNTY, AND CLIFFORD CARTIER, ASSISTANT
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DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL PROJECTS AND FACILITY SERVICES FOR LA COUNTY TO THE FRONT.UM, SO THESE GENTLEMEN ARE HERE TO PROVIDE THE CITY OF WEST COVINA WITH AN UPDATE.
THAT UPDATE WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.
SO THE FLOOR IS YARDS, GENTLEMEN.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MAYOR PROTA, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL STAFF AND EVERYONE.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.
I'M JESSE WALKER, LANDS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICES FOR LA COUNTY LIBRARY.
ALSO HAVE CARE, CLIFF COTTIER, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, CAPITAL PROJECTS AND FACILITIES SERVICES.
WE'RE HERE TO GIVE YOU A FEW QUICK UPDATES ABOUT THE ONGOING PROJECTS AT THE WEST COVINA LIBRARY.
UM, SO HERE'S A QUICK, UH, AGENDA FOR WHAT I'D LIKE TO COVER.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT TWO PROJECTS, A FACILITIES REINVESTMENT PROGRAM PROJECT, AS WELL AS A LIBRARY REFURBISHMENT AND MODERNIZATION PROJECT, UH, THAT ARE BOTH HAPPENING.
WE'LL BRIEFLY DISCUSS THE BUDGET AS WELL AS THE TIMELINE FOR THESE PROJECTS.
WE'LL GIVE YOU A PREVIEW OF THE FURNITURE AND FINISHES THAT YOU WILL SEE WHEN THE LIBRARY REOPENS IN SPRING OF 2024.
AND WE'LL ALSO DESCRIBE THE INTERIM SERVICES, UH, THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING WHILE THESE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING.
SO, THE WEST COVINA LIBRARY, WE HAVE BEEN LOCATED HERE IN YOUR CIVIC CENTER SINCE 1961.
UH, AND THE LAST MAJOR RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OF THAT BUILDING WAS IN 1975.
WEST COVINA LIBRARY IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST LOCATIONS AT OVER 42,000 SQUARE FEET, AND IT SERVES THIS COMMUNITY OF OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND RESIDENTS.
UH, THE TWO PROJECTS THAT I'M GOING TO DESCRIBE ARE BOTH FUNDED BY THE COUNTY AND COME TO A TOTAL OF $12.75 MILLION.
AND AS I MENTIONED, THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE, UH, COMPLETED IN EARLY 2024 FOR A MOVE IN AND A SPRING 2024 REOPENING.
SO, AS I SAID, THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO SEPARATE YET CONCURRENT PROJECTS TAKING PLACE WITHIN THE LIBRARY.
ONE IS PART OF A FACILITIES REINVESTMENT PROGRAM.
UH, THIS IS A PROGRAM BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY THAT IS THERE TO ADDRESS KIND OF MAJOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROJECTS IN ALL COUNTY BUILDINGS ACROSS THE COUNTY, NOT JUST LIBRARY.
UH, THE SECOND IS A GENERAL REFURBISHMENT AND MODERNIZATION OF THE BUILDING.
UH, AND THAT HAS BEEN IN FUND INTERNALLY BY OUR OWN LA COUNTY LIBRARY DEPARTMENT.
BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS ARE BEING MANAGED BY LA COUNTY INTERNAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, OR ISD.
SO, THE FACILITIES REINVESTMENT PROJECT IS THE LARGER OF THE TWO.
THIS ONE HAS A BUDGET OF $10.8 MILLION.
FIRST, IT INCLUDES ENERGY EFFICIENT ENHANCEMENTS, INCLUDING A REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING, AS WELL AS THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE, UM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING, INCLUDING TWO MOTOR CONTROL CENTERS, SIX ELECTRICAL PANELS, AND A TRANSFORMER.
IT ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY REPLACES THE HVAC SYSTEM, INCLUDING FOUR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CUSTOM PACKAGED AIR HANDLING UNITS, TWO CHILLERS, A CONDENSER AND CONTROLLERS, AND THEN A MODERNIZATION OF THE ELEVATOR.
SO THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE KIND OF MECHANICAL BITS OF THE ELEVATOR, AS WELL AS A RE REFURBISHMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
SO THE BUTTONS AND EVERYTHING ARE NEW, UM, AS WELL AS CONTROL PANEL, I'M SORRY, CONTROL PANELS, VENTILATION, UH, AND ALL OF THE SYSTEMS, UH, THAT SERVE THE ELEVATOR.
SO, ALL OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT FROM THE FACILITIES INVESTMENT PROGRAM ARE MAJOR MECHANICAL SYSTEMS UPGRADES NECESSARY TO KEEP THE BUILDING OPERATING AND EFFICIENT FOR THE COMING DECADES.
BUT THE ONLY IMPROVEMENT THAT YOU WOULD ACTUALLY SEE AS A CUSTOMER WALKING INTO THE BUILDING AFTER THESE WOULD BE THE INSIDE OF THE ELEVATOR.
AND WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT AFTER THIS CLOSURE, WE WERE ABLE TO REOPEN WITH A SIGNIFICANTLY MODERNIZED LIBRARY THAT WOULD REALLY ENHANCE AND IMPROVE OUR CUSTOMER'S LIBRARY EXPERIENCE.
WHICH BRINGS US TO THE SECOND PROJECT.
THIS IS SMALLER, BUT SUBSTANTIAL WITH A BUDGET OF JUST OVER $1.8 MILLION.
THE SCOPE OF THE SECOND PROJECT INCLUDES ALL NEW FLOORING THROUGHOUT THE PUBLIC AREAS OF THE BUILDING, INCLUDING VINYL PLANK TILES IN THE ENTRYWAY, AND NEW CARPET THROUGHOUT A NEW CUSTOM CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK AND SELF-CHECKOUT MACHINES, ALL NEW SHELVING AND FURNITURE, NEW PAINT AND SIGNAGE, A DIGITAL MESSAGE BOARD, AND A REFRESH OF THE LANDSCAPING.
THIS IS A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT.
AS I SAID, THE FACILITIES REINVESTMENT PROGRAM PROJECT, UH, IS $10.89 MILLION.
AND THEN THE REFRESH AND MODERNIZATION OF THE LIBRARY COMES IN AT $1.85 MILLION
[00:25:02]
FOR A TOTAL BUDGET OF $12.75 MILLION OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO THE WEST COVINA LIBRARY.THIS IS THE TIMELINE FOR THE PROJECT.
WE BEGAN THE START OF ELECTRICAL AND HVAC WORK IN AUGUST OF 2021.
SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION OF THOSE TWO PROJECTS WERE IN JULY OF 2023.
COMPLETION OF THE FLOORING AND ELEVATOR PROJECTS WERE IN OCTOBER OF 2023.
THIS FALL, WERE ESTIMATING COMPLETION OF THE FURNITURE FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT AND EARLY WINTER 2024, AND AN ANTICIPATED REOPENING IN SPRING OF 2024.
UM, SO THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT DELAYS, UM, THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT.
UM, AND I'LL GO OVER JUST A FEW OF THEM HERE.
UM, NOTABLY THERE WASN'T ASBESTOS ABATEMENT REQUIRED.
UM, SO OVER OVER 18,000 SQUARE FEET OF ASBESTOS ABATEMENT, UH, IN, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE FLOORING, THERE WAS AN ALSO, ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE CONCRETE SLAB HAVING, UH, AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF MOISTURE CONTENT THAT HAD TO BE ADDRESSED.
THE CEILING STRUCTURAL DEFICIENCIES AND FIRE RATING, THOSE ARE ASSOCIATED BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE NEW LIGHTING AND ALL OF THE NEW DUCT WORK FOR THE HVAC SYSTEM.
WHEN THE CEILING HAD TO GO BACK TOGETHER, WE HAD TO BRING THAT UP TO CURRENT STANDARDS.
UH, AND THEN OF COURSE, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
UM, THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS BEGUN IN, YOU KNOW, STILL KIND OF THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND AS ANYONE WHO'S BEEN DOING ANY KIND OF WORK KNOWS THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFICULTY WITH AVAILABILITY OF MATERIALS, UM, AND THAT HAS ALSO CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DELAYS.
UM, SO WE DO WANNA SHOW YOU, UM, SOME SAMPLE IMAGES OF THE NEW FURNITURE THAT YOU'LL BE SEEING WHEN YOU, WE REOPEN OUR DOORS.
THERE'S A LOT OF FURNITURE IN THERE.
SO THIS IS JUST A SAMPLE, UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA.
I REALIZED THAT IT'S TOO SMALL FOR YOU TO SEE THE DETAIL.
UM, AND I REALLY JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE, MAKE A SPECIAL NOTE THAT WE WERE REPLACING ALL OF THE SHELVING IN THE BUILDING.
IT'S A LARGE BUILDING, THERE'S A LOT OF SHELVING, IT'S A HUGE UPGRADE.
AND WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE, UH, WE WERE REPLACING THE SHELVING, WE WERE ABLE TO TOTALLY REVISE THE LAYOUT.
AND SO THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO REORGANIZE THE INSIDE OF THE LIBRARIES, KIND OF PUSH ALL OF THE SHELVING TOGETHER AND CREATE MORE INVITING SPACES TO WORK, UM, AND STUDY AND READ.
OKAY, YOU WILL BE GETTING AN ALL NEW CUSTOM CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK.
UH, SO THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN AT OUR FLORENCE LIBRARY, WHICH OPENED IN MANS MAY OF 2023.
THE DESK FOR WEST COVINA IS VERY, VERY SIMILAR TO THE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT COLORS AND FINISHES.
UM, BUT OF COURSE IT'S MUCH LARGER BECAUSE WEST COVINA IS A VERY LARGE LIBRARY.
AS I SAID, THERE WILL BE ALL NEW FLOORING.
UM, THE FLOORING THAT YOU CAN SEE AROUND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK IN THIS, THIS IS ACTUALLY IDENTICAL TO THE FLOORING THAT'LL BE USED IN THE ENTRYWAY, UM, AND LOBBY.
AND THEN, UH, THE CARPET THROUGHOUT THE, THE BUILDING WILL ALSO BE REFRESHED.
UM, THIS IS NOT WHAT THE CARPET WILL LOOK LIKE, UM, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE TEEN AND CHILDREN'S AREA, UH, HAVE HIGHLIGHTS WITH DIFFERENT COLORS.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE CANTILEVER SHELVING, UH, THAT WILL BE INSTALLED.
UM, AND THIS WILL ALSO BE VERY SIMILAR, UM, JUST SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT COLORS, UH, IN THE FINISHES, BUT OTHERWISE IDENTICAL TO WHAT'S GONNA BE INSTALLED, UH, IN YOUR LIBRARY, ALL NEW READER'S TABLES, UH, AND ALL AREAS OF THE LIBRARY.
AND I WANNA MAKE A SPECIAL POINT.
THE EXAMPLE ON THE LEFT, THIS IS WHAT THE ADULT TABLES WILL LOOK LIKE.
THE EXAMPLE ON THE RIGHT IS THE CHILDREN'S AREAS, UH, CHILDREN AREAS, TABLES.
UM, ALL OF THE READER'S TABLES THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING WILL HAVE CONVENIENCE, POWER.
UM, SO THAT MEANS THAT ANYWHERE, VIRTUALLY ANYWHERE YOU SIT IN THE BUILDING, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CHARGE YOUR DEVICES, INCLUDING IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA AND THE TEEN AREA.
UM, I STARTED MY CAREER AS A LIBRARIAN IN THAT BUILDING 17 YEARS AGO.
PEOPLE USED TO FIGHT OVER THE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS.
UM, IN 1961, NO ONE THOUGHT THAT EVERYONE WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO CHARGE.
UM, AND SO THE FACT THAT THERE WILL BE POWER THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING TRULY WILL MAKE THIS A, A CONTEMPORARY LIBRARY.
UH, EXAMPLES OF READER'S, CHAIRS, THE CHAIR ON THE LEFT IS THE, UH, IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE ADULT, UH, CHAIR.
UH, THE CHILDREN'S CHAIR LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE IT, ONLY AS A LITTLE BIT SCALED DOWN.
UH, THE CHAIR ON THE RIGHT IS AN EXAMPLE FROM THE TEEN AREA, AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE COLORS OF THOSE.
THERE WILL BE SOFT SEATING THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING, SO KIND OF LOUNGE AREAS AND THE ADULT, TEEN AND CHILDREN'S AREAS.
AND THIS IS JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF THAT KIND OF FURNITURE.
UM, FINALLY, I JUST WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE INTERIM SERVICE THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING TO THIS COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THESE PROJECTS, WHICH WE KNOW HAVE TAKEN SOME TIME.
[00:30:01]
PROJECTS BEGAN IN AUGUST OF 2021, WE REVERTED BACK TO THE SERVICE THAT WE HAD BEEN DOING DURING THE PANDEMIC, UH, WHICH IS SIDEWALK SERVICE.UM, AND SO THIS IS BASICALLY OUR, OUR CONTACT LIST, CURBSIDE PICKUP.
UM, AND SO THE IDEA IS YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO THE CATALOG AND PLACE A HOLD.
WE CAN HELP YOU PLACE A HOLD, BRING IN MATERIALS FROM ANY OF OUR 85 COMMUNITY LIBRARY LOCATIONS, PICK IT UP, UH, PICK IT UP WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE.
WE'LL BRING IT OUT TO THE CURB FOR YOU.
UM, STAFF ARE THERE DURING REGULAR HOURS OF OPERATIONS.
UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AND HELP YOU ACCESS ANY KINDS OF SERVICES THAT YOU MIGHT NEED.
THESE SERVICES HAVE BEEN REALLY WELL UTILIZED BY THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO FROM AUGUST, 2021 THROUGH THE END OF OCTOBER, WE HAD CIRCULATED OVER 118,000 ITEMS, UM, BY CURBSIDE PICKUP, WHICH IS REALLY PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY.
AND I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT IT'S NOT JUST BOOKS, YOU KNOW, DVDS, MAGAZINES, UM, WE DO HAVE LAPTOP, SO CHROMEBOOK AND HOTSPOT KITS THAT YOU CAN CHECK OUT AS WELL.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME TO THE LIBRARY FOR.
SPEAKING OF WHICH, UM, THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE, THROUGHOUT THE, THE WHOLE PROJECT, WE NEVER TURNED OFF THE WIFI.
UM, AND ACTUALLY WE EXTENDED IT SO IT IS AVAILABLE, UM, IN, IN THE PARKING LOT.
THIS IS ACTUALLY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE OFFER AT ALL OF OUR LOCATIONS, BUT IT'S BEEN REALLY WELL UTILIZED.
UM, WITH OVER 31,000 WIFI SESSIONS.
UH, WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE RELY ON THE LIBRARY FOR HIGH SPEED INTERNET SERVICE.
UM, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THAT, UM, OUTSIDE OF OUR BUILDING.
AND AS I MENTIONED, OUR STAFF ARE THERE TO ASSIST WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, WE'VE ANSWERED OVER 46,000 INFORMATION AND REFERENCE QUESTIONS, UH, DURING THESE, DURING THESE PROJECTS.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
HOPEFULLY YOU'VE SEEN US OUT AND ABOUT A BIT.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN GOING OUT, UH, TO COMMUNITY EVENTS AND SCHOOLS WHEN WE CAN.
UM, WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A LOT OF CITY EVENTS, UM, LIKE YOUR CENTENNIAL, UH, CITY CELEBRATION.
UM, WE'VE DONE CLASS VISITS AT LOCAL SCHOOLS.
WE'VE GONE TO SCHOOL RESOURCE FAIRS, WE'VE DONE SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES.
UM, WE HAVE DONE SOME LIBRARY PROGRAMS. UM, DESPITE THE NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDINGS, WE HELD A FLU SHOT CLINIC IN THE PARKING LOT.
AND, UH, SUMMER DISCOVERY PROGRAMS OUTSIDE, WE'VE HAD ART ACTIVITY KITS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS OF ALL AGES, UH, THAT YOU CAN PICK UP.
WE ALSO HAVE COVID-19, UH, SELF TEST KITS THAT YOU'RE AVAILABLE TO PICK UP AT ANY OF OUR LOCATIONS.
SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME A FEW MINUTES TO GIVE YOU THESE BRIEF UPDATES.
WE LOOKING FORWARD TO WELCOME YOU, WELCOMING YOU ALL BACK, UH, TO A REFRESHED AND VERY MODERNIZED LIBRARY IN SPRING OF 2024.
UM, OUR EXCELLENT LIBRARY MANAGER, ONE ONE Z, UH, WILL BE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE YOU UPDATES ON THAT OPENING.
UM, CLIFF AND I ARE AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I BELIEVE, UH, SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES, UH, HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
I'M GONNA START WITH COUNCILMAN, UH, CONTOS AND THEN MAYOR PROU.
UH, SO, UH, WITH THE WAY THAT THERE, THE, THE NEW LAYOUT HAS, HAS IS BEING CONSTRUCTED, DOES, IS THERE A, UH, A VISION FOR THE LIBRARY BEING A CENTER OF LEARNING IN OTHER WAYS, LET'S SAY WITH SEMINAR ROOMS OR CLASSROOMS AND THAT SORT OF THING, SO THAT WAY PEOPLE WILL KNOW JUST TO KNOW TO COME TO THE LIBRARY FOR BROADER LEARNING BESIDES JUST CHECKING OUT BOOKS E EVEN VIRTUALLY, BUT ALSO HAVING EVENTS THERE AND SO FORTH.
CAN YOU JUST DESCRIBE THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE? YES.
THAT IS A VERY GREAT QUESTION AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THAT LIBRARIES CAN BE A CENTER OF LEARNING LIKE THAT.
UM, SO YES, IN ADDITION TO THE LIBRARY MEETING ROOM, WHICH EXISTED BEFORE, THERE IS A SEMINAR ROOM, WE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A NEW TEEN STUDY ROOM, UM, THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE.
AND I THINK JUST IN GENERAL, THE NEW LAYOUT IS GOING TO BE MORE CONV CONDUCIVE TO GROUP STUDY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT PEOPLE CAN PLUG IN AND KIND OF WORK SIDE BY SIDE ON SOMETHING ANYWHERE IN THE LIBRARY, I THINK IT'LL BE MUCH MORE LIKE A MODERN LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
UH, I JUST HAVE A TWO QUICK QUESTION, JUAN, YOU COULD COMPLETE IT.
WHEN WE CAN HAVE A TOOL TO SEE INSIDE ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL IMPROVEMENT.
SO CAN YOU ARRANGE THE TOOL SO WE CAN TAKE A LOOK ABOUT HOW IS BEEN PROGRESS? OKAY.
AND THE SECOND THING IS WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHEN YOU CAN COMPLETE THIS PROJECT SO OUR CHILDREN CAN UTILIZE.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE NO PLACE TO GO.
AND, YOU KNOW, LIBRARY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR CHILDREN.
SO WOULD YOU PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTION? THANK YOU.
UM, AND THANK YOU ALSO, WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT, UH, THE LIBRARY IS FOR THE CHILDREN.
WE'RE ANTICIPATING A SPRING 2024 REOPEN.
LADIES, GENTLEMEN, APRIL, WE WANT TO SEE THE GRAND OPENING
[00:35:01]
AND RIBBON CUTTING.SO AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE WAS, THERE'S QUITE SOME CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY.
WE HAD COVID, OD WE HAD SUPPLY CHAIN CHAIN ISSUES, UM, AND WE HAD SOME CHANGE ORDERS THAT HAD TO BE NEGOTIATED AND, YOU KNOW, WENT OUT FOR SOLICITATION.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THE, THE TIMELINE ISSUES, BUT WE'RE BACK ON TRACK NOW, AND WE, WE CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, GUARANTEE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE, I, I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE A LOT OF PRESSURE FROM OUR RESIDENT.
OKAY? THEY REALLY WANT THIS LIBRARY REOPENED.
AND SO DO WE AND THE CURB PICK UP, THIS DOESN'T WORK BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GO INSIDE, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN AFTER SCHOOL.
SO WE REALLY NEED THIS BIG LIBRARY OPEN.
SO APRIL NEXT YEAR, AND CAN WE HAVE A TOUR? ANY POSSIBILITY? BECAUSE SURE.
WHAT'S, WAIT, IT'S, IT'S IN DISARRAY RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE A, A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON.
WOULD YOU PLEASE ARRANGE? YEAH, WE CAN DEFINITELY, WE'LL, WE'LL DEFINITELY GET TOGETHER WITH THE, OUR CLM AND UM, UH, UH, OUR FOLKS AND GET YOU A TOUR GOING.
WE WERE REALLY NOT CONTROL OF THE PROJECT.
WE HAD INTERNAL SERVICES DISTRICT FOR THE COUNTY DOING IT.
AND SO IN THE INTERIM, WE TRIED TO DO THESE ADDITIONAL, UM, UH, CONSIDERATIONS TO BEAUTIFY THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A BETTER OPENING AND, AND MORE FACILITATE A BETTER, UM, ENVIRONMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD.
SO, UH, BUT WE DEFINITELY WILL WORK TO GET YOU, UH, UH, A TIMELINE AND YOU PLEASE, UH, THE ASAP SO WE CAN GO INSIDE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND UH, WE CAN GO BACK TO OUR RESIDENT, SAY, HEY, IT'S ALMOST THERE APRIL, WE'RE GOING TO REOPEN, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO GIVE FACES.
SO WE WAITING FOR YOUR INFORMATION WHEN WE CAN HAVE A TOOL.
WOULD YOU WHEN TO OUR CITY MANAGER.
WILL DO, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, LOPEZ.
UH, SO ON THE PRESENTATION YOU GAVE THOSE ESTIMATED COMPLETION WITH THE RECENT ON OCTOBER, JUST WANTING TO CHECK, ARE ALL THOSE ESTIMATED, UM, COMPLETION DATES ARE ACTUALLY COMPLETED, INCLUDING THE, THE LAST ONE IN OCTOBER? YES, MA'AM.
AND THEN I, I KNOW OUR BIGGEST CONCERN, 'CAUSE IT'S ALMOST FOUR YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION WORK.
UM, I KNOW WHEN, UH, WE, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE HER WHEN SHE COMES IN, GIVES US UPDATE, BUT I, I THINK THE FRUSTRATION WAS SHE'LL GIVE US A TIMELINE AND THEN WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT COMES AND NOTHING HAPPENS.
SO I KNOW YOU MENTIONED APRIL.
UM, ALL CONSTRUCTION THAT IS HAPPENING CURRENTLY.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DON'T MEET THAT APRIL DEADLINE? UH, WE, WE, UH, EVERYTHING'S SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED NOW WHERE WE'VE RECEIVED SOME OF THE FURNITURE.
WE'RE STARTING TO DO SOME OF THE FINAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AND SO WITH THE ELEVATOR HAS BEEN COMPLETED, THE LARGER THE MAJOR MILESTONES HAVE COMPLETED, THE FIRE HAS BEEN SIGNED OFF.
SO WE ARE ON TRACK AND IT'S JUST FOR US TO KIND OF PUT IT TOGETHER NOW.
AND SO WE, UH, WE ARE ON SCHEDULE FOR SPRING.
THAT'S WHY WE SANG SPRING TIMELINE, UM, IS 'CAUSE THERE'S SOME WIGGLE ROOM THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ONE FINAL DATE AND ONE FINAL, UM, GUARANTEE THAT WE'LL BE OPEN AT THAT TIME.
BUT WE'LL GET WITH YOU GUYS IN SPRING, EARLY SPRING, EARLY-ISH.
ONCE IT'S MORE FINALIZED, WE'LL GET YOU GUYS IN THERE AND GET YOU GUYS A TOUR OF THE FACILITY.
AND, UH, WE, UH, WE'LL BE ON TRACK TO, TO OPEN THE SPRING SO WE CAN SAFELY SAY BY THE END OF APRIL, APRIL 30TH, LIKE JUST, WE WILL DO OUR BEST.
UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR COMING AND GIVING A PRESENTATION AND LETTING OUR AUDIENCE KNOW AND LETTING OUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW THAT, UM, WE HAVE A PLAN.
AND, AND APRIL OR IN THE SPRINGTIME WE WILL HAVE A NEW LIBRARY.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A TOUR TOO, SO THANK YOU.
SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE AT THE END OF THE RENOVATION SHOW AND YOU GUYS ARE GONNA BE DOING THE LAST LITTLE BIT OF PAINTING AND WE'LL GET INTO THERE IN APRIL.
UH, BEFORE MOVING TO ORAL COMMUNICATION, UH, WE HAVE AN ADJOURNMENT TONIGHT.
UH, ER CENTENARIAN, UH, EDMUND AKUR PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY AT HOME, 101 YEARS OLD ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2023, SURROUNDED BY CARING FAMILY.
HE WAS A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA SINCE 1978.
ED PROUDLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY DURING WORLD WAR II AS PART OF THE US MARINE CORPS FROM 1942 TO 1945 FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE.
HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR.
ED ALSO SERVED IN THE US MARINE CORPS RESERVES DURING THE KOREAN CONFLICT.
FROM 1950 TO 1952, ED HAD A REMARKABLE CAREER IN FREIGHT, TRANSPORTATION, SALES AND MANAGEMENT THAT SPEND SPANNED OVER SIX DECADES.
ED'S STRONG WORTH, WORK ETHIC, AND DEDICATION TO HIS PROFESSION WERE EVIDENT THROUGHOUT HIS LONG AND SUCCESSFUL CAREER.
HE BEGAN HIS JOURNEY IN THE FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY AS A SALESPERSON, GRADUALLY
[00:40:01]
WORKING HIS WAY UP THE LADDER TO BECOME A SALES MANAGER.AND EXECUTIVE ED'S EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD MADE HIM A RESPECTED FIGURE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.
DESPITE HIS PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, ED UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY AND CHERISHED HIS ROLE AS A LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER, GRANDFATHER, AND GREAT-GRANDFATHER.
HIS FAMILY ORIENTED NATURE WAS ONE OF HIS DEFINING TRAITS.
ONE OF ED'S PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS HIS 50 YEAR MARRIAGE TO HIS LATE WIFE, MARYANNE ELLE ZAKKUR, THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER SERVED AS AN INSPIRATION TO THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
TOGETHER THEY BUILT A LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HONOR THEIR MEMORY OUTSIDE OF WORK AND FAMILY LIFE.
ED HAD SEVERAL HOBBIES AND INTERESTS THAT BROUGHT HIM JOY.
HE WAS AN AVID BASEBALL FAN WHO ENJOYED WATCHING THE LA DODGERS.
ADDITIONALLY, HE TOOK GREAT PLEASURE IN COACHING HIS SON'S LITTLE LEAGUE TEAMS WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG.
ED ALSO HAD A PASSION FOR READING BIOGRAPHIES OF HISTORICAL FIGURES IN HIS RETIREMENT.
HE WAS A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER AT THE WEST COVINA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR MANY YEARS, AND LEFT AN IMPRESSION ON ALL WHO MET HIM.
SO TONIGHT WE ADJOURN IN ED'S MEMORY.
[ORAL COMMUNICATIONS]
NOW MOVE TO ORAL COMMUNICATIONS.IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, PLEASE FILL OUT AN ORANGE SPEAKER CARD AND SUBMIT IT TO THE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK.
WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME BEING CALLED, PLEASE START LINING UP IN THE CENTER ROW.
THE TIMER WILL START WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED TO SPEAK.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE TONIGHT? MAY I HAVE 14 SPEAKER CARDS? OKAY.
UM, FOR THE INTEREST OF TIME, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SET THE SPEAKING TIME TO THREE MINUTES.
UH, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE, UH, IMPORTANT THINGS TO SAY.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE, UH, GETS THROUGH.
SO CAN WE CALL THE THE FIRST SPEAKER? YES, MA'AM.
SO SHOEMAKER, FOLLOWED BY R ROBINSON, FOLLOWED BY ROY ESKER.
I HAVE A QUESTION TO OUR MAYOR PRO.
TIM, DO YOU PAY ANY ATTENTION WHEN SOMEBODY'S GIVING A PRESENTATION? BECAUSE THE QUESTION YOU ASKED WAS, WHEN IS LIBRARY GONNA OPEN? AND THE MAN SAID SPRING OF 2024 DURING HIS PRESENTATION.
I MEAN, COME ON, PAY A LITTLE ATTENTION TO IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE SPENT MORE TIME ON THE LIBRARY THAN YOU KNOW, COMPLAINING ABOUT.
THEY'RE NOT ON SCHEDULE, THEY'RE NOT MEETING BUDGETS, THEY'RE NOT DOING THIS, THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT.
YOU KNOW, HOW DARE YOU? WELL, WHERE'S THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT? WHERE'S THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ON BIG LEAGUE DREAMS? WHERE'S THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ON ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT YOU RIP THIS POOR GUY 'CAUSE HE CAN'T ANSWER BACK AND HE'S SIMPLY DOING HIS JOB AND YOU CAN'T DO WHAT YOU DIRECT.
WHILE WE'RE AT IT, SINCE YOU KNOW, MR. MAYOR, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THAT THE MAYOR HELPS SET THE AGENDA, OR AT LEAST YOU COULD BRING THIS UP.
WHERE IS THE REPORT ON TONY WU'S, UH, CONDUCT TOWARDS OUR CHIEF, UH, OUR FIRE CHIEF CHIEF CAPELLI? WHY ISN'T THAT PUT OUT AND DISCUSSED? COULD WE ALSO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE LOSS OF $4.1 MILLION THAT, ACCORDING TO MY SOURCES, WE HAD WON OR WAS WINNING UNTIL OUR FORMER CITY MANAGER GOT UP THERE AND TALKED AND OUR MAYOR PRO TEM TALKED.
THEY, THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE A WORD OUT OF HIS MOUTH AND WE HAD WON.
WHERE IS THAT ANALYSIS? YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL THAT THAT REPORT ON CHIEF CAPELLI PROBABLY ISN'T VERY GOOD BECAUSE HE WOULD BE, HE'D WANT THAT THING PUBLISHED AND WOULD BE SCREAMING FROM EVERY, THE HIGHEST, UH, POINTS IN WEST WEST COVINA THAT IT CLEARED HIM.
YOU KNOW, THE LAWSUIT SHOULD BE PUBLIC BROUGHT UP BECAUSE HE HAD NO PROBLEM WHEN A CASE WAS DISMISSED THAT WAS BROUGHT AGAINST HIM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY GAVE EVERY DETAIL OF WHY IT WAS DISMISSED.
MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY GIVE EVERY DETAIL AS TO WHY WE LOST $4.1 MILLION.
IF YOU'D LIKE, I'LL EVEN GET A COUPLE OF JURORS TO COME IN AND EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.
[00:45:01]
WOULD WELCOME MR. MAYOR AND WE'LL TALK TO YOU SOON.UH, ROBINSON FO FOLLOWED BY ROY ESKER, FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS. UH, SO OUR, UH, TRANSITION FROM A, A CONSTITUTIONAL, UH, FEDERAL SYSTEM TO A COMMUNIST MARTIAL LAW.
UH, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE UNITED STATES.
THERE IS NO LONGER A POLITICAL LEFT OR RIGHT.
THE GOVERNMENT IS A PRIVATE CLUB, AND WE, WE PEASANTS, OH, WE AIN'T IN IT.
CONGRESS, UH, PASSES A CLAUSE, A FAKE LAW IN A 3000 PAGE PORK BILL, WHICH THEY CONSIDER A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD.
BUT CONGRESS MAY NOT PASS LAWS LIKE THE PREP ACT, THE GET OUT JAIL FREE CARD THAT NULLIFIES A STATE LAW.
