[STUDY SESSION – 5:30 p.m.]
[00:00:02]
GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. HOW ARE WE TONIGHT? WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER THAN THAT.
HOW ARE WE ALL DOING TONIGHT? WE HAVE A GREAT CELEBRATION TONIGHT.
COME ON. THERE'S MULTIPLE CELEBRATIONS.
WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO START THIS MEETING OFFICIALLY AT 6:31P.M.
LET'S SEE I'VE GOT TO GET MY, WE'VE ALREADY HAD A MEETING BEFORE THIS.
I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT.
AS WE'VE JUST DONE, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THE CITY'S RULES OF DECORUM.
ALL SPEAKERS, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITH DECORUM AND NOT TO ENGAGE IN CONDUCT THAT INTERRUPTS THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE STUDY SESSION. ALSO STUDY SESSION.
[INAUDIBLE]. ALSO, PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH ZOOM WILL NOT BE ALLOWED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE MEETING BY THOSE PHYSICALLY IN ATTENDANCE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TONIGHT.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE ONCE AGAIN ONE OF OUR PROUD VETERANS, DANIEL LOPEZ, AIR FORCE SERGEANT, CONDUCT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOR US TONIGHT.
MISTER LOPEZ, IF YOU PLEASE, COME FORWARD.
THANK YOU SIR. IF YOU'RE A VETERAN.
ALL OTHERS PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
THANK YOU, AIRMAN, I APPRECIATE YOU.
I UNDERSTAND, I ALWAYS AIRMEN SOLDIERS, BUT IT'S A SPECIAL IT'S UNIQUE TO US THAT HAVE SERVED, THAT ARE SERVING.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO SERVE OUR GREAT NATION.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE, THIS IS A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION IS PRESENTED TO DANIEL LOPEZ.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THE LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL TO AIR FORCE SERGEANT VETERAN DANIEL LOPEZ, WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU'VE DONE ACTUALLY A LOT EVEN MORE, SIR.
YOU'VE ACTUALLY LED THIS AMAZING POST, THE VFW, LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF LA VERNE, THAT SERVICES ALL OUR GREAT VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS.
AND TO BE A VETERAN OF FOREIGN WAR MYSELF.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN SOMEBODY THAT WE CAN LEAN ON, ANYTIME WE NEED HONOR GUARD, ANY TIME WE NEED ANY OTHER SUPPORT.
YOU AND THOSE AMAZING MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE PART OF THE POST 12034 IS AN AMAZING, JUST AN AWESOME PLACE JUST TO GO VISIT AND SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS DONE FOR US AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR MY FAMILY, OUR GRATEFUL CITY.
[INAUDIBLE] . THANK YOU BROTHER.
YEAH. GOT IT RIGHT HERE, MR. DOMER? ROLL CALL PLEASE.
. WE HAVE. THANK YOU, MR. DOMER. TONIGHT WE HAVE ONE PRESENTATION RECOGNIZING BONITA HIGH SCHOOLS DISTRICT'S GRACE MILLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR BEING NAMED THE 2023 NATIONAL BLUE-RIBBON SCHOOL FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
I KNOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SCHOOL STAFF HERE TONIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO CALL UP PRINCIPAL LESLIE SANDOVAL.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL SUPERINTENDENT MATT WIEN AND I GUESS MR. PILATO IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.
BUT, MR. ELLIOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US? COUNCIL, COME ON DOWN
[00:05:03]
[INAUDIBLE].CITY OF LA VERNE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO GRACE MILLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THE LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL TO GRACE MILLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE CELEBRATION OF ITS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AS A NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL.
YOUR COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE SETS A STANDARD OF INSPIRATION FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS NATIONWIDE.
CONGRATULATIONS, AND I THINK YOU HAVE A FEW WORDS.
YOU DOUBTED THE BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL? I'M NOT GOING TO PULL THE THREE MINUTE RULE.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MAYOR HEPBURN, MAYOR PRO TEM LAU, CITY COUNCIL-MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF.
GRACE MILLER STAFF AND FAMILIES ARE HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED TONIGHT.
GREAT WORK IS BEING DONE IN OUR DISTRICT AND CITY, AND WE ARE PROUD TO HEAD TO WASHINGTON, D.C. NEXT WEEK TO RECEIVE THE NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON AWARD.
THIS IS A PROCESS THAT STARTED WITH A NOMINATION LAST FEBRUARY BY THE STATE'S CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICER.
A THOROUGH REFLECTION OF THE PROGRAMS OFFERED AT OUR SCHOOL, AS WELL AS WHAT QUALIFIES US AS AN EXEMPLARY HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL.
THEN, A FINAL EVALUATION OF OUR APPLICATION AND CERTIFICATION THAT WE MEET THE REQUIRED CRITERIA. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, GRACE MILLER IS UNIQUE IN THAT WE HOUSE TWO OF THE THREE SPECIALIZED EDUCATION PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS OFFERED IN BONITA UNIFIED, AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE ADDED AN INCLUSION PROGRAM AS WELL.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT SET US APART, BUT IS THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF ALL OF OUR STAFF THAT TRULY HELP EACH AND EVERY STUDENT WORK TOWARDS THEIR FULL POTENTIAL OF LIVING, THEIR PURPOSE, AND THEY'RE ALL OVER THERE RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU FOR HONORING GRACE MILLER THIS EVENING, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE GOOD WORK AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT MYSELF.
MY WIFE IS HERE TONIGHT, ACTUALLY PATTY.
NOT TO SINGLE HER OUT BUT THE POINT IS THAT ALL THREE OF OUR CHILDREN WENT THROUGH THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL SYSTEM.
MY DAUGHTER WENT TO UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE.
MY SON, MY YOUNGEST SON WENT TO UNIVERSITY OF OREGON AND MY ELDEST WENT TO UC BERKELEY.
SO IT JUST SHOWS, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THE DEDICATION BY THE TEACHERS, THE STAFF, BY OUR DISTRICT TO MAKE THIS ONE OF THE FINEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY, IN THE NATION.
THERE YOU GO. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
AND WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERS WITH OUR THE SCHOOL BOARD AND OUR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, MATT WEIN. AND IT'S JUST A TESTAMENT TO HOW WELL OUR COMMUNITIES WORK BECAUSE OF THE FACT WE HAVE GREAT EDUCATION FOR OUR KIDS.
AND YOU'RE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB NOW.
I THINK YOU WANT TO DO A LOT OF PICTURES WITH SOME FRIENDS.
SO WHY DON'T WE HAVE PEOPLE COME UP? OKAY, THAT'S ALL YOURS NOW.
COME ON, DON'T BE. OH COME ON, YOU CAME TO THIS.
YOU CAN GET UP AND GET A PICTURE. COME ON.
IT'S ALL ABOUT ALL OF YOU. COME ON, LET'S GO.
THERE YOU GO. READY? ALL RIGHT. READY. ONE.
TWO. THREE. GRACE MILLER, CAN'T SMILE WITH OUT SAYING GRACE MILLER, YOU COULD DO IT . I'M HIS ANCHORMAN FROM LINE WITH MINUTE WITH THE MAYOR, DASH REPORTING.
DO YOU WANT SINGLE SHOTS? ARE YOU GUYS OKAY? [INAUDIBLE].
[00:10:13]
. WE'LL GIVE YOU GUYS A COUPLE MINUTES TO GO AHEAD.AND I KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO STAY FOR THIS EXCITING MEETING, BUT, YOU KNOW.
THANK YOU ALL. CONGRATULATIONS.
[INAUDIBLE] . WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
OH, THEY'RE MOVING UP IN THE FRONT ROW.
WESTERN UNIVERSITY VETERINARY PROGRAM CORRECT? FOUR RIGHT HERE.
CONGRATULATIONS. WE'LL MOVE TO ANNOUNCEMENTS NOW.
AND THE FIRST ONE I HAVE IS SHERRY BEST.
OH, SHOOT.[INAUDIBLE] . SENATOR RUBIO HAD A CERTIFICATE FOR GRACE MILLER ELEMENTARY.
OH, MY BAD. WE GOT SO EXCITED ABOUT PICTURES.
WELL, EVER WANTED TO FIND OUT IF WE HAVE ANY HAUNTINGS THAT WENT ON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE. WELL, ON SATURDAY THE 11TH OF NOVEMBER, PROFESSOR EMERITUS L CLARK WILL LEAD US THROUGH THE PLACES AND SPACES ON THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE CAMPUS THAT ARE REPUTED TO BE HAUNTED, HEAR WEIRD TALES OF SOUNDS AND SIGHTINGS OF THE STRANGE AND UNEXPLAINED.
SO YOU SHOW UP ON THE STEPS OF FOUNDERS HALL AT 6:00 ON SATURDAY AND BRING A FLASHLIGHT, BECAUSE I THINK HE'S GOING TO TAKE US THROUGH THE BUILDING WITH THE LIGHTS OFF, AND WE'LL HAVE A VERY GOOD POST HALLOWEEN HAUNTING EXPERIENCE.
I'LL PUT SOME FLIERS UP FRONT, AND THIS IS A FREE EVENT.
YOU DO NEED TO LET ME KNOW IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND, SO I CAN KEEP A LIST THAT I CAN TURN OVER TO OUR HOST.
SO COME JOIN US FOR FUN, FREEBIE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW BY NOW, I DON'T KNOW.
WE'RE GOING TO STEP BACK TO A PICTURE WITH THIS CERTIFICATE FROM SENATOR RUBIO, WHICH I FORGOT. THERE YOU GO.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE? NEXT. I'M SORRY.
I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE ANNUAL, WHICH HAS BEEN PUT OFF FOR SEVERAL YEARS, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS HOLIDAY CRAFT ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR FOR HILLCREST IS HAPPENING THIS YEAR. THE DATE IS DECEMBER 2ND, 10 A.M.
THAT'S A SATURDAY, BY THE WAY, IN THE MEETING HOUSE AT 2705 MOUNTAIN VIEW DRIVE.
[00:15:04]
I THINK YOU ALL KNOW WHERE THAT IS.IF YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE HANDMADE GIFTS AND HELP A WORTHY CAUSE AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS A DON'T MISS EVENT.
THERE WILL BE KNITTED, QUILTED AND CROCHETED ITEMS, CERAMICS, PAINTINGS, AND ONE OF A KIND CRAFTS FROM OUR WOODWORKERS WHO ARE JUST WONDERFUL.
THEY HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT STUFF.
ALL PROCEEDS GO TO HILLCREST GOOD SAMARITAN FUND, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THOSE SENIORS WHO HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR RESOURCES, THOSE FROM THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THOSE RESIDENTS.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT THE HILLCREST FAIR.
SHOPPING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD EVENING. I'M WAYNE HURLEY WITH THE, I HAVE TO REMEMBER WHICH HAT I HAVE ON TONIGHT AT THIS POINT WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THE LA VERNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS RALLYING THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SHOP SMALL IN LA VERNE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR FAVORITE LA VERNE SMALL BUSINESS USING THE HASHTAG SHOP SMALL LA VERNE IN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS EACH TIME YOU POST WITH A HASHTAG SHOP SMALL LA VERNE. SAY THAT TEN TIMES.
FROM NOW UNTIL NOVEMBER 24TH, YOU'LL EARN A FREE RAFFLE TICKET.
POSTS ON SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH WILL RECEIVE FIVE ENTRIES.
TAG YOUR FAVORITE LA VERNE SMALL BUSINESS.
SHARE A PICTURE OF GIFT ITEMS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE PURCHASED IN LA VERNE.
TELL A STORY OF THE BEST HOLIDAY GIFT YOU RECEIVED FROM A LA VERNE BUSINESS, OR TELL THE BEST TELL THE STORY OF THE BEST HOLIDAY GIFT YOU GAVE FROM A BUSINESS HERE IN LA VERNE. PRIZES INCLUDE GIFT CERTIFICATES TO YOUR FAVORITE LA VERNE SPOTS, GIFT BASKETS AND TEN LUCKY WINNERS WILL RECEIVE $50.
SHOP LA VERNE E GIFT CARDS, WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 12TH, SO GET THE WORD OUT AND SHOP SMALL.
ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ANYONE? THE ONLY ANNOUNCEMENT I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THE FACT THAT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE NOTICED, BUT FIVE BELOW BY TARGET.
THERE IS A SEE'S CANDY GOING IN THERE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
YES. AND CRUMBL COOKIES IS COMING TOO.
SO WE'VE GOT SOME MAJOR THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
GREAT STUFF FOR US TO GET THAT SALES TAX OUT THERE FOR ALL OF US.
WITH THAT, WE WILL CLOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE AN ITEM YOU WANTED TO ADD TO THE CLOSED SESSION AT THE END OF THE MEETING, SINCE IT CAME UP AFTER THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA.
YES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IN ADDITION TO THE CASE THAT WE DO HAVE ON OUR CLOSED SESSION, THERE IS ANOTHER CASE ENTITLED CITY OF CAMDEN ET AL VERSUS 3M COMPANY ET AL.
THAT IS CASE NUMBER 2:23-CV-03147-RMG.
THAT IS IN THE MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION FOR P FAZ AND IT WILL BE A CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9 PENDING LITIGATION.
AND I DO NEED AT LEAST A 4/5 VOTE TO BRING THAT ITEM ON.
OKAY WITH THAT, DO WE? SO MOVE. SECOND? SECOND. VOTE, PLEASE.
THAT WAS EASY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WE GOT THAT RECORDED AND THAT WAS APPROVED FIVE, ZERO.
THANK YOU CHAIR. THANK YOU, MADAM ATTORNEY.
NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ARE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION.
UNLESS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL OR A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE REQUESTS SEPARATE DISCUSSION. WAS THERE ANYTHING PULLED, MR. DOMER? THERE WERE NO ITEMS PULLED.
MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL, ANY ITEMS? WANT TO PULL OFF THE CONSENT CALENDAR? THEN WE GO TO A VOTE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MR. CROSBY? CONSENT CALENDAR.
THAT ITEM WAS APPROVED FIVE, ZERO.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OTHER MATTERS. NOW WE MOVE ON TO OTHER MATTERS.
THE FIRST MATTER WILL BE INTERVIEWING THREE APPLICANTS FOR THE PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING DISTRICT EIFD, THE PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING DISTRICT BOARD'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO ACCELERATE THE FINANCING OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED TO ATTRACT THE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS ENVISIONED WITHIN THE CITY'S OLD TOWN LA VERNE SPECIFIC PLAN, AND TO COMPLEMENT THE EXTENSION OF THE
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A LINE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM.MAYOR PRO TEM LAU, I BELIEVE YOU NEED TO ANNOUNCE SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
YES, SIMILAR TO I BELIEVE THE LAST TIME THIS CAME ON, I WILL BE RECUSING MYSELF AS I AM A TRUSTEE FOR THE UNIVERSITY.
THANK YOU. WE'LL SEE YOU IN A WHILE.
WE WILL INTERVIEW APPLICANTS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
EACH APPLICANT WAS PROVIDED FOUR QUESTIONS TO ANSWER DURING THEIR INTERVIEWS.
EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WILL ASK ONE QUESTION.
I THINK I'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THE SAME ONE.
YEAH, I HAVE TO, IF I'VE GOT THEM HERE.
FIRST. YEAH. FIRST ARE THE APPLICANTS ARE RICK BOWEN, ZUHEY ESPINOZA AND WAYNE HURLEY, MR. BOWEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD? WHAT PAGE IS IT ON? YOU HAVE THE QUESTIONS? THAT WOULD HELP.
YEAH. SOMETHING I SAID? NO, I.
HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A CHANCE YET.
MAN. NO, WE JUST HAVE THE QUESTIONS.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE QUESTIONS.
I HAVE THEM RIGHT HERE, I HOPE.
HE'S BRINGING THEM. WE'LL HAVE THEM JUST A SECOND.
YOU ARE WELCOME. GOOD TO SEE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY AND CITY MANAGER.
[INAUDIBLE]. I DON'T SING, I DON'T DANCE.
ARE YOU DOING TO KEEP US BUSY WHILE WE'RE IN THE? FINDER PHASE? YES.
NO. CAN HE GET A BIGGER SCREEN HERE? OH, WOW. THAT I LITERALLY THE LAST MEETING.
I LOOK UP AND I'M GOING, OH I'VE NEVER WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT.
IT'S GOOD. IT IS BECAUSE WE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS UP HERE AND ALTHOUGH IT IS BIG.
YEAH, THERE WAS SOME GOOD ONES THIS WEEKEND.
RED ZONE OKAY, WHAT? THANK YOU. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
YOU NEED SOME MAGNIFIERS? NO. OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU READY, MR. BOWEN? YES, I BELIEVE I AM, THANK YOU.
PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN FINANCE, BANKING OR BUSINESS BASED ON THE ROLE OF THE PFAEIFD TO ACCELERATE THE FINANCING OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, TO ATTRACT DEVELOPMENT ENVISIONED IN CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS AND COMPLEMENTING THE FORTHCOMING A-LINE METRO LIGHT RAIL STATION.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO BE HERE.
AND MY ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WOULD BE AS PRESIDENT OF A $30 MILLION JOINT VENTURE, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL BUSINESS PLANNING AND PNL RESULTS REPORTING TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPRISED OF TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES.
I HAD TO NEGOTIATE THROUGH THE NUANCES AND MUTUAL, SOMETIMES DIVERGENT GOALS OF EACH COMPANY. AS A CURRENT SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AS A HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS CONSULTANT, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND.
ADDRESS AND RESOLVE VARIOUS ISSUES THAT COME UP ROUTINELY FACING NUMEROUS DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS. THE SAME WILL BE NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE UPCOMING PLANNING NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THE OLD TOWN SPECIFIC PLAN, AS THE METRO LINE BECOMES A REALITY IN 2025.
THERE'S AN OLD SAYING THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.
I'M SURE THERE'S MANY THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW NOW THAT WILL POP UP AND HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND EVEN BEYOND.
AND THAT REQUIRES CRITICAL THINKING AND MUCH PLANNING.
THE POSITION IS THE SINGLE PUBLIC APPOINTED POSITION BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO THIS BOARD.
HOW WE REPRESENT THE ENTIRETY OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE RESIDENTS HAVE APPOINTED? WELL, I'LL JUST SAY I'LL REPRESENT ALL RESIDENTS.
I'M NOT AFFILIATED WITH BUSINESSES HERE IN LA VERNE.
NO SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS OR ENTITY WITHIN THE CITY.
I'LL REVIEW EVERYTHING PRESENTED AND GIVE INPUT BASED ON THE BENEFIT FOR THE ENTIRE
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CITY, NOT JUST ONE CONSIDERATION.NUMBER THREE, BRIEFLY PROVIDE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE SPECIFIC PLAN AREA AND HOW SUCH DEVELOPMENT COMPLIMENTS THE METRO LIGHT RAIL INTRODUCTION AND FUTURE NEEDS TO THE CITY? MY CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE OLD TOWN SPECIFIC PLAN IS TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE BUSINESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT BASE OF BUSINESS HERE IN THE OLD TOWN AREA, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE CITY, AND WE NEED TO BALANCE THE OLD VERSUS THE NEW.
THE A-LINE WILL BRING A NEW LOOK AND FEEL TO OUR GREAT CITY.
MANY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL RISE IN HOMELESSNESS AND CRIME.
THIS COMMITTEE WILL NEED TO ADDRESS HOW WE CAN FOCUS ON GROWTH, YET MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF LIFE MOST LA VERNE RESIDENTS HAVE ENJOYED FOR MANY YEARS AND MOSTLY WHY THEY MOVED HERE TO BEGIN WITH. WE ALSO HAVE AN OLDER RESIDENT POPULATION.
AND WE'LL NEED TO FIND A GOOD MIX WITH THE YOUNGER VISITORS POTENTIALLY, AS WELL AS ALL THE STUDENTS AT ULV.
THANK YOU. YOUR LAST QUESTION, PLEASE PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU'VE HAD TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OR DECISIONS THAT INVOLVE THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES OR PRIORITIZATION OF FINANCING FOR A DEVELOPMENT, AND HOW YOU ENSURE THAT YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, BUSINESS, OR ORGANIZATION YOU WERE SERVING.
AS PRESIDENT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED JV JOINT VENTURE, I HAD TO REVIEW AND RECOMMEND ALLOCATIONS BASED ON CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS.
ONE EXAMPLE IS WHEN WE EXPERIENCED TREMENDOUS GROWTH.
WE WERE, WE HAD CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS, AND THEREFORE WE TYPICALLY DID NOT OWN EQUIPMENT NOR HAVE A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BUDGET BASED ON A SUDDEN GROWTH.
I HAD TO FIND FUNDS TO BRING IN A NEW SUPPLIER.
WE REALLOCATED OPERATING CAPITAL TO A NEW MID-YEAR CAPITAL EQUIPMENT BUDGET.
WE NEGOTIATED A COST SPLIT WITH A NEW SUPPLIER IN ORDER TO GET THEM UP AND RUNNING WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, VERSUS POTENTIALLY OVER A YEAR.
