>> NOW, I WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 4:08 PM ON THE 10TH OF MAY.
[00:00:07]
>> DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS OR ANYBODY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> [NOISE] I DID NOT GET ANY AND JARED DID NOT MAKE ME AWARE OF ANY.
I WILL ASK HIM TO CHECK BEFORE WE ADJOURN TO SEE IF WE RECEIVE ANY.
I'M NOT MONITORING IT IN HERE, HE'S MONITORING IT FROM HIS DESK.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE THIS POINT.
>> WE HAVE NONE. I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT MOVEMENT AND THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEASURE,
[4. Oversight Committee (Measure LV) Applicants Interviews - Currently, there are two unscheduled vacancies on the Oversight Committee. One (1) unexpired term ending May 30, 2022 and one (1) unexpired term ending May 30, 2024. The Assistant City Clerk advertised the vacancies and two applications were received. City Council will interview the following individuals: Jennifer Simison Joseph Gabaldon One additional candidate from the prior vacancy list will be considered to fill the above referenced vacancies: Ron Ingles The applicants will be allowed to give a three (3) minute presentation telephonically. The City Council will then select the applicants to fill the unscheduled vacancies.]
THEY'LL BE APPLICANT INTERVIEWS.MR. ROSSI, YOU CAN TAKE THAT IF YOU'D LIKE.
>> YES, MR. HEPBURN, THANK YOU.
YEAH. AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TWO UNEXPLORED VACANCIES RETURN FOR VACANCIES THAT COUNCIL NEEDS TO CONSIDER [INAUDIBLE] FOR.
WE HAVE NEW APPLICANTS, OUR NEW APPLICANTS THAT ARE UP FOR YOUR INTERVIEW TODAY.
JENNIFER SIMPSON AND JOSEPH GELBOREN AND THEN YOU HAVE A THIRD APPLICANT THAT IS STILL UP FOR CONSIDERING [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE].
WHAT COUNCIL WILL DO, WE RECOMMEND YOU TAKE INTERVIEWS FROM THE TWO CANDIDATES AND THEN CONSIDER ALL THREE FOR THE TWO POSITIONS.
AS WE DISCUSSED, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SELECT ONE FOR THE REMAINING TERM THAT ENDS NEXT YEAR AND ONE THAT HAD THE TERM THAT ENDS IN 2024.
I THINK IT WAS, I DON'T HAVE THE DATES IN FRONT OF ME.
BUT IT'S THE THREE, YES, MAY OF 2024.
YOU WILL HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHICH CANDIDATE WILL BE SELECTED FOR EACH.
UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN BRING IN THE FIRST CANDIDATE FOR YOUR INTERVIEW.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? ARE WE GOOD? I CAN'T SEE EVERYBODY, SO I THINK WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
>> OKAY. I'M BRINGING JENNIFER IN NOW.
WAIT TILL SHE IS WITH US, STILL CONNECTING.
JENNIFER, ARE YOU THERE? JENNIFER, THIS IS BOB ROSSI.
ARE YOU THERE? CAN'T HEAR YOU IF YOU'RE SPEAKING.
>> SHOWS SHE'S IN BUT IT DOESN'T SHOW HER MIC.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YEAH THAT'S WEIRD.
>> [NOISE] LET'S SEE. JENNIFER, YOU CAN HEAR ME.
I'D SUGGEST THAT YOU SIGN OFF AND SIGN BACK ON AND RETRY IT AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT. WEIRD, IT DOESN'T EVEN SHOW HER MIC' FOR ME TO PUSH IT [OVERLAPPING] BACK IN THE WAITING ROOM AND TRY MORE TIME.
WELL, THIS IS OFF TO A GREAT START.
>> TRY THIS ONE MORE TIME. [NOISE]
>> YEAH, I DON'T SEE YOUR MIC' IT JUST SHOWS HER CAMERA.
>> WELL IF SHE COMES TO SHOVE. CAN SHE CALL IN?
>> YEAH, I GUESS YOU CAN DO IT THAT WAY.
>> WAIT SHE'S CONNECTING TO AUDIO. I SEE HER CONNECTING.
>> NO SHE'S ALL HOOKED UP. NO, SHE'S IN. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SHE'S IN BUT THERE'S JUST NO CAMERA, BUT SHE'S IN JENNIFER.
[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE]
>> GOOD THING THIS ISN'T FOR THE TECHNOLOGY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE OTHERWISE [LAUGHTER].
>> WELL, [INAUDIBLE] HELPING US.
I COULDN'T HEAR YOU BUT I WASN'T SURE IF I WAS SUPPOSED TO HEAR YOU YET.
I RAN DOWN [OVERLAPPING] WITH MY PHONE TO GET IT REVERSED THEN YOU GOT HIM.
>> WELL, JENNIFER, THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING WANTING TO DO THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER LAU IS GOING TO ASK YOU A SERIES OF QUESTIONS.
SHE HAS THREE MINUTES TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF HERSELF.
[00:05:05]
IS THAT CORRECT, MR. ROSSI?>> YES. JENNIFER, YOU WANT TO GIVE US YOUR INFORMATION ON YOU.
