* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:06] ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO OUR JULY 2ND, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. IT IS 7:09 PM MEETING IS NOW IN SESSION. TONIGHT'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY RABBI RALPH RESNICK FROM TEMPLE AMI SHALAM AND COUNCILMAN CONTOS WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. ALL RISE. I WANNA THANK, UH, ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. I MUST HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB THE LAST I, US HERE . SERIOUSLY, IT WAS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE HERE THIS TIME THAN LAST TIME. YAY. UH, I REALLY JUST WANNA SAY VERY BRIEFLY, UH, THREE VERY IMPORTANT WORDS THAT COME FROM THE BIBLE, UH, VIA HAVETA, LOHA, KAHA, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. THE LAST TIME I HAD TO GET MY DRIVER'S LICENSE RENEWED, WHICH WAS BACK IN FEBRUARY, HADN'T BEEN IN THE DMV IN A LONG, LONG TIME. AND, AND STANDING HERE THIS EVENING REMINDS ME A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THAT EXPERIENCE, . IT'S NOT THAT, IT'S THAT AS YOU LOOK AROUND THE, I PASSED THE TEST, BY THE WAY, . BUT AS YOU LOOK AROUND THE ROOM, AND I DID IT, THE, AT THE DMV THAT DAY, YOU LOOK AROUND AND IT STRUCK ME THAT THIS, THIS IS AMERICA. THIS IS AMERICA. YOU LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM, AND TO ME, THAT'S, IT WAS SUCH AN AMAZING MOMENT AND THIS EVENING AS WELL, TO SEE SO MANY OF US HERE TOGETHER. WE DON'T ALL AGREE ABOUT ANYTHING OR EVERYTHING, BUT WE DO AGREE ABOUT ENOUGH THAT WE'RE HERE TOGETHER. AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT LESSON IMPORTANT TO US. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, AS YOU YOURSELF WOULD WANT TO BE LOVED. AND I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT, BUT I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON IN OUR HEARTS AND TO KEEP IN OUR HEAD. THANK YOU. AMEN. , ALL HATS SHOULD BE REMOVED. PLEASE FACE THE FLAG AND PUT YOUR LEFT, YOUR RIGHT HAND ON YOUR HEART. AND FOLLOW MY LEAD. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ASSISTANT CITY CLERK. UH, ROLL CALL PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. COUNCILMAN CONTOS HERE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. HERE. COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ. VITO, PRESENT, MAYOR PRO TEM WU. HERE, MAYOR CALDONE TABBA, PRESENT CITY ATTORNEY. IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE BE REPORTED OUT OF CLOSED SESSION? NOTHING TO REPORT, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO, UH, TIME FOR SOME PROCLAMATIONS [PRESENTATIONS] AND CERTIFICATES TESTING. ALL RIGHT. SO IF I CAN INVITE, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ROXANNE LMA TO THE FRONT AS WE, UH, HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING PARK AND RECREATION MONTH. LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR, FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, WE HAVE CELEBRATED PARK AND RECREATION MONTH IN JULY TO PROMOTE BUILDING STRONG, VIBRANT AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE POWER OF PARKS AND RECREATION. THIS MONTH IS DEDICATED TO RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING THE MORE THAN 160,000 FULL-TIME PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS. LET'S GIVE IT UP TO THEM ONE MORE TIME. YES. AND, AND JUST IF, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO, TO ONE OF OUR, OUR, OUR CENTERS, OUR SENIOR CENTER, OR OUR PARKS AN EVENT, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY ARE TRULY PROFESSIONAL, I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS YEAR'S THEME WHERE YOU BELONG CELEBRATES THE MANY WAYS. PARK AND RECREATION [00:05:01] PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING IN THEIR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS, ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES AND SAFE, ACCESSIBLE SPACES TO BUILD MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS. THIS PARK AND RECREATION MONTH, LET'S UNITE AND UPLIFT THE MANY REASONS WHY LOCAL PARKS AND RECREATION TRULY EMBODIES THE ESSENCE OF BELONGING. TOGETHER, WE CAN DEMONSTRATE WHY THESE SPACES ARE WHERE YOU BELONG. AND NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ROXANNE LERMA, UH, CELEBRATE YOUR TEAM. HEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. I AM OVERJOYED TO BE ABLE TO BRING UP NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE TEAM, BUT ALSO OUR COMMUNITY AND SENIOR SERVICES COMMISSIONER. SO IF I CAN HAVE MY COMMISSIONERS PLEASE STAND AND COME TO THE FRONT AND LET'S GIVE THEM RECOGNITION. DID IT DRY TESTING. I'M GONNA GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUICKLY INTRODUCE THEMSELVES BEFORE I BRING UP OUR TEAM. COMMISSIONER TORRES, WE'LL START WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER ROBERT TORRES. I'M ON THE COMMUNITY AND SENIOR SERVICES COMMISSION AS ROXANNE STATED, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE. AND THIS IS MY DAUGHTER MADELINE. I'M GAIL MASON, AND I'VE BEEN ON THE SENIOR AND COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS. AND EVERY YEAR GOES FASTER AND EVERY YEAR GETS BETTER. , GOOD EVENING. WHAT A GREAT CROWD. I'M SHERRY FISHER. I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION FOR FOUR YEARS, AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE WHEN THEY PUT FUN THINGS TOGETHER. HI, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CECILIA MUNOZ AND I AM ON THE COMMISSION. AND I JUST WANNA SAY IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SEE EVERYONE OUT TODAY CELEBRATING OUR WONDERFUL PARKS, DEPARTMENT AND PROGRAMS. AND I SERVE VERY PROUDLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS A MOMENT THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE WITH ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF MEMBERS. SO I'M GONNA ASK THAT ALL OF YOU PLEASE HELP ME OUT AND GIVING THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE IF WE INVITE THEM UP. COME ON UP GUYS. AND I'D LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY TOP PAN THE MICROPHONE OVER TO OUR NEW COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SUZY, PRE SUZY, COME ON UP AND INTRODUCE YOUR TEAM. YOU GOT IT? YOU GOT IT. ALRIGHT. ERIC . HELLO EVERYONE. SO TO OUR COMMISSIONERS, HELLO. I KNOW I SAW COMMISSIONER TORRES TO THE REST OF YOU. UM, I AM SO HONORED TO BE HERE WITH EVERYONE TODAY. THIS IS MY FOURTH WEEK BACK HERE WITH THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. SO, UM, THERE ARE SOME FACES UP HERE THAT I ACTUALLY HAVE NOT MET. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, IN THE FOUR SHORT WEEKS THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE, THE AMAZING WORK THAT THIS STAFF HAS PUT TOGETHER, UM, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE PREPARING FOR THE 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION HAPPENING AT THE SPORTSPLEX ON THURSDAY. AND IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK. AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK AND EFFORT THAT GETS PUT INTO THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST AMAZING TO SEE THE FINAL PRODUCT. SO I HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU GUYS OUT OUT THERE. UM, THEY ARE ALSO ORGANIZING SUMMER CONCERTS IN THE PARK WATER DAYS ON FRIDAYS, AND ALSO OVERSEEING ALL OF THEIR FACILITIES. SO SENIOR CENTER, CAMERON COMMUNITY CENTER, SHADOW OAK. UM, BUT REALLY THE MICROPHONE TONIGHT NEEDS TO GO TO VANESSA IBANEZ AND SHE AND SHE IS THE COMMUNITY SERVICES SUPERVISOR, AND SHE REALLY IS THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN SPEARHEADING AND LEADING THIS TEAM. SO I THINK IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE, UM, TO GIVE HER ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE. YAY. AND TO SHARE THE MICROPHONE WITH HER AND SHE CAN SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THE DEPARTMENT'S REALLY BEEN DOING THIS PAST YEAR. SO, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. AS SUSIE SAID, MY NAME IS VANESSA BANEZ. I'M THE RECREATION SERVICES SUPERVISOR HERE WITH THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY ALMOST 10 YEARS NOW, AND I'VE BEEN PROUDLY SERVING AS ON THIS TEAM FROM A PART-TIMER ALL THE WAY TO MY FULL-TIME POSITION. I JUST HAVE ALL MY GRATITUDE GOES TO THE TEAM FROM EARLY MORNINGS TO LATE NIGHTS. UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SACRIFICING, YOU KNOW, TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, UH, JUST TO PUT ON THE MOST, UM, EXCELLENT EVENTS PROGRAMMING [00:10:01] AT THEIR CENTERS. UM, YOU KNOW, FROM THE SENIOR CENTER SHADOW, OAK PALM VIEW WITH INCLUSIVE RECREATION, CAMERON WITH OUR YOUTH. UM, IT'S JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. LAST YEAR WE CELEBRATED OUR CENTENNIAL. WE HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF EVENTS. UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD OUR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION TO THE DINNER. UM, WE JUST BEEN WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PUT ON EXCELLENT EVENTS AND LIKE, UH, THIS MONTH IS PARKS REALLY DO MAKE LIFE BETTER FROM LITTLE KIDS ALL THE WAY UP TO SENIORS. AND THAT'S JUST OUR GOAL. SO I WANNA TELL THE TEAM THANK YOU. LIKE, I'M SO, SO PROUD OF THEM. I KNOW ALL THE WORK AND ALL THE EFFORT THAT THEY PUT IN DAY IN AND DAY OUT, UM, JUST TO PROVIDE THE MOST EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ALL THE RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU GUYS. AND THERE'S ABOUT 20 STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE STILL MISSING FROM THIS GROUP. SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. PARKS TRULY DO MAKE LIVES BETTER. UH, WE HOPE THAT YOU GO OUT AND EXPERIENCE ONE OF OUR PARKS FACILITIES, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND, UH, YOU WILL DEFINITELY BE WELCOMED WITH A SMILING FACE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, . WHAT I'D LIKE IS I LIKE OUR FULL TIME COMMUNITY SERVICES COORDINATORS, UM, COME ON UP. I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. UM, I AM ALL ABOUT HAVING STAFF AND THE CITY SHARE THEIR STORIES. SO VERY BRIEFLY, IF YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. TELL US ABOUT WHICH FACILITIES THAT YOU WORK AT AND YOUR, UM, PRIMARY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY. HI EVERYBODY. UM, I'M LESLIE GODINA. I'M THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COORDINATOR FOR THE SENIOR CENTER. SO ALONGSIDE THE REST OF MY TEAM, WE OVERSEE SPECIAL EVENTS, AND OF COURSE AT THE SENIOR CENTER, ALL THE PROGRAMMINGS. WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM. NOT EVERYBODY IS HERE TODAY, BUT CHRISTINA AND HOLLY ARE OUR CHEF. THEY PREPARE MEALS FOR OVER A HUNDRED SENIORS EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T GONE TO HAVE A MEAL THERE, I RECOMMEND YOU GUYS DEFINITELY GO. WE SERVE HOT MEALS MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, AND THEN FROZENS ON FRIDAY. SO THEY ARE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE TEAM. WE WORK SO HARD TO BRING SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF EXCURSIONS, PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS, FREE AND LOW COST. SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GO. THANK YOU. HI, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LESLIE BRAVO. I'M THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COORDINATOR AT SHADOW OAK. AND AT SHADOW OAK WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES. SO WE START AS YOUNG AS ONE AGE WITH OUR PARENT, ONE YEAR OF AGE WITH OUR PARENT AND ME CLASSES. AND WE ALSO OUT OFFER SENIOR PROGRAMMING SUCH AS WATERCOLOR, PAINTING CLASS, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. UM, TODAY I HAVE A COUPLE STAFF MEMBERS. I HAVE MY SITE COORDINATOR, LISA HILDEBRAND, UM, MY SITE COORDINATOR, MANELA GONZALEZ. I HAVE, UM, OUR DAYCARE DIRECTOR, WHICH OVERSEES OUR TINY TO PROGRAM ELIANA SPINOZA BACK THERE, THE DAYCARE TEACHER ALSO OVERSEEING TINY TODDS, BRIANNA GUERRERO. AND THEN BEHIND ME I HAVE, UM, MY RECREATION STAFF, MARIA SANTA CRUZ. SHE'S A REC LEADER. AND ALSO WITH US IS MADELINE PEREZ, WHO IS ALSO OUR RECREATION LEADER. HELLO, MY NAME IS CLARISSA ROMERO. I OVERSEE THE CAMERON COMMUNITY CENTER AND VINE DAYCARE. UM, SO AT CAMERON WE DO FOCUS ON YOUTH. UM, OF COURSE WE HAVE A FEW ADULT CLASSES AS WELL, BUT YOUTH IS REALLY WHERE, UM, I THINK WE SHINE WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR BASKETBALL PROGRAMS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE OFFER. BUT REALLY ALL THINGS DOES GO TO THE STAFF BECAUSE THEY REALLY DO PUT IN THE WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE'RE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, ALMOST ALL DAY LONG. AND ALL OF THOSE HOURS, THEY ARE THE ONES TAKING THAT UP. AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE VANESSA SAID, SACRIFICING THEIR TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND REALLY MAKING THESE PROGRAMS RUN. UM, SO REALLY QUICK, I'LL INTRODUCE WHO I HAVE HERE. I HAVE MY SITE COORDINATOR, SOPHIA. I HAVE MY REC LEADERS, I HAVE JACK RAYGOZA, I HAVE HAL ACOSTA, AND I HAVE GABRIEL MOORE. I THINK THAT'S IT, RIGHT? YES. BUT, UM, AGAIN, ALL THINGS DOES GO TO MY STAFF. THEY REALLY ARE THE ONES PUTTING IN THE WORK TO MAKE ALL THESE PROGRAMS HAPPEN. HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS MIGUEL KIVA. I AM THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COORDINATOR AT THE PALM VIEW CENTER, ALSO KNOWN AS AIRPLANE PARK. WE CURRENTLY OFFER, HELLO? CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? UH, WE OFFER ADAPTIVE RECREATION. WE'RE CREATING INCLUSIVE PROGRAM AT PALM VIEW. IF YOU GUYS WANNA STOP BY. WE ALSO HAVE WALKING CLUBS, UH, ARTS AND CRAFTS, UH, DANCE CLUBS. UH, IT'S ALWAYS A PARTY AT PALM VIEW. UM, MY ENTIRE TEAM IS NOT HERE. UH, BUT WE'RE SMALL BUT MIGHTY. BUT I WANNA START OFF WITH ASHLEY WHITAKER, WHO'S HERE, WHO'S MY RECREATIONAL LEADER. MY OTHER TWO TEAM, MY SITE COORDINATOR, EMILY, SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANNA GIVE CREDIT. MY TEAM IS SMALL, BUT WE PUT ON A SHOW OVER AT THE PALM VIEW CENTER. AND THEN I ALSO HAVE, UH, DEONTAY, WHO'S ALSO GONNA MAKE IT TODAY. OKAY. I THINK, UM, JUST BEFORE OUR GROUP PHOTO, I ALSO WANNA INTRODUCE THE REST OF THE STAFF. WE HAVE SOME OF OUR MOST [00:15:01] RECENT HIRES MAYBE HAVE BEEN HERE ABOUT A WEEK. UM, AND OUR, UH, STAFF OVER AT THE SPORTSPLEX, WE HAVE CHRIS, JOAQUIN, SEBASTIAN, JESSIE, LILIANA. SO IS THERE, UH, BRYANT. EVERYONE ELSE GET INTRODUCED. ALL RIGHT. OH, AND JESSIE? YES. I THINK WE GOT EVERYONE. SO, GROUP, PHOTO. PHOTO, YEAH. TALL. AND IF WE CAN HAVE YOUR ATTENTION TO THE PROJECTOR SCREEN, WE'RE JUST GOING TO SHOW YOU A QUICK VIDEO OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON THIS PAST YEAR. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW, UH, IF I CAN INVITE NICOLE TY FROM ONE VEG WORLD TO THE FRONT, CELEBRATING THEIR 20TH YEAR HERE IN WEST COVINA. I, I, I WANNA, I WANNA JUST, UH, SAY, SAY TO THE RABBI, UH, THE FOLKS ARE HERE FOR ONE VEG WORLD. SO I JUST WANNA SEND THE, THERE, THERE FROM, FROM ACTORS WITTY HARRELSON AND PAMELA ANDERSON TO TONY AL OF NO DOUBT FAME TO NBA CHAMPION JOHN SALLY. UH, BY THE WAY, I AM NOT JOHN SALLY, EVEN THOUGH I GET AND SINGER JOHN SAKATA. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE STEAM CELEBRITIES. ONE VEG WORLD HAS THE HONOR TO SERVE SINCE MR. T FIRST OPENED ITS DOORS IN 2004 WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT WE FACE TOGETHER AS EARTH'S CO INHABITANTS, MORE THAN EVER, PEOPLE ARE TURNING TO PLANT-BASED MEALS TO REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND SAVE THE PLANET. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE BEEN SERVICED FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY IN WEST COVINA. THAT'S RIGHT. LET'S, LET'S GIVE IT UP AS THE ONLY VEGAN ESTABLISHMENT OF ITS KIND IN THE AREA. AND, AND FOR, UH, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS A LOT OF VEGAN MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY, WHENEVER THEY COME TO WEST COVINA, THEY ASK, WHERE DO WE GO TO EAT ONE VEG WORLD? AND THEN THEY CALL ME BACK AND ARE LIKE, OH MY GOD. IT IS LIKE THE BE NO, I AM SERIOUS. SO I, I AM NOT VEGAN. UH, BUT IT IS A PLACE TO EAT. OKAY? AND YOU, YOU'LL ENJOY YOURSELVES. OUR RESTAURANT, AS WELL AS SOME OF ITS FLAVORFUL DISHES HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, INCLUDING NUMBER ONE VOTES WITH THE MY FOX T AND THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, WHICH ALSO RANKED THE ONE VEG WORLD BURGER. A TOP 10 WINNER IN THE BATTLE OF THE BURGERS. IN GRATITUDE FOR ALL ITS SUCCESS AND SUPPORT OF OUR PATRONS. ONE VEG WORLD REGULARLY GIVES BACK BY DONATING A PORTION OF OUR PROFITS TO SUPPORT VARIOUS GROUPS, BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, INCLUDING FARM SANCTUARY, WEST COVINA FIRE DEPARTMENT, CAL POLY POMONA STUDENTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE BURRITO PROJECT. LA CDP RECOVERY PROGRAM. AF UH, AFTER THE AFGHANISTAN EARTHQUAKE COVINA CIVIC LIBRARY, NO HUNGRY CHILD AMONG NUMEROUS OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. SO ONE VEG WORLD, THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR YOUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY AND LEGACY OF THAI TO WA. WE CAN GIVE IT UP. THANK YOU MAYOR TABBA, THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL OUR FRIENDS HERE IN WEST COVINA. I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH A LITTLE HISTORY OF ONE VEG WORLD. [00:20:01] OUR FOUNDER, TAI HU, WAS INSPIRED BY SUPREME MASTER SHANGHAI'S TEACHINGS OF COMPASSION AND KINDNESS. HE LOVED NATURE ANIMALS AND WANTED TO PRESERVE THE FUTURE FOR, WANTED TO PRESERVE THE PLANET FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. 20 YEARS AGO, HE EMBARKED ON A HUMBLE JOURNEY OF HAVING FOOD BOOTHS AT FESTIVALS TO INTRODUCE VEGAN FOOD. NOW YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, BACK THEN THERE WAS NO GARDEN CHICKEN, UH, DEA CHEESE, OR IMPOSSIBLE BURGERS. SO IT WAS A BIG REVELATION FOR PEOPLE WHO TRIED HIS WELL MARINATED VEGAN TERIYAKI SKEWERS. HEARING THE FEEDBACK THAT MORE PEOPLE WOULD EAT PLANT-BASED, HE DECIDED TO OPEN ONE VEG WORLD WE COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED THAT SMALL RESTAURANT IN 2004 WOULD BE WHERE IT IS TODAY. DOUBLED IN SIZE TO INCLUDE A VEGAN MINI MARK, CRAFTING WEDDING CAKES FOR PEOPLE'S BIG DAY AND WINNING THE VEGAN, THE LA TIMES BATTLE OF THE BURGERS AGAINST NON-VEGAN BURGERS, AND EVEN CATERING TO THE STARS. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO GOD'S GRACE AND THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF OUR BIG ONE VEGETABLE FAMILY THAT WE'RE STILL HERE AND THRIVING. MR. TAI ALWAYS EMPHASIZED TO US, YOU HAVE TO TREAT EVERYONE WHO WALKS THROUGH OUR DOORS WITH RESPECT, BECAUSE THEY ARE SAINTS THAT DAY THEY MADE THE DECISION TO CHOOSE MERCY. WE HOPE WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING MANY MORE SAINTS FOR DECADES TO COME. WITH ME TODAY ARE SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE STAFF WHO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN PAST AND PRESENT. SO A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL. THANK YOU. WE'VE ALSO PREPARED SOME SNACKS FOR EVERYONE. PLEASE CHECK OUT THE RES OF BOTH GIFT BAGS FILLED WITH VEGAN TREATS AND LIGHTNING READING. UM, FROM CRISIS, THE BOOK, FROM CRISIS TO PEACE BY SUPREME MASTER SHANGHAI, AS WELL AS SOME GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR YOU TO GIVE VEGAN FOOD A TRY. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA FOR WELCOMING ONE VEG WORLD ALL THESE YEARS. AND NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MS. ROBERTA BAILEY, WHO IS A DEDICATED VETERINARY STUDENT OF WESTERN UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES IN POMONA, CALIFORNIA. SHE BRINGS WITH US A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE FROM HER ACADEMIC JOURNEY ON PHYSIOLOGY, NUTRITION, AND THE CRITICAL BALANCE OF NATURE. SHE'LL SHARE WITH US THE BENEFITS OF A PLANT-BASED DIET. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. UM, I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN A LONG TIME CUSTOMER OF ONE VEG WORLD EVER SINCE I STARTED MY OWN VEGAN JOURNEY, WHICH WAS OVER 10 YEARS AGO. UM, ONE BEDROOM WORLD WAS ONE OF THE FIRST VEGAN RESTAURANTS I HAD THE PLEASURE OF TRYING. AND SINCE THEN I'VE HAD COUNTLESS GREAT MEMORIES THERE WITH MY HUSBAND, MY FAMILY, AND MY FRIENDS. UM, AND THEY WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART. UM, IT'S AN AMAZING RESTAURANT AND I LOVE THEIR CARROT CAKE. IT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. UM, AS A VETERINARY STUDENT, A PROUD VEGAN, AND AN ADVOCATE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS, I HAVE STUDIED THE IMPACT OF OUR DIETARY CHOICES ON NOT ONLY OUR HEALTH, BUT ALSO THE HEALTH OF OUR PLANET. SO TODAY I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE BENEFITS OF A PLANT-BASED DIET, WHICH EXTENDS BEYOND PERSONAL WELLBEING TO GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY. ADOPTING A VEGAN DIET CAN LOWER THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, AND CANCER. IT'S ALSO RICH IN ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS, FIBER ANTIOXIDANTS, WHILE BEING LOWER IN SATURATED FATS. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT PEOPLE WHO SWITCH TO PLANT-BASED EATING OFTEN REPORT INCREASED ENERGY LEVELS AND IMPROVED DIGESTION. AND IT EVEN HELPS PEOPLE REVERSE THEIR DIABETES AND LOWER THEIR CHOLESTEROL LEVELS. SO IF YOU GUYS ARE INTERESTED IN MANAGING YOUR WEIGHT, HAVING HEALTHIER SKIN HAIR, GIVE VEGAN A TRY. MOREOVER, A VEGAN DIET IS ALSO KIND TO THE PLANET AND TO ANIMALS. ACCORDING TO STUDIES, IT REQUIRES ROUGHLY 75% LESS LAND, 54% LESS WATER, AND PRODUCES 75% FEWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. SO BY CHOOSING PLANT-BASED FOODS, WE REDUCE THE STRAIN ON OUR PLANET'S RESOURCES AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE LOVING ENVIRONMENT. SO WHEN WE CHOOSE VEGAN, WE'RE NOT JUST MAKING A DECISION FOR OUR HEALTH, WE'RE MAKING A CHOICE FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OUR PLANET. PLEASE CONSIDER HOW THE FOOD ON YOUR PLATE CAN MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. AND ONE LAST THING, EVERYONE TOGETHER, WORLD VEGAN, WORLD PEACE. THANK YOU EVERYONE. NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE PHOTO. WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER. COME TOGETHER. WE ALSO HAVE THE OH, OH OH OH OH. OKAY. THESE ARE FOR THE CITY. OKAY. I'LL MAKE SURE PASS IT TOO. IF WE CAN GET THESE TO, [00:25:02] WE'RE GONNA HAVE SNACKS FOR. YEAH. THANK, THANK YOU. WE, WE ARE PROBABLY GONNA NEED THOSE SNACKS TONIGHT. . OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MM-HMM, . OKAY. NOW [CITY MANAGER'S REPORT] FOR OUR CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN BY OUR CITY MANAGER, PAULINA MORALES. UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I WAS GONNA SAY, I THOUGHT THEY WERE HERE TONIGHT FOR MY, UH, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, . UM, SO JUST WANTED TO GIVE A COUPLE UPDATES. UH, OUR, UH, MAINTENANCE STAFF, UH, CONTINUES TO BE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY, IMPROVING OUR STREETS AND SIDEWALKS. SO, UM, JUST TO GIVE AN UPDATE, THEY'VE BEEN ON TROJAN WASTE STREET IMPROVEMENT. UH, THEY REPLACED 350 SQUARE FEET OF DISPLACED IN CRAIG CONCRETE, UM, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. UM, SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO MAKE THOSE TRIP HAZARD OR ADDRESS THOSE TRIP HAZARDS IN OUR CITY. UH, JUST TO RECAP ON THE NEXT PAGE, UM, COMMUNITY SERVICES. SO WE HAD OUR KICKOFF FOR THE, OUR, OUR SECOND CONCERT FOR THE, UH, SUMMER CONCERT SERIES WITH NODA AND REMIX. UM, YOU'RE TYPICALLY ON WEDNESDAYS BECAUSE OF THE 4TH OF JULY, UH, HOLIDAY ON THURSDAY. TOMORROW'S IS CANCELED UNTIL THE NEXT, UM, UH, SUMMER CONCERTS WILL BE NEXT WEDNESDAY. WANTED TO JUST, UH, SHOUT OUT TO, UM, WE, THROUGH THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION, HAVE, UH, LAUNCHED OUR WEST COVINA CHAMBER. WE LAUNCHED IT AT OUR SMALL BUSINESS WEEK. AND SO IT IS UP ON OUR WEBSITE AND WE ARE, UM, PROMOTING IT AND GETTING MEMBERSHIP. SO ANYONE THAT'S INTERESTED IN, UH, JOINING OUR WEST COVINA CHAMBER, UM, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE. UM, ALSO JUST TO, UH, IN ANTICIPATION OF NOVEMBER, UH, WE DO HAVE THE ELECTION NOVEMBER 5TH NOMINATION PERIOD. UM, IT BEGINS JULY 15TH, UM, ENCLOSES AUGUST 9TH, UM, NOM AND THE NOMINATION PERIOD, EXTENSION GOES UNTIL AUGUST 14TH, 2024. SO, UM, IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN THE, UM, INFORMATION ON THE ELECTION, THEY CAN GO TO OUR CITY WEBSITE. UH, THE NEXT, UH, IT'S GLAD TO SEE SO MANY FACES HERE. 'CAUSE THAT MEANS YOU GUYS ARE ALL GONNA BE INVITED TO OUR 4TH OF JULY, UM, ON THURSDAY, IT'S GONNA BE AT THE SPORTSPLEX, UM, GATES OPEN AT 4:00 PM AND THE FIREWORKS SHOW IS GONNA BE AT 9:00 PM. UM, THE PARKING IS GONNA BE LIMITED AT THE SPORTSPLEX, UM, FOR ACCESSIBLE PARKING FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE A SHUTTLE OR, UM, A, UH, UBER. WE DO HAVE AN UBER, UH, PROMOTION. AND SO IF YOU GO ON OUR WEBSITE, IT'S, UM, YOU'LL GET A DISCOUNT FOR A RIDE THERE AND A RIDE HOME AFTER THE EVENT. UH, JUST AS A REMINDER, ALL FIREWORKS IN WEST COVINA ARE ILLEGAL. AND, UM, IF YOU, UH, IF YOU SEE, UH, ANYONE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DURING A FIREWORKS, YOU PLEASE GIVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT A CALL AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT. , UH, THE CITY OF WEST COVINA AS WE ARE, UH, GOING INTO QUITE A HOT WEEK. UM, WE JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE, WE DO HAVE COOLING CENTERS, SO IF IT'S OVER 95 DEGREES, WE HAVE, UH, CAMERON COMMUNITY PARK, COURTES COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CENTER, PALM VIEW AND CHAT, OAK COMMUNITY CENTER. THAT WILL BE, UM, I WILL OPEN AND AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO COOL DOWN. AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO END IT WITH, UM, AS IT SAID, AN INVITATION FOR EVERYONE TO JOIN US THURSDAY, JULY 4TH AT THE SPORTSPLEX. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, UH, BEFORE MOVING, UH, ONTO ORAL COMMUNICATIONS. UH, I [00:30:01] WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL, UH, TO MOVE DEPARTMENT MATTER. ITEM NUMBER NINE, OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED PATHWAY HOME PROJECT. UH, BEFORE OUR CONSENT CALENDAR, DO I HAVE CONSENSUS? SO MOVE. SECOND. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. UH, SO [ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Part 1 of 2)] WE WILL 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 YOU REACH THE PODIUM. UH, 1, 1, 1 THING I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT, WE'LL BE ALLOWING THE AUDIENCE TO PROVIDE COMMENTS DURING THE PATHWAY HOME AGENDA ITEM. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, UH, YOUR, YOUR NAME WILL BE CALLED TO SPEAK DURING THAT ITEM. SO, RIGHT, RIGHT NOW WE ARE, WE ARE HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT ON ALL ITEMS OTHER THAN NUMBER NINE. YEAH. VERY GOOD. ALRIGHT, MR. AM MAYOR, MR. MAYOR, MAY I ADD? YES, YOU CALL UP ITEM, WHEN WE DO CALL UP ITEM NINE, WE'RE GONNA ASK THE COUNTY TO MAKE A PRESENTATION, AND THEN WE WILL ASK THE COMMUNITY TO COME UP AND SPEAK. THAT'S THE CHANCE THAT THEY GET TO SPEAK. UM, DEPENDING, EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO SPEAK, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE COUNTY COME UP AND RESPOND. UH, TO THAT, WE'LL HAVE COUNSEL. UM, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNTY OR ANYTHING, WE'LL HAVE THEM SPEAK. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A REPORT. IT'S FOR THE COUNCIL TO RECEIVE. THERE'S NO ACTION NEEDED FROM THE COUNCIL TONIGHT. THANK YOU. UH, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK. HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE TONIGHT? I HAVE SEVEN ON NON PATHWAY HOMES. ITEMS AND, AND TOTAL? OH, TOTAL. I HAVE 53. OKAY. SO IN, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'D LIKE TO SET THE SPEAKING TIME TO THREE MINUTES. DO I HAVE CONSENSUS? OKAY. UH, SO, UH, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, WE CAN, UH, START. THANK YOU, MAYOR JOHN SHOEMAKER, FOLLOWED BY R ROBINSON. FOLLOWED BY BRIAN GUTIERREZ. TONIGHT I'M GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THE LACK OF MANAGEMENT AND PROCESSES AND CARING ABOUT THE PUBLIC. HAS, YOU KNOW, 53 PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT, NAMELY, YOU'LL LISTEN TO DIFFERENT MEETINGS AND WE GET, WE GET THE ANSWERS FROM, OH, WE DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AT THAT LOCATION TO IT'S WELL KNOWN, OR NOBODY TOLD US. I MEAN, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW OUR CITY, IF YOU GIVE A PERSON A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THEY HAVE TO DO OR NOT DO THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO FOLLOW UP GOING ON. NOBODY. AND THEN YOU LISTEN TO OUR PLANNING COMMISSION THE OTHER NIGHT. OH MY GOD. YOU KNOW, IF, IF, UH, YOU KNOW, IF GLENN KENNEDY WASN'T HERE, PLEASE, IT'S NOT AN INSULT TO YOUR GRANDFATHER, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE THE KEYSTONE COPS RUNNING AROUND OUT THERE. EXCEPT THE KEYSTONE COPS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY. ANYBODY WHO WAS LOOKING AT THAT MEETING WOULD'VE SAID, AND THEY, AND THAT'S, WE'RE GONNA DO BUSINESS IN THAT CITY. NO, WE'RE NOT. COME ON GUYS. LET, LET'S GET OUR ACT TOGETHER A LITTLE BIT HERE. YOU KNOW, AND FOR ANYBODY TO SAY, WE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH CREDIBILITY YOU HAVE ON THIS. NONE. HERE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN PLACES THAT THESE THINGS ARE DISCUSSED, AND THEY NEVER BOTHERED TO BRING IT FORWARD AND MENTION TO THE PUBLIC. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS YOU GUYS ARE TERRIFIED ABOUT ME. 'CAUSE I WON'T SIT UP THERE AND SHUT UP SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY. I'M GONNA MENTION IT AND BRING IT FORWARD. YOU'RE NOT GONNA HIDE IT. YOU KNOW, PART OF IT IS, I THINK MORE SO WITH ONE THAN THE OTHER. IS THE TIMING IS BECAUSE OF A RECALL DECIDED TO KEEP IT QUIET SO HE COULD BE THE HERO AND NOT GET VOTED OUT OF OFFICE. YOU, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, , YOU'RE PART OF IT. AND WHEN I SAY PART OF IT, I MEAN, YOU'RE IN THE GROUP THAT WANTS TO HAVE THIS, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ACCEPTABLE FOR YOU TO DO. BUT I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON BOTH OF YOU TO HAVE SAID SOMETHING WHEN YOU FIRST FOUND OUT, SO THAT PEOPLE COULD COME FORWARD AND SAY WHERE THEIR CONCERNS ARE. AND THE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT DO HAVE CONCERNS. MY BIGGEST CONCERNS, THE LACK OF CONTROL WE HAVE IN THE CITY. WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON IN THIS CITY? YOU'LL GO TO, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT, UH, UH, PARTIES BEING HELD ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAYS THAT ARE AGAINST, AGAINST OUR ORDINANCES. BUT THEY CONTINUE. I CAN'T BLAME THE POLICE BECAUSE WHEN YOU'VE GOT, WHEN YOU CAN ONLY ANSWER THREE CALLS AT A TIME, MAYBE FOUR, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOTTA PICK AND CHOOSE THE ONES YOU GO TO. THAT'S WHY I SAY, [00:35:01] WHEN I'M ON HERE, I'M GONNA ADVOCATE WHERE WE PAY 420 OFFICERS, BUT WE ONLY HAVE 96 BECAUSE OF ALL THE OVERTIME THAT WE USE. LET'S PUT, MAKE THAT BODIES. SO I'LL LEAVE EVERYTHING ELSE TO THE PEOPLE. GOOD LUCK WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, VOICING YOUR OPINIONS. YOU'RE ENTITLED TO 'EM. AND, UH, HOPEFULLY IT MAKES, UH, SOMETHING, UH, YOU KNOW, WORK OUT FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. R ROBINSON, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN GUTIERREZ, FOLLOWED BY LESLIE MARTEL. UH, A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ALL CAUSE DEATHS DURING COVID IN AN ITALIAN PROVINCE SHOWS COVID-19 AND ALL CAUSE MORTALITY INCREASED WITH SHOTS. VACCINATION DID NOT SAVE LIVES. YOU EVER WONDER WHY THE US HAD, HAS 4% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION, BUT WE HAD 16% OF THE COVID DEATHS, THE PREP ACT, THE CARES ACT. THEY WERE INCENTIVIZING, YOU KNOW, DEATH IN A HOSPITAL. I MEAN, THE FED, THE FEDS, UH, PAID THE HOSPITAL A TIP. SO, UH, HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE AND IVERMECTIN, UH, WAS DERAILED. I I'M NOT A MEDICAL DOCTOR. I LIKE TO, UH, INTRODUCE MYSELF AS THE VILLAGE IDIOT. BUT HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE AND IVERMECTIN WOULD'VE DERAILED THE SCAM. SCAM WOULDN'T WORK. UH, WE HAVE LAWS, UH, TORT LAWS DON'T APPLY TO THE, UH, PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY. THEY HAVE IN 1986, UH, UH, CHILDHOOD, UH, INJURY AND SAFETY ACT, WHICH, WHICH EXCLUDES, UH, VACCINATIONS FROM TORT LIABILITY. THAT'S THE ONLY PRODUCT IN THE US THAT HAS THAT EXCLUSION. SO WHY SHOULD THEY CARE IF IT'S SAFE OR NOT? OUR, UH, NEWEST NINE 11 IS, UH, MY VAX WON'T WORK UNLESS EVERYONE ELSE IS VAX TWO. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, GIVE ME A BREAK. UH, AND WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROPAGANDIZE BRAINWASH A POPULATION, WE EXPERIENCED IT, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, BY THE, BY THE VACCINE DEATH CULT. UM, SO I'LL AGREE WITH, UH, BAILIWICK NEWS. UH, I'LL QUOTE HOLDING THAT. NONE OF THE PRODUCTS CLASSIFIED AS COUNTERMEASURES AND INCORPORATED INTO NIH TREATMENT GUIDELINES ARE INTENDED TO HELP OR HEAL PATIENTS. MOST HOSPITALS TODAY ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES. ONE CAN BE A TRUE LIFE PRISON. IT'S AWOKE MEDICAL SYSTEM SYSTEM, SNAKE OIL IMAGERY. UH, THE MEDICAL WORLD IS DRIVEN BY PHARMA PROPAGANDA. UM, UM, MEN, MEN CAN'T HAVE BABIES. UH, SO, UH, I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS, THIS IS THE STUFF WE'RE, UH, REPLACING, UH, SNAKE OIL WITH, UH, SCIENTIFIC MEDICINE . UM, SO, UM, SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS WHEN THIS, THANK YOU, VAL. AGAIN, DON'T GET THE INOCULATION. BRIAN GUTIERREZ, FOLLOWED BY LESLIE MARTEL, FOLLOWED BY DAN TRAN. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS, UH, BRIAN GUTIERREZ. I AM A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT ONE, AND I'M ALSO A PLANNING COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK, UH, LATER ON, OBVIOUSLY WE'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THE PATHWAY HOME PROGRAM. BUT NOW I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES GOING ON AT THE FIVE STAR, AND WHERE AS A POTENTIAL, A POTENTIAL 90 HOMELESS PEOPLE WILL BE HOUSED NEXT TO A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. BUT, UH, AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, THE MAYOR MENTIONED ON JUNE 18 THAT PEOPLE WERE DOING DRUGS, PROSTITUTION, OVERDOSES, AND EXPLOITATION. AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY, UH, THE MAYOR HAS FAILED. BRIAN HAS FAILED TO TAKE THE LEAD, UH, IN STOPPING SUCH AN ACTION OCCURRING IN HIS COMMUNITY. MI MR. MAYOR MI, UM, THE, CAN WE SAVE THESE COMMENTS FOR THE ITEM NUMBER NINE? YES. IF THAT'S OKAY. SO, CLAR, SO LET'S SAVE MY TIME. SO CLARIFICATION NUMBER NINE'S ABOUT PAT HOLMES CITY ATTORNEY AND [00:40:01] ALL, I'M TALKING LITTLE OFF SUBJECT ABOUT THE, ABOUT CRIME GOING ON AT FIVE STAR IN. SO IF I, IF I COULD REGAIN MY TIME. SO COUNSEL, ARE YOU SILENT TO ME, MAYOR? NO, NO, WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER NINE. THIS, THIS IS IN CONNECTION WITH, NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT CRIME HAPPENING AT FIVE STAR, NOT, NOT ABOUT PATHWAY HOMES. IT'S A DIFFERENT PROGRAM. I, I THIS TIME. YEAH, I'M, I'M, I'M OKAY WITH HIS SPEECH. OKAY. PLEASE, LIKE CONTINUE, PLEASE. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY, THE MAYOR WANTS A SILENT SPEECH FROM THE PEOPLE WHO, WHO, WHO VOTED HIM INTO OFFICE. AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE. AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE MAYOR IN MENTIONED THAT THERE IS CRIME OCCURRING AT THIS LOCATION. SO, AS PLANNING COMMISSIONER, SINCE THE MAYOR WAS TOO BUSY RUNNING FOR STATE ASSEMBLY, AND HE LOST. SO, AS PLANNING COMMISSIONER, I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO LET THIS COMMUNITY KNOW THAT AT THE LAST PLANNING COMMISSION, I LED THE EFFORT AND MADE A MOTION TO CALL FOR THE REVIEW OF CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR FIVE STAR IN, FOR THE POSSIBLE REVOKING IF THEY ARE VIOLATING CRIMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE I WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AS A PLANNING COMMISSIONER. AND SO I WILL URGE BRIAN TOVA AS THE MAYOR OF WEST COVINA TO TAKE ACTION AND DO NOT REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR BY GIVING A HUN MULTI HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS CONTRACT TO A TO FIVE STAR IN, IN AN ENTITY THAT MAY HAVE BEEN COMMITTING MAJOR CRIMES, AS YOU MENTIONED, IN YOUR LAST JUNE 18 MEETING. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU LISTEN TO THE VOTERS, TO THE VOICES OF THIS COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THEIR VOICE SHOULD NOT BECOME SILENT AS THERE A VOICE AND A FOUNDATION OF WHAT WEST COVINA IS MADE AND WHAT IT IS TODAY. AND SO, I URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION AND DO NOT IGNORE THE COMMUNITY. AND SO, WHAT THE COMMUNITY DID NOT KNOW THAT DESPITE THESE CRIMES OCCURRING, THAT BRIAN TABBA IS AN ADVISORY MEMBER TO MEASURE H AND HE DETERMINES WHERE LOCATIONS AND FUNDING ARE SELECTED FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO IN ALL THESE, IN THIS LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, TABBA TABBA HAS NOT MENTIONED TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT HE SERVES AS A MENTOR MEASURE H ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. LESLIE MARTEL, FOLLOWED BY DAN TRAN, FOLLOWED BY BILL ELLIOT. YES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. ADJUST DOWN. CAN YOU HEAR ME BETTER THIS WAY? ALRIGHT. I'M A MEMBER OF TEMPLE AMES SHALOM AND WEST COVINA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVITING OUR RABBI TO DO THE INVOCATION. I AM HERE BECAUSE TEMPLE AMISH SHALOM WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL AND THE WEST COVINA POLICE. WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A WEST COVINA POLICE UNIT IN OUR PARKING LOT DURING OUR SERVICES. WE HAVE SATURDAY MORNING SERVICES, AND THE JEWISH HIGH HOLIDAYS ARE COMING UP IN OCTOBER. WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE COMING FOR HIGH HOLIDAYS. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO APPRECIATE THE PATROL CAR DURING THE HIGH HOLIDAYS ON EVERY SATURDAY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CLIMATE IN OUR COUNTRY HAS A STRONGER ELEMENT OF ANTISEMITISM, EVEN TO THE POINT OF BLOCKING ENTRY INTO JEWISH SYNAGOGUES AND ATTACKS ON JEWISH STUDENTS ON COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES. ALL THE TEMPLES, INCLUDING TEMPLE AMI SHALOM, HAVE HIRED ARMED GUARDS TO PROTECT OUR CONGREGANTS DURING SERVICES. IT'S VERY SAD, BUT THAT'S THE STATE OF THE BEING. HAVING A WEST COVINA POLICE UNIT IN OUR PARKING LOT DURING SERVICES WILL HOPEFULLY AT ANOTHER LEVEL DETERRING ANY UNFAVORABLE BEHAVIOR AND THREATS TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A PATROL CAR DRIVING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AT RANDOM TIMES DURING THE DAY. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT WEST COVINA POLICE HAS DONE AND A CITY TO PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY TO HAVE SERVICES. AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, I HAVE A, THE LETTER HERE THAT SAYS THE TIME OF OUR SERVICES AND DATES AND THE TIME FOR HIGH HOLIDAYS. AND WE WOULD TRULY APPRECIATE THE HELP OF WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU DID GREAT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAN CRAN, FOLLOWED BY BILL ELLIOT, FOLLOWED BY DAVID S. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR TABBA, WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU GUYS ARE DOING YOUR BEST [00:45:01] AND I KNOW IT'S A THANKLESS JOB, BUT I DO THANK YOU GUYS. AND MY NAME IS DAN TRAN AND I'M RUNNING FOR STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 48, WHICH WEST COVINA IS IN. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, TO SPEAK TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, MR. MR. CRAN, IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. IF, IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, UM, I PROMISE I WON'T MAKE EVERYTHING PERFECT, BUT I'M GONNA DO MY BEST TO HEAR THE PEOPLE AND SERVE THE PEOPLE. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT EVERYBODY. BILL ELLIOT, FOLLOWED BY DAVID S. GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL. MAYOR, HOW COME YOU CONCEALED THE FACT THAT YOU WERE ONE OF THESE BOARD MEMBERS FOR HILDA ELISE, AND THE PATHWAY HALL? OH, YOU PURPOSELY CONCEALED THAT AND NOW YOU'RE WORKING REALLY HARD FOR HILDA. YOU KNOW, WE'RE A NATION OF LAWS, BIG LAWS, LITTLE LAWS. THEY'RE ALL SIGNIFICANT. WE'RE ALL TOLD BY YOUR PARTY THAT NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. WELL, I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT THAT LITTLE OIL BURNING MOM CAR THAT YOU DRIVE HAS A BURNOUT TAILLIGHT, AND IT'S HAD A BURNOUT TAILLIGHT FOR MONTHS. AND I'M JUST WONDERING, ARE YOU TRYING TO BAIT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT INTO OUR TRAFFIC STOP SO YOU CAN CLAIM YOU'RE BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST? IS THAT WHAT THE MOTIVE IS HERE? WHY DON'T YOU FIX YOUR CAR, DUDE, FOR YOU TO BE ON THIS COUNSEL AND TO ADVOCATE FOR EVERYONE EXCEPT THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT. YOU RAN FOR STATE OFFICE, YOU GOT YOUR CLOCK CLEANED. YOU DIDN'T EVEN COMPLETE YOUR OBLIGATION TO THE DISTRICT ONE PEOPLE, THE VOTERS THAT VOTED YOU INTO THE OFFICE. YOU WANTED A PROMOTION. YOU WANTED TO GO TO THE STATE ASSEMBLY FIRST BEFORE YOU EVEN FINISHED YOUR FIRST TERM. HERE IN WEST COVINA, YOU'VE DISGRACED THE FIRST DISTRICT, YOU'VE DISGRACED THE PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR YOU, THEY DESERVE BETTER. AND NOW YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR THIS PATHWAY HOME. YOU'RE A VERY BUSY DUDE WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TO REPRESENTING EVERYONE. BUT THE CONSTITUENTS OF WEST COVINA, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU VOTED TO DEFUND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT WAS SHAMEFUL. AND YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE SITTING IN THE CHAIR THAT YOU'RE SITTING IN RIGHT NOW. OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT KEEPS THIS COMMUNITY SAFE. AND EVERY DAY YOU ARE IN OFFICE, YOU ENDANGER EVERYONE IN WEST COVINA BY YOUR LEFTIST POLICIES THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO FORCE DOWN THE THROAT OF THIS CITY. WEST COVINA AIN'T PLAYING THAT, THAT'S EVIDENCED BY ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT. AND I WAS TOLD THIS WEEK THAT YOU SAID, I DON'T CARE IF I GET REELECTED. ISN'T THAT BECAUSE HILDA HAS A SWEET LITTLE JOB FOR YOU IN THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE, SO YOU CAN WORK WITH YOUR BUDDY RYAN SERRANO. ISN'T THAT THE TRUTH? BRIAN? YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT WEST COVINA. STOP PRETENDING DAVID S FOLLOWED BY KAYLIN. HI EVERYBODY. I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY. I JUST TOOK SOME NOTES DOWN. I DIDN'T PREPARE ANYTHING. UH, FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE RABBI FOR COMING AND GIVING HIS, UH, HIS, UH, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT. SORRY. BEAUTIFUL. IT WAS, UH, BUT I, I WANNA GET DOWN TO SOME POINTS, UH, THAT I FEEL THAT WEST COVINA IS TURNING INTO. UH, IT'S GOING DOWNHILL, ESPECIALLY, UM, ESPECIALLY OVER IN THE GLENDORA STREET AND VINCENT AREAS. UM, THERE'S GRAFFITI ALL OVER AND EVERY WEEK, UH, YOUR GUYS COME BY AND CLEAN THE GRAFFITI, BUT THEY ONLY DO WHAT'S ON THE, ON THE, UM, ON THE GATES AND STUFF, BUT NOT ON THE BUSINESSES. IT'S NOT FAIR THAT ALL THE BUSINESSES, INCLUDING ONE VEGAN OR IS ONE [00:50:01] OF THE PEOPLE TOO, THAT IT'S ALL GRAFFITI. AND IT'S OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AS FAST AS THEY CAN PAINT IT UP, IT GETS DONE WITHIN THE NEXT DAY. I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE GAT, WHICH STANDS FOR GRAFFITI ABATEMENT TEAM THAT WEST COVINA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD THAT NO LONGER HAS IT. IT'S DESTROYING WEST COVINA WITH ALL THE GRAFFITI THAT'S GOING AROUND THE CITY. WE GOTTA GET IT UNDER CONTROL. I'M GONNA JUMP TO NUMBER TWO. OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE. IS THAT, IS THAT, UH, IS THAT SIGNAGE HERE? I IS BROKEN. YOU GO DOWN SUNSET BOULEVARD, I SUN SUNSET AVENUE AT POE, AND BOTH THE POE SIGN AND THE SUNSET SIGN ARE BROKEN. I KNOW THE ONE THAT SAID POE HAS BEEN DOWN FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR, AND THE SUNSET SIGN HAS BEEN DOWN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. UM, THERE'S ALSO THE NAME, UH, SO THOSE NAME PLATES HAVE TO BE PUT BACK UP ALSO ON GRETA AVENUE IN THE 500 SOUTH AT SERVICE. AND GRETA, THERE'S NO SIGNAGE. SOMEHOW THAT GOT TAKEN OUT AS WELL. OKAY, I'M GONNA JUMP TO SOMETHING ELSE. UM, THERE'S SO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE STREETS. THE POTHOLES RIGHT HERE AT VINCENT AND WEST GOODY PARKWAY, THE RIGHT THERE WHERE THE COFFEE SHOP IS. IT'S, IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED GOING DOWN GLENDORA AVENUE, WHERE, WHERE, UH, BASKIN ROBINSON. IT'S BECOMING A SINKHOLE OVER THERE AS WELL AS DIPS ON SERVICE AVENUE. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. KAYLIN, SHE'S GOT IS COMING THERE. HI. SORRY ABOUT THE WAIT. I WAS TOLD TO WAIT OUTSIDE. UH, I WAS TOLD TO WAIT OUTSIDE. UM, I JUST, I, I WANTED TO AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER ABOUT HOW, UH, SOME SIGNS ARE NOT WORKING. UM, YOU KNOW, FOR US LOCALS THAT DRIVE AROUND IS NOT SO BIG OF A DEAL BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR STREETS. UM, BUT I'VE HAD SEVERAL FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS SAY THAT THEY CAN'T FIND THEIR WAY AROUND. UH, 'CAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STREETS ARE ON. OR, UM, SOME STOPLIGHTS AROUND THE CITY. UH, THE RED AND GREEN LIGHTS AREN'T AS BRIGHT AS THEY SHOULD BE. UM, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE CITY. UM, BUT, UH, I JUST WANTED TO, I WASN'T GONNA SPEAK TODAY, BUT I WANTED TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID BY A PREVIOUS COMMUNITY MEMBER. UM, I HAD SOME FRIENDS THAT WERE OUT AT A, UH, AT A PROTEST, UH, LAST SUNDAY. UM, AND THEY WERE PROTESTING THE SALE OF STOLEN LAND, UM, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE TAKING PLACE AT A PLACE OF WORSHIP, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE. UM, AND THOSE PEOPLE WERE, UH, PICTURES AND VIDEOS WILL SHOW THAT THEY WERE NOT BLOCKING, BLOCKING ANY KIND OF ENTRANCES TO THIS PLACE OF WORSHIP OR ANYTHING. BUT, UM, THEY WERE VIOLENTLY ATTACKED, PEPPER SPRAYED, BEATEN, UM, FOLLOWED IN THEIR CARS BY PEOPLE WHO WERE PROTECTING, UM, THE PLACE OF WORSHIP. AND, UH, IT WAS A REALLY UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED. UM, UNFORTUNATELY THIS WAS A SYNAGOGUE IN THE BEVERLY HILLS, PICO AREA. UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY CENTER OR THE COMMUNITY MEMBER SAID THAT THOSE PEOPLE WERE THE ONES BEING VIOLENT. UM, BUT MY FRIENDS WHO A LOT, MANY OF THEM WERE ELDERLY, UH, WERE THE ONES WHO WERE INJURED. UM, SOME HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AGAIN. SOME WERE PEPPER SPRAYED, AND A COUPLE OF THEM FOLLOWED IN THEIR CARS FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS BY, UH, PRETTY VIOLENT PEOPLES. UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT AIR THAT THAT'S NOT THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY. THANK YOU. THOSE ARE THE ONLY SPEAKER CARDS I HAVE FOR NON AGENDA ITEM. THOSE ARE THE ONLY SPEAKER CARDS I HAVE THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO PATHWAY AT HOME. ALL RIGHT. SO WE WILL NOW, UH, CITY MANAGER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS? I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF. SINCE , I KNOW WE WANNA MOVE ALONG, UM, UH, TO MRS. MARTEL, WE WILL REACH OUT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP, UM, ADDRESS YOUR REQUEST. THANK YOU. YES. UM, AND THEN I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE STREET SIGNS ON SUNSET PU I NEED REPLACEMENT. UM, I WAS TOLD [00:55:01] THAT THOSE HAVE BEEN ORDERED, AND SO THOSE SHOULD BE INSTALLED, UM, WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, EV AND THEN, UM, WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS POTHOLES. WE DO REALIZE THAT IT'S, UH, NOT FUN TO HIT ONE. IT'S NOT FUN FOR TO GET A CLAIM ON OUR BEHALF. SO WE WANNA RE REDUCE THAT, UM, LIABILITY IN THE CITY, UM, AND MAKES OUR STATE SAFER. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS IS INCREASING, UM, OUR STREET REHAB PROGRAM. UM, THAT'LL HOPEFULLY HELP ADDRESS THAT, BUT ALSO ADDRESSING POTHOLES AS WE CAN, UM, BEFORE WE, WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL REHAB, UH, STREET REHAB PROJECT. UM, AND I THINK THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS. THE OTHER ONES WERE ABOUT PATHWAY OR THE HOTEL. SO I'LL LEAVE THAT TO, UM, THE PRESENTATION. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. [9) OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED "PATHWAY HOME" PROJECT (Part 1 of 2)] AND MOVING ON TO THE PRESENTATION ITEM NUMBER NINE, OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED PATHWAY HOME PROJECT. MS. MORALES, WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT. UH, SO TONIGHT ON THE AGENDA IS THE LA COUNTY PROPOSED PATHWAY HOME, UH, PROJECT, UH, THAT'S, UH, PROPOSED IN WEST COVINA. UM, IN MAY I HAD THE, UH, MEETING WITH THE COUNTY, UM, WHERE THEY PRESENTED THEIR PROPOSAL FOR THE PATHWAY HOME IN, UM, IN WEST COVINA AT THE FIVE STAR INN. UM, AND SO AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN FROM RESIDENTS, AND I KNOW IT WAS A DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL TO HAVE THEM COME AND DO A PRESENTATION. SO TONIGHT, UM, ONNE, UH, WILLIAMS AND MARCO SANTANA WITH, UH, THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOMELESS INITIATIVE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DIVISION, . UH, WE'LL BE PROVIDING A PRESENTATION, UH, TO YOU AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT PATHWAY HOMES. UH, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THEM. THANK YOU, PAULINA. AND, UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. MAYOR, PRO TEM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. UH, THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING US. UH, CAN YOU HEAR US? CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? BETTER THERE. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING US. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE SOME FACTS ABOUT THE COUNTY'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE ON HOMELESSNESS, THE PATHWAY HOME PROGRAM, UH, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATIVELY REDUCE, UH, UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS HERE IN WEST COVINA. UM, I'M MONA WILLIAMS, UH, WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE, THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE. AND ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE, UH, MARCO ANA AND THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE TEAMMATES, WE LEAD EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY TO END HOMELESSNESS. UH, BEFORE I BEGIN, UH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO AGAIN, JUST BE HERE AND HEAR THE WORDS OF COMPASSION AND LOVE THAT WERE SHARED AT THE BEGINNING, UH, FROM OTHER, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, THAT CREATE JUST A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY. SO, UH, I WANNA START OFF, UH, JUST OFF THE BAT AND JUST INFORM YOU ALL, UH, THAT THERE IS NO AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH THE FIVE STAR INN. SO WE DO NOT HAVE A MOTEL AGREEMENT. UH, THERE HAS JUST BEEN EXPLORATORY, EXPLORATORY CONVERSATION. UH, BUT I WANNA MAKE THAT JUST CLEAR OFF THE BAT. UH, SECOND, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THINK, UH, THE SERVICE, OH, SORRY. THERE WE GO. HIGHER. OKAY, THERE WE GO. IS THAT BETTER? CAN I NOT? I THINK I'M USED TO A MIC, THAT'S WHY. UM, IT'S OKAY. CAN YOU NOT YELL OUT? PLEASE DO. WOULD YOU PREFER A MIC? SURE. I MEAN, THAT MIGHT, MIGHT HELP IT. TESTING, TESTING. HELLO? HELLO. IS THAT BETTER? YEAH. BETTER, BETTER, BETTER. EXCELLENT. OKAY, PERFECT. ALL RIGHT. I FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE. UM, SO JUST A SECOND. I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE AND, UH, REALLY THANK THE SERVICE PROVIDERS, OUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, UH, ORGANIZATIONS, OUR OUTREACH WORKERS WITHIN WEST COVINA, THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, LA COUNTY, UH, BUT ALSO TOO IN CALIFORNIA ACROSS, UH, ACROSS THE NATION WHO PROVIDE TIRELESS SERVICES DAY IN AND DAY OUT, UH, TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND THOSE IN PRECARIOUS, UH, SITUATIONS AND, UH, AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESSNESS. SO, JUST WANT TO SHARE OUR DEEP APPRECIATION AND THEIR COMMITMENT AND THE, UH, TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS THAT THEY BUILD TO CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WORK. UH, NEXT SLIDE. UH, SO TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT LA'S COUNTY'S, UH, EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND HOMELESSNESS OR PATHWAY PROGRAM, UH, ITS CORE COMPONENTS AND WHY WE'RE HERE, AND KIND OF WHY NOW. UH, NEXT SLIDE. SO, JUST A LITTLE QUICK BACKGROUND BEFORE WE JUMP IN. IN DECEMBER, UH, THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES DECLARED A STATE OF HOME, UH, EMERGENCY, AND THAT'S THE, UH, MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES CITY. UM, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IMMEDIATELY JUMPED IN TO LOCK ARMS, UH, WITH THE MAYOR, UH, TO SCALE UP AND ELEVATE OUR RESPONSE TO MEET THIS PERSISTENT CHALLENGE, NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, BUT ACROSS ITS OTHER 87 CITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. AND ON JANUARY 10TH, 2023, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROCLAIMED A LOCAL EMERGENCY ON HOMELESSNESS IN LA COUNTY. THE COUNTY'S LOCAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION PROVIDES OUR HOMELESS INITIATIVE OFFICE, UH, AND [01:00:01] OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS WITH INCREASED AUTHORITY TO TAKE STEPS TO EXPEDITE AND STREAMLINE THE CREATION OF HOUSING, EXPANDING SERVICES, MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT USE OF FUNDS AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES THAT WILL ALLOW THE COUNTY TO MOVE IN A MORE NIMBLE AND RESPONSIVE WAY. ACROSS THE BOARD. WITHIN OUR COUNTY, UH, THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE WAS CHARGED WITH LEADING THE OVERALL COORDINATION OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE BODY, UH, TO COORDINATE EFFORTS WITH CITIES AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS. NEXT SLIDE. UH, AND SO OUR BOARD WAS CLEAR, UH, OUR CONSTITUENTS WERE CLEAR. IT'S AN ALL HANDS ON DECK ENDEAVOR, AND WE NEED TO EXPAND OUR EFFORTS, UH, TO RESOLVE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS ACROSS THE COUNTY. UH, THIS EMERGENCY ALLOWS US TO MOBILIZE AND COORDINATE ALL EFFORTS TO SCALE UP AND FAST TRACK THE PROVISION OF OUTREACH, INTERIM HOUSING, PERMANENT HOUSING, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO REDUCE UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS WITH FUNDING FROM MEASURE H. NEXT SLIDE. ON THIS SLIDE. UH, THESE ARE THE FOUR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS MISSIONS. UH, ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO REDUCE UNSHELTERED, UH, HOMELESSNESS ACROSS THE COUNTY. INCREASE INTERIM AND PERMANENT HOUSING PLACEMENTS TO BRING PEOPLE INSIDE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND TO A SAFE, SECURE, AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT. AND PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES TO UNSHELTERED AND SHELTER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AT THE LEVEL THEY NEED, UH, TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. AND SCALING UP EVICTION PREVENTIONS TO REDUCE INFLOW INTO HOMELESSNESS BY HELPING AT-RISK HOUSEHOLDS STAY HOUSED. AND THAT WAS LATER ADDED, UH, AS AN ADDITIONAL MISSION. UH, AGAIN, TODAY THE MOST DETAILED PORTION OF OUR PRESENTATION WILL FOCUS ON MISSION NUMBER ONE, THE ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION AND THE PATHWAY HOME PROGRAM. UH, SO WHAT IS PATHWAY HOME? UH, PATHWAY HOME IS A NEW HOUSING FOCUS. NEXT SLIDE. I'M SORRY, I'M USED TO CONTROLLING IT. UH, IT'S A NEW HOUSING FOCUS, ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION PROGRAM LAUNCHED AS PART OF LA COUNTY'S HOMELESS RESPONSE. UH, THE PROGRAM USES MEASURE H RESOURCES TO MOBILIZE A COORDINATED RESPONSE TO PRIORITIZE ENCAMPMENTS ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES, AND HELPS PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS TO COME INDOORS, RECEIVES THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THEY NEED, AND ULTIMATELY MOVE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AND STABILIZATION, UH, TO REDUCE THEIR HOMELESSNESS. THE PROGRAM CAN ALSO RETURN PUBLIC AREAS TO CLEAN AND USABLE COMMUNITY SPACES, AND WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TONIGHT HOW THEY'RE IMPACTED BY THE CURRENT, UH, CONDITIONS. AND SO THIS IS A SOLUTION THAT WE'RE OFFERING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, UH, IF YOU CHOOSE TO SELECT THIS, UH, COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP. NEXT SLIDE. PATHWAY HOME WAS DESIGNED WITH A UNITY OF EFFORT, UH, ENABLING ORGANIZATIONS WITH SPECIFIC JURISDICTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR AUTHORITIES. UH, IT'S HOUSING FOCUS, UH, TO ENSURE THAT EVERY PARTNER IS CLEAR THAT OUR ULTIMATE GOAL, UH, IS FOR EACH PARTICIPANT TO ACHIEVE PERMANENT HOUSING STABILITY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH OPTIONAL SUPPORTS AND WITHOUT NECESSARY, UH, PRECONDITIONS. RACIAL EQUITY REQUIRES EVERY PARTNER TO UNDERSTAND AN ACCOUNT FOR FACTORS THAT ADVANTAGE SOME AND DISADVANTAGE OTHERS BASED ON RACE. WHEN DESIGNING, VETTING AND IMPLEMENTING ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION EFFORTS, WE USE A TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH, UH, TO DEPLOY THE PRINCIPLES OF SAFETY, TRUST, SUPPORT, COLLABORATION, EMPOWERMENT, AND CULTURAL CONNECTION TO ENSURE WE MINIMIZE, UH, RETRAUMATIZATION, EX EX, EXCUSE ME. UH, WE, WE ARE ON THE AGENDA ITEM. THERE'S NOT TO BE ANY, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MINUTES. HALF AN HOUR. THEY DON'T EVEN WANNA HEAR ABOUT IT. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. LET'S, WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A RECESS. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A RECESS. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A RECESS. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A RECESS. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A RECESS. RECESS. UH, WE WE'RE GONNA TAKE A, A FIVE MINUTE RECESS. PERFECT. WE'LL HAVE OUR TIME TO SPEAK. OKAY. LISTEN, THE REASON WE'RE HAVING THE MEETING IS BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE THEIR TURN TO SPEAK. NOW LISTEN, I, I GET AND UNDERSTAND THAT SOME FOLKS ARE REALLY UPSET ABOUT THIS, RIGHT? LISTEN, NOT JUST HAVE IT, BUT THE WAY IT WAS BROUGHT AND ALL THAT. BUT IN ORDER TO GET TO THE END OF IT, WE NEED TO HEAR THE WHOLE PROCESS. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, LET THESE GENTLEMEN SPEAK, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GUYS. AND AT THE END, THERE WILL BE HOPEFULLY A RESOLUTION TO THIS. WE'LL KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU WANT, BUT LET'S BE RESPECTFUL TO ONE ANOTHER. SOME PEOPLE OVER HERE DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT. SOME PEOPLE OVER HERE DO. SOME PEOPLE OVER HERE WANT TO HEAR IT, SOME PEOPLE DON'T OVERHEAR IT'S OKAY. JUST LET US GET THROUGH IT. YEAH, IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE TIME, BUT IF WE DON'T, WE JUST END UP HERE STAYING LONGER, RIGHT. LET 'EM SPEAK, LET THEM TELL YOU WHAT IT IS. WE'LL [01:05:01] GET THROUGH THAT. WE'LL HAVE YOU SPEAK, WE'LL HAVE THE COUNCIL SPEAK, AND WE'LL FINALLY GET TO THE END OF THAT SO WE CAN GO HOME. ALRIGHT. OKAY. SO I, I THINK WE, WE ARE, WE ARE, ARE READY TO RESUME THE MEETING. IS, IS EVERYONE THREE MINUTES. OKAY. SO, UH, AGAIN, WE, WE, WE ARE GONNA, WE ARE GONNA RESUME THE MEETING. WE, THIS, THIS IS A, A BUSINESS MEETING. THE, THE PRESENTATION IS FOR THE ENTIRE PUBLIC, INCLUDING THOSE WATCHING ONLINE. WE ARE GONNA HAVE THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION. WHEN THE PRESENTATION IS OVER, YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM. WE WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE. OKAY? SO, UH, IF WE CAN, UH, CONTINUE WITH THE PRESENTATION. UH, MR. WILLIAMS, THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR INVITING US HERE TO, UH, SHARE SOME FACTS AND PRESENT TO YOU. SO I APPRECIATE IT. UM, ANOTHER DESIGN, UH, VALUE THAT WE HAVE IS CONSISTENCY, WHICH REQUIRES STANDARD PRACTICES THAT ALLOW PERSONNEL TO WORK TOGETHER EFFECTIVELY AND FOSTER COHESION ACROSS VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND JURISDICTIONS. UH, BUT WE RECOGNIZE FLEXIBILITY, UH, IS ALSO NEEDED IN OUR OPERATIONS. SO WE MUST BE ADAPTABLE TO ANY SITUATION AND SHOULD ACCOMMODATE VARYING LEVELS OF MULTI-AGENCY AND MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL COORDINATION. A PATHWAY HOME CONSISTS OF FOUR DISTINCT PHASES. THERE'S A PLANNING PHASE, WHICH IS THE FOUNDATION TO A STRONG ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION, AND HOW WE'RE GONNA BUILD TRUST, UH, WITH OUR ENCAMPED RESIDENTS, UH, AT A, FOR AN EFFORT TO PREPARE FOR THE NECESSARY INFORMATION, PERSONNEL, PROCEDURES, AND RESOURCES THAT ALIGN WITH THE FORECASTED OPERATIONAL NEEDS OF ENCAMPMENT, RESIDENTS, THE JURISDICTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING THEM. UH, THE RESPONSE PLAYS IS THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE OF THE ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION EFFORTS WHERE PLANS TURN INTO ACTION, UH, AND ALL PARTNERS BEGIN IMPLEMENTING, UH, THEIR TASK TO ACHIEVE THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE THROUGH UNITY OF EFFORT. UH, THIS PHASE BEGINS WHEN ASSETS AND RESOURCES, UH, ARE ALIGNED, UH, FOR A SPECIFIC ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION EFFORT. AND IT ENDS WHEN ALL ENCAMP RESIDENTS ARE SAFELY PLACED INTO THE INTERIM HOUSING SITE. UH, THE STABILIZATION PHASE OF WHERE ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS ARE FOCUSED. ON THE SECOND OBJECTIVE OF BRINGING IN HOUSING FOCUSED SUPPORTS OF FORMERLY UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS, COLLABORATING WITH THEM ON A VIABLE PATHWAY TO PERMANENT HOUSING, ATTENDING TO THEIR PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL SUPPORT NEEDS, AND EVENTUALLY EXITING THEM SAFELY FROM INTERIM HOUSING TO PERMANENT HOUSING. AND THE MITIGATION PHASE IS THE PHASE FOCUS ON REDUCING THE LIKELIHOOD OF RETURNS TO UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS, AND IS PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON MITIGATING, UH, THE TARGETED LOCATIONS WHERE ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTIONS OCCURRED. SO THOSE PLACES CAN BE COME BACK TO COMMUNITY SPACES. UH, WE'VE DESIGNED AN EFFECTIVE ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION PROGRAM FOR BOTH THE PEOPLE WE PLAN TO SERVE AND THE COMMUNITIES. UH, THEY OCCUR IN, UH, WE'VE, THE DESIGN VALUES WE CREATED, UH, WEREN'T CREATED IN A VACUUM, UH, BUT LEVERAGED PRINCIPLES, UH, AND BEST PRACTICES FROM STUDIES AND AGENCIES APPLYING THEM CURRENTLY. UH, NEXT I'LL PASS IT TO MY COLLEAGUE, MARCO ANA, UH, TO GO OVER IT MORE INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE PATHWAY HOME PROGRAM AND ITS CORE COMPONENTS. I'LL TRY TO SPEAK INTO THIS MIC, BUT IF IT DOESN'T WORK, OH, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL KEEP TO THIS. OH, CAN ANYONE, CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? YES. OKAY. IF YOU ALL DON'T, FEEL FREE TO LET ME KNOW. I KNOW YOU GUYS, I KNOW YOU GUYS WILL. UM, SO, UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE, UH, PATHWAY HOME PROJECT, OBVIOUSLY. UM, AND WE WANT TO COME AND SHARE INFORMATION ON HOW THIS IS A FULL CIRCLE SOLUTION FOCUSED ON HOUSING STABILITY. AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, ON THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE, THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT'S APPROPRIATELY TITLED PATHWAY HOME, AS THAT'S OUR SHARED GOAL, I THINK, FOR EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING FOLKS OFF THE STREETS AND INTO A PATHWAY TO HOUSING TO DO SO. WE COME AT THIS HOLISTICALLY AND IN A CON AND IN A CONCENTRATED MANNER, ADDRESSING ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION, WHERE WE IDENTIFY WITH YOUR HOPE AND, UH, THE LATA TEAMS, THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON YOUR STREETS THAT WE WANNA BRING INDOORS. NEXT, WE MOVE INTO THE INTERIM HOUSING OPTIONS, WHICH IS WHERE WE PROVIDE A VARIED LIST OF INTERIM HOUSING, UH, SOLUTIONS. PATHWAY HOME IS LARGELY MOTEL BASED INTERIM HOUSING, AND THAT'S THE MAIN OFFER THAT WE PROVIDE OUR PARTICIPANTS. AND WE SEE A HIGH SUCCESS RATE OF FOLKS ACCEPTING THAT WE THEN MOVE ON TO CONNECTION TO SERVICES. SO I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY AND PIVOTAL FOR THAT. WHEN FOLKS MOVE INTO SHELTER, WE IMMEDIATELY WRAP THEM AROUND WITH SERVICES, RIGHT? WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THAT. AND WE, AND WE'RE HERE TO TELL YOU THAT ONCE WE PLACE FOLKS IN A PATHWAY HOME OPERATION, [01:10:01] WE TWO TO THREE WEEKS OUT HAVE A MULTI-LEVEL, UH, GOVERNMENTAL APPROACH WHERE WE WORK WITH COUNTY DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS THE REGISTRAR RECORDER'S OFFICE. UM, WE HAVE SOME PARTICIPANTS THAT HAVE PETS, AND SO WE'LL HAVE ANIMAL ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL. WE WORK WITH THE SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT, UH, OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE THERE GETTING, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND SO ON. UH, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE CALIFORNIA DMV ON SITE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE EVERYONE THAT'S AT A PATHWAY HOME LOCATION HAS PROPER IDENTIFICATION. UH, ONCE FOLKS ARE, ARE ENGAGED AND CONNECTED TO SERVICES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS THAT THEY'RE CONNECTING TO HOUSING. AND SO WE FULLY FUND, UH, WE PRE-FUND HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES FOR ALL THE PARTICIPANTS, UH, FOLLOWED BY PATHWAYS TO PERMANENT HOUSING, AND THAT CAN COME IN THE FORM OF TIME, LIMITED SUBSIDIES, FORMERLY KNOWN AS RAPID REHOUSING FOR A, FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, UM, OR MOVEMENT INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, I SPOKE ABOUT THE CONNECTION TO SERVICES AND HOW WE ENGAGE WITH VARIOUS FORMS OF, UH, COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL DEPARTMENTS AS WELL. UH, THIS IS WHAT A SERVICE CONNECT DAY LOOKS LIKE. WE HAVE A FLYER THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE SITE. UM, OUR SERVICE PROVIDER, AS SOON AS PARTICIPANTS ARE MOVED IN, THEY'RE ENGAGED DAILY, MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING WELLNESS CHECKS AND SO ON. UM, AND THEN THEY START TO INFORM OUR PARTICIPANTS AFTER THEY'VE HAD A COUPLE DAYS TO, YOU KNOW, COME, COME TO KIND OF THING. UM, THEY ENGAGE WITH THEM AND TALK TO 'EM ABOUT, UH, TWO TO THREE WEEKS FROM THAT OPERATION, HOW THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO COME ON SITE, CONNECT TO, UH, HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH AND VARIOUS SOUTHERN COUNTY SERVICES. AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE COUNTY BRINGING, UH, SETTING A DAY, UH, AND BRINGING ALL THESE SERVICES TO THE FOLKS, RIGHT? USUALLY WE HEAR ABOUT HOW THERE'S BARRIERS AND FOLKS AREN'T ABLE TO GO TO APPOINTMENTS, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, DO WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE. WE'RE LITERALLY BRINGING THESE SOLUTIONS TO YOU ALL. UM, JUST SOME NUMBERS TO SHARE. WE HAVE, UH, WE'VE SEEN THAT THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE CONNECT EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD, BOTH AT PATHWAY HOME. AND AS WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND THEIR INSIGHT SAFE PROGRAM, WE'VE SEEN A OVER TWO THIRDS SUCCESS RATE OF HAVING FOLKS ENGAGE AND CONNECT TO THOSE VITAL SERVICES. UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, AS I MENTIONED, SOME OF THE VITAL SERVICES ARE BIRTH CERTIFICATES, CONNECTING TO VETERAN SERVICES AS WE HAVE THE COUNTY'S MILITARY AND VETERAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT THERE, UM, DMV AND SO ON, AND, AND OTHERS THAT I'VE MENTIONED ALREADY. UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO, UH, WE HAVE ALL THIS INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE. WE'RE FULLY TRANSPARENT. YOU CAN GO AND SEE SOME OF THE VIDEOS THAT WE'VE DONE. WE'LL ACTUALLY SHARE A COUPLE, UH, SHORTLY. UM, BUT IN THE 16 OPERATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE THIS LAUNCHED IN AUGUST OF 20, OF 2023, UM, WE'VE MOVED IN A TOTAL OF 629 FOLKS OFF OF THE STREETS AND INTO INTERIM HOUSING. WE'VE REMOVED OVER 390 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES OFF OF OUR STREETS ACROSS THE COUNTY. AND WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY, AND THIS IS AS OF APRIL, UM, SUCCESSFULLY MOVED IN OVER 95 FOLKS, AND WE ANTICIPATE, UH, ONE OF OUR SITES MOVING IN, UH, MAJORITY OF THEIR PARTICIPANTS IN THE COMING WEEKS AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OH, I THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE OLD POWERPOINT, BUT IT'S OKAY. UH, SO PATHWAY HOME. UH, SO AS I MENTIONED, WE'VE HAD OVER 16 EVENTS OR 16 OPERATIONS. HERE'S A LIST. I KNOW IT'S PRETTY SMALL TO LOOK AT, BUT ONE OF OUR MOST RECENT ONES I KNOW, UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS MENTIONED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING WAS AT, UH, THE MONROEVILLE DUARTE AREA. IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION. IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT. UH, WE WERE THERE FROM 8:00 AM UNTIL ABOUT 6:00 PM AND WE'RE ABLE TO BRING, UH, THE MOTEL TO FULL CAPACITY. UM, BUT WE'VE HAD 15 OTHER EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THEN. UM, WE'RE ALSO PLANNING SOME UPCOMING OPERATIONS. OUR NEXT ONE IS TARGETED AND WILL BE OCCURRING IN THE CITY OF PALMDALE. UH, EVERYONE THERE AT THE CITY, UH, YOU KNOW, AT THE COUNTY AS WELL, IS EXTREMELY EXCITED FOR THIS OPERATION TO HAPPEN. UM, WE'RE, UH, WE'RE WORKING TO IDENTIFY AN OPERATION IN THE ENTE VALLEY AREA, UH, AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING TO IDENTIFY A COUPLE OPERATIONS ALONG THE 1 0 5 CORRIDOR AND METRO SEA LINE AREA. UM, AND THIS IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR PATHWAY HOME PROGRAM. UH, THE PROJECT THAT I JUST REFERENCED IS IN LARGE PART DUE TO, UM, A $52 MILLION GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE BECAUSE OF HOW EFFECTIVE PATHWAY HOME HAS BEEN, JUST IN THE SHORT EIGHT MONTHS THAT WE'VE, THAT WE'VE CONCEIVED THIS PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. UM, HERE'S A VIDEO OF ONE OF THE OPERATIONS THAT WE'VE HELD. UH, THIS WAS ACTUALLY, SO THIS OCCURRED IN, SORRY. IT'S OKAY. IT'S, I'LL SPEAK AFTER YOU. HERE I AM MARI BARROSO. I AM THE OUTREACH LEAD FOR THIS OPERATION. [01:15:01] AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE'S NOT MANY BEDS OUT HERE IN THIS AREA, THANKS TO THE CITY OF MONROVIA, CITY OF DUI. I WANNA GIVE THANKS TO THE OUTREACH WORKERS, BOOTS ON THE GROUND. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR SIX MONTHS, TWICE A WEEK, EVEN MORE AT TIMES. AND RAINERS SHINE, THEY'RE HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR DIFFICULT CLIENTS, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD. GO TEAM . YEAH. WE'RE HERE IN THE CITY OF MONROVIA BEHIND THE, UH, MONROVIA CITY LIBRARY, WHERE THERE'S, UH, SEVERAL ENC CAMPED INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE HELPING OUT TODAY TO OFFER CREDIBLE HOUSING, UH, SERVICES AND PROVIDING THEM A PATHWAY TO PERMANENT, UH, HOUSING. I'VE BEEN LIVING OUT HERE FOR TWO YEARS. I WAS MARRIED FOR EIGHT YEARS. I LOST MY WIFE, AND I WAS NEVER ON THE LEASE, SO I GOT EVICTED. HI, MR. DAVID. THAT'S WHAT BEEN CALLED ME. NO, MIKE. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO HELP YOU. I KNOW THAT IT WASN'T EASY TO TRUST, BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO OPEN UP. WELL, THANK YOU. I REALLY HOPE THE BEST YOU, HOW APPRECIATE YOU ARE. COME ON. OKAY. WE'RE HERE IN DUATE TODAY, UH, AT THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER, UM, WHERE WE ARE HELPING A COUPLE OF BROTHERS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOR OVER 15 YEARS, ACTUALLY GET INTO OUR PATHWAY HOME PROGRAM AND GET THEM ON THE ROAD TO A PATHWAY TO PERMANENT HOUSING. WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE ME AND MY BROTHER WERE THE LAST TWO HERE. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF HERE TOGETHER. UM, I DON'T THINK WE COULD HAVE MADE IT BY OURSELVES. YEAH, YOU, YOU GUYS ARE REALLY GOOD THOUGH. YOU GETTING UP RIGHT IN THERE AND YOU GOTTA PUSH IT, YOU KNOW? UH, I THINK YOU GO ALL VERY MUCH. IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT EVERY DAY SOMEBODY TAKES TIME WITH YOU. YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE, THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE, UM, UN HOMED PEOPLE OF OUR CITY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, 10 YEARS PLUS. WE ALL KNOW THEM. WE SEE THEM EVERY DAY. AND TO ALLOW THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP IS JUST PRICELESS. ENOBI HAS A GREAT PROGRAM TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A BRICKS AND MORTAR EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE STREETS. SO IT'S TIME. WE CAN'T JUST PRETEND THAT THE PROBLEM DOESN'T EXIST. IT EXISTS, AND PEOPLE INRO ARE CONCERNED. I THINK THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I HAD A, A HOMELESS PERSON IN MONROVIA ONCE, SAY THIS TO ME. HE SAID, I DON'T HAVE A HOUSE, BUT I HAVE A HOME. IT'S CALLED MONROVIA. THESE PEOPLE ARE FROM MONROVIA, AND THIS PROJECT IS GONNA HOUSE PEOPLE FROM MONROVIA. I'M TIRED, I'M OLD, YOU KNOW, AND I JUST SAID, I'M GONNA TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY I COULD DO TO HELP MYSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU ONLY GET THIS KIND OF OPPORTUNITY ONCE, YOU KNOW, NONE OF US NEED BE ON THE STREET. NONE OF US. I MEAN, I, I REALLY DON'T LIKE SEEING VETERANS ON THE STREET. I DON'T LIKE SEEING ANYBODY ON THE STREET. THERE'S THIS AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. UM, AS MENTIONED, UH, SO THIS IS ONE OF ACTUALLY THE MOST RECENT OPERATION WHICH WE HAD, WHICH OCCURRED IN THE MONROVIA DUARTE, UH, AND NEIGHBORING CITIES AREA. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS THERE, YOU, YOU HEARD TWO DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM TWO DIFFERENT CITIES SPEAK. UM, THIS OPERATION OCCURRED IN SUPERVISED ZERO DISTRICT FIVE, UH, AND IT WAS AN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL OPERATION, AS YOU COULD SEE, IF, IF YOU WERE TO GO TO THE OPERATION THE DAY OF, OR EVEN THEREAFTER, YOU WOULD SEE FOLKS, UH, SAFELY SHELTERED THERE. UM, AND, AND HAPPY, UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO, THERE'S, UH, SO AS, AS, AS YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE MENTIONED AND REFERENCED IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXCITED TO EDUCATE YOU ALL ON WHAT A PATHWAY HOME OPERATION IS, UM, FURTHERING THAT THERE'S A FEW COMPONENTS THAT, UH, ARE PIVOTAL AND THEY'RE CORE TO PATHWAY HOME. UH, YOU SEE THEM HERE, AND I'LL, I'LL REFERENCE THEM BRIEFLY IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES. BUT, UH, IT STARTS WITH A MOTEL AGREEMENT. YOU KNOW, ONCE WE'VE IDENTIFIED A MOTEL AND HAVE HAD FURTHERING CONVER CONVERSATIONS, UM, MOTO SERVICES AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE MOTO SERVICE PROVIDER, [01:20:01] HOUSING NAVIGATION, HOUSING SUBSIDIES, AND THE OPERATIONAL PLANNING, UH, AND TIMELINE, WHICH MY COLLEAGUE RENEE WILLIAMS WILL, WILL SPEAK ON NEXT, PLEASE. SO, THE FIRST CORE COMPONENT IS A MOTEL AGREEMENT. UH, SO ONCE WE'VE IDENTIFIED A MOTEL PARTNER, ONCE WE'VE HAD THESE SORTS OF MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY, ONCE THE COUNCIL AND EVERYONE IS ON BOARD, UH, THE WAY IT WORKS IS THAT AFTER WE'VE IDENTIFIED IT AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, FULL STEAM AHEAD KIND OF THING, RIGHT? UM, THE COUNTY GETS INTO A FULL OCCUPANCY AGREEMENT WITH THE MOTEL. AND SO JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN HAVING A LEASE OF THE MOTEL SITE. UM, WHAT WE DO IS THAT WE GET INTO A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE OCCUPYING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THOSE ROOMS THERE, OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER PERCENTAGE IT MIGHT BE. UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HIGHLIGHT THIS IS THAT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DISPLACING ANY OF THE, THE HOTEL STAFF, RIGHT? THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING THERE DAY TO DAY THAT HAVE JOBS THAT DEPEND ON THE MOTEL, ARE STILL RELYING ON THIS, ARE STILL WORKING, UM, AND THEY'RE STILL DOING THEIR DAY-TO-DAY JOBS AS THEY ARE. UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, AS WE GET INTO THESE OPERATIONS, WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO AVOID DISPLACING ANY LONG-TERM TENANTS THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE STAYED THERE BEFORE SIGNING ANY SORT OF AGREEMENT. UM, LA COUNTY MUST DOCUMENT THE STATUS OF ALL ROOMS, COMMON AREAS, AND PARTIC, UH, TO PRIOR TO PARTICIPANT OCCUPANCY. UM, AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, WE DO HAVE UNLIMITED 24 7 ACCESS TO ALL RESERVED ROOMS. SO WE'LL HAVE FULL OVERSIGHT AND CONTROL OF THE SITE, UH, AND THEN JUST SOME, SOME, UM, NICHE DETAILS. BUT THE MOTEL OWNER WOULD THEN DIRECTLY BILL US FOR, UH, OCCUPANCY FOR THE ARREARS, FOR THE MOTEL SITE AT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OF THE RATE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UH, THE NEXT IS THE MOTEL. OH, THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. UH, THE NEXT IS THE MOTEL BASED INTERIM HOUSING SERVICES. SO WE HAVE THE BUILDING, WE'RE MOVING THE FOLKS IN. WHAT COMES NEXT? THE ONSITE CASE MANAGEMENT, RIGHT? UM, SO THE, THE CEO HI TEAM, UH, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS, UH, ONLY THE, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE HOMELESS INITIATIVE TEAM, UH, HAS, UH, A APPROVAL OF THE PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE, ARE ABLE TO BE REFERRED TO THE SITES WE WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY, WITH OUTREACH TEAMS, UH, AND WITH ALL OTHER PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY A BY NAME LIST. UM, AND WE'LL GO INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THAT AGAIN. UM, BUT ULTIMATELY AS WE WORK TO IDENTIFY THESE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING TO IDENTIFY WHO IS GOING TO OCCUPY THE SITE ITSELF. UM, THE SITE, THE SITE IS NOT OPEN FOR WALK-UPS OR DIRECT REFERRALS. AND JUST ONE THING TO HIGHLIGHT AS WELL IS THAT WHILE PARTICIPANTS ARE AT THE SITE, THEY CAN ALSO NOT HAVE GUESTS, UM, JUST POPPING INTO THE SITE, UH, HERE AND THERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY OR NIGHT AS WELL. UM, THE PROVIDER MUST PROVIDE LOW BARRIER TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES AND DIRECT SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INCLUDE 24 HOUR BED AVAILABILITY, STAFFING AND SECURITY AS WELL. A A 24 HOUR BASIS, RESIDENTIAL MONITORING, ONSITE CASE MANAGEMENT, LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, MEAL DELIVERY, AND HARM REDUCTION, UH, SERVICES. UM, AND THEN SOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT COME WITH THAT INCLUDE HOUSING FOCUSED CASE MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS ISN'T THEIR FINAL STOP, RIGHT? THIS IS THE, THE, THE OPERATION ITSELF IS CALLED PATHWAY HOME. THIS IS JUST A STEP OF THE OPERATION, AND OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GET THEM HOUSED, UM, ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS THAT COME WITH IT, SUCH AS DOCUMENT READINESS, GETTING THEM READY TO MOVE INTO HOUSING, UH, AND HMIS DOCUMENTATION. AND, UH, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, THE MAXIMUM LENGTH OF STAY FOR PARTICIPANTS IS, UH, IS SIX MONTHS. UM, EXCEPTIONS ARE APPROVED BY THE HI TEAM AS THEY COME UP. WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE'S JOURNEY IS DIFFERENT. SO AT MONTH SIX, NOT ONLY ARE WE NOT GONNA JUST SAY, HEY, IT'S SIX MONTHS, YOU GOTTA GO. UH, TYPICALLY LEADING UP TO THIS, THE HI TEAM IS WORKING AND HAVING CASE CON REGULAR CASE CONFERENCE SESSIONS WITH THE ONSITE SERVICE PROVIDER, THE HOUSING NAVIGATION TEAM, AND ALL OF THEIR PARTNERS, UM, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING A CASE PLAN AND THAT WE KNOW A POTENTIAL TIMELINE FOR THESE PARTICIPANTS. AND IF JOHNNY DOES, ISN'T ABLE TO MOVE OUT AT SIX MONTHS, HE NEEDS TO MOVE OUT AT EIGHT MONTHS OR SO ON, WE KNOW WELL AHEAD OF THAT, THAT WE'RE GONNA LIKELY REQUIRE MORE TIME FOR THIS PARTICIPANT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. HOUSING NAVIGATION. EVERYONE LOVES HOUSING NAVIGATION, RIGHT? UM, AS WE WORK TO PLACE FOLKS IN SHELTER, WE'RE ALSO WORKING TO ADDRESS THEIR HOUSING, RIGHT? THAT'S, AS I MENTIONED, THE ULTIMATE GOAL. SO JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME OF THAT INFORMATION. UM, THE COUNTY, AGAIN, UH, THE HI TEAM FUNDS, UH, THE HOUSING NAVIGATION EFFORTS. THIS IS BROKEN OUT IN A ONE TO 20, UH, CASELOAD RATIO. SO FOR EVERY 20 PARTICIPANTS, THERE IS ONE HOUSING NAVIGATOR. UM, AND PART OF THEIR GOALS ARE TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, LAND AND LANDLORDS TO INCREASE PERMANENT HOUSING OPTIONS FOR ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS. UM, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO WORK TO PROVIDE FOLKS HOUSING FOCUSED, CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO THOSE PARTICIPANTS, AS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. THAT INCLUDES [01:25:01] DOCUMENT READINESS, CONNECTING THEM TO OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH, UM, GETTING THEM TO THEIR JUST REGULAR HEALTH APPOINTMENTS AS WELL IF NECESSARY. UM, AND SO ON. UM, AND THEY, UH, THROUGH HOUSING NAVIGATION, THEY ALSO PROVIDE LIMITED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TOWARD MOVE, MOVE-IN EX, UH, MOVE-IN EXPENSES, WHICH CAN COME AS APPLICATION FEES, SECURITY DEPOSITS, AND SO ON. UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYONE'S HOUSING SEARCH IS DIFFERENT, AND SO THAT NAVIGATOR, UH, THAT WE BRING ON THEIR, THEIR GOAL IS REALLY TO WORK WITH THAT PARTICIPANT AND MAKE A UNIQUE CASE PLAN FOR THEM AS WELL THROUGHOUT THAT TIME. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. TIME LIMITED SUBSIDIES. SO, UH, THIS WAS REFERENCED EARLIER. WE ALSO PROVIDE, UH, ONCE, ONCE THEY'VE IDENTIFIED HOUSING AND A UNIT TO MOVE INTO, LET'S SAY THEIR HOUSING NAVIGATOR HAS WORKED TO HELP THEM, UH, THROUGH A SECURITY DEPOSIT AND HELP THEM MOVE IN. UH, TYPICALLY THERE, THERE'S ALSO A TIME LIMITED SUBSIDY PROVIDER. WHAT THEY DO IS THEY ENSURE THAT PARTICIPANTS, UH, ARE ABLE TO STAY IN THE UNIT. SO THEY WILL LITERALLY PAY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TOWARDS THEIR MONTHLY RENT IF NECESSARY. BUT THEIR ALSO ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GET THEM, UH, STABILIZED IN THEIR HOUSING. AND SO, IF THAT COMES WITH WORKING ON EMPLOYMENT, WORKING ON CONNECTING TO BENEFITS SUCH AS GR, SOCIAL SECURITY, UM, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE, THE TIME LIMITED SUBSIDY PROVIDER REALLY WORKS TO ENSURE THAT ONCE OUR PARTICIPANT HAS EXITED FROM PATHWAY HOME, THAT THEY'RE STABLY HOUSED. AND THERE'S BEEN, UH, SEVERAL RESEARCH DONE, WHICH I WON'T FULLY REFERENCE TODAY, BUT THAT SHOWS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TIMELY SUBSIDY AS WELL. UM, AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS BEFORE WE MOVE INTO A TIME LIMITED SUBSIDY FOR EVERY PARTICIPANT, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT A FEW DIFFERENT FACTORS, RIGHT? TIME LIMITED SUBSIDY IS LITERALLY WHAT IT SAYS. A TIME-LIMITED SUBSIDY. THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT PATHWAY FOR, FOR FOLKS. AND SO THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, UH, OUR CASEWORKERS ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY, DO THEY NEED TO MOVE TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING? CAN WE PROBLEM SOLVE THEM AND POTENTIALLY MOVE THEM BACK IN WITH A FAMILY MEMBER, UH, IF WE WORK OUT A FEW THINGS. UM, AND SO THIS IS A VERY HOLISTIC APPROACH, RIGHT? WE'RE NOT JUST WASHROOMS AND REPEAT WITH EVERY PARTICIPANT THAT WE WORK WITH NEXT. UM, AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, RENEE. ALRIGHT, JUST LIKE YOU WERE, UH, THANK YOU MARCO. UH, MARCO DE DESCRIBED, DESCRIBED, UH, SOME OF THE MAJOR CORE COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM. UH, THIS SLIDE HERE REALLY DEPICTS, UH, SOME OF THE PLANNING TOOLS AS THE GENERAL EXAMPLE TIMELINE, UH, FOR SOME OF THESE RESOURCE ACQUISITIONS AND THEN PARTNERSHIPS TO OCCUR. SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IS A VERY GENERAL TIMELINE, UH, WITH MOTEL, MOTEL CANVASSING FROM TWO TO FOUR MONTHS, ANYWHERE BETWEEN THAT PERIOD OF TIME, LOCAL JURISDICTION ENGAGEMENT, WHERE WE HAVE, UH, AGAIN, EXPLORATORY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITIES TO FIND A WILLING PARTNER, UH, SERVICE PROVIDER ONBOARDING. WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT A SERVICE PROVIDER BUILDS CAPACITY, UH, AND WANTS TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH US, WANTS TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER IN THE COMMUNITY, WANTS TO BE ABLE TO, UH, PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. AND IT TAKES TIME FOR THEM TO BUILD THAT CAPACITY. UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PLANNING, UH, WE DIVIDE THAT INTO THE TWO STAGES. WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED WAS KIND OF THE ADVANCED PLANNING BETWEEN THE MOTEL CANVASING, THE LOCAL JURISDICTION ENGAGEMENT AND THE SERVICE PROVIDER ONBOARDING, AND THEN OPERATIONAL PLANNING WHERE WE, UH, GET MORE INTO TACTICAL DETAILS ABOUT THE OPERATION. UH, AND THEN WE HAVE TOOLS LIKE THE BASE FRAMEWORK, UH, YOU KNOW, A BASE PROTOCOL, A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, UM, HOW WE GET INTO DEVELOPING A BY NAME LIST, BY TAKING A REFERRAL FROM YOUR COMMUNITY OF THE PARTICIPANTS THAT WANNA BE SERVED FROM YOUR COMMUNITY. UH, THEN WE WORK WITH YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS. WE WOULD WORK WITH YOUR PUBLIC, UH, WORKS DEPARTMENTS, UH, AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT OPERATION SO THAT, AGAIN, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT EVERYBODY'S ROLE IS, COME THE DAY OF THE RESOLUTION. UM, A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND EFFORTS ARE EXPLORATORY. UH, AGAIN, WE'RE A COUNTY OF 88 CITIES. THIS IS REALLY FOCUSED ON THE 87 CITIES. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING ACROSS THE COUNTY TO DEPLOY A PATHWAY HOME. AND SO TOO, WE FIND A WILLING JURISDICTIONAL PARTNER TO COLLABORATE WITH A VIABLE MOTEL, AN INTERIM HOUSING SERVICE PROVIDER THAT CAN STAFF UP TO CAPACITY, UH, FOR SERVICE PER PARTICIPANTS AT THE SITE. IT'S ALL EXPLORATORY. AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAPPY HERE TO PROVIDE YOU SOME FACTUAL INFORMATION AND SHARE THIS PRESENTATION WITH YOU. NEXT SLIDE. ALRIGHT. UM, SO A LITTLE BIT, WE'RE MISSING ONE SLIDE, BUT THAT WAS OUR FAULT. BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT AGAIN, UH, JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHY HERE, WHY NOW? WHY WEST COVINO, WHY THE PUENTE VALLEY? UH, THIS PARTICULAR KIND OF ABOUT WAY WITHIN, UH, THE TWO 10, THE 60, THE 57, THE 6 0 5, AND THE 10 THAT CUTS, CUTS ACROSS THERE ARE LIMITED INTERIM HOUSING RESOURCES WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE A SAFE, STABLE, AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT THAT REALLY CAN HELP PEOPLE, UH, TO HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED, THE MEDICAL SERVICES IN A CENTRALIZED ENVIRONMENT OPPOSED TO BEING ON THE STREET [01:30:01] UNSHELTERED IN SURVIVAL MODE. UM, AND SO WHETHER IT BE WEST COVINA, WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT THE SUPPORT OR WHETHER IT BE, UH, ANOTHER SUB, YOU KNOW, SUB REGION WITHIN THIS CLUSTER, UH, HERE WE ARE STILL LOOKING TO PROVIDE INTERIM HOUSING RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY HERE, WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITIES HERE. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER WITH WEST COVINA TO DRAMATICALLY REDUCE YOUR UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS. UM, ACCORDING TO THE, UH, NEW COUNTS THAT JUST CAME OUT IN 2024, UM, SINCE THE LAUNCH OF PATHWAY HOME, AND SINCE THE LAUNCH OF, UH, THE CITY'S INSIDE SAFE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND COORDINATED APPROACHES, UH, TO REDUCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS HAVE BEEN HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT TO REDUCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS. UH, ACCORDING TO THE RECENT HOMELESS COUNT RELEASED LAST FRIDAY, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES HAS SEEN A 10% DECREASE IN ITS UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS. AND THE COUNTY OVERALL HAS, UH, SEEN A 5% DECREASE. UH, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANNA REDUCE, UH, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS. SO WE HAVE MORE PROGRESSIVE ENGAGEMENT, UH, WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AT A CENTRALIZED, SAFE, SECURE, AND STABLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY HAVE, AS MARCO SAID, FOOD, SHOWER, UH, SHOWERS, REFRIGERATION, A CLEAN BED, AND BETTER ACCESS TO MEDICAL AND OTHER SERVICES. SO THEY HAVE MOMENTS OF CLARITY, UH, REALLY TO GET OUT OF THAT SURVIVAL MODE AND MOVE THEM TO THEIR NEXT JOURNEY ON A PATHWAY TO PERMANENT HOUSING. UH, WITH THAT, THAT, UH, WE, WE HAVE ONE MORE VIDEO JUST TO SHOW YOU HERE, UH, JUST TO CONCLUDE. AND, UH, IF YOU CAN HIT PLAY PLEASE JUST A FEW MORE MINUTES. NORMALLY, WE, WE MAY GET ONE CLIENT IN ONE DAY, AND IT'LL BE A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE WE GET ANOTHER PERSON HOUSED. SO BEING ABLE TO GET, YOU KNOW, 35, YOU KNOW, OF OUR CLIENTS IN, IN ONE DAY IS LIKE, IT'S AN AMAZING FEELING. LIKE ALL THAT, IT'S LIKE OVERWHELMING ALMOST HOW, HOW COOL THIS IS. AND WE'VE SEEN THESE PEOPLE OUT HERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS COULD BE THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF THEIR LIFE, YOU KNOW, OF, OF STARTING OVER AND DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AND IT, IT'S, IT IS JUST REALLY COOL TO SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE AND ALL THIS WORK IN ONE DAY. AND YEAH, IT'S A REALLY NICE FEELING TO SEE THESE PEOPLE GETTING INSIDE. HEY, GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU DOING, KELLY? GOOD. TODAY'S THE BIG DAY. GOOD TO SEE YOU, . SYDNEY HILL IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT'S DONE ANYTHING, AND I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN HOMELESS SINCE ON THE STREET DAY AND NIGHT SINCE 2016. AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S TIRING. YOU KNOW, I HAVE A HERNIA AND MOVING STUFF BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH IS JUST, IT'S TOO MUCH. YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT EVERYBODY OUT HERE IS A DRUG ADDICT. NOT EVERYBODY OUT HERE HAS GOT METAL ISSUES. SOME OF US JUST HAD LIFE SHOW UP. YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT EASY AT ALL. NOT FUN BY ANY MEANS. MONKEY MON, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY OUT HERE. SOME OF 'EM HAVE BEEN OUT HERE A LONG TIME. UH, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY HAVE BEEN PROMISED OTHER RESOURCES AND BEEN LET DOWN. UH, SO YEAH, IT'S JUST BEING CONSISTENT, COMING OUT, YOU KNOW, EVERY WEEK. UH, YOU KNOW, JUST STARTING WITH, YOU KNOW, GETTING THEIR STORY, SHARING SOME OF YOUR STORY WITH THEM. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, OVER TIME YOU JUST GET TO KNOW THESE PEOPLE AND THEY BECOME MORE LIKE FRIENDS THAN CLIENTS. THE GOAL OF PATHWAY HOME, SIGNAL HILL IS FUNCTIONAL. ZERO HOMELESSNESS. SO THAT IS, UH, A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE CITY. UH, SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL, AGAIN, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ALL OF OUR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AT THIS POINT IN TIME BE MOVED INDOORS TO THIS LONG-TERM PROGRAM THAT'LL TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES. AND THEY WILL BE ON A PATH TO PERMANENT HOUSING, GET TO A PLACE THEY CALL HOME. JUST, IT'S JUST SUCH A HEARTWARMING MOMENT. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY FOR THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, WHICH HAS A POPULATION OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS LESS THAN 30. WE HAVE MORE ROOMS THAN THAT. AND SO TODAY WE'LL ACTUALLY GET TO EXPERIENCE FUNCTIONAL ZERO FOR THE FIRST TIME WITHIN A CITY, UH, WITHIN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, WHICH IS SUPER, SUPER EXCITING. DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN REPLICATE THIS WITH OTHER SMALLER CITIES WITHIN THE CITY, WITHIN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. I, 2, 3, 3, BUT YOU CAN, THAT'S YOUR NEW HOUSE. MOM'S YOUR NEW HOUSE. WHAT MAMA YOU GUYS ARE, IT'S AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION. IT, IT TRULY IS. IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE TRAVIS THAT ARE FRIENDLY ENOUGH TO WHERE YOU CAN CONNECT WITH THEM AND YOU OPEN UP AND BE HONEST, YOU KNOW, AND REALIZE THAT NOT EVERYBODY'S OUT THERE TO GET YOU, YOU KNOW, BUT BEING HOMELESS AND WE STEREOTYPE THE WAY WE ARE, UH, MOST OF US JUST WANNA BE LEFT ALONE, AND IT'S HURTING MOST OF US [01:35:01] RUN FROM, LIKE YOU SAID, RUN FROM THE SERVICES AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT OKAY. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT SUBHUMAN JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, MOMS, KIDS, YOU KNOW? WELL, THIS IS THE SECOND ROUND THAT, UM, PAT HAS HAD THE HONOR TO HELP WITH. IT'S HONESTLY VERY HEARTWARMING. AND IT'S, IT'S AN UNEXPLAINABLE FEELING. IT'S LIKE IF YOU SEE YOUR CHILD GROW INTO SUCCESS, RIGHT? UM, I KNOW THEIR JOURNEY HAS BEEN LONG BEFORE WE EVEN MET THEM. SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES THEY'RE IN AND OUT OF THE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SO FOR THEM TO FINALLY HAVE A ROOM TO FINALLY HAVE A BED AND A SHOWER, AND JUST SEEING THEM EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THE SIMPLE THINGS THAT WE MIGHT TAKE, AS FOR GRANTED, IT'S UNEXPLAINABLE AND JUST VERY FULFILLING. I FEEL GREAT. IT'S, IT'S GOOD. IT'S RELIEF TO NOT TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MOVING BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH, HUH? YOU KNOW, I USUALLY DON'T TELL MY STORY 'CAUSE TODAY'S ABOUT THE CLIENTS, BUT I WAS HOMELESS MYSELF FOR 14 YEARS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I HAD A SOCIAL WORKER HELP ME GET OFF THE STREETS, AND THAT'S WHAT MADE ME WANT TO DO THIS WORK. SO, I MEAN, DAYS LIKE THIS ARE, ARE WHAT I DO THIS JOB FOR, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, IT'S ALMOST OVERWHELMING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY EMOTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, I CAN RELATE WITH THE CLIENTS AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THIS CHANGES THEIR LIFE. ALL RIGHT. UH, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UH, AND, UH, AGAIN, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. IT WAS A PLEASURE, UH, TO PRESENT ACCURATE INFORMATION ON OUR PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE, WE WILL, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, MR. MR. MAYOR NOW, NOW WE'LL HAVE, UH, OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN IF ANY UNIN UNANSWERED QUESTIONS COME UP, WE'LL HAVE PATHWAY COME BACK UP AND RESPOND TO THAT. AND THEN AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A, A, A REPORT FOR COUNSEL TO RECEIVE NO ACTION AS NEEDED FROM COUNSEL TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO WE WILL NOW [ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Part 2 of 2)] MOVE ON TO, UH, ORAL COMMUNICATION ASSISTANT CITY CLERK. IF WE CAN, UH, CALL UP, UH, THE, THE FIRST, UH, PUBLIC SPEAKERS. YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU, JOE. FOLLOWED BY STEVEN PRITCHARD, FOLLOWED BY JOHN CARSON. I AM GONNA GO AHEAD WITH STEVEN PRITCHARD, FOLLOWED BY JOHN CARSON CITY CLERK. CAN WE MAYBE CALL THREE AT A TIME? SO, YES. I WAS JUST GONNA PUT JOE AT THE END OF THOSE THREE, SO I OH, THANK YOU. YES. UM, EXCUSE ME. MY NAME IS STEVEN PRITCHARD. I AM A HOMEOWNER, A TAXPAYER, AND PARENT OF THREE SCHOOL AGED DAUGHTERS. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE PATHWAY HOME PROJECT. STUDIES CONSISTENTLY SHOW THAT PROVIDING STABLE HOUSING REDUCES HEALTHCARE COSTS, DECREASES INTERACTIONS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND IMPROVES OVERALL COMMUNITY WELLBEING. I KNOW MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY STRUGGLE WITH THE CURRENT COST OF LIVING. MANY OF US HAVE GROWN CHILDREN AND ELDERLY PARENTS LIVING WITH US BECAUSE FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. LET'S ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A PRIVILEGE, AND REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERYONE HAS THIS OPTION. SEEING THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION AND FEAR ED ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS DISHEARTENING. MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS ONLY SERVE TO DIVIDE US AND PERPETUATE HARMFUL STEREOTYPES ABOUT UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS. THE CONSTANT OTHERING AND CRIMINALIZATION OF OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS ARE NOT ONLY UNJUST, BUT ALSO COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE OFTEN VICTIMS OF CIR CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, SUCH AS JOB LOSS, ILLNESS, OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THEY DESERVE OUR EMPATHY AND SUPPORT, NOT OUR CONDEMNATION AS WE LAND EARLIER. WE'RE CURRENTLY UNDER A HEAT ADVISORY THAT EXTENDS THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY, AND POSSIBLY BEYOND GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF ENCAMPMENTS AND INTO SAFE HOUSING, SAVES LIVES. CONDEMNING PEOPLE TO LIVE OUTSIDE IN SUCH EXTREME CONDITIONS IS BOTH INHUMANE AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY. THE PATHWAY HOME PROJECT REPRESENTS A CHANCE FOR WEST COVINA TO LEAD WITH COMPASSION AND INTELLIGENCE. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE VALUE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BELIEVE IN SOLUTIONS THAT UPLIFT RATHER THAN MARGINALIZE. AS A PARENT, I WANT MY DAUGHTERS TO GROW UP IN A COMMUNITY THAT VALUES EMPATHY, INCLUSIVITY, AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND REGE RE REJECT THE DIVISIVE NARRATIVES THAT SEEK TO DERAIL IT. THANK YOU. [01:40:01] JOHN CARSON, FOLLOWED BY JOE, FOLLOWED BY TED WONG. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME'S JOHN CARSON LONG, UH, TIME RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA. UM, I'D LIKE TO TALK TONIGHT ABOUT THE PATHWAY. UM, HOMELESS SHELTER. THAT'S WHAT PROGRAM. UM, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THE, UH, PATHWAY, HOMELESS SHELTER IN WEST COVINA FOR A LOT OF REASONS. HOW MUCH MONEY HAS CALIFORNIA SPENT ON HOMELESS PROGRAMS SO FAR? SEVERAL BILLIONS. 24 BILLION. HOW MUCH? FIVE. OKAY. LAST I CHECKED ONLY TO SEE A RISE IN THE HOMELESSNESS. I SEE THE SAME OLD IDEAS BEING USED FALL WITH FAILURES. THIS IS MOSTLY MENTAL AND DRUG ADDICTION PROBLEMS. WE ARE NOT HELPING THE HOMELESS. NO CIVILIZED COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE THEIR CITIZENS LIVING ON THE STREET. SOMETHING IS DRASTICALLY WRONG. WE NEED TO HELP THE HOMELESS WITH REAL SOLUTIONS THAT WORK. I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE PROGRAM THAT MAKES SENSE. THESE ARE OUR, OUR TAXPAYER MONEY. THIS IS EVERYBODY'S MONEY THAT'S GOING INTO THIS, UH, BEING USED. WHETHER IT'S FEDERAL OR STATE, IT'S OUR MONEY LAWS NEED TO CHANGE SO THAT WE CAN REALLY TAKE STEPS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. NOT MAKE IT WORSE. THERE HAS BEEN, THERE HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ANY PROGRAM TO WORK. THIS ALSO INCLUDES CRIME. NO RULES IN THE SHELTER IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND THE LOCATION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. IT'S TOO CLOSE TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND I KNOW WHAT IT DRAWS IN. TRUST ME, I KNOW THIS. UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH VERY GOOD INTENTIONS THAT PROVIDE HELP FOR THE HOMELESS, AND I AGREE WITH THAT. I DEFINITELY AGREE. WE SHOULD SHOW COMPASSION. WHAT I SEE IN OUR STREET IS HEARTBREAKING. THIS IS NOT A HOUSING FIRST ISSUE. I SEE OUR STATE DECLINING AT A RAPID RATE WITH HOMELESSNESS AND CRIME. WE NEED COMPASSIONATE, WORKABLE SOLUTIONS WITH ACCOUNTABILITY. I UNDERLYING THE WORD ACCOUNTABILITY. THANK YOU, JOE. FOLLOWED BY TED HUANG, FOLLOWED BY EDDIE. GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. MY NAME'S JOE MARTINEZ. I STAND BEFORE YOU TO STRONG OPPOSE A PROPOSAL TO CONVERT THE OLD FIVE STAR END MOTEL INTO UNH PROJECT. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT DEMANDS OUR URGENT ATTENTION. THAT FIVE STAR HAS AN FEMINIST HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, CRIME, AND RAMPER RAPID DRUG USE. FOR YEARS, OUR COMMUNITY SUFFERED FROM THE CHAOS AND DANGER OF THE ESTABLISHMENT BROUGHT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN THE MOTEL FINALLY CLOSED, WE SAW SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. TO PROPOSE BRINGING IN AN UNHOUSED HOUSING PROJECT HERE IS NOT ONLY ILL ADVISED, BUT OUTRIGHT IRRESPONSIBLE. PLACING SUCH PROJECT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OUR SCHOOLS WHERE CHILDREN ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE AND FOCUSED, LEARNING AND UNACCEPTABLE. THE POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND DRUG USE POSSESS A DIRECT THREAT TO THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR YOUNGEST RESIDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, WHICH ARE VITAL TO OUR ECONOMY, HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE DIVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE INEVITABLE RISE IN CRIME AND DISORDER. WE, WE, WE NEED TO ONLY LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORING BALDWIN PARK TO SEE THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES. THEIR DECISION TO CONVERT MANY REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES INTO HOUSING. THE TRANSITION INDIVIDUALS FROM CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND THE UNHOUSED HAS LED TO AN INCREASE IN TRASH LEFT IN PUBLIC AREAS, DRUG USE AND CRIME. LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THIS AREAS HAVE SUFFERED TREMENDOUSLY, FACING HIGHER RATES, VANDALISM, THEFT, VIOLENT CRIME, AND DECLINING CUSTOMER FOOT TRAFFIC. THIS IS NOT THE FUTURE WE WANT IN OUR CITY OF WEST COVINA. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO ALLOW OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO REGRESS INTO A STATE OF CHAOS AND DANGER. THERE ARE OTHER MORE SUITABLE LOCATIONS FOR UNHOUSED HOUSING THAT DO NOT JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY IN, IN QUALITY OF OUR LIVES, RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. WE MUST FIND SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESS THAT ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE HARD EARNED SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FAMILIES. I, I URGE THE COUNCIL TO REJECT THE PROPOSAL. THIS IS PRECISELY WE PROTECT OUR CITY, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND OUR FAMILIES FROM VERY REAL DANGER [01:45:01] OF THIS PROJECT WOULD BRING. I ALSO ASK YOU COUNCIL PEOPLE, WHY DON'T YOU PUT SAFETY BEFORE YOU GREED, BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S MONEY THAT THE COUNTY IS GONNA PROVIDE. BUT AFTER WE, WE SEE THIS GREAT SHOW THAT THE COUNTY PUT TOGETHER, WE DON'T SEE WHAT THE CITY OF WEST COVINA IS GONNA DO FOR US. WHAT IS THE CITY OF WEST COVINA DOING TO PROTECT THAT FACILITY OTHER THAN ONE SECURITY GUARD? THAT'S 24 HOURS. THAT'S GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS. I HOPE YOU MOVE NEXT TO THAT MOTEL. OKAY. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR CAREER. THANK YOU. TED WONG, FOLLOWED BY EDDIE, FOLLOWED BY G GLENN HAMMOND, MAYOR COUNCIL PEOPLE. UH, I'M TED WONG, GENERAL MANAGER OF CRESTVIEW CADILLAC. I'M NOT HERE TO, I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST YOUR PROGRAM. I'M SPEAK AGAINST WHERE YOU'RE GONNA PUT IT. OKAY. WE ARE RIGHT NEXT TO THE FIVE STAR. LIKE WE I TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME. WHAT WE GONE THROUGH IS FIVE STAR. I DON'T WANNA REPEAT IT RIGHT NOW. 10 MINUTES FROM FIVE STAR. YOU HAVE A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON THE RIGHT AND WE ARE NEXT DOOR. LUXURY CAR DEALERSHIP. FIVE MORE MINUTES. YOU HAVE 40 50 SMALL BUSINESS OVER THERE. RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. YOU HAVE WHAT? ANOTHER 40 50 BUSINESS? THIS IS WHERE I'M AGAINST IT. OKAY. RIGHT NOW, THE FIVE STAR YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, THEY'RE A BUDGET FRIENDLY MOTEL. SO I WOULD SAY PROBABLY THEY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM OUT OUTSIDE OF TOWN. THEY, THEY STAY IN A MOTEL. OKAY. THE PEOPLE WHO CREATE A PROBLEM, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY SAY 5%. YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, 5% OF PEOPLE CAN CREATE A PROBLEM WHILE WE GONE THROUGH LOT DAMAGE ING DRUG. PEOPLE COMING TO OUR SHOWROOM SCREAM AND YELL AND, UH, VISIT, YOU KNOW, THEY ASK FOR MONEY AND VISIT OUR, UH, CUSTOMER LOUNGE. ON AND ON AND ON. AND THE LITTERING. WHEN YOU BECOME A PATHWAY HOME, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE THEY ARE WORKING, WHAT THEY GONNA DO DURING THE DAY? WHERE ARE THEY GONNA GO WHEN WE ONE WAY GO TO THE RIGHT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IN AND OUT AND SOME WHATEVER, THE BUSINESS OVER THERE. TURN LEFT RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO US. AND FIVE MORE MINUTES. 40, 50 SMALL BUSINESS. YOU THINK THAT'S SUITABLE? NO, I'M NOT HERE TO, AGAINST YOUR PROGRAM. I'M AGAINST WHERE IT'S AT. THANK YOU EDDIE. FOLLOWED BY GLENN HAMMOND. FOLLOWED BY SCOTT CHAMBERLAIN. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL MEMBERS. HEY BRIAN. YESTERDAY WE TALKED ABOUT GOING TO SEE A PATHWAY HOUSE, SIR, SO WE CAN HEAR YOU. IF YOU CAN MOVE UP. YES, THANKS. YESTERDAY, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT ME GOING TO SEE ANOTHER PATHWAY HOUSE TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. IT'S PEOPLE OUT FRONT. THERE WAS NO SECURITY GUARD, AMONA. UM, I STOOD OUT THERE FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. ONE WOULD COME OUT, GO WALK TO TO THE GATE, TAKE A VIDEO, WALK BACK TO THE BACK. THERE'S NOBODY THERE. TRASH CAN TRASH, UM, SHOPPING CARTS IN THE FRONT. I TALKED TO FRIENDS FROM MONROVIA. THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ONE THERE. UM, PUBLIC NUDITY, VANDALISM, SHOPPING CARTS, TRASH, UH, PEOPLE SLEEPING IN THE GRASS. IT'S JUST NOT A GOOD IDEA. WEST COVINA IS NOT A PLACE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY. GLENN HAMMOND, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT CHAMBERLAIN, FOLLOWED BY CAROL REYES. HI. I WORK FOR CHRISTOPHER KECK. UH, WE'RE CONSTANTLY HAVING PROBLEMS 'CAUSE I CLEAN AROUND ON OUR LOT AND I'M ALWAYS FINDING, I'M ALWAYS FINDING SYRINGES, DRUGS, CONDOMS. THERE'S PROSTITUTION GOING ON THERE. LAST WEEK THERE WAS A GUY THERE HANGING OUT A DOOR WITH A GUN, WAVING IT AT US. AND IT'S JUST GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. AND HAVING THESE PEOPLE COMING IN, I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA SOLVE THE PROBLEM. LOT OF 'EM ARE MENTAL, ALL THEIR OWN DRUGS, UH, KIDS AND, AND CITIZENS WALKING UP AND DOWN OUR SIDEWALKS. THEY'RE GONNA PICK UP ONE OF THOSE SYRINGES. KIDS GONNA PUT IT IN THEIR ARM. WHAT YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT? YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T JUST LET THIS PROBLEM GET ANY FARTHER BAD THAN WHERE IT IS NOW. SO THAT'S ALL GOTTA SAY THANK YOU. SCOTT CHAMBERLAIN, FOLLOWED BY CAROL REYES, FOLLOWED BY DR. JOSIE P PERUS, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M SCOTT CHAMBERLAIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR [01:50:01] OF THE SANGER VALLEY CONSORTIUM AND HOMELESSNESS. UH, I HAVE 36 YEARS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE VIDEOS THAT WE SAW ARE REAL LIFE SITUATIONS. THEY'RE INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVES WHEN THEY HAVE HOUSING WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES CAN BE CHANGED AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. WE ASK FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. BUT HERE'S AN EXAMPLE WHERE WE CAN SEE LIVES BEING CHANGED AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE, NO, NO, NO, NO, IT'S NOT GOOD ACCOUNTABILITY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT FOR US TODAY, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. A LOT OF THE COMPLAINTS, THOUGH, CAN BE ADDRESSED, HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. ISSUES OF SECURITY, ISSUES OF CASE MANAGER. IT'S BEEN FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN A COMMUNITY, UH, AND WHETHER OR NOT IT'S THAT HOTEL OR ANOTHER PLACE, BUT MOST OF THE HOTELS HAVE BEEN MARKED LOOKED AT, AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. MOST INDIVIDUALS THAT BECOME HOMELESS IN A SUBURBAN COMMUNITY, TWO THIRDS ARE ALREADY FROM THAT COMMUNITY. THERE'S A 30% OF INCREASE OF SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VETERANS, WE TALK ABOUT FAMILIES. UH, THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN BE HELPED IN THIS WAY. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS A HUMAN VALUE TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND. INDIVIDUALS. LEMME JUST KIND OF CLOSE WITH TWO DIFFERENT REALLY STRONGER ISSUES THAT I REALLY WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY. ONE IS JUST A LEGAL ASPECT IS THAT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO STAND UP AND TO SAY, THIS IS A PROJECT. IF NOT IN YOUR OWN HOUSING ELEMENT, IN YOUR OWN HOMELESS PLAN, YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO SOMETHING. IF YOU DON'T DO IT, THEN THIS COMES BACK AT SOME POINT AT A LATER DATE. AND THERE HAS BEEN OTHER CITIES. WE CAN GO UP AND DOWN SANGER VALLEY AND LA COUNTY, CITIES THAT DID NOT DO SOMETHING WHEN THEY HAD THE CHANCE CAN BE SUED. THERE'S DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES WHERE I SAY, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP. SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, THE CONSORTIUM IS NOT A FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION, BUT I'M AN ORDAINED ELDER. AND FROM A MORAL PERSPECTIVE, I APPRECIATED THE BENEDICTION. I CLOSE WITH THIS ISAIAH ONE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, OR WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE A CHILD OF ABRAHAM, THAT THE SCRIPTURES IMPLORE US INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING, OH, I'M A FOLLOWER OF JESUS, BUT THEN NOT FOLLOWING IT UP WITH OUR ACTIONS, WITH COMPASSION AND MERCY. IN ISAIAH ONE, IT SAYS, WASH AND MAKE YOURSELF CLEAN. TAKE EVIL DEEDS OUT OF YOUR SIGHT. STOP DOING WRONG. LEARN TO DO RIGHT. SEEK JUSTICE, DEFEND THE OPPRESSED. TAKE UP THE CAUSE OF THE FATHERLESS, AND PLEAD THE CASE OF THE WIDOW. AND SO I IMPLORE YOU TODAY THAT THIS IS NOT A TIME TO SHRINK BACK, BUT IT'S A GREAT TIME TO LEAD FOR THE LEAST OF THESE. I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS, BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE COURAGEOUS THING, TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY THIS, BUT ANY OTHER PROJECT FOR OUR UNHOUSED. BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THANK YOU. UH, CITY, CITY CLERK. BE, BE BE BEFORE, ONE MOMENT. BE BEFORE, BEFORE WE CONTINUE, UH, I KNOW THERE'S A A LOT OF PASSIONATE FEELINGS. WE, WE WANNA BE RESPECTFUL. THE, THE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO, TO SPEAK. UH, I UNDERSTAND THE EMOTIONS AND, AND, AND, AND THE CLAPPING AND THINGS. AND, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE'LL KIND A ALLOW, ALLOW A LOT OF THAT. UM, BUT IF, IF WE CAN JUST LET PEOPLE, UH, GET THROUGH THEIR COMMENTS AND THEN EVERYONE WILL HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE GONNA HEAR EVERYBODY OUT. UM, AGAIN, I THINK EVERYONE'S, YOU KNOW, BEEN FANTASTIC SO FAR. UH, AND SO LET US, UH, LET US CONTINUE. CITY CLERK CAROL REYES, FOLLOWED BY DR. JOSIE PERES. FOLLOWED BY PAUL. HELLO, MY NAME'S CAROL REYES. I'VE LIVED IN WEST COVINA FOR 70 YEARS. CAN YOU MOVE FORWARD A LITTLE BIT? THANK YOU. CAROL REYES. I'VE LIVED HERE IN WEST COVINA FOR 70 YEARS. MY FAMILY CAME HERE IN 1954 TO A BEAUTIFUL BRAND NEW CITY. THE FASTEST CITY GROWING IN, UH, AMERICA. IT'S GONE DOWNHILL TERRIBLY. I'M TOTALLY EMPHATICALLY AGAINST THE PATHWAY HOUSE THING. UM, I HAD A BROTHER-IN-LAW, WHO WAS HOMELESS BY CHOICE, DIDN'T WANNA WORK, AND HE CHOSE UP ALL ABOUT THE STREET. VIOLENT, NASTY DRUG ABUSE, ALCOHOLICS, VIOLENT PEOPLE, PROSTITUTES, AND UNFORTUNATELY MANY MENTALLY UNSTABLE PEOPLE. I DON'T WANT THE PATHWAY HOUSE ANYWHERE IN WEST COVINA, THE RED LINE OR ANY PLACE ELSE. ONLY BRING CRIME ON OUR CITY, WHICH ALREADY HAS PLENTY OF CRIME. 20 YEARS AGO, WE REPORTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE, ACROSS THE STREET, THEY WERE BRAZENLY SELLING DRUGS ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MANPOWER. SO WE'RE GONNA INTRO, INTRODUCE DRUG ADDICTS, ALCOHOLICS, PROSTITUTES, THE MENTALLY UNSTABLE INTO OUR CITY WITH NO POLICE 20 YEARS AGO. HAVE WE INCREASED YOU? WE JUST, I JUST, WE JUST GOT TOLD YOU DEVOTED TO DEFEND, TO DEFUND THEM. SO [01:55:01] WHY ARE YOU BRINGING IN MORE CRIME? THANK YOU, DR. JOSIE PERES, FOLLOWED BY PAUL, FOLLOWED BY ELSA. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, MY NAME IS JOSE PERES AND I'M THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR COVINA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING OVER 11,000 TK THROUGH 12TH GRADE STUDENTS, MOST OF WHO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA AND COVINA. ON JULY 1ST, COVINA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAME AWARE THAT THE CO THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PROPOSES TURNING THE FIVE STAR IN INTO HOUSING FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. THIS LOCATION IS LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM BARRANCA AND MESA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. COVINA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT RECOGNIZES AND UNDERSTANDS THE NEED FOR GREATER ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED, INCLUDING THE UNHOUSED. THIS YEAR WE HAVE OPENED A HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER DEDICATED TO ASSIST FAMILIES WHO NEED HELP WITH FOOD, CLOTHING, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, HEALTH SCREENING AND REFERRALS, HAIRCUTS AND BARBERING, AND EVEN HOUSING. HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSED LOCATION OF THE PROJECT SO CLOSE TO OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND IN-N-OUT BURGER, WHERE MANY OF OUR YOUNG STUDENTS CONGREGATE AFTER SCHOOL. AS THESE ISSUES WITH WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED TONIGHT, WE DECIDE, WE DECIDED IN TO INFORM OUR FAMILIES OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT AND SOLICITED THEIR OPINION ON THE PROPOSED SHELTER. THE SURVEY HAS GA GATHERED OVER 1,387 RESPONSES. 88% OF THE RESPONDENTS DO NOT SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL. 9.8% SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL AND 2.5% HAVE NO OPINION. 65% OF THE RESPONDENTS REPRESENT BARRANCA ELEMENTARY, MESA ELEMENTARY, AND SOUTH HILLS HIGH SCHOOL. OUR FAMILIES WERE ALLOWED TO ADD COMMENTS TO THE SURVEYS AND OVER 674 OF THEM DID. SO MOST RESPONDENTS OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSAL WITH MANY EXPRESSING CONCERNS OVER THE PROXIMITY TO OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. HERE ARE SEVERAL COMMENTS TAKEN FROM THE RESPONSES. I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE LA COUNTY DOING THIS. THIS IS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND JUST ANOTHER BLOCK AWAY FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WALK HOME ALONG THE ROUTE EVERY DAY, AND THERE'S TOO MUCH RISK FOR IT TO BE SUCH PROXIMITY. ANOTHER ONE, I WORK WITH THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY AND HAVE WORKED IN SHELTERS PREVIOUSLY, INCLUDING HOME KEY MO MOTEL CO, UH, CONVERSIONS. THIS TYPE OF HOUSING SHOULD NOT BE NEAR ANY SCHOOL. I WOULD STRONGLY URGE AGAINST THIS FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD FURTHER AWAY FROM A SCHOOL. WE HEAR OUR FAMILIES AND WE SHARE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT LOCATING THIS FACILITY CLOSE TO SCHOOLS. WE HAVE PRINTED AND SHARED THE COPIES OF THE SURVEY RESULTINGS, INCLUDING ALL THE COMMENTS FOR YOU THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. PAUL. FOLLOWED BY ELSA, FOLLOWED BY SHERRY BARIAN. PAUL, PEOPLE. I'M, MY NAME IS DR. PAUL MANIAS. I'M A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST AND A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING IN WEST COVINA AND COVINA FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS. UH, WHAT IS MY MOST CONCERN, UH, IS THE, MAYBE THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING, INSIGHT IN THAT THIS IS A VERY DRUG. UH, WE'RE INVOLVED IN A DRUG EPIDEMIC IN THIS CITY AND EVERY CITY AROUND IT. THERE'S ALSO A MENTAL ILLNESS EPIDEMIC SINCE THE, SINCE THE, THE PANDEMIC ISOLATION. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY ANXIETY PEOPLE I'VE SEEN, HOW MANY PSYCHO, HOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE UNDERGONE PSYCHOSIS AND, UH, AND, AND MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH REGARD TO PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING. MY CONCERN IS THAT PEOPLE COMING IN AND, AND CERTAINLY I'M A VERY COMPASSIONATE MAN AND COMPASSIONATE DOCTORS WORKED FOR MANY YEARS. UM, THERE'S NO, UH, SCREEN OF THESE PEOPLE COMING IN. NOW I KNOW THE AREA BECAUSE I'M A WALKER AND I WALK ON GARVEY ALL THE TIME. AND I'VE SEEN THE TWEAKERS, I'VE SEEN THE GANG BANGERS, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE APPROACHED ME. AND, UH, SO THAT BRINGING IN PEOPLE LIKE THAT WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF EVALUATION IS CRIMINAL TO THEM. AND, AND TO OUR, OUR LITTLE CULTURAL CULTURAL HERE. SO REALLY, UH, I KNOW THEY PROPOSED THE, THE, THE PROPAGANDA THAT THEY PROPOSED IS WONDERFUL. AND, AND POLLYANNA-ISH, IT [02:00:01] REALLY DOESN'T ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF THE DRUG PANDEMIC THAT IS ONGOING. THERE'S TWEAKERS, THERE'S FENTANYL ON THE STREET. THEY'RE VIOLENT. I, I TALK TO THESE PEOPLE AND, AND I COULD, AND, AND THE VIOLENCE IS JUST READY TO HAPPEN WHEN THEY'RE PSYCHOTIC. THE YOU, THERE'S NO REASONING WITH THEM. YOU CAN GIVE 'EM ALL THE PROGRAMS YOU WANT, BUT THEY'RE GONNA CHOOSE DRUGS OVER, OVER A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. I GUARANTEE YOU THAT THERE'S SOCIOPATHS OUT THERE AND SOCIOPATHS, NOT JUST POLITICIANS, BUT THEY ALSO WORK ON THE STREETS. SO, UM, BE CAREFUL. AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANT TO SAY. IT'S, IT'S, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ISSUES OF, OF PEDOPHILES THAT LIVE IN THIS, THIS CULTURE AND IN THIS CITY. AND IN ADDITION TO THOSE WHO, UM, ENGAGE IN CHILD ABD ABDUCTION. SO WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT? WHEN OUR CHILDREN GET, GET RAPED, THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS COMING DOWN THE STREET, UM, AND THESE PEOPLE ARE WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET WITH NO JOB. SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT THAT? SO WE'RE NEGLECTING THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND I GUARANTEE YOU THE WHAT THEY HAVE IN PLACE IS NOT APPROPRIATE. IT'S LIMITED. ELSA, FOLLOWED BY SHERRY BARON, FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE DRE. FIRST OF ALL, I'M REALLY SORRY AND I WANNA APOLOGIZE TO EVERYBODY IN HERE BECAUSE I'M VERY ANGRY AND I'VE BEEN SAYING A LOT OF TERRIBLE COMMENTS HERE BECAUSE I'M ANGRY. YOU KNOW, UH, I'VE LIVED IN COVINA AND WEST COVINA FOR 60 YEARS, AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S GOING DOWNHILL AND DOWNHILL AND DOWNHILL. YOU KNOW, WE'VE PAID OFF OUR HOUSE. WE BOUGHT ANOTHER LITTLE HOUSE AND YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'VE LOVED IT HERE, BUT IT'S JUST GOING SO DOWNHILL. AND I JUST SEE RIGHT HERE AT THIS FIVE STAR, JUST WHAT, TWO WEEKS AGO? THERE WERE 10 COP CARS THERE. 10. I HAVE, YOU KNOW, MY GRANDDAUGHTERS, YOU KNOW, ONE IS EIGHT YEARS OLD, ONE IS 21 YEARS OLD. THEY LIVE IN OUR HOME. WE HAVE A BACK HOUSE. THEY LIVE IN OUR HOMES. AND WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WHEN MY GRANDDAUGHTER THAT'S 21 COMES HOME AFTER, YOU KNOW, GOING OUT OR WHATEVER. BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE YOUNG, EVERYBODY GOES OUT AND SOMEBODY SNEAKS AROUND AND TRIES RAPING HER OR TAKING HER, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THE CRIME IS PETTY BECAUSE THEY HAVE BROKEN INTO OUR CARS ABOUT SIX TIMES UP OUR DRIVEWAY. OKAY? WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WHEN, WHEN WE HAVE TO ADDRESS RAPE AND BREAK-INS? MY NEIGHBOR, THEY BROKE INTO HIS HOUSE. FIVE GUYS BROKE INTO HIS HOUSE. THE ONLY REASON HE WAS SAVED IS BECAUSE HE STARTED SHOOTING AT THEM AND HE DIDN'T CARE. I DON'T KNOW WHO KNOWS ABOUT IT, BUT HE DIDN'T CARE. HE JUST STARTED SHOOTING WHILE THEY RAN. AND THEY WERE IN ALL OUR YARDS. THIS FIVE STAR HOTEL IS, THERE'S SO MUCH VIOLENCE TODAY. I WENT BY AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY OKAYED IT, IF YOU'VE ALREADY OKAYED IT, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE PICTURES AND I HAVE THEM RIGHT HERE. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WERE, I TOOK PICTURES BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY CLEANING IT OUT. I SAW SEVEN MATTRESSES THROWN OUT THERE. WHO OKAYED IT? I MEAN, WHO GAVE THEM THE FUNDS TO START PAYING FOR THAT? ANOTHER THING YOU SHOWED, I HA I AM A VERY COMPASSIONATE, CAN YOU, CAN YOU, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE COUNSEL? THANK YOU. I TOO BELIEVE IN GIVING PEOPLE A CHANCE. BUT YOU ARE BRINGING IN CRIMINALS. I'M SORRY. YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE MY SON WORKED FOR CALTRAN AND HE HAS SO MUCH COMPASSION. AND HE SAID, MOM, WHEN I WORK FOR CA FOR CALTRANS, AND I HAD TO CLEAN THOSE CAMPSITES BECAUSE I FELT SO SORRY FOR THOSE PEOPLE. YOU KNOW WHAT? HE FOUND SYRINGES. HE FOUND CREDIT CARDS LICENSE. AND HE SAID, I HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR THEM ANYMORE. THEY'RE THIEFS. THEY'RE DRUG ADDICTS. OKAY? LIFE IS CHOICE. IT'S CHOICE. MY HUSBAND CHOSE TO GO TO SCHOOL. ALL MY KIDS HAVE GONE TO COLLEGE. YOU KNOW, I GOT TWO DOCTORS GOING ON SONS. AND THIS IS CHOICE. SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND I AM VERY COMPASSIONATE, ARE PEOPLE THAT CHOSE DRUGS, THAT CHOSE VIOLENCE, THAT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THEIR LIFE WAS MEANT TO BE, WAS MEANT TO BE. AND I TOO BELIEVE, YEAH, LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE. THANK YOU. PLEASE. I DON'T WANT THEM IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. SHERRY BURLON, FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE DRE, FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE SERRANO. GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. MY NAME IS SHERRY BURLON AND I CAME TO TALK ABOUT THE PATHWAY PROJECT TONIGHT. THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS JUST ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS. HE'S SAYING, AND SHE'S SAYING, I SEE HIM HERE. I SEE [02:05:01] HIM THERE. THE DRUG. THIS IS WITHOUT A PROGRAM. YOU ARE SEEING THESE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS NOW DOING THE SAME DEEDS THAT THEY WERE NOT, NOT COMBINED TOGETHER WITH HEALTH SERVICES TO GET THEM THE HELP. THEY'RE ALREADY DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING ON THE STREETS. SO NOW LET'S TAKE A PROGRAM AND YOU TAKE THIS PROGRAM, IT'S A, IT'S A BLESSING IN DISGUISE. THE PROGRAM WILL HOUSE AND ASSIST OUR HOMELESS POPULATION. THAT IS NEEDLY SERVICE WEST. COVIN HAS NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO HELP 'EM. WE SHIP OUR PEOPLE OFF TO LA IT'S OKAY TO SHIP 'EM OFF, BUT GOD FORBID, DON'T BRING 'EM BACK IN. OKAY? YES. AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE HOTEL. THERE'S 73 ROOMS THERE. THERE'S NOT 150 ROOMS. I WAS THERE YESTERDAY. THERE'S 73 ROOMS. 53 OF THOSE ROOMS NOW ARE BEING REMODELED. SO THEY ONLY HAVE 20 ROOMS AS OF NOW TO RENT OUT. I'M AN EX HOTEL MANAGER, SO I KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING THIS JUST FOR THIS PROGRAM. WHEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT COMES IN AND SAYS, GET NEW MATTRESSES REMODEL, YOU DO IT OR THEY CLOSE YOU DOWN. OKAY? WHILE LISTENING TO EVERYONE SPEAK ON, UM, ABOUT THE HOTEL, WHAT I'M HEARING IS NOT IN MY BACKYARD, NOT IN MY BACKYARD, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEAKING ARE NOT IN DISTRICT FOUR. SO THAT JUST TELLS ME YOU DON'T WANNA PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA AT ALL. WEST COVINA DOES NOT PROVIDE IT. COVINA DOES NOT PROVIDE IT. AND THE HOTEL I WORKED AT AND GLENDORA DOES NOT PROVIDE IT. SO WHERE ARE THESE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO GO? OKAY. UM, THEY'RE SAYING HELP. HELP, OKAY. AS THE AVERAGE PERSON THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ON MENTAL HEALTH, THE AVERAGE PERSON ON MENTAL HEALTH MAKES $858 A MONTH MAXIMUM TO A THOUSAND. WHO CAN PAY RENT, BUY FOOD, AND EVEN A PAIR OF TENNIS SHOES ON A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH. THAT'S WHERE THESE PROGRAMS COME IN TO GET THEM INTO INTERIM HOUSES WITH SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME BECAUSE THEY CANNOT PAY RENT. THAT'S OUR SENIORS, OUR MENTAL HEALTH. AND I KNOW THIS WITH MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE MY SON IS MENTALLY DISABLED, OKAY? UM, AND THEN I'VE HEARD ALL THEIR ALTERNATIVES GOING DOWN SAN BERNARDINO ROAD AND TO, OR PUT IT ON VALLEY BOULEVARD. I WENT FROM SAN BERNARDINO ROAD FROM COVINA ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BALDWIN PARK YESTERDAY, AND I DID THE SAME THING ON VALLEY BOULEVARD FROM WALNUT ALL THE WAY INTO COVINA. THERE IS NO MOTELS ON THOSE STREETS. SO THOSE TWO STREETS THAT WERE OFFERED, AS YOU KNOW, REPLACEMENTS, DON'T CUT IT. IT WAS ALL RESIDENTIAL AREA. THANK YOU. MICHELLE DURFEE, FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE SERRANO, FOLLOWED BY KAY ECKERT. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED COVINA VALLEY PARENT. I THINK THERE ARE MANY CONCERNED COVINA VALLEY PARENTS HERE. AM I RIGHT? I'M, I'M CONCERNED THAT I MIGHT BE RAISING MY CHILDREN IN A COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT OUR MOST VULNERABLE, THAT CONCERNS ME, THAT I'VE CHOSEN TO RAISE MY FAMILY HERE. AND MAYBE SOME OF MY COMMUNITY CA MEMBERS ARE NOT CARING ABOUT SOME OF OUR OWN, MOSTLY WHO ARE SENIORS WHO ARE ON THE STREETS RIGHT NOW. AND I, I RESPECT THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME HERE TODAY BECAUSE YOU'RE, YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR KIDS. I GET THAT. THE EMAIL WE GOT FROM COVINA VALLEY PROBABLY SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF YOU. SHAME ON THEM. OKAY? RESEARCH AND DATA SHOWS AROUND TRANSITIONAL SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THAT THERE'S NOT A CORRELATION BETWEEN HEIGHTENED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AROUND THESE TYPES OF HOUSING. WE HAVE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AS PEOPLE ARE SAYING ALREADY HERE AND IN EVERY OTHER COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S NOT TIED TO THESE TYPES OF HOUSING AREAS. TO BE FAIR ALSO IN THE HOTEL OF WHERE THIS SPOT IS GOING TO BE, THERE WERE ALREADY MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE UNHOUSED WITH PER NO PERMANENT HOUSING, WHO WERE GOING TO THAT HOTEL TO HAVE SOME RES RESIDENTS IN THAT HOTEL. SO THESE SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXPOSED TO INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE UNHOUSED. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE POLICE DATA. HAVE ANY OF THESE CHILDREN BEEN BEING HARMED IN THE LAST DECADES WHILE THAT HOTEL HAS BEEN HERE? LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT DATA. IT WOULD BE NOT ANY WORSE. OKAY? NOW WE WOULD BE BRINGING IN A HOUSING PROJECT THAT WOULD HAVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO GET THESE PEOPLE OFF OF THE STREETS AND PUT THEM INTO A PLACE WHERE THEY WOULD BE PROVIDED WITH SUPPORT TO GET THEIR LIVES ON TRACK. AND IF THEY DON'T GET THEIR LIVES ON TRACK, AS THEY SAID, THEY WILL BE KICKED OUT THERE. OKAY? AT C-V-U-S-D PARENTS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE AWARE, BUT SOME OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE FRIENDS WHOSE PARENTS ARE IN THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE [02:10:01] UNHOUSED. THAT IS SO SAD. WE DO NOT, WHEN THOSE PARENTS CALL THE DISTRICT FOR HELP, SADLY, THE DISTRICT DOESN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO PUT THESE FAMILIES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HERE IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. WE NEED BEAUTIFUL AND COMPASSIONATE CITIES LIKE WEST COVINA TO OPEN THEIR ARMS AND SAY, YES, WE WILL ALLOW YOU TO TRY THIS. PILOT IT OUT, SEE HOW IT GOES. AND IF IT DOESN'T GO WELL, OKAY, CANCEL THE PROJECT. BUT THESE FAMILIES NEED OPTIONS. AND WE HAVE AN OPTION HERE PRESENTED IN OUR CITY. LIKE THE RABBI SAID, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER HERE IN REAL LIFE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU'RE NOT A PERSON OF FAITH HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, I, ALL OF YOU GUYS HERE, I CHALLENGE YOU TO RESEARCH HOMELESSNESS. ITS CAUSES. I APPLAUD YOU, MAYOR, FOR BEING ON THE ME MEASURE H COMMITTEE. I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE ARE FROWNING ON THAT. THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING. THE TOP SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS IS SIMPLE. IT IS HOUSING PEOPLE. WE NEED TO GIVE PEOPLE HOUSING. SO LET'S START TODAY. COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE WITH OUR CITY. LET'S FOLLOW IN THE EXAMPLES OF LOCAL CITIES LIKE BALDWIN PARK, MONROVIA, DURE, IT'S YOUR TURN. NEXT. THANK YOU. UP. STEPHANIE SERRANO, FOLLOWED BY KAY ECKERD, FOLLOWED BY YESENIA. HELLO. YOU HEAR ME? I'M GONNA TALK VERY FAST. I ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES. SO, HELLO EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE SERRANO. I AM A LOCAL LEADER AND A LOCAL PARENT. I'M ALSO A SERVICE PROVIDER HERE IN THE REGION, NOT JUST THE CITY. AND I SERVE FOSTER AND PROBATION YOUTH THAT ARE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE AT 18 YEARS OLD, AND THEY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THIS HOUSING COST AND THEY BECOME HOMELESS. ONE OF MY YOUTH SHOT THEMSELVES IN THE HEAD BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIND HOUSING IN THIS REGION. UM, 18-YEAR-OLD, OKAY? AND I'M AN EXPERT NAVIGATOR, AND IT WASN'T OUT THERE. SO ALSO SUPPORT VETERANS THAT ARE UNHOUSED. SO FIRST OF ALL, HAPPY DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH TO EVERYBODY. SHOUT OUT TO ALL FOLKS THAT ARE DISABLED IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND AROUND THE WORLD. AND I WANNA, UH, SHOUT OUT THE UNHOUSED THAT ARE DISABLED BECAUSE I'M SURE THEY CAN'T GET HOUSING WITH THEIR DISABILITY CHECKS. UM, SO I JUST WANNA POINT OUT SOME SUGGESTIONS. OKAY? UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A POINT OF CONTACT FOR ANY TYPE OF HOUSING THAT IS BEING INTRODUCED INTO COMMUNITIES TO SERVE THE UNHOUSED. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A POINT OF CONTACT. SHOULD COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEE SOMETHING THAT'S QUESTIONABLE? SHOULD THEY HAVE CONCERNS? IT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL TO HAVE A POINT OF CONTACT WHERE THEY COULD CONVEY THOSE CONCERNS AND TRACK THOSE CONCERNS. THAT WAY IN SIX MONTHS, YOU CAN HAVE DATA TO SUPPORT WHAT ACTUALLY CONCERNS ARE HAPPENING AND HOW YOU'RE MITIGATING THOSE CONCERNS. UM, I WOULD CONS, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THE PERMANENT HOUSING MODEL. UM, I KNOW THIS IS A TEMPORARY HOUSING MODEL, BUT AS AN EXPERT IN SOCIAL WELFARE, NAVIGATING UNHOUSED SERVICES, THERE IS NO HOUSING. SO MOVING THEM TO THE NEXT STEP, I REALLY CHALLENGE YOU TO CRITICALLY THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE GOOD LUCK. UM, I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU PRIORITIZE SENIORS AND VETERANS AND HOMELESS FAMILIES, AND LET'S NOT FORGET CHILDREN THAT ARE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE AND PROBATION, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THEM. UM, AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALSO TO WRAP OFF A WRAPAROUND SERVICES I SAW THAT WAS INCORPORATED. I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE HERE TODAY TOO, REALLY, THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. AND SO, UM, I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HERE ARE EMPATHETIC AND CARING. THAT'S WHY I CHOSE TO LIVE HERE. AND I WOULD CHALLENGE THE COMMUNITY TO THINK OF SOLUTIONS, NOT JUST COMPLAIN, BECAUSE THIS IS A CRISIS GOING ON. UM, AND I WOULD, SO ONE, WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND OFFER SOLUTIONS INSTEAD OF JUST COMPLAINING AT PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO OFFER SOLUTIONS. UM, AND SECOND OF ALL, I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CRITICALLY THINK ABOUT THE ROOT CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS. EVERY TIME THAT WE GIVE A DEVELOPER AND A COMPANY PROPERTY THAT THEY'RE GONNA CO, UH, YOU KNOW, HIKE UP THE RENTS, THEY'RE CAUSING HOMELESSNESS, OKAY? EVERY TIME YOU'RE HANDSHAKING WITH DEVELOPERS, YOU'RE CAUSING HOMELESS. THAT'S A ROOT CAUSE, OKAY? IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A PLACE, A $1,800 ROOM, A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR $1,800, YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO AND A HALF TIMES INCOME TO EVEN QUALIFY. THAT'S $4,500 A MONTH. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR UNIONS THAT DON'T EVEN MAKE ENOUGH TO BE AFFORDED HOUSING A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT. SO LET'S ALL LOOK AT THE ROOT, THE DEVELOPERS AND WHO'S HANDING THE KEYS OVER TO DEVELOPERS? THANK YOU. OKAY, ECKER FOLLOWED BY YESENIA, FOLLOWED BY SHEILA BALDWIN. GOOD EVENING. I'M KAY ECKER. I WORK AT THE LIONS AND ASSOCIATES, WHICH IS, UH, TWO DOORS DOWN FROM THE FIVE STAR IN. I WORK THERE FOR 27 YEARS. I DRIVE BY ON GARVEY ON MY WAY, COME UP CITRUS, TURN ON GARVEY TO GO TO WORK. OVER THE LAST FIVE MORE PLUS YEARS, I HAVE SEEN THE, UM, MOTEL GO DOWN IN, UM, A POLICE PRESENCE ALMOST EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES TWICE A DAY, WE SEE PROSTITUTION. THESE INDIVIDUALS WALK OVER TO OUR PROPERTY, THEY HANG OUT IN OUR PARKING LOT, THEY DO DRUGS. THEY'RE, THEY, UH, WE, WE HAVE TO CLEAN UP HUMAN FECES [02:15:01] VERY, VERY OFTEN. IT'S NOT VERY PLEASANT IF THEY DO THAT RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR ENTRANCE DOOR WHERE YOU HAVE PUBLIC COMING IN. UM, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LEAVING LATE AT NIGHT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S LURKING IN THE PARKING LOT. I COME TO WORK ON A SUNDAY. I CANNOT ENTER MY OFFICE BECAUSE BIG, BURLY, HOMELESS, UNHOUSED, HOWEVER YOU WANNA CALL, THIS PERSON IS LAYING IN FRONT OF MY DOOR, THE OFFICE DOOR, AND I CANNOT GO IN. I CANNOT RETRIEVE THE STUFF I NEED FOR AN APPOINTMENT THAT PREVENTS ME TO WORK. I WORK, I PAY TAXES. HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GO ON? BECAUSE THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THIS NEW PROJECT GOING IN. THERE'S NO TY REQUIRED. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SOBER. SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE UNDER SUPERVISION, WHAT KIND OF SUPERVISION? UM, THERE ARE, THERE ARE 24 HOURS. THEY GET BORED. THE LIQUOR STORE IS IN THE MCINTYRE CENTER. THEY GO OUT, THEY LIQUOR UP, MAYBE GO OUT, GET THEIR DEALERS ON THE PHONE, SHOOT UP, WHATEVER THEY DO. THEN THEY GO OUT ON, ON THE TOWN AND HAVING A GOOD TIME VANDALIZED, BREAKING IN OUR OFFICE AGAIN. AND IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHAT THEY STEAL, BUT THE DAMAGE THEY DO TO THE PROPERTY. UH, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE? THE CITY MUST KNOW THAT THIS, UH, PROPERTY WAS A, A HOTBED FOR CRIME. THEY'RE OPERATING UNDER A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. CONDITIONS, CONDITIONS, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, SHOULD BE POLICE CONDITIONS, FIRE CONDITIONS, PLANNING, AND CITY CONDITIONS. WHO CHECKS ON THESE CONDITIONS? UNDER WHAT CONDITION WILL THAT NEW PLACE OPERATE? IS IT STILL A MOTEL HOTEL? WHO IS, WHO IS GONNA HAVE SUPERVISION OVER WHAT IS GOING ON? THIS, THIS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PULLED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, BY THE CITY MANAGER YEARS AGO. AND THEY SHOULD HAVE SAID, CLEAN UP YOUR ACT, CLEAN UP THE CITY. HAVE OUR CI UH, CITIZENS, RESIDENTS SAFE, AND WE DON'T HAVE SAFETY. THANK YOU. YESENIA. FOLLOWED BY SHEILA BALDWIN, FOLLOWED BY PEGGY MARTINEZ. OKAY, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS YESENIA. I'M A PROUD HOMEOWNER RESIDENT OF WEST COIA AND AREA FOUR WIFE, TEACHER, AND MOTHER. I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF MY BACKGROUND SO YOU CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND MY MESSAGE TO YOU GUYS TONIGHT. UM, I HAVE BEEN A TEACHER FOR 13 YEARS. I HAVE WORKED AS A TEACH FOR AMERICA TEACHER IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW WHAT TEACH FOR AMERICA IS, IT'S THE PEACE CORPS FOR TEACHERS. I HAVE ALSO GONE ON A LOT OF MISSIONS TRIPS. I HAVE WORKED ABROAD. I HAVE ALSO OPENED UP AN ORPHANAGE ABROAD. I BELIEVE IN KINDNESS. I BELIEVE IN CARING FOR OTHERS. I BELIEVE IN HELPING THE HOMELESS. I MYSELF HAVE VOLUNTEERED COUNTLESS HOURS AT SHELTERS. I KNOW WE NEED TO HELP OTHERS. WE NEED TO THROW KINDNESS AND GRACE LIKE CONFETTI, WHICH IS WHAT I TELL MY STUDENTS EVERY DAY. I TELL MY DAUGHTER THE SAME THING. HOWEVER, WHAT I, I'M HERE TO SPEAK WITH YOU GUYS TONIGHT ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL KIND OF WENT AROUND ON A MAP AND JUST PICKED A SPOT. THEY DID NOT SPEAK TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THERE ARE TWO SCHOOLS WHERE THIS PROPOSED SHELTER IS, AND I AM SORRY, BUT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THERE IS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION. IT SEEMS LIKE WE ALL HAVE ADULT COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS HERE. AND I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE. WHERE WERE, WHERE WAS THE COMMUNICATION TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? WE AS PARENTS AND AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SHOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED A LAST MINUTE MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT YOU GUYS FAILED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM. THAT THIS WAS THE PROPOSED LOCATION. I AM SORRY, BUT I WILL NOT RISK CHILDREN WHILE I SUPPORT THE PROJECT. I SUPPORT HELPING THE HOMELESS AND THE UNHOUSED. WE CANNOT RUN THAT RISK WITH CHILDREN. OUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK LIKE THEY DO NOW FROM POINT A TO POINT B SAFELY. WE CANNOT, WE CANNOT TAKE THAT RISK. AND I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE HERE WHO HAS A CHILD OR HAS CHILDREN IN THEIR LIVES CAN AGREE TO THAT. NOW, I AM ASKING YOU HERE TONIGHT TO STOP EVERYTHING, WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, COMMUNICATE WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT, WITH THE UNIONS, WITH THE TEACHERS, WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THAT IS YOUR JOB. YOU GUYS ARE HERE BECAUSE [02:20:01] SOMEONE BELIEVED IN YOU. THE WAY I TEACH MY KIDS TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES EVERY DAY, YOU GUYS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ROLE MODELS FOR THESE CHILDREN. AND IN MY OPINION, YOU ARE LETTING THEM DOWN. YOU'RE LETTING ALL THE CHILDREN FROM THE COMMUNITY DOWN FROM THAT AREA. I WANNA TELL I WOULDN'T, I KNOW A LOT OF YOU UP HERE HAVE CHILDREN, AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS WOULD BE APPALLED IF THIS WERE YOUR, THESE WERE YOUR CHILDREN THAT WE'RE HAVING TO, YOU WOULD BE UP HERE ADVOCATING FOR THEM. SO I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CHILDREN, THE DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, SHEILA BALDWIN. SHEILA BALDWIN, FOLLOWED BY PEGGY MARTINEZ, FOLLOWED BY ANGIE GILLINGHAM. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US TONIGHT. I APPRECIATE IT. I AM A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA, EXCEPT FOR TWO YEARS. I LIVED IN LAGUNA. SO MY ENTIRE LIFE, MY CHILDREN, EVERYONE WAS RAISED IN WEST COVINA. WE CAME HERE, MY FATHER MOVED HERE IN THE FIFTIES WHEN THEY BROUGHT THE SAN BERNARDINO FREEWAY DOWN. AND WE WANTED IT TO BE THE WONDERFUL CITY THAT IT IS. SO YES, I HAVE A LOVE FOR MY CITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT WONDERED IF WE LIVE THERE, YES, I DO. I BACK UP TO RIDGE RIDERS, AND I REMEMBER WHEN WE CAME A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND THE COUNCIL LISTENED WHEN WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING MAVERICK FIELD AND RIDGE RIDERS, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY BRINGS PEOPLE TO WEST COVINA FOR, TO SUPPORT ALL THE BUSINESSES. AND I BELIEVE WE WANNA CONTINUE THOSE KIND OF RELATIONSHIPS. BUT IF THERE IS A HOMELESS RIGHT THERE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF MAVERICK FIELD, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS, IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM CORTEZ PARK AND WHAT'S GOING ON AT CORTEZ PARK. I THINK YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S WHERE THE HOMELESS HAVE TO LIVE. SO WHAT HAPPENS AT DUSK WHEN IF YOU DRIVE SOUTH ON CITRUS AVENUE, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT PICTURE ON THE FREEWAY IN SAN DIEGO WHERE THEY'RE RUNNING LIKE THIS ACROSS THE STREET, THEY'RE COMING IN DROVES ACROSS TO FIND THEIR NICHE IN CORTEZ PARK. SO DO I THINK THERE'S A NEED? YES, THERE'S A NEED, BUT THIS ISN'T THE SOLUTION. THE LOCATION IS INAPPROPRIATE BASED ON THE FACT THAT MESA AND BARRANCA SCHOOL ARE RIGHT THERE BASED ON THE FACT THAT OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, MANY OF THEM DON'T HAVE CARS. THEY'RE WALKING BACK AND FORTH AND THEY'RE WALKING PAST THIS. MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, BUT THE COVINA VALLEY SCHOOLS HAVE PUT UP FENCES. YES, I'M A TEACHER ALSO FOR OVER 25 YEARS. WE DIDN'T HAVE FENCES BEFORE, BUT WE HAVE TO. THE NUMBER OF LOCKDOWNS, THE PEOPLE THAT JUMP OVER TO GET TO IT, THERE'S A REAL PROBLEM HERE. BUT I NOTICED WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE SLIDESHOW, THE ORDER OF OPERATIONS, THE ENCAMPMENT SOLUTION, THE HOUSING. AND NUMBER THREE, THIRD STEP IS MENTAL HEALTH. I BELIEVE THAT THESE PEOPLE SHOULD EARN A HOME. I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO HELP THEM. THE PEOPLE THAT LOSE THEIR JOB THAT HAVE NO MENTAL ISSUES, I WOULD WELCOME THEM TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE THAT WOULD BE SAFE. BAD LUCK HAPPENS TO PEOPLE, BUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE ISSUES THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T EVEN WANT THE HELP OR DON'T KNOW THAT THEY NEED THE HELP, WE NEED TO GET TO THEM BEFORE WE GIVE THEM ANOTHER PLACE TO ENTERTAIN. THEY REALLY DON'T NEED THAT RIGHT IN MY BACKYARD. SO THAT'S MY CONCERN, IS THE LOCATION. I'M NOT DENYING THE NEED. AND YES, I DO LIVE RIGHT THERE IN THAT AREA. THANK YOU. PEGGY MARTINEZ, FOLLOWED BY ANGIE GILLINGHAM, FOLLOWED BY STEVE GILLINGHAM. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. MY NAME IS PEGGY MARTINEZ. I HAVE LIVED IN WEST COVINA FOR 44 YEARS. THE HOMELESS PROBLEM HAS BEEN A COMPLAINT OF WEST COVINA RESIDENTS FOR DECADES. OKAY? NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. OUR POPULATION HAS INCREASED. AND AFTER LISTENING TO EVERYBODY, BY THE WAY, I SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AFTER LISTENING TO EVERYBODY ABOUT THE FIVE STAR HOLE, WHICH HASN'T EVEN BEEN SELECTED YET. AND THE CITY DOES NOT SELECT IT, JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THE COUNTY DOES. AND THERE'S ALREADY AN ISSUE THERE. THE POLICE ARE THERE ALL THE TIME. THERE'S PROSTITUTION, THERE'S DRUG ABUSE, THERE'S ALL THIS STUFF THAT THEIR CHILDREN APPARENTLY ARE WALKING BY EVERY SINGLE DAY. NOW, WHAT IF THIS STRUCTURED PROGRAM, OKAY, IT'S A STRUCTURED PROGRAM. IT'S NOT HOMELESS THAT DON'T WANNA DO IT. IT'S HOMELESS THAT AGREE TO IT. THEY WANT HELP. GO INTO [02:25:01] THIS PROGRAM, WHICH WILL BE GATED WITH SECURITY, WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH HELP, WITH HELP WITH WHATEVER MEDICAL ISSUE THEY HAVE. THEY WILL HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THEIR HEAD THAT WILL BE TAKEN OFF OF OUR STREETS. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE HEARD PERSON AFTER PERSON, AFTER PERSON SAY THAT THAT FIVE STAR HOTEL IS NOTHING BUT A PROBLEM. AND ALL THE PROBLEMS IS THERE. WHAT IF THIS GOT RID OF THAT? THOSE PEOPLE WOULD GO AWAY. THE PROSTITUTION WOULD GO AWAY. IT BECOMES GATED. NOBODY GETS TO VISIT IT. IT'S ONLY THE PE, THE HOMELESS THAT HAVE AGREED TO GO THERE. OUR VETERANS, OUR, OUR, OUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOB OR CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING. OUR CHILDREN WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, COME OUT OF FOSTER CARE WHO NO, WHO NO LONGER MEET THE AGE REQUIREMENT. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT. IF THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SAY, I WANT HELP, WHY WOULDN'T WE HELP THEM? THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. THE COUNTY'S PAYING FOR IT. I VOTED FOR MEASURE H TO HELP THE HOMELESS, FOR GOD'S SAKES, HAVE SOME COMPASSION. THIS FIVE STAR HO HOTEL IS A DAMN DUMP RIGHT NOW. THEY CAN TURN IT AROUND AND MAKE IT SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAT HELPS OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING AND ASKING FOR HELP WITH OUR HOMELESS, AND WE HAVE GOTTEN NOTHING. YOU KNOW, THIS PROGRAM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PRESENTED TODAY. IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE LEAKED OUT AND PUT ON THE PAPER. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PRESENTED TO EVERYONE TODAY. IT WAS GOING TO BE PUBLICIZED TO COME AND HEAR IT TODAY INSTEAD, MISINFORMATION HAS BEEN PUT OUT. THANK YOU. AND EVERYBODY'S IN AND UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANGIE GILLINGHAM, FOLLOWED BY STEVE GILLINGHAM, FOLLOWED BY DAYS INN. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. FIRST I WANNA BEGIN WITH, I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR. WE'RE THE FIVE STAR HOTEL RESIDES. I WALK ALMOST EVERY DAY FROM ANYWHERE FROM DISTRICT THREE THROUGH DISTRICT FIVE. I'M OFTEN CONFRONTED WITH THE HOMELESS THAT HAVE NOW ENTERED OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT WALK, RUN, OR RIDE BIKES, I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE HOMELESS COUNT THAT OUR CITY PARTICIPATES IN EVERY YEAR IN JANUARY. WE HAVE SEEN THE NUMBERS INCREASE EVERY YEAR. AND MORE DISTURBING TO ME ARE THE AMOUNT OF WOMEN WHO ARE HOMELESS, SLEEPING IN THEIR CARS, OR PUSHING THEIR CARTS WITH ALL THEIR POSSESSIONS. BUSINESSES HAVE COMPLAINED THROUGH OUR CITY, THROUGHOUT OUR CITY THAT HOMELESS POPULATIONS GROWING AND THEIR BUSINESSES ARE AFFECTED. AND THIS IS NOT JUST BY THE FIVE STAR HOTEL. SO WHY NOT HOUSE THOSE WHO WISH TO BE HOUSED IN PROJECT PATHWAY A HOME? THE COMMUNITIES THAT DO NOT SUPPORT PROJECTS LIKE THIS ONLY PERPETUATE THE PROBLEM. ONLY WHEN COMMUNITIES OFFER SERVICES AND HOUSING AND SUPPORTED SERVICES WILL THE PROBLEM BE ADDRESSED WHEN COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO PROTEST PROJECTS LIKE THIS ONE SUGGESTED TONIGHT. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO SPEND MORE TIME AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES. NO MONEY'S COMING FROM THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN. THIS IS COMPLETELY SUPPORTED BY THE COUNTY. AND I WOULD, I'M SAD TO HEAR THAT MOST PEOPLE HERE ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NIMBYISM. AND I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN TAKE A LOOK AND LISTEN TO ALL COUNT ALL RESIDENTS, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT FAVOR YOUR OPINIONS. THANK YOU. STEVE GILLINGHAM, FOLLOWED BY DAYS INN, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN GUTIERREZ. GOOD EVENING. I'M STEVE GILLINGHAM. I'M, UH, RETIRED CASE MANAGER WITH DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH. I'M GONNA BE BRIEF, I'M GONNA BE BLUNT. THIS IS A NO-BRAINER. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED FOR ALL, ALL RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA, OUR JOBS AS CITIZENS, OUR JOBS, YOUR JOBS AS MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS AND RECOGNIZE ACHIEVEMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO HELP, HELP THEMSELVES PERSONALLY. RESIDENTS TO THIS PROGRAM HAVE BEEN SCREENED FOR VIOLENT CRIME AND FOR SEXUAL SEXUALLY RELATED CRIMES. NONE OF THESE, NONE OF THESE RESIDENTS ARE GONNA BE, ARE, ARE, ARE. UH OH, I'M HAVING A MOMENT HERE. N NONE OF THESE RESIDENTS ARE GONNA BE, UH, FROM THAT, THAT POPULATION. UH, PLEASE BE COMPASSIONATE AND AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS TO BENEFIT EVERYBODY. PEOPLE HERE DO HAVE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY. THIS WILL REDUCE THE RISK, REDUCE THE RISK OF SAFETY FOR, [02:30:01] FOR THE COMMUNITY HERE. THANK YOU. DAYS IN, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN GUTIERREZ, FOLLOWED BY ANGIE THERON. HEY COUNCIL, I'M SORRY YOU GUYS DOING, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO MY HOTEL THE LAST TWO DAYS. I APPRECIATE IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT PROCESS YOU DID. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR WEST CO PD. YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB. I'M GONNA TELL YOU THAT WE DEAL WITH SO MUCH STUFF THERE. I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE 1986. I GREW UP THERE. I WENT TO MESA, I WENT TO SOUTH HILLS AND I WENT TO SIERRA VISTA. YOU COULD ASK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN I CALL, THEY COME, BUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THERE IS ALREADY HAPPENING. YESTERDAY, LAST NIGHT AT THREE O'CLOCK, I CAME IN FROM BLYTHE. I JUST BOUGHT ANOTHER HOTEL IN BLYTHE. OKAY? I COME IN AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, I HAVE VIDEO SHOWING YOU TWO BUSES THAT PULLED UP AND THEY DROPPED 'EM OFF AND THE BUSES WENT. THEY HAD A STICKER ON THE BACK OF THE BUS. I KNOW IT'S A, IT'S A PAID BUS. ALRIGHT? THE OWNER OF THE HOTEL IS RIGHT THERE. IF EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW, HE'S RIGHT THERE. HE JUST BOUGHT IT TWO YEARS AGO. I DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT YOU GUYS DO BECAUSE BRIAN, YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR MINDSET. THERE'S SOMETHING INSIDE THAT YOU ARE. HAVE YOUR AGENDA. I KNOW YOU HAVE AN AGENDA. THAT'S ALL I WANNA SAY. RYAN GUTIERREZ, FOLLOWED BY ANGIE THERON, FOLLOWED BY NADIA. SO I JUST, BEFORE I BEGIN, I'M GONNA JUST SAY THAT AGAIN. MY NAME IS BRIAN GUTIERREZ. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND ALSO A PLANNING COMMISSIONER. AND LEMME JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, I'M PROUD TO BE A PERSON WITH AUTISM ASPERGER'S. I'M PROUD TO BE A FORMER FOSTER CHILD. AND IF IT WASN'T FOR MY EDUCATORS AND, UH, SOCIAL WORKERS AND RESOURCES OUT THERE THAT OUR STATE HAS, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY TALKING TO YOU. AND I WOULD JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE WORK THAT THE STAFF MEMBERS DO AT PATHWAY HOMES. BUT WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF THIS PROGRAM NEXT TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND SO, MAYOR , I ENCOURAGE YOU AS A MEMBER OF THE MEASURE H ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO WORK FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND GARNER THE FUNDS THAT THIS CITY NEEDS TO EXPAND ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HOPE TEAM TO EXPAND PROGRAMS THAT COVINA VALLEY HAS EXPAND PROGRAMS THAT WEST COVINA PROGRAM, THE WEST COA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EXPAND PROGRAMS THAT ROLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. THEY'RE SERVING IN THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS LOBBY TO GARNER THE FUNDS THAT THIS COM, THIS CITY NEEDS TO EXPAND THOSE PROGRAMS SO THIS CITY CAN FIND THE RESOURCES AND AREAS WHERE WE COULD HELP PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES TO HOMELESS PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE AS THE PEOPLE SAID TODAY, HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE NOT CR HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE NOT BAD PEOPLE, SOME OF THEM. AND THEY NEED RESOURCES. AND SO AS A MEASURE H COMMITTEE MEMBER, AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE YOU, GET THE FUNDING THAT YOUR CITY NEEDS, THAT YOUR RESIDENTS NEED FOR THIS COMMUNITY. AND PUT THEM FIRST AND GET THE CITY THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. BECAUSE AT THE LAST JUNE 18 MEETING, YOU SAID, WE'RE NOT GETTING OUR FAIR SHARE OF MEASURE H FUNDS. BUT YOU DIDN'T TELL THE PEOPLE IN THAT AUDIENCE THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY A BORN MEMBER OF THAT SAME COMMITTEE. SO, SO IF THAT'S, SO THEN IT'S YOU, YOU'RE ONE OF THE DECISION MAKERS ON THE MEASURE H ADVISORY REBORN COMMITTEE. AND SO LOBBY, GET THE CITY THAT YOU SERVE, AND ITS TAXPAYERS THE MONEY THEY DESERVE. BECAUSE MEASURE H WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR LOCAL CITIES TO EXPAND THEIR HOMELESS SERVICE PROGRAMS. HOMELESS PEOPLE NEED RESOURCES. THIS CITY NEEDS RESOURCES. SO AGAIN, DO NOT AWARD BAD BEHAVIOR TO A HOTEL OPERATOR WHO IS ALLOWED CRIMINAL CONDUCT TO OCCUR ON THEIR LOT. PUT YOUR COMMUNITY FIRST AND GET THIS CITY THE FUNDING. IT NEEDS TO PUT HOMELESS PEOPLE FIRST BECAUSE THEY NEED RESOURCES AND ONLY YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. THANK YOU. ANGIE THERON, FOLLOWED BY NADIA, FOLLOWED BY LAZO. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYORS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? GOOD EVENING. UM, I AM HERE BECAUSE I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL, TO BE QUITE HONEST. I'VE JUST HEARD ABOUT IT ON INSTAGRAM AND I DON'T KNOW HOW OTHER PEOPLE ARE HEARING ABOUT THIS. UM, I'M HERE TO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON ALLOWING PATHWAY HOUSING IN WEST COVINA. FIRST AND MAIN REASON IS OUR CHILDREN, THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, AND I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD IT OVER AND OVER, [02:35:01] BUT OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE AND THEY DEPEND ON YOU TO KEEP THEM SAFE. THAT'S WHAT THEY DEPEND ON US. I KNOW THAT THERE IS PROFIT, BUT WE HAVE TO THINK OF SAFETY FIRST. SAFETY COMES FIRST. OUR CHILDREN COME FIRST. THIS PROPOSAL, THIS LOCATION IS APPROXIMATELY 0.7 MILES, TWO MINUTES AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN. WHAT'S GOING TO KEEP THEM SAFE? THERE IS, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN INFORMATION, BUT THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE THAT HOMELESS SHELTERS INCREASE OVER TIME, CRIMINAL EVENTS IN THE AREA. WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK OF THE STRAIN ON OUR POLICE OFFICERS. THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB. BUT WITH THIS PROPOSAL, ARE YOU PLANNING TO BRING IN MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA NEED. IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU REALLY CONSIDER ALL ASPECTS. I KNOW SOMETIMES MONEY IS VERY ENTICIVE, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO THINK WE TRUSTED YOU, PEOPLE ELECTED YOU TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN, OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING THAT YOU PLEASE PUT THE MONEY ASIDE, BUT LOOK AT HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT WEST COVINA? WHAT LEGACY WILL YOU BELIEVING WEST COVINA? IF YOU OPEN UP THIS DOOR, IS IT GOING TO TURN INTO SOMETHING BIGGER? ARE WE GONNA LOOK BACK AT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR MAYORS, BECAUSE THEY OPENED UP THE DOOR? SO I PLEAD WITH YOU TO PLEASE REJECT THIS PROPOSAL. THE LOCATION IS NOT THE RIGHT LOCATION. I AM ALWAYS THINKING OF HELPING PEOPLE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK OF OUR CHILDREN LOOK AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE CORRECT LOCATION FOR THIS PROPOSAL. I KNOW THEY SHOWED US PICTURES OF HELPING A VETERAN. YES, THAT'S WONDERFUL. BUT IN FACT, IF YOU GO DOWNTOWN, YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE COMMITTING CRIMINALS. IS THAT WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE IN WEST COVINA? SO PLEASE JUST KEEP IN MIND WHAT LEGACY YOU WILL BE LEAVING BEHIND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. NADIA. FOLLOWED BY LAZO. FOLLOWED BY ABEL. HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS NADIA. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN WEST COVINA FOR APPROXIMATELY SEVEN YEARS NOW. UM, I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR THE WAY PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UM, I WANNA THANK LA COUNTY FOR NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGING THIS CRISIS, BUT ALSO FOR OFFERING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOWARDS A HOLISTIC SOLUTION. UM, SO PUT SIMPLY, AND DESPITE THE SUPREME COURT'S RECENT DEHUMANIZING RULING, WE CANNOT PUNISH NOR POLICE OUR WAY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS. BEING ENTRUSTED WITH THIS FUNDING WILL ENABLE US TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF GETTING OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS OFF THE STREETS AND INTO HOUSING. I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT FOR SOME TO GRASP THIS, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HOMELESS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS. UM, AND SO HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE PEOPLE THE, THE CHANCE TO HEAL FROM UNIMAGINABLE TRAUMA, I THINK IS THE RIGHT APPROACH. UM, AND JUST TO NAME SOME OF THE, THE TRAUMA THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE PROBABLY HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED. UM, SO ONE, THE DEVASTATING EVENTS THAT HAVE LED TO PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS IS TRAUMATIC IN ITSELF. THE DEMORALIZING EXPERIENCE OF NOT HAVING A PLACE TO REST, OR THE PRIVACY TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN HYGIENIC NEEDS. UH, THE SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE THAT WOMEN AND EVEN L-G-B-T-Q FOLKS EXPERIENCE ON THE STREETS. THE PHYSICAL TOLL THAT IT TAKES ON THE BODY TO NOT HAVE RELIABLE MEALS OR ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE. AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE REALLY PRESSED ON THE ISSUE OF UNHOUSED FOLKS GETTING JOBS, BUT I CANNOT IMAGINE SOMEBODY WALKING INTO A PLACE TO INTERVIEW WITHOUT HAVING CLEAN CLOTHES OR ACCESS TO A SHOWER. SO ALL OF THIS UNDOUBTEDLY DOES LEAD TO MENTAL DISTRESS, WHICH CAN THEN LEAD TO SELF-MEDICATING, AND THEN THAT CAN JUST PERPETUATE THE CYCLE. SO IT MIGHT COME AS A SURPRISE TO SOME ALSO, BUT ON HOUSED FOLKS DO THRIVE, DO THRIVE ON COMMUNITY CARE. AND THAT IS WHY I AM ADVOCATING THAT WE DO PURSUE THIS INITIATIVE AND ALLOW FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO BE IN COMMUNITY WITH THE PEOPLE THAT THEY TRUST AND KNOW. UM, ANYONE WHO'S RAN A HOMELESS PROGRAM KNOWS THAT WORD OF MOUTH IS AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY BECAUSE THERE'S TRUST WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. UM, TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES AND LOW BARRIER SERVICES ALSO WORK WELL. UM, AND SO I HIGHLIGHT THIS TO JUST STRESS THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS TOGETHER, THEY'RE GONNA ALSO BE HEALING AND APPROACHING HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES [02:40:01] TOGETHER. UM, I WANNA MENTION THE FACT THAT WAGES ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE RISING COSTS OF FOOD, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, ET CETERA. SO THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT. UM, AND NO POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS ARE NOT CHOICES. THEY ARE A RESULT OF POLICIES THAT ARE ROOTED IN GREED AND RESOURCE HOARDING. SO I URGE YOU TO PLEASE ACCEPT THIS OFFER FROM LA COUNTY. THANK YOU, LAZO. FOLLOWED BY ABEL, FOLLOWED BY ANGELICA LAZO, FOLLOWED BY ABEL, FOLLOWED BY ANGELICA. RITA, FOLLOWED BY SAM. I HAVE TWO SAMS FROM THE DAYS INN. SAM. ACTUALLY MY NAME IS THERE TOO. OH, I HAVE A LOT OF CARDS. YES. WHAT IS YOUR NAME? YES. NO, I HAVEN'T CALLED YOUR NAME YET. SORRY. I WAS GOING IN HIS WAY. WE WERE THE SAME SAM. YEAH, WE ARE THE SAME GROUP. SO LET HIM TALK. MAYOR. THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S FINE. IF WE CAN JUST MAKE SURE DENNIS'S CARD GETS REMOVED. GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND EVERYONE ELSE. MY NAME IS, UH, DENNIS PATEL, AND I AM ONE OF THE OWNER FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS OF THE DAYS IN HOTEL, LOCATED IMMEDIATELY NEXT TO THE PROPOSED HOMELESS HOUSING PROGRAM AT FIVE STAR HOTEL. I WOULD LIKE TO PROTEST AGAINST THE FIVE STAR HOMELESS PROJECT BECAUSE IT'LL SEVERELY IMPACT OUR HOTEL PROPERTY VALUES, SAFETY, AND BUSINESS REVENUE. WE LIVE ON THE PROPERTY AND THIS IS OUR LIVELIHOOD, AND WE HAVE BEEN GOOD CITIZENS AND WE CANNOT ACCEPT THESE IMPACTING CHANGES. I UNDERSTAND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALSO AGAINST THIS PROJECT. I'M TOLD THAT THE, UH, MAYOR IS SUPPORTING THIS HOMELESS PROJECT, WHICH IS STRANGE WHEN HIS COUNCIL IS ACTUALLY AGAINST IT. ALONG WITH MANY BUSINESSES AND NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR, IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE MAYOR IS FOR THIS HOMELESS PROJECT WITH LA COUNTY. THIS HOMELESS PROJECT INTENT IS NOT VERY TRANSPARENT AND IS BEING FORCED IN BY LA COUNTY AND MAYOR AGAINST THE COMMUNITY WILL AND MOST CHANGE LOCATION AND MUST CHANGE LOCATION. I ALSO DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE PROJECT. IT'S THE LOCATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. RITA. FOLLOWED BY CHRIS, FOLLOWED BY SUE AINO. CHRIS, THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I SHOULD HAVE HAD DINNER BEFORE I CAME. I DIDN'T REALIZE WE WERE GONNA BE HERE THIS LATE. UM, MY NAME IS CHRIS. I, I GREW UP IN LATA. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA SINCE 2017. THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION TONIGHT. I'M GONNA TAKE A SLIGHTLY MORE OBJECTIVE APPROACH. UM, I SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE. UH, I THINK WE'VE HEARD FROM BOTH PARTIES. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN AGREE ON IS THAT WE DON'T WANNA SEE HOMELESS PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREET. UH, THIS INITIATIVE AND THIS OPPORTUNITY SOLVE THAT TO MAKE BOTH PARTIES, UH, HAPPY. ESSENTIALLY, MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT IS FREE. YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO A BUDGET CYCLE AND THINK ABOUT ARE WE CUTTING FROM PARKS AND REC? ARE WE CUTTING FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? ARE WE CUTTING FROM ANIMAL SERVICES? THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY BEING HANDED TO YOU BY LA COUNTY. SO FINANCIALLY, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS WOULD BE A RESPONSIBLE SQUANDER THAT, EXCUSE ME, UM, NOT PROCEEDING WITH HIS INITIATIVE, UH, DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONCERNS TONIGHT ABOUT WHAT'S CURRENTLY HAPPENING, BUT SIMPLY SAYING NO TO THIS DOESN'T, I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN NO OTHER TOPICS THAT ADDRESS THAT. SO, UM, AGAIN, UH, MANY PEOPLE, UH, SORRY AGAIN, SHOULD HAVE HAD DINNER. UH, OH. THE DATA TELLS US THAT OFFERING THIS HOUSING REDUCES THE VERY CRIMES THAT THE COMMUNITY'S UPSET ABOUT. PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT LITTER AND SYRINGES AND PROSTITUTION. UM, THE DATA SHOWS US REGIONALLY WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES THAT MOVING FORWARD THIS INITIATIVE SOLVES THOSE PROBLEMS. UM, THE RATE OF PEOPLE BECOMING HOMELESS, UH, FOR MANY REASONS IS, IS HIGH. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'M LEARNING IS THAT THERE ISN'T CURRENTLY AN INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA TO ADDRESS THIS. EITHER YOU DO IT NOW [02:45:01] OR INEVITABLY, LIKE THERE'S GOTTA BE A SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT ADDRESSES THIS. I MEAN, AGAIN, IT'S, IT CAN BE A LOT OF, UH, WHAT WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT FROM MENTAL ILLNESS AND DRUG ADDICTION, BUT ALSO OUR ECONOMY. YES, . UM, YEAH, WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS THAT PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO MAKE VERY TOUGH DECISIONS. UM, SO THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME SAFETY NET. LIKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE JUST HAS TO BE THERE AND I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME. GOODNIGHT. THANK YOU. SUE AINO FOLLOWED BY LAZO. FOLLOWED BY ABEL. HELLO, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SUE AINO AND I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA AND RAISED MY THREE DAUGHTERS HERE. AND I AM THE SOCIAL MEDIA ADMINISTRATOR FOR WEST COVINA NE UM, WEST COVINA RESIDENTS TAKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BACK. AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT NOW FOR 10 YEARS. UM, MEASURE H AND MEASURE HH HAS BECOME A CASH COW. IT HAS BECOME A CASH COW FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT NONPROFITS TO, UM, MAKE MONEY. AND THEY'RE FINDING OUT WAYS TO DO THIS ON THE FACE. THIS PROGRAM DOESN'T SOUND BAD. I READ, YOU KNOW, I WATCH AND I'VE WATCHED A LOT OF THINGS THROUGH MONROVIA. MY PROBLEM IS, IS THAT THERE'S NO SOBRIETY AND THERE'S NO CURFEW, WHICH MEANS THAT THESE PEOPLE JUST COME OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO GET WHATEVER THEY WANT. WE HAVE THE TWO SCHOOLS THAT NEED TO BE, UM, VERY WELL FOUGHT OUT BECAUSE THESE KIDS COME BACK AND FORTH. AND I WATCHED DURING THE THE PRESENTATION, IT SAYS THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE THEIR COMMUNITY BE SAFE, STABLE, SECURE, AND IN INSECURE ENVIRONMENT. WELL, SO DO WE. SO DO WE. WE WANT OUR HOMES TO BE SAFE AND SECURE. WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO BE SAFE AND SECURE. THIS IS WHERE WE CHOSE TO RAISE OUR FAMILIES. THIS IS WHERE WE PAY OUR TAX DOLLARS. AND IF ANYBODY DOESN'T KNOW THE FOUR OF YOU DON'T WANT IT, IT'S YOU, BRIAN, AND YOU BROUGHT IT UNDER THE VEIL OF DARKNESS AND YOU DID IT. AND YOU KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN EXCEPT FOR THAT YOU GOT CAUGHT. AND NOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT AND IT'S NOT FAIR. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TO BE OUR VOICE, OUR CITY VOICE FOR COUNTY. AND TODAY YOU SAID, FOR ALL OF US TO CALL THE, UM, COUNTY CONSTITUENTS UP THERE AND VOICE OUR OPINIONS TO THEM. IT'S YOUR JOB. THIS IS YOUR JOB. I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT WEST COVINA ANYMORE. YOU'RE, YOU'VE MOVED ON. YOU WANT ANOTHER JOB IN COUNTY? THAT'S FINE. GO GET IT. GO GET IT. I WILL JUST SAY THE WEST COVINA IS A DIFFERENT BREED OF PEOPLE. WEST COVINA WILL FIGHT FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR CITY. WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR KIDS, AND WE WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO BE A SOCIAL EXPERIMENT IN OUR CITY. WE WILL HAVE, EASTLAND WILL BE INUNDATED WITH PEOPLE OVER THERE IN AND OUT'S GONNA BE INUNDATED WITH PEOPLE OVER THERE. OUR SCHOOLS, WE CAN'T HAVE THIS. WE HAVE OUR OWN HOMELESS. WE'VE HAD OUR OWN HOMELESS PROBLEM. WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW THEY MADE IT AN EMERGENCY WHEN IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 10 YEARS, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE THEY JUST NEED TO SPEND SOME MONEY. AND THIS IS TO GONNA TURN OUT TO BE NOTHING BUT A TAXPAYER PARTY WHERE THEY CAN GO IN THERE AND PARTY WITH THREE MEALS, ROOM SERVICE, CLEAN SHEETS, AND SOMETHING OVER THEIR HEAD ON OUR DIME. AND IT'S NOT FAIR. THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE LAZO, ABEL AND ANGELICA ARE NOT HERE. JEFF, A AINO FOLLOWED BY SIMONE. FOLLOWED BY JOSEPHINE. YES, SIR. HELLO. HOW YOU DOING? UM, I GOTTA TELL YOU, I'M COMPLETELY AGAINST THE, SORRY. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S NO, NO ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN COLLECTING MEASURE H MONEY FOR A QUITE A WHILE NOW. AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPEND IT. AND I DON'T LIKE THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT JUST LIKES TO TAKE MONEY FROM EVERYBODY AND JUST THROW IT OUT THE WIND AND JUST SPEND ON IT. I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS PROBABLY MAKE A LOT OF GOOD MONEY. I MEAN, YOU PROBABLY MAKE REALLY GOOD MONEY. I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, MR. TABATA, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BETTER WAY OUTTA HERE BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU WEREN'T AROUND FOR A ASSEMBLY AND YOU'RE, NOW YOU'RE JUST STUCK HERE. BUT I'M SORRY. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST CRAZY THAT YOU'RE GONNA SAY THAT, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA BRING AND WE'RE GONNA VENT. AND YOU SHOW A GREAT PRESENTATION ABOUT THESE, TO THESE GENTLEMEN THAT LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GREAT PEOPLE IN THE LADY THAT FANTASTIC. I LOVE IT, YOU KNOW. BUT TODAY AS I DROVE HERE, I SAW SIX NEW HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. AND FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO KNOW, I'VE LIVED UP HERE FOR 62 YEARS. I'VE ROLLED MY BIKE OVER EVERY INCH OF THIS TOWN. I STILL RIDE MY BIKE ALL OVER THIS TOWN. I WAS A UPS [02:50:01] DRIVER FOR 42 YEARS. I DELIVERED IN EVERY CITY, NORTH AND EAST OF BALLWIN PARK, INCLUDING BALLWIN PARK. AND I'VE SEEN ALL KINDS OF HOMELESSNESS. AND EVERY HOMELESS PERSON I'VE SEEN HAS HAD SOME KIND OF PROBLEM. VERY BAD PROBLEMS. THEY'RE EITHER ALCOHOLICS OR THEY'RE DRUG ADDICTS. I'VE SEEN 'EM FLARING THEIR ARMS, SCREAMING, YELLING ON THE STREETS. I'VE SEEN HIM DIE IN THE STREETS. I LITERALLY DROVE AROUND THE CORNER ONE TIME IN MY UPS TRUCK AND THE GUY WAS DEAD IN HIS WHEELCHAIR. AND HE IS BEEN, HE'S BEEN A HOMELESS GUY FOR YEARS. AND EVERYBODY WOULD GO UP AND DOWN GLADSTONE AVENUE AND GO, HEY, HERE'S SOME MORE MONEY. HERE'S SOME MONEY. AND HE JUST LOVED IT. AND THEN ONE DAY HE DIED AND THAT WAS THE END OF THAT. I SEE A GUY, I KNOW A GUY, HIS NAME IS, WE CALL, THEY CALL HIM BULL. HE'S SUCH AN ALCOHOLIC. I'VE SEEN HIM GET FIVE BUCKS FROM A LADY IN FRONT OF A BANK AND RUN ACROSS THE STREET TO THE LIQUOR STORE TO GRAB TWO KLOS AND THROW TWO VODKAS IN IT. AND THEN HE WAS SCREAMING AND YELLING AND LAUGHING HIS ASS OFF ON THE STREET. AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA GIVE THESE PEOPLE A PLACE TO GO, WHICH IS FANTASTIC, BUT YOU'RE NOT GIVING THEM, YOU'RE NOT VENTING THEM OR YOU'RE NOT GIVING 'EM A RECOVERY SYSTEM, WHICH YOU SHOULD BE DOING IS GIVING THEM A RECOVERY, PUTTING THEM IN DETOX FOR 30 DAYS, MAYBE 60 DAYS, AND THEN MAYBE PUT 'EM IN A COUNTY FACILITY WHERE THEY CAN BE CAL FIRE AND PUT OUT FIRES. THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. BUT INSTEAD, YOU'RE JUST GONNA GO, MAYBE THIS IS GONNA WORK, MAYBE SIX MONTHS DOWN THE LINE, HE'S GONNA BE OKAY. AND THEN WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? ALL YOU'RE GONNA DO IS YOU'RE GONNA GIVE HIM SERVICES FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, WELFARE AND SO ON AND SO ON. AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA PUT 'EM IN THE FACILITY. HE IS NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD ANYWAYS BECAUSE HE LET THE GOVERNMENT LETS PEOPLE JUST RAISE THE RENT SO CRAZY THAT IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS. NOBODY CAN AFFORD IT. IT'S LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YOU LET PEOPLE BUILD HOUSES THAT ARE SO BIG, NOBODY CAN AFFORD IT. THIS COMMUNITY WAS BUILT WITH THOUSAND TO 1500 SQUARE FOOT HOUSES AND NOW THEY BUILT 2000 SQUARE FOOT HOUSES. WHO THE HELL CAN AFFORD THAT? THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DAMN SENSE. THANK YOU. JOSEPHINE GARCIA. HI, MY NAME IS JOSEPHINE GARCIA. I THINK THE HOMELESS DESERVE TO HAVE HOMES TOO. I THINK THEY DESERVE TO HAVE HOMES TOO, BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST PEOPLE JUST LIKE US. SO THEY DESERVE EQUAL RIGHTS JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE. ALSO, THINK ABOUT THIS, IN THE SUMMER, WE ARE JUST INSIDE OUR HOUSES CHILLING WITH OUR AC ON WHEN HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE ON THE DANGEROUS STREETS, IN THE SCORCHING HOT CENTER, IN THE FREEZING COLD WINTER WITHOUT JACKETS OR ANYTHING TO KEEP THEM WARM. WHILE WE ARE IN OUR NICE HEATED HOUSE, AS YOU CAN SEE, HOMELESS PEOPLE NEED HOMES TOO. THANK YOU. RAZ GARCIA, FOLLOWED BY WM SLINGO, FOLLOWED BY GLEN KENNEDY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS, THERES GARCIA. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR, AND I SUPPORT PATHWAY HOME. I LIVE RIGHT UP THE STREET FROM THE PROPOSED SITE. IT'S JUST ABOUT A MILE AWAY. AND MY KIDS GO TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AROUND THE CORNER. UM, ONE OF THE, THE SCHOOLS IN QUESTION. UM, SO I JUST WANNA PUT IT OUT THERE THAT NOT ALL COVINA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT PARENTS OPPOSE THIS. I AM IN THE 9% THAT SUPPORT IT. I WELCOME THIS IN MY BACKYARD, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE I WILL FEEL SAFER KNOWING THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A COMPASSIONATE SOLUTION FOR OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS. I HAVE MANY YEARS OF WORKING, UH, DIRECTLY WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. I BEGAN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER DOING STREET OUTREACH TO UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS IN A TOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTH PHILLY. I WORKED ALONGSIDE A SOCIAL WORKER. WE SET UP A VAN IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE COUNSELED INDIVIDUALS ABOUT SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND THEN MY FIRST JOB AS AN ATTORNEY WAS WORKING IN SAN BERNARDINO AT A LEGAL SERVICES CLINIC WHERE MANY OF MY CLIENTS CAME OFF THE STREET LOOKING FOR HELP, AND I HELPED CONNECT THEM WITH INCOME MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS SUCH AS GENERAL RELIEF. I, I DID, I JUST FIXED IT. GENERAL RELIEF, SSI AND SSDI, FOOD STAMPS AND MEDI-CAL. UM, SOMETHING I'VE LEARNED IN DOING THIS WORK IS THAT EVERY UNHOUSED PERSON HAS A STORY. EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS DIGNITY. EVERY ONE OF THEM IS A HUMAN BEING. EVERYONE IS SOMEONE'S SON, DAUGHTER, BROTHER, OR SISTER. MANY OF THEM HAVE ENDURED UNIMAGINABLE TRAUMAS. MANY OF THEM ARE PLAGUED BY MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEY MAY REJECT AN OFFER OF HELP, NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE HOMELESS, BUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T TRUST THE SYSTEM. BECAUSE OUR PRO ONE PROGRAM MAY PROMISE THEM JOB TRAINING, BUT THE NEXT MINUTE FUNDING MAY BE WITHDRAWN AND THE JOB JOB DOESN'T EVER COME TO FRUITION AND THE SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING THEM. SO I BELIEVE THE INEQUALITY OF OUR SOCIETY IS, HAS HELPED TO CREATE THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS, AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. HOUSING IS UNAFFORDABLE. WAGES ARE LOW. THE SYSTEM IS HARD TO NAVIGATE. HEALTHCARE IS NOT UNIVERSAL. THERE ARE, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES ARE OFTEN INACCESSIBLE. SO OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS NEED HELP. THEY'RE NOT ALL [02:55:01] CRIMINALS. THEY NEED US TO PRACTICE. WHAT I'VE HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE PREACH TONIGHT TO LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF, AND WE NEED TO NOT TURN OUR BACKS ON THEM. THANK YOU. WM LINCO, FOLLOWED BY GLEN KENNEDY, FOLLOWED BY NICHOLAS SANCHEZ. THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. UM, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT SINCE 1977 AND, UH, I THINK THE CITY IS GOING DOWNHILL. I DON'T THINK THIS PROJECT IS A GOOD IDEA. I THINK MEASURE H IS A GROSS FAILURE. YOU'RE JUST POURING MONEY AND THE RESULTS ARE NOT HAPPENING. YOU'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE HOMELESS. HOW MANY OF THESE PEOPLE, OKAY, THE RUMOR IS THAT THERE'S 128 HOMELESS IN WEST COVINA, PLUS OR MINUS. WHO ARE THEY? YOU NEED TO FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE. YOU NEED TO FINGERPRINT THEM, TAKE THEIR PICTURE AND MAYBE CHIP THEM AND IT. IT'S PROBABLY NOT HOLD UP IN COURT, BUT WE'VE GOT THIS SHABBY MOTEL OVER HERE THAT'S PROSTITUTION AND DRUGS AND YOU'RE REWARDING BAD BEHAVIOR. SO I WOULD NOT SIGN THIS CONTRACT. IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S MORE FAILURE. UH, THERE IS A SHABBY MOTEL OVER BY DALEWOOD AVENUE. I THINK IT'S THE CHEF'S INN MAYBE THAT COULD BE USED. BUT I WOULD PUT UP A FENCE AROUND IT AND I WOULD HAVE BARBED WIRE AND POLICE AROUND THERE BECAUSE WE, THIS, THIS THROWING MONEY AT A PROBLEM IS NOT WORKING. IT'S NOT WORKING. AND THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. GLEN KENNEDY, FOLLOWED BY NICHOLAS SANCHEZ, FOLLOWED BY SIMONE WRIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. GLEN KENNEDY. UH, I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENCE. IN FACT, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1907, SO THAT MAKES ME OLD SCHOOL WEST COVINA. UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, YOU KNOW, MR. MAYOR, I TOLD YOU I'D MEET YOU HALFWAY ON THIS. UH, YOU NEVER BOTHERED TO TELL ME THAT YOU SAT ON THE OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR MEASURE H. SO YOU SAYING THAT YOU ONLY KNEW ABOUT THIS FOR A MONTH IS, IS JUST NOT BELIEVABLE, NUMBER ONE. UM, NUMBER TWO, UM, I'M NOT AGAINST THE PROGRAM. I THINK IT HAS MANY, MANY LOOPHOLES IN IT. UH, ONE BEING YOU DON'T SCREEN ANYBODY, OR YOU DON'T DO ANY BACKGROUND CHECK THERE. THERE'S NO DETOX. THERE IS, THERE IS NO, THERE'S CURFEW. THERE'S NO DRUG TESTING. JESUS. THERE'S JUST NO, THERE'S JUST NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ANYTHING. OKAY? THAT'S JUST WRONG. YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM IN, IN THEORY, IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM. WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING, BUT THERE'S JUST TOO MANY HOLES IN IT. UM, AND IT TOOK YOU SEVEN YEARS, SEVEN YEARS TO COME UP WITH THIS PROGRAM. REALLY? I MEAN, OKAY, SO YOU'RE AT THE END OF YOUR MEASURE. H OKAY, IT'S ONLY 10 YEARS. IT'S $355 MILLION A YEAR THAT YOU GET OVER THE 10 YEARS WITH 3.5 BILLION. AND YOU'VE DONE NOTHING OR VERY LITTLE. I'M SORRY. YOU'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT. VERY LITTLE. GIVE EVERYBODY'S JOBS, BUT YOU'VE DONE NOTHING FOR THE HOMELESS. SO, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO SEE THIS PROGRAM GOING SOMEWHERE. AND THEN SHERRY SAID, UH, SHE WENT DOWN VALLEY AND SAN BERNARDINO ROAD. THAT WAS ME, SHERRY, THAT WAS, THAT WAS ME. I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE SITE. UH, WHAT ABOUT THE SITE OVER HERE AT BALDWIN PARK? UH, ON 20 IN NORTH GARVEY, THE COUNTY OWNS IT. THEY RENOVATED IT. UH, THE HOMELESS WIN FOR A YEAR. NOW THEY'RE GONE. I HAVE NO CLUE WHERE THEY WENT, BUT IT'S SIT EMPTY FOR A YEAR. WHY NOT USE THAT? IT'S B PARK WEST CAMINO. YOU BRAG ABOUT DIA AND MONROVIA. SO WHAT ABOUT WEST CAMINO BALL PARK? IS THAT COULD BE A ALTERNATIVE SITE. I'M JUST NOT FOR THIS, AT THIS, AT THIS SITE. AND THEN, SO WELCOME TO WEST COVINA . THIS IS A CITY THAT TURNED DOWN SUPER WALMART, TURNED DOWN COSTCO, TURNED DOWN OVERNIGHT, PARKING, DIDN'T WANNA SEE ANY UTILITY TAX OR SALES TAX. SO WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK THEY WANT A HOMELESS SHELTER IN WEST CAMINA? COME ON, MAN. THINK ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. [03:00:04] NICHOLAS SANCHEZ, FOLLOWED BY SIMON WRIGHT, FOLLOWED BY KEN TAN. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS NICHOLAS SANCHEZ. I'M A COVINA RESIDENT AND A PARENT OF STUDENTS AT MESA ELEMENTARY. UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD, UH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SENT OUT INFORMATION TO THE PARENTS TODAY TO HAVING US TAKE A SURVEY, WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO YOU EARLIER. UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF THE MAYOR AND THE VICE MAYOR. YOU ATTENDED THE OPENING DAY CEREMONIES AT CORTEZ PARK. YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US? YOU KNOW, WHY WE'RE HERE, YOU KNOW, WHY WE'RE SPEAKING. I'M NOT A RESIDENT OF YOUR CITY, BUT WE BENEFIT OF ALL THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT HAPPEN INTO OUR COMMUNITY. UM, I'M A PROSECUTOR FOR ONE OF THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS, UH, LOCALLY. AND SO I DEAL WITH A LOT OF THESE ISSUES. I UNDERSTAND ENFORCEMENT, I UNDERSTAND LAND USE. THOSE ARE VERY HARD DECISIONS THAT YOU'RE FACED WITH. AND THIS IS AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, BUT IT'S NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, WITH THE SCHOOL. UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE KIDS GO FROM MESA, THEY GO TO IN-N-OUT, THEY GO TO CORTEZ PARK, THEY COME BACK AND FORTH. THIS IS GOING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT THAT. I JUST STARTED DOING MY RESEARCH ON THIS. AS EVERYBODY SAID, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE CRIME MAP FOR THE FIVE STAR MOTEL. IT'S NOT IDEAL. LOOK AT YELP. THE REVIEWS AND THE PICTURES OF THAT PLACE ARE HORRENDOUS, AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE COMPLETELY USED FOR THIS PROGRAM. YOU'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE THAT PART OF THE HOTEL AVAILABLE TO ITS CURRENT, UM, USERS. SO THAT'S A BAD SITUATION. YOU'RE HAVING PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP, AND YOU'RE PUTTING THEM INTO A PLACE THAT REGULARLY HAS CRIME YEAR ON YEAR FOR PROSTITUTION, DRUGS, UH, ROBBERIES AND OTHER THINGS. THE BUSINESSES HAVE TOLD YOU WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH. THEY'RE NOT EXAGGERATING. THE STATISTICS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. WE'RE JUST HERE TO ASK YOU TO THINK FOR THE CHILDREN. WE KNOW THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU, BUT THAT SHOULD WHAT SHOULD LEAD YOU IN THIS SITUATION? IF YOU CAN FIND A COMPATIBLE SOLUTION, THEN GREAT. BUT I THINK YOU'RE LEARNING THAT IT'S JUST NOT IDEAL AND ANOTHER LOCATION SHOULD BE SOUGHT. THANK YOU. SIMON WRIGHT, FOLLOWED BY KENAN. FOLLOWED BY FRANCOIS COLTON. GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SIMON WRIGHT. I COME AS A FATHER OF THE COVINA VALLEY STUDENTS, MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND ELECTED MEMBER OF THE COVINA VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD. FIRST, LET ME SAY I'M SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF HOMELESS AND THE UNHOUSED POPULATION, BUT I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO WHY THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE COMMUNITY, UH, ENGAGEMENT TO THIS POINT. FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT ALREADY, PEOPLE, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT SIDES WHEN IT COMES TO OUR HOME HOMELESSNESS, BUT WE DON'T ALL AGREE ON THE LOCATION. UH, I'M ELECTED OFFICIAL. IT'S BEEN PROPOSED. I'VE NEVER BEEN APPROACHED. THIS IS IN MY DISTRICT. I'VE NEVER BEEN APPROACHED WITH THIS TO ME. SO THIS AFFECTS ME AND MY CONSTITUENCY. UH, MR. DEBA COVINA VALLEY HAS A LARGE CONTINGENT OF THE COMMUNITY, AT LEAST THREE SCHOOLS WITHIN A MILE AND OF THE PROPOSED GARVEY FACILITY. WHEN WAS THE COUNTY PLANNING TO ASK THE SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMUNITY FOR THEIR INPUT ON THIS PROPOSAL? WHEN WAS THE COUNTY PLANNING TO ASK MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR INPUT? WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT WALK PAST GARVEY ON THEIR WAY HOME AND ALWAYS ENJOYED TO STOP IN AND OUT FOR A DRINK OR A MEAL. UM, MY CONCERN IS THIS PROPOSED SITE IS VERY CLOSE TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND WHERE OUR YOUNG ADULTS CONGREGATE. HOMELESSNESS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE THAT REQUIRES ALL PARTIES TO BE INVOLVED AND AT THE TABLE. UH, AND, AND THE COUNTY IS DEMONSTRATING A LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND, UH, I WOULD, I WOULD PROPOSE, MR. MAYOR, I'VE MET YOU MANY TIMES, UH, JUST RECONSIDER WHAT THIS IS AND, UH, LET'S BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND LET'S, LET'S DISCUSS TOGETHER. THANKS. KEN TAN, FOLLOWED BY FRANCOIS COLTON, FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA MOLINA. FRANCOIS COLTON, FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA MOLINA, FOLLOWED BY B GOMEZ. OKAY, NEXT TIME I'LL DEFINITELY EAT DINNER BEFORE I DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. I'M DYING. . OKAY. UM, I'M FRANCOIS COLTON. I'M A, UH, A MEMBER OF, UM, I LIVE IN WEST COVINA. I WANNA EXPRESS MY VERY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE LA COUNTY PATHWAY HOME. PROPOSED AT THE FIVE STAR INN. AS EVERYBODY HAS SAID, THE, UM, THE FIVE STAR INN IS A DUMP. UH, [03:05:01] WE'VE DONE NOTHING AS A CITY EVER. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING TO HELP THESE PEOPLE. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. THERE ARE ONLY LIKE EIGHT BEDS AVAILABLE TODAY, AND THE PEOPLE JUST GET MOVE, JUST MOVING AROUND THE TRASH. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. SO, YOU KNOW, I TOTALLY SUPPORT THIS. I HAD A HOMELESS PERSON LIVING OUTSIDE OF MY PLACE, AND WHEN I LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY, AND HE WAS A NICE GUY. UM, WE EVEN HAD A, UH, A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL WHEN HE DIED. BUT ANYWAY, I KNOW THAT'S DIFFERENT WITH THE PEOPLE OUT HERE AT THIS PLACE AT THE FIVE STAR INN. SO, YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD BASICALLY NOT, IT'S NOT A, UM, IT'S NOT A SHELTER. IT'S TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION HERE. UH, IT WOULD PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING ULTIMATELY DOWN THE ROAD IF THEY DO MEET THEIR CRITERIA. BUT THEY HAVE TO BE IDENTIFIED FIRST. THEY DON'T JUST GET TO SHOW UP. UM, THERE'S, IT'S A LOCKDOWN. AT THE END OF THE DAY. PEOPLE AREN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE VISITORS. UM, SO AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION. AND THE U SHAPE OF THIS, UH, PARTICULAR FACILITY IS PERFECT SO THEY COULD MONITOR IT BETTER. UM, OF COURSE, NOTHING'S PERFECT, BUT IT COSTS US NOTHING. WE VOTED FOR MEASURE H. UM, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS FOR. UM, IT WOULDN'T COST ANY US ANYTHING ELSE. UM, YES, THAT LOCATION HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC WITH PROSTITUTION, DRUG DEALING, AND SO MUCH MORE CRIME, UM, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A STEP THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S FOR, IT'S A TWO YEAR PROGRAM. IF IT DOESN'T WORK, WELL, WE CAN GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE, BUT WE NEED TO TRY SOMETHING. WE'VE DONE NOTHING FOR THESE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND THE REALITY IS THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK. UH, A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER OR SOMETHING CAN PUT SOMEBODY ON THE STREET. WOMEN ARE ALSO MAJOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, WHICH ALSO MAKES THEM ALSO ONE STEP FROM BEING HOMELESS, LOSING YOUR JOB, YOU KNOW, IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY AT ANY TIME, UNFORTUNATELY. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, YES, THERE'S ALSO MENTAL ILLNESS. UM, THERE'S ALSO, UM, SUBSTANCE ABUSE. I, I, I, I ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THAT. BUT THE REALITY IS, THERE'S, THERE'S LOTS OF REASONS WHY THESE PEOPLE ARE OUT ON THE STREET. AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE PLACE THAT HAS BEEN SELECTED HAS BEEN JUST HORRIBLE. BUT THIS IS WHAT WE, THIS IS THE RIGHT STEP. SO AGAIN, I SUPPORT IT, YOU KNOW, AS HUMAN BEINGS, WE HAVE SHARED VALUES OF COMPASSION, INCLUSIVITY, AND COMMUNITY. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S HOW WE FEEL THAT REALLY MATTERS. THAT'S REALLY WHAT MATTERS, IS HOW WE FEEL. AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP. THANK YOU THESE FOLKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PATRICIA MOLINA, FOLLOWED BY B GOMEZ, FOLLOWED BY KENAN. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE. UH, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION FOR THE PATHWAY HOUSE, UM, PRESENTERS, I AM, UH, I'VE BEEN LIVING IN WEST COVINA FOR 20 YEARS. I DO LIVE IN, UH, THE DISTRICT, UH, THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROGRAM. THERE IS SO MANY QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF SCREENING. LIKE, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE JUST TAKING SOMEONE FROM ENCAMPMENT AND BRINGING THEM INSIDE. THEREFORE, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS REGARDING CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, SEXUAL PAST, ET CETERA. UM, ALSO, I KNOW WE'VE HEARD SO MUCH OF THE POSITIVES, BUT IN ORDER TO MAKE AN OBJECTIVE DECISION, WE NEED TO KNOW THE NEGATIVES TOO. WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT THIS. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY NOT BEEN ABLE. 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE HOUSED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, NOT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. SO HOW MANY PEOPLE LIKE DATA HAVE ACTUALLY DROPPED OUT OR NOT FOLLOWED WITH THE PROGRAM? AND WHERE HAVE THEY STAYED? HAVE THEY STAYED IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY? HAVE THEY GONE BACK TO WHERE YOU HAVE THEM? I KNOW WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT, UM, LIKE THIS, THIS WILL HELP OUR CITY HOMELESS PEOPLE. HOWEVER, LET'S BE REAL HERE. THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY TRUE BECAUSE WEST CO, IF YOU COMPARE WEST COVINA HOMELESS POPULATION WITH OTHER CITIES, MAYBE OTHER CITIES HAVE MORE, RIGHT? SO THEN WE CANNOT FEEL OUR NUMBER OF BEDS, THEREFORE YOU'RE GONNA BRING SOME PEOPLE FROM OTHER PLACES. SO HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT? HOW WERE, HOW ALSO DID YOU DETERMINE, UM, WHAT I KNOW THAT I, I KNOW THAT THIS CITY IS OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO MAKE A DECISION, BUT I KNOW YOU SAID IF WE CHOOSE TO, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHO MAKES THE CHOICE, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE PEOPLE ARE SAYING COUNTY, BUT THEN WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION WITH YOU GUYS, OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT? AND SO I'M LIKE, I REALLY WOULD LOVE FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER NOT ADVANCING THIS FORWARD AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS, NOT [03:10:01] ENOUGH DATA. SINCE THERE ARE OTHER PATHWAY HOMES AVAILABLE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE RESULTS FOR YEARS NOW FOR HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS. I KNOW THE LAST MEETING, UH, MR. WU HERE SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, LIKE, WE DON'T WANNA BE, UM, GUINEA PIGS AND WE DO WANNA BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. I AGREE. I'VE, I'VE AS A SO, UH, FORMER SOCIAL WORKER, I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE IMPACT THAT THIS WILL HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE BUSINESSES PROPERTY, UH, VALUES, UM, AND THE CHILDREN. NOW, I KNOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, SOME KIDS, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED SOME KIDS PASS BY THERE ALREADY, BUT WE'LL BRING IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FROM ENCAMPMENT TO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. WILL THAT BRING MORE HOMELESS PEOPLE INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD? UH, BECAUSE THERE IS THAT AVAILABILITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANNA, UH, LAST CHANCE FOR B GOMEZ AND KENAN JIM SCHNEIDER, FOLLOWED BY GLORIA GANDER, FOLLOWED BY MARIO. JIM. JIM, THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME. UM, CITY COUNCIL. I, I GUYS, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING OUT AND PUTTING A GOOD PRESENTATION UP. UM, I DO THINK, UH, THIS, AS A YOUNG LADY SAID, UH, WE NEED TO HAVE BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN, UM, SHOWN, UM, NOT ONLY THE POSITIVE, BUT ALSO THE NEGATIVE. UM, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE SCHOOLS. UM, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY, UH, NOT ONLY BARCA ELEMENTARY, MESA ELEMENTARY, SOUTH HILLS, BUT YOU HAVE, UH, CHRIST LUTHERAN RIGHT THERE, UM, THAT HAS KIDS. YOU ALSO HAVE CORTEZ PARK THAT HAS THE BRUINS WEST COMMAND, BRUINS, UH, WEST CAM, AMERICAN LITTLE LEAGUE ACROSS THE STREET. YOU HAVE, UM, THE WEST COMMAND DUKES DOWN ON BARCA AT BARCA PARK. YOU HAVE THE GOALS, SOCCER, UH, UH, PLAYERS AS WELL AS, UH, COREY LID BASEBALL. SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF KIDS AROUND THAT AREA THAT THIS IS GONNA AFFECT. UM, EVERYTHING WE'RE READING ABOUT THE, THE OTHER PATHWAY, UM, LOCATIONS, UH, THERE IS A LOT OF NEGATIVE ABOUT IT. UM, YES, WE ARE HOUSING HOMELESS PEOPLE, BUT WHERE ARE THEY GOING AFTER THEY GET OUT? ARE WE ACTUALLY, UH, UM, FINDING A SOLUTION FOR THEM? THE LOCATION IS NOT IDEAL. YOU KNOW, THERE'S OTHER PLACES WE CAN DO THIS AT. OKAY. UM, I'VE BEEN IN THIS, IN THIS AREA FOR OVER 20 YEARS. UM, I GREW UP IN THE AREA. I GREW UP, WENT TO MESA SERVICE AT SOUTH HILLS. MY KIDS HAVE GONE TO SOUTH HILLS. UH, THEY'VE GONE TO VINE ELEMENTARY. THERE'S A LOT AT RISK HERE BY BRINGING MORE PEOPLE IN. UM, WEST, I DON'T THINK WILL, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PUT EVERYBODY IN THAT HO IN THAT HOTEL. UM, YOU'RE GONNA BRING 'EM BA IT'S GONNA BE IN BEING A MAGNET IN THERE. UM, WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP, BRIAN, WERE YOU THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THIS UP, BROUGHT THIS LOCATE, BROUGHT THIS UP TO EVERYBODY, OR WAS IT BROUGHT IN BY SOMEBODY ELSE? THAT'S THE QUESTION WE HAVE. UM, I THINK A LOT OF THIS, WHAT I'M HEARING ABOUT WAS YOU'RE NEW ABOUT IT, BUT YOU DECIDE TO HIDE BEHIND IT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE PROPER WAY TO DO IT. I THINK THAT'S WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A LITTLE MORE RESENTMENT TOWARDS YOU BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T FORTHCOMING ON EVERYBODY. UM, THIS LOCATION IS JUST NOT IDEAL FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. GLORIA GANDERA, FOLLOWED BY MARIO S FOLLOWED BY SYLVIA LOZA. HELLO, UH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I DON'T LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR, BUT I AM, UH, CONCERNED ABOUT THE BUSINESS INCOME THAT THE CITY WILL LOSE. THERE ARE PLENTY OF BUSINESSES THERE, AND I HAD AN UNCLE THAT BECAME HOMELESS TO AN EXTENT, BUT HE MOVED IN WITH ONE OF HIS BROTHERS. AND SO I HAVE SOME EMPATHY FOR THEM, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO PUT THAT HOME. I THINK THERE MUST BE ANOTHER PLACE IN WEST COVINA, BUT MAYBE NEXT TO THE DUMP THAT I LIVE NEXT TO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. BUT I REALLY DON'T THINK THERE'S PROPER PLACE, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THOSE BUSINESSES AROUND THERE. AND SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. MARIO S FOLLOWED BY SILVA LOZA, FOLLOWED BY RICK HERNANDEZ. MARIO LEFT STATEMENT [03:15:04] SYLVIA LOZA, FOLLOWED BY RICK HERNANDEZ, FOLLOWED BY SARAH LOVE. AND THEN I HAVE A SPEAKER SLIP WITH NO NAME. SOMEBODY WHO WANTED TO SPEAK. THERE'S NO NAME OFFERED. UH, YOUR PHONE NUMBER ENDS IN SIX ZERO SEVEN SEVEN. CAN I GET YOUR NAME? RICK HERNANDEZ. RICK HERNANDEZ. THANK YOU. UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS RICK HERNANDEZ. I HAVE BEEN A BASEBALL COACH WITH, UH, COVINO AMERICAN LOW LEAGUE FOR 10 YEARS, AND A COACH WITH THE WEST COVINO BRUIN FOR EIGHT YEARS AT CORTEZ PARK. I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINO. I'M HERE TO PROVIDE MY OPPOSITION OF THE PATHWAY HOMELESS, UH, SHELTER LOCATION. THE PROPOSED PATHWAY HOME SHELTER IS HALF A MILE FROM SOUTH HILLS HIGH SCHOOL, MESA ELEMENTARY BAR, BAR ELEMENTARY, UH, THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE FROM CORTEZ PARK, MAVERICK PARK, CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL. A MAJORITY OF THE HOMELESS THAT WILL BE HOUSED WILL NOT BE THE HUNDRED AND 77TH, UH, REGISTERED HOMELESS IN WEST COVINA. IT'S GONNA BE TRANSIENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT WILL BE PLACED AND HOUSED IN THE SHELTER. IT IS NOT FAIR, UH, THAT YOU RELEASE THE PROBLEMS. UH, THOSE PROBLEMS, UH, THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH BRINGING, UM, HOMELESS MEMBERS INTO THIS, INTO THE COMMUNITIES, AND INCREASE THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN CYCLES OF SIX MONTHS. UH, HAVING INDIVIDUALS WITH MELTED ILLNESS AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS, LOITERING, USING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL IN THE AREA, MOST LIKELY, UH, AT CORTEZ PARK IN MATTER, PARK IN FRONT OF OUR SCHOOL IS, IS DANGEROUS. IT'S VERY RISKY WITH, UH, FENTANYL POSSIBLY BEING LEFT BEHIND AND KIDS POSSIBLY PICKING UP, UH, THOSE DRUGS. UM, THERE IS NO CURFEW THAT'S GONNA BE SET OR CONSEQUENCES FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE STAYING AT THE SHELTER. UM, AT, AT THE SHELTER, AT THE FIVE STAR MOTEL, I DON'T BELIEVE, UH, THE HOMELESS WILL BE SCREENED AGAINST SEX, UH, THE SEX OFFENDER DATABASE OR D OR DANGEROUS, UH, MENTAL ILLNESS ISSUES. MR. TABI, YOU ARE REPRESENTING THE CITY AS THE MAYOR, AND THE CITY IS AS BACK IN THE SHELTER AS THE MAYOR, THAT THE CITY IS BACK IN THE SHELTER. AND WHEN ALL THE OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE OPPOSING IT, UM, YOU WANT TO PLACE THE SHELTER IN ANOTHER, IN ANOTHER DISTRICT THAT IS NOT YOUR DISTRICT. UM, THAT, AND IN REGARDS TO, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE AGAINST YOU, UH, FOR IMPACTING ANOTHER DISTRICT THAT IS NOT YOUR DISTRICT. UH, THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT THAT YOU WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT. UM, LEMME SEE. EXCUSE ME. UH, MY KIDS GO TO MASON ELEMENTARY, SOUTH HILLS HIGH SCHOOL AND PLAY SPORTS AT THE PARKS THAT I MENTIONED. I HAVE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR 26 YEARS AND HAVE WORKED IN AREAS WHERE HOMELESS SHELTERS, UH, ARE AT AND HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE ON THE IMPACTS OF THE SURROUNDING AREAS. THE SHELTERS NEED TO BE PLACED IN AN AREA WITH MINIMAL IMPACT TO THE COUNT, UH, TO THE, THE COMMUNITY IN A COUNTY, IN AN AREA, UH, MOST LIKELY AN INDUSTRIAL AREA. YOUR ANALYSIS OF THE SURROUNDING AREA OF THE FIVE STAR SHELTER IS INCORRECT, MR. MAYOR. UH, THE STATEMENT FROM YOUR YOUTUBE VIDEO AND AN EMAIL RESPONSE TO ME, UH, IS INCORRECT, UH, IN REGARDS HOW YOU DESCRIBED THE AREA. UM, IN ORDER, INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH PROBLEMS AT THE HOTEL, UH, BY TURNING INTO A HOMELESS SHELTER, YOU SHOULD GO THROUGH THE ABATEMENT PROCESS AND THE LEGAL PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE, UH, AT YOUR HANDS, AND USE THE PROPOSITION EACH, UH, DOLLARS CORRECTLY. I RESPECTFULLY REQ, UH, OPPOSE MY, UH, I OPPOSE THE PATHWAY HOUSING PROGRAM, BUT AT THAT LOCATION, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. IF I COULD JUST DO A FINAL CHECK OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. YEAH, GO AHEAD. SYLVIA LOZA, SARAH, LOVE, AND A INDIVIDUAL WHO DIDN'T LEAVE A NAME, PHONE NUMBER ENDING IN SIX ZERO SEVEN SEVEN THERE, SYLVIA'S, NOT ME. OH, GO AHEAD. YOU NOMINATED. OKAY. YOU, YOU CAN SKIP TO THE FRONT. ALL GREETINGS, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S AN EXERCISE AND FUTILITY. UM, AND I JUST TOOK SOME NOTES FROM THE WORD SALAD THIS MORNING AND DURING THE PRESENTATION. UM, SO I'M GONNA SAY MY PIECE ANYWAYS. SO ACCORDING TO OUR MAYOR, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO STOP THIS. THE, THE COUNTY'S JUST GONNA DO WHAT THEY WANNA DO. THAT'S THE WAY WE HEARD IT FROM ME THIS MORNING THERE. WELL, IF WE WANNA FIGHT, THEN THERE'LL BE LITIGATION. OR IF WE TRY TO STOP THIS, THERE'LL BE LITIGATION THAT WAS FROM YOU THIS MORNING. I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE THERE, SO MAYBE I GOT THAT WRONG. HOPEFULLY. [03:20:02] UM, BUT SO, AND THEN I HEAR A GUY COME UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE DON'T DO IT AND, AND MENTION LITIGATION. AND IT'S, UH, FROM CONSORTIUM. SO I NEED TO LOOK THAT GUY UP AND WHAT THEY DO. UM, BUT I WILL SAY I HAVE OWNED A HOUSE IN WEST COVINA FOR 20 YEARS. I AM A, I'VE LIVED IN CALIFORNIA SINCE 1969. I'M A SKEPTICAL TAXPAYER AND A SKEPTICAL OF ANY KIND OF CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT. AND THE, THE WAY THIS CAME ABOUT IS LIKE, WHY SHOULD WE TRUST IT THE WAY IT CAME ABOUT? LIKE, YOU HAD TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT SINCE YOU'RE ON THE OVERSIGHT BOARD. AND IT SEEMS LIKE YOU GUYS, I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU GUYS COULD NOT KNOW ABOUT IT EITHER, BUT, SO WE DON'T, WE DON'T TRUST IT AND I DON'T TRUST ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS. NOT WHO, WE DON'T WANT THE HOMELESS PROGRAM. NO, IT'S NOT THAT. IT'S THE FACT, IT'S THE WAY IT'S BEEN PUT ON US AND THE WAY LIKE, OH, HEY, YOU GUYS ARE, THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN AT THE FIVE STAR. AND, AND I KNOW NOTHING'S BEEN SIGNED YET, BUT WHO'S LIKE, WE WONDER WHO'S, HOW ARE THEY PAYING TO REDO THAT WHOLE HOTEL? LIKE, IS THERE SOME KIND OF GRANT SERVICE WHEN THEY GET THE CONTRACT? WILL THAT BE REIMBURSED? WE'RE ONE, WE WONDER ABOUT THE MONEY. 'CAUSE WE KNOW THE HOMELESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS BIG, AND WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE MONEY THAT SHOULD GO STRAIGHT TO THE HOMELESS GOES TO THE CRONIES, THE DEVELOPERS, THE SERVICE PROVIDERS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THE HOMELESS GET CRUMBS. SO, UM, THANK YOU. UM, YEAH, SO WE'RE SKEPTICAL OF ALL OF THAT. AND YOU CAN'T JUST GIVE A PRESENTATION AFTER THE FACT AND, AND, AND THINK THAT EVERYONE'S GONNA GO FOR IT. I MEAN, THERE'S A LACK OF TRUST NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH YOU BEING ON THE OVERSIGHT BOARD AND NOT, WELL, IT'S PUBLIC INFORMATION, BUT YOU, I MEAN, COME ON. YOU SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TOLD THEM. SO, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY KNEW, BUT IT, IT SURE SEEMS A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS TO ME. SO, UM, SO YEAH, AND I AM, I AM NOT ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR LIKE HHH OR MAJOR H, SO THANK YOU. RIGHT THERE. NOT GONNA SAY NOTHING. I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKER SLIPS. MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO, FOR THE RECORD, SAY THAT I DID EMAIL Y UM, THE COUNCIL BODY, UH, COMMENTS THAT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE RECEIVED, AS WELL AS A VOICEMAIL MESSAGE, [9) OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED "PATHWAY HOME" PROJECT (Part 2 of 2)] UH, IF THE, THE COUNTY WOULD LIKE TO, MR. MAYOR, IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S ANY UNANSWERED QUESTION THEY COULD ANSWER, BUT IT SEEMS, ARE THERE ANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS OUT THERE? I I DON'T THINK THERE ARE. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT COU COU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO, UH, APPROACH THE, THE MIC? YEAH. THANK YOU. SOMEONE, A QUESTION. I GOT A QUESTION. WHY DOES THE OWNER OF THE OF THE BUILDING SAY ANYTHING? YOU SEE RIGHT THERE? TESTING, TESTING, TESTING, WHAT THEY'RE DOING, SIR, DO YOU, EXCUSE ME? TEST, TEST. ALL RIGHT. SO, UM, GOOD EVENING. AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU FOR JUST THE INCREDIBLE JOB THAT YOU GUYS DO AND, UH, EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THIS COMMUNITY. JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS. I DO WANT TO PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION TO YOU. UM, WHEN WE DO, UH, CANVAS FOR MOTELS, WE CAN CANVAS FOR MOTELS ALL ACROSS AGAIN, THE COUNTY. UM, AND WHAT WE DO IN THAT CANVASSING IS DETERMINE IF THERE ARE, UH, OWNERS THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO US, UH, THAT WANNA PARTNER WITH US. WE TRY TO SET UP TOURS, UH, TO DETERMINE IF A SITE IS VIABLE, MEANING THAT IT HAS SOME PHYSICAL ASSETS OR PHYSICAL, UH, FEATURES THAT WOULD MAKE THE PROGRAM A GOOD FIT AT THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION. UH, THERE ARE LOCATIONS THAT JUST AREN'T VIABLE BECAUSE OF, UH, VARIOUS PHYSICAL, UH, FEATURES THAT, THAT THAT SITE WOULD HAVE. UM, IN ADDITION, WE GO THROUGH A DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS, AGAIN, WHERE STEWARDS OF THE, OF THE PUBLIC FISK. AND SO, UH, WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, UH, UH, WITH THOSE PARTICULAR MOTELS, UH, GO THROUGH TERMS AND CONDITIONS. AGAIN, REALLY GET INTO AN UNDERSTANDING WITH A MOTEL IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA PURSUE WITH. UM, HERE IN WEST COVINA, THIS WAS THE ONLY MOTEL THAT ENDED UP ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH THAT KIND OF, UH, FROM A UNIVERSE STANDPOINT OF CANVASSING ALL MOTELS WITHIN THIS KIND OF AREA, UH, TO MOTELS THAT WE ACTUALLY TOURED, THAT WE DETERMINED WERE VIABLE, UH, MOTELS THAT WE AGAIN, BEGAN, UH, HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH. THIS IS THE ACTUAL ONLY ONE THAT HAD PANNED OUT. SO I JUST, AGAIN, WANNA BE VERY TRANSPARENT WITH THAT. UM, WE DO, UH, ACTUALLY GO FOR FULL SITE CONTROL, AND SO WE DON'T ACTUALLY TRY TO GET ONLY PARTIAL SITE CONTROLS. SO I THINK SOMEBODY HAD MADE A COMMENT [03:25:01] THAT THE COUNTY'S ONLY GONNA GET A CERTAIN PERCENTAGES OF ROOMS. UM, WE ACTUALLY WOULD GO FOR FULL SITE CONTROL IF, IF EVERYTHING IS NOT PREPARED. AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE A SIGNED AGREEMENT AND EVERY NOTHING IS EXECUTED. THIS IS A PROCESS. UH, IF WE HAD DECIDED AGAIN, UH, WITH YOU AS A WILLING PARTNER, WE WOULD STILL GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF GAINING SITE FULL SITE CONTROL. AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER, UH, HURDLE THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO THROUGH. UM, I APPRECIATE THE, UH, PLANNING COMMISSIONER, UM, WHO HAD SAID COMMENTS ABOUT FUNDS, YOU KNOW, TO THE CITIES. AND, YOU KNOW, IF, IF A PLAN IS PROVIDED THAT WHERE WEST COVINA CAN PROVIDE US HOW THEY'RE GONNA CREATE OR BUILD HOUSING OR ACQUIRE HOUSING, UH, LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT, AND WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEE HOW WE CAN PROVIDE INTERIM HOUSING SERVICES OR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES TO WRAP AROUND THAT. UM, BUT I THINK TO DATE, WE HAVEN'T HAD A PLAN FROM, FROM WEST COVINA IN TERMS OF HOW IT'S GONNA CREATE AND ACQUIRE HOUSING. AND SO, AGAIN, WE'RE COMING WITH A FULL CIRCLE SOLUTION. UH, IT'S ONLY, AGAIN, A TEMPORARY SOLUTION. IT'S NOT A PERMANENT SITE. WE'RE NOT TAKING OVER YOUR LAND. IT'S A MOTEL OCCUPANCY AGREEMENT THAT PEOPLE CAN CURRENTLY RENT OUT RIGHT NOW. AND AS FOLKS HAVE DESCRIBED, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE YOU SOME ASSISTANCE WITH WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY AND REDUCE ACTUALLY THE BURDEN ON YOUR EMERGENCY SERVICES. UH, THE INTERIM HOUSING SITE PROVIDER, UH, ACTS AS THAT FIRST RESPONDER. UH, THEY'RE TRAINED IN DEESCALATION, MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING. UH, THEY DO THIS AS THE EXPERTS, UH, DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AND SO AGAIN, WE WOULD HAVE, WE'VE SEEN IN THE OTHER CITIES, UH, EMERGENCY SERVICES REDUCED DOWN TO MEDICAL NEEDS, UM, OR VERY EGREGIOUS, UH, SITUATIONS. I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION THAT SOMEBODY DID BRING UP, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, WE DO HAVE RIGHT NOW, UH, OVER 600 PEOPLE THAT WE BROUGHT IN OFF THE STREETS, WHICH IS A HUNDRED PERCENT SUCCESS RATE. UM, BUT WE HAVE, I THINK, MOVED TO 18% OF GETTING FOLKS PERMANENTLY HOUSED. AND THERE'S BEEN LESS THAN 5% OF PEOPLE, ACTUALLY, I THINK IT'S LESS THAN A HANDFUL, LESS THAN FIVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN EXITED, UH, THROUGH THE PROGRAM OVER THE 600 AND WAS IT NINE FIVE AT THIS POINT? UM, SO A VERY MINIMAL, UH, EXIT RATE. WE GO THROUGH A VERY JUDICIOUS PROCESS WITH A BUNCH OF MEASURES, UM, AND TRY EVERY INTERVENTION TO TRY TO KEEP SOMEBODY HOUSED BECAUSE THAT'S THE GOAL. UH, AND IF, IF, IF PATHWAY HOME, OR IF THIS PARTICULAR SITE DOESN'T WORK, WE LOOK FOR OTHER INTERVENTIONS WITHIN THE TOOLBOX, UH, BUT WE CONSIDER, CONSIDER THEM A PARTICIPANT THAT WE NOW HAVE IN THE PROGRAM THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, NOT JUST PUT 'EM BACK OUT ON THE STREET DOING NOTHING IS A HUNDRED PERCENT FAILURE RATE. OKAY. UM, AND YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE YOUR HOMELESSNESS, UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS DRASTICALLY. UH, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE EXACT PERCENTAGES OR EXACT ROOM NUMBERS, BUT FROM A DRASTIC, UH, PERCENTAGE RATE. SO, UH, WITH THAT, I'M GONNA PASS IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE MARCO, TO, UH, ANSWER SOME OTHER QUESTIONS HERE. THANKS. UM, THANKS. I, I THINK, UH, RENEE SAID IT ALL, UH, PRETTY WELL, AND I THINK HIS, HIS CLOSING REMARK REGARDING THE PERCENTAGES WAS REALLY, UH, INSIGHTFUL, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, I THINK THE ONE THING I'LL, I'LL ADDRESS, I THINK THERE WAS QUESTIONS AROUND THE CREATION OF A LIST. WE, WE REFER TO IT AS A BY NAME LIST, UM, AND US DOING ANY SORT OF SCREENINGS OR ANYTHING OF THE SORT. UM, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT, IT WAS REFERENCED DURING THE POWERPOINT, UH, A FEW TIMES. BUT WHEN WE, UH, LOOK AT WHO WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE SITE, WE DO WORK AND COLLABORATE WITH THE LOCAL PARTNERS, LOCAL JURISDICTION, THAT BEING YOU ALL, UM, TO IDENTIFY YOUR MOST VULNERABLE FOLKS AND THE FOLKS THAT YOU WANT OFF THE STREET, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE A PRIORITY IF YOU WOULD. UM, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE DO HAVE OTHER MEASURES, RIGHT? IF IT IS, UH, WITHIN CERTAIN DISTANCES FROM SCHOOLS, HOUSES, WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE, WE DO, UM, CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS. I, I HEARD THAT COME UP ONCE. UM, SO THERE ARE LEVELS IN PLACE THERE. UH, THE, THE BY NAME LIST IS CREATED THROUGH, AGAIN, IT WOULD BE PART OF YOUR, UH, LATA AND THE HOPE TEAM. AND THESE ARE FOLKS THAT YOUR TEAMS ARE ENGAGING WITH ON A DAILY BASIS FOR, UH, A LONG TIME, RIGHT? TYPICALLY A YEAR LONGER, UM, THAT SHOW THAT THESE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, IT'S THE SAME PERSON THAT'S BEEN ON THE CORNER. IT'S THE SAME PERSON THAT'S BEEN IN FRONT OF THE DEALERSHIP, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO WORK WITH THEM. UM, AND THEN JUST COME TO THE FIRST PERSON THAT COMES THE DAY OF THE OPERATION AND SAY, HEY, GREAT, YOU GOT IT. YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S VERY DETAILED. WE, WE PUT SEVERAL HOURS OF THOUGHT AND WORK [03:30:01] INTO CREATING THIS LIST AND ENSURING THAT IT'S YOUR CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE ENTERING INTO THE SITE. UM, BECAUSE IF NOT, THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO REMAIN OUTSIDE, WHICH IS WHERE THEY'RE AT CURRENTLY. HOW MUCH DOES THE COST PER PERSON PUBLIC, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT IS, IS OVER. UH, I, I WILL NOW, UH, LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR MY, UH, CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE COMMENTS. I, YES. LET ME EE EXCUSE ME. WE, WE ARE, WE'RE NOW AT, AT THE PORTION WHERE, WHERE THE COUNCIL IS GONNA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO ASK QUESTIONS AND MAKE COMMENTS. UH, AGAIN, UH, WE, WE EXPECT THAT WE ALL ACT IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY, UH, SO THAT WAY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ONLINE, CAN GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION. AND ALSO, SO, UH, MY, MY COLLEAGUES AND MYSELF, UH, CAN ALSO ASK OUR QUESTIONS AND GET, UH, SOME OF OUR CONCERNS, SOME ANSWERED. SO, UH, I BELIEVE COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ROSARIO DIAZ, UH, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU, UM, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. UM, I THINK IT SOUNDS REALLY NICE IN THE PERFECT WORLD. UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION THAT OUR RESIDENTS MAY HAVE BECAUSE, UM, SINCE WHAT, 2017, WHEN MEASURE H WAS PASSED, WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING, OR THE COUNTY HAS BEEN COLLECTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. AND I BELIEVE THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS AUDIT THAT JUST TOOK PLACE, AND, UH, YOU SPENT, NOT YOU, BUT THE COUNTY HAS SPENT $24 BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS, AND THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY WENT. SO I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE'S UNDER FIRE, EVERYONE, THEY WANT ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE GOVERNOR DOWN TO THE COUNTY. AND, UM, I, I THINK THIS COUNT, THIS COUNCIL HAS A LOT OF COMPASSION FOR HOMELESS, BUT, UM, I THINK THE WAY WE WENT ABOUT IT IS, IS WRONG. AND IT, I THINK THAT, UM, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT'S 2024, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE ENCAMPMENTS BECAUSE I GUESS IT'S REALLY BOTHERED SOME PEOPLE, AND NOW WE'RE GONNA HIDE THEM BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN A HOTEL. THAT'S THE WAY I SEE IT. IT'S LIKE PUTTING A BANDAGE ON A HEMORRHAGE. AND, UM, I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT, UM, IT HAS COME TO US LIKE THIS, BUT I'M, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH THIS. AND, UM, I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT THERE'S NO SIGNED AGREEMENT AND, UM, I WANNA FIND OUT HOW MUCH ARE WE SPENDING ON THIS, OR HOW MUCH IS THE COUNTY GONNA BE GIVING US FOR THIS? YEAH, SO THE, UH, OPERATION AGAIN, SHOULD IT PROCEED WOULD BE ROUGHLY BETWEEN 14 TO $16 MILLION OVER THE TWO YEAR PERIOD. OKAY? AND THAT WOULD BE A DIRECT, UH, AGAIN, INVESTMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR, UH, AGAIN, THE HOUSING, THE INTERIM, UH, INTERIM HOUSING SERVICES, THE HOUSING NAVIGATION, THE TIME LIMITED SUBSIDIES. AND SO I THINK WHEN YOU ASK FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, I THINK WE AGREE WITH YOU, AND I THINK, UH, WE NEED TO INVEST BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES THIS MONEY. OKAY? SO IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED MEASURE H MONEY, AND WE HAVE NOT GOT IT. I JUST WANNA KNOW, WHY DOES THE COUNTY GET TO DICTATE HOW WE GET TO SPEND, MEASURE AGE MONEY ON OUR CITY? WHY CAN'T WE DECIDE HOW WE SEE FIT TO SPEND IT? THAT'S WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH. THE OTHER THING IS, UM, AS, AS FAR EXPLOITATION OR EXPLORING THE RESIDENTS, UM, THE AREA THERE, UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE BEING GUINEA PIGS, AND WE ARE, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD WAIT AND SEE HOW THE REST OF THE CITIES, WHAT THE OUTCOME IS. AND LIKE THE YOUNG LADY THAT MENTIONED EARLIER, IT'S NOT GONNA TAKE SIX MONTHS. IT'S GONNA TAKE YEARS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE OUTCOME IS, AT LEAST TWO YEARS, BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS ONLY FOR TWO YEARS. AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT AFTER THE TWO YEARS, WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE PEOPLE? WHAT IF THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE JUST HANGING AROUND HERE? THEN IT CREATES A LARGER PROBLEM WITH THEIR HOMELESS. THAT'S ONE SOMEONE [03:35:01] HAS MENTIONED ABOUT IT BEING FREE. IT'S NOT FREE, OKAY? THIS IS COSTING TAXPAYER TAXPAYER DOLLARS. AND, UM, THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH. WE ALL KNOW THAT. AND THESE ARE OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SPEND THEM WISELY. AND IF IT'S NOT TO OPEN A HOTEL FOR THE HOMELESS, THEN SO BE IT. THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO SAY THAT WE DON'T WANT THIS, IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT MANY OF THE RESIDENTS DO NOT WANT THIS. AND IF WE HAVE ONLY ONE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT'S PUSHING FOR THIS, I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR. AND, UM, ACCORDING TO YOUR, UM, PRESENTATION UNDER YOUR MO MOTEL AGREEMENT, IT MENTIONS ONCE THE COUNCIL COMES TO AN AGREEMENT, SO IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE WHAT THE MAYOR HAD MENTIONED, THAT WE HAVE NO CHOICE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE COUNCIL DOES HAVE A CHOICE. IS THAT A FACT? SO WE PARTNER WITH CITIES BECAUSE WE NEED A WILLING PARTNER. OKAY? WE DON'T JUST COME IN AND, AND AGAIN, WE'RE, WE DON'T JUST TAKE OVER EMINENT DOMAIN. WE WANT A WILLING PARTNER BECAUSE IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS ACTUALLY WORK, UH, WE WOULD NEED YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY, YOUR PUBLIC WORKS TO BE INVOLVED. UM, SO YES, IT, IT, IT, IT IS, YOU ARE CORRECT. IT'S NOT THAT THE CITY OR THE COUNTY IS JUST GONNA COME IN, OKAY? UM, WE DO ENTER AND WE HOLD THE CONTRACTS WITH THE MOTELS. WE DO, UH, ENTER AND HOLD THE CONTRACTS WITH THE INTERIM HOUSING SURVIVOR OR INTERIM HOUSING SERVICES PROVIDER. UM, BUT AGAIN, WE DO THAT IN PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH THE ACTUAL CITY. OKAY. SO IF THE COUNCIL HERE DOES NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN, WILL IT NOT HAPPEN? TYPICALLY, WE WORK WITH YOUR CITY MANAGER. UM, YOUR CITY MANAGER IS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL, AND YOU GUYS HAVE PUT TOGETHER A HOMELESS PLAN. SO I THINK IN 2018, YOU GUYS PUT TOGETHER A HOMELESS PLAN OF HOW YOU ARE GONNA ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. WE'RE NOW HERE IN, UH, 2024. AND SO AGAIN, I THINK WITH THE 2022, UH, REASSESSMENT OF THE OLD STRATEGIES OF WHAT, WHAT THE COUNTY WAS, UH, PROPOSING AT WORKING WITH ITS LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, ALL THAT HAS BEEN REASSESSED INTO A NEW FRAMEWORK WITH MORE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES. UH, THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION WAS ALSO ISSUED BACK IN 2022. UH, THOSE ARE TWO FOUNDATIONAL REPORTS THAT ACTUALLY SHOW FROM THE FE THE PREVIOUS YEARS OF MEASURE H, WHICH WAS THE VERY FIRST ONGOING REVENUE STREAM IN THE COUNTY. UH, WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON, AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING NEWLY PROPOSED LAST YEAR, WHEN THE BOARD DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, THOSE TWO REPORTS GAVE US THE HOW THE WHAT AND THE HOW WE NEED TO DO THE EMERGENCY ACTUALLY GAVE US THE, A AUTHORITIES, THE TOOLS AND THE RESOURCES TO MOVE THAT WORK FORWARD. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY TO KIND OF, AGAIN, PRESENT TO YOU, UH, BECAUSE IT DID, WE DID NEED AN ASSESSMENT, AGAIN, AS THE FIRST ONGOING REVENUE STREAM, UH, TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AS A COMMUNITY. IT, IT HAS BEEN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND I'M A PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIVE KIND OF NERD. SO WE'VE HAD PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU KNOW, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS FOR CENTURIES, UH, AND IT PROBABLY TOOK THEM SOME TIME TO GET IT RIGHT. UM, IT, YOU KNOW, UH, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR DECADES. WE HAVE TO ALLOW OURSELF A LITTLE POLITICAL PATIENCE BECAUSE THIS HAS ONLY BEEN, UH, ABOUT SEVEN YEARS SINCE IT'S THE FIRST ONGOING REVENUE STREAM IN THE COUNTY, UH, WITH THAT INFLUX OF FUNDING. AND, UM, I'M GONNA AN, I'M GONNA ASK THAT QUESTION. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL? WHAT'S THE COST FOR EACH? I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO PAULINE. I'D HAVE TO BREAK IT DOWN. OKAY. BUT AGAIN, IT, IT'D BE 14 TO 60 MILLION OVERALL. OVERALL, RIGHT? I THINK THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CUT. COUNCILMAN CONTOS. YOU RIGHT? THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. UM, MARCO, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND ONA, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL. UH, I, I JUST HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS OF PR FOR, FOR THE BENEFIT ALSO OF THE PUBLIC. UH, I HAVE SOME PUBLIC POLICY QUESTIONS. CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO THE, THE COMMUNITY HERE, WHAT IS THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL AND, AND WHAT IS ITS CORE TENANTS AND PHILOSOPHY? BECAUSE, UH, MANY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HOUSING FIRST IS? YEAH. SO, UH, TO BOIL IT DOWN TO THE EASIEST DEFINITION, UM, WE'VE SEEN THROUGH DECADES OF FAILED APPROACHES IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND SOCIAL SERVICES. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN MENTION OF, UH, WHY DON'T WE JUST HAVE FOLKS GO STRAIGHT INTO DETOX AND SO ON. YOU KNOW, WE, [03:40:01] WE CAN'T, RIGHT? YOU ALL, AS A CITY COUNCIL, CAN'T ENFORCE SOME KIND OF POLICY THAT WOULD ENACT THAT. THE COUNTY CAN'T, NOBODY CAN. AND SO WE'VE LEARNED THAT, UM, TO ADDRESS SOMEBODY'S ROOT CAUSES OF WHAT LEADS THEM TO HOMELESSNESS. WE'VE SEEN A HIGHER EFFICACY OVER THE LAST COUPLE DECADES THAT PUTTING THEM IN HOUSING FIRST, JUST AS THE NAME SAYS, REALLY HELPS TO KIND OF ADDRESS THE ROOT ISSUES. AND SO THE IDEA AND WHAT'S BEEN CONCEPTUALIZED IS THAT ONCE YOU HAVE HOUSING, THEN YOU CAN START TO ADDRESS YOUR DAILY, UH, ACTIVE LIVING, UH, I IDEAS, RIGHT? LIKE IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, SOMEONE SAID, UM, HOW, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL GOING TO A JOB DEPLOYMENT IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE A SHOWER OR BRUSH YOUR TEETH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? THAT'S A QUESTION OF REAL LIFE SITUATIONS THAT, THAT OCCURS EVERY DAY ON YOUR STREETS. AND SO THE IDEA IS THAT IF YOU GIVE SOMEBODY A PLACE TO GO INSIDE TO SHOWER, TO TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONER AS, AS THE LITTLE GIRL MENTIONED EARLIER, TO CHILL INSIDE THEIR ROOM WITH THE AC, YOU KNOW, THAT BRINGS A, SET A SENSE OF SELF, UH, UH, SELF-WORTH BACK TO YOUR LIFE. AND IT HELPS YOU START TO WORK TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CORE ISSUES THAT ARE AT HEART WITH YOU, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, UM, ANYTHING OF THE SORT, BUT, UH, ANYTHING OF THE SORT. BUT FIRST, YOU NEED TO TAKE A STEP. AND THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND COST-EFFECTIVE STEP, UH, HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE, TO PUT FOLKS INDOORS. THANK YOU. SO UNDER THE HOUSING FIRST PHILOSOPHY THERE, JUST, IF YOU COULD CORRECT ME IF I'M, IF I'M INCORRECT UNDER THE HOUSING FIRST PHILOSOPHY, THOSE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS ARE ADMITTED TO THE PROGRAM AND ARE PROVIDED AT A UNIT, EVEN THOUGH THEY CONTINUE TO CHOOSE TO USE DRUGS AT THAT POINT WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVE. IS THAT CORRECT? UH, THANKS, COUNCIL MEMBER CU FOR ASKING THAT. I, I KNOW THAT WAS BROUGHT UP A LOT, SO I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, BRINGING THAT. UM, SO YES, THE, THE APPROACH ALSO WHEN YOU HAVE A HOUSING FIRST MODEL IS THAT, IS IT IS LOW BARRIER. UM, AS MENTIONED, YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY FORCE SOMEONE TO STOP, RIGHT? AND SO, IF YOU ARE SETTING UP A RULE, RIGHT? IF YOU'RE NOT OPERATING AT A LOW BARRIER MODEL, UM, AND YOU'RE SETTING UP THESE RULES AND CONTINGENCIES OF, YOU CAN ONLY STAY IN SHELTER IF THEN YOU HAVE, UH, IT'S BEEN SHOWN THAT YOU HAVE, UH, NOT A SUCCESSFUL RATE. AND THE REALITY OF THE, OF THE SITUATION STANDS THAT IF I DON'T WANNA GO INTO YOUR HOUSING PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE, BECAUSE YOU'RE FORCING ME TO NOT, YOU KNOW, TO, TO STOP USING SUBSTANCES OR WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE, I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO BE HOMELESS AND USE SUBSTANCES, RIGHT? AND SO IF YOU PRESENT, AGAIN, A MODEL WHERE FOLKS, IT'S THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL WHERE FOLKS CAN ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND BE INDOORS, AND AGAIN, HAVE THAT SENSE OF SELF-WORTH REESTABLISHED IN THEIR LIFE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, AGAIN, THERE'S A TON OF DATA SHOWING THE EFFICACY OF THIS. SO IF THOSE WHO COME INTO THE PROGRAM UNDER HOUSING FIRST ARE, ARE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY, HOW LONG DO THEY STAY BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE THAT SAYS, WELL, YOU'RE CHOOSING NOT TO AVAIL YOURSELVES OF THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES WE'RE OFFERING. SO, UH, AT THAT POINT, UH, IT IS NO, IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR PERSONAL SITUATION. SO IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT, WHEN THEY ARE HOUSED FOR A TIME, UH, AND, AND, AND IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THEY CHOOSE TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THOSE SERVICES, WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AT THAT JUNCTURE? YEAH. SO, UH, ONE THING I WANNA CLARIFY FIRST IS, UM, WE'VE SEEN A TON OF SUCCESSES OF PEOPLE BEING PERMANENTLY HOUSED THAT HAVEN'T MOVED AWAY FROM SUBSTANCE USE JUST YET, RIGHT? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE ONCE THEY'RE IN HOUSING, THEY CAN WORK TOWARDS, THEY CAN WORK TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT. AND AGAIN, THROUGH THE TIME LIMITED SUBSIDY MODEL, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS IN THAT ROUTE. UM, THE REALITY IS, IS FOLKS USE SUBSTANCES, RIGHT? I, I, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT FOLKS HERE PROBABLY DRINK, YOU KNOW, FOLKS MIGHT GO HAVE A DRINK AFTER THIS. UM, AND YOU'RE STILL HOUSED, RIGHT? AND, AND THE REALITY THAT, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. UM, SORRY, I JUST BLANKED ON THE QUESTION AS WELL. COULD YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN ONE MORE TIME, COUNCILOR? SURE. UH, IF, IF, UH, THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE ADMITTED INTO A PATHWAY HOME PROGRAM UNDER THE HOUSING FIRST PHILOSOPHY, AND THEY ARE GIVEN TIME TO DETOX OR WHATEVER IT IS, AND AFTER THAT, AFTER SOME POINT, IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES, WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AT THAT JUNCTURE? YEAH. THANK YOU FOR REPEATING THAT. SURE. SO, AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT FIRST, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PARTICIPANTS BE PERMANENTLY HOUSED AND SUCCESSFULLY HOUSED THEREAFTER WHILE NOT SEEKING SUBSTANCES, RIGHT? YOU USE A HARM REDUCTION MODEL. AND SO MAYBE THE APPROACH IS, I'M GONNA GO TODAY FROM HAVING 10 DRINKS TO EIGHT DRINKS, TO THREE DRINKS, TO TWO DRINKS, RIGHT? AND SO THERE HAS BEEN SUCCESS [03:45:01] IN THAT MODEL, BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ASK AS WELL, AND YOU CAN LET ME KNOW IF I'M, IF I'M NOT SURE, CORRECT, IS IF SOMEONE IS JUST CHOOSING NOT TO ENGAGE IN SERVICES POTENTIALLY, UM, WHAT HAPPENS THEN? IS THAT MORE SO, UH, WHAT YOU'RE SEEKING CLARITY ON Y YES. UH, AT, UH, I, I APPRECIATE YOU ADDRESSING THE HARM REDUCTION MODEL TOO, BUT ALSO WHAT HAPPENS IF IT JUST DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THEY CHOOSE TO AVAIL THEMSELVES AS SERVICES? YEAH. SO AT THAT POINT, AGAIN, UH, THE PROGRAM IS A SIX MONTH PROGRAM. UM, WE DO ALLOW EXCEPTIONS, RIGHT? AND SO TYPICALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD IN SITUATIONS WHERE, UH, AND THIS IS, I'M ALSO SPEAKING FROM A SERVICE PROVIDER BACKGROUND. I, I HAVE SIX YEARS AS A PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT A HOMELESS NONPROFIT PRIOR TO THIS, UH, ASK A QUESTION. THANK YOU. IT, IT, IT, EXCUSE ME. I, I, UM, WE, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE RESPECTFUL. SO WITH THE INFORMATION AND THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTIONS CAN, CAN BE ANSWERED. IF, IF WE CANNOT HANDLE THE RESPONSES OR THE COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL AND FROM THE COUNTY, UH, THEN WE, WE WILL, WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE A RECESS UNTIL WE CAN, UM, BETTER HANDLE THE, THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. UH, SO I'LL, I'LL TRY TO SUMMARIZE. UM, SO WE HAVE A 90 DAY PARTICIPANT PROCESS. AGAIN, WE'RE DOING WEEKLY CASE CONFERENCING. IF IT DOES COME TO A POINT WHERE EVERY, EVERY, UH, MOMENT OF ENGAGEMENT, THE, THE WELLNESS CHECKS THAT THEY'RE DOING DAILY, UM, THE 90 DAY PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT THAT THEY, THAT THEY'VE SIGNED AND SO ON, IF WE'VE COME TO A POINT WHERE AFTER SIX MONTHS THAT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT SUCCESSFUL, WHICH AGAIN, AS, AS MY COLLEAGUE RENEE MENTIONED, WE'VE SEEN ONLY A 5% NON, UH, PERMANENT HOUSING EXIT OVER THE SPAN OF OUR PROGRAM. UM, THEN, THEN AT THAT POINT, THE SEARCH PROVIDER WILL ENGAGE WITH THE PARTICIPANT AND SEE WHAT ALTERNATE OPTIONS MIGHT BE, RIGHT FOR THEM. RIGHT? PATHWAY HOME MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST MODEL FOR THEM. SO AT THAT POINT, WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS CAN WE CONNECT THEM TO? WHAT OTHER SHELTERS CAN WE CONNECT THEM TO, UM, AND SO ON. AND SO, IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT, IF THEY THEMSELVES FEEL THAT IT IS NOT COMPATIBLE FOR THEM TO BE PART OF PATHWAY HOMES OR THE LEADERSHIP OF PATHWAY DOESN'T FEEL THAT IT'S COMPATIBLE, THEN ARE THEY RELEASED ONTO THE STREETS AT THE LOCATION OR ARE THEY, UH, SENT ELSEWHERE? WHAT HAPPENS AT THAT JUNCTURE CITY HALL? YES. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. UM, AGAIN, WE DO EVERY OTHER INTERVENTION TO ACTUALLY RETAIN THAT CLIENT. EVEN IF WE HAD SIGNED THE MOTEL AGREEMENT FOR THE TWO YEARS, AND THAT CLIENT WAS STILL WORKING THROUGH THEIR STRUGGLES OR THROUGH THEIR TRAUMAS, WE WOULDN'T, THE GOAL IS NOT TO, UH, PLACE THEM BACK ONTO THE STREET. WE DESIGNED PATHWAY HOME, AGAIN WITH INDUSTRY STATISTICS, AND THERE'S TYPICALLY AN 85% SUCCESS RATE. OKAY? SO I DON'T WANNA PAINT, IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT ROSY PICTURE. THERE'S AN 85 PER, UH, SUCCESS PERCENT RATE. IMAGINE AN 85% SUCCESS RATE OF THE FOLKS THAT WE BROUGHT IN FROM WEST COVINA. OKAY? UH, WE WORK TOWARDS A HUNDRED PERCENT SUCCESS RATE, BUT IT'S BETTER THAN, AGAIN, NOT DOING NOTHING AT ALL SO THAT THERE'S A HUNDRED PERCENT FAILURE RATE. UM, BUT AGAIN, I THINK TO YOUR ANSWER, YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE PROCESS, WE SIGN A 90 PARTICIPANT, 90 DAY PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT WITHIN 14 DAYS. WE ACTUALLY WORK WITH THE CLIENT OR HAVE THE INTERIM HOUSING SERVICE PROVIDER WORK WITH THE CLIENT ON A HOUSING PLAN. UH, THEY HAVE THE THREE MEALS A DAY THAT DOUBLE AS WELLNESS CHECKS. SO THERE'S, AGAIN, CONSTANT COMMUNICATION. AND FOLKS HAVE BAD DAYS. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T WANNA WORK TODAY, THEY DON'T WANNA ENGAGE WITH SOMETHING. I SOMETIMES DON'T WANNA WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES UNDERSTAND, UM, ON A, ON A DAILY BASIS. BUT, BUT WHAT, WHAT WHAT IS PROVIDED IS A SAFE, STABLE, AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT WITH AN INTERIM HOUSING SERVICE PROVIDER WHO IS TRAINED IN THIS, UH, TO HOPEFULLY GET SOMEBODY TO A MOMENT OF CLARITY OUT OF SURVIVAL MODE ON THE STREETS WHERE IT'S VERY HARD TO CARE FOR YOUR MEDICAL NEEDS, YOUR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. AND SO THE RATE OF SUCCESS IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THEY ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW. AND IN THE MEANTIME, AS THEY ARE GO UNDERGOING THIS JOURNEY, AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT INCIDENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH SITUATIONS OR, OR, UH, WITHDRAWAL FROM A, FROM ADDICTION RECOVERY, FROM ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, WHAT IS TO OCCUR IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS END UP COMMITTING INCIDENTS OF BEHAVIORAL ISSUES ON THE STREETS OR IN NEARBY, UH, AREAS AROUND THE, THE PATHWAY HOME LOCATION NEAR THE BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS AND OTHER LOCATIONS? YEAH, NO, THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. UM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, UH, MENTAL HEALTH, UH, DEPARTMENT MENTAL HEALTH ACTUALLY, UH, WITH SOME OF OUR PATHWAY HOME SITES. AND THEN ALL THE NEW PATHWAY HOME SITES WILL ACTUALLY BE ON SITE ONE DAY A WEEK. UM, I THINK AS SOME OF THE FOLKS HAVE VISITED THE POMONA SITE, THEY HAVE A [03:50:01] LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER ON SITE. UM, AND SO AGAIN, WE HAVE, UH, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE THERE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THESE SITUATIONS. WE ALSO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SAPS E UH, WHO AGAIN, PROVIDE SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT DISORDER, UH, SUBSTANCE USE, MISTREATMENT DISORDERS, AND THOSE LINKAGES, UH, TO THOSE SERVICES. AGAIN, BEING ON SITE AT A CENTRALIZED LOCATION, UH, PARTICIPANTS HAVE ACCESS TO THEM AS OPPOSED TO THEM RIGHT NOW TRYING TO SCHEDULE A MY OF APPOINTMENTS, UH, THAT THEY'RE UNABLE TO ACT. YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING FOR THEM TO DO. UH, AS MARCO HAD ALLUDED TO BEFORE, WHEN WE DO A PATHWAY HOME OPERATION, UH, WE JUST DON'T LEAVE THE CLIENTS THERE. THE COUNTY, UH, COMMODORE ALL OF ITS DEPARTMENTS AND RESOURCES, TWO TO THREE WEEKS LATER TO BE IT, BRING A DAY OF CONNECTED SERVICES AT A CENTRALIZED EVENT WITH ALL THE PARTICIPANTS, AND THERE'S A 65% CONNECT RATE JUST FROM THAT EVENT ALONE. THAT IS NOT THE ONLY INTERVENTION OR THE DAY THAT WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, WE DO THAT. THE INTERIM HOUSING SERVICE PROVIDER HAS DAYS THAT THEY PLAN TO DO THAT. SO THE, THE EFFICACY OF CONNECTING ONE SOMEONE TO SERVICES IS, IS MUCH HIGHER THAN AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY FACING OUT ON WITH FOLKS OUT ON THE STREET RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. AND ON TWO MORE QUESTIONS, I'M DONE. I, I APOLOGIZE COLLEAGUES. BUT, UH, IF, IF, UM, THERE, THERE WAS A, UH, UM, ONE OF THE, UH, GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S CLOSEST ADVISORS CITED A STUDY, AND I CAN GET THIS TO YOU. UH, THAT SAID THAT WITH A HOUSING FIRST MODEL, HAVING DONE A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD, ONLY 36% OF INDIVIDUALS UNDER HOUSING FIRST STILL WERE IN PERMANENT HOUSING, UH, BY THE END OF THAT FIVE YEAR PERIOD. UM, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT STUDY? NOT, YEAH, I'M NOT. IF, IF NOT, THEN I'LL COMMIT THAT TO YOU. AND THERE'S ALSO AN ARTICLE FROM THE CATO INSTITUTE THAT ALSO DESCRIBES HOW THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN HOW HO HO HOMELESSNESS HAS ACTUALLY INCREASED. IN WHICH CASE THERE WAS ACTUALLY A SITUATION WHERE, UM, INSTEAD OF THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL, THERE WAS A PROGRAM THAT WANTED TO PROVIDE FOR AND PUSH FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OF PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, AND THEY WERE DENIED FUNDING. SO IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITY OTHER THAN HOUSING FIRST FOR UNDER THIS PATHWAY HOME PROGRAM? OR IS, IS THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL ALREADY INGRAINED INTO THIS APPROACH THAT WE EITHER MUST TAKE HOUSING FIRST OR WE MUST, UH, REJECT THE PROGRAM OR PUSH TO REJECT THE PROGRAM? YEAH, NO PATHWAY HOME IS PATHWAY HOME. BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, ARE THERE OTHER INTERVENTIONS AND TOOLS AND RESOURCES? 'CAUSE PATHWAY HOME IS ONLY ONE TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX. AND SO AGAIN, I CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION, A FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATION WITH PAULINA IF PATHWAY HOME IS NOT THE, UH, INTERVENTION THAT YOU GUYS WANT. AND, AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT, THERE ARE ALREADY EXISTING AS, AS OA MENTIONED, THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S, UH, SAPS E PROGRAM, WHICH IS SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION CONTROL. THERE ARE INPATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITIES THAT FOLKS CAN GO TO. UM, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVES ALREADY ACROSS THE COUNTY AND, AND ACROSS THE STATE BEING FUNDED. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ, RO THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER LONG ONE TOO. SO I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, ESPECIALLY, UH, STAYING THIS LATE IN THE EVENING. UM, SO WHEN IT COMES TO HOMELESS ISSUES, UM, I'VE HAD FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE IN ALL OF IT. UM, BEEN THERE, LIVED THROUGH IT, WORKED, UH, EVEN RESIDENTS KNOW I'VE HELPED CER SOME OF THE HOMELESS HERE IN OUR CITY. AND, UH, MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT I'VE WORKED, UM, FOR MANY YEARS WITH THE UNHOUSED. UM, I'M NOT AGAINST HELPING, I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR, BUT IT'S THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE AND WHAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED. UM, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED IT'S A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION. UM, BUT THAT'S ALL IN THE BEGINNING. UM, I HAVE YET TO SEE A LONG-TERM HOUSING OR SHELTER WHERE IT WAS A, UH, A SUCCESS. UM, 'CAUSE IT NORMALLY AFFECTED THE SURROUNDING AREAS NEGATIVELY. AND I COULD SPEAK ON THAT, LIKE WITH, UH, THE CITY OF LA UH, WE TRANSFORMED OUR RECREATION CENTERS TO THE HOMELESS, UH, SHELTERS, AND WE PROVIDED THAT 24. SO I'VE SEEN THE, UH, FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE ON THAT. UM, THE PROBLEM WAS FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, UH, THEY WERE RELEASED, EVEN THOUGH, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THEY HAD ALL THESE ALTERNATIVES, BUT IF THEY DON'T WANT THE HELP, THEY'RE, NOTHING IS BEING DONE. AND WHAT THE ISSUE THAT I SEE IS THEY END UP STAYING. SO THEY WERE SHIPPED, UH, TO THE LOCATION, WHICH SIMILAR TO THE SITE, THEY'LL BE THERE. THE PROBLEM IS, IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, UM, THEY ARE JUST OUT IN OUR STREETS. AND IN THAT SITUATION, WHAT I'VE, I'VE EXPERIENCED IS THAT THEY END UP EN CAMPING OUT IN FRONT OF THE, UH, THE CENTER OF THE AREA BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY THERE. THEY'RE NOT TAKEN BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM. SO, UM, THAT BEING SAID, I'M NO, YOU KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO, WE ACTUALLY [03:55:01] HAD, WE'VE CAUGHT LA COUNTY SHIPPING PEOPLE HERE IN WEST COVINA. WE'VE, WE'VE CAUGHT THE VAN, UM, WE'VE ADDRESSED IT. SO, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS HAVE BROUGHT THAT TO OUR ATTENTION, AND THAT WAS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY TRY TO DO IT SLEEK. UM, IT, IT IS, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE OLYMPICS COMING UP, THEY ARE, UH, SHUTTLING IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. SO WE HAVE GOTTEN FEW FROM THE LA COUNTY JUST DROPPED OFF HERE. UM, SO THE QUESTION IS, AND IT GOES BACK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH LA COUNTY, AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, AND IT JUST KIND OF LIKE SIMILAR TODAY, WE'RE NOT GETTING THE DIRECT ANSWER, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING FOR. AND SO, AND I, I MEAN THIS WHOLEHEARTEDLY, BECAUSE I'VE ASKED, YOU KNOW, COUNTY, WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY REFUSE SERVICE? AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU SAID THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED IN OUR STREETS, IF THEY DON'T WANT IT, THEY, THEY CONTINUE TO STAY THERE. SO I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, STATING, I KNOW YOU SAID SUCCESSFUL OPERATION. I'VE READ ON HERE ON THE POWERPOINT THAT THIS WAS LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 9TH, 2023, AND THE DATA IS AS OF APRIL 4TH. SO WHEN YOU SAID ONLY LESS THAN FIVE, FIVE PEOPLE, 5%, IT HASN'T BEEN A YEAR YET, IT'S LIKE EIGHT MONTHS. AND SO THAT IS NOT ENOUGH DATA TO PROVIDE. AND AGAIN, BECAUSE I'VE DONE THIS FOR SO MANY YEARS, THE DATA COULD BE SKEWED. UM, THE 85% THAT YOU MENTIONED, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? UM, I KNOW COUNCILMAN, UH, CONTOS GAVE THE DATA THAT IS, UH, FACT FOUNDING AND YOU KNOW, IT'S OUT THERE. BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE, WHEN YOU SAY 85%, WHERE FROM, FROM WHO'S GIVING THAT DATA AND WHERE IS THAT STATISTICS? 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, STATISTICS CAN BE SKEWED FROM EITHER DIRECTION. UM, SO MY QUESTION IS, AGAIN, UM, IF THEY REFUSE, THEY DON'T WANT THE SERVICES, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY REFUSE TO LISTEN. I KNOW, I, I HEARD YOU MENTION THAT, UM, YOU'LL PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE. NOW THE PROBLEM IS YOU ARE HERE AS A PATHWAY BECAUSE THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS APPARENTLY NOT WORKING. SO IF YOU'RE, THEY'RE GOING TO PATHWAY WHAT OTHER ALTERNATIVES, BECAUSE CURRENTLY OUR RESIDENTS AND EVERYONE OUT ELSE OUT THERE IS UTILIZING ALL THOSE ALTERNATIVES. SO COMING INTO LIGHT, WHAT HAPPENS, AND, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY JUST GONNA BE BACK ON OUR STREETS BECAUSE WE ARE GONNA BE GETTING PEOPLE SHIPPED HERE, AND THEN WHEN THINGS DON'T WORK OUT, WHERE DO THEY STAY BACK IN OUR STREET? SO IF YOU CAN KINDLY ANSWER, HOPEFULLY A DIRECT ANSWER ON, UM, THAT OF WHERE DID THEY GO? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WOULD GET. LIKE, OH, WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO HELP, WE'LL CONTINUE TO HELP. THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S NO EXPIRATION DATE, THERE'S NO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD, UM, THOSE, AND I HAVE KNOWN A FEW THAT THEY WANNA BE ON THE STREETS OR, YOU KNOW, THE HELP IS TEMPORARY AND THEN THEY END UP DYING IN THE STREETS. SO BECAUSE THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT, THERE IS NO MANDATORY RECOVERY, WHAT HAPPENS THEN? WE'D LIKE TO KNOW, I MEAN, THE RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THEY ARE HERE USING PATHWAY, WHAT HAPPENS IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, WHERE DO THEY GO IF, IF, IF, GREAT QUESTION. GREAT ANSWER. UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, LET'S, LET'S JUST TAKE THE WORST, WORST CASE SCENARIO. IF, IF ALL THE PARTICIPANTS SOMEHOW DIDN'T, UH, ACHIEVE THEIR HOUSING PLAN, RIGHT, AND GET TO PERMANENT HOUSING, AND AT THE END OF OUR TWO YEAR AGREEMENT AND US CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THEM, WE WOULD DEMOBILIZE THE SITE AND WE WOULD PUT THEM IN OTHER INTERIM HOUSING OPTIONS. OKAY? THAT'S WHERE I'M SCARED OF BECAUSE IT'S THINKING, RIGHT? BUT WE WOULD, BUT YEAH, NOW CURRENT WE WOULD, AGAIN, IT'S NOT, WE ARE NOT GONNA PUT THEM OUT ON THE STREET. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR AS WELL. WE'RE NOT PUTTING THEM BACK OUT ON THE STREET TO BE UNSHELTERED, SO I WANNA MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR. BUT WHERE DO THEY GO? SO WE HAVE OTHER INTERIM HOUSING SITES THAT, AGAIN, LEADING UP TO THIS MOMENT, WE WOULD KNOW IN ADVANCE, WE WOULD KNOW, WE WOULD KNOW THIS IN ADVANCE, RIGHT? SO LEADING UP TO A A 90 DAY PERIOD, A SIX MONTH DAY PERIOD, 180 DAY PERIOD, UH, EVEN IT TOOK, IF IT TOOK THAT ORIGINAL COHORT COHORT AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO CREATE TRANSITION WHERE FOLKS WERE ABLE TO ABLE TO GO TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AT THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, UH, AND WE ENDED UP DEMOBILIZING THE SITE AND THAT WOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, WE END UP DEMOBILIZING THE SITE. WE DID, WE ENDED UP NOT RENEWING, WE ENDED UP NOT CONTINUING THAT. WE WOULD TRANSITION 'EM TO OTHER INTERIM HOUSING, BUT OUR GOAL WOULDN'T BE TO PUT THEM BACK ONTO THE STREET. SO I KNOW YOU SAID DEMOBILIZE AND TRANSITION, IF THEY REFUSE TO GO, THEY JUST STAY IN OUR STREETS, RIGHT? LIKE, IF THEY DON'T WANNA GO AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT, THEY'RE, THEY'RE CONTINUE TO STAY IN OUR STREETS. I I MOST PEOPLE DO NOT TURN DOWN ANOTHER INTERIM HOUSING OFFER. UM, SO AGAIN, I THINK WE CAN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT TO TALK HYPOTHETICALS. NO, I, I KNOW, BUT AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THE QUESTION, IF THEY REFUSE TO FOLLOW RULES, IF THEY FEE, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THEY BROKE THE RULES ON THE ISSUE ON [04:00:01] THAT FIRST HOUSING. HOW IS THAT GONNA BE ANY DIFFERENT AT ANOTHER ONE? BUT I I I GET IT. WE'RE WE'RE GONNA GO BACK. I, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A CLEAR ANSWER. AND, AND THAT'S WHERE I DON'T HAVE A DIRECT, IT'S NOT A DIRECT ANSWER. SO I KNOW I HEARD ON THE VIDEO, I KNOW SHE MENTIONED, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY QUICK THAT THEY DEAL WITH DIFFICULT CLIENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I CAN SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE, WE'VE, I'VE SEEN IT ALL. UM, AND YOU KNOW, THE EXAMPLE THAT THEY GIVE WITH THE GENTLEMAN, UH, HE GOT EVICTED. AND SO, I MEAN, I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THE MEASURE H MONEY, UM, ON THE PREVENTION ASPECT OF, UH, THE HOMELESS BEFORE THEY EVEN GET TO THERE. SO, I MEAN, I WISH THEY CAN FOCUS THAT MONEY SO THAT THEY DON'T BECOME HOMELESS, SO THAT, THAT SAMPLE THAT WAS GIVEN, IT, IT'S A, IT'S A CAUSE BUT IT'S MORE LET'S, YOU KNOW, FIX THAT. UM, AND THEN IT BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER QUESTION. UM, ARE YOU, I KNOW YOU GAVE YOUR PRESENTATION ABOUT PATHWAY HAVING, UH, CONNECTED SERVICES AND YOU MENTIONED ALL THE CONNECTED VITAL SERVICES. SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT IF YOU'RE NOT IN THIS PATHWAY, UH, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET THESE CONNECTED SERVICES? ARE YOU SAYING, SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME, SO I KNOW, BECAUSE I KNOW THE SELLING POINT IS IF YOU'RE IN THIS PATHWAY, YOU'RE GONNA GET THIS WRAPAROUND CONNECTED SERVICES AND ALL THAT STUFF. UM, SO I'M, I'M ASKING, DO YOU HAVE TO BE IN PATHWAY TO GET THESE WRAPAROUND, UH, CONNECTED SERVICES? BECAUSE I WOULD, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE MEASURE H MONEY BEING UTILIZED FOR THE MASS THAT IS ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THESE CONNECTED SERVICES. SO I, I WANNA MAKE SURE, YEAH, CORRECT. SO LIKE, UH, I'LL GIVE YOU A A A VERY CLEAR EXAMPLE. RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE LATA THAT WORKS WITHIN THIS, UH, JURISDICTION RIGHT NOW. UM, AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH LATA. WE ACTUALLY FUND LATA THROUGH THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT, WHICH ACTUALLY HAS DIFFERENT COHORTS, UH, WHERE LATA IS PROVIDING THEIR SERVICES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SAY, AND MOST OF OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS SAY, IS THAT THERE'S NO NEXT STEP WITHIN SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ARE THINKING OUTREACH IS THE ANSWER AND A CONNECTION TO SERVICES ON THE STREET IS THE ANSWER. AND SO WHAT LATA IS ASKING, AND AGAIN, WE BEGAN SOME EXPLORATORY CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, UM, THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO ADVANCE THEIR WORK BECAUSE THEY GET IT FROM JURISDICTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, BUT THEY'RE NOT GETTING THEIR COMMUNITIES FUNDING OR CREATING OR ACQUIRING THE INTERIM HOUSING. SO ON THE STREET, PEOPLE CAN CONNECT TO SERVICES. WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH PATHWAY HOME PARTICIPANTS, THE FOLKS THAT WE BRING IN, WE CENTRALIZE THEM AT THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION. ONLY THOSE FOLKS THAT COME INTO THE PROGRAM. AGAIN, IT'S NOT A WALKUP CENTER WHERE OTHER FOLKS CAN JUST COME AND RECEIVE SERVICES. SO ANOTHER, ANOTHER NOTE, IT'S NOT LIKE AN ACCESS CENTER, IT'S NOT A NAVIGATION CENTER. SO FOLKS CAN'T WALK UP TO THIS, THIS LOCATION. ONCE THOSE 70 ROOMS ARE FILLED, OR THE 73 REAMS ARE FILLED, THAT IS IT. IT'S A CLOSED OFF LOCATION AND A PROGRAM WHERE WE FOCUS ON THOSE PARTICIPANTS IN THAT SAFE, SECURE ENVIRONMENT. AND IF THEY, IF THEY ARE STAYING THERE, AND I KNOW YOU SAID SIX MONTHS, UM, IF THEY DON'T WANNA LEAVE, THEY'RE VERY COMFORTABLE. DO YOU, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU DO? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THEY DON'T HAVE A HOUSE, SO WHAT, WHAT ARE THEY, WHAT DO YOU DO? YEAH, SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND I THINK YOU ALLUDED TO THIS BEFORE. WHAT WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, PATHWAY HOME WAS JUST LAUNCHED IN AUGUST. AND AGAIN, I THINK EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FOR NO NEW BOLD APPROACHES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DONE IN THE PAST, RIGHT? AND SO WE SUPPORT, FULLY SUPPORT A FULL EVALUATION IN A LONGITUDINAL STUDY, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR THOSE FRONTIER FOLKS AND THOSE PIONEERS WHO WANNA JOIN IN NOW, UH, TO BE PART OF THAT. OR AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT'S UP TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS IF THEY WANNA WAIT ON THE SIDELINE AND WAIT FOR THE STUDY IN FIVE TO 10 YEARS. UM, SO I MEAN, THAT'S, YEAH, THAT'S, I MEAN, I, I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T MIND WAITING FIVE TO 10 YEARS BECAUSE AGAIN, THE, THE GUINEA PIG. BUT THIS BRINGS INTO MY NEXT QUESTION ON, UM, THE MUCH REAL ISSUE OF PERMANENT HOUSING. I MEAN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRANSITION. THIS IS TEMPORARY TO PERMANENT HOUSING. UM, I ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO TRULY KNOW HOW YOU PROVIDE THAT PERMANENT HOUSING BECAUSE, UM, THE COMMON PEOPLE RIGHT NOW CAN'T EVEN AFFORD THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THE COST OF LIVING. SO WHERE, I MEAN, EVEN THE RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, FOR THEIR OWN, WHERE ARE YOU PROVIDING THIS, UH, PERMANENT HOUSING? AND, YOU KNOW, IS THERE A LIST AND HOW, HOW CAN THEY AFFORD IT? BECAUSE IF THEY'RE ON DOWN LUCK, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING COSTS A LOT. SO WHERE, WHERE IS THIS PERMANENT HOUSING? 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU SAY TRANSITION TO PERMANENT HOUSING, BUT [04:05:01] HOW, WHERE AND HOW CAN THEY SUSTAIN THAT ABOUT HOUSING IMMIGRATION? UH, COUNCILMAN, I, BEFORE I ANSWER THAT, I WANT TO ADDRESS A POINT IN YOUR LAST, UH, STATEMENT SLASH QUESTION, UM, TO YOUR POINT, RIGHT? YOU WERE, YOU WERE ASKING, UM, AROUND THE PERMANENT HOUSING OUTCOMES AND SO ON. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A, A SHORT STUDY, RIGHT? NOT A STUDY, BUT A SHORT OPERATION. WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE AUGUST, IT'S BEEN ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS, BUT IN THOSE EIGHT MONTHS, THAT'S ALSO 630 PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENTERED INTO SHELTER. THAT'S ALSO OVER 95 PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOVED INTO HOUSING VERSUS THE ALTERNATIVE OF NOT HAVING ANYTHING. AND THE COUNTY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE RIGHT IN ASKING FOR MORE PREVENTION SERVICES, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ANOTHER TEAM WITHIN HI IS, IS FURTHERING AND, AND FUNDING PROGRAMS WE'RE HERE ON BEHALF OF PATHWAY HOME. SO WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T FULLY SPEAK ON THAT BEHALF. UM, BUT IT'S A MULTI-PRONG EFFORT, RIGHT? SOMEBODY EARLIER MESSAGED, UH, HOMELESSNESS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE, AND IT IS, AND IT TAKES MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS. THIS IS JUST ONE TOOL AS ONE A MENTIONED IN THE TOOLBOX, RIGHT? UM, AND AGAIN, WHILE IT MIGHT BE A SHORT TERM STUDY, WE HAVE FACTUAL AND REAL LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN, THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AND AFFECTED BY THIS, AND MOVED INTO HOUSING AND MOVED INTO SHELTER, TAKEN OUTTA THE EXTREME, UH, WEATHER THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY AND SO ON. UM, BUT, UH, AS WE DO THAT, THERE'S, THERE'S TEAMS FOCUSING ON THE HOUSING CREATION, RIGHT? HOUSING, THE HOUSING STOCK IS SHORT. UH, THE, THE SAME TYPE OF HOUSING THAT OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE LOOKING FOR THROUGH THEIR HOUSING NAVIGATION TEAM IS THE SAME TYPE OF APARTMENTS THAT ANYONE HERE CAN, CAN LOOK TO RENT, RIGHT? THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO SECRET STOCK, NO SECRET WHATEVER FOR FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AND WE WORK TO CREATE AND DEDICATE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. UH, WE'VE DONE SOME VERY, VERY INNOVATIVE THINGS AT THE COUNTY, SUCH AS MASTER LEASING OF SITES WHERE WE FULLY MASTER LEASE A LOCATION, UH, LIKE AN APARTMENT COMPLEX AND MOVE FOLKS INTO THAT. AND IT'S COUPLED WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. SO IT MIRRORS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, ALTHOUGH NOT BEING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ITSELF. UM, SO THERE ARE EFFORTS, THE COUNTY IS APPROACH, UH, UH, TAKING, UM, BUT THAT ALSO COMES WITH COLLABORATION, RIGHT? MAYBE PATHWAY HOME ISN'T THE OPERATION YOU ALL HAVE, BUT MAYBE YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE SOMETHING ELSE TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THE CRISIS IS AT OUR DOORS, RIGHT? THERE'S, THERE'S NO NEED TO WAIT BECAUSE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN WAITING, RIGHT? WE, WE'VE, WE'VE NOT DONE MUCH AND THAT'S WHY THE COUNTY AND TAXPAYERS, UH, VOTED TO APPROVE MEASURE H AND WHY WE'RE COMING UP WITH THIS NEW SEVEN YEAR TAX MEASURE THAT WE HAVE NEW, INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS CRISIS BECAUSE WE'VE NOT HAD THESE TOOLS IN THE PAST. AND SO WHILE WE'RE RIGHT TO BE SKEPTICAL, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE WILLING TO OFFER, YOU KNOW, A CHANCE AT THE SAME TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, THE PATHWAY, AND I AGREE WITH YOU. I MEAN, I HAVE, UH, RATHER GO IN THE DIRECT ANOTHER OPTION OF IT BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I'VE EXPERIENCED WHERE WE'VE TRANSITIONED, WE'VE HAD, I'VE TRANS, WE'VE TRANSITIONED, UM, OUR CENTERS TO BE TEMPORARY. AND, AND I'VE SEEN THE STATS, AND THAT WAS RECENTLY DURING COVID. AND AGAIN, THEY WERE IN OUR STREETS. AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN THAT WE HAVE THE RESIDENTS HAVE. AND A LOT OF IT HAD TO DEAL WITH ALCOHOL. UM, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE IN THIS PATHWAY, THERE IS NO REAL, UH, NOT JUST SECURITY, BUT ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THEN THEY HAVE THEIR PRIVATE ROOM TO CONTINUE TO DO ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND, YOU KNOW, UM, AND ANY OF THOSE ISSUES AND 'CAUSE WE'VE, WE'VE EXPERIENCED THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED WITH OUR NONPROFITS AND CHURCHES, UM, WITH SOME WHO HAS TAKEN HOMELESS IN, IN THEIR OWN HOMES. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE BEEN BURDENED, UM, FINANCIALLY BECAUSE THEY THEMSELVES OUT OF GOODWILL HAS COVERED THE COST OF HOUSING, FOOD, AND SO FORTH. YOU KNOW, I'VE REQUESTED FOR MEASURE H, UM, I KNOW THEY MENTIONED THAT CAN ACTUALLY HELP, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE PLAN, BUT THEY DON'T LISTEN TO US. I'VE REQUESTED, YOU KNOW, THE MEASURE H UM, TO SEE IF THEY CAN FUND THE, THE RESIDENTS OR THE CHURCHES OR NONPROFIT WHO PERSONALLY HOUSE THEM ON THEIR OWN. UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, HASN'T BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. UM, WE CURRENTLY DO HAVE, UH, FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO DON'T KNOW, WE CURRENTLY DO HAVE HOTEL AND MOTEL VOUCHERS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE PROVIDE WHERE THEY CAN TEMPORARILY STAY. I HAVE ALSO REQUESTED AN INCREASE OF MEASURE H FOR THOSE HOTELS AND MOTELS, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SAY ON PATHWAYS. UM, WHICH IT'S NOT LIKE ONE WHOLE HOME PROJECT THAT IS THERE. I MEAN, IF YOU EVER WORKED, UM, AT CENTERS WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE PROJECT HOMES, IT DOESN'T WORK WHEN IT'S ONE FULL WHERE EVERYBODY'S THERE. I IF IT'S SPRINKLED OUT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, IT'S MORE EFFECTIVE. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE AGAIN, HAVE REQUESTED THOSE MEASURE H TO HELP ASSIST WITH OUR HOMELESS ISSUES, BUT I, I ALMOST FEEL LIKE COUNTY HAS THEIR OWN WAY OF WANTING TO DO THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THAT THEY WANNA DO, AND KIND OF IGNORE WHAT WE'D LIKE TO REQUIRE, LIKE TO HAVE. YEAH. UH, [04:10:01] I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO AN AS WELL IF HE HAS ANYTHING TO ADD TO THIS. UM, I, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE ARE, THERE IS, THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS THAT CAN, UH, ADDRESS SOME OF WHAT YOU'RE DISCUSSING. WHILE THERE'S NO LONG-TERM SUBSIDY FOR, LIKE, LET'S SAY I WANTED TO LET MY FRIEND STAY WITH ME OR WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE, UM, 'CAUSE AGAIN, MOST OF THE SUBSIDIES THAT ARE PROVIDED ARE, ARE SHORT TERM, THEY'RE TIME LIMITED, RIGHT? MM-HMM. , UM, THERE IS FUNDING AND, AND, UH, PROB AND, UM, A PROGRAM, UM, THAT WOULD PAY FOR A HOST HOME IS WHAT THEY CALL IT. IT'S THROUGH THE PROBLEM SOLVING PROGRAM. UM, AND IF, LET'S SAY I WAS AN, I WAS A PART OF A CONGREGATION HERE AND I KNEW ONE OF THE CONGREGATES WAS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND I OPENED UP MY DOORS TO THEM, THERE ARE FUNDS THAT I, THAT I, AS THE, LIKE HOMEOWNER OR APARTMENT LEASE HOLDER, UM, CAN ACCESS ON BEHALF OF THAT. BUT THEY DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM AND TAP INTO, UM, THE PROGRAMS THERE. UM, BUT THERE ARE SOME, AS, AS ONA MENTIONED, THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY HAS SOME FUNDING THAT IS GIVEN THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE, UH, THROUGH OUR PROGRAM, UM, THAT IS MEASURE H FUNDS, THAT ALLOWS FOR FLEX FUNDS AS WELL. AND, AND THERE IS POSSIBILITIES TO CONNECT TO SOME TYPES OF, SOME TYPES OF SUBSIDIES THAT WOULD HELP OFFSET. AGAIN, NOT ANYTHING LONG TERM, UNFORTUNATELY. UM, BUT THERE ARE SOME SUBSIDIES TO ADDRESS THAT. UM, AND, UH, ONE THING TO HIGHLIGHT, AND ONA CAN DEFINITELY SPEAK MORE ON THIS, UM, IS THAT THERE WAS A ANALYSIS DONE RECENTLY REGARDING INTERIM HOUSING RATES AND INCREASING THE RATES OF, UH, OF VOUCHERS FOR, FOR PROVIDERS AND FOR HOTELS AND SO ON. OKAY. UH, JUST A LAST QUESTION. UM, I KNOW WE HAVE A CITY ORDINANCE, AND I BELIEVE CURRENTLY IT STATES WHAT, 28 DAYS. UM, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, UH, THAT DOESN'T, I MEAN, TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE AND ALL THAT STUFF, DO YOU GUYS, DO THEY CHANGE THE ORDINANCE? ARE WE, HOW DOES THAT WORK? JUST FOR THE MOTELS OR IN GENERAL OF LIKE STAYING, I MEAN, CURRENTLY THERE'S AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS ONLY 28 DAYS, OTHERWISE, DID YOU CHANGE THAT WITH THE OTHER CITIES? WELL, IF YOU WANNA ADDRESS THAT AND THEN I CAN ANSWER OUR ORDINANCE. YEAH. SO WE, UH, AGAIN, WE DON'T ENTER INTO A LEASE, WE ENTER IN A MOTEL OCCUPANCY AGREEMENT. UM, AND I THINK TWO THINGS TO TOUCH ON, UH, ONE, THE STATE DOES HAVE AN EXEMPTION FROM MOTEL OCCUPANCY AGREEMENTS. UM, I THINK TWO. THE SECOND THING IS, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR MUNICIPAL CODE IS, WE, THE COUNTY PAYS THE TRANSIT OCCUPANCY TAX TO THE CITIES. UM, AND SO WHATEVER YOUR MUNICIPAL CODE IS RELATED TO TRANSIT OCCUPANCY TAX, WE WOULD FOLLOW THAT AS WELL. WELL, UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU. UH, YOU KNOW, I, AGAIN, I, SOME OF MY QUESTIONS WEREN'T ANSWERED DIRECTLY, BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I EXPECTED THAT, BUT THAT'S OKAY. UM, I AM INTERESTED ON THE OTHER OPTIONS AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, MEASURE H FUNDS OR THE OTHER PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNTY, BUT IN, IN REGARDS TO THIS PROJECT OR PATHWAY, UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT SUPPORT IT. SO CONTINUE THAT. I, I JUST WANNA ADD, IF I TAKE A, A POINT OF, UH, A PRIVILEGE, UM, I, WE ALSO, WE'VE, WE'VE OPENED UP INVITATION FOR YOU ALL TO TOUR THE TOUR, TOUR SOME OF THE SITES. I KNOW A COUPLE OF YOU HAVE ACCEPTED THOSE. I KNOW THAT WE'RE ALWAYS WILLING, SO IN CASE YOU'RE EVEN JUST LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT FOR IT RIGHT NOW, BUT LET ME SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. UM, AND I, I PERSONALLY KNOW, BECAUSE, AGAIN, I'VE RAN CERTAIN THINGS WHEN THEY KNOW THAT WE ARE COMING TO TOUR, EVERYBODY'S ON THEIR A GAME, EVERYTHING'S GREAT, YOU KNOW, SECURITY, ALL THAT STUFF. UM, I KNOW WHEN YOU COME UNEXPECTEDLY IS WHEN YOU ACTUALLY SEE THE TRUE COLORS. I DON'T THINK THAT'S HOW THE PARTICIPANTS WOULD OPERATE. UM, BUT I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. LIKE, IT DIDN'T RUN BECAUSE I, I'VE, I'VE PERSONALLY HAD SECURITY IN OUR FACILITY, HAD NURSES, WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, ISSUES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO I'VE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF I DO GO, I WOULD LIKE TO GO UNEXPECTEDLY, BUT AGAIN, UM, THIS PROJECT IS TOO SOON. THE DATA'S NOT THERE. I'VE PERSONALLY HAD TO, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH THIS DURING COVID FOR I DON'T TWO YEARS. SO I, I HAVE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE AND I SAW THE RESULTS. UM, AND IT'S, IT'S SIMILAR TO THE WAY IT'S COMING IN WITH THE PATHWAY. AND, UM, YEAH, I, I SPEAK ON THAT, ON EXPERIENCE. BUT YEAH. THANK YOU THOUGH. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TE WU. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND, UH, FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS A TOUGH NIGHT. UH, WE'LL COME TO BEAUTIFUL CITY OF WEST COVINA. I HOPE YOU ENJOYING THE HOSPITALITY OF OUR RESIDENT. OKAY? I HOPE YOU COME BACK TO SHOP, RUN AND WALK AROUND AND DRIVE AROUND AND SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL OUR CITY IS. WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD ABOUT OUR CITY. AND THIS IS THE FIRST THING. JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP. AND ANOTHER THING I PROMISE YOU, WHEN YOU, WE TALK YESTERDAY, OKAY? AND, UH, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE TALK, OKAY? AND, UH, AND BASICALLY, AND I PROMISE YOU, I WON'T BEAT YOU UP, OKAY? I WILL TRY TO BE CIVILIZED, OKAY? AND I TOLD YOU, I SAY I WILL MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENT WILL BE CIVILIZED TOO, BECAUSE DEMOCRACY, WE HAVE AGREED I DISAGREE. SO WE WANT TO SHARE EVERYBODY'S OWN OPINION, OKAY? [04:15:01] SO WE WANT EVERYBODY A CHANCE. THIS WHY, AND WE NEVER INTERRUPT YOU. WE WANT YOU TO FINISH YOUR THING, AND THEN WE, WE LAY YOU TO FINISH YOUR OKAY. AND, UH, YOUR PRESENTATION. BUT THE FIRST THING IS THIS, OKAY? I THINK THE PROBLEM I HAVE, OKAY? AS I SHARE WITH YOU, UH, LAST MEETING, I SAID THAT, OKAY, WHY WE DON'T KNOW THIS, WHY YOU DIDN'T COME TO US, OKAY? WHY DIDN'T SHARE WITH, UH, THE, THE NEW INFORMATION I GATHERED IS FROM THE MAYOR OF MONROVIA, RIGHT? OKAY. AND, UH, BECKY S OKAY, THE MAYOR, SHE PROVIDE, WHEN I CALL HER, WHEN, WHEN WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, AND THEN WE KNOW THEY HAVE, UH, UH, PATHWAY HOME AT THE, SO-CALLED MONROVIA. SO I CALL AND MONROVIA. SO I CALL ALL THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THIS PROJECT. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, HOW THIS PROJECT WILL IMPACT YOU. WEST COVINA. SO WE NEED TO DO A RESEARCH SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION FROM THE COUNTY. AND THEN VERY NICE OF ALL MY COLLEAGUE ON OTHER CITY, THEY PROVIDE THE INFORMATION FOR ME. SO SOMETHING'S KIND OF DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU SAY YOUR PRESENTATION, BECAUSE SOME CITY COUNCIL TOLD YOU AGAINST THIS FROM DUALITY. OKAY? I TALKED TO THE COUPLE CITY COUNCIL, OR EVEN THE MAYOR, OKAY? AND THEY FIND OUT, THEY DON'T KNOW. THIS HAPPENED TO DUALITY, THIS ALMOST IN A DT PROPERTY LINE, BUT IT'S ON THE MONROVIA, OKAY? THE LAST BORDER. SO BASICALLY IT IS IN THE DT. SO, BUT MONROVIA SIGNED WITH YOU. AND, UH, THEY TALK ABOUT THEY NEED TO HAVE THIS HOUSING THING. SO, OKAY, MAY OFFER MONROVIA, PROVIDE YOUR INFORMATION. SAY, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS PATHWAY HOME. THAT'S HOW, RIGHT? THAT'S HOW WE, OKAY. TALK TO EACH OTHER TEXT. AND THE FRIDAY, WE CANNOT TALK, OKAY? BECAUSE YOU, CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR SON. CONGRATULATIONS FROM CHICAGO. OKAY? YOU TOLD ME THAT. SO WE TALK YESTERDAY, YOU SAY PETER CAN SPEAK TO YOU PRIOR TO OUR MEETING, AND I TOLD YOU, OKAY, THAT YOU NEED TO TELL THE RESIDENT THAT YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED A CONTRACT. THAT'S WHY YOU TOLD ME. I SAY THE PROBLEM IS, IS, IS THE TRANSPARENCY AND THE TRUST AND CREDIBILITY. SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE THIS IDEA, YOU SHOULD COME TO CITY PRESENT TO ALL OF FIVE CITY COUNCIL. NOT ONLY ONE COUNCIL MEMBER. EVEN HIS CURRENT MAYOR, THE MAYOR, THE MAYOR HAS, DOESN'T HAVE A EXTRA POWER. HE JUST A ROTATION, CEREMONIAL, HOST A MEETING. WE ARE ALL, WE ARE ALL E WE ARE ALL EQUAL. WE ARE ALL EQUAL ONE VOTE. OKAY? WE ONLY HAVE ONE VOTE. SO MAJ, MAJORITY RULE. SO IF MAJORITY SAY YES, THEN WE HAVE A IMPLEMENT A AGENDA AS A POLICY. IF MAJORITY SAY NO, THEN WE CANNOT DO IT EVEN A LOT TIME. I WAS A MINORITY, SOMETIMES MAJORITY. SO IT IS ON AND OFF. SO THIS ISSUE SHARE WITH US OR FIVE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. SO THE, THE, THE ISSUE WE HAVE IS THIS. FIRST WE DON'T KNOW, OKAY? AND, UH, WE GOT FINALLY WE TALK. AND, UH, YOU ARE VERY NICE EXPLAINED TO ME. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURTESY. BUT THE, THE ISSUE, THIS, THE ONE WE WORRY ABOUT, THE, THE, THE, THE PROPERTY ON THE QUALITY INN ON THE MONROVIA IS ONLY HAPPENED ONE MONTH. SO THEY DON'T HAVE ANY DATA, OKAY? THEY, THEY TOLD ME, AND I ASKED ANOTHER IN SAN GABRIEL VALLEY SPEAKING TO IS NOT SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, RIGHT NOW ONLY ONE LET'S ON MONRO MONROVIA. ANOTHER ONE IS POMONA, BUT POMONA IS ON POMONA VALLEY. SO POMONA HAVE ONE POSSIBLE HAPPENED MAYBE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, AM I RIGHT? OKAY. SO IN THAT WAY, IT'S VERY SHORT LIFE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY DATA ABOUT THE SUCCESSFUL RATE. WE DON'T KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL WE'LL BECOME, NO MATTER HOW YOU SAY DATA, DATA. BUT IN SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, WE ARE LIKE THE FIRST TWO IF YOU WANNA PUT IT IN. AND, UH, IT IS NOT FAIR FOR OUR RESIDENT TO RECEIVE THIS TREATMENT THAT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A DATA AND WE BECOME GUINEA PIG. OKAY? THAT'S WHAT, LAST TIME I SAY. SO THE CONCERN IS THE RATE'S SO HIGH, AND THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT 30% BED IS FOR THE WEST COVINA HOMELESS, 70% IS FROM OUTSIDE. SO MANY, THIS WILL BECOME A MAGNET. CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OUTSIDE HOMELESS, COMING TO OUR CITY. AND THEN IF YOU SAY YOU NOT AGREE WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FOLLOW THE RULE, YOU'RE GOING TO REMOVE THEM. HOW YOU REMOVE THEM, I CAN GUARANTEE THEY WERE RUINING OUR STREET. WE TALK ABOUT LAND AND HOW ABOUT OUR POLICE? ARE YOU PAYING OUR EXTRA POLICE FORCE? OKAY, THIS GOING TO BECOME A VERY GENE, [04:20:01] EXTREMELY SPREAD, SO THIN FOR OUR POLICE TO BE THERE EVERY DAY. SO, SO THIS IS A CONCERN. I TOLD YOU WHAT WE HAVE. SO ANYWAY, SO THE ISSUE IS THE TIME, SOCIAL FOR THE DATA. WE DON'T KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL OF THE PASSED WAY HOME. IT SOUND VERY GOOD. IT SOUND LIKE GOOD. I TOLD YOU, I FROM FILM SCHOOL, I SAID, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. MAKE AS A FILM, OKAY? IT'S JUST LIKE PERFECT, PERFECT TIME, . BUT THE PROBLEM IS WE ARE NOT LIVING THAT KIND OF PERFECT THING. A LOT OF SUPPLY PEOPLE DOESN'T WANT TO STAY IN THE ROOM. PEOPLE DOESN'T WANT TO DETOX. AND HOW YOU DEAL WITH THOSE PEOPLE, I CALCULATE $70 MILLION, $8 MILLION FOR TWO DAYS. FOR TWO, TWO YEARS, 24 MONTHS. SO, SO FOR 24 MONTHS FOR 70 BED, HOW MANY HOMELESS POPULATION? OKAY, YOU CAN PUT IT IN 200. SO POSSIBLE 200. SO YOU DIVIDE $17 MILLION, 200. SO EQUALLY IS ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND A PIECE. SO MAINLY YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY FOR ONE PERSON. SO, SO MY MY POINT IS VERY SIMPLE. I THINK I TALKED TO YOU ON THE PHONE, OKAY? WHERE COVINA WITH 2021 LETTER WAS A MALE. I WAS A MALE OF 2020. AND THEN WE START A HOMELESS INITIATIVE WHERE COVINA HOMELESS INITIATIVE, OKAY? AND WE CONSOLIDATE SINCE WE DIDN'T GET ANY MONEY FROM THE MAJOR AGE, WE PAY FROM 2017 TILL NOW, MORE THAN $20 MILLION. WE DIDN'T GET A DIME, OKAY? AND I SAY WE, THEY, IN THAT WAY, WE STILL HAVE HOMELESS POPULATIONS. WE ARE NOT HOT, OKAY? COLD BLOOD. WE DON'T WANNA HELP OUR HOMELESS, WE WANNA HELP OUR HOMELESS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCE FROM THE COUNTY FOR OUR MAJOR AGE MONEY. SO WHAT WE DID, WE SET UP, OKAY, THE WEST, WEST COVINA HOMELESS INITIATIVE, WE CONSOLIDATE WITH THE GOD PANTRY, WITH THE ONE AND ALL CHURCH, CATHOLIC CHURCH AND, UH, MENTAL HEALTH NONPROFIT. AND WE HAVE A COUPLE MEETING. AND THEY TOLD US VERY SUCCESSFUL, OKAY? FOR THEN THEY PUT IT INTO, OKAY, THE COMMUNITY INTO THEIR HOME WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CHURCH BECAUSE DID NOT GET ME PAID. LIKE THE COUNTY STAFF, THEIR PASSION TO HELP THE HOMELESS AND THE SUCCESSFUL RATE IS VERY HIGH. BUT THE PROBLEM IS WHY WE DIDN'T CONTINUE. WE DON'T HAVE A FUNDING. AND WE JUST LIKE, OKAY, COUNCILWOMAN, LET LOPEZ SAY WE ASKING FOR MAJOR H MONEY TO GIVE US SOME, I DON'T NEED REQUEST. I DON'T NEED $70 MILLION. GIVE US $5 MILLION. WE TAKE CARE OF OUR HOMELESS. LET THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BE RESPONSIBLE, ACCOUNTABLE AND USE EVERY DIME OF GO DIRECTLY. GO DIRECTLY TO HOMELESS. IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT HOMELESS, LET US TAKE CARE OF THE HOMELESS. IF WE DON'T DO A GOOD JOB, THEY CAN REVOKE US AND DON'T VOTE FOR US. AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO, AND UNLESS SOMEBODY CAN DO IT AND SERVE US, LET THEY SERVE, MAKE SURE WE CAN HELP THOSE PEOPLE. SO AGAIN, AGAIN, LIKE WHILE I SAY, OKAY, THE WORRY WE HAVE IS YOU CONTINUE TO BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER HERE AND THOSE PEOPLE WERE ROAMING ON THE STREET. HOW YOU DEAL WITH A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE PERSON, HOW YOU DEAL WITH DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE PERSON AND ROAMING OUR STREET FOR HUNDREDS OF THEM AND TREMBLING AROUND ALL THE AREA, HOW YOU GUARANTEE AFTER 24 MONTHS, THOSE PEOPLE WILL DISAPPEAR. NO, THEY WILL STAY WITH US. THEY BECOME OUR PROBLEM. AND THE YOU COUNTY AND MAJOR H MONEY DOESN'T GIVE A DIME WHERE WE GET THE GENERAL FUND TO PAY FOR ALL THIS SERVICE. SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE ARE SO CONCERNED. AND WE ALREADY HAVE A PROGRAM, BUT WE JUST NEED SOME OF THE MAJOR AGE MONEY COME BACK TO US. WE TAKE CARE OF OURSELF. IF WE DON'T DO IT, YOU TAKE THE MONEY BACK, BUT WE ONLY NEED AS A $20 MILLION WE GIVE TO YOU, WE WANT SOME PORTION BACK TO US TALKING ABOUT LATA. WE GET QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR ON OUR GENERAL FUND AND THE COUNTY PROMISE US QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS, WE WILL MATCH MATCHING FUND. IF YOU GET A PROGRAM, WE WILL MATCH FOR YOU. WE GET A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE LA CAR. SO TO GET THIS BED AND HELP SERVICE, BUT WE DIDN'T GET ANY MATCH. WE DIDN'T GET ANY QUARTER, QUARTER MILLION DOLLAR BANK. SO THEY TOLD, OH, YOU, YOU ALREADY HAVE A SERVICE. SO YOU HAVE MONEY, YOU ON YOUR OWN. SO WE GOT LIE AND DITCH AGAIN. SO AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM. I THINK IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. OKAY? YOU GOT A NICE GENTLEMAN, YOU COME OVER HERE AND I PROMISE YOU I WON'T BEAT YOU UP. I JUST GIVE YOU ABOUT THE CONCERN WE HAVE. THE CONCERNS. REALLY THE CREDIBILITY ON COUNTY IS REALLY NEED, NEED IMPROVEMENT. A SECOND THING YOU NEED TO REALLY SHARE WITH US, OKAY? ABOUT WHAT'S [04:25:01] GOING ON. WE REPRESENT THE TAXPAYER, OKAY? AND WE KNOW IT, WE SHARE WITH THEM SO EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. AND IN THAT WAY, I THINK YOU ARE RESISTANT WITH MUCH LESS. BUT NOW SOMEBODY FIND OUT TOTALLY THAN WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT, THEN THAT WILL BECOME A MAJOR ISSUE AND BECOME UPHILL BETTER FOR YOU. AND WE TELLING YOU WE DON'T NOT LIKE, WE DON'T AS A, AS A CITY, NOT LIKE WE DON'T HAVE POWER. WE SAY IT. IF A, IF A, IF A IF A FIVE STAR CONTINUE TO LIKE THIS, WE THE PROCESS TO REVOKE THIS UP WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO IT. WE SHUT DOWN THE RESTAURANT, WE CAN SHUT DOWN THE FREAKING FIVE STAR. IF THEY CONTINUE TO DO THIS KIND OF THING TO OUR CITY, BRING A LOT OF UNWANTED, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, STATION UNION, WHY PASADENA HAS A LOT OF MOTEL, SLEAZY MOTEL. THEY HAVE TOWNS. WHY DON'T YOU PULL OVER THERE? WHY THEY BRING THEIR HOMES IN TWO WEST COVINA IN TWO, THAT FIVE STAR HOTEL. SO WHAT MOTEL, SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS, WHAT'S FAIRNESS, WHY THEY SHIFT AROUND THEIR APARTMENT INTO OUR CITY AND WE DON'T EVEN GET ANY OF SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATED, UH, SINCE I SIT OVER HERE FOR A WHILE AND TRY TO GET THE FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET ANYTHING FOR YOU GUYS AS SO WE PAY FOR THE MONEY. SO ANYWAY, THIS IS MY CONCERN. I WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS. THIS IS NOT IN THE RIGHT LOCATION AND WE ARE, WE'LL WATCH FIVE STAR CLOSELY. WE WILL COLLECT ALL THE INFORMATION WE START PROCESSING TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RUN DOWN OUR CITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES. COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ. VIRO. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, AGAIN, PERMANENT HOUSING IS IMPORTANT TO MANY AND UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. I'M JUST CURIOUS, UM, WHO PAYS FOR THE PERMANENT HOUSING TRANSITION? LIKE ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT TRANSITION, WHO PAID FOR THAT MEASURE? H THAT'S ALL MEASURE H. SO THEN MEASURE HI KNOW CURRENTLY, AGAIN, BACK TO HOUSING, THERE'S SECTION EIGHT THAT'S BEEN CLOSED THAT THOUSANDS OF, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE MILLIONS OF, UH, PEOPLE THAT NEED IT, ESPECIALLY THAT ARE HOMELESS, THAT THEY CAN'T GET INTO MEASURE H AND I KNOW, I KNOW FAMILY WHO'S TRYING TO GET INTO THAT AS WELL. UM, CAN'T THEY USE MEASURE H FOR SECTION EIGHT AND INCREASE, UH, THE SECTION EIGHT PROGRAM? YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PROGRAMS THROUGH YES, OUTSIDE OF PATHWAY HOME. SO PATHWAY HOME HAS TIME LIMITED SUBSIDIES, WHICH IS, IT'S OUR OWN LOCAL TIME LIMITED SUBSIDY. UH, THERE'S OTHER SUBSIDIES THROUGH LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, DEPARTMENTAL HEALTH THAT DO HAVE ITS LOCAL KIND OF, YOU KNOW, VOUCHER SUBSIDY. UM, BUT IT'S NOT THE HUD SECTION EIGHT SUBSIDY, BUT THERE ARE THOSE LOCAL SUBSIDIES THAT EXIST AND THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE, UH, I KNOW YOU SAID MEASURE H PAYS FOR THEIR PERMANENT HOUSING FOR HOW LONG DO THEY PER PAY THE PERMANENT HOUSING? AND THEN DO WE GO BACK TO THE CYCLE BATTLE WHERE THEY COME BACK TO PATHWAY? I MEAN, IT DEPENDS IF SOMEBODY RESOLVES THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE, RIGHT? SO IF YOU ARE USING, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE A FEDERAL HOUSING VOUCHER, A TENANT-BASED VOUCHER, A PERSON IS LONG, IS ON THAT VOUCHER FOR AS LONG AS THEY NEED IT. EVEN IF THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS THEY, AS LONG AS THEY NEED IT TO AFFORD THEIR HOUSING, WHICH THEY MAY NOT RESOLVE THROUGH EMPLOYMENT, THEY MAY NOT RESOLVE, RESOLVE THROUGH SSI OR THROUGH OTHER MEANS. UM, SO AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S, YEAH, IT'S, IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT. EVERYBODY HAS A UNIQUE SITUATION. UM, BUT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK TO PAULINA AND PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL ANSWERS OR, YES. YEAH, AND JUST TO ADD AS WELL, UM, SO TO CLARIFY ALSO THE, THE MEASURE H FUNDING FOR THE PERMANENT HOUSING THAT, THAT'S IN REFERENCE TO THE, THE, UH, 14 TO 16 MILLION THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED. SO THAT IS ALSO FACTORED INTO THAT. UM, BUT, UH, TO, TO EXPAND ON IT EVEN EVEN MORE, UM, WHEN TIME LIMITED SUBSIDY IS UTILIZED, IT'S ALSO UTILIZED AS A STEPPING STONE. SO SOMEONE MIGHT BE PLACED FROM STREET TO SHELTER, SUCH AS PATHWAY HOME, RIGHT? AND THEN FROM THERE WE GET THEM INTO HOUSING KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, BARRIERS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND WORK WITH. AND LET'S SAY WE'RE NOT SUCCESSFUL AT THE END OF THAT PERIOD OF THE, OF THE TIME LIMITED SUBSIDY, TYPICALLY THROUGHOUT THAT TIME THAT CASEWORKER'S BEEN ENGAGING WITH THE PARTICIPANT A LOT LONGER THAN JUST ONCE EVERY YEAR, RIGHT? AND SO AT THAT POINT, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THROUGH VARIOUS ASSESSMENTS THAT THEY DO THAT THIS PARTICIPANT IS IN NEED OF A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE OR A SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER OR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. AND SO WHILE THEY MOVE THEM ALONG, THEY GO FROM STREET TO SHELTER TO LIVING IN A UNIT BEING SUBSIDIZED BY A TIME LIMITED SUBSIDY, THEY'RE ALSO THEN WORKING ON FINDING A, A, A, A MATCH TO SOME SORT OF VOUCHER, A LONGER TERM VOUCHER FOR THEM AS WELL. SO IT'S NOT JUST A ONE STOP. YEAH. AND I THINK ACTUALLY REALLY WHAT I WANT TO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SYMPTOM HERE, RIGHT? AND LIKE TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS. [04:30:01] BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ROOT CAUSE, IT'S THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ISSUES WITH, YOU KNOW, INCOME NOT BEING ENOUGH TO AFFORD HOUSING HERE. AND SO WE NEED MORE, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE NEED MORE CREATION OF PERMANENT HOUSING, UH, AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE, UH, SO THAT PEOPLE NOT JUST WHO ARE HOMELESS, BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE ON PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS AND AT THE RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESSNESS HOMELESS, CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD TO LIVE HERE IN LOS ANGELES. OKAY? UM, NO, IT'S JUST 'CAUSE CONCERN OF THE CYCLE REPEATING ITSELF AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE INCENTIVE FOR THOSE THAT ARE COMFORTABLY IN THIS POSITION TO GET OUT OF IT? BECAUSE I, I'VE KNOWN, UH, YOU KNOW, EVEN BEING IN THAT SITUATION, UM, WHEN YOU ALREADY HAVE THIS, WHY EVEN TRY TO GET OUT OF IT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO, LIKE REALLY WORK FOR IT IF YOU CONTINUE TO GET ALL THESE, UM, ASSISTANCE AND, AND IF THEY HAVE THE EXPIRATION, 'CAUSE I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T EVEN GIMME A DIRECT ANSWER OF LIKE HOW LONG THESE HOUSING PAYS AND THEN AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT, DO THEY JUST REPEAT THE CYCLE AND GO BACK TO PATHWAY. UM, AGAIN, I, I THINK MY FRUSTRATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN, UM, I DON'T HAVE THE DIRECT ANSWERS. UM, AND IT'S ALWAYS, IT'S ALWAYS, THAT'S LIKE, IT'S COMPLICATED, YOU KNOW? AND IT, IT'S, IT'S REALLY NOT. I MEAN, IT'S REALLY NOT COMPLICATED. I, I INVITE YOU GUYS TO PROVIDE A PLAN ON HOW YOU ARE GOING TO ADDRESS, OH, I ACTUALLY HAVE, I MEAN, WE'VE SAID YOU'RE UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS. WE, WE, AND AGAIN, IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE HOW YOU'RE GONNA REDUCE YOUR UNSHELTERED HOMELESS POPULATION, IF YOU HAVE A PLAN LIKE THAT, YES. SO ACTUALLY, I MEAN, I'D LOVE TO TAKE YOUR OFFER ON THAT. WELL, I'M NOT GONNA, YEAH, SO I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO LIKE SOLUTIONIZING IT RIGHT NOW, BUT IF YOU HAVE A PLAN, MY INVITATION IS TO SEND THAT TO YOUR CITY MANAGER. AND AS A PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR GRADER, I'LL WORK WITH ANOTHER PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR. SO YOU WOULD GIVE $5 MILLION. I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT THEY RIGHT NOW, TONY, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO BE HAD. BUT IF YOU HAVE A PLAN, SHARE THE PLAN AND WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSIONS ON A PLAN TO SHOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA REDUCE YOUR UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS. UM, YES, WE, EXCUSE ME, WE ALREADY HAVE A PLAN IS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN 2021. IT'S CALLED THE WEST COVINA OKAY. HOMELESS INITIATIVE. IT'S APPROVED PLAN, AND IT'S CONSOLIDATE ALL THE NON-PROFIT, INCLUDING CHURCHES TO HELP OUR HOMELESS AND PUT IN HOUSING, PUT INTO THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, PUT IN THE, OKAY, ALL THE SPIRITUAL, THIS AND THAT. SO IN THAT WAY YOU PUT IT INTO THE HOTEL, YOU HAVE NO SUPPORT. THEY BASICALLY, YOU GIVE THE THREE MEAL, YOU TREAT IT LIKE A CATTLE, IT'S A WRONG WAY TO DO IT. YOU NEED TO GIVE THEM SUPPORT. LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, I TALK ABOUT THE CHURCH, OKAY, FOR CARPENTRY, THEY REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT. WE JUST NEED THE FUNDING. SO LET THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO DO IT RATHER THAN YOU GUY ON THE TOP. IMAGINE ALL THESE THING. I UNDERSTAND IT'S A, IT IS A GOOD WELL, BUT AGAIN, IT'S COST WAY TOO MUCH MONEY. IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. YEAH. AND THEN, AND THEN TONY, I WE'RE AT THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COG MEETING EVERY SINGLE WEEK, EVERY SINGLE WEEK. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A PLAN THERE, UH, PLEASE PROVIDE IT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S OTH WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES, UH, TO COMMUNICATE. SO I'M HERE, I WILL PROVIDE YOU MY INFORMATION. AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE A PLAN TO REDUCE YOUR UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS FOR A MUCH LESSER PRICE, WE ARE OPEN TO LOOKING AT IT AND HAVING THAT CONVERSATION. SO, MR. MAYOR, UH, UH, YES, UH, COUNCILMAN CONTOS. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A FEW QUICK FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS REGARDING PATHWAY HOMES AS IT'S CURRENTLY CONSTITUTED. UH, D DOES PATHWAY HOMES PROVIDE FOR HOUSING FOR, FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES, FOR KIDS WHO ARE, WHO ARE SUPPORTED UNDER THE KINNO VENT, MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT. AND, AND, AND OF THOSE WHO ARE IN, UM, THOSE SITUATIONS AND SAY WHO FAMILIES OF SINGLE MOTHERS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS AND SO, SO FORTH. YEAH, CURRENTLY, PATHWAY HOME IS DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUAL ADULTS. UM, WE ARE WORKING ON A FAMILY MODEL. UM, BUT YEAH. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU. I I I HAVE A, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE, THE WEST COVINA HOMELESS PLAN. UM, I, UH, MY FIRST QUESTION, UM, HOW, HOW WAS WEST COVINA SELECTED? WHAT, WHAT WAS IT THAT IN, IN, IN, IN THE, THE HOLISTIC VIEW OF ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM IN ALLEY COUNTY? UH, WHY, WHY SPECIFICALLY THIS, THIS SPACE? YEAH. NO, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I APOLOGIZE. WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T EVEN GO OVER THAT. I THINK THERE WAS A SLIDE THAT WASN'T INCLUDED. UM, BUT WE BEGIN EFFORTS WITH LOOKING AT SUB-REGIONAL [04:35:01] CLUSTERS OF WHERE PEOPLE ARE UNSHELTERED, WHERE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS ARE. AND SO, LIKE WITHIN THIS PARTICULAR REGION, UH, BETWEEN THE TWO 10, THE 60 FREEWAY, THE 57, THE 6 0 5, AND THE 10 RUNNING ACROSS, UH, WE DID NOTICE THIS IS AN AREA THAT'S HEAVILY IMPACTED BY HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY, AS WELL AS A LOT OF MEMBERS OF GROUPS WHO ARE IMPACTED OF HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY. UM, WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, HERE, THERE IS A STRONG PRESENCE OF OUTREACH, BUT LITTLE INTERIM HOUSING, SO THE NEXT STEP TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD. UM, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE LOOKED AT OUTSIDE OF OTHER COMMUNITIES, UH, THIS AS A POSSIBLE POTENTIAL AREA. UM, BUT IT WASN'T THE FIRST, YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED AT, UH, COMMUNITIES LIKE LENNOX AND THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF INGLEWOOD, UH, HAWTHORNE. WE LOOKED AT POMONA BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE'S, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY OUT THERE. SO WE WANTED TO DISTRIBUTE THE RESOURCES IN A VERY EQUITABLE MANNER. UM, AND SO HERE AROUND THIS PARTICULAR TIME, UH, IT'S HOW DO WE ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS WITHIN THIS PARTICULAR AREA? UM, ONE OF THE, THE QUESTIONS THAT I, I DIDN'T FEEL WAS, WAS ADDRESSED WAS, UH, ONE, UH, WHEN A, WHEN A PATHWAY HOME, UH, AGREEMENT IS, IS, IS MADE THE COLLABORATION WITH THE SURROUNDING BUSINESSES, UH, AND, UH, HOW THEY'RE COMMUNICATED TO WHAT RESOURCES ARE THEY GIVEN. UH, AND THEN IF YOU COULD ALSO ANSWER, UH, SINCE, SINCE THE LAUNCH, WHAT, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THOSE AREAS, UM, IN TERMS OF CALLS FOR SERVICE, IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, IN, IN TERMS OF JUST THE DISCUSSIONS FROM, FROM THE BUSINESSES AROUND NOW THAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED PATHWAY HOME? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION TOO. UM, SO I'LL GIVE YOU A FEW, A COUPLE EXAMPLES. UH, FROM OUR FIRST OPERATION IN HAWTHORNE, UH, THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE VERY CONCERNED, RIGHTFULLY SHOULD, THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM. WE DON'T TRUST GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT BE THEIR OWN CITY COUNCIL, WHETHER IT BE THE COUNTY, UH, TO PROVIDE AN, UH, INTERVENTION. UM, AND SO WE UNDERSTAND THOSE HESITATIONS AND CONCERNS AND, AND THEY'RE VALID. UM, THERE WERE NEIGHBORS AROUND, AND THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, OUR FIRST OPERATION WAS ON A BUSY STREET, UH, COMMERCIAL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, THE SIDE STREETS WERE RESIDENTIAL AND SOME OF THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IT. UM, SINCE THAT OPERATION BACK IN AUGUST, UH, FOLKS, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME NEIGHBORS HAVE CAME AROUND TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. UH, OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS ENGAGE ACTUALLY THE COMMUNITY. SO THEY ENGAGE THE NEIGHBORS NEXT TO THEIR, UH, THEY ENGAGE THE BUSINESSES AROUND, UH, AND AGAIN, WHAT THEY TEACH, NOT TEACH, BUT KIND OF WORK WITH THE PARTICIPANTS ARE ON GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICIES, RIGHT? SO LIKE, HEY, YOU'RE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY. NOW, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE EXPECT AS PART OF OUR PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT. UH, FOLKS KNOW THEY DO HAVE A GOOD INTERVENTION OR SO THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO JUST LOSE THAT INTERVENTION. UM, AND AGAIN, THERE'S OTHER EXAMPLES LIKE THAT. THE ONE IN POMONA, POMONA, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S DIFFICULT ABOUT POMONA? POMONA DOES HAVE A VERY HIGH POPULATION OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WEST COVINA. IT'S DIFFERENT THAN MONROVIA. SO IF YOU GO AND DRIVE STILL AROUND, UH, POMONA, YOU DO STILL SEE A LARGE UNSHELTERED POPULATION. UH, BUT AS MAYOR, YOU KNOW, TIM SANDOVAL, AT THAT DAY, I JUST SEEN 43 RESIDENTS GET OFF MY STREET AND INTO THIS PROGRAM. UM, AND HE KNEW MANY OF THOSE RESIDENTS BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY DOES OUTREACH WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY. UM, VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, WHO IS ACTUALLY THE SERVICE PROVIDER, THEY GO TO THE NEIGHBORING BUSINESSES AND AGAIN, UH, HAVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEM, UH, WITH MONROVIA AND , THEY OFFERED, AGAIN, THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY COUNCIL, HEY, IF THERE'S ANY ISSUES, PLEASE GIVE US A CALL. WE ALSO PATCH IN THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY AGAIN, SO THAT WE BRIDGE THOSE COMMUNICATIONS. SO THAT'S NOT A SURPRISE IN TERMS OF YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HOW HAS THE RESPONSE CALLS HAVE BEEN, THEY HAVE BEEN REDUCED BECAUSE THE INTERIM HOUSING SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO ARE ON SITE, ON SITE ACT AS THAT FIRST RESPONDENT TO DEESCALATE ANY ISSUES, UH, THAT ANY FOLKS OR PARTICIPANTS MAY HAVE. UM, AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS, AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM COMMUNITIES IS MAINLY THERE'S RESPONSES TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, UM, AND MAYBE SOME VERY EGREGIOUS ISSUES, BUT THESE ARE CALLS THAT ARE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW WHERE YOUR EMERGENCY RESPONSES, YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS, YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE RESPONDING TO UNSHELTERED PEOPLE ALL THROUGHOUT YOUR COMMUNITY [04:40:01] RIGHT NOW, UNSHELTERED COMMUNITY, RIGHT NOW, ON, ON THE, THE QUESTION OF THE, THE SERVICE PROVIDER. NOW, YOU, YOU MENTIONED VOLUNTEERS FOR AMERICA, UH, YOU'VE MENTIONED OUR LATA. SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS IT THAT, THAT, THAT SERVICE PROVIDER HAS TO, TO SHOW IN, IN, IN ORDER TO, TO THAT, THAT THE COUNTY WOULD ENTER INTO A CONTRACT AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT CAPACITY? THEN THE SECOND QUESTION, BECAUSE THIS WAS A BIG CONCERN. WHAT, WHAT IF THAT SERVICE PROVIDERS IS FAILING TO, TO MEET WHAT THE, THE COUNTY'S EXPECTATIONS? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE THE STEPS? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CITY, RIGHT? SO WE BRING THIS IN, WE'VE TRUSTED THAT THE SERVICE PROVIDER HAS BEEN VETTED, AND IT'S, IT'S NOT PROVIDING WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO, WHAT, WHAT, UM, SOLUTION OR, OR WHAT, WHAT ACTIONS ARE GONNA BE TAKEN BY THE COUNTY, UH, TO, TO GUARANTEE THAT, HEY, WE, WE ALLOWED THIS, WE WERE THE FRONT RUNNERS TO, TO HOUSE OUR FOLKS, UH, WHILE HOW ARE YOU STEP UP IN, IN CASE OF FAILURE? AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION THERE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE PARTNERSHIP IS AND THE COLLABORATION. WE ACTUALLY WOULD USE REFERRALS FROM YOU ALL. WHO DO YOU ALL TRUST? WHO DO YOU WANNA WORK WITH? IS IT LATA? IS IT VOLUNTEERS AMERICA? IS IT UNION STATION? PROVIDE US AN INPUT? IS IT, I DUNNO, GOD'S PANTRY, DO THEY QUALIFY AS AN INTERIM HOUSING SERVICES PROVIDER? CAN WE GET THEM CREDENTIALED? RIGHT? AND SO I UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS HAVE A PLAN TO REDUCE UNCHARTERED HOMELESSNESS. THAT WOULD PROBABLY COUPLE BE COUPLED WITH, UH, SOME TYPE OF HOUSING THAT YOU GUYS WOULD CREATE, AND YOU GUYS WOULD PROBABLY PROVIDE SOME, SOME TYPE OF INTERIM HOUSING SERVICES. YOU GUYS MAY HAVE SOMEBODY IN MIND. WE WOULD LOVE TO BASICALLY HAVE THAT REFERRAL FROM YOU AND JOINTLY KIND OF VET THEM OUT. WE DO HAVE A SCOPE OF REQUIRED SERVICES AND WHAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY NEED TO PROVIDE, AND WE WOULD ALLOW THEM TIME TO ACTUALLY BUILD CAPACITY TO STAFF UP, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, AFTER YOU LEAVE, AFTER WE LEAVE, THEY'RE THE ONES THERE DAY IN AND DAY OUT WITH THE PARTICIPANTS. SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ADEQUATELY STAFFED, UH, FOR AN OPERATION LIKE THIS. OKAY. AND, AND JUST, UH, TO GO BACK TO, TO, TO THE OTHER QUESTION, WHICH WAS THE, THE CONCERN, UM, IF THAT SERVICE PROVIDER IS, IS, IS FAILING TO, TO MEET THOSE RE REQUIREMENTS, AND WE, WE AREN'T SEEING THE TYPE OF RESULTS AT A POMONA OR MONROVIA OR THE OTHER PATHWAY PROJECTS. WHAT, WHAT THEN BECOMES THE PROCESS? WHAT, WHAT IS, IS IT, DO WE DISSOLVE THAT LOCATION AND EVERYONE'S MOVED TO DIFFERENT, UH, INTERIM HOUSING AND, AND, AND THAT THE CONTRACT IS, IS VOIDED AGAIN, YOU KNOW, FOR FOR RESIDENTS TO FEEL SECURE, THEY ARE GONNA WANNA KNOW, WELL, WHAT IS THE PROCESS IF FAILURE OCCURRED? YEAH, GREAT QUESTION. I'M GLAD WE HAVEN'T BEEN THERE AT THAT POINT YET. UM, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS. UM, BUT I MEAN, WE DO HAVE MITIGATIVE EFFORTS. WE, UH, WE ACTUALLY, AT THE CEO HOMELESS INITIATIVE, WE DON'T CO CONTRACT DIRECTLY WITH THE INTERIM HOUSING SERVICE PROVIDER. IT WOULD BE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RE DEPARTMENT, HUMAN RESOURCE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, UH, ACTUALLY WHO HAS THAT PORTFOLIO THROUGH THEIR HOUSING, THROUGH HEALTH PROGRAM THAT ACTUALLY WORK WITH ALL THE INTERIM HOUSING SERVICES PROVIDER. THEY HAVE STAFF THERE THAT ACTUALLY PROVIDE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT. UH, THEY DO SITE VISITS, SURPRISE SITE VISITS. THEY WORK VERY CLOSELY TO ACTUALLY MANAGE THE INTERIM HOUSING SERVICES PROVIDER. UM, AND SO THAT KIND OF MECHANISM OR INTERNAL CONTROL IS BUILT INTO THE PROGRAM. UM, THEY HAVE WEEKLY CASE CONFERENCING WITH THE SERVICE PROVIDER ABOUT EACH RESIDENT, UH, AGAIN, CASE CONFERENCING ON THEIR JOURNEY. HOW ARE THEY DOING WITH THIS? ARE THEY BEING RESPONSIVE? ALL THOSE PARTICULAR THINGS. SO THERE'S MULTIPLE ENGAGEMENTS. UH, TO GET TO A POINT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DO HAVE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS IF THEY ARE NOT LIVING UP TO THE AGREEMENT AND PROVIDING IT. UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE WOULD BE TOUGH AND CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS WE'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH, BUT WE WOULD ACTUALLY CROSS THOSE BRIDGES, UH, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DON'T WANT FOLKS TO FALL BACK INTO HOMELESSNESS. THE OTHER GROUP THAT IS [04:45:01] IDENTIFIED, SO, UH, COUN, COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ, VITO MENTIONED, UH, 30, 30%, UH, I IDENTIFIED WEST COVINA BY, BY HOPE AND LATA, THE THE OTHER 70%. UM, WHAT, WHAT IS THE, THE, THE, THE REGION, RIGHT? AGAIN, ONE OF THE FEARS IS THAT THERE, THEY'RE GONNA BE BUSES OF FOLKS FROM, FROM WAY OUTSIDE. AND SO, UM, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS THE, I GUESS THE, THE, THE SPHERE, RIGHT OF, OF FOLKS THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO COME FROM, UH, AND, AND AGAIN, WHAT IS THE COLLABORATION WITH, WITH THE CITY, UH, OF, OF, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR HOPE AND OUR LATA? AND WHAT IS THEIR, UH, I GUESS, UM, COLLABORATION WITH THE, THOSE OUTSIDE AREAS AND, AND, AND THAT THE VETTING OF THE FOLKS, WE WILL KNOW OUR FOLKS. UH, HOW, HOW MUCH ENGAGEMENT, COLLABORATION DO WE HAVE FOR THOSE OTHER FOLKS? GREAT QUESTION. SO I LIKE TO UNDER PROMISE AND OVERDELIVER. UM, I BELIEVE IN, AGAIN, NOT OVERPROMISING AND, AND AGAIN, UNDERPERFORMING, I I UNDER PROMISE AND OVERDELIVER, UH, THE 30% IS A MINIMAL AMOUNT. UH, WHEN, YOU KNOW, HAVING A CONVERSATION, A VERY BEGINNING EXPLORATORY CONVERSATION WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SEND US YOUR REFERRAL LIST. I DON'T HAVE, LIKE, I DON'T HAVE THAT YET, RIGHT? WE GO THROUGH THE DI BY NAME LIST, UH, CREATION PROCESS. WE DO CASE CONFERENCING. UM, AND SO WE WOULD INCLUDE ALL OF THE OUTREACH TEAMS FAMILIAR WITH THIS, UH, THIS, THIS SUB-REGIONAL CLUSTER HERE IN SPA THREE. WE WON'T BE LOOKING AT FOLKS FROM THE CITY OF LA. WE WON'T BE LOOKING AT FOLKS FROM LONG BEACH. WE WON'T BE LOOKING AT FOLKS FROM PO POMONA. POMONA HAS ITS PA IT'S, UH, PATHWAY HOME OPERATION. UM, WE ALWAYS ACTUALLY DIRECTLY TRY TO IMPACT THE CITY WHERE WE CITE A MOTEL. THAT'S WHERE WE TRY TO HAVE THE MOST IMPACT. SO I, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, KIND OF LOW BALL, THE 30%, SOME PEOPLE TRY TO SAY, WELL, WHAT EXACT ROOMS, HOW MANY, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE WITH MONROVIA. UM, WE HAD SAID, YOU KNOW, WITH THE 39 ROOMS THERE, I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN 36 WITH THE SERVICE PROVIDER ROOMS, UM, WE HAD SAID APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 12, MAYBE 10 TO 12 FOR DEE AND MAYBE THE REST OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREA. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE WERE 20 PEOPLE FROM MONROVIA THAT ACTUALLY CAME INTO THAT SITE. AND SO WE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED THEIR UNSHELTERED POPULATION MORE THAN WHAT WAS EXPECTED. UH, WITH THE WORDY IT WAS 12, AND ACTUALLY WITH THE UNINCORPORATED AREA FOR THAT FIRST OPERATION, IT WAS THE LEAST AMOUNT. UM, AND SO I ANTICIPATE WE'D ACTUALLY DO A LOT, MORE THAN LIKELY A LOT MORE IN WEST COVINA. UM, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S FURTHER ALONG THE PROCESS. THIS IS JUST LIKE A VERY ELEMENTARY BASELINE, MINIMUM, MINIMUM NUMBER RIGHT NOW WITHOUT EVEN GOING THROUGH THE NEXT STEPS AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS. SO YOU, YOU CAN YOU, CAN YOU TAKE ME FROM, WE, WE ENTER, WE DO THE ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION. WE, WE HAVE THE, THE FIRST COHORT OF FOLKS, SIX MONTHS, THE, THAT, THAT COHORT IS NOW TRANSITIONED TO PERMANENT HOUSING. W NOW WHAT'S, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? YEAH, SO WE GO THROUGH A REFILLING PROCESS. WE'D, AGAIN, WORK WITH OUR LOCAL JURISDICTION. UM, AGAIN, THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE LOVE FOR THE CITY THAT IS CITED WHERE THE MOTEL IS CITED, BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO, UH, RESPOND TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND HOW ARE YOU REDUCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS. UH, AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S A LOT OF TENSION GIVEN TO THAT, THAT CITY WHERE WE CITE THE ACTUAL MOTEL. UM, THE REFILLING PROCESS, AGAIN, WORKS WITH THE OUTREACH TEAMS THAT ARE, HAVE THE TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS AND THAT YOU GUYS ALSO KNOW WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY. SO IF LATA IS YOUR TRUSTED OUTREACH TEAM, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA BE AT THE TABLE. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT PROBABLY TAKE THE INPUT FROM YOU GUYS. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT TAKE THE INPUT FROM YOUR HOPE TEAM. UH, WE WELCOME TO YOUR HOPE TEAM PROVIDING US A REFERRAL LIST AS WELL. UM, SO AGAIN, WE TAKE ALL OF THAT AND AS TRANSITIONS OCCUR, WE REFILL, UH, BASED ON THOSE REFERRAL LIST SO THAT I DON'T, AGAIN, UM, I THINK THE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW, AND AGAIN, THIS SLED IS REALLY SMALL, BUT THE UNSHELTERED COUNT IN WEST COVINA WENT UP FROM LAST YEAR, 42 TO 55, AND THEN THE DWELLING COUNT WENT UP TO 38 TO 47. UH, AND SO THAT'S APPROXIMATELY, THAT IS WHAT, 90, IF I DO MY MATH 102, UM, IT'S POSSIBLE IN THE BEST CASE SCENARIO, OR EVEN IN THE 85% [04:50:01] SCENARIO, UH, YOU, THIS CITY COULD GET DOWN CLOSE TO FUNCTIONAL ZERO WITH THE MOOC CAPACITY WITHIN THAT TWO YEAR TIMEFRAME. IT IS, IT IS POSSIBLE IN THE BEST CASE SCENARIO. SO THAT'S THE UPSHOT OF IT. SO JUST, JUST SO I'M UNDERSTANDING, WHEN YOU, YOU, YOU'VE COME INTO THE AGREEMENT WITH, WITH THE, THE, THE HOTEL, YOU, YOU HAVE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY, THERE IS THE, THE OUTREACH THAT HAPPENS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHERE THE, THE LIST IS, UM, CURATED. WHEN YOU GO OUT ON RESOLUTION DAY, THE, THE POSSIBILITY IS THAT THAT THAT THAT LIST IS GONNA BE BIGGER THAN THE 30 PERC IS GONNA BE BIGGER THAN 25 FOLKS. IS IS THAT, SO WHEN MONROVIA, YOU SAID YOU WERE ABLE TO BRING IN 20 AND THEIR, THEIR, THEIR ACCOUNT WAS 35, 36 WAS, WAS THERE THERE THE LIST? WAS IT, WAS IT A ABOVE THAT? WHAT CAN YOU OH, YEAH. IT'S, UH, IT'S A LIST ABOVE THAT. I MEAN, WE HAVE, AGAIN, EVEN IF THERE'S 36 ROOMS, THERE'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY PROVIDED A, HERE'S 40 PEOPLE DOOR DAY, HERE'S, YOU KNOW, 20 SOMETHING PEOPLE AND UNINCORPORATED HERE. SO, UM, ALL THAT GOES INTO THE PROCESS, UH, AGAIN, OF THE, BY NAMELESS DEVELOPMENT, THE CASE CONFERENCING, THEY DO LONGITUDINAL, UH, THEY LOOK AT THE LONGITUDINAL HISTORY TO SEE IF THERE'S A PROXIMITY TO THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA. SO NOBODY CAN JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN POP INTO LIKE, OH, I'M HOMELESS HERE. THIS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PAST ONE WEEK WITHIN WEST COVINA. UM, WE DO LOOK LIKE THAT WHEN WE DO THE BY NAME LIST DEVELOPMENT, WE LOOK AT THE LONGITUDINAL HISTORY OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION TO MAKE SURE AGAIN, UH, THAT WE'RE MAKING A MATCH WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING. UH, AND THE, THE, THE INFORMATION THAT THE OUTREACH TEAMS WHO HAVE THE TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS, WHO ACTUALLY KNOW THE PEOPLE OUT HERE, UM, THAT'S ALL PART OF THE PROCESS. OKAY. UM, THE, THE BACKGROUND, I, I KNOW YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE, BECAUSE OF THE, THE LOCATION TO SCHOOLS AND, AND GOING THROUGH SEX OFFENDER DATABASE AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THE, THE, THE VETTING, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT THAT ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE? LIKE WHAT, WHAT, WHAT TYPE OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION? HOW, HOW DEEP DOES IT GO? UH, AND THEN ONCE FOLKS ARE, ARE, ARE IN THE SPACE, WHAT, WHAT INFORMATION DOES OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, RECEIVE? UH, HOW OFTEN ARE THEY PART OF THE, THE, THE CALLS THAT UPDATE? WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING? YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE PROCESS THERE? SO, UH, WHEN THE BIN NAME LIST IS CREATED, AND THERE'S THE DIFFERENT, UH, CHECKS IF YOU WOULD, THAT THAT OCCUR, UM, ONE OF THE EASIEST ONES TO DO IS OBVIOUSLY DOING A MEGAN SLOT CHECK. THAT'S THE STATEWIDE DATABASE TO CHECK IF THERE'S ANY REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS. UM, THEREAFTER THE PRIORITY GOES TO YOUR MOST VULNERABLE. AND, YOU KNOW, AS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU'RE, UM, AS WE'RE WORKING WITH YOU ALL THE FOLKS THAT YOU ALL HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT ARE, UM, A BIGGEST CONCERN, RIGHT? SO FOLKS THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, LIKE HAVE BEEN HOMELESS CHRONICALLY IN YOUR STREETS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, HAVE SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. AND SO THE BIN NAME LIST IS, IS, IS CURATED TO PRIORITIZE THOSE FOLKS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE LEAST LIKELY TO, YOU KNOW, UM, ACCEPT CONGREGATE SHELTER, RIGHT? AND, AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT MORE SUCCESSES WHEN WE CONDUCT OUR PATHWAY HOME, UH, WITH THIS MOTEL BASED MODEL. UM, THEREAFTER, AND RENEE, YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME, UM, BUT THE PARTICIPANTS AT OUR SITE, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, RIGHT? AND SO DUE TO, UH, HIPAA AND SO ON, IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S A NAME OF OUR LAVAR PARTICIPANTS AT THE SITES THAT'S FREELY SHARED WITH, WITH REALLY ANYONE. IF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER KNOWS LIKE, OH, I KNOW SO AND SO IS AT THE SITE, UM, THERE'S STILL, YOU KNOW, CONFIDENTIALITY THAT GOES THERE. UM, BUT, UM, IF THERE'S A PARTICIPANT THAT LET'S SAY HAS CONTINUOUSLY LIKE, OH, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, AND FOR NO, JUST BECAUSE I, I LOOKED YOUR WAY. I KNOW THAT COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ, SHE'S THE ONE THAT'S BEEN GRAFFING UP THE WALL, RIGHT? THEN AT THAT POINT, , THEN AT, YEAH. THEN AT THAT POINT, UM, IT'S, IT'S INCUMBENT ON THE SERVICE PROVIDER. SO IF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE A TEAM HERE IS SAYING, HEY, I KNOW IT'S THEM AND I KNOW WHATEVER, AT THAT POINT AS, AS A, ANY REFERENCE FOR THE PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT AND THE GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT THAT THE PARTICIPANTS SIGN IT. NOW, THE SERVICE PROVIDER ENGAGES IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS [04:55:01] WITH THE PARTICIPANT TO SAY, HEY, WE KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING. UH, YOU HAVE TO CUT IT OUT. WE'RE PUTTING YOU ON A, UM, ON A KIND OF PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT FOR THIS P FOR THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS, THIS CAN'T KEEP GOING ON AND SO ON. AND SO THEY WORK WITH THEM ACTIVELY TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE MITIGATING THOSE EFFECTS THAT YOUR CITY MIGHT HAVE AS WELL. COUNCILMAN LOPEZ VIRO. SO, I, I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION. UM, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO OPERATION PROJECT ROOM KEY THAT THE COUNTY DID? I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF SIMILAR TO THIS. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I BELIEVE, UH, ONE OF THE MOTELS, AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH, I THINK MOTEL SIX, IT WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS BLIGHTED, UH, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, CLOSED DOWN, NO, I THINK IT WAS JUST, THERE WAS ONE THAT CAME THROUGH. AND SO NOW I'M ACTUALLY CURIOUS, ARE THESE, I MEAN, ONE, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT? 'CAUSE IT'S ALMOST THE SAME CONCEPT. AND THEN TWO IS, UM, IS THIS PATHWAY IN ONLY CITY JURISDICTIONS OR ARE THEY EVEN IN COUNTY AREA ZONES? UM, AND I, I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT ONE OF OUR, UM, FORMER COMMISSIONERS, AND I JUST REMEMBER THAT SHE, SHE TOOK A HOMELESS PERSON IN AND, UM, AND I REMEMBER SHE RECENTLY SAID THAT SHE, SHE TOOK A HOMELESS PERSON IN AND THEN GOT ACCEPTED TO THE PROJECT ROOM KEY. SO I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED THAT IT STILL EXISTS ONE. AND, UM, LATER, I GUESS HIS SERVICES WERE TIMED OUT, SO ACTUALLY NEXT MONTH HE'S GONNA BE HOMELESS AGAIN OUT ON THE STREET. SO THE SI AGAIN, I GO BACK TO LIKE THE CYCLES REPEATING ITSELF. UM, SO YEAH, THAT WAS MY QUESTION. WHATEVER HAPPENS TO THE, UH, PROJECT ROOM KEY? GOOD QUESTION. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN. MM-HMM, . UM, SO THERE'S BEEN ITERATIONS OF ROOM KEY, HOME KEY, AND THEN THESE OTHER IN EVENTS PATHWAY. PATHWAY HOME. YEAH. AWESOME. UM, WITH PATHWAY HOME, WE DESIGNED IT, WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE LESSONS FROM ROOM KEY, AND THEN HOME KEY ROOM KEY WAS ACTUALLY DONE UNDER AN EMERGENCY UNDER COVID, WHERE THERE WAS JUST A TON OF FUNDING JUST TO GET FOLKS ON OFF THE STREET INTO MOTELS WITHOUT THE SAME SERVICE PROVISION. UH, I WORKED AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN FAMILY SERVICES AT THE TIME, UM, AND AT THE COUNTY, UH, PROBABLY SOME OF YOU GUYS IN, WITHIN YOUR CITY, WE WERE RECLASSIFIED A MAJORITY OF US AS DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS. A LOT OF MY TEAM, I USED TO SEE A TEAM OF INTERNAL AUDIT STAFF. UH, A LOT OF THEM ACTUALLY WERE DEPLOYED TO ROOM KEY SITES WITHOUT ANY TRAINING, WITHOUT ANY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE US HERE'S YOUR LITTLE ONE, TWO DAY TYPE OF THING. UM, BUT IT WAS A LOT OF DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY ON THE SITE STAFFING THOSE UPS. UM, AND AGAIN, THAT'S BECAUSE THE MAJOR GOAL INITIALLY OF ROOM KEY WAS TO GET FOLKS OFF THE STREETS, INTERIM HOUSING IN A SAFER ENVIRONMENT. UH, FROM THERE THEY'VE TRANSITIONED THAT TO PROJECT HOME KEY FROM THE STATE WHERE THEY REALIZE THEY NEED TO ACTUALLY PAIR TOGETHER, NOT JUST THE HOUSING, BUT THE SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO ACTUALLY KEEP A STABLE, SAFE, SECURE ENVIRONMENT TO CONNECT FOLKS. UM, AND THERE'S MORE ITERATIONS, AGAIN OF HOME KEY THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. UH, THERE'S CITIES, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WITHIN LA COUNTY WHO HAD SAID NO TO HOME KEY, WHO ARE NOW DOING HOME KEY, AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED. UM, BUT THERE ARE JURISDICTIONS WHO WERE AGAIN AGAINST THAT, WHO NOW REALIZE THAT THAT'S AN INTERVENTION THAT THEY NEED AND ARE GETTING FUNDING FOR THAT THROUGH THE STATE. AND THEN THE COUNTY MATCHING CERTAIN AMOUNTS FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE CREATING HOUSING FOR THAT NEXT PERMANENT, UH, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, UH, ENDEAVOR. ARE ANY OF THOSE PROJECT ROOMKEY'S TRANSITIONED TO PATHWAYS? NO. WHY? UM, PROJECT ROOMKEY WAS ACTUALLY DEMOBILIZED. SO ALL PROJECT ROOMKEY AGAIN, UH, WAS, UH, WAS A STATE INTERVENTION THAT WAS DEMOBILIZED JUST AS, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE THREE, THE THREE, THE VOUCHERS YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MOTEL VOUCHERS, RIGHT? SO YOU HAVE THESE THREE DAY MOTEL VOUCHERS, MAYBE A WEEK VOUCHER, AND YOU, YEAH, YOU SURE YOU PUT SOMEBODY HERE IN A MOTEL, BUT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER THERE ACTUALLY 24 7 PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT, OR ARE THEY JUST THERE IN A ROOM WITHOUT SERVICES? I MEAN, MY QUESTION WAS WHY ISN'T IT YOU TRANSITIONING, YOU HAVING PATHWAY TO THAT PROJECT ROOM KEY? THAT, THAT'S MY QUESTION. LIKE WHY, WHAT'S THE REASON? LIKE WHY CAN'T THOSE, THAT WAS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE COUNTY AND THEY WERE A PROJECT ROOM KEY, BE A PATHWAY SITE. SO ROOM KEY SITES HAVE BEEN DEMOBILIZED AND TRANSITION TO HOME KEY SITES WITH HOME KEY FUNDING, WHERE NOW THEY'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE INTERIM HOUSING SERVICE PROVIDERS ONSITE ROOM KEY DIDN'T REQUIRE THAT. OKAY. UH, JUST, JUST 'CAUSE I WANNA CLARIFY BEFORE I GO TO MAYOR PRO TEM. SO THE, THE ROOM KEY SITES HAVE NOW TRANSITIONED TO, TO HOME KEY SITES. IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT WAS, WAS SAID? YEAH, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY ALL OF THEM. SO THAT'S THE ONE. I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF THEM HAVE, SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN DEMOBILIZED, SOME OF THEM DID TRANSITION TO SOME HOME KEY SITES. CAN CAN YOU JUST QUICKLY [05:00:01] DEFINE DEMOBILIZE FOR, FOR FOLKS JUST SO THEY THEY CAN UNDERSTAND? YEAH. SO DEMOBILIZE MEANS THAT, UM, IT'S NO LONGER GONNA BE SUPPORTED AS A SITE. UH, AND THEN THEY'RE TRANSITIONED OUT TO ANOTHER INTERIM HOUSING FACILITY, BUT THAT SITE IS NO LONGER GONNA BE THERE. AND THEN DOES THAT SITE THEN BECOME A HOTEL MOTEL AGAIN, OR, YEAH, IT'S, YEAH. SO THERE'S, THERE ARE HOTEL MOTELS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BACK AS HOTEL MOTELS. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU MAYOR PROTE. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND, UH, UH, I TRIED TO SAY DON'T SAY ANYTHING. LET'S GET OVER WITH THE PRESENTATION. SO WE GO HOME, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF AGENDA. OKAY. WE STILL IN YOUR, YEAH, WE STILL A LOT, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF TWO HEARING, SO, AND WE STILL HAVE A CONSENT CALENDAR. SO, BUT I CANNOT SHUT UP BECAUSE I JUST LISTENED TO YOU. I JUST HAVE ANOTHER OF ISSUE WITH COMING UP. OKAY. AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW 50, 60% OR HOMELESS IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY ALL CAME TO CALIFORNIANS AND, UH, THEN 50 AND 50, 60% OF CALIFORNIA, THEY ALL CAME TO AIRWAY. OKAY? SO AIRWAY COUNTY HAS A LOT OF, UH, HOMELESS COME FROM ALL THE PLACES. SO WHEN YOU SAY, OKAY, WHERE'S COVINA? HOMEGROWN, HOMELESS SPEAKING, TRUE, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, IT'S ALL COME FROM ALL THE PLACES. OKAY. AND STAY IN WEST COVINA, THEY MIGHT MOVING IN AND OUT, TRANSIENT, MEANING THEY TRAVELING AROUND. SO MEANING THEY MAY BE FROM LOUISIANA, MAYBE FROM NEW YORK, AND THEY JUST TRAVELING WITH THE RAILROAD, THIS AND THAT. OKAY? SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE DON'T WANT TO HELP THEM AS, AGAIN, AGAIN, THE CONCERN WHILE WE HAVE IS WHAT THE SERVICE, THE DRUG ALCOHOL, UH, WE SAW IT IN OUR PARK SYRINGE, AND THAT IS THE MAJOR CONCERN. SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WE WILL REDO OUR HOMEGROWN HOMELESS SPEAKING TRUE, I DON'T THINK WE EVEN HAVE A FOSSIL. SO-CALLED HOMEGROWN HOME HOMELESS, IS THEIR DRIVER LICENSE WEST COVINA DRIVER LICENSE OR WHAT WHAT YOU MEAN? HOMEGROWN, OKAY. HOMELESS. SO BASICALLY THEY ARE HOMELESS CONTEMPORARILY RIGHT NOW IN OUR PARK OR IN OUR, OKAY. REMOTE AREA. SO THEY, THEY MAY BE CAMPING OVER THERE, SO WE MAY HELP THEM. SO AGAIN, AGAIN, THE CONCERN IS THE MORE IN THE COUNTY RECORDS, THE MORE WE TRY TO, LIKE YOU GUYS TRY TO SAY, USING ALL THE MAJOR AGE MONEY AND ALL THE FEDERAL FOUNDING THIS AND THAT LOOK LIKE YOU CREATE EVEN MORE HOMELESS. OKAY? SO, SO BY THE WAY, REALLY QUICK, OKAY, I'M GOING TO SHUT UP. OKAY. I'M REALLY QUICK. THE POINT IS, I SIT IN THE CAR COUNCIL GOVERNMENT FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS AND I CONTINUE TO ASKING ALL THE CITIES SHOULD HAVE A FAIR SHARE FROM COUNTY AND ALL THE COUNTY CITY WILL BE ALL THE CITY REPRESENT OVER THERE. ALL AGREE THAT WE HOW WE USE A MAJOR H MONEY. THE PROBLEM IS, WE ALL AGREE, YOU CAN ASK ALL THE CITY REPRESENTATIVES IN THE CAR MEETING, LET COUNTY BUILD A 1200 EMPLOYEE WITH A HIGH PAY AND BASICALLY LET ITS MONEY GET STUCK OUT, AND NOW VERY LITTLE MONEY GO INTO REALLY TO THE HOMELESS. SO I THINK THAT IS A ISSUE. WE ARE NOT AGAINST THE COUNTY HOMELESS PROGRAM. WE JUST WORRY ABOUT ALL THIS MONEY WILL BE WASTED AGAIN. AND NOT ONLY CAN I RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT YOU DUMP A LOT OF ISSUE SINCE IT'S SO NEW AND THAT WE CREATE A LOT OF HOMELESS IN THIS AREA AND BASICALLY DESTROY OUR COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS A SCARY THING THAT PEOPLE ARE SO WORRY ABOUT. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND. THIS IS OUR CITY, THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY, THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DO NOT WANT THIS THING. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND. WE NOT AGAINST OKAY, THE PATHWAY HOME, BUT THE, THE, THE THING IS, YOU KNOW, IT, THE PASSWAY HOME IS SO NEW AND IT'S ONLY ONE MONTH. YOU'RE NOT REDUCING MONROVIA, YOU JUST CAN SHIFT A LITTLE BIT OVER THERE, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE A DATA. HOW LONG DO SO STAY THERE? THEY ONLY ONE MONTH. SO POSSIBLE THEY WERE COMING OUT AND THEN THEY THIS AND THAT, AND SOME PEOPLE TRAVELING INTO MONROVIA BECOME HOMELESS OVER THERE. SO YOU NEVER KNOW. WE NEED TO HAVE SIX MONTHS, ONE YEAR DATA TO SEE HOW IT'S SUCCESSFUL. IF THIS REALLY SUCCESSFUL, IT'S REALLY HELP US HELP EVERYBODY. THEN WE SAY, HEY, WOULD YOU PLEASE SPEND A FREAKING $70 MILLION IN OUR CITY? BUT CURRENTLY IT'S JUST NOT FEASIBLE. IT'S JUST DONE ENOUGH DATA. IT SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING TO CREATE A LOT OF, MAYBE EVEN MORE HOMELESS FOR US IN THIS AREA. CREATE MORE ISSUE FOR US. THANK YOU. SO WE'LL BE BACK IN FIVE MONTHS. JUST KIDDING. NO, I DID, I DID, I DID ACTUALLY HAVE, I, I DID WANNA ADDRESS, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE DATA THAT WAS JUST SOME LIGHT HUMOR TO WAKE US UP SINCE IT'S PAST MIDNIGHT. UM, WELCOME TO BRING MORE DATA TO US. OKAY? WE WANT TO AFFECT, WE WANT TO SEE, MAKE SURE THIS NOT GOING TO DESTROY OUR CITY. YOU CREATE MORE HOMELESS, OKAY? AND AGAIN, AGAIN, BRING DATA, BRING EVERYTHING TO LET THE RESIDENT UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS AND THAT. SO THIS IS SOMETHING RIGHT NOW, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE TRUST. I I I DO WANNA JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE COMMENTS YOU MADE IN THE BEGINNING. UM, FROM THE RECENT HOMELESS COUNT AS WELL, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT OVER 54% [05:05:01] OF PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCE FIRST TIME HOMELESSNESS IN THIS LAST YEAR ALONE DID SO DUE TO ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS. AND MAJORITY OF THOSE FOLKS, OF THE TOTAL PERCENTAGE WERE LONGTIME RESIDENTS FROM FROM LA COUNTY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I CAN, I CAN SAY THAT IN ADDITION TO HAVING THE ACTUAL DATA THERE, ANECDOTALLY, RIGHT? BECAUSE I WORKED AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR SEVERAL YEARS, MARCO, I GIVE US THE REVENUE, WE TAKE CARE OF OUR HOMELESS, GIVE HER THE RESOURCE, GIVE OUR MAJOR EDGE MONEY BACK. I DON'T WANT EVERYTHING. I'M NOT GREEDY. JUST GIVE A PORTION, GIVE, LET US TAKE CARE OF OUR HOMELESS. GIVE US THE FUNDING. WE'VE BEEN BEGGING FOR HOW LONG, OKAY, SINCE 2017. GIVE MY OUR MONEY BACK, PLEASE COME BACK IN FIVE YEARS. THE, THE, THE, THE, THE QUE THE QUESTION THAT, UH, YOU WERE RESPONDING TO IN TERMS OF THE HOMEGROWN, UH, HOMELESS SITUATION. CAN, CAN YOU FINISH AND, AND SHARE THE, THE DATA YOU WERE SHARING WITH US? YEAH. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR, I, UM, UH, SO WHAT I WAS GONNA HIGHLIGHT IS THAT, UH, SO THERE WAS, AGAIN, FROM THIS LAST YEAR ALONE, THE, THE FOLKS THAT EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS FOR THE FIRST TIME, 54% OF THEM WERE DUE TO ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS. AND MAJORITY, THE NUMBER WASN'T RELEASED, BUT MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL FOLKS SURVEYED WERE FROM LOS ANGELES COUNTY. SO IT WAS HOMEGROWN. AND I, I WAS SAYING THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT, ANECDOTALLY HAVING BEEN A SERVICE PROVIDER AND ENGAGED WITH THOUSANDS OF FOLKS MYSELF, I CAN SAY THAT IT'S VERY FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. UM, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS NOTION THAT CARRIES THAT FOLKS ARE COMING FROM OUT OF COUNTY, OUT OF STATE, AND SO ON. AND, AND I COULD TELL YOU FIRSTHAND, RIGHT? IN ADDITION TO, TO THE DATA AND FOLKS BEING SURVEYED. UM, BUT I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT WE, WE KNOW THESE STRATEGIES WORK, RIGHT? FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE MEASURE H HAS BEEN ENACTED, WE SEE THAT HOMELESSNESS IS DOWN. WE, WE HIGHLIGHTED THAT IN LOS ANGELES CITY. THEY'VE DONE SEVERAL, SEVERAL INSIDE SAFE, SEVERAL INSIDE SAFE OPERATIONS, EXCUSE ME. AND THEY'VE HAD A REDUCTION OF OVER 10% IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. WE'VE SEEN A REDUCTION OF OVER 5% OF, OF, OF, OF STREET HOMELESSNESS AS WELL JUST IN THIS LAST YEAR, FROM YEAR TO DATE, RIGHT? SO THERE IS DATA SHOWING EFFICACY OF THESE PROGRAMS. I KNOW IT'S ALREADY NORMAL. IT'S PAST MIDNIGHT. YES. . UH, SO, UH, AGAIN, I I WANT TO THANK YOU GENTLEMEN FOR THE, THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT. UH, I, I THINK, UM, BE BEFORE WE RECEIVE ANY FILE, UH, I I'LL I'LL OPEN IT UP TO, TO ANYONE WHO HAS ANY LAST COMMENT. NOW I'M SEEING NONE. SO, UH, I, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL CLOSE. UM, WITH, UM, I, I WOULD WANNA QUOTE YOU, UH, MR. WILLIAMS, AND, UH, HOPEFULLY I DON'T MISQUOTE. UM, BUT TO DO NOTHING IS A HUNDRED PERCENT FAILURE. AND, AND I, I FEAR THAT, UH, IF WE CHOOSE TO NOT BE BOLD AND MOVE FORWARD, THEN WE, WE WILL WATCH OUR, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS CONTINUE TO SUFFER, UH, AND CONTINUE, UH, TO LIVE IN A WAY THAT IS, IS NOT DIGNIFIED AND DOES NOT FIT WITH THE ETHICS, THE MORALS, UH, OR THE, THE PRIORITIES OF, OF THIS CITY. AND SO, UH, HOPEFULLY, UH, THIS, THIS, THIS CAN WORK AND IT CAN WORK FOR US. UM, BECAUSE IT, IT, IT IS SOMETHING, UH, ALL OF US HERE, UH, FEEL PASSIONATELY ABOUT. AND SO I THANK YOU, UH, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS. THANK YOU. NOT GONNA HAPPEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WE ARE BACK. WELCOME. UH, IT IS THE . HAPPY WEDNESDAY, EVERYONE, UH, BE, BE, BE BEFORE WE START. UH, I, I, I WAS EXPECTING AT, AT THE END OF COMMENT, UH, IT, IT WAS MY MOM'S BIRTHDAY ON JULY 2ND. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM. HAPPY BIRTHDAY WATCHING. UH, HAPPY, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY. I GUESS. NOW. HE DIDN'T SEE WE FIGHT. NO, THEY MISSED IT. THEY MISSED. I BELIEVE THOSE GENTLEMEN GOT IT ON VIDEO THOUGH, SO WE CAN, WE CAN SHOW IT TO THE PUBLIC LATER. ALRIGHT, UH, [CONSENT CALENDAR] LET US CONTINUE. SO WE ARE NOW, UH, ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. COUNSEL, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR? MM-HMM. MAYOR PRO, TE W NO, I'M JUST, I WANNA MOVE OFF. THANK YOU. OKAY, . OKAY. I WANNA MOVE. UH, ONE, TWO. NO, NO, NO MOVING. NO MOVING. I WANNA GO HOME AND, UH, MOVE ALL THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT. [05:10:01] SO WE HAVE, UH, MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS NUMBER ONE THROUGH SIX, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK. ROLL CALL PLEASE. I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PROTI WU, A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MEN DIAZ. I BELIEVE SHE GOT IT IN THERE. UH, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX. COUNCILMAN CONTOS AYE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ AYE. COUNCILMAN LOPEZ? VITO AYE. MAYOR PRO TE WU AYE. MAYOR CALDONE TABBA. AYE. ITEMS PASSED. FIVE ZERO, MAYOR. [7) PROGRAM YEAR (PY) 2024 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) ACTION PLAN] ALL RIGHT, NOW MOVING TO PUBLIC HEARINGS. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT. ACTION PLAN. UH, THE MATTER SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING IS A CONSIDERATION, A PROPOSED, UM, YEAR 2024 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, CDBG ACTION PLAN. WILL THE CITY CLERK VERIFY THE PROPER LEGAL NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN? YES. , PROPER LEGAL, PROPER LEGAL NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN. MAYOR PROM. W WOULD YOU OFFER THE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK SOME COFFEE? ? YOU GOOD? I'M FINE. I'M FINE. THANK YOU. OKAY. NO, NO, NO. THERE YOU GO. AT THIS TIME, I SHALL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2024 CDBG ACTION PLAN. THERE WILL FIRST BE THE PRESENTATION OF THE STAFF REPORT, THEN WE SHALL HEAR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MS. MORALES, WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT. UH, MR. KELLY MCDONALD, THE ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER WILL BE PROVIDING THE REPORT. AND DUE TO THE TIME OF THE DAY OR THE MEETING, WE'RE GONNA DO A QUICK, BRIEF, UH, PRESENTATION. BUT WE WILL BE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY? AND GOOD MORNING. UH, THIS HEARING CONCERNS THE PROGRAM YEAR 2024 CDBG ACTION PLAN AS A RECIPIENT OF CDBG FUNDS, AS CITY'S REQUIRED TO PREPARE AN ANNUAL PLAN THAT, UH, DETAILS THE INTENDED USE OF THE FUNDS DURING THE PROGRAM YEAR. THIS IS A SECOND OF TWO REQUIRED HEARINGS, AND THE, UH, PROPOSED ACTION PLAN IS, UH, SHOWN IN ATTACHMENT NUMBER TWO. TABLE THREE, SHOWN ON THE SCREEN HERE SHOWS THE, UH, BUDGET BY ACTIVITY FOR THE, UH, PROPOSED, UH, 2024 CDBG FUNDING AND, UM, TOTALING ABOUT $1.04 MILLION. THERE'S A COUPLE OF NEW PRO NEW ACTIVITIES, UH, THE HOUSING PRESERVATION PROGRAM. THERE'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THAT. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF NEW, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. THE STOREFRONT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ARE NEW AND PROPOSING AN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE THREE NEW PROGRAMS, UH, HAVE GUIDELINES THAT HAVE YET TO BE DEVELOPED, AND ONCE THOSE ARE, THOSE PROGRAMS WOULD BE LAUNCHED. SO THE NOTICE FOR THE HEARING WAS PUBLISHED ON MAY 31ST. THE DRAFT WAS AVAILABLE FOR A 30 DAY REVIEW. NO COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. AND, UH, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. I'M AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. MAYOR PRO TAMU. UH, JUST A QUICK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CDPG FUND FOR THE HOMELESS. OKAY. OR WHY IS THE BUDGET FOR THAT BASED ON THE, THIS NEW, UH, BUDGET FOR THE HOMELESS? UM, I KNOW WE HAVE USED A CBG FUND RIGHT. FOR HOMELESS VOUCHERS, SO WE CAN PAY FOR SOME HOTELS, SO WE CAN HELP SOME FAMILY WITH CHILDREN THAT OUT THE PLACE. OKAY. AND ESPECIALLY A LOT OF TIMES, UH, SCHOOL ASK FOR OUR HELP. AND DO WE HAVE A-C-D-B-G FUND? WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC SERVICES THAT ATTEND TO, UH, ATTEND A HOMELESSNESS. DO WE HAVE A-C-D-B-G FUND FOR THOSE BUDGET? YES, I KNOW CDBG FUND IS, FEDERAL FUND IS NOT THE STATE, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO THEY PROVIDE SOME CDBG FUND FOR OUR HOMELESS. OKAY. AND, UH, WE CAN PROVIDE FOR SOME HOUSING FOR THEM WITH VOUCHER FOR, OR EVEN RENT PAYMENT. UH, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PROGRAMS THAT WE FUND THAT DO ATTEND TO THE HOMELESS, THE, UH, COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS. UH, THEY, THEY DO HAVE A PROGRAM WITH, UH, THEY CAN TEMPORARILY HOUSE PEOPLE FOR A NIGHT OR TWO. WE, WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WE HAD, UH, THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, THE NEED FOR THAT, UH, SOME FIRES THAT OCCURRED LAST YEAR AND, UH, JUST MAKING MONEY AVAILABLE. YEAH, I REMEMBER THAT. FOR RENT OR, OR A TEMPORARY PAYMENT, THAT KIND OF THING. UH, THE, WE CONSIDER THE FOOD PANTRIES. THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT FOOD PANTRIES THAT ARE SERVICE, THAT ARE, UM, THAT PROVIDE SERVICE FOR THE HOMELESS. WHAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT, DOLLAR MONTH BUDGET FOR THOSE PROGRAM? BUT MY QUESTION STILL GO BACK TO CDBG FUND. DO WE HAVE A HOMELESS BUDGET THAT WE CAN PAY FOR SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY TEMPORARY HOUSING WE HAVE? NO. SO WE DON'T, CAN WE, CAN WE ADD THAT OR NO? [05:15:02] UM, IF YOU'RE TALKING, TALKING ABOUT CONSTRUCT CON, UH, NEW CONSTRUCTION, OR NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT CDBG FUND. SUPPOSEDLY THEY HAVE A PRIORITY FOR THIS AND THAT AND THAT. RIGHT, RIGHT. OKAY. SO, SO I THINK ONE OF THE HOUSING OKAY. WAS ONE OF THE PRIORITY, I THINK WE TALK ABOUT LAST DBG FUND LAST YEAR. MM-HMM. SAY WE WANNA MOVE THE HOMELESS OKAY. INTO OUR IZE. RIGHT. RIGHT. SO, RIGHT. AM I RIGHT? OKAY. SO IN THAT WAY, WHAT WE APPROVE TO PRIORITIZE THE CDBG FUND FOR HOMELESS, WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE FOR POTENTIAL FAMILY WHERE BE OUTTA PLACE SO WE CAN USE THIS FUND TO PAY FOR SOME DEAL RENT OR PAY FOR. OKAY. AND, UH, HOUSING FOR VOUCHER FOR THE HOTEL, WE, WE, I REMEMBER WE REQUEST THAT, DO WE HAVE LAB FUNDING FROM THE CDBG FUND? NO, WE, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR GENERAL FUND, BUT WE CAN USE THE CDBG FUND TO KIND OF HELP PEOPLE. THERE ISN'T A SERVICE THAT HAS APPLIED FOR CDBG FUNDING FOR THAT. UH, WE HAVE SOME VOUCHER MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COG. HOW MUCH, UH, 7,000, UH, THAT WE HAVE RESIDUAL FROM A COUNTY GRANT IN THE NEXT, UH, ROUND OF FUNDING WE CAN UP HAVE AVAILABLE UP TO $10,000. SO WE, IT'S $10,000 ONLY. SO WE CPG FILE, WE HAVE NOTHING EVEN LAST TIME WE REQUEST TO HAVE A-C-D-B-G FUND FOR PRIORITIZE, UH, HOUSING FROM THIS ISSUE, UH, PRIORITIZING FOR HOMELESS. UM, AND WE HAVE A, A HANDFUL OF THESE, UH, PUBLIC SERVICES THAT PR, THAT BENEFIT THE HOMELESS. SO MY, AGAIN, SO WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET ON THE CBG FUND FOR, FOR, FOR HOUSING, FOR HOMELESS. NO. IF I COULD INTERJECT, UM, ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ON THE LIST IS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU GUYS HAD ASKED US INCLUDE WHERE IT COULD GO TOWARDS, UM, UH, PAYING FOR SERVICES SUCH AS FOOD, CLOTHING, HOUSING, RENTER, MORTGAGE OR UTILITIES ON BEHALF OF, HOW MUCH IS THAT? 5,000? ONLY 5,000 FOR EVERYTHING. FOR THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 1%, OR FOR ENTIRE BUDGETS, 5,000. WE WOULD COME UP WITH A, A GUIDELINES AND BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL. NO, I, NO, I'M KIND OF CONFUSED. IS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $5,000 BUDGET OR PER FIVE IS 5,000. $5,000 PER BUDGET. THERE'S NOTHING. SO, KELLY, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE, THESE FUNDS ARE? WE WOULD BE REALLOCATING THEM FROM ANOTHER SERVICE. YEAH. THERE'S, THERE'S A, THE PUBLIC SERVICES ARE CAPPED AT 15% OF OUR, OUR GRANT PLUS A PROGRAM INCOME. UH, SO WE FIGURE WE HAVE ABOUT $130,000 THAT'S AVAILABLE UN UNDER THAT, THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY. THE, UM, CITY PROGRAMS, THE SE THE SENIOR MEALS PROGRAM, THE PD PROGRAM, THE, UH, SUBSIDY FOR, FOR CHILDCARE. AND THIS EMERGENCY SI ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR IN EXCESS OF A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. SO THERE'S REALLY ABOUT $30,000 THAT WE CAN PROGRAM. SO, BUT BASICALLY THE CDBG FUND, THE FEDERAL FUNDING, THAT WHAT WE HAVE THAT STILL CANNOT, OR NOT AVAILABLE FOR WHAT WE REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY, UH, RENT PAYMENT OR OKAY. TEMPORARY HOUSING. NO, THAT WOULD BE A AVAIL. THIS, UH, $5,000 FOR THIS, THIS I KNOW, BUT $5,000, YOU, YOU CANNOT HELP EVEN ONE PERSON FOR $5,000. OKAY. SO WE MAYBE NEED TO ALLOCATE A LITTLE BIT MORE HIGHER AMOUNT BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A OKAY. THAT MANY OF HOMELESS, POTENTIALLY SOME PEOPLE WILLING TO GET HELP. OKAY. AND, UH, WE WANNA HELP THEM TO GET SOME HOUSING. WE NEED SOME BUDGET FOR THAT TO HELP THEM TO, AGAIN, 90% POSSIBLE DRUG AND ALCOHOL, BUT THEY STILL HAVE 10% PEOPLE MAYBE. OKAY. OUTTA LUCK. OKAY. WE, WE NEED TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN. RIGHT. CAN WE, CAN WE, IS ANY POSSIBLE, WE CAN MOVE AMONG HIGHER? SO IS THAT POSSIBLE? WE WOULD HAVE TO REPROGRAM IT FROM ONE OF THESE OTHER PROGRAMS BECAUSE IT'S A, EVERYTHING'S MAXED OUT IN THAT REGARD. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ, VIRO, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION ABOUT MEASURE H AND EVERYTHING, IS IT POSSIBLE, I, I, YOU KNOW, I'M READING THE BACKGROUND. IT SAYS THE, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, CDBG, UM, PROGRAM IS FLEXIBLE PRO IS A FLEXIBLE PROGRAM OF THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, HU THAT PROVIDES COMMUNITIES WITH RESOURCES TO ADDRESS A WIDE RANGE OF UNIQUE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS. AND THEN IT STATES, THE CDBG PROGRAM WORKS TO ENSURE DECENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THAT BEING SAID, UM, HOUSING IS A, GOING BACK AGAIN, HOUSING [05:20:01] IS A MAJOR CRISIS ISSUE. IS IT POSSIBLE, UM, TO REQUEST OR TO PUT IN, OR HAVE MEASURE H GO INTO C-D-B-G-C-D-B-G FUNDS AND THAT IT CAN GO AND FILTER TO THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED IN REGARDS TO THESE CRISIS? I'M SORRY, HAVE MEASURE HH FUNDING GOING TO CDBG, IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT? I MEAN, IS THAT SOMETHING, I MEAN, IT'S PART OF HUD HOUSING, YOU KNOW, UH, AND CDBG ADDRESSES HOMELESSNESS. IT ADDRESSES LIKE THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANT. IT ADDRESSES, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, UH, HOUSING. WELL, I MEAN, OF COURSE, CDBG COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES, BUT THAT ALSO INCLUDES HO HOMELESS AND HOUSING NEEDS, IF I CAN ANSWER THAT. SO IT WOULD BE A MATTER OF WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD GET MEASURE H FUNDS ALLOCATED TO US FROM THE COUNTY. UM, WE COULD PUT IF, IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, WE COULD PUT USE THOSE MONIES TOWARDS A PROGRAM. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? WELL, BECAUSE AGAIN, UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COUNTY, COUNTY, COUNTY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET THE MEASURE H MONEY. AND A LOT OF TIMES, IN ORDER TO GET THE MONEY THAT THE RESIDENTS ALREADY PAID, THE CITY HAS TO PAY ADDITIONAL FEES AND THAT THEY'LL MATCH. SO IN REGARDS TO A LOT OF THE CDBG, YOU KNOW, CAN'T, CAN'T THERE BE A COMPROMISE OR SOMETHING TO, OR MEASURE H KIND OF COVERS THE COST AND EVERYTHING. SO YOU'RE SAYING WE WOULD, IF YEAH, WE WOULD USE CDBG FUNDS TO MATCH, MEASURE H OR GIVE ADDITIONAL MEASURE H GIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE CDBG CAN MEASURE H GIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THIS ON HOW? 'CAUSE THEY HAVE THE WHOLE MEASURE. I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY WOULD, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO, BUT WE CAN ASK THE COUNTY, LIKE I SAID, IT IT, THAT'S A COUNTY MEASURE. SO IT'S DIFFERENT THAN, UM, FEDERAL FUNDING. UM, IF, IF WE WERE TO GET FUNDING FOR MEASURE H AND WE WANTED TO DO, UH, UH, DO A PROGRAM OR SERVICE AND USE BOTH MEASURE H MONEY AND CDBG, THAT WOULD SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO. BUT, UM, IT'S ONLY IF WE GET MEASURE H MONEY FROM THE COUNTY. OKAY. I MEAN, I'D LIKE THE CITY TO REQUEST OR PUT YEAH. PUT IN THAT REQUEST TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING. SO, SO JUST THE, THE UNDERSTANDING WOULD BE WE CREATE WHATEVER THE PROGRAM IS, AND THEN WE FIND THE FUNDING SOURCES. FUNDING SOURCES COULD BE MEASURE H COMBINED WITH CDBG. IF IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF BOTH THOSE FUNDING SOURCES, WE ALSO COULD GET OTHER GRANTS, OTHER TYPES OF THINGS TO FULLY FUND SOMETHING. RIGHT. UH, SO I THINK THAT WAS ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION. OKAY. OKAY. UH, COUNCILMAN CONTOS? YES. BUILDING UPON THAT, UH, MAYBE IF IT COULD BE, IT COULD FALL UNDER HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION. SO THOSE WHO ARE ALSO IN, NOT JUST THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESSNESS NOW, BUT THOSE WHO ARE IN DANGER OF PLUMMETING INTO HOMELESSNESS, IF THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR RENT UNTIL THEY GET KICKED OUT, THEY, THEY SHOULD BE PROTECTED AS WELL. PREVENTION? YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. UH, CDBG FUND, MAJOR H AND, UH, MR. WILLIAM FOUND COUNTY, THEY, WE SAY HE ALWAYS SAY, HEY, IF WE HAVE A PROGRAM, OKAY. AND THEN WE CAN SHOW HIM THE PROGRAM AND THEN HE WILL PROVIDE THE FUNDING. HE'S IN PUBLIC, HE SAID ON THE MICROPHONE. OKAY. ON THE RECORD. SO I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE THEM THE, OUR WEST COVINA HOMELESS INITIATIVE WITH CONSOLIDATE ALL THE, UH, OKAY. NON-PROFIT, INCLUDING OKAY. WHAT WE CAN OKAY. PUT IT TOGETHER AND USE THE CDVG FUND AND USE THE MAJOR AGE, AND THEY PROMISE THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US THE FUNDING AND LET'S SAY THEY CAN KEEP THEIR PROMISE. AND WHEN WE PROVIDE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHILE WE TRYING TO PREVENTION AND WHILE WE TRY TO PROVIDE SOME HOUSING, AND WE HAVE, UH, UH, GOPEN AND, UH, ONE AND ALL OKAY. AND, UH, CATHOLIC CHURCH IN OKAY. COVINA, WEST COVINA, AND TO HELP TOGETHER, THAT'S WHY WE TALKED TO THEM ALREADY MEETING. SO IN THAT WAY, I THINK WE CAN ELABORATE. HOPEFULLY THEY KEEP THEIR PROMISE, THEN WE CAN TAKE CARE OF ONE HOMELESS ISSUE. UM, IF I COULD JUST ALSO ADD, SO PART OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS ACTION PLAN, UM, IS WE'RE GONNA BE INCREASING THE HOUSING PRESERVATION PROGRAM. AND THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO ALL RESIDENTS OR HOMEOWNERS IN MUSKS COVINA. UM, AND IT'S NOT ONLY TO BEAUTIFY THEIR HOMES, BUT IT'S ALSO TO ADDRESS, UM, SITUATIONS WHERE IF THEY DON'T HAVE, UH, AN AC UNIT THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE TO MAKE THOSE, UH, HOMES, UM, LIVABLE . UM, AND ALSO TO ADDRESS, UH, CODE VIOLATION. SO, UM, IT IS, UH, TARGETED FOR MODERATE, UH, UP TO MODERATE, UH, INCOME INDIVIDUALS. UH, ON THE EMERGENCY AS, UH, ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT, UH, MAYOR PRO TEMU WAS, WAS, WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, WHAT WHAT COORDINATION ARE WE HAVING WITH THE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS [05:25:01] THAT WE, WE HAVE IN, IN WEST COVINA? UH, BECAUSE I, I, I THINK, AGAIN, HAVING THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IS, IS FANTASTIC, BUT HAVING FOLKS ACCESS THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IS USUALLY WHERE THE, THERE'S THE FAILURE. AND SO I, I, I, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE US TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE COUNSELORS AND THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE WITHIN WEST COVINA UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN ACCESS THOSE FUNDS FOR THE FAMILIES THAT ARE, ARE, ARE STRUGGLING. SO, UH, IF, IF WE CAN GO, GO FORWARD AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE DETAIL THAT WITH, WITH, WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SO THAT WAY THEY CAN HAVE THAT INFORMATION WITH ALL THEIR ADMINISTRATIONS FOR EACH SCHOOL. UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT, IT'S GREAT WE HAVE IT, UH, LIKE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID IT'S NOT ENOUGH. SO I, I THINK THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER STEP IS, IS HOW CAN WE FUND THAT, UM, WITH MORE FUNDS, OTHER TYPES OF GRANTS WHERE WHEREVER IT COULD COME, BUT ALSO THEN BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THOSE FOLKS OUTSIDE OF US, RIGHT. BECAUSE RIGHT, RIGHT NOW, THE WAY IT IT'S SET UP IS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WHO'S STRUGGLING, HAS TO COME TO US. WELL, IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC IF WE COULD, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE SCHOOLS, THEY FIND OUT WAY BEFORE. AND SO IF THEY ALREADY COULD THEN BE THE POINT OF CONTACT TO US AND ACCESS THOSE MONIES. SO, YEAH. UM, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PUT THIS ON TO GET FUNDED. SO WE WILL BE COMING UP WITH GUIDELINES AND WE WILL INCORPORATE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATION AND WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND USING THEM AS A RESOURCE TO GET THIS PROGRAM, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MAYOR PRO TAMU. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND, UH, UH, WE, WE WILL JOIN, OKAY. SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS A LOT OF MONEY, SO MAYBE WE WILL EXTEND TO, UH, PITCHING BECAUSE THEY SELL A LOT OF PROPERTY. OKAY. SO, SO IN THAT WAY, UH, THEY HAVE, THEIR BUDGET STILL IS BIGGER THAN OUR CITY BUDGET. SO IN THAT WAY, WE CAN EXTEND TO PITCHING. SO NOT ONLY WE AND TRY TO PITCH IN, WE SERVE THE SAME POPULATION, SO WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER. SO WE OWE USING OUR DOLLARS LIKE THAT. VERY DIFFICULT TO GET AND TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE NEED HELP. SO I HOPE OKAY. WE CAN MM-HMM. INCLUDING THE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OKAY. TO JOIN THE FUNDING AND TO HELP THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY LOT OF, UH, UH, POTENTIAL. OKAY. CHILDREN WILL BE OUT THE STREET. WE CANNOT LET HAPPEN. SO WE SHOULD HAVE HELP. THE FAMILY POTENTIALLY WILL BE IN TROUBLE. UH, HOPEFULLY SCHOOL AND US WILL WORK TOGETHER TO HELP THEM TO STAY UNDER THE ROOF. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCILMAN CONTOS BUILDING UPON BUILDING UPON WHAT THE MERIT PRO TEM HAS SAID, SPECIFICALLY EARMARKING MONEY FROM MCKINNEY, MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT FUNDS. UH, SO THAT WAY THEY CAN CO THEY CAN PROVIDE MONEY, UH, FOR THE KIDS AND FOR THE FAMILIES. AND THEN SOMEHOW, IF WE COULD COORDINATE SERVICES WHERE WE WOULD ASSIST WITH PROVIDING, UH, SUPPORT THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS CANNOT PROVIDE, THEN TOGETHER WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP THE FAMILIES SO THAT IF THE MCKINNEY TEL ACT SPECIFICALLY CAN BE REFERENCED, UH, MADAM CITY MANAGER, THAT THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT. OH, OKAY. UH, IF, IF I CAN GET CLARIFICATION, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CANTOS OR, UM, YOU WOULD LIKE THAT REFERENCE WHERE THE, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS THE CDBG ACTION PLAN. SO, UM, WHEN WE COME BACK WITH THE GUIDELINES FOR THE PROGRAM, THAT'S WHERE I WOULD SEE IT APPROPRIATE TO REFERENCE. YES, EXACTLY. YES. OKAY. ANY, ANY MORE QUESTIONS? OKAY. UH, IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS. MAYOR. I SHALL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THIS HEARING AND ASK FOR, UH, COUNCIL DISCUSSION OR A MOTION. I MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE A SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION. AND A SECOND, UH, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK. I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PROTI MU WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ THETO TO APPROVE. UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, COUNCILMAN CONTOS AYE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ VIDO AYE. MAYOR PRO TIM WU. AYE. MAYOR CALDONE TABBA. AYE. ITEM PASSES. FIVE ZERO MAYOR. MOVING [8) PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER WEST COVINA AUTO PLAZA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 ANNUAL REPORT AND ASSESSMENT] ON TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, REGARDING THE WEST COVINA AUTO PLAZA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT 24 25 LEVY OF ASSESSMENT. UH, THIS IS THE TIME SET FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION THAT LEVIES THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE WEST COVINA AUTO PLAZA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AREA FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024. 2025. NOTICE OF THIS HEARING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AS REQUIRED BY [05:30:01] CALIFORNIA STATE LAW. MADAM CITY CLERK, DO YOU HAVE THE AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION? YES. MAYOR, THE AFFIDAVIT IS ON FILE. I NOW DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN. ALL PERSONS WHO DESIRE TO BE HEARD WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY PORTION OF THIS HEARING. WHEN YOU COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND THE ORGANIZATION, IF ANY, WHICH YOU ARE REPRESENTING AT THIS HEARING. FIRST, WE WILL HAVE THE STAFF PRESENTATION, MS. MORALES, WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT. I'M MS. ALEJANDRO GARCIA. OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HOUSING MANAGER WILL BE PROVIDING THE PRESENTATION THIS EVENING. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I'M GONNA TRY TO DO A QUICK CAP OF, UH, . SO OUR AUTO PLAZA IS, UM, SEVEN DEALERSHIPS. AND THIS AUTO PLAZA IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT REALLY IS CREATED TO ENHANCE THE AREA THAT ALL THE DEALERSHIPS ARE IN. PRIMARILY. UM, THERE'S A READER BOARD SIGN, UM, THAT REALLY TAKES PLACE IN, IN, IN BEING THE, THE, THE CENTER OF, OF THE ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVEE TAXES. THIS IS A MAP SHOWING OF THE SEVEN DEALERSHIPS. AND THEN JUST A QUICK RECAP OF THE TIMELINE. SO WE HAD AN AUTO PLAZA ADVISORY BOARD MEETING LAST MONTH, UM, TO GO OVER THE NEW SET BUDGET FOR 25. THEN WE HAD THE PUBLIC MEETING, ADOPTED RESOLUTION JUNE 18TH, A NOTICE OF RESOLUTION IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, AND NOW HERE TODAY AT THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO THE ANNUAL REPORT INCLUDES A TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24 25 OF 117,968, WITH AN ASSESSMENT OF 16,524, WHICH WILL BE APPLIED PER DEALERSHIP SITE. THE ASSESSMENT WILL GO TOWARDS ANNUAL EXPENSES, INCLUDING THE COST OF MAINTENANCE, ELECTRICITY, PROGRAMMING, AND INSURANCE FOR THE READER BOARD SIGN, AS WELL AS THE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE, WHICH WILL TOTAL 58,484 FOR THE AUTO PLAZA. THE LOAN IS REPAID TO THE CITY IN TWO ANNUAL PAYMENTS, WHICH IS A TOTAL OF $59,027. AND THEN THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE STAFF REPORT. AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. MAYOR PRO TAMU, AND, AND I REMEMBERED, OKAY. ORIGINAL, UH, THE CT FINANCED, OKAY. THE, THIS GIANT BILLBOARD READABLE. SO HAVE THEY PAY OFF YET? IN TWO YEARS, THEY'LL FULLY BE PAID OFF. SO BASICALLY IT'S TWO YEARS AND WE COLLECT THE INTEREST, RIGHT? YEAH. SO IN 2026, THE READER BOARD FOR THAT LOAN WILL BE FULLY REPAID. AND WHAT'S THE INTEREST RATE? THEY'RE PAYING US, I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. 4%, RIGHT? THAT'S 2%. YEP. OKAY. SO 2026, IT WILL PAY OFF? YES. OKAY. AND THE SECOND QUESTION REALLY QUICK, THE SECOND QUESTION. OKAY. I KNOW ON THIS. OKAY. AND, UH, UH, OKAY. OUR CURRENT CITY MANAGER WAS ON YOUR JOB AS A COMMUNITY. OKAY. AND THE DEVELOPMENT, UH, MANAGER, I THINK YOU ARE ON THE BOARD. SHOULD WE, SHOULD YOU SWITCH TO HIM SINCE HE TAKING OVER YOUR JOB? I THINK YOU SHOULD OUT THAT BOARD, RIGHT? WE, WE WILL BE SWITCHING IT IF IT HASN'T OCCURRED ALREADY. SO YOU ARE, BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER ON THE BOARD DOESN'T MAKE TOO MUCH SENSE. SO I THINK YOU SHOULD LET THE PERSON TAKE OVER. YOUR JOB SHOULD BE ON LAB AS A BOARD MEMBER OVER THERE. AM I RIGHT? YES. SO IF IT HASN'T BEEN DONE, WE WILL GET THAT TAKEN. HOW SOON THEY CAN BE TAKEN CARE. I WILL FOLLOW UP AND GET YOU THAT INFORMATION. IS THE NEXT BOARD MEETING MAYBE YOU RAISED ABOUT THE MOTION TO REPLACE THE, THE NEW, OUR NEW, UH, STAFF. OKAY. AS THE BOARD MEMBER, SINCE HE'S TAKING OVER YOUR NEW, YOUR OLD JOB, AM I RIGHT? I I, I'M NOT SURE IF IT WOULD REQUIRE GOING TO THE, UM, ANNUAL MEETING. 'CAUSE WE DON'T, THERE'S ONLY ONE ANNUAL MEETING THAT WE HAVE, UM, IN REGARDS TO THE AUTO PLAZA, BUT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN A DIFFERENT MANNER. SO I JUST WANNA VERIFY THAT, UM, AND SEE HOW QUICKLY WE CAN SWITCH THAT OVER. YEAH. CAN YOU DO A SPECIAL MEETING CALL, SPECIAL MEETING TO EXCHANGE? BECAUSE I THINK THE CITY MANAGER ON THE BOARD MAY BE POTENTIALLY OKAY. UH, CITY ATTORNEY. HOW DO YOU THINK? YEAH, LET US LOOK INTO THAT AND, AND IF IT, WE WILL GET HER OFF AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. YEAH, BECAUSE CURRENTLY SHE'S THE CITY MANAGER, SO POTENTIALLY THERE'S MAYBE A ISSUE OKAY. IN THE SETTING THE BALL OF ONE ENTITY. AM I RIGHT? OKAY. SO WE WANNA REDUCE ANY LITIGATION AND THE LIABILITY TO THE CITY. SO I MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE MR. MAYOR. YES. UH, COUNCILMAN CONTOS. I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION WITH REGARD TO THE, THE, THE [05:35:01] EXPENSES THAT THE ASSESSMENT IS INTENDED TO COVER. DID THE BOARD CONSIDER ANY SECURITY EXPENSES RELATED TO PRIVATE SECURITY AND PATROLS TO, UH, WITH REGARD TO KEEPING THE CARS AND SUCH SAFE ON THE RESPECTIVE PROPERTIES OF THE SEVEN DEALERSHIPS? OR IS THAT A SEPARATE, IS THAT A SEPARATE ITEM OR IS THAT NOT DEEMED BY THE BOARD TO BE NECESSARY? UM, IT, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS CURRENTLY COVERED BY THE ASSOCIATION. EACH INDIVIDUAL DEALERSHIP DOES HAVE IT AND PAY FOR THEIR OWN SECURITY. IT'S ALSO PART OF THE REQUIREMENT UNDER THE, UM, OVERLAY ZONE THAT WAS, UH, ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THEIR, UM, UH, DEALERSHIPS. THANK YOU. I SECOND. OH, YOU BEAT ME, . SO YOU DO NEED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC? YES, THAT'S RIGHT. UH, AND ASK FOR CALL. I SHALL, UH, YEAH. AT THIS TIME WE WILL RECEIVE TESTIMONY FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE WEST COVINA AUTO PLAZA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT 20 24, 20 25. LEVY OF ASSESSMENT. I HAVE NO, UH, SPEAKER CARDS MAY AND RECEIVE NO INFORMATION TO SPEAK FROM THE PUBLIC. I SHALL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE HEARING AND ASK, UH, WE HAD OUR DISCUSSION. ANY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NO. I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE WEST COVINA AUTO PLAZA BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AREA FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024. 25. SO MOVE SECOND. THE MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TIM WU. A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ. VITO TO APPROVE, UH, COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. COUNCILMAN CONTOS AYE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ. VITO AYE. MAYOR PRO. TIM WU. AYE. MAYOR CALDONE. TABBA. AYE. ITEM PASSES. FIVE ZERO, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. NOW TIME FOR ANY CITY COUNCIL REPORTS. AB 1, 2, 3, 4. CONFERENCE AND MEETING REPORTS. SEEING NONE, [CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS FOR REPORTS, STUDIES OR INVESTIGATION] ANY CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS, MR. MAN. CONTOS? YES. UM, I WANTED TO ASK, UH, UH, UH, A RESIDENT NAMED ERIC CRUZ BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF HAVING LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, UH, OBTAIN OR HAVE A, A DEAL WITH DIFFERENT, UH, SPORTS CARDS LIKE BASEBALL, BASKETBALL AND SO FORTH TO GIVE TO KIDS THAT THEY SEE ON PATROL. APPARENTLY IT'S AN IDEA THAT THAT HAS WORKED WELL IN MILWAUKEE AND OTHER PLACES. AND, AND I'VE ALSO SENT A, A PRELIMINARY EMAIL ASKING ABOUT THIS, BUT AS A FORMAL MOTHER, MAY I, I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR THE COUNCIL'S, UH, GENERAL, UH, CONSENT OR APPROVAL FOR, FOR THIS IDEA TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION TO TRY TO, TO FORM A PARTNERSHIP WITH THESE CARDS AS AN ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY. I'LL, I'LL, I'LL SECOND THAT. AND I DO RE RECALL MY FIRST BASEBALL CARDS COMING FROM, UH, LAPD. OH. AND, UH, YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS FANTASTIC. UH, I, I AM SURE I DO IN, IN THE GARAGE. I, I HAVE ALL MY, MY BASEBALL CARDS, INCLUDING MY UPPER DECK, KEN GRIFFEY JR. WHICH WAS MY FAVORITE. I HAD MULTIPLES OF THOSE. BUT, UH, YEAH, , UM, LITTLE BIT I'D LIKE TO ACTUALLY REQUEST, WE HAD A, A RESIDENT HAD A INCIDENT, UM, AT ISLAND PACIFIC AND, UM, LITTLE, UH, TOKYO WHERE A VEHICLE, UH, WHICH HE HAD RECORDED, UM, IT, IT LICENSE PLATE WAS OUTTA STATE, WAS JUST DRIVING CRAZY. AND THEN JUST TRYING TO SELL THINGS LIKE SELL GOLD OR JEWELRY. AND THEN IF THEY DIDN'T, THEY'LL JUST TAKE OFF. BUT, UM, THEY, AND THE RESIDENT HAD ASKED, YOU KNOW, HE DID CALL IT, AND HE DID CALL IT IN TO DISPATCH, BUT WANTED TO KNOW, IS THERE A WAY TO FORWARD, UM, VIDEOS OR PICTURES OF THE EVENT AT THE, AT THAT INCIDENT. SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN PLACE OR WE CAN, UM, HAVE, I'M SURE THERE IS, AND I CAN VERIFY WITH, UH, CHIEF BELL ON WHAT THAT PROCESS IS. OKAY. THAT'S IT. MR. MAYOR, ONE LAST ONE. YES. COUNCILMAN CONTOS. I JUST WANTED TO, TO, UH, FOLLOW UP ON THE MEETING FROM NOVEMBER, 2023 WITH REGARD TO THE STOP SIGNS ON ALONG. NO, GALLES, UH, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DONE YET. SO IF A CITY MANAGER COULD PLEASE CHECK WITH JANA AND COMPANY ABOUT THE, WHAT IS THE STATUS, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN SIX MONTHS AND THOSE STOP SIGNS STILL HAVE NOT BEEN FLASHING STOP SIGNS HAVE STILL NOT BEEN PUT UP AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND. IF I, IF I CAN RESPOND, UH, TO COUNCILMAN CONTOS, UH, COMMENT. SO, UM, THERE IS A PROCESS. WE RECEIVE REQUESTS FOR TRAFFIC CALMING, UM, FROM RESIDENTS AND FROM THE COUNCIL. THEY GO TO THE TRAFFIC, UH, DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF THE REQUEST. IT GOES TO THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE FOR APPROVAL. IT THEN GOES TO CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL. WHEN IT [05:40:01] COMES TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S NECESSARILY BUDGETED. UM, WE THEN USUALLY HOLD, OFFER, UH, SEVERAL REQUESTS, AND THEN WE GO OUT TO BID, GET THAT BID, UH, DONE, AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND DO THE IMPROVEMENTS. SO, UM, NOW THAT WE ARE IN JULY 3RD , TODAY, WE ARE UNDER THE NEW FISCAL BUDGET. SO WE DO HAVE A BID FOR IMPROVEMENTS THAT INCLUDE THOSE FLASHING STOPLIGHT, UH, STOP SIGNS. UM, AND THAT BID, UH, WILL BE COMING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO FOR APPROVAL. SO THEN IT ACTUALLY CAN GET, UH, THE IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE COMPLETED. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND I, I JUST, I HAVE ONE, ONE REQUEST. UH, I, I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS, THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO HAVE OUR JOINT MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO, UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE NOT ONLY DO WE CALENDARIZE THAT FOR THE, THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, BUT THAT THE FOCUS IS ON DEVELOPING, UH, A, A PROGRAM WITH FUNDING, UH, TO, UH, SUPPORT OUR, OUR HOMELESS FAMILIES. UH, OR THOSE THAT MAY, UH, FALL INTO HOMELESSNESS. AND, AND IF WE CAN MAKE THAT THE, THE FOCUS OF THE MEETING. MAYOR PROAM WU, MR. MAYOR? YEAH. UH, YEAH, GO AHEAD. SORRY. JUST REAL QUICK. AMENDMENT TO, OR JUST AS AN MM-HMM. THOUGHT WITH THAT AS A REMINDER TO STAFF, THERE ARE FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE PART OF WEST COVINA. MM-HMM. . SO THE MEETINGS, IF WE WERE TO DO JOINT, WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT NO DIS SCHOOL DISTRICT IS EXCLUDED. EXACTLY. UH, MAYOR PROAM WU. THANK YOU. I WANT TO ADD ON, OKAY. WE HAVE A SEVEN SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO IF WE WANT, WE WANT TO HAVE ALL SEVEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SEVEN. OH, THAT'S RIGHT. THE OTHER SMALLER. YEAH. THREE MAJOR SCHOOL IS, UH, WEST COVINA UNIFIED. OKAY. AND THE COVINA VALLEY UNIFIED AND ENROLL THREE MAJORS, ALL MAJOR POPULATION, BUT WE STILL HAVE ONE. OKAY. HASTA, APUE, AND ETTE. SO TOTALLY SORRY. SEVEN AND WARNER. OKAY. DON'T FORGET WARNER. THE ONE DOWN BELOW ONE, STICK IT OUT. THAT'S WARNER SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH ABOUT 120 HOME. SO WE HAVE SEVEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SO WE WANT ALL THE SEVEN SCHOOL DISTRICT TO JOIN CITY. HAVE A CHANCE TO COME TO, AND WE CAN CO COORDINATE OKAY. COLLABORATE TOGETHER, HOW TO SHARE THE FUNDING, THIS AND THAT. OKAY. BUT I, I DON'T HAVE ANY REQUESTS. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO GO HOME. OKAY. BUT BEFORE I WANNA GO HOME. BUT I WANNA SAY THIS, I WANNA SAY, NO MATTER HOW WE DEBATE OVER HERE, WE JUST FIGHTING FOR OUR BELIEF. BUT ONE THING I WANNA SAY JULY 4TH OKAY. IS HOW UNITE US TOGETHER. UH, I WANT ALL THE RESIDENT OKAY. AND ALL THE PEOPLE TO JOIN THIS CELEBRATIONS OUR DAY OF INDEPENDENT DAY. AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL DAY. OKAY. BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL EVENT. AND WE HAVE A FIREWORK. AND THEN BEFORE THE FIREWALL, NINE O'CLOCK, IT'S OPEN. FOUR O'CLOCK. OKAY. AND, UH, THEY HAVE A LOT OF, FEW VENDOR AND THE EVENT, AND I THINK WE HAVE, UH, YES, WE HAVE, UH, A BAND. I THINK REMIX WILL BE THERE. AND, UH, WE, I ENCOURAGED EVERYBODY GO THERE. HAVE A GOOD TIME. NEIGHBORS TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. OKAY. AND, UH, FOR SURE. ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL, UH, BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS. THANK YOU. I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, THIS IS THE LONGEST THAT WE'VE EVER SPENT TOGETHER. UM, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. IT'S ACTUALLY ALMOST 1:15 AM AND FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE, UH, WOW. THANK YOU FOR STAYING. AND, UM, I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS GOOD NIGHT. I WANTED TO SAY THIS REALLY QUICK BEFORE YOU OKAY. I KNOW I WANNA GO HOME. WE ALL GO. I WANNA SAY THIS. YOU NEED HIM. YOU MISSED 2018. WE GO TO TWO OR THREE CLOCK IN THE MORNING, ALMOST LIKE EVERY MONTH. OKAY. JUST LET YOU KNOW TIME I REMEMBER. YEAH. YEAH. TRUE STORY. OKAY. YOU REMEMBER RIGHT. WE'RE A DIFFERENT COUNCIL. SO WITH DIFFERENT COUNCIL, WE WANT TO GO HOME AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES. JUST REMINDER TOMORROW WE WILL SEE YOU AT THE SPORTSPLEX FOR THE 4TH OF JULY. . IT IS TOMORROW. SAY NOW. THAT'S RIGHT. MEETING ADJOURNED. TOMORROW. YES. TOMORROW. THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S THE THIRD NOW. IT IS WEDNESDAY. WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.