* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] YES. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR MARCH 17TH, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. IT IS 7 7 0 4. MEETING IS NOW IN SESSION. ANY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL DURING ORAL COMMUNICATION MUST COMPLETE A SPEAKER CARD THAT IS PROVIDED AT THE ENTRANCE, UH, TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND SUBMIT THE CARD TO THE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENTS OF ORAL COMMUNICATION. SPEAKER CARDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER ORAL COMMUNICATION HAS STARTED. SO ON TO TONIGHT'S INVOCATION. IT WILL BE LED BY PASTOR MATT CHAVEZ FROM ONE IN ALL CHURCH, AND ALLISON LIANG FROM WEST COVINA HIGH SCHOOL WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. ALL RISE AFTER PRAYER. PRAY FIRST. ALRIGHT, WOULD YOU BOW YOUR HEADS? LET'S PRAY TOGETHER. FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU DURING THIS LENT SEASON, GOD, THAT WE GET TO BE REMINDED OF GREAT SACRIFICE AND WE'RE, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THOSE SERVING OUR CITY RIGHT NOW. OUR COMMUNITY, EVEN OUR NATION FOR THAT MATTER. BUT WE'RE GRATEFUL GOD FOR, FOR JUST FOR THE ACT OF SERVICE, GOD, FOR GIVING, GIVING UP MORE THAN EVEN THAT WE HAVE FOR THE, FOR THE SAKE AND FOR THE BETTER OF OUR COMMUNITY LIFE. SO WE'RE GRATEFUL. GOD, WE ASK YOU FOR WISDOM FOR OUR MEETINGS TODAY. GOD WISDOM. WE ASK YOU FOR UNITY. GOD, LORD. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL, GOD, JUST FOR YOUR GREAT LOVE BECAUSE YOU, WE HAVE YOU TO, TO BE THE BEST EXAMPLE. SO WE THANK YOU, GOD BLESS US THIS DAY. IN JESUS NAME EVERYBODY SAID AMEN. AMEN. GO AHEAD ALLISON. COME TO THE FRONT. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. ROLL CALL PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. I HA I SHOW COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ IS ABSENT. COUNCILMAN WU? YEAH. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ HERE. MAYOR PROTE CONTOS HERE. MAYOR LOPEZ VIDO, PRESENT CITY ATTORNEY. [REPORTING OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION] IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE REPORTED OUT OF CLOSED SESSION? YES, MADAM MAYOR. WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER TWO ON THE CLOSED SESSION AGENDAS AND, UH, MICROPHONE PLEASE. IT'S ON THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. YOU HEAR ME? YES. YES. CITY OF WEST COVINA. V UH, BRIAN GUTIERREZ ON A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER DIAZ AND A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED 4 0 1 WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ ABSENT TO, TO, UH, DENY COUNCIL MEMBER'S REQUEST THAT THE CITY PAY FOR HIS LEGAL DEFENSE AND INDEPENDENT COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO THAT CASE. THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, WE'RE GONNA [PRESENTATIONS] GO TO PRESENTATIONS. I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE WARM IN HERE, THE HEATER'S OUT. UM, IT'S A LITTLE HOT. THAT'S 'CAUSE FIRE'S HERE TONIGHT. BUT, UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START PRESENTATIONS. OKAY. TESTING. TESTING. SO WE HAVE A FEW HONORS TODAY. UH, WE ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE WEST COVINA, BRUINS MIGHTY MIGHT, CHEERLEADERS FIRST PLACE AT NATIONALS. I'D LIKE TO INVITE HEAD COACH MYLA KOREA TO THE FRONT. SO AGAIN, WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THE WEST COVINA, BRUINS MIGHTY MIGHT TEAM WITH US TONIGHT. THIS TEAM TOOK FIRST PLACE IN THE NATIONAL COMPETITION. COACH. YES. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT THE TEAM? SORRY, I WASN'T PREPARED FOR THIS . UM, NO, HONESTLY, THESE SEVEN GIRLS ARE SO AMAZING, TALENTED, AND THEY GAVE, THEY'RE ALL, ALL SEASON LONG. AND, UM, THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WANTED THIS MORE THAN ANYBODY AND THEY DESERVED IT ALL AND THEY GOT IT IS TRULY AMAZING. IT JUST SHOWS ALL SHOWS HOW MUCH WORK THEY PUT IN AND, UM, HONESTLY, I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE COACHING ANOTHER TEAM BECAUSE THIS, THEY'RE TINY, BUT THEY ARE MIGHTY AND THEY LIVE UP TO THEIR NAME AND, YOU KNOW, AND THESE GIRLS ALL HAVE TRULY SOMETHING SPECIAL WITHIN THEM AND THE DRIVE, THE PASSION. AND I AM GRATEFUL TO COACH YOU GUYS AND I HOPE YOU GUYS HAD A GREAT SEASON BECAUSE I KNOW I DID. SO. CONGRATS GIRLS. YES. SO, ON BEHALF OF WEST COVINA, WE'D LIKE TO HONOR EACH AND EVERYONE WITH YOU. WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE NAMES. DO YOU WANNA GIVE A CALL THEIR NAME? UM, OKAY. ELIZA. ELIZA, [00:05:08] WE HAVE FRANKIE JADE. UH, CELINE. SHE'S NOT HERE. SHE WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND. LET'S SEE, WE HAVE LUNA, WE HAVE LEXI GONZALEZ, WE HAVE GIANNA PENA. YOU WANNA SCOOT DOWN A LITTLE BIT? SCOOT DOWN A LITTLE BIT. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE LEIA AND OF COURSE WE HAVE ONE FOR OUR HEAD COACH. MYLA, ANY WORDS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? HOW WAS IT? GREAT. GREAT. YEAH. UH, VERY GREAT . WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU ARE NUMBER ONE. YOU WANNA BRING YOUR TROPHIES FOR US? BRING THEM. BRING 'EM UP. OH, I HAVE THE BANNERS IN THE, OH, I WANNA, YOU WANT TO HOLD THE BANNER IS REPRESENTING NUMBER ONE. THANKS FOR REPRESENTING WEST COVINA. . SO WE CAN SEE YOUR CERTIFICATE. YEAH. 2026 NATIONALS CHAMPION. CAN THE ASSISTANT OH YEAH, THE A OH, WE HAVE AN ASSISTANT COACH. COME ON UP. THERE'S ANOTHER YES. OH, SO THERE'S MORE. SO WE DO HAVE NI VILA, LOBOS MIGHTY MITE TEAM ASSISTANT COACH. AND BRENDA AND BRENDA CHAVEZ. MIGHTY MITE TEAM ASSOCIATION COORDINATOR. COME ON UP. Y'ALL MAKE THIS HAPPEN. AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORTED PARENTS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT. MOST IMPORTANT. YOU ALL. SHE SAID WHAT? YAY. THANK YOU MOM. THANK YOU DAD. THANK YOU. ONE, YOU? YEAH. WEST COVINA NUMBER ONE. ALRIGHT, BRUINS. THANK YOU. SO UP NEXT WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE APPLAUDING MICHELLE LEE, ACADEMIC DECATHLON GOLD MEDAL RECIPIENT FOR ARTS AND MUSIC. SO WE'D LIKE TO INVITE MICHELLE LEE TO THE FRONT. THE ACADEMIC DECATHLON IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR CELEBRATING AND ACKNOWLEDGING SCH SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF A TEAM ENVIRONMENT. THE COMPETITION OFFERS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AN EDUCATIONAL FORUM THAT FOSTERS A DEEP RESPECT FOR KNOWLEDGE, COOPERATION AND SELF-ESTEEM. MICHELLE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AS A FRESHMAN. SHE'S MAINTAINING STRAIGHT A'S IN THE DEMANDING SCHEDULE. THAT INCLUDES HONORS COURSES. I KNOW IT'S A LOT HONORS. WOW. AP WORLD HISTORY AND MANDARIN THREE. WOW. SHE'S A PROUD MEMBER OF THE BULLDOGS AND BOOKMARKS BOOK CLUB. MICHELLE'S FUTURE GOAL IS TO BECOME AN OPTOMETRIST. MICHELLE IS, TELL US YOUR EXPERIENCE PARTICIPATING IN THE DECATHLON AND LOOK AT ALL THOSE MEDALS SHE HAS. UM, IN THE BEGINNING IT FELT LIKE A LOT OF WORK, BUT THEN I GREW TO LIKE TRULY LOVE THE TEAM AND I LOVE MY PLACE IN THIS, UM, GROUP. THAT'S AWESOME. WE'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE SO ON BEHALF OF WEST COVINA, WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT MICHELLE ACADEMIC DEC CATALOG, GOLD MEDAL RECIPIENT FOR ART AND MUSIC. CONGRATULATIONS. YAY. READY? READY. MAYOR, THE PARENT. I HAVE THE PARENT PICTURES. I'M SORRY PARENT. OH, THE PARENTS ARE HERE. OH, COME HERE. YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A VILLAGE. IT TAKES PARENTS TO, TO SUPPORT. COME ON UP. WE HAVE BOTH PARENTS. WOULD YOU LIKE SOMETHING TO SAY? ANYTHING YOU COME ON. THANK YOU FOR THE SCHOOL AND UH, THE CITY. YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SUPPORTING A BRILLIANT YOUNG WOMAN. [00:10:07] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE ANOTHER PLOTTING. UM, ALLISON LEE, ACADEMIC DECATHLON GOLD MEDAL RECIPIENT FOR HIGHEST OVERALL TEAM SCORE. AND SHE DID OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. MAY YOU PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT. SO ALLISON HAS MAINTAINED STRAIGHT A'S FOR TWO YEARS RUNNING AND IS DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE FIRST ROBOTICS DESIGN TEAM. ALLISON IS ALSO INVOLVED WITH A UCF HUMANITARIAN CLUB WITH HER SITE SET ON CALTECH. ALLISON PLANS TO MAJOR IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AND MINOR IN BUSINESS. SO TELL US YOUR, UH, EXPERIENCE PARTICIPATING IN THE DECATHLON. SO I'VE BEEN PART OF ACADEMIC DECATHLON FOR TWO YEARS AND IT'S BEEN REALLY FUN, LIKE LEARNING ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS AND SEEING HOW ALL OF THE SUBJECTS CONNECT. 'CAUSE WE DON'T SEE THAT A LOT IN OUR EVERYDAY CURRICULUM AND IT'S REALLY FUN BEING PART OF A TEAM TOGETHER AND LEARNING ALL THESE THINGS. THANK YOU. SO ON BEHALF OF WEST COVINA, WE'D LIKE TO APPLAUD ALISON LIANG ACADEMIC DE KAPLAN GOLD MEDAL RECIPIENT FOR HIGHEST OVERALL TEAM SCORE. CONGRATULATIONS. WE LIKE THE MOM. I LOVE THAT ALL THE PARENTS ARE HERE. MOM SISTERS. YEAH. TWO SISTERS. WOULD YOU LIKE SAY ANYTHING? SHE STUDIES A LOT, ISN'T IT ? HE, SHE GIVES A LOT OF EFFORT. SHE IS ALL THE TIME IN SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE THESE, UM, UM, EXTRACURRICULARS. IT'S REALLY THANKFUL FOR, UM, THE SCHOOL GIVING THE SUPPORT AND ALSO THE CITY GIVING THE SUPPORT. THANK YOU. SISTER WAS WHISPERING SOMETHING. DID YOU WANNA SHARE? SHE'S VERY STRESSED OUT. RESILIENT THOUGH, BUT THERE'S SOME TRUTH TO IT, BUT YOU HANDLE IT SO WELL AND, YOU KNOW, WORKING HARD, IT'S GOOD STRESS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT PRODUCES, YOU PUT IN THE TIME, THE ENERGY, THE HARD WORK. YOU DON'T BECOME FIRST PLACE DECATHLON FIRST PLACE ON ANYTHING WITHOUT PUTTING ALL THAT HARD WORK. SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE EACH AND EVERY ONE. AND YOU KNOW, FAMILY HAS TO SUPPORT HER AS WELL. SO WE WANNA THANK THE FAMILY AS WELL. MM-HMM . THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR. OH WAIT, ONE MORE MAYOR. THE PRINCIPAL IS OVER THERE TOO. WE LIKE TO BRING UP THE PRINCIPAL, ACTUALLY. WE HAVE THE HEAD FROM THE SCHOOL. TELL US ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING FROM THERE AND ANYTHING ABOUT THAT'S WONDERFUL AND GREAT ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU CITY FOR RECOGNIZING OUR STUDENTS. UM, ALLISON AND MICHELLE, THEY COMPETED IN THE TOUGHEST COMPETITION FOR HIGH SCHOOLS AND THAT'S ACADEMIC DECATHLON AND WEST COVENA HIGH SCHOOL. WE REIGNITED OUR PROGRAM AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF YOU GUYS. SO GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB PARENTS. THANK YOU CITY FOR RECOGNIZING THEM. THANK YOU MAYOR. DR. PARK. WAS THIS THE ONE THAT THEY ALSO, UH, PARTICIPATED IN HARVARD? OH NO, THAT WAS A DIFFERENT ONE. OH, THAT'S, THERE'S ANOTHER FUTURE. WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO THAT ONE, BUT THANK YOU. THEY'RE PRODUCING HERE OUT OF WEST COVINA. UH, THE OTHER ONE IS THE PROCLAMATION HONORING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. WE'D LIKE TO INVITE COMMUNITY SERVICE STAFF MEMBERS, LESLIE BRAVO, MANUELA GONZALEZ, AND MADELINE PEREZ TO THE FRONT. EVERY YEAR, MARCH IS DESIGNATED WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH BY PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION. THE MONTH IS SET ASIDE TO HONOR WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTION IN AMERICAN HISTORY. WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS, RESILIENCE, AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN PAST AND PRESENT, AND TO REFLECT ON THE IMPACT THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WE RECOGNIZE THREE EXCEPTIONAL STAFF MEMBERS WHOSE COURAGE AND SWIFT ACTION IN PROVIDING CPR SUPPORTED A COLLEAGUE DURING A CRITICAL MOMENT. THEIR COMPOSURE, SKILL, AND WILLINGNESS TO STEP FORWARD REFLECT THE STRENGTH, COMPASSION, AND LEADERSHIP WE CELEBRATE THIS MONTH. THEIR ACTIONS REMIND US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER AND THE MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE THAT CARE AND TEAMWORK MAKE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO PLEASE HELP ME IN RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY SERVICE COORDINATOR LESLIE BRAVO, RECREATION SITE COORDINATOR, MANUELA GONZALEZ AND RECREATION LEADER MADELINE PEREZ. [00:15:03] AND YOU KNOW WHAT? TODAY WE ALL PRESENTED, GUESS WHAT? THERE WERE ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS. WOMAN POWER, RIGHT? WE RUN THE WORLD GIRLS. ALL RIGHT, SO ON, UH, PROCLAMATION FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE TO RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS THAT WE WILL BECOME WOMEN THAT WE DO PRODUCE AND DO A LOT OF GREAT AND WONDERFUL THINGS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING CARE OF OTHERS AND BEING HERE TODAY. BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS ONTO OUR TASTE OF WEST COVINA PRESENTATION. WE'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. DOUG FORD TO THE FRONT FROM BUN STREET AND SCOOP STREET, THE GREAT PLACE TO GO VISIT RIGHT AFTER. SO, BUN STREET IS A GO-TO BURGER SPOT IN WEST COVINA, KNOWN FOR CRAFTING MOUTHWATERING HAMBURGERS MADE WITH FRESH INGREDIENTS, PERFECTLY SEASONED PATTIES AND SOFT TOASTED BUNS. EACH BURGER IS BUILT WITH CARE STACKED HIGH WITH FLAVORFUL TO TOPPINGS, SIGNATURE SAUCES AND QUALITY INGREDIENTS, INGREDIENTS THAT DELIVER THE PERFECT BALANCE OF SAVORY, JUICY, AND SATISFYING IN EVERY BITE. JUST NEXT DOOR, SCOOP STREET IS A SWEET DESTINATION IN WEST COVINA WHERE CREATIVELY AND FLAVOR COME TOGETHER IN EVERY SCOOP KNOWN FOR ITS FUN ATMOSPHERE AND DELICIOUS FROZEN TREATS. SCOOP STREET IS A PERFECT SPOT TO COOL DOWN AND SATISFY YOUR DESSERT CRAVINGS. SO STARTING TONIGHT, SO AFTER THIS, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO GO THERE AT STARTING TONIGHT AND ENDING APRIL 17. FUN STREET WILL OFFER WEST COVINA RESIDENTS 15% OFF THEIR ORDER. THERE YOU GO. WOW. AFTER, AFTER ENJOYING A GREAT BURGER HEAD NEXT DOOR, WHERE SCOOP STREET WILL OFFER RESIDENTS 20% OFF ON THEIR NEXT SWEET STREET SWEET TREAT. SO WE'LL HAVE, DOUG, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT BUN STREET AND SCOOP STREET? THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. THANK YOU. CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU GUYS, EVERYBODY. UM, WE ARE ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD NOW. UM, WE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE OUR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT IN THIS WONDERFUL CITY. UM, SCOOP STREET IS ABOUT SEVEN YEARS OLD. UM, AND WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE ALSO, SINCE IT'S WOMEN, UM, THE MONTH OF THE WOMEN, WE HAVE A FULL, OUR WHOLE MANAGEMENT STAFF IS WOMEN. UM, THIS IS RAYA. SHE IS OUR, YEAH, WE COULD APPLY TO THAT. YAY. RAYA R RAYA IS OUR GENERAL MANAGER AT, UM, BUN STREET. UH, AND SHE'S BEEN WITH ME FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS NOW, WORKING FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS. AND THEN THIS IS LITTLE RAYA. SHE IS OUR MANAGER AND OFFICE AND DOES ALL MY PAYROLL AND IS AMAZING. AND SHE RUNS SCOOP STREET AND THEN OUR HEAD CHEF, WHICH IS ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE COMING THROUGH THE DOOR, BUT SHE MIGHT NOT MAKE IT AS CHEF JESSICA. AND SHE IS OUR HEAD CHEF AT BUN STREET. SO AT SCOOP STREET, IF NONE OF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN THERE, IT'S, UM, BY THE EDWARDS THEATER ON GLENDORA AVENUE. UH, WE FEATURE FUNNEL CAKES, UH, MILKSHAKES, ICE CREAM COOKIE SANDWICHES. WE MAKE OUR COOKIES IN HOUSE. WE MAKE THE FUNNEL CAKES FRESH TO ORDER. SO ALL OF YOU GUYS HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT. UM, OUR FUNNEL CAKE OF THE MONTH IS THE CHOCOLATE SHAMROCK. IT'S MINT CHIP ICE CREAM, UM, CRUSHED MINT OREOS, AND, UH, CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE AND WHIPPED CREAM. SO YOU GUYS HAVE TO COME. UM, NEXT MONTH WE'RE GONNA HAVE UEY FLAVOR ICE CREAM WITH AN UEY FUNNEL CAKE. SO IF ANYBODY LIKES UEY , YEAH. AND THEN RAYA WILL BE SPEAKING. HI EVERYONE. I DO SEE SOME FAMILIAR FACES. I, I CAN TOTALLY VOUCH FOR OUR BURGERS. I HAVE CHIEF FIRE BROWN, HIS PB AND J, UM, COUNCILMAN CONTOS WITH THE STINKING BUN, MS. ROXANNE LERMA WITH HER BUFFALO CHICKEN SALAD. . IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED IT YET, YOU ARE TOTALLY MISSING OUT. I HIGHLY SUGGEST USING THAT 15% FOR OUR CALIFORNIA BURGERS, OUR SMASHBURGER DIABLO. EVERYTHING THERE IS JUST SO DELICIOUS. OUR CARNITAS, FRIES, BUFFALO CHICKEN FRIES, CRAFT FRIES, EVERYTHING IS SO GOOD. I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWCASING BUN STREET, FOR TASTE OF WEST COVINA. ALSO, MY FAVORITE DESSERT IS THE FUNNEL CAKE. SO A LOT OF FA A LOT OF TIMES FAMILY AND FRIENDS COME OVER. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PLACES THAT SELL FUNNEL CAKE AND EVERYBODY KNOWS FUNNEL CAKE. WHERE DO THEY SELL 'EM? USUALLY AT KNOTTSBERRY FARM. AND SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL OUT THERE. YOU CAN ENJOY ALL THAT HERE IN WEST COVINA. SO, ON BEHALF OF WEST COVINA, WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU A CERTIFICATE AND HOPEFULLY EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT, GO HAVE DINNER THERE AND ENJOY SOME DESSERT [00:20:01] AND ENJOY THE TREAT OF THE PERCENT OFF FOR WEST COA RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH, UH, BRING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT UP. SO UP NEXT WE HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION ON COMMUNITY CONNECT. UH, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE, UH, WEST CAMINO COMMUNITY CONNECT. CAN I CALL FORWARD CAPTAIN CARLOS GALVEZ? WE'RE GONNA DO A FULL PRESENTATION. I CAN TAKE THAT IF YOU DON'T WANT IT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. AARON COUNSEL. THANKS FOR HAVING US. MY NAME IS CARLOS GALVIS, I WORK FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ROLLING OUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. IT'S CALLED WEST COVINA COMMUNITY CONNECT. HOLD ON, WE'LL GIVE IT 30 SECONDS. ONE MOMENT. NO WORRIES. SOME OF THEM ARE EXITING. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE ON. SURE. OH, WAIT, IS IT, SO THE PROGRAM IS CALLED, UH, WEST COVINA COMMUNITY CONNECT. UH, ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE PROGRAM IS GONNA ALLOW US TO DO IS IT'S GONNA ALLOW RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO HAVE DIRECT CONTACT, UH, WITH AND GET, GIVE THE FIRE ENGINE, THE FIRE ENGINE RESPONSE TEAM, THE INFORMATION THAT WE SHOULD KNOW AS WE RESPOND TO A FIRE OR AN EMERGENCY. SO USUALLY WHEN WE'RE DISPATCHED TO AN INCIDENT, WHETHER IT'S AN EMERGENCY, A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, OR A FIRE, THERE'S VERY LIMITED INFORMATION THAT WE GET, RIGHT? WE'LL GET AN ADDRESS, WE'LL GET, UH, THE TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION. SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES WE'LL GET A BUSINESS NAME, THAT SORT OF STUFF. UH, ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT WE GATHER. WE DO IT FROM INSPECTIONS. SO WE'LL WALK THROUGH A BUILDING. WE'LL TRY TO GATHER AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN, THE OCCUPANCY, THE TYPE OF CHEMICALS THAT THEY MIGHT BE STORING, THINGS OF THAT SORT WITH WEST COVINA COMMUNITY CONNECT EVERY RESIDENT IN THE CITY, EVERY BUSINESS OWNER CAN NOW LOG INTO THIS WEBSITE AND CREATE THEIR OWN PROFILE. RIGHT? AND THEY CAN SHARE ANY INFORMATION THAT THEY THINK THAT WE SHOULD KNOW BEFORE WE RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY TO THEIR HOUSE. SO A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. IT WOULD BE LIKE IF SOMEONE HAS, UH, AN ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBER OR, OR SOMEONE WHO'S NOT VERY MOBILE, SOMETIMES A A LOT, A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO KEEP LOCK BOXES, EITHER SOMEWHERE BEHIND THEIR HOUSE OR HIDDEN WITH A LOCKBOX KEY CODE. THEY COULD SHARE THAT INFORMATION SO THAT THE RESPONDING ENGINE HAS THAT INFORMATION RIGHT AWAY, RIGHT? THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO RENDER AID A LOT QUICKER, A LOT MORE EFFICIENT. UH, IT, IT, IT'S A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND, AND MITIGATE THESE EMERGENCIES. ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT WE'VE HEARD OF IS, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A MOTHER WITH A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD WHO REQUESTED THAT WHEN THE FIRE ENGINE ENTERS INTO A PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE SHE LIVES, IF WE COULD SHUT DOWN OUR SIRENS 'CAUSE THAT THAT ASSISTS, UH, IN THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS. SO, UM, THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF, OF SITUATIONS WHERE THAT INFORMATION IS IN REAL TIME. BUSINESS OWNERS CAN SHARE WHATEVER INFORMATION THEY WANT WITH US, RIGHT? HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THAT BUSINESS DURING DAYTIME? IF THERE'S ANYBODY THERE AT NIGHT, ANY CHEMICALS THAT ARE STORED, UH, THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM, RIGHT? UH, I DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS STORAGE ROOM, BUT PROTECT THESE SERVERS AT ALL COSTS, RIGHT? THAT'S THE KIND OF INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE CAN SHARE WITH US. IT ALLOWS US TO DO OUR JOB, UH, A LITTLE BIT BETTER. THIS IS 100% FREE. THIS IS THE SAME SYSTEM THAT WE USE FOR ALL IN OUR IN-HOUSE INFORMATION. IT'S ALL PROTECTED. PEOPLE CAN LOG IN, CREATE THEIR OWN, UH, LOGIN, UM, THEIR OWN PROFILE AND, AND SHARE WITH US. SO I'M HOPING TO GET THE WORD OUT. UH, MAYBE I, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL CAN ASSIST WITH THAT. UH, WE'RE GONNA BE VISITING THE SENIOR CENTER. WE'RE GONNA BE HANDING OUT FLYERS BACK THERE. UH, WE'LL LEAVE A STACK FOR EVERYONE TO TAKE. WE'RE, UH, GONNA PUT OUT A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO GET THE WORD OUT. THIS IS CALLED WEST COVINA COMMUNITY CONNECT. IT'S TARDY LIVE TODAY, SO YOU'RE ABLE TO LOG IN TODAY AND CREATE THAT PROFILE. UM, SO THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THAT? UH, MAYOR PRO. TIM CONTOS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LAUNCHING THIS PROGRAM. DO WE KEEP METRICS REGARDING HOW MANY RESIDENTS PARTICIPATE OR PERCENTAGE OF THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN WORK ON YEAR OVER YEAR GOALS WITH, WITH INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO YOU? WE WILL BE ABLE TO GATHER THAT DATA SO WE'LL KNOW, UH, THE, THE PROFILE WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE ADDRESS AND ANYONE CAN, LIKE, IF, IF, IF THERE'S AN APARTMENT BUILDING WHERE SOMEBODY MOVED OUT, SOMEBODY MOVES IN, THEY COULD CREATE ANOTHER PROFILE TO REPLACE THE ONE THAT'S EXISTING. SO THERE'LL BE AN EVOLUTION OF NUMBERS OF WHEN IT COMES TO THAT DATA GATHERING, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY WILL BE, BE ABLE TO GATHER THAT DATA EVERY YEAR. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, UH, WE'LL SEE IT PROMOTED OUT AGAIN ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND, UM, THE FLYERS. AND IF ANYBODY HAS [00:25:01] QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO CALL OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO THANK YOU EVERYBODY. ALL RIGHT. NOW ONTO THE CITY [CITY MANAGER'S REPORT] MANAGER'S REPORT. UH, ACTING CITY MANAGER WHO WILL BE GIVING OUT THE, OH, SORRY. UH, CITY. GO AHEAD. AND IT'S A LONG, IT'S HOT, IT'S WARM IN HERE. UH, GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOUR REPORT. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11TH, WEST COVINA HEALTH, THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND THE WEST COVINA POLICE EXPLORERS PARTICIPATED IN THE COVINA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR FAMILIES GATHERED FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT HEALTHY LIVING FITNESS AND OVERALL WELLNESS. THE CITY SHARED INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT WEST COVINA WHILE CONNECTING WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 3RD, THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WEST COVINA KIWANIS CLUB HOSTED STUDENT GOVERNMENT. DAY 31 STUDENTS FROM WEST COVINA SCHOOL DISTRICT WERE INVITED TO LEARN FIRSTHAND HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT OPERATES. STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF WHILE GAINING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CIVIC LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC SERVICE. THANK YOU TO THE WEST COVINA CUAS CLUB FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT IN MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE. UM, RECENT SPORTSPLEX, UH, FACILITY RENTALS. ON SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH, THE SPORTSPLEX HOSTED A QUINCE IN THE MULTI-PURPOSE PAVILION WITH APPROXIMATELY 150 GUESTS WERE IN ATTENDANCE. FAMILY TRANSFORMED THE PAVILION INTO A BEAUTIFUL BANQUET HALL WITH A LIVE BAND DANCE FLOOR AND PHOTO BOOTH FOR GUESTS TO ENJOY. EVENT HIGHLIGHTED HOW THE SPORTSPLEX MULTI PAVILION CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO AN ELEGANT VENUE FOR SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS AND LARGE GATHERINGS. ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH AND SUNDAY, MARCH 15TH, THE WEST COQUINA SPORTS PLEX HOSTED THE USSA BASEBALL AND ADULT SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS. THE SPORTS PLEX WELCOMED 70 PLUS TEAMS AND OVER 1300 SPECTATORS FROM ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. OVER THE TWO DAY TOURNAMENT, THE SPORTSPLEX COLLECTED $10,000 IN ADMISSION FEES AND $8,500 IN RENTAL FEES. THANK YOU TO, UH, YOU TRIPLE SA FOR PART PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, SPORTSPLEX CAMERON COMMUNITY CENTER EVENTS TANGLED MOVIE NIGHT CAMERON CENTER KICKED OFF THE YEAR WITH THE FIRST OF 10 MOVIE NIGHTS SHOWING TANGLED THE STORY OF ZEL RAPUNZEL. ON FEBRUARY 27TH, THE COMMUNITY WAS ABLE TO PLAY GAMES, GRAB SOME FOOD, AND DO FUN CRAFTS. BEFORE THE MOVIE BEGAN, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 52 PARTICIPANTS. CORONADO HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE. THE SEA OF WEST COVINA ATTENDED CORONADO HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 5TH, THE INFORMATIONAL BOOTH PROMOTED CITY CLASSES AND PROGRAMMING ALONG WITH CITYWIDE SPECIAL EVENTS. THE STUDENTS WERE GIVEN PASSPORT CARDS AND NEEDED STAMPS FROM A TOTAL OF FIVE BOOTHS. THIS WAS A GREAT WAY FOR STAFF TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE CONNECTIONS WHILE SHARING WHAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER. CONGRATULATIONS TO WEST COVINA, AMERICAN LITTLE LEAGUE, WHO CELEBRATED THEIR OPENING DAY ON SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH AND, AND WEST COVINA NATIONAL LITTLE LEAGUE, WHO CELEBRATED THEIR OPENING DAY ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH. BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OUR YOUTH ATHLETES WHO ARE PLAYING THIS SEASON. THE CAMERON COMMUNITY CENTER HOSTED ITS FOURTH PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT ON MARCH 14TH, BRINGING TOGETHER PLAYERS OF VARYING SKILL LEVELS FOR A DAY-TO-DAY OF FRIENDLY COMPETITION. A TOTAL OF 13 TEAMS PARTICIPATED ACROSS MULTIPLE BRACKETS, INCLUDING A SENIOR AND BEGINNER DIVISION. AND INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED DIVISIONS. PLAYERS COMPETED, COMPLETED A SERIES OF MATCHES THROUGHOUT THE EVENT. AND TO CONCLUDE, THE TWO WINNING TEAMS WERE AWARDED PRIZE BASKETS. PUBLIC WORKS CREW ASSISTED THE CITY CONTRACTOR WITH REMOVAL OF FALLEN TREES DUE TO HIGH WINDSTORMS ON MARCH 7TH AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS, ELDER STREET AND HAVEN BROOK STREET, THERE'S SOME PHOTOS OF SOME BIG TREES THAT WENT DOWN THERE. PUBLIC WORK STREET CREW CLEANED UP DEBRIS THAT FELL INTO THE RIGHT OF WAYS CITY STREETS THROUGHOUT THE CITY DUE TO THE RECENT WINDSTORMS ON MARCH 7TH, ON FRIDAY, MARCH 12TH, THE PUBLIC WORKS CREW COMPLETED REPAIRS OF THE CITY'S WELCOME MONUMENT SIGN LOCATED ON VINCENT AVENUE DUE TO THE TRAFFIC COLLISION. UNFORTUNATELY, ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH, THE MONUMENT WAS DAMAGED AGAIN DUE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLISION COLLISION. , OH, MY PUBLIC WORKS, RECEIVED A NEW TRUCK CHASSIS AND ARE AWAITING MORE PARTS AND EQUIPMENT TO COMPLETE VEHICLE. COMPLETE THE VEHICLE AND PLACE IT INTO ROTATION ON THE STREETS. THIS VEHICLE WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE STREET CREW AND WILL BE USED TO UPDATE STRIPING MARKINGS OF STREETS AND ASSIST STAFF WHEN INSTALLING STREET SIGNAGE REPLACEMENTS OR INITIAL INSTALLATION. DURING THE WEEK OF MARCH 2ND, THE WEST QUEEN FIRE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATED IN READ ACROSS AMERICA AT HOLLINGSWORTH VINE AND MESA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS FIREFIGHTERS TO CONNECT WITH YOUTH WHILE ENFORCING IN, IN THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING TO READ PROFICIENTLY. ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH, CREWS FROM STATION 1 22 ASSISTED THE ROTARY CLUB AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PAINT [00:30:01] THE FENCES AT RIDGE RIDERS EQUESTRIAN CENTER. THE CAMPAIGN WAS CALLED RESTORE. A WEST COVEA GYM DESIGNED TO GIVE MUCH NEEDED FACELIFT TO THE ARENA. ON MARCH 16TH, THE WEST COVENA FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION LOCAL 3 2 2 6, HELD THEIR SEVENTH ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT AT SOUTH HILLS COUNTRY CLUB. THE EVENT WAS SOLD OUT AND ENJOYS, ENJOYED BY ALL WHO ATTENDED. AS A REMINDER, THE CITY OF WEST COVENA WILL SHORTLY, UM, WELCOME A NEW BUSINESS TO OUR COMMUNITY. HOME GOODS WILL CELEBRATE ITS GRAND OPENING AND RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY ON THURSDAY, MARCH 19TH. THE NEW LOCATION WILL BE AT THE EASTLAND CENTER AT THE FORMER SITE OF BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY. ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND SYSTEM. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WEST COVINA MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WERE JUST RECENTLY RECOGNIZED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS. EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL OUT OF THE WEST COVENA SCHOOL DISTRICT HALL AND CREST MIDDLE SCHOOL OUTTA THE WEST COVINA SCHOOL DISTRICT. MOUNT SACKER COLLEGE ACADEMY OUTTA WEST COVINA SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SOUTH HILLS HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE COVA COVINA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. AGAIN, TO ADDRESS THE INCREASED VOLUME OF PUBLIC RECORDS, REQUESTS AND DOCUMENT PROCESSING, THE CITY, CITY CLERK'S OFFICE WILL TEMPORARILY CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC AT 2:00 PM ON TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS. WE APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION. THANK YOU TO THE WEST COVINA ROTARY CLUB FOR RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PAINT AND REPAIR THE BLEACHERS AND RINKS AT THE RIDGE RIDGE RIDERS EQUESTRIAN CENTER ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH, THE COMMUNITY SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW ACCEPTING VENDOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE ELECTRIC BOBA FEST AND NIGHT MARKET THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MAY 30TH, UH, HERE AT CITY HALL. INTERESTED VENDORS AND CAN SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION ONLINE BY VISITING THE CITY'S WEBSITE@WESTCOVINA.GOV MICRO BUDGET WORKSHOPS. EVERY FRIDAY IN MARCH, THE CITY OF WEST COVEA INVITES THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND MICRO BUDGET WORKSHOPS HELD EVERY FRIDAY IN MARCH. THESE SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE INTERESTED RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW BUDGET INFORMATION AND ASK QUESTIONS. SPACE IS LIMITED, LIMITED RS VP BY EMAILING DIANA CAMPOS AT DE COMPOST@WESTCOVINA.ORG. UPCOMING EVENTS, EASTER EGG EXTRAVAGANZA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AWANAS CLUB OF WEST COVINA IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH AT CORTEZ PARK AND AT DEL NORTE PARK. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION FOR TONIGHT. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR POTEN, UM, UM, MR. ACTING CITY MANAGER, DID YOU SCHEDULE A DISTRICT FOUR MEETING YET BEFORE THE END OF THE QUARTER? UM, I, IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ON THERE, BUT DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE THAT ALREADY BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY ALMOST THE END OF MARCH? YES, WE CAN. WE JUST NEED A SECURE, A LOCATION, BUT WE DO HAVE A DATE, SO WE WILL, WE WILL REPORT THAT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY SHORTLY. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY. UM, NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO [ORAL COMMUNICATIONS] ORAL COMMUNICATIONS. COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER, UNLESS MODIFIED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER OR THE CITY COUNCIL REQUEST TO SPEAK ON 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 SPEAKERS ALLOTTED TIME LIMIT MAKING SLANDEROUS OR PROFANE REMARKS OR USING LOUD THREATENING OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE, WHICH DISRUPTS, DISTURBS, IMPEDES OR RENDERS INFEASIBLE 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 IMMINENT THREAT OF PHYSICAL OR HARM. WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME BEING CALLED, YOU MAY SIT IN THE FRONT ROW DESIGNATED FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS. THE TIME WILL START WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED ASSISTANT CITY CLERK. HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE TONIGHT? MAYOR? WE HAVE 12 SPEAKERS. OKAY, GO AHEAD AND PROCEED. STEVE BENNETT, FOLLOWED BY JOHN SHOEMAKER, FOLLOWED BY JERRY PATRAS. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. STAFF, CITY ATTORNEY. GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE AWAKE TONIGHT. SO FIRST THING I'M GONNA START OUT WITH IS, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS NOT PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, BUT PROUD TO HEAR VINCENT CAPELLI, OUR FORMER FIRE CHIEF, HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY. IT'S A LONG LIST OF EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE FILED LAWSUITS AGAINST THE CITY. YOU KNOW, YOU GO BACK TO CHIEF WHITHORN 4.1 MILLION PLUS ALL THE ATTORNEY'S FEES FOR THE APPEALING ALL THE WAY TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT WHERE WE LOST MISERABLY. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE LEFT THE CITY NOT BY CHOICE, WHERE THEY HAVE TURNED AROUND AND HAD TO DO SEPARATION AGREEMENTS, BUT WE'VE NOT HEARD FROM OUR SLEEPY JOE CITY ATTORNEY OVER THERE ON THOSE SETTLEMENTS. WE HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT REPORTING FROM CLOSED SESSION ON THE FORMER POLICE CHIEF. WHAT HE WAS SETTLED WITH IN HIS LAWSUIT THAT WAS SETTLED. NONE OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE OUT. THAT'S PUBLIC RECORD, RIGHT? IT'S STUFF THAT WE SHOULD KNOW. BUT INSTEAD TONIGHT [00:35:02] WE HAVE ON BASICALLY THE AGENDA TO CENSURE. BRIAN GUTIERREZ. I'M NOT NECESSARILY A FAN OF BRIAN'S, HE KNOWS THAT. BUT IT CRACKS ME UP THAT THIS COUNCIL DECIDED TO GO AFTER BRIAN GUTIERREZ BECAUSE HE'S THREATENED SOME LAWSUITS, DONE SOME LAWSUITS. BUT WE HAVE TONY OVER HERE WHO'S THREATENED TO BEAT PEOPLE UP, THREATENED TO HIT PEOPLE IN THE FACE, TOLD PEOPLE THEY'RE FIRED, HAD LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST HIM FOR WRONGFUL TERMINATION, THAT WE LOST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. BUT YOU GUYS SIT HER MOOT. JUST ABSOLUTELY QUIET. OH, TONY'S OKAY. I MEAN, A THREAT OF VIOLENCE VERSUS A THREAT OF A LAWSUIT. WHICH ONE'S WORSE, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A LONG HISTORY OF TONY'S MISCONDUCT IN THE CITY. I MEAN, FIRE CHIEF CAPELLI, WHERE'S HIS HR REPORT? WE, WE RELEASED THE REPORT THAT YOU GUYS HAD AS AN INVESTIGATION, BUT WE'VE YET TO SEE CAPELLI'S HR REPORT. 'CAUSE IT'S NOT FAVORABLE. DO WE NOT WANNA RELEASE IT? PRETTY SURE IT'S BEEN DONE FOR YEARS. I MEAN, HELL, HE'S LONG BEEN FIRED SINCE THEN. THE PERSON WHO FIRED HIM HAS BEEN FIRED. SO, AND I'M SURE SHE'S GOT SOME SORT OF SEPARATION AGREEMENT ALREADY. THAT'S NOT PUBLIC. SO AGAIN, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT WE'RE GOING AFTER A GUY WHO THREATENS A LAWSUIT, FILES SOME LAWSUITS OVER PHYSICAL VIOLENCE COSTING THE CITY WAY MORE THAN HIS LEGAL SITUATION HAS BEEN. BUT, YOU KNOW, THREATS OF VIOLENCE, I GUESS DON'T MATTER. I I WILL SAY THOUGH, TONY, I GOTTA GIVE YOU CREDIT. AT LEAST YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE HAVE NOT ATTACKED A RESIDENT IN THE HALLWAY HERE. I GIVE YOU THAT CREDIT. SO HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, GUYS. JOHN SHOEMAKER, FOLLOWED BY JERRY PATRAS, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN KONE TABBA REGARDING TONIGHT'S CENSURE. I CAN ALREADY HEAR THE SCREAMING. WELL, LETTI DID THIS. UH, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER DIAZ DID THIS. THE COUNCIL MEMBER WOO DID THIS. IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT ONE OR THE OTHER FOUR DID. IT'S SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT ONE PERSON HAS DONE. YOU KNOW, UH, WE, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, A FEW OF US HAVE CHILDREN WE WOULDN'T LET OUR CHILD GET AWAY WITH, BUT SUZY DOES IT. BUT THAT'S THE TYPE OF MATURITY THAT, UH, HE HAS. SUZY DID IT TO. WHY CAN'T I? TONY DID IT. SO WHY CAN'T I, YOU KNOW, KEEP HIM ON THE TOPIC. HIS CONDUCT IS WHAT'S THERE. WHATEVER YOU GUYS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE DONE IS IRRELEVANT TO HIS CONDUCT. YOU KNOW, HIS, YOU KNOW, THE GUY WHO DEMANDS OPENNESS ALL THE TIME. JUST AMAZING. YOU KNOW, A QUESTION I HAVE IS, WHAT ARE YOU HIDING? YOU SIT AT THE DIOCESE OF BRIAN GUTIERREZ, BUT YOU FILE LAWSUITS AGAINST EMPLOYEES AND RESIDENTS. YOU DO IT UNDER THE NAME JOHN DOE. WHY? WHY? BECAUSE IT MAKES IT REALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH AND DIG OUT JOHN DOE, WHERE THEY CAN REALLY FIND BRIAN GUTIERREZ A LOT EASIER AND SEE ALL THE STUNTS THAT HE'S PULLING, YOU KNOW, TO DO THINGS LIKE FILE A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST A CITY EMPLOYEE BECAUSE THE CITY EMPLOYEE SUPPOSEDLY THREATENED YOU. BUT THEN YOU SIT NEXT TO THAT EMPLOYEE SATURDAY, WHAT'S EVEN MORE AMAZING IS THE THREATS. LET'S SEE. I HEARD ONE THING THAT, UH, TONY WU STRUCK HIM. HOW COULD THAT BE? WHEN THE MAN SAYS HE GOES ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE, NOWHERE WITHOUT A SECURITY DETAIL. AND WHEN HE'S AT A CITY EVENT, HE'S PROTECTED BY THE WEST COVINA PD. SO HOW COULD ANYBODY THREATEN HIM OR STRIKE HIM UNLESS HE'S LYING ABOUT IT? AND IF HE'S GONNA LIE ABOUT THAT, WHAT ELSE DOES HE LIE ABOUT? YOU KNOW, IT'S STRICTLY A PATTERN OF HARASSMENT TO SEND PROCESS SERVERS TO SOMEBODY'S HOUSE LATE AT NIGHT WHEN YOU KNOW THEY'RE IN THE OFFICE OR YOU'RE GONNA SEE 'EM AT A MEETING. THERE'S ONE REASON FOR THAT. THAT'S TO TRY TO SCARE PEOPLE OFF. NOW HE'S GONNA SIT DOWN, YOU KNOW, HE DOESN'T CONSIDER HARASSMENT. SENDING A LETTER TO AN EMPLOYEE THAT WAS PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, THAT IF YOU DON'T DO WHAT I WANT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THAT'S NOT A THREAT. MAYBE THAT'S THE PROBLEM. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT CERTAIN WORDS ARE AND HOW YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF. AND BETTER YET TO SHOW HIS MATURITY BASED ON, CAN I HAVE AN EXTRA FEW SECONDS BECAUSE OF I DID RECEIVE A EMAIL FROM HR. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. FURTHERMORE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, HE FIRES, HE FIRES A YOUNG PERSON LEADER BECAUSE THEY HAD, YOU KNOW, THE AUDACITY TO ASK HIM WHY HE'S VOTED A CERTAIN WAY [00:40:01] AND YOU FILE ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE YOU'RE MAD AT THE MOTHER. THERE'S NO THREATS. THERE'S NO CONCERN BECAUSE IF YOU'RE THREATENED BY SOMEBODY, YOU DON'T WAIT DAYS OR WEEKS TO BRING IT UP. YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS A DISEASE AND A CURE FOR IT. UNFORTUNATELY, RIGHT NOW, THE DISEASE IS THE CURE AND IT'S WORSE THAN THE DISEASE. SO HOPEFULLY HE'LL, UH, COME AROUND AND SHOW HIS COURAGE AND ACTUALLY USES NAME ON THINGS AND ACTUALLY PAY ATTENTION WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING. JERRY PATRA, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN CALDERONE. ABBA, FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN HARVEY. GOOD EVENING, JERRY PATRAS A WEST COVINA RESIDENT. LONG TIME. TONIGHT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT AGENDA ITEM 10, THE RESOLUTION OF CENSOR CONCERNING BRIAN. COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN GUTTER. I DO NOT SUPPORT CENSORING COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN GUTIERREZ FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, CENSORING COUNCIL MEMBER GUTTER DOES NOTHING BUT MAKE THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS FEEL GOOD. IT WILL ESCALATE THE SITUATION AS EACH SIDE IN THIS DRAMA ACTS OUT. STAFF ARE ALREADY STRESSED. RESIDENT SERVICES ARE INCREASINGLY NEGATIVELY IMPACTED. IT'S A WASTE OF TIME IN OUR TAX DOLLARS. STOP YOUR INFIGHTING. SECOND, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S HYPOCRITICAL AND IN ITS OWN WAY, RESULTS IN WHAT AMOUNTS TO DISPARATE TREATMENT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS. I WILL EXPLAIN IN MAY, 2023, THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE REPORTED THAT A WEST COVINA COUNCIL MEMBER WAS UNDER LA COUNTY. SHERIFF'S INVESTIGATION FOR HOSTILITIES DIRECTED TOWARDS STAFF MEMBERS. THAT ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER STILL SITS ON THE COUNCIL. THAT ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER'S NAME AND HOSTILE ACTIONS TOWARDS EMPLOYEES ARE IN THE MULTIPLE LAWSUITS I'VE READ. AS A RESULT OF THOSE LAWSUITS, THE CITY HAS PAID OUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR LEGAL FEES, ADDITIONAL INSURANCE COSTS, AND ACTUAL DAMAGES PAID TO EMPLOYEES. THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DENIES THAT HE SAYS AND DOES THINGS THAT MULTIPLE WITNESSES OBSERVE HIM SAYING AND DOING THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORT WAS NOT MADE PUBLIC AS COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ WAS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WAS NOT CENSORED. THAT COUNCIL MEMBER IS NOT BRIAN GUTIERREZ. THE PUBLIC DEFINITELY HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW WHEN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS MISBEHAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO US, THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED THEM IN OFFICE. IT IS HOWEVER WRONG AND HYPOCRITICAL TO TREAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO MISBEHAVE DIFFERENTLY. IF YOU CENSOR ONE, YOU SHOULD, YOU MUST CENSOR BOTH. JOHN ADAMS, OUR SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WARNED AGAINST THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR WHEN HE SAID THE TYRANNY OF THE MAJORITY. STOP THE INFIGHTING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, RYAN CALDONE TABBA, FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN HARVEY, FOLLOWED BY JOSH MURRAY. UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. UH, I AM HERE, UH, TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 10. UM, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, UM, FROM THE, THE MOMENT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ, UH, JOINED THE PLANNING COMMISSION. UH, UNTIL THIS DAY, UM, I'VE SUFFERED, UH, FROM HIS RACISM, HIS, UH, INSINUATING THAT I BEAT MY WIFE. UM, DISPARAGING COMMENTS, UH, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CENSORED LONG AGO. UH, HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO CONTINUE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. UM, AND I'M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN, IN THE WHAT ABOUTM, UM, WHEN WRONG IS DONE. UH, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE PUNISHED. UM, YOU KNOW, THAT OTHER FOLKS HAVE DONE WRONG AND THEY DESERVE PUNISHMENT. WELL, THE PUNISHMENT TODAY NEEDS TO BE HANDED OUT. UH, BRIAN, ON MARCH 10TH, I RECEIVED A CEASE AND DESIST FROM YOU. A WRITTEN DEMAND IS HEREBY MADE PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 6 2 0 8 0.1 THAT YOU, YOUR OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, ASSOCIATES, AFFILIATES, AGENTS ASSIGNS, AND ALL OTHERS UNDER YOUR DIRECTION OR CONTROL IMMEDIATELY CEASE AND DESIST FROM PUBLICLY POSTING OR PUBLICLY DISPLAYING ON THE INTERNET, MY HOME ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE NUMBER. I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT. I HAVE NEVER THREATENED TO DO THAT. NO ONE ASSOCIATED WITH ME HAS EVER DONE THAT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I RECEIVED THIS. YOU, YOU ARE IN A POSITION OF POWER. YOU ARE A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. [00:45:01] I AM A RESIDENT. WHEN YOU USE YOUR POWER, WHEN YOU WEAPONIZE THE LAW, YOU SILENCE SPEECH, RIGHT? ME COMING UP HERE, I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT AM I ALLOWED TO SAY THAT WON'T END ME UP IN A COURTROOM? CAN I CRITICIZE MY COUNCIL MEMBER? CAN I APPROACH MY COUNCIL MEMBER? WHAT CAN I SAY TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER? NOW, THIS CENSURE, UH, IS LONG OVERDUE. UH, IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, MANY OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, YOU KNOW, THE ABUSE THAT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY, UH, HAD TO ENDURE, UM, BY FOLKS LIKE BILL ELLIOT AND COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ. I REMIND FOLKS THAT MY MOTHER STOOD ON THIS DAIS IN TEARS BECAUSE OF THE RACISM OF BRIAN GUTIERREZ. AND SO, UM, I UNDERSTAND HOW FOLKS FEEL ABOUT TONY. UM, BUT OUR FEELINGS ABOUT TONY CANNOT EXCUSE THE BAD BEHAVIOR AND THE AMOUNT OF LITIGATION AND TAXPAYER MONEY THAT BRIAN GUTIERREZ IS CAUSING THE CITY TO LOSE. SO PLEASE VOTE YES ON THE CENSURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUSTIN HARVEY, FOLLOWED BY JOSH MURRAY, FOLLOWED BY PAMELA FARLEY. GOOD EVENING. UH, MY NAME IS JUSTIN HARVEY. UM, I'M A WEST COVINO, UH, RESIDENT. I'M SPEAKING ON THE APPROVAL OF, UH, THE MARCH 3RD MEETING MINUTES. UM, I SAT HERE AND LISTENED TO NEARLY 40 MINUTES OF DISCUSSION ON THE ISSUE, AND CLEARLY COULD SEE IT WAS NOT SOME MINOR SIDE POINT. UM, IT WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR THE COUNCIL AND THE ATTORNEYS TO SPEND SERIOUS TIME ON, AND I THINK THE OFFICIAL RECORDS SHOULD REFLECT THAT. UM, WHEN I REVIEWED THE MINUTES, I NOTICED THAT WHILE THEY RECORD THE VOTE ADOPTING THE CODE OF CONDUCT ORDINANCE, THEY DON'T REALLY EXPLAIN THE CONCERNS RAISED BY MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS BEFORE THAT VOTE, UM, HAS WRITTEN A STATEMENT IS ATTACHED, BUT THE MINUTES THEMSELVES DON'T SUMMARIZE THE SUBSTANCE OF THOSE CONCERNS. UH, WHICH INCLUDED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER PARTS OF THE ORDINANCE COULD PLACE NEW CONDITIONS ON ELECTED OFFICIALS BEYOND THE CONSTITUTIONAL OATH. UH, WHETHER COUNCIL MAJORITY SHOULD HAVE THE POWER TO RESTRICT ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT, UM, AND WHETHER CERTAIN PROVISIONS COULD AFFECT THE FREEDOM OF ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT GOVERNMENT MATTERS. UM, I ALSO NOTICED THE MINUTES SUMMARIZED A STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ REGARDING RETALIATION. BUT THE LEGAL CONCERNS RAISED BY MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS ARE NOT SUMMARIZED IN THE SAME WAY, AND INSTEAD ONLY APPEAR IN THAT ATTACHMENT. SO THAT DIFFERENCE MATTERS. UM, IT MEANS THAT ONE SIDE OF THE CONFLICT IS DESCRIBED IN THE MINUTES THEMSELVES, WHILE THE OTHER SIDE'S REASONING IS PUSHED INTO AN ATTACHMENT THAT MANY OF THE RESIDENTS MAY NEVER READ. UM, WHEN RESIDENTS READ THESE MINUTES LATER, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND NOT JUST WHAT THE VOTE WAS, BUT WHAT THE DISAGREEMENT WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT. BECAUSE WHEN, UH, THE PUBLIC RECORD DOESN'T EXPLAIN WHY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES DISAGREED, VOTERS MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR REPRESENTATION WAS EXERCISED. UM, SINCE MEETING MINUTES BECOME THE OFFICIAL REC UH, HISTORY OF THIS COUNCIL'S ACTIONS, I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD REFLECT THE REAL SUBSTANCE OF THAT DISAGREEMENT, NOT JUST THE FINAL VOTE, UH, FOR CLARIFICATION WITH AN AMENDMENT TO THE MINUTES, BE THE PROPER WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT CONTEXT IS PRESERVED IN THE OFFICIAL RECORD. AND I ALSO WANNA THANK, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS FOR PUTTING THOSE CONCERNS ON THE RECORD. UH, THAT KIND OF TRANSPARENCY HELPS RESIDENTS FOLLOW ALONG AND STAY INFORMED ABOUT DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JOSH MURRAY, FOLLOWED BY PAMELA FARLEY, FOLLOWED BY ERIC LE. UH, HELLO. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JOSH MURRAY, AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF WEST COVINA LIBRARY. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE TEENS OF THE COMMUNITY TO OUR ADULT 1 0 1 PROGRAM ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH FROM FOUR TO 5:00 PM THIS MONTH'S TOPIC IS PUBLIC SPEAKING AND TEENS WILL LEARN SOME TIPS AND TRICKS TO BE A BETTER PUBLIC SPEAKER AND THEN TEST THEIR ABILITIES DEBATING ON VARIOUS TOPICS OF INTEREST TO TEENS. I'D ALSO LIKE TO REMIND THE ADULTS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ZUMBA WILL RESUME ON [00:50:01] WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH AT 6:30 PM THIS FREE PROGRAM IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE WEST COVINA LIBRARY. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. PAMELA FARLEY, FOLLOWED BY ERIC LEO, FOLLOWED BY JD MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. UM, MY NAME IS PAMELA FARLEY AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER IN WEST COVINA FOR OVER 35 YEARS. AND I'VE ALSO BEEN A VOLUNTEER AT THE LA COUNTY ANIMAL CARE CONTROL CENTER IN BALDWIN PARK FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY TO RECOMMEND AND REQUEST THE MANDATING OF SPAIN, NEUTERING AND MICROCHIPPING OF DOGS IN WEST COVINA, SPAIN, AND NEUTERING PETS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE OVERPOPULATION OF UNWANTED PETS. AS A VOLUNTEER AT THE CARE CENTER, I CAN ATTEST TO THE HORRIFIC EFFECTS OF PLACING DOGS AND CATS IN CAGES WHERE THEY EXPERIENCE FEELINGS OF REJECTION, MENTAL DEGRADATION DAY BY DAY, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SOCIALIZE WITH PEOPLE OR ENGAGE IN NORMAL, NORMAL PET BEHAVIORS. IF THEY'RE NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET ADOPTED, THEY ARE EUTHANIZED. THIS IS EXTREMELY STRESSFUL FOR THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, AND IT IS, OF COURSE, TRAGIC FOR THE ANIMALS. THIS ENTIRE CYCLE OF CAGING AND EUTHANIZING IS COMPLETELY INHUMANE. NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THESE WONDERFUL ANIMALS GO THROUGH THE TORTURE OF INCARCERATION. AND THEN FINALLY, EUTHANASIA. IT IS ALSO A VERY EXPENSIVE PRACTICE. EVERY TIME A DOG IS SURRENDERED BY A WEST COVINA RESIDENT, EVERY TIME A DOG IS PICKED UP IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, WEST COVINA, TAXPAYERS PAY THAT BILL. UM, THE FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR THE INCARCERATION OF DOGS COULD BE MORE WISELY SPENT ON THE VERY EFFECTIVE AND PREVENTIVE PROGRAM OF SPAIN. AND NEUTERING AND MICROCHIPPING HELPS LA COUNTY STAFF FIND PET PARENTS QUICKLY. AS SOON AS A PET ARRIVES AT OUR FACILITY, OR RATHER WELL LA COUNTY FACILITY, WE COMPLETE A MEDICAL EXAM AND CHECK FOR A MICROCHIP. IF A PET IS MICROCHIPPED, WE CAN QUICKLY NOTIFY THE PET PARENT AND GET PET TO GET THE PET REUNITED WITH THIS FAMILY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. SO I HOPE THE WORK CONTINUES ON THIS ORDINANCE, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS SOON. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ERIC. LEO, FOLLOWED BY JD, FOLLOWED BY SAGE DUBIN. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HIGH DENSITY REDEVELOPMENT IN DEL NORTE PARK. I'M A RESIDENT. I LIVE HALF A BLOCK FROM THE PARK AND THE 230 UNITS PROPOSED BY THE MERITAGE HOMES PLANNING. I'VE BEEN COMING. THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION TOLD ME TO GO THAT THEY WERE JUST A SOUNDING BOARD TO COME HERE AND TO GO TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, I WENT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, RECENTLY HAD AN HOUR MEETING WITH THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS SERVICES, WHO IS THE MANAGER OF THE WHOLE PLANNING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. HE EXPLAINED THAT MULTI-YEAR PROCESS AND THE REASON FOR CHOOSING, UH, THIS DEVELOPER, BECAUSE THEY HAD TWO PREVIOUS, UH, POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN WEST COVINA. ULTIMATELY, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT SAID THAT THE HIGH DENSITY NUMBER OF HOMES AND THE REDISTRICTING OF HIGH DENSITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT WAS IN THE HANDS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UH, ON THE MARCH, UH, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH OF, OF A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, MERITAGE HOMES HAD A MEETING AT THE, AT THE SITE, UH, MANY PUBLIC, UM, CITIZENS ATTENDED. AND, UH, THERE THEY, THEY STATED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT WASN'T FINALIZED. UM, AND IT'S STILL IN THE PROCESS, STILL IN YOUR HANDS. UM, THEY SAID THEY'RE GONNA TRY, THEY'RE WANT TO ASSIMILATE THIS COMMUNITY INTO THE EXISTING COMMUNITY, BUT YOU CAN'T ASSIMILATE SOMETHING THAT ONLY HAS A ONE-WAY DOOR. THEY COME OUT AND USE ALL THE FACILITIES AND E THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS, THE TENNIS COURTS, THE DOG PARK, THE GAZEBOS ON AND ON THE BASEBALL FIELDS. THEY HAVE AN ENCLOSED POOL AND NO ONE CAN STEP IN. SO THEY CAN STEP OUT ALL THEY WANT AND USE IT AND REQUIRE THE CITY TO, TO CLEAN IT UP, PREPARE IT, AND, AND, AND DO EVERYTHING. BUT YET WE CAN'T. IT'S NOT ASSIMILATION, IT'S JUST A BUILDING. IT'S JUST AN ENCLOSED UNIT OF HOMES THERE. AND I KNOW THEY, THEY, IT'S A PROFIT AND A SCHOOL HAS NOT BEEN OCCUPIED FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THE NUMBER OF HOMES THAT THEY ARE STILL ASKING FOR 190, IT'S ABOUT PROFIT AT THIS POINT, AND IT'S FOR THEIR PROFIT. THEY'RE GONNA BUILD IT, SELL IT, AND MOVE ON. THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE GONE AT SOME POINT, BUT NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORS LIKE I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 30 YEARS. WE'LL CONTINUE. WE'RE GONNA PASS OUR HOME ON TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, AND IT'S GONNA, IT'S GONNA BE THERE FOR A LIFETIME. AND I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE ASK THEM TO REDUCE IT BELOW THE 200 MARK. I'VE RESEARCHED IT AND, AND THEY CAN STILL MAKE A GOOD PROFIT. NOT AS HIGH, BUT IF WE'RE GONNA LAND ON THIS JUST ABOUT PROFIT, THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES PROFITING, NOT THE COMMUNITY. THE PASTOR THAT'S SHARED EARLIER TODAY FROM ONE, UM, ONE IN ALL CHURCH, HE USED THE WORD, YOU KNOW, UNITY. AND I'D LOVE TO BE UNITED WITH THIS COMMUNITY, BUT IT HAS TO BE A REASONABLE AMOUNT. THEY NEED MORE GREEN SPACE. THEY NEED THEIR OWN GAZEBOS, MUCH MORE, MORE PARKING SPACES THAT WOULD MAKE IT FEASIBLE, EQUITABLE, AND FAIR. SO PLEASE HAVE THEM LOWER BELOW THE 200. THEIR NUMBERS WILL WON'T BE AS HIGH, BUT STILL PROFITABLE [00:55:01] FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. JD. FOLLOWED BY SAGE NEWMAN, FOLLOWED BY LORENA SAGE NEWMAN, FOLLOWED BY LORENA, FOLLOWED BY SIERRA ROTHER. OKAY, I DID IT AGAIN. I DUNNO, I ALWAYS KNOCKED THAT THING OFF OF HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHY, YOU KNOW, SORRY. BEFORE WE, LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT ON, JUST SO THAT WE COULD HEAR IT CLEARLY OR THE PUBLIC THAT'S WATCHING. OKAY. THE LITTLE PIECE FOR THE MIC, IT CAME OFF. COVER. THE COVER. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE BEHAVIOR THAT I'M SEEING HERE. AND SOMEHOW, BRIAN, I THINK I SHOULD BE HERE FOR YOU. UM, THIS, THIS OTHER LAWSUIT, ALL OF THESE LAWSUITS, I, THE FIRST THING THAT I WANNA ASK YOU IS, SO FAR WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED? YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, OFFICE SINCE WHAT, 2024. SO I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, HAS ANYTHING BEEN ACCOMPLISHED? I KNOW THAT WE WERE PUT ON A, ON A HOLD BECAUSE OF SOME FALSE INSINUATIONS THAT YOU'VE MADE. AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT WANNA SEE BRIAN CENSORED JUST BECAUSE HE'S, UH, UH, BRINGING LAWSUITS AND GETS EVERYONE. I THINK THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING, BRIAN, IS THAT WHEN YOU DO THIS, YOU'RE NOT BEING HONEST AND YOU ARE SAYING THINGS THAT COULD DAMAGE PEOPLE. I UNDERSTAND HOW THE GENTLEMAN THAT STOOD UP HERE AND SAID THAT YOU MADE FALSE INSINUATIONS, THAT HE WAS BEATING HIS WIFE. THIS IS VICIOUS BEHAVIOR. NOW, I KNOW THAT WITH AUTISM, YOU TEND TO BE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT SOCIALLY AWKWARD. AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THE REASON YOU'RE FIGHTING EVERYBODY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. SO IF HE, IF YOU ARE NOT CENSORED, DO THE RIGHT THING. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR BEHAVIOR. AND THEY DO HAVE BEHAVIORISTS, BEHAVIORISTS, I CAN'T PRONOUNCE THAT REAL GOOD. NEVER COULD, BUT THEY CAN HELP YOU. THEY CAN SHOW YOU WHAT TO DO INSTEAD OF WANTING TO BEAT EVERYBODY UP. THEY CAN HELP YOU TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COUNCIL TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO MAKE THE CITY A BETTER CITY. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY, BUT IT'S BEING DAMAGED FOR ALMOST WHAT, TWO YEARS BEHIND THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT EVEN MATTER. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT ARE UNHOUSED THAT WE NEED TO BE SHOWING ATTENTION TO. PEOPLE THAT CANNOT EAT, THAT ARE HAVING THEIR EBT, UH, CUT OFF. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSING AND NOT ADDRESSING YOU. BRIAN, WHEN YOU HAVE ONE OF YOUR TEMPER TANTRUMS, THIS HAS GOT TO STOP. AND I WANT YOU TO GO IN THERE AND I WANT YOU TO PULL EVERY LAWSUIT AND EVERY CEASE AND DESIST LETTER THAT YOU HAVE THROWN OUT THERE. I WANT YOU TO PULL THEM AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR RECKLESS BEHAVIOR AS YOU CALL YOURSELF REPRESENTING PERSONS WITH AUTISM. THIS IS TAKING US BACK AND IT'S HURTING US. STOP IT. LORENA, FOLLOWED BY SIERRA ROTH HACKER. GOOD, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LORENA. I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME WEST COVINA RESIDENT FOR 15 PLUS YEARS. I BELONGED TO DISTRICT ONE AND I WAS RATHER SHOCKED WHEN I LISTENED TO THE COUNCIL MEETING AT THE EARLIER THIS MONTH. YOU KNOW, I LOVE THIS CITY. I'M PROUD OF THIS CITY, AND IT'S AMAZING THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE FIGHTING. THIS IS NOT WHAT I WOULD EXPECT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS. YES, THERE CAN BE DISAGREEMENT, BUT WHY ARE YOU, YOU GUYS SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER, NOT FILING LAWSUITS AGAINST EACH OTHER. OR IF YOU ARE CHOOSING TO [01:00:01] FILE A LAWSUIT, BE TRANSPARENT. SHOW YOUR NAME. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF TO SAY, OH, I'M SUING YOU. DON'T FILE UNDER A PSEUDO OR A DIFFERENT NAME. I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT. IF ANYONE FALLS ANY TYPE OF LAWSUIT AND YOU THINK YOUR LAWSUIT IS JUSTIFIED, THEN WHY ARE YOU HIDING BEHIND A JOHN DOE NAME OR ANY OTHER NAME THAT IS FICTITIOUS? UH, I KNOW, I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN, UH, PRO MAYOR CONTOS IS, UH, WHAT HE SAID LAST WEEK. YOU KNOW, I THINK HE'S THE ONE THAT MADE SENSE WANTING EVERYONE TO WORK TOGETHER AND THE SUGGESTIONS HE MADE. YOU KNOW, I JUST WISH THAT THERE COULD BE MORE EFFORT TO SHOW THAT WEST COVINA IS A GREAT CITY TO LIVE IN. AND THE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WORK NOT ONLY FOR THE BEST OF THEIR RESIDENTS, YOU'RE HERE TO WORK FOR US, YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THIS INFIGHTING OR DISAGREEING. THAT'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO SHOW YOUR RESIDENTS THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING THEM AND WANT THE BEST FOR THEM. SIERRA ROTH HACKER. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SIERRA. UH, I'M FROM COURT, A PUBLIC SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM, AND THERE'S A GRANT FROM THE BOARD OF STATE AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS OF UP TO $4.5 MILLION THAT THE CITY HAS NOT SUBMITTED FOR THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS MARCH 30TH. WITH THE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS, OUR CITY IS FACING NEW CHALLENGES FROM MANAGING THE IMPACTS OF THE LEGAL MARKETS, THE PERSISTENT ISSUES OF ILLICIT OPERATIONS. BUT TODAY I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT PROBLEMS. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT $4.5 MILLION THAT'S ON THE TABLE, AND IT'S JUST SITTING THERE WAITING FOR US TO CLAIM IT. WHEN YOU LOOK INTO THE PROP, WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT A UNIQUE CROSSROADS IN CALIFORNIA WITH THE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS. OUR CITY IS FACING NEW CHALLENGES FROM MANAGING THE IMPACTS OF THE LEGAL MARKET TO THOSE ILLICIT OPERATIONS. THE CALIFORNIA BOARD AND STATE OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS HAS JUST OPENED APPLICATIONS FOR A COHORT FOUR OF PROPOSITION 64 OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY GRANT. THIS ISN'T TAXPAYER MONEY FROM OUR LOCAL GENERAL FUND. THIS IS A STATE CANNABIS TAX REVENUE SPECIFICALLY SET ASIDE TO HELP CITIES LIKE OURS. DEPARTMENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $6 MILLION IN DEDICATED FUNDING. AND IT ISN'T JUST A SHORT TERM FIX. IT COVERS A FIVE YEAR PROJECT SPAN RUNNING FROM JULY, 2026, ALL THE WAY TO JUNE, 2031. THESE FUNDS ARE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN IDENTIFYING AND DE DETERRING ILLICIT CANNABIS ACTIVITY. BUT WE HAD TO ACT FAST BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, THAT DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MARCH 30TH AT 3:00 PM NOW, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, I'M WITH COURT. OUR COMPANY WORKS WITH GRANT RIDERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF TO HELP AGENCIES TO USE FUNDS FOR ENFORCEMENT AND RELATED RESOURCES. WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH AZUA PD ON SIMILAR EFFORTS. WITH ALL THIS INFO, MY MAIN QUESTION IS WHO WOULD BE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR US TO SPEAK WITH ABOUT GETTING A SUBMISSION IN FOR THIS PROPOSITION? AND THAT'S MY QUESTION TO THE COUNCIL MAINLY. UH, WE FIRST ALLOW YOU TO FINISH YOUR, OH, I'M SORRY. IT'S MY FIRST TIME UP HERE. ARE YOU DONE? IT'S OKAY. ARE YOU, IF YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT DURING YOUR TIME AND THEN OUR CITY MANAGEABLE. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, SO US AS COURT, WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP WITH THE PROCESS, WHETHER OR NOT YOU CHOOSE TO WORK WITH US. OF COURSE, IT TAKES UNDER 60 MINUTES TO GET STARTED, BUT IT DOES NEED TO HAPPEN NOW. I ALSO BROUGHT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SUCH AS THE ENTIRE PROP PRINTED OUT , UM, SORRY. I HAVE PTSD GOT SO A LITTLE EARLIER. SO I BROUGHT THIS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE MORE DETAILS, WE HAD TO ACT FAST. MARCH 30TH AGAIN IS OUR DEADLINE, AND IF WE DON'T SUBMIT IT, WE COULD LOSE MILLIONS IN STATE SUPPORT TO HELP OUR CITY. UM, SO, UH, YOU'RE DONE WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. SO, UH, YES, WE ARE INTERESTED AND, UM, IF WE COULD EXCHANGE THE INFORMATION WITH MILAN AND, UH, CONNECT AND AS THIS COUNCIL ALWAYS SUPPORTS THE GRANTS. OKAY. NEXT SPEAKER. THAT'S ALL OUR SPEAKERS, MAYOR. OKAY. PERFECT. ACTING CITY MANAGER. WILL YOU PLEASE RESPOND TO ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS? SURE. UM, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. UM, STEVE BENNETT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UM, UH, MR. SCHUMAKER, JERRY PATRAS, BRIAN TABBA, SAGE, LORENA, UM, YOU'RE MOSTLY COMMENTING ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10 TONIGHT AT, ON THE AGENDA. AND, UH, WE WILL WAIT TO SPEAK ON THAT AT THAT TIME. UH, MR. HARVEY ON THE, UH, DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MINUTES. SO THE MINUTES THAT WE TAKE ARE CALLED ACTION MINUTES ONLY. SO THIS REFLECTS ACTIONS THAT ARE TAKEN AND THEN A SUMMARY OF COMMENTS, NOT THE VERBATIM. UH, WE ENCOURAGE, UH, RESIDENTS, UH, CONCERN PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE, THEY WANNA SEE VERBATIM WHAT WAS SAID, WHAT WAS [01:05:01] DISCUSSED, TO FOLLOW OUR YOUTUBE VIDEO AND ACTUALLY WATCH THE MEETING, UM, TO SEE PEOPLE'S REACTIONS, COMMENTS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND ON SOME OF 'EM FOR WHETHER IT'S A MOTHER, MAY I OR AN AGENDA ITEM, IT MAY BE CAPTURED DIFFERENTLY IN THE MINUTES. UM, JOSH MURRAY, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE ON THE, UH, WEST COVINA LIBRARY. UM, UH, MS. FARLEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR 35 YEARS IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. AND ON THE SPAY AND NEUTER. WE WILL BE COMING BACK, UH, TO THE COUNCIL WITH, UH, A PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AS FAR AS SPAY AND NEUTER. I'M VERY WELL AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE, UH, BALDWIN PARK SHELTER, AND IN FACT, ALL SHELTERS THROUGHOUT LA COUNTY AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. UH, MR. LEO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON THE MERITAGE PROJECT THAT WILL GO THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION FIRST. UH, BEFORE COMING BEFORE THE COUNCIL FOR A FINAL DECISION AND, UH, THE CANNABIS GRANTS, I'M AWARE OF THAT I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE, UH, THE COG ON THAT GRANT PROGRAM. CURRENTLY, CANNABIS IS NOT PERMITTED IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT ARE, ARE VERY PROACTIVE IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF, UH, ILLEGAL CANNABIS IN THE CITY. AND IT REALLY HAS BECOME AN ISSUE HERE BY, WILL BE WILLING TO MEET WITH YOU AND DISCUSS THE, UH, THE GRANT THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY RESPONSE FOR TONIGHT. I'D, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK, UH, UH, CHIEF BROWN, WHO APPARENTLY GOT ON THE ROOF AND FIXED THE AIR CONDITIONER. SO THANK YOU. CHIEF BROWN . THANK YOU. CHIEF BROWN. CHIEF BROWN. I CAN DO THE COPE WITH FIRE. DID IT? FIRE? DID IT? UH, THANK YOU. UH, WE COULD ALL FEEL THAT. SO THAT ENDS THE ORAL COMMUNICATION. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD [CONSENT CALENDAR] TO CONSENT CALENDAR. UH, COUNSELOR, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR? I'LL PULL NUMBER FOUR IF NOBODY PULLS. OKAY. SO I GUESS JUST ONE. OH, ONE MOMENT. ONE AND FIVE. ONE AND FIVE. SO ONE, FOUR, AND FIVE. SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE, FOUR AND FIVE. SO MOVE A MOTION. WE GOT A TIE. I'LL SECOND. OKAY. SO WE HAVE MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS, AND SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. ROLL CALL. I HAVE A MOTION, UH, BY MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS, A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ TO PRO, UH, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE, FOUR AND FIVE. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ AYE. COUNCILMAN WU? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ? AYE. MAY I APPROACH HIM? CONTOS AYE. MAYOR LOPEZ VIDO AYE. MOTION PASSES ONTO ITEM NUMBER ONE. [1) CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 3, 2026, CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES.] GO AHEAD. COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ. AYE. I JUST WANT A ROLL CALL FOR THAT ONE. SORRY. JUST A ROLL. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO. IS THAT, I MEAN, WE, WE JUST DID A ROLL CALL AND HE WANTS A ROLL CALL FOR IT. SO MAY YOU NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND AND THEN GET A ROLL CALL. IS THERE A SECOND OR A MOTION? OR MOTION? WELL, MOTIONS. WELL, IT'S BEEN SEPARATED, SO, SO, UH, WELL, I DON'T, IT WOULDN'T BE A MOTION FOR ME. 'CAUSE I'M GONNA VOTE NOW. SO. WELL THEN IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES ITEM NUMBER ONE. SO MOVE, THERE'S A MOTION TO ADOPT THIS TO ADOPT AS IS SECOND. OKAY. I'LL SECOND GIVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TIM CONTOS. A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ TO ADOPT THE MINUTES AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, FROM THE MARCH 3RD, 2026. COUNCIL MEETING. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ? NO. COUNCILMAN WU AYE. COUNCIL W COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. AYE. MAYOR PRO CONTOS. AYE. MAYOR LOPEZ, VIDO AYE. MOTION. MOTION PASSES ONTO ITEM NUMBER [4) CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE ACTING CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED APPOINTMENT OF GREG MCKEOWN AS FIRE CHIEF] FOUR. UM, I'D LIKE TO BRING THIS UP AND MEET OUR NEW FIRE CHIEF. GO AHEAD. UH, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE GREG MCKEAN. UM, AFTER AN EXTENSIVE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND RECRUITMENT, UM, I HAVE SELECTED AND I'M PROPOSING THE COUNCIL, WE, UH, HIRE, UH, GREG MCKEEN TO BE OUR NEXT, UH, FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. CONGRATULATIONS. COME UP. WE'RE GONNA DRILL YOU . JUST KIDDING. IT'S GONNA GET, IT'S GONNA GET OUTTA HERE. SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS. UH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO LET THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND, UM, WE'LL WELCOME YOU TO THE TEAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING. MY NAME'S GREG MCKEEN. I AM BORN AND RAISED HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. MY WIFE TAMMY IS HERE WITH ME OF 38 YEARS TONIGHT, SO THANKS FOR COMING AND SUPPORTING ME. UM, WE HAVE FOUR GROWN GRANDCHILDREN, FOREIGN GROWN CHILDREN, AND FIVE, SOON TO BE SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN. SO, VERY INVESTED IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, UM, WHERE WE LIVE IN ORANGE COUNTY. BUT, UM, REALLY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT, [01:10:01] MY WORK EXPERIENCE. SO, FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR ESSENTIAL ROLE IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND SAFETY IS FOCUSED ON DELIVERING EXCELLENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE, PROMOTING COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION. AND PRI PRIORITIZING TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATIONS. SO IMPORTANT, KEEPING RESIDENTS SAFE, INFORMED, AND PREPARED ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO MYSELF. THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, I'VE USED THESE IDEALS TO DEFINE MY LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND DECISION MAKING, WHILE SUPPORTING OUR FIREFIGHTERS, CITY STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITIES, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE 30 YEARS WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY. AND THE LAST NEARLY SEVEN YEARS SERVING UNDER THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES RESPONSE OPERATIONS FIRE AND RESCUE DIVISION. MY DIVERSE EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL, COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL PROCESSES HAS GIVEN ME A UNIQUE SKILLSET, UM, THAT HAS BENEFITED THOSE THAT I'VE SERVED MY VISION. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I WILL SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN THE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF THE WEST COVINA FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF WEST COVINA LEADERSHIP TEAM. THERE ARE CHALLENGES AHEAD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TACKLING THEM AS A TEAM. I BELIEVE THAT MY STRONG WORK ETHIC AND COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP STYLE WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FAMILY. I WILL SERVE YOU TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING ADDITIONAL TRUST AND RESPECT UP AND DOWN THE ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU TO CHIEF BROWN CHIEFS BROWN AND RUDOLF FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA STAFF, I LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND SERVING AS PART OF YOUR TEAM. TO OUR MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER, I WILL CONTINUE TO BOLSTER AND IMPROVE OUR COMMUNICATIONS WHILE DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOU TO THE CITIZENS OF WEST COVINA. I LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING RESPECT, BUILDING ON THE RESPECT AND TRUST YOU HAVE IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. BEING PRESENT AND AVAILABLE IN YOUR NEEDS IS OF MOST GREATEST OF IMPORTANCE TO ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, COUNSEL. SO, JUST TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW, IT WAS AN INTENSIVE INTERVIEW PROCESS. THERE WAS A LOT OF CANDIDATES THAT CAME IN A VERY WELL QUALIFIED AND WITH YOUR EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE, AND WE WANTED TO WELCOME TO THE TEAM. IT'S A GREAT ADDITION, UH, AND WE TAKE YOU ON THE WORD CHALLENGES, BUT WORKING AS A TEAM AND HELPING IMPROVE THAT, UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND, OH, UH, COUNCILMAN WU, WELCOME. OKAY, BUT WE HAVEN'T VOTE YET, SO NOT YET. OKAY. SO AFTER WE VOTE, OKAY, THEN, THEN YOU CAN CELEBRATE. BUT, UH, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTION. OKAY. I THINK, UH, POSSIBLE, UH, WHEN YOU ACCEPT THIS JOB, YOU KNOW HOW YOU GET INTO IT. , IT'S A BIG CITY. WE HAVE ABOUT 16 AND A HALF SQUARE MILE, ABOUT A HUNDRED, 1,000, 20,000 POPULATION. WE ARE THE SECOND LARGEST CITY JUST NEXT TO THE PASADENA. AND WE HAVE A A LOT OF COMMERCIAL. YOU SAW WE HAD THE SHOPPING MALL. SO, SO, SO THE, THE VERY DIVERSE, OKAY. AND, UH, YOU CAN SEE HOW BIG THE CITY, WE HAVE A 10 FREEWAY, ABOUT 10 ACCIDENTS. SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S A VERY BUSY, BUSY CITY. A LOT OF COMMERCIAL, SO A LOT OF ACCIDENT. OKAY? POTENTIALLY RECENTLY WE HAVE, UH, SOME FIRE, FIRE GOING ON, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF HAIL OKAY. ON THE EAST SIDE AND THE SOUTH SIDE. SO WE, WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE OKAY. AND GIVE IT SAFE. AND, UH, WHAT I WANT TO KIND OF SHARE WITH YOU AND ASK YOU IS THIS, AND DURING THE COV, WE RECEIVED THE FEDERAL GRANT, AND WE USING A GRANT, WE IMPROVE A LOT OF, OKAY. A LOT OF DEVICE, A LOT OF, UH, OKAY. AND, UH, UM, WE HAVE A TWO, UH, ONE NEW CRANE, TWO NEW FIRE TRUCK, AND A FIVE BRAND NEW AMBULANCE. OKAY? AND PLUS A 3 0 1. SO WE HAVE A, A AMBULANCE FLEET. SO, SO I TALKED TO THE CITY, I THINK COUNCIL TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER AND REGARDING HOW WE UTILIZE AND, UH, WE TALKING TO THE FFA AND, UH, ABOUT HOW TO PUT THIS TOGETHER WITH THIS, A A AMBULANCE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY OUR CITY, BUT SURROUNDING CITY BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THIS DEVICE AND ALL THIS EQUIPMENT AND ALL THIS NEW VEHICLE, RATHER THAN SIT IN THE GARAGE NOT BEING USED, SHOULD BE USED ON THE STREET TO SAVE LIFE AT THE SAME TIME. OKAY? WITH A FLEET, YOU SERVICE THE ABROAD AREA AND POSSIBLE BRING THE REVENUE BACK TO THE CITY. SO I THINK, AND BASED ON, ON OUR ACTING CITY MANAGER TOLD US, YOU HAVE ALL THIS KNOWLEDGE, OKAY? SO THAT'S WHY I WANT TO SEE HOW YOU HELP TO GET THIS MOU GET THIS, THE AM BUILDING FLEET, OKAY? UP AND RUNNING TO NOT ONLY TO SAVE LIFE, OKAY, TO MORE SERVICE, BUT ALSO USING THE, A FLEET TO BRING THE REVENUE BACK TO OUR CITY. SO WITH THAT REVENUE, AND WE CAN DO ABOUT WHAT WE CAN IMPROVE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE TO BUILD THE STATION. NUMBER ONE NETWORK HAS BEEN CONDEMNED AT OUR CTR. SO HOW WE BUILD THAT, AND THEN WE HAVE A, A STATION NUMBER THREE THAT IS KIND OF, UH, [01:15:01] IN, IN TROUBLE TOO. SO WE NEED TO FIX UP THE PLACE WE, HOW WE GET RESOURCE REVENUE AND HOW WE REBUILD. SO IN THAT WAY, OKAY, AND WE HAVE A TRUCK NUMBER, ENGINE NUMBER FOUR HAVE BEEN FROZEN. AND HOW CAN WE BRING THE REVENUE AND BRING BACK OUR ENGINE? NUMBER FOUR, I THINK THIS IS A, A LOT OF CHALLENGE, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT BUDGET. HOW WE CREATE, HOW WE GET THE BUDGET IN, HOW WE CREATE MORE REVENUE WITH THAT REVENUE, AND THEN WE CAN, CAN SERVICE OUR COMMUNITY. BUT ONE THING I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU, WE HAVE SOURCE NEW EQUIPMENT THAT REALLY GIVE YOU A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. SO, SO MAYBE YOU CAN SHARE WITH US ABOUT AMBULANCE, ABOUT BUILDING THE FIRE STATION. AND, UH, WE HAVE, UH, ANOTHER, UH, OKAY. AND THE IDEA IS BUILD A TRAINING FACILITY, OKAY? AND HOW WE GET ALL THIS, OKAY. MOVING AND TO BUILD, PUT THE CITY ON THE MAP WITH ALL THIS PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION OKAY. AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND REALLY FOR THE FUTURE, OKAY? AND TO PROTECT AND SERVE AND MAKE SURE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THE CATASTROPHE WILL HAPPEN. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THE FIRE, SO WE NEED TO DO ALL THOSE PREVENTION. SO CAN YOU SHARE LIGHT WITH US? YEAH, LET ME, THERE'S A FEW THINGS THERE. SO I'M GONNA START WITH FIRE STATIONS. UM, AS I'VE SHARED WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFF AND THE CITY MANAGER, I HAD A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP ROLE IN BUILDING A BRAND NEW FIRE STATION ON THE GREAT PARK IN IRVINE. THAT'S WHERE I DID MY LAST, WHERE I SERVED MY LAST SIX, SIX PLUS YEARS AS A DIVISION CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF IRVINE, OR, UH, POPULATION OF ABOUT 270,000. SO I, I UNDERSTAND WHAT A DIVERSE POPULATION AND COMMUNITY IS, AND WE, UM, DID BUILD THIS FIRE STATION ON THE GREAT PARK AND THERE WAS A LOT OF, UM, UH, ATTENTION TO DETAIL TO CATCH THINGS THAT MAY HAVE SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS. AND WE ENDED UP WITH A REALLY, A BEAUTIFUL FIRE STATION WITHIN BUDGET. AND SO I, I PRIDE MYSELF ON HAVING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THAT AS FAR AS APPARATUS AND AMBULANCES AND FIRE ENGINES AND FIRE EQUIPMENT. A FLEET ACQUISITION AND A FLEET MANAGEMENT PLAN IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT IF WE ARE LEVERAGING ONE PIECE OF APPARATUS FOR A LOT OF MILES AND OTHERS ARE SITTING STILL, THAT WE NEED TO MANAGE THOSE. SO WE'RE KEEPING THE MILEAGE LOW ON ALL VEHICLES BECAUSE EVENTUALLY THOSE FIRE ENGINES WILL BE OLD AND WE WILL NEED TO REPLACE THEM. SO I LOOK TO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CURRENT FLEET MANAGEMENT PLAN AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS HAVE TOPNOTCH AND RELIABLE FIRE APPARATUS AND AMBULANCES RE RESPONDING TO CITIZENS EMERGENCIES WITHIN THE CITY. YEAH. AND BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT FROM THE FFA AND, UH, TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER TALKING TO THE COUNCIL AND THE PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE A AMBULANCE WITH, THEY FULLY BEEN USED AND THE SERVICE, THE COM, THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, POSSIBLE, WE BRING THE INSURANCE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO US. AND WITH THAT FUNDING, THEN YOU CAN BUILD YOUR FIRE STATION, CAN BUILD TRAINING FACILITY BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE EVERY YEAR COMING IN THIS INCOME AND PLUS MUTUAL AID. OKAY? WE DO THE WILDFIRE MUTUAL AID, THE SAME THING TO BRING INCOME. AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING, OKAY, WE NEED TO HAVE BUDGET TO IMPROVE OUR CITY BECAUSE WE NEED TO FIND SOME PLACE TO DO THAT IMPROVEMENT AND ALL THE AGING FACILITY THAT NEED TO IMPROVE. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THAT'S VERY OLD. OKAY? SO, SO HOPEFULLY YOU UNDERSTAND WHY YOU GET INTO IT AND, UH, WITH ALL THE EQUIPMENT WE HAVE, WITH ALL THE MANPOWERS WE HAVE AND TO MAKE IT WORK. AND SO IN THAT WAY, WE HAVE TO PUT THE TRUST IN YOU OKAY? TO MAKE SURE, OKAY, YOU CAN DO A GREAT JOB FOR US AND BUILD OUR DEPARTMENT AND TO BE A PROUD DEPARTMENT OF WEST COVINA FIRE STATION AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ONLY FIRE STATIONS, A LOT OF STATION, A LOT OF EQUIPMENT. SO ANY, ANYWAY, WELCOME. AND WE SHOW THE BEST HOPEFULLY IN NO TIME YOU DELIVER ALL THIS PROMISE, AND WE'LL BE VERY PROUD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGES AND I WILL BE LEVERAGING CHIEF BROWN A LOT FOR INFORMATION AND CITY MANAGER AS WELL. SO WE'RE, WE'RE A GOOD TEAM. UH, WE'RE ALREADY A GOOD TEAM AND I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WORK WITH CHIEF BROWN A LOT OVER THE LAST YEAR. SO THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANNA WELCOME YOU. THANK YOU. AND, UM, I WISH YOU WELL, BUT MOST IMPORTANT THING I HAVE FOR YOU AS A QUESTION, CAN YOU FIX AIR CONDITIONERS, ? WELL, ACTING THAT'S A LOW FREQUENCY, HIGH RISK PROCESS. SO I THINK, UH, CHIEF BROWN PROBABLY HAS ME BEAT THERE, BUT I'M WILLING TO TRY AND FIX THINGS. I'M PRETTY, I BREAK A LOT OF THINGS AT HOME, BUT I FIX 'EM. SO YEAH, I, I'M, I'M PRETTY HANDY WITH TOOLS. VERY GOOD. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PROAM CONTOS. THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. UH, MR. MCEWEN, WELCOME. SO EXCITED THAT YOU'RE HERE. AND FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PENDING ARRIVAL [01:20:01] OF TWO NEW GRANDCHILDREN TO OUTTA YEAR FIVE, AND A WARM HELLO TO BRENDA. AND IT'S SO WONDERFUL THAT, THAT, THAT SHE IS HERE AS WELL TO, TO BE OF SUPPORT. I, I WAS WONDERING IF, UH, ESPECIALLY SINCE RESIDENTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WATCH THIS, YOU'VE ALREADY GIVEN SOME GENERAL REMARKS, BUT WHAT IS YOUR, IF YOU COULD WAVE YOUR, A, A, A MAGIC WAND AND, UH, SHAPE THIS, THIS DEPARTMENT, UH, UH, WHAT ARE THE, WHAT IS THE OVERALL JUST BROAD BASED VISION THAT YOU HAVE OF WHAT YOU WANT TO GET DONE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? JUST IN TERMS OF JUST OVERALL VISION OF WHAT, WHAT YOU IMAGINE DOING, UH, AS YOU, AS YOU PREPARE TO TAKE ON THIS NEW ROLE? I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST AS, UM, I'VE HEARD IN PUBLIC SPEAKING, IN PUBLIC COMMENTS TONIGHT, AND ALSO, UH, LOOKING INTO SOME THINGS, SOME, SOME IMPORTANT THINGS THAT ARE GOING AROUND THE CITY, THE CITY IS BUILDING, AND SOME OF THESE VERY, UH, LARGE, UH, FIVE STORY, UH, BLOCK LONG, UH, BUS OR, UM, UH, APARTMENT OR, UH, CONDO COMPLEXES PROVIDE THEIR OWN CHALLENGES FOR RESPONSE OPERATIONS. AND FOR US TO GET THERE, IT'S NOT JUST TO GET TO THE FIRE ENGINE, TO THE FRONT DOOR. IT'S HOW DO WE GET TO WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE THAT NEED US THE MOST? SO I, I'VE DEALT WITH SOME OF THOSE ISSUES IN IRVINE. I LOOK FORWARD TO ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE HERE TO HELP, TO HELP SEE WHERE I CAN DO. BUT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, I LOOK TO HAVE A STRONG FLEET, A STRONG FIRE DEPARTMENT, VERY STRONG FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE WELL TRAINED AND ARE IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S MY, IT'S MY BELIEF THAT I NEED, AND WE NEED TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY COMMUNICATING, MOST IMPORTANTLY, SAFETY AND OUR RESIDENTS OF A DIVERSE, DIVERSE COMMUNITY. WE HAD, JUST FOR AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I DID IN IRVINE, WE HAD THE HIGHEST DROWNING RATES IN ORANGE COUNTY, NEXT TO THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE BEACH. AND WHAT WE REALIZED THROUGH SOME, SOME, A LOT OF, UH, EXPERIENCE AND A LOT OF KIND OF GETTING A LOT OF INFORMATION AND, AND REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, IS THAT WE HAD A DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT DID NOT UNDERSTAND DROWNING PREVENTION. SO WE HIT, WE COMMUNICATED TO THEM IN THEIR OWN, UM, IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGES VIA, VIA COMMERCIALS, VIA VIDEOS, VIA SOCIAL MEDIA, VIA MESSAGING. AND WE WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY CUT OUR DROWNINGS AT 25% THE NEXT YEAR. SO, SO I'M VERY ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY. I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE POLICE CHIEF AND I'VE ASKED HIM THAT IF HE'S GOING TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY, I WANT TO BE THERE WITH HIM. I WANT TO BE AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE AND, AND TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD, UH, THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND THROUGH, UM, ANY ISSUES COMING UP FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO, BUT REALLY JUST TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND INCREASE OUR RESPONSE TIMES AND INCREASE OUR AVAILABILITY TO PROVIDE THE BEST MEDICAL AND FIRE SERVICE THAT WE CAN. THANK YOU, MR. MCEWEN. YOU ARE ABOUT TO LEAD A TEAM OF HEROES, REALLY HARDWORKING MEN AND WOMEN WHO JUST ARE SO WONDERFUL WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE WAYS THAT YOU ARE, ARE GOING TO ENGAGE. SO, IF YOU WERE TO JUST SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW, WHO ARE JUST WANTING TO SAY, TO, TO SEE, UH, YOUR, YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD SAY TO THEM IN, IN TERMS OF HOW YOU WANT TO ENGAGE WITH THEM, INCLUDING NONPROFITS AND BUSINESSES AND, AND MAKING SURE TO MAKE, UH, HAVE COMMERCIAL FACILITIES UP TO CODE AND SO FORTH. WHAT, WHAT CAN YOU JUST SAY IN ADDRESSING THEM DIRECTLY? I'M GONNA BE PRESENT. I WILL BE AT YOUR EVENTS. I WILL BE PART OF ROTARY. I WILL REACH OUT AND MY, MY PHONE NUMBER WILL BE AVAILABLE. SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MY STAFF, WE WANNA BE THERE FOR YOU. WE WANT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND WANNA ASSIST YOU AS BEST WE CAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YES. WELL, UH, I'M HONORED AND WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE IN OUR GREAT CITY OF WEST COVINA. I I KNOW YOU COME FROM A VERY IMPRESSIVE BACKGROUND, INCLUDING, UH, WORKING WITH THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AT EMERGENCY SERVICES AND YOUR EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE IN HA HANDLING, UH, COMPLEX FIRE SITUATIONS, INCLUDING, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR HILLSIDE IN, IN, IN, UM, IN DISTRICT FIVE AND FOUR, UH, ARE GONNA BE INSTRUMENTAL IN FIGHTING, UH, FINDING WAYS TO, UH, MITIGATE, UH, AREAS LIKE THAT. AND ALSO, I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, I KNOW, UH, OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND, AND OUR CITY STAFF ARE, ARE PROUD TO HAVE YOU. AND I THINK THE LAST THING I'LL, I'LL, I'LL ASK YOU IS THAT DO YOU ALWAYS, WILL YOU ALWAYS REMAIN COMMITTED THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE SITUATION MAY BE, THAT IF ANYONE EVER ASKS YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT CONTRADICTS YOUR PRINCIPLES OR STATE LAW, THAT YOU'LL ALWAYS, UH, STAY FIRM TO YOUR BELIEF? ABSOLUTELY. 100%. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS. SO IF NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I'LL MOVE, MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE, MOVE THE SECOND . SECOND, I WILL APPROVE THE MOTION OF THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IN THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR, UH, NEW FIRE CHIEF. THANK YOU. AND THEN YOU HAVE A SECOND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. AND I, WE HAVE A ROLL CALL YET. I KNOW, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO THANK, UH, MIKE BROWN FOR [01:25:01] FILLING IN AS AN ACTING FIRE CHIEF. YOU DID AN AMAZING JOB. THANK YOU, MIKE. OKAY, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL AND MAKE IT OFFICIAL. I JUST WANNA CONFIRM I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BOO AND A SECOND BY MAYOR APPROACH HIM CONTOS. IS THAT CORRECT? NO, NO, NO. A MOTION BY MAYOR. A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ AYE. COUNCILMAN WU? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ? AYE. MAYOR PRO, TIM CONTOS. AYE. MAYOR LOPEZ. VITO AYE. MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU LUCK WORKING, AREN'T YOU? FIRE CHIEF. I WANNA SAY THAT, COUNCILMAN. OKAY. UH, I WANT TO THANK, UM, BESIDE WELCOME, OUR NEW CHIEF. I WANT TO THANK OUR ACTING CHIEF. OKAY, BROWN. UH, YOU'VE BEEN, UH, INSTRUMENTAL AND YOU'VE BEEN WORKING SO HARD, AND YOU ALWAYS ALERT US, SEND THE INFORMATION TO US, AND ALWAYS PICK UP THE PHONE AND TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON. AND IF ANYWAYS, THEY HAVE AN ISSUE, YOU STEP IN AND I, AND I JUST SAY, UH, WHY YOU DIDN'T APPLY. BUT I KNOW WE, WE IN THE FUTURE, BUT OKAY. AFTER GREG, UH, RETIRED, BUT I WANT TO THANK FOR YOUR SERVICE, OKAY? AND, UH, YOU'VE BEEN DOING GREAT. OKAY? I'VE BEEN VERY JOINED TO WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE ACTING CHIEF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH, YEAH, THANK YOU. OH, YOU WANNA SEE SOMETHING? SO FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, HE FILLED IN FOR ACTING FIRE CHIEF. UM, I JUST WANNA LET THE COUNCIL KNOW. I, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME. UM, EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF ISN'T GONNA CHANGE. I'M GONNA BE THERE TO SUPPORT MY NEW FIRE CHIEF A HUNDRED PERCENT. UM, BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, NOW, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE TWO OF US, SO IT'S ONLY GONNA MAKE, UH, WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, EVEN GREATER MOVING FORWARD. SO NOTHING WILL CHANGE, EVEN THOUGH I'M STEPPING BACK INTO MY OLD ROLE. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY, THE STAFF. UM, IT'S BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MIKE. THANK YOU ON COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ. YES. AND I ALSO WANNA SAY, UH, CHIEF BROWN HAS BEEN A, I THINK, A, A ROLE MODEL LEADER FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS OUR ACTING FIRE CHIEF FOR THE LAST, UH, COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND, AND, AND, AND YEAR AND A HALF YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF. UM, AND, UH, YOUR PASSION AND YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS COMMUNITY, CHIEF BROWN HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN SAW SEEN BY MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MYSELF. YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ATTEND COMMUNITY EVENTS AND JUST ALWAYS BE THERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UH, HAS INSPIRED ME AND OTHERS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES. SO, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. UH, THANK YOU AGAIN AND CONGRATULATIONS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. AND WE'LL [5) CONSIDERATION OF AGREEMENT FOR BUS SHELTER MAINTENANCE SERVICES] GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE. UH, PULLED BY COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ. GO AHEAD. YES. UH, YEAH, I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THIS AGREEMENT. I JUST HAVE A, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UH, UH, COMPLIANCE RISE WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY. UM, I BELIEVE THERE'S AN INCREASE IN, IN PAY RIGHT? IN THIS CONTRACT. I'LL ASK, UH, KELLY MCDONALD, ASSISTANCE OF THE CITY MANAGER PRESENT ON THIS ITEM. I'M THE, UH, QUESTION AGAIN. I'M SORRY. OH, I, I BELIEVE THERE'S A INCREASE IN THE CONTRACT AMOUNT. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY, GREAT. AND THEN, UM, SO TOM, UH, CITY ATTORNEY, IS THAT EVERYTHING? YOU, YOU CHECKED EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING? WE, WE COULD VOTE ON THAT. YES, WE REVIEWED IT. OKAY, GREAT. UH, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. AND THIS IS FOR VALLEY LIGHT, UH, ROLL CALL. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ, A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WU. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ AYE. COUNCILMAN WU AYE. COUNCILMAN DIAZ AYE. MAY APPROACH, TIM CONTOS. AYE. MAYOR LOPEZ VIDO AYE. MOTIONS PASSES AND CONGRATULATIONS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR TEAM BACK AND WORKING AT THE BUS STOPS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING IT CLEAN. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NOW WE BRINGS THOSE, BRINGS THOSE KIT BACK AND TELL THEM THE GREAT NEWS. MM-HMM . WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AWESOME. THANK YOU. ON TO, SO THAT ENDS OUR CONSENT CALENDAR, UH, ON TO PUBLIC [7) PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROGRAM YEAR (PY) 2026 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) ACTION PLAN] HEARING. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROGRAM YEAR 2026, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, CDBG ACTION PLAN MATTER IS SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS DRAFT OF THE 2026 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK CDBG ACTION PLAN. WILL THE CITY CLERK VERIFY THE PROPER LEGAL NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN? PROPER LEGAL NOTICE WAS GIVEN, MAYOR. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I SHALL OPEN [01:30:01] THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DRAFT, UH, 2026 CDBG ACTION PLAN. THERE WILL BE FIRST THE PRESENTATION OF THE STAFF REPORT, THEN WE SHALL HEAR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, UM, OR WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT. ASSISTANCE OF THE CITY MANAGER KELLY MCDONALD. OKAY. GO AHEAD AND PROCEED. GOOD EVENING. UH, THIS HEARING CONCERNS THE PROGRAM YEAR 2026, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, UH, ACTION PLAN. THE CITY RECEIVES AN ANNUAL GRANT OF CDBG FUNDS FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. THE, UH, CDBG PROGRAM WORKS TO ENSURE DECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO CREATE JOBS THROUGH THE EXPANSION AND RETENTION OF BUSINESSES. AS A RECIPIENT OF THESE FUNDS, THE CITY'S REQUIRED TO PREPARE AN ANNUAL ACTION PLAN THAT GUIDES THE INTENDED USE OF THE GRANT FUNDS. IN RECENT YEARS, THE CITY HAS USED CDBG FUNDS FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES AS THE, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM ADVOCATE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, A SENIOR MEALS PROGRAM, HOUSING PRESERVATION PROGRAM, CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PUBLIC SERVICES. THIS IS THE, UH, FIRST OF TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S HEARING IS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, ON WHICH THE ACT DRAFT ACTION PLAN WILL BE BASED IN MAY, 2025. THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE 25 29 CONSOLIDATED PLAN BASED ON OUR PRIORITIZATION OF COMMUNITY NEED SHOWN IN TABLE ONE. UH, THE CATEGORIES OF NEED ARE MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN ATTACHMENT ONE, AND FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE PRIORITY LEVEL DOESN'T SPEAK TO THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE. BUT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT CDBG FUNDS WILL BE USED TO ADDRESS A NEED, UH, HIGH, FOR EXAMPLE, TRANSLATES INTO CDBG FUNDS WILL BE USED MEDIUM, UH, THEY MAY BE USED IN LOW PRIORITY. UH, THE CDBG FUNDS WILL NOT BE USED. THE, UH, NEEDS AND PRIORITY LEVELS MAY BE AMENDED AT ANY TIME WITH PROPER NOTICE. AND, UH, WITH APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM, STAFF WILL BEGIN TO DRAFT THE ACTION PLAN AND THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING PUBLIC SERVICES AND POTENTIAL CAPITAL PROJECTS AGAINST THE APPROVED PRIORITIZATION. UH, ONCE THE DRAFT ACTION PLAN IS FINALIZED, IT'LL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR A REQUIRED 30 DAY PUBLIC REVIEW, AND THEN IT'LL BE PRESENTED ALONG WITH THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES AND FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION IN A SET SECOND TO PUBLIC HEARING, THE, UH, CITY COUNCIL HAS THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS TO, UH, APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OR PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE DIRECTION. NOTICE FOR THE HEARING WAS PUBLISHED ON MARCH 6TH, AND NO COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. THERE'S NO FISCAL IMPACT RESULTING FROM THIS REPORT. SO IT'S RE UH, RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF TO DRAFT THE, UH, PROGRAM YEAR 2026 ACTION PLAN BASED ON THE 20 25 20 29 CONSOLIDATED PLAN PRIORITIES. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS BY THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS? IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THIS TOPIC? I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS, MAYOR. OKAY. SO I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION AND ASK FOR ANY COUNCIL DISCUSSION. UH, MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY. SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ROLL CALL. OH, OH, DID YOU WANNA A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO C? SURE. UH, WE NEED TO FILL OUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. AND I, OH, YEAH. THIS, I'M SORRY FOR MISCOMMUNICATING. THE REASON I STEP UP IS BECAUSE THE CBDG SEEMS TO BE TARGETED TO CERTAIN AREAS, BUT I WAS READING UP ON IT AND I NOTICED THAT I WRITE IT DOWN SOMEWHERE. PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE WASN'T ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KELLY MENTIONED, AND I HAVE A CONCERN WITH THAT. 'CAUSE WE HAVE A DOWNTOWN AREA THAT BADLY NEEDS REPAIRED. OUR STRIPING ON THE PARKING LOT ARE ALMOST INVINCIBLE. THE LIGHTING, THE LIGHT POSTS ARE 1901 LIGHTS. THEY DON'T ILLUMINATE THE, THE, UH, THE AREA AT ALL. YOU CAN'T EVEN WALK THROUGH THERE AT NIGHTTIME. UM, THE TREES GO ON CARED FOR, AND THE STREAM OF LIGHTS THAT WERE PLACED ON THERE ON JUST ABOUT EVERY TREE, ONLY HALF OF THE STRING WORKS. SO I'M WONDERING WHY WE'RE NOT DIRECTING SOME OF THIS CBDG MONEY TO AN AREA SUCH AS THE DOWNTOWN AREA. IT'S NOT CERTAINLY ONE OF THE BETTER AREAS IN WEST COVINA. IT'S NOT THE MCINTYRE CENTER, UH, OR, OR, YOU KNOW, THE SOUTH HILLS AREA. BUT IT CERTAINLY HAS A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT WOULD BENEFIT IF THE CITY [01:35:01] CHANNELED SOME OF THAT MONEY AND ENERGY TO IMPROVING IT. SO WHY NOT INFRASTRUCTURE? WHY IS IT ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, UH, MO CARS AND TRANSPORTATION? WHY NOT INVEST A LITTLE BIT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE? BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD BE OF BENEFIT TO WEST COVINA. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN YOU COUNCILMAN, UH, ALMOST FORGOT YOU, TONY WU WANTED TO PUT A, A, WHAT WAS IT? A MOLE OR SOMETHING? I FORGET WHAT YOU GUYS WERE CALLING IT, BUT YOU, THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT AREA. UH, A DOWNTOWN PLAN. WHAT WAS IT, SIR? I THINK IT'S CALLED A DOWNTOWN PLAN. THERE WAS A DOWNTOWN PLAN, BUT THERE, THERE WAS SOME SORT OF ROTUNDA THAT WAS GONNA BE PLACED IN THERE AND THEY WANT TO PUT A REY AREA ON THE STREET, AND THEN WE MOVE ALL THE PARKING LOT. YEAH. BUT THE, MY, MY POINT IS THAT THERE WAS AN INTENT TO IMPROVE THE AREA SINCE THAT KIND OF WENT, DIDN'T, DIDN'T IT FELL BETWEEN THE CRACKS DIDN'T WORK. IT'S BEEN IGNORED. IT'S REMAINED THE STATUS QUO. AND I'M HOPING THAT MAYBE SOME OF THESE FUNDS, SOME OF THESE MONIES SHOULD, UH, BE APPLIED IN THAT DIRECTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. UH, ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE I CLOSE THAT? OKAY. UM, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, KELLY, CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN, I KNOW, I KNOW THAT CD BGS RESTRICTED AND CERTAIN COULD BE USED FOR CERTAIN FUNDS, BUT, UM, HAS VALID POINTS. MM-HMM . MAY YOU KINDLY EXPLAIN. SURE. UH, WE TY, THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WE TYPICALLY TARGET ARE, ARE AREA BASED. AND SO, UH, THOSE AREAS ARE, UH, DELINEATED BASIS BASED ON CENSUS INFORMATION, HUD SETS, UM, HUD SETS, UM, UM, PERCENTAGES OF LOW, UM, OF, UH, INCOME THAT WE, WE TARGET AND I, I IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS. AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE'VE TYPICALLY DONE, OR WE'VE DONE RECENTLY HAVE BEEN PARK IMPROVEMENTS. THERE IS A, IS A, UH, A CONTRACT THAT WAS AWARDED THIS EVENING FOR STREET IMPROVEMENTS. UH, THEY'RE GONNA BE A COMPONENT OF THE FUNDING'S GONNA BE CDBG. WE, UH, DID IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SENIOR CENTER, REPLACED THE, UM, THE ROOF AND THE, UM, THE HVAC. BUT THE, THE DOWNTOWN CENTER DOESN'T IN ITSELF, OR THE DOWNTOWN GLENDORA DOESN'T ITSELF SIT IN A, UM, IN AN AREA THAT'S DELINEATED FOR CDBG ON AN AREA BASIS, COULD, UH, POTENTIALLY STRUCTURE A PROJECT SUCH THAT, UH, IT WOULD BE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TYPE OF PROGRAM, BUT THAT REQUIRES A BUSINESSES TO DO RECORD KEEPING ON THE JOBS, UH, CREATED AND RETAINED. AND THAT'S BEEN PROBLEMATIC WHEN WE'VE HAD, UH, SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS IN PLACE. BUT, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S PRIMARILY THE REASON. OKAY. COUNCILMAN? UH, I, I WANT TO REALLY QUICK ANSWER, UH, JD QUESTION REGARDING THE PREVIOUS, THE CITY COUNCIL BACK IN 2016. OKAY. I THINK THEY, BEFORE MY TIMES, OKAY. AND AGAIN, ELECTED 2015, AND BY THE TIME THEY ALREADY SPENT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO DO THE DESIGN FOR THE GLENDORA AVENUE REGARDING THE, UH, THEY WILL EVEN HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO DESIGN. AND, UH, IM IMPROVE THAT AREA AND THEN, THEN BASICALLY IT WILL COST 12 TO $13 MILLION USING THE RESTRICTIVE FUND. THE, THE CONCERN LATER ON IS IF WE UTILIZE, LET TELL $30 MILLION, THEN WE ARE GOING TO BE SQUEEZED ABOUT PAVING THE STREET. SO, SO THAT IS THE JUDGMENT. SHOULD WE SPEND THE MONEY OVER THERE OR WE SHOULD PAY MORE STREET. AND ANOTHER CONCERN IS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO REMOVE ALL THE PARKING SPACE AND BECOME A GRASSY AREA, AND THEY WANNA DO A LOT OF DESIGN. BUT THE POINT IS THIS WHERE THE SECURITY WHO DO THE MAINTENANCE, OKAY. AND, UH, IT IS, UH, IT BECOME A PUBLIC AREA, BECOME POTENTIALLY HOMELESS WITH CAMPING OVER THERE. THERE'S ALL THE CONCERN FROM THE RESIDENT, JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU. BUT THE MAJOR CONCERN IS, OKAY IF WE SPEND $12 MILLION WITH, UH, WITH THAT BOND, AND THEN IT GONNA SQUEEZE SOME OF, UH, OKAY. AND THE SERVICE, ESPECIALLY STREET IMPROVEMENT. AND SECOND THING IS, IF WE DID IT, WE DO IT, THEN HOW ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE SECURITY, WHICH GONNA HANDLE IT? SO, SO THERE'S A CONCERN. AND ANOTHER THING IS WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE ALL THE BUSINESS OVER THERE TO, IN INCLUDE, IMPROVE THEIR FACADE. OKAY. TO MAKE IT LIKE MORE ATTRACTIVE, THIS AND THAT. BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TALK TO THOSE BUSINESS OWNER AND THE, AND THE, AND THE, OKAY. PROPERTY OWNER, THEY OWE DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE ABOUT 36. OKAY. DIFFERENT PROPERTY OWNER, THEY ALLOW THEM NOT LIVING IN WEST COVINA, THEY LIVE OUTTA STATE. SO IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO TRY TO UNITE THEM TOGETHER, EVEN PUT A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT [01:40:01] DISTRICT, HAVE THEM TO LIKE HOA TO IMPROVE THEIR AREA. SO, SO IN THAT WAY, THEY CAN HAVE A SECURITY, THEY CAN HAVE A OKAY. AND, UM, OKAY. CLEAN UP CREW TO MAKE SURE THAT AREA ALWAYS WELCOME. SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING. WE TRY TO SEE WHO, HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER WITH ALL THE BUSINESS OVER THERE, BUT, BUT THE CDB FIRM, OKAY. KIND OF NOT IN THAT WAY. WE DID A-C-D-B-G FUND ONE TIME, UH, FOR THE G CULTURAL STEAK HOUSE. OKAY. IT'S FOR $230,000 FROM THE PREVIOUS OKAY. CHRIS FREELAND. AND THIS IS SUCH A, A WASTE OKAY. THE MONEY TO SPREAD OUT FOR ALL THE BUSINESS. BUT ANYWAY, JUST WANNA SHARE WITH YOU. OKAY. AND THE WHY, UH, WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE AREA. THAT'S WHY WE PUT THE EVENT OVER THERE. HOPEFULLY IT CAN MORE SAVE MORE LIGHT, AND THEN WE CAN MAYBE SEE THE, AS YOU CAN LOOK INTO HOW WE INCREASE, IMPROVE, BUT ALL THIS CONVERSING, OKAY. AND THE CANOPY ABOUT LIFE RIGHT NOW OVER THERE LOOK VERY ATTRACTIVE. I KNOW IT'S NOT TOO MUCH, BUT IT'S KIND OF IMPROVE AT NIGHTTIME. I WALK OVER THERE. I, IT SOUNDED KIND OF CUTE, LIKE, UH, OR PARIS. OKAY. SO , BUT AT LEAST WE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING. OKAY. BETTER OVER THERE. BUT THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR, GO AHEAD. UM, I, I JUST THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR KELLY. YOU MENTIONED ROOFING AT THE SENIOR CENTER. I THOUGHT WE SPENT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS DOING ROOFING ALREADY. WHAT, WHAT'S, CAN YOU JUST, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT PARTICULAR ITEM? BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT THAT, THAT WE ALREADY AGREED TO THAT WITH SPENDING, UH, PRIOR MONEY AND THAT'S, I ACTUALLY REMEMBER OPPOSING THAT VOTE. THAT'S CORRECT. I WAS JUST POINTING THAT OUT AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE WE'VE DONE. OKAY. SO THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE NO, THERE'S NOT, I DIDN'T REMEMBER SEEING THAT. I'M LIKE, WAIT, OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I NEEDED. I, I'M SORRY IF I MAY. UM, REGARDING GLENDA, IT'S, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS, UH, SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR, UH, CONSIDERATION AS PART OF THE CONGRESSIONAL, UM, THE PUBLIC FUNDING, THE, THROUGH THE, UH, THE CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS TO, UH, FOR A PROJECT TO IMPROVE GLENDORA AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE. I, THE, THE, UH, SCOPE OF THAT IS ESCAPING ME. BUT THERE, THERE IS AN APPLICATION THAT, THAT HAS GONE TO, UH, THE CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER? OH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, JD THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IN THE WORKS. UM, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT PARKING, THE RES STRIPING, THE LIGHTING, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ADDRESSED WITH MY ACTING CITY MANAGER. SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. OKAY. UH, ANYTHING ELSE? OH, SO PUBLIC ROLL CALL. OH, YEAH, WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND. YEAH. ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL. CAN YOU PLEASE CONFIRM THE MOTION? SECOND, TO ADOPT COUNCILMAN WU AND PRO PRO CONTOS. RIGHT? DID YOU SECOND? YES. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN WU. SECOND BY MAYOR PRO. TIM CONTOS. COUNCILMAN COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ AYE. COUNCILMAN WU AYE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. AYE. MAYOR PRO TIM CONTOS. AYE. MAYOR LOPEZ. VITO AYE. MOTION PASSES. OKAY, NOW [8) CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PROGRAM YEAR (PY) 2025 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) ACTION PLAN AND ASSOCIATED BUDGET AMENDMENT] TO ITEM EIGHT, CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PROGRAM YEAR 2025. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, CDBG ACTION PLAN AND ASSOCIATED BUDGET AMENDMENT. THE MATTER SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THAT. AND WILL THE CITY CLERK VERIFY THE PROPER LEGAL NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN? PROPER LEGAL NOTICE WAS GIVEN. MAYOR. OKAY. AND AT THIS TIME, I SHALL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PROGRAM YEAR 2025. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ACTION. CDBG ACTION PLAN. THERE'LL BE FIRST THE PRESENTATION OF THE STAFF REPORT. THEN WE SHALL HEAR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. UM, MR. MILAN, WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER KELLY MCDONALD. GO AHEAD AND PROCEED. UH, THIS HEARING CONCERNS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PROGRAM YEAR 2025 CDBG ACTION PLAN. THE, UH, 2025 PLAN WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, JULY 15TH, 2025, HOWEVER, IS MENTIONED, A A PLAN MAY BE AMENDED AT ANY TIME. SUBJECT TO THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN THE CITY'S APPROVED CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN, THE, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENT CONSISTS OF INCREASING FUNDING FOR RESIDENTIAL STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT. THE, UH, CONTRACT FOR THIS PROJECT WAS AWARDED EARLIER, UH, THIS EVENING. UH, THE AMENDMENT INCREASES FUNDING APPROVED IN THE, UH, 2025 ACTION PLAN FROM $539,500 TO $1,126,100. AND THAT CHANGE OF 5 86 600 AND THE PERCENT CHANGE IN FUNDING REQUIRES A CONSIDERATION AND A HEARING. THE, UH, HEARING WAS NOTICED IN COMPLIANCE WITH CDBG, UH, REQUIREMENTS. NO COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. SO IT'S RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND, UH, RELATED BUDGET AMENDMENT. THAT [01:45:01] CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS BY THE CITY COUNCIL? IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT? WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? JD OH, YOU WANNA SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC COMMENT. OH, OKAY, THEN NO SPEAKER. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE HEARING AND ASK FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION. FINAL DISCUSSION. MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ROLL CALL. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN WU IS SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ AYE. COUNCILMAN WU? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ? AYE. MAYOR APPROACH. TIM CONTOS. AYE. MAY LOPEZ AYE. MOTION PASSES. UH, ALL RIGHT. ONTO [9) FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM (CIP) UPDATE] ITEM NUMBER NINE, FISCAL YEAR 25, 26. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM. CIP UPDATE. CITY MANAGER WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT. OUR CIP PROJECT MANAGER, UH, ROBERT ORTEGA WILL PRESENT. GO AHEAD AND PROCEED. I IS JUST PULLING TECHNOLOGY, SO GIVE IT ONE MOMENT. . SO, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. TODAY, I'LL GIVE YOU A OH MY, TODAY I'LL BE GIVING AN UPDATE ON, UH, THE CIP. SO WHAT IS C-I-P-C-I-P STANDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND IT IS A LONG-TERM PLANNING TOOL USED BY GOVERNMENT AND ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY, PRIORITIZE, AND FUND MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OVER MULTIPLE TIER OVER MULTIPLE YEARS. THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE THINGS LIKE ROAD BRIDGES, WATER SYSTEM, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PARKS, AND OTHER LARGE ASSETS THAT REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT. SO TODAY I'LL BE GOING OVER THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY, AND THE, UH, UPCOMING PROJECTS. SO IN 2025, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 10 PROJECTS THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. UM, THE FIRST PROJECT THAT WE HAVE HERE IS A SENIOR CENTER ROOF REPLACEMENT AND THE HVAC, UM, REPLACEMENT. AND HERE ON THE PICTURE, WE HAVE AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE SENIOR CENTER SHOWING THE, THE NEW ROOF. WE HAVE THE ANNUAL CONCRETE SIDEWALK, CURB, AND GUTTER. UM, AND HERE WE HAVE, WE DISPLAY SIDEWALKS, UH, SOME CURB AND GUTTER THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED. HERE WE HAVE THE A DA TRANSITION PLAN. AND ON THE PICTURE, IT'S A SNIPPET OF THE TITLE PAGE OF THE ACTUAL OF PLAN ITSELF. UM, WE HAVE THE SEE METAL STREETLIGHT REPLACEMENT. AND ON THE PICTURES WHERE WE SHOW SOME CONSTRUCTION BEING DONE, THE OLD POLE AND THE NEW EDISON POLE, WE HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT. AND HERE ON THE PICTURE SHOWING THE STRIPING BEING DONE, WE HAVE THE BKK DETENTION BASIN REMEDIATION. AND ON THE PICTURES, UH, WE SEE THE, THE FIELD AND JUST TALKING ABOUT WHAT WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE. THERE. WE HAVE THE FIRE STATION TWO AND FOUR FLOORING REPLACEMENT. AND ON THE PICTURE, THERE'S TWO PICTURES. ONE SHOWING THE, UH, THE KITCHEN AREA AND THE DINING ROOM AREA SHOWING THE, THE FLOOR. IT'S NOW, UH, POLISHED CONCRETE. AND WE ALSO HAVE A PICTURE OF THE RESTROOM SHOWING THE NEW TILE AND THE VANITY, UH, THE CITYWIDE PEDESTRIAN VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. HERE WE HAVE, UH, SHOWING A PICTURE OF NEW STOP SIGNS THAT WERE IN PLACE, THE PALM VIEW PARK ROOF REPLACEMENT THAT, UM, WE, WE DID A NEW, PUT A NEW ROOF THERE WITH THE STREET SWEEPING SIGNAGE INSTALLATION, PHASE ONE ON THE PICTURE, IT'S SHOWING A, UH, THE, THE NEW SIGNAGE. AND WE HAVE, THAT'S DONE. THAT'S IT. WITH THE COMPLETED PROJECTS. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF FIVE PROJECTS UNDERWAY. WE HAVE FRIENDSHIP PARK IMPROVEMENTS. WE HAVE THE EIGHT CHIP [01:50:01] CYCLE, 10, WHICH IS THE CITYWIDE TRAFFIC AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. WE HAVE THE SEE UNDERGROUND DISTRICT EIGHT MERCED AVENUE. WE HAVE THE SOUTH SIDE SEWER REPLACEMENT FIRE STATION, UH, FIRE STATION ONE REPLACEMENT DESIGN, AND THE CORTEZ PARK PATHWAY LIGHTING. WE HAVE THE AZUA SEWER LIFT STATION FENCE, THE SPORTSPLEX POUR AND PLAY REPLACEMENT, THE CITY HALL, A DA IMPROVEMENTS. WE HAVE THE CITRUS AT CAMERON. UH, SIGNAL DESIGN. WE HAVE A TP CYCLE SIX, SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL, AS IS A CORRIDOR SIGNAL SYNCHRONIZATION, THE ANNUAL CONCRETE SIDEWALK, CURB AND GUTTER REPAIR. 25 26. WE HAVE THE 24 25 STREET REHABILITATION. UH, THE CITYWIDE PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, 25 26. AND WE HAVE, SO THAT'S IT FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY. AND WE HAVE 11 PROJECTS THAT ARE UPCOMING. WE HAVE THE DOWN NORDIC PARK IMPROVEMENTS, THE TRASH CAPTURE DEVICE INSTALLATION, ORANGEWOOD PARK IMPROVEMENTS, 25 20 SIXTH STREET REHABILITATION, THE SEWER, THE SEWER, UM, MASTER PLAN, THE SEWER MASTER PLAN, UH, UPDATE. WE HAVE THE STREET UNDERPASS PUMP REPLACEMENT, WEST COVINA PARKWAY, MEDIAN IMPROVEMENTS, STREET SWEEPING SIGN INSTALLATION. PHASE TWO, WE HAVE THE CAMERON AVENUE COMPLETE STREETS IMPROVEMENT. WE HAVE THE H OF CYCLE 12 TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS. AND LASTLY, WE HAVE THE MEASURE, UH, M FOR CYCLE THREE BUS, SHELTER, AND TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATIONS. AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALWAYS MY FAVORITE, SO THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS BY THE COUNCIL? UH, MAYOR POTM CONTOS. THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. AND RJ, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF THIS. REAL QUICK, UM, WITH REGARD TO, UH, CYCLE 12, DOES THAT INCLUDE AMAR IN WESTPORT? I JUST DON'T RECALL BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN A BIG PRIORITY FOR US. AND WE'VE BEEN ASKING, CAN YOU REMIND US AND THE COMMUNITY IF THAT'S ONE OF THE, UH, UH, INTERSECTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPROVED? 'CAUSE WE, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT IT PREVIOUSLY, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT CYCLE THAT WAS. YES, IT IS. AND WHEN, BY WHEN IS THAT GOING TO BE COMPLETED? IF WE WERE TO APPROVE OF THIS? UM, YOU KNOW, ALI, LET ME GET BACK TO HIM THAT I'M NOT TOO SURE. I KNOW WE ARE IN TALKS ABOUT IT. I DON'T HAVE EXACT TIME FOR THAT. OKAY. BUT IS IT WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS? 24? ARE YOU JUST NOT ABLE TO SAY AT THIS JUNCTURE? I THINK IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE, IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE LONGER. OKAY. UM, BUT I'LL, I'LL, I'LL GET THE EXACT OKAY. TIME. I'LL LET YOU KNOW. GREAT, THANK YOU. AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS, UH, IN, IN THE PAST, UH, THIS COUNCIL HAS TALKED ABOUT, UH, DOING AN EXCHANGE WHERE THERE WOULD BE FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE WOULD, WE WOULD, UH, GIVE UP FOR, FOR, FOR FUNDING FOR OUR, OUR ROAD REHABILITATION OR, UH, OTHER PRO, I, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE, WHAT THE PROPOSITION NUMBER WAS, BUT THAT WE WOULD EXCHANGE IT FOR 75% BACK. SO LET'S SAY OUT OF $2 MILLION WE GET BACK, WE GIVE AWAY 2 MILLION AND GET BACK A HUNDRED, UH, 1.5 MILLION, THAT'S AN EXTRA 500,000. UH, UH, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE, UH, WHAT ARE STAFF VIEWS WITH REGARD TO THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THESE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS? AND WOULD HAVE AN EXTRA HALF A MILLION DOLLARS BE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD USE TO ADVANCE FURTHER PROJECTS THAT WEREN'T ON THE LIST? BECAUSE OF, OF, OF SOURCE LIMITATIONS. I MEAN, EXTRA MONEY IS ALWAYS GOOD FOR OUR PROJECTS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD, WE WOULD OPENLY TAKE AS FAR AS RESOURCES. I KNOW, UM, CURRENTLY, HOW DO I SAY THIS, ? SO WE HAVE, WE, WE WORK WITH A FEW RESOURCES. I KNOW WE ARE LOOKING INTO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP US, UM, WITH FUNDING, WITH, UH, HOW TO, DIFFERENT TACTICS TO TACKLE PROJECTS, THINGS OF THAT SORT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. WELL, I'M JUST WONDERING WITH, WITH OTHER PROJECTS, WHEN YOU DECIDED TO PUT TOGETHER THE LIST OF THINGS THAT YOU WANTED TO FUND, THERE MUST BE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WOULD'VE, UH, BEEN PUT ON THE LIST, HAD HAD MORE MONEY BEEN AVAILABLE. SO THE, THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE WE DO THIS ANNUAL EXCHANGE EVERY YEAR OF 75% OF THE DOLLAR. AND I KEEP FEELING LIKE IF WE WERE TO ACTUALLY KEEP THAT MONEY IN, IN THE, FOR REHABILITATION PROGRAM, WE COULD SPEND THE $2 MILLION, LET'S SAY, USING THAT EXAMPLE. SO ALL THE MONEY STAYS WITH US AS OPPOSED TO GIVING, GIVING THAT SOME OF THAT AWAY AND ONLY IN EXCHANGE FOR THREE QUARTERS OF THE MONEY. SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE WERE A LOT OF CAPITAL PROVEN PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL ON THE LIST THAT AT LEAST COST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, THEN THAT WOULD, I'M JUST, LET ME JUST ASK YOU THAT WITH, WITH PROJECTS THAT YOU DIDN'T PUT ON, ON THE LIST FOR THIS EVENING, ARE THERE PROJECTS THAT WOULD AT LEAST TOTAL AT LEAST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS MORE IF, IF YOU, IF YOU HAD MORE MONEY, WOULD YOU, WOULD THERE BE OTHER PROJECTS TO DO? TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, THERE WOULD BE MORE PROJECTS FOR, UH, BIGGER PROJECTS WITH MORE FUNDING AND, AND WHAT IS OUR CURRENT, UM, PAVEMENT WITH, WITH OUR PCI PAVEMENT CONDITION INDEX SCORE, WHAT IS IT ROUGHLY BY NOW? AND, AND, AND HOW, HOW MUCH MORE, UH, HOW, [01:55:01] HOW MUCH WOULD THAT BE FURTHER IMPROVED IF WE WERE TO DEDICATE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR, FOR THAT PROGRAM? JUST, JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING WITH THE, WITH PCI INFORMATION, UM, OLI, I LIKE TO DEFER TO MAYBE MICHAEL TO ANSWER THAT. AND THAT'S MORE OF A ENGINEERING, UM, LOGISTICAL QUESTION. . OKAY. AND HE, HE'S COMING UP. OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR PROAM. UH, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MAYOR PROAM, THE PC PCIS WILL BE UPDATED NEXT FISCAL YEAR, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT MORE SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR QUESTION. UM, YES, IN SHORT, AS ROBERT SAID, MORE MONEY LEADS TO MORE PROJECTS, WHICH LEADS TO BETTER PAVEMENT CONDITIONS. SO IT MAY NOT ANSWER SPECIFICALLY WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THE QUESTION, BUT, UM, HOPEFULLY THAT SHEDS SOME LIGHT ON IT. THAT, THAT IS HELPFUL. THANK YOU, MIKE. BECAUSE, UH, THE, THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE IN THE PAST, THIS COUNCIL HAS HAD DISCUSSIONS AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD GIVE AWAY A DOLLAR TO GET BACK 75 CENTS. AND SO, UH, I, I JUST WANTED JUST TO ASK WHAT, UH, ABOUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH THERE ARE FURTHER NEEDS THAT COULD BE MET IF WE WERE TO REFRAIN FROM THAT PRACTICE AND KEEP THE ENTIRE ALLOTMENT FROM THAT PARTICULAR FUND. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OH, COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. UM, ROBERT, I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING, UM, CYCLE 10 UNDER THE CITYWIDE TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS, UH, SPECIFICALLY WHERE IT SAYS INCLUDES IMPLEMENTATION OF LEFT TURN PHASING AND, UM, VARIOUS OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC INTERSECTIONS THAT, THAT'S GONNA BE AFFECTED? BRIAN, DO YOU KNOW THAT, THAT ANSWER? YEAH, IT'S, UH, JUST KIDDING. . ALRIGHT. WE HAVE OUR ENGINEERS HERE. JUST KIDDING. , RIGHT? MADAM MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. UH, ONE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD IS THE INTERSECTION OF LAEL AND BADILLO. UH, ANOTHER ONE IS HALL BECK AND CAMERON RECEIVED LEFT TURN PHASING. SO AT THESE TIMES, THOSE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. RIGHT. UH, WE ARE PENDING SOME COORDINATION WITH SCE AS WELL AS CITY OF COVINA FOR THE BALDWIN OR LAR EO INTERSECTION, BUT MAJORITY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN STALLED. UH, SOME INTERSECTIONS ARE STILL PENDING SOME CONCRETE WORK AT THIS TIME, BUT, UH, I BELIEVE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE AT THIS TIME FULLY CONSTRUCTED. AND IF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I RECALL SIX OF THE 10 INTERSECTIONS RECEIVED LEFT TURN PHASEY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. OKAY. I WAS INTERESTED IN CAMERON AND VALINDA. I DON'T BELIEVE CAMERON AND VALINDA WAS IN THERE. HOWEVER, THIS YEAR IS AN HSIP HERE, SO WE COULD DEFINITELY LOOK TO SEE IF, UH, THE DATA SUPPORTS THAT, UH, LOCATION FOR THAT GRANT CYCLE. OKAY. THAT SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION? UH, MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. SO, RECEIVING FILE ITEM, MADAM MAYOR, NO. MOTION OR SECOND AS NEEDED. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, THEN WE ARE DONE WITH THAT. UH, NOW [10) CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION OF CENSURE CONCERNING COUNCILMEMBER BRIAN GUTIERREZ] IT'S ITEM NUMBER 10, CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION OF CEN CONCERNING COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN GUTIERREZ, CITY MANAGER, WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT OUTSIDE. COUNSEL THOMAS O'CONNELL WILL PRESENT. EVENING COUNSEL, GOOD EVENING. BEFORE YOU, YOU SHOULD HAVE A STAFF REPORT THE INVESTIGATION BY INVESTIGATOR KELLY MELLI DATED FEBRUARY 26TH, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE A RESOLUTION OF CENSURE. UM, AS BRIEF BACKGROUND, ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2025, UH, THE CITY RETAINED JAMELE EMPLOYMENT LAW TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THREE TOPICS. ONE CONCERNS RAISED BY MAYOR LE LOPEZ, VITO AND COUNCIL MEMBER TONY WU, REGARDING COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN GUTIERREZ. TWO CONCERNS RAISED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN GUTIERREZ REGARDING MAYOR, UH, LOPEZ VIDO AND COUNCIL MEMBER WU. AND THREE CONCERNS RAISED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ, UH, ALLEGING HE WAS TREATED UNFAIRLY, UH, BASED ON A PROTECTED CLASSIFICATION. THE RESULTING CONFIDENTIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT IS DATED FEBRUARY 26TH, 2026. ON MARCH 3RD, THE SEA COUNCIL CONSIDERED THE AGENDA ITEM TITLED REVIEW OF INVESTIGATION REPORT PREPARED BY JAMELE EMPLOYMENT LAW REGARDING CONCERNS RAISED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE SEPTEMBER 16TH COUNCIL MEETING. DURING THAT MEETING, THE SEA COUNCIL RECEIVED AND FILED THE INVESTIGATION REPORT AND VOTED 3 1 1 TO IZE THE CENSURE ITEM, A RESOLUTION OF CENSURE FUNCTIONS AS AN EXPRESSION OF LEGISLATIVE BODY'S VIEWS [02:00:01] REGARDING THE CONDUCT OF ONE OF ITS MEMBERS, BUT DOES NOT REMOVE THE OFFICIAL FROM OFFICE, ALTER THE OFFICIAL'S LEGAL AUTHORITY. CAN I, UM, OR OTHERWISE INTERFERE WITH THE OFFICIAL'S ABILITY TO PERFORM THE DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTED POSITION? THE PROCESS TONIGHT WILL BE AS FOLLOWS. FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM HAS ALREADY OCCURRED. SECOND, COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ WILL NOW BE AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND IN OPEN SESSION PRIOR TO DELIBERATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ MAY MAKE AN ORAL STATEMENT AND MAY ALSO SUBMIT WRITTEN MATERIALS FOR INCLUSION IN THE PUBLIC RECORD. AFTER THAT, MEMBERS OF THE STATE COUNCIL MAY ASK QUESTIONS, ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION REGARDING THE MATTER FOLLOWING PUBLIC REGARDING THE MATTER. LAST WILL BE CONSIDERATION OF THE MOTION AND A VOTE. THE MAYOR MAY ADJUST THE ORDER OF DISCUSSION AS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE EFFICIENT AND ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING AND MAY IMPOSE REASONABLE TIME REQUIREMENTS IF, UH, NECESSARY. THE ONLY, UH, NOTE WOULD BE THAT ANY DISCUSSION SHOULD NOT SUBJECT TO ANY STAFF OR ANY VIOLATE ANY LAWS, WHETHER THEY ARE EMPLOYMENT LAWS, LAWS OF THE STATE OR MUNICIPAL LAWS, UH, FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING? MAYOR? NO. SO I JUST WANTED TO LET THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNCIL KNOW THAT, UM, ALTHOUGH ALL COUNCIL HERE, INCLUDING COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ, UH, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS ON THE LAST MEETING ABOUT THAT REPORT, WE, BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE, UH, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ HAS, UH, GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND THIS EVENING. UM, WHAT HE SAYS MAY BE RELATED TO THE REPORT MAY NOT, COULD BE FALSE OR INFLAMMATORY. I ASK THE COUNCIL TO ALLOW HIM TO PLEASE LET HIM HAVE HIS SAY AS LONG AS HE DOESN'T VIOLATE THE LAW. AND, UH, HOPEFULLY HE STAYS ON TOPIC. UH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. I JUST ASK THAT YOU BE PATIENT AND RESPECTFUL FOR THIS PROCESS. AND WITH THAT IN MIND, UH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ. GREAT. SO WE, WE, UH, PLAYING A POWERPOINT. WHAT, WHAT WAS THAT? A POWERPOINT. YOU HAVE A POWERPOINT? YES. OH, YOU HAD A QUESTION? YES. UM, MAY I, UH, MADAM MAYOR, UH, UM, MR. ACTING CITY MANAGER. I DON'T REMEMBER GETTING THIS POWERPOINT. IS IT, UH, DO YOU I LIKE TO REVIEW THINGS AHEAD OF TIME, JUST LIKE ANYBODY. SO DO YOU, CAN YOU UNDERSTOOD MAYOR PROAM CONTOS? I I HAD ASKED COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ SEVERAL TIMES FOR AN ADVANCED COPY OF THE PRESENTATION, AND HE SENT ME NOTICE THAT HE WOULD NOT PROVIDE IT TO ME. NO, I SENT NOTICE TO ROXANNE SAYING I WAS NOT FINISHED YET. AND, AND I ACTUALLY MISSED CLOSED SESSION 'CAUSE I WASN'T FINISHED YET. MR. MOR ROCKRIDGE. SO IN THIS, UH, SITUATION, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSED THIS ABOUT IN THE PAST OF MEETING ACCOMMODATING A DA REQUIREMENTS. AND MAYOR PROTI CONTOS IS NOT ABLE TO VIEW THESE REQUIREMENTS. HOW DOES THIS PLAY? HE'S NOT ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S GONNA BE PRESENTED. UH, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OR MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, CONTOS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ HAS THE ABILITY TO PRESENT, UM, HIS MATERIALS. I, I WOULD HOPE THAT HE PRESENTS IN A WAY THAT, UM, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND. BUT I, I COMPLETELY COMMISERATE WITH YOU THAT THERE'S, THERE IS NOT A POWERPOINT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU. UH, THAT WAS NOT PART OF MY CONTROL. SO NONE OF US HAS SEEN IT. AND, UM, HOPEFULLY IT SAYS, AND FEEL FREE TO ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AFTER THAT BEING SAID. AGAIN, I GUESS THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU. OKAY. WHERE'S MY, WELL, SO THOSE WATCHING, THEY'RE GONNA BE PLUGGING IN IS USB TO THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, WHICH NONE OF US HAS VIEWED AND DON'T KNOW WHAT IT CONTAINS. LET ME, LET ME HELP HER FIND THE FILE AND I APOLOGIZE AGAIN. COUNCILMAN CANTOS. WE'VE [02:05:01] MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO ACCOMMODATE ALL, UH, UH, YEAH, ACCOMMODATE ALL ADAS, BUT SORRY THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR THOSE WATCHING, HE'S, THEY'RE STILL FINDING HIS FILE. SO TV'S NOT FROZEN OR ANYTHING? THEY'RE JUST LOOKING FOR THE FILE. I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD BE JEOPARDY. SHOW MUSIC PLAYING OR SOMETHING. RECESS. OH YEAH, RECESS PLEASE. THANK YOU. WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE A SHORT RECESS UNTIL THEY FIND THE, THE VIDEO. YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE BACK IN SESSION. VIDEO'S WORKING. GO AHEAD. UH, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. YES. UM, , UH, TO MEMBERS OF OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING AT HOME. UH, MY NAME IS BRIAN GUTIERREZ AND I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOU IN THE GREAT DISTRICT OF DISTRICT ONE. SINCE TAKING OFFICE HAS BEEN MY, MY COMMITMENT TO FIGHT ON YOUR BEHALF, TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR BEHALF FOR TRANSPARENCY. THE INFORMATION YOU'RE GONNA SEE TODAY IS INFORMATION THAT WAS OMITTED. NEVER PUT PART OF THE COM. THE JAMALI REPORT, JAMALI REPORT PURPOSELY LACKS EVER EDITORIAL EVIDENCE. EVIDENCE WAS RE WAS NOT INCLUDED. EVIDENCE AT TIMES WHERE THERE WAS 12 PAGE EMAILS, ONLY TWO PAGES OR ONE PAGE OF THAT EMAIL WAS INCLUDED AS RELEVANCE. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT, THAT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT THE TOPIC AND THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THAT EMAIL WAS REGARDING AND WHAT WAS IT ABOUT. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE, YOU WILL SEE THAT THESE COMMUNICATIONS WERE NEVER INTIMIDATION OR HARASSMENT. THEY WERE ACTUALLY IN FACT, PROTECTING YOUR BUDGET, PROTECTING YOUR TAXPAYER MONEY, MAKING SURE THAT TAXPAYER MONEY WAS BEING SECURED AND SAFE, UH, TO ASSURE THAT NO ONE HAS THE ABILITY TO MISUSE YOUR TAXPAYER MONEY. AND SO, UH, WE'LL CONTINUE. SO THE, THE FRONT OF THE PRESENTATIONS IN IT STATES, UM, THE WORST DISEASE IN THE WORLD TODAY IS CORRUPTION. AND THERE IS A CURE. AND THAT'S TRANSPARENCY. THE SUBTITLE IS TRUTH AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE JAMALI REPORT SENSOR, THE PURPOSE OF THE PRESENTATION IS TO RESPOND TO CONCLUSIONS IN THE JAMALI REPORT. PRESENT EVIDENCE AND CONTEXT NOT REFLECTED IN A REPORT. CLARIFY THE PURPOSE OF MY COMMUNICATION CITED, ADDRESS DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION ISSUES, REFERENCE, AND ENSURE THE PUBLIC RE RECORD REFLECTS THE FULL CONTEXT. MY GOAL TONIGHT IS TO PROVIDE CONTEXT AND EVIDENCE SO THE PEOPLE AT WEST VNA CAN EVALUATE THE FULL PICTURE. AND THERE'S A, A QUOTE BY ALBERT E EINSTEIN, WHICH STATES THE WORLD WILL NOT BE DESTROYED BY THOSE WHO DO EVO, BUT BY THOSE WHO WATCH THEM WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING. WE'LL START OFF WITH A QUOTE FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON AND IT STATES THE TRUTH WILL ULTIMATELY PREVAIL WHEN THERE ARE PAINS TO BRING IT TO LIGHT. WHAT THE REPORT CLAIMS IS THAT THERE'S EMAILS TO STAFF, WERE INTIMIDATING. REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION WERE IMPROPER. COMMUNICATIONS CREATED FEAR AMONG STAFF AND CONDUCT JUSTIFIES CONSIDERATION OF SENSOR TONIGHT, I WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE CLAIMS AND EXPLAIN THE CONTEXT THAT WAS NOT REFLECTED. CAN I, LET ME, CAN I BORROW A MICROPHONE BETTER SO I DON'T HAVE TO TRUST MY BODY TESTING? THANK YOU. AND SO IT GOES ON AND STATES WHAT THE REPORT CLAIMS. EMAILS TO STAFF WERE INTIMIDATING. REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION WERE IMPROPER [02:10:02] COMMUNICATIONS CREATED FEAR AMONG STAFF AND CONDUCT JUSTIFIES CONSIDERATION OF CENSOR. TONIGHT, I WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE CLAIMS AND EXPLAIN THE CONTEXT THAT WAS NOT REFLECTED EVIDENCE, NOT NOT REFLECTED IN THE REPORT. COMPLETE EMAIL CHAINS. FALSE MISLEADING WEST HEALTH DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT QUESTIONS. TIMELINE OF COMMUNICATIONS, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT. CONTEXT BEHIND REQUESTS FOR RECORDS. COMPLETE DISREGARD ABOUT MAJOR MISCONDUCT AND FINANCIAL ENTANGLEMENTS. WHEN PARTIAL INFORMATION IS PRESENTED, THE NARRATIVE CAN APPEAR VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE FU RECORD JAMALI TIMELINE. MISREADS REEDS. SORRY, THE JAMAL, SORRY, I CAN'T SEE THE JAMALI TIMELINE. MISLEADS THE PUBLIC FROM MAY 6TH, 2025. I MAKE CONSULT REQUESTS TO ASK ON MAY 6TH, 2025. I MAKE A CONSULT REQUEST TO ASK FOR FINANCIAL REPORT TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CONS. AFTER EVERY MAJOR EVENT, COUNCIL MEMBER WU AND MAYOR PRO LOPEZ VIDO FIGHT BACK TO BLOCK REQUESTS. MOTION DIES ON MAY OF 2025. WU CLAIMS, CAWC PAID ALL EXPENSES. THE JAMALI REPORT DOES NOT INCLUDE FOOD EVIDENCE AND EMAIL CHAINS ON PURPOSE AND WRITES MISLEADING TIMELINE. SO IF YOU SEE ON JUNE, IT STATES ON JUNE 4TH, 2025, GUTTER SENT AN EMAIL TO CITY STAFF IN RESPONSE TO TOLD GUTIERREZ TO REFRAIN FROM USING THREATENING LANGUAGE TO OUR CITY STAFF. YET THE JAMAL REPORT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE MAY 6TH, 2025 ACTION OR THE OTHER STATEMENT BY MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER WU, WHAT DID THEY SAY BEFORE I RAISED RED FLAGS AUDIO. OKAY. SO BECAUSE I TALK, I I I TALK TOO MUCH. OKAY. BUT ANYWAY, I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS OVER HERE, THE ARTAN IS, UH, IS BASICALLY IS IN OUR POPULATION, BUT YOU CAN SEE, UH, WITH, UM, THE NEVER GIVE UP, UH, WITH, UH, EDUCATION. OKAY? I THINK EDUCATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. SO YOU LEARN HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE AND, UH, WITH A COMMUNITY, OKAY. SUPPORT. AND YOU CAN SEE BRIAN IS EXAMPLE ABOUT OVERCOME THE ARTISAN AND HE DOING A GREAT JOB. AND, UH, OKAY. PEOPLE CAN BASICALLY RECOGNIZE YOUR EFFORT. SO, OKAY. AS A CT OF WEST COVINA, WE WANT TO HAVE A PROCLAMATION, THE APRIL NATIONAL ARTISAN AWARENESS MONTH, AND THEN WE WANT TO SHOW THE ARTISAN COMMUNITY HOW IMPORTANT AS YOU AS INSPIRATION OKAY. TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY OPPOSITE. TO UNDERSTAND. YES. OKAY. SKY'S A LITTLE BIT FOR THEM. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. SO BECAUSE I TALK, I, I, I TALKED TO, OH, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? OKAY. I WANNA SAY ONE THING SAYS, OKAY. AND I KNOW WE ALL HAVE, UH, AGREE AND DISAGREE. OKAY. FOR OTHER ISSUE, IT'S ALL QUITE ALL RIGHT. BUT I THINK THIS IS, I'M CALL FOR, TO CALL FOR SOMEBODY THEIR DISABILITY OR THEIR ISSUE REGARDING ARTISAN OR THIS AND THAT. IT DOESN'T MEAN HE'S NOT GOING TO BE FUNCTIONAL AS A NORMAL PERSON. WELL, FOR ME TO OKAY. DEAL WITH THIS COUPLE WEEKS OF, I THINK TWO MONTHS KNOWING HIM, TRY TO HELP THE OKAY. BRING THE VACCINATION TO FROM CCB CVS TO US. OKAY. AND HE IS FIGHTING. HE WAS FIGHTING VERY HARD. OKAY. AND, UH, I CAN TELL HE HAS A PASSION TO HELP OUR RESIDENT AND TO TALK ABOUT HIS PERSONAL MEDICAL SITUATION. I THINK IT'S UNCALLED FOR. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW, OKAY, EVERYBODY HAVE THEIR, SOME DISABILITY, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY CANNOT SERVE THE CITY. OKAY. SERVE WITH THE ACTION. SO HIS PASSION SERVE WITH LOVE. SO I HOPE SO, BECAUSE I, AND SO WE SAW EARLIER THERE WAS MISSING EVIDENCE. THE TIMELINE IS MISSING, [02:15:01] WHICH INCLUDES THE MAY 6TH MEETING, AND HERE'S, HERE'S THE VIDEO OF THE MAY 6TH, UM, VIDEO, AND THEN WE CAN FIX IT. OKAY? SO ANYWAY, I THINK THAT'S IT, RIGHT? AND THE FINAL ONE. OKAY, FINAL ONE. OKAY. THE, THE FINAL ONE IS FOR ANY MAJOR CITY EVENT THAT SUPERSEDES A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TAXPAYER FUNDING THAT THE COUNCIL BE GIVEN A REPORT A MONTH LATER REGARDING THOSE EXPENSES. SO I THINK THIS, JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY, I THINK THIS, UH, MICROMANAGEMENT, UH, NO, BUT OKAY, AGAIN, DO I HAVE A SECOND? WELL, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE'S SOME EVENTS THAT ARE MAKING HUNDREDS, MAKING THOUSANDS BY, WELL, WE KNOW THE TWO EVENTS. 4TH OF JULY, SPRING FESTIVAL, I MEAN, THAT'S, BUT MY UNDER HUNDRED. BUT I THINK THAT PAULINA WAS SAYING THAT THE CITY HAS A PROCESS, BUT IT'S NOT BEING, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S NOT BEING ENFORCED OR SOMETHING, THAT THERE WAS A PROCESS AFTER EVENTS IN THE PAST. IN THE PAST, UM, THE CITY, UH, WOULD PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON, ON AGENDA ITEM, JUST ON THE COST OF AN EVENT. OKAY. SO WE'VE DONE THAT IN THE PAST. WE HAVE SINCE STOPPED THAT. UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE BROUGHT BACK IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES. MR. MAYOR, GO AHEAD. UM, WITH REGARD TO THESE EXPENDITURES, IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE LAID OUT IN THE BUDGET ANYWAY, RIGHT? WHEN WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET? I THINK SO, YEAH. IS THAT HOW THAT WORKS? AM I RIGHT? MOUS ITEMS FOR DIFFERENT, COULD YOU, THE, THE BUDGET IS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS. UM, ONE THING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT CHANGING IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR IS DOING A LINE ITEM FOR EACH EVENT, LIKE AN ESTIMATE. SO WE, OBVIOUSLY IT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHAT THE ACTUALS ARE OF WHAT'S BUDGETED. UH, BUT WE ARE GONNA BE INCLUDING LINE ITEM FOR EACH EVENT, WHAT WE ANTICIPATE THAT'S GONNA COST, UM, AND ALLOCATE FUNDING FOR, FOR THAT EVENT IN, IN THE BUDGET. SO IT IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. GOOD. THANK YOU. AND WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE MORE, UH, INFORMATION IN, IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. YEAH. HO HOPEFULLY MOST SPONSORSHIP AND INCOME COMING TO JUSTIFY ABOUT EXPENDITURE. OKAY. AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND FOR, OKAY, AND MOTHER, MAY I FUND COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ? WELL, I DON'T NEED A SECOND, BUT WHAT, OKAY, SO IF YOU DON'T WANT, YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO KNOW, I WANT TO KNOW. SO AFTER A MONTH, AFTER A MONTH, UH, THESE EVENTS HAPPEN, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO REVIEW FINANCIAL OKAY. FINANCIALS. SO AFTER A MONTH OF EVERY MAJOR EVENT, I WOULD LIKE A REPORT SENT TO ME, TO MY EMAIL. YEAH, YOU CAN PROBABLY ASK, UH, OKAY. THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE YOU THE INFORMATION. OKAY. I, I DON'T NEED IT. OKAY. I DON'T WANT TO READ MORE. OKAY. ANYTHING, ANYTHING ELSE, UH, ANY OTHER CITY COUNCIL AND, UH, ANY COMMENT. AND SO WE MOVE ON AND EVENTUALLY WE FIND, WE DE WE FIND OUT, I FIND OUT THAT OVER $182,000 OF YOUR TAXPAYER MONEY WAS GOING TO A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE CHINESE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF WEST COVINA. YOU SAW MY DILIGENCE IN ASKING OUR COUNCIL TO GIVE ME A REPORT BEFORE, AFTER EVERY MEETING, BUT MAYOR WU FOUGHT BACK TO TRY TO SABOTAGE THAT REQUEST. BUT THEN I WOULD, I DETERMINED OFF WHISTLEBLOWERS WITHIN CITY HALL. AGAIN, JAMMAL REPORT OMITS THIS EVIDENCE ON PURPOSE. IT IS NOT PART OF THE JAMMAL REPORT. IT, IT REFUSES TO GIVE THE FACTS OF THE MATTER THAT THE TAXPAYERS DESERVE ANSWERS TO. AND AS YOU SEE, A WORLD LIGHTING BOARD MEMBER FOR THE CAWC DIRECTOR IS MICHAEL CHEN. AND AS YOU ALSO SEE MAYOR W'S WIFE IS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. IS MICHAEL CHEN A BOARD MEMBER? MICHAEL CHEN IS A BOARD MEMBER. YES. HOW MUCH MONEY DID HE GIVE BACK THIS YEAR? UM, I WISH, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S A MICHAEL CHEN'S IN THE SURGERY, THE EYE SURGERY, I THINK YOU SAID, I WISH, I WISH HE CAN COM COMPROMISE FOR 6,000, LIKE BEFORE. SO HE'S GONNA, HE GAVE 6,000 THIS YEAR. AND THEN HOW MUCH DID HE GIVE LAST YEAR? I NEED TO CHECK WITH THE BOOKKEEPER, SO I'M NOT, UH, YOU, YOU SEE SOMETHING? IT, THE NUMBER I NEED TO CHECK WITH YOU. THIS IS AN ACTIVE INVOICE AND IT SAYS ARO LIGHTING, WHICH IS OWNED BY MICHAEL CHEN, AND THIS IS AN INVOICE FOR $29,555, WHICH VIOLATES THE CITY'S POLICY ON PURCHASE ORDERS. BUT I DON'T KNOW THIS ONE. OKAY. NO. OKAY, SO I I, I CAN CHECK FOR YOU BECAUSE I, I'M, I CAN'T DO EVERYTHING. I HAVE MY WORK. SO, SO ALTOGETHER, MICHAEL CHEN'S COMPANY HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $185,000 IN TAXPAYER'S MONEY. SO YOU, YOU CAN HAVE A COPY IF YOU WANT, BECAUSE, UH, UH, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW FOR, UH, YOUR ISSUE THOUGH, BUT I CAN WE CHECK WITH, UH, MICHAEL CHEN SINCE HE'S NOT HERE, SO WE DOUBLE CHECK WITH YOU. GREAT. AND SO FOR [02:20:01] THE RECORD, AND THEN WE, WE, WE MOVE ON AND WE SEE EMAILS FROM TONY WU FROM HIS TWO, UH, ONE PRIOR EMAIL HE USED TO HAVE, I BELIEVE, WHICH IS A T WU AT WEST COVINA. AND THEN HIS CURRENT ONE, WHICH IS TONY DO RULE. AND AS YOU, AS YOU SEE, UM, BECAUSE OF THE, BECAUSE OF THE WORK, YOU KNOW, THE JAMALI REPORT IS CONTRADICTING BECAUSE STAFF WITHIN OUR CITY HALL SPOKE UP WHEN WITHIN THAT JAMALI REPORT, YOU, YOU'LL SEE WITNESSES TALK ABOUT PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS. BUT GUESS WHAT? THE JAMALI REPORT PURPOSELY LEFT OUT THAT ALL THOSE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS WAS BECAUSE THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CAME TO CITY HALL AND PICKED UP BINDERS AND BINDERS OF DOCUMENTS. BUT THE JAMAL REPORT, GOD FORBID, DIDN'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT. THEY JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT SEEM THAT BRIAN GUT TERRACE WAS COLLECTING DOCUMENTS. BUT NO, THE TRUTH WAS THE LA LA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HEAD DEPUTY CAME AND PICK UP THOSE DOCUMENTS FROM MYSELF, FROM OUR ACTING CITY MANAGER, MATT RACKAGE, AND OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ROXANNE LERMA. BUT THE JAMAL REPORT OMITS THAT OMIT THOSE FACTS. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, COUNCIL MEMBER WU WRITES AN EMAIL OF, TO DAN, CITY MANAGER CHRIS FREELAND, AND SAYS, HI, CHRIS. PLEASE ARRANGE A MEETING WITH THE CEO OF RURAL LIGHTING, MICHAEL CHEN. HE IS DINKED TO MOVE HIS LED MANUFACTURER HOUSE TO WEST COVINA, AND EVEN TO PROVIDE INSTALLATION OF FREE LED LIGHTS FOR OUR CITY. THANKS, TONY. ON ANOTHER DATE ON APRIL 26TH, 2022, COUNCILMAN RU WRITES AN EMAIL TO, UH, UH, THE CITY MANAGER'S ASSISTANTS AND CCS, UH, MEMBERS OF THE CONSOLE. UM, AND AT THAT TIME, THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. AND THE SUBJECT IS CAWC CERTIFICATE. HI, ERIC. PLEASE PROVIDE THE CERTIFICATE FOR THE EVENT. PLEASE DON'T PUT IT ON THE CONTINARY. IT'S A IMITATION ONLY TONY. AND IF YOU SEE A WORLD LIGHTING, YOU'LL SEE BOARD MEMBER MICHAEL CHEN. YOU'LL ALSO ANOTHER EMAIL FROM AT THAT TIME, MAYOR PRO, SUBJECT CHINESE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF WEST COVINA, CURRENT MEMBERS LISTING. HI ERIC, PLEASE PROVIDE THOSE CERTIFICATES FOR THE EVENT. BIG THANK THANKS TO YOU, TONY WU, THE RECENT JAMAL REPORT, ALONG WITH CLAIMS MADE BY MAYOR LOPEZ, VITO, COUNCIL MEMBER W AND CONS, MEMBER DIAZ SUGGESTS THAT STAFF DEPARTURES WERE THE RESULT OF INTERNAL INSAT ABILITY BY ME. HOWEVER, THE NARRATIVE DOES NOT REFLECT THE FULL PICTURE. THE REALITY IS THAT STAFF DEPARTURES COINCIDED WITH THE DISCOVERY OF SERIOUS CHALLENGES AND POTENTIAL MISCONDUCT WITHIN MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS. AS EFFORTS WERE UNDERWAY TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, CHANGES IN STAFFING FOLLOWED ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY MUST REMAIN THE PRIORITY. AND ALL CLAIMS SHOULD BE EVALUATED DUE THOSE LENS. AND AS YOU SEE A FORMER ASSISTANT PLANNER FROM JANUARY, 2019 TO AUGUST, 2020 FIRST, WHO WAS WITH THE CITY FOR TWO YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS, AND HE STATES RULE MADE US IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT EXPEDITE PERMITS FOR WORK WITHOUT A PERMIT ONLY TO SEE THE APPLICANT ACTUALLY BE THE ONE, THE REAL ESTATE AGENTS FROM HIS BANK. AND SO LATER ON IN THIS PRESENTATION, YOU WILL SEE A NEW LAWSUIT FIRED FILED BY THE FORMER FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF WEST VENA, VINCENT CAPELLI, WHO ALLEGES SPECIFICALLY SIMILARITIES OF THIS ALLEGATION. HERE'S ANOTHER EMAIL, AND AGAIN, IT IT'S, IT'S CONCERNING TO ME WHEN THE JAMAL REPORT STATES ONE THING, BUT THERE WAS WHISTLEBLOWERS ACTING WITHIN CITY HALL TO PRODUCE, PRODUCE THESE DOCUMENTS TO GIVE TO OVERSIGHT AUTHORITIES. AND, AND THIS EMAIL WAS GIVEN TO ME, AND AS IT STATES IT, THE, THE SUBJECT IS FORM FORM 8 8 0 3 FROM MAYOR WU. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUST AN FII. THE MAYOR WU SUBMITTED THE ATTACHED FORM DIRECTLY TO OUR DEPARTMENT THIS MORNING. HOWEVER, AFTER IT WAS DATE STAMPED, WE NOTICED THAT HE HAD BACKDATED THE FORM. AND SO AGAIN, THAT WAS OMITTED FROM THE JAMALI REPORT. BUT TODAY, THOSE MEMBERS WANNA CENSOR ME. THE FACTS SPEAK FOR ITSELF, EVIDENCE DOESN'T LIE. AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I WAS ELECTED TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE [02:25:01] RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA. AND AS YOU SEE, WE MOVE ON NOW WE GO TO A PRESS RELEASE. THIS IS MAYOR PRO, TONY RU, AND THE CHINESE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF WEST PRODUCE SUCCESSFUL MANGO RESCUE AND MOON FESTIVAL. THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR PRO TONY RULE, AN EVENT PRODUCER, CHINESE AMERICAN ASSOCI OF WEST COVINA. BUT THEN WHEN YOU MOVE ON INTO THIS PRESS RELEASE, IT STATES, THE CITY OF WEST COVINA EXTENDS ITS GRATITUDE TO C-A-A-W-C FOR NOT ONLY PRODUCING ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL FESTIVAL TO DATE, BUT ALSO FOR PAYING MOST OF THE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MEGA, WITH THE MEGA WEST GREEN MOON FESTIVAL DUE TO GENEROUS DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIPS. BUT AFTER, AFTER STAFF SPOKE UP, AFTER, AFTER JASON HENRY'S STORY, THIS PRESS RELEASE IS UNTRUE. BUT THIS PRESS RELEASE YOU'LL SEE LATER ON HIS, IN HIS PRESENTATION WAS WRITTEN BY MAYOR RULE. MAYOR RU TELLS DIRECT AND TELLS STAFF TO WRITE A PRESS RELEASE THAT TELLS THE PUBLIC YOUR TAXPAYER MONEY IS NOT BEING USED, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS. AND HERE WE HAVE, WEST PHOENIX SPENT $152,000 ON MOON FESTIVAL TIED TO MAYOR'S WIFE. ALL CITY EMPLOYEES ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS TONY'S EVENT, YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD OR CITY OR, OR ONE CITY EMPLOYEE SAID OF MAYOR TONY WU. AGAIN, THE JAMALI REPORT OMITS THIS PURPOSELY LEAVES THIS INFORMATION OUT SO THEY COULD SABOTAGE AND SLANDER MY NAME SO MY REPORTING COULD GO UNNOTICED AND LAW ENFORCEMENT COULD THINK THAT I'M JUST MAKING UP STUFF. BUT TONIGHT, YOU'RE GONNA SEE FOR YOURSELF THE FACTS AND THE TRUTH. HERE'S ANOTHER EMAIL. THIS IS A SUPER MOON FESTIVAL. UH, THIS IS AN EMAIL WRITTEN BY OUR ACTIVE CITY MANAGER, MAN RIDGE. AND JUST SO PEOPLE KNOW THE CONTEXT OF THIS EMAIL, MR. RIDGE INFORMED ME THAT MAYOR TONY RU THREATENED TO FIRE HIM. I SAID, OKAY, I WILL NOTIFY THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OF THAT THREAT. AND I TOLD THEM THAT MR. MORRIDGE ASKED ME THAT HE WANTED TO SEND THIS EMAIL DIRECTLY TO THEM. THE DA'S OFFICE RESPONDED, STATING, PLEASE TELL HIM TO SEND IT TO YOU, AND THEN YOU FORWARD IT TO US. AND IN THIS EMAIL, IT STATES SUPER MOON EVENT. THE ATTACHED EMAIL WAS SENT TO ME ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20TH, THIS AFTERNOON ON AUGUST 21ST AT APPROXIMATELY 11:40 AM DEPUTY DIRECTOR SUSIE PEREZ WAS IN A STAFF MEETING WITH ME WHEN SHE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MAYOR TONY WU. AFTER THE PHONE CALL HAD CONCLUDED, DEPUTY DIRECTOR ADVISED THAT SHE HAD, SHE HAD INFORMED MAYOR WU OF THE OPTIONS THAT THE CITY WILL BE CONSIDERING NOW THAT WE HAVE TAKEN CHARGE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. DEPUTY DIRECTOR PEREZ STATED THAT MAYOR WU WAS VERY ADAMANT AND ASSISTED THAT THE EVENT NOT BE CHANGED IN ANY WAY, THAT IT HAD TO BE DONE PRECISELY AS CAWC HAD PLANNED. DEPUTY DIRECTOR PEREZ FURTHER STATED THAT MAYOR TONY WU TOLD HER THAT IF THE CITY MANAGER MOVED THE VENUE OR CHANGED THE EVENT, HE WILL BE FIRED. DEPUTY DIRECTOR PEREZ FURTHER NOTED THAT I NEEDED TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE THE MAYOR WAS VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS MATTER. SHE CONCLUDED OUR CONVERSATION STATING THAT WE HAD NO CHOICE. WE COULDN'T LOSE OUR JOBS, AND WE COULDN'T CHANGE THE EVENT AS IT NEEDED TO BE ON GLENDORA AVENUE AS INITIALLY PLANNED BY CAWC. IT SHOULD BE NOTED, NOTED THAT DEPUTY DIRECTOR PEREZ AND I AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CITY STAFF HAD ALREADY DECIDED THAT IT WILL BE FAR MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO MOVE THE EVENT TO CITY HALL. AS CITY MANAGER, I PLAN TO PRESENT THE FOUR OPTIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 2ND, ALONG WITH MY RECOMMENDATION TO RELOCATE THE EVENT TO CITY HALL AND ADJUST IT TO A ONE DAY EVENT. I FULLY UNDERSTAND AND EXPECT THAT MY RECOMMENDATION WILL NOT BE WELL RECEIVED BY MAYOR WU, AND I WILL LIKE THE FACE POSSIBLE RETALIATION. IT SHOULD BE CLEAR THAT AS CITY MANAGER, I WILL MAKE ALL MY DECISIONS BASED ON THE HIGHEST LEGAL, MORAL, AND ETHICAL STANDARDS, EVEN IF IT MEANS PUTTING MY EMPLOYMENT STATUS AT RISK SINCE, AND IT'S SIGNED BY MY NAME, RACKAGE, ACTING CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA. AND THE ATTACHMENT TO THAT EMAIL FROM SUSIE INDICATED WHEN, UH, SUSIE SENT THE EMAIL TO MYLAN AND ROXANNE [02:30:01] AND SAYS, GOOD MORNING, MYAN AND ROXANNE. AS A CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 19TH, 2025, THE CHINESE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION WEST STUDENT INFORM THE CITY THAT THEY WERE SOME, SOME EVENT PLANNING ASPECTS. THEY WILL ASSUME FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY MOVING FORWARD. THEY REQUESTED THAT THE CITY FULLY COVER ALL EXPENDITURES, RECEIVE REVENUES, AND OVERSEE THE OVERALL ORGANIZATION OF THE EVENT. GIVEN THIS CHANGE, I HAVE DOTTED OUT THE FISCAL AND OPERATIONAL IMPACTS TO THE CITY AND DEVELOP THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. ONE, CANCEL THE EVENT ENTIRELY. COST SAVINGS OF APPROXIMATELY 120,000 TO THE CITY GENERAL FUND ELIMINATES SIGNIFICANT STAFF RESOURCE DEMANDS AND ALLOWS RELOCATION OF STAFF TIME AND BUDGET TO FOCUS ON UPCOMING FALL CITYWIDE EVENTS, INCLUDING FESTIVAL FLIGHTS, LET SNOW IN WESTCO AND THE ANNUAL CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PARADE. TWO, MODIFY THE EVENTS TO A ONE DAY, TO ONE DAY, REDUCES OVER OUR COSTS BY ELIMINATING PROGRAMMING LOGISTICS REQUIREMENTS TO A SINGLE DAY, MAINTAINS PARTICIPATION AND CULTURAL RECOGNITION, BUT IN A SCALE BACK MATTER OR THREE LOCATION, THE RELOCATE THE EVENT TO CITY HALL. UTILIZE THE COURTYARD PARKING LOT AND UPPER AREA NEAR THE LIBRARY AS THE EVENT VARIANT VENUE EVENT COULD BE OFFERED AS A ONE DAY OR TWO DAY FESTIVAL REDUCES PERSONAL PERSONNEL RESOURCES NEEDS SIGNIFICANTLY DUE TO MINIMUM STREET CLOSURES, THEREBY LOWERING PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC SAFE STAFFING REQUIREMENTS AT COST AND COST. FOUR, PROCEED WITH EVENT AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED CITY WOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES AND EVENT LOGISTICS AND OPERATIONS MAINTAINS THE ORIGINAL MULTI-DAY EVENT STRUCTURE AND SCOPE, AND PRESERVES THE ANTICIPATED COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL IMPACT OF THE FESTIVAL, BUT REQUIRES FINANCIAL FUS, FINANCIAL ABORATION BY THE CITY. I AM OPEN TO DISCUSSION ON THESE OPTIONS AND ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS YOU HAVE. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A DECISION BY THE END OF THIS WEEK SO THAT THIS DIRECTION CAN BE PROVIDED TO STAFF AND EVENT PLANNING MAY PROCEED ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU. PEREZ. DEPUTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR WHO THREATENS TO FIRE RACKAGE IF HE DOWNGRADES EVENT, BUT RACKAGE LIES TO THE INVESTIGATOR JAMAL AND CONTRADICTS HIS STATEMENTS HE MADE TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THROUGH REVENGE. AND SO IN THE REPORT IT TALKS ABOUT A NARRATIVE THAT CAWC WAS BACKING OFF BECAUSE OF MY LINE OF QUESTIONING, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. AS YOU SEE, THIS INFORMATION IS THE FACTS. THIS IS WHY IT WAS DOWN DOWNGRADED AFTER THE JUNE 17TH, 2025 MEETING. RU TELLS ME TRAITOR, HE CALLS ME A TRAITOR AFTER THIS MEETING. AND THEN YOU WANT THEM TO PRESENT THIS ALERT. WHY NOT ASK THE KIWANI DO THE SAME THING? YEAH, NO OTHER PEOPLE DO SAME. IT IS BECAUSE IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, UH, AND, AND, AND WHEN I ASKED, WELL, DON'T WE, DON'T WE COLLECT LENDER FEES? DON'T WE CREATE SPONSORSHIP FEES? AND THEY SAID, NO. UH, THE CHINESE ASSOCIATION COLLECTS ALL FEES AND, AND THE CITY'S NOT MAKING NOT ONE PENNY BACK. THE, THEY, THEY INDICATED THAT THE CHINESE ASSOCIATION IS MAKING A, A SUR A SURPLUS PROFIT OFF THAT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS INVESTMENT. AND, AND SO OBVIOUSLY, HOLD ON. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, OKAY. AND THEN MAYBE YOU CAN HAVE THE PERSON TELLING YOU TO TALK TO CAWC AND SAY, OKAY, HOW MUCH WE SPEND THIS AND THAT, AND THEN HOW MUCH MONEY, OKAY. THEY DONATE OUT TO THE CHARITY, INCLUDING ALL OVER HERE. OKAY? IT IS NOT LIKE THIS CHARITY, ANYTHING THEY MAKE. YEAH. I MEAN, THEY COULD, THEY COULD, THEY COULD DECLINE THE OFFER, BUT I THINK AS A TRANSPARENCY, WE'RE VIDING A OH, I, I THINK OKAY. SOUND LIKE, UH, UH, UH, WITCH HUNT. OKAY. YOU SOUND LIKE, OKAY. OH, THEY, THEY COLLECT THE MONEY, SO THIS IS A PROBLEM, OKAY? WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO DO SOMETHING AND THEN SOMEBODY JUST SECOND GUESS ABOUT THEIR INTENTION, OKAY? IT, IT'S, IT'S A NONPROFIT. EVERY DIME HAVE BE ORDERED BY NONPROFIT. ALL THE MONEY THEY HAVE HAS TO DONATE INTO THE CHARITY, AND THAT'S WHY THEY DONATE THE MONEY, INCLUDING THE EXPLORE PROGRAM AND THIS AND THAT. AND THEN WHEN YOU SAY, OH, THEY'RE MAKING ALL THE MONEY, BUT THEY PAY FOR 40,000, $50,000 OF RENTAL, INCLUDING THE STAGING, INCLUDING ALL THIS DECORATION, OKAY? AND THEY, THEY, THEY PAY FOR THE PERFORMANCE. THEY EVEN PAY THOSE PEOPLE COME, OKAY. AND PAY THEM THE, THE WHAT'S THE PROFIT MARGIN? I DON'T KNOW. YOU HAVE TO ASK THAT. IT'S NOT ME. I'M NOT CAWC. SO, SO YEAH, GO AHEAD. AND, AND YOU SEE, AGAIN, PUSHBACK, REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH A SIMPLE REQUEST. [02:35:02] RU CLAIMS HE DOES NOT CONTROL THE CAWC OR CITY STAFF, YET, STAFF TEXT MESSAGES PROVE SOMETHING ELSE WHILE THE JAMALI REPORT AND THE CITY ATTORNEY LOOKED THE OTHER WAY TO RETALIATE AGAINST ME. AS YOU SEE, AS OF MARCH 17TH, 2026, CAWC HAS NOT, HAS STILL NOT RETURNED ANY TAXPAYER FUNDS DUE TO THE CITY WHEN THEY STATED THEY WERE GIVING UP CONTROL. AND AS YOU SEE, THERE'S A TEXT MESSAGE FROM MAYOR TONY WU, AND IT STATES, CAWC WILL TRANSFER ALL FUNDS. ALL FUND HAS IT STATES CAWC WILL TRANSFER ALL FUND HAS RECEIVED FROM DONATIONS AND VENDORS FEE CURRENTLY TO CITY WITH DETAILS OF CHECKS, COPY AND DOCUMENTS. SERENA WILL CONTINUE TO HELP TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT. CAWC WON'T INVOLVE IN AND RENTAL NEGOTIATION ANYMORE. IT WILL BE ALL CITY DESCRIPTION. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMIT FEE. CAWC WILL TRANSFER WILL, CAWC WILL TRANSFER THAT FEE TO C TWO, BUT WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT TRANSITION IS SMOOTH AND NO DELAY TO HAVE HELP PERMIT FOR FOOD VENDORS AFTER THE FIRST INITIATE TRANSFER. THEN THEY WILL BE WEEKLY REPORTS AND TRANSFER FUNDS TO C IF CAWC CONTINUES RECEIVING DONATION AND FEE FOR THE EVENT, SERENA WILL MONITOR THAT AND WORK WITH SUZY PEREZ. AND AGAIN, AS OF MARCH 17TH, 2026, NO MONEY HAS BEEN GIVEN BACK TO THE CITY, THE TAXPAYERS. YOU GO ONTO A DIFFERENT GROUP MESSAGE, TONY, WHO STATES, GOOD. UH, THIS IS A DIFFERENT, TOTALLY DIFFERENT MESSAGE. AND THERE'S A TEXT THAT JUST SAYS, GOOD, WE NEED TO FIND TWO BANDS FOR MOOD FESTIVAL TWO, WHAT TIME THIS EVENING? 6:00 PM TO BE THERE. AND, AND THEN, UH, THE, THE STAFF MEMBER REPLIES, NO DA IS CONFIRMED AT 99% SURE FAMILY STYLE IS CONFIRMED TOO. 6:00 PM IS PERFECT. OPENING SEMINAR WILL START CLOSER TO 6:15 PM OR SORRY, SIX 15. UH, STRIKE OUT THE, THERE'S NO PM THERE, BUT IT JUST SAY SIX 15. SEE YOU THEN TONY W RESPOND, SEE YOU. AND THEN TONY W SENDS ANOTHER MESSAGE ON JULY 25TH, 2024 AT 7:37 PM ANY LUCK TO BOOK TAYLOR SWIFT, THE STAFF RESPONSE I EMAILED TODAY, FINGERS CROSSED. AGAIN, THESE TWO TEXT MESSAGES WERE COMPLETELY OMITTED. THESE MEMBERS, SOME OF THESE STAFF MEMBERS WERE NOT EVEN EVEN INTERVIEW ABOUT THESE TEXT MESSAGES. WHY? BECAUSE THEY WANTED A ONE-SIDED REPORT SO THEY COULD USE IT TODAY TO CENSOR ME. THAT IS WHY IT OMITS EVIDENCE, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER REPORT WE HAVE EVER HAD FOR OUR CITY FROM, IF IT'S ABOUT VINCENT CAPELLI, LARRY WHITHORN, WELL, DON'T WORRY. THOSE REPORTS SAY THERE'S NO FINDINGS, BUT A JURY SAID THERE WAS FINDINGS ON THEIR END. BUT AS I'VE BEEN TOLD BEFORE BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY GETS TO CONTROL THE NARRATIVE AND THEY GET TO DICTATE THE FINAL SAY. BUT IT DOESN'T WORK WHEN YOU HAVE A ME, A BODY OF JURORS TO DETERMINE THE FACTS AND THE TRUTH LIKE LARRY WHITHORN DID AND PREVAILED NOT ONLY IN THE PALATE COURT, BUT THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT SHOT IT BACK SAYING THEY'RE REAFFIRMING THE, THE, THE PALATE'S DECISION. WE MOVE ON. THERE'S ANOTHER MESSAGE. SO I BELIEVE THIS IS A MESSAGE RELATING TO THE PRESS RELEASE THAT WENT OUT. IT SAYS, GRATEFUL FOR TONY W'S LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUE EFFORTS TO UPLIFT AND EMPOWER SMALL BUSINESSES. THE CITY OF WEST PHOENIX EXTENDS ITS GRATITUDE TO CAWC FOR SUCCESSFUL, SUCCESSFUL FESTIVAL TO DATE, BUT ALSO FOR FUNDING MOST OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WEST COVINA MEGA MOON FESTIVAL DUE TO GENEROUS I NATIONS AND SPONSORSHIPS. AND IT GOES ON. AND THEN ANOTHER MESSAGE COMES IN BY MAYOR WU. WE WILL RESEND THE PRESS RELEASE WITH NICE PHOTOS ABOUT THIS VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT DIRECTING STAFF. IF THIS MESSAGE PROVES DIRECTING STAFF TO MISLEAD THE PUBLIC. WE MOVE ON TO THE LAST MESSAGE AND IT STATES, TONY WU ADDED SERENA TO THE CONVERSATION JULY 22ND, ONLY AFTER AUDIT REQUEST BY CONSOLE IN JUNE OF 2025. DID HE ADD A THIRD PARTY TO THIS MESSAGE? TONY WU, STATES CITY CAN PROMOTE THIS VIDEO TOO. THANKS. AND, AND OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER STATES, HI, TONY. ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN'T REPOST THIS ONE. MAYOR WU RESPONDS, THE CURRENT FOOD VIDEO GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION. LET'S CONTINUE. SERENA IS [02:40:01] WORKING ON A NEW VIDEO OF ENTERTAINMENT. ONE COSPLAY ONE CITY CAN PUT ON THE, AND IT GOES ON. AND SO YOU HAVE MAYOR WU TELLING THE PUBLIC, I DON'T DO NOTHING WITH CAWC OR MEGA MOON FESTIVAL. WELL, LADIES, GENTLEMEN, THE, THE TEXT MESSAGES PROVE SOMETHING ELSE, AND THE JAMAL REPORT PURPOSELY LEAVES OUT THOSE FACTS. NOW WE GO TO, SO, SO YOU SAW MULTIPLE STEPS OF ACCOUNTABILITY BEING TAKEN, MULTIPLE REQUESTS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY REQUESTING DOCUMENTS, BUT THE ALI REPORT STATES RU DID NOT, RETA DID NOT HAVE THE INTENTION TO RETALIATE AGAINST ME, AND THAT'S CONTRADICTING WHEN HE'S DONE THE SAME THING TO VINCENT ELLI, LARRY WHITHORN, MARK TAYLOR, AND THE LIST GOES ON. BUT DON'T WORRY, JAMAL REPORT SAYS, WHO HAD NO INTENTION OF DOING THAT? WELL, THAT DOES NOT WHAT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORT STATES. IT SAYS, ASSAULT ON A PUBLIC OFFICIAL 2 1 7 0.1 A PC F 47. AND IT LISTED MYSELF AS A VICTIM. AND AT THAT TIME, IT LISTED TONY WU AS THE SUSPECT OF THE REPORT AND IT, AND GOES ON. AND SO THE MESSAGE YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN, IT SAYS, AN THIS IS THE, THE REPORT ON AUGUST EIGHT. ON AUGUST 13TH, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 1744 HOURS, I MET WITH WITNESS LERMA, WHO IS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, TO CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW FOR THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 8TH, 2025. I ASKED WITNESS LERMA IF SHE REMEMBERED THE INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE THE WEST PHOENIX CITY HALL ON AUGUST 8TH, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 HOURS. SHE SAID SHE DID, SHE SAID, SUSPECT WHO WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WHEN WITNESS MANNING, WHILE SHE AND THE WITNESS RACKAGE WERE MAKING THEIR WAY TO WHERE THE SUSPECT, WOO. AND WITNESS MANNY WORE WITNESS LERMA SAID, AS SHE WAS APPROACHING SUSPECT WOO AND WITNESS RACKAGE, SHE SAW VICTIM GUTIERREZ APPROACHING SUSPECT RULE FROM HIS REAR AS VICTIM. GUTIERREZ WAS APPROACHING SUSPECT RULE AND WITNESS MANNING. HE OVERHEARD SUSPECT, WHO APOLOGIZED TO WITNESS MANNING THAT SOME IDIOT HAD REQUESTED AN AUDIT OF THE KIWANA CLUB FINANCIAL RECORDS DEALING WITH THE CITY OF WEST COVINA VICTIM. GUTIERREZ THEN INTERJECTED HIMSELF INTO THAT CONVERSATION SAYING THAT IDIOT WANTED TRANSPARENCY. SHE SAID, SUSPECT RUTH DID NOT EXPECT VICTIM GUTIERREZ TO BE BEHIND HIM. WITNESS LERMA SAID, AFTER REALIZING VICTIM GUTIERREZ WAS THE ONE WHO SPOKE AND WAS STANDING BEHIND HIM, HE BECAME POSTEROUS AND STARTED TO RAISE HIS VOICE AND CALL VICTIM GUTIERREZ, EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE, A M**********R, WE MOVE ON. ON AUGUST 14TH, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 1135 HOURS, I MET WITH SUSPECT RULE, THE MAYOR OF WEST COVINA, TO CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW FOR THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 8TH, 2025. I ADVISED, SUSPECT, RULE OF THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM. I TOLD HIM VICTIM GUTIERREZ REPORTED THAT SUSPECT RULE USED FOUL LANGUAGE WHEN TALKING TO EACH OTHER. SUSPECT RU SAID HE DID AGAIN, SUSPECT V SAID HE DID. I TOLD SUSPECT RULE THAT VICTIM GUTIERREZ INTERPRETED HIS CURSING AND WHILE POINTING HIS FINGER AND WA WALKING TOWARD VICTIM, GUTIERREZ AS THREATENING, AND THE SUSPECT WANTED TO DO PHYSICAL HARM TO HIM. I ASKED SUSPECT W IF HE WANTED TO HURT VICTIM GUTIERREZ. AND HE SAID, NO, I WANTED HIM TO GO AWAY. I ASKED SUSPECT, W IF HE EVER THREATENED VICTIM GUTIERREZ. HE SAID, NO. AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HERE'S THE VIDEO THAT YOU HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE THAT YOU WILL SEE TONIGHT THE FACTS OF THE TRUTH. YOU SEE ME BACKING UP AND WOO POINTING HIS FINGER, AND I'M TELLING HIM BY YOU. AND HE'S YELLING ACROSS WHILE THERE'S TONS OF KIDS IN THE VICINITY. SO IF YOU REMEMBER, TONY MAYOR WU, COUNCIL MEMBER WU SAID, THIS NEVER HAPPENED. AND HERE'S THE VIDEO VAN. YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL CAUGHT ON CCTV. OH, YEAH, YEAH. GO. YEAH, YOU, YOU MAKE IT UP AGAIN. YOU ARE DREAMING THAT I'M MAKING IT UP AGAIN. I'M DREAMING. WELL, WHO'S LYING HIM ON THAT VIDEO OR DID HE LIE TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT? I'M CONFUSED. THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS. THE VIDEO PROVES IT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, [02:45:01] THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO CENSOR ME OUT OF RETALIATION AND RETRIBUTION, THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT INTO THE REPORT, THE DETECTIVE STATES, I REVIEWED THE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE IMAGES CAPTAIN CARMEN ALLOWED MY ACCESS TO ON EVIDENCE.COM. THE VIDEO DID NOT HAVE AUDIO, BUT WHEN REVIEWING IT, I SAW THE FOLLOWING SUSPECT WAS STANDING NEXT TO AND SPEAKING WITH WITNESS MANNING. THE DATE OF THE VIDEO WAS AUGUST 8TH, 2025. HOWEVER, THE TIMESTAMP SHOWED 1822 HOURS. AT 1623 HOURS, I SAW SUSPECT RULE AND WITNESS MANNY WALK TOWARD WHAT APPEARED TO BE WITNESS MIRA AND WITNESS LERMA WHO WERE APPROACHING THEM ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY, VICTIM GUTIERREZ ARRIVED AT THE SAME LOCATION AND APPEARED TO BE STANDING TO THE REAR OF WITNESS MORRIDGE AND WITNESS MANNING. THREE. AT 1624 HOURS I SAW SUSPECT WHO EXTEND AN ARM TOWARD THE DIRECTION OF VICTIM GUTIERREZ. I ALSO SAW VICTIM GUTIERREZ TAKE, TAKE A STEP BACK IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HIM AND SUSPECT. WOO, I NEVER SAW SUSPECT RU MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO WALK TOWARD VICTIM GUTIERREZ A SECOND TIME SUSPECT. WOO. AND WITNESS MORRIDGE WALKED AWAY. WHAT MAYOR W'S WIFE'S CHARITY PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC. THEY, THEY STATED THAT THEY SUPPORTED THE COMMUNITY WITH $37,856. THEY HAD TOTAL EVENT EXPENSES OF $69,754. THE NARRATIVE FUNDS BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY WHILE CAWC PRESENTED THIS, THIS POWERPOINT. THEY PRESENT AT THIS POWERPOINT, IT'S A-C-A-W-C, MONETARY DONATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEN YOU SEE THEIR POWERPOINT FROM 2017, 2018, THEY STATE THEY GAVE $17,000 BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. WHEN YOU GO TO 2019, YOU SEE THEY GAVE BACK $3,000 TOTAL. WHEN WE GO TO 2020, THEY STATE THEY GAVE 11,000 BACK IN 2021, 2,500 IN 2022, 3,500 IN 2023, 5,500 IN 2024, $14,000 AND 2025, 11,500 TOTAL UP TO DATE THEY CLAIM WAS $68,000 FOR ALL THOSE YEARS. I MENTIONED THE FINANCIAL REPORT BALANCE SHEET, THE 2024 MEGA BOOT FESTIVAL. WHAT YOU SEE ON THE LEFT IS A PRESENTATION THAT THE, THAT CAWC GAVE TO THE CITY FINANCIAL DISCREPANCY, C WCS, PUBLIC CLAIMS VERSUS IRS FILINGS. AND AS YOU SEE, ONE OF THE REASONS, EVEN EVENTUALLY, REASONS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT VINCENT CAPELLI REPORTS IS THE ABUSIVE PROCESS, WHICH YOU'LL LEARN LATER ON IN THIS, IN THIS PRESENTATION, WHAT FORMER FIRE CHIEF CAPELLI ALLEGES TOOK PLACE HERE AT CITY HALL. SO YOU DON'T HAVE JUST ME TELLING YOU THIS. YOU HAD FORMER FIRE CHIEF VINCENT CAPELLI, YOU HAD FORMER FIRE CHIEF LARRY WHITHORN, YOU HAD FORMER POLICE CHIEF MARK TAYLOR SAYING ALMOST SOME SAYING SIMILARITIES ARE OCCURRING TODAY. EARLIER TODAY, YOU HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT TALKED ABOUT WHY ARE YOU SENSORY COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ AND NOT COUNCIL MEMBER TONY W AND THE FACTS TONIGHT PROVE SUBSTANTIALLY WHO SHOULD BE CENSORED TONIGHT? AND YOU'RE ALSO GONNA FIND OUT WHY MAYOR LOPEZ VIDO FIGHTS SO HARD FOR COUNCIL MEMBER WU. AND AS YOU SEE ON THE FIRE PERMIT, IT STATES ALL FEES WAIVE TAXPAYERS WHO ARE NOT ONLY FUNDING THIS EVENT, BUT NO FEES WERE BEING GENERATED BY THE CITY'S TAXPAYERS BECAUSE IT WAS BEING ALL WAIVED. NEXT IS 2024 ON MEGA MOON FESTIVALS A FINANCIAL, UH, REPORT. OKAY, SO THIS IS THE 2024 MOON FESTIVAL REPORT. UH, SAME THING. UH, THEY GET DONATIONS AND MEMBERS DUES ABOUT $43,000. AND THEN BECAUSE IT, THIS WAS A TWO DAYS EVENT IN 2024, THE VENDORS' FEES THEY CHARGE WAS ABOUT 31 DO THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE YEAR BEFORE. AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, AND THEY ALSO PAY MORE TO RENT A BOOTH AND EVERYTHING, AND ALSO CITY PERMITS AS WELL. AND FOR THAT YEAR, [02:50:01] THEY TOTALLY PAY. THAT WAS ABOUT 60, 60, ALMOST $70,000. AND FOR THAT YEAR, THE RESIDUAL WAS ONLY LIKE ABOUT $3,700. WHAT THE IRS FILINGS ACTUALLY SHOW FOR FORM NINE 90, THE IRS AN IRS FILING, IT SHOWS $112,965 TO TOTAL REVENUE. BUT TOTAL EXPENSES WERE 99,081. AND SO YOU JUST SAW THE 20 24 9 90 EZ FILING LOCAL SUPPORT WAS ONLY $10,000 OF THE $112,965,000 GENERATED. VERY LIKELY FROM WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE MOON FESTIVAL, BECAUSE C BECAUSE MAYOR RU HAS OBSTRUCTED ANY EFFORT TO HAVE CAWC COME AND PRESENT REAL DOCUMENTS, REAL FACTS. BUT YOU WILL SEE, AGAIN, MISLEADING, A MISLEADING EFFORT AND A JAMALI REPORT LEAVING PURPOSELY LEAVING THIS INFORMATION OUT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT THE REPORT TO BE TRUTHFUL. THEY WANTED IT TO BE BIASED. ONE-SIDED MISMATCH PRESENTATION VERSUS THE IRS, THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT VERSUS TOTAL EXPENSES. ON ONE END, IT SAYS 37 856. WELL, THE OTHER IS BEING REPORTED AS 99,081. WHAT IS IT? IS WHAT, WHAT IS IT? IS WHAT YOU PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC HERE, OR IS IT WHAT YOU TOLD THE IRS ON A UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY? AS YOU SEE, I DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT I HAVE EXAMINED THIS REPORT, INCLUDING ACCOMPLISHING DOCUMENTS AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF, THE CONTENT IS TRUE, CORRECT AND COMPLETE. AND I AM AUTHORIZED TO SIGN, AND IT'S SIGNED BY HELEN S RU CF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, DATED OCTOBER 21ST, 2025, WHO'S ALSO THE WIFE OF COUNCIL MEMBER TONY WU, THE MS CALCIFIC OF EXPENSES HIGHLIGHTED. ITEMS YOU HAVE EVENT RENTALS, SECURITY, RESTROOMS, PROMOTIONS AND EQUIPMENT. THESE ARE OPERATIONAL, NOT COMMUNITY DONATIONS. WHY THIS MATTERS. THE P THE PUBLIC MAY BE MISLED. FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY CONCERNS, POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS AND THE LACK OF OVERSIGHT. THE FINAL QUESTION, IF THE NUMBERS DON'T MATCH, WHAT ELSE ISN'T BEING DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC? THE 2025 SUPER MOON FESTIVAL SPONSORSHIP PACKET, AS YOU SEE YOUR SPONSORSHIP STATE OF PLATINUM SPONSOR, $5,000 PLUS GOLD SPONSOR, 2,500 PLUS SILVER SPONSOR, 1000 PLUS BRONZE SPONSOR 500 PLUS. AND THEN ON THE BOTTOM OF THAT DOCUMENT, IT STATES, WE ARE IN 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. ALL DONATIONS AD SPACE AND PROCEEDS WILL BE USED TOWARD ORGANIZING COMMUNITY EVENTS IN WEST COVINA. RECEIPT AVAILABLE UPON REQUESTS MISLEADING THE IRS FORMS BECAUSE THEIR IRS FORMS DOESN'T MATCH THAT STATEMENT. AND AS YOU SEE, THEIR LOGO IS BEING USED WITH THE TAXPAYER'S LOGO, THE OFFICIAL LOGO FOR THE CITY OF VEO. THEN WE HAVE THE WHISTLEBLOWER FROM BBKI TOOK A PHONE CALL, ACTUALLY, I TOOK A MEETING WITH THE ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTURE FOR BBK ARCHITECTS WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING FIRE STATION ONE. AND I TOLD BBK, UH, MR. KELLY, I SAID, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IF I CAN ADD MY CONSOLE COLLEAGUE, MAYOR PRO CONTOS TO THIS CONVERSATION AND JOIN HIM IN, BY, BY PHONE CONFERENCE. AND HE SAID, YES, PLEASE DO. AND SO MYSELF AND, AND MAYOR PRO CONTOS HAD A MEETING WITH MR. KELLY HAM. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MR. HAM GIVES IS A, IS A EMAIL TO ME AND IT SAYS, WC WEST FIRE STATION ONE TIMELINE. IT SEES AHMAD AS REQUESTED. HERE IS A TIMELINE OF EVENTS. AHAD IS REPRESENTING TRANSTECH. AND ONE OF THE NOTES I WROTE, I JOTTED DOWN WAS ON JULY 20, 20, 25, SUNDAY NIGHT. ROBERT ORTEGA CALLS CALLIE [02:55:01] E THE EVENING ABOUT 5:00 PM ISH SAYING THE MAYOR WANTS TO MEET WITH MEET RIGHT AWAY. THE MAYOR WANTS TO MEET RIGHT AWAY. AND AT THAT TIME, THE MAYOR WAS TONY WU, WE MOVE ON. AND, AND ANOTHER NOTE THAT WAS WRITTEN, JOTTED DOWN FROM CALI, WAS MET WITH TONY THOMAS. HE, SO HE HAD A MEETING WITH TONY, THE THOMAS DOHERTY, THE CITY ATTORNEY, MIKE BROWN, THE ACTIVE FIRE CHIEF AND ROBERT TEGA AND OTHERS. AND YOU SEE IT'S LISTED ON HERE, REVIEW MEETING WITH CITY AND MAYOR ON JULY 23RD. WE MOVE ON. AND SOME OF THE NOTES I JOTTED DOWN FROM OUR CONVERSATION AND CALL AND, AND IN-PERSON MEETING WAS AUGUST 19, COUNCIL MEETING IN AUGUST. ROBERT TEGA SENDS AN EMAIL TO BRUCE NOT TO MEET WITH COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ UNTIL, UH, OR NOT AT ALL ON JULY 23RD, 2025. HAVE YOU EVER MET WITH TONY BEFORE CHIEF BROWN TOLD KELLY AND, AND, AND, UH, BRUCE AND BRUCE AND KELLY TELL BROWN, NO. AND, AND CHIEF BROWN STATES, SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE WARNED YOU, WE MOVE ON. AHAD TRANSECT CALLS KELLY ON JULY OF 2025 AND STATES, YOU NEED TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT THE MAYOR SAYS. THEN HE ASKED KELLY FOR A LIST OF MEETINGS OF WORK DONE. AHAD SAID HE'S TRYING TO HELP HIM. HE'S TRYING TO HELP HIM BY TELLING THE CONTRACTOR, YOU BETTER LISTEN TO MAYOR TONY WU. AND AS YOU SEE MAYOR WU AND TRANSIT TO GO ON A RETALIATORY SPREE AND DEMANDED LISTS OF ACTIONS BEING TAKEN. WELL, AS AS ALWAYS, IF YOU EVER SPEAK UP ABOUT MAYOR WU, YOU GET RETALIATED PRETTY FAST. AND AS YOU SEE, HERE'S A LETTER FROM MIAMI MORRIDGE DIRECTING NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF SERVICES, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR DESIGN SERVICES FOR NEW FIRE STATION ONE. DEAR MR. HAM, THE LETTER SERVES AS A, AS A CITY OF WESTFIELD NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH BBK ARCHITECT DATED NOVEMBER 1ST, 2024 FOR DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE NEW FIRE STATION. ONE SECTION 4.2 OF THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES THE CITY'S RESERVES AND HAS THE RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE OF CONCEALING, SUSPENDING, OR ABANDONING THE EXECUTION OF ALL OR ANY PART OF THE WORK ATTEMPTED FOR THIS AGREEMENT WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE AT ANY TIME BY PROVIDING AT LEAST 15 DAYS PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE TO CONSULTANT. AS YOU ARE AWARE, AT THE OCTOBER 7TH, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR FIRE STATION ONE, WHICH EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT DUE TO FUNDING CONSTRAINTS. THE CITY IS PLACING THE FIRE STATION ONE PROJECT ON HOLD, THEREFORE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 4.2 OF THE AGREEMENT, THE CITY IS SUSPENDING ALL SERVICES UNDER THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT CONSISTENT WITH SECTION 4.2 OF THE AGREEMENT. BBK SHALL CEASE PROVIDING SERVICES UNDER THEIR AGREEMENT AND SHALL NOT ACCUR ANY ADDITIONAL OBLIGATIONS THE COSTS OR EXPENSES UNDER THEIR AGREEMENT UNTIL THE CITY GIVES BBK RENT NOTICE TO RECO RECON RECOMMEND, SORRY, RECOMMENDS THE SERVICES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH BBK ONCE THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. WELL, AFTER THIS, THIS, THIS DOCUMENT, BBK KNEW IT KNEW BBK KNEW THAT HE HAD TO SPEAK THE TRUTH, AND THE PERSON THEY CALLED WAS ME TO TELL ME WHAT WILLY HAPPENED. AND WE ADDED AND EVENTUALLY MAYOR PRO CONTOS JOINED BY A CALL. AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS MAYOR TONY W ORDERING A CITY CONTRACTOR TO EXPAND THE PROJECT WITHOUT ANY CONS, AUTHORITY, OR APPROVAL FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. AT THE MEETING AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THE DAY THAT THE COUNCIL VOTED TO SUSPEND THIS CONTRACT, WE WERE NEVER TOLD THAT MAYOR RU HAD THE CONTRACTOR DESIGNED TONS OF OTHER DESIGNS FOR THE FIRE STATION. THE COMMUNITY ONLY SAW ONE DESIGN. WELL, TONIGHT YOU'RE GONNA GET TO SEE THE OTHER DESIGNS THAT WERE PURPOSELY LEFT OUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE FACTS WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL. RULE ORDERS BBK TO KEEP MAKING FIRE STATION BIGGER COSTING TAXPAYERS MILLIONS. AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU NEVER SEEN THIS ONE BEFORE, BUT THAT IS NUMBER DESIGN. NUMBER ONE. AS YOU SEE, IT'S MORE COST EFFICIENT. OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW. THEY LIVE IN A FACILITY THAT'S UNMANAGEABLE THAT VIOLATES COW OSHA STANDARDS. BUT WE DON'T CARE. WE SHOULD BE CARING AND WE SHOULD BE TAKING ACTION ON BUILDING A FIRE STATION THAT'S COST EFFICIENT FOR THEM TO LIVE IN AND OPERATE FROM. [03:00:03] I WANNA MAKE VERY CLEAR, WHEN I, WHEN I REFERENCED CONSOLE, UH, YOU COULD SUBTRACT MAYOR PROTE CONTOS 'CAUSE I'M NOT REFERRING TO HIM . AND SO WE MOVE ON AND YOU SEE THERE'S DESIGN 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. LADIES, GENTLEMEN, YOU NEVER SEEN THESE BEFORE. AND THE JAMALI REPORT PURPOSELY LEAVES OUT THESE FACTS BECAUSE THE LAST THING THEY WANTED WAS TO SHOW THAT LOPEZ ELLO AND WOO WERE ENGAGED ALSO IN A CONDUCT THAT WAS QUESTIONABLE. GOD FORBID IF JAMAL WANTED TO WRITE A REPORT SAYING BRIAN GUTIERREZ WAS DOING HIS JOB THAT HE WAS ELECTED TO DO TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY, HERE WE GO. OTHER, THE OTHER DESIGNS THAT THE PUBLIC HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND THE PUBLIC WAS NOT EVEN TOLD ABOUT THEM. IT WAS SECRETLY DONE AND THE TAXPAYERS WERE PAYING FOR IT. HERE'S DESIGN NUMBER SEVEN. SORRY YOU DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T FINISH YET. HERE'S DESIGN NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS I BELIEVE THE FINAL DESIGN IN THIS DESIGN, WHICH EXPANDS THE FIRE STATION DRASTICALLY. IT, IT, IT FLATTENS THE WHOLE HILLSIDE, TAKING AWAY TONS OF GREEN SPACE AND GREENERY AND TECHNICALLY BILLING A, A MANSION THAT CAN NEVER BE AFFORDED BY THE TAXPAYERS. WE MOVE ON. NOW, IF YOU WANNA KNOW WHY LET MAYOR LOPEZ REALDO FIGHT SO HARD AND THEY'RE A TEAM AND THEY NEVER BREAK PROTOCOL AND THEY ALWAYS FIGHT FOR EACH OTHER. WELL, IT'S BECAUSE MAYOR WU GAVE COUNCIL MEMBER WU GAVE MAYOR LOPEZ VIDO TWO MORTGAGE LOANS FROM HIS REAL ESTATE COMPANY. YOU SEE SUPREME FUNDING AND THE LOANS ISSUE TO MAYOR LOPEZ VIDO. THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T BREAK. THEY DON'T BREAK PROTOCOL. THAT'S WHY SHE, SHE FIGHTS BACK. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CHINESE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, THIS IS WHY SHE FIGHTS BACK. WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT OVERSIGHT ABOUT CAWC, WE MOVE ON. LOPEZ SENDS ME A TEXT MESSAGE. YOUR REQUEST FOR NONPROFIT IS A BIT TOO MUCH. NOT HAPPY WITH IT. RIGHT NOW I'M RUNNING AROUND PICKING UP ITEMS FOR OUR FESTIVAL, SO NOT ABLE TO DISCUSS RIGHT NOW YOU, BUT I'M LETTING YOU KNOW IT'S CAUSING MORE OF A UNNECESSARY HEADACHE. I RESPOND BACK TO MAYOR LOPEZ VIRO AND I SAID, HI LETTI. I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE BUSY WITH FILM. IT PREPARATIONS, JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS ISN'T A PERSONAL REQUEST FROM ME. IT'S A CONSULT ACTION THAT WAS VOTED ON AND PASSED WHEN YOUR WITH YOUR SUPPORT AT THE TIME. AND IT INCLUDED A DEADLINE. CITY STAFF IS ASSURING IT'S ON THE NEXT MEETING AGENDA AS DIRECTED BY THE COUNCIL VOTE. THIS IS SIMPLY PART OF FOLLOWING THROUGH ON A DECISION WE ALL MADE TO MAINTAIN TRANSPARENCY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. LOPEZ LOPEZ FIDO'S RESPONSE. WE NEVER REQUESTED THIS DE WE NEVER REQUESTED THIS DETAILED INFO. AND YES, THIS ORIGINATED FROM YOU AND WE SUPPORTED YOU FOR A GENERAL ONE, BUT NOT LIKE THIS. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE APPROVED. AS YOU SEE FILM, WESTS COVINA GOES IN A, A JUNCTION TOGETHER WITH CAWC NOT TO PRODUCE THE DOCUMENTS THAT TAXPAYERS REQUESTED ON BEHALF OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ELECTED THEM TO OFFICE. WE MOVE ON. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, UM, BY OUR ACTING CITY MANAGER, WHICH AGAIN, THE JAMALI REPORT OMITS THIS INFORMATION COMPLETELY DOES NOT MENTION IT AT ALL. BUT MR. RACKAGE BRINGS TO MY ATTENTION THAT LOPEZ VIDO MAY HAVE BEEN GIVEN PERMITS THAT WERE INCONSISTENT WITH THE RECORDS THAT DURING THE TIME THAT SHE RECEIVED TWO MORTGAGE LOANS FROM TONY W'S FINANCIAL COMPANY, THAT THERE WAS INCONSISTENCIES IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS. WE MOVE ON. LOPEZ REALDO CLAIMS TO FPPC AND OTHERS THAT SHE HAS NO CONTROL OF FILM MIDWEST COVINA. WELL, HER TAX DOCUMENTS SHOW THAT SHE IS LETTI LOPEZ VIDO. I HEREBY DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT I HAVE EXECUTED THIS REPORT INCLUDING ACCOMPLISHING DOCUMENTS AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE ON BEHALF THE CONTENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT AND COMPLETE. AND I AM AUTHORIZED TO SIGN SIGNED BY LETTI LOPEZ. SHE SIGNS IT TYPES IT. TITLE PRESIDENT [03:05:01] SIGNS IT ON MAY 25TH, 2025. AGAIN, UH, YOU JUST HEARD HER EARLIER IN IN THE YEAR SAYING SHE HAD, SHE GAVE IT UP. BUT ACCORDING TO LEGAL DOCUMENTS, SHE'S STILL ATORY AND PRESIDENT OF FILM AT WEST COVINA. WE MOVE ON. THIS IS AN EMAIL THAT JAM, SO THE JAMALI REPORT PURPOSELY LEAVES OUT ALL THE OTHER EVIDENCE YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT AND THE BOTTOM. ALL YOU SAW WAS THE TOP LEFT. AND THIS IS AN EMAIL THAT LOPEZ VIDOS POLITES PROVIDES TO JAMAL AND SAYS, HI, MS. VANESSA GERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EMAIL AND FOR SHARING THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT. MR. GUTIERREZ CONTINUES TO MAKE UNFOUNDING ACCUSATIONS AND FALSE CLAIMS AGAINST ME. I HAVE ALWAYS CONDUCTED MY ACTIVITIES WITH FOOD TRANSPARENCY AND OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC. AND THIS LATEST PON CORRESPONDENCE, MR. GUTIERREZ INCLUDED A COPY OF MY PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST TO THE CITY REGARDING A NONPROFIT. GIVEN HIS REPEATED ALLEGATIONS SUCH AS CLAIMS THAT FULFILLMENT MISSED MULTIPLE DEADLINES AND OTHER MISLEADING, MISLEADING STATEMENTS HE SUBMITTED TO FPPC, I FOUND IT WAS NECESSARY TO INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF HIS INFORMATION. MY FINDINGS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE THAT HIS CLAIMS ARE BASELESS AND INACCURATE. HIS COMPLAINT TO THE FPPC INCLUDES STATEMENTS THAT ARE SIMPLY UNTRUE AND LACK FACTUAL SUPPORT. REGARDING HIS ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT, I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT NO CITY FUNDS WERE PROVIDED TO FILM IT. FURTHERMORE, NO FUNDS FROM THE CARNIVAL FUNDRAISER WERE ISSUED TO FILM IT. SHOULD YOU NEED CLEAR VERIFICATION ON THIS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT BLANK DIRECTLY. NOW, WHAT I WANNA KNOW AND MAYBE THE CITY ATTORNEYS WILLING TO ANSWER, I AM HOPING THAT THAT BLACKOUT IS NOT THAT YOU COULD CALL THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR CLARIFICATION AND HOPEFULLY HE'LL, HE'LL CONFIRM THAT LATER TODAY THAT THAT'S NOT HIM. BEHIND THAT BLACKOUT. MR. GUTIERREZ COMPLAINT, COMPLAINTS APPEAR INCONSISTENT AND LACK CLARITY. IF I EVER OVERLOOK ANYTHING OR IF YOU REQUIRE FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW. I'M ALSO MORE THAN WILLING TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER IN A GREATER DETAIL. ALSO AS A SIGN NOTE, THERE APPEAR TO BE SEVERAL FPPC VIOLATIONS ON HIS PART THAT MAY WARRANT REVIEW. AND WE SEE CONSENT CALENDAR ACTION MOTION BY MAYOR PROTON, TONY WU AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN LOPEZ. VITO AT THE TIME CARRIED FOUR ZERO WITH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SHOEMAKER SAYING NO TO APPROVE CONSENT. CALENDAR ITEMS FOUR AN EIGHT AND EIGHT IS THE ONE AT QUESTION. AND YOU SEE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON AUGUST 20TH, 2019. THE STAFF REPORT CONSIDERATION OF RATIFICATION OF AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE IN CONNECTION WITH THE RESTING OF CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION DINNER, THE CENTENNIAL SPRING FESTIVAL AND THE 2023 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION. NOW IF WE BELIEVE IN, IN IN ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY, YOU WOULD'VE SAW THESE IN THREE SEPARATE ITEMS. BUT WE BUT AT THAT TIME, I BELIEVE THEY WANTED TO COME PACK IT SO THE PUBLIC COULD LOSE THE MAIN FOCUS OF, OF WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. AND IT STATES, SECTION E STATES DONATION A CITY PORTION OF PROCEEDS FROM REVENUES FROM CENTENNIAL SPRING FESTIVAL, CARNIVAL RIGHTS TOTALING $2,223 AND 90 CENTS TO FILM IT WEST COVINA. THIS DONATION SERVES THE PUBLIC PURPOSE AND BENEFIT OF CONTRIBUTING TO A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE FILMMAKING AND TO SHOWCASE AT FILM FESTIVALS AT NO COST. AND WE MOVE ON. IT SEES THE AGREEMENT WITH PAUL MERR. DBA PAUL MER SHOWS PROVIDES CARNIVAL SERVICES FOR THE 2023 SPRING FESTIVAL DID NOT REQUIRE DIRECT PAYMENT FROM THE CITY. HOWEVER, THE CITY'S PURCHASING PROCEDURES REQUIRE SERVICES WITH A VALUE BETWEEN 60,000 AND 200,000 TO FOLLOW INFORMAL BIDDING PROCEDURES. THOUGH THE AGREEMENT THE VENDOR WAS ABLE TO GENERATE REVENUE THROUGH AND OPERATING RIDES AND GAMES, PAUL MER SHOWS THAT GENERATED 64,000 $126 IN GROSS REVENUES FROM RIDE SALES. PURSUANT TO THE CITY'S AGREEMENT WHERE PALMER SHOWS THAT PALMER SHOWS GENERATED BETWEEN 50,001 AND 75,000 IN GROSS REVENUE FROM RIDE SALES, PALMER SHOWS SHALL WOULD DONATE 15% OF SUCH REVENUES TO FILM IT. WEST COVINA, BASED ON THE GROSS REVENUES FROM RIDES, PALMER SHOWS WILL DONATE $2,223 AND 90 CENTS TO FILM IT. WEST COVINA LEGAL REVIEW, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS REVIEWED THIS REPORT PREPARED BY ROXANNE LMA, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICES. THE TICKET IS, AND IT SAYS, AND WE MOVE ON TO AND WITHIN THE SAME CATEGORY, IT SAYS TICKET SALES, TICKET SALE REVENUE. IF GROSS REVENUES FROM [03:10:01] TICKET SALES FOR AMUSEMENT RIGHTS TOTALS BETWEEN 50,001 AND 75,000, OPPER WILL PROVIDE FAMILY WEST WITH 15% OF THE GROSS REVENUE FROM SUCH SALES. IF GROSS REVENUES FROM TICKET SALES FOR AMUSEMENT RIGHTS TOTAL 75,001 OR MORE CONY OP WILL PROVIDE FILMING WEST VENA WITH 20% OF THE GROSS REVENUES FROM THE SUCH SALES. THE CONY OP OPERA WILL PROVIDE AL AND COMPLETE SETTLEMENT FROM THE TOTAL RIGHTS GROSS REVENUES TO THE CITY ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, 2023. WITHIN 45 MINUTES AFTER THE CLOSING OF ALL RIGHTS, THE PARTIES WILL MEET AT, IN THE CARNIVAL OFFICE WITH SUCH SETTLEMENT DURING SUCH MEANING THE ARY OPERATOR SHALL PROVIDE CITY FILM AT WEST COVINA SHARE IF ANY OF THE RIGHTS GROSS REVENUES BY ISSUING A CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO FILM IT. WEST COVINA THE CITY WILL TRANSMIT SUCH CHECK TO FILM IT. WEST COVINA. WE MOVE, WE MOVE ON. HERE'S AN EMAIL FROM SUSIE PEREZ AND IT CCS UH, A MEMBER OF TONY WS STAFF AND INCLUDES MAYOR LOPEZ VITO AND A FILM IT EMAIL AND IT STATES SUBJECT FILM IT SPONSORS AND EXPENSES. IT SAYS, HI SUSIE. BELOW IS THE INFORMATION YOU REQUESTED FROM FILMING WEST VENA. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. 2025 FILM IT SPONSORS AND EXPENSES FILLMENT SPONSORS IS 19,500 FILLMENT EXPENSES IS $18,964 AND 11 CENTS. AS FOR EXPENSES GO HERE IS A SHORT EXPLANATION OF WHAT WE SPEND ON FUNDS SHOULD THAT BECOME A QUESTION. THE DATA EVENT COSTS SOUND LIKE, UH, EQUIPMENT, DATA, FACILITY INSURANCE, INSURANCE ADVERTISING, PROPS, THE CORE RENTALS INDUSTRY EXPERT GUEST SPEAKER COSTS, STUDENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, STUDENT CASH PRICES AND TOP SCOOP PARTICIPATION, DONATION, SPONSORSHIP PACKAGE BENEFITS, STUDENT PARTICIPATION, ITEMS BASED COSTS. THANK YOU SUSIE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. SO OFF THE AUDIT REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL PASS, THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT FILAMENT WEST VENA GAVE TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. THIS IS THE ONLY DOCUMENT THEY PRODUCE FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. NO TAX DOCUMENTS, NO NOTHING, JUST AN EMAIL WHERE YOU MOVE ON. THIS THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT. IT'S BEEN PURPOSELY LEFT OUT. SO IT HAS BEEN ELECTRONICALLY FILED BY THE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ON MARCH 2ND, 2026 AT 11:02 PM BY THE SECOND CLERK OF THE COURT. AND IT SAYS VINCENT A CAPELLI PLAINTIFF VERSUS THE CITY OF WEST AND DOES 1 2 50 INCLUSIVE DEFENDANTS. VINCENT CAPELLI, FORMER FIRE CHIEF OF THE CITY OF WEST GREEN LAST WEEK FILED A LAWSUIT AND YOU SEE IT ON CLOSED SESSION THIS WEEK. SO I GUESS WE'RE KEEPING IT HUSH HUSH RIGHT NOW 'CAUSE THEY WANNA CENSOR ME AND I THINK THE LAST THING THEY WANT IS FOR TONY R TO BE CENSORED AND GOD FORBID IF THEY EVER DO THAT. BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE HIDING THAT FROM YOU RIGHT NOW FROM THE PUBLIC. AND SO WE MOVE ON. IT IS FACTS APPLICABLE TO ALL CAUSE OF ACTION IN OR AROUND NOVEMBER 20TH, 2017. CAPELLI WAS HIRED BY THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, THE CITY AS THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF FOR THE WEST VENA FIRE DEPARTMENT. IN OR AROUND SEPTEMBER, 2019, CAPELLI WAS PROMOTED TO THE POSITION OF CHIEF OF THE DEPARTMENT. 11. BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY SEPTEMBER OF 2019 AND JUNE OF 2020, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TONY WU BEGAN BE, BECAME, BEGAN TO MAKE HARASSING COMMENTS TOWARD CAPELLI ON ACCOUNT OF HIS RACE COLOR. ON ONE OCCASION, RU STATED IN A PUBLIC FORM THAT HE WILL SPIN CAPELLI IF HE DID NOT LOWER OVERTIME USED BY HIS EMPLOYEES. RU WILL NOT TALK THAT WAY TOWARD PEOPLE OF COLOR. CAPELLI REASONABLY BELIEVED THAT SUCH CONDUCT AMOUNTED TO UNLAWFUL HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE AND STATISTICALLY ENGAGED IN PROTECTED ACTIVITY BY REPORTING THE HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATORY COMMENT TO HIS SUPERIOR AT THE TIME, WHICH WAS THE CITY MANAGER. AND AGAIN, GOD FORBID YOU NEVER SEE THAT ON THE JUVENILE REPORT. 'CAUSE YEAH, WE DON'T WANT THAT. WE DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE MOVE ON IN THE LAWSUIT. IT SAYS IN OR AROUND JULY OF 2020 WHO BEGIN THREAT WILL BE AGAIN THREATENING CAPELLI BASED ON HIS RACE AND COLOR TO UNLAWFULLY WITHHOLD FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES. WHO TOLD CAPELLI THAT IF HE, THAT IF THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION BACK CANDIDATE COLLEEN ROSATI, WHO WILL WITHHOLD FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES FOR CAPELLI'S DEPARTMENT WHO ALSO THREATENED TO WITHHOLD FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES IF CAPELLI DID NOT REDUCE THE OVERTIME WORK BY HIS FIREFIGHTERS, CAPELLI BELIEVING THE [03:15:01] THREATS FROM RULE WERE VIOLATIONS OF LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL RULES OR REGULATIONS REPORTED THE INFORMATION TO CITY THE CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME, CAPAL HAD REASONABLY CAUSED TO BELIEVE THAT THE INFORMATION HE DISCLOSED WITH A VIOLATION OF STATE AND FEDERAL STATUTE OR VIOLATION OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH A LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL RULE REGULATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, EXTORTION, HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION, FRAUD, PUBLIC CORRUPTION OR OTHER VIOLATIONS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 3 2 0 4 12 9 40 ET PANEL CODE SECTIONS 5 1 8 AND THEN ON THE LAWSUIT GOES ON AND SAYS, IN OR AROUND JULY, 2021, CAPELLI ALSO REPORTED TO CITY MANAGER THAT HIS WORKING CONDITIONS WERE HOSTILE, UNHEALTHY, RETALIATORY, STRESSFUL BECAUSE OF RULES UNLAWFUL TREATMENT. CAPELLI REASONABLY BELIEVED THAT THE INFORMATION HE DISCLOSED TO CARNY AMOUNTED TO UNLAWFUL HARASSMENT OR HOSTILE WORKING ENVIRONMENT THAT SAME DAY. IN RETALIATION FOR HIS PROTECTED ACTIVITY, CAPELLI RECEIVED A NEGATIVE INVALIDATION. THE NEGATIVE INVALIDATION WAS ISSUED WITHOUT ANY VALID JUSTIFICATION FOR THE POOR RATINGS. CAPAL WAS THEN THREATENING THAT IF HE CONTINUED TO REPORT UNLAWFUL CONDUCT OR IF HE FILED A WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIM FOR STRESS, HE WILL LOSE HIS JOB. NOW LET'S REMEMBER WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. AH, I'M BEING CENSORED FOR SPEAKING UP. SO, OH, I GUESS IT'S THE SAME THING HERE. SO 16 FROM 2020 TO 2024 CAPELLI WILL REPEATEDLY REQUEST ADDITIONAL STAFFING AND WILL BE SUBJECTED TO MORE THREATS AND HARASSMENT FROM WOO, WHO WILL REGULARLY USE FOUL LANGUAGE TOWARD CAPELLI AND MAKE THE SAME THREAT ABOUT SUPPORTING OTHER CANDIDATES INE IN OR AROUND APRIL, 2022, RU HARASSED AND RETALIATED AGAINST CAPELLI BY CALLING AND CHRISTINA HIM BECAUSE CAPELLI TOOK A PICTURE WHEN ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT CAPELLI TOOK THE PHOTOGRAPH WHILE HE WAS OFF DUTY 18 IN OR AROUND APRIL, 2022, RU HARASSED AND RETALIATED AGAINST CAPELLI BY YELLING AT CAPELLI AT THE END OF A BATCH PENNY CEREMONY WHERE CAPELLI'S PEERS, SUBORDINATES, AND COMMUNITY MA MEMBERS WERE PRESENT AT THE EVENT. RU YELLED, CHIEF, WHAT THE F**K IS YOUR PROBLEM? AFTER CAPELLI WALKED OUTSIDE, WU CONTINUED TO YELL AND CURSE AT HIM. THIS OCCURRED IN THE PRESENCE OF CITY MANAGER, OTHER CITY STAFF AT DIGNITARIES CAPELLI'S FAMILY AS WU WAS CURSING CAPELLI, PLEADING WITH CITY MANAGER TO INTERVENE AND PROTECT HIM FROM THE ABUSE. HOWEVER, THE CITY MANAGER STOOD THERE WATCHING AND DID NOT INTERVENE. NOW, I CAN'T SAY BECAUSE OF OUR CURRENT ACTING CITY MANAGER, THERE'S ACTUALLY A MEMO THAT THAT CITY MANAGER DID THAT TALKED ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND THE WITNESSES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WITNESS 19 IN OR AROUND OCTOBER, 2022. BUT I'M NOT GONNA PUT THIS UP, THE WITNESS, THE, THE FORMER CITY MANAGER'S STATEMENT UP HERE, BECAUSE IT LISTED MULTIPLE WITNESS WITNESSES WHO REPORTED THE CONDUCT TO HIM AS RAO. SO THERE IS A MEMO THAT EXISTS IN THE CITY'S POSSESSION AFTER CAPELLI WALKED OUTSIDE, WE'LL CONTINUE TO, OKAY, SO, UH, IN OR AROUND OCTOBER, 2022, BELIEVING THAT HE WILL BE SUBJECT TO UNLAWFUL HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION. CAP DRAFT A MEMORANDUM TO CITY MANAGER CARNY REPORTING SOME OF THE UNLAWFUL HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION. CAPELLI ALSO PROVIDED A COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. CAPELLI'S MEMORANDUM OUTLINED THE ABOVE DESCRIBED CONDUCT AND ADDITIONAL UNLAWFUL RETALIATORY CONDUCT, SUCH AS NOT PROVIDING CAPELLI A NEW VEHICLE, LIKE OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS, FAILING TO INVESTIGATE OTHER REPORTS OF HARASSMENT AND NOT ALLOWING HIM TO HAVE SUFFICIENT STAFF WHILE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS WERE GROWING IN PERSONNEL. 20 IN OR AROUND MID 2023, CAPELLI MET WITH, WITH THE NEW ACTING CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME, CAPELLI BROUGHT MORALE BROUGHT UP, BROUGHT THE ACTING CITY MANAGER UP TO SPEED ON THE HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION. HE HAD BEEN SUFFERING, HOPING THAT SHE WILL TAKE PROACTIVE STEPS TO KEEP HIM SAFE IN THE WORKPLACE. 2021, I'M SORRY, TAB 21. IN OR AROUND JULY OF 2024, CAPELLI MET WITH DENSITY MANAGER TO REPORT. CAPELLI REPORTED TO HER THAT W HAD INSTRUCTED CAPELLI TO APPROVE FIRE BUILDING PERMITS FOR SEVERAL BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY. CAPELLI REPORTED THAT WU HAD INSTRUCTED HIM TO APPROVE PLANS FOR THE BUSINESS EVEN [03:20:01] IF THEY WERE NOT IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE CODES. CAPELLI TOLD THE CITY MANAGER THAT HE WAS UNWILLING TO COMMIT SUCH FRAUD. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU'RE SEEING FIRSTHAND WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON AT CITY HALL BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY. CAPELLI REPORTED THAT WU HAD INSTRUCTED HIM TO APPROVE PLANS FOR THE BUSINESS EVEN IF THEY WERE NOT IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE CODES. CAPELLI TOLD MORALES THAT HE WAS UNWILLING TO COMMIT SUCH FRAUD. CAPELLI HAD REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH CONDUCT WAS A VIOLATION OF STATE OR FEDERAL STATUTE OR A VIOLATION OF NONCOMPLIANCE WITH A LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL RULE REGULATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO EXTORTION, HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION, FRAUD, PUBLIC CORRUPTION, OR OTHER VIOLATIONS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO. GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 20 90 40 IT SQUARE RENTAL CODE SECTIONS 5 1 8 AND 5 3 2. CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS 19 IT IN 23, TAB 23 IN OR AROUND OCTOBER, 2024, CAPAL LEARN THAT CITY MANAGER AND HER STAFF HAVE PRESSURED OTHER FIRE PERSONNEL TO APPROVE INSPECTIONS THAT WERE NOT UP TO CODE. CAPELLI OPPOSE HIS UNLAWFUL CONDUCT TO MORALES, SORRY AND REFUSED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONDUCT BECAUSE IF WE VIOLATE THE LAW, THE CITY MANAGER REASONABLY BELIEVED THAT CAPELLI WILL REPORT HER UNLAWFUL CONDUCT TO OTHERS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT 24 TAB DURING NUMEROUS TIMES DURING HIS EMPLOYMENT, CAPELLI ALSO REPORTED TO DEFENDANT THAT VARIOUS FIRE STATIONS WERE IN VIOLATION OF KA OSHA STATUTES. SUCH REPORTS INCLUDED, BUT NOT LIMITED TO FIRE STATION ONE THAT NEEDED TO BE CLOSED DUE TO UNSAFE CONDITIONS. FIRE STATION THREE HAD A ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION, UNSAFE SLEEPING QUARTERS, NO INGRESS, AND A LEAKING ROOF THAT CONTAINED MODE FIRE STATION FOUR HAD ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION, UNSAFE SLEEPING QUARTERS, NO INGRESS OPEN WALLS. FIRE STATION FIVE HAD ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION, UNSAFE SLEEPING CORDS AND NO INGRESS, A LEAKING ROOF, AND POTENTIAL MODE 25. THE TAB CAPAL ALSO REPORTED UNSAFE VEHICLE EXHAUST SYSTEMS TO THE DEFENDANT IN OR AROUND NOVEMBER, 2024. IN RETALIATION FOR REPORTS OF UNLAWFUL CONDUCT OR IN ANTICIPATION OF HIS EFFORT, REPORT OF UNLAWFUL CONDUCT, CITY MANAGER ISSUED CAPELLI AND NOTICE INDICATING THAT HIS EMPLOYMENT WILL BE TERMINATED. THE CITY MANAGER INDICATED THAT CAPELLI HAD ONE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN APPEAL IN ANTICIPATION FOR THE APPEAL. CAPELLI REQUESTED DOCUMENTS RELATED TO TERMINATION. HOWEVER, IN CONTINUED RETALIATION, THE CITY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY RELEVANT DOCUMENTS AND IN OR AROUND MARCH OF 2025 IN RETALIATION FOR HIS PROTECTED ACTIVITY, THE CITY MANAGER TERMINATED CAPELLI FROM HIS EMPLOYMENT. AND WHAT YOU DON'T SEE IN THERE, THAT WAS IN A CITY MANAGER WEEKLY MEETING ON, ON A TUESDAY, I BELIEVE, AND IT WAS MYSELF, CITY ATTORNEY THOMAS DOHERTY, THE CITY MANAGER AT THAT TIME, AND MAYOR TONY WU. AND TONY WU TELLS THE CITY MANAGER, I WANT YOU TO FIRE CAPELLI. I TOLD YOU, FIRE CAPELLI. AND WITHIN DAYS LATER, VINCENT CAPELLI WAS FIRED. THIS IS NOT JUST CAPELLI MAKING THESE ALLEGATIONS. WE HAD A JURY WHO CONCURRED WHAT THE FACTS OF MAYOR ABOUT MAYOR W'S CONDUCT WHITHORN VERSUS THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. THE COURT OF APPEAL OF CALIFORNIA SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION EIGHT, JULY 9TH, 2025, OPINION FILED LARRY WHITHORN, PLAINTIFF AND RESPONDENT VERSUS THE CITY OF WEST CO DEFENDANT AND APPELLANT. WHITHORN WAS HIRED BY THE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN HE WAS 21 YEARS OLD. OVER THE NEXT 28 YEARS, HE WORKED AS A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC, FIRE ENGINEER, FIRE CAPTAIN, ASSISTANT CHIEF AND CHIEF. IN 2014, HE WAS HIRED AS FIRE CHIEF. AS FIRE CHIEF WHITHORN SUPERVISED THE DEPARTMENT AND STAFF MANAGE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS. IT ACTED AS A LIAISON WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, MAINTAINED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, MADE PRESENTATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND OVERSAW FIRE SUPPRESSION AND FIRE PREVENTION RULE. APPROACHED WHITHORN AT A FIRE PREVENTION OPEN HOUSE, POINTED TO [03:25:01] FORMER MAYOR AND MAYOR LETTI LOPEZ RO, AND SAID, THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR NEW CITY COUNCIL. GET USED TO IT. CHANGE IS COMING. A 2018 CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS RESULTED IN THE ELECTION OF A NEW MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE, THE FORMER MAYOR AT THE TIME, AND MAYOR LOPEZ VIDO, CITY MANAGER. FREELAND VIEWED THIS THEIR ELECTION AS A GIVING COUNCIL MEMBER RULE, A MAJORITY ON THE CITY COUNCIL, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 9TH, 2019. RULE HIMSELF VIEWED IT AS THE SAME AS IN JANUARY, 2019. RULE HIMSELF VIEWED IT THE SAME WAY, TELLING THE NO LOCAL NEWSPAPER THAT HE FINALLY GOT HIS WISH FOR A MAJORITY. SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION, THE FORMER MAYOR AT THE TIME APPROACHED THE CITY MANAGER FREELAND, ABOUT CHANGING THE MUNICIPAL CODE. SO THE CITY COUNCIL, NOT JUST THE CITY MANAGER, HAD A SAY IN HIRING, FIRING DEPARTMENT HEADS. FREELAND, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, NICOLE ANI AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR MACIAS RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND MOST CITIES STAY AWAY FROM HAVING A CITY COUNCIL INVOLVED IN ANY SELECTION OF CITY STAFF OTHER THAN THE CITY MANAGER TO AVOID BRINGING POLITICS OR PERSONAL BELIEFS INTO THE CITY COUNCIL. THEY RECOMMENDED AGAINST IT. AND AT THAT TIME, THE FORMER MAYOR, HE ORDERED THEM TO CHANGE THE RECOMMENDATION, BUT THEY REFUSED, WHICH MADE HIM VERY ANGRY. EARLIER TODAY, YOU SAW THE WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE NEW FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. WELL, TODAY, YOU KNOW WHY THAT HAPPENED? BECAUSE A MAYOR WOO, WANTING REVENGE AND CONTROL OF ALL STAFF UNDER THE CITY MANAGER'S FREENESS CONTRACT, HE COULD BE FIRED WITH OR RIDOUT CAUSED BY A VOTE OF THREE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THE NEW MAJORITY APPROACHED FREELAND IN MARCH OF 2019, AT OR NEAR THE END OF A 90 DAY POST-ELECTION MORATORIUM ON TERMINATION OF THE CITY MANAGER. AND HE TOLD THEM THAT HE, HE COULD EITHER RESIGN OR BE FIRED. HE CHOSE TO RESIGN. COUNCIL MEMBER RU DAN COURAGE TO APPLY FOR THE CITY MANAGER POSITION. DAN CITY MANAGER WAS HIRED AFTER AGREEING IN HIS INTERVIEW THAT HE WAS WILLING TO FIRE A POPULAR DEPARTMENT HEAD WHITHORN OWN TESTIMONY ABOUT HIS EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, ALSO CITED BY THE CITY, SHOWS THAT HE BELIEVED IT WAS RE RELATED TO THE LOSS OF STATUS. WHEN ASKED HOW HE FOUND AFTER BEING FIRED, RED HORN TESTIFIED IT'S PRIDE SWALLOWING. YOU KNOW, BEING THE FIRE CHIEF OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, I CAN'T EVEN GET A FAIR SHOT AT BEING ASSISTANT CHIEF OF A ONE STATION FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY VOLUNTEER. IT'S DEFINITELY HURTS THE EGO. HIS ATTORNEY THEN ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH HIM EMOTIONALLY, AND HE REPLIED, I FELT LIKE I LEFT MY FAMILY DOWN. I WAS DEPRESSED, SAD, LACKING INTEREST IN DOING THINGS. I CAN'T SLEEP FEELING THE LAST WORDS FEELING LIKE A LOSER. UM, IT DIDN'T FIT IN THERE. NONE OF THIS WAS ADDED TO THE ITY REPORT. IT WAS PURPOSELY LEFT OUT. IT WAS PURPOSELY LEFT OUT BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY A, THERE WAS ONLY, UM, ONE IN OF THE MAIN PEOPLE CAUSING THE INTIMIDATION HARASSMENT IS COUNCIL MEMBER TONY WU. HE LEADS THE EFFORT AND THEY FOLLOW HERE. YOU SEE ON THE SAME STATEMENT IT STATES IN, IN, IN THE INTERVIEW, HE WAS WILLING TO FIRE A POPULAR DEPARTMENT HEAD. WELL, I WAS IN THAT MEETING. TONY WU ASKED THE ACTING, OUR CURRENT ACTING CITY MANAGER, MINOR RIDGE, IF HE WAS WILLING TO FIRE OUR HARDWORKING, DEDICATED, PASSIONATE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ROXANNE LMA. IF HE WAS GIVEN THE POSITION, TONY THEN TOLD ME, GO TO MINE'S OFFICE AND RE AND MAKE SURE HE'S TELLING ME THE TRUTH. ASK HIM THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED MINE IN THE SAME QUESTION, WILL YOU BE WILLING TO FIRE ROXANNE IF YOU WERE HIRED AS ACTING CITY MANAGER? AND HE STATED, I WILL DO WHAT IT TAKES. AND THAT'S THE FACT. EVERY PERSON THAT TONY WILL EVER HIRES HAS TO BE WILLING TO DO SOMETHING. AND I WANNA MAKE THE RECORD VERY STRAIGHT THAT ROXANNE IS THE MOST HARDEST WORKING, PASSIONATE EMPLOYEE THAT THE CITY OF WEST VENA HAS AND THE MOST HONEST AND, AND WITHHOLDS THE HIGHEST INTEGRITY. WE MOVE ON. THIS IS ONE OF THE EMAILS I SENT CAPAL, KELLY JAMMAL. AFTER [03:30:01] HER REPORT CAME OUT, I SAID, MS. JAMMAL, I'M WRITING REGARDING TWO SPECIFIC CONCERNS IN YOUR INVESTIGATION REPORT. ONE, THE USE OF AND PRESENTATION OF ATTACHMENT 10 AND TWO, THE DISCLOSURE OF MY A DA ACCOMMODATION ONE, ATTACHMENT 10 CONTEXT OF CHARACTERIZATION ATTACHMENT 10 PRESENTS EXCERPTS OF AN EMAIL EXCHANGE, WHICH CONCERNING PRESENTATION, SCHEDULING AND BIDDING PROCESS INTEGRITY. THE REPORT RELIES ON THIS ATTACHMENT TO SUPPORT A CHARACTERIZATION OF COMMUNICATION AS INTIMIDATING OR THREATENING. HOWEVER, THE UNDERLYING EMAIL EXPLICITLY STATES THAT NO THREATS WERE MADE AND THAT THE COMMUNICATION CONCERN, TRANSPARENCY, AND POTENTIAL MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT COMMUNICATION DIRECTED AT GOVERNANCE AND PROCUREMENT. INTEGRITY. PLEASE CLARIFY. DID YOU REVIEW THE FULL UNEDITED EMAIL CHAIN, INCLUDING ALL EMAILS AND SUBSEQUENT MESSAGES? QUESTION MARK, WHY WERE OWNING SELECTED PORTIONS, INCLUDING IN ATTACHMENT 10? WHO SELECTED THE EXPERTS IN EX EXCERPTS INCLUDED IN THE ATTACHMENT QUESTION? WHAT OBJECTIVE STANDARD WAS APPLIED TO DETERMINE THAT REFERENCING OVERSIGHT AUTHORITIES WERE CONSTITUTIONAL, UH, SORRY, WAR AUTHORITIES CONSTITUTED INTIMIDATION, SELECTED PRESENTATION OF EXPERTS EXCERPTS WITHOUT FULL CONTEXT MATERIALLY AFFECTS THE INTERPRETATION IF THE COMPLETE CHAIN WAS NOT INCLUDED, I REQUEST THAT THE FULL EMAIL CHAIN BE ATTACHED IN ITS ENTIRELY, OR THAT AN ADDENDUM CLARIFIED OR OMITTED CONTEXT. MR. MALL, I'M WRITING REGARDING ATTACHMENT 15 IN THIS SECTION OF THE REPORT, ADDRESSING FPPC RELATED MATTERS INVOLVING COUNCIL MEMBER TONY WU FOR CLARITY, THE ONLY FPPC COMPLAINTS I FILED WHERE FPC COMPLAINT NUMBER COM 0 9 0 6 2 0 2 5 DASH 2 9 60, TONY AND FPC COMPLAINT NUMBER COM 0 9 0 6 2 0 2 5 DASH 0 2 9 6 1 LETICIA LETTI LOPEZ, BOTH MATTERS REMAIN UNDER REVIEW BY THE FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICE COMMISSION. SUBSTANTIAL DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE WERE SUBMITTED WITH THOSE COMPLAINTS. THERE ARE ACTIVE REGULATORY MATTERS CURRENTLY WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE FPPC. YOUR REPORT APPEARS TO CHARACT, CHARACTERIZE OR DRAW CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THOSE FPPC COMPLAINTS. HOWEVER, THE EXISTENCE OF MERITS OF THOSE COMPLAINTS ARE MATTERS EXCLUSIVELY WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE FPPC. AN INTERNAL WORKPLACE INVEST INVESTIGATION IS NOT THE FORM TO EVALUATE, RESOLVE, OR DIMINISH ACTIVE REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS. PLEASE CLARIFY, DID YOU REVIEW THE ACTUAL FPPC COMPLAINT FILINGS OF SUPPORTING EVIDENCE? ON WHAT BASIS DID YOU CHARACTERIZE OR EVALUATE COMPLAINTS THAT WERE CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW BY THE FPC? WHY DOES ATTACHMENT 59 REFLECT THAT THESE MATTERS REMAIN PENDING BEFORE THE APPROPRIATE REGULATORY AUTHORITY? QUESTION MARK. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE REPORT DOES NOT MISCHARACTERIZE ACTIVE REGULATORY COMPLAINTS OR SUGGEST FINDINGS THAT EX EXCEED THE INVESTIGATIVE SCOPE. I REQUEST WRITTEN CLARIFICATION REGARDING THE HANDLING OF ATTACHMENT 15 AND THE BASIS FOR ANY CONCLUSIONS DRAWN CONCERNING ACTIVE FPBC PROCEEDINGS. WELL, MR. MALLEY NEVER RESPONDED. SHE SENT A DIFFERENT EMAIL SAYING THAT SHE WAS NOT WILLING TO CORRECT ANY OF HER REPORT, AND THAT WAS FINAL SUBJECT ATTACHMENT 16 MISCHARACTERIZATION A PROTECTED WHISTLEBLOWER NOTICE. MS. JAMMAL, I'M WRITING REGARDING ATTACHMENT 16, WHICH CONTAINS MY AUGUST 20TH, 2025 EMAIL TO CONST MEMBER ROSARIO DIAZ TITLED CEASE AND ASSIST OF PURSUING REMARKS AND RETALIATION NOTICE OF WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS. AND, AND, AND YOU KNOW, BEFORE I GO ON, WHEN PEOPLE WANNA KNOW, WHY IS BRIAN SENDING CEASE AND DESIST LETTERS? WELL, YOU SAW EARLIER IN THIS PRESENTATION, LOPEZ REALTO SENDING ME A TEXT MESSAGE TELLING ME, WHY DID YOU VOTE THAT WAY? WHY DID YOU DO THAT? HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL AS A PERSON WITH A, WITH A DISABILITY WHO HAS AUTISM THAT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES IS QUESTIONING WHY I I I DID SOMETHING WHILE SHE VOTED FOR IT HERSELF? HERE YOU HAVE A SAME INSTANCE. A ATTACHMENT 60 REFLECTS A FORMAL NOTICE ASSERTING WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS AND ANTI-RETALIATION SAFEGUARDS IN RESPONSE TO CONDUCT, I BELIEVE WAS RETALIATORY. THE COMMUNICATION EXPLICITLY CITES APPLICABLE STATUTES INCLUDING CALIFORNIA LABOR CODE SECTION 1102 0.5 IN FEDERAL FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS. IF YOUR REPORT CHARACTERIZES THIS COMMUNICATION AS INTIMIDATION AND MISCONDUCT, THEN ANALYSIS FAILS TO ADDRESS THE LEGAL CONTEXT OF THE LETTER, THE EMAIL, THE REFERENCE CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE FILINGS PUBLIC RECORDS RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT LOBBYING SURROUNDING OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS, ADDRESSES PERCEIVED RETALIATION FOLLOWING [03:35:01] AN ACCOUNTABILITY VOTE, CITES STATUTORY WHISTLEBLOWER AND ANTI-RETALIATION PROTECTIONS, RESERVE LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSE TO POTENTIAL RETALIATORY ACTIONS AT WHISTLE OF LAWYERS. NOTICE THAT ASSERTING STATUTORY PROTECTIONS CANNOT BE EVALUATED IN ISOLATION FROM THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK IT INVOKES. PLEASE CLARIFY, DID YOU ANALYZE THE EMAIL UNDER APPLICANT'S WHISTLE OF LAWYER AND FOR SUBMITTING PROTECTIONS? DID YOU EVALUATE WHETHER THE CONTENT CONSTITUTED PROTECTED LEGISLATOR'S SPEECH? WHAT LEGAL STANDARDS WAS APPLIED IN DETERMINING THAT THE LETTER REFLECTED MISCONDUCT RATHER THAN PROTECTED ACTIVITY? WHY WAS THE SURROUNDING CON, WHAT WAS THE SURROUNDING CONTEXT, INCLUDING THE EVENTS LEADING TO THAT LETTER NOT INCORPORATED INTO THE ATTACHMENT NARRATIVE? ADDITIONALLY, IF SIMILAR CONFRONTATIONAL ESCALATORY COMMUNICATIONS BY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE EVALUATED UNDER A DIFFERENT STANDARD, PLEASE IDENTIFY THE ANALYTICAL DISTINCTION. AN INVESTIGATION REPORT MUST BE DISTINGUISHED BETWEEN PROTECTED SPEECH AND ACTIONABLE MISCONDUCT WITHOUT THE DISTINCTION, THE CONCLUSIONS RISK MISCHARACTERIZING LAWFUL OVERSIGHT AND WHISTLEBLOWER ACTIVITY. I REQUEST RENTING VERIFICATION. AND GOD FORBID SHE NEVER RESPONDED TO THAT ONE. AND AND SO PART OF HER EMAIL THING, SHE PURPOSELY LEAVES OUT THE LETTER THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DIAZ'S HUSBAND SENT ME GOD B***H, SHE DIDN'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THE FULL STORY ABOUT THAT CEASE AND DEIST AND, AND, AND THE RELATION, THE, THE FACT THAT SHE LOBBIED ME TO TRY TO APPOINT HER HUSBAND. AND I MADE THE DETERMINATION THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO APPOINT HER HUSBAND. AND SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A LONG LETTER. UM, AND SO IT'S A FI FIVE PAGE, FIVE PAGE LETTER SENT THROUGH TEXT MESSAGES, TEXT MESSAGE TO ME ON PAGE TWO. YOU KNOW HOW HE LIKES TO RECRUIT CANDIDATES? WITHOUT A DOUBT, TONY WU HAS WILLOW STRONG INFLUENCE OVER YOU AND YOUR DECISION TO DITCH ME AND APPOINT REYES INSTEAD. IT REALLY IS NO SECRET THAT TONY W WAS AGAINST YOU APPOINTING ME. SO PLEASE, LET'S NOT HIT EACH OTHER. BRIAN, TONY BROUGHT THIS GUY FORWARD AT HIS CHOICE AS YOUR PLANNING COMMISSIONER. I KNOW IT AND YOU KNOW IT, AND ROSARIO KNOWS IT, SO PLEASE DON'T INSULT ME BY CONTINUING TO DENY IT. THERE'S NO REASON TO DO SO NOW BECAUSE IT'S OVER. TONY IS ALWAYS GOING TO TRY TO CONTROL EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY, AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU ARE HIS VICTIM. YOU HAVE FALLEN RIGHT INTO HIS TRAP. I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU TELL TONY EVERYTHING THAT I SAY, AND I KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE. PROBABLY RIGHT AFTER YOU READ THIS LETTER FROM ME. I'M NOT STUPID, BUT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT TONY THEN TURNS RIGHT AROUND AND IMMEDIATELY TELLS EVERYONE WHO WILL LISTEN TO HIM ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST TOLD HIM. IT'S NO SECRET, IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE. AGAIN, A MESSAGE SENT TO ME BY COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ'S HUSBAND, HE GOSSIPS AND THE, AND THE LETTER GOES ON, HE GOSSIPS ABOUT, ABOUT HE GOSSIPS, BUT THEN TRIES TO PLAY INNOCENT. TONY IS A EGO-DRIVEN TYPE A PERSONALITY WHO WILL ALWAYS TRY TO DOMINATE OTHER PEOPLE AROUND HIM WHEN HE DISCOVERS THAT HE HAS NO CONTROL, HE TRIES EVERYTHING HE CAN TO DESTROY THEM AND FREQUENTLY MANAGES TO DO EXACTLY THAT. HE CHEWS PEOPLE UP AND SPITS 'EM OUT LIKE THEY WERE SUNFLOWER SEEDS. WOW, THAT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT TONY WAS DOING TO ME TODAY. I INVITED HIM TO LUNCH ONE TIME BECAUSE I WANTED TO HAVE THE INTIMACY OF A SIT DOWN LUNCH WITH HIM TO DISCUSS SOMETHING GREAT OF IMPORTANCE TO ME. BUT HE FATTY DECLINED. JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TO TELL ME OVER THE PHONE. HE SAID I WAS VERY INSULTED. TONY WU DOES NOT HAVE FA DOES NOT HAVE FRIENDS. HE IS NOT MY FRIEND. AND HE'S CERTAINLY NOT YOUR FRIEND EITHER. REAL FRIENDS ARE NOW ALL ABOUT COMMON IN HIS POLITICAL WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN BRUTAL SMALL TOWN POLITICS LIKE WE HAVE HERE IN WEST COVINA. TONY MAKES IT VERY CLEAR TO EVERYONE WHEN HE SAYS, I'M NOT HERE TO MAKE FRIENDS, YOU SHOULD TAKE HIM AND HIS WARD BECAUSE I DO. AT LEAST NOW I DO. AND, AND, AND SO AFTER COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ VOTED TO AUDIT THE CAWC AND TOOK ACTIONS TO TECHNICALLY ENSURE OVERSIGHT ON MAYOR CONSULATE MEMBER WU AT THE TIME, OR MAYOR RU AT THE TIME, TONY WU WANTED REVENGE ON CONS MORE DI SO HE CALLED MY RACKAGE AND TOLD MILAN, TAKE OFF BILL. HE'S NOT GONNA DO THE PRAYER FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. TAKE HIM OFF. [03:40:02] HE YELLED AT MILAN, DIRECTED HIM TO REMOVE CONS, MORE DIAZ'S HUSBAND FROM THE AGENDA. MYAN WAS SO STRESSED THAT HE HAD TO GO LAY DOWN IN HIS OFFICE BECAUSE TONY WU HAD JUST YELLED AT HIM. HOW DO I KNOW THIS? I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T SAY, BUT , UH, WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT A MEMBER OF HIS STAFF, BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE A WITNESS, SO I'M NOT GONNA JO THE WITNESS UNDERNEATH THE BUS, BUT A MEMBER OF HIS STAFF WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY WHO WAS PART OF THE CALL, WHO OVERHEARD THE CALL, REPORTED THIS MISCONDUCT TO ME. AND MAYOR PROTE, OLI CONTOS, MAYOR CONTOS, I BELIEVE WAS ON, UH, UH, ON SPEAKER PHONE. AND I LET THE WITNESS KNOW THAT MAYOR CONTOS WAS ON THE PHONE AND AND SHE WAS ABLE TO, UH, COMMUNICATE THAT TO HIM AND ME. I INVITED HIM TO LUNCH. UH, OKAY, IT GOES ON. YOU SAID YOU FELT DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU TRIED TO SPEAK TO ROSARIO AND SHE DOESN'T SPE RESPOND TO YOU LIKE SHE USED TO. HONESTLY. BRIAN, HOW DID YOU EXPECT HER TO ACT? I AM HER HUSBAND. WOMEN ARE FUNNY LIKE THAT, AND SHE ALWAYS HAS MY BACK. SHE KNOWS HOW EXCITED I WAS AT THE PROSPECT OF SERVING AS A PLANNING COMMISSIONER AND HOW I BROKERED THE DEAL WITH YOU MYSELF, WITHOUT ANY HELP OR INFLUENCE FROM HER. SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. SO LET'S, LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES. SHE FEELS VERY UNSETTLED BY TONY'S SUCCESSFUL PERSUASION, CONVINCING YOU YOU TO CAST ME ASIDE AND APPOINT JOSE REYES INSTEAD. I THINK THAT ANY WIFE WILL FEEL THAT WAY IF A COLLEAGUE MOVED AGAINST HER HUSBAND, I HOPE HEARD ROSADO TELL ONE OF HER FRIENDS THAT I AM THE CITY COUNCIL MAJORITY'S BIGGEST SUPPORTER. I AM ALWAYS READY AND WILLING TO HELP WHEREVER I AM NEEDED. SHE WENT ON TO SAY HOW I HUNG BANNERS FOR YARA AND TONY DURING THEIR CAMPAIGN AND HOW I ALWAYS TRIED TO BE THERE TO HELP OTHER CAMPAIGNS AS WELL, LIKE YOURS, EVEN IF IT WAS JUST ENCOURAGEMENT, PHONE CALLS AT NIGHT DURING THE CAMPAIGN, OR MORAL SUPPORT JUST BEING A FRIEND. ROSARIO AND I BOTH FEEL COMPLETELY DRAWN UNDER THE BUS BY YOU AND TONY WU, AND SHE IS NOT THE KIND OF PERSON TO TAKE LIGHTLY THINGS THAT SHE VIEWS AS PORTRAYAL. SHE'S VERY STUBBORN IN THAT WAY AND HAS VERY LONG MEMORY. SHE DOES NOT CHANGE HER MIND EASILY ONCE IT IS MADE UP AFTER THAT, THERE IS VERY LITTLE THAT ANYONE CAN DO, CAN DO TO PERSUADE HER INTO CHANGING HER MIND. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BALTER, WHICH IS A LAW FIRM THAT'S BEEN HIRED TO REPRESENT THE CITY, UM, ARE YOU, ARE YOU, WHAT YOU TRYING TO, YOU, YOU CALL, YOU CALLING OUT. WHAT'S HIS NAME? . UH, AND SO, UM, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, BALTER HAS REPRESENTED THE CITY IN IS, IS THE CASE AGAINST, UH, LARRY WHITHORN. UH, I BELIEVE THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE MARK TAYLOR CASE AND VERY LIKELY BE INVOLVED IN THE VINCENT CAPELLI CASE. THEY'RE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE CITY IN A CODE OF, I MEAN LAST, A COUPLE LAST MEETINGS AGO IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT. UH, THEY'RE HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE CITY IN A CENSOR MOTION, AND THEY'RE ALSO REPRESENTING THE CITY IN SUING ME FOR E FOUR A FURIOUS, INVALIDATED CPRE VIOLATION, UH, WHICH THEY HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED THE PEOPLE OF WEST VENA. AND, AND, AND SO THEY ACCUSED ME OF USING AI. BUT WHAT THEY DON'T, WHAT THEY DON'T TELL THE PUBLIC IS THAT ALT ULTRA ESCAPES SANCTIONS AFTER ASSOCIATE WHO USE AI FOR WOR WORDS. THE SUBMITTING TAKES BLAME FOR HALLUCINATIONS AND IS, IS POSTED IN A A BA JOURNAL. CHER HAS ESCAPED SANCTIONS FOR A CASE FILING WHEN HE LOSE THE CASES AFTER ONE OF ITS ATTORNEYS TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ERRORS AND THE LAW FIRM PLEDGE TO EDUCATE ITS ATTORNEYS ON THE MISUSE OF GENERATED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. HAS ALSO TWO TOP FIRMS ACCUSED OF HELPING LAWYERS STEAL FOR 28 TRUSTS. THE LAWSUIT SAVES ATTORNEYS FROM THE FIRMS KNEW THEIR CLIENT WAS MISAPPROPRIATING MONEY FROM THE TRUST HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR AND LET IT HAPPEN. FORMER LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE GLYNN RISER DETERMINED IN AN ARCH ARBITRATION THAT A LAWYER EMBEZZLED OVER $19 MILLION FROM TRUST. HE OVERSAW A LAWSUIT IN LOS ANGELES CLAIMS THAT TWO PROMINENT LAW FIRMS HELPED COVER UP MISCONDUCT BY A LAWYER WHO MISAPPROPRIATED MILLIONS OF 28 TRUST ACCOUNTS. HE OVERSAW THE LAWSUIT FILE ON WEDNESDAY, CLAIMS THAT PARKER MILLER, CLARK, LAURA A PC AND CHER HELPED TRI SUSPENDED THREE TIMES STATE BAR DISCIPLINE ATTORNEY LESLIE CLEAN COVER UP HIS EMBEZZLEMENT [03:45:01] OF FUNDS FROM THE TRUST. THIS ACTION ARISES FROM A CROOK TRUSTEE'S PROVEN DISLOYALTY FRAUD AND DEATH OF TRUST ASSETS AND FUNDS AND HIS COUNSEL'S ROLE IN ALLOWING THE TRUSTEE'S MISCONDUCT TO CONTINUE AND EFFORTS TO CONCEAL THIS TRUSTEE'S VIOLATION. THE COMPLAINT READ JEFFREY RENTER IS ET VERSUS PARK MILKEN CLARK AND IAN ET ER 25 STCV 0 3 2 84 LA SUPERIOR COURT FILED FEBRUARY 7TH, 2024. AND, AND SO THE PUBLIC IS AWARE NOW IS AWARE ABOUT WHO IS BAAL AND WHAT THEY'LL DO TO REVENGE AGAINST ONE CONS MEMBER WHO HAS STOOD UP FOR THE TAXPAYERS WHO HAS SPOKEN THE FACTS. YOU'RE LEARNING TODAY THEIR BACKGROUND, BUT HOW WERE THEY HIRED TO REDO A-R-F-P-A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS? NO, THEY WERE HIRED WITH THE DIRECTION OF CITY ATTORNEY THOMAS STDY. THEY ALWAYS GET HIRED FOR CASES WHEN IT INVOLVES. MR. DOHERTY WILL THEN TELL MR. AKRIDGE IN THIS CASE TO HIRE THEM VICE VERSA. AGAIN, THEY HAVE MADE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF THE TAXPAYERS REPRESENTING CASES THAT WE HAVE LOST IN EVERY ASPECT POSSIBLE. BUT NOT ONCE DID THEY EVER EDUCATE THIS CONSOLE CONSUL EXCEPT COUNCIL MEMBER CON, WHICH I'M NOT REFERRING TO HIM, BUT N NOT ONCE. THEY EDUCATE THE OTHERS ABOUT WHAT IS DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION. WHAT IS VIOLATING THE LAW MEANS. MR. DOHERTY TOLD ME THAT THE GRAND JURY IN LARRY WHITHORN S CASE TOLD MR. O, MR. O', UM, FROM BAAL ALTER THAT THE JURY BELIEVED THAT MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBER TONY W WAS SLEAZY. AND THAT'S WHY THE JURY VOTED TO WI WI AWARD THE WHITHORN CASE. AND HERE'S IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OREGON REAL BUILDING WAS STEFAN P PEACOCK INDIVIDUAL RESIDING IN CALIFORNIA GREEN GLOBE LIMITED COMPANY BASED IN THE UNITED STATES DEFENDANTS MICHAEL H. SIMMONS DISTRICT JUDGE ON OCTOBER 27TH, 2025. THE COURT ORDERED PLAINTIFF AND ITS CONS TO SHOW CAUSE WHY THE COURT SHOULD NOT IMPOSE, SANCTION THEM FOR USING FAKE OR HE ELUCIDATED CASE CITATIONS IN PLAINTIFF'S REPLY. BRIEF FILE IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR INTERIM ATTORNEY FEES. THE COURT HAS CLOSELY READ PLAINTIFF'S RESPONSE AND THE ING DECLARATIONS OF DANIEL, PETE LARSON, DAVID J RIDGE, AND DAVID A. STEIN. THE COURT IS SATISFIED WITH THE RAMAD ACTIONS ALREADY TAKEN AND THOSE PROPOSED, PROPOSED TO BE TAKEN BY THE PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL AND THUS WILL NINE POST FORMAL SANCTIONS FOR USING AI IN IN A FEDERAL COURTROOM. AL ALTER HAS USED AI, THE SAME FIRM THAT'S ATTACKING ME FOR SUPPOSEDLY USING AI JUDGE SANCTIONS AL ON A DIFFERENT MATTER. THE JUDGE, A DIFFERENT JUDGE SANCTIONS BAAL OVER $147,000 FOR FILING UNSUPPORTED ARGUMENTS AND MISLEADING ASSERTIONS. SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023 WRITTEN BY DEBORAH CASSENS RE MRS. JAMAL, UH, IN AN EMAIL TO ME STATES CONSTABLE GUTIERREZ, AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED, I DID NOT HANDLE ANY OF THE REDACTIONS TO MY INVESTIGATION REPORT. I PROVIDED MY REPORT TO THE CITY OF WEST VANCE'S OUTSIDE CONSOLE AL ALTER, WHO I UNDERSTAND HANDLED THE REDACTIONS. I REACHED OUT TO AL ALTER TO CONFIRM THEY REDACTED THE ATTACHMENTS CONTAINING YOUR PHONE NUMBER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS REMAINS UNRESOLVED. THANK YOU. OH, I I THOUGHT BUCHALTER WAS INDEPENDENT. I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION THAT DID NOT INCLUDE A LAW FIRM DICTATING WHAT SHOULD BE REDACTED OR NOT REDACTED OR CO CONCURRING THE INVESTIGATOR REPORT. WHEN THIS REPORT WAS FINISHED, IT DIDN'T GO TO, UH, THE DESIGNATED PEOPLE, UH, WHICH WAS, I BELIEVE CARMEN UNDERWORLD, OUR HR DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ON ISH METTA. IT DIDN'T GO TO THEM. IT WENT TO BOTH CULTURE. THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES WHO SAW IT. AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA ANSWER THIS, BUT THE PERSON THEY SENT IT TO AFTER WAS VERY LIKELY OUR CITY ATTORNEY. WE MOVE ON BECAUSE OF ALL THE MISCONDUCT THAT IS OCCURRING. THE CITY MANAGER TELLS ME, BRIAN, UH, I NEED TO SECURE THREE VOTES IF I'M GONNA BECOME CITY MANAGER IN MAY. SO I'M NOT GONNA HAVE TO, I'M NOT GONNA COMPLY WITH YOU NO MORE. I'M NOT GONNA BE NICE TO YOU. UH, I'M GONNA DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THEM TO VOTE FOR ME IN ME. AND, AND SO MR. MORRIDGE HAS SERVED A SUBPOENA TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS. I VISIT MR. MORRIDGE, MR. MORRIDGE STATES TO ME, IF YOU [03:50:01] WANT ME TO TALK BAD OR GOOD, GOOD ABOUT YOU, OR TALK BAD ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY RESIDENT ABOUT YOUR CASE, WHICH I'M NOT GONNA NAME HIM, BUT IF YOU WANT ME TO TALK BAD ABOUT THIS PERSON, GIMME $1,500. AND I SAID, THAT'S INAPPROPRIATE. I'M NOT GONNA GIVE YOU $1,500, I'LL GIVE YOU $35, WHICH, WHICH IS A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR WITNESSES. BUT DON'T WORRY, THE JAMALI REPORT OMITS THAT EVIDENCE. THE SHE DOES NOT WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT. AND SO AND SO WHEN MR. MORRIDGE THEN STATES, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M NOT GONNA ACCEPT YOUR, YOUR, YOUR SUBPOENA BY EMAIL, THEN YOU HAVEN'T PROPERTY SERVED ME. AND SO MR. MORRIDGE TELLS ME THIS DAYS BEFORE THE HEARING, WHICH I NOW HAVE AN OBLIGATION, A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO SERVE A, A WITNESS BY AN X AMOUNT OF TIME, OR THEY COULD ARGUE TO THE COURT THEY DIDN'T GET SUFFICIENT NOTICE. SO WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HIRE A LICENSED PROCESS SERVER TO HAVE TO TRACK DOWN MR. RACKAGE BEFORE THAT COURT DATE, SO IT COULD BE WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME THAT STATUTORY REQUIRED FOR NOTICE TO THE WITNESS. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, MR. RACKAGE TEXTS ME ON SIX SATURDAY, JANUARY 17TH, 2026. HE STATES, WHY THE F**K IS A PROCESS SERVER WAKING UP MY 89 AND 87-YEAR-OLD PARENTS AT 9:00 PM AND I ASK WHEN? AND HE STATES NOW, AND I STATE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SERVE, SERVE IT TO YOU YESTERDAY. I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF A PROCESS SERVICE TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY AT 9:00 PM AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PROCESS SERVING RECORDS, THEY, THEY DID NOT GO AT 9:00 PM IT WAS BEFORE 9:00 PM BECAUSE LICENSE PROCESS SERVERS HAVE TO FOLLOW STRICT RULES. AND IF HE DID GO AFTER 9:00 PM DID I ENCOURAGE THEM TO REPORT THE PROCESS SERVER TO LOS ANGELES COUNTY? BUT ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENT I WAS PRESENTED, THEY DID NOT GO AT 9:00 PM AND IT GOES ON, IT SAYS, YOU ARE A STUPID F**K THAT ISN'T, THAT ISN'T A WORLD OF HURT. NOW STRESSING AND F*****G WITH MY PARENTS IS GOING TO END. YOU DON'T EVER TALK TO ME AGAIN. MY PARENTS ARE SCARED AND STRESSED. JUST WAIT UNTIL TUESDAY NIGHT. YOU ARE A F*****G IDIOT THAT HAS ENTERED YOUR CAREER. MY PARENTS JUST SAID THE PROCESS SERVER WOKE THEM UP THURSDAY NIGHT AS WOW, BUT WE'RE TOO STRESSED TO TELL ME, DON'T EVER COME IN MY OFFICE AGAIN. I WILL NEVER MEET WITH YOU. CALL OR TEXT YOU AGAIN. YOU ARE NOW DEAD TO ME. YOU ARE BEYOND F*****G STUPID F*****G WHEN MY PARENTS REALLY JUST WAIT, BRIAN. AND IF YOU SEE WITHIN JAMAL'S REPORT, YOU'LL SEE A BUNCH OF EMAILS BEING SENT TO JAMALI RIGHT AFTER. AND YOU ALSO SEE A EMAIL STATING, UH, EMAILS COMING FROM MY SAYING THAT BCH ALTER, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE THIRD PARTY AWAY FROM THIS REPORT, UH, IS ALSO SETTING DOCUMENTS TO INCLUDE IN THIS REPORT. BUT DON'T WORRY, NONE OF THE FACTS YOU HEARD EARLIER TODAY WERE INCLUDED. AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF INTIMIDATION, OF ISSUES AT HAND, OF, OF, OF THREATS TO AND, AND ME TO DESTROY MY CAREER TO, UH, VICE VERSA THAT HE TEXTED ME. WELL, MR. MR. DOHERTY INFORMED ME, UH, THAT MR. RACKAGE HAD A HISTORY OF CONDUCT, UH, UH, CONDUCT THAT HE, HE MISTREATED STAFF WHEN HE DIDN'T GET HIS WAY. HE TOLD STAFF HE DID STUFF WHEN YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO HIM. HE'LL GO AFTER YOU. AND IN THE CITY OF LAHABRA, WHICH TOM, WHICH JONES AND MY ALSO REPRESENTS, AND THIS IS HOW I I KNEW ABOUT THIS 'CAUSE THEY TOLD ME ABOUT IT. UH, LAHABRA SETTLES A LAWSUIT FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT FOR 1.9 MILLION. AND, AND, AND SO IT GOES ON AND, AND VICE VERSA, UH, ON CONTINUED BASIS. IT JUST TALKS ABOUT MR. RIDGE'S PAST AND CONDUCT AND RETALIATION, UM, AND HIS ACTS TOWARDS OTHER PEOPLE TO GO AFTER THEM IF, IF THEY SPOKE UP OR HE DIDN'T GET HIS WAY OR HE JUST WANTED TO DESTROY SOMEONE'S REPUTATION AND CAREER. AND IT'S HIS HONOR. ABOUT ABOUT JUNE, 2025, MARRACK TOOK PLAINTIFFS TO PURCHASE A NEW UNIFORM PANTS TO COMPLY WITH WORK REQUIREMENTS. HOWEVER, AS PLAINTIFF WAS CHANGING IN A DRESSING ROOM, SHE SUDDENLY CAUGHT RACKAGE. LOOKING INTO THE DRESSING ROOM, PLAINTIFF PROMPTLY PROTESTED AND INFORMED RACKAGE THAT HIS ACTION WAS INAPPROPRIATE. ON OR ABOUT JULY, 2012, PLAINTIFF ASKED RACKAGE FOR TIME OFF TO ATTEND HER SON'S BASEBALL GAME. RACKAGE REPLIED, WHAT AM I GOING TO GET FOR GIVING YOU A DAY OFF RACK? WHICH WOULD GRANT TIME P GIVE RACKAGE WOULD GRANT PLAINTIFF TIME OFF, BUT WOULD PERSISTENTLY TEXT PLAINTIFF AND ASK FOR PICTURES OF HER SO SISTERLY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, WHENEVER PLAINTIFF NEEDED A DAY OFF OR TO CHANGE HER SCHEDULE RACK, WHICH WOULD INSIST THAT PLAINTIFF [03:55:01] SEND HER PICTURES OF HER AT ALL TIMES. PLAINTIFF REFUSES TO SEND ANY PICTURES. DESPITE MIRA'S INSTANCES THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER, 2012, PLAINTIFF HAD TO TAKE OFF AS WELL AS WORK FROM HOME BECAUSE HE, HER CHILD WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILL. MORRA TOLD HER THAT HE WILL ACCOMMODATE HER REQUESTS, BUT IN EXCHANGE HE WANTED PICTURES VIA TEXT. PLAINTIFF IGNORED THE REQUEST FOR PICTURES AND TRIED TO IGNORE HIS DISTURBING COMMENTS BECAUSE SHE NEEDED A JOB WHILE AS, AS A TAKE CARE OF HER TO TAKE CARE OF HER CHILD. ONCE SHE RETURNED IN THE WORKPLACE, MOROCCO CONTINUED TO MAKE SEXUAL SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS TO PLAINTIFF ON A CONTINUED BASIS. MOREOVER, MORRIDGE CALLED PLAINTIFF IN HIS OFFICE AND REPEATEDLY ASK HER TO GO TO LUNCH WITH HIM. ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER, 2012, MARRACK CALLED PLAINTIFF INTO HIS OFFICE. MORRIDGE ASKED PLAINTIFF TO SIT DOWN. HE THEN CLOSED THE DOOR AND ASKED SHIVA TO KISS HIM. SHE WAS TOLD HIM NO AND ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE. MORRIDGE GOT UPSET AND ATTEMPTED TO PREVENT PLAINTIFF FROM LEAVING THE OFFICE. ULTIMATELY, PLAINTIFF WAS FORCED TO PUSH HER AWAY PAST MORRIDGE OUT OF THE OFFICE. AS PLAINTIFF LEFT THE OFFICE, MORRIDGE STATED, THINGS ARE GOING TO GET VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOU ON OR ABOUT FEBRUARY, 2013. DEFENDANT MORRIDGE TOLD PLAINTIFF THAT THE ONLY REASON SHE WON THE AWARD FOR MOST INNOVATIVE EMPLOYEE FOR 2012 WAS BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE YOU AFTER THE AWARD, SEMI PLAINTIFF AND HER AND OTHER FEMALE COWORKERS AGREE TO NOT ALLOW ANY FEMALE EMPLOYEE TO BE ALONE WITH MORRIDGE. ON OR ABOUT MARCH, 2013, MORRIDGE CORNERED PLAINTIFF IN HER OFFICE AND ATTEMPTED TO KISS HER, RUB HER BACK. PLAINTIFF WAS ABLE TO TURN HER CHAIR AWAY FROM HIM AND AVOID HIM UNTIL A COWORKER ENTERED THE ROOM. RACKAGE BEGAN TRYING TO KISS THE PLAINTIFF, KISSING THE PLAINTIFF SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT HER MARCH. PLAINTIFF WAS SCARED AND REFUSED TO WORK WEEKENDS ALONE WITH RACKAGE AND RETALIATION FOR REFUSING HIS NUMEROUS CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ADVANCES. RACKAGE WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF PLAINTIFF'S WORK. SAID CRITICISMS WERE ALL OUT. ANY VAL SAID CRITICISMS WERE WITHOUT ANY VALIDITY. ON OR ABOUT APRIL, 2013, PLAINTIFF MOROCCO AND OTHER COWORKERS WERE IN A CITY VEHICLE DRIVING TO LUNCH, BARRACK, WHICH WAS DRIVING AND PLAINTIFF WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. BARRACK PLACED HIS HAND ON SHIVA'S MID THIGH AND REFUSED TO REMOVE HIS HAND UNTIL PLAINTIFF WAS FORCED TO SCREAM. ON OR ABOUT JUNE, 2013, PLAINTIFF WAS THE PASSENGER OF A CITY VEHICLE WITH HER PARTNER EDDIE ESPINOZA. RACKAGE IS APPROACHED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND TOLD PLAINTIFF THAT HER ZIPPER WAS DOWN AND BEGAN RUBBING HER ARM. RIDGE MOVED HIS HAND DOWN TO PLAINTIFF'S QUAT AREA. ESPINOZA LATER TOLD PLAINTIFF AFTER THE INCIDENT WAS SHOCKED BY RACK'S. A, HE WAS SHOCKED BY RACK'S ACTIONS, BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS. CONS, CONSUL CENSUS CONSUL CONSENSUS BYPASSING THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON JANUARY 20TH, 2026 AT 6:00 PM THE CITY COUNCIL MET REGARDING ITEM TWO CONFERENCE OF REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE 5 4 9 5 6 0.8. PROPERTY LOCATED AT 84 58 DASH ZERO 20 DASH 9 0 1, 15 0 1 WEST DOWN NORTH, A STREET AGENCY NEGOTIATED RAC AUTHORITY NEGOTIATING PARTIES MLC HOLDINGS UNDER NEGOTIATION TERMS, WHAT I CAN STATE IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAME TO A CONSENSUS AND VOTED ON AN ACTION. AND BECAUSE THIS IS CLOSED SESSION, THAT'S ALL I COULD STATE AT THIS TIME. AND BECAUSE OF THAT CONSENSUS, THE DEVELOPER WAS THEN TOLD TO COME A SECOND TIME BECAUSE THE CITY HAS SPOKEN. UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER METTA HAS SPOKEN TO THE DEVELOPER ABOUT WHAT WAS CONSENSUS OCCURRED. AND WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEVELOPER, THE DEVELOPER TOLD ME, BRIAN, THEY SAID IT'S GONNA BE ON THE FOLLOWING MEETING AGAIN. SO THEY CAN UPDATE THE CONSOLE ON THE, ON THE, ON THE THINGS THAT WE'RE AGREEING TO. UH, BUT UH, THEY'RE NOT GONNA PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. THEY'RE GONNA SAY THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA KEEP IT LOW KEY AND KEEP IT FROM THE PUBLIC. I SAID, WHAT? HE SAID, THAT'S EVEN WORSE THAN LEAVING IT ON THE AGENDA. AND, AND I, AND SO THEREFORE, I SENT THE EMAIL, UH, TELLING CITY, THE CITY STAFF AND THE CITY MANAGER TO NOT PUT THAT BACK ON THE AGENDA AND DO NOT VIOLATE THE BROWN ACT. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT THE ITEM WAS NOT DISCUSSED EVER AGAIN IN CLOSED SESSION CBPH, THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE OF REGULATIONS ON MARCH 10TH, 2026, IT STATES GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INQUIRY. TO CLARIFY THE WEST COVINA, TO CLARIFY, WEST VINA DOES NOT RECEIVE PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, CDPH [04:00:01] FOR A LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO REGULATORY PROCESS IN PLACE FOR APPLICANTS APPLICATIONS FOR A NEW LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AS A RESULT, THE CITY OF WEST FINNET DOES NOT HAVE AN ACTIVE APPLICATION. AGAIN. AS A RESULT, THE CITY OF WEST GREENA DOES NOT HAVE AN ACTIVE APPLICATION. CURRENTLY, THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CURRENTLY LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CONTINUES TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR THE PROVISIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FOR WEST COVINA. AND ALL COUNTY CONTINUES TO PROVIDE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. THANK YOU. OFFICE OF REGULATIONS. AND AS YOU SEE, THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR IS ALSO ON THIS EMAIL TO ME. NOW, WE LOOK AT TRANSEX, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT BILLS. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT TRANSEX HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BILLS, TRANSECT IS BILLING THE TAXPAYERS MONTHLY INVOICES. WHILE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE A DEPAR, YOU DON'T HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN AN APPLICANT. BUT DON'T WORRY, YOUR TAXPAYER'S MONEY IS PAYING FOR A, FOR A HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHERE WE ARE NOT EVEN AN APPLICANT. AND YOU HAVE HEARD THIS PERSON COME TO THIS COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND ASKED MULTIPLE TI TELL THE PUBLIC MULTIPLE TIMES THAT WE'RE AN APPLICANT AND WE NEED TO DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH. THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING COMMUNITY OUTREACH. 'CAUSE WE NEED TO DO OUR APPLICATION. WELL, THE CITY OF CALIFORNIA CONFIRMS VERY CLEARLY THAT WEST GREEN IS NOT A HELP DEPARTMENT AND IT'S NOT EVEN IN HELP, NOT EVEN IN AN APPLICANT IN THE PROCESS. AND AS YOU SEE SOME OF THESE HEALTH DEPARTMENT INVOICES, WEST BENA HEALTH DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTATION, $4,357. TRANSECT ENGINEERS. IT'S A SENIOR ENGINEER. A SENIOR, OKAY, TRANSECT, WEST GREEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT SENIOR ENGINEER, FIVE HOURS, $163 RATE, GOT PAID $815. WHAT IS A SENIOR ENGINEER DOING IN A HEALTH DEPARTMENT? IS HE DOING SOME SORT OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD. CALL LA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAY, CAN I SPEAK TO THE ENGINEER? THEY'RE GONNA LAUGH AT YOU BECAUSE THERE'S NO SUCH THING. WELL, DON'T WORRY. YOUR TAXPAYER MONEY IS PAYING FOR A PERSON, SUPPOSEDLY WHO'S A SENIOR ENGINEER OR IS THE SENIOR ENGINEER BEING, AND THE REAL PERSON BEING PAID IS DR. BASIL, YOUR HEALTH DIRECTOR FOR WEST VINO. WE MOVE ON TO MORE DETAIL INVOICES FOR THE WEST HEALTH DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTATION, LABOR SENIOR ENGINEER, AHMAN ASARI PROJECT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT. PROJECT MANAGEMENT. AND IT GOES ON LABOR. TOTAL STATUS PHRASE STATUS, ACTIVE DATE, AUGUST 31ST, 2025. INVOICE SUPPORTING DETAIL. WE MOVE ON. AGAIN, YOU SEE IT AGAIN. SENIOR ENGINEER, PUBLIC HEALTH ASSISTANT. YOU HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH ASSISTANT SUPPOSEDLY WORKING EVERY DAY AT CITY HALL. AND YOU HAVE A SENIOR ENGINEER WHO I GUESS WORKS ONCE IN A WHILE, SO DON'T WORRY, YOU'RE, YOU HAVE A SENIOR ENGINEER RUNNING YOUR HEALTH, YOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS SAYING DOESN'T EXIST. AND YOU MOVE ON. YOU SEE, UH, INVOICES, DETAILED INVOICES, GENERAL OFFICE USE. YOU SEE HOURS BEING BILLED. UH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A DAILY, DAILY HOURS BEING BILLED. UM, BUT THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T SEE NO OFFICE HOURS ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR A HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFICE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. BUT DON'T WORRY, YOUR TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS ARE PAYING FOR DAILY SERVICES FROM SOMEONE. WE GO, WE MOVE ON FOR MORE DETAIL INVOICES. THIS IS JULY 31ST, 2025. AGAIN, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SENIOR ENGINEER AM MONTESSORI, AND HE'S, YOU SEE BUILDINGS COMING IN AND SO FORTH. AGAIN, YOU HAVE A SENIOR ENGINEER IN YOUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. NOW, BOTTER AND JAMAL DID NOT WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT THIS EMAIL. AND BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT MYSELF, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ROXANNE LERMA AND, AND ACTING CITY MANAGER RIDGE DID WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UH, MR. RACKAGE WAS ABLE TO COME UP, FIND THIS EMAIL. UH, WITHIN THIS EMAIL, YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE COMPLAINT AGAINST TONY WU. BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS? WHY DIDN'T YOU SEE THIS IN THE JAMALI REPORT? BECAUSE IT WAS COVERED UP. THE PUBLIC WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS EMAIL CITY MANAGER. I'M WRITING TO FOLLOW UP ON TWO RESOLUTIONS PROPOSED REGARDING THIS INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT OF COUNCIL MEMBER TONY WU ON AUGUST 14TH, 2024. AS YOU MAY [04:05:01] RECALL, THE RESOLUTIONS WERE ONE TO ARRANGE A MEETING BETWEEN THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND MYSELF TO ADDRESS THE ADDRESSES AND HOPEFULLY RECONCILES HIS INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT AND HOSTILITY DEMONSTRATED, AIMING TO MOVE PAST IT AND REESTABLISH A PRODUCTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP. TWO, TO CONCLUDE ALL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE COUNCIL MEMBER AND MY DEPARTMENT WITH SUCH COMMUNICATION BEING STREAMLINED THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. ADDITIONALLY, TO ENSURE THAT MY COLLEAGUE KAREN, IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PER HER REQUEST. SO NOW WE HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES IN ONE EMAIL COMPLAINING ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER TONY WU'S CONDUCT. TO RECAP THE INCIDENT, THE COUNCIL MEMBER DISPLAYED AN UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR DURING THE CHAMBER EVENT AT THE HOLIDAY INN TOWARDS MYSELF AND KAREN BEING PRESENT. AND BRIEFLY RACHEL. THIS INCLUDED AN AUP AND HOSTILE INTERACTION WHERE HE NOT ONLY SLAMMED THE TABLE SEVERAL TIMES, DEMANDING TO BE GIVEN A SPEAKING OPPORTUNITY, BUT ALSO WALKED OUT IN A MANNER THAT SEEMED DELIBERATELY PRO, PRO PROVOCATIVE, INCLUDING WHAT APPEARED TO BE A GESTURE OF FLIPPING ME OFF. THE INCIDENT ENDED WITH A FORCEFUL SLAM OF THE GLASS DOOR AT THE HOLIDAY INN, WHERE WE THOUGHT THE DOOR WOULD BE BREAK, BROKE BREAK AS SHARED WITH YOU IN AUGUST. THIS IS IN MY BOOKS, DISPLAYS A VITAL WORKPLACE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONSUM MEMBER MADE VARIOUS STATEMENTS ABOUT THE MAYOR NOT BEING IN FAVOR OF THE CHAMBER, AND HE'S REFERRING TO THEN MAYOR BRIAN TABBA. DESPITE IT BEING ELECTION SEASON AND A CITY PARTNER EVENT, A MAIN REASON TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER RULE WANTED TO SHARE WAS TO ENSURE IT WAS IT WAS PLACED IN THE RIGHT SPOT FOR THE EVENT SCHEDULE. TOWARD THE END OF THE ALTERCATION, HE MENTIONED HIRING YOU. SO TONY W WAS TELLING THE EMPLOYEE THAT HE HIRED THE CITY MANAGER IMPLYING THAT HE COULD POTENTIALLY INFLUENCE DECISIONS AND SUGGESTING THAT HE COULD GET ME FIRED IF HE CHOSE TO. I BROUGHT THIS MATTER TO YOUR ATTENTION AT THE SAME, AT THE SAME EVENING AS WE DISCUSSED THE NEED FOR A FOLLOW-UP, WHICH OCCURRED THE FOLLOWING WEEK DUE TO YOUR RESCHEDULES. FURTHERMORE, THE COUNCIL MEMBER HAD REQUESTED FOLLOWING THIS EVENT IN AUGUST THAT MY COLLEAGUE KAREN SHARE UPDATES ON THE CHAMBER AGAIN FURTHER, THE COUNCIL MEMBER HAD REQUESTED FOLLOWING THIS EVENT IN AUGUST THAT MY COLLEAGUE KAREN SHARES UPDATES THAT SOUNDS EXACTLY WHAT HE DID TO BBK. AFTER BPK SPOKE UP, HE TOLD AHMAD FROM TRANSECT TO CALL BPK AND DEMAND, UH, WHAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. SAME PROCESS. HE, HE TRIES TO FIND A WAY, A SNEAKY WAY TO GET PEOPLE FIRED AND, AND BE FACED THE CHAMBER. PREVIOUSLY, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THESE UPDATES AND GIVEN THAT THE CHAMBER FALLS UNDER MY DIVISION, I BELIEVE THIS IS CRUCIAL FOR CONTINUITY AND TO MINIMIZE ANY POTENTIAL MISCOMMUNICATION AS THIS RESPONSIBILITY REMAINS UNDER MY PURVIEW. WHEN I INITIALLY RAISED THIS CONCERN, YOU MENTIONED IT WILL BE ADDRESSED DURING THE COOLING OFF PERIOD, WHICH BOTH KAREN AND I AGREE TO AS TEMPORARY MEASURES AS WE APPROACH THE THIRD MONTH MARK. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, I AM KEEN TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS ARE ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED IN A TIMELY MATTER. PROLONGING THIS SITUATION MAY LEAD TO FURTHER ISSUES AND INCIDENTS, WHICH I BELIEVE COULD BE AVOIDED WHERE PROMPT ACTION AND DIRECTION. HENCE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE REGARDING THE DIRECTION OF THE PROPOSED COOLING OFF PERIOD. AS OF TODAY'S DATE, I AM FORMALLY LETTING YOU KNOW WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED SINCE THEN. THERE WAS AN INTER INTER INTERACTION WITH COUNCILMAN RU AND ROBERTO ARNOLD AT THE STATE OF THE CITY. THAT WAS NOT PLEASANT FROM THE CHAMBER'S PERSPECTIVE SINCE THE INCIDENT. THE CLOSEST INTERACTION I HAD WITH COUNCILMAN RU WAS DURING THE MEGA MOON FESTIVAL ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, WHERE HE INTERJECTED INTO A CONVERSATION I WAS HAVING WITH A-C-A-A-W-C MEMBER WHO TURNED HIS BACK ON ME BEFORE I COULD SAY HELLO TO HIM. MY COLLEAGUE, KAREN, WAS PRESENT TO WITNESS THIS INTERACTION. ALL FURTHER CONVERSATION HAS BEEN AVOIDED AND FELT PROPORTIONAL IN AVOIDANCE. I SEE THE APPROACHES TWO EVENTS NEXT WEEK. I HOPE YOU HAVE, YOU CAN ADVISE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. ALEJANDRO GARCIA, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING MANAGER. AND IF YOU CALL CITY HALL TOMORROW AND ASK TO SPEAK TO MR. ALEJANDRO, YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT HE'S BEEN FIRED BECAUSE OF TONY WU CALPERS FRAUD PREVENTION AND POLICY. CALPERS [04:10:01] MANAGEMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROCEDURES AND CONTROLS DESIGN TO PREVENT THE TECH AND DETERIOR FRAUD, MISAPPROPRIATIONS DECEPTION, WRONGDOING AND UTTER INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT. FRAUD IS DEFINED AS THE INTENTIONAL FALSE REPRESENTATION OR CONCEALMENT OF A MATERIAL FACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF INDUCING IN ORDER TO ACT UPON HIS OR HER INJURY, EACH MEMBER OF CALPERS MANAGEMENT WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH THESE TYPES OF IMPROPRIETIES AND MIGHT OCCUR WITHIN HIS OR HER AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY. AND BE ALERT FOR ANY INDICATION OF ANY REGULARITY. ANY FRAUD THAT IS DETECTED OF SUSPECTED MUST BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY TO THE CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER WHO COORDINATES BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTED TO CALPERS. ETHICS HELPLINE. THE TERMS FRAUD, MISAPPROPRIATION DECEPTION OR WRONGING REFERRED TO BY A CONSTITUENT. CONS CONSTITUTING IS NOT LIMITED TO FRAUD, THE USE OF ONE'S EMPLOYMENT OR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH CALPERS, EITHER FOR IMPROPER OR UNAUTHORIZED PERSONAL THIRD PARTY, INCLUDING CALPERS ENRICHMENT OR ADVANTAGE FOR THE IMPROPER UNAUTHORIZED DETERMIN OF TO CALPERS THROUGHOUT THE DELIBERATE MISUSE AND MIS APPLICATION OF CALPERS PROCESSES, RESOURCES OR ASSETS, ANY DISHONEST OR FRAUDULENT ACT, MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS, SECURITY SUPPLIES OR OUT ASSETS, DISCLOSING CONFIDENTIAL PROPRIETARY INFORMATION TO OUTSIDE PARTIES, FORGERING OR ALTERING ANY DOCUMENT OR ACCOUNTS BELONGING TO CALPERS, FORGERING, FORGING OR ALTERING A CHECK BANK DRAFT OR FINANCIAL DOCUMENT DESTROYING, REMOVING OR INAPPROPRIATE USING RECORDS, FURNITURE, FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT, AND TAKING STEPS INTENDED TO HINDER THE DETECTION OF ANY ABOVE ACTIVITIES. AND SO YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE HEARD MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE TIMES THAT ONE OF OUR PAST EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC WORKS WAS SANCTIONED OR FINED BY CALPERS. NOW WHAT YOU DID NOT HEAR HERE IS THAT THIS EMPLOYEE DIDN'T DO THIS ON HIS OWN. HE, HE DIDN'T, HE DIDN'T DECIDE ONE, ONE DAY TO SAY, I'M GONNA BREAK THE LAW AND, AND I'M GONNA VIOLATE CALPERS REGULATIONS AND POLICIES. NO, PAULINE, UH, SORRY. OUR FORMER CITY MANAGER TOLD TONY, COUNCILMAN TONY W THE CITY CANNOT CONTINUE TO EMPLOY THIS EMPLOYEE. IT'S VIOLATING CALPERS REGULATIONS ON RETIRED AMBULANCE. AND TONY SAID, NO, NO, I DON'T LIKE MIKE KRISA. I WANT MIKE KRISA FIRED. AND THEN MAYOR RU DIRECTED THAT SAME EMPLOYEE WHO WAS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE TIME TO FIRE MIKE KRISA. BUT THAT EMPLOYEE REFUSED TO TAKE THAT DIRECTIVE AND ORDER FROM MAYOR WU. AND THE PUBLIC DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY'LL NEVER TELL YOU THE, THE FULL STORY WE MOVE ON. COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR LOPEZ REALDO TALKED ABOUT, UH, TALKED ABOUT, UH, HUMILITY, HOUSE OF CHARITIES, A A TOY GIVEAWAY. AND THE TOY GIVEAWAY WAS VERY CLEAR. HUMILITY HOUSE OF CHARITIES STATED, WE WANNA DO THIS EVENT. WE WANNA SHUT DOWN THE STREET AND GIVE OUT HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF TOYS. AND IF YOU DON'T WANNA DO THAT, WE'LL GO TO A DIFFERENT CITY. AND ROXANNE LMA WAS IN THAT MEETING, SHE'S A WITNESS. AND, AND THAT MEETING WENT VERY CLEAR, YOU WANNA DO THIS OR YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THIS. 