[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:02] WE'RE GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:31 P.M. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THOSE THAT CAN RISE, PLEASE RISE. PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. FACE THE FLAG. READY? BEGIN. ROLL CALL, MR. DUFF. COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER KASH. PRESENT. MAYOR PRO TEM CROSBY. HERE. MAYOR HEPBURN. HERE. THIS IS A TIME WE SET ASIDE TOO FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS OF ANY UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS. [4. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS] NOTHING ON THE AGENDA, OBVIOUSLY, BUT IF ANYBODY HAS ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR ANY UPCOMING EVENTS. GOOD EVENING RIMMI. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF. MY NAME IS RIMMI AND I'M HERE FROM TRI-CITY MENTAL HEALTH. I AM ALSO A PROUD BOARD MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE FOR CULTURAL AWARENESS AND SOCIAL INCLUSION CALLED CASI. I AM HONORED TO BE WORKING TOWARD CREATING A CITY OF HOSPITALITY AND WELCOME. CASI WAS BEGUN AS A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT IN 2019 AND OUR INTENTION IS TO EDUCATE, INFORM, ENCOURAGE AND BUILD AWARENESS FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE CITY OF LA VERNE. THE FOCUS OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO PROVIDE UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERY INHABITANT IS ENTITLED TO EQUAL ACCOMMODATIONS WITHIN THE CITY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE STRIVE TO UPLIFT AND CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME. AND WE FEEL THAT IN OUR DIVERSITY WE ARE STRONGER, RICHER, WISER TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF OUR EVER CHANGING WORLD. THE COMMITTEE HOLDS SPACE FOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY. ELECTED OFFICIALS, TRI-CITY MENTAL HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE, NAACP, YOUTH AND FAMILY ACTION COMMITTEE, FIRE, POLICE, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HILLCREST AND RESIDENTS. OUR ONLINE MEETINGS ARE HELD MONTHLY ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH AT 5 P.M. FOR VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS. YOU CAN EMAIL THE CITY TO GET ON THE LIST. AND ALSO WE HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE AND OUR WEBSITE IS DIVERSELAVERNE.ORG. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, RIMMI. ANYBODY ELSE FOR ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS. THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO INTRODUCTION OF NEWLY HIRED FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS AND NEWLY HIRED FIREFIGHTERS. [5. Presentations] THIS IS WHERE WE GET TO EMBARRASS YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, SIR. [INAUDIBLE] ALEXANDER ARNOLD. FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC. ARNOLD GREW UP IN SANTA CLARITA. HE ATTENDED COLLEGE AT THE CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY AND EARNED A DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. AFTER GRADUATING, HE WENT TO EMT AND THEN TWO YEARS LATER, HE WENT TO UCLA TO GET HIS PARAMEDIC LICENSE. ONE MONTH LATER, HE ATTENDED OXNARD COLLEGE'S REGIONAL FIRE ACADEMY. HE SPENT TEN YEARS WORKING AS A LIFEGUARD, THE LAST FOUR YEARS WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. HE HAS ALSO WORKED IN PRIVATE EMS AT BOTH AN EMT AND PARAMEDIC. CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU STEP OVER HERE. WE'RE JUST GOING TO EMBARRASS YOU ALL AT ONCE. OKAY. TRISTAN JANEWAY. FIREFIGHTER JANEWAY GREW UP AND CURRENTLY LIVES IN TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA. AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, HE OBTAINED HIS A.S. IN FIRE TECHNOLOGY FROM PALOMAR COLLEGE. HE ATTENDED THE BEN CLARK TRAINING CENTER, WHERE HE COMPLETED HIS BASIC FIRE ACADEMY. HE WAS AN EMT FOR AMR HEMET WHILE HE WAS GOING TO NCTI TO BECOME A PARAMEDIC. HE RECEIVED HIS PARAMEDIC LICENSE THIS YEAR IN 2022, PRIOR TO STARTING HIS DREAM CAREER HERE FOR LA VERNE FIRE. IN HIS FREE TIME, HE ENJOYS SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, HANGING OUT WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND [INAUDIBLE]. IS THAT HOW WE SAY IT? [INAUDIBLE]. THERE YOU GO. I DON'T WANT TO MESS THAT UP. HIS DOG, BUZZY, TRAVELING AND GOLFING. WELCOME. SEAN WILKINS, WELCOME. NEWLY HIRED FIREFIGHTERS. FIREFIGHTER WILKINS GREW UP, CURRENTLY LIVING IN TEMECULA. HE ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS AT 20. [00:05:03] YEAH, THERE YOU GO. 20 YEARS OLD AND IS CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE RESERVES AFTER SIX YEARS OF ACTIVE DUTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. HE HAS BEEN MARRIED FOR TWO YEARS AND HIS WIFE DANA JUST WELCOMED THEIR FIRST SON INTO THE WORLD EIGHT WEEKS AGO. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] IN HIS FREE TIME, HE ENJOYS SURFING, SKYDIVING AND ANYTHING OUTDOORS. AND I MUST REMIND YOU, ONCE PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN AND ARE EMPLOYED BY THE CITY LA VERNE, THEY STAY FOREVER. WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU. PETER HOWELL. FIREFIGHTER HOWELL IS FROM CHICO, CALIFORNIA. AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, HE ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AS SECURITY FORCES MEMBER. THANK YOU FOR SERVING. WHERE HE SERVED FOR EIGHT YEARS. AFTER HIS TIME IN THE MILITARY HE ENROLLED AT CSU CHICO, OBTAINING A DEGREE IN KINESIOLOGY. FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF HIS DEGREE, HE ENROLLED IN THE 76TH BUTTE COLLEGE FIRE ACADEMY TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE FIRE SERVICE. AS OF MARCH OF THIS YEAR, HE HAS WORKED AS AN AMBULANCE OPERATOR FOR THE LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE CURRENTLY RESIDES IN PLACENTIA, CALIFORNIA, WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND AMANDA AND THEIR TWO DOGS. WELCOME. [APPLAUSE] BRYCE. AGAIN. HE GRADUATED FROM CHAPARRAL HIGH SCHOOL AND PLAYED WATER POLO ALL FOUR YEARS WHILE BEING A FIRE EXPLORER FOR MURRIETA FIRE AND RESCUE. AFTER GRADUATING, HE WENT TO EMT SCHOOL AND THE FIRE ACADEMY OF MORENO VALLEY COLLEGE. AFTER HE WORKED FOR A PRIVATE AMBULANCE COMPANY AND THEN GOT HIRED AS AN AMBULANCE OPERATOR FOR THE LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT, HE HAS WORKED AS AN AO FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS. HE JUST RECENTLY EARNED HIS AS DEGREE IN FIRE SCIENCE. HE ENJOYS SURFING, CAMPING, RIDING DIRT BIKES AND SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. WELCOME, BRYCE. [APPLAUSE] KENNY. COME ON DOWN. WELCOME. KENNY VILLASENOR. FIREFIGHTER VILLASENOR WAS RAISED IN THE COVINA GLENDORA AREA AND NOW CURRENTLY LIVES IN RANCHO CUCAMONGA WITH HIS WIFE CHRISTINA. HI. AND THEIR FIRST BABY. SO I HAVE TO BE QUIET. SORRY. FIRST BABY OLIVER REED, WHO ARRIVED ON AUGUST 16TH. YOU'RE AMAZING. YOU'RE INCREDIBLE. SERIOUSLY. NOT HIM. YOU. FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS, HE HAS BEEN WORKING FOR THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE. THREE OF THOSE YEARS WERE ON DALTON HOTSHOTS, AND THE REMAINING YEARS WERE ON ENGINE COMPANIES. DURING THAT TIME, HE ALSO WORKED FOR TWO YEARS AS AN APPRENTICE FIREFIGHTER FOR LA VERNE. HE ENJOYS SPENDING THE MAJORITY OF HIS TIME WITH HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, TRAVELING, GOING TO CONCERTS AND WATCHING AND PLAYING SPORTS. WELCOME. [APPLAUSE] CHIEF. I WANT TO FIRST SAY THAT I KNOW THAT WE NOW HAVE A NEW BC WITH SAM OVER HERE. WHY DON'T YOU STAND UP THERE, SAM? MR. DOMINIC. ONE OF THE REASONS BESIDES US HAVING A GREAT NEW CHIEF IS SAM, ALSO WITH TRAINING AND BRINGING THESE EMTS INTO OUR CITY AND AMBULANCE AND ALSO TURNING THEM INTO FIREFIGHTERS. WE'RE VERY, VERY BLESSED TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN. GREAT JOB. BC DOMINIC. GREAT JOB, CHIEF NIGG. THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING SO WELL IN OUR COMMUNITY STAFFING WITH SUCH GREAT YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO ROCK THE BOAT. CHIEF, YOU HAVE THE MIC. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. YOU CAN TELL THE SALTY VETERANS BECAUSE THEY HIDE OUT IN THE CORNER BACK THERE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE. WELL, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THIS EXEMPLARY GROUP OF GENTLEMEN HERE ROUND OUT LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE FULLY STAFFED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE PLUS YEARS. SO IT'S. [APPLAUSE] AND TO GO EVEN BEYOND THAT, WE'RE TRULY RECRUITING AND RETAINING THE CREAM OF THE CROP. WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM MILITARY VETS TO STORIED FIRE SERVICE, TRADITIONAL CHILDREN TO FOREST SERVICE VETS. I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY THE CREAM OF THE CROP THAT'S OUT THERE. SO WE'RE INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO HAVE THEM AND VERY PROUD TO HAVE THEM. THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING AND JOINING LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE HOPE THAT WE'LL SERVE YOU JUST AS MUCH AS YOU'LL SERVE US IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO AGAIN, WELCOME. THIS IS ABOUT THE THIRD TIME WE RECOGNIZED YOU GUYS. SO THIS IS IT. GOT TO GET THROUGH PROBATION NOW. SO HERE YOU GO, MAYOR. IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE FAMILY, DO YOU GUYS HAVE FAMILY HERE? DON'T SHAKE ALL AT ONCE. JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY AND YOU'RE LIVE. YOU KNOW. WOULD PEOPLE LIKE TO TAKE PICTURES, WE CAN TAKE LIKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE SOME PICTURES WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS. COME ON UP. WE'RE GOING TO RECESS FOR 5 MINUTES, EVERYBODY. [00:10:06] THANK YOU, CHIEF, AND ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS. PARAMEDICS. THANK YOU, GUYS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY. BELIEVE ME, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY. IT'S PRETTY EXCITING, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TRASH AT KOHL'S AND SOME OTHER STUFF. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. [LAUGHTER] 6:45. SO WE ASKED MR. [6. CONSENT CALENDAR] DUFF, DO WE HAVE SOME ITEMS PULLED FROM CONTENT? ITEM 6-1. I BELIEVE 6C1. 6C1 OR 6C RESOLUTION ONE. AND ALSO I HAVE A CONFLICT WITH 6-5. THE E STREET AND SECOND STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. WITHIN 500 FEET. IT IS NOTED ON THE AGENDA COUNCILMEMBER LAU HAS A CONFLICT ON THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE HOMECOMING MATTER BECAUSE SHE'S ON THE BOARD, SO SHE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT ITEM. WILL SHE HAVE TO LEAVE THE DAIS? NO. WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THOSE PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE]. SECOND. SECOND, NOTING MY RECUSAL FROM 6C. [00:15:03] WHO DID THAT? [LAUGHTER] OKAY A MOTION. SO WE WILL MOVE TO ONE [6c1. Resolution No. 22-65] YES. I'VE BEEN CONTACTED A NUMBER OF TIMES LATELY REGARDING THE STREETS AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROADS IN LA VERNE. I KNOW THAT PROP 8 FUNDS CAN'T NECESSARILY BE USED FOR EVERY STREET, BUT WE ARE RECEIVING $0.75 PER DOLLAR OF THE PROP 8 FUNDS THAT WE DO RECEIVE. I'M NOT SURE IF THESE FUNDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED TO A DIFFERENT BUDGET ITEM, BUT I KNOW B STREET IN LA VERNE HAS HAD TERRIBLE ROOT PROBLEMS, HAD A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. ARROW HIGHWAY NEXT TO THE MEDIANS WHERE THE PINE TREES ARE GROWING. SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOT TO REALLY HOLD ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE IT'S SO BAD. AND ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS GOING INTO METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT, WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY RIDING BIKES, THAT THOSE TRACKS ARE SO DIFFICULT TO CROSS. I'M NOT SURE IF THOSE FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR THOSE PROJECTS AFTER THEY BECOME GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT BE A PRIORITY. ANYONE ELSE HAVE TO SPEAK ON THAT. WE'LL SEND IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER. MR. DUFF, YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT? YES. WE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? MS. BEAUCHAMP. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE REASON I REQUESTED THAT RESOLUTION 2265 BE PULLED IS WHEN A BOND MEASURE IS PRESENTED TO THE VOTERS, IT IS DONE FOR A SPECIFIC ISSUE. PROP 8 WAS KNOWN FOR TRANSPORTATION, WHICH THEN BECAME REFERRED TO AS TRANSPORTATION FUNDS. BASED ON THE FACT THAT THESE FUNDS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR TRANSPORTATION AND ARE BEING SOLD FOR LESS THAN THEIR FULL CAPACITY, I THINK IS A BLATANT LIE TO THE FACE OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE VOTERS WHO APPROVE THIS MEASURE. IN THE RESOLUTION IT DOES NOT EXPLAIN WHAT THESE DOLLARS WOULD BE ALLOCATED FOR, NOT EVEN WHICH DEPARTMENT. ALTHOUGH I MAKE AN EDUCATED GUESS THAT IT WOULD BE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES SINCE THE REQUEST IS COMING FROM MRS. DURAN. I JUST WISH THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD PRESENT THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR GOING FORWARD BEFORE IT COMES TIME TO VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR SO THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INQUIRY, YOU KNOW, MAKE COMMENTS, SEND EMAILS TO THE COUNCIL. AND, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING SUPPRESSED. OUR COMMENTS AND OUR FREE SPEECH IS BEING SUPPRESSED BECAUSE THERE IS NO OPEN DIALOGUE WITH THESE ITEMS. AND THIS IS ON A CONTINUAL BASIS AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO HAVE ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR, WHICH IS UNPRODUCTIVE TO THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY PLAN ON VOTING ON THESE ITEMS. AND I KNOW YOU DO MUCH RESEARCH AND READING THESE DOCUMENTS AND HAVE THOSE DECISIONS IN MIND AHEAD OF TIME. BUT I THINK SOME OF YOUR DECISIONS COULD BE AFFECTED OR SWAYED SOMEHOW BY LISTENING TO THE COMMENTS OF THE RESIDENTS. SO WHAT I'M REQUESTING IS THAT THIS ITEM BE TABLED UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT DETAILS OF THE MONEY THAT WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE ALLOCATED TO WHAT DEPARTMENT CAN BE PROVIDED TO THE RESIDENTS AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL CAN VOTE ON THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MS. BEAUCHAMP. ANYONE ELSE ON THIS ITEM? MR. BOWEN. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL. WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS THIS IS AT LEAST THE FOURTH OR FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR THAT WE'VE DONE THIS, AND IT'S PROBABLY, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK, WHICH I'M NOT GOING TO DO, BUT IT'S GOT TO BE CLOSE TO A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS NOW THAT WE TRADE EVERY YEAR TO ANOTHER CITY. AND I JUST FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, WE HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND WE'RE WILLING TO SELL IT TO CITY OF INDUSTRY, IN THIS CASE, HAWAIIAN GARDENS. THEIR NEEDS SEEM TO BE OBVIOUSLY URGENT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BUY IT FROM US. BUT I ALSO WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT MY PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND LOW AND BEHOLD, I GET BILLED FOR IT EVERY YEAR. [00:20:05] EVERY TIME I PAY MY PROPERTY TAX, THERE'S [INAUDIBLE] MONEY IN IT. SO I GIVE WHATEVER I GIVE AND THE CITY GIVES IT AWAY FOR $0.75 ON THE DOLLAR. WELL, QUITE FRANKLY, I'D RATHER NOT PAY IT. BUT, TO ME, THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A TAX THAT NEVER GOES AWAY AND NEVER GETS SPENT FOR THE PURPOSES IT WAS ORIGINALLY TAXED FOR. SO WHO'S GOT THE INSIGHT IN THIS CITY? PLANNING FORWARD TO NOT GIVE OUR MONEY AWAY TO, BUT TO SPEND IT FOR THE PURPOSES THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY TAXED AND CONTINUES TO BE TAXED TO THIS DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BOWEN. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS? ANYBODY ONLINE? [INAUDIBLE] NO. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THIS AND BRING IT UP TO THE DAIS. [INAUDIBLE] MR. DUFF. YES. COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON, STREET LOCATIONS THAT YOU SUGGESTED, PROP 8FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED IN USE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. AND I DID INQUIRE ABOUT THOSE THREE LOCATIONS, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR USE OF PROP 8 FUNDS TO REPAIR. PROP 8 FUNDS, I BELIEVE THERE'S A SALES TAX THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED TO CREATE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES. AND AS SUCH, THE PROVISION ALSO GIVES THE CITY THE ABILITY TO EXCHANGE IF CITIES RECEIVE EXCESS PROP 8 FUNDS, WHICH IN LA VERNE CASE THIS YEAR WE DO. PROP 8 FUNDS FROM YEAR TO YEAR FLUCTUATE DEPENDING ON THE ECONOMY. THIS YEAR WE HAVE EXCESS PROP 8 FUNDS AND WE ARE FORTUNATE, I BELIEVE, IN BEING ABLE TO FIND THE CITY WILLING TO EXCHANGE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FOR THOSE PROP 8 DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY HAVE LIMITED USE. GENERAL FUNDS COME INTO THE CITY AND YOU HAVE WIDE DISCRETION ABOUT THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS. YOU MENTIONED THAT WE ARE NOT SPENDING ALL OF OUR PROPERTY FUNDS. ARE WE SPENDING ANY OF THOSE PROP 8 FUNDS ON TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? YES. AND FOR DETAILS OF THAT, I'LL ASK YVONNE DURAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR. BUT I THINK WHAT SHE'S GOING TO TELL YOU IS WE FEEL WE'RE MEETING ALL THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE MEET EVERY NEED, BUT THOSE NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE RESIDENTS AND CITY STAFF. YVONNE. COULD YOU JUST LIST MAYBE THREE OR FOUR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED WITH PROP 8 FUNDS. SO SOME OF THOSE FUNDS ARE SPENT ON [INAUDIBLE] SENIOR PASSES ,ALSO SUBSIDIES FOR METROLINK TRANSIT EXCURSIONS. THOSE ARE OUR SENIOR EXCURSIONS AND REGULAR EXCURSIONS THAT THE DEPARTMENT PUTS ON AS JUST TO RELATE A COUPLE OF THEM AND ALSO FOOTHILL TRANSIT TOO. SO THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING USED FOR THE NEEDS FOR THE CITY CURRENTLY. SO WE'RE ABLE TO COVER WITH THE CURRENT FUNDS WHAT WE HAVE. AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, METROLINK IS GOING TO DO A 30% DISCOUNT. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE PAYING THE FULL AMOUNT AS WELL THROUGH THOSE SUBSIDIES. SO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, FOR THIS MONTH COMING UP, SO WE DO OFFSET THOSE COSTS, FOR LA VERNE RESIDENTS. WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME ON THOSE IF WE, OBVIOUSLY, AND MR. ROME WAS CORRECT, IT'S BEEN FOUR OR FIVE TIMES, I THINK, THAT WE'VE TRANSFERRED THOSE DOLLARS AND TRADED THEM IN. WHAT IS THE, AND WE'VE GENERALLY USE THOSE EVERY YEAR FOR WHAT WE HAVE, LIKE YOU'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW. WHAT'S THE SUNSET ON THAT. IF WE DO NOT TRANSFER OR SELL THOSE TO ANOTHER AGENCY OR ANOTHER CITY, WHAT'S THE SUNSET CLAUSE ON THOSE? DO WE HAVE TO GIVE THOSE BACK AFTER A CERTAIN TIME IF THERE'S A [INAUDIBLE]? [00:25:03] CHAD. WE'RE GOING TO BRING THE WHOLE CREW UP HERE. IT'S A LITTLE BIT COMPLEX WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUNDS. NO, NO, I APPRECIATE IT. IT'S JUST I THINK PEOPLE ARE ASKING QUESTIONS, EVEN MYSELF. IT'S LIKE, OKAY, YES. MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL. SO THOSE FUNDS, I BELIEVE IT'S A THREE YEAR, E HAVE TO USE THEM IN THREE YEARS. SO BASICALLY WE USE THE OLDER FUNDS FIRST AND THEN ROLL THE NEW FUNDS IN. SO WE ARE NOT, I GUESS, EVER LOSING THOSE FUNDS. SO WHAT WE'RE BASICALLY SPENDING IS OUR THREE YEAR OLD FUNDS AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES IN BASICALLY. SO OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT KEEPS TRACK OF THAT AND MAKES SURE THAT NONE OF THOSE FUNDS ARE LAPSING. SO EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE USING THESE FUNDS FOR RIGHT NOW ARE CURRENTLY IN USE. AND WE CAN'T REALLY USE OTHER, MORE THAN THAT THAN WHAT WE HAVE. WE ARE OFFERING EVERYTHING THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN. IT DOES FLUCTUATE JUST DEPENDENT ON THE NEED OF THE LA VERNE RESIDENTS, AND IT WAS BUDGETED IN THIS LAST YEAR'S BUDGET OF WHAT WE PROJECTED WE WILL BE USING. BUT YEAH, IT CHANGES. I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WITH SENIOR BUS PASSES, IT COMES AND GOES. IT JUST DEPENDS. WE BOOK AS MANY EXCURSIONS AS WE CAN WITHIN THOSE BOUNDARIES. EVEN THOSE, IF WE'RE OUTSIDE OF THOSE BOUNDARIES, WE CAN'T USE THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE THERE IS A MAP THAT WE HAVE TO USE. AND SO SOMETIMES WE SPEND MORE THAN WE NEED TO. AND IF WE NEED TO AND WE'RE OVER THAT BUDGET LINE ITEM, WE DO ALLOCATE A LITTLE BIT MORE FUNDS TO THAT, BUT THOSE GO TO SENIOR EXCURSIONS, REGULAR EXCURSIONS AS WELL. SO THOSE MONIES THAT WE'RE NOW TRANSFERRING TO WINE GARDENS FOR THE SWAP, THOSE ARE THE THREE YEAR OLD FUNDS? THOSE ARE THE OLDER FUNDS. SUNSETTING. SO WE'RE UTILIZING THOSE. WE'RE COMING TO THE TERM FOR THAT. SO WE RECEIVE THE OTHER FUNDS. SO AND BASICALLY IT GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND, CORRECT? IT'S NOT EARMARKED FOR ANYTHING BUT GENERAL FUND DOLLARS. CORRECT. I THINK THAT WAS THE QUESTION FROM LIKE WHERE DOES IT GO? IT GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND AND UTILIZE FOR ANYTHING WE WANT TO ACTUALLY. YES. AND SOME OF THOSE FEES ARE AS WELL, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, TOWARDS GOLD LINE RELATED ITEMS. SO WE DO HAVE SOME MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THAT AS WELL. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. LISBON YOUTH SERVICES MANAGER YVONNE DURAN. THANK YOU. AND CHAD PETERSON, ASSISTANT. THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR. IF I COULD JUST ADD? YES. THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL AT ALL, BUT I'VE BEEN CITY ATTORNEY FOR THREE CITIES OVER THE YEARS, AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE CITIES, EACH AND EVERY YEAR ENTERS INTO SUCH AN AGREEMENT FOR EXCESS FUNDS. SOMETIMES IT'S CITY OF INDUSTRY, SOMETIMES HAWAIIAN GARDENS, OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE BUS SYSTEMS TYPICALLY AND CAN USE THESE FUNDS. BUT THIS IS, MR. BOWEN SAID HE'D GONE BACK FIVE YEARS, I WOULD GUESS PROBABLY YOU COULD FIND IT EVERY YEAR FOR 30 YEARS OR HOWEVER LONG THE TAX HAS BEEN IN EFFECT. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S DONE. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE OTHER CORRESPONDING CITY THAT WANTS TO BUY THE TRANSIT FUNDS, I'VE SEEN THAT FLUCTUATE FROM MAYBE $0.67 ON THE DOLLAR UP TO 75, SOMETIMES 77. IT'S JUST NOT AN UNUSUAL THING. SO REALLY RIGHT NOW, COMMUNITY SERVICES MANAGER DURAN, WE'RE USING THEM FOR THE GOLD LINE. OUR STUFF ON THE GOLD LINE RIGHT NOW WE'RE PROBABLY BE USING THOSE FUNDS FOR THAT. AND I KNOW THAT MS. BEAUCHAMP WAS ASKING ABOUT THAT. SO THEY DON'T GO UNUSED. AND WE DO HAVE A MAJOR NEED FOR THE GOLD MINE. SO IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? I'D STILL LIKE THOSE STREETS REPAIRED. RESIDENTS ARE PAYING THIS TAX, WHETHER IT BE A SALES TAX OR THE PROPERTY TAX BILL. I'M SORRY MAYOR. ALL THREE OF THE LOCATIONS THAT YOU IDENTIFIED ARE IN THE CIP PLAN. I WISH I COULD TELL YOU IT WAS NEXT YEAR OR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, BUT WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS THOSE STREETS ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSED. COUNCILMEMBER CROSBY. AND IF THOSE THOSE STREETS CAN'T BE USING THE PROP 8 FUNDS, IF THEY'RE PUT IN THE GENERAL FUND, THEN THAT CAN BE USED FOR THOSE CIP PROJECTS. [00:30:02] YES. AND I WILL SAY, MR. JOHNSON, COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON THAT B STREET AND ARROW HIGHWAY IS A TWO HAND STEERING WHEEL. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN ON ARROW HIGHWAY COMING EAST AND YOU DON'T HOLD ON TO THAT STEERING WHEEL, YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF IN THE OTHER LANE. AND B STREET'S NO DIFFERENT. THOSE BIG TREES JUST ABSOLUTELY ARE [INAUDIBLE]. SO. YES. YES. COUNCILMEMBER LAU. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR OFFERING THAT CLARIFICATION. I THINK THAT IT'S HELPFUL FOR ALL OF US TO KNOW WHAT, WHERE THINGS GO TO, SO, YOU KNOW, [INAUDIBLE] AND OTHERS WHO HAVE RAISED THE QUESTION, I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE. I THINK IT'S ANOTHER GOOD THING TO REMEMBER THAT WHENEVER WE'RE DEALING WITH LIKE PROP 8 OR MEASURE MONEY, THERE ARE SO MANY STRINGS ATTACHED TO WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T USE IT FOR. SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO KNOW WHAT IS AVAILABLE. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE STAFF IS DOING EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN TO USE AS MUCH OF THAT MONEY FOR THE ALLOWABLE PURPOSES AND TO THE POINT OF THE REVOLVING THREE YEAR TERM. IF WE DON'T USE IT FOR THOSE THINGS, THEN IT GOES AWAY. SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S $0.75 ON THE DOLLAR, THAT'S AS THE CITY ATTORNEY NOTED, IT'S ON THE HIGHER END AND AT LEAST WE'RE GETTING THAT TO BE ABLE TO USE IN OUR GENERAL FUND. SO I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF ALSO BALANCING HOW CAN WE BEST MAKE USE OF THE FUNDS TO THE ALLOWABLE CAPACITIES? AND THEN FROM THERE, WHAT CAN WE DO TO RECEIVE OR GET THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT? SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE QUESTIONS. AND THEN JUST ONE NOTE FOR STAFF AS WELL. ON PAGE 24 OF THE, IT'S UNDER CAPTIONS OR UNDER, I'M SORRY, WAIVER, IT'S SECTION 13. IT MAKES A REFERENCE TO INDUSTRY, NOT HAWAIIAN GARDENS. SO JUST TO SWAP OUT, PLEASE. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. COUNCIL. THANK YOU, STAFF. I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION. AND THANK YOU TO MANAGER DUFF, FOR EXPLAINING HOW THIS WORKS. AND THEN WE ACTUALLY NEED A MOTION. SINCE WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE TO BE. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. SO I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2265. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIES. WE MOVE TO 2268, IS THAT CORRECT MR. CITY MANAGER DUFF? SO WE GO TO 2268, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. MR. [6c3. Resolution No. 22-67] BOWEN, DID YOU WANT 2267 FOR THE HOMECOMING EVENT? OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENTS. GO AHEAD. YES, I HAVE A REAL QUICK QUESTION. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, TWO MONTHS AGO, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CRUISE AND WHO PAYS FOR IT AND $8,000 IN POLICE EXPENSE, ETC., ETC. I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE IN HERE ABOUT WHO PAYS FOR THIS AND WHAT IT COSTS. IT APPEARS THAT. HE'S REFUSING TO SELL. BECAUSE IT APPEARS THAT THE CITY DOES THE WORK. THEY'RE GOING TO DO A CLOSURE AND THE UNIVERSITY HAS A REQUEST TO HAVE A PORTION OF THE STREETS CLOSED, MULTI DAY EVENT. SOMEBODY HAS TO DO THE WORK. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHO PAYS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE. ANYBODY ONLINE? WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DIAS. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THERE WAS A BREAKOUT OF HOW MUCH THE UNIVERSITY WAS GOING TO PAY. IS THAT NOT CORRECT, MR. DUFF? AS FAR AS THE. GOOD EVENING MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. THIS EVENT IS FULLY PAID BY THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE AND THAT'S WHY THE AGREEMENTS ATTACHED TO IT. THEY PAY THE HOURLY RATE FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS AND STREET CLOSURE PERSONNEL. [00:35:03] THERE ARE NO DIRECT COSTS TO THE CITY OF LA VERNE FOR THIS EVENT. GREAT. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SCHERER. ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? APPROVE 2267. SECOND, ALL VOTE PLEASE. AND VOTE CARRIES 4-0. THANK YOU. [6c4. Resolution No. 22-68] OKAY WE MOVE TO ITEM 2268, RESOLUTION THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF LA VERNE, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE FINAL MAP FOR TRACT 83064 REQUEST BY K.B. HOMES [INAUDIBLE] LOS ANGELES [INAUDIBLE] SUBDIVIDE ONE PARCEL AREA OF 5.57 ACRES AT 2820 AMHERST STREET INTO A 42 UNIT SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED SUBDIVISION. WE HAD THIS POLL I THINK. MS. BEAUCHAMP HAD PULLED THAT. WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT. REGARDING CONSENT CALENDAR 60A, RESOLUTION 2268, THE APPROVAL OF THE FINAL TRACK MAP FROM THE DEVELOPER, K.B. HOMES FOR THE AMHERST PROJECT SHOULD BE TABLED UNTIL THE RESIDENTS OF THE ADJACENT PROJECT HAVE AMOUNT OF TIME TO SAY, BE FAIR ABOUT IT. TEN BUSINESS DAYS TO REVIEW THE TRACK MAP AND PLAN AND BE ABLE TO SUBMIT THEIR INQUIRIES AND COMMENTS TO THE CITY BEFORE THE COUNCIL MAKES THEIR FINAL DECISION TO APPROVE THE PLAN. THE CITY IS MORE THAN WELL AWARE OF THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT OF THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE ADJACENT TO THIS PROJECT, BOTH RESIDENTS AND HOMEOWNERS. AND THAT ALONE SHOULD BE ENOUGH OF A REASON FOR THE CITY TO TABLE THE MEASURE. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, MOST OF THE RESIDENTS ARE UNAWARE OF THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE AN ITEM REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR AND ALLOWED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK UPON THEM. BY NOT ALLOWING THE RESIDENTS TO SPEAK, IT'S JUST ANOTHER DISRESPECT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO CONTINUALLY APPROVE PROJECTS AND RESOLUTIONS WITHOUT PROVIDING THE RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK UPON THEM IS DENYING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO EXERCISE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT, NOT ONLY OF FREE SPEECH, BUT ALSO THE DENIAL OF PETITIONING THE GOVERNMENT FOR ADDRESS OF GRIEVANCES. I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TIRELESSLY, PLEADING TO THE COUNCIL THAT THEY INVOLVE THE RESIDENTS IN A MORE PREVALENT MANNER. SO PLEASE, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL THE ADJACENT RESIDENTS CAN BE INFORMED AND PROVIDE INQUIRIES IF NECESSARY, UNTIL YOUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 3RD, 2022. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. BEAUCHAMP. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? MR. GABALDON. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M HERE ON MY ANNIVERSARY BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. THERE'S NO COMMUNICATION. SHOWS UP IN THE AGENDA OVER THE WEEKEND. NO OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE THAT COUNCILMEMBERS HEPBURN, CROSBY AND LAU WERE ON THE COUNCIL LAST TIME THIS WAS BROUGHT UP AND APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL TO PROCEED WITH ONE OF THOSE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CITY THAT BASICALLY DOESN'T FIT THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SINCE THAT TIME, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN ANY CONVERSATION, NOT A SINGLE WORD RELATIVE TO ANY OF THE WORK THAT WAS PROMISED OF THIS COUNCIL IN FOLLOW UP TO THE TRAFFIC MITIGATION ISSUES, THE PLANNING ISSUES, THE INTERSECTIONS, ALL FAILING ISSUES, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT TECHNICALLY WERE OKAY, BUT THEY'RE NOT OKAY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE SINCE THAT TIME AND BEFORE THIS TRACK MAP HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO WORK ON THOSE ISSUES THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. GABALDON. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? HOWING. COME ON UP. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL HAVE. I THINK THE PROCESS IS MORE WHAT'S IN DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW. ABSOLUTELY. HOW MUCH WE'VE DONE ON THE BACKGROUND, HOW MUCH WE HAD COMMUNITY INPUT AND ALL THE STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR THIS PROJECT TO GET TO THIS POINT. SURE. SO BACK IN 2021, THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS PROJECT. [00:40:03] AND AT THAT PUBLIC HEARING, COUNCIL APPROVED THE TENTATIVE MAP MOVING FORWARD. ONCE THAT MAP WAS APPROVED, THE PROJECT HAS GONE INTO, CALL IT THE PLANNED CHECK PHASE. AND SO THIS EVENING'S ACTION IS MORE OF A FORMALITY FOR COUNCIL TO CONFIRM THAT THE MAP CONFORMS TO THE TENTATIVE MAP AND THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO IT ON ITS APPROVAL EVENING. IT'S STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT THIS MAP DOES CONFORM TO THOSE DETAILS. AND SO IT'S UP TO COUNCIL TO EITHER APPROVE OR DENY THE MAP. I MIGHT ADD, IF COUNCIL WERE TO CHOOSE TO DENY THE MAP, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE VERY SPECIFIC REASONS FOR THAT, SO WE CAN PROVIDE THAT BACK TO THE DEVELOPER AND THAT THEY CAN THEN AMEND WHATEVER THOSE ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE DETERMINED. SO IF THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION. COUNCIL. KASH. COUNCILMEMBER KASH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WERE THE PEOPLE NOTIFIED AFTER 2021? WAS ANOTHER TOWN HALL MEETING WHERE PEOPLE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE ANY OTHER CONCERNS THAT THEY HAD? SO THAT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT OF THE PROCESS. THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT OCCURRED IN 2021 WAS THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND SO THE PROJECT, IN ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL. THIS IS A TECHNICAL STEP TO ENSURE THAT THE MAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SUBDIVISION MAP ACT AND THOSE CONDITIONS THAT WERE PLACED ON THE TENTATIVE MAP AT THE TIME OF APPROVAL. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO, THERE WAS NO ADDITIONAL NOTICING, BUT THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO DO ADDITIONAL NOTICING. IT'S NOT A SUBJECT THAT IS REQUIRED TO REOPEN ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THAT. WELL, I THINK THE PUBLIC YOU KNOW, JUST TO COMMENT ON THAT, I THINK IF THE PUBLIC HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR OPINION REGARDING ANY OTHER CHANGE, WE WOULDN'T BE IN THE POSITION WHERE WE ARE NOW. AND I WASN'T HERE IN 2021. I'M HERE IN 2022. AND MY COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE THAT I SERVE, THAT I AM THEIR VOICE. SO AS A COURTESY TO US HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THIS MAP, I THINK A COURTESY COULD HAVE BEEN ALSO GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE THERE JUST TO GIVE. THEY LIVE AROUND THERE. I DON'T LIVE AROUND THERE. BUT THERE'S FOLKS THAT DO LIVE IN THE CITY. SO MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE COULD PROVIDE THAT. I HEAR AND UNDERSTAND THAT COMMENT. THANK YOU. IT'S JUST A CONVERSATION. COUNCIL. COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON. COMMENTS. SOUNDS LIKE IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHEN WE'VE GIVEN ENOUGH NOTICE, OPPORTUNITY TO RESIDENTS TO ACTUALLY COME AND HAVE THEIR SAY. HELLO. GOOD. SO WHILE IT'S FRUSTRATING THAT THIS PROJECT MAY BE GOING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY'VE COMPLIED WITH THE REGULATIONS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE DENY THIS RIGHT NOW OR POSTPONE IT ANOTHER TEN DAYS. DOES THAT PUT US IN ANY LEGAL JEOPARDY AS A COUNCIL OR CITY. WELL, AS THE CITY ENGINEER STATED, YOU HAVE TO HAVE VERY SPECIFIC REASONS. IF YOU'RE GOING TO DENY IT, YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT, THIS PROCESS IS ESSENTIALLY CONTRACTUAL. THE TENTATIVE MAP SETS FORTH CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND THOSE CONDITIONS HAVE TO BE SATISFIED BEFORE THE COUNCIL CAN APPROVE THE FINAL MAP. YOUR STAFF HAS CERTIFIED TO YOU THIS EVENING THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS IN FACT MET THOSE CONDITIONS OF THE TENTATIVE MAP. AND SO I JOIN THEIR RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU APPROVE IT TONIGHT. MS.. BEAUCHAMP, WE HAD OUR TIME AT THE AT THE PODIUM. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER LAU. I WOULD CONCUR WITH COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON'S COMMENTS THAT I THINK WE, THE STAFF AND ALL THE STEPS HAVE BEEN GONE THROUGH. PEOPLE MAY NOT ALWAYS LIKE WHAT HAPPENS WITH IT, BUT I THINK WE FOLLOWED WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO. AND PER THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 66459, WE ARE REQUIRED TO APPROVE IT IF IT CONFORMS AND THE STAFF IS ADVISING THAT IT DOES CONFORM. SO I WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT STATEMENT. MY ONLY OTHER COMMENT WOULD BE ON, UNDER THE RESOLUTION ON THE FIRST PAGE, UNDER THE FIRST WHEREAS, IT SAYS SEPTEMBER, APRIL 19TH, IT SHOULD JUST BE APRIL 19TH. SO IF WE COULD REMOVE SEPTEMBER, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WE'LL DO. MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT TYPO. [00:45:05] [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. AND JUST FOLLOWING FOLLOWING UP, THIS IS THE FINAL MAP THAT WAS BUILT FROM THE TENTATIVE TRACK MAP. SO IT IS JUST A COPY FROM THAT, BUT JUST THE FINAL ADJUSTMENTS TO IT. SO THIS IS MORE OF A TECHNICAL DOCUMENT WITH A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF DETAIL THAN THE TENTATIVE MAP. AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE CONFIRMING TONIGHT. SO THE CITY, MYSELF, THE CITY ENGINEER, AS WELL AS THE CITY SURVEYOR WHO WILL CERTIFY FOR THE TECHNICAL ACCURACY OF THE MAP, HAVE REVIEWED THE MAP AND COME TO THAT DETERMINATION, AS WELL AS REVIEWING THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL TO ENSURE THAT THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO THE FINAL MAP APPROVAL HAVE BEEN MET AT THIS STAGE. THANK YOU. AS BEING A PART OF THAT AND HAVING MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS WITH RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA, I KNOW IT WAS A AT TIMES CONTENTIOUS, BUT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN FULFILLED. AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW, THE TRACK MAP IS DONE AND THIS MEANS THAT RIGHT AFTER THIS, IT'S SHOVEL READY. AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN HOLDING ON TO IT. BUT THE PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED. WE DID HAVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND SOMETIMES IT WASN'T PLEASANT. I KNOW MR. CROSBY AND MYSELF MET WITH HOMEOWNERS AND WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS. OUR STAFF HAS DONE THEIR JOB AS FAR AS PUTTING THE PROCESS IN PLACE AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S READY TO GO. SO I KNOW THAT'S NOT ALWAYS PLEASANT HAVING HOMES BUILT BY YOU, BUT THE TRACK DOES, IT HAS BEEN VETTED, IT'S BEEN APPROVED AND IT'S READY TO GO. AND I APPRECIATE THE STAFF'S TIME ON THAT. IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD. AND SO AT THAT POINT, DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2268. SECOND. I'LL SECOND IT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. OH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL. NO. NO. I THINK WE VOTED. WE VOTED. YOU DON'T NEED TO REMOVE YOURSELF. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE ROOM. OH, SO IF IT WAS A PUBLIC HEARING, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO. YES. CAN I JUST MAKE ONE NOTE? I'M SORRY. I'M LIKE WOMAN OF TYPOS TONIGHT FOR THIS RESOLUTION. SORRY. 2269 UNDER THE THIRD WHEREAS, THE AMOUNT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. IT'S MISSING A TWO. THANK YOU. WE MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS. [7. PUBLIC HEARINGS] MR. DUFF. ITEM SEVEN PUBLIC HEARING WILDERNESS PLAN. THE STAFF REPORT WILL BE GIVEN BY CANDICE BOWCOCK. PRINCIPAL PLANNER BOWCOCK. GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE YOU? THAT'S A STACK AND A HALF. JUST IN CASE. SO THE LA VERNE WILDERNESS AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR MANY YEARS AND I HAVE INCLUDED ALL OF THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION LEADING UP TO THIS POINT IN THE STAFF REPORT. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION AND A LOT OF WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS PROJECT OVER THE YEARS. SO I'M GOING TO TRY MY BEST TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION DURING THE PRESENTATION. AND IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING INFORMATION THAT I DIDN'T COVER, JUST LET ME KNOW. SO FIRST, THE CITY ATTORNEY RECUSED HIMSELF BECAUSE OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE CITY RETAINED BARBARA LEOPOLD TO REPRESENT THE CITY ON THIS MATTER. MRS. LEOPOLD IS HERE TONIGHT, SITTING OVER THERE IN THE CORNER. SLIDE [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE. SO IN 2006, THE CITY ACQUIRED 208 ACRES, WHICH ARE IN THE BLUE, THROUGH STATE GRANT FUNDS OBTAINED WITH LA COUNTY AND TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND AND THE LA VERNE LAND CONSERVANCY. THIS LAND WAS COMBINED WITH 150 ACRES, WHICH IS THE GREEN ALREADY OWNED BY THE CITY, TO CREATE AN OPEN SPACE PRESERVE OF 358 ACRES, COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS THE WILDERNESS AREA. THE AREA IS LOCATED NORTH OF GOLDEN HILLS ROAD, EAST OF MOUNTAIN SPRINGS RANCH ROAD AND WEST OF STEVENS RANCH ROAD. [00:50:07] IN PREPARATION OF THIS MEETING, STAFF SENT OUT MORE THAN 600 NOTICES TO THE SURROUNDING AREA, WHICH INCLUDED EVERY PROPERTY NORTH OF GOLDEN HILLS ROAD AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE SOUTH OFF OF DIVOT AND CLEAR FALLS. STAFF WAS CONTACTED BY TWO RESIDENTS WITH SIMPLE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PLAN. THERE WERE NO CONCERNS REPORTED TO STAFF PRIOR TO THIS MEETING. NEXT SLIDE. IN 2007 AND 2008, THE CITY BEGAN THE PLANNING PROCESS. THIS INCLUDED THREE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS THAT WERE ATTENDED BY ABOUT 50 PEOPLE, MOSTLY NEIGHBORS OF THE AREA. THE CITY ALSO HAD INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL GROUP INTERVIEWS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AND IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS TO SPECIFICALLY DISCUSS PUBLIC ACCESS. THE PUBLIC ACCESS DISCUSSIONS TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GRANT MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT METHODS AND FACILITIES THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN CONTROLLING THE PUBLIC ACCESS. IN OCTOBER OF 2008, A DRAFT PLAN WAS PRODUCED, BUT AT THAT TIME, DUE TO A LACK OF FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE EIR, THE CITY POSTPONED ANY ACTION. IN 2015 AT A COUNCIL WORKSHOP, STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO PREPARE THE PLAN AND THE EIR. RINCON CONSULTANTS WERE CHOSEN TO PREPARE THOSE DOCUMENTS. AND IN 2016, ANOTHER PUBLIC WORKSHOP WAS HELD TO GET DIRECTION FROM THE COMMUNITY ON HOW TO CREATE THIS PLAN WHILE ALSO PROVIDING LOW IMPACT OUTDOOR RECREATION AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES. AT THIS TIME, A PLAN WAS DRAFTED THAT INCLUDES SELECTIVE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT ACTIONS, THE RESOLUTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARDS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIMITED CONTROLLED PUBLIC ACCESS AS PART OF THE CITY'S STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE AREA. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A MEETING IN 2018 TO REVIEW THE PLAN AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL. RESIDENTS ATTENDED AND A MAJORITY VOICE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS AND OBJECTIONS TO THE INCREASED PUBLIC ACCESS INTO THE AREA. AFTER LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS, THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED TO CONTINUE THE ITEM TO DETERMINE WHAT THE NEXT LEVEL OF PUBLIC ACCESS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. NEXT SLIDE. THE ITEM RETURNED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN JANUARY OF 2019, WHERE STAFF PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON THE MEETING OF PUBLIC ACCESS FROM MR. WICKER, THE DIRECTOR OF LA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION. MR. WICKER STATED THAT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WILDERNESS AREA IS SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE REASONABLE PUBLIC ACCESS REQUIREMENTS. SO THE CURRENT LEVEL IS REFERRING TO THIS SWITCHBACK TRAIL LOCATED OFF OF SAN DIMAS CANYON ROAD THAT'S IDENTIFIED IN THE PHOTO. MANY PEOPLE ATTENDING THAT MEETING, INCLUDING A NUMBER OF CYCLISTS WHO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND THE DESIRE TO HAVE THE TRAIL CONNECTING TO THE SUNSET MOTOR BRIDGE TRAIL. ALSO SPEAKING AT THAT MEETING WERE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE ADJACENT TO THE AREA AND MONTEREY STREET AND GOLDEN HILLS. THESE RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE INCREASE OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO THAT AREA. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD A SPLIT VOTE OF 2-2 TO RECOMMEND CITY COUNCIL ADOPTION OF THE PLAN. STAFF IN THE LA VERNE LAND CONSERVANCY MET WITH ADRIENNE DUNFEE, DEPUTY MONUMENT MANAGER WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WITH FOREST SERVICES. ACCORDING TO MISS DUNFEE'S LETTER, PORTIONS OF THE AREA FALL WITHIN A SMALL PORTION OF THE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST KNOWN AS THE EXPERIMENTAL FOREST. THE SUNSET MOTOR RIDGE TRAIL IS IDENTIFIED BY THE FOREST SERVICE AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ROAD USED FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE AREA AND TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SITES LOCATED WITHIN THE FOREST AREA. PUBLIC ACCESS TO THIS TRAIL IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL FOREST. THE LETTER ALSO STATES THAT THE FOREST SERVICE WOULD NOT SUPPORT ANY NEW TRAILS THAT CONNECT TO OR ENCOURAGE ACCESS TO THE EXPERIMENTAL FOREST AREA OR THROUGH IT. STAFF ALSO MET WITH THE LA VERNE LAND CONSERVANCY AGAIN TO DISCUSS THEIR ONGOING CONCERNS RELATED TO BUILDING MORE TRAILS AND OPENING THE AREA TO MORE PUBLIC ACCESS FROM THE LA VERNE SIDE. THE CONSERVANCY REQUESTED THAT AN OBJECTIVE TO THE RESOLUTION BE ADDED TO ENSURE THAT THE PROCESS CONTINUES INTO THE NEAR FUTURE. OBJECTIVE 1.0 WAS ADDED TO THE RESOLUTION STATING THE CITY WILL SUPPORT AND ENGAGE WITH THE LA VERNE LAND CONSERVANCY TO FURTHER EVALUATE AND EXPLORE FEASIBILITY FOR POSSIBLE TRAIL AND ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE EXISTING EIR. IT IS INTENDED THAT THIS EFFORT WOULD TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 MONTHS. THIS IS HOW STAFF CAME TO THE TWO PHASE APPROACH. PHASE ONE CONSISTS OF MAINTENANCE, SECURITY, FUEL MOD PLANTING AND PROTECTING THE AREA. THE AREA WILL BE PRESERVED AND KEPT SAFE WITH NO ADDITIONAL PUBLIC ACCESS OR ANY TRAIL CONNECTIONS. NEXT SLIDE. ONE MORE TIME. [00:55:09] THE AREA WILL BE PRESERVED AND KEPT SAFE WITH NO ADDITIONAL PUBLIC ACCESS OR TRAIL CONNECTIONS. PHASE TWO INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LOOP TRAIL AND THE INCREASE OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE AREA. THE TRAIL WOULD BE A 0.6 MILE LOOP SOUTH OF THE OPEN SPACE AREA JUST NORTH OF MONTEREY STREET, DEPICTED HERE IN THIS PHOTO IN THE BLUE. I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THE CONDITIONS WERE ADDED, THAT IF THERE IS EVER A DESIRE FOR PHASE TWO TO MOVE FORWARD, AN UPDATE TO THE EIR WOULD LIKELY BE NECESSARY AND PUBLIC WORKSHOPS AND CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL WOULD BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO MOVING FORWARD WITH PHASE TWO. THIS WILL ENSURE THAT PHASE TWO WILL ONLY MOVE FORWARD WITH PROPER NOTIFICATION TO THE RESIDENTS AND ULTIMATELY A VOTE BY THE CITY COUNCIL. THE PLAN WENT BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A NEW VOTE IN APRIL OF 2019, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITH THE TWO PHASE APPROACH. THERE WAS AN EIR DONE FOR THIS PROJECT WHICH WAS ALSO PREPARED BY RINCON. THIS FINAL EIR WAS REVIEWED BY CITY STAFF FOR COMPLETENESS AND ADEQUACY. ALL IMPACTS WERE DEFINED AS LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT OR LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT WITH MITIGATION INCORPORATED. A TABLE OF ALL MITIGATION MEASURES CAN BE SEEN IN THE ATTACHED DRAFT EIR ON PAGE FOUR AND THE ATTACHED FINAL EIR CONTAINS INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES TO EACH COMMENT RECEIVED DURING THE PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD FOR THE DRAFT EIR. STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS CITY COUNCIL ADOPT RESOLUTION 22-72 APPROVING THE WILDERNESS AREA MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC ACCESS PLAN AND CERTIFYING THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT. DIANA HANSEN WITH RINCON IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON ZOOM IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE EIR. AND THEN LIKE I SAID, BARBARA LEOPOLD IS HERE AND I AM AVAILABLE FROM STAFF IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF BEFORE YOU GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT. WHEN I'M LOOKING AT YOUR COVER LETTER OR THE FIRST PAGE OF THE PRESENTATION, IT SHOWS A FAIRLY WIDE PATH THERE, BUT THERE IS NO ACCESS OF THIS NATURE INTO THE AREA, IS THERE? NO. THAT PICTURE WAS CHOSEN AT THE VERY, VERY BEGINNING, YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AGO. WE CAN CHANGE IT. I MEAN, IT DOESN'T REPRESENT WHAT WE ARE APPROVING AS FAR AS ACCESS TO THE AREA. AS FAR AS ACCESS WITH PHASE ONE, CORRECT? YES. ANYONE ELSE BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS? JUST IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS. JOHN TYRE. 7115 MONTEREY. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT THERE FOR 12 YEARS. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. WE WOULD, WHEN IT WAS ADDRESSED, NO ONE TALKED ABOUT THE TRASH, HOW THEY WERE GOING TO SECURE IT, HOW THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE THE PUBLIC ACCESS, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DEAL WITH THE ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES THAT WERE NECESSARY FOR THE HOUSES IN THE AREA? IT WAS ALL KIND OF A GENERAL STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE. AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING AN 8/10THS WALKING AREA WHERE AROUND THAT AREA THERE'S ALREADY SO MANY WALKING AND HIKING TRAILS. THE ONE THAT IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE GOLF COURSE, THERE'S PLENTY OF AREAS THERE TO WALK AND HIKE, AND TO PUT THIS IN THERE WHEN YOU HAVE DEER THAT ARE THERE NOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A LOVELY OAK TREES, AND WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ENDANGERING THAT AREA TO GIVE AN 8/10THS WALKING TRAIL WHEN THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER WALKING TRAILS AROUND AND SAYING THAT WE'LL GIVE YOU A FENCE 50 FEET FROM THE BACK OF YOUR HOUSE. THAT DOESN'T ADD SECURITY. THAT DOESN'T HELP THE PEOPLE ON MONTERREY IN THE AREA TO SECURE THEIR HOUSES. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND WITHOUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, ADDITIONAL PLANNING, I THINK IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO GIVE THE OKAY. THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. YES. COULD I ASK THAT WE HAVE STAFF REITERATE SOME OF THOSE POINTS, BECAUSE IT MIGHT ADDRESS SOME OF THE OTHER LIKE MINDED COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT MADE CLEAR. [01:00:03] JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT YES. SO PHASE ONE, IT STAYS AS IS. NO INCREASE TO PUBLIC ACCESS, NO TRAIL. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE APPROVING TONIGHT. PHASE TWO IS WHERE THE PUBLIC ACCESS IS GIVEN AND THE LOOP TRAIL, WHICH CANNOT HAPPEN UNTIL IT COMES BACK TO CITY COUNCIL SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, IF THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL CHOOSES. SO TODAY, PHASE ONE, WE WILL JUST MAINTAIN WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, FUEL MOD, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. SO FOR PURPOSES OF FURTHER CLARIFICATION, I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR A VOTE YES ON A MOTION, ASSUMING A MOTION IS MADE AND SECONDED FOR THIS ALLOWS FOR THE AREA TO EXIST AS IT IS RIGHT NOW. NO CHANGES. THE SAFEGUARDS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA IS THE CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE THAT THERE ACTUALLY HAS TO BE A DESIRE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PHASE TWO, AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND A NOTICE THAT WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE RESIDENTS AND A FINAL VOTE BY THE CITY COUNCIL. SO THERE ARE THREE STEPS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE ESSENTIALLY PUT IN PLACE BEFORE ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN. SO I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT SO THAT NOBODY THINKS THAT THERE'S A TRAIL GOING IN TOMORROW OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THANK YOU. WELL, ALSO THAT IS ALSO A DOLLAR SIGN ON THAT ALSO. SO RIGHT NOW, SPECIFICALLY, AS COUNCILMEMBER LAU POINTED OUT, PHASE ONE IS LEAVE IT ALONE. MAKE SURE IT'S FUEL MOD AND MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF A FIRE SITUATION AND MONITOR THAT PROPERTY. AND IT'S GOING TO STAY THE SAME AS IT IS NOW. THAT'S IT. YES. MAYOR. IT'S OKAY. COME ON UP. STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU HAVE THE SAME ADDRESS. YES, SAME ADDRESS. CAROLYN TYRE, 7115 MONTEREY STREET. SO A VOTE YES LEAVES IT THE SAME. A VOTE NO, LEAVES IT THE SAME. NO, NO. SO CANDICE CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT HAPPENS IF IT GETS VOTED DOWN? THERE'S AN OBLIGATION FROM THE GRANT MONEY THAT WE RECEIVED TO OBTAIN THIS LAND, AND IT HAS STIPULATIONS ON US PROVIDING THIS PUBLIC ACCESS. SO WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE ALSO TO BE ABLE TO DO THE MAINTENANCE AND PROTECT THE WILDLIFE AND DO A FUEL MOD. AND IT'S ALL VERY NECESSARY. SO NO, WORST CASE SCENARIO COULD POSSIBLY MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO PAY BACK THAT GRANT MONEY. WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN REPURPOSED. IS THAT NOT CORRECT? THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. THE GRANT MONEY. IT'S BEEN SPENT. IT'S BEEN SPENT. I'M SORRY, I HAVE ONE QUESTION. BURNING DESIRE IN MY HEART RIGHT NOW. WHAT ARE WE DOING AS FAR AS MAINTAINING? I MEAN, ARE WE CLEARING THE SHRUBS? ARE WE FEEDING THE ANIMALS? I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE DOING AS FAR AS MAINTAINING THAT AREA? WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO MUCH. WHAT IS MUCH? WE'RE VERY LIMITED AS FAR AS GRAZING PLAN THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. I KNOW THAT GOATS ARE OFTEN USED UP THERE IN THAT AREA TO KIND OF CLEAR AWAY SOME OF THE BRUSH. WE'RE ALLOWED TO CLEAR NON NATIVE PLANTS, BUT NOT THE NATIVE. ANY OTHER FIRE PROTECTIONS THAT REDUCE. THERE'S FIRE PROTECTIONS. THE OAK TREES ARE BROUGHT UP TO SIX FEET. WHATEVER THAT IS, I'M NOT COMPLETELY SURE. BUT. DO WE HAVE A LIST? I MEAN, CAN I GET A LIST? YEAH, WE HAVE A GRAZING PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED. IT'S THROUGH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS WHY I'M NOT COMPLETELY VERSED ON IT. NO, IT'S OKAY. BUT YES, IT EXISTS. WE CAN SHARE IT WITH YOU, I'M SURE. PLEASE. THANK YOU, MS. BOWCOCK. ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? MR. FORD, WELCOME. I'LL BE BRIEF. JUST KIND OF CUT RIGHT TO THE CHASE. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, A YES VOTE OPENS THE DOOR TO PHASE TWO. CORRECT? A VOTE NO SHUTS IT ALL DOWN. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE TO DO THIS VOTE TONIGHT TO NOT HAVE TO BE REQUIRED TO PAY BACK THOSE FUNDS THAT THE CITY WAS GIVEN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY. OKAY. SO THAT IS, MAY A YES VOTE STILL OPENS THE DOOR TO PHASE TWO. WELL, THAT IS NEVER CLOSED. I MEAN, UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY AND DO IT THEMSELVES, A FUTURE COUNCIL CAN ALWAYS CHANGE THEIR MIND AND OPEN IT UP. [01:05:08] WE'RE NOT DOING THAT TONIGHT. WE'RE SAYING IT'S GOING TO STAY THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THAT IS PART OF THE YES VOTE, IS THAT YOU'RE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, BUT YOU'RE ALSO ALLOWING POTENTIALLY PHASE TWO TO HAPPEN. GIVEN ALL THAT CRITERIA, IF IT WAS EVER MET. WELL, THOSE ARE THE SAFEGUARDS THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED AND TO THE MAYOR'S POINT. IN ADDITION, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO INITIATE PHASE TWO IS YET ANOTHER, I DON'T WANT TO SAY OBSTACLE, BUT IT WOULD BE YET ANOTHER HURDLE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE OVERCOME. BUT MY POINT IS VERY SIMPLE, AND THEN I'LL SIT DOWN. INCREMENTALLY, THAT'S HOW THINGS CHANGE. RIGHT. AND THAT'S MY CONCERN, AS LONG AS I LIVE NEXT TO THAT THAT PROPERTY. INCREMENTALLY, WE'RE ALLOWING THIS INTO THE DISCUSSION. AND, YOU KNOW, HERE WE GO AGAIN. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT I WANTED, THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY WHEN I WAS ON THE COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY, I DIDN'T REALLY CARE FOR THIS. RIGHT. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE NATIONAL FORESTS WOULD NOT ACCEPT AS OWNERSHIP FOR. LA COUNTY WAS THE ORIGINAL PERSON OR ENTITY THAT WAS GOING TO ACCEPT THE LAND AND THEY DECIDED TO BAIL OUT. AND THE CITY WAS PUT IN A POSITION TO ACCEPT THIS DEAL. AND I THINK IT WAS A BAD DECISION FROM THE GET GO. BUT HERE WE ARE. AND THE PLAN RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE APPROVING IS NOT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO ITS CURRENT SITUATION. AND AGAIN, I'LL JUST REITERATE WHAT I SAID. THE DOOR NOW IS OPEN WITH THAT ON THE TABLE. AND THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY. SO JUST BE AWARE OF THAT AS YOU'RE VOTING, TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU, MR. FORD. ANYONE ELSE? OTHER COMMENT? MS. SIMISON. HOW ARE YOU? I'M VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. JENNIFER SIMISON, 1977 GOLDEN HILLS ROAD. AND OF COURSE, WE'RE PLENTY NEXT TO THIS PROPERTY. AND I HAVE A PHOTO I WANT BECAUSE I KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS SINCE 2006 OR MAYBE 1984 WHEN WE STARTED. BUT A LOT OF THIS LAND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO ALL THE PEOPLE, THIS IS THE LAST OF THE ABANDONED ORCHARDS IN NORTH LA VERNE. SO WHEN WE MOVED HERE IN 79, EVERYTHING NORTH OF LA VERNE, TIM AND I, WAS ALL ORCHARDS. SO WHAT THIS IS, IS THE LAST OF THE ABANDONED ORCHARD. AND IT SEEMS SO, I DON'T KNOW THE WORD, SO I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE WORD. BUT THE IDEA THAT IT'S A NATURE RESERVE AND IT'S BEEN A WILDERNESS PARK AND NOW THERE IS JUNK UP IN THERE. THERE'S AN OLD PACKING HOUSE, CONCRETE AREA THAT'S IN THERE, YOU KNOW. SO THE FACT THAT THE POWERS THAT BE ARE MAKING THE CITY TREAT IT LIKE IT'S A NATURE RESERVE AND NO ONE'S EVER BEEN THERE. IT'S BEEN SMUDGE POT, IT'S BEEN GRADED, IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE LAST OF EVERYTHING. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS I'M JUST CONCERNED BEING IN JUST PHASE ONE WHERE YOU DO NOTHING. SO IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IT DOES TODAY BECAUSE FISH AND WILDLIFE SAY YOU CAN'T TOUCH DEAD LIMBS, DEAD TREES, YOU CAN'T LIFT THE CANOPY IS THE ONLY REASON THE CANOPY'S ARE UP IS WHEN THE GOATS COME THEY EAT AS TALL AS THEY CAN GET BECAUSE THE GRASS. AND THIS YEAR YOU GUYS, YOU WERE ABLE TO GET THE GOATS IN FEBRUARY. AND IF I HAD MY PHOTOS FOR YOU RIGHT HERE, THE WEEDS ARE HIGH. THEY'RE DRY. THEY'RE DRY BEHIND OUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSES, THEY'RE DRY. AND THE LAST MEETING WE HAD, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FIRE PREVENTION AND THEY SAID, YOU GUYS CAN'T GO WEED BACK NOW. YOU CAN'T GO IN AND CUT THE WEEDS DOWN. SO YOU THINK, SIERRA LA VERNE'S A MESS. PLEASE COME OVER AND I CAN SHOW YOU THE DOWNED TREES AND THE DOWNED THINGS. AND THEY'RE TREATING IT LIKE A NATURE RESERVE. IT'S AN ABANDONED ORCHARD. LA VERNE IS ABANDONED ORCHARD FULL OF HOMES. SO I STILL THINK WHEN YOU SAY WE'RE DOING NOTHING, I THINK WE NEED TO BE STRONGER AND BOLDER FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE IN NORTH LA VERNE BECAUSE IF ANY PART OF THAT CATCHES ON FIRE, IT'S GOING TO GO THROUGH MOUNTAIN SPRINGS ESTATES, IT'S GOING TO GO ACROSS THE BACK OF ALL THE NICE HOMES AND PEOPLE UP THERE. WE THOUGHT ALPHABET PAGE WAS TROUBLE. PUT FIRE BEHIND ALL OF THIS AND IT'S GOING TO BE TROUBLE. SO I THINK WE NEED A BOLDER STAND AGAINST THE PEOPLE TRYING TO TELL US IT'S A NATURE RESERVE. THANKS. THANK YOU, JENNIFER. [01:10:02] ANYONE ELSE? ANYBODY ON THE LINE ? WHAT? STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE WHEN YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM. [INAUDIBLE] I JUST WORK FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. AND I KNOW AS WE'RE MORE AND MORE, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE AREA. AND THEN NOW WE'RE LOOKING INTO OPENING THIS UP, WHICH CAN THEN GET PEOPLE IN THERE. AND I'M AROUND FIRES IN DOWNTOWN L.A. ALL THE TIME. AND THESE GUYS, YOU KNOW, THEY COME IN AND THEY WANT TO JUST STAY WARM AT NIGHT OR WHATEVER. AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY'RE IN OUR BACKYARD AND YOU DO, EVERY HERE AND THERE, YOU HAVE ONE CRAWLING UP THERE. I'VE SEEN A COUPLE. SO. I KNOW WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED, THAT WASN'T THE CASE HERE WITH ALL THE HOMELESS. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER PROBLEM WE'RE FACING. AND IT'S A BIG PROBLEM IN DOWNTOWN L.A. AND IT'S SLOWLY MIGRATING MORE AND MORE EAST. [INAUDIBLE] AGAIN, I'M A HOMEOWNER THERE. I BOUGHT THERE, A PLACE BEAUTIFUL, PRIVATE, AND NOW I JUST HAVE SOMEONE BACK THERE THREATENING MY HOME. IT'S, I DON'T THINK IN MY OPINION, I DON'T THINK IT'S CORRECT. I DO HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION. AND I'M NOT SURE. SO THERE ARE SOME OAK TREES AND THERE'S A LITTLE TRAIL COMING IN THROUGH THE SIDE IN THE BACK. I CAN SEE IT FROM MY BACKYARD. THERE'S NEW OAK TREES. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. SO THERE'S SOME, LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE'S BEEN BACK THERE PLANTING OAK TREES ALREADY. LIKE SOME SORT OF TRAIL TOWARDS THE BACK COMING FROM GOLDEN HILLS. SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT'S ABOUT. THERE'S ALSO A NEW FENCE ON THE LITTLE STREET RIGHT OFF OF, CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME. HELP ME OUT, GUYS. BUT ANYWAYS, I NOTICED THERE WAS ACTIVITY THERE AND I KNOW THEY'RE SAYING IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE THINGS ARE MOVING, BUT MAYBE IT'S FOR ANOTHER REASON. I JUST THOUGHT I'D BRING THAT UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? AGAIN. YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. MY NAME IS DEBBIE POPOVICH, AND I LIVE AT 1943 CLEAR FALLS AVENUE ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE THIS IS GOING. AND WHEN I FIRST MOVED INTO LA VERNE IN 2014, DURING THAT TIME, THERE WAS A HUGE DISCUSSION ABOUT BUILDING HOMES UP IN THAT AREA, AND THE PEOPLE WENT CRAZY ABOUT THAT, THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN. I AGREE WITH WHAT'S BEING SAID ABOUT THIS FIRST PHASE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THIS FIRST PHASE. I MEAN, IT'S LIKE YOU ASKED, WHAT WHAT IS THE LIST THAT YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF? AND THEN, IS THERE A TIME PERIOD THAT WHEN THE THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS BEFORE PHASE TWO AUTOMATICALLY GETS IMPLEMENTED? WHAT IF THERE'S A NEW COUNCIL AND THEY CHANGE THEIR MINDS? WHAT ARE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO DO? IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE. AND HOW DO YOU WANT US TO FEEL ABOUT THAT? WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL, NO SAY WHATSOEVER. THANK YOU. COULD SOMEBODY PUBLISH WHATEVER IT IS THIS LADY SAID THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY DOING THAT WE NEED TO BE EDUCATED ON SO WE HAVE SOME IDEA OF BIOHAZARD. AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR THE ANIMALS? WHAT ABOUT THE COYOTES AND THE MOUNTAIN LIONS COMING DOWN? WE DISRUPT THEM EVEN MORE, THEY'RE COMING. THANK YOU. THIS IS STILL AVAILABLE ONLINE, ISN'T IT? THAT'S OUR DRIVEWAY AND THE CITY'S LAND DOESN'T COME DOWN THERE. SO PHASE ONE [INAUDIBLE] OTHER CITY COUNCIL, ANYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD, WE'RE NOT LETTING THEM THROUGH ON GOLDEN HILLS ROAD. SO THE ONLY LITTLE ACCESS IS THAT NO NAME STREET THAT NO NONE OF US KNOW WHAT THE NAME OF IT IS. THAT'S THE ONLY THING. AND THAT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY YOU'RE GOING TO GET A BIG CROWD. SO GOLDEN HILLS IS OFF THE MARKET. THANK YOU JENNIFER. ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT UP TO THE DAIS. COUNCIL MEMBERS. GENERALLY, I MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SO MANY YEARS AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS BECAUSE I LIVE UP THERE ALSO AND IT'S VERY [01:15:09] DANGEROUS. BESIDES SIERRA LA VERNE AND THIS PLAN IS TO BASICALLY MAINTAIN IT AND CLEAR IT AND MONITOR IT. PHASE TWO, YOU'RE RIGHT. I MEAN, ANOTHER COUNCIL COULD COME IN AND SAY, HEY. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S WALKED UP THERE AND BEEN IN THAT AREA. I'M SORRY. AS JENNIFER STATED, IT'S A LOT OF OLD EQUIPMENT THAT'S BELOW GRADE. IT'S BEEN FLOODED. THERE'S FENCE POSTS THAT ARE STICKING OUT THIS FAR NOW BECAUSE WHEN WE HAD THOSE FLOODS BACK A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, IT'S A VERY INHOSPITABLE AREA. AND THIS IS THE WAY FOR US TO CLOSE IT OFF BASICALLY AND MAINTAIN IT. WE HAVE A NEW FIRE MARSHAL. WE HAVE A NEW CHIEF. THEY'RE VERY AWARE OF WHAT'S UP THERE. AND TO KEEP IT CLEAR AND LET'S SAY PHASE TWO COULD HAPPEN WITH SOME OTHER COUNCIL, AS MR. JOHNSON STATED. BUT THIS RIGHT NOW PROTECTS US AS A CITY. WE PUT THIS IN OUR BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PLACE GETS MONITORED AND CLEARED. I DON'T KNOW ANYONE THAT GOES UP THERE, BUT YOUR POINT WAS WELL TAKEN ABOUT HOMELESS. YES, THEY ARE. AND HERE'S THE ISSUE. IF YOU SEE HOMELESS UP THERE, CALL THE POLICE. THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE THERE. I KNOW THAT SAN DIMAS CANYON WAS JUST, THE SHERIFFS WENT UP THERE AND WAS CLEARING PEOPLE OUT AND THEY'RE STILL DOING IT. SO YOU SEE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS, YOU SEE PEOPLE BACK THERE, CALL NOW. THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING BACK THERE BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TINDERBOX. BUT IS THE CITY, WITH THIS ITEM HERE, THIS PROTECTS US. THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT LENGTH FOR YEARS AND YEARS NOW. AND IT ISN'T A HOSPITABLE PLACE. IT IS NOT A PLACE TO GO WALKING UP THERE, QUITE FRANKLY. IT'S DANGEROUS. IT REALLY IS. AND SO SEAL IT OFF PHASE ONE. WE TAKE CARE OF IT. WE COMPLETE WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR RESPONSIBILITY. PHASE TWO. IF IT'S EVER EVEN DISCUSSED, THEN YOU PEOPLE NEED TO COME UP, INCLUDING MYSELF, AND SAY, HEY, NO, IT CAN'T. WE DON'T WANT IT. CITY MANAGER DUFF. MAYOR, IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO INVITE THE ATTORNEY THAT THE CITY HAS WORKING WITH IT ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. WELCOME. GOOD EVENING. BARBARA LEIBOLD. LEIBOLD, MCCLENDON AND MANN, SPECIAL COUNSEL ON THIS ITEM. A COUPLE OF POINTS AND THEN I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. I THINK IT WAS COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON THAT SAID THE CITY KIND OF STEPPED IN AT THE LAST MINUTE WHEN GRANT FUNDS THAT WERE OFFERED TO THE COUNTY BY THE STATE WERE AT RISK OF BEING FORFEITED AND THE CITY, STEPPED IN AND WHAT AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE CITY HAS ALL OF THIS OPEN SPACE PROPERTY. AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR DECADES NOW IS THE TENSION BETWEEN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT FUNDS AND OUR PREEXISTING OPEN SPACE AREAS. SO THE PROPOSED WILDERNESS PLAN IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE GRANT. IT PROVIDES FOR VERY MINIMAL ACTIVITY. FISH AND WILDLIFE. I THINK MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE POINTED OUT HOW STRICT FISH AND WILDLIFE IS IN MONITORING THE CITY'S ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE AN APPROVED GRAZING PLAN. PHASE TWO, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE FOR THAT SMALL LOOP TRAIL, AGAIN, CANNOT PROCEED WITHOUT A PUBLIC HEARING ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. WHETHER THAT'S A SUBSEQUENT SUPPLEMENTAL OR ADDENDUM TO THE EXISTING EIR, ADDITIONAL PUBLIC INPUT, IT'S NOT ON THE TABLE NOW, BUT THE OUTLINE IS HERE SO THAT WE SATISFY THE GRANT TERMS. THE GRANT ITSELF, I THINK I SAID, WAS USED TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY. SO THERE ARE NO FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY'S COFFERS TO REPAY THOSE GRANT FUNDS. WHAT WE WERE TOLD AT THIS POINT IS THE MINIMAL ACCESS THAT IS PRESENTLY THERE WITH NO CHANGE IS SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY THE GRANT TERMS. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ABLE TO BIFURCATE THIS INTO TWO SEPARATE PHASES. SO HOPEFULLY I'VE ANSWERED SOME QUESTIONS, BUT I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL? HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? I THINK IT'S OVER $650,000. YEAH. NO SMALL AMOUNT. YEAH. THE CITY STEPPED IN AT THE LAST MINUTE BECAUSE THE GRANT FUNDS WERE ABOUT TO BE FORFEITED AND THE COUNTY, BACKED OUT. SO WE CAN ALL SECOND GUESS THAT DECISION, BUT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE AND WE ARE THE RECIPIENT OF THOSE FUNDS AND THE STEWARD [01:20:05] OF THESE OPEN SPACE PROPERTIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COUNCIL. YEAH. ACTUALLY, I THINK I REMEMBER WHEN I MOVED IN IN 2005, THIS WAS OF A DISCUSSION. I THINK IT'S FORTUNATE US TO HAVE THIS BECAUSE WE GET TO SAY SO. IF WE HAD THE COUNTY COMING IN AND TAKING OVER. THEY ARE SO FAR REMOVED FROM THIS THAT THEY COULD HAVE PUT A TRAIL IN WITHOUT OUR INPUT. SO US BEING IN CONTROL OF THIS AND HAVING THE INPUT OF OUR RESIDENTS, WHICH HAVE BEEN LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO TRAIL THERE AND NOT JUST TONIGHT. IT WAS MS. SIMISON, YOU SAID IN 84, I WASN'T HERE BACK THEN, BUT I KNOW IN 2008 AND 2000, I THINK IT WAS 15 AND THEN 17 AND THEN 19, IT'S BEEN THE SAME FROM THE RESIDENTS IN NORTH LA VERNE. AND SO, AGAIN, IF WE ALLOWED, WE DIDN'T STEP FORWARD, THEN THE COUNTY COULD HAVE CAME IN AND JUST DID WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO, WHICH WE HAVE SEEN TOO MANY TIMES AND TOO MANY THINGS. SO HAVING THE CITY BEING IN CONTROL ALLOWS US TO SAY, WE HAVE HEARD YOU, WE DON'T WANT A TRAIL. NOW, IF A NEW COUNCIL, WE VOTED NO AND A NEW COUNCIL CAME IN NEXT TWO YEARS, THEY COULD CHANGE THAT VOTE AS WELL. AND THEY COULD HAVE DIFFERENT MINDSET, TOO. SO US SAYING YES TO PHASE ONE, SAYING BEFORE THERE'S EVER A PHASE TWO, IT WOULD HAVE TO COME UP AND US SAYING YES TO PHASE ONE SAYING, NO, WE'RE NOT PUTTING A TRAIL, AND THAT IS OUR PLAN. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR, I THINK REALLY PUTS A STAMP ON THIS AND SAYING WHAT THE CITY IS AND THE RESIDENTS ARE SAYING IS BEING HEARD TO. SO THAT'S MY TAKE ON IT. COUNCILMEMBER LAU. THE COUNTY DOESN'T WANT THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY, BY THE WAY, AT ALL. SO THIS, I THINK, THIS IS, AS WE STATED, A SAFETY MEASURE AND IT'S THE FIRST SAFETY MEASURE. AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD MEASURE. I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME. PUT THIS THING TO REST AND LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS AND CLEAR IT UP AND WE COULD. COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON. JUST TO MAKE A PLUG FOR THE FOUR DISTRICTS AND AN ELECTED MAYOR. YOU ONLY GET TO VOTE CURRENTLY FOR TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN NORTH LA VERNE. THE OTHER THREE COME FROM SOUTH LA VERNE. THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. AND WITH THAT, CAN I HAVE A MOTION? I NEED A MOTION. SECOND. COUNCILMEMBER KASH, VOTE, PLEASE. OTHER MATTERS. [8. OTHER MATTERS] ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, MR. DUFF. THINK IT'S ME? J.R. YEA, J.R. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I HAVE THIS ITEM. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. THE CITY HAS BEEN WITHOUT A PERMANENT FINANCE DIRECTOR SINCE JUNE 13 AND HAS BEEN WORKING WITH RETIRED ANNUITANT MIKE YELTON TO FACILITATE OVERSIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT. THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING TASK CONSIDERING THE VACANCIES IN MULTIPLE POSITIONS AS WELL AS THE UNFAMILIARITY OF SOME OF THE NEW HIRES IN THEIR POSITIONS. HOWEVER, THE INNER WORKINGS OF FINANCE HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AND FUNCTIONING DUE TO A LOT OF CREDIT OF FORMER FULL TIME EMPLOYEE KRISTI LOPEZ, WHO HAS BEEN COMING IN ON WEEKENDS AND HER OFF HOURS TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT FINANCE IS STILL PERFORMING THE DUTIES THAT IT IS REQUIRED TO DO. THIS HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT RELIEF TO THE CITY AND IS AN EXAMPLE OF MS. LOPEZ'S DEDICATION AND LOYALTY. AS NOTED BY INTERIM DIRECTOR YELTON, THERE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS IMPACT RELATED TO THE DEPARTURE OF KEY EMPLOYEES, SPECIFICALLY MS. LOPEZ. MR. YELTON ASSESSED THAT MS. LOPEZ WAS FINANCE'S LONGEST SERVING EMPLOYEE AND WAS CONSIDERED ITS MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CAPABLE. THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK MS. LOPEZ WAS PRESENTED IN AUGUST TO THE CITY COUNCIL DURING CLOSED SESSION. THERE WAS UNANIMOUS SUPPORT AS A RESULT OF MS. LOPEZ'S QUALIFICATIONS AND ABILITY TO REBUILD THE DEPARTMENT. MS. LOPEZ'S KNOWLEDGE OF THE REQUIRED FUNCTIONS WILL ALSO PROVIDE NEEDED STABILITY, EXCUSE ME, STABILITY AND RESOLVE MANY OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY FACES. [01:25:03] THERE IS A PROFESSIONAL RISK FOR MS. LOPEZ TO LEAVE HER CURRENT AGENCY TO COME BACK TO LA VERNE, WHICH IS WHY THERE IS A REQUEST FOR A TWO YEAR COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY, AS WELL AS A FORMAL AFFIRMATION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE MS. LOPEZ HAS BEEN SEPARATED FROM FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT FOR OVER SIX MONTHS, THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO AUTHORIZE THE REINSTATEMENT OF BENEFITS SHE WAS PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED, WHICH WILL NOT BE GREATER THAN THAT WHAT IS ALLOWED TO OTHER EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES. STAFF RECOMMENDS THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2270, AFFIRMING CHRISTY LOPEZ AS THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FOR A TERM OF NO LESS THAN TWO YEARS AND REINSTATING HER PREVIOUS BENEFITS. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MAY HAVE. THANK YOU, J.R. ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT? WE'RE GOING TO, WE'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE? OKAY, THAT'S NOT A COMMENT, BUT WE'LL TAKE THAT GESTURE. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ON LINE IN THIS ONE, J.R.? [LAUGHTER] ANNOUNCE THE COMMENTS. ABOUT TIME. I WILL SAY THAT I'VE KNOWN CHRISTY FOR SOME TIME NOW. I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR ALMOST SEVEN YEARS, AND SHE KNOWS THE INTERNAL WORKINGS. SHE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON. FOR HER TO COME AND THE CITY OF ONTARIO TO GIVE US HER ON AN INTERIM BASIS WHERE WE HAD ISSUES WITH OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR ONCE WHEN SHE LEFT. CHRISTY'S JUST DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB TO KEEP US STABLE, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT. OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS SO IMPORTANT AND SO CRITICAL FOR OUR CITY. BUT SHE'S COMING BACK WITH OPEN ARMS. WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HER. SHE'S COMING WITH A LOT OF ENERGY, TOO. SO SHE'S LEARNED QUITE A BIT FROM ONTARIO. I'M SORRY FOR ONTARIO, NOT REALLY. I'M VERY HAPPY. I COULDN'T STAND UP AT CHRISTY. SHE'S WELCOME. I THINK THAT SHE'S GOING TO JUST DO WONDERS HERE AND REBUILD US AND POSSIBLY IN THE FUTURE TO PUT A NEW ACCOUNTING SYSTEM INTACT, BECAUSE OUR SYSTEM IS A BIT OLD AND WE NEED A NEW BREATH OF FRESH AIR ON IT. AND THEN SHE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND WE'RE TICKLED TO HAVE HER. WITH THAT A MOTION. I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2270, AFFIRMING CHRISTY LOPEZ AS THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FOR A TERM OF NO LESS THAN TWO YEARS AND REINSTATING HER PREVIOUS BENEFITS. SECOND. SECOND. VOTE PLEASE. AND THAT MOTION CARRIES 5-0. YOU GONNA CALL HER? CALL HER RIGHT NOW, PLEASE. ITEM B AGREEMENT TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT [INAUDIBLE] RESOLUTION NUMBER 2271. J.R. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THIS IS ME AS WELL. FORMER DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. SHAWN IGOE HAS RECENTLY SEPARATED EMPLOYMENT FROM THE CITY OF LA VERNE. THE CITY IS INTERESTED IN ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH RETIRED DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS ANTHONY CIOTTI TO FILL THE CITY'S CURRENT GAP AS AN INTERIM, WHILE A RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT IS COMPLETED. IN ORDER TO BE COMPLIANT WITH CALIFORNIA LAW AND THE 2013 PENSION REFORM ACT, IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE AN ACTION AFFIRMING THE EXECUTION OF SUCH EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS, AND THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION WILL SATISFY THOSE REQUIREMENTS. MR. CIOTTI'S VAST EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS FUNCTIONS WILL ALLOW FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION OF PROJECTS AS WELL AS FILL OUR IMMEDIATE NEED. THE CITY HAS CONFIRMED WITH CALPERS THAT THE REASONS FOR RETAINING MR. CIOTTI SATISFY THE REQUIRED STANDARDS AND IS BRINGING FORWARD THE AGREEMENT FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ON A FISCAL PERSPECTIVE, THE ARRANGEMENT DOES PROVIDE A SAVINGS OF APPROXIMATELY $25,000, AS MR. CIOTTI WILL ONLY RECEIVE AN HOURLY RATE AND WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. WITH THAT STAFF RECOMMENDS THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2271, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH ANTHONY CIOTTI TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY PART TIME WORK. THANK YOU, J.R. ANY QUESTIONS FOR J.R. BEFORE WE OPEN A PUBLIC COMMENT? WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT. ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? IT'S OPEN FOR PUBLIC. [INAUDIBLE] ANYTHING ON THE. NO SIR [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND COME BACK UP TO THE DAIS. ANY COMMENTS FOR COUNCIL? I THINK IN THE FUTURE WE NEED TO CONSIDER SUCCESSION PLANNING A LITTLE MORE. I MEAN, COMING INTO THIS, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ONE TIME. [01:30:07] IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE WE HAVE PEOPLE READY TO STEP UP TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS. WE REALLY NEED TO WORK ON THAT. AND I'M SURE WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THAT WITH THE CITY MANAGERS. THE APPLICANTS FOR CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. VERY GOOD POINT. WE WILL BE HIRING A CITY MANAGER SOON. WE DO HAVE A MEETING NEXT WEEK TO INTERVIEW. AND I DO AGREE SUCCESSION PLANNING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. BUT ON THE COMMENT OF MR. CIOTTI, HE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYTHING IN THIS COMMUNITY. HE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS. HE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT FIRE AND POLICE. HE'S WELL SUITED FOR THIS. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT MR. IGOE LEFT. VERY DISAPPOINTED, ACTUALLY. BUT I THINK THAT ANTHONY IS GOING TO BE A GREAT FIT FOR US FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES US TO GET SOMEBODY TO RUN THE SHOW. BUT TRACY'S BACK SMILING. [LAUGHTER] YEAH, ANTHONY'S JUST A GREAT GUY, AND HE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT ALL THE PUBLIC WORKS, LIKE I SAY. SO WE'RE VERY. I'M VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HIM COME ON BOARD AND HELP US TO FIGURE THIS US OUT AND GET US OUT OF THIS HOLE. SO WITH THAT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, I'LL TAKE A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. SECOND. VOTE, PLEASE. THEY GOT IT. [9. PUBLIC COMMENTS/ORAL COMMUNICATIONS] ITEM NINE, PUBLIC COMMENTS AND ORAL COMMUNICATION. WE WISH TO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT, HERE'S THE TIME TO SPEAK YOUR PIECE. MISS BEAUCHAMP, COME ON UP. I ACTUALLY WANT TO THANK PAM BARRY FOR BRINGING UP THIS IDEA AND THEN THANK THE CITY FOR ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING IT. SHE MADE THE SUGGESTION THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THE MINUTES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE COMMENTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE PODIUM AND SPEAK AND LUPE AND DEBORAH HAVE MADE THAT HAPPEN AND I TRULY APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S A LOT OF SPEAKERS, AND THAT JUST ADDS A LOT OF EXTRA WORK FOR THEM. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY APPRECIATED BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU DON'T ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID AND IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND REFER TO THAT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR REHIRING CHRISTY. I WILL BE SAD. I WORK IN THE CITY OF ONTARIO, SO I'LL BE SAD TO SEE HER LEAVE. I DON'T I MEAN, I DON'T WORK FOR THE CITY. I WORK IN THE CITY. BUT SAD TO SEE HER LEAVE OH, WELL, SORRY. AS YOU KNOW, I'M SURE, EVEN THOUGH I WORK THERE, I HAVE HAD DEALINGS WITH THE CITY AND SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN SO HIGHLY SPOKEN OF. AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE HER COME BACK. BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE NEVER LET HER GO IN THE FIRST PLACE. SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIRED INSTEAD OF MARLA AND I KNOW THAT'S MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU GUYS NEED TO LEARN FROM YOUR LESSONS AND PAST. AND JUST LIKE HE SAID, AS MR. JOHNSON JUST SAID, WE NEED TO WORK ON THE SUCCESSION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND IT'S STARTING TO CONCERN THE RESIDENTS. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING, IT SEEMS LIKE, IN A MASS QUANTITY. I MEAN, I HATE TO MAKE THIS COMPARISON, BUT, YOU KNOW, RATS KNOW WHEN TO JUMP SHIP. WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON BACK THERE? YOU KNOW, NO DISRESPECT, BUT I MEAN, FOR A LACK OF A BETTER EXPLANATION, WHAT, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU BEING MEAN TO EVERYBODY, TIM? I MEAN. YOU ALWAYS HAVE SUCH A WAY WITH WORDS I SAY WHAT EVERYBODY THINKS. I'M JUST THE ONE THAT SAYS IT OUT LOUD. SO, BUT BUT THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ANITA. I LIKE THAT. NEXT, PLEASE COME ON UP. IF YOU STATE. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS NOW. I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT FIRST TIME I WENT TO THE VILLAGE INN AND HAD BREAKFAST. WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT PEOPLE UP NORTH DEALING WITH ALL THE TRAFFIC, THE HAVING THE WALKWAY, ALL THOSE PROBLEMS UP THERE. VERY ANNOYING. AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH BECAUSE NO ONE LIKES TO HAVE THEIR PEACE AND QUIET INVADED. MY ISSUE IS WE'VE GOT A BRAND NEW TRAIN SYSTEM COMING IN. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWICE AS MANY TRAINS GOING AROUND AND THOSE HORNS FROM MY HOUSE DOWN. IT'S IRRITATING AT MY HOUSE. EVERY TIME I GO OUT TO WATER MY PLANTS, I HEAR THE HORNS. EVERY TIME I GO OUT TO BARBECUE, I HEAR THE HORNS. OPEN MY WINDOWS, THE HORNS. I GO FOR A WALK. I GET DOWN TO BONITA AVENUE, MY EARS ARE HURTING, THE TRAINS ARE SO LOUD. YOU GET DOWN BY THE COLLEGE, THAT'S GOT TO BE, WELL, I WON'T SAY WHAT, BUT IT'S REALLY HARD ON THE COLLEGE. [01:35:01] THERE'S A WAY OUT OF IT AND IT'S SIMPLE. WE MEET ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS OF NOT HAVING THE HORNS BLOW. IT'S CALLED A QUIET ZONE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HAVE THE ARMS THAT COME DOWN, THE FLASHING LIGHTS. YOU GOT THE BELLS. WE DON'T NEED TO HEAR THE HORNS. WE NO LONGER HAVE CATTLE GOING ACROSS THE TRAILS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THAT'S VERY OLD SCHOOL AND I WOULD THINK, YOU CAN HEAR THEM COMING FROM SAN DIMAS ALL THE WAY TO CLAREMONT. THEY'RE SO LOUD THEY MIGHT AS WELL JUST LEAVE THEM RUN THE WHOLE TIME. IT'S LIKE HAVING AN ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER BEHIND YOU ON THE FREEWAY FOUR CARS BACK, NOT KNOWING THAT THE GUY AHEAD OF YOU IS STOPPING FOR A PEDESTRIAN, HONKING HIS HORN. SO I'D LIKE TO CHECK. I'VE TRIED TO CALL THE CITY AND THEY SAID, 'WELL, WE'LL LET THE RAILROADS KNOW.' WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING 'WE'RE NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH IT,' BUT IT'S A SIMPLE THING AND THE COUNCIL CAN PROBABLY TAKE CARE OF THIS. AND I THINK A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN LA VERNE WOULD BE GLAD TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE QUIET EVENINGS, QUIET MORNINGS, QUIET SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. SO IF YOU COULD LOOK INTO THIS, I'D BE VERY HAPPY TO TALK TO ANYBODY. I WOULD SAY THE CITY MANAGER WOULD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? MR. BOWEN? OH, I'M SORRY, GARY UP NEXT. GARY COME ON. HE'S EXCEEDED HIS 3 MINUTES FOR YOU, SIR. COME ON UP. WELL, I'VE COME HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SWAMP. NOT IN WASHINGTON, DC, BUT THE SWAMP WE HAVE HERE ON THE 210 FREEWAY. WHERE? IS ANYTHING? 210 FREEWAY AND THE BRIDGE ON CHELSEA. I BROUGHT IT UP THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE. STANDING WATER? STANDING WATER, MOSQUITOES. CAN SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THE MOSQUITOES, IF ANYTHING? IS IT ON THE GREENBELT IN THE PARK? SO, OVER THE WALKWAY THERE'S A, IT DRAINS FROM THE CITY. SO IT COLLECTS? FOR THE PARK. OVER THERE, IT GATHERS OVER THERE AND THERE'S WEEDS AND MOSQUITOES ALL OVER. OKAY. SO IF THEY GET, TAKE CARE OF THE MOSQUITOES, THAT'D BE A GOOD THING. AND THE OTHER THING OF THE PARK, WE GOT MUSHROOMS GROWING ON OVER UP THERE. NEED TO CUT BACK ON THE WATER. GARY, WHAT KIND OF MUSHROOMS ARE THOSE? NOT THE GOOD ONES, OK. NOT THE GOOD ONES. DANITA, I WANT TO GET YOU IN TOUCH WITH GARY. WE'VE GOT MUSHROOMS IN THE PARK. OKAY, SO WE'RE. OKAY. YEAH. AND ONE OTHER THING. ON B STREET AND FOOTHILL BOULEVARD, THERE'S A HOUSE, THEY'RE BUILDING ANOTHER HOUSE BEHIND IT. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? CAN'T ANSWER THAT. IF IT'S AN ADU, IT'S LEGAL. SO I DON'T KNOW. WE'LL HAVE TO CHECK. WE'LL GIVE OUR NEW YEAH BECAUSE I WANTED TO BUILD FOR THAT ON MY PATIO. COULDN'T DO IT. BUT THIS GUY IS BUILDING A BIG [EXPLETIVE]. EXCUSE ME, BIG HOUSE. SO, SO ELOQUENTLY PUT. SO THAT'S ALL I GOT. THAT'S TRUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU IT'S OKAY. MR. BOWEN'S BEING VERY GENEROUS TONIGHT, SO. MY BACKYARD IS THE SIERRA LA VERNE GOLF COURSE. AND IT'S BETWEEN [INAUDIBLE] AND GOLDEN HILLS. THERE ARE DEAD TREES. I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN IT ALL. IT'S VERY NOTICEABLE. IT'S VERY UGLY. BESIDES THAT, WE ALSO HAVE WHERE OUR HOUSE IS, AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF DEAD BRUSH ON THE GOLF PATH RIGHT BY OUR HOUSE. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO BE NEXT FOR FIRE? WHAT'S BEING DONE? EVERYBODY SAYS IT'S IN PROCESS. EVERYBODY SAYS THEY'RE WORKING ON IT. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. WHERE ARE THOSE TREES GOING TO GO? WHO'S GOING TO CLEAN THAT UP? YOU'RE ALL LOOKING AT ME LIKE I'M CRAZY. [LAUGHTER] WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO RESPOND, BUT BELIEVE ME, WE KNOW. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WE CAN CONTACT? ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT, I'LL HAVE THE CITY MANAGER SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS ON THAT. WE'RE ALRIGHT WITH THAT. IT IS SERIOUS. YES, EXTREMELY SERIOUS. WE JUST NEED ONE FOOL TO FLIP SOMETHING AND THE WHOLE AREA WILL GO UP. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. MR. BOWEN. [01:40:09] COUNCIL, MR. MAYOR, IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING EVENING, I MET THE PEOPLE I BOUGHT MY HOUSE AT 7115 MONTERREY IN 1991. SO IT'S NICE TO SEE THEM TAKE CARE OF IT. ALSO ON A LIGHTER NOTE. I WASN'T HERE LAST TIME, AND I'M SURE YOU ALL MISSED ME. BUT I DID GET TO HEAR COUNCILPERSON LAU TELL US THREE TIMES WHAT AN EXPERT SPITTER SHE WAS. [LAUGHTER] SO I THINK THAT SHOULD BE IN THE RECORD SOMEWHERE THAT SHE BRAGGED ABOUT IT QUITE OFTEN. SO GLAD TO KNOW A SLIGHT PERSONAL THING APPARENTLY FAR BECAUSE IT GOES INTO THE FAIRGROUNDS. ANYWAY, THE OTHER THING IS, YEAH, I WANT TO MIRROR CHRISTY LOPEZ. I SPOKE TO HER OVER A FEW THINGS OVER THE YEARS AND SHE WAS GREAT. AND IT'S INTERESTING HOW WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HIRING PEOPLE AND GETTING RID OF PEOPLE LIKE HER. AND NOW THANK GOD WE'RE GETTING HER BACK. AND TWO YEARS SEEMS LIKE TOO SHORT A TIME BECAUSE AROUND HERE IT SEEMS LIKE THEY DO. I WON'T USE THE SAME, BUT THEY SEEM TO BE BAILING QUITE OFTEN, ESPECIALLY AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS, WHICH MAKES SO NO SENSE BECAUSE WE SPEND. I REMEMBER AS BUSINESS, YOU SPENT THOUSANDS OF MONEY FOR RECRUITERS AND A PERSON TO COME AND STAY A YEAR. WHY? WHO LOOKS INTO THAT? MAKES NO SENSE. SO HOPEFULLY. CHRISTY, WELCOME. I HOPE YOU'RE AND I KNOW YOU'RE MORE TRANSPARENT THAN THE LAST CITY MANAGER AND THE LAST FINANCE DIRECTOR. SO THANK YOU. AND ON ANOTHER NOTE, I ASKED LAST TIME, AND I CAN'T SEEM TO GET AN ANSWER WHETHER IT SEEMS TO BE A SECRET OR NOT. WAS PENDLETON FIRED OR QUIT? NOT ASKING ANY DETAILS, BUT THAT WOULD SEEM AN EASY QUESTION FOR THE CITY TO ANSWER. AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY LEGAL ISSUE WITH TELLING US. I DO WANT TO SAY TO J.R., I MADE SOME CPRA REQUESTS ABOUT MINUTES, PARTICULARLY THE LA VERNE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT'S MET NOW FOR, I DON'T KNOW, A YEAR AND A HALF. TWO YEARS. THERE'S NO MINUTES. WHY NOT? I'VE REQUESTED THEM AND EITHER THERE ARE MINUTES THAT YOU WON'T SHARE OR THERE AREN'T ANY MINUTES, WHICH I WOULD THINK WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF A COMMITTEE. SO IF SOMEBODY CAN ADDRESS THAT, I'D LOVE TO DO IT. I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU A COUPLE OF TIMES. LASTLY, OR A COUPLE OF THINGS. THE YOUNG LADY THAT JUST SPOKE ABOUT SIERRA LA VERNE, WE HEARD LAST TIME FROM THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER THAT THERE'S A PLAN. WELL, CAN YOU SHARE IT WITH US? BECAUSE THE PLACE IS A MESS AND WE TALK ABOUT THE 200 FEET OF CLEARANCE. I LIVE IN AN HOA AND OUR PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE BACK UP TO THE GOLF COURSE. THERE'S NO 200 FEET AWAY FROM THEIR HOUSES. AND ALL WE HEAR IS WE HAVE A PLAN. DO YOU MIND SHARING IT WITH US? WE ARE THE CITIZENS. AND WE'RE THE PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED BY THIS. BUT TELLING US WE HAVE A PLAN BUT NOT TELLING US WHAT THAT PLAN IS, IT SEEMS TO BE A SHAME. MR. JOHNSON, THANK YOU AGAIN. YOU RAN ON DISTRICT VOTING. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP. WE ASKED LAST TIME FOR AN UPDATE ON THAT. RECEIVED NOTHING FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, SO HOPEFULLY TONIGHT WE CAN GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT THE STATUS IS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. AND LASTLY, AGAIN. A STATE AUDIT. TIM, YOU RAN ON IT. YOU RAN ON TRANSPARENCY. MR. JOHNSON, YOU SAID YOU SUPPORTED IT. MR. KASH, YOU SAID YOU SUPPORTED IT. BUT NOW TWO, THREE MONTHS HAVE GONE BY I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE WORD ABOUT IT. I ASKED FOR IT TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY IT CAN BE DISCUSSED. BUT NO ONE'S WILLING TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. WHY? WHY CAN'T WE HEAR ABOUT THE AUDIT THAT THE STATE RECOMMENDED BUT WAS WAITING [01:45:05] FOR DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL? WE HAVE THREE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS VOTE. BUT AT LEAST PUT IT ON THE AGENDA SO WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION. INSTEAD OF MEETING MT. RUSHMORE. AND LASTLY, IF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, IS, AND I THINK J.R., YOU SAID, HAS BEEN IN DISARRAY. THAT IS, THE, SEEMS LIKE THE MOST LOGICAL REASON TO HAVE AN AUDIT. WHAT THE HECK HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR WITH OUR MONEY FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS? AND THE STATE SAID THEY WOULD PROVIDE A FREE AUDIT. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS WOULD BE THE PRIME TIME TO HAVE THEM COME IN AND HELP US FREE. WHY NOT? WHY DOESN'T SOMEBODY STEP UP AND DO THE TRANSPARENCY THAT YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT AND YOU RAN ON ? SO I HOPE THAT HAPPENS. I HOPE WE AT LEAST HEAR SOMETHING TONIGHT ON WHAT THE STATUS OF THAT REQUEST WOULD BE. LASTLY, I WANT TO SAY LAST ONE THING. I HEARD SOMEBODY TONIGHT, I THINK IS NAMED MR. HOWLEY. HE TALKED ABOUT THE, THEY, YOU FOLLOWED ON THE AMHERST. YOU MET THE REQUIREMENTS. BUT YOU ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS NUMEROUS HOMEOWNERS, I SAT HERE, THAT SAID, LET'S MEET AGAIN, LET'S SEE THE PLAN. LET'S SEE THE FINAL BEFORE IT'S VOTED ON LIKE IT WAS TONIGHT. AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVEN THE OLD COUNCIL SAID, YES, THAT WILL HAPPEN. BUT WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT IS THE GENTLEMAN SAYING, WE'RE OKAY BECAUSE WE MET THE LEGAL. FORGET THE LEGAL. HOW ABOUT THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE HERE? THEY CAME TO YOU GUYS, THEY ASKED YOU. THEY, A LOT OF THEM DIDN'T WANT IT. YOU SAID YOU WOULD LISTEN TO THEM. TONIGHT YOU SAID WE FOLLOWED THE LAW. NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THE LAW. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY HAVING A VOICE. I HOPE YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BOWEN. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. ANNA? OH, YOU ALREADY HAD ONE, GARY. NO, BUT YOU CAN CALL US. ANNA ANDERSON, SLOAN DRIVE. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE MEETING THAT CASI HAD LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE. I'M NOT SURE, IN THE CHAMBERS HERE. AND I DIDN'T GET TO GO BECAUSE I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AT THE LAST MINUTE AND IT WASN'T RECORDED. AND WE HAVE A RECORDER UP THERE. HOW COME IT WASN'T RECORDED? I THINK THAT ALL OUR MEETINGS SHOULD BE RECORDED, PLANNING EVERYTHING. BUT I MEAN, IF WE'RE IN HERE AND WE HAVE A RECORDER WE SHOULD RECORD ALL OUR MEETINGS TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY. I MEAN, HOW MANY TIMES DID I COME UP HERE FOR A YEAR WHERE FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND GET THAT THING UP THERE? YOU KNOW, IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO GET THAT THING. WE SHOULD HAVE ALL OUR MEETINGS RECORDED, EVEN IF IT HAS TO BE DONE WITH SOMEBODY'S CAMERA AND PUT IT ON ONLINE. BECAUSE NOW I'M HEARING STUFF ABOUT THIS PUBLIC BANKING THAT, FROM HEARSAY. AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ALL TRUE OR NOT. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR A VOTE UNTIL WE HAVE SOME KIND OF MEETINGS ON THIS THAT SOMEBODY FROM, IN FINANCE COMES AND TELLS US THE PROS AND THE CONS. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WHAT IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE, IT'S A VERY RISKY INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY. I MEAN, A RISKY INVESTMENT, IN THIS ECONOMY THAT WE'RE HAVING NOW. IT AFFECTS ALL THE CITIES. OK. WE CAN'T HAVE RISKY INVESTMENTS. WE HAVE TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS NOW. AND WHAT I'M HEARING ABOUT THIS, AND THIS MIGHT NOT BE TRUE, THAT PEOPLE CAN JOIN THE BANK. THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE AN ADDRESS. THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. AND I'M THINKING, WOW, THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE MORTGAGE CRASH THAT WE HAD IN THE EARLY 2000S. IT STARTED WITH, HEY, LET'S EVERYBODY HAVE THE DREAM OF A HOME. IT WAS A GREAT DREAM. LET EVERYBODY GET A LOAN AND GET A HOME. SO WE WERE SELLING SUBPRIME MORTGAGES. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE HOUSES STARTED GOING UP AND THE FEDS GOT CRAZY BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO CALM EVERYTHING DOWN AND THEY START RAISING THE [01:50:05] INTEREST RATES. WELL, SUBPRIME MORTGAGES, PEOPLE, HAVE VARIABLE RATES. THEY COULDN'T AFFORD THEIR HOMES ANYMORE. SO LET'S, WHEN WE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO THINK ALSO OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR HOMES OR THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR THEIR LOANS. YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BIG LOSS TO PEOPLE. I'VE SEEN PEOPLE IN LA VERNE, I MEAN, IT HAPPENED IN LA VERNE. BUT IF YOU WENT OUT EAST TO ALL THOSE NEW HOMES, YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN NEIGHBORHOODS DEVASTATED. THEY LOST ALL THEIR HOMES. THE KIDS THAT WENT TO THE BLUE, THE WAS IT BLUE SOMETHING SCHOOLS. WHAT ARE THOSE CALLED? BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS? YOU KNOW, THEY HAD FRIENDS, THEY WERE PLAYING ON THE STREETS AND THEN IT GOT DEAD OUT THERE. AND YOU KNOW. AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED? WHO MADE THE MONEY? INVESTORS. THEY CAME AND BOUGHT ALL THOSE HOUSES. THEY RENTED THEM OUT AND THEY WAITED. AND WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE? WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS WHO LOST THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE? THERE'S CONSEQUENCES TO TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE OUT. AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE START MAKING DECISIONS WHEN PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THEIR HOMES, WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THEY LOSE THEM. YOU KNOW, THAT'S DEVASTATING TO LOSE YOUR HOME. IT'S DEVASTATING. THOSE ARE ALL NEW FAMILIES OUT THERE WITH YOUNG KIDS. AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. I KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE. I'M GLAD PEOPLE TRY TO THINK OF GOOD THINGS FOR THE CITY TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE MONEY ON. BUT REALLY, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE TO DISCUSS IT BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT KIND OF STUFF, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S JUST TOO HIGH OF AN INVESTMENT RIGHT NOW WITH THE ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS. AND IT'S JUST IT'S JUST ECONOMICS 101. YOU KEEP PRINTING MONEY. THE MONEY HAS NO VALUE. AND THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN FOR 3 TO 5 YEARS. BUT WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE IN THREE, FIVE YEARS? WE DON'T KNOW. IF THEY KEEP PRINTING MONEY, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE. SO WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS. WE'VE GOT TO GET A FINANCE PERSON IN HERE AND PEOPLE HAVE TO ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE WE DECIDE TO TAKE ON A HIGH RISK INVESTMENT LIKE THIS. I DON'T LIKE HIGH RISK INVESTMENTS. I DON'T TAKE THEM. THANK YOU, ANNA. OKAY. NO ONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. ONE PHONE CALL. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHONE CALL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO RENEW MY, I GUESS, URGING FOR A VISION FOR THE CITY. WE ARE HEADED IN A TURBULENT TIME OF, WE NEED TO BE RALLIED AROUND SOMETHING THAT IS BRINGING US TOGETHER RATHER THAN ALLOWING US TO ALWAYS BE DIVIDED. I'M ACTUALLY SHOCKED AT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR NEIGHBORS, AND I'M CONCERNED THAT WE ARE SO FOCUSED ON THE THINGS THAT DIVIDE US RATHER THAN THE THINGS THAT BRING US TOGETHER. WE HAVE A GOAL LINE COMING. COUNCIL MEMBER KASHIFALGHITA. YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY IS YOUR THING. RIGHT. SO, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S THE VISION FOR KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE FOR MY KIDS. I SEE MISS GWEN CARR THERE. HI MISS GWEN. YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE FOR OUR ELDERS? I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF HILLCREST. YOU KNOW, THIS CITY MEANS SO MUCH TO SO MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS, BUT I DON'T SEE US RALLY BEHIND ANYTHING THAT UNIFIES US. IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON TALK ABOUT THE ROADS HERE IN DISTRICT ONE. YOU WAKE UP AT FOUR OR FIVE, SIX IN THE MORNING. [01:55:02] THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STREETS WALKING AROUND. THERE'S COMMUNITY HERE. THERE'S A SENSE OF COMMUNITY HERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT GETS CAUGHT IN SILOS. SO I THINK AS WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HIRING A NEW CITY MANAGER, IT BEHOOVES US TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE PLAN FOR THIS CITY TO LOOK LIKE IN 20, 30, 40 YEARS AND ACTUALLY SELL THAT AS A VISION TO US THAT WE CAN ALL RALLY BEHIND TOGETHER RATHER THAN THE COMMUNITY CONTINUE DEFINING LA VERNE BASED ON OUR SILOS AND THEN FALLING INTO DIFFERENT CAMPS BECAUSE OF IT. I WISH YOU GUYS A GOOD NIGHT. BEST WISHES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. ALLISON. NO FURTHER COMMENTS. J.R., ANYBODY ELSE ON THE PHONE? YES. NO. GO AHEAD. OKAY. THANKS. WAYNE PERRY. I LIVE ON ESPERANZA IN LA VERNE. I DON'T HAVE ANY WEIGHTY SUBJECTS. I JUST HAVE TWO COMMENTS. NUMBER ONE, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING YOUR POSTING ON INSTAGRAM. YOUR MINUTE WITH THE MAYOR, USUALLY VERY INFORMATIVE, SOMETIMES VERY FUNNY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE THE HUMOR. I'M GLAD. YOU TRY IT BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WANT TO SAY THAT PUBLICLY. NUMBER TWO, I TRIED TO FOLLOW THE CITY'S GUIDELINES ON WATERING LAWNS. I'VE BECOME CRISPY AND BROWN. I'VE LOST EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT AND PARTIALLY IN THE BACK. IT JUST, THE LAWNS THAT I HAD DID NOT SURVIVE. SO I'M IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. SO ON THE SECOND COMMENT, THANK YOU FOR THE CITY. I DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT, BUT POSTED SOMETHING ABOUT MWD HAS A REBATE PROGRAM. I'VE LOOKED INTO THAT. I'VE ACTUALLY STARTED MEASURING TODAY TO SEE WHAT IS POSSIBLE. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT KIND OF STUFF TO CONTINUE TO GO ON BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, I'M IN A SITUATION OF HAVING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. SO JUST AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK YOU TO THE CITY TO FOR DOING THEIR LITTLE PART AND TRYING TO GET US PAST THIS BROWN PERIOD. WELL, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO COMMENT, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET THOSE IN, GET THEM IN. TRACY SHAKING HER HEAD. YOU MUST GET THEM IN. BUT DON'T DO ANYTHING TO YOUR PROPERTY UNTIL YOU SUBMIT YOUR PLANS AND SUBMIT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE SQUARE FOOTAGE. BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET THEM, THOSE THINGS DRY UP REALLY FAST. AND SO THAT'S TO ANYONE. AND THERE'S OTHER DISTRICTS THAT ARE DOING IT, BUT IT DOES WORK WELL. IF YOU CAN GET IN THE QUEUE AND YOU CAN GET INTO THE SYSTEM, IT'S GOING TO SAVE YOU SOME DOLLARS. YEAH. IT SAID, ACCORDING TO WHAT I SAW TODAY, THERE'S ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE FUNDS LEFT AT THIS POINT. MAN, I WOULD JUMP ON THAT. SO I DID. LIKE I SAID, I STARTED TODAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, BRING UP THE DAIS. [10. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS] WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER LAU. DUFF, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT ON SOME OF THE, ESPECIALLY THE, IF YOU CAN COMMENT ON THE SIERRA LA VERNE AND OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE THERE? WELL, IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE OR I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CANDICE BOWCOCK ADDRESS THE QUIET ZONE ISSUE WITH THE GOAL LINE. SO THE QUIET ZONES ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THE DOUBLE TRACK PROJECT, ACTUALLY WITH, THAT METRO HAS IN THE WORKS. THEY ARE EXPECTED, IT'S NOT COMPLETELY FUNDED YET, BUT THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH PLANS. I THINK THEY'RE AT 60%. I COULD BE WRONG ON THAT AND THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING EVERY INTERSECTION IN THE CITY OF LA VERNE QUIET ZONE READY AND THEN, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE GOLD LINE. AND THEN IT WOULD STILL LEAVE THE CITY RESPONSIBLE, ACTUALLY MAKING THEM QUIET ZONES. BUT ALL OF THE, EVERYTHING WILL BE IMPLEMENTED TO MAKE IT EASY FOR US TO MAKE IT THAT WAY. SO. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FIXED TOMORROW, BUT IN THE FUTURE THERE IS A PLAN. AND THEN JUST REAL QUICK, SINCE I'M UP HERE AND THE OTHER GARY, I THINK HAD A COMMENT ABOUT A HOUSE ON FOOTHILL AND B. IT IS AN [INAUDIBLE]. THEY HAVE PERMITS. JUST IS WHAT IT IS. ANYTHING ELSE. THANK YOU, CANDICE. AND THEN AS FAR AS SIERRA LA VERNE TREES. OF COURSE, THE COUNCIL IS AWARE THAT OUR MAIN CONCERN ARE THE TREES THAT ARE DOWN WITHIN 200 FEET OF A RESIDENCE. [02:00:05] AND OUR FIRE CHIEF, AS WELL AS OUR FIRE MARSHAL, ARE GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FIRE DANGER. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE NOTICE PROCESS TO THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT'S RUN ITS COURSE. THE CITY RECEIVED BIDS TWO WEEKS AGO FOR CLEARING THOSE TREES WITHIN 200 FEET OF A RESIDENCE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, OUR ATTORNEYS SUGGESTED THAT WE SEND AN ADDITIONAL NOTICE TO THE PROPERTY OWNER. WE DID THAT. THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS RESPONDED IN SAYING THAT THEY HAVE ENLISTED A CONTRACTOR THAT WILL BEGIN WORK THIS WEDNESDAY, CLEARING THE TREES AND HOPEFULLY SOME OF THE BRUSH AS WELL THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS IDENTIFIED AS A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL. NOW, I WANT TO ALSO SAY THIS DOES NOT ADDRESS ALL THE DOWNED TREES ON THE SIERRA LA VERNE PROPERTY. THE CITY IS STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE, BUT WE ARE ADDRESSING THOSE THAT CREATE A FIRE HAZARD FIRST. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER TO TRY TO URGE THEM TO CLEAN UP THE REST OF THE PROPERTY. WE ARE ALSO DEVELOPING AN IMPROVEMENT TO OUR MUNICIPAL CODE FOR NUISANCE ABATEMENT WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO CLEAN UP PROPERTIES SUCH AS SIERRA LA VERNE AND BE SOMEWHAT ASSURED THAT WE WILL RECOVER OUR COSTS FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER. DO YOU THINK I COVERED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO THERE? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. I HOPE THAT HELPS EVERYONE. IT'S A PROCESS WITH LEGAL. AND YOU HAVE TO. WELL, LET'S JUST NOT GET INTO IT. YEAH, IT'S DIRTY, IT'S MESSY. BUT THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE STAFF AND THE CHIEF AND OUR ATTORNEYS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND DILIGENTLY AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE. I JUST WANT TO SEE THOSE CHIPPERS OUT THERE AND CUTTING THOSE UP. AND OUR STAFF IS GOING TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEARED CORRECTLY. IS THAT CORRECT, CHIEF? MAKE SURE IT'S CLEARED CORRECTLY BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE STUMPS ARE THE SIZE OF A HOUSE, AS WE KNOW. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. COUNCILMEMBER LAU. OK, JUST A QUICK NOTICE FOR ANYONE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED, BUT THERE IS A TRI-CITY MENTAL HEALTH MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY AT 5 P.M.. IT IS VIRTUAL, SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN LEARNING MORE, YOU CAN GO TO THE TRI-CITY WEBSITE AND THE ZOOM INFORMATION IS THERE. AND AS I INDICATED AT THE LAST MEETING, IT IS SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH. SO IT'S REALLY GOOD TO KEEP IN MIND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. SO AGAIN, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, THE MEETING IS THIS WEDNESDAY, 5:00 PM AND IT'S VIRTUAL AND THE ZOOM INFORMATION AND EVERYTHING IS ONLINE. THE OTHER THING THAT KATHY [INAUDIBLE] REMINDED ME OF EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE OF, IS THAT THERE IS A NEW LINK ON THE WEBSITE THAT HOPEFULLY WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR FOLKS ANYTIME THEY SEE AN ISSUE OR A CONCERN. YOU KNOW, CALLING US AND EMAILING US IS FINE, BUT IT'S ANOTHER LAYER YOU CAN GET DIRECTLY TO OUR DEPARTMENT BY USING WWW .CITYOFLAVERN.ORG/HELP. AND IF YOU GO TO THAT LINK, IT TELLS YOU WHO TO CONTACT EXACTLY FOR WHAT. SO IF YOU SEE GRAFFITI, YOU KNOW, WHO DO YOU REPORT IT TO SO THAT IT CAN GET REMOVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE? SO IF THAT IS HELPFUL TO YOU, PLEASE LOOK AT IT. AND I'M SURE KATHY HAS THE LINK AND SHE CAN SHARE IT WITH YOU TOO. SO THE OTHER THING I DO WANT TO PLUG TOO IS THAT THE, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A BEER WALK COMING UP FOR ANY PURVEYORS OF BEER. I MEAN, JUST JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE. BUT IT IS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, AND I BELIEVE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH CHAMBER. AND ON OLD TOWN LA VERNE. SO THE OK. SO THAT IS AN EVENT THAT IS HAPPENING. SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO IMBIBE THE BEER WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR FAMILY IN A COMMUNITY SETTING, PLEASE CONSIDER IT IS ALSO THE SAME DAY AS ULV'S HOMECOMING. SO FEEL FREE TO MIX AND MINGLE. AND WITH THAT, THAT IS ALL I HAVE. HAVE A GOOD WEEK. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. I JUST HAVE A SHORT. I'M JUST HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. MAYOR, I APPRECIATE IT. AFTER RETURNING FROM ACTIVE DUTY, I WAS ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR A FEW WEEKS AND NOTHING GREATER IN MY LIFE THAN SERVING GOD, COUNTRY AND FAMILY. I WILL COME BACK AND GO TO [INAUDIBLE] CALIFORNIA CITIES AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO REPRESENT OUR CITY IN THE GREATER GOOD. [02:05:09] HERE IN CALIFORNIA, IT'S A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EVERY CITY GOING. AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY TALK ABOUT, WHETHER IT'S ETHICS OR IF IT'S FINANCES OR IF IT'S JUST THE NEW INCENTIVE THAT'S COMING OUT. SO I WAS ABLE TO END THAT. YOU GUYS STOLE MY THUNDER ABOUT THE ORDINANCE. I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT. I REALLY AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT ORDINANCE. I LOVE THE LAW. NOW LET'S IMPLEMENT IT AND OTHER PART OF THAT. THERE'S ANOTHER ORDINANCE THAT, AND I WAS TALKING TO THE CITY MANAGER TODAY AND THE CITY ATTORNEY AND HOPEFULLY SOON IT'S COMPLETED ORDINANCE REGARDING HOMELESSNESS. AND WE WON'T GET TOO MUCH INTO THAT, THEY'LL BE BROUGHT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND FOR YOU, THE PEOPLE TO HEAR ABOUT. I'M ALWAYS THERE, READY, WILLING AND ABLE. NOW I'M BACK OUT. SO SEE ME ON THE WEEKENDS, COMING OUT, KNOCKING ON YOUR DOORS, NOT SELLING NOTHING. I'M NOT GOING TO BE THERE FOR SOLAR. I KNOW. THAT'S ANOTHER STORY I'LL TELL YOU ON THAT ONE. THAT'S FINE. BUT I'M JUST COMING OUT, JUST HEARING WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO SAY. WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER. I'M ALWAYS WILLING AND ABLE AND. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COUNCILMAN JOHNSON. ANOTHER YEAR AROUND THE SUN, MY FRIEND. STAY ARMY STRONG. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU KASH. COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON. I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR SHOWING UP TONIGHT. WE AS A COUNCIL DO APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT IN THE DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE. WE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE ABLE TO GO YOUR WAY WITH A VOTE, BUT WE DO LISTEN AND WE DO RESPECT YOUR VOTE AND YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON. I'LL JUST TRAILER ON THAT ONE. THIS IS NOT THE EASIEST THING BEING UP HERE, AND IT'S NOT THE EASIEST THING READING THROUGH EVERYTHING AND TRYING TO LISTEN TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST. WE ALWAYS DO LISTEN. SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ALWAYS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE, BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WE LOOK OUT FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO THE SAFETY OF OUR RESERVES AND OUR FINANCES, TOO. AND I'M VERY HAPPY THAT WE'RE BRINGING ON SOME PEOPLE HERE, A NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR AN INTERIM PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, WHICH IS WONDERFUL. AND WE'LL WORK THROUGH THIS. AND ALSO A NEW CITY MANAGER, THERE'S CHANGE, CHANGE IS SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT WE'LL GET THROUGH IT AND WE'LL WORK THROUGH IT AS A COMMUNITY. WE DO HAVE SOME EXCITING THINGS COMING AS COUNCIL MEMBER LAU STATED THE BEER WALK. I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT. I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE WINE WALK ALSO FOR OTHER PEOPLE THAT LIKE WINE YEAH. AND IT LOOKS LIKE THESE THINGS ARE JUST GOING CRAZY. SO IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR TICKETS, DIRECTOR SCHERER THE WINE WALK AND THE TASTE OF LA VERNE, IT'S ON THE CHAMBER SITE AND ALSO HEY'VE ALREADY GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE SPONSORING. SO PEOPLE ARE CLAMORING OVER THEMSELVES. THEY'VE GOT THE TASTE OF LA VERNE PART OF THE SPONSORSHIP FOR 2023. THAT'S HOW POPULAR IT IS. SO A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY SHOP LOCAL LIKE I ALWAYS TELL YOU GUYS. ANY CONCERNS GET A HOLD OF US WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST. AS COUNCIL MEMBER LAU STATED THE NEW LINK ON OUR WEBSITE REGARDING ANY REPAIRS OR ANYTHING. OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN ALWAYS GET A HOLD OF US, BUT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE IT SO THAT IF RESIDENTS HAVE AN ISSUE, GET ON THAT WEBSITE, GET IT TO THE RIGHT DEPARTMENTS, AND IF TIME GOES BY AND NOTHING'S HAPPENING, GIVE US A CALL. AND IF IT'S SOMETHING OF AN URGENT ISSUE LIKE THE HOMELESS, WE SAID, CALL THE POLICE, PLEASE CALL THE POLICE. DON'T SIT ON, ESPECIALLY IN THE HILLS. CALL THE POLICE. WE HAVE AT AN UPTICK, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. BUT LET'S TRY TO USE THAT WEBSITE. THEN ALSO THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT ERIN WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA STUFF. SHE ALSO HAS A NEW LINK ON OUR WEB PAGE. THAT'S BASICALLY THE FIRST PAGE YOU COME UP. ALL THE THINGS OF INTEREST THAT ARE GOING ON ARE POSTED THERE. AND THAT WAS BY POPULAR DEMAND OF PEOPLE SAYING, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY HARD TO NAVIGATE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, BUT IF THERE'S THINGS GOING ON, THEY'LL BE THE FIRST THING THAT YOU CLICK ON AND OPEN IT UP. SO THERE'S INFORMATION QUICKLY FOR YOU GUYS. AND PLEASE GIVE US COMMENTS. DON'T BE AFRAID. I MEAN, MY GOSH, THIS WHOLE THING THAT J.R. HAD DONE WITH OUR WEBSITE HAS CHANGED. AND PEOPLE WHERE IT'S KIND OF MORPHING INTO SOMETHING THAT IS MORE ACTIVE, MORE INFORMATION, EASIER TO ACCESS, BECAUSE I HAD TROUBLE WITH IT AND I KNOW THAT DANITA BEAUCHAMP AND WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IT. IT'S LIKE YOU CAN'T FIND STUFF. EVEN THE CITY MANAGER, MR. RUSSI, COULDN'T FIND IY. AND IT WAS LIKE, OKAY, SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. SO WE'RE A DYNAMIC CITY. WE DO LISTEN TO EVERYONE. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING HERE THOUGH, TOO. SO WITH THAT. [11. CLOSED SESSON] WE HAVE A CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR. IS THAT CORRECT? CLOSED SESSION? [02:10:10] CHARLIE FARRELL. CHARLIE'S EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF LA VERNE FOR OVER 35 YEARS. CHARLIE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND JOINED THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE STATIONED IN BOISE, IDAHO. AFTER SERVICE, HE MOVED TO LA VERNE AND STARTED HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY LA VERNE IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND LATER TRANSFERRED TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND BECAME WATER SEWER SUPERINTENDENT. HIS COMMITMENT TO THE LA VERNE COMMUNITY PERSISTED THROUGH HIS RETIREMENT AS HE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT, 4TH OF JULY PARADE AND CHRISTMAS CANDY GIVEAWAYS FOR YEARS. ADDITIONALLY, CHARLIE FOSTERED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT WITH THE LOCAL BOY SCOUTS AND BOOSTER CLUB GROUPS. CHARLIE WAS HONORED WITH THE PRIDE LA VERNE AWARD IN 2006 IN RECOGNITION OF HIS DEDICATION AND PASSION FOR THE LA VERNE COMMUNITY. HE IS SURVIVED BY THREE CHILDREN, TWO STEPCHILDREN, AND HE WAS PAPA TO 12 GRANDCHILDREN AND SEVEN GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. HE WILL BE MISSED. HE WAS AN ICON IN LA VERNE. HE WAS ALWAYS AROUND. SO GOD BLESS HIM AND HIS FAMILY. WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN TO TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2022, AT 5:30 P.M. FOR CITY COUNCIL TO MEET IN CLOSED SESSION TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED FOR THE CITY MANAGER. OUR NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULE MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, OCTOBER 3RD AT 6:30 P.M. THANK YOU ALL. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.