WHEN WE WERE KIDS WE WERE RAISED TOGETHER SO [LAUGHTER] WE'RE LIKE FAMILIES.
BUT PLEASE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE US A THREE-MINUTE DEAL ON WHAT YOU LEARN HERE, WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE, AND WHAT ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE.
>> MY THREE-MINUTE REASONS ON WHY I WOULD LOVE TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE BESIDES LOVING LAVERNE WITH ALL MY HEART AND MAKING SURE IT STAYS THE COMMUNITY IT IS, IS I HONESTLY SEE SOMETHING THAT I COULD BE VERY GOOD AT FINANCIALLY, COST ACCOUNTING, BALANCING, GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS, PAYABLES, RECEIVABLES, INSURANCES, PREVAILING WAGE.
IT'S ALL IN MY WORLD OF MY CFO IN OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR 42 YEARS WITH PAYROLL EVERY FRIDAY FOR 42 YEARS.
UNDERSTANDING CASH-FLOW BUDGETS, THE HARD PART OF MAKING HARD DECISIONS OF WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO FALLS RIGHT INTO THAT [INAUDIBLE] AND ALSO PUSHING FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO AND FINDING A WAY TO MAKE THEM WORK FINANCIALLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT I CLICKED IN THIS WORLD AND I LOVE IT.
EVEN THOUGH I'M RETIRING FROM OUR BOYS' BUSINESS, I'M EXCITED TO BE BACK AND HELP OUR CITY A LOT.
I WORKED WITH THE PTA FOREVER.
I WORKED ON CITY COMMITTEES FOR THE AGE PROPOSITION AGE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE ALL HERE, BUT THAT WAS ONE OF OUR FIRST LANDSCAPE BOND THAT WE CAUSED WITH JOHN LOCKE AND STAFF AND I WERE WORKING WITH AND AS WITH THE PTA.
I'VE WORKED ON THE DARE PROGRAM WHICH HE SINGLES WE'VE GOT THAT STARTED IN LAVERNE.
I THINK THE COOL THING ABOUT ME RIGHT NOW, BESIDES BEING A GRANDMA, IS [LAUGHTER] I HAVE THE SENIOR COMMUNITY, ALL THE WOMEN THAT WE ALL WERE IN THE PTA TOGETHER IN THE 80S AND 90S, SO MANY OF US ARE STILL HERE.
I BELIEVE THE COMMUNITY HAS FAITH IN ME SINCE I WAS A PRESIDENT OF THE PTAS FOR SIX OF THE 12 YEARS.
THEN I HAVE MY KIDS WHO ARE ALL HERE NOW, ALL OF THEM AND THEY ALL MOVED BACK.
I HAVE THE YOUTH GROUP, I HAVE THE YOUNG ADULTS, AND THEN I HAVE THE GRANDBABIES THAT ARE HERE.
THERE ARE SEVEN OF THEM IN TOWN.
I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST AND I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT OUR CITY PASSED THIS LAW, WHICH WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OR PAST THE CATCH, GIVES US SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP LAVERNE WHO IT IS AND I BELIEVE THAT IF I'M ON THIS COMMITTEE AND THEY KNOW I'M GOING OVER FINANCES AND YOU HEAR ALL OF THE THINGS PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT.
I THINK WITH WHO I AM AND THE FRIENDS I KNOW, AND MY NEIGHBORS AND 42 YEARS IN TOWN, I THINK PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE WHAT I SAY WHEN I SAY WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I LOST YOU THERE.
>> NO, THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE SURGEON QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.
>> YOU'RE MUTED. THERE YOU GO.
>> GOT YOU. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THERE ARE FIVE QUESTIONS.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP TO A TIMELINE BECAUSE I THINK WE WOULD NEED TO CONCLUDE BEFORE FIVE AND WE HAVE ANOTHER CANDIDATE COMING.
JUST GIVING YOU A FAIR WARNING ON THAT ONE SO YOU CAN APPROPRIATE YOUR TIME.
>> [INAUDIBLE] QUICK. IT'S BLACK AND WHITE.
>> [LAUGHTER] THE FIRST QUESTION WE HAVE FOR YOU IS, IN YOUR REVIEW OF THE GUIDELINES FOR THE COMMITTEE, WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMITTEE'S ROLE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS?
>> WELL, OUR ROLE IS BEING OVERSIGHT, BUT IT'S ALSO A ROLE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS IF THERE IS.
LIKE IN TIER 1 AND TIER 2, TIER 1 IS BASICALLY THE MONEY'S ALREADY GOING TO BE APPROPRIATED.
THEY'RE HIRING THE BEST EMPLOYEES YOU HAVE IN THE CITY.
BUT IN TIER 2, YOU HAVE $5- $600,000 WITH THE MONEY THAT CAN DO TO ENHANCE AND GO FOR THE THINGS THAT WE DID.
WE CAN RECOMMEND DURING THOSE THINGS IS WHAT I SEE.
RIGHT NOW, YOU GUYS HAVE COST ACCOUNTING.
