[CALL TO ORDER]
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GOOD EVENING.WELCOME TO OUR OCTOBER 15TH, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IT IS 7:00 PM MEETING IS NOW IN SESSION.
UM, BEFORE OUR INVOCATION, I WANNA BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING, UH, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY.
SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, AMERICAN INDIANS, ALASKA NATIVES, AND NATIVE HAWAIIANS HAVE BUILT VIBRANT AND DIVERSE CULTURES, SAFEGUARDING LAND, LANGUAGE, SPIRIT, KNOWLEDGE, AND TRADITION ACROSS THE GENERATIONS ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY.
OUR NATION CELEBRATES THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESILIENCE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, RECOGNIZES THEIR INHERENT SOVEREIGNTY AND COMMITS TO HONORING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S TRUST AND TREATY OBLIGATIONS TO TRIBAL NATIONS.
OUR COUNTRY WAS CONCEIVED ON A PROMISE OF EQUALITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE.
A PROMISE THAT DESPITE THE EXTRAORDINARY PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE THROUGH THE YEARS, WE HAVE NEVER FULLY LIVED UP TO.
THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN IT COMES TO UPHOLDING THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO BE WHO WERE HERE.
LONG BEFORE COLONIZATION OF THE AMERICAS BEGAN FOR GENERATIONS, FEDERAL POLICIES SYSTEMATICALLY SOUGHT TO ASSIMILATE AND DISPLACE NATIVE PEOPLE AND ERADICATE NATIVE CULTURES.
WE RECOGNIZE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH, AS WELL AS THE IMMEASURABLE POSITIVE IMPACT THAT THEY HAVE MADE ON EVERY ASPECT OF AMERICAN SOCIETY.
WE ALSO RECOMMIT TO SUPPORTING A NEW BRIGHTER FUTURE OF PROMISE AND EQUITY FOR TRIBAL NATIONS, A FUTURE GROUNDED IN TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AND RESPECT FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE AMERICAS AND AROUND THE WORLD.
TONIGHT'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY PASTOR MASON OKUBO FROM EMMANUEL FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH AND COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ.
VITO WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR ALL CIVIL SERVANTS SERVING WEST COVINA.
BLESS THEIR HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE.
GIVE DISCERNING HEARTS TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AS THEY GOVERN OUR CITY.
GIVE THEM WISDOM SO THEY MAY SOLVE PROBLEMS. DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG AND BRING ORDER, STABILITY AND PROSPERITY TO OUR COMMUNITY.
GIVE EACH OF US A SPIRIT OF UNITY THAT WE MAY WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF OUR CITY AND TO GLORIFY YOU.
REMOVE ALL BARRIERS, WALLS, STRONGHOLDS, AND DIVISIONS THAT KEEP US SEPARATED FROM YOU AND FROM ONE ANOTHER.
PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
READY? BEGIN THE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, OR NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, ROLL CALL PLEASE.
COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ VIDO PRESENT, MAYOR CALDERONE TABBA.
PRESENT, UH, MAYOR PRO TEMU IS ABSENT TONIGHT.
IS THERE ANYTHING TO RE BE REPORTED OUT OF CLOSED SESSION? NOTHING TO REPORT, MR. MAYOR.
[PRESENTATIONS]
NOW MOVE ON TO PRESENTATIONS, TESTING.IF I CAN PLEASE BRING UP, UH, ONCE AGAIN, PASTOR MASON OKUBO FROM EMANUEL FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH.
UH, AND WE ARE HONORING FROM THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
WE WON, UH, AWARD THE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO EMMANUEL FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH FOR 70 YEARS CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, INTRODUCE, UH, MY MEMBERS AND STAFF WHO ARE JOINING US HERE TODAY.
YOU WANT TO COME ON UP HERE AND TAKE A PICTURE? I'M SORRY FOR THE SOUND COMING OUTTA MY POCKET.
I KNOW I'M SUPPOSED TO TURN IT OFF.
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NO.I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M SURE ON, ON, ON SUNDAYS.
LET'S HAVE THOSE ON DO NOT DISTURB
OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CONGREGATE.
CAN WE SAY JUST A YES, DEFINITELY.
HI, I AM GAIL MASON AND I'M ONE OF THE CONGREGANTS.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT FAMILY, EMMANUEL.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER HOME OR YOU JUST KINDA LIKE TO CHECK US OUT, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE GONNA COME ONE TIME AND IF YOU COME AGAIN, THEY'RE GONNA REMEMBER YOUR NAME BECAUSE YOUR NAME IS IMPORTANT.
WE'RE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER ON WEST COVINA PARKWAY IN SERVICE.
WE HAVE A MEETING AT NINE O'CLOCK ON SUNDAY.
WE HAD BUN STREET FOR DINNER TONIGHT, SO I'M, I'M FEELING THE, THE SUIT'S A LITTLE TIGHT, BUT VERY GOOD.
SEE THE OWNER'S OF BUN STREET HERE.
UH, I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR FIRE CHIEF VINCE CAPELLI TO THE FRONT.
I KNOW WE'RE FEELING A LITTLE DOWN TODAY.
UH, OUR, OUR LOVELY DODGERS, UH, DID NOT COME THROUGH YESTERDAY.
UH, BUT IT WAS STILL DID DID YOU GO TO THE GAME LAST NIGHT? NO.
I WAS AT THE RAVINE WITH ANTHONY.
AND WE WE'LL, YOU WERE WORKING WELL.
SO, UM, WE, UH, GIVING OUT OUR SIGNIF CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR THE FIRE PREVENTION POSTER CONTEST WINNER.
SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND PASS THE MIC TO FIRE CHIEF VINCE CAPELLI.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, STAFF, CITIZENS WELCOME.
TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO AWARD OUR FIRE PREVENTION WEEK POSTER CONTEST WINNER.
IF YOU REMEMBER IN THE PAST YEARS, UH, EVERY FIRE PREVENTION WEEK, WE HAVE THE SCHOOLS LOCALLY, UH, DO A POSTER, WHICH IS A THEME FOR THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION.
THEY CREATE A THEME EVERY YEAR IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES, AND WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THEM TO ASK OUR SCHOOLS TO CREATE A POSTER.
AND, UH, I LIKE TO ASK, UH, ADRIAN REAL WOO.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK CALIFORNIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL MELISSA DANIELS TO COME ON UP.
ADRIAN, CAN YOU, UH, HOLD YOUR POSTER YOU DID HERE? YEAH.
SO HOW THIS WORKS IS WE REACH OUT TO THE SCHOOLS AND WE ASK THEM TO CREATE POSTERS.
UM, NO SIX SCHOOLS HELPING ME.
YOU CAN TELL SIX SCHOOLS, UH, WERE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM THIS YEAR.
THAT'S THE MOST WE'VE HAD EVER BEFORE.
AND IT'S THE THIRD, FOURTH, AND FIFTH GRADERS.
WE ASKED THEM TO DO A POSTER, AND THE THEME THIS YEAR WAS SMOKE ALARMS, MAKE THEM WORK FOR YOU.
SMOKE ALARMS SERVE AS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IN YOUR HOME.
YOU'VE HEARD US TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE.
SMOKE DETECTORS WILL SAVE LIVES.
SO HERE'S THE POSTER THAT ADRIAN CREATED, AND WHAT WE DID IS THE SCHOOLS VOTE ON ALL THE CONTEST CONTESTANTS THAT TURN 'EM IN, AND THEN THEY SEND US SOME FROM EACH SCHOOL, AND WE PRESENT THEM AT THE FIRE PREVENTION WEEK, WHICH WE HAD A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
AND THE CITIZENS AND CITY STAFF WHO GOES AND COUNCIL WHO'S THERE CAN ALSO VOTE.
AND ADRIAN GOT THE MOST VOTES FROM EVERYBODY, AND HE'S THE BIG WINNER.
SO WHAT ADRIAN'S GONNA GET IS THIS, YES.
UH, SO THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT HAPPEN.
ADRIAN'S GONNA WIN A LITTLE GIFT OVER THERE.
THE PRINCIPAL'S GONNA GET A GIFT, BUT THE BIG AWARD IS THIS POSTER WILL BE LAMINATED WITH A MAGNET ON THE BACK, AND IT'S GONNA BE ON FIRE ENGINE 1 21 AND RESCUE 1 21.
AND IT'S GONNA STAY ON THERE WHILE THEY'RE GOING ON CALLS AND SERVING THE
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COMMUNITY IN RECOGNITION OF ADRIAN FOR A WHOLE MONTH.AND THIS PLAQUE RIGHT HERE, MAYBE MAYOR CALDERON CAN PUT IT UP FOR US AND SHOW.
YEAH, I'M A LITTLE SHORT ON, UH, WINGS RIGHT NOW.
THIS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE SCHOOL NEXT WEEK, I BELIEVE.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT DAY.
AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PUT IT UP IN THEIR SCHOOL FOR A WHOLE YEAR, AND THEN NEXT YEAR THE PRINCIPAL CAN GO THE OTHER PRINCIPALS AND SAY, WE'RE GONNA WIN AGAIN THIS NEXT, THIS YEAR.
AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THIS PROGRAM.
WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF ADRIAN, AND IT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING.
DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING TO EVERYBODY? YEAH.
ADRIAN, CAN YOU DO US A FAVOR AND CAN YOU DESCRIBE, UH, THE, THE POSTER AND WHAT YOU DREW ON THERE AND WHAT YOU WROTE ON THERE FOR US? YEAH.
UH, SO BASICALLY, UH, I PUT A FIRE TRUCK AND THE DOG FROM THE POSTER.
I PUT IT, UH, FIRING OR SHOOTING THE HOUSE WITH FIRE.
AND, UH, RIGHT HERE I PUT A LITTLE, UH, THING THAT YOU COULD READ AND IT SAYS, UH, DON'T PLAY WITH FIRE KIDS.
AND I PUT A BUNCH OF STUFF RIGHT HERE THAT, UH, YOU CAN READ.
WOULD YOU LIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ IT OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ IT TO US? OKAY.
SO, UH, IT SAYS, DON'T PLAY WITH MATCHES OR LIGHTERS.
HAVE A HOME FIRE, DRILL, PRACTICE.
IF YOUR HOME IS ON FIRE, EVACUATE.
CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARMS. DRAW A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN.
YOU WANT, DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING ELSE? NO.
DO YOU WANT, DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING TO YOUR FAMILY AT HOME? UH, HI.
YEAH, HOW ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS? ALL YOUR FRIENDS ARE WATCHING, I'M SURE.
OH, NO, ACTUALLY WE, PRINCIPAL DANIELS NEEDS TO SAY SOME WORDS.
WELL, I'M JUST SO PROUD OF, UM, ADRIAN AND HIS CREATIVITY, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY RECOGNIZING HIM.
WHAT? AND A LITTLE BASKET OF FOR PRINCIPAL RIGHT HERE.
UH, OUR NEXT CERTIFICATE OF RE RECOGNITION.
UH, IF I CAN INVITE, UH, DEAN LO MELLON AND HIS MOM LORENA, UH, TO THE FRONT.
SO, SO, SO DEAN IS NINE YEARS OLD, AND LIKE MOST BOYS HIS AGE, HE LOVES BEING OUTSIDE, PLAYING SPORTS.
UH, DEAN'S CURRENTLY PLAYING FOOTBALL WITH THE WEST COVINA BRUINS, AND ALSO PARTICIPATES IN LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL AT CORTES PARK.
WHAT SETS DEAN APART FROM MOST CHILDREN? HIS AGE IS THAT DEAN WAS BORN WITH AN EXTREMELY RARE DISEASE CALLED BETA MANA ACIDOSIS.
IT IS SO RARE THAT THERE ARE ONLY FOUR PATIENTS, ALL CHILDREN DI DIAGNOSED IN THE UNITED STATES.
BETA ACIDOSIS IS A PROGRESSIVE METABOLITE DISEASE THAT CAUSES A BUILDUP OF TOXIC MATERIALS IN CELLS THROUGHOUT THE BODY AND THE BRAIN.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO TREATMENT.
DEAN'S FAMILY HAS BANDED TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER FAMILIES AND ARE WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH UCI HEALTH TO RESEARCH THE DISEASE AND ARE WORKING TOWARDS CREATING AN ENZYME THERAPY THAT DEAN AND THE THREE OTHER CHILDREN SO DESPERATELY NEED.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE RESEARCH HAS NOT QUALIFIED FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, AND THE FAMILIES ARE RAISING THE RESEARCH FUNDS ON THEIR OWN.
TO RAISE THE MONEY NEEDED, THE FAMILIES CREATED A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN CALLED THE LOST ENZYME PROJECT.
[00:15:01]
ENZYME PROJECT.DURING THIS PAST LITTLE LEAGUE OPENING DAY, DEAN'S MOTHER INTRODUCED HERSELF TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS YES.
AND FIREFIGHTERS ATTENDING THAT DAY AND ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO TO HELP DEAN AND THE FAMILIES REACH THEIR GOAL FOR A CURE.
A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE WEST COVINA FIRE ASSOCIATION REACHED OUT TO DEAN'S FAMILY AND TOLD THEM THAT THE FIRE ASSOCIATION UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SUPPORT DEAN.
AND THE PROCEEDS FROM THIS YEAR'S CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT WOULD BE DONATED TO THE LOST ENZYME PROJECT.
THIS JULY 2ND GOLF TOURNAMENT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.
THE WEST COVINA 3, 2, 2 6 FIRE ASSOCIATION WAS ABLE TO DELIVER A GENEROUS $4,000 CHECK TO DEAN AND HIS FAMILY.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO REACH OUT TO DE DEAN'S FAMILY, PLEASE EMAIL THEM AT FUTURE FOR DEAN.
THAT'S FUTURE FOUR, THE NUMBER FOUR, DEA N@GMAIL.COM.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE, I REMEMBER THAT DAY AT THE LITTLE LEAGUE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE STORY YOU SHARED.
UM, BUT ALSO JUST SEEING DEAN, UH, SEEING DEAN PLAY BASEBALL AND SEEING DEAN PLAY FOOTBALL AND SEEING DEAN, UH, ENJOY, UH, BEING A CHILD, UH, JUST SPEAKS A LOT TO YOU, MOM AND DAD.
AND, UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT DEAN GETS TO, TO HAVE THAT LIFE THAT HE'S BEEN HAVING.
'CAUSE I'M WATCHING HIM AND HE'S, HE IS, HE'S ENJOYING IT.
AND YOU LOOK SHARP IN THAT BREWING UNIFORM, I AIN'T GONNA LIE.
HAD THE NICE HELMET GOING ON, UH, AND I LOVE FOOTBALL.
HOW, HOW'D YOU GUYS DO, BY THE WAY, DEAN? HOW HOW'D THE FOOTBALL TEAM DO SO FAR? UM, IT ALWAYS GETS SO HARD AND I ALWAYS SWEAT IN MY HELMET ALL DAY.
YEAH, NO, THE
NOW THAT MEANS HE'S A GAMER, BUT THEY'RE UNDEFEATED.
AND WE, LAST YEAR, THEIR TEAM DID MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE ARIZONA FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
SO WE ARE GONNA ASK FOR A FAVOR IF WE MAKE IT OUT THERE AGAIN TO FLORIDA.
WE'RE GONNA BE IN THE PARADE THIS YEAR.
FOR THE, THE KIDS HAVE ASKED
ALRIGHT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE? YEAH.
SO, UM, SO AGAIN, SORRY I GET EMOTIONAL EVERY TIME I TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT, UM, YEAH, HE'S AN AMAZING KID.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU FIND OUT, LIKE, WHENEVER ANYONE'S KID THAT'S, THEY MAY HAVE SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE BATTLING, YOU KNOW, AS PARENTS, YOU KIND OF FREEZE FOR A SECOND, BUT THEN YOU TAKE A BREATH AND YOU SAY, OKAY, WE'VE GOTTA DO SOMETHING.
I'VE GOTTA DO SOMETHING FOR MY CHILD.
AND, YOU KNOW, FINDING OUT THAT HE'S ONLY ONE OF FOUR CHILDREN.
THERE'S ONLY FOUR CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE DIAGNOSED WITH THIS.
WE DON'T KNOW OF ANY ADULTS YET.
YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH INFORMATION.
BUT LIKE I SAID, WE, AS YOU KNOW, DEAN AND HIS, AND YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND, HIS DAD, WE, WE KIND OF SAID, WE GOTTA REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE GOTTA REACH, YOU KNOW, FIRST WE REACH OUT TO FAMILY, WE REACH OUT TO FRIENDS, AND THEN YOU GOTTA REACH OUT TO COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.
MY HUSBAND WAS, UM, BORN AND RAISED HERE.
