[00:00:01]
>> WE'RE GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:32 P.M ON,
[CALL TO ORDER]
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S JULY 1ST? MY GOODNESS. JULY 1ST.LET'S SEE. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT PER THE CITY'S RULES OF DECORUM.
SPEAKERS, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITH DECORUM AND NOT ENGAGE IN THE CONDUCT OF INTERRUPTS THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
ALSO, PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH ZOOM MAY ONLY BE ACCEPTED FOR THE AGENDA ITEMS LISTED WITHIN THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
PUBLIC HEARING AND OTHER MATTER SECTION OF THE AGENDA.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE MEETING BY THOSE PHYSICALLY IN ATTENDANCE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO AFTER THE PLEDGE OF OR WILL DO.
>> TONIGHT, WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE ONE OF OUR LIFE SCOUTS EDWARD DANG TO CONDUCT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOR US.
>> VETERANS, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND FIRST RESPONDERS, MAY YOU PLEASE IN YOUR SALUTE? ALL OTHERS IN THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
MAY YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE?
IF YOU COULD STAY THERE FOR A SECOND, PLEASE?
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING? YOU DOING GOOD? EXCITED FOR FOURTH OF JULY? WELL, WE'RE EXCITED THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY. YOU'RE A LIFE SCOUT.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT A LIFE SCOUT IS AND SOMETHING ABOUT YOU.
>> IN BOY SCOUTS, A LIFE SCOUT IS THE SCOUT RANK RIGHT BELOW EAGLE.
EAGLE IS MY NEXT STEP, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RANK IN BOY SCOUTS. SOMETHING ABOUT ME.
I GO TO DAMIEN HIGH SCHOOL HERE IN LA VERNE.
I'VE LIVED IN LA VERNE FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW, SO IT'S A GREAT CITY, I WOULD SAY.
PROBABLY, I'M GOING TO GO TO SOME COLLEGE.
HOPEFULLY, IT'S SOMETHING GOOD.
I THINK MY GRADES ARE PRETTY GOOD AT DAMIEN.
MAYBE UC SCHOOLS. SOME SCIENCE, LIKE CHEMISTRY OR BIOLOGY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] I WANT TO PRESENT THIS CERTIFICATE FOR CITY OF LA VERNE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION, PRESENTED TO EDWARD DANG.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THE LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL.
THE LIFE SCOUT EDWARD DANG, WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
>> MR. DOMER, ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KASHIFALGHITA?
>> LET'S SEE. ATTORNEY BARLOW, WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO REPORT ON THAT, PLEASE?
ON THE SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION MATTER.
WITH RESPECT TO THE PENDING LITIGATION, RAY NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION OPIATE LITIGATION, USDC, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO, MDL, WHICH IS MULTI DISTRICT LITIGATION, NUMBER 2804.
THERE HAS RECENTLY BEEN A SETTLEMENT PROPOSED WITH BROGER, NATIONALLY, THAT WOULD BE 1.7 BILLION DOLLAR FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA UP
[00:05:06]
TO $122 MILLION WHICH WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED MORE OR LESS PROPORTIONATELY.THE COUNCIL ON MOTION OF MR. MAYOR, SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON AND APPROVED ON A 5/0 VOTE HAS DETERMINED TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT SETTLEMENT, AND THAT MONEY WOULD ALSO THEN BE DIRECTED TO COUNTY OPIOD ABATEMENT EFFORTS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TONIGHT, WE HAVE SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS.
[PRESENTATIONS]
THE FIRST ONE IS FOR THE NATIONAL PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH.FOR OVER 40 YEARS, EVERY JULY IS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH.
CELEBRATING THE MANY WAYS PARKS AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE COUNTY OR COUNTRY, FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND CREATING SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE SPACES.
THIS PROCLAMATION WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY'S COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS STAFF.
DIRECTOR MCWADE, DIRECTOR DURAN, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR DURAN. COME ON UP.
>> IT'S HOT. STAFF. COME ON UP, PLEASE.
WITHOUT THE STAFF, THIS NEVER WOULD HAPPEN.
BETWEEN THE PUBLIC WORKS, COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND ALL OF OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS, BUT HONESTLY, THIS IS OUR NUTS AND BOLTS THAT MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING BEHIND THE SCENES IS DONE AND DONE PROPERLY.
BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE FUNCTIONS AND PROGRAMS, BETWEEN OUR PUBLIC WORKS THAT KEEP ALL OF OUR PARKS, OUR STREETS, OUR WATER FLOWING, AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENS IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE FUNCTIONS OR EMERGENCIES.
IT'S ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF IT.
WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO FOR US.
WHEREAS CITY LA VERNE PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THROUGH AN INITIATIVE OF THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION, EVERY JULY HAS RECOGNIZED AS PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH TO PROMOTE THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT PARKS AND RECREATION PLAY, AND WHEREAS THE CALIFORNIA PARK AND RECREATION SOCIETY HAS RELEASED A STATEWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, PARKS MAKE LIFE BETTER TO INFORM CITIZENS OF THE MANY BENEFITS OF UTILIZING PARKS, FACILITIES, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF LA VERNE MAINTAINS OVER 100 ACRES ACROSS 21 PARKS, OFFERING A VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF LA VERNE PROVIDES HOLISTIC RECREATION SERVICES, INCLUDING HEALTH AND WELLNESS SEMINARS, EXERCISE PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND EXCURSIONS, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT CATER TO THE INTEREST OF ALL RESIDENTS.
WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S THEME, WHERE YOU BELONG, CELEBRATES THE MANY WAYS THAT PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS, ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR ALL AGES, AND ABILITY SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE SPACES, AND BUILDING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS.
WHEREAS THE CITY HAS MADE KEY INVESTMENTS IN INCLUSION BY REVITALIZING PARKS AND IMPLEMENTING NEW PROGRAMS, ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, INCLUDING THE NEWLY DEVELOPED LOWELL BRANDT PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS AT LAS FLORES PARK, AND CLASSES DESIGNED FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.
NOW, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE CITY LA VERNE THAT THE MONTH OF JULY 2024 BE RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH.
WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES AND THE DEDICATED STAFF WHO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A WELCOMING PLACE, DATED THIS FIRST DAY OF JULY 2024. THANK YOU ALL.
>> I GOT YOU MAN. GET THE BUCKET ONE.
>> DON'T SAY WE'RE NOT STYLING.
THANK YOU, YVONNE. JUST WAITING FOR BARNEY FIVE TO COME IN.
[00:10:37]
>> MOVING ON THE NEXT PRESENTATION IS FOR LIBRARIAN GEORGE MAY.
I DON'T SAY RETIRING, I ALWAYS SAY TRANSITION TO SOMETHING MORE FUN ALMOST 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.
ABOUT 25 MINUTES. WE'LL BE READY.
CITY OF LA VERNE, A PROCLAMATION OF GRATITUDE.
WHEREAS APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS AGO, GEORGE MAY BEGAN HIS DEDICATED SERVICE WITH THE LA COUNTY LIBRARY, AND IN 2001, HE JOINED THE LA VERNE LIBRARY.
WHEREAS OVER THE YEARS, GEORGE HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE LIAISON TO THE LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL, ATTENDING NUMEROUS CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND KEEPING RESIDENTS WELL INFORMED ABOUT THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE LIBRARY.
WHEREAS GEORGE HAS SHOWN A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY BEYOND HIS PROFESSIONAL DUTIES, VOLUNTEERING AT BONITA HIGH SCHOOL FOR PACE PROJECTS, AND SERVING AS A MEMBER OF THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO VOLUNTEERED AT THE LIBRARY.
WHEREAS GEORGE'S INGENUITY HELPED DEVELOP UNIQUE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE BOOKS FOR THE MILITARY PROGRAM, WHICH DISTRIBUTED OVER 2,500 BOOKS TO LA VERNE RESIDENTS SERVING IN THE MILITARY.
GEORGE HAS DEMONSTRATED EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP, PARTICULARLY DURING TIMES OF CRISIS, SUCH AS THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC WHEN HE QUICKLY ADAPTED THE IMPLEMENTING SIDEWALK SERVICE, AND WHEREAS GEORGE'S CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE FELT A LASTING IMPACT ON THE LA VERNE LIBRARY, THE CREATION OF THE TEEN ZONE, THE RECOGNITION OF THE CHILDREN'S AREA AND THE ACQUISITION OF NEW EQUIPMENT.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED ON THIS DAY, JULY 1ST, 2024 THAT WE HONOR AND RECOGNIZE GEORGE MAY FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THE LA VERNE LIBRARY AND THE COMMUNITY.
DATED THIS FIRST DAY OF JULY 2024.
DO YOU HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY, SIR?
>> WELL, I WAS GOING TO GET READY FOR THIS.
I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY I STARTED AS A NEW LIBRARY ON AUGUST 2001, DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT OVER THE LAST 23 YEARS, I COULDN'T HAVE PICKED A BETTER CITY TO WORK IN.
CITY STAFF, CITY COUNCIL, COMMUNITY HAS BEEN VERY WELCOMING, VERY SUPPORTIVE, AND FOR THAT, I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.
ON ONE OF MY MORE FONDEST MEMORIES WAS BOTH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF SAID THAT, YEAH, YOU MAY BE A COUNTY FACILITY, BUT YOU'RE ONE OF US SO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.