THIS IS NOT THE WAY OUR SYSTEM WORKS.
THE, UH, 10TH AMENDMENT MUST BE HELD HIGH IN THINKING ABOUT THIS.
YOU CANNOT CONTRACT TO COMMIT A CRIME THAT NULLIFIES STATE LAWS.
EACH OF THE 50 STATES IS ITS OWN COUNTRY, UH, ESSENTIALLY ACCORDING TO THE, THE LAW WITH ITS OWN STATE CONSTITUTION, STATE LEGISLATURE, AND COURT SYSTEM.
UH, BUT THE, THE LIGHT OF TRUTH, UM, MAY PREVAIL IN TEXAS.
THERE PFIZER IS BEING SUED ON A FIVE COUNT INDICTMENT OVER MARKETING DECEPTION.
UH, TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL SCOTT PAXTON, UH, IS TAKING ON BIG PHARMA.
THE SUBJECT IS OF THE SUIT IS, UH, PFIZER'S GREAT, UH, DECEPTION CAMPAIGN, PARTLY AND PARTLY AN UNCONSCIONABLE CONTRACT CLAUSE.
PRODUCT LIABILITY FRAUGHT WITH LACK OF PRODUCT EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICACIOUS, UH, SOLD UNDER A HOST OF MARKETING LIES THAT PFIZER'S ACCUSED OF COMMITTING IN THE INDICTMENT.
UH, HERE I'M HIGHLIGHTING A, UH, A CASE THAT WAS REPORTED DECEMBER 5TH, UH, ON Z MEDIA, UH, IN, IN, IN REGARDING THE STATE OF TEXAS SE PFIZER.
AND, AND USING, UH, NEW ZEALAND, UH, WHISTLEBLOWER OR DATA, WHICH POTENTIALLY IGNITES A FEDERALLY SPONSORED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, UH, WILDFIRE.
IN OTHER WORDS, AI IS GONNA BE REPLACING OUR, A COMPUTER'S GONNA REPLACE OUR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
UH, POTENTIALLY THIS IS A $350 BILLION, UH, PRECEDENT SETTING, UH, LAWSUIT.
SO, UH, KUDOS TO PAXTON FOR ATTACKING A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT SOLD WITH LIES, BRIBERY AND FRAUD.
WE, WE NEED TO GIVE OTHER PEOPLE TIME.
WE NEED TO GIVE OTHER PEOPLE TIME.
ROY ESKER, FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS, FOLLOWED BY JERRY PATRAS.
UM, I'M HERE BECAUSE OF THE TWO BACK-TO-BACK ACCIDENTS WHERE I LIVE BY AMAR IN WESTPORT.
AND I WANTED TO ASK THE COUNCIL IF I COULD PROPOSE SOME POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS IN FOR THAT PROBLEM.
I THINK SOME TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES WOULD BE A GREAT THING TO STUDY BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED IN THAT AREA FOR QUITE A WHILE AND I NOTICE THE CARS COME DOWN A R VERY QUICKLY GOING WESTBOUND.
SO I THINK ONE SUCH TRAFFIC COMING MEASURE WE SHOULD STUDY IS REDUCING THE ROAD SPACE.
SO REDUCING THE CAR LANES, MAYBE MAKING THE RIGHTMOST LANE ON THE WESTBOUND SIDE, A BUS ONLY LANE, A PRIORITIZED BUS LANE, SO THAT WAY YOU SPEED UP THE 4 86 AND THE 1 78 AND THEN REDUCE CAR TRAFFIC BY FORCING DRIVERS TO BE MORE ATTENTIVE AND SLOW DOWN.
I THINK IT'S SIMILAR LOGIC THAT TRAFFIC ENGINEERS EMPLOY WHEN DRIVING, LIKE IN MOUNTAIN ROADS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE THE GEOGRAPHY AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT FORCES DRIVERS TO FOCUS MORE AND THEY HAVE TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE ROAD AND TRAFFIC SAFETY.
MOST PEOPLE IN OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX MOSTLY ADVOCATED FOR A SIGN, WHICH THERE ALREADY IS A SIGN THAT DIDN'T WORK AND, UH, LEFT
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BOUND OR LEFT TURN SIGNAL AT WESTPORT.BUT I DON'T THINK THAT GOES FAR ENOUGH.
I THINK PYLONS IN A PROTECTED BIKE LANE AND MAYBE A PROTECTED BUS LANE WOULD BE A GREAT SOLUTION FOR THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD HELP REDUCE AND PREVENT FATALITIES LIKE THIS ONE IN THE FUTURE.
OR SORRY, THESE FATALITIES IN THE FUTURE, SEVERAL PLURAL.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO USES THAT BUS STOP ON AMAR IN WESTPORT AND AMAR AND SHADOW OAK, 'CAUSE I TAKE THE BUS REGULARLY BECAUSE I CAN'T DRIVE AND I USE THAT.
I, I'M A PEDESTRIAN IN THAT AREA AND IT KINDA, IT'S SCARY.
IT'S VERY PRECARIOUS BECAUSE THE CARS GO SO QUICKLY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF SEVERAL TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES EMPLOYED THERE TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, SUCH AS PYLONS OR BALLARDS TO PROTECT A BIKE LANE OR A BUS ONLY LANE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, AT LEAST ON THE WESTBOUND SIDE, GOING SOUTH, LIKE DOWN OR WESTBOUND SIDE, GOING DOWNHILL FROM SHADOW OAK TO WESTPORT, IF NOT ALSO ON THE EASTBOUND SIDE WHEN SHADOW OAK STARTS ON AMAR, JUST TO HELP PEDESTRIANS LIKE MYSELF AND PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE BUS, BUT ALSO TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY BY SLOWING CARS DOWN AND MAKING THEM MORE ATTENTIVE AND MORE CAREFUL BY REDUCING TRAFFIC VOLUME.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS, FOLLOWED BY JERRY PATES, FOLLOWED BY ELSIE MESSMAN.
MR. WU, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I AM WILLIAM WILLIAMS AND I LIVE IN THE SOUTH END OF THE CITY.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
I'M HERE TO ADDRESS YOU TONIGHT REGARDING WEEKLY STREET SWEEPING.
WE NO LONGER DO, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE IT AGAIN.
I'VE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS PICKING UP TRASH ON SENTIS STREET FROM AMANDA THROUGH LA PUENTE ROAD.
I DID SO AS EARLY AS LAST TUESDAY.
I PICKED UP AN ENTIRE SHOPPING CART FULL OF TRASH.
I WITNESSED PEOPLE PARKED ON THE STREET DOING DRUGS.
I SAW USED CONDOMS, NEEDLES, AND A WHOLE HOST OF TRASH.
IN ADDITION TO THE TRASH, THERE'S A GOOD FOOT OF LEAVES ALONG THE CURB.
WE NEED TO HAVE STREET SWEEPING ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.
WE NEED TO HAVE PARKING PATROL ON A CONSISTENT BASIS AND WE NEED TO SEE SIGNAGE THAT SAYS NO PARKING, STREET SWEEPING.
WE'VE LIVED WITH THIS CONDITION FAR TOO LONG.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM NOW WITH VERMIN IN THIS AREA BECAUSE OF THE TRASH IN THE CURBS.
AND WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE NEEDLES AND THE LEFTOVER DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.
CHILDREN WALK THROUGH THIS AREA ALL THE TIME ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL.
THIS IS WHY IT REALLY NEEDS TO CHANGE.
AND WE REALLY DO NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO MAKE A CHANGE.
AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL COME FORWARD AND THAT THERE WILL BE CHANGE BECAUSE I'M KIND OF TIRED OF PICKING UP TRASH AND MY NEIGHBORS ARE TOO.
AND AS I SAID, WE DO THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
WE USED TO HAVE A REALLY CLEAN CITY WE NO LONGER DO.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CHANGES AND MY NEIGHBORS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CHANGES.
AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO DO JUST THAT.
PERHAPS YOU CAN START AN ANTI LITTERING CAMPAIGN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY.
WE, UH, WE COULD CERTAINLY DO IT AS A COMMUNITY.
YOU COULD PUBLISH FLYERS, YOU COULD, YOU COULD PUT IN THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT HOW NOT TO LITTER, HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OUR STREETS, HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT WE SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T DO.
THERE'S JUST NO EXCUSE FOR ALL THIS LITTER.
AND IT'S, IT'S TIME TO SEE A CHANGE.
SO I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER WEEKLY STREET SWEEPING ALSO THE SIGNAGE AND ALSO SHOWS SOME MORE INITIATIVE REGARDING ANTI-LITTER.
JERRY PATRAS, FOLLOWED BY ELSIE MESSMAN, FOLLOWED BY RAY VARGAS.
JERRY PATRAS, WEST COVINA NEIGHBORS.
TONIGHT I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON THE COUNCIL'S PROPOSED COMPENSATION INCREASE AS AT THE LAST MEETING I MENTIONED SENATE BILL 3 29, WHICH GOES INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, 2024.
THE COUNCIL APPEARS TO HAVE FOCUSED ON THE FEEL GOOD REASONS FOR INCREASING COUNCIL COMPENSATION, BUT IS CLEARLY IGNORING LIMITATIONS ON DOLLAR AMOUNTS.
[00:55:01]
TONIGHT I WILL COMMENT ON DOLLAR AMOUNTS.SSB 3 29 AMENDS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3 6 5 1 6.
PART OF THAT AMENDMENT SPECIFIES A DOLLAR AMOUNT BY POPULATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE AMENDMENT SPECIFIES THAT IN CITIES OF OVER 70 OF 75,000 UP TO AND INCLUDING 150,000 POPULATION, THE AMOUNT IS 1900 PER MONTH.
CITY STAFF STATES WEST COVINA POPULATION IS 108,243.
WHY ARE YOU GOING OVER THE $1,900 LIMIT? ANOTHER PART OF THAT AMENDMENT SPECIFIES TWO METHODS FOR, UH, INCREASES 5% FOR EACH CALENDAR YEAR FROM THE OPERATIVE DATE OF THE LASTED JUDGMENT OR AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO INFLATION.
SINCE JANUARY 1ST, 2024, YOU'RE CLEARLY USING THE 5% FOR EACH CALENDAR YEAR.
AS I MENTIONED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AN ATTORNEY GENERAL RULED THAT THE 5% PER YEAR PERCENTAGE INCREASE MUST BE APPLIED ONLY ONCE WITH NO COMPOUNDING.
THE AMENDMENT SPECIFIES EQUAL TO 5% PER YEAR, EQUAL TO 5% PER YEAR MEANS 5% PER YEAR.
YOU'RE COMPOUNDING TO GIVE YOURSELVES 2020 $7 A MONTH INSTEAD OF $1,645 THE UNCOMPOUNDED MONTH.
BY DOING SO, YOU'RE GOING OVER THE LIMIT.
SB 3 29 DOES HAVE A MECHANISM FOR COUNCILS TO USE TO INCREASE THEIR COMPENSATION BEYOND THE AMOUNTS PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT CODE.
SUBMIT THE QUESTION TO THE VOTERS AT ANY MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO THAT? LASTLY, IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE YOU ARE RETURNING DEPARTMENT HEAD DIRECTOR BENEFITS, BUT NOW WITHOUT USING THAT NAME, YOU'RE SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS AND RAISING OUR FEES AND GIVING YOURSELF A HUGE 256% COMPENSATION INCREASE.
MOST PEOPLE ONLY GET A FIVE OR 10% INCREASE.
I WILL END MY REMARKS WITH A COMMENT.
MAYOR PRO TEM TONY WU SAID ON JULY 2ND, 2018 AT A SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING THAT I THINK MOST RESIDENTS WOULD AGREE WITH HIM.
HE SAID, WE DON'T HAVE A REVENUE ISSUE.
MESSMAN LC MASSMAN FOLLOWED BY RAY VARGAS, FOLLOWED BY MIDLIFE CRISIS.
CONGRAT, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW MAYOR.
FIRST OF ALL, UH, AT WHAT THE LAST MEETING, COVINA COUNCILMAN WU STATED THAT THE EX-MANAGER WAS WORKING ON LIGHTED STREET SIGNS.
SHE WAS NOT THE ONE ASKING FOR THE STREET STOP SIGNS AT SHADOW OAK, UH, DRIVE.
AS YOU HAD MENTIONED, IF SHE WAS DOING THAT.
WHY DID WE HAVE TO GET 220 SIGNATURES, THEN GIVE IT TO THE CITY.
THEN THEY TURNED AROUND AND GAVE IT TO TRANSTECH, AND THEN IT WAS DONE IN MAY OF LAST YEAR.
THEN YOU HAD TO GO TO A MEETING AT THE WEST COVINA TRAFFIC COMMITTEE.
THEN THE COUNCIL HAD TO PROVE IT, AND THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE ONLY APPROVED ONE SIGN INSTEAD OF TWO.
LIKE WE HAD ASKED, YOU DIDN'T, YOU DID SAY THAT WE NEEDED IT, BUT WENT NO FURTHER.
CANTOS ASKED THE ATTORNEY IF HE COULD HAVE A CHANGE THE ARTICLE, INCLUDING WOODGATE, WHICH IS, WHICH YOU FAILED TO DO.
SECONDLY, AS FOR THE BARS GOING UP TO SHADOW OAK PARK, I WAS, I HAD SUGGESTED THAT AND MANY YEARS AGO, AND WAS TOLD BY THE POLICE THAT THEY WERE SCARED TO GO THERE UP THERE AT NIGHT.
I HAVE SEEN CARS GO UP THERE AT NINE O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING, AND WITH THE LIGHTS BEING AS THEY ARE, IT IS NOT SAFE.
NUMBER THREE, WHY IN THE WORLD WAS CODE ENFORCEMENT, UM, BE IN SUCH A HURRY TO GIVE OUT PARKING TICKETS? THEY DID.
IT EVEN DIDN'T EVEN HAVE NEW TICKETS.
THEY WROTE A 3 95 ON THE TICKET NEXT TO THE $60 FINE.
MY NEIGHBOR CALLED TO SEE WHAT THE 3 95 WAS FOR, AND HE WAS TOLD IT WAS FOR PROCESSING FEE FOR THE TICKET.
INSTEAD OF PRINTING NEW TICKETS WITH THE RIGHT AMOUNT, THE CITY LED CODE ENFORCEMENT GIVE OUT THESE TICKETS AND WHAT A DISGRACE LOOKS LIKE.
CODE ENFORCEMENT WANTS TO LOOK GOOD.
[01:00:01]
AND YOU CAN BET A LOT OF PEOPLE, UM, ARE ON GUARD NOW, AND YOU WON'T GET THAT MONEY AGAIN.AND WHY ARE WE, WHY DON'T WE ASK THE GARDENERS TO PAY A FEE OF $50 OR $75 A YEAR AND LEAVE THE RESIDENTS ALONE? THIS CITY CANNOT BE TRUSTED ANYMORE.
RAY VARGAS, FOLLOWED BY MIDLIFE CRISIS, FOLLOWED BY MYRNA C RAY VARGAS AT 6 29 NORTH VINCENT AND, UH, PUENTE.
UM, YOU ASKED FOR YOU'RE GOOD, YOU'RE GOOD.
YOU ASKED FOR THE YOUNG LADY FOR A PIECE OF PIE.
YOU THINK YOU DESERVE A PIECE OF PIE IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT? I DON'T THINK SO.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE THE WRONG PERSON SITTING UP THERE FROM DIAZ ALL THE WAY OVER HERE.
UH, GENTLEMEN, YOU'RE ASKING FOR HELP.
UH, THE ACCIDENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, I'VE BEEN ASKING FOUR YEARS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN TRAGEDIES EVERY WEEKEND.
DO YOU CARE? DO YOU CARE? DO YOU CARE? DO YOU CARE? I HAD HER HUSBAND COME AND SIT IN MY FRONT LIVING ROOM AND BLEW SMOKE UP MY ASS ABOUT THE THINGS HE WAS GONNA CHANGE AND DO IN WEST COVINA.
HE BETTER NOT EVER SHOW UP TO MY HOUSE AGAIN.
HE BETTER NOT EVER SHOW UP TO MY HOUSE AGAIN.
HE GOT THE HELL OUTTA HERE, AND HE TOLD ME, WHY? YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE JUST PUPPETS OF HIM.
YOU GUYS ARE PUPPETS OF F*****G TONY.
EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE, BUT I'M TIRED OF THIS.
WE GOT A POWER POLE ON PUENTE AND VINCENT.
IT'S JUST HOLDING BY A ELECTRIC WIRE.
IT'S READY TO TIP OVER, READY TO FALL OFF.
HAVE YOU GUYS DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT? YOU GUYS DON'T GIVE A S**T.
WHY? YOU KNOW, YOU ARE OUR DISTRICT AND YOU'RE TRYING TO RUN FOR ASSEMBLY AND DO OTHER S**T LIKE THIS.
TAKE CARE OF THE S**T YOU GOT ON YOUR PLATE.
YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT, IT'S BAD.
AND THEN YOU BRING SOME MORON FROM CITY OF INDUSTRY.
HE'S RIGHT SITTING RIGHT UP THERE, MILAN.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THE HELL WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL JUST PUPPETS OF MINE TOO.
YOU KNOW, I PATROL, I RUN THE NORTH PART OF WEST COVINA.
I CLEARED OUT A LOT OF S**T RIGHT THERE.
ACCIDENT TODAY, TWO WEEKS AGO, WAS A ACCIDENT WITH A 20-YEAR-OLD KID, OKAY? IT'S NOT YOUR, IT'S NOT YOUR KID.
MIDLIFE CRISIS, FOLLOWED BY RNA SIIS, FOLLOWED BY DESIREE FUENTES.
UH, AT THE AGE OF 48, I BOUGHT MY FIRST BIKE.
UM, I'VE, I'M PART OF THE BIKE COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE ONE.
WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS TO US, WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS TO US, WE ALL STAND.
NOW, MAYOR, YOU GUYS HERE, I URGE YOU GUYS TO DRIVE THESE STREETS.
CHECK OUT THESE LIGHTS, GO IN YOUR OWN CARS AND JUST SIT AT CORNERS AND SEE WHAT THE MAJOR LIGHTS ARE.
I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT, THE THREE RIDERS GETTING KILLED.
THANKSGIVING DAY, THESE PARENTS HERE WILL PROBABLY NEVER HAVE A THANKSGIVING AGAIN.
AND THEN ANOTHER ONE THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING.
WHY? BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU NOT GOING AROUND LOOKING IN THE STREETS.
ALL YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS LOOKING IN YOUR POCKETS, MAKING SURE YOU GOT THAT MANSION, MAKING SURE YOU GOT THAT BIG HOME, MAKING SURE YOU GOT FOOD IN YOUR BELLY AND FREAKING TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN FAMILIES.
BUT YOU'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF YOUR CITY FAMILY.
[01:05:01]
PAY YOUR SALARY, THE ONES THAT EMPLOY YOU.BUT ALL GOVERNMENT TODAY, WE ARE THE PUPPETS NOW BECAUSE NOBODY STANDS UP.
AND WHEN PEOPLE DO, DO STAND UP FOR THINGS LIKE THIS, YOU GUYS TURN YOUR HEADS.
I DID AN INTERVIEW TODAY ON TELEMUNDO, AND I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, FROM MY HEART, I WILL FIND ALL THESE PROBLEMS. I WANT YOUR PERSONAL NUMBER.
YOU AND I CAN GO DRIVING AROUND YOU AND I CAN GO LOOKING AROUND, BUT I AM NOT GONNA REST UNTIL ALL THESE LIGHTS AND ALL THESE SPEEDERS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
I'VE BEEN HARASSED BY COPS FOR MY ACTIVISM, AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GET BACK INTO IT.
I'M REPRESENTED RIGHT HERE BY BLACK WIDOW.
NOW LOOK AT ALL THE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE BACK.
LOOK AT ALL THESE FAMILIES THAT ARE SITTING HERE, THAT THEIR FAMILY WAS KILLED ON THANKSGIVING DAY AND THE DAY AFTER.
AND TELL ME THAT YOU CAN ONLY SIT ON YOUR ASS AND ONLY WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF AND NOT YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND NOT YOUR FAMILY OF THE CITY.
THESE ARE JUST NOT A POCKET FOR YOU.
OTHER FAMILY'S GONNA COME UP AND SPEAK ABOUT CERTAIN OTHER THINGS, THE THINGS I WANNA TALK ABOUT, BUT I'M GONNA LET THEM BRING IT UP.
BUT ONE THING I'M GONNA BRING UP, WHY IS IT YOU CAN GO ON MY LIVE STREAM ON MIDLIFE CRISIS, AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT I'M DOING.
YOU CAN SEE THAT INTERSECTION.
WHY IS IT A QUARTER MILE DOWN THE STREET? THERE'S LEFT TURN SIGNALS, BUT ON A FRICKING BLIND SPOT.
THERE'S NOT, THERE'S NOT REALLY WHO IN THE HELL DESIGNED THAT? WHOEVER DESIGNED THAT SHOULD BE FIRED AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND THOSE ARE THE GUYS WHO SHOULD BE PAYING THESE FAMILY FUNERALS.
MIRNA RO FOLLOWED BY DESIREE FUENTES, FOLLOWED BY ZOE FUENTES.
NOW THIS IS MY SON, ROBERT ES ESCALANTE JR.
HE LOST HIS LIFE AFTER THANKSGIVING COMING HOME.
HE ALWAYS DID THE RIGHT THING.
HE ALWAYS DID THE RIGHT THING.
HE HAD AN ENTHUSIASM FOR CARS AND BIKES.
HE TOOK THE EDUCATION COURSE THAT HE NEEDED AT MOUNT SAC, MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE TO BE ABLE TO RIDE THE BIKE.
'CAUSE MY SON ALWAYS DID THE RIGHT THING.
HIS LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IF THAT INTERSECTION HAD THE RIGHT, RIGHT TRAFFIC LIGHTING THE NIGHT, THE DAY BEFORE ON THANKSGIVING DAY, TWO OTHER LIVES WERE LOST IN THE SAME WAY THE CAR DRIVER COULD HAVE HAD A TURNING SIGNAL THAT WOULD ALLOW THE OPPOSING TRAFFIC TO STOP SO THAT PERSON COULD GO INTO THE RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX THAT IS THERE.
MY SON WANTED THE WORLD TO BE A BETTER PLACE.
HE WOULD PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT BENEFITED.
THEY WERE FOR A GOOD CAUSE AND BENEFITED COMMUNITIES.
HE DID FUNDRAISING WITH HIS FRIENDS FOR AUTISM AND TO RAISE FUNDS FOR COLLEGE TUITION.
HE HAD HIS WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF HIM.
HE WAS GOING TO COLLEGE WORKING.
HE HAD JUST LANDED HIS DREAM JOB AT HONDA WEST COVINA BECAUSE HE WANTED, HE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE GROW IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY.
HE THOUGHT HE COULD MASTER HIS SKILLS THERE, AND HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN THAT DREAM THAT HE SO MUCH WANTED.
BECAUSE OF THIS, I WON'T BE ABLE TO HUG MY SON AGAIN.
I WON'T BE ABLE TO TELL HIM I LOVE HIM.
I PLEAD THE CITY COUNCIL TO PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE LIGHTS SO THAT NO MOTHER SHOULD HAVE TO SUFFER AND BEAR THE PAIN OF LOSING THEIR CHILD.
NO FAMILY SHOULD HAVE TO SUFFER THE PAIN OF LOSING A LOVED ONE.
AND I PLEAD THE CITY COUNCIL TO PLEASE DO SOMETHING SO THAT NO OTHER FAMILY CAN LOSE.
[01:10:01]
A LOVED ONE.DESIREE FUENTES, FOLLOWED BY ZOE FUENTES, FOLLOWED BY REMY.
HELLO, MY NAME'S DESIREE FUENTES.
MY SON WAS A 20-YEAR-OLD, KILLED ON THANKSGIVING WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND.
MY SON'S NAME WAS ADRIAN, AND HIS GIRLFRIEND'S NAME WAS MALLORY.
HE STARTED WORKING ON SEMIS, CRANES, HYDRAULICS.
HIS BOSS JUST ENROLLED HIM IN TRUCK DRIVING SCHOOL AT ONLY 20 YEARS OLD.
I KNOW THIS IS VERY EASY FOR YOU GUYS TO JUST, YOU CAN SIMPLY, IT'S NOT COMING OUT OF YOUR POCKET AT ALL.
IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S YOUR GUYS' MONEY.
IT'S NOT GONNA AFFECT YOUR GUYS' PAY NOTHING.
YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE TO FIX THIS LIGHT.
LIKE, I MEAN, IT'S PEOPLE'S LIVES.
ARE YOU SAYING ANY OTHER, I'M SORRY.
YES, LIBRARY'S IMPORTANT, BUT IS THAT MORE IMPORTANT THAN A PERSON'S LIFE? THREE PEOPLE'S LIVES, TWO PEOPLE ONE DAY, AND WITHIN 27 HOURS, ANOTHER LIFE IN THE SAME EXACT SPOT 27 HOURS LATER.
NOW, IS THAT MORE IMPORTANT THAN A LIBRARY, OR IS THE LIBRARY MORE IMPORTANT THAN A LIFE? I MEAN, HONESTLY, LIKE, JUST PUT EVERYTHING TO THE SIDE AND SAVE LIVES MAKE THIS IMPORTANT.
IT'S NOT COMING OUT OF YOUR GUYS' POCKETS.
IT'S NOT AFFECTING ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF YOU GUYS PUTTING IT FORWARD AND DOING IT.
I MEAN, A 20-YEAR-OLD BOY, 20-YEAR-OLD SON IS, HE'S LOST AND HE HAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL.
AND THEN, BUT MY FRIEND CASEY VALERA, SHE ACTUALLY STARTED A PETITION AND WE GOT 3,190 VOTES OR SIGNATURES TO, TO HELP GET THIS LIGHT CHANGED.
BECAUSE HONESTLY, LIKE I SAID, THE GROUND WAS ALREADY GIVEN.
IT'S VERY, I MEAN, YOU GUYS AREN'T LOSING ANYTHING.
JUST PUT EVERYTHING ASIDE AND MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES MATTER FIRST.
YOU COULD GIVE IT TO OUR CITY CLERK CLARK ZOE FUENTES, FOLLOWED BY REMY.
UM, I'M GONNA BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY, BUT ALSO FOR THESE TWO, TRULY THESE TWO ARE SOME OF THE BEST PEOPLE YOU WOULD EVER MEET.
AND THE ISSUE WITH THIS SPECIFIC CASE IS IT HITS HOME FOR ME.
BUT AS I'VE GONE THROUGH AND I'VE LOOKED AT STUFF, THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE 1996.
YOU'RE TELLING ME LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST SINCE 1996 AND NOBODY'S EVER THOUGHT MAYBE WE SHOULD CHANGE SOMETHING.
MAYBE, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN FIX.
I'M 16 AND I KNOW THAT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THAT LIGHT JUST NEEDS TO HAVE AN ENGINEERING FIX.
YOU GUYS NEED TO TALK TO ENGINEERS AND SAY, HEY, INSTEAD OF A LIGHT, CAN WE PUT A SIGNAL SO THAT THOSE PEOPLE TURNING, NO, HEY, DON'T GO BECAUSE THERE'S SOMEBODY ON THE OTHER SIDE.
BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T THINK, AND THEY JUST GO AND THEY THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES.
AND AS I SAY THAT, IT'S JUST THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU GUYS DON'T DO ANYTHING, IT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE YOU DON'T CARE.
BUT RIGHT NOW, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT DOES.
THERE IS THREE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, THREE PEOPLE WHO HAD A LIFE, WHO HAD FAMILY, WHO HAD FRIENDS, WHO HAD PEOPLE THAT TRULY LOVED AND CARED FOR THEM AND THAT THEY TRULY LOVED AND CARED ABOUT.
AND SO, MY THOUGHT, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS, I THINK OF THE FACT OF, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF IT'S EVER GONNA HAPPEN.
IT'S A WHEN IS IT GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN? AND WHO IS IT GONNA HAPPEN TO.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU GUYS IS WHO, WHEN IT HAPPENS TO WHO, IS THAT GONNA MATTER WHEN IT HAPPENS TO ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN? IS THAT WHEN IT'S FINALLY GONNA MATTER AND YOU GUYS MAKE THE CHANGE? BECAUSE IF SO, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? WHAT ARE WE TRULY DOING HERE? BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO MATTER WHEN IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S KID.
IT NEEDS TO MATTER WHEN IT'S NOT JUST ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS.
IT NEEDS TO MATTER NOW, BECAUSE
[01:15:01]
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE LITTLE PIECES OF MY BROTHER THAT I REMEMBER, I SHOULDN'T CARRY A PICTURE AROUND AND HAVE THIS BE THE ONLY THING I I HAVE OF HIM LEFT.I SHOULDN'T, HE SHOULD STILL BE HERE.
AND IF THAT GETS A CHANGE, HE WOULD STILL BE HERE.
IF THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THERE WAS A TURN SIGNAL INSTEAD OF A LIGHT, THE BOTH OF THEIR LIES WOULD'VE BEEN SAVED.
SO I JUST ASK YOU GUYS, WHO DOES IT HAVE, WHO HAS TO BE KILLED FOR YOU GUYS TO TRULY AND ACTUALLY THINK AND WANNA PUT A CHANGE INTO IT? 'CAUSE THESE TWO, THESE TWO LIVES ARE CHANGED THAT DAY.
ALL OF OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN CHANGED.
WE HAVE FAMILY HERE, WE HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BECAUSE OF THIS.
WHO DOES IT HAVE TO AFFECT? THANK YOU REMY.
FOLLOWED BY JIM GRITCH, FOLLOWED BY STEVE BENNETT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO ACCOUNTABILITY.
I HAVE A JOB I WAKE UP AND GO TO EVERY MORNING, AND IF I DON'T DO MY JOB, I'LL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND BE LAID OFF.
I'VE BEEN ATTENDING MEETINGS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR NOW.
AND WHEN I CAN'T MAKE THEM, I WATCH THEM.
THE FOLLOWING DAY THIS MORNING, A COWORKER ASKED ME WHY COME TO THESE MEETINGS OR WHY I EVEN CARE IF EVERYONE THOUGHT LIKE HIM.
YOU GUYS WOULDN'T BE UP THERE.
I'VE WATCHED ALL OF YOU SIT UP THERE, ROLL YOUR EYES, SHAKE YOUR HEADS, AND TUNE US OUT FOR A GROUP WHO'S SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT OUR CITY AND BE OUR BETTER HALVES.
YOU GUYS SIT UP HERE AND DISRESPECT YOUR RESIDENTS WING, WING, ZONG, OUR LIBRARY MANAGER COMES IN HERE ALMOST EVERY MEETING FOR THE PAST YEAR TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE LIBRARY STILL NOT BEING OPEN.
SHE'S NOT THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR ON THE JOB.
CAN'T ONE OF YOU TAKE THE TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO CALL HER BOSS AND FIND OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS? YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT BEING IN THE TRENCHES, BEING BOOTS ON THE GROUND, BUT MRS. VERO GETTING UP HERE AND TELLING WING WING ZONG THAT RESIDENTS ARE TIRED OF HEARING HER SAY SORRY, IS A COMPLETE LOW BLOW.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ASKING HER WHY, WHY, WHY FOR A YEAR? WHY DON'T YOU GUYS TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY AND WALK THE THREE MINUTES DOWN TO THE LIBRARY TO SPEAK TO WHOEVER YOU MAY NEED TO? THAT'S BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
SHE COMES OUT HERE ON HER FREE TIME, JUST LIKE THE REST OF US.