WE BOTH GRADUATED WEST COVINA HIGH SCHOOL IN 1997.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN A PART, LIKE DEAN HAS BEEN PART OF SPORTS ALL THROUGH CORTEZ PARK, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.
I KNOW PROBABLY LIKE THIS CRAZY MOM RUNNING UP TO YOU SAYING, HI,
AND WE'RE JUST SO GRATEFUL BECAUSE, I MEAN, GETTING THAT CALL FROM, FROM, FROM JUSTIN, JUSTIN FIREMAN, JUSTIN GONZALEZ SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE CHO CHOSE DEAN, AND WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN.
AND I'M, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND THANK YOU ALL, THANK YOU FOR JUST, JUST RALLYING AROUND DEAN.
IT REALLY HAS MADE US NOT FEEL LONELY IN THIS JOURNEY.
WE'VE HAD SUPPORT, LIKE, AGAIN, MAYOR, WE'VE HAD YOUR, HAVE YOUR SUPPORT AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE FIRE STATION, WE'VE HAD SUPPORT OF LITTLE LEAGUE OF, YOU KNOW, FOOTBALL.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY NEED AT THIS TIME.
AND WE KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WE APPRECIATE THAT GENEROUS DONATION OF $4,000 TO, YOU KNOW, OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO HIT $500,000.
AND, UM, WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THE RESEARCH AND WE ARE, OUR, OUR GOAL IS TO GET THE FDA TO APPROVE.
AGAIN, THERE IS A TREATMENT THEY JUST DON'T MAKE IT FOR, FOR CHILDREN.
SO WE ARE WORKING WITH, WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS GETTING A, A TREATMENT AND GETTING THE FDA TO APPROVE IT FOR, FOR THEM.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND IF THERE'S ANY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'D LIKE TO REACH OUT, I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE.
I HAVE SOME CARDS, BUT THANK YOU WES COVINA.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME, SOME OF OUR WONDERFUL FIREFIGHTERS
[00:20:01]
COME UP.AND, AND CHIEF VINCENT CAPELLI, WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? GO AHEAD, CHIEF.
HEY, DEAN, HOW'S IT GOING? GOOD.
SO, THE FIREFIGHTER ASSOCIATION HAS A GOLF TOURNAMENT EVERY YEAR, AND, UH, THIS YEAR THE MONEY THEY RAISED, THEY DONATED TO DEAN.
AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, IT WAS $4,000.
AND JUSTIN GONZALEZ IS THE FIREFIGHTER THAT HANDLES THAT FOR THE ASSOCIATION.
THEY DID A GREAT JOB, REALLY PROUD OF THEM.
THEY DO A GREAT JOB TWO YEARS IN A ROW.
THEY'VE DONE SOME GREAT DONATION, SO I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT.
UH, DO WE KNOW HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO THE $500,000 AS OF, AS OF TODAY? UM, WE'VE, IN ONE YEAR WE'VE RAISED $140,000.
BUT, BUT WE, WE CAN DO BETTER, RIGHT? WEST COVINA.
SO IF, IF ALL OF US CAN NOT ONLY DONATE, BUT UH, SHARE WITH OUR NETWORKS, UH, SHARE WITH THOSE COMPANIES THAT WE KNOW, UM, BECAUSE, UH, THIS, THIS FAMILY DEFINITELY IS, IS WORTH IT.
UM, THEY ARE A HUGE PART OF WEST COVINA.
UH, AND THIS, THIS KID, UH, HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE, UM, HAS TWO GREAT PARENTS.
UH, AND SO, UH, WE ARE, WE ARE HONORED, UH, AS A CITY OF WEST COVINA TO GIVE THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO DEAN LO MELIN, UH, HONORING THE LOST ENZYME PROJECT.
YOU KNOW, THE SUPPORT FROM THE, THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY IS AWESOME.
UM, SINCE WE BROUGHT THIS UP ABOUT A YEAR AGO, IT'S JUST TREMENDOUS HOW MUCH SUPPORT, AND LIKE MY WIFE WAS SAYING, UM, LIKE WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE PEOPLE RALLIED AROUND US, SO WE'RE NOT ALONE.
SO FOR THAT, WE'RE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL, SO THANK YOU.
AND, AND WE, WE CAN MAKE SURE TO ALSO HAVE THE, THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR, FOR RESIDENTS ON THE WEBSITE AND, AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA WE COULD SHARE.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ARIEL SIMS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF DISABILITY BELONGS.
OBSERVED EACH OCTOBER DURING NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH, OR N-D-E-A-M.
WE CELEBRATE THE VALUE AND TALENT WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES ADD TO AMERICA'S WORKPLACES AND ECONOMIES.
ND AM'S PURPOSE IS TO CONFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING DISABLED WORKERS HAVE ACCESS TO GOOD JOBS EVERY MONTH OF EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S THE SPIRIT BEHIND THIS YEAR'S OFFICIAL THEME.
THE SHOWN ON THE SCREEN, IS IT WE HAVE IT ON THE SCREEN.
IS RECTANGULAR IN SHAPE AND FEATURES A COLLAGE OF SIX PHOTOS OF DIVERSE PEOPLE WITH A RANGE OF DISABILITIES WORKING IN VARIOUS INCLUSIVE WORKPLACES.
THESE PHOTOS APPEAR IN COLORED CIRCLES AGAINST A BLUE SKY BACKGROUND.
UNDERNEATH THE PHOTO ON A WHITE BACKGROUND IS A GRAPHIC IMAGE OF A BLACK WINDING ROAD LEADING UP TO THEM TO THE SIDE OF THE WOR ROAD.
THE WORDS ACCESS TO GOOD JOBS FOR ALL, AND NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH APPEAR IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER, HASHTAG N-D-E-A-M AND D L.GOV/Z UH, ZERO OH.
UH, LET, LET ME DO THAT WEBSITE AGAIN.
DO L.GOV/OEP ARE DISPLAYED, AND THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER IS THE DOL SEAL WITH THE WORDS OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT POLICY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR NEXT TO IT.
AND, UH, I JUST, UH, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THAT, UH, ARIEL, YOU, YOU, UH, YOU'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, UH, TO BE HERE WITH US, AND YOU, UH, PUT SOME TIME ASIDE.
SO IF YOU COULD, UH, SPEAK NOT ONLY ABOUT, UH, DISABILITY BELONGS, BUT ALSO ABOUT NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH, AND, UH, REALLY, UH, EDUCATE, UH, THE PUBLIC ON ITS IMPORTANCE.
[00:25:01]
TABBA.MY NAME IS ARIEL SIMS. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF DISABILITY BELONGS.
I AM A WHITE NON-BINARY QUEER INDIVIDUAL WHO IS MULTIPLY DISABLED AND A NEURO DIVERGENT ADVOCATE.
I'M WEARING A DARK SUIT TONIGHT WITH A BRIGHT BLUE TOP AND TEAL GLASSES DISABILITY BELONGS IS A DIVERSE DISABILITY LED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT CREATES SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN HOW SOCIETY VIEWS, VALUES AND INVEST IN PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
OUR MISSION IS TO FIGHT STIGMAS AND ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES SO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF SOCIETY.
WE SO APPRECIATE THE, THE CITY OF WEST COVINA AND THE RECOGNITION, UH, THIS EVENING OF BOTH AND EEM AND OF THE, THE WORK OUR ORGANIZATION IS DOING.
AND, UH, WE JUST REALLY ARE SO PLEASED TO SHARE THIS MOMENT WITH ALL OF YOU.
UH, OUR HOPE IS TO REALLY DESTIGMATIZE THE NOTION THAT DISABILITY IS INHERENTLY NEGATIVE, INSTEAD, REALLY DISCUSSING AND PROMOTING DISABILITY AS ANOTHER ASPECT OF HUMAN DIVERSITY.
AND ONE THAT CUTS ACROSS ALL OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS AND IDENTITIES, UH, WITH AT LEAST ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS IDENTIFYING AS DISABLED.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORK WE DO REALLY SUPPORTS A QUARTER OF THE POPULATION.
AND NOT JUST DISABLED PEOPLE THEMSELVES, BUT THEIR LOVED ONES, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, OUR ALLIES, AND OUR SUPPORTERS.
WE REALLY APPROACH DISABILITY ADVOCACY AS A NUANCED TOPIC WITH OVERLAPPING THEMES AND NARRATIVES.
AND, AND, AND REALLY EVERYTHING WE DO IS, IS INTERSECTIONAL.
AND DISABILITY ADVOCACY IS NOT JUST FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
UH, WE SAY IT'S FOR EVERYONE AT ALL TIMES IN ALL WAYS.
AND LET US BE CLEAR, THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO EMPLOYMENT AND THE EMPLOYMENT LANDSCAPE.
ONLY 36% OF ELIGIBLE WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED.
WHILE THOSE WITHOUT DISABILITIES HAVE EMPLOYMENTS RATE MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT NUMBER.
SO AT DISABILITY BELONGS, WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING TO CHANGE THE STATISTIC BY DEVELOPING DISABLED PEOPLE AS LEADERS IN THE WORKFORCE AND BEYOND.
AND BY DRIVING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AND OUR ENTERTAINMENT LAB ELEVATE DISABLED LEADERS AND DISABLED CREATIVES FOCUSING ON BUILDING COMMUNITY NETWORKING AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT THROUGH STRATEGIC SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE RECRUITING FOR OUR NEXT COHORT OF THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS FULLY REMOTE AND A PAID PROGRAM.
UH, YOU CAN LEARN MORE AND HELP US SPREAD THE WORD BY VISITING DISABILITY BELONGS.ORG/NLP.
AND IN ADDITION TO OUR PIPELINE PROGRAMMING, WE ALSO PARTNER DIRECTLY WITH EMPLOYERS TO CHANGE THE WORKPLACE LANDSCAPE.
WE WANT ALL WORKPLACES TO BE FULLY ACCESSIBLE, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE.
AND WE KNOW THAT EMPLOYERS OF ALL SIZES AND INDUSTRIES FROM PUBLIC TO PRIVATE MUST BE A PART OF THAT CHANGE.
NOW, IF YOU'RE A PART OF AN ORGANIZATION, PART OF AN EMPLOYER STRIVING TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US AT PARTNERSHIPS@DISABILITYBELONGS.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO FIND SOME REALLY INCREDIBLE RESOURCES ON OUR WEBSITE, INCLUDING OUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AT WORK.
BUT PIPELINE PROGRAMMING AND PARTNERSHIP WITH EMPLOYERS IS, IS NOT ENOUGH.
THE CHANGE DOESN'T STOP THERE, UH, TO REALLY MAKE SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
WE ALSO ADVOCATE ON STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS TO CHANGE POLICIES, TO END BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, AND ENSURE REAL JOBS FOR REAL PAY FOR ALL DISABLED WORKERS.
WE WANNA INVITE EACH OF YOU TO BE PART OF THAT CHANGE WITH US TO END UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED WORKERS WHO WANNA BE PART OF THE WORKFORCE.
I WANNA THANK A THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR, AND THEN THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO, TO COUNCILMAN OLI CANTOS, UH, WHO ALSO SERVES ON OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UH, IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS PART OF NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH.
AND WE DO THINK END DM SERVES AS A COLLECTIVE CALL TO ACTION TO DRIVE YEAR ROUND CHANGE.
AND WE'RE READY TO HEED THAT CALL AND CONTINUE THE WORK.
AND, UH, I AM TRULY HONORED TO BE THE MAYOR, UH, DURING THIS, THIS TIME TO READ THE PROCLAMATION.
SO HERE IT IS, PROCLAMATION NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT MONTH, WHEREAS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELLBEING, BUT FACE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, DENYING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THEIR SKILLS AND PERSPECTIVES AND DEPRIVING EMPLOYERS OF THE TALENT THEY NEED TO GROW.
AND WHEREAS, AS THE STATE FOCUSES ON PROMOTING A THRIVING EMPLOYMENT ENVIRONMENT WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO PROSPER, IT'S CRUCIAL THAT IT BE POWERED
[00:30:01]
BY INCLUSION, PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO PURSUE THEIR CAREER GOALS, LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND ACHIEVE FINANCIAL PROSPERITY.AND WHEREAS AS THEY ENTER, REENTER OR NEED SUPPORT TO REMAIN IN THE WORKFORCE, CALIFORNIAN WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES CAN BENEFIT BY VISITING ONE OF THE OFFICES OF THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT'S DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, WHICH WHEREAS THE DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CAN PROVIDE NO COST CUSTOMIZED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES, CONNECTING THEM WITH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND MORE, WHILE COLLABORATING WITH BUSINESS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO FULLY INTEGRATE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES INTO THE WORKFORCE.
AND WHEREAS THESE EMPLOYERS KNOW THAT HIRING FROM THIS TALENT POOL, FROM THIS TALENT POOL IS MORE THAN DOING THE RIGHT THING, IT IS DOING THE SMART THING.
AND WHEREAS CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING AND CERTIFIED WORK INCENTIVE COORDINATORS AROUND THE STATE HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES NAVIGATE THE IMPACTS OF WORKING ON ANY BENEFITS THEY RECEIVE, INCLUDING THE MEDICAID BUY-IN FOR WORKING ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, I, BRIAN CALDERON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT MONTH ON THIS 15TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2024.
IF I CAN INVITE RICKY TROY, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS FROM THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COALITION OF GOVERNMENT FOR A PRESENTATION.
MAYOR TABBA, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M BEHALF HERE ON BEHALF OF RICKY CHOI.
I'M A SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER WITH THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND ALSO RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA
UM, I'M HERE TO QUICK GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, WHAT WE'VE DONE THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, AND WHERE WE'RE GONNA DO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IS COMPRISED OF, UH, REPRESENTS 31 CITIES, UH, TWO SUPERVISORS DISTRICTS, AND THREE WATER DISTRICTS.
OUR LEADERSHIP IS COMPRISES OF TIM HEPBURN, THE MAYOR OF LAVERNE, COUNCIL MEMBER ED REESE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER APRIL RO, AND MAYOR CORY MOSS OF CITY OF INDUSTRY AT THE GRO VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS, AND I'LL GO OVER 'EM IN SUSTAINABILITY.
WE LOOK TO WORK WITH, UM, THE CITIES THAT, THAT ARE PART OF THE COG AND PROGRAMS. SOME, ONE OF THEM IS FIRE PREP, SUV, WHERE WE INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT HOW TO PREP FOR FIRES, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS LAST MONTH WHERE IT'S VERY HOT, THE AIR QUALITY IS PRETTY BAD.
SO WE WORK WITH CITIES MEMBER AGENCIES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND, AND PROVIDE INFORMATION.
ANOTHER ONE IS, UH, REGIONAL BROADBAND, UM, INTERNET.
WE ALL NEED IT AT HOME, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE WORKING FROM HOME.
UH, WE'RE CONDUCTING A STUDY THAT OVER THE WHOLE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT TO SEE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE BROADBAND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
WE HAVE SEVERAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
UH, CURRENTLY I'M THE SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE 57 60 CONFLUENCE PROJECT.
SO IF YOU'VE DRIVEN DOWN TO DISNEYLAND ON THE 57 AND THE 60 EVEN, NOTICE ALL THAT CONSTRUCTION THAT'S AIMING TO IMPROVE THE WEAVING.
YOU HAVE TWO FREEWAYS MERGING, UM, A LOT OF SIDE SWIPING.
SO THAT FOUR YEAR PROJECT, WHICH IS COMPLETED IN 2028, WE'LL ADD FOUR BRIDGES.
AND THE COST OF THAT IS APPROXIMATELY $414 MILLION.
AND ANOTHER ONE IS ALAMEDA CORRIDOR EAST PROJECT.
UH, THE LAST GRAY SEPARATION WE DID HERE IN WEST COVINA IS OVER THERE ON THE GALLES SOUTH OF VALLEY.
IF YOU'VE NOTICED, WHEN THE TRACKS GO UNDERNEATH THE, THE TRACKS GO ABOVE THE ROAD, IT'S A GREAT SEPARATION.
[00:35:01]
CURRENTLY WORKING ON THREE GREAT SEPARATIONS, TWO IN THE CITY OF INDUSTRY, AND ONE IN MONTEBELLO.OUR HOMELESS AND HOME HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING PROJECTS.
OUR PROGRAMS OFFER HELP TO THE RESIDENTS OF SANGA GROVE VALLEY, SUCH AS INTERIM HOUSING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AS WELL AS FUNDING FOR PERMANENT PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND IN THE, IN THAT SLIDE THERE, I THINK, UH, MAYOR
AND LASTLY, MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT THAT AIM TO HELP WITH THAT.
