[1. CALL TO ORDER ]
[00:00:03]
WE'RE GOING TO START THE MEETING AT 6:55 P.M.
IF WE COULD ALL TAKE A SEAT, PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY, WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? MY PLEASURE.
ALRIGHT, LET'S GO TO ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS.
WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER CARD FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[4. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS (Any person who wishes to make a brief announcement of a future community event that is open to the general public may do so at this time) ]
MR. CARDER, ROBERT CARDER.FOUR SCORE, AND THREE YEARS AGO, [INAUDIBLE] PURCHASED A GREEN NINETEEN THIRTY EIGHT THIRTY FIVE INTERNATIONAL TRUCK.
THE LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF RAISING FUNDS TO RESTORE THAT TRUCK TO RESTORE THAT TREASURE.
THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO ATTEND OUR DEC.
11 VINTAGE SALE FUNDRAISER AT 2369 THIRD STREET.
OUR FUNDRAISER WILL RUN FROM 2 P.M.
SO YOU CAN ATTEND THE WINTER WONDERLAND AT HERITAGE PARK BEFORE VISITING WITH US.
WE WILL HAVE T-SHIRTS, BOOKS, VINTAGE ITEMS, BAKED GOODS AND CANDY FOR SALE.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A T-SHIRT, WEAR IT TO OUR VINTAGE SALE FOR A PHOTO.
IN ADDITION, THE BONITA HIGH SCHOOL BAND WILL PERFORM AT 4:45.
ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE GO TOWARDS RESTORING THE [INAUDIBLE] INTERNATIONAL [INAUDIBLE], IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, WE'VE APPEARED ON CHANNEL SEVEN TELEVISION, BEEN WRITTEN UP IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND PARTICIPATED IN A PODCAST PRODUCED BY THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL NEWS REPORT.
THE TRUCK HAS BEEN STRIPPED TO THE CHASSIS BY BONITA HIGH SCHOOL AUTO SHOP, DOING A WONDERFUL JOB, GETTING THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK ON AN ACTUAL VEHICLE, AND IT'LL SPEND ITS HOLIDAY VACATION BEING SANDBLASTED AND WELDED.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BREAKS IN THE FRAME.
WHEN IT RETURNS TO BONITA HIGH SCHOOL, THE STUDENTS WILL APPLY A POWDER COAT TO THE FRAME AND START PUTTING EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO BE A PART OF HISTORY.
WE'LL UNVEIL A SANTA'S WISHLIST AT THE DECEMBER SALE.
YOU CAN HELP BUY THE NEW STEERING GEARBOX.
HELP WITH THE POWER BOOSTER AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY.
PURCHASE NEW SPRINGS OR HELP RECOVER THE SEATS.
[INAUDIBLE] WILL BE AT THE PLATINUM, GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE LEVELS WILL APPEAR ON THE TRUCK PANEL.
WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO IS ON THE SIDE PANELS, THOSE THAT ARE ABLE TO DONATE AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS, WE'LL ACTUALLY PUT THEIR NAME ON THE SIDE PANELS BECAUSE IT'S A STAKE BED TRUCK.
THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS PROUD PROJECT.
I THINK ALMOST EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE THIRD GRADE DOES A LOT OF HISTORY WITH LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND WE THOUGHT THIS IS A WONDERFUL WAY NOW TO BRING BACK AN ACTUAL VEHICLE, SOMETHING MOBILE FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO CAN'T NECESSARILY GET UP TO HERITAGE PARK, ONE OF THE OTHER ONES.
I'M GOING TO PUT THEM OUT ON THE TABLE HERE, AND I'D ASK YOU TO PLEASE PUT THEM OUT FRONT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE WHOLE THING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, SO THAT'S GOOD.
WE CAN DONATE ANYTHING WE WANT.
IT IS A NOBLE CAUSE, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALL CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY ITEMS OR...
LOSE MY PLACE, NO ONE? I HAD ONE ITEM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE FLYER HAS BEEN AROUND, BUT COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION, YOU'VE ALL RECEIVED THIS OR BY EMAIL OR BY MAIL REGARDING THE WHAT IT IS THE LA VERNE RESIDENCE.
OAKS MESA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MULTIPURPOSE ROOM TOMORROW NIGHT 6 TO 7:30 P.M.
THE COMMUNITY'S LISTENING FORUM IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LA VERNE RESIDENTS TO LEARN MORE AND SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE USE OF CAMPS PAIGE AND AFFLERBAUGH UP AT STEPHENS RANCH ROAD AS SECURE YOUTH TREATMENT FACILITIES FOR YOUTH.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PROBATION DEPARTMENT, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 5TH DISTRICT, THE PROBATION OVERSIGHT COMMISSION AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE REALIGNMENT BLOCK GRANT SUBCOMMITTEE WILL DESCRIBE THE SITE SELECTION PROCESS.
DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL USE OF THE SITE AND LISTEN TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO BE AT TOMORROW NIGHT.
THIS COULD AFFECT EVERYONE, ALL OF LA VERNE AND WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM BASICALLY IS BEING PUT BACK INTO THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS HANDS AND THAT OUR AFFABLE PAGE IS BEING LOOKED AT AS A FACILITY FOR YOUTH.
BUT WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THE YOUTH ARE NOW, IF THEY'RE THE 707B OFFENDERS OR WHAT CLASS THERE, WHICH IS A VERY HIGH RANKING OFFENSE ON THE 707B OFFENDERS.
BUT WE WANT TO GET THEM TO EXPLAIN TO US WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS AND IF
[00:05:03]
THEY ARE GOING TO UTILIZE THOSE FACILITIES AND THEY ARE GOING TO MAYBE MAKE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS OR IMPROVEMENTS TO THEM, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, ESPECIALLY IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE ARE A BEDROOM COMMUNITY THAT ACCESS TO THOSE AREAS IS THROUGH ALL OF OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND IF THESE DO CHANGE AND THERE ARE ISSUES, IT'S GOING TO DRAIN ON OUR POLICE, OUR RESIDENTS, ALSO OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.SO VERY IMPORTANT THIS HAS BEEN POSTED ON THE ON OUR WEBSITE.
IS THAT CORRECT, MR. RUSSI? YES, IT HAS BEEN POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE ALSO DID A SOCIAL MEDIA POST LAST WEEK AS WELL.
TOMORROW NIGHT, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT THE COUNTY WANTS TO DO WITH THAT.
WE HAD PULLED AN ITEM OFF THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
[5. CONSENT CALENDAR ]
MR. RUSSI, IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, THERE WAS A REQUEST TO REMOVE ITEM F.AND THEN I HAD A REQUEST ALSO THAT WE MOVE ITEM 6B AFTER WE DO OUR CONSENT AND ITEM F, IF WE COULD PLEASE.
WANT TO DO THE CONSENT CALENDAR, WE'LL REVIEW ITEM F AND THEN DO ITEM B.
IS THAT OK? OR CAN WE DO THAT AFTER THE CONSENT? I'D LIKE TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO, OKAY CONSENT CALENDAR ANYBODY ELSE? WE WILL TAKE F PUSH THAT ASIDE AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND I NEED A MOTION TO.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING ABOUT THE CONSENT CALENDAR? THEN, I NEED A MOTION.
SORRY, IT'S BEEN A WEEK TWO WEEKS.
THE VOTES WERE ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT CONSENT CALENDAR.
IF I COULD SUGGEST THE COUNCIL JUST HOLD ON MOVING IT BACK TO NEUTRAL AND LET THE OH, WELL, OK, WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
THE SECOND TAKE WAS MUCH BETTER.
WE HAD A RESIDENT PULL ITEM F, IS THAT CORRECT, MR.
[5F. ORDINANCE NO. 1107 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA ESTABLISHING FIVE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS FOR A BY-DISTRICT ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND CERTAIN RELATED MATTERS ]
RUSSI? WE DID, IT WAS MR. BOWEN THAT PULLED THAT ITEM.MR. BOWEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM ? GOOD EVENING, MR. APPARENTLY FINAL ELECTED MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE.
I CALLED IN AND I WATCHED ABOUT 10 OR 12 PEOPLE VEHEMENTLY AGAINST THIS THAT WERE IN THIS CHAMBER AND ONE PERSON BEGRUDGINGLY SAID, WELL, OK AND ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS A CITIZEN OF THIS CITY.
LESS THAN A YEAR CAME FROM A CITY THAT HAD SEVEN DISTRICTS AND THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WERE IN THIS ROOM THAT SPENT THE TIME --AM I BOTHERING YOU, MR. KRESS? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.
IN FACT, I THINK I SAID WHEN I CALLED IN THAT THE FIX WAS IN A LONG TIME AGO.
SO THE GOOD NEWS IS PEOPLE GET VOTED OUT OF OFFICE.
I JUST FIND IT INTERESTING THAT OUT OF FIVE DISTRICTS THAT WERE PICKED OUT BY THIS SUPPOSEDLY INDEPENDENT COMPANY, EACH ONE OF THEM INDEPENDENTLY HAD EACH ONE OF THE COUNCIL PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN DISTRICT.
ON TOP OF THAT, AN HOA IS SPLIT RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.
INSIDE THE GATE, DOWN THE RESIDENTS STREETS, DIVIDING THE MIDDLE OF AN HOA, I JUST FIND THAT INCREDIBLE.
IN FACT, IT HAPPENS TO BE MY HOA.
THE ONLY THING WE CAN HOPE IS MUIR DAVIS AND ROBIN CARDER GET BOUNCED OUT OF THEIR DISTRICTS AND THAT WE GET SOMEBODY IN THAT REALLY LOOKS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY AND NOT THEMSELVES.
IF WE COULD PLEASE KEEP DECORUM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, MAKE SURE, PLEASE.
WE ALSO WEAR MASKS, BUT BE RESPECTIVE OF THE COUNCIL AND ALSO BE RESPECTFUL OF OUR GROUP HERE.
SO IF YOU COULD KEEP THE CLAPPING AND STUFF DOWN TO A MINIMUM AND PLEASE KEEP IT.
JUST FOR A POINT OF ORDER, DO YOU WANT ME TO KEEP THE TIMING ON THE SPEAKERS OR NOT? NO.
I WANTED TO LET THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR KNOW THAT I'M VERY UPSET REGARDING DISTRACTING THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT CALLED IN OR AGAINST ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU VOTED FOR.
THEY WANTED FOUR DISTRICTS WITH AN ELECTED MAYOR.
[00:10:04]
YOU WENT AGAINST THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY, WHICH ARE FIVE DISTRICTS AND A ROTATING MAYOR.HOW IS THIS JUNTOS? DO ANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? YES.
I LIVE ON AMHERST, THIS STREET WAS SPLIT IN HALF NORTH AND SOUTH.
THE PEOPLE OF LA VERNE NEED TO WAKE UP.
WE NEED TO VOTE THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL OUT.
WE NEED TO KEEP LA VERNE JUNTOS.
THE BEST INTEREST FOR THE MINORITIES OF THE CITY.
WELL, I AM MEXICANA AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE BEEN AWFUL.
INSTEAD OF UNITING EVERYONE, YOU ARE DIVIDING US AND PITTING US AGAINST EACH OTHER WITH THESE DISTRICTS.
YOU HAVE NOT LISTENED TO ANY OF THE REQUESTS, MAINLY FROM THE PEOPLE ON THE AMHERST STREET.
IT'S VERY UPSETTING THAT YOU HAVE DONE THIS TO US AND YOU HAVE CONTINUED TO DO SO.
EVERYBODY HERE, LISTEN UP, EVERYBODY TUNING IN, LISTEN UP ONLINE.
JUNTOS, WE CAN FIX THIS, WE CAN VOTE THESE PEOPLE OUT AND RUN AGAINST THEM.
WE NEED TO KEEP THIS CITY TOGETHER AND LA VERNE WHAT IT IS.
I MOVED HERE FOR THAT REASON AND YOU'RE PITTING ME AGAINST MY NEIGHBORS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
[INAUDIBLE]? YOU CAN HAVE IT IF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT HOME.
[CHUCKLING] THIS COUNCIL HAS SAT ON THIS DAIS AND STATED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT THEY MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE NOT ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF THE RESIDENTS AND MAKING THOSE DECISIONS ARE DIFFICULT.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING DIFFICULT ABOUT DETERMINING WHAT A SAFETY ISSUE IS.
I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU ALL THIS EVENING TO SHOW YOU EXAMPLES OF THE SHORTCUT THAT THIS CITY HAS TAKEN ON THE STREET OF AMHERST.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS CITY TREES.
THESE CITY TREES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE CITY, NOT ONLY FOR TRIMMING BUT IN REPAIRING THE UPROOTED CONCRETE ON THE SIDEWALKS AS TO KEEP THE RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE.
THESE ARE THE NUMEROUS PICTURES SIX LOCATIONS TO BE EXACT THAT ARE ON AMHERST.
WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY FILLED IN ASPHALT ON THE CONCRETE CRACKS RATHER THAN BREAK IT UP AND RELAY CONCRETE--[INAUDIBLE], IF YOU COULD RELATE TO US.
OH, WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.
THIS IS ABOUT DISTRICTING I PROMISE YOU.
OK, IF YOU COULD GET TO THE POINT ON DISTRICTING, THANK YOU.
WE ENTERTAIN AND I REALIZED THAT THIS IS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, WHICH IS MORE THAN COINCIDENTAL.
OUR FAMILY ENTERTAINS OFTEN AND SO I COULD HAVE A GUEST TRIP AND FALL AND THEN FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST MY FAMILY BECAUSE THE CITY FAILED TO REPAIR IT PROPERLY.
WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE POINT OF DISTRICT VOTING IF THE CITY IS NOT DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE IN KEEPING THE RESIDENTS SAFE WITH SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS FIXING CONCRETE, THEN WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THEY REALLY HAVE YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART? THE CITY HAD TWELVE THOUSAND IN THEIR BUDGET TO OFFER WORKSHOPS, Q&A SESSIONS OR IN THE VERY LEAST, SEND OUT A MAILER OR A LETTER OR A POSTCARD TO ALL THE REGISTERED VOTERS OF THE CITY.
ABOUT THE MEETINGS THAT DISTRICT VOTING WOULD BE DISCUSSED.
THE CITY FAILED MISERABLY IN NOTIFYING THESE RESIDENTS STOP AND THINK ABOUT THAT FOR ONE SECOND.
SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS VOTING, ONE OF THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS WE HAVE AS CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT NATION.
THE COUNCIL HAS IN ESSENCE TAKEN THAT AWAY FROM YOU BECAUSE INSTEAD OF VOTING FOR SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND A MAYOR, DEPENDING ON THE YEAR, YOU NOW ONLY GET TO VOTE FOR ONE THAT LIVES WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW DISTRICT VOTING WORKS, HERE'S AN EXAMPLE MR. DAVIS IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN DISTRICT ONE.
IF HE DOES NOT HAVE AN OPPONENT, HE WILL WIN BY DEFAULT.
HE DOESN'T EVEN NEED ONE VOTE TO WIN THAT.
YET THE CITY FOUND IT MORE IMPORTANT TO SEND OUT THESE SMALL BUSINESS, SATURDAY, TREE LIGHTING AND HOLIDAY STROLL.
THIS WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO BE SENT OUT TO THE RESIDENTS THAN TO SEND THE POSTCARD
[00:15:04]
ABOUT DISTRICT VOTING AND INFORM THE RESIDENTS OF WHAT IS AT STAKE.ARE YOU SERIOUS? YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT LIGHTING UP A CHRISTMAS TREE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY RIGHT TO VOTE, ESPECIALLY AS A HISPANIC AMERICAN? NOT EVERYBODY EVEN CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS, WHY AREN'T WE CELEBRATING THE LIGHTING OF A MENORAH OR A KWANZAA FESTIVAL? THE CONSTANT TALK BY THIS COUNCIL OF SOCIAL INCLUSION AND ETHNIC EQUALITY IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM THAN THE EXPLANATION OF HOW VOTING IN OUR CITY IS CHANGING, AND IT IS DEFINITELY FOR THE WORSE, MIND YOU.
THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY BETTER KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CITY HAS SOLD OUT FOR ALL THE COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL SUBSIDIES BY SAYING YES TO EVERY PROJECT THAT IS PROPOSED TO THEM.
CAMPAIGNS WILL BE HOUSING LEVEL THREE FELONS IN A JUVENILE CAMP IN MARSHALL CANYON THAT WERE MEANT FOR MINIMAL SECURITY.
THE DECISION OF DISTRICT VOTING IS NOTHING MORE THAN A POLITICIZED FORM OF ALLOWING MOB MENTALITY AND CONTROLLING HOW A CITY IS OPERATED AND FINANCIALLY FUNDED.
WE RESIDENTS CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR JUNE 7TH, 2022 WHEN WE VOTE ALL OF YOU OUT OF OFFICE.
GOOD EVENING, I HAD QUITE A BIT TO READ, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD FOLLOW WHAT [INAUDIBLE] SAID BECAUSE I THINK SHE SPEAKS FOR A LOT OF [INAUDIBLE] THAT BOTHERED TO SHOW UP AND SPEAK AND SHARE OUR OPINIONS AND TRY TO STAY CONSTRUCTIVE IN OUR POSITION ON VERY IMPORTANT THINGS.
WHAT I THINK I WANT TO SHARE WITH THE CITY AND ANYBODY WHO'S PAYING ATTENTION TONIGHT, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP ON ZOOM THAT DON'T SHOW UP IN THIS HALL, IS THAT ON THE DAY THAT YOU DECIDE TO GO TO DISTRICT VOTING AND THE DAY THAT YOU CHOSE TO SELECT A FIVE DISTRICT MODEL, YOU TOOK AWAY 80 PERCENT OF THE VOTING RIGHTS OF EVERY PERSON IN THE CITY, 80 PERCENT.
YOU HAD A CHOICE TO GO TO FOUR TO ONE AND BECAUSE OF WHATEVER REASONS OBVIOUS OR NOT THAT YOU CHOSE TO DRIVE THIS DOWN OUR THROATS, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, EVERYBODY WATCHING ON ZOOM.
EVERYBODY IN THIS ENTIRE CITY.
EVERY RESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN HERE FOR 100 YEARS, 50 YEARS, ONE YEAR, THEY GET ONE PERSON TO VOTE FOR EVERY FOUR YEARS.
I HOPE THAT THE MATH IS FAIRLY SIMPLE FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE CITY, YOU ROBIN CARDER, YOU WENDY LAU AND YOU MUIR DAVIS YOU HAD A CHOICE.
IT WASN'T THE PEOPLE YOU CALLED OUT IN THE PUBLIC THAT BROUGHT THIS IDEA TO THE CITY.
YOU MADE THE CHOICE, YOU MADE THE CHOICE AND YOU MADE THE CHOICE.
SO THE CITY FOREVER NOW HAS TO LIVE WITH YOUR CHOICE THAT THEY GET 80 PERCENT LESS VOTING RATE.
THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY MATTERS IN THIS COUNTRY IS YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE, THE THINGS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT.
YET YOU TOOK 80 PERCENT OF OUR RIGHTS AWAY FROM US.
'ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS? ANNA.
ANNA ANDERSON, [INAUDIBLE] DRIVE.
WELL, I WAS GOING TO READ THIS, AND AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, WHEN I COME UP HERE, I USUALLY JUST SPEAK OFF THE CUFF.
BUT I WANTED TO GET EVERYTHING RIGHT AND I'M NOT GOOD AT READING.
OK, SO IF I START MAKING A MISTAKE, I'LL GO OFF THE CUFF AGAIN.
SO THIS IS REGARDING DIVIDING UP OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION IN SIERRA LA VERNE.
OK? PER THE DISTRICT MAP COMPANY WE HIRED, ONE OF THE SPECIFICATIONS WAS NOT TO DIVIDE NEIGHBORHOODS AND NOT TO DIVIDE COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST.
ANOTHER WAS HAVING IDENTIFYING BOUNDARIES THAT ARE EASY FOR VOTERS TO IDENTIFY DIVIDING OUR HULA DOES NOT HAVE IDENTIFYING BOUNDARIES.
NOW HOW IS COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST DEFINED TO US AT THE SEPTEMBER 27TH MEETING REGARDING DISTRICT MAPS? COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST ARE NEIGHBORHOODS OF SHARED INTERESTS, CHARACTERISTICS AND WHAT TIES THEM TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHAT THE GUY SAID WAS HERE.
OUR HOA IS A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST.
WE ALL SHARE THE EXPENSES OF OUR ROADS, OUR COMMUNITY LANDSCAPING AND OTHER MAINTENANCE THAT THE CITY USUALLY TAKES CARE OF IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.
EACH MEMBER IN OUR COMMUNITY PAYS DUES FOR THEIR SERVICES.
OUR HOA IS LEGALLY AUTHORIZED OUR HOA IS A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST.
[00:20:03]
OUR HOA IS A LEGALLY AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION OF HOMEOWNERS THAT IS FORMED FOR SELF-GOVERNING MAINTENANCE AND THE APPEARANCE OF--ANNA, EXCUSE ME, SANTA CLAUS IS HERE.YOU'LL HAVE TO GIVE HIM A MINUTE.
HE HAS TO GET BACK TO THE NORTH POLE.
TELL MRS. CLAUS, WE SAID, HI, PLEASE.
OK, SO OUR HOA IS A LEGALLY AUTHORIZED ORGANIZATION OF HOMEOWNERS THAT IS FORMED FOR SELF-GOVERNING MAINTENANCE AND THE APPEARANCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
EACH OWNER IS BOUND BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT ENHANCES THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S APPEARANCE, PROPERTY VALUES AND HARMONY OF LIVING.
OUR HOA CANNOT BE BROKEN UP INTO TWO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST AND DUE TO OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE LIVING IN AN EXTREMELY HIGH FIRE AREA WITH TWO MAIN ROADS OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND AN EMPTY GOLF COURSE BEHIND SOME OF OUR HOMES, WE MUST BE UNITED INTO ONE DISTRICT.
WE ALSO HAVE A SPECIFIC PLAN ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL MAY 21, 1984, WHICH SHOWS ITS MAPS OF OUR ASSOCIATION AS ONE UNIT.
WE ALL SIGNED THESE AGREEMENTS IN ESCROW WHEN WE PURCHASE OUR HOMES, AND THE CITY HAS NOT CANCELED THESE AGREEMENTS OR MAPS.
THE CITY OF LA VERNE ALSO APPROVED THE CCNR OWNERS FOR OUR ASSOCIATION IN DECEMBER OF 1985, WHICH OUR COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO FOLLOW, WHICH WE ALL AGREED TO WHEN PURCHASING OUR HOMES AS A NEIGHBORHOOD UNIT.
THESE ARE ALL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA VERNE AND THE MEMBERS OF OUR ASSOCIATION AS A WHOLE.
THE CITY MUST MAINTAIN OUR ASSOCIATION AS A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST AND NOT DIVIDE US INTO JUST TWO DISTRICTS.
THE SPECIFIC PLAN THE CNNR AND OUR AGREEMENT TO ABIDE BY THEM IS WHAT TIES US TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST.
SO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT MAP.
I DON'T CARE WHICH DISTRICT YOU PUT US IN, BUT WE HAVE TO BE IN THE SAME DISTRICT.
WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST.
THE MAPS SHOW THAT WE HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE CITY ON THIS AND WE HAVE PRIVATE ROADS.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS DIVIDED, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE IN ONE DISTRICT OR ANOTHER, BUT THAT'S UP TO YOU GUYS TO FIGURE OUT AND PUT OUR HOA BACK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST.
WHILE THE NEXT PERSON'S COMING UP, IF THERE'S ANYBODY ON ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE ELECTED MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LILY [INAUDIBLE] CITIZEN OF LA VERNE.
I LIVE VERY CLOSE TO WHITE AVENUE.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN CITY MEETINGS FOR A WHILE, MAYBE TWO TO THREE YEARS.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY PRESENT EVERYONE; I PRESENT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.
I SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW DISTRICT VOTING NOW BELONGS TO DISTRICT ONE.
HE SAID, WHAT KIND OF THINGS? BECAUSE, HE KNOWS I COME HERE PRETTY OFTEN.
HE HAS NO CLUE WHAT IT IS ABOUT AND THEN HE GOES [INAUDIBLE] MAP AND SAID WHERE ARE WE AT? WE'RE IN DISTRICT ONE, OK, WE'RE STILL WITH SOME CLOSE NEIGHBOR, BUT WE'RE SEPARATE FROM OLD TOWN LA VERNE, UNIVERSITY, HILLCREST.
A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO LIVE THERE, SO WE'RE SEPARATE FROM THEM AND THEN HE GOES, OH, SORRY.
SO, HE THINKS I'M KIND OF [INAUDIBLE].
IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE YOU GO THERE AND THEN MY KIDS, OF COURSE, MOM, YOU GO TO THE MEETING AGAIN, HUH? SO THEY DON'T REALLY THINK I'M DOING SOMETHING FOR OUR FUTURE.
MAYBE BECAUSE ACTUALLY, TONIGHT IS OUR ANNIVERSARY.
I SHOULD STAY HOME RIGHT AND MAKE THE DINNER AND COME HERE.
THIS IS MY DUTY, MY RESPONSIBILITY, FOR MY FUTURE RETIREMENT, FOR MY KIDS FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT REALLY THERE TO OPEN THE GARAGE.
KEEP THE GARAGE WIDE, OPEN DOOR WIDE OPEN, LIKE TEN YEARS AGO BECAUSE THE HOMELESS [INAUDIBLE] AROUND TO SEE SOMEBODY, I COULD SEE SOMETHING GETTING WORSE, AND THEN I'M NOT REALLY THERE TO LEAVE MY CAR ALONE, JUST LIKE A [INAUDIBLE] WHEN I WAS HOME ALONE.
I'M NOT REALLY THERE TO OPEN MY DOOR TO ANYONE, EVEN LOOK LIKE UPS, AMAZON.
[00:25:01]
THEY JUST NOT REALLY WEAR ANY UNIFORM BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NO LONGER SAFE ANYMORE.WHAT IS THE BEST FOR THE LA VERNE? MY HUSBAND LIVED HERE MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
I LIVE HERE MORE THAN 15 YEARS.
SO WHEN YOU GUYS COME TO THE TOMORROW'S MEETING, I KNOW [INAUDIBLE] COME IN SAFETY.
MY HUSBAND JUST JUMP OUT, WHAT! YOU'RE GOING TO GO TONIGHT.
SO OK, I COME TONIGHT, SO I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT DISTRICT VOTING.
I DON'T KNOW AS AN ASIAN WHO IS GOING TO PRESENT ME BECAUSE THE VOTING RIGHT? I DIDN'T REALLY SEE THIS DISTRICT VOTING WERE REALLY GOOD FOR ANY HISPANIC IN ANY OF THIS FIVE DISTRICT WILL BE, WELL [INAUDIBLE] AFTER DISTRICT VOTING.
I DON'T REALLY THINK I'M IN DISTRICT ONE AS AN ASIAN WHO PRESENT ME? I'M COLORBLIND.
I DON'T REALLY CARE WHO MY SAME RACE.
MAYBE I ONLY VOTE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PRESENT MY SAME VALUES.
I NEVER VOTE FOR ANYONE MY SAME RACE.
I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS VOTE, AND I HOPE ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE ELECTED OFFICIAL.
PLEASE REMEMBER YOU GUYS ARE ELECTED BY US.
YOU'RE NOT EMPLOYED TO FOLLOW THE GOVERNMENT.
TELL ME NO, IT'S THE LAW IS THE LAW WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW.
WE HAVE TO APPLY UP THERE, THE [INAUDIBLE], TO BE A JAIL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE FUTURE.
DON'T EVEN MENTION SOMEBODY ESCAPE JUST THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE COME TO VISIT THING ABOUT SOME THE [INAUDIBLE], RIGHT? RELEASE THEM.
WHERE'S THE FIRST STOP? FIRST STOP, LA VERNE, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO? GO TO Y AVENUE, GO TO [INAUDIBLE], GO TO IN FRONT MY HOUSE.
I ASKED MY HUSBAND THIS CHRISTMAS, NO, GIFT.
OK, DO ALL THE [INAUDIBLE] SYSTEM.
THINK ABOUT IT, OTHERWISE MOVE RIGHT NOW.
MY HUSBAND SAID WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MOVE MY KIDS, THEY'RE BORN HERE.
OK? THEY WILL NOT MOVE IT ANYWHERE.
SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? FINE, ONE TWO THREE FOUR COME TOMORROW.
[INAUDIBLE] FIVE BEFORE US PRESENT [INAUDIBLE] WILL NOT WELCOME ANY JAIL, WHATEVER.
WHATEVER BEAUTIFUL NAME, THEY ARE A JAIL, OK, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO RELEASE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
ANYONE ELSE? IF NO ONE ELSE, WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS AND COME UP TO THE DAIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SURE.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE ISSUES WITH DISTRACTING AS A TOTAL, I KNOW THAT I VOTED FOR HAVING FOUR DISTRICTS AND HAVING AN AT-LARGE MAYOR, BUT THAT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WAS NOT WHAT WAS VOTED FOR.
SO TONIGHT'S VOTE IS NOT VOTING ON EITHER FOUR OR FIVE.
IT'S MOVING TO DISTRICTS AND THAT'S WHAT I'LL BE VOTING ON TONIGHT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER? NOTHING.
MOVING TO DISTRICTS IS A CHANGE IN THE WAY WE'VE RUN OUR CITY.
I STILL DO BELIEVE, THOUGH, THAT IT IS THE BEST PATH FORWARD FOR OUR CITY.
IF YOU WANT TO HEAR MY FULL REMARKS, LISTEN TO LAST NOVEMBER 15 COUNCIL MEETING WHERE I ELABORATED QUITE A BIT AND IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, THERE'S COMMENTARY THAT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.
SO I THINK IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND ENGAGE DISTRICTS SO THAT WE CAN BE IN LOCKSTEP WITH CALIFORNIA VOTER RIGHTS ACT.
I BELIEVE THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO IS TO RESTRICT VOTING, I DO BELIEVE THAT I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW UNTIL IT'S CHANGES UNTIL THE SANTA MONICA CASE, THE SUPREME COURT RULES DIFFERENTLY.
WE NEEDED TO GO TO DISTRICT VOTING.
THE PROBLEM IS THE VOTERS WEREN'T TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE THAT CAME UP ON THE DAIS ALL
[00:30:01]
SPOKE TO A FOUR DISTRICT AND ELECTED MAYOR.THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE WANTED AND THAT WAS OVER NINETY FIVE PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE.
I THINK I'M PROBABLY BEING A LITTLE PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT.
I'M DISAPPOINTED IN THAT AND I AM DISAPPOINTED IN A DEMOGRAPHER.
I WILL SAY AGAIN, I SUPPORT THE DISTRICT VOTING.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WE WERE LISTENING TO OUR RESIDENTS, OUR VOTERS THAT HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS.
THEY WANTED AN ELECTED MAYOR AND THEY WANTED A FOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL.
FORGET WHERE I AM OR WHERE I'M NOT.
IT'S THE POINT IS THAT YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE VOTERS.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT MAKE THE DECISIONS TO MAKE THE CITY RUN.
THE SECOND ONE WAS [INAUDIBLE].
I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP THE HOLIDAY STROLL FLYER.
WE SPENT MORE ON A HOLIDAY, AT LEAST PUTTING A HOLIDAY STROLL FLIER OUT THAN WE DID OUR DISTRICT, GRANTED THAT WE HAD A ROUGH START.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK BOTTOM LINE IS IS THAT I WOULDN'T SUPPORT IT.