AND INSTEAD OF HAVING A LITTLE RESPECT AND TRYING TO LOOK LIKE YOU'RE LISTENING, YOU GUYS STARE DOWN YOUR NOSES AT US.
I MADE THE JOKE TO MY WIFE THAT I SHOULD TELL OUR SONS TO GO INTO PUBLIC OFFICE.
THEY CAN LIE, CHEAT, STEAL, AND NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
I'VE HEARD THE OWNERS OF BUN STREET COME UP HERE VERY RESPECTFULLY AND ASK FOR YOUR GUYS HELP ON DIFFERENT MATTERS ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.
WHY? I THINK THEIR BEST BET IS PROBABLY TO RELOCATE WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THEM.
AND ESTABLISHMENTS LIKE SUSHI DMU, THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST TO BRING YOU GUYS REVENUE TO THE CITY.
AND YOU GUYS DO NOTHING TO HELP THEM.
I'LL GLADLY TAKE MY FAMILY TO DOWNTOWN COVINA, AZUSA OR GLENDORA BEFORE I DRIVE FIVE MINUTES TO OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.
I'VE LIVED IN THE CITY MY WHOLE LIFE AND THAT AREA DOWNTOWN WEST COVINA IS LIKE BABY SKID ROW.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE OWNERS OF BUN STREET TO CHOOSE TO HAVE THEIR LOCATION THERE.
THAT AREA DIDN'T JUST BECOME LIKE THAT.
IT'S NOT A NEW NEWS FLASH, BUT YOU GUYS SEE YOU'RE THE THIRD SAFEST CITY.
AND I DON'T THINK I'M THE ONLY RESIDENT IN THE CITY THAT DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I SEE WEST COVINA POLICE ON BREAK AT CARLS JR.
IN THE EASTLAND OR THE PARKING LOT, RIGHT BY MICHAEL'S OR IN THE PARKING LOT AT CORTEZ PARK, BUT I NEVER SEE THEM STOPPED AT THE DOLLAR TREE HERE NEXT TO MCDONALD'S.
I NEVER SEE THEM AT THE SHOPPING CENTER ACROSS THE STREET FROM STATER BROTHERS ON AZUSA.
I NE NEVER SEE THEM HERE ON SKID ROW BEHIND THE MOVIES.
I HAVE A COUSIN WHO LIVES OFF OF NORTH GARVEY AND TOLIN AVENUE CARS HAVE BEEN GETTING BROKEN INTO THERE ON THAT BLOCK FOR 15 YEARS PLUS.
WHY CAN'T WE SEND A CRUISER THERE THROUGH EVERY NOW AND THEN PUT A COP OUTSIDE OF ONE OF OUR BIG STORES, SOMETHING, SHOW THE PEOPLE YOU'RE MAKING AN EFFORT TO KEEP US SAFE AGAIN.
NO ONE IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE THOUGH, OVER THANKSGIVING BREAK, YOU GUYS PARKED AN EMPTY POLICE CAR OUTSIDE OF TARGET IN THE EASTLAND SHOPPING CENTER.
BUT DO I HAVE TO COME HERE AND TELL YOU GUYS, UNLESS THERE'S AN OFFICER INSIDE, NO ONE CARESS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW POLICE ASSIGNMENTS WORK.
I'M NOT PRETENDING TO BE A COP, BUT IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT THEY WOULD PULL ANY OF US OVER IN A HEARTBEAT OVER WINDOW TINT TAGS BEING A MONTH LATE.
BUT YOU HAVE DRUG ADDICTS DRIVING AROUND ILLEGALLY MODIFIED RVS IN CARS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM PULLED OVER.
NOT TO MENTION YOU HAVE PEOPLE WALKING OUT.
JIM GRITCH, FOLLOWED BY STEVE BENNETT, FOLLOWED BY MARTHA.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, THE COUNCIL,
[01:20:01]
UH, COMPENSATION.UH, PREVIOUSLY I'VE, UH, SPOKE TWICE ABOUT THE CITY TAKING ACTIONS THAT WERE ILLEGAL.
AND IN BOTH CASES, I WAS GRATIFIED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WITHDREW THOSE ACTIONS.
UH, I'M ONCE AGAIN TODAY ASKING YOU TO, UH, NOT PROCEED WITH THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION.
UH, THE PROPOSED RAISE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL EXCEEDS THE LEGAL LIMIT ESTABLISHED BY GOVERNMENT CODES 36 5 1 6 AND 36 5 1 6 0.5.
THE DETAILED INTERPRETATION BY THE CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHICH YOU HAVE NOW IN FRONT OF YOU, IS PAGES FIVE AND SIX CONCLUDES BASED ON SEVERAL COURT CASES THAT A RETROACTIVE 5% RAISE CANNOT BE COMPOUNDED.
THE WORD COMPOUNDED IS IMPORTANT.
SIMPLY SPEAKING, YOU CANNOT TAKE 5% FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND THEN ADD TO IT ANOTHER 5% FOR THE SECOND YEAR.
AND ANOTHER 5% THAT'S CALLED COMPOUNDING.
THE ARITHMETIC OVER 13 YEAR PERIOD.
A 23 YEAR PERIOD THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE RESULTS IN A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
THE CORRECT COMPUTATION IS YOU TAKE 5% AND MULTIPLY IT BY THE NUMBER OF YEARS, WHICH IS 23.
IN THAT CASE, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO 115% RAISE INSTEAD OF 102 HUNDRED 65% RAISE.
THE CORRECT RATE OF PAY THAT YOU SHOULD BE GETTING LEGALLY IS $1,645 PER MONTH.
I'M ASKING YOU TO AMEND THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO LOOK AT TONIGHT TO CHANGE THE COMPENSATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO $1,645 A MONTH.
NOT ONLY IS IT LEGAL, IT'S MUCH MORE REASONABLE.
YOU'VE HEARD SPEAKER AFTER SPEAKER TONIGHT TALK ABOUT THE PRIORITIES OF THE CITY ARE ALL WRONG.
THEY SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY.
THEY DO NOT WANT CODE ENFORCEMENT.
UH, THEY WANT THE THE STREETS TO BE SAFER.
AND I'LL JUST ADD ONE MORE STREET, UH, ROLAND AND LARK ELLEN.
I'VE SEEN MANY ACCIDENTS THERE AND, AND I, AND NOTHING'S BEEN DONE ABOUT IT.
THE PRIORITIES HAVE TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
A HUGE COUNCIL INCREASE IS NOT THE PRIORITY.
STEVE BENNETT, FOLLOWED BY MARTHA, FOLLOWED BY BLACK WIDOW
FIRST OFF, I WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO CENTENNIAL MAYOR TABBA.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, ROTATING UP TO MAYOR.
I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH MEETING TONIGHT, SO I'M GONNA GET INTO MY COMMENTS, UH, ABOUT STREET SWEEPING REAL QUICK.
UM, YOU HEARD FROM A GENTLEMAN A LITTLE WHILE AGO, UH, I BELIEVE HIS NAME WAS WILLIAM.
WILLIAM, AND HE TALKED ABOUT CENTOS DOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WEST COVINA BEING A PROBLEM.
THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 90% OF OUR STREETS IN THE CITY THAT DON'T HAVE HIS PROBLEM.
SO THERE DON'T, THERE IS NO NEED TO MAKE A CITYWIDE 100% SOLUTION FOR THE CITY.
HE CAN GO TO THE CITY AND ASK THEM FOR $50 TO RUN A SURVEY OF HIS NEIGHBORS TO WHICH THEY CAN VOTE AND HAVE STREET SWEEPING NO PARKING PUT ON THAT STREET.
THAT WOULD SOLVE HIS PROBLEM IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT AFFECTING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE REST OF THE RESIDENTS IN THIS CITY.
WE DO NOT NEED TO DO A CITYWIDE ISSUE WITH NO PARKING ON STREET SWEEPING NIGHTS.
WE ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT COMPLIANT IN STREET SWEEPING.
I SAY AGAIN, WHICH MEANS THERE IS NO NEED TO EVEN BRING THIS UP BECAUSE WE ARE COMPLIANT.
THERE ARE PLACES IN THE CITY THAT NEED HELP.
AND IN THIS GENTLEMAN'S CASE, I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO HANDLE THAT.
BUT THE REST OF US RESIDENTS DO NOT WANT NO PARKING FOR STREET SWEEPING DAYS IN FRONT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM.
I PASSED OUT TO YOU SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING.
YOU HAVE A PAPER IN FRONT OF YOU.
IT'S FROM A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.
YOU GUYS HAD A, A CONSULTANT HERE STATE AT NUMEROUS MEETINGS, INCLUDING HERE AT THE COUNCIL A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THAT THEY ARE NOT ENFORCING, STREET SWEEPING, NO PARKING RESTRICTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY ON THE 7% OF THE CITIES FOR THE YEARS OF 2022 AND 2023 FOR NOT ENFORCING.
THEY'VE WRITTEN 4,600 TICKETS FOR NO PARKING AND STREET SWEEPING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS VERSION OF NOT ENFORCING IS.
BUT 4,600 PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY DISAGREE.
SO THE QUESTION IS FOR YOUR CONSULTANT, IS HE A LAZY BE INCOMPETENT OR THREE A LIAR? BECAUSE I'VE BROUGHT IT UP TO HIM IN
[01:25:01]
SEVERAL MEETINGS THAT THEY ARE ENFORCING, SHOWED HIM PICTURES OF TICKETS, AND HE STILL STOOD BEFORE YOU GUYS AND SAID THEY ARE NOT ENFORCING.IF HE'S LYING ABOUT ONE OR INCORRECT ON ONE, THAT'S WRONG.
I'M GONNA COMMENT ABOUT, UH, COUNSEL COMPENSATION.
I WILL STATE AGAIN IF YOU THINK YOU DESERVE A RAISE.
NOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DO YOUR JOB FOR FREE RESIGN.
NOW YOU'VE GOT FAMILIES HERE CRYING, GIVING AND GRIEVING OVER THEIR LOST LOVED ONES.
AND YOUR CONCERN ABOUT PAY, YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING RESIGN THAT LET THEM GET SOMETHING OUT ON THE STREETS RAISING YOUR PAY.
260 SOME PERCENT TO OVER $500,000 OVER A FOUR YEAR TERM FOR ALL FIVE OF YOU WOULD PAY FOR LIGHTING OR STOP SIGNS.
DO YOUR JOB AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT YOUR PAY.
MARTHA, FOLLOWED BY BLACK WIDOW, FOLLOWED BY SPELMAN.
MARTHA FOLLOWED BY BLACK WIDOW, FOLLOWED BY SPELLMAN.
SO I REALLY DON'T HAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR CONCERNS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I HOPE THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE DUE PROCESS AND MY JOB.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE JUST DUE PROCESS, AS I'M SURE FOR A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.
AND WE DO THAT JUST TO DO OUR JOB.
AND IT'S REALLY CRITICAL TO REMEMBER THAT AND MY CONDOLENCES TO, TO THESE PRECIOUS FAMILIES.
I JUST, I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS, BUT FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS HAD BEEN ADDRESSED BEFORE AND IT JUST MIND BOGGLING THAT NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE.
BUT I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS.
UM, I WANT TO ADDRESS JUST HOW WEST COVINA, I SEE THAT THERE'S A HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY RIGHT HERE, THE REALLY NICE, UM, BANNER.
BUT WHAT ARE WE CELEBRATING? WHAT ARE WE CELEBRATING?
SO I HOPE YOU KEEP THAT IN MIND.
WEST COVINA HAS DECLINED A LOT.
DO YOU ALL LIVE IN WEST COVINA? OKAY.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MORE AFFLUENT AREAS IN WEST COVINA THAN OTHERS, BUT WE ALL WANNA FEEL SAFE.
I KNOW THAT THE INTENTION CAN BE GOOD TO, SO THAT THE CITY LOOKS NICE AND LIVABLE AND PLEASANT FOR ALL PEOPLE, FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT FEELS LIKE A LOT OF HARASSMENT.
AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE KEPT IN MIND.
DO YOU WANNA ENGAGE YOUR PEOPLE OR DO YOU WANNA DISTANCE THEM AND HAVE THEM FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY WHERE WE LIVE? OKAY.
I THINK WE DO NEED MORE OFFICERS, UH, SO THAT WE CAN FEEL SAFE.
I AM A GENTLEMAN COMMENTED ABOUT THE PARKING OR THE MAYBE THAT OFFICERS GO TO SOME AREAS.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I JUST KNOW THAT I FEEL VERY UNSAFE GOING TO A LOT OF, UM, JUST TO THE SUPERMARKET EVEN IN THE DAYTIME.
UM, ONE THING I DO WANNA ADDRESS ALSO, IT'S, UM, I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE AREAS, UM, OH, SORRY.
NEXT TIME BLACK WIDOW FOLLOWED BY STALLMAN.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE PROPER WAY TO ADDRESS YOU.
I HAD NO INTENTION OF SPEAKING TONIGHT.
WE'RE HERE AND I CAN SEE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF TENSION AND THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION.
WHAT'S BEFORE YOU GUYS? AND WHAT I HAVE GOTTEN TO LEARN SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE CITY OF WEST COVINA IS THAT CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, YOU ARE GENUINE INDIVIDUALS.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF GETTING TO KNOW A FEW OF YOU AND DO COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH YOU.
[01:30:01]
ASKING IS THAT YOU BECOME THE FIRST CITY THAT BRINGS AWARENESS TO MOTORCYCLE FATALITIES.I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF BUREAUCRACY BEHIND YOU.
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH CHANNELS AND PROTOCOLS.
EVERYBODY'S ADDRESSING THE GRANT TO WERE GIVEN.
YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW CITIES THAT WAS GIVEN MONEY FOR STREETLIGHTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATISTICS ARE, BUT WE ARE REQUESTING THAT YOU CONSIDER USING THIS SPECIFIC SITUATION WITH A DOUBLE FATALITY IN 24 OR 27 HOURS TO BE THE FIRST CITY TO ALLOW US TO PROMOTE IT WITHIN THE MOTORCYCLE RIDING COMMUNITY.
MAYBE EVEN A PLAQUE COULD BE PUT UP IN HONOR AND RECOGNIZING THE PEOPLE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE A CHANGE.
I SEE A LOT OF ANGER AND FRUSTRATION, BUT I ALSO SEE A POSSIBILITY FOR CHANGE.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD BE UP HERE ADDRESSING YOU, BUT I'M ASKING THAT WEST COVINA CONSIDER BEING THE FIRST CITY TO ACTUALLY RECOGNIZE HOW CRUCIAL THE ROADS ARE.
A SMALL CHANGE LIKE A STREETLIGHT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND CAN SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
SO WE'RE WILLING TO TEAM UP WITH WEST COVINA AND BRING OUT WEST COVINA AS WE'VE DONE IN MANY OTHER DIFFERENT WAYS WHERE YOU ARE WELCOMING OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT ONE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS ARE WELCOME IN YOUR CITY, AND TWO, THAT THEY CAN RIDE SAFELY.
I BELIEVE THE NAME IS SPELLMAN.
PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU'RE AWARE THAT SOMEONE'S SON LAID ON THE PAVEMENT FOR 10 HOURS TODAY AT VINCENT PUENTE UNTIL THE CORONER GOT THERE 10 HOURS.
I KNEW THAT HE WAS DEAD BEFORE HIS MOTHER DID.
I'M BEGGING YOU FOR A LEFT TURN ARROW AT VINCENT AND PUENTE.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR MANY DECADES AND THERE'VE BEEN SO MANY ACCIDENTS AND NOW SO MANY FATALITIES.
I CALLED THE TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT THIS SUMMER AFTER THERE WAS A FATALITY ON PUENTE THREE HOUSES IN.
AND I SAID, YOU PUT ONE AT PADILLA, YOU PUT ONE AT SUNSET, YOU PUT ONE AT WHATEVER THE NEXT ONE WAS.
WHY DIDN'T YOU PUT ONE AT VINCENT AND PUENTE WHERE THERE ARE SO MANY BAD ACCIDENTS, I CAN TELL YOU 'CAUSE I HEAR THEM.
AND HE SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE PUT THOSE YELLOW THINGS AROUND THE LIGHTS SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOTICE THEM MORE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY TODAY, THAT YOUNG MAN WHO LAID ON THE PAVEMENT UNTIL 20 MINUTES BEFORE I GOT HERE DIDN'T SEE THAT YELLOW THING AROUND THE LIGHT.
SO I'M BEGGING YOU TO PUT A LEFT TURN LIGHT THERE.
NO FURTHER SPEAKER CARDS, MAYOR.
OKAY, UH, ACTING CITY MANAGER, MAY YOU PLEASE RESPOND, UH, TO PUBLIC COMMENT CONCERNS.
UM, WELL, I THINK A LOT OF THE CONCERNS TONIGHT INVOLVE THE, UH, INCIDENCES AROUND THIS TWO INTERSECTIONS.
SO, UM, IN REGARDS TO THE SOULS WE LOST AT AMAR AND WEST PART OVER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, MS. SINCERE AND MRS. FUENTES, I TRULY AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, UM, OF YOUR SONS, ROBERT AND ADRIAN.
UM, I WANTED TO EXTEND THE CITY'S HEARTFELT SYMPATHY FOR TO YOU AND THE LOVED ONES OF MALLORY SANTOS.
AND AS MENTIONED, UH, WE ALSO LOST ANOTHER, UH, INDIVIDUAL TODAY AT, UM, PUENTE AND VINCENT.
UM, AND WANNA EXTENT TO THAT INDIVIDUAL'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS, OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES, UM, SORRY,
I HAD A FAMILY MEMBER PASS AWAY FROM A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT TOO.
I DID BE TO CRY, BUT, SO I UNFORTUNATELY UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE PAIN THAT YOU'RE FEELING.
AND I, I KNOW THERE'S NO WORDS THAT YOU CAN SAY, UM, TO TAKE THAT HERD AWAY, BUT YOU ARE IN OUR HEARTS
[01:35:02]
AND WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN TO CORRECT THOSE ISSUES AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS.UM, I WANTED TO ASSURE THE LOVED ONES OF THOSE FOUR INDIVIDUALS THAT OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND OUR COMMUNITY, THAT THE CITY VALUES THE LIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ARE ADDRESSING THE TWO INTERSECTIONS RIGHT AWAY.
UM, WHILE WE CAN UNDO WHAT HAPPENED, WE WILL WORK TOWARDS CORRECTING THOSE INTERSECTIONS, THOSE ISSUES AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS.
UM, SOME OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, ALONG WITH SOME OF OUR STAFF, HAVE ALREADY GONE TO THE INTERSECTIONS.
WE'VE ALREADY, UM, HAD OUR TRAFFIC, UH,
UM, IT IS A PRIORITY FOR THEM.
UM, I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT THE AMAR AND WESTPORT, UH, INTERSECTION, UM, THE CITY DID APPLY FOR A GRANT TO INCLUDE, UH, LEFT TURN PHASING.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT, UM, UH, GET THAT GRANT APPROVED.
UM, BUT WE WILL LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS, UM, FOR IMMEDIATE, UM, CALM, UH, TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES TO HELP ADDRESS IT IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.
UM, AND WE'LL ALSO WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATORS TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT GRANT FUNDING FOR THAT INTERSECTION TO GET THAT LEFT TURN PHASING.
UM, SO, UH, I KNOW THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL ALSO DEPLOYED ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS TO THAT SECTION OF AMAR SINCE THE INCIDENT TO TRY TO HELP REDUCE, UH, THE TRAFFIC INCIDENCES AND TRY TO, UM, REDUCE THE SPEEDING IN THAT AREA.
UM, WE'LL ALSO LOOK AT, UM, INSTALLING SIGNAGE TO HELP REDUCE SPEEDS.
UM, ALONG A R IN REGARDS TODAY'S INCIDENT ON PUENTE AND VINCENT.
UM, THIS IS, UH, FORTUNATELY PART OF WHAT IS CALLED, UH, THE GRANT, WHICH IS FROM, UH, THE HIGHWAY SAFETY AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
SO WE DID GET THAT GRANT APPROVED.
UM, IT'S CURRENTLY ENDED THE DESIGN PHASE, SO THERE'S GONNA BE, UH, LEFT TURN PHASING, UM, FOR THAT INTERSECTION.
IT IS, UM, I SAID IN THE DESIGN PHASE, WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR ADJACENCY OF COVINA TO, UM, THERE'S ONE INTERSECTION THAT INVOLVES BOTH CITIES.
ONCE THAT'S COMPLETED, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO OUT TO BID FOR A CONTRACTOR.
AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE DONE BY 2024.
UM, AND WE WILL BE PRIORITIZING THAT INTERSECTION, UM, AS FAR AS WHEN THAT, UM, CONTRACT GETS STARTED.
I KNOW THAT THIS DOESN'T CHANGE, LIKE I SAID, WHAT HAPPENED? UM, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN SO THAT WE PROTECT THE LIVES OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, ALL I WOULD ASK IS THAT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, WE ASK EVERYONE TO DRIVE SAFELY, UM, NOT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR LIFE, BUT FOR THOSE ON THE ROAD AS WELL.
SO, UM, I'LL LEAVE IT WITH THAT.
UM, CAN I SAY ONE? SO PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR US FOR, FOR THOSE OF YOU ON, ON, ON YOUTUBE WHO, WHO MAY NOT HAVE HEARD, UM, JUST PLEASE, UM, RESPECT THE ROADS, UH, RESPECT, UM, THE MOTORCYCLIST WHO ALSO SHARE THE ROADS WITH US IN CARS.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS, AS DRIVERS OF AUTOMOBILES, UM, THAT WE ARE ATTENTIVE OF THE ROAD.
UM, BECAUSE AS, AS WE'VE SEEN, UM, THE, THE TRAGEDIES, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE ON, ON MOTORCYCLES, UM, YEAH, YOU CAN'T BRING THE LIFE BACK.
UM, AND SO WHATEVER'S ON THAT CELL PHONE OR WHATEVER'S DISTRACTING, UM, IT IS NOT, IT'S NOT WORTH THE LIFE.
AND SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UH, I'M GONNA, UH, TURN IT OVER TO MAYOR POT WU, WHO HAD SOME WORDS AS WELL.
UM, FIRST THING YOU, I WANNA SHOW MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCE TO THE, TO THE, TO THE PARENT.
OKAY? I, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS TREMENDOUS LOSS TO YOU GUY AND I HAVE CHOSEN TOO.
AND, UH, AND DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, YOU HAVE, UH, THIS LOSS.
THIS IS, UH, HORRENDOUS, OKAY? AND, UH, I REALLY JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU, I UNDERSTAND HOW PAINFUL IS TO YOU GUY AND, UH, FOR ALL THE PARENT, OKAY? AND, AND, UH, WHEN THE THING HAPPENED, UH, AND THEN WE GOT THE TEXT FROM THE POLICE AND THE FIREFIGHTERS, OKAY? AND THE CHIEF, WE RIGHT AWAY AND TALK ABOUT HOW CAN
[01:40:01]
WE IMPROVE THIS AREA.I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, OKAY, WE NOT A OKAY, LIKE COLDHEARTED, WE DON'T CARE.
WE, WE, YOU ARE OUR RESIDENT, YOU ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE, WE, HERE, WE, WE BASICALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING GOOD, OTHERWISE WE DON'T WANNA SIT OVER HERE.
AND, UH, OKAY, THE, THE ACTING CHIEF ALREADY TALK ABOUT HOW TO PUT THE FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT.
AND I WENT THERE, UH, AT A WEEKEND AND I TALKED TO SOME RESIDENTS AND I, I SAW THE BOTH SIDES, UH, COMPLEX.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO IMPROVE THAT INTERSECTION, NOT ONLY FOR THE LEFT TURN, ALSO THE CROSSWALK, BECAUSE PEOPLE WALKING AND THEN IF SEE, OKAY, PEOPLE DOWNHILL FROM AMAR, AND IT'S A TURN AND IT'S KIND OF, YOU CANNOT SEE NOTHING.
AND THEN WHEN PEOPLE MAKE A LEFT TURN, GO GOING HOME, ESPECIALLY FOR GAS PRICE, PEOPLE WANT TO RIDE A BIKE TO SAVE THE, OKAY, THE FUNDING.
OKAY, I UNDERSTAND A HUNDRED PERCENT.
AND THEN HE WANTED TO RIDE A BIKE AND I WAS A, A BIKER WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
I, I KNOW HOW, HOW THEY, OKAY.
EASY TO GET A AROUND AND PLUS, OKAY, HOW WE CAN HELP THE FAMILY.
SO, SO, BUT, BUT HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR CITY? OKAY? AND, UH, AND WE NEED TO, UH, REALLY, I WANT TO TAKE OUR BLACK WIDOW SUGGESTION.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAYBE PUT THESE THREE YOUNG PEOPLE, OKAY.
OKAY? I THINK THAT IS HOW WE, AT LEAST MINIMAL WE CAN DO.
OKAY? SHOWING WE ALL TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, YOUR PAIN IS OUR CITY COUNCIL AS YOUR NEIGHBOR, OKAY? I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD, LIKE, GOOD SUGGESTION.
AND THEN WE WILL STARTING A PROMOTION AND HOW WE CAN HELP THE PEOPLE WATCH OUT, OKAY? PEOPLE RIDING THE BIKE, PEOPLE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, PEOPLE WALK ON THE STREET AND WHEN DEATH IS TOO MANY, OKAY? AND ESPECIALLY FOR ALL THESE YOUNG CHILDREN, THEY HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE, OKAY? WE ALL WANT THEM TO SEE THEIR BRIGHT FUTURE.
THEY GET CUT SUCH A SHORT TIME.
SO, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, DO SOMETHING, OKAY? AND, UH, I THINK AGAIN, AGAIN, OKAY, LET'S SET THIS UP.
OKAY? AND, UH, I THINK NOW OF OUR CITY COUNCIL WILL DISAGREE TO PUT SOME KIND OF PLAQUE OVER THERE TO WARM PEOPLE, OKAY? AND, UH, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
HOW CAN THE DESIGN, OKAY? AND TO RESPECT THE PEOPLE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, I, ON THE FREEWAY, I SEE ALL THE MOTORCYCLE, OKAY? AND WE WANT TO YIELD, MAKE SURE THEY SAFE.
OKAY? SO SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND REGARDING THE, THE POINTE AND, UH, VINCENT, I THINK THAT IS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED TOO.
AND WE HAVE TO SEE, HAVE OUR ENGINEER, TRAFFIC ENGINEER TRANS STACK.
OKAY? I THINK YOU LISTEN ALL THIS, YOU UNDERSTAND, OKAY? YOU NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
HAVE YOUR TRAFFIC ENGINEER OKAY TO LOOK INTO ALL OF THE INTERSECTION, THE FLASHING STOP SIGN OR ANY TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
LEFT TURN, WE NEED TO IMPROVE, OKAY? AND OUR ACTING POLICE CHIEF, WE MAYBE NEED TO OKAY.
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE SLOW DOWN THE CAR AND MAKE SURE THEY DON'T SPEED AND MAKE SURE THAT WE WON'T HAVE ACCIDENT HAPPEN LIKE THIS.
OKAY? AGAIN, AGAIN, MY TREMENDOUS CONDOLENCE OKAY? DEEPEST CONDOLENCE TO ALL FAMILY.
AND, UH, UH, YOU CAN CALL ME ANYTIME.
OKAY? I'M PROVIDE A CELL PHONE FROM ICD MANAGER.
IF YOU NEED ME ANYTHING, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
OKAY? AND, UH, IT'S FROM, UM, MY SINCERITY AND REALLY, OKAY.
WANT ME TO GO TO YOUR HOME? I WILL BE THERE.
SO SORRY FOR ABOUT THIS LOSS, OKAY? AND, UH, WE CAN MAYBE WORK TOGETHER TO STUDY AWARENESS ABOUT MOTORCYCLE AND MAKE SURE THIS INTERSECTION CAN BE COVERED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S SAFE.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH TO COME TO ADDRESS US.
AND, UH, AGAIN, AGAIN, I CANNOT, OKAY, SAY EVEN MORE ABOUT THE LOSS FOR YOU GUYS.
OKAY? BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMAN CONTOS.
UM, WORDS CAN'T EXPRESS HOW SORRY I AM FOR YOUR LOSS.
UM, WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE FRIDAY ACCIDENT, I REACHED OUT TO OUR CITY MANAGER TO ASK WHAT TO DO.
OUR FELLOW FELLOW COLLEAGUES DID THE SAME.
AND JUST, JUST TO, TO BUILD ON WHAT, WHAT MAYOR PRO TEMU HAS SAID, WE'RE FELLOW RESIDENTS UP HERE.
WE DON'T, UM, JUST SIT ON SOME HIGH HORSE SOMEWHERE.
UH, UH, VARIOUS OF US INCLUDING, UM, COUNCILWOMAN, UM, ROSARIO DIAZ AND I, WE LITERALLY TRAVEL THE STREETS ON PATROL EVERY WEEK BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS.
[01:45:01]
AND I, I REALLY WANT YOU PLEASE HEAR US WHEN WE TELL YOU THIS, THAT WE REALLY CARE.AND, UM, I'M SORRY, BUT THE THING IS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE JUST WANT YOU TO, WE, WE WANNA DO WHAT WE CAN TO BE OF SUPPORT, AND THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE COMING.
LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, WITH OTHER INTERSECTIONS LIKE, UH, CITRUS AND CAMERON, I MEAN, UH, CAMERON, UH, YEAH, CITRUS AND CAMERON OTHER PLACES, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
SO WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE TO YOU FOR, FOR THIS.
BUT, BUT ONE LIFE THAT'S A LOSS IS ONE LIFE TOO MANY.
AND SO WE, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T TAKE THAT PAIN AWAY FROM YOU WITH LOSING YOUR LOVED ONES.
BUT WE, WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE, WE, WE CAN BUILD ON THEIR MEMORY AND, AND I WANT ACTIVELY TO JOIN, AND I WANT TO, TO, TO MEET WITH ALL OF YOU AND TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO PROACTIVELY.
SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANY OTHER FAMILY.
NO ONE DESERVES TO GO THROUGH THIS.
NONE OF YOU DESERVE TO GO THROUGH ANY OF THIS.
SO, UH, I WANT TO JOIN WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO, TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT YOU, NOT THROUGH SOME SPEECHES, BUT THROUGH ACTUAL ACTION.
I, WE, I LOVE THE IDEA OF WHAT BLACK WIDOW HAD SUGGESTED.
WE NEED TO STOP MOTORCYCLE DEATHS.
WE NEED TO REALLY GET AT THESE ISSUES.
AND I THINK IT WAS MR. VARGAS, I DIDN'T GET HIS FIRST NAME, BUT HIM AND OTHERS, IF THERE ARE ISSUES AROUND, CALL US.
AND I MEAN, LITERALLY GET IN TOUCH WITH US.
WE ACTIVELY WORK WITH OUR STAFF AND WITH, WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GET THESE ADDRESS VARIOUS ISSUES ADDRESSED.
THERE'S A WHOLE SYSTEM WHERE WE REPORT BACK.
WE DON'T JUST SAY, OH, THANK YOU, AND THAT'S IT.
WE, WE TELL YOU HOW THINGS GO.
SO PLEASE, WE, WE ARE REALLY, REALLY EAGER TO ENGAGE WITH YOU.
WE'RE SO SORRY, AND I'M SO SORRY FOR, FOR YOUR LOSS, FOR ALL OF YOU.
AND I, I PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL DO WHATEVER I CAN FROM WITHIN WHERE, WITH WHERE I SIT AND AS, UH, MY COLLEAGUES TO BE OF SUPPORT TO YOU SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYBODY ELSE.