ONE OF 'EM IS THE SGB CARE PROGRAM, BASICALLY OFFERING, UH, SUPPORT TO, TO FIRST RESPONDERS AND INTO CRISIS EMERGENCY.
UH, THIS LAST YEAR, WE BROKE GROUND ON TWO GREAT SEPARATION PROJECTS, THE MONTEBELLO GREAT SEPARATION PROJECT, AS WELL AS THE TURBO GREAT SEPARATION PROJECT.
AND WE'VE OPENED THREE RECOVERY FOOD HUBS.
OH, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY, SO LIKE THIS.
OKAY, SO THIS LAST YEAR WE BROKE GROUND ON THREE ON TWO GREAT SEPARATION PROJECTS, ONE IN MONTEBELLO AND ONE IN THE CITY OF INDUSTRY.
AND WE'VE OPENED THREE FOOD RECOVERY HUBS.
UH, CITY OF WEST COVINA PARTICIPATES IN THE FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THE BROADBAND EASE AND ASSESSMENT AND FIRE PREP.
LOOKING AHEAD, WE WE'RE AIMING TO COMPLETE THE BROADBAND STUDY AS WELL AS BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JUMPSTART BUS CORRIDORS PROJECT.
BASICALLY, WE'RE WORKING WITH ALL THE CITIES IN THE SAINTVILLE VALLEY TO PUT BUS LANES THROUGHOUT FOR THE UPCOMING 2028 OLYMPICS.
THOSE ARE ALL OUR COMMITTEES, UH, REPRESENTED BY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM.
TONY WOOSTER AS A MEMBER, UH, REPRESENTS WEST COVINA ON THE GOVERNING BOARD.
AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES? SEEING NONE.
UH, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE, THE PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
[CITY MANAGER'S REPORT]
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN BY OUR CITY MANAGER, PAULINA MORALES.GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS.
UM, TONIGHT, A COUPLE UPDATES THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE'RE WAITING FOR IT TO GET UP.
SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH OUR RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS, UM, OUR ANIMAL, UH, CARE, UH, OR THROUGH THE COUNTY LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL.
IT'S CELEBRATING, UH, ADOPT A SHELTER DOG MONTH TO WHERE BRING AWARENESS TO MANY OF THE LOVING DOGS HEADED, UH, NEEDING HOMES.
UH, TO MARK THE OCCASION, THEY ARE WAIVING ADOPTION FEES FOR ALL DOGS FROM OCTOBER 15TH TO THE 31ST.
UM, THIS INCLUDES ADOPTION, SPAY, NEUTER, MICROCHIP SERVICES, INCLUDING LICENSE AND TRUST FEES.
SO, UM, IF YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A DOG AND WANT A COMPANION, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IT THROUGH THE, UH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, UH, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL.
UM, NOW THAT IT'S BEING WAIVED, IS IT STILL LOADING? OKAY, WE GO, UH, NEXT, WE'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE, I KNOW IT'S BEEN IN OUR DISCOVER, BUT WE WANTED TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT OUR, UH, BATTING CAGES AT THE SPORTSPLEX HAVE BEEN OPEN.
UM, AND SO YOU CAN GO UP TO THE SPORTSPLEX DURING HOURS OF OPERATION, WHICH IS MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, FOUR TO 8:00 PM AND THEN ON THE WEEKENDS, UM, AND, UH, IT'S 10.
DO, UH, $10 FOR 10 MINUTES, $15 FOR 15 MINUTES, $3, UH, FOR 30 MINUTES, OR $45 FOR AN HOUR, WHICH I THINK IS THE STEAL.
UM, BUT IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED, INTERESTED IN USING THE BATTING CAGES, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME AND USE THEM.
USE THE BATTING CAGES AT THE SPORTS FLEX.
WE ALSO WANTED TO SHARE AN INITIATIVE THAT WE ARE ROLLING OUT.
WE, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ROLLED OUT A, UH, WEST COVINA DEPARTMENT E-BIKE TEAM, WHICH IS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FOOTHILL TRANSIT, UH, TO ESTABLISH A DIRECTED PATROL ALONG WEST COVINA, UH, PARKWAY CORRIDOR.
IT'S AIMED AT DETERRING CRIME, FOSTERING POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH BUS RIDERS.
UM, THE PATROL FOCUS IS FOCUSED ON ENFORCING
[00:40:01]
LAWS AT BUS STOPS AND BUSES WHILE ENHANCING COMMUNITY SAFETY.UM, IN ADDITION, UM, WE USE THIS, UH, UH, BIKE TEAM AT OUR LAST EVENT, THE MOON FESTIVAL.
UM, SO IF YOU ATTENDED, YOU SAW OUR OFFICERS ON SOME BIKES, SO WE WILL BE USING THEM FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
UM, THE INITIATIVE IS PART OF THE WEST COVINA PDS BROADER MISSION TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND SERVICE SUPPORTED BY SPECIALLY TRAINED BICYCLE PATROL UNIT.
UM, THAT WAS FORMED, UH, AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.
NEXT WE HAVE A COUPLE UPDATES ON SOME DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE GOING ON.
UM, HAVEN CITY MARKET, WHICH IS, UH, THE FORM OF HONG KONG PLAZA, IS NOW OPEN.
THIS WAS WEST COVINA FIRST FOOD HALL, UM, WHICH IS A CONCEPT KINDA LIKE A, UM, UH, MALL, UH, FOOD COURT, BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE UPSCALE.
UM, THEY HAVE 41 DIFFERENT SPACES FOR DIFFERENT VENDORS.
UM, THE GRAND OPENING FOR THE PUBLIC IS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND.
WE ENCOURAGE AND INVITE EVERYONE TO ATTEND.
LIKE I SAID, IT IS OUR FIRST FOOD HALL.
UM, AND THEY ALSO CREATED A GREAT OUTDOOR SPACE WHERE THEY'RE HOPING TO PROGRAM A LOT OF, UH, COMMUNITY EVENTS FOR, UM, THE RESIDENTS, FOR COMMUNITY, AND FOR PATRONS OF, UH, HAVEN FOOD CITY, OR HAVEN CITY MARKET.
UM, WE ALSO, UH, TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THEY ARE, UH, MOVING FORWARD, OH, WE CAN GO SLIDE BACK.
UM, WITH RELOCATING TO THE LOCATION ON CITRUS, THEY ARE LOOKING TO BE OPENED BY DECEMBER, 2024.
SO THAT'S GONNA BE THE NEW TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, UM, ACROSS FROM THE EASTLAND CENTER.
AMAZON FRESH NEXT DOOR IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
UM, ONCE WE GET AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR COMPLETION, WE'LL BE SHARING THAT.
UM, AND THEN I KNOW IT'S BEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
UM, THE EASTLAND CENTER, THERE'S A COUPLE UPDATES.
SO BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY IS, UH, GRAND REOPENING.
THEY'RE RELOCATING WITHIN THE SHOPPING CENTER TO WHERE, UM, THE POTTERY BARN OUTLET USED TO BE SO CLOSER TO WALMART, AND THEY'RE OPENING THIS FRIDAY.
UM, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO AND SHOP AT YOUR LOCAL STORE, SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN GO CHECK OUT THE NEW LOCATION OF BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY.
UM, AND THEN, UH, THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TOO, THAT TGI FRIDAYS HAS CLOSED.
UM, THEY, UH, HAVE CLOSED, UH, BOTH TGI FRIDAYS, WHICH WAS RECENTLY, UM, AS OF THIS MONTH, AND WALMART, UM, WHICH HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR I THINK YEAR OR A COUPLE EIGHT MONTHS.
UH, WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS OR WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, THEY, I'LL HAVE SOME PROSPECTIVE TENANTS, AND AS THOSE LEASES GET FINALIZED, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO RE-TENANT THOSE SPACES.
UM, AS I MENTIONED LAST TIME, WE HAVE VARIOUS VOTING CENTERS WITHIN THE CITY.
UM, SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE EARLY VOTING CENTERS, WHICH WILL START, UM, OR OPEN, UH, FOR INDIVIDUALS, RESIDENTS TO COME VOTE, UM, STARTING NOVEMBER 2ND.
UM, PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE TAKING A CLASS FOR A PROGRAM AT ONE OF THESE FACILITIES, PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR PROGRAM OR CLASS WILL BE IMPACTED BY, UM, THE CENTERS OR FACILITIES BEING, UH, VOTING CENTERS.
THE NEXT MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 5TH IS ELECTION DAY.
SO IT HAS THAT MEETING IS CITY HEALTH CITY COUNCIL MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED, UM, IN OBSERVANCE OF VETERANS DAY.
NOVEMBER 11TH, UH, CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.
WE WILL REOPEN ON NOVEMBER 12TH WHILE CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED.
WE WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR VETERANS DAY, UM, UH, CEREMONY.
SO WE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME, UH, SHARE WITH US, UH, THAT CEREMONY.
UM, FOR OCTOBER, WE HAVE THE, UH, HARVEST FESTIVAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH AT HURST RANCH.
UH, WE ARE BRINGING BACK THE ROTARY'S RED RIBBON RALLY, UM, THAT SATURDAY OCTOBER 26TH FROM EIGHT 30 TO 1130 AT WEST COVINA HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, THAT SAME DAY, WE HAVE FESTIVAL FRIGHTS, UM, AND THE WANIS CLUB AT WEST COVINA.
COTO FEST FROM FOUR TO 9:00 PM AT HISTORIC DOWNTOWN WEST COVINA.
UM, WE ALSO DOING, UH, HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST.
IF YOU WANNA PARTICIPATE, PLEASE COME PREPARED IN YOUR, YOUR, UH, SCARIEST COSTUME.
AND THEN OUR CHAMBER IS HAVING THEIR BOO AND BREW HAPPY HOUR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30TH FROM FOUR TO SIX AT THE COVE COCKTAIL BAR.
IT IS A TICKETED EVENT, SO PLEASE REGISTER, UM, AHEAD OF TIME.
UH, SINCE WE ARE NOT HAVING MEETING ON NOVEMBER 5TH, THERE'S A COUPLE EVENTS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH, UH, THE COMMUNITY HAPPENING IN NOVEMBER.
UM, DISTRICT FOUR COMMUNITY MEETING HOSTED BY, UH, COUNCILMAN CONTOS WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, NOVEMBER, UH, NINTH AT GINGRICH PARK FROM 10:00 AM TO NOON.
[00:45:01]
WILL BE HELD HERE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH FROM 11 TO ONE.AT THE CIVIC UM, CENTER, WE ARE HAVING CAMERON COMMUNITY CENTER OPEN HOUSE.
SO THIS IS WHEN WE OPEN UP OUR FACILITIES TO HELP SHARE WHAT PROGRAMMING, CLASSES AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED EACH FACILITY.
THAT'LL BE NOVEMBER 16TH FROM FIVE TO EIGHT AT CAMERON COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, AND THEN WE WILL BE, UH, CELEBRATING SMALL BUSINESS, UH, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH.
UM, AND WE WILL BE DOING A DIGITAL, DIGITAL SHOWCASE OF PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES ALL MONTH LONG.
SO WE ENCOURAGE, UM, BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE, UH, TO REACH OUT TO THE CITY INFORMATION'S ON OUR WEBSITE.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
[ORAL COMMUNICATIONS]
TO ORAL COMMUNICATIONS.IF ANYONE WOULD'VE LIKED 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.
REQUEST TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS WILL BE HEARD PRIOR TO REQUEST TO SPEAK ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. UH, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE TONIGHT? WE HAVE 12 SPEAKERS, MAYOR.
UH, CAN YOU, UH, CALL THE FIRST JOHN SHOEMAKER, FOLLOWED BY ALBERT OCHOA, FOLLOWED BY R ROBINSON.
SO HOW'S EVERYONE DOING TONIGHT? THOUGHT I'D GO OVER A COUPLE THINGS.
UH, ONE OF 'EM HAS TO DEAL WITH THE, UH, UH, PAY RAISES.
DON'T COMPLAIN WHEN ANYBODY GETS PAY RAISES, BUT, UH, WHEN THE WAY THEY WERE JUSTIFIED, I HAD TO KIND OF SCRATCH MY HEAD, UH, BECAUSE BASICALLY WHAT IT TOLD ME IS WE'RE TAKING MONEY FROM THE RESERVES FOR LAST YEAR TO PAY FOR IT THIS YEAR.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT POPPED UP WAS WE GOT MORE SALES TAX REVENUE LAST YEAR, SO THAT'S GONNA PAY FOR THE RAISES THIS YEAR.
WELL, LAST YEAR BEING AN ACCOUNTANT, LAST YEAR'S LAST YEAR.
SO WE HAVE TO BE TAKING THAT MONEY.
THE OTHER THING WHEN I TOOK A QUICK LOOK AT THE NUMBERS WAS IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS BASED ON THE SALARIES, WHICH IS FINE, BUT THEN OVERTIME SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD INCREASE ALSO, BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THAT IN PLACE.
AND THEN MAGICALLY WE'RE, OH, WE'RE ALSO GONNA GET MORE SALES TAX REVENUE THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S GONNA COVER THE COST.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHERE O OTHER MONEY IS BEING HELD TO COVER THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE ENTITLED TO PAY INCREASES.
YOU KNOW, WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM, WHERE THAT IS MAGICALLY GOING TO APPEAR.
SO WHAT IT TELLS ME IS THAT THE BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED FOR THIS YEAR WAS INACCURATE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT WAS THERE FOR LAST YEAR.
SO WHAT ELSE IS BEING HID? I REALLY THINK WHAT'S GONNA END UP COMING OUT OF IT IS WE'RE GONNA SEE A FEW MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD THAT THERE'S GONNA BE SOME MONEY MOVED FROM CERTAIN ACCOUNTS THAT PROBABLY IN CIP OR THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT ARE GONNA BE MOVED OVER TO THE GENERAL FUND TO HELP COVER IT.
OR WHAT, UH, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED FOR THE CITY IN THE PAST HAVE TOLD ME IS THEY'RE GONNA MANAGE THE HIRING TO COVER THE OVERTIME.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE 102 AUTHORIZED, BUT WE DON'T HAVE 102 BEING PAID FOR.
SO IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS.
THE OTHER THING THAT WAS INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, IT, WHEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE THINGS IS WHY WAS THAT ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? IT SEEMED LIKE IT'D BE SOMETHING YOU WANNA DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, TO COME UP AND TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHY IT'S GOING ON.
I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WAS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, AND I WENT THROUGH AND LOOKED AT THE HOURS, YOU KNOW, THE HOUR THAT YOU HAVE BEFOREHAND, IN MOST CASES, UH, FOR, UH, CLOSED SESSION AND THE MEETINGS, YOU GUYS ARE MAKING ABOUT $400 AN HOUR RIGHT NOW, BASED ON THE NEW PAY INCREASES.
I THINK OUR CITY ATTORNEY DOESN'T GET PAID $400 AN HOUR, YOU KNOW, AND E EVEN IF YOU GO THROUGH AND SAY, OKAY, IT TAKES, YOU KNOW, THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME TO PREPARE.
'CAUSE YOU GO THROUGH THE, UH, YOU GO THROUGH THE UM, UM, PACKET AND YOU TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED.
WELL, I KNOW AT LEAST ONE PERSON, NAMELY MAYOR PRO TEM WU DOESN'T WASTE HIS TIME LOOKING AT THE PACKET BECAUSE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HE ASKS ALL THE TIME.
THAT COULD EASILY BE POINTED TO MR. WU.
IF YOU READ PAGE 32 OF THIS REPORT, YOU'D HAVE THAT ANSWER.
SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING, GOING ON.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO, UH, SAY, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE, UH, UH, THE CANDIDATE FORUM.
WHAT'S THERE? I JUST FIND IT'S UTTERLY
[00:50:01]
AMAZING.YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, PEOPLE WHO, IF YOU CAN'T COME TO A FORUM TO TALK TO THE PUBLIC WHEN YOU'RE ASKING FOR THEIR VOTE, WHAT ARE THE, WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD YOU'RE GONNA WASTE YOUR TIME TALKING TO 'EM WHEN YOU'RE ELECTED? YOU KNOW, LIKE WE RIGHT NOW HAVE, YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ WALKS AWAY EVERY TIME I COME UP HERE TO TALK.
WELL, HOPEFULLY AFTER NOVEMBER 5TH, YOU WON'T HAVE TO WALK AWAY WHEN IC COME UP HERE TO TALK.
'CAUSE I'LL BE SITTING THERE INSTEAD.
YOU KNOW? AND AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, I PROMISE TO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE ON THIS, UH, WHO'S ON THIS CONSOLE TO GET THINGS DONE.
'CAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE THINGS DONE.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE NEEDED THAT SOMETIMES YOU GUYS ARE MISLED.