THIS WAS EVENTUALLY FUNDED BY THE INCOME FROM THE NEW BUSINESS.
THEREFORE, SERVING THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CUSTOMERS, COMPANY EMPLOYEES AND THE TWO JOINT VENTURE OWNERS.
THANK YOU, MR. BOWEN. SURE, I APPRECIATE THAT.
WE'LL GO ON TO OUR NEXT ONE AND THEN WE'LL BE OPENING UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
NO QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. BOWEN? WE'RE GOOD.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A [INAUDIBLE] I THINK SO.
WAIT, SO WE'RE DOING ZOOM? WE HAVE ZOOM FOR [INAUDIBLE] DON'T START, STEVEN.
[INAUDIBLE] . THEY GOT A TV OVER THERE TOO? YES. [INAUDIBLE] ZUHEY, GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING, IT'S VERY NICE TO BE HERE.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S CURRENTLY THERE IN PERSON.
CURRENTLY, I'M IN SACRAMENTO ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE [INAUDIBLE] UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE AS WELL.
I KNOW YOU'RE ON ZOOM. SO WE HAVE A SERIES OF FOUR QUESTIONS.
I'LL START WITH THE FIRST ONE.
IF YOU DON'T MIND. PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN FINANCE, BANKING OR BUSINESS BASED ON THE ROLE OF THE PFAEIFD TO ACCELERATE THE FINANCING OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, TO ATTRACT DEVELOPMENT ENVISIONED IN CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS, AND COMPLEMENTING THE FORTHCOMING A-LINE METRO LIGHT RAIL STATION? YES, WELL, I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT MY FIRST SUMMER JOB FOR FOUR YEARS WAS AS A TELLER AT A BANK, CITIBANK, TO BE PRECISE.
AND I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT ALTHOUGH I HAVE MUCH APPRECIATION AND RESPECT FOR BANKERS, THAT WOULD NOT BE MY SPECIFIC MISSION THAT IN FACT MY PEDAGOGICAL AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IS IN PUBLIC POLICY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND PUBLIC POLICY IS
[00:30:01]
ESSENTIALLY HOW ONE ANALYZES COMMUNITY PROBLEMS AND INFLUENCES LAWMAKING AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.AS YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS IS THE ABILITY TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A WIDE ARRAY OF STAKEHOLDERS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS TO THAT EFFECT.
I BELIEVE THAT WHILE I MAY NOT HAVE SPECIFIC A BACKGROUND IN FINANCE OR BANKING, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VARIOUS ENTITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION TO HELP SUPPORT SPECIFIC INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS.
THANK YOU. I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE EXAMPLE THAT I ACTUALLY, I THINK I'LL SAVE IT FOR THE NEXT QUESTION. OKAY.
THIS POSITION HAS A SINGLE PUBLIC APPOINTED POSITION BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO THIS BOARD.
HOW WILL YOU REPRESENT THE ENTIRETY OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE RESIDENTS IF APPOINTED? I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS QUESTION EVEN THOUGH I DON'T RESIDE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. WORKING FOR THE LARGEST EMPLOYER HAS PROVIDED ME WITH INVALUABLE INSIGHT INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY, JOB MARKET, AND THE NEEDS OF THE DIVERSE WORKFORCE.
WHILE I MAY NOT BE A RESIDENT, MY ROLE HAS ALLOWED ME TO INTERACT CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY, UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS, AND ADVOCATE FOR INITIATIVES THAT BENEFIT BOTH THE EMPLOYEE AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
IF APPOINTED, I WOULD APPROACH THIS PUBLIC APPOINTED POSITION WITH A DEEP SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. MY EXPERIENCE HAS EQUIPPED ME WITH THE ABILITY TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL, THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT FOSTERING OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION, ENGAGING IN ACTIVE LISTENING AND COLLABORATING WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS THAT REFLECT THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE CRITICAL.
FURTHERMORE, I'M ALSO COMMITTED TO ORGANIZING TOWN HALLS.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THE VOICES OF THE RESIDENTS ARE HEARD AND THEIR CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED.
I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUSIVITY AND WILL WORK DILIGENTLY TO REPRESENT NOT ONLY THE INTERESTS OF THE UNIVERSITY, BUT ALSO THE GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE RESIDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND OR AFFILIATION.
MY GOAL IS TRULY TO CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THE CITY, LEVERAGING MY UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AND EXPERIENCES TO CREATE A THRIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE.
I AM DEDICATED TO PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND FAIRNESS IN ALL DECISIONS MADE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE QUESTIONS.
I JUST ONE QUESTION, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAD SOME EMAILS AND CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR RESIDENCY AND LA VERNE THAT YOU DID MARK THE BOX THAT SAID THAT YOU WERE A RESIDENT AND YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT A RESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THAT? JUST AS A SIMPLE QUESTION.
SURE OF COURSE. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
MY RATIONALE FOR THAT IS I AM A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNIVERSITY.
SO WHEN THAT QUESTION WAS POSED, I WAS OPERATING UNDER THE FACT THAT I WOULD BE REPRESENTING ON BEHALF NOT ONLY OF THE UNIVERSITY, BUT ALSO AS A RESIDENT, AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.
I'M NOT. I DON'T LIVE THERE, BUT I CONSIDER MYSELF A MEMBER VERY MUCH SO.
THANK YOU. AND IT'S NOT PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE A RESIDENT OF LA VERNE EITHER. SO I JUST WANTED TO COME TO YOU TO LET THE RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS WERE ON THAT. THANK YOU.
NUMBER THREE, BRIEFLY PROVIDE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE SPECIFIC PLAN AREA AND HOW SUCH DEVELOPMENT COMPLIMENTS THE METRO LIGHT RAIL INTRODUCTION AND FUTURE NEEDS OF THE CITY? SURE. SO I THINK THAT THE CITY OF LA VERNE IS A GEM.
IT'S A GEM OF A CITY, AND MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE SPECIFIC PLAN IS ESSENTIALLY TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC AND UNIQUE CHARACTER OF OLD TOWN.
IT'S TO ENABLE APPROPRIATE EXPANSION OF THE UNIVERSITY, AND IT'S ALSO TO CREATE VERY MUCH A TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT NEAR THE GOLD LINE.
NONE OF US WANT TO SEE BLIGHT IN THE AREA, SO I THINK THAT'S IMPERATIVE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN DIALOG TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING ANY CONCERNS OF BLIGHT AND ALSO ENHANCE LA VERNE ECONOMIC BASE.
I ALSO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE KEY INTERESTS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LA VERNE RESIDENTS ARE VERY [INAUDIBLE] INCOME.
SO LASTLY, I DO BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, CREATING AN ATTRACTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS, ESPECIALLY WHO ARE TAKING THE A-LINE, IS CRITICAL.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN SUSTAINABILITY PLANS AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO THAT AFFECT ONE OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN I WAS WORKING AT MY PREVIOUS JOB WAS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 710 METRO MOBILITY HUB, AND THIS ESSENTIALLY WAS
[00:35:02]
A MULTI-MODAL PROGRAM THAT WAS CREATED BY [INAUDIBLE], REALLY TO ORGANIZE AND PRIORITIZE PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THE MOBILITY AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE IN SPECIFIC AREAS TOWARDS THE 710 FREEWAY.AND THIS WAS REALLY TO ADDRESS THE HEAVILY CONGESTED AREAS OF THE 710 AND TO PLAN TEN FUTURE MOBILITY HUBS LOCATED IN PLACES THAT WOULD PROVIDE PUBLIC SPACES, ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY, WALKABLE AREAS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND THIS WAS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNION STATION AND CALTRANS FOR GOLD LINE.
AT THAT POINT, IT WAS CALLED PUBLIC WORKS, AND IT WAS LARGELY FOCUSED ON THE AREAS OF ALHAMBRA, CAL STATE, LOS ANGELES, AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU. YOUR FINAL QUESTION.
PLEASE PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU'VE HAD TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OR DECISIONS THAT INVOLVE THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES OR PRIORITIZATION OF FINANCING FOR A DEVELOPMENT, AND HOW YOU ENSURED THAT YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, BUSINESS, OR ORGANIZATION YOU WERE SERVING? SURE. AGAIN, AT MY PREVIOUS INSTITUTION OF EMPLOYMENT, I WORKED HAND IN HAND TO BROKER A DEAL WITH LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB.
I WORKED WITH SPECIFICALLY THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THAT UNIVERSITY TO ONE CULTIVATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB, WHICH LED TO A $30 MILLION PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE A STATE OF THE ART PERFORMANCE ATHLETIC TRAINING CENTER ON THE CAMPUS OF CAL STATE LOS ANGELES.
SO. WELL, THAT SOUNDS FINE AND DANDY.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS A CRITICAL NEED NOT ONLY TO HAVE THIS AMAZING STATE OF THE ART FACILITY, BUT ALSO TO KEEP IN MIND THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET, WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY. SO THE QUESTION THAT WE POSE TO LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB WAS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY? HOW ARE WE GOING TO WORK IN TANDEM TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ALSO ENJOY THE AMENITIES THAT THIS PERFORMANCE CENTER HAS TO OFFER? SO WHAT WE ESSENTIALLY DID IS WE CREATED A BUILT IN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR OUR STUDENTS TO OBTAIN AMAZING, WONDERFUL INTERNSHIPS WITH.
AND LASTLY, WE ALSO ENCOURAGE FOOTBALL CLUBS TO CREATE AN ACADEMY WHERE OUR YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY CAN HELP AND WORK AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER TO ENSURE THAT THEY GET INSPIRED AND HOPEFULLY BECOME THE NEXT SOCCER PLAYERS.
THAT COMPLETES OUR QUESTIONS AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PERSON.
SO WE'LL PUT YOU IN THE HOLD BOX THERE FOR A WHILE IF THAT'S OKAY.
WE KNOW THAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE THIS, BUT THAT WAS JUST A PRACTICE.
I APPRECIATE JUST A QUICK SUMMARY OF GOING THROUGH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS LAST WEEK AND JUST A FEW POINTS I WANTED TO MAKE IN SUMMATION.
MY EDUCATION WAS IN BUSINESS AND FINANCE AT CAL STATE FULLERTON.
NOW THAT WAS YEARS AGO, BUT I RETAINED MOST OF IT.
I'VE BEEN MARRIED TO MY HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART FOR 46 YEARS, PATTY.
WE BELIEVE THAT BEHIND EVERY GOOD MAN AND I BROUGHT HER WITH ME.
IT'S NOT A BELIEF. IT'S A TRUTH.
YES, SIR. MY PROFESSION FOR THE PAST 45 YEARS IS FINANCIAL PLANNING, WHICH ENCOMPASSES
[CALL TO ORDER]
EVALUATING CLIENT EXPENDITURES AND EXPLAINING HOW THOSE DECISIONS AFFECT THEIR LONG TERM PLAN AND THE GOALS THAT DRIVE THEIR FINANCIAL PLAN.I CONTINUE TO DO THIS ON A DAILY BASIS.
I'VE LIVED IN LA VERNE FOR THE PAST 22 YEARS.
I'VE SERVED THE LA VERNE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AS A MEMBER OF OUR CITY'S GPAC COMMITTEE, WHICH IS HELPING DEVELOP OUR CITY'S 20 YEAR PLAN AND STILL SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE LA VERNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHERE I'VE BEEN A MEMBER FOR OVER 18 YEARS, SERVING AS OUR BOARD CHAIR IN 2018.
I UNDERSTAND LA VERNE IS A CHERISHED JEWEL THAT THE RESIDENTS WANT TO PRESERVE, YET IT'S A PLACE WHERE BUSINESSES WANT TO GROW AND PROSPER.
IT'S A QUITE CHALLENGING TASK TO ACCOMPLISH BOTH OF THOSE, BUT I'M HOPING I CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT BY SERVING ON THIS INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
FINALLY, I LIVE AND I WORK HERE.
MOST OF MY CHILDREN AND HALF OF MY GRANDCHILDREN LIVE HERE IN LA VERNE.
I'M NOT PLANNING ON RETIRING ANYTIME SOON, AND WHEN I DO, I'M NOT MOVING TO IDAHO.
WITH THAT COUNCIL, ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT? THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO AND OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OF THE ITEMS OR PLEASE? NOT ON ANY OF THE CURRENT ITEMS. OKAY. THAT WOULD BE WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
YES, ON THE SELECTION OF THE AFD.
[00:40:01]
OH EXCUSE ME, SIRI.SORRY ABOUT THAT. HI, ROBIN CARTER, HOW ARE YOU? I'M VERY GOOD LISTENING TO THE INTERVIEWS.
BUT, TIM, AS YOU KNOW, BEFORE I GOT OFF COUNCIL, I SAT ON THIS COMMITTEE.
I, AT THAT TIME, WE HAD PEOPLE FROM LA VERNE.
I JUST TRULY BELIEVE WITH THIS SMALL, WONDERFUL COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE, IT SHOULD BE SOMEBODY THAT LIVES AND BREATHES HERE IN LA VERNE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SOMEONE REPRESENTING THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE, BUT AT THAT POINT IT COULD BE THE PRESIDENT IF THEY EVER COME TO THE MEETINGS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE MANY TIMES THAT SHE CAME AND ATTENDED THE MEETINGS, BUT I THIS IS A COMMITTEE THAT WHEN WE'RE WORKING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EIFD, WE KNOW BECAUSE YOU AND I STARTED IT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING, THAT IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT CARE AND LOVE THIS COMMUNITY.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE IT SHOULD BE A LA VERNE RESIDENT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS CARTER.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE ON PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. GABALDON? AND THEN MISS BERRY AFTER THAT.
I DON'T NEED THESE. JOE GABALDON, 2529 AMHERST STREET.
I THINK I KNOW I AGREE WITH ROBIN SENTIMENT.
I HOPE THAT YOU AGREE WITH HER TOO.
I DON'T THINK THAT LA VERNE NEEDS ANYBODY FROM OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS.
I THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF GOOD PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS CITY THAT ARE WILLING TO STEP UP AND PARTICIPATE IF YOU GIVE THEM THAT CHANCE.
AND MUCH LIKE THE OTHER COMMITTEES WHERE I THINK YOU ARE NOT GETTING THE BEST CANDIDATES BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ALWAYS CONSISTENT, THE RULES ARE NOT CLEAR.
HOWEVER, IT IS THAT WE'VE COME TO HAVE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE.
I THINK THAT THE CITY OF LA VERNE HAS 32,000 GREAT PEOPLE HERE, AND THERE IS PLENTY OF GOOD CANDIDATES ON THIS DOCKET RIGHT NOW TO CHOOSE FROM THAT LIVE HERE.
AND I THINK KIND OF CONSISTENT WITH PART OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO LATER ON TODAY WITH RECALLING THE DISTRICT VOTING OPTION FOR THE FIVE DISTRICTS, THE FOUR DISTRICTS.
YOU RECALL THAT I SAID WHEN I OPPOSED THAT WE WENT TO DISTRICT VOTING AT ALL, IS THAT YOU WERE GOING TO ENABLE OUTSIDE INFLUENCES TO MAKE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY WHEN
[PRESENTATIONS]
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE EQUITY, OR THEY HAVE THE STAYING POWER TO BE HERE FOR THE LONG RUN. SO IN THE CHANCE THAT SOMEBODY WANTS TO PARTICIPATE, THAT'S GREAT.BUT ON THE COMMITTEES THAT SERVE THE RESIDENTS, THE COMMITTEES THAT SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, THAT HAVE PUT THEIR MONEY HERE, THAT HAVE PUT THEIR FAMILIES HERE, THAT HAVE PUT EVERYTHING IN LA VERNE THEY PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SOMEBODY FROM LA VERNE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. GABALDON. MS. BERRY, GOOD EVENING. OKAY, WELL, I REALLY.
PRETTY MUCH AGREE WITH WHAT'S BEEN SAID.
WE, THIS IS A PUBLIC POSITION.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE KIND OF MORE OF THE PUBLIC FOR THE PEOPLE.
AND I FEEL LIKE THE THE TWO THAT WERE ACTUALLY PRESENT FOR THE INTERVIEWS ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND.
THEY'VE BEEN ACTIVE, THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVED, THEY'VE BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO OUR CITY IN A RESIDENT KIND OF WAY, AND THEN WHATEVER PROFESSIONS THEY HAVE, I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT NOT TO HAVE ANY KIND OF CONFLICT AND WHEN SOMEBODY IS VOCATIONALLY REPRESENTING ONE LITTLE PIECE OF OUR CITY THAT REALLY MAKES A RUB WHEN THERE'S ANY KIND OF A DECISION.
YOU SOMEHOW YOU HAVE TO PUT ONE PIECE OVER THE OTHER.
AND I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO AVOID THAT.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS A WISE MOVE.
SO I WOULD AGREE WITH OUR PAST COUNCIL MEMBER AS WELL AS MR. GABALDON. WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM OUR CITY.
I ALREADY SENT AN EMAIL, I HOPE YOU ALL GOT THAT TOO.
ANITA BEAUCHAMP, 2516 AMHERST STREET.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND STAFF.
I MADE MY COMMENTS AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT FOR THOSE WHO WEREN'T AWARE, I WAS ASKING FOR
[00:45:01]
THE DISQUALIFICATION OF MISS ESPINOZA'S APPLICATION DUE TO THE DISCREPANCIES ON THE APPLICATION THAT WERE PRESENTED.I THINK THIS POSITION, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S A SOLE POSITION, IS IMPERATIVE THAT FINANCE AND SOME KIND OF BANKING AND MONETARY BACKGROUND ACCOMPANIES THE PERSON WHO IS HOLDING THIS POSITION.
ALTHOUGH GOVERNMENT POLICY IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AS MS. ESPINOSA EXPLAINED THAT'S WHAT SHE'S INVOLVED WITH AT THE TIME.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE MORE RELEVANT, AND THE OTHER TWO APPLICANTS HAVE THAT CURRENTLY IN THEIR DAILY LIVES RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK THAT THOSE APPLICATIONS WOULD BE MUCH MORE WELL SUITED FOR THIS POSITION.
I ALSO THINK THAT AS SHE WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON, HOW WOULD SHE BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS? AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A PRIORITY WHEN YOU VOLUNTEER FOR A PROJECT OR A COMMITTEE OR ANY KIND OF TYPE OF THING IN OUR CITY, YOU NEED TO BE FULLY 100% COMMITTED AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE SEEN THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON EITHER MEETING.
SO I THINK THAT ALSO IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
AND I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH SHE IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE SHE WORKS FOR THE UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CITY, WE ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO ASSURANCE THAT WHATEVER VOTE OR RECOMMENDATION THAT SHE IS MAKING, IS SHE DOING IT AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, OR IS SHE DOING IT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE? AS SHE STATED, THERE IS PLANS FOR EXPANSION OF THE UNIVERSITY WHICH ARE GRANDFATHERED IN THE DOCKS. WE ALL ARE AWARE OF THAT.
BUT AT WHAT COST? AND WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH FINANCE, THAT'S WHAT THE QUESTION IS, AT WHAT COST? SO I THINK THESE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SERIOUSLY TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BEFORE A DECISION CAN BE MADE BY THIS COUNCIL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BEAUCHAMP.
ANYONE ELSE ON PUBLIC COMMENT? MS. BRENNAN.
ME AGAIN. LILY BRENNER, FOR THIS POSITION, I JUST REALLY RESPECT THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT TO REPLICATE TO BECOME THE [INAUDIBLE].
I THINK IT'S PRETTY MUCH LIKE A VOLUNTEER JOB, SO I JUST REALLY RESPECT THEM.
WE WANT TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO COME HERE TO SUPPORT RICHARD BOWEN, YOU KNOW? BECAUSE WHAT? BECAUSE HE'S THE PERSON I REALLY KNOW HE LOVE THIS OUR CITY IN VERY PROFESSIONAL WAY.
IT'S JUST LIKE ME AS I LIKE, I LOVE [INAUDIBLE], I LIVE HERE CLOSE TO 20 YEARS, BUT PROBABLY BECAUSE I'M NOT VERY GOOD NUMBER.
IF I WANT TO DO IT, I'M NOT ABLE TO DO IT.
OKAY, SO IF YOU PICK ME TO THE CHRISTMAS COMMUNITY, I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT [INAUDIBLE] FOR THAT.
SO I SERIOUSLY BECAUSE I LIVE OLD TOWN LA VERNE.
AND THEN I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED THE MEETING SINCE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS.
I KNOW MRS. BOWEN RICHARD BOWEN, BECAUSE MAYBE THE FIRST TIME IT'S BECAUSE THE MANY YEARS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE LAWSUIT.
AND THEN I STARTED GETTING INVOLVED.
GO TO THE CITY GROUP, I HAVE A 1.5, 1500 MEMBERS TODAY.
SO IT'S VERY INVOLVED RESIDENT.
