[ CALL TO ORDER]
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GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 16TH MEETING, CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
IT IS 7:01 PM WE ARE NOW IN SESSION.
UM, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ, YOU ARE ON THE WRONG SEAT, UH, CAUSING DISRUPTION TO THE MEETING.
UH, PLEASE MOVE TO YOUR ASSIGNED SEAT AS THAT SEAT BELONGS TO COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ AND MEETING CAN CONT UH, CAN PROCEED UNTIL YOU COMPLY.
THIS IS NOT, I HAVE, UH, APPROVED ORDER.
COUNSEL, TERRA, YOUR SECOND WARNING.
YOU DO NOT HAVE THE FLOOR OR REFUSE TO COMPLY.
DISRUPTING THE DISRUPTING THE MEETING.
I HAVE AN APPROVED ACCOMMODATION COUNSELING.
THIS IS THIRD AND FINAL WARNING, THE CONDUCT.
THIS IS A DISRUPTION OF THE MEETING.
I AM GOING TO CALL SERGEANT OF ARMS, DISCRIM ACTIONS, SERGEANT OF ARMS. SO MAY YOU PLEASE, UH, REMOVE COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ.
I'M GOING TO MOVE, BUT I'M GONNA MAKE A STATEMENT AND TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, I'M GONNA APPROVE ACCOMMODATION TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC UNDER THE DISABILITY.
I APOLOGIZE FOR DISRUPTION CAUSED BY ONE COUNCIL MEMBER.
NO, IT'S YOUR, WE WILL TAKE A BRIEF RECESS WHILE THE OFFICERS ADDRESS THE SITUATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, BUT YOU WILL BE REMOVED.
THANK YOU FOR BEING DISCRIMINATORY.
MAY, CAN WE, UM, CAN WE HAVE EVERYBODY EXIT THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE? SO NOW I WILL MOVE TO HR HAS SENT SEC.
UH, I GUESS, UH, EVERYBODY CAN COME BACK IN.
YOU'RE BEING RECORDED, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
YOU NEED TO CONDUCT THIS MEETING PROFESSIONALLY.
SIT DOWN MEETING'S BACK IN SESSION.
AND AS PRESIDING OFFICER, I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS MEETING IS CONDUCTED WITH QUORUM RESPECT.
UM, SO NOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN RESOLVED, ORDER HAS BEEN RESTORED, WE WILL RESUME THIS MEETING.
UH, JUST A REMINDER TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL THAT, UH, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK UNLESS A PRESIDING OFFICER GIVES YOU THE FLOOR.
SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT REMINDER.
UM, WELL, I HAVE A, ANY, I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER.
AND IF YOU CONTINUE TO DISRUPT THIS MEETING, I WILL ASK THE SERGEANT AT ARMS TO REMOVE A COUNCIL.
CITY ATTORNEY STATE, WHEN CAN I OF ORDER? CITY ATTORNEY.
LET HIM STATE HIS POINT OF ORDER.
UH, I JUST WANT CLARIFICATION.
WE NOT AT ALL TAKING THE, THE AADA A INTO CONSIDERATION POINT OF ORDER IS TO THE CHAIR.
WELL, MAYOR, UH, MAYOR, I LIKE TO KNOW, UH, FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, IS THE CITY GONNA COMPLETELY DISREGARD THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT? CITY ATTORNEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANSWER? MAYOR, IT'S UP TO YOU IF YOU WANNA RECOGNIZE THIS POINT OF ORDER OR NOT.
UM, AS WE RECEIVE THE EMAIL FROM HR, WE'RE NOT GONNA RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THIS MEETING.
SO ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL DURING ORAL COMMUNICATION MUST COMPLETE A SPEAKER CARD AND IT IS PROVIDED AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
AND SUBMIT THE CARD TO THE DEPUTY CITY CLERK RIGHT HERE.
UH, PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF ORAL COMMUNICATION, SPEAKER CARDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER ORAL COMMUNICATION HAS STARTED NOW.
UM, TONIGHT'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY, UH, RABBI BAUMGARTEN AND COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, UH, PRIOR, BEFORE THE INVOCATION BEGINS.
AS WE ALL RISE, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE VICTIMS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE TRAGIC EVENTS SURROUNDING BY THE MASS SHOOTINGS THAT OCCURRED IN THE UNITED STATES, BROWN UNIVERSITY AND OVERSEAS, BONDY BEACH, AUSTRALIA.
SO, MAY WE PLEASE RISE FOR THE MOMENT OF SILENCE.
MAY WE PLEASE HAVE RABBI COME TO
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THE FLOOR FOR INVOCATION, SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE.LOOK FAVORABLY UPON ALL OF US GATHERED HERE THIS EVENING, AND BLESS US WITH LIFE, HEALTH AND PROSPERITY.
BLESS THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL WITH WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IN THEIR SACRED PURSUIT OF JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.
OUR TRADITION TEACHES OF THE SEVEN UNIVERSAL LAWS GIVEN BY GOD THROUGH NOAH, WHICH CALLED UPON HUMANITY TO BUILD A MORAL SOCIETY GOVERNED BY LAW TO SERVE GOD ALONE, RESPECT HIS NAME, AND UPHOLD THE SANCTITY OF LIFE THROUGH PROHIBITIONS AGAINST MURDER, THEFT, ADULTERY, AND CRUELTY TO ALL LIVING CREATURES.
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE FESTIVAL OF HANUKKAH COMMEMORATING A MIRACLE.
OVER 2000 YEARS AGO WHEN A SMALL GROUP OF FAITHFUL JEWS, THE MACCABEES, OVERCAME A MIGHTY OPPRESSOR.
UPON RECLAIMING THE TEMPLE, THEY FOUND ONLY A ONE DAY'S SUPPLY OF PURE OIL TO LIGHT THE MENORAH CANDLE LABRA.
YET IT MIRACULOUSLY BURNED FOR EIGHT DAYS STRAIGHT.
THE MIRACLE IS COMMEMORATED EACH YEAR BY LIGHTING THE MENORAH AND ADDING ONE CANDLE EACH NIGHT, TEACHING US THAT EVEN ONE SMALL FLAME CAN DISPEL GREAT DARKNESS, AND THAT WE MUST CONTINUALLY INCREASE IN GOODNESS IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT TERRORIST ATTACK AT A HANUKKAH CELEBRATION IN AUSTRALIA.
WE PRAY FOR THE VICTIMS AS WELL AS THE VICTIMS OF THE ALL THE OTHER SHOOTINGS AS AS THEIR FAMILIES.
AND WE REAFFIRM OUR RESPONSE TO SPREAD CONSISTENT ACTS OF KINDNESS AND LIGHT MASTER OF THE WORLD.
GRANT US THE WISDOM AND COURAGE TO BE AGENTS OF PEACE AND MAY WEST COVIN AND BE A BEACON OF LIGHT TO ALL HUMANITY.
AND WE MEET, MAY WE SOON MERIT AN ERA OF GLOBAL PEACE AND TRANQUILITY.
YOU'LL NOW TAKE A MOMENT TO LIGHT THE MENORAH.
COUNCIL SPANKER TERRA, PLEASE PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN INVISIBLE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ROLL CALL.
AS WE DID NOT HAVE CLOSED SESSION, UH, THIS EVENING, THERE IS NOTHING TO REPORT.
UM, THEREFORE GOING CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT GO FIRST.
IS THERE ANYONE AGAINST IT? OKAY, GREAT ACTING CITY MANAGER.
[CITY MANAGER'S REPORT]
MILAN, PLEASE PROCEED WITH YOUR REPORT.SO THE AVAILABLE PROPERTY LISTING A PL OFFERS PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OWNERS BUSINESS INTEREST IN LOCATING FOR EXPANDING WITHIN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES EITHER FOR SALE OR LEASE, THE A PL IS UPDATED MONTHLY.
THIS MONTH INCLUDES 25 PROPERTIES FOR SALE AND 150 PROPERTIES FOR LEASE.
CONTACT THE LISTING BROKER WITH ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY, UM, RESPECTIVE OPPORTUNITY.
FOR QUESTIONS OF HOW THE CITY CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS, PLEASE CONTACT THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT 6 2 6 9 3 9 8 4 1 7 CAMERON COMMUNITY CENTER'S.
LAST MOVIE NIGHT OF THE YEAR WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 6TH WITH A FESTIVE SHOWING OF DR.
SEUSS, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS.
PARTICIPANTS WERE ABLE TO DECORATE A GRINCH
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WITH STICKERS WHILE ENJOYING SOME TREATS FROM THE SNACK BAR.CITY STREET CREWS WERE NOTIFIED OF A TRIP AND FALL ISSUE AT CORTEZ PARK NEAR THE SENIOR CENTER FACILITY.
THEY QUICKLY RESPONDED TO THE CALL, ADDRESSED THE NEEDS FOR REPAIR.
A DECISION WAS MADE TO COMPLETE THE, THAT A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF 65 FEET OF SIDEWALK WAS NEEDED.
THEY USED FIVE YARDS OF CONCRETE DURING THIS REPLACEMENT AND COMPLETED THE REPAIRS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
WEST QUEENA FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS OUT SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER BY PARTICIPATING IN THE FOLLOWING EVENTS.
DECEMBER 6TH, WEST WEST COA, FIREFIGHTER ASSOCIATION TOY DRIVE AND CAR SHOW A GREAT EVENT WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF TOYS COLLECTED AND GAVE PLAQUES FOR CHIEF CHIEF'S CHOICE.
UH, DECEMBER 12TH, THE 13TH FIRE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATED IN THE ANNUAL MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, FILLED A BOOT AT PLAZA WEST COVINA, AND EASTLAND SHOPPING MALLS AND COLLECT OVER $14,000.
DECEMBER 13TH, KIWANIS, UH, CHILDREN'S PARADE.
OUR LEAD STOW EVENT BROUGHT OUT THOUSANDS OF HAPPY FAMILIES ALREADY TO KICK OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN THE BEST WAY, FROM SLEDDING DOWN REAL STOW HILLS TO ENJOYING FREE ACTIVITIES, CRAFTS AND FESTIVE FUN.
THE JOY ON EVERYONE'S FACES MADE THE NIGHT UNFORGETTABLE.
AND OF COURSE, OUR TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY LIT UP THE EVENT WITH HOLIDAY CHEER.
THANK YOU WEST COVINA FOR SHOWING UP WITH SO MUCH LOVE AND EXCITEMENT HERE TO A HAPPY, BRIGHT AND MAGICAL HOLIDAY SEASON FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, THE CUAS CLUB OF WEST COVINA PROUDLY PRESENTED THE ANNUAL IT'S ANNUAL CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARADE AND SANTA'S VILLAGE ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 13TH IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN WEST COVINA.
MARKING THE LARGEST PARADE SINCE THE THE EVENTS INCEPTION IN 2017, THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION CELEBRATED APPROXIMATELY 70 PARADE ENTRIES, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, FAMILIES, AND LOCAL BUSINESS.
THE HALLMARK OF THE CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARADE IS ITS DEDICATION TO SPOTLIGHTING CHILDREN OF ALL AGES IN OUR COMMUNITY, CELEBRATING THEIR INTERESTS, TALENTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND PLACING THEM AT THE HEART OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
IN THE 2026, HOMELESS COUNT IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21ST, 2026 AT THE CAMERON COMMUNITY CENTER, 1305 EAST CAMERON IN WEST COVINA.
IT IS SCHEDULED FROM 8:00 PM TO 12:00 AM VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE.
ANYBODY INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING CAN SCAN THE QR CODE ON THE SCREEN OR CAN EMAIL OUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION AT CED@WESTCOVINA.ORG WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO SIGN UP AND TO GET INVOLVED.
ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH, THE CITY RECEIVED THEIR NEW AERIAL TRUCK, ALSO KNOWN AS BOOM TRUCK.
THIS NEW VEHICLE REPLACED THE OLD BOOM TRUCK AND BRING US, BRINGS US UP TO STANDARDS IN SAFETY TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT.
THIS VEHICLE IS USED FOR REACHING HEIGHT PROJECTS TO INCLUDE ELECTRICAL WORK THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UPDATING STREET BANNERS AS NEEDED AND MUCH MORE IS A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR FLEET RECRUITMENT'S UNDERWAY.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE FIVE RECRUITMENTS UNDERWAY, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, POLICE LATERAL, UM, POLICE JAIL SUPERVISOR AND POLICE EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR HR TECHNOLOGY.
UH, THE CITY IS CURRENTLY UTILIZING NEO GOV, A CLOUD-BASED HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLATFORM, TAILORED FOR PUBLIC SECTOR.
NEO GOV SUPPORTS THE FULL EMPLOYEE LIFECYCLE, INCLUDING RECRUITMENT ONBOARDING, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT COMPLIANCE.
AT PRESENT, THE CITY IS ACTIVELY USING THE RECRUITMENT MODULE AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING THE ONBOARDING AND, UH, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT FEATURES.
THESE ADDITIONS WILL HELP STREAMLINE HR OPERATIONS, REDUCE MANUAL ERRORS AND ENHANCE COMPLIANCE ACROSS DEPARTMENTS.
NEXT STEPS INCLUDE, UH, NEO GOV CONSULTANTS WILL BE SCHEDULING FOLLOW-UP SESSIONS TO TRAIN HR STAFF ON THE THE NEW MODULES.
THIS WILL GREATLY CUT DOWN IN THE AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK, UM, PROCESSED BY OUR HR DEPARTMENT.
UM, UPCOMING EVENTS, UH, DISTRICT FOUR COMMUNITY MEETING WILL BE DECEMBER 17TH, WHICH IS TOMORROW NIGHT AT ALLIED RESTORATION.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION FOR TONIGHT, MADAM MAYOR.
[ORAL COMMUNICATIONS]
COMMUNICATIONS.COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER, UNLESS MODIFIED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER OR THE CITY COUNCIL REQUEST TO SPEAK ON THE AGENDA.
ITEMS WILL BE HEARD PRIOR TO REQUEST TO SPEAK ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY NOT ENGAGE IN BEHAVIOR THAT IS DISRUPTIVE TO THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPEAKING OFF TOPIC, SPEAKING BEYOND THE SPEAKER'S ALLOTTED TIME LIMIT, MAKING SLANDEROUS OR PROFANE REMARKS OR USING LOUD THREATENING OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE, WHICH DISRUPTS, DISTURBS, IMPEDES OR RENDERS
[00:15:01]
AND FEASIBLE THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING.MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY NOT THREATEN ANY PERSON WITH PHYSICAL HARM OR ACT IN A MANNER THAT MAY REASONABLY BE INTERPRETED AS AN IMMINENT THREAT OF PHYSICAL HARM.
WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME BEING CALLED AND FOR THE NEXT SPEAKERS, YOU MAY SIT ON THE FRONT ROW SEATS HERE THAT'S DESIGNATED FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
THE TIMER WILL START WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED DEPUTY CITY CLERK.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE TONIGHT? MADAM MAYOR? WE HAVE 13 SPEAKERS.
OKAY, WE WILL START WITH JOSH MURRAY, FOLLOWED BY MONICA FARIAS AND JOHN SCHUMAKER.
HI, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JOSH MURRAY AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF WEST COVINA LIBRARY.
TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH FROM THREE 30 TO 4:30 PM CHILDREN AGES FIVE TO 12.
AND THEIR PARENT OR CAREGIVER ARE INVITED TO JOIN US FOR A VERY SPECIAL GINGERBREAD MAN THEMED STORY TIME.
JOIN US AS WE SHARE A FEW LIVELY VERSIONS OF THIS CLASSIC HOLIDAY STORY, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA CUT OUT AND DECORATE OUR VERY OWN GINGERBREAD MEN FOR THE CRAFT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WILL CLOSE EARLY AT 5:00 PM ON WEDNESDAYS, DECEMBER 24TH AND 31ST FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND NEW YEAR'S EVE.
AND WE WILL ALSO BE CLOSED ON DECEMBER 25TH AND JANUARY 1ST FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S DAY HOLIDAYS.
UM, WE WILL, HOWEVER, RESUME OUR NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S.
AND I DO WANNA WISH EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
FIRST, I'M HERE TO, UH, CORRECT THE RECORD, MAKE A BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT AND MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE MILLION DOLLAR PLUS ATHENS, UH, PAYBACK.
FIRST, FOR THE RECORD, FALSE NARRATIVES HAVE BEEN CIRCULATED SPECIFICALLY BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN GUTIERREZ, CLAIMING THAT HE SILENCED ME.
THAT'S WHY I WAS NOT ATTENDING COUNCIL MEETINGS.
TRUTH IS I SUFFERED A SECOND STROKE IN SEPTEMBER.
ONE OF THE REASONS I'M READING INSTEAD OF NORMALLY HOW I JUST GIVE IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, WHILE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE FIRST STROKE IN OCTOBER OF 2024, MY ABSENCE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH INTIMIDATION.
EVERYTHING TO DO WITH MY HEALTH.
MY HEALTH COMES FIRST ABOVE ATTENDING MEETINGS THAT TOO OFTEN DEVOLVE INTO POLITICAL POSTURING, PETTY ARGUMENTS AND PERFORMATIVE CONCERNS THAT AVOIDS THE REAL PROBLEMS FACING OUR CITY.
NOW THE ANNOUNCEMENT, AS OF YESTERDAY, ALL CHARGES AGAINST ME WERE DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE BY THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THE CASE HAD NO FACTUAL BASIS RAISE SERIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS AND MOST TELLING THE COMPLAINING WITNESS FAILED TO APPEAR AT TWO SEPARATE HEARINGS, FAILED TO APPEAR TWICE, FAILED TO ATTEND A HEARING WHERE HE COULD HAVE MADE A STATEMENT TO DESCRIBE ANY ALLEGED IMPACT.
WHERE WAS THAT PERSON I UNDERSTAND WAS ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET FROM THE COURTHOUSE HERE IN THIS BUILDING.
WHY DO I RAISE THIS TONIGHT? BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ ATTEMPTED TO USE HIS CONTACTS AND INFLUENCE WITHIN THE CITY.
AND THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAD ME CHARGED WITH ELECTRONIC HARASSMENT FOR TRUTHFUL SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND LAWFUL COMMENTS MADE DURING CO CONSUL PROCEEDINGS.
THESE COMMENTS WERE NEVER OBJECTED TO BY ANYONE DURING THE MEETINGS AND WERE NEVER REMOVED BY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR VIOLATING COMMUNITY STANDARDS.
MIND YOU, THEY'LL REMOVE YOU FOR SAYING THE WRONG PRONOUN CONSUL.
MEMBER GUTIERREZ MAY ATTEMPT TO DISTRACT FOR THIS FAILURE BY REFERENCING A SEPARATE CIVIL MATTER CURRENTLY BEFORE THE APPELLATE COURT.
AFTER THE JUDGE IN THAT CASE ACKNOWLEDGE LIMITS AND CORRECTING AN ERROR.
I WILL ALLOW HIM TO EXPLAIN WHAT I CANNOT ADDRESS AT THIS TIME.
EVEN THOUGH STATEMENTS WERE TRUTHFUL OF FACT, HE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN COURT FILINGS OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
AND BEFORE THIS CONSULT, I RAISE THIS FOR ONE REASON, TO SEND A MESSAGE TO ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN THREATENED, INTIMIDATED, OR MADE TO FEAR HIM.
YOU ARE NOT DEALING WITH SOMEONE POWERFUL.
YOU ARE DEALING WITH SOMEONE WHO RETREATS WHEN REQUIRED TO PUT CLAIMS ON THE RECORD.
I STAND HERE AS PROOF THAT INTIMIDATION FAILS WHEN MET WITH FACTS IN THE LAW TO CITY EMPLOYEES.
IF YOU ARE TARGETED FOR ACTIONS TAKEN WITHIN THE SCOPE OF YOUR DUTIES, THE CITY IS LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DEFEND YOU.
STAND UP, STAND TALL, AND WE WILL PREFRAIL TO GATHER FINALLY TO ANYONE FACING BULLYING OR ABUSE OF AUTHORITY.
I HAVE DOCUMENTATION SHOWING A CLEAR PATTERN OF CONTRADICTORY, UNRELIABLE CONDUCT THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WE'D LIKE TO SPEAK TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE GREATER WEST COVINA.
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AND CEO OF THE GREATER WEST COVINA.WE'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE ATHENS 12 AMENDMENT.
THE GREATER WEST COVINA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION UNDERSTANDS THAT CALIFORNIA IS NOT BUILDING NEW LANDFILLS AND EXISTING LANDFILLS ARE CLOSING AND REACHING CAPACITY.
REMOVING ORGANIC MATERIALS AND RECYCLE AND RECYCLABLES AWAY FROM LANDFILLS IS A NECESSITY TO EXTEND LANDFILL LIFE AND AVOID SKYROCKETING DISPOSAL COSTS.
GWC ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT SENATE BILL SB 1383 IS NOT OPTIONAL.
SB 1383 IS AN UNFOUNDED MANDATE PLACES A BURDEN ON CITIES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THE STATE HAS NOT PROVIDED SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT, IMPLEMENT THESE WASTE DIVERSION REQUIREMENTS, LEAVING CITIES LIKE WEST COVINA TO BEAR THE FULL FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL BURDEN.
WE REALIZED THAT WEST COVINA IS THE LAST CITY IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TO FULLY COMPLY WITH SB 1383 REQUIREMENTS.
DELAYING ACTION PUTS FURTHER THE CITY AT RISK OF STATE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, FINES, AND AUDITS, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY IMPACT RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
SO IN CLOSING, THE GREATER WEST COVINA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION DOES NOT WANT INCREASES TO ANYONE, BUT UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
THIS AMENDMENT ENSURES LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WEST COVINA RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
NEXT THREE SPEAKERS WILL BE JERRY PORES, FOLLOWED BY DAISY PEREZ AND MATTHEW SMITH.
UM, WE SEEM TO BE HAVING A PROBLEM IN THIS CITY WITH JUST FOLLOWING BASIC PROTOCOLS.
AND FOR THE LAST YEAR, I HAVE WATCHED THE PROTOCOL THAT HAS DRIVEN ME BONKERS.
IT'S THE PLACEMENT OF THE AMERICAN FLAG.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY HAS GUIDELINES, RULES, PROTOCOLS ON WHERE THE AMERICAN FLAG IS SUPPOSED TO BE WHEN THERE'S OTHER FLAGS.
AND I'M ASKING THE MAYOR THIS YEAR IF SHE WILL CHANGE AND PUT THE FLAGS IN PROPERLY.
THE, I'VE PASSED OUT TO THE COUNCIL AN EXCERPT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I'VE GIVEN THE CITY MANAGER THE ENTIRE FLAG THING.
I KNOW HE KNOWS HOW TO GET IT AND I'M SURE HE KNOWS ABOUT IT.
BUT TO SIT AND WATCH MEETING AFTER MEETING AFTER MEETING WITH THE AMERICAN FLAG IN THE LOWEST POSITION THAT IT MEANS NOTHING HAS BEEN INFURIATING FOR THE LAST YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH A VERY SIMPLE FACT, WHICH IS THAT THE BRAIN IS PLASTIC.
IT IS CONSTANTLY RESHAPING ITSELF BASED ON THE ENVIRONMENTS IT MOVES THROUGH.
SO ONE OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS IS, YOU ARE WHAT YOU SEE.
SO JUST AS FOOD SHAPES YOUR BODY, YOUR ENVIRONMENT SHAPES YOUR BRAIN.
WHEN YOU LIVE IN A CITY THAT IS WALKABLE, VISUALLY APPEALING, AND CONSCIOUSLY CURATED FOR HUMAN LIFE, SOMETHING WONDERFUL HAPPENS.
PEOPLE BLOOM, THEY CONNECT, THEY ENGAGE COMMUNITY PROSPERS NATURALLY.
ALTERNATIVELY, WHEN YOU LIVE IN A CITY THAT IS DOMINATED BY CONSTANT NOISE, POLLUTION, AND CLUTTER, THE BRAIN BECOMES DYSREGULATED.
THE RESULT IS COGNITIVE FATIGUE, INCREASED IMPULSIVITY, HEIGHTENED STRESS HORMONES.
SO I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION, WHICH IS, HOW CAN YOU EXPECT UPSTANDING AND ENGAGED CITIZENS WHEN OUR VERY ENVIRONMENT UNDERMINES THOSE CAPACITIES? WHAT I WANT TO SEE IS URBAN PLANNING THAT REFLECTS A TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN BIOLOGY THAT WANTS US NOT JUST TO SURVIVE BUT THRIVE.
[00:25:01]
NEXT SPEAKER.UM, I AM MATTHEW SMITH AND CO-CHAIR OF THE HISTORIC WEST COVINA BUSINESS DISTRICT, ALONG WITH DOUG FOR AND FOREST TENETS.
I WILL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE 18 MEMBER DISTRICT.
TONIGHT'S THE HISTORIC WEST COVINA BUSINESS DISTRICT IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITY'S RECOMMENDATION OF ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS ON CONSENT OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA IN AMENDMENT 12.
IT STATES THAT THE CITY IS RECOMMENDING A 17% PAY HIKE FOR TRASH COLLECTION FOR BUSINESSES TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE H-W-C-B-D THINKS THAT THIS IS AN UNFAIR THIS, THAT THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY UNFAIR BURDEN TO PLACE ON YOUR CITY BUSINESSES.
WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A STATE UNFOUNDED UNFUNDED MANDATE THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED AND THE H-W-C-B-D WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO PROBLEM SOLVE THE COST OF THIS MANDATE AND COME UP WITH A FAIR SOLUTION FOR EVERYONE.
IT IS OUR REQUEST THAT THIS ITEM BE PULLED BY THE CITY COUNCIL UNTIL DIALOGUE CAN OCCUR WITH WHO IT AFFECTS THE MOST CITY BUSINESSES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING INDIVIDUALLY HOW THE VOTE GOES TONIGHT.
NEXT SPEAKERS ARE JENNY PHILLIPS, FOLLOWED BY DENNIS PHILLIPS AND JAMES MOORE.
ON, UH, UH, SEPTEMBER 12TH, I FOUND MY BROTHER'S BODY, UH, AT 9 2 5 SOUTH VALINDA AVENUE HERE IN WEST COVINA.