YOU HAVE ONE GENERAL FUND, BUT YOU HAVE AN ACCOUNTING LINE ITEM FOR THE INCOME AND EXPENSES ON THE TAX MONEY.
THAT IS 100 PERCENT LIKE WE DO IN CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE EVERY PROJECT HAS DIFFERENT BUT EVERYTHING FUNNELS OUT OF A BANK.
SO COST ACCOUNTING, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US THE FINANCIALS AND I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO READ THE FINANCIALS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY MEAN.
WE'RE OVERSIGHT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A SMALL LITTLE THING IN TIER 2 WHERE WE CAN MAYBE HAVE SOME INPUT WITH THE CITY AND HELPS SUPPORT THE CITY TO GET THE THINGS FOR THE FUTURE.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE COMMITTEE MIGHT FACE?
>> PUBLIC DISSATISFACTION WITH [LAUGHTER], SORRY, I'M REAL.
[00:10:06]
PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY WITH MAYBE NOT KNOWING WHAT THE MONEY'S GOING FOR.THE FACT THAT THE COMMUNITY PASSED THE TAX, WE REALLY COMMUNICATE WITH THEM AND HELP THEM FEEL THAT "YES, I'M GLAD I PASSED THIS TAX." PART OF IT, EVEN IF I'M NOT HAVING AN ACCOUNTING MEETING, IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE AMAZING THINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS TAX AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AND MAKE THEM FEEL GOOD THAT THEY PASSED THE TAX.
YOU ALLUDED TO THIS A LITTLE BIT IN YOUR INTRODUCTION ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS YOU WERE ON BEFORE BUT TALK TO US ABOUT HOW YOU'VE WORKED TO HELP BUILD CONSENSUS WITH SOME OF THOSE GROUPS WHEN YOU'VE FACED CHALLENGES.
>> YOU'RE A PTA PRESIDENT OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR THE COUNCIL OR BENITO HIGH-SCHOOL, OR YOU'RE ON GRAD NIGHT, BUT A CONSENSE, THINK OF GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK FOR YOU FOR FREE.
THEN YOU GET THEM TO VOLUNTEER.
YOU GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITHOUT GETTING PAID.
PART OF MY ALWAYS BEING THE PRESIDENT, NOT THAT I BUY COOKIES ALL THE TIME LIKE TIM, BUT I HAD TO BE THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A LEADER, I'VE BEEN A MOTIVATOR.
PRIOR TO ALL THIS, I WAS A SKIING INSTRUCTOR, BUT IT'S CRAZY.
I MOTIVATED PEOPLE TO PERFORM AND BE BETTER.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN I RAN THE DORMS, I RAN COLLEGE GRADUATION.
I THINK MY MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
>> OKAY. THEN BEING ON SCC COMMITTEE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE YOUR ECONOMIC INTERESTS, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW.
IS THERE ANYTHING IN DISCLOSING THAT THAT YOU WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT?
>> PUBLIC INTERESTS? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT DEEPER?
>> YOUR ECONOMIC INTERESTS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.
BASICALLY, YOU'D HAVE TO DISCLOSE YOUR FINANCES AND YOUR ECONOMICS, MUCH LIKE WE DO IN OUR FORMS.
>> OKAY. YOU MEAN LIKE I'M HAVING THE CITY DO SOMETHING FOR ME?
>> NO, IT'S YOUR OWN PERSONAL FINANCES.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE DISCLOSE IF WE OWN PROPERTY IN THE CITY SO THAT THERE CAN BE ANY [OVERLAPPING].
>> MY HOUSE AND MY RENTALS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY BUSINESSES IN TOWN.
[OVERLAPPING]. OUR DAUGHTER HAS GOT ONE.
>> SO YOU HAVE NO ISSUES WITH ANY OF THOSE DISCLOSURES?
>> OKAY. PERFECT. AS OUR LAST QUESTION THEN, AS A NEW COMMITTEE, IT'LL BE NECESSARY.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT WONKY BECAUSE YOU'RE FILLING IN POSITION.
THERE'S TWO TERMS THAT ARE BEING FILLED.
ONE'S A ONE-YEAR REMAINING, ONE'S THREE-YEAR REMAINING.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH SERVING WITH THE TERM LIMITS ON EITHER? I KNOW IN THE PAST SOME PEOPLE HAD ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY COULD DO A FOUR-YEAR TERM.
DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR COMMITMENTS THAT MIGHT LIMIT YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE MEETINGS?
>> NO, AND THREE-YEAR TERM, 10-YEAR TERM, SIX-YEAR TERM, I'M FINE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'D GO BECAUSE WE CAN'T FIND A PLACE LIKE WHERE WE LIVE.
I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> TAKE CARE. TELL BRAD I SAID HI.
>> OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION OR YOU WANT TO BRING IN MR. GABALDON AND WE JUST GO STRAIGHT TO THE NEXT ONE?
>> YES, STRAIGHT TO THE NEXT ONE.
IS THAT A GOOD COUNSEL, STRAIGHT TO THE NEXT ONE?
