[00:00:06]
>> [NOISE] GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[CLOSED SESSION – 5:30 p.m.]
I'D LIKE TO CALL ONE OF THE CLOSED SESSION MEETING FOR MONDAY, MARCH 4TH, 2024 AT 5:30 PM.>> COUNCIL MEMBER KASHIFALGHITA IS RUNNING LATE.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM LAU IS EXCUSED ABSENCE.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, MR. DOMER.
THE TIME SET ASIDE FOR ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ITEMS LISTED ON THE CLOSED SESSION AGENDA. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO.
CITY ATTORNEY MS. BARLOW, PLEASE READ THE CLOSED SESSION ITEMS FOR THE RECORD AND LET US KNOW IF THERE WILL BE ANY REPORT OUT AFTERWARDS.
WE HAVE A CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957, TITLE CHIEF POLICE.
THEN WE HAVE A CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6.
NEGOTIATORS, CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND CITY ATTORNEY, EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS, LA VERNE CITY EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, LA VERNE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, LA VERNE POLICE MIDDLE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, LA VERNE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, AND ALL UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES.
YES, WE DO ANTICIPATE THE POSSIBILITY OF REPORTING OUT.
FOR THE RECORD, MR. KASHIFALGHITA HAS ARRIVED.
I APPRECIATE YOU. EXCUSE MY DELAY.
>> YOU GUYS COULD TURN OFF YOUR BUTTONS WE'RE NOT VOTING.
WE'RE ALWAYS VOTING [LAUGHTER] WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO RECESS IN A CLOSED SESSION AND WE'LL COME BACK TO OUR REGULAR MEETING AT 6:30 PM. [NOISE]
>> HEY, THAT'S AS GOOD AS IT GETS. SHOW ME THE BAR.
[LAUGHTER] GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.
[CALL TO ORDER]
WE ARE GOING TO START THIS MEETING AT 6:35 PM ON MONDAY, MARCH 4TH.I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE 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 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE MEETING BY THOSE PHYSICALLY IN ATTENDANCE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA ZOOM WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FOR THE AGENDA ITEMS LISTED WITHIN CONSENT CALENDAR, PUBLIC HEARING, AND OTHER MATTERS SECTIONS OF THE AGENDA.
TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND COUNCIL MEMBER KASH.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE MARINE AND CHIEF OF POLICE OF LA VERNE SAM GONZALEZ TO COME STEP FORWARD, PLEASE TODAY, TO LEAD US IN OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> I WON'T BE AS STRICT AND MAKE EVERYONE HAVE THOSE INSTRUCTIONS, BUT YOU GUYS ALL KNOW WHAT TO DO.
PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART, READY, BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. MR. DOMER, ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KASHIFALGHITA.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM LAU IS EXCUSED ABSENCE. MAYOR HEPBURN.
>> THANK YOU, MR. DOMER. WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION PREVIOUS TO THIS MEETING.
ATTORNEY BARLOW, COULD YOU PLEASE REPORT OUT?
THERE WERE TWO CLOSED SESSION ITEMS ON THE LAST ONE, DIRECTION WAS GIVEN TO STAFF.
ON THE FIRST ONE, WHICH WAS A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54967, TITLED CHIEF OF POLICE.
THERE WAS ACTION TAKEN ON MOTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER KASHIFALGHITA, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON AND APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY 4-0, WE HAVE A NEW POLICE CHIEF AND WE WILL BE BRINGING HIS CONTRACT FORWARD AT YOUR NEXT MEETING ON MARCH THE 18TH.
>> ALL THE TIME. COME ON, CHIEF.
[00:05:01]
>> YOU GET THE WAISTLINE? [LAUGHTER]
>> HEY, MR. MAYOR, JUST TO REITERATE THAT WAS THE VOTE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION ON MARCH 18TH.
WE'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD A CONTRACT FOR THE EMPLOYMENT WITH IN EFFECTIVE DATE OF MARCH 19.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD.
THE ACTING CHIEF GONZALEZ HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB IN THE LAST YEAR WHEN HE WAS BASICALLY SHOT INTO THIS LIKE A CANNON WHEN CHIEF COLLEEN FLORES WAS AT HER SITUATION.
WE'RE VERY HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE AND AS YOU KNOW BY THE VOTE THAT WE'RE EXPECTING GREATER THINGS THAN YOU DID BEFORE AND WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR TIME AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR A CITY AT THIS POINT.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER MANY, MANY YEARS OF YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
THIS IS THE TIME OF ANNOUNCEMENTS OF
[ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS]
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS AND I'VE GOT A FEW CARDS HERE.FIRST, I'LL ASK MR. JUAN FUENTES FROM FARMERS INSURANCE TO COME UP TO THE MIC.
>> GOOD EVENING. CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S ALREADY MARCH.
GETTING READY FOR SOME SPRING CLEANING.
FOR ALL YOUR RESIDENTS OF LA VERNE, LA VERNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WITH THE CITY OF LA VERNE AND BONITA HIGH SCHOOL ARE SPONSORING A COMMUNITY YARD SALE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 6, FROM EIGHT TILL NOON IN THE BONITA HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT.
WE WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN OUR HEALTH AND FITNESS EXPERT AT THE EVENT.
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL PRACTITIONER SERVICES AND PRODUCT PROVIDERS WILL BE ON HAND TO EDUCATE ABOUT THE MULTITUDE OF HEALTH AND FITNESS PRACTICES THAT CAN BENEFIT ALL STAGES OF LIFE.
THERE'S NO ADMISSION TO ATTEND, AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO BROWSE, SHOP AND THINK FIT.
IF YOU GUYS WANT TO SPACE, GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE CHAMBER WEBSITE AND THE INFORMATION IS THERE FOR IF YOU GUYS NEED TO GET RID OF SOME STUFF.
HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS ARE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. FUENTES. SHERRY BEST.
IN YOUR ABSENCE LAST WEEK OR THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, KATHY DID AN AMAZING JOB REPRESENTING YOU GUYS, JUST SO YOU KNOW
>> SHE'S AN AMAZING VICE PRESIDENT.
>> YES. HE DID A VERY GOOD JOB.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME THAT.
I'M BACK TO ADVERTISE ONE MORE TIME THAT A WEEK FROM TONIGHT AT 7:00 PM DR. STEVEN HACKEL, WHO'S A PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT UC RIVERSIDE, IS GOING TO PRESENT TO US AT THE HILLCREST MEETING HOUSE ON THE TOPIC OF THE LIFE OF INDIGENOUS PERSONS, IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, DURING THE TIME OF THE SPANISH MISSION SYSTEM, WHICH WAS A COLONIAL IMPOSITION OF THOSE PEOPLE LIVING THERE AT THAT TIME.
IT WASN'T ALL ABOUT MAKING MISSIONS OUT OF SUGAR CUBES, WHICH IS WHAT I REMEMBER FROM 4TH GRADE.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR SOME MORE OF THAT STORY FROM HIM.
DR. HACKEL HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE REBUILDING OF THE MISSION SAN GABRIEL, WHICH BURNED IN AN ARSON FIRE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
HE'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN REVAMPING THE NEW MUSEUM EXHIBIT AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING A TRIP OUT TO THE SAN GABRIEL MISSION IN MAY.
THIS IS A GREAT PRECURSOR TO THAT.
THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO ATTEND THIS FREE EVENT AND WE WILL HAVE A NOMINAL CHARGE FOR THE TRIP TO THE MISSION.
AFTER NEXT WEEK, MONDAY BUT BEFORE WE MOVE ON IN MAY, WE WILL ALSO BE AT THE COMMUNITY YARD SALE, COME FIND SOME WONDERFUL ITEMS ON THE TWO TABLES SPONSORED BY THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND HELP SPONSOR THE TRUCK, WHICH WILL ALSO BE AT THE EXCELLENT ADVENTURE WEARING ITS BUNNY SUIT.
IT'S GOT GREAT BIG BUNNY EARS AND BIG BUNNY EYES AND A BIG BUNNY TAIL.
WE'LL BE UP THERE AT LA VERNE HERITAGE.
>> WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE A TADPOLE WITH A BUNNY TAIL BUT EVENTUALLY IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE A TRUCK.
IN ANY EVENT, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ACTIVITIES GOING ON AND WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
[00:10:01]
I'LL PUT FLYERS OUT. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU, SHERRY. THEN MY REMISS WAS JUAN IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
GREAT SERVICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RAYMOND SWAIN.
I'VE GOT IT. WE'RE GOOD. HE FILLED YOU OUT ALREADY.
>> RAYMOND SWAIN AN ALTA VISTA.
>> I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEN I FIND OUT IT'S NOT MY NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S THE CITY.
IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY, IT'S THE ENTIRE STATE.
THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT ARE LEAVING DUE TO THE HIGH AMOUNT OF RISKING IN THE STATE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, BUT IN OUR CITY FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND MY PARTICULAR HOUSE, JUST BECAUSE OF WHERE THE MAPS ARE LOCATED HERE.