I DO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT VOTING, BUT I DO NOT SUPPORT THE FIVE DISTRICT WITH A ROTATION MAYOR, AS OUR VOTERS TOLD US.
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF TRANSPARENCY AND ALWAYS BEEN ONE TO LISTEN.
IT MAY NOT ALWAYS GO YOUR WAY OR THE WAY THAT IT GOES.
THERE ARE OTHER REASONS WE DO IT AS A COUNCIL, BUT AS A GENERAL RULE, YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO YOUR PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, OUR RESIDENTS.
SO BEING THAT SAID, YES, MR. RUSSI, JUST WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THE FLIER THAT WAS PRESENTED WAS ACTUALLY PUT OUT BY THE ASSOCIATION.
IT WASN'T PUT OUT BY THE CITY.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR THE CITY NOT EXPEND THOSE FUNDS.
THE ASSOCIATION IS A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM THE CITY.
I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY SPENT THAT MONEY OURSELVES AND PUT IT OUT THERE.
AS FAR AS THE DISTRICT VOTING, I THINK IT WAS A MISTAKE.
SO I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT BEING THAT SAID, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, FOR THE RECORD, THE MOTION SHOULD BE TO WAIVE READING IN FULL AND ADOPT ORDINANCE 11 07 A MOTION.
I WILL MOVE THAT WE WAIVE READING IN FULL AND ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 1107.
[6. OTHER MATTERS ]
I HAVE REQUESTED THAT ITEM 6B BE MOVED UP.WHICH IS I REQUEST AND EXPRESSED CONCERNS ON THE CITY'S PRACTICE OF PROVIDING GIFTS TO THE EMPLOYEES AT THE TIME OF THEIR RETIREMENT.
I HAVE A LITTLE NOTE TO READ HERE.
I JUST WANT ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE TO KNOW THAT I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR ALL OF YOU AND WILL ALWAYS GO TO BAT FOR ALL OF THE EMPLOYEE GROUPS, AS I HAVE IN THE PAST.
YES, THIS WAS A DELICATE ISSUE.
I RECEIVED MULTIPLE EMAILS FROM EMPLOYEE GROUPS ON THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH THIS REVIEW.
THIS REQUEST WAS SOLELY BASED ON AFTER MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS WITH MULTIPLE CITIES REGARDING GIFTING TO RETIREES THAT THEY USE AN EMPLOYEE DONATED FUND, NOT A GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE FOR RETIREMENT GIFTS.
WHILE, THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS DEEMED THIS LEGAL.
MY PURPOSE TO BRING THIS UP WAS TO EXPLAIN THE RESIDENTS HOW WE DO THIS NOW FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
THIS WAS ALSO ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT A SEMI MEMBER HOLDEN'S AUDIT CONCERNS WHEN HE OFFERED A FREE AUDIT BY THE STATE.
IF OUR RESIDENTS ARE GOOD WITH THIS, SO AM I.
THIS WAS ALSO BASED ON TRANSPARENCY FOR ALL OF US.
I'LL OPEN UP THE FLOOR FIRST, WE OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR ANY DISCUSSION AND MAYBE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE.
MR. MAYOR, I WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU JUMPING ON THE GRENADE ON THIS ONE, IT'S AN OLD PHRASE, SORRY IF IT OFFENDS SOMEBODY, BUT I BROUGHT THIS UP A YEAR AGO, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, THERE WAS AN ILLEGAL.
PAYMENT AND IT WAS PAID INTERNALLY.
HIDDEN AND I MADE A REQUEST BECAUSE I SAW IT ON THE ON THE CHECKLIST AND ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO MAYOR HOLDEN'S OR ASSEMBLYMAN HOLDEN.
THE CITY RESPONDED AND SAID, OH, AS SOON AS WE FOUND OUT, THE CITY MANAGER IMMEDIATELY PAID MADE A DONATION OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS INTO THE FUND.
WELL, THAT DONATION WAS TWO MONTHS LATER AND IT WAS FOUR HOURS AFTER I MADE MY CPR REQUEST.
TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS CHECK WAS WRITTEN SO.
THAT'S IT'S NOT THE MONEY AND I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR ON THIS ONE.
[00:35:04]
IT'S NOT THE MONEY, IT'S OUR MONEY.SO WE'RE GOING TO PAY PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THIS CITY OF WHICH THEY'RE ALL GREAT PEOPLE.
BUT I DON'T CARE IF THEY'RE FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OR ANYONE ELSE.
WHEN YOU PAY PEOPLE OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND FOR A GIFT AND NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT IT, THAT'S THE BIG POINT IS TRANSPARENCY.
SO MR. MAYOR, THIS IS NOT YOUR CONCERN.
I BROUGHT THIS UP AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I ASKED YOU A LONG TIME AGO IF IT EVER CAME UP AGAIN TO PLEASE MAKE IT TRANSPARENT.
PUT IT SO ALL THE CITIZENS ARE AWARE OF IT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING TRANSPARENT.
THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING UP ON A CONSTITUENTS CONCERN.
SO AGAIN, THE BIG THING IS IT WAS ALL HIDDEN.
IT'S SOMETHING [INAUDIBLE] DECIDED IN 1991.
SO YOU WANT TO PAY PEOPLE, YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM GIFTS.
WHY DON'T THE PEOPLE DONATE? WHY DON'T THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WORK WITH, WHICH IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A PRIVATE COMPANY, GO AROUND AND SAY, HEY, YOU WANT 20 BUCKS? THROW 20 BUCKS, THROW 50.
INSTEAD, WE GAVE TWO WEEKS IN HAWAII.
THAT WAS OWNED BY A PREVIOUS CITY EMPLOYEE AND WAS NEGOTIATED BY A CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEE.
LET'S MAKE IT TRANSPARENT AND LET'S EVERYBODY KNOW HOW THINGS OPERATE AND THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. MAYOR.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE? OH, I'M SORRY.
MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY STAFF, MARK GUTIERREZ FROM THE LA VERNE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
I CAME UP HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT IN CONTINUANCE FOR THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE RETIREE GIFT.
I'VE BEEN HERE 18 YEARS, AND I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN AND INTO THE WHETHER IT'S THE EMPLOYEE GATHERINGS AFTER EMPLOYEE LEAVES AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.
I'VE SEEN MANY OF THESE GIFTS GIVEN TO THEM.
SOME OF THEM ARE SHADOW BOXES.
SOME OF THEM ARE TRIPS OR VACATIONS.
THE CITY HAS DONE [INAUDIBLE] HERE, BUT TYPICALLY IT'S A LONG TERM, 25-30 YEAR EMPLOYEE.
ALTHOUGH I APPRECIATE THE AND UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF MAKING IT TRANSPARENT, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT AT ALL.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THEY'VE EITHER ARRESTED SOMEBODY OR DEALT WITH SOMEBODY IN THE FIELD.
THEY TOLD ME THEY PAY MY SALARY, RIGHT? SO NOW I CAN TELL THEM, WELL, YOU PAY MY RETIREMENT GIFT TOO.
[CHUCKLING] SO AGAIN, NOT TO MAKE LIGHT OF THE SITUATION.
IT IS A GOOD THING, AND IT IS A GESTURE.
BACK TO THE TRANSPARENT PART OF IT, I GET IT.
LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT GOES TOWARDS THIS.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU, I'M ALSO A RESIDENT HERE AND I WOULD GLADLY GIVE ANYBODY WHO GAVE 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS CITY TO KEEP IT THIS WAY WHATEVER THEY NEED.
SO THAT TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS OR WHATEVER, AFTER 30 YEARS, YOU CAN DO THE MATH OR BREAK IT DOWN, BUT I DON'T KNOW, IT'S LIKE SIX BUCKS A MONTH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN.
PLEASE RECONSIDER THAT AGAIN, SUPPORTING THIS THING IS HUGE, AND IT IS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FROM THE CITY.
IF IT WAS MY PARTNERS PUTTING THE MONEY IN THERE, I MEAN, THAT'S GREAT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CITY TELLING ME, THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS? ANNA? ANNA ANDERSON, THIS IS KIND OF A TOUCHY SUBJECT, I GUESS.
I KNOW IN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS YOU HAVE DIFFERENT LINES WHERE MONEY CAN GO.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD MAKE A LINE THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO RETIREMENT FOR EMPLOYEES.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE WORKING 30 YEARS FOR THE CITY, COME ON, THEY SHOULD GET SOMETHING I WOULD THINK.
I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT AND IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF YOU GUYS HAVE LINES? THAT HOW IT WORKS HERE? LIKE A LINE FOR THIS, A LINE FOR THAT?
[00:40:01]
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING FOR RETIREMENT THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT.WE KNOW HOW MUCH IS IN THE FUND, WE KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE PUTTING IN THE FUND AND THEN EVERYBODY'S HAPPY THAT WAY BECAUSE OF COURSE, WHEN YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES WORKING THAT LONG, YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING, OK? IT'S JUST SHOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE ALL SEE.
THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF WE SEE IT EVERY SIX MONTHS, EVERY YEAR.
HOW MUCH HAS BEEN PUT IN THE FUND AND HOW MUCH IS IN THERE AND WHO GETS MONEY OUT OF IT? THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.
ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK? [INAUDIBLE]? AS MR. BOWEN SAID, THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR BEING TRANSPARENT AND YOU ALWAYS HAVE BEEN SINCE DAY ONE.
I THINK WHAT PEOPLE ARE FORGETTING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU RETIRE FROM A 25 OR 30 YEAR OR MORE A JOB FROM A CITY, COUNTY OR STATE, YOU HAVE A FAT PENSION WAITING FOR YOU AND THAT SHOULD BE THEIR GIFT.
WHY ARE THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY PAYING FOR THAT ITEM AGAIN, JUST LIKE IT WAS, EXPLAINED A PRIVATE COMPANY.
YOU HAVE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES PUT IN AND SOMETIMES WHATEVER'S COLLECTED, THE EMPLOYER MAY MATCH THAT OUT OF GOOD FAITH, ESPECIALLY IF THE MONETARY VALUE IS NOT HIGH.
BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE ON THE BACKS OF THE TAXPAYERS, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS ADDITIONAL THREE QUARTER PERCENT THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE PAYING, AND WE'RE NOT SEEING ANYTHING COME OUT OF THAT.
AGAIN, THE WHO WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THAT MONEY? THE EMPLOYEES, THEY GOT A RAISE WITH THAT THREE QUARTER PERCENT.
SO PEOPLE FORGET VERY QUICKLY THAT CITY EMPLOYEES ARE PAID WELL AND THEY HAVE A VERY GOOD RETIREMENT WAITING FOR THEM AND THAT, TO ME, IS THEIR GIFT.
I WASN'T PLANNING TO SPEAK ON THIS ONE AND I ALMOST FELT LIKE IT WAS KIND OF A PETTY THING AND I THINK SPEAKING ABOUT GIFTS FOR EMPLOYEES IS SOMETHING THAT IS KIND OF PETTY.
BUT I THINK THE SPIRIT OF WHY IT'S BEING BROUGHT UP, AND I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK THROUGH THE THROUGH WHAT THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT IS THAT IF THE RESIDENTS, THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY HAD THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE MONEY THAT IS BESTOWED UPON CITY GOVERNMENT CITY MANAGER TO ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING WITH IT AND TO BE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT WITH EVERYTHING ABOUT IT THAT ABSOLUTELY EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM THAT'S WORKED FOR THE CITY WHO'S IN FRONT OF ME, WHO'S BEHIND ME, WHO SITS BY THE DOORS.
YOU DESERVE YOUR RETIREMENT GIFT.
HELL, I'D BUY ONE FOR YOU FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE FOR ME.
BUT I THINK THE POINT REALLY SHOULDN'T BE LOST ON EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT A PENSION OR ABOUT A RETIREMENT GIFT.
THIS IS ABOUT WHERE THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM.
HOW IS IT BEING SPENT? MAYBE, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHO IT'S BEING SPENT WITH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE FORENSIC AUDIT COMES INTO PLAY IS THAT IF WHAT RICK SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO USE YOUR LAST NAME BECAUSE THE THING THAT'S BEEN THROWN AROUND ENOUGH IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
I KNOW WHEN [INAUDIBLE] ON THAT.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS? THOSE JOINING VIA ZOOM, PLEASE YOU THE RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE CEA UNION.
OUR GROUP REPRESENTS MOSTLY THE GUYS THAT ARE OUT IN THE STREET WORKING MANUAL LABOR, PROVIDING DRINKING WATER, CLEANING YOUR PARKS, KEEPING YOUR STREETS PRETTY DRIVABLE.
WE WORK WITH THIRTY SIX HOUR WORK WEEK.
I EMAILED ALL YOU GUYS OUR CONCERNS.
A LOT OF RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW WE ONLY HAVE A 36 HOUR WORK WEEK, BUT I ASK YOU, WE DON'T HAVE MANY PEOPLE RETIRING FROM OUR GROUP.
THIS IS A SMALL TOKEN FOR THOSE OF THEM THAT DO STICK AROUND THIS LONG.
AND I ASKED YOU TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
WE HAVE A HUGE TURNOVER BECAUSE THE GENTLEMAN NEED TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY.
THEY SAVE THE CITY 10 PERCENT.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
I APPRECIATE PENNY WISE, THAT I SEE HOW WE DON'T SPEND THE EXTRA.
A LOT OF RESIDENTS MAY NOT SEE THAT.
I LIVE IT, BUT I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD EMPLOYEES WHO STICK AROUND TO DO A LOT OF GOOD FOR YOUR CITY.
KEEP IT NICE AND THIS IS JUST A SMALL TOKEN TO THOSE EMPLOYEES.
THANK YOU, ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK? MR. VOLCHOK.
[00:45:05]
YES, MY NAME IS BRIAN VOLCHOK.AS A PAST EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY, AND I'M ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO MAKING ANY CHANGES AT ALL, AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE A COUPLE OF REASONS.
WHEN I RETIRED, WHICH HAS BEEN 21 YEARS THIS YEAR.
IT'S BEEN 21 YEARS SINCE I LEFT, AND IN THAT 21 YEARS BECAUSE OF MY APPRECIATION FOR THIS CITY, I WILL DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT I CAN FOR THE CITY.
I'VE BEEN ON THE 4TH OF JULY COMMITTEE.
NOW IT'LL BE COMING UP THIS NEXT JULY WILL BE 42 YEARS ON THAT COMMITTEE.
WHY? BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN WHAT THE CITY DOES.
I LOOK AT THIS CITY A LOT DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CITIES, AND I'VE BEEN AROUND ACTUALLY THIS JUNE.
I'VE BEEN IN THE WATER DISTRICT FOR NOW SIXTY ONE YEARS IN WATER AND EACH AGENCY THAT I'VE BEEN TO, I WAS WITH ONTARIO.
I'VE SEEN HIM GIVE FISHING POLES.
I'VE SEEN HIM GIVE ROCKING CHAIRS.
I'VE SEEN HIM GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING AND WHEN I WENT TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY WATER DISTRICT, IT WAS THE SAME WAY.
BUT THE FEELING IS DIFFERENT HERE.
IT'S THIS COMMUNITY IS JUST I'VE ALWAYS SAID LA VERNE LIVES UNDER AN UMBRELLA AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I GIVE BACK.
THAT'S WHY I'M INVOLVED WITH DAVID MARGARET.
THAT'S WHY I'M INVOLVED UP NOW AT LEROY'S BOYS HOME ON THE BOARD.
I'M INVOLVED ANYWHERE THAT ANYBODY NEEDS ANY HELP IN THIS CITY BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN IT AND WHEN I RETIRED, YEAH, THEY PUT ON A PARTY, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT, BUT IT WAS MY RETIREMENT AND THE CITY DIDN'T PAY FOR ALL OF IT BY ANY STRETCH.
I THINK SOME IN THE ROOM BELIEVE THAT THEY DID.
