[00:00:04]
WELCOME.[Call to Order]
WELCOME BACK.WELCOME TO WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL.
AND WHY NOW IS THE SEVEN OH ONE.
AND, UH, OUR WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS SESSION.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OUR STAFF.
I KNOW WE, WE FORCED THEM TO COME BACK AND NOW WE KNOW, OKAY.
WE KNOW YOU ARE DOING THE REMODELING FOR SOUND SYSTEM, BUT I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL C A CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
WE HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT, UH, BUDGET, AND HOPEFULLY NEXT TIME WE CAN HAVE A CHANCE WITH A SOCIAL DISTANCE.
WHAT COUNTY ALLOW US FOR AUDIENCE COME IN AND THE CENTENE WE HAVE THE SEAT AND OUTSIDE WE CAN HAVE DIDN'T SEE OUTSIDE.
SO IN THAT WAY, WE HAVE PARTICIPATION FOR OUR RESIDENT REGARDING ALL THE, FOR THE ISSUE.
TONIGHT EVOCATION WOULD BE LED BY PESTA A MERITUS THE CAKE CAMERA.
HOW MANY CAN YOU SEND US THE END? LIKE YOU? OKAY.
PROBABLY UNITED CHURCH OF A HUNDRED INTERN FOLLOWED BY A PLEDGE OF RELIGION LED BY COUNCILMAN CASEON ALL WHITE SPACE.
HEARING THE WORD GUY FROM PSALM 46.
GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH AND EVER PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.
THERE'LL BE YOUR GATEWAY AND THE MOUNTAINS FALLING TO THE HEART OF THE SEA.
SO IT'S WATER FOR FOAM FROM THE MOUNTAINS QUAKE WITH THEIR SURGING, THERE IS A RIVER WHOSE STREAMS MAKE GLAD THE CITY HAS GOT THE HOLY PLACE WHERE THE MOST HIGH DWELLS GOD IS WITHIN HER.
GOD WENT OUT FOR A BREAK OF DAY.
NATIONS ARE NOT FOUR KINGDOMS. TALL VOICE ALMIGHTY IS WITH US.
LET'S PRAY, FATHER, YOU ARE GOD.
AND WE, MOST ASSUREDLY ARE NOT.
WE BOW BEFORE YOU AND THE DOOR ON THIS OCCASION, THE MEANING OF THE WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL HUMILITY.
WE KNOW IT'S ALWAYS APPROPRIATE FOR OUR NEED IS GREAT.
WE NEED YOU IN NORMAL TIMES WHEN LIFE RUNS IN PATTERNS, FAMILIAR TOO MUCH, HOW MUCH MORE DO WE NEED TO NOW WHEN LIFE SEEMS ANYTHING BUT NORMAL, WE ASKED IT TO GROW THE VIRUS TO BE ELIMINATED FROM OUR LAND.
AND IT'S DEADLY DESTRUCTION, HUMAN AND ECONOMIC BE LIFTED FROM YOUR WORD FATHER ITSELF.
HOW GOOD AND PLEASANT IT IS WHEN BROTHERS LIVE TOGETHER.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY THAT COMES FROM LISTENING WELL TO OTHERS.
WITH MUTUAL RESPECT, MORE, WE PRAY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.
BE PRESENT WITH THEM, WHERE THEY WERE MADE TO CARRY ON THE INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE AT THIS COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO YOUR WEALTH AND GIVE US ALL A PRIDE IN THE WORK THAT WE DO AND ADJUST RETURN FOR OUR LABOR.
FINALLY, FATHER, WE PRAY FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF WEST COVINA, BOTH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PROFESSIONALS THAT THEY SEEK YOUR WILL CONTINUALLY, AND THEY, THEY TRULY BE CALLED PUBLIC SERVICE IN CHRIST'S NAME ON THAT.
YOU JUST FACE THE FLAG AND PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF AMERICA, WHICH IS STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
COUNCILMAN CASTELLANO'S COUNCILMAN JOHNSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOEMAKER HERE.
MAYOR PRO TEM LOPEZ, VIBRATO PRESENT MAYOR.
AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING WE PULL OUT FROM THE CLOSED SESSION? NOTHING MR. MAYOR.
[South Hills High School – Graduating Class of 2020]
NOW WE MOVE INTO THE PRESENTATION AND, UH, UH, LAST MEETING, WE INVITE THE COVINA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL, SOUTH HILL HIGH SCHOOL TO RECOGNIZE OUT THERE, GRADUATE CLASS 2020, AND UH, DUE TO, UH, OKAY.EQUATING CLASS 20, 20 PRESENTATION.
AND I LIKE TO THANK THIS OUT HERE.
[00:05:01]
SCHOOL, GRADUATING CLASS OF 2020.WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MR. MATT DUKE.
THE DIRECTOR OF ACTIVITY, SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND STUDENT AND UH, I WANT OKAY.
SAY, HEY, THE SECOND TIME IT'S A CHUNK.
I, HOPEFULLY IT IS THAT WE GOING TO GO SMOOTHLY WITH THE PRESENTATION.
I WANT ALL THE CHILDREN AT A KID THAT GRADUATED THIS YEAR.
WE CARE ABOUT THEM AND WE WILL CONTEND THAT WE CELEBRATE WITH THEM WITH THEIR ACHIEVEMENT, A GRADUATE, A CLASS 25.
AND, UH, AN HONOR TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS BE RECOGNIZED.
UH, WE ARE WATCHING ONLINE, OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF, AND, UH, IT'S BEEN SUCH A TRYING YEAR, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, OUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN VERY RESILIENT.
SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE RECOGNIZED.
UH, THE WESTERN CAMINO, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT, UM, AND MYSELF,
I KNOW WE HAD SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES LAST WEEK, BUT YOUR GUYS IS, UH, DEDICATED AND, AND, AND JUST HONOR OF OUR STUDENTS JUST MEANS SO MUCH TO OUR SCHOOL AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO WE SURELY DO APPRECIATE IT.
AND, UH, WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT OUR STUDENTS WERE SELECTED TO BE IN.
THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THERE'S A SHORT VIDEO.
THE VIDEO IS GOING TO PLAY GOOD EVENING.
MATT DALTON, AND I'M THE PROUD PRINCIPAL OF THE SOUTH HILLS HIGH SCHOOL HUSKIES ON BEHALF OF THE COVINA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF WEST COVINA FOR THEIR CONSTANT SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR PROGRAMS, AND SPECIFICALLY OUR SCHOOL AND THE CLASS OF 2020.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THE CLASS OF 2020 HAS DONE SOME AMAZING THINGS.
THEY HAVE BUILT PROGRAMS. THEY HAVE WORKED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE COMPLETED PATHWAYS AND THEY'VE PREPARED THEMSELVES FOR THEIR FUTURE.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE CLASS OF 2020.
WE THANK THEM FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE DONE TO MAKE SOUTH HILLS HIGH SCHOOL AT THE SCHOOL.
IT IS YOU HAVE A BUILT CULTURE.
AND NOW IT'S OUR TURN TO SUPPORT YOU.
DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, YOU'VE SHOWED GRIT AND DETERMINATION, AND WE KNOW THAT IN THE FUTURE, THESE QUALITIES WILL DEFINITELY PAY OFF ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY.
THE ENTIRE STAFF WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE SENIOR CLASS OF 2020.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GRADUATION AND GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE.
WE KNOW THIS YEAR HASN'T GOTTEN ITS MEMORIES AND ACTIVITIES WERE WAITING TO BE CREATED, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN STALLED OR FORGOTTEN AS A STUDENT BODY.
WE JUST WANTED TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WHEREVER YOU MAY BE HAPPY, BUT IF YOU EVER FIND IS A BLOCK,
[00:10:04]
TURN THEM INTO THE BEST AND MOST FOR THE LAST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, WE KNOW IT'S NOT PROBLEM OR HABIT.SO YOUR UNDERCLASSMAN WANTED TO SHOW YOU.
YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HUSKY AND THAT YOU ARE BEST WISHES.
SO WE DONE WITH SONYA HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTATION.
SO WE ALREADY, ARE WE DONE WITH SAHIL PRESENTATION? YES OR NO? YES.
I SAW YOUR HIGH SCHOOL K AND THE OTHER CHILDREN IS OKAY.
[00:15:01]
WE WANT TO WISH YOU ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR VENDOR POOL FOR FUTURE.WE KNOW YOU WILL BE VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.
AND THE WEST COVINA CTU ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU.
SO WE WANT TO WISH ALL THE SOUTH HILL, OKAY.
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE CLASS, 2020, LET YOU GUY WILL HAVE A MAGNIFICENT FUTURE.
THIS SEGMENT WILL BE IN OUR YOUTUBE FOREVER.
[West Covina High School | Edgewood High School | Coronado High School – Graduating Classes of 2020]
CLASS 2020.WEST COVINA HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND BASICALLY WE HAVE THREE HIGH SCHOOL.
COLORADO HIGH SCHOOL, EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND WEST COVINA HIGH SCHOOL.
AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A OKAY.
TROVATORE WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
I KNOW SHE JUST SAY SOMETHING ALREADY.
I DON'T MIND TO LISTEN TO HIM.
AND THEN WE INTRODUCE, UH, UH, UH, CHAVONE UH, ROBBER.
AND THEN THE RICO AND ALL WHO LIKES TO SET A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR CLASS 2024 WEST COVINA UNIFIED HIGH SCHOOL.
AND, UH, BASICALLY WE HAVE A THREE HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTATION AND, UH, MAYBE, UH, MARK, YOU WANT TO SAY ONE MORE TIME? SO BECAUSE NOW WE ARE GOING TO YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'M SORRY ABOUT ALL THIS TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY AGAIN.
BECAUSE PLEASE APPEAR WITH THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AFTER THREE MONTHS, WE MOVING BACK TO COUNCIL CHAMBER AND WE HAVE TO GO THE SEPARATE WAY.
AND HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE, WE WORK AS SMOOTHER AND THAT WHEN WE GO INTO THE MEETING, SO MARK, OKAY.
YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING MARK? GO AHEAD, MR.
THE STEAM DIGNITARIES REPRESENT A COMMITTEE THERE IN ATTENDANCE.
MY NAME IS MARK CHOCOLATORY AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SECONDARY CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION FOR THE WEST GREENLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DR.
HINMAN, OUR SUPERINTENDENT, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT CLASS OF 2020 TO BE RECOGNIZED.
UM, THIS YEAR HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING FOR SENIORS, AND WE APPRECIATE HOW THE CITY, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES AS WELL, THEY'VE EXTENDED THEIR SUPPORT TO PROVIDE EXTRA RECOGNITION.
OUR SENIORS, OUR GRADUATES HAVE WORKED SO HARD THROUGHOUT THEIR EDUCATIONAL CAREERS AND DESERVE TO BE HONORED FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENT.
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT BARRING ANY NEW RESTRICTIONS.
WE HAVE PLAN FOR OUR GRADUATION CEREMONIES TO OCCUR ON JULY 28TH AND 29TH.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR TONIGHT'S OPPORTUNITY.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO DEFER TO OUR FABULOUS PRINCIPALS WHO CAN PROVIDE MORE DETAIL RELATED TO THEIR SENIORS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
SO MAYOR WE HAVE ON THE PHONE, MS. CHAVONNE ROBERT KECK.
GO AHEAD, MS. ROBERT, GO AHEAD.
MAYOR WOOP CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR HONORING OUR STUDENTS THIS EVENING.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR OR YOU'RE GOOD.
AND WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE TRADITIONAL EXPERIENCES.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO AND DISPLAY THEIR SUCCESS AT CORONET.
ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKE AN ALTERNATIVE PATH TO GETTING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.
AND THIS IS JUST AN ALTERNATIVE CELEBRATION, AND I'M GLAD THAT THE CITY IS A PART OF IT AND OUR CLAD, AND YOU HAVE ALLOWED US TO BE A PART OF THIS.
WELL, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
THIS IS RYAN D ERICA, GO AHEAD.
[00:20:02]
YOU GUYS HEAR ME OKAY.WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL I'LL BE AT WORK SCHOOL.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF WEST COVINA FOR LOTTERY AND GET RECOGNIZED IN THE CLASS OF 2024.
STUDENTS HAVE OVERCOME SO MUCH THESE PAST COUPLE MONTHS, SO WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO CELEBRATING OUR SENIORS.
SO WE HAVE A RYAN THAT WAS FINE.
WE WENT A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER.
YOU THINK THERE, WHO AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY.
THEN I AM EXTREMELY PROUD PRINCIPAL OF EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL ON BEHALF OF EDGE WITH STAFF AND COMMUNITY.
HERE'S A SHORT VIDEO TO CELEBRATE OUR RESILIENT, COURAGEOUS AND AMAZING SENIOR WITHOUT FURTHER ADO AS WITH HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2020.
SO I'M GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION, THE VIDEO.
[00:26:53]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.OUTSTANDING VIDEO FOR THE CLASS 2024 THERE.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL THE, UH, GREAT COVINA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL AND THE WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL.
AND FOR THEY HAVE THIS MAGNIFICENT 20 CLASS, 2020, AND AGAIN, OKAY.
AND OUR CT AND WE REALLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THESE GRADUATE.
AND THEN THEY'RE FACING THE FUTURE AND THE, OKAY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE THIS PANDEMIC, BUT OKAY.
I THINK YOU GUYS WILL BE ON A HISTORY BOOK THAT WE HAVE A CT RECOGNIZE YOU ON OUR CITY COUNCIL AND NOW ONLY LED ALL THIS OKAY.
VIDEO SEGMENT WILL BE ON THE YOUTUBE FOREVER FOR YOU TO REVIEW ANY TIME.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, CLASS 2020.
SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE LEADER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE EDUCATION FOR OUR OKAY.
OF OUR LEADER AND FUTURE OUR VERY SUCCESSFUL OKAY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, FOR ALL THE, ALL THOSE EDUCATED.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO THE ORAL COMMUNICATION.
AND BY THE WAY, NEXT MEETING, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A ROLE IN UNIFIED SCHOOL.
THEY ARE GOING TO DO THE PRESENTATION FOR THEIR GRADUATE 2020 AND WHAT A UNIFIED SCHOOL ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND A NON GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL, HALF A LOT, A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OKAY.
YOU GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE NEXT.
AND AS A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WE ARE GOING TO INVITE OTHER HIGH SCHOOL OKAY.
TO HABITAT PRESENTATION, SO, OKAY.
[ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - Five (5) minutes per speaker]
OVER-COMMUNICATE HOW MANY RESIDENT WE HAVE ON EMAIL AND OR THEY WANT TO OKAY.COHEN TO ADDRESS, TO COUNSEL WITH THEIR CONCERN.
WE HAVE ABOUT 33 SPEAKERS IN TOTAL.
AND GO AHEAD AND START THE FIRST ONE MAYOR.
OUR FIRST ONE IS, IS ROSA FRANCO.
MY NAME IS ROSIE FRANCO AND I WOULD LIKE TO START SAYING THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO TIME THIS OPPORTUNITY AND TO TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM TO JOIN THE HUMAN RESOURCES COMMISSION.
THIS VIDEO WITH COVINA HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR THREE YEARS NOW.
I LIVE HERE WITH MY HUSBAND, MY MOTHER, MY TWO DOGS AND ONE CAT.
WE HAVE BEEN SO HAPPY LIVING IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.
I CAN HONESTLY SAY, THIS IS OUR FOREVER HOME AND OUR FOREVER CITY.
AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT I CAN SAY THAT IS THANKS IN BIG PART TO YOU AND YOUR STRONG LEADERSHIP.
[00:30:01]
I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE SO MUCH POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR CITY.I'M ESPECIALLY EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I LOOK FORWARD IN THE SYSTEM IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.
THE STRONG LEADERSHIP THAT OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY OF WEST COVINA HALF.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR CITY, YOUR EFFORTS TO NOT GO ON NOTICE FROM RESIDENTS, SUCH AS MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.
I WANT TO MAKE A SPECIAL COMMENT AS A WIFE AND A DAUGHTER OF AN ELDERLY MOTHER.
I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO KEEPING THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA SAFE DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND CIVIL UNREST.
YOUR STRONG LEADERSHIP HAS INSPIRED ME TO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRESS OF OUR COMMUNITY IN A SMALL WAY, BUT IN THE BEST WAY THAT I CAN, WHICH IS BY CONTRIBUTING TO MY MORE THAN 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN HUMAN RESOURCES, I AM LOOKING FORWARD AND PROVIDING ADVISORY TO THE CITY IN ANY AREA OF HUMAN RESOURCES NEEDED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES COMMISSION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING EACH OF YOU SOMEDAY VERY SOON.
MY NAME IS ALFIE MATTSON, THE PRESIDENT OF WEST COVINA.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THIS COUNCIL TO STOP LISTENING TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER AND I FINANCE MANAGER OR THE INTERIM FINANCE MANAGER? APPARENTLY SHE DOESN'T KNOW AS HER TITLE IS BOTH.
UH, BOTH OF THE YEARS AT THE SAME STAFF REPORT, ALL OF THEM KNOW THAT THE CITY HAD A FINANCIAL PROBLEM.
IT LITTLE DID LITTLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT HE 12% RAISES INSTEAD OF THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS WILL TRUCKS FOLLOW THE AMBULANCE.
I SEEN THREE FIRE TRUCKS COME IN AND ALL TIMES THE ARGUMENT AMBULANCES LEFT AND THE FIRETRUCKS WERE STILL AT THE RESIDENCE HOME THIS MORNING, I THOUGHT TO FIRE CRUX WITH AN AMBULANCE, DID THEY REALLY NEED TO FIRE TRUCKS? NOW I HAVE TO GIVE JERRY POETRY AS A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA CREDIT.
HE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF NINE 11 CALLS WERE EMERGENCY OR FIRE.
NOBODY ON STAFF SEEMED TO KNOW THE ANSWER BECAUSE NOBODY HAS BEEN THERE LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW, BUT THIS RESIDENT'S FOUND A REPORT THAT STATES 70.5% OF THE CALLS IN 2017, 2018, OR FOR EMERGENCY NOT FIRE.
SO THAT HAS TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
NOW THE CITY WANTS VANNS AND FIRE DEPARTMENT TO GO TO COUNTY ENGINEERING JOBS GONE.
AND THAT IS JUST A FEW DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE BEING FARMED OUT.
I THINK WE HAD FARMED OUT OUR CITY MANAGER AND OUR FINANCE MANAGER AND CELL CITY HALL.
WE REMEMBER ANY NEGOTIATIONS AND IT HAS TO BE DONE, CAN BE DONE AT A REAL ESTATE OFFICE IN TEMPLE CITY.
CAUSE IT'S BEEN DONE THERE BEFORE I BELIEVE.
MAY I'M GOING TO COLUMBUS TO FILM MARINO MARINO, MR. MARINA MARINA.
MY STATEMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL THIS EVENING, I AM OF THE UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR CITY SPENDS 79% OF ITS BUDGET ON FIRE AND POLICE SERVICES.
SO THE TWO QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE ANSWERED BY STAFF TO, TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE TAXPAYERS ARE NUMBER ONE AT THE PRESENT TIME.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET ARE WE SPENDING TO HAVE OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT? AND NUMBER TWO? THE SECOND QUESTION IS IF WE REPLACE OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND GO WITH A COUNTY, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET WILL THEN PAY FOR THAT FIRE SERVICE? IT MAKES NO SENSE TO GO TO THE COUNTY.
IF IT DOES NOT SAVE THE TAXPAYERS OF WESCO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
[00:35:01]
THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD NOT VOTE TOWARD THE COUNTY UNLESS IT SAVES US MONEY.THAT'S THE END OF MY STATEMENT.
I CAN FAIL AT THE NEXT PLACE MAYOR.
I'M GOING TO GO ON MR. STEVE BENNETT, MR. BEN HABANERO.
I AM INCREDIBLY CONCERNED WITH THE FINANCIAL DISTRESS OF THE CITY AS SHOWING WE HAVE A CITY THAT AT ONE TIME HAD A RESERVE FUND WAS APPROXIMATELY 15% OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
HOWEVER, THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMONEY HAVE COMPLETED THAT RAINY DAY FUND IN JUST A FEW WEEKS AND ARE TRYING TO BLAME THE ENTIRE REASON ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMICS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS FOR MANY YEARS, TO BLAME A PANDEMIC FOR THE CAUSE IS NOTHING MORE THAN A LIE.
IN FACT, THIS CITY COUNCILORS DECLARED A PHYSICAL EMERGENCY JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ON THAT PREMISE.
HOWEVER, IF YOU REVIEW THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET, THE REVENUE VERSUS EXPENDITURES ARE SHOWN AS FLAT OR EQUAL.
WE ARE DEPLETING THE RESERVE FUND TO NEAR ZERO.
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO SHOW REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES ARE EQUAL? MATHEMATICALLY SPEAKING, IF WE ARE NOT SPENDING MORE THAN WE ARE BRINGING IN, SO WE SHOULD NOT BE USING OUR RESERVE FUND AT ALL.
IT SHOWS THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND HONESTY COMING FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY COUNCIL TELL PEOPLE THERE'S A LAW.
THE REPORT ALSO SHOWS AN INCREASE IN REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES.
WHEN EVERYONE IS TRYING TO SAY WE'RE FACING SHORTFALL IN SALES TAX, REVENUE, PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, AND TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUE IS NOTHING MORE THAN SMOKE AND MIRRORS TO INCOME WITH PROPOSED BUDGET.
THANKS TO THE MANAGER, THE TRUE FACTS FOR WHY THE CITY MANAGER HAS ASKED TO DECLARE THIS EMERGENCY IS COMING TO LIGHT.
THE FACT IS THAT THE FISCAL EMERGENCY HAS GRANTED HIM UNBRIDLED AND UNFETTERED ACCESS TO FULFILL THE FIRE.
DEPARTMENT'S LONGSTANDING DESIRE TO MOVE TO LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THERE WERE THREE POSSIBLE OPTIONS DELIVERS THE LAST AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING AS POSSIBILITIES TO ADDRESS FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS, LONG STANDING ISSUE AND SPENDING TWO OF THOSE OPTIONS WOULD HAVE TESTED THE RESULTS WITHOUT MAKING FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO THE FABRIC OF WEST COVINA.
BUT THE ONLY OPTION THAT THE CITY MANAGER TO WALKING FORWARD WITH THE SWITCH TO LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR DECADES, THE CITY HAS HAD ITS OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND FOR DECADES, THE WEST CAMINO FIREFIGHTER'S UNION IS TRYING TO SWITCH TO LA COUNTY FIRE.
DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT THEY WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT? ANYTHING OTHER THAN THEIR OWN FINANCIAL BENEFITS? IN 1997, THEY LOST AN ATTEMPT ON THE PALLET TO SWITCH TO LA COUNTY FIRE WITH NEARLY 71% VOTING.
NOW IN 2014, IF VISIBILITY WAS NOT ABOUT SWITCHING THE LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT SPONSORED BY THE WESTFIELD FIRE, YOU KNOW THAT IT WOULD COST 300,000 MORE PER YEAR TO MAKE THAT SWITCH.
THAT'S PRETTY POWERFUL TO CALL THEM TO SWITCH IN TWO 10, 2020, THEY LOST THE TEMP ON THE BALLOT TO PAD THEIR SALARIES WITH NEARLY 80% VOTING.
DO YOU SEE A TREND? THE ONLY NEW DATA IS THE CITY COUNCIL.
LAST YEAR, THE WEST, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTERS UNION, ANYTHING THEY WANT.
AND WITH THIS CITY MANAGER, WE'VE LEARNED HE DOES NOT HAVE THE CITY WAS IN HIS BEST INTEREST IN MIND, EITHER IN MARCH OF 2020, THE LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT SPONSORED MEASURE FP.
AND IT WAS REPEATED JUST AS MEASURE.
WC WAS INVADED OVERWHELMINGLY BY YOUR WEST LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED IT NEEDED 134 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE BY ADDING ONTO YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.
THEY CLAIMED THAT THEIR EQUIPMENT WAS OLD AND NEEDED UPDATES.
THEY DID NOT GET THAT FUNDING.
SO WHY WOULD THE RESIDENTS OF WEST KALEENA WANT TO MAKE A SWITCH TO SOMETHING WORSE THAN WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY, AND ALSO HAVE TO PAY MORE ON OUR PROPERTY TAXES AS WELL.
THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A PANDERING TO THE PEOPLE THAT GOT THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTED STOP WITH THE GAMES AND START LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.
COUNCIL WAS ELECTED IN NOVEMBER OF, FOR THIS COUNCIL FIRE, THE PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER, 90 DAYS LATER, THIS COUNCIL HIRED A FRIEND OF TONY LOSES THE NEW CITY MANAGER, THE CITY MANAGERS, AND FIRED OUR POLICE AND FIRE CHIEF.
SO THEY CAN HIRE UNIT PERCENT RATE POLICE.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS CANNOT AFFORD THEM.
THIS CAL DECLARED A FISCAL EMERGENCY THIS CALIFORNIA AND THIS CITY MANAGER WILL NOW RAM A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA IN ORDER TO REPAY THE UNIONS FOR GETTING THEM ELECTED.
THIS COUNCIL IS SHOWING THEIR TRUE ALLEGIANCE AND THE PEOPLE THAT WHAT'S DOING ARE WATCHING.
IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY UNDER FALSE PRETENSE OF A PANDEMIC, YOU WILL BE MET WITH VIGOROUS LEGAL CHALLENGES AND POSSIBLE RECALLS.
THIS CITY COUNCIL WASN'T GIVEN THE VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE BY THE FAILURE OF MEASURE WC.
AND IT APPEARS YOU DID NOT GET THAT MESSAGE.
WE, THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA ARE WATCHING.
NEXT PLEASE MAKE SURE IT'S FIVE MINUTES.
[00:40:01]
MILLER.COUNSEL, COUNSEL, UH, SORRY, COUNCILMAN AND UH, COUNSEL PEOPLE.
UM, THIS IS CHRIS MILLER RESONANT.
I WAS LIKE SHOCKED BECAUSE I WAS LISTENING TO STEVE BENNETT SPEAKING BEFORE ME.
UM, I MENTOR EVERYTHING THAT CELL LLC AND STEVE HAD SAID, IN ADDITION, I'M GLAD THAT YOU TOOK OUR CONCERN OF COUNCIL MEETINGS AND THE DARK TO ACTUALLY TELEVISE THEM AGAIN.