I'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS NOW THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF CHANGING INSURANCE COMPANIES, TRYING TO FIND SOMEBODY.
BUT THIS LAST WEEK, I WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF HOOKING UP WITH A CALIFORNIA FAIR PLAN.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
IF YOU CAN'T FIND AN INSURANCE COMPANY TO COVER YOUR HOUSE.
IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE PLAN AND ONLY COVERS FIRE INSURANCE.
IT DOESN'T COVER ALL THE OTHER KINDS OF INSURANCE NEEDS THAT [NOISE] YOU NEED FOR YOUR HOUSE.
BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, IF YOU NEED SOMETHING, IT'S THERE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO BUY ADDITIONAL COVERAGE ON TOP OF THAT.
WHEN I WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT SAID IN THE APPLICATION IS THAT YOU CAN GET UP TO A 10% DISCOUNT IF YOUR CITY IS A FIRE-WISE USA SITE IN GOOD STANDING.
WHICH LED ME TO SEND A NOTICE OVER TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ASKING ARE WE IN THAT STANDING.
THEY IMMEDIATELY CALLED ME BACK, EXPLAINED WHAT WAS GOING ON, EXPLAINED THAT ACTUALLY, THERE'S A PROCESS GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH CASH LEADING HERE THAT WE NEED A LOCAL COMMITTEE TO PUT ALL THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER, PUT ALL THE APPLICATIONS IN.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THIS IS OUT THERE AND THAT IT'S A PROCESS THAT'S JUST STARTING.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE HELPFUL TO A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS TO HAVE POTENTIAL DISCOUNT ON FAIR PLAN IF THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK WITH KASH AND JOIN YOUR COMMITTEE ON THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, RAYMOND. I APPRECIATE IT.
ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? SKY YEGOS, COME ON OUT.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.
I JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT THERE WILL BE A CASSEY MEETING TOMORROW.
>> TUESDAY? I GET THAT I'M SO MESSED UP WITH THAT.
IT USED TO BE WEDNESDAYS. OKAY, TUESDAY.
>> THAT'S OKAY. THERE WILL BE A CASSEY MEETING TOMORROW AT 5:00 P.M. AT THE CITRUS ROOM ON THE HILL CREST CAMPUS.
WE'RE GETTING READY FOR SOME EXCITING EVENTS INCLUDING SOME WITH THE CHAMBER WHICH WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT AS WELL.
YEAH, EVERYBODY IS INVITED, SO IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME TO OUR CASSEY MEETING TOMORROW AT THE CITRUS ROOM ON THE HILL CREST COMMUNITY AND YEAH. THAT'S IT. GO VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? I'LL JUST TRAILER ON WHAT RAYMOND, WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.
WE DID THROUGH SINGLE VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS HAD THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS, ASSISTANT DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
THIS IS AN ISSUE, THEY COULDN'T COME TO A RESOLUTION.
THEY TRIED TO GET IT VOTED ON, BUT AS YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW, THINGS DON'T USUALLY MESH VERY WELL.
THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON IT, BUT IT REALLY LEAVES US ALL ON ALERT.
MYSELF INCLUDED, ACTUALLY, JUAN.
JUAN IS MY INSURANCE AGENT AND THEY JUST BASICALLY GAVE ME THE NICE LITTLE LETTER OF DISAPPROVAL THAT BECAUSE WE'RE IN A HIGH FIRE ZONE LIKE YOU, RAYMOND AND I LIVE ONLY A HALF A BLOCK AWAY.
SO I WILL CONTACT THEM AGAIN BECAUSE I KNOW JUAN HAD SENT ME A LIST OF THINGS THAT HE IS TRYING TO GET FROM THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER.
NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER YET, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE WE DO GET A RESPONSE THROUGH OUR CITY, AS ALL OF OUR FOOTHILL COMMUNITIES THAT MULTIPLE CITIES ARE ON THE SAME BOAT.
IT'S UNFAIR BECAUSE THE RATES ARE HUGE AND HIGH AND SOME PEOPLE JUST CAN'T AFFORD THAT. YOU JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT.
WE'RE WORKING ON IT AND WHAT KASH IS WORKING ON IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS OUT TO EVERYBODY BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY IN THE FOOTHILL COMMUNITIES AND EVEN SOME THAT AREN'T EVEN IN THE FOOTHILL COMMUNITIES.
[00:15:01]
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THOSE OR LET THEM KNOW IF THEY'RE UNAWARE, THIS COMING SATURDAY IS GOING TO BE OPENING DAY FOR LA VERNE LITTLE LEAGUE, 8:00 AM IS THE OPENING CEREMONY, FROM 9:00-3:00 WILL BE VENDORS, SPONSORS, TEAM BOOTHS, KISS FM 102.7 RADIO STATION WILL ALSO HAVE A BOOTH THERE.
IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE, PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT LITTLE LEAGUE.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE ORGANIZATION THAT I UMPIRE FOR HAS CONTRACTED WITH LA VERNE LITTLE LEAGUE, SO I WILL BE WORKING SATURDAY AT OPENING DAY SO I HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU THERE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [LAUGHTER] ANY OTHER OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO CONSENT CALENDAR.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
DID WE HAVE ANYTHING? WE MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR A ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION UNLESS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL OR MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE REQUESTS SEPARATE DISCUSSION.
COUNSEL, ANY REQUESTS FOR ANYTHING TO BE REMOVED? MANAGER DOMER.
>> THERE WERE NO REQUESTS EARLIER.
>> MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
>> THAT WAS APPROVED 4-0 WITH MAYOR PRO TEM LAU BEING ABSENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OTHER MATTERS.
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO OTHER MATTERS. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS TONIGHT.
[OTHER MATTERS]
THE FIRST MATTER IS THE RENEWAL OF THE GENERAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES.MANAGER DOMER, PLEASE CALL FOR THE STAFF MEMBER WHO WILL BE REPORTING.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HANDLE THIS ONE.
THIS ITEM IS CONSIDERATION OF A RENEWAL OF A GENERAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES.
WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY HAD THE SAME AGREEMENT IN PLACE, RENEWED EVERY FIVE YEARS SINCE THE LATE 1950S.
THIS AGREEMENT ACTUALLY UPDATES THE FORMAT AND THE SERVICES THAT IF THE CITY NEEDS, WE CAN REQUEST THROUGH SPECIFIC AGREEMENTS WITH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO OBTAIN.
IT'S BEST TO THINK OF THIS AS AN UMBRELLA AGREEMENT THAT IS REQUIRED FOR ALL OTHER AS NEEDED SERVICES THAT WE HAVE AT THE COUNTY.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A SEPARATE AND SPECIFIC AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY FOR WEED ABATEMENT THROUGH THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
WE'D HAVE TO BE UNDER THIS GSA AGREEMENT FOR THAT SPECIFIC AGREEMENT TO HAPPEN.
AS WITH MANY SERVICES, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR THE SERVICE.
WEED ABATEMENT IS PAID THROUGH FOR PROPERTY TAX CHARGES BACK TO THE AFFECTED PROPERTY, EXCEPT FOR OUR OWN PROPERTIES THAT ARE UNDER THAT PROGRAM AND QUITE SIMPLY, WE CHOOSE TO HAVE THE COUNTY DO IT BECAUSE IT'S THE CHEAPER OPTION TO HAVE IT DONE.
SO WE HAVE A SEPARATE AGREEMENT WITH LA COUNTY FIRE FOR DISPATCH SERVICES THAT'S AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS GSA AGREEMENT.
AGAIN, WITHOUT THE GSA AGREEMENT, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT DISPATCH SERVICES AGREEMENT.
THEY WOULD MAKE US GET THIS UMBRELLA AGREEMENT.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER SMALLER AGREEMENTS THAT WE CAN PAY FOR AS NEEDED, BUT IT'S ALL DUE TO THE UMBRELLA AGREEMENT.
IT IS REALLY JUST THAT IT'S THAT ENTRY INTO BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND THEN ONCE YOU'RE IN THE DOOR, YOU CAN GO FOR THE MORE SPECIFIC AGREEMENTS AND ALL THAT.
HOPEFULLY, THAT ANSWERS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
BUT MYSELF AVAILABLE, JR, WHO'S BEEN TALKING TO THE COUNTY QUITE A BIT, AND I DID TALK TO ONE OF THE COUNTY FOLKS TODAY.
JUST FOR SOME MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
>> YOU HAD A QUESTION, MR. JOHNSON?
>> YES. THIS IS A FAIRLY LENGTHY SERVICE AGREEMENT THAT KEEPS COMING BACK.
ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO IT? BECAUSE I SEE NO RED LINES OR ANY TYPE OF INDICATION THAT ANYTHING HAS CHANGED.