YOU'RE NOT GIVEN GOOD INFORMATION.
AND I KNOW WHAT THE QUESTIONS TO ASK AND WHAT'S THERE AND WHAT'S NOT THERE THAT NEEDS TO BE SHOWN TO THE PUBLIC.
AND AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO ME, SOME OF THEM WHO HAVE VARIOUS INFORMATION THAT I DON'T EVEN HAVE BECAUSE OF WHAT, WHERE THEY'RE AT AND WHAT THEY DO, THEY GO, JOHN, IT'S WORSE THAN YOU THINK IT IS.
I PRAY IT ISN'T, BUT THERE'S CERTAIN PEOPLE I HAVE TO TRUST WHEN THEY SAY, OH, YEAH, IT IS.
SO, BUT WE'LL FIND OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
NO MATTER HOW IT TURNS OUT, I'M NOT GOING AWAY.
ALBERT OCHOA, FOLLOWED BY R ROBINSON, FOLLOWED BY LISA MAYO, CITY MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF ALBERTO TOA.
I'M HERE TO ADDRESS A CONTINUING ISSUE WITH, UH, BIG SEMI TRUCKS WITH LONG TRAILERS, 40 FOOTERS.
USUALLY THERE ARE FOUR OR FIVE AXLES.
UH, SOME DRIVERS CONTINUE TO VIOLATE THE POST-IT, SIGN ON BOTH DIRECTIONS OF NO TRUCKS.
UH, THEY HAVE CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS.
ONE LAST YEAR ON JULY, 2023, THE TRAILER, UH, AXLE TIRES WERE RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK AND BROKE THE CONCRETE STREET LIGHT POST AND LANDED ON THE HOUSE PROPERTY FENCE, BREAKING IT.
WE HAD ANOTHER ONE THIS YEAR ON, ACTUALLY ON JULY.
THE TRAILER, UM, BROKE THE STREET LIGHT, UH, POST AND LANDED ON THE STREET.
UM, THE CITY HAS MADE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR RESIDENTS STREET, AND THE BIG TRUCKS WITH LONG 40 FOOT TRAILERS HAVE DAMAGED AND BROKE OFF MANY LINER POLES.
THESE LINER POLES HAVE WORKED, AND WE HAVE NOT HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE ACCIDENT SINCE 2022.
UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL OF THOSE THAT WERE INVOLVED AND WE ACHIEVED THE SAFE DRIVING ONCE AGAIN.
UH, ON THE SAME LOCATION, THERE'S A UTILITY WOOD POST, ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN THAT MAY ALSO KNOCK IT DOWN AS, UH, THEY DAMAGE THAT, UM, A STREET LIGHT POST.
IT'S JUST ABOUT 20 FEET AWAY FROM THERE.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I EXPLAIN MYSELF THAT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SMALL DELIVERY TRUCKS THAT ARE APPROXIMATELY 24 FEET AND SMALLER AND LENGTH, LIKE UPS, FEDEX, AMAZON, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TRUCKS WITH LONG TRAILERS.
UH, THESE BELONG ON ACTUAL TRUCK ROUTE STREET.
FOLLOWED BY LISA MAYO, FOLLOWED BY DOUG FOUR.
UH, LET'S CELEBRATE THE BROWN ACT AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
BECAUSE WE'RE, UH, THREE TUESDAYS AWAY FROM A CRITICAL NATIONAL ELECTION, UH, SACRED VALUES ARE ON THE LINE, INCLUDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND CENSORSHIP.
HOMELESS CARPENTERS DO GET EXECUTED, UH, WHEN THEY WON'T SHUT UP.
SO, UH, THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND, UH, PERSONAL BODILY AUTONOMY ARE BEING EXTINGUISHED.
IF BIG BROTHER WANTS TO CENSOR, JAB OR ENSLAVE YOU, THAT'S IT.
MOREOVER, UH, VOTERS NEED TO VOTE NO ON ALLSTATE MEASURES AND BOND ISSUES, OR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN KALIFORNIA NEXT YEAR.
THESE ISSUES ARE MOM, OUR FEDERAL DC REGIME'S LEGACY IS CHAOS.
WE HAVE THE DEEPEST DIVISIONS AMONG AMERICANS SINCE APRIL, 1861.
ASYLUM SEEKERS GET FREE AIRLINE TICKETS TO ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.
NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS LOSE EVERYTHING.
[00:55:01]
AS A SANCTUARY STATE.EVERY STATE IS NOW A BORDER STATE.
ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE BEING FLOWN FREE EVERYWHERE TO DRAIN SOCIAL SECURITY.
THERE'S THE CIA OP FIFTH GENERATION INFORMATION WARFARE CORRUPTION, UH, VENEZUELAN GANG INFILTRATION.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, I THINK IT'S CALLED TRENDY UA, UH, TR, NATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION FROM VENEZUELA HOLDS A DOMINANT ROLE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
PEDOPHILIA AND HUMAN SMUGGLING IN THE AMERICAS ENGAGES IN A VARIETY OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS ARMS TRAFFICKING, BRIBERY, DRUG TRAFFICKING, ILLEGAL MINING, KIDNAPPINGS FOR RANSOM AND MONEY LAUNDERING.
UH, AND PLUS WE HAVE, UH, EARLY VOTING LED RIGGED ELECTIONS AND, UH, ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS GALORE.
UH, MARTIAL LAW, IT'S, UH, NOT A PRETTY PICTURE.
UH, PEOPLE CONTROL NOT CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM.
I LIKE BEING A HUMAN, NOT A DIGIT.
UH, RECALL, UH, VICE PRESIDENT LBJ IN 62 SAID, EW CONTROLS THE WEATHER, CONTROLS THE WORLD.
SO WHAT HAPPENED IN, IN, UH, WEATHER WEAPONIZED ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, MAUI, HAWAII, PARADISE, CALIFORNIA, EAST PALESTINE, OHIO, ALL WEATHER CATASTROPHE, LAND GRABS THAT HAVE BEEN COVERED UP.
PERHAPS AMERICANS ARE BEING MANIPULATED.
CHECK OUT THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION AND THE STATE AIR RESOURCES BOARD WEBSITE ARCHIVES, UH, TO, TO HELP, UH, DISCOVER THE CRIMINAL COVERUP GOING ON.
UH, PLEASE REMEMBER THE BORDER ARE QUEEN KAMALA, A FOUNDER AND FORMER CHEERLEADER OF THE DEFUND THE POLICE MOVEMENT.
WHY DON'T WE DEFUND SOME DEFUND OUR WARS? I'M, I'M GUESSING THAT COMRADE KAY WILL WILL NOT GET A SINGLE VOTE FROM THE WEST COVINA POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS ONLY GEORGE GASCON WILL BE BACKING COMRADE KAMALA, WHO IS FULLY SUPPORTED BY HAITIAN AND VENEZUELAN GANGS.
AND THE F THE FENTANYL, UH, CARTEL SMUGGLERS.
WE ARE GOVERNED BY A CRIMINAL OR ORGANIZATION THAT WON ALL CONSTITUTION LOVING AMERICANS AND THEIR VALUES DEAD AND GONE.
UH, KAMALA NEVER WON A SINGLE PRIMARY OR GARNERED A SINGLE VOTE.
BIDEN GOT 14 MILLION VOTES, BUT WAS DEPOSED IN A SHADOWY WAY.
SO HOW MANY PROVISIONS OF THE US CONSTITUTION ARE BEING VIOLATED TO GET COM, UH, COMRADE KAMALA ELECTED? WHAT ABOUT THE DOMINATED RIGHTS OF WE THE PEOPLE? THANK YOU, BILL.
CANCELED WITHOUT NOTICE, WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE.
OR LISA MAYO, FOLLOWED BY DOUG.
COUNCIL PEOPLE, UH, CITY STAFF.
I DON'T COME HERE THAT OFTEN, BUT I'M HERE TO SEE AND I KNOW EVERYBODY HERE, SO I'M GLAD THAT I'M HERE TODAY.
IF YOU WOULD DO ME THE HONORS AND PAST THIS.
I'M HERE TO REPRESENT TODAY THE, UH, EMBLEM CLUB OF WEST CONCE, PART OF THE ELKS LODGE.
AND, UM, WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING A TEA AND A FASHION SHOW.
IT'S A HAPPY OCCASION AND UH, I'D LIKE TO INVITE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO BE THERE IF YOU CAN.
WE DO ACCEPT MEN THERE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A, BUT IT'S NOT A BAND FASHION SHOW, IT'S JUST A WOMAN'S FASHION.
THOUGHT I'D GIVE YOU THE HEADS UP, UH,
AND IT'S GONNA BE ON NOVEMBER THE 17TH.
AND WE ARE SO LUCKY THAT WE HAVE OUR OWN CITY MANAGER, PAULINE MORALES IS GONNA BE ONE OF OUR MODELS.
SO, UM, ANYWAY, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE
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YOUR SUPPORT AND TO BE THERE.SO I HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT AND, UH, BRING YOUR MUNCHKINS, YOUR LITTLE GIRL.
UH, SO ANYWAY, I JUST THOUGHT I'D LET YOU KNOW THAT.
I AM THE CHAPLAIN FOR THE EMBLEM CLUB AS WELL.
SO IF YOU EVER NEED SOMEONE TO COME AND PRAY, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COME AND BLESS OUR COMMUNITY.
FOUR, FOLLOWED BY SHA SHIRAZ, FOLLOWED BY ROLAND FLORES.
HELLO, MY NAME IS DOUGLAS FOUR.
I LIVE IN THIS AWESOME CITY IN DISTRICT FIVE AND ALSO HAVE BUSINESSES IN DISTRICT THREE.
UM, WHICH IS WHY, UM, I FEEL LIKE IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE MEETINGS AND BE A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, TONIGHT I WANNA ADDRESS A CONCERN THAT I HAVE AND THAT I'VE BEEN CARRYING IN THE, REGARDING TRANSPARENCY AND THE POLICIES TO ENSURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY STAYS INFORMED AND WELL ENGAGED.
UM, I SPOKE AT THE SEPTEMBER 3RD MEETING AND OUTLINE THE FIVE MOTHER MAY EYES WITH THE TIMES THAT THEY TOOK PLACE AND HOW THE VOTES WENT DOWN.
ONE OF 'EM WAS A FOUR ONE VOTE, THE OTHER FOUR WERE A FIVE ZERO VOTE.
THE CITY ATTORNEY THEN STATED DURING THE MANAGER'S RESPONSE THAT THEY DON'T TAKE ACTION ON IT, WAS HIS EXACT WORDS.
THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT IS 100% FALSE.
IF THERE WAS NO ACTION TO TAKE PLACE, THEN WHY ISN'T, WHY IS IT THAT A SECOND NEEDS TO HAPPEN? AND THEN WHY DOES THIS ASSISTANT CITY CLERK ASK FOR A VOTE? MR. CONTOS, YOU ALSO STATED IN YOUR COMMENTS TO ME THAT THE, UM, THAT THE MOTHER MAY I ITEMS ARE NOT VOTED ON AT THAT TIME.
AGAIN, WHY IS A SECOND ASKED FOR AND WHY IS A VOTE TAKEN? IT IS CLEARLY VOTED ON.
AND IF A SECOND IS NOT GRANTED, THEN THERE IS NO VOTE THAT HAPPENS.
TRUE OR FALSE? AT THE SEPTEMBER 3RD MEETING AND THE SEPTEMBER 17TH MEETING, YOU GUYS FINALLY STOPPED VOTING ON THE MOTHER MAYS.
THE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK CLEARLY STATED THAT FOR THE RECORD, SHE JUST NEEDED TO HEAR IF THERE WAS ANY OBJECTIONS.
I'M GUESSING THIS CAME DOWN FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY.
BUT THEN AT THE LAST MEETING, OCTOBER 1ST, IT HAPPENED AGAIN.
MR. CONTOS BROUGHT A NON-AGENDA ITEM TO THE FLOOR.
TOWARDS THE END OF THE MEETING, DISCUSSION WENT BACK AND FORTH.
IT WAS SECONDED AND THEN CALLED FOR A VOTE.
THE VOTE WAS AT THE TWO HOUR AND 33 MINUTE MARK OF THE MEETING.
YOU GUYS COULD ALL CHECK THE RECORDINGS AND THERE WAS THREE YESES.
SO PLEASE, CITY ATTORNEY AND PLEASE, MR. CONTOS, DON'T TELL ME, AND THIS COMMUNITY THAT VOTES DON'T HAPPEN ON THE MOTHER MAY EYES, THEY HAVE HAPPENED OVER 90 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
JUST WATCH THE VIDEOS ON SEP ON JULY 16TH, THERE WERE FIVE VOTES TAKEN.
THAT ONE AT THE 1 41 HOUR AND 48 MINUTE MARK, ONE HOUR AND 52 MINUTE MARK, ONE HOUR AND 56 MINUTE MARK, ONE HOUR AND 57 MINUTE MARK AND ONE HOUR AND 58 MINUTE MARK.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO ASK CITY TO DO AND LOOK INTO THINGS.
THE VOTE IS NOT NEEDED AND A SECOND IS NOT NEEDED.
IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON ITEMS, IT SHOULD GO ON AN AGENDA SO THE COMMUNITY CAN COMMENT ABOUT IT BEFORE THE VOTES TAKE PLACE.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THESE ACTIONS ARE NOT ILLEGAL, BUT BY SNEAKING IT IN AT THE END OF A MEETING AND ADDING AGENDA ITEMS TOWARDS THE END OF THE MEETING, IT'S A POOR PRACTICE THAT MAKES THIS COMMUNITY QUESTION TRANSPARENCY AND BREEDS MISTRUST.
JUST ONE MORE THING I NEED TO MENTION.
DURING THE MEETING, UM, ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE, THE COUNCIL AWARDED BPKA CONTRACT IN A FIVE ZERO VOTE, BUT MR. WU CHANGED THE RFQ BY ADDING THE CITY YARD POLICE AND FIRE TRAINING FACILITY AND POTENTIALLY THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
THESE ITEMS WERE ADDED AT THE ONE HOUR AND THREE MINUTE MARK OF THE MEETING, THE ASSISTANT C CITY CLERK READ THESE ADDITIONS INTO THE VOTE.
CITY ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS I DO, THIS IS 100% ILLEGAL AND CANNOT BE DONE.
MR. ROBERT ORTEGA WERE ANY OF THE OTHER EIGHT COMPANIES THAT PUT A BID IN, TOLD
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THAT THE RFQ WAS CHANGED.I ASKED THE CITY TO THROW OUT THAT VOTE, PUT A NEW RFQ IN AND REBID THE PROJECT.
I'M TIRED OF THE CITY GETTING SUED.
AND NOW THE OTHER EIGHT COMPANIES THAT BID ON THAT RFQ HAVE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH MR. WU.
ADDING THOSE ITEMS AT THE END OF IT, IT IS NOT FAIR TO THOSE EIGHT COMPANIES.
THOSE ITEMS WERE ADDED AT THE END.
SHIRAZ FOLLOWED BY ROLAND FLORES, FOLLOWED BY DR. DAVIS.
HEY, YOU GUYS DOING? I'M SHIRAZ DALE, OWNER OF THE DAYS IN THE WEST COVINA.
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS FIREFIGHTERS POLICE DEPARTMENT FIRST BEFORE I ADDRESS YOU GUYS.
'CAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T DO S**T.
YOU GUYS NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH FIVE STAR.
THE COPS AREN'T GONNA DO ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU GUYS STOPPED THEM.
YOU GUYS WERE LOOKING INTO IT.
YOU GUYS WERE GONNA RESTRICT IT.
YEAH, YOU GUYS STOPPED ONE THING, BUT THEY BROUGHT IN ANOTHER THING.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
COUPLE OF YOU UP HERE DON'T REALLY CARE.
AND I KNOW THAT'S WHY I ADDRESSED THEM BEFORE I ADDRESSED TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY DO STUFF.
MY SECOND ITEM, WHEN CALTRAN IS DOING THE WORK ON THE 10 FREEWAY ON SOUTH GARVEY, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO REPAVE OUR STREET.
I'VE CALLED, I'VE TALKED TO CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THEY SAY THAT IT'S CALTRANS.
THAT'S YOUR GUYS' RESPONSIBILITY FROM HERE UP THE STREET PARKWAY, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO GRAND, ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY, THAT'S YOUR GUYS' RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU GUYS HAVE TO BE ENFORCED ON THAT.
SECOND OF ALL, UNDERNEATH BARRANCA WASH, WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THERE'S A PIPELINE, A GAS LINE THERE.
YOU GUYS ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO LET KIDS WALK UNDERNEATH THAT GAS LINE WHEN THERE'S AN ENCAMPMENT UNDER THERE.