APPRECIATE THE PROGRAMS, COMING INTO THE LIBRARY, BUT I DIDN'T DO IT ALL.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE HAD GREAT TEAMS, PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS, LIBRARY ASSISTANTS, PART TIME SUB, LIBRARY ASSOCIATED.
THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB, SHOW ME DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT AND PROFESSIONALISM, AND THEY MAKE ME LOOK. I THANK THEM.
THE CERTIFICATE IS ALSO HONORS THEM.
THANK YOU. ALL OF YOU, FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT OVER YOU.
I ALSO WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PAST AND PRESENT, JOHN BLICKENS HENDRICKS, DONNA REDMOND, CHARLIE ELLIS, ROBIN CARTER AND [INAUDIBLE] VARIOUS CITY MANAGERS OVER HERE, MARTIN MILLY, BOB RUSSE.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. I'VE BEEN GREAT, VERY SUPPORTIVE AND I'M GOING TO TEXAS.
>> AS PART OF THE LIBRARY COMMISSION, WE COULD NOT HAVE A BETTER LIBRARY MANAGER THAN MR. MAY.
HE PUTS ON JUST SO MANY ACTIVITIES.
HE'LL COME UP TONIGHT AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE ACTIVITIES.
[00:15:02]
BUT HE'S EVEN ADDED MORE FROM LAST MONTH THAT'S GOING ON THIS MONTH AS WELL.JUST PROVIDING FOR OUR YOUTH AND FOR OUR FAMILIES AND GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ AND JUST APPRECIATE IT OPENS UP EVERYONE'S WORLD, AND EQUITY COMES IN INCLUSION BECAUSE OF THE COUNTY LIBRARY.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. [LAUGHTER]
>> OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS FOR FIRE MARSHALS FRED SAINT ANGE, COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION SPECIALIST LONNIE SHIPMAN, WHO WILL REMIND THE LA VERNE COMMUNITY AND IMPORTANT SAFETY REMINDERS RELATED TO 4 JULY.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS LONNIE SHIPMAN. I'M THE COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION SPECIALIST FOR THE LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MYSELF AND OUR FIRE MARSHAL, FRED ARE HERE TO DISCUSS WHAT WE'RE CALLING OBSERVING THE LA VERNE WAY FOR A SAFE INDEPENDENCE DAY.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE WANT TO JUST EMPHASIZE EVERYBODY HERE, PARTICULAR OUR RESIDENTS IS THAT ALL FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL IN THE CITY LIMIT, CITY OF LA VERNE.
IT'S A PRETTY OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT CONCERN FOR EVERYBODY.
I'D SAY, IN PARTICULAR, EVERY YEAR, THERE IS A FIRE SEASON.
I THINK THAT THIS ONE SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN OFF A LITTLE BIT OF A JUMP.
WE'VE HAD A HANDFUL OF DIFFERENT FIRES.
WE'VE ACTUALLY SENT SOME OF OUR PERSONNEL TO ASSIST IN SOME OF THE FIRES.
WE'VE HAD SOME RECENT FIRES IN THE AREA.
WE'VE HAD, I THINK TODAY, THERE WAS A VEGETATION FIRE OVER IN AVENA.
THERE WAS ONE IN FONTANA, THINK OVER THE WEEKEND, SO IT'S CRITICAL THAT EVERYBODY MAINTAINS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS VERY DROUGHT THERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FUEL OUT THERE.
AGAIN, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY HERE IS TO NOT UTILIZING ANY FIREWORKS HERE IN LABURN THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY STATS THAT WE SHARE THAT THERE'S ROUGHLY 19,000 ANNUALLY FIREWORK FIRES THAT ARE REPORTED.
I THINK IT SAYS $105 MILLION WORTH OF PROPERTY DAMAGE.
I MEAN, THAT NUMBER OBVIOUSLY PROBABLY INCREASES EVERY YEAR, THE MORE EXPENSIVE THINGS ARE.
VERY CRITICAL AGAIN, TO THINK ABOUT JUST THE DIFFERENT INJURIES, PROPERTY DAMAGE, DEBT THAT CAN OCCUR.
NOT TO MENTION THE NOISE POLLUTION CREATED FROM FIREWORKS.
NO FIREWORKS ARE SAFE, QUITE FRANKLY.
THEY'RE ALL LOUD. THEY'RE ALL INTRUSIVE.
THEY'RE ALL DISTURBING TO FOLKS WHO QUITE FRANKLY, MAY HAVE PTSD FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY A CONCERN TO CHILDREN TO PETS.
THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT CONCERNS WITH THAT.
AS I ALREADY MENTIONED, THERE'S NO SAFE FIREWORKS.
MATTER OF FACT, I THINK, LAST YEAR, I SHARED SOME INFORMATION RELATED TO CERTAIN THINGS SUCH AS SPARKLERS.
SPARKLERS CAN BE AS HOT AS 2000 DEGREES OR MORE.
TO PUT THAT IN CONTEXT, IF YOU TURN YOUR BURNER ON YOUR STOVE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP TENTH, IT'S ABOUT 500 DEGREES.
IMAGINE WE'RE PUTTING A SPARKLER IN CHILDREN'S HANDS AND LET THEM RUN AROUND AMONGST OTHER CHILDREN, YOUR PETS, ANY FUEL SOURCES.
IT'S REALLY CRITICAL TO REMEMBER THOSE THINGS.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO, AGAIN, JUST REITERATE TO EVERYBODY THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY WIDE EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT WE ALL ARE PRATING THIS BEHAVIOR AND LEAVE THE SHOW TO THE PROS.
UP NEXT, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRE MARSHALS MOMENT CHAT ABOUT OUR RESPONSE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE PUBLIC.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US UP HERE TODAY.
AS LONNIE MENTIONED, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A SAFE FOURTH OF JULY.
THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS KEEPING THIS COMMUNITY SAFE.
WE'VE HAD A GOOD TURNOUT LAST YEAR AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE IT THIS YEAR AS WELL.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE BOARD HERE,
[00:20:02]
BUT WE DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC CALL 911.WE WANT THEM TO CONTACT OUR DESIGN NUMBER 4 PD, WHICH IS THE 909-596-1913.
THIS HAS BEEN ADVERTISED FOR THE PAST MONTH ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THAT WAS A REQUEST FROM LAST YEAR, AND SO WE PUSHED IT OUT ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA THIS LAST MONTH HERE.
IT'S OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP PUSHING IT BEFORE THE DAY OF.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT, REMEMBER, IF THE COMMUNITY SEES SOMETHING, TO SAY SOMETHING.
LET US KNOW, CALL THAT NUMBER, AND LET'S KEEP THIS COMMUNITY SAFE.
BASICALLY, IF YOU LIGHT IT, WE'RE GOING TO WRITE IT. YOU'RE GOING TO GET A TICKET.
LAST YEAR WE WORKED THROUGH IT, AND WE DIDN'T PUSH THAT, BUT THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE PATROLLING THE CITY IN THE EVENING TIME.
AFTERWARDS, JOINT EFFORTS WITH PETE AND MYSELF AND LONNIE, WE'RE GOING TO BE PATROL IN THE CITY THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE AFTER THE FIREWORK SHOW IS DONE.
NEXT. IF YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW, WE STILL HAVE TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR THE LA VERNE FIRE SHOW.
WE AS LONNIE MENTIONED, LEAVE IT TO THE PROS.
YOU HAVE TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE, AS MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU CAN PURCHASE ONLINE, OR YOU CAN NOW COME INTO THE CITY AND PURCHASE OTHER SERVICES VIA CASH OR HOWEVER TO HELP OUT TO GET YOU INSIDE THE SHOW.
THAT'S GOING TO GO FROM 7:00 TO ABOUT 9:30 THAT NIGHT, AND WE ARE CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF HOMETOWN HEROES.
IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT. IT'S GOING TO BE AN AWESOME TIME.
THERE IS A QR CODE THAT'S ON THERE AS WELL, IF YOU'VE SNAPPED A PICTURE OF THAT, IT'LL HELP YOU AND GUIDE YOU THROUGH THOSE STEPS THERE.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL OR PUBLIC?
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SYNAG? WELL, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT THE FACT THAT IT'S A DANGEROUS TIME RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES ARE THEY'VE RAISED THEIR FINES TO $5,000 PER [INAUDIBLE].
I MEAN, I DON'T NECESSARILY LIKE DOING THAT, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT, IF THEY START A FIRE, ESPECIALLY IN OUR HILLSIDES, HOW CRITICAL IT IS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STRUCTURES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIVES, ANIMALS, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ADHERE TO THAT.
THAT'S WHY YOU BUY TICKETS FOR $20, OR YOU SIT OVER HERE AND ACROSS OVER THERE AND JUST ENJOY THE CITY.
BUT BUY TICKETS. BUT IF YOU DON'T.
>> IF YOU DON'T, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR BURGER, COME TO THE TOWN, YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOME SALES TAX.
I MEAN, YOU'RE GOING TO DO A BURGER, SHOP AT THE STORE, HAVE NON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OUT IN THE OPEN THERE, OF COURSE, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT MAYBE MID YEAR BEFORE THE NEXT ONE TO SAY THAT YOU MUST.
ADHERE TO THAT, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I APPRECIATE YOU PUSHING OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> IT'S VERY SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PLEASE COME TO THE SHOW. IT'S AN AWESOME SHOW.
>> COME TO THE PARADE. IT'S AWESOME TOO. WELL, A GOOD TIME.
>> APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I SAY, TIM, OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE HAD HOUSE FIRES ASSOCIATED WITH FIREWORKS.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE TRY TO HIDE THE FIREWORKS AND LIGHT THEM IN THEIR GARAGE IN THE GARAGE FIRES.
>> WELL, THAT WASN'T TOO WISE, WAS IT? ANYWAY.
>> WE MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.
WE'LL CELEBRATE THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF EL SIGLO CORP, A LA VERNE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
IF I IF THE TWO YOUNG LADIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING THIS.
LINDA. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
I DO WITH A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR SIGLO CORPORATION, HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF EL SIGLO CITY OF LAKER.
IS THERE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND THAT YOU MAY WANT TO PROVIDE US WITH?
>> NO, SECRETARY. CORPORATION FOUNDED BACK
[00:25:06]
BY OTHER SIDE.>> THERE ARE MANY LA VERNE RESIDENTS THAT WERE PART OF THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF AL SIGLO OVER THE YEARS.
MY WIFE'S FAMILY, CASTANO'S WERE PART OF EL SIGLO FOR MANY YEARS.
BUT DURING THE DEPRESSION, THEY USED THEIR SHARES BY FOOD AT THE AT THE COMPANY STORE.
THEY SET UP ALL OF THEIR SHARES.
I'M GLAD TO SEE IT STILL AS ACTIVE AND PROSPEROUS AS TODAY.
>> STEVE AND I WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO GO TO THE RESTAURANT WHERE THEY HAD THEIR BOARD MEETING AND CELEBRATE THEIR HUNDRED YEAR.
WHAT RESIDENTS IN LA VERNE DON'T KNOW A LOT OF YOU IS THE FACT THAT AS LINDA WAS SAYING, YOU HAD TO SIT IN THE BACK OF THE THEATER.
YOU CAN ONLY SWIM AT CERTAIN TIMES.
YOU COULDN'T SHOP OR YOU COULDN'T GO AT ALL.
THOSE ARE SOME DEEP ROOTS THAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT MAKE SURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
BUT OUT OF THE SUCCESS OF THAT, YOU WERE ABLE TO PULL YOUR MONEY AND MAKE IT A SUCCESSFUL CORPORATION FOR 100 YEARS, WHICH IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE LAND, YOU HAVE RENTALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND YOU HAVE OTHER PARTS OF YOUR CORPORATION, SO OTOS TO YOU GUYS.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS THE FACT IT STARTED OFF THE FACT THAT THERE WAS SEGREGATION AND DISCRIMINATION.
FOR MOST OF US, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO REMEMBER AND NEVER FORGET, AND THAT WE ARE ALL EQUAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.
LET'S GET A PICTURE OF ALL OF US, PLEASE.
OUR FINAL PRESENTATION IS GOING TO BE, WHICH IS A TOPIC, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE ON FAIR PLAN.
YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD. AS WE'VE ALL BEEN FACED WITH CANCELLATIONS AND THE PRESENT SITUATION, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING.
I KNOW THAT THE CHANGES ARE COMING RAPIDLY.
WE DON'T HAVE AS A BILL YET, PERMANENT, BUT I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING ON IT.
BUT PLEASE FILL US IN BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF US IN THIS COMMUNITY MYSELF INCLUDED THAT WERE CANCELED, AND THE POLICY THAT I DID GET WAS THE ASTRONOMICAL IS PROBABLY AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON BEHALF OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONER DECARDOAA.
WE HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST HAPPENING HERE IN OUR BACKYARD.
IT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE STATE, AND SO WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A MAJOR INSURANCE CRISIS.
THAT IS BASICALLY THE EFFECTS OF ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR 30 YEARS THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN ABLE TO TACKLE.
NOW WE ARE ABSOLUTELY TACKLING IT, WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT SOMEHOW WE ARE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THIS.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE A QUICK RUNDOWN, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN REGARDS TO THE MAJOR ISSUES THAT HAVE REALLY BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE FOREFRONT.
WE DO HAVE THAT, OF COURSE, WE HAD A PANDEMIC, AND THAT JUST UPENDED EVERYTHING AND HAS MADE IT EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT FOR MANY COMPANIES TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.
INSURANCE, THE INSURANCE MARKET.
[00:30:02]
IN CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA IS THE LARGEST INSURANCE MARKET IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.WE ARE ONLY SECOND IN THE WORLD, ONLY SECOND TO CHINA.
EVERYBODY EVERYBODY THAT DOES BUSINESS IN INSURANCE, WANTS TO DO BUSINESS IN CALIFORNIA.
THE PROBLEM IS, THERE ARE ALL OF THESE OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN JUST BUBBLING UP.
IN CALIFORNIA, IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE THE TOP 12 COMPANIES THAT WE HAVE ALL HEARD OF.
WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE COMMERCIALS ARE THE ONES THAT, BASICALLY TAKE CARE OF 85% OF THE HOMEOWNERS MARKET IN THE STATE, AND SO THAT IS A MAJOR, MAJOR ISSUE.
ALL OF THOSE COMPANY, WELL, SEVEN OUT OF 12 OF THEM HAVE PASSED, RESTRICTED THEIR NEW BUSINESS.
THE ISSUE WITH THAT IS THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT HEAR FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES SAYING IT IS JUST TOO DIFFICULT, WE JUST WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THIS.
MANY OF THEM ARE ASKING FOR RATE INCREASES, HAVE GOTTEN THOSE RATE INCREASES, BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES.
THE REASON FOR IT IS BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FROM 2012 TO 2021, THE LOSS RATIO THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN 59% IN CALIFORNIA IS 73.9, 74% ALMOST.
DIRECT UNDERWRITING PROFIT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IS 3.6%.
WE HAVE LOST IN CALIFORNIA, WE'RE DOWN TO 13.1%.
DIRECT PROFIT ON TRANSACTIONS COUNTRYWIDE IS 4.2, CALIFORNIA IS -6.1, AND THE DIRECT RETURN ON NET WORTH THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IS 7% AND IN CALIFORNIA, 0.8%.
YOU CAN SEE THE ISSUE WITH THE ENTIRE MARKET.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THE FAIR PLAN, WHICH WAS CONSIDERED AND WAS CREATED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO BE AN INSURANCE OF LAST RESORT.
THE FAIR PLAN WAS CREATED AFTER THE WATTS RIOTS, AND IT WAS CREATED BECAUSE THOSE PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES WEREN'T ABLE TO GET INSURANCE.
THE LEGISLATURE CREATED IT SO THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO THEN PAY MUCH BIGGER PREMIUMS, BUT AT LEAST HAVE SOMETHING, A BACKSTOP WHILE THEY LOOKED FOR INSURANCE.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A TWO, THREE MONTH STINT MAYBE IN THE FAIR PLAN.
AS OF, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE FAIR PLAN FOR YEARS NOW, BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET OUT OF IT, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN JUST THAT MUCH.
THE FAIR PLAN HAS INCREASED TO 3% OF THE MARKET NOW.
WE DO, EVEN THOUGH IT'S 3% DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S A REALLY BIG NUMBER, I TRULY DOES TRANSLATE TO A BIG NUMBER FOR PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE A BIGGER WILDFIRE.
>> ISSUES, WILDFIRE IS A THREAT SO WE DO HAVE THAT.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE BEEN DOWNGRADED IN THE REST OF THEIR BUSINESS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE RISK THAT THEY HAVE HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
THE RISK AT THE END OF THE DAY IS THE THING THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF AND SO THAT IS WHY YOU ARE HEARING FROM MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND SOME OF YOU, UNFORTUNATELY, ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THAT THEY ARE NON RENEWING IN SOME PARTICULAR AREAS.
SO THEY ARE NOT WRITING IN HIGH RISK AREAS, AND THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO JUST COVER THEIR EXPENSES AND COVER THE CLAIMS SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE JUST TO STAY AFLOAT IN SOME OF THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS.
RATE FILINGS, OF COURSE, HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY COMPLEX BECAUSE OF ALL OF THOSE ISSUES AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE BECAUSE OF PROP 103, WE HAVE THE ISSUE OF INTERVENORS WHO WHEN AN INSURANCE COMPANY REQUESTS AN INCREASE, THEY ARE ABLE TO COME IN AND JUST STALL IT FOR AT LEAST 18 MONTHS.
THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AS WELL THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO WORK ON.
THIS IS THE INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THE FAIR PLAN BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU ASKED ME TO COME IN HERE, TALK ABOUT SPECIFICALLY.
THE FAIR PLAN, LIKE I SAID, IT WAS VERY MUCH SO CREATED JUST TO STABILIZE PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT HAS BECOME A MAJOR ISSUE AND SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FAIR PLAN ALSO IS SUPPOSED TO ONLY PROVIDE BASIC PROPERTY INSURANCE, SO THAT MEANS THAT IF YOU HAVE THE FAIR PLAN, THAT ONLY COVERS FIRE.
YOU STILL HAVE TO BUY A DIFFERENCE IN CONDITIONS POLICY FROM ANOTHER INSURANCE COMPANY AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THE COST IS JUST EXACERBATED AND SO MUCH MORE.
[00:35:05]
THAT'S WHY THE FAIR PLAN WAS CREATED, SUPPOSED TO BE LAST RESORT.WE DO NOT HAVE AUTHORITY OVER IT.
THE STATE DOES NOT, NO TAXPAYER FUNDS ARE USED FOR IT.
