[00:00:03]
>> I GUESS WE'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER ON
[1. CALL TO ORDER ]
MARCH 15TH AT 6: 31 PM WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, IF YOU COULD PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I APPRECIATE IT.>> HAPPY TO DO SO. PLEASE RISE, PLACE YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART AND SAY IT WITH ME PLEASE.
THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> WE MOVE TO ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
DO WE HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT, MR. RUSSI? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE DID IN EARLIER. GERALD, DO WE RECEIVE ANYTHING?
>> THEN I GUESS WE MOVE TO A CONSENT CALENDAR.
[5. CONSENT CALENDAR ]
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY PULL ANYTHING FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR?>> NOT THAT I AM AWARE OF AND THE FACT THERE'S GERALD.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? YES, SIR. MR. DAVIS.
>> NO QUESTIONS. I WAS READY TO MAKE A MOTION.
>> PLEASE, THEN I'LL TAKE A MOTION.
>> I'M GOING TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS WRITTEN.
>> SECOND. COUNCIL ROB CARDER, THANK YOU.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OR WE NEED A ROLE CALL THAT WAY?
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A REAL QUICK COMMENT ON THE WHITE PAPER FOR THE SAN GABRIEL COUNCIL GOVERNMENTS.
THE WHITE PAPER WAS REVIEWED BY THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL, COGS, CITY MANAGER STEERING COMMITTEE, ALMOST COMMITTEE MADE UP OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAFF FROM 11 OF OUR MEMBER CITIES AND ONE LA SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT, AND ULTIMATELY APPROVED BY THE SAN GABRIEL COG GOVERNING BOARD, WHICH I'M PART OF.
THE PURPOSE OF THE WHITE PAPER IS TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMATIC PROBLEMS WITH THE CURRENT HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, IDENTIFY COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS, CONFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO BEST PRACTICES AND PROGRAMS, AND DEMONSTRATE OUR DESIRE TO LEAVE THE REGION WHO ARE MORE EFFECTIVE, COUNTY WIDE COORDINATED STRATEGY TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS.
WHILE THE WHITE PAPER ENCLOSE A STRONG FOCUS ON RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORM OF LHASA, IT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES AND DISCUSSES OTHER CHALLENGES WITHIN THE LA COUNTY HOMELESS SERVICES SYSTEM, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATION, DISTRIBUTION OF MEASURE H FUNDS.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS THE CITY'S GET ACCESS TO MEASURE H FUNDS NOT NECESSARY LEFT OUT, BUT ACTUALLY HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
INCLUDING AN ADMINISTRATION DISTRIBUTION MEASURE H FUNDS, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OTHER COUNTY PROGRAMS. THIS APPROACH HAS ALLOWED US TO LOOK MORE COMPREHENSIVELY, AND MAKE BROADER RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE COUNTY'S ENTIRE HOMELESS SERVICES SYSTEM.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT GUYS THAT WE WENT AHEAD AND DID THIS BECAUSE IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY SO THAT WE, AS THE OTHER 87 CITIES IN THIS BEAUTIFUL SAN GABRIEL VALLEY AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY THAT HAVE SOME TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH MEASURE H AND BE ABLE TO FUND OUR CITIES FOR THE HOMELESS ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
WE WILL MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 2113, MR. RUSSI.
>> YES, MR. MAYOR. I'LL TAKE THIS ITEM.
[6. PUBLIC HEARINGS ]
THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO A PUBLIC HEARING YOU HAD ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AS YOU'LL RECALL, ON WHEAT AGREEMENT.THERE WERE TWO PROPERTIES THAT WERE NOT PROPERLY NOTICED, THERE'S NOT A CONFLICT.
>> IF I CAN INTERRUPT FOR JUST A MOMENT, THIS REALLY ISN'T 2113 BECAUSE THAT WAS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
>> I JUST WENT PUBLIC HEARINGS.
YOU ARE CORRECT, MR. DAVIS, I [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] WE ALREADY APPROVED ALL THE OTHER ONES.
>> [INAUDIBLE] REVISITING OF CONSENT CALENDAR.
>> NO WORRIES. I'M SORRY, MR. RUSSI. GO AHEAD.
>> THAT'S OKAY. AT THAT TIME IT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WERE ACTUALLY TWO NEW PROPERTIES THAT WERE TO BE ADDED, AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY CONNECTED INTO THE [INAUDIBLE] GOLF COURSE.
THEY NEVER GOT ADDED TO THE NEW LIST THAT GOT AMENDED, SO THEY NEVER GOT THE PROPER NOTICE.
WE NEEDED TO SCHEDULE A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING JUST AS IT RELATES TO THOSE TWO PROPERTIES.
THIS WAS THE DAY THAT WAS IDENTIFIED AS SUCH.
ALL THE OTHERS HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATELY HAD THEIR PROTEST HEARING, AND WE JUST NEED TO DO THE SIMILAR ACTION TONIGHT FOR THOSE OTHER TWO PROPERTIES.
[00:05:01]
AS OF WHEN WE CAME INTO THIS MEETING, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THOSE TWO PROPERTY OWNERS DECLARING A PROTEST.I DON'T KNOW IF ROSEANNE FROM THE HIGH COMMISSION HAS ANYTHING TO ADD, BUT THAT IS ESSENTIALLY MY REPORT.
>> WHILE THE GOLF COURSE WAS ACTUALLY ON THE DECK LIST FOR 2020.
SOMEHOW THEY ARE TAKEN UP THIS YEAR.
THIS IS THE CONTINUATION FROM LAST YEAR AS WELL.
>> VERY GOOD. WE HAVE NO ONE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER.
>> WE NEED TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN CLOSE IT?
>> LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. RUSSI? [INAUDIBLE]
>> NOTHING. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND GO BACK TO COUNCIL.
COUNCIL, WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR FOR LA COUNTY. MR. CROSBY.
>> I DID HAVE A QUESTION ON WHAT WAS JUST SAID.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WERE ON PREVIOUSLY, BUT THEN WE'VE TAKEN OFF LAST YEAR.
DOES THAT MEAN THE WEED ABATEMENT DID NOT HAPPEN LAST YEAR?
>> NO. THEY WERE ON THE LIST 2020.
IT'S JUST DURING THIS APPROVAL PROCESS WHEN WE SENT IN THE DECK LIST, THEY WERE MISSING FROM IT, BUT WE CAUGHT THAT RIGHT IN THE NICK OF TIME AND WE WERE ABLE TO ADD THEM.
>> THEY'VE BEEN ON IT SINCE 2020.
>> I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THE VIEWERS TO THINK THAT THEY WERE MISSED A YEAR SO BEFORE.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> 2020 WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY WERE ON IT THOUGH.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR BOB KRESS.
BOB, I DON'T HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS AREA?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR ANY QUESTIONS FOR LA COUNTY WEED ABATEMENT? ON THAT, WE WOULD HAVE A MOTION.
>> I ALSO MOVE TO APPROVE THE SECOND WEED ABATEMENT PROTEST HEARING FOR THE TWO PROPERTIES LEFT OFF, THE WEED ABATEMENT LIST AT THE PROTEST HEARING HELD ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 2021.
>> SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.
>> WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WHEN WE LOOK TO ITEM 7,
[7. OTHER MATTERS ]
OTHER MATTERS. MID-YEAR FINANCIAL REPORT.THAT ONE WILL BE HANDLED BY MARK ALVARADO.
I THINK MARK IS COMING ON RIGHT.
I KNOW WE'VE GIVEN YOU SOME UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR MORE THAN WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, BUT THIS IS THE TYPICAL TIME WHEN WE HAVE OUR MID-YEAR FINANCIAL REPORT WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE RELATIVE TO THE APPROPRIATIONS THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS IDENTIFY THE ADDITIONAL REVENUES.
WITH THAT, MARK WILL GO INTO SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT.