THERE WAS A LOT OF VENDORS THAT PUT UP WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO, AND I THINK TO THIS DAY, I PROBABLY STILL HAD THE BIGGEST RETIREMENT EVER.
WE HAD IT AT SAN DIMAS BECAUSE AT THE TIME THERE NO OTHER PLACE COULD HOLD THAT MANY AND I ENDED UP WITH THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY PEOPLE THERE AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.
I'M PROUD OF WHEN I GO TO AN EVENT OF ANY KIND, AND MR. MAYOR, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN AT DIFFERENT EVENTS, THEY KNOW WHEN YOU WALK IN WHO YOU'RE WITH AND I'M GUARANTEEING YOU WHEN I WALK IN, THEY KNOW THAT I MAY BE A DIRECTOR UP AT THREE VALLEYS, BUT I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT WHEN I ATTEND VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
I KNOW ALL OF THEM ON THERE FOR THAT REASON, AND I'M PROUD OF WHAT THE CITY DOES, WHETHER IT'S A FIRE DEPARTMENT OR A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE INSEPARABLE AND THEN I LOOK AT ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE.
THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB AND IF ONE GROUP NEEDS A HELP OUT OVER HERE, IT DOESN'T HURT THE STREET DEPARTMENT TO GET WITH THE PARK DEPARTMENT, THE WATER DEPARTMENT, WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S THE CAMARADERIE.
IT'S THEY'RE WORKING THIS WAY AND I REALLY AND TRULY BELIEVE, TO FINISH UP, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT'S BECAUSE WHAT THIS GROUP RIGHT HERE DOES FOR THE CITY AND I THINK IF YOU CHANGE IT, I CAN SEE THE NEXT STEP BEING, WELL, WHY ARE WE PUTTING ON CHRISTMAS FOR THE EMPLOYEES? WE SHOULD TAKE THAT AWAY, TOO AND WHY DON'T WE TAKE THIS AWAY AND YOU END UP WITH A BUNCH OF DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES? AND I REALLY MEAN, I THINK YOU WOULD LOSE A LOT OF THEM.
LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF YEARS THAT THESE EMPLOYEES PUT INTO THIS CITY.
THEY COME HERE, THEY STAY HERE, THEY RETIRE HERE.
WHY? IT'S DARN SURE NOT THE MONEY, BECAUSE WE PAY LESS THAN MOST OF THE CITIES AROUND HERE.
WE'RE UNDER THE MEDIAN BY A LONG WAY.
IT'S BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR SERVING MR. VOLCHOK AND BY THE WAY, FOR A MAN THAT'S BEEN IN WATER FOR 61 YEARS, YOU LOOK GREAT.
ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? WE'RE GOING TO GO AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT UP TO THE DAIS.
ANYBODY'D LIKE TO START? I WILL.
EVERYONE ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT LOVING LIVING IN LA VERNE, AND I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THE BACKBONE OF LA VERNE IS OUR EMPLOYEES.
THEY DO SO MUCH FOR ALL THE ACTIVITIES WE HAVE, THE STREETS WE DRIVE ON THE POLICE FORCE THAT WE'RE SAFE LIVING HERE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT TAKES CARE OF US AND
[00:50:03]
EVERY TIME YOU COME IN TO PAY A WATER BILL, WE TAKE THESE THINGS FOR GRANTED, BUT AS IT'S BEEN STATED, WE HAD TO CUT MANY YEARS AGO, THEIR EMPLOYMENT DOWN TO THIRTY SIX HOURS, THAT'S FOUR MORE HOURS OF PAY THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN, BUT THEY HAVEN'T COMPLAINED ABOUT IT, AND WE HAVEN'T CHANGED THAT EITHER AND.I JUST FEEL THAT THE EMPLOYEES DESERVE RECOGNITION AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
MOST PEOPLE, WHEN WE ALL LEAVE FROM WHEREVER WE ARE, YOU GET RECOGNITION AND THIS IS SUCH A SMALL TOKEN.
I THINK IT TURNS OUT TO BE FOR A 40 YEAR EMPLOYEE, 50 DOLLARS A YEAR.
IT'S A VERY SMALL AMOUNT AND WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS, I'VE LIVED HERE FORTY TWO YEARS NOW.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE CITY IS THAT WHEREVER YOU GO.
SO MANY OF THEM THAT YOU SEE AROUND THE CITY HALL, POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY ALL A LOT OF THEM LIVE HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY AND THEY CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, THOSE THAT DON'T LIVE HERE.
YOU WOULD NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
THEY CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY WANT TO MAKE IT SPECIAL FOR US.
HOW MANY EVENTS DO WE HAVE? I'M GOING TO USE VETERAN'S HALL AS AN EXAMPLE OR MEMORIAL DAY AND VETERANS DAY.
THE VOLUNTEERS THAT COME OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVENT IS SET UP AND THEY ARE THERE DURING THE HEAT OF IT AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT AND I'M JUST 100 PERCENT BEHIND THIS CONCEPT OF CONTINUING THE RETIREMENT RETIREMENT GIFT.
IT'S SUCH A SMALL TOKEN TO SAY SUCH A BIG THANK YOU, AND I REALLY THINK IT HELPS WITH RETENTION.
THE MORE WE SHOW AS GRATEFUL OF HAVING THEM WORK FOR US, THE MORE THEY'LL STAY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE APPRECIATED.
WE ALL WANT TO FEEL APPRECIATED WHEREVER WE ARE AND SO I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF KEEPING THIS GOING.
SO WHEN THIS ITEM FIRST CAME UP OR THERE WERE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED ABOUT IT, REALLY LOOK BACK AND BE IN HUMAN RESOURCE AND LOOKING AT HOW DO WE RETAIN EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY NOWADAYS WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH TURNOVER AND SO MUCH CHANGE AND ALSO TRYING TO HIRE ANYBODY RIGHT NOW IS EVERYBODY IN EVERY STREET AND EVERY SHOP HAS A FOR HIRE SIGN? ANY WAY WE CAN KEEP EMPLOYEES AND CELEBRATE THOSE EMPLOYEES WHEN SOMEONE RETIRES AND HAS AN EVENT, IT JUST SHOWS ALL THOSE OTHER EMPLOYEES.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN, WHEN YOU STAY AND STAY FAITHFUL AND LONG.
THE ANSWER OF OF WHEN WE HAD TO REDUCE, WE DID, AND BUT WE STILL NEED TO CELEBRATE WHO THEY ARE AND SO I WILL BE VOTING YES TO MAKE SURE AND MAINTAINING AND RETAINING THIS SO WE CAN RETAIN OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL.
CUSTOMER LAU ON THE HEELS OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY HAS STATED, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT'S NOT JUST COMP THAT KEEPS A PERSON IN A JOB AND TO BE QUITE HONEST AND QUITE FRANK, YOU'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE, YOU'VE HEARD IF YOU'VE BEEN AT COUNCIL MEETINGS, THE FACT THAT THEY ARE EMPLOYEES DO WORK ON A REDUCED WORK WEEK AND WE ARE NOT AT WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO BE FOR COMP AND QUITE FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, THE REASON THAT WE HAD MEASURE LV AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS BECAUSE THAT'S ONE WAY TO TRY TO BRIDGE THAT GAP, BUT THAT GAP IS STILL THERE.
AND SO IF IT'S NOT COMP THE DATA THAT SHOWS THAT FOR ORGANIZATIONS, COMPANIES, CORPORATIONS, WHATEVER, FOR THEM TO RETAIN EMPLOYEES, IT MEANS CREATING A CULTURE OF CARING, A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY, A CULTURE OF, YOU KNOW, COMPASSION AND A ONE WAY OF EXHIBITING THAT IS THROUGH THIS GIFT AND IT'S A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR SOMEONE WHO STICKS AROUND AT A COMPANY OR WITH AN ORGANIZATION FOR 25, 30, HOWEVER MANY YEARS.
THESE PEOPLE WORK TIRELESSLY BEHIND THE SCENES AND YOU KNOW, I'LL BE HONEST, BEFORE I WAS ON PLANNING COMMISSION, BEFORE I BECAME MUCH MORE INVOLVED WITH THE CITY, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH WORK OUR STAFF, OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE, ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, PUBLIC WORKS, HOW HARD THEY WORK, NOT JUST DURING THEIR WORKING HOURS, BUT ABOVE AND BEYOND.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF IT WAS A QUESTION OF, IS THIS LEGAL OR NOT, WE ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
HAD IT VETTED BY THE ATTORNEY? WHAT DOES IT COME OUT TO? AND YOU'VE HEARD THE MATH DEPENDING ON LENGTH OF YEARS OF SERVICE, YOU'RE LOOKING LIKE FIFTY DOLLARS A YEAR TO SAY THANK YOU TO THESE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE CITY WHAT IT IS AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WILL JUST ECHO THAT.
[00:55:02]
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS APPROPRIATE.I THINK THAT IF IF IT MEANS BEING MORE TRANSPARENT, SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT'S FINE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO START THAT CONVERSATION, BUT I DON'T WANT TO REMOVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED LONG AND HARD FOR US NOT TO BE REWARDED FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE.
THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN JOBS, YOUR OWN CAREERS AND HOW YOU FEEL WHEN YOU HAD AN EMPLOYER THAT APPRECIATED WHO YOU ARE APPRECIATED WHAT YOU DO VERSUS IF YOU WORKED IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT WAS NOT THAT WAY.
SO AGAIN, I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE GIFT POLICY.
THIS ISSUE IS CONFOUNDED ME WHY IT CAME UP.
THE CULTURE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES IS OUTSTANDING.
FOR THOSE WHO KNOW, WE TRIED TO MOVE AWAY FROM OUR POLICY OF PAYING MEDIAN TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND WE FAILED MISERABLY, AND I'M FINE WITH THAT BECAUSE I THINK OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE MEDIAN AND FOR EMPLOYEES THAT WORK 80 HOURS A WEEK OR THE CONTINGENT OF 2000 HOURS A YEAR, THAT COMES OUT TO MEDIAN.
BUT FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION, THE MAJORITY OF OUR EMPLOYEES, THEY DON'T WORK 2000 HOURS A YEAR.
THEY WORK 10 PERCENT LESS THAN THAT.
SO WHILE OUR POLICY IS TO MAINTAIN MEDIAN SALARIES, OUR LARGE NUMBER OF OUR EMPLOYEES TAKE 10 PERCENT LESS THAN MEDIAN AND ONE OF THE REASONS THEY DO THAT IS BECAUSE GENERALLY, THE EMPLOYEES BELIEVE THAT THEIR COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THEM AND APPRECIATE THEM WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
THIS ISSUE BEING BROUGHT TO THE TABLE CHALLENGES THEIR CONSIDERATION OF THAT.
I WANT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT I'M STAUNCHLY BEHIND THIS.
I WANT MY EMPLOYEES, OUR EMPLOYEES, TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE WORTH EVERYTHING WE PAY AND MORE AND IN REALITY, THIS HAS BEEN COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT BECAUSE IT WAS SO SMALL, IT WASN'T REALLY PAID ATTENTION TO BY ANYBODY.
IT WAS RIGHT THERE WHEN A MISTAKE WAS MADE.
IT WASN'T AS IF THERE WERE HUGE AMOUNTS OF EFFORT TO CONCEAL IT.
IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS FIXED.
MISTAKES HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S REALLY NOT A MOLEHILL BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT OUR EMPLOYEES KNOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM.
I'M ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF MAINTAINING OUR GIFT POLICY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM DAVIS, AGAIN, I WILL STATE IT.
THE ISSUE WAS TRANSPARENCY JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING.
I'M NOT AGAINST GIFTING TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE OUR EMPLOYEES IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE OF THE RESIDENTS AREN'T AWARE.
IT'S ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S ON A PLATFORM AND I THINK MOST OF THEM AND I APPRECIATE THE LETTERS JANELLE I APPRECIATE FROM LUPE AND ALL OF THE MR. VOLCHOK AND ROBERT MARTINEZ.
THIS WAS JUST FOR AN OPEN DISCUSSION.
I'M NOT NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS, BUT A DISCUSSION ON HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY IN THIS CITY IS VERY IMPORTANT SO WE CAN AFFORD THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE AND AFFORD THE GREAT EMPLOYEES WE HAVE.
WE NEED TO LOOK FORWARD ALL THE TIME AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE DO SPEND IS TRANSPARENT AND EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THAT'S ALL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE VALUE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
I'M JUST A FIGUREHEAD AND THE EMPLOYEES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY.
IT'S JUST THAT AFTER REVIEWING WITH OTHER CITIES, THEY DIDN'T DO THAT WELL.
WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL TOUCH HERE IN OUR CITY, BETWEEN OUR POLICE, BETWEEN OUR FIRE, BETWEEN OUR PUBLIC WORKS, BETWEEN OUR STAFF AT THE DESK AND ANYBODY YOU CALL ON THE PHONE.
COMMUNITY SERVICE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER LAU SAID, WHEN I FIRST CAME ON, I HAD NO REALIZATION WHAT THIS CITY WAS ABOUT AS FAR AS THE INTERNAL WORKINGS.
YOU GET TO KNOW IT REAL QUICK AND WE ARE BLESSED.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS A COUNCIL, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WATCH WHAT WE SPEND AND MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE SPENDING IT ON IS UNDER THE RESIDENT [INAUDIBLE] THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
BUT BEING THAT SAID, I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL.
I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE TALK ABOUT THINGS AND I APPRECIATE THE EMPLOYEES
[01:00:01]
GROUPS.I JUST WANTED THE DISCUSSION TO MAKE SURE WE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SO WITH THAT, WE NEED A MOTION.
SHALL WE DO A VOTE? MR. KRESS.
I MEAN, THE POLICY HAS BEEN IN PLACE.
IF YOU WANT TO RATIFY IT BY COUNCIL ACTION, YOU CAN DO THAT, BUT THERE'S NO NEED.
WELL, THE POLICY STILL STAYS IN PLACE, SO WE'RE STILL THE SAME PLACE.
MR. KRESS ARE WE GOOD WITH THAT? I ACTUALLY THINK FOR RECORD THAT WE PUT A VOTE TO IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT EVERYBODY SAYS AND THEN IT CAN BE HELD FOR US OR AGAINST US, NO MATTER WHAT.
YOU'RE MAKING A MOTION? ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONTINUE THE PRACTICE PROVIDING GIFTS TO EMPLOYEES AT THE TIME OF THEIR RETIREMENT AS AR 308.
OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYONE.
WE MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER 6A, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND PRINCIPAL PLANNER CANDICE BOWCOCK WILL BE GIVING THAT REPORT.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
IS IT WORKING? IT IS OK, I CAN'T HEAR IT.
IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT IS THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT WAS PREPARED BY KITTELSON, AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT HIRED BY THE CITY WITH THE HELP FROM CITY STAFF AND MOST OF ALL, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION REFERS TO ANY FORM OF HUMAN POWERED TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING WALKING, CYCLING, USING WHEELCHAIR INLINE SKATING OR SKATEBOARDING.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER IT'S WALKING TO THE BUS STOP OR BICYCLING TO SCHOOL OR WORK.
IN 2016, THE CITY HOSTED AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION WORKSHOP.
IT WAS ATTENDED BY ABOUT 50 PEOPLE.
AT THIS WORKSHOP, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO GIVE FEEDBACK ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF AMENITIES, PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
THE OUTCOME FROM THIS EXERCISE CAN BE REVIEWED IN ATTACHMENT TO THIS REPORT.
SOON AFTER THE WORKSHOP, THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE, PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL ALL REVIEWED THE RESULTS AND SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE PROVIDED AND PROVIDED SUPPORTIVE FEEDBACK TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PLAN.
THE CITY COUNCIL SERVES AS A KEY ROLE IN RECEIVING PUBLIC INPUT ON THE SUBJECT AND IN HELPING TO SHAPE CITY POLICIES ON ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.
THESE POLICIES WILL BE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF THE CITY'S LONG RANGE PLANNING EFFORTS.