SO I WATCH HIM TO REALLY VERY WELL PRESENT, REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE BEST FOR RESIDENTS. BECAUSE SOMETIMES A LOT OF PROFESSIONALS OUT THERE, THE PROFESSIONAL FROM UNIVERSITY LA VERNE THE LADY.
RIGHT. BUT I WOULD TRULY WANT LA VERNE SUCH A SPECIAL CITY.
WE NEED SOMEBODY REALLY UNDERSTAND OUR CITY.
IT'S NOT LIKE A PURSUE SOMETHING LIKE A FANCY TECHNOLOGY.
I COME FROM A MODERN CITY 20 YEARS AGO.
OKAY, BUT LA VERNE IS A VERY SPECIAL CITY.
WHAT'S THE CHARM? IS THE CULTURE.
THE PEOPLE'S RELATIONSHIP IS THE SMALL TOWN FEEL OLD TOWN LA VERNE THAT AREA AFTER THE
[ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS]
GOLD LINE, I COULD TELL.I COULD FEEL IT'S GOING TO BE MODERN CITY.
WOW. IT'S SO FANCY, SO EFFICIENT.
BUT FOR THE RESIDENTS LIVE IN THAT AREA.
WE WORRY MORE ABOUT THE TRAFFIC, MORE ABOUT THE CRIME, MORE ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE.
SO WE DEFINITELY NEED SOME PEOPLE WHO REALLY LIVE HERE AND UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION.
SO I DO RESPECT MR. HURLEY. RIGHT? SO I REALLY RESPECT ALL YOUR GUYS.
BUT I JUST COME HERE TO SUPPORT RICHARD BOWEN.
I THINK HE'S THE BEST CANDIDATE THANK YOU, MISS BRENNER.
[00:50:04]
ANYONE ELSE ON PUBLIC COMMENT? WITH THAT, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY, ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING APPLICANTS, ALL OF YOU, FOR THE WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION.
NOW WE MOVE ON TO APPOINTING ONE OF THE APPLICANTS.
MY, I'M GOING TO NOMINATE MR. BOWEN FOR THE, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START OFF AND I NEED A SECOND FOR THAT.
THERE IS NO SECOND THEN THAT NOMINATION GOES.
SO I WOULD LIKE A NOMINATION NOW FOR OUR SECOND APPLICANT.
I LIKE TO NOMINATE WAYNE HURLEY.
VOTE PLEASE. NOMINATION OF MR. HURLEY WAS APPROVED FOUR, ZERO WITH LAU RECUSING HERSELF.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE APPLICANTS.
SO IF YOU DIDN'T GET ON THIS ONE, THERE'S CHANGES GOING ON IN THE CITY AND WE'RE MORE COMMITTEES AND THINGS ARE CHANGING.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU EVEN COMING OUT TO PART OF THIS.
AND MR. HURLEY, WE WELCOME YOU TO THE PFAEIFD INFRASTRUCTURE.
MR. BOWEN THANK YOU AND ZUHEY ESPINOSA.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR APPLYING AND AGAIN, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
NOW WE MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND MATTER ADDRESSING ADDING BALLOT MEASURE TO ESTABLISH ELECTIONS BY DISTRICT AND FOR DISTRICTS WITH A DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR TO THE MARCH 5TH, 2024 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION CONSOLIDATED WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES.
CITY MANAGER DOMER WILL BE REPORTING ON THIS [INAUDIBLE].
WELL, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
BUT THIS WAS VOTED ON THE FEBRUARY 6TH, 2023 MEETING TO BRING THIS BACK.
IT'S BEING BROUGHT BACK AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN TIMELINES WHEN IT COMES TO THE ELECTIONS. AT THE LAST MEETING, THE CITY COUNCIL DID CALL THE ELECTION, BUT WE ARE ABLE NOW TO HAVE THIS CONSIDERATION.
AND I DO TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU SOME ITEMS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED TODAY AND THOSE ARE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.
AND I WILL EXPLAIN WHAT THOSE ARE.
BUT LET ME JUST SUMMARIZE THE DIRECTION THAT WE RECEIVED, WHICH WAS TO PREPARE A BALLOT MEASURE TO GO ON THIS YEAR'S ELECTION TO REINSTATE THE DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WOULD TAKE EFFECT AFTER REDISTRICTING FOLLOWING THE DECENNIAL CENSUS IN 2030.
CLARIFICATION THAT'S FOR THE YEAR 2024? 2032, IT WOULD BE ON THE FOR THE 2024 ELECTION.
YES, BUT IT WILL NOT TAKE EFFECT CORRECT UNTIL 2032.
AFTER THE DECENNIAL CENSUS DATA IS RELEASED AND NEW DISTRICTS WOULD WOULD BE FORMED.
SOME RECENT CHANGES IN THE LAW WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE RESOLUTIONS IN TERMS OF CODE SECTIONS AND REFERENCES.
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT TODAY.
IT DOES HAVE TO DO WITH THE PROCESS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE IN 20 AFTER THE 2030 CENSUS, BUT BY THEN WE'LL ALL BE, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE ELSE, RETIRED.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING WE DON'T? LAYING BY THE POOL.
I DON'T KNOW, YOU'RE ON CAMERA, MAYOR.
STILL BE HERE. OKAY, WELL THAT'S GOOD.
NO, WE'LL PROBABLY ALL STILL BE HERE, ACTUALLY.
OKAY, BUT IT'S ONLY SIX YEARS.
IN ANY EVENT, THE SO THE WAY THAT I PREPARED THE BALLOT MEASURE ORIGINALLY WAS ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE VOTERS HAD PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AND WHAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE FOR ALL THE YEARS, 50 YEARS. AND THAT WAS A MAYOR AND A DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR WITH A TWO YEAR TERM.
WHEN I WAS DISCUSSING THIS WITH A COLLEAGUE LAST WEEK, WE TALKED ABOUT THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT CODE SECTIONS THAT DEAL WITH BALLOT MEASURES FOR DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR.
THE ONE THAT I USED RELATES TO DISTRICT VOTING WITH DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYORS, AND THAT'S WHERE THE LANGUAGE CAME FROM.
AND BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TELL ME DIFFERENTLY, I ASSUMED IT WOULD BE A TWO YEAR TERM.
HOWEVER, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAD AVAILABLE TO YOU AN ALTERNATIVE IN CASE YOU WANTED THE MAYORAL TERM TO BE FOUR YEARS, OR IF YOU WANTED THE VOTERS TO CHOOSE WHETHER IT
[00:55:06]
WOULD BE A TWO YEAR TERM OR A FOUR YEAR TERM.AND SO WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IN THE ALTERNATIVE VERSION IS LANGUAGE THAT IS BASICALLY A HYBRID BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS.
ONE ASKS ABOUT WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR TO GO WITH THE FOUR DISTRICTS, AND THEN THE TWO QUESTIONS THAT ARE SET OUT IN THE GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION THAT NORMALLY WOULD BE DEALING WITH WITHOUT DISTRICTS, IF YOU WERE ESTABLISHING A DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR IN TERMS OF SHOULD IT BE A TWO YEAR TERM, OR SHOULD IT BE A FOUR YEAR TERM? OF COURSE, NEITHER OF THOSE VOTES MATTER IF THE ULTIMATE VOTE ON THE FIRST QUESTION IS NO, BUT ITS [INAUDIBLE].
OTHER THREE THAT REMOVES THE OTHER THREE IF YOU VOTE ON ONE.
YES. CORRECT. SO THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THE MEASURE, WHICH IS THE SINGLE PIECE OF PAPER
[Additional Item]
THERE IS THAT I HAD IN THAT MEASURE OVERLOOKED THE ACTUAL TERM.SO I'VE ADDED THE LANGUAGE TWO YEAR TERM FOR THE CURRENT VERSION.
THAT IS THE VERSION THAT'S IN YOUR AGENDA ALREADY, AND THIS WOULD REPLACE THAT ONE.
OR YOU CAN OPT TO GO WITH THE ALTERNATIVE VERSION, WHICH IS THE WHOLE PACKET THAT CAME BEFORE YOU TODAY, WHICH ALLOWS FOR SELECTION BY THE VOTERS OF EITHER A TWO OR A FOUR YEAR TERM. AND WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I'M GLAD YOU DID THAT I JUST COMMENT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THAT WAS A NUMBER OF THE CITIES DO HAVE A FOUR YEAR TERM ON ELECTED MAYOR, AND IT KIND OF GOES WITH THE ROTATION PROPERLY, WITH A FOUR YEAR TERM FOR WHETHER IT BE DISTRICT OR REGULAR ELECTION OR AT LARGE. SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
IT GIVES AN OPTION HERE BECAUSE AFTER DOING THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, IT TAKES LONGER THAN TWO YEARS TO ACTUALLY WORK INTO THE MAYOR'S POSITION AS JUST FROM EXPERIENCE NOW. AND THAT'S NICE THAT WE GIVE OUR VOTERS THE OPTION OF EITHER ONE.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
SO. OKAY, COUNCIL.ANY QUESTIONS? MR. JOHNSON? I'M HAPPY TO SEE THIS COMING BACK TO HAVE THIS ON THE NEXT BALLOT.
I KNOW THE 1972 VOTE RESIDENTS WERE GIVEN THE CHOICE FOR THAT MAYOR POSITION TO BE EITHER A TWO YEAR OR A FOUR YEAR TERM.
SO THAT THAT 50 PLUS YEARS AGO, THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY CHOSE TO HAVE AN ELECTED MAYOR FOR A TWO YEAR TERM.
WHETHER WE WANT TO GIVE THAT SAME OPTION FOR RESIDENTS OR STICK WITH THE TWO YEAR TERM,
[OTHER MATTERS]
WHICH THEY CHOSE LAST TIME, THAT'S NEGOTIABLE.COUNCILMAN, MORE COMMENTS BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
[INAUDIBLE]. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE? ROBIN CARTER, PLEASE.
[INAUDIBLE], DID YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? YOU'RE NEXT. AREN'T YOU LUCKY? I ACTUALLY WROTE IT OUT, SO I DIDN'T FORGET ALL THE POINTS I WANTED TO BRING UP.
OKAY. BUT THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY OF WHY WE WENT WITH FIVE DISTRICTS.
BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, I WAS A VOTING MEMBER ON THE CITY COUNCIL ALONG WITH THREE OF YOU CONCERNING THIS TOPIC, BEING FISCALLY PRUDENT.
WE WANTED AS A COUNCIL TO AVOID BEING SUED IN PAYING $30,000 TO A LAWYER FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN MAKING US MOVE OUR ELECTION FROM AT LARGE TO DISTRICTING.
WE HIRED A CONSULTANT WHO RECOMMENDED US TO GO WITH FIVE DISTRICTS WITH A ROTATING MAYOR BECAUSE HE SAID IT WOULD BE BETTER REPRESENTATION FOR ALL RESIDENTS, GIVING THEM MINORITY AND EQUAL STAND.
I WANT TO PERSONALLY POINT OUT THAT IF THE COUNCIL VOTES TO SEND OUT THIS SURVEY, A PROS AND CONS STATEMENT SHOULD BE ATTACHED, BECAUSE JUST ASKING THE RESIDENTS IF THEY WANT AN ELECTED MAYOR OR A ROTATING MAYOR DOES NOT GIVE ALL THE RAMIFICATIONS TO THE RESIDENTS. MOST HOUSEHOLDS WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AT COUNCIL MEETINGS, SO THEY NEED AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE.
NOW I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE A NEW OPTION.
MY OPTION THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT.
THE COUNCIL SHOULD WAIT UNTIL CLOSER TO 2032 ELECTION TO DECIDE HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
NOTHING AT THIS TIME CAN BE DONE WITH THE SURVEY RESULTS, BUT IF YOU DECIDE TO HOLD OFF FROM SENDING THE SURVEY, THE SANTA MONICA CASE COULD BE CONCLUDED AND MIGHT WORK IN OUR FAVOR, AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO THEN DO A JOINT SURVEY TO THE PUBLIC TO SEE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO AN AT LARGE ELECTION, OR TO STAY WITH THE FIVE DISTRICTS.
[01:00:04]
AT THE SAME TIME, YOU COULD ALSO INCLUDE THE QUESTION ABOUT THE MAYOR, ELECTED MAYOR, OR ROTATING MAYOR.MANY THINGS COULD CHANGE IN THE NEXT NINE YEARS.
SO I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS SURVEY AT THIS TIME AND SAVE $100,000 PLUS FOR THIS SURVEY.
DO UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME COST.
IF YOU VOTE TO SEND THE SURVEY TO THE RESIDENTS AND IT COMES BACK FOR AN ELECTED MAYOR, THEN YOU WILL BE PAYING FOR A NEW CONSULTANT TO DRAW UP NEW MAPS FOR THE DISTRICT FROM FIVE DISTRICTS TO FOUR, AND TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT YOU WILL BE DILUTING THE MINORITY VOTE.
I AM SURE THERE ARE OTHER COSTS TO CONSIDER AS THE YEARS GO BY.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THAT WE HAVE ONLY FOUR DISTRICTS WITH AN ELECTED MAYOR.
ONE, IF WE HAVE THAT FOUR DISTRICTS WITH AN ELECTED MAYOR, THEN OUR COMMUNITY WILL HAVE ONE. COMMUNITY WILL HAVE TWO REPRESENTATIVES, A COUNCIL MEMBER AND A MAYOR THAT LIVES IN THAT DISTRICT.
REMEMBER, ON ANY TOPIC, IF ANY, VOTE ANY THREE PEOPLE, COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTE TOGETHER TO PASS SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW THAT IS ALL IT TAKES AND YOU ALREADY HAVE TWO THEN WE WANT EQUAL REPRESENTATION THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND I LIKE THE IDEA THAT IF IT DOES GO TO BACK TO THE MAYOR, I AGREE WITH YOU, TIM.
WE ALL KNOW AS NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE FIRST YEAR IS A LEARNING PROCESS.
SO IN ITS RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY IT COSTS TO RUN AN ELECTION.
ANYONE ELSE ON THIS PUBLIC COMMENT? OH,[INAUDIBLE] MISS BEAUCHAMP, SORRY.
FOCUS. HE SAYS HE HAD A HARD TIME FOCUSING.
HE'S LOOKING AT HIM. I KNOW. ON THE SCREEN.
WELL, YOU WEREN'T HERE, MS. LAU. BUT LAST TIME TIM WAS ASKING WHAT CHANNEL NETFLIX WAS ON OR SOMETHING.
YEAH, [INAUDIBLE] I CAN IMAGINE.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING THE PUBLIC SPEAK ON THIS ITEM HERE.
UM, I WOULD HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH PRIOR COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER.
SHE DISCUSSED THAT THERE WAS A THREAT OF A LAWSUIT, AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE DISCUSSION AS TO WHY THEY WANTED TO GO TO DISTRICT VOTING.
I RECEIVED A LETTER, BOTH EMAIL AND FIRST CLASS MAIL FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY AT THAT TIME, BOB KRESS, AND TOLD ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO DEMAND LETTER PRESENTED.
THERE WAS NO THREAT, AN IMMINENT THREAT OF A LAWSUIT AT THAT TIME.
NUMBER TWO, THAT DILUTION OF THE VOTE, IF YOU LOWER IT FROM FIVE DISTRICTS TO FOUR, THERE IS NO DILUTION OF VOTING BECAUSE ALL YOU'RE DOING IS INCREASING THE POPULATION FOR EACH DISTRICT. BUT THE SAME PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THOSE LINES STILL GET TO VOTE.
SO I'M NOT SURE HOW SHE ARRIVES AT THAT CONCLUSION.
I ALSO THINK THAT WE WE HAVE YOU SAW HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR US TO KEEP CHRISTMAS MORNING. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SANTA AND A FIRE ENGINE AND TOYS FOR KIDS AND A SNACK OR WHATNOT.
PEOPLE DIED, PEOPLE BLED SO THAT PEOPLE LIKE US COULD HAVE THE POWER TO VOTE.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS AND TO JUST DISREGARD IT.
WE HAVE HAD AN ELECTED MAYOR SINCE THE BEGINNING, AND TO TO HAVE DONE AWAY WITH THAT, I THINK, IS A DISRESPECT TO THE PROCESS AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A DIRECT INPUT AS TO WHO THEIR MAYOR IS.
I AGREE THAT ALL OF YOU ARE INSIGHTFUL.
YOU HAVE EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE, PAST EXPERIENCES, OTHER COMMITTEES, AND YOU DO AN EXCELLENT JOB OF CHOOSING AMONGST YOURSELF.
BUT THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE IS A SAY IN WHO THEIR MAYOR, WHO THEY CHOOSE TO BE THEIR MAYOR AND REPRESENT THEM.
I ALSO ASK THAT WITH ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO ASK QUESTION ONE.
AND THEN IF THAT'S A YES, THEN MOVE ON TO THE OTHER QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER CARTER DID MENTION THAT HUNTINGTON BEACH LAWSUIT COULD STILL BE THE SETTING, THE PRECEDENTS, YOU KNOW, AND ALL OF THIS ENTIRE DISTRICT VOTING COULD GO AWAY.
AGAIN, THERE WAS NO THREAT OF A LAWSUIT, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS NOW.
SO I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A QUESTION THAT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED OR SURVEYED IS IF THE POTENTIAL FOR DOING AWAY WITH ALL DISTRICTS WOULD BE AN OPTION.
I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT WHO UNFORTUNATELY NO, WEREN'T NOTIFIED PROPERLY FOR WHATEVER REASON, LACK OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACCESSIBILITY OR
[01:05:01]
COMPUTERS. AT THE TIME, IT WAS ZOOM.AND YOU KNOW, IN A CITY OF 32,000 PEOPLE, WE GOT SEVEN MAPS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S ADEQUATE INPUT WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRICT VOTING.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD, WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT RIGHT AND THAT EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT WITH A PHYSICAL ADDRESS OR MAILBOX OR P.O.
BOX GETS A LETTER OR A POSTCARD OR WHATEVER, SO THAT THEY HAVE A SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS. THANK YOU.
BARBARA. YOU'RE NEXT, MISS BESS.
EVENING. MAYOR HEPBURN CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF.
MY NAME IS BARBARA SMYTH AND I HAVE LIVED IN LA VERNE AT HILLCREST SINCE 2007.
I PERSONALLY REALLY DON'T CARE IF THE MAYOR IS ELECTED OR SELECTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND APPARENTLY RESIDENTS HAVEN'T CARED EITHER.
FROM 1915, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED RECORDING THESE THINGS UNTIL 1972, THE COUNCIL SELECTED THE MAYOR, AND IN 1972 THERE WAS A VOTE AND EVERYBODY WANTED TO ELECT A MAYOR, SO THEY ELECTED A MAYOR.
NOTHING'S CHANGED IN THE CITY.
THE CITY KEPT ON FUNCTIONING BEAUTIFULLY WITH SELECTED OR ELECTED MAYORS, AND NOTHING FELL APART.
SO DURING ALL THAT TIME, WE FUNCTIONED WELL AND A BALLOT MEASURE THAT CAN'T BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL 2032, FRANKLY, WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON MY LIFE IF I'M EVEN STILL AROUND. WHAT I DO CARE ABOUT IS THE 100,000 PLUS DOLLARS THAT IT WILL COST FOR A BALLOT MEASURE THAT HAS NO CURRENT RELEVANCE AND CANNOT EVEN BE CONSIDERED FOR EIGHT YEARS.
WHAT EXPENDITURES THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS QUALITY OF LIFE ARE BEING DEFERRED TO PAY FOR THE BALLOT MEASURE.
PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS. COMMUNITY SERVICE.
POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL WHO GETS CUT.
ARE WE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE IN INSISTING THIS MEASURE BE PUT ON THE BALLOT NOW? ALSO, THIS BALLOT MEASURE HAS A POSSIBILITY OF CREATING CONFUSION AND POTENTIAL CHAOS AMONGST THE ELECTORATE.
WILL THE ELECTORATE UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR VOTE IS SIMPLY AN OPINION POLL, AND NO CHANGES CAN BE MADE UNTIL THE NEXT CENSUS IN 2032? MOST VOTERS BELIEVE THAT ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IF THEY HAVE A MAJORITY VOTE IN FAVOR OF SOMETHING. IN THIS CASE, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THAT'S CONFUSING AND INFURIATING, AND IT WILL COST $100,000 PLUS TO DO IT BESIDES. CONCLUSION.
PUTTING THIS MEASURE ON THE BALLOT NOW IS PREMATURE.
IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE, IT'S ILL ADVISED AND OF NO BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENTS THAT YOU SERVE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.
TO BEGIN, I WANT TO STATE THAT MY RECOLLECTION WAS VOTING FOR THE FIVE DISTRICTS IN ORDER TO SKIRT THE ISSUE OF A DEMAND LETTER.