>> I BELIEVE, MR. RUSSI, THAT WAS THE REQUEST FROM THE COUNCIL TOO BECAUSE THIS YEAR HAS BEEN SO DIFFERENT TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP US UPDATED.
SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU BOB. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
YES, AS I JUST MENTIONED, WE HAVE COME TO COUNCIL A COUPLE OF TIMES ALREADY TO GIVE SOME UPDATES BASED ON THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
I'LL TOUCH A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT AND GET INTO SOME OTHER AREAS OF THE BUDGET THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT TO MAKE SOME CHANGES AS WE GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
STARTING WITH SALES TAXES, WE JUST HAVE ALLUDED TO, AS YOU RECALL, WE HAVE COME TO THE COUNCIL TWICE, BOTH TIMES WITH GOOD NEWS, TO REVISE OUR NUMBERS UP.
WHERE WE LEFT OFF LAST MONTH IN OUR UPDATES, WE HAVE REVISED OUR NUMBERS UP FROM ABOUT 3.9 MILLION UP TO 4.5 MILLION, A SOLID $600,000 INCREASE IN OUR SALES TAX FOR THE CURRENT YEAR AND OBVIOUSLY, WE WERE VERY CONSERVATIVE GOING INTO THIS YEAR, SO WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT SINCE WE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO, WE HAVE GOT A LITTLE OF INTERESTING NEWS.
WE WERE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR INTERNET SALES, ROAMING, OUR TAX SCORING, OBVIOUSLY SCORING STATEWIDE AND OBVIOUSLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BUT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCOUNTING CHANGE THAT MAY TAKE PLACE WITH, I'LL JUST CALL THEM A VERY BIG PLAYER IN THE ONLINE SALES [LAUGHTER] INDUSTRY.
IT'S SOMETHING WHERE IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY COULD
[00:10:02]
POSSIBLY DO IT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING THEIR ACCOUNTING.FORTUNATELY, THEY DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING FOR THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, BUT WE WERE ANTICIPATING MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE CHANGED IT FOR THIS LAST QUARTER OF REPORTING, WHICH IS THE FOURTH QUARTER, THE CHRISTMAS QUARTER OF ACTIVITY.
THOSE NUMBERS WERE FILED AND THERE WAS NO CHANGES THERE.
BUT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY, WE ARE THINKING THAT THERE MAY BE A CHANGE FOR THE NEXT TWO QUARTERS, THE QUARTER THAT'S ENDING, THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, AND THEN THE SPRING QUARTER.
WITH THAT BEING VERY CONSERVATIVE, WE ARE GOING TO BE BACKING OUT THAT POSSIBILITY OF THOSE NUMBERS OF THAT SALES TAX GOING AWAY.
IF YOU SEE IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT WE'RE MAKING AN ADJUSTMENT OF $100,000.
WHERE LAST MONTH, WE SAID WE WERE LOOKING AT 4.5 MILLION, WE'RE NOW GOING.
AGAIN, BEING CONSERVATIVE IF SOMETHING CHANGES, WE CAN DEFINITELY COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND LET THEM KNOW, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE FOR RIGHT NOW.
IT STILL PUTS US AT ABOUT 4.4 MILLION.
IF YOU RECALL, I MENTIONED LAST TIME THAT THE NUMBER WE'RE LOOKING AT 4.5, WOULD HAVE MADE US EQUAL TO WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE REALLY GOOD NEWS.
I THINK THE 4.4 IS STILL A SOLID, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SITUATION.
THE NEXT AREA THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT IS OUR PROPERTY TAX, STRONG GROWTH IN THAT AREA.
WHEN YOU'RE IN A CITY THAT'S WELL ESTABLISHED, BUILT OUT CITY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT STABILITY IN PROPERTY TAX AND THAT'S DEFINITELY WHAT WE SEE HERE IN LA VERNE.
OUR COLLECTION SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT UNDER 5.3 FOR LAST YEAR AND EXPECTING A THREE PERCENT GROWTH.
OUR NUMBERS WE ARE LOOKING AT ARE ABOUT 5.4 MILLION OF SECURED PROPERTY TAX FOR THIS YEAR.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A $329,000 INCREASE AS A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR.
THE NEXT AREA THAT'S TIED CLOSELY TO OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE MOTOR VEHICLE IN LIEU FEE.
WE BUDGETED A LITTLE UNDER 3.8 MILLION, 3,760,000 FOR THE YEAR AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A LITTLE BIT STRONGER GROWTH IN THAT AREA, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ADJUSTING THAT UP TO $3.9 MILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT A $150,000 INCREASE OVER WHAT OUR ORIGINAL PROJECTION WAS.
NOW FOR AN ADJUSTMENT DOWNWARD IN OUR REVENUES, THE AMBULANCE TRANSPORT PROGRAM, THIS IS THE REVENUES WE COLLECT OFF OF THE PARAMEDICS DOING THE TRANSPORT IN THE COMMUNITY.
AS YOU KNOW, WITH THE PERSONNEL SITUATION IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR AND THE REDUCTION IN THE STAFFING VACANCIES, WE HAD TO SHUT DOWN THE SERVICE, AND SO WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO BE IMPACTED ON THE TRANSPORT REVENUES.
AT THE TIME WE WERE DOING THE BUDGET ADOPTION, WE WEREN'T SURE HOW LONG WE WERE GOING TO BE DOWN AND WE WERE HOPING WE COULD GET BACK UP QUICKLY.
WE ADJUSTED OUR REVENUES A LITTLE BIT DOWN, I THINK LAST YEAR, 1,920.
WE WERE 850, MAYBE 880, SO WE ADJUSTED IT DOWN TO 740 FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T GET THE PROGRAM.
WE GOT ONE AMBULANCE BACK RUNNING TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, BUT HAVE NOT HAD BOTH.
NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT REVENUES OF APPROXIMATELY 300,000.
THAT'S ABOUT A $440,000 DECREASE FROM WHAT WE HAD HOPED TO GET AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS BUDGET HERE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, BECAUSE WE WERE RELYING ON THIRD PARTY TO DO A LOT OF THE TRANSPORT SERVICE, WAS AN ADDITIONAL COST, NOT ONLY REDUCTION IN REVENUES, BUT AN EXPENDITURE AND THAT'S ABOUT $75,000 THAT WE INCURRED WITH THAT AMBULANCE TRANSPORT SERVICE.
WE'VE INCLUDED THAT ON THE LIST OF THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS AND THAT'S BEEN INCORPORATED IN THE OVERALL SCOPE OF THE REVENUES AND THE EXPENDITURES BEING ADJUSTED.
STAYING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THE, FIRE ASSIGNMENT PROGRAM,
[00:15:02]
WHICH IS THE, WHAT I LIKE TO CALL THEM THEM, STRIKE TEAMS THAT GO OUT WHEN THERE'S WILDFIRES AND SUCH.WE NORMALLY BUDGET A LOWER AMOUNT.
WE GET REIMBURSED FOR ALL OF OUR COSTS.
WE KEEP THOSE NEUTRAL, SO WE BUDGETED $250,000 ON EACH SIDE OF REVENUE AND THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
IT'S SLOWED DOWN NOW, BUT FOR THE FIRST SEVEN, EIGHT MONTHS OF THE YEAR, THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY AND WE HAD A LOT OF STRIKE TEAMS GOING OUT.
WE ARE ADJUSTING THAT NUMBER BOTH ON THE REVENUE AND THE EXPENDITURE SIDE UP TO ABOUT $1.1 MILLION.
WE'RE WAITING FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT TO START COMING IN, BUT WE DO DEFINITELY TRACK THAT, SO WE WILL DEFINITELY BE GETTING ALL OF THAT MONEY BACK FROM THE STATE.