I WAS THE ONE THAT BROUGHT IT UP ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BEFORE THE FIRE EVEN HAPPENED.
YOU GUYS WANT ANOTHER BOMB TO GO OFF THIS TIME BECAUSE ALL THE DOPE PETS FROM THE FIVE STAR, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GO, THAT'S WHERE THEY GO.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A FIX ON THE WASH.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S OUTTA YOUR GUYS'.
YOU GUYS PLAY THE BLAME GAME WITH THE, WITH THE WAT OR WHAT IS IT? UH, LA COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS IS RESPONSIBLE.
PUBLIC WORKS SAYS YOU GUYS ARE RESPONSIBLE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN I WANT STUFF DONE, PUBLIC WORKS TAKES CARE OF IT.
BUT REGARDING THE BRIDGE, THE BRIDGE IS PUBLIC WORKS IS RESPONSIBILITY, AND IT IS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THERE, YOU GUYS ARE GONNA BE SCREWED.
AND I'M COUNTING THE DAYS THAT SOMETHING HAPPENS BECAUSE NOTHING GETS DONE.
I HAVE OFFICERS THAT DRIVE IN FRONT OF MY BUILDING THAT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE IN FRONT OF THE FIVE STAR BECAUSE THERE'S NOT MUCH THEY COULD DO.
YOU GUYS AREN'T DOING ANYTHING TO STOP THEM.
I HAVE DAYS THAT PEOPLE SIT IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL IN FRONT OF THE FIVE STAR AND COPS CAN'T DO NOTHING.
THEY GET TIRED OF DEALING WITH THE SAME PEOPLE.
AND I UNDERSTAND IF THEY COME ON MY PROPERTY, I'LL TAKE STAND ON MYSELF.
THEY KNOW I HANDLE MY OWN S**T.
YOU GUYS NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
YOU GUYS NEED TO TAKE THEIR PERMIT.
YOU GUYS VOTED ON IT ABOUT, WHAT, FOUR MONTHS AGO NOW? AND YOU GUYS SAID YOU'LL LOOK INTO IT ON SIX MONTHS.
WHERE'S THE REPORTS? NOTHING HAS BEEN SAID AFTER YOU GUYS SAID YOU, THAT YOU GUYS AREN'T GONNA HAVE THE, WHAT IS IT? UM, THE HOMELESS SHELTER GOING THERE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE PROGRAM NAME.
NOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY HAVE FELONS STAYING THERE.
THEY'RE TAKING VOUCHERS FROM PEOPLE THAT GET RELEASED FROM JAIL.
IF YOU LIVE IN A, IN A HOTEL FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS, YOU ARE A RESIDENT.
I DON'T SEE ANYONE EVEN CODE ENFORCEMENT.
CODE ENFORCEMENT DOES A GREAT JOB BECAUSE WHEN I CALL THEM ABOUT THE FIVE STAR, THEY'RE THERE WITHIN 24 HOURS.
THERE'S STUFF THAT I DO NEED TO TALK TO MYLAN ABOUT THAT HAS JUST BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BECAUSE I'VE BEEN GONE FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS.
I COME DOWN JUST TO B***H AT YOU GUYS THAT I KNOW NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.
THOSE GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT MAKE STUFF HAPPEN.
YOU HAD A MEETING AT MY HOTEL.
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT WAS DONE AFTER THAT? NOTHING.
YOU HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO ME.
THERE'S A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS THAT EVERYONE ASKED.
EVEN SUE'S TOLD ME YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING.
IS THERE ANYTHING GONNA BE DONE? CITY MANAGER.
[01:10:01]
I'M A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA AND I DON'T GET ANY OF THE EMAILS.I DON'T GET ANY OF THE STUFF THAT COMES OUT FOR THE CITY.
I'VE GAVE NUMEROUS EMAIL ADDRESS.
YOU GUYS SEND FLYERS? WHERE'S MY FLYERS? I'LL GIVE YOU MY BUSINESS CARDS RIGHT NOW.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU GUYS UP THERE FIRST BEFORE I SAY THANK YOU TO YOU GUYS.
ROLAND FLORES, FOLLOWED BY DR. PETER DAVIS, FOLLOWED BY FRANK WILLIAMS. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL MEM UH, MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF.
I'M ONE OF THE LEADING BROTHERS AT THE, UH, LATA CHURCH OF CHRIST.
UM, A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE WERE JUST ASKED A QUESTION IF OUR CONGREGATION WERE TO CLOSE DOWN TODAY WITH THE COMMUNITY, MISS US.
AND THAT REALLY LIKE HIT US HARD.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE KIND OF GOING THROUGH OUR TRANSITIONAL PHASE WHERE OUR OLDER MEMBERS, WHO THE LEADERS ARE STARTING TO STEP DOWN AND SOME OF THE YOUNGER MEMBERS ARE STARTING TO STEP FORWARD.
UH, BUT WE SET UP IT'S TIME THAT WE NEED TO START, YOU KNOW, GETTING TOGETHER WITH THE, UH, CITY MEMBERS, ALL OF YOU GUYS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP ASSIST IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
SO WE'VE BEEN JOINING THE LA PUENTE, UM, CITY COUNCIL AS WELL LAST WEEK.
AND ALSO ANNOUNCING WITH THE WEST COVINA JUST TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP OUT IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
MY NUMBER'S IN THE CARD, UM, MOSTLY WE CAN OFFER UP OUR BUILDING, UM, HELP OUT WITH TRUNK OR TREATS IN THE FUTURE.
WHATEVER CITY ENGAGEMENT WE CAN HAVE TO JUST HELP OUT SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN WE ALSO PLAN ON ATTENDING THESE, UH, MEETINGS, UH, BIWEEKLY.
SO IT'S EITHER ME, MYSELF, OR SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR CONGREGATION.
ONE OF OUR MEMBERS IS HERE TODAY.
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO BE MORE VOCAL AND JUST, UH, BE AT ASSISTANCE OF WHATEVER THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE'LL STILL CONTINUE TO COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND WE'RE STILL THANKFUL THAT WE'RE HERE AND JUST ABLE TO BE A PART OF THE CITY.
DR. PETER DAVIS, FOLLOWED BY FRANK WILLIAMS, FOLLOWED BY HECTOR RIO.
I'VE BEEN IN RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA FOR ABOUT 50 YEARS.
UM, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CAMERON AND CITRUS LIGHT SITUATION 'CAUSE I LIVE VERY CLOSE TO IT.
OKAY? AND WITH THE LIGHT AS IT IS NOW, I'M IN GREAT DANGER, AS IS OUR MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS.
WHEN THIS WAS DISCUSSED, I BELIEVE IN APRIL, THEY WERE THREE PROPOSALS.
ONE OF THEM INCLUDED AT LEAST ONE, MAYBE MORE INCLUDED A ROAD DIET THAT WAS INSTRUCTED BY YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL, TO DISCUSS AT THE, AND SEND FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND INVOLVE THEM AND DISCUSS THE ROAD DIET.
AND THERE WAS A MEETING WHICH WE WERE TOLD ABOUT OF THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE.
YOUR MAYOR WAS THERE AND THE ROAD DIET DIDN'T COME UP, AT LEAST NOT EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO MENTIONED IT.
IT'S NEVER BEEN DISCUSSED OFFICIALLY BY ANY WEST COVINA GROUP, ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN PROPOSED AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION, WHICH I THINK IS VERY NECESSARY FOR SAFETY OF SEVERAL OF US.
IT, THE ROAD DIET IS SOMETHING WE NEED AT THE MEETING THAT WE DID DISCUSS IT A LITTLE BIT FROM THE AUDIENCE, NOT FROM THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE.
OUR MAYOR WAS THERE, BUT HE HAD TO GO TO A CONVENTION, A DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION AT THE, FOR THE NEXT MEETING WHEN THEY SCHEDULED IT, I THINK POSSIBLY BECAUSE HE WASN'T THERE.
UM, THEN YOU GUYS VOTED, OR AT LEAST THREE VOTED FOR IT AND ONE ABSTENTION TO PUT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT IN.
AND YOU ALSO HEARD THEM SAY THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE AND THEIR, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LADY WAS, BUT SHE WORKS FOR A PRIVATE COMPANY AND SHE RECOMMENDED THAT, THAT THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL COME BACK TO US, THE CITIZENS, ABOUT THE CAMERON AVENUE'S, UH, SITUATION AS WELL.
THAT'S A GIVEN NOW, I TAKE IT.
BUT THE ROAD DIET STILL ISN'T BEING DISCUSSED.
AND YOUR CITY ATTORNEY MENTIONED AT ONE POINT SOME LIABILITY.
UH, I COULDN'T GET TO DISCUSS IT.
BUT IF, IF YOU ARE LIABLE, I THINK THE CITY WILL BE, UM, SOMEONE MAKES A RIGHT TURN IN THE CURRENT CONDITIONS
[01:15:01]
AS IT IS WITHOUT BEING FORCED INTO A WIDER CENTER DRIVE.ANYONE PULLING OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY, PARTICULARLY ME, 'CAUSE I'M THE FIRST DRIVEWAY WE'LL BE HIT AND THE ROAD DIET WOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT.
AT LEAST IT COULD IF THEY DISCUSSED IT WITH US.
UH, MY NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET USES THE ALLEY HE CAN'T TURN WITH 'CAUSE HE CAN'T SEE.
IF THERE WERE NO TURNS ON RED SIGN PUT UP THERE, THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM.
BUT THEY'RE NOT DISCUSSING IT WITH US.
AND OBVIOUSLY WHEN THEY DO DISCUSS IT, AS YOU PEOPLE HEARD IN THAT LAST MEETING WHERE YOU DECIDED TO PUT IN THE LIGHT, THERE WERE 15 PEOPLE FOR IT, TWO PEOPLE AGAINST IT.
AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN LEAVE LIVE CLOSE TO WHERE IT WAS.
THEY LIVED FURTHER DOWN THE STREET WHERE IT DIDN'T INFLUENCE THEIR SITUATION.
SO NOW THAT THE LIGHT'S GOING TO BE PUT IN, I SUGGEST THAT YOU GUYS INFORM THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE TO GET ON THE BALL BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHAT YOU TELL THEM AND THEY DON'T.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IN SOME WAYS, I DON'T THINK OUR MAYOR'S GONNA BE WITH US IN VERY LONG.
I THINK HE'S GONNA BE ELECTED TO A HIGHER OFFICE.
SO IN THAT CASE, WE WON'T EVEN HAVE A SUPPORTER.
FRANK WILLIAMS, FOLLOWED BY HECTOR RORO.
ROHE FOLLOWED BY BRIAN GUTIERREZ.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL FRANK WILLIAMS HERE.
I WANT TO COME AS A RESIDENT OF MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
UH, ALSO A VOLUNTEER, UH, IN THE, IN THE YOUTH SPORTS, UH, COUNCIL, UH, AS CHAIR AND ALSO, UH, WITH THE WEST COVINA BRUINS.
AND BACK IN THE DAY WITH MY KIDS, WERE, WERE PLAYING U UH, LITTLE LEAGUE, UH, WEST COVINA AMERICAN.
TODAY, I COME TO YOU WITH REALLY JUST KIND OF A QUICK OVERVIEW ABOUT OUR YOUTH SPORTS AND ABOUT OUR VOLUNTEERS.
THIS CITY, YOU KNOW, AS, AS, AS A PROUD FATHER OF FIVE AND NOW GRANDFATHER OF SIX, UH, FOUR BOYS, ONE GIRL, AND NOW ONE GRANDSON AND FIVE GRANDDAUGHTERS.
UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN WEST COVINA OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE COME, YOU KNOW, WITH OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE OUR OWN CHALLENGES, BUT THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO BE IS ABOUT THE FOUNDATION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, THE FOUNDATION THAT IS IN ALL OF THE YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM THAT SERVE.
AND WHAT BETTER WAY IS TO LEAD OFF WITH A, WITH A, WITH A QUOTE THAT I REALLY THOUGHT WAS APPROPRIATE.
THE BEST WAY TO FIND YOURSELF IS TO LOSE YOURSELF IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS, MAHATMA GANDHI.
AND I THINK IT'S SO TRUE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU SIT THERE AND LOOK AT THE EMPOWERMENT THAT'S GOING ON IN ALL THESE YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS, AND, AND AS A YOUTH SPORTS CHAIR, I GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, UH, ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS STARTING WITH, OF COURSE, THE WEST COVINA, BRUINS, WEST COVINA, AMERICAN LITTLE LEAGUE, WEST COVINA, WEST COVINA, NATIONAL LITTLE LEAGUE, PACIFIC CO, WEST COVINA, PACIFIC COAST, LITTLE LEAGUE, WEST COVINA, GIRLS, SOFTBALL, SOFTBALL, WEST COVINA, PONY BASEBALL, UH, WEST COVINA, A YSO SOCCER.
AND I KNOW THERE'S ANOTHER LITTLE LEAGUE, AND I'M, I, I APOLOGIZE FOR MISSING OUT, BUT THERE'S SO MANY WONDERFUL PROGRAMS IN ALL OF OUR PARKS.
BUT REALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS REALLY THE VOLUNTEERS.
DO YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU SAT DOWN AND TOOK AT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT THAT IS BEING GIVEN, THAT THE AVERAGE VOLUNTEER COMMITS TO 26 WEEKS OF SERVICE FOR A VOLUNTEER IN THESE PARKS.
AND MOST OF 'EM ARE A MINIMUM OF 14 HOURS.
NOW, I'M NOT EVEN COUNTING THE YEAR ROUND BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE MANAGING THESE PROGRAMS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY DEEM TO DO.
BUT IF I JUST TOOK A REGULAR VOLUNTEER, AND MOST PROGRAMS HAVE MORE THAN A HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS, SO I'M GONNA MAKE THE MATH SIMPLE, A HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS, 26 WEEKS OF COMMITMENT AT 14 HOURS, THAT REPRESENTS JUST A LITTLE UNDER $875,000 IN FINANCIAL IMPACT THAT IS BEING GIVEN TO THE CHILDREN OF WEST COVINA.
NOW, OF COURSE, WE HAVE ALL THESE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS AND YOU CAN SEE HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS EACH PROGRAM HAS.
SO THE, THE VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND I KNOW BECAUSE I, I ACTUALLY STARTED AS A VOLUNTEER WAY BACK IN 1997, AND HERE I AM, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE YEARS LATER, RIGHT?
[01:20:01]
YOU HAVE SOME PROGRAMS LIKE THE BRUINS, THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR, YOU KNOW, LITTLE LEAGUE'S BEEN AROUND FOREVER.BUT THE BRUINS IS, THEY'RE CELEBRATED THEIR 59TH YEAR, RIGHT? BUT IT'S NOT ALSO THAT, BUT IT'S ALSO THE IMPACT THAT THEY DO FOR OTHERS.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, UH, CANCER AWARENESS AT THE BRUINS.
UH, THE SOFTBALL HAS A WONDERFUL FUNDRAISER THAT THEY DO.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OTHER IMPACT THINGS THAT THEY DO, BUT IT FOSTERS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE DUTY OF SERVICE WHERE THE KIDS IN THE PROGRAM ARE ACTUALLY COMING BACK AND BEING COACHES FOR THEIR OWN KIDS.
THIS IS WHAT I AM SO PROUD ABOUT WEST COVINA.
SO WHEN YOU SIT THERE AND LOOK AT WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT, OKAY, WELL THEN LET'S ADD IT UP BECAUSE THE MINIMUM WAGE IS 20 BUCKS NOW.
AND THEN YOU ADD UP WITH WAGES AND YOU FIGURE THAT OUT.
IT'S EASY TO PUT A NUMBER ON IT, BUT YOU REALLY CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S PRICELESS.
AND WHAT'S PRICELESS IS THE BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS THAT EVERYBODY'S PUTTING INTO THESE PARTS THAT IS UNSEEN, UNLESS YOU REALLY GO OUT AND LOOK AT IT, UNLESS YOU REALLY GO OUT AND SEARCH FOR IT.
AND I KNOW WE, WE MAKE OUR VISITS ON YOUTH SPORTS, UH, OPENING DAYS AND, AND HOMECOMING, WE JUST HAD YOU GUYS OUT THERE.
BUT I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE A HUGE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND, AND IT JUST CONTINUES TO GROW.
AND WHAT'S REALLY AWESOME IS THAT THEY'RE ALL FINDING THEIR VOICE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL REALIZING THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE HAVE SO MANY FAMILIES THAT JUST LIKE MYSELF, WE'RE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND WE EXERCISE OUR RIGHT TO VOTE.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SEE THE BENEFITS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT TO THE CHILDREN OF WEST COVINA.