IN JUNE OF 2019, THE CITY COUNCIL FORMED AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE TO ENSURE ROADWAYS ENABLE SAFE, ATTRACTIVE, COMFORTABLE AND INDEPENDENT ACCESS AND TRAVEL FOR ALL ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION USES AND MOTORISTS AT THIS TIME, STAFF ALSO BEGAN TO INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
ON FEBRUARY 2020, STAFF PRESENTED THE DRAFT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN TO THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE REVIEWED THE PLAN AND STAFF RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK FROM ONE MEMBER THAT WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE DRAFT PLAN THAT IS NOW BEFORE YOU TODAY AS ATTACHMENT D.
THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN INCLUDES A COMPLETE BICYCLE MASTER PLAN COMBINED WITH TARGETED PEDESTRIAN AND SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS PLANNING EFFORTS.
THIS PLAN WILL BE A MAP FOR DEVELOPING PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PROMOTING WALKING AND BICYCLING AS VIABLE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND FOSTERING A PRACTICAL, SAFE AND ENJOYABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THESE ACTIVITIES.
THE PLAN STRIVES TO IMPROVE FACILITIES SUCH AS SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES, ENHANCE ACCESS TO AND EXPERIENCES OF ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, AND PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL RECREATIONAL MOVEMENT.
INCLUSIVE OF ANY AGE OR ABILITY, WHETHER ROLLING HOME FROM SCHOOL OR WALKING TO DOWNTOWN, LA VERNE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION MAKES A PROPORTION OF EVERYONE'S TRAVELS.
AN ACTION PLAN IS INCLUDED WITHIN THE GOALS AND ACTIONS, IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
[01:05:01]
THE PLAN HOPES TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS BY FULLY UNDERSTANDING THE CURRENT CONDITIONS THAT ARE IN THE CITY TODAY.IT DESCRIBES EXISTING BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES.
THE CURRENT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND TRAVEL TRENDS THAT INFORM THE CITY'S GOALS AND ACTIONS AROUND WALKING AND BIKING.
IT ALSO INCLUDES A REVIEW OF THE EXISTING ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS IN LA VERNE, INCLUDING EXISTING FACILITIES, VOLUME OF BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY, COMMUTE PATTERNS, BICYCLE LEVEL OF STRESS AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION RELATED CRASH HISTORIES.
IT ALSO INCLUDES AN ANALYSIS OF DESTINATIONS FOR PEOPLE WALKING, BIKING AND RIDING TO AND FROM SCHOOL PARKS, TRAILS, COMMERCIAL AND EMPLOYMENT CENTERS, AND THE NEEDS DISCUSSED IN THE PLAN INCLUDE THE RECOMMENDED WALKING AND BIKING IMPROVEMENTS.
THE DRAFT PLAN PROVIDES AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR UNDERSTANDING THE RECOMMENDED BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS.
THESE PROJECTS ARE SUPPORTED BY PLANNING LEVEL COST ESTIMATES TO UNDERSTAND THE RELATIVE RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
IT IDENTIFIES FUNDING SOURCES THAT THE CITY CAN UTILIZE TO COMPLEMENT ITS OWN FUNDS.
SECURING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WILL BE HELPFUL TO FULFILL THE CITY'S TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ALL OF THE RESIDENTS, AS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE EXISTING CONDITIONS AND NEED SECTIONS OF THIS PLAN, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN LA VERNE.
SOME OF THEM WERE DOCUMENTED IN THE PLAN INCLUDED A NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN GRADE BASELINE CROSSING THE 210 FREEWAYS NAVIGATING ACROSS ARROW HIGHWAY AND FOOTHILL, CROSSINGS AT LARGE INTERSECTIONS AT-GRADE RAIL CROSSINGS AND CONNECTIVITY GAPS FROM THE MARSHALL CANYON TRAIL.
THOSE WERE THE MAJOR CONCERNS.
RECOMMENDATIONS BUILD UPON THE FINDINGS IN THIS SECTION AND ARE INFORMED BY THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK RECEIVED THROUGH THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, I'M SORRY THROUGH THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS AND INTERACTIVE WEB MAP THAT WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
THE RECOMMENDATION MAP CAN BE FOUND IN FIGURES SIX AND SEVEN WITHIN THE PLAN.
FULLY IMPLEMENTING AND THE RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS OF THE DRAFT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN WILL REQUIRE CREATIVITY IN IDENTIFYING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, APPLYING FOR IT AND WINNING IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS, INTEGRATING ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS INTO OTHER PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS, AND ADJUSTING THE RECOMMENDED PROJECTS AS NEW CONNECTIONS, NEEDS OR OPPORTUNITIES ARISE.
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY BEST FIT AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES ARE ALSO DESCRIBED ON PAGE FORTY THREE AND FORTY FOUR OF THE PLAN.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A MEETING THIS PAST NOVEMBER 10TH WHERE THE PLAN WAS REVIEWED.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD A VIEW, VERY SPECIFIC CONCERNS REGARDING EXISTING CONDITIONS OF SPECIFIC INTERSECTIONS IN THE CITY.
STAFF EXPLAINED THAT THESE CONDITIONS WOULD BE RELAYED TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR REVIEW AND POSSIBLY MAY BE DISCUSSED AT FUTURE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
BUT OVERALL, THE PLANNING COMMISSION SUPPORTED THE PLAN.
SO WITH THAT STAFF, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE RECOMMEND THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN BY ADOPTING RESOLUTION NUMBER 21-91.
I'M AVAILABLE FROM STAFF IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE MATT FROM KITTELSON, WHO IS AVAILABLE ON ZOOM.
WOULD YOU LIKE A WATER? I'M VERY OUT OF BREATH? [CHUCKLING] WOULD YOU PLEASE? YEAH, YOU GOT IT.
OK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. BOWCOCK.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. BOWCOCK BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENT, I OPEN UP THE FLOOR, PUBLIC COMMENT AND IF THERE'S ANYONE VIA ZOOM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[INAUDIBLE], SO MY SECOND COMMENT ABOUT THIS, SO ACTUALLY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT THIS PLAN.
SO IT'S KIND OF BRAND NEW SOMETHING POPPED IN MY MIND IS JUST HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? IF IT'S REASONABLE, NOT THAT MUCH COST EVERYBODY WILL LOVE MORE CONVENIENT FOR EVERYONE, RIGHT? SO IF WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT MUCH BUDGET, THINK ABOUT WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE FOR ME, I AM CONCERNED LA VERNE, ESPECIALLY OLD TOWN, IS A WALKABLE AREA.
SO THE WALKWAY, I HAVE SO MANY NEIGHBORS WALKING FROM MY HOUSE AND THEN ONE POPS UP BECAUSE THE TREE, MAYBE THE TREE AND THAT IS VERY EASY TO FALL DOWN OR TRIP ON THAT.
I SAW A WHITE SPRAY THERE MARK AT LEAST A HALF YEAR.
THAT MEANS THAT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO FIX THAT.
[01:10:01]
[INAUDIBLE].PEOPLE WALK, THE SENIORS, IT'S VERY EASY TO TRIP AND FALL.
BUT IT HAPPENED MORE THAN HALF YEARS STILL THERE.
I WILL SHOW A PICTURE LATER IF NEEDED.
SO THAT'S WHAT I MEAN, IS SOMETHING BASIC, ESSENTIAL, ALWAYS HAS TO BE PRIORITY? AND THEN SECOND, TALK ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE A BIKE LANE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THE GREEN PYLON ALMOST IN THE CENTER.
THEY RIDE BIKES IN THE AREA ALL THE TIME.
I NEVER, EVER LET THEM RIGHT IN THE [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE IT [INAUDIBLE] CLOSE TO THE CAR.
GO INSIDE [INAUDIBLE] BONITA, YOU CAN SEE HOW RARE IS THAT? I DON'T KNOW HOW.
I MEAN, MAYBE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL BIKER, THE PEOPLE COME HERE PROFESSIONAL RIDE IN THE WEEKEND, THEY KNOW HOW TO CONTROL THE RIDE.
BUT FOR THE YOUNG KIDS, MY KIDS, THEY RIDE IT, IT'S AWFUL.
OK, SO I NEVER, EVER LET THEM RIGHT IN THERE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING DESIGN PROBLEM.
MAYBE BECAUSE IT'S NOT WIDE ENOUGH.
SO IT COMES TO WHY I CONCERNED THIS, PROBABLY BECAUSE TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, I THINK IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
WE FIGHT FOR NO WIDENING OF WHITE AVE BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, WHITE AVE HAD TO WIDEN BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE].
BUT NO MORE WALKWAY AND THEN GO TO THE FENCE TO THE HOUSE.
SO THAT'S WHY HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA COME HERE AGAIN, AGAIN AGAIN AND [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN FIGHT FOR THAT AND THEN FINALLY, AND [INAUDIBLE] IS NOT DONE IN THE WHITE AVENUE.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HATE ME BECAUSE WE KEEP IT SMALL, KEEP IT NARROW.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE MEAN TO DO BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ALL THE TRAFFIC FROM OTHER CITY, GOES THROUGH WHITE AVENUE, GO TO THE STATION, GO TO HERE AND THAT'S REALLY BOTHER ALL THE RESIDENTS LIVE THERE.
SO IT'S NO VIOLENT THERE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THE BASIC ESSENTIALS SHOULD BE THE WALKER.
LET THE WALKER GET THROUGH THE [INAUDIBLE], GO TO 10 FREEWAY OR GO TO THE 210 ONE PEOPLE IS MY HUSBAND.
THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT NEED [INAUDIBLE] STUCK IN THE TRAFFIC AND GO TO THE FREEWAY.
SO IT'S NO WAY TO FOR ANY SPOT, NO SPOT.
EVEN TWO LANES IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE ONLY ONE LANE, RIGHT.
SO THAT MEANS SOMETHING'S IMPOSSIBLE.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? SO FOR ME, MY BIGGEST CONCERN AS A TAX PAYER MAYBE I LIVE IN LA VERNE FOREVER.
COME BACK EVERY SINGLE MONTH TO TALK TO YOU GUYS.
TAXPAYER, THE MONEY, THE BUDGET, THE MOST IMPORTANT.
I HOPE IN THE FUTURE, IF IT BECOMES A PLAN TRANSPARENCY, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS? ANNA? ARE YOU, ANNA? [CHUCKLING] I CAN'T WEAR THEM, SO THEY JUST GO FOG UP.
SO TIM, IS THIS A SAN GABRIEL GOVERNMENT BLAH BLAH BLAH THING YOU'RE ON? I THINK THAT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IS EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S ALSO THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR THAT FROM THE STATE AND GRANTS AND STUFF THAT WE USE.
YEAH, THE RIGHT ARM OF CALIFORNIA, THAT COMMITTEE YOU'RE ON ANYWAYS, I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IT'S GOING TO COST TO.
BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT THIS TRANSPORTATION THING.
OK, GET ALL THE CARS OFF THE ROADS.
THIS IS CALIFORNIA'S BIG DREAM.
SO HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST US? THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.
THANK YOU, ANNA, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE DONE.
[CHUCKLING] SHORT AND SWEET TO THE POINT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO COME UP HERE WITH CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENT ON THINGS THAT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO SEE IN ADVANCE, AND I ADMIT THAT IT'S PROBABLY OUT THERE AND I JUST GOT TO GO LOOK FOR IT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT REGARDING TRANSPORTATION AND WHAT CANDACE HAD MENTIONED ABOUT SOME OF THE CRITERIA FOR THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE PLAN.
I MEAN, MAYBE I'M NOT STUCK BEHIND AN OFFICE ANYMORE LIKE I USED TO, AND I GET TO SEE MORE THAN I THAN I USED TO NOTICE.
BUT I'VE NOTICED HERE THAT WE PUT A LIGHT ON DURWOOD OR CREATE A STREET CALLED DURWOOD OFF OF WHITE FOR THE TRAFFIC THAT I GUESS WE HAD THERE.
THAT WAS A CONCERN, BUT I DON'T SEE A CROSSWALK HERE AND I SEE KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY RACING ACROSS THAT TRAFFIC THAT IF YOU ALL PAY ATTENTION TO THAT, THAT'S 35 TO 40 MILE AN HOUR TRAFFIC UNLESS AN OFFICER IS PARKED THERE MANAGING THAT TRAFFIC AND GOT HIGH SCHOOL KIDS AND THE LIKE, EVERYBODY IS RUSHING TO GET TO LUNCH ON TIME, THE WHOLE THING.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE A CROSSWALK ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS CHAMBER TO ALLOW
[01:15:03]
THE KIDS TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE OPTION OF A SAFER CHOICE THAN TRYING TO PLAY CHICKEN ACROSS THE STREET.SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT AT LEAST YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
ADDITIONALLY, I THINK OVER AT GAMING HIGH SCHOOL, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE TO LOOK AT THAT AS A CROSSWALK OPPORTUNITY, NOT NECESSARILY WITH THE LIGHT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
NOTHING THAT FANCY BUT A LITTLE PAINT ON THE CONCRETE AND THE ASPHALT KIND OF LIKE LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S A PLACE THERE FOR PEOPLE TO SAFELY CROSS WITHOUT NECESSARILY HAVE TO [INAUDIBLE].
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? YES.
UM, MYSELF AND MY FAMILY ARE HUGE PARTICIPANTS IN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.
HE CAN'T DRIVE, AND HE WALKS EVERY DAY THROUGHOUT LA VERNE, TAKES THE BUS.
WE ALSO BICYCLE IN LA VERNE, AND EVEN THOUGH THERE'S BEEN IMPROVEMENTS IN BIKE LANES, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE.
THERE ARE CERTAIN PLACES THAT WE BICYCLE THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BIKE LANE STARTS.
ONE PLACE IS GOING DOWN ON BASELINE WHERE IT APPROACHES, BUT HILL, THERE'S NOT AN EASY TRANSITION THERE.
I COULDN'T ALLOW HIM TO BIKE THERE HIMSELF BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE TO LIKE, SWITCH OVER THE STREET, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO HERE.
EVEN COMING UP IN FRONT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
IF YOU'RE GOING NORTH ON D, YOU CAN'T DO IT.
SO I'M IN FAVOR OF ANYTHING WE CAN DO FOR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE I THINK IT BENEFITS ALL OF THE CITIZENS.
THERE'S ALSO LOTS OF PLACES LIKE THE CORNER OF BASELINE AND ESPERANZA, WHERE THERE'S BIKE LANES THERE, BUT PEOPLE PARKING THEM ON CORNERS AND IT'S A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIG ACCIDENT AT THE CORNER OF WHERE A PERSON WILL GET HIT AN INDIVIDUAL WALKING AND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PERSON PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION.
WHEN YOU'RE CROSSING BASELINE NORTH AT ESPERANZA, THERE'S REALLY BAD VISIBILITY BECAUSE PEOPLE PARK ON THAT CORNER AND ALL THAT HAS TO BE DONE IS PART OF THE CURBS PAINTED RED, SO PEOPLE DON'T PARK RIGHT THERE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE THROUGH THAT LIGHT, ETC. SO I'M IN FAVOR, AND I JUST WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW AND INCREASE THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION CONSIDERATIONS.
IF WE'RE CALLING OUT PLACES THAT NEED ATTENTION, I WOULD LOOK AT THE AREA SOUTH OF ARROW HIGHWAY, THE WALNUT STREET NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BUILD SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE'RE ASSUMING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE KIDS THERE, THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS GRACE MILLER, THE CLOSEST ROUTE MOST OF THOSE FAMILIES WOULD WALK WOULD BE A STREET AND I DON'T THINK A STREET'S GETTING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL OR A CROSSWALK.
THERE IS A CROSSWALK AT B STREET, CROSSING SIX LANES AT ARROW HIGHWAY.
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROVIDING SOME SAFETY, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, LOOK AT PUTTING IN A STOPLIGHT AT ARROW HIGHWAY, CROSSWALKS.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE? YES, PLEASE COME ON UP.