I'M NOT GONNA SAY A SPEECH HERE, BUT I, UM, I JUST WANNA EXPRESS MY DEEPEST CONDOLE TO THE FAMILIES THAT LOST THEIR LOVED ONES.
UM, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT, WE ARE NOT UP HERE TO DICTATE, TO EARN MORE MONEY OR STEAL YOUR MONEY, OR WE REALLY TRULY CARE ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS.
AND, UM, WE ARE CONSTANTLY TALKING TO OUR RESIDENTS AND, AND ENGAGING WITH THEM.
AND, UM, I JUST, IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY ISSUES, YOU CAN EMAIL ME AND I RESPOND, OR I VISIT, I CALL, I, I MEAN, I'M THERE FOR THE RESIDENTS.
AND, UM, IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT, TRY ME.
UM, I, I DON'T, AND AS FAR AS YOUR CHILDREN, I CAN'T IMAGINE LOSING A CHILD.
I, I'M REALLY, TRULY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
AND, UM, IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING TO HELP, JUST EMAIL US OR CALL ME.
UM, I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT, UM, COMING TO THIS MEETING, UM, I SAW PEDESTRIAN ALMOST GET HIT.
WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE DRIVING AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
TOO MANY SPEEDING, RUNNING RED LIGHTS, RUNNING STOP SIGNS.
WHAT IS GOING ON? WE REALLY NEED SOME ENFORCEMENT OUT THERE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON.
WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO HIRE MORE, TO GET MORE ENFORCEMENT OUT THERE.
AND WE REALLY NEED SOME MOTORCYCLE COPS OUT THERE TO ENFORCE THESE SPEEDING ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
SO, I JUST WANT YOU TO, I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW WE'RE HERE FOR YOU, REGARDLESS OF WHAT PEOPLE SAY, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ VIRO, UM, I, I, SORRY, I'M SPEECHLESS.
'CAUSE I HAD TO CONSULT FAMILIES WHO, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THOSE WHO KNEW AT WORK, I HAD TEENAGERS WHO WERE MURDERED AT MY WORK.
AND SO IT'S JUST DEATH THIS YEAR HAS JUST BEEN A TOUGH YEAR.
UM, AND THEN JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, I KNOW MY SON'S GIRLFRIEND AFTER DINNER, MEETING HER FOR THE FIRST TIME, SHE JUST HAD THAT ACCIDENT, WHICH WAS SHOWN ON, YOU KNOW, BY THAT DRUNK DRIVER, STILL DRINKING.
SO, I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN IT, UM, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
OUR BIGGEST CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY.
I KNOW HOW IT, SORRY, BUT IT IS TO LOSE
[01:50:01]
SOMEBODY.I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO I'VE LOST.
SO, UM, BUT WHATEVER YOU NEED, WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.
I KNOW SOMETIMES I KNOW YOU PEOPLE SAY THESE THINGS AND, UM, NOT TRUE.
OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T SPEAK, YOU KNOW, TO COMMENT BACK, BUT WE ARE BOOTS ON THE FIELD.
UM, POLICE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME, I HAVE FOUR POLICE OFFICERS.
UM, WE'VE, WE'VE EXTENDED THAT.
I MEAN, IF, FOR THOSE OUT THERE COME AND APPLY, IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT IT, IT'S THERE.
IT'S JUST BEING A POLICE OFFICER IS ALSO A TOUGH JOB.
NOBODY WANTS TO BE AN OFFICER ANYMORE.
UM, BUT WE'RE HERE WITH WHATEVER WE CAN PROVIDE AND GIVE.
IF YOU NEED US MORE THAN WELCOME TO, YOU KNOW, CONTACT US, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY.
LIKE ALL OF US, THE WHOLE COUNCIL IS HERE TO PROVIDE THAT.
I GREATLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID.
WHATEVER WAYS WE CAN, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT.
UM, SO WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT PARTNERSHIP MOVING FORWARD.
IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR FOR ME.
IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR GENERAL FOR MANY FAMILIES.
UM, FOR MANY, YOU KNOW, MANY REASONS.
BUT I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WE ARE REALLY HERE FOR YOU.
I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I KNOW WE JUST HAD A, YOU KNOW, A BIG EVENT FOR THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR WEST COVINA, FOR EVERYBODY OUTSIDE.
BUT IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, BY ALL MEANS, REACH OUT TO ALL OF US.
UH, I GREATLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY HERE TODAY WHO SPOKE.
I KNOW LOTS OF EMOTIONS ARE HAPPENING.
UM, BUT ON MY STANCE AND, AND EVERYBODY'S STANCE IS HOW CAN WE FIX IT? LET'S FIX IT.
UM, A LOT OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING, BUT, UM, JUST WANNA SAY WHERE YOU'RE HERE FOR YOU.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING, BY ALL MEANS, LET US KNOW.
UM, I, I THINK I WANNA REITERATE NOT ONLY WHAT THE COUNCIL SAID, BUT UM, WHAT THE PUBLIC SAID, UM, WHAT OUR, UH, ACTING CITY MANAGER SAID.
UM, WE, WE, WE DON'T WANT ANY OF THIS TO HAPPEN.
UM, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT IN PLACE THE SOLUTION SO THAT THESE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN.
UM, I THINK THAT, THAT THE WORST PART IS, IS THESE ARE THE TRAGEDIES THAT, THAT MAKE THINGS CHANGE.
AND, AND IT'S TOO BAD THAT WE'RE NOT OFTEN PROACTIVE.
AND I KNOW I SEE CHRIS MILLER, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR YEARS ABOUT VINCENT AND PUENTE, AND I KNOW RAY GAVE ME A LITTLE PEACE, BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.
WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD JANA, UM, TRAFFIC ENGINEER, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT BATTLE TO, TO, TO, TO CHANGE THINGS.
AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, UM, ALL, ALL OF US HERE, ALL ALL OF US HERE TONIGHT, I, EVERYONE WHO'S WATCHING, UM, WE, WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE.
WE, WE WANT ALL OUR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO COME HOME.
UM, AND SO FROM, FROM ALL OF US AND ALL OF OUR FAMILIES, OUR HEARTS ARE, ARE WITH ALL OF YOU.
UM, AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THE CITY SAFER AND MORE SECURE, AND, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS, CAN FEEL SAFE, CAN, CAN GO TO THE MARKET AND GO TO THE PARK, UM, DRIVE HOME AT NIGHT AND GET HOME AND BE WITH THEIR LOVED ONES.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
UM, AND I, I WISH, UM, WE COULD SAY THIS IS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN.
UM, BUT WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA DO WHAT WE CAN DO TO, TO PREVENT WHATEVER WE CAN PREVENT.
UM, AND LIKE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE SAID, THIS IS YOUR SPACE.
UM, THIS IS YOUR PLACE TO COME AND SPEAK, TO COME AND SHARE, UH, THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE, UH, THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED.
UM, OUR ROLE IS, IS TO LISTEN, UM, TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU NEED TO SAY, UM, SAY IT.
UM, AND WE'RE HERE TO, TO LISTEN AND THEN ACT.
UM, AND SO, AGAIN, I'M, I'M SURE,
[01:55:01]
UH, THAT WE ARE GONNA TAKE ACTION, UH, AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE THESE CHANGES AND WE'RE GONNA PRIORITIZE THESE CHANGES.UM, AND SO AS WE, AS WE GO FORWARD, HOLD US TO ACCOUNT, CONTINUE TO HOLD US TO ACCOUNT.
UM, AND, AND THIS WON'T BE THE, THE LAST TIME WE TALK ABOUT THIS, OKAY? UM, SO, UM, THANK YOU, UM, FOR ALL COMMENTS.
UM, UH, I'D LIKE TO ASK MY, MY COLLEAGUES ARE, ARE WE OKAY TO CONTINUE? WOULD WE LIKE A BREAK? WE'RE OKAY TO CONTINUE? YEAH.
SO WE, WE ARE GOING TO, TO MOVE ON, UM, WITH OUR MEETING.
[CITY MANAGER'S REPORT]
MOVE ON TO OUR CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.UH, SO NOW FOR OUR CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN BY OUR ACTING, UH, CD MAP.
AND, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, LET ME, LET ME TAKE A TWO MINUTE.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A TWO MINUTE BREAK.
WE ARE GOING TO RESUME, UH, OUR MEETING NOW, ACTING CITY MANAGER.
UM, WE ARE NOW READY FOR YOUR REPORTS.
UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, TONIGHT'S REPORT, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, JERRY LOPEZ.
SO HE JOINED US, UH, NOVEMBER 7TH OR 27TH, AND NOW HE'S ON OUR TEAM FOR, UH, OUR PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SO, UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME DOWN AND SAY A COUPLE THINGS.
LET'S, LET'S MEET YOU IN PERSON AT LAST.
OH, MAYOR, MAYOR OTAM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF NEARBY VALINDA.
I'M A BLOCK FROM MU COVINA, SO I'VE, I KIND OF, UH, CLAIM MUS COVINA AS MY RESIDENCE.
UM, THANK YOU, UH, FOR, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO JOIN A GREAT CITY WEST COVINA.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH STAFF AND WORKING WITH THE, WITH THE COUNCIL OF THE FUTURE, UH, MAKING THE CITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND SHOP AND PLAY AND DO EVERYTHING HERE IN WEST COVINA.
OH, UH, WELCOME TO WEST COVINA.
AND YOU KNOW, WE NEED A LOT OF HELP CLEAN UP THE CITY HILLSIDE.
WE'RE, WE'RE BE, WE'RE GONNA BE, WE'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.
THE MAINTENANCE SERVICE, OKAY.
INDUSTRY AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND, UH, MONITOR THE CONTRACT AND ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
WELL, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TE WU FOR
UH, WE HAD OUR SENIOR CENTER THANKSGIVING.
UM, SO WE, UH, THE SENIOR CENTER HELD ITS ANNUAL THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION HOSTING OVER 200 OF OUR SENIORS ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND, 2023.
THERE WAS FOOD DANCING AND PIES WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE SENIORS.
UM, THE, UH, LA COUNTY ALSO DONATE $300 FOR THE MEALS AND FNS FOOD SERVICES IN SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, SENIOR SOFTBALL FOR DONATING THE PIES.
UM, SO WE HAD A VERY NICE EVENT THEN THIS LAST FRIDAY, WE HAD OUR ANNUAL, UM, TREE LIGHTING AND LET IT SNOW EVENT.
UM, THE EVENT INCLUDED PERFORMANCES BY OUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, INCLUDING THE WEST COVINA HIGH SCHOOL, JAZZ BAND V, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HOLIDAY CHOIR, AND HOLLAND CREST MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND, AND THE HOLIDAY BELLAS ACAPELLA GROUP.
THERE WAS, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, UH, UH, SNOW, UM, VENDORS, FOOD AND ARTS AND CROSS WERE PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO IT WAS A VERY GREAT EVENT WITH A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR STUDENTS FROM OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS.
AND IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF VIDEO.
[02:00:19]
UM, WE ALSO HAD OUR FIRST ANNUAL WEST COVINA CENTENNIAL TOY GIVEAWAY.UM, THE CITY OF WEST COVINA FILM AT WEST COVINA IN IL DE HOUSE OF CHARITIES HOSTED THE BIGGEST TOY GIVEAWAY OR, UH, CENTENNIAL TOY GIVEAWAY IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY.
UH, THE DRIVE-THROUGH BEGAN AT 10:00 AM AND WENT UNTIL 2:00 PM WHEN WE GAVE AWAY ALL THE TOYS.
UM, IT WAS $120,000 WORTH OF, UH, MATTEL TOYS WERE PROVIDED TO CHILDREN.
UM, A BIG SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN LA PIRO AND PLANNING COMMISSION CHAIR BRIAN GUTIERREZ FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND BRINGING THIS CENTENNIAL TOY GIVEAWAY, UH, TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THERE'S ANOTHER VIDEO,
SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND.
THERE IS A WALKING PARADE FOR THOSE THAT WANNA PARTICIPATE.
UM, YOU CAN GO ON THE WEBSITE, UH, THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
UM, JUST A REMINDER THAT THE CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED, UH, DECEMBER, UH, 25TH.
UM, AND WE'LL REOPEN JANUARY 2ND.
UM, WISHING EVERYONE HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
AND THAT'S IT FOR MY CITY MANAGER'S REPORT TODAY.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR.UH, COUNSEL, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR? SEEING NONE, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS? NUMBER ONE THROUGH FIVE? UH, SO MOVED.
MAYOR, I HAVE A MOTION BY, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM WU IS SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE.
[6) CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED FEES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY]
TO, UH, PUBLIC HEARING.ITEM NUMBER SIX, CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED FEES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY.
UH, THIS MATTER SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING CONSISTS OF CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED FEES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY.
WILL THE CITY CLERK VERIFY THE PROPER LEGAL NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN? PROPER NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN.
UH, AT THIS TIME, I SHALL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED FEES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY.
THERE WILL FIRST BE THE PRESENTATION OF THE STAFF REPORT, THEN WE SHALL HEAR FROM THOSE IN FAVOR, THEN THOSE OPPOSED, UH, MS. MORALES WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT.
OUR, UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR STEPHANIE SMO, WILL PROVIDE THE REPORT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
EVENING, THE LAST COMPREHENSIVE CITYWIDE FEE UPDATE WAS DONE IN DECEMBER, 2017.
SINCE THEN, UM, THE CITY WAS AUDITED BY THE STATE IN 2020 AND THEY, UM, RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY ADJUST ITS FEES IN ORDER TO ALIGN WITH THE FULL COST OF THOSE SERVICES, RESULTING IN WHAT WOULD BE, UM, LESS RELIANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE TO SUBSIDIZE THOSE SERVICES.
THE STUDY, THE STUDY INITIATED KICKED OFF IN JANUARY, 2022, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF FOCUS MEETINGS GOING INTO THE DETAILS FOR EVERY USER FEE.
THE FINAL REPORT OF THIS WAS INITIALLY PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST 15TH.
THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS HELD IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.
[02:05:01]
THE COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE INCLUDES THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COST OF SERVICES STUDY THAT WAS COMPLETED IN 2023 AND INCLUDES FEES THAT, UM, COMBINES ALL FEES INTO ONE SCHEDULE.COMMUNITY SERVICE FEES, FOR EXAMPLE, WERE NOT PREVIOUSLY POSTED IN OUR FEE SCHEDULE, BUT ARE PRESENTED WITHIN AS THEY ARE EXISTING CURRENTLY AND INCLUDED IN THE FEE SCHEDULE.
I WILL SAY THAT THE COST OF SERVICES STUDY DID INDICATE THAT, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICE FEES ARE BRINGING, RECOVERING ABOUT 52.6% OF THEIR DIRECT COST.
UM, SO IT IS A, UM, SUBSIDIZED SERVICE.
UM, WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED BUILDING FEES, BUSINESS LICENSE FEES, AND DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES AS THEY ARE CURRENTLY WITH ONE COMPREHENSIVE SCHEDULE.
ALL FEES WILL BE PRESENTED IN ONE PLACE.
AND WE'VE ALSO ALIGNED THEIR ANNUAL INCREASE TO JANUARY, WHICH WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR FEES WITHIN THE CITY.
THE POSSIBLE NEW REVENUE BASED ON THE COST OF SERVICES STUDY IS ABOUT 1.3 MILLION TO THE CITY.
UM, IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT COUNCIL CONTINUE WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION, UM, TO ADOPT THE REVISED CHARGES FOR SERVICES.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE RICK KERMER HERE FROM A RECCO REVENUE AND COST SPECIALIST TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE COST OF SERVICES STUDY ITSELF.
UM, BUT I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING, UM, THE FEE SCHEDULE AS PRESENTED.
AND DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, SEEING NONE.
UM, IS THERE, UH, ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN FAVOR? I HAVE NOBODY WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? I HAVE TWO.
MAYOR FIRST ONE IS BILL ROBINSON.
I WANNA RESPOND TO WHAT WAS JUST SAID.
THE TOPIC OF THIS HEARING IS, UH, CHARGES FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF WEST COVINA THAT INCLUDES, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT SERVICES AND, AND, AND, UH, STREET SWEEPING SERVICES AND POLICE DEPARTMENT SERVICES.
UH, WHAT WAS JUST SAID WAS, UH, $1.4 MILLION OF NEW REVENUE IS WHAT WAS JUST DISCUSSED.
WELL, YOU GUYS ARE HEADED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF, UH, YOU, YOU SAID 30 MINUTES AGO THAT YOU ALL WANNA BE RESPONSIVE TO, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS CITY.
UH, A COUPLE MEETINGS AGO, I MENTIONED, UH, A, UH, LIQUOR STORE EMPLOYEE THAT WAS MURDERED BY SHOPLIFTERS ABOUT A MILE FROM WHERE I LIVE.
UH, FURTHERMORE, I MENTIONED FOOD FOR LESS.
SOMEBODY WALKED IN AND GRABBED A HANDFUL OF MERCHANDISE AND OUT OF, UH, FOOD FOR LESS AND, AND LEFT.
THAT'S A CRIME THAT'S NOT GONNA BE PROSECUTED.
AND IF CRIMES LIKE THAT ARE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN IN THIS CITY, UH, BUSINESSES ARE GONNA GO OUTTA BUSINESS.
WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE MARKETS TO GO TO.
SO, UH, WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS, IS, IS SUPPORT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, MR. MR. ROBINSON.
MORE PEOPLE, MR. ROBINSON'S A PUBLIC HEARING.
YOU HAVE TO STICK TO THE, THE TOPIC.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, NO, UH, WHAT YOU NEED IS MORE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CITY SERVICES, AND FEWER CODE ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.
YOU WANNA SHUT ME DOWN BECAUSE I'M NOT SAYING WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR 1.4 MILLION IN NEW REVENUE AT, AT THE SAME TIME YOU'VE GIVEN YOURSELF A PAY RAISE.
AND, UH, WE DON'T NEED 4,600, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS IN THIS CITY.
SO YOU CAN GATHER THE REVENUE.
WHAT WE NEED IS MORE PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH YOU ALL, ALL FIVE OF YOU AGREED.
BUT WE NEED MORE NEW POSITIONS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M SORRY, I'M NOT SAYING WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT YOU'RE HEADED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
I'LL, UH, YIELD BACK MY LAST 30 SECONDS.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR, FOR THOSE, UM, DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU'RE TO SPEAK TO THE ITEM AND, AND IT, IT'S VERY, UH, RESTRICTIVE.
AND SO, UH, IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR US ALL.
UH, NEXT, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARTHA.
[02:10:06]
HELLO AGAIN HERE.I'M, UM, I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REVIEW ALL OF THE CODE.
BLESS YOU, ALL OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES.
UM, I WAS TOLD THOUGH THAT THE, UH, THE PROPOSALS WOULD BE UP ON NOVEMBER 30TH, WHICH THEY WERE NOT CHECKED IT SEVERAL TIMES.
UM, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOW UP, BUT I'M IN OPPOSITION BECAUSE I AM PLANNING TO, I WOULD LIKE TO LORD WILLING IMPROVE ON, UH, WHERE I LIVE.
UM, IT'S INCREASED BY OVER $600, WHICH IS A, A LOT, AS YOU KNOW, THE COST OF LIVING HAS GONE UP.
INFLATION HAS GONE UP, BUT NOT TO THAT EXTENT.
AND I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DATA LIKE THIS, UM, WOMAN HAD WITH THE RECAPTURING REVENUE, I BELIEVE THAT WAS STATED.
BUT I, WHAT I DO KNOW IS, AS A RESIDENT, WHEN WE WANT TO IMPROVE OUR PROPERTY, IT'S BENEFITS THE ENTIRE CITY.
YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR COMFORT, OUR PLEASURE FOR OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS.
AND ALONG WITH THAT, MY UNDERSTANDING IN SPEAKING WITH JOANNE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WAS THE PLANNING OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, SHE SAID IT SO THAT THEY CAN REVIEW, BECAUSE I WAS ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY'RE GETTING PAID TO DO WHAT? I'M SORRY.
THE ADDITIONAL CHARGES ARE TO PAY WHAT THEY'RE ALREADY PAID TO DO.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN MY JOB, SAY, SAY IF I'M A CASHIER, BUT I HAVE TO CHECK A CERTAIN AISLE, IT'S SOMETHING SPECIFIC, I SHOULDN'T GET PAID ON TOP OF THAT BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF MY JOB.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S SUCH A HUGE INCREASE AND I'M OPPOSED TO IT.
AND IF WE WANNA IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE THE COMMUNITY, AS I STATED EARLIER.
SO I, UM, I DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY SOMETHING.
AND I HOPE
SO I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
I HOPE YOU REALLY HEAR PEOPLE AND CONSIDER IF YOU WERE IN THE POSITION YOURSELF.
SORRY, I DON'T KNOW IF MY TIME'S UP.
WHEN WILL IT BE DECIDED? BECAUSE IT UNDERSTAND IT'S UNDER REVIEW OR IS IT, IT'S FOR ADOPTION.
SO WHEN WOULD THAT BE JUST, OR IS IT EFFECTIVE? COME JANUARY AND THAT'S IT.
IN OTHER WORDS, ARE YOU, IS IT GOING TO BE REVIEWED AND MAYBE SOME CHANGES MADE OR NOT? SO IT'S BEFORE THE COUNCIL FOR A VOTE FOR ADOPTION.
IT'S, LET SEE, BEFORE COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST READING.
UM, THE ACTUAL FEES WOULD NOT BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL FEBRUARY 5TH, 2024.
SO IT'S JUST SO REALLY, IT'S POINTLESS TO SAY ANYTHING
I MEAN, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.
SO THIS IS FOR PUBLIC, IT'S FOR YOU TO PROVIDE COMMENT TO COUNCIL.
IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A DIALOGUE WITH US.
UH, I SHALL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THIS HEARING, UH, AND ASK FOR, UH, ANY CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
UM, MADAM DIRECTOR, CAN YOU, JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, CAN YOU ALSO DESCRIBE HOW THERE WAS AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS TO ALSO LOOK AT WHERE TO LOWER FEES? AND CAN YOU ALSO DESCR, UH, DESCRIBE HOW, WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR DETERMINING THE, THE, THE FEE INCREASES TO THE EXTENT THAT THOSE WERE APPLICABLE AND THE GENERAL CATEGORY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THERE WAS A, A, AN EXTENSIVE, TEDIOUS PROCESS THAT, UH, UH, TO LOOK AT EVERY LINE ITEM IF YOU COULD JUST, JUST SO PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE IN CASE THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE, THE PROCESS OF HOW THAT, HOW THIS WAS ALL DEVELOPED.
SO EACH FEE WAS LOOKED AT AND THE HOURS
[02:15:01]
ALLOCATED PER SERVICE WERE, UM, EVALUATED AND GONE, UM, THROUGH AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CONSULTANT THAT WE HIRED, UM, THEY ALLOCATED ALL THE STAFF TIME, FIGURED OUT WHAT THAT COST AND, UM, ESTIMATED WHAT THE CITY SHOULD CHARGE.IN SOME INSTANCES, THE FEES ACTUALLY WENT DOWN.
UM, BUT THE NET IS A NET POSITIVE FOR THE CITY THAT THEY ARE RECOMMENDING AND CHANGES OF ALL THE FEES.
BUT IT'S TO REFLECT, UH, TO RECOUP WHAT THE CITY IS ACTUALLY SPENDING PER EACH OF THESE.
AND SO IT STARTED WITH IDENTIFYING THE COST OF OUR STAFF TIME, AND THEN THE TIME THAT WE TAKE ON EACH OF THESE ITEMS AND ALLOCATING THAT, AND ALSO INCLUDING OUR OVERHEAD.
SO THE BUILDINGS YOU SEE HERE AND EVERYTHING TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON IS ALSO TAKING INTO ACCOUNT WITH THOSE FEES FOR THE SERVICES THAT THE CITY IS PROVIDING.
AND THE CITY, UM, AS I STATED, UH, WE HAD THREE IN MEETINGS OVERALL, STARTING WITH CITY COUNCIL.
AT FIRST WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED, IT WAS POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE RIGHT AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING THAT WEEK.
SO IT'S MADE, MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC SINCE AUGUST.
AND THEN, UM, WE HAD TO SUB, UH, SUBSEQUENT PUBLIC MEETINGS IN WHICH WE HAD A FAIRLY GOOD ATTENDANCE AND DIALOGUE AND EXPLANATIONS BY OUR CONSULTANT, UM, AS WELL.
AND, UH, CONTINUE THE QUESTION.
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME WE DID THE UPDATE OF THE FEE STUDY AND, UH, TRY TO UPDATE FOR OUR CURRENT FEE SCHEDULE? A COMPREHENSIVE ONE WASN'T DONE LAST UNTIL 2017.
UH, CT FEE STUDY OR JUST PORTION.
AND I REMEMBER I WAS THERE AT THAT TIME, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER HIS ENTIRE CT FEE OR JUST PORTION.
IT WAS A COMPREHENSIVE, UM, UPDATE.
SO DUE TO THE, UH, STATE ORDER THAT WE NEED TO OKAY.
UH, DO AN UPDATE TO MAKE SURE.
HAVE, HAVE YOU COMPARE OUR, OUR SOME OF THE FEE INCREASE.
IS THAT JUSTIFIED FOR OUR CURRENT COMPARE WITH OTHER CITY OR COUNTY AND THEIR CHARGE? I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO LET THE CONSULTANT ADDRESS THAT QUESTION.
UH, SPECIFICALLY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, RICK, COMING UP TO THE PODIUM IN REGARDS TO, UH, WHY WE DID NOT COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES.
'CAUSE ANY FEE SCHEDULE INCREASE, ANYBODY WILL, WILL HAVE A ISSUE.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE JUSTIFY AND, UH, ALL THIS FEE ADJUSTMENT THAT IS, UM, JUSTIFY.
UH, MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, AS A FIRM, WE'VE REALLY DISCOURAGED COMPARING FEES WITH OTHER CITIES BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHAT THAT COMPARISON MEANS.
IF THE OTHER CITY IS HIGHER THAN YOURS, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY'RE DOING A BETTER JOB AND THEY'RE MORE THOROUGH IN THEIR ANALYSIS AND YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY RAISE YOUR FEES HIGHER? OR IF THEY'RE LOWER THAN YOU, DOES THAT MEAN THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THEREFORE THEY'RE GIVING AWAY THEIR SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC? SO WE'VE HAD A HARD TIME REALLY, UM, WITH THE, UH, FEE COMPARISON, UH, PROCESS.
IT, IT, THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'VE EFFECTIVELY DONE IT IS TO, TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS.
BUT THAT MEANS LOOKING AT ALL THE FEES FOR A PARTICULAR TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT, LIKE A TRACT HOME OR, UH, STRIP MALL OR A, UH, COMMERCIAL BUILDING OF A PARTICULAR SIZE.
UH, AND ONE OF OUR EXPERIENCES HAS BEEN THAT WHEN YOU DO THAT KIND OF, UH, COMPARISON, THE INDIVIDUAL FEES IN THE DIFFERENT CITIES TEND TO REALLY VARY.
BUT IN GRAND TOTAL, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH ALL ABOUT THE SAME.
AND, UH, WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM QUITE A FEW DEVELOPERS WHO'VE TOLD US THAT YOUR FEES REALLY AREN'T THEIR PROBLEM.
UH, THAT THEIR PROBLEM WITH THE CITY IS HOW LONG IT TAKES THE CITY TO
[02:20:01]
PROCESS THEIR APPLICATION.AND THAT'S WHY WE WANNA MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE STAFF.
YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY, UH, PROCESS THEIR APPLICATIONS.
THAT'S MAY NOT BE ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, BUT, UH, THAT'S SORT OF WHERE WE'RE AT AS A COMPANY.
DOES THAT HELP YOU? UH, SO BASICALLY, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS SAY ALL THE DEVELOPER, NOT NECESSARILY, UH, TO WORRY ABOUT THE FEE WE CHARGE THEM, IT'S MORE WORRY ABOUT THE TIME WE SPEND.
SO TIME IS MONEY IF WE EXACTLY DELAY AND THEY MIGHT MISS THE BOAT, AND THEN THEY DID INVESTMENT POSSIBLE IN QUESTION.
BUT MY QUESTION WOULD BE THEN IN THAT WAY, HOW YOU JUSTIFY THE RATE INCREASE OR DECREASE, AND BASED ON WHAT METHOD.
IF YOU DON'T DO THE COMPARISON, SO YOU'RE DOING THE BY HOW MANY PEOPLE, HOW FAST.
SO IN THAT WAY, WE CAN TELL PEOPLE THE, THE INCREASE OR DECREASE IS JUST JUSTIFICATION.
SO CAN YOU ANSWER THAT PLEASE? WELL, IT, IT, WHAT I WANT YOU TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT REPORT IS THE FACT THAT THESE ARE WHAT YOUR COSTS ACTUALLY ARE.
NOW, THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHO'S PAYING FOR IT? IN SOME CASES, IT'S THE APPLICANT.
IN OTHER CASES, THE CITY IS PAYING FOR IT, THE CITY RESIDENTS ARE PAYING FOR IT.
YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE A, A FAVOR EXERCISE.
I, I CALL IT THE STRAIGHT FACE APPROACH.
CAN YOU GO TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AND SAY, DO YOU MIND MY USING YOUR MONEY TO SUPPORT THIS DEVELOPER BUILDING THIS PROJECT IN TOWN? AND IF YOU CAN SAY THAT WITH A STRAIGHT FACE, THERE'S PROBABLY A GOOD REASON WHY YOU'RE DOING IT.
BUT IF YOU CAN'T, THEN REALLY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, DEVELOPER'S PAYING HIS FAIR SHARE.
AND THEN, SO BASICALLY YOU, BASED ON THE COST ANALYSIS ABOUT HOW MUCH WILL COST, OKAY.
TO DO THE PROJECT, IT WILL COST CT HOW MUCH WITH THE MANPOWER.
SO IN THAT WAY, YOU BASE ON LEAD TO JUSTIFY THE FEE INCREASE OR DECREASE.
THIS IS A, A, A WELL THOUGHT OUT PROCESS THAT ACTUALLY I WAS IN THE GROUND FLOOR OF DOING, UH, BACK IN 1980.
UH, I WAS A CO-AUTHOR WITH, UH, THE GENTLEMAN WHO'S NOW THE DEPARTMENT HEAD OF USCS ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT.
AND THE TWO OF US PUT TOGETHER PUBLICATION FOR THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES CALLED COST ACCOUNTING FOR CALIFORNIA CITIES.
AND, UH, IT, IT BASICALLY IS, UH, REPACKAGING WHAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR DOES ON COST ACCOUNTING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
IT'S JUST THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UH, DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY COST ACCOUNTANTS.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS A LOT OF 'EM.
AND, UH, UM, I'M NOT SUGGESTING YOU HIRE COST ACCOUNTANTS, BUT, UH, PERIODICALLY IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO REPHRASE YOUR, YOUR ACCOUNTING SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHETHER YOU'RE MAKING MONEY OR LOSING MONEY.
ANY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, OKAY.
UH, SO IS THERE, UH, A MOTIONS IN ORDER TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 20 23 92 ESTABLISHING AND ADOPTING NEW AND REVISED? SORRY, I FLIPPED THE PAGE.
UH, FEES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
WHO? UH, WHO THE SECOND COUNCILMAN CONTOS.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PROTE WU.
AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CONTOS.
[7) CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONER COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS]
ON TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONER COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.UH, MS. MORALES WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, STEPHANIE, WILL BE PROVIDING THAT PRESENTATION AS WELL.