I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS ARE COMING BACK TO NORMAL THAT YOU REGAIN CONTROL BACK FROM, UM, FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND STOP NAVIGATING DUTIES AND THAT WE KEEP OUR FIRE AND POLICE, AS IT IS AND SAID, GOING IN COUNTY MANY ARE AGAINST IT.
WE LOSE OUR VOICE MUCH LIKE DISTRICTS LOST OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE AND DIVIDED US.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO STAND BY AND ALLOW OUR CITY TO GO TO COUNTY.
THAT WAS THE LAST OF OUR COLLINS.
THE REST ARE GOING TO BE EMAILS READ INTO THE RECORD.
GO AHEAD, MR. JIM
I ASKED FOR A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS OPTIONS FOR REDUCING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SPENDING STAFF RESPONDED THAT NO ANALYSIS WOULD BE FORTHCOMING.
IT APPEARS THAT THE ACTUAL REASON NO ANALYSIS WOULD BE DONE IS BECAUSE THE CITY STAFF IS ONLY INTERESTED IN CONTRACTING WITH THE COUNTY.
I BELIEVE THE CITY COUNCIL IS ENTITLED TO CHOICES, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS THEY WILL EVER MAKE.
I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CHART THAT I HAVE PROVIDED, WHICH IS ALSO DISPLAYED FOR THE PUBLIC AND THE COLUMN TITLE COSTS.
IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE OPTION LABELED COUNTY CONTRACT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE.
IN FACT, IT COSTS $2 MILLION MORE THAN HIS PR THEN IS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET BEFORE YOU ON ITS OWN.
THIS SHOULD DISQUALIFY THIS OPTION FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
AFTER ALL THE WHOLE WHOLE REASON FOR DOING THIS WAS TO REDUCE COSTS.
THERE IS ALSO THE ISSUE THAT THE CITY WILL PAY MORE, BUT GET LESS SERVICE WITH TWO STATIONS CLOSED.
WHEN THE CITY CONSIDERED THIS OPTION IN 1997, IT FOUNDED THAT RESPONSE TIME, ALMOST DOUBLED.
ONCE THE COUNTY CONTRACT IS DONE, IT REALLY CAN'T BE UNDONE FOR THESE REASONS.
I DO NOT THINK THIS OPTION SHOULD BE PURSUED UNTIL OTHER OPTIONS ARE TRIED.
I SUGGEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER BOTH OF THE LAST TWO OPTIONS LISTED BROWN OUT AND CITY IMPLEMENTING COUNTY MODEL WITH CITY STAFF BROWN OUT IS EASIER.
THE CITY COULD START ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BY NOT SCHEDULING OVER TIME.
WHEN THERE IS A PLAN TO ABSENCE, THESE TYPES OF ABSENCES ARE RELATIVELY EASY TO ADMINISTER.
FOR EXAMPLE, EVERYONE IN A STATION COULD BE SCHEDULED TO GO ON VACATION AT THE SAME TIME AND THE STATION WOULD TEMPORARILY CLOSE.
THERE WOULD STILL BE $600,000 AVAILABLE TO COVER UNSCHEDULED ABSENCES WITH OVERTIME.
HOWEVER, THIS OPTION SIMPLY KEEPS THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE PROPOSED PRELIMINARY BUDGET.
A NEGATIVE WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF 50%.
IN AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME CITY IMPLEMENTING COUNTY MODEL WAS CITY STAFF SAVES A LOT OF MONEY, BUT WITH A DOUBLING OF RESPONSE TIME, I DO RECOMMEND THAT SOME OF THE SAVINGS FROM THIS OPTION BE REDIRECTED TO EQUIPMENT AND REPAIRS.
I REALLY LIKED THE METHOD WHEREIN THE PARAMEDICS USE THEIR TIME MORE EFFECTIVELY BY NOT PROVIDING AN AMBULANCE.
A PRIVATE COMPANY PROVIDES THE AMBULANCE FOR FREE.
I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING, PLEASE DON'T DISSOLVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WORK SOMETHING OUT, HAVE OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, HELP OUT OR TAKE ADVICE AND HOW THEY RUN THEIR CITIES.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS BUDGET.
[00:45:01]
THESE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA FOR YEARS.IT'S NEVER TOO LATE GET IDEAS.
AND HOW OTHER CITIES WORK OUT THEIR BUDGET.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANGIE GILLUM.
YEAH, I COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER.
I PARTICIPATED IN THE ONLINE SURVEY ON WHAT WE RESIDENTS WANTED PRIORITIZE FOR OUR CITY.
THOSE RESULTS WERE RED BIT IGNORED ON THE EVENING OF THE JUNE 9TH AT THE BUDGET MEETING, I HAVE WATCHED THE AUDIT MEETINGS WHERE THE CITY MANAGER IS PROPOSING TO PROPOSING TO MAY A CHANGE OF GOING TO COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT DUE TO THE FINANCIAL CRISIS.
OUR CITY IS GOING THROUGH AT THAT AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING, THE CITY MANAGER ROLLED OUT WHAT SOUNDED ALREADY LIKE A DONE DEAL TO GO TO COUNTY WITHOUT PERTINENT INFORMATION, TO SUPPORT SUCH A MOVE AND FOR THE AUDIT BOARD TO MAKE A SOUND JUDGMENT, TO APPROVE OR DENY HIS EXCUSE.
IT WOULD TAKE A YEAR TO GATHER THAT INFO.
WHEN ASKED FOR MORE INFORMATION, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE THIS LOAN DECISION? MY QUESTION TO YOU AS A GROUP, WHICH INCLUDED THE CITY MANAGER, WHY PUT OUR, WHY PUT OUT A SURVEY JOSE BUDGET MEETING.
IF YOU'RE NOT TAKING IN THE COMMENTS AND RESULTS FROM EITHER OF THESE EXAMPLES, THE PERCEPTION MAY THE PERCEPTION BY MANY OF THE RESIDENTS IS THAT THIS COUNCIL AND CM IS TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE COBIT PANDEMIC AND NOT LISTENING TO ITS RESIDENTS WHO VOTED YOU INTO OFFICE.
PLEASE REVIEW AND TAKE THE MUCH NEEDED TIME TO REVIEW THE DECISIONS MADE BY YOUR APPOINTED CITY MANAGER.
WE ARE LISTENING UNTIL WE CAN RETURN TO CITY HALL MAYOR.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PHILLIP VASQUEZ.
I KNOW YOU MENTIONED YOU HAVE LIKE 30 OF THOSE.
DO YOU MAYBE WANT TO DISTRIBUTE? I'M WILLING TO READ OR OTHER STAFF TO HELP JUST BECAUSE BY THE TIME YOU GET OVER 30, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE TIRED.
I LIVE IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 YEARS.
MY MOTHER, SISTER, BROTHER BROTHER-IN-LAW AND MANY FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS LIVE IN THE CITY.
I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH MAKING ANY FURTHER CUTS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IS AT RISK.
I HIGHLY RELY ON THE FIREFIGHTERS TO CARE FOR MY FAMILY MEMBERS.
THE CITY SHOULD UPGRADE THEIR SERVICES BY ALLOWING LA COUNTY TO TAKE OVER, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROPER SERVICE IS BEING DELIVERED TO THE CITIZENS.
I DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANY OF THE FIREFIGHTERS LOSING THEIR JOBS AND THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
PLEASE DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CITIZENS AS WELL AS THE FIREMAN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER MAYOR IS WALT HOUSER.
IT SEEMS THE CITY IS WILLING TO CUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO THE BARE BONES.
HOW MUCH MORE CAN YOU CUT UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECOMES USELESS? IF YOU THINK THE CITY CAN SAVE MORE MONEY BY GOING TO COUNTY FIRE THAN DO IT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAY METER.
I AM J METER, A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA.
I WATCHED THE LAST FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING ON JUNE 11TH.
AND WE'D LIKE TO SHARE PART OF MY OPINION OF IT.
NUMBER ONE, THERE WAS A LACK OF INFORMATION AND ACTUAL COST FIGURES THAT WERE NEEDED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
NUMBER TWO, THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED WAS DECIDEDLY ONE SIDED AND BIAS TOWARDS THE OPTION OF COUNTY FIRE.
NUMBER THREE, SOME OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT LACK OF COST, BIG YEARS AND OTHER UNKNOWNS, INCLUDING RESPONSE TIMES WERE DISMISSED OUT OF HANDS.
NUMBER FOUR, THE OPTIONS OTHER THAN COUNTY FIRE WERE REALLY NOT EXPLAINED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN DEPTH AS WAS COUNTY FIRE.
WHEN PRESSURED FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON COST FIGURES AND SERVICE CHANGES.
THE RESPONSE FROM OUR CITY MANAGER WAS SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE A YEAR TO CONDUCT STUDIES AND COLLECT ALL OF THE INFORMATION WE NEED.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT NOT ONLY WOULD IT TAKE A YEAR, BUT IS PRECISELY WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WHEN FACING WITH AN ONSLAUGHT OF INFORMATION THAT IS OBVIOUSLY ONE SIDED.
ANY SWITCH TO COUNTY SERVICES SHOULD BE A PART OF LONGTERM PLANNING AND NOT A KNEE JERK REACTION TO A TEMPORARY REVENUE CRISIS.
WE HAVE SEEN THE RESULT OF RUSS RUSHED DECISIONS AND CANNOT AFFORD MORE OF THE SAME.
THAT CHANGES TO OUR FIRE SERVICE, WHATEVER THEY END UP BEING ARE SOMETHING THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY WITH ALL OF THE FACTS ON THE SUBJECT OF COUNTY FIRE.
IT WOULD APPEAR THE YEARLY COST ALONE WOULD BE HIGHER AND WE WOULD LOSE ALL CONTROL OVER COSTS AND MANAGEMENT.
NUMBER TWO, WE RUN THE INVETERATE INVESTIBLE RISK OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
[00:50:01]
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS AND OTHER COSTS.FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO MAKE ANY DECISION WITH THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA AND ITS RESIDENTS IN MIND AND RESIST INFLUENCED BY NON-RESIDENT SPECIAL INTERESTS.
THE BROWNOUT OR PRIVATE EMT OPTIONS COULD BE USED UNTIL THE COUNTY FIRE BALLOT MEASURED COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED.
DO YOU WANT TO SWITCH OFF? SURE.
SO, UM, PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WAS GIVEN TO ME RANDOMLY.
SO THE FIRST SPEAKER I HAVE IS MARK TAYLOR.
THE PRESENTATION GIVEN FOR THE FINANCE AUDIT COMMITTEE WAS HEAVILY SLANTED IN FAVOR OF DISBANDING, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MOVING TO COUNTY FIRE.
THE FIRE CHIEF WANTS THE RESIDENTS TO BELIEVE WE WILL BE BETTER COVERED WITH TWO LESS FIRE STATIONS IN WEST COVINA.
THE ONLY BENEFIT IS TO THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, NOT TO THE RESIDENTS.
THE OTHER TWO OPTIONS WERE PAINTED AS DOOM AND GLOOM AND NOT GIVEN ANY TRUE CONSIDERATION.
WHY WAS THERE NO OPTION PRESENTED TO TAKE BACK? THE 12% RAISE GIVEN TO THE FFA? IF THE FIRE STATIONS ARE IN SUCH BAD SHAPE, WILL COUNTY STILL USE THEM? HOW MUCH WILL THE CITY HAVE TO PAY TO GET TO THE STATIONS AND FIRE TRUCKS UP TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL? THE CITY MANAGER SPOKE ABOUT THIS OVER THREE WEEKS AGO TO THE WEST COVINA ROTARY.
WHY WAS THE ENTIRE CITY NOT NOTIFIED SOONER UNDER THE COUNTY MODEL, RESPONSE TIMES WILL INCREASE.
AND ONCE WE GO TO COUNTY, THERE IS NO TURNING BACK.
THE CITY MANAGER WANTS THE RESIDENTS TO BELIEVE THAT THIS FINANCIAL PROBLEM IS DUE IN LARGE PART FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC.
IN REALITY, THE CITY HAS BEEN IN FINANCIAL DISTRESS FOR YEARS.
THE CONTINUED UNETHICAL CONDUCT OF THE COUNCIL MAJORITY AND THE CURRENT CITY MANAGER ARE THE TRUE PROBLEM.
THEY DO NOT WANT TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING NEGATIVE AND CONTINUE TO PLACE BLAME ON OTHERS OR EVENTS.
THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THIS WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE SO THEY CAN DEFER THE BLAME WHEN SOMETHING BAD OCCURS FROM THIS IMPLEMENTATION.
THIS 12% RAISE WAS A PAYBACK FOR THE MONETARY BACKING OF THE SALES TAX INCREASE INITIATIVE.
NOW GOING TO COUNTY FIRED IS CONTINUED PAYBACK TO THE FFA.
IN THE PAST, WHENEVER THERE WAS A HINT OF DECREASING FIRE PROTECTION, THE FFA WAS OUT IN FORCE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
SPEAKING ABOUT HOW LIVES WILL BE LOST.
NOW WE DON'T SEE ANY OPPOSITION BY THE FFA, THE COUNCIL MAJORITY AND THE CITY MANAGER NEED TO BE REMOVED.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHIRLEY EVELEIGH.
GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM A RESIDENT IN THE DISTRICT TOO.
I AM AGAINST PLACING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE HOUNDS OF THE COUNTY.
THIS IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE WEST COVINA RESIDENTS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NICK LEWIS, WHO IS ALSO OUR ELECTED CITY CLERK.
MY NAME IS NICK LEWIS AND I AM A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA LAST WEEK.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MADE A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CITY DISSOLVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES FOR THOSE SERVICES.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, LET ME STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA FOR THE SOLE REASON THAT YOU WILL NO LONGER HAVE CONTROL OF THE AMOUNT OF YOUR COST INCREASES.
MOREOVER, THE WEST COVINA FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN PUSHING TO TRANSITION TO COUNTY FIRE SERVICES FOR YEARS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE REASON FOR THAT IS NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING TO CREATE SOME FINANCIAL BOON TO THE CITY, IT FOR THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL BENEFITS.
NOW THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ADVOCATING FOR YOUR OWN SELF INTEREST, BUT IT SHOULD BE.
IT SHOULD TELL YOU VERY CLEARLY THAT THIS IS NOT A TRANSITION THAT WILL SOMEHOW FIX OUR STRUCTURAL BUDGET ISSUES.
SECOND, THE FACT THAT THIS ORIGINATED IN THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AS AN OPTION AFTER A BUDGET WORKSHOP IN WHICH THIS OPTION WAS NEVER DISCUSSED IS PARTICULARLY DISHEARTENING IN THESE TIMES WHERE THE PUBLIC IS SEVERELY LIMITED IN ITS ABILITY TO REDRESS GRIEVANCES, OR PROVIDE US INPUT WITH ITS ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THIS COMES OFF AS POLITICALLY TONE, DEAF INDEED, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.
I DID NOT HEAR ONE PERSON SUGGEST A TRANSITION FROM CITY TO COUNTY FIRE SERVICES.
IN FACT, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THAT WORKSHOP, THE ONLY THING THAT I EVER HEARD, ANYONE COMMENT REGARDING A DESIRE TO SEE CHANGE WAS REGARDING THE ISSUE OF POLICING.
SO THE NOTION THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE TO FIRE SERVICES AFTER COUNTLESS PEOPLE CALLED IN SAYING THAT THEY WANT TO CHANGES TO POLICING, SOUNDS LIKE A GAME OF TELEPHONE GONE WRONG.
IN ANY CASE, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CITY FOR MANY YEARS, I KNOW THE REALITY IS THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL NOT CONSIDER A CHANGE TO POLICING MODELS OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT.
HOWEVER, TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU SEEK TO EXPLORE THIS, THERE ARE TWO THINGS YOU OUGHT TO DO.
ONE FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT WILL ACTUALLY COST US VERSUS THE CURRENT MODEL OF FIRE SERVICES.
IF IT DOESN'T SAVE US MONEY, IT'S NOT REALLY AN OPTION.
AND YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE DRAWING TABLE.
IF IT DOES THEN TO PUT A TRANSITION TO COUNTY FIRE SERVICES, TO A VOTE OF THE RESIDENTS.
AND IF YOU SUPPORT IT, SAY YOU SUPPORT
[00:55:01]
IT.HAVING SAID THAT IF YOU DECIDE TO ROUGH SHOT THIS THROUGH IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC, IN A MANNER, WHICH IS IRREVERSIBLE BY YOUR ULTIMATE SUCCESSORS, I WOULD BE SHOCKED IF SOMEONE DOES NOT SUE THE CITY TO STOP SUCH A MOVE AND WORKSHOP MORE SHOCKED.
TO ME, THIS COMES OFF AS POLITICALLY FOOLHARDY, AS THE COUNCIL THAT VOTED TO SELL A PORTION OF THE CIVIC CENTER YEARS AGO, I TOLD MEMBERS OF THAT COUNCIL AT THAT TIME THAT THEY WOULD LIVE TO REGRET THAT DECISION PUBLICLY.
I'M TELLING YOU ALL THE SAME THING.
NOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE ELECTED TO THE COUNCIL, NOT ONE OF YOU RAN ON A CAMPAIGN SUGGESTING A TRANSITION TO COUNTY SERVICES AT ANY LEVEL.
IF YOU ARE CHANGING COURSE ON THOSE WHO VOTED YOU INTO PUBLIC OFFICE ON SUCH A BASELINE MATTER, THE ONLY ETHICAL CHOICE IS TO GIVE THIS BACK TO THE PEOPLE, ARMED WITH THE FACTS SO THEY CAN DECIDE.
TABATABAIE GOOD EVENING COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE LAND WE INHABIT TODAY WAS THE STOLEN HOME OF THE GABRIELINO TONGVA PEOPLE, THE ORIGINAL STEWARDS OF THIS LAND.
I HOPE THAT BEGINNING WITH THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL LEAD TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR WORLD.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS TWO ISSUES.
FIRST IN DECEMBER OF 2019, I SPOKE TO THIS COUNCIL ABOUT THE WEST COVINA POLICE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY TO RELEASE SELECTED BOOKING PHOTOS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
AFTER THE RECENT KILLING OF AHMAD ARBERY BY THREE MEMBERS OF HIS COMMUNITY.
I ONCE AGAIN FIND MYSELF NEEDING TO SOUND THE ALARM AGAINST THE SHARING OF THESE IMAGES THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, MANY POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS THE MEDIA HAVE ENDED.
THIS PRACTICE AFTER STUDY, AFTER STUDY HAS FOUND THAT THESE PHOTOS INFLUENCES BIASES AMONG OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC.
ALL ONE HAS TO DO IS VISIT WC PD ON IGE OR FACEBOOK TO SEE THIS IS TRUE.
SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT IN 2014, A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOUND IT WOULD COST 300,000 MORE PER YEAR TO CONTRACT OUT TO LA COUNTY FIRE.
YET NOWHERE IN THE MOST RECENT PRESENTATION WAS THIS ADDRESSED.
WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST SIX YEARS? THE COST OF OUTSOURCING GOES BEYOND DOLLARS.
ALL SOURCING WILL ONCE AGAIN, LIMIT THE VOICE OF THE RESIDENTS AND LEAVE US IN CAPABLE OF HOLDING THIS DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR NEEDS.
THIS COUNCIL HAS SHOWN A LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND HAS SHOWN A WILLINGNESS TO DEFLECT ANY RESPONSIBILITY, ALWAYS BLAMING THE COUNTY FOR OUR ISSUES.
THIS IS JUST MORE OF THE SAME.
THE DECISION TO OUTSOURCE WC FIRE TAKES AWAY POWER FROM RESIDENTS AND CENTRALIZES POWERS IN THE HANDS OF THE CITY MANAGER, THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA DEMAND THAT THIS ISSUE BE TABLED UNTIL A PROPER STUDY CAN BE CONDUCTED AND A LEGITIMATE PRESENTATION CAN BE MADE TO THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL RESIDENTS AND CITY STAFF.
MY NAME IS MIKE CAMPBELL AND I REPRESENT THE FIREFIGHTERS OF WEST COVINA.
I WASN'T MADE AWARE THAT THERE WERE NEWS REPORTS THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE DISCUSSION TONIGHT REGARDING POSSIBLE ANNEXATION INTO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER OPTIONS FOR FIRE SERVICE IN OUR CITY.
ALTHOUGH I KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT HAPPENING TONIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND PUBLICLY SUPPORT THE OPTION OF ANNEXATION INTO THE FIRE DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
THE FIREFIGHTERS OF WEST COVINA OVERWHELMINGLY WELCOMED THIS OPTION.
ANNEXATION WILL COME WITH PROFESSIONAL SERVICE, PROPER EQUIPMENT, LOWER COST, AND COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO EMERGENCY SERVICE DELIVERY.
THIS ANNEXATION WILL ALSO PROVIDE PROPER SAFETY CLOTHING FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE NOT EXPIRED AND ADDRESS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS NEEDS AT A FRACTION OF THE COST FOR A SAFER WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE KNOWN PUBLICLY.
SO RESIDENTS WHO MAY THINK NEGATIVELY OF THIS OPTION KNOW THAT THE INDUSTRY EXPERTS OF THE FIRE SERVICE IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT THIS.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT ANY OPTION THAT DECREASE THE SERVICE SUCH AS A BROWNING OUT A FIRE STATION OR REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FIREFIGHTERS AVAILABLE DAILY.
I ENCOURAGE OUR RESIDENTS TO LOOK UP OUR RECENTLY POSTED FACTS ON OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
IF YOU HAVE ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOR ME AT (626) 426-1130.
THE NEXT ONE IS SHARON MULHERN GOOD EVENING IN 1973, TOM AND I BOUGHT OUR HOME HERE IN WEST COVINA.
TOM PASSED AWAY IN 1994 AND THANKS TO THE WEST COVINA FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MY APPLE WATCH.
WHEN I FELL BACKWARDS AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE CEMENT IN THE GARAGE, I WAS ALONE.
I TOLD SIRI WHO TO CALL AND THE WEST COVINA FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED QUICKLY AND TOOK ME TO QUEEN OF THE VALLEY HOSPITAL.
I TAUGHT SPECIAL EDUCATION IN OUR MONTE AND WHEN WE HAD TO CALL NINE 11 LA COUNTY SENT THEIR EMERGENCY PERSONNEL, THERE IS NO COMPARISON TO HOW MUCH BETTER OUR WEST COVINA FIREFIGHTERS ARE.
[01:00:01]
YOU COULD TELL MY PRIORITIES BY LOOKING AT MY CHECKBOOK.MY HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS ARE ABOUT 15,000 PER YEAR FOR BLUE CROSS $900 PER MONTH, CANCER INSURANCE AND MEDICARE COPAY.
I CASHED OUT MY RETIREMENT TO BUY A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VAN SO I COULD GET TO THE CITY OF HOPE FOR CANCER TREATMENTS.
I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO STAY.
NOT ONLY ALIVE, BUT MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
WELL, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE LIFE AND HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS OF WEST COVINA YOUR TOP PRIORITY.
PLEASE KEEP OUR WEST COVINA FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE I HAVE IS FROM FORMER MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER, JAMES TOMA.
UM, I AM A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR.
I WATCHED THE JUNE 11TH MEETING OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH INCLUDES TWO OF YOU.
IT WAS A DISHONEST PRESENTATION AIMED TO GET ONE THING, A RECOMMENDATION TO DISSOLVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND GO TO LA COUNTY FIRE.
THAT RECOMMENDATION MEANS CLOSING FIRE STATIONS IN WEST COVINA.
IF YOU COMMENTS ABOUT THIS CITY'S PRESENTATION ONE, THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE REPORT FROM LA COUNTY FIRE IN 2014 ON THE COST OF TRANSITIONING WEST COVINA FIRE TO THAT AGENCY, THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSURE THE CITY THAT FIRE RESPONSE TIMES WOULD BE REDUCED.
EVEN IF ALL STATIONS WERE KEPT OPEN, THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE REPORTED, IT WOULD COST THE CITY 300,000 MORE A YEAR.
HOW CAN THE CITY CLAIM THAT THIS WILL SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND INCREASED SERVICES TO LA COUNTY FIRE PUT IN MEASURE ON THE MARCH, 2020 BALLOT STATING IT NEEDS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PAY FOR OUTDATED EQUIPMENT.
IT ASKED FOR 134 MILLION MORE FROM TAXPAYERS, WHICH THE VOTERS REJECTED.
IF LA COUNTY FIRE CAN'T GET MONEY FROM TAXPAYERS DIRECTLY, IT WILL GET MONEY FROM CITIES WHO CONTRACT FOR SEARCH FOR SERVICES.
WHERE ARE THE PURPORTED SAVINGS GOING TO COME FROM? LA COUNTY FIRE WILL STILL REQUIRE WEST COVINA TO PAY FOR CONVERSION COSTS, PENSION COSTS AND OTHER UNFUNDED LIABILITY.
WHAT ARE THOSE COSTS? THE CD MANAGER CITED FINANCIAL NEEDS IN WEST COVINA FIRE.
THOSE NEEDS WILL STILL BE THERE.
EVEN IF WE GO TO COUNTY WEST COVINA RESIDENTS PAY EITHER WAY, THE CITY'S PRESENTATION AT THE AUDIT COMMITTEE INCLUDED NO OFFICIAL NUMBERS TO COMPARE OPTIONS.
IT ONLY INCLUDED FUTURE ESTIMATED COSTS WITHOUT EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THOSE NUMBERS, HOW THOSE MADE UP NUMBERS WERE REACHED.
THIS COUNCIL VOTED FOR 25% FIREFIGHTER SALARY INCREASES WITH NO ABILITY TO PAY FOR THEM.
12% OF THAT PAY RAISE TOOK EFFECT JANUARY, 2020 AND THE ADDITIONAL 13% WAS STOPPED AT THE POLLS BY INFORMED RESIDENTS, COUNCILMEN COSTA YANOS DO NOT SAY SINGLE WORD IN THE AUDIT MEETING EXCEPT TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY GO TO LA COUNTY FIRE.
SHOW US THAT YOU'RE LOOKING OUT FOR THE RESIDENTS, NOT JUST YOUR POLITICAL ALLIES IN THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, WHO SO DESPERATELY WANT US TO GO TO LA COUNTY FIRE.
