>> WELCOME, EVERYBODY THIS EVENING.
[00:00:02]
WE WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:31 P.M. MR. DAVIS,[1. CALL TO ORDER]
WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE?>> I'M HAPPY TO LEAD EVERYONE IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE RISE.
PLACE YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
>> THANK YOU SIR. PROFILE, PLEASE, MR. RUSSI?
>> WE WILL MOVE TO PRESENTATIONS.
[4. PRESENTATIONS]
WE ARE LUCKY TONIGHT TO HAVE A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST.THE BOARD CHAIR IN CLAREMONT, VICE MAYOR, JED LEANO, WILL PROVIDE US WITH AN UPDATE ON SAN GABRIEL VALLEY REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST, ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR AND PLANS FOR THE NEXT YEAR. JOHN, ARE YOU THERE?
>> I SEE HIM BUT I ONLY SEE HIS NAME.
>>HI, THIS IS BRIELLE FROM THE HOUSING TRUST.
JUST ONE MOMENT, JED'S CALLING ME.
>> OKAY. JED IS RECEIVING A MESSAGE, HE'S NOT ABLE TO JOIN BECAUSE HE'S CONNECTED ON ANOTHER DEVICE.
I'M NOT SURE IF ANYONE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL'S ABLE TO SEND HIM A LINK DIRECTLY?
>> WE COULD, MS. BRIELLE, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT BRIELLE.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SORRY FOR THAT.
>> NO PROBLEM. ZOOM IS A THING THAT GETS THE SPEECH CHANGING.
I CAN'T WAIT TILL IT'S OVER FOR THESE COUNCIL MEETINGS.
>> ALMOST THOUGHT WE'RE GOING TO START PLAYING BASEBALL WITH OUR PRACTICE SESSION.
>> THIS IS WHERE JEOPARDY COMES IN REALLY GOOD RIGHT NOW.
>> HE APPARENTLY SIGNED IN ON ANOTHER DEVICE, SO THEY'RE GOING TO REMOVE HIM FROM THAT DEVICE.
BRIELLE, COULD YOU LET HIM KNOW THAT ONCE THEY PUSH HIM OFF TO TRY AND RE-SIGN ON?
>> GOOD EVENING. MY APOLOGIES, MAYOR HEPBURN AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M SO SORRY FOR THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY.
WHEN THIS IS OVER, NO ONE'S GOING TO BE RAISING THEIR FIST HIGHER THAN MYSELF.
>> NO PROBLEMS. PLEASE WELCOME.
WELCOME ABOARD. WELCOME TO OUR CITY.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR HEPBURN. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY STAFF WILL BE ROLLING MY SLIDES FOR ME.
CAN WE GET THOSE QUEUED UP? WHILE STAFF ARE QUEUING UP THE SLIDES, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY HOW GREAT IT IS TO SEE ALL THE FAMILIAR FACES.
YOU, MAYOR HEPBURN, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
WE WORK SO WELL COLLABORATIVELY ON SO MANY OTHER AGENCIES, BUT A SPECIFIC SHOUT-OUT TO ROBIN CARDER, THE CHAIR AT TRI-CITY MENTAL HEALTH WHO DOES A GREAT JOB RUNNING THAT BOARD AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE FROM LAVERNE, THANK YOU FOR FOR RECEIVING ME TONIGHT.
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST.
JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR AGENCY AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN JUST OUR FIRST YEAR.
IF WE COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST WAS CREATED BY SB 751 TO CREATE A JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY SO THAT WE CAN REGIONALLY AND COLLABORATIVELY LEVERAGE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES TOGETHER TO HELP BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR REGION.
WHY DID IT HAVE TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE? SPECIFICALLY SO THAT WE CAN COMBINE LEVERAGING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DOLLARS.
AT THE TIME THAT THIS WAS CREATED, WE HAD 22 CITIES AND OVER 31 IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY,
[00:05:03]
NOW WE HAVE SAN GABRIEL, THAT MAKES 23.WE'VE NOW GOT 23 OF THE 31 CITIES IN OUR REGION AS MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
HERE'S OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO REPRESENT DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
I WAS ELECTED CHAIR AT THE FIRST MEETING.
THE WAY THAT WE HAVE OUR BOARD IS THAT POCKETS OF FOUR TO FIVE CITIES ARE REPRESENTED REGIONALLY BY A REPRESENTATIVE.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME HOUSING EXPERTS WHO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
TO ANYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED IN GETTING MORE INVOLVED IN THE HOUSING TRUST, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME, TO OUR STAFF. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR FIRST-YEAR SUCCESS, THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST WAS ABLE TO BE IN GRANT RECEIPT OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS FROM HCD AS PART OF THE LOCAL HOUSING TRUST FUND PROGRAM TO SUPPORT 71 NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, SPECIFICALLY, THE CLAREMONT BASELINE ROAD PROJECT, WHICH SUPPORTS 15 LOW AND EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME SENIORS, AND THE WEST MISSION PROJECT IN POMONA.
ALL KNOW THAT BOTH OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRI CITY MENTAL HEALTH.
AGAIN, ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF REGIONAL COLLABORATION.
WE DON'T SEE THESE AS POMONA UNITS OR AS CLAREMONT UNITS.
THESE ARE REGIONAL UNITS AND WE'RE ALL PUTTING IN CAPITAL AND WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENCE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THOSE TWO PROJECTS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT WE HAVE PREPARED.
WE'VE GOT A PIPELINE OF 18 PROJECTS THAT REPRESENT OVER A 1000 UNITS THAT ARE SPREAD OUT THROUGHOUT THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY.
THEY REPRESENT A DIFFERENT ASSORTMENT OF HOUSING NEED.
THERE'S HOUSING FOR VETERANS, THERE'S HOUSING FOR SENIORS, THERE'S HOUSING FOR FAMILIES.
THERE'S HOUSING FOR SINGLE ADULTS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WHAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THE FUNDING REQUEST IS BIG.
BUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE IN THIS PIPELINE HERE IS A VERY DIVERSE MIX OF DIFFERENT KIND OF HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
MORE IMPORTANTLY AT DIFFERENT SCALE.
YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE SOME DEVELOPMENTS WITH NINE.
WE HAVE SOME DEVELOPMENTS WITH A 140.
WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE ON ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT DIVERSE HOUSING STOCK.
BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WE DON'T WANT TO ONLY JUST THINK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE OF WHAT YOU THINK OF AS A TAX CREDIT PROJECT.
WE ALSO WANT TO BE FORWARD THINKING.
ALWAYS LOOKING AT NEW OPPORTUNITIES ON HOW TO HANDLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN IS A TINY HOME SHELTER PROGRAM.
WE LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC THAT CONGREGATE LIVING SITUATIONS ARE REALLY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE A HEALTH EMERGENCY.
NOW WHAT'S BECOMING VERY IN VOGUE IS TO LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF TINY HOME SHELTERS.
THESE PROVIDE IMMEDIATE INTERIM SHELTER.
BUT IF THERE WAS A NEED TO HAVE SEPARATION AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT.
IF THERE WERE ANOTHER HEALTH EMERGENCY, WE'RE PREPARED FOR IT.
WE'RE CURRENTLY IN CONVERSATION WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SITE LOCATIONS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS BEING ONE OF OUR MANY INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WE WANT TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
WE DON'T WANT THE FUNDING OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONLY TO BE WHAT YOU THINK OF IN YOUR MIND AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING: TAX CREDIT PROJECT, X NUMBER OF STORIES, X NUMBER OF UNITS.
WE WANT AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MEAN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND THAT CAN MEAN ADU PRODUCTION.
THAT CAN MEAN FIRST-TIME HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS, WAYS TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF RENTALS AND INTO WEALTH ACCUMULATION, HOME EQUITY STARTING TO SAVE AND HAVE ASSETS BASED ON HOME OWNERSHIP.
WE ALSO WANT TO BE THE PLACE WHERE DIFFERENT IDEAS COME FORWARD.
WE WANT TO CREATE A HOUSING INCUBATOR.
WE ALSO WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT RESOURCES WE HAVE NOT JUST IN DOLLARS.
SEE IF THERE'S SURPLUS LAND OPPORTUNITIES THAT GIVE US THE CHANCE TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
I BELIEVE THAT'S MY LAST SLIDE.
MAYOR HEPBURN, I HOPE I MAY HAVE WON AN AWARD FOR THE FASTEST POWERPOINT PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF YOUR CITY COUNCIL'S HISTORY.
I KNOW YOU'LL APPRECIATE THAT.
[LAUGHTER] I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT A CHANCE TO TELL ALL OF OUR MEMBERS WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE TRUST.
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS OR JUST TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE UP TO.
[00:10:04]
>> I FIRST APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.
THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND IT RUNS ACROSS THE GAMUT OF EVERY STATE IN THE UNION THAT'S HAVING HOUSING SHORTAGES AND HOMELESS.
ESPECIALLY, YOUR GROUP OF TALENTED INDIVIDUALS WHICH I KNOW MANY OF THEM AND IT'S TO THE CORE OF THEIR HEART WHERE IT COMES FROM.
I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS UNLESS YOU REALLY HAVE IT IN YOUR HEART AND IT'S JUST A FOCUS ON YOUR LIFE TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB AND NOT ONLY THAT, THE BIGGEST THING IS WE KNOW HOW MEASURE H FUNDING IT'S TOUGH TO GET AND WE'RE REACHING BEYOND THAT AND DOING EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.
I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH I JUST TOUTED THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND THE FOCUS WITH THE 33 PLUS CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES THAT WE HAVE THAT REALLY FOCUS ON THAT AND IT REALLY HELPS A LOT TREMENDOUSLY BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YES, YOUR PRESENTATION WAS WONDERFUL.
YOU DO SO MUCH. TO CONDENSE ON THAT DOESN'T DO US JUSTICE.
BUT FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES AROUND US, WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO AND YOU HAVE OUR FULL SUPPORT AS YOU KNOW.
DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR VICE MAYOR LEANO? NO. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
GABRIEL WE SAID HI IN CLAREMONT AND YOU NEVER KNOW YOU MIGHT SEE US AT A RESTAURANT.
>> [LAUGHTER] LIKEWISE. THANK YOU, MAYOR HEPBURN. GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
WE HAVE SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS MR. RUSSI REGARDING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, IS THAT CORRECT?
[5. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS]
>> YES. WE DO HAVE ONE AND LEANO IS NOT ON THERE AT THIS TIME SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THIS FOR THEM.
LA VERNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WITH THE CITY OF LA VERNE AND BENITO HIGH-SCHOOL ARE SPONSORING A COMMUNITY YARD SALE ON SATURDAY, JULY 31ST.
IT WILL BE FROM EIGHT TO NOON AND IT WILL BE IN THE BENITO PARKING LOT.
THIS YEAR WILL INCLUDE A HEALTH AND FITNESS EXPO WITH HEALTH AND FITNESS PROFESSIONALS, PRACTITIONERS, SERVICES AND PRODUCT PROVIDERS WILL BE ON HAND TO EDUCATE ON THE MULTITUDE OF HEALTH AND FITNESS PRACTICES THAT WE CAN BENEFIT FROM IN ALL STAGES OF LIFE.
THERE'S NO ADMISSION AND EVERYONE IS INVITED TO BROWSE SHOP AND THINK FIT.
THERE'S SPACE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASING THROUGH THE CHAMBER.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THEM AT THEIR OFFICE AT 5935265 OR VISIT LAVERNECHAMBER.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND I THINK I'VE THE COUNSEL SUPPORT ON THIS THAT THE CHAMBER HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND I THINK THAT THEY HAVE ASSISTED OUR BUSINESSES TO SURVIVE.
ACTUALLY, NOT ONLY SURVIVE BUT THRIVE.
I THINK THAT'S THE THING WE WANT TO SAY IS SURVIVE AND THRIVE BECAUSE THIS PANDEMIC HIT US ALL REALLY HARD.
I THINK, MARKETPLACE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN SENDING OUT AND ALL THE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS AND SPECIAL NIGHTS FOR DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS.
THEY'VE JUST DONE A UNBELIEVABLE JOB.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE BOARD AND PACKS.
WE HAVE THIS THURSDAY, WE HAVE THE INCOMING BOARD COMING IN.
I THINK MR. DAVIS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE WITH ME ON THAT.
WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE SWEARING IN THE NEW CHAMBER BOARD SO THANK YOU, MR. RUSSI.
[6. CONSENT CALENDAR]
WE MOVE TO CONSENT CALENDAR.HAS ANYTHING BEEN PULLED, MR. RUSSI OFF THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> IT HAS NOT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING FOR STAFF?
>> [OVERLAPPING] SEE IF ANYTHING CAME IN, SORRY.
>> NOTHING I'VE SEEN TO BE PULLED.
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY WAS THERE A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS WITH SOME OF THE ITEMS [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE WAS ONE FOR COUNSELOR [INAUDIBLE] REGARDING THE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT. ONLY ONE.
>> WE'RE JUST SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR YOUR JULY MEETING ON THAT.
BEING THAT SAID, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? IF NOT, I WOULD LIKE A MOTION.
>> MR. DAVIS, FIRST WE HAVE A SECOND BY MR. CROSBY.
>> YES, I'LL EXCEPT FOR ITEM NUMBER 6.
WE GO TO, JUST ONE SECOND PLEASE.
[7.a. Hearing to Determine Necessity of Utility User’s Tax]
ITEM NUMBER 7, MR. RUSSI?>> YES, MR. MAYOR. THIS IS YOUR ANNUAL HEARING FOR YOUR UTILITY USER TAX AND INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR MARK ALVARADO WILL BE GIVING THAT PRESENTATION AND I THINK HE IS ON THERE NOW.
>> YOU ARE MUTED. YOU STILL MUTED.