BASICALLY, EVERYTHING THE MONEY THAT THEY GET, THEY ARE FUNDED BY THE PRICE THAT THEY CHARGE CONSUMERS, SO THAT IS WHY THOSE PRICES ARE ASTRONOMICAL.
THEY ACCEPT ALL THE PROPERTIES, UNLESS, OF COURSE, THE PROPERTY IS COMPLETELY UNINSURABLE AND BY THAT, I MEAN, MAYBE ROOF IS FALLING OFF OR A WALL IS COMING DOWN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT BASICALLY, THAT'S THE ISSUE.
THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO PROP 103 AND THEY ARE A NONPROFIT, BUT BASICALLY THEY ARE RUN BY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE THE ONES THAT DECIDE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH A FAIR PLAN.
HERE IT JUST SHOWS YOU WHERE THEIR BIGGEST CONCENTRATION IS.
YOU SEE THAT, IT'S BASICALLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE, IT IS NOT JUST IN ONE PARTICULAR AREA.
THE RATE PLANS THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO JUST PROVIDE FOR THEIR LOSSES, AND THIS IS JUST INFORMATION THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR US TO GO INTO BECAUSE IT'S MUCH MORE DETAIL.
BUT WHAT THE COMMISSIONER AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE CAME UP WITH WAS SAFER FROM WILDFIRES FRAMEWORK TO HELP CONSUMERS BASICALLY WITH A PARTICULAR THING THAT THEY CAN DO SO THAT THEY CAN BRING THE RISK DOWN.
IF A CONSUMER IS ABLE TO BRING THE RISK DOWN, THEN THE EXPECTATION IS THAT YOUR INSURANCE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME DOWN, OR AT LEAST THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET A DECREASE IN YOUR INSURANCE PREMIUM.
WHAT THIS IS, IS BASICALLY, COMMISSIONER LAURA GOT ALL OF THE AGENCIES THAT DEAL WITH FIRE TOGETHER, AND THEY CAME UP WITH VERY SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUR HOME, YOUR IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS, AND YOUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THESE ARE THE THINGS IF YOU SEE HERE FOR YOUR HOME, SIX THINGS, VERY SPECIFIC SO THAT EVERYBODY IS WORKING OUT OF THE SAME LIST.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT ALL THE INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN TOGGLE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT.
BUT IF YOU DO THESE THINGS, THEN YOU'RE PROTECTING YOUR HOME.
THE NEXT THING IS PROTECTING YOUR IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS, MAKING SURE THAT YOUR HOUSE IS SAFE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT AN EMBER CAN TRAVEL MILES AND CAN REALLY GET TO A HOUSE IF YOU HAVE THINGS THAT ARE NOT CLEARED OR YOU HAVE SHEDS THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TO YOUR HOME, SO THOSE ARE VERY SPECIFIC THINGS THERE.
THEN THE LAST THING IS PROTECTING YOUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
SO THE WAY THAT YOU DO THAT IS WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THE OTHER AGENCIES TO COME UP WITH IF YOU FORM A FIREWISE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS BASICALLY EIGHT HOMES OR MORE CAN GET TOGETHER, AND THEY CAN DECIDE TO CREATE A FIREWISE USA COMMUNITY.
THE EXPECTATION IS THEN THAT YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS WILL LOOK AT YOUR HOMES AND LOOK AT YOUR IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS AND HELP TO KEEP THAT AREA SAFE.
IF YOU ARE PART OF A FIREWISE COMMUNITY OR A FIRE RISK REDUCTION COMMUNITY, WHICH A CITY OR A COUNTY OR LOCAL DISTRICT CAN BECOME THAT AS WELL, THEN YOU CAN THEN APPLY FOR GRANTS FROM THE STATE AND FROM OTHER ENTITIES THAT MIGHT HAVE GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO CLEAN UP YOUR AREAS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO USE THOSE GRANTS FOR BUYING A CHIPPER SYSTEM SO OFTEN, THEY COME TOGETHER AND THEN THEY GET RID OF ALL THIS EXCESS.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE DONE THAT AND THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE TO TRY TO HELP KEEP THEIR COMMUNITY SAFE.
WITH THAT, THE FAIR PLAN NOW HAS DISCOUNTS FOR YOU FOR THAT.
BUT NOT ONLY THE FAIR PLAN, BUT BASICALLY THE LAW OF THE LAND IS, AND THE COMMISSIONER MADE IT THAT IT IS THE LAW OF THE LAND, THAT ANY AND IF YOU AS A CONSUMER HAVE DONE THESE THINGS, INSURANCE COMPANIES MUST TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WITH YOUR RATES AND GIVE YOU AT LEAST, SOME TYPE OF DISCOUNT FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE THERE.
YOU ARE ABLE TO TALK TO YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY CAN COME IN AND HELP YOU LOOK AT THINGS,
[00:40:02]
WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE.IF YOU DON'T DO ALL OF THE THINGS THERE, IT'S OKAY, YOU CAN DO PARTS OF THAT, AND THEN THEY CAN TAKE SOME OF THAT AND THEN GIVE YOU A PARTIAL DISCOUNT.
BUT THE EXPECTATION IS, ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
THE FAIR PLAN GIVES YOU A 15% DISCOUNT NOW, THE OTHER THING IS THE FAIR PLAN ALSO PROVIDES FOR $20 MILLION COVERAGE FOR HOAS.
WE HAVE HAD SOME HOAS IN THE PAST WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO, BECAUSE THEY ARE A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY THEY ARE NOT TO BE ABLE TO GET COVERAGE BECAUSE BEFORE THE COVERAGE WAS ONLY THREE MILLION, THE COMMISSIONER CHANGE THAT TO SEVEN MILLION, BUT SEVEN MILLION IS STILL NOT ENOUGH FOR SOME COMMUNITIES, SO NOW WE'RE AT 20 MILLION.
THEN ALSO, INSURANCE COMPANIES IN THE PAST WILL TELL YOU YOUR WILDFIRE RISK CORE IS TOO HIGH.
WHEN YOU ASKED ABOUT IT, AND HOW CAN YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THEY WOULD SAY, THAT'S PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, WE CAN'T REALLY TELL YOU.
NOW WE HAVE IT SO THAT IF AN INSURANCE COMPANY TELLS YOU YOUR WILDFIRE RISK CORE IS TOO HIGH OR THAT THEY USE THAT FOR ANY MEANS, THEY HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT IT IS, AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTEST THAT AS WELL.
SO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE HELPS YOU WITH THAT.
WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW, IN ADDITION TO THAT IS NOW WE'RE WORKING TO TRY TO MAKE INSURANCE ACCESSIBLE FOR THE STATE.
WE ARE BUILDING, BASICALLY CREATING A RESILIENT INSURANCE MARKET AND CONTINUING TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE WAY THAT WE'RE DOING THAT IS, WE ARE REQUIRING ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES TO WRITE 85% OF THOSE HOMES AND BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN DISTRESSED AREAS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT MAPS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, LOOKING AT WHERE THOSE ARE LOCATED AND THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE FAIR PLAN.
IF YOU ARE AN INSURANCE COMPANY, YOU MUST WRITE THAT AND YOU MUST BE ABLE TO RETURN PEOPLE OUT OF THE FAIR PLAN INTO THE REGULAR MARKET AND THE REASON THAT WE'RE REQUIRING INSURANCE COMPANIES TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE ASKED FOR CATASTROPHE MODELING.
CATASTROPHE MODELING, WHAT IT IS IS IT ALLOWS INSURANCE COMPANIES TO LOOK AT A HOME SPECIFICALLY AND LOOK AT ALL AREAS OF THE HOME FROM EITHER SATELLITES OR DRONES OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY USE, TO BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE RISK IS, AND ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS DOING AND WHAT THE OTHER THE COUNTY AND CITIES AND ALL OF THAT, WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO MITIGATE THE AREAS, AND BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT TO PROVIDE WHAT YOU SHOULD BE PAYING.
IN THE PAST, WE ONLY LOOKED AT HISTORICAL VALUES.
NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THIS AND SO THE EXPECTATION IS FOR US TO BE DONE WITH ALL OF THIS BY THE END OF 2024.
SO COMMISSIONER LAURA BROUGHT THAT UP AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
WE ARE WORKING WITH A GOVERNOR AND MOVING THINGS VERY VERY QUICKLY.
STATE GOVERNMENT USUALLY WORKS VERY SLOWLY BUT WE ARE VERY MUCH ON TIME TO GET ALL OF THIS TAKEN CARE OF.
THEN THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS REINSURANCE COSTS, WHICH IS BASICALLY INSURANCE FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT TOO AND HOW IS IT THAT WE CAN DO IT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE CALIFORNIA ONLY REINSURANCE TO BE REALLY PUT INTO THE COST FOR EVERYTHING.
THEN WE'RE LOOKING FINALLY AT MODERNIZING THE FARE PLAN, LOOKING AT IN SOME AREAS OF THE STATE, WE DON'T JUST NEED $20 MILLION FOR THE ENTIRE HOA, BUT WE ACTUALLY NEED $20 MILLION COVERAGE FOR STRUCTURES BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME PARTICULAR AREAS IN THE STATE THAT NEEDED A LOT MORE.
THIS IS WHAT THESE AREAS LOOK LIKE.
THE AREAS THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF THE FAIR PLAN ARE IN THE LIGHT COLORS, AND THEN THE OTHERS ARE IN DARKER.