AND I WAS APPALLED, OBVIOUSLY, UH, FINDING A DEAD BODY IS BAD ENOUGH.
I WAS APPALLED AT THE LIVING CONDITIONS THAT HE WAS IN AND APPALLED AT THE PROPERTY.
AND THAT, AND THE FACT THAT HE LIVES THIS WAY AND LIVED THAT WAY IS APPALLING.
BUT THE FACT THAT HE WAS UNDER A CONSERVATOR, A RECEIVERSHIP FOR 12 MONTHS AND WAS STILL LIVING IN THOSE CONDITIONS, IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION.
THE PROPERTY HAD WEEDS TALLER THAN ME AS I OBSERVED THE PROPERTY AND WAITED FOR THE CORONER TO TAKE OUT MY BROTHER'S PROPERTY, MY BROTHER'S BODY.
THREE DAYS LATER, I RETURNED TO THE PROPERTY AND CLEANED UP THE PARKING AND THE FRONT YARD AND DOWN THE DRIVEWAY.
'CAUSE THEY, THEY COULDN'T TAKE THE BODY OUT.
I HAD TO MAKE A PASS SO THEY COULD GET THE BODY OUT OF THE PROPERTY.
SO THEN I START DIGGING INTO THIS THING.
WHAT TURNS OUT, UH, IT TURNS OUT TO, YOU KNOW, GETTING RID OF ALL THE TRASH AND THE DEBRIS AND ALL OF THAT TURNS INTO $190,000 REMODEL OF A HOUSE WITH A 40, WITH A $46,000 KITCHEN, AN 1100 SQUARE FOOT, TINY LITTLE BOX.
WHERE COULD THEY EVEN PUT A $46,000 KITCHEN? BECAUSE CLEARLY IT, IT'S NOT GONNA BE IN THAT HOUSE, BUT SOMEONE IS GONNA PUT THAT 46,000 IN THEIR POCKET.
UH, UH, UH, WE HAVE WHEAT ABATEMENT,
BUT THEY'RE GONNA PUT A $17,000 UPGRADE ELECTRICAL PANEL ON AN 1100 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE THAT ONLY HAS LIGHTS IN A, LITERALLY, I THINK THERE'S 18 OUTLETS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE HOUSE.
AND A $24,000 BATHROOM IN THAT TINY LITTLE 1100 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE.
THE ABSURDITY OF THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE MECHANISM.
I CAN'T GO INTO IT ALL, AND I DON'T HAVE THE TIME ON THE CLOCK, BUT IT JUST, THE HAIR STANDS UP ON THE BACK OF MY NECK.
I AM TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE PROPERTY.
THEY ARE WORKING WITH ME SUPPOSEDLY.
AND, AND WE SENT LETTERS TO YOU.
AND THE THE INTENT IS, IS AS I HAVE ALREADY DONE AND MITIGATING OUT PROP STUFF ON THE PROPERTY, I WILL DO WHAT IS CORRECT FOR THAT PROPERTY AND MY FAMILY.
UH, WE CITY MANAGER HAS HIS CARD.
OKAY, SO TODAY WHEN DENNIS WAS AWAY FROM HOME DOING SOME OTHER JOBS, CAN YOU PUT YOUR SPEAKER MICROPHONE? OH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN BRING IT DOWN IF YOU LIKE, THERE.
I THINK I, I WENT THROUGH A STACK OF DOCUMENTS THAT HE HAD COLLECTED ABOUT THIS TALL, AND I, I COUNTED UP TO LIKE A LITTLE OVER 160
[00:30:01]
PAGES AND THERE WAS STILL A BUNCH MORE TO GO.BUT I, AS I WAS DOING, I WAS MARKING, UM, THE REFERENCES TO HOW HE UNHEALTHY THE PROPERTY WAS TO THE SAFETY.
I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S COMMENTS LIKE SUBSTANTIAL THREAT, DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, SIGNIFICANT RISK TO HEALTH LIFE, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THREAT, IMMEDIATE RISK TO HEALTH, SAFETY, IMMINENT DANGER TO THE NEIGHBORS AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND LIKE DENNIS SAID, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, DAVID WAS STILL LIVING IN THE HOUSE AND, AND WE, WE GOT A COPY OF THE CITY'S, UM, RELATED AN INSPECTION ON THE HOUSE.
HE TOOK A COUPLE HUNDRED PICTURES.
YOU KNOW, YOU SEE DAVID SITTING ON THE COUCH FROM THE BACKSIDE AND THERE'S JUST DEBRIS EVERYWHERE.
AND, AND ONE OF THE, THE, THE OBLIGATIONS IT APPEARS OF, OF A RECEIVER IS TO TAKE CARE OF THE PERSON, RIGHT? TO GET HIM OUT OF THOSE LIFES RISKY SITUATIONS THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN.
AND HE WAS OBVIOUSLY HAVING MENTAL ISSUES.
I MEAN, NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE LIKE THAT IF THEY'RE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND.
BUT, YOU KNOW, A YEAR OR SO LATER, THEY, THEY NEVER EVEN WENT BACK TO CHECK AND SEE IF HE WAS STILL ALIVE.
AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE OBLIGATION ONCE, ONCE YOU HIRE A RECEIVER, I DON'T KNOW, THEY'RE LIKE THE GODS OF LEGAL SYSTEM.
I MEAN, YOU REALLY CAN'T UNLEASH YOURSELF FROM WHAT THEY'VE TAKEN OVER.
AND THEY REALLY HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE PROPERTY.
THEY PUT A $310,000 LIEN ON HIS HOUSE.
THEY WENT BACK FOR EMERGENCY MONEY.
AND, AND I MEAN, THE BIDS ON THE, ON, ON THE REMODEL OF, OF OF HOUSE THAT, LIKE DENNIS JUST DESCRIBED, IS OUTRAGEOUS.
I MEAN, IT'S A MONEY MAKING MACHINE FOR SURE.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE THINK IF THE, IF THE RECEIVER HAD TAKEN THE, THE 26 OR $24,000 THEY HAD SET ASIDE FOR, FOR DAVID'S, YOU, YOU KNOW, MOVING INTO SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT WAS SAFE.
I GOT IN A LITTLE KIND OF ARGUMENT WITH JARED, WHO IS THE RECEIVERS KIND OF GO BETWEEN, BETWEEN US AND AND THEM.
AND I SAID, WHY DIDN'T YOU DO SOMETHING FOR DAVID IN ALL THAT YEAR'S TIME? AND HE SAID, WELL, YOU'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE MONEY, BUT THAT WOULD'VE COST A LOT MORE MONEY.
THAT WOULD'VE JUST COST A LOT MORE MONEY.
AND THEN DENNIS, WE HANG UP THE PHONE AND DENNIS SAYS, WELL, THEY HAVE A LINE ITEM IN THERE FOR 20 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND THE PROJECT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE SIX MONTHS, SO THAT WOULD'VE BEEN $4,000 A MONTH.
YOU COULD HAVE FOUND A REALLY NICE PLACE FOR DAVID.
AND WE, HE'D PROBABLY STILL BE ALIVE.
AND SO WHAT WE, IN THE LETTER THAT I WROTE TO YOU AND EMAIL IT TO YOU, I MEAN, WE'RE ASKING THAT MAYBE THE CITY GO BACK TO THE COURT AND UNDO THIS RECEIVERSHIP.
DENNIS IS GOING THROUGH PROBATE.
IT'S GOING THROUGH REALLY SMOOTHLY.
I MEAN, HE'S GONNA BE THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE AND HE'S, AND HE'S GOT I IN, IN THE LETTERS THAT I SENT YOU.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT HE'S QUALIFIED TO DO.
WE DON'T NEED A RECEIVERSHIP ON THIS PROPERTY.
HI, I'M, I'M JAMES MOORE,
UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT FIRST OFFICER HERE ABOUT A DRIVER ISSUE.
BUT NOW THERE'S CONCERN THAT WRITER AND THE DRIVER.
I WAS LOOKING FOR SOME OF MY RIDER TO BE HERE.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WRITERS WANT ME TO, UH, SPEAK FOR THEM BECAUSE IT AFFECTS BOTH OF US.
THE ISSUE IS WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
WE HOPE THAT THE BOY WILL LOOK TO IT AS, I THINK I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED A VIRTUAL SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE HOT MESS.
I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.
AND WHAT IT IS, PEOPLE WHO RIDE, THEY'RE SO USED TO THINGS LIKE UBER AND I DON'T CARE HOW YOU TRY TO PROGRAM THEM.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE UNPROGRAMMED.
AND, AND THIS THING, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
AND I, I'VE TALKED TO HUNDREDS OF 'EM FOR A WHOLE YEAR AND EVERY DAY IS THE SAME THING.
THEY'RE STUCK ON PICK ME UP HERE.
I TOLD THEM I WANNA GO TO VONS, I WANNA GO TO STATER BROTHERS.
THAT'S WHAT I PUT IN THE SYSTEM.
AND, AND, AND, AND, UH, VIA SAID, OKAY, VIA DID NOT SEND THEM A, A MESSAGE AND SAY, BY THE WAY, MEET ME AT, UH, YOU KNOW, ROLAND AND AZUA.
THEY JUST SAY, OKAY, THEN YOU HAVE A, THEN YOU HAVE THE WRITERS WHO ARE UPSET, VERY UPSET.
I KNOW YOU WANT TO WANT THIS TO BE IN HARMONY, BUT YOU AND THE RIDER AND THE DRIVERS, BUT IS A CHAOTIC MESS RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE EVEN THE DRIVERS, MYSELF HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED.
WE'VE BEEN CALLED RACIAL SLURS.
WE'VE BEEN, THERE'S BEEN SOME, UM, FIGHTS ALMOST BECAUSE THE RIDER ARE UPSET BECAUSE MAYBE THEY HAVE TO GO TO WORK, MAYBE THEY HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL, WHATEVER.
AND THEY'RE COMING HERE, THEY'RE PLATFORM IS TELLING THEM, RIGHT HERE, STOP HERE.
AND I LOOKED THE WRITER SHOW ME.
BUT THEN WE'RE TOLD TO STOP ACROSS THE STREET WHETHER GBS, THEY'RE NOT IN SYNC.
THIS VIRTUAL SYSTEM, NOBODY IS CORRECTING IT.
THE WRITERS HERE ARE COMPLAINING LIKE CRAZY.
SO IT CREATES TENSION, ARGUMENTS, FIGHTS, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S NOT PRETTY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO TELL YOU BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HAPPY.
[00:35:01]
BUT WE CAN ONLY GO WHERE THE SYSTEM TELLS US TO GO.AND THEY CAN ONLY GO WHERE THE SYSTEM IS TELLING THEM TO GO.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHO, WHO DESIGNED THAT OR WHATEVER.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT.
YOU HAVE A SOMEONE WHO SENT THE ACCOUNT HOLDER LIKE THE MOTHER.
THERE'S 50 OTHER PEOPLE WHO USE THAT, THAT SYSTEM.
THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
'CAUSE I ASK 'EM, YOU KNOW, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM? NO, I'M USING AUNTIES.
SO THE PROBLEM IS NOBODY UNDERSTAND IT.
THERE'S BEEN NO EDUCATION, NO TRAINING, NOTHING IN THE SYSTEM TO EXPLAIN TO THEM VIRTUAL.
IT IS CONFUSING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP THEM GET IT.
AND SO THEY'RE CONFUSED AND IT CAUSES A LOT OF FIGHTS AND ARGUMENTS.
THE LAST FOUR SPEAKERS ARE JIM RAVICH, FOLLOWED BY JD, FOLLOWED BY STEVE BENNETT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING.
I'VE ACTUALLY SPOKEN TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT QUITE A FEW TIMES OVER THE YEARS.
WHEN I INFORMED THE COUNCIL THAT IF THEY ADOPTED THE ATHENS CONTRACT AS PROPOSED BY THE THEN CITY MANAGER, THEY WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
AND I'M GONNA REPEAT THAT SAME STATEMENT.
THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA RULED IN 2022 THAT THE IMPOSITION OF A FRANCHISE FEE IN CONJUNCTION WITH TRASH PICKUP FEES IS, IS A VIOLATION OF WHAT WE CALL PROPOSITION 13.
AND IT'S COROLLARY, UH, AMENDMENTS THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE A TAX INCREASE WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.
THE FRANCHISE FEE AS ADMINISTERED BY WEST COVINA IS A TAX INCREASE.
THE MONEY IS RAISED BY YOUR TRASH HAULER AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA TO USE AT THEIR DISCRETION.
THAT'S THE TAX INCREASE WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU INSTRUCT THE CITY STAFF TO TAKE THAT CLAUSE OUT, OUT OF THE CONTRACT.
THE SECOND ISSUE IS, HOW COULD THE TRASH HAULER AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS EXTRA MONEY THAT'S JUST BEING GIVEN TO THE CITY TO DO AS WITH THEY AS THEY WISH? WELL, THEY'RE HAVING AN EXCESSIVE COST INCREASE IN THIS CONTRACT.
YOU ALREADY HEARD ONE COMPLAINT ABOUT IT.
IT DOESN'T COST 17% MORE MONEY TO PICK UP ONE MORE TRASH CAN.
THAT'S AN EXCESSIVE COST INCREASE.
BUT THE BIGGEST COST INCREASE IS HIDDEN IN THE SMALL PRINT.
I HAD TO LOOK REALLY HARD TO FIND IT.
UH, IT'S IN ARTICLE EIGHT OF THIS DOCUMENT.
IN THE ACTUAL CONTRACT, NOT THERE IS A, A CLAUSE THAT SAYS EACH YEAR THE HOLLER WILL BE ENTITLED TO RAISE THE RATES BY THE COST OF LIVING INDEX PLUS 1%.
THE PLUS 1% DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A WHOLE LOT, BUT IF YOU ADD IT ON FOR EVERY YEAR FOR 25 YEARS, YOU'VE INCREASED THE COST BY 30%.
THAT ALL GOES INTO THE POCKET OF THE HAULER.
AND OF COURSE, THEY HAVE END UP WITH WAY MORE MONEY THAN PAYING AN EXTRA MILLION AND A HALF TO THE CITY.
SO THREE OR 4 MILLION FOR THEM, A MILLION AND A HALF FOR THE CITY.
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? THANK YOU.
IT FEELS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN AND FEEL SAFE.
A COUPLE PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT.
SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ATHENS CONTRACT.
JIM TALKED ABOUT THE FRANCHISE FEE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT'S A TAX, THAT'S BASICALLY YOU GUYS OR THE VENDOR USING THE TAX OR USING THE FRANCHISE FEE AS A FEE TO USE OUR STREETS OR HOWEVER WE WANT TO CALL IT.
BUT IT'S, AS JIM POINTED OUT AND VERY ELOQUENTLY, I'LL LET YOU SIT ON HIS WORDS.
UM, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FIF, THE $1.5 MILLION.
[00:40:01]
I I LIKE ATHENS, RIGHT? THEY DO GOOD SERVICE.THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN GOOD WITH ME.
NOTHING AGAINST THE COMPANY BY ANY STRETCH, BUT $1.5 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY TO GIVE THIS CITY TO FUND TONY'S FESTIVALS OR WHATEVER WE'RE DOING WITH THAT MONEY.
JIM TALKED ABOUT THE FRANCHISE FEE BEING A TAX, BUT THE REALITY IS OUR RATES ARE HIGHER.
AGAIN, AS JIM ELOQUENTLY POINTED OUT, TOOK SOME OF MY THUNDER, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S OKAY.
IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A TAX, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A STEALING OF THE RESIDENTS.
THE TAXPAYERS, MY MONEY, THEIR MONEY, YOUR MONEY, OUR MONEY TO GIVE THE CITY TO P**S ON WHATEVER THEY WANT.
IT'S TO FILL THE HOLES OF THE MILLION DOLLARS YOU'RE MOVING FROM THE RESERVE FUNDS BECAUSE WE'RE BAD PLANNERS.
AND WE TRIED TO PASS A BUDGET THAT WASN'T ACCURATE.
IT'S, IT'S $1.5 MILLION THAT IF YOU TOOK THAT AND DIVIDED OUT BY EVERY CUSTOMER OF ATHENS IN WEST COVINA, WE WOULD SEE A RATE DECREASE INSTEAD OF INCREASE.
WE COULD SEE A SAVINGS OF MONEY.
YOU WOULD SEE SOME OF THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE FINANCIALLY CHALLENGED BEING ABLE TO AFFORD A LITTLE BIT MORE.
IT, IT MAY BE 50 CENTS, IT MAY BE $10 STILL MONEY IN THEIR POCKET.
BUT INSTEAD THIS CITY IS NEGOTIATED A TRASH CONTRACT WITH A $1.5 MILLION GIFT TO THE CITY TO USE HOW THEY WANT FOR THEIR PET PROJECTS, FOR THEIR FUNDS.
UH, YOU GUYS ARE TAXING THE RESIDENTS IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY.
IT MAY NOT BE CALLED A TAX, BUT YOU'RE BASICALLY STEALING FROM THE TAXPAYERS, FROM THE PEOPLE WHO YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT.
GO BACK TO THE TRASH HAULER AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S, LET'S DIVIDE THAT OUT AMONG SEVEN, 10,000 HOUSES, WHATEVER IT MAY BE IN THE CITY BUSINESSES, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
'CAUSE AT $1.5 MILLION, YOU GUYS ARE TERRIBLE WITH MONEY HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS.
YOU CAN'T KEEP GOING TO VENDORS AND HAVING THEM GIFT YOU TAXPAYER MONEY OR RESIDENTS MONEY, HARD-EARNED MONEY.
DO THE RIGHT THING AND RENEGOTIATE THIS CONTRACT.
I HAVE RESTAURANTS IN DISTRICT THREE, COUPLE BUSINESSES.
UM, I WANNA TALK ABOUT ATHENS.
I THINK THEY'RE A GREAT COMPANY.
UM, I THINK THE GALS THAT SIT BACK THERE, UM, I'VE GOT TO KNOW THEM OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
THIS IS NOT A, AN ATTACK ON THEM.
I WILL JUST WANNA READ YOU GUYS MY LAST BILL FROM BUN STREET, JUST ONE OF MY LOCATIONS.
THE MONTH OF THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, I HAVE TO LOCK MY LID, UM, BECAUSE IF I DON'T LOCK MY LID, I WILL GET, UM, PEOPLE TO COME THROW STUFF IN.
AND THEN I GET $120 OVER THE TOP FEE.
SO WE STARTED LOCKING OUR LID.
SO MY LOCKING LID FEE WAS $87 AND 36 CENTS WITH A FRANCHISE FEE ON TOP OF THAT OF $9 AND 71 CENTS.
MY FEE TO PICK UP FIVE UP TO FIVE TIMES A WEEK IS $879 AND 85 CENTS.
MY FRANCHISE FEE ON THAT WAS $97 AND 76 CENTS.
MY NEXT FEE WAS CALLED A WASTE MANAGEMENT SEARCH CHARGE FEE, WHICH WAS $25 AND 90 CENTS.
MY NEXT ONE IS ORGANIC FEE OF $5 AND 78 CENTS WITH A FRANCHISE FEE OF 64 CENTS.
MY NEXT FEE WAS A TRASH LOCKING FEE, AGAIN FOR $94 AND 90 CENTS WITH A FRANCHISE FEE OF $10 AND 94 CENTS.
MY NEXT FEE WAS A ONE TIME SETUP FEE FOR 30 $39 AND 76 CENTS WITH A FRANCHISE FEE OF $4 AND 42 CENTS.
MY TOTAL BILL FOR MY ONE LOCATION WAS $1,258 AND 62 CENTS.
OKAY, IT'S 17% PLUS THE FRANCHISE FEE PLUS THE TAXES, WHICH COMES OUT TO ABOUT 21 TO 21.5%.
UM, SO MY BILL'S GONNA GO UP ANOTHER 200, $220, ABOUT $240.
SO NOW I'M GONNA BE PAYING $1,500 IN TAXES TO PICK UP AT THAT ONE LOCATION.
UM, IT'S, WHEN I STARTED THERE ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO, IT WAS AROUND $600.
UM, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY JUST, JUST TO PICK UP TRASH.
[00:45:01]
UM, AGAIN, NOTHING AGAINST ATHENS.WE'RE PUTTING IT ON THE POOR BUSINESSES AGAIN.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THIS IS GONNA RAISE.
THAT WAS AN OUTLINED, YOU KNOW, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR TONIGHT.
WILL YOU PLEASE RESPOND TO ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WE JUST HAD? CONCERNS? THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR.
UM, JOSH MURRAY, THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR UPDATES ON THE LIBRARY.
RAMON, MATT, UH, MR. GRITCH, STEVE BENNETT, DOUG FOR, UM, THE, THE ATHENS ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
I'LL LET COUNSEL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND, UH, THE PROVIDER ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS DURING THE PRESENTATION.
UH, MR. SCHUMAKER, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR UPDATES, COMMENTS, AND I'M SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.
UM, THERE'S NOTHING WORTH LOSING YOUR HEALTH OVER, SO PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS ON THE, ON THE FLAGS AND YOU COMING TO MY OFFICE, YOU'LL SEE HOW MINE ARE SET UP, RIGHT.
UM, DAISY PEREZ, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, CONCERNS AND YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE ISSUES OF URBAN PLANNING.
UM, JENNY AND, UH, DENNIS PHILLIPS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS ABOUT THE 9 2 5 ADDRESS.
UM, THE RECEIVERSHIP, UM, I'VE DEALT WITH RECEIVERSHIPS THROUGHOUT MY CAREER.
UM, I WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH YOU AND WE'LL SET UP A MEETING AND WE'LL GET THAT RESOLVED.
UM, USUALLY THE RECEIVERSHIP IS THE LAST ACTION THAT A CITY WILL TAKE TO GAIN VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE, AND IT'S, UH, THE RECEIVER'S APPOINTED BY THE COURT.
BUT I WILL WORK WITH YOU TO, UM, GET THAT RESOLVED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
UM, MR. MOORE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, CONCERNS ABOUT THE DRIVERS.
UH, I WILL PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH, UH, KELLY MCDONALD, WHO'S THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THAT PROGRAM.
WE'LL SET UP AN IN-HOUSE MEETING AND WE'LL ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS AND YOU CAN BRING SOME OF THE DRIVERS WITH YOU.
WE'LL SORT THIS OUT, GET IT RESOLVED.
UM, I BELIEVE, YEAH, BECAUSE THE OTHER COMMENTS WERE ALL ABOUT THE, THE TRASH CONTRACT.
SO THAT CONCLUDES MY RESPONSES FOR TONIGHT.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
CALENDAR, COUNSEL, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR? GOOD.UH, COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ NUMBER FIVE.
UH, MADAM MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS.
DID YOU HAVE ONE YOU'D LIKE TO PULL? COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YES.
UM, I WOULD DO NUMBER 1, 2, 3, 6, 8.
WAIT, IT'S ONLY ONE THROUGH NINE.
SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR? I'LL MOVE ITEM, UH, ITEM ONE THROUGH NINE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, AND EIGHT.
[1. CONSIDERATION OF THE WEST COVINA COMMUNITY SERVICES FOUNDATION FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 ANNUAL REPORT]
ITEM NUMBER ONE.SO, UH, KAREN, IF YOU COULD GIVE US A, UH, I THINK WE, WE SPOKE ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT TOO, BUT IF YOU COULD GIVE US AN UPDATE ON OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES FOUNDATION AND ALSO, UH, LET US KNOW, UM, WHAT IS, UM, IF, IF WE COULD, IF WE COULD JUST CORRECT THE RECORD ON GIVING THE PUBLIC, UH, THE CORRECT STATUS OF OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES FOUNDATION.
UM, OUR CURRENT STATUS FOR THE WEST COVINA COMMUNITY SERVICES FOUNDATION IS THAT WE ARE IN A REVOKE STATUS.
UM, WE JUST RECEIVED AN EMAIL THIS MORNING.
THE CITY HAS, UH, REQUESTED TO GET A REINSTATEMENT FOR THE FOUNDATION STATUS.
WE GOT AN EMAIL THIS MORNING SAYING THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS, BUT IT'S STILL GONNA TAKE ABOUT 10 DAYS AT LEAST.
BUT SO CURRENTLY WE'RE AT A REVOKE STATUS AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY UPDATES, NOR HAVE THERE BEEN ANY UPDATES ON THE WEBSITE.
AND, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT BECAUSE OF YOU, BUT, UH, I THINK, UH, WE BOTH, UH, LOOKED AT A EMAIL THAT OUR LOCAL, UH, LEGISLATORS ARE ABLE TO GET FROM, UM, THE SEC FROM, UM, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHARITY TRUST DEPARTMENT.
AND I THINK THEY INDICATED THAT THE, THE, THE PERSON BEFORE YOU FAILED TO FILE, I BELIEVE, TAX RETURNS, RIGHT? THAT'S
[00:50:01]
CORRECT.THERE WERE A FEW YEARS OF TAX RETURNS THAT WERE NOT FILED, AND THEREFORE, UM, IT PUT US INTO THAT DIFFERENT STATUS.
AND THEN, UM, AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, CITY ATTORNEY, UM, IF THE CHARITY HAS BEEN COLLECTING DONATIONS AS A NON, IF WE HAVE BEEN SOLICITING AS A NONPROFIT, I THINK WE'VE BEEN IN REVOKED STATUS QUO, I BELIEVE, FOR THREE YEARS.
IF WE HAVE BEEN SOLICITING DONATIONS AS AN, AS A NONPROFIT, BUT WE'VE BEEN IN REVOK STATUS, UH, THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO LOOK INTO.
BUT, UM, DO YOU KNOW IF WE AS A CITY NOW HAVE, OR AS A NONPROFIT, HAVE AN OBLIGATION NOW TO NOTIFY THOSE DONORS THAT THE, THEIR DONATION WAS NOT CONSIDERED A DEDUCTION UNDER THE IRS CODE? YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING I'M GONNA HAVE TO LOOK INTO.
I'M JUST LEARNING THIS RIGHT NOW AS WELL.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? UM, WHERE WERE YOU APPROVING? SO MOVED.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? THE REPORT.