>> OKAY. THERE WE GO. BRING HIM IN NOW.
MR. GABALDON, CAN YOU HEAR US?
>> I THINK SO. DID I CLICK THE RIGHT BUTTON?
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING, MR. GABALDON? GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR ACTUALLY WANTING TO DO THIS AGAIN.
I DIDN'T GET IT THE FIRST TIME AROUND.
BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES TO JUST EXPLAIN YOUR OWN SELF AS FAR AS WHY YOU'D LIKE TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE, AND THEN YOU'LL BE ASKED FIVE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBER LAU, AND THEN WE'LL MAKE OUR REVIEW AND THEN OUR DECISION. ARE YOU READY, SIR?
>> YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO READ OFF A PIECE OF PAPER, SO I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT THE REASONS WHY I'M INTERESTED IN BEING A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE IS NOT
[00:15:07]
JUST BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE LA VERNE FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS NOW BUT I TRULY BELIEVE IN WHAT LA VERNE STANDS FOR.MY BACKGROUND IN BUSINESS, AND WHAT I DO TODAY, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THERE'S TRANSPARENCY FOR THOSE THAT ENTRUST THEIR MONEY WITH OTHERS, AND I THINK THAT THE CITIZENS OF LA VERNE REALLY DESERVE A GREAT COMMITTEE THAT BELIEVES IN THAT AS THEIR FIRST PRIORITY.
BECAUSE I THINK WHEN THE CITY WAS ASKED TO SUPPORT THE MEASURE, I BELIEVE THAT THEY PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE CITY COUNCIL AND EVERYBODY BEHIND THE COUNCIL THAT THAT MONEY THAT WAS GOING TO COME OUT OF THEIR POCKET WAS GOING TO GO TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE CITY OF LA VERNE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE RESOLUTION ITSELF IT OUTLINES VERY WELL THAT LA VERNE IS ONLY AS GOOD AS LA VERNE CONTINUES TO BE AND HAS BEEN.
I THINK EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THAT RESOLUTION IT BASICALLY EXPLAINED THAT IF YOU KEEP LA VERNE GREAT, PEOPLE WILL WANT TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN LA VERNE, TO SUPPORT LA VERNE, TO CONTRIBUTE TO LA VERNE, AND I TRULY BELIEVE IN THAT.
I WANT LA VERNE THAT I KNOW NOT TO STAY STATIC, BUT TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THAT SPIRIT IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COLLECTING ADDITIONAL USE TAX,
>> TO TAKE OUT OF THE POCKETS DID GO TO THE RIGHT THINGS AND WILL CONTINUE TO GO TO THE RIGHT THINGS.
I SUPPORT THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND I BELIEVE THAT MY BACKGROUND, GENERALLY SPEAKING, SUPPORTS THE ABILITY TO AUDIT THAT, TO PROACTIVELY PARTICIPATE AS A TEAM MEMBER ON A COMMITTEE FOR HOW ANY VARIATIONS OF WHETHER PROJECTED REVENUE FROM THE TAX WOULD IMPART CHANGE TO SPEND POLICY OR PLANNING BECAUSE IT ALL MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
I BELIEVE THAT RECENTLY, I'M NOT SURE WHERE I HEARD IT OR SAW IT, BUT THAT THE CITY HAS ACTUALLY SEEN AN INCREASE IN WHAT THE REVENUE EXPECTATIONS WERE AND THAT'S A GREAT THING.
I SUSPECT THAT THAT'LL HELP THE CITY CONTINUE TO DO WHAT IT WANTS TO DO TO MAKE A BETTER LA VERNE POSSIBLE, BUT IT CAN GO THE OTHER WAY TOO.
I THINK THOSE ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF SOMEBODY WHO SEEKS THIS COMMITTEE, THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF PLUSES AND MINUSES TO ANY PROJECTIONS AND HOW THE NEXT YEAR MAY LAY OUT AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT, AND I FEEL THAT MY BACKGROUND IS PERFECTLY SUITED TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE TEAM UNDERSTAND WHERE THOSE EBBS AND FLOWS ARE AND PARTICIPATE IN TOUGH DECISIONS TOO SOMETIMES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER LAU WILL ASK YOU FIVE QUESTIONS. COUNCILMEMBER LAU, ARE YOU READY?
>> I'M READY. JUST AS MAYOR HEPBURN INDICATED, THERE ARE FIVE QUESTIONS, AND SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT HEADS UP SO YOU CAN APPORTION YOUR TIME ACCORDINGLY.
OUR FIRST QUESTION TO YOU IS, IN YOUR REVIEW OF THE GUIDELINES OF THE COMMITTEE, WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMITTEE'S ROLE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS? DID HE FREEZE AGAIN?
>> I'M GOING TO TRY AND TURN UP MY VOLUME A LITTLE BIT [INAUDIBLE] ARE YOU HEARING ME OKAY?
>> YEAH, YOU SEEM TO BE FREEZING UP A LITTLE BIT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> OKAY. I GOT IT. THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MY INTERNET THEN. I'M SORRY.
>> DO YOU WANT ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTION OR DID YOU HEAR IT OKAY?
