* 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. [00:00:08] GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. [CALL TO ORDER] OOPS. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. UH, WELCOME TO OUR OCTOBER 20TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING. IT IS 7:10 PM MEETING IS NOW IN SESSION. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL DURING ORAL COMMUNICATION MUST COMPLETE A SPEAKER CARD AVAILABLE AT THE ENTRANCE AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND SUBMIT IT TO THE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK BEFORE ORAL COMMUNICATION BEGINS. SPEAKER CARDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED ONCE ORAL COMMUNICATION HAS STARTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SB707. AFTER ALL SPEAKERS WHO ARE PRESENT IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS HAVE FINISHED, WE WILL THEN HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATING REMOTELY. TONIGHT'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY PASTOR SAMUEL MARTINEZ FROM AMAZING LOVE MINISTRIES AND COUNCILMAN WU WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. ALL RISE. OH, SORRY. IS YOUR MIC ON? OKAY, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU AGAIN. HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE GATHER HERE THIS EVENING, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY IN AMERICA. AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OUR AMERICAN SOLDIERS, MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE STOOD IN THE GAP FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT WE SO RICHLY ENJOY. AND HELP US NOT TO TAKE THOSE FREEDOMS FOR GRANTED, EVEN AS, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET READY TO VOTE, THOSE THAT HAVEN'T VOTED YET. AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE REMEMBER ALSO THE WORDS THAT IN GOD WE TRUST THE MOTTO OF AMERICA. IN YOU, WE DO TRUST HEAVENLY FATHER. AND THAT'S WHY WE ASK YOU TO GRANT WISDOM TO OUR MAYOR, GRANT WISDOM TO ALL THOSE IN AUTHORITY IN THIS CITY, GRANT WISDOM TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THIS CITY. AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS OUR BUSINESSES, THAT YOU PROTECT OUR SCHOOLS TO CONTINUE TO STAY SAFE HAVENS, THAT OUR STREETS CONTINUE TO BE SAFE. FATHER, W- WE ASK THAT AS WE CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF OUR CITY, EVEN WHERE WE DISAGREE THAT WE BE HONORABLE AND RESPECTFUL, WORTHY OF THE CITIZENS THAT WE ARE OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND OF WEST COVINA. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS OUR GREAT CITY OF WES COVINA. IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. PLEASE PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND TO YOUR HEART AND FACE THE FLAG AND FOLLOW MY LEAK. BETTY? GO. ROLL CALL PLEASE. GOOD EVENING MAY - GOOD EVENING MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ. HERE. COUNCILMAN TONY WU? YEP. COUNCILWOMAN ROSARIO DIAZ. HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS. MAYOR LOPEZ VILLADO. PRESENT. UH, CITY ATTORNEY, IS THERE ANYTHING TO REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION? NOTHING TO REPORT MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ONTO PRESENTATIONS. [PRESENTATIONS ] ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION CELEBR - UH, CELEBRATING FIRE PREVENTION WEEK. I'D LIKE TO INVITE FIRE CHIEF GREG, ERIN SHIROMA, PRINCIPAL OF SAN, SAN JOSE CHARTER ACADEMY, AND JAMILA WONG TO THE FRONT. COME ON. YAY, YOU'RE WEARING PINK. SO THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON EVERYDAY CHAR - UH, CHARGING HABITS THAT REDUCE THE RISK OF OVERHEATING, SMOKE, FIRE A- AND BATTERY FAILURE. MOST PREVENTABLE BATTERY FIRE PROBLEMS DO NOT BEGIN WITH DRAMATIC ABUSE. THEY BEGIN WITH SHORTCUTS, THE WRONG CHARGER, A DAMAGED CABLE, CHARGING ON A BED, LEAVING LARGE BATTERY POWERED EQUIPMENT PLUGGED IN NEAR AN EXIT, OR IGNORING EARLY WARNING SIGNS LIKE SWELLING, HEAT, OR STRANGE ODOR, UH, ODOR. SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UH, PASS IT TO YOU AND FURTHER EXPLAIN. SO WE HAD FIRE PREVENTION OPEN HOUSE, UM, TWO, TWO SATURDAYS AGO, AND IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. WE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS COME BY. UM, WE HAD SOME DEMONSTRATIONS. AND AT THAT TIME, WE HAD LOOK, UH, REACHED OUT TO OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND ASKED THEM FOR A POSTER CONTEST TO SEND OUR MESSAGE. AND WITH THAT, WE HAD 20 ENTRIES. THEY WERE ALL VOTED ON AT OPEN HOUSE AND JAMILA WON. SHE'S A THIRD GRADER AT CHARTER ACADEMY OR SAN JOSE CHARTER ACADEMY. SO LET'S GIVE HER A HAND. SO WITH [00:05:01] HER TONIGHT IS HER PRINCIPAL AND, AND HER PRINCIPAL'S NAME'S ERIN SHAROMA. AND THEN ALSO HER TEACHER SHOWED UP. SHE'S ON THE GROUND, SITTING ON GROUND, BUT I'M GONNA HAVE HER COME UP WHEN SHE'S DONE FILMING. HER NAME'S CELIA STANLEY AND THEY MUST BE SUPER PROUD. AND YOUR MOM AND YOUR GRANDMA ARE HERE TOO, RIGHT? YEAH. SUPER PROUD. SO AS SHE WON IT, WE WERE GOING TO GIVE HER A BASKET OF, OF, OF GOODIES WITH HER POSTER. MIKE, CAN YOU SHOW THEM... THAT'S CHIEF BROWN. CAN YOU JUST LIFT HER POSTER UP? IT'S IN THE BACK. YEAH. AND IT'S IN THE... IT'S, IT'S STICKING OUT. NO, THERE WE GO. SO HER POSTER WAS ALSO PUT ON A DECAL AND THAT DECAL WILL GO ON OUR FIRE ENGINE ONE. IT'LL BE THERE, UH, FOR HOW LONG, MIKE? IS IT THERE FOR? FOR THE NEXT MONTH. SO IT SAYS POSTER CONTEST WINNER, SAN JOSE CHARTER ACADEMY. AND THAT'S THE PICTURE SHE DREW. IT'S BEHIND YOU HERE. THAT'S THE WINNING, THE WINNING PICTURE. AND YOU JUST CAN'T SEE IT VERY WELL ON THE DECAL BECAUSE IT'S GOT A STICK ON THE RIG. SO GREAT, GREAT, JUST A GREAT COMMUNI - JUST A GREAT MESSAGE AND JUST GREAT ART. AND WE'RE SO, SO PROUD OF YOU. ALSO, YEAH. LASTLY, THE SCHOOL, UH, RECEIVES A, OUR PLAQUE THAT HAS MADE IT AROUND TO ALL THE SCHOOLS OVER THE YEARS. THEY, THEY HANG THIS PLAQUE FOR THE WHOLE YEAR AND THEIR SCHOOL IS ON THE LAST, THE LAST ENTRY AS THE WINNER THIS YEAR. IT'LL, IT'LL HANG ON THE WALL FOR THE WHOLE YEAR AT THE SCHOOL. WE HOPE YOU DISPLAY IT PROUDLY FOR, FOR EVERYONE. AND, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL S - WE'LL HELP YOU CARRY THAT OUT IF YOU NEED HELP, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHAT YEAR? OH, LET'S SEE HERE. 2018. LASTLY, WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR JAMILA. JAMILA, IT SAYS, IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE 2026 FIRE PREVENTION WEEK POSTER CONTEST, CHARGE INTO FIRE SAFETY, SAFE CHARGING IS A SUPERPOWER. AND I SIGNED IT AND WE WANNA THANK YOU. SO HERE YOU GO. NOW THEY WANNA HEAR FROM YOU. I KNOW YOU'RE A BEAUTIFUL ARTIST AND JUST WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE THING AND JUST ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? I WANNA S - I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE, FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND TEACHERS FROM SAN JOSE CHARTER ACADEMY AND I'LL KEEP WORKING HARD. YAY. YAY. AND THEN HERE'S YOUR PRINCIPAL. UM, I, I WANNA THANK, UM, THE CITY OF WEST COVINA ALONG WITH, UM, WEST COVINA FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR ALLOWING OUR CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE AND COMMUNICATE THROUGH ART. WONDERFUL. SO HERE'S OUR TEACHER. HERE YOU GO. SAY A FEW WORDS. UH, I'M, I'M SUPER PROUD OF JAMILA AND I SEE HER ART IN THE CLASSROOM ALL THE TIME, SO I'M GLAD SHE WON. YAY, PERFECT. SO ON, UH, BEHALF... NOW WE'RE GONNA TAKE A GROUP PHOTO, BUT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, WE ARE PROCLAIMING THIS NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK. UH, THE CITY OF WEST COVINA IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL THOSE LIVING AND IN AND VISITING WEST COVINA. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. PERFECT TIME FOR HALLOWEEN TOO, ALL THOSE GOODIES. ALL RIGHT. SO UP NEXT WE HAVE, UH, PROCLAMATION HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS AND SUPPORT SERVICES. I'D LIKE TO INVITE POLICE CHIEF TONY CORTINA AND RECORDS MANAGER ERICA DE LA CUEVA TO THE FRONT. SO LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL APPRECIATION WEEK IS AN ANNUAL RECOGNITION OF THE PROFESSIONALS WHO MAINTAIN, MANAGE, AND SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS. THESE INDIVIDUALS ENSURE THAT INFORMATION IS ACCURATE, COMPLETE, AND ACCESSIBLE, SUPPORTING INVESTIGATIONS, PROSECUTIONS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY STAFF, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. UH, MY NAME IS TONY CORTINO. I'M YOUR CHIEF OF POLICE, AND I HAVE OUR ERICA, UH, ERICA DE LA CUEVA HERE WHO'S OUR, UH, POLICE RECORDS MANAGER. AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE... AND I ALSO HAVE SOME S - UH, WE HAVE DANNY HERE WHO'S ALSO FIRE RECORDS BUREAU, AND WE HAVE ONE OF OUR DISPATCHERS HERE JUST FOR SUPPORT AS WELL. SO I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY FOR HER. [00:10:01] UH, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE RECORDS APPRECIATION WEEK AND TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE OUTSTANDING PERSONNEL WHO SERVE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT'S RECORD BUREAU. WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT POLICING, THEY OFTEN THINK ABOUT PATROL OFFICERS, DETECTIVES, AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. HOWEVER, BEHIND EVERY SUCCESSFUL POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A TEAM OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHOSE WORK IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR DAILY OPERATIONS. OUR RECORDS PERSONNEL MANAGE THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTS, PROCESS REPORTS, MAINTAIN CRITICAL INFORMATION, ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH COMPLEX LAWS, AND PROVIDE IMPORTANT SERVICES TO BOTH OUR OFFICERS AND TO THE PUBLIC. THEIR WORK REQUIRES EXCEPTIONAL ATTENTION TO DETAIL, PROFESSIONALISM, ACCURACY, AND A COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. ALTHOUGH MUCH OF WHAT THEY DO HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS DIRECTLY SUPPORT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, OFFICER EFFECTIVENESS, PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY, AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. I OFTEN SAY THAT, UH, A SEXUAL, A SUCCESSFUL POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONLY AS STRONG AS THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT ITS MISSION, AND OUR RECORDS PERSONNEL ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT. AND ON BEHALF OF THE WEST COVINA POLICE DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT, I WANNA PERSONALLY THANK ALL OF OUR RECORDS PERSONNEL FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK AND THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. AND ERICA WILL GO AHEAD AND ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION. DID YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? OKAY, YOU'RE THE MANAGER. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MY NAME'S ERICA DE LA CUEVA. I'M THE RECORDS MANAGER, AND THIS IS DANNY. SHE'S ONE OF OUR RECORDS SPECIALIST LEADS. UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. MY STAFF WORKS DILIGENTLY, BOTH THE RECORDS AND ALL THE SUPPORT STAFF, TO FACILITATE ALL THE SERVICES AND THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS, UH, PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. SO I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THEM FOR, UH, ALL THEIR HARD WORK. THEY TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN WHAT THEY DO, AND I'M JUST HONORED TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE REPRESENTING THEM AND ACCEPT THIS AWARD. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. SO ON BEHALF OF WEST COVINA, WE'D LIKE TO PROCLAIM NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL APPRECIATION WEEK. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. YOU HELP BUILD THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY AND JUST MAKE, DO, JUST DO A WONDERFUL JOB. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. YAY. SHE SAID SHE'S THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT PERSON IN THEIR TEAM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. YAY. WE ALL, THEY ALL NEED THAT EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. DID THEY HAVE SOMETHING? YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? NO? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO UP NEXT, WE HAVE THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL BREAST CANCER MONTH, HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS AND SUPPORT SERVICES. I'D LIKE TO, WELL, INVITE POLICE CHIEF CORTINA AND POLICE DISPATCH MANAGER NATALIA LONDI TO THE FRONT. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE WEARING PINK. UM, EACH OCTOBER, PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY UNITE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY BREAST CANCER. ONE IN EIGHT WOMEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER IN HER LIFETIME. 382,640 WOMEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER THIS YEAR. 1,048 WOMEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER TODAY. FIVE WOMEN WILL BE LOST TO BREAST CANCER THIS HOUR, AND BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH REMINDS US THAT AWARENESS IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S OUR ACTIONS THAT SAVE LIVES. AND I JUST FOUND TODAY THAT, UH, ONE OF OUR, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, SHE JUST MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR FOR SIX YEARS. SO WE'D LIKE TO... YOU CAN COME UP. SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND, UH, PASS. THANK YOU. THIS IS, THIS MONTH IS A TIME TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE BATTLED BREAST CANCER. REMEMBER THOSE WE HAVE LOST AND RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE STRENGTH OF SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. UM, THIS PROCLAMATION HITS HOME. I HAVE A SISTER THAT IS CURRENTLY BATTLING BREAST CANCER. UH, I THINK I MENTIONED THAT LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS HERE. AND, UH, SHE'S DOING BETTER AND I HOPE THAT SHE'LL BE IN REMISSION SOON. UH, BUT IT IS TOUGH AND IT'S A, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A TOUGH THING FOR ME PERSONALLY TO DEAL WITH. HOWEVER, UM, OUR PERSONNEL HERE, UH, WE SUPPORT, UH, THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, WITH AWARENESS. UH, IF ANYONE IS, UH, SUFFERING FROM BRAND CA - BREAST CANCER, UH, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND WE'RE PRAYING FOR YOU. UM, ALL OF OUR POLICE PERSONNEL, OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THIS SPECIAL, UH, PINK PROJECT PATCH THAT YOU SEE ME WEARING HERE TODAY, UH, THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. AND AT THIS TIME, I WANNA HAND IT OVER TO NATALIA WHO WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, UH, PINK PATCH PROJECT. [00:15:01] THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO AS OUR MAYOR AND OUR CHIEF HAS SAID, UM, OUR CHIEF ALLOWED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO WEAR THESE SPECIAL PATCHES IN RECOGNITION, JUST SO THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT WE'RE HERE WITH THEM. I THINK EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND IN LIFE KNOWS SOMEONE THAT'S AFFECTED BY BREAST CANCER, EITHER VERY CLOSELY OR ONE OF YOUR FAMILY OR FRIEND, UM, FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS. SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS EVERY ONE OF US, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE, WE, WE HOLD VERY DEEPLY IN OUR HEARTS AND WE ARE THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY. UM, WE ARE PART OF THE PINK PATCH PROJECT, SO IF YOU GO ONTO THAT WEBSITE, YOU COULD SEE ALL THE CITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT. IT, IT IS REALLY LOVELY TO SEE. IT STARTED OFF WITH ONE, AND NOW IT'S A LOT OF AGENCIES THAT COME TOGETHER. WE COME TOGETHER ONCE A YEAR TO SHARE IDEAS AND SHARE THOUGHTS AS TO HOW TO RAISE MORE AWARENESS, HOW TO RAISE FUNDS FOR, FOR, UM, HOSPITALS AND FOR CITY OF HOPE. SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION, THERE'S DEFINITELY THAT WEBSITE. AND YOU WILL SEE OUR OFFICERS IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER WEARING THESE PATCHES, JUST SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WE'RE HERE FOR THEM. WE ALSO HAVE THE OFFICERS, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO WEAR LAPEL PINS, SO, UM, YOU WILL SEE THEM WITH THEIR PINK RIBBONS AS WELL. THANK YOU. SO THIS YEAR, ARE THEY SELLING THE PINK PATCHES OUT FOR THE COMMUNITY? OKAY, SO IT... PLEASE COME OUT SUPPORT. YOU CAN PURCHASE THAT. THAT MONEY'S DONATED TO THE, UH, FOUNDATION AND IT HELPS A GOOD CAUSE. SO ON BEHALF OF CITY OF WEST COVINA, WE'D LIKE TO PROCLAIM NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, OCTOBER 2026. AND YES, THE COLOR IS PINK, SO PINK PATCH. THANK YOU. SORRY, LET'S GO TAKE A FULL... FAMILY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO... SO UP NEXT, WE HAVE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS AND SUPPORT SERVICES. WE'D LIKE TO, UH, HAVE, UH, POLICE CHIEF TONY CARTINA AND VICTIM ADVOCATE DIANE FRANKLIN TO THE FRONT. THANK YOU, DIANE, FOR BEING HERE TODAY. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IS A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN DEDICATED TO RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. EVERY OCTOBER, ORGANIZATION AND INDIVIDUALS UNITE ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR A NATIONAL EFFORT TO UPLIFT THE NEEDS, VOICES, AND EXPERIENCES OF SURVIVORS. CONGRESS DECLARED THE MONTH OF OCTOBER TO BE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN 1989, AND IT'S JUST AMAZING THAT WE HAVE, UH, YOU HERE TODAY WITH US. UH, SHE DOES SO MUCH, AND IT IS PURPLE. I, I KNOW I HAVE A, A PURPLE NECKLACE, AND SO THAT IS THE COLOR FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND SHE HAS DONE TREMENDOUS WORK. I'VE KNOWN IN THE PAST FEW YEARS WHEN WE HAD, UH, FOR ALL THE VICTIMS RIGHT HERE AT CITY HALL, UM, AND PROVIDING ALL THE SERVICES THAT YOU DO, BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND PASS IT SO YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION. OKAY. AND THEN WE CAN PASS IT TO HER. OKAY. THANK YOU. AS POLICE OFFICERS, WE OFTEN ENCOUNTER VICTIMS, UH, DURING SOME OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING AND VULNERABLE MOMENTS IN THEIR LIVES. WE RECOGNIZE THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT SIMPLY A PRIVATE FAMILY MATTER. IT'S A SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS. AT THE WEST COVINA POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROTECTING VICTIMS, HOLDING OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE, AND CONNECTING THOSE AFFECTED WITH THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED. I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR OFFICERS, OUR DETECTIVES, OUR VICTIM ADVOCATE, DIANE FRANKLIN, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO PROTECT VICTIMS AND HELP BREAK THE CYCLES OF VIOLENCE. TO ANYBODY EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE. HELP IS AVAILABLE AND YOUR SAFETY MATTERS. TOGETHER THROUGH AWARENESS, EDUCATION, AND COMPASSION, WE CAN HELP BUILD A SAFETY COM - A SAFER COMMUNITY FOR EVERYBODY. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO PASS IT OVER TO OUR VICTIM ADVOCATE, DIANE FRANKLIN, WHO'S DONE A PHENOMENAL, PHENOMENAL JOB HELPING VICTIMS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THANK YOU. I TRULY CANNOT TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM AND HOW INCREDIBLE THE TEAM IS WITH THE CAPTAIN CHIEFS , UH, LEADERSHIP THAT, UM, ALWAYS HAVE AN OPEN DOOR. UM, WE HAVE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT HAVE GONE ON TO DO INCREDIBLE THINGS. IN FACT, WE HAVE A VICTIM THAT STARTED HER OWN AGENCY AND HELPED OTHER VICTIMS. SO, UH, WEST COVINA IS DOING INCREDIBLE WORK, AND THERE REALLY IS NO WORDS TO SAY HOW PROUD I AM TO BE A PART OF THIS, UM, OUTSTANDING TEAM THAT [00:20:01] IS ONE OF A KIND FOR OUR AREA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DIANE IS AMAZING. UM, SO ON BEHALF OF WEST COVINA, WE'D LIKE TO PROCLAIM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, UH, FOR OCTOBER 2026. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THE... UP NEXT, WE HAVE OUR TASTE OF WEST COVINA PRESENTATION RECOGNIZING CAFE VALER. UH, INVITE, UH, I'D LIKE TO INVITE COREY, LIKE, LULUKIAN, HOPEFULLY I SAID THAT CORRECTLY. OKAY, THERE YOU GO. OH, THERE YOU ARE, COREY. UM, SO HERE WE HAVE, UH, CAFE VALER, UH, GOOD FOOD, GREAT COFFEE, AND FRESH FLAVORS. SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR YOUR NEXT FAVORITE SPOT IN WEST COVINA, COME VISIT CAFE VALERI FOR DELICIOUS FOOD, REFRESHING DRINKS, AND ALL YOUR, UH, CAFE CRAVINGS IN ONE PLACE. WHETHER YOU'RE STOPPING BY FOR BREAKFAST, GRABBING LUNCH WITH COWORKERS, OR CATCHING UP WITH FRIENDS OVER COFFEE, CAFE VALERI HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. SO FROM TONIGHT TO NOVEMBER 20TH, CAFE VALERI WILL BE OFFER... WILL OFFER A FREE COLD FOAM LATTE WITH ANY $30 PURCHASE. SIMPLY MENTION THE TASTE OF WEST COVINA ON YOUR NEXT VISIT. SO THEY ARE LOCATED IN, UH, THE WEST COVINA MALL, AND I'VE HAD THEIR FOOD. WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, DELICIOUS, UH, PANINIS, DIFFERENT, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT STUFF. BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND LET YOU EXPLAIN FURTHER ABOUT IT. HI, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS CORY. I'M THE OWNER OF CAFE VALER, FATHER OF THREE DAUGHTERS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN WEST COVINA. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA FOR ALL THE SUPPORT. WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE, UM, 2000... I'M SORRY, 2008. UM, AND WE REALLY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE STILL WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, ALL THE OFFICIALS, POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, ALL THE RESIDENTS. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE TO CONU - TO CONTINUE SERVING FOR MUCH LONGER. UM, CAFE VALERIA IS A SMALL BUSINESS. UM, WE DO PANINIS, WRAPS, SALADS, FULL ESPRESSO BARS, SMOOTHIES, PASTRIES. WE HAVE HEALTHY FOOD, UNHEALTHY FOOD, SO WHATEVER YOU'RE CRAVING, WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU. UM, YOU'LL FIND ME THERE MOST OF THE TIME. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, COME SEE ME AND MY FAVORITE SANDWICH IS THE JALAPENO PEPPER CHICKEN. UM, THAT'S THE FIRST PANINI THAT I EVER MADE, AND IT'S STILL GOING STRONG. SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD ONE TO TRY IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN THERE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU FOR THE WEST COVINA CITY. UM, VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MAKE SURE YOU TRY OUT THEIR FOOD. UM, SO ON BEHALF OF CITY OF WEST COVINA, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION, CAFE VALER, FOR THE TASTE OF WEST COVINA, AND MAKE SURE YOU COME AND ENJOY AND EAT THERE. ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THE NEXT TASTE OF WEST COVINA PRESENTATION, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE VITROS PUPUSA AND INVITE WENDY CENTENO TO THE FRONT. EXCUSE ME, MAYOR. UH, WE ARE EXPERIENCING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO STOP THE MEETING TO GET THAT ISSUE FIXED. WE'RE GONNA CALL HER - TAKE A P - A RECESS. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A RECESS JUST TO... FOR THE RECESS. AH, SHE SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT FOR THE RECESS, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW. BUT HEY, THEY COULD COME TO, UH, TO HAVE THEIR DINNER AND STUFF. OKAY. YES. SO GO AHEAD AND IF WE COUL TAKE A RECESS AT THIS POINT. WE'LL TAKE A RECESS AND THEN WE'LL RESUME. THANK YOU. WHAT'S WRONG? WE ARE EX- EXPERI - SOUND ISN'T WORKING. ON ZOOM, THE SOUND ISN'T WORKING, SO WE NEED TO TAKE A RECESS FOR UP TO ONE HOUR TO FIX THE PROBLEM. YOU TOO, RIGHT? YOUTUBE? YES. OH, ON ZOOM. YOU TOO. ZOOM? YES. ZOOM. SO IF WE COULD HAVE SWAGGIT GO TO RECESS, PLEASE. OKAY. TESTING, TESTING. ALL RIGHT. WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE. UM, I'M GONNA PASS THIS TO THE CITY CLERK SO SHE COULD GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ABOUT TODAY'S INCIDENT. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MAYOR, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, UH, CITY STAFF AND THE PUBLIC. WE ARE NOT, UH, VIEWABLE THROUGH YOUTUBE AT THIS MOMENT. SO FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE, YOU CAN STILL WATCH ON YOUR CABLE, CHANNEL THREE. YOU CAN WATCH THROUGH THE CITY OF WEST COVINA'S WEBSITE ON THE AGENDA AND MEETINGS PAGE. AND YOU ARE ABLE TO WATCH US THROUGH ZOOM, JUST NOT YOUTUBE AT THIS TIME. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU. BUT WE ARE BACK, AND THIS WILL BE, [00:25:01] UM, ON VIDEO ON YOUTUBE LATER, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN CATCH THIS AND REVIEW. YES. ALL RIGHT. NOW FOR OUR LAST, UH, TASTE OF WEST COVINA PRESENTATION, I'D LIKE TO INVITE WENDY. COME ON UP. CYNTHENO TO THE FRONT. WE'RE ALL HUNGRY A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, SO ARE YOU CRAVING AUTHENTIC SALVADORIAN POPUSAS? UH, COME SATISFY YOUR CRAVINGS AS VITO'S PUPUSAS IN WEST COVINA, MADE WITH LOVE AND PACKED WITH DELICIOUS FLAVOR. THEIR PUPUSAS ARE PERFECT FOR SHARING WITH FAMILY, ENJOYING WITH FRIENDS, OR TREATING YOURSELF TO SOMETHING SPECIAL. FRESH, FLAVORFUL, AND OH, SO DELICIOUS. DON'T FORGET THE CORTIDO AND SALSA. EVERY BITE BRINGS A TASTE OF EL SALVADOR. FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS, VITO'S POPUSA IS OFFERING 15%. SIMPLY MENTION THE TASTE OF WEST COVINA ON YOUR VISIT. SO I... AND THEY ARE LOCATED INSIDE HAVEN CITY. IT'S REALLY GREAT. I KNOW, UM, MY FAMILY AND I LOVE, BUT IT, THEY SAID IT'S ONLY SEASONAL. IT'S WITH, UM, IT'S A SPECIAL TAMALE WITH... THEY'RE COMING UP. SO THAT ONE I'M EXCITED FOR, BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND LET YOU, UH, PA - I'LL PASS THE MIC SO THAT YOU CAN SHARE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. YEAH, THE TAMALES SEASON SEASON IS FOR, LIKE, WARM SEASON. UH, WE ARE DOING A STUDY, UH, NOVEMBER 1ST, ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF JANUARY. SO THAT'S THE SEASON FOR TAMALES, FOR THE HOLIDAYS. UM, AND THEN I INVITE ALL THE LOVELY COMMUNITY OF WEST COVINA TO JOIN US. WE'RE INSIDE HEAVEN CITY MARKET. AS SHE SAYS, WE OPEN FROM 11:00 AM TO 9:00 PM EVERY DAY. WE ALSO HAVE FOOD TRUCKS, SO IF WE CAN, YOU CANNOT COME TO US, WE CAN COME TO YOU FOR ANY CATERING NEEDS, WE'RE THERE FOR YOU. AND THEN WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE BEEN COMING TO WEST COVINA FOR YEARS ALREADY, LIKE, AROUND THE AREAS WITH OUR FOOD TRUCK. THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY LOVED US BEFORE, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE DECIDED TO OPEN IN ANOTHER, UM, PLACE, LIKE, WHICH IS HAVEN CITY MARKET, WHICH IS REALLY A COMMUNITY-BASED, UM, ORIENTATED, UH, SPA FOR FAMILIES, FRIENDS. THERE'S LIVE MUSIC FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY, AND THERE'S GREAT FOOD OPTIONS FOR EVERYONE RIGHT THERE. SO I INVITE YOU TO COME BY AND CHECK US OUT. WE'RE OPEN AGAIN EVERY DAY FROM 11:00 TO 9:00 PM. AND 15% OFF FOR ALL THE WEST COVINA COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. YAY. THANK YOU. SEE, UH, WE ALL EAT, SHOP, AND PLAY IN WEST COVINA, AND SO THERE... THESE TWO RESTAURANTS THIS EVENING ARE VERY DELICIOUS. IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED IT, PLEASE COME OUT, TRY IT. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TASTE OF WEST COVINA. SO ON BEHALF OF CITY OF WEST COVINA, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE VITROS POPUSA CELEBRATING TASTE OF WEST COVINA. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO UP NEXT, WE HAVE, UM, WE'D LIKE TO INVITE SUPERINTENDENT ALEX FLORES TO THE FRONT. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS CERTIFICATES TO PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL. SO GO AHEAD AND, UM, I'LL PASS THE MIC AND... SURE. GOOD EVENING. EVENING. UM, YES, MY NAME IS ALEX FLORES. I'M THE PROUD SUPERINTENDENT OF THE ROYAL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. UM, I HAVE THE HONOR TO HELP, UH, LEAD A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT'S LED BY GREAT LOCAL, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS OR BOARD OF EDUCATION. AND WE HAVE THE HONOR TO PROVIDE A QUALITY EDUCATION TO OVER 11,000 STUDENTS. WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THE ROYAL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THAT WE SERVE ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, UH, ONE BEING THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND THANK YOU TO THE CITY STAFF AND ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO BECAUSE THEY'RE SO RESPONSIVE TO ANY TIME THAT WE HAVE A CALL OR ANYTHING THAT, ANY SUPPORT THAT WE NEED. WHAT'S UNIQUE IS THAT WE SERVE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. WE DON'T HAVE THE NAME COVINA IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT NAME, AND WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE PART OF YOUR CITY BECAUSE WEST COVINA TREATS US LIKE FAIR FAMILY. [00:30:01] YOU ARE HERE FOR US. YOU ARE PRESENT. YOU COME TO OUR EVENTS. UM, ANY EVENT THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE THERE. AND WE SO APPRECIATE THAT. WE ALSO APPRECIATE OUR, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVING A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM WITH GIANNO, WHICH IS A REALLY GREAT PROGRAM FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND THEY HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES TO RECOGNIZE YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR YOUR CITY AND THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, STARTING WITH OUR BOARD PRESIDENT, KERRY CHEN. IT'S TRULY MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. . THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I'M GONNA BE RECOGNIZING TWO CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT. UM, I'M ERIC VANEGAS. I AM A WEST COVINA RESIDENT. UM, I WANNA JUST TRULY EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THE ENTIRE CITY. YOU ARE S - IT, IT IS SUCH A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU. YOU SHOW UP AT NUMEROUS E- EVENTS OF ALL OF YOU SHOW UP TO MANY OF OUR EVENTS. UM, IT BUILDS GREAT COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT JUST GOOD FOR ROLAND UNIFIED, BUT GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, THE TWO FOLK, THE TWO, UM, COUNCIL PEOPLE I WANNA, UH, RECOGNIZE TONIGHT IS MAYOR PRO TERM OLE KANTOS AND, UH, AND BRIAN GUTIERREZ. YOU GUYS WERE PRINCIPAL FOR TODAY TO NOT ONLY THIS, THIS YEAR, BUT ALSO LAST YEAR YOU WERE AT OUR RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY. UM, OLE, YOU'VE BEEN AT, UM, BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS WHERE I'M SURPRISED I SEE YOU THERE. I KNOW. AND BRIAN, YOU WERE AT A NOGALES FOOTBALL GAME JUST THE OTHER LAST WEEK OR SO. UM, SO YOU ARE AT NUMEROUS EVENTS FOR US. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PARTNERSHIP AND CONTINUED SUPPORT. AND I SHOULD SAY BRIAN IS A GRADUATE, I CAN'T FORGET THIS, OF NOGALES HIGH SCHOOL. SO WE ALWAYS WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. CASES ARE MUCH MORE VA - THEY'RE VERY VALUABLE TO US. UM, I'D LIKE TO, I'M AGNES B. GONZALEZ. I'M THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FOR ROLAND UNIFIED FOR FIVE AND A HALF YEARS RIGHT NOW. AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO KNOW ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF WEST COVINA THROUGH CONCERTS IN THE PARK AND WE'VE BEEN, UH, WE HAVE BUILT SOME RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOU GUYS OVER THE YEARS. AND I LOVE DANCING WITH MR. TONY WU RIGHT THERE EVERY TIME THERE'S CONCERT IN THE PARK AND OF COURSE WITH ROSARIO. I'D LIKE TO READ WHAT THE CERTIFICATE SAYS. ROLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT PROUDLY RECOGNIZES ROSARIO DIAZ AND OF COURSE, COUNCILLOR TONY WU, CITY OF ESCOVINA, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, PARTNERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS OF THE ROLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT PRESENTED TODAY, OCTOBER 20, 2026. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICES TO OUR SCHOOL, UM, BEING [00:35:01] PRINCIPAL FOR TODAY AND JUST PARTICIPATING IN ALL OUR ACTIVITIES, JUST HONORING OUR STUDENTS. UM, YOU ARE THE IDOL AND EVERY TIME WE, THEY SEE YOU, THEY, THEY REALLY ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOU, OF THE SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO THE CITY OF RESCOVINA AND TO THE ROLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS. UM, COUNCILWOMAN ROSARIO DIAZ, COUNCILMAN TONY WU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU AGAIN. SORRY. I HAVE A FEW WORDS. OKAY. UH, REALLY QUICK, OKAY, I WANT TO THANK THE ROLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ALEX AND, UH, ALL THE BOARD MEMBER. AND, UH, I THINK WE WERE THERE AT YOUR PRINCIPAL OF THE DAY. I CHOSE NOGALES HIGH SCHOOL FOR, CONTINUED FOR TWO YEARS. IT'S A MAGNIFICENT SCHOOL AND IT IMPROVES SO MUCH. OKAY? AND THE NEW SWIMMING POOL, THAT'S AMAZING. AND, UH, UH, WEST COVINA HAVE THREE MAJOR SCHOOLS. SO I HAVE WEST COVID UNIFIED, COVINA VALLEY UNIFIED, AND, UH, ROLAND. OKAY, UNIFIED IS ONE THIRD OF OUR POPULATION, BUT, AND YOUR SCHOOL IMPROVES SO MUCH. I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. OKAY, ALWAYS WORK WITH CITI BECAUSE WE SERVE THE SAME POPULATION. I THINK THIS IS SUCH A HONOR TO BE A PRINCIPAL OF ROLAND UNIFIED. OKAY, AND, UM, LONGALIS HIGH SCHOOL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING US AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU. AND HOPEFULLY, ALL OUR CITY EVENT, WE WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO PERFORM IN OUR FESTIVAL. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO COME AND TO, TO PERFORM. I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEM BE PROUD, THE CONFIDENCE, AND THAT'S WHY WE BUILD A FUTURE LEADER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, GUTIERREZ. YES. I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, I JUST WANNA ECHO WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RU HAS STATED, BUT THE WORK THAT, UH, SUPERIN - THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS DONE AND THAT THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS DONE FOR ROLAND UNIFIED, UH, HAS, HAS PROSPERED THIS DISTRICT TO BECOME A LEADING DISTRICT IN OUR CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE SAN YEBO VALLEY. WITHOUT THEIR PASSION AND THEIR DEDICATION, THERE WAS ONE TIME IN, IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S HISTORY WHERE HALF OF THIS, THIS, HALF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT USED TO GET, IN OTHER WORDS, GET BETTER TREATMENT THAN THE OTHER HALF. UNDER THIS LEADERSHIP, THEY HAVE ENSURED THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE AT IN ROLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN THEIR DISTRICT, THEY REPRESENT YOU. AND I'M PROUD TO BE A, A NOGALES HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE. AND IT WAS THAT HIGH SCHOOL THAT TAUGHT ME THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE NOBLE AND TO BE A LEADER. AND SO I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FROM ROLLAND UNIFIED ARE LEADING THE WAY, UH, AND CONT - YOU WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THAT WAY. UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I VISIT NOGALES HIGH SCHOOL, WHEN I VISIT GIANNO, I SEE SCHOOLS ARE SO PROSPEROUS. SCHOOLS THAT WHERE YOUNG KIDS HAVE THE DREAMS OF PROSPERING AND, AND KIDS WHO HAVE GONE ON TO HARVARD AND MAJOR UNIVERSITIES IN OUR STATE. SO I WANNA JUST COMMEND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR LEADING, UH, ROLLAND UNIFIED TO BE NUMBER ONE IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CANTOS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I, I, I LOVE THAT I GET TO S - PUB- PUBLICLY SAY WHAT I'VE TOLD YOU GUYS ALREADY. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ROLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS JUST, IT'S INCREDIBLE. IT'S LIKE THERE'S A BUBBLE OF POSITIVITY AROUND THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. I'VE HAD THE JOY OF BEING AROUND FOLKS FROM HOLLINGWORTH ELEMENTARY, UH, AS WELL AS TELESIS ACADEMY, AND THEN NOW, UH, UH, WITH GIANNO AND THEN ALSO WITH NOGALES. AND THE, THE, THE... I'VE ALSO HAD THE, THE JOY OF, OF SEEING FOLKS, UH, INDIVIDUALLY, INCLUDING OUR, UH, ELECTED LEADERS THERE FROM THE DISTRICT WHO ARE ALL DOING A MAGNIFICENT JOB WITH WHAT THEY DO. THEY HAVE SUCH A LOVE FOR, FOR THE KIDS AND THE STAFF AND THE FACULTY AND, AND REAL COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THERE'S SO MANY, MANY LAYERS OF SUCH. AND I EVEN REMEMBER WHEN, WHEN I WAS WITH, WITH AGNES PUNO GONZALEZ, WHERE I WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE THERE TO, TO, TO JOIN WITH HER WHEN SHE RECEIVED A, A, A REALLY HIGH, UH, PRESTIGIOUS AWARD. [00:40:01] UH, ON OUR WAY BACK, UH, THERE, THERE WAS A CALL FOR ONE OF THE STAFF LITERALLY ON A SATURDAY, AND THEY WENT IN TO GO AND OPEN SOMETHING OR DO WHATEVER IT WAS THAT, THAT WAS NEEDED AT THE SCHOOL. AND RIGHT AWAY, IT WAS GETTING DONE. I MEAN, THE FACT IS THAT, THAT THERE'S SUCH A WONDERFUL PRESENCE THAT, THAT, THAT YOU HAVE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE CULTURE THAT YOU HAVE AT EVERY, EVERY LEVEL IS REALLY NOTEWORTHY. I MEAN, YOU, YOU, YOU FOCUS ON GETTING THINGS DONE AND YOU DO IT IN, IN THE LEAST BUREAUCRATIC WAY AND IN THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS WAY TO JUST GET THINGS DONE, TO REAL MAKE, TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE, OF, OF THE 11,000 PLUS STUDENTS. I JUST LOVE ROLAND UNIFIED, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, AND THANK YOU FOR THE ONGOING PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ? THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I FEEL HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS CERTIFICATE. I HAVEN'T BEEN VERY MUCH INVOLVED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT, UM, I FEEL REALLY HONORED THAT I GOT RECOGNIZED AND, AND IN THE FUTURE, THERE'S GONNA BE MORE VISITS AND MORE PARTICIPATION. BUT I LOVE THE IDEA AND I, I REALLY WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING OUR CITY. YOU'RE ALWAYS AT OUR EVENTS AND I REALLY, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AGAIN, UM, JUST TO SHARE, JUST THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR BEING PRESENT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE KIDS BE, UH, PARTAKE IN OUR CITY EVENTS AND THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE. I, I ENJOY SEEING YOU AT ALL OUR EVENTS AND WE CONTINUE TO HOPE TO HAVE LIKE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP AND HAVE MANY MORE BLESSINGS TO COME. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ON TO OUR LAST PRESENTATION. WE HAVE THE SGV COG 2026 PRESIDENT'S INTRODUCTION PRESENTATION. I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. ED REESE, UH, SGV COG PRESIDENT AND CITY OF CLAREMONT VICE MAYOR TO THE FRONT. WELL, THANK YOU. AND LET ME FIRST START BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. I CAN SHARE AS A FORMER BOARD MEMBER FOR THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT, UH, WE RECOGNIZE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS AND, AND TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO, UH, SERVE THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO GOOD EVENING, AS YOU SHARED, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M ED REESE, PROUD TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF CLAREMONT AND HONORED TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS. TODAY, I'D LIKE TO SHARE HOW THE COG BRINGS CITIES TOGETHER TO TACKLE CHALLENGES, DELIVER RESULTS, AND MAKE OUR REGION EVEN STRONGER. THE COG IS TRULY A PARTNERSHIP. IT BRINGS TOGETHER 31 CITIES, TWO COUNTY SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICTS, AND MANY LOCAL AGENCIES ACROSS THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE, BUT POWERFUL. TO GIVE OUR REGION ONE STRONG, UNIFIED VOICE, TO DELIVER PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF NEARLY TWO MILLION RESIDENTS WHO CALL THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY AND IN PART THIS GREAT CITY, THEIR HOME. THIS COLLABORATION IS WHAT MAKES US STRONGER THAN THE SUM OF OUR PARTS. NEXT SLIDE. OF COURSE, A MISSION THIS BIG REQUIRES LEADERSHIP. THAT'S WHERE OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE COMES IN. I'M PROUD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE A GROUP OF COMMITTED LOCAL LEADERS, EACH CHOSEN BY THEIR PEERS TO HELP GUIDE THE COGS PRIORITIES, TO HELP SET THE DIRECTION, REVIEW POLICIES, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE W - OUR WORK REFLECTS THE NEEDS AND VALUES OF OUR MEMBER CITIES. IN SHORT, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THE GOVERNING BOARD KEEP US GROUNDED IN THE REALITIES OF OUR COMMUNITIES WHILE KEEPING US, OF COURSE, FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE. NEXT SLIDE. AND THAT LEADERSHIP EXTENDS OUTWARD THROUGH OUR POLICY COMMITTEES. THESE COMMITTEES ARE WHERE REAL COLLABORATION HAPPENS. THEY FOCUS ON ISSUES THAT TOUCH EVERY CITY, CAPITAL PROJECTS, THE ENVIRONMENT, HOMELESSNESS, AND TRANSPORTATION. WE ALSO DRAW ON THE EXPERTISE OF CITY MANAGERS AND WORKING GROUPS SO THAT LOCAL VOICES CAN SHAPE OUR REGIONAL SOLUTIONS. AND THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, AND I KNOW A NUMBER OF YOU HAVE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET INVOLVED, YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE, HELP ENSURE THAT THE CITY'S VOICE IS HEARD AND YOUR RESIDENTS' NEEDS ARE REFLECTED IN OUR REGIONAL DECISIONS. NEXT SLIDE. OF COURSE, LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION ARE ONLY PART OF THE STORY. IMPLEMENTATION MATTERS TOO. [00:45:01] THAT'S WHERE OUR STAFF SHINES, AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARISA CREEDER, OUR TALENTED TEAM TAKES IDEAS AND TURNS THEM INTO ACTION. THEY PROVIDE THE EXPERTISE, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND THE SUPPORT THAT MAKES SURE THAT OUR CITY'S PRIORITIES MOVE FORWARD. NEXT SLIDE. LET ME JUST SHARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT COLLABORATION HAS ACHIEVED. FIRST, OUR CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY. WE'RE THE ONLY COG IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY WITH THIS AUTHORITY. WE'RE DELIVERING 19 MAJOR GRADE SEPARATION PROJECTS, EACH COSTING APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 200 MILLION DOLLARS AT LITTLE OR NO COST TO OUR CITIES. AND TODAY WE'RE EXPANDING TO HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS, TRANSIT FACILITIES, AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. SECOND IS SB1383 COMPLIANCE. THIS STATE LAW REQUIRES US TO CUT FOOD WASTE GOING TO LANDFILLS. THE COG HAS HELPED CITIES TRIPLE THEIR BUSINESS COMPLIANCE RATES AND AT THE SAME TIME HELP FOOD BANKS TO BE ABLE TO USE THE FOOD DONATION THEY RECEIVE. WE'RE PROVIDING THEM WITH REFRIGERATORS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT. IT'S TRULY A WIN-WIN WHERE WE'RE HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT WHILE ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY. AND THIRD, MEASURE M FUNDING. JUST LAST YEAR, WE DIRECTED $36.5 MILLION TO 17 SAN GABRIEL VALLEY AGENCIES FOR PROJECTS THAT MAKE IT EASIER AND SAFER FOR PEOPLE TO GO WHERE THEY NEED TO GET TO GO. THESE ARE JUST A FEW SNAPSHOTS, BUT THEY SHOW A REAL TANGIBLE IMPACT ON WHAT THE COG HAS DONE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. NEXT SLIDE. BEYOND THESE REGIONAL WINS, WE ALSO PARTNER DIRECTLY WITH CITIES IN UNIQUE WAYS. HERE IN WEST COVINA, THE COG IS PROUD TO SUPPORT SEVERAL IMPORTANT LOCAL PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES. AGAIN, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE COG IS LEADING A FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM TO HELP CITIES AND BUSINESSES COMPLY WITH THEIR SB 1383. THE CITY OF WEST COVINA IS A CRITICAL PARTNER IN THIS EFFORT. LAST YEAR, THE COG WORKED WITH MORE THAN 90 BUSINESSES TO RECOVER AND DONATE 308,000 POUNDS OF FOOD, AND THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO GROW. THE PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH A STATE LOCAL ASSISTANCE GRANT, AND WEST COVINA IS RECEIVING NEARLY $200,000 IN PROGRAM BENEFITS THROUGH THIS REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP. THE SECOND ITEM I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS MOBILITY IMPROVEMENT. TO IMPROVE REGIONAL ACCESSIBILITY, THE GO SUV, UH, VOUCHER PROGRAM WAS ELIGIBLE TO RESIDENTS. UH, IT WAS A $2,000 VOUCHER TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW HIGH QUALITY ELECTRIC CARGO BIKE FROM A LOCAL RETAILER. THIS YEAR, THE COG AND GO SUV SAW AN INCREASE IN WEST COVINA RESIDENTS WHO APPLIED AND RECEIVED VOUCHERS. THAT MEANS MORE ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION, A BOOST FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND INCREASED MOBILITY ACROSS THE REGION. AND IN REGARDS TO REGIONAL PLANNING, THE COG RECENTLY COMPLETED AND IMPROVED THE REGIONAL COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN, WHICH HELPS COMMUNITIES PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO WILDFIRES AND PROTECT IMPORTANT LOCAL ASSETS. THE ADOPTION OF THIS PLAN MAKES CITIES ELIGIBLE FOR CRITICAL STATE WILDFIRE FUNDING PROGRAMS, AND THANKS TO CAL, UH, CAL FIRE GRANT SECURED BY THE COG, THIS EFFORT WAS FULLY FUNDED AND FREE TO CITIES. THE COG IS CONTINUING OUR WORK WITH OUR MEMBER AGENCIES TO ADVANCE ITS RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRENGTHEN WILDFIRE RESILIENCE THROUGHOUT THE REGION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO I SHARED SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES TO YOUR CITY, BUT THE BIGGER POINT IS THIS. THE COG IS DEDICATED IN MEETING YOU WHERE YOU ARE TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PRIORITIES WHILE ALSO BUILDING SOMETHING LARGER ACROSS THE REGION. AT THE HEART OF ALL OF THIS IS WHAT BINDS US TOGETHER, OUR SHARED LOVE FOR THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. THAT'S WHY I LAUNCHED THE IHEARTSGV PROGRAM. IT GREW FROM MY DEEP BELIEF THAT WE ARE STRONGER WHEN WE CELEBRATE OUR COMMON VALUES AND THE COMMUNITIES WE CALL HOME. THIS PROGRAM IS ABOUT BRINGING OUR MEMBER CITIES AND THROUGH THEM OUR RESIDENTS TOGETHER IN SHARED PRIDE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. FOR ME, IT'S ALSO PERSONAL. MY LOVE OF PUBLIC SERVICE, IT'S SOUL FEEDING. AND THIS PROGRAM IS MY WAY OF SHOWING GRATITUDE FOR OUR REGION, FOR OUR CITIES, AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY A SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE. THE COG EXISTS TO SERVE YOU, YOUR COUNCIL, YOUR STAFF, YOUR RESIDENTS. BY WORKING TOGETHER, OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE IS LOUDER. OUR REACH IS FURTHER, AND WE CAN DELIVER ON PROJECTS AND SERVICES THAT NO CITY COULD DO ALONE. [00:50:01] AS PRESIDENT, ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES IS LISTENING. I WANNA HEAR FROM YOU, YOUR NEEDS, YOUR CHALLENGES, YOUR OPPORTUNITIES, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE YOU ARE GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE COG. SO PLEASE, DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO ME DIRECTLY. MY INFORMATION'S ON THE SCREEN. I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH YOU AND KEEPING AND STRENGTHENING THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WE LOVE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO TAKE SOME TIME THIS EVENING, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS? THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. PRESIDENT REESE, IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. UH, WANTED TO ASK, UH, WI- WITH THE DIFFERENT, UH, COMMITTEES THAT WE'RE ALL ASSIGNED TO AND APPOINTED, UH, I REMEMBER, UH, WHEN, UH, ATTENDING THOSE, WE, WE DON'T, UH, HAVE AS MUCH RESIDENTIAL PARTICIPATION FROM DIFFERENT CITIES. SO H- HOW DO WE, UM, WORK WITH YOU TO, TO, TO ENHANCE THAT SO THAT WAY OUR, OUR CITIZENS HERE WILL BE ABLE TO, TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AT THE COG LEVEL? AND THE SECOND QUESTION IS, UH, WITH, WITH ALL OF THESE GREAT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING YOUR, YOUR INITIATIVE THAT YOU HAVE LAUNCHED, UH, ARE, ARE THERE SPECIFIC, UH, NEXT ACTION STEPS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US AS A CITY TO TAKE MOST IDEALLY IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU? SO LET ME, UH, LET ME ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, WHICH IS AROUND YOUR RESIDENT PARTICIPATION. ALL OF OUR MEETINGS, UH, ALMOST ALL OF OUR MEETINGS ARE, UH, BROWN ACT, UH, MEETINGS. SO ALL RESIDENTS, WHETHER, WHETHER THEY LIVE, UM, IN THE REGION OR NOT, UM, CAN, UM, CAN PARTICIPATE, UM, AND GET INVOLVED, UM, PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT, WHETHER THAT BE OUR GOVERNING BOARD MEETING, OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS, OR ANY OF OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS, UM, THEY ARE, THEY ARE FULLY WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE AND GET ENGAGED. IN REGARDS TO P - UH, OUR PARTICIPATION OR OUR MEMBERS THAT ARE ENGAGED ON THE COMMITTEE LEVEL, EITHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS OR BOARD MEMBERS, THOSE ARE TYPICALLY, UM, UH, UNDER OUR BYLAWS ARE, UH, GOING TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIALS, OFFICIAL DELEGATES OR REPRESENTATIVES. UM, THERE IS A STAFF DELEGATION AVAILABLE ON SOME COMMITTEES AS WELL. UH, IN REGARDS TO THE IRSGV PROGRAM, UM, THERE'S A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT I THINK WE COULD GET ENGAGED IN THIS PROGRAM. WE WOULD, UM, UH, HAPPY, BE HAPPY TO, TO WORK WITH YOU AND STAFF TO, UM, KIND OF TALK ABOUT THOSE MORE IN DETAIL, BUT I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT WE CAN GET ENGAGED AND, UH, AND HELP YOU WITH SOME ACTION STEPS. THERE IS SOME OTHER PROGRAMS COMING UP THAT, UH, THAT YOUR CITY COULD ENGAGE, GET ENGAGED IN AS WE DEVELOP OUT, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, UM, IN THIS COMING YEAR. WELL, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT REESE. YOUR PRESENCE HERE SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL COMMITMENT, AND WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE GREAT TO WORK WITH YOU MORE. WELL, YOU'RE WELCOME, MR. MAYOR PORTEM. UH, COUNCILMAN - UH, I'VE BEEN SEEING YOU MONTHLY, SO I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. I'VE BEEN ASKING A LOT OF TOUGH QUESTION DURING THE MEETING, BUT SINCE YOU HAVE ALL THE STAFF CEO OVER HERE, I KNOW THEM VERY WELL, BUT MAYBE YOU CAN INTRODUCE THEM SINCE THEY'RE HERE ALREADY. AND I'M SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY AND, UH, NEVER HAPPENED. POSSIBLE YOU BRING SOME LUCK OVER HERE. WE WANT TO KEEP YOU OVER HERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER, OKAY? SO MAYBE YOU CAN INTRODUCE, OKAY, THE CEO, THE STAFF, SO WE CAN SEE THAT SOME CAMERA TIME, OKAY? WELL, COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN WU, I KNOW YOU LOVE THE COGS, SO YOU JUST WANTED US HERE LONGER, SO I GET THAT. RIGHT. I GET THAT. I LOVE YOU LONG TIME. ACTUALLY, I'LL LET MY STAFF STAND AND THEY'LL, THEY WILL INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. UH, WE, IT - COME INTO THE - WE WON'T BE ABLE TO... THE RESIDENTS THAT'S WATCHING WON'T BE ABLE TO HEAR UNLESS YOU HAVE... TESTING. OKAY, COME TO THE FRONT. NO, COME, COME TO THE FRONT. COME FRONT. COME TO THE FRONT. COME TO THE FRONT. IT'S EASIER FOR THE CAMERAS TO GET YOU. HI, I'M MARISSA KRATER. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU, ONE OF OUR FAVORITE BOARD MEMBERS. UM, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THE WHOLE TEAM. THE WHOLE THING, COME ON. BRING THE WHOLE TEAM UP. YEAH. HEY, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE COMMITTEE, YOU NEVER SHINE, OKAY? A MOMENT. IT'S YOUR MOMENT. INTRODUCE WES COVINA POPULATION. UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ANTHONY MARIN. I'M A GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ANALYST WITH THE COG. HAPPY TO BE HERE. TO SEE YOU. HI. ALSO, GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. UM, ARIANA GUTIERREZ, A GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ANALYST WITH THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL GOVERNMENTS. UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. RICKY CHOI, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, UH, WITH THE COG. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. THANK YOU. AND I WILL POINT OUT, UH, MONTE MALLEY, UH, THE ONE WITH THE CAMERA, HE IS AN INTERN OUT OF MY OFFICE. OH, NICE. OH, THAT'S NICE. WELCOME. THANK YOU. DID YOU HAVE OTHER [00:55:01] QUESTIONS? NO, NO. LIKE I SAID, I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME SCREEN TIME FOR THEM. YEAH, THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? QUESTION? I GUESS I'LL JUST SAY, UH, YES. PRESIDENT REESE, I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A, YOU'VE GONE OUT OF YOUR WAY TO, TO LEAD THE COG AND, YOU KNOW, I SEE YOU AT MANY DIFFERENT EVENTS THROUGHOUT OUR, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE SOMETIMES. AND, UH, JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO, UH, FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. AND I KNOW THE WORK THAT THE COG DOES AS A WHOLE, UH, ESPECIALLY FOR THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. SO, YEAH. SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU'RE WITH, UH, C- CITY OF CLAREMONT, SO WELCOME TO WEST COVINA. AND, UH, WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND RESIDENTS, UH, FEEL FREE TO GET INVOLVED AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HOLD ON, MY STAFF JUST REMINDED ME. I DO HAVE A GIFT FOR YOU. UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M WEARING THE IHEART SUV PIN, UM, AND TONIGHT, AS A SMALL TOKEN, I WANNA PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH YOUR OWN IHEART SGV PIN THAT YOU CAN WEAR AROUND TOWN AND AROUND THE REGION PROUDLY. NICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT ENDS OUR PRESENTATION. WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD [CITY MANAGER'S REPORT] TO CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU. FIRST SLIDE. UH, PUBLIC WORKS, UH, EQUIPMENT UPDATE ON OUR FRONT END LOADER. UH, RESTORING THIS EQUIPMENT SERVICE HELPS MAINTAIN OPERATIONAL READINESS, SUPPORTS TIMELY PROJECT COMPLETION, AND ALLOWS PUBLIC WORKS STAFF TO RESPOND MORE EFFICIENTLY TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE NEEDS AND UNE- UNEXPECTED FIELD CONDITIONS. UH, THE FRONT END LOADER IS A CENTRAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT ASSISTS OUR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF WITH A V- VARIETY OF FIELD OPERATIONS, INCLUDING DEBRIS REMOVAL, ILLEGAL DUMPING CLEANUP, STORM RESPONSE AND FLOOD MITIGATION, MATERIAL HANDING, HANDLING, DRAINAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE, AND PROJECT SUPPORT. AT THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, PUBLIC WORKS CREWS SUCCESSFULLY CLEARED THE V-DITCH LOCATED NEAR ALTAMIRA DRIVE TO RESTORE PROPER DRAINAGE CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUNCTION. SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED, UH, DEBRIS REMOVAL, UH, CLEARED AND HAULED AWAY FOUR DUMP TRUCK LOADS OF ACCUMULATED DEBRIS, OBSTRUCTION CLEARING REMOVED TWO DEAD DOWN TREES BLOCKING THE DRAINAGE PATH, DRAIN MAINTENANCE CLEARED BLOCKAGES FROM CRITICAL DRAINS THAT SERVICE RAINFALL AND WATER RUNOFF ORIGINATING FROM THE SURROUNDING PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, AND IN THE COMMUNITY IMPACT, PROACTIVELY MITIGATED IMMEDIATE AND FUTURE FLOODING HAZARDS BY RESTORING UNOBSTRUCTED STORMWATER FLOW, UH, ENHANCED NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY, PROTECTION, ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL PRIVATE PROPERTIES AHEAD OF THE FUTURE WEATHER EVENTS. PUBLIC GROUP WORKS CREWS HAVE COMPLETED STREET STRIPING AND PAVEMENT MARKING IMPROVEMENTS ALONG SUNSET AVENUE AT THE INTERSECTION OF GARVEY AVENUE NORTH, ROLAND AVENUE, WORKMAN AVENUE, CARLTON AVENUE, AND PUENTE AVENUE. THE CITY'S NEW STRIPING EQUIPMENT HAS IMPROVED PUBLIC WORKS CREW'S ABILITY TO EFFICIENTLY REFRESH AND MAINTAIN ROADWAY MARKINGS THROUGHOUT WEST COVINA. THESE EFFORTS HELP IMPROVE PAVEMENT MARKING, VISIBILITY, SUPPORT TRAFFIC SAFETY, AND MAINTAIN THE OVERALL APPEARANCE OF CITY STREETS. CONTINUED ROADWAY MARKING MAINTENANCE HELPS ENSURE THAT STREET MARKINGS REMAIN VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS AND OTHER ROADWAY USERS. PUBLIC WORKS STAFF COMPLETED THE EDDIE'S DITCH, UH, IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ON OCTOBER 14TH. THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO HELP CONVEY WATER, STORMWATER, STORMWATER RUNOFF FROM SURROUNDING AREAS MORE EFFICIENTLY, IMPROVE DRAINAGE FLOW, AND REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE FLOODING. UH, PROJECT UPDATES INCLUDE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. WORK IS COMPLETED TO IMPROVE THE DRAINAGE FLOW THROUGH THE AREA AND SUPPORT STORM WATER CONVEYANCE DURING RAINFALL EVENTS. SAFETY FENCING, INSTALLATION OF FENCING HAS BEEN COMPLETED TO HELP PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM POTENTIAL HAZARDS IN THE AREA, PARTICULARLY DURING PERIODS OF INCREASED RAINFALL OR POTENTIAL FLOODING. THE CANADIAN, THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR DRAINAGE CONDITIONS AS NEEDED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY AND EFFECTIVE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. PARKWOOD LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE UPDATE FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD OF OCTOBER 12TH THROUGH THE 15TH. PARKWOOD LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE INCORPORATED PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SERVICES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. SOUTH GLENDORA AVENUE, MEDIAN MAINTENANCE, NORTH AND SOUTH SUNSET AVENUE, MEDIAN MAINTENANCE, SOUTH SUNSET AVENUE ARTERIAL SIDEWALK, VEGETATION MAINTENANCE, CITY MONUMENT AREAS, LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS, SOUTH SUNSET AVENUE, NORTH SUNSET AND NORTH AZUSA AVENUE. UM, CONTRACT TRANSITION AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE. AS PARKWOOD LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE BEGINS ITS CONTRACT WITH THE CITY, CREWS ARE WORKING TO BRING MEDIAN LANDSCAPING. AND ARTERIAL SIDEWALK [01:00:01] VEGETATION MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE. THESE INITIAL EFFORTS ARE INTENDED TO ESTABLISH A CONSISTENT MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE, IMPROVE THE OVERALL APPEARANCE OF CITY CORRIDORS, AND SUPPORT MORE EFFE - MORE EFFICIENT ONGOING LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE. FREE COMPOST GIVEAWAY EVENT, HOSTED BY ATHENS SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF WEST COVINA ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION. WEST COVINA AND RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A FREE DRIVE THROUGH COMPOST GIVEAWAY EVENT TO SUPPORT LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS. THE EVENT DETAILS INCLUDE THE EVENT WILL BE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH FROM 8:00 AM TO 11:00 AT THE WEST COVINA MAINTENANCE YARD, 825 SOUTH SUNSET AVENUE. WEST COVINA FITS FOR WEST COVINA RE- RESIDENTS ONLY. A VALID FORM OF IDENTIFICATION OR AN ATHENS SERVICE BILL IS REQUIRED TO VERIFY RESIDENCY, UH, BRING STURDY CONTAINERS TO TRANSPORT COMPOST. LIMIT 30 GALLONS PER PARTICIPANT DURING THE FIRST HOUR OF THE EVENT. NO PLASTIC BAGS OR CARDBOARD BOXES WILL BE ACCEPTED AS CONTAINERS. SHOVELS WILL BE PROVIDED AND PARTICIPANTS MUST RESI - REMAIN INSIDE THEIR VEHICLES DURING THE EVENT. ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9TH, THE CORTEZ PARK COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CENTER HOSTED ITS SECOND ANNUAL OCTOBERFEST. PARTICIPANTS ENJOYED COMPLIMENTARY DRINKS PROVIDED BY LAZY DOG, A GERMAN INSPIRED MEAL, AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT FROM HAMMERSTEIN BAND. THE CELEBRATION ALSO FEATURED STAFF-LED GAMES, INCLUDING STEINHOLDING, STEIN RACING, AND OCTOBERFEST TRIVIA, CREATING A FUN AND FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY. ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, COMMUNITY SERVICES STAFF ATTENDED THE 11TH ANNUAL WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT COLLEGE AND CAREER FAIR, WHERE THEY HOSTED AN INFORMATIONAL TABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY OF WEST COVINA PROGRAMS, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. STAFF ENGAGED WITH ATTENDEES AND PROVIDED INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF CITY PROGRAMS. ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9TH, PARTICIPANTS ENJOYED A FUN-FILLED MOVIE NIGHT FEATURING HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA. THIS, THE EVENT INCLUDED FESTIVE CRAFT, GAMES, SNACKS, AND A MOVIE PROVIDING A FUN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME TOGETHER AND ENJOY AN EVENING OF ENTERTAINMENT. ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17TH AND SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18TH, CAMERON COMMUNITY CENTER HOSTED ITS FIRST FALL BALL, FIRST FALL YOUTH BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. TEAMS COMPETED WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE DIVISIONS, PLAYED 18 GAMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. THE TOURNAMENT BROUGHT TOGETHER PLAYERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS TO SUPPORT THE YOUNG ATHLETES AND ENJOYED A WEEKEND OF COMPETITIVE BASE BASKETBALL. ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, PARTICIPANTS ENJOYED A FESTIVE FALL ACTIVITY AT PALM VIEW PARK AND COMMUNITY CENTER, WHERE THEY PAINTED AND DECORATED PUMPKINS, EXPRESSED THEIR CREATIVITY, AND CELEBRATED THE HALLOWEEN SEASON IN A FUN AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. THE CITY'S COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION HOSTED AN INFO- INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15TH AT ANNA'S PIZZA TO DISCUSS PREPARATIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY TAKING PLACE ON NOVEMBER 28TH. THE MEETING PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS TO CONNECT, EXCHANGE IDEAS, AND COLLABORATE ON PLANS FOR AN UPCOMING AND COMMUNITY-WIDE CELEBRATION, HIGHLIGHTING AND SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY. STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS AND UPCOMING ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE GENERAL ELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026. I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW VOTE CENTERS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, THE WEST COVINA LIBRARY, CAMERON COMMUNITY CENTER, CORTEZ PARK, AND SHADOW OAK PARK. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN PLACING YOUR BALLOT, YOUR BALLOT IN A VOTE BY MAIL DROP BOX, YOU CAN FIND THEM AT THE LIBRARY, CAMERON PARK, WEST COVINA SPORTS PLEX, PALM VIEW PARK, AND CORTEZ PARK, JUST TO NAME A FEW. FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF VOTE CENTERS AND VOTE BY MAIL DROP BOXES, VISIT LAVOTE.GOV. FRIENDLY REMINDER, ELECTIONEERING, WHICH IS THE VISIBLE DISPLAY OR AUDIBLE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR OR AGAINST ANY CANDIDATE OR MEASURE ON THE BALLOT MAY NOT OCCUR WITHIN 100 FEET OF THE ENTRANCE TO A BUILDING THAT CONTAINS A POLLING PLACE, AN ELECTION'S O- OFFICIAL O- OFFICE OR SATELLITE LOCATION AND AN OUTDOOR SITE, INCLUDING A CURBSIDE VOTING AREA AT WHICH A VOTER MAY CAST OR DROP OFF A BALLOT PER SECTION 319.5 OF THE ELECTION CODE. ON OCTOBER 9TH, WEST COVINA PD DETECTIVES, WEST COVINA FIRE DEPARTMENT ARSON INVESTIGATOR BENNETT, AND MEMBERS OF THE VERDUGA ARSON TASK FORCE EXECUTED AR - AN ARREST AND SEARCH WARRANTS IN CONNECTION WITH FOUR SEPARATE FIRES AT GALVESTER PARK BETWEEN MAY AND AUGUST 2026. THE SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE WEST COVINA JAIL ON FOUR FELONY COUNTS OF ARSON AND IS BEING HELD ON $1 MILLION BAIL. OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE IKEA AND COVINA TO ASSIST LA COUNTY FIRE WITH AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE FIRE IN THE PARKING STRUCTURE. [01:05:01] HAZARD SMOKE FROM THE FIRE PROMPTED MANDATORY EVACUATIONS OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS NORTH OF IKEA AND THE CITY OF COVINA. DUE TO THE LARGE AREA REQUIRING EVACUATION, AREA D WAS ACTIVATED AND ALLIED AGENCIES RESPONDED TO ASSIST. WEST COVINA PERSONNEL ASSISTED WITH THE DOOR-TO-DOOR EVACUATION NOTIFICATIONS. OFFICERS ATTENDED TOUCH A TRUCK EVENT AT SAN JOSE CHARTER ACADEMY LOCATED AT 2021 WEST ALLWOOD STREET. OFFICERS TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS AND HANDED OUT STICKERS TO CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDING THE EVENT. YESTERDAY, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HELD THEIR QUARTERLY CEREMONY WHERE NEW OFFICERS WERE SWORN IN, MERITORIOUS AWARD RECIPIENTS WERE RECOGNIZED, AND PERSONNEL TAKING ON NEW ROLES WERE PROMOTED. ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF BRIAN MCDERMOTT REPRESENTED THE CITY OF WEST COVINA AT THE ROLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT'S 2026 PRINCIPAL OF THE DAY EVENT ON OCTOBER 7TH. UNDER THE THEME STEP INTO THE SHOES OF A ROLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT PRESIDENT, PRINCIPAL, THE EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER COMMUNITY BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS TO GAIN INSIGHT INTO LOCAL SCHOOLS AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. ASSISTANT CHIEF MCDERBIN'S PARTICIPATION REFLECTS THE CITY'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND FOSTERING COLLABORATION THAT BENEFITS STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND THE COMMUNITY. BEGINNING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF BRUSH FIRES AND A RED FLAG WARNING EFFECT, THE WEST COVINA FIRE DEPARTMENT JOINED A REGIONAL STRIKE TEAM WITH MONTEREY PARK, ARCADIA, PASADENA, ALHAMBRA, AND LAVERNE. FIRE ARRANGERS WHO WERE STRATEGICALLY PREPOSITIONED AND READY TO, FOR RAPID DEPLOYMENT TO RESPOND TO EMERGING INCIDENTS. ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE 16TH, THESE RE- RESOURCES WERE DEPLOYED TO THE NORTE FIRE IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASED FROM THAT ASSIGNMENT. AS WE APPROACH THE UPCOMING RAINY SEASON, THE WEST COVINA FIRE DEPARTMENT IS TAKING PROACTIVE MEASURES TO HELP RESIDENTS PREPARE FOR INCREASED RAINFALL, SEVERE STORMS, AND POTO - POTENTIAL FOR LOCALIZED FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH EL NINO CONDITIONS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS THAT RESIDENTS TAKE SEVERAL SIMPLE STEPS NOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR PROPERTY. RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BUILD AN EMERGENCY KIT WITH ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES THAT CAN SUSTAIN THEIR HOUSEHOLD FOR 10 DAYS, MAKE AN EMERGENCY PLAN THAT IDENTIFIES EVACUATION ROUTES AND ESTABLISHES A FAMILY COMMUNICATION PLAN. INSPECT THEIR HOMES AND VEHICLES BY CHECKING ROOFS, WINDOWS, GUTTERS, AND DRAINS. WEST COVINA RESIDENTS MAY RECEIVE UP TO 10 SANDBAGS AT NO COST, PROOF OF CITY RESIDENCY IS REQUIRED, AND RESIDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FILLING AND TRANSPORTING THEIR OWN SANDBAGS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED TONIGHT DURING STORM PREPAREDNESS PRESENTATION. RESIDENTS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO STAY INFORMED BY MONITORING LOCAL WEATHER INFORMATION AND SIGNING UP FOR AL- ALERT LA COUNTY TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS. THE 2026 FESTIVAL OF FRIGHTS IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24TH FROM 4:00 TO 9:00 IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN WEST COVINA ON SOUTH GLENDORA AVENUE. JOIN US FOR FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT, SCARE ZONES, TRICK-OR-TREATING, COSTUME CONTEST, AND FUN. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY CITY MANAGER'S REPORT FOR TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WONDERFUL. [ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Part 1 of 2)] OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ORAL COMMUNICATIONS. PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER, BOTH IN PERSON AND REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE CITY COUNCIL. ONCE ALL IN PERSON, PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, THE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE IF THERE ARE ANY REGISTERED REMOTE PARTICIPANTS WHO WISH TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THERE ARE REMOTE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO WISH TO SPEAK, THE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK WILL BEGIN RECOGNIZING REMOTE SPEAKERS. REMOTE SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED BY THEIR NAME, ASKED TO UNMUTE THEMSELVES AND PROCEED WITH THEIR COMMENT. WHEN A SPEAKER'S TIME HAS EXPIRED, THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE NOTIFIED. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY NOT ENGAGE IN BEHAVIOR THAT IS DISRUPTIVE TO THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPEAKING OFF TOPIC, SPEAKING BEYOND THE SPEAKER'S ALLOTTED TIME LIMIT, MAKING SLANDEROUS OR PROFANE REMARKS OR USING LOUD, THREATENING OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE WHICH DISRUPTS, DISTURBS, IMPEDES OR RENDERS 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 HARM. ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE TONIGHT? MAYOR, THIS EVENING WE HAVE 11, UH, IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND WE HAVE FOUR REMOTE PARTICIPANTS. OKAY, GO AHEAD. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JOSH MURRAY, FOLLOWED BY SAGE NEWMAN, FOLLOWED BY IVAN CAMPOS. HELLO, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JOSH MURRAY. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF WEST COVINA LIBRARY ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28TH FROM 4:00 PM. TEENS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND OUR TEEN JACK-O-LANTERN WORKSHOP. TEENS WILL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT AND CREATE THEIR VERY OWN JACK-O-LANTERNS WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. I'D ALSO LIKE TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT THE WEST COVINE LIBRARY WILL SERVE AS A POLLING PLACE FROM SATURDAY, OCTOBER [01:10:01] 31ST TO TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD. THE HOURS WILL BE 10:00 AM TO 7:00 PM ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31ST, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST, AND MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND. HOURS ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD WILL BE FROM 7:00 AM TO 8:00 PM. UM, THERE IS ALSO A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT RETURN BOX OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY'S ENTRANCE, AND THIS VOTE BY MAIL, UM, RETURN BOX WILL BE ACCEPTING BALLOTS ALL THE WAY UP TO 8:00 ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. SAGE NEWMAN, FOLLOWED BY IVAN CAMPOS, FOLLOWED BY YVONNE VANDEREFF. IS IT RIGHT HERE? YES. HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH THIS MICROPHONE. UM, FIRST OFF, UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. UM, HELLO TO THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL AND MANAGEMENT. I, BECAUSE THIS IS DISABILITY AWARENESS EMPLOYMENT MONTH, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR CHANGING THE LIVES OF MY CLIENTS BY OFFERING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO THEM. IT HAS DONE A LOT TO, TO ADD TO THEIR FAMILY AND THEY ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR, SO THANK YOU AGAIN. BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I FEEL IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS. OUR GRATITUDE IS NOT POLITICAL, OKAY? WE DO THIS A LOT. EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN THE CEO OF VALLEY LIGHT CENTER, I HAVE BEEN THANKING EMPLOYERS FOR HIRING OUR CLIENTS PUBLICLY AND SOMETIMES JUST WITH A NICE LETTER. BUT SOMEHOW... NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS SEEN IT, BUT WE PUT UP A BILLBOARD ON AMAR BETWEEN HACIENDA AND BELINDA, AND IT WAS THANKING THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, OR NOT THE ENTI- ENTIRE COUNCIL, ACTUALLY THE CITY OF WEST COVINA FOR PROVIDING THESE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE A CHANCE. SO I PUT UP A BILLBOARD TO PUBLICLY THANK THE ENTIRE CITY OF WEST COVINA, AND SOMEHOW IT WAS POLITICIZED. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. IT IS SHOWING GRATITUDE, BUT IT ALSO HELPS OUR AGENCY TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT SUPPORT US. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WITH THAT BILLBOARD, WE'VE ALREADY HAD A COUPLE OF EMPLOYERS CONTACT US. SO THIS IS SHOWING OUR GRATITUDE TO YOU. UM, AND WHEN I SAY TO YOU, I'M SPEAKING OF THE ENTIRE, UH, CITY OF WEST COVINA, AND LET'S NOT BE PETTY, OKAY? WE'RE A NONPROFIT, AND THE PICTURE THAT WE USED HAPPENED TO BE A PICTURE THAT WE ALREADY HAD FROM OUR COMMERCIAL, SAVING US MONEY FROM THE ARTWORK THAT WOULD GO ON THE BILLBOARD. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT PUT EVERYBODY ON THAT BILLBOARD. THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM. YEAH. CAN I TAKE IVAN'S? OKAY. UM, I'M GONNA TAKE IVAN'S THREE MINUTES, OKAY? SO THAT IS WHAT THIS IS FOR, AND AGAIN... YEAH. O- OKAY, MY TIME IS TICK... HIS TIME'S TICKING AWAY. I'M GONNA FINISH, OKAY? SO AS I SAID, AND I'M TAKING IVAN'S TIME, HIS THREE MINUTES. WE'VE HAD THAT BEFORE WITH OUR OTHER - CAN - GO AHEAD. YES, GO AHEAD. AND SHE HAD AN ACCOMMODATION PRIOR, SO GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. UM, SO I'M TAKING IVAN'S TIME, BUT I'M GONNA PUT ON MY RESIDENT HAT. I'M TAKING OFF MY CEO HAT AND PUTTING ON MY RESIDENT HAT. IF WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS SUCH PETTY LITTLE ISSUES, WHY DON'T WE ADDRESS A BIG ISSUE LIKE THE SCATHING, NASTY, UH, SLANDER THAT WENT OUT AGAINST OUR MAYOR AND OUR, WHAT IS IT, CHIEF OF POLICE? LET ME TELL YOU GUYS SOMETHING, [01:15:01] THAT'S DIRTY POLITICS. WHOEVER PUT THAT OUT THERE, AND I'M GONNA SAY IT, AND BRIAN, DON'T YOU DARE CORRECT ME, THAT PERSON IS, IS, IS DISGUSTING. THIS ATTACKS OUR FAMILIES, AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHEN THEY DO THINGS LIKE THAT, THESE PEOPLE HAVE KIDS THAT ARE ALREADY TRYING TO WORK THEIR WAY, NAVIGATE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE WORLD, THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, HAVING SOCIAL ANXIETY. SO I TAKE THIS AS AN ATTACK ON FAMILIES. AND INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING A BILLBOARD, WHY DON'T SOME OF YOU STAND UP AND ADDRESS THAT NASTY SLANDER THAT WAS PUT OUT THERE? THAT WOULD SHOW MORE INTEGRITY. I HAVE SEEN NO ONE DEFEND THE HONOR OF THESE PEOPLE OTHER THAN COUNCILMAN WU AND MILAN. BUT THE REST OF THESE MEN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GUYS ARE COMING FROM, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE ATTACKING FEMALES. I KNOW YOU WON'T ATTACK ROSARIO BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT HER HUSBAND WILL DO, OKAY? SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA ATTACK HER. BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU, IT... I WANT EVERY WOMAN IN WEST COVINA TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE ATTACK, THE MISOGYNISTIC ATTACKS AGAINST THIS WOMAN. AND LET ME SAY, INSOFAR AS THE, THE, THE, UH, UH, FESTIVAL, WHAT IS IT? THE FESTIVAL? MOON FESTIVAL. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER. I'M GLAD THAT COUNCILMAN WU ASKED THE LATINOS TO JOIN, AND SOMEONE SAID THAT LATINOS HAVE NO PLACE WITH ASIANS. WELL, THAT'S A LIE BECAUSE MY KIDS ARE AFRO-ASIAN AND MY GRANDKIDS ARE AFRO-ASIAN AND LATINO, OKAY? SO THAT'S NOT TRUE. LET'S COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER. AND MAYBE WE SHOULD START WITH THE MOON FESTIVAL OF BRINGING US ALL TOGETHER INSTEAD OF SHOWING OUR OWN DISCRIMINATION. I COMMEND YOU, TONY, I COMMEND YOU, MYLAN, FOR STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. AND YOU KNOW WHAT, BRIAN? I QUESTION YOU FOR DEFENDING THE PERSON TO PUT THAT LETTER OUT THERE. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS YVONNE VANDER EBB, FOLLOWED BY RUDY SANTA MARIA, FOLLOWED BY HOWARD. GOOD EVENING, MYLAN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WANNA THANK MYLAN, OLE, MATT, AND GIL FOR COMING OUT TO THE HILLSIDE THIS PAST FRIDAY. I WAS GLAD I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH YOU, MYLAN, TO GO OVER SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND ISSUES WE HAVE. WE DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PIPE THAT MEETS THE WATER FLOW THAT MAY BE CRACKED, AND YOU AGREED TO HAVE A CAMERA CHECK THE CONDITION, AND IF NEEDED, REPAIRS WOULD BE DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND A DRAIN AT THE CURB WOULD BE M- MADE LARGER IF FOUND NECESSARY. THERE WAS ALSO THE CONCERN IF THE OTHER DRAIN WAS CLEARED OF DIRT, DEBRIS, AND ROOTS, AND YOU STATED YOU WOULD LOOK INTO IT. YOU EXPLAINED, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY YOUR DECISION OF TRIMMING THE TREES THAT ARE CLOSE TO HOMES AND MAKING THEM SAFER IS A PRIORITY OVER TRIMMING ALL THE TREES ON THE HILLSIDE NOW. YOU ALSO REASSURED ME ALL THE DEAD VEGETATION, YEARS OF LEAVES AND DEBRIS WOULD BE CLEANED UP. SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING AND CLEANING, CLEARING THOSE THINGS UP. THERE IS ALSO THE CONCERN OF THE CRACKED WATER FLOW, THE OLD IRRIGATION SYSTEM THAT WAS TURNED OFF DUE TO LEAKING, AND A TREE THAT HAS FALLEN AND IS NOW LAYING ON A WATER FLOW. AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW, THE FORECAST PREDICTS RAIN AGAIN THIS WEEK. WE ALREADY HAD AN UNEXPECTED RAIN JUST OVER A WEEK AGO, WHICH MEANS RAINS ARE COMING SOONER THAN EXPECTED. AND SO THIS BRINGS ME TO ASK, MYLAN, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE GEOLOGICAL REPORT TO BE AVAILABLE, AND MORE SO, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE HILLSIDE TO BE PROTECTED, AS YOU SAID YOU WOULD DO? WE ARE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SOIL PORTION OF THE HILL ITSELF, NOT THE WATER FLOWS, AS THEY HAVE BEEN MOSTLY CLEARED OF DEBRIS RECENTLY. MILAN, YOU [01:20:01] ALL... MYLAN, YOU, YOU, ALONG WITH MATT AND GAIL, ALSO VISITED THREE OF OUR HOMES. I KNOW IT WAS QUITE A SIGHT TO SEE AND ENLIGHTENING FOR ALL OF YOU. YOU SAW FOR YOURSELVES THE UNEVENNESS, THE CRACKS, LEANING FENCING, WALLS SEPARATING, FOUNDATION ISSUES, AND THE DAMAGED POOL. SEEING THIS IN PERSON IS AN EYE-OPENER, AND NOW YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE DESPERATE FOR HELP, ANSWERS, AND RESOLUTIONS. I KNOW THIS PROCESS AND ISSUES WILL TAKE TIME TO DO AND FIX, AND WE APPRECIATE THE CITY HAS MADE THIS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR HOMES AND FAMILIES. BUT PLEASE, MILAN, TELL US NOW HOW AND WHEN THE HILLS WILL BE PROTECTED. THANK YOU. WE NEED TO KNOW FOR OUR SANITY. WE ARE VERY FEARFUL FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR HOMES. AS YOU SEE IN THE PICTURES, IT'S ABOUT SIX MONTHS IT'S SEPARATED ON MY WALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RUDY SANTA MARIA, FOLLOWED BY HOWARD, FOLLOWED BY JD. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS RUDY SANTA MARIA. I'M A HOMEOWNER ON ALTOMERO DRIVE, AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT, UH, IN WEST COVID FOR ABOUT 26 YEARS. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ALI CANTOS, BRIAN GUTIERREZ, AND MYLAN MACRICH, UH, FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION ON OUR HILLSIDE. I APPRECIATE THE TIME THEY'VE TAKEN TO VISIT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO SEE THE DAMAGES FIRSTHAND AND WORK TOWARDS A SOLUTION. FOR 26 YEARS, I'VE INVESTED MY HARD WORK, MY SAVINGS, MY LIVELIHOOD IN MY, IN MY HOME. EVERYTHING I'VE WORKED FOR, IT, IT'S TIED TO THIS PROPERTY, YET EVERY DAY I WATCH THE DAMAGE CONTINUE TO GROW. GAPS BETWEEN THE FENCES ARE WIDENING, THE NEW CRACKS ARE APPEARING IN THE POOL, IN MY POOL AND THE PAVEMENT AT ALARMING RATES. I'M IN- INCREASINGLY WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MY HOME. UH, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN... UH, HOW CAN I EXPLAIN THIS TO MY FAMILY, THAT THE PLACE THAT THEY... WHERE THEY GROW UP, THE HOME THAT FILLED WITH YEARS OF MEMORIES MAY NOT BE THERE F - THERE FOR THEIR FUTURE GENERATIONS. IF THESE HILLSIDES WERE PART OF MY PROPERTY, I WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT MAINTAINING IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT MY PRO - UH, PROPERTY. IT BELONGS TO THE CITY, AND YET HOMEOWNERS ALONG OUR SIDE OF ALTAMERO DRIVE ARE EXPERIENCING DAMAGE TO THEIR PROPERTIES, LEAVING MANY OF US FEARFUL OF UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. OLLIE AND MYL - OLLIE AND MYLAN HAVE PERSONALLY VISITED OUR STREET AND WITNESSED THE DAMAGE AFFECTING SEVERAL HOMES. THEY ARE ASKING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE A GEOLOGY REPORT, AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS MOVING FORWARD WITH A SOLUTION. I RES - UH, I AM RES- RESPECTFULLY ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THIS GEOLOGY REPORT AND HELP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MOVE TOWARDS PROTECTING OUR HOMES. TIME IS CRITICAL. WITH THE RAIN EXPECTED, AS EARLY AS TOMORROW, WE, WE CANNOT AFFORD UNNECESSARY DELAYS. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEXT STEPS TO PROTECT AND COVER THE HILLSIDE BEFORE FURTHER RAIN CAUSES ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS NOT SIM- SIMPLY ABOUT CRACKS IN CONCRETE OR GAPS BETWEEN THE FENCES. THIS IS ABOUT OUR HOMES, OUR FINANCIAL SECURITY, OUR RETIREMENT, AND THE FUTURE WE HOPE TO LEAVE OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. WE HAVE MADE OUR LIVES IN WEST COVINA. WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TO PROTECT OUR HOMES. WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN. PLEASE APPROVE THIS GEOLOGY REPORT AND HELP US TAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS A SAFER HILLSIDE AND A MORE SECURE FUTURE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ALTAMERA DRIVE. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HOWARD, FOLLOWED BY JD, FOLLOWED BY MARIO. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL, AND S - CITY STAFF. MY NAME IS HOWARD AND I LIVE ON ALTAMIRA DRIVE. I WANNA THANK AND RECOGNIZE MAYOR PRO TEM ALI AND CITY MANAGER MILAN, INCLUDING MATT AND GIL FOR VISITING THE HILLSIDE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16TH. THEY WERE... THEY ALSO WENT TO THREE HOMES TO VIEW THE DAMAGES TO THE WALLS AND OTHER STRUCTURAL [01:25:01] ISSUES. AND THANK YOU, MILAN, MIKE, A- AND, UM, RENEE PUSHING UP TODAY TO, TO VIEW THE, UM, UH, THE UPDATE AND STATUS OF, OF THE CLEANING. EARLIER THAT WEEK, TH- THERE WAS A CREW CLEARING THE HILLSIDE IN V-DITCHES. I HAD ASKED ONE OF THE WORKERS THAT WAS CLEARING THE HILLSIDE THE NAMES OF THE TEAM MEMBERS WORKING WITH HIM, SO I WOULD PROVIDE THEIR NAMES TO THE COUNCIL TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION OF THEIR HARD WORK. HE GAVE ME THE NAMES ON THE LIST GIVEN TO THE COUNCIL BEFORE YOU TO ACKNOWLEDGE. PLEASE NOTE THAT HE JUST GAVE ME THEIR FIRST NAMES ONLY. THANK YOU, CITY CREW, FOR THE GREAT WORK OF CLEARING THE DEBRIS AND THE HILLSIDE AND THE V-DITCHES. I IMAGINE IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT WITH THE FOOTING ON THE STEEP HILLS. IN CLOSING, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE APPROVAL OF THE GEOTECH SURVEY AND THEIR REPORT OF RESULTS AND FINDINGS TO MOVE FORWARD IN RESOLVING THE HILLSIDE ISSUES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JD, FOLLOWED BY MARIO, FOLLOWED BY STEVE BENNETT. MARIO, FOLLOWED BY STEVE BENNETT. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, COUNCILOR, AND GOOD AF - GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. UH, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY. UH, COUPLE OF THINGS ON THE AGENDA, UH, THAT I WAS CHECKING OUT. UM, VIDUGO FIRE, YOU GUYS HAVE A CONTRACT THERE, THREE-YEAR CONTRACT, AND, UM, YOU'RE ALLOWING FOR VIDUGO TO HAVE A ONE-YEAR EARLY OUT, BUT NOT ALLOWING THE CITY, YOU KNOW, IF THEY SCREW UP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, FOR YOU GUYS TO BE ABLE TO CANCEL THEM OUT WITHIN A YEAR, SO CHECK OUT YOUR TERMINATION POLICIES ON THAT. ALSO, ON THE, UH, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, LOOKS LIKE THE STAFF REPORT IS STIPULATING THAT THERE WILL BE, UM, FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, IT'S GONNA GO OUT FOR COMPETITIVE BID, YET THE, UH, ESTIMATES THAT ARE CAME IN, UM, INCLUDE INSTALLATION PRICING ALREADY ON THEM, SO MAYBE GET NEW BIDS WITH JUST THE EQUIPMENT ONLY IF YOU'RE GONNA SEPARATE THE, UH, INSTALLATION STUFF ON THERE. AS FOR ALTOMIRA STUFF THAT I KEEP HEARING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, I GET OUT IN THE WORLD A LOT AND SEE A LOT OF THINGS AND ENCOUNTER, YOU KNOW, EVEN GEOLOGICAL EVENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. NOW I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD, BUT I'VE SEEN WHERE CALTRANS, YOU KNOW, SIDE OF A FREEWAY, I REMEMBER BY THE 57, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WHERE THERE WAS EROSION, AND CALTRANS IN ENGINEERING IS UP THERE AND THEY'RE DOING THINGS. I'VE DRILLED RODS INTO SIDES OF HILLS WITH 12 INCH PLATES AND THREW AN ALTERED AND, YOU KNOW, JUST CAPTURED IT TO STABILIZE. FIGURE OUT A WAY TO STABILIZE THAT HILL, OKAY? EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE LOOKING MAYBE FOR A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE. YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GONNA FIND A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE. THERE'S PROBABLY GONNA BE A COMPOUND OF THINGS THAT OCCURRED THERE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, YOU HAVE RESIDENTS, YOU HAVE 13 HOMES, 10 HOMES, GET IT STABILIZED, THEN ASK THE QUESTIONS AND DO YOUR STUDIES AND STUFF. UM, ASIDE FROM THAT, THESE ISSUES ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF, UH, PASEO LIGHTS. I'VE BEEN OUT AND ABOUT ON, UH, WALKS ON THE PASEOS IN THE EVENING, EARLY EVENINGS, UH, JUST TO SEE A LOT OF LIGHTS THAT ARE OUT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STILL, UH, PEOPLE GRABBING WIRES OR IF IT'S JUST, UH, LIGHT BULBS THAT ARE OUT, BUT SPOKEN WITH A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN THE AREAS SOUTHEAST SIDE, AND YEAH, THEY LIKE TO HAVE THEIR KIDS PLAY OUT THERE, AND IT'S JUST DARK AND THAT JUST INVITES MORE TROUBLE. EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE IT GOES FROM THERE. UM, ANYTHING ELSE GOING ON? OH, YEAH, BACK TO, UH, WHAT I SPOKE ON LAST TIME. STILL THINKING 15,000 CAP ON THE EVENT, MAN. SHOULD MAKE IT HAPPEN. UM, I THINK IT'LL ALLEVIATE A LOT OF ISSUES. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SPENDING 150,000, 80,000 ON EVENTS. I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT, WHAT, 240,000 IS WHAT'S BEEN BUDGETED FOR, UH, THE ULTOMIRA STUFF, YOU KNOW, THAT MONEY CAN BE BETTER USED, YOU KNOW, TO, UM, GET THINGS LIKE THAT DONE. AND I YIELD MY, UH, NEXT THREE MINUTES TO WHOEVER COMES NEXT. STEVE BENNETT, FOLLOWED BY ANGIE GILLINGHAM, FOLLOWED BY CARLOS YATTO. T MINUS 13 AND COUNTING. 13 DAYS FROM NOW, WE HAVE AN ELECTION. THREE OF YOU UP FOR RE-ELECTION. I HOPE ONE OF YOU WINS. WE CAN GUESS WHO THE TWO I HOPE DON'T. LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. WE HAD A CITY PAID VENDOR UP HERE A FEW MINUTES AGO SPEAKING ABOUT A BILLBOARD, AND IT'S NOT POLITICAL. WELL, WHEN YOU ONLY PUT TWO PICTURES OF TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION ON THAT BILLBOARD. AND SIT HERE AND THANK [01:30:01] THE WHOLE CITY COUNCIL, BUT NOT ALL FIVE PEOPLE ARE ON THAT BILLBOARD. IT BECOMES POLITICAL. IT NOW BECOMES AN IN-KIND DONATION ACCORDING TO THE FPPC. INTERESTING. WHAT'S MORE INTERESTING IS THE CITY OF WEST COVINA ACTUALLY HAS A MUNICIPAL CODE THAT WAS PASSED. TONY, YOU ACTUALLY WERE ON THE COUNCIL IN THIS PAST. IT WAS BEFORE YOU HAD YOUR MAJORITY THOUGH. THE OTHER COUNCIL MAJORITY AND EVERYONE THAT WAS ON IT PASSED RULES. AND YOU'RE NOT, AS A CANDIDATE, ALLOWED TO TAKE A SINGLE DOLLAR FROM ANY CONTRACTED COMPANY OR THEIR LEADERSHIP THAT HAS A CONTRACT OVER, I BELIEVE IT'S $30,000. I FULLY SUPPORT VALLEY LIGHT AND WHAT THEY DO. I THINK WHAT THEY DO IS AMAZING. I THINK THE JOB THEY DO IS AWESOME. AND I THINK EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO IS GREAT. BUT THEY DONATED MONEY TO YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THAT'S AGAINST THE CITY'S OWN ORDINANCE. IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU TOOK A BUNCH OF DONATIONS FROM A GUY ONCE BEFORE, UM, THAT WENT OVER THE $500 LIMIT BACK THEN. BUT THEN WHEN YOU ADD IN THE IN-KIND DONATION OF A BILLBOARD TO TONY AND LETTY, YOU'RE WELL BEYOND. PLUS IT'S NOT EVEN DISCLAIMERED AS POLITICAL. AND THEY'RE A NONPROFIT, WHICH A LOT OF NON-PROFITS HAVE RULES FROM THE IRS THAT SAY WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO- DONATE TO. THEY CANNOT DONATE TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS DEPENDING ON WHAT LEVEL OF THE NONPROFIT CATEGORY THERE IS. AND WE KNOW YOU COLLABORATED WITH THEM BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT YOUR OWN MAKEUP ARTIST TO THE COMMERCIAL SHOOT. SO YOU KNEW IT WAS HAPPENING. I MEAN, THAT'S PUBLIC ON FACEBOOK. WE, WE KNOW THAT THIS WAS ALL DONE AS TIMING FOR THIS ELECTION BECAUSE THE TWO OF YOU ARE UP FOR REELECTION. AND THE WORST PART ABOUT IT IS WE NOW KNOW WHY YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT ALTAMURA. YOU'RE BUSY DOING A PHOTO SHOOT AND A COMMERCIAL. SO THAT'S WHY THEY WEREN'T THERE FOR YOU GUYS OVER THERE BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO WORRIED ABOUT THEIR PUBLIC IMAGE, NOT ABOUT YOUR HILL OR YOUR HOUSES OR YOUR LIVELIHOOD. VOTE OUT LETTIE, VOTE OUT TONY, VOTE CARLOS YATO. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT DISTRICT FIVE, THAT'S TERRIBLE. AND VOTE FOR OLE CONTOS. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. ANGIE GILLINGHAM, FOLLOWED BY CARLOS CIATO, FOLLOWED BY GLENN KENNEDY. WE'LL ALL GET THROUGH THIS ELECTION YEAR. UM, GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, COUNCIL, I COME HERE TONIGHT FIRST TO INFORM THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT TWO AND FOUR OF RECENT CAMPAIGN FLYERS THAT WENT OUT FOR MR. YATO AND MR. CONTOS WHERE THE LOGO THAT WAS CREATED IN THE FIGHT FOR THE TAX GRAB IN 2020, NO ONE WC TAX WAS APPLIED. IT'S MISLEADING AND IT'S PLAGIARISTIC. THE ATTEMPT TO CONFUSE VOTERS THAT THESE TWO CANDIDATES MAY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE EFFORT, THEY DID NOT. THE PAC THAT WAS FORMED IN 2020, WHICH COMPROMISED OF MANY RESIDENTS, FORMER MAYORS, A REAL BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO FIGHT THE PROPOSED TAX BY CITY COUNCIL OF 2020, A REAL COLLABORATION. AFTER UNANIMOUS WIN BY THIS GROUP, MOST OF US WHO DID THE HARD WORK OF WALKING, COLLECTING SIGNATURES OF DOOR TO DOOR CITYWIDE TO PLACE THE INITIATIVE ON THE BOARD WALKED AWAY FROM THE PAC. EFFORT COMPLETED, EXCEPT THE SECRETARY, MS. POTRIS, WHO CHOSE TO KEEP THE PAC AND THE FPPC ASSOCIATED TO THE TAX FA - ACTIVE TAX FIGHT AND LATER RENAMED IT WEST COVINA NEIGHBORS. WHAT SHE CHOSE TO IGNORE WAS SENDING OUT THESE FLYERS WAS TO CONSIDER THE MANY OF US WHO TOOK PART IN THAT EFFORT IF WE WOULD AGREE TO THE USE OF THE LOGO. USE OF HER PAC NAME IS NOT UNETHICAL. USING THE LOCAL LOGO IS UNETHICAL. REACHING OUT TO FORMER MEMBERS WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN, WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CONSIDERATE THING TO DO. AFTER ALL, WITHOUT US, THE FIGHT MIGHT NOT HAVE ENDED FOR THE WIND OF THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA. THANK YOU. CARLOS, CARLOS YATO, FOLLOWED BY GLEN KENNEDY. UH, FIRST OFF, I WANT TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH THE VERY FIRST SPEAKER. UM, I BELIEVE THAT PERSONAL ATTACKS AGAINST CANDIDATES AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE NO PLACE IN THIS ELECTION AND DISTRACT US FROM, UH, THE CHALLENGES OUR CITY ACTUALLY FACES. BUT TONIGHT LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR FAILED POLICIES HERE. SO FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE, UM, WE'VE HAD BAD DECISIONS, BROKEN PROMISES, AND WASTEFUL TAXPAYER SPENDING. AND I WANNA GET THAT CLEAR THAT, UH, FIRST IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO WASTE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, SO WE NEED TO PUT AN END TO THAT. THE SPORTS PLEX, WE NEED TO REVERT THAT TO [01:35:01] A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, UM, AND RESTORE THAT, THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THAT OPERATOR. THE THIRD IS THE STREET SWEEPING. WE NEED TO REVERT THAT, THAT COSTLY EXPANSION BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS, UM, AND NOT REALLY TRY TO BURDEN OR DEPEND ON GENERATING CITATIONS AGAINST HARDWORKING RESIDENTS. FOURTH IS OUR CITY FINANCES. I THINK THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS THAT WE SEE FROM OUR CITY FINANCES IS, IS VERY CONCERNING. I THINK THAT WE HAVE, WHEN YOU HAVE, UH, AUDIT COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT ARE RESIGNING, THAT'S VERY CONCERNING. AND LASTLY, WE NEED TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN OUR CITY LEADERSHIP. AND THAT STARTS AT THE TOP. OUR CITY EMPLOYEES DESERVE TO DO THEIR JOBS WITHOUT INTIMIDATION OR POLITICAL INTERFERENCE FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS. THEY SERVE THE PUBLIC, NOT THE PERSONAL INTEREST OF COUNCIL MEMBERS. LEADERSHIP SHOULD SUPPORT OUR EMPLOY- EMPLOYEES AND NOT UNDERMINE THEM. AND LETICIA LOPEZ, YOU ARE PART OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE YOU'VE SUPPORTED ALL THOSE DECISIONS. AND SO EIGHT YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO SERVE, BUT PUBLIC SERVICE ISN'T MEASURED BY HOW LONG YOU'VE KEPT A SEAT WARM. IT'S MEASURED BY WHAT YOU DELIVER TO THE PEOPLE. PUBLIC OFFICE IS NOT ABOUT EXERCISING POWER OVER PEOPLE, IT'S ABOUT SERVING THEM. WEST COVINA NEEDS ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIBLE SPENDING, AND LEADERSHIP THAT PUTS RESIDENTS AND CITY EMPLOYEES FIRST. UM, ONE OTHER THING I LIKE TO NOTATE IS THAT THIS ALTOMERA DRIVE SITUATION, UH, WE APPROVED $850,000 TRANSTECH CONTRACT BACK IN AUGUST. AND IN THAT 77-PAGE REPORT THAT SHOWS THEIR LONG LIST OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, UH, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, A WHOLE SLEW OF ENGINEERS THAT THEY HAVE, AND THEY ALSO HAVE A, A SUB-CONSULTANT AGREEMENT WITH THE GEOTECHNICAL FIRM, YET THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT FOR MORE BUREAUCRATIC ROADBLOCKS TO DO AN RFP AND THE CITY HAS TO PAY ANOTHER $50,000. SO, UH, FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH OTHER CITIES, THEY WOULD JUST SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT? WE HAVE A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT. WE'RE GONNA USE THEM TO GO OUT AND WE CUT ALL THE BS AND JUST GET IT DONE." SO AGAIN, THOSE ARE DECISIONS THAT WE, THAT END UP COSTING US SO MUCH MONEY. MEANWHILE, IT'S GONNA RAIN IN THIS MORE TIME. SO AGAIN, NOVEMBER 3RD IS SO IMPORTANT. I HOPE TO, UH, SEE A BIG CHANGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GLEN KENNEDY. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL. GLEN KENNEDY, DISTRICT ONE. UM, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ALTOMERA. UM, I'D LIKE, UH, TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEYS A FEW QUESTIONS HERE. UH, IT'S, WAS MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY BUILT ALL THOSE HOMES IN THE EARLY 70S, ALL THOSE PASEOS, UH, LED TO, UH, GREENWICH PARK OR SHADOW OAK PARK. SO EVERY HOUSE THAT BUTTS UP AGAINST THE PASEO IS, IS ACTUALLY NOT CITY PROPERTY. IT'S ACTUALLY OWNED BY, AT THAT POINT, IT WAS A, WAS A HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION. I, I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STILL THAT WAY TODAY. IT, IT WAS CALLED A, UH, A PD1 PLANNING, UH, PLANNING DEVELOPMENT ONE. UH, THEY ALSO SIT ON A SEPARATE, UH, MAINTENANCE TAX. THEY PAY A TAX THAT NOBODY ELSE IN THE CITY PAYS. SO MY QUESTION IS, WHERE DOES THE CITY START AND WHERE DOES THE RESIDENTIAL END? SO IF, IF THE HILLSIDE IS OWNED BY US OR IS IT OWNED BY THE RESIDENTS? BECAUSE IF IT'S OWNED BY THE RESIDENTS AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA DO A GEOLOGICAL REPORT AND YOU'RE GONNA DO SOIL SAMPLES, WHICH WILL RUN INTO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, THAT'S NOT ON THE CITY, OKAY? NOW THAT BECOMES A GIFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN MY, UH, IN, IN, IN MY VIEW. I, I'D LIKE AN ANSWER FROM YOU, MYLAN, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, TO CLARIFY THIS. AND, UH, ALSO, LAST, UH, MEETING, THE LADY WHO SPOKE, UM, ABOUT THE FRAUD, THE, HOW SHE GOT, THE HOUSE WAS EMBEZZLED, THE, THE CRIME WAS IN EL MONTE, AND SHE SAT HERE FOR SIX MINUTES AND SHE BITCHED ABOUT THIS AND THIS AND THIS, AND WHY ARE YOU COMING TO WEST COVINA? THAT, THAT CRIME HAPPENED IN EL MONTE AND YOU SHOULDN'T BEAT UP OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR A CRIME THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN WEST COVINA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHAT'S THAT? WHAT'S THAT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NEXT SPEAKER. MAYOR, WE'RE GONNA SWITCH TO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE S. NORWAL. UH, MS. NORWAL, IF YOU CAN, UH, GIVE ME A MINUTE HERE, IF YOU CAN PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF. MS. NORWAL, IF YOU CAN PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF. [01:40:07] UH, WHILE WE WAIT FOR THAT MAYOR, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND GO TO MR. ELLIOT. MR. ELLIOT, IF YOU CAN PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF. OKAY, GIVE ME ONE MOMENT. UM, AND I KNOW YOU WANTED TO HAVE YOUR COM - YOUR MONITOR ON. IF YOU CAN PLEASE TURN YOUR MONITOR ON, MR. ELLIOT, AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND START THE TIMER. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS BILL ELLIOTT AND RUMORS OF MY DEMISE HAVE BEEN GREATLY EXAGGERATED. CASE DISMISSED. THE VULGAR ATTACKS ON OUR POLICE CHIEF AND MAYOR IS A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED SMEAR CAMPAIGN. BOTH OUR MAYOR AND OUR CHIEF DESERVE BETTER, AND SO DO THEIR FAMILIES. LETTIE'S GIVEN 16 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS CITY AND HAS ALWAYS ACTED HONORABLY. THE COWARDLY AUTHOR IS SO OBVIOUS THAT I'M LOOKING AT YOU AND YOUR CREW, FAT BOY. YOU DISPARAGE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEN SAY, "I SUPPORT THE POLICE IN THE SAME BREATH. WHERE ARE THE CARTELS WHEN WE NEED THEM? REJECT THIS JEALOUS MAN CHILD. HE LIES LIKE NO UTTER. WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS." CHIEF CORTINA'S CHARACTER IS UNQUESTIONABLE, AND HE MAINTAINS THE RESPECT AND SUPPORT FROM NOT ONLY THE RANK AND FILE OFFICERS, BUT FROM THE PEOPLE OF WEST COVINA AS WELL. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM. BLUEHEAD LESLIE GARCIA IS A PUPPET AND PROTEGE OF FORMER MAYOR BRIAN. SHE IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST CANDIDATE RUNNING IN ANY DISTRICT, AND THAT'S A VERY LOW BAR. LESLIE IS VERY WOKE AND CLEARLY A NO VOTE. VOTE FOR LEVI. SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE TOLD CARLOS YADO THAT YOU DON'T WIN ELECTIONS IN WEST COVINA ON FACEBOOK OR TIKTOK. HIS CLAIM OF NO LEARNING CURVE NECESSARY IS BECAUSE HE'S SO HIGHLY EDUCATED AND HAS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE. CARLOS HAS A LITTLE OPINION THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE COLLEGE DEGREES LIKE HIM, AND HE THINKS HE'S ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE. HE WANTS TO FIRE OUR CITY MANAGER. MILAN HAS THE RESPECT OF THE CITY STAFF. NO ONE WORKS HARDER THAN MILAN. NO ONE. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW THAN THE DEVIL YOU DON'T KNOW. VOTE FOR LEVI. IN DISTRICT FOUR, ALL HE HAS PROBLEMS REGARDING HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH A MAN WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO HAVING SEX WITH A MINOR, BUT COUNCILMAN CONTOS THOUGH IT WOULD BE OKAY FOR HIM TO HIRE HIM TO WORK ON HIS CAMPAIGN. WHEN HURST RANCH BANNED THIS PREDATOR FROM THEIR PROPERTY, ONLY PROMPTLY HIRED HIM. POOR JUDGMENT IS A DISQUALIFIER. CONTOS IS A NO VOTE. DANNY ROMAN IS A NEWCOMER TO POLITICS IN WEST COVINA AND IS A RETIRED LAPD OFFICER. I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIM. WILDCARD PAULINE TEZA IS THIRD CANDIDATE IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT AND LIKE DANNY MO - ROMAN, SHE IS A POLITICAL UNKNOWN TO THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT FOUR. WHEN FRED SYKES WAS MAYOR, HE ASKED PERMISSION TO SIGN ON TO AN AMICUS BRIEF THAT WOULD DESIGNATE WEST COVINA AS A SANCTUARY CITY. THE COUNCIL TOLD HIM UNANIMOUSLY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY, NO. FRED SYKES DEFIANTLY SIGNED IT ANYWAY. FRED SYKES IS A NO VOTE. TONY VU HAS A VISION FOR WEST COVINA AND IS THE CLEAR CHOICE IN DISTRICT FIVE. MAYOR, THREE MINUTES IS UP. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER. UH, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS S. NORWAL. IF YOU CAN PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF. PERFECT. I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UH, START THE TIMER. MS... MS. NORWAL, GO AHEAD. UH, THANK YOU. UM, I'M A MEMBER OF, UM, A RESIDENT OF THE ALTAMERA DRIVE, AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO THE CITY FOR TAKING THE PRELIMINARY STEPS TO CLEAN AND TRIM THE TREES ON OUR HILLSIDE. UH, WE APPRECIATE THE VISIT OF THE CITY MANAGER AND TWO SAFETY MEMBERS ON FRIDAY, 10 / 16. MY HOME WAS PERSONALLY VIEWED AND NOW, UH, YOU HAVE SEEN THE WALL SEPARATIONS, UH, ON EACH NEIGHBORING BLOCK FENCES. YOU HAVE SEEN THE LARGE CRACKS THROUGHOUT THE CONCRETE PATIO AND FR - BACK IN FRONT, YOU SAW THE LARGE CRACKS RUNNING ACROSS THE PATIO AND REACHING THE SLIDING DOOR. UH, TWO OF YOUR SAFETY MEMBERS ACTUALLY CAME INSIDE MY HOME AS WELL. AND IF YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, PAGE TWO, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE CEILING CRACKS, UH, SOME OF MY, UH, FLOOR CRACKS AS, AS WELL. UM, DURING YOUR VISIT, YOU ALSO NOTICED [01:45:01] THE CRACKS GOING ACROSS THE STREET TO OUR NEIGHBORS. UM, AS CITY WORKERS WERE CLIMBING THE HILLSIDE, I ASKED THEM TO SEE IF THE HILL CAN BE PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS. UH, THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE, UH, CLIMBING, UM, THE HILL AND THEY FELT SOFT SPOTS IN THERE. SO I'M EXTREMELY WORRIED THAT THE HILLSIDE COULD NOT TAKE, UH, MUCH OF THE RAIN. AND SO WE'RE DEEPLY CONCERNED, UH, FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE HILLSIDE AND THE SAFETY OF OUR HOMES AND OUR COMMUNITY. UM, WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED FOR, UH, FURTHER ACTION WITH THE GEOLOGICAL OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN COVER THE HILL, AND I THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS 626 TRUTH SEEKERS. IF YOU CAN PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF. GO AHEAD. THE TIMER HAS STARTED. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, STAFF, AND WEST COVINA RESIDENTS. LET'S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION OF ETHICS. TONIGHT, I AM RAISING A MATTER OF PUBLIC AWARENESS, TRANSPARENCY, DUE DILI- DILIGENCE, AND JUDGMENTS CONCERNING MAYOR PRO TEM ALIKANTOS, CANDIDATE FOR DISTRICT FOUR, DISTRICT TWO CANDIDATE CARLOS YADO, AND MAR- MARIO LUIS SAVALARO. THIS IS NOT FACEBOOK GOSSIP OR POLITICAL HEARSAY. I ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO VERIFY THE PUBLIC RECORDS THEMSELVES. IN A PUBLICLY FILED DECLARATION, MARIO SAVALARO STATED THAT ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 2020, HE WAS CONVICTED OF TWO FELONY COUNTS UNDER CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE SECTION 261.5 AND WAS ON FELONY PROBATION. PENAL CODE SECTION 261.5 CONCERNS UNLAWFUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH A MINOR, MEANING A PERSON UNDER 18. MR. SALVADORO LATER RECEIVED RELIEF UNDER PENAL CODE SECTION 1203. 4, ALTHOUGH PEOPLE COMMONLY CALL THIS AN EX - QUOTE UNQUOTE EXPUNGEMENT. CALIFORNIA C- COURTS EXPLAIN THAT TRUE EXPUNGEMENT DOES NOT EXIST IN CALIFORNIA. SECTION 1203. 