NORMALLY WE WOULD EXPECT ON THE COUNSEL AND INCIDENTS THAT IF THERE ARE CHANGES TO AN AGREEMENT THAT IT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN SOME WAY.
>> THERE ARE CHANGES BECAUSE AGAIN, THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WE HAD WAS FROM THE 1950S.
THE LANGUAGE HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT NAMES.
THEY'VE INCLUDED A MATRIX OF WHAT ACTUALLY SERVICES THE VERY SMALL MATRIX, OF WHAT WE EITHER CURRENTLY HAVE OR ARE ACCESSIBLE TO WITH THE COUNTY.
THERE WERE SOME STANDARD INDEMNIFICATION TO REFLECT LAW CHANGES.
WHAT WE COULD DO IS, IF NEED BE, THE STANDARD HAS BEEN REVIEWED, BUT WE CAN BRING IT BACK IN A RED LINE FASHION AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
WE'D HAVE TO ASSEMBLE THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE COUNTY HAS THE ORIGINAL TYPEWRITER VERSION,
[00:20:01]
BUT WE COULD PUT SOMETHING OR AT LEAST LIST SOME OF THE GENERAL CHANGES THAT ARE THERE.>> THEY DIDN'T SEND US A RED LINE REVISION, BUT WE DID REVIEW THIS VERSION.
>> I THINK ALSO THERE IS THE COST OF WHAT WE'VE SPENT IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS.
WE HAVE A WHOLE MATRIX OF SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE ETCHED OUT ON A NUMBER THAT WE DON'T NEED.
BUT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT DO WE SPEND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS? EACH YEAR ON SPECIFIC SERVICES WE CAN LET RESIDENTS KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT WE PERFORM FROM THEM, THIS IS WHAT THEY PERFORM FOR US.
THIS IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE PUT THROUGH THERE.
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF IT IS JUST IT'S REIMBURSEMENT.
BUT SOME OF THE SERVICES WE HAVE ARE THROUGH GENERAL FUND, I WOULD IMAGINE.
>> CORRECT. AGAIN, THE MOST EXPENSIVE ITEM THAT'S ON THE SERVICES IS THAT ANNUAL DISPATCH SERVICES.
THAT'S ABOUT $160,000 A YEAR THAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING IN OTHER WAYS, BE IT OUR OWN DISPATCH OR WITH ANOTHER MUTUAL DISPATCH CENTER THAT'S OUT THERE.
AND LOOKING AT THINGS, ELECTIONS ARE ALSO INCLUDED ON THIS, SO THAT GOES BACK AND FORTH, SO 60- $90,000 EACH YEAR, DEPENDING ON IF IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR.
>> WEED ABATEMENT IS INCLUDED IN THERE, ALSO THERE'S MINOR THINGS SUCH AS WE DO HAVE WATER PROPERTY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS.
ON OUR OWN PROPERTY WITHIN OUR OWN JURISDICTION, WE DON'T PAY PROPERTY TAXES, BUT ON THOSE PROPERTIES WE HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES.
AGAIN, THAT'S JUST SOME OF THE SMALLER THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN THIS AGREEMENT.
HEALTH PERMITS FOR OUR OWN NEEDS.
WE DO HAVE THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES COME HERE AND WE PAY THE PERMIT FEE FOR THEM TO INSPECT OUR KITCHEN.
BUT AGAIN, IN 2022, THE TOTAL AMOUNT WAS ABOUT 341,000, 156,000 OF THAT WAS FOR THE DISPATCH SERVICES, OVER 60,000 WAS FOR THE ELECTIONS, OVER 77,000 WAS FOR WEED ABATEMENT.
THEN EVERYTHING ELSE WAS PRETTY MUCH UNDER 10,000 JUST HERE AND THERE.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, LOOK AT THE MATRIX.
YOU'VE GOT DISTRICT ATTORNEY, OF COURSE, HE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING.
YOU'VE GOT GSA, MOU, AND OTHERS.
THEN YOU GO DOWN THE MATRIX LINE, AND THEN YOU [OVERLAPPING].
>> THOSE ARE COSTS THAT ACTUALLY IF WE NEED.
>> YOU CAN READ [OVERLAPPING].
[OVERLAPPING] I WON'T BE ABLE TO AFTER THIS MEETING.
>> ESPECIALLY IN THE INTERNAL SERVICES, GIS MATRIX, THOSE ARE IF WE NEED THOSE COSTS, WE HAVEN'T, SO WE HAVEN'T BEEN BILLED THOSE.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE LIKE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS. BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE THE LATE '50S.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE PROBABLY SHOULD KNOW WHAT OUR MATRIX IS AND WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ARE.
>> THE PROCESS ON THIS, AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY BECAUSE CLEARLY I HAVE SOME OF THE INFORMATION.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU'VE GOT SOME COSTS WHICH IS GOOD.
>> I CAN PUT THAT DOWN SO THERE'S MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU AND THE PUBLIC.
THE PROCESS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS THEY'RE TRYING TO GET ALL THE CITIES TO HAVE THE UPDATED VERSION APPROVED BY THE END OF MAY.
THEN THEY WOULD TAKE IT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, SO THAT STARTING JULY 1, IT WOULD ALL BE IN PLACE. THAT'S THEIR DATE.
THE SOONER WE CAN GET IT TO THEM, I'M SURE THEY'RE MORE APPRECIATIVE, THERE'S NO DISCOUNT WITH THAT.
BUT WHAT WE'LL DO IS BY THE 18TH, WE CAN PUT THIS ON.
WHETHER YOU WANT IT ON OTHER MATTERS OR AT THAT POINT CONSENT JUST WITH THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO EITHER ONE OF THOSE.
>> WHAT'S YOUR FLAVOR? OTHER MATTERS?
>> I THINK OTHER MATTERS SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT AGAIN AND THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THAT AT THAT POINT.
WE COULD APPROVE IT AT THAT POINT ON OTHER MATTERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE WILL DO THAT.
>> IS THAT GOOD TO YOU, MR. JOHNSON?
>> NASH YOU'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT THAT?
>> YOU NEED MY GLASSES? GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ONE [BACKGROUND].
>> BUT WE NEED TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ONE.
[PUBLIC COMMENT]
>> I'M GOING TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT. MISS BEAUCHAMP.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I APOLOGIZE MR. DURMAN, I SHOULD HAVE SENT YOU AN E-MAIL.
I KNOW YOU WOULD HAVE ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS, BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM.
IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS IN THE PACKET ON THE PARAGRAPH UNDER DISCUSSION, IT DISCUSSES INDUSTRIAL WASTE SERVICES.
ARE THOSE FROM BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OR IS THAT SPECIFICALLY ONLY FOR WHAT OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OR FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, LET'S SAY OIL OR SOME CHEMICALS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS,
[00:25:01]
I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF THE BREAKDOWN OF TAX.AND I CHOSE THE ADDRESS OF THE CITY HALL.
THREE OF THE FIVE TAXES THAT WE PAY GO TO THE COUNTY.
IN THE AGREE THE WAY THAT IT'S WORDED, IT SAYS THE CITY SHALL PAY FOR SUCH SERVICES AS ARE PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.
WELL, HOW MUCH OF THIS SHOULD BE APPLIED TO WHAT IT IS SERVICES THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING TO US? I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET AN ALLOCATION FROM THE COUNTY.
MAYBE YOU WOULD BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT, TO FIND OUT WHERE THIS MONEY THAT WE PAY AS INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS, HOW IT'S ALLOCATED TO THE COUNTY.
MY OTHER CONCERN IS THAT, BECAUSE OF THREE OF THE FIVE ARE GOING TO THE COUNTY, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY, AND THIS IS NOTHING ON CHRISTIE'S PART.
I DON'T WANT IT TO SEEM LIKE I'M QUESTIONING HER BUT, IS THERE A CHANCE THAT THERE'S BEING A DOUBLE PAYMENT ON THIS? IS TAXPAYERS WE'RE PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY IS CHARGING FOR US FOR.
BUT THEN WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THE CITY TO CONTACT THEM AND SAY, WE NEED THIS SERVICE, THEY SHOULD ALREADY HAVE THAT MONEY ON OUR BEHALF.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S SOME KIND OF A DOUBLE DIP THERE.
> SO, YEAH, THEY'RE JUST MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANYTHING.
BUT I AM ALSO CONCERNED AND I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T BRING IT.
IT WAS THE PREVIOUS AGREEMENT THAT WAS SIGNED BY LUPE.
IT SAYS HER TITLE IS DEPUTY ASSISTANT CITY CLERK.
AND THEN IT IS X-ED OUT AND THEN THERE'S NO INITIAL NEXT TO THE AMENDMENT TO THAT AGREEMENT.
SO I THINK THAT MAY INVALIDATE THE LEGALITY OF THAT CONTRACT.