[2. CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE SOLID WASTE AGREEMENT WITH ATHENS SERVICES]
NUMBER TWO, PULLED BY COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ.UM, I THINK, UH, THIS IS THE ATHENS CONTRACT, SO I THINK EITHER IF CITY STAFF OR UH, ATHENS COULD PRESENT ON IT OR VICE VERSA.
UM, I'LL GIVE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION.
SO HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.
IN SEPTEMBER, 2016, GOVERNOR BROWN SIGNED INTO LAW SENATE BILL 1383, AN UNFUNDED MANDATE THAT REQUIRES ALL CITIES TO SET GOALS TO REDUCE THE DISPOSAL OF ORGANIC WASTE AND LANDFILLS, INCLUDING EDIBLE FOOD.
SB 1383 ALSO IMPOSES A COMPLEX SET OF MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS ON CITIES REQUIRING ALL RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PREMISES TO COMPLY WITH RIGOROUS ORGANIC WASTE RECYCLING PROGRAM.
IN, IN 2021, THE C INTER CITY ENTERED INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH ATHENS TO AMEND THE EXISTING AGREEMENT TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE'S UNFUNDED MANDATE, SB 1383.
IN 2022, A PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE TO THE AGREEMENT WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
AFTER DISCUSSION, THE ITEM WAS TABLED AND NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED.
THE PROS PROPOSED AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU WOULD BRING THE CITY INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE'S UNFUNDED MANDATE.
1383 ENFORCEMENT FOR NON-COMPLIANCE, INCLUDING POTENTIAL FINES, BEGAN IN JANUARY OF 2024.
PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE OF 1383 ARE UP TO $10,000 PER DAY.
JUST TODAY, WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT, UM, CALVARY CYCLE WILL BE CONDUCTING COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS IN EARLY JANUARY, 2026 TO CONFIRM THE CITY IS OR IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE.
AND WE ARE SUBJECT TO FINES AT THAT TIME.
UH, WE HAVE ATHENS HERE ALSO TO ANSWER ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMAN
IF ATHENS COULD, UH, OH, YEAH, HERE YOU GO.
UM, YEAH, I THINK MYAN UH, SAID IT TOO.
AND THEN, UM, AND THEN WHY, WHY IS THERE A, UM, IS THIS THE ONE WITH THE 17% INCREASE? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
AND IF YOU COULD JUST EXPLAIN WHAT WAS THAT FOR SURE OR WHY.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LIZ RAMIREZ, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AT ATHENS SERVICES.
SO AS, UH, UH, CITY MANAGER, UH, MILAN MENTIONED THIS IS A STATE MANDATE.
UM, IT IS PROB IT IS THE MOST MONUMENTAL STATE, UH, RECYCLING LEGISLATION THAT HAS HIT THIS INDUSTRY IN THE LAST FEW DECADES.
THERE'S ABOUT SIX DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH.
IT'S NOT JUST THE COLLECTION PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE TO INTRODUCE A SO, UH, SOURCE SEPARATED PROGRAM AND ORGANICS COLLECTION.
BUT THERE'S ALSO AN ELEMENT OF CONTAMINATION MONITORING.
WE HAVE TO REGULARLY MONITOR THE ROUTES AND MAKE SURE THAT CUSTOMERS ARE ACTUALLY COMPLYING WITH THE LAW.
THERE'S WASTE ASSESSMENTS WE HAVE TO DO AT OUR FACILITIES TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE INBOUND LOADS THAT ARE COMING IN.
UM, WE HAVE ENHANCED OUTREACH AND EDUCATION THAT ARE, THAT IS PART OF THIS AS WELL AS PROCUREMENT.
WE HAVE TO PROCURE A LARGE AMOUNT OF COMPOST AND MULCH ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND FIND A BENEFICIAL REUSE FOR IT AS WELL.
UM, THERE'S RECORD KEEPING COMPONENTS AND THERE'S ALSO FOOD RECOVERY SUPPORT THAT WE'RE PROVIDING.
THIS LAW IS AIMED TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ALSO AVOID AS MUCH WASTE GOING INTO THE LANDFILL.
NOW THE QUESTION IS WHY, WHY THE 17%? THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING NEGOTIATION.
UM, COSTS THIS, THIS YEAR IN THE INDUSTRY ALONE, WE'VE HAD SOME MAJOR IMPACTS TO DISPOSAL.
UM, THE LA COUNTY LANDFILL SYSTEM
[00:55:01]
WAS IMPACTED SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN CHIQUITA CANYON CLOSED.THAT DROVE THE COST TO, OF THE COST OF WELL SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF CAPACITY IN THE REGION EXTREMELY HIGH.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT I JUST MENTIONED, HAVING TO INVEST IN DATABASE SYSTEMS TO KEEP THE CITY COMPLIANT, HAVING TO EXPAND OUR TEAMS, THE LABOR ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THOSE ELEMENTS, THE CAPITAL THAT WE HAVE TO PURCHASE TO COMPLY JUST IN THE CITY ALONE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PURCHASE FOUR RESIDENTIAL TRUCKS.
EACH TRUCK IS ABOUT $500 MILLION EACH.
WE HAVE TO, UH, PURCHASE TWO NEW COMMERCIAL TRUCKS, WHICH AGAIN, ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF BARRELS, WE HAVE 23,000 BARRELS, RIGHT? ANOTHER $2 MILLION.
SO JUST ON THE COLLECTION COMPONENT ALONE, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT COLLECTIVELY THE CONTAMINATION MONITORING, THE WASTE ASSESSMENTS AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE IN MANY, IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES, NOT JUST WASTE AND RECYCLING.
MANY INDUSTRIES WERE IMPACTED BY UNFUNDED MANDATES.
SO WE'RE HERE TO PROPOSE AND WE'VE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY WITH STAFF, UM, LEADERSHIP COUNCIL TO TRY TO GET THE BEST DEAL FOR, FOR WEST COVINA.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO MENTION TOO THAT THIS PROPOSED INCREASE, WHILE WE LOOK AT IT IN THE TRADITIONAL FORM, WE'RE ALSO TRANSFORMING HOW WE ASSESS RATES IN WEST COVINA.
WE'RE MOVING TO A BUNDLED RATE STRUCTURE WHERE WHEN A CUSTOMER SUBSCRIBES TO TRASH SERVICE, SO MULTIFAMILY AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS, WHEN THEY SUBSCRIBE TO TRASH SERVICE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE GETTING A BLUE RECYCLE CONTAINER AND A GREEN ORGANICS CONTAINER.
THEY'RE GETTING MORE VOLUME FOR THAT INCREASE.
THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SOURCE SEPARATE.
IF CUSTOMERS SEPARATE THEIR MATERIAL, THEY CAN REDUCE THEIR TRASH BILL IF THEY'RE PUTTING THE MATERIAL INTO THE CORRECT CONTAINERS.
ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS COLLECTIVELY ARE WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE FOCUSING ON TO DRIVE CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR AND CHANGE.
IT'S GONNA BE A BIG, A BIG HURDLE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS IN PLACE TO HELP WITH THIS.
I ALSO WANNA MENTION TOO, ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE, UM, EACH SINGLE FAMILY HOME WILL BE GETTING AN ADDITIONAL BARREL AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.
THAT'S ALSO PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? AT HOME YOU'LL HAVE A BLUE BARREL AND YOU'LL START PUTTING YOUR PLASTICS, YOUR, ALL OF YOUR AMAZON BOXES.
A LOT OF THAT WILL BE GOING INTO YOUR BLUE CONTAINER.
YOU WON'T BE PUTTING THAT INTO YOUR BLACK CONTAINER.
ALSO, YOUR FOOD WASTE IN YOUR KITCHEN WILL NO LONGER GO IN, YOUR TRASH CAN.
IT WILL GO IN YOUR GREEN CONTAINER.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGES, A LOT OF EDUCATION, A LOT OF INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THIS PROGRAM TO HELP WEST COVINA BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND THEN, UH, MY LAST QUESTION IS FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, WHAT WAS, UM, I THINK ONE OF THE RESIDENTS MENTIONED PROPOSITION 13.
UH, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT'S REFERRING TO AND SO FORTH? YEAH, WE LOOKED AT THIS BACK IN 2022.
IT WAS A SUPREME COURT CASE THAT, UM, DISCUSSED, UH, TRASH HAULERS AND WE WERE COMFORTABLE WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH IT AND, UM, WE ADDRESSED ANY ISSUES WITH IT.
SO THIS, THESE TWO OR THIS CONTRACT IS IN COMPLIANCE? YES.
UH, COUNCILMAN TONY WU? YEAH, THANK YOU MAYOR.
SO, SO THE, OKAY, SO THE RESIDENTIAL BASICALLY NO INCREASE IS, SO WILL BE, UH, THE THE INDEX PLUS ONE? CORRECT.
SO YOU EXPLAINED IF YOU SEPARATE, THEN THE RATE WILL DROP.
SO WE HAVE AN OUTREACH TEAM THAT WILL BE MEETING WITH EVERY COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY CUSTOMER TO LOOK AT THEIR INDIVIDUAL WASTE SCENARIO.
WE'RE GONNA LOOK TO SEE WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY DOING AND HOW DO WE MAXIMIZE THE RECYCLE CONTAINERS SO YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR OVERALL TRASH SUBSCRIPTION.
'CAUSE KEEP IN MIND, NO MATTER WHAT LEVEL OF TRASH SERVICE YOU'RE GONNA SUBSCRIBE TO, YOU WILL HAVE A RECYCLE AND AN ORGANICS CONTAINER.
SO IF YOU PUT MORE IN THE BLUE AND THE GREEN, YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR TRASH BILL.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME AND A LOT OF COACHING.
BUT WE'RE GONNA BE REACHING OUT, LIKE I SAID, TO ALL THE CUSTOMERS, NOT JUST ONCE A YEAR, BUT AS BUSINESSES NEED TO, YOU KNOW, NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OR THEY HAVE CHANGES IN STAFF WILL BE REGULARLY AVAILABLE TO GO OUT AND CONDUCT TRAINING.
SO, SO, SO THE QUESTION WOULD BE, FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE A TWO GREEN AND ONE PLAQUE AT MY, MY HOME.
SO I THINK, SO AROUND $50 AROUND THERE.
AND THEN IF YOU ARE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER BLUE, SO THE BLUE BASICALLY I PUT ON THE PLASTIC AND, AND THE AMAZON, ALL THOSE BOXES.
AND THEN ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S IT.
I MEAN, YOU'RE, IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF WHAT GOES INTO THE BLACK CONTAINER.
I'LL TELL YOU, I I LIVE IN A, WELL, I'M KIND OF CONFUSED WHAT YOU PUT IN THE BLACK.
WHAT IT'S VERY LITTLE AFTER THIS CHANGE.
[01:00:01]
YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR DETERGENT BOTTLES, YOUR SHAMPOO BOTTLES, A LOT OF THE PLASTIC TAKEOUT, UM, CONTAINERS THAT YOU HAVE, YOUR MILK CARTONS, UM, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL NOW, INSTEAD OF GOING IN YOUR BLACK CONTAINER, WE'LL GO IN YOUR BLUE CONTAINER.WE'RE GONNA HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF WHAT ALL OF THOSE ITEMS ARE.
AND YOU GUYS ARE GONNA BECOME RECYCLING SUPERSTARS.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THIS PROGRAM,
SO, SO HOW ABOUT THE, THE HOUSE? OKAY.
SO, BUT, BUT THE PLASTIC WILL BE IN THE BLUE AND THE FOOD THEN YOU DUMP INTO THE GREEN.
WITH ALL THE LEAF TREE, TREES, DEBRIS, YOUR FOOD WASTE, YOUR YARD TRIMMINGS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL GO IN YOUR GREEN CONTAINER.
SO I WILL SAY ATHENS IS UNIQUE IN THAT WE DO ALLOW CLEAR TRANSLUCENT PLASTIC BAGS IN THE GREEN CONTAINER.
UM, A LOT OF CUSTOMERS DON'T WANNA JUST THROW FOOD WASTE INTO A YEAH.
SO I'LL TELL YOU A TRICK THAT I DO IS I TAKE MY PRODUCE BAGS FROM THE GROCERY STORE AND I PUT MY FOOD WASTE IN THERE AND I FREEZE IT UNTIL TRASH DAY.
SO IT DOESN'T SIT IN AND, UH, SO I THINK I HAVE A 90 GALLON OR BLACK MM-HMM
SO IF A BLACK WILL BE REDUCED SO MUCH, THEN I CAN CHANGE IT TO 60 GALLON OR SMALLER.
I CAN REDUCE MY BILL, RIGHT? CORRECT.
AM I RIGHT? AND ACTUALLY, UM, INTRODUCING A 30 GALLON TRASH CONTAINER AS WELL TO THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
SO THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS TO RIGHT SIZE THEIR SERVICE NOW BASED ON THIS ADDITIONAL BARREL THEY'RE GETTING.
SO WHAT'S BELONG TO BLACK NOW? UM, THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T RECYCLE.
SO LIKE YOUR STARBUCKS CUPS, THEY HAVE A COATING INSIDE.
THINK OF YOUR CHIP BAGS THAT HAVE A LOT OF GRAPHICS ON THE FRONT AND SOME WEIRD FOIL INSIDE.
SO IT'S A HUGE EDUCATION CAMP.
SO WILL YOU SEND A LIST? WHAT IS TO THE BLUE? WHAT IS TO THE GREEN? WHAT IS TO THE BLACK, TO THE OLDER RESIDENT? SO, SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE A LIST ON THE REFRIGERATOR AND IT GOES THROUGH THIS.
AND SO WE CAN KIND OF, UH, CATEGORIZE INTO DIFFERENT TRASH CAN.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, WE HAVE AN ONLINE TOOL THAT'S REALLY COOL.
IT'S CALLED THE WET GOES WHERE GUIDE.
SO CUSTOMERS CAN GO ONTO OUR WEBSITE AND SEARCH A PARTICULAR ITEM TO SEE WHAT CONTAINER IT GOES IN.
WE HAVE INTERACTIVE GAMES WE'VE DEVELOPED, WHEN WE DO OUR OUTREACH EVENTS, UM, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE PUBLIC WORK TO SEE WHAT CAN, WHAT GOES IN WHAT CONTAINER.
THERE'S ALSO, WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US WITH THIS PROGRAM IS ENGAGING WITH OUR YOUTH.
UH, WE'VE DEVELOPED A K THROUGH 12 PROGRAM TO PRESENT AND DO SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES.
WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN PUTTING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ON PAUSE UNTIL WE CAN GET THIS PROGRAM IN PLACE.
BUT WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM WITH ROCKY, THE RECYCLING RACCOON, ALL OF THOSE FUN THINGS TOO.
SO, SO, SO, SO PRACTICALLY, OKAY, IF I BUDGET MYSELF, IF I HAVE A TWO GREEN OR 90 GALLONS AND A BLACK 90 GALLON FOR $50, NOW I'M GOING TO REDO, I'M GOING TO GET A BLUE ONE FOR FREE AND I'M GOING TO REDUCE MY BLACK TO 30 GALLON.
SEE WHAT AND HOW, HOW MUCH WILL BE MY MONTHLY CHARGE? I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT, AT THE RATE SHEET.
I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT HERE, BUT WE, IT SHOULD BE MUCH LESS THAN $15.
YES, IT SHOULD BE LESS THAN WHAT YOU'RE PAYING NOW.
IF YOU'RE, SO BASICALLY YOU'RE USING YOUR SERVICE.
I MIGHT BE HAVING INCREASES CPI PLUS ONE, BUT I'M GONNA REDUCE, BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO USE 90 GALLON, I'M GOING TO USE MAYBE 30 GALLON OR 60 GALLON.
AND AS LONG AS I REDUCE THE TRASH MM-HMM
SO I, I'M GOING TO REDUCE MY BILL, AM I RIGHT? CORRECT.
AND THEN FOR THE COMMERCIAL, OKAY.
I THINK I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT 17% INCREASE.
BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IF YOU PUT A GREEN MALL AND, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, MY OFFICE, I HAVE A TRASH BIN.
I THINK I PAID A HUNDRED OR $200 A MONTH.
SO THAT TRASH BIN, HOW YOU SEPARATE WITH A GREEN AND THE BLUE AND, AND THE TRASH BIN FOR THE, FOR THE COMMERCIAL, MOST COMMERCIAL IS TRASH BIN.
IT'S NOT WITH THE BLUE OR GREEN, THAT KIND OF THING, BUT I THINK I HAVE A GREEN AND A BIG TRASH BIN.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THE RATES, THE RATE STRUCTURE IS DESIGNED, IT'S, IF YOU TAKE A THREE YARD, UH, TRASH CONTAINER, THREE YARD BIN, AND A RECYCLE THREE YARD BIN.
THE RECYCLE BIN IS A LOT LESS THAN THE, THE TRASH.
SO WHAT YOU, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS TO DO IS PUT MORE INTO YOUR RECYCLE, REDUCE YOUR TRASH SERVICE.
SO TO YOUR POINT, IF YOU'RE PUTTING MORE MATERIAL IN THE OTHER STREAMS, YOU'RE ABLE TO REDUCE YOUR OVERALL BILL.
SO I CAN PUT MORE INTO MY BLUE BLUE, CORRECT.
AND WHILE THEY GET A TRASH BIN, I SHOULD GET SOME KIND OF RECYCLE BIN.
NOW A RECYCLE BIN WOULD BE MUCH CHEAPER YES.
UH, EVERYBODY WILL BE GETTING RECYCLING IF YOU USE THAT KIND OF OVERPAY YOU FOR YEARS.
ABOUT MY COMMERCIAL ONE, I DON'T THINK SO.
NO, I NEED TO RE I NEED TO REPLACE TO RECYCLE BIN BECAUSE I HAVE A TRASH BIN.
I DON'T HAVE THE MUCH OF TRASH ON MY
[01:05:01]
OFFICE.WELL, I THINK EVERYONE ORDERS FROM AMAZON.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST, THE BIGGEST, UH, AMOUNT OF WASTE WE'RE SEEING IS CARDBOARD.
UM, COMING THROUGH, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR.
LET'S SAY IF I'M NOT GONNA CHANGE ANYTHING IF A CPI PLUS ONE.
SO EQUALLY, HOW MUCH THAT ONE OKAY.
FOR DOLLAR AMOUNT, I'M NOT SURE I FOLLOW THE QUESTION THERE.
AND THAT ONE, IF I HAVE A $50 MM-HMM
I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE ANYTHING.
SO IF NEXT, NEXT YEAR, CPI PLUS ONE, THAT ONE EQUALLY HOW MANY CENT? OH, I WANT TO BUDGET MYSELF.
IT WOULD BE VERY, IT WOULD BE VERY MINIMAL.
I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS SIMILAR TO, WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL RATE ADJUSTMENT AND I THINK IT GOES UP 20 CENT, 50, 30 CENT USUALLY.
AND IT DEPENDS ON THE, THE MARKET.
I MEAN, I I WILL SAY IS THE TRASH INDEX PERFORMS ABOUT 0.6% DIFFERENTLY THAN THE L-A-C-P-I, THE TRASH INDEX.
WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT IS IT DOES REFLECT THE INDUSTRY COSTS THAT WE BEAR.
UM, THE PLUS ONE HELPS US TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT.
HOWEVER, IT STILL DOESN'T FULLY COVER THE COSTS YEAR OVER YEAR.
BUT WE'RE STILL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL TAKING A LOSS.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I BELIEVE IT'S, IT'S WHAT MAX IF THAT A DOLLAR.
UM, BUT IF, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'LL BE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
BUT IF I REDUCE FROM 90 GALLON TO 60 GALLON, I SHOULD HAVE A OR 30 GALLON.
I SHOULD HAVE A MAJOR REDUCTION OF EVERY REDUCTION IF YOU'RE REDUCING YOUR TRASH SERVICE.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROSARIO DIAZ.
SHE HAS, MIGHT AS WELL STAY UP HERE UNTIL ALL THE QUESTIONS ARE DONE.
SO, UM, I WANNA ADDRESS THE COMMERCIAL ISSUE.
UM, SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT, UM, LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE, GLEN STREET, UM, IF THEY SORT THEIR TRASH CORRECTLY, IT'S NOT GOING, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE CHARGED 17%.
THEY, IT'LL BE, IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW THEY SORT IT AND HOW WELL THEY SORT IT.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT, AT THINGS LIKE SPACE CONSTRAINTS AND HOW WE'RE GONNA, WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR THEM IN A THREE STREAM PROGRAM.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE'RE DOING OUR SITE VISITS WITH CUSTOMERS.
IT'S A, IT'S A, THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE.
A BIG CHANGE TO THE CURRENT PRO FROM THE CURRENT PROGRAM TO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
I'VE BEEN WATCHING IT ON INSTAGRAM,
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GONNA START ENFORCING THIS.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS HERE THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS.
UM, NOW, SO RIGHT NOW I HAVE ONE TRASH CAN, AND SO THIS ONE TRASH, CAN I THROW EVERYTHING AWAY THERE? CONTAINERS, PLASTICS, EVERYTHING.
SO NOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT I WILL BE SEPARATING MY ORGANICS, MY FOOD INTO A SMALLER CONTAINER.
'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY I DON'T FILL UP THAT TRASH CAN WITH FOOD.
AND SO I'LL BE GETTING RID OF THAT BIG TRASH CAN AND MAYBE USING JUST A LITTLE CONTAINER.
NO, YOU'LL STILL, WE STILL HAVE YOUR YARD CLIPPINGS.
RIGHT? SO YOUR, YOUR FOOD WILL NOW GO IN WITH YOUR YARD CLIPPINGS.
YOU'LL SEE A DECREASE IN YOUR BLACK CONTAINER BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT'S GOING IN THERE NOW WILL GO IN THE NEW BLUE CONTAINER THAT EVERYBODY WILL BE RECEIVING.
SO YOU'LL KIND OF HAVE TO SHIFT WHERE IT GOES.
BUT THAT AGAIN, THAT'LL BE YOUR CANS, YOUR BOTTLES, AND THOSE THINGS, THINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY GOING INTO THE BLACK CONTAINER.
SO NOW IF I GO DOWN TO THE 30 MM-HMM
GALLON, YOU'RE SAYING THAT MY PRICE IS GONNA GO DOWN? THERE'S, THERE'S DIFFERENT RATES FOR DIFFERENT SIZES OF SERVICE IN THE RATE SHEET.
SO THEN OUR CONSTITUENTS WILL HAVE, IF THEY DO THE CORRECT SORTING, THEIR TRASH BILL MAY GO DOWN.
THERE'S, I I THINK MAJORITY OF, OF, UH, WEST COVINA CUSTOMERS HAVE 96 GALLON CONTAINERS, A 96 GALLON BLACK AND A 96 GALLON GREEN.
IF YOU, WITH, WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS NEW BARREL, BUT BE AN ADDITIONAL 96, YOU COULD TECHNICALLY DROP DOWN TO A 64.
360 FOURS WOULD EQUAL THE CURRENT 2 96 S.
SO THERE'S SOME MOVEMENT THERE.
AND ABILITY TO, TO TRY TO BE BETTER STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ALSO TRY TO RIGHT.
LESSEN THE IMPACT OF, UM, MY MOTHER LIVES IN, IN PICO RIVERA, AND THEY DO THAT.
SHE HAS A LITTLE CONTAINER FOR HER FOOD AND SHE HAS A LARGER CONTAINER FOR HER RECYCLES.
AND I THINK IT'S A HASSLE, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO.
SO I HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, YES.
WE THERE, UH, PRO TIM OLI CONTOS.
UH, LIZ, CAN YOU, UH, DESCRIBE THE, THE, UH, PLANNED IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS THAT WOULD BE STARTING IN JANUARY? YEP.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY WANT, WE, WE WILL BE COMING BACK WITH FULL DETAILS.
I CAN GIVE YOU SOME HIGH LEVEL.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL DO ONCE THIS PROGRAM IS APPROVED IS WE HAVE TO ORDER THE CONTAINERS.
SO THAT'LL, THERE'S I THINK ABOUT A SIX TO EIGHT WEEK LEAD TIME TO ACTUALLY GET THOSE GOING.
UM, BUT WE WILL START OUR SITE VISITS WITH OUR COMMERCIAL MULTIFAMILY CUSTOMERS IMMEDIATELY.
UM, THE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PIECE IS GOING TO BE, BE HUGE.
WE HAVE A FULL PLAN THAT INCLUDES ALL
[01:10:01]
OF THE DIFFERENT, UM, ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS WITH NONPROFITS, DIFFERENT TOWN HALLS, UH, DIFFERENT SOCIAL MEDIA MAILING CAMPAIGNS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.UM, THAT'S GONNA BE, I THINK THE BIGGEST COMPONENT IS JUST HOW TOUCHING EVERYBODY SO THEY UNDERSTAND THIS CHANGE AND WHAT'S COMING.
UM, SO WE HAVE THAT IN THE WORKS, BUT WHAT I, WHAT I WILL COMMIT TO YOU ALL TODAY IS COMING BACK AS SOON AS MY LITTLE WILL ALLOW US TO GET ON THE AGENDA, UM, TO COME BACK AND PRESENT TO YOU A FULL, A FULL OUTREACH PLAN OF WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
AND I CAN GIVE YOU DETAILS ON THE COLLATERAL, THE TIMING, UM, AND EVEN TAKE ANY FEEDBACK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO HELP ENHANCE WHAT WE'RE ALREADY PROPOSING TO DO.
UH, AND AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING REPETITIVE, JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY, THERE IS NO INCREASE TO TO RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER RATES.
AND THEY WILL BE GETTING MORE CAPACITY BECAUSE THEY WILL BE GETTING AN ADDITIONAL BLUE BARREL.
AND BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL BLUE BARREL PLUS CHANGE IN RECYCLE BEHAVIOR AND SUCH, THAT COULD ACTUALLY LEAD TO THE POSSIBILITY OF, OF ACTUALLY REDUCING TRASH COSTS BECAUSE OF MORE OF THE WASTE BEING RECYCLED AS OPPOSED TO, UH, PUT INTO THE LANDFILL.
AND THAT WOULD THEN LEAD TO AN AGGREGATE EFFECT OF HAVING AN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT POSITIVELY CORRECT.