THE GOOD NEWS OF THAT IS THAT THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL OVERHEAD FEE, BASICALLY, THAT IT THAT IS PAID TO US FOR THESE ACTIVITIES AND THOSE REVENUES ARE, ONE, FOR WHAT WE CALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, AND THEN ANOTHER SMALLER FEE THAT GOES FOR WHAT WE CALL THE RENTAL, IF WE HAVE TO TAKE ANY OF THE APPARATUS WITHIN THE STRIKE TEAM AND TAKE ANY OF THE TRUCKS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE GET A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT.
>> MARK, REAL QUICK. [OVERLAPPING] REAL QUICK. I'M SORRY.
WHAT'S THE REIMBURSEMENT TIME FRAME FOR WHEN WE GO OUT ON FIRE CALLS AND STUFF?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT? ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT THAT BAD.
IT'S USUALLY AROUND SIX MONTHS OR SO.
SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE BIT LATER.
BUT IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT DEALING WITH THE STATE, I CONSIDER ANYTHING UNDER 12 MONTHS TO BE REALLY, REALLY GOOD BECAUSE I'VE SEEN A LOT OF HORROR STORIES WITH THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, BUT WE PROBABLY WON'T GET ALL OF IT BY JUNE 30TH, BUT IF WE CAN GET IT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THE YEAR, WE CAN DEFINITELY PUT IT BACK INTO THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
BUT IT'S NOT THAT BAD, AND OBVIOUSLY, IF TIME STARTS TO DRAG ON, THAT'S WHEN WE START HOUNDING THEM TO LET THEM KNOW THAT, "HEY, WE NEED OUR REIMBURSEMENT CHECKS."
>> THE REVENUES THAT WE WILL BE ADJUSTING ON THE RENTAL FEE, WE'LL JUST ADD UP $60,000 FROM 15 TO 75,000, AND THEN ADD $200,000 FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE REVENUE THAT WILL BE TIED TO THIS OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS OF ACTIVITY THAT WE WILL BE SEEING.
THOSE MONIES GO INTO A SEPARATE FUND FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.
[NOISE] THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, IF YOU RECALL, DURING THE BUDGET ADOPTION PROCESS IN THE SPRING BECAUSE OF A LOT OF THE REDUCTIONS ON THE REVENUE SIDE, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, WE DID CUT EXPENDITURES IN DEPARTMENTS.
WE HELD A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS AT THEIR CURRENT BUDGET.
THERE WERE THINGS THEY WANTED TO ADD IN THE OPERATION SIDE, BUT WE DID HOLD A LOT OF STUFF AT BAY.
THE CITY MANAGER DID MENTION THAT, HOPEFULLY, IF THE REVENUES CAME IN A LITTLE BIT BETTER DURING THE YEAR, WE COULD COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITH SOME OF THOSE PRIORITIES THAT DEPARTMENTS HAD TO MAYBE ADD INTO THE BUDGET.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT [NOISE], EXCUSE ME, DOING IS FUNDING SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS FOR SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE THEY'VE CURTAILED SOME OF THE SERVICES OR STOPPED THEM.
THE PUBLIC WORKS AREA WANTED TO INCREASE.
WE HAD HELD THE VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE CHARGES AND REPLACEMENT CHARGES.
EVERY YEAR, WE CALCULATE HOW MUCH MONEY WE NEED TO BE PUTTING INTO THE REPLACEMENT FUND TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO REPLACE ALL OF THE CITY'S FLEET.
OBVIOUSLY, THOSE COSTS GO UP PRETTY MUCH EVERY YEAR.
WE HELD THOSE CHARGES CONSTANT, BUT WE'RE HOPING TO ADD BACK $60,000 FOR THOSE CHARGES, SO WE CAN KEEP UP WITH THE REPLACEMENT COSTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE MONEY WHEN ANY OF THE VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT COME DUE FOR REPLACEMENT.
THE STREETS ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO ADD $79,000 FOR A LOT MORE OF THE CONSULTING SERVICES THAT ARE GOING ON REGARDING SOME OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN TOWN.
ON THE TRAFFIC AND THE LIGHTING SIDE,
[00:20:03]
WE KNOW THERE'S ADDITIONAL COST WITH OUR CONTRACTS WITH CALTRANS.WE KNEW THAT KEEPING THE BUDGET STATUS QUO WASN'T GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT WITH THEIR COST INCREASES.
FORTUNATELY, WE CAN HOPEFULLY ADD BACK ABOUT $90,000 TO KEEP UP WITH THOSE COSTS, ABOUT $36,000 FOR THE PARKS TO MAKE THE PARKS LOOK PRETTY, THE GRASS LOOK GREEN AND HEALTHY.
THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT ADDED BACK $23,000 FOR ADDITIONAL CONSULTING COSTS THAT WERE NEEDED FOR BUDGET PROCESSES FOR ACTUARIAL SERVICES AND THE CONSULTING CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR PROPERTY AND SALES TAX CONSULTANTS.
IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THREE ITEMS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT THAT THEY WANTED TO ADD; NEW CAMERAS, SOME ADDITIONAL AMMUNITION, AND A DATA COLLECTION SOFTWARE THAT ARE NEEDED FOR SOME OF THE STATE REQUIREMENTS.
THEN ON THE PERSONNEL SIDE, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF POSITIONS THAT WERE UNFUNDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
BUT ONE THAT'S VERY CRITICAL IS THE ASSISTANT PLANNER POSITION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THE STAFF WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT POSITION AND GET THAT ONE FUNDED FOR JUST BASICALLY THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
BY THE TIME THAT POSITION IS FILLED, IT WILL PROBABLY BE SOMEWHERE AROUND MAY 1ST ANYWAY, SO IT'S JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GET THAT POSITION IN-HOUSE AND GET THAT PERSON UP TO SPEED.
[NOISE] THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING THE TWO OTHER TIMES WE CAME TO COUNSEL REGARDING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SALES TAX, THE MEASURE LV TAX.
AGAIN, BEING CONSERVATIVE ALONG WITH OUR REGULAR SALES TAX, WE ADJUSTED OUR REVENUES DOWN TO 2.7 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
NOW, WE'RE BACK UP TO LOOKING AT A REVENUE INTAKE OF $3.3 MILLION.
THAT'S A NICE OVER 20 PERCENT INCREASE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.
JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, AGAIN, THOSE MONIES, THEY'VE BEEN BROUGHT TO COUNCIL EARLIER, ARE TIED TO THE PERSONNEL COST INCREASES FOR EMPLOYEE RETENTION.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO COUNCIL FOR THOSE COSTS ADJUSTMENTS WHICH ARE TIED TO THESE REVENUES THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT IN FOR THE MEASURE LV.
THE ONE ATTACHMENT THAT IS WITH YOUR STAFF REPORT, IT HAS A FEW MORE LINE ITEMS. I DIDN'T WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM, THAT ARE PART OF THE OVERALL ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE WILL BE MAKING.
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE GENERAL FUND, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE TOTAL REVENUE INCREASES AND THE TOTAL APPROPRIATION INCREASES ARE APPROXIMATELY $1.5 MILLION.
THAT BASICALLY KEEPS THE GENERAL FUND STATUS QUO.
BUT IF YOU STILL RECALL THAT THAT JUST MEANS THAT WE ARE STILL WHERE WE WERE AT THE BUDGET ADOPTION WHERE WE WERE LOOKING AT THE USE OF ABOUT $1.1 MILLION OF RESERVES TO BALANCE THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
WE ARE STILL ON TRACK FOR THAT.
THAT IS MY SUMMARY OF MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.
I HOPE IT WAS CLEAR AND INFORMATIVE AND DEFINITELY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
>> COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. ALVARADO BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT? COUNCILMEMBER CARDER?
>> YES. I WANTED TO KNOW, MARK. IT'S NICE SEEING YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON TONIGHT.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT OUR PERMITS IN PLANNING.