I LEFT IT AT MY OFFICE. I APOLOGIZE.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW WHERE I'M AT SO WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
>> THANK YOU, MISS BEAUCHAMP. ANYONE ELSE SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE? WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE. BRING IT BACK UP. WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US?
>> JUST A CONTINUATION TO THE MARCH 18TH MEETING.
>> CONTINUATION, WE'LL PUT IT ON ANOTHER MATTER SO WE CAN REVIEW IT FURTHER AND BRING MORE WITH SOME COST EFFECTS, AND ALSO WHAT MS. BELL CHAMPA TALKED ABOUT.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE OTHER MATTER, CHIEF, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS FIREWISE COMMUNITY ISSUE THAT MR. SWAIN BROUGHT UP AND KASH? JUST TO GIVE US A PURVIEW OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE. I DO APOLOGIZE.
I THINK THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS GOING TO SPEAK ON IT, BUT EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE DAMAGED, YOU CAN, I'M SURE, SPEAK.
>> MY BRAIN STILL WORK. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
THE FIREWISE COMMUNITY ISSUE, IT'S NOT AN ISSUE.
IT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY A RESIDENT WHO SPOKE EARLIER AND HE SIMPLY ASKED IF WE WERE A FIREWISE COMMUNITY.
IT'S SOMETHING I'D HEARD ABOUT IN THE PAST, BUT IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I'VE HAD TIME TO PERSONALLY ADDRESS IN OUR CITY, SO I DID SOME RESEARCH INTO IT.
IT'S ACTUALLY ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS NFPA.
THEN IT'S CO-SPONSORED BY THE US FOREST SERVICE AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
ULTIMATELY WHAT IT DOES IS IT ENCOURAGES A COMMUNITY TO VOLUNTARILY COME TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR COMMUNITY THAT'S UP IN YOUR DESIGNATED HIGH FIRE HAZARD AREAS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO REDUCE THEIR VULNERABILITY TO WILDFIRE DAMAGE, DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.
ALL OF THAT. THE PROCESS IS FAIRLY SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT REQUIRES US TO FORM A VOLUNTARY COMMITTEE OF UP TO EIGHT MEMBERS.
COUNCIL MEMBER KASH IS A PART OF THAT COMMITTEE.
WE HAD OUR FIRST KICKOFF MEETING LAST WEEK, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF RECRUITING SEVEN OTHER MEMBERS TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
THAT COMMITTEE WILL, IN TURN, PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM AND A LIST AND ITEMS TO PUT TOGETHER FOR RESIDENTS TO ABIDE BY AS WE GO INTO FIRE SEASON AND ULTIMATELY, THAT FIRE WISE PROGRAM WILL ENSURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING OUR COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN, WHICH WE'RE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT UPDATING RIGHT NOW.
BUT SINCE THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE ALONG WITH OUR ALREADY IN PLACE WILDLAND FIRE INSPECTION PROGRAM THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IN PLACE, SO ABOUT THE TIME WE GOT OUR FIRE MARSHAL IN PLACE HERE.
THE FINAL STEP WILL BE APPLYING FOR THE FIREWISE COMMUNITY CERTIFICATION, AND THAT WE EXPECT IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
ONCE WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE, WE'LL CERTAINLY LET EVERYBODY KNOW.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT FORMALLY HERE AT CITY COUNCIL AND THEN EVERYBODY CAN PUT IT THROUGH THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND AGENDIZE THAT, SO WHEN WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION, THEN WE CAN ALL DISCUSS IT AT A LATER DATE.
>> YES. WE'LL BRING THAT BACK AS THE PRESENTATION.
>> YOU ATTORNEY HAS GIVEN ME THE EYE LIKE, ENOUGH.
BUT THANK YOU, CHIEF. APPRECIATE IT.
>> THIS WOULD BE MY OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KASH IS LOOKING FOR MEMBERS.
[00:30:01]
>> MR. MAYOR, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I DID WIN THE ARM WRESTLING CONTEST WITH THE CHIEF.
>> I THINK HIS WIFE DID, SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE SECOND MATTER OF THE SWORN EMPLOYEE FIREARMS PROGRAM.
TEAM MANAGER DOMER, PLEASE CALL FOR THE STAFF MEMBER WHO WILL BE REPORTING ON THIS.
>> I'D LIKE TO CALL UP LIEUTENANT LEEPER.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. LIEUTENANT LEEPER.
>> I ALSO WON THE ARM WRESTLING CONTEST WITH THE CHIEF.
[LAUGHTER] I'LL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF.
NICE TO BE BACK AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER.
WE'LL MAKE THIS A REGULAR THING TO SEE YOU GUYS.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS NEW PROGRAM I'M EXCITED ABOUT.
IT'S NOT NEW IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT NEW TO US.
HISTORICALLY, OUR DEPARTMENT HAS PURCHASED A BLOCK OF FIREARMS FOR OFFICERS.
WHEN WE DO PURCHASE IT, IT'S ROUGHLY 100 AT A TIME.
THERE ARE VARYING REASONS WHY WE BUY SO MANY, BUT THE COST 10 YEARS AGO WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR GUNS WAS $40,000.
TODAY WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO REPLACE THOSE FIREARMS. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO VARYING FACTORS, THAT COST IS GOING TO BE ABOUT $70,000.
WE LOOKED AT SOME CREATIVE WAYS TO TRY TO KEEP OUR COSTS DOWN THE ORGANIZATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR OFFICERS STARTED DOING THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS UNDER CHIEF GONZALEZ IS CARRYING THEIR PERSONAL FIREARMS ON DUTY.
IT'S A PROCESS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE NOW WHERE THE GUN GETS INSPECTED, THEY PASSED THE SAME FIREARMS PROTOCOL AS THEY WOULD WITH THEIR ON DUTY GUN.
BUT IT'S BEEN VERY POPULAR FOR US, BUT SOME OFFICERS JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY THEIR FIREARM.
OUR PARTNERS NEXT DOOR IN CLAREMONT STARTED A SIMILAR PROGRAM AND WE'RE SUCCESSFUL WITH IT, SO WE LOOKED AT IT AND THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD HERE.
UPON LOOKING AT IT, IT DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR US.
BUT WE DO HAVE AN IMMEDIATE NEED TO REPLACE OUR FIREARMS, THE COST IS $70,000 LIKE I SAID.
BUT THERE'S TWO PARTS OF THIS PROGRAM.
THE FIRST PART OF THE PROGRAM IS A LOAN PROGRAM.
WHAT THAT DOES FOR US, IT ALLOWS THE OFFICER THAT'S OFF PROBATION TAKE AN INTEREST FREE LOAN AGAINST THE CITY FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD.
THEY'LL GET PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS OVER THE COURSE OF THE TWO YEARS TO PAY BACK THEIR LOAN.
WHAT THAT DOES FOR US IS THAT PUTS A GUN IN THE OFFICER'S HANDS THAT THEY STILL HAVE TO MEET THE CRITERIA WITH FOR QUALIFICATIONS.
THE GUN HAS TO BE OF GOOD QUALITY, BUT TO THE CITY IT GETS PAID BACK ALL THE MONEY THAT THEY PUT OUT FOR THE FIREARMS AND IT PUTS A FIREARM IN THE HANDGUN OF THE OFFICER THAT THEY CHOOSE.
THE SECOND PART OF THE PROGRAM IS FOR OUR NEW OFFICERS.
OUR NEW OFFICERS COMING IN THE DOOR NOW GET A HANDGUN PROVIDED TO THEM.
WE DO HAVE SOME LIMITATIONS ON NEW OFFICERS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SWORN OFFICERS, SO WE CAN'T GIVE THEM OFF ROSTER FIREARM.
ALONG WITH THAT, WE HAVE SOME INITIAL COSTS THAT WE DO HAVE WHEN WE HAVE A NEW OFFICER.
IN FACT, ONE OF OUR NEW OFFICERS HAILEY RACE IS HERE WITH US TODAY.
HER PARTNER IS NOT HERE, BUT WE DRAGGED HER ALONG.
WE BUY THEM A HOLSTER, WE BUY THEM SIGHTS, WE BUY THEM A FLASHLIGHT FOR THEIR GUN AND AN ABDOMEN POUCH LIKE I HAVE ON IN FRONT OF ME.
THERE WAS A COST THAT WE ALREADY PAY FOR A NEW OFFICER, BUT ALONG WITH THAT, WE WOULD GIVE THEM AN ALLOWANCE TO BUY ALL THOSE THINGS ALONG WITH A FIREARM.
THE SAVINGS TO US IS, IT WOULD COST US ROUGHLY $123,000 IF EVERY OFFICER TOOK THE MAXIMUM OUT TO TAKE THE LOAN AND ALL THAT MONEY GETS PAID BACK TO THE CITY.
SO WE'RE SAVING $70,000 BY DOING THIS LOAN PROGRAM, NOT HAVING TO BUY NEW GUNS.