AND THANK YOU WITH ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.
BECAUSE IF WE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT, WE WOULD HAVE THESE WONDERFUL FACILITIES.
SO WITH THAT, I JUST SAY THANK YOU AND GO BRUINS, HECTOR RORO, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN GUTIERREZ, FOLLOWED BY RAY VINCENT VARGAS.
UH, MAYOR, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE WITH YOU.
I'M REPRESENTING, UH, PROJECT 29 11, THE FOOD BANK.
SO, UH, WE'VE APPRECIATED YOU GUYS' SUPPORT IN THE PAST AND, UH, YOU GUYS ARE SHOWING UP TO THE FOOD BANK AND SHOWING UP TO SOME OF OUR FUNDRAISERS.
UM, IT'S BEEN JUST A GREAT PLEASURE.
AND AS YOU GUYS KNOW, THE NEED IS, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN GROWING.
YOU KNOW, THE ECON ECONOMIC NEED FOR, UH, MANY PEOPLE, UH, PEOPLE HERE FROM WEST COVINA AND OTHER PLACES IS JUST, UH, IT HAS BEEN GROWING NOTICEABLY IN THE NUMBERS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WHO ARE COMING AND, UM, GETTING HELP FROM US.
UM, JUST IN, UM, IN, UH, BY THE END OF AUGUST, WE'VE ALREADY HAD OVER 34,000, UH, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GOTTEN HELP FROM US.
AND, UM, THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WE, WE, THE WHOLE YEAR PREVIOUSLY IT WAS 40, 47,000, UH, PEOPLE WHO CAME TO US.
SO THIS YEAR HAS, THERE'S BEEN A INCREASE, YOU KNOW, OF PEOPLE NEEDING SUPPORT.
UM, ANYWAYS, UM, BUT LIKE I SAID, WE, WE ARE JUST VERY THANKFUL FOR YOU GUYS TO, UH, ALL YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, I KNOW WE DID RECEIVE A GRANT FROM YOU GUYS, AND WE'RE, WE'RE, WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
UM, UH, AND, UH, LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO GET A BRAND NEW VAN THAT, WHICH WAS ONE OF OUR GOALS FOR, FOR THE FOOD BANK.
SO IT'S, UH, IT FOR THE, FROM THE SUPPORT FROM YOUR CITY AND, UH, OTHER CITIES AROUND AND OTHER PEOPLE.
WE'RE JUST VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.
UM, SO, UM, JUST TO, I JUST WANTED TO REACH OUT ONE MORE TIME.
WE ARE HAVING AN EVENT ON OCTOBER 26TH AT SOUTH HILLS COUNTRY CLUB.
IF ANY OF YOU COULD, COULD MAKE IT, I, I HEARD, UH, SOMEBODY IS GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE IT ALI, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, BUT IF ANYBODY ELSE CAN MAKE IT, ANY ANYBODY ELSE HERE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO JUST COME OUT AND SUPPORT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I, I KNOW THERE'S TWO OTHER EVENTS, BUT OUR EVENTS STARTS AT 11:00 AM AND IT GOES JUST FOR TWO HOURS.
UM, SO IF YOU COULD SQUEEZE IT IN THERE, THAT'D BE GREAT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO REACH OUT AGAIN AND, AND JUST TO REMIND YOU GUYS AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO'S, WHO'S WILLING TO, UH, COME OUT AND SUPPORT.
BRIAN GUTIERREZ, FOLLOWED BY RAY VINCENT VARGAS, FOLLOWED BY ANTHONY.
UM, MY NAME IS, UH, BRIAN GUTIERREZ, AND I AM RUNNING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA FOR DISTRICT ONE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO FIRST START OFF BY SAYING, UH, IT'S, IT WAS GREAT THAT THE COMMUNITY, THERE WAS A COMMUNITY FORM IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I COULDN'T BEAT IT BECAUSE I WAS, UH, DEPLOYED TO A NATIONAL DISASTER RESPONDING TO, UH,
[01:25:01]
THE MOST RECENT HURRICANES.SO I, I HAD TO GO HELP PEOPLE, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN NEED, UH, WITH NO POWER AND HOMES THAT WERE DESTROYED.
BUT I'M HERE TODAY, UH, TO TALK ABOUT, I WANTED TO CLARIFY SOME STUFF THAT WAS SAID AT THAT FORM AND MAKE SURE THE VOTERS OF WEST VENA UNDERSTAND WHO'S WHO AND WHERE PEOPLE'S VOTE STANCE, UH, IN THE PAST.
AND, YOU KNOW, MAYOR TABBA SAYS HE WANTS TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT HE VOTED TO DEFUND THE WEST VENA POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HE VOTED TO NOT REPLACE 10 RETIRING POLICE OFFICERS THAT WERE RETIRING FROM THE FORCE.
AND HE SAID THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE REPLACED.
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THAT MEANS THAT WOULD'VE BEEN 10 OFFICERS LESS DEPLOYED OR RESPONDING TO CRIMES IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN DISTRICT ONE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY TO BY, TO BY WHAT CONTINUED TO LIE TO OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT HIS VOTE RECORD.
AND, AND SO I'M, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE, UH, SUPPORTED BY THE WEST GREEN POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND THE WEST GREEN FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, BECAUSE I'M GONNA BE AN ADVOCATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO PUT MORE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS ON DUTY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT ONE, A DISTRICT THAT HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN FOR SO TOO LONG.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE HEAR AFTER MEETING, AFTER MEETING, AND WE HEAR FROM RESIDENTS HOW ON VINCENT AVENUE, MULTIPLE FATALITIES OF PEOPLE DYING ON VINCENT AVENUE BECAUSE OF CAR CRASHES.
BUT NOT ONCE DID COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN TABBY, TOBY, ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY TO MOVE FASTER, IMPLEMENTING IMPROVEMENTS ON, IN HIS OWN DISTRICT.
AND HE FAILED TO MAKE SURE THAT HE WAS A VOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY IN THAT AREA.
AND HE CONTINUES TO DO IT BECAUSE HE WAS TOO BUSY RUNNING FOR THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY AGAINST DEMOCRAT ASSEMBLY MEMBER BLANCA RUBIO.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, HE HAD BIGGER AMBITIONS, BUT THE VOTERS OF THE 48TH DISTRICT TOLD HIM, NO THANKS, YOU'RE NOT MOVING ON.
AND SO NOW HE'S RUNNING, COMING BACK HERE TO RUN A RUN FOR HIS SEAT AGAIN.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, UH, HIS VOTING RECORD SAYS THAT HE BELIEVES IN DEFUNDING THE POLICE, AND HE'S, UH, CONTINUE, UH, TO SPREAD LIES IN THIS ELECTION.
HE'S USING HIS OWN PEOPLE TO INTIMIDATE VOTERS, UH, TO TAKE DOWN SIGNS, TELLING THEM HOW TO VOTE.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL MEMBER TO BE MINDFUL OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW OF VOTER INTIMIDATION.
AND THEY DO NOT FORCE VOTERS AND HOW THEY SHOULD VOTE.
THEY, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR WHOEVER THEY WANT.
IF IT'S YOU, IF IT'S ME, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
AND SO, JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBER CONTINUES, UM, TO LIE.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, HE SAID, HE ALSO STATED THAT HE GOT $16 MILLION FROM LOS ANGELES COUNTY, UH, FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN A LETTER, A AWARD LETTER GIVEN TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA SAYING THAT $60 MILLION WAS BEING ALLOCATED, UH, FOR WEST COVINA HOMELESS, UH, UH, UH, UH, INITIATIVE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT LETTER DOES NOT EXIST.
AND I WILL ENCOURAGE THE VOTERS TO MAKE A SMART DECISION AND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK, BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN TABBA, I KNOW HE LIKES TO, UH, GO AROUND THE BUSH AND GO AND DOESN'T GET TO THE ANSWER.
AND, AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, UH, HE, HE'S FAILED IN HIS LEADERSHIP.
HE FAILED TO REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT ONE FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
AND ON HIS FIRST TERM IN OFFICE, INSTEAD OF WANTING TO CARE ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN HIS OWN DISTRICT, HE CHOSE TO RUN FOR THE STATE ASSEMBLY AGAINST A DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLYWOMAN BLANCA RUBIO.
AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, HE'S BACK HERE NOW AND HE WANTS TO RUN FOR REELECTION, AND HE'S CHANGED HIS POSITION ON ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, OUR OFFICERS DON'T FORGET HOW PEOPLE VOTE ON THIS CHAMBER.
AND, UH, AND SO I'M RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL FOR THE WESTFIELD CITY COUNCIL IN DISTRICT ONE.
I'M BRIAN GUTIERREZ AND VOTERS, REMEMBER TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND TO MAKE SURE YOU VOTE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT WILL HAVE THE PASSION AND THE HEART TO REPRESENT DISTRICT ONE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT PUT YOU FIRST.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOUR VOICE DOES COUNT.
AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOICE DOES COUNT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND, AND OUR MAYOR LIKES TO LAUGH A LOT ABOUT, BECAUSE HE KNOWS THE FACTS.
RAY VARGAS, FOLLOWED BY ANTHONY.
NO, FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM ELLIOT.
GOOD EVENING, THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.
UM, I LIVE ON, UH, RODNEY THAT NEAR THE
[01:30:01]
AND IN MY BACKYARD, IT FACING DOWN TO THE USER.LOT OF TREE DYING, BIG TREE DYING AND TERMITE AND RIGHT, NO WATER.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVE FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF WORRYING TO LIVE IN MY BACKYARD.
SO THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED TO ME THAT, UH, NO SET DATA, IT CAN BE A FIRE.
SO I WANT THE CITY TO DO SOMETHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
LIKE, TRIM THE TREE, CUT ALL THE OLD, THE DYING TREE, AND MAKE IT NICER IN THE BACK.
RAY VARGAS, FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM ELLIOT, FOLLOWED BY JD.
WELL, IT'S BEEN A WHILE, UH, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
JUST WANTED TO CHECK ON THE MUPPET SHOW.
I ALSO SEE THE CORRUPTION IS STILL HERE.
UM, EVERYBODY'S COMFORTABLE IN ENJOYING THE JOY RIDE AS LONG AS THEY CAN.
UM, LIKE THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE THE ASIAN GUY SAID, ACCIDENTS ON VINCENT AND PUENTE CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
I'VE TALKED TO YOU PERSONALLY SEVERAL TIMES.
YOU DIDN'T LIKE THAT I THREW, YOU WERE DEFUNDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
YOU DIDN'T EVEN SIT AT THE CHAIR.
YOU WERE GONNA SIT IN THE, MY KITCHEN, MY FRONT IN MY HOUSE, AND AS SOON AS I BROUGHT UP, YOU WERE DEFUNDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT? I CALLED YOUR BLUFF, YOUR BUILDING, THE CORRUPTED ENFORCEMENT HERE INSTEAD OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
YOU'RE BRINGING KIDS IN HERE TO DO A MAN'S JOB.
WHY? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? I TOLD YOU THAT SOB, YOU GOT UP THERE, MILAN, YOU GET RID OF HIM.
YOU KNOW, AIN'T NOTHING HAPPENING.
IT AIN'T NOTHING CHANGING HERE.
YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE UNDER ALL TONY'S POWER, TONY'S WING.
I'M SURPRISED YOU GUYS CONTINUED THIS MEETING TODAY.
I DIDN'T THINK YOU GUYS WOULD BE ABLE TO GO FORWARD WITHOUT HIM HERE.
I DON'T NEED ANY COUNSEL MEMBERS TO ADVOCATE, SPEAK FOR ME OR SUPPORT ME.
AND I GOT A MOUTH TO SAY WHAT I WANT AND WHAT I WANT TO WHO I WANT.
YOU KNOW, YOU THINK YOU GOT BALL, YOU THINK YOU GOT YOU, YOU CAN ADVOCATE FOR ME.
I DON'T NEED YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR ME.
I DON'T NEED YOU TO SPEAK HERE.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THE DAMN TRUTH.
FOUR YEARS YOU'VE BEEN HERE AND YOU'VE JUST BEEN SITTING ON YOUR HANDS.
YOU HAVEN'T DONE A DAMN THING THAT OTHER BRIAN, I MEAN, WHAT HE TOLD YOU RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW THAT GUY, BUT I WANNA GO SHAKE HIS HAND RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THAT SILLY STUPID SMILE AGAIN ON YOUR FACE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU'RE CORRUPTED.
YOU SAID ONE THING WHERE YOU'RE IN THE AUDIENCE, THAT YOU'RE SITTING UP HERE, YOU JUST BLEW SMOKE UP PEOPLE'S ASS.
I DID IT ONE TIME, BUT I'M, I'LL BE DAMNED IF YOU GET ME AS A SUCKER THE SECOND TIME I VOTE FOR YOU.
I DIDN'T SEE NOTHING STILL NO, UH, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS ON POINT IN.
VINCENT, YOU SAID YOU GOT THE GRANT.
WHERE'S THE GRANT? WHERE'S THE MONEY? WHERE ARE THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS? IT'S NOT YOUR FAMILY THAT'S BEING LOST IN ACCIDENTS, INSURANCES, VEHICLES.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE HERE THAT LOST FAMILIES, LOST THEIR KIDS.
ALL, ALL YOU WANT IS YOU WANT THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
[01:35:01]
YOU WANT TO BE ON THE SPOTLIGHT.I TOLD YOU, THIS IS NOT HOLLYWOOD.
GET OUTTA HERE AND BE AN ENTERTAINER IN HOLLYWOOD.
WE DON'T NEED ENTERTAINERS HERE.
YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOT SOMEBODY WHO'S MOVING ALL THE HOMELESS.
THE AIRPLANE PARK DOWN NORTE PARK, YOU KNOW, THE ROBBERIES, UH, STEALING CAR THEFTS AND ALL THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S INCREASING AND THEY'RE STILL OUT THERE.
BUT YOU GOT SO MANY CORRUPTED ENFORCEMENTS.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS ON THE STREET.
YOU MAKE A CALL, YOU CAN'T GET SERVICE.
THEY'RE SO BUSY, YOU DON'T CARE.
YOU'RE NOT DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT.
WILLIAM ELLIOT FOLLOWED BY JD.
HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY, EVERYBODY.
THE CITY DID NOT HOST A CANDIDATE FORUM THIS YEAR.
SO SOME PEOPLE FORMED A COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED BY SPOKESPERSON SHERRY BAZILLION THE USUALLY APOLITICAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
AND HEARST RANCH PROVIDED THE VENUE.
JERRY POROS ADMITTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT SHE WAS A COMMITTEE MEMBER.
AND WHEN ASKED BY A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, SUE AINO, WHO ELSE WAS ON THE COMMITTEE, JERRY REPLIED THAT SHE WAS MUCH TOO BUSY TO EXPLAIN ALL THAT TELLING SUE, JUST PLEASE LET US WORK.
JUSTIFIABLY SUE DECLINED TO ALLOW HER SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE, WEST COVINA RESIDENCE, TO BE USED AS A PLATFORM FOR THIS EVENT.
AND THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PAGE ALSO REFUSED.
WHY WAS THE IDENTITY OF THE COMMITTEE KEPT SECRET? JERRY STATED THAT ITS MEMBERS WERE MADE UP OF REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, AND INDEPENDENTS, BUT STILL REFUSED TO IDENTIFY ANY OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS BY NAME.
I WONDER WHY I BEGAN TO SMELL A RAT.
ACTUALLY, SHERRY MADE SEVERAL EMPTY PROMISES OF TRANSPARENCY FOLLOWED BY ASSERTIONS THAT ALL CANDIDATES WOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY, ISN'T THAT MUCH UNDERSTOOD? STRICT RULES OBSERVED AT PREVIOUS CANDIDATE FORMS WOULD PREVENT BASHING OR SHOWING DISRESPECT TO FELLOW CANDIDATES AND WOULD NOT BE TOLERATED BY THE UNBIASED.
AND YET TO BE NAMED MODERATOR SELECTED FROM OUTSIDE OF WEST COVINA.
AND AS EXPECTED, EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE TURNED OUT TO BE THE USUAL GROUP OF HATERS.
SURPRISE, SURPRISE, JOHN SHOEMAKER, SHERRY BAZILLION, JERRY PATRAS, JAY METER SPIN.
STEVE BENNETT, DON SKIRTY, AMONG OTHERS.
THIS IS THE SAME GROUP OF HATEFUL MALCONTENTS WHO TRIED AND FAILED TO RECALL TONY WU.
EVERYTHING STEVE BENNETT TOUCHES TURNS TO DISASTER.