HOW HAS PERMITS BEEN OVER THIS PAST YEAR? WHEN PEOPLE ARE PULLING PERMITS FOR DEVELOPMENT; HAS IT REALLY DROPPED?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER THAT IS WRONG.
>> OKAY. WELL, THAT TIME YOU GAVE THE REPORT.
HOW ABOUT YOU LOOK AT IT AGAIN?
>> OKAY. [OVERLAPPING] I KNOW THERE IS DEFINITELY A LITTLE BIT OF A LAG.
>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT UNDER, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THE ACTIVITY IS LOWER.
I CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT TO YOU ASAP.
>> OKAY. THE NEXT TIME WE DO OUR REPORTING [OVERLAPPING].
>> ERIC IS COMING ON. HE MAY HAVE AN ANSWER FOR US. ERIC.
[00:25:01]
>> WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
>> YEAH, SOMETIMES LAPTOPS DON'T PICK IT UP FOR SOME REASON.
>> WHAT I CAN DO TO? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WAS COMING OVER TO HELP YOU. [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL I THINK [INAUDIBLE] WAS A PROBLEM.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SIGN, SO I'M SORRY.
I HAVEN'T LEARNED THAT YET [LAUGHTER] BUT I THINK I SHOULD.
>> WHAT WE CAN DO SINCE HE'S HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING HIS MICROPHONE ON AND YEAH, WE CAN'T READ LIPS.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE'LL GET BACK TO COUNCIL WITH SOME NUMBERS.
I CAN LET YOU KNOW AND ERIC, IF YOU CAN NOD.
WE'D HAVEN'T HAD ANY MAJOR PROJECTS, SO THAT DRIVES A SIGNIFICANT PART OF WHAT OUR BUILDING PER REVENUE USUALLY IS.
WE HAVE HAD SOME OF THE SMALLER INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED, BUT WHERE WE SEE A LARGE AMOUNT OF THAT MONEY IS WHEN WE HAVE SOME OF THE LARGER PROJECTS.
THAT'S CERTAINLY HAS SLOWED DOWN IN COMPARISON TO PRIOR YEARS.
>> WE COULD USE A SHARPIE AND A PIECE OF PAPER.
[LAUGHTER] JUST WIGGLING AROUND.
>> WE WILL GET SOME NUMBERS TO COUNSEL.
IT'S EASY ENOUGH TOMORROW SO YOU CAN HAVE THOSE.
>> YEAH, EVEN THE PERMITS PULLED FOR HOMEOWNERS DOING PROJECTS.
ALL THE PERMITS WE'RE PLANNING.
>> THAT ONE HAS IN COMPARISON TO HISTORICAL.
SO WE CAN GET YOU A DOZEN NUMBERS OF THOSE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTION BEFORE I GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT? LET'S GO AHEAD.
[INAUDIBLE] OR ANYBODY ELSE WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT NOW.
ERIC OR JARED, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE RECEIVED NO REQUEST FOR THIS ITEM.
>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
COME BACK TO COUNCIL. COUNCIL DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. ALVARADO?
>> I DO, I'M SORRY. THANK YOU SIR.
JUST A QUESTION MR. ALVARADO, YOU EXPLAINED HOW INTERNET SALES TAX IS GOING DOWN A LITTLE BIT MAYBE NEXT YEAR, COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE?
>> OKAY, SO BASICALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IS AMAZON IS LOOKING AT REDOING HOW THEY ARE REPORTING.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ECONOMY, WITH PEOPLE NOT BUYING STUFF OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S BASICALLY THEY ARE JUST LOOKING AT CHANGING THEIR REPORTING, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY POSSIBLY CAN, WHICH IS GOING TO CHANGE POINT OF SALE.
THAT'S WHERE THE FOCUS IS RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE NOT SURE HOW THAT'S GOING TO WIND UP.
>> WILL THAT ONLY AFFECT THEIR PRODUCTS OR WILL THAT AFFECT ALL INTERNET SALES THEN?
>> WE ARE NOT SURE I ACTUALLY ASKED THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION TO OUR CONSULTANTS BECAUSE WE DO GET THEIR REVENUE IN TWO BUCKETS.
ONE OF IT IS THE ITEMS THAT ARE SOLD FROM AMAZON AND THEN THE OTHER ONE, THE OTHER BUCKET IS THE REVENUE, THE SALES TAX THAT WE GET FROM OTHER THIRD-PARTY COMPANIES THAT ARE USING THEIR PLATFORM TO DO IT.
WE ARE GETTING IT IN TWO DIFFERENT BUCKETS, BUT THEY'RE NOT SURE IF IT'S GOING TO AFFECT BOTH OR JUST ONE OF THEM.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT TIME FRAME LOOKS LIKE OR DO WE KNOW WHAT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS ARE, OR IS IT TOO SOON TO SPECULATE? DO WE NEED MORE DETAIL TO KNOW WHAT THE POTENTIAL DECLINE WILL BE?
>> WELL, WE'RE NOT SURE IF IT'S GOING TO BE BOTH OF THEM, OR IF IT'S GOING TO BE ONE.
THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CHANGE THE REPORTING FOR THIS QUARTER THAT JUST FINISHED BUT THEY DIDN'T.
THE TIMING COULD BE THAT IT COULD TAKE EFFECT FOR THE CURRENT QUARTER GOING FORWARD.
IT COULD MAYBE THEY'RE WAITING AND THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT OR SOMETHING'S GOING BACK AND FORTH WHERE MAYBE THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET IT GOING FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER, MAYBE THE START OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE ADJUSTMENT THAT WE JUST MADE RIGHT NOW, ABOUT A HUNDRED AND FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS I BELIEVE WE PUT IN THE REPORT IS BASICALLY HALF OF WHAT WE'RE GETTING.
IF WE WANT TO EXTRAPOLATE AND SAY IF THE WORST SCENARIO HAPPENS, THEN THAT'S ABOUT $20,000.
>> MARK, POINT OF SALE FOR AMAZON IS NOT GOING TO BE WASHINGTON STATE.
IT'S GOT TO BE IF I ORDER SOMETHING.
>> THEY'RE LOOKING AT MAKING THEIR DISTRIBUTION CENTERS THE POINTS OF SALE SO THAT IT GOES TO THE AGENCY WHERE THE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS ARE.
[00:30:02]
THAT'S REALLY THE CRUX.WE'RE STILL GOING TO COLLECT SALES TAX.
IT'S JUST IT'S NOT GOING TO BE DIRECTED THROUGH THE STATE.
IT'S GOING TO GO AND BE ASSIGNED TO WHATEVER COMMUNITY THOSE DISTRIBUTIONS ARE.
>> THIS IS NOT A LA VERNE THING, THIS IS EVERYWHERE THING.
THE BIG ONTARIOS ARE REALLY MAKING A LOT MORE THAN THE LITTLE ONES.
>> YEAH, I CAN SEE SOME BIG LAWSUITS COMING DOWN THE PIKE ON THAT [LAUGHTER].
YOU HAVE OTHER DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES ALSO THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF DISTRIBUTION, BUT YOU HAVE CAR MANUFACTURING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU HAVE MANUFACTURERS. IT'S LIKE WHERE DO YOU STOP?
>> YEAH, IT'S NOT BRICK AND MORTAR WHERE PEOPLE ARE ACCESSING THE STORE AND INTERACTING.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE I SAID, A GOOD LAWSUIT.
SERIOUSLY IT'S ACTUALLY CALLED FUZZY MATHEMATICS AND TRYING TO PINPOINT LOCATIONS OF TRANSACTIONS BASED ON SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN WITH CLICKS ON A COMPUTER.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT MARK THAT YOU GUYS ARE WITHHOLDING 104,000 WHICH IS ABOUT HALF OF WHAT WE THINK MIGHT BE THE HIT, BUT IT MAY NOT BECAUSE THEY NEED TO IMPLEMENT.