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS LIKE THE BIGGER COMPANIES, WE ARE ASKING FOR THEM TO DO 85% MINIMUM IN WILDFIRE DISTRESSED AREAS FOR SMALL COMPANIES BECAUSE WE REALIZE THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 COMPANIES IN THE STATE THAT SELL HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE.
WE REALIZE THERE ARE SOME COMPANIES THAT ARE MUCH SMALLER, THAT ARE VERY REGIONAL AND SO FOR THOSE, WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS THAT THEY DO AN INCREASE OF 5% AND FOR THOSE COMPANIES THAT HAVE A MINIMUM AND THEN ALSO FOR COMMERCIAL, EXPECTING 5% GROWTH FOR ALL OF THAT.
THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE FAIR PLAN WILL BE ABLE TO THEN START
[00:45:01]
DEPOPULATING AS WE ARE GETTING MORE COMPANIES BACK INTO THE MARKET.WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, AND PEOPLE ASK US, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO THIS? WE DO HAVE EXISTING AUTHORITY UNDER THE LAW WITH COMMISSIONER LAURA AND SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO MARKET CONDUCT EXAMS, AUDITS, AND HEARINGS, EVEN BE ABLE TO MAKE INSURANCE COMPANIES RETURN PREMIUMS IF THEY ARE CHARGING MORE THAN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO IF THEY'RE NOT DOING WHAT THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE DOING WITH US.
THIS IS THE LARGEST INSURANCE REFORM THAT WE HAVE DONE, WE HAVE TAKEN ON IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.
WE ARE VERY MUCH SO THE WAY THAT WE ARE DOING ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN THROUGH THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE YOUR INFORMATION INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
OF COURSE, I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOICES ARE ALSO PART OF ALL OF THIS AS WE MOVE ON.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ALSO KNOW THAT IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE OR ANY TYPE OF INSURANCE THAT THEY CAN CONTACT US.
WE HAVE EXPERTS THAT ARE ON THE PHONE 8:00 A.M-5:00 P.M EVERY DAY AND IF YOU CALL, AND WE HAPPEN TO BE BUSY, OUR RETURN CALL TIME IS ONE MINUTE.
WE ABSOLUTELY WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU AND TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR PARTICULAR INSURANCE ISSUES.
ANY TYPE OF PAPERWORK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE CAN WALK YOU THROUGH IT AND ACTUALLY CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY ON YOUR BEHALF.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WAS TRYING TO DO IT AS FAST AS I COULD SO I COULD GET A LOT OF INFORMATION
>> YOU DID VERY WELL. THANK YOU DEPUTY COMMISSIONER JUAREZ.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. JUAREZ? WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THANK YOU TO JULIA FOR THE PRESENTATION VERY INFORMATIVE.
I'LL JUST INTRODUCE MYSELF QUICKLY MY NAME IS BRYCE, I'M HERE WITH MY WIFE, ALISARA.
WE ARE NEW RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF LA VERNE.
WE MOVED HERE THREE YEARS AGO, BOUGHT A HOUSE HERE, WE ARE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, AND WE LIKE LIVING HERE, WANT TO YOU STAY HERE.
BUT WE ALSO LIVE JUST ABOVE BASELINE, SO WE ARE IN A HIGH FIRE ZONE SEVERITY AREA.
I'LL JUMP TO THE POINT THAT WE HAVE BEEN IMPACTED VERY SEVERELY BY THE INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES AND TO MAKE IT QUANTITATIVE WHEN WE MOVED HERE, MY INSURANCE PREMIUM WAS ABOUT $2,000.
>> THEN LAST YEAR, IT INCREASED TO OVER 8,000, AND THIS YEAR, IT'S INCREASED AGAIN, AND IT'S NOW ALMOST $12,000, SO IT'S GONE UP ABOUT 600% IN JUST TWO YEARS.
I HAVE WRITTEN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE AND EXPLAINED THAT.
THEY DID AN INVESTIGATION AND FOUND OUT THAT MY PROVIDER, WHICH WAS FARMERS, WAS IN THEIR RIGHT TO MAKE THOSE INCREASES.
I'VE BEEN QUITE TRACKING THIS ISSUE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THESE RATE INCREASES AND WHAT ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE TO ME.
FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS, I'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING AND CALLING AGENTS, CALLING BROKERS, FINDING OUT THAT BASICALLY, I HAVE ACTUALLY NO OPTION.
EVEN BROKERS THAT SERVICE THIS AREA, [INAUDIBLE], AND SO ON, THEY SAY, ACTUALLY, FOR PORT LA VERNE, THERE ARE COMPANIES WHO PROVIDE INSURANCE, BUT NOT FOR LA VERNE, NOT FOR 9750, NOT THIS ZIP CODE, IT'S BLOCKED.
WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE THOSE INSURANCE PROVIDERS ARE AT RISK.
THEY ARE TOO MUCH EXPOSED BY EITHER WRITING POLICIES THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE, OR THERE COULD BE SOME OTHER FACTORS.
MY ONLY OPTION IS THE CALIFORNIA FAIR PLAN, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FAIR PLAN IS ENSURING SO MANY POLICIES THAT THEY ARE AT RISK THEMSELVES OF BEING INSOLVENT.
THAT IF THERE IS ONE MAJOR EVENT, THAT ALL OF THOSE AT-RISK REGIONS SUFFER FROM CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES,
[00:50:04]
THEN THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BE INSOLVENT.THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN THE FAIR PLAN TO PAY ALL THOSE INSURANCE PAYOUTS.
I'M AT THE POINT WHERE I ACTUALLY I HAVE TO STAY RIGHT NOW WITH FARMERS IF I WANT TO ENSURE THAT I HAVE COVERAGE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN DROPPED, BUT MY INSURANCE PREMIUM IS CRAZY.
IT'S A 44-YEAR-OLD, LIKE MOST US, ABOVE BASELINE.
I'M HERE TO ASK WHAT CAN BE DONE BY THE CITY TO BRING THIS ISSUE TO LIGHT, TO WORK WITH DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO FIND OUT HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN MY SITUATION.
I HAVE HERE, I KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE IS TAKING STEPS TO BRING CARRIERS BACK TO THE MARKET.
I HAVE THIS LIST OF INSURERS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO INCREASING WRITING POLICIES IN HIGH-RISK WILDFIRE AREAS, AND THERE'S A LIST OF ZIP CODES HERE WHERE IT'S PROVIDED, LA VERNE IS NOT ON THIS LIST.
RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO STEP FORWARD TO MAKING THIS A WORKABLE SITUATION.
LIKE I SAID, I HAVE A FAMILY HERE NOW, I WANT TO LIVE HERE ANOTHER 20 YEARS.
BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE IN INSURANCE OR BETWEEN YEARS FROM MY HOME, SO THAT'S NOT WORKABLE.
I'M REALLY HOPING TO HEAR A LOT MORE ABOUT THIS, MAKE IT A LOT MORE PUBLIC ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE, ON THE CITY LA VERNE WEBSITE AND WELCOME MORE FEEDBACK TO GET TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE.
WHAT CAN THE CITY DO ABOUT THIS TO BRING INSURERS BACK TO THE MARKET?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.
SHE'S LISTENING RIGHT NOW, SO WE NEED TO FIND OUT SO.
WELL, THANK YOU. SHE'LL BE REPORTING BACK ON THAT TO US.
>> ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ANSWER ON THAT ONE, BUT THAT IS BEING ONE THAT WAS THE SAME.
MY INSURANCE WAS DROPPED, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT.
MY INSURANCE AGENT CALL ME SAYS, HEY, IT'S DROPPED.
I THINK ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES IS, TOO, FIRST OF ALL, WHY ARE WE NOT IN THE INSURANCE MATRIX? THAT'S THE FIRST ONE.
GRANTED WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE FIRES, BUT NOT LIKE SOME OF THE FIRES THAT HAPPENED TO THE WEST OF US AND TO THE EAST OF US, ESPECIALLY LOSS OF STRUCTURES.
WE WERE VERY, VERY LUCKY, BUT SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES WEREN'T, BUT WE NEED TO BE ON THAT INSURANCE MATRIX.
BUT ALSO, I THINK FOR OUR INSURANCE AGENTS THAT ARE TRYING TO ENSURE, MINE INCLUDED, AND HE HAD SENT YOU SOME INFORMATION, BUT THE FACT IS THAT IT'S NOT EASY TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO FILE FOR THAT.
NOT ONLY THAT, WHERE IS THE COMPETITIVE NATURE OF OUR RATES? MINE WENT UP TO $8,000.
I GOT IN THE INSURANCE FOR THREE WEEKS ONCE THEY CANCELED MY POLICY, WE WERE IN THE TIME FRAME.
WE RE-INSURED WITH AEGIS, WHICH WAS PART OF THE FAIR PLAN.
THREE WEEKS LATER, I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION, I DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS MORE PAPERWORK FROM AEGIS.
FINALLY, I STARTED TO READ IT, THEY CANCELED ME AGAIN BECAUSE I HAD NO HANDRAILS.
MIND YOU, I'VE LIVED IN THIS HOUSE FOR 22 YEARS IN NORTH LA VERNE, HANDRAILS FROM OUR CITY WALKWAY, OVER THREE STEPS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HANDRAIL.
THEY CANCELED ME. I HAD TO SPEND $1,500 TO BUILD THE HANDRAILS, TOOK A PICTURE, SENT IT TO MY INSURANCE AGENT, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE TRULY A FAIR PLAN.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE INSURANCE RISKS, BUT THE POINT IS THAT IT HAS TO BE SEMI-AFFORDABLE.