I WOULD WANT TO HAVE MORE, UH, YES.
HOW MANY YOU HAVE? I HAVE 100.
WE ARE DOWN TO THE FINAL 14, UH, GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS SUSAN BEING CLEANED A LONGTIME RESIDENT.
UM, AND I LIVE NEAR THE FIRE STATION THAT WAS CLOSED NEAR BIG LEAGUE DREAMS. I FEEL THE CITY HAS LONG IGNORED THEIR CITIZENS WHO LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY.
AND IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS.
WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF HAVING TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN PAYING MORE TAXES OR MAKING CUTS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ANY RECOMMENDATION TO CLOSE MORE FIRE STATIONS IS NOT WHAT WE SUPPORT.
IF THAT MEANS BRINGING THE COUNTY, BRINGING IN THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEN SO BE IT.
I HEAR SO MANY SIRENS BY MY HOUSE AND I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF NINE ONE, ONE CALLS EVERY DAY.
CUTTING MORE FIRE STATIONS IS NOT THE ANSWER.
IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO MY FAMILY, UM, I DON'T WANT TO WAIT TO HAPPEN.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO WAIT FOREVER FOR A FIRETRUCK TO COME TO MY HOUSE.
I DON'T CARE IF THE FIRE TRUCK SAYS WEST COVINA OR COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT ON IT.
I CARE ABOUT MY FAMILY BEING SAFE.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING OUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVE DONE FOR US, BUT I'M SORRY.
IF I HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN MY FAMILY BEING SAFE AND THEM GETTING RAISES.
I CHOOSE MY FAMILY BEING SAFE.
IF I HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HAVING TO PAY MORE TAXES, WHICH TAKES FOOD OFF MY TABLE OR THEM GETTING RAISES,
[01:05:01]
I CHOOSE PAYING LESS TAXES.I URGE YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES AND CHOOSE TO GO WITH THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CLOSE ANY MORE FIRE STATIONS OR PAY MORE TAXES.
LISTEN TO THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
THE CITIZENS HAVE REPEATEDLY ASKED YOU TO INVOLVE THEM IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS FOR THE CITY.
THEY HAVE FINALLY BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A CLEAR RECOMMENDATION.
AND I THINK ANYTHING OTHER THAN FOLLOWING THEIR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE A SLAP IN THE FACE OF THE VOTERS.
WE WANT YOU TO KEEP US SAFE, SUSIE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TAMMY MATHIS.
MY NAME IS TAMMY MATHIS AND I LIVE AND I AM A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA.
I WATCHED THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING THE OTHER NIGHT, ALONG WITH A PRESENTATION FROM THE FIRE CHIEF.
THE ONLY SAFE OPTION FOR THE CITIZENS IS TO BRING IN THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'M SICK OF NOBODY LISTENING TO US CITIZENS AND INSTEAD CUTTING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I REFUSE TO VOTE FOR MR. CHOMA.
AND INSTEAD CHOSE MR. CASCIANOS.
YOU CAME TO MY DOOR DURING YOUR CAMPAIGN WITH A FIREFIGHTER AND YOU PROMISED ME, YOU CARED ABOUT MY SAFETY.
NOW I HEARD YOUR VOTE THE OTHER NIGHT AGAIN, TO KEEP US SAFE, MRS. SHOEMAKER, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE GUTS TO VOTE FOR MY SAFETY.
I HAVE NOTICED YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE AN EXCUSE.
WHY YOU CAN'T VOTE ON THE IMPORTANT ISSUES.
YOU ALWAYS SAY YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.
YOU WERE NEVER VOTED INTO OFFICE.
YOU'RE HERE TO PROVE TO US THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS.
YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS ASIDE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE THAT REPRESENTS US CITIZENS.
THE MAN WHO I THINK IS YOUR DAD MAKES A LOT OF NEGATIVE COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK.
HE DID IT FOR, HE DID IT FOR TAXES, WHICH OUR CITIZENS DON'T WANT.
AND YOU ALSO THEN WANTED TAXES.
HE IS NOW DOING, SORRY ABOUT THIS.
HE IS NOW DOING IT ABOUT LAYING OFF FIREFIGHTERS.
I HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO SHOW US.
YOU REPRESENT US AND CAN MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS.
THE FIRE CHIEF SAID LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE KEEPS US THE SAFEST.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS PROUDER.
I AM A FIREFIGHTER WITH A LOCAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY.
I HAVE HAD THE RARE OPPORTUNITY OF DOING SOME TRAINING WITH FIREFIGHTER FROM WEST COVINA.
I SAY RARE BECAUSE I DON'T SEE THEM OFTEN AT AREA TRAININGS.
UM, AND I NEVER KNEW WHY I WATCHED THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING THE OTHER NIGHT WHERE THE CHIEF MADE HIS PRESENTATION AND IT BEGAN TO MAKE SENSE.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WITHOUT A TRAINING BUDGET FOR YEARS, AND NOW THEY ARE SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED.
I CAN'T SAY THIS PANDEMIC IS THE CAUSE OF THIS, BUT PROBABLY MORE SPED UP THE INEVITABLE, UM, IN LIGHT.
I KNOW NOW THAT MY LIFE, AS WELL AS MY FAMILY'S LIFE WILL BE PUT AT EVEN HIGHER RISK.
IF THE COUNCIL DOES NOT VOTE TO CONTRACT WITH LA COUNTY FIRE, YOU CAN PROVIDE A MUCH BETTER SERVICE FOR LESS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TERRY BAN OVER.
I AM A RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA.
I AM A TEACHER AND NEW TO THE CITY PRIOR TO MOVING TO WEST COVINA.
I LIVED IN A NEIGHBORING CITY, WHICH WAS SERVED BY LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE.
AS THE TEACHER, WE OFTEN HAVE INTERACTION WITH FIREFIGHTERS AND THEY TEACH FIRE SAFETY TO THE CHILDREN.
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY PROVIDE EXCELLENT SERVICE AND ARE VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I ALSO HAVE COWORKERS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE SPOUSES WHO WORK FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND I CAN ATTEST TO THE HIGH QUALITY PERSON WHO IS EMPLOYED BY THIS ORGANIZATION AS A CITIZEN.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS SAFETY MAYOR PRO TEM LOPEZ V AUTO.
I EMAILED YOU THIS WEEK AND I LET YOU KNOW
[01:10:01]
HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO ME IN MY FAMILY.I DIDN'T HEAR BACK FROM YOU AS A MOM.
I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY FOR A MOM LIKE ME.
I PUT THIS ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN I MOVED TO WEST COVINA, I JOINED THE VARIOUS COMMUNITY FACEBOOK PAGES, HOPING TO MAKE FRIENDS AND BE MORE SOCIALLY ACTIVE.
I NEVER EXPECTED TO BE SO POLITICALLY ACTIVE.
I QUICKLY LEARNED THAT THE CITY HAS DEEP FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THIS ON FACEBOOK.
HOWEVER, THE TALK IS VERY ONE SIDED.
IT HAS BECOME VERY EVIDENT THAT THE FACEBOOK GROUPS ARE CONTROLLED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ONE THING AND THAT'S FIGHTING UNIONS AND TAXES.
ANY OPPOSING COMMENTS, EVEN IF BASED ON FACT AND REASON IS QUICKLY DELETED.
IT REMINDS ME OF THE SCHOOL YARD BULLIES.
WE FOUGHT SO HARD TO GET RID OF.
INSTEAD IT'S GROWNUPS TRYING TO BULLY THEIR VIEWPOINT WITH VARIOUS CHARTS THAT THEY CLEARLY HAVE MADE UP AND THEY PRESENT THEM AS FACTS.
I HOPE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE LISTENING THE COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST TO THE FEW LOUD KEYBOARD BULLIES.
WE WANT TO BE SAFE AND WE WANT TO HAVE A VOICE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO USE MY VOICE TONIGHT.
WILL YOU VOTE TO KEEP ME SAFE BY CONTRACTING WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT INSTEAD OF CLOSING FIRE STATIONS, FIRETRUCKS AND OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JEFFERSON DURU AKA J D THE CITY MANAGER APPEARS TO HAVE GAINED UNBRIDLED AUTHORITY FOLLOWING THE DECLARATION OF A FISCAL EMERGENCY THAT WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED WITHOUT A SMIDGEN OF JUSTIFICATION, OTHER THAN THE CITY MANAGER'S DESIRE FOR IT TO BE UNANIMOUS.
I SUSPECT IT HAD MORE TO DO WITH CREATING LEGAL LEVERAGE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WEST COVINA IS SUING FOR THE RIGHT TO SELL BONDS.
WHY THE NEED OF A LAWSUIT? WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A PUBLIC HEARING AND WHY IS THIS NOT BEING AVAILABLE FOR THE VOTERS TO DECIDE? BUT LAWSUIT FEEL BUSINESS FEELS VERY SIMILAR TO THE BACKWARDNESS THAT REARED ITS UGLY HEAD WHEN THE 12% PAY RAISE WAS APPROVED FOR POLICE AND FIRE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROY BRADFORD.
I'M A WRITING I AM WRITING IN TODAY TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE.
AFTER WATCHING THE FIRE CHIEF, VERY INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION DURING THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE, IT BECAME VERY CLEAR.
THE CITY WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE, NOT GOING TO COUNTY FIRE AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO PRESERVE WEST COAST BEING INSPIRED APARTMENT.
IT SEEMS THAT IT IS NOT REALISTIC NOR WORTH THE RISK TO MY FAMILY SAFETY IN DOING SO YEARS OF POOR FISCAL DECISIONS HAVE PUT US IN THIS SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE, PURE AND SIMPLE, OUR CITY DESERVES BETTER.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT DAY WE HAVE TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK OR A HOUSE CATCHES FIRE BASED UPON HOW MANY FIRE ENGINES OR STATIONS ARE BROWNED OUT.
OUR FIREFIGHTERS DESERVE NOT TO BE LAID OFF AFTER SERVING FOR THE CITY FOR SO LONG.
THEY ALSO DESERVE BETTER GEAR AND TOOLS TO DO THEIR JOB.
LET US USE THE FIRE IN LA A FEW WEEKS AGO.
AS AN EXAMPLE, I ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT TO CONTRACT WITH LA COUNTY FIRE.
THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND WOULD BE A CLEAR STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND THE LAST SPEAKER THAT I HAVE IS, UH, ROGER MEDINA.
I'VE LIVED IN THE CITY FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND LIVED IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY ALL MY LIFE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE CITY MANAGER, FIRE CHIEF AND FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE IN RECOMMENDING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT BE CONTRACTED WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE.
IT SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY RATIONAL AND RESPONSIBLE MOVE.
CONSIDERING THE TWO OTHER OPTIONS ARE A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO THE CITY.
IT APPEARS THE CITY HAS ALREADY CUT ENOUGH AND THERE ISN'T ANYTHING LEFT TO BROWN OUT.
AND THE OVERTIME SAVINGS WOULD BARELY SCRATCH THE SURFACE OF A POTENTIAL BUDGET DEFICIT LAYING OFF 30 FIREFIGHTERS.
IT'S NOT EVEN AN OPTION AND IS IRRESPONSIBLE.
ESPECIALLY WITH FIRE SEASON KICKING OFF.
I HAVE MANY FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN CITIES, SERVED BY LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE, AND THEY HAVE NOTHING BUT POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.
[01:15:01]
BELIEVE, ESPECIALLY IN THESE TRYING TIMES, THE DECISION TO CONTRACT WITH LA COUNTY FIRE WOULD BE THE BEST DECISION WITH LASTING SAVINGS INTO THE FUTURE.I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS, FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE, AS FAR AS THE CONDITION OF FIRE STATION ONE AND THE INABILITY TO PROVIDE NEW EQUIPMENT.
THE CITY HAS PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT THEY CANNOT PROPERLY FUND THEIR OWN DEPARTMENT.
NOW IS THE TIME TO ACCEPT THE OLIVE BRANCH.
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND VOTE FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE.
UH, THIS NEXT SPEAKER IS MARCIA SOLARIO AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I HANDED OUT A MEMO THAT SHE SUPPLIED EARLIER IN THE DAY FOR YOU TO REVIEW GOOD EVENING, MAYOR CITY, COUNCIL, CITY, STAFF, AND RESIDENTS.
MY NAME IS MARCIA SOLARIO, AND I AM SUBMITTING A COMMENT IN REGARDS TO ITEM NUMBER 12 OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA EARLIER TODAY, IN MY ROLE AS CHAIR OF THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE, I SUBMITTED A MEMORANDUM TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
I WOULD LIKE THAT MEMORANDUM READ IN ITS ENTIRETY TONIGHT.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEMORANDUM IS TO PROVIDE A SUMMARY REPORT ON AGENDA ITEMS PRESENTED DURING THE JUNE 3RD, 2020 FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING.
ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WERE VIRTUALLY PRESENT PRIOR TO THE PRESENTATION BY CITY STAFF.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA AND RESPONSE TO THE CURRENT ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CLIMATE.
THE OVERWHELMING MESSAGE FROM THESE RESIDENTS WAS THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET SHOULD BE AMENDED TO BETTER BALANCE RESOURCES ALLOCATED TO LAW AND CODE ENFORCEMENT WITH OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
FOLLOWING PUBLIC COMMENTS, THE CITY'S FINANCE DIRECTOR AND CITY MANAGER PRESENTED A POWERPOINT SUMMARIZING THE KEY GOALS, CHALLENGES, AND GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE PRELIMINARY FISCAL YEAR 2020 DASH 21 OPERATING NCIP BUDGET AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS BY VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
MR. JIM ANSWERED A MOTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO PURSUE POSSIBLE MODELS THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY CONTROL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S OVERTIME EXPENSE.
THE MOTION WAS SECONDED AND PASSED VIA A ROLL CALL.
HIS SECOND MOTION WAS ENTERED BY COUNCILMAN DARIO CASTELLANOS TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE PRELIMINARY FISCAL YEAR 20 2021 OPERATING AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET.
REFER TO REVIEW AND COMMENTS AT THE JUNE 3RD, 2020 FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING NUMBER THREE, DIRECTOR THAT WOULD BE BROADLY PUBLICLY DISSEMINATED, INCLUDING AT A COMMITTED COMMUNITY BUDGET WORKSHOP ON JUNE 9TH, 2020, AND FOUR SCHEDULED FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE JUNE 16TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE MOTION WAS SECONDED IN PASS TO BE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
ALTHOUGH THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED TO MOVE FORWARD.
A SUCCESSFUL MOTION DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THE COMMITTEE IS SATISFIED WITH THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET IN ORDER TO PRODUCE AN ENCOUNTER ACTIONABLE CITY BUDGET.
THE CITY'S CURRENT FINANCIAL POSITION PROJECTED REVENUES AND PROJECTED EXPENSES SHOULD BE COMPILED WITH THE MOST CURRENT AND AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND BE AS REALISTIC AS POSSIBLE AS SUCH.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE RECOMMENDED TO BE ADDRESSED BY CITY STAFF.
NUMBER ONE PROPERLY UPDATE TAX REVENUES TO REFLECT LONGTERM DECREASES ANTICIPATED DUE TO THE SLOW REOPENING OF THE COMMON ECONOMY.
POST COVID-19 NUMBER TWO REASSESS DEPARTMENT BUDGET DETAILS TO ENSURE THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS ARE HEATED CONSIDERED AND POSSIBLY REFLECTED IN ANY SUBSEQUENT BUDGET REVISION.
NUMBER THREE, IDENTIFY BUDGET SAVINGS THAT CAN BE USED TO ADDRESS UNDER STAFFING AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
IN ORDER TO CLEAR MATERIAL WEAKNESS NOTED IN RECENT INDEPENDENT CAFFER AUDIT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE BUDGET IS SUBJECT TO A TIMELINE FOR ADOPTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL THAT SAID IF REEVALUATION CANNOT BE PERFORMED AT THIS TIME, THEN AT MINIMUM, DURING THE HALF YEAR MARK SINCERELY MARSHA SOLARIO CHAIR ON BEHALF OF THE WEST CITY OF WEST COVINA FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, MR. MAYOR IS TERESA COZADD.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR LOOKING INTO OPTIONS, TO DEAL WITH THE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN OUR CITY.
HOWEVER, IN REGARDS TO MOVING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO THE COUNTY, WE NEED AN IN DEPTH ANALYSIS OF ALL THREE OPTIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED AT THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING THE FIRE CHIEF WHO PRESENTED THE OPTIONS AT THE MEETING DID NOT INCLUDE ANY REAL COST NUMBERS IN HIS PRESENTATION.
AND IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO MOVE TO THE COUNTY.
ALSO DURING HIS PRESENTATION, IT WAS NOT MADE CLEAR THAT THE TWO FIRE STATIONS WOULD BE CLOSED AND THAT ANY RAISES GIVEN IN THE FUTURE TO THE FIRE WORKERS WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID BY THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
ONCE THE CITY ENTERS INTO THIS CONTRACT, IT CANNOT BE UNDONE.
JIM GREENWICH HAS PREPARED A COST ANALYSIS CHART THAT HE REQUESTED TO BE SHOWN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT THAT REQUEST WAS DENIED.
[01:20:01]
ANALYSIS SHOWS A COST OF 22 MILLION TO THE CITY.IF WE MOVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO THE COUNTY, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING A DECISION THAT WILL AFFECT ALL RESIDENTS AND FUTURE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA.
OKAY, MAYOR, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS A COMMENT FROM THE WEST COVINA NEIGHBORS.
WE HAVE REVIEWED THE CITY'S PROPOSED PRELIMINARY BUDGET.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET MEANS SERVICES WILL NOT CONTINUE AT THE LEVEL OF RESIDENTS ARE USED TO, WE ARE HIGHLY CONCERNED.
THE CITY HAS PROVIDED NO SPECIFICS ABOUT HOW SERVICES WILL WE BE REDUCED AND HOW RESIDENTS WILL BE IMPACTED.
RESIDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT CUTS ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION AND THE FINANCIAL AND SERVICE IMPACT OF THOSE CUTS.
BEFORE THEY ARE ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE BUDGET AND THE CITY COUNCIL'S PREVIOUS BUDGET, THERE WAS ALMOST NO PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT PRIORITIES AND SPECIFICS BEFORE THEY APPROVED THE BUDGET.
HOWEVER, LAST FALL, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED WHAT APPEARS TO BE THEIR ONLY PRIORITY.
LAVISH PAY RAVE IS PAY RAISES FOR POLICE AND FIRE THAT WERE NOT EVEN BUDGETED RESIDENTS VIEW THOSE PAY RAISES AS PAYBACK FOR CAMPAIGN SUPPORT FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY UNIONS PROVIDED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THOSE PAY RAISES AND INCREASED PENSION COSTS AND THE ADDITIONAL PAY RAISES STILL CONTAINED IN THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH POLICE AND FIRE CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CITY'S FISCAL SHORTFALL RESIDENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW THE FINANCIAL IMPACT.
THOSE PAY RAISES AND INCREASE PENSIONS COSTS ARE HAVING ON THE CITY'S BUDGET.
IT APPEARS THEY ARE ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHORTFALL CITY COUNCILS HAVE THEY FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE RESPONSIBLE OVERSIGHT OF THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.
BUT THE CITY COUNCIL KEEPS SPENDING MILLIONS MORE THAN THE ADOPTED BUDGET.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SAID AND DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT.
THE HUGE DEFICITS BOTH LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, THE MAGNITUDE OF MEASURE WCS DEFEAT WITH 80% VOTER REJECTION SAYS VOLUMES ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT WILL BE TO OVERCOME THE PUBLIC'S MISTRUST OF THE CITY.
COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO MANAGE SPENDING WISELY IN ORDER TO REBUILD PUBLIC TRUST, THE COUNCIL MUST ENGAGE IN A MEANINGFUL PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT PRIORITIES AND RESPONSE OR RESIDENTS, QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
WHEN RESIDENTS ASK QUESTIONS, THE COUNCIL REMAINS SILENT.
AND THE FIRST TWO, THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT PUBLICLY ENGAGED WITH THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF RUNNING A CITY.
THE CITY BLAMES WEST COVINA, HIS FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES ON THE PANDEMIC.
IF THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NOT SPENT DOWN THE REVENUE RESERVES, THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC COULD BE MINIMIZED.
WE WANT TO SEE REAL CHANGES IN HOW THE CITY COUNCIL HANDLES THE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR TAX DOLLARS MAYOR.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GLADYS RUPA.
HI, MY NAME IS GLADYS RUPA AND I'VE BEEN A CITIZEN OF WEST COVINA FOR 17 YEARS.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THIS EVENING ABOUT OUR SAFETY AS CITIZENS.
I AM AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD APP AND SEVERAL OF THE COMMUNITY, FACEBOOK GROUPS.
ALTHOUGH I SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS, I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THE UNIONS CONTROLLING THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS.
WE HAVE ELECTED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO PROMISED TO KEEP US SAFE.
WHEN WE CALL NINE ONE ONE, WE EXPECT A POLICE OFFICER, A FIRE TRUCK, OR AN AMBULANCE TO SHOW UP QUICKLY AND TAKE CARE OF OUR EMERGENCIES.
INSTEAD THAT UNIONS SEEM FOCUSED ON MAKING MONEY.
THE POOR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS WHO DO NOT DO HAVE TO DO THE JOB WHO DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO GET THE JOB DONE BECAUSE THESE GREEDY UNIONS AREN'T LETTING THEM TONIGHT.
WE ARE LEFT TRYING TO DECIDE IF WE SHOULD CUT FIRE ENGINES AND AMBULANCES.
THE GREEDY UNIONS ALSO TRIED HARD TO RAISE OUR TAXES.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CITY COUNCIL LISTENS TO THEM.
ONE OF THE FACEBOOK GROUPS I FOLLOW IS WEST COVINA FORUM.
THE LEADERS ON THIS GROUP LIKE JERRY PATRAS AND J METER ARE RIGHT.
WE NEED TO GET RID OF THESE UNIONS.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN TAKE OVER SERVICE TO WEST COVINA AND PROVIDE EVEN BETTER SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS.
THEY EVEN DO THIS BY BROWNING OUT STATIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE OTHER FIRE STATIONS NEAR OUR CITY, WHICH WILL HELP OUT WHEN THESE UNION MEMBERS LOSE THEIR JOBS.
THEY DIDN'T LISTEN TO US AND WORK ON PROTECTING PEOPLE MORE.
PLEASE DON'T VOTE TO MAKE MORE CUTS TO OUR SAFETY INSTEAD, VOTE TO GET RID OF THESE UNIONS AND BRING IN A FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO CARES MORE ABOUT OUR SAFETY MAYOR.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. SEAN GARCIA.
HI, MY NAME IS SEAN GARCIA, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO CONTRACT FIRE SERVICES WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I GREW UP IN WEST COVINA AND WAS GONE SERVING TIME IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND JUST MOVED BACK TO WEST COVINA.
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WEST COVINA IS A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY THAN THE ONE I REMEMBER GROWING UP IN.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, IT WAS A PLACE WHERE WE COULD RIDE OUR BIKES TO THE THRIFTY'S AND GET AN ICE CREAM.
I'D PLAY HIDE AND SEEK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS WITHOUT MY PARENTS OUTSIDE ALL DAY AND FELT SAFE, ROAMING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS UNTIL SOMETIMES
[01:25:01]
AFTER DARK.NOW I SEE A CITY WHICH IS OVERRUN BY HOMELESS, GRAFFITI, EVERYWHERE.
AND RECENTLY WE HAVE HAD MURDERS FROM WHAT I BELIEVE HAS BEEN GANG VIOLENCE.
THE SOLE PURPOSE OF A CITY COUNCIL IS TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY WHICH IS SAFE, CONCERNED ABOUT HOW MY CITY HAS CHANGED.
I HAVE BEGUN PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO WHERE OUR CITY IS SPENDING THEIR MONEY AFTER HEARING THE FIRE CHIEF'S PRESENTATION LAST WEEK.
THERE, NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THE BEST OPTION FOR THE CITY.
IT MAKES SENSE THAT CITIES WOULD SAVE MONEY BY SHARING RESOURCES.
WHY WOULD ONE COMMUNITY WANTS TO COMPLETELY SHOULDER THE FINANCE FINANCIAL LOAD OF RUNNING A FIRE DEPARTMENT? WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TO, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO BE SURROUNDED BY CITIES.
NOW ALSO CONTRACT WITH COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT MAKES OUR COST SAVINGS EVEN GREATER AS A SERVICE MEMBER.
I WAS SERVING THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES.
I DIDN'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY AND MADE SURE TO REPRESENT THEM WITH PRIDE AND HONOR, MR. JOHNSON, YOU AS A VETERAN, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN? I AM ASKING YOU AND THE REST OF THE CITY TO SPEND MY TAX DOLLAR WISELY AND GIVE ME THE BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE.
I SUPPORT CONTRACTING WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT MAYOR.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MS. MELISSA LO DURO, A REGISTERED NURSE.
I AM A CURRENT RESIDENT OF THE WEST OF WEST COVINA, AND I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCIES.
WEST COVINA CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO RUN SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WEST COVINA CANNOT AFFORD TO LAY ANY FIREFIGHTERS OFF.
WEST COVINA CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE ANY MORE CUTS TO THE DEPARTMENT.
IF ANY CUTS ARE MADE TO THIS CITY, LA COUNTY CANNOT BE RELIED ON TO RUN THE CITY'S COST FOR THEM.
LA COUNTY CAN PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE FOR A CHEAPER COST.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CINDY OR TAYGA TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
I HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY SINCE 1996.
WEST COVINA CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO RUN A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WEST COVINA CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LAY ANY FIREFIGHTERS OFF.
WEST COVINA CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE ANY MORE CUTS TO THE DEPARTMENT.
IF ANY CUTS ARE MADE TO THE CITY, LA COUNTY CANNOT BE RELIED ON TO RUN THE CITY'S CALLS FOR THEM.
LA COUNTY CAN PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE FOR CHEAPER COSTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER, MR. MAYOR, I HAVE THREE OTHERS WHO CAME IN LATE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. STEVEN MEDINA WEST COVINA IS FINANCES WERE ALREADY POOR PRIOR TO THE COVID PANDEMIC, AND NOW THEY ARE A BIT WORSE AS THE CITY BEGINS TO REOPEN.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO REINVEST INTO OUR COMMUNITIES? SO I CAN REBUILD.