>> COUNCIL, I THINK HE FROZE AGAIN.
I MIGHT SUGGEST THAT IF HE TURNS OFF HIS VIDEO, SOMETIMES THAT HELPS IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT.
>> ARE YOU GUYS STILL THERE? I'M SORRY.
>> WE WERE SAYING YOU MIGHT WANT TO TURN YOUR VIDEO OFF BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE JUST PULLING TOO MUCH OF YOUR INTERNET STRENGTH IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT. ARE YOU OKAY NOW?
IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH IT. I'LL DO THAT FOR A SECOND AND SEE HOW IT WORKS, AND THEN I'LL COME BACK IN AT THE END.
>> SURE GO AHEAD. DID YOU GET YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION MR. GABALDON?
>> I'M GOING TO TURN OFF THE VIDEO, AND HERE WE GO.
>> LET'S DO THIS AGAIN. THE FIRST QUESTION IS, IN YOUR REVIEW OF THE GUIDELINES FOR THE COMMITTEE, WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMITTEE'S ROLE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS?
[00:20:01]
>> I THINK THE ROLE PRIMARILY AS IT'S DETAILED WHEN IT WAS CONCEIVED, IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE MONEY IS GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THE MEASURE, ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY AS OUTLINED IN THE ORDINANCE AND AS DIRECTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND A CITY MANAGER, FOR THOSE ATTRIBUTES OF THE CITY THAT WE WANT TO MAINTAIN AND ENSURE OF OUR.
>> LOOKS LIKE WE LOST HIM AGAIN.
>> YEAH, I THINK SO. [BACKGROUND]
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE THIS IS NOT WORKING WELL.
>> INTERNETS ARE CHALLENGED EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW.
>> WELL, JUST SO MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THEM, MY GOODNESS.
THE BANDWIDTH, IT'S LIKE TURNING A STRAW AND TWISTING IT 3-13 TIMES.
>> [LAUGHTER] HE JUST GOT DROPPED OUT.
JARED'S GOING TO TRY AND GET HIS NUMBER TO CALL HIM AND JUST DO A CALL-IN?
>> IT WAS JUST ONE MINUTE, SORRY.
>> NO WORRIES. GRACES BE IS WHAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU'RE BACK, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY INTERNET, OBVIOUSLY NOT A VERY GOOD IMPRESSION.
>> THAT'S OKAY. BELIEVE ME, WE'VE ALL BEEN FACING THIS.
[NOISE] WE ARE TRYING TO CALL IN MAYBE ON A CELL PHONE.
>> GABALDON, WOULD YOU MIND IF WE CALLED YOU AND WENT ON A CALL?
>> YEAH, SURE. THAT WOULD BE FINE.
I WAS GOING TO SWITCH TO MY CELL PHONE IF THE CONNECTION WAS BETTER, BUT DO YOU HAVE MY PHONE NUMBER?
>> YOU CAN USE THAT NUMBER, YES.
>> OKAY. [OVERLAPPING] I'LL CALL THAT RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY. GO AHEAD, AND I'M GOING TO MUTE YOUR ZOOM FOR THE MOMENT.
HERE YOU GO. COUNCIL, CAN YOU HEAR? JOE, GO AHEAD AND SPEAK.
>> LET'S REMEMBER LAU, GO AHEAD.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO FINISH THE END OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING TO THE FIRST QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND SUMMARIZE BECAUSE I THINK YOU'VE GOT CUT OFF RIGHT AS YOU WERE WRAPPING.
>> GOT IT. WELL, I CAN SUMMARIZE THAT I'VE SEEN A LOT, BUT BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE ROLE [NOISE] TO ENSURE THAT THE ADDITIONAL REVENUES FROM THESE TAX THAT ARE GENERATED PER MEASURE ARE BEING USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED AND HOW THOSE MONIES IN THE EYES OF THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE THERE'S SUSTAINABILITY OF THE VISION AT LARGE.
THE REQUISITE SERVICES THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITIZENS.
>> THANK YOU. THE SECOND QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE COMMITTEE MIGHT FACE?
>> I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SPOKE TO EARLIER WOULD BE ONE THING THAT I THINK WOULD BE A CHALLENGE IS THAT WITH ANY BUSINESS OR ANY ENTITY THAT IS DEPENDENT ON REVENUE, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY, IS THAT YOU MAKE PROJECTIONS BASED ON EITHER YOUR BUSINESS REVENUE AND WHAT YOU SELL, OR IN THIS CASE, THE REVENUES WE EXPECT WILL GENERATE FROM THE TAX.
WHEN THERE'S ANY DEVIATION FROM THAT PARTICULARLY TO THE NEGATIVE SIDE, DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE RELATIVE TO WHAT THE AVAILABLE MONEY, THE ACTUAL CAN GO TO IN LINE WITH THE GUIDELINES THAT ARE SET FORTH.