[00:15:06]
>> STILL MARK THOUGH, BUT HE'S MUTED.
>> HE IS. THERE HE IS. HEY MARK.
>> I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET MY PICTURE ON THE SCREEN.
>> GOOD EVENING INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR MARK ALVARADO. HOW ARE YOU, SIR?
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
VERY BRIEFLY TONIGHT, THIS IS THE ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONTINUE THE CITY'S UTILITY USERS TAX.
[NOISE] ORDINANCE 955 APPROVED IN THE LATE '90S AND REAFFIRMS WITH THE CHANGES IN 2005 SETS THE RATE SIX PERCENT FOR THE UUT TAX, ON THE ELECTRICITY GAS, TELCO AND UTILITIES WITH DISCOUNTS FOR APPLICABLE SENIOR HOUSING COMPLEXES AND ETC.
EVERY YEAR WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS REVENUE CAN BE CONTINUED INTO THE NEW BUDGET YEAR.
THE ESTIMATED REVENUE FOR 2021, '22 IS ESTIMATED AT $2,856,000.
ALL OF THAT MONEY IS BEING PROGRAMMED INTO THE BUDGET AND THERE IS NO ANTICIPATED SURPLUS OF ANY OF THAT UTILITIES USERS TAX FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.
BASED ON THAT, THE CITY IS REQUESTING THAT THE TAX BE CONTINUED FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AND WITH THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. ALVARADO BEFORE WE OPEN UP OUR PUBLIC HEARING? NO. SEEING NONE, WE WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
GERARD, DO WE HAVE ANYONE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE FROM THE PUBLIC?
>> JUST CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY HANDS RAISED.
I SEE NO HANDS RAISED AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY EMAILS TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
>> OKAY. WE'LL WAIT A FEW SECONDS AND THEN WE'LL MOVE, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'LL BRING BACK THE COUNCIL.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. ALVARADO, COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
>> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO MAINTAIN THE CITY'S UUT AT THE CURRENT VOTERS APPROVED RATE.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. ROLL-CALL, MR. RUSSI.
[7.b. City of La Verne’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan Urban Water Management Plan]
LA VERNE'S 2020 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN AND WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN, URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN. MR. RUSSI?>> THIS ITEM WILL BE HANDLED TONIGHT BY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SHAWN IGOE.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
PUBLIC WORKS IS REQUESTING A PUBLIC HEARING TO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE DRAFT 2020 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN AND SUBSEQUENT APPROVAL OF THE PLAN.
[NOISE] ALTHOUGH THE DRAFT AND [INAUDIBLE] A 2020 PLAN, LEGISLATIVE UPDATES HAVE PUSHED THIS UP TO THE CURRENT YEAR, PUTTING IN 2021.
THIS HAPPENED ALSO LAST TIME, PUSHING IT FROM 2015 OUT TO 2016.
THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS COVERED ON THE URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN, INCLUDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE WATER SYSTEM, WATER USE, AND WATER SYSTEM RELIABILITY.
THE PLAN PRESENTED TONIGHT IS AN UPDATE TO THE 2015 PLAN, WHICH PROVIDES MORE EMPHASIS ON WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND WATER SHORTAGES CONTINGENCY PLANNING.
THIS IS A REQUIREMENT BASED ON THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE WHICH ESTABLISHED THE URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN ACT.
URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLANS ARE REQUIRED FOR EVERY URBAN WATER SUPPLIER THAT PROVIDES WATER TO 3,000 OR MORE CUSTOMERS OR PROVIDES OVER 3,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER ANNUALLY OF WHICH BOTH APPLY TO US AS THE CITY OF LA VERNE.
THESE PLANS ARE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS AND PROVIDE A 20-YEAR LOOK AHEAD.
THE UPDATED PLAN WILL ASSIST IN ENSURING LONG-TERM WATER RESOURCE PLANNING AND ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLIES ARE AVAILABLE TO EXISTING AND FUTURE CUSTOMERS.
WITH THAT, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. IGOE BEFORE WE GO TO OPEN UP PUBLIC HEARING?
[00:20:01]
>> I JUST HAVE I GUESS ONE AND THAT IS IN MAYBE I WAS READING THE DRAFT THAT IT WAS BASED OFF OF BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR NEW PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, SHAWN IGOE WAS GOING TO BE LISTED VERSUS OUR RETIRED DAN KEESEY IN THE DOCUMENT.
>> THAT WILL BE THE CASE, YES.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. IGOE.
GERARD, DO WE HAVE ANY PERSON TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM B.
WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING VIA EMAIL AND THERE ARE NO HANDS RAISED, SIR.
SEEING NOBODY FOR PUBLIC HEARING, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'LL MOVE TO COUNCIL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. IGOE BEFORE WE GO TO A VOTE? THEN WE WILL GO AHEAD AND I NEED A MOTION BY MR. DAVIS TO APPROVE. MR. DAVIS?
>> I'M HAPPY TO RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THIS VERY THOROUGH AND COMPLICATED DOCUMENT THAT WILL PREPARE US IN THE CASE OF A WATER EMERGENCY.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE IN ALL HONESTY, WATER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO US, SO THIS IS WHILE IT'S LONG AND HARD TO READ AND LENGTHY, IT'S A VERY VALUABLE PIECE OF WORK, SO THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.
I MOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2138, ADOPTING THE CITY OF LA VERNE'S 2020 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN AND WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN.
>> DO I HAVE A SECOND ON THAT?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER.
I JUST WANT TO SAY TOO THAT, A LOT OF THESE THINGS YOU [INAUDIBLE] BUT YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS A VAST DOCUMENT THAT CARRIES THE WATER FOR WHOLE COMMUNITY AS MR. DAVIS HAS SAID THAT IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT.
ESPECIALLY OUR MONITORING, ESPECIALLY WHERE WE ARE, AND OUR WELLS, AND HOW WE FUNCTION, AND HOW WE WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES.
IT'S PRETTY INTRICATE AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF ATTENTION AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH IT, SO THANK YOU.
I DO APPRECIATE THAT. YES, MR. IGOE, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOUR NAME IS ON THE DRAFT.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] ROLL-CALL, MR. RUSSI.
>> LOOK TO OTHER MATTERS. MR. RUSSI.
>> THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR YOUR REFUSE RATE INCREASES.
[7.c. Protest Hearing for Proposed Refuse Rate Increase]
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ADVERTISED THOSE OUT AS REQUIRED BY LAW.THERE IS A REQUEST BY WASTE-MANAGEMENT.
THERE ARE THREE LEVELS OF INCREASES.
THERE'S THE CPI AS PERMITTED UNDER THE CONTRACT.
THERE IS ALSO GREEN WASTE INCREASE, THAT IS A RESULT OF SOME CHANGES IN HOW MUCH CAN BE DIVERTED AND THEN THE THIRD WILL BE THE ORGANICS, WHICH WILL BE ANTICIPATED FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN JANUARY.
SO WITH THAT, I DON'T THINK I TOOK AWAY TRACY'S THUNDER, BUT SHE IS GOING TO GIVE YOU A MUCH MORE THOROUGH PRESENTATION, SO TRACY.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYORS, CITY COUNCIL AND LAVERNE RESIDENTS.
I AM HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED REFUSE RATE INCREASE.
AS FAR, BOB RUSSI SAID THAT THERE ARE THREE COMPONENTS TO THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE.
A CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, WHICH WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, AB 1594 OR GREEN WASTE INCREASE, WHICH WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, AND SB 1383, OR THE ORGANIC FOOD WASTE SERVICE INCREASE, WHICH WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST OF 2022.
SECTION 17.69, IF THE WASTE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT ALLOWS FOR AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE REFUSE RATES AND AN ADJUSTMENT OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX OR CPI.
THE FORMULA USED IS THE ALL URBAN CONSUMER GARBAGE AND TRASH COLLECTION US CITY AVERAGE.
THIS YEAR THE CPI IS 3.49 PERCENT.
IN 2020, ASSEMBLY BILL 1594 WENT INTO EFFECT.
THIS BILL NO LONGER ALLOWS FOR A DIVERSION CREDIT FOR GREENWAYS THAT IS USED AS ALTERNATIVE DAILY COVER, OR ADC.
APPROXIMATELY, ONE-THIRD OF ALL GREENWAYS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WAS USED AS ADC.
[00:25:05]
AS A RESULT, GREENWAYS COST INCREASED FROM $46.96 TO $81.37 PER TIME OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.THIS INCREASE RESULTS IN A $1.75 PER MONTH INCREASE TO RESIDENTIAL SERVICE.
ALSO, IT'S WORTH NOTING, WASTE MANAGEMENT HAS ABSORBED THE INCREASE COSTS FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS DUE TO ASSEMBLY BILL 1594.
TO JANUARY 1ST OF 2022, SB 1383 WILL GOING IN TO EFFECT AND REQUIRES ALL CITIES TO MANDATE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ORGANIC OR GREEN WASTE COMPOSTING.
[NOISE] IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN SB 1383 GOES INTO EFFECT, THE DEMAND WILL FAR OUTWEIGH THE CAPACITY AVAILABLE FOR ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL.
CURRENTLY, THERE ARE A 148 COMPOSTING FACILITIES THAT PROCESS GREENWAYS AND ONLY 19 OF THOSE ARE PERMITTED FOR BOTH GREEN AND FOOD WASTE.
WASTE MANAGEMENT ACQUIRED THE SOUTH VALLEY COMPOSTING FACILITY INTO THERE, WHICH IS FULLY PERMITTED TO ACCEPT ALL ORGANIC MATERIAL FROM LAVERNE.
ONCE AGAIN, ALL ORGANIC MATERIALS FROM LAVERNE.
THE COST TO ADEQUATE FOOD WASTE PROGRAM BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST, 2022 RESULTS IN A $77 PER MONTH RATE INCREASE TO RESIDENTIAL SERVICES.
IF LAVERNE DOES NOT PASS A PROPOSED SB 1383 ORGANICS RATES, CAPACITY IS NOT GUARANTEED AND COULD COST MUCH MORE IN THE FUTURE DUE TO HIGHER DEMAND FOR ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL CAPACITY.
ALSO, LAVERNE RUNS THE RISK OF NOT HAVING ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL CAPACITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN NONCOMPLIANCE FINES BY CALVIN CYCLE.
BEFORE I DISCUSS THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL RATE COMPARISONS, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT OF THE 14 CITIES SURVEY, ONLY TWO HAVE INCORPORATED SB 1383 COMPLIANCE MEASURES, CLAREMONT AND LAVERNE.
IN COMPARISON OF RESIDENTIAL RATES OF SURROUNDING CITIES, THE TOTAL RATE INCREASE REMAINS BELOW THE MEDIAN FOR A COMPARABLE SERVICES.
RATES RANGE FROM 3582-2318 PER MONTH.
LAVERNE'S RATE AT 2680, THAT'S $1.93 BELOW THE MEDIAN RATE AND IN THE BOTTOM 30 PERCENT.
THE PROPOSED COMMERCIAL RATES ARE JUST SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE MEDIAN FOR A COMPARABLE SERVICES.
RATES RANGE FROM ¢252.4-12617 PER MONTH.
LAVERNE'S RATE AT 18522 IS $1.23 ABOVE THE MEDIAN RATE.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NOTICE IS MAILED OR PROVIDED TO ALL REFUSE CUSTOMERS WITH 8,360.
THE NUMBER OF VALID PROTESTS REQUIRED TO PREVENT ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED REFUSE IS 4,181.
AS OF THE DEADLINE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE HAVE RECEIVED TWO WRITTEN PROTESTS.
IN CLOSING, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT COUNCIL OPEN AND CONDUCT THE PUBLIC HEARING, RECEIVE ALL WRITTEN AND VERBAL TESTIMONY REGARDING THE PROPOSED FEE INCREASE, ADOPT RESOLUTION 21-39 DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE PROCEEDINGS FOR ADOPTING THE REFUSE STATES.
NO MAJORITY PROTESTING THIS ADOPT RESOLUTION 2140 FROM BEING A RATE ADJUSTMENT FOR REFUSE SERVICE PROVIDED BY WASTE-MANAGEMENT TO BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST OF 2021 AND JANUARY 1ST OF 2022.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I WANTED TO SAY FIRST THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS A LOT OF WORK AND AT 1383 IS DEFINITELY A MOVING TARGET THAT CONTINUALLY CHANGES.
IT'S IN THE NEWS A LOT, SO THAT DYNAMIC WE'RE MOVING THROUGH.
OF COURSE, AB 1594 IS DONE, SO OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S PART OF THE DEAL RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU. I DO APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
THIS IS A LOT OF WORK AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT AND IT'S LIKE I SAID, IT CONTINUALLY MOVES AND IT'S NOT OVER BY ANY STRETCH, IT IS NOT OVER.
ESPECIALLY WITH ORGANIC AND GREEN WASTE COMING TO BE SO SUCH A FORE FRONT AND THE DISPOSAL OF IT.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. CASTELLO AT THIS POINT?
>> I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT PROBABLY AFTER PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> THAT'S OKAY. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
GERARD, LET'S OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[00:30:02]
GERARD, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY FOR PUBLIC HEARING.>> MR. MAYOR, I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS UP AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY EMAILS TO SPEAK.
WE DID RECEIVE SOME EMAILS THAT WERE INCLUDED AND SENT TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
>> MAYOR, THERE'S A HAND RAISED.
>> [NOISE] THERE WE GO. MR. BOWEN, GOOD EVENING.
>> MR. BOWEN, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. YOU ARE UNMUTED.
THE YOUNG LADY THAT JUST MADE THE PRESENTATION, SHE LAVERNE STAFF OR SHE WASTE-MANAGEMENT.
>> OKAY, SO I HAVE A QUESTION.
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO NOW, THE CITY EXTENDED THEIR WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT FOR 10 YEARS ON A NO BID BASIS.