THEY'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PINPOINT AND UNDERSTAND WHICH CLICKS ARE ONTARIO AT THE TIME THAT THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW.
ANYBODY WHO RECEIVES A PACKAGE CAN SOMETIMES SEE, THIS CAME ALL THE WAY FROM NEW YORK.
IF THAT'S REALLY NEW YORK, THEY'VE GOT TO FIGURE THEN OUT WHICH DISTRIBUTION CENTER, IF ANY, DO THEY WANT TO DETERMINE THAT COMES FROM, OR DO THEY JUST WANT TO CONSIDER IT A CALIFORNIA SALE, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AND THEN, THEN THEY'RE SAYING, "ALL RIGHT, HERE'S CALIFORNIA SALES, WE'LL DISTRIBUTE IT BY COUNTY THEN YOU GUYS IN THE COUNTY FIGURE OUT WHAT EACH TAKE IS ON THAT, " AND THAT'S HOW THEY'RE DOING IT NOW AND THEY WANT TO BE MORE SPECIFIC.
WHY? BECAUSE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS WANT A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY.
>> I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO DEEP TONIGHT AND I KNOW YOU DON'T EITHER.
BUT WHEN I BUY SOMETHING FROM AMAZON, IT IMMEDIATELY ADDS THE 10.25 PERCENT TAX WITH MEASURE LV AND THE WHOLE LA VERNE ZIP CODE, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO REALLOCATE THAT IN DECEMBER [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY WHERE THE TAX RATES ARE DIFFERENT, I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK.
>> WELL, THEY'LL HAVE TO CHANGE HOW MUCH YOU GET TAXED.
>> THE ONLY WAY THEY'RE KNOWING WHEN I'M CLICKING IS MY ZIP CODE.
THEY'RE GOING TO [LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHY I'M CALLING THIS FUZZY MATH.
>> I'M GONNA SAY THAT THIS IS VERY FUZZY FOR ALL OF US.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT I THINK MR. KRESS IS CORRECT AND I THINK MR. DAVIS IS CORRECT THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SITUATION FOR SOME ATTORNEYS TO LOOK AT SERIOUSLY IF THEY START DOING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT A LOT OF COMMUNITIES.
>> IT HAPPENS TO [INAUDIBLE] OF ENERGY ALL THE TIME.
I GET IT, IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO SETTLE EITHER, WHICH LEAVES IT RIGHT FOR WHAT MR. KRESS IS SAYING, IT'S A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
>> MARK, HAS THERE BEEN ANY RUMBLINGS FROM ANY CITIES OR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ANTICIPATING AN IMPACT? BECAUSE I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT OUR BOTTOM LINE.
I'M SURE THERE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
IS THERE ANY RUMBLINGS THAT YOU'VE HEARD OUT THERE?
>> I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY FROM THE FINANCE SIDE, BOB, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD FROM TALKING TO DIFFERENT CITY MANAGERS.
>> NO, BUT TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY USUALLY WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING TAKES EFFECT AND THEN THEY GO BACK AND ASK FOR A REVIEW BY THE FRANCHISE TAX BOARD OR WHATEVER THE NAME OF THE NEW AGENCY IS TO REVISIT WHETHER THIS WAS APPROPRIATELY APPLIED.
BUT TO ANTICIPATE WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE, THEY WANT TO WAIT UNTIL IT ACTUALLY DOES OCCUR.
I WOULD EXPECT THAT WOULD BE NEXT YEAR, ONCE THEY PUT IN WHATEVER HAS OCCURRED, WE'VE ONLY RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION THROUGH OUR SALES TAX CONSULTANT WHO SAYS, "HEY, THIS IS WHAT'S BEING PURSUED." WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT YOUR NUMBER COULD BE LOWER AS A RESULT AND SO WE'VE TAKEN THIS CONSERVATIVE APPROACH RATHER THAN SURPRISING, GIVING YOU MUCH GRANDER PROJECTIONS THAN WHAT MIGHT OCCUR.
WE COULD COME BACK WITH GOOD NEWS, BUT AT THIS POINT WE'RE GOING TO PULL BACK A LITTLE BIT ON THOSE PROJECTION.
>> I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THERE ARE NOT PLENTY OF LAW FIRMS AND WHATNOT ALREADY, THIS IS ON THEIR TICK LIST AND THEY'RE ANTICIPATING [LAUGHTER] WHO THEY'RE GOING TO RECRUIT AS THEIR.
>> SPECIALIZE IN IT, WE'VE BEEN ENGAGED AS YOU KNOW IN
[00:35:02]
ONE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING RECAPTURING OUR REVENUES.THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT SIMILAR FIRM TO TAKE THIS ON AS WELL. WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. ALVARADO?
>> JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS.
THIS JUST SHOWS THE DELICATE NATURE OF HOW MONEY CAN ESCAPE OUT OF YOUR GENERAL FUND FROM OTHER AREAS.
WE HAVE TO BE DILIGENT AND BE CAUTIOUS.
I REALLY DO APPRECIATE OUR CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO EVERYTHING WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TIP OF THE SCALES GOES IN OUR FAVOR, BUT STILL WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS.
THIS IS STILL A ROUGH ENVIRONMENT.
LOT OF CITIES ARE IN MUCH WORSE SHAPE THAN WE ARE.
ACTUALLY, WE'RE IN REALLY DECENT SHAPE CONSIDERING WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH.
I DID HAVE A REAL QUICK QUESTION.
THIS IS GOING BACK TO OUR AUDITED DEMANDS.
IT'S THE PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS AND POOLED INVESTMENTS.
MARK, A LOT OF THESE INVESTMENTS ARE COMING DUE IN 2021, ARE WE LOOKING AT SOME OTHER POOL OF INVESTMENTS? I DON'T KNOW, RATES ARE SO LOW RIGHT NOW I MEAN, I'M SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT THAT.
>> WE HAVE AN INVESTMENT POLICY AND AS WE HAD PREVIOUSLY MET WITH THE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE, SOME OF THOSE YIELDS ON THE LONGER-TERM, WE TRY TO STAGGER THEM.
BUT THE YIELDS THAT ARE OUT THERE ON THOSE THREE TO FIVE-YEAR JUST AREN'T ATTRACTIVE AT THIS POINT, YES, WE DO NEED TO START INVESTING.
BUT I THINK WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT LAST, I SHOULD TRY TO REMEMBER WHEN EXACTLY IT WAS, JUST THOSE THREE TO FIVE-YEAR WINDOWS.
IT JUST WASN'T FAVORABLE TO BE PUTTING ANYTHING AWAY.
WE'RE HOPING THAT THE MARKET IMPROVES WHERE WE CAN START TO REINVEST.
BUT AT THIS POINT, NOW, WE WILL COME BACK TO THE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE TO LOOK AT.
THE INVESTMENT PLAN THAT WE HAVE ALREADY LAID OUT TO TRY AND START PUTTING SOME OF THOSE ASSETS BACK INTO GENERATING INTEREST FOR US.
>> YEAH BECAUSE IN 2021 WE HAVE ABOUT 10 INVESTMENT POOLS THAT ARE UP IN HERE.
BUT AS WE WERE LOOKING AT WHAT TO REINVEST IN, THERE JUST WASN'T ANYTHING THAT WAS BETTER THAN [OVERLAPPING] POINT, WHICH HAD MUCH BETTER LIQUIDITY.
>> NO WHEN INTEREST RATES ARE SO LOW RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST AMAZING.
DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS, MR. KRESS?
>> I WOULD LIKE A MOTION THAT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, MR. ALVARADO? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAY I HAVE A MOTION?
>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS DETAILED IN THE INCLUDED BUDGET AMENDMENT LISTING TO ADJUST THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE PHYSICAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET.
>> COUNCILWOMAN CARDER SECONDS. ROLL-CALL VOTE
>> WITH A GREAT DEAL OF APPRECIATION TO THE ENTIRE FINANCE DIVISION, I VOTE, YES.