I THINK THAT'S THE HARDEST PART OF ANY JOB IS WHEN YOU HAVE X AMOUNT OF MONEY TO SPEND, THAT'S THE BUDGET, AND I THINK THE ACTUALS ARE CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING THE PROMISES TO THE CITIZENS OF LA VERNE,
[00:25:05]
BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO COME OUT WITH REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS THAT IF THE MONIES ARE NOT GENERATED AS PLANNED, THAT OTHER COMPROMISES MIGHT HAVE TO BE MADE, AND IN A WAY, I THINK SOLUTIONS TO THOSE PROBLEMS. IT'S NOT ALWAYS A COMPROMISE, IT'S JUST PERHAPS YOU HAVE TO COME AT WITH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, SO THAT YOU CAN ENSURE THAT THE SERVICES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CITY WILL HAVE YOU.THAT NOTHING IS UNDERMINED BY LESS TAX REVENUE BUT THAT YOU FIND ALTERNATIVES TO MITIGATE THOSE ISSUES IN THAT LESS OF REVENUE STREAM AND PRESENT THOSE SOLUTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE AND SUBSEQUENT TO EVERYBODY ABOVE THAT.
>> THANK YOU. QUESTION 3 IS, CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHERE YOU MAY HAVE WORKED ON A COMMITTEE OR A COMMISSION PREVIOUSLY WHERE YOU'VE HELPED TO BUILD CONSENSUS WITH A TEAM?
>> I DIDN'T HEAR THAT LAST PART BUT I'M GOING TO GUESS WHAT I HEARD.
FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE NOT ADMITTEDLY WORKED ON ANY COMMITTEES WITHIN THIS CITY OR THAT OF ANOTHER.
BUT I'VE SAT ON MANY BOARDS AND EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAMS, WHERE MY EXPERIENCE AND FINANCIAL COMPLIANCE IS FAIRLY EXTENSIVE AND THE BUDGETING OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARDS WHETHER IT'S BUSINESS OBJECTIVES FROM A REVENUE STANDPOINT OR THE OPPOSITE, THE CUSTOMERS AND HOW THEY IMPACT THE VIABILITY OF A BUSINESS, IN THIS CASE WOULD BE THE CITY.
IT'S A LITTLE OF A SIMILAR ANSWER THAT I HAVE TO THE LAST QUESTION, WHICH IS AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
HOW IT IS THEY'RE INTENDED TO SERVE THE PUBLIC, THE CITIZENS OF LA VERNE, AND HAVE THE APTITUDE TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE SOLUTIONS LIE IN THE PROBLEMS. IF THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS, THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY NEED FOR A COMMITTEE OR WORRY ABOUT TAXES, BUT INVARIABLY THINGS COME UP.
>> THANK YOU. QUESTION NUMBER 4 IS SERVING ON A CITY COMMITTEE, YOU'LL BE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE YOUR ECONOMIC INTERESTS, AND THOSE WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW.
IS THERE ANYTHING IN ANY SUCH DISCLOSURE THAT YOU'D BE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING MADE PUBLIC?
>> I HAVE NO CONCERNS ABOUT PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU. OUR LAST QUESTION TO YOU IS, AS A NEW COMMITTEE, YOU MAY KNOW THAT THESE ARE APPOINTMENTS DUE TO LOSING TWO OF OUR PRIOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS SO THAT ONE'S FOR THE REMAINDER OF A TWO-YEAR TERM SO ONE YEAR, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE'S FOR A REMAINDER OF A FOUR-YEAR TERM, WHICH IS A THREE-YEAR TERM.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SERVE NO MATTER WHICH TERM YOU WERE SELECTED TO FULFILL IF SELECTED? DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR COMMITMENTS THAT MIGHT LIMIT YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE MEETINGS?
>> I HAVE NO LIMITATIONS OF MY AVAILABILITY TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE, AND EITHER OF THE TWO TERMS, I WOULD BE SATISFIED WITH, OR BE IT MY INTENTION IS THAT TO NOT START SOMETHING I WON'T FINISH.
MY SINCEREST BELIEF IS THAT NOT NECESSARILY TO THE DEGREE THAT TWO FOUR-YEAR TERMS IS COOL, BUT HAVING THE STABILITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE OVER THE LONG RUN IS ALWAYS BEST PRACTICE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR MORE COMMON TRAIN OF THOUGHT AND PROCESSES THAT ARE RELIABLE WHETHER THEY'D BE AUDITING OR JUST TEAM SPIRIT, SO TO SPEAK.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND ONE OR THE OTHER IS AVAILABLE, I'M OPEN TO BOTH, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SERVE AS LONG AS I CAN.
>> THANK YOU. MR. GABALDON, VERY MUCH.
>> WE'RE GOING TO MOVE BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND [NOISE] MR. RASID?
GOODBYE. WILL TALK TO YOU LATER. OKAY?
I HAVE CHECKED WITH JR, LET ME SEE.
LET ME GO CONFIRM WITH HIM THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY PUBLIC COMMENT UNLESS YOU COULD TYPE OTHER COMMENT AT THIS TIME [INAUDIBLE].