THE REASONING FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE HAS BEEN, WELL, IF YOU PUT IT OUT TO BID, YOUR PRICES WILL GO UP, WHICH IS CATEGORICALLY UNTRUE.
BUT, SO MY QUESTION IS THIS, THE CPI NUMBER THAT SHE QUOTED WHEN THEY OFFER THE 10 YEAR AGREEMENT, THE EXTENSION.
THEY CHANGED THE CPI FROM THE NATIONAL STANDARD NORMAL CPI TO THIS TRASH COLLECTION CPI, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> MS. CASTELLO, DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH?
>> YEAH. NO. THERE WERE TWO CPIS.
IT WAS THIS ONE AND THEN THERE WAS AND ALL URBAN CONSUMER, LOS ANGELES, RIVERSIDE, ORANGE COUNTY, AND THAT'S CPI WAS DISCONTINUED IN DECEMBER OF 2017.
>> NOT BY WASTE MANAGEMENT NOT BY THE CITY.
>> WELL, THE CONTRACT CHANGED IT AND I GUESS I COULD GO BACK TWO YEARS AGO AND SHOW YOU THAT THE CONTRACT WAS A CHANGE IN THE CPI CALCULATION.
BASICALLY YOU'VE GONE TO A DIFFERENT CPI THAT IS WHAT, TWO POINTS OR 3.7 THIS YEAR.
>> THERE WERE TWO CPIS, ONE OF WHICH WAS DISCONTINUED LEAVING ONE CPI.
>> YEAH. THE NEW ONE THIS YEAR.
>> THE SAME ONE THAT WAS ALWAYS IN EXISTENCE.
>> NO, THEY USED TO USE THE NATIONAL CPI WAS PART OF THE AGREEMENT.
WHEN YOU CHANGE THE AGREEMENT, IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK TWO YEARS, MY REST ON THIS THAT YOU DID A 10-YEAR NO BID AGREEMENT.
THEN THE CPI CHANGE AND WE'RE GETTING HIT WITH ALMOST A FOUR PERCENT CPI WHEN THE NATIONAL CPI ON GENERAL GOODS IS ABOUT 1.7.
EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW THAT WHEN YOU CHANGE THESE AGREEMENTS, IT SOUNDS LIKE NO BIG DEAL AT THAT POINT, BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE WE END UP WITH HIGHER RATES BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN A NO BID AGREEMENT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. BOWEN. ANY OTHER, WE'RE STILL ON PUBLIC HEARING?
>> WELL, WE'LL WAIT, JR, ANYBODY ELSE.
>> NON THAT I'VE RECEIVED, SIR.
>> OKAY, WE'LL GIVE IT 15 SECONDS AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING AND LOOK TO COUNCIL.
COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR STAFF?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION I'D LIKE TO ASK TRACY, IF I MAY.
TRACY, ON PAGE 184 OF THIS REPORT, MY QUESTION IS, IF ONLY TWO CITIES, CLAREMONT AND LAVERNE,
[00:35:01]
OUT OF THE 14 CITIES, HAVE INCORPORATED SOME COMPLIANCE MEASURES INTO THEIR RATES, DO THEY ALL HAVE TO BY JANUARY 2022?>> THIS IS A STATEWIDE COMPLIANCE MANDATE.
YES. I CAN'T SPELL THAN ANY SERVICE PROVIDER WILL PROVIDE ORGANIC SERVICE [INAUDIBLE] , SO I'M MAKING THE RUDE ASSUMPTION THAT, THAT WOULD INCLUDE A RATE INCREASE. YES.
>> THIS IS STATE WIDE. [NOISE]
>> THANK YOU, SIR. TRACY, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD PUT, ON PAGE 185, THE COMPARISON CHART UP? I KNOW WE'VE SEEN IT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS VIEW THAT AS WELL.
YOU REFERENCED IT WITH A MEDIUM RATE OF 2873 AND WITH THE DIFFERENCE OF $1.93.
>> TRACY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO, BUT I THINK JR HAS THAT READY.
SHOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SHARE SCREEN, JR?
>> MY QUESTION, AND HIGHLIGHTED AS YOU'VE STATED, TRACY, IS THAT LAVERNE AND CLAREMONT WHERE THE ONLY CITIES THAT HAVE PUT IN THE GREEN WASTE PIECES, CORRECT?
IT'S ACTUALLY THE ORGANIC WASTES THAT I'M REFERENCING UNDER SB1383, BUT IT'S A GREEN WASTES/FOOD WASTE. [NOISE]
>> WHERE THE STATE IS MAKING US DO THIS BUT DIDN'T GIVE US ANY FUNDS FOR THAT BY REQUIRING US TO DO THIS, AS I COMMENTED LAST TIME.
>> I LOVE WHEN THE STATE DOES THAT.
[LAUGHTER] THIS 2680, THAT INCLUDES ALL OF OUR RATE INCREASES OR JUST THE FIRST ONE.
>> THIS 2680 IS THE FINAL TOTAL RATE INCREASE THAT INCLUDES ALL THREE OF THOSE COMPONENTS; CPI, GREEN WASTE, AND ORGANIC WASTE.
>> AS COUNCIL MEMBER, CARDER JUST SAID, MOST LIKELY, IF THEY'RE NOT STARRED, THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING UP BECAUSE OF REGULATIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO, RIGHT?
>> VERY SAFE ASSUMPTION, CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE AND TO KEEP OUR RATES LOWER THAN ALL THE OTHER ONES, WITH INCLUDING THESE INCREASES.
TRUST ME, I GET THAT, BUT I APPRECIATE WITH THIS HAS BEEN DOING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS.
MRS. CASTELLO, WHO WAS THAT YOUNG LADY SITTING NEXT TO MRS. CASTELLO?
>> I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING TERRY MILLS HERE WITH ME.
>> GOOD EVENING, MRS. MILLS. I JUST WANTED TO SAY HI, LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND YOU'RE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WASTE MANAGEMENT.
>> JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND A COUPLE COMMENTS.
I HAD AN EMAIL FROM SOMEONE, I THINK WE ALL RECEIVED IT, REGARDING THE CART REPLACEMENT LOST OR DAMAGED, THEY WERE PRETTY UPSET.
IF YOUR BARREL IS DAMAGED, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
THERE'S A REPLACEMENT THERE BECAUSE THE DAMAGE IF IT WAS MADE VERY CLEAR, AND I'LL PICK UP AND DROP OFF AND DROPPED DOWN, THEY USUALLY DO GET DAMAGED OVER TIME AND THEY BREAK AND A CRACK.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN CART REPLACING, LOST OR DAMAGED, WHAT THAT MEANS TO A RESIDENT? IF IT'S NATURAL WEAR AND TEAR, ARE THEY GOING TO REPLACE IT? IF IT'S NOT WEAR AND TEAR AND IT GETS STOLEN OR WHATEVER, WHAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RESIDENT?
>> IF IT'S NATURAL WEAR AND TEAR, IT'S REPLACED.
THE CITY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT WORK CLOSELY IF WASTE MANAGEMENT SUSPECTS THAT THERE IS A USE WHICH IS NOT INTENDED FOR, SOMETIMES PEOPLE USE IT TO HAUL BRICKS ACROSS THEIR YARD OR WHENEVER.
>> [LAUGHTER] IF IT'S JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, I CAN TELL YOU, IN MY SIX YEARS, I HAVE NOT CHARGED THAT FEE ONCE.
IT'S THERE REALLY FOR GROSS ABUSE OF THE CARTS.
THAT IS NORMALLY DETERMINED BASED ON BOTH CITY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT STAFF CONDUCTING A FIELD SURVEY.
>> MAKE IT CLEAR. IF IT'S DAMAGED DUE TO JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO REPLACE IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO COME OUT, REPLACE IT WITH A NEW BARREL.
>> THE ONLY OTHER THING I HAD AND I'M GOING TO DIRECT THIS TO MISUSE, IS THE FACT THAT I KNOW THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME BARRELS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN THE PICKUPS
[00:40:01]
WEREN'T RATHER TIMELY AND I KNOW WE HAD TO MAKE SOME CALLS.UNDERSTANDING YOUR SITUATION AND COVID AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT I THINK WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS GET THAT SERVICE THAT AT LEAST QUICKLY.
UNDERSTANDING IF YOU HAVE NO PRODUCT AND BRING OUT THERE BECAUSE OF SHORTAGES, I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT WE NEED A LET OUR STAFFS KNOW, WE LET OUR RESIDENTS KNOW THAT.
BUT IF OUR RESIDENTS CONTINUALLY CALL OVER A TWO OR THREE WEEK PERIOD AND THEY DON'T GET PICKED UP, IT'S A CONCERN OF MINE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SERVICE MODEL IS TAKEN CARE OF AS FAR AS THAT, SO IF WE CAN GET SOME ASSURANCES ON THAT, SO WERE SOME ISSUES.
MY OTHER ONE WAS THE FACT THAT I KNOW THAT MR. CASEY, WHEN HE WAS AS PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR THAT WE HAD WAS SOMETHING THAT I BROUGHT UP, AND I THINK WE AS A COUNCIL, WE AGREED TO.
IT WAS THE FACT THAT ON THE LARGE ROLL-OFF FOR OUR ALLIES TO PICK UP LARGE ITEMS ON A MONTHLY BASIS OR I CAN'T REMEMBER THE CONTRACT, I READ AND I CAN'T RECORD SET.
MR. RUSSI, YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD, YES.
I THINK NOW THAT COVID IS MOVING ON, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IF YOU TRAVEL THROUGH OUR ALLEYS, IT'S STARTING TO, I SHOULD SAY, BUILD UP A BIT, AND IF THERE'S ISSUES WITH SPIRE AND DAMAGED THEIR RESONANCES, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, TO START THAT AGAIN, AND LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT.
OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT STREETS AT A TIME, BECAUSE THERE ARE OBJECTS OUT THERE THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED.
AS WE KNOW, SOME OF THOSE STREETS, ARE ACTUALLY RALLY ROADS, THEY'RE JUST SHORT ROOTS.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT IF WE COULD.
>> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, TERRY, BUT I THINK IT'S ONCE A QUARTER THAT WE WERE DOING THESE LOA CLEANUPS, WAS THAT WHAT WAS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE EXTENSION?
>> IN A CONTRACT, I KNOW THAT, I SAW IT.
>> IT WAS QUARTERLY, AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY PUT ON HOLD BY CITY STAFF.
JUST BASED ON IT, COVID HIT US PRETTY HARD AND QUICKLY AND WE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANY SITUATION WHERE WE WEREN'T SOCIAL DISTANCING.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MY STAFF AND I WILL CERTAINLY WORK WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT TO GET UP AND OPERATIONAL.
>> UNDERSTANDING THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S NOW IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. MR. CROSBY.
DURING COVID TOO, I FEEL I KNOW THIS ANSWER.
I FELL I'M GIVING YOU A SOFTBALL TRASH PICKUP, HOW MUCH MORE THAN PRE-COVID PICKUP DID WE ACTUALLY DO? [NOISE]
>> I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL FIGURES WITH ME.
WE DEFINITELY HAD AN INCREASE IN BULKY ITEM PICK UP AND ALSO IN TRASH PICK UP.
I CAN GIVE YOU THOSE FIGURES QUITE SOME OTHER TIME, BUT IF PEOPLE WERE HOME, THEY WERE CLEANING OUT THEIR CLOSETS, THEIR GARAGES, AND WE DEFINITELY SAW A HUGE INCREASE IN BULKY ITEMS PARTICULARLY AND THE TRASH AS PEOPLE WORKING AT HOME THEY WERE GENERATING MORE TRASH, AND DEFINITELY THAT INCREASED SPECIFIC NUMBER THAT I'M HAPPY BUT I CAN ALWAYS GET THOSE FOR YOU.
>> YOU'VE HEARD ME BEFORE THAT I WAS LESS THAN SATISFIED, NOT ONLY FOR OUR RESIDENTS BUT FOR OUR STAFF REGARDING PICK UP.
UNDERSTANDING COVID, BUT I THINK IT WAS A GOOD LESSON FOR ALL OF US.
AS ANYTHING HAPPENS AND WE CAN SEE A LIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TUNNEL, WE NEED TO ALERT EVERYONE ON OUR STAFF AND OUR RESIDENTS, ACTUALLY STAFF THROUGH OUR RESIDENTS, TO LET THEM KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISRUPTION IN SERVICE.
AGAIN, THE MODEL OF WASTE-MANAGEMENT WAS ONCE A WEEK ON MONDAYS, YOU PICK IT ALL UP.
BUT COVID SNUCK UP ON ALL OF US, BUT IT WASN'T A SURPRISE.
COVID WAS HITTING US IN FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, COMPLETE SHUTDOWN.
I WAS VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THAT.
I WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THE FACT THAT OUR STAFF HAD TO DEAL WITH IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY WERE DEALING WITH THEIR OWN COVID RELATED ISSUES, WITH SHUTDOWN IN OUR CITY, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS ONE OF OUR LARGEST VENDORS.
I DO BELIEVE IN COMPETITIVE PROGRESS AND MR. BOB STATED, BUT AS A VENDOR, WE MUST NOTIFY, WE MUST INFORM.
BETTER TO INFORM THAN NOT SURPRISE, WE DON'T LIKE SURPRISES.
OUR RESIDENTS DON'T LIKE SURPRISES.
I WOULD APPRECIATE IF WE CONTINUALLY COMMUNICATE QUICKLY WHEN THERE'S AN ISSUE OR A STOPPAGE OR A SLOW DOWN.
BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY FOR COUNCIL DUE THAT WE GET A LOT OF PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE AND SAYING, "WHY HASN'T BEEN PICKED UP? WHAT'S OUR TRASH? WHAT'S GOING ON?" ESPECIALLY DURING CHRISTMAS TIME, IT WAS A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, BUT I THINK MOVING FORWARD, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU NOTIFY US PLEASE.