[02:25:02]
SO, BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2022, THE MAYOR HAD REQUESTED A FEASIBILITY, THE FEASIBILITY OF INCREASING COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONER PAY.THEN AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER, 2023, STAFF HAD PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION TO COUNCIL AND COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO INCREASE COUNCIL COMPENSATION TO THE MAX AND PROVIDE BENEFITS AND CAR ALLOWANCE, INCREASED COUNCIL REIMBURSEMENT, ALLOWANCES TO 5,000, AND THEN INCREASE COMMISSIONER COMPENSATION TO A HUNDRED PER MEETING AND FOR PLANNING 75, A MEETING FOR HR AND COMMUNITY SERVICE SENIOR SERVICES.
UM, AND THEN THEY ALSO ASK THAT WE, UH, AND ANALYZE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO, UH, INCREASE AUDIT COMMITTEE COMPENSATION, OR BASICALLY PROVIDE AUDIT COMMITTEE OPS, UH, COMPENSATION.
SO THE PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS BEFORE YOU, I'LL START WITH COUNCIL COMPENSATION BENEFITS.
UH, WITH THAT, THE STAFF HAS PROPOSED TO INCREASE TO THE MAXIMUM OF 2027 PER MONTH, OR 24,327,000 PER YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS 165% INCREASE, WHICH IS FIVE TIMES 33 YEARS, WHICH IS THE NUMBER OF YEARS SINCE THE LAST INCREASE.
SO IT IS NOT A COMPOUNDED AMOUNT, IT IS THE STRAIGHT FORMULA AS ALLOWED PER THE STATUTE.
UM, COUNCIL BENEFITS HAVE ALSO BEEN INCREASED TO THAT OF THOSE OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.
UM, BOTH OF THESE ARE NOT PROPOSED TO TAKE EFFECT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, 2024.
UM, FOR CITY COMMISSIONER STIPENDS, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS BEEN PROPOSED TO INCREASE FROM 75 TO A HUNDRED DOLLARS A MEETING.
AND THEN FOR COMMUNITY AND SENIOR SERVICES, COMMISSIONERS AND RESOURCE COMMISSIONERS WERE POSING TO INCREASE FROM 50 TO 75 AS DIRECTED.
UM, AS FAR AS THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IS CONCERNED, THE, UM, AUDIT COMMITTEE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION SPECIFY THAT MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION.
UM, SO IF COUNSEL WISHES TO PROCEED AND CHANGING THAT, UH, THAT RESOLUTION WOULD NEED TO BE AMENDED.
AND THEN STAFF WOULD ALSO NEED TO PREPARE A SEPARATE RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A STIPEND.
A STIPEND OF 75 PER MEETING, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONS, UH, WOULD BE AN ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT AROUND 1500 A YEAR.
THE ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT OF ALL OF THE PROPOSED, UH, CHANGES IN THE STAFF REPORT RANGE FOR ABOUT 190,000 TO $263,000 A YEAR.
AGAIN, THE CONS, THE COUNCIL COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS WOULD NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION.
THE COMMISSIONER STIPENDS WOULD GO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
UM, OF COURSE, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF IS THAT COUNCIL DO THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE RELATING TO COUNCIL COMPENSATION, AND THEN, UM, ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION FOR THE SCHEDULE OF BENEFITS.
AND THEN THE COMMISSIONER STIPENDS.
UM, ONE THING I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE IS THAT SENATE BILL, UH, 3 29 WAS, IS EFFECTIVE JANUARY, 2024 AND ADJUST THE MAXIMUM SALARIES FOR INFLATION SINCE 1984.
THIS ALLOWS FOR THAT 5% SALARY INCREASE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TOWARDS THE MAX IN THE BILL.
IT ALSO STATED THAT CITY COUNCILS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST JOBS IN THE, IN CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT.
LOW LEVELS MAKE IT HARDER FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BALANCE CAREERS.
RAISING PAY WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR MEMBERS OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES TO SERVE AND IS IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVING CITY COUNCIL GOALS THAT ARE REFLECTIVE OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
THE LAST ADJUSTMENT OF, UH, THE CITY'S, UH, CITY COUNCIL HAD NOT BEEN MADE UNTIL 1990.
UM, AND THEN SOME OTHER CON CITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING COUNCIL COMPENSATION ARE PALO ALTO AND CONCORD.
WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
MAYOR PROAM WU, I JUST WANT TO QUESTION ABOUT, AND AT THE ORAL COMMUNICATION, SOME RESIDENTS SAY IT IS A COMPOUNDS ILLEGAL OR THIS AND THAT.
CAN YOU ELABORATE? IS THAT TRUE? OKAY, MR. YEAH, THAT IS TRUE.
THIS IS NOT COMPOUNDED IN THE EQUATION.
IN THE PAPER HE'S HANDED OUT THE EMAIL, IT HAS, IT HAS, UH, 23 YEARS.
SO BASICALLY IT'S JUST SINCE 1990, THIS NEVER BEEN ADJUSTED.
AND, UH, NOW, AND PLUS THIS IS NOT JUST FOR OUR CURRENT CITY COUNCIL, IT'S FOR THE NOVEMBER THE PEOPLE GET ELECTED
[02:30:01]
AND THEY WILL BE, HAVE THIS THAT'S CORRECT.YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS UNTIL ELECTION, THE NEXT ELECTION.
SO, SO, SO BASICALLY WE, THIS ISSUE IS WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RUN, BECAUSE LIKE LAST TIME I STATED, OKAY.
AND, UH, IF WE ARE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW, ONLY PEOPLE WITH MONEY OR PEOPLE RETIRE.
OKAY? AND THEY, THEY, THEY RUN.
AND HOW ABOUT ALL THOSE FIXED INCOME? AND IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM.
WE ARE NOT GONNA SIT HERE FOREVER AND SPEAKING TO $2,000, NOTHING.
BUT FOR SOME PEOPLE, IF THEY'RE WILLING TO RUN, OKAY, THERE'S SOMETHING MAYBE THEY CAN CONSIDER, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO IMPACT ABOUT THEIR FINANCIALLY FOR ALL THIS OF, UH, OKAY.
SACRIFICE WITH THE TIME, THIS AND THAT.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE OKAY.
AND, UH, AND ANOTHER THING I MENTIONED LAST TIME, YOU CAN GIVE UP OKAY.
THE STIPEND, OR YOU CAN GIVE UP.
AND I REMEMBER IN 2015 WHEN I GET ELECTED, THE FIRST THING I DID OKAY WITH LLOYD JOHNSON, WE GAVE UP ALL THE HEALTH, UH, OKAY.
OKAY? THE, UH, THE, THE, THE OKAY.
CAR ALLOWANCE, THE ONLY THING WE KEPT IS THE $700 STIPEND.
OKAY? SO, AND, UH, WHEN I SAY MENTIONED LAST TIME, THE $5,005,000 IS NOT GOING TO YOUR POCKET.
IT IS THE ALLOWANCE IF YOU GO TO TRAVEL TO SACRAMENTO OR TO DC, BUT AGAIN, OKAY.
THAT IS SUBJECT TO YOU WANT TO CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT, SO YOU CAN GIVE UP TOO.
I WENT TO JAPAN WITH, UH, MAYOR THOMAS AND, UH, CORY WORKSHOP.
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THREE OF US WENT TO JAPAN, AND WE, WE, WE, USING OUR CREDIT CARD, I NEVER REIMBURSE FROM THE HOTEL AND THE AIRLINE AIRPLANE, OKAY? SO IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE PERSON THEY WANT TO CLAIM FOR THIS OR NOT.
BUT FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT IT IS NEEDED, THEN WE DON'T RESTRICT THEM.
AND, UH, TO CONFINE THEM IN, IN OUR LOCAL.
I THINK, UH, THIS THING IS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE CAN HAVE, UH, OUR VERY OUTSPOKEN, OKAY, AND COUNCILMAN KENTO TO WASHINGTON, DC OR EVEN SACRAMENTO, OKAY? I THINK HE CAN BRING IN THE FUND WE NEED AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOBBYIST.
AND, UH, I THINK YOU ARE WELL CONNECTED, BUT RIGHT NOW, WE, WE, WE CAN FIND YOU WITH $1,000.
AND, UH, I THINK THAT IS, WE SEE ALL THE CITY COUNCILMEN, ALL THE, ALL THE PLACES AND, UH, BRING THE RESORT BACK TO US.
AND I JUST MENTIONED TO OUR SENATOR, OKAY, WHY WE HAVEN'T GOT ANY GRANT, OKAY? AND HOPEFULLY, OKAY, OUR COUNCILMAN KENTO, OR OUR MAYOR TOBACCO BUY ALL THEIR CONNECTION CAN GO TO THE, UH, DC OR SACRAMENTO TO, TO BRING US REVENUE.
AND THAT A COUPLE ONE $2,000 PAY FOR YOUR AIRLINE TICKET IS WAY WORTH IT.
SO WE ARE NOT, NOT GOING TO BE OKAY.
AND, UH, SHOW CITED, OKAY? JUST SAVING ONE DIME, BUT MISSING A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE CAN BRING TO THE CITY.
OKAY? AGAIN, AGAIN, IT'S UP TO, YOU WANT TO GIVE IT UP OR NOT? OKAY? THE PEOPLE WANT TO SURRENDER, LIKE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT $1.
OKAY? THEY, ANY PEOPLE CAN DO THAT.
IT IS SUBJECT TO THE CAMPAIGN PROMISE, BUT WE PUT OVER THERE FOR THE PEOPLE IF THEY'RE WILLING TO, OKAY? AND THEY'RE WILLING TO SERVE, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO GET A FINANCIAL BURDEN, OKAY? AND I THINK WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, MORE PEOPLE TO RUN.
SO I WANT TO, UM, IF WE ALL, IT IS ALL LEGAL, I WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE
YOU HAVE AN ORDINANCE, SO WE NEED ONE MOTION WITH THE ORDINANCE, AND THEN A SECOND MOTION FOR THE TWO RESOLUTIONS.
SO, UM, FOR THE, YES, WE HAVE A MOTION AND WE HAVE A SECOND.
FOR THE, UH, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR THE, THAT'S FOR THE ORDINANCE, CORRECT? YES.
AND CAN YOU CLARIFY, THE ORDINANCE IS FOR THE ORDINANCE, UH, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, AMENDING SECTION TWO DASH 23 OF THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION.
UM, BE BEFORE WE, WE DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
I, I DID WANNA GIVE, UH, OTHERS AN, AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SPEAK IF, IF, IF THEY WANTED TO.
SO THEN I'LL, I'LL I'LL GO AHEAD AND, AND, AND, AND SAY A FEW THINGS BE BEFORE
[02:35:01]
WE TAKE THE VOTE.UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK, UH, WHAT MAYOR PRO TEM WU, UH, SAID, UM, IN TERMS OF THE, THE ALLOWANCE IS, IS EXTREMELY TRUE.
UH, AGAIN, THE, THE $1,000 ALLOWANCE THAT THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS, UM, IS, IS, IS NOT ENOUGH, UH, TO BE ABLE TO, TO TAKE A TRIP TO SACRAMENTO, UH, AND TO SPEAK AND, AND TO LOBBY FOR, FOR FUNDS FOR THE CITY.
UH, AND, AND THE REALITY IS, HAVING NOW SPENT SOME TIME IN SACRAMENTO, UM, THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE, ARE MISSED WHEN WE'RE NOT IN THOSE ROOMS. UH, AND, AND AGAIN, UM, WASHINGTON, DC UH, HAVING BEEN ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH, WITH MAYORS AND, AND COUNCIL PEOPLE FROM OTHER CITIES, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, A BIANNUAL TRIP, YOU KNOW, TWICE A YEAR THEY'RE GOING TO WASHINGTON, DC AND THEY ARE GETTING IN THE OFFICES OF THEIR CONGRESS MEMBERS AND THEY ARE, ARE FIGHTING FOR FUNDS.
UH, AND, YOU KNOW, I, IN MY THREE YEARS, I MEAN, WE, WE'VE FOUGHT FOR SOME FUNDS FROM OUR CONGRESSWOMAN AND THEN GOT GOTTEN SOME MONEY FOR, FOR AZUSA AVENUE.
UM, BUT IT, IT'S DIFFERENT DOING IT ON AN EMAIL, UM, VERSUS BEING, BEING THERE, UH, AND ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO MAKE THE CASE.
UH, AND, AND SO AGAIN, UH, I THINK WHAT MAYOR PROM WU SAID ABOUT KIND OF THE, THE SHORTSIGHTEDNESS, UM, IT IS, IT'S A REALITY.
UH, AND AS FAR AS THE THE COMPENSATION GOES, UM, THAT'S ANOTHER REALITY, UM, THAT THERE ARE SO MANY VERY QUALIFIED FOLKS WHO WOULD MAKE WONDERFUL COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD MAKE WONDERFUL MAYORS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO RUN.
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE OF THEIR TIME.
IT'S JUST FINANCIALLY, IT, IT'S, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE MAKE SACRIFICES AND OUR FAMILIES MAKE SACRIFICES.
UM, BUT IT ALSO, AGAIN, ELIMINATES QUITE A FEW FOLKS THAT WOULD BE GREAT REPRESENTATIVES.
UH, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE REASON WHY THE LAW WAS PASSED.
UH, AND IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I, I THINK IN, IN ANY OTHER W OF LIFE, YOU, YOU, YOU SAY YOU, YOU WANT GOOD PEOPLE, THEN, THEN YOU COMPENSATE PEOPLE FAIRLY.
UH, AND, AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANT THE BEST REPRESENTATIVES.
UM, WE WANT YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO RUN.
UM, WE WANT CAREER PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO RUN.
WE WANT FAMILY, PEOPLE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO RUN.
UH, AND SO LET'S, LET'S ALLOW THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO, TO BE ABLE TO RUN IN THESE ELECTIONS.
UM, SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE A GREAT CHOICE.
AND IF THE BARRIER IS, HEY, YOU KNOW, HOW AM I GONNA PAY FOR THE CHILDCARE? OR HOW AM I GOING TO, YOU KNOW, SACRIFICE MY HOURS AT WORK TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS? WELL, WELL, LET'S REMOVE THAT.
UH, AND, AND THE LAW ALLOWS US TO REMOVE THAT.
AND, AND IT'S A, IT'S A BENEFIT FOR THE CITY.
UM, SO, SO I'M IN SUPPORT, UH, I'M A COUNCIL WOMAN, UH, LOPEZ VIRO, RIGHT? I ACTUALLY CONCUR.
UM, SOME PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, YEAH, THAT $1,000 GOES INSTANT.
IT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, I NEEDED BUSINESS CARDS TO DO MY WORK.
AND THEY SAID, OH, THAT COMES AT, AND WITH INFLATION AND ALL THAT, BUSINESS CARDS COST A LOT THAT'S REMOVED FROM YOUR A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND I NEEDED A CITY SHIRT TO REPRESENT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY.
ALL THAT IS COMING OUT OF OUR STIPEND, WHICH BY THE TIME YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT, I KNOW THERE'S SO MANY EVENTS THAT, UM, THEY INVITE US TO.
AND THESE ARE NOT LIKE FREE EVENTS, YOU KNOW, FOR COMING TO AN EVENT.
OKAY? THE DINNER'S LIKE $50, UH, PER PERSON, YOU KNOW, $50, IT ADDS UP PER MONTH OR PER DIFFERENT EVENTS.
UM, YOUR A THOUSAND DOLLARS GOES QUICK.
AND A LOT OF TIMES WE DO SPEND OUR OWN MONEY, UM, WITH A LOT OF THE, UH, ACTIVITIES PROGRAMMING.
SO WE ACTUALLY PUT IN THE MONEY THAT IS, LIKE YOU SAID, NOT COMPENSATED.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND WHEN I HEAR, UM, OH, PEOPLE WILL DO IT FOR FREE.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S A SMALL STIPEND, UM, AND THE PE AND PEOPLE WHO WOULD DO IT FOR FREE, THE RESIDENTS, RESIDENTS PROBABLY DON'T WANT THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, THERE'S A REASON WHY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THESE THINGS THAT OCCUR.
AND, AND WITH THIS, EVEN WITH A SMALL STIPEND, LOOK AT THE ELECTION, HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY RUN.
UM, I KNOW WHEN I, I RAN UNOPPOSED AND I'M WILLING TO, BY ALL MEANS, ANYBODY COME, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO, BECAUSE AGAIN, AS I SAID WHEN I FIRST
[02:40:01]
RAN, 'CAUSE I HESITATED THE FIRST TIME RUNNING, 'CAUSE IT TAKES TIME AND MONEY.I MEAN, WELL, TIME, YEAH, TIME OR MONEY.
AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WANT THE PEOPLE WHO RELATE TO YOU, THE CAREER, FAMILIES, THE, UM, THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE LOOP, THEY WON'T DO IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME OR THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
SO, AND WHEN YOU SPEND, WHEN YOU RUN AN ELECTION, YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY.
AND SO BY ALLOWING THIS, I MEAN, HOPEFULLY WITH THE NEXT ELECTION, WE GET MORE QUALIFIED PEOPLE THAT WOULD COME AND OPEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.
UM, ESPECIALLY IT HURTS WITH THOSE WHO ARE LOW INCOME, STRUGGLING FAMILIES.
UM, THEY, THEY ARE INTELLIGENT.
THEY KNOW HOW TO DO THE JOB, THEY CAN DO THE JOB, THEY'RE QUALIFIED, BUT I DON'T WANT THAT OTHER HINDRANCE TO, UM, HINDER THEM.
SO I, I SUPPORT THIS ALL THE WAY.
SO WE HAVE, UH, A MOTION BY, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM WU, AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CONTOS.
UH, I'M JUST GONNA READ THE TITLE OF THE ORDINANCE REALLY QUICK.
ONE MORE TIME SINCE WE'RE GONNA GO FOR ROLL CALL ORDINANCE NUMBER TWO FIVE ONE EIGHT IN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA AMENDING SECTION TWO DASH 23 OF THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION MOTION BY WU.
MAYOR, WE WOULD NOW NEED A MOTION FOR THE RESOLUTIONS.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ.
VITO, A SECOND BY MAYOR PROTI WU.
[8) ELECTION OF CITY MEMBER FOR SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATER QUALITY AUTHORITY BOARD REPRESENTING CITIES WITHOUT PRESCRIPTIVE PUMPING RIGHTS]
TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.UH, ELECTION OF CITY MEMBER FOR SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATER QUALITY AUTHORITY BOARD REPRESENTING CITIES WITHOUT PRESCRIPTIVE PUMPING RIGHTS.
MS. MORALES, WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT.
UM, JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BRIEF, UH,
UM, SO THE SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATER QUALITY AUTHORITY, UM, IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER FOR ONE, FOR MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE IN ALHAMBRA OR WINDOW, LA PUENTE, ROSEMEAD AZUA, BALDWIN PARK, CITY OF INDUSTRY, EL MONTE, SOUTH, EL MONTE, WEST COVINA, AND OTHER AREAS OF THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY.
UM, IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND, UM, TO DEVELOP FINANCE AND IMPLEMENT GROUNDWATER TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR OUR SAN GABRIEL BASIN.
AND SO BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, IT'S, UM, RECOMMENDATION TO SELECT A CANDIDATE FOR THE, UM, I THINK IT'S 11 VOTES, SORRY, THE 11 VOTES THAT THE CITY OF WEST COVINA HAS IN ORDER TO NOMINATE, UM, UH, UH, A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE BOARD OF THE WATER QUALITY, UH, WATER AUTHORITY BOARD.
AND SO THE TWO CANDIDATES BEFORE YOU ARE, UH, MARGARET CLARK FROM CITY OF ROSEMEAD, OR VALERIE MUNOZ FROM THE CITY OF LA PUENTE.
AND SO, UM, THE CITY NEEDS TO, UH, VOTE ONE FOR ONE OR THE OTHER CANDIDATE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE VALERIE MUNOZ.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN LO LOPEZ VIRO.
A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CONTOS TO NOMINATE, UH, MS. MUNOZ TO THE WATER BOARD.
UH, OR EXCUSE ME, THE SAN GABRIEL BASIN WATER QUALITY AUTHORITY BOARD.
MAYOR CALDERONE JABOTS BY AYE.
[9) CONSIDERATION OF STREET SWEEPING PROGRAM OPTIONS]
NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER NINE, CONSIDERATION OF STREET SWEEPING PROGRAMS OPTIONS.MS. MORALES WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORTS, I WILL BE PROVIDING A BRIEF, UH, PRESENTATION SINCE WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS A COUPLE TIMES NOW.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN GET THE PRESENTATION.
ANNE, IF YOU CAN BEAR WITH US WHILE WE GET THE PRESENTATION UP THIS EVENING.
[02:45:01]
FROM TRANSTECH AND FROM NATIONWIDE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.UM, AFTER MY VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION, I CAN GET STARTED.
SO W ONCE YOU GET TO THE PRESENTATION UP, WE WILL GO OVER THE REVISED ROUTES.
UM, ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS, UM, THAT WE'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER IN THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND FROM THE CITY COUNCIL WAS THAT WE WANTED TO ADDRESS THOSE AREAS NEAR, UM, HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES.
UM, SO THAT WE GAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, DO ALTERNATE, UH, TIMES OF DAY OR ALTERNATE DAYS, UM, INSTEAD OF, UH, HAVING TO MOVE THEIR VEHICLES.
AND SO ONCE THAT PRESENTATION, WE WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY.
UM, SO A LOT OF THE MAP, UM, OR THE STREET SWEEPING STAYS THE SAME.
IT'S ALWAYS THE DAY AFTER TRASH DAY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS SEND IT.
IS IT
SO, UM, WE CAN BRING UP ANI FROM NATION YES.
IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT WE DID LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE AREAS ON HIGH DENSITY AREAS.
OTHERWISE WE, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION MANY TIMES.
SO WE DON'T REALLY NEED, WE JUST NEED LAST TIME THE PROBLEM WE HAVE.
SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE OUR CONTRACT OKAY.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SHOW UP TO SHOW WHAT YOU CAN DO AND CLEAN UP THE CITY.
SO, UH, REAL QUICK, UH, CONSENSUS FOR COUNCIL TO MOVE RIGHT AHEAD.
HONORABLE MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBER, CITY STAFF, AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
MY NAME IS ANI SAMIAN AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF NATIONWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, A FAMILY AND WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS, PROVIDING STREET SWEEPING SERVICES TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
I REGRET MY ABSENCE AT THE NOVEMBER 7TH MEETING DUE TO FOOD POISONING, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS TONIGHT.
FIRST, WE SUPPORT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A WEEKLY STREET SWEEPING PROGRAM, WHICH WE BELIEVE WILL BE BOTH EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT FOR THE CITY.
A KEY ASPECT OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES A NEW SWEEPING TIMES FROM 7:00 AM TO 12:00 PM AND 11:00 AM TO 4:00 PM.
THESE TIMES ARE STRATEGICALLY SET TO ALLOW US TO COMPLETE THE ROUTES IN A TIMELY MANNER, ESPECIALLY DURING HIGH SEASON WHEN THERE IS MORE DEBRIS.
AND TO ACCOMMODATE ANY UNFORESEEN ISSUES SUCH AS FLAT TIRES OR OTHER DELAYS.
THE RECOMMENDED POSTING TIMES WILL ENSURE MINIMAL DISRUPTION WHILE MAINTAINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR SERVICES WITH THE LEAST IMPACT AND INCONVENIENCE TO THE RESIDENTS.
CURRENTLY, THE CITY OF WEST COVINA IS OUR ONLY CLIENT CITY WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT CONDUCTS STREET SWEEPING SERVICES TWICE A MONTH.
FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, IT'S ESSENTIAL TO TRANSITION TO WEEKLY SWEEPING SERVICES.
REGULAR SWEEPING HELPS TO REDUCE POLLUTION AND MAINTAINS ECOLOGICAL BALANCE IN THE COMMUNITY.
OUR TEAM AT NATIONWIDE, ALONG WITH TRANSTECH AND CITY STAFF, HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO SU TO STUDY AND SURVEY THE CITY STREETS.
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AREAS REQUIRING MODIFICATIONS DUE TO PARKING AND HAVE PROPOSED ALTERNATE ALTERNATE DAY SWEEPING IN SEVERAL AREAS.
THIS STRATEGY ALLOWS FOR EFFICIENT SWEEPING, WHILE ACCOMMODATING RESIDENTS PARKING NEEDS IN RESPONSE TO THE POSSIBILITY, AS DISCUSSED IN THE LAST MEETING OF POSTING THE ENTIRE CITY FOR ALTERNATE SIDE, ALTERNATE DAY SWEEPING, OUR ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT IMPLEMENTING SUCH A SWEEPING SCHEDULE REQUIRES WEEKLY SWEEPING AND WOULD RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL 40 TO 45% INCREASE.
HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE THAT A CITYWIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS MAGNITUDE IS NOT NECESSARY.
TYPICALLY, ALTERNATE SIDE, ALTERNATE DAY SWEEPING IS MORE COMMON IN HIGH DENSITY OR HEAVILY POPULATED AREAS SUCH AS CITY OF CUDA, HAY, CITY OF COMMERCE.
OUR FOCUS APPROACH HAS ALREADY EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSED THE AREAS THAT MOST REQUIRE THESE MEASURES.
FURTHERMORE, SHOULD THERE BE A NEED FOR ME MODIFICATIONS IN ADDITIONAL AREAS AFTER IMPLEMENTATION, WE ARE FULLY PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO MAKE THOSE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.
[02:50:01]
STRATEGY ENSURES BOTH EFFICIENCY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS FOR THE CITY, WHILE ADEQUATELY MEETING THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS.EACH CITY HAS UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS AND OUR APPROACH IS TAILORED TO MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
ALSO ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT SWEEPER SPEED AND WATER USAGE.
ALL OUR SWEEPERS ARE, ARE EQUIPPED WITH GPS TRACKING AND DATA COLLECTING DEVICES THAT ARE MON THAT OUR MANAGEMENT CLOSELY MONITORS THE DRIVER'S ACTIVITIES.
THE APPEARANCE OF SPEED IS OFTEN DUE TO THE SWEEPER TRANSITIONING TO A NEW LOCATION, NOT ACTIVELY SWEEPING OUR DRIVER'S, MAINTAINING SPEED BETWEEN FIVE TO EIGHT MILES PER HOUR WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED SPEED OF 10 MILES PER HOUR.
THE STREET SWEEPERS UTILIZE WATER FOR DUST CONTROL, BUT IN A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT MANNER COMPARED TO THE OLDER MODEL STREET SWEEPERS.
THE NEW STREET SWEEPERS ARE CERTIFIED BY SOUTH COAST A QMD AND ARE EQUIPPED WITH BUILT-IN WATER TANKS THAT DISPENSE THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF WATER NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE DUST CONTROL.
I HOPE I HAVE ADDRESSED MOST OF YOUR CONCERNS, THAT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AND MY COLLEAGUE NISHTA AND I ARE BOTH AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
YOUR COMPANY IS PURE, YOU'RE NOT TRASH COMPANY.
YOU ARE SWEET SWEEPING ONLY CORRECT.
STREET SWEEPING SERVICES, FAMILY OWNED, WOMAN OWNED, STREET SWEEPING.
SO BASICALLY, YOUR JOB, YOUR BUSINESS IS JUST OKAY, UH, SWEET, SWEEPING TO CLEAN THE STREET.
I MEAN, WE OFFER OTHER SERVICES LIKE BUS STOP CLEANING GRAFFITI, BUT OUR MOTHER, OUR BASE SERVICE IS STREET SWEEPING.
THE MAJOR WHY IS, IS STREET SWEEPING CORRECT? MUST STOP CLEANING IS JUST A SMALL CORRECT.
SO, SO THE, SO, SO THE SECOND QUESTION LAST TIME WE HAVE A, A RESIDENT ASKING ABOUT, OKAY, OKAY.
SHOULD BE FIVE TO WHAT? 10 MILE.
SO IN THAT WAY, IS THAT HOW, OKAY, YOU CAN CLEAN THE STREET, RIGHT? YOU CANNOT BE TOO FAST, YOU CANNOT BE TOO SLOW, AND YOU NEED TO USE THE WATER TO REALLY CLEAN IT.
SO WHY IS ACCOUNTABILITY IF WE GO TO WEEKLY, THAT YOU REALLY CAN, CAN REALLY MAKE SURE OUR STREETS CLEAN? ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.
WEEKLY SERVICES IS DEFINITELY GONNA, UM, MAKE, MAKE A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE CITY STREETS.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE LESS DEBRIS, LESS POLLUTANTS.
THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVES OF WEEKLY STREET SWEEPING, AND IT'S DEFINITELY AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
IT'S A POSITIVE IMPACT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN NUMBER, THE THIRD QUESTION IS ABOUT THE SIGNAGE.
ABOUT HOW MANY HOURS? BECAUSE I SEE ALL THE CITY, AND I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAVE A WEEKLY, OKAY.
THAT TIME THEY, YOU, YOU ONLY HAVE A FOUR HOURS WINDOW ON ONE SIDE BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT PEOPLE PARKING OKAY.
SO IT'S LEAD THAT CAN BE A COMMON DAY.
THE PERIOD OF TIME SHOULD BE MORE CONFINED TO, UH, THE, THE COUPLE OF FOUR HOURS IN THE MORNING OR AFTERNOON.
SO IN THAT WAY, PEOPLE CAN MOVE THE CAR BACK THE HOURS.
AND NISHA COULD ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE, BUT BASICALLY THE HOURS FROM SEVEN TO 12, 11 TO FOUR WILL GIVE US ENOUGH TIME TO EFFECTIVELY PROVIDE THE SERVICES NECESSARY.
AND YOU NEVER KNOW WITH, YOU KNOW, HEAVY SEASON, LEASE SEASON, UH, WE HAVE MORE TRASH, WE HAVE MORE DEBRIS.
YOU NEVER KNOW IF YOU HAVE A BREAKDOWN, A FLAT TIRE.
THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABLES AND YOU NEED THAT EXTRA CUSHION AND WINDOW TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES EFFECTIVELY.
OH, SO, AND THE, THE, THE NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE HOW THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT OUR, OKAY.
OUR CONTRACT MONITOR CAN MAKE SURE YOU ARE DOING YOUR JOB.
AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION WOULD BE, WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE? DO WE HAVE A ACCOUNTABILITY TERMINATION IF YOU DON'T DO YOUR JOB? ABSOLUTELY.
IT IS LIKE ANY CONTRACT, IF THERE'S A DEFAULT, ANY CONTRACT COULD BE ALWAYS TERMINATED.
BUT WE'VE NEVER, WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 55 YEARS, WE'RE FAMILY OWNED, WE'VE NEVER HAD A CONTRACT TERMINATED.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR SERVICES AND WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN.
NISHA AND I WORK 24 HOURS, WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE.
WE REALLY CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
SO YOU WILL PR YOU WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES AND YOU WILL DEFINITELY SEE A DIFFERENCE WITH WEEKLY SERVICES.
SO WHEN WE, WE, IF, IF, IF WE GO TO WEEKLY, IF MY COLLEAGUE AGREE UPON, THEN YOUR NEW CONTRACT WILL HAVE A ACCOUNTABILITY, A TERMINATION CLOUD.
IF YOU DON'T DO YOUR JOB, I BELIEVE EVERY CONTRACT HAS FOR DEFAULT.
I MEAN THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A LEGAL QUESTION, BUT SO, SO YOU WILL BE PUT ON THE ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO YOU WILL MAKE SURE OUR STREET IS CLEAN BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO PUT A LOT OF OKAY.