THIS MAY NOT BE THE--YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, NAME AND ADDRESS.
SO JUST REAL QUICKLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS, HAVE YOU GUYS EVER RIDDEN ACROSS BONITA AVENUE AT WHEELER AND THE TRAIN TRACKS? IF YOU'RE RIDING YOUR BIKE ACROSS THERE, THAT IS THE WORST SET OF TRAIN TRACKS IN THE CITY.
SO IF WE'RE TALKING IMPROVEMENTS AND THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AS WELL.
NO ONE ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE PERSON ON THE PHONE, CYNTHIA GABALDON.
AMAZING AND YET YOU COULDN'T RECOGNIZE ANNA.
[CHUCKLING] I GUESS I COULDN'T.
I WAS GIVING HER SIGNALS, I DON'T KNOW, LOOKING FASTER.
HI THERE, EVERYBODY, JUST A QUICK COMMENT ON THIS IS THAT EVERYONE DOES REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL MAP AND THE PATHS, ANY OF THE PATHS THAT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED, WHICH ARE [INAUDIBLE] FLOOD CONTROL CHANNELS, THOSE ARE GOING BEHIND SOMEBODY'S YARD AND IN THE 18 OTHER CITIES THAT I WORK IN, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT THE CRIME AT THOSE LOCATIONS HAS GONE THROUGH THE ROOF.
THERE IT IS CONSTANT WITH PEOPLE CLIMBING OVER WALLS.
THERE'S A REASON WHY FLOOD CONTROL CHANNELS HAVE FENCES AROUND THEM, AND A BIG PART
[01:20:04]
OF IT IS BECAUSE OF KEEPING THAT EASEMENT SAFE AND ALSO PROTECTING THOSE HOMES AND PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT, BUT IT HAPPENS A LOT.I KNOW FROM LOOKING AT THE MAP THAT THE ONE, THE CHANNEL THAT GOES JUST BY CHANCE CUTS THROUGH AMHERST AND GOES BEHIND A BUNCH OF THE HOUSES AND GOES BEHIND THE MOBILE HOME PARK.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE PAST THAT WAS ACTUALLY DELINEATED AND I CAN EVERYBODY REALLY NEEDS TO THINK ABOUT THIS.
IF THE COUNTY DECIDES TO PUT THAT PROBATION OFFICE UP THE HILL TOMORROW NIGHT OR IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THOSE THOSE BUILDINGS ARE NOT WITH PEOPLE GOING BACK AND FORTH IN BUSSES.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WALKING UP THERE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAMILIES COMING AND GOING.
THEY'RE USING BUSSES AND OTHER THINGS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE, NOT FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WALKING BEHIND OUR HOMES AND THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND I KNOW A LOT OF YOU WANT TO THINK EVERYBODY'S INNOCENT FIRST, BUT THESE ARE NOT ALL INNOCENT PEOPLE AND IT'S VERY, VERY EASY TO SUDDENLY LOOK OVERALL AND DECIDE THAT I WANT THAT, WHAT'S IN THAT BACKYARD.
SO EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE VERY AWARE OF THAT.
EVERY ONE OF THESE PATHS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
I UNDERSTAND MAKING THE INTERSECTION SAFER.
BUT THE ONES BEHIND PEOPLE'S HOMES, PEOPLE HAVE TO BE VERY AWARE AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND THAT INCLUDES THE MARSHALL CANYON TRAIL AS SOMEBODY WHO USED TO USE THAT QUITE A BIT.
IT'S TOO SCARY UP THERE NOW BECAUSE I'M NOT SCARED OF THE BEARS.
I'M SCARED OF SOMEBODY JUMPING OUT OF THE BUSHES AT ME BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE HERE IN TOWN THAT ARE HIDING AND EVERYBODY'S GOT TO BE VERY, VERY AWARE OF THAT AND IF YOU LIVE NEAR A CHANNEL, YOU'D BETTER LOOK AT THIS MAP.
ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE AUDIENCE? ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS FROM THE AUDIENCE? WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, BRING IT UP TO THE DAIS.
I'LL, JUST ASK A QUESTION OF STAFF.
THE ONE QUESTION ABOUT HOW MUCH THIS WILL COST.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED A COST JUST PROJECTS AT THIS POINT.
IS THAT CORRECT? VERY PRELIMINARY, IT'S NOTHING IS IN CONCRETE THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT PUBLIC WORKS WOULD LOOK AT THROUGH THEIR PROCESS.
SO IT REALLY HASN'T BEEN IDENTIFIED TO THAT SPECIFIC AS MUCH AS JUST A MUCH BROADER BASED ON TODAY'S NUMBERS TO AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T SET A DATE WHEN THESE THINGS WILL OCCUR, JUST THESE ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN ON AS OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS IS OUR LONG TERM PLAN, ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN SO THAT WE HAVE A GUIDE FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
SO AS WE GET FUNDS AND GRANTS, WHICH WE HAVE IN THE PAST--AND AS PROJECTS ARE COMING ONLINE, WE WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOOKING AT THIS DOCUMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE THESE AREAS ARE BEING ADDRESSED IN THESE SPECIFICS AND THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY BEFORE COMMENTS, THERE WERE SOME SPECIFIC AREAS IDENTIFIED.
I KNOW SEAN IS IN THE ROOM, SO WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF ANY OF THESE WARRANT IMMEDIATE, REGARDLESS OF THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
OTHERWISE, IF THEY'RE APPROPRIATE, THEN THEY'LL GO BACK THROUGH ATC FOR CONSIDERATION.
WELL, PLUS IF WE HAVE SOME AREAS THAT HAVE ISSUES THAT HAVE--WELL, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.
IF IT'S IMMEDIATE, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE BECAUSE THAT IS DANGEROUS AND WE WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE, JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO APPROVE ALL EXPENDITURES PRIOR.
THIS IS JUST THE PLAN TO DO IT.
THEN IF THERE'S A PROJECT HAPPENING, THEN WE HAVE TO APPROVE THAT PROJECT.
PART OF OUR YEARLY PROJECTS THAT WE APPROVE OF, CORRECT? YES.
YES, SO THIS IS JUST LIKE OUR CIP BOOKLET, IT'S A GUIDE TO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE DONE.
THIS IS OUR WISH LIST FOR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, CORRECT? WELL, I'D SAY THE CIP IS ACTUALLY IDENTIFYING PROJECTS AND YOU'RE YOU'RE APPROVING THEM TO BE DONE.
SO IT'S JUST THAT'S KIND OF HOW DO WE FUND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN FIVE YEARS? THIS IS A LITTLE BIT LONGER TERM THAN THAT.
OK, NO I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE REPORT AS FAR AS DETAIL, AND I'M GLAD THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT APPROVED IT AND IT MY ONLY CONCERN WAS AND I BROUGHT IT UP MANY YEARS AGO IS DID WE EVER, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, YOU'RE PART
[01:25:03]
OF IT, TIM, CORRECT? LOOKING, TALKING TO CALTRANS TO TRY TO GET FROM BASELINE TO CLAREMONT THAT GAP WITH NOTHING IN THERE.DID WE EVER GET TO DO ANYTHING WITH CALTRANS WITH THAT, DO YOU KNOW? I KNOW THEY DON'T MOVE TOO QUICKLY, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S NO BIKE LANES IN THAT AREA.
OH, YOU MEAN NOT NECESSARILY CALTRANS, BUT THE COUNTY? THAT ON TO SUPERVISOR BARGER'S STAFF, AS WELL AS CONTACTED PUBLIC WORKS FROM AN INTERNAL STANDPOINT AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE WERE THOSE CONCERNS RAISED AND THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THERE WERE SOME COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT HAD EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THAT.
OK, NO, OTHERWISE, I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THIS REPORT.
COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.
EXACTLY AND FOR OUR THIRD PARTY CONSULTANTS, BY PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND BRINGING IT TO THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AND THEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IT IS VERY DETAILED AND IT IS A LONG TERM PROJECTS WHERE PROJECTS WOULD GO ON THE CIP FROM THIS AND THAT'S WHEN WE IDENTIFY AND THE MONEY WOULD GO FOR HIGHLIGHT READING IS PAGE EIGHTY ONE, THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PAGE SEVENTY SEVEN FOR THEIR GOALS AND ACTIONS.
SO IT IS A VERY DETAILED THING.
IT IS A VERY DENSE REPORT, BUT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC.
IF YOU WANT TO DO THE JUST HIGHLIGHT PART, I WOULD GO BACK AND FLIP TO SEVENTY SEVEN AGAIN GOALS AND ACTIONS AND EIGHTY ONE FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO GO THROUGH THAT AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, IT IS A VERY THOROUGH PLAN.
I THINK THE PIECE THAT I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT I APPRECIATE TRYING TO COORDINATE WITH PROJECTS THAT WE KNOW ARE COMING DOWN THE PIKE AND IDENTIFYING WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN SEEK FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS CRUCIAL AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE FISCAL PART OF ALL OF THIS.
SO AS YOU COME BACK TO US WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, I'D LIKE THAT TO CONTINUE TO BE A COMPONENT OF THE INFORMATION THAT IS SHARED.
YOU AND I ARE BOTH ON THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, SO YOU'LL KNOW THIS WITH A RESOUNDING DEFTNESS THAT I THINK CANDICE AND STAFF FOR ACCOMMODATING THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION INTEREST IN ENGAGING IN THIS PROCESS.
SO THIS GOES ALONG WITH OUR GENERAL PLAN.
SO THIS IS A SISTER DOCUMENT TO THAT.
SO IT IS NOT COMMITTING DOLLARS, BUT IT'S PAINTING THE PICTURE ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO, WHERE WE WANT TO GO, HOW WE INTEND TO TRY TO FILL GAPS.
AS A BICYCLIST MYSELF, I ALWAYS GOT A KICK OUT OF RUNNING THE APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS OF A MILE OF THE CITRUS BELT BICYCLE PATHWAY IN GLENDORA THAT STARTED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND ENDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND WONDERED WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE IF THIS WAS AN AUTOMOBILE THAT ACTUALLY NEEDED TO HAVE A CONTINUOUS PATH.
THE I'M EXCITED, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE BICYCLING TO SCHOOL, THE PATHWAYS TO SCHOOLS.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE HELPFUL AS A VISION FOR US GOING FORWARD.
IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS INTEGRATES WITH THE FIRST AND LAST MILE OF THE [INAUDIBLE] LINE.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION AREA AND FOR AN ACTIVE [INAUDIBLE], IT CAN'T HAPPEN SOON ENOUGH.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THESE CHANGES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM DAVIS.
I'M NOT GOING TO REITERATE OVER IT AND GO OVER IT, BUT IT WAS GRUELING, MS. BOWCOCK; IT WAS GRUELING.
IT WAS A LONG PROCESS WITH A LOT OF INPUT AND MIND YOU, THIS ISN'T THE END.
SO THIS THING WILL MORPH AND BETWEEN OUR PUBLIC WORKS, OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, I THINK, AND ALSO WITH INPUT FROM RESIDENTS, WHICH A LOT OF IT WAS AND A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ACTIVE, EITHER JOGGERS, BIKERS, YOU NAME IT.
THEY'RE JUST A BLEND OF EVERYONE.
I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT, AS WE'VE LEARNED FROM COVID, THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET OUT AND GET ON THESE AREAS THAT WE HAVE AND WE'VE GOT SOME UNBELIEVABLE AREAS THAT WE CAN RIDE IN WALKING AND JOGGING AND AS WE'VE SEEN, WE'VE SEEN MORE NEIGHBORS NOW THAN YOU EVER HAVE BEFORE BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S OUTSIDE BECAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T STAY INSIDE FOREVER.
[01:30:01]
I DO THINK IT WAS A WONDERFUL DOCUMENT.I KNOW THAT DAN KEESEY, OUR PREVIOUS PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, WANTED TO PULL HIS HAIR OUT A FEW TIMES.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF THE MEETINGS, BUT WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE THAT ARE VERY HEADSTRONG AS FAR AS THEIR BELIEFS AND TRUE BIKING PEOPLE, BUT ALSO BLENDING IT WITH PEOPLE THAT WALK AND UTILIZE THAT AND FAMILIES.
SO THEY HAD A REAL AND WE HAVE WE HAVE SOME ISSUES.
THERE'S SOME GREEN LINES AND RED, RED PAINTED CURBS THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO DO SOME, LET'S JUST SAY, MODIFICATIONS DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL.
WE ARE TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYBODY AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS THAT EASY, BUT WE WILL MODIFY IT TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY EVEN BETTER, SO THE MOBILITY WILL BE BETTER.
SO ANYWAY, WITH THAT, WE NEED A MOTION.
[7. PUBLIC COMMENTS/ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ]
I WILL MOVE THAT CITY COUNCIL ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 2191 APPROVING APPROVING THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN AS IS, AND I WILL SECOND THAT.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE VOTE.
NOW WE MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS.
IT HAS BEEN SUCH A RELIEF THAT CHIEF NIGG'S PROPOSAL HAS BEEN VOTED FOR, AND WE CAN FINALLY GET OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT BUILT BACK UP TO SAFETY OF ALL.
IT'S TIME FOR MANY WORDS OF GRATITUDE.
THANK YOU TO OUR MAYOR FOR NEVER ACCEPTING THE SITUATION WE WERE IN AND ALWAYS LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS.
YOU CONTINUALLY STOOD UP FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT AND SAFE.
THANK YOU TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS FOR THEIR DETERMINATION AND DEVOTION TO KEEPING US ALL SAFE.
WE REALIZE THAT THIS HAS BEEN HARD ON ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU TO THE FIREFIGHTERS FAMILIES FOR FORFEITING FAMILY TIME, WORRYING ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONE BEING OVERWORKED AND POSSIBLY UNSAFE DUE TO THE WORKING CONDITIONS.
THANK YOU TO THE FOUR INTERIM CHIEFS FIRE CHIEFS THAT FILLED IN FOR US DURING THIS DIFFICULT AND TURBULENT TIME AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST FOR OUR NEW FIRE CHIEF CHIEF NIGG, FOR BRINGING HIS EXPERTISE KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE TO CREATING A PLAN FOR THE LVFD.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU IN OUR CITY.
I, FOR ONE, WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE MADE IT THROUGH THESE PAST YEARS DUE TO THE PEOPLE ABOVE.
ALTHOUGH THE CITY COUNCIL HAS FINALLY VOTED IN APPROVAL FOR THE CHIEF'S PLAN, THEIR RESISTANCE DID PUT OUR ALL OF OUR LIVES AND LOVED ONES AND HOMES IN POSSIBLE JEOPARDY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THEY ARE NOT THE HEROES THAT HAVE SAVED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAVE SIMPLY VOTED THE WAY THEY SHOULD HAVE LONG AGO.
LET'S REMEMBER THIS HISTORY LESSON AT ELECTION TIME.
ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? MR. GABALDON, PLEASE? THOSE ONLINE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE APPRECIATION FOR THE CITY STAFF, I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES I'M A LITTLE TOUGH ON EVERYBODY WITH SOME COMMENTS, BUT I KNOW I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT PERSONAL AND THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I KNOW THAT EVERY TIME I WALK INTO THE CITY HALL OR I GO TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T GO INTO THOSE PLACES VERY OFTEN, BUT I SEE YOU OUT IN THE CITY AND I APPRECIATE YOU.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR, THERE'S A MOVIE, A WONDERFUL LIFE, WHERE THERE'S A SAYING ABOUT EVERY TIME I HEAR A BELL RING, AN ANGELS GAME SWINGS, AND I KIND OF SEE THAT EVERY TIME I HEAR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RUN, YOU KNOW, TO SAVE SOMEBODY DOWN MY STREET BECAUSE I LIVE ON A STREET WHERE THEY USE TO GET TO THE MOBILE HOME PARKS IN PARTICULAR A LITTLE FASTER THAT SOMEBODY'S LIFE IS BEING SAVED.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, I WISH THAT MORE MEETINGS WOULD PUT US IN A POSITION AS CITIZENS TO KIND OF LIKE, REFLECT ON THE POSITIVES AND NOT BE SO CONFRONTATIONAL AND ANIMUS, SHOW ANIMUS TOWARDS EACH OTHER AND I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE THE HISTORY LESSON THAT WE JUST GOT OR REMINDED TO REMEMBER DOWN THE ROAD, IT'S LIKE, IF WE ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTED MORE IN POSITIVITY AND IDEAS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY THROUGH TRANSPARENCY AND OPEN DIALOG AND ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT AND NOT, YOU KNOW, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND SAY THAT WE POSTED SOMETHING IT'S LIKE TOMORROW NIGHT'S MEETING AS AN EXAMPLE, IF YOU GO TO THE CITY WEBSITE,
[01:35:03]
IT'S THERE, BUT IT'S NOT NAMED WHAT IT IS.IT'S BASICALLY A BULLETIN WITH A VERY INNOCUOUS NAME THAT REALLY YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT WORD, BUT I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHERE A LOT OF THE CONTENTIOUS NATURE COMES FROM.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T BE ME, I GUESS, IF I DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO REMIND SOME PEOPLE OF HOW THEY VOTED EARLY IN THE YEAR AND AT THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WHAT IT COULD MEAN TO SOME FAMILY MEMBERS.
SO TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WENDY LAU, MUIR DAVIS, EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU VOTED NOT TO SUPPORT A LETTER OF NO CONFIDENCE IN MATTER OF THE POLICIES EXPRESSED AND MANDATED IN WRITING BY L.A.
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY GEORGE GASCON, WHERE AT THE TIME YOUR BEST EXPLANATION FOR WHY YOU CAST YOUR VOTE WAS QUOTE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOOD IT WOULD DO.
HOW ABOUT YOU ASK THE VICTIMS OF THOSE CREEPS RELEASED WHO WENT ON TO COMMIT MORE CRIME? ASK THEM WHAT GOOD IT MIGHT HAVE DONE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AS VICTIMS OF REPEAT OFFENDERS SET FREE? AND MY SECOND UPDATE SINCE THAT VOTE YOUR CHOICE.
SINCE YOUR VOTE, I BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT YOUR CHOICE IN MR. GASCON HAD ON NOVEMBER 4TH PROMOTED TIFFANY BLACKWELL, WHO AT THE TIME OF HER FIRST PROMOTION IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, WHO AT THE TIME WAS A LOW RANKING PUBLIC DEFENDER, HAS NOW BEEN PROMOTED AGAIN AND AGAIN OUTSIDE OF SOP TO A HIGH RANKING SPECIAL COUNSEL POSITION AS THE L.A.
SHE IS THE SAME PERSON WHO IS A SELF-DESCRIBED SPECIAL INTEREST ADVOCATE AND PUBLICLY REVEALED HER PARTICIPATION IN THE LOOTINGS THAT TOOK PLACE IN 1990, THE RODNEY KING RIOTS.
TELLING THOSE WHO SHE STOLE FROM TO QUOTE, CRY ME A RIVER.
SHE'S ALSO THE SAME PERSON WHO ADVOCATED TO QUOTE, DEFUND THE POLICE AND RECENTLY POSTED A PICTURE ON TWITTER, THE PLACE THAT WE LIKE TO PUT THINGS.
WEARING A SHIRT, SAYING THE POLICE ARE TRAINED TO KILL US AS THAT IS NOT ENOUGH TO CONCERN US ALL.
SHE ALSO CALLED LAPD OFFICERS BARBARIANS.
THIS IS THE KIND OF PERSON WHO GETS INTO POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY WHEN YOU VOTE IDEOLOGICALLY AND WITH PREJUDICE AND NOT WITH YOUR BRAIN.
AGAIN, YOU VOTED AGAINST LA VERNE COMMUNITY, WHO NOT BY A SMALL MARGIN.
AS I PREVIOUSLY COMMENTED ON, VOTED WITH SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY FOR JACKIE LACEY.
NOW GEORGE GASCON, WHO YOU SUPPORT AND OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY LIKE HIM, NAMELY THE DA IN WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN, ARE A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND SAFETY AS A WHOLE.
WE HAVE OUR OWN PARADE AND LA VERNE EVERY FOURTH OF JULY.
WE JUST HAD A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION OUTSIDE THESE CHAMBERS, HAVING THOUSANDS IN OUR COMMUNITY IN ATTENDANCE, AND I NEVER WANT TO HEAR IN ANY SENTENCE THAT A SEX OFFENDER WITH A PRIOR HISTORY OF RUNNING PEOPLE DOWN WITH HIS CAR WAS JUST RELEASED ESSENTIALLY WITHOUT BAIL SO HE COULD REPEAT THE ACT, KILLING AND INJURING MANY INNOCENT VICTIMS. AVOIDABLY, LET FREE BECAUSE OF THESE POLICIES AND BRINGING PREDICTABLE HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT TO YOUR SPECIAL INTERESTS AFFILIATIONS IN OUR CITY, NAMELY THE SOCIAL ADVOCACY GROUP HEADED BY MR. ALLISON, [INAUDIBLE] WHICH HAS BECOME BASICALLY AN ECHO CHAMBER.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LIKE TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER, TALK AND DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR FOR OPEN DIALOG AND CONVERSATION.
THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN, WHICH IS MENTIONED BY MR. DAVIS TWO WEEKS AGO.
OTHERS LIKE THEM, YOU'RE BRINGING FLAWED IDEOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO DECISION MAKING UNLESS YOU BRING THE SAME THREAT OF HARM TO OUR CITY BECAUSE OF YOUR PERSONAL AFFILIATIONS WITH THESE SPECIAL INTEREST ADVOCATES WHO CALL OUR CITY RACISTS ALLOWED THOSE LOOKING TO TURN CIVILIZED COMMUNITIES ON THEIR SIDES AND WOULD HAVE US THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER WITHOUT STATISTICAL OR EFFECTIVE WORKING PRECEDENT FOR AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WORKS BEST FOR EVERYONE.
NOW, ADD THE RELEASE OF DOZENS OF PERSONS IN SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES, WHO HAVE ROBBED AND BURGLARIZED BUSINESSES NOW HAVING PEOPLE FOLLOWED HOME BY THOSE CREEPS TO BRING HARM TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
YET, YOU SIT ON THIS DAIS IN SUPPORT OF THESE POLICIES AND PUT THE CRIMINAL ABOVE THE VICTIMS. SHAME ON YOU AGAIN.
I'M SORRY THAT I BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION ONCE AGAIN, BUT I REALLY FEEL THAT YOU MADE A HUGE MISTAKE AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU OFF THE HOOK AS LONG AS I'M AROUND AND I FEEL THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO THINK LONG TERM WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS ON WHO YOU SUPPORT AND WHAT POLICIES THEY SUPPORT.
BECAUSE THE VICTIMS ARE REAL PEOPLE.
THEY'RE NOT JUST FIGUREHEADS THAT YOU LOOK UP AND YOU GO, OH, THAT'LL NEVER HAPPEN TO THEM BECAUSE IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU AND ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS SAY, WE DON'T SUPPORT
[01:40:02]
THE POLICIES.ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? [INAUDIBLE] HAS RAISED.
OK, I'M NOT ONE MYSELF TO BE A PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN EVERYTHING.
I'M PRETTY MUCH I'M VERY EASYGOING PERSON.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, VERY FRIENDLY PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M SO.
EVERY TIME COMES THIS THREE MINUTES ABOUT SOME CASE.
I THINK IT'S COMMON SENSE TO BE MET FOR THAT I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS DECISION.
OK, SO BUT I STILL APPRECIATE BECAUSE THE HOLIDAYS COMING, I ACTUALLY TAKE MY KIDS TO GO OUT WITH SANTA JUST NOW, BUT I DON'T WANT THEM BOTHER ME, SIT HERE.
[CHUCKLING] SO I JUST THINKING, I KNOW WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT FOR ME, SO I WOULD RATHER BE SERIOUS AND COME HERE FOR MEETING, RIGHT? SO BUT I STILL APPRECIATE BECAUSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, NUMBER THREE, I STILL HAVE SIGN OUTSIDE AND THEN I THINK WE ARE THE FIRST GROUP ONE DAY BECAUSE I BELONG TO [INAUDIBLE] THE FIRST TRAINING THERE, IT WAS SUCH A GREAT FACILITY.
WE ARE SO LUCKY WE KEEP IT RIGHT.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO CLOSE IT.
WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE? A TRAINING PLACE? BECAUSE WE WENT THERE FOR THE WHOLE MORNING TRAINING LAST SATURDAY MORNING, SO I APPLIED TO BE A [INAUDIBLE] MEMBER.
I WILL BE A VOLUNTEER, [INAUDIBLE] VOLUNTEER IN COMING YEARS, SO I WILL SEE YOU GUYS ALL AROUND, YOU KNOW, SO I KNOW I'M A VERY TOUGH PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO SOME TOPIC.
I'M VERY ACTIVE TO COLLECT PETITION SHOWS FOR ME THAT PERSON AND THEN CAN MAKE IT PRETTY MUCH A TOUGH.
BUT I JUST REALLY THINK BECAUSE I LOVE THIS CITY, I DON'T WANT IT DESTROYED .
MY HUSBAND, JUST SAID YESTERDAY, HE SAID IT'S SO SAD.
THAT'S WHY I BOUGHT A HOUSE HERE.
THAT'S WHY I BUILT A ROSE GARDEN FOR YOU IN THE [INAUDIBLE], SO I DON'T WANT WE MOVE ANYWHERE.
WE HAVE A SMALL TREE GROWTH FOREST RIGHT NOW.
MY BACKYARD IS THE REDWOOD FOREST.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO BUILD ANY [INAUDIBLE] HOUSE FOLLOWS SOME NEW BILL.
WE DON'T WANT TO MOVE BECAUSE WE HAVE FORESTS THERE.
[CHUCKLING] SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM A RESIDENT OF COLLEGE GREEN AND TODAY, OFFICIALLY, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE FOR ONE YEAR, TWO WEEKS AND SIX DAYS.
IT IS TRUE THAT I CAME FROM A SMALLER CITY THAT HAD SEVEN DISTRICTS.
SOME SAY I CAN'T COMPARE THAT CITY TO THIS CITY AND I'VE NEVER TRIED TO.
BUT ONE THING I KNOW AFTER BEING HERE MORE THAN A YEAR IS THAT IF THAT CITY CAN DO IT, GO THROUGH DISTRICTING THEN THIS CITY CERTAINLY CAN, TOO.
WHO DOESN'T AGREE WITH THAT? OK.
SO, IF THEY CAN GET THROUGH IT, WE CAN CERTAINLY GET THROUGH IT.
YOU TALKED ABOUT, MR. MUIR, LA VERNE HAVING A SPECIAL TOUCH, RIGHT? YOU MENTIONED WHILE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE RETIREMENT GIFTS, FIRE POLICE, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS HERE OF LA VERNE BUSINESSES, OLD TOWN, STROLLS, CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGS, CAR SHOWS, ALL THOSE GREAT THINGS THAT MAKE LA VERNE SPECIAL.
I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK THAT ANY OF THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE BECAUSE WE GO TO DISTRICTING.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN LA VERNE AND ALL OF THE SPECIAL TOUCHES.
I KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY AGREES ON DISTRICT VOTING OR WHETHER IT'S FOR DISTRICTS AND A MAYOR OR FIVE DISTRICTS AND A ROTATING MAYOR.
BUT I TRULY BELIEVE IN THE CITY AND IN OUR COUNCIL AND IN OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE'LL MAKE THIS WORK.
SO THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
ANYBODY ELSE? WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, COME UP TO COUNCIL COMMENTS AND
[8. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS ]
REPORTS.WELL, I WANT TO START WITH WHAT A WONDERFUL EVENT THE DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS PUT ON THIS PAST WEEKEND.
IF YOU DID COME, IT WAS CROWDED DOWN THERE.
[01:45:01]
THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY, THE STROLL THROUGH DOWNTOWN WAS JUST WONDERFUL AND I WANT TO APPLAUD THEM FOR HOW THEY PUT THAT TOGETHER.EVERYBODY THAT I SPOKE TO DOWN THERE WAS SO HAPPY TO BE OUT WITH COVID LAST YEAR AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DO MUCH.
THEY WERE VERY HAPPY TO BE OUT.
BUT I HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS IS WITH CHRISTMAS COMING OUR CITY'S CHRISTMAS MORNING COMMITTEE IS VERY ACTIVE IN GETTING THIS GOING, WE'VE BEEN VERY BUSY AND WE'VE HAD DEPARTMENT HEADS, WE'VE HAD SOME RESIDENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY, POLICE, FIRE, MUIR AND I SIT ON THAT OR CITY MANAGER YVONNE DURAN IS JUST AMAZING.
SHE'S OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE DEPARTMENT AND SHE IS JUST AMAZING AND IT'S COMING TOGETHER.
THE MASK THAT I HAVE ON AND MUIR IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT VOLUNTEERS, BUT YOU ALL CAN HAVE ONE TOO, IF YOU VOLUNTEER, THE SANTA WILL BECOMING UP AND DOWN THE STREETS.
AS USUAL, THIS IS OUR NINETY SIXTH YEAR, SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION AND MUIR, CAN I TURN THIS OVER TO YOU AT THIS TIME? SURE, SO SANTA IS GOING TO NEED SOME HELPERS.
WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED SO FAR, BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 50 TO 60 VOLUNTEERS TO HELP SANTA PASS OUT THE BAGS OF GOODIES TO EACH OF OUR RESIDENTS.
SO YOU CAN GO TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE PROBABLY FIND SOME KIND OF INNOCUOUS TITLE FOR THE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP AND YOU TOO THEN CAN GET A YEAR NUMBERED MASK FOR YOUR COLLECTION BECAUSE WE'LL BE DOING THIS EACH AND EVERY YEAR AND HAVING THE YEAR COMMEMORATING THE YEAR THAT YOU SERVED TO HELP SANTA AND LA VERNE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM DAVIS.
AND I'M ON THE WEDGE PART AND GOING UP AND DOWN THOSE HOMES AND I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT, SO I NEED TO RUN A LOT ON THOSE THINGS.
I DID IT TWO YEARS AGO AND IT'S PUT YOUR RUNNING SHOES ON.
THOUGH I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FOR YOU GUYS, COMMITTEE TOO, IS HOW ARE WE FILLING THE TREATS? BECAUSE I KNOW PRIOR TO COVID, WE ALL SAT IN THE ROOM AND GOT IT DONE REALLY QUICK AND WE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB, BUT I DON'T SEE US BEING ALL--I THINK MAYOR PRO TEM DAVIS HAS AN ANSWER TO THAT.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT AGAIN, BUT NOT THIS YEAR.
I MEAN, THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE TIMES WHEN EVERYBODY GATHERS.
IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE, THE ENERGY, THE ENTHUSIASM, JUST THE CAMARADERIE IS A LOT OF FUN BECAUSE YOU HAVE THESE SEVEN OR EIGHT TABLES.
SOMETIMES WE PUT A NINTH UP OR A TENTH UP AND YOU HAVE KIDS RUNNING PEANUTS AROUND AND PEOPLE ZIPPING THEM TOGETHER WITH THEIR TAPES.
BUT THIS YEAR, WE'RE HIRING OUT TO THE SAME COMPANY THAT MADE A LIMITED NUMBER LAST YEAR.
WE'RE HAVING THEM MAKE A FULL CONTINGENT OF BAGS SO THAT THE BAGS WILL BE PRE-MADE PROFESSIONALLY TO FOOD STANDARDS AND THEN WE'LL BE THERE TO HAND THEM OUT.
THANK YOU, AND YES, SO THE RUNNING SHOES PIECE, I DON'T WANT THAT TO SCARE PEOPLE AWAY.