>> VERY GOOD. NOW WE MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS.
>> ACTUALLY BEFORE WE DO, I KNOW THERE WAS AN [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH, I MENTIONED IT BEFORE WE STARTED THE MEETING REGARDING JUST PUTTING OUT THERE THAT WITH THE CHANGE THAT CAME INTO EFFECT TODAY WITH BELL COUNTY MOVING INTO THE RED TIER.
THERE'RE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, SOME CHANGES AS IT RELATES TO BUSINESSES.
IT WAS ASKED THAT I RUN THROUGH SOME OF THOSE ON THE RESTAURANT FRONT, INDOOR DINING WILL BE ALLOWED FOR 25 PERCENT OF WHAT THE RESTAURANT'S CURRENT CAPACITY IS WITH ONE HOUSEHOLD SITTING AT A TABLE AT A TIME.
SCHOOLS MAY REOPEN FULLY IF THEY SO DESIRE BASED ON MEETING THE COUNTY PROTOCOLS.
MOVIE THEATERS, AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD WHAT THIS MEANS FOR EDWARDS OR IF THEY'RE GOING TO REOPEN, BUT THEY CAN OPEN TO INDOOR OPERATIONS OF 25 PERCENT, WHICH AS WE KNOW BASED ON THEIR SUMMIT SITTING WOULD BE LIMITED, BUT STILL THEY COULD ALLOW THAT TO OCCUR.
THEN GYMS ARE ALLOWED FOR INDOOR OPERATIONS OF 10 PERCENT CAPACITY.
THEN THAT WOULD STILL REQUIRE THAT PEOPLE BE MASKED AT ALL TIMES WHILE THEY'RE DOING THAT.
THERE WAS MUSEUM AND GYMS AND AQUARIUMS, BUT THOSE ARE ZOOS AND THOSE DON'T AFFECT US, SO I WON'T GO INTO THAT.
IN ADDITION, YOUTH SPORTS HAS BEEN EXPANDED.
THEY ARE ALLOWING A LOT MORE YOUTH SPORTS TO ACTUALLY PRACTICE IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE AS WELL AS HAVE GAMES.
MASKING IS REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES DURING THE PRACTICES.
WE HAVE SHARED ALL THAT INFORMATION WITH OUR YOUTH SPORTS AND SOME OF OUR OTHER USERS SO THAT THEY ARE AWARE IF THEY WANT TO START ENSURING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SATISFY THE PROTOCOLS TO BE ABLE TO START GETTING SOME MORE ACTIVITIES FOR OUR KIDS.
ALSO CONNECTED TO THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE,
[00:40:02]
WE RECEIVED A NOTICE TODAY AND UNFORTUNATELY, AS IT RELATES TO WASTE MANAGEMENT.THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL ROLLOVER ROUTES AND THAT IS JUST SIMPLY THE RESULTS OF SOME STAFFING CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE HAVING IS CONNECTED TO COVID.
AS FAR AS NOT NECESSARILY DRIVERS THAT ARE SYMPTOMATIC, BUT DRIVERS THAT UNDER CHALLENGE, THEY'RE GETTING ENOUGH BACK WHENEVER THEY HAVE ONE OR TWO, THEY JUST HAVE SUCH A LIMITED STAFF.
THE TWO AREAS THAT ARE BEING AFFECTED STRICTLY BY RECYCLING THAT MAY NOT BE FULLY PICKED UP TODAY SO LEAVE YOUR CANS OUT TILL TOMORROW ARE BASICALLY EMERALD AND WHEELER FROM BASELINE UP TO ABOUT SIERRA LA VERNE GENERALLY.
THEN THERE'S THE ROUTE THAT IS ARROW ON THE NORTH SIDE, WEST OF B TO THE CITY LIMITS AND THEN PUTTING STONE VILLAGE SO THAT CONDO COMPLEX DOWN THERE.
THEY MAY HAVE GOTTEN TO SOME OF THE ROUTE BUT THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T GET TO ALL THE ROUTES, ALL THE HOUSEHOLDS IN THOSE GENERAL AREAS.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE GOODS AND BADS AS IT RELATES TO COVID. THANK YOU.
>> QUICK QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED EDWARDS.
HAS ANY COMMUNICATION BEEN HAD WITH EDWARDS AS FAR AS IF AND WHEN?
>> WE HAVE NOT, SINCE TODAY WAS THE FIRST DAY THAT THE RESTRICTIONS CAME ABOUT.
WE DO PLAN TO REACH OUT TO THEM, ONE AS IT RELATES TO SOME OF THE LANDSCAPING, BUT ALSO WHAT IS THEIR INTENT TO HOPEFULLY DO SOME AMOUNT OF REOPENING.
ONCE I GET SOME AMOUNT OF INFORMATION, MARK I'LL CERTAINLY SHARE IT WITH THE COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. THAT'S A LOT OF GOOD NEWS.
HERE'S A GOOD THING. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WORLD COMMUNICATIONS.
[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS/ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ]
JEROD DO WE HAVE SOME COMMENTS TONIGHT?>> YES, MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE ONE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED SO FAR.
I HAVE ROBERT RUSSELL ON THE LINE.
>> JEROD BEFORE YOU DO, YOU CAN KICK MARK OFF.
UNLESS HE WANTS TO STICK AROUND.
>> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
>> I'M A FORMER LILBURN RESIDENT, REST OF MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY STILL LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE ALSO SERVED WITH THE LILBURN FIRE DEPARTMENTS FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT STATE IN THE CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE IN PROVIDING SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
WHILE I CAN LOOK BACK AND REHASH THE ISSUES THAT HAVE LED US TO THIS POINT.
WE MUST ALL LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING THE SERVICE THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY, SUCH AS MY FAMILY WHO LIVE HERE, DESERVE.
FIRE PROTECTION CHALLENGES IN RISK PROFILE TO THIS COMMUNITY ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER IN METROPOLITAN LOS ANGELES.
CALL VOLUME HAS INCREASED FROM 1500 CALLS PER YEAR IN 1995 TO OVER 3600 CALLS PER YEAR NOW.
RESPONSE TIMES FOR BOTH FIRE AND EMS CALLS AVERAGED EIGHT MINUTES IN 2019.
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES, OSHA AND THEN.
>> DID EVERYONE ELSE LOSE HIM?
>> WE ARE THE ONLY DEPARTMENT IN THE METRO LA AREA.
>> DO NOT MEET THE STANDARD FOR AN EFFECTIVE FIRE FORCE.
>> MR. RUSSELL, WE'RE LOST ABOUT.
>> IF YOU COULD START OVER, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
>> A LITTLE BETTER NOW? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M GOING TO START, I'M GOING TO BACK UP HERE A LITTLE BIT.
THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION STANDARD 1710 STATES THAT THE TOTAL EFFECTIVE RESPONSE FOR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTS IS 17 FIREFIGHTERS, AND THAT FOR AN APARTMENT, THE FORCE IS 27 FIREFIGHTERS.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE NINE FIREFIGHTERS ON DUTY A DAY.
WE'RE THE ONLY DEPARTMENT IN THE LA METRO AREA THAT DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD FOR AN EFFECTIVE FIRE FORCE.
THE OSHA REQUIRED TWO IN TWO OUT STANDARD, IS ALSO CHALLENGING DUE TO THE LIMITED NUMBER OF ON-DUTY RESPONDERS.
THE CITY'S FIRE SERVICES REPORT CLEARLY STATED THAT TO MEET 1710, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD REQUIRE A TOTAL OF 18 NEW POSITIONS AND ADDITIONAL COST OF $4.2 MILLION PER YEAR.
CONSIDERING THIS COST, WE MUST PARTIALLY REVIEW ALL OPTIONS TO FUND, STAFF AND EQUIP THIS DEPARTMENT TO MEET THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE TODAY.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU AND THE COMMUNITY TO VIEW THE AUGUST 25TH, 2020 STUDY SESSION PRESENTATION ON THE CITY'S FIRE SERVICES REPORT.