AND OUR TRUST IN YOU GUY AND THE REASON WE DO IT OKAY.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUE.
AND, UH, WITH THE DEBRIS AND THE STREET, AND THEN, SO I I, WE'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT AND WE'VE BEEN DRIVING AROUND.
SO HOPEFULLY THIS THING CAN BE CORRECTED.
[02:55:01]
WE WILL MAKE SURE THE CAR CAN MOVE SO YOU GUYS CAN REALLY CLEAN.SO, SO I THINK THIS IS A COUPLE OF THE CONCERN, BUT, UH, I THINK, UH, OKAY, TO DO THE WEEKLY SWEEPING, IT SHOULD BE AFTER THE TRASH COLLECT DAY.
SO FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, IF I, MY COLLECTION DAY TUESDAY, SO NEXT DAY YOUR THREE, YOUR THREE SWEEPERS SHOULD COME IN TO SWEEP THE, THIS IS NOT GOING TO IMPACT TRASH COLLECTION.
WHAT THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDING WILL NOT IMPACT, WELL, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE, THE DAY OF THE THREE SWEEPING SHOULD BE THE DAY AFTER THE PEOPLE BRING THE TRASH CAN BACK TO THEIR HOME.
AND ON THE STREET AND BECAUSE YOU SEE ANOTHER DEBRIS WHEN TRASH OKAY.
COLLECTED, THEY PUT AND THEN THING DROPPING ON THE STREET.
AND THEN NOW WE GO TO TWO, THREE WEEKS.
AND THAT DEBRIS WILL BE THERE FOREVER.
AND SO, SO THE SAME TIME, IF THEY HAVE A CAR PARKING OVER THERE, THEN THAT THING THEY WILL NEVER CLEAN AND THEY ACCUMULATE.
AND LIKE SOME, OUR RESIDENT TALK ABOUT THEY HAVE TO GO TO COLLECT THEMSELVES ALL THE TIME.
SO I THINK THAT THAT IS COUPLE ISSUE.
SO YOUR THREE SWEEPING TIME WILL BE COLLABORATE WITH OUR CHURCH COLLECT DAY.
AND THEN PEOPLE CAN REMEMBER WHEN TO MOVE THEIR CAR FOR A COUPLE HOURS INCONVENIENT.
AND THEN AFTER THAT THEY CAN, THEY CAN POP BACK ON THEIR STREET.
ARE YOU MY TIME? UH, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE, THE FIVE HOUR WINDOW? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
GOOD EVENING HONOR MAYOR, MAYOR PROTE, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS NSTA AND I REPRESENT NATIONWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
SO THE FIVE HOUR WINDOW, UH, WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO PARKING RESTRICTIONS.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS, UH, WE'VE, I SURVEYED THE CITY MYSELF.
I HAVE SWEPT THE CITY MYSELF AS WELL FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
UM, SO, UH, THE WAY IT'S, UH, DESIGNED AT THE MOMENT, IT'S FROM 7:00 AM TO 12 NOON.
THAT'S FIVE HOUR WINDOW, UH, WITH ONE HOUR OVERLAP FOR THE AFTERNOON ROUTE, WHICH IS FROM 11:00 AM TO 4:00 PM NOW, UH, ONE BENEFIT IN THIS PROGRAM, ONCE THE SIGNAGE IS UP, THE POSTING IS UP AND THE ENFORCEMENT IS FOLLOWING THE SWEEPER, THE MINUTE THE SWEEPER GOES BY AND DOES ITS WORK, THE RESIDENTS CAN PARK ON THE STREET.
SO THEY'RE NOT FULLY RESTRICTED THE FULL FIVE HOURS, IT JUST OUR WINDOW TO COME IN AND PERFORM OUR WORK, AND THEN THEY'RE ALLOWED TO PARK.
SO WE ARE NOT, UM, BLOCKING THEM, UH, FOR NO PARKING FOR FULL FIVE HOURS, YOU KNOW? SO IT'S A VERY RESIDENT FRIENDLY PATTERN THAT WE HAVE DESIGNED.
UH, AGAIN, ALL OF THAT CAME BASED ON SURVEYS AND YEARS, YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SERVING THE CITY.
AND AS FOR THE HIGH DENSITY AREAS, UH, I SERVED A, I SURVEYED THE CITY TWICE AND ONE ADDITIONAL TIME WITH TRANSTECH.
SO IN TOTAL, THREE TIMES WE SURVEYED THE CITY IDENTIFYING THOSE HIGH DENSITY AREAS.
AND FOR THOSE AREAS WE CAME UP WITH ALTERNATE SITE, ALTERNATE DAY, SWEEPING WITH FOUR HOUR WINDOW FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM AGAIN, ALL OF THOSE ARE BEING CONDUCTED DAY AFTER WASTE COLLECTION.
SO THERE'S NO INTERFERENCE WITH THE SERVICES.
ALSO ALLOWING THE RESIDENTS THE DAY OR THE TIME TO MOVE THE RECEPTACLES FROM THE CURB AND ALLOW THE SWEEPERS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING DAY.
I, I, I GUESS ONE, ONE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE ON A, A FIXED SCHEDULE, RIGHT? SO, SO YOU'LL, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHICH STREETS YOU'LL HIT BETWEEN LET'S SAY SEVEN AND NINE AND, AND WHICH STREETS YOU'D HIT BETWEEN NINE AND 11.
SO I GUESS I'M, I'M WONDERING WHY OUR, OUR NO PARKING ISN'T SET MORE TO, TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, RIGHT? LET'S, SO, SO I I, THE STREET I LIVE ON, LET'S SAY EVERY MONDAY WHEN IT GETS SWEPT, 'CAUSE OUR STREET SWEEPING DAY IS MONDAY, THE STREET SWEEPER ALWAYS GOES FROM THAT SEVEN TO NINE PERIOD.
THEN WHY, WHY ISN'T IT JUST SET SEVEN TO NINE? I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING I CAN PARK AFTERWARDS AFTER THE STREET SWEEPER GOES, BUT WHY HAVE A FIVE HOUR WINDOW WHEN, YOU KNOW, MINE IS THAT THE, THE FIRST PART OF STREET SWEEPING ON MONDAY, AND LET'S SAY ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF, UM, WEST COVINA WOULD BE IN THAT LATER PART.
AND SO YOU'D HAVE THE LATER STREET SWEEPING TIME, RIGHT? BECAUSE, UH, JUST AS, AS A RESIDENT, I WOULD FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE KNOWING.
I HAVE A STREET SIGN THAT SAYS SEVEN, AND YOU KNOW, HAVING LIVED IN, IN LA LIKE YOU GET THE TICKET
SO, YOU KNOW, SO YOU KNOW, IF IT SAYS SEVEN TO 12 NOT TO PARK, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
AND REALLY IT WOULD, IT WOULD TAKE ME TO HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO KNOW, OKAY, THE STREET SLEEPER HAS ALREADY GONE.
AND, AND SO I'M, LIKE I SAID, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING,
[03:00:01]
BUT IN PRACTICALITY, I, I DON'T THINK RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO PARK DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA SAY DURING THESE FIVE HOURS IT SAYS NO PARKING.AND I'VE BEEN CONDITIONED TO NOT PARK.
SO I, I GUESS WHY, WHY NOT HAVE THE SHORTER WINDOWS KNOWING I'M GONNA HIT HERE FIRST, I'M GONNA HIT, HIT THERE LATER.
IT'S ALL ABOUT EFFICIENCY AND, UM, WORKING WITH THE CONDITION AROUND US.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE AN AREA THAT REQUIRES ABOUT HOUR AND 40 MINUTES TO COMPLETE.
AND YOU HAVE A TWO HOUR WINDOW, SEVEN TO NINE, AND RIGHT AROUND 7 45, YOU HAD A FLAT TIRE.
NOW BY THE TIME THE TECHNICIAN COMES OUT AND REPLACES THE TIRE, IT'S ALREADY NINE 30, SO YOU MISS THE WHOLE AREA DUE TO A MECHANICAL OR ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
ALSO, WE HAVE THE LEAFY SEASON, WHICH WE COULD ACCUMULATE OR COLLECT, UH, HALF A TON OF DEBRIS IN FIVE MILE RADIUS OR IN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT IN LESS THE DISTANCE.
SO IT ALL, IT'S VERY SEASONAL.
SO GIVEN ALL THOSE FACTORS, UH, TO OUR WINDOW, IT'S BASICALLY ASKING FOR TROUBLE.
THAT'S SOMETHING BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, I DO NOT RECOMMEND.
IT'S BASICALLY SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR FAILURE BECAUSE IT, GIVEN THE TRAFFIC, GIVEN THE CONDITIONS, IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME TO COMMIT TO A ROUTE.
AND YOU DON'T WANT TO DO MULTIPLE TWO HOUR WINDOWS BECAUSE IF YOU FALL BEHIND ON ONE, IT JUST TRICKLES.
NOW YOUR ENTIRE DAY IS AFFECTED MULTIPLY BY FOUR SWEEPERS.
IT COULD GET REALLY OUT OF CONTROL.
AND I LIKE TO COMMIT TO, UH, ROUTES AND PROGRAMS THAT I CAN STAND BEHIND AS MR. W SAID, YOU KNOW, I WANNA BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND I CANNOT, UH, SIGN UP FOR SOMETHING THAT I CANNOT PERFORM WITHIN THAT TIGHT TIMELINE.
SO THEREFORE, ALL THE ELEMENTS IN MIND, ALL OF OUR EXPERIENCES, MANY YEARS OF SERVING THE CITY THE WAY IT'S DIVIDED, WE FEEL COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT THAT THE WAY IT'S PROPOSED, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DELIVER WITH MINIMUM AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT AND MOST EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE WAY.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THAT FIVE HOUR WINDOW, TWO HOUR WINDOW IS JUST NOT GONNA CUT IT.
SO THEN JUST, JUST FOR MY UNDERSTANDING, DURING A A A DAY WITH PERFECT CONDITIONS, IT DOESN'T TAKE FIVE HOURS THEN TO COMPLETE THE WHOLE AREA, IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS, PROBABLY JUST UNDER FOUR HOURS TO COMPLETE THAT ENTIRE ZONE THAT'S POSTED FROM 7:00 AM TO 12 NOON.
SO THEN YOU GIVE YOURSELF AN HOUR FOR THE FLAT TIRE, UH, FOR LUNCH FOR THE OPERATORS, BECAUSE AFTER THEIR MORNING RUN RUN, UH, THEY NEED TO TAKE THEIR LUNCH BREAK AND THEN START THE AFTERNOON.
SO THEREFORE THERE'S THAT ONE HOUR OVERLAP BETWEEN, UH, 11:00 AM AND 12.
SO, SO THEN, OKAY, SO WELL, WELL, NOW, NOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE COMPLICATING THINGS FOR ME.
SO THEN WHEN YOU DO GET THE FLAT TIRE THOUGH, THEN WE'RE STILL NOT GONNA COMPLETE THE STREET BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING IT WILL TAKE FOUR HOURS IN A PERFECT DAY.
AND SO, AND THEN, THEN, SO I WAS THINKING, OKAY, YOU GAVE YOURSELF THAT EXTRA HOUR IN CASE OF A FLAT TIRE, BUT YOU'RE SAYING ACTUALLY THAT EXTRA HOUR IS FOR LUNCH.
WELL, SO, SO WHERE IS THE FLAT TIRE TIME? WELL, THE THING IS THIS, WE'RE NOT HAVING FLAT TIRES EVERY DAY, BY ALL MEANS, YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN WE DO HAVING MULTIPLE SWEEPERS IN THE CITY, THEY CAN ASSIST EACH OTHER AND COMPLETE THE ROUTE IN TIME.
BUT THAT ONE HOUR IS THE CUSHION THAT WE CANNOT, UH, GIVE UP.
WHETHER IT'S HALF OF THAT UTILIZED FOR LUNCH OR HALF OF IT'S SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES OR HAVING DEBRIS AND SO ON.
THE WAY THE ROUTES ARE, UH, BROKEN UP, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, ARE JUST ENOUGH TO GIVE US THAT CUSHION.
NOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT COULD BE EXPLORED, BUT I DO NOT RECOMMEND IN THIS CITY.
INSTEAD OF DOING TWO FIVE HOUR WINDOWS DOING THREE FOUR HOUR WINDOWS, THEY JUST EXTENDS ON THE BACKEND.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE SCHOOL ZONES THAT WE HAVE TO EARLY IN THE MORNING.
AGAIN, I'VE DONE MY HOMEWORK, UH, AS AN EX EXPERT, I AM LETTING YOU KNOW, THE PROPOSED, UH, ROUTE AND THE HOURS IT'S GONNA BENEFIT THE CITY MOST VERSUS COMPLICATING IT AND MAKING IT MORE CONFUSING OR HAVING MULTIPLE TIME ZONES.
IT WAS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND I SUPPORT IT.
HOWEVER YOU'LL MAKE THAT DECISION.
I'M GONNA, UH, ALLOW COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ VIRO TO ASK HER QUESTIONS.
AND I'M GONNA, OFF YOURS OF WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, OBVIOUSLY I WORK IN LA AND, AND WE'RE, MOST PEOPLE, MOST RESIDENTS ARE TRAINED TO NOT PARK AT THOSE CERTAIN HOURS.
SO, UM, WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE LUNCH BREAK, THAT KIND OF BOTHERED ME, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THAT SHOULDN'T BE IN A FACTOR THAT'S LIKE A INTERNAL BUSINESS ON HOW YOU, UH, MANAGE THAT.
UM, AND FIVE HOURS IS PRETTY MUCH A LONG TIME.
[03:05:01]
AND THEN I KNOW YOU MENTIONED, WELL, YOU HAVE OTHER PROPOSALS, UH, THAT, I MEAN, WE'RE HERE AS A COUNCIL, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR THOSE PROPOSALS BECAUSE FROM US, IT, IT, WE WANNA MAKE SURE IT BENEFITS US, OTHERWISE IT SOUNDS LIKE, OKAY, THIS JUST BENEFITS YOU.SO, UM, I, MY TWO QUESTIONS IS, IS THERE A BACKUP TRUCK TO USE WHEN THERE'S ISSUES LIKE THIS? SO THAT'S ONE.
WE ALWAYS HAVE BACKUP SWEEPERS.
AND UH, THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE SWEEPERS IN ONE CITY, THEY HELP EACH OTHER OUT TO COMPLETE THE ROUTING TIME AGAIN, UM, THIS IS A PROPOSED PLAN.
I AM, UH, OPEN TO LISTEN AND ADDRESS YOUR QUESTIONS.
UH, WE JUST WANNA HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, WE CAN'T BE GIVEN A VERY SHORT WINDOW OF TIME TO COMPLETE A TASK THAT COULD JEOPARDIZE OUR PERFORMANCE OR NOT GIVE US ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE THE ROUTE IN TIMES.
BUT ALL OF THAT IS TAKEN INTO THE, THE REASON WHY I ASKED ABOUT THAT BACKUP TRUCK IS BECAUSE IF A FLAT TIRE IS, NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, I MEAN AN HOUR AND A HALF OR THAT JUST SOUNDS, OR TWO HOURS, THREE HOURS, WHATEVER IT IS, UM, I'M ASSUMING, I WAS HOPING TO HEAR LIKE MAYBE THAT BACKUP TRUCK FULFILLS THAT REST WHILE THAT IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF SO THAT AT ALL TIMES STREET SWEEPING IS OCCURRING.
SO THAT'S, WHAT IS THAT BACKUP TRUCK BEING USED FOR? IS JUST BACKUP, LIKE IF ONE GOES DOWN OR IS IT BACKUP TO REPLACE, UH, A, A MALFUNCTIONING TRUCK OR ANYTHING FOR ANY REASON? JUST THAT BACKUP SWEEPER.
THE BACKUP SWEEPERS ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ROUTES ARE COMPLETED WITHIN THE POSTED TIME.
IF ONE OF THEM GOES DOWN FOR ANY REASON.
ALSO, UH, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF OUR SERVICES.
THE SEASON AFFECT OUR PERFORMANCE GREATLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, UH, YOU HAVE A TRACK DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, UH, WHICH ARE THE LIGHTER SEASON THAT CAN BE SWEPT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN TWO HOURS COME DECEMBER, NOVEMBER, OR JANUARY WHEN IT RAINS OR WE HAVE THE LEAFY SEASON, THAT SAME AREA COULD TAKE ALMOST 60% MORE TIME TO COMPLETE BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF THE DEBRIS YOU HAVE TO GO DUMP AND RETURN MORE FREQUENTLY.
SO AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF ELEMENTS THAT PLAY A FACTOR WHEN IT COMES TO SWEEPING OPERATION AND THOSE ARE THE REASONS WHY.
UH, I LOOKED AT THE WHOLE, UH, PICTURE AND THEN PROPOSED THE TIMES THAT WE PROPOSED.
NOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE FIVE HOUR, AND YOU SAY THAT AFTER THE STREET SWEEPER SWEEPER PASSES BY, THEY CAN PARK.
OBVIOUSLY IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE STREET SWEEPER PASSES BY OR YOU SEE A CAR AND YOU'RE THINKING, OH, THEY MUST HAVE PASSED BY AND YOU GO THERE AND THEN YOU GET TICKETED.
UNLESS BY CHANCE DO YOU HAVE A, A TRACKING APP LIKE THE RESIDENTS CAN, UM, HAVE ON THEIR PHONE AN APP SO THAT THEY CAN VERIFY, OH, STREET SWEEPER ALREADY PASSED THROUGH, I CAN GO AHEAD AND PARK MY CAR OUT.
UH, NO, OUR EQUIPMENT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, SUCH TECHNOLOGY OR OUR, OUR EQUIPMENT OR SWEEPERS.
THEY'RE NOT EQUIPPED WITH SUCH TECHNOLOGY.
UH, BECAUSE, UM, AGAIN, UH, THE SWEEPER, WHEN IT GOES BY, YOU'LL SEE YOUR STREET BEING CLEAN OR YOU HEAR THE SWEEPER GOING BY.
AND THOSE ARE INDICATORS THAT THE SWEEPER WENT BY.
HOWEVER, UH, WE ARE NOT THE ENFORCING AGENCY IN A SENSE.
THE P UH, PARKING ENFORCEMENT COULD HAVE TO NOTIFY THAT ENFORCEMENT IS DONE FOR THIS AREA AS THE SWEEPING IS COMPLETED.
WE'RE NOT IN THE TECH BUSINESS.
IT'S JUST, I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO BE FAIR HERE.
YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE'RE WE'RE SIMPLE PEOPLE.
YEAH, IT'S JUST, I JUST, I I KNOW RESIDENTS 'CAUSE YOU DON'T HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.
THE STREET SWEEPS PASSING BY, ESPECIALLY DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE HOUSE OR WHATEVER IT IS.
SO YOU CAN'T ALWAYS THINK OR JUST LOOK OUTSIDE AND SAY, OH, IT'S CLEAN, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT MIGHT'VE NOT BEEN MESSY IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT IS NOT, AGAIN, UH, IT ALL, UH, IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO THE SAME THING.
WE AS SERVICE PROVIDER, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OR GIVEN ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE OUR TASK AND, UH, THE PROPOSED HOURS AND THE NUMBERS OF EQUIPMENT THAT'S GONNA BE INVOLVED.
IT, WHAT, THIS IS WHAT IT REQUIRES FOR US TO HAVE THE FIVE HOUR WINDOW TO COMPLETE THE ROUTE.
UH, AGAIN, IF YOU PREFER FOUR HOURS, MAYBE THREE DIFFERENT ZONES OF FOUR HOURS, THAT'S GONNA EXTEND IT EVEN FURTHER.
NOW IT'S, INSTEAD OF BEING AN EIGHT HOUR WINDOW TOTAL OR 10 HOUR WINDOW, IT'S GONNA PUSH THE 12 HOUR WINDOW.
SO THAT'S REALLY GONNA CAUSE MORE RESTRICTION WHEN IT COMES TO PARKING TIMES.
UM, IS IT A STANDARD FOR STREET SWEEPING AND MAYBE STAFF CAN ALSO ANSWER WHAT IS THE NORMAL HOURS OF STREET SWEEPER
[03:10:02]
OF CLOSURE THAT THEY NORMALLY DO? BECAUSE I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T RECALL FIVE HOURS.USUALLY WHEN I GO TO DIFFERENT CITIES TO PARK FOR STREET SWEEPING, IT'S USUALLY LIKE A TWO HOUR, FOUR HOUR.
BUT I MEAN, CURRENTLY IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, SOME STREETS ARE POSTED AND THEY'RE FROM 7:30 AM UNTIL 3:30 PM ONE SHOT.
WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT IS FAIR.
AND THAT'S HOW YOU HAVE IT POSTED IN THE CITY.
QUITE PROBABLY SEVEN TO 8% OF THE CITY IS POSTED THAT WAY FROM 7:30 AM TO 3:30 PM AND I THINK THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS.
FLAT OUT, I KNOW MY STREETS, I DON'T HAVE SIGNS POSTED.
SO I REALLY DON'T KNOW IN PLACES THAT I'VE SEEN IN THE CITY.
I KNOW MY STREET SIBLING DAY 'CAUSE I GOT A TICKET
UM, BUT YEAH, IT IS AROUND FOUR AND FIVE HOURS.
UM, AND IT'S THE DAY AFTER TRASH PICKUP, SO OKAY.
UH, UM, BE BEFORE I, UM, GET TO MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, JUST I WANNA BE CLEAR, UH, TO RESIDENTS BECAUSE YOU, YOU KIND OF BROUGHT UP A COUPLE SCENARIOS, YOU KNOW, SO YOU'RE KIND OF ASKING SOMETHING UNREASONABLE OF RESIDENTS WHEN THE SUMMER THEY CAN PARK MAYBE AFTER TWO HOURS AND THEN, BUT THEY NEED TO KNOW IN THE WINTER.
ACTUALLY IT MIGHT BE FOUR HOURS.
AND THE REALITY IS IF WE PUT NO PARKING SEVEN TO TO NOON, IT'S NO PARKING SEVEN TO NOON.
I, I DON'T WANNA GIVE RESIDENTS THIS IDEA THAT, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, NO, ACTUALLY IT'S, IT'S ONLY SEVEN TO EIGHT, TRUST US.
NO, I THINK, I THINK WE NEED TO JUST BE CLEAR AS A CITY BUT'S AT SEVEN TO NOON.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU LUCKILY SAW THE STREET SWEEPER GO BY AND THEN DECIDE TO PARK, BUT I, I THINK AS A CITY, LET'S, LET'S NOT GIVE THAT IMPRESSION BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU'RE ASKING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO, IN THE SUMMER KNOW IT'S A TWO HOUR CLEAN, BUT THEN IN THE WINTER IT'S A FOUR AND A HALF HOUR.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IN NOVEMBER THEY GET A TICKET AND THEY'RE LIKE, WOW, WHAT? I ALWAYS PARK HERE AT NINE O'CLOCK.
IT'S LIKE, OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T GET TO YOU TILL 11 'CAUSE IT WAS EXTRA LEAFY.
LIKE, I, I GUARANTEE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT THAT DAY.
SO AGAIN, I'M ONLY SHARING MY EXPERIENCES WITH YOU.
I'M NOT SAYING HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE, BY ALL MEANS.
I'M JUST SHARING MY EXPERIENCE.
I, I THINK THE ISSUE JUST FROM THE BEGINNING OKAY.
THE POST TIME THAT IT WOULD BE ISSUE.
AND, UH, HOW CAN WE MAKE A CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE PARK ON THE STREET, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WITH A DU, THIS AND THAT.
A LOT OF PLACES HAVE THAT PARKING ISSUE.
AND, UH, THEN WE, YOU JUST MENTIONED OKAY.
MORE IDENTITY LIVING AREA, HOW WE ACCOMMODATE, OKAY.
THOSE PARKING IS REALLY GENUINE.
SO HOW CAN WE ACCOMMODATE WITH THE TIME AND MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT SHORTER TIME? AND, UH, IF, IF FIVE HOURS TOO LONG, TWO HOURS TOO SHORT, MAYBE WE CUT MAYBE FOUR HOURS.
I THINK MOST OF CITIES ABOUT FOUR HOURS.
I THINK FOUR HOURS MAKE SENSE? OKAY.
AND, UH, I THINK FIVE HOURS A LITTLE BIT LONG.
AND, UH, SO HOPEFULLY, OKAY, I THINK MAYBE BECAUSE I, I CHECK AROUND BEFORE THIS ISSUE, I CHECK AROUND TEMPLE CITY AND OTHER CITY.
SO, SO, SO I THINK FOUR HOURS POSSIBLE MAKES SENSE.
TWO, THREE HOURS, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT TIGHT FOR YOU GUYS TO REALLY FIGHTING FOR THAT TIME.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO FLY THROUGH AND WE WANT THEM REALLY CLEAN THE PLACE.
UM, MAYBE, UH, 12 TO, OKAY, WHAT, UH, FOUR.
THE, AND THEN WITH, UH, SOME OTHER AREA, FOR EXAMPLE OKAY.
APARTMENT AREA WITH THE CAR PARKING ISSUE.
THEN YOU GUYS CAN MAYBE CHANGE THE DIFFERENT TIME FOR MAYBE PEOPLE CAN, MAYBE EVEN SHORTER THE TIME.
YOU JUST MENTIONED ABOUT HOW WE CAN ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE AREA, BECAUSE ALL HERE IS WE TALKING ABOUT IS THE PARKING.
SO, SO IF WE CAN MAKE IT KIND OF, UH, OKAY.
CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE TO, TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE REALLY WANT TO CLEAN THE TREE AND WE NEED TO CLEAN THE TREE.
AND IN THAT WAY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WE TRY EVERYTHING TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR NEED.
UH, LET ME MAKE A QUICK, YEAH.
I I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THE CITY.
WE'RE ALL HERE TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS.
OUR RECOMMENDATION STAFF'S HOMEWORK, OUR HOMEWORK IS JUST A PROPOSED PLAN.
IF THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO SEE FOUR HOUR WINDOWS, JUST ALLOW US THE TIME TO GO BACK TO OUR DRAWING BOARDS, BECAUSE THE
[03:15:01]
DAILY ROUTE, IT'S NOT GONNA SHRINK BY ALL MEANS, IT'S GONNA REMAIN THE SAME BECAUSE IT'S A ZONE THAT'S SELECTED DAY AFTER WASTE COLLECTION.SO NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AREA AND SEE HOW WE CAN DIVIDE INTO TWO, FOUR HOUR WINDOWS INSTEAD OF TWO FIVE HOUR WINDOWS, PERHAPS THREE FOUR HOUR WINDOWS.
SO THE IMPACT IS ONLY FOUR HOURS, NOT FIVE HOURS.
AND ALSO THE HIGH DENSITY AREAS, THOSE ARE ONLY FOUR HOURS AND THEY'RE ALTERNATES AT ALTERNATE DAY.
SO, UM, AGAIN, UH, I'M HERE TO ASSIST.
I AM HERE TO LISTEN, TAKE YOUR FEEDBACK AND THEN, UH, DESIGN A ROUTE.
SO, SO THE FOUR HOURS THERE IS POSSIBLE, IT IS POSSIBLE AS LONG AS, UH, IT'S DIVIDED EQUALLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, UH, WHEN WE DIVIDED THE ROUTE INTO TWO ZONES, AM AND PM, I WILL NEED FIVE HOURS TO COMPLETE THOSE.
HOWEVER, THE OVERALL GENERAL AREA REMAINS THE SAME SIZE.
FOUR HOURS WOULDN'T GIVE ME ENOUGH TIME TO DO EACH ZONE.
YOU, YOU CAN SEE IF YOU NEED APPROVAL, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU PRIME OKAY.
AND TO SERVICE WITH FOUR HOURS WINDOW, I THINK FIVE HOURS A BIT TOO LONG FOR OUR RESIDENT.
AND THE, SO IN THAT WAY, YOU GOTTA HAVE TO GO BACK TO JOIN BALL, TO, TO FIND THE, THE WAY TO LESS IN, OKAY.
INTERFERE FOR PEOPLE PARKING ON THE STREET.
AND I THINK IF WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THE RESIDENT, I THINK THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH THE, HOW WE WANT TO CLEAN THE STREET.
SO, SO RATHER THAN WITH YOUR CONVENIENCE, BUT HOW ABOUT THE RESIDENT CONVENIENCE? OKAY, SO, SO THIS IS MY SUGGESTION OKAY.
TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENT OKAY.
PARKING ON THE STREET AND THEY UNDERSTAND.
WE TRY TO MAKE SURE YOU GUY OKAY TO CUT THE TIME, NOT JUST GIVE A LONG TIME.
MR. LET ME GET, UH, COUNCILMAN CONTOS, AND THEN YOU, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND, AND SHARE.
UH, FIRST QUESTION, JUST, JUST TO ANSWER POSSIBLE, UH, RE RESIDENT SENTIMENTS AS DESCRIBED EARLIER ABOUT HOW SOME FEEL THAT IT'S OKAY TO SWEEP MOSTLY JUST TWO WEEKS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY EXCEPT FOR HIGH DENSITY AREAS.
WHAT, WHAT IS THE, THE, UH, YOUR, YOUR, UH, COMPANY'S RESPONSE TO THAT, TO, TO, UM, EXPLAIN TO RESIDENTS, UM, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO EVERY WEEK VERSUS IT BEING MOSTLY OKAY FOR EVERY TWO WEEKS, WHICH IS WHAT SOME RESIDENTS HAVE SAID.
IF A CITY SET ON A CERTAIN FREQUENCY, EVERY RESIDENT GET THE EQUAL AMOUNT OF SERVICE.
UH, WE CAN'T, UH, RECOMMEND ONE END OF THE CITY TO BE ONLY WEEKLY, THE OTHER TWICE A MONTH.
UM, I BELIEVE, UH, THE FREQUENCY THROUGHOUT THE CITY GOTTA BE EQUAL, UH, AND, UH, ENFORCED EQUALLY, UH, POSTED EQUALLY.
AND, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE, WE WON'T DO, WE WON'T RECOMMEND, UH, WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO FAIRNESS.
AND THE SECOND QUESTION I HAVE IS, UM, IN LIGHT OF WHAT YOUR CONCERNS WERE WITH REGARD TO PERFORMANCE, WHERE YOU NEED THAT EXTRA HOUR JUST TO ENSURE THAT YOU GET THE, THE, THE JOB DONE IN A PROPER WAY.
UH, CAN YOU, CAN YOU FURTHER ELABORATE ABOUT WHY SHORTENING IT TO FOUR HOURS COULD POSE A PROBLEM? I MEAN, BECAUSE I REALIZE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE TO OPTIMIZE CONVENIENCE FOR RESIDENTS, AND AT THE SAME TIME, IF YOU CAN'T DO YOUR JOB BECAUSE OF A CASCADING EFFECT, BECAUSE OF SOMETHING GOING WRONG, THEN THAT COULD MEAN THAT THERE'D BE LOW PERFORMANCE ON, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE STREET SWEEPING, WHICH WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE, PURPOSE OF WHY WE'RE WANTING TO LOOK AT INCREASES IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO CAN YOU DESCRIBE THAT FURTHER PLEASE? UM, ABSOLUTELY.
AGAIN, THE INITIAL PURPOSE WAS TO DIVIDE THE ROUTES INTO TWO ZONES, AM AND PM.
UH, AND IF WE ARE GOING TO DIVIDE INTO TWO ZONES THAT REQUIRE FIVE HOUR WINDOW, HOWEVER, THAT SAME AREA, WE CAN DIVIDE IT INTO THREE ZONES AND EACH ZONE WILL BE FOUR HOUR WINDOW, THEN WE CAN DO IT BECAUSE THE ZONES WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT SMALLER AND FOUR HOUR WOULD BE EFFICIENT TIME FOR US TO COMPLETE THE TASK.