>> TEXT ME BACK AND GO CHECK ALL OF THEM [INAUDIBLE]
[00:30:14]
[NOISE] THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.>> OKAY. WELL, WE ACTUALLY CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT NOW LET'S GO TO OUR RATING SYSTEM, MR. ROSSI.
>> YEAH. YOU HAVE YOUR FOURTH RATING SHEET, WHICH, I THINK, COUNCIL HAS A COPY OF THAT FROM LAST TIME SO YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT, MY SUGGESTION, BUT YOU CAN CHOOSE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT AND HOW YOU WISH, BUT IS DO YOUR TOP TWO AND SEE WHERE WE END UP AT THAT POINT FOR EACH OF YOU.
THEN WE TAKE WHICHEVER THOSE TWO ARE AND THEN WE CAN GO FROM THERE ON SELECTION OF TERM.
>> WHO WOULD LIKE TO START? [NOISE] MR. DAVIS.
>> SURE, I WILL GO AHEAD AND THROW MY HAT IN THE RING.
I JUST WANT TO GENERALLY SAY THAT I WISH WE COULD FIND A POSITION FOR ALL OF OUR CANDIDATES.
I THINK THE QUALITY OF INDIVIDUALS WHO STEP UP AND WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY OUTSTANDING.
I JUST WANT EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THERE [MUSIC] REALLY AREN'T ANY LOSERS.
WE JUST HAVE LIMITED AVAILABILITY FOR SPOTS TO PUT PEOPLE.
WE MAY HAVE TO BECOME CREATIVE OURSELVES AND FINDING MORE COMMITTEES FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF SOLID INDIVIDUALS AND RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> IF L MAY GO JUST TO THAT POINT BECAUSE I KNOW COUNCIL HAD ASKED ME PRIOR TO ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ALTERNATE GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCE, AND WE DID CHECK THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WELL, WE COULD IDENTIFY ONE THAT DIRECT ME TO GIVE PREFERENCE TO THAT PERSON, SHOULD THERE BE AN OPENING, IT WILL STILL BE REQUIRED TO PUT IT OUT, AT LEAST LEAVE IT OPEN FOR THE MINIMUM, WHICH I THINK IS 10 DAYS TO THE PUBLIC.
I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY THAT THEY COULDN'T HAVE THAT SPOT, BUT YOU COULDN'T JUST AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME THAT THEY WERE MOVED INTO THAT SPOT IF THAT WERE THE CASE.
>> WELL. I'VE BEEN AN ALTERNATIVE A FEW TIMES IN MY LIFE.
MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE ALTERNATIVE IS JUST TO SAY, THAT WE'LL PUT TWO AND SHOULD THEN OPENING APPEAR SOMEWHERE, WE'D INVITE WHOEVER DOESN'T MAKE IT ONTO THIS COMMITTEE ALONG WITH ANY OTHER RESIDENT TO APPLY.
BUT THAT'S JUST MY PERSPECTIVE ON THAT.
THEY HANG ON AND WE MIGHT CALL YOUR PARTIES CAN BE A BIT CHALLENGING.
THAT'S JUST MY OWN FLAVOR FOR THAT.
MY TOP TWO CANDIDATES FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, BUT PRIMARILY UNDER THE REALM OF CONSENSUS BUILDING AND FACING THE CHALLENGES OF THE COMMITTEE ARE JENNIFER SIMMERSON AND RON ANGLES.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER, CARDER.
>> YES. I'LL GO NEXT. MY TWO CHOICES ARE RON ANGLES AND JOE GABALDON.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER. COUNCIL MEMBER, LAU.
>> MY TWO ARE JENNIFER SIMMERSON AND RON ANGLES.
>> MR. CROSBY, COUNCIL MEMBER, CROSBY.
>> MY TWO ARE RON ANGLES AND MR. GABALDON.
>> MINE ARE JENNIFER SIMMERSON AND MR. GABALDON.
>> WE HAVE FOUR VOTES FOR RON ANGLES, AND THEN THREE VOTES EACH FOR JENNIFER, AND JOE.
>> LET'S CREATE ONE EXTRA POSITION.
>> THAT JUST SUPPORTS MY NOTION THAT WE HAVE HIGH-QUALITY INDIVIDUALS AS RESIDENTS HERE IN LA VERNE.
>> I LIKE TO, COUNCIL MEMBER, DAVIS, AGREE WITH YOU THERE.
WE'VE GOT SOME MAJOR QUALIFICATIONS.
I HAVE KNOWN JENNIFER FOR AS LONG AS I'VE LIVED HERE, AND MR. GABALDON I BET MANY TIMES, MR. ANGLES, I'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS.
WE DO HAVE SOME TALENTED POOL THERE.
WE'VE GOT FOUR FOR RON, THREE FOR JENNIFER, AND THREE FOR JOE, IS THAT CORRECT MR. ROSSI?
>> YES. MY SUGGESTION, IF YOU WOULD, IS WE OBVIOUSLY MOVE RON IS ONE OF THE ONES SELECTED AND WE GO BACK AND PUT THE OTHER TWO AND JUST DO A RE-VOTE JUST BASED ON THOSE TWO CANDIDATES AND ONE VOTE PER COUNCIL MEMBER.