FOR FUTURE OFFICERS, IT COST US $1,500 PER OFFICER.
WHAT THAT MEANS TODAY IS IT WOULD COST US ROUGHLY $4,500 TODAY, WHICH WE DO HAVE BUDGETED FOR UNDER OUR EQUIPMENT BUDGET.
IT WOULDN'T COST ANYTHING BEYOND OUR CURRENT BUDGET.
THEN NEXT YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT ROUGHLY $7,500 OUT OF THE NEW BUDGET BASED ON RETIREMENTS AND SOME POTENTIAL REPLACEMENTS MOVING TO THE FUTURE.
THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS TO THIS.
THERE'S A HUGE RISK IN LIABILITY BENEFITS.
BY AN OFFICER BEING MORE PROFICIENT, IT'S GOING TO REDUCE OUR RISK NOT TO THE OFFICER BUT ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY, AND IT DECREASES THE LIABILITY TO THE CITY AS WELL.
IT'S GOING TO REDUCE OUR LIABILITY TO STREAMLINE THE AMOUNT OF GUNS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN THE STOCK.
ALONG WITH THAT STOCK, WE CAN SELL THAT STOCK BACK TO A FIREARMS DEALER, GET SOME CREDITS TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF OTHER AMMUNITIONS OR OTHER REPLACEMENT FIREARMS LIKE RIFLES IN THE FUTURE.
ALONG WITH THAT, I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD PROGRAM.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU? I'D LIKE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS NOW.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR LIEUTENANT LEEPER? GO AHEAD, MR. CROSBY.
>> FIRST I COMMEND YOU BECAUSE DOING THIS WHEN PEOPLE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR GUN, THEY'RE GOING TO USE IT.
ARE THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE PROFICIENT AT IT? NOT EVERYONE'S HAND SIZE ARE THE SAME, AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT IS THERE AN APPROVED LIST THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE FROM SO THAT SOMEONE'S NOT GOING AND BUYING A GUN THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THEM TO BE USED AS AN OFFICER?
[00:35:03]
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. EACH OF THE PROGRAMS DO HAVE AN APPROVAL PROCESS.
UNDER THE LOAN PROGRAM, WHICH IS ONE BRANCH OF THE PROGRAM THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET PRIOR APPROVAL FROM OUR RANGE MASTER WHO'S CERTIFIED IN ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT FIREARMS. IF HE'S NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT FIREARM, WE'RE NOT GOING TO APPROVE THAT.
IT'S GOT TO BE GOOD QUALITY, GOOD WORKMANSHIP, HE HAS TO BE FAMILIAR WITH IT, HE HAS TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON IT AS AN ARMOR AS WELL.
WITH THE SECOND ONE IS THE SAME REQUIREMENTS.
IF WE'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FIREARM, WE'RE NOT GOING TO APPROVE IT.
IT ALSO HAS TO BE OF THE RIGHT CALIBER, SO SOMEBODY WANTS TO SHOOT A 50 CALIBER.
IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT FIREARM FOR OUR PROFESSION, BUT WE DO STICK TO THREE CALIBERS.
>> THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SIZE OF BULLETS BECAUSE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE STOCKED UP.
IT'S ALL THE RIGHT SIZES FOR YOU TOO.
>> I'M A 1911 PERSON MYSELF BUT SOME OF US WILL.
>> AS FAR AS THE CALIBER AND INTERCHANGEABLE MAGAZINES, ARE YOU TRYING TO KEEP THOSE OFFICERS TOGETHER THAT HAVE THE SAME GUNS AND WHERE IF THEY NEEDED TO, THEY COULD EXCHANGE MAGAZINES OR IS THAT AN ISSUE?
>> FOR YEARS I'VE HEARD THIS ARGUMENT TO THE FLIP SIDE, WE SHOULD GIVE ALL OF OUR OFFICERS THE SAME GUNS WITH THE SAME MAGAZINE SO THEY COULD, LIKE THIS MEL GIBSON MOVIE, THROW ONE MAGAZINE TO THEIR PARTNER AS THEY'RE IN THIS FIREFIGHT.
I HAVE SEEN IT ONCE, BUT IT'S SUCH A RARE OCCASION THAT IT'S ACTUALLY JUST MOST SHOOTINGS ARE LESS THAT EIGHT FEET, THEY'RE LESS THAN FIVE SECONDS.
THEY REALLY DOESN'T HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, SO IT'S REALLY BETTER TO GIVE THEM THE RIGHT GUN WITH THE RIGHT SIZE THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH, THAT THEY'RE PROFICIENT IN, RATHER THAN JUST EXCHANGING MAGAZINES BACK AND FORTH.
>> YEARS AGO, IF MOST OF US REMEMBER HOLLYWOOD AREA, BIG SHOOTOUT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT WAS THE BANK OF AMERICA. THEY HAD HIGH POWERED.
>> WE'RE REALLY BLESSED HERE WITH THIS CITY THAT WE DO HAVE AN URBAN PATROL RIFLE PROGRAM, AND WE HAVE ALL THE TOOLS THAT WE NEED IN THE CARS TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WITH THIS NEW PROGRAM ACTUALLY THAT GIVES US INCREASED CAPABILITIES OF THAT, SHOULD THAT HAPPEN HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PROTECTED.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, SIR, VERY MUCH.
>> I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED, BUT ALSO THE VERSATILITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE HANDS THAT HAVE TO USE IT.
VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S COMFORTABLE, SOMETHING THAT FITS, SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE PROFICIENT AT, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND YOU CAN BREAK IT DOWN AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS YOU NEED TO, BUT ALSO BE COMFORTABLE.
>> LAST BUT AT LEAST, I DIDN'T MENTION IT.
THIS REALLY INCREASES MORALE FOR OUR OFFICERS AS WELL.
IT TELLS THEM THAT YOU ALL CARE ABOUT THEM AND WHAT THEY GET IS THE BEST.
IT'S REALLY THEY GIVE BACK AT THE WIN FOR EVERYBODY.
THE COMMUNITY GETS A GOOD WIN WITH THE OFFICER BEING HAPPY.
THEY'RE HAPPY WITH OUR COUNSEL SUPPORTING THEM, AND THEN YOU GET A GOOD WORK PRODUCT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF WE GOT OTHER ON ANY OTHER QUESTIONS WE'LL BRING YOU BACK UP.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS, MS. BEAUCHAMP?
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL. THEY ARE JUST QUESTIONS FOR LIEUTENANT LEEPER.
WITH THIS LOANER PROGRAM, IS THERE AN INCREASED LIABILITY TO THE CITY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT OUTRIGHT OWN THE FIREARM? ALSO HOW IS THAT FACTORED INTO IF THERE'S AN INCIDENT THEN WORKER'S COMP COVERS THAT? WHAT PROVISIONS ARE PROVIDED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS USING WEAPONS THAT DO NOT BELONG TO THEM? I KNOW LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, SWAT HAS MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS THAT THEY DON'T PERSONALLY OWN, BUT THERE'S SPECIFIC LEGAL CONTRACT THAT COVERS THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD WORK FOR AN INDIVIDUAL REGULAR OFFICER.
>> THANK YOU, MS. BEAUCHAMP. WE'LL SEE IF WE HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ISSUE.
GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. MR. LEEPER, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, GINA, FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, ALWAYS VERY GOOD.
I APPRECIATE YOU. I'LL TALK ABOUT LIABILITY FIRST.
THE STANDARDS THAT WE SET IN OUR SHOOTING PROTOCOLS, THE COURSES OF FIRE THAT THEY SHOOT, THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THEY HAVE TO SHOOT, THE QUALIFICATION PERIODS THAT THEY MEET.
THAT'S REALLY WHERE OUR LIABILITIES START AT, AND THEY CONTINUE IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS WHEN AN ACTUAL OES OCCURS.
THE WEAPON THAT THEY CARRY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN CERTIFIED BY AN ARMOR, THERE'S GOOD WORKING QUALITY, IS REALLY NO LIABILITY,
[00:40:02]
UNLESS WE GO OUTSIDE OF SOME SET PARAMETERS.THOSE PARAMETERS WILL BE SET IN POLICY, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT THE CALIBER FOR BOTH OF YOU GENTLEMEN.
BUT THE REAL LIABILITY EXISTS IN THE DECISION MAKING.
HOPEFULLY WE GIVE OUR OFFICERS, AND I THINK WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB GIVING GOOD DECISION MAKING PROTOCOLS, GOOD TRAINING, GOOD USE OF FORCE TRAINING, GOOD FIREARMS TRAINING.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE FIREARM IS GOING TO INCREASE THE LIABILITY.
ALONG WITH THAT, YOU MENTIONED WORKERS COMP.
WORKERS COMP IS NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY LEADOVER INTO THE FIREARM WHATSOEVER.
THAT'S A SEPARATE ENTITY, AND IT'S A DIFFERENT REALM.