AND IN SUPPORT OF BUSINESSES WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE 17% INCREASE, YOU'RE, UH, TELLING US THAT, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, THE, THE CHANGE WITH THE WAY THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE BROKEN DOWN AND AND DIVIDED, THE BUSINESSES ACTUALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THEIR COSTS.
IT'S, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THEIR COSTS IF THEY EMBRACE THIS PROGRAM AND REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SOURCE SEPARATION THAT WE'RE OFFERING AND UTILIZE OUR OUTREACH TEAM TO, TO DO THAT.
SO ESSENTIALLY THERE'S A WIN-WIN WIN OPPORTUNITY, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE OF A, OF A, UH, LESS OF A, UH, ADVERSE IMPACT TO THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF SPACE AND LANDFILLS WITH RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOWER THEIR RATES EVEN THOUGH THEIR RATES AREN'T BEING RAISED BY THIS.
AND WITH BUSINESSES HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOWER THEIR COSTS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES.
UH, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YES.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS ARE NOT GONNA GET AN INCREASE AT ALL SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
AND IS THERE GONNA BE, UM, SORRY, THAT'S BRIEF
UM, AND IS THERE, UM, UM, SORRY.
UM, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE AN INCREASE.
AND THEN IS THERE A CONSEQUENCE IF THEY DON'T FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, IF THEY DON'T SORT THEM? SO THE SB 1383 DOES HAVE PROVISIONS THAT, UM, REQUIRE THE CITY TO MONITOR FOR CONTAMINATION.
SO THERE WILL BE A POINT IN TIME WHERE WE WILL BE SENDING NOTICES OF, IF, IF CUSTOMERS HABITUALLY CONTAMINATE, THERE'S A WHOLE PROGRAM IN PLACE WHERE WE WILL NOTIFY THEM SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ANY SORT OF CONTAMINATION FEES WOULD BE ASSESSED.
AND AGAIN, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT ATHENS OR THE CITY IS PROPOSING TO DO.
THIS IS WRITTEN IN THE SB 1383, UH, REGULATIONS.
SO CONTAMINATION MONITORING IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T KEEP THE WASTE STREAM CLEAN, THE BLUE STREAM OR THE GREEN STREAM, THEN IT HAS TO GO TO A LANDFILL.
IT BECOMES TRASH AND IT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF LANDFILL AVOIDANCE AND TRYING TO KEEP AS MUCH AS WE CAN OUT OF THE LANDFILL.
DISAGREEMENT DOES HAVE A, LIKE A PENALTY CLAUSE FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
IT'S, IT'S IN THE REGULATION AND WE OUTLINE IN THE AGREEMENT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO ABOUT COMMUNICATING TO CUSTOMERS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
THERE'S, THERE'S A, THERE'S CONTAMINATION FEES THAT WE CAN ASSESS AS THE HAULER, BUT IN THE CITY CODE, UM, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT SB 1383 DID MANDATE WITH CITIES IS TO, FOR CITIES TO UPDATE THEIR MUNICIPAL CODE, TO ALLOW FOR ANY CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AFTER WE'VE EXHAUSTED ALL EFFORTS IN TRYING TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CONTAMINATE.
BUT THAT'S GONNA, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S LIKE AN UNLIKELY SITUATION WE FOUND IN OTHER CITIES.
NOW, AS, AS FOLKS ARE STARTING TO LEARN THE PROGRAM, THEY'RE GETTING THE HANG OF IT.
IT JUST TAKES, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A LEARNING CURVE.
AND, AND, AND I THINK, I THINK SOMETIMES I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE IT TOO.
UH, AND I KNOW I'VE SEEN IN OTHER TRASH HAULERS, YOU GUYS WILL PUT A STICKER ON TOP OF THE BIN TELLING CUSTOMERS WHAT GOES IN THERE AND WHAT DOESN'T GO IN THERE.
AS A FRIENDLY REMINDER, DON'T FORGET THIS DOESN'T GO THERE, WHAT ATHENS BEEN DOING, THAT AUTOMATICALLY WE WILL, THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE NEW PROGRAM AS WELL.
AND SOME OF THE NEW OUTREACH MATERIAL THAT WE'RE PREPARING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
'CAUSE I'M JUST, I'M JUST CONCERNED FOR OUR SENIORS AND, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO.
SO THAT, WOULD THAT BE AUTOMATIC OR SOMETHING? WE COULD, WE CAN, WE CAN, UH, YOU'RE TELLING ME NOW, WE'LL MAKE SURE TO PUT IT IN THERE BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN EASILY DO.
UM, IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE, WE'RE ACTUALLY INTRODUCING INTO MORE CITIES ANYWAY, SO.
ARE THERE FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? MADAM MAYOR, MOVE ADOPTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION? YEAH, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA IF YOU PUT A STICKER IN EACH OF THE BLUE, SOMETIME I CONFUSE THE BLUE GETTING OLD.
[01:15:01]
YOU PUT IN.AND, UH, AND THERE'S EXACTLY'S, A LOT OF PEOPLE MAYBE BE NOT USED TO IT, BUT WHEN YOU GET HINT OF IT, THEN IT DIFFERENT.
BUT I THINK THE BEGINNING, IF YOU CAN PUT A STICKER FOR EACH OF, UH, THE BLUE, WHAT THIS BELONG TO AND THE GREEN.
AND, UH, YOU CAN PUT THE PLASTIC IF THIS CLEAR INTO THE FIELD, INTO THE GREEN ONE AND THE BLACK WILL BE KNOWN.
WHAT ABOUT, THEN YOU GO TO THE BLACK ONE.
SO IN THAT WAY PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHERE YOU PUT INSIDE, SO WILL LESS CONTAMINATE AND WILL BE WHAT 1383 WANTED TO DO.
SO WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND.
MOTION APPROVES ONTO, UH, AGENDA NUMBER THREE.
[3. CONSIDERATION OF CITY WASTE CAPACITY AND SUSTAINABILITY AGREEMENT BETWEEEN THE CITY AND ATHENS SERVICES]
ITEM THREE, PULLED BY GUTIERREZ.SO IF, UM, CITY STAFF AT AN ATHENS TODAY, UH, REPORT ON IT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, HONORABLE MAYOR.
UM, BEFORE I USE THE SUSTAINABILITY AGREEMENT, UM, ATHENS IN WEST COVEA HAVE NO NE NEGOTIATED AN AGREEMENT TO HELP FURTHER INCREASE THE CITY'S OVERALL DIVERSION.
THIS AGREEMENT WILL ENABLE THE CITY IN ATHENS TO CAPTURE AND TRACK WASTE THAT IS HAULED BY A THIRD PARTY HAULERS, NOT SUBJECT TO THE EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT.
IT'LL ALSO GUARANTEE CAPACITY WITH THESE ADDITIONAL TONS AT AN ATHENS FACILITY.
THE CITY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENCOURAGING THOSE THIRD PARTIES TO HAUL TO AN ATHENS FACILITY.
IT'LL ALSO ALLOW ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO SELF HAUL, UM, TO THE ATHENS MURPH FACILITY.
IT WILL ALSO BETTER TRACK ALL OF THE TONS WE DO NOT TRACK NOW, WHICH WILL HELP US TO BE MORE, UM, LANDFILL AVOIDANCE.
AND AGAIN, WE HAVE ATHENS HERE TO ANSWER ANY OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS.
UM, YEAH, SO IF ATHENS COULD ELABORATE ON IT, SO MANY OF YOU KNOW, I THINK MOST OF YOU HAVE TOURED.
UM, WE HAVE A BRAND NEW, UH, STATE-OF-THE-ART RECYCLING FACILITY IN THE CITY OF IRWINDALE.
UM, THIS IS A FACILITY WHERE WE PROCESS ALL OF THE BLUE BARREL MATERIAL, HOWEVER, IT ALSO SERVES AS A TRANSFER STATION FOR ALL OTHER WASTE STREAMS. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? C AND D MATERIAL? CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS, UM, TRASH ORGANICS CAN BE TAKEN TO OUR FACILITY AND WE CAN REDIRECT IT TO THE, THE APPROPRIATE, UM, THE APPROPRIATE PLACE.
SO THIS, THIS AGREEMENT IS IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE THERE IS, WE HAUL RIGHT NOW ABOUT 88,000 TONS IN YOUR CITY.
AND OUR CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE IS THERE'S PROBABLY AN ADDITIONAL 20,000 TONS, UH, THAT ARE BEING HAULED OUT OF YOUR CITY BY THIRD PARTIES THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
SO THAT'S THIRD PARTY RECYCLERS AND WHATNOT.
NOT ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS CAPTURED AND TRACKED, AND THIS IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CAPTURE ADDITIONAL LANDFILL DIVERSION, TRACK THAT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO REALLY POSITION YOU AS BETTER STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT ALSO HELPS TO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SEE A VALUE IN THOSE ADDITIONAL TONS AND THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY STAFF, UM, IF THERE'S THAT OPPORTUNITY TO REDIRECT SOME OF THOSE TONS TO AN ATHENS FACILITY, THERE IS VALUE TO US THERE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? GREAT, THANK YOU.
AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR A FINANCE DIRECTOR.
UM, DO, DO WE KNOW, UH, HAS THE CITY COMMITTED, UH, HAVE YOU WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE USING THIS $1.5 MILLION FOR, IT'S INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, THE ANNUAL ADOPTED BUDGET.
IS IT GOING TOWARDS NEW POLICE? DID IT GO TOWARDS NEW POLICE OFFICERS? IT WENT TO GENERAL FUND AND YES, YOU COULD SAY IT WAS ALLOCATED TO THE POLICE, BUT IT WENT TO OVERALL TO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
UH, I THINK THAT'S ALL FOR FINANCE.
UM, AND THEN ALSO, UM, LET'S SEE.
UM, AND THEN THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
CITY ATTORNEY, HAVE YOU REVIEWED THE FINAL, UH, I MEAN, HAVE YOU REVIEWED EVERYTHING? IT'S, EVERYTHING'S GOOD? YES, EVERYTHING'S GOOD.
I THINK, UH, AND THEN I THINK THE LAST QUESTION WAS, AND THEN I THINK JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY'S AWARENESS, UM, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STAFF, WHOEVER WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT OR, OR ATHENS, UM, OR MAYBE STAFF.
UM,
[01:20:01]
UH, IT'S ACTUALLY THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES.I THINK THE CITY WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT OUR RESIDENTS WERE PROTECTED IN THE LONG RUN AND THAT, UH, THE CITY HAD OPTION.
UH, CITY HAS DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
SO MAYBE IF ATHENS OR, OR, OR WHOEVER WANTS TO SPEAK ABOUT, UM, WHAT, WHAT THE CONTRACT SPECIFICALLY IS ABOUT EVERY FIVE YEARS AND, AND SPECIFICALLY THE OVERSIGHT STUFF AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, YEAH, I MEAN, AGAIN, THE, THE AGREEMENT ENCOURAGES THE CITY TO HELP REDIRECT TONS TO AN ATHENS FACILITY.
IT IS ON A FIVE YEAR, UH, BASIS, SO IT WILL REMAIN AS A FIVE YEAR TERM UNLESS EITHER PARTY TRIGGERS THE CONTRACT, UM, AND TERMINATES.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
DO I HAVE ANY OTHER, WELL, DO I HAVE SECOND OR OTHER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? SECOND.
MOTION APPROVES, UH, AGENDA, UH, OKAY.
[5. REVIEW OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR THE DEL NORTE PARK IMPROVEMENTS & DOG PARK PROJECT - PROJECT NO. 24001]
ITEM NUMBER FIVE.WAS THAT PULLED BY COUNCILWOMAN ROSARIO DIAZ? GO AHEAD.
UM, I PULLED THIS BECAUSE, UM, THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD EARLIER IN THE YEAR, AND, UM, I THOUGHT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT WAITING UNTIL WE HAD THE PARK MASTER PLAN, UM, FINISHED.
AND, UM, I KNOW THAT IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT IT WAS GONNA BE DONE IN NOVEMBER, BUT IT WASN'T.
SO, UM, I'M JUST WONDERING WHY WE'RE BRINGING IT FORWARD IF WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT DONE.
COUNCILMAN DES I'M GONNA ASK, UH, BRIAN CERVANTES AND MICHAEL LLOYD TO COME UP AND, UH, ELABORATE ON THIS ITEM.
EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR PERAM, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, AGREE THAT WE ARE, THE INTENT WHEN WE BROUGHT THIS PREVIOUSLY COUNSEL, REJECTED THOSE PROPOSALS, WAS TO BRING IT BACK ONCE THE MASTER PLAN, BUT AS PART OF THAT DIRECTION, IT WAS STAFF'S UNDERSTANDING, AGAIN, ASSUMING IT WOULD BE DONE IN NOVEMBER, WAS TO BRING THIS BACK IN DECEMBER.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO HONOR THE DIRECTION THAT WAS PROVIDED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MASTER PLAN ISN'T QUITE TO THE FINISH LINE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE SEEKING DIRECTION ON SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD OR WAIT.
IS THERE ADDITIONAL THAT SAID, UM, COUNCIL, OH, FINISH.
I WOULD, UM, I, I, I DON'T WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS UNTIL WE GET THAT MASTER PLAN.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU TABLE THAT AGREE OR JUST WAIT.
SO I'LL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, TO BRING THIS BACK ONCE THE PARKS PLAN IS DONE.
SO ONCE THE PARK PLAN IS DONE, IF WE CAN, UH, IMMEDIATELY BRING IT BACK TO THE WHENEVER MEETING IS AVAILABLE.
YOU WANNA MOVE THE MOTION? SECOND? I'LL MOVE THE MOTION.
AYE, WE'RE GONNA HOLD THIS OFF.
NOW TO ITEM NUMBER JUSTICE COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YEAH, AND, AND JUST TO EXPLAIN TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, WE'RE NOT THROWING OFF, UH, THE DOG PARK IDEA.
UM, THE PARKS PLAN IS GONNA HAVE, I THINK SOME, ALSO SOME CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS.
I THINK WE HAVE, HAVE, WE HAVE OF THE PAST AND SOME THAT WERE DONE, UH, I THINK RECENTLY.
SO IT'S, UH, JUST WAITING TO GET THAT PARKS PLAN SO WE'RE ALL MAKING SURE, UH, OUR PARKS LOOK BEAUTIFUL AND, AND PROSPEROUS.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROSARIO DIAZ.
UM, ANY IDEA WHEN THAT'S GONNA GET DONE? GOOD QUESTION.
THE CHAIR, IF I MAY CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
UM, THE CONTRACT EXPIRES AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.
UM, IT'S ANTICIPATED GO BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY, SO IT'LL BE FINALIZED BY AT THAT TIME.
SO DOES THAT MEAN WE'LL HAVE THE PRESENTATION, THE RESIDENTS GET TO SEE THE RESULTS OF WHAT THEY WANTED AND EVERYTHING? BY MARCH? THEY WILL, THE PLAN WILL GO BEFORE THE COUNCIL, THE, THE COMMUNITY WILL STILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INPUT, BUT YES.
UM, IT, THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO VIEW THE PARK PLANNED BY MARCH.
I'M SORRY, TO MARCH WHO? TONY BOO.
IT'S GONNA BE MARCH, RIGHT? CAN THAT BE EARLIER? IT COMES BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY.
IT WILL COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY.
UM, FIRST MEETING YOU STILL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INPUT.
SO BASICALLY THE FIRST MEETING OF FEBRUARY, IT'LL PROBABLY BE THE SECOND MEETING OF FEBRUARY.
WELL, IF YOU CAN BE EARLY, IT WOULD BE GREAT.
WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A WHILE.
UH, PROAM, JUST A QUESTION FOR THE ASSISTANT.
JUST A QUESTION FOR THE ASSISTANT CITY,
[01:25:01]
UM, MANAGER WITH REGARD TO HOW HAVE THINGS BEEN GOING WITH REGARD TO YOUR HAVING GIVEN FOLKS A, A DEADLINE OF NOVEMBER THE 13TH TO SUBMIT ADDITIONAL INPUT? HOW HAS THAT BEEN GOING AND HOW FAR ARE YOU WITH THE PROCESS OF, OF HAVING EVERYTHING READY? I REALIZE IT'S NOT DUE UNTIL FEBRUARY WITH WHEN THE CONTRACT ENDS, BUT HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO BEING DONE? WE'RE FINALIZED, WE'RE IN THE FINAL STAGES.UM, THEY HAVE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH THEM THIS WEEK.
WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THEM ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
UM, THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH THEIR NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND PUTTING THOSE TABULATIONS AND THOSE SCORES TOGETHER, SO WE'RE CONFIDENT WE CAN BRING SOMETHING FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY.
SO NOW TO THE NEXT AGENDA, ITEM
[6. CONSIDERATION OF CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT AND BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR SOUTHSIDE SEWER REPLACEMENT - PROJECT NO. C24005]
SIX, UH, MAYOR PROTE CONTOS.DID YOU PULL THAT? I I PULLED EIGHT.
SO THAT IS, UH, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ.
SO, UM, I BELIEVE, UM, MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT IT'S ASKING US TO WAIVE THE MINOR, MINOR IREG REALITIES IN THE BIDS SUBMITTED BY WE ARE BUILDERS AN AWARD CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT FOR THE SOUTHSIDE SEWER REPLACEMENT PROJECT TO WE ARE BUILDERS AT THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER.
UM, IF OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR COULD, UH, EXPLAIN, UM, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING THE CONSULT TO DO TODAY, AND IF IT, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT, UM, CONTRADICTING OUR, UM, REPORT THAT WE SUBMITTED TO THE, THE STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE IN, IN FEBRUARY, I BELIEVE.
SO YES, PART OF OUR MUNICIPAL CODE AND OUR PURCHASING POLICY, IT ALLOWS US THE FLEXIBILITY OF ACCEPTING THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, WHICH MEANS IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THE LOWEST BIDDER BASED UPON THE EVALUATION.
AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND, WE ARE NOT IN ANY VIOLATION, UH, WITH A STATE CONTROLLER'S REPORT.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION, AS WELL AS OUR TRANSTECH TEAM IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING THE BID PROCESS OR RFP.
SORRY, THE, THE, THEY'RE ACTUALLY, WELL, THEY THE CHEAPEST OR ARE THEY THE LOWEST BID OR NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WE, ON THE AGENDA? WE HAVE, WE ARE BUILDERS SHOWS THAT THE TOTAL BID IS THE LOWEST.
AND ON OUR AGENDA PACKET, IT STATES THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A FOLLOWING OPTIONS TO ONE APPROVED STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OR TWO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE DIRECTION.
DID YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? YES.
UM, SO WHAT, WHAT, SO WHAT WAS THE AIR MAIN? SO MY UNDERSTANDING, ONE OF THE ITEMS IN TERMS OF THE IRREGULARITIES THAT WERE ASKING TO BE WAIVED HAD TO DO WITH THE FORMATTING OF A FORM.
INFORMATION PROVIDED WAS CORRECT.
IT JUST WAS A FORMATTING ISSUE.
AND THERE WERE SOME OTHER MINOR TYPOS THAT DID NOT SUBSTANTIVELY AFFECT THE BID.
SO WE CAN, IT WAS DEEMED THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER.
SO IT WAS JUST, I GUESS, FORMATTING ERROR THEN? CORRECT.
ONE, ONE OF THEM WAS A FORMATTING ISSUE, THE OTHER WAS TYPO RELATED.
BUT AGAIN, IT DID NOT SUBSTANTIVELY AFFECT THEIR BID.
IT DID NOT GIVE THEM AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE WITH, AGAINST THE OTHER, UH, BIDDERS.
AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION WILL BE, UH, FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY, I THINK, I THINK, UH, CITY ATTORNEY BRITTANY ROBERTO HANDLES THESE, BUT, UM, DO YOU KNOW IF, UH, YOU COULD CONCUR? DO YOU CONCUR? WHAT THE WHAT, UH, OUR ENGINEER SAID? YEAH, I BELIEVE WE, LEMME LEMME LOOK.
WE, WE'VE REVIEWED THE RESOLUTION, APPROVED IT AS A FORM AS WELL.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MOTION PASSES ONTO AGENDA ITEM
[8. CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING BUDGET AMENDMENT ]
NUMBER EIGHT, PULLED BY MAYOR PRO TEM OLI CONTOS, GO AHEAD.UH, AYE, WITH REGARD TO THE DIFFERENT ITEM ASPECTS OF THE, OF THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT, I HAD A, UM, I, I JUST WAS WONDERING WITH REGARD TO, UH, THE, THE SPENDING OF THE MONEY, THERE WAS A BOOK ALTAR AMOUNT OF, OF $500,000.
I GUESS THE ONLY WAY I CAN REALLY ASK THIS IS DO WE HAVE TO SPEND HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ON AN INVESTIGATION? I MEAN, IS IT, I MEAN, THAT'S AWFULLY EXPENSIVE THAT WE COULD USE THAT MONEY FOR SOMETHING ELSE, OR AT LEAST LOWER OUR INVESTIGATIVE COSTS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR AN INVESTIGATION HONOR, MAYOR MEMBERS 60 COUNCIL, IF I MAY RESPOND TO THAT, THE HALF A MILLION OR 500,000 I'M REQUESTING FOR LEGAL EXPENSES IS NOT JUST FOR ONE LEGAL FIRM.
IT'S FOR THE ENTIRE INVESTIGATION THAT
[01:30:01]
INCLUDES OUR SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSEL, FORENSIC AUDIT, AND OTHER SERVICES THAT NEED TO BE RENDERED FOR THIS INVESTIGATION, AS FAR AS IT IS, IS 500,000 UNREASONABLE.UM, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE OR PROJECT WHAT THE COST WILL BE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAVE RECEIVED TWO MONTHS OF BILLS AND THOSE BILLS AMOUNT TO ABOUT 150,000.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE TO ASK FOR, UH, 500,000 TO CONCLUDE THE INVESTIGATION.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST FOR SPECIAL LEGAL SERVICES, IT ALSO INCLUDES THE FORENSIC AUDIT AND THE OTHER SERVICES THAT NEED TO BE RENDERED.
SO IN LIGHT OF THE AMOUNT, UH, IS IT, WHAT IS OUR TYPICAL PRACTICE, UH, KAREN, WITH REGARD TO, UH, TAPPING INTO OUR RESERVES? SHOULDN'T WE TAP INTO RESERVES IN, IN CASES OF, OF GREATER EMERGENCY? OR IS THERE A CERTAIN POLICY ON THAT? THE REASON I'M COMING TO THE COUNCIL, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONAL CORPORATIONS IS THERE IS NO FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE ADOPTED ANNUAL BUDGET WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I AM UNABLE TO PROCEED IN PAYING FOR OUR SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN RENDERED, WHICH REQUIRES ME THEN TO GO ASK TO GET THE FUNDS FROM OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES.
AND CAN YOU REMIND US THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THIS INVESTIGATION AS TO WHAT OR THESE, THESE DIFFERENT INVESTIGATIONS OF WHAT THESE ARE TO COVER WITH REGARD TO THE FORENSIC ACCOUNTING, ET CETERA? WHAT IS ALL OF THAT? OR JUST, WELL, FOR SURE, WE KNOW THAT IT'S FOR THE SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSEL, WHICH MIGHT BE ONE TO TWO COUNSELS THAT WOULD BE OVERSEEING THE INVESTIGATION.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, THERE IS A FORENSIC AUDIT.
FORENSIC AUDIT, UH, BASICALLY WILL RECOVER INVESTIGATIONS ABOUT TRANSACTIONS, PAYMENTS, INTER UM, AGREEMENTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THAT IS WHAT THE FORENSIC AUDIT WILL FOCUS ON.
FORENSIC AUDIT SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN MAYBE 15 TO 30,000.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE IT TO BE THAT MUCH.
THERE'S NOT THAT MANY TRANSACTIONS FOR THEM TO REVIEW.
AND TO WHAT EXTENT DID WE IDENTI, DID WE STRIVE TO IDENTIFY THAT INVESTIGATION COSTS ARE, UH, BASED ON I IDENTIFYING ENTITIES THAT THAT GIVE US A GOOD DEAL FOR, FOR THE, FOR THE SERVICES WE'RE RENDERING? IN OTHER WORDS, I, WE'RE NOT, UH, WE DON'T KNOW THAT THE TYPICAL RATES, BUT IS THE STANDARD, ARE THESE, THESE COSTS THAT WE'VE BEEN BILLED, ARE THEY TYPICAL FOR THE INDUSTRY? ARE THEY HIGH? ARE THEY LOW? WHAT WHAT IS TYPICALLY ENTAILED WITH INVESTIGATIONS OF THE NATURE OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING, THE, UM, HOURLY RATES FOR THE DIFFERENT ATTORNEYS INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION AS WELL AS THE FORENSIC AUDIT SEEM TO BE REASONABLE WITHIN THE MARKET.
THE UNKNOWN IS HOW MANY HOURS ARE GONNA BE REQUIRED TO CONDUCT THE FULL INVESTIGATION AND TO BE ABLE TO REPORT OUT WITH THAT UNCERTAINTY.
UM, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR THE 500,000 AGAIN, CURRENTLY FOR JUST TWO MONTHS, UM, APPROXIMATELY 150,000.
SO WE HAVE A POLICY OF, OF EIGHT, KEEPING 18% RESERVES.
WILL THAT AFFECT EFFECT IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ADHERENCE TO THAT POLICY OF 18%? THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT YES, WE MAY FALL BELOW THE 18% GENERAL FUND RESERVES AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO IN EFFECT, WE WOULD BE VIOLATING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REPORT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US BY THE STATE AUDITOR WITH REGARD TO HOW THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE A BUDGET RESERVE OF 18%.
IT IS, THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS ALSO UNDER THE COUNCIL'S UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, WE AGREED TO 18% WAS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF FUNDS TO KEEP ON HAND AND RESERVES FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
THERE IS DEFINITELY A POTENTIAL THAT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WE COULD BE BELOW THAT 18%.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL CONSIDER.
THANK YOU MA AND MADAM MAYOR AND, AND KAREN, YOU MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME HERE.
I THINK SOME OF THE INITIAL, UH, BILLING FROM THE BALTER FIRM HAD DEALT WITH, UM, A, A RESTRAINING OR A, A TEMPORARY TRO THAT WAS FILED AGAINST THE CITY.