>> THAT TOOK A LOT OF LESSONS BUT WILL DEFINITELY DO THAT.
[OVERLAPPING] WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOME WEAK PARTS IN OUR VERIFICATION SYSTEM, SO WE IMPROVE THOSE.
HOPEFULLY, NEVER HAVE A SITUATION LIKE THIS AGAIN, BUT WE'VE DEFINITELY LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS THROUGH IT.
>> I THINK ALSO THE FACT THAT SOME OF
[00:45:01]
THE INFORMATION THAT WENT OUT IT WAS VERY CONFUSING PROGRESS.THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN HALF CONFUSING INFORMATION GOING OUT THERE.
OUR STAFF HAS TO SPEND EXTRA TIME WHEN THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE IT TO SIMPLIFY WHAT'S GOING ON AND MAKE SURE THE RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THAT END.
ALSO, MRS. CASTELLO, IF THIS PASSES TONIGHT ON THE SB-1383, UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THE GREEN WASTE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE, AND I KNOW THERE'S DYNAMICS IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW THAT'S CHANGING.
I THINK ONE OF THE REASON WHY A LOT OF THE OTHER CITIES HAVEN'T JUMPED ON IS THEY'RE WAITING FOR A CHANGE OR WAITING FOR A REPRIEVE.
WHILE I COMMEND YOU FOR AT LEAST GETTING THIS MOTION GOING AND GETTING THIS BOARD.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, BUT IF YOU COULD PLEASE NOTIFY US AROUND THE NOVEMBER TIME TO LET US KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT FOR OUR COUNCIL AND FOR OUR CITY TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COMES UP, IF THEY MAKE A REPRIEVE, WE CAN CANCEL THIS INCREASE BEFORE WE HIT THAT JANUARY 2022, WE COULD DO THAT?
>> I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COME BACK AND UPDATE IN NOVEMBER.
>> COUNCIL, ARE YOU ALL OKAY WITH THAT? I JUST THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING WILL PROBABLY WANT TO LOOK AT AS IT IS.
THE DYNAMICS ARE CHANGING. IS THAT OKAY WITH EVERYBODY?
>> I THINK IT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE A POSTPONEMENT OR A MODIFICATION, NOT A CANCELLATION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH, I AGREE. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR OPTIMISM, MAYOR.
[LAUGHTER] BUT WE ARE ALL TOGETHER.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT TRAIN IS COMING DOWN THE TRACK.
>> LET ME REPHRASE THAT. THERE IS NO CANCELLATION, IT'S JUST MAYBE BUFFERING THE EFFECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HIT AND WE ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE THIS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME AND I DO AGREE. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS
>> I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE TO HELP THE MESSAGE BE STRAIGHT SO THAT IT'S NOT CONFUSING TO PEOPLE.
I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION.
>> WELL, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS I WAS HOPING TO MAKE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER WE ARE STILL IN QUESTION MODE OR COMMENT MODE.
>> WE'RE IN QUESTIONS MODE, GO AHEAD.
>> THE COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT I'LL MAKE ARE, YES, FOR A WHILE THE CPI WAS TRAILING OR A LITTLE UNDER TWO PERCENT.
BUT IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THE ATHENS CONTRACT THAT IS ALSO UP FOR RENEWAL, THE ATHENS CONTRACT IS BASED ON CPI AND THAT CPI INCREASE IS 3.61.
THIS CPI THAT'S BEING USED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT IS CURRENTLY LESS THAN THE GENERAL CPI THAT ATHENS IS USING AT 3.49 PERCENT.
WHILE SOME FOLKS MADE ARGUMENT THAT, NOT HAVING COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS IS CATEGORICALLY THE WRONG THING TO DO, I WILL SAY THAT THIS NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT, WHICH WAS NOT COMPETITIVELY SOLICITED BUT WAS NEGOTIATED IN A NO BIDDER AGREEMENT, SAVES OUR RESIDENTS THREE MILLION DOLLARS OVER 10 YEARS AND THAT'S VALUABLE.
IT'S EVIDENT IN THE CHART THAT YOU JUST SAW WHERE WE'RE SECOND TO THE BOTTOM, EVEN BEFORE THE OTHER CITIES HAVE HAD TO INCREASE THEIR PRICES.
I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL DEAL.
I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE CONTENTIOUS OVER TIME BECAUSE PEOPLE MAY WANT TO MAKE HAY OUT OF IT.
BUT I'M THRILLED THAT WE'VE SAVED OUR RESIDENTS THREE MILLION DOLLARS.
WE'VE ENHANCED SERVICES BY HAVING THE ROLE OFFS AND THE ALLEYS, AND I GET IT.
I'M IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY AND WE'RE CONTINUALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WINDOW MESSAGE.
WHILE I AGREE WITH YOU, MAYOR, THAT WASTE MANAGEMENT FUMBLED IN BED.
I APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORT TO TRY TO LIGHT THE SHIP AND GET EVERYTHING GOING.
I TRULY APPRECIATE THEY'RE QUIETLY ACCEPTING ADDITIONAL TRASH FROM ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS WITHOUT SAYING THAT THAT WAS A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACIOUSNESS IN THIS.
IN SO DOING, I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION IF WE'RE READY FOR IT.
>> TIM, MAY I PLEASE MAKE A CLARIFICATION?
>> JUST SO THOSE LISTING NEAR YOU TALKED ABOUT ATHENS HAVING A CPI INCREASE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS ATHENS IS THEIR STREET SWEEPING SERVICES.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. WASTE MANAGEMENT IS TRASH PICK UP. [OVERLAPPING]
THE STREET SWEEPING WENT UP BY 3.61.
>> MAYOR COUNCIL, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE THE TWO RESOLUTIONS SEPARATELY, 2139 FIRST.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT GUIDANCE BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO ASK IT.
>> BECAUSE LIKE WE'VE TALKED BEFORE AND HE SAID BOTH, BUT WE'LL TAKE ONE AT A TIME UNDER ONE.
I JUST WANTED TO THROW SOMETHING OUT, MS. PETERS, IF YOU HAVE A HOTLINE TO YOUR BOSSES RIGHT NOW, COULD YOU ASK THEM TO FOREGO THE CPI FOR US.
THAT WILL BE SO GENEROUS OF YOU TO SHOW US SUCH A ALL BRANCH TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU COULD DO THERE?
>> IT'S DEFINITELY ABOVE MY PAY GRADE.
>> I DO APPRECIATE THAT AND LIKE I SAID, WE NEED TO MOVE ON, BUT I WILL SAY AND MR. DAVIS, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, BUT I AM AN RFP OPPONENT.
BUT WITH ALSO HOW OUR STAFF REVIEWS EVERYTHING,
[00:50:01]
WE HAVE UPDATED OUR PURCHASING POLICIES AND SOME OF OUR OTHER THINGS.WE HOWEVER, ALWAYS HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND WE ALWAYS HAVE ROOM FOR AN RFP BUT WE WILL ALIGN OURSELVES WITH STAFF TO GIVE US THAT INFORMATION SO WE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
BEING THAT SAID, I'D LIKE A MOTION ON RESOLUTION NUMBER 2139. DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
>> I MOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT OR RECEIVE ALL WRITTEN AND VERBAL TESTIMONY REGARDING THE PROPOSED FEE INCREASES AND WE ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 2139, DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE PROCEEDINGS FOR THE ADOPTION REFUSE FEES.
WAIT, I NEEDED TO STOP AT THE SEMICOLON, SORRY. GO AHEAD. [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU'LL BE OKAY. WHOEVER HAVE A SECOND ON THAT SHOW TO ME.
>> AYE. WE MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 2140.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT MOTION THEN, NO PROTESTS MAJORITY EXISTENCE.
I PROPOSED THAT COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION 2140 OF PROVING A RATE ADJUSTMENT FOR REFUSE SERVICE PROVIDED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT OF SAN GABRIEL VALLEY EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2021, AND JANUARY 1, 2022, RESPECTIVELY.
>> MR. CROSBY WITH A SECOND. ROLL CALL, MR. RUSSI.
>> YES. I WANT TO THANK STAFF.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK MS. MUSE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A BETTER 2021 WITH THRASH.
>> WE MOVE ON TO OTHER MATTERS.
[8.a. Consulting Services Agreement with CivicPlus for Design and Implementation of a New City Website]
ITEM NUMBER 8, CONSULTING SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH CIVIC PLUS FOR DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW CITY WEBSITE. MR. RUSSI.>> YES, THIS IS TO CITY MANAGER.
JR RANELLS WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
IT IS COMING TO YOU AS COUNCIL WILL RECALL, OVER THE LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A REQUEST BY COUNCIL AND DESIRE TO EXPAND ON OUR COMMUNICATION EFFORTS AS APPROVING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WELL AS OUR INTERNET PRESENCE.
WE DID TAKE ON PART OF THAT THIS LAST YEAR WHEN WE EXECUTED A CONTRACT WITH TRIPEPI SMITH AS IT RELATED TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUTREACH, AND THE SECOND STEP OF THAT WAS GOING THROUGH A WEBSITE REDESIGN CONSIDERATION.
JR HAS BEEN TASKED WITH HANDLING THAT PROJECT AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PROPOSALS AND THEN THE REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION. SO, JR.
>> THANK YOU, JR. NICE TO SEE TONIGHT, AND THANK YOU FOR SENDING THE DOLLAR VALUES FOR ALL THE OTHER PROPOSALS.
IT'S VERY HELPFUL FOR ALL OF US I THINK, TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT AND ACTUALLY THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND THE STAFF WAS FAVORED, SO THANK YOU. JR.
>> ABSOLUTELY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
THE CITY IS SEEKING A COMPLETE REDESIGN OF IT'S WEBSITE TO ENHANCE THE USER EXPERIENCE, SIMPLIFY CONTENT MANAGEMENT, AND PROVIDE IMPROVED CITIZEN CENTRIC INFORMATION AS WELL AS CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WAS COMPLETED AND SEVEN RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED.
AN EVALUATION COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF STAFF OF MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS APPRAISE RESPONSES ON PRESET CRITERIA THAT WAS LAID OUT IN THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
FROM THAT PROCESS, THE TOP THREE FIRMS WERE INVITED TO DO A PRESENTATION AND AN INTERVIEW PROCESS WITH THE COMMITTEE.
BASED OFF OF THAT, THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY SELECTED CIVICPLUS NOT JUST BECAUSE IT WAS ONE OF THE LOWEST BIDDERS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THEIR SUPERIOR PLATFORM.
THEY HAVE VAST EXPERIENCE WITH A LOT OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
THEY'VE REALLY CATERED THEIR PRODUCTS TO EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING AND WHAT TOOLS WE NEED.
SOLOMON GROVER, WITH CIVICPLUS, IS ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING AS AN ATTENDEE, SO IF THERE ARE ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS, I WOULD PROBABLY LEAN ON HIM A LITTLE BIT JUST BECAUSE HE OBVIOUSLY KNOWS HIS PRODUCT A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN I DO.
THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT ITSELF WILL BE FOR FIVE YEARS WITH THE TOTAL YEAR 1 COSTS JUST OVER $34,000 AND THEN GOING TO SLIGHTLY JUST UNDER $10,000 ANNUALLY THEREAFTER.
THE PROJECT APPROPRIATION IS INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2021/2022 BUDGET THAT WAS JUST PASSED EARLIER THIS EVENING.
STAFF IS REQUESTING THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2141 SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF CIVICPLUS AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO FINALIZE THE AGREEMENT FOR A WEBSITE REDESIGN SERVICES FOR FIVE YEARS UNDER SIMILAR TERMS OUTLINED IN THE MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS THE STATEMENT OF WORK INCLUDED AS ATTACHMENTS TO THE AGENDA RECORD.
[00:55:05]
I, OF COURSE, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND IF WE NEED TO RE-INSTALL HIM AND I WILL DO THAT AS WELL.>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON THIS ITEM BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> I COMMENT WE DO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
>> OKAY. WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
JR, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ONE?
>> I DID NOT HAVE ANY PREVIOUS REQUESTS FOR THAT.
I'M LOOKING, I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS RAISED AND I'LL CHECK EMAIL RIGHT NOW AS WELL.
>> I DON'T SEE ANY WITH ANY HANDS RAISED.
>> STILL NOTHING RECEIVED, SIR.
>> WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND MOVE TO COUNCIL.
COUNCIL, QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? LAU.
>> THIS MAY BE A QUESTION MORE FOR MR. GROVER, BUT IF STAFF KNOWS, THEN I WELCOME THEIR RESPONSE.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THAT WITH THE REVAMP OF THE WEBSITE, WHAT IS THE ACCESSIBILITY GOING TO LOOK LIKE ON MOBILE DEVICES? BECAUSE SOMETIMES IF WEBSITES AREN'T PROPERLY, AND I'M NOT GOING TO KNOW THE TECHNICAL WORD FOR THIS, BUT SOMETIMES THEY COME UP FUNKY ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE VERSUS IF YOU'RE AT HOME ON A COMPUTER.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THIS UPGRADE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INCREASING THE ACCESSIBILITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND ENSURING THAT THAT USER EXPERIENCE IS A POSITIVE ONE.
>> I'LL GIVE YOU THE DUMB ANSWER AND THEN WE'LL LET SOLOMON GET AT IT MUCH MORE OF EDUCATED WAY.
>> IT WILL BE PART OF THIS PROCESS THAT WAS A SPECIFIC NEED AND REQUESTS THAT WE HAD AND SOLOMON'S TEAM IS VERY EXPERIENCED WITH MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE COMPATIBLE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY PART OF WHAT THEY SHOWED US WHEN THEY WERE DOING THE PRESENTATION.