I WON'T SPEAK TO THAT, I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I AGREE WITH LIEUTENANT LEEPER.
LIABILITY DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE UNDER THIS PROGRAM.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OFFICERS WHILE THEY ARE ON DUTY, REGARDLESS OF WHOSE WEAPON THEY ARE CARRYING.
THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A WEAPON IN THEIR MOST COMFORTABLE WHIP.
OUR HOPE OF COURSE IS THAT THAT WILL REDUCE LIABILITY BY ALLOWING THE OFFICERS TO HAVE THE COMFORT AND THE PROPER TRAINING WITH THEIR WEAPONS.
WORKERS COMPENSATION, LIKEWISE, SHOULD NOT CHANGE AS A RESULT.
>> THIS DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH LESS THAN LETHAL?
>> IT DOES NOT. THIS IS JUST A FIREARM ONLY.
IT DOESN'T ADDRESS 40 MILS, TASERS, BEAN BAGS, BATONS, PEPPER SPRAY, OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
THE THIRD QUESTION SHE BROUGHT UP WAS THE WEAPONS THAT SWAT CARRIES.
SORT OF A MISNOMER OF SWAT IS THE HANDGUNS THAT WE CARRY THE SAME AS THE GUNS THAT WE CARRY IN PATROL, THEY'RE NOT COVERED UNDER THE AB 41, WHICH I'LL SEE YOU ALL IN TWO WEEKS FOR.
THE RIFLES THAT WE CARRY ARE ALSO THE SAME ONES WE CARRY IN PATROL.
ALTHOUGH THEY'RE IN THE REPORT, THEY ARE THE SAME EXACT ONES THAT OFFICERS RESPOND TO IF WE HAVE A BANK ROBBERY OR SUCH EVENT.
>> THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT LEEPER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE THE REPORT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OH, YOU'D MISSED THAT ONE.
>> THANK YOU. IN THIS CASE THE OFFICERS WILL OWN THE WEAPON.
HALF OF THE OFFICERS CARRY A WEAPON THAT THEY OWN, AND THE OTHER HALF HAS CARRIED THE DEPARTMENT OWNED.
>> WE DO HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE IF THERE'S AN OIS, AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING, THE SHERIFFS WOULD COME OUT, THEY WOULD TAKE THAT FIREARM FROM THE OFFICER, AND WE WOULD GIVE THAT OFFICER A NEW GUN.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP AN INVENTORY OF OUR CURRENT FIREARMS IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN ISSUE THAT OFFICER A NEW GUN.
NOW THAT BEING SAID, SOME MANUFACTURERS LIKE STACCATO, IF YOU'RE IN AN OIS, THEY WILL GIVE YOU A FIREARM RIGHT AWAY, AS A LOANER.
SOME OF THESE REALLY HIGH END MANUFACTURERS THAT'S AGAIN SUPPORTING THEIR OFFICERS, THIS IS WHAT THEY DO TO GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO MAKE SURE THE OFFICER'S REPORTED.
BUT WE'LL NEVER LET AN OFFICER GO WITHOUT A FIREARM, WE DO HAVE TO KEEP A SMALL INVENTORY THOUGH, IF WE HAVE, GOD FORBID, AN [INAUDIBLE]
>> BASICALLY THE ANSWER TO MS. BEAUCHAMP'S QUESTION IS THAT WE ARE A LOANER PROGRAM AS FAR AS THE LOAN IN THE MONEY AMOUNT, BUT WHEN THE OFFICER PURCHASES THAT GUN, IT'S THAT OFFICER'S GUN?
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THAT ITEM WAS APPROVED 4-0, WITH MAYOR PRO TEM LAU, BEING ABSENT.
NOW WE MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND ORAL COMMUNICATIONS.
IS THE TIME SET ASIDE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL, ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA BUT WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE BROWN ACT PROHIBITS THE CITY COUNCIL FROM 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.
AT THIS TIME THOSE WISHING TO MAKE COMMENTS AND PRESENT HERE IN THE CHAMBER CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM. MR. GABALDON.
>> JOE GABALDON, AMHERST, LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA.
I GUESS TWO WEEKS AGO I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO BRING IT UP, BUT I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO BE ENGAGED PARTICIPANT IN WHAT GOES ON IN THEIR STAY AS FAR AS FINANCES ARE CONCERNED.
WHEREAS THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, REVEALED THAT THE STATE'S IN FOR IT WITH POTENTIALLY A $70 BILLION BUDGET DEFICIT.
I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY JUDGMENT ABOUT THAT.
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT PEOPLE GO TO THAT SITE, THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE, AND SEE WHAT IT IS THAT THEIR MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT ON OR POTENTIALLY NOT BE FUNDED BY.
THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AND BEING FAMILIAR WITH.
[00:45:02]
SINCE A LOT OF US COMPLAIN ABOUT THINGS, BUT YOU CAN'T GET ANYTHING CHANGED UNLESS YOU DO SOME OF THE HOMEWORK.IN THAT RESPECT, TOMORROW IS OUR LAST DAY TO VOTE, IN THIS CURRENT PRIMARY ELECTION, AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN LA VERNE, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK.
LOOK DEEPER INTO WHAT YOU WERE VOTING FOR AND WHO YOU WERE VOTING FOR.
UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE ARE PAID LARGE SUMS OF MONEY TO CRAFT LANGUAGE THAT IS CONFUSING AND PURPOSELY WORDSMITHED TO GET THE RESULTS THEY WANT.
FOR ALL THE VOTERS OUT THERE, BEWARE.
I DISCOURAGE EVERYONE FROM LAZILY VOTING ALONG PARTY LINES DOWN YOUR BALLOT, WHEREBY THE SAME LOGIC OF THE ASSOCIATION FALLACY, YOUR VOTE HAS CONSEQUENCES TO YOU AND OTHERS THAT WILL BE YOURS TO OWN.
THAT RELATES TO THINGS THAT IMPACT THE CITY OF LA VERNE, AND THOSE THAT LIVE HERE.
IN THIS REGARD, IT IS OF MY FAITH AND BELIEVE IN GOD THAT WE ARE ALL IN THE END HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD OF COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE'RE IN HIS SOLE JUDGMENT, AND HIS DEFINITION OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG, WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT WE CANNOT HIDE FROM HIM OUR CHOICES AND THE OUTCOMES FROM THE PEOPLE AND THINGS WE VOTE FOR, THAT ARE EITHER SELFISHLY MOTIVATED OR TAKE FROM OTHERS.
IN MANY CASES, BOTH IN FREEDOMS AND FINANCES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. GABALDON. ANY OTHER ONE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? MS. BEAUCHAMP. YOU CAN COME UP AFTER. NO.
>> DANITA BEAUCHAMP, 2516 AMHERST STREET.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVING ACTING CHIEF GONZALEZ, AS OUR NEW CHIEF OF POLICE.
I THINK THAT WAS A NO BRAINER DECISION, AND APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT MR. GONZALEZ ACCEPTED, AND [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] CONTRACTS A WEEK AWAY.
>> HE WAS SWEATING IT. [LAUGHTER]
AGAIN, THAT WAS SOMETHING THE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS WHO SPOKE WERE IN FAVOR OF, AND YOU TOOK THAT TO HEART, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
HOPEFULLY MAYBE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE NEW CHIEF NEXT WEEK WOULD BE THAT AN ORDINANCE OR A RESOLUTION IS CREATED THAT LA VERNE POLICE DEPARTMENT, DOES NOT FALL INTO WHAT LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE.
THEY HAD THEIR FIRST GRADUATING CLASS LAST WEEK WITH NON-US CITIZENS AS SWORN OFFICERS.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SWORN AND A CITIZEN THAT THEY'RE USING BECAUSE THEY'RE DHAKA RESIDENCE, IS THEY DON'T GET TO KEEP THEIR WEAPON.
BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT, I DON'T THINK FULLY VETTED THE WAY THAT A US CITIZEN IS.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE COMPUTER ACCESSIBILITY IN OTHER COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY SMALL WORLD THIRD COUNTRIES THAT YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN, WHAT THEIR IDEOLOGY IS, WHAT THEIR INTENTIONS ARE.
RIGHT NOW WITH OPEN BORDERS AND A VERY LAX SECURITY, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THE CITY WOULD CONSIDER PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR A FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MS. BEAUCHAMP. OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? YOU'RE FINE. JUST YOUR NAME.
>> I LIVE IN LA VERNE, BUT I WEAR THE SAN DIMA SHIRT BECAUSE THEY'RE OUR GOOD NEIGHBOR.
BUT I WANT TO PASS THIS AROUND.
MY REASON FOR SPEAKING IS BECAUSE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA HAS A RESTAURANT, AND THEY HAVE THESE K-RAILS IN THE FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT.
IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE THE PANDEMIC.
IT WAS LAST YEAR WHEN I CAME IN HERE IN PERSON AND I TALKED TO A CITY PLANNER, HIS NAME WAS GABRIEL.