EVERY MEMBER PUBLICLY EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR TABBA OR SHOEMAKER, BUT NOT ONE PERSON WHO PUBLICLY EXPRESSED, NOT ONE PERSON PUBLICLY EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR BRAND GUTIERREZ OR ROSARIO DIAZ WAS INCLUDED.
HANDPICKED MODERATOR LOIS SHADE, SHAMEFULLY ACTED UNETHICALLY.
QUESTIONS FOR THE CANDIDATES WERE SUBMITTED TO THE MODERATOR, BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, EVERY SINGLE CONTRIVED QUESTION WAS AUTHORED BY THE COMMITTEE, NOT THE PUBLIC.
MOST QUESTIONS WERE AIMED DIRECTLY AT COUNCILWOMAN ROSARIO DIAZ AND LIAR EXTRAORDINAIRE.
JOHN SHOEMAKER BASHED HER WITH INFLAMMATORY STATEMENTS THAT HE FALSELY ATTRIBUTED TO HER, THAT SHE NEVER MADE THE MODERATOR.
LORIS SHADE FELL SILENT WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A WORD OF CAUTION OR ADMONITION TO SHOEMAKER.
BRIAN CHAMELEON TAB VOTED TO DEFUND OUR POLICE, BUT HIS CAMPAIGN MATERIAL SAYS HE SUPPORTS PUBLIC SAFETY, INCLUDING A PHOTO WITH OUR FIRE CHIEF IN HIS CAMPAIGN MATERIAL AND SOME RANDOM POLICE OFFICERS.
AND I WONDERED TO MYSELF, WHAT'S SELF-RESPECTING WEST COVINA COP WOULD ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED WITH BRIAN TABATA BY THE DEFUND THE POLICE GUY.
UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION, I REALIZED THOSE COPS WEREN'T WEST COVINA POLICE OFFICERS AT ALL.
THANK GOD THEY WERE ALL WEARING EL MONTE POLICE UNIFORMS. THERE HE GOES AGAIN, TRYING TO MISLEAD THE VOTERS.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO ASK THE PUBLIC, EXCUSE ME, HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO ASK THE POLICE FOR HELP WITH TROUBLEMAKERS WHO TERRORIZE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? MEET THE REAL JOHN SHOEMAKER.
I MADE A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST REGARDING THE NUMBER OF CALLS FOR SERVICE TO THE POLICE, TO THE HOME OWNED BY JOHN SHOEMAKER AND OCCUPIED BY THE SHOEMAKER CRIME FAMILY.
[01:40:01]
ARE OF A VERY SERIOUS NATURE, AND THEY INCLUDE CRIMINAL THREATS, ROCK THROWING, VANDALISM, BURGLARY, ASSAULT, AND SHOTS FIRED.JOHN SHOEMAKER'S, JUVENILE DELINQUENT GRANDCHILDREN TERRORIZED THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ARE WELL KNOWN FOR GIVING TO THE POLICE THE MIDDLE FINGER AND FOLLOWED BY FU COP.
AND THEN JOHN SCHOMAKER SHOWS UP AND EX MAKES EXCUSES FOR THEM.
WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVE, HE HAS NEVER CONDEMNED THE ACTIONS OR BEHAVIOR OF HIS FAMILY.
SO THAT PROVES HE AGREES WITH THEM AND SUPPORTS THEIR BAD BEHAVIOR.
HOW MANY CALLS FOR SERVICE TO DOES SHE MAKE A CRIME FAMILY HOME, DO YOU THINK ARE ON THE LIST? HOW MANY WOULD BE UNREASONABLE? 10, 20, 50.
TRY 70 CALLS FOR SERVICE TO THE SHOEMAKER CRIME, FAMILY HOME.
THAT'S AN OUTRAGEOUS WASTE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES.
COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BE ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
HE DISPARAGES OUR POLICE OFFICER WITH DISRESPECTFUL AND CHILDISH NICKNAMES LIKE CAPTAIN BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL AND LIEUTENANT BARGAIN.
BEN, VOTE FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE JEWEL OF THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY AND KEEP WEST COVE PLACE TO START A BUSINESS TO RAISE A FAMILY AND OWN A HOME ELECT.
BRIAN GUTIERREZ IN DISTRICT ONE SHOW BRIAN TABATA BY THE DOOR REELECT.
COUNCILWOMAN ROSARIO DEALS IN DISTRICT THREE.
THE FUTURE OF THE CITY DEPENDS ON IT.
JD QUIET IN HERE MAKES YOU NERVOUS.
UM, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THE SENIOR CI CITIZENS COMMITTEE WITH REGARDS TO MY TWO FAVORITE PLACES, SPORTS BIKE AND CAMERON PARK.
UM, BACK WHEN MR. COUNCILMAN CANTOS WAS ELECTED AT ONE OF HIS VERY FIRST COMMUNITY MEETINGS OVER AT THE DONUT SHOP, UH, ATTENDED BY OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND THEN CITY MANAGER, MR. CARNY.
THERE WERE MANY INQUIRIES ABOUT THE SPORTS FLEX.
WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT WOULD BE HANDLED AS SOON AS WE GOT A PARK MASTER PLAN IN PLACE.
THAT WAS SOME, MAYBE A YEAR AND A HALF OR SO AGO.
AND CONNECTED TO THAT, MY INQUIRY WITH REGARDS TO CAMERON PARK HAD TO DO WITH THAT EMPTY LOT AND THE DWELLING THAT EXISTED ON PREVIOUS TO IT BEING DEMOLITION THAT WAS BEING USED BY THE HOMELESS.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN ON MY PART AND MY FAMILY'S PART.
'CAUSE WE LIVED VERY CLOSE TO IT.
THE CITY DID DEMOLITION THE PROPERTY AFTER SOME YEARS, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE.
SO I INQUIRED ABOUT THAT AND FORTUNATELY, WITH THE INFLUENCE OF, UH, COUNCILMAN WU AND THE COOPERATION OF THE CITY MANAGER, IT'S NOW BEEN GRADED.
BUT I'VE, LIKE I STARTED SAYING I'VE BEEN TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THE SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION.
I BELIEVED THAT'S WHERE IT WAS BEING HANDLED.
PRIOR, SUBSEQUENT TO THE MEETING, UH, AT THE DONUT SHOP WITH COUNCILMAN CONTOS, THERE WAS ANOTHER MEETING THAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE COMMISSION AT CORTEZ PARK.
AND WE WERE TOLD THOSE THAT ATTENDED, THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE ENGAGED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PARKING LOT OR THAT EMPTY LOT SINCE THEN.
AND MY REQUEST FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN THERE, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S NO LONGER WITH THE SENIORS CITIZENS COMMISSION.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION HERE TONIGHT IS, IS THE, ARE THE RESIDENTS GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE AND PROVIDE SOME INPUT ON WHAT DEVELOPS AT THIS PART OF THE PARK? BECAUSE IF IT TAKES A MOTHER, MAY I, UH, COUNCIL MCC CONTOS, MAYBE YOU PERSON TO DO THAT SINCE YOU, UH, KIND OF BEEN INDIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH THIS MASTER, UH, PARK PLAN THAT HASN'T COME FORWARD SINCE THE DAY IT WAS PROMISED BACK AT YOUR COMMUNITY MEETING.
THAT'S BEEN QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
THOSE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT REALLY CONCERN ME, AND OBVIOUSLY FOR CLEAR REASONS, I LIVE VERY, VERY CLOSE TO, TO, UH, BOTH PARKS AND MS. VETO.
YOU, I BELIEVE MENTIONED SOMETIME BACK, WE DOES ANYBODY, YOU ASKED THE QUESTION, DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW MANY PARKS WE HAVE? AND I BELIEVE SPORTSPLEX WAS ONE OF THOSE PARKS INCLUDED IN THE NUMBER THAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR.
[01:45:01]
A PARK FOR THE COMMUNITY TO USE.IT'S USED MORE FOR FESTIVALS AND FOR CERTAIN GROUPS, BUT NOT OPEN ON A NORMAL BASIS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE WERE PROMISED THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE ONCE THE MASTER PARK PLAN WAS IN PLACE.
THE LAST I HEARD ABOUT THE MASTER PARK PLAN WAS THAT YOU WERE HIRING SOMEONE TO GET THIS DONE, BUT IT'S BEEN ONE DELAY AFTER THE OTHER.
AND NOW IT'S, IT'S GOTTEN TO BE A PRETTY FRUSTRATING, UH, ISSUE FOR RESIDENTS SEEING THAT THERE ARE ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE AND CERTAINLY AT THE SPORTSPLEX.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THE CITY MANAGER COULD EITHER ADDRESS IT OR SOMEONE ON THE COUNCIL WILL ASK FOR SOME SORT OF ANSWER.
CITY MANAGER, WILL YOU PLEASE RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENT CONCERNS? UH, YES, MAYOR, I WILL.
UM, ONE OF THE, UH, COMMENTS TONIGHT WAS ABOUT THE MOTHER.
UM, ON THE AGENDA THAT IS PRINTED, POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE AND DISTRIBUTED, IT DOES ALLOW FOR CITY COUNCIL TO PLACE REQUESTS FOR REPORTS OR STUDIES AND INVESTIGATIONS.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAD ADDRESSED LAST TIME.
I JUST WANTED TO INCLUDE THAT THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
ON THE AGENDA, IT DOES ALLOW FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REQUEST FOR, UM, THE, THE STAFF TO FOLLOW UP WITH INFORMATION OR REPORTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO DO.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THE FIVE STAR ISSUES, UM, THE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD REVIEWED, UH, THE POTENTIAL OF A REPLICATION.
UM, THEY, UH, HAVE DIRECTED THE STAFF TO PROCEED WITH A, I BELIEVE IT WAS A FIVE OR SIX MONTH REVIEW OF THE, THE OPERATIONS OF THE, UH, FIVE STAR.
AND SO THE REVIEW WILL BE UP AND DUE, UM, IN JANUARY, AND THAT'LL BE TAKEN BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, AND SO IF ANY OF THE NEIGHBORS, IF THERE'S ANY CRIME THAT'S OCCURRING, PLEASE, WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT YOU CALL OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IF THERE'S ISSUES WITH THE OPERATIONS, UM, WITH THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA BE BROUGHT BACK BEFORE THE, UM, PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, WE CAN HAVE PLEASE CALL OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT, UH, DEPARTMENT, AND THEY WILL HELP ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THE BRANCA BRIDGE, UM, THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING, UM, SEVERAL YEARS NOW TO ADDRESS THE ENCAMPMENTS THAT OCCUR, UH, UNDER THE BRIDGE.
UM, WE'VE WORKED WITH THE COUNTY BECAUSE IT'S OVER THE COUNTY WASH, AND SO WE HAVE SOME LIMITED ACCESS INTO ADDRESSING THAT.
UM, WE'VE TRIED VARIOUS METHODS TO BLOCK OFF THE AXIS, UH, FOR THE INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO, UH, I DON'T KNOW, ENTER THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO BRIDGES, I GUESS THERE'S TWO BRIDGES.
AND SO THERE'S A SPACE, AND THAT'S WHERE INDIVIDUALS GO AND HAVE THE ENCAMPMENTS.
UM, I THINK THE LAST ATTEMPT, WE WERE ABLE TO BARRICADE THE ENTRANCE LIKE THE PILLAR, BUT NOW THEY'RE ABLE TO GET INTO THAT SPACE THAT'S DIRECTLY OVER THE WASH.
AND SO, UM, BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SAFE ACCESS TO BARRICADE, UM, THOSE ENTRY POINTS THAT ARE NOW REMAINING.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
UM, AND THEN FOR UPDATES AND, UH, ABOUT EVENTS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, I ENCOURAGE ALL OUR RESIDENTS, UM, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO CHECK WHAT'S IN IN IT OR DISCOVER, UM, TO, UH, WE ALSO HAVE NOTIFICATIONS ON OUR WEBSITES IF YOU WANT UPDATES ON SPECIFIC THINGS FROM OUR PRESS RELEASES TO COMMUNITY EVENTS.
YOU CAN SPECIFY WHAT KIND OF UPDATES YOU WANT FROM THE, FROM THE CITY.
SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UM, REACH OUT IN THOSE METHODS TO KEEP UP TO DATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WANTED TO THANK, I THINK MR. FLORES FOR COMING, UM, FROM CHURCH OF CHRIST.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS WANNA PARTNER WITH, UH, OUR MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WITH ALL OF OUR EVENTS COMING UP, UM, THERE'S A WAY TO PARTNER.
UM, WE CAN REACH OUT TO ROXANNE LER, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, FOR THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, IN REGARDS TO CITRUS CAMERON AND, UH, TRAFFIC SIGNAL THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND, UM, IT HAS BEEN MOVE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN, UM, THAT WILL COME BACK BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL AND FOR CONSTRUCTION BID.
SO, UM, FRANK WILLIAMS REGARDING THE YOUTH LEAGUES, WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT, UM, AND TIME THAT ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE, UH, GIVEN TO THE YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES.
UH, WE RECOGNIZE THE VALUE THAT THEY BRING TO THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW GROWING UP, MY DAD VOLUNTEERED TO BE COACHED FOR A YSO, SO I GREATLY APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF GIVING BACK TO THE, TO THOSE SPORTS LEAGUES.
UM, I WANTED TO THANK MR OR HECTOR FOR COMING OUT REGARDING, UH, PROJECT 29 11.
[01:50:01]
THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THE VAN, UM, TO HELP SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES AND HOPE PEOPLE CAN ATTEND THEIR FUNDRAISER ON, I BELIEVE IT WAS OCTOBER 26TH.UM, THERE IS A RESIDENT, I BELIEVE HE, HE SAID HE LIVED IN THE HILLSIDES.
UM, THAT WAS, IF THAT'S PART OF THE LMDS, I BELIEVE HE MENTIONED IT WAS ON AZU AND AMAR.
UM, LAST YEAR WE DID INCREASE THE SCOPE OF MAINTENANCE OR FOR THE LANDSCAPING.
AND SO, UM, I KNOW THAT WE'VE ADDRESSED THAT AREA.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT AREA HAS BEEN COMPLETED, BUT THIS PAST, UM, AUGUST OR JULY, THE CITY COUNCIL DID APPROVE TO ADD, UM, TREE TRIMMING CYCLE TO THOSE DISTRICTS AS WELL.
UM, PREVIOUSLY THEY WERE, UH, THE TREES WERE ADDRESSED ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS.
UM, THEY ARE NOW GOING TO BE ON A FIVE YEAR TREE TRIMMING CYCLE.
AND SO WE'RE HOPING TO GET THAT WORK STARTED, UM, BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.
UM, THERE IS A COMMENT ABOUT THE INTERSECTION, UM, I BELIEVE IT IS, SORRY, VINCENT AND PUENTE.
UM, THAT I KNOW THAT WE HAD TALKED, I HAD MENTIONED LAST YEAR THAT WE WERE GONNA BE MOVING FORWARD.
WE DID A GRANT, GET GRANT FUNDING.
UM, IT'S THE HSIP CYCLE 10 PROGRAM THAT WE GOT 3.1 MILLION, UH, TO DO IMPROVEMENTS AT VARIOUS INTERSECTIONS THROUGH, UM, UH, CALTRANS.
UM, BECAUSE IT IS FUNDING THROUGH CALTRANS, WE ARE, UH, SUBJECT TO THEIR TIMING AND THE APPROVAL PROCESS.
WE, UH, RECENTLY GOT APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE, UM, DESIGN AND BID PROJECT.
SO IN THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, UH, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE BIDS, UM, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT AND UNDERSTANDING, UM, THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED LAST YEAR.
WE HAD, UH, PRIORITIZED THAT INTERSECTION TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO BE COMPLETED WITH THAT PROJECT.
UM, THE PROJECT ISN'T, THE, THE ENTIRE PROJECT WITH ALL OF THE INTERSECTIONS IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED BY END OF 2026.
UM, AND THEN JD, I HOPE YOU COME TO THE NOVEMBER 19TH MEETING.
WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING AN UPDATE ON THE SPORTSPLEX FACILITY, UM, WHICH IS SEPARATE THAN THE PARK MASTER PLAN.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING, WHAT ARE THE, UM, WHAT'S THE PROGRAMMING, UM, THAT'S OCCURRING AT THE SPORTSPLEX.
UM, AND LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE, YOU KNOW, GOT THE BATTING CAGES BACK UP AND RUNNING.
BUT, UM, WHAT IS THE USABILITY OF THE FACILITY? WHO'S, WHO ARE THE USERS? UM, SO THAT'S GONNA BE SHARED AT THE NOVEMBER 19TH, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, THE PARK MASTER PLAN, IT HAS TAKEN SOME TIME BECAUSE WE HAD TO DO A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
UH, WE ARE REVIEWING THOSE AND ONCE THOSE GET, UH, BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL, THEN WE WILL BE GOING, UH, WE WILL SELECTING A, A CON A CONSULTANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT.