WE'VE ACTUALLY GONE THEIR STAFF AND SOME OF THE WEBSITES THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WITH OUR CELL PHONES JUST TO, NO OFFENSE, SOLOMON, WE TRUST YOU, BUT WE DID GO AND VERIFY THAT IT WORKED AS WELL.
SOLOMON, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO JUMP INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A DETAILED EXPLANATION.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF THE DADS OUT THERE.
WE SAY IT'S MOBILE RESPONSIVENESS WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ON THE PHONE OR IPAD.
A REALLY IMPORTANT TO ANY KIND OF INTERACTION IS TO THINK OF A MOBILE FIRST STRATEGY.
WE HAVE TO ASSUME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SITTING IN THEIR CARS TRYING TO DO THIS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY CAN IT JUST BE PRESENTED ON A PHONE BUT IT HAS TO REALLY BE EASY FOR THEM TO DO AS WELL.
THAT'S REALLY THE THEORY THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE WHEN WE WORK WITH JR AND THE TEAM IN REVAMPING YOUR WEBSITE IS LOOK AT YOUR SERVICES AND SEE WHAT WE CAN MAKE.
NOT ONLY MAKE IT ONLINE AND ACCESSIBLE, BUT JUST REALLY DELIGHT CITIZENS IN THAT JOURNEY AND WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I DID APPRECIATE THE DELIGHT.
>> MOST OF US DEAL WITH OUR CELL PHONES BECAUSE WE'RE ON THE GO AND IT HAS TO BE BECAUSE I CONSTANTLY GO THEN AND SOMETIMES YOU JUST HIT A WALL AND IT DOESN'T HELP YOU AT ALL.
>> YEAH, KEEP SCROLLING BACK AND FORTH, TRYING TO READ SOMETHING.
>> YEAH, AND YOU CAN'T OPEN AN APP, IT'S NOT COMPATIBLE OR WHATEVER.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR MR. GROVER? YES, COUNCILMAN CARDER.
>> YES, MR. MAYOR, I WANTED TO ASK SOLOMON, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE USED THE SAME WEBSITE FOR MANY YEARS, ADDED SO MUCH MORE CONTENT THAT, IN MY OPINION, IT'S VERY BOGGLED AND I REALLY WOULD LOVE A SIMPLER WAY FOR THE SEARCH ITEM TO HAPPEN.
WHEN YOU GO TO SEARCH, I DON'T FIND IT EASY TO NAVIGATE.
THAT'S THE MAIN CONCERN I'D HAVE FOR THE PUBLIC.
>> IT'S A REALLY EXCELLENT POINT.
I SAY THAT GOOGLE HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF TEACHING US HOW TO USE THE INTERNET.
TYING THE PREVIOUS QUESTION AS WELL, WHEN YOU GO TO CIVICPLUS PARTNER MUNICIPALITY, ALMOST ALWAYS THE SEARCH IS GOING TO BE AT THE VERY TOP OF YOUR DEVICE, BUT WE HAVE A VERY STRONG INTERNAL X-RAY OF ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION ON YOUR SITE.
WE USE A PREDICTIVE SEARCH AND EVEN OFFERING DEPARTMENTS THE ABILITY TO WAIT SEARCH RESULTS FOR THEIR DEPARTMENT FIRST.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF I'M IN THE PD SECTION AND I'M SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING, IT WILL PULL UP THOSE MOST APPROPRIATE HINTS FIRST AND THEN LOOK SITE WIDE.
IT DOES THIS IN A FRACTION OF A SECOND, SO I DON'T KNOW IT, BUT IT'S TRYING TO GIVE ME MORE RELEVANT HINTS AT THE TOP.
[01:00:02]
>> COUNCILMAN CROSBY? MUTED. THERE YOU GO.
>> PART OF OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS ALREADY HAVE USER IDS AND THEIR INFORMATION, IS THAT GOING TO CHANGE WITH THE NEW PLATFORM WHERE THEY HAVE TO RE-ESTABLISH THEIR ACCOUNTS?
>> THE GOAL IS TO MAKE IT A REALLY SEAMLESS TRANSITION.
WE TRY TO PLAY VERY NICELY WITH YOUR EXISTING VENDORS.
IT'S GENERALLY IF WE CAN GET A LIST OF EMAIL ADDRESSES AND ANY KIND OF ACCOUNT INFORMATION, WE WANT TO PULL THAT IN, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THEIR INFORMATION AND NOT ASKING.
GENERALLY WHEN WE'RE ASKING THEM TO OPT IN ON SOMETHING, THEY'LL GET AN EMAIL SAYING, "HEY, WE WANT TO SIGN YOU UP FOR THIS OR CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT FOR YOU" AND THEN THEY'LL JUST ACCEPT IT AS AN EMAIL AND THEN THEY'RE GOOD TO GO.
>> WELL, I GUESS I'M JUST REFLECTING ON WHAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT, AND GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHAT I LIKE TO PROMOTE WHEN IT COMES TO WEBSITES AND VISIBILITY ON MOBILE APPS AND THE INTERNET IS THAT A DELIGHT IS MAKING IT FEEL GAME-LIKE AND A DELIGHT IS MAKING IT FEEL LIKE THE ON-ROADS OR THE INROADS INTO THE CITY AND INTO SERVICES ARE MUCH EASIER AND IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE YOU'RE FIGHTING THIS BURDEN OF HAVING TO TAKE AN OFF-RAMP AND THEN TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE YOUR WAY BACK ON.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR ON-RAMPS AND YOUR GAME-LIKE FEEL IN THIS DELIGHTFUL ENGAGEMENT IN OUR VIRTUAL CITY.
>> ON MY BEHALF, I THINK ALSO, READING THROUGH YOUR CONTRACT, YOUR FIREWALL TECHNOLOGY AND SECURITY IS PRETTY UP TO PAR, AND I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT THESE DAYS AS WE KNOW THAT THE CITY'S BEEN HACKED, BUSINESSES ARE BEING HACKED, SHIP LINES ARE BEING SHUT DOWN, OIL BEING SHUT DOWN.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT. WE'RE NOT ONLY BUYING A BUILDER, BUT WE'RE BUYING SOMEONE THAT'S GOT THE FIREWALL TECHNOLOGY BUILT INTO IT.
AS ALL MY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE STATED, BASICALLY, OUR WEBSITE IS, I WANT TO SAY, THE FRED FLINTSTONE ERA.
I'M JUST GOING TO [LAUGHTER] THROW IT OUT THERE.
SORRY. YOU KNOW WHAT? THE LAST TIME I USED IT, IT WAS COVID, AND WE HAD THE SHOTS IN THE PARKING LOT OVER AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
[LAUGHTER] I GOT ON THERE FOR A REASON AND I TOTALLY WAS LOST.
I CALLED THE CITY, AND OUR WONDERFUL EMPLOYEES AT THE CITY WERE LIKE, DO THIS, DO THIS, DO THIS. YOU KNOW WHAT? AFTER THE 5TH STEP, YOU'VE LOST ME.
I NEED TO, LIKE MR. DAVIS SAYS, GO IN, IT'S LIKE A GAME, BOOM, HIT THIS, HIT THIS, YOU PULL IT UP.
IT'S LIKE INFORMATION SHOULD BE INFINITESIMAL, JUST LITTLE MULTI-SECONDS. THAT IS THE WRONG WORD.
SORRY, MR. CROSBY, WRONG WORD.
[LAUGHTER] BUT ANYWAY, IT SHOULD BE FAST, QUICK, AND I'M LOOKING VERY FORWARD TO THAT.
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU GUYS ARE ONBOARD.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR NEW WEBSITE AND JUST ACCESS FOR OUR RESIDENTS, ACCESS FOR US TOO ALSO AS COUNCIL AND RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR MR. GROVER?
>> JUST ONE FOR YOU, MR. HEPBURN.
WHY DID YOU HAVE TO PUT THE FRED FLINTSTONE THEME INTO MY HEAD RIGHT NOW?
>> I'M SORRY. [LAUGHTER] I COULD HUM IT FOR YOU.
>> JEOPARDY WAS ONE THING, BUT NOW I'VE GOT THE [LAUGHTER] FRED FLINTSTONE THEME IN MY HEAD.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO BE SINGING THAT FOR DAYS, YOU KNOW THAT.
>> WE NEED A MOTION FOR RESOLUTION NUMBER 21-41. WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION?
>> I MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 21-41.
>> THANK YOU, MR. SOLOMON GROVER. THANK YOU.
WE MOVE TO ITEM B, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF
[8.b. Consider Approval of the Draft Partnership Agreement with the La Verne Chamber of Commerce for 2021-2022]
THE DRAFT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE LAVERNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR 2021-2022. MR. RUSSI?>> THIS ITEM WILL BE INTROED BY ERIC SCHERER AND THERE'S LEAH, WHO WILL TAKE THE PRESENTATION.
NOW THAT I DID YOUR INTRODUCTION OR YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT FOR YOU, YOU CAN DO YOUR ANNUAL REPORT.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
[OVERLAPPING] I AM HAPPY TO PRESENT TO YOU THE ANNUAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BETWEEN
[01:05:03]
THE CITY AND THE CHAMBER FOR THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR.ALSO, I WANT TO THANK THE LIAISON COMMITTEE OF COUNCILMEMBERS CARDER AND LAU, WHO MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND MYSELF TO GO OVER THIS DRAFT AGREEMENT BEFORE TONIGHT.
THIS YEAR'S AGREEMENT IS BASICALLY A STATUS QUO AGREEMENT, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS YEARS, WITH THE ONE AND SMALL EXCEPTION, WHICH IS WHERE THE CITY OUTLINES SOME POTENTIAL PROGRAMS THAT WE WILL ENGAGE IN THE NEXT YEAR FOR BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AND RECOVERY FROM COVID.
SOME OF THOSE AND A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE DEPENDENT UPON THE LIMITATIONS OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT THE CITY IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE, WHICH I KNOW THAT WE PLAN ON SHARING MORE OF THAT INFORMATION WITH THE COUNCIL IN THE COMING MONTHS.
BUT SOME OF THOSE MIGHT INCLUDE PARTNERING WITH A LOCAL BANK FOR ASSISTANCE WITH BUSINESS LOANS, POTENTIAL UTILITY FORGIVENESS PAYMENTS, A GIFT CARD MATCHING FOR LAVERNE HOUSEHOLDS THAT WOULD BE ONLY UTILIZED IN LAVERNE, SO WE'D BE SUPPORTING OUR HOUSEHOLDS AS WELL AS OUR CITY BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS REIMBURSEMENT FOR COVID EXPENSES.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE IN CONCEPT THOUGHT ABOUT, AND WE WILL BE BRINGING BACK MORE DETAILS OF THOSE PROGRAMS BACK TO THE COUNCIL ONCE WE UNDERSTAND THE LIMITATIONS ON THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS AND HOW WE THINK THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE FORMED.
BUT WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO LEAH TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT HER PLANS ARE FOR THE CHAMBER FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. RUSSI, FOR COVERING MY ANNOUNCEMENT THIS EVENING.
FOR 2021, THE CHAMBER MET OFF-WORK CONDITIONS AS STATED IN THE CONTRACT BY THE REQUESTED DEADLINES, AND IMPLEMENTED ALL PROGRAMS THAT WERE POSSIBLE UNDER COVID REGULATIONS.
WE HOSTED OUR ANNUAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD VIRTUALLY THIS YEAR, RECOGNIZING 13 EXCEPTIONAL LAVERNE EDUCATORS.
NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE HOSTING OUR 20TH ANNUAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT BACK AGAIN IN-PERSON.
WE WERE ABLE TO AWARD FIVE SCHOLARSHIPS THIS YEAR TO 2021 GRADUATING SENIORS, A TOTAL AMOUNT GIFTED OF $3,000, AND ALL FUNDS WERE RAISED THROUGH VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR CHAMBER MEMBERS.
WE HOSTED OUR SPRING COMMUNITY YARD SALE IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, IT WAS MINIMIZED DUE TO COVID REGULATIONS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO DIVERT 7.3 TONS FROM LANDFILLS.
OUR TASTE OF LAVERNE EVENT THIS YEAR WAS DRASTICALLY CHANGED.
WE HOSTED OUR FIRST-EVER RESTAURANT WEEK.
TWENTY-EIGHT LAVERNE BUSINESSES PARTICIPATED.
THEY'RE INDIVIDUAL RESTAURANTS, AND OFFERED SPECIAL MENUS.
IT WAS VERY WELL-RECEIVED BY THE RESTAURANTS AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY.
THAT BEING SAID, IT ACTUALLY WILL BE ADDED THIS YEAR.
AFTER OUR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH TASTE OF LAVERNE EVENT AT BRACKETT FIELD, WE WILL BE HAVING A MINI RESTAURANT WEEK FOLLOWING THAT THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
WE STARTED A SHOP LAVERNE EGIFT PROGRAM.
IT'S A VIRTUAL GIFT CARD THAT CAN BE USED LIKE A VISA OR A MASTERCARD, BUT ONLY AT PARTICIPATING LAVERNE BUSINESSES.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 15 VENDORS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING.
NOW THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO MORE FACE-TO-FACE VISITS, WE WILL BE ADDING AS MANY LAVERNE BUSINESSES AS POSSIBLE.
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR LAVERNE BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE, AND THEY ACCEPT THE CARD JUST LIKE THEY WOULD ANY OTHER CREDIT CARD PURCHASE.
WE ALSO HELD OUR 2ND ANNUAL EXCELLENCE IN LAVERNE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARDS AND RECOGNIZED FIVE OUTSTANDING BUSINESSES, AND RECOGNIZED THEM ON A VIDEO PLATFORM.
THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, WE KEPT OUR MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY UP-TO-DATE ON THE CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND OFTEN CONFUSING COVID REGULATIONS, AS WELL AS LETTING THEM KNOW THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ASSIST THEM.