THIS REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE CHALLENGES THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO FACE IN PROVIDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE KEY FINDINGS OF THIS REPORT, IS THE DIFFICULTY IN ENSURING AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE IS PROVIDED ON ALL POTENTIALLY HIGH RISK,
[00:45:04]
LOW FREQUENCY INCIDENCE, SUCH AS STRUCTURAL FIRES.THE SERVICE DELIVERY CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED IN THIS REPORT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED BEFORE FORMULATING AN OPINION ON HOW BEST TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AS A COMMUNITY, WE MUST SUBJECTIVELY EVALUATE THE DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONS, IDENTIFY, PARDON ME, IDENTIFY BENCHMARKS FOR PERFORMANCE, AND DETERMINE REALISTIC LEVELS OF SERVICE.
THESE EFFORTS WILL HELP US MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT PROVIDING FIRE AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT THE DEDICATED FIREFIGHTERS WHO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY EACH AND EVERY DAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. RUSSELL. JR? [NOISE]
>> NO OTHER REQUESTS HAVE COME THROUGH, SIR.
>> WE'LL GIVE IT A COUPLE OF SECONDS.
>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE MOVE TO COUNCIL COMMENTS IN CONFERENCE MEETING REPORTS. WHO WOULD LIKE TO START?
[9. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS]
>> REAL SHORT. I JUST WANT TO TELL BOB RUSSI, OUR CITY MANAGER, THANK YOU, FOR THAT WONDERFUL REPORT.
HEARING ALL THE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE, I AM THRILLED.
I WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS FOR BEING SO SUPPORTIVE, EVEN THOUGH NOBODY REALLY WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD AS LONG AS WE DID.
PEOPLE WERE SUPPORTIVE THAT WE HAVE TO WEAR A MASK, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE CLOSURE OF RESTAURANTS, STORES, WHATEVER IT TOOK.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THAT, FOR BEING PART OF IT.
NOW THAT WE ARE SLOWLY OPENING, WE STILL NEED TO BE SMART.
WEAR THE MASK EVERYONE, PLEASE, WEAR THE MASK SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN.
TO ME, THE BIGGEST LOSS WAS OUR POOR STUDENTS THAT DIDN'T GET TO GO TO SCHOOL FOR A WHOLE YEAR.
IT REALLY IMPACTED THOSE KIDS.
I AM THRILLED THEY GET TO PLAY SPORTS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT WE GET TO SLOWLY OPEN UP THE SCHOOLS.
IF YOUR CHILD'S SICK, DON'T SEND THEM TO SCHOOL, BE THINKING OF ALL THE OTHER STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS.
I THANK [INAUDIBLE] FOR BEING SO INVOLVED ON THIS DAILY, KEEPING US INFORMED.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A SLOW OPENING OF EVERYTHING.
BUT THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS GOLD LINE.
I HAD ONE MEETING THIS WEEK, OR TWO MEETINGS THIS PAST WEEK, WITH GOLD LINE.
THEY HAVE CHANGED THE TIME-FRAME FOR WHEN THEY EXPECT THE COMPLETION.
IT WAS GOING TO BE A YEAR EARLIER THAN WHAT WAS ANTICIPATED.
AT THIS POINT NOW, IT ISN'T GOING TO BE A FULL YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID, WITH JUST LOOKING AT THE WHOLE SCHEDULE, IT'LL BE THREE MONTHS EARLIER THAN WHAT THEY ANTICIPATE.
SO 2025 TO POMONA, AND THEY WILL NOT OPEN ANY PORTION OF IT UNTIL IT'S THROUGH TO POMONA.
BUT I WANTED TO KEEP YOU INFORMED ON THAT.
>> SURE. THANK YOU. I JOIN COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER ON HER COMMENTS ON COVID.
ADDITIONALLY, I'D SAY, IF YOU INTEND TO, PLEASE GET VACCINATED AS SOON AS YOU CAN, I AM EXCITED THAT VACCINES SHOULD OPEN UP FOR MOST, IF NOT ALL ADULTS.
I THINK IT'S MAY 1ST, AND SO I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT AS LONG AS I THOUGHT I WOULD.
LET'S KEEP OUR PRACTICES AS CLOSE TO, THEY CURRENTLY ARE, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE, WE'RE SEEING IN ITALY THAT THE INFECTION RATE HAS JUST JUMPED DRAMATICALLY, AND SO IT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE'VE VACCINATED OVER 30 MILLION ADULTS COMPLETELY AND OVER 100 MILLION ADULTS HAVE AT LEAST HAD A ONE-SHOT.
WE'RE CURRENTLY EXCEEDING TWO MILLION VACCINATIONS PER DAY.
THOSE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS HAPPENING.
I WANT LA VERNE TO KEEP STRONG AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN MODELING FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SIT IN ON A LA CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE ON BEHALF OF OUR MAYOR.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY, IT WAS AN ENTERTAINING AND ENLIGHTENING EVENT.
THE SLATE GOT COMPLETELY FILLED WITH ELECTED MEMBERS,
[00:50:03]
SO THAT WAS A GOOD THING.BASICALLY, THE ENGAGEMENT IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IS AN IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT.
ELECTIONS AREN'T THE ONLY THINGS TO PARTICIPATE IN.
THINGS LIKE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE IMPORTANT.
I THINK THE CONVERSATION THAT MR. RUSSELL BROUGHT UP IN PUBLIC COMMENT CAN BE GENERALIZED, AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO CONTAIN IT SIMPLY IN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I'M HOPING THAT PEOPLE ARE STUDYING THE INFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE.
I HOPE, AS I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS, I'M HOPING EVERYBODY IS TAKING THE EFFORT TO ENGAGE IN OUR GOVERNMENTAL PROCESS AND UNDERSTAND THIS DECISION AS COMPLETELY AS THEY CAN, AND NOT JUST LIMITED TO THIS AUDIENCE AND THIS VENUE FOR THAT CONVERSATION TO HAPPEN.
SO PLEASE GET OUT THERE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THIS AND SHOW FOLKS THAT THE RESIDENTS IN LA VERNE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED AND WANT TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.
FINALLY, THE CULTURAL AWARENESS AND SOCIAL INCLUSION COMMITTEE IS ACTIVELY TRYING TO ENGAGE RESIDENTS IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.
STILL, WENDY'S STAND A LITTLE BIT, AND THAT IS THAT, WENDY AND I ARE HOSTING A JOIN US FOR DINNER EVENT ON APRIL 11TH AT 5:00 PM.
PLEASE GO TO, WHAT IS IT, LAVERNEDIVERSE.ORG, I CAN NEVER REMEMBER THE WEBSITE, AND CHECK IT OUT AND JOIN US FOR DINNER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL DAVIS. COUNCIL CROSBY.
>> WITH ALL THE NEWS ABOUT GOING INTO THE RED TIER AND BECAUSE WE MOVED OVER TWO MILLION VACCINATIONS IN CALIFORNIA HERE, IT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR ME BECAUSE I WAS ALSO RUNNING VACCINATION FOR EDUCATORS, OVER 3,400 EDUCATORS IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS GOT VACCINATED THROUGH MY WORK AND CITY OF HOPE.
IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE PEOPLE COME THROUGH, IT'S REALLY INSPIRING, I'M EXCITED SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE CLASSROOMS BACK OPEN AND GET OUR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.
I'M ALSO EXCITED FOR OUR RESTAURANTS.
ONLY A YEAR AGO, SAINT PATRICK'S DAY, WE WERE CLOSED FOR SAINT PATRICK'S DAY AND THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE HAPPENING, AND NOW WE'RE OPENING UP FOR SAINT PATRICK'S DAY.