$12,000? I'M UP ON THE HILL, RIGHT IN THE SANDWICH IN THE MIDDLE OF ABOUT THE FURTHEST STREET YOU CAN GO IN THE HIGH FIRE ZONE.
IT WAS $8,000. THEY'RE NORTH OF BASELINE, $12,000, AND WE'RE NOT EVEN IN THE MATRIX.
WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW WE COULD FIND OUT WHAT THE DEAL IS AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
I UNDERSTAND RICARDO LARA, HE'S DOING A VERY GOOD JOB, BUT THE POINT IS IT NEEDS TO BE SEMI-AFFORDABLE FOR OUR FAMILIES.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN.
ONE IS, WHEN INSURANCE COMPANIES ASK FOR A RATE INCREASE, THEY ASK TO INCREASE RATES, LET'S SAY, 10%.
[00:55:05]
WHEN THEY SAY WE'RE GETTING A 10% INCREASE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERYBODY ON THEIR BOOKS GETS A 10% INCREASE.WHAT IT IS IS THAT IT'S FOR THEIR ENTIRE BOOK OF BUSINESS, AND WE WORK WITH THEM ON THIS, BUT THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT AREA MAYBE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO RISK.
THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY GET A DECREASE, BUT THERE ARE AREAS THAT HAVE MUCH HIGHER RISK THEN THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT GET AN INCREASE.
THEN THE INCREASE IS NOT JUST THE 10%, BUT IT CAN BE 100% AND MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
THAT IS WHY THAT IS HAPPENING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, AND ALSO WITH THE FIRE-WISE COMMUNITY, WHICH WE ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO THAT IF WE CAN GET A REDUCTION, BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN IS IS THAT WHY ARE WE NOT IN THE MATRIX?
>> YES. LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS AS WELL.
THE ZIP CODES THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU SEE IT ON THAT, THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT ARE HIGH WILDFIRE RISK AND HAVE THE MOST AMOUNT OF FAIR PLAN POLICIES IN THERE RIGHT NOW.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE MATRIX RIGHT NOW.
HOWEVER, THAT WAS FOR LAST YEAR, 2022.
THOSE BAPS ARE STILL BEING REVIEWED, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEEN AGAIN.
THE EXPECTATION IS THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO THEN, NOW WHEN THEY COME BACK TO THE MARKET, THEY'RE GOING TO THEN START COMPETING FOR THOSE HOMES THAT HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN TO BE SAFER FROM WILDFIRES.
WHATEVER YOU CAN DO AS A HOMEOWNER AND THEN AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE YOURSELF SAFE, THEN THAT SHOWS THE INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT YOU HAVE A LOWER RISK, THEN THEIR EXPECTATION IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMPETING FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE CRISIS THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH, RIGHT NOW WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS WAYS FOR US TO BRING THE INSURANCE COMPANIES BACK INTO THE MARKET SO THAT THEY CAN START SELLING AGAIN.
ONCE THEY START SELLING AGAIN, THEN WE CAN EXPECT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO START COMPETING FOR THOSE HOMES, AND THEN PRICES WILL GO DOWN.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE JUST WORKING ON AVAILABILITY.
>> THE PROBLEM IS THOUGH, YOU HAVE PEOPLE HERE ON THE BASELINE.
NORTH OF BASELINE, GRANTED IT'S SURROUNDED BY SOME WILDERNESS, BUT MOST OF THE FIRES WE ACHIEVE, ANYTHING WITHIN BASELINE OR EVEN SOUTH LA VERNE, IT'S STRUCTURE FIRES FROM INTERNAL ISSUES.
NOT BECAUSE OF THE WILDFIRES, BECAUSE WE HAVE VERY GOOD PROTECTION FROM OUR FIRE SERVICES, BUT IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO AFFORD YOUR PAYMENTS.
NOW WITH THESE SEVEN AND A QUARTER PERCENT INTEREST RATES, BUT NOW YOU HAVE AN INSURANCE THAT JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE, YOU MAKE A BUDGET, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY INCREASE YOU BY $2,000 IN TWO MONTHS, AND THEN IN THREE MONTHS, THEY INCREASE YOU ANOTHER $2,000.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, BUT IT BECOMES THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE. I GET IT.
INSURANCE COMPANIES, BUT IT'S TOUGH FOR ME BECAUSE OF THE FACT, GREAT, YOU'RE AN INSURANCE COMPANY, THEY BANK ON THE FACT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CALL IN ON THE INSURANCE, AND THAT'S HOW THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY, I GET IT.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAD SOME HORRIFIC FIRES, THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR CLIMATE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT HAS TO BE SOMEWHAT ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE BECAUSE OTHERWISE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE LEFT.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, IF YOU HAVE A MORTGAGE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE INSURANCE.
WE'RE ONLY FACED WE ONLY CAN GO TO ONE CARRIER.
I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE WORKING ON IT, BUT REALLY THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE HAS TO BE PART OF IT BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST PUTTING PEOPLE OUT OF THE MARKETPLACE, JUST MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.
INSURANCE OR FOOD, IT'S LIKE, THAT'S NOT A GOOD CHOICE.
>> NO, LAST YEAR, WE MADE PRESENTATIONS LIKE THIS IN COMMUNITIES ALL OVER.
>> WELL, YOU'VE BEEN AT THE COG AND EVERYTHING.
>> WE'VE DONE 968 OF THESE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND EVERY TIME WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE THAT ABSOLUTELY, IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO HEAR THE STORIES.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE DO UNDERSTAND AND THAT WE DO HEAR IT.
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT WILL GET INSURANCE COMPANIES BACK INTO THE MARKET SO THAT THEY CAN DO THIS.
WHAT WE HAVE IN THE DEPARTMENT IS,
[01:00:01]
WE DO HAVE SOME TOOLS, WE HAVE TIPS FOR YOU TO LOOK AT WHERE YOU CAN FIND INSURANCE.IF YOU CAN'T FIND INSURANCE WITHIN THE REGULAR MARKET, YOU CAN GO TO THE NON-ADMITTED MARKET TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THERE AS WELL THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT.
RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE ARE TELLING PEOPLE, IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE, MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN KEEP IT.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU KEEP THAT AS WELL, BUT KEEP YOUR EYE OPEN, MAKE THIS INTO A SIDE THING THAT YOU DO ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THE EXPECTATION IS THAT MAYBE NOT RIGHT NOW OR THIS MONTH, BUT WE ARE HEARING INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING BACK.
I KNOW THAT ALLSTATE HAS SAID THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE WRITING AGAIN, WHEN TOKIO MARINE DECIDED TO JUST DROP EVERYTHING, MERCURY INSURANCE PICKED UP ALL OF THOSE HOMES.
WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE LOOKING TO THIS.
AAA IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS ALSO DOING SOME NEW BUSINESS HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
THERE ARE INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT ARE STARTING TO DO A LOT OF THIS, BUT I URGE CONSUMERS TO CONTINUE LOOKING SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ON THEIR TOES AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. I'VE GOT A FEW COMMENTS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS, AS FAR AS THE SOLVENCY OF THE FAIR PLAN.
FAIR PLAN IS UNDERWRITTEN BY EVERY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT IS DOING BUSINESS IN CALIFORNIA.
IF THE FAIR PLAN RUNS OUT OF MONEY, THEY JUST ASSESS THE DIFFERENT INSURANCE COMPANIES SO THAT THE FAIR PLAN IS NOT IN A POSITION WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE INSOLVENT.
THAT BEING SAID, I'VE BEEN AN INSURANCE AGENT SINCE 1984 AND HAVE SOLD PLENTY OF FAIR PLAN POLICIES OVER THAT TIME.
IT IS A VERY FRUSTRATING PROCESS THAT WE HAVE, AT LEAST FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEAR.
BUT THE FAIR PLAN WAS INITIALLY PUT TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THE WATTS RIOTS AND IT PROVIDE FAIR ACCESS TO INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FROM LOAN COMPANIES.
IT IS STILL DOING THAT AS ITS CORE BEING IS PROVIDING US INSURANCE OR AT LEAST AN OPTION TO GET INSURANCE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY THE MARKET IS RIGHT NOW, THOSE RATES ARE EXORBITANT.
IT ONLY PROVIDES LIMITED INSURANCE COVERAGE, AND TO GET THE LIABILITY, THEFT COVERAGE, YOU HAVE TO GET A WRAPAROUND TYPE OF A POLICY IS VERY EXPENSIVE AS WELL.
>> I DON'T SEE ANY SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS TO THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE TO WORK IT OUT, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AS FAR AS FIRE MITIGATION WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES, WHERE THE HILLSIDES NEED TO BE THINNED OUT AND MAYBE HAVEN'T BEEN BECAUSE OF A FISH OR SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T GET IN AND CLEAR BRUSH.
THOSE ISSUES HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.
WE'RE DEALING WITH A FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF SALAMANDERS AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN'T GET IN AND CLEAR BRUSH.
THAT HAS TO STOP. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FROM FIRE AND WE HAVE TO ORGANIZE NEIGHBORHOODS.
HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS WOULD BE A PERFECT EXAMPLE TO START WITH BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING TOGETHER.