WE RECENTLY SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR A SUPPLY OF 5,000 N95 MASKS, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE FREE OF CHARGE TO OUR BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO MEET THE CAL/OSHA REGULATIONS FOR THEIR UNVACCINATED EMPLOYEES.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO '21/'22.
WE WILL BEGIN PHASING BACK OUR IN-PERSON NETWORKING AND OTHER CHAMBER PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO INTRODUCING TWO NEW PROGRAMS IN 2022.
[01:10:01]
IN THE SPRING, WE WILL HOST LOVE LAVERNE DAY, AND THAT WILL BE A COMMUNITY-WIDE VOLUNTEER DAY, WHERE THE COMMUNITY WILL ENGAGE IN A VARIETY OF PROJECTS TO SUPPORT OUR NON-PROFITS AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.IN FALL OF '22, WE WILL HOST OUR INAUGURAL LEADERSHIP LAVERNE PROGRAM.
THIS IS AN IMMERSIVE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OFFERING A DEEP DIVE INTO THE CITY OF LAVERNE AND TO EACH PARTICIPANT ON LEADERSHIPS STYLE AND STRENGTHS TO CREATE EXCEPTIONAL FUTURE LEADERS FOR OUR CITY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CONSTANT SUPPORT FOR OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER LAU AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER FOR MONITORING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU LEAH FOR A JOB WELL DONE ALONG WITH THE CITY, ALONG WITH OUR GRANTS.
I THINK WE'VE SAVED OUR CITY AND A LOT OF OUR BUSINESSES, AND LEAH I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF, AND ALSO TO THE CHAMBER BOARD.
I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT, AND MR. SCHERER ALSO, I'M GOING TO INCLUDE YOU IN THIS TOO BECAUSE YOU'RE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS ALSO WITH ALL OF US.
THE CITY AND PUBLIC WORKS TO SHUT DOWN THE STREET, WHICH IS JUST OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT FROM ALL OUR PEOPLE.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT [NOISE] WITH MARKETPLACE, AND ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE IN SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU'VE DONE AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB TO REALLY MAKE PEOPLE SURVIVE.
THESE BUSINESSES SURVIVE, AND I JUST SAY THAT YOU DESERVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF YOU GUYS.
[APPLAUSE] I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH SERIOUSLY.
YOU'VE DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB, ALSO MR. RUSSI YOURSELF ALSO, JUST ALL THE STAFF BECAUSE WITHOUT OUR BUSINESSES, WE ARE NOT A CITY THAT'S HEALTHY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, SO THANK YOU.
STAFF, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SCHERER, OR MS. CARDER? MR. DAVIS, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S NEXT.
I MEAN THE CHAMBER AND COORDINATION WITH THE CITY HAS JUST DONE SO MANY AMAZING THINGS AS LAST YEAR, AND THE YEARS PARTLY LEADING UP TO THAT, THAT I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SEEING WHAT'S GOING TO COME NEXT.
BECAUSE THE ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN SO STRONG, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FIND THOSE COMPANIES THAT DIDN'T QUITE DO AS WELL THAT NEED AN EXTRA HAND, AND FIND THEM TO HELP THEM BECAUSE THE CHAMBER SEES THINGS WITH ABUNDANCE AND FOR THAT, I'M VERY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU.
>> THE COVID RELIEF PROGRAMS THAT WE DISCUSSED REALLY ARE FOCUSING ON THAT OR THE RECOVERY PROGRAMS. I THINK THEY'RE TRULY JUST LIMITED BY THE SCOPE OF WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO WITH THOSE FUNDS.
WE BRAINSTORMED FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND CAME UP WITH SEVERAL IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN DIRECTLY IMPACT THOSE BUSINESSES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO SURVIVE AND THRIVE.
I WANTED TO COMMEND YOU IN THIS PAST YEAR.
IT HAS BEEN CRAZY FOR YOU I KNOW.
YOU HAVE JUST WORKED SO CLOSELY WITH THE DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS, FOOT HILL MERCHANTS.
I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF THEM TOO, AND THEY ARE JUST VERY GRATEFUL THAT THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD.
I LOVE SOME OF THE NEW PROGRAMS YOU HAVE.
YOU'RE ALWAYS THINKING AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT YOU.
YOU ALWAYS COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS.
I'D EVEN LOVE TO SEE OUR CHURCHES GET INVOLVED WITH THAT.
I THINK WE CAN MAKE THAT A TRULY CLEAN UP DAY FOR LAVERNE AND COME TOGETHER DAY.
I'D LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.
CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT, ON HOW YOU PLAN ON GETTING THE WORD OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. I LOVE THAT IDEA.
YOU KNOW, THIS COMMUNITY REALLY WANTED TO GIVE BACK AND SUPPORT OUR RESTAURANTS DURING THE COVID TIME.
I REALLY THINK WE COULD GET SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM AND MORE AND MORE BUSINESSES WILL SIGN UP.
WHAT'S YOUR PLAN ON HOW TO GET THE WORD OUT TO THE COMMUNITY?
>> OUR MAIN TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION RIGHT NOW IS ELECTRONIC VIA E-MAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT IS PREDOMINANTLY THE TOOL THAT WE'RE USING.
AGAIN, DEPENDING ON WHAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO WITH RECOVERY FUNDS, DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGNS COULD COME INTO PLAY.
>> MAYBE EVEN OUR MESSAGE BOARDS WE CAN USE TOO FOR THE CITY TO HELP.
[01:15:05]
>> MAILINGS ARE SO EXPENSIVE AND SO MANY MAILINGS ARE JUST TRASH.
YEAH, I THINK THERE'S OTHER WAYS TOO, THAT WE COULD DO THIS WITHOUT COSTLY EXPENSES.
>> THANK YOU. YES, WE DO ACTUALLY PLAN ON PARTNERING WITH THE CHURCHES FOR LEVEL OF RNA.
THAT IS A BIG PART OF THAT PROGRAM.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ECHO SOME OF THE COMMENTS LIKE LEAH, YOU HAVE BEEN SO ADAPTABLE AND FLEXIBLE AND SO ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES.
[LAUGHTER] NO MATTER WHICH WAY THINGS WENT.
THERE WERE DEFINITELY SOME ROLLER COASTER RIDE MOMENTS.
BUT I THINK EVERY TIME I SAW YOU ON A CALL OR FOR OUR MEETINGS, YOU ALWAYS HAD A VERY OPTIMISTIC VIEWPOINT ON EVERYTHING AND IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP.
I THINK THAT ATTITUDE IS SUCH A BIG DEAL.
I THINK IT REALLY MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE YOU GENUINELY CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR CITY AND YOU GENERALLY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND I LOVE YOUR GROWTH MINDSET IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE PARTNER WITH NEW PEOPLE THAT WE HAVEN'T PARTNERED WITH BEFORE? SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE DOING WITH THE STUDENTS WITH THE UNIVERSITY IN TERMS OF PR AND MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNING, AS WELL AS PARTNERING WITH THE LAW SCHOOL TO TRY TO GET SOME VITAL INFORMATION OUT TO THE BUSINESSES, I THINK WAS INCREDIBLY FORWARD-THINKING, AND I AM SO APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU ARE DOING SO MANY THINGS FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER UNIVERSITY AND LEARN LAW PROGRAM. YEAH.
MR. CROSBY, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE AS WELL.
EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING IS, IS AMAZING FOR ALL OUR BUSINESS OWNERS AND OUR RESIDENTS.
>> GOOD, AND IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I AGAIN, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SCHERER. THANK YOU, LEAH.
LIKE I SAY, YOU GUYS, YOU DID A GREAT JOB FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE NOW AND THE SHIP HAS BEEN RIGHTED MANY YEARS NOW AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE STUFF WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW BECAUSE WE'RE OPENING BACK UP AND I THINK THE SKY IS GOING TO BE THE LIMIT.
I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US TONIGHT.
I KNOW THAT THE ABC LAWS AND OUR GOVERNORS WATCHING CLOSELY ON RESTAURANTS OUTSIDE DINING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TILL I THINK IT'S, MR. RUSSI CORRECT IF I'M WRONG, I THINK THE END OF 2021 RIGHT NOW FOR THE EXTENSION OF OUTSIDE DINING AND SOME OF THE STUFF FOR THE ABC LAWS.
BUT THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING SERIOUSLY AT THOSE.
THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE AND MORE.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUALLY DO WHAT WE'RE DOING TOO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW WHAT HAVE I DONE? I HAVE NOT OPENED THIS UP FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, HAVE I? WE NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT.
DON'T WE DO ANYBODY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, JR.
>> I'VE BEEN MONITORING, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY HAND RAISED YET AND WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
>> I WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION COUNCIL? FOR THE CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE LAVERNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR 2021/2022.
>> WELL, I LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 21,42 APPROVING THE LAVERNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES PROGRAMS AND FUNDING FOR A 12-MONTH TERM AND THE AMOUNT OF 40,000 AND INCENTIVE PROGRAMS.
>> HAVE A SECOND. [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, STAFF. THANK YOU, LEAH.
THANK YOU, MR. SCHERER. I WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS. YES.
[9. PUBLIC COMMENTS/ORAL COMMUNICATIONS]
>> YEAH, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND IF I MAY MR. MAYOR.
JUNE 15TH WAS THE DAY OF THE REOPENING OF THE STATE AND SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS AND THE CHAIRING THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED OR ARE OCCURRING AS A RESULT OF THAT IN CITY OPERATIONS.
CITY HALL, PUBLIC SAFETY LOBBY ARE ALL NOW OPEN FOR REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS.
CITY HALL IS 8-6, AND BD, I BELIEVE IS 8-5 IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
AS IS CONSISTENT WITH PROTOCOL, JUST A REMINDER THAT I'M VACCINATED SHOULD STILL WEAR THEIR MASK WHILE INSIDE WE WILL STILL LIVE AT CITY HALL IF YOU'VE COME BY.
WE HAVE A CONCIERGE OUT RIGHT AT THE FRONT LOBBY TO GREET YOU.
WE WILL STILL HAVE THAT PERSON IN PLACE FOR
[01:20:02]
THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE JUST TO HELP FACILITATE PEOPLE COMING IN.RECREATION, COMMUNITY SERVICES WILL HAVE THEIR ACCESS THROUGH THE EAST SIDE OF THE CITY HALL.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOUR 4TH OF JULY TICKETS FOR THE FIREWORK SHOW.
PLEASE GO THROUGH THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DOOR AROUND THE EAST SIDE.
ALSO, THE COMMUNITY CENTER WILL BE OPENING FOR RECREATION CLASSES AS OF JULY 12TH.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'LL START TO REINTRODUCE PEOPLE BACK INTO OUR RECREATION FACILITIES.
THAT'LL TYPICALLY BE MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THAT THOSE ACTIVITIES WILL BE GOING ON, PRIMARILY IN THE AFTERNOON.
THE ONLY THING OUT THERE THAT'S CHALLENGING FOR US AND IN MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH COUNCIL IS BRINGING THE PUBLIC BACK FOR OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I KNOW THE COUNCIL AS WELL AS I, AS WE DISCUSSED ARE ANXIOUS TO DO IT.
BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE WE WANT TO DO IT WHEN WE CAN SAFELY ACCOMMODATE EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME INTO OUR MEETINGS.
WE ARE CHALLENGED BY THE SIZE OF OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH REALLY LIMITS GIVEN THE NEED TO STILL HAVE SOME AMOUNT OF SOCIAL DISTANCING IN PLACE.
WE'RE WORKING ON THAT OVER THE COMING MONTHS TO TRY AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND WANTING TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY JUST TO BE PATIENT WITH US AS WE TRY AND FIND THE WAYS TO DO IT IN A MANNER WHERE EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME INTO THE MEETING CAN.
BECAUSE THE MINUTE THAT WE DO MOVE INSIDE AND HAVE IN-PERSON MEETINGS, WE WILL LOSE THE ZOOM FUNCTIONALITY AND THE ONLY THING WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IS WEBCAST.
IT WOULD BE MORE CLUMSY THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS FORUM FOR SOME PEOPLE, AND SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE FAIR AND EQUAL WITH EVERYONE.
JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT FOR THE COUNCIL'S BENEFIT AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU COME BY CITY HALL AS ANYONE. THANK YOU.
>> GOT A REMINDER. SORRY THAT WE WILL ALSO, IN ADDITION TO THE PIRATE SHOW CONCERTS IN THE PART, WE WILL BE PLANNING FOR SOME OF THOSE IN LATE JULY, EARLY AUGUST, AS WELL AS MOVIE IN THE PARK.
WE DO NOT HAVE A DEFINITIVE SCHEDULE YET, BUT WE WILL BE PUSHING THAT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE WILL BE PUTTING SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS IN PLACE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN GET THEM SCHEDULED.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS. SCHERER?
>> MR. MAYOR, WE DO HAVE AT LEAST THREE CALLS THAT ARE READY TO GO.
THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE IS BRITTANY ALLISON.
>> HI. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING MY CALL AND FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.
THERE'S FEW QUICK TOPICS I WANTED TO BRING UP.
THE FIRST IS MY DESIRE TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE DIVISIVENESS THAT IS IN MY COMMUNITY.
SO MANY OF US KNOW THE INEFFECTIVENESS AND THE LACK OF MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE AND THE POLARIZATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
BUT OF COURSE, IT'S JUST THERE BECAUSE I SEE IT IN MY VERY COMMUNITY.
I HEAR THE VILIFICATION OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS AND I JUST WANT US ALL TO REMEMBER THAT WE'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE, WE'RE TALKING TO OUR NEIGHBORS, AND IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THAT ANYBODY EXPRESSING THEIR DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT DOES SO BECAUSE THEY WISH TO UNDERMINE WHAT CITY OF LAVERNE IS AND [INAUDIBLE] , AND THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH MORE.