HOPEFULLY, WE DON'T BECOME SUPERSPREADER EVENT, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FUN AND RESPONSIBLE TIME DURING SAINT PATRICK'S DAY THIS WEEK.
I'M GLAD YOUTH SPORTS CAN COME BACK AND THAT WE CAN GET PEOPLE BEING OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE IS ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACES TO BE.
MAKING SURE THAT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR OUR KIDS TO BE RUNNING AROUND AND PLAYING IN AND DOING ACTIVITIES, AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THAT ENERGY OUT.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND KEEP WORKING AT IT, IT IS NOT OVER, WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING RESPONSIBLE, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMAN CROSBY. COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.
>> THANK YOU. MUIR DID STEAL A LITTLE BIT OF MY THUNDER, [LAUGHTER] BUT THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.
BUT JUST TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHAT THE DINNER EVENTS ARE, CROSBY THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE HOSTING DINNERS THROUGHOUT THE NEXT COMING WEEKS AND THIS IS JUST A WAY FOR US TO GET TO KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS.
I ALWAYS LIKEN THIS TO THE, IF ANYONE'S A GEORGE CARLIN FAN, HE DID A LITTLE SKIT OR A LITTLE BIT WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT, IF YOU HAD TO SHAKE HANDS AND MEET EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD, IT WOULD MAKE FIGHTING WITH THEM OR BOMBING THEM MUCH LESS LIKELY BECAUSE YOU'D SAY, "NOT HIM.
I KNOW HIM." YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CLIP, HE'S MUCH FUNNIER, HIS DELIVERY IS MUCH BETTER THAN MINE, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THIS GENERAL IDEA IS AN AWESOME WAY, ESPECIALLY AS WE ARE STILL TRYING TO BE SAFE DUE TO COVID FOR YOU TO MEET SOME FOLKS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT MEET OTHERWISE, THAT YOU COULD REALLY BUILD YOUR CONNECTIONS.
DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK, CHECK US OUT, COME TO DINNER, MAYBE YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN HOSTING A DINNER.
DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK, WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU, AND I WOULD JUST ECHO SOME OF THE OTHER COMMENTS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS MADE WITH RESPECT TO COVID.
IT IS CRAZY TO THINK THAT IT'S BEEN A YEAR, IT'S REALLY NUTS.
I REMEMBER WHEN THE FIRST STAY-AT-HOME ORDER CAME THROUGH, EVERYBODY WAS LIKE, "WELL, GIVE IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
MAN, IT'S A BUMMER, WE'LL BE BACK IN THREE WEEKS OR SO." THEN THREE WEEKS BECAME TWO MONTHS, THEN IT BECAME FIVE MONTHS, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HERE WE ARE AT THE YEAR MARK, AND SO THERE'S A LOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS PAST YEAR.
I KNOW EVERYBODY'S HAD STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES AND I JUST REALLY URGE EVERYBODY,
[00:55:03]
LET'S NOT GET TOO COMPLACENT, THERE ARE VARIANTS OF THIS HORRIBLE VIRUS OUT THERE, SO BE SAFE AND BE CAREFUL.ON A PERSONAL NOTE THAT I WAS SHARING WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE WE STARTED IN ON OUR COUNCIL MEETING, I'M STILL DEALING WITH MY DAD BEING IN A CONVALESCENT CENTER.
IT'S BECOMING EVEN MORE CLEAR FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE PROBABLY MY AGE RANGE WHO ARE NOW STARTING TO HAVE TO LOOK AFTER THEIR PARENTS, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS JUST TO HAVE YOUR PAPERWORK IN ORDER AND TO HAVE YOUR DIRECTIVES IN ORDER.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN TO YOU SHOULD YOU BECOME SICK OR INCAPACITATED? DO YOU HAVE A WILL? DO YOU HAVE YOUR PROPERTY IN LINE SO THAT YOUR FAMILY DOESN'T HAVE TO STRESS OUT TOO MUCH ABOUT IT? BUT MORE SO JUST TO AGAIN PROTECT YOURSELF AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR WISHES ARE LOOKED AFTER.
I KNOW IT'S NOT ANYTHING FUN THAT ANYONE LIKES TO TALK ABOUT, NOBODY LIKES TO BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BECOME SICK OR OLD OR ILL, YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP ON TICKING JUST THE WAY YOU ARE TODAY RIGHT UP TO THE DAY YOU'D GO, BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
DEFINITELY TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, BE SAFE, BE KIND, AND GET YOUR STUFF IN ORDER.
GET THAT ATTORNEY, GET THAT [LAUGHTER] FINANCIAL ADVISOR, GET THAT STUFF IN ORDER BECAUSE IT IS REALLY DAUNTING.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.
I'M JUST GOING TO REITERATE WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE SAID.
I'M EXCITED FOR THE RED TIER, I'M EXCITED FOR OUR BUSINESSES TO START OPENING.
I KNOW SOME WON'T BECAUSE 25 PERCENT'S NOT QUITE ENOUGH FOR THEM TO STOP THE TAKEOUT, BUT IT'S AT LEAST A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR EVERYONE.
THE SCHOOLS STARTING BACKUP EVEN AT A REDUCED RATE, ALSO JUST THE YOUTH SPORTS IS SO EXCITING FOR ME BECAUSE I SEE THEM UP PLAYING NOW.
IT'S LIKE, "OKAY, WE'RE GETTING BACK TO SOMEWHERE WHERE IT USED TO BE." I THINK IT WAS APRIL 6TH, 2020 WHERE WE TOOK OVER OFFICE WITH NO ONE IN A COUNCIL CHAMBER, AND THAT WAS IT, IT'S BEEN A YEAR, OVER A YEAR.
EVERYBODY'S ENDURED, IT'S NOT BEEN EASY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, THIS HAS BEEN TOUGH FOR ALL OF US PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES, SCHOOL AND KIDS NOT BEING ABLE TO GRADUATE, AND COLLEGES SHUT DOWN.
BUT WE'RE A PRETTY TOUGH CROWD AND I THINK WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS, I THINK THAT MOVING FORWARD AS LONG AS WE STAY SAFE, THAT'S WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT AS YOU'VE ALL SAID.
PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASKS OUT, EVEN IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, YOU HAVE YOUR VACCINATION PODS, KEEP WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR PEOPLE AND PUSH THOSE PEOPLE, LET'S GET THE VACCINATIONS.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO GET ONE PLEASE GO OUT AND GET THEM, THEY WILL BE MORE READILY AVAILABLE, [NOISE] AND SO IT'S LOOKING BETTER.
THANK GOODNESS, IT'S JUST LOOKING BETTER.
BUT ONE BIG THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG VACUUM IN THE CITY WHEN DAN KEESEY LEAVES US AT THE END OF THE WEEK.
I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK DAN FOR EVERYTHING HE'S ALWAYS DONE FOR US, ALWAYS AVAILABLE, ALWAYS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE.
ANY SITUATION OR ANYTHING ON DEMAND, ANYTHING TO DO WITH PAVING, PUBLIC WORKS, WATER, ELECTRICITY, UTILITIES, YOU NAME IT, JUST AN UNBELIEVABLE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED.
I KNOW THAT ONE, WE'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL RIGHT NOW APPARENTLY, BUT THESE ARE GOING TO BE SOME VERY, VERY BIG SHOES TO FILL AND HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED.
HE HAS BEEN SUCH AN ASSET TO THE CITY AND TO ALL THE RESONANCE WITH HIS WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, AND ALSO THE PEOPLE HE'S WORKED WITH, SO DAN KEESEY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANYTHING OTHER THAN BUSINESS MR. RUSSI? THEN I THINK IT'S TIME TO ADJOURN, DON'T YOU PEOPLE? IT'S 7:30 PM, OUR NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING WILL BE APRIL 5TH, 2021 AT 6:30 PM.
EVERYBODY HAVE A HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY.
>> GO OUT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.