I WAS TELLING HIM THOSE RESTAURANTS WHEN THE PANDEMIC FIRST STARTED ALL OF THEM HAD K-RAILS IN FRONT OF THE RESTAURANTS FOR OUTDOOR DINING.
BUT NOW THAT THE PANDEMIC IS OVER HERE WE ARE, IT WAS MARCH 2023 LAST YEAR.
WHY DOES THAT ONE RESTAURANT STILL HAVE THE K-RAILS UP? HE WAS SAYING, "OH YEAH, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT." THEY HAVE A PERMIT TO KEEP THEM UP UNTIL FEBRUARY 2024.
I CALLED BACK AND I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THE SAME PERSON AND HE WAS SAYING, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY COMMITTEE WHO'S KIND OF IN CHARGE OF THE OVERALL LOOK OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
THEY WERE COORDINATING WITH SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS DOWN THERE. THEY'RE VOTING ON IT.
THEY GOT AN EXTENSION TILL MAY, SO THEIR NEXT VOTE, BECAUSE IT'S STILL TEMPORARY AS OF TODAY IT'S NOT LIKE SOME PERMANENT THING THAT YOU GUYS PUT INTO PLACE, BUT IT'S A TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR THEM.
[00:50:01]
HE WAS SAYING THEIR NEXT COMING ELECTION IS IN MAY AND SO AT THAT TIME, THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO GET TOGETHER AND OUR COMMITTEE GUY HERE, I THINK HIS NAME WAS ERIC SOMETHING, I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS LAST NAME.BUT HE SAID, "WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE ON IT IN MAY." MY CONCERN IS THAT THE PANDEMIC IS BEHIND US.
I DON'T REALLY SEE A REASON WHY WE SHOULD BE ALLOWING ONE RESTAURANT TO HIJACK THE ENTIRE APPEARANCE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURE, AS YOU CAN SEE THAT PICTURE WAS TAKEN IN THE 1920S OR '50S MAYBE.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CHARACTER OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS AS YOU SEE IT IN THAT PICTURE AND SO WHY THIS ONE RESTAURANT IS ALLOWED TO KEEP THEIR K-RAILS UP WAY PAST THE PANDEMIC AND I FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE THE SAME THING AS IF SOMEONE ON THE HISTORICAL STREET OF THE CITY, WHICH IS THIRD STREET, WHERE MOST OF THE HISTORICAL HOUSES ARE.
SOME NEIGHBOR THERE WHO MOVED IN, DECIDED TO JUST LEAVE HIS TRASH CANS OUT IN THE STREET THERE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
WHAT WOULD THE COMMUNITY DO? THEY PROBABLY SEND HIM AN ENVELOPE ON THE DOOR AND SAY, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO KICK YOU OUT OF YOUR HOUSE HERE.
YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO LIVE HERE BUT FOR THE APPEARANCE OF OUR CITY AS A COMMUNITY, WE THINK THAT IT'S DEMANDING MORE OF THE COMMUNITY THAN THE COMMUNITY IS DEMANDING.
YOU'RE DEMANDING OF YOURSELF TO LEAVE THOSE THINGS OUT THERE.
IT JUST SEEMED LIKE THE BEST THING TO DO WOULD BE TO TALK TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE YOU WERE THE PEOPLE WHO PUT IT IN PLACE.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE PANDEMIC ERA K-RAILS COULD BE UP THERE.
MY MAIN REFERENCE IS THAT PICTURE BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PICTURE, I HAVE KIND OF A CROP PICTURE OF THE SAME THING HERE BUT THERE ARE NO K-RAILS IN HERE.
>> OUR CITY MANAGER CAN MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT BECAUSE HE'S OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
ALSO IT'S OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT THAT MAKES THOSE DECISIONS, IT'S NOT A COUNCIL DECISION, BUT THE CITY MANAGER CAN TALK ON THAT.
>> I CALLED THE BUSINESS DISTRICT MYSELF AND I GOT HUNG UP.
I GOT GIVEN THE COLD SHOULDER BY A FEW BUSINESSES WHO JUST DIDN'T WANT TO EVEN CONVERSE WITH SOMEONE ABOUT IT.
TO ME, IT'S LIKE THEY WERE LETTING THEIR PRIDE GET IN THE WAY OF SOMETHING THAT REALLY DOESN'T HAVE TO DO WITH THEM, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE LOOK OF THE CITY.
IT'S LIKE WHY WOULD THEY BE SO REACTING AS IF THEY HAD SOMETHING TO DEFEND WHEN THERE WAS NOTHING TO DEFEND THERE? IT'S ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF THE CITY, NOT THEIR PRIDE OR THEY MAYBE FEEL ON SOME LEVEL, LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO SEVER TIES WITH THEIR GOOD FRIENDS WHO OWN THAT RESTAURANT.
BECAUSE I KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA ARE RELATIVELY TIGHT WITH EACH OTHER, SO THEY'RE NOT STRANGERS.
THEY KNOW EACH OTHER SO THEY PROBABLY FEEL ON SOME LEVEL LIKE WE'RE FRIENDS WITH THEM, WE TALK WITH THEM EVERY DAY SO WE DON'T WANT TO LIKE TURN ON THEM ON SOME LEVEL, IT'S A CAMARADERIE THING.
TO ME THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR VIEW OF WHAT IS GOING TO JEOPARDIZE THEIR CAMARADERIE WITH THEIR FINE RESTAURANT NEIGHBOR FOR THEIR BUSINESS INSTEAD OF JUST THINKING OF THE GOOD OF THE CITY.
I THINK THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR LOYALTY TO THEIR FRIENDSHIP WITH THE OWNERS OF THAT BUSINESS.
I WISH I KNEW THE NAME OF IT, BUT IT'S A CHINESE RESTAURANT.
IT'S RIGHT THERE NEAR THE CORNER.
>> WE KNOW IT WELL, BUT WE'LL REFER IT TO THE CITY MANAGER.
YOU MADE YOUR POINT VERY CLEAR AND WE DO UNDERSTAND AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
ANY COMMENT ON THAT? PROBABLY WE SHOULD LET DIRECTOR SHEER TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> ERIC'S ON VACATION THIS WEEK.
>> HE WOULD BE YOUR LIAISON TO TALK TO.
WE CANNOT DISCUSS IT RIGHT NOW WITH WHAT THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT DOES.
>> WHAT CAN YOUR CITY MANAGER TELL ME?
>> WELL, THE PROBLEM IS IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA SO WE CAN'T HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT IT UNDER THE BROWN ACT.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE IS GOING TO BE A PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE ON OUR WEBSITE AS TO WHEN AND WHERE THAT WILL BE SO IT IS A PUBLIC MEETING AND I DO BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A VOTE AT THAT MAY MEETING ON THIS ISSUE, AND THEN THAT WILL BE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL EVENTUALLY.
EVENTUALLY, WE'LL GET BACK HERE.
CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR THE MAY MEETING.
>> I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT I WAS SOME COLD-HEARTED LANDLORD WITH AN EVICTION NOTICE TO COME AND TRY TO GET RID OF THIS BUSINESS. [INAUDIBLE]
>> IT WILL COME BACK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS]
BRING IT UP TO COUNCIL COMMENTS. MR. CROSBY.>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. TOMORROW MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T VOTED YET, GO VOTE.
[00:55:08]
I KNOW MY FAMILY AND I LAST NIGHT GOT TO VOTE AT UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE.MY DAUGHTER'S FIRST TIME EVER VOTING, SHE'S 18.
WE MADE SURE NOT JUST TO PUT THE BALLOTS IN THE BOX, WE WENT AND MADE SURE AND DID ALL THE VOTING UP AT UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE, THIRD FLOOR.
THEY HAD PLENTY OF SPACE LAST NIGHT, AND PLENTY OF BOOTHS TO VOTE AS WELL.
THIS WEEKEND I GOT TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF LA VERNE AT THE FOOTHILL TRANSIT BUS ROADEO.
>> DROVE A BUS OFF. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I GOT TO DRIVE A FOOTHILL TRANSIT BUS.
FOOTHILL TRANSIT HAS A NEW ZERO EMISSION HYDROGEN BUS THAT COMES OUT OF THEIR POMONA YARD THAT IS USED HERE IN LA VERNE AS WELL AND THAT IS THE BUS I GOT TO DRIVE AS WELL.
I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THOSE BUS DRIVERS ON OUR ROADS, IN OUR STREETS, AND MAKING THE TURNS WHEN PEOPLE ARE ALL AROUND.
THANK GOODNESS, THEY JUST HAD CONES THERE SO THAT I COULD ONLY KNOCK OVER CONES NOT PEOPLE.
>> THEY WOULD LET THEM ON THE STREETS.
>> MY LAST THING IS, IS THERE A REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE THE CASSEY MEETINGS UP ON OUR UPCOMING EVENTS? I THINK A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT WHEN THEY HAPPEN, AND HAVE THEM ON THAT BACK OF OUR CALENDAR AS WELL.