WE'RE GOING TO OFFER YOU CAN EITHER GO THE WHOLE DAY OR HALF DAY AND WE HAVE A MORNING SHIFT AND AN AFTERNOON SHIFT.
SO IF YOU CAN RUN FOR A LITTLE WHILE OR WALK FOR A WHILE, DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GOT TO BE OUT THERE THE WHOLE DAY AND HAVE SAMMY COME RUN THE WEDGE WITH ME.
I WANT TO THANK MR. YODER AND THE BONITA CHAMBER SINGERS TONIGHT.
THEY HAVE A CHORAL PERFORMANCE TOMORROW.
I KNOW THERE'S A BIG MEETING TOMORROW, BUT AND ALSO IT'S ON WEDNESDAY.
SO IF YOU WANT TO GO SEE THEM ALL THE BONITA, NOT JUST THE CHAMBER SINGERS, BUT THE REST OF THE GROUPS AS WELL.
THAT'S AT THE BONITA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
WE HAVE WINTER WONDERLAND COMING UP AND THE SAME DAY THANKS FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY FOR THE LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK PART OF ONE OF MY COMMITTEES, MR. HEPBURN, MR. RUSSI, CHIEF PAZ AND LIEUTENANT GONZALES, BECAUSE WE MET WITH SUPERVISOR BARGER AND ABOUT PRESENTING THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAMPS TO OUR RESIDENTS AND SO THAT IS THE CASE IS ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S COMING TO OUR RESIDENTS.
SO GO SEE THAT TOMORROW AT OAK MESA.
I WANT TO THANK MAJESTIC CYCLING FOR DONATING 40 BIKES FOR OUR YOUTH AND FAMILY ACTION COMMITTEE.
THEY'LL BE GOING OUT TO, I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT 8 TO 10 YEAR-OLDS, AND MAJESTIC IS WORKING WITH LA VERNE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FINDING THOSE NEEDY OR WANTING RESIDENTS SO WE CAN GET THEM A VERY GOOD HOLIDAY SPIRIT THIS YEAR AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO THANK OUR LA VERNE POLICE DOG FOUNDATION.
THEY'RE HELPING AND RAISING MONEY FOR THE CANINE UNIT, FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
DENISE FISHER AND HER CREW, THEY'RE ALWAYS OUT AT THE CAR, SHOWS THEY HAVE A
[01:50:03]
WEBSITE.SO IF YOU WANT TO HELP DONATE AND HELP PARTICIPATE IN THERE, GO TO THEIR WEBSITE LA VERNE POLICE DOG FOUNDATION AND SO THAT THEY KEEP SUPPORTING OUR K-9 UNIT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.
FOR THOSE THAT WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE HOLIDAY STROLL AND TREE LIGHTING THIS PAST SATURDAY, IT WAS LOVELY.
IT WAS VERY NICE, AS COUNCILWOMAN CARDER INDICATED.
I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF WHO PUT THAT ON.
IT WAS A TREMENDOUS EFFORT MADE ON THEIR PART.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY HAVE SEEN SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS.
THAT WAS JOHN AND LEON PADDOCK, AND I THINK THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB AND THE KIDS LOVED THEM.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO GO WITH.
I WAS LIKE, SO, BUT I WANTED TO THANK THEM BECAUSE THEY TOOK TIME TO BE OUT THERE.
SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU THERE.
I WANT TO REITERATE THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE PREVIOUSLY BY MAYOR HEPBURN AND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY ABOUT ATTENDING TOMORROW'S L.A.
COUNTY COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION.
I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT HAVE CALLED TO TALK TO ME ABOUT IT AND ASK QUESTIONS, INCLUDING SOME THAT HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED IN THESE TYPES OF CAMPS THAT HAVE RAISED CONCERNS BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF INFORMATION PUT OUT THERE.
SO IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE, THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO TO ASK AND I WOULD SAY, BE YOURSELVES AND ASK YOUR POINTED QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DETAILS ON THIS AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S COMING IN IF WE DON'T ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
SO SIX O'CLOCK TOMORROW AT OAK MESA IN THE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM.
IF I MAY, AND SORRY TO INTERRUPT, ON THAT NOTE, THERE'D ALSO BE WE'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT THE DATE FOR A VIRTUAL LISTENING SESSION IN ADDITION TO THE ONE THAT'S TOMORROW NIGHT, SO WE'LL GET MORE INFORMATION WHEN THAT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.
WILL THEY BE VIDEOTAPING IT SO THAT IT CAN BE PLAYED? NOT THIS ONE, BUT THE VIRTUAL ONE, THERE WILL BE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY AT OAK MESA TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO I I DID TALK TO THE MADAM PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER, MORGAN [INAUDIBLE].
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE LAST NAME.
SO I ASKED MORGAN AND SHE AND I ARE GOING TO REACH OUT TO LV3TV TOMORROW TO SEE IF THEY CAN'T SHOW UP AND CAPTURE THE VIDEO SO THEY CAN PUT IT ON CHANNEL THREE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE SO PEOPLE CAN AT LEAST SEE IT, BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT TOMORROW NIGHT IS LIMITED TO 100 PEOPLE.
SO SO THAT SHOULDN'T DISSUADE ANYBODY FROM GOING.
BUT JUST RECOGNIZE IF THE COMMUNITY DOES SHOW UP LIKE I ANTICIPATE IT WILL, THERE WILL BE STANDING ROOM ONLY AND POTENTIALLY PEOPLE TURNED AWAY JUST BECAUSE OF LIMITATIONS ON CAPACITY.
OK AND THEN AGAIN, WINTER WONDERLAND WILL BE THIS SATURDAY AT HERITAGE PARK FROM NINE TO ONE.
SO, THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO SAY HAPPY LAST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH TONIGHT.
KWANZAA AND CHRISTMAS ARE BOTH COMING UP, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS A TIME OF THE YEAR THAT IS FOR MANY OF US.
WE GET TO SPEND TIME WITH OUR FAMILIES, WE GET TO BE WITH OUR FRIENDS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE US AND CARE ABOUT US.
BUT NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE SECOND CHRISTMAS THAT MY DAD WILL NOT BE HOME BECAUSE OF COVID AND SO THE GOOD THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET TO SEE FAMILY, BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT DOES MAKE LA VERNE SPECIAL IS THAT PEOPLE DO CARE AND SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS ASKED ABOUT MY DAD WHO HAS FOLLOWED UP AND EVEN IF IT'S I DON'T CARE IF IT'S WITH ME, I HOPE THAT YOU'RE ASKING THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU AND LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
SO ON THAT NOTE, I WILL JUST SAY BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
WE WILL SEE YOU, IF NOT TOMORROW NIGHT, THEN AT WINTER WONDERLAND OR SOME OTHER EVENT BEFORE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
WOW, I DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT TO SAY.
I THINK--YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU SPEAK? [CHUCKLING] OH, DID YOU SPEAK ALREADY? I HAVEN'T.
OH, I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT YOU HAD.
TUESDAY NIGHT YOU'VE GOT OAK MESA.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT YOU'VE GOT A CONCERT AT THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOR THE BONITA CHOIRS, WHICH ARE FABULOUS AND CLEARLY AFTER WE'VE SEEN THE NEW DIRECTOR, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE FABULOUS.
[01:55:02]
TONIGHT IS THE HANUKKAH ENDED THIS EVENING AT SUNDOWN AND SO I WANT TO CELEBRATE WITH THOSE WHO CELEBRATE HANUKKAH.TODAY IS ALSO MY DAUGHTER MARLEY'S BIRTHDAY, SO SHE'LL BE UPSET THAT I SAID THAT.
SATURDAY IS WINTER WONDERLAND THE LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND SO IF YOU WANT TO COME OUT AND LISTEN TO OUR WONDERFUL BAND, PLEASE BE THERE.
THEY'RE ALSO PERFORMING OTHER TIMES, PROBABLY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FIND OUT WHETHER THE BAND IS COMING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IF NOT, GET THEM TOGETHER AND REQUEST THAT THE BAND COME.
THAT'S ONE OF THEIR FUNDRAISERS, AND IT'S A GOOD ONE AND LASTLY, I MEAN, WE'VE GOT KWANZAA AND CHRISTMAS COMING UP.
BUT ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX YEARS AGO TODAY, THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT 13, ABOLISHING SLAVERY WAS RATIFIED.
SO TODAY'S A DAY TO CELEBRATE.
WELL, WE'VE COVERED THE GAMUT, SO I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS IS THAT I WANT TO FIRST THANK MR. AND MRS. CLAUS FOR SATURDAY AND MR. CLAUS.
I KNOW THAT MRS. CLAUS WAS BUSY TONIGHT FOR COMING TONIGHT FOR OUR TREE LIGHTING, BUT I THINK JUST TO BASICALLY, TRAILER ON EVERYBODY ELSE'S, I THINK THIS IS A TIME OF YEAR THAT WE NEED TO GET WITH OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
COVID IS STILL THERE, YOU KNOW, PARTY OUTSIDE IF YOU CAN WEAR YOUR MASK INSIDE, IF YOU'RE QUESTIONABLE, BUT STAY HEALTHY.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL.
WE WANT TO BE HOME WITH OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THOSE LESS FORTUNATE THAT DON'T HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, GIVE THEM SOME LIGHT, GIVE THEM SOME LOVE.
THAT'S WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHARE THAT WITH EVERYONE AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR STAFF.
WE DO HAVE A MEETING ON THE 16TH, BUT IT'S BEEN A HECK OF A YEAR.
[CHUCKLING] IT'S BEEN A LONG MEETING.
SORRY, GUYS, THE 20TH, NOT THE 16TH, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE TOO SOON.
BUT NO, OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE THE 20TH.
OTHER THAN THAT, THANK YOU ALL.
I APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION.
OH, NO, I'VE GOT MY BIG LETTERS FOR THOSE.
OH NO, NO I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY.
IT'S BEEN BEEN A HECK OF A YEAR.
WE'VE GOT ONE MORE MEETING THIS YEAR AND THANK YOU FOR STAFF AND MR. RUSSI.
WE HAVE A REASON FOR A CLOSED SESSION, IS THAT CORRECT, MR.
[9. CLOSED SESSION ]
RUSSI? YES, WE DO, MR. MAYOR.CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET IN CLOSED SESSION UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION FIVE FOUR NINE FIVE SEVEN POINT SIX WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR TO DISCUSS THE UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEE OF POLICE CHIEF DESIGNEE AND CONTRACT.
WE'RE ADJOURNING IN MEMORY; WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE RETURNING FOR TWO VERY BIG PEOPLE IN LA VERNE, LOVED BY MANY.
ADJOURNING IN MEMORY OF CATHERINE FUGITT, WHO DIED ON OCTOBER 15, 2021 AT THE WONDERFUL AGE OF 98.
SHE WAS A LONGTIME LA VERNE RESIDENT AND CONTRIBUTED NEARLY 50 YEARS AS A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.
IN 1945, SHE VOLUNTEERED IN RELIEF AND EDUCATION EFFORTS FOR JAPANESE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND HELPED RESTRUCTURE JAPANESE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. HER WORK IN JAPAN MARKED THE BEGINNING OF HER TENDENCY TO EXPAND AWARENESS AND TOLERANCE TO CHOOSE DIVERSE PEOPLE TO LEARN AND LOVE.
CATHERINE AND HER HUSBAND, JAY, WERE THE CO-FOUNDERS OF LA VERNE'S FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.
THEY PERSUADED LA VERNE CITIZENS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERVISORS TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARY FOR LA VERNE AND RAISED $50000 TO HELP BUILD IT.
CATHERINE ALSO WAS ACTIVE IN THE LA VERNE SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER 210 FREEWAY EXTENSION, LA VERNE FIRE AND PARAMEDIC PROGRAM AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDWARDS THEATER.
CATHERINE AND HER HUSBAND, JAY, WERE THE FIRST RECIPIENTS OF THE PRIDE OF LA VERNE AWARD IN 1993 AND BOTH RECEIVED THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD.
CATHERINE'S LEGACY LIVES ON IN THE HEARTS OF ALL WHO KNEW HER, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER TOM HARVEY WAS QUOTED, SAYING THAT CATHERINE WAS ONE OF THE HEARTS OF LA VERNE.
CATHERINE IS SURVIVED BY A LARGE EXTENDED FAMILY, INCLUDING NUMEROUS CHOSEN CHILDREN.
WE ALSO LOST A WONDERFUL ICON OF LA VERNE, DELIA'S SALON AND BARBERSHOP.
THIS IS IN MEMORY OF DELIA HEREDIA, A LONG TIME LA VERNE RESIDENT AND DOWNTOWN LA VERNE BUSINESS OWNER, WHO DIED ON NOVEMBER 14, 2021.
DELIA WAS BORN IN CULIACAN, SINALOA, MEXICO, TO A LARGE FAMILY.
SHE WAS THE LUCKY NUMBER 7 OF 11 CHILDREN.
AT THE AGE OF 16, SHE LEFT HER HOMETOWN AND WORKED AS A TELLER IN TIJUANA, MEXICO, TO PAY
[02:00:01]
FOR COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL.SHE IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1989 AND EARNED HER COSMETOLOGY LICENSE.
SHE WORKED IN DIFFERENT SALONS IN ONTARIO AND POMONA UNTIL SHE OPENED HER OWN BUSINESS IN LA VERNE.
DELIA'S BARBERSHOP IN 1999, SHE FELT VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE FOUND A NICE STORE IN A NICE TOWN ON TOP OF RUNNING A BUSINESS AND BEING A SINGLE PARENT, DELIA PARTICIPATING IN HER COMMUNITY CHURCH'S ACTIVITIES, PARTICIPATED IN LOCAL EVENTS LIKE THE LA VERNE WINE WALK AND SHE WAS SECRETARY AND TREASURER OF THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD.
DELIA ALSO TRAVELED TO PEOPLE'S HOMES THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOME DUE TO THE DISABILITIES TO GIVE THEM A HAIRCUT.
DELIA VALUED FAMILY, HARD WORK, EDUCATION AND PERSEVERANCE.
EVERYONE SHE MET STATED THAT HER SMILE TRULY BRIGHTENED EVERYONE AROUND HER, AND SHE ALWAYS HAD KIND WORDS.
SHE IS SURVIVED BY THREE DAUGHTERS AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER.
THERE WAS A SERVICE LAST FRIDAY FOR DELIA.
IT WAS OVER AT HOLY NAME OF MARY, AND I WOULD JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR CHIEF NIGG PAZ WAS HER BOYFRIEND, AND SHE STOOD BY HER SIDE.
I THINK OVER A MONTH WHEN SHE WAS.
BATTLING CANCER, AND I WILL SAY THAT HE DID A GOOD 20 MINUTES OF A JUST A SERVICE TO REMEMBER HER, AND I WILL SAY THAT HE DID AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC JOB.
THE CHURCH WAS FULL AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DEDICATION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE IN LA VERNE, BUT I KNOW SHE TOUCHED MANY OF OUR LIVES, INCLUDING MY OWN AND MY FAMILY.
OUR NEXT ADJOURNMENT, [INAUDIBLE] ADJOURN TO MONDAY, DECEMBER 20TH, 2021 AT SIX O'CLOCK P.M.
WILL BE HAVING A POLICE BADGE PINNING CEREMONY.
FOLLOWING THE POLICE BADGE CLEANING CEREMONY, THE COUNCIL WILL RECESS TO REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 6:30 P.M..
WE'RE NOW RECESSING INTO CLOSED SESSION, AND WE WILL NOT BE REPORTING OUT.
THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 3RD, 2022 IS CANCELED AND WE WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR THE JANUARY 6TH OR JANUARY 18TH, 2022, AFTER OUR NEXT MEETING.
EVERYBODY, I'LL SEE AT THE NEXT MEETING.
WE ADJOURN AT ALMOST NINE O'CLOCK.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.