ARE THERE PLANS TO ASSIST LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES IN NEED? THE CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT IS WAY OVER FUNDED IN COMPARISON TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE TIMES, HOW DO WE EXPECT OUR CITY TO RECOVER AND GROW? IF THERE AREN'T DRASTIC STEPS TO REVITALIZE IT? MAYOR, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CECILIA MUNIOS TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND A PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS PROS AND CONS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION.
HELLO, FELLOW RESIDENTS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ANYONE ELSE THAT VIEWS THIS.
I HAVE BEEN A WEST COVINA RESIDENT FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND A CITY EMPLOYEE FOR OVER 17 YEARS.
I'M PART OF A DIVERSE SUPPORT STUFF FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE SUPPORT STUFF INCLUDES PERSONNEL, SUCH AS JAILERS RECORDS, CLERKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS.
AND I, AND MY FELLOW COWORKERS ROLES INCLUDE SUPPORTING OUR OFFICERS AND SERVING THE PUBLIC OF NOT ONLY WEST COVINA, BUT ALSO THE CITIES THAT HAVE CONTRACTED OUR SERVICES.
WHILE, WHILE OUR DUTIES VARY GREATLY BETWEEN POSITIONS, WHAT UNIFIES US ALL IS OUR ROLE OF ACTING AS LIAISONS AND MEDIATORS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC.
THROUGHOUT MY TIME AS AN EMPLOYEE, I HAVE HEARD THAT THE CITY HAS NO MONEY, ESPECIALLY DURING LABOR NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, THE SUPPORT STAFF OF WEST COVINA HAS NOT RECEIVED A PAY RAISE.
IN FACT, THE CITY HAS UNILATERALLY IMPOSED, NUMEROUS CUTS AND BENEFITS.
WE HAVE SURVEYED SURROUNDING AGENCIES AND WE CONTINUOUSLY FALL SHORT OF WHAT THEY REPORT PAYING THEIR SUPPORT STAFF.
WE ARE TOLD TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THE CITY HAS NO MONEY, BUT SOMEHOW MONEY IS FOUND FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN OUR CITY TO RECEIVE PAY RAISES.
WHILE WE ARE LEFT BEHIND AND PENALIZED, OUR SUPPORT PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN WORKING AT BELOW MINIMUM STAFFING FOR MANY YEARS.
NOW, THIS STRAIN ON STAFFING IS EVEN MORE CONCERNING WHEN ONE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THAT WE HAVE LONGER BUSINESS HOURS THAN MOST OTHER AGENCIES IN THE AREA.
OUR LACK OF STAFFING IS LARGELY DUE TO THOSE.
WE HIRE AND TRAIN, LEAVING TO OTHER CITIES AT FIRST OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF OUR LESS THAN COMPETITIVE WAGES.
[01:30:01]
TAKES NUMEROUS MONTHS OF TRAINING TO BUILD THE SKILL SETS REQUIRED TO PERFORM OUR DUTIES.TRAINING PROVIDED BY SHORT STAFF SUPPORT PERSONNEL WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY CARRYING OUT THEIR REGULAR DUTIES.
ONCE AGAIN, THE BUDGET IS BEING DISCUSSED AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THE CITY HAS NO MONEY AND WE SHOULD PREPARE FOR MARKETS.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT OUR LACK OF PAY RAISE AND NUMEROUS CUTS AND BENEFITS FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS HAS NOT MADE AN IOTA OF DIFFERENCE ON BALANCING THE BUDGET.
THEREFORE, MY QUESTION IS WHEN WILL THE SUPPORT STAFF OF WEST COVINA STOPPING BEING LEFT BEHIND AND WHY CAN'T CUTS BE MADE INTO APARTMENTS WHO HAVE SEEN RAISES WHILE OUR WAGES HAVE STAYED STAGNANT.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, LISA, DO YOU NEED A DRINK? YEAH.
HOW FINALLY YOU DESERVE YOUR PAY? OKAY.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT RESIDENT CAUSE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND EVERYTHING IS STILL OPEN.
LET'S WHY WE HAVE THE COUNCIL MEETING AND THEN NOW WE WANT TO HANG OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER.
WOULD YOU PLEASE RESPOND TO SOME OF US? SOME, OKAY.
I THINK TWIN STUDIES NOW ALMOST 40 RESIDENTS ABOUT THEIR CONCERN.
IS THAT WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE GOTO COUNTY AS I, OKAY.
THEY BOTH COUNTY, BUT ONE THING STAYS.
I WANT TO CHARGE THE RESIDENT, THE CO THE COUNCIL HASN'T DECIDED ANYTHING YET.
WHY NOW HE'S JUST PUT HIM PRELIMINARY.
WE ARE CHECKING EVERYTHING AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL THE NUMBER WE'RE BRING TO OUR RESIDENT IN PUBLIC FOR ALL THE DETAIL AND POOR AND COME.
SO, SO GO AHEAD, CITY MANAGER, GOOD EVENING.
I THINK I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY PROVIDING THIS CONTEXT.
UM, I'VE BEEN A CITY MANAGER IN THIS COUNTY SINCE 1987, AND I'VE NEVER HEARD THIS MUCH ATTENTION AROUND THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET AND I WELCOME IT AND EVERYONE'S OPINIONS ARE HIGHLY VALUED.
I HAVE ENDEAVORED TO RESPOND TO EACH AND EVERY EMAIL THAT'S COME IN AND I'M NOT, I CAN RESPOND TO THE 34 COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE TONIGHT, EXCEPT GENERALLY.
I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THIS CITY HAS REALLY PRIORITIZE THE GARNERING AND THE SOLICITATION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS REGARDING HOW, HOW THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET IS ALLOCATED AND HOW MONEY IS INVESTED IN COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE COME IN ARE REALLY BEING TAKEN QUITE SERIOUSLY AND TO HEART, WE'VE HAD GREAT NUMBER OF MEETINGS.
COUNCIL HAS HAD MEETINGS WE'VE MET ON THIS.
THIS IS YOUR SECOND TIME, AND YOU'LL BE RECEIVING A BUDGET PRESENTATION AS PART OF THIS TONIGHT.
UM, THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS DONE YEOMAN'S LABOR HAS MET MULTIPLE TIMES AND THERE WILL BE ANOTHER, UM, SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING JUST ON THIS SUBJECT A WEEK FROM TONIGHT.
UM, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND, UM, I JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF POINTS.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE COULD DO NOW IS COME TO SOME KIND OF A COMMUNITY CENSUS AROUND THE CHOICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
I THINK, UM, CONSENSUS IS QUITE NEARLY A NECESSITY AND NOT, NOT A CHOICE.
IT'S, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE FOCUS ON THE REAL ISSUES AT HAND AND, AND DEAL WITH THEM NOW, RATHER THAN LATER, UM, IN A FEW MOMENTS, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR UNDER THE BUDGET PRESENTATION WILL BE ASKED TO REVIEW YET AGAIN, THE CASHFLOW ISSUES AS PART OF THE BUDGET POWERPOINT.
UM, BUT, UM, THESE ARE, THESE ARE CRITICAL ISSUES.
I KNOW WE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAD VERY COMPLIMENTARY THINGS TO SAY ABOUT OUR FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES, BOTH POLICE AND FIRE.
UM, AND I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THEY'LL MAYBE WE DIDN'T SAY IT YET, THAT WE ARE IN DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE DISCUSSIONS WITH ALL OF OUR LABOR UNIONS AND ALL OF THE CITY STAKEHOLDERS.
WE'VE OPENED OUR BOOKS AND WE'RE SHARING THE IMPACT ON CITY REVENUES DURING THIS PANDEMIC IN, IN THE POST PANDEMIC ERA, WHICH IS IN FRONT OF US.
WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON HOW TO PROVIDE FIRST RESPONSE SERVICES IN THE EVENT OF THE CITY'S INABILITY TO FUND, UM, THOSE, THOSE DEPARTMENTS IN THOSE STAFFINGS.
UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY IN RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS THIS EVENING.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, WELL, WHILE THE RESIDENT TALKING ABOUT THE BUSINESS, OKAY.
NEED SOME KIND OF A PROMOTION.
SO HOW CAN WE, WHY NOT? WE OPEN UP THE BUSINESS.
CT, NO, A CT OF THE CDBG FELT SO MAYBE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.
HOW CAN WE HELP THE BUSINESS COME BACK? OKAY.
AND THEN WHAT KIND OF PROTOCOL WE HAVE? I THINK THERE WAS ASKING ABOUT THAT BESIDES THE COUNTY ABOUT OKAY.
HOW WE GO TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE STILL HAVE YOU, SHOULD WE CUT? OKAY.
THAT WE, HOW TO HELP THEM GO AHEAD.
IF I MAY MISS MARROW, I INTENDING AT, AS PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, WHICH IS NEXT ITEM THAT
[01:35:01]
DESCRIBED ON HOW, IF IT ALL RIGHT WITH ALL ITS PART IS OKAY, THEN, THEN WE MOVED[CITY MANAGER'S REPORT]
TO THE MANAGEMENT.LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THE PUBLIC BACK IN THESE CHAMBERS.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THE COUNCIL HERE TONIGHT.
IT'S A LITTLE LONELY WITHOUT YOU AND AARON.
I KNOW THE PHONING END HAS BEEN DIFFICULT ON ALL OF YOU AND WE ALL WANT TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.
I'VE GOT A BRIEF CITY MANAGER'S REPORT FOR YOU THIS EVENING.
WE ARE FOLLOWING QUITE CLOSELY THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS AND THE COUNTY HEALTH DIRECTOR ORDER.
WE ARE, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REOPENING OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF BUSINESSES UNDER THE NEXT WAVE GYMS AND FITNESS FACILITIES, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS WITHOUT LIVE AUDIENCES, DAY CAMPS, MUSEUMS, CAMPGROUNDS, RV PARKS, OUTDOOR RECREATION.
WE'RE GETTING OUR OWN, UM, SPLASH PAD EQUIPMENT, UM, TURNED ON AND READY TO GO BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE POPULAR.
ONCE WE DO ARE ABLE TO REOPEN A MUSIC, FILM, TV, PRODUCTION, HOTELS, LODGING, SHORT TERM RENTALS FOR TOURISM, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE ESSENTIAL TO A HEALTHY ECONOMY AND WE'RE WE'RE READY.
SO I SOLD SOME OF THE DAY CAMP AND ALL THAT.
HOW ABOUT THE PLAYGROUND? VALPAK THE PLAYGROUND OF OUR PARK IS, UM, ALSO ON THE IMMEDIATE HORIZON AND WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA OPEN THOSE AS WELL AS, JUST AS SOON AS WE ARE ABLE, AND WE ARE PREPARING TO DO THAT.
UM, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TO PLEASE REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL.
UM, I THINK THE SALES TAX IS DIRECTLY RE LOCAL RETURN TO, UM, CITIES AND OTHER STATES.
THEY'VE GOT OTHER MODELS, THERE'S INCOME TAXES THAT CAN COME DIRECTLY TO THE CITY AS MUCH AS, YOU KNOW, 1% OF YOUR GROSS SALARY, NONE OF THAT IS POSSIBLE IN CALIFORNIA.
AND SO, UM, INVEST TO YOUR PURCHASE, YOUR GAS AT CAN SHOP AND YOU CAN SUPPORT THOSE BUSINESSES.
THAT WOULD MEAN MEAN A LOT TO THE, TO THE CITY'S BUDGET.
UM, THIS IS THE ITEM MARIN COUNCIL THAT I WANTED TO ANNOUNCE.
WE NOW HAVE AVAILABLE, UM, THROUGH OUR CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION.
FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS A ONE TIME $10,000 FORGIVABLE LOAN.
UH, WE WERE ASKING PEOPLE TO GUARANTEE THAT THEY'LL GIVE US AT LEAST ONE FULL TIME EQUIVALENT JOB RETAINED FOR A YEAR, BUT IF YOU NEED INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, PLEASE CALL ME AT CITY HALL, CALL OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE, I'M HOPING IN A SMALL WAY THROUGH THESE LOANS, WHICH ARE WHAT WE CAN HELP BUSINESSES SURVIVE AND, AND RETURN TO THRIVE ARE RETURNED TO NORMALCY.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FRONT LOBBY IS OPEN AS OF YESTERDAY.
UM, HOURS ARE 7:00 AM TO 8:00 PM.
WANT PEOPLE TO WEAR A FACE MASK? THAT ONE WOULD BE SOCIALLY DISTANT, THE SAME EVERYWHERE, BUT, UM, YOU CAN STILL REPORT, UM, CRIMES AND THINGS TO US ONLINE OR VIA THE TELEPHONE.
BUT, UM, WE WELCOME OUR PUBLIC BACK IN.
WE'RE HAPPY TO BEGIN AGAIN, SERVING IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT LOBBY.
AND AS MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, WE HAVE A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, AGAIN FOR NEXT TUESDAY IN THESE CHAMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO BE IN HERE TO AGGRESS COUNSEL.
UH, PERSONALLY, WE MIGHT HAVE TO STAGGER PARTICIPANTS IF WE GET THE VOLUME.
I THINK WE, I HOPE WE, WE WILL, UM, ONE SMALL ADVERTISEMENT ABOUT GO REQUEST.
WE HAVE AN APP WORKS ON ALL KINDS OF PHONES, UM, TAILORED FOR WEST COVINA, AND IT WORKS REALLY WELL FOR US.
IF PEOPLE WANT TO REPORT ANY MANNER OF PROBLEM, A CODE ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM, A GRAFFITI, A POTHOLE, A TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
YOU CAN ADD A PHOTO, THE GPS LOCATION, THE PROBLEM GETS TURNED IN AND THE PERSON THAT MAKES THE COMPLAINT WE GET BACK THEN WITH THE DISPOSITION.
IT'S A REALLY GOOD SYSTEM FOR US TO TRACK.
WE'RE GETTING GOOD UTILIZATION, BUT, BUT WE WANT EVEN MORE.
SO I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO USE OUR APP TO DOWNLOAD IT.
IT'S A FREE APP CALLED GO REQUEST.
AND WEST COVINA IS I'M HAPPY TO BE OF SERVICE.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH CD MANAGERS.
I'M GOING TO MOVE TO CANADA, BUT BEFORE I GO INTO, OKAY, GO TO THE ITUNES.
I KNOW COUNCILMAN JOHNSON HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT, TONIGHT? I HAVE SOME SAD NEWS TO REPORT TO THE RESIDENCE AND RESCUE ARENA, LONGTIME RESIDENT AND FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER AND FORMER MAYOR OF RUSS CONVENIENT.
BRAD MCFADDEN PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY.
BRAD HAS THE CANCER AND IT MOVED UP TO HIS BRAIN AND UNFORTUNATELY HE DIDN'T SURVIVE.
NO, LIKE I SAID, BRAD IS A LONG TIME RESIDENT.
I KNEW I MET BRAD BACK IN 1994
[01:40:01]
WHEN HE WAS A MAYOR OF WEST COVINA.UH, BRAD WAS OUR MAYOR FROM APRIL.
UH, I FIGURED BACK I WAS ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN 1988 AND RANDY WAS REALLY LIKED IT AGAIN IN 1992.
HE WAS OUR MAYOR FROM 1994 TO 1995.
UH, BRAD STEPPED DOWN FROM THE COUNSELOR AFTER EIGHT YEARS.
UH, BRAD LEAVES BEHIND HIS TWO TWIN DAUGHTERS AND KENZIE AND MEGAN, UH, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, WHERE YOU PLEASE TAKE NOTE AND JUST SENT A NOTICE OUT OF OUR GREATEST CONCERN.
LIKE I SAID, BRAD WAS VERY LOVED IN THE CITY.
I THINK ALMOST EVERYBODY KNEW HIM.
AND HE WAS THE GUY THAT PLAYED A BANJO.
UH, I KNOW ONE TIME BRAD WAS MY ATTORNEY, SO I KNOW HIM VERY WELL.
SO LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOING TO BE BARELY MISSED.
IT COST HIM A JOHNSON AND THEN I CLEARLY REMEMBER.
AND, UH, OUR FORMER MAYOR, UH, BRAD.
AND, UH, WHEN I MOVED IN 1989 AND THAT'S WHEN I SWITCHED THE CHANNEL AROUND THE NIGHT PARK ON THE CHANNEL STREET AND I SEE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE OKAY.
YELLING TO EACH OTHER, ARGUING.
AND I FIND OUT ALL THIS, THE CITY COUNCIL AS A COUNCIL MEETING.
AND I CANNOT BELIEVE AFTER SO THAT HE IS, I WILL BE SITTING OVER HERE ARGUING WITH MY COLLEAGUE.
AND TO SEE THE HISTORY REPEAT AND THAT HE'S ONE OF MY MOTHER BACK IN SO TWO YEARS AGO AND SEE HOW THOSE CITY COUNCIL OKAY.
AND DEBATING ABOUT HOW TO DO THE GOOD THING FOR OUR CT FUTURE.
LET BACK IN 1989 WHEN I WATCHING THE SHOW.
AND, UH, SO, AND THE, HE, UH, I THINK I MET HIM OKAY.
AND HE INVITED ME SAY, HEY TONY, OKAY.
AND, UH, SO IT'S TOO BAD THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE A LUNCH TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE I THINK HE HAS A LOT OF THINGS.
OUR RESIDENTS AND THE, ESPECIALLY THE COUNCIL MEMBER CAN LEARN FROM HIM WITH HIS EXPERIENCE.
AND I KNOW HIS ATTORNEY, I SAW HIS AD ON OUR OKAY.
ALL THE TIME, BECAUSE HE'S REALLY SUPPORTING OUR CT OKAY.
SO, AND HE WOULD BE REALLY MISS AND MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCE TO HIS FAMILY.
AND HE HAD, THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL FATHER, HUSBAND AND A CT WHERE REALLY MISS HIM.
AND THEN THE OTHER CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO DO SOMETHING.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
TO MOVE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO CONSENT CALENDAR FOR ONE, TWO.
AND ANY OTHER COUNCIL WANT TO APPROVE? I KNOW NUMBER SEVEN LAST TIME.
COMES ON WITH JOHNSON AND A MALE POTENT LOPEZ.
THIS IS A CELL TOWER THING ON THE NUMBER SEVEN.
CONSIDER INITIAL CALL AMENDMENT.
SO YOU GUYS WANT TO, I MISS HIM.
YOU WANT US TO CONTINUE? AND THE YOUTH, YOU KNOW, SO, OKAY.
SO WE MAKE A MARK AND THEN ANY OTHER CITY COUNCIL TO PULL ANY OTHER ACCIDENTS? UH, NO.
ON NINE CONSIDERATION OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2019.
WE ARE GOING TO APPROVE A ONE TO NINE, BUT WE HAVE, WOULD YOU PLEASE SEE A, THE CITY CLUB BECOME, OKAY.
THERE WILL BE THREE TO, UH, JOHNSON AND UH, OKAY.
COMPLIMENT JOHNSON AND THE MALE POTENT LOPEZ.
COUNCIL, WOMAN, SHOEMAKER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE HER OKAY.
SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, MR. MAYOR.
AND I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL THOSE WITH THOSE MODIFICATIONS FOR $2 ON SEVEN AND ONE NINE ONE NINE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
UH, SO I HAVE, UH, COUNCILMAN JOHNSON.
MOVE THE MOTION FOR ONE TO NINE.
AND THE MALE POTENT LOPEZ, BEATO SAY NO NUMBER SEVEN.
AND THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER NINE.
IF ON OUR COUNCIL MEMBER SHUMAKER.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTELLANO'S COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.
COUNCIL MEMBER SHOEMAKER, MAYOR PRO TEM LOPEZ, VIBRATO.
I, SO WE APPROVE, MOST OF THEM ARE FIVE, ZERO, AND SALVAGE IS THREE, TWO, AND A ONE IS FOUR ONE.
SO THERE WILL BE NUMBER NINE, FOUR ONE NUMBER SEVEN, THREE TWO.
[10) PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING WEST COVINA CITYWIDE SEWER SERVICE CHARGE - CONTINUE TO JUNE 23, 2020]
NOW WE MOVE TO, OKAY.ITEM NUMBER 10 WEST COVINA CITYWIDE, SEWER SERVICE CHARGED.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN A CONTINUE TO PROBABLY HERE IN TWO, JUNE 23RD, 2020 ON THE WEST COVINA CITYWIDE SEWER SERVICE TRUCKS.
SO WE BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO JUNE 23RD.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CONTINUE TO ITEM
[01:45:01]
TWO, JUNE 23RD, 2022.COUNCILMAN JOHNSON MOVED THE MOTION.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? OKAY.
I HAVE A SECOND PHONE COUNCILMAN CASIANO SO A ROLL CALL PLEASE.
COUNCILMAN JOHNSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SHOEMAKER MAY APPROACH HIM LOPEZ.
A MOTION APPROVED FIVE ZERO THOUGH.
[11) PUBLIC HEARING FOR WEST COVINA LIGHTING AND MAINTENANCE DISTRICT - CONTINUE TO JUNE 23, 2020]
11 WEST COVINA LIGHTING AND THE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT.AND AT THIS TIME WE'D LIKE TO OPEN AND THEN CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO JUNE 23RD, 2020 ON THE WEST COVINA LIGHTING AND MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE ITEM TO THE JUNE 23RD, 2020 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD MAKE A MOVE THE MOTION.
AND I HAVE A COUNCILMAN JOHNSON.
COUNCILMAN JOHNSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, SHOEMAKER MAYOR PRO TEM LOPEZ VETO MAYOR.
[12) FISCAL YEAR 2020/2021 PRELIMINARY BUDGET DISCUSSION]
ITEM.CHOP FISCAL YEARS, 2020 DASH 2021.
WE LIMITED WITH BUDGET DISCUSSION.
AND MR. COLEMAN IS CITY MANAGER WHO WILL PRESENT A STEP REPORT.
AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, ROBIN.
THE CD FINANCE DIRECTOR WOULD PRESENT THE STEP REPORT.
WE HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL HAS SEEN.
AND FOR THAT REASON WE'LL GO QUITE QUICKLY.
WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE, UM, DIRECTOR BIRD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME TALKING POINTS AS SHE GOES THROUGH THIS.
UM, IT'S BEEN A QUITE BUSY BUDGET SEASON AND I'D LIKE FOR HER TO GO THROUGH THIS ONCE AGAIN FOR THE COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY, AND FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, AS WELL AS WE CONSIDER THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PRIORITIES.
ON JUNE 2ND, THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND THEN ON THE THIRD, IT WAS, UM, PRESENTED TO THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE FOLLOWED ON THE NINTH BY, UM, A COMMUNITY MEETING.
AND SO, UM, THIS PRESENTATION HAS BEEN GIVEN SEVERAL TIMES TO, UM, ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW, UM, OF THE OPERATING BUDGET OF ALL FUNDS.
THEN WE'LL GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
WE'LL LOOK AT A FEW FINANCIAL TRENDS AND, UM, MARK PERSICO OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND THEN WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UM, THAT THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE THE 2021 GOALS, UM, OF THE CITY COUNCIL ARE TO RESPOND TO THE GLOBAL COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
UM, AS OF MAY 31ST, AND I HAVEN'T UPDATED THIS NUMBER, WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $77,000.
UM, WE WANT TO ACHIEVE FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY AND FINANCIAL STABILITY.
WE, UM, HAVE A PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TO PROTECT ALL CITIZENS OF WEST COVINA.
WE WANT TO ENHANCE OUR CITY FACILITIES AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND, UM, ENHANCE THE CITY IMAGE AND EFFECTIVENESS AND ENGAGE IN PROACTIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, I WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT OUR EXPENDITURES AS OF MARCH 31ST.
UM, WHEN WE GAVE THE SECOND QUARTER, SECOND QUARTER REPORT, WE REPRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL THAT WE WERE RIGHT ON TARGET, WHICH THIS SLIDE SHOWS, UM, OUR BUDGET VERSUS OUR ACTUAL EXPENDITURES WERE JUST A LITTLE ABOVE 75%, WHICH IS WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH, UM, THREE QUARTERS OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WERE MADE IN THE BUDGET.
UM, WE ASSUME THAT OUR REVENUE SOURCES ARE STABLE.
WE ADJUSTED, UM, OUR SALES TAX DOWNWARD, UH, DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDA DEMEC.
UM, I THINK THAT'S AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW.
I'VE ASKED OUR, UM, CONSULTANT HDL TO UPDATE THOSE NUMBERS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET IT FOR ME TODAY.
THEY SHOULD, I SHOULD HAVE, UM, A NEW PROJECTION FROM THEM BY FRIDAY AND CAN REPORT BACK.
UM, NEXT WEEK AT THIS, UM, CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UM, OUR PROPERTY TAXES, WE'RE PROJECTING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO INCREASE SLIGHTLY AND THAT COULD BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
I THINK IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW
[01:50:01]
FAST, UM, OPENING UP EVERYTHING IN AS WE GO THROUGH THESE DIFFERENT PHASES, UM, HOW QUICKLY THE ECONOMY REBOUNDS ARE TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX.WE, WE DO KNOW THAT, UM, THERE WILL BE SOME DOWNTURN IN THAT, BUT I HAVE SEEN SOME PROJECTIONS THAT ARE SAYING PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO TRAVEL AGAIN.
AND, UM, SO THOSE THINGS MAY PICK UP AND, AND WE MAY NOT NEED TO ADJUST THAT NUMBER.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE ON THAT.
OUR LICENSES AND PERMITS ARE INCREASING THAT REFLECTS THE INCREASES THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED PREVIOUSLY IN THE FISCAL YEAR, AND THEN TURNING TO THE EXPENDITURE ASSUMPTIONS.
OUR BUDGET PROJECTIONS WERE BASED ON A STATUS QUO BUDGET.
UM, WE DID NOT, UM, TAKE INTO EFFECT THE PANDEMIC WITH, UM, THE EXPENDITURES, UM, PROJECTIONS.
WE DID NOT CONSIDER AT THAT TIME THAT THERE WAS A CASHFLOW PROBLEM.
UH, WE DID DECREASE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OVER TIME FROM ABOUT 2.1 MILLION LAST YEAR TO ABOUT 780,000 IN THE CURRENT OR IN THE 20, 21 YEAR.