>> THERE YOU GO. MAKE SURE IT'S TUESDAY.
>> THANK YOU. HAVE SOME MORE CRASH.
>> I WOULD HAVE GIVEN ANYTHING TO ROLE-PLAY AN UNRULY PASSENGER [LAUGHTER] ON THAT BUS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS NOT TOO FAR FROM THE TRUTH. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO AMAZING.
HOPEFULLY WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE TO PRESENT THE FIREWISE COMMUNITY THAT THE GOOD FIRE CHIEF WAS EXPLAINING TO ME.
REALLY BROUGHT IT HOME FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT LIVES UP IN, OBVIOUSLY, NORTH LA VERNE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, WITH OTHER AREAS AND FIRES THAT I'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, IT COULD AFFECT THE WHOLE CITY.
I REALLY AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS ENGAGED IN SOMETHING AS AMAZING PROGRAM AS THIS IS, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FIRE CHIEF, A FIRE MARSHAL, AND LONNIE.
LONNIE'S A GREAT GUY. HE'S BEEN REALLY TAKING THE HEAVY LOAD ON THIS BECAUSE I GOT A LOT GOING ON.
HOPEFULLY ON OUR NEXT DISCUSSION THAT WE CAN HAVE, I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO THE COMMUNITY MORE.
MAYBE HAVE A MEETING HERE DURING THE WEEK, SO WE CAN ALL DISCUSS THIS AND WE CAN EXPAND OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED IN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
THE FIRE CHIEF DIDN'T MENTION THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION AGENCY, NFPA, BUT YOU CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT AT WWW.NFPA.ORG. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
I APOLOGIZE I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE LITTLE LEAGUE THIS WEEKEND, I'LL BE ON ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY, GOING TO A REALLY COMBAT ZONE IN HAWAII.
[LAUGHTER] IT TOOK ME OVER 25 YEARS TO FINALLY GET A UNIT TO GET TO HAWAII, [OVERLAPPING] AND THEN THEY GO TO GUAM.
BUT THAT'S OKAY. IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT, [OVERLAPPING] NOT A GREAT STATE, BUT I'LL BE BACK SHORTLY.
BUT I AM GOING TO MISS THAT, FIRST TIME I MISS IT IN A FEW YEARS.
SO REPRESENT WELL THOSE THAT GO. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> I EXERCISED MY CIVIC DUTY THIS AFTERNOON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE, AS WELL, [OVERLAPPING] AND VOTED.
IT WAS VERY SIMPLE. BUT I RECOMMEND EVERYONE GIVE IT A TRY.
>> [LAUGHTER] LONG TIME LOSING THE FIRST NOT GOING? [LAUGHTER]
>> NO LATER THAN WHAT? 7 O'CLOCK TOMORROW NIGHT, OR IS IT 8 O'CLOCK? 8 O'CLOCK TOMORROW NIGHT.
>> 8 O'CLOCK TOMORROW NIGHT. I PLAN TO BE AT THE LITTLE LEAGUE OPENING DAY WEEKEND.
>> THANK YOU. I WISH ALL THOSE LITTLE LEAGUE PLAYERS THE BEST.
I WILL NOT BE AT THE LITTLE LEAGUE, UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT I WILL BE IN DC, WITH THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, MEETING WITH OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCH DEPARTMENTS WITH USDOT AND HUD, AND DISCUSS THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COG.
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND LEGISLATION IN THE AREAS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS, TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, MENTAL HEALTH, AND FUNDING.
AS WAS MENTIONED IN ONE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, THAT THE BUDGET OUR WONDERFUL GOVERNOR HAS CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES, WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE AT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PLEASANT.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY BAD TIME RIGHT NOW WHEN WE GO FROM A $98 BILLION SURPLUS
[01:00:03]
TO A $70 BILLION DEFICIT, TO A 38, TOWARD 37, AND THEN BACK TO A 70 AGAIN.WE'RE NOT SURE WHERE WE ARE. BUT IT'S REALLY AFFECTING A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT I KNOW THAT THE COG HAS DONE WITH THE SAN GABRIEL REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT AFFORD OUR COMMUNITIES ALSO TO HELP THE HOMELESS, WHETHER IT BE SERVICES, HOUSING, VOUCHERS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY HAVE BASICALLY JUST CUT THE FUNDING OFF COMPLETELY.
THERE'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S HOLDING AT BAY, AND A LOT OF THE OTHER AGENCIES.
IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME FOR US, AND WE'RE GOING TO DC, TO DISCUSS WITH OUR HIGHER ELECTEDS TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THIS FUNDING IN THE THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COMMUNITIES THAT WE CAN KEEP THAT FUNDING.
UNFORTUNATELY I WILL MISS THAT.
THEN I VOTED MULTIPLE DAYS AGO, I JUST DUCKED THE BUTTON ON, [LAUGHTER] BUT I PUT IT IN THAT WONDERFUL BOX BY OAK MESA, ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO.
BUT IT'S OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, WE NEED TO DO IT.
VOTER TURNOUT IS ALREADY LOW, WE NEED TO BUMP THAT UP.
THERE'S A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON, AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED.
THERE'S A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES GOING ON.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE ELECTED TO MAKE OUR GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER.
WE'RE IN A VERY ODD TIME, SO GET OUT AND VOTE.
NO MATTER HOW YOU VOTE, GET OUT AND VOTE.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER, DOMER, TALKING ABOUT THE CITY HALL AND SOME CONSTRUCTION GOING ON.
>> YES, MR. MAYOR, AND FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, TOMORROW CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IS, IF YOU'VE TRIED TO ACCESS THE COMMUNITY SERVICES AREA, YOU NOTICE THOSE PUBLIC COUNTERS ARE BEING REPLACED FOR ADA PURPOSES.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THE SAME THING OUT HERE.
TOMORROW WE'RE GOING TO BE CLEARING OUT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, SETTING IT UP SO THAT FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS FOLLOWING WE CAN SERVE THE PUBLIC IN HERE, WHILE THEY ARE USING JACKHAMMERS IN SOME CASES, AND SAWS TO RIP OUT THE COUNTERS AND TO BUILD NEW COUNTERS THAT WILL BE ADA ACCESSIBLE.
THE WATER, CUSTOMER SERVICE, PUBLIC WORKS, BUSINESS LICENSE, FINANCE, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING COUNTERS ARE ALL GOING TO BE DOWN.
TOMORROW IF YOU DO NEED ANYTHING, WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE ANSWERING THE PHONES, SO PLEASE CALL US ON THE PHONE, OR ALWAYS GO TO 24/7, GO TO THE LA VERNE LINK MOBILE APPLICATION.
YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET DONE WITH THAT, ESPECIALLY ON CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES.
BUT PLEASE EXCUSE OUR DUST FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, AND HOPEFULLY THEY STICK TO THAT.
[LAUGHTER] A COUPLE OTHER ITEMS.
>> [LAUGHTER] THOSE CONTRACTORS, GOSH.
>> COUPLE OTHER ITEMS YOU'LL NOTICE IF YOU'RE OVER AT LAS FLORES PARK, THEY'RE STARTING TO WORK ON THE CONVERSION OF ONE OF THE TENNIS COURTS TO A PICKLEBALL COURT.
THEN THEY ALSO STARTED DRAINING THE POOL.
THEY'RE STARTING ON THAT, FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE POOL DECK.
THAT'S AGAIN A PROJECT WITH A UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE, IN BENITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THEIR PARTNERSHIP ON HELPING KEEP THAT ASSET GREAT HERE IN THE CITY. THAT IS IT, MR. MAYOR.
THEY ARE COMPLETING THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
IT'S HUGE. IT'S GOING TO BE WONDERFUL.
I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU.
DIRECTOR DURAN, IT'S LOOKING GREAT, AND I KNOW WE'VE GOT PLANS FOR THE FUTURE OF MANY OTHER PARKS.
>> YES. JUST ON THAT ONE, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME DRYING OUT TIME, AND THEN THREE OR FOUR DAYS IN A ROW OF 85-DEGREE TEMPERATURE, OR 80-DEGREE TEMPERATURE, FOR THE MATERIAL THAT'S GOING TO GO IN THERE TO CURE.
WE HAVE TO WAIT TIL WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT.
IT'S STILL GOING TO BE CLOSED OFF [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU DON'T WANT FOOTPRINTS IN THAT. THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.
>> WE DON'T WANT IT. [LAUGHTER]
>> VERY GOOD. WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING HERE TONIGHT.
THE NEXT REGULAR LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL MEETING'S ON MONDAY, MARCH 18TH, 2024, 5:30 PM.
AS A REMINDER, UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS ARE POSTED ON THE LAST PAGE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR TRENDING TONIGHT.
[NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.