SO AGAIN, IF THE GOAL IS FOUR HOURS, WE CAN DO IT.
IT JUST GOTTA BE SMALLER AREA.
THEN INSTEAD OF DIVIDING A WHOLE DAY'S ROUTE INTO TWO ZONES, IT WILL BE DIVIDED INTO THREE ZONES.
SO LOGISTICALLY YOU'RE SAYING IT IS DOABLE, THEN IT, IT, IT, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT PERFORMANCE IF WE ASK YOU TO SHORTEN IT INTO FOUR HOUR TIME BLOCKS WITH THREE ZONES VERSUS TWO HOUR TIME BLOCKS WITH FIVE, UH, WITH FIVE HOURS EACH.
UH, IT SHOULDN'T HINDER OUR PERFORMANCE AS LONG AS THE AREAS ARE PROPORTIONED LARGE ENOUGH TO COMPLETE IT IN THAT FOUR HOUR WINDOW WITH ENOUGH CUSHION JUST FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, LIFT SEASON OR ANY KIND OF FLAT TIRE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
[03:20:01]
SO, UH, SO THEN WOULD A A A THREE ZONE BE LIKE A 7 11, 11 3, 3 7? WELL, WHAT WE'LL DO IS, UH, WE'LL OVERLAP IT, UH, IT'D BE SEVEN TO 11, AND THEN FROM, UH, 10 TO TWO, AND THEN WOULD BE FROM, UM, LET'S SAY, UH, ONE TILL THREE O'CLOCK.THAT WILL COMPLETE PRETTY MUCH, YOU KNOW, THE LAST SECTION WE CAN SHORTEN A LITTLE BIT INSTEAD OF FOUR HOURS COULD GIVE US THREE HOURS AS LONG AS WE HAVE THAT 10 HOUR WINDOW TO COMPLETE THE ROUTE.
SO WE CAN DO FOUR, FOUR AND THREE AS LONG AS WE HAVE THAT ONE HOUR OVERLAP.
SO THAT WAY WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR THE POSTING, WE CAN JUST CONTINUOUSLY PERFORM OUR WORK AND MOVE THROUGH THEIR ROUTES.
IT CAN BE DONE BY ALL MEANS, AND IT'S NOT GONNA AFFECT ANYTHING ON OUR OPERATION OR THE COST OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IF THE CITY CHOOSES THE FOUR HOUR WINDOW OVER FIVE HOURS, BY ALL MEANS I'M HERE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
UH, JUST MAYOR PROAM QUICK, UH, FOLLOW UP.
SO, SO YOU HAVE SURVEY ENTIRE HOUR STREET ALREADY SINCE YOU SERVICE OUR CITY FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.
SO YOU SURVEY, YOU SURVEY ENTIRE HOUR STREET, OKAY.
ABOUT WHAT'S THE ISSUE WE HAVE FOR EACH OF THREE, AND THEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IS ACCOMMODATE ENOUGH FOR FOUR HOURS, SO THAT WILL CLEAN THE STREET AND EVERYTHING, RIGHT? SO YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE A SURVEY AND YOU UNDERSTAND HOURS.
SO YOU SERVICE, YOU SERVICE US SINCE WHAT, 15 YEARS AGO, RIGHT? SO PERHAPS A BIT LONGER.
SO YOU, YOU, YOU'VE BEEN WITH US, I REMEMBER YOU WERE WEEKLY AND I REMEMBER THAT.
AND I'M WAITING FOR THAT AFTER TRASH DAY, AND THEN THE GUY WILL BE CLEANING MY CO I DIP ON THE CORNER LOT ON THE OKAY.
BETWEEN THE L ISLAND, THE ELSA.
SO, SO I REMEMBER THAT, THAT WE CAN EXPECT NOW.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN YOU'RE COMING UP.
AND DUE TO, UH, SOMETIMES ODD DAY AND THIS AND THAT TWICE A MONTH.
SO, SO YOU CAN SEE, AND SOME STREETS REALLY NOT CLEAN.
EARLIER TONIGHT, THERE WERE RESIDENTS WHO EXPRESSED CONCERNS IN SPECIFIC AREAS LIKE NO GALLES AND SANTAS.
AND, UM, PLUS WE, WE ALSO KNOW OF OTHER PLACES ON LONG NORTH GARVEY, UH, WITH CERTAIN, UH, IDENTIFIED AREAS AS, AS REPORTED BY RESIDENTS.
WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU MIND, UH, ALSO REPORTING BACK TO THE CITY MANAGERS FOR HER INCLUSION, HER REPORT ABOUT THOSE AREAS HAVING BEEN REMEDIED WITH, WITH THEM BEING CLEANED? I REALIZE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CLEAN THE ENTIRE, UH, CITY, UH, TO, UH, RIGOROUSLY, BUT BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHOW THAT WE ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE RESIDENTS IDENTIFIED CONCERNS, CAN YOU PLEASE MAKE SURE CONSCIOUSLY TO, TO, TO, UH, REPORT BACK ON THOSE AREAS HAVING BEEN CLEANED, UH, TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT RESIDENTS IDENTIFIED THIS EVENING? YES, SIR.
YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ADD ON WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER, KENTO, REGARDING THE, SOME STREET THEY HAVE A LOT OF STREET HAVE THE ISSUE.
PEOPLE LITTERING, PEOPLE LITTER.
HILLSIDE AND SOME OF THE STREET.
SOME OF THE HILLSIDE, THEY HAVE A VIEW AND PEOPLE CAME AND THEY PARKED THERE AND THEY PARTY THERE AND THEY DRAW ALL THE TRASH.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO CALL THE CD STAFF TO CLEAN THE STREET AND NUMEROUS TIMES.
SO JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU, IT JUST VERY UNBEARABLE, JUST CONTINUE TO TALK.
REQUESTS A PUBLIC WORK STEP TO, TO CLEAN THOSE STREET.
AND, UH, AND THIS, IT'S REALLY PROBLEMATIC AND DUE TO THE ISSUE, A LOT OF STREET HAVE A LAY ISSUE.
AND THIS IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.
JUST WANT TO LET, LET YOU KNOW, AND HOW MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN AND, UH, THE, THE ISSUE WE HAVE, OKAY, AGAIN, CENTO IS MAJOR, IS ISSUE HILLSIDE HIGH OUT.
OKAY? AND, UH, ALL THOSE STREET OKAY.
OKAY, THAT IS EXTREMELY FILTHY.
OKAY? YOU CAN SEE ALL THE DEBRIS.
I DON'T KNOW, HAVE YOU EVER SHOWED UP? OKAY, I THINK YOU DID, BUT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO, WELL THROW THING ON THE, ON THE BRIDGE, SO JUST LET YOU KNOW.
AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY, OKAY? THANK YOU.
VEDO, I JUST WANNA BRING UP A FEW CONCERNS THAT THE RESIDENT BROUGHT UP.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF 'EM SAID THEY HAVE SEEN, UH, STREET SWEEPERS GO FAST, SO I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, WELL, RESIDENTS WOULD NOT LIKE TO KNOW.
IF THE SWEEPER GOES PAST THE 10 MILE MAXIMUM THAT YOU, UM, SET AND YOU HAVE A TRACKER, DOES IT AUTOMATICALLY NOTIFY YOU AT THAT MOMENT AND, AND THEN YOU CAN ADDRESS IT QUICKLY? YES.
OUR SWEEPERS ARE TRACKED EVERY 33 SECONDS.
SO WE GOTTA PINGING ON THE EQUIPMENT EVERY 33 SECONDS, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR OUR NEEDS.
AND, UH, WE SET BOUNDARIES, WHETHER IT'S THE LOCATION, THE SPEED, AND SO ON.
[03:25:01]
10 MILES AN HOUR WHILE THE BROOMS ARE DOWN, WE GET A NOTIFICATION THAT WHILE THE PTO SYSTEM IS DOWN AND RUNNING, THAT MEANS THE BROOM IS OPERATING, THE VACUUM HEAD IS DOWN, IT GOES ABOVE 10 MILES AN HOUR, WE GET NOTIFIED.HOWEVER, IF THE BROOM IS OFF AND THE VACUUM HEAD IS TURNED OFF, OR THE PTO ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND IT'S TRAVELING AT A FASTER RATE OF SPEED, OR THE SPEED LIMIT, THAT'S FINE, NO PROBLEM THERE.
WE DON'T GET PINGS BACK, PING BACK IT.
WE ONLY GET NOTIFICATION WHEN THE PTO SYSTEM IS ON THAT RUNS THE ACTUAL SWEEPER PORTION OF THE EQUIPMENT AND IT GOES ABOVE 10 MILES AN HOUR.
ALSO, UH, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL RELAYS ON THE EQUIPMENT.
IF THE WATER SYSTEM IS OFF WHILE THE BROOM IS RUNNING, WE'LL GET NOTIFIED IF, UH, THE BEACON LIGHTS, THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS ARE NOT ON WHILE THE BROOM IS RUNNING, WE'LL GET NOTIFIED AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE.
AND, UM, I DON'T WANNA ADMIT PUBLICLY THAT I'M A MICROMANAGER, BUT, UH, I LIKE TO HAVE GOOD CONTROL.
SO, UH, I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A GOOD MANAGER, GOOD OPERATOR, AND HAVE GOOD VALUES.
WE MAKE OUR LIVING BASED ON OUR REPUTATION.
SO I TAKE EVERY WORD I OVERANALYZE WORDS, AND YES, UH, WE DO MONITOR THEM AND WE DO GET NOTIFICATION.
I MEAN, IF RESIDENTS COMPLAIN OR, OR SAYS CERTAIN THINGS, THEN YOU ALL, YOU ALL HAVE THAT TRACKING OR YOU CAN SAY, WELL, THIS TIME AT NINE 30, THEY WENT PAST, IT'S LOGGED IN.
AND, UH, BY ALL MEANS, I'M VERY MUCH HANDS-ON, UH, OUR SWEEPERS.
THEY DO HAVE OUR OFFICE 800 NUMBER DISPLAYED ON THEM.
UH, I MAKE TIME FOR EVERYONE, EVERY RESIDENT THAT WE SERVE.
SOMETIMES THE MORE THEY KNOW ABOUT OUR EQUIPMENT, THE ABILITY OF OUR EQUIPMENT, ABOUT OUR OPERATION, THE EASIER OUR JOBS WILL BECOME.
I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE SO THEY CAN CONTACT ME AT OUR 800 NUMBER.
I'LL GO OUT, I'LL DEMO THE EQUIPMENT TO THEM BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS WHO MAY EXPRESS SOME CONCERNS, ONCE THEY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING, THEY BECOME OUR MOUTH PIECES.
THEY BECOME THE ONES, UH, EXPLAINING TO OTHERS.
SO THAT WAY, UH, THEY KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF AND WHAT WE ARE INCAPABLE OF.
UM, THE NEXT CONCERN THAT THEY HAD, UM, I KNOW THEY SAID SOMETIMES WHEN THEY, UH, STREET SWEEP THE DEBRIS STILL LEFT OR IT JUST SCATTERS AND IT'S JUST STILL LEFT THERE.
THEY DIDN'T REALLY PICK IT UP.
HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT? UH, IT'S CASE BY CASE.
UM, IF THE SWEEPER WENT OVER DEBRIS, IT'S GONNA PICK IT UP NO MATTER WHAT.
SO ALL THESE, IF THERE'S A, A PARKED VEHICLE AND WE WENT AROUND IT AND THE VEHICLE'S GONE AFTER 10 MINUTES, 20 MINUTES, AND THEN THEY GO OUT AND THEY SEE DEBRIS LEFT IN ONE SECTION, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE LEFT IT BEHIND.
THAT MEANS WE WENT AROUND AN OBSTACLE, WHETHER IT WAS A PARKED VEHICLE OR ANYTHING AS SUCH.
UH, BUT, UH, THE SWEEPERS ARE MAINTAINED REGULARLY.
THEY'RE WASHED REGULARLY, UH, WITH ALL OF OUR SERVICES IN-HOUSE.
UH, ALL OF YOU GUYS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO VISIT MY SITE.
UH, YOU'LL BE IMPRESSED, I ASSURE YOU THAT, UH, NO, WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR EQUIPMENT.
AGAIN, THESE EQUIPMENT, THEY'RE NOT INEXPENSIVE.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE RUN ANYWHERE FROM 450,000 UP TO $500,000 EACH.
SO THEY'RE HIGH MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT.
WE TAKE PRIDE IN THEM, WE MAINTAIN THEM, WE MONITOR THEM, WE DO ROUTINE INSPECTION, DAILY INSPECTION.
SO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE EQUIPMENT ARE RUNNING TO THEIR OPTIMUM CAPACITY AND ABILITY.
UM, WHAT IS THE POINT OF GOING OUT THERE TO PERFORM A TASK AND NOT DO IT A HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT? WE'RE ONE OF THOSE THAT IF WE CAN DO 110%, WE DO IT.
WE'RE NOT THE TYPE THAT IF WE CAN GET BY, BY 50%, WHY DO A HUNDRED? WE'RE NOT ONE OF THOSE.
MY GUYS ARE TRAINED TO DO WORK PROPERLY AND CORRECTLY AND, UH, SHOWCASE THEIR WORK.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AND, AND THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE.
SO WITH YOU MENTIONING THAT THEY HAVE THE ANSWER TO THEIR, UH, EVERYDAY QUESTION, AND IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THESE EQUIPMENT ARE TESTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO THEIR JOB.
UH, FOR, FOR SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH HIGH TECH, UH,
SO YOU MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 7% ALREADY, STREET SWEEPING.
WHAT IS IT? WE HAVE THESE POSTED NO PARKING SIGNS, IS THAT CORRECT? UH, CORRECT.
APPROXIMATELY 7% OF THE CITY, IT'S POSTED THAT WAY FROM 7:30 AM TO 3:30 PM UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE ENFORCED BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE PARKING FORCE AND FOLLOWING THE SWEEPER.
SO WE DO GO AROUND PARKED VEHICLES GIVEN THAT THE POSTS ARE UP.
SO WILL THESE SIGNS BE CHANGED YES.
[03:30:01]
ABSOLUTELY.UM, SO I WONDER, ARE OUR STAFF, ARE WE GONNA GO AROUND AND CUT THESE TREES? BECAUSE YOU CAN BARELY SEE SOME OF THESE SIGNS ON GARVEY? WE WILL BE GOING AROUND AND POSTING NEW SIGNAGE SO THAT, UM, WE CAN ENFORCE THE STREET SWEEPING AND WHEN NECESSARY, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT NEW SIGNAGE IS VISIBLE.
I, UH, BEFORE, UH, I HAVE A QUESTION OF STAFF.
UH, I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT, UM, DO SEND, UH, TEXT MESSAGING OR EMAILS TO RESIDENTS ON THEIR STREET SWEEPING DAYS.
SO, UM, I WAS HOPING THAT THAT COULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT, UM, AS A, AS A, AS A CITY TO NOTIFY FOLKS THAT, HEY, STREET SWEEPING IS, IS HAPPENING TODAY.
MAKE SURE YOU MOVE YOUR CAR AT THE TIME.
UM,
UM, AND WE WILL BE NOTIFYING THEM AND THEY'LL BE A GRACE PERIOD.
AND AFTER THAT GRACE PERIOD, THEN WE WILL START ENFORCING IT WITH TICKETS.
BUT WE DO WANNA WORK WITH OUR RESIDENTS IN MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE STREET SWEEPING CHANGES.
COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ VIRO, UH, YEAH, I, FOR THE STREETS THAT, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE GARVEY OR WHERE THEY JUST HAVE THAT WALL WHERE THEY CAN'T PARK ON THE OTHER SIDE.
I MEAN, I, I AM CONCERNED ON, ON THE TIMING AND, AND EVERYTHING FOR THAT, FOR THE, ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGH DENSITY WITH FAMILIES AND THEY DON'T HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO MOVE THEIR VEHICLE.
UM, I JUST, FOR LIKE THE HIGH DENSITY, THAT SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING MIGHT BE LIKE TOO, TOO EARLY FOR THEM, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE KIDS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET READY.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE ALREADY CONSIDERED THAT.
THAT IS THE REASON WHY THOSE HIGH DENSITY AREAS I POSTED THEM WERE PROPOSED FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM.
AND BEFORE THEY RETURN, WE DO OUR WORK AND WE LIKE TO BE AS INVISIBLE AS POSSIBLE AND ALSO NOT, UH, DISTURBED OR, UM, RESTRICT THEM FROM THANK YOU.
ALSO AROUND THE SCHOOLS, UH, WE SWEEP PRE 7:00 AM JUST TO AVOID THE DROP OFF AND PICK UP HOURS.
SO WE DO ACCOMMODATE, UH, AROUND THE SCHOOLS AS WELL, AND THEY'LL BE POSTED AND, UH, HANDLED APPROPRIATELY.
AND, UH, JUST FOLLOW, JUST, UH, MAY YOU JUST SAY ABOUT TEXTING THIS ON THAT, I THINK OUR WEBSITE, WE SHOULD PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN THE TRASH COLLECT COLLECTION DAY WHEN THE THREE SWEEPING ON YOUR STREET.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN REQUEST AND REQUEST THAT.
AND, UH, AND ANOTHER ANOTHER THING WE NEED TO NOTIFICATION, IF WE APPROVE TONIGHT TO TELL PEOPLE, SEND A MAILER, SEND THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW CHANGE, AND WE TRY TO ADJUST OKAY.
THE TIME, LIKE FOR YOU TALKING ABOUT THE APARTMENT AREA TO 10 TO TWO OR SOMETHING, TO ADJUST THEIR TIME AND FOR SOME AREA, AND, UH, WE HOPE IS FOUR HOURS.
SO WE DON'T DISTURB PEOPLE TOO MUCH ABOUT THE, THE PARKING.
SO IN THAT WAY THEY CAN MOVE THEIR CAR BACK FOR A COUPLE FOR FOUR HOURS.
AND, UH, ARE WE DONE WITH DISCUSSION? AND I WANT TO MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE, BUT OKAY.
WE WANT TO FOUR HOURS WITH THE SIGNAGE AND ACCOMMODATE WITH SOME DIFFERENT AREA.
WE JUST, YOU JUST MENTIONED DIFFERENT TIME.
AND ANOTHER THING IS WE WANT ACCOUNTABILITY WITH, UH, TERMINATION CLOUD.
IF YOU DON'T PERFORM, WE CAN TERMINATE YOUR CONTRACT IF WITH PROOF.
SO MEANING WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW YOU, UH, TO MAKE SURE THE STREET IS CLEAN.
SO NOTIFICATION TO THE RESIDENT.
FOUR HOURS ACCOMMODATION FOR DIFFERENT AREA.
AND THAT'S MY MOTION TO APPROVE.
THE WEEKLY STREET SWEEPING SECOND.
MAY I ASK, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE FOUR HOUR WINDOWS, JOHN? ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
AGAIN, WE ARE HERE TO ACCOMMODATE AS LONG AS THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND THE HOURS ARE FAIR.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PROTI WU.
AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CONTOS.
[03:35:01]
US EVERY DAY.[10) CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 2023-93 APPROVING THE CALPERS EXCEPTION TO THE 180-DAY WAIT PERIOD]
UH, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER 10, CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 2 0 2 3 9 3, APPROVING THE CALPERS EXCEPTION TO THE 100 DAY WAIT PERIOD.
MS. MORALES, WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT, UM, OUR ACTING, UH, POLICE CHIEF TONY CORINA WILL COME UP AND PROVIDE A PRESENTATION.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL CITY STAFF AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CALPERS EXCEPTION TO THE 180 DAY WAIT PERIOD TO IMMEDIATELY BRING BACK RECENTLY RETIRED RECORD SPECIALIST ANNETTE CARLOS.
AS A PART-TIME RETIRED NEW INTENT.
THE, UH, WEST COVINA POLICE DEPARTMENT RECORDS STAFF ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIMELY PRODUCTION OF RECORDS TO MEET LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LAWS AND MANDATES, AS WELL AS MEETING THE POLICE RECORDS NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC, WHICH ARE ALL VERY CRITICAL, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY DUTIES.
OUR RECORDS DIVISION IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING A STAFFING SHORTAGE WITH FIVE VACANCIES.
UH, WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY RECRUITING AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE FOUR NEW RECORDS SPECIALIST.
HOWEVER, THE TRAINING FOR THIS WILL TAKE SEVERAL, SEVERAL MONTHS FOR 'EM TO BE COMPLETED AND BE FULLY CAPABLE ON THEIR OWN.
UM, IT'S, THE VACANCIES ARE, UH, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW FOR OUR EXISTING RECORDS PERSONNEL TO KEEP UP WITH THE WORKLOAD DEMANDS OF THE DIVISION, AND IMPORTANTLY, TO STAY IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.
UM, THE SHORTAGE OF PERSONNEL IS ALSO MAKING THE TRAINING OF OUR NEWLY HIRED, UH, PERSONNEL TO FILL THE CURRENT VACANCY IS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING WHILE MANAGING THE WORKLOAD OF THEIR DAY-TO-DAY FUNCTIONS.
UM, PER THE, UH, CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE, A RETIRED PERSON SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO BE EMPLOYED PURSUANT TO THE SECTION FOR A PERIOD OF 180 DAYS FOLLOWING THE DATE OF RETIREMENT, UNLESS THE EMPLOYER CERTIFIES THE NATURE OF THE EMPLOYMENT AND THAT THE APPOINTMENT IS NECESSARY TO FEEL A CRITICALLY NEEDED POSITION BEFORE 180 DAYS HAVE PASSED AND THE APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OR THE EMPLOYER IN A PUBLIC MEETING.
WE ARE AT A VERY CRITICAL, UH, STATE OF AFFAIRS NOW WITH OUR RECORDS PERSONNEL.
UM, IN THIS CASE, MS. CARLOS HAS A SPECIFIC CELL, UH, SKILL SET WITH OVER 22 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN RECORDS.
AND, UH, SHE ALSO HAS THE, UH, SKILLS AND, UH, EXPERIENCE AND PROCESSING RECORDS IN RESPONSE TO TIME SENSITIVE COURT REQUESTS AND PUBLIC RECORDS ACTS, UH, REQUESTS, EXCUSE ME.
AND MS. CARLOS ALSO HAS THE SKILLS AND THE TENURE NECESSARY TO MENTOR OUR NEWLY PROMOTED TRAINERS AND HELP PROVIDE TRAINING TO OUR NEWLY, UH, HIRED STAFF MEMBERS AND THE RECORDS BUREAU.
SO THE VACANCIES COMBINED WITH MRS. CARLOS'S RETIREMENT CREATES A CRITICAL NEED TO FILL HISS POSITION, UH, BEFORE THE 180, UH, DAYS HAVE PASSED.
THANK YOU MAYOR PROAM WU, UM, MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND, SECOND
WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL GIVE THAT ONE'S BY MAYOR PRO TIM WU IN A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ.
SO WE ARE NOW, UH, TO CITY COUNCIL REPORTS.
ANY AB 1, 2, 3, 4 CONFERENCE AND MEETING REPORTS?
[CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS FOR REPORTS, STUDIES OR INVESTIGATION]
NO.UH, ANY CITY COUNCIL REQUEST? I KNOW I HAVE TWO, BUT MAYOR PROAM, WOO.
GO FOR, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND, UH, REGARDING IN SUCH A, IN TWO WEEK, WE HAVE, UH, FOUR FATALITY OF MOTORCYCLE.
AND, UH, I THINK WE SHOULD, UM, OKAY.
THE SUBJECTION FROM THE BLACK WIDOW GROUP AND REGARDING IN THAT INTERSECTION OF, UH, WEST PORT AND, UH, A R TO PUT A PLAQUE FOR THAT THREE PERSON.
AND, UH, UH, REGARDING EVEN THEIR PICTURES REGARDING AWARENESS OF A MOTORCYCLE RIDER, BE CAREFUL ON THE PEOPLE.
[03:40:01]
OKAY.AND, UH, SO, UM, SO MY, MY MOTHER MAY I, IS TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND, UH, TO TALK TO THE FAMILY AND TO PUT THIS AWARENESS AND PLUS THE PLAQUE IN THE INTERSECTION.
SO AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT THE TRANSTECH TO LOOK INTO, UH, THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE INTERSECTION, INCLUDING THE CROSSWALK OKAY.
SO IN THAT WAY, BECAUSE THIS IS A DOWNHILL, IS EXTREMELY OKAY AND PROBLEMATIC AND THE PEOPLE DON'T SEE IT, AND PEOPLE POSSIBLE SPEEDING.
MAY I, CAN I ADD TO THAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ VIRO? UM, I'M JUST WONDERING, WHEN YOU LOOK AT, FOR TRANSTECH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THESE, IS IT, ARE YOU ONLY FOCUSING ON JUST THE LIGHTS? UM, THE, THE STREET? WELL, YEAH, THE, THE STREETLIGHTS.
UM, DO YOU ALSO TAKE IN CONSIDERATION OF THE STREETS, UM, HOW MANY LANES OR VERSUS LIKE ONE WAY STREET OR ANY, DO YOU, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF, IF THAT FULL SCOPE YEAH.
FULL SCOPE, NOT JUST TURNING A LEFT TURN.
MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO MAKE THAT INTO A ONE-WAY STREET.
OR MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO LIKE, JUST, I CAN ANSWER.
SO THEY DO JUST A VARIETY, DO COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OR ANALYSIS OF THAT INTERSECTION.
UM, SO IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF AN UNPROTECTED LEFT TURN OR NOT, IT'S A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF THAT INTERSECTION.
UH, UH, I'M INCLUDING PEDESTRIAN C YEAH.
AND TALK TO THE FAMILY AND THE AWARENESS OF MOTORCYCLE RIDER.
MOTHER MAY I, AND THE TRAFFIC THING IS JUST, UH, ADD ON.
WE NEED TO, SO, SO I, UH, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
VITO, IF I'M NOT HEARING ANY OBJECTION FROM ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE CAN, WE'RE GOOD.
COUNCILMAN CONTOS? WE'RE GOOD? I THINK WE'RE GOOD.
AND DON'T FORGET THIS REGARDING THE PLAQUE FOR THE THREE YOUNG PERSON.
AND, UH, AWARENESS OF THE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS.
AND THEN WE WILL TALK TO THE FAMILY TO LET'S SEE WHAT THEY INPUT.
AND SO WE CAN PUT THIS THING TOGETHER.
COUNCILMAN CONTOS WANTED TO, TO SUPPORT, UM, UM, COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ ADA WITH HER MOTHER.
MAY I, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A FORMALLY ADOPTED YET.
I, IT WAS JUST, I GUESS A QUESTION, BUT AS, UM, OUR ASSISTANT, I MEAN, OUR ACTING CITY MANAGER MENTIONED PAULINA.
SO THAT WASN'T A, I DIDN'T HAVE TO MOTHER MAY I THAT ONE? NO.
WELL THEN I, I HAVE ONE, UM, JUST AS, AS IT'S MORE OF A PROCEDURAL MATTER, IF THE STAFF WOULD BE WILLING TO SORT OF SET A PROCEDURE FOR HOW WE REACH OUT TO FAMILIES WHO, WHO ARE AFFECTED BY TRAGEDY.
AS THE ACTING CITY MANAGER KNOWS, WHENEVER WE, SHE TEXTS OR EMAILS, I ALWAYS WRITE ASKING, WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THE FAMILY? AND IT'S USUALLY, YOU KNOW, WELL, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.
BUT IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN FORMALIZE SOMETHING TO REACH OUT TO THE, THESE FAMILIES WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO THEM HERE, UM, IT, IT WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST A CITY, BUT WE'RE A TOWN OF PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.
AND IF THERE'S A WAY WE CAN SYSTEMICALLY REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WHO NEED US, THAT WAY THEY DON'T JUST, WE DON'T JUST SEE THEM HERE COMING TO MEETING, BUT WE, WE CAN REACH OUT TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY, THEN I THINK IT'D BE GREAT FOR US TO DO IF WE CAN DO THAT.
I THINK WE, I WENT THROUGH COUPLE FAMILY AND, UH, BECAUSE I ASKED FOR CHIEF POLICE CHIEF, UH, FIRE CHIEF, POLICE CHIEF TO HAVE INFORMATION, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE THE FAMILY SO WE CAN REACH OUT TO THEM BECAUSE WE, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
I THINK WE CARE RIGHT AWAY WHEN THIS THING HAPPENED.
I THINK ALL THE COUNCIL ALREADY JUMPING ALL THE PLACES TRY TO FIND OUT WHY.
AND, UH, SO WE, WE REALLY CARE ABOUT OKAY, OUR RESIDENT AT THE SAME TIME, HOW CAN WE REACH OUT TO THEM? OKAY.
AND, UH, ESPECIALLY TODAY, WE HAVE ANOTHER FATALITY ON THE MEDICINE AND, UH,
AND THAT, AND THAT, THAT'S ANOTHER TRAGEDY.
SO WE NEED TO REACH OUT THEIR FAMILY, I THINK.
THAT THEY, THEY DESERVE OUR CONCERN AND OUR CONDOLENCE.
AND SO WE, WE, WE DON'T WANT THEM JUST A NUMBER.
I THINK THERE'S A HUMAN BEING A PERSON, SO, SO I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING I FULLY SUPPORT.
COUNCILMAN CAN TELL TO SEE WE CAN RECEIVE THE INFORMATION, THEN WE CAN SEND A CONDOLENCE OR EVEN VISIT THEIR FAMILY.
IF I COULD ADD TO BOTH, UH, INCLUDING COUNCILMAN CONTOS REQUEST, UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S, I KNOW SOMETIMES THEY HAVE THE, UM, I, I FORGOT THAT WORD.
UM, FORGET, I FORGOT THAT WORD.
BUT, UM, WHERE A PROTOCOL IS WHEN, YOU KNOW, POLICE ARE FIRED, WHEN THEY GO
[03:45:01]
ON A SCENE, A TRAGIC INCIDENT DOES OCCUR.I KNOW SOMETIMES FAMILIES DOES NOT WANNA BE NOTIFIED, DOES NOT WANNA, UH, DEAL WITH COUNSEL.
BUT IF, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN JUST ADD ON OUR PROTOCOL, IS IT OKAY IF THE COUNCIL REACHES OUT SO THAT THE, UH, DEPARTMENT CAN AUTOMATICALLY GIVE US THE INFORMATION? I KNOW THEY GIVE US THE NOTIFICATION OF THE TRA UH, TRAGIC EVENTS, BUT NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
AND SOMETIMES WE REACH OUT, BUT IT SHOULD BE AS A COUNCIL AS A WHOLE THAT THIS OCCURRED.
UM, FAMILY, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T MIND REACHING OUT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WANNA BE COURTEOUS BECAUSE IF WE ALL REACH OUT INDIVIDUALLY, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE OVERWHELMING VERSUS JUST ONE TIME AND JUST YEAH.
IT NEEDS TO BE UNITED TOGETHER.
I WANT TO FOLLOW, CAN I SAY SOMETHING? MAYOR, PER SO MUCH MAYOR.
AND, UH, I WANNA FOLLOW THROUGH.
AND, UH, WE HAVE A TRAGEDY OF FIRE, OF GRANDMA AND TWO CHILDREN OKAY.
AND THAT, THAT, THAT'S EXTREMELY TRAGIC.
AND, UH, I, I REMEMBER I WENT IN THE MOLIN TODAY, AND, UH, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IS THE SURVIVING FAMILY THAT WE WANT TO SEND OUR CONDO GIVE, SEE WHAT THE CITY CAN HELP THEM.