WAS SMART FISCAL POLICY ON THE PART OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE DIDN'T GET A DEMAND LETTER BECAUSE WE AVOIDED GETTING A DEMAND LETTER, AND THERE WAS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT ONE WOULD LAND ON THE MAYOR'S DESK HAD WE NOT VOTED. RESIDENTS OF LA VERNE ARE CONFRONTING A HUGELY EMOTIONALLY INFLUENCED DECISION
[01:10:05]
ABOUT VOTING TO CHOOSE AN AT LARGE MAYOR, OR CHOOSING AN ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION OF RETAINING THE CURRENT FIVE DISTRICT BASED ELECTION PROCESS WITH A ROTATIONAL MAYOR TO VARIABLES HIGHLY INFLUENCE RESIDENCES POSITIONS ON THIS ISSUE.BOTH OF THESE COMMAND OUR ATTENTION.
BY APPROVING THIS RESOLUTION, WE WOULD BE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO COMMIT A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, OVER $100,000, TO EXPRESS OUR DISPLEASURE WITH THE PROCESS AND ITS RESULT.
THAT CANNOT BE FORMALLY CHANGED UNTIL THE NEXT CENSUS COUNT.
LET'S THINK OF A HYPOTHETICAL.
HYPOTHETICALLY, WHAT IF AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE VOTE FOR AN ELECTED MAYOR? HOW DO WE PLAN TO MAKE CLEAR TO THEM THAT THEIR VOTE WILL NOT RESULT IN A CHANGE WHATSOEVER? THEY'RE VOTING FOR NO OUTCOME THEY CAN APPRECIATE FOR YEARS TO COME.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, LET'S RULE OUR EMOTIONS WITH A CLEAR, ECONOMICALLY APPROPRIATE AND LOGICAL DECISION.
AND THAT IS VOTE TO RETAIN THE CURRENT ELECTION PROCESS UNTIL THE NEXT CENSUS CYCLE.
THIS IS WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CITY.
MISTER GABALDON. WELL, I GUESS SINCE I'M HERE, I MIGHT AS WELL TALK.
SO I 100% DISAGREE THAT IT'S AN EMOTIONAL DECISION AND IT'S BOUND BY MONEY.
I DO AGREE WITH THE YOUNG LADY FROM HILLCREST, THOUGH, THAT IT'S A WASTE OF MONEY. AND THE REASON I DISAGREE WITH THAT IT'S MONEY AND EMOTION, IS THAT HAVING AN AT LARGE MAYOR MEANS THAT INDIVIDUAL IS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE ENTIRE CITY, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE. HAVING THE DISTRICT IN OPTION THAT WE HAVE NOW WHERE WE HAVE A ROTATING MAYOR, I CAN'T VOTE FOR WENDY.
I CAN'T VOTE FOR MR. JOHNSON, AND I CAN'T VOTE FOR SOME OF THE OTHERS.
SO THEREFORE I CAN HOLD MY MAYOR ACCOUNTABLE TO EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON THE CITY, NO MATTER WHERE IT IS THAT I TRAVEL IN THE CITY, JUST LIKE WE GOT DONE TALKING ABOUT THE EIFD IT SHOULD BE SOMEBODY WHO LIVES HERE, WHO HAS EQUITY HERE, SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS THE CITY. WE ALL KNOW THE CITY.
WE SHOULDN'T BE CARVED UP INTO PIECES.
SO I AM A PROPONENT OF AN AT LARGE MAYOR.
I DO DISAGREE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME.
THE REASON IS MY UNDERSTANDING IS BY LAW, SINCE WE CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL, THAT THERE IS A NEW COUNCIL COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE THAT DECIDES TO UNDO IT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY NOW TO UNDO WHAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THE FIRST GO ROUND. WE SHOULD HAVE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION BACK IN 2022, WHEN WE 1ST OR 2021 WHEN THIS FIRST WENT TO A VOTE AND NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN.
WE DID A POOR JOB OF COMMUNICATING TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WHAT IT WAS THAT WAS AT STAKE, AND WHAT WOULD COME OF THIS WITH ALL OF THE NONSENSE THAT WENT ON, WHETHER IT WAS THE CONSULTANT THAT WAS HIRED AND HOW THE PROCESS WORKED AND ALL THE FAILURES OF THAT PROCESS, WE STILL WENT AHEAD AND DID IT.
AND I THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO GO CHECK THE VIDEOS BACK ON THAT TIME.
THEY'RE STILL ON THE THE CITY'S WEBSITE TO GO CHECK.
I THINK THAT THE TIME IS NOT RIGHT FOR THIS.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE FOR FOUR YEARS BECAUSE I AGREE WITH THAT AS WELL.
I THINK THAT THE MAYOR NEEDS TO HAVE EQUITY IN HIS ROLE OR HER ROLE, AND THAT INDIVIDUAL NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A JOB TO DO, AND THAT IT'S THEIR JOB TO COLLABORATE AND WORK WITH EVERYBODY IN THE COUNCIL TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL, AND HAVING TO GO AND RUN EVERY TWO YEARS AND PUT THE FINANCES INTO THAT AND THE WHOLE MESS THAT GOES WITH IT, IT'S JUST A WASTE ALL THE WAY AROUND.
SO I ASK YOU TO HOLD OFF ON DOING THIS NOW, AND INSTEAD WORK TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT IS THAT WE COULD DO THIS BETTER DOWN THE ROAD, COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMUNITY BETTER, AND MAKE SURE THAT IT ACTUALLY IS SOMETHING THAT CAN STICK.
AND IT ISN'T JUST A POLITICAL DEVICE THAT AT THE TIME, JUST LIKE IT WAS LAST TIME WE WENT THROUGH THIS, BECAUSE IT WAS ALL POLITICS.
IT WAS THREATS OF CIVIL, OF THREATS, OF LAWSUITS.
IT WAS THREATS OF, YOU KNOW, INEQUITIES IN THE CITY.
LET'S DO IT RIGHT ONCE MORE AND THEN GO FROM THERE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. GABALDON. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? [INAUDIBLE].
[01:15:03]
GOOD EVENING, CATHY KULUSIC, THIRD STREET.SO IT IS TRUE THAT WE WERE NEVER SERVED A DOCUMENT, BUT OUR CITY STAFF AND OUR PREVIOUS COUNCIL WISELY GOT AHEAD OF IT.
I'VE BEEN READING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS OF MANY CITIES WHO HAVE GOTTEN THEIR LETTERS, AND SO THEY PAY THE 30,000, AND NOW THEY'RE SCRAMBLING TO MAKE DISTRICTS SO WISELY WE GET AHEAD OF IT. BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE NOT WASTE OUR MONEY BY PUTTING THE VOTE FOR MAYOR ON THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR, SINCE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE ENACTED UNTIL 2032, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE NEXT 7 OR 8 YEARS.
WHAT IF THE STATE DECIDES THAT ALL CITIES HAVE TO HAVE A ROTATING MAYOR? YOU KNOW THAT IT'S CALIFORNIA VOTERS, RIGHT? ACT. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE DISTRICTS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WHAT IF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA PREVAILS IN THEIR LAWSUIT AND CITIES GAIN THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE IF THEY WANT DISTRICTS OR AT LARGE ELECTIONS? WE'VE LIVED WITH THE ROTATING MAYOR FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND WHAT HAPPENED BOTH TIMES? COMMUNITY MEMBERS SPOKE IN FAVOR OF MR. HEPBURN RETAINING HIS TITLE.
THE CITY ATTORNEY DIDN'T SAY IT WAS AN ISSUE.
IT'S REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN IF HE HAD BEEN ELECTED AT LARGE.
IF WE HAD A MAYOR THAT PERHAPS WASN'T COMFORTABLE WITH THE POSITION, WASN'T DOING A GOOD JOB. QUIETLY, THEY ROTATE OUT TIL WE GET SOMEBODY WHO'S DOING A GREAT JOB.
YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE AN EXTRA 100,000 PLUS AVAILABLE, LET'S USE IT TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES BEEF UP THEIR SECURITY.
I DON'T EVER WANT ANOTHER CRASH AND GRAB ROBBERY.
LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO RODEO JEWELERS TO EVER OCCUR IN OUR CITY AGAIN.
SO MAYBE WE CAN HELP THEM GET THEIR SECURITY.
I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME IMPENETRABLE BARRIERS IN FRONT OF VULNERABLE BUSINESSES LIKE THAT.
OR PERHAPS WE CAN HELP OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE CAN PUT FUNDS, MORE FUNDS IN THE K-9 PROGRAM, OTHER TOOLS FOR THEM TO HELP KEEP US SAFE. IT'S JUST, IT'S PREMATURE.
IT'S TOO EARLY. AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU WILL PLEASE TABLE THIS CONVERSATION UNTIL 2031.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS KULUSIC.
GOOD EVENING, STEVEN WARD, 4760 CALLE ESTRADA.
SO I MADE MY THOUGHTS ON THIS CLEAR TO EACH OF YOU, BUT LIKE SOME OF THE OTHERS, I DON'T REALLY HAVE A STRONG OPINION ON A ROTATING VERSUS AN ELECTED MAYOR.
AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT MAYOR HEPBURN, YOU HAVEN'T DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.
I THINK YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT AMBASSADOR FOR THE CITY.
I JUST I LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES, CLAREMONT ROTATES, SAN DIMAS ELECTS AT LARGE.
BOTH SEEM TO FUNCTION JUST FINE IN OUR CITY'S LONG HISTORY.
A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF OF IT.
WE ROTATED, MAYOR, THE LAST 50 YEARS WE ELECTED A MAYOR OR, YOU KNOW, ALMOST 50 YEARS ELECTED A MAYOR. I THINK EITHER WAY CAN WORK.
I'M SENSITIVE TO THE FEELINGS OF THOSE THAT FEEL LIKE A FOUR DISTRICT WITH AN AT LARGE WOULD HAVE TWO AND ONE DISTRICT, TWO REPRESENTATIVES IN ONE DISTRICT.
BUT I ALSO HEAR THE POINT THAT OTHERS HAVE MADE THAT IT'S NICE TO HAVE ONE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE IN DISTRICTS, TO HAVE ONE PERSON WHO REPRESENTS AND IS ELECTED AT LARGE, RIGHT AS A FIGUREHEAD AND WHO'S ACCOUNTABLE TO THE ENTIRE CITY.
SO I HEAR THE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.
I DON'T ENVY THE CHOICE THAT THREE OUT OF YOU HAD TO MAKE TWO YEARS AGO WHEN YOU HAD TO MAKE THIS DECISION.
I THINK GIVEN THE POTENTIAL THREATS AND LITIGATION COSTS, I THINK THE UNANIMOUS VOTE TO GO TO DISTRICT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE.
HOW YOU DID IT FOUR VERSUS FIVE, I DIDN'T REALLY CARE THAT MUCH.
AND BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT IT AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM PUTTING IT IF PEOPLE STILL FEEL THIS STRONGLY ABOUT IT TO A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, IF THEY WANT TO SPEND $106,100 OR WHATEVER, THE ESTIMATE WAS, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS NOW ON THIS, SO BE IT.
BUT IF IT CAN'T BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL 2032 AT THE EARLIEST, I DON'T THINK NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME. I THINK IT'S NOT THE BEST USE OF CITY RESOURCES TO PUT A PROPOSITION ON THE BALLOT IN 2024 THAT CAN'T BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL 2032.
IN THAT TIME, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD CHANGE, RIGHT? THE LAW COULD CHANGE WHERE WE COULD NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH DISTRICTS AT ALL.
THE LAW COULD CHANGE ABOUT ROTATING VERSUS AT LARGE.
WE MIGHT DECIDE WE WANT TO GO TO INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING, OR ANY OF THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS TALKED ABOUT WITH THE CALIFORNIA VOTING RIGHTS ACT AS BEING ABLE TO IMPLEMENT ITS GOALS.
THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN CHANGE IN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS.
AND SO REGARDLESS OF YOUR FEELING ON THE UNDERLYING FOUR VERSUS FIVE AT-LARGE VERSUS ROTATING, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE POINT TONIGHT.
TONIGHT IS JUST DO WE PUT A BALLOT PROPOSITION ON THE TABLE NOW IN 2024?
[01:20:05]
SO I'M TOTALLY FINE.AND I RESPECT THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD VOTE FOR MAYOR HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT. I JUST DON'T THINK 2024 IS THE RIGHT CHOICE TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR A DECISION THAT CAN'T BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE EARLIEST UNTIL 2032, AND THAT WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL CHANGE IN THE INTERIM TIME.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. WARD. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DAIS.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? MAYOR PRO TEM LAU? MR. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY? I HAVE I'M ALWAYS HAVE LOTS OF COMMENTS.
THIS IS WHEN THIS VOTE CAME UP OF HAVING FOUR DISTRICTS OR FIVE.
AND THERE WAS IT WAS A 3-2 VOTE TO HAVE FOUR DISTRICTS, 3 TO 2 VOTE TO HAVE FOUR DISTRICTS, FIVE DISTRICTS.
INSTEAD OF HAVING THE MAYOR VOTE.
IT WAS MR. HEPBURN AND MYSELF THAT VOTED DISSENTED ON THAT VOTE.
WE ARE THE ONES THAT BELIEVE TO HAVE MAYOR.
SO I'VE BEEN ON THIS TO HAVE A MAYOR FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
I DO THOUGH BELIEVE THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME FOR IT.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE CONFUSED.
I WOULD LIKE US TO GO BACK TO HAVING A AT LARGE MAYOR, BUT US TELLING THE PUBLIC VOTING FOR IT IN 2024 AND CANNOT BE ENACTED UNTIL 2032, DOESN'T LET OUR PEOPLES VOTE TO HAPPEN.
I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP AN ALTERNATIVE RESOLUTION THAT WE VOTE ON HERE TONIGHT, THAT A VOTE WILL GO TO THE PEOPLE IN 2030 TO HAVE A ROTATING MAYOR, OR TO HAVE AN AT LARGE MAYOR. SO THEN THAT VOTE WOULD IMMEDIATELY THE VOTE FOLLOWING IT WOULD BE ENACTED.
SO I KNOW THAT'S NOT PART OF ONE OF OUR RESOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE TONIGHT IN FRONT OF US. BUT IF WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE RESOLUTION STATING THAT JUST THE DATES CHANGE, WHEN IT HAPPENS, I THINK THAT IS BETTER REPRESENTATIVE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND US MAKING THAT ACTION TONIGHT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AT THAT DATE.
AND THAT WOULD BE MY CHOICE TO BRING ABOUT.
COUNCILMEMBER KASH? THANK YOU. SORRY, STEVE. I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO HIT THAT BUTTON YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD? GO AHEAD. I DON'T CARE FOR THAT.
PERSONALLY. I WANT TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
I RAN AGAINST ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT VOTED TO MAKE THIS CHANGE AND NOT HAVE AN ELECTED MAYOR, EVEN AFTER BEING AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, PLEADING THAT WE KEEP AND RETAIN AN ELECTED MAYOR.
I RAN AGAINST THAT INDIVIDUAL ON THAT SINGLE ISSUE, AND RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT ONE WANT AN ELECTED MAYOR.
I MEAN, IT'S THAT SIMPLE AND ELECTIONS ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANY CHEAPER.
THEY'VE NEVER GOTTEN ANY CHEAPER TO DO THIS NOW IS GOING TO BE AS COST EFFECTIVE AS IF YOU WAIT. I JUST WANT TO GET THIS DECISION RESOLVED THAT WE HAVE AN ELECTED MAYOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON.
COUNCILMEMBER KASH? I THINK THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT PEOPLE WANT AN ELECTED MAYOR 100% AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.
I AM ONE OF THOSE THAT BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AN ELECTED MAYOR.
WE HAVE OUT OF MANY, ONE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALWAYS LIVED BY OUT OF MANY ONE, WHETHER YOU KNOW, SERVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, SERVE IN OUR NATION, WHATEVER IT IS YOU SERVE OUT OF MANY. ONE. THE HARD PART IS THAT AS DURING THESE TIMES THAT WE HAVE AND WITH ALL THESE CATACLYSMIC STOLE MY THUNDER THAT WE HAVE, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BREAK INS, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO? YOU KNOW, AND I WAS GOING TO ASK OUR CITY MANAGER, WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THAT MONEY? I I'D LOVE TO SEE SOME SORT OF SUPPORT TO OUR BUSINESSES, BECAUSE I'M GETTING TIRED OF SEEING 3:00 IN THE MORNING OR 4:00 IN THE MORNING.
THESE INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED WITH THESE BUSINESSES GETTING ROBBED, BROKEN INTO, AND PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOOD ARE AT STAKE.
OR IF IT'S SOMEONE THAT NEEDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER THEMSELVES IN OUR COMMUNITY, OR IT
[01:25:06]
MEANS TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL PATROL IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OUR SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT.I AM ONE THAT COMPLETELY BELIEVES THAT FREEDOM IS NOT FREE, AND I, AT ANY POINT IN TIME WILLING TO DEPLOY AND DEFEND THIS COUNTRY AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. AND I BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO VOTE, AND I WILL LAY MY LIFE DOWN FOR THAT. THE HARD PART I'M HAVING IS TIME, AND I AGREE WITH YOU.
WE HAVE IF WE DID IT NOW, IF NOT NOW, WHEN? IF NOT, THEN WHAT DO WE DO NOW? AND THAT'S KIND OF TWISTING IT AROUND AND THE MORE SAY, YOU KNOW, KEN I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID AND I REALLY LIKE THAT, MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE, I'LL USE THAT WORD THAT YOU SAID LAST TIME. AND I THINK [INAUDIBLE] MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE HERE.
I SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN WE DO SOMETHING TO MEET YOUR, TO MEET THAT PROMISE? YOU SAID, BECAUSE I ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT IF MY WORD IS MY PROMISE, RIGHT.
IF I GIVE YOU 100%, SOME MAY DOUBT IT.
IT IS WHAT IT IS. BUT THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW.
CAN WE MEET THAT MISSION TODAY AND SAY IN 2030, CAN WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I DON'T KNOW, I HAVE AN AMAZING ATTORNEY HERE.
MY LAW DEGREE KIND OF EXPIRED BACK IN 2004.
I HAVEN'T DONE MUCH WITH IT LATELY, BUT MAYBE I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT.
IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN ALL AGREE TODAY? SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? IN 2030 I HOPE TO BE ALIVE AND WELL.
CAN WE PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT THEN? AND CAN WE IN BETWEEN TIME.
SORRY. ONE LAST QUESTION, THING.
WELL, WE'LL GO THROUGH COMMENTS FIRST AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE AN ALTERNATE MOTION.
TO WHAT WE'VE DONE. WE MIGHT HAVE.
I WANT TO ANSWER COUNCIL MEMBER KASHIFALGHITA'S QUESTION.
YOU CANNOT CALL AN ELECTION IN 2030 TONIGHT, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CALL IT WITHIN CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS OF THE ACTUAL ELECTION DATE.
HOWEVER, YOU CERTAINLY CAN GIVE US DIRECTION TO NOTCH OUR CALENDARS AND BRING THIS FORWARD IN TIME FOR THE 2030 ELECTION, ALONG WITH THE REGULAR CALL OF THE ELECTION.
THAT WOULD BE HAPPENING THEN FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SEATS.
I'LL HAVE EVERYTHING READY TO GO.
OKAY. CAN IT BE MORE THAN YOUR MARCHING ORDERS? A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD, BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL FOR THAT.
I DON'T HAVE THAT RESOLUTION BEFORE ME THIS EVENING, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY BRING YOU ONE AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. BUT IF WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE, IT WOULD BE TONIGHT.
YEAH. THE ALTERNATIVE MOTION WOULD BE TO DIRECT US TO PREPARE THAT RESOLUTION AND RETURN WITH IT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
THANK YOU. I ECHO A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES ON THIS DAIS.
YOU KNOW, I, PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, IF THE VOTE FOR AN ELECTED MAYOR IS WHAT IS WANTED BY THE PUBLIC, I THINK THAT'S FINE.
THAT'S MY ISSUE IS THE TIMING AND THE MONEY THAT IF WE DO IT NOW, THERE IS NOTHING TO SAY THAT BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE COULD POSSIBLY ENACT THIS, THAT SOMETHING ELSE DOESN'T CHANGE. IT COULD BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT FIVE PEOPLE UP HERE, IT COULD BE PARTIALLY DIFFERENT. AND THEN WE WOULD SEE AN EXPENDITURE OF MONEY, POTENTIALLY, YET AGAIN, TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS CITY WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH. SO THAT'S NOT JUST AN EXPENDITURE OF THE $100,000 THIS ELECTION PERIOD, BUT POTENTIALLY ANOTHER EXPENDITURE DOWN THE LINE IF SOMEONE DECIDES THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
I WOULD RATHER THAT, YOU KNOW, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS CROSBY AND KASH HAVE INDICATED, IF AN ALTERNATE MOTION THAT PUTS THE TIMING OFF TO A TIME THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE MONEY IN THE HAND RIGHT NOW TO SPEND ON THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE TO THE CITY THAT THE CITY NEEDS RIGHT NOW MAKES SENSE TO ME.