UM, THERE ARE NO LAYOFFS IN THIS BUDGET AND WE DID INSTITUTE A HIRING FREEZE.
WE'VE INSTITUTED A, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE PRESENTING A BALANCED BUDGET TO YOU TONIGHT, MEANING REVENUES EQUAL EXPENDITURES.
UM, THE PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH WE'RE, UM, WE KICKED OFF THE BUDGET.
WE HAD THE DEPARTMENTS, UH, GIVE US A STATUS QUO BUDGET.
UM, THE FIRST SUBMISSIONS, UH, WE WERE PRETTY FAR OUT THE, UM, EXPENDITURES WERE HIGHER THAN REVENUES, UM, BY ABOUT SIX TO $7 MILLION.
SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE ROLLED BACK THE NUMBERS TO THE 1920 FISCAL YEAR.
UM, WE CUT ALL CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS FROM THE BUDGET.
WE CUT SPECIAL EVENTS, UM, JUST DUE TO THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THESE THINGS WON'T BE HELD, UM, IN THE COMING YEAR BECAUSE OF THE, UM, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
UM, AND WE CUT FIRE OVER TIME.
AND THEN THE REST OF, UM, THE BUDGET WAS BALANCED WITH SOME ONE TIME MONEY.
OUR TOTAL REVENUES, UM, BY FUND ARE 117,301 SEVEN 86.
UM, OF COURSE OUR LARGEST PORTION OF THAT IS THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS AT 57% FOLLOWED BY OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, WHICH ARE AT 21% AND THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
UM, IT'S A TOTAL EXPENDITURES BY FUND ARE 110,000 OR 110 MILLION, I'M SORRY, 81,284.
AGAIN, THE GENERAL FUNDS, THE LARGEST PIECE OF THAT AT 59% FOLLOWED BY SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS FOR 17% LOOKING AT CITYWIDE COMPARISONS, REVENUES VERSUS EXPENDITURES.
YOU CAN SEE, UM, THAT THEY GO UP AND THEY GO DOWN.
UM, IN THIS 20, 21 YEAR, OUR REVENUES ARE HIGHER THAN OUR EXPENDITURES.
AND THEN THIS NEXT SLIDE, UM, SHOWS THAT OUR PROPERTY TAX AND OUR SALES TAX, WHICH MAKES, MAKES UP 65% OF OUR BUDGET, UM, AND IS OUR MOST STABLE REVENUE SOURCE DOES NOT EVEN PAY FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET.
UM, SO THE REST OF THE REVENUES THAT MAKE THAT UP ARE THE LESS STABLE SOURCES.
OUR FRANCHISE TAX FEES ARE TARA TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX, AND, UM, SOME OF THE, THE BUILDING AND SAFETY, UM, PERMIT FEES, OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES HAVEN'T CHANGED SINCE I FIRST PRESENTED THIS, UM, IT'S AT 66 MILLION, SIX 72, TWO 36 WITH OUR PROPERTY TAX BEING 41%, WHICH IS THE SAME PERCENTAGE AS LAST YEAR, OUR SALES TAXES, UM, GONE DOWN A COUPLE PERCENT.
I'M 24, AND THAT MAKES UP THE LARGEST PIECES OF OUR BUDGET.
THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS OUR PROPERTY TAX IS A VERY STABLE REVENUE SOURCE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S A FEW YEARS WHERE IT DIPPED A LITTLE BIT, UM, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT INCREASES EVERY YEAR.
AND THEN I SHOWED THE SALES TAX REVENUE, AND THIS IS ALSO A VERY STABLE REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE CITY.
UM, IT'S, IT'S PROJECTED TO GO DOWN THIS YEAR, UM, AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THAT AS YOU KNOW, SOME BUSINESSES MAY NOT EVER REOPEN, UM, WE DON'T KNOW THE FULL EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 YET, SO WE'LL KEEP, UM, THE COUNCIL INFORMED ON THAT AND MAKE MONTHLY PRESENTATIONS TO, UM,
[01:55:01]
THE COUNCIL AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET AS NECESSARY.THE NEXT SLIDE JUST SHOWS THAT REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED AS EQUAL, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS, UM, THE, UM, IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE GENERAL FUND, 66 MILLION, SIX 72.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT POLICE AND FIRE MAKE UP 77% OF THAT BUDGET.
AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT IT, UM, BASED ON SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, YOU CAN SEE THAT 79% OF OUR BUDGET IS UP OF SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
THIS NEXT SLIDE IS ALWAYS VERY INTERESTING TO ME.
IT'S OUR GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE, AND YOU CAN SEE I'M BACK IN OH SIX OH SEVEN.
IT WAS ALMOST, UM, 45 MILLION IN IT.
IT'S GONE DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY, UM, TO THE 1920, UM, BUDGET OF, UM, ABOUT 16 MILLION.
THIS SLIDE WE PUT TOGETHER TO SHOW OUR CASH FLOWS.
UM, IT GOES FROM JUNE, 2020, AND THESE ARE ALL PROJECTIONS, UM, BASED ON OUR BEST ESTIMATES.
UM, IT GOES FROM JUNE UNTIL DECEMBER, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT, UM, AND THE FIRST LINE WE'RE, WE'RE PROJECTING THE REVENUES OUT.
UM, THE NEXT SEVERAL LINES WE'RE SHOWING WHAT THE EXPENDITURES WILL BE IN THOSE MONTHS.
AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IN JULY AND DECEMBER, UM, THE PAYROLL LINE GOES UP SUBSTANTIALLY AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE THREE PAYROLLS IN THOSE MONTHS.
UM, THE ESTIMATED REVENUE, LESS ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES THAT JUST SHOWS THAT OUR EXPENDITURES IN ALL OF THOSE MONTHS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR REVENUES ARE PROJECTED TO BE.
AND THEN WE TOOK OUR CASH BALANCE AND WE TOOK THOSE DEFICITS OUT, UM, FOR SIX MONTHS, SEVEN MONTHS.
AND, UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT IN SEPTEMBER WE GO IN THE RED AND, UH, THAT, UM, SUBSTANTIALLY SHOWS OUR, UM, DEFICIT.
NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MARK PERSICO TO GIVE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RED WOULD BE 20, 20, DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR, RIGHT? SO WE NEED A PROJECTION.
IF YOU WOULD GO TO THESE TRENDS, THEN WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF A REVENUE COMING IN, THEN THAT'S WHY YOU SAY THE CASHFLOW WILL BE QUESTIONED.
THERE WILL BE IN DECEMBER OF 2020.
I'LL BRIEFLY GO OVER THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, PROGRAM, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE, UH, PROJECTS OR EXPENDITURES THAT ARE MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
UM, IT, WE HAVE DONE A FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET AS WELL AS A LIST OF UNFUNDED PROJECTS, UM, ACROSS, UH, ALL FIVE YEARS.
UH, WE ARE PROJECTING 43 POINT $6 MILLION OF PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED, UH, WITH 11 POINT $1 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR.
AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE CATEGORIES.
THEY'RE FAIRLY SELF EXPLANATORY, UH, FROM BUILDINGS ALL THE WAY THROUGH VEHICLES AND THE BUDGET CONTAINS, UH, DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH OF THESE, UH, PROJECTS.
THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN BY, UH, PERCENTAGE CATEGORY, UH, WITH THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF PROJECTS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE STREETS CATEGORY.
UH, SO WE'LL DO, UH, SEVEN, EXCUSE ME, FOUR POINT $7 MILLION WORTH OF, UH, STREET PROJECTS IN THE UPCOMING YEAR, WHICH STARTS JULY 1ST.
AND, UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT IN NEXT ROBYN.
UM, OUR NEXT STEPS, I THINK WE NEED TO MONITOR OUR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES TIMELY AND MAKE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET.
WE'RE GOING TO MONITOR THE CASH FLOWS VERY CLOSELY, UM, OF THE GENERAL FUND, WHERE WE NEED TO, UM, PREPARE A PLAN GOING FORWARD TO RESOLVE THIS GENERAL FUND STRUCTURAL DEFICIT THAT WE HAVE AND, UH, REPLENISH OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES PER OUR CITY POLICY.
WE NEED TO SHIFT FROM REACTIVE TO PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND ADOPT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION METHODS.
UM, THAT'S TO SAY INTERSPACE BARGAINING AND ADHERE TO OUR BUDGET,
[02:00:01]
ADOPTED BUDGET POLICIES.AND WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANTED TO, UM, JUST SAY, UM, AT THOSE MEETINGS THAT I TALKED ABOUT THAT WE HAD, UM, PREVIOUSLY ON THE SECOND, THE THIRD AND THE 9TH OF JUNE, UM, WE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMITTEE AND THE CITY COUNCIL AT THOSE MEETINGS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
UM, AND SINCE THE BUDGET'S BEEN PRESENTED, WE HAVE BEEN PERFORMING SOME QUALITY CONTROL ON THE BUDGET, NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES TO THE GENERAL FUND, BUT ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE WAS, UM, TO FUND A 20, WHICH IS OUR HOUSING FUND, AND WE ADDED $75,000 INTO THAT FOR THE HOUSING ELEMENT, WHICH WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE NEXT WEEK, WE'LL MAKE THOSE CHANGES TO THE PAGES.
AND, UM, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS HAVE ALL, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE IN THIS BUDGET, THEY WEREN'T IN THE PAGES, UM, IN, IN THE BUDGET, AS FAR AS THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, THE FUNDING SOURCES.
UM, SO THOSE CHANGES HAVE NOW BEEN MADE AND, UH, THE APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT NOTICE IN YOUR BUDGET, I THINK IT'S, UM, PAGES 34 TO 36, THERE WERE HIGHLIGHTED NUMBERS BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE CALCULATIONS DONE AT THAT TIME.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION WE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THOSE CALCULATIONS AND I WILL CHANGE THOSE PAGES OUT FOR, UM, THE NEW APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE.
AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, ANYBODY HAD ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD.
UM, MY QUESTIONS AND I HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THEM, UM, HAVE TO DO WITH, UH, THE FIRE AND BUDGETING FOR THEM AND, UM, MAKING A DECISION REGARDING GOING TO COUNTY.
AND SO, UM, JUST SOME OF THE AREAS, AND AS I STATED, I'LL SEND YOU THE QUESTIONS, BUT, UM, I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC AND, UM, JIM GURVICH ASKED SEVERAL VERY GOOD QUESTIONS AND, UM, MADE A PART OF A MOTION AT THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
SO I WOULD LIKE ANSWERS TO ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THINGS LIKE, UH, OUR TOTAL COSTS FOR WCF D PERSONNEL BY GROUP AND MEMBER.
SO CAPTAINS, ENGINEERS, AND THE SAME FOR LA COUNTY FIRE, UH, WHAT THE NUMBERS WOULD LOOK LIKE IF WE DID THE BROWN OUT, OR IF WE, UH, GOT RID OF OUR AMBULANCE SERVICE, UM, I KNOW THE COUNTY IS PROPOSING TO KEEP THREE OF OUR FIRE STATIONS OPEN.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE STAFFING OF THOSE FIRE STATIONS COMPARED TO OUR CURRENT STAFFING MODEL FOR THOSE STATIONS.
HOW MANY OF PARAMEDICS WEST COVINA HAS VERSUS HOW MANY THE COUNTY WILL HAVE IN THE CITY, IF WE GO THAT WAY? UM, I WANT TO KNOW FOR EACH OF OUR STATIONS, THEIR SERVICE AREA.
AND SO HOW MANY NUMBERS OF BUSINESSES RESIDENTS THAT THEY SERVICE VERSUS WHAT THE COUNTY IS PROPOSING FOR SERVICE AREAS FOR US? UM, WE'VE ALREADY ASKED FOR THE NUMBERS OF, UM, THAT OTHER CITIES ARE PAYING AND WHAT THAT'S LOOKED LIKE.
UM, I WOULD PREFER ABOUT FIVE YEARS WORTH.
SO WE KNOW IF IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT UP OR IF IT'S BEEN UP AND DOWN WHERE WE'VE GONE WITH THOSE COSTS.
UM, I'M STILL WAITING ON THE FINAL NUMBERS FOR, UM, CONVERSION COSTS, WHICH I UNDERSTAND MAYBE COME IN BY FRIDAY, BUT, UM, THERE'S STILL THE OUTSTANDING QUESTION OF WHAT WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE ONGOING.
UM, THE CONTRACT THAT WE RECEIVED TODAY SHOWS, UM, NO MORE THAN 4% A YEAR AND INCREASES FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
AND IT'S ABOUT 5%, UH, AT 5% FOR YOUR SIXTH AND SEVENTH AND OTHER PERCENT FOR AFTER SEVEN, ANOTHER PERCENT UP TILL WE GET TO THE END OF 10.
BUT THE QUESTION I ALSO HAVE IS ONE WHAT'S THAT COST TWO, WHAT IS THAT COST BASED ON, DO THEY GIVE US A CONTRACT AMOUNT AND, YOU KNOW, RAISE IT BY THE 4% NEXT YEAR? OR IS IT BASED ON OUR ACTUAL COSTS? AND THEN, UM, I KNOW THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THEIR COST
[02:05:01]
PROPOSAL THAT ARE ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO US.AND SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE COST OF THOSE AND MAYBE WHEN WE'RE GETTING THE NUMBERS FOR OTHER CITIES, HOW OFTEN THEY'VE BEEN CHARGED FOR THOSE.
UM, LET'S SEE, UH, HOW ABOUT THE TURNOVER IN THEIR PERSONNEL? SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FIREFIGHTERS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH OUR DEPARTMENT 20 YEARS.
WHAT'S THEIR TURNOVER LIKE IN THEIR STATIONS? DO THEY CHANGE A LOT? DO THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO STAY, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR COMFORT LEVEL OF OUR RESIDENTS WHERE NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW FIREFIGHTERS IN OUR CITY, THEY KNOW THEIR NAMES THEY'VE BEEN OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WOULD WE GET THE SAME WITH, UM, LA COUNTY? UM, WE ALSO HAVE, UM, THE QUESTION OUTSTANDING OF EQUIPMENT TRANSFERRED TO THE COUNTY.
IS IT SOLD? DO WE HAVE SOME SAY IN NEGOTIATING WITH THEM? IS IT JUST PART OF THE TRANSFER? SO, AND LET'S SEE, UM, IF THEY ESTIMATE THAT LET'S SAY RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE SAYING 17 MILLION, UM, IS ESTIMATED COSTS WITHOUT THE CONVERSION COSTS.
IF OUR ACTUAL COST IS 20,000,001, HOW WOULD WE GO OVER THEIR ESTIMATED COSTS TO WHAT TIMEFRAME WOULD WE HAVE TO PAY IT BACK? AND, UM, JUST HOW IT WORKS.
I MEAN, THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS WE NEED TO KNOW GOING FORWARD BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A HUGE, UM, DISCUSSION ON THE BLOCK THAT LA COUNTY FIRE IS CHEAPER.
AND WE DON'T KNOW, REALLY KNOW THAT YET.
WE KNOW BASED ON PERSONNEL COSTS, THEY'RE ESTIMATING IT'S CHEAPER, BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY OTHER COSTS OUT THERE AND GUARANTEED INCREASES THAT, UM, WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND BE ABLE TO JUST TELL THE PUBLIC, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT AS, AND SO I THINK THAT'S IT.
I WILL, YOU KNOW, AS YOU'RE AWARE, I WILL GET THOSE QUESTIONS OVER TO YOU.
AND THE OTHER CD? YEAH, A NEW ONE.
I THINK I HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION FOR THE COUNCIL TONIGHT.
UM, TWO OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE, I THINK, A DISTINCT ADVANTAGE OF BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE FIRE CHIEF ABOUT OPTIONS FOR PROVISION OF SERVICE.
WE'VE GOT THAT POWERPOINT READY FOR YOU TO SEE TONIGHT, IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT TONIGHT.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT WE, OH, COUNCIL MEMBER SHUMAKER, AND I'M SURE OTHERS OF YOU, UH, ANSWERS TO MORE QUESTIONS AS WELL, BUT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR US TO GET THE COUNCIL ON AN EVEN FOOTING THIS EVENING SO THAT THE OTHER THREE OF YOU COULD SEE THE PRESENTATION OR HAPPY TO HOLD THAT FOR ANOTHER TIME? I THINK I PERSONALLY WOULD PREFER THAT THE PRESENTATION JUST BE GIVEN TO THE ONES WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO GET IT, OR THEY ARRANGE IT.
LIKE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SHORTCHANGE ANYMORE AS MAYOR PRO TEM.
I THINK ACTUALLY I THINK THE PUBLIC SHOULD, UH, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT.
CAUSE I WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON SOME OF THE QUESTIONS COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOEMAKER MADE, AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS, I THINK, UH, THE FIRE CHIEF COULD, YOU KNOW, HELP THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, AND TO ADD A FEW THINGS TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SHUMAKER SAID.
UM, WE HAVE ASKED THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE US CONCRETE NUMBERS.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE, BUT I'D LIKE TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, I WANNA GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SUPPLEMENTAL BILLS AND HOW TO AVOID THESE.
I I'VE TALKED TO, UH, OTHER CITIES AND THEY'VE, THEY GET HIT WITH SUPPLEMENTAL BILL.
SOMETIMES I REALLY WANT TO HAVE FULL CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENS.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN DISCUSSING TO THE NORTH OF OUR CITY AND COVINA HOW, UH, A POTENTIAL CHANGE LIKE THIS COULD, UH, ALLOW FOR ECONOMIES OF SCALE.
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW TO THE WEST, EAST AND SOUTH THAT COULD BE ACHIEVED AS WELL FOR FURTHER COST SAVINGS.
I THINK THAT'S DOABLE GIVEN THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF OUR CITY AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE SURROUNDED BY COUNTY.
UM, ALSO LIKE THE RESIDENTS TO GET AN UPDATE WITH THIS PRESENTATION ABOUT, UH, THE SHAPE OF OUR EQUIPMENT AND FIRE STATIONS.
AND, UM, AND ROBIN, THANK YOU FOR GIVING THE RESIDENTS AND UPDATED.
THE HDL HAS BEEN ASKED TO UPDATE THE NUMBERS AND WE'LL BE INFORMING THE PUBLIC.
CAN I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION SINCE WE HAVE UPDATED NUMBERS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COMING IN FOR ISSUES?
[02:10:01]
UM, I WOULD PROPOSE THAT ACTUALLY A, ANOTHER TOWN HALL FOR RE BUDGET MEETING BE HELD MAYBE MONDAY NIGHT BEFORE OUR COUNCIL MEETING SO THAT, UH, THE COMMUNITY GETS THE UPDATED NUMBERS.UH, WE'LL GET THE UPDATED NUMBERS SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE OUR MEETING ON TUESDAY WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY DISCUSSING THE BUDGET, EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE.
IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU TO HELP YOUR STAFF TO FACING THE AGAIN? AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE BUSY, SORRY.
NOTHING WRONG IN, I WAS JUST HAD A SIDE CONVERSATION WITH THE FIRE CHIEF.
IF HE'D BE WILLING TO COME IN WITH ME ON THURSDAY NIGHT IN THESE CHAMBERS TO REVIEW THE POWERPOINT AND THE OPTIONS PRESENTATION, I THINK YOUR IDEA IS BETTER.
SO I'M GOING TO VOLUNTEER HIM FOR SEE THAT SMILE ON HIS FACE.
OH, I KNOW WHAT TIME, WHAT TIME MONDAY BE GOOD FOR YOU GUYS.
SO WE'RE NOT SURE I CAN PROMISE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN BE IN HERE NO MONDAY NIGHT.
SO WE'LL MAKE IT AVAILABLE IN SOCIAL CAST, ET CETERA.
WE WON'T DEPENDENCE THE BUDGET WE WANT TO, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE BE HEALTHY TOO.
THERE'VE BEEN A LOT OF MEETINGS THIS THIS MONTH FOR GOOD.
I'D BE HAPPY TO HAPPY TO DO IT.
TAX PAYERS MONEY WITH OUR BUDGET AND THE SERVICE LEVEL IS A VERY CONCERNED BY OUR RESIDENT.
WE NEED TO, AND TO ATTEND, TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY CAN KIND OF CONTINUE TO GAIN, BUY IN TO THESE TEEN.
I THINK A LOT OF THINGS WE NEED TO DISCUSS BESIDES THE PANDEMIC, BUT THIS IS OUR KIND OF FUTURE.
AND WE NEED TO REALLY CAREFULLY TO, TO DECIDE WHAT THIS ABOUT.
SO WE NEED A MORE INCLUSIVE FOR MORE OKAY.
PRESIDENTIAL UNDERSTAND, AND PEOPLE CAN VOICE THEMSELVES, BUT, AND THEN CDE STAFF CAN PULL BY THE GENUINE NUMBER.
SO TRANSPARENCY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE QUITE UNCOMMON.
THEN, THEN, THEN WE DECIDE HOW TO DO IT.
SO, AND THE OTHER CITY COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A SIDE NOTE ON THIS.
UM, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN MOSTLY TALKING ABOUT FIRE AND I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE OFF THE POLICE, WHICH I KNOW WE'LL GET TO THAT.
I'VE RECEIVED OVER HUNDREDS OF EMAILS TO JUST SAY DEFUND, THE POLICE DEFUND THE POLICE.
UM, THEY'RE MOSTLY COPY AND PASTE, WHICH THEY HAD TO PUT IN THEIR NAME AND CITY, WHICH SOME, THEY JUST LITERALLY COPIED AND PASTE AND FORGOT TO PUT THAT INFORMATION IN.
BUT SINCE WE HAVE CHIEF FELL HERE, I'D LIKE TO HAVE HIM COME UP.
I JUST WANTED TO GET AN UPDATE.
I'M SURE THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE REGARDING THE PROTEST THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, HOW OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD ON IT'S UP TO YOU? IT'S HOT.
MAYOR CITY COUNCIL AND FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE DEALING WITH SOME UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, UM, THE PROTESTS, UM, WHICH I'M SORRY, THE PROTEST WHICH OCCURRED, UH, WHICH HAVE BEEN OCCURRING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW, UH, DID NOT MS. WEST COVINA.
WE ACTUALLY HAD THREE PROTESTS HERE IN THE CITY.
UH, EACH OF THEM WAS, WERE VERY, UM, PEACEFUL, UH, MY MIGHT SAY.
UM, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, MAKE SOME REALLY GOOD CONNECTIONS WITH THE PROTESTERS THAT WAS OUT THERE, GIVE THEM THE SPACE THEY NEEDED, UH, BUT ALSO, UH, PROTECTING BUSINESSES AND THOSE THINGS SHOULD, THAT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY.
UM, WOULD THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS A LOT OF PRESS OUT THERE REGARDING DEFUND THE POLICE.
I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THAT MEANS WHEN YOU SAY DEFUND THE POLICE.
UM, AND I'M PRETTY SURE IF YOU WERE TO ASK SEVERAL MEMBERS OUT THERE THAT THEY PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE TOO SURE EITHER.
AND WHEN I SAY THAT, UM, DEFUNDING THE POLICE TO ME MEANS ACTUALLY TAKING POLICE AWAY FROM THE CITIZENS AND IT MAY MEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE ORGANIZER OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO SOMEONE THAT'S JUST REPEATING IT.
UH, BUT NONETHELESS, THAT'S THE NARRATIVE THAT'S OUT THERE.
UM, I PERSONALLY DISAGREE WITH DEFUNDING THE POLICE.
UM, I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNESOTA WAS DEFINITELY A TRAGEDY.
UM, BUT IT HAPPENED IN MINNESOTA AND NOT IN WEST COVINA.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, UM, OUR USES OF FORCE FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR NOW.
UH, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT DATES BACK.
AND SO I WANT TO JUST GIVE YOU A FEW NUMBERS REGARDING THAT.
UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF FORCE POLICY, THERE HAVE BEEN A HUGE NATIONAL PUSH FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR POLICIES, WHICH WE ARE DOING, UH, AT THIS TIME.
UM, WE WILL BE, UH, MIRRORING OUR POLICIES TO THE NATIONAL AND STATEWIDE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE COMING FORTH.
UM, A LOT OF THEM ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF BEING WORKED OUT, EXCUSE ME.
[02:15:01]
AND WE BELIEVE THIS IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE, UH, DEVELOPING THROUGH SUPPORT, TRUST AND CONFIDENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY.UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO JUST LET YOU KNOW SOME OF THE REFORMS THAT WE HAVE MADE SO LAST YEAR, UM, UM, I THINK IT WAS ACTUALLY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
WE DID A COMPLETE AUDIT ON OUR CANINE, UM, UNIT, UH, A RESULT OF THAT.
WE MADE SOME SWEEPING CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE CHANGES IN THE WAY WE DOCUMENT CHANGES IN THE WAY WE TRAIN.
UH, WE ALSO MADE SOME CHANGES, UH, WITH RESPECT TO, UM, OVER OVERHAULING, OUR MANUAL AND POLICIES TO HAVE MORE OVERSIGHT AND MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.
UH, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING A USE OF FORCE DEBRIEF.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR DEBRIEF IS SITTING ON MY DESK NOW, UH, IT'S NOT FINAL.
UM, THERE'S A FEW, UM, UM, ADJUSTMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO IT.
BUT WHAT THIS DOES IS, UH, THIS IS TO, IT IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY FORCE INCIDENTS, INCREASED PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY, INCREASED CONSISTENCY AMONG STAFF MEMBERS, A REVIEW, A FORCE INCIDENT, AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE, AS I SAID, A LIABILITY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WILL IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFY AND CORRECT PERFORMANCE ISSUES.
UH, WHAT THIS DC DEBRIEF IS, IS ONCE THE USE OF FORCE HAS OCCURRED, UH, WE WILL HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR DEPARTMENT THAT WILL ACTUALLY TAKE A, A GREATER LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED, WHY IT HAPPENED, IF IT WAS IN POLICY, IF IT WASN'T, BUT REALLY GIVEN AN IN DEPTH LOOK.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF THEY ARE, IF THERE ARE TRAINING DEFICIENCIES, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE TRAINING DEFICIENCY RIGHT NOW, RATHER THAN WAIT SEVERAL MONTHS FOR A REPORT TO COME.
UH, ONE OF THE BIG TOPICS RIGHT NOW IS THE CHRONIC CONTROL.