4 PROVIDES A FORM OF DISMISSAL AND RECORD RELIEF. THAT RELIEF SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED, BUT IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE HISTORICAL FACT THAT THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONVICTIONS OCCURRED. I AM ALSO NOT CLAIMING MR. SAVALARO IS CURRENTLY LISTED ON CALIFORNIA'S MEGAN'S LAW WEBSITE. THERE IS NO REASON TO EXAGGERATE THE RECORD. NOW LET'S DISCUSS WHY THIS MATTERS IN OUR LOCAL ELECTION. ACCORDING TO AN OFFICIAL 2026 FORM 460 FILED WITH THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, THE CAMPAIGN OF MAYOR PRO TEM ALI CONTOS REPORTED PAYING AN INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFIED ON THE FILING AS MARIO SALVADORADO, $500, CODED CNS CAMPAIGN CONSULTANTS. THAT RAISES A SERIOUS QUESTIONS OF DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE PAYING SOMEONE TO WORK ON A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN AND ALLOWING THAT PERSON TO REPRESENT A CANDIDATE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT VETTING WAS PERFORMED? WERE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RECORDS REVIEWED? WAS A BACKGROUND CHECKED CONDUCTED? IF NOT, WHY NOT? REGARDING DISTRICT TWO CANDIDATE CARLOS YARO, I WANT TO BE EQUALLY ACCURATE. THE YARO CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE I REVIEWED DOES NOT SHOW A PAYMENT TO MARIO, AND I AM NOT CLAIMING THAT IT DOES. HOWEVER, RESIDENTS HAVE OBSERVED MARIO ACTIVELY PLACING YARO CAMPAIGN SIGNS THROUGHOUT WEST COVINA, INCLUDING DURING LATE HOURS. MARIO... RESIDENTS HAVE ALSO OBSERVED CARLOS YARO, MARIO ZALVARADO, AND MAYOR PRO TEM ALIKONTOS APPEARING TOGETHER AT NUMEROUS COMMUNITY, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL EVENTS, AS WELL AS CAMPAIGNING IN THE COMMUNITY. THEIR PUBLIC ASSOCIATION DOES NOT BY ITSELF ESTABLISH ANYTHING IMPROPER, BUT IT MAKES TRANSPARENCY REGARDING THEIR RESPECTIVE CAMPAIGN OPERATIONS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. SO MR. YARO SHOULD EXPLAIN WHAT IS MARIO'S ROLE IN YOUR CAMPAIGN AND WHAT VETTING WAS PERFORMED BEFORE ALLOWING SOMEONE TO REGULARLY REPRESENT YOUR CAMPAIGN THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS? THIS IS BIGGER THAN SIMPLY ASKING, DID YOU KNOW? THE REAL QUESTION FOR BOTH CANDIDATES IS, WHAT DID YOU DO TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW WHO WAS REPRESENTING YOU? MAYOR PRO TEM ALIKONTOS IS ASKING DISTRICT FOUR VOTERS TO RETURN HIM TO OFFICE. THANK YOU. CARLOS? OUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IT WAS THREE AND MOVING UP. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. SHOEMAKER. MR. SHOEMAKER, IF YOU CAN PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF. YES. UM, AM I UNMUTED? YES, THE TIMER HAS STARTED. ALL RIGHT, THANKS. UH, COUPLE ITEMS. UH, FIRST, UH, LET'S MENTION A COUPLE THINGS THAT, ABOUT, UH, BILL ELLIOTT. UH, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WHO HE'S SUPPORT- SUPPORTING IS ACTIVELY, UH, PLEASED WITH THAT. UH, HE HAS BEEN POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT BASICALLY HE'S AS INNOCENT AS A NEWBORN BABY. WELL, LET ME DISPEL THAT. FIRST OF ALL, HE WENT INTO A DIVERSION, CRIMINAL [01:50:01] DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT HE, ON MANY OCCASIONS, CLAIMED WAS ONLY HANDLED BY A SOFT ON CRIME DA, THE LAST DA THAT WE HAD. BUT IT'S AMAZING WHEN HE GOT HIS, UH, BUTT CAUGHT FOR COMMITTING A CRIME, HE RAN STRAIGHT TO IT. BASICALLY, WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS IF YOU D- DID NOT DO ANYTHING, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO ATTEND ANGER MANAGEMENT COURSES, DO 40 HOURS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, PAY RESTITUTION TO THE VICTIM IF YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING? YES, UNDER THE LAW, IT ALL WENT AWAY, EXCEPT THE FACT THAT HE DID COMMIT, YOU KNOW, UH, AN ASSAULT ON PEOPLE. NOW LET'S TAKE IT... NOW LET'S GO TO, UH, ANOTHER THING. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN GETTING UP IN FRONT OF THE CONSOLE AND A - SAYING THAT, UH, THE MAJORITY OR WHOEVER SHOULD BE, SHOULD, UH, QUIT PICKING ON BRIAN GUTIERREZ OR JOHN DOE. WELL, THEY AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT HE'S THE ONE FILING ALL THE LAWSUITS. HE'S FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST ME. HE'S FILED LAWS - UH, TWO OR THREE LAWSUITS AGAINST THE CITY. HE'S FILED AGAINST MYLAN. HE'S FILED AGAINST THE CITY CLERK. UH, HE'S THREATENED LAWSUITS AGAINST PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN WORK IN THE CITY ANYMORE, AND EVERYBODY'S RUNNING AROUND SAYING, "OH, WELL, YOU NEED TO BE NICE TO, TO BRIAN." WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT BRIAN IS HE GETS UP THERE, AND IS IT TRUE THAT THE DOCTOR WHO'S SIGNING OFF ON ALL THIS IS A CHIROPRACTOR, NOT AN EXPERT IN, UH, IN, UH, AUTISM, BUT YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR OWN MEALS, YOUR OWN LIGHTING, YOUR OWN, UH, SOUND SYSTEM THAT WHEN PEOPLE ASK FOR RECORDS REQUESTS THAT YOU HA - YOU WANT A SPECIFIC FORMAT THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW SO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT? YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THIS IS JUST GETTING ABSOLUTELY, UH, RIDICULOUS. Y- YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN'T DO THE JOB WITHOUT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS, MAYBE YOU CAN'T DO THE JOB. YOU KNOW, HE WANTS THE RULES CHANGED TO FIT HIM, AND IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY INSANE. AND REGARDING, REGARDING CARLOS YADO, ONE OTHER THING IS HE CLAIMS ABOUT HIS FAMILY'S COMPANY AND HIS EXPERIENCE THERE. WELL, THEY HIRED UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS AND THEN REFUSED TO PAY THEM. THAT'S THE TYPE OF EXPERIENCE HE WANTS TO BRING TO THE CITY. NO, WE DON'T NEED THAT EITHER. THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, MAYOR. OKAY. UM, CITY MANAGER, WILL YOU PLEASE RESPOND TO ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS? UH, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. UM, JOSH MURRAY, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATES ON THE LIBRARY. SAGE AND IVAN, THANK YOU FOR UPDATES ON VALLEY LIGHT AND THANKING OUR CITY COUNCIL. UM, FREVON, RUDY, HOWARD, UM, MS. NORWAL, AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT SPOKE ON THE ALTAMIRA HILLSIDE. UM, IN A RECENT EMAIL I, I SENT TO THE RESIDENTS, I SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED CLEAR DIRECTION TO ME THAT, UM, THAT I... AND I AM COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THE DIRECTION'S FULFILLED INTERNALLY THROUGH UPCOMING BUDGET AMENDMENTS, THE CITY COUNCIL, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH AN ESTIMATED $500,000 WORTH OF WORK TOWARDS THE HILLSIDE. UM, WE HAVE THREE SEPARATE CREWS OUT THERE, THEM OUT THERE ALTERNATING. UH, ONE IS MERCHANTS', UH, CONTRACT SERVICE FOR THE GROUND AREA. WE HAVE OUR CITY CREWS OUT THERE DEALING WITH THE DRAINAGE, UH, V DITCHES, THE UNDERGROUND P- PIPING, AND YOU'LL SEE BY THE LARGEST CONTINGENCY OF, UH, WEST COAST ARBORISTS TRIMMING THE TREES. UH, I FULLY RECOGNIZE THE RAINS ARE COMING SOONER THAN WE EXPECTED. UM, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRIMMING 200 TREES RIGHT NOW, AND BECAUSE OF THE, THE TERRAIN, WE CAN'T GET OUR BOOM TRUCKS OR LIFTS OR ANYTHING OUT THERE ON THAT HILLSIDE. WE CAN'T PUT IN ANY EQUIPMENT. SO ALL THE TREES ARE BEING, UM, GUYS ARE CLIMBING THESE TREES AND CUTTING THEM. THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING AS FAST AS THEY CAN. UM, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS ABOUT PUTTING SOME TARPING DOWN ON THE HILLSIDE. UH, WE'RE WATCHING THE WEATHER. WE'RE OUT THERE DAILY, UM, REVIEWING THE HILLSIDE, RUNNING INTO SOME RESIDENTS, UM, VARIOUS TIMES OF THE DAY OUT THERE. UM, BUT WE ARE ASSESSING DAILY. UH, MIKE CRESSOP, OUR PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT AND I WILL BE BACK OUT THERE TOMORROW, UM, CHECKING ON THE PROGRESS OF THE CLEANUP OF THE HILLSIDE. WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE DOING THE V-DITCHES AND DRAINAGE DITCHES AGAIN TOMORROW, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY AS WE CUT TREES AND DO WORK, MORE LEAVES AND STUFF FALL INTO THOSE DITCHES, SO WE GOTTA KEEP COMING BACK AND, AND CLEANING. UM, THROUGHOUT THE EL NINO SEASON, UM, STARTING, I GUESS THE RAINS ARE GONNA COME AGAIN THIS WEEK, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE ASSESSING DAILY. WE'LL BE MAKING NECESSARY STEPS TO, UM, DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO PROTECT, UM, YOUR HOMES AND ANYTHING THAT MAY BE CAUSING, UH, DAMAGE TO YOUR PROPERTIES. IT WAS ENLIGHTENING VISITING THE PROPERTY, SPEAKING WITH THE RESIDENTS, [01:55:01] AND SEEING THE DAMAGE YOU HAVE. UM, SOME OF THE DAMAGE STARTS FROM THE FRONT OF YOUR PROPERTIES TO THE BACK OF YOUR PROPERTIES. AND AGAIN, UH, NOBODY VISITING YOUR PROPERTIES AS A GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER OR ANYTHING ELSE, BUT ALL I CAN SAY IS FROM THE CITY, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN, UM, TO HELP YOU. UM, THERE'S NO PUSHBACK FROM THIS COUNCIL. I HAVE FULL SUPPORT TO DO WHATEVER'S NEEDED. UM, I DON'T HAVE TO CONSULT WITH ANYBODY, SO, UM, RUDY, I KNOW YOU'VE CALLED ME A COUPLE TIMES, LEFT SOME NICE MESSAGES, AND THE EBB FAMILY, I'VE BEEN OUT THERE A COUPLE TIMES, TALKED TO YOU AS WELL. UM, AND I KNOW EVERYBODY'S APPRECIATIVE OF OUR WORK, AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS, AND I WOULD BE SCARED TOO, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU STARTED SHOWING ME SOME OF THE SEPARATIONS IN THE WALLS AND DIFFERENT THINGS. UM, SO WE'RE HERE FOR THE LONG RUN. WE'RE HERE TO WORK AS FAST AS WE CAN TO HELP YOU. AND, UH, AGAIN, THE, THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE, AS RIGHT NOW WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT IF TRIMMING THE TREES, CLEARING LEAVES, CLEARING THE VITAGES OR ANYTHING HELPS OR PREVENTS DAMAGE, WE'RE GONNA DO IT. SO, UM, I, I KNOW THE ALTAMIRA RESIDENTS SPOKE, AND I KNOW SOME OTHER, UH, RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY SPOKE ABOUT, SPOKE ABOUT THAT, BUT AGAIN, UH, WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING YOU. UM, ON THE... ANYTHING DOING WITH THE, THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, I'M NOT GONNA COMMENT ON. UM, AGAIN, EVERYBODY'S EXERCISED THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT AND SPOKEN WHAT THEY BELIEVE. UH, I APPRECIATE THOSE THAT HAVE SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF OUR, OUR POLICE CHIEF, UM, WHO IS OF THE HIGHEST INTEGRITY AND ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE THAT I'VE EVER WORKED WITH, SO I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY, UM, CONDEMNING, UM, THE HATE MAIL, THE ANONYMOUS LETTERS THAT HAVE GONE OUT TO PEOPLE, UM, SMEARING PEOPLE AND DAMAGING THEIR FAMILY LIVES AND, UM, THEIR REPUTATIONS. SO WITH THAT, UH, MADAM MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES MY RESPONSES FOR TONIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL, [CONSENT CALENDAR] IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR COMMENT, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ? YES. YES. SO JUST TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE, UM, IN REGARDS TO, UH, CHIEF ANTONIO CORTINA AND, AND THE LETTER THAT SOMEHOW WAS TRANSMITTED REGARDING ALLEGATIONS BETWEEN, UH, CORTINA AND OUR MAYOR OVER HERE, LETICIA LOPEZ VILLARO, UH, AGAIN, I DO NOT CONDONE THAT LETTER, UH, AND WHOEVER DID WRITE THAT LETTER, UH, SHOULD GROW UP AND UNDERSTAND THAT HATE MAIL, UH, IS NOT THE CORRECT PROCESS TO DO, UH, IN, IN, IN ASSURING YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH. UH, AND AGAIN, I DO NOT CONDONE THAT CONDUCT, UM, BUT I DO BELIEVE IN ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT, UH, SO, UH, IN REGARDS TO, UH, IN REGARDS TO... LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE WE HAVE? UM, IN REGARDS TO VALLEY LIGHT, UH, LET ME SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT THE VALLEY LIGHT BILLBOARD. UH, I SUPPORTED VALLEY LIGHT'S, UH, CITY CONTRACT. IN FACT, UH, I BELIEVE I'M THE ONE WHO POTENTIALLY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT, AND THE COUNCIL VOTED IN FAVOR, BUT, UH, WHEN CONTRACTORS DECIDE TO BECOME POLITICAL AND HAVE A MEMBER OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD WHO LIVES IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD AS MS. NEWMAN, THE CEO, DONATE TO MAYOR LETICIA LOPEZ VILLARO'S CAMPAIGN, THE REGISTERED VOTER LIVES IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD AS THE CEO OF VALLEY LIGHT. AND SO, IT IS MY DUTY TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA, AND SO, AND MY FPPC COMPLAINT CONCERNS A DIFFERENT ISSUE, AND ADVERTISING, ADVERTISING FEATURING ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO PAY, WHO PAID FOR IT, WHAT WAS IT WORTH, WHETHER IT WAS CO - WAS IT COORDINATED? YOU HAD YOUR MAKEUP ARTIST THERE, AND W- WHAT, WHAT, WHAT CAMPAIGNS WERE INVOLVED, AND WHETHER ANY, UH, REQUIRE DISCLOSURES WERE MADE. SEPARATELY, UH, VALLEY LIGHT'S WORK DOES NOT MEAN GIVING UP MY RES - ME SUPPORTING VALLEY LIGHT A- A- AS A ENTITY DOES... A- AS THE WORK THEY DO FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DOESN'T MEAN THAT I GIVE UP MY RESPONSIBILITY, UH, TO ASK QUESTIONS. DESCRIBING THE BILLBOARD AS A THANK YOU DOES NOT BY ITSELF ANSWER THEM. I HAVE ASKED THE FPPC TO REVIEW THE FACTS AND NOT TO ACCEPT MY CONCLUSIONS WITHOUT EVIDENCE. AND SO, WHEN THERE IS A BILLBOARD THAT DECIDES TO BE POPPED UP WITH ONLY MAYOR LOPEZ VILLARO AND COUNCIL MEMBER WU'S FACE ON THERE IN A MIDDLE OF A MAJOR ELECTION, THEN IT'S MY JOB TO REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS WHO ELECTED ME TO OFFICE AND SPEAK UP ON THEIR BEHALF. UM, LASTLY, UM, UH, [02:00:02] IN REGARDS TO, UM, MR. UH, UH, ELLIOT, UH, YOU, YOU, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR STYLE OF SPEAKING OF ATTACKING RESIDENTS, UH, YOU ASSAULTING MR. BENNETT, A, A CITY PLANNING COMMISSIONER, UH, IS UNCALLED FOR. YOUR CONDUCT, YOU FACE CONSEQUENCES IN A COURT OF LAW, AND THOSE CONSEQUENCES AND JUSTICE WAS SERVED. UH, AND, UM, LASTLY, UM, IN REGARDS TO MR. SHOEMAKER'S LAST COMMENT IS, UM, IN REGARDS TO MR. SHOEMAKER, HOPEFULLY WHOEVER'S GIVING YOU, UH, THIS WRONG INFORMATION, WHO, OR WHO MAY BE LEAKING OUT, UH, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT ACCOMMODATIONS INFORMATION, HOPEFULLY, UH, THEY'RE WILLING TO RAISE THEIR RIGHT HAND AND TESTIFY UNDER OATH. SO THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND? NO. I WAS GONNA SAY THE, UM, ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, I'M GONNA PULL ITEM NUMBER TWO AND MOVE THAT DOWN TO DEPARTMENTAL MATTERS BECAUSE IT IS A PRESENTATION. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE I MENTIONED, DURING ELECTION SEASON, ANYBODY COULD COME UP AND LIE AND TALK AND MAKE ALLEGATIONS AND ACCUSATIONS. UH, NO, THAT'S NOT MY MAKEUP ARTIST. I WISH, BUT IT'S NOT MINE. UM, AND THERE IS, UH, WE'RE, IT'S, WE HAVE AN FPPC, UH, THAT IS LOOKING INTO THESE THINGS AS, UH, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ HAS FILED SO MANY FPPC COMPLAINTS, UM, WHICH MANY HAS BEEN DENIED, BUT WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND LET IT BE, BUT JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT, THAT, JUST THAT. UH, OTHER THAN THAT, WE'LL JUST CONTINUE ON. UH, SO AGAIN, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH EIGHT WITH YOU? UH, I'M NOT - DO I HAVE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PULL ANYTHING? YEAH. SO I'LL PULL, UH, NUMBER FOUR. COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ, FOUR. NUMBER FIVE. FIVE. NUMBER SIX. AND SIX. ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO PULL ANYTHING? NO? UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? AND I'M SORRY, AND I'LL, AND I'LL ABSTAIN ON NUMBER ONE. EPSTEIN ON ONE. UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ONE THROUGH EIGHT WITH THE EXCEPTION FOUR, FIVE, SIX? AND TWO IS, TWO HAS BEEN PULLED AND MOVED TO DEPARTMENTAL MATTERS. SORRY, TWO IS PULLED, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, UM, WITH THE EXCEPTION. SO PRETTY MUCH, YEAH. UH, SO IT'S LIKE, OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A MOTION BY COU - UH, COUNCILMAN WU, A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ TO PROVE, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX. AND NUMBER TWO HAS BEEN MOVED TO DEPARTMENTAL MATTERS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ ABSTAINING ON ITEM NUMBER ONE. COUNCILMEMBER GUTIERREZ. AYE. COUNCILMAN WU? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. AYE. MAYOR PRO TIM CONTOS. AYE. MAYOR LOPEZ VIADO. AYE. MOTION PASSES [4) CONSIDERATION OF RELEASE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR ALTAMIRA DRIVE HILLSIDE EVALUATION – RFP NO. 2026-20] ONTO ITEM NUMBER FOUR. COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ. YES. SO, UM, WHO DID THIS REPORT? AHMAD? IS AHMAD HERE FROM TRANSEC ENGINEERINGS, ENGINEERS? NO, HE'S NOT. OKAY. WHO WILL BE REPRESENTING TRANSSEC TODAY? UH, GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ. I WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEMS REGARDING, UH, THIS ITEM. OKAY, GREAT. UH, LET'S SEE. SO WH- WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THIS, UH, RFP TO GO OUT AND HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE, UH, WHEN, HOW LONG DOES IT HAVE TO BE POSTED? IF APPROVED THIS EVENING, THE RFP IS SCHEDULED TO GO OUT TOMORROW, AND THEN IT WILL BE CLOSING ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH. OKAY. AND, UM, AND THIS SELECTION PROCESS IS BY, UH, PRICE OR IS IT GONNA BE AN INTERVIEW PROCESS TOO, OR? UH, SINCE THIS IS AN RFP, IT'S GOING TO BE QUALITY BASED OR QUALIFICATION BASED. HOWEVER, UH, WITHIN THE RFP, PRICE IS A FACTOR WITHIN THE, UH, POINT CRITERIA. OKAY. I WILL MAKE A MOTION, UH, TO APPROVE THIS AGREEMENT IN THE INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS OF, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM'S SUPPORTING MAYOR PRO TEM'S DISTRICT. WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THE, UH, PROPOSAL AND BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR ALTAMARA DRIVE HILLSIDE EVALUATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ, A SECOND BY MAYOR PROTEM CONTOS TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NUMBER FOUR, CONSIDERATION OF RELEASE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR ALTAMIRA DRIVE HILLSIDE EVALUATION, RFP NUMBER 2026-20. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ? [02:05:01] ACTUALLY, I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION. UM, AFTER THIS REPORT'S DONE, WILL WE, WILL WE BE, WILL THIS BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE OR MAKE IT PUBLIC? YES, THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY, GREAT. JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE. YES. OKAY. AYE. ROLL CALL. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ? OH, I ALREADY SAID AYE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN WU? AYE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ? AYE. MAY I APPROACH CONTOS? AYE. MAYOR LOPEZ VILLARO. AYE. MOTION PASSES ONTO [5) CONSIDERATION OF VERDUGO FIRE COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCH SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITIES OF BURBANK, GLENDALE, AND PASADENA FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT DISPATCHING SERVICES] ITEM NUMBER FIVE, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ. YES. CHIEF MCEWEN. YES. UM, IF YOU COULD JUST, UH, BRIEFLY TELL THE RESIDENTS WHAT VER- VERDUGO COMMUNICATIONS DOES AND HOW IT HAS, UH, UH, HELPED OUR CITY, UH, GROW IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT WHEN PEOPLE CALL 911, UH, THERE'S IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, UH, TO THEIR CALLS AND SO FORTH. IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN, UH, WHAT A VERDUGO CONTRACT DOES AND, AND HOW IT BENEFITS THE RESIDENTS OF WEST VENO. ABSOLUTELY. SO WHEN SOMEONE CALLS 911, THE CRITICAL LINK IS SOMEONE'S ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE TO ANSWER THE PHONE. ONCE THEY RECEIVE THAT PHONE CALL, THEY'RE ABLE TO PROCESS THE CALL, DISPATCH THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES, AND THEN WE GET THE CALL AT OUR FIRE STATIONS AND THEN WE, WE RESPOND TO THOSE EMERGENCIES. IF WE'RE UNAVAILABLE, THEY WILL REACH OUT TO NEIGHBORING AGENCIES TO HELP US AS WELL, WHICH DOES HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME. SO AS FAR AS THE DISPATCH CENTER GOES, I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT THEM. UM, IT'S A VERY NICE FACILITY, VERY CAPABLE. THEY'VE SERVED MULTIPLE OTHER CITIES IN, IN THE, UH, IN THE, UM, IN THE COUNTRY ALONG THE, THE 210 AND IN THIS GENERAL AREA. SO THEY'RE VERY WELL VERSED, VERY COMPETENT. UM, WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. WE HAVE ACTUALLY REQUESTED MORE RESOURCES FROM NEIGHBORING AGENCIES DURING SOME OF OUR GALSTER FIRES AND JUST THE STRUCTURE FIRE WE HAD THE OTHER NIGHT, WE REQUESTED A SECOND ALARM, WHICH WAS ALL RESOURCES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY. SO THEY'RE VERY, VERY COMPETENT. UM, THEY'RE VERY, UM, PROFICIENT. THEY'RE ABLE TO PROCESS OUR CALLS VERY QUICKLY, AND WE'VE HAD VERY GOOD, UH, EXPERIENCE WITH THEM. THEY ARE THE CRITICAL LINK BETWEEN US AND THE PUBLIC NEEDING OUR HELP. GREAT. UH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, THE VERDUGO FIRE COMMUNICATIONS, UH, DISPATCH SERVICE CONTRACT AGREEMENT. SECOND. ROLL CALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ, A SECOND BY MAYOR PROKEM - PRO TEM CONTOS TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CONSIDERATION OF VERDUGO FIRE COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCH SERVICE, AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITIES OF BURBANK, GLENDALE AND PASADENA FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT DISPATCHING SERVICES. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ? AYE. COUNCILMAN WU. AYE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. AYE. MAYOR PRO TEMCONTOS? AYE. MAYOR PRO - MAYOR LOPEZ VIADO. I MOTION PASSES [6) CONSIDERATION OF EXPENDITURES OF FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES ACCOUNT FUNDS] ONTO ITEM NUMBER SIX, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ. YES. GREAT. IS, UH, CHIEF CORTINA HERE? THERE HE IS. GOOD EVENING. YES. UM, LET'S SEE. CAN YOU, UH, BRIEFLY GO OVER, UM, WHERE, WHAT, WHAT IS THIS, UH, FUNDING FOR AND, UM, DOES THIS INVOLVE, UM, I, I SEE, UM, DOES IT, DOES THIS ALSO INVOLVE FLOCK, FLOCK, THE FLOCK DRONES OR FLOCK CAMERAS? UH, THIS DOES... NO, IT DOES NOT. NO. IT BASICALLY, THIS IS A GRANT THAT WE GET EACH YEAR, UM, THAT HELPS FUND, UH, SOME OF OUR EQUIPMENT THAT WE CAN'T, UH, ACQUIRE THROUGH OTHER SPECIFIC FEDERAL GRANTS FOR ASSET FORFEITURE. SO THIS PROVIDES SOME OF OUR REGULAR EQUIPMENT AND IT'S A YEARLY THING WE DO. OKAY. AND, UM, LET'S SEE. WE HAVE, UM, JUST FOR THE RESIDENTS TO KNOW, SO, YEAH, SO IT INCLUDES, UH, OUR MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY, UH, FOR THEIR LOS ANGELES C- COUNTY, UH, HELICOPTER SERVICES, UM, GPS-BASED SURVEILLANCE SERVICES USED BY, UH, OUR SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT TEAM TO TRACK NARCOTIC SUSPECTS, UH, SPECIALIZED AMMUNITION AND TECHNICAL SUPPLIES, PERSONNEL PROTECTIVE SUPPLIES, AND THEN IT GOES ON TO, UH, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SUPPLIES, WEAPONS AND ACCESSORIES, UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM SOFTWARE AND ACCESSORIES. WHAT DOES THAT, WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL? UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM SOFTWARE AND ACCESSORIES? UM, THAT MIGHT BE FOR OUR CURRENT DRONE, UH, SOFTWARE. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THAT IS. GREAT. AND, UM, GREAT. AND JUST BRIEFLY, IF YOU COULD TELL, [02:10:01] UH, THE COMMUNITY HOW, UM, THIS FUNDING, UH, HOW IT BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY AND, AND HOW, UH, THE SPECIAL PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE CREATED AND, AND HAVE, UH, ENACTED IN THIS REQUEST, HOW IT, UH, TECHNICALLY MAKES OUR COMMU - OUR COMMUNITY MORE SAFER EVERY DAY. WELL, ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, THIS, UH, THIS PARTICULAR GRANT FUNDS OUR, OUR TOTAL HELICOPTER SERVICE WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES OUR RESPONSE TIME TO EMERGENCY, UH, SITUATIONS, EXTRA PATROLS THAT, UM, WHATEVER SORT OF, UH, SITUATION WE MIGHT NEED, UM, AN AERIAL VIEW ALSO INCREASES THE SAFETY OF OUR OFFICERS SIGNIFICANTLY AS WELL. UM, GOING DOWN TO THE SECOND ITEM ON THERE, THE, UH, S - UH, INVESTIGATIVE EQUIPMENT. AGAIN, THAT HELPS US IDENTIFY, UM, ARREST AND HELP WITH THE PROSECUTION OF SUSPECTS, UH, INVOLVED IN CRIMES, ESPECIALLY WITH INTERNATIONAL, UH, DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS. UM, THE EQUIPMENT FOR OUR OFFICERS, WHETHER IT'S TACTICAL EQUIPMENT OR TRAINING EQUIPMENT, UH, BALLISTIC VESTS, HELMETS, THINGS THAT KEEP OUR POLICE OFFICERS SAFE WHEN THEY'RE RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND, UH, SOME OF OUR, UH, SPECIALIZED FORENSIC SERVICES, UM, INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, CONTRACT OUT TO DO SOME OF OUR DNA WORK AS WELL AS, UM, BRINGING PEOPLE IN TO HELP US WITH, UH, FINGERPRINT, UH, RECOGNITION. UM, SO THESE ARE ALL REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO BE, UH, PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICE AND SAFETY TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. UM, WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR GRANTS, UH, TO HELP FUND AND, UM, PROVIDE US WITH THE BEST TOOLS POSSIBLE, UM, AND THE BEST TRAINING. UH, AND A LOT OF OUR GRANTS ALSO PROVIDE US OVERTIME TO GO OUT AND WORK SUCH THINGS AS DUI ENFORCEMENT, UH, SPECIFIC TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING, UH, TO SAVE OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY, BUT STILL PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE WE POSSIBLY CAN. I MOVE THE MOTION. GREAT. AND, AND SO, UH, YEAH, THIS IS GREAT THAT ALL THIS, UH, RESOURCES, UH, SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND, UH, YOU'RE LEADING THE EFFORT TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER EVERY DAY, CHIEF CRITINA. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'LL SECOND IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR LOPEZ VILLARO, A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM NUMBER SIX, CONSIDERATION OF EXPENDITURES OF FISCAL YEAR 2627 SUPPLEMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES ACCOUNT FUND. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ? AYE. COUNCILMAN WU. AYE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ. AYE. MAYOR PRO TIM CONTOS. AYE. MAYOR LOPEZ VIADO. AYE. MOTION PASSES. MADAM MAYOR, [ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Part 2 of 2)] BEFORE WE PROCEED, I'M GONNA ASK THAT WE TURN THE MIC BACK TO OUR ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, LISA SHARK. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER MILAN. UH, MAYOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION, UH, WITH A INDIVIDUAL WHO DID WANT TO SPEAK REMOTELY THIS EVENING WITH YOUR, UH, APPROVAL AND PERMISSION IF YOU WANT TO ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK AT THIS POINT OR NOT. UH, YES. I MEAN, WE HAD TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ANYWAYS WITH TECHNOLOGY TODAY. JUST MIGHT AS WELL READ IN. UNDERSTAND. GIVE ME ONE MOMENT, PLEASE. WHAT? WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT? I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING. WHAT HAPPENED? SO THERE WAS, UH, SOME MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN MYSELF AND A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. MEMBER OF A PUBLIC WASN'T EXACTLY SURE ON, ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS. THEY HAVE ASKED TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. SO IF WE'RE GONNA CREATE THAT PRESIDENT, THEN WE SHOULD PROBABLY AMEND OUR RULES. NO, WE HAD TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES TODAY. WE'VE HAD EXCEPTION. OH, OKAY. IT'S OKAY. YEAH, AND I ACTUALLY, I READ THE RULES EARLIER TOO, IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO CONTINUE TO READ IT. YEAH, YOU MADE THEM, SO . IT'S NOT. IT'S THERE ON THE AGENDA. BUT GO AHEAD. YEAH. I'M GONNA USE MY PHONE FOR THE TIMER OF THREE MINUTES, MAYOR. WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE WITH THE, WITH THE TIMER. I KNOW I SAW THAT EARLIER TODAY WITH THE TIMER. YES. IT WAS MOVING UP, BUT IT WAS THREE MINUTES JUST - IT WAS THREE MINUTES. I DID SAY IT. IT'S JUST FROM THREE TO SIX, SO THE MATH IS THREE. THE NAME IS ZOOM USER. ZOOM USER, IF YOU COULD, YOU ARE UNMUTED. UM, STARTING THE TIMER NOW, PLEASE PROCEED. GOOD EVENING, UH, WES COVINIAN AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO PICK UP OFF OF, UH, MAYOR PRYOR, TEAM ELMO, UH, CANTUS IS ASKING DISTRICT FOUR VOTERS TO RETURN TO HIM IN OFFICE. CARLOS YADO IS ASKING DISTRICT TWO RESIDENTS TO ENTRUST HIM WITH THE PUBLIC OFFICE. IF CANDIDATES EXPECT US TO TRUST THEIR JUDGMENT AT CITY HALL, RESIDENTS [02:15:01] HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO EXAMINE THE JUDGMENT AND THEY EXERCISE BEFORE THEY RECEIVE OUR VOTES. THIS IS NOT AN ARGUMENT. THIS IS SOMEONE WHO RECEIVED A RECORD. RELIEF CANNOT WORK, VOLUNTEER AND REBUILD HIS LIFE. THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CANDACE TO EXERCISE APPROPRIATE JUDGMENT AND DUAL DILIGENCE REGARDING PEOPLE THAT HIRE AND ALLOW DIVISIBLE REPRESENT THEIR CAMPAIGNS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. WEST COVINIA RESIDENTS HAVE HEARD ENOUGH LIP SERVICE, RUMORS, FACEBOOK ARGUMENTS, POLITIC ATTACKS, AND CAMPAIGN PROMISES. GO TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA WEBSITE, READ THE CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURES, REVIEW THE PUBLIC COURT RECORDS, ASK THE CANDIDATES QUESTIONS. FACTS, TRANSPARENCIES, DUE DILIGENCE, ACCOUNTABILITY. DON'T SIMPLY LISTEN TO WHAT CANADA HAS PROMISED. LOOK AT THE JUDGMENT. THEN MAKE YOUR OWN INFORMED DECISION AT THE BALLOT BOX. THANK YOU, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL, MAYOR. OKAY. AND I HAVE A, I HAVE A QUESTION. COUNCILMEMBER TERREZ. YES, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR CITY CLERK. UM, WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE TURN IN THEIR SPEAKER CARDS, UH, WHO, WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, UH, DO WE PUT THOSE SPEAKERS AS THEY COME IN IN THE ORDER THEY WERE RECEIVING? THAT IS MY GOAL EVERY S- SOMETIMES THERE'S SOME CONFUSION OF WHO IS COMING IN AND SO THE CARDS GET MESSED UP OR IF I'M HELPING SOMEBODY ELSE AND SPEAKER CARDS ARE DROPPED AT MY DESK, THEN THERE IS SOME MOVEMENT WITH THE CARDS. GREAT. WE ALREADY MADE THE AGREEMENT THAT THE FIRST SPEAKER WILL ALWAYS BE THE LIBRARIAN. THAT IS CORRECT. SO WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO THAT ONE. YEAH. YEAH. I'M NOT, I'M NOT ASKING ABOUT HIM. UH, AND SO IS THERE A REASON WHY WHEN MS. NEWMAN TURNED IN HER CARD, SHE ASKED TO BE S- S- S- SPEAKS, BE ABLE TO SPEAK FIRST? MS. NEWMAN AND MR. UH, CAMPOS SUBMITTED THEIR CARDS AT THE SAME TIME. YEAH, BUT SHE ASKED YOU DID SHE WANT IT IN A SPECIFIC ORDER? SHE ASKED TO GO, UH, MR. CAMPOS ASKED IF SHE COULD GO BEFORE HE DID. THEY SUBMITTED THEIR CARDS AT THE SAME TIME. OKAY. YEAH, BECAUSE I, I, I DON'T BELIEVE MS. NEWMAN WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO TURN IN HER CARD. SO I, I - YOU'RE RIGHT, MR. MURRAY WAS. YEAH. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE, UH, I'M NOT ACCUSING YOU OF ANYTHING, BUT WE'RE IN A... I, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PLAYING POLITICS HERE. UH - HERE WE GO AGAIN. I DO NOT PLAY POLITICS. I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING YOU. LET ME MAKE IT VERY CLEAR. I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING YOU, UM, UH, LISA, BUT WHEN WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ELECTION AND WE P- PEOPLE PLAY POLITICS IN THIS CHAMBER, UH, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE, UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING ON, GETTING ON THE PHONE TO ATTACK THE MAYOR PRO TEM. SO I FIND THAT, UH, UNPROFESSIONAL AND UN- UNE- UNETHICAL. AND AGAIN, I'M NOT ACCUSING YOU. SAME LOOK. HE'S, THAT'S COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ, THAT'S HIS TYPICAL WAY. SO WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD. UM, DEPARTMENT REG- REGULAR MATTERS. YES. AND I'M SORRY, LISA, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU DO, YOU DO YOUR JOB, YOU DO A GREAT JOB, AND EVERYBODY HAS A CHANCE TO SPEAK. SO WE GAVE EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. WE GAVE THEM THEIR TIME, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, ONTO DEPARTMENTAL REGULAR MATTERS. GOD WE HAVE THIS. ONTO... EXCUSE ME. EXCUSE ME. CALM DOWN, MAYOR. EXCUSE ME. YOU OKAY? SORRY. ARE YOU OKAY, MA'AM? YOU OKAY? MA'AM? ARE YOU OKAY, MA'AM? YOU GAIN - COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A WARNING. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A WARNING. ONE. CALM DOWN. I'M WARNING YOU. CAN YOU PLEASE CALM DOWN? I'M WARNING YOU TWICE. CAN YOU PLEASE CALM DOWN MAYOR? I WOULD IF YOU JUST ZIP IT. CAN YOU PLEASE CALM DOWN? UM, SHOULD I CALL SERGEANT OS? NO, I THINK YOU'RE RECALLING EROTIC, MAYOR. ONE - CAN YOU PLEASE CALM DOWN? CAN YOU PLEASE PLEASE MOVE FORWARD AND CALM DOWN? YES, WE CAN. CAN YOU PLEASE STOP? LET'S DO THAT. THANK YOU. LIKE I WAS SAYING, LET'S PROCEED. DEPARTMENT REGULAR MATTERS. ITEM NUMBER TWO. [2) FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM (CIP) UPDATE] DEPARTMENT MATT. ITEM NUMBER... TWO. OH, TWO. GO AHEAD. I BELIEVE, UH, RO - MR. ORTEGA IS PRESENTING. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. OUR CIP MANAGER, ROBERT ORTEGA, WILL PRESENT ALONG WITH BRIAN CERVANTES FROM OUR ENGINEERING DIVISION ON A CIP PROGRAM UPDATE. ONE MOMENT, MAYOR. WE'RE PULLING UP THE PRESENTATION. [02:20:01] I GET IT. TODAY'S FULL OF TECHNOLOGY ISSUES. THANK YOU. WE'RE READY. OKAY. PROCEED. GOOD EVENING, HON- HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WELL. I'M EXCITED TO BE BACK FROM FRATERNITY AND READY TO HIT THE, THE GROUND RUNNING AS WE HAVE MANY PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO TONIGHT I'LL BE PROVIDING YOU WITH ALL RECEIVING FILE CIP, UM, UPDATE STARTING WITH THE CIP, UH, THE CIP OVERVIEW, PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY, AND ALL UPCOMING PROJECTS. SO WHAT IS CIP? CIP STANDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND IT'S THE CITY, UH, THE CITY'S PLAN FOR PRIORITIZING, FUNDING, SCHEDULING, AND MANAGING MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, AND EQUIPMENT PURCHASES. SO I'M HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL THAT WE HAVE, UM, EIGHT COMPLETED PROJECTS AND A LOT MORE COMING SOON. UM, FIRST OFF, WE HAVE THE BKK DETENTION, UH, BASIN REMEDIATION. WE HAVE FIRE STATION TWO AND FOUR FLOORING REPLACEMENT, CITYWIDE PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, PALMVIEW PARK ROOF REPLACEMENT, ANNUAL SIDEWALK CURB AND GUTTER REPAIR, FISCAL YEAR 25-26. WE HAVE CORTEZ PARK PATHWAY LIGHTING, AZUSA SEWER LIFT STATION FENCE, AND OUR HCIP CYCLE 10 CITYWIDE, UH, UH, TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS. NEXT, WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE 21 PROJECTS, UH, STARTING OFF WITH FRIENDSHIP PARK IMPROVEMENTS, SOUTHSIDE SEWER REPLACEMENT, SCE UNDERGROUND DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT, MERCED AVENUE. WE HAVE OUR CITY ADO - CITY HALL ADA IMPROVEMENTS DESIGN, FIRE STATION ONE REPLACEMENT DESIGN, CITRUS AT CAMERON SIGNAL DESIGN, ATP CYCLE SIX SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL, SPORTS PEC - SPORTSPLEX POUR & PLAY REPLACEMENT, AZUSA'S CORRIDOR SIGNAL SYN- SYNCHRONIZATION AND REPAVING, FISCAL YEAR 24-25, STREET REHAB, OUR CITYWIDE PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, FISCAL YEAR 25-26, OUR SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE, OUR 8-SHIP CYCLE 12 TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS, STREET UNDERPASS PUMP REPLACEMENT, OUR SEWER MASTER PLAN UPDATE, UM, OUR GINGRI- GINGRICH PARK BASKETBALL COURT REPLACEMENT, OUR FISCAL YEAR 2526 STREET REHAB, AND OUR 26, UH, 2026 PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE. ALSO, WE HAVE OUR HILLSIDE FIRE MITIGATION PROJECT, OUR DOWNLOADED DOG PARK IMPROVEMENTS, OUR FIRE STATION 123 ROOF REPLACEMENT AND SEWER REHAB. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, SOME OF THE UPCOMING PROJECTS WE HAVE HERE IS, UH, DOWNLOADED PARK IMPROVEMENTS, TRASH CAPTURE DEVICE INSTALLATION, ORANGEWOOD PARK IMPROVEMENTS, SHADOW OAK FITNESS EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION, OUR GALSHER PARK PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS, WOODGROVE PARK PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS, WEST COVINO PARKWAY MEETING IMPROVEMENTS, CAMERON AVENUE COMPLETE STREETS IMPROVEMENTS, OUR MEASURE M, MSP CYCLE THREE BUS, SHELTER AND TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS, GINGRICH PARK IMPROVEMENTS, OUR SHADOW OAK PARKING LOT, AND OUR WATER FOUNTAIN HERE AT CITY HALL. SO THAT'S A BRIEF CIP UPDATE, AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE. UM, THANK YOU. AS I ALWAYS SAID, I LOVE THE CIP PROJECTS. UM, IT'S... THERE'S A LOT THAT COMES TO IT THAT A LOT OF RESIDENTS DON'T SEE. I KNOW IT'S, IT TAKES TIME, BUT, UH, I LOVE THE GOOD WORK THAT IT, IT PROVIDES, THAT IT GIVES, AND IT JUST SHOWS THE RESIDENTS THAT WE ARE PUSHING FORWARD, MOVING FORWARD, GETTING THINGS REPAIRED, GETTING THINGS FIXED, UM, IMPROVING IT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, COUNCIL, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, COUNCILMAN WU. AND I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S THE TIMELINE. YEAH, THAT'S TRUE. THE DEADLINES FOR ALL THESE THINGS. WHEN WE CAN UTILIZE, WHEN THE CHILDREN CAN PLAY, WHEN THE PEOPLE CAN EXERCISE, SO WHEN PEOPLE CAN PARK. SO, SO ALL THIS LOOK VERY GOOD, BUT CAN YOU SHARE WITH THE TIMELINE WITH US? LIKE WHEN IT BEGINS, WHEN THEY'RE GONNA START, UM - WHEN IT WILL BE COMPLETED. GROUNDS OR WHEN THEY START IT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN WILL IT BE COMPLETED SO THAT THEY CAN ENJOY IT? NOW, JUST... ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PLAYGROUNDS? WHICH IS, WELL, EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING. I MEAN, ALL THE CIP PROJECTS THAT YOU JUST PRESENTED, WE'D LIKE TO SEE THE TIMELINE OF WHEN IT'S GONNA, WHEN IT'S GONNA BE DONE. WE HAVE... SO SEVERAL... SO THE LAST TWO MONTHS, I'LL [02:25:01] BE HONEST WITH YOU, I HAVE BEEN JUST GETTING THE, THE, THE LOAD DOWN FROM EVERYONE. SO I HAVE BRIAN HERE AND MIKE, WHO'S... THEY'VE BEEN A BIG HELP, UH, FOR THE TWO MONTHS. I'M GONNA LET THEM COME UP, SPEAK ON SOME. UM, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, CIP PROJECTS IS GENERALIZING. IT TAKES - YEARS. IT TAKES SOMETIMES YEARS. UM, BUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS WE HAVE IN THE PIPELINE, WE'RE STARTING SOME AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, SOME AT THE BEGINNING NEXT YEAR, COMPLETING SOME NEXT SUMMER. SO WE, WE HAVE QUITE A BIT COMING. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND HEAR OF WHICH PROJECTS ARE COMING, WHICH PROJECTS ARE STARTING, WHICH PROJECTS THAT WILL... YEAH. SO IF WE, THAT TIMELINE IS IMPORTANT. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN INCLUDE IN THE NEXT CIP UPDATE. THANK YOU. DID YOU... OH, NO. YOU HAVE INFORMATION? NO, WE WANNA HEAR. I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION, PLEASE SHARE. OF COURSE, FOR THE - DON'T, DON'T WALK AWAY. YEAH. I WAS... DON'T RUN, DON'T RUN AWAY. OKAY. PROJECTS UNDERWAY SLIDES. WE NEED, WE WANT TO KNOW THE TIME. PERFECT. AVENUE. UH, GO FORWARD. THERE YOU GO. SO WHICH ONE? SO FOR EACH OF THE LINES, I KNOW ROBERT JUST KIND OF GAVE BRIEF OVERVIEWS OF THEM. HOWEVER, THEY DO HAVE THE CURRENT PHASE FOR EACH OF THE PROJECTS AND WHERE THEY'RE AT, AS WELL AS OUR ANTICIPATED NEXT STEPS. SO FOR FRIENDSHIP PARK, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN PHASE WITH CONSTRUCTION ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN IN EARLY 2027. UH, WE ARE WRAPPING UP THE NOTICE INVITING BIDS FOR THAT PROJECT, AND WE'LL BE PUTTING THAT OUT TO BID HERE SHORTLY IN THE NEXT, UH, COUPLE MONTHS. UH, SOUTHSIDE SEWER REPLACEMENT IS CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION WITH, UH, CONSTRUCTION ANTICIPATED TO BE CL - UH, COMPLETED IN THE NEXT MONTH. UH, SCE UNDERGROUND DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT. FOR THIS ONE, WE ARE A PROJECT STAKEHOLDER. THIS ONE'S ACTUALLY BEING READ B - RUN BY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON, BUT I SPOKE WITH THEM YESTERDAY AND THERE'S ONLY TWO UTILITIES STILL PENDING. OKAY, SORRY. YEAH. SLIDE. AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, ROBERT, UH, THE CITY HALL ADA IMPROVEMENTS DESIGN IS CURRENTLY IN DESIGN, UH, WHICH DESIGN WILL, IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR. UH, AND WE WILL BE DOING A PHASE CONSTRUCTION BEGINNING IN 2027, STARTING WITH THE ELEVATORS. UH, FIRE STATION ONE REPLACEMENT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN PHASE, BUT ON HOLD IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE, UM, REVIEW OF THE COST ANALYSIS OF THE MULTIPLE SITES BEING PROPOSED. CITRUS CAMERON SIGNAL DESIGN IS IN THE DESIGN PHASE WITH, UH, UH, DESIGN ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 2027. AND THEN CONSTRUCTION FOR THAT PROJECT'S A PENDING IDENTIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. ATP CYCLE SIX SAFE RIGHTS TO SCHOOL, WHICH IS A GRANT THE CITY WAS AWARDED, IS CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN PHASE. WE HAVE 90% PLANS ON THIS PROJECT AND ARE COORDINATING WITH COUNTY AND CITY OF COVINA, WHICH HAS IMPROVEMENTS PARTIALLY WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION AS WELL AS OURS. SPORTS REPLACEMENT, THAT ONE'S ACTUALLY SUBSTANTIALLY DONE, COMPLETED AS OF LAST WEEK. UH, WE DO HAVE A CH- CHANGE ORDER THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, AND THEN THAT PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED. UH, ZUSA CORRIDOR SIGNAL SYNCHRONIZATION AND REPAVING, THE DESIGN IS COMPLETE AND WE ARE WRAPPING UP THE BID DOCUMENTS TO GO OUT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, UH, TO BID. FISCAL YEAR 24-25 STREET REHABILITATION IS, UH, THAT ONE'S ACTUALLY COMPLETED AS WELL AS OF LAST WEEK. WE HAD A COUPLE ADDITIONAL STREETS WE HAD TO, UH, POSTPONE TO COORDINATION WITH GROUNDWATER TESTING, SO THOSE STREETS WERE COMPLETED LAST WEEK, AND THAT NOC WILL BE COMING TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NEXT, UH, MONTH OR SO. UH, CITY-WIDE PEDESTRIAN VEHICLE TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, THAT ONE, THE BIDDING HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND WE'RE WORKING ON CONTRACT EXECUTION. SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING HAVING THAT PROJECT BEGIN AT THE TAIL END OF THIS YEAR AND GO INTO THE NEXT YEAR. FOR THAT PROJECT, THERE'S 52 LOCATIONS WITHIN THE CITY THAT ARE GETTING IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE AS WELL AS CITY COUNCIL. AND FOR THE SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE, THE, THAT ONE WE'VE C - UH, RECEIVED PROPOSALS AND WE'RE IN THE CONTRACT EXECUTION PHASE WITH THAT PROJECT ANTICIPATING BEGINNING IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO. UH, HSIP CYCLE 12 TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, THAT RFP FOR DESIGN WILL BE COMING BEFORE THE COUNCIL THE NEXT MEETING FOR CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL FOR THE DESIGN PHASE. STREET UNDERPASS PUMP REPLACEMENT IS CURRENTLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. SEWER MASTER PLAN UPDATE CLOSED LAST THURSDAY, SO THAT ONE WILL BE COMING TO COUNCIL IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MEETINGS FOR CONSIDERATION OF AWARD. UH, GINGRICH PARK BASKETBALL COURT REPLACEMENT, THAT ONE IS IN CONTRACT EXECUTION PHASE WITH CONSTRUCTION ANTICIPATED BE COMPLETED WITHIN THIS CALENDAR YEAR. THE FISCAL YEAR 2526 STREET REHABILITATION IS CURRENTLY, UH, IN THE BIDDING PHASE. WE'RE JUST WRAPPING UP THE NIB AND WE SHOULD HAVE THAT OUT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO. UH, THE 2026 PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN IS CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN PHASE. UH, IT SAYS BIDDING THERE. HOWEVER, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE DESIGN. THE RFP'S COMPLETED. WE'RE JUST WORKING ON SOME STUFF ON THE BACK END TO GET THAT ONE OUT. UH, THE HILLSIDE FIRE MITIGATION PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN PHASE. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE, UH, SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COG ON THE ITEM THAT WAS PRESENTED EARLIER BY THE COG. UH, CURRENTLY WE'RE IN THE CEQA ENVIRONMENTAL PORTION OF PUTTING THAT PROJECT TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COG. UH, DEL NORTE PARK IMPROVEMENTS IS CURRENTLY AND, UH, THAT ONE'S [02:30:01] OUT FOR DESIGN CURRENTLY AND SHOULD BE CLOSING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. FIRE STATION 123 ROOF REPLACEMENT, SEWER REHAB. UH, THE ROOF REHABILITATION IS CURRENTLY OUT TO BID AND WILL BE CLOSING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WHILE THE SEWER REHAB HAS ACTUALLY ALREADY CLOSED AND WE'RE IN THE CONTRACT EXECUTION PHASE. UM, SO, SO THOSE ARE A BIT MORE DETAILED TIMELINES AS TO THE PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN, UH, KIND OF IN THE WORKS. OKAY, WONDERFUL. SO ALL THE ONES THAT SAID, UH, ANTICIPATED COMPLETION OF 2026, OBVIOUSLY WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MONTHS TILL THE END OF THE YEAR. SO I JUST WANTED TO CHECK, HAS ALL THESE, HAVE YOU BEEN, UM, DOUBLE CHECKING IF THEY ARE ON TASK TO BE COMPLETED SO THAT THERE'S NO CONSTRUCTION DELAYS OR ANYTHING? CORRECT. YEAH. SO THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ANTICIPATED BE COMPLETE THIS YEAR, WE'RE STILL ON TRACK FOR. ONE THING WE ARE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT IS WITH THE EL NINO WINTER WEATHER. LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, GINGRICH PARK, UM, THAT ONE'S ACTUALLY AN OUTDOOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. SO WITH THE WEATHER, WE HAVE A BIT LESS CONTROL OVER THE TIMELINE. UH, AND COMPARED TO SOME OF THEM LIKE THE CITY HALL ADA IMPROVEMENTS, THAT'S A DESIGN PROJECT SO THAT DOESN'T REALLY GET IMPACTED BY WEATHER AS MUCH OR UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. UM, SO WE HAVE BEEN, UH, GOING, MEETING WITH THE DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS AS WELL AS DESIGNERS. AND AS ROBERT MENTIONED, HE JUST CAME BACK. SO WE ACTUALLY HAD, UH, TWO BRIEF DEBRIEFS YESTERDAY AND TODAY KIND OF GET CAUGHT UP ON ALL THE, THAT'S HAPPENED WHILE HE WAS ON HIS LEAVE. OKAY, PERFECT. AND SO THEN BY JANUARY WE SHOULD BE SEEING ALL THESE COMPLETED PROJECTS PRESENTED ALONG WITH THEIR BEFORE AND AFTER AND JUST UPDATES TO, SO THE RESIDENT CAN SEE ALL THE COMPLETED PROJECT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE OTHERS. UM, UH, OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN WU? YEAH, REALLY QUICK. OKAY. UH, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PAVING MANAGER, OKAY, AND THEN ON THE SHADOW OAK AREA, OKAY, ON THE PAVING MANAGER MAP, THAT'S THE 25, 26. NOW IT'S ALREADY THE END OF 2026. SO WHY IS THE STATUS SINCE WE POST, THAT WOULD BE 25, 26 COMPLETE. OKAY, SO RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT EVEN NOTHING GOING ON. SO CAN YOU SHARE SOME LIVE WHEN THE AREA WILL BE PAVED? YEAH, THAT ONE, THE PLANS IN NIB ARE COMPLETED. WE SHOULD HAVE THAT OUT HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO BE, UH, PUBLICLY BID. THE, WE WERE HOPING TO HAVE THAT ONE START CONSTRUCTION IN JANUARY, BUT AGAIN, WITH THE EL NINO WEATHER, REPAVING IS VERY MUCH IMPACTED BY RAIN. SO THAT ONE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE - SO IF THIS GOING TO BE THE 2027, BUT YOUR PAVING MANAGER STILL SHOWING 25, 26, IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE AMENDED, OKAY, FOR THE UPDATE SINCE WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING ON THIS YEAR? SO IT'S A DELAYED. SO FOR THE PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT OR FOR THE STREET REHABILITATION YEARS, THEY CAN BE A LITTLE BIT OFF SOMETIMES. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE WE SUBMIT THE FUNDING APPLICATION. MAJORITY OF THAT PROJECT IS FUNDED BY SB1 FUNDS, WHICH WE SUBMIT IN MAY OR JUNE. SO IT'S NOT LIKE ON JULY 1ST THOSE FUNDS HIT THE CITY ACCOUNTS. SO TYPICALLY THOSE PROJECTS WILL START MORE TOWARDS THE TAIL END OF THE YEAR IN TERMS OF DESIGN, AND THEN WE STILL HAVE TO GO OUT TO CONSTRUCTION FOR THEM. SO BAS - WE'LL STILL BE DOING THE 262. SO BASICALLY 2027, EARLY 2027, WE'LL START THE PAVING ON THE AREA. CORRECT. OKAY, THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ. OH, SORRY. YES. UM, WHAT'S THE STATUS, UH, DIDN'T WE ALREADY DO THE CITY HALL ADA IMPROVEMENT DESIGN? UH, THAT ONE'S STILL CURRENTLY IN DESIGN. WE HAD SOME COMMENTS WITH BUILDING REGARDING SOME OF THE ADA IMPROVEMENTS. HOWEVER, WE ONLY HAVE TWO COMMENTS LEFT. SO WE'RE STILL KIND OF COORDINATING THAT, BUT WE ANTICIPATE HAVING THAT DESIGN COMPLETE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. OKAY. SO WHAT WAS DONE? JUST, UM, JUST A STUDY? NO, THOSE WERE DESIGNS FOR CONSTRUCTION. OH, OKAY. AND THEN, UM, DO WE KNOW WHEN WE'RE GONNA BE IMPLEMENTING, UH, THE ADA ACCESSIBILITY IN THIS CHAMBER? UH, THAT ONE'S PENDING IDENTIFICATION OF FUNDING. CURRENTLY, THE CITY ONLY HAS FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR THE ELEVATORS. OKAY. ELEVATORS? CORRECT. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE ELEVATORS? UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I'D HAVE TO REFERENCE THE ADA, UH, TRANSITION PLAN THAT WAS COMPLETED. OH, OKAY. THE ADA STUFF. YEAH. MM-HMM. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO UPDATE THE, I THINK THE CONTROL PANELS. UM, OKAY. UH, LET'S SEE. CITY MANAGER, DO WE KNOW WHEN, UM, THE FROSTED GLASS IS GONNA COME OFF, UH, UP THERE? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER. WE WILL HAVE THAT, UH, UM, SWITCHED OUT BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CITY MANAGER, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S AN ADA SECTION UP THERE AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS ACCESSIBILITY IN THE CHAMBER. SO YES. UM, AND SEE WHAT ELSE. UM... CAN YOU... WHAT, WHAT'S [02:35:01] YOUR PROBLEM? YOU KNOW YOU'RE ON CAMERA, RIGHT? ARE YOU MAKING ALL YOUR FACES? PLEASE FOCUS AND CONTINUE. SORRY, UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THE MAYOR'S MAKING FACES WHILE I'M TALKING. UM, LET'S SEE. UH, NEXT ONE, THE FIRE STATION, UH, 123. CAN WE TELL THE RESIDENTS WHICH FIRE STATION THIS IS, THIS IS REFERENCE TO? RIGHT. SO THAT'S GONNA BE THE FIRE STATION ALONG PUENTE AVENUE. SO THAT'S, UH, NUMBER THREE? UH, THE CITY'S CALLING THEM BY MY UNDERSTANDING IS 123 TO BE IN LINE WITH THEIR CODES FOR KIND OF REGIONAL, IS MY UNDERSTANDING. OKAY. AND THEN, UM, IS, IS THERE A ROOF LEAKING OR ANYTHING RIGHT NOW OR IS, OR IS THIS JUST THE, THE UPGRADE TO PREVENT THE, UH, BUILD UP OF WATER UP THERE? THEY, UH, IT'S, IT'S A FLAT ROOF RIGHT NOW, SO IT DOES HAVE AREAS WHERE IT'S POOLING. SO PART OF THIS PROJECT IS INTRODUCING SLOPES AND GRADES TO THE ROOF TO HELP ADDRESS THAT. GREAT. AND THEN, UH, LET'S SEE. AND WHEN IS THE ASUSA AVENUE PROJECT GONNA GO OUT TO BID AGAIN, YOU SAID? WE'RE ANTICIPATING HAVING THAT OUT IN THE NEXT PROBABLY TWO OR THREE WEEKS. THE PLANS ARE COMPLETED. WE'RE JUST WORKING ON WRAPPING UP THE NOTICE AND BUYING BID DOCUMENTS. GREAT. AND WHAT IS THE, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE CUT... DO YOU KNOW, DO YOU, DO YOU RECALL THE CUTOFF TIME FOR, UH, THAT GRANT TO BE SPENT BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT TAKES IT BACK, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? UH, AT THIS TIME, SINCE WE'VE GOT THE CONSTRUCTION ALLOCATION, I BELIEVE IT'S 2029 OR 2023, DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT FUNDING SOURCE. OKAY, GREAT. AND THEN WHAT'S THE BKK DETENTION BASIN REMEDIATION? FOR THAT ONE, UH, WE HAD RECEIVED NOTICES THAT THERE WAS, UH, CONCERNS WITH THE DETENTION BASIN, SO WE WENT OUT THERE AND DID REPAIRS TO SOME EROSION THAT WAS OCCURRING WITHIN THE, UH, DETENTION BASIN. OKAY. GREAT. I THINK THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW. THANK YOU. UM - UH-HUH. UH, MAYOR POTEM CONTOS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM MAYOR. UH, FIRST OF ALL, RJ, WELCOME BACK. UM, REALLY, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BRAND NEW BABY. I JUST, IT'S REALLY - THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. OH, YOU'RE JUST GREAT. AND BRIAN, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. UH, FOR, UH, FIR- FIRST QUESTION, UH, IS WITH REGARD TO THE SLURRY SEAL ON THE SOUTH S - UH, THE SOUTH SIDE, UH, DOES THAT ALSO INCLUDE, UH, UH, REPAIR OF THE SIDEWALKS AS WELL THAT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY FRONTIER, OR IS THAT A SEPARATE ITEM? THAT'S SEPARATE. AND WHEN IS THAT PLANNED TO BE DONE, UM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH RE - JUST FIXING UP THAT WHOLE AREA? IS, IS THERE, WHEN IS, WHAT'S, WHEN WILL SIDEWALKS BE REPAIRED TO BE, TO LOOK AS GOOD AS A NEW AGAIN, JUST LIKE THE STREETS WILL BE? BRIAN, IS THAT OUR SIDEWALK CURB AND GUTTER PROJECT THAT WE'RE GONNA DO ON THE SOUTH SIDE OR THE, OUR NEXT STREET REHAB PROJECT? RIGHT. SO IT'S ACTUALLY A MIXTURE OF BOTH. SO, UM, WITHIN THE STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT, THERE ARE SOME CONCRETE IMPROVEMENTS INC- INCLUDING, UH, ADA CURB RAMPS, AND THEN THE CITY ALSO HAS ANNUAL FUNDS FOR THE CONCRETE REPLACEMENT OR CONCRETE CURB AND GUTTER, CONCRETE SIDEWALK CURB AND GUTTER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM THAT DOES ANNUALLY. SO, UH, THOSE ARE THE TWO KIND OF PROJECTS THAT WILL ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS. SO, UH, THE, BUT IT WILL BE DONE WHERE THE, THE, A- A- ANY UGLY, UH, UH, BLACK THAT'S BEEN PUT ON THE ASPHALT - YEAH. THAT'S PUT ON THE CONCRE - ON THE SIDEWALKS, THAT'LL BE FIXED BECAUSE IT REALLY, UH, I WILL GO - UH-HUH. JUST FOR, THIS IS NOT FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, BUT I HAVE HEARD THAT IT'S UGLY. YEAH. SO - AND I CAN SECOND THAT. I, I'VE SEEN IT AND IT REALLY LOOKS TACKY AND IT STANDS OUT BECAUSE IT'S JUST A PATCH OF - IT'S LIFTED, DUDE. THE PATCHWORK. YEAH. WHAT IS THAT GOING TO BE? HOW IS THAT FACTORED IN? SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN ACTIVE JOB, WHICH IS THE SOUTHSIDE SEWER. UM, SO THEY'RE REPLACING, UH, ESSENTIALLY THE SEWER SYSTEM THERE. SO WHEN THEY TRENCH, THEY BACKFILL WITH THAT SLURRY THAT YOU GUYS ARE SEEING. I'VE, AND, AND MYSELF WITH BRIAN, WE'VE BEEN ON TOP OF THEM ABOUT MAKING SURE THEY'RE CLEANING IT. THAT PROJECT, IT SHOULD BE WRAPPING UP, I WANNA SAY WITHIN THE NEXT HOPEFULLY MONTH OR SO, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME DELAY DUE TO THE WATER, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING TO FIX ASAP. NOW WITH THE RESIDENTIAL STREET REHAB PROJECT AND THE SIDEWALK CURB AND GUT- GUTTER PROJECT THAT WE HAVE COMING UP NEXT YEAR, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO ADDRESS. UM, SO THE SLURRY PATCHES WILL BE ADDRESSED ONCE THIS PROJECT IS WRAPPED UP, UM, AND, AND IT'LL LOOK BEAUTIFUL ONCE THE NEXT TWO PROJECTS COME UP. OKAY, GOOD, GOOD. BECAUSE I THINK I REMEMBER WOODGATE AND SOME OTHER PLACES, IT'S BEEN YEARS AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN DONE. SO I'M REALLY, WE'RE LOOKING, RESIDENTS ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE, THOSE FIXES. UH, THE NEXT, UH, QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH THE, THE, THE DESIGN OF THE FIRE STATION. I THOUGH YOU SAID FIRE STATION NUMBER ONE. I THOUGH WE ALREADY DESIGNED A FIRE STATION AND IF WE DID, WHICH WE DID, UM, IT WAS DONE BY PBK, WHICH FIRE STATION DESIGN ARE, UH, I- IS STAFF GOING WITH? BECAUSE THERE WAS A, [02:40:01] UM, DISAGREEMENT ON COUNCIL AS TO WHICH ONE. THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS LIKE $40 MILLION AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS FOR LE - FAR LESS. SO I'M JUST WONDERING JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL THERE, WHICH, WHAT IS THE DESIGN FOR FIRE STATION ONE, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO IN THE CIP REPORT? SO WITH THE DESIGN PROCESS, WHEN... THAT'S A TRICKY ONE. SO WE HAVE DESIGN ON IT THAT WERE NEVER COMPLETE BECAUSE WE PAUSED THE PROJECT. SO W- WE DO HAVE RENDERINGS ESSENTIALLY IS WHAT WE HAVE, NOTHING APPROVED, UM, BUT EVERYTHING CAME TO A HALT BECAUSE OF, UH, CONS- CONSTRUCTION FUNDS. BUT BRIAN, IF YOU WANNA TOUCH ON THAT A LITTLE MORE. CORRECT. SO THE DIRECTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS WAS TO, UH, COMPLETE A FEASIBILITY STUDY IN TERMS OF MULTIPLE SITES. HOWEVER, THE FUNDING SOURCE BEING UTILIZED FOR THE DESIGN PHASE WAS ARPA, WHICH CAN NO LONGER BE REALLOCATED TOWARDS DIFFERENT PROJECTS ONCE THE, UH, DEADLINE OF LAST DECEMBER WAS PASSED. SO RIGHT, AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED ANY FUNDS TO COMPLETE A FULL FEASIBILITY STUDY. SO WITH THAT LINE ITEM, WHAT IS THE COST AND WHAT IS IT FOR IF, IF, IF THAT'S AT A STANDSTILL AT THIS POINT? AS OF THIS TIME, IT'S STILL TECHNICALLY IN DESIGN. HOWEVER, WE'RE KIND OF WORKING THROUGH IT ON THE BACK END AS STAFF TO TRY TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR A FEASIBILITY SITE TO COMPLETE IN ORDER TO MEET THE COUNCIL'S REQUEST. AND WITH REGARD TO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, WHAT WILL BE ITS BASIS IN, IN LIGHT OF HOW THERE ARE DIFFERENT, DIFFERING OPINIONS REGARDING THE SIZE OF THE, OF THE FIRE STATION WHERE SOME OF US FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE SMALLER AND OTHERS FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE LARGER. SO HOW, HOW IS THAT BEING, UH, FACTORED INTO WHAT YOU'RE PREPARING TO PUT FORWARD EVENTUALLY? WITH THE DIRECTION OF THE FEASIBILITY, IT'S MORE SO LOOKING AT THE SITES AND THE DIFFERENT PARAMETERS IN TERMS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF IT. UM, NOT SO MUCH THE SIZE AND SCALE OF THE FIRE STATION AS THAT COULD BE SCALED UP OR DOWN ON MOST SITES. UM, THAT PORTION DOESN'T SO MUCH MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY HAS... SO LET'S SAY THE, THE CURRENT SITE, IF, IF THERE, IF, UM, THERE IS A SENTIMENT THAT, THAT THE FIRE STATION SHOULD BE BUILT ON ITS CURRENT LOCATION WITH THE CITY YARD NOT BEING SOLD, THEN, THEN THERE'S NO NEED FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY THERE BECAUSE WE ALREADY ARE USING THAT SITE FOR, UH, FIRE STATIONS. OR, OR IS THERE, IS THERE ANOTHER EXPENSE THAT'S EN- EN- ENTAILED IN, IN DOING A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THAT SITE? THE... ARE YOU REFERRING TO WHERE THE FIRE STATION ONE CURRENTLY IS LOCATED? YES. WHERE, WHERE, WITH ITS CURRENT LOCATION. SO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY IN ITSELF WOULD, UH, LOOK AT THE PROS AND CONS OF DEVELOPING AT DIFFERENT SITES, WHETHER IT'S THE EXISTING FIRE STATION ONE SITE, THE CURRENT PROPOSED ONE ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE CITY B - UH, CITY CIT- CITY CIVIC CENTER CAMPUS, OR POTENTIALLY OTHER LOCATIONS. SO IT'S GOING TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE SITES AND THE EXISTING CONDITIONS THAT ARE KNOWN. OKAY. SO THAT, THAT ENTAILS LOOKING AT THE FEASIBILITY, JUST LEAVING IT RIGHT WHERE IT IS BASED ON WHATEVER, DEPENDING ON WHATEVER DESIGN ENDS UP ULTIMATELY BEING APPROVED FOR, FOR PROCEEDING FORWARD? CORRECT. OKAY, GREAT. AND THE LAST SET OF QUESTIONS IS REGARDING THE, THE, THE, UM, COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT. CAN YOU, CAN YOU DESCRIBE MORE WHAT THAT EN- ENTAILS? UH, I, I JUST, UH, HAD AN IDEA, BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU WHAT, WHAT THE, THAT PROJECT ENTAILS SPECIFICALLY. THE ONE ON CAM - I'M RELATING TO CAMERON. OH, YES. SO THE CAMERON COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT, UH, WAS ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED FOR A GRANT APPLICATION OF 10, 10 MILLION. MM-HMM. SINCE WE RECEIVED $1 MILLION IN FUNDING, WE'RE MORE LIMITED ON WHAT WE CAN DO. SO CURRENTLY, UH, WE'RE WORKING ON A SCOPE OF REPAVING PORTIONS OF CAMERON WHERE, UH, THE ASPHALT'S IN A LITTLE BIT POORER OF CONDITION. OKAY. AS WELL AS ADA AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS ALONG WHERE WE REPAVE. OKAY, GOOD. ARE YOU AWARE THAT ME- METRO RECENTLY SENT AN EMAIL OUT OFFERING TO BE OF SUPPORT FOR EVEN PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE, WHO, WHO WISH TO RUN DIFFERENT CONCEPTS BY THEM AT NO COST TO US FOR COMPLETE STREETS PRO - COMPLETE STREETS PROJECTS OR POTENTIAL CONCEPTUALIZATION? I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S EXACTLY FOR THAT. HOWEVER, WE ARE WORKING WITH METRO FOR FUNDING AND DIFFERENT RESOURCES FOR ACTUALLY THE AZUSA TSSP AND STREET REHABILITATION. SO ONE THING, I ACTUALLY MET WITH THEM TODAY. THEY WERE, UH, POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT HELPING US WITH THIS PROJECT AS WELL, UH, KIND OF LOOKING AT BOTH PROJECTS. I, AGAIN, I'M NOT POSITIVE IF IT'S THE EXACT SAME, BUT WE DO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH METRO. WONDERFUL. THAT IS IT. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GREAT WORK WITH ALL OF THIS. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, MAYOR PROTEMCANTOS. COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ. YES. UH, MAYOR PROTEMCANTOS, UH, BROUGHT UP A GREAT SUBJECT, UH, WHICH WAS, UH, P - UH, PB - P, WHAT IS IT CALLED? PBK? PK. PBK? YES. PBK. UM, SO WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY, RIGHT? CORRECT. AND - THAT WAS THE DIRECTION [02:45:01] FROM THE COUNCIL. GREAT. AND, AND THAT WAS GONNA GIVE US A COST ANALYSIS OF HOW MUCH IT'LL COST US TO BUILD EITHER IN THE CURRENT LIBRARY'S PARKING LOT, OR IF WE WERE TO KEEP IT, UH, POTENTIALLY BUILT ON THE CORNER OF, OF THE CITY YARD, WHICH IS LOCATED ON, UH, SUNSET AND CAMERON. WAS A FEASIBILITY REPORT EVER DONE BY BKK? I'M SORRY, PPK? NO. THE CONTRACT FOR PBK WAS FOR DESIGN SERVICES. SO THEY, UH, THAT DID NOT INCLUDE A FEASIBILITY STUDY. DID THEY EVER GIVE YOU OR ROBERT A COPY OF A FEASIBILITY REPORT OF COSTS? THEY GAVE US COSTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DESIGNS THEY PROPOSED. HOWEVER, THOSE WEREN'T FEASIBILITY STUDIES IN TERMS OF, UH, DIFFERENT SITE PARAMETERS. THEY GAVE US DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR JUST KIND OF HIGH LEVEL BALLPARK. HOWEVER, WE WERE LOOKING TO DO A MORE DETAILED AND MORE, UH, INVESTIGATIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL. IS THERE A REASON WHY THAT REPORT WAS NEVER BROUGHT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL? UH, THE DIRECTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL WAS TO PROVIDE THE FEASIBILITY. AGAIN, THOSE ONES WERE JUST HIGH LEVEL, UM, KIND OF COMPARISON TOOLS, NOT SO MUCH REALLY DELVING INTO THE EXISTING HISTORY OF THE SITES AS WELL AS OTHER FACTORS. GREAT. HOW MANY DESIGNS OF THE FIRE STATION WERE, WERE DRAFTED? UH, I DO NOT KNOW THAT INFORMATION OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. WAS IT MORE THAN THREE? NO. IT, IT WAS NOT. SO THROUGH THE PRO - THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS, THINGS CHANGED. SO ONE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A BUILDING THAT IS 10 SQUARE FEET NE - AND THEN IN DISCUSSION, WE CHANGED THAT TO 25. SO IT'S NOT A SET OF PLANS THAT WERE CREATED, IT'S MORE SO REVISIONS THAT WERE DONE THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. YEAH. AND THAT'S TYPICAL IN THE, IN THE PLANNING PROCESS. IT WASN'T - YEAH. MORE THAN ONE OR TWO. THINGS CHANGE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN THINGS CHANGED? SO IN DISCUSSION, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, WE MEET TOGETHER, RIGHT? AND WE TALK ABOUT FIRE. THEY GIVE THEIR OPINION. WE GIVE OURS. TOGETHER WE'RE DESIGNING SOMETHING. THEN NEXT MEETING, WHEN THE ARCHITECT COMES BACK, HE SAYS, "HEY, THIS MAY NOT WORK." SO THEN WE REVISE IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE TO CREATE THE 100% PLANS. HOW, HOW, HOW MANY DESIGNS DID THE ARCHITECTURAL COMPANY, BBK, PROVIDE YOU, ROBERT AND BRIAN? HOW MANY DESIGNS WERE DRAFTED? THERE'S ONE, ONE DRAFT, BUT THROUGH THE PROCESS, IT, IT WOULD DO LIKE PLAN CONTRACTS? ONE. YEAH. LET ME REPHRASE THE QUESTION. HOW MANY DIFFERENT SIZES OF THE FIRE STATION WERE DRAWN? TWO. THE RFP INDICATED ONE, UH, ONE, UH, SQUARE FOOTAGE, BUT WE WENT BEYOND THAT. SO ESSENCE, TWO WITH ONE DESIGN. SO WHAT WAS THE SIX DESIGNS THAT MYSELF AND THE MAYOR PROTEM WERE GIVEN DIRECTLY FROM THE, FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL COMPANY, BBK, WHAT WERE THOSE DESIGNS? SO THOSE DESIGNS, IT'S JUST THE REVISIONS THAT ARE MADE, THE UPDATES THAT ARE MADE TO THE PLANS. YEAH. AND WOULD YOU - STEP BY STEP. WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE ORIGINAL DESIGN TO THE FINAL DESIGN BECAME BIGGER IN SIZE? SO IN, IN CONVERSATION IN THE PLANNING MEETINGS, FIRE HAS NEEDS AND THAT'S WHAT WE GO OFF OF. SO AGAIN, YES OR, IF IT'S A YES OR NO, BUT DID THE ORIGINAL DESIGN BECOME BIGGER BY TIME IT WAS THE LAST DESIGN? CORRECT. SO WE WENT BEYOND THE SQUARE FOOTAGE. OKAY. JUST BASED ON CITY NEEDS. AND DID WE EVER TAKE COSTS IN, IN, IN, DID WE EVER IN, DID WE EVER CONSIDER THE COST OF BUILDING A SMALLER STATION COMPARED TO A TWO-STORY STATION? I MEAN, WE CONSIDERED IT. WE, WE KNEW THAT THE COST WAS GONNA BE HIGHER WITH MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE. IT, OBVIOUSLY - HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH WAS THE COST? UM, MONTHS, YEARS BACK, PROBABLY. I THINK IT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 23 MILLION, 25 MILLION. HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAY THE FIRST, FIRST DESIGN WAS, WHICH WAS A MORE BASIC DESIGN, WHICH I SAW? THAT I DON'T RECALL. WOULD YOU SAY IT WAS BETWEEN, WI- WITHIN THE 14 MILLION DOLLAR RANGE OR - UH, POSSIBLY. IT COULD'VE BEEN LESS OR IT COULD'VE BEEN MORE. AND, AND THE FINAL DESIGN, UH, I KNOW BBK TOLD ME AND, AND MAYOR PROTEMCANTOS THAT THEY TOLD YOU BOTH, UH, AND, AND, BUT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW THIS, BUT, UH, WOULD YOU SAY THIS SMALLER MILLIONS AMOUNT B - GREW DRASTICALLY FOR THE, THE FINAL DESIGN? HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAY THE FINAL DESIGN RIGHT NOW WILL COST THE TAXPAYERS? WOULD YOU SAY IT WAS, IT'S OVER, UH, LET'S JUST SAY OVER 28 MILLION? J- JUST GIVEN THE TARIFFS RIGHT NOW AND THE COST OF, THE INCREASED COST OF EVERYTHING, WE'RE, WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT THAT. [02:50:01] GREAT. THANK YOU, ROBERT, FOR A- ANSWERING HONESTLY. I, I COMMEND YOU FOR ANSWERING HONESTLY, UH, BECAUSE I THINK THE TAXPAYERS DESERVE TO KNOW THE FULL, THE FULL FACTS, WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. UH - BUT I DO WANNA - YEAH. REITERATE, BRIAN, THAT'S NOT SET IN STONE. THAT'S JUST - YEAH, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S GONNA COME BACK TO US EVENTUALLY - YEAH. BUT I WANTED THE, I WANTED, I WANT THE, THE RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE DESIGNS THAT WERE DONE INTERNALLY THAT GREW SOMETHING FROM IN THE LOWER MILLIONS TO THE HIGH MILLIONS. AND I THINK TRANSPARENCY IS KEY FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF WEST COVINA. AND SO, UH, WITH THAT SAID, THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY, UH, SEPARATELY IS, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW CHILD, ROBERT. OH, THANK YOU. UH, ROBERT IS ALSO A NOGALES HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, SO . NOBLES. YES, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. ARE YOU DONE? OKAY. UH, WELL, FIRE STATION ONE REPLACEMENT DESIGN ON UNDERWAY PROJECT, IT STATES ON HERE, "DESIGN ON HOLD, PENDING IDENTIFICATION OF FUNDS." SO I JUST WANTED TO LET THE RESIDENTS KNOW THAT AS WELL. UM, THAT BEING SAID, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MOVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. UH, THIS IS A RECEIVING FILE ITEM, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. NO VOTE IS NECESSARY. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU. ONTO [9) 2026-27 EL NINO AND WINTER STORM PREPAREDNESS ] DEPARTMENTAL REGULAR MATTERS, ITEM NUMBER NINE, 2627, EL NINO AND WINTER STORM PREPAREDNESS. UM, CITY MANAGER WHO WILL PRESENT THE STAFF REPORT. UH, PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT MIKE KRESSUP IS HERE TONIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO DISCUSS THE UPCOMING WEATHER THAT WE ARE PREDI - THAT'S PREDICTED TO RECEIVE. SO ONCE THE PRESENTATION GETS UP, I'LL START. UH, WE'RE GONNA START OUT BY DESCRIBING EL NINO AND WHAT IT CAN MEAN FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA. UH, SORRY, WEST, UH, EXCUSE ME, WEST COVINA. EL NINO IS A NATURAL CLIMATE PATTERN LINKED TO A WARMER THAN AVERAGE TROPICAL PACIFIC OCEAN, OR NORMAL, EXCUSE ME, LATE NIGHT TO WARMER THAN AVERAGE TROPICAL PACIFIC OCEAN WATERS. EL NINO CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVIER RAINFALL AND BACK-TO-BACK STORMS IN WEST COVINA AND ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. A WET WINTER IS NOT GUARANTEED. IT'S PREDICTED, IT'S PREDICTED, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT, UH, WE WILL GET HEAVY RAINFALL, BUT IT DEFINITELY IS A POSSIBILITY. PREPAREDNESS IS PRUDENT STEP BEFORE S - BEFORE THE STORMS AR- ARRIVE. STORM SEASON TYPICALLY RUNS FROM MID-OCTOBER TO THE EARLY SPRING. UM, CITY DEPARTMENTS WORK TOGETHER. THE FIRST THING WE DO IS, UH, WE GO OUT AND WE PREPARE FOR STORMS BY INSPECTING AND MAINTAINING ALL OF OUR CITY-OWNED STORM DRAINS, CATCH BASINS, DRAINAGE PASS, AND OTHER STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, THINGS SUCH AS UNDERPASSES AND, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO WE MAKE SURE IT'S IN WORKING ORDER, MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR AND THEN IT'S FLOWING PROPERLY. WE ALSO REVIEW PROCEDURES FOR RECEIVING PRO - RECEIVING, PRIORITIZING AND RESPONDING TO RE- REPORTS OF BLOCKED DRAINS, LOCALIZED FLOODING, FALLEN TREES, AND OTHER STORM RELATED HA- HAZARDS. UM, WE ALSO LOOK AT ALL OUR COMMUNICATIONS. WE LOOK AT OUR GOGOV AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COORDINATING PROCEDURES FOR SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS, INCLUDING ALL AFTER HOUR RESPONSES WHERE APPLICABLE. SO JUST TRY TO ANTICIPATE WHAT'S COMING, UH, IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES THAT WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED THAT WE NEED TO FIX BEFOREHAND, UH, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UM, WHAT RESIDENTS CAN DO TO, TO BE PREPARED, THEY CAN SIGN UP FOR THE EMERGENCY ALERTS AND MONITOR OFFICIAL FORECASTS, CREATE A HOUSEHOLD EVACUATION AND COMMUNICATION PLAN, PREPARE FOOD, WATER, MEDICATION, AND ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES FOR UP TO 10 DAYS. UM, LIST KEY SUPPLIES AND WHERE THE ITEMS ARE STORED. INCLUDE SPECIAL ITEMS FOR INFANTS, OLDER ADULTS, THOSE WITH SPECIFIC MEDICAL NEEDS AND FAMILY PETS. PREPARE FOOD, WATER MEDICATION, AND ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES FOR UP TO 10 DAYS. ALSO, TAKE TIME TO CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS AND PROVIDE DRAINAGE PATHS, REPAIR ROOF LEAKS, AND CONSIDER SANDBAGS FOR, BEFORE RAIN. NO LOCAL FLOOD AND MUD FLOW RISK. CONSIDER SEPARATE FLOOD INS- INSURANCE IF APPROPRIATE. UM, ANOTHER THING THAT IS RECOMMENDED IS BUILDING YOUR OWN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KIT. THAT WOULD INCLUDE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. PLEASE CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATES ON THOSE. INCLUDE COPIES OF YOUR INSURANCE CARDS AND MEDICAL INFORMATION. SANITATION ITEMS, PACK ITEMS LIKE HAND SANITIZER AND MOIST TOWELS. BOTTLED WATER, KEEP PLENTY OF WATER AT HAND OBVIOUSLY. FLASHLIGHTS, FRESH BATTERIES, HAVE EXTRA BATTERIES FOR ALL BATTERY POWERED EQUIPMENT. STORE THEM WHERE YOU CAN EASILY FIND THEM. NON-PERISHABLE FOOD, UM, ITEMS THAT DON'T REQUIRE COOKING OR HEATING. UH, A MANUAL CAN OPENER IN CASE YOU HAVE TO OPEN THAT AND THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY. UH, SPECIAL NEED ITEMS, UH, FOR INFANTS, OLDER ADULTS, THOSE [02:55:01] WITH MEDICAL NEEDS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND FAMILY PETS. A BATTERY OPERATE RADIO OR HAND CRANK RADIO, A RADIO WILL KEEP YOU AWARE OF ANY SITUATIONS THAT ARISE. EXTERNAL RECHARGEABLE BATTERY PACK, THAT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, IN PREPAREDNESS OF THERE BEING NO POWER, USE A BATTERY TO CHARGE CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES. PHONE NUMBERS. KEEP PHONE NUMBERS WRITTEN DOWN JUST IN CASE YOUR PHONE DOES DIE AND YOU NEED TO CONTACT, UH, YOU KNOW, FAMILY MEMBERS, HOSPITAL DOCTORS, ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THE CITY OFFERS SANDBAGS FOR FREE TO THE RESIDENTS. WE DO LIMIT IT TO 10 SANDBAGS PER RESIDENT. UM, WE HAVE IT AT FOUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO, UH, FIRE STATION 121 THAT'S ON S - UH, 819 SOUTH SUNSET, WHICH IS ALSO THE CITY YARD. FIRE STATION 122, WHICH IS, UH, BY CORTEZ PARK. FIRE STATION 124, THAT'S ON AZUSA, JUST ACROSS FROM THE SPORTSPLEX IN BETWEEN AROMA AND JIAMBI WAY. FIRE STATION 125, THAT IS ON, UH, SHADOW OAK DRIVE IN NOGALES. ALL THOSE LOCATIONS ARE STOCKED WITH SAND, SHOVELS TO FILL THE SANDBAGS, AND THERE ARE BAGS THERE FOR RESIDENTS TO TAKE. UM, LIKE I SAID, WE DO LIMIT IT TO 10 PER RESIDENT. OKAY. UM, COUPLE, COUPLE NOTES. DURING HEAVY RAIN, PUT SAFETY FIRST. NEVER DRIVE, WALK, OR BICYCLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS OR MOVING WATER. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW THE WATER IS DEEP HERE. WE DO HAVE EIGHT UNDERPASSES IN THE CITY, AND WE DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE WORKING PROPERLY, NOTIFY THEM, PUT SIGNS UP, BUT AT TIMES, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THAT DEEP WATER IS. AND IT MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE IT'S TOO BAD, BUT IT COULD BE TWO, THREE FEET HIGH, AND YOU COULD GET STRANDED IN THERE. UM, STAY AWAY FROM DOWN POWER LINES AND FLOODED AREAS. WATCH FOR RISING WATER, MUD, DEBRIS. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND WHEN NECESSARY. FOLLOW EVACUATION ORDERS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR EMERGENCY OFFICIALS. CHECK ON NEIGHBORS AND PEOPLE WHO, WHO MAY NEED HELP PREPARING OR RESPONDING. AND, UH, THE LAST SLIDE WE HAVE HERE IS JUST A LIST OF ALL OUR RESOURCES AND LINKS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY. A LOT OF IT IS THROUGH THE COUNTY, WHAT WE PROVIDE. THIS IS ALL AVAILABLE ON OUR CITY WEBPAGE. IT'S RIGHT ON THE MAIN PAGE. THERE'S A, IT'S RIGHT ON THE BANNER. WE HAVE, UH, UM, I WANNA SAY A WIDGET, BUT IT'S NOT A WIDGET. I'M SORRY. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TAB THAT IS FOR EL NINO WHERE ALL THESE INF - THIS INFORMATION WILL POP UP RIGHT ON THE HOME SCREEN. SO THAT PRETTY MUCH, UM, THAT PRETTY MUCH CONCLUDES WHAT WE HAVE HERE. WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE EVERYONE A FRIENDLY REMINDER, AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE OPEN TO THEM. UH, QUESTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ. YES. UH, YEAH, I JUST WANNA START OFF BY SAYING, UH, MIKE, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN OUR DISTRICTS, UH, AND MAKING SURE OUR DISTRICTS ARE, UH, BEAUTIFUL AND SO FAR AND ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND THE PUBLIC WORKS CREW HAS, HAVE DONE, UH, AND, AND THE WORK THAT RENEE DOES, UH, IS VERY COMMENDABLE, UH, FOR THE WORK YOU, YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, FOR SANDBAY, UH, THE SAND, UM, THE SANDBAGS, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY BIGS, BUT YES. UM, IS THERE A WAY, UH, IS THERE SOMEONE THAT RESIDENTS WHO ARE SENIORS WHO, CAN THEY CALL SOMEONE IF THEY NEED HELP? CAN OUR CITY MAYBE COORDINATE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR, OUR SENIORS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS EL NINO WEATHER, CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD, UH, MAYBE SET UP A, A CONTACT PERSON THEY COULD CONTACT, CITY MANAGER? YEAH, MIKE'S MORE THAN HAPPY TO FILL SANDBAGS. I AM. YEAH, GREAT. YES. I, I NEED, I NEED YOUR HELP. I NEED YOUR HELP. I'M A S - I'M A SENIOR. YEAH. NOT A PROBLEM. WE CAN - NO, I KNOW. MIKE, MIKE IS A HARD WORKER AND, UH, BUT NO, UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE IT, IT, WHO, WHO SHOULD SENIORS CALL, UH, WHO MAY NEED SANDBAGS? WHO'S THE BEST PERSON FOR THEM TO CALL AT CITY HALL? UH, OR, OR WHO, WHO SHOULD THEY CALL TO GET ASSISTANCE IN THIS REQUEST? COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ, WHAT WE WILL DO, THE BEST NUMBER TO CALL IS OUR CITY MAN - IS OUR CITY YARD. SO OBVIOUSLY IT'S THE 626-939-8458 NUMBER. UM, THEY'LL GET IN CONTACT WITH OUR STAFFER THERE, AND THEN WE WILL CO- COORDINATE FROM THAT POINT. WE CAN ALSO UPDATE THE, WE CAN UPDATE AND PUT LANGUAGE ON THE WEBSITE TO STATE THAT IF THEY DO NEED ASSISTANCE WITH SANDBAGS, THAT THEY CAN CONTACT US AND WE CAN COORDINATE THAT. GREAT. SO WE HAVE NO PROBLEM UPDATING THE WEBSITE. WE'LL DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. UM, A DISCLAIMER THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS WE WANNA DO OUR BEST AND HELP EVERYONE AT EVERY LOCATION, BUT DEPENDING ON, UH - RESOURCES. WHAT EMERGENCY WE'RE DEALING WITH AND WHAT RESOURCES WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT REQUEST THAT YOU COME TO THE CITY YARD AND OBVIOUSLY AT ANY TIME WE DO FILL SANDBAGS NOW AND IF WE CAN HELP AND WE SEE SOMEONE THAT NEEDS HELP, WE DEFINITELY DO THAT. GREAT, GREAT. AND THEN, UM, AND THEN MAYBE, UH, ROXANNE OR, OR, UH, SUSIE WHO'S UP THERE. UH, MAYBE, UH, IF ANY SENIORS REACH OUT IN THE SENIOR CENTER, UH, MAYBE YOU COULD ALSO OBVIOUSLY GET THEIR INFORMATION AND REFER TO MIKE AND SO FORTH. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GREAT, GREAT. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS. ANY OTHER COUNSEL? I MOVE MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL SECOND. MAYOR, THIS IS AVERY RECEIVE AND FILE ITEM. [03:00:01] YEAH, IT'S RECEIVE AND FILE. THANK YOU. UM, THANKS MIKE. THANK YOU. AND MIKE, I JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU DO A FABULOUS JOB WITH ALL THIS. UM, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, HE IS EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR, SO - HI. THANK YOU. YOU'RE THE MAN. I DO WANT TO REITERATE, THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN WITH JUST ONE PERSON. IT, IT STARTS AT ALL LEVELS. SO, UM, WE ARE TRYING TO BE EVERYWHERE. IT IS CHALLENGING AT TIMES, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN. AND I KNOW YOU GET CHALLENGED A LOT. WE, WE SEE A LOT OF TREE NEED TRIM. I MISSED YOU TODAY. YOU, YOU GOT THERE RIGHT AFTER US. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. UM, LET'S SEE. UH, I THINK... YEAH. UM, [CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS FOR REPORTS, STUDIES OR INVESTIGATION] CITY COUNCIL REPORTS. ANY ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR. NONE. UM, CITY COUNCIL REQUEST? UH, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM CONTOS. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I JUST HAVE ONE. IT'S, UH, JUST FOR, FOR A STAFF TO LOOK INTO THE, THE PO - UH, THE POSSIBILITY OF, OF, UH, HAVING THE, THE BUDGET LIMIT FOR EACH EVENT AT $50,000 JUST AS A GOOD, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO, TO, UH, CONTROL OUR SPENDING IN LIGHT OF HOW WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER THINGS. SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S, THAT'S MY REQUEST. I'LL SECOND. OH, UH, FOR US TO LIMIT, UH, EV - UH, EVENTS FOR ANY PARTICULAR EVENT TO $50,000, UM, AND TO, AND TO LOOK AT THE FEASIBILITY OF THAT IN LIGHT OF HOW MANY WE, HOW WE HAVE OTHER, SO MANY OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER NEEDS, UH, THAT IF WE WERE TO JUST, UH, HAVE THAT, UH, LIMIT, THEN, UM, IT WOULD BE ABLE, IT WOULD ENABLE US TO STILL DO EVENTS, BUT THEN IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD ENABLE US ALSO TO FREE UP EXCESS RESOURCES ABOVE 50,000 FOR EACH EVENT TO, TO DOING, UM, OTHER THINGS LIKE, UM, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE ON OUR LIST. SO, UM, SORRY, AS, AS A PERSON WHO RUNS SPECIAL EVENTS, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE DO CITY EVENTS, AND THIS IS, I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL CITIES, LIKE CITY-WIDES EVERYWHERE THAT WE'VE DONE. I MEAN, I'VE RAN THE LOTUS FESTIVAL IN LA. I'VE RAN THE, UM, BLACK HISTORY PARADE AND FESTIVAL. AND THESE COSTS, LIKE, 100,000 OR S - AND THAT'S WHERE THE, I MEAN, PRETTY MUCH I KNOW WE HAVE FUNDS SET ASIDE, UM, BUT I WANNA HA - LEAVE IT TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICE, THE DIRECTOR AND THE STAFF TO SHOW US AND LET US KNOW, I MEAN, IF WE NEED TO DIVERT, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE FUNDS DEDICATED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SO FORTH. SO IF, IF IT'S LIMITED, I MEAN, FOR BUDGET-WISE OR SEEING WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING, BUT LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE 4TH OF JULY, WHICH IS A BIG CELEBRATION THAT HAS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND THESE RESIDENTS LOOK FORWARD TO THAT BECAUSE WE DO NOT ALLOW, UH, FIREWORKS. I DON'T WANT IT TO JUST CAP IT AND THEN GIVE THEM SOMETHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BUT THIS IS - MINUS 4TH OF JULY. I'LL TAKE THAT OUT. OKAY. SEE, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. LIKE WE CAN'T JUST, I KNOW WE'RE SAYING, I MEAN, WE CAN DISCUSS CERTAIN EVENTS, BUT NOW HE SAYS MINUS STAFF. I DON'T THINK IT'S A DISCUSSION. I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY, OKAY, AND, UH, UM, IF WE LIMIT TO 50,000 TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT THEN WE WILL HAVE BEEN NO EVENT IN WEST COVINA, BUT I DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS OVER HERE. I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SAY NO. THIS WOULD BE THE CITY MANAGERS AND CITY STAFF, THE DESCRIPTION FOR THEM TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO BECAUSE WE HAVE A, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE, UH, ASKED THEM TO DONATE THE $300,000 JUST FOR THE EVENT. SO, AND A LOT OF DONATION FOR THIS AND THAT. SO ANYWAY, I WOULD SAY NO. CAN I MAKE A COMMENT? YEAH. SO, UH, I'M GONNA SECOND THIS. I, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I THINK THE MAYOR PRO TEM IS ASKING FOR A REPORT TO COME BACK TO US. HE'S NOT ASKING US TO TAKE ACTION TONIGHT. RIGHT. HE'S ASKING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE PUT A LIMIT ON SPECIAL EVENTS? THAT'S WHEN STAFF COMES BACK TO THE PUBLIC. WE PUT IT ON THE PUBLIC AGENDA ITEM AND WE DISCUSS THIS AS A BODY, UH, TO DISCUSS THE MAYOR PRO TEM'S, UH, MOTION. SO HE'S NOT ASKING THAT LET'S VOTE TODAY TO TAKE AWAY MONEY FROM THE 4TH OF JULY EVENT. HE'S NOT SAYING THAT. WHAT HE IS SAYING, UH, IS LET'S DO A STUDY, COME BACK TO US AND, AND GIVE US SOME OPTIONS, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES CAPS ON SPECIAL EVENTS. RIGHT. SO WHEN, WHEN WE HAVE EVENTS THAT ARE IN THE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, UH, THERE'S AN ISSUE THERE. UM, UH, I THINK OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR IS HERE TOO. UH, SHOULD WE HAVE A REAL PRODUCER BY THE MAYOR ANYWAY? IT'S, UH - OH, WELL SOMETIMES WE HAVE, WE ALLOW THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO SPEAK, SO. NO, I, I WAS GONNA SAY, UM, I'LL SECOND, UM, TONY'S, [03:05:01] UM, MOVE. UM, I DON'T, I DON'T LIKE THIS THING ABOUT LIMITING. I, I, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE NEED EVENTS IN OUR CITY. WE WANT PEOPLE TO ENJOY THESE EVENTS AND, AND COME AND FOR THEM. UM, IF WE PUT A LIMIT ON THEM, UM, HOW, I MEAN, WE DON'T, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY'RE GONNA BE SPENDING, BUT I, I, I GUESS WE GO BACK TO WHAT WE SPENT $153,000 AND THAT WAS THE BIG ISSUE WITH THE MOON FESTIVAL AND THAT WAS PAID TO STAFF. I MEAN, WHERE DO WE PUT LIMITS? IS IT OKAY FOR US TO HAVE, UM, ONLY CERTAIN EVENTS AND NOT OTHER EVENTS? I MEAN, WHERE DO WE PUT A LIMIT? UM, I, I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD JUST LET STAFF DECIDE AND THE CITY MANAGER DECIDE ON HOW THEY WANNA RUN THESE EVENTS. AND, UM, 4TH OF JULY, NO WAY. THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN. I, I LOVE 4TH OF JULY, AND THAT'S NOT, IT'S NOT VERY PATRIOTIC IF WE DON'T CELEBRATE THAT. AND, UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY COST. I MEAN, WHAT DOES IT COST FOR US TO HAVE OUR, OUR VETERANS DAY? WE HAVE OUR MEMORIAL DAY. YOU KNOW, WE FEED PEOPLE, WE GIVE THINGS OUT. I MEAN - FRIDAY, HALLOWEEN. YEAH, RIGHT NOW, HOW MUCH DOES FRIGHT NIGHT COST? ARE WE GONNA ELIMINATE THAT? I, I, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT PEOPLE AND, AND A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT COME HERE AND, AND TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY. LOOK, EVENTS ARE FOR THE PUBLIC. THEY'RE FE - THEY'RE HERE TO ENJOY IF YOU WANNA ATTEND. AND, UM, THEY'RE NOT PROFIT-MAKING EVENTS. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. THESE ARE ACTIVITIES THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR, OUR RESIDENTS, OUR CITIZENS HERE. AND I MEAN, IT, IT COSTS MONEY TO HAVE THESE SUMMER SPLASH DAYS. I MEAN, RENTING THOSE BLOW UP. I MEAN, I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL. AND I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA START GETTING REAL NEGATIVE ABOUT HAVING EVENTS. I'M GETTING TIRED OF THIS. IT'S RIDICULOUS. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE EVENTS, AND I DON'T WANNA PUT ANY LIMITS ON IT. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK OUR STAFF AND OUR CITY MANAGER, THEY RUN THE CITY, RIGHT? AND WE APPROVE THINGS. BUT I MEAN, THEY KNOW WHAT'S REASONABLE, AND I'M SURE OUR, OUR CITY MANAGER WILL BE REASONABLE AND OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS. I, UM, I CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. SO, UH, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THERE IS A BUDGET FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE, CORRECT? AND THAT, THAT WE LEAVE IT UP TO YOU TO DETERMINE AND MAKE SURE WE DON'T GO OVER BUDGET ON THOSE. I KNOW WE PUT IN A VARIETY OF SPECIAL EVENTS, UM, AND I S - AND I HAVE SAID, UH, WE'RE NOT HERE TO MICROMANAGE BECAUSE THERE'S THINGS THAT THE EVENTS ARE GROWING, THEY'RE BIGGER AND BETTER AND IT'S REALLY NICE. YES, I UNDERSTAND. YEAH, WE COULD CAP, LIKE, JUST THE BUDGET AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE, UH, BUDGET OVERALL. UM, IF WE NEED TO DECIDE WHAT EVENTS, UM, TO FOCUS ON OR SO FORTH, WE CAN. UM, BUT THAT'S, I MEAN, IT'S, I WANNA DEFER TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY STAFF IN REGARDS TO THAT. WELL, I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER REAL FAST. SO I JUST ASKED TO ASK THE FINANCE DIRECTOR A QUESTION AND YOU BLOCKED IT. SO WHY - BLOCK IT. WHY DOES THE CITY MANAGER GET TO A- ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, BUT NOW I'M FINANCE DIRECTOR. UM, DO YOU REMEMBER COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ ABOUT THE CHAIN? IT'S THE CITY MANAGER. NO, I'M SORRY. I KNOW YOU DON'T, I KNOW YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES ON THAT. NO, NO, YOU DON'T. YOU DON'T, EXCUSE ME. SO, BUT I ASKED - YEAH, HOLD ON. I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER. UH, POINT OF - SO I ASKED TO ASK A QUESTION FOR THE FINANCE DIRECTOR WHO, WHO CONTROLS THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY. OKAY. OKAY, HOLD ON. HOLD, HOLD ON. POINT OF, POINT OF ORDER, POINT OF ORDER. THIS IS A MOTHER, MAY I? SHOULD BE NO DISCUSSION. OKAY, SHOULD WE HAVE A 50,000 AND THEN COMING BACK? OKAY, HAVE A CITY TO RESEARCH. THIS IS, THIS IS THE, YOUR FIRST AND THE SECOND. SO WE JUST ROLL CALL, PLEASE. OKAY, AND THEN GET THE THING OVER WITH. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. ROLL CALL. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WU, WE HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS, A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ TO DIRECT STAFF TO LOOK INTO HAVING A BUDGET CAP AT $50,000 FOR, UH, EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE CITY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 4TH OF JULY. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ. YEAH, SO I'LL JUST MAKE A COMMENT. WHEN, UH, MY COLLEAGUES TALK ABOUT WE SHOULDN'T BE CARING ABOUT WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SPENDS OR WHO SPENDS WHAT ON SPECIAL EVENTS, I DON'T, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE SITTING HERE THEN. YOU WERE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE TO ENSURE OVERSIGHT OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS. THIS IS NOT YOUR CHECKBOOK. [03:10:01] HOW ABOUT YOU GET YOUR CHECKBOOK OUT AND CUT $100,000 CHECK? SO - CAN YOU GET TO THE POINT, PLEASE? SO AGAIN, THIS IS A TAXPAYER MONEY. IT'S NOT YOUR PERSONAL MONEY AND YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THE TAXPAYERS BEFORE YOU SPEAK ON THIS. SO, UH, YES. COUNCILMAN WU. NO. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ? NO. MAYOR PROTEM CONTOS. THIS IS ABOUT TO LOSE, BUT JUST REAL QUICK, JUST AS, AS A, AS, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF, OF, OF BEING NEGATIVE WHEN WE HAVE POLICY DISAGREEMENTS. IT'S A MATTER OF DECIDING THAT WE, WE SHOULD BE PRUDENT WITH OUR FINANCES. AND THE, THE PURPOSE OF THE REQUEST WAS SIMPLY TO HAVE THE STAFF LOOK INTO WAYS TO CUT S - UH, SPENDING IN, O- ON EVENTS IN ORDER TO ENABLE US TO HAVE MORE MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. I, IT'S ABOUT TO LOSE, BUT MY, BUT, UH, I. AND - MAYOR LOPEZ VIADA. AND THAT IS A DIFFERENT REQUEST. SO IF MAYOR PROTEM HAD PUT THAT REQUEST OF WHAT HE MENTIONED, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SUPPORT. BUT TO CAPPING IT AT 50,000, THAT ONE I DO NOT, UM, SUPPORT. SO I'M GONNA SAY NO TO THAT. UM, ALL RIGHT. NEXT COUNCIL REQUEST. OKAY. UH, MAYBE THE MAYOR PROTEM WILL MAKE THAT REQUEST RIGHT NOW. WHAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY? WHICH ONE ARE YOU AGREEABLE, MAYOR? LOOK, THIS IS HIS REQUEST. THIS IS YOURS. SO IF YOU CAN SPEAK FOR YOURSELF - YEAH, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU JUST SAID. I, I CAN MAKE IT - SORRY, I CAN'T HELP IT THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT - YEAH. I KNOW. YOU GO A LITTLE CRAZY ALL THE TIME. NEXT. SO MY REQUEST, UH, ARE YOU FINISHED, MAYOR PROTEM? YES, I'M FINISHED. OKAY. SO MY REQUEST IS, UM, BASED UPON THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S, UH, DOCUMENTATION TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, WES COVINA CONTINUES NOT TO BE AN APPLICANT TO ESTABLISH A LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. FEDERAL FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO FUND, UH, TRANSA - A, A, A ENGINEERING COMPANY TO OPERATE A, A, A HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT WAS NEVER, UH, HAS NEVER BEEN ESTABLISHED. UH, AND WE ARE TECHNICALLY PAYING MONTHLY FEES TO THIS MEDICAL DOCTOR WHILE THERE IS NO HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO I WILL MAKE A MOTION, UH, TO REMOVE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FROM OUR GOALS, UH, FROM OUR BUDGET. SECOND. OH, SORRY. UH, ROLL CALL OR... I JUST, I MEAN, THIS, I KNOW WHAT... OKAY, ROLL CALL. GO AHEAD. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ MADE. AYE. OH, SORRY. SORRY, GO AHEAD. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ MADE A MOTION TO REMOVE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FROM OUR BUDGET AND GOALS. THERE WAS A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS. COUNCIL MEMBER GUTIERREZ? AYE. COUNCILMAN WU? NOPE. COUNCILWOMAN DIAZ? NO. MAYOR PROTEM CONTOS? AYE. MAYOR LOPEZ VIADO? NO. NEXT. UH, COUNCIL REQUEST. I HAVE A COMMENT. UH, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE IN A REQUEST RIGHT NOW. NO COMMENTS. I SAID WHEN YOU GET TO COMMENT, I HAVE A COMMENT. OKAY. WHEN I GET THERE, WE'LL GET THERE. ANY OTHER COUNCIL REQUESTS? I'M DONE. OKAY. NOW ONTO [CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS] CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS. GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN GUTIERREZ. YES. SO I WANNA JUST, UH, ENCOURAGE OUR, ALL OUR RESIDENTS, UM, WHO ARE GONNA BE V - WHO, WHO SHOULD BE V - SORRY, LET ME REPHRASE THIS. I WANNA ENCOURAGE OUR, OUR RESIDENTS, UH, THAT THERE IS AN UPCOMING ELECTION. I BELIEVE THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING. UM, I THINK, I BELIEVE OUR FIRST MEETING OF NOVEMBER IS CANCELED. IS THAT CORRECT, CITY MANAGER? THAT IS CORRECT. IT IS ELECTION NIGHT. YEAH. SO IT'LL BE ELECTION NIGHT THAT NIGHT. SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERY REGISTERED VOTER, UH, IN A CITY, UH, UH, WHO, WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN OUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS, UH, TO PLEASE VOTE. YOUR VOTE DOES COUNT. NO MATTER WHO YOU VOTE FOR, UH, NO MATTER WHICH CANDIDATE YOU BELIEVE IN, UH, YOUR VOTE DOES COUNT. YOUR VOTE, UH, DICTATES THE DIRECTION OF CITY OF WEST COVINA. AND SO I JUST WANNA, AGAIN, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOTE BECAUSE YOUR VOTE DOES COUNT. THANK YOU. OTHER, UH, COUNCIL REQUESTS. UM - REQUEST? COUNCILWOMAN... I'M SORRY, NOT REQUEST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. UH, AGAIN, I JUST WANNA THANK OUR STAFF AGAIN. I KNOW YOU GUYS WORK REALLY HARD ON OUR EVENTS, ON ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN OUR CITY. UM, I KNOW OUR CITY MANAGER WORKS VERY HARD. I KNOW OUR CITY CLERK WORKS VERY HARD AND, UM, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL. UM, OUR MAINTENANCE THAT WERE OUT THERE TODAY WORKING HARD, UH, OUR ELECTRICIANS WERE OUT THERE AND, UM, ALL OUR CITY STAFF, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN. AND I JUST WANNA KNOW THAT. I MEAN, I WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT WE SUPPORT YOU AND WE'RE HERE FOR YOU. SO THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR? UH, MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS. [03:15:01] I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THE RESIDENTS OF ALTAMIRA. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR, OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE, JUST, I'M REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL. UH, IT, IT'S ALSO A REFLECTION OF HOW WE, WE ALL, ALL OF US CARE ABOUT, ABOUT FELLOW RESIDENTS HERE FROM THROUGHOUT WEST COVINA, AND I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL. I WANTED TO... SINCE THIS IS DURING COMMENTS, I WANTED TO WAIT TILL THE END OF THIS MEETING, UH, TO DISCUSS JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT THE, THE, THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND THE, AND THE CHEAPNESS, THE DIRTY TRICKS THAT PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING WITH AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE TOWARD THIS ELECTION. UH, I, I JOINED WITH OTHERS IN CONDEMNING THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT OUT BY WHOEVER ABOUT, UH, JUST TO, TO TRY TO DESTROY THE PERSONAL LIVES OF THE MAYOR AND, AND THE, AND THE POLICE CHIEF. I MEAN, THAT IS NOT A MATTER OF, UH, POLITICAL DISCOURSE FOR THE PURPOSE OF POLICY DIFFERENCES. IT'S, IT'S JUST CHEAP AND IT'S DIRTY, AND I WILL SAY IT'S LOWLIFE. IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT TO DO THAT TO PEOPLE. UH, IT'S, IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. AND THEN NOW, UH, WITHIN FOUR, WITH 14 DAYS OF, UH, TO GO THE ELECTION, THEN NOW THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE, WHO ARE TRYING TO, TO DO POLI - CHEAP POLITICAL ATTACKS AGAINST ME, UH, B - UH, BY QUESTIONING MY, MY, UH, WHO, WHO I HAVE VOL - W- WORKED WITH ME. THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHO WORK WITH ME, AND, UH, AND IT, IT'S JUST SAD THAT, THAT, UH, PEOPLE E- ENGAGE IN THESE, IN THESE EFFORTS INSTEAD OF JUST TALKING ABOUT, UH, WHAT IT IS THAT YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ME ON IN TERMS OF MY VOTES OR WHAT I DO FOR THE CITY OR HOW I GO OUT THROUGH, THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WITH THE DECISIONS I MAKE OR THE VOTES THAT I TAKE, ABSOLUTELY FAIR GAME. BUT WHENEVER PEOPLE DECIDE TO CHEAPEN THIS ELECTION TO, TO THESE, THESE, THESE ATTACKS, ALL IT DOES IS IT DRIVES PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE POLLS, NOT TOWARD THEM. I, I'VE WORKED REALLY HARD NOT TO GO ON THE ATTACK AGAINST PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH MY OPPONENTS, MY O- ONE, ONE OPPONENT HAS, UH, REALLY A- A- ATTACKED ME ON THE BASIS OF LIES. UH, AND, AND THEN THE OTHER OPPONENT, TO HER CREDIT, SHE HAS NOT, UH, BEEN NEGATIVE IN, IN, IN THAT WAY WITH THROWING THESE ATTACKS THROUGH MAILERS AND TEXTS AND WHATEVER. UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S JUST, OF COURSE, PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT IT'S POLITICS, THAT'S WHAT IT IS, BUT I REALLY WORKED HARD TO RAISE THE BAR BY HAVING A DIFFERENT TYPE OF DISCOURSE WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT POLICY, WE CAN TALK ABOUT DISAGREEMENTS, BUT EVEN WHEN WE DISAGREE, THEN WE STILL STAY ON THE MERITS OF THE POLICY OR THE PROGRAM OR PROGRAMS THAT WE SUPPORT OR OPPOSE. YOU JUST, UH, THE PUBLIC HERE HAS JUST SEEN A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION WITH REGARD TO, UH, WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WHERE, WHERE A MOTHER MAY I, THAT I HAD ASKED FOR WITH REGARD TO A, A BUDGET, BUDGET PROCESS TO TRY TO SEE ABOUT, UM, UM, CURBING OUR SPENDING. WE HAD, WE HAD HONEST DISAGREEMENTS HERE, BUT EVEN WITH THOSE DISAGREEMENTS, I DO NOT HATE OR DESPISE OR DISLIKE ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES. WE ARE ALL UP HERE AND WE'RE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THINGS. THAT IS HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS. IT, IS IT MESSY? YES, BUT THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE. UH, WHEN, WHEN I'VE WORKED TO DO THIS, I, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT, THAT I'VE BEEN SUPPORTED BY PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, ALL THE WAY FROM, FROM FAR PROGRESSIVE LEFT TO THE FAR CONSERVATIVE RIGHT AND PEOPLE IN BETWEEN. THE REASON WHY, WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE MY, THE THING THAT I'VE TRIED TO DO IS TO TALK ABOUT BUILDING ON COMMONALITY AND FINDING THINGS TO SUPPORT - MADAM, MADAM MAYOR, MAYOR, CAN WE NOT ADVOCATE A POSITION? I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR ANY POSITION, MR. CITY ATTORNEY. I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW WE HAVE TO ELEVATE OUR, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE, WE HAVE TO ELEVATE OUR POLITICAL DISCOURSE. I'M NOT MAKING A POLICY STATEMENT. I'M SAYING THAT THE FACT THAT THERE'S SUPPORT FROM ACROSS IT JUST SIMPLY IS SAYING THAT, THAT, UM, WE ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. AND I, I INVITE THE PUBLIC TO, TO ELEVATE THAT DISCOURSE AS WELL. LET'S STICK TO, TO HONEST DISCUSSIONS ABOUT POLICY AND PROGRAMS AND IMPLICATIONS, WHATEVER FOR OR AGAINST, BUT STICK TO THAT WITHOUT THE PERSONAL ATTACK. THE PERSONAL ATTACKS ARE ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY, WHICH IS WHY I HAVEN'T ENGAGED IN THEM. BUT IT'S, IT'S UP TO PEOPLE TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, BUT I, BUT WITH THE, THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN PEOPLE ARE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE ABOUT THINGS, I'M JU - I'M JUST NOT GOING TO DIGNIFY THOSE THINGS WITH A RESPONSE EXCEPT TO SAY JUST GENERALLY THAT IF WE, IF WE JUST ELEVATE OUR DISCUSSIONS BASED ON POLICY THAT I THINK THAT WE, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO HAVE CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE REGARDING WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. AND I, I, MY OWN MYSELF, I WIN SOME, I LOSE SOME, BUT THAT'S THE WAY OF TH- THINGS ON ANY CITY COUNCIL. I'LL WIN, I'LL LOSE SOME, BUT WHAT, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, I STILL C- CONTINUE TO HAVE A DEEP RESPECT AND LITERALLY CARING ABOUT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE ON THIS COUNCIL. SO I'M JUST INVITING THAT THE PUBLIC, UH, UH, ENGAGE IN THAT TOO, SO THAT WAY WE CAN BE CONSTRUCTIVE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE SHOULD ALL DO MOVING FORWARD. SO THAT, THAT'S ALL [03:20:01] I NEEDED TO SAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN WU. MOVE THE MOTION TO ADJOURN. WAIT, I HAVE A COMMENT. UM, AND I NEVER GO THAT LONG ANYWAYS. UM, BUT I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM CONTOS. UM, I'M IN THE SAME BOAT WITH YOU. ONE, YOU KNOW, GET ATTACK, LIES, ALL THIS STUFF YOU'VE SEEN IT, YOU'VE HEARD IT, YOU KNOW, IT JUST, AND I DON'T EVEN ENGAGE IN ATTACK OR DO THAT, BUT, UM, UH, POWER TO YOU AND, YOU KNOW, OR I GUESS THAT WE KEEP IT AT THAT LEVEL. UM, AND I, I DO APOLOGIZE FOR TODAY, BUT IN ALL MY, MY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED THE KIND OF HEADACHE THAT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS MANAGED TO GIVE ME. SO, UM, SORRY. AND, UH - GROW UP. THAT'S EXACTLY THAT'S WHY YOU NEED TO GET HER FIRED. UH, EXCUSE ME. EXCUSE ME.TERS FIRED HER. THIS PUBLIC COMMENT, PUBLIC COM - YOU HAD YOUR TIME. YOU ATTACKING YOUR COLLEAGUE NOW. YOU HAD YOUR TURN. I DIDN'T EVEN SAY A NAME, BUT IF YOU'RE GUILTY, BUT ANYWAYS, PUBLIC COMMENT. JUST, UM, I, I'M HERE TO SAY I APOLOGIZE. UH, LIKE I, I, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HAD THIS HEADACHE ALL MY YEARS. UM, NOW I FORGOT WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY. AND THEN, UM, TO THE STAFF OUT THERE, I KNOW WE HAVE ABOUT 400 STAFF. I DO, UM, I'M SO SORRY AND I FEEL FOR YOU WHEN, WHEN A COUNCIL MEMBER DOES NOT FOLLOW, UH, PROPER PROCEDURES AND, EXCUSE ME, DOES NOT FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES AND SENDS EMAILS TO ALL 400 OF YOU. AND YOU ARE, YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN BE PART OF THIS POLITICS THING. YOU ARE HERE TO DO YOUR JOB AND YOU DO A FABULOUS JOB. YOU DO A WONDERFUL, GREAT JOB. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, TO INVOLVE YOU IN POLITICS, IT'S UNCALLED FOR. WE DO HAVE RULES. WE DO HAVE A CODE OF CONDUCT. AND THOUGH WHEN ONE PERSON DOES NOT ADHERE TO IT, OBVIOUSLY I CAN'T CONTROL WHAT OTHER COUNCILS DOES, BUT WE DO HAVE THIS FORM WHERE A COUNCIL, THIS IS FOR ALL OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, THAT WE DO HAVE THIS CHAIN WHERE IT GOES TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY MANAGER THEN GOES TO YOU. THERE YOU GO. THERE IS A CHAIN. EXCUSE ME. I, THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. OH YEAH. UM, AND SO I'M HERE - OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M HERE TO JUST LET THE STAFF KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. ALL FOUR MAJORITY COUNCIL, THIS FOUR, UH, IS HERE FOR THE STAFF. CAN YOU FIND OUT WHERE OUR COUNCIL EMPLOYEES ARE? EXCUSE ME. THIS WHAT I'M - HE'S BEEN PUT ON LEAVE AND RETALIATION. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT - HE HAS AN UNEMPLOYEE COMPLAINT. YEAH, PUT THE CAMERA ON HIM. YEAH. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE COMPLAINT AGAINST AN AFRICAN AMERICAN EMPLOYEE. YEAH. UH - LET'S PUT THAT ON THE RECORD. HERE, WE TALK ABOUT RESPECT, DECORUM, AND WE HAVE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER NOT FOLLOWING. WELL, YOU'RE ATTACKING ME, MAYOR. EXCU - I - SO YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR ELECTION. I AM TALKING, I DO NOT CARE ABOUT THIS ELECTION. NO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE REFERRING TO ME. WHETHER, LOOK, WHETHER I WIN OR LOSE, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER. MY FAMILY SAYS IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR US ANYWAYS. I MEAN, NOT HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS DRAMA, THIS STRESS, THIS UNCALLED, THIS UNNECESSARY STUFF. BUT I AM HERE SERVING YOU, THE PUBLIC. I AM HERE AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, AND I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF SACRIFICE THAT GOES INTO IT. BUT I AM HERE AS A MAYOR SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, THE RESIDENTS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE STAFF WHO I HAVE ALWAYS SAID AND COMMITTED TO THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A WORKPLACE, A GOOD WORKPLACE, THAT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY TOXIC WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS UNCALLED FOR. AND YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT AS A STAFF TO NOT ALLOW ANY COUNCIL MEMBER, AND WHEN I SAID ANY, ANYBODY IN THIS FIVE, IT COULD BE ANY ONE OF US, TO BULLY YOU, TO THREATEN YOU, TO HARASS YOU, OR TO DO ANY OF THAT SORT. THAT SHOULD NOT OCCUR, AND YOU SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S FEAR OF, LIKE, RETALIATION. THERE'S LOTS OF FEAR OF THINGS THAT ARE OCCURRING, BUT YOU SHOULDN'T BE SCARED. AND THAT YOU SHOULD ALL STICK TOGETHER, AND WE SHOULD ALL BE THERE FOR YOU TO HELP DEAL WITH ALL OF THIS TOGETHER. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF. PLEASE DO NOT FEAR. PLEASE DO NOT, UM, GET SCARED FOR ANY OF THESE, UM, CONCERNS. BUT AGAIN, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL, WHEN I SAY MAJORITY, I MEAN FOUR, NOT WHAT THE RULES THREE OR WHATEVER, FOUR SUPPORTS ALL THE STAFF. AND IF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, CONCERNS - AGAIN, YOU'RE ADDRESSING ME AGAIN. I DO SUPPORT OUR STAFF, OKAY? EXCUSE ME. AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, YOU HAVE, UH, THE CHAIN. YOU HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER WHO DOES A FABULOUS JOB. HOW ABOUT WHEN THE CITY MANAGER CALLS ME AN AFTERNOON? EXCUSE ME. IS IT OKAY, MAYOR? IS IT OKAY WHEN A CITY MANAGER CALLS ME AN AFFADIA? OH, IT'S OKAY, RIGHT? WHEN WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT - IT'S OKAY. OKAY. [03:25:01] EVERYBODY HAD THEIR TURN. OH, I FORGOT. IT'S OKAY, RIGHT? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR SHOWING YOUR TRUE COLORS AND YOUR CHARACTER. NO, AND I WANNA APOLOGIZE TO. AND ANYWAYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M GOING TO, UH, MAYOR, UH, AND THAT ENDS MEETING. I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. MEETING ADJOURNED. 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.