I BELIEVE THEY BUILT FOR THAT.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, UH, RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATION.
SO THE, THAT'S, UM, MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT MAYBE PULLING SOME MONEY FROM THE LIABILITY FUND IF, IF POSSIBLE.
BUT INITIALLY IT WAS SPARKED BY, UH, A, A LAWSUIT FILED.
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT ENTIRELY THE INVESTIGATION, BUT IT WILL, UM, THE BALANCE OF THIS SHOULD BE IN, IN THE INVESTIGATION.
IT SHOULD BE REDUCED AS WE AS, AS WE PROGRESS.
SO BASICALLY THE HALF MILLION, OKAY, THIS JUST, UH, ESTIMATE OKAY.
WE NEED TO SPEND, DEPEND ON HOW MUCH TIME, HOW MUCH THEY BILL US.
SO THIS IS NOT WHAT WE GOING TO PAY POSSIBLE.
[01:35:01]
THE INVESTIGATION'S ALREADY OVER.AND THEN THE $150,000 POSSIBLE WOULD BE THE MAX.
OR FORENSIC 30,000, THIS AND THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT BECAUSE THE FIVE ZERO APPROVED, UH, TO HAVE AN INVESTIGATION FOR ALL THE CITY COUNCIL, FOR ALL THE ACCUSATION AND WE WANNA REPORT TO THE PUBLIC.
BECAUSE THE MONEY, BECAUSE SOMETHING INTEGRITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL SIT OVER HERE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
SO THIS INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE OKAY.
AND CONTINUE AND HOPEFULLY OKAY.
WE GET A REPORT TO THE PUBLIC.
AND SO I'M GONNA MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? I CAN SAY SOMETHING.
UM, I'M GONNA SAY, AND THEN JUST NEXT TIME IF YOU, IF YOU COULD, WHEN YOU BRING US A REPORT LIKE THIS, IF YOU COULD, UM, BREAK IT DOWN WHO'S GETTING WHAT IN MONEY? LIKE IF, IF IT'S THE AUDITOR, IF IT'S THE IN ATTORNEY COMP DETAIL, DETAIL, YEAH.
WE NEED MORE DETAILS NEXT TIME.
WE'LL DEFINITELY DO OUR BEST TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
UH, THAT ENDS OUR CONSENT CALENDAR NOW TO DEPARTMENTAL
[10. FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM (CIP) UPDATE]
REGULAR MATTERS.ITEM NUMBER 10, FISCAL YEAR 25 26.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, CIP UPDATE.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE, UH, TRANSTECH ENGINEER MICHAEL LLOYD TO JUST A MOMENT.
THEY'RE PUTTING UP THE SLIDES UP.
MAYOR PERAM COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS RECEIVE AND FILE ITEM.
IT'S A UPDATE ON OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM.
AS THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS, UH, WHAT WE'LL BE PRESENTING TONIGHT IS A VERY BRIEF CIP OVERVIEW, THEN A LIST OF 2025 PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, AND THEN WRAP UP WITH UPCOMING PROJECTS.
SO, VERY BRIEFLY, JUST AS A REMINDER, I KNOW COUNCIL'S BEEN ADVISED PREVIOUSLY, BUT JUST WANTED TO RUN THROUGH IT QUICKLY.
UM, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IDENTIFIES CAPITAL PROJECTS AND EQUIPMENT PURCHASES.
IT'S USED FROM A, A PLANNING AND SCHEDULING PERSPECTIVE.
IT IDENTIFIES OPTIONS FOR FUNDING AND FINANCING OF THE PROJECTS.
AND THEN FINALLY, IT'S BASED ON CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED BUDGET.
THE PHASES OF THE CIP PROCESS ARE THE PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, STARTING OFF, FOLLOWED BY DESIGN.
WE THEN MOVE TO PURCHASING PROCUREMENT AS PART OF THE BIDDING PROCESS.
AND THEN FINALLY, CONSTRUCTION AND IMPLEMENTATION.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL, UH, THAT IN THE YEAR 2025 THAT WE'VE COMPLETED QUITE A FEW PROJECTS.
UM, THE FIRST ONE HERE IS THE SOUTH SIDE SEWER, CIPP LINING, THE PHASE ONE PROJECT.
AS YOU KNOW, WE JUST AWARDED PHASE TWO.
UH, BUT THAT FIRST PHASE WAS COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY, UH, THE SENIOR CENTER ROOF REPLACEMENT IN HVAC, UM, WITH UV COVID TREATMENT SYSTEM THAT WAS WRAPPED UP IN APRIL THIS YEAR.
THE 2024 ANNUAL CONCRETE SIDEWALK CURB GUTTER REPAIR PROGRAM WAS COMPLETED IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
UH, AS YOU PROBABLY RECALL, THE A DA TRANSITION PLAN WAS ADOPTED EARLIER THIS YEAR IN JULY.
UH, ALSO THE SCE METAL STREETLIGHT REPLACEMENT PROGRAM PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST.
OUR FISCAL YEAR 2324 RESIDENTIAL STREET REHAB PROJECT WAS WRAPPED UP IN AUGUST.
THE BKK DETENTION BASIN REMEDIATION PROJECT WAS, UH, COMPLETED IN OCTOBER.
FLOORING REPLACEMENT WAS COMPLETED IN OCTOBER.
CITYWIDE PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ALSO IN OCTOBER.
AND THEN FINALLY THE PALM PALM VIEW PARK ROOF REPLACEMENT WAS WRAPPED UP IN OCTOBER AS WELL.
SO JUST A, A VERY BRIEF UPDATE ON PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY FOR FRIENDSHIP PARK.
THE PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN DESIGN, UM, AND THE DESIGN IS NEARING COMPLETION.
AND WE EXPECT CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING, UH, AROUND SUMMER
[01:40:01]
OF NEXT YEAR.OUR HSIP CYCLE, 10 CITYWIDE TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT'S CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION AT THE 10 INTERSECTIONS.
THIS IS GRANT FUNDED AND WE EXPECT, UH, COMPLETION IN EARLY 2026.
SO THAT'S EXCITING TO SEE THAT PROJECT GETTING CLOSE TO COMPLETION.
THE SCE UNDERGROUND DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT MERCED AVENUE.
THIS IS AN EDISON PROJECT TO UNDERGROUND THE OVERHEAD, UH, UTILITIES ALONG MERCED BETWEEN ORANGE AVENUE AND SUNSET AVENUE.
AND WE EXPECT COMPLETION IN EARLY 2026.
THE SOUTH SIDE SEWER REPLACEMENT PHASE TWO, WHICH WAS AWARDED TONIGHT.
SO THAT, UH, CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN EARLY NEXT YEAR, PROBABLY IN LATE WINTER, EARLY SPRING.
UH, FIRE STATION ONE REPLACEMENT DESIGN AS YOU RECALL, UM, THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL.
UH, THE DESIGN IS CURRENTLY ON HOLD, UH, PENDING THE COMPLETION OF THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS.
SO WE'RE IN A HOLDING PATTERN AT THE MOMENT FOR FIRE STATION ONE CORTEZ PARK PATHWAY LIGHTING.
IT'S CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION.
UM, THE LONG LEAD, UH, ITEMS, THE MATERIALS, THOSE HAVE BEEN ORDERED SO THAT, UH, WE EXPECT CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN EARLY NEXT YEAR.
THE AZUSA SEWER LIFT STATION FENCE THAT'S GETTING CLOSE TO COMPLETION.
UM, THERE'S SOME MINOR CLEANUP ITEMS. UM, THE BULK OF THE WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED, SO WE, WE ARE ACTUALLY EXPECTING THAT TO BE WRAPPED UP HERE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.
THE STREET SWEEPING, UH, SIGNAGE INSTALLATION, THE PHASE ONE, WE, UH, COMPLETED THAT ITEM.
UM, OBVIOUSLY PHASE TWO IN TERMS OF THE ALTERNATE THAT'LL BE BROUGHT BACK FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR.
CITY HALL, A DA IMPROVEMENTS DESIGN AS COUNCIL, I'M SURE REMEMBERS THAT ITEM WAS BROUGHT FOR CONSIDERATION AND DIRECTION, UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR.
UH, THEY'RE ADDRESSING THOSE COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK THAT WAS RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL AND WE EXPECT THE DESIGN TO BE WRAPPED UP EARLY NEXT YEAR SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH FACE CONSTRUCTION.
THE CITRUS AT CAMERA AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL DESIGN.
WE EXPECT DESIGN TO BE COMPLETED NEXT YEAR.
AND, UM, WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO IDENTIFY CONSTRUCTION FUNDING TO MOVE THAT PROJECT FORWARD ONCE DESIGN IS WRAPPED UP THE A TP UH, CYCLE.
SIX SAFE, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.
UM, IT'S ANOTHER GRANT FUNDED PROJECT, 2.6 MILLION.
UM, WE EXPECT THE DESIGN TO BE WRAPPED UP AROUND THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR SO THAT BY LATE NEXT YEAR WE, WE SHOULD BE IN CONSTRUCTION.
AND SOME OF THE TIMING ASPECT, AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S GRANT FUNDS WE'RE DEALING WITH CALTRANS, THERE'S A PROCESS THAT FOR BETTER OR WORSE, WE JUST HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THE PAPERWORK ON THE AZUSA CORRIDOR SIGNALS SYNCHRONIZATION PROJECT.
UM, THIS PROJECT ALSO IS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, THIS WILL PROVIDE, UH, NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE AZUA CORRIDOR, BOTH THE A DA PERSPECTIVE RAMPS AND PUSH BUTTONS AND SO FORTH AT THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS, BUT ALSO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TIMING SO THAT IT'S MORE EFFICIENT MOVING THROUGH THE CORRIDOR.
UM, THIS IS PART OF THAT $7 MILLION, UH, FUNDING THAT WAS PROVIDED BY CONGRESS, FEDERAL CONGRESS.
WE EXPECT THE DESIGN TO BE COMPLETED THE SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR, UM, SO THAT WE CAN RECEIVE CALTRANS APPROVAL TO GO TO BID.
WE'RE ESTIMATING SEPTEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.
THE ANNUAL CONCRETE SIDEWALK AND CURB GUTTER REPAIR FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 26.
UM, THIS IS CURRENTLY IN THE BIDDING PHASE, UM, SO THAT WE WILL BRING IT TO COUNCIL, ASSUMING WE GET GOOD BIDS AND SEEK YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS SO THAT WE CAN, UM, BEGIN CONSTRUCTION EARLY NEXT YEAR.
THE HILLSIDE MITIGATION AND FIRE PREVENTION PROJECT.
THIS ALSO, UH, IS ONGOING FROM A DESIGN AND PLANNING PERSPECTIVE.
UH, THE ENGINEERING STAFF'S BEEN WORKING WITH FIRE, UH, A GREAT PARTNER, OBVIOUSLY, AS WELL AS OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS NEEDED, UM, THERE FOR MITIGATION IN AND AROUND ULSTER PARK.
WE'RE HOPING TO WRAP THAT UP EARLY NEXT YEAR SO THAT WE CAN BRING SOMETHING BACK FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION.
FISCAL YEAR 24 25 STREET RE REHABILITATION.
UH, THIS IS CURRENTLY IN THE BIDDING PHASE, SO THAT'S EXCITING THAT THIS PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET GOOD BIDS AS WELL ON THIS SO WE CAN BRING IT BACK FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION OF AWARDING THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.
[01:45:01]
NEXT SLIDE AND THEN I'LL, I'LL WRAP UP.UM, UPCOMING CI CIP PROJECTS, UM, THAT WE ANTICIPATE OVER THIS NEXT CALENDAR YEAR.
WE BRIEFLY SPOKE, UH, EARLIER ON THE DEL NORTE PARK IMPROVEMENT.
SO OBVIOUSLY THE DESIGN RFP WILL BE COMING BACK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO WE CAN KICK THAT OFF FROM A DESIGN PERSPECTIVE.
UH, THE CITYWIDE PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FISCAL YEAR 25 26, WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION IN IN 2026.
THE TRASH CAPTURE DEVICE INSTALLATION PROJECT.
UM, THESE ARE DEVICES THAT WE, UH, INSTALL AT CATCH BASINS AND ELSEWHERE TO HELP CLEAN THE WATER.
UM, AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THIS IS MEASURE W FUNDED.
UM, WE, WE EXPECT TO BRING THIS AS WELL, UH, FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD, PROBABLY AROUND THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, IF NOT EARLIER.
UM, THE ORANGEWOOD PARK IMPROVEMENTS, THOSE WILL BE COMING FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION.
UH, THE NEXT GROUPING OF OF STREETS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 26 STREET REHABILITATION.
UH, WE SHOULD BE KICKING OFF DESIGN FOR THAT PROJECT SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET IT OUT TO BID BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR, IF NOT SOONER.
THERE'S ALSO THE SEWER MASTER PLAN UPDATE.
WE EXPECT TO PUT OUT AN RFP TO GET A DESIGN CONSULTANT SO THAT WE CAN GET OUR SEWER MASTER PLAN UPDATED.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY EIGHT YEARS OLD, SO IT WE'RE FROM A A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE NOT BEYOND ANY TYPE OF DEADLINE.
SO WE'RE NOT DEFICIENT, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY NEARING THE END POINT WHERE WE NEED, WE JUST NEED TO UPDATE OUR MASTER PLAN SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE ACCURATE NUMBERS.
UM, THE STREET UNDERPASS PUMP REPLACEMENT, THAT PROJECT IS ALSO MOVING FORWARD, SO WE SHOULD BE BRINGING SOMETHING TO COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR.
THE SPORTS, UH, SPORTS PLEX POUR IN PLAY REPLACEMENT THAT WILL BE COMING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR, HOPEFULLY IN JANUARY, UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO MOVE THAT PROJECT FORWARD.
THE WEST COVINA PARKWAY MEDIAN IMPROVEMENTS, UM, THAT WILL BE KICKING OFF AS WELL EARLY NEXT YEAR.
THE STREET SWEEPING SIGN, INSTALLATION PHASE TWO, UM, AGAIN, THAT WILL BE COMING BACK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
DEALING WITH THE ALTERNATING STREETS, A SIDE OF STREET FOR SWEEPING, UM, HOPEFULLY I BELIEVE JANUARY, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, UH, THE CAM CAMERON AVENUE COMPLETE STREETS IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS IS, UM, AN ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION THAT'S FEDERALLY FUNDED, UH, IN ADDITION TO THE 7 MILLION WE WE RECEIVE FOR AZUSA.
UM, WE'LL BE BRINGING SOMETHING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO AWARD A DESIGN, UH, RFP TO MOVE THAT PROJECT FORWARD.
UH, THE HSIP CYCLE 12 TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS IS ALSO GRANT FUNDED, 4.7 MILLION TO, UH, ADDRESS TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AGAIN, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH CALTRAN, SO THERE'S A PAPERWORK PROCESS, UH, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOMETHING QUICKLY IN THE NEXT, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO AWARD A DESIGN, UM, PROPOSAL.
AND THEN FINALLY, MEASURE M, THE MS. PMSP, UH, CYCLE THREE BUS, SHELTER AND TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS IS ANOTHER GRANT FUNDED PROJECT, 1.7 MILLION.
UM, AND WE EXPECT TO BE BRINGING SOMETHING, UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AS WELL BY THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS A RECEIVE AND FILE AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY.
AND APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, BEFORE I LET THE OTHER COUNCIL SPEAKS, I JUST WANNA SAY THE CIP PROJECTS ARE MY FAVORITE.
UM, I ENJOY SEEING ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WHAT I LOVE SEEING MORE ARE THE COMPLETED PROJECTS.
UH, SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THOSE CIP PROJECTS.
I DO HOWEVER, WISH THAT YOU HAD PHOTOS.
I MEAN MORE, YOU KNOW, WHEN AS RESIDENTS ARE WATCHING THIS WHOLE SLIDE OF ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS, SOME ARE MORE VISUAL, THEY WANNA SEE THE BEFORE AND AFTER.
BUT I DO HOPE THAT NEXT YEAR WITH YOUR VIDEO, LIKE THE WONDERFUL VIDEO THAT YOU HAD PRESENTED, THAT YOU'LL DO THE SAME SO THAT THE RESIDENTS CAN SEE THE FULL IMPACT OF THIS.
UM, BUT I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND COUNCILMAN WOO.
YEAH, IF YOU WITH PICTURES OKAY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT PROJECT, BUT IT'S A LOT OF GREAT PROJECT.
IT LOOK LIKE THE CITY'S MOVING A LOT OF CAP CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE SO HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY PROJECT GOING ON.
SO THE FIRST QUESTION I HAVE FRENCH PARK.
YOU MENTIONED THEY HAVE A DESIGN A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
WE GET IT FROM GRANT, I THINK IT'S ABOUT A MILLION DOLLAR, $2 MILLION GRAND TO IMPROVE, TO INSTALL.
THE, THE PLAYGROUND AND THAT PLAYGROUND BEING USED A LOT.
AND THE ONLY ISSUE IS THERE'S NO LIGHTING.
SO LIKE AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK DARK, THE
[01:50:01]
KIDS PLAYING IS NOT SAFE.SO CAN YOU ON THE FRIENDSHIP PARK? OKAY.
CAN YOU, IF YOU IMPROVE THOSE LIGHTING FOR BASKETBALL AND THIS AND THAT, CAN YOU OKAY.
IMPROVE THE LIGHTING FOR THE PLAYGROUND.
IS THAT PART OF THE, I'M GONNA ASK BRIAN.
ONE OF OUR PROJECT MANAGERS, HE HAS THE MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS.
OKAY, SO WE ARE DOING PATHWAY IMPROVEMENT LIGHTINGS AROUND THE PARK CURRENTLY THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE DESIGN SCOPE FOR SPECIFIC LIGHTS FOR THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT ITSELF.
BUT WE ARE DOING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GENERAL PATHWAY LIGHTING.
I KNOW, BUT SINCE YOU HAVE, UH, OKAY.
ON YOUR SCHEDULE IMPROVEMENT, YOU TALK ABOUT SHIP PARK MM-HMM
AND UH, SO, AND THEY TALK ABOUT LIGHTING AND NOT JUST ASKING FOR YOU TO IMPROVE THE LIGHTING ON THE PLAYGROUND.
IT'S NOT A DIFFICULT, BECAUSE LIABILITY WILL BE MORE INTENSE TO US IF THE KID OKAY FELL AND, UH, BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH LIGHTING.
SO I'VE BEEN TALKING TO CITY MANAGER MANY, MANY TIMES.
UH, WE NEED TO PUT, WE NEED TO PUT A LIGHT RIGHT THERE.
IF YOU PUT A PLAYGROUND OVER THERE, BUT YOU NOT ENOUGH LIGHTING, IT'S A TRAP FOR POTENTIAL LIABILITY.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY CHILDREN GET HURT.
MAKE SENSE? SO WOULD YOU PLEASE INCLUDING THE LIGHTING ON THE PLAYGROUND, IT'S NOT A DIFFICULT, NOT GONNA COST THAT MUCH MONEY, BUT IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.
YES, OF COURSE WE CAN, UH, TALK TO THE DESIGNER AND IF ANYTHING, MAKE SURE IT'S INCLUDED IN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE.
AND THAT JUST INSTALLED ENOUGH LIGHTING, SO, OKAY.
WE DON'T WANT THE CHILDREN PLAY IN THE DARK.
ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, LIKE 4 45, SO DARK.
AND, UH, THE CHILDREN'S PLAYING OVER THERE IN THE DARK AND OF COURSE NOT SAFE.
SO, SO THIS IS THE FIRST THING.
OKAY, ANOTHER THING ON THE, SO MAKE SURE THEY INCLUDING, AND I'VE BEEN REMINDING YOU MANY TIMES ABOUT WHEN WE CAN PUT THE LIGHT UP OVER THERE.
ANOTHER RESIDENTS SEND ME THE EMAIL REGARDING THE WORRY ABOUT THE LIGHTING.
SO AS A, AS A SAFETY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ON THE CI TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
I THINK WE APPROVED A WHILE AGO.
SO DID YOU KNOW THE TIMELINE WHEN WE CAN PUT, OKAY, SO WE DON'T WANT ACCIDENT ON THAT FOUR-WAY STOP SIGN AND WITH THE FOUR FOUR LAND ON BOTH SIDE, RIGHT? SO THE DE YES.
UM, THE DESIGN WILL BE WRAPPED UP IN 2026 AND AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE WHAT MONTHS? 2026 B BEFORE THE END OF END OF THE YEAR.
SO APPROXIMATELY YOU TAKE ABOUT ANOTHER 12 MONTHS TO DESIGN OH, NO, NO.
BEFORE, SO I, I NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK THIS, BUT I BELIEVE OUR CONSULTANT SAID THEY'LL HAVE THE DESIGN WRAPPED UP BY THE SUMMER, SO SUMMER, APPROXIMATELY JUNE JULY TIMEFRAME.
SO WE WANT TO SEE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TILL 2027.
SO WE STILL, YES, WE NEED TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION AND WE NEED TO IDENTIFY CONSTRUCTION FUNDING.
I KNOW, I KNOW THERE WERE DESIGN GO FIRST AND FUNDING AT THE SAME TIME.
CORRECT? WE'RE I, I REMEMBER WE HAVE FUNDING COUPLE YEARS AGO, BUT WE POSTPONED IT AND THEN YOU MOVE THE FUNDING TO SOMEPLACE ELSE.
UH, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN APPROVED.
AND I THINK YOUR PRACTICES KNOW IT TOO.
THAT WE HAVE APPROVED A PROJECT AND WE ALREADY HAVE FUNDING, BUT THEY TOLD ME DUE TO WE POSTPONE IT.
WE CONTINUE END UP, WE NOT CONTINUE.
WE TABLE WOULD END UP, THE MONEY HAD BEEN MOVED TO SOMEPLACE ELSE AND NOW WE APPROVE AGAIN.
BUT THE, NOW YOU HAVE TO LOCATE THE MONEY.
THAT, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
I THAT THE MONEY HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED PREVIOUSLY, BUT IT WAS NOT FOR WHATEVER REASON, DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY, BUT IT WASNT ROLLED OVER.
OH, WE CAN FIND THE MONEY, RIGHT.
BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC A THING OVER THERE IS PRETTY IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE CAN REALLY WALK SAFELY TO FROM THE NORTH SIDE.
TO THE NORTH SIDE TO THE PARK, A LOT OF PEOPLE WALK OVER THERE TO THE CORTEZ PARK.
SO, AND THE, AND ESPECIALLY, OKAY, OUR COUNCILMEN, THE MALE COUNTER, UH, HE, I THINK HE WALK OVER THERE ALL THE TIME AND WE WANT YOU TO BE SAFE.
AND ASS SIGNAL, TRAFFIC SYNCHRONIZED TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
WHAT MONTH? UH, WE CAN BREAK GROUND.
SO CURRENTLY WE'RE PROJECTED TO RECEIVE ALL THE CALTRANS APPROVALS BY SEPTEMBER.
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY PUSHING FOR SOONER, BUT WE EXPECT TO HAVE THE CALTRANS APPROVALS BY SEPTEMBER.
MY, I WISH I COULD BE MORE OPTIMISTIC.
THAT CALTRANS, THAT'S A DEADLINE.
WE DEADLINE FEDERAL, WE'RE GONNA MEET ALL FEDERAL DEADLINES.
NO, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NOT TAKING IT BACK.
WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GONNA LOSE THE FUNDING.
WE NEED A SYNCHRONIZATION TO ASSUME VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE TRAFFIC AND THE A DA.
TO BE SAFE, PEOPLE CAN WALK ON THAT VERY BUSY STREET.
THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL ON THE, OKAY.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE NORTH AND SOUTH CAN
[01:55:01]
YOU PUSH A LITTLE BIT FASTER WITH MONEY'S OVER THERE.SO THIS ONE, THE MONEY'S OVER THERE, BUT THE DESIGN IS TAKING FOREVER.
CORRECT? WE'RE WRAPPING THAT UP.
UM, IF WE CAN MOVE IT, WE, WE, WELL, I I, IT'LL BE NEXT YEAR BEFORE WE WRAP UP THE DESIGN.
I KNOW, BUT SPRING, HOPEFULLY SPRING, LIKE YES.
THAT, THAT'S THE GOAL IS TO HAVE IT SO THAT WE GET ALL THE PAPERWORK IN.
SO YOU, YOU CAN DO A GROUNDBREAKING.
I CANNOT WAIT, LET HAPPENS $7 MILLION, OTHERWISE IT WILL EXPIRE AND I CAN GUARANTEE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY THIS ADMINISTRATION, WANT TO TAKE THE MONEY BACK.
AND WE REALLY NEED THE MONEY TO IMPLEMENT INTO OUR SYNCHRONIZATION A DA IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND THE LAST ONE OKAY.
BECAUSE THE, UH, THE WILDFIRE WON'T WAIT FOR US.
SO HOW SOON WE CAN MITIGATE OKAY.
THE CLEAN UP AND THE GLASS, THE PARK, AND THEN MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ALL THOSE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD BURNED DOWN THE HOUSES.
THE, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THINGS WRAPPED UP WITH, AS I MENTIONED, FIRE AND MAINTENANCE HERE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.
SO, AND, AND IF WE CAN GO FASTER, I WILL TRY, BUT PLEASE.
HOPEFUL WE CAN GET SOMETHING BACK EARLY NEXT YEAR IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR CASH.
AND IF YOU CAN, UH, IF WE CAN ON THE LAST, THIS IS THE LAST THING I'M DONE.
THE FRENCHES PART, PLEASE IF YOU CAN MAYBE JUST INSTALL THE LINE.
BECAUSE THE, THE, THE, THE, THE, OKAY.
I VERY WORRY ABOUT PEOPLE, THE KID PLAYING IN THE DARK AND UH, I THINK I, I CHECK AROUND, I THINK THIS, THIS PART REALLY DON'T HAVE A LIGHT.
AND THEN WE PUT A BEAUTIFUL, TWO YEARS AGO, SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLAYGROUND WITH THE CHOO CHOO TREND, THIS ON THAT.
AND THE, BUT UH, THE KID PLAYING OVER THERE IN THE DARK WOULD BE NOT SAFE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE A MARK? OKAY.