UM, THERE ARE SOME AGENCIES WHO HAVE ELECTED TO, UH, DO AWAY WITH IT.
UM, THE, WHAT WEST COVINA DECIDED TO DO EARLY ON IN THIS WEEK WAS NOT ACTUALLY DO AWAY WITH IT, BUT TO RAISE IT UP TO CHART, TO DEADLY FORCE.
SO IF I CAN SHOOT SOMEONE, THEN I CAN USE THAT TO, TO PROTECT ONE'S ONE'S LIFE.
UM, LET ME JUST READ SOMETHING HERE FOR YOU.
THE USE OF A CHOKEHOLD AND A STRANGLEHOLD ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR THE USE OF OFFICERS IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
UH, ANY CAROTID CHOKE RESTRAINT IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED UNLESS FACED WITH A SITUATION WHERE DEADLY FORCE WOULD BE AUTHORIZED.
I AM NOW TAKING A LOOK AT MAYBE TAKING IT OUT ALTOGETHER.
WE'LL BE HAVING FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THAT.
I DO BELIEVE THAT, UH, THE STATE IS LOOKING AT IT AND IT MAY BE JUST BANNED ALTOGETHER, BUT EITHER WAY WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT AND WE WILL BE ADJUSTING ACCORDINGLY.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE, UM, UH, SCHEDULED SOME TRAINING.
UH, THIS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO OUR DEPARTMENT.
ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WILL BE TAKING SOME TRAINING AND IT'S CALLED, WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP ME? IT'S A NINE HOUR POST-COURSE, UH, IT'S CERTIFIED, IT'S UNBIASED POLICING AND TACTICAL COMMUNICATION COURSE.
AND THIS COURSE DEMONSTRATES TO OUR COMMUNITY, THE ETHICAL POLICING, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO OUR OFFICERS.
THIS COURSE IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER, AND WE WILL HAVE ALL OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, UH, ATTEND THAT.
UH, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT UTILIZING A FORCE OPTION AND DRIVING SIMULATORS AND TRAINING COURSES.
WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, WEST COVINA WAS ON THE LEADING EDGE OF, UH, USING SIMULATORS, BOTH DRIVING, EXCUSE ME, IN FORCE OPTIONS.
UM, OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE HAD TO DO AWAY WITH THAT PROGRAM.
UH, WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO PULSE.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET CERTIFIED AS A, AS A AREA UNIT SO THAT OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS CAN COME THAT HAS NOT COME TO PASS YET.
UH, BUT, UH, ONE OF OUR LOCAL COLLEGES DO HAVE IT.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SENDING OUR POLICE OFFICERS DOWN THERE FOR NOT ONLY THE TRAINING, UH, BUT ALSO THE FORCE OPTIONS.
UH, THE COURSE IS DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH DEFICIENCIES AND FORCED INCIDENTS, NOT DUE TO A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF TECHNIQUES, BUT HELP WITH POOR DECISION MAKING UNDER CRITICAL STRESS.
THE USE OF FORCE SIMULATOR EXPOSES US TO DECISION MAKINGS DURING CRITICAL INCIDENTS AND REINFORCES DEESCALATION.
UM, AND LASTLY, UM, THERE IS DEESCALATION TRAINING OUT THERE.
UH, WE HAD SET UP BEFORE THAT PANDEMIC ACTUALLY HAPPENED FOR OFFICERS TO GO, BUT WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, THEY OBVIOUSLY CANCELED THE CLASS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, WHEN THAT, WHEN THAT OPENS BACK UP, UM, WOMAN, UH, UM, LET THE LOPEZ BE OUT.
UH, WE SPOKE EARLIER THIS WEEK, UM, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, THERE WAS AN ORGANIZATION OUT THERE THAT BASICALLY GRADED ALL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, NOT EVEN ALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, THEY JUST TOOK A RANDOM SECTION OF ABOUT A HUNDRED POLICE OFFICERS AND THEY GAVE HIM A GRADE.
AND, UM, I KNOW YOU HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WEST
[02:20:01]
COVINA BEING GRADED OUT AS AN F UH, FIRST, LET ME TELL YOU, I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEY CALCULATED THOSE NUMBERS AT OR WHERE THEY CALCULATED THEM FROM.I DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE SOURCE.
UH, SOME OF THE SOURCES THAT THEY DO USE AS INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE GRABBING OFF THE WEB AND SOME OF THESE OTHER OTHER AREAS.
BUT WHAT I DID DO IS I WENT AND, UM, I HAD MY STAFF LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, UH, BASED OFF OF WHAT THEY REPORT IT.
UM, AND I'M JUST GONNA SHARE WITH YOU THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE ONLY HAVE THREE YEARS WORTH OF DATA, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO YOU THAT THE NUMBERS THAT THEY REPORT IN THIS REPORT ARE DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE NUMBERS THAT I HAVE HERE.
UH, IN 2018, THE WEST COVINA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD 80,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE RESULTING IN 2,562 ARRESTS.
UM, THESE NUMBERS THAT I'M GIVEN ARE APPROXIMATE COULD BE A LITTLE MORE, COULD BE A LITTLE LESS.
UM, THERE WAS 860 FELONIES, 1600 MISDEMEANORS, BUT DURING THE 80,073 CALLS FOR SERVICE OFFICER USE FORCE 80 TIMES, THIS WAS IN 2018.
AND OTHER TIMES PER CALL AND 3.1% OF TIMES DURING AN ARREST.
SO EVERY TIME WE ARRESTED SOMEONE FORCED US USED ONLY 3.1% OF THE TIME.
OFFICERS DID NOT ATTEMPT TO USE DEADLY FORCE DURING 2018.
IN 2018, THERE WERE EIGHT COMPLAINTS FILED.
THIS WAS ANOTHER AREA THAT THEY, THAT THEY LOOKED AT AND, UM, AGAINST THE POLICE OFFICERS, UH, ONE OF THOSE WERE SUSTAINED IN 2019.
UH, THERE WERE 73,000 CALLS OVER 2300 ARRESTS, ALMOST 800 FELONIES, 1500 MISDEMEANORS.
BUT DURING THOSE CALLS, UH, FORCE WAS USED 101 TIMES THIS WAS IN 2019 0.1, 3% OF THE TIME.
AND 4.4% OF THE TIME WHEN ARRESTS WERE BEING MADE, THOSE ARE EXTREMELY LOW NUMBERS.
OFFICERS USE DEADLY FORCE ONE TIME IN 2019 RESULTING IN AN ARMED SUSSICK SUSPECT, BEING INJURED.
AND IN 2019, THERE WERE NINE COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST THE OFFICERS AND NONE OF THEM WERE SUSTAINED.
AND 2020, THIS WILL BRING US UP TO DATE IN 2020, THE WEST COVINA POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD FEWER CALLS, 28,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE RESULTING IN 734 ARRESTS.
UM, DURING THE 28,000 CALLS, A FORCE WAS USED 27 TIMES, WHICH IS A 0.95% OF THE TIME.
AND, UH, 3.6% OF THE TIME WHEN ARREST WAS MADE, OFFICERS DID NOT ATTEMPT ANY USE OF FORCE DURING 2020.
I MEAN, ANY DEADLY USE OF FORCE DURING 2022 DATE, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS, AND BOTH OF THOSE WERE SUSTAINED.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS, WHAT YOU HAVE IS APPROXIMATELY 182,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE.
THAT'S A LOT FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
WE ARE A HUNDRED, JUST OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND IN POPULATION.
AND AT THE TIME WE'VE, WE HAVE BASICALLY 90 OFFICERS WORKING, UM, 5,603 ARRESTS, 208 TIMES FORCE WAS USED DURING THOSE 5,603 ARREST.
SO 3.7% OF THE, OF THE ARREST RESULTED IN FORCE.
NONE OF THE USES OF FORCES INVOLVE THE USE OR ATTEMPT TO USE OF A CAROTID CONTROL OR VASCULAR OR NECK RESTRAINT OR ANY TYPE OF CHOKE CODE.
THOSE ARE NUMBERS THAT ARE COMING FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, I CANNOT VERIFY ALL OF THE SOURCES, WHOEVER CAME UP WITH THIS DOCUMENT, I'M SURE THEY GOT IT FROM SOME SOURCES THAT'S REPORTED, BUT WHAT YOU'LL FIND WITH SOME OF THOSE REPORTS IS, IS THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE.
UM, I WELCOME ANYONE TO COME TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO VERIFY THE NUMBERS.
UM, I UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE.
I'M A, I'M, I'M A BLACK BLACK MAN.
UM, SO, UM, IT HASN'T GONE UNNOTICED.
UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR SOME CHANGE.
UM, I DON'T NECESSARILY BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR CHANGE EVERYWHERE, BUT IT HAS FORCED US TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR POLICIES, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND WE WERE DOING IT BEFORE THE COBIT.
WE WERE DOING IT BEFORE THIS PROTEST.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO IT BECAUSE WE THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMODITY THAT WE HAVE HERE ARE OUR CITIZENS.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE RESPONDING TO THEM.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? THANK YOU, CHIEF.
SUPPOSE THAT WE THOUGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.
NOW WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
[02:25:01]
OKAY.AND AGAIN, I DON'T MIND BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
WE REALLY WANT TO GO BACK TO THE BUDGET ISSUE, BUT SINCE YOU WERE HERE, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE QUESTION, IF I MAY, SINCE WE SIDETRACKED A LITTLE BIT, I ASKED THE CHIEF ONE QUESTION SINCE THERE'S SUCH A WAR ZONE OUT THERE, HAVE WE CAUGHT ANYBODY TO SEE THE RESCUE BEING YOU'RE FIRING OFF ANY FIRE FINAL WORKSHOP.
UH, WE HAVE, UM, FIREWORKS IS A HOT TOPIC.
I'M JUST GOING TO WARN YOU THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE US OFF TOPIC AGAIN.
OH, ARE WE READY FOR THAT? OR SHOULD I WAIT TILL THE END? I DON'T WANT TO BRING IT UP NEXT WEEK.
SO THE FIREWORKS, UM, OBVIOUSLY IS A BIG TOPIC HERE.
WE GET A LOT OF RESIDENTS CALLING IN.
UM, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKENDS, I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN IN THE CITY AT 10, 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
THE ONE THING YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND IS THAT, UH, LEADING UP TO THE 4TH OF JULY, MOST OF THE FIREWORKS ARE BEING SHOT OFF FROM THE BACKYARDS OF MOST HOMES.
AND IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO TRACK THEM DOWN.
UH, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO SEE THEM LEAVE THE LAUNCHPAD AND GO UP SO YOU CAN TRACK DOWN THE HOUSE ONCE THEY EXPLODE IN THE AIR, EVERYONE'S CONCERNED AS, AS I AM, BUT IT'S JUST HARD AND DIFFICULT TO TRACK IT DOWN.
UM, I HAVE NOT HAD THE SUCCESS THAT I WOULD LIKE, UH, BUT WE ARE RESPONDING TO CALLS.
UM, WE GOT A CALL FOR SERVICE.
I BELIEVE JUNE 7TH TURNED OUT TO BE A REALLY GOOD CALL.
UM, IT RESULTED IN THE ARREST OF AN INDIVIDUAL AND IT ALSO RESULTED IN THE CONFISCATION OF, UH, SEVERAL ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT ON THE FOURTH WOULD BE OUR, PROBABLY OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL DAY.
AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BRING THE FIREWORKS OUT TO THE STREET WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY IDENTIFY THEM.
I WASN'T EXPECTING ALL THAT FULL DETAILED REPORT.
I MEAN, I WISH I COULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION, UH, WITH A VISUAL PRESENTATION AND ACTUALLY SEE THE NUMBERS AND STUFF.
UM, BUT I JUST, IN REGARDS TO THE PROTESTS BACK TO THE BUDGET, I KNOW THAT THERE'S DO YOU KNOW, THE FULL COST OF HOW MUCH WE SPENT YET, OR I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF HIDDEN COSTS.
AND THE OTHER REASON WAS BECAUSE I REMEMBER THEY HAD TO DEPLOY OUR POLICE TO POMONA FOR THEIR PROTESTS.
AND I THOUGHT COUNTY MIGHT'VE COVERED IT.
BUT I FOUND OUT THAT WE PAID FOR OUR OWN COSTS, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY SAID WHEN WE HAD OUR PROTEST AND WE HAD TO BRING IN COUNTY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THOSE COSTS WERE.
I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS YET.
WE ARE A PART OF AREA D WHICH IS A, A GROUP OF AGENCIES WITHIN OUR AREA AND WE KIND OF HELP EACH OTHER.
SO YES, WE, WE DID SEND, UH, POLICE OFFICERS TO OTHER CITIES AS THEY SENT OFFICERS TO HELP US IN OUR CITY.
UM, ONCE THIS IS ALL OVER, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL HAVING PROTESTS, WE'RE STILL HAVING TO DEAL WITH THINGS.
I WILL HAVE AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT IT COST OUR CITY TO HAVE OUR POLICE AND FIRE HAVE OUR POLICE OUT THERE AND IN FIRE.
WE SHUT DOWN THE ISLAM MALL AND I SAW THE, UH, ALMOST 50 POLICE OFFICERS INCLUDING TO SUPPORT THE ADJACENCY T AND THE NEIGHBOR IS A POLICE.
I THINK EVERYBODY AT A SENIOR CENTER WAS A COMMAND CENTER.
WAS YOU GUYS SO I CAN SEE LET'S, UH, IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.
AND THE SECOND TIME IS THE NEXT DAY AND THEY'RE COMING BACK.
AND THEN THE THIRD TIME, I THINK IT'S THE LAST SATURDAY, SUNDAY.
AND, UH, THEY INVITE, THEY INVITE ME AS A MAYOR TO ADDRESS THEM AND THAT WE HAVE TO BLOCK OUT THAT TIME.
WE DIDN'T SHUT DOWN THE ISLAM MORE.
THE STREET, BUT THE STEEL IS COST MONEY.
AND THE, AND, UH, AND I TOLD THEM ALL THE PROTESTORS, YOU GO ON THE PHONE, THE POLICE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED THE OVERTIME FOR THE POLICE DOING LED.
IT COSTS TAXPAYER A LOT OF MONEY.
SO, SO I THINK WE BASICALLY MYSELF AND DARIO CASIANO WAS THERE.
AND, UH, AND, UH, WE STAY ALMOST 1130, TWO YEARS.
SO WE DON'T MAKE SURE IT'S PEACEFUL.
AND, UH, THEY'RE VERY PEACEFUL THAT THEY, OUR LOCAL RESIDENT, I'M VERY SURPRISED.
AND, UH, BUT AGAIN, AGAIN, I, WE, WE TALKED TO THEM AND WE MADE A SPEECH.
WE INVITE THEM TO JOIN THE GOVERNMENT.
AND TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND TO LOOK INTO THE BUDGET AND SEE YOU, THEY CAN INPUT.
AND LIKE YOU SAY, THEY FOUND THE POLICE.
WHAT'S THE DEFINITION THAT THEY FOUND THE POLICE, HOW WE DO IT.
AND NOW WE KNOW THE POLICE TOOK US 48%.
AS PUBLIC SAFETY OR POLICE ONLY.
[02:30:01]
TO THE BUDGET.SO, SO, SO THIS IS SOMETHING, AND ANYTIME WE HAVE THIS ISSUE, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE IN SUNDAY AND THEN DIRECT THEM TO OVER THERE, TO BLOCK THE STREET AND HAVE TEND TO OVER THERE TO TRY TO MAKE PEACE.
AND, UH, AND THAT IS COST MONEY.
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ANYTIME WE HAVE POLICE OFFICE OVER THERE.
WE, WE, WE DIDN'T EXPECT, BUT THEY COME TO OUR CITY AND I, RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE REALLY, REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I THINK ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE OVER THERE, THEY REALLY PASSION.
AND THEY'RE VERY PEACEFUL AND THEY JUST WANT TO VOICE THEMSELVES REGARDING THE UNJUST, UH, THE, THE DISCRIMINATION AND IS STILL REALLY, REALLY HAPPY IN OUR SOCIETY IS REALLY SHAMEFUL.
BUT WE JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH, OKAY.
SO IT'S ISSUE AND HOPEFULLY, OKAY.
THE PEOPLE, WE ARE ALL PART AND SISTER.
AND HOW CAN WE HELP EACH OTHER AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, HOW THE POLICE OKAY.
TRUST, TRUSTWORTHY, AND CURRENT ENVIRONMENT AND HOW TO DO THE PR AND HOW TO BE NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING.
SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING OKAY.
IT'S A, IT'S A, WE HAVE TO WORK ON IT, BUT MOST IMPORTANT THING IS OKAY.
HOW DO, HOW DO WE WORK WITH OUR CURRENT POLICE AND THAT THEY REALLY TOLD, WE WOULD GO BACK TO THE FIRE AND TO SEE WHAT IS IT FEASIBLE? ANY OTHER CITY COUNCIL HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT OTHERWISE I WANT TO IMPACT THE FIRE TO CONTINUE TO FINISH UP.
ONE LAST QUESTION IS JUST REALLY QUICK.
UM, UH, ONE OF OUR RESIDENT, BRIAN, UH, TOPIC, I CAN'T SAY HIS LAST NAME TOP OF SEVEN DUBAI.
UM, HE MENTIONED ABOUT THE POSTING OF THE PHOTOS.
AND WELL, WE, WE DEALT WITH THIS BACK IN DECEMBER AS WELL.
UM, AND IF YOU REMEMBER LEADING UP TO DECEMBER, THE RESIDENTS WERE CONCERNED THAT THE POLICE WERE NOT BUSY.
THEY WEREN'T DOING ENOUGH OUT THERE.
UH, WE KICKED OFF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, REAL HEAVY.
WE WANTED TO SHOW THE RESIDENTS THAT WE WERE DOING THINGS OUT THERE.
WE STARTED POSTING THE ARRESTS, BY THE WAY THAT IS PUBLIC RECORD.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE HIDING.
IF YOU WANT IT, YOU CAN HAVE IT.
UM, WE HAVE 13,000 FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK, ANOTHER 10,000 ON INSTAGRAM.
AND I CHECKED WITH MY SOCIAL MEDIA PEOPLE TODAY.
AND PROBABLY 98% OF THEM ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT WE ARE POSTING IT.
AND I HAVE ABOUT TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT.
SO, UM, IF OUR RESIDENTS WANT IT AND THEY LIKE IT, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO PROVIDE IT.
IF COUNCIL DECIDES IS NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW, WE CAN TAKE IT DOWN.
BUT OUR CITIZENS HAVE ASKED FOR IT.
AND WE ARE NOT GOING AFTER ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP.
UH, THE, THE THINGS THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS DO IN THIS CITY ARE 100% THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OF WHAT THEY DO.
UM, BUT OUR CITIZENS HAVE ASKED FOR IT AND WE'VE GIVEN IT TO HIM.
SO I'LL TAKE ANY COMMENTS YOU WISH TO GIVE ME IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DESIRE, CHANGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
UM, THIS KIND OF IS BUDGET RELATED AND PROTEST RELATED.
UM, I TOO HAVE RECEIVED ALL OF THE EMAILS REGARDING DEFUND THE POLICE AND I WON'T ADDRESS, UM, MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT, UM, I'VE KNOWN CHIEF BELL SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN HIM TO BE HIGHLY ETHICAL, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND VERY INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, MANY PEOPLE ACCUSED THIS COUNCIL OF BEING IN THE POCKETS OF UNIONS BECAUSE THEY HELPED THEM GET ELECTED.
WELL, GUESS WHAT? THIS IS ONE TIME WHERE BEING APPOINTED WILL BE TO MY BENEFIT, BECAUSE THAT CAN'T BE SAID ABOUT ME.
AND I WILL SAY FROM THE MOMENT I GOT ON THE COUNCIL, EVEN BEFORE YOU WERE CHIEF, UM, THE POLICE OFFICERS REACHED OUT TO ME AND MANY WOULD SAY, OF COURSE, THEY REACHED OUT TO YOU.
THEY WANT YOU IN THEIR POCKET TO GIVE THEM RAISES.
BUT IN MOST OF MY MEETINGS WITH THEM, IT WASN'T ABOUT RAISES.
IT WAS ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE MORALE WAS THE FACT THAT THEY WEREN'T IN THE COMMUNITY THE WAY THEY USED TO BE, THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD SOMEHOW DEVELOPED A DISRESPECT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A DISLIKE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEY WANTED TO EARN THAT TRUST BACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.
SO WHEN I HEAR DEFUND THE POLICE, MAYBE IN SOME AREAS THAT WOULD WORK, BUT IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS OUT THERE.
[02:35:01]
ABOUT OUR CITY AND WANT TO WORK IN OUR CITY.MANY OF THEM GREW UP HERE LIKE, UH, DARIA.
AND I DID, UH, MANY OF THEM STILL HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT LIVE HERE.
THEY FEEL A DEEP SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR CITY.
SO, UM, WHATEVER BLOW BACK I GET, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS ONE OF THE TIMES WHERE I WILL STAND MY GROUND AND PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT USE OF WORDS RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UM, I WILL NOT SUPPORT DEFUND THE POLICE BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT A COMMUNITY SERVICE YOU PROVIDE TO US.
AND MANY OF THE WAYS THAT THE PROPONENTS OF DEFUND THE POLICE WANT A POLICE DEPARTMENT TO WORK YOU'RE ALREADY THERE.
AND, UH, YEAH, YOU AND DIARRHEAL GREW UP HERE AND OKAY.
SO, AND OTHER CITY MEMBER WANT TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT, BUT QUICKLY, OKAY.
WE GOT IN, UH, LET THE THIRD TIME.
AND, UH, WE TALKING TO, UH, ALL THOSE PROTESTS TO, AND I THINK THEY'RE ALL THREE ORGANIZERS.
I THINK AL OUR LOCAL RESIDENT, A YOUNG KID.
I'M NOT, THEY ARE OUTSTANDING.
THEY REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.
GET AMBER CARE, KARA AND GIGI.
ONE WEDNESDAY EVEN LEAVING YOUR DISTRICT.
THEY, THEY, THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON THE UNJUST.
AND THEN I COULD SEE, BUT I EXPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THE FUND.
AND I SAID, YOU KNOW THAT OUR CITY BASICALLY DOESN'T HAVE A UTILITY TAX.
OUR CITY DOESN'T HAVE A SALES TAX.
OUR CITY DOESN'T HAVE A PUZZLE TEXT.
LIKE ALL THE CT, I PAY FOR PUPPY SAFETY.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S PRETTY HIGH IN THE PERCENTAGE IN OUR BUDGET.
AND THEY SAID, OH MAN, WHY IS THERE, OH, WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS INFORMATION.
SO I THINK THIS IS SOME THING WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ALL THESE YOUNG, OUR FUTURE LEADERS, OUR FUTURE.
VERY KEY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THEY NEED TO, I TELL THEM, COME TO CITY COUNCIL.
A MEETING AND LISTEN TO HOW WE TALK ABOUT GAME BOY TO THE GOVERNMENT.
AND LADY, I SAY, HEY, MAYBE YOU CAN WORK WITH DIARRHEAL AS A, OKAY.
ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD LOOK INTO THE GOVERNMENT, THERE WILL BE MAYBE IN FUTURE, OUR FUTURE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, FIVE, 10 YEARS.
SO DO YOU NEVER KNOW? SO, SO I THINK THIS IS WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ABOUT.
AND THE PEOPLE PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.
WE CHANNEL THEM INTO THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THEY CAN CHANGE THE POLICY.
AT THE DATE, THEY DON'T LIKE THE CITY COME OVER HERE, BECOME OKAY.
ELECTED AND THEN TRY TO WORK AND HELP THE IMPROVEMENT OUR CITY, OTHER THAN THAT.
I'M REALLY WANTING TO MOVE TO BUDGET.
SO OTHERWISE WE WILL STAY HERE OVERNIGHT.
CAN I, CAN I JUST LEAVE YOU WITH THIS? I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I NOTICED IT WAS LONG WINDED, BUT I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR YOUNG ADULTS.
WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO, IT CHANGES UPON US AND WE ARE MAKING CHANGES.
SO I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE SO THAT EVERYONE WILL KNOW THAT.
AND THEN LET'S PLEASE, LET'S NOW SHIFT BACK TO OUR BUDGET.
THAT'S ALL WE CAN GET IT IN TOWN.
AND, UH, I THINK THE, THE THING IS OKAY.
AND THE OTHER CITY COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTION.
OTHERWISE, I, I KIND OF UNDERSTAND, OKAY.
THE, HOW WE ARE FACING SO, SO QUICKLY, I WANT TO KIND OF, UH, UH, SEE HOW OUR FUTURE, BECAUSE THIS IS A PICTURE OF A 20, 20, OKAY.
SO THIS IS ONE YEAR OF A PROJECTION OF OUR BUDGET.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE, OKAY.
THE RESIDENT DECODING ABOUT, OH, 10% RAISE THIS AND THAT.
BUT, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS TALKING ABOUT THIS CALMING.
AND OUR BUDGET AND THIS BASED ON OUR REVENUE, OUR CITY REVENUE, BASICALLY, THEY COME IN FROM JUNE.
THIS IS THE FIRST QUARTER, JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST THREE MONTHS.
AND THE, NOW YOU HAVE TO PROJECT.
WELL, WHAT WOULD BE OUR INCOME SPECIALIST SALES TAX? AND I KNOW I, MYSELF, I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW TO SEE WHAT WOULD BE OUR INCOME AND OUR BUDGET BASED ON THE $66 MILLION, JUST SHOW US.
AND THEN I THINK YOU COULD, WE SEE THE GRAPHIC OF WHAT, 24% OF OUR SALES TAX AND THE 3% LTLT TAX.
SO THERE'S 27% OF OUR REGULAR INCOME MONTHLY COMING INTO OUR CITY TO PAY BILL.
[02:40:01]
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WERE COMING IN.NORMALLY WE WILL SEE ONE POINT $2 MILLION TO PAY BILL.
NOW WE ONLY COME IN 500, $60,000 IN APRIL.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE MAY AND HOW MUCH WILL COME IN JUNE.
AND NOW WE OPEN IT UP THE BUSINESS.
THAT'S WHY WE TRY VERY HARD TO HAVE BUSINESS COMING BACK.
SO THE SALES TECH CAN COME INTO THE CITY BECAUSE WE'RE A FULL SERVICE CT.