INSTEAD OF PICKING SIDES, AND PUTTING OTHER PEOPLE INTO A SIDE THAT YOU GET OUT, WE CAN DISCUSS THE MERIT OF DIFFERING VIEWPOINTS.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD AS MUCH OF IT TONIGHT, BUT SO FREQUENTLY WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING FIRE STATION 3.
IT'S NOT HORRIBLE TO CONSIDER FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, IT'S ALSO NOT HORRIBLE TO WANT YOUR CLOSEST FIRE STATION REOPENED FOR INCREASED SAFETY, BUT WE CONSTANTLY PIN EACH OTHER INTO THIS POSITION, WE DON'T DISCUSS WHAT WE SEE QUALITY OF SERVICE MAYBE HAS OCCURRED, OR HOW HIGH OF A RISK ARE THESE LOW FREQUENCY A HIGH-RISK INCIDENT? WHAT OPTIONS DO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE FOR SUSTAINABLE FUNDING? IT'S REALLY SAD AND SORRY TO CONTINUE TO SEE PEOPLE DOUBLING DOWN IN THEIR CORNER RATHER THAN COMING TOGETHER.
MY SECOND POINT IS ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY OF YOUR [INAUDIBLE].
IT HAS OCCURRED THAT WHEN YOU DECIDE TO OPEN UP INTO PERSON, YOU WILL BE SHUTTING DOWN THE [INAUDIBLE] , AND THAT MEANS I WON'T BE ABLE TO CALL IN TO SEEK ASSISTANCE.
WHEN YOU DO DECIDE TO REFER TO EXTRA COMMUNION, I ASK THAT YOU FIND A WAY TO MAINTAIN THE INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY THAT THIS FORMAT PROVIDES, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOME-BOUND OR WOULD CONTINUE STAYING HOME FOR HEALTH REASONS, FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE ME ARE LISTENING TO THIS MEETING ON EAR BUDS, WHILE I GET MY KIDS READY FOR BED AND SNEAK OUT WHILE THEY'RE SCREAMING BEHIND THE DOOR.
[01:25:03]
I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE ENGAGEMENT THAT I WISH TO HAVE IN MY COMMUNITY IF YOU INCREASE THE FUNCTIONALITY. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. ALLISON.
>> [LAUGHTER] MR. MAYOR, I HAVE THOMAS ALLISON ON THE LINE.
COUNCIL, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
>> HI. JUST LIKE MY WIFE, I GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO RAISE.
MINE'S PERTAINING MORE TO THE BUDGET.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO ASK WHAT THE IMPERATIVE OF THE CULTURALLY BEEN FUNCTION OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS.
THEN SECONDLY, I WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT REVISITING PUBLIC SPACING.
BUT ON THE FIRST ISSUE, I LOOKED AT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES ASPECT OF THE BUDGET, AND IT LOOKS [NOISE] LIKE CULTURALLY BEEN IS A PILLAR TO THE PARLEY.
BUT IT'S NOWHERE LISTED IN THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE FOR THE OPERATIONAL PLANS OF THE ACTUAL DEPARTMENT ITSELF.
THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME MISALIGNMENT IN THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE, THAT I WOULD BASICALLY JUST WANT TO BE CONSIDERED BY OUR STAFF.
THE SECOND THING, WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC SPACING.
IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TALKED ABOUT PROVIDING ACCURATE QUALITY SERVICE, WHILE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TALKED ABOUT PROVIDING OR MAINTAINING A VIABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE.
I DON'T THINK THAT BALANCE IS APPROPRIATE FOR OUR [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNITY.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS INVITE CITY STAFF AND THE COUNCIL TO REVISIT PUBLIC SAFETY AS A WHOLE.
WHAT [INAUDIBLE] COULD BE CREATED BETWEEN POLICE, FIRE, AND PARAMEDICS THAT THEY CONSOLIDATE RESOURCES IN THEIR DEPARTMENT? I SEE FIRE HAS IT LISTED AS ONE OF THEIR SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES, BUT POLICE DOES NOT.
HOW CAN FIRE AND POLICE WORK WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO ALLEVIATE THEIR BUDGETARY STRAINS BEFORE BRINGING IN NEW HIGHS? HOW CAN RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORS BE EMPOWERED TO WORK WITH POLICE AND FIRE PROACTIVELY TO SECURE OUR OWN HEALTH AND SAFETY? WHAT'S NOT IMPORTANT THAN QUALITY OF LIFE CALL, TO BE RESPONDED TO BY DEPARTMENTS OTHER THAN POLICE WHO ALLEVIATE OVER TIME NEEDS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT? THIS IS JUST A FEW AMONG MANY CONSIDERATIONS I'D LIKE THE COUNCIL TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, AS SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN THERE SOMEBODY DOING BOTH FIRE AND POLICE FAR MORE THAN IS APPROPRIATE, I CAN ATTEST THEY BOTH PROVIDE THAT QUALITY SERVICES AND FAST RESPONSE TIME, BUT I DO THINK THAT WITH SOME CREATIVITY, WE CAN PROBABLY PUT THIS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE TO REST.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, MR. ALLISON. [NOISE]
>> MR. MAYOR, I'M BRINGING IN PAM BARRY AS PART OF OUR PANEL.
>> [NOISE] UNMUTE. OKAY. THERE WE GO. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM CURRENTLY [LAUGHTER] MOBILE USING THAT MOBILE DEVICE AS WE HOPE TO HAVE OUR NEW WEBSITE.
I'M GOING TO MAKE IT REAL QUICK HERE.
NUMBER 1, CITY MANAGER IS OVER 10 MILES FROM CITY HALL VERSUS THE FIVE PER MUNICIPAL CODE.
HE'S GOT 13 MONTHS' NOTICE, NO FINES OR CONSEQUENCES.
RESIDENTS, THEREFORE, DESERVE THE SAME 12 MONTHS DIRECTED BY MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATIONS WITH NO FINES.
THERE SHOULD BE NO SPECIAL TREATMENT.
SINCE FAMILY AND FRIENDS FROM OUTSIDE OF LAVERNE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO THE 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS, DOES MR. RUSSI GET A PASS FOR THAT ONE TOO? NUMBER 2, $90,000 A YEAR, 180,000 FOR TWO YEARS IS A STEEP BILL FOR PR, WHICH DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE THE WEBSITE.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS PART OF IT.
SO WITH THE LACK OF FUNDS AND STAFFING STATION 3, THIS FRIVOLOUS SPENDING NEEDS TO STOP. WE DON'T NEED PR.
[01:30:01]
THAT'S FOR YOU GUYS.THAT'S NOT HELPING THE RESIDENTS.
AS FAR AS STATION 3, IT'S SIX MINUTES FROM A LOT OF THE NORTHEAST CITY RESIDENTS FROM STATION 2.
IF THEY'RE ON A CALL ALREADY, IT'S NINE OR MORE MINUTES FROM STATION 1.
THAT'S A LONG TIME FOR SOMEBODY TO BE WAITING FOR HELP.
STATION 3, IF OPEN, CAN GIVE THEM 2-3 MINUTES FOR ROLL-OUT, LIVES ARE IN THE BALANCE.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE MAYOR HEPBURN'S PLAN TO OPEN STATION 3 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
NUMBER 3, MEETINGS NEED TO BE WIDE OPEN TO THE RESIDENTS BY JULY 7TH.
MANY RESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS OR ABILITY TO ZOOM.
I SEE THAT IT IS VALUABLE AND WE CAN'T DO HYBRID.
FONTANA IS OPEN THIS WEEK, SAN DIMA IS OPEN, THE PEOPLE WANT TO COME BACK TO PUBLIC HEARING SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY ACCESSIBLE, HYBRID WITH ZOOM OPEN JULY 7TH.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST. I NOTICED RECENT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS MINUTES ARE EXTREMELY VAGUE ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THEY DON'T EVEN INCLUDE THE COMMENT OF A COUNCIL MEMBER INTERRUPTING PUBLIC COMMENTS.
PLEASE KEEP THE MINUTES HONEST AND TRANSPARENT, EVEN IF IT'S NOT PRETTY.
>> MR. MAYOR, I HAVE BRENDA CARNEGIE ON THE LINE.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS BRENDA. THE REASON FOR MY CALL TODAY IS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE CITY OF LAVERNE IS TRYING TO GET RID OF THE FIRE.
[INAUDIBLE] FIRE SEASON IS COMING AROUND AND WE OBVIOUSLY NEED THOSE PEOPLE AROUND.
ME, I'M ACTUALLY AN EMT STUDENT AND HOPE TO ONE DAY WORKING FOR MY CITY AND MY NEIGHBOR CITY.
IT'S VERY CONCERNING THAT YOU WANT TO SHUT THAT DOWN.
I DO NOT AGREE AND I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD HAPPEN.
>> MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE RICH BOWEN JOINING THE PANEL.
>> A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
NUMBER 1, LV3C, THE LAVERNE COALITION OF CONCERNED CITIZENS' MEETING THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.
WE'VE INVITED ALL COUNCIL, BUT DUE TO PRIOR ENGAGEMENTS, ONLY ONE OR ONE HAS ACCEPTED, MR. DAVIS, AND WE'VE INVITED THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE AND THE FIRE TO GIVE US AN UPDATE OF POST COVID LAVERNE.
ALSO, I WANT TO THROW OUT A THANK YOU THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I MEAN, THEY OPENED UP THE STREETS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO AND THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'VE JUST BEEN SUPER SUPPORTIVE AND KEEPING THE [INAUDIBLE] AROUND.
LEE IS CERTAINLY TO BE CONGRATULATED THERE.
LASTLY, OR A COUPLE OF THINGS, BASED ON WHAT PAM JUST SAID, WHY AREN'T WE HAVING AN OPEN MEETING? THE STATE HAS OPENED IT.
AS FAR AS I READ, THE ONLY LIMITATIONS ARE ON SOME MEETINGS THAT ARE 10,000 PEOPLE AND 5000 PEOPLE.
THEY'VE ELIMINATED THE MASK MANDATE AND THEY'VE ELIMINATED SOCIAL DISTANCING.
I JUST HEARD THE CITY MANAGER TALK ABOUT PROPER SOCIAL DISTANCING WITHIN OUR CHAMBERS, BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, UNLESS IT'S CAL/OSHA, THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS.
WHY DOESN'T THE CITY MANAGER WANT TO OPEN UP OUR CITY MEETINGS? ALONG THOSE LINES, I JUST NOTICED THAT ON THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PRESENTATION, THE TWO LADIES WERE IN THE OFFER OR IN ONE OF THE ROOMS IN THE CITY AND THEY'RE THREE FEET APART.
NO MASK, SO THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE THERE.
WHY CAN'T THE CITIZENS PARTAKE? THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
THE VERY LAST THING IS BASED ON THE CONVERSATION LAST TIME WHERE MR. KRESS SAID THAT THE MILEAGE DIDN'T REALLY MATTER BECAUSE IT WAS "CLOSE ENOUGH TO USE AN ATTORNEY TERM."
[01:35:01]
I ASKED FOR A CPR OR A CPRA REQUEST WHICH IS THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS FOR MR. ROSS' CONTRACT.I JUST RECEIVED A NOTE TODAY THAT DUE TO COVID RELATED ISSUES, THEY CANNOT SUPPLY ME WITH THAT AND THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON IT AND WOULD GET IT TO ME SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, NOT STATING ANY DATE.
I FIND IT AMAZING AS A CITY CAN'T PROVIDE A CITIZEN WITH THE CURRENT MANAGERS' CONTRACT.
MAYBE SOMEBODY HAS A COMMENT ABOUT THAT.
LET'S OPEN THE CITY, LET'S OPEN THE MEETINGS, LET'S GET BACK TO NORMAL AND EVERYBODY SHOULD ABIDE BY THE LAW, INCLUDING THE CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU.
>> MR. MAYOR, COULD I JUST JUMP IN.
>> THE CITY MANAGER'S CONTRACT IS ON THE WEBSITE.
MR. BOWEN'S PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST INVOLVED THAT, BUT MANY OTHER ISSUES AS WELL.
HE'LL GET A RESPONSE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
>> THANK YOU, MR. KRESS. ANYBODY ELSE, JR?
>> LET'S GIVE THEM 15 SECONDS.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS AND MOVE TO COUNCIL COMMENTS.
[10. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS]
WHO WOULD LIKE TO START? COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER?>> YES, I WILL. I WANT TO FIRST START OFF WITH LETTING YOU ALL KNOW THAT I ATTENDED A OPENING OF MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE AT THEIR FACILITIES THAT THEY HAVE OVER ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE COMPLEX.
WHAT THEY DID IS IT WAS READY LAST YEAR, A LOT OF THE FOOTBALL FIELD, BUT BECAUSE OF COVID, THEY COULDN'T OPEN IT IN AND DO A RIBBON CUTTING EVENT.
WE ALSO DID A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY TOO FOR SOME NEW BUILDINGS.
I REALLY WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYONE TO GO OVER TO MOUNT SAC WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING OVER IN THAT AREA JUST TO SEE THE BEAUTIFUL COMPLEX THAT IS GROWING OVER THERE.
MT SAC, I WENT THERE BACK IN THE '70S AND IT'S CHANGED SO MUCH.
IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
THE BRIDGE THEY HAVE GOING OVER IS A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.
THE COMPLEX OFF TO YOUR LEFT WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN, YOU'LL SEE THE GIANT SCREEN.
THEY HAD GRADUATION THE DAY THAT WE WERE THERE THAT NIGHT, AND IT WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, IT'S BREATHTAKING.
MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE IS OUR DISTRICT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE A TIME OVER THERE TO DRIVE DOWN TEMPO AVENUE AND YOU'LL SEE IT OFF TO THE LEFT.