AND, UH, HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND THE MONEY AND FIND THE OKAY.
DURING THE, BECAUSE THE, THE SUMMERTIME WON'T BE HERE TILL ANOTHER FOUR, FIVE MONTHS.
SO THE KID PLAYING OVER HERE RIGHT NOW.
WE WILL FIND FUNDING TO INSTALL THE LIGHTS.
AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, PARK SAFETY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY KEY CONCERNS.
AND A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE, UH, DESIGNED OR UPDATED THE PARKS, LIGHTING WAS MY, UH, KEY ELEMENT.
SO EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE SEEN.
SO WE HAVE MAYOR PROAM, OLI CONTOS HAD QUESTIONS.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, SECOND THE THOUGHTS OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I, I WAS LOOKING FOR THE PICTURE AND I JUST DIDN'T NOTICE.
SO, UH, I ACTUALLY HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS WITH, WITH REGARD TO, TO THE, TO THIS WITH REGARD TO AMAR AND WESTPORT, WHICH WITHIN WHICH HSIP CYCLE IS THAT, UH, BECAUSE I, I, THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE WITH REGARD TO TRAFFIC DEATHS AND SO FORTH.
INCORPORATED OR INCLUDE? I JUST DON'T REMEMBER FROM THE LISTED INTERSECTIONS.
SO THAT IS, THAT LOCATION IS PART OF HSIP CYCLE 1212, THE 4.7 MILLION, WHICH WE WILL BE BRINGING A, UH, WE'LL BE GOING OUT FOR AN RFP TO GET THE DESIGN WORK STARTED NEXT YEAR.
AND SO AS THAT HAPPENS, CAN, CAN STAFF PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE FAMILIES WHOSE FAMILY MEMBERS WERE LOST THERE, JUST TO LET THEM KNOW JUST THAT BRIEF UPDATE OF WHAT'S COMING PLEASE.
JUST AS A, AS A, BECAUSE THEY, IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT FOR, FOR THEM TO KNOW THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THIS AND THAT WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
THANK YOU MR. ACTING CITY MANAGER.
AND THE NEXT QUESTION IS WITH REGARD TO THE, THE, THE $7 MILLION TRAFFIC SYNCHRONIZATION PROJECT.
UH, IS THERE A COORDINATION EFFORT WITH FOOTHILL TRANSIT WITH REGARD TO THEIR BUS TRANSPONDERS WHERE THE, WHERE THE BUSES WHO PASS CAN ACTUALLY GET THE, THEIR TRAFFIC, THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNING GREEN AS THEY PASS TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY THERE? IS THAT ALSO INCORPORATED WITH YOUR WORKING WITH RICK RICKY CHOI AND OTHERS OR OTHER FOLKS IN COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS PROPERLY? WE ARE DEFINITELY COORDINATING WITH THE COUNTY AND OUR ADJACENT CITY JURISDICTIONS.
WE WILL COORDINATE WITH FOOTHILL TRANSIT.
MY UNDERSTANDING, AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT PHASE FOR THE ROLLOUT OF TRANSIT PRIORITY IS AMAR.
UM, HOWEVER, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE WOULD BE INTEREST FROM THE TRANSIT AGENCY ALONG AZUA SO WE CAN HAVE THAT FOLLOW UP CONVERSATION.
UH, SO THAT IF, IF THEY HAVE AN INTEREST IN IT, I WOULD PREFER THEY PAY FOR IT RATHER THAN WE USE OUR, OUR FUNDING.
BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH 7 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY, IT'S MM-HMM A LOT OF MONEY QUITE FRANKLY FOR A PROJECT OF THIS SIZE.
SO I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL TO TAKE ON ANOTHER AGENCY'S COST FOR THEM.
BUT WE DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
AND THE LAST QUESTION IS, THE OTHER INTERSECTION OF THAT'S BEEN DIFFICULT IS VINCENT, I THINK, UH, IS THAT IN, IN HSIP 10 OR 12? I JUST DON'T REMEMBER.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S IN 10, WHICH
[02:00:01]
IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
UH, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YES.
UM, WHAT, WHEN IS VINCENT AND BRUTE GONNA BE DONE ON THE STRIPING AND SO FORTH? I THINK YOU TOLD ME BUT I FORGOT.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE WORK IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED.
UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S SOME CLEANUP ITEMS, SOME, SOME CONCRETE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE WRAPPED UP.
UH, SO THAT SHOULD BE DONE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE IN THE HOLIDAY PERIOD, SO WE LOSE A LITTLE WORKDAY, BUT, UM, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
HOW ABOUT A STRIPING IT WAS NEVER DONE.
SO TYPICALLY THEY'LL COMPLETE THE, UH, CONCRETE WORK FIRST AND THEN PUT THE STRIPING OVER THE FRESH CONCRETE.
SO AT THE INTERSECTION OF VINCENT PUENTE, THEY WILL BE CUTTING BACK THE MEDIANS A BIT IN ORDER.
'CAUSE CURRENTLY THEY ARE WITHIN THE CROSSWALK RIGHT NOW MM-HMM
SO THEY'LL BE CUTTING THOSE BACK AND THEN RETRIP THE CROSSWALKS AT THAT INTERSECTION.
SO WHERE ARE WE IN DECEMBER? WHEN DO YOU THINK THE CONTRACTOR WILL FINISH HIS JOB? SO DEFINITELY BY MARCH, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE PUSHING TO GET IT DONE SOONER.
AND THEN, UM, ALSO, I KNOW YOU'RE BRINGING BACK THE SPORTS BETS, POUR IN PLAY.
I THINK ORANGEWOOD PARK, UM, THEIR PLAYGROUND HAS HOLES AND IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR LITTLE KIDS.
THE LITTLE KIDS COME AND WALK ON THERE 'CAUSE THERE'S MAJOR BIG HOLES IN THE GROUND ON THE PLAYGROUND.
SO IF YOU COULD BRING THAT BACK IN JANUARY TWO.
OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK AT THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN, UH, LET'S SEE, AND THEN FOR, LET'S SEE, WEST COAST.
UM, AND THEN THE SYNCHRONIZATION PROJECT.
DOES THAT IS THAT DESIGN GONNA HAVE A, A SPECIAL DESIGN FOR THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S DEDICATION? I'M NOT SURE I FOLLOWED THE QUESTION.
I MEAN, UM, I THINK, UM, UH, GRACE OF POLY TUNNELS WAY.
ARE WE GONNA HAVE A DESIGN OR SOMETHING OFF? UH, OKAY.
REMEMBER WE HAVE, UH, CEREMONY FOR POLITANO, AND, UH, I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ASKING IS ABOUT WHERE THE DESIGN, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PUT, I THINK WE ALREADY, THAT WILL BE INCORPORATED.
IT WILL BE A PLAQUE OR SOME OTHER SYMBOLIC SYMBOL DEDICATING THAT, UH, CORRIDOR.
SO I MEAN, IF WE HAVE, IF THERE'S EXTRA FUNDING OR SOMETHING, I MEAN, UH, A REALLY NICE DESIGN, UH, TO HONOR HER LEGACY, I THINK WOULD BE NICE.
AND DEPENDING ON THE COST, I MEAN, MAYBE EVEN A STATUTE, BUT DEPENDING ON THE COSTS.
I DON'T THINK STATUTE, I THINK, OR, OR SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING, UH, I THINK JUST A, IT IS A STREET NAME.
SOMETHING FOR THE MIDDLE ISLAND.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ.
OH, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, SORRY.
WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD.
UM, SINCE, SINCE YOU MENTIONED, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ROSARIO DIAZ, UM, WHAT HAPPENED? DID WE EVER FIND OUT, UM, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE $2 MILLION FOR CAMERON PARK? I MEAN, THAT'S A KAREN QUESTION.
IT WAS PRESENTED TO, IT WAS PRESENTED TO US WHEN, BEFORE YOU GOT HERE, KAREN, AND LIKE WE MENTIONED LAST TIME, BUT IT WAS SAID THAT THE CAMERON PARK HAD ROUGHLY, I THINK $2 MILLION, AND WE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN ANSWER ON WHERE THAT MONEY, HOW IT WAS PRESENTED TO US INCORRECTLY OR VICE VERSA.
UH, AS FAR AS THE $2 MILLION OF CAMERON PARK THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY DOCUMENTATION TO THAT EXTENT.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO REACH OUT TO THE FORMER, UH, ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR MARIA ISSA, AND ASK HER WHAT SHE MEANT WHEN SHE TOLD THE CONS? I CAN, UM, DEFINITELY MAKE AN ATTEMPT.
BECAUSE IT WAS PRESENTED TO US IN THIS FISCAL BUDGET, SO YEAH.
SO WE HAVE COUNCILWOMAN ROSARIO DIAZ.
UM, I WANNA TALK ABOUT PSYCHO A TP CYCLE SIX, THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.
IS THIS THE, I BELIEVE THIS IS THE ONE WHERE I WAS TALKING ABOUT, OR ASKING OR REQUESTING THAT WE ADD THE FLASHING, UM, CROSSWALKS ON THE STREET? YES.
SO WE COULD BRING THAT UP WITH THE DESIGNER.
I DO RECALL YOU BRINGING IT UP.
I DON'T RECALL IF WE TALKED ABOUT THE
[02:05:01]
LIABILITY ASPECTS OF THAT.I BELIEVE I, WE PROVIDE THAT TO THE FORMER CITY MANAGER.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT ENDED UP WITH YOU.
WE HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING THAT WITH THAT, UH, SINCE, BUT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN DESIGN, SO NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR US TO EXPLORE THAT.
SO WE COULD GO AHEAD AND EXPLORE THAT IF THE COUNCIL WANTS.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO BRING IT UP.
MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT IN THERE.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AS I SEE NONE, THIS IS A RECEIVE AND FILE.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO TO OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL REPORTS IF THERE'S NO AB 1, 2, 3, 4, CONFERENCE AND MEETING REPORT.
YEAH, I KNOW THAT THAT'S, BUT THAT'S PART OF THAT.
[11. REVIEW OF STANDING RULES AND RULES OF DECORUM]
TO ITEM NUMBER 11, REVIEW OF STANDING RULES AND RULES OF DECORUM.I WILL LET OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ROXANNE LERMA, UM, DISCUSS THIS TOPIC.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 2ND, 2025, UH, MAYOR LETTI LOPEZ VITO REQUESTED A CODE OF CONDUCT BE DEVELOPED TO PROMOTE ORDERLY, EFFICIENT AND RESPECTFUL INTERACTIONS AMONG CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
DURING COUNCIL MEETINGS, UM, THE MAYOR HAS REQUESTED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO REVIEW THE EXISTING RULES AND GUIDELINES AND CONSIDER ANY MODIFICATIONS OR UPDATE.
UM, BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHES THE PROCEDURES FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND THE RULES OF DEBATE, IDENTIFYING ROBERT'S ROOSEVELT ORDERS AS THE PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY GOVERNING CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT ON MARCH 4TH, 2025, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED ORDINANCE NUMBER 25 28, WHICH AMENDED PROVISIONS OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND DECORUM AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
IN ADDITION TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE, THE CITY MAINTAINS STANDING ROLES ADOPTED ON FEBRUARY 1ST, 2000, WHICH OUTLINES COUNCIL VALUES AND PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON COMMUNICATING WITH STAFF THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR, THE USE CITY LETTERHEAD, AND INTERACTIONS AMONG CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, AND WITH THE PUBLIC DURING MEETINGS, UM, PERIODICALLY REVIEWING THESE ESTABLISHED PRACTICES SUCH AS THE CITY COUNCIL STANDING RULES AND RULES OF DECORUM IS CONSIDERED A BEST PRACTICE FOR MAINTAINING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT AT THIS TIME, SEE, STAFF IS SEEKING FORMAL DIRECTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL ON WHEN ON WHETHER ANY UPDATES OR CLARIFICATIONS ARE NEEDED TO IMPROVE MEETING PROCEDURES, ENHANCE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, OR ADDRESS EMERGING ISSUES.
UM, BOTH THE STANDING RULES AND THE MUNICIPAL CODE WERE PROVIDED THE SECTIONS THAT PERTAIN, UM, TO THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC WERE PROVIDED FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, STAFF HAS COMPILED A SHORT LIST OF, UM, ITEMS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED, UM, AS AREAS OF INTEREST THAT MAY HAVE, OR EXCUSE ME, THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY VARIOUS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING RECENT MEETINGS.
UM, SO SOME OF THOSE ITEMS INCLUDE OFFICE HOURS, USE OF COPY MACHINES, POSTING OF FLYERS OF NON-CITY EVENTS AT CITY FACILITIES, USE OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, ACCESS TO CITY FACILITIES, REPRESENTATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, CLARIFICATION OF PAST PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES FOR REMOVING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM THE DIOCESE.
DURING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, AGAIN, STAFF IS SEEKING COUNCIL'S INPUT ON AND DIRECTION ON WHETHER OR NOT, UM, THESE TOPICS STILL REMAIN OF INTEREST TO THE COUNCIL, UM, AND LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.
SO, UH, YES, I WAS THE ONE WHO PUT THIS AND THE WEST COVIN UNDERSTANDING RULES.
THIS ONE WAS ADOPTED 25 YEARS AGO.
I ALMOST FEEL LIKE YOU JUST NEED TO REPEAL IT AND REPLACE IT.
UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SAID, THERE ARE NO PHONIES, THERE IS HUMOR.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT DON'T TAKE IN CONSIDERATION OF TODAY'S TIME, UNFORTUNATELY.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF UNWRITTEN RULES THAT SHOULD BE COMMON SENSE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE, WE'VE BEEN HAVING ONGOING ISSUES THAT STILL ARISES THAT YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE COMMON SENSE AND CORDIAL IS NOT.
AND BECAUSE THERE IS NO WRITTEN RULES, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE ALL THOSE WRITTEN RULES ARE INPUTTED.
SO, THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED, THE OFFICE HOURS, UM, BIGGEST KEY, AS I HAD SAID, IS I WANT TO PROTECT STAFF, UM, STAFF'S WELLBEING, UM, THEIR MENTAL, PHYSICAL.
THEY SHOULD NOT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
AND IF A COUNCIL MEMBER DOES, UM, DOES THAT, THAT NEEDS TO STOP.
SO, IN REGARDS TO OFFICE HOURS, UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL COMES TO CITY HALL WITH USUALLY WITH AN APPOINTMENT OR TO CONDUCT BUSINESS, NOT TO BE INSIDE IN AN OFFICE FOR HOURS THAT YOU'RE AROUND.
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, WHETHER IT'S THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE OR THE
[02:10:01]
HR OFFICE, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE, ARE TALKED AROUND, AND SO A COUNCIL MEMBER COULD BE EAVESDROPPING, LISTENING IN, AND WE'VE HAD THIS MESS.SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ON THE STANDINGS.
THAT CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE IN CITY HALL FOR OFFICE, I MEAN, FOR CITY BUSINESS PURPOSES AND DIRECTLY CITY PURPOSE.
UH, THEY SHOULD NOT BE HARASSING ANY STAFF.
UM, THE USE OF COPY MACHINES, THAT IS IN REGARDS TO CERTAIN COUNSEL THAT JUST MASS PRODUCES, UM, PERSONAL COPIES.
UH, WE TALK ABOUT WASTING TAXPAYERS FUNDS, BUT COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE DOING THAT.
SO THAT'S THE USE OF COPY MACHINES.
UM, THE ACCESS TO CITY FACILITIES, I HAVE MENTIONED THE, THE BADGE ACCESS.
WE SHOULDN'T BE HERE AT ALL HOURS.
WE SHOULDN'T BE HERE AT MIDNIGHT WHEN, UH, CITY HALLS CLOSE.
STARTLING OUR STAFF WHO ARE WORKING NIGHTS.
AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BADGE IS ON THERE AS WELL.
UM, CLARIFICATION OF PAST PRACTICES.
ALSO REPRESENTATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE ARE, WE ARE COUNCILS AND THOUGH WE ARE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES, WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE, THEY DON'T SEE THAT THEY, THEY DON'T SEE, WELL, YOU'RE MY DISTRICT REP, OR SOMETIMES THEY DON'T EVEN SEE WHERE, WHAT DISTRICT, WE REPRESENT THE WHOLE CITY OF WEST COVINA AS A COUNCIL PERSON, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE IN DISTRICTS.
SO WHEN YOU WEAR THAT BADGE, WHEN YOU'RE OUT WEARING YOUR UNIFORM, IT'S THE SAME THING AS EMPLOYEE UNIFORM.
ONCE YOU HAVE THAT CITY SEAL, YOU NEED TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF WEST COVINA AT THE HIGHEST STANDARD.
UM, I WOULD LIKE THAT ALSO IN THERE.
AND THEN ALSO PROCEDURES FOR REMOVING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE DAIS.
UM, AS YOU'VE SEEN, WE'VE HAD A LITTLE SITUATION ON THAT.
UM, THE LAST TIME WHEN WE HAD A TRANSITIONING IN, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT.
THE PUBLIC SHOULDN'T BE ABLE, THE PUBLIC SHOULDN'T BE SEEING THESE THINGS.
UM, WE HAVE OUR DISAGREEMENTS, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO AIR OUT TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE ON THERE AS WELL.
AND JUST ANYTHING ELSE THAT THE, UH, OTHER COUNCILS WOULD LIKE TO ADD, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THIS STANDING RULES ARE UPDATED.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, THE DECORUM FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S THERE.
I KNOW WE FOUND, UH, CERTAIN SECTION CODES THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE FOUND THAT WAS NOT ON HERE, THAT MEETS THE DECORUM.
SO, YES, UH, SERGEANT AT ARMS CAN REMOVE A COUNCIL MEMBER FROM THIS DAIS.
SO IF IT NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN, UM, AS A REMINDER SHOWN ON HERE, I'D LIKE THAT TO BE ON HERE SO THAT IT'S CLEAR FOR THE PUBLIC.
IT'S NOT HERE, THE MAYOR DOING WHATEVER SHE WANTS TO DO.
IT'S, THERE'S RULES, THERE'S CONDUCT, THERE'S RESPECT, AND I LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FILL THAT DECORUM.
SO I, ANY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO ADD, UM, TO THESE COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YES.
UM, CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT DISTRICT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU REPRESENT, I DUNNO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DISTRICT.
WHAT ARE YOU REFERRING TO ABOUT THE RULE? ABOUT, I SAID EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE A REPRESENTATIVE OF A DISTRICT, YOU STILL REPRESENT THE WHOLE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
OH, IT MAKES IT, NO, I I, IT SOUNDED TO ME LIKE YOU'RE SAYING YOU CAN'T SAY YOU REPRESENT A SPECIFIC DISTRICT.
NO, YOU CAN REP EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WE REPRESENT THE DISTRICT.
IT SAYS ON OUR WEBSITE OF WHAT DISTRICT WE REPRESENT.
BUT AS WE GO OUT THERE, EVERYTHING SAYS, WHEN THEY ANNOUNCE, THEY SAY, COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL.
AND SO WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE, WE ARE THE WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO YOU COME OUT THERE, YOU'RE STILL REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE DI THE ENTIRE CITY, BUT OF COURSE YOU ARE, YOU HAVE THE DIS YOU ARE A DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR YOUR DISTRICT.
ANY OTHER, AND THEN, UM, WELL, WHILE YOU'RE HOLDING THAT THOUGHT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, UM, MOVE TO COUNCILWOMAN ROSARIO DIAZ.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, I JUST, I WANNA KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THESE OFFICE HOURS.
ARE WE GONNA BE SPECIFIC ABOUT CERTAIN ITEMS HERE? UH, YES.
SO THIS IS BEFORE US TO ADD THESE, UM, SPECIFIC, IF WE NEED TO, UM, IN REGARDS TO OURS.
I MEAN, I'M NOT A STICKLER IN SAYING NO.
I MEAN, IF YOU ARE COMING TO CITY HALL, WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE COURTESY TO CITY STAFF THAT I'M PLANNING TO STOP BY.
I'M GONNA BE HAVING A MEETING EITHER USING THE FACILITY OR, UM, I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
YOU CAN'T JUST STOP AND INTERRUPT THE CITY MANAGER WHO'S ALREADY HAVING PRE-SCHEDULED MEETINGS AND TELL 'EM AT THE BECKING CALL, DROP IT, MEET WITH ME.
[02:15:01]
EXPECT TO BE IN THESE MEETINGS WHEN THE CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY ARE HAVING THEIR PRIVATE MEETINGS, LET ALONE A, A DIRECTOR OR THE CITY MANAGER.SO THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME BOUNDARIES.
AND I LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CLEAR BOUNDARIES.
SO IS THE STAFF GONNA, IS, ARE YOU GUYS GONNA WRITE THIS OUT AND IT'S GONNA COME BACK TO US? OR HOW'S THIS GONNA BE? IT, SO MY EXPECTATION AND COMING BACK TO THE COUNCIL, PROBABLY THE SECOND MEETING IN JANUARY IS TO SPELL OUT EXACTLY DATE, TIME, FRAMES SPECIFIC RULES.
I'VE TALKED TO EACH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL INDIVIDUALLY, NOT AS A WHOLE.
UM, THAT YES, WE DO HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE STAFF IS BOOKED UP THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
WE MAY HAVE 30 INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS, AND IF PEOPLE JUST SHOW UP WITH A GROUP OR SOMETHING TO MEET IT, IT DOES BECOME A PROBLEM.
NOW, THE ONLY THING I'VE ASKED OF, OF THE COUNCIL IS, UM, WE'RE FREE TO MEET WITH YOU, ANY DEVELOPERS, ANY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, UM, JUST LET US KNOW AND LET US BOOK YOU INTO A SLOT THAT'S AVAILABLE.
SO I DON'T HAVE THREE MEETINGS AT THE SAME TIME.
AND YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER FROM THERE.
OBVIOUSLY THE SCANNING RULES, THOSE ARE FROM 25 YEARS AGO.
UH, MY STANDPOINT IS WE SHOULD PROBABLY JUST REPEAL AND REPLACE COMPLETELY AND THEN ELABORATE ON NOT ONLY THE I ITEMS IDENTIFIED, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH MULTIPLE OF THEIR CITIES, THEIR CURRENT CODE OF CONDUCT, STANDING RULES, BEST PRACTICES, INCLUDING WORKING WITH JPIA FOR SAMPLE LANGUAGE.
UM, THAT'S BEEN PROVEN TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN A MULTITUDE OF CITIES.
AND I, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
ROXANNE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING? I WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING, IF I MAY.
UM, TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT THE ACTING CITY MANAGER HAD SAID, WE WILL ALSO COORDINATE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE JUST TO ENSURE, UM, THAT WE WERE TRULY CAPTURING NOT ONLY, UM, WHAT THE, THE CITY, THE DIRECTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE US TO HEAD, BUT TO CHECK OFF THOSE LEGALITY BOXES AS WELL.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL CITY STAFF IS AWARE.
UM, WE DO SIT HERE, WE ARE VOTED BY THE PEOPLE.
WE, UH, STILL HAVE TO RESPECT AND BE CORDIAL TO CITY STAFF.
SO CITY STAFF, IF YOU'RE A COUNCIL MEMBER, IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY SOME OF YOU DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY.
UM, YOU SHOULD NOT BE, UH, TAKING BULLYING, ABUSE OR ANY OF THAT.
SO YOU SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO REPORT, UM, ANY OF THESE SITUATIONS ABOVE.
'CAUSE WE'RE HERE TO FIX THAT.
AND, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE CITY AND THE STAFF ARE PROTECTED.
I JUST WANT TO, UH, FOLLOW, OKAY.
UP ABOUT, UH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN DEAR, REGARDING THE TIME.
I THINK THE TIME IS VERY SIMPLE.
OKAY? WE JUST, BUSINESS HOUR APPOINTMENT ONLY.
THIS IS OUR APPOINTMENT ONLY AS A COURTESY.
AND YOU COME IN, YOU WANT TO TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER, HE DOESN'T HAVE THE TIME TO SEE YOU BECAUSE HE MIGHT HAVE A APPOINTMENT.
AND YOU HAVE TO WALK AWAY AND DON'T OVERLY HANG AROUND THIS AND THAT.
IT'S A COURTESY, BUT APPOINTMENT ONLY.
SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO SEE ME, THEY HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME.
IF I JUST WANT TO SEE YOU, I SAY, CAN I, CAN I MEET YOU? WHAT TIME? WHAT TIME? OKAY.
AND EVEN YOU IN THE OFFICE DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TIME TO SEE ME.
SO I THINK THE BUSINESS HOURS, IF WE SAY YOU WANT TO SEE THE TIME, TIME IS DURING THE BUSINESS HOURS, A MONDAY TO THURSDAY, BUSINESS HOURS APPOINTMENT ONLY.
OKAY? FOR EXAMPLE, I WANT TO DELIVER MY FOUR 60, THEN I WILL CALL YOU AND SAY, I'M GONNA STOP BY.
OKAY? AND THEN I'D STOP BY TOO.
AND I MIGHT BE GO TO YOUR OFFICE TO SAY HI, AND WALK AWAY.
I'M NOT GOING TO WASTE YOUR TIME DUE TO YOU MIGHT HAVE OTHER BUSINESS TO ATTEND.
SO, SO I THINK THIS, AGAIN, AND I WANT TO, ONE THING THIS, I WILL AGREE EVERYTHING OVER THERE, BUT IT'S THE ENFORCEMENT.
SO CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY HAVE TO ENFORCE, OKAY? AND, UH, IF WE SET OUT THE GUIDELINE, OKAY, SINCE 25 YEARS, NEVER BEEN, OKAY.
AND UPDATE, NOW WE UPDATE IN DETAIL.
AND THEN NOW IN THAT WAY, ALL FILE VERSE, OKAY, OR FUTURE CITY COUNCIL, ALL HAVE TO RIGHT BY THE THIS OF CORE CONDUCT.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE CIVILIZED AND COMMON SENSE AND RESPECT EACH OTHER.
AND, UH, SO IN THAT WAY WE DON'T WASTE PEOPLE'S TIME AND THAT YOU GUY UNDER THE PAYROLL OF TAXPAYERS.