EXPENDITURE IS COMING FROM THE REVENUE.
WE WILL SEE PHONE SALES TAX, TLT TAX AND THE FEE AND EVERYTHING ABOUT CT INCOME INTO OUR GENERAL FUND.
SO, SO I KIND OF UNDERSTAND, BUT WHEN YOU SAY AT DECEMBER OF A NEGATIVE OF A CASHFLOW MINI AFTER SIX MONTHS, SO MANY, SO YOU PROJECTS.
ALL THESE SIX MONTHS, WE DON'T HIT.
WE HAVE A MAJOR DEFICIT ON OUR REVENUE.
IS THAT TRUE? THAT'S WHAT YOUR PROJECTION, THAT'S WHY IN DECEMBER.
SO MEANING IF BASED ON LAST YEAR, THE HIT ON THE, OKAY.
AND THE MUCH WE MET MY UNDERSTANDING LAST TIME HE TOLD ME WE STAY ON TARGET, BUT THEN WE FELL THROUGH THE CRACK.
WE SHUT DOWN IN MUCH 15, WE SHUT DOWN AN ENTIRE CITY AND THEN SALES TAX WOULD BE IN QUESTIONING APRIL AND WE WILL SEE FOUND STATE, OKAY.
AND EVERY QUARTERLY, THAT WAY WE ADJUST, IF THEY PAY TOO MUCH, THEY WERE OKAY.
IF WE DON'T PAY US ENOUGH, THEY WILL MAKE IT UP THE DIFFERENCE.
SO, SO LET'S WHAT YOUR PROJECTION IN DECEMBER, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE CASHFLOW ISSUE.
WOULD YOU PRESENTER? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, YES, IT IT'S, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON, UM, FOR, UM, THE REVENUES NOT TO COME IN EQUALLY DURING THE YEAR, I HAVE TO SAY, UM, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME, LONGER THAN I CARE TO ADMIT TO EVERYBODY.
AND THIS HAS BEEN BY FAR THE HARDEST BUDGET THAT I'VE EVER HAD TO PUT TOGETHER, BECAUSE THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.
USUALLY WHAT WE DO IS LOOK BACK AT HISTORY AND PROJECT FORWARD WITH SOME ASSUMPTIONS OF, YOU KNOW, UM, INCREASES FOR CPI AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, IT, IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT YEAR TO TRY TO PROJECT THOSE REVENUES OUT.
AND LIKE I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS JUST KEEP A REALLY CLOSE EYE ON IT AND ADJUST AS, AS NEED BE.
I HAVEN'T SEEN, UM, THE SALES TAX FOR THIS MONTH COME IN.
IT SHOULD PROBABLY BE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
IT USUALLY COMES IN AROUND THE 22ND OR 23RD OF THE MONTH.
UM, SO WE MIGHT KNOW BY NEXT WEEK, UM, WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN OVER TO THE MALL A COUPLE OF TIMES SINCE IT'S REOPENED, I'VE BEEN HERE ON THE WEEKEND AND SEEN A LOT OF CARS IN THE PARKING LOT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY PEOPLE ARE SPENDING, BUT I'VE SEEN PEOPLE CARRYING OUT BAGS.
SO, UM, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT'S GONNA SELF-CORRECT AND, UH, WE CAN GET BACK ON TARGET AND BUILD OUR RESERVES BACK UP.
THE
ON TACA, DUE TO, WE WERE SEEING APRIL AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER FOR THE SECOND INSTALLMENT FOR THE PROPERTY TAX.
AND SO LET'S GO TO 40% OF OUR GENERAL FUND, BUT IN QUESTION WOULD BE THE SALES TAX MONTHLY, AND THAT CAN SEE A LOT OF RESTAURANTS.
AND I SEE A LOT OF STORES DO YOUR CLOTHES.
SO I CAN TELL THAT WE STILL SUFFERING SOME OF ALL THIS SOLDIERS.
THAT'S WHY A CDBG FUNDS SOME OF OUR OKAY.
PROMOTION WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO REALLY COME BACK.
AND THEN THE ON DEALT WITH A COUPLE OF THE STORIES YOU'RE GOING TO CLOSE FOREVER, LIKE 24 HOURS
SO, SO, SO, SO I CAN SEE, OKAY.
THAT VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE NOBODY EVEN EXPERIENCED SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE STATE OR EVEN NATION.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO FACE.
AND THE, IN THAT IN WAY, BY THE SAME TIME.
NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FIRE.
FIRE IS 30% AND THE POLICE IS WHAT? 47, 48%.
SO, SO THIS IS GOING TO EAT UP 77% OF OUR BUDGET.
WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH AND STILL KEEP OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE CHIEF, SINCE YOU'RE HERE, WE WANT TO KIND OF LEAVE YOU ALONE TO INSANE.
SO YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US QUICKLY ABOUT, OKAY, WHY DO YOU WANT TO SELL TO US? SO WE GOT IN, OKAY, WHAT IS BETTER SERVICE AND
[02:45:01]
OBVIOUSLY SAVING BOTTLE AGAIN.AND WE ARE NOW OPEN MINDED TO SEE ALL THE NUMBER.
AND, AND FOR ME, I STILL WANT MY, OKAY.
THE FIRE AND POLICE BECAUSE WE ARE A BIG CITY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY AND TO PAY, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
AND WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MOST IMPORTANT, PROBABLY SAFETY, MAKE SURE OUR SERVERS CAN HANDLE THE EMERGENCY AND TO, TO MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENT AND, UH, WE CAN SAVE LIKE IT.
HONORABLE MAYOR, MAYOR, PRETENDING COUNCIL MEMBERS, A FIRE CHIEF IS CAPELLA CITIZENS.
DO YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK ABOUT OKAY.
ABOUT WHY THE, THE COUNTY OKAY.
BECAUSE YOU TELLING US THAT POSSIBLE IS THE WAY OKAY.
THE BUDGET THAT WE CAN SAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND THAT CAN, NOTHING CAN BE GUARANTEED.
AND THE RESIDENT, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN QUESTION AND THAT WE NEED A CONCRETE NUMBER.
AND TO SHOW TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE FUND.
ALL THE OPTION WE NEED TO CHECK INTO IT.
AND THEN I THINK COUNTY OPTION POSSIBLE IS FROM YOUR GUYS' POINT OF VIEW IS POSSIBLE.
IF WE CAN SAVE MONEY, WE CAN SAVE THAT $4 MILLION OR OKAY.
AND THEN NOW NO FIREFIGHTER CAN LAY OFF.
AND WE ARE STILL KEEPING INTO THE SAME, EXACTLY THE SAME SERVICE OR EVEN BETTER.
AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU, YOU WANT TO KIND OF SHARE WITH US.
UH, WELL, UM, WITH, I THINK THE, THE ANSWER EVERYBODY'S QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT TO GO LA COUNTY FIRE? DO YOU WANT TO STAY? THE PRIMARY GOAL IS BEING A FIREFIGHTER.
BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT IS TO GIVE THE SERVICE TO THE, TO THE COMMUNITY AND GIVE THE BEST SERVICE AND ALWAYS HAVE THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO GIVE THAT SERVICE.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE SCRATCHING ALONG WITH EQUIPMENT AND, UM, RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO RUN CALLS.
FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS EVENING, WE HAD MULTIPLE LA COUNTY UNITS THAT WERE IN OUR CITY RUNNING CALLS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO RUN THOSE CALLS DUE TO MULTIPLE CALLS.
AND WITHOUT RENORMALIZATION THE CALL FOR THOSE RESOURCES TO COME SERVE, AS THE COMMUNITY ARE DELAYED, EVEN TO START RESPONDING INTO THE CITY.
SO WE'RE A BUSY, BUSY CITY, AS IT IS.
IF WE CUT RESOURCES, THOSE TIMES WILL GO UP, WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH I CAN EVEN SAY HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO GET TO A CALL.
IF WE SHUT DOWN RESOURCES WITH REGIONALIZATION, THE GOAL IS TO GET THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO THE NECESSARY EMERGENCY IN A TIMELY MANNER.
UM, THE COST SAVINGS IS THERE AT THIS TIME.
IT'S ESTIMATED ROUGHLY THE FIRST YEAR WE WOULD SAVE A, ROUGHLY $3 MILLION AND THERE'S EVEN POTENTIAL FOR MORE RIGHT WHEN THE FINAL NUMBERS COME IN, OBVIOUSLY PRELIMINARY NUMBERS ARE HERE.
UH, WE HAVE A POTENTIAL OF $27 MILLION OF OUTSTANDING NEEDS TO BRING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT UP TO MINIMUM STANDARDS.
WHEN IT COMES TO STATION IMPROVEMENTS, UH, RESOURCES THAT NEED TO BE APPREHENSIVE TO BE PURCHASED AND EQUIPMENT FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO DO THEIR JOB.
WE HAVE 20 YEAR HOSES, 20 YEAR OLD HOSES ON OUR FIRE ENGINES.
WE HAVE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE FIGHTING FIRE WITH 20 YEAR TURNOUTS.
THE GEAR THAT WE GO ON TO FIGHT FIRE.
IF THERE HAD BEEN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THAT FIRE IN LA CITY, JUST RECENTLY, OUR FIREFIGHTERS WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT BECAUSE THEIR GEAR WOULD HAVE BEEN ALREADY HAD THE THERMAL LAYERS DEGRADED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT UP TO DATE.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE MANY PAIRS THAT ARE OLDER.
SO WE NEED THE INFLUX OF MONEY INTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS TO KEEP THIS EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO SERVICE THE COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO SERVICING, UM, THE CITIZENS AS LA COUNTY.
I THINK IF YOU ASK ANY OF THE FIREMEN HERE, INCLUDING MYSELF, WE WANT TO BE A FIREMAN HERE IN WEST COVINA, BUT THE CITY OF WEST COVINA IS NOT ABLE TO KEEP THE REVENUES COMING IN ON A REGULAR BASIS TO UPKEEP THE SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED TO KEEP THE PROPER EQUIPMENT ON THE ROAD, TO THE PROPER EQUIPMENT.
UM, WITH THE PROPER TOOLS ON IT, TO KEEP THE FIREFIGHTERS TRAINED.
LIKE I STAYED IN THE FINANCE ON A COMMITTEE, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE ANYWHERE TO TRAIN THE FIREFIGHTERS.
WE NEVER HAVE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, NEVER PLANNED TO HAVE A LOCATION FOR FIREFIGHTERS, SIT DOWN AND DO TRAINING.
EVERY OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENT, LA COUNTY, EVERY SINGLE FIRE DEPARTMENT, LA COUNTY, OTHER IN WEST COVINA HAS A LOCATION FOR THEIR FIREFIGHTERS TO TRAIN.
RIGHT NOW, WE TRAIN IN THE KITCHEN AT STATION FOUR AND WE WILL NEVER HAVE THE REVENUE AS FAR AS WE CAN SEE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
REGIONALIZATION, WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE THAT TRAINING THE EQUIPMENT AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE AT ANY TIME TO SERVICE THE CITIZENS OF WEST COVINA.
AND I'M NOT HERE TO SELL THE COUNTY MODEL.
I'M HERE TO SELL SERVICE TO THE RESOURCES, TO BE CONTINUED AT THE UTMOST PERFECT LEVEL THAT WE CAN GET.
AND WE'RE NOT DOING THAT TO THE CITIZENS AT THIS TIME.
AND IF WE SHUT DOWN RESOURCES, WE BROWN OUT ANY STATIONS.
[02:50:01]
WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK HERE EXPLAINING THE DECISIONS, WHY IT TOOK 15, 20 MINUTES TO GET A RESOURCE TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBER WHO NEEDED A FIRE, A SICK CHILD, WHATEVER THE CALL MAY BE.WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THE RESOURCES THERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS.
UH, SO, UH, SO WE'RE 27 MILLION SHORT IN EQUIPMENT UPGRADES.
COULD YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON THAT? SO WHAT WE DO IS WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN THE BUDGET OVER MANY YEARS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN FUNDED, UH, FOR THINGS LIKE STATION ONE, UH, RE REBUILDING.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE STATION.
ONE WAS NEVER IMPOSED TO BE A FIRE STATION.
UM, FOR, UM, APPARATUS WE NEED CURRENTLY STATION FIVE IS IN A APPARATUS.
THAT'S THE RESERVE APPARATUS CAUSE IT'S BETTER THAN THEIR FRONTLINE.
UM, THE AMBULANCES HAVE DIESEL ISSUES, THE EQUIPMENT WE NEED AT LEAST THREE QUARTERS, A MILLION DOLLARS JUST TO PURCHASE THE PROPER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS TO FIGHT FIRE.
THAT'LL KEEP US FURNISHED WITH THAT EQUIPMENT AND THEN KEEP US UP TO DATE FURTHER WHEN WE NEED TO REPLACE THEM, BUT WE'LL NEED THAT MONEY CONTINUALLY TO COME IN.
UM, WE NEED TO UPGRADE OUR SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS IS THEY'RE THERE FROM 2007.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE OXYGEN OXYGEN BALLS.
THEY'RE THE BOTTLES THAT WE CARRY ON OUR BACKS TO GO INTO A FIRE THAT WE BREATHE.
AIR IS COMPRESSED AIR INSIDE THE BOTTLE FOR US TO BREATHE.
UM, IT'S JUST LIKE AIR RIGHT HERE.
WE PUT IT IN A BOTTLE THAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN UPGRADED AND THAT THAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TESTED AT A NUMBER OF ABOUT $125,000.
WE'RE CURRENTLY OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE, UM, EVERY FIVE YEARS, MAYBE HYDROSTATIC TESTED.
THEY ALSO HAVE PERSONAL ALARM DEVICES ON THEM.
AND A FIREFIGHTER GOES DOWN IN A FIRE.
WE CAN FIND THAT FIREFIGHTER AND SAVE THEM, UH, SHUTTING DOWN RESOURCES.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE THE PERSONNEL ON SCENE TO TRAIN, CORRECT.
I WAS JUST GONNA ASK ABOUT THE OXYGEN TANKS WHO FILLS THOSE RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE AN AIR LIGHT UNIT AT STATION TWO THAT CAN BE MANNED IN CASE OF A FIRE AND AT STATION TWO, WHEN THE BOTTLES ARE OUT OF, OUT OF AIR AND WE USE THEM ON A FIRE, WE GO BACK THERE AND THE NEXT DAY, OR MAYBE THAT SAME NIGHT AND WE REFILL THEM AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT FIRE.
BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TEST THEM OR SPEND THE MONEY TO REPAIR THE ONES THAT NEED TO BE REPAIRED.
AND, UH, WELL WE SAID WE HAVE 20 YEAR OLD HOSES AND 20 YEAR OLD TURNOUTS.
UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A, UM, ONE FIREFIGHTER THAT WE WERE USING AS AN EXAMPLE, HIS FRONTLINE HAS FIRST CHOICE OF TURNOUT THAT HE WOULD USE TO GO INTO A FIRE RIGHT NOW.
AND HE'S ACTUALLY ON DUTY RIGHT NOW.
AND HE ACTUALLY WAS ON A FIRE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO IS 11 YEARS OLD.
SO WHEN THAT TURNOUT IS USED THAT TURNOUT JACKET, TURNOUT PANTS, WHAT WE CALLED OUR FIREFIGHTING GEAR IS USED.
WE TAKE IT OFF AND WE BAG IT AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GO GET IT CLEANED AT STATION FOUR, WE HAVE THE PROPER, UM, FACILITIES TO CLEAN THE EQUIPMENT.
WELL THAT CAN'T BE DONE IMMEDIATELY.
THEN WE HAVE A BACKUP SET FOR THAT FIREFIGHTER TO GET INTO A SECOND PAIR, TO GO ON ANOTHER CAUCUS AND THEIR FIRE HAPPENS ON THE NEXT CALL.
WELL, HIS SECOND SET IS 17 YEARS OLD AND IT ACTUALLY WAS A LONER HAND-ME-DOWN PAIR OF TURNOUT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY, WHO KNOWS HOW MANY YEARS AGO.
AND THAT'S A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE.
ALL OF OUR NEW FIREFIGHTERS DAILY HAVE ONE PAIR OF TURNOUTS.
THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A SECOND PAIR.
SO THEY WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO GO TO ANOTHER FIRE IF WE HAD ONE THOSE COSTS.
THERE'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN.
THAT REGIONALIZATION WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN.
ONCE WE GET THE ONE SET AND WE GO AND REGIONALIZE AND WE DO THE CONVERSION COST TO GET THOSE, WE'LL NEVER HAVE TO BUY THOSE AGAIN.
AS A CITY, THEY COME WITH THE PACKAGE OF YOUR COSTS, THE REPAIRS THAT HAVE STATION, WE NEVER HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER FIRE ENGINE.
IT COMES WITH THE, WITH THE PACKAGE OF THE, OF THE SERVICE WITH ELLIOTT COUNTY FIRE.
WHAT'S THE RISK OF NOT CLEANING THE TURNOUTS IMMEDIATELY AS YOU WERE DISCUSSING.
WELL, THE RE RE THE RISK IS, UM, PRETTY MUCH DEATH AND GET CANCER.
A FIREMAN ABOUT A HUNDRED, 105 FIREMEN DIE OF EAR OF LINE OF DUTY DEATH.
AND A LOT OF IS DUE TO CANCER.
CURRENTLY WEST COVINA HAS ONE FIREFIGHTER THAT IS ON THE WALL IN SACRAMENTO FROM A CANCER, UM, DIAGNOSIS.
SO WE CAN GET CANCER WITH THAT.
SO WE'VE LEARNED OVER THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS AGGRESSIVELY, WE DIDN'T, WE KNEW IT, BUT WE DIDN'T REALLY AGGRESSIVELY MANAGE IT.
NOW WE'RE MANAGING IT PROPERLY IN A FIRE DEPARTMENT WHERE OUR GEAR NEEDS TO BE CLEANED AND COME OFF AND THERE'S PROCEDURES AND HOW TO TAKE IT OFF, HOW TO STORE IT, HOW TO PUT IT AWAY.
WE DON'T GO TO YOUR HOUSE ON A NEXT CALL AFTER THE FIRE.
AND NOW THAT CANCEROUS SMOKE AND AT CANCER CARCINOGENS, AREN'T, OFFGASSING INTO YOUR HOUSE, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED FOR MANY YEARS.
WHEN FIREMEN WEREN'T ABLE TO CHANGE INTO A CLEANER, WASN'T ABLE TO CHANGE IT TO A CLEAN PAIR AND BACK TO THE OXYGEN TANKS.
[02:55:01]
FIRE, EARLY COUNTY? DO THEY THEIR OWN OXYGEN TANKS? YES, THEY DO.BUT THE TESTING IS, IS WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE NOT DOING RIGHT NOW.
CORRECT? WE HAVEN'T HAD THE FUNDS TO EITHER TO NOT ONLY UPGRADE THEM TO THE CURRENT STANDARDS.
THERE WAS A 2013 STANDARD AND THERE WAS A 2017 STANDARD THAT TOOK PLACE FOR THE SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS.
AND OUR STANDARDS ARE STILL THE 2007 MODEL AND CHIEF.
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR JOB IF THE COUNTY OPTION WERE TO BE VIABLE? TO BE HONEST, I HAVE NO IDEA.
THAT'S NOT REALLY A CONCERN OF MINE.
I NEED TO MAKE SURE THE CITIZENS GET THE PROPER RESOURCES AND THE PROPER EQUIPMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT THE GUYS AND, AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TAKEN CARE OF, AND THEY GO OVER TO THE COUNTY.
THAT'S THE LEAST OF MY CONCERN.
I WASN'T PLANNING ON RETIRING.
I WAS PLANNING ON BEING THE FIRE CHIEF ALL WAY TOO YOUNG TO RETIRE, BUT I'VE BEEN 30 YEARS.
SO IN THE FIRE SERVICE, UM, AND IN MY LAST JOB, THAT WAS SEVEN YEARS PER YEAR OVER, THERE WAS A LOT BUSIER.
UM, I COULD RETIRE, BUT I DIDN'T PLAN ON IT.
I PLAN ON BEING THE FIRE CHIEF OF WEST COVINA FOR HOWEVER LONG THAT I WAS ALLOWED TO BE HERE TO MAKE A GREAT FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE'RE DOING A DISSERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE NEEDS OF SERVICE IN THIS COMMUNITY PROPERLY, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A DANGER.
AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT.
AND IN, IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS WITH, UH, LA COUNTY FIRE, UM, WHAT METHOD WILL RESIDENTS HAVE TO, TO HAVE A VOICE IF THAT OPTION WERE TO MOVE FORWARD? HOW, HOW CAN THE RESIDENTS, WELL, NOT ONLY OF WEST COVINA, BUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY, WHOEVER IS SERVED BY COUNTY FIRE, WHAT KIND OF DIALOGUE EXISTS TO BE HEARD? SO, UH, WHEN WE GO OVER, UH, WHEN THE CITY GOES OVER TO REGIONAL IS REGIONALIZED BY THE COUNTY.
THERE'S A BATTALION CHIEF THAT WOULD MANAGE OUR STATIONS.
AND THE WHOLE AREA HAS AN ASSISTANT CHIEF WHO IS BASICALLY THE FIRE CHIEF.
THAT ASSISTANT CHIEF WILL COME TO OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS.
THEY WILL BE AT THE BECK AND CALL OF THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND WHENEVER THEY CALL UPON THEM TO SEND A FIRE ENGINE TO ANY EVENT, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THE VOICE OF THE CITIZENS CAN GO DIRECTLY TO THE ASSISTANT CHIEF AND THEY WILL MITIGATE ANY PROBLEMS AND NEEDS THAT ARISE.
ACTUALLY, WE WILL NOT SEE ANY DIFFERENT, YOU'LL STILL GET A RED PIECE OF EQUIPMENT SHOW UP TO YOUR HOUSE WITH A FIRE FIREMEN ON IT AND A FIREMAN IN IT.
AND IT WILL HAVE A WEST COVINA STICKER ON THE SIDE OF IT.
UM, IT'LL JUST BE PAID FOR AND UPKEPT WITH THE LA COUNTY FIRE, UH, CONSOLIDATE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
UM, SO THE COMPLAINANTS CAN GO THROUGH THE LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IT WILL BE MITIGATED JUST LIKE WE WOULD INVESTIGATE ANY COMPLAINT OR ANY NEEDS OR ANY CHANGES.
DO WE EVER CROSS PATHS WITH LA COUNTY FIRE, LIKE SAY WHEN WE'RE GOING NORTH IN OUR CITY AND MAYBE THEY'RE GOING SOUTH? ABSOLUTELY.
THERE'S ON, ON, ON, ON OCCASION, ON A REGULAR BASIS, THE LA COUNTY FIRE HAS TO UTILIZE OUR STREETS TO GO TO CALLS IN THE NORTH END OF WEST COVINA AND THE SOUTH END OF WEST COVINA.
THEY TRANSVERSE OUR CITY ALL DAY LONG AND THEY PASS US, UM, TO GO ON CALLS.
WE HAD A FIRE ON BROADMORE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO OR A MONTH OR SO AGO WHERE WE UNFORTUNATELY HAD TWO FATALITIES.
WELL, OUR FIRE STATIONS, WE HAD THREE OF OUR FIRE STATIONS WERE FARTHER THAN FOUR OF LA COUNTY FIRE STATIONS TO RESPOND TO THAT CALL.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT, BUT I SURE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD THOSE FIRE ENGINES GO TO THAT STATION AND GO THAT CALL INSTEAD OF STATION FIVE, ALL THE WAY DOWN AT THE GALAS AND SHADOW OAK, UM, THE REGIONALIZATION METHOD IN AN AREA LIKE US, WHERE WE'RE AN ISLAND, AND THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES AROUND US FROM LA COUNTY TO SHARE.
UM, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO BE YOUR OWN BECAUSE IT COSTS TOO MUCH AND WE'D HAVE TO HAVE TOO MANY RESOURCES AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP.
WE'RE ACTUALLY KEEP TAKING AND TAKING AND TAKING AND TAKING, BUT THE COSTS KEEP GOING UP, UP, UP, UP, UP, AND THE NEEDS ARE, KEEP GOING UP, UP, UP.
I'LL JUST SEE THE COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTION.
UM, A LOT OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT FROM RESIDENTS, UM, SPOKE ABOUT WANTING TO MAINTAIN LOCAL CONTROL.
AND SO, UM, I KNOW YOU ADDRESSED THAT THERE WOULD BE A BATTALION CHIEF ASSIGNED HERE.
WHO'S HIS BOSS, THE ASSISTANT CHIEF THAT MANAGED MULTIPLE BATTALION CHIEFS.
WHO'S THE ASSISTANT CHIEFS BOSS.
THEN THERE'S A DIVISION CHIEF, UH, WHO IS STATIONED IN A CITY OF INDUSTRY THAT MANAGED THE EAST REGION OF LA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
SO WHEN WE GET TO THE FIRE CHIEF OF LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO'S HIS BOSS, UH, THE CITIZEN OF THE CITY MANAGER OF WEST COVINA CAN GO DIRECTLY TO HIM, THE ACTUAL CHIEF OF THE ENTIRE LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ARE HIS BOSS.
SO, UM, YOU'RE THE FIRE CHIEF OF WEST COVINA.
WHO'S YOUR BOSS, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THAT'S THE POINT OF THE RESIDENCE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IF THIS CITY COUNCIL OR THIS CITY,
[03:00:01]
ACTUALLY THE CITY MANAGER, DOESN'T LIKE THE JOB YOU'RE DOING, AND WE GET A LOT OF RESIDENTS COMPLAINTS.WE CAN ADDRESS THAT AND HANDLE THAT.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE COUNTY MODEL, YOU HAVE 20 LAYERS OF BUREAUCRACY BEFORE YOU FINALLY GET TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
SO IF WE ARE NOT PLEASED WITH THE BATTALION CHIEF, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF THE CITY MANAGER, CALLING HIM INTO HIS OFFICE, THERE'S MULTIPLE LAYERS AND WE MAY NOT GET A RESOLUTION.
AND SO AGAIN, WE'RE STILL HAVING THE DISCUSSION BACK AND FORTH, BUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIVE TO THIS COUNCIL, THIS CITY MANAGEMENT, AND THIS CITY ONLY NOT TO ALL OF THE AREAS.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
I'M NOT EITHER WAY, WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, WHATEVER, I'M JUST ADDRESSING WHAT I HEARD AS THE RESIDENT.