YOU KNOW, OUR CITY, LIKE MANY OTHER CITIES IN CALIFORNIA AND ACROSS THE NATION, ARE FACED WITH ISSUES OF BUDGET.
YOU'VE SAT THROUGH, MANY OF YOU WHO'VE COME TO THESE MEETINGS PRETTY RELIGIOUSLY, HAVE SAT THROUGH OUR BUDGET SESSIONS WHERE WE'VE HAD DEPARTMENTS TALK ABOUT HOW THEY'VE HAD TO SPEND TIME THINKING ABOUT WHERE ARE WE GOING TO CUT OR WHERE ARE WE GOING TO MOVE, WHAT IS GOING TO BE SACRIFICED FOR THIS? AND IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE A RESULT FROM UNTIL 2032, THEN IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME BECAUSE THE MONEY IN THE HAND THAT WE COULD DO SOMETHING WITH TODAY MEANS MORE TO ME THAN SOMETHING DOWN THE ROAD.
I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT AN ALTERNATE MOTION THAT SAYS, WE WILL LEAVE IT TO THE PUBLIC TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT AN AT LARGE MAYOR WHEN THAT TIME COMES.
I THINK IN ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL COMPONENT OF IT, THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES RAISED
[01:30:04]
ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN EITHER LEGISLATIVELY OR IN THE COURTS WITH THE LITIGATION THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE, WHAT COULD CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN? BECAUSE WE COULD MAKE A DECISION.YES. WE WANT AN AT LARGE ELECTED MAYOR AND THINGS COULD HAPPEN.
LAWS CAN CHANGE AS THEY DO EVERY YEAR.
THAT THEN CONSTRICTS WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO.
AND WE HAVE BASICALLY WASTED THAT MONEY.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD BE HESITANT ABOUT IS CONFUSION.
IF WE PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT, WILL OUR RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT? NO, YOU DON'T GET TO VOTE FOR A MAYOR THIS NEXT ELECTION PERIOD.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN 2032.
AND THAT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME, BECAUSE THAT IS ALSO ADDITIONAL LABOR ON OUR STAFF TO HAVE TO MAINTAIN THAT EDUCATION PROCESS, TO SAY THAT THINGS ARE NOT CHANGING UNTIL 2032.
SO I WOULD AGAIN BE IN SUPPORT OF AN ALTERNATE MOTION THAT DEFERS THIS CHOICE AND KEEPS THE MONEY IN OUR COFFERS TO BE SPENT ON SITUATIONS AND EMERGENCIES AND WHATEVER ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE THAT AFFECT US PRESENT DAY.
BECAUSE I'M SURE IF SOMETHING CAME UP THAT AFFECTED YOU TOMORROW AND IT COST $100,000 OR SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THAT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE IT BECAUSE WE SPENT IT ON A BALLOT MEASURE THAT WOULD NOT TAKE EFFECT FOR ANOTHER EIGHT YEARS.
I DON'T THINK YOU'D BE HAPPY WITH THAT, AND I THINK YOU'D BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS YOUR ELECTED BODY.
AND I WOULD REBUT THAT BY SAYING YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT IT ON A BALLOT AND CHOSE NOT TO. I MEAN.
THE RESIDENTS OF LA VERNE SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT CHOICE, AND THEY DIDN'T.
WHERE IN 1972, THE COUNCIL DID GIVE THEM THAT CHOICE, SO I DO NOT AGREE WITH THAT ARGUMENT TO WAIT HOWEVER MANY MORE YEARS AND TO PUT IT ON A BALLOT.
I THINK WE NEED TO GET IT ON A BALLOT WHILE IT'S COST EFFECTIVE NOW TO DO IT.
BECAUSE THESE ELECTIONS NEVER GO DOWN IN PRICE, THEY ONLY GET MORE EXPENSIVE.
MY ONLY COMMENT ABOUT THAT IS THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WASN'T IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME.
AND SO, WHEN YOU PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, YOU COULD MAKE THAT DECISION TO MAKE A CHANGE IMMEDIATELY THAT THERE WAS NO WAITING FROM THE VOTE IN 1972 TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, ANOTHER EIGHT YEARS FOR THE ACTION TO ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE.
THAT IS A KEY DIFFERENTIATOR IN THIS INSTANCE.
OKAY, WE HAVE OUR DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S COMMENTS.
WE HAVE AN ITEM THAT WILL NOT TAKE INTO EFFECT UNTIL 2032 AND THE RE-CENSUS.
BUT AS A PERSON THAT DID VOTE AGAINST ALL OF THOSE ITEMS FOR A, AS I VOTED WITH MR. CROSBY FOR DISTRICT WITH AN ELECTED MAYOR, IT'S PROVEN TO BE OKAY.
IT'S WORKED OUT FINE FOR US RIGHT NOW, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE VOTE WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE. I THINK WE NEED TO SUPPORT THAT.
SO, I WILL SUPPORT THE MEASURE.
AS FAR AS ITS STATED NOW FOR THE ELECTION PROCESS, AS FAR AS AND I DO APPRECIATE THE 2-TO-4-YEAR SELECTION ON THERE TOO.
BUT WE DO HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT AND WE CAN'T DO AN ALTERNATE MOTION.
DO WE GO ON THE TWO OF THESE MEASURES RIGHT NOW? WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND, AND THEN A VOTE ON EITHER ONE TO PUT ON FOR THE VOTE FOR, WHICH IS THIS ONE HERE.
RESOLUTION. WHICH RESOLUTION IS THIS 23.
THIS ONE HERE. I THINK OUR AGENDA HAS THE RIGHT NUMBERS.
THE I DON'T HAVE IT ON MY CALLING.
THE ELECTION WOULD BE RESOLUTION 23 DASH 76.
DID YOU WANT ME TO READ THE RESOLUTION TITLES, OR DID YOU WANT ME TO WAIT UNTIL THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? I THINK WE SHOULD WAIT TILL WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HEAR EITHER THE RESOLUTION 23-76 OR 23-77.
AND ACTUALLY NO, IT'S 20 THE SAME AS.
OH, SORRY, THE NUMBERS WOULD BE THE SAME THAT ARE IN THE AGENDA.
OKAY. SO, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CALL FOR THE ELECTION REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE THE ELECTED MAYOR, AND I WOULD PUT THE FOUR-YEAR TERM IN THAT MEASURE.
CAN I READ THE? YES. FIRST READ TITLES.
READ THEM. SO, THIS WOULD BE RESOLUTION NUMBER 23-76, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA CALLING TUESDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2024 FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE VOTERS OF
[01:35:04]
A QUESTION RELATING TO ESTABLISHING A DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR AND FOUR DISTRICTS FOR ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND RESOLUTION 23-77, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO CONSOLIDATE THE CITY OF LA VERNE'S GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION, WITH THE STATEWIDE PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD TUESDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2024, PURSUANT TO SECTION 10403 OF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE, AND TO RENDER SPECIFIED SERVICES TO THE CITY RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND RESOLUTION NUMBER 23-78, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, SETTING PRIORITIES FOR FILING WRITTEN ARGUMENTS REGARDING A CITY MEASURE AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS AND RESOLUTION.A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
SETTING PRIORITIES FOR FILING WRITTEN ARGUMENTS REGARDING A CITY MEASURE AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS.
AND COULD I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION? YES, YES.
SO YOU WOULD PREFER TO HAVE A SINGLE QUESTION WITH A FOUR YEAR TERM AND NOT THE OPTION OF CHOOSING EITHER A TWO OR A FOUR? IS THAT RIGHT? TO PREVENT CONFUSION, I THINK THE FOUR-YEAR TERM.
IF WE VOTE THIS RESOLUTION DOWN, THEN WE COULD BRING UP AN ALTERNATIVE RESOLUTION AFTER THE VOTE IS DONE.
OR YOU COULD MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION.
YES. THANK YOU. ARE WE GOOD? THEN WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MOTION FAILS. THAT MOTION FAILED 3-2.
MR. CROSBY? I LIKE TO BRING UP A SUBSEQUENT MOTION TO BRING BACK TO THE COUNCIL A RESOLUTION THAT WE WOULD HAVE AN ELECTION PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL IN 2030, SO THAT CAN GO VOTE TO THE PEOPLE FOR A AT LARGE MAYOR, SO THAT IT CAN BE WHATEVER WAY THE RESIDENTS VOTE CAN BE ENACTED IN 2032.
AND DID YOU WANT TO SPECIFY A TERM FOR THAT, OR DID YOU WANT TO HAVE IT HAVE THE OPTION OF 2 OR 4? THANK YOU.
YES. AND I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THAT.
IS THERE A WAY TO BIND THE FUTURE COUNCIL TO THAT ELECTION? YOU PASS A RESOLUTION, AND IT IS IT IS THE LAW OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE UNTIL IT IS OVERTURNED BY A MAJORITY VOTE.
IF IT'S APPROVED, IT WOULD BE ON OUR SCHEDULE TO BRING FORWARD, WOULD ACTUALLY COME TO THE COUNCIL IN 2029, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT ONTO THE 2030 BALLOT, OR PROBABLY AND THEN IT WOULD GO ON THE 2030 BALLOT.
I'LL MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS. BUT IF THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME DECIDED THEY DID NOT WANT TO FURTHER THAT, THEY CAN UNDO THE RESOLUTION, UNDO IT, THEY CAN VOTE IT OUT.
IT'S 3 TO 2. IT'S THE SAME AS WITH AN ORDINANCE.
OKAY. BUT WE BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE THAT ON THE BOOKS AT 2030.
THAT IN 2029 WE WILL REVIEW IT.
AND THEN THE COUNCIL SAID, YES, WE GO AHEAD WITH IT.
THEN IT GETS PUT ON THERE WITH A FOUR-YEAR TERM.
BUT YEAH, 2029 THE PUBLIC MAY NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.
THE PUBLIC COULD ALWAYS BRING AN INITIATIVE IF THEY IF THEY DIDN'T LIKE WHAT THE IF THE COUNCIL DIDN'T PUT IT ON AND IF THEY WANTED IT THAT BADLY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION, MR. CHAIRMAN. OF COUNCIL IN 2029 COULD REMOVE IT JUST AS EASILY AS WE'RE PUTTING IT ON.
AND I WOULD SAY, JUST LIKE ANY COUNCIL CAN MAKE A RESOLUTION AND IF THEY HAVE A MAJORITY VOTE, COULD CHANGE THAT AT ANY TIME.
RIGHT. AND THAT'S THE URGENCY THAT I FEEL TO GET A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE NOW TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED.
SO, WE HAVE TO ENTRUST THAT AT THAT TIME WHEN WE BRING THIS FORWARD IN 2029, THAT THIS
[01:40:01]
COUNCIL DOES BELIEVE THAT THE VOTE OF A MAYOR IS VERY IMPORTANT.SO, I THINK THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
SO, YOU'RE GOING TO BRING THAT BACK TO US, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. I WOULD BRING THAT RESOLUTION BACK TO YOUR NEXT MEETING.
OKAY. I HEARD A WEEK LIKE NO NEXT MEETING.
MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF IT'S A, I REALLY WANT TO GET THE PULSE OF THE PEOPLE.
SINCE WE HAVE THIS GREAT NEW SOCIAL MEDIA GOING ON, WHICH I REALLY LIKE, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF I CAN DIRECT STAFF, SEE IF WE COULD POSE THIS QUESTION, JUST POSE IT. I JUST WANT TO HEAR IT.
I WANT TO GET SOME FEEDBACK. IS IT POSSIBLE? AND IF WE CAN, GREAT.
GET AN ALTERNATE WAY OF KIND OF GETTING OUT THERE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T MIND KNOCKING ON EVERY SINGLE DOOR IN THIS CITY, AND GOD KNOWS I HAVE AND IN CERTAIN AREAS, BUT I'LL DO THE WHOLE CITY IF I HAVE TO.
I KNOW THE CITY VERY WELL, BUT WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? ONLY JUST IN MY DISTRICT.
BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY, BUT PHYSICALLY HANDED OUT.
I MEAN, I THINK RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A TASK AT HAND.
WE HAVE A TASK AT HAND TO BRING THIS BACK.
WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS. IS THAT CORRECT? BUT THOUGH COUNCIL MEMBER KASH.
KASH, I THINK WE HEARD OF A POLL DOESN'T GET EVERYONE.
IT GETS A PORTION, AND THEY CAN EXPECT TO TAKE THAT OUT.
BUT I HEARD FROM ALMOST EVERYONE TONIGHT THAT NOT BASED ON THE TIMING, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE DIFFERENTIAL OF PEOPLE, WAS THAT THEY WOULD WANT THAT TO GO BACK TO A VOTE TO THE PEOPLE. SO, I THINK GOING BACK TO A VOTE TO THE PEOPLE IS KEY.
WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT, IF NOW'S A GOOD TIME OR RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION, IS A GOOD TIME BEFORE THE NEW CENSUS.
MR. MAYOR, I'M NOT SURE THERE WAS A SECOND, BUT WE NEED A MOTION YET.
OKAY? SO, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE READ IT TO MAKE SURE IT COVERS WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY WANTED.
SO ADDED THE FOUR-YEAR TERM AS I UNDERSTOOD.
OKAY. THAT WOULD BE A REQUEST TO BRING A RESOLUTION TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING TO ADD THIS TO THE ELECTION TO BE HELD IN 2030, AND IT WOULD BE FOR DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR WITH A FOUR-YEAR TERM.
IS THAT CORRECT, MR. CROSBY? YES, SIR.
THEN I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION.
GOOD DISCUSSION. THANK YOU ALL.
DOES ANYBODY NEED A BREAK? ARE WE OKAY? WE'RE GOOD. LET'S MOVE ON.
OKAY. DO YOU WANT CHOCOLATE? I FEEL LIKE I NEED A STEVE JOHNSON.
THERE'S CHOCOLATE. THERE'S CHOCOLATE UP HERE.
IF ANYBODY WANTS CHOCOLATE, IT'S CANDY FROM HALLOWEEN.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE JOHNSON? I'M GOOD RIGHT NOW.
LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE. THAT'S WHY I LOVE HIM.
ORDER IN THE COURT! LET'S MOVE ON TO NOW.
WE MOVE ON TO OUR THIRD MATTER.
OTHER MATTER. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE DISCUSSION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S INPUT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSION UP HERE.
WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE COME OUT WITH A DECISION THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT ALL OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE THIRD OTHER MATTER OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH SDI PRESENCE, LLC FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STAFFING AND CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER SERVICES CITY MANAGER DOMER.
PLEASE CALL FOR THE STAFF MEMBER WHO WILL BE REPORTING.
I'M GOING TO TURN TO MY LEFT, MR. MAYOR, AND ASK ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER J.R.
REYNOLDS TO PROVIDE THE STAFF REPORT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
AS PART OF CITY MANAGER DOMER'S REVIEW OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY, HE ALSO HAS DONE AN ANALYSIS, WITH SOME ASSISTANCE FROM PROFESSIONAL IT STAFF IN REVIEWING OUR IT SERVICES INTERNALLY IN THE CITY.
THAT ANALYSIS HAS PROVIDED THAT WE ARE LACKING IN SOME AREAS.
CITY COUNCIL MAY REMEMBER THAT WE HAD A PROFESSIONAL EXECUTIVE LEVEL INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER FOR A LONG TIME AT THE CITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT POSITION BECAME UNFILLED IN 2020 AND WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE, OVERSEEING IT FROM A PROFESSIONAL STANDPOINT SINCE THAT TIME.
WHAT'S COMING BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS THAT WE HAVE ENGAGED PRIMARILY THROUGH PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR POLICE SERVICES, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH SDI PRESENCE, AND SPECIFICALLY PHIL DANEY WITH THAT COMPANY TO GET US UP TO SPEED AND UP TO DATE.
[01:45:08]
AS YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CONNECTED TO DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SYSTEMS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WHERE SECURITY AND HAVING UP TO DATE TECHNOLOGY IS CRUCIAL, OR THE DOJ ACTUALLY WON'T LET US CONNECT TO THEIR SYSTEM IF WE DON'T MEET A CERTAIN STANDARD.AND SO THAT WAS PRIMARILY THE INTRODUCTION INTO SDI AND PHIL DANEY SERVICES OVERHAULING SOME OF THOSE AREAS.
AND WHAT IT'S TURNED INTO IS A REALIZATION THAT WE HAVE A NEED CITYWIDE FOR THOSE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
AND GETTING US UP TO DATE THAT THE CITY HALL, CITY YARD AND THE OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY OUTSIDE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE SECTION OF THE PURCHASING POLICY THAT'S BEING REFERENCED IN THE STAFF REPORT IS SIMILAR TO WHEN WE ENGAGE A CITY ATTORNEY OR CITY ENGINEER, AND THAT IS THE SECTION THAT WE WERE REFERENCING IN THE AGENDA REPORT, THAT IT FALLS UNDER THE SAME TYPE OF LEVEL WITH US MOVING TOWARD A CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER AND DIRECTING THAT THAT PERSON BE FILLED.
DANEY, BECAUSE OF HIS UNDERSTANDING OF OUR NETWORK, HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE IT SERVICES, AND IT NEEDS THAT THE CITY HAS.
THE PROPOSAL FROM SDI IS APPROXIMATELY $462,000 ANNUALLY, AND THAT'S BASED OFF OF WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS AS A COMPANY AND KNOWING WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT OUR SYSTEMS AND OUR NEEDS AND PROVIDING THE REQUISITE SUPPORT TO HELP GET US TO THAT LEVEL.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE WOULD SPEND THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
ALL WORK PERFORMED BY SDI HAS TO BE APPROVED AND GIVEN DIRECTION BY THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THEN ALSO MY ROLE WOULD BE OVERSEEING THE CONTRACT WITH SDI, BUT THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY THINK THAT THAT THAT THE CITY WOULD NEED.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR AT A STAFF LEVEL FOR AN APPROPRIATION TONIGHT TO GO TOWARDS THAT CONTRACT. WE HAVE BUDGETED FUNDS THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS FOR SERVICES WITH SDI.
BUT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING IS BECAUSE WE WERE DOING THAT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS THROUGH PUBLIC SAFETY, AS WE WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH THEM IN A MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT.
AND SO THAT'S THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THAT TONIGHT.
AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK AND REVIEW AND LOOK AT THE SERVICES AT A MORE IN-DEPTH LEVEL. AND THEN POSSIBLY IF WE DO IDENTIFY ISSUES IN NEEDING TO COME BACK AT MID-YEAR, WE WOULD COME BACK AT MID-YEAR WITH AN APPROPRIATION SPECIFIC AMOUNT.
BUT WE DO BELIEVE WE HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS RIGHT NOW TO COVER THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED.
AND THEN WE'LL TAKE SOME TIME WITH GETTING PHIL ON BOARD AT AN EXECUTIVE TEAM LEVEL, MUCH LIKE, AGAIN, OUR CITY ENGINEER AND CITY ATTORNEY, OF GOING THROUGH AND SEEING IF WE DO NEED TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL MONIES AND MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, IF I CAN.
CURRENTLY THROUGH THAT CONTRACT, WE'RE SPENDING FOR THE PD ALONE FOR LAST YEAR, THAT WAS ABOUT $228,000.
SO, YOU SUBTRACT THAT FROM THE 462.
IT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT A DOUBLING OF OUR COST.
WAS EXPLAINING, WE USED TO HAVE PRIMARILY IN-HOUSE STAFF OVER HERE.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE ONE POSITION NOW, AND WE HAVE BEEN RELYING ON SDI PRESENCE FOR PROBABLY THE LAST, WELL, SINCE JULY 1ST ON AN INTERIM CONTRACT.
AND BEFORE THEN THEY WERE HELPING US OUT ON A TIME AND MATERIAL.
SO, WHAT WE'RE ALSO DOING IS THE CITY HAS NOT REALLY FOCUSED ON THE IT INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO, WE HAD A LOT OF COSTS THAT WERE SPREAD OUT THROUGH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.
SO, FROM DOING THIS IN OTHER CITIES, WHAT I BELIEVE IS THAT WHEN WE KIND OF BRING IT ALL INTO ONE BUDGET, WE'RE GOING TO FIND THAT THE 462 ANNUAL COST IS ACTUALLY A RIGHT SIZE FOR WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
BUT WHAT WE'RE GETTING IS THAT EXPERTISE THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE ON STAFF DUE TO OUR SIZE.
WE'RE GETTING THAT CYBERSECURITY, WE'RE GETTING NETWORK ANALYSTS, WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF THINGS. AND SO, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE JUST HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO HERE.
AND BEING IN A CITY, THERE ARE SO MANY MORE THINGS THAT ARE CONNECTED.
IT WISE, I ALWAYS SAY THAT FINANCE AND HR WERE ALWAYS THE CIRCULATORY AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEM, AND IT IS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE CITY BODY.
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS TIED IN, LIKE J.R.
SAID ABOUT KLETZ AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR THE PD.