AND AGAIN, THE INFORMATION IS NEEDED.
SEE, THE CITY NEED TO EXTEND THE HAND.
I THINK WE, WE, WE DID THE GOFUND ME OKAY.
TO HELP THE FAMILY, BUT, BUT HOW THE CITY CAN HELP THOSE FAMILY, THEY KIND OF OFF PLACE.
BECAUSE THE HOUSE GET BURNED DOWN AND IT IS A TRAGEDY WITH GRANDMA, WITH TWO KIDS.
TWO GRANDKIDS, I SAID, AND, AND IT'S SO SAD.
AND, UH, THAT IS THE KIND OF FIRE TRAP IF YOU GO TO SEE IT.
SO, SO AGAIN, I, I THINK THIS'S SOMETHING, WE REALLY CARE.
WE REALLY WANT TO EXTEND OUR HANDS, SEE WHAT WE CAN HELP.
SO I, I THINK THAT WE ALL AGREE THIS IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR US, BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT OVERWHELMING THEM.
WE JUST WANT TO UNITED A CITY TO SEE MAYBE WHAT WE CAN ASSIST THEM.
SO I THINK WE'RE IN CONSENSUS TO CREATE A PROTOCOL.
UM, SO WE, WE CAN HANDLE THESE TRAGEDIES SYSTEMATICALLY AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES ARE SUPPORTED.
UM, SO, UM, I, I HAVE, UM, UH, TWO MOTHER MAY I, UH, DEALING WITH, UM, HOW WE RUN, RUN OUR MEETINGS.
UM, YOU KNOW, UM, FIRST, UH, THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, I, I, I WANNA PROPOSE THAT WE MOVE THE CITY MANAGER REPORT, UM, BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, I THINK OFTENTIMES, UM, PEOPLE COME UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND THE CITY MANAGER ACTUALLY HAS THE RESPONSE IN THE, THE REPORT.
AND I JUST THINK FOR FLOW OF MEETING, UH, IT MAKES SENSE THAT AFTER PRESENTATION, THAT THE CITY MANAGER REPORT THEN COMES AND THEN WE OPEN UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT JUST IN CASE PEOPLE WANT CLARIFICATION ON SOMETHING ON THE CITY MANAGER REPORT.
MAYBE IT WAS SOMETHING PRESENTED THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND OR SOMETHING THAT THEY WANTED MORE DETAIL ON.
AND THEN AFTERWARDS, UH, THE CITY MANAGER, UM, CAN THEN RESPOND.
UH, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE FIRST ONE.
SO DO I, SO I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR CABA.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, THE SECOND BY CANTOS, I'M NOT TRYING TO AGAINST YOUR MOTHER.
MAY I, BUT I JUST HAVE A CONCERN BECAUSE OKAY.
I, I'M NOT TRYING TO DEBATING OVER HERE.
THIS CONCERN I HAVE IS OKAY, IF EM BROKE, WHY WE FIX IT.
BECAUSE YOU SEE OUR, UM, MANAGER REPORT IS SHOWING AND WE ABOVE WHAT THE CITY HAD DONE IT, IT'S NOT INSERT OKAY.
OR, UH, THE PEOPLE COME OVER HERE TO HAVE A CONCERN.
SO I THINK LEFT FLOW SHOULD BE, UM, AP OKAY.
AND, UH, ORAL COMMUNICATION AND THE CITY OKAY.
MANAGER RESPOND TO THE CONCERN AND THEN THEN TALK ABOUT WHAT THE CITY HAVE DONE THESE TWO WEEKS.
SO IN THAT WAY, IT'S NOT AHEAD OF TIME.
IT'S BECAUSE THE MORE ABOUT THE CITY MANAGER TALKING ABOUT WHAT THIS TWO WE HAVE BEEN DONE.
AND IF YOU PUT IT IN FRONT, THEN CITY MANAGER BECOME HEAD OF US, SOUND LIKE SHE'S RUNNING THE CITY, BUT DON'T FORGET SHE'S RUNNING THE CITY UNDER THE CITY COUNCIL OF DESCRIPTION AND THE REQUEST.
SO, SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE A KIND OF CONCERN ABOUT THAT.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE FLOW, BUT, UH, IF, IF THIS FLOOR CURRENTLY WORKING, WHY WE WANT TO MOVE THAT THING IN THE FRONT.
SO THAT, THAT, THAT IS MY QUESTION.
SO, UM, TO, TO RESPOND TO THAT, UM, BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER REPORT IS PROVIDING INFORMATION TO, TO, TO THE RESIDENTS, UM, THIS GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR RESIDENTS EITHER
[03:50:01]
TO, TO NOT GIVE THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN RESPONDED TO BY THE CITY MANAGER, WHICH HAS HAPPENED QUITE A FEW TIMES, UM, WHILE I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL WHERE, UH, THE CITY MANAGER SAYS, WELL, ACTUALLY, IT'S IN MY REPORT, I'LL BE GETTING TO IT.UM, BUT IT ALSO GIVES, GIVES THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, AFTER SEEING A CITY MANAGER REPORT TO, TO POSSIBLY, UM, SPEAK.
AND BECAUSE WE ALLOW OUR CITY MANAGER TO RESPOND TO COMMENT, UH, IT WOULD GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER CLARIFY OR, UH, TO EXPAND ON WHAT WAS REPORTED.
UM, BECAUSE, UM, WHEN THE CITY MANAGER GIVES THE REPORT AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT, THE PUBLIC NEVER REALLY GETS TO SPEAK TO THE CITY MANAGER REPORT.
THE CITY MANAGER REPORT IS NOT ON LIKE THE AGENDA, IT JUST SAYS CITY MANAGER REPORT.
SO PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S ON IT.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA BE PRESENTED.
AND SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE CITY MANAGER REPORT THAT DOES SPARK INTEREST, UM, PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT TWO WEEKS TO MAYBE RESPOND TO THAT.
UH, AND AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS FORUM REALLY IS FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, I FEEL THAT IT, IT MAKES, IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC TO HEAR THE CITY MANAGER REPORT BEFORE THEY GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
COUNCILMAN CONTOS, UM, MR. MAYOR, I, I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENTS OF THIS BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A WAY TO, TO BUILD CLARIFICATION AND IT, AND IT, AND IT ALSO CREATES MORE OF A FLOW BECAUSE IF THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT COMES FIRST, THEN WHEN DURING THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT, THEY CAN ADDRESS THAT, OR IT'LL PRO IT, IT'LL PREVENT, UH, THE DI KIND OF DYNAMICS THAT YOU'VE, THAT YOU'VE BEEN DESCRIBING.
COUNCIL LOPEZ, I MEAN, IT'S FINE IF, IF THE CITY'S LOOKING INTO IT.
I JUST DON'T WANNA DISRUPT LIKE, YOU KNOW, ROUTINE THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S USED TO.
UM, I, I MEAN, IF MOST CITIES THAT, JUST LIKE IN OTHER CITY, UH, OTHER MEETINGS THAT I ATTEND TO, THERE'S ALWAYS A FLOW.
LIKE THEY OPEN IT UP AND THEN PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN GO ON.
UM, BUT IF IT'S FOR THE CITY TO LOOK INTO THAT, I JUST, WHAT THE STANDARD IS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY'S USED TO THE ROUTINE, THEN, UM, I MEAN, WELL, THE MOTHER MAY EYES FOR JUST THE CITY TO LOOK INTO THAT.
SO, SO YOU'RE SAYING START THE MEETING WITH, UM, AFTER THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, THEN THE CITY REPORT FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
SO, AND PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND THEN THE CITY MANAGER WILL RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE DO, UH, PRESENTATIONS, THEN WE GO PUBLIC COMMENT, THEN THE CITY MANAGER RESPONDS TO PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN THE CITY MANAGER GOES INTO THEIR, UM, CITY MANAGER REPORT.
SO, UH, WHICH IT'S MOVED THE CITY MANAGER REPORT TO BEFORE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECOND.
SO DO WE HAVE ANY OBJECTION? OKAY.
ANY OTHER OBJECTION? IS THIS FOR, FOR THE CITY TO LOOK INTO? YEAH, JUST TO LOOK, MOTHER MAY.
JUST TO LOOK INTO, OKAY, MR. MAYOR, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE WILL, UM, WE, WE THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO PUT THIS IN A RESOLUTION TO BRING BACK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL.
YOU CAN VOTE IT UP OR DOWN AT THAT TIME, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL DO THE ORDER.
AND SO, UM, EVERY TIME COUNCIL WANTS TO CHANGE IT, WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT RESOLUTION AND WE'LL CHANGE THE ORDER IF, IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO DO THAT.
MAYOR
SO, SO LET'S, WHY I DON'T WANNA WASTE MY PERSONAL SEAT.
I DON'T WANNA WASTE THE STAFF TIME TO DO RESOLUTION.
AND THEN, AND THEN WE HAVE THE DEBATE WITH THIS VERY SMALL ISSUE.
SO, AND SO THAT'S WHY I, I I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS MOTHER MAYOR, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE A GOOD POINT.
BUT JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND, I GIVE YOU MUCH TRUE.
AND, AND, UH, I GUESS THIS COMES TO MY SECOND REQUEST, UM, BECAUSE I, I THINK THERE HAS BEEN THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BROKEN, UH, IN THE MEETINGS.
UH, AND IT, IT'S SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, AND I, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER, OTHER CITIES AND OTHER MAYORS AND, AND COUNCILS, UH, AND, AND THE WAY OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE IT, AND THIS COMES TO MY SECOND REQUEST, IS THAT THEY'VE ACTUALLY BROKEN UP THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, AND SO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETINGS, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT CAN ONLY BE MADE ON AGENDA ITEMS. AND SO YOU HAVE YOUR, YOUR, YOUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT, AND YOU CAN ONLY SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS. AND IF ANYONE DURING THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKS ON AN
[03:55:01]
ITEM THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, THEN YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO STOP THEM AND TELL THEM, YOU CANNOT, YOU CAN'T SPEAK NOW, YOU HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE END OF THE MEETING.UH, AND THEN THEY HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION AT THE END FOR AGENDIZED ITEMS. UH, AND, AND I THINK THIS WAY FOR THE CITY TO GET THEIR, OUR BUSINESS DONE, UH, AND TO, TO GET IT DONE IN AN EFFICIENT WAY.
SO PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING ON, ON YOUTUBE, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SEEING THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY BEING DONE.
UH, AND THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, UM, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SPEAK ON NON AGENDAS ITEM WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
BUT JUST LIKE RIGHT NOW WE'RE SPEAKING ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA COMES AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
SO THAT WAY PEOPLE GET THE AGENDA, THEY SHOW UP BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT AGENDA ITEM IS IMPORTANT, AND THEY CAN SEE IT, THEY CAN HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT ON IT, AND THEN THEY CAN LEAVE.
AND THEN PEOPLE WHO WANNA SPEAK ON NON AGENDIZED ITEMS CAN COME AND SPEAK AFTER THE MEETING OR AT, AT THE END, JUST AS WE ARE DOING NOW.
UH, ACTUALLY, WHEN IT WAS MY, WHEN I WAS MAYOR, I THOUGHT OF THE EXACT SAME THING.
UM, HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO RESIDENTS LIKE TODAY, IT'S 1115, IF OUR MEETING IS DONE AT 12, UM, THE RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE TO WAIT.
SO ALL THE FAMILIES THAT WERE HERE TODAY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TILL 11 O'CLOCK.
AND SO I DIDN'T WANNA SUPPRESS THOSE WITH FAMILIES, CHILDREN.
AND AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO ROUTINE THAT THEY'RE SET.
I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT THIS WHOLE NIGHT, ESPECIALLY IF I GOTTA PUT THE KIDS TO SLEEP OR I HAVE TO WORK EARLY OR, OR WHATEVER REASON.
AND IT'S NOT CONSISTENT OF WHEN THE END TIME WILL BE.
SO I, I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ISSUE WITH THAT ONE.
UM, I'D LIKE, YOU KNOW, YES, THE RESIDENTS TO GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY TOO AND BRING UP THEIR ISSUES AND CONCERNS LIKE THIS.
AND, AND, UH, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT, UH, BEFORE I BROUGHT THE AGENDA ITEM UP.
UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE THE POWER TO DO IS TO MOVE THINGS UP.
UH, LIKE A, A NIGHT LIKE TONIGHT WHERE WE HAD QUITE A FEW PEOPLE REACH OUT, THIS, THIS WOULD'VE BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE COULD HAVE SAID, UM, DO I HAVE CONSENSUS THAT WE MOVE, UH, NON-AG PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE FRONT? AND, AND WE, WE ALWAYS HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.
UM, IT'S JUST 'CAUSE IN OUR NORMAL MEETINGS, IT, IT REALLY, UM, ISN'T, ISN'T SOMETHING NORMALLY THAT WOULD HAPPEN LIKE TONIGHT.
UH, AND NORMALLY WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS WE DO HAVE AN AN HOUR OF PUBLIC COMMENT THAT KEEPS US FROM DOING THE, THE CITY'S BUSINESS.
I MEAN, WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT RESIDENTS WHO EITHER DON'T WANNA SHOW UP MM-HMM.
SO, SO YOU WANNA DO
MAY I, AND THEN, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND THEN ONLY PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE AGENDA.
UH, THREE, THREE MINUTE OH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WAS GONNA COME TO, OR AGENDA ITEM, FIVE MINUTES AND THEN FIVE MINUTES AT THE END.
NO, IT WAS GOING TO BE, UH, THREE MINUTES ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THE MEETING WOULD BE THREE MINUTES ON NON, IT'S ON NON, SO YOU'RE LIMITING THERE.
UH, AND, UH, I, I, I AGREE WITH YOU.
I THINK THE CONCERN IS THAT WE HAVE TO ENDURE A LOT OF REPETITION OF, UH, COMMON ATTACK, THIS AND THAT, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
BUT THE, THE ISSUE, I WORRY, BECAUSE WE, WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME, WE HAVE, UH, OUR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY SENIOR, THEY CAME OVER HERE AND THEY WANT TO ADDRESS THEIR ISSUE.
AND THAT IS HOW THE ORAL COMMUNICATION ABOUT ORAL COMMUNICATION IS FOR ANY RESIDENT CONCERN ABOUT THEIR ISSUE, AND THEY CANNOT RESOLVE.
AND THEY CAME OVER HERE AND TALKED TO US FOR THEM, ALL THESE SENIOR OR FAMILY WITH KID, THEN FOR THEM TO WAIT FOR THE END OF THE, LIKE RIGHT NOW, 11, 11 20, IT, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
OKAY? SO, SO THAT IS ONE ISSUE, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU USE, WE, YOU SEE AN HOURS OF, UH, REPETITION OF, UH, ATTACK ANY OF THE, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
BUT, BUT INSTEAD THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
SO, SO WE, WE ENDURED FOR BEFORE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE FOR SOME PEOPLE REALLY ALL THE TIME, THEY CAME OVER HERE WITH THEIR ISSUE.
REMEMBER THEY TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC ISSUE, THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR TREE ISSUE, THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR POWER ISSUE, THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
[04:00:01]
FOR THOSE PEOPLE PUT AT THE END, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO STAY THE LATE.SO THE, UM, MY THINKING ON THIS IS, IS, IS ONE, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN PURPOSE IS TO GET THE, THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY DONE.
BUT TWO, WHEN THOSE COMMENTS ARE MADE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, RIGHT NOW IS OUR TIME TO THEN DO REQUESTS, MOTHER, MAY I, TO GET THOSE PUT ON FUTURE AGENDAS.
AND WHAT, WHAT OFTEN HAPPENS IS THOSE COMMENTS MADE AT SEVEN 30, WELL NOW WE GET TO 11, THOSE ARE NOT FRONT OF MIND FOR US TO, TO THEN PUT ON AN AGENDA.
UH, AND SO AGAIN, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND RIGHT THERE, THERE'S THE, THE, THE GIVE AND TAKE, RIGHT? OH, THEY GOTTA WAIT TILL THE END.
BUT IF THEY SPEAK TO US NOW BEFORE WE'RE MAKING OUR REQUEST, WELL NOW WE CAN THEN MAKE THOSE REQUESTS TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA VERSUS WHEN THEY SPEAK IT AT THE BEGINNING, OFTENTIMES THOSE THINGS GET LOST.
UH, AND, AND SO AGAIN, I I'M JUST REALLY TRYING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S THE MOST EFFECTIVE, UM, TIMING, UH, ON A, ON A MEETING TO THEN GET THE, THE BEST RESULTS FOR, FOR, FOR ALL, ALL RESIDENTS AND, AND TO GET THE ISSUES, UH, SOLVED.
COUNCILMAN CONTOS, MR. MR. MAYOR.
UM, I, I THINK THAT YOUR, YOUR SOLUTION, I MEAN, IT, IT, UH, IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HAVE THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, WHICH WE ALL HAVE TO PROTECT.
BUT THE WAY THAT, THAT, AND, AND THE WAY THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE PROPOSING IT, WE GET THE BUSINESS DONE OF WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA FOR PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON THAT.
AND THEN WE GET THROUGH THAT, AND THEN WHEN FOLKS HAVE CONCERNS, THEN THEY CAN BRING THAT UP.
AND THEN WHEN THEY BRING THAT UP AT THE END DURING COMMENT, THEN WHEN, AT THE END, WHEN THEY, WHEN THERE IS, UM, THEY'VE JUST MADE THEIR COMMENTS THAT MAY NOT OF, OF ITEMS THAT MAY NOT BE IN THE AGENDA, WE COULD SAY, WELL, THIS WAS JUST BROUGHT UP TWO MINUTES AGO TO GOOD IDEA.
MAY I, OR LET'S PUT THIS ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
IF, IF IT'S AT THE BEGINNING, I, IT, THIS, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHERE I'VE HEARD OF RESIDENTS MAKING A COMMENT AND I'VE THOUGHT, OKAY, I'M GONNA ADD ASK AS A MOTHER, MAY I LATER, AND THEN DARN IT, I FORGOT.
YOU KNOW? AND SO I, I THINK THAT THIS, YOUR IDEA IS A WAY, UH, TO GET THE BUSINESS DONE.
SO THAT WAY PEOPLE WHO, WHO HAVE I HAVE INPUT, UM, REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS CAN GET THAT DONE.
WE, WE, WE CAN ADDRESS THAT AND HEAR THAT.
AND THEN FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO, TO SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT TO SAY OTHERWISE, THEN THEY CAN STILL DO THAT.
THEY STILL HAVE THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
BUT THEN BY THEN, WE'VE ALREADY CONDUCTED OUR BUSINESS.
SO THAT WAY, THOSE WHO WANT, WHO ARE HERE TO HEAR THE BUSINESS OF THE MEETING WITH THE AGENDA THAT'S POSTED, WE COULD GET ALL THAT DONE.
AND THEN FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO STAY, THEN THEY STILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO I'M FULLY IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
I PERSONALLY JUST FEEL REALLY BAD FOR THE RESIDENTS WHEN, UM, YOU TELL 'EM TO COME TO THE COUNCIL.
MEETING ALONE IS ALREADY HARD FOR THEM.
UM, AND THEN ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, HERE GOES WITH A DIAL A RIDE, THE RIDES AND EVERYTHING, UM, WHEN THERE'S NOT A CONSISTENT TIME, LIKE, OKAY, WHAT TIME CAN I SPEAK? 'CAUSE SOMETIMES THEY WORK AROUND THAT, WELL, WHAT TIME CAN I SPEAK? AND HERE IT'S EASIER.
IT'S LIKE, OKAY, SEVEN O'CLOCK, THE BEGINNING, UM, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE LONGEST AN HOUR, AN HOUR AND A HALF.
BUT WHEN YOU TELL THEM, OH, IT'S AT THE END, BUT THERE'S NO TIME.
AND THEN I CAN SEE A LOT OF RESIDENTS COME AND COMPLAIN AND, AND JUST ARGUE AND FIGHT AND JUST SAY, WELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE DONE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE.
IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE MOTHER, MAY I, THEN THE MOTHER MAY, I COULD BE MOVED UP AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM, THAT IS ANOTHER SOLUTION FOR THAT, THAT ISSUE, UM, TO ADDRESS THOSE, THAT IT'S STILL FRESH.
AND I, I, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT COUNCILMAN CONTOS SAYS, BUT, UM, FOR THE RESIDENTS OR FOR ANYBODY, WHAT TIME CAN I SPEAK THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS THAT TIME? IT'S LIKE A CLOCK IN, EVEN WORK AND STUFF.
THEY, THEY NEED A SET TIME, OTHERWISE IT CONFUSES OR THEY'LL JUST BE UPSET MOVING, MOVING THINGS, INCONSISTENCY.
THAT, THAT'S THE, UM, BIGGEST THING THAT I, I, I FEEL BAD FOR THE RESIDENT BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I WANTED TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND THEN MY SECOND THING IS THE AGENDA ITEMS. HOW MANY RESIDENTS, WHEN THEY COME TO TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA ITEMS, THEY GO OFF TANGENT.
THEY JUST, THEY USE THAT AGENDA ITEMS TO THROW IN THEIR NON-AGENDA ITEMS. AND IT'S LIKE, COME ON, AGENDA ITEMS. SO, BUT MY, MY CONCERN IS LETTING THE PEOPLE SPEAK AND GIVING THEM THAT A, A SET TIME AND NOT FOR US TO PICK AND CHOOSE.
AND THEY'LL SAY, WELL, YOU LET THEM MOVE THEIRS UP HERE, AND THEN YOU DIDN'T ALLOW US.
SO NO, THOSE, DO YOU GET ONE OR TWO RESIDENTS THAT COME FOR TO EXPRESS THEIR, OH, THOSE ARE VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD POINTS.
THE SAME CONCERN I HAVE, AND I WILL STICK WITH, UH, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SEEING SO MANY OF, UH, OUR SENIOR RESIDENT CAME OVER HERE, AND THEN THEY, THEY DROVE FROM FAR AWAY FROM SOUTH SIDE, FROM EAST SIDE, FROM WEST SIDE, CAME OVER HERE AND WAIT.
AND NOW WE WANT TO WAIT TILL THE END OF OUR MEETING, LIKE RIGHT
[04:05:01]
NOW.AND THEN WE REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE COME TO TALK TO US FREELY, FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FOR PEOPLE TO SIT, COME IN THE, OKAY.
ORAL COMMUNICATION ATTACK, WE HAVE TO TAKE IT.
OKAY, THIS IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH TOO.
SO IN THAT WAY, OKAY, WE DON'T, BECAUSE WE HAVE ISSUE WITH THAT.
AND WE WORRY ABOUT THAT WASTING OUR ENERGY AND TIME, BUT WE LOSE THE PEOPLE THAT, THAT WILLING TO COME TO TALK TO US AND TO SOLVE THEIR ISSUE.
AND I THINK WE ARE HERE TO SOLVE PEOPLE'S ISSUE OKAY.
AND TO SEE WHAT THEIR CONCERN, AND THAT'S WHY WE SIT OVER HERE.
SO, SO I, I REALLY, OKAY, I KNOW WHERE YOU COMING FROM.
I WANNA STREAMLINE TOO, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH ONE IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT, THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
HAVE PEOPLE TO TALK OR TRY TO JUST STREAMLINE.
AND I WILL STAND BEHIND THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH FOR PEOPLE TO COME, TO TALK TO US FREELY AND TO SUPPORT OKAY.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THIS IS HOW I STAND.
AND, AND, AND I THINK THESE ARE ALL, ALL VALID POINTS.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, I, I CAN, YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ, VIRO, YOU KNOW, MENTIONED HOW SHE HAD, UH, THOUGHT ABOUT IT AS WELL.
UH, AND, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK, LIKE I SAID, THESE ARE ALL VALID POINTS.
UH, UM, AND AGAIN, I AM THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS IN THE, IN THE BEST INTEREST OF, OF GETTING THE BUSINESS DONE.
UM, THE CONCERNS WE'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS, UH, ABOUT, UM, WHAT PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, WHEN IT'S NOT NON AGENDIZED AND, AND, AND THEM NOT, UH, SHOWING UP AND, AND THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY NOT GETTING DONE.
UM, I THINK THOSE, THOSE WEIGH HEAVY ON ME.
UH, AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO, TO EMAIL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT I'LL, I'LL ACTUALLY, UM, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S GONNA BE THE, THE SUPPORT, I THINK MR. MAYOR.
WE'LL, WE'LL, WE WILL TAKE THE VOTE.
COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ, YOU A SPEAKER? THING'S NOT ON, WE VOTED ON ONE ALREADY.
THIS IS FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND, AND, AND GREAT, GREAT DISCUSSION BY THE WAY.
[CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS]
UH, SO, UH, WE, UH, ANY OTHER COUNCIL COMMENTS? NO.I JUST WANTED TO, UH, THANK EVERYBODY.
YOU KNOW, I, I WORKED THERE IN THE MORNING AND I WAS THERE TILL THE END, UM, OF THE BIGGEST TOY GIVEAWAY EVER.
UM, I ACTUALLY HAD ONE OF OUR SENIOR LEAD IN LA TELLING MAN, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED ON SUNDAY? IT WAS JUST, THE LINES WERE LONG.
I SAW THE AERIAL VIEW FROM THE FIRE, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO, UH, SHOWED THE DRONE.
UH, THE CARS WENT ALL THE WAY TO COVINA AND IRWINDALE.
UM, BUT THANKFULLY OUR CITY STAFF, WE OPENED UP EXTRA BOOTH.
WE OPENED UP 10 JUST TO KIND OF GET THOSE, UH, TOYS GETTING OUT INSTEAD OF THE FOUR, UH, BOOTH AREA.
AND I JUST, I'M VERY PROUD OF THE CITY, THE MAINTENANCE, THE FIRE, THE POLICE, AND HOW WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.
UM, OF COURSE, BIG THANKS TO COUNCILMAN.
I MEAN, I'M SORRY,
AND HE ACTUALLY TOOK THE LEAD.
UM, AND I KNOW HE WORKED HARD 'CAUSE UH, WE, I MEAN, I, I WORKED WITH HIM.
WE HAD NIGHT MEETINGS AND EVERYTHING AND WE, BUT HE OBVIOUSLY TOOK ON MORE, UM, BECAUSE OF THE CONNECTIONS AND THE FOLLOW UPS AND WE HAD THE MEETINGS, BUT IT WAS JUST SO AMAZING TO SEE EVERYONE WORK TOGETHER.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE FED THE VOLUNTEERS.
UM, WE DID HAVE MINOR ISSUES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO WANNA CUT, FIGHT FOR THE TOY.
AND THEN JUST TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW, WE DID CATER TO THOSE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A VEHICLE.
UM, WE GAVE THEM ALL, UH, TOYS, THOSE WHO TOOK THE BUS AND THOSE WHO WALKED UP.
SO I JUST WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW IT WASN'T JUST VEHICLES.
UM, AND THAT THERE WAS 19 PALLETS WITH 8,000 TOYS.
UM, SO WE ALL WORKED TOGETHER.
AND IT WAS JUST, IT WAS POSITIVE.
UM, TOWARDS THE END WHEN THERE WAS A LINE, THERE WAS THIS BRAND NEW ROLLS ROYCE THAT CUT RIGHT IN FRONT, AND THEY'RE HONKING.
IT WAS WHITE, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
AND IT'S LIKE, DOES THIS CAR REALLY NEED A TOY? BUT IT, IT CUT AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MAD, THEY'RE HONKING.
AND I'M LIKE, OH NO, NOT IN OUR CITY.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE WENT IN FRONT OF, BUT THE, THE GENTLEMAN, WHICH IS THE VOLUNTEERS, UM, THAT BRIAN BROUGHT IN, HE'S LIKE, DON'T WORRY, I GOT IT.
AND THEN THE CAR THAT WAS BEHIND HONKING AT HIM, HE WAS ALL THANK YOU.
LIKE, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA DO IT RIGHT.
[04:10:01]
ROYCE IN OUR CITY.BUT, UM, IT, THE EVENT WENT WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, SANTA MICKEY, MINNIE, UH, AND IT WENT SMOOTH.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY LIKE, MAJOR ISSUES.
AND, UM, WE DIDN'T ONLY JUST TAKE CARE OF WEST COVINA, WE TOOK CARE OF, YOU KNOW, OTHER CITIES.
LIKE THIS LADY WHO DID A WALK-UP.
UM, SO WE HAD DIFFERENT CITIES, BUT IT DOESN'T END THERE.
IT'S LIKE, AGAIN, LIKE THE GIFT OF GIVING.
WE PACKED, UM, THE, UH, CANINE, THE BEAR BEARCAT
UM, AND THAT THOSE TOYS WILL GO THROUGH THOSE, UH, CANINE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IN A FEW WEEKS WHERE THEY HAND SELECT RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA, THOSE AT LOW INCOME AND AT NEED.
AND THEY ACTUALLY DELIVER NOT JUST ONE OR TWO TOYS, BUT I, I DID THE RIDE ALONG LAST YEAR.
AND SO THEY GET THE CHILD'S, YOU KNOW, AGE, GENDER, UH, WHAT THEY LIKE SO THAT THEY CAN GET THEM THAT THINGS THAT THEY LIKE.
AND THEN THE TEENAGERS, 'CAUSE TEENS DON'T PLAY WITH TOYS ANYMORE, THEY GIVE THEM GIFT CARDS SO THAT IT CONTINUES ON.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE A SHOP WITH A COP EVENT THAT'S COMING UP AGAIN TO THOSE, UM, WE WORK WITH THE WEST COVINA FOSTER AND HOMELESS CHILDREN.
SO THIS WHOLE MONTH IS LITERALLY THE GIFT OF GIVING TO ALL THE CHILDREN AT NEED.
UM, SO I KNOW THE KIDS IN OUR CITY ARE JUST PROBABLY THE HAPPIEST EVER IN THIS TIME OF MONTH.
SO I JUST WANNA THANK THE STAFF, THANK EVERYONE OUT THERE.
AND, UM, EVERYBODY DID A GREAT JOB.
YOU FILMED IT PUT TOGETHER, AND SO EVERYBODY DID THEIR PART.
UM, AND EVERYBODY HAD, LIKE, IF THEY SAW A DEFICIENCY SOMEWHERE, LIKE, MAYBE WE COULD DO THIS.
WE'LL, WE'LL CHANGE THINGS AROUND.
COUNCILMAN CONTOS, JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, LOPEZ, VITO FOR, I MEAN YOUR, YOUR LEADERSHIP IN COM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, BRIAN GUTIERREZ AND OTHERS, AND ALL THESE PARTNERS.
IT'S REALLY AWESOME, JUST THE WAY THAT YOU KEEP MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
IT IS JUST INCREDIBLE TO BEHOLD TO JUST WATCH THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS.
WHAT, WHAT YOU HELPED, UH, TO DO.
COUNCILMAN DIAZ? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, LETTI AND BRIAN GUTIERREZ.
I MEAN, THERE WERE SO MANY TOYS AND SO MANY PEOPLE.
I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY A NICE EVENT.
I MEAN, IT WAS, UM, COUNCILMAN CONTOS.
UH, HER LEADERSHIP WAS WONDERFUL.
BOTH, YOU KNOW, BRIAN AND LETTY WERE, THEY DID A GREAT JOB.
I JUST WANNA REITERATE, UH, IT WAS FANTASTIC AND EVERYONE WAS SO HAPPY.
UH, AND IT, IT WAS A, A BEAUTIFUL EVENT.
UH, AND SO, UM, THIS CONCLUDES OUR MEETING.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO ADJOURN? I'LL ADJOURN.