UM, THAT WILL INCLUDE IN COMMUNITY INPUT.
UM, AND WE'LL BE ASSESSING ALL OF OUR PARKS AND FACILITIES AND WHAT ARE THE NEEDS, WHAT ARE THE USES THAT CAN BE THE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S TYPES OF FACILITIES OR RECREATION THAT WE CAN INCLUDE, UM, THAT WE DON'T, UM, THAT WILL BE PART OF THE ASSESSMENT.
AND WE WILL BE, UM, INCLUDING COMMUNITY INPUT IN THAT.
UM, THAT RIGHT NOW, LIKE I MENTIONED, IS IN REVIEW BY, UH, STAFF.
IT'S NOT IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICES OR SENIOR COMMISSION.
UM, WE WILL BE INCLUDING OUR COMMISSION OBVIOUSLY, THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
UM, AND THE CAMERON, UH, LOT THAT, UM, USED TO BE THE HOUSE AND IS NOW VACANT, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH, UH, SEEDING THAT.
I KNOW STAFF IS GONNA BE MAKING SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DRIVEWAY APPROACHES, UM, TO, 'CAUSE IT USED TO BE A HOUSE, SO WE'RE GONNA CREATE THAT INTO A SIDEWALK.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BE SEATING AND SODDING IT.
AND, UM, SO IT'LL STILL REMAIN CLOSED AS THE GRASS GROWS OR SO GROWS.
BUT ONCE THAT'S ABLE OR DONE, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THAT SPACE.
UM, THAT ALSO WILL BE PART OF THE PARK MASTER PLAN, WHAT ULTIMATELY GETS, UH, DEVELOPED, UM, ON THAT SPACE.
AND I THINK THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
UM, CAN YOU ADDRESS THE ISSUE WE HAVE WITH THE TRUCKS GOING THROUGH SOUTH GARVEY AVENUE TO SEE WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN DO AND HOW WE CAN CORRECT WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN, UM, WHAT THESE BIG RIGS HAVE ALREADY BROKEN? I GUESS THEY'RE THESE, UH, LINEARS.
I, YEAH, I WOULD, THEY CALLED.
YEAH, WE CAN, IF, UH, I CAN SPEAK WITH THE RESIDENT THAT, UH, PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION TO SEE WHAT'S BEEN BROKEN, WHAT CAN BE FIXED.
WE DO HAVE OUR ROUTE, UM, TRUCK ROUTES ON OUR WEBSITE ON GIS, BUT WE CAN ALSO GO
[01:55:01]
LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S, UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO SIGNAGE OR ADDING SIGNAGE TO HELP THAT.ALSO, MAKING SURE THAT, UM, OUR PD OR COEN ENFORCEMENTS AWARE SO THAT THEY CAN HELP ENFORCE THOSE TRUCK TRUCK ROUTES.
BE, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I'M GONNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND, UH, TO SOME, UH, DIRECT COMMENTS, UH, TOWARDS ME.
UH, SPECIFICALLY, UH, SOME CLAIMS MADE, UM, BY OUR PLANNING COMMISSIONER, UM, DURING, UH, OUR FIRST, UH, BUDGET VOTE, UH, AFTER WE HAD COME THROUGH, UH, A STATE AUDIT THAT HAD IDENTIFIED, UH, THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, UH, AS THE 12TH FINANCIALLY WORST CITY IN CALIFORNIA.
UM, THE STATE AUDITOR HAD POINTED OUT THAT, UM, WE HAD POOR PROCESSES AND HAD DO NOT DONE ANY LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING.
WE HAD GONE THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS AND WE WERE SET TO VOTE ON THE YEARLY BUDGET.
IT WAS A DEFICIT NEUTRAL BUDGET.
UH, AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE, IT WAS, UH, AMENDED THAT WE ADD 30 PERSONNEL, WHICH OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR STATED WOULD PUT US MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER BUDGET, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO DEFICIT SPENDING, UH, TAKING THE ADVICE OF OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR AND OUR CITY MANAGER, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WOULD BE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER BUDGET AFTER COMING OUT OF THIS AUDIT AS THE 12TH MOST FINANCIALLY AT RISK CITY, I DID THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND I VOTED AGAINST THAT BUDGET.
UH, I HAVE SINCE, UH, VOTED AGAINST BUDGETS THAT DID NOT INCLUDE LINE ITEMS THAT HAD FINANCES FOR A PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, I HAVE VOTED AGAINST BUDGETS THAT HAVE SUBSIDIZED OUR SPORTSPLEX.
UH, I HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR ON PROTECTING THE CITY'S FINANCES.
UH, I HAVE ALSO IN MY TIME, UH, VOTED TO SUPPORT, UH, OUR MOUS NEGOTIATED WITH ALL OUR CONTRACT GROUPS.
I BELIEVE IN THE VALUE OF OUR WORKERS AND THAT EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE PAID WHAT THEIR PROFESSION DESERVES.
IT'S CLEAR YOU CAN LOOK AT EVERY COUNCIL MEETING TO MAKE ANY CLAIMS THAT I'VE DEFUNDED ANY DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE CAN GO BACK, UH, AND LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE MEETINGS.
UH, AND SO, UH, AGAIN, I THINK THAT TO COME AND, AND POLITIC WEARING THE CITY SEAL, UH, IS BEYOND INAPPROPRIATE.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO CLEAR MY RECORD AND I STAND BY MY RECORD, AND I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD INFORM THEMSELVES ON WHO WILL BEST REPRESENT THE CITY.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD FURTHER CLARIFICATION REGARDING THE WHOLE MOTHER.
MAY I, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE RESIDENT BROUGHT THIS UP.
MM-HMM,
AND THE REASON WHY VOTES ARE TAKEN IS TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THERE IS CONSENSUS ON THE REQUESTED ACTION ITEM OR SENSE OF DIRECTION.
AND IF THERE IS NO SECOND, THEN, THEN THERE'S NO NOTHING TO PURSUE WITH REGARD TO THAT REQUESTED DIRECTION OR ACTION ITEM.
THAT HAVING BEEN SAID ONCE THE MOTHER MAY EYES ARE APPROVED, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH UNANIMOUS CONSENT, WHICH IS WHERE, WHERE THE CLERK, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK ASKS FOR IF THERE ARE ANY OBJECTIONS, WHICH IS PERFECTLY LEGAL UNDER PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, OR IF THERE'S A VOTE TAKEN, THEN WHEN THE MAJORITY RULES THAT, THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE BELIEVES SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER, THEN THE STAFF RECEIVES DIRECTION UPON WHICH, AT, AT WHICH TIME THEY THEN PRODUCE REPORT RECOMMENDING ACTION
[02:00:01]
OR INACTION OR PROVIDING OPTIONS TO THIS COUNCIL.AND THE MOTHER, MAY I PROCESS IS ACTUALLY REALLY TRANSPARENT BECAUSE INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH SOME BACK ROOM DEAL OR WHATEVER, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE ARE MAKING THESE REQUESTS IN FULL VIEW OF THE PUBLIC.
AND IF THERE'S A, AN AGREEMENT BY THE MAJORITY TO PROCEED FORWARD WITH A SPECIFIC REQUESTED DIRECTION, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT THING IS GOING TO BE FINALIZED OR APPROVED.
IT IS SIMPLY A SET OF REQUESTS THAT THEN STAFF GOES BACK, PREPARES REPORTS, SUBMITS THE REPORTS, MAKES THOSE REPORTS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE, UH, PACKETS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AND ARE REVIEWABLE AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
AND THEN THAT WAY PEOPLE CAN SEE EVERYTHING OF WHAT IS BEING PREPARED AFTER WHICH TIME WHEN THE REPORTS ARE DONE.
THEN THIS COUNCIL HAS THE, A ABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY THEN EITHER TO FOLLOW THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AS WRITTEN OR TO MAKE AMENDMENTS OR OTHERWISE TO NOT, OR NOT TO FOLLOW.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS, IS, UH, NOT ONLY TRANSPARENT, BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO WHICH I'M GRATEFUL THAT I, I I LOVE OUR, OUR COUNCIL FOR ENGAGING IN THAT PROCESS BECAUSE WE ARE ALL SUPPORTIVE OF TRANSPARENCY AND SHOWING HOW WE MAKE THE DECISIONS TO PROCEED FORWARD WITH SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS OR NOT TO PROCEED FORWARD.
BECAUSE IF THERE'S A PARTICULAR WISH OF, OF SENTIMENT THAT IS EXPRESSED BY A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL, AND THERE IS NO MAJORITY VOTE EITHER THROUGH CONSENSUS OR THROUGH A VOTE OF TH OF AT LEAST THREE, THEN IT DOESN'T PROCEED FORWARD.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD CLAR THE FURTHER, UH, CONTEXT TO WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SAID BECAUSE, UH, ANY STATEMENTS THAT WE ARE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT, IT, IT'S, IT'S NOT ONLY INACCURATE, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT BASED IN FACT.
AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE MOTHER MAY I PROCESS.
AND SO, OF COURSE, FREE SPEECH, PEOPLE CAN SAY WHATEVER THE HECK THEY WANT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO FEEL AS, AS, AS WE DO HERE, THAT IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE, ARE, ARE CONSIDERED INACCURATE, THAT WE WILL RESPOND IN ORDER TO HAVE THE PUBLIC THEN JUDGE WHETHER OR NOT THOSE STATEMENTS ARE ACCURATE OR WHETHER WHAT I'M SAYING IS ACCURATE.
AND I'M HERE TO ASSERT THAT WHAT WE, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS ACCURATE WITH REGARD TO THE MOTHER.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CONTOS.
UH, CITY ATTORNEY, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING TO THAT? NO.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
WILL MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR.UH, COUNSEL, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONTENT CALENDAR? SORRY IF I MAY
I, I DID WANT TO, UM, WE'RE GONNA BE PULLING ITEM NUMBER THREE.
WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU AGAIN BACK TO THE NOVEMBER 19TH MEETING.
UH, COUNSEL, ANY, UH, ITEMS ONE THROUGH SEVEN, EXCLUDING NUMBER THREE? UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE THE MOTION.
I'LL SECOND MAYOR, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ AND A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ VITO, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH SEVEN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE NOVEMBER 11TH COUNCIL MEETING.
DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER REQUEST? UH,
[MAYOR/COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS]
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS AB 1, 2, 3, 4 CONFERENCE AND MEETING REPORTS.COUNCILMAN CONTOS, MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A NUMBER OF OF REPORTS.
FIRST OF ALL, UH, REITERATING MY, UH, UH, UPDATE LAST TIME WITH REGARD TO THE OFFER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WHO WISH TO WORK.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO, UH, UH, FOLKS WHO HAVE COME FORWARD.
SO I REPEAT AGAIN THAT THERE, IF THERE ARE HOMELESS VETERANS IN OR AROUND OUR COMMUNITY WHO WISH TO WORK AND RETURN TO ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY, GOODWILL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS READY TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT.
AND SO IF THERE ARE FOLKS THAT, THAT WISH TO, TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THAT, UH, OR IF YOU KNOW OF PEOPLE THAT YOU NEED ME TO REACH OUT TO, HOWEVER WAY, PLEASE, UH, UH, REACH OUT TO ME BY CALLING 6 2 6 9 2 6 9 6 2 7 OR OLI DOT CANTOS@WESTCOVINA.ORG SO WE CAN GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HELP THEY NEED RIGHT AWAY.
ALSO RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.
WANTED TO, UH, MAKE SURE TO SUPPLEMENT MY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS TO EX TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT THE, THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, UH, HOMELESS INITIATIVE, THE CEO OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES HOMELESS INITIATIVE HAS PUT OUT A SURVEY THAT WILL, THAT ALLOWS ALL RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND INPUT REGARDING HOW THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE FOR THE COUNTY SHOULD SPEND ITS DOLLARS.
AND THEY'RE DOING THAT FOR THE, FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, 26.
AND SO, UH, THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF THOSE
[02:05:01]
SURVEYS IS OCTOBER 24TH.SO PLEASE, WHATEVER YOUR OPINIONS ARE AS TO WHAT THE RESOURCES SHOULD BE, PLEASE CHECK WITH THE CITY SOCIAL MEDIA.
I'VE ALSO POSTED IT ON VARIOUS WEST COVINA PAGES WHERE THAT, WHERE I, I AM ALLOWED TO POST.
AND, AND, AND, UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THAT IS ALSO THERE.
ALSO ON ANOTHER FRONT, SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR CITY STAFF, WHO, UH, AT RESIDENT REQUEST DID A REALLY MAGNIFICENT JOB WITH, UH, PAINTING WHITEWASHING, NOT PAINTING, BUT WHITEWASHING THE WALLS ALONG AMAR AND ALONG SHADOW OAK.
THEY HAVE DONE SUCH A MAGNIFICENT JOB CLEANING UP THOSE WALLS TO REALLY MAKE THOSE AREAS LOOK REALLY, REALLY NICE.
SPECIAL THANKS ALSO TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO AT RESIDENT REQUEST, UH, PURCHASED NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SIGNS SO THAT IN THE WOODGROVE PARK AREA, THERE ARE NOW SIGNS, UH, MAKING, UH, UH, CLEAR THAT THERE IS A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, UH, IN, IN THE AREA.
AND MAKING SURE THAT, SO FOR FOLKS TO REALIZE THAT, THAT FOLKS ARE BEING VIGILANT WITH REGARD TO, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THE, THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, STAYS SAFE ON ANOTHER FRONT WITH REGARD TO, UH, CLEANING THE MEDIANS.
I JUST LEARNED THAT THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THEY, THEY DID, UH, SOME REALLY GREAT WORK ALONG OUR MEDIANS ON VINCENT AND AZUSA AND, AND I THINK SUNSET IN OTHER PLACES BACK IN 20 20, 21, 22.
AND SO I'M LEARNING THAT, THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK ON, UH, IN THOSE AREAS AS A MATTER OF CAREER PATHWAY.
AND SO I'M GOING TO BE MEETING WITH THEM TO LEARN ABOUT HOW THAT HAS, UH, FARED IN THE PAST AND, AND WHAT POSSIBILITIES THERE ARE TO GIVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AS PART WORK, AS PART OF THE, THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS, UH, TO, TO, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN, CAN ASSIST WITH, WITH A FURTHER BEAUTIFICATION.
AND I THINK FAR ON IT, THERE'S ONE, I JUST DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE OTHER ONE IS, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE I WILL MAKE SURE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW.
BUT THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR TO ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE ALSO SUBMITTING OUR REQUESTS THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, OUR, OUR STAFF IS, IS TAKING, TAKING CARE OF ONE BY ONE.
AND IF I REMEMBER BEFORE THE END OF THIS PORTION, THEN I'LL, I'LL JUMP BACK IN.
BUT I THINK THAT'S, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR NOW, MR. MAYOR.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, WHENEVER YOU NEED TO JUMP BACK IN, JUST, JUST LET US KNOW.
WE'LL, WE'LL GET YOU BACK ON THE MIC.
UH, ANY OTHER, UH, COUNCIL REPORTS? OKAY.
[CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS FOR REPORTS, STUDIES OR INVESTIGATION]
WHAT ABOUT REQUEST? DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS? COUNCILMAN CONTOS? UM, MR. MAYOR? UM, I WOULD LIKE, UM, UH, TO ASK FOR STAFF TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON THE ARTS AND PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM.THERE ARE 16 DIFFERENT SITES AROUND THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED BY PUBLIC MONEY IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR CITY EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL THROUGH THE ARTS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S ALSO A PROCESS FOR, FOR SELECTING ARTS AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO SINCE FOR, FOR THE SAKE OF RESIDENTS, AND ALSO SINCE I'M NOT AS FULLY AWARE ABOUT HOW THAT PROGRAM WORKS, I'M ASKING IF STAFF CAN PROVIDE, UH, AN OVERVIEW OF THAT PROGRAM AS WELL AS SOME PLANS MOVING FORWARD.
AND AS WITH REGARD TO HOW TO, HOW MONEY WILL BE, UH, SPENT AND WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR DECIDING WHAT THE PROJECTS ARE?
I, I, I WILL, I WILL SECOND THAT AS, UH, IN, IN THE FOUR YEARS HERE, I, I HAVE ALSO NOT SEEN A PRESENTATION MM-HMM.
UH, AND I'M HIGHLY INTERESTED IN THAT.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND SEE THAT WE HAVE CONSENSUS FOR THAT.
ANY CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS? OKAY,
IS THERE ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO ADJOURN? I'LL ADJOURN.