'CAUSE ANOTHER CITY WILL WANT THE OPPORTUNITY. AND AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. I'M NOT A BOARD MEMBER OR SENATOR LIKE LOPEZ VIRO IS FOR FULFILLMENT WEST COVINA, MY WIFE. I DON'T HAVE A WIFE, BUT I DON'T HAVE A WIFE OR A FAMILY MEMBER WHO SERVES ON HUMILITY HOUSE OF CHARITIES AND THEN GETS CITIES' CONTRACTS IN RETURN. THAT'S NOT HAPPENING WITH ME. AND, AND SO ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT HUMANLY HOUSE OF CHARITIES DID WAS SPONSOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE WEST POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE WEST POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE NEWEST ADDITION TO OUR CANINE UNIT. RANCHO OFFICER RODRIGUEZ AND RANCHO BEGAN THEIR BASIC TRAINING ACADEMY TODAY AT THE ULTRA HORSE INTERNATIONAL POLICE CANINE ACADEMY. WE WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK. AND PART OF MY FPPC OBLIGATION IS TO REPORT ANYTHING OVER $5,000 AS A PSTA PAYMENT. AND DON'T WORRY, I DIDN'T BACK DATE IT LIKE MAYOR W DID HIS, IT WAS ACTUALLY FILED AT THE SAME THAT THAT REQUIRED STATUTORY, UH, TIME THAT WAS REQUIRED. AND, AND IT WAS TURNED IN WITHIN THE STATUTORY TIMELINE AS REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW. AND AS YOU SEE, UH, EVERYTHING IS DISCLOSED ON THE BE HSTA FORM. AND, UH, THEY DONATED $20,000 CHECK. UH, FRIENDS OF WEST POLICE. K NINE IS A NON-PROFIT SUPPORT ARM OF THE WEST PD CAN NINE UNITS, HUMILITY, HOUSE OF CHARITIES HAS AGREED TO SPONSOR A NEW POLICE CANINE AS ONE IS RETIRING AND, UH, AND SO FORTH. AND, UH, AND, AND, AND, AND SO I AM PROUD TO BE BE, TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER. I AM PROUD, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. I AM PROUD [04:15:01] TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF MY HEART AND MY PASSION, THAT I WAS ABLE TO SECURE A DONATION TO HAVE, MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS ARE A LITTLE SAFER EVERY NIGHT BY HAVING A, A NEW CANINE PART OF OUR, OUR FORCE. AND AFTER WHISTLEBLOWING, THEY, THEY COULD NOT FIRE ME LIKE THEY DID. FIRE CHIEF WHITHORN. CHIEF TAYLOR, CHIEF CAPELLI. SO WHAT DID THEY DO? THEY ATTACK MY DISABILITY. THIS IS MY REQUEST LOOKING INTO IT. THE SECOND THING, AND UH, OKAY, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER GUTTI WAS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT HE HAS AUTISM, THIS AND THAT. OKAY. SO WE REALLY NEED TO APPROVE SHOWING HE REALLY HAVE AAN. SO I, THIS IS ANOTHER REQUEST, UH, SHOWING HE HAS A, LIKE THE ISSUE. AND THE SECOND ONE IS REGARDING THE A DA. OKAY. PEOPLE USING A DA AS EXCUSES NOT GOING TO COMPLY, UH, WITH WHAT THE RULE AND THE REGULATION. YES. SO THIS IS MY MOTHER. MAY I THEY HAVE A SECOND. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THAT'S DISCRIMINATORY AND WITH SUNGLASSES. OKAY? I THINK THIS IS VERY BRIGHT, SO I DON'T KNOW. OKAY. AND MAYBE IT DID COMPLY WITH A DA ABOVE FOR US. OKAY. THIS IS VERY, I DON'T THINK, OKAY, I FEEL LIKE IN ENTERTAINING SALON. OKAY. AND I NEED TO PUT A SUN LOTION BECAUSE THIS UV OKAY, THIS IS REALLY BRIGHT OVER HERE, SO I DON'T KNOW, YOU HAVE TO CHECK ABOUT, MAYBE IT TURNED DOWN A COUPLE NOTCH. OKAY. SO YOU CAN DEMMER OR SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS IS A SITTING OVER HERE. DID YOU SEE I I SECOND THAT MY EYES, IT, IT'S VERY, IT'S A LITTLE HARD TOO. IT'S EVEN, IT'S SUPER BRIGHT. SO DON'T, IT'S A HEALTHY FOR HER TO SIT OVER HERE MORE THAN 20 MINUTES. OTHERWISE I HAVE TO PUT MY SUNGLASSES. I I SECOND IF THEY CAN KINDLY CORRECT THAT, IT'S JUST TOO MUCH. AND OBVIOUSLY IF THE PUBLIC MADE A COMMENT ON THAT, PLEASE CORRECT. THANK YOU. UM, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW. SO, AND, AND SO YOU SAW TWO OCCASIONS AND THEN YOU SAW EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION MULTIPLE TIMES MAYOR RU RETALIATED AGAINST ME, ALL BECAUSE CONST MEMBER GUTIERREZ ASKED THE TOUGH QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE TAXPAYERS, HOW THEIR MONEY WAS BEING USED FOR A EVENT AND HOW MONEY WAS BEING AWARDED TO A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF HIS WIFE'S CHARITY. THAT'S THE TRUE REASON WHY I WAS BEING RETALIATED. BUT THERE WERE GENERALITY REPORT SPECIFICALLY STATES, SHE FOUND NO REASON TO SEE THERE WAS A HISTORY OF EVENTS OCCURRING AGAINST ME. SO WHO'S LYING? AND THIS IS A, A A A VIDEO THAT IS ONLINE. THERE'S OUR, UH, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT, UH, THERE'S OPINIONS ONLINE EVEN FROM THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA, WHICH HAS REQUESTED AN OPINION ON QUESTIONING RELATING TO FEDERAL AMERICA'S DISABILITY ACT, THE CALIFORNIA OPEN MEETING LAW, KNOWN AS THE RALPH M. BROWN ACT. THIS REQUEST IS NOT, UH, RELATING TO ME, BUT IT DOES TALK ABOUT THE AMERICANS DISABILITY ACT. AND IT SAYS, UNDER THE RALPH M. BROWN ACT, A LOCAL AGENCY'S LEGISLATIVE BODY MUST GENERATE, CONDUCT ITS MEETINGS IN PERSON AT LOCATIONS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. DOES THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT NONETHELESS REQUIRE THAT A LOCAL AGENCY'S LEGISLATIVE BODY ALLOW REMOTE PARTICIPATION FOR A MEMBER WITH A QUALIFIED DISABILITY THAT PRECLUDES THEIR IN PERSONAL TENANTS AND MEETINGS OF THE BODY? YES. ATTORNEY GENERAL STATES, THE A DA GENERATING REQUIRES A LOCAL AGENCY'S LEGISLATIVE BODY TO ALLOW REMOTE PARTICIPATION IS A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FROM MEMORY OR QUALIFYING DISABILITY THAT PRECLUDES THEIR IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE AND MEETINGS OF THE BODY. THIS DUTY TO REASONABLY, THIS DUTY TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE IS SUBJECT, HOWEVER, TO THE BROWN ACTS REQUIREMENTS. THE REMOTE PARTICIPATION MUST BE CONDUCTED IN A MATTER THAT STIMULATES IN-PERSON ATTENDANCES AND MEETINGS HELD IN PERSON AT A LOCATION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AND SINCE THIS TIME, SINCE JULY 24TH, 2024, GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM PASSED A LAW WHICH ACTUALLY EVEN EXPANDS THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, UH, TO APPEAR VIRTUALLY. BUT THE, THE FACT ABOUT WHAT I'M POINTING OUT HERE IS THAT EVEN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ACKNOWLEDGES ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ENTITLED TO REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS. THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT REMINDS US TO REFLECT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS CIVIL RIGHTS LAW AND THE CONTINUED WORK WE NEED TO DO TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE DISABILITY RIGHTS PASSED IN 1990, THE A DA WAS THE RESULT OF MANY DECADES OF TIRELESS EFFORTS BY DISABILITY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, MANY OF WHOM HAD DISABILITIES THEMSELVES, THANKS TO THEIR ADVOCACY. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENTITLED TO THE SAME RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS IN SCHOOLS, JOBS, AND PUBLIC PLACES AS THOSE WITHOUT DISABILITIES. AT THE CALIFORNIA DOJ, OUR DISABILITY RIGHTS BUREAU IS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING AND ADVANCING DISABILITY RIGHTS AND ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL. WE'VE WORKED TO EXPAND VOTING ACCESS IN SANTA CRUZ AND KERN COUNTIES DEFENDED ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, SUPPORTED NEW REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE GOVERNMENT WEBSITES MORE ACCESSIBLE, ENSURED EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION [04:20:01] FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND RELEASED PUBLICATIONS AND GUIDANCE REGARDING THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN CALIFORNIA. BUT WHERE FAR FROM DONE, WE WON'T STOP UNTIL ALL BARRIERS TO INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY ARE KNOCKED DOWN AND ALL RESIDENTS OF THE GOLDEN STATE CAN PURSUE THEIR VERSION OF THE CALIFORNIA DREAM. AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE SURE CALIFORNIA REMAINS THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, RAISE A FAMILY, AND START A BUSINESS FOR ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES. I'M PROUD TO DO IT BECAUSE DISABILITY RIGHTS ARE CIVIL RIGHTS. AND SO EARLIER IN THE YEAR OF 2025, MAYOR RU STATES THAT HE'S GIVING, HE'S GONNA TELL THE CAWC TO GIVE UP CONTROL. HE STATES THAT HE'S GONNA TELL THEM TO GIVE UP CONTROL. AND YOU SAW TEXT MESSAGES FROM MAYOR RU EARLIER SAYING THAT THEY WERE GIVING UP CONTROL AND THE CITY WAS GONNA GET MONEY. WELL, AS OF TODAY, UH, AS OF TODAY, NO MONEY FROM THE 2025 MOON FESTIVAL HAS BEEN GIVEN BACK TO THE TAXPAYER'S ACCOUNT OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. AS OF TODAY, NO MONEY HAS BEEN RETURNED FOR AN EVENT LAST YEAR IN OCTOBER. AND AS YOU SEE, THESE WERE INVOICES AND THANKS TO THE GOOD WORK OF OUR ACTIVE CITY MANAGER IN PROVIDING THESE DETAILS TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UM, WE SEE INVOICES THAT WERE CREATED, BUT YOU'RE GONNA SEE THESE INVOICES DON'T MATCH. YOU'RE GONNA SEE SPREADSHEETS THAT DON'T MATCH THE NUMBERS. IT'S LIKE IF IT'S LIKE, UH, IT'S LIKE IF SOMETHING'S BEEN CREATED TO JUST GIVE TO THE CITY AND, AND AS YOU SEE, HERE'S INVOICES THAT SAY PAID. SO IT'S BEEN PAID, BUT WHERE'S THE MONEY? 'CAUSE THE TAXPAYER'S ACCOUNT HERE IN THE CITY OF WEST FNA HAS NOT RECEIVED NOT $1. AND IF I'M, IF I'M MISTAKEN, SOMEONE COULD SPEAK UP, BUT FROM CITY STAFF, BUT HERE YOU GO. SO YOU SEE ALL THESE INVOICES THERE, SAY PAID, BUT WEST FIN HAS NOT GOTTEN, NOT WANT PENNY FROM THAT EVENT. AND, AND SO IT, SO WE KEEP GOING. THERE'S INVOICES AFTER INVOICE, HUNDREDS OF, UH, TONS OF INVOICES. SORRY, TONS OF INVOICES. I DIDN'T COUNT THEM, BUT THERE'S QUITE A FEW. UH, AND IT ALL SHOWS PAID PAY, PAY, PAY PAID, BUT NOT ONE, NOT $1 HAS BEEN GIVEN BACK TO THE TAXPAYER'S ACCOUNT FOR, FOR, FROM AN EVENT WHERE IT WAS CLAIMED THAT MONEY WAS GONNA, THEY WERE GIVING UP CONTROL. OH, JUST FOR YOUR REFERENCE, COUNCILMAN, I MEAN, MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS, HE'S JUST SCROLLING THROUGH A BUNCH OF PAGES. YEAH. SO I'M, I'M SCROLLING THROUGH ALL THE, I'M SORRY AGAIN, NO REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS WERE MADE TO YOU. WELL, IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF STUFF. DID TOM DO A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION LAST, LAST MEETING FOR LIKE WEEK? HE DID. NO, WE'RE DONE, BUT OKAY. YEAH, LET ME FINISH. SO, THANK YOU. UH, SO COUNCILMAN CONTOS, I'M SHOWING ALL THE INVOICES THAT SAY PAID THAT WERE PRODUCED BY CAWC AND GIVEN TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND ROXANNE. AND IT JUST GOES THROUGH ALL THE INVOICES THAT HAVE A PAY MARK THAT CAWC PRODUCED AND SAID THEY COLLECTED, BUT AS OF TODAY, UH, NO MONEY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CITY. UM, IT ALSO SHOWS LIKE SPREADSHEETS OF THE SAME INVOICES, AND IT SHOWS, UM, THAT THE INVOICES THAT SAY PAID DON'T MATCH THE SPREADSHEETS. SO IT'S LIKE A SCROLLING, UH, SILENT VIDEO. AND THEN [04:25:01] THERE'S, UH, A LOGO ON THE RIGHT THAT SAYS, WHERE'S THE MONEY TAXPAYER? AND THEN ON THE RIGHT IS, UH, SO ONE OF THE FILES GIVEN TO THE CITY TO ROXANNE AND MILAN WORE A FILE THAT SAYS ZOW. AND SUPPOSEDLY THIS IS A BANK OF AMERICA'S ZOW RECEIPT. NOW, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A RECEIPT LIKE THIS, BUT THEY SAID THAT THIS IS A Z RECEIPT. AND SO IT SHOWS DETAILS, STATUS PAID ZELLE PAYMENT FROM IT TELLS, IT SAYS WHO PAID IT, IT SAYS THE AMOUNT. THIS ONE'S $440 DATE, APRIL 23RD, 2025. AND IT HAS, IT HAS A CONFIRMATION CODE. UM, AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER Z PAYMENT. OKAY, WE CAN GET THE POINT FOR 180 4, UM, PAID TO HELEN LOU, UM, JEFFREY LAMA. UH, AND SO IT JUST GOES ON WITH DIFFERENT, UH, Z RECEIPTS. AND, UH, LET'S, THAT'S 8-YEAR-OLD JENNIFER KEELAN AND HER MOM, CINDY. LET'S LOOK AT ANOTHER SNAPSHOT THERE. THAT'S JENNIFER CRAWLING UP 83 STEPS ON HER HANDS AND KNEES TO THE TOP OF THE US CAPITOL. AND HERE'S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT AT THE TIME, ALL NIGHT, IF I HAVE TO, JENNIFER WAS YOUNG FACE OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED ADAPT AMERICAN DISABLED FOR ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSIT. ADAPT REPLACE THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF DISABLED PEOPLE AS HELPLESS AND DEPENDENT WITH A NEW IMAGE OF WHEELCHAIR WARRIORS ADAPT AND OTHER DISABILITY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS KNEW THEY NEEDED TO PUSH FOR SOMETHING EVEN BIGGER. THE A DA AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT WAS A GROUNDBREAKING CIVIL RIGHTS BILL TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AND REQUIRE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IN 1988, AFTER DECADES OF WORK BY ADAPT AND OTHER ACTIVISTS AND LOBBYISTS, THE A DA WAS FINALLY INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS, BUT THE ACT GOT STALLED IN THE HOUSE. THAT'S WHEN ADAPT DECIDED TO KNOCK IT LOOSE. A DA NOW ADAPT. PROTESTERS LED A MARCH OF MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE DOWN PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE IN DC. JENNIFER, WHO HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CEREBRAL PALSY AT H TWO, WAS RIGHT THERE WITH THEM MARCHING ALL THE WAY TO THE CAPITOL, WHERE CONGRESS WAS MEETING TO DEBATE THE A DA AT THE FOOT OF THE CAPITOL. MEMBERS DROPPED TO THE GROUND FROM THEIR WHEELCHAIRS AND STARTED THE CLIMB UP BACKWARDS OR ON THEIR HANDS AND KNEES, WHATEVER THEY COULD MANAGE. THEY WERE DETERMINED TO SHOW THE PUBLIC WHAT IT TOOK FOR THEM TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE LIKE ALL OTHER AMERICANS. JUST FOUR MONTHS LATER, PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNED THE A DA INTO LAW. THE A DA WAS THE LIFE-CHANGING CIVIL RIGHTS ACT. IT MEANT DISABLED AMERICANS COULDN'T BE DENIED ACCESS TO HOUSING, SCHOOLS, JOBS, AND CIVIC LIFE ANY LONGER. AND THAT'S WHAT THE CAPITOL CRAWL WAS FOR, SO THAT ALL THE OTHER CHILDREN WHO CAME AFTER JENNIFER WOULD BE ABLE TO RIDE. AND SO, SO MUCH MORE. AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS, UM, UH, WHATEVER MY CONSOLE COLLEAGUES DECIDE TO DO TODAY, I KNOW THE TAXPAYERS HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE TRUTH AND THE FACTS. AND I WAS ELECTED TO ENSURE THAT TAXPAYER FUNDS ARE PROTECTED, AND I'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. UH, AS A PERSON WHO GREW UP IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, UH, A CHILD WHO WAS PHYSICALLY MENTALLY ABUSED AS A CHILD WITH AUTISM, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS TAUGHT IS THAT NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER LET PEOPLE TEAR YOU DOWN. BECAUSE AS LONG AS YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND YOU DO WHAT YOUR HEART AND PASSION REQUIRES, THAT ALL THINGS ARE ACHIEVABLE, AND YOU, YOU COULD PURSUE IT. AND WHEN I DO THE JOB AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I TAKE THAT WITH HEART AND PASSION BECAUSE THAT'S THE HONOR. THE VOTERS OF DISTRICT ONE GAVE ME TO BE THEIR VOICE. AND AS A PERSON WHO, UH, ONCE CAME FROM NOTHING, UH, IT'S SOMETHING I AM PROUD AND AND HONORED TO BE. AND THE REASON WHY, AGAIN, WHY I SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS, WHY I SUPPORT OUR FIGHTER FIGHTERS, BECAUSE I WAS ONCE A CHILD IN FOSTER CARE WHEN, AND OFFICERS WERE THE ONES WHO TOOK ME OUT OF HARM'S WAY. SO, UM, EVERYTHING I DO IS WITH HEART AND PASSION, AND THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO STUCK AROUND. AND, UM, WE DID GO OVER, WE ALLOWED HIM OVER TWO HOURS OF PRESENTATION. WE'RE GOING ON MIDNIGHT RIGHT NOW. I KNOW THE CLOCKS HAVEN'T BEEN FIXED TO ONE HOUR AHEAD, SO IT'S ACTUALLY, UM, GETTING TO MIDNIGHT. UM, SO I KNOW LOTS OF ALLEGATIONS WERE MADE TONIGHT. I'M NOT GONNA ARGUE WE'VE ALREADY VOTED TO TAKE THIS TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS THEY HAVE SUBPOENA POWERS. THAT'S ONE. LASTLY, THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE INVESTIGATION REPORT. AND IF YOU SEE ON THE INVESTIGATION, IT SAYS, [04:30:01] COMPLAINTS ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER BRIAN GUTIERREZ GUTIERREZ ENGAGED IN UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT THAT OTHERS REASONABLY PERCEIVED AS INTIMIDATING AND RETALIATORY. IT WAS SUSTAINED. AND THIS WAS REPORTED BY MULTIPLE STAFF MEMBERS. THAT WHOLE REPORT, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT, UM, IN THE PAST WHILE HIS WHOLE PRESENTATION, IT HASN'T ADDRESSED ANY OF THE FINDINGS AGAINST HIM, UH, THAT WERE ALL SUSTAINED. COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ SHOW NO REMORSE OF ANY OF THE ACTIONS HE HAS DONE OR TAKEN ANY ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HIS TREATMENT TO STAFF AND THE PUBLIC. THIS IS ESSENTIAL ON GUTIERREZ THIS EVENING, THE FOCUS WAS ON HIM. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. DOES COUNCIL WANT OKAY. UH, ANYTHING TO SAY? COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WAS A LOT TO TAKE IN. AND, UM, I, UH, JUST ONE THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT, UM, I DID NOT LOBBY FOR MY HUSBAND. UM, THAT IS A FLAT OUT LIE. AND, UM, I JUST WANNA MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. CAN WE HAVE A MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND? ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO COMMENT? SECOND? SAY AGAIN. RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO SET. OH, WAIT HERE. SORRY. OH, IT'S READY FOR YOU IN CASE YOU NEED IT. UM, SO WE HAVE A MOTION IS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION OF CENSURE. CORRECT. AND THEN WE HAVE A SECOND ROLL CALL, EXCUSE ME. MOTION MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WU TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION FOR C SENSOR. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ? NO. COUNCILMAN. W AYE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. AYE. MAYOR PRO CONTOS SAID MY PIECE LAST TIME. ABSTAIN. MAYOR LOPEZ, VIDO AYE. MOTION PASSES. AND I LIKE TO MAKE SURE HOW WE CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE CITY AND STAFF. THAT IS OUR GOAL MOVING FORWARD. PROTECT THE CITY AND PROTECT THE CITY STAFF. UM, NOW ON CITY [MAYOR/COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS] COUNCIL REPORTS, UH, ANY AB 1, 2, 3, 4 CONFERENCE AND MEETING REPORTS? NONE. I HAVE A QUESTION. AFTER WE PASS ACCENTURE, DO WE HAVE A FOLLOW UP ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO? OKAY. ABOUT THIS ACCENTURE. OKAY. MAYBE THE CITY ATTORNEY OR CT MANAGER CAN SHINE. WHAT KIND OF, UH, ACTION THE CT HAVE TO TAKE TO PROTECT THE STAFF SO WE DON'T CONTINUE TO GET HARASSED OR INTIMIDATE? UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WU, UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION, I BELIEVE IT'S THE SECOND TO LAST PARAGRAPH OF THE RESOLUTION, UM, THAT REFERS SPECIFICALLY TO THE JAMELE REPORT AND ITS FINDINGS. UM, AND IT IS SPECIFICALLY DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER, UM, TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO PROTECT, UH, THE STAFF. UM, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT'S NOT, YOU CAN ALSO REAFFIRM THAT THROUGH, UH, THIS PARTICULAR VOTE OR ANYTHING ELSE. BUT THE DIRECTION IT SEEMS THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN IS THERE HAS BEEN A SUSTAINED FINDING, UM, REGA, UH, REGARDING, UH, HARASSMENT OR INTIMIDATION OF STAFF. UM, AND THE CENSURE IS, IS MEANT TO GIVE A FORMAL CONDEMNATION OF THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR. THE CITY MANAGER, I, HE CAN SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, BUT I BELIEVE THAT HE'S RECEIVED THE MESSAGE, UH, FROM THE COUNSEL REGARDING ACTIONS GOING FORWARD AND WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO TO PROTECT STAFF. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, CITY MANAGER, DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? YES. I HAVE CLEAR DIRECTION AND I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT I'M GONNA DO TO PROTECT MY STAFF FROM ANY FURTHERANCE OF THIS ABUSE. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, OKAY. NOW MOVING FORWARD. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS? NO. AB 1 12 34 CITY COUNCIL REQUEST. COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YES. I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, CONDUCT A SENSOR HEARING, I BELIEVE, IS THAT THE CORRECT TERM? UH, TO HAVE A SENSOR HEARING THAT WAS OFF? UH, YES, THAT'S THE CORRECT TERM. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, TO CONDUCT A SENSOR HEARING ON A COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, TONY WU, UH, ESPECIALLY FOR THE RECENT, UH, LAWSUIT THAT WAS FIRED, FILED, UH, BY VINCENT CAPELLI, UH, FIRED FORMER FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF VEO. IS THERE A SECOND? SEEING NONE. MOTION DIES. ANY OTHER COUNSEL, UH, REQUEST I'LL MAKE A, ANOTHER COUNSEL REQUEST TO ASK THAT THE CITY INVESTIGATE THE FINDINGS IN THE VINCENT CAPELLI LAWSUIT TO INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGATIONS THAT VINCENT CAPELLI HAS MADE IN HIS, HIS LAWSUIT. IS THERE A SECOND? SEEING NONE. MOTION DIES. ANOTHER COUNCIL REQUEST. OKAY. UM, AND THEN, OF COURSE, MY REQUEST IS TO PLEASE FIX THE CLOCKS [04:35:01] AND THE TIME. UH, CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS. UH, MAYOR PROM, CONTOS. I'M GOING TO COMPLETELY SWITCH GEARS BECAUSE I HAVE OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, ACTUALLY, UM, UH, JUST FROM THE PAST MEETING, I, UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU TO WEST COVINA. BEAUTIFUL. UH, I'VE COMPLETELY FORGOT. UH, WE, WE ACTUALLY, THE, UH, THE MAYOR AND I, UH, ATTENDED THE, THE EVENT THERE AND WE HONORED, UH, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND, AND OTHERS. AND IT WAS JUST A NICE EVENT THAT, UH, BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER. AND ANOTHER THANK YOU TO, UH, THE ROTARY CLUB OF, OF WEST COVINA. UH, IT WAS TALKED ABOUT IN THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS. AND AGAIN, I WAS WITH THE MAYOR THERE, AND SHE AND I SPOKE THERE, AND VARIOUS OF US ALSO, UH, REALLY WORKED TO, TO REPAINT THE, THE VARIOUS ARENAS THERE. AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY EVENT THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND SO FORTH. AND THAT'S THE SORT OF THING THAT, THAT, UH, THIS IS NOT FLUFFY STUFF. THIS IS STUFF IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO, TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. AND WE DO THAT LITERALLY AT TIMES BY OUR, LITERALLY BY OUR OWN HANDS. AND THAT IS THE SORT OF THING THAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON. AND I JUST WANTED TO BE, TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS FOR, FOR ALL OF THE, THE ACTIVISM SUPPORT, THE VARIOUS YOUTH GAMES, THE SENIOR ACTIVITIES, UH, EFFORTS BY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED. IT JUST GOES ON EVERY DAY. AND SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'M FOCUSING ON. I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS WHO CONTINUE TO DO WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR EM, AND AS HE MENTIONED, HE AND I HAVE BEEN INTO MANY OF THOSE COMMUNITY EVENTS. UM, I DID LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'LL RECOGNIZE THEM. I KNOW A LOT OF THEM ARE STILL WORKING ON A VARIETY OF THINGS, FIXING PAINTING. IT'S NICE TO SEE THE VOLUNTEERISM THAT IS OCCURRING. UM, MY FOCUS HAS ALWAYS, AND WILL ALWAYS BE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY. AND, UM, I WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AND FOCUS ON ALL THOSE AND HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD THAT IS IN OUR CITY. AND, UM, WE'LL BE PRESENTING SOME OF THOSE IN THE NEAR FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING. ANY OTHER CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS? [CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS] COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YES. AND I JUST WANNA LEAVE UP BY SAYING, UH, AGAIN, YOU RESIDENCE, YOU SAW TONIGHT, YOU SAW THE REAL EVIDENCE, YOU SAW THE REAL FACTS, YOU SAW, UH, EVIDENCE THAT DOESN'T HIDE. AND YOU SAW THAT THE JAMALI REPORT INDEED, IN FACT, LEFT OUT SUBSTANTIAL FACTUAL BASIS, UH, FOR, FOR THE DECISIONS THAT SHE CAME TO CONCLUSION. UH, AND, AND YOU SAW THAT THE EVIDENCE IN, IN THE, IN THE CASE I BROUGHT TODAY BEFORE THE PUBLIC, UH, I'M, WHAT WHAT THEY DECIDED TODAY TO DO A CENSOR OR NOT DOESN'T AFFECT ME BECAUSE IT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC BELIEVES IS WHAT THE VOTERS KNOW AND WHAT THE VOTERS WILL KNOW IN EVIDENCE THAT WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL. AND AGAIN, I AM HONORED, UH, TO BE YOUR ADVOCATE ON THIS CITY COUNCIL, AND I'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THANK YOU. UM, I HAVE A QUICK COMMENT. I KNOW WE ARE DISCUSSING ABOUT TAXPAYER FUNDS. I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF CITY STAFF HAVE GOTTEN THE INFORMATION TO US. UM, YOU KNOW, WE PRESENT ALL THIS WASTE OF MONEY THAT IS OCCURRING. UH, HOW MUCH HAS CITY WASTED OR CITY TAXPAYER FUNDS JUST ON MR. COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ'S PERSONAL VENDETTA OF LIKE WITH THE CITY LAWSUITS AND EVERYTHING? I'M CURIOUS ON WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT. I DOUBT, I THOUGHT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GEN GENERALIZED. 'CAUSE I ASKED THAT LAST TIME. WELL, THAT WAS GENDERIZED. I MADE THAT IN THE REQUEST. BUT WHERE WE'RE AT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAXPAYER FUNDS. I'M JUST CURIOUS ON, YEAH. SO, UM, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SINCE SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT CALENDAR YEAR? WHAT? YES. IT'S, UH, WELL, SINCE, SINCE, SINCE THIS STARTED? YEAH. 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH A LOT OF CITY. I KNOW IN THE PRESENTATION, THE CITY ATTORNEYS, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING. BUT I KNOW IT'S NORTH OF 300,000. SO HE'S USED UP ALREADY 300,000. 300. OKAY. AND THEN HOW MUCH HAS, UH, TONY W COST THE CITY IN THE CASES YOU REPRESENTING HIM IN? SO WI LARRY WHITHORN, MARK TAYLOR, DO YOU RECALL THAT AMOUNT? BECAUSE I KNOW THE, THE SETTLEMENT FROM LARRY WHITHORN CASE, WHAT IT'S ABOUT? WELL, AGAIN, THIS WE'RE OR POINT, WELL, YOU HAD A CHANCE. LET ME, UH, UH, DO YOU HAVE A FLOOR? REMEMBER? HEY, YES. EXCUSE ME. OKAY, GO AHEAD. HERE WE GO. SO A QUICK QUESTION. WELL, I'M ASKING THE SAME THING YOU ASKED. AND, AND SO THE, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS HOW MUCH HAS ME, ME FIGHTING IN COURT IS ME PROTECTING MY RIGHTS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER WITH THE DUTIES I'M GIVEN BY THE VOTERS BECAUSE I'M BEING TRAINED. I'M BEING CENSORED, I'M BEING, UH, CUT OFF FROM OVERSIGHT. UH, SO THERE'S LEGITIMATE REASON FOR THAT. BUT HOW [04:40:01] MUCH DID COUNCIL MEMBER WU COST THE CITY IN PAYOUTS TO TAXPAYERS? AND SECOND, MY, I THINK MY SECOND QUESTION TO THAT IS, IS THE CITY NOT OBLIGATED TO REPORT OUT SETTLEMENTS TO THE, TO THE TAXPAYERS? UH, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE LEGAL QUESTION. I CAN ANSWER THE OTHER ONES. WHAT, WHAT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION? YEAH, SO HOW MUCH DID THE LARRY WHITHORN CASE COST THAT YOU REPRESENTED? YOU MEAN, WHAT WAS THE JUDGMENT IN THE DAIRY W HORN CASE? WELL, I THINK, OR WAS A JUDGMENT. WELL, IT'S BOTH. SO THE, THE 'CAUSE YOUR LAW, YOU REPRESENTING THAT CASE, SO HOW MUCH FROM THE BEGINNING, THE START OF THAT CASE TO THE END OF THAT CASE, HOW MUCH DID THAT COST TO TAXPAYERS? AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, HOW MUCH WAS THE SET ON, I MEAN, SORRY, HOW MUCH WAS THE VERDICT AMOUNT IN THE END OF THE DAY? UH, WHEN YOU SAY HOW MUCH DID IT COST THE TAXPAYERS, YOU ALL HAD A-J-P-I-A, UM, THAT WAS, SO THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT TAXPAYER. SORRY. IT COST TAXPAYER. SORRY, DO YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER THE QUESTION? GO AHEAD. SORRY. THANK YOU. UM, SO YOU HAD A-J-P-I-A, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT YOUR DEDUCTIBLE WAS. I DO NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THAT. AND FRANKLY, I DON'T HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE LEGAL FEES WERE IN THAT. I COULD TELL YOU APPROXIMATELY WHAT THE JUDGMENT WAS. I DO RECALL THAT GENERALLY, BUT I DON'T RECALL THE LEGAL FEES SPECIFICALLY. OKAY. YEAH. 'CAUSE OUR, OUR DEDUCTIBLE FOR AUR, I MEAN, I THINK THE ARGUMENT'S ALWAYS BEEN, OH, WE HAVE INSURANCE, SO IT DOESN'T COUNT. IT'S, IT COUNTS, IT'S OUR PREMIUM. DO YOU LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? I'M JUST MAKING A STATEMENT, BUT THEN, THEN YES. MR. O'CONNELL, CAN YOU PLEASE, UH, AFTER THE INTERESTS AND AFTER THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING TO SHOOT IT BACK DOWN, HOW MUCH WAS THE FINAL PAYOUT? DO YOU KNOW? HOLD ON. THAT, THAT WOULD BE A COUNCIL REQUEST. I KNOW I'VE PERSONALLY MADE, WAIT, I MAY, I PERSONALLY HAD MADE IN THE PAST OF COUNSEL REQUEST OF HOW MUCH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER HAS SPENT AND WASTED CITY TAXPAYERS MONEY. I WAS JUST ASKING ON THIS ONE. BUT YES, FEEL FREE TO BRING IT UP TO, UM, OUR FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING ON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US OF WHAT WE'VE ALL SPENT. SO CAN HE ANSWER THE QUESTION? THAT'S A, IT'S, SO IS THIS JUST LIMITED TO WHAT THE YEAH, THE FINAL, FINAL AMOUNT OF THE SETTLE, I MEAN, SORRY, THE FINAL AMOUNT OF THE, OF THE PAYOUT? YEAH. THE JUDGMENT. THE JUDGMENT, YES. I BELIEVE THAT THE, THAT, UH, YOUR JPIA HAD PAID OUT THE JUDGMENT ALREADY. MM-HMM . UM, I CAN'T RECALL IF IT WAS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 4 MILLION, BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS APPROXIMATELY $4 MILLION. OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. AND AGAIN, MY FOCUS IS ON DIRECT COSTS. 'CAUSE I KNOW EVERY TIME WE SEND THE CITY ATTORNEY AN EMAIL AND YOU HAVE TO RESPOND, THAT BILLS US. SO WE GET BILLED FOR EVERY LITTLE DETAIL. SO I JUST WANTED THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT EACH OF US CAN COST THE CITY TAXPAYERS MONEY. UM, BUT THAT BEING SAID, UM, I THINK ANYTHING ELSE, ANY OTHER CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS? UM, IT, UM, MADAM MAYOR, I'M, I APOLOGIZE. I'M STILL SORT OF JUST RE I MEAN JUST I REALIZE COUNCIL REQUESTS HAVE PASSWORD. MAY I, MAY I MAKE A RE A POLICY REQUEST? SURE. UM, THANK YOU. UH, I, I'D LIKE TO, UM, BRING UP HOW THERE'S, THERE'S A DATA THERE. THERE'S A DATA CENTER PROCESS FOR APPROVAL, UM, IN THE CITY OF INDUSTRY. AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING WITH WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF, OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS WORKING ON WATER CONSERVATION AND SO FORTH. SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WE, WE, UM, THAT STAFF, UH, RE UH, REQUESTED AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT SO THAT IT'S, UH, FROM THEM JUST TO SORT OF SEE HOW IT AFFECTS ALL OF US. BECAUSE THOSE DATA CENTERS LITERALLY WILL CAU CAUSE A, A SIGNIFICANT USAGE OF WATER, WHICH WILL AFFECT ALL OF US, WHICH COULD ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE PRICES OF THE WATER WE PAY AND SO FORTH. SO AT A VERY MINIMUM, IF WE COULD, I REALIZE IT'S ANOTHER JURISDICTION, BUT IT DOES AFFECT US BECAUSE WE'RE THE SAME BASIN. SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT REQUEST THAT IF STAFF COULD FOLLOW UP ON THAT, I'LL SECOND. OKAY. AND, UH, MAYOR CAN, YEAH. OKAY. I, I WANT TO FOLLOW, UH, WHAT, UH, MAYOR KENTO MAYOR PUT AND KENTO TALK ABOUT. I THINK THEY TALKING ABOUT NOT ONLY THE DATA PROCESSING, I THINK THEY EVEN TALK ABOUT BATTERY STORAGE. YES. BATTERY STORAGE TOO. YES. YEAH, I THINK THE MOST SCARY IS THE BATTERY STORAGE BECAUSE THE BATTERY, A LOT OF BATTERY IS CANNOT BE RECYCLED. AND UNLESS IT'S ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDOUS BECAUSE YOU HAVE SO MANY OF, UH, ELECTRIC CAR AND THAT BATTERY WHEN THEY DIE WHERE YOU PUT IT. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WANNA PUT IS A NEW BATTERY OR THE DEAD BATTERY, BUT THEY TALK ABOUT BATTERY STORAGE AND THAT IS POTENTIALLY ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDOUS. SO, SO I THINK YEAH, IF WE CAN RESEARCH WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO. OKAY. BECAUSE THEY ARE AT A FORMAL OKAY. AND BACK TO FUTURE SHOPPING MALL AND THERE'S A BIG, HUGE AREA AND THEN THEY WANT TO MAKE IT ENTIRE AS A STORAGE. SO IT'S VERY CLOSE TO WEST COVINA. SO POTENTIALLY IT GOING TO AFFECT US. SO, SO I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK INTO WHAT THAT IMPACT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE AREA, AND THEN WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA TO MAKE SURE, OKAY. THE WATER, [04:45:01] THE ENVIRONMENTAL IS NOT GOING TO BE, UM, A LIVING HAZARDOUS FOR EVERYBODY. AND, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR PROTON FOR BRINGING THAT UP. UM, I DID TOO RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM, UH, THE PERSON THAT BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION WITH ALL THE INFORMATION AND IT WAS GOOD INFORMATION AND I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP. I DO SUPPORT THAT. SO HOPEFULLY 'CAUSE THAT WILL AFFECT US, WHERE THAT'S OUR NEIGHBORING CITY AND WHAT THEY DO THERE WILL AFFECT US. SO, UH, PLEASE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. ANY OTHER, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS, MADAM MAYOR? UH, JUST ONE LAST, UH, QUESTION. UM, UH, MR. ACTING CITY MANAGER, WHEN WILL THE SPAIN NEUTER SPAIN NEUTERING MICRO SHIPPING ISSUE, UH, BE BROUGHT UP FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION? BECAUSE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP TODAY. UH, BUT, BUT THERE WERE OTHER THINGS THAT DI THAT CAUSED DELAYS. SO JUST GENERALLY C CAN YOU PLEASE PROVIDE A, A DATE BY PUBLICLY BY WHICH WE WILL BRING THAT, YOU WILL BRING THAT BACK WITH CO A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR PREVIOUSLY. YEAH. I APOLOGIZE THAT THERE WERE SOME DELAYS WITH, UH, THINGS GOING ON. UM, IT WILL COME BEFORE YOU THE SECOND MEETING OF APRIL FOR SURE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. YOU'RE WELCOME. UH, COUNCILMAN. OKAY. AND REALLY QUICK. OKAY. THE SWEET SWEEPING WEEKLY. OKAY. AND, UH, WE NEED TO HAVE, UH, AT LEAST ONE LIE AND UH, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME CHANGE IN OKAY. SOME AREA, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THE SWEEPER CAN CLEAN THE TREE AND MAKE IT CLEAN. AND THAT'S HOW WE PAY THEM FOR THAT ITEM IS ON THE APRIL 7TH AGENDA. OKAY. COUNCILMAN TERRACE? YES. UH, DO WE KNOW THE STATUS OF THE PARKS PLAN? THE CHAIR, IF I MAY? YES, WE DO KNOW THE STATUS OF THE PARKS PLAN. WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING TO, AND I'VE TALKED TO A FEW OF YOU SEPARATELY ABOUT THIS 'CAUSE YOU'VE HAD INDIVIDUAL INQUIRIES THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER. UM, SO WHAT WE HAVE DECIDED ON, WE DO HAVE A DRAFT PROPOSAL, BUT WE WANNA GIVE THE COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT PROPOSAL BEFORE COMING TO COUNCIL. UM, AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS TRULY SOMETHING THAT'S REFLECTED THE COMMUNITY. SO WE WILL BE SCHEDULING ANOTHER MEETING FOR THE COMMUNITY, UM, IN THE COMING WEEKS. OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE. IT IS PAST MIDNIGHT. WE'RE WEDNESDAY THE NEXT DAY. UH, MEETING ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.