I WOULD A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE THAT THE, WHAT YOU SAID WAS ABSOLUTE FACTS.
IF I'M NOT DOING MY JOB AS SERVICING THE CITIZENS OF THE WEST COVINA AS A FIRE CHIEF, AND YOU GUYS NEEDED ME TO BE REMOVED AND SEE A MANAGER, WANT ME TO REMOVE, I CAN BE REMOVED AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, BUT THAT WOULDN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE RESOURCES AND THE EQUIPMENT AND THE STUFF WE NEED, THE FUNDS WE NEED ARE STILL NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO SERVICE THE COMMUNITY.
ON THE, I REALLY PROUD TO HAVE A WEST COVINA BUYER, WEST COVINA POLICE.
AND WHEN EVERY TIME YOU SEE WEST COVINA, OKAY.
AND I WENT BY MY HOUSE AND I WAVE.
BECAUSE I'M VERY PROUD TO, OKAY.
WHERE'S COVINA THAT CARRY OUR CITY NAME.
AND A FIREFIGHTER PARADE IN NEW YORK WITH BEES IN WEST COVINA, AND THERE IS SUCH A PRIDE, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR MEMBERS OVER THERE.
SO, SO IT'S SENTIMENTAL IS WHY WE ARE GOING TO DO THE THING.
I THINK FOR RESIDENT VERY TOUGH FOR ME, EXTREMELY, VERY, VERY TOUGH I'M THE MAYOR COULD HAVE BEEN THE, AND THE, I HAVE TO MAKE THESE VERY, VERY TOUGH DECISION.
AND THEN, THEN I THINK THE COUNCIL HAVE TO SEE, DO WE HAVE THE MONEY? OKAY.
TO HAVE YOU JUST BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, $27 MILLION OF EQUIPMENT, THAT THING I DON'T EVEN KNOW, WHAT COME DO YOU WANT TO TAKE US? BECAUSE YOU LOOK LIKE A, YOU GUYS VERY PAST SHAPE.
AND SO, SO THERE'S SOME SOMETHING THAT IS A VERY SCARY AND SHOCKING.
NOW I SEE, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS BECAUSE I SEE IT SHINING.
WENT BY MY HOUSE ON THE STREET.
SO, SO I THINK THIS IS A ISSUE.
WE HAVE A LOOK INTO IT, BUT DO WE HAVE THE MONEY TO CONTINUE TO KEEP WHAT WE HAVE AND TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENT, THEIR LIFE? I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK INTO IT.
AND I REALLY WANT THE LOCAL CONTROL, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO SAY, HEY, CHIP, COME OVER HERE.
SO, BUT NOW I SAY A SUPERVISOR, CAN I TALK TO, THEY SAID, NO.
THEN MAYBE WE'LL HAVE A MAJOR OKAY.
OF A CONCERN THAT WE HAVE TO ULA.
AND THEN CAN WE GET THE EQUAL SERVICE BECAUSE IT'S ALL UNKNOWN.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO SURVEY FROM ALL THE CITIES ARE WANTING OUR CD.
SO WHEN YOU GIVE A REPORT CARD AND YOU SEE THE RESIDENTS WHO SEE THE BOTH SIDES AND WHAT WE CAN DO, BUT OKAY.
I'LL BE OKAY DOING ALL THESE THINGS.
I WANT TO HAVE ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE THE CHANCE AND THE MAIN POINT.
SO FOR ME, MY TWO BIGGEST CONCERN IS SERVICE AND COST.
AND SERVICE IS A KEY ELEMENT IN OUR CITY.
I DID LOOK AT THE THREE, THREE OPTIONS THAT JIM GRIFFITH PROVIDED.
UM, THE BROWNOUT, JUST SO THAT THE COUNCIL KNOWS OR, AND, AND THE RESIDENT CITY OF SAN DIEGO ACTUALLY DID THE BROWNOUT IN 2005, 10 TO SAVE MONEY, UM, AND COSTS.
AND IT SHOWED THAT IT INCREASED THE TIME IT TOOK FOR PARAMEDICS TO REACH TODDLER WHO CHOKED TO DEATH ON A GUMBALL.
UM, THE FAMILY THAT WAS ACTUALLY A BLOCK FROM THE FIRE STATION AND CREW WAS AWAY ON ANOTHER CALL, UM, FILLING IN ANOTHER STATION.
SO THE, UH, POLICE ARRIVED FIVE MINUTES, UH, STARTED CPR.
THE FIRE CAME FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES, NINE AND A HALF MINUTES.
THE HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT, 78 YEAR OLD MAN, UH, WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS APARTMENT.
AFTER THE FIRE, THEY TOOK OUT THE FIRE.
THE FIRE ENGINE WOULD HAVE ARRIVED WELL FROM A STATION THREE, THREE BLOCKS AWAY.
BUT ON THAT DAY, THAT ENGINE WAS OUT OF SERVICE.
[03:05:01]
THAT BEING SAID, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE BROWNOUT SAN DIEGO, UH, ELIMINATED THAT THEY DID IT TO SAVE COSTS.UM, FOR ME, I'M NOT WILLING TO HAVE OUR RESIDENTS SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES JUST TO SAVE MONEY SINCE I VALUE LIFE.
NOW WITH THE OTHER TWO, UM, COUNTY OPERATING MODEL WITH CITY STAFF AND COUNTY CONTRACT.
UM, I WANTED TO KNOW, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE? WELL, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE OF A PARAMEDIC PATIENT TRANSPORTED BY THE COUNTY FIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT VERSUS THE PRIVATE, UH, CONTRACT AMBULANCE? AND THEN I DID HEAR THAT AND I'M NOT SURE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THEY DID SAY THAT FOR EVERY AMBULANCE OR PARAMEDIC THAT COMES OUT OF FIRE HAS TO GO, HAS TO GO TOGETHER, UM, WITH THAT.
SO IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN THAT, I'LL START WITH YOUR LAST ONE.
CAUSE THAT'S THE ONE I REMEMBER IS, UH, THERE IS, I DON'T WANT TO BE MISS CORDON.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY THERE'S NO HAS TO HAVE ANYTHING.
I MEAN, WE COULD NOT GO ON ANY CALLS.
WE COULD SEE MANAGER AND AMERICAN SAID, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO AND SERVE ANY PATIENTS AND NOT GO DO SERVICES, BUT THAT WOULD BE CRAZY.
WE'D, YOU KNOW, WE'D HAVE THAT PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IT'S TOTALLY THAT NOBODY WOULD WANT THAT.
THE REASON THAT A FIRE ENGINE GOES TO EVERY CALL IS THAT THEY ARE BASIC LIFE SUPPORT, UM, TRAINED INDIVIDUALS AND THEY CAN RENDER CATE RENDERED CARE IMMEDIATELY.
THERE'S MORE FIRE ENGINES CAUSE THEY'RE NOT AS EXPENSIVE AS PARAMEDICS AND THEY CAN GET THERE FASTER.
SO LIKE IN WEST COVINA WE HAVE FIVE DISTRICTS WITH FIVE RESOURCES THAT ARE, THAT ARE ABLE TO DO THAT CARE.
AND WE HAVE THREE RESOURCES THAT CAN DO THE PARAMEDIC CARE, THE AMBULANCE, THE PARAMEDIC ILLNESSES.
SO THERE'S AN ENGINE COMPANY CAN GET THEIR FIRST START, PRELIMINARY CARE, DO ANY LEAST INVASIVE STUFF, CPR, MOUTH TO MOUTH, BREATHE FOR THE PATIENT AND DO STUFF LIKE THAT.
STOP THE BLEEDING BEFORE PARENTS GET THERE.
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE FIRE ENGINES IN THE AREA THAN THERE ARE PARAMEDICS.
SO THAT'S THE REASON THAT FIRE ENGINES GET THERE FIRST TO SAY THAT THAT HAS TO GO THAT WAY.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THERE'S A RULE OF LAW OR ANYTHING THAT SAYS THAT A FIRE ENGINE HAS TO GO FIRST AND THE FIRE ENGINE DOESN'T ALWAYS GET THERE FIRST.
IT MAY BE THAT THE PARAMEDICS WERE OUT COMING BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL AND THEY DO GET THERE FIRST IN THE AMBULANCE.
EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PATIENT TRANSPORTED BY WELL, SO THERE'S TWO TYPES OF TRANSPORTS.
THERE'S A TRANSPORT PRIVATELY AND THERE'S A TRANSPORT BY OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
OUR, OUR PARAMEDICS, UM, THE PRIVATE AMBULANCES HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE BASIC LIFE SUPPORT EMT.
AND THEY'RE BASICALLY UTILIZES JUST TRANSPORT VEHICLES.
ONLY OUR AMBULANCE HAS PARAMEDICS ON IT.
THEY CAN ACTUALLY RENDER CARE, GIVE MEDICATIONS, UM, DO CPR, UH, WITH NICK AND DO, UH, EKG IS THEY CAN DEFIBRILLATE PEOPLE.
THEY CAN DO ALL KINDS OF STUFF ABOVE AND BEYOND THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF AN EMT.
SO WE WANT THE PARAMEDICS TO GET THERE AND DO THAT.
IF WE JUST HAVE A PRIVATE AMBULANCE GO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT CARE.
IF WE SHUT DOWN, UH, APPARATUS AND NO LONGER HAVE OUR PARAMEDICS ON THE AMBULANCE.
AND THEY'RE ONLY ON THE FIRE ENGINES, WHEN WE DO HAVE A PARAMEDIC CALL THAT FIRE ENGINE WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL WITH THE UNIT, THE RULE IN LA COUNTY, THE LAW IS THAT TO PARAMEDICS, TO BE A PARAMEDIC UNIT MUST BE ON THE SAME APPARATUS AND RESPOND TO OUR CALL TOGETHER TO BE A PARAMEDIC UNIT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAVE A PATIENT THAT HAS HIS NON BREATHING AND THEIR PULSE AND THEIR HARDEST STOP, WE WILL NEED THOSE TWO PARAMEDICS TO NOT ONLY GO TO THE CALL AND GO TO THE HOSPITAL TO TAKE CARE OF THE PATIENT, WHICH WOULD RENDER THAT FIRE ENGINE, WHICH IS WHERE THE PARAMEDICS WOULD BE.
IF WE SHUT DOWN THE AMBULANCES AT THE HOSPITAL AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO GO ON A CALL UNTIL THEY COME AVAILABLE AT THE HOSPITAL, UM, THE TWO MODELS, THE COUNTY CONTRACT VERSUS CITY OPERATING COUNTY MODEL, UH, THEY BOTH SHOW THAT TWO STATIONS WILL BE CLOSED.
UM, GOING WHAT EFFECTS WITH THESE TWO, UM, OPPOSING MODEL, UM, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE, THE, WELL, THE REGIONALIZATION OF MODEL AND THE OTHER OPTION OF THE CITY.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WILL AFFECT IT? AND I KNOW THEY ALSO MENTIONED RESPONSE TIME.
CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WITH THE CLOSURE OF ENGINE FOUR, BACK IN AUGUST OF 2018, OUR AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA IS SIX MINUTES AND 43 SECONDS.
AND THAT'S FOR 2019 NUMBERS ON 8,520 CALLS THAT WE RESPONDED TO AND UNITS ARRIVED ON SCENE.
SO WE DID GO TO 9,400 CALLS FOR SERVICE, BUT 8,520 WERE ONES THAT WE GOT ON SCENE AND, AND THEY REQUIRED US TO DO SOMETHING ON SCENE.
AND THE AVERAGE TIME, LIKE I STATED WAS 606 MINUTES AND 43 SECONDS.
THE AVERAGE TIME FOR A UNIT IN WEST COVINA TO GET TO STATION FIVE'S DISTRICT.
AND THAT'S ALL I LOOKED AT WAS 11 MINUTES WAS THE AVERAGE TIME FOR A UNIT WHEN THE RANGE OF FIVE WAS ALREADY ON ANOTHER CALL.
AND THAT'S WITH ENGINE FIVE IN SERVICE AND ALREADY ON ANOTHER CALL.
SO NOW IF ENGINE FIVE IS SHUT DOWN AND BROWN OUT AND WEST COVINA IS DOING THE SERVICE, THE
[03:10:01]
AVERAGE CALL FOR THE FIRST UNIT TO GET ON SCENE OF A CALL AND PFIZER, IT WILL BE 11 MINUTES.I'M A THIRD PARTY EVALUATION OF WEST COVINA AND THE REGIONALIZATION METHOD, THE AVERAGE LA COUNTY THERE'S LA COUNTY CAN REACH 90% OF THE CITIZENS IN WEST COVINA IN SEVEN MINUTES FROM THE SURROUNDING FIRE DEPARTMENTS, FIRE STATIONS, JUST IN LA COUNTY.
THAT'S NOT EVEN UTILIZING THE STATIONS IN WEST COVINA.
SO OF THE EXISTING FIRE STATIONS IN LA COUNTY, THEY CAN REACH ALL THE CALLS IN WEST COVINA WITHIN SEVEN MINUTES.
NOW ADD THE THREE STATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IN WEST COVINA.
AND WE HAVE THE GOOD COVER TO THAT POINT.
AND WE WON'T HAVE 11 MINUTE RESPONSE TIMES, NO 11 MINUTES.
UM, SO THE, IF WE DO GO TO COUNTY, DOES THE WEST COVINA FIREMAN ACTUALLY GET TO STAY HERE IN WEST COVINA OR DO THEY SHIFT OFF AND THEY GIVE US NEW? YEAH.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IS IT'S.
SO THE ENGINEERS ARE CURRENTLY, UM, WORKING IN WEST COVINA, UH, TRADITIONALLY STAY IN THE CITY AND THEY STAY HERE AND THEY TEACH THE COUNTY FOLK THAT COME HERE OF HOW WEST COVINA WORKS, WHAT THE STREETS ARE LIKE, WHAT TARGET HAZARDS WE HAVE SINCE THEY KNOW HOW TO DRIVE.
AND THEY TEACH THEM WHAT'S, WHAT'S WHAT, THE WAYS OF WEST CONVENER PLUS FARMINGTON TO STAY AS WELL, AS WELL AS LA COUNTY FIREMAN THAT LIVE IN THE CITY WILL NOW BID AND WANT TO WORK IN WEST COVINA.
CAUSE THIS IS WHERE THEY LIVE.
SO WE'LL HAVE ACTUALLY CITIZENS OF WEST COVINA WHO WORKED FOR LA COUNTY FIRE WORKING ON OUR FIRE ENGINES HERE IN WEST COVINA.
AND ACTUALLY, UM, I GUESS MAJORITY OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH IS WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SHOEMAKER, JUST SO SHE HAD A LIST OF QUESTIONS THAT I LIKE TO SEE THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE HARD NUMBERS.
I LIKE TO SEE ALL THE COSTS, UM, BEFORE DECIDING ANYTHING.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER? OKAY.
I THINK, AGAIN, AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING EXTREMELY TOUGH.
AND THERE'S ON THE WALL RESIDENT.
THIS IS A PRACTICAL, UH, OKAY.
ISSUE ABOUT, UH, THE RESPONDENT.
THEY HAVE A SENTIMENTAL ISSUE BECAUSE WE TOGETHER FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
NOW WE HAVE TO DO THE SEPARATION.
AND THAT, AND THEN WE REALLY WANT TO SEE, CAN, CAN WE KEEP OUR TRUE, OKAY.
WE WANT TO SEE, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER WAY? OKAY.
AND NOT JUST COUNTY COUNTY COUNTY.
OR FIREFIGHTER OR COUNTRY OR OKAY.
AND SOME OF THE OLDEST WE HAVE, UH, OKAY.
WHILE WE CAN DO AND THEN INCREASE OUR REVENUE AND SEE WHERE HAVE ANY OKAY.
ANY CHANCES TO SEE, TO KEEP WHAT WE HAVE.
BECAUSE THE CONCERN I HAVE IS OKAY.
LIKE LAST TIME WE FILLED IT UP, THE GUY WAS TO OKAY.
FILL IT UP TO LOAD OVER TIME AND WE DID EVERYTHING YOU SAY, WE FILL IT UP.
AND THEN WE WANT TO INCREASE THE SERVICE.
AND WE WANT YOU TO LOAD OVER TIME AND WE DO EVERYTHING.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE A GOOD SERVICE WITH FULL OKAY.
AND SO, SO, SO WE DID EVERYTHING THERE.
AND THAT'S HOW WE FELL THROUGH THE CRACK.
FOR FIREMEN, YOU WANT JOB SECURITY.
NOT GOING TO STAY WITH WEST COVINA BECAUSE WE LOOK LIKE WE ARE ON STABLE OF OUR FINANCIAL FUTURE.
I THINK WESCO GANG, THE FUTURE IS VERY BRIGHT AND A LOT OF BUSINESSES REALLY WANT TO COME TO WEST COVINA BECAUSE WE ARE CENTRAL LOCATED AND IT WAS TEMPORARY WAY.
SO, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, OKAY.
I UNDERSTAND WHY WE DIDN'T SHY OFF CASH.
ON HOW WE, AND THE STATE AND COUNTY NOW HELPING US, THEY SHUT US DOWN AND THEN NOT GIVE US A TIME OKAY.
TO PAY YOU GUYS SO WE CAN GET BY.
SO THIS IS A, HOW, WHY IS THE DIFFICULTY WE ARE FACING WAY NOW I GET FOUR SIRS.
THE MOTIVATION DON'T GIVE US ANY MONEY.
AND, UH, AND THE FIRE INTO THE COMPANY.
SO, SO, SO, SO, SO THIS IS ANOTHER CONCERN, BUT, AND I THINK TO THE TWO PATTERN IS, DO WE HAVE THE MONEY? OKAY.
AND CAN WE KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE? AND THEN CAN WE HAVE, UH, OKAY.
I'LL FIREFIGHTER REALLY CAN DO THE SERVICE.
AND THE CONCERN I HAVE WITH THE COUNTY, IF THEY WANT TO TAKE OUT TO STATION.
SO I ONLY NEED THREE STATION LEFT AND HE SLED, SUPPOSEDLY WE SHOULD GET BETTER SERVICE.
[03:15:01]
THREE STATION.THE CONCEPT PEOPLE REALLY CONCERNED, AND THEN THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
NOW WE GO TO COUNTY SHOULD BE INCREASING OUR SERVICE.
WE HAVE A FULL THREE, $4 MILLION SAVING, AND THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE INCREASE.
SO FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS WE ARE CONTINUED SAVING.
IT'S THE CITY MANAGER TO SURVEY EL MONTE AND HUNDRED 20,000 POPULATION.
SO SIMILAR TO US, THEY WENT TO, THEY WENT TO QUANTIFY, HOW IS THEY DOING? OKAY.
SO HOW, HOW THEY DO IT? ARE THEY HAPPY WITH THE COUNTY? I WAS THE ONE IN CITY COVINA.
AND AZUSA OR OUR CITY, OR THEY GO TO COUNTY.
WHAT IS THE RESULT SURVEY? AND WE WANT TO SEE THE NUMBER.
SO I THINK THIS IS SO NEAT TO BE TRANSPARENT TO TWO HOURS, THE RESIDENT TO TWO OR THE NUMBER LAYOUT AND THE CONTRACT FROM COUNTY WANT TO OVER TO US.
WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK, SEE AT THE SAME TIME, SEE, DO WE HAVE ANY CHANCE TO STILL KEEP OUR, OUR FIRE? SO I THINK THIS IS THEN WE LAY OUT TO ALL RESIDENTS, BE VERY FAIR.
SO WITH VERY OPEN, THEN WE GET A FINAL TO SEE WHAT IF WE DON'T HAVE A MONEY AND THAT WE CANNOT KEEP YOU OKAY.
I THINK ONE POINT YOU MADE VERY IMPORTANT.
MR. MAYOR WAS THAT THESE OTHER CITIES THAT WE SHOULD NOTE THAT A LOT OF THE CITIES THAT ARE WITHIN LA COUNTY JURISDICTION, UM, THEY ARE PROP 13 CITIES TO WHERE THEIR PROPERTY TAXES PAY FOR COUNTY SERVICE.
AND THEN THEY ALSO PAY AN EXTRA $70 THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN WEST COVINA.
THAT'S NOT HOW IT GOES OVER OUR PROPERTY.
TAXES WILL NOT CHANGE AND NOT BE ANY PROPERTY TAX, UM, EXTRA THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO LA COUNTY.
IT'S ONLY THE FEE FOR SERVICE THAT WE PAY THROUGH A CONTRACT.
THOSE CITIES THAT ARE PROP 13, ALSO PAY AN EXTRA $70 ON THEIR PROPERTY TAX TO FUND LA COUNTY FIRE.
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN MONTE OR POMONA DAY OR THE WEDNESDAY.
I HAD TO PAY EXTRA FOR THE PROPERTY TAX.
BY THE WAY, I THINK WEST COVINA, WE DON'T HAVE A LEAD.
WE DON'T WANT TO SAVE THE TAX WTT TAGS.
SO WE, WE, I THINK WEST COVINA, WE'RE DOING GOOD.
AND SO, AND EVERYBODY KNOW I'M AN ANTI TAX GUY AS A W W I ONE, COULD PEOPLE HAVE MORE MONEY TO SPEND THEM OKAY.
AND TO HELP THE ECONOMY WHILE IT TAKES PEOPLE TO GET.
BUT SO ANYWAY, AND OTHER OTHER QUESTION, OKAY.
BECAUSE 10 30 ALREADY, AND THIS IS THE LONGEST CONSOLE ME.
I HOPE CAN SEE YOU AGAIN AGAIN.
SO, SO ANYWAY, AND OTHER THAN THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER, OKAY.
SO ON THESE DAYS WE SEE HIM, WE SEE HIM FIRE.
OTHERWISE YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS VERY BORING THING.
SO WE HAVE NO OBJECTIONS, SO WE ARE GOING TO RECEIVE A FIREFIGHT
[MAYOR/COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS]
ZERO.NO WE DON'T HAVE, AND I MET MOTHER, MAY I AND THE CITY COUNCIL WANT TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUE? YES.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAD TO PAY SINCE IT WAS BY ZOOM, BUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT, UM, THE BOARD VOTED TO DISCOUNT, UH, THE YEARLY MEMBERSHIP FEE BY 20% FOR THE CITIES THAT NEED IT.
AND THEY'RE FINDING IT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE ANNUAL RETREAT.
SO THEY HAVE THE COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DO DAYLIGHT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO THE RETREAT.
SO THAT WAS REALLY ALL I KNOW.
YOU'RE STILL LUCKY TO HAVE LED.
WE SAVED SO MUCH MONEY FOR YOU.
SO ANY OTHER COUNCIL? WE HAVE HER COMMENTS.
I MEAN, OVER-THOUGHT PLAZA WEST COMMUNITY YESTERDAY.
THERE WERE QUITE A FEW STORES IN THEIR CLOTHES, BUT NOT ON EVERYBODY.
I SPENT $189 IN PENNIES YESTERDAY.
MY TAX DOLLARS WERE STAYED HERE IN WEST COVINA, BUT, BUT OKAY.
COUNCILMAN JOHNSON, YOU NEED TO BUY A CAR.
YOU NEED TO BUY A COUPLE OF YOUR WIFE.
THAT WAS HER BIRTHDAY PRESENT.
THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF FOOT TRAFFIC I WENT THROUGH AND I WENT THROUGH A FEW STORES.
THERE WERE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE IN ALL THE STORES, BUT STILL THERE ARE QUITE A FEW STORES STILL CLOSE.
[03:20:01]
LET'S JUST HOPE FOR THE BEST HOPE THEY START TURNING AROUND AND START COMING BACK.OUR COMMUNITY AND THE KIND OF A UNITED TOGETHER TO HELP ALL THE BUSINESS BECAUSE A BUSINESS WE SUFFER FOR THREE MONTHS.
AND, UH, UH, THEY, ESPECIALLY A MOM, PAS, A SMALL BUSINESS, REALLY.
WE NEED TO HELP THEM AND TO, TO SHOP.
AND TO EAT THEY'RE FEW AND THEY'RE OLDER, THEY'RE THIN.
AND, UH, WE HAVE, UH, AN, A PIZZA.
JOEY, TRY TO HAVE ALL THE LOCAL MERCHANTS.
KIND OF WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO DO, UH, SOME KIND OF A BOO OKAY.
SO THE TWO OUTSIDES ARE HOPEFULLY, OKAY.
WE CAN KIND OF GET PEOPLE TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL OKAY.
AND THEN OUR LOCAL, OUR RESIDENT REALLY OKAY.
FOUND THE SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THEY REALLY SAY, HEY, SHALL WEST COVINA, BECAUSE WE NEED TO HELP TO HELP SOWS OKAY.
SMALL BUSINESS PICK ON THEIR FEET BECAUSE THEY NEED TO HAVE THIS SPENT ALL THEIR SAVING TO SET UP BUSINESS IN OUR CTE.
AND THEY CERTAINLY CAN SHUT DOWN BY, BY STAY AND BY A COUNTY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
AND THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING AND TAKING A FEED, THEIR FAMILY, THEY'RE GOING TO PAY RENT.
AND THEN THIS IS REALLY A WEEDY TO SYNTHESIZE.
WE UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLING FOR A LOT, A LOT OF PEOPLE.
13.5, 14% OF OUR EMPLOYMENT RATE.
SO WE NEED, WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY STRUGGLING AND WHY NOW? SO WE HELP, BUT OKAY.
AND THEN LET'S HELP OUR LOCAL BUSINESS AND TRY TO SHOP LOCAL.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLASS 2020.
AND UH, WE CITY COUNCIL, WE LOVE OUR CHILDREN AND THEY ARE OUR FUTURE.
WE WANT TO WISH, WISH THEM ALL THE BEST AND THEY SHOULD KNOW, OKAY, WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.
AND WE KNOW YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT FUTURE.
AND, UH, UH, YOU HAVE EVER CHANCE GOING INTO OUR YOUTUBE AND CHECK ABOUT THE VIDEO AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND A CT RECOGNIZE YOU.
AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND THAT WE WANT TO WISH A WONDERFUL FUTURE, GO TO COLLEGE OR GO TO FIND A JOB OR SOMETHING.
BUT SOMETIME WHERE YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL, COME BACK TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND NOW THE CITY COUNCIL WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING IF THEY'RE NOT OKAY, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? GO HOME.