THOSE BOARDS COULD EASILY BECOME FIRE-WISE COMMUNITIES, AND WE'RE TRYING TO PUT THAT TOGETHER WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT NOW.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS, AND ANY HELP THAT WE CAN GET IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
>> BUT WE DO HAVE RESOURCES IN OUR WEBSITE.
ALSO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND I EXPRESSED THIS TO THE CITY MANAGER BEFORE AS WELL.
[01:05:02]
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT GROUPS IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN KNOWING MORE, WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT CAN THEY DO.I AM HAPPY TO HAVE OUR TEAM COME AND MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, IF THERE IS A LOCAL COMMUNITY THAT WANTS TO GET TOGETHER AT A PARK.
WE CAN CERTAINLY COME AND MAKE THOSE PRESENTATIONS, AND THEN GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION ABOUT BUILDING THEIR FIRE-WISE COMMUNITIES.
IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK WITH YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT AS WELL AND THEN HELP TO GUIDE IN THAT DIRECTION.
WE HAVE SEEN AMAZING WORK HAPPEN IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE GETTING GRANTS FOR THOSE PARTICULAR THINGS, GETTING GOATS OUT THERE IN THOSE AREAS THAT NEED TO HAVE SOME BRUSH TAKEN CARE OF.
THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO, I WANT TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE AND OUR TEAM AVAILABLE TO HELP MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM, JOHNSON, I MAY JUST MADE A COMMENT WHERE I WOULD LIKE MR. LARA TO REALLY DEDICATE WORKING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS FROM THE STATE TO MAKE IT EASIER SO THAT WE CAN DO FUEL MODIFICATION BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT STATE DEPARTMENTS PUTTING UP RESTRAINTS THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT, BUT THEN WE NEED THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO REALLY FIGHT FOR OUR LOCAL CITIES AGAINST OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN DO THESE FUEL MODIFICATIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT INSURANCE COMPANIES, BUT OUR RULES OF DECORUM WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO DO IT.
THESE PEOPLE ARE MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AS CEOS AND BILLIONS FOR THEIR COMPANIES ARE MAKING AND THEN JUST WALK OUT ON OUR RESIDENTS.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL THE MONEY THEY MADE ON US AND THEN BE ABLE TO WALK OUT ON US IS RIDICULOUS.
I BELIEVE OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES REALLY NEED TO HAVE THE BACKS OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AS A STATE, AS YOU SAID, THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE WORLD OF INSURANCES, THEY HAVE POWER TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR WALKING OUT ON OUR RESIDENTS.
AGAIN, THAT IS THOSE CEOS MADE MILLIONS OF OF US.
ONCE ONE TIME THEY HAD MADE CLAIMS, THEN THEY WALK OUT WITH ALL THEIR MONEY AND SAID, WE'RE LEAVING.
US HAVING THE POWER AND BEING THE LARGEST, WE SHOULD HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO US.
I FEEL SO SORRY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
I HAVE NOT BEEN AFFECTED AS THE PEOPLE ABOVE.
IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR MAP, WE HAVE NOT HAD THESE FIRES IN NORTH LA VERNE, BUT WE ARE BEING PUT AND TAKING OUR ASSURANCE AWAY.
AGAIN, I HAVE A LOT MORE WORDS THAT I PROBABLY CAN'T SAY HERE.
IT'S JUST I HOPE THAT THE COMMISSIONER REALLY WORKS WITH THE OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN BE ABLE TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS BY CLEARING LAND BY OUR HOMES, WHERE OTHER STATE AGENCIES ARE NOT ALLOWING US TO DO.
>> I KNOW THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH FISH AND WILDLIFE, BUT THAT HAS BEEN A MAJOR BONE OF CONTENTION AS MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON AND MR. CROSBY.
THE FACT IS WE HAVE A LOT OF BRUSH, WE HAVE A LOT OF WILDERNESS THAT ENCROACH UPON US, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH LA VERNE AND ALL THE WAY TO THE SIDES.
THE FACT IS THAT THEY WERE RESTRICTING US TO CLEAR BRUSH AND STUFF THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME.
I WOULD HAVE TO TRY IT ALONG THE SAYING THAT THE FACT IS IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD INSURANCE, AND THEY COULD LOSE THEIR LOANS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD THAT INSURANCE.
THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, BUT ALSO THE ACCESS.
WE CAN'T JUST HAVE ONE AS YOU SAW.
I'VE NEVER HAD A CLAIM IN ALMOST 41 YEARS OF BEING IN LA VERNE, THE SAME CARRIER.
IT'S AFFORDING GROCERIES OVER THAT, GAS OVER INSURANCE.
WE'RE JUST RELAYING IT TO MR. LARA.
THE FACT IS, AS MR. CROSBY SAID, YOU MADE A LOT OF MONEY.
[01:10:02]
DON'T JUST DUMP US.MAKE SURE YOU PUT OUR 91750 IN THE MATRIX.
THE VALUE OF OUR HOMES ARE $1,000,000 NOW.
THAT'S JUST THE STARTING POINT, BUT WE HAVE TO INSURE THOSE HOMES.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND MR. DOMER, MAYBE I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU IN REGARDS TO WORKING WITH THE OTHER STATE AGENCIES.
WE'RE HAPPY TO BE A RESOURCE FOR YOU.
IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO THAT, HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.
PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN.
I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT FAST ENOUGH, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT COMPLETE ENOUGH.
WE HEAR YOU, AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY [OVERLAPPING]
>> I KNOW SENATOR RUBIO IS WORKING ON IT TOO WITH THE LARA.
IT'S JUST NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH AS WE WOULD SAY, BUT THE SAME TOKEN. THAT'S WHEN WE ALLOW.
>> I THINK JUST AS A COROLLARY TO THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT BY MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS IS THE FACT THAT LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE AREAS WHERE THESE WILDFIRES ARE OCCURRING, SOME OF IT, YES, IS ABSOLUTELY CLIMATE CHANGE.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO BE ALL AWARE OF.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO THINGS WHERE CORPORATIONS, UTILITIES NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S CAUSING SOME OF THAT DANGER.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING, AGAIN, I WOULD LOOK TO OUR HIGHER ELECTEDS TO BE HELPING US PUSH ON THAT THE BURDEN OF IT IS BEING BORNE, AS OUR MAYOR HAS SAID, BY HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE PAID FOR INSURANCE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR WITHOUT A CLAIM, AND THEY'VE MADE MONEY OFF OF US.
OF COURSE, WE NEVER WANT TO HAVE TO FILE A CLAIM.
WE NEVER WANT THAT SORT OF A DISASTER OR A CATASTROPHE TO HAPPEN.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE'RE BEING HELD, NO PUN INTENDED AND NO ASPERSIONS, BUT OUR FEET ARE BEING HELD TO THE FIRE WHEN THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE MAKING MONEY HAND OVER FIST.
I'D LIKE TO SEE, SOME OF THAT DISCUSSION HAPPEN AS WELL.
>> MISS WAREZ, MAYOR PRO TEM EARLIER SAID THAT WE ARE STUDYING A FIRE-WISE COMMUNITY.
IS THERE A POINT OF CONTACT SO I CAN LET OUR AMAZING FIRE STAFF KNOW THAT WHO'S HELPING ME MYSELF AND MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON, WE'RE STARTING THIS FIRE.
IS THERE A POINT OF CONTACT, OR SHOULD I JUST CONTACT YOU?
>> I'LL GIVE YOU MY EMAIL OR MY CONTACT INFORMATION, YOU CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO ME AND WHAT I WILL DO IS I WILL WORK WITH YOU.
I OVERSEE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
BUT YOU DO HAVE A LOCAL LIAISON.
YOU LOCAL LIAISON'S NAME IS DYSTAINE FLORES.
I WILL MAKE SURE TO SHARE ALL OF THIS WITH HER AS WELL.
BUT WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.
WE HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR FIRE-WISE COMMUNITIES WHEN THEY APPLY FOR GRANTS.
WE'RE CERTAINLY AVAILABLE FOR THAT KIND OF THING AS WELL.
>> JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, YOU SAID DYSTAINE FLORES?
>> IT'S SPELLED A LITTLE FUNNY.
IT'S D-Y-S-T-A-I-N-E, DYSTAINE.
>> WELL, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I THINK THE RESOUNDING IS LOWER THE RATES, PLEASE.
>> WE CAN GET ALL THE INSURANCE WE WANT, BUT IF WE CAN'T AFFORD IT, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.
I KNOW THAT SUSAN RUBIO IS PUSHING THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE IT AN AFFORDABLE MATRIX.
IT'S JUST FROM A PERSON LIKE MYSELF, MAYBE I CAN AFFORD IT, BUT I'M A LOT OLDER.
THESE YOUNG FAMILIES COMING IN ARE BUYING THESE COMMUNITIES HOMES ON A SHOESTRING.
ALL THIS DOES IS JUST BASICALLY KICK HIM IN THE GUT.
IT'S HARD, IT'S HARD, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU HAVE A PRISONER THAT CAN'T GET OUT, AND IT'S NOT RIGHT.
WE SHOULD NEVER BE IN THAT SITUATION.
BEING A COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE, WE'RE THE SECOND TO CHINA.
BUT ANYWAY, WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.
WE DO APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION.
PLEASE LET MR. LARANEL, WE APPRECIATE WHAT HE'S DOING, BUT LOWER THE RATES, PLEASE. LOWER THE RATES.