SO WE WANT YOU TO SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME TO DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
SO, SO I, I, UNLESS ANYTHING, I WANT TO MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
NO, I WANNA, I WANTED TO ADD, UM, I, WITH THESE STANDING RULES, I'D LIKE TO SEE CONSEQUENCES.
I LIKE TO SEE IF THEY DON'T FOLLOW, BECAUSE WHAT I'M HEARING A LOT OF TIMES IS, YES, THESE, THIS COUNCIL PERSON IS BEING TOLD REPEATEDLY, BUT DOES NOT LISTEN.
SO WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES? SO I WANNA SEE THAT AND, AND ADD THAT.
I MEAN IT, YOU KNOW, PUT THE CENSURE IN IF THAT'S PART OF THAT, UM, LET THE RESIDENTS KNOW THAT YOU CAN RECALL.
UM, BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THERE.
[02:20:01]
WHATEVER IT HAS TO BE.UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROSARIO DIAZ.
UM, ALSO IN, UM, TALKING ABOUT OFFICE HOURS, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE LIMITED, UM, ON OUR ACCESS CARDS.
UH, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE, YOU KNOW, FREE WILLY-NILLY COME IN ANYTIME YOU WANT INTO ANY OF OUR OFFICES OR CITY OFFICES.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT MAY BE COMING INTO THE DAAS, WHAT IF THEY GET HURT? NOBODY'S GONNA KNOW THEY'RE HERE.
SO I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO LIMIT THAT.
I THINK THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE PUT ON THE SAME TYPE OF SCHEDULE SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST RUNNING AROUND HERE AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY.
UM, I ALSO LIKE TO ADD CONFIDENTIALITY.
WHAT I'M FINDING OUT IS THINGS THAT ARE, ARE SAID IS BEING PUT OUT.
I MEAN, THERE'S REASONS WE HAVE CLOSED SESSIONS.
THERE'S REASONS WHY WE HAVE PRIVATE MEETINGS.
UM, AND CONFIDENTIALITY SHOULD BE HELD TO THE STANDARD.
UM, AT TIMES, SOMETIMES A COUNCIL MEMBER COULD JUST QUICKLY GIVE THIS INTERNAL INFORMATION OUT, UM, TO ANOTHER ONE.
I WANT THE CHAOS TO BE REMOVED.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THINGS THAT ARE WRITTEN, AND ESPECIALLY LIKE INVESTIGATION, I MEAN, THERE ARE THINGS THAT I WISH THAT I COULD SAY TO THE PUBLIC, BUT I KNOW I CAN'T.
UM, AND SOMETIMES WHEN A COUNCIL MEMBER PUTS SOMETHING OUT OR GIVES SOMETHING OUT, WHETHER IT'S AN EMAIL THAT IS FALSE, IT'S JUST, IT HAS THIS FULL, UM, YEAH, I, I WANT TO CAPTURE ALL THOSE THINGS TOO, BECAUSE I MEAN, 25 YEARS AGO, SOCIAL MEDIA, ALL THAT WASN'T REALLY THAT HIGH.
AND NOW PEOPLE CAN PUT FAKE STUFF, YOU KNOW, AI AND ALL THAT STUFF.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS CAP, UH, CAPTURED ON THIS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, MY BACKGROUND IS IN ENFORCING LAW MUNICIPAL CODES.
AND WITH EACH MUNICIPAL CODE, THERE'S A CONSEQUENCE IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THAT CODE.
SO I AGREE, THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES.
I BELIEVE THE GUIDELINES AND THE CODE OF CONDUCT MOVING FORWARD WILL BE FAIR AND EQUITABLE TO EVERYONE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THE BUSINESS HOURS, THE MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ARE KEY.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHEN STAFF IS THEIR BUSIEST.
AS YOU KNOW, THAT I LIKE TO UTILIZE FRIDAYS FOR MEETINGS WITH DEVELOPERS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.
BUT I FULLY AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CODE OF CONDUCT, OUR STANDING RULES SHOULD ASSIST THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY BE PER PORTRAYED IN THE BEST LIGHT.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE DISRUPTIONS AT OUR MEETING.
UH, WE SHOULD LOOK PROFESSIONAL.
UH, THE COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER WILL ALWAYS HAVE SOME DISAGREEMENTS, BUT THEY SHOULD BE PROFESSIONAL DISAGREEMENTS AND NOT MAKE A SCENE.
I, I, I'VE DEALT WITH EACH MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON THINGS.
UM, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA GET IN A FIGHT OVER IT.
IT'S PROFESSIONAL DISAGREEMENT.
UH, BUT I THINK EVERYBODY'S GOAL, AND I KNOW, UM, EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL PERSONALLY, THAT THEY DO WISH THE BEST FOR THE CITY.
EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
BUT MOVING FORWARD, THIS COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND ALL MY STAFF REALLY NEED TO MAKE 2026 A GREAT YEAR.
WE'RE PORTRAYED IN A MUCH HIGHER LIGHT.
WE LOOK FAR MORE PROFESSIONAL, AND WE MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THIS ALL BUSINESS.
WE ARE HERE SERVING THE PUBLIC.
AND WHEN I COME HERE IN A CAPACITY, I AM HERE SERVING THE CAPACITY AS A COUNCIL.
I'M NOT MIXING UP MY WORK FAMILY, AND THIS, THEY ALL ARE AT SEPARATE TIMES.
SO THAT NEEDS TO ALSO BE CAPTURED, WHETHER THEY'RE EVEN BEING SERVING, UM, AS I KNOW THAT, UH, WHETHER IT'S COUNCIL OR STAFF THAT ARE BEING SERVED FROM HOME, THAT IT SHOULD BE IN A PLACE OF PUBLIC.
I MEAN, I'M THE PLACE OF WORK, NOT GETTING INTO PERSONAL THINGS, UH, THE PETTINESS.
SO REMOVE PETTINESS AND FOCUS AND STAY WITH CITY BUSINESS AND WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT STAYS IN THE GROUNDS OF THIS CLEARLY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF WHAT WILL WE BRING BACK THAT WILL CAPTURE THAT THIS IS A BUSINESS.
WE NEED TO BE PROFESSIONAL, THAT EVERYBODY OUTSIDE THE FAMILIES, UH, THE COMMUNITY, UM, THEY'RE OFF LIMITS.
AND WE NEED TO FOCUS ON BUSINESS.
PROFESSIONAL DISAGREEMENTS ARE JUST THAT.
BUT WE NEED TO BE UNI UNINTERRUPTED AND AGAIN, STRIVE TO BE THE BEST WE CAN.
AND FOR THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, BE THE FACE OF THE COMMUNITY AT ALL OF OUR EVENTS, AND BE PORTRAYED IN A POSITIVE LIGHT AND NOT KNOWN FOR DISRUPTIONS OR CHAOS.
SO OBVIOUSLY MY ROLE, UH, WILL BE TO ENFORCE ALL THE STANDING RULES, THE CODE OF CONDUCT, HAVING CONSEQUENCES, AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE THOSE ARE ENFORCED.
AND IF YOU HEAR FROM STAFF THAT THEY'RE NOT BEING ENFORCED, THEN THAT'S ON ME.
AND I'LL PAY THE CONSEQUENCES.
BUT I WILL MAKE SURE THAT MOVING FORWARD AND HAVING THINGS IN PRINT HELPS ME GREATLY 'CAUSE IT, IT'S ALL TOO OFTEN THAT YOU'LL HEAR WHETHER YOU'RE DOING ENFORCEMENT WORK, CODE ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY.
THEY'LL SAY, WELL, SHOW ME IN PRINT.
WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT? AND IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR SOMEBODY WITH THAT TYPE BACKGROUND TO SAY, HERE IT IS, HERE ARE THE CONSEQUENCES.
[02:25:01]
AND ESPECIALLY IF IT'S ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL, SAY, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU VOTED FOR AS WELL.WHETHER IT'S THIS COUNCIL, FUTURE COUNCILS, IT'LL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL AMENDED OR CHANGED BY THE COUNCIL.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE AND CLARIFY THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS A DISCRETION TO ALSO CREATE ADDITIONAL RULES OR IMPLEMENT.
SO SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE MENTIONING RIGHT NOW, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT TILL THIS COMES THROUGH.
UM, ESPECIALLY WITH, FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF, THAT A COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULDN'T BE THERE FOR HOURS, UM, WHERE A PLACE OF WORK.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY.
THAT IS THE WALLS OF CITY HALL IS ESSENTIALLY THE WALLS OF MY HOUSE EMPLOYEES, UH, MY STAFF OR MY FAMILY.
MY JOB IS TO PROTECT THEM, THEIR BEST INTERESTS AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE AND HASSLE-FREE, UH, WORK ENVIRONMENT.
SO WE ARE MAKING STRIDES WITH THAT.
UM, I THINK IF YOU SPOKE TO MEMBERS OF THE STAFF ON THE DIFFERENT FLOORS OF THE CITY HALL, YOU'LL FIND THAT MOST OF THEM ARE, UM, IT'S, IT'S IMPROVED GREATLY IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS AS FAR AS INTERACTION, DIRECT INTERACTION WITH ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL.
THAT THE COUNCIL, ALL FIVE MEMBERS HAVE REALLY TAKEN TO COMING TO ME WITH THEIR CONCERNS, UH, THROUGH EMAIL, PHONE CALL, TEXTS.
UM, AND THEN I HAD DELEGATED TO STAFF.
AND OFTENTIMES I'LL ASK STAFF TO ALSO HELP WITH THE RESPONSE BACK TO THE COUNCIL, BUT THAT'S IN MY DIRECTION.
SO THAT PART HAS GOT A LOT BETTER.
UM, YOU'RE NOT SEEING THE COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS WERE MAYBE, UH, SIX, EIGHT MONTHS A YEAR AGO.
YEAH, I THINK WHAT, LIKE MILAN WAS SAYING, I THINK THIS IS THE, THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
AND THEN THE DAY, UM, LET'S SEE.
ALSO, I WAS GONNA ASK, WERE WE ABLE TO FIND THE GAVEL THAT WAS MISSING LAST MEETING? YES, WE WERE.
WHO, WHAT HAPPENED TO IT? UM, ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT SERVES AS A CHAIRMAN ON A, UM, ANOTHER COMMISSION WAS UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE GAVEL, THERE WAS A GAVEL FOR EACH COMMISSION.
SO BEING A NEW EMPLOYEE CAME FROM ANOTHER CITY WHERE EACH COMMISSION, TRAFFIC PLANNING PARKS AND REC COUNCIL ALL HAD THEIR OWN GAVEL AND EQUIPMENT AND GEAR, RIGHT? SO, UM, AFTER HIS MEETING, HE TOOK IT BACK TO HIS DESK FOR SAFEKEEPING, SO IT WOULDN'T GET LOST.
SO STAFF NOW UNDERSTANDS THAT ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONS THAT SHARE THE DS, UM, USE THE SAME GAVEL.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SOMEHOW, UH, WE INTEGRATE, UM, UH, SOMETHING ABOUT THE A DA IN HERE, THE AMERICA'S A DISABILITY ACT AND THE DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS TIED TO IT.
OH, AND I AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE IF A COUNCIL IS BRINGING ADDITIONAL PAPER, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS A DA WHO'S NOT ABLE TO BE ABLE TO READ IT, THAT ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AGREE, THAT SHOULD AID, UH, ACCOMMODATE, UH, OTHERS DISABILITY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ.
SO WHETHER IT BE STATE LAW OR FEDERAL LAW, IT'S OUR OBLIGATION AND OUR, OUR DUTY TO FOLLOW ALL STATE AND FEDERAL LAW.
BUT I WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF SUMMARY WITHIN THAT, UH, THAT CAPTURES THAT SENTIMENT.
I, WHETHER I DIDN MAYOR, MISUNDERSTOOD ME.
WELL, IN GENERAL, THAT'S A POLICY ABOUT A DA AND, AND, AND, AND HOW THAT POLICY, UH, AND HOW IT HAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
AND, AND THE, AND, AND IT'S A, IT'S A REQUIREMENT THAT A DA HAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE THAT THE COUNCIL IS NOT A CITY EMPLOYEE.
SO THERE ARE RULES THAT CITY EMPLOYEE HAS THEIR RIGHTS AND THE CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T.
BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THEY ALSO KNOW THAT.
BUT OF COURSE, WE WILL FOLLOW ANY FEDERAL, STATE RULES.
UM, AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE DEFINITELY GONNA HAVE THE LAWYERS, UM, PUT, GIVE THEIR INPUT AND MAKE SURE WE IMPLEMENT THOSE THINGS.
IN, IN ADDITION, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE IT INTO OUR STANDING RULES CODE OF CONDUCT, IS THAT WE'RE GONNA, AT LEAST AT A STAFF LEVEL, REQUIRE OUR STAFF MEMBERS ATTEND SOME ADDITIONAL TRAININGS.
SO WE ALL UNDERSTAND THINGS BETTER NO MATTER WHAT DISCIPLINE OR ISSUE IT IS.
UH, 'CAUSE A LOT OF US IN THE BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T BEEN EXPOSED EVERYTHING, UM, THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY EXPOSED TO NOWADAYS.
SO WE WILL BE DOING OTHER TRAININGS THROUGH JPIA AND OTHER SOURCES, UM, TO HELP REMEDY ANY OF THE CONCERNS AND ISSUES THAT HAVE COMING UP MAYBE FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR.
AND IF I COULD FINISH UP SPEAKING, 'CAUSE I HAVE THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW, SO GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'M SORRY, I'M GETTING INTERRUPTED.
BUT, UM, AND, AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, I MEAN, WHAT I'M NOT GONNA ARGUE ABOUT WHAT THE ADA A IS AND WHAT THE ADA IS NOT, BUT WHAT I AM GONNA SAY IS THAT'S INCORRECT.
UH, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU DO NOT QUALIFY FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS UNDER FEDERAL
[02:30:01]
AND STATE LAW.UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'S A FACT.
THERE'S A ATTORNEY, A CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION ON THAT.
AND, AND, AND THE LAW IS THE LAW.
UM, YOU KNOW, I I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE, YEAH, I, I, I SUPPORT THIS CODE OF CONDUCT.
I THINK IT'S VITAL AND IMPORTANT.
UH, I THINK OUR CITY HAS LOST MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE YEARS FROM, UH, MAJOR LAWSUITS FROM PAST EMPLOYEES TO UHE, UH, HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENTS, A DISREGARD TO THE LABOR LAW AND, AND VICE VERSA.
SO I THINK THIS IS, UH, A VITAL, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
COUNCILMAN WU, UH, SINCE WE TALKING ABOUT THE A DA, UH, QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT, AND LAST TIME, I THINK LAST MEETING.
I HAVE A MOTHER, MAY I AND FIVE ZERO APPROVE REGARDING THE AADA A ABUSE PEOPLE USE THE A DA AS A SHIELD.
AND, UH, CONTINUE UTILIZE LIKE A PROTECT, UH, PROTECTION.
SOMETHING THAT HE CAN CONTINUE TO OKAY.
WALK AWAY FROM SOME OF THE ISSUE.
SO I THINK WE ALREADY APPROVED, SO I WANT THE CITY TO LOOK INTO IT.
AND THEN ALSO THE CREDENTIAL REGARDING THE A DA WHO HAS A DA WHO QUALIFY A DA.
AND THAT SHOULD BRING BACK TO THE COUNCIL, UH, REGARDING OKAY.
ALL THE FINDING, UH, COUNCILMAN WU.
SO THAT GOES BACK TO, UM, BETTER EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR ALL MEMBERS OF STAFF AND EVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I THINK THAT AS WE GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND EDUCATE OURSELVES A LITTLE BIT MORE, WE'LL HAVE LESS QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE.
AND ALSO THROUGH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DOING A TRAINING ON THE GENERAL OVERVIEW OF BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS THAT APPLY, UM, IN THESE SUBJECTS, UH, WILL HELP MOVE US FORWARD.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT WOULD BE SO MUCH OF AN ISSUE MOVING FORWARD.
AND I UNDERSTAND, BUT MY POINT IS HOW SOON WE CAN BRING THIS BACK TO US REGARDING OKAY.
FIVE ZERO THE MOTHER MAY I REGARDING THE A D ABUSE SITUATION.
IT IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 20TH.
UM, BOTH SOME EDUCATION MATERIAL TRAINING IN PLACE, AND WE'LL ALSO COME BACK WITH THE, THE STANDING RULES, PROPOSED CODE OF CONDUCT WHERE THE, THE COUNCIL CAN WEIGH IN AND ADD OR REMOVE ANYTHING.
BUT I, BUT I AGREE WITH MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL MAYOR SPECIFICALLY, THAT THE, THE CURRENT STANDING RULES ARE REALLY A REPEAL AND REPLACE WITH A, A NEWER DOCUMENT.
MOST OF THAT 2000 VERSION IS VERY OUTDATED.
AND, UH, THE FINAL THING I WANT TO STATED, OKAY.
AND WE HAVE A TWO A DA COUNCIL MEMBER ON THE DIET.
AND ONE, AND, UH, PHYSICALLY WE CAN SEE THE ISSUE, BUT HE NEVER COMPLAINED WITH ANYTHING.
HE ALWAYS, UH, COME DAY AND TRY TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY.
ANOTHER ONE IS CONTINUE TO USING THE A DA.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE, OKAY.
AND THE PEOPLE NOT ABUSE USING THE A DA AS A SHE.
SO THIS IS WHAT THE MOTHER MAYOR ABOUT.
AND SO THE C THE CITY CAN BE PROTECTED, OKAY? AND THE STEP CAN BE PROTECTED WITH ALL THESE SO-CALLED A DA AND, UH, OKAY.
THAT IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, WE'RE GONNA SUE YOU, THIS KIND OF THING.
AND THEN MAKE, THE CITY STAFF CANNOT EVEN DO THEIR JOB, OR THEY RESIGN OR THEY QUIT.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO AVOID.
OKAY? WE ARE ALL HERE BY, BY THE LAW OF OUR STATE AND OUR UNITED STATES, AND WE HERE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, AND WE, WE RESPECT EACH OTHER AND WITH THE COMMON SENSE, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR CITY.
SO IN GENERAL, WE, WE SHOULD HAVE THE INFORMATION, RIGHT.
AND AGAIN, UM, I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER WITH MY STAFF THROUGH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, TO NOT ONLY EDUCATE STAFF, EDUCATE THE COUNCIL ON STATE AND FEDERAL LAW, WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO, WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T ASK.
AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY HAVE A SUCCESSFUL 2026 AND BEYOND WITHOUT ISSUES INVOLVING ANYTHING WITH STATE OR FEDERAL LAW.
AGAIN, UH, OUR ROLE AND OUR, UH, RESPONSIBILITY IS TO FOLLOW, UM, STATE AND FEDERAL LAW, WHICH WE WILL, UH, WE JUST, SOME OF US, UH, MYSELF INCLUDED, HAVE BEEN SELF-EDUCATING TO UNDERSTAND THIS TOPIC A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE THIS IS MUCH SMOOTHER THAN IT'S IN THE PAST.
SO, SO MY FINAL STATEMENT WILL BE, SO WITH THAT, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER CIVILIZE AND DON'T FEEL INTIMIDATE.
AND, UH, WITH SOME, ANY ISSUE, AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE OKAY AND WORK TOGETHER AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR CITY.
I THINK THIS IS WHAT WE TRY TO DO.
I, I THINK THAT'S THE KEY COUNCILMAN, IS THAT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND MOVE FORWARD, MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD, UM, AND KEEP EVERYTHING ON A PROFESSIONAL BASIS.
AND IF THAT INCLUDES PUTTING MORE IN WRITING SOME GUIDELINES AND STRUCTURE, WE WILL DO THAT THROUGH THE CODE OF CONDUCT, THE STANDING RULES.
[02:35:01]
YOU MAKE A COMMENT THAT THERE'S TWO MEMBERS ON THE CONS WITH DISABILITIES.YOU SAY ONE YOU COULD TELL ANOTHER, YOU CAN'T, COMMENTS LIKE THAT ARE NOT APPROPRIATE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
I JUST WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT.
BUT I JUST WANNA ALSO KNOWN AS PUBLIC SERVANTS.
THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS HAS MADE IT KNOWN, ESPECIALLY IN LIKE EVERY EVENT, UM, THAT THEY ACTUALLY PUBLICLY HAS INFORMED THE PUBLIC OF THEIR DISABILITY.
UM, BUT THE KEEP MINE SECRET, I'M SORRY.
DON'T TELL ANYBODY, JUST NO, I, WE CAN THAT OUT.
AND I, AND I DO WANNA RESPECT, BECAUSE THOSE THAT HAVE DISABILITIES, SOMETIMES THEY, UM, THEY'RE NOT ASKING THE WORLD TO CATER TO THEM.
AND I DO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS, WHO HE HAS THE EVERY RIGHT TO USE A LOT OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS, BUT HE DOES NOT.
AND HE, HE COMES AND HE WALKS WITH US AS HE'S PART OF US, AS HE'S NORMAL.
AND SOMETIMES, LIKE, WE FORGET OF HIS DISABILITY JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HE, HE WORKS WELL.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS NICE THAT THE WHOLE PARADE, HE WALKED WITH US THE WHOLE ENTIRE PARADE.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS TO THOSE THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS A DISABILITY, BUT IS NOT ASKING THE WORLD TO CATER.
BUT WE ARE ALWAYS WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
UM, THE COMMENT ABOUT THE CITY HALL IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
UM, IT DOESN'T GIVE ANYONE THE RIGHT, THE PUBLIC OR THE COUNCIL TO COME WHENEVER THEY WANT AND JUST SQUAT OR JUST DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.
THERE ARE RULES AND EVERYTHING.
AND IN LIFE, THERE'S JUST RULES TO EVERYTHING, INCLUDING YOUR OWN HOUSE THAT YOU LIVE IN.
SO, RULES, GUIDELINES ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE LISTED SO THAT THERE ARE NO MISUNDERSTANDING AND THAT WE CAN JUST MOVE IN PEACE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN GUTTER? OH, UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND, UM, MAYOR PRO, TIMM OLI CONTOS.
UH, JUST A FEW GENERAL COMMENTS.
UH, WITH REGARD TO THE, THE, THE CODE OF CONDUCT, UH, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, THAT IT BE REFLECTED THAT BECAUSE OF OUR CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT, ALL OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS AS MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL NEED TO GO THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THEN FROM THERE, HOWEVER, ARRANGEMENTS WHERE HE, HE NEEDS TO BE THE ONE THAT, THAT THROUGH WHOM EVERYTHING GOES.
SO WE HAVE NO, WE SHOULD NOT BE GOING TO SUBORDINATE STAFF TO, UH, TO GIVE THEM INSTRUCTION.
IT NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, THEN COORDINATED FROM THERE WITH STAFF.
BUT IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THAT WAY IN ORDER TO ENABLE, IN THIS CASE, UH, IT'S MYLAN.
SO ENABLE HIM, UH, TO BE ABLE TO COORDINATE, UH, EFFORTS WITH STAFF.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE BOTTLE OF GOVERNMENT UNDER WHICH WE, WE OPERATE.
UH, THE, THE OTHER THING WITH REGARD TO, UH, DISABILITY IS THAT THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IS INTENDED TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.
SO WE EACH HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN EVERY ASPECT OF SOCIETAL LIFE.
IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT ANYONE HAS ANY MORE OR LESS PRIVILEGE.
IT MEANS SIMPLY THAT WE ARE LEVELED AT THE RIGHT, UH, PLAYING FIELD.
AND THEN THE REASON WHY I BRING THAT UP, UH, IS BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS NOT MEANT TO CREATE SPECIAL TREATMENT OR SPECIAL PRIVILEGE.
IT IS SIMPLY MEANT TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION.
LITERALLY, NAMELY, THAT THERE ARE NO PHYSICAL, ATTITUDINAL AND PROGRAMMATIC, UH, BARRIERS TO PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS.
SO UNDER THE STANDARDS WITH, WITH INCLUDING FOR US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, WHICH, WHICH ARE CONSIDERED, UH, UH, EMPLOYEES FOR A DA PURPOSES, UH, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS UNDER TITLE ONE OF THE A DA, WE MUST FULFILL THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB WITH OR WITHOUT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION.
AND SO AN INDIVIDUAL STANDARD IS APPLIED, AND THEN THE, THE APPROPRIATE INDIVIDUAL, UH, UH, ENTITY WOULD, THAT WOULD MAKE THOSE, THOSE DETERMINATIONS IN DOING AND APPLYING THE INDIVIDUAL STANDARD.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE, IN OUR CASE, IT WOULD BE THE HR OFFICE.
AND THEN FROM THERE, UH, THEN IT JUST BECAUSE ONE PERSON HAS WHATEVER, WHAT DISABILITY AND ANOTHER HAS A DIFFERENT DISABILITY, THERE HAS TO BE AN INDIVIDUALIZED, INTERACTIVE APPROACH.
AND IN DOING THAT, IT MUST MEAN THAT IT, THAT, UH, IT NEEDS TO BE TIED TO A JOB FUNCTION THAT, THAT A, AN ACCOMMODATION IS MEANT TO, TO A REMEDY.
I'M ONLY JUST, JUST A MINI A DA SEMINAR HERE,
AND THEN, WELL, REGARDLESS OF THE, OF WHETHER THE A DA IS MENTIONED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, SECTION 5 0 4, WHICH PROHIBITS ANY ENTITY RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS FROM BEING DISCRIMINATORY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS MENTIONED OR NOT MENTIONED, WE ALL HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW IT.
AND SO MY PERSONAL APPROACH IS, IS TO APPLY, UH, UH, A PHILOSOPHY OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY WHERE THERE ARE THINGS THAT I DO NEED, UH, BUT THEN IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT, THAT I DON'T, THEN I'M NOT GOING TO ASK.
SO IT'S, AND IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT, AT LEAST ON, ON MY END, TO, TO
[02:40:01]
DO THAT.SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO ALL FOUR OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE TIMES THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY WANT, DON'T WANT ME TO FALL OFF A STAGE OR SOMETHING, THEY GRAB ME, OR THERE'S A TREE BRANCH IN THE WAY.
SO THEY TELL ME DUCK OR MOVE TO THE SIDE OR WHATEVER.