BUT WHEN YOU THINK OF THE AUTOMATIC VEHICLE LOCATION AND THE COMPUTERS THAT ARE IN ALL OF OUR FIRE VEHICLES, ALL OF OUR POLICE CARS, THE AXON BODY WORN CAMERAS, THE ENTERPRISE
[01:50:07]
SYSTEM FOR FINANCE, THE BILLING AND ALL THAT STUFF, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT DO.WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND GET AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT.
SO, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, BOTH OF US ARE HERE.
BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, ANY QUESTIONS? JUST ONE QUESTION OF WE WILL NOT THEN FILL THE POSITION THAT IS OPEN RIGHT NOW FOR THAT.
CORRECT. THANK YOU. IT IS REPLACING ALL THOSE.
WE'RE KEEPING THE ONE POSITION, BUT IT'S WE'RE USING THE SAVINGS AND ADDITIONAL STUFF FOR THE CONTRACT.
MR. DOMER, WE HEAR OFTEN IN THE NEWS ABOUT BREACHES OF SECURITY SYSTEMS, RANSOMS TO GET THE DATA BACK.
I'M ASSUMING THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS CYBERSECURITY.
WE YOU KNOW, WE KNOW OF CITIES IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY THAT HAVE BEEN HIT.
WHEN I WAS IN ORANGE COUNTY, A COUPLE CITIES AROUND THERE AND THEIR ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY WERE HIT.
THEY WERE DOWN FOR WEEKS UPON WEEKS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD COME TO A STANDSTILL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE OUTSIDE HELP.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT? WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? DON'T ALL JUMP UP THERE AT ONCE.
YES, SIR. HELLO, I'M MARK VAN HOLSBEECK.
I'M A RETIRED, AND I'VE BEEN IN IT FOR 42 YEARS, AND 25 OF THOSE YEARS WAS IN CHARGE OF CYBERSECURITY FOR FORTUNE 500.
SO, MY RESPONSIBILITY WAS FOR 30,000 EMPLOYEES IN 50 COUNTRIES.
SO, I KIND OF KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DEALING WITH.
I'M SURPRISED THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS SEEMS LOW BECAUSE MY DEPARTMENT WAS LIKE $5 VIDEO.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT.
BUT ANYWAYS, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING TO HELP IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN PROVIDE AS SUPPORT BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN THIS JOB FOR SOME TIME, AND I CAN PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT FROM MY EXPERIENCE.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, CYBERSECURITY IS NOTHING TO PLAY WITH BECAUSE IF IT HAPPENS, YOU ARE DOWN RIGHT. SO, IF YOU'D LEAVE, JUST MAKE SURE YOU CONNECT BEFORE YOU LEAVE WITH THE MANAGER. PLEASE APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. YOU BET. YEAH, YEAH.
AND I WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, BRING IT UP TO THE DAIS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? GO AHEAD.
I THINK IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
AND I'M HOPING THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME EFFICIENCIES AND OBVIOUSLY SOME EXTRA PROTECTIONS AND SECURITY FOR THE CITY WITH THIS MODERNIZATION.
SO, THANK YOU FOR THE RESEARCH ON THIS, AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM YOUR FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE COMPANY.
I KNOW OUR INDIVIDUAL ROMERO, WHO'S BEEN JUST AMAZING AT WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS WAY BEYOND THE REACH OF THE EMPLOYEES, AND THIS HAS TO BE AN OUTSOURCED SITUATION.
BUT I AM SO GLAD WE'RE DOING IT, AND I'M SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG, BUT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY MUSIC TO MY EARS BECAUSE NOTHING WORSE THAN A BREACH.
WE LOSE EVERYTHING. WE'RE DEAD BECAUSE WE ALL, WE'RE ALL ON THIS.
WE'RE ALL ON A COMPUTER. AND IF WE LOSE THAT, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
I IT LOOKS LIKE THE COMPANY IS A VERY GOOD COMPANY.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S USED IT. THEY'VE ALREADY TESTED IT.
SO, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH SDI PRESENCE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STAFFING AND CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER SERVICES.
OH MY GOD. THAT ITEM WAS APPROVED FIVE ZERO.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL. OKAY, THIS ONE'S GOING TO BE A CUTE ONE.
OKAY. LET'S SEE, WE HAVE THIS NEXT ONE.
WHERE ARE WE? HERE. WE'RE ON POOPY.
NO, I'VE GOT IT. I'M JUST TRYING TO CRACK MYSELF UP HERE.
I HAD TO DO IT. NOW WE MOVE ON TO OUR LAST OTHER MATTER.
IT'S NOT A LAUGHING MATTER. IT'S TRUE.
[01:55:02]
PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 1123, CURBING DOG WASTE.CITY MANAGER DOMER, WILL YOU BE REPORTING ON DOG WASTE? MR. DOMER, IF YOU PLEASE, WOLF.
YEAH. MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL POOP HAPPENS, AND WE HAVE NO WAY TO ENFORCE IT.
IT'S A SONG, JR, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. HEAR US OUT THERE.
AM I ON NOW? HARDLY, JR, SPEAKING OF TECHNOLOGY.
YELL. SO, WE WERE AT WITH MAYOR HEPBURN AND COUNCILMAN CROSBY, A MOBILE HOME PARK, TO TALK TO THE RESIDENTS.
AND IT WAS BROUGHT UP THAT THEY HAD A DOG POOPING PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CANNOT WALK THEIR DOGS IN THE PARK.
THEY HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE IN FRONT OF MR. CROSBY'S HOUSE.
YEAH, NO, I KNOW OTHER PLACES.
SO, WHAT THIS CITY DOES IS WE DO, BY REFERENCE, ADOPT THE COUNTY CODES.
BUT WE DID NOT ADOPT THE ONE THAT TALKED ABOUT SOME TYPE OF ENFORCING MECHANISM FOR CURBING YOUR DOGS. SO, THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD TO PUT IT INTO OUR CODES.
IT DOES PROVIDE CITATION AND OR ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION.
SO THAT MEANS THAT THE POLICE AND OR OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT MYSELF, IF WE WITNESS THE ACT, WE CAN PROVIDE A CITATION TO THE PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE IF THEY DO NOT PICK UP AFTER THEIR PET.
AND AGAIN, SO WE WILL PUT SOME SIGNS UP.
THERE'S A MINIMAL COST ON THAT.
BUT AND THERE WILL BE DNA TESTING.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A COST, BUT SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE PICKING UP AND BEING RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.
IT'S EASY TO PICK UP YOUR DOG WASTE.
AND NOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CITE YOU OR TO ADMIN CITE YOU.
THE FINES ARE $100 THE FIRST TIME, 200 THE SECOND TIME 500 THE THIRD TIME.
AND IF IT'S A FOURTH TIME, WE'LL PUT YOU UP ON THE WEBSITE WITH YOUR PICTURE.
ON A ON A MILK CARTON AND THE EVIDENCE ON A MILK CARTON.
IF THERE'S ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I ARE AVAILABLE.
WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE JUST GOING TO OPEN UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST.
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT REALLY WAS AN ISSUE.
AND IT'S NOT A LAUGHING MATTER BECAUSE I HAVE DOGS.
YOU BRING BAGS WITH YOU IF THEY DO THEIR BUSINESS.
MS. BEAUCHAMP, I'M RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A GREAT TALK.
YOU'RE GOING TO. SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT A CRAPPY ISSUE.
COME ON UP. I AM, BECAUSE I AM ONE OF THE HOUSES THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
SO, WITH THOSE CITATIONS, IF THEY ARE NOT PAID, WHAT'S THE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT LIKE YOUR FIRST YOUR SECOND, THIRD OFFENSE, AT WHAT POINT DOES IT BECOME YOU KNOW, IS IT A TICKET. LIKE IF YOU GO THROUGH THE FAST TRACK AND YOU DON'T PAY IT WITHIN 24 HOURS, YOU GET A CITATION AND THEN IF YOU DON'T PAY IT, IT GOES TO YOUR CAR REGISTRATION AND IT'S LIKE EXPONENTIALLY COST WHAT THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT WAS.
IS IT SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR DOES COMPOUND IT WILL NOT GO ON YOUR CAR REGISTRATION.
BUT SO, ALL THOSE OFFENSES ARE WITHIN A YEAR.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT COULD HAPPEN TEN TIMES IN A YEAR.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT 100 TO 200, THEN 500, 500, 500.
AND THEN CITY COUNCIL ON AN ADMIN SITE HAS THE ABILITY TO PUT IT ONTO YOUR PROPERTY TAXES IF YOU'RE NOT PAYING.
OKAY. AND THEN SECONDLY, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO FACILITATE THAT MOBILE HOME PARK OR ALL THE MOBILE HOME PARKS HAVE A STATION WITH BAGS, MAKE IT BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY PAYS $0.10 FOR THE MARKET BAGS ANYMORE, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO USE THEIR REUSABLE BAGS TO PICK UP DOG POOP.
AND I THINK THAT PLASTIC BAG WAS A BIG SOLUTION THAT THEY TOOK AWAY FROM DOG OWNERS.
SO, I THINK WE NEED TO AT LEAST HELP FACILITATE THAT TO BE DONE, BECAUSE I SEE SO MANY DOG OWNERS THAT DON'T HAVE BAGS, LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? I KNOW SOME OF THE PARKS HAVE.
THEY HAVE LITTLE DOG WALKING AREAS, AND THEY HAVE THE DOGGY BAG STATION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONE IN FOOTHILL TERRACE, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO WALK INSIDE THE UNIT.
THE DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WALK INSIDE THE.
WHICH IS AN ATROCITY FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE TO HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE OF THEIR PARK TO WALK THEIR DOG. BUSIEST STREETS THAT WE HAVE IN LA VERNE, WHICH IS WHITE AVENUE, FRUIT STREET. BUT THE HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH THE CARTS ARE ALLOWED.
SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION.
MR. DOMER, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS TO BE, OR THE OFFICER CITING HAS TO WITNESS THIS INFRACTION. YES, IT WOULD.
[02:00:01]
A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE INCIDENT OR A VIDEO.I'LL DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW.
NO MISDEMEANOR INFRACTION HAS TO BE WITNESSED BY THE BY THE OFFICER.
I THINK TO MS. BEAUCHAMP'S POINT, IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE ARE GOING TO PUT UP SIGNAGE ANYWAY THAT SAYS THAT THERE IS A FINE FOR DOG WASTE.
JUST PUT THE LITTLE DOGGIE BAG DISPENSER THERE AND HOPEFULLY THAT PROMOTES PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES.
I THINK MS. BEAUCHAMP WOULD LIKE ONE ON HER LAWN.
I'LL SEND YOU MY SECURITY CAMERA VIDEOS.
BELIEVE ME. ALSO, I KNOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT ONE OF THEIR COMMUNITY EVENTS HAD LITTLE FIRE HYDRANTS THAT HAD HAD THE BAGS, DOGGIE BAGS IN THEM.
THEY GAVE THEM AWAY. SO, ANOTHER REASON TO VISIT AND GO TO OUR OPEN HOUSES AND ALL THAT.
WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO DO A LITTLE SOCIAL OUTREACH AND SAY, OKAY, THIS HAS BEEN PASSED, PLEASE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE A GRACE PERIOD.
BUT AT THAT POINT, WHEN IT COMES INTO EFFECT, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE DO. HAVE YOU SCHEDULED A MINUTE WITH THE MAYOR ON PICKING UP POO? OH, YEAH. OH, YOU CAN TAKE YOUR DOG OUT AND DEMONSTRATIONS RIGHT THERE.
MY TWO DOGS ARE RELIGIOUSLY IN THE MORNING.
THEY'RE RELIGIOUS. WE'LL JUST DO THAT RIGHT THERE.
WE HAVEN'T CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'RE JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME WITH THIS.
YOU WERE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME WITH ME TO WALK MY TWO DOGS.
IF YOU WANT TO DO A MINUTE WITH THE MAYOR AS WE'RE.
AND FILM. YEAH, I'M JUST CURIOUS, BECAUSE I AM AN OWNER OF TWO DOGS, AND WE DO TAKE THREE WALKS A DAY.
SO, I DO SEE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, POOP ON THE WAY WHEREVER WE WALK.
BUT I KNOW THAT AT LAS FLORES, LAS FLORES PARK, RIGHT.
I DO TAKE MY DOGS THERE SOMETIMES.
AND THERE IS A SIGN THERE THAT, NO, THERE AREN'T ANY DOGS ALLOWED THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S AN ORDINANCE OR IF YOU CAN BE FINED FOR JUST WALKING YOUR DOGS AT THE PARK THERE.
BUT THEN I KNOW I GO AND WALK THEM AT KOONS PARK, AND THERE ARE DOGGIE BAGS THERE AT KOONS PARK, BUT I'VE NEVER NOTICED A SIGN SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOUR DOGS AREN'T ALLOWED THERE, BUT I THINK LAS FLORES FOR SURE.
THERE IS A LOT OF DOG WALKS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WALKING THEIR DOGS THERE.
SO, I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE SIGNAGE AND HOW YOU JUST RATTED OUT HALF THE POPULATION OF LA VERNE. WELL, ONE OF THESE ONE OF THESE DAYS IS AN ORDINANCE AND WE'LL DOG PARK, BUT I'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT, WON'T WE? MR. DOMER, THERE ARE SEVERAL PARKS THAT DO ALLOW DOGS ON LEASH.
THERE'S NO DOG PARK WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A DOG OFF LEASH.
GENERALLY, IT'S INVOLVED WITH HOW MANY PLAYGROUNDS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE THERE.
WELL, IN THE EATING AREAS AND THE CORRECT SHARED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS WELL.
SO SURE, SOCCER GAMES ARE PLAYED THERE AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.
OKAY. I WAS JUST I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS AT LAS FLORES PARK, THAT SIGNAGE, IF IT WAS AN ORDINANCE OR NOT, IF IT WAS IF I, YOU KNOW.
YEAH. ACTUALLY, POLICE GOING INTO THE SAME SECTION ARE THAT THIS ORDINANCE, IF APPROVED, WILL GO INTO THAT SAME SECTION AS WHERE THAT ORDINANCE IS.
SO THAT IS AN ORDINANCE NO DOGS ALLOWED.
SO THAT AND THERE HAVE BEEN TICKETS PROVIDED ON THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ISSUES IN THE PARK WHERE WE CAN GET THE POLICE THERE OR NOW, WE HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. SO, I'LL WATCH OUT FOR THEM.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? I WOULD LOVE TO CLOSE THIS.
PUBLIC COMMENT. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK UP THE DAIS.
I THINK WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS. IS THAT CORRECT? I WILL MOVE.
YOU WILL MOVE? YES. IT'S FITTING.
MAY I READ THE TITLE? YES, PLEASE. FOR CRACKING OURSELVES UP.
I'M SORRY. I BELIEVE MR. JOHNSON. SECONDED. SURE.
THIS WOULD BE AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
CITY OF LA VERNE. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AMENDING CHAPTER 6.16 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE RELATIVE TO DOG WASTE.
WE FINALLY CLOSE THIS CRAPPY CHAPTER.
OH, SORRY, I HAD TO THROW IT OUT THERE.
WE NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THOSE WISHING TO PUBLIC ITS PUBLIC COMMENTS IN ORAL COMMUNICATIONS.
TIME SET ASIDE FOR ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA. I'LL REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE BROWN ACT PROHIBITS THE CITY COUNCIL FROM TALKING OR ENGAGING IN DISCUSSION ON ANY ITEM NOT APPEARING ON THE POSTED AGENDA.
HOWEVER, YOUR CONCERNS MAY BE REFERRED TO STAFF OR PLACED FOR DISCUSSION AT A LATER DATE. THERE IS A THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
WE'LL FIGURE THAT ONE OUT. ALSO, THE CITY OF LA VERNE WILL ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
[02:05:01]
THROUGH ZOOM UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE MEETING BY THOSE PHYSICALLY IN ATTENDANCE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
THIS TIME, THOSE WISHING TO MAKE COMMENTS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA AND ARE HERE IN THE CHAMBER CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
ESPERANZA, MY COMMENT IS ABOUT THE VIDEO FEED THAT COMES FOR THIS MEETING.
IF ANYBODY'S SEEN IT LIKE THAT RIGHT THERE, I COULD BE TALKING TO A WALL, AND NOBODY WOULD KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
SO, ANYBODY WATCHING THIS, AND I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY SEE WHAT THIS AUDIENCE SEES, AND THAT IS YOUR REACTIONS AND YOUR FOCUS ON THIS PERSON WHO IS SPEAKING HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WE WANT YOU TO BE FOCUSED ON THE PERSON AND NOT CHECKING YOUR FACEBOOK FEED KIND OF THING.
SO, I WOULD ASK THAT IF THERE'S SOME WAY THAT IT COULD LOOK AT SPLITTING A SCREEN, A SECOND CAMERA THAT WOULD BE ON YOU ALL THE TIME AND ALLOW THE VIDEO FEED TO NOT ONLY SHOW THE SPEAKER, BUT ALSO THE CITY COUNCIL.
I THINK THAT THAT WOULD CREATE THE SAME EXPERIENCE.
FOR THIS AUDIENCE AS ALSO THE VIDEO AUDIENCE.
SO, MY SUGGESTION, MY SOLUTION.
I'D LIKE THE CITY TO LOOK INTO THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PERRY, I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. IF YOU JUST PLEASE COME UP, IF YOU JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS AMJAD MAHMOOD KHAN.
I'M A RESIDENT UP IN MARSHALL CANYON IN SANTIAGO.
SANTIAGO I PROFESSIONALLY FIRST, GREETINGS OF PEACE AND ASSALAMUALAIKUM.
I'M A MUSLIM AMERICAN LIVING IN THE CITY.
I HAVE PRACTICED LAW FOR TWO DECADES AS A COMMERCIAL LITIGATOR.
I'M A PARTNER AT A LAW FIRM IN LOS ANGELES.
I ALSO TEACH CONTRACT LAW AT UCLA LAW SCHOOL.
BUT WHAT BRINGS ME HERE THIS EVENING IS I WISH TO MAKE A FEW OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PEACE BUILDING AND INCLUSIVITY AT A TIME OF GRAVE CONFLICT IN THE WORLD.
WITHOUT DELVING INTO THE DETAILS OF THAT CONFLICT, I CAN SAY, AS A MUSLIM AMERICAN WHO WENT TO LAW SCHOOL A WEEK INTO 9/11 AND WATCHED AND OBSERVED THE HORRORS OF THAT DAY OVER 22 YEARS AGO AT HARVARD, WHEN I WAS MY FIRST WEEK THERE, AND I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY ELENA KAGAN, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE KAGAN WAS MY PROFESSOR, AND SHE INTERRUPTED THAT CLASS, AND WE SAW THAT HORRIBLE DAY UNFOLD.
I WAS ONE OF THREE MUSLIMS IN THE ENTIRE LAW SCHOOL AT THE TIME.
MY PARENTS HAD DROPPED ME OFF TO ATTEND MY FIRST WEEK OF LAW SCHOOL, AND THEY HAD TAKEN THE SAME FLIGHT THAT WAS HIJACKED FROM BOSTON TO LA ONE WEEK EARLIER.
SO, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN ON THAT FLIGHT.
I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THAT FLIGHT, BUT I ONLY MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE.
THE FEELING THAT I HAD IN THE MONTHS AFTER THAT.
AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE IN THE CITY OF CHINO HILLS, AND A SOCAL KID THROUGH AND THROUGH WAS ONE OF HORROR THAT THE PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED THOSE ATROCITIES DID SO IN THE NAME OF MY BEAUTIFUL FAITH, AND I THEN SPENT THOSE MONTHS HAVING TO FEEL, OR PERHAPS UNFAIRLY, BEAR THE BURDEN OF HAVING TO EXPLAIN THOSE DESPICABLE ACTS AND CLARIFY MY FAITH.
AND AT THAT TIME, IT WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE WERE INCIDENCES OF HATE AND OPPOSITION THAT I FACED PERSONALLY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PERSEVERE AND REALLY LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE.
STRANGELY, I HAVE THAT FEELING RIGHT NOW AND I COME HERE THIS EVENING.
WITH A LOT OF ANXIETY BECAUSE I SEE SUCH CONFLICT, SUCH PAIN.
AND THAT PAIN GOES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF MY STREET IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF LA VERNE.
IN MY CITY THERE ARE MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS FROM TURKEY, LEBANON, JORDAN AND PALESTINE.
THESE ARE MY IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS, THE PALESTINIAN MUSLIM FAMILY WHO LIVES IN THE CORNER. THIS BEAUTIFUL COUPLE, WHO'VE LIVED THERE FOR 30 YEARS WERE IN TEARS WATCHING THE, THE HORRORS UNFOLD IN GAZA AND CHILDREN DYING, AND THEY'VE HAD LOVED ONES THERE.
MY JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHO I LOVE VERY MUCH ARE IN PAIN AS WELL, AND THEY FELT THAT PAIN IN THEIR HEARTS.