THE OTHER ITEM I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE IS I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AND WENDY SITS ON THE 4TH OF JULY COMMITTEE WITH ME, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT IF YOU WANT TO BUY TICKETS FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORK SHOW, YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER, YOU PAY CASH, YOU COME IN, YOU BUY YOUR TICKETS, AND WE WILL NOT BE SELLING AT ALL AT THE GATE TICKETS FOR THAT EVENING.
YOU MUST PRE- BUY THESE TICKETS.
THAT'S MY REPORT, AND THANK YOU.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL MEETING WE GOT A LOT ACCOMPLISHED TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER. MR. CROSBY?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER I TOO, GRADUATED FROM MOUNT SAC AS WELL.
[LAUGHTER] TOGETHER, WE DID IT TOGETHER.
>> I THINK I'M A LITTLE OLDER THAN YOU RICK. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S OKAY. I JUST WANT TO SAY A LOT OF INFORMATION CAME TONIGHT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WHERE WE CAN ALL MEET IN PERSON AS WELL.
THERE ARE OTHER GUIDELINES AND SPACING.
I KNOW SAN DIMAS IS ONLY ALLOWING 50 PERCENT CAPACITY INSIDE THEIR CHAMBERS RIGHT NOW TOO.
IT'S NOT JUST OPEN UP FOR EVERYONE IN THESE CITIES THAT ARE SPREAD OUT THERE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO 4TH OF JULY AND THE EVENTS OF 4TH OF JULY THERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAU, WHEN YOU SPEAK, IF YOU CAN GO OVER SOME OF THE EVENTS AND SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT ARE NOT HAPPENING SO THAT RESIDENTS ARE NOTIFIED TOO.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THEM, SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND SEEING ALL THE RESIDENTS,
[01:40:05]
AND THE MOTORCYCLES GOING DOWN OUR PARADE ROUTE, ONE OF MY FAVORITE PIECES.EVERYONE HAVE A SAFE 4TH OF JULY AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CROSBY. COUNCIL MEMBER, LAU.
>> I JUST WANTED TO START OFF BY THINKING STAFF IS ALWAYS FOR PUTTING TOGETHER ALL THE INFORMATION FOR OUR MEETINGS AND FOR GETTING THAT OUT THERE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
ALSO, I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE 4TH OF JULY COMMITTEE.
I THINK IT'S REALLY A FUNCTION OF, I'M NOT SAYING THAT BECAUSE I'M ON IT, I AM SAYING IT BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME AMAZING STAFF FOLKS AND AMAZING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE REALLY INVESTED IN TRYING TO MAKE THIS A COMMUNITY.
I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH WE WON'T HAVE ALL OF THE EVENTS THAT WE'RE USED TO HAVING.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE HAVING MUCH MORE THAN WE DID LAST YEAR, IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT THAT DID NOT COME WITHOUT SOME REALLY MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSION AMONGST THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE STAFF ABOUT HOW COULD WE PROCEED AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE, WHILE STILL GIVING EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY.
WE WILL NOT BE HAVING THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST.
IF YOU'RE USED TO GOING OVER AND GRABBING PANCAKES WITH BOY SCOUTS AND MIGHT NOT.
THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT THIS YEAR OR THEY WON'T BE DOING THAT THIS YEAR, BUT THEY WILL BE SELLING, I BELIEVE, WATER AT THE FIREWORK SHOW.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A BOY SCOUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE ATTENDING.
TO ECHO COUNCILMAN CARTER'S COMMENTS.
DON'T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE FOR THESE TICKETS.
WE DID HAVE TO RESTRICT SOME OF THE NUMBERS OF THEM AND IT IS CASH ONLY.
I KNOW IF YOU GO TO WAREHOUSE, YOU'RE USED TO THE CASH ONLY POLICY [LAUGHTER].
IF YOU GO TO REVERT AS VILLAGES, THIS IS NOT NEW TO MANY OF YOU THAT ARE LONGTIME RESIDENTS THAT WE ARE STILL CASTED IN [LAUGHTER].
BUT JUST PLEASE REMEMBER TO DO THAT AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT YOU DON'T GET CAUGHT UP AND GO, OH, GOSH, I MISS MY OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE TICKET.
THE PARADE ROUTE WILL BE THE SAME, A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS WORKING FROM THE POLICE SIDE OF THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE ROUTE, THAT WE WOULD HAVE APPROPRIATE STAFFING AND PEOPLE AVAILABLE.
AGAIN, VERY HUGE LIFT ON THAT END AS WELL, SO I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STAFF AND OUR FOLKS FOR REALLY PULLING IT TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I THINK ACTUALLY TWO THINGS.
A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I THINK, IT WAS LAST WEEKEND, NOT THIS PAST WEEKEND, BUT THE WEEKEND BEFORE, THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA HAD THEIR IN-PERSON GRADUATION FOR THE SPRING CLASS OF 2020, THE WINTER CLASS OF 2021, AND THE SPRING CLASS OF 2021.
IT WAS HELD OVER 66 OR STADIUM AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME AND OBVIOUSLY A VERY LONG TIME THAT PEOPLE COULD GATHER.
PEOPLE STILL HAD MASKS AND WHAT NOT, AND WE HAD TO LIMIT CAPACITY.
BUT I THINK, IT'S ALWAYS A HUGE MILESTONE, AND I THINK ABOUT THE BENITO GRADS, AND I THINK ABOUT THE GRADS FROM OTHER COLLEGES AND WHETHER YOU'RE GRADUATING FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL OR WHATEVER IT IS.
BUT SOME OF THESE CELEBRATIONS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED AS BUSINESS AS USUAL TO GET TO HAPPEN FOR A LOT OF FOLKS.
I'M REALLY GLAD TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT, AND WE ARE BEING ABLE TO MOVE TO THAT STAGE.
I WILL STILL CAUTION FOLKS TO BE AS SAFE AS YOU CAN.
OUTDOORS IS BETTER THAN INDOORS.
MASK IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, SOCIAL DISTANCE.
BELATED, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL THE DADS OUT THERE.
I HOPE MANY OF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE IN PERSON WITH YOUR DAD'S.
I GOT TO SEE MY DAD, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO VISIT IN A CONVALESCENT CENTER AND IT'S ONE AT A TIME.
HE'S BEEN OVER COVID FOR MANY MONTHS NOW, BUT THE COMPLICATIONS THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM THAT HAVE BEEN LONG AND ONGOING.
I DO WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OPEN UP, BUT I DO STILL ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY, NOT JUST TO PROTECT YOURSELVES BUT THOSE AROUND YOU, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NOT FALL VICTIM TO A BAD CASE OF COVID, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO MIGHT.
HOPEFULLY, WE'RE GETTING OUT OF THE WORDS, BUT STAY SAFE AND BE KIND.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.
THANK YOU MAYOR. LET'S SEE, A WEEK AGO, MONDAY, I GOT TO MEET WITH THE PUBLIC BANK, POMONA VALLEY STEADY GROUP, WHICH ISN'T AN OFFICIAL ACTION AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THOSE LISTENING THAT ARE INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT PUBLIC BANKING TO GET INVOLVED.
I THINK IT IS POTENTIALLY THE FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THEN WEDNESDAY NIGHT MAYOR HEPBURN AND I CELEBRATED OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS,
[01:45:08]
BOTH POLICE AND FIRE, AND SAVING A BELOVED NEIGHBOR, AND TRACK COACH, AND FORMER MAIL CARRIER, DAVE PARENT.I'LL LET MAYOR TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
WE SHARED THAT PLATFORM AND WE'RE GOING TO GET TO SHARE IT AGAIN COMING UP THIS THURSDAY WITH THE LV3C MEETING.
I'M NOT SURE THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE MUCH TO ADD TO OUR MAYOR'S COMMENTS THAT EVENING, BUT I'LL DO MY BEST AND REPRESENT COUNCIL AS WE WANT TO ONLY HAVE TWO PEOPLE THERE, SO WE DON'T TRAIPSING INTO A BROWN ACT VIOLATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
LASTLY, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND I WOULD LIKE TO AGENDIZE AT THE NEXT MEETING ON JULY 6, A RESOLUTION AND A PROPOSED PLAN TO TURN LOVANS VOTING INTO DISTRICT VOTING.
WE HOPE THAT THAT CAN BRING A LITTLE MORE HARMONY AND TOGETHERNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. THANK YOU ALL COUNCIL.
SOME VERY IMPORTANT ITEMS AND THANKS FOR THE 4TH JULY COMMITTEE.
I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE HAVING THAT THIS YEAR, OUR FIREWORKS IN OUR PARADE, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE REDUCED, WE'RE STILL HAVING AND I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL.
KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU AND ALL THE STAFF TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.
ALSO, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS STATED REGARDING THE, FOR MR. DAVE PARENT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PUT ON A CELEBRATION AND AWARDS AND MEDALLIONS TO THREE OF THE COACH, TRAINER, AND THEN I THINK AN ASSISTANT COACH, AND ONE WAS UOP.
BUT ACTUALLY, THE STAFF, DAVE PARENT SON ACTUALLY FOUND THAT HIS FATHER HAD BASICALLY COLLAPSED AND THE STAFF AT BENITO HIGH-SCHOOL IMMEDIATELY STARTED CPR.
WITHIN TWO MINUTES, THREE POLICE OFFICERS, A ROW ARRIVED TO THE SCENE AND THEY BROUGHT THE DEVICE AND BASICALLY GOT HIM BACKUP, GOT HIM BREATHING, GOT HIS HEART STARTED.
THEN WHEN THAT HAPPENED, WE HAD OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVE AND HOOK THEM UP FOR A DEFIBRILLATOR.
IT'S JUST A SUCCESS STORY, DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN THAT WAY.
BUT THE QUICK RESPONSE, THE TALENTED PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE HIS LIFE.
THAT MAN HAS BEEN A COACH, HAS BEEN HERE FOR SO MANY YEARS, HAD BEEN JUST AN ICON FOR A LOT OF THE STUDENTS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH BENITO FOR MANY YEARS.
WE THANK OUR STAFF, OUR POLICE AND FIRE, AND THE STAFF OF BENITO.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION.
DAVE, LOOKS GREAT, HE'S DOING REALLY WELL, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THEN ALSO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF THAT BUDGET, THIS WAS A HUGE PACKAGE TO PUT FORTH BETWEEN OUR BUDGET AND ALL THE DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT AND ANGLE THESE CONTRACTS.
THERE A LOT FOR US TO LOOK AT, BUT OUR STAFF DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB TO PRESENT THEM TO US AND GIVES US THE INFORMATION SO WE CAN SIFT THROUGH IT.
I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE A NOTE TONIGHT.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA OUT THERE REGARDING PICKING OUT OUR EMPLOYEES THAT THEY'RE ROGUE AND DO THEIR OWN THING WHEN IT COMES TO POLICY OR PROCEDURES.
I WANT TO MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE FINEST EMPLOYEES AROUND.
OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE MADE BY COUNSEL AND CITY MANAGEMENT.
THEY FOLLOW THOSE PROCEDURES TO THE T. I MEAN, WE HAVE PROBABLY ONE OF THE CLEANEST RUN CITIES AROUND AS FAR AS INTERNAL.
THEY FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES AND POLICIES.
IT'S UP TO US IF WE DON'T CARE FOR THE PROCEDURES AND POLICIES TO MAKE CHANGES ON THOSE, AND THAT'S THROUGH A PROCESS.
WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES DO, EXACTLY WHAT THE PROCEDURES AND POLICIES STATE, AND THEY GO WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT.
I WAS HERE THIS WEEK AND LOOKING AT THE AUDIT DEMANDS, THERE ARE THREE EMPLOYEES AND THEY'RE WORKING ON SATURDAY.
DEDICATED STAFF, THEY'RE ON SALARY, DEDICATED STAFF, AND I PERSONALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW THE RESIDENTS OUT THERE AND OUR COUNCIL THAT THEIR TIRELESS ACROSS THE BOARD AND THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB AND THEY FOLLOW THE RULES TO THE T. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THE SOCIAL MEDIA OUT THERE, YOU ARE INCORRECT.
THEY ARE FALLING PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES.
UNTIL WE DECIDE SOMETHING'S NOT WORKING RIGHT, WE'LL MAKE THE CHANGE FROM COUNCIL DOWN TO CITY MANAGEMENT AND THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT ALL OF OUR CITY STAFF DOES.
THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID.
NOW THAT WE'RE OPENING BACKUP, IT'S BEEN A ROUGH ROAD AND THEY'VE JUST DONE AN EXEMPLARY JOB, SO THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH [APPLAUSE].
WITH THAT, MR. RUSSI, WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MR. MAYOR. WE HAVE A NEED FOR THREE AND LET ME JUST BEFORE WE GO INTO THAT,
[01:50:06]
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT COMPLIMENT TO THE STAFF.I KNOW IT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THE THREE CLOSED SESSIONS THAT WE HAVE IS ONE IS UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION
[11. CLOSED SESSION]
54957.6 AND THAT'S CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR WITH ALL THE REPRESENTED GROUPS LISTED.THE SECOND IS TO MEET UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 504957.6, ME WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR TO DISCUSS UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEE THAT POSITION BEING FIRED CHIEF.
THE THIRD CLOSED SESSION IS CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL UNDER EXISTING LITIGATION AND IS UNDER SECTION 54956.9 SUBSECTION A, CASES INVOLVING SAY, BARLOW MARINE ENVIRONMENT, CITY OF LAVERNE, AND THERE WILL BE NOTHING TO REPORT OUT OF ANY OF THOSE.
THERE WILL BE REASSESSING A CLOSE SESSION, THERE WOULD BE REPORTS COMING OUT. THEY'RE NOT REPORT OUT.
BASICALLY, OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY, JULY 6TH, 2021 AT 6:30 PM.
THANK YOU ALL. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 8:22 PM. THANK YOU ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.