BUT THOSE AREN'T DIRECT THO THOSE AREN'T FORMALIZED ACCOMMODATIONS.
BUT THAT'S JUST OUT OF COURTESY.
BUT THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENS WITH ME AS, AS A FELLOW COLLEAGUE OF THEIRS, WHERE IF I CAN DO ANYTHING TO BE OF SUPPORT TO THEM, I WILL.
AND SO WE JUST NEED TO HAVE THAT, THE, THE, THE DISCUSSION OF DISABILITY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT THE ORIGINAL, UH, WRITERS OF THE AD INTENDED, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY TO CREATE A, A, AN ENVIRONMENT OF EQUALITY AND NOT AN, UH, TO, TO CREATE AN ANY TYPE OF ADVANTAGE OF ONE GROUP OVER ANOTHER.
THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO CLARIFY THERE.
UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS, I MEAN, IF ANYTHING THAT HAS TO BE WITH THE A DII, I WOULDN'T MIND APPOINTING YOU AS THE LEAD FOR THE A DA ON ON THIS THING.
UM, AND YES, UH, THERE IS ALWAYS A CHAIN OF COMMAND,
UM, SO THE CHAIN OF COMMAND IT, SO IN CASE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THE RESIDENTS VOTE FOR US.
UH, THE RESIDENTS ARE OUR BOSSES PRETTY MUCH.
UM, AND THE COUNCIL CAN HIRE AND FIRE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, IF THE, AND, AND OF COURSE, THE CHAIN OF COMMAND GOES, YOU KNOW, UP AND DOWN AND, AND STAFF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE ISSUES, CONCERNS, PLEASE BRING IT UP THE CHAIN.
UM, I DO UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES I, I AM OPEN IF, IF SOMETHING IS NOT GOING, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE NOT LISTENING, I'M OPEN.
FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT, CALL, TEXT, WHATEVER.
I'M, I'M WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN, IN GOOD HANDS.
SO CHAIN OF COMMAND IS, UM, OCCURS.
I KNOW I MADE COUNCIL REQUESTS A FEW COUNCIL MEETING AGO, THAT ALSO APPLIES HERE TO THE STANDING RULES.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TO GO IN DETAILS HERE OF WHAT'S PUBLIC AND WHAT'S PRIVATE.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU WANNA, SOMETIMES CERTAIN COUNCIL WANTS TO JUST PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT THEY WANNA DO.
AND IT'S LIKE, WE'RE PUBLIC SERVANTS.
THIS IS PUBLIC, AND THEN OTHER THINGS ARE, ARE PRIVATE.
SO SOME PEOPLE NEED TO REALLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
AND THAT PROBABLY COULD BE CAPTURED HERE.
ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YES.
AND I THINK, UH, OUR CITY ATTORNEY COULD, UH, UH, STATE WHAT THE ADA A LAW IS, WHICH IS, UH, A LOT OF ACCOMMODATION, OR I THINK A MAJORITY OF, OF INDIVIDUAL'S ACCOMMODATIONS ARE, ARE CONFIDENTIAL.
IT, IT'S FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS THAT DICTATE WHAT INFORMATION COULD GO OUT AND WHAT INFORMATION CAN GO OUT.
AND, UM, I KNOW THERE'S REFERENCES ABOUT A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WA WHO HAD TO BE DRIVEN IN A PARADE.
HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WASN'T HURT OR HE, HE, OR, OR OF THE MEDICAL CONDITION INVOLVING, INVOLVING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER? DID YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR WITH HIM TO FIND OUT? I MEAN, YOU DON'T, AND, AND, AND, AND SO, UH, IT'S HURTFUL WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE'S DISABILITY OR WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS THEY HAVE.
IF, IF, IF, IF SOMEONE'S IN THE CAR, HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT PERSON DOESN'T HAVE DIABETES AND THAT HE CAN'T WALK AND STAND FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIMES? AND, AND THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY.
SO FOR THE RECORD, NOBODY HAD MENTIONED THAT TO THE PUBLIC.
THE PUBLIC CAN SEE WE ARE PUBLIC FIGURES, SO PEOPLE SEE WITH THEIR OWN VERY EYES.
BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HERE YOU WILL HEAR FROM THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE THAT PUBLICLY AND SHOW SHARE THAT.
SO, NO, UM, I CAN AT LEAST SAY, OR ACTUALLY WE'VE BEEN IN COUNCIL, NOBODY HAD SAID THAT.
BUT I'M NOT, I'M DON'T LIKE TO DISCUSS AND TALK NEGATIVE ABOUT THE OTHERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS AND ON THE POSITIVE.
SO, HOWEVER, THAT, THAT'S YOUR THING.
AGAIN, THE WORD IS REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS UP TO THE CITY STAFF AND HR.
WE DO NOT ASK, WE DON'T WANNA KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA GET INTO THAT.
BUT OF COURSE, THINGS THAT ARE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS.
BUT AGAIN, ALL THAT WILL BE CAPTURED ON HERE.
AND THAT WOULD COME TO US ON THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
AND, AND I THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR MAKING THAT COMMITMENT.
SECOND, I'LL SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND CAPTURING ALL THAT.
UH, CITY COUNCIL REQUEST, UH, COUNCILWOMAN.
UM, SOME TIME AGO WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH, UM, OUR CITY
[02:45:01]
MANAGER.YEAR WAS ONLY, WELL ACTUALLY HE WAS, UM, HIS LIMIT TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE WAS 250,000.
AND DURING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WE REDUCED IT TO 50,000.
WELL, IT TURNS OUT THAT, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT'S VERY REASONABLE.
I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME EXPENSES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO ALLOW HIM TO MAKE.
UM, AND SO DURING THAT MEETING, I HAD WANTED 150,000.
SO I'M BRINGING THIS BACK TO SEE IF WE CAN CHANGE IT TO 150,000.
I WAS HESITATE, BUT I WILL SUPPORT.
COUNCILWOMAN DI THINK, OKAY, $50,000 IS TOO LITTLE.
AND ESPECIALLY, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.
SO I THINK 50, 150,000 WAS THE SIZE OF THE CITY.
I THINK 250,000, A LITTLE BIT TOO BIG.
LIKE EVERYTHING HAVE TO COME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AND THEN IT SHOULDN'T COME TO US.
CITY MANAGER MANAGEMENT TEAM SHOULD BE OKAY.
HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO THE $150,000.
DO WE HAVE ANY DISAGREEMENT? UH, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YEAH.
AND, AND, UH, I DON'T HAVE DISAGREEMENT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO PUT SOME, UH, UH, PROBABLY LOOK AT WHAT RESTRICTIONS ARE IN THERE.
'CAUSE YOU JUST DON'T WANT $150,000 BEING SPENT ON ANYTHING.
SO, SO I THINK WHEN, WHEN IT'S, WHEN IT'S BROUGHT BACK, WE, WE POTENTIALLY LOOK AT, UH, WHAT ELSE? I MEAN, IF THERE'S RESTRICTIONS THAT COULD GO ON THERE OR NOT.
COUNCILMAN WU? UH, I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY MANAGERS.
$150,000 SHOULD BE YOU TO DESCRIPTION TO USE.
AND, UH, AND, UH, THEY WILL COME TO US ANYWAY, SO, SO, SO, BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN INSTANTLY AND TO APPROVE AND GET THE THING DONE RATHER THAN COME BACK WITH FOR TWO WEEKS AND THIS AND THAT.
SO I, I THINK WE SHOULD TRUST OUR OKAY.
IF WE GOING TO GIVE THEM THESE $150 AND WE SHOULDN'T DO ANY RESTRICTION ANYWAY, THE BUDGET WILL COME FOR OUR, OKAY.
UH, AND THE FINANCIAL DIRECTORS AND EVERYTHING WILL COME TO US ANYWAY, SO I DON'T THINK WE NEED IT.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT HERE TO MICROMANAGE EVERY LITTLE THING.
UH, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO YOUR JOB.
AND I KNOW BEING SHORT STAFFED AND EVERYTHING, THERE'S THINGS THAT SHOULD BE EASILY DONE.
UM, BUT THE MANY RED TAPE THAT HAS TO GO OVER BY THE TIME IT NEEDS TO BE DONE, IT'S LIKE OVER A MONTH, TWO MONTHS.
AND WE ARE FEELING IT FROM THE, THE STAFF SIDE AND, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO I HAVE TO ORDER AND DO ALL THAT STUFF.
AND I, AND MY JOB TO HAVE THAT DISCRETION MAKES IT EASIER BECAUSE AT THE END IT DOES COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LET US KNOW WHAT IS SPENT AND SO FORTH, BUT IT'S JUST MORE THAT YOU HAVE TO DISCRETION TO GET THE JOB DONE.
ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YEAH, I THINK THIS ITEM'S GONNA COME BACK TO US.
SO I'M JUST SAYING IN GEN, I'M JUST MAKING A COMMENT.
I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE TAKING ACTION.
I'M NOT MAKING AN ACTION, OKAY.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, THE REASON WHY I STATED THAT, AND, AND IT'S GONNA BE BROUGHT BACK TO US.
SO I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE MAKING AN ACTION TONIGHT ON IT, BUT I'M SAYING, I'M MAKING A SUGGESTION THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE SHOULD LOOK AT IN THAT PROCESS IS NOT, UH, I, I THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT YES, OUR, OUR POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BUY THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED.
WHAT I'M REFERRING TO IS POTENTIALLY, UH, EVENTS THAT COST THE TAXPAYERS $150,000.
AND, AND I THINK THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF, BRING IT TO US AND LET US KNOW BEFORE YOU SPEND ALL THAT MONEY KIND OF THING.
COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ, I, I WILL WORK WITH OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR TO APPLY ALL BEST PRACTICES AND SAFEGUARDS.
SO WHETHER IT'S ME OR SOMEBODY ELSE SITTING UP HERE, UH, THERE'S NO ABUSE OF, UH, THE AUTHORITY.
UH, COUNCILMAN WILL AND THE, THE POLICE, AND FILED THE EVENT TO PUT PEOPLE TOGETHER, UNITE PEOPLE TOGETHER, PRINT 10,000 PEOPLE OR MORE INTO OUR CITY.
OKAY? AND EVEN WE PAY ALL THE TIME FOR THE POLICE AND FILE.
SO, SO AGAIN, THIS UNDER DESCRIPTION OF OUR MANAGEMENT, IF THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT GOOD EVENT, THEY DON'T DO IT.
IF IT IS A GOOD EVENT, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AND TO PUT TOGETHER, NOT ALWAYS COME TO US LIKE MICROMANAGEMENT ALL THE TIME.
YOU GUYS SHOULD RUN THE CT, OKAY? AND MAKE OUR CT GREAT, AND MAKE OUR CT VIBRANT.
MAKE OUR CITY ALWAYS ATTRACT BUSINESS.
COME TO US AND UNITE OUR RESIDENT TOGETHER, OKAY? AND THIS, THIS IS WHAT WE HERE FOR, OKAY? EVEN EVENT, SOMETIMES COST MONEY.
[02:50:01]
TOGETHER, CHILDREN.I ALWAYS SAY, OKAY, NO MATTER HOW, I DON'T EVEN CARE HOW MUCH CT PAY.
CT USE, OKAY? AS LONG AS ON THE, OKAY, YOU GUYS ALL AGREE, THEN YOU SHOULD MAKE THE THING HAPPEN.
I THINK THIS IS HOW MAKE PEOPLE ARE VERY PROUD TO LIVE IN WEST COVINA, AND THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, NO LESS THAN POLICE AND FIRE.
SO, SO I THINK EVERYTHING SHOULD GO BACK TO TRUST.
IF WE GIVE YOU $150,000, THE TRUST IS YOURS.
OKAY? AND YOU SHOULD DO YOUR JOB AND TO MAKE THE THING HAPPEN.
AND, YOU KNOW, FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, AS I ALWAYS SAID, A LOT OF SPECIAL EVENTS, YOU DON'T MAKE MONEY.
I MEAN, WE GIVE THIS TO THE COMMUNITY, IT'S FREE.
UM, BUT WITH ALL SPECIAL EVENTS, THERE ARE BUDGETS.
AND SO EACH EVENT, I MEAN, OF COURSE I'LL LEAVE IT TO THE CITY MANAGER OF THE BUDGET.
THOSE, THE BUDGET CAN COME THROUGH US, OBVIOUSLY.
BUT, UH, IN THE DISCRETION OF WHAT YOU GUYS PURCHASE AND ANYTHING THAT IS ON YOU, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T SPEND PAST WHAT THE BUDGET AMOUNT.
I RUN THE LARGEST BLACK HISTORY PARADE AND FESTIVAL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
AND I'M THE MAIN LEAD, THE, THE, TO DO EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE BUDGET GOING HERE.
I HAVE A COUNCIL TO ANSWER TO AND EVERYTHING.
AND WE SHOULD NOT MICROMANAGE THE STAFF ON LIKE, HOW TO DO THEIR JOB.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY I HAVE FAITH THAT YOU HAVE HIRED GREAT STAFF.
WE PRAISED HER FOR THE, UH, KEANI FESTIVAL, SUSIE.
AND, AND THESE ARE COMPETENT, YOU KNOW, GREAT STAFF.
AND BELIEVE ME, WHEN, YOU KNOW, IF THE EVENT GOES BAD, YOU'LL HEAR IT AND WE'LL HEAR IT, AND THEN IT'S OUT THERE.
SO I TRUST THAT THESE MONEY HAS BEEN FOR YEARS, HAS BEEN SPENT WELL, UM, THE COMMUNITY'S HAPPY AND, AND THE HAPPINESS, YOU CAN'T PAY FOR THAT, THAT'S PRICELESS.
AND, AND THAT'S PART OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
SO YES, I GREW, UH, AGREE WITH THIS.
EVERYTHING IS, IF EVERYTHING IS GOOD, IT'S GONNA COME BACK TO US, AND THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
OKAY? UH, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? YEAH.
AND, AND I JUST WANNA SAY, YEAH, I, I THINK THE IDEA THAT OUR CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDED IT IS A, I THINK THAT'S A REMARKABLE IDEA.
OH, NO, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THE ROLL CALL.
UH, SO, UH, WE DID ANY OTHER CITY COUNCIL REQUEST? NONE.
[CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS]
UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROSARIO DIAZ.I JUST WANNA WISH EVERYONE A MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
PLEASE BE SAFE OUT THERE AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.
UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY MAGNIFICENT JOB FOR THE TREE LIGHTING, THE SNOW IT, GREAT JOB, GREAT JOB FOR THE STAFF.
I THINK THIS IS A AREA WE CAN DO SPECIAL EVENT, OKAY? AND, UH, NOW I THINK IF WE GO TO THE GLENDORA AVENUE, POSSIBLE COST MORE, BUT OVER HERE IT IS MORE CONFINED.
AND, UH, YOU DON'T NEED TO BLOCK THE STREET, JUST OUR PARKING LOT.
AND THE, AND THE PEOPLE ARE HAPPY AND IT'S SAFE.
SO I THINK, OKAY, WE CAN DO MORE EVENT OVER HERE.
OKAY? AND, UH, AND THE, THE EFFORT FROM THE STAFF TO MAKE THE EVENTS SO FULL OF ALL RELATIVE FROM THE CHILDREN, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE KIDS SO HAPPY.
AND THEN I CANNOT SAY MORE ON THE CHRISTMAS PARADE CHILDREN PARADE.
THAT IS, AGAIN, THAT HAS TO BE UNDER GLENDORA AVENUE, SO PEOPLE CAN ON THE TWO SIDE, AND YOU WALK THROUGH IT, AND, UH, IT'S MAGNIFICENT.
AND AGAIN, I WANNA THANK THE STAFF.
AND, UH, ALL THE PEOPLE, PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE AND FIRE, AND ALL DAY, AND CELEBRATE THE UNITY OF THE CITY.
AND YOU SEE THE CHILDREN PARADE THROUGH WITH ALL THE BAND WITH WEST COVINA HIGH SCHOOL AND SOUTH HILL BAND, HIGH SCHOOL, AND MAGNIFICENT.
OKAY? AND, AND THIS, THE, THE, THE IMPACT TO THE, THOSE CHILDREN IS FOREVER.
AND TO PARADE AND THE MARCHING AND TO THE STREET AND ALL THE PARENTS, EVERYBODY ON THE SIDE WATCHING THEM.
AND, AND THEN THEY GO TO THE, OKAY.
CENTER VILLAGE, OKAY? AND THEN THEY HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH THE PETTING ZOO AND THE CT POOL.
ALSO BALLOON MAGIC BALLOON FACE PAINTING HIS SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE CITY AND THE STAFF AGAIN AND AGAIN.
WE NEED TO UNITE UNITED PEOPLE TOGETHER.
WE, OUR JOB, NOT ONLY PUBLIC SAFETY, WE BRING HAPPINESS, WE BRING HAPPINESS TO OUR RESIDENT.
WE WANT TO EVERY, EVERYBODY FEEL PROUD IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA AT THE END.
MERRY CHRISTMAS IF I DON'T SEE YOU, GUY.
[02:55:01]
GO, GO AHEAD.OH, YOU WANT ME GO
UH, MAYOR PRO TEM OLI CONTOS, THANK YOU.
UH, I, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ALREADY DONE WITH ANOTHER CALENDAR YEAR.
THE NEXT TIME WE'RE GOING TO MEET, IT WILL BE 2026.
AND JUST LIKE ANY YEAR, ALL OF US HAVE OUR CHALLENGES.
WE HAVE OUR MOMENTS OF TRIUMPH.
AND HERE AS A CITY, THERE'S SO MUCH INTERACTION WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS.
AND, AND THIS IS JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL COMMUNITY OF OURS.
AND SO, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE OUR DISAGREEMENTS, UH, ON POLICY, ON INDIVIDUAL MATTERS, THE FACT IS WE STILL ARE AND CAN BE ONE WEST COVINA.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY NOT JUST NOW, BUT THE WHOLE YEAR.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT, THAT WHAT MAKES US GREAT IS, IS THE WAY THAT WE FIND WAYS TO COLLABORATE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND TO TRULY TO FIND WAYS TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHER, INCLUDING ON, ON WAYS TO, TO BUILD ON COMMONALITY.
AND SO, AS, AS I JOINED WITH OTHERS IN, IN WISHING, UH, MY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS A VERY, VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND, AND MY JEWISH FRIENDS, UH, HAPPY THIRD NIGHT OF HANUKKAH, AND, AND WITH OTHER, OTHER PEOPLE OF OTHER FACE WITH WHATEVER FACE PEOPLE BELONG TO, UM, WE ALL JUST GET TO BE TOGETHER.
AND I LITERALLY JUST, I LOVE THE CITY.
I LOVE YOU GUYS, AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL TO GET TO BE HERE, TO BE OF, OF SERVICE AND SUPPORT.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.
AND HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY 2025 WITH A REAL, REAL, WONDERFUL EXCITEMENT AHEAD FOR WHAT 2026 HAS TO OFFER.
UH, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YES.
I WANT TO, UH, WISH, UH, OUR STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE, I THINK IT, WELL, IT'S, IT HAS BEEN, UH, ONE YEAR SINCE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN, UH, THE HONOR TO REPRESENT THE, THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT ONE.
I WANNA THANK YOU AND, AND THANK ALL MY RESIDENTS, UH, FOR BELIEVING IN ME, UH, FOR, UH, PUTTING ME IN THIS SEAT TO BE YOUR VOICE.
UH, YOU ELECTED THE FIRST PERSON WITH AUTISM TO SERVE ON THIS COUNCIL AND IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY.
AND IT'S THE HIGHEST HONOR I HAVE.
AND I WANT TO WISH OUR STAFF, OUR, UM, UM, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, UH, MERRY CHRISTMAS.
YOU KNOW, GROWING UP AS A KID IN FOSTER CARE, I USED TO GO IN THE BACKYARD AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AFTER I WAS PHYSICALLY MENTALLY ABUSED, I USED TO GO IN THE BACKYARD AND, AND, AND RUN IN THE BACK AND, AND SOMETIMES CRY.
AND I USED TO SEE, UH, A POLICE HELICOPTER FLY OVER.
AND ONE AND ONE NIGHT THAT POLICE HELICOPTER CAME AND SAVED ME AND, AND TOOK ME OUT OF HARM'S WAY.
AND SO, WHEN PEOPLE WANNA KNOW WHY I SUPPORTED POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL, IT WAS THEM, UH, WHO TOOK ME OUT OF THAT HARM'S WAY.
AND SO, UH, ALL OUR RESIDENTS, AGAIN, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR STAFF, UH, WITHOUT YOU, THERE'LL BE NO WEST COVINA AND UNITED, UH, WE COULD CONTINUE TO MAKE WEST COVENA PROSPEROUS AND THE NUMBER ONE CITY IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY.
SO I KNOW THE, THIS YEAR HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING YEAR.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES BESIDES THE EARLIER HICCUP.
THIS WAS A SMOOTH MEETING OVERALL.
IT'S MY FIRST AND LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR,
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND I HOPE THAT THE NEXT YEAR WE CAN CONTINUE TO JUST FOCUS ON BUSINESS, CITY BUSINESS AND JUST GET THINGS DONE.
UM, I DON'T WANNA BE HERE TILL MIDNIGHT IF WE DON'T HAVE TO.
I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT, UM, SHORT, SUCCINCT, YOU KNOW, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL FLOWS.
UM, AND I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THE WEST COVINA CHILDREN'S PARADE AND FESTIVAL WAS THE LARGEST THIS YEAR THAT WE'VE EVER HAD.
UM, LOOK FORWARD TO THE PRESS RELEASE.
YOU, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, WILL, WILL HAVE THAT PRESS RELEASE OUT.
IT'S NICE TO SEE EVERYONE OUT THERE.
SO I LOVE, UM, HAVING THE FIRST OF EVERYTHING.
UM, IT IS ALSO THE GIFT OF GIVING.
WE HAVE TO ALSO REMEMBER THERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED.
UM, POLICE AND FIRE HAS BEEN COLLECTING TOYS.
FEEL FREE TO, YOU KNOW, DROP OFF TOY DONATION.
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF EVENTS THAT WE ARE ATTENDING.
WE ALL DONATED UNWRAPPED TOYS, UM, AND THEY ARE GONNA GO IN GOOD HANDS.
[03:00:01]
I LOVE THAT.AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYONE, AND I HOPE THAT 2026 WILL BE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.
UM, AND, AND EVERYBODY ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS AND, YOU KNOW, JUST, I KNOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET LONELY.
TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOR, CALL STAFF, CALL, YOU KNOW, JUST, UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS A GOOD HOLIDAYS.
A VERY IMPORTANT THING, AND THIS IS A VERY SAD NEWS, OKAY? ONE OF THE LEGENDARY, OUR CITIZEN, A RESIDENT IN WEST COVINA, WILLIAM, ALSO CO BILL AND MCINTYRE.
HE PASSED AWAY ON THIS COUPLE DAYS, OKAY? AND, UM, I KNOW, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY DAY, AND I GOT NOTIFIED TODAY.
AND, UH, I WENT TO VISIT HIM IN THE ASSISTED LIVING.
HE ASKED ME A LOT OF QUESTION ABOUT WEST COVINA BUSINESS, OKAY.
SO HE REALLY CARE ABOUT WEST COVINA.
SO IF PEOPLE, UH, KNOW HIM, UH, BILL MCINTYRE, OKAY.
BUSINESS IN OUR CITY, IN COVINA, WEST COVINA.
AND, UH, IF YOU KNOW, OKAY, ON THE CITRA AND 10 FREEWAY, YOU HAVE A MCINTYRE SQUARE, AND THAT BASICALLY IS HIS SQUARE.
OKAY? AND BY THE WAY, I'M THE PERSON, OKAY? GET THAT NAME.
MCINTYRE MCINTYRE SQUARE MY SQUARE, OKAY? IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SQUARE IN WEST COVINA.
BUT HE IS, UH, NOT ONLY, OKAY, HE'S A GREAT BUSINESSMAN AND HE ALSO A GREAT, GREAT CHARITY GIVER.
HE GAVE A LOT OF DONATION TO THE SCHOOL, TO OUR WEST COVINA, CANINE CONSISTENTLY, OKAY.
DONATE TO THE ALL THE EVENT AND THIS AND THAT.
HE IS VERY GENEROUS, OKAY? AND HE IS OKAY.
GREW UP IN, I THINK HE'S OUR NATIVE FROM HIS GRANDPA AND TO HIM, OKAY? AND CONTINUE TO DO A GREAT THING, THIS GREAT CITY.
SO, AND, UM, I'M SO GLAD I HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET HIM.
RECENTLY, I WENT TO VISIT HIM AND I EVEN PROVIDE THE TIME, STILL THE MAYOR.
I PROVIDE A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT.
AND HE'S, HE GOING TO PUT A FRIEND AND PUT ON HIS ROOM AND, UH, I'M GLAD I CAN SEE HIM THAT TIME.
AND, UH, I WANT HIM TO REST IN PEACE.
AND, UH, MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCE, OKAY? TO, UH, TO THE FAMILY, TO THE ANDY MCINTYRE, DIANE MCINTYRE, THE WIFE, OKAY.
OKAY? AND, UH, HE HAS A, UH, OKAY, AND ANDY MCINTYRE AND THE STILL HAVE A, UH, A BILLY MCINTYRE.
CINDY MCINTYRE, AND CLAUDIE MCINTYRE.
OKAY? SO I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST.
OKAY? AND, UH, AND, UH, HE WILL BE DEEPLY MISS BECAUSE HE'S LIKE A LEGEND IN WEST COVINA.
SO I WANT TO HAVE A MAYOR, THE A GERMAN, OKAY? OR IN HIS MEMORY OF, UH, BILL MCINTYRE, THE GREAT MAN.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS, WE'LL ADJOURN, UM, IN MEMORY OF MCINTYRE.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, EVERYBODY, PLEASE STAY HEALTHY.
I KNOW EVERYBODY'S GETTING SICK.
MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, EAT WELL.
TAKE YOUR VITAMINS AND REST AND TRY NOT TO STRESS A LOT THIS DURING THESE HOLIDAY SEASONS.
SO, OTHER THAN THAT, I ADJOURN THIS MEETING, MEETING, ADJOURN.