[02:10:01]
AND I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THEM AS WELL AND OFFERED MY CONDOLENCES.BUT WHAT I WISH TO SAY IS THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF LA VERNE BUCKS ALL THE TRENDS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO OPPOSE THIS HATE.
WHAT I MEAN IS, WE IN THIS CITY ARE A LIVING EMBODIMENT AND EXAMPLE OF WHAT INCLUSIVITY AND UNITY MEANS.
YESTERDAY I SAT WITH MUSLIM, JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN PARENTS AS OUR CHILDREN.
PLAYED LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL AT PELOTA PARK, AND MY SON IS ON THE INTERMEDIATE LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM.
WE'VE BEEN RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY FOR THREE YEARS.
I MOVED HERE BECAUSE I LOVED THE CITY.
I WENT TO CLAREMONT MCKENNA NOT TOO FAR AWAY.
WE CHOSE THE CITY BECAUSE OF ALL OF ITS QUALITIES.
I ALSO DROPPED MY DAUGHTER OFF TO SCHOOL AT OAK MESA THIS MORNING, AND THERE I SEE ARAB AMERICAN FAMILIES DROPPING OFF THEIR KIDS AND JEWISH AMERICAN FAMILIES DROPPING OFF THEIR KIDS AND PEOPLE OF FAITH AND NO FAITH.
AND THIS IS THE CITY THAT WE LOVE AND LIVE IN.
AND I SAY THAT RIGHT NOW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE MUST CALM TENSIONS, THAT AS I SIT HERE RIGHT NOW, I HEARD OF A JEWISH MAN WHO DIED AT THE PROTESTS THROUGH SOME UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT.
I HEAR OF THIS WONDERFUL BOY WHO WAS KILLED IN CHICAGO, WHO WAS MUSLIM AMERICAN.
I SEE THE RISE OF ANTI-SEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA RISING ALL AROUND US.
AND IT PAINS ME REALLY BAD ENOUGH TO BE HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE BEFORE ALL OF YOU AND CITY COUNCIL.
AND I WONDERED, WHAT CAN WE REALLY DO? WHAT CAN WE DO? AND I'LL JUST SAY THESE FEW POINTS AND I'LL END.
WE MUST PROTECT INNOCENT LIFE.
WE ALL ARE MOTHERS AND FATHERS.
SOME OF US HAVE CHILDREN AND WE MUST LEARN TO LOVE EACH OTHER.
IT'S VERY HARD TO HATE SOMEONE UP CLOSE WHEN THEY'RE YOUR NEIGHBORS.
AND I KNOW THAT IN THIS CITY WE MUST SHOW LOVE FOR ALL AND HATRED FOR NONE.
THIS IS THE MOTTO OF THE COMMUNITY THAT I BELONG TO, THE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY.
WE MUST REJECT ANTI-SEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA AND OTHER FORMS OF HATE.
AND WE MUST PRAY FOR PEACE, JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION.
AND EACH OF US HERE, WHILE WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS CONFLICT, HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE RIGHT NOW, TODAY, IN 2023, AS WE SEE UNPRECEDENTED WORLD EVENTS TO REALIZE AND BE SO, SO PRAYERFUL THAT WE ARE BLESSED TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE THERE IS THIS DIVERSITY AMONG US, AND THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND HAVE OUR KIDS PLAY TOGETHER AND GO TO SCHOOL TOGETHER AND GO TO OUR RESPECTIVE PLACES OF WORSHIP.
SO, WITH THAT, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THOSE REFLECTIONS THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT JUST PUT EVERYTHING IN PERSPECTIVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORDS.
FIRSTLY, I WANTED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW I'M STILL PAYING ATTENTION TO THE HUNTINGTON BEACH LAWSUIT PERTAINING TO THE RENA NUMBERS, AND LUCKILY FOR THEM, THE LAWSUIT HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY PUT ON HOLD.
THERE IS A SIMILAR COURT CASE THAT'S BEING HEARD PRIOR TO THE PURSUANT OF THAT CASE.
SO, I'M HOPING PRAYING POSITIVE VIBES, WHATEVER YOUR JIVE IS, THAT THAT WILL WORK IN THEIR FAVOR. AND THEN ALL THE CITIES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAN START TO QUESTION THE CALCULATION OF THE RENA NUMBERS.
SECONDLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. JOHNSON FOR HIS FORTITUDE AND PROMISING TO KEEP HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE OF TRYING TO PROVIDE TO THE RESIDENTS TO GO BACK TO AN ELECTED MAYOR.
I SEE, I HEARD IT IN YOUR VOICE.
I HEARD YOUR CONVICTION, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I HAVE TO SAY, THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, I'M A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I REALIZE THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT NEED THAT MONEY.
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT YOU ANSWER TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AND THE MAJORITY OF THE CONSTITUENTS HAVE ASKED FOR THIS.
JUST LIKE ALL THOSE YEARS WE WERE ASKING FOR A FORENSIC AUDIT.
[02:15:01]
WE NEVER GOT IT.NOW WE'RE ASKING FOR THE ELECTED MAYOR.
AND LIKE MR. JOHNSON SAID, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE TAXPAYERS WANT.
IT'S OUR MONEY. WE SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN THAT MONEY AND HOW IT IS SPENT.
SO, I WISH THAT THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED AND ALSO PERTAINING TO THAT IN THE READING OF THE RESOLUTION OF 23-76 BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, SHE SKIPPED AN ENTIRE LINE.
SO, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT INVALIDATES THE LEGALITY OF THAT.
SO, THE PART THAT WAS SKIPPED WAS THE.
THE PART SHE READ STATE OF CALIFORNIA CALLING FOR AND THEN WENT TO TUESDAY, MARCH 5TH. SO, IF YOU GO BACK AND WATCH THE VIDEO, SHE SKIPPED THE LINE.
THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT INVALIDATES IT, BUT IT MAY BE IMPORTANT.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU BECAUSE GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY THIRD YEAR OF ATTENDING EVERY SINGLE MEETING, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TWO THAT I DID THROUGH ZOOM.
YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE STARTING TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS, AND THAT REALLY RESONATES WITH US. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE FACING REELECTION, THAT COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOU. SO, I APPRECIATE YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTIVENESS.
AND HOPEFULLY GOING FORWARD, YOU'LL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MS. BEAUCHAMP. ANYONE ELSE ON PUBLIC COMMENT? MR. GORDON, YOU ARE NEXT.
CRAIG CHOW. I AM 27 YEARS OLD, AND I AM AN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER BY TRADE, AND I'M NOT A LA VERNE RESIDENT, BUT I TOTALLY INTEND TO BE.
I WENT THROUGH THE ARCADIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, WENT TO CAL POLY SAN LUIS OBISPO FOR SCHOOL, AND THEN CAME HERE AND STARTED WORKING.
I HAVE A WARNING ACTUALLY, FOR YOU ALL.
IT'S ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CURRENT GRID, AND I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT ASSEMBLY BILL 1033.
WHICH IS THE CONDO-IZATION OF ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO BE HONEST, I COME TO YOU ON THIS STAND AS A NIMBY, WHICH HAS NO PROFESSIONAL BENEFIT TO MYSELF.
SO, THE WAY I SEE IT, THERE ARE ACTUALLY THREE MAJOR HOUSING BILLS RIGHT NOW.
SB 13, SB 9, AND THIS AB 1033.
AND IN TWO MONTHS, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION TO OPT IN OR OPT OUT.
AND THE WAY I SEE IT, IT'S TRULY A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.
AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY OPINION TO HOPEFULLY GIVE YOU GUYS MORE INFORMATION WHEN YOU GUYS CONSIDER THAT CHOICE.
SO, SB 9, SB 13, THAT'S NOT IN YOUR PURVIEW TO STOP.
AND SO, THE WAY I SEE THE FREE MARKET OF DEVELOPMENT MOVING IS THAT.
PEOPLE WILL BUILD AND DEVELOP WHATEVER THEY CAN TO MAKE MONEY WHEREVER THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES. AND THE DAM IS STARTING TO CRACK.
I'VE HEARD SOME HORROR STORIES OF PEOPLE TRYING TO BUILD AN ADU, AND THE TRANSFORMERS ARE OVERLOADED, AND PEOPLE HAVE ADUS THAT ARE SITTING EMPTY, PASSED FINAL INSPECTION, AND THEY CAN'T GET THEIR INTERMITTENT CONNECTION AGREEMENT WITH SOCAL EDISON AND SOCAL EDISON.
AND FORGIVE MY LANGUAGE, THEY'RE KIND OF ASSHOLES, BUT THEY WON'T INVESTIGATE THE STATUS OF THE TRANSFORMER ON YOUR BLOCK UNTIL YOU HAVE A BUILDING PERMIT.
SO, THEY'RE ASKING HOMEOWNERS TO COMMIT $30,000 IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS INVESTMENT TO SEE IF IT'S EVEN GOING TO WORK.
AND SO, I SEE THIS AS A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE'RE A COMMUNITY, AND ON EVERY BLOCK, WE'RE PLAYING HOT POTATO WITH THE TRANSFORMERS.
SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IF YOU DECIDE TO ALLOW THE CONDO-IZATION OF ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY, IT MIGHT SOUND BAD ON THE SURFACE, BUT YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PIGEONHOLE THE PRIVATE MARKET INTO SOILING THEMSELVES INTO ONLY BEING ABLE TO BUILD ONE MORE UNIT.
THE GRID THAT WE HAVE NOW IS INTENDED FOR R-1 ZONING.
IF YOU PUSH IT WITH NINE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PUT FOUR UNITS ON EVERY BLOCK.
AND YEAH, THERE'S THIS THERE'S THIS THING ABOUT NON-OWNER OCCUPANCY.
AND WE'VE HAD A GREAT FOUR YEARS IN MY BUSINESS JUST DOING THIS, BECAUSE THE UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THESE ADUS BUILT NOW ARE GRANDFATHERED TO BE TO ALLOW TO BECOME
[02:20:05]
INVESTMENT PROPERTIES.AND YOU GUYS MAY IF GAVIN NEWSOM DOES NOT RENEW NON-OWNER OCCUPANCY, YOU GUYS MAY OPT OUT AND SAY ALL THE FUTURE ADUS, YOU'LL HAVE TO BE OWNER OCCUPIED, BUT YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO TO PEOPLE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM THAT AND PUSHING THEIR DEVELOPMENTS TOWARDS SB9 STYLES.
THAT'S THE TRIPLEXES OF EVERY SINGLE LOT.
AND THERE'S NO THERE'S NO GAME PLAN FOR THE TRANSFORMERS.
SO, WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, I MEAN, BEING A YIMBY HELPS ME, HELPS MY BUSINESS.
BUT I COME TO YOU TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS.
IF WE'RE GOING TO POP THE DAM, WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS PREPARE THE TRENCHES SO THAT WATER DOESN'T FLOOD US, YOU KNOW.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? DOES EVERYTHING I'M SAYING MAKE SENSE? YES. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? OH. MS. BRANOH. YEAH.
ME AGAIN. SO, IF I DON'T COME HERE, I FEEL LIKE I WILL MISS A LOT OF THINGS.
SO, I PROBABLY SHOULD COMMIT TO COME EVERY TIME.
SO. I JUST WANT TO; I AM SO APPRECIATIVE OF JOHNSON.
WHAT ABOUT HIM FOR REALLY KEEP YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO LET US HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO RETHINK, MAYBE JUST TO FIX THE PROBLEM WE FACE.
MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO AT THAT TIME, I WAS THE KIND OF VERY EARLY PERSON TO NOTICE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE LIKE A FIRE DISTRICT.
WE ARE PROBABLY SOME DISTRICTS WILL LOSE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE FOR MAYOR.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO WILL BECOME MAYOR.
JUST GO COMPETE RIGHT AFTER MANY YEARS LATER, I SEE 2032.
IT'S REALLY FEEL VERY DISCOURAGED.
DO I STILL LIVE HERE? LET ME COUNT. MAYBE AFTER MY SECOND KIDS GRADUATE, MAYBE WE STILL DECIDE TO STAY IN LA VERNE BECAUSE THEY LOVE HERE.
THEY WERE BORN HERE, GROW UP HERE, SO I JUST WANT TO.
TELL YOU GUYS WHAT I FEEL ABOUT THE VOTING, RIGHT? BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DOESN'T REALLY CARE.
THINK ABOUT THE TURNOUT, RIGHT? EVERY TIME, EVERY TWO YEARS, THE TURNOUT PRETTY MUCH LOW 30%, 50%.
I JUST FEEL LIKE AMERICANS ARE SO SPOILED, THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW IMPORTANT VOTING IS BECAUSE WE VOTE FOR SOMEBODY NOT REALLY DO THE JOB SO THAT THE BAD BILL KEEP COMING.
JUST LIKE THIS YOUNG MAN SAID, THE BAD BILL COMING IS REALLY WILL FLOOD THE CITY.
WE HAVE A VERY HORRIBLE SITUATION.
IT COULD BE AS MY EXPERIENCE; I REALLY INVOLVE A LOT TO THE BONITA SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THE PEOPLE WHO I KNOW.
THEY STAND HERE JUST NOW BECAUSE WE ARE EXCELLENT DISTRICT BECAUSE WE VOTE FOR THE RIGHT PERSON OR WRONG PERSON IS REALLY INFLUENCE ALL THE COMMUNITY.
SO, WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THE VOTING RIGHTS IS VERY VALUABLE.
IT'S NOT REALLY LIKE $100,000.
OH, WE PROBABLY SAVE THAT MONEY AND THEN NOT GO TO LIKE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
PEOPLE DON'T CARE. AND AFTER NINE YEARS LATER, NINE YEARS LATER, YES.
BUT WHY IS SO IMPORTANT? WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON NEXT YEAR, MARCH 5TH.
BECAUSE I GROW UP AND BORN IN COMMUNIST COUNTRY, OKAY? MY PARENTS DID NOT ALLOW ME TO TALK ABOUT ANY POLITICS IN PUBLIC.
I WILL NOT LET THEM KNOW THIS LINK.
RIGHT? THEY WILL JUST STAY BACK, RIGHT? CHINESE WOMAN, RIGHT? DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN CHINESE CULTURAL REVOLUTION.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DIE? INCLUDING MY TWO UNCLES.
I WATCHED JIMMY YESTERDAY SHOW.
NO, HE ESCAPED THE COMMUNIST COUNTRY.
IT'S A GOOD DEAL. IT'S NOT LOVE I LOVE SO LOUD.
AND I JUST WANT TO TELL MY SON PROPERLY.
OUR STORY. 19 YEARS OLD, 19 YEARS, MAYBE.
MARRIAGE. IT'S A GOOD DEAL, RIGHT? BECAUSE I WANT TO ESCAPE FROM COMMUNIST COUNTRY.
HOW IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET CHANCE TO VOTE? AMERICANS ARE SO SPOILED; THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW.
FOR US, IT'S JUST LIKE, RUN AWAY FROM A COUNTRY WITHOUT YOU COULDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
YOU ZIP YOUR LIP. EVEN RIGHT NOW, MY PARENTS, THEY ALL LIVE HERE.
THEY STILL FEEL SCARED BECAUSE IF I SAY SOMETHING WRONG, I WILL GET IN THE JAIL, DIE.
I DON'T EVEN USE IT AS A NUMBER OR A NAME.
I LOVE AMERICA, I GIVE UP EVERYTHING, MARRY MY HUSBAND, BECOME A HOUSEWIFE.
I HAVE TWO KIDS, GROW UP IN BONITA SCHOOL DISTRICT.
MY KIDS WENT TO [INAUDIBLE] BECOME VERY EXCELLENT KIDS.
EIGHTH STREET STUDENT IN BONITA HIGH TONIGHT.
[02:25:02]
HE WENT THERE TONIGHT FOR THE TRADE.RIGHT. I SAY WHAT I'M NOT GOING TO I'M GOING TO GO TO A GO TO A UCLA.
DO YOU THINK YOU ALREADY GIVE THE OFFER.
HE IS SO CONFIDENT HE WILL GO TO UCLA.
MAJOR PHILOSOPHY NOT POLITICAL SCIENCE BECAUSE TOO HOT OKAY.
SO THAT'S MY KIDS GROW UP HERE BONITA SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO, I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW HOW I LOVE THIS COUNTRY, HOW I LOVE OUR LA VERNE THE PEOPLE I KNOW, WONDERFUL PEOPLE, PROFESSIONALS WHO LOVE HERE.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE OPINION, WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO HEAR, TO ARGUE, TO GIVE OPINION, TO GO TO THE TWO THREE UNLESS WE GET CHANCE.
SO, I'M SO APPRECIATE THIS ON THE TABLE.
JUST TONIGHT. I DIDN'T KNOW IT HAPPENED.
I'M SO GLAD. AND THEN SEE 2032 TOO LATE.
I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE FIXED LIKE NEXT YEAR.
RIGHT? BUT WE GET OPPORTUNITY.
I HOPE EVERYBODY AWARE THAT BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE, THEY WERE SO DISAPPOINTED AND SO MAD TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THEY FIGURED OUT, THEY NO LONGER HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTED MAYOR. SO, I HOPE EVERYBODY REALLY CONSIDER THAT.
REAL QUICKLY, I DIDN'T DO IT IN ANNOUNCEMENTS.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, I CAME HERE ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND SPOKE ON BEHALF OF MEALS ON WHEELS, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY PUBLICLY, THANK YOU TO THE LA VERNE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND THE LA VERNE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR DONATIONS TO A GOOD CAUSE.
AND TRUST ME, IT'S GOING TO GO TO A GOOD USE.
AND THEN I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR VOTES THIS EVENING AS A COLLECTIVE BODY REGARDING THE VOTE.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF TALENTED PEOPLE.
AS AN EXAMPLE, THAT GENTLEMAN WHO OFFERED HIS SERVICES.
THERE'S LOTS OF GREAT PEOPLE IN THE CITY WITH LOTS OF TALENT, AND I LOVE IT WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO STEP UP.
AND I THINK THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THOSE PEOPLE DO EXIST IN OUR CITY BY CHOOSING WHO YOU CHOSE THIS EVENING.
AND THEN, STEVE, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT FELT THE WAY WHEN I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT DISTRICT VOTING, BUT I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU STICK AROUND FOR ANOTHER TERM AND IN 2030 OR 2029, YOU NEED SOMEBODY TO WALK THE STREETS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY KNOWS THAT DISTRICT VOTING AND THE AT LARGE, AT LARGE MAYOR IN PARTICULAR OPTION IS THERE FOR THEM TO MAKE A CHOICE ON.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. GABALDON. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? GARY, I WAS WAITING FOR YOU OVER HERE.
COME ON. HE WAS WAVING THE WHOLE TIME.
OKAY. TWO THINGS ON THE HOUSE THAT CAUGHT FIRE OVER A YEAR AGO ON BASELINE.
SAT THERE. THEN THEY PUT A YELLOW STRIP AROUND THEIR CAUTION.
STILL SITTING THERE, SET THERE.
THEN THEY COME UP AND BUILD A FENCE AROUND IT.
NOW THEY TOOK SOME OF THE ROOF OFF.
IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE DONE TO GET THAT OUT OF THERE? SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN THERE.
I KNOW YOU'RE DEALING WITH INSURANCE AND ALL THAT.
I'LL RELAY THAT TO US. I KNOW THAT THERE'S A PROCESS, AND I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY A PROCESS FOR THE INSURANCE.
IT SEEMS LIKE ANY FIRE WE'VE HAD; IT TAKES FOREVER TO GET THOSE TAKEN CARE OF.
IT'S REALLY SAD. WELL, IT'S NOT JUST BASELINE.
IT'S SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WE'VE HAD.
AND IT TOOK SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR OR SOMETIMES LONGER.
BUT WE'LL CHECK ON THAT FOR YOU.
OKAY. SECOND THING ON YOUR DOG CRAP STORY.
I HAD A LADY GO BY MY HOUSE AND HER DOG LEFT A DEPOSIT.
I GO OUT THERE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BAGS, I HAVE A BAG FOR YOU.
SO, I FOLLOWED HER HOME, AND IT IS AT A DISTANCE.
AND I LEFT A DEPOSIT AT HER PLACE.
WAS IT BURNING IN A BAG? NO, I DUMPED IT OUT.
SO THAT'S IT? THAT IS THE BEST CODE ENFORCEMENT I'VE EVER SEEN.
GARY, YOU'RE NOT LEAVING THIS ON MY LAWN.
THE LADY CONTROLS HER PROPERTY, SO BY RETURNING IT TO HER PROPERTY, IT'S.
THANK YOU. YOU KNOW WHAT? WE APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S A GOOD LAUGH.
THANK YOU. WE'LL CHECK ON THAT.
I WOULD NEVER, EVER DOUBT YOU, GARY.
THANK YOU. WE'LL CHECK ON THE OTHER ONE THOUGH TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
[02:30:02]
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.MR. GALLEGOS AND THEN MR. WARD. NO, NO.
ONE OF YOU GET UP HERE, WOULD YOU, PLEASE.