>> THEN WE SHOULD GO BACK TO COUNCIL.
LET'S START IN THE SAME ORDER WE STARTED,
[00:35:01]
IN WHICH WAS MR. DAVIS. COUNCIL MEMBER, DAVIS.>> I WILL STAY WITH MY SECOND VOTE, WHO IS JENNIFER SIMMERSON.
>> MR. DAVIS. THEN WE WILL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER, CARDER.
>> YES, I WILL GO WITH JOE GABALDON.
>> THEN WE WILL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER, LAU.
>> I WILL GO WITH JENNIFER SIMMERSON.
>> JOE GABALDON. IT'S UP TO YOU MR. MAYOR.
>> MR. MAYOR GOES FOR JENNIFER SIMMERSON.
NOW WE HAVE TO PICK THE TERM. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> LET'S GO IN REVERSE ORDER. LET'S GO WITH MR. CROSBY.
>> THE NUMBER ONE VOTE, I BELIEVE, SHOULD GO WITH THE FOUR PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR HIM FOR THE FOUR YEARS.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST AS WELL TO GO BY VOTES.
>> I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT. [OVERLAPPING] THEN THAT IS DECIDED.
[OVERLAPPING] IS OUR COUNCIL OKAY WITH THAT?
I JUST LIKE TO PUT IT ALL IN THE FORM OF A MOTION, IF I COULD FOR YOU SO THAT WE CAN JUST TAKE THIS AS AN ACTION TODAY.
I'M GOING TO SAY THAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT RON ANGLES BE APPOINTED TO THE REMAINING THREE-YEAR TERM THROUGH MAY OF 2024, AND JENNIFER SIMMERSON BE APPOINTED TO THE TERM ENDING MAY OF 2022 WHICH IS OF COURSE, NEXT YEAR, AND THAT THEY'D BE SEATED AS THE OVERSIGHT BOARD IN THE BOARD IN NORTH-SOUTH LOOKING FOR A MOTION AND I SECOND TO THAT.
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION BEFORE WE DO THE MOTION.
FOR JUST TOTAL DISCLOSURE, IS THERE ANY CONFLICT WITH JENNIFER'S SON, BEING JASON SIMMERSON ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION?
>> NO. YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] IT'S FINE.
>> BEFORE WE DO THIS, THERE WAS TALK REGARDING PUTTING SOMEONE ON A FACE VEIL WAITING LISTS. WE'RE GOING TO TABLE THAT.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO WITH THESE TWO AND THEN IF THE VACANCY OCCURS, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THE SAME THING WE'VE JUST DONE AND ASK FOR A OPEN ENROLLMENT OR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO APPLY FOR THAT.
IS THAT CORRECT? DO ALL OF YOU IN CONCURRENCE WITH THAT?
>> INVITING BACK PEOPLE WHO HAD APPLIED PREVIOUSLY TO BE CONSIDERED.
>> I WOULD SAY MR. GABALDON, HE WOULD BE CALLED FIRST TO SAY IF HE'S STILL INTERESTED.
WE SOUGHT TO PUT IT OUT, BUT WE WOULD CONTACT HIM AND IF HE WAS, WE WOULD JUST ADVANCE HIS APPLICATION WITHOUT HIM HAVING TO GO THROUGH REAPPLICATION PROCESS.
>> ARE WE ALL IN CONCURRENT WITH THAT, COUNCIL? COUNCIL WE'RE ALL IN CONCURRENCE.
VERY GOOD. LET'S MOVE WITH THE MOTION.
I NEED THE FIRST ON THE MOTION.
>> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE WHAT BOB SAID.
>> DO I HAVE TO HAVE A SECOND? SECOND SOMEONE? [INAUDIBLE]
>> WE DO A ROLL-CALL, MR. ROSSI?
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO TWO MEMBERS AND MR. GABALDON.
I'M SURE THERE'LL BE IN THE FUTURE, BUT THANK YOU FOR APPLYING.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS ARE AMAZING LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, BUT THERE WILL BE MORE COMMITTEES, AS MR. DAVIS HAD SAID, THAT WE'LL BE HAVING MORE COMMITTEES AND THERE COULD BE A VACANCY ON THIS ONE ALSO.
BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR APPLYING.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO, MR. ROSSI?
>> NOT THAT I HAVE AT THIS TIME.
I WAS JUST GOING SAY I'LL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE INDIVIDUALS, LET THEM KNOW, AND LET THEM KNOW THE DATE OF OUR NEXT MEETING AND SEND THEM AN OFFICIAL LETTER OF THEIR POSITION. WE'LL GET TO THAT TAKEN CARE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL EVERYBODY STUFF FOR YOUR EFFORTS TODAY AND THANK YOU STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
OUR NEXT REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, MAY 17TH, AT 06:30 PM.
THANK YOU ALL. HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
>> I'M SORRY. THAT DIDN'T PUT IT ON HERE, BUT THE STUDY SESSION AT 04:30 ON OUR BUDGET BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING ON MAY 17TH.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.