YOU HAD COOKIES LOADED WITH SUGAR.
MR. GALLEGOS? I JUST WANTED TO THANK MR. KHAN FOR BEING HERE AND FOR SHARING HIS THOUGHTS OF PEACE AND HIS EXPERIENCES, AND ALSO FOR THE INCLUSION OF HIS NEIGHBORS, WHETHER THEY ARE JEWISH, MUSLIM, PALESTINIAN, LEBANESE AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT FRIENDS UP THERE IN MARSHALL CANYON.
MR. CONOCO'S THE CRY FOR INCLUSION AND SUPPORT OF OUR NEIGHBORS HERE IN LA VERNE, RIGHT IN THE DIVERSITY THAT WE HAVE.
SO, COUNCIL, I GUESS I COME TO SAY TO YOU, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS, RIGHT? AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO SHOW THEM SUPPORT? WE'RE LOOKING OR WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT WORKS WITH SUPPORT OF THE DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN LA VERNE CELEBRATE THOSE, SUPPORT THEM. AND I'M LOOKING AT EACH ONE OF YOU AND CITY MANAGER AS WELL, TO REALLY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT A COMMITTEE WHO SUPPORTS EVERYONE IN THIS CITY, WHETHER THEY LIVE IN MARSHALL CANYON OR WHETHER THEY LIVE, YOU KNOW, WHERE I LIVE AND BELOW FOOTHILL, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF COMMITTEE IN LA VERNE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS GALLEGOS.
AND ECHOING YVONNE'S COMMENTS.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CITY FINDING ON THE APPROPRIATE CITY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CULTURAL AWARENESS AND SOCIAL INCLUSION COMMITTEE.
I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION OVER WHETHER IT WAS A CITY SPONSORED COMMITTEE OR THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION.
I SEEM TO RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO THAT THE CITY WAS GOING TO BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN IT, AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME REVIEW OF THAT, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET AN UPDATE ON THAT PUBLICLY.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME MEETINGS ALSO.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMENTS TONIGHT CALLING FOR GREATER INCLUSION AND PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW. ONE THING I DID WANT TO MENTION, I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO ALL OF YOU ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
ONE OF THE REASONS I KNOW WE GOT RID OF ZOOM PUBLIC COMMENT WAS BECAUSE OF THE UNFORTUNATE KIND OF TREND IN SURROUNDING AREAS OF FOLKS, OUTSIDE FOLKS, ZOOM BOMBING, PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH ISLAMOPHOBIC, ANTI-SEMITIC, RACIST HATE SPEECH.
AND WHILE I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPENING HERE, AS SOMEBODY WHO'S PARTICIPATED BY ZOOM FAIRLY FREQUENTLY BECAUSE OF MY PROFESSIONAL AND FAMILY OBLIGATIONS, IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO COME HERE.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THE CITY TO RECONSIDER THAT STANCE.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE US DELUGED BY OUTSIDE AGITATORS SPEWING THAT KIND OF CONDUCT HERE, BUT I'M HOPING THERE'S SOME KIND OF MIDDLE GROUND, WHETHER IT'S RESIDENTS PRE-REGISTERING TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, SOME KIND OF SCREENING PROCESS.
I DON'T WANT TO THROW OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATHWATER.
AND ZOOM ACCESS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN REALLY, PERSONALLY BENEFICIAL FOR ME AS SOMEBODY WHO, LIKE I SAID, HAS FAMILY AND WORK OBLIGATIONS, IT MAKES IT HARD TO PARTICIPATE. BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE BY ZOOM MAKES IT A LOT EASIER.
I HAD TO KIND OF BEG TO BE ABLE TO COME HERE TONIGHT.
SO, MY WIFE IS A TROOPER DOING BATH TIME FOR A THREE-YEAR-OLD AND A FOUR-WEEK-OLD BY HERSELF RIGHT NOW, SO I COULD BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU.
I KNOW IT ALSO IS BENEFICIAL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES OR HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT, OR JUST EVEN FOLKS THAT ARE OUT OF TOWN.
I KNOW AT LEAST THREE, MAYBE MORE, OF YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED SINCE WE RETURNED TO IN-PERSON COUNCIL MEETINGS REMOTELY BECAUSE YOUR PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS TOOK YOU OUT OF OUT OF TOWN.
AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO STILL PARTICIPATE WHILE BEING WITH YOUR FAMILY OR BEING ON DUTY.
AND I THINK OUR RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE, EVEN IF IT'S NOT PHYSICALLY HERE IN PERSON.
SO, I UNDERSTAND THE INTENTION BEHIND GETTING RID OF ZOOM PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M JUST HOPING THERE MIGHT BE SOME OTHER KIND OF MIDDLE GROUND, SO THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE AND WANTING TO PARTICIPATE IN GOOD FAITH CAN CONTINUE TO DO SO.
THANK YOU, MR. WARD. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT AND ADDED BONUS YOU WON'T HAVE TO SEE MY UGLY FACE SO CLOSE TO YOU.
YOU KNOW YOU CAN. I DID WHEN YOU CAME IN.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHO YOU WERE AND OH, I'LL TURN OFF THE VIDEO NEXT TIME IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. THANKS. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[02:35:01]
BRING UP THE DAIS. COUNCIL COMMENTS.YOU FORGOT YOUR PEN. SURE, SURE.
SO, FIRST OF ALL, FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY, BUT IT WAS THE SECOND SESSION OF COFFEE WITH A COP AND IT WAS AT TARGET.
SO, THESE ARE THE FUN LITTLE PENS THAT THEY WERE DISTRIBUTING.
BUT I THINK IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO MEET SOME OF OUR OFFICERS AND GET TO KNOW THEM ON A PERSONAL BASIS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF BUILDING THAT COMMUNITY.
SO, IF YOU SEE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND IF YOU HEARD OR SAW OUR STUDY SESSION PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, OUR STAFF HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN TRYING TO GET THAT INFORMATION MORE ACCESSIBLE AND OUT THERE TO EVERYONE.
SO HIGHLY RECOMMEND AND URGE PEOPLE TO GO.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WILL BE AROUND THIS WEEKEND, IT IS VETERANS DAY WEEKEND AND THERE WILL BE A VETERANS DAY CEREMONY AT VETERANS HALL AT 11 A.M.
SO IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE, PLEASE COME AND HELP CELEBRATE.
THERE WILL BE A TRI-CITY MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES MEETING ON THE 15TH AT 5 P.M.
SO AGAIN, ANOTHER EVENT THAT YOU ALL CAN PARTICIPATE IN AS WELL.
I DID WANT TO ALSO COMMEND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR FIRE, OUR POLICE AND EVERYBODY ASSOCIATED WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY OPEN HOUSE A LITTLE BIT AGO.
IT WAS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.
AGAIN, IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN, I HIGHLY URGE OUR RESIDENTS TO ATTEND BECAUSE IT IS AN AMAZING WAY TO GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN IN YOUR CITY FOR YOU.
SO REALLY, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
APPRECIATED. FOR THOSE OF YOU I KNOW WE ARE ALREADY IN NOVEMBER AND IT FEELS WEIRD THAT IT'S ALREADY GOING TO BE THE END OF 2023.
THE YEARS GO BY FASTER AND FASTER, MUCH LIKE MY PARENTS PREDICTED WHEN I WAS A KID, AND I DIDN'T BELIEVE THEM.
BUT I DO WANT TO TO PUMP UP THE FACT THAT THE K-9 FOUNDATION IS GOING TO BE HOLDING A FUNDRAISER ON DECEMBER 2ND.
AND SO, AS A COUNCIL, THIS COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO SPONSOR A TREE.
AND SO, WE REALLY WANT TO TRY TO INVIGORATE BUSINESS INTO THE CITY.
AND SO, WE'VE CONTRIBUTED GIFT CARDS TO SOME OF THE FAVORITE SPOTS IN AND AROUND LA VERNE.
SO, I URGE YOU TO COME PARTICIPATE IN THE FUNDRAISER, SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE, AND ALSO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY.
AND A HAPPY SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST WEEK IS MY LAST ONE, I THINK.
BUT ALSO, JUST PERSONALLY TO THIS COUNCIL.
I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, YOU KNOW, KASH PUT COOKIES ON THE LINE, YOU KNOW, AT THE YOU KNOW TO, BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE ARE A COUNCIL THAT DOES HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT EXPRESSING HOW WE FEEL.
AND SOMETIMES WE WILL PERSUADE EACH OTHER, SOMETIMES WE WON'T.
BUT I THINK THAT DIALOG IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WAS NOT HERE LAST WEEK.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OUT OF TOWN, AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE I HAD SOME ISSUES COME UP WITH MY DAD'S HEALTH.
AND I REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THIS COUNCIL AND TO STAFF WHO.
WHO EITHER COVERED EVENTS OR REACHED OUT.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING THAT PEOPLE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ALL GOING TO AGREE ON THINGS, WE'RE JUST NOT.
BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS RECOGNIZING THE HUMANITY IN ONE ANOTHER AND WORKING FROM THAT PLACE OF COMMONALITY SO THAT WE CAN GET TO A BETTER PLACE.
SO, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
IT'S A LATER NIGHT THAN USUAL FOR SOME OF US.
THANK YOU TO A LOT OF YOU WHO COME HERE REGULARLY.
AND IT'S REAL DARK OUT. SO, IT FEELS LIKE IT'S MIDNIGHT EVEN THOUGH IT'S REALLY ONLY 9:00. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOU AND AS ALWAYS, BE KIND.
THANK YOU. MAYOR PRO TEM LAU COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.
THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THEY HAD TWO SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH THE HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL AND THE HALLOWEEN HOP.
I KNOW MY FAMILY ENJOYED BOTH OF THOSE TREMENDOUSLY, AND THE WORK THAT ALL OF COMMUNITY SERVICES COME OUT AND DOES, IT REALLY DOES TO REALLY INCLUDE KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
SO, WANT TO THANK YOU TO OUR LA VERNE PD ON HALLOWEEN.
YOU GUYS STEPPED UP AND REALLY MADE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS STAYED SAFE.
I KNOW YOU REALLY HELPED OUT KIDS CROSSING STREETS AND HOW BUSY OUR STREETS WERE, SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
YOU HANDLED SOME SIGNIFICANT THINGS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING TO LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
OUR FIRE CHIEF REALLY WAS FORWARD THINKING THIS PAST WEEK.
RESIDENT CALLED THE FIRE CHIEF AND JUST ASKED FOR JUST TO PUT AN AMBULANCE BY THE
[02:40:06]
BONITA FOOTBALL GAME.JUST STATION DOWN THERE NOT TO INTERACT WITH THE GAME OR THEY HAVE THEIR MEDICAL PEOPLE THERE, BUT JUST TO BE PRESENCE THERE.
AND THE GOOD THING IS THEY NEEDED THE HELP.
THAT DAY, A YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYER FROM THE OPPOSING TEAM BROKE HIS LEG AND THEY WERE THERE, RIGHT THERE ON IMMEDIATELY HELPING OUT.
AND THEN AFTER THEY TRANSPORTED THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN, THEY CAME BACK AND WAS JUST THERE TO SUPPORT. SO, I THINK OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR REALLY LOOKING AT OUR RESIDENTS WHERE THEY ARE IN A BIG GROUP AND JUST MAKING SURE AND THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX SOMETIMES AND REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DID.
SO, I REALLY DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAD AN ITEM ON TODAY AND WE APPROVED AN ITEM TODAY WITH DISPATCH WITH MONROVIA.
SO, I'M NOT TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT ITEM, BUT I WANT US TO LOOK AT A REGIONAL DISPATCH FOR OUR POLICE.
WE'VE GONE THAT WAY WITH OUR FIRE.
IT'S REALLY HELPED OUT AND WORKED WITH OUR SERVICES AROUND.
I KNOW WE'RE ALREADY TALKING WITH COVINA AND NOW MONROVIA, BUT I THINK A REGIONAL PIECE WITH OUR LOCAL CITIES THAT HAVE THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, DISPATCHERS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET RIGHT NOW.
AND THE PRESSURE OF THAT JOB IS EXTREME.
AND SO, LOOKING AT THAT, A REGIONAL APPROACH, I WOULD LIKE OUR CITY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT FOR US.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WOULD BE MY FIRST VETERANS DAY.
EXTREMELY LUCKY IS GOING ON A NATIONAL GOLF EVENT THIS WEEK, BUT I WANT TO THANK ALL THE VETERANS OUT THERE AND SORRY I WILL NOT BE THERE, ESPECIALLY MY TWO VETERANS I BRING EVERY SINGLE TIME IS MY FATHER.
HE WAS AN AIR FORCE AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER IN THE AIR FORCE DURING THE 1960S, AND MY FATHER-IN-LAW, RICHARD LEE ANDERSON, HE WAS AN ARMY VETERAN, VIETNAM VETERAN AND SO APPRECIATE ALL THE VETERANS OUT THERE AND SUPPORT YOU THIS WEEK.
THIS IS THIS SHOULD NOT BE ONLY ONE DAY.
IT SHOULD BE ALL DAYS THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT OUR VETERANS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.
COUNCILMEMBER KASH? THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY FOR COMING HERE TODAY.
AND AS I WAS LISTENING TO BROTHER KHAN, WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN HERE, RIGHT AFTER THE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, I ENLISTED INTO THE MILITARY RIGHT AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH BECAUSE I WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO A COUNTRY THAT HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH TILL THIS DAY I SERVE AND I COMMISSION.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
WE MENTIONED ABOUT CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE AND THAT IS WHERE I COMMISSIONED AS AN OFFICER THROUGH ROTC.AND AFTER I ENLISTED AS AN OFFICER.
AND IT JUST TAKES ME TO PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY, BUT MORE SO THIS WEEKEND WITH VETERANS DAY.
AND IT'S HARD TO REALLY SIT BACK AND THINK, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE LOST OVER THE YEARS THAT HAVE DEFENDED THIS GREAT NATION AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND.
DOMESTIC, SO PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT FOR THAT.
AS I ALWAYS DO EVERY CITY EVENT.
SO, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY IF YOU CAN OR CAN'T.
NO. NO WORRIES. I GOT YOUR BACK.
ALL RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
SECONDLY, I THINK THE LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON SATURDAY, SATURDAY, SATURDAY, AN AMAZING GROUP OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WERE OUT THERE DOING A PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST THAT I WOULD HAVE JUST PASSED OUT.
I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT BECAUSE I'M A LIEUTENANT COLONEL.
I WOULD HAVE MADE IT, I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD HAVE FAILED.
I THINK FAILED IS PROBABLY I NEVER FAIL ME.
YEAH, IT WAS JUST A LITTLE LONGER.
THANK YOU. IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
I MEAN, ANYWAYS, IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE THEM MOTIVATED AND EVERYBODY COMPLETED THEIR PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST TO BE A LA VERNE FIRE EXPLORER.
AND I WANT TO THANK THOSE FIREFIGHTERS, THOSE AMAZING GUYS THAT WERE THERE WHO, THROUGH THEIR DIRECTION OF THEIR CHIEF, WAS ABLE TO BRING THIS FIRE EXPLORER PROGRAM BACK AND TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THESE KIDS TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I WAS A POLICE EXPLORER ON A FIRE EXPLORER.
BUT ANYHOW, SO I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING CRAZY, BUT NO, I WAS.
ANYWAYS, I LOVE IT AND IT'S TOO LATE WAS A POLICE EXPLORER BACK HERE RIGHT IN THE CITY 1995, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
SO HAVING SAID THAT, THAT'S AWESOME.
AND THEN NOVEMBER 18TH, PLEASE DON'T FORGET OUR CREWS AND LA VERNE HOLIDAY CAR SHOW.
I KNOW I'LL SEE SOME OF YOU GUYS THERE.
AND THAT WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 18TH IN OLD TOWN LA VERNE SO LET'S STAY ARMY STRONG.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASH.
WATCH THAT POOP. I JUST WANTED TO SAY BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A MAILING FROM THE CITY.
[02:45:05]
NOT AN APP YET, JUST A MAILING.I DOUBT THERE WILL BE AN APP ON THERE WHEN IT GETS MAILED OUT, BUT IT ALSO HAS TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS MORNING.
AND WE ALSO HAVE AN E-WASTE PICKUP AT BRACKETT AIRPORT COMING UP IN DECEMBER 16TH.
HE DOESN'T HAVE A DOG. YOUR LARGE SCREEN TVS.
IT'S GETTING TOO LATE. IT IS GETTING TOO LATE.
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT WE'RE NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE BALLOT SOONER THAN LATER, BUT I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO COME WITH AT LEAST SOMETHING.
JUST MEANS LAURIE IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT I WAS A ONE TERM. OH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MENTION THAT RIGHT NOW.
YEAH, MY WIFE'S PROBABLY LOOKING TO FOR A WHILE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON, IS THAT IT? THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
AGAIN, EVERYONE'S SAID A LOT OF WONDERFUL THINGS, MR. HAHN. THANK YOU.
THAT'S ONE THING WITH YOUTH SPORTS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH.
AND MR. JOHNSON AND A NUMBER OF MR. CROSBY. THE MOST WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY IS THE FAMILIES AND THE CHILDREN.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FEELING THAT WAY.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY WITH THIS HORRIFIC SITUATION GOING ON, WE'RE HERE.
WE'RE HERE. WE'RE ALL HERE FOR YOU, AND WE'RE ALL HERE FOR EACH OTHER AND OUR CHILDREN. SO, AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH TIME RIGHT NOW.
AND THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS.
ALSO, BONITA WATER POLO, BOYS WATER POLO.
AND THEY PLAY WEDNESDAY AT TEMECULA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL AT 5 P.M.
IF THEY WIN THAT, THEY MOVE TO CAL POLY.
ANYWAY, WE'LL UPDATE, BUT ANYWAY, THEY DID REALLY WELL.
FOOTBALL. MR. CROSBY FOOTBALL.
VARSITY FOOTBALL. FIRST ROUND BEAT NORTHVIEW IN OVERTIME 21 TO 20.
THEY GO TO THOUSAND OAKS ON FRIDAY TO PLAY THE SECOND SEED SECOND SEED TEAM IN THE QUARTERFINALS OF CIF.
SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE ACADEMICS, WE HAVE JUST FANTASTIC, TALENTED SPORTS YOUTH, BUT THAT'S ALSO THE TESTAMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT BE LITTLE LEAGUE, WHETHER IT BE WATER POLO, WHETHER IT BE SOFTBALL, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
THE FAMILIES ARE OUT THERE ENJOYING THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND ENJOYING OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. AND WITH THAT, SHOP LOCAL.
DON'T FORGET TO KEEP YOUR TAX DOLLARS HERE.
HAS THESE WONDERFUL EMPLOYEES SITTING BEHIND YOU THERE.
WE GAS UP, WE EAT, WE PRAY AND SHOP AND LA VERNE.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. YOU WANT TO KEEP OUR MONEY HERE.
AND WE GOT MORE SHOPS ARE COMING.
THERE'S MORE STUFF COMING DOWN THE PIKE.
WE GOT A SEE'S CANDY. WE MADE IT ON THE MAP ALREADY.
WE'LL SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DOING OUR HOLIDAY SEASON.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR EFD APPLICANTS.
VERY NICE AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO MR. HURLEY. LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ADDITION TO THIS EFD.
AND WITH THAT WE HAVE RECESS CLOSED SESSION FOR CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.
PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5495629, PENDING LITIGATION.
CITY OF CAMDEN, ET AL, DUPONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY, ET AL, NUMBER 2:23CV 03230 RMG.
THE SECOND ONE, SAGE CJPIA LITIGATION BRIEF CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.
EXISTING LITIGATION PRODUCED, GENERAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 549569A4 CASES.
GUERRERO, DAVID, ET AL VERSUS CITY LA VERNE LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT CASE NUMBER 21-CV-113030. SMITH, JUSTIN VERSUS CITY OF LA VERNE LA VERNE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE OFFICER, ADIEL, JULIAN.
US DISTRICT COURT CIVIL CASES NUMBER 2:23-CV-0064-JK-E, WHEELER JACK B VERSUS CITY OF LA VERNE, LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT, CASE NUMBER 22-PSC-CV-02686.
GROUNDWATER SEEPAGE FLOODING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES RECEIVED 929 THROUGH 1011.
MR. MAYOR, THE ONE THAT WAS ADDED IS IN THE ADDED ONE WAS THE PENDING LITIGATION.
CITY OF CAMDEN ET AL. VERSUS E.I.
DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY ET AL.
[02:50:05]
WILL WE BE REPORTING OUT? 2:23-CV-03147-RMG WILL VERSUS 3M COMPANY.WILL WE BE REPORTING OUT? WE'LL NOT BE REPORTING OUT. WE WILL RECESS IN CLOSED SESSION.
OUR NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING ON LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH, 2023, AT 5:30 P.M.
AS A REMINDER, UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS ARE POSTED ON THE LAST PAGE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE.
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.