GET THESE INSURANCE CARRIERS TO INSURE AT A DECENT LEVEL, NOT AN OBSCENE LEVEL.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, WE MOVE TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS]
IS CHIEF NIG HERE TONIGHT? HE'S NOT? DO WE HAVE MR. GLAZE.BC GLAZE. COULD YOU COME UP HERE, SIR? [BACKGROUND]
[01:15:13]
THE REASON IS WHY I WANTED TO BRING MR. GLAZE UP HERE, IT'S NOW BATTALION CHIEF GLAZE.HE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS, I THINK, THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAD A VACANCY IN OUR BATTALION CHIEF, AND MR. GLAZE WAS CHOSEN.
HE IS NOW THE ACTING BATTALION CHIEF. WE CONGRATULATE YOU.
>> I WILL SAY THAT WE'VE HAD OUR ISSUES WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT OVER THE YEARS, AND MR. GLAZE WAS PART OF THE UNION ORGANIZATION, PART OF THE TROOPS.
HE'S COME UP NOW AS A BATTALION CHIEF, PART OF MANAGEMENT.
I WOULD SAY THAT YOU HAVE AN EXTREMELY GREAT BACKGROUND TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE SITUATIONS NOW, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU TO HAVE YOU HERE AND REPRESENT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND REPRESENTING AS THE BATTALION CHIEF.
WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS?
>> BUT, WAIT. BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING, MAYOR, I THINK THERE'S ONE MORE THING.
I THINK [INAUDIBLE] YOU'RE THE 30TH IN THE NATION RUNNER?
>> IT'S DIFFERENT. I RUN A LITTLE BIT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.
>> I KNOW. I CAME TO LA VERNE, AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR MOST OF MY CAREER, AND I'VE NEVER TESTED ANYWHERE ELSE.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AS A UNION PRESIDENT, I ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE LA VERNE FIRE THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT I COULD MAKE IT FROM A LABOR PERSPECTIVE, AND NOW AS A MANAGER, I WANT TO MAKE LA VERNE FIRE THE BEST FROM THIS SIDE, AND JUST KEEP MAKING THIS DEPARTMENT BETTER AND UNTIL I RETIRE.
I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY AND KEEP KEEPING EVERYBODY SAFE AND DOING MY BEST.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU IN A PICTURE.
>> I WASN'T QUITE SURE I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT, BUT I FEEL LIKE ON GOLDEN POND, BUT THAT'S FINE [LAUGHTER].
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ANNOUNCEMENTS IN UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS.
I'D LIKE TO CALL UP THE FIRST NAME.
I'M GOING TO SAY THE FIRST NAME IS MR. MAY.
>> FOLKS, I'M HERE AGAIN, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE MY LAST ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE THE COUNCIL, BUT WE HAVE A FULL LINEUP FOR JULY.
MOST OF THE PROGRAMS WITH EXCEPTION TOO HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING, AND AS BEFORE, I JUST WANT TO MENTION TO EVERYBODY THAT ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS HAVE LIMITED ATTENDANCE.
THEY REQUIRE PRE-REGISTRATION.
THERE'S ONE OF TWO WAYS YOU CAN DO THAT.
YOU CAN EITHER GO TO THE LIBRARY AND TALK TO ONE OF THE STAFF AND REGISTER THAT WAY, OR YOU CAN VISIT LACOUNTY.ORG/EVENTS, AND THEN YOU'LL JUST SEARCH DELIVER AND LIBRARY.
LOOK UP YOUR EVENT AND REGISTER THAT WAY.
ONE THING I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS THAT EVEN IF A PROGRAM IS FULL, AND IF YOU REALLY WANT THAT PROGRAM, SHOW UP ANYWAY BECAUSE THERE'S A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT REGISTER FOR THOSE PROGRAMS, THEY NEVER SHOW UP.
CHANCES ARE IF YOU DO SHOW UP FOR SOMETHING YOU LIKE OR YOU WANT TO SEE, OR YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO SEE, PLEASE COME ANYWAY.
CHANCES ARE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET IT.
FIRST EVENT IS ACTUALLY STARTING THIS FRIDAY, JULY 5TH, THROUGH AUGUST 9TH.
FROM 11:00-11:30, WE ARE GOING TO BE STARTING OUR NEW SIX-WEEK SESSION OF OUR SMARTY PANTS STORYTIME.
THIS IS FOR CHILDREN 2-5 YEARS OF AGE WITH A CAREGIVER, AND THE CHILDREN ATTENDING WILL BE ENJOYING SONGS, BOOKS, RHYMES, MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND ALSO LEARNING SCHOOL READINESS SKILLS.
NOW, ON THE JULY 26TH PROGRAM, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM A CHILDREN PASSENGER SAFETY WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER
[01:20:03]
A PROGRAM TO DISCUSS QUESTIONS ABOUT KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IN A CAR.IF YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THAT, PLEASE MAKE SURE ATTEND THAT ONE ON JULY 26TH.
ON TUESDAY, JULY 9TH, FROM 6:00-7:00 P.M., WE HAVE A COCO COIR PLANTER PROGRAM.
COCO COIR PLANTERS ARE MADE FROM THE HUSKS OF COCONUTS, AND THEY'RE PLANTED IN THE GROUND WITH NO WASTE.
DURING THIS PROGRAM, THE SEEDS AND THE COCO COIR PLANTERS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE, SO YOU CAN START WORKING ON YOUR SUMMER GARDEN USING THIS ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE, FRIENDLY MATERIAL.
ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 10TH, FROM 5:00-6:00, WE ARE HAVING A CHILDREN'S PROGRAM, AGES 6-13 WITH THE PARENT OR CAREGIVER.
CARLOS NIETO III, AN ANIME ARTIST, WILL BE PRESENTING A STEP BY STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO CREATE ANIME, DESIGN ANIME CHARACTERS, AND ALSO HOW TO ADJUST THE DETAILS AFTER YOU DO THAT.
AGAIN, THAT'S ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 10TH.
OUR NEW PROGRAM FOR JULY IS ON SATURDAY, JULY 13TH, FROM 10:00-11:30.
IT'S SMART GARDENING WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNERS.
YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT BASIC GARDENING.
YOU'LL ALSO LEARN ABOUT TECHNIQUES OF BACKYARD COMPOSTING, WORM COMPOSTING, WATER-WISE GARDENING, GRASS CYCLING, AND EDIBLE GARDENING.
ON SATURDAY, JULY 20TH, FROM 1:00-2:30, WE ARE HAVING ONE OF TWO PROGRAMS THAT ARE SPONSORED BY EDISON INTERNATIONAL AND LA COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION.
IT'S TITLED EXPLORING ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, CREATE A MINI WIND TURBINE.
ATTENDEES WILL LEARN ABOUT WIND POWER AND HOW IT'S CONVERTED INTO ELECTRICITY, AND THEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE THEIR OWN MINI WIND TURBINE.
THE OTHER NEW PROGRAM FOR JULY IS TUESDAY, JULY 23RD, FROM 6:00-7:00.
IT'S TITLED LA WEATHER LANDSCAPE PAINTING.
THIS PROGRAM IS A BASIC ACRYLIC PAINTING, SIMPLE TECHNIQUES IN COMPOSITION, CREATE A LANDSCAPE INSPIRED BY THE BOOK CALLED LA WEATHER BY MARIA AMPARO ESCANDON.
THIS IS ALSO PART OF THE COUNTY'S PROJECT CALLED ONE BOOK, ONE COUNTY, AND THAT'S FOR ADULTS.
THEN ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 24TH, FROM 5:00-6:00 P.M., WE HAVE A CHILDREN'S PROGRAM, 6-13, WITH PARENT OR CAREGIVER.
IT'S TITLED REVERSE STENCIL ART.
YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT THE REVERSE STENCILING, AND THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO APPLY THIS METHOD TO CREATING WORK OF ART.
ON SATURDAY, JULY 27TH, FROM 1:00-2:30, WE HAVE OUR SECOND OF OUR PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY EDISON INTERNATIONAL AND LA COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION.
IT'S CALLED EXPLORING ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, CREATE AN ELECTRIC AIR RACER.
YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN ABOUT ELECTRIC MOTORS, AND THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CREATE YOUR VERY OWN ELECTRIC AIR RACER.
THIS IS A TEAM PROGRAM FOR AGES 10 THROUGH 18.
OUR LAST PROGRAM FOR JULY IS ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 31ST, FROM 5:00-6:00.
IT'S A CHILDREN'S PROGRAM FOR AGES 6-13 WITH A PARENT OR CAREGIVER.
YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT SUNSETS AND WHY THEY LOOK DIFFERENT AT DIFFERENT SEASONS, AND THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CREATE YOUR OWN SUNSET SUNCATCHER.
NOW, I DO HAVE ONE REQUEST FOR YOU GUYS AND EVERYBODY HERE.
THERE WILL BE INTERIM LIBRARY MANAGER.
THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE ASSIGNED SOMETIME THIS MONTH, AND WHEN MY POSITION GETS POSTED AFTER I'LL LEAVE, THERE'S A PROCESS TO THAT I'LL TAKE.
I DON'T KNOW, COULD BE A COUPLE MONTHS.
BUT WHAT I ASK IS THAT YOU GIVE THAT INTERIM LIBRARY MANAGER OR THE PERMANENT LIBRARY MANAGER, GIVING THE WARM WELCOME, THE OPEN ARMS LIKE YOU GUYS GAVE ME.
IT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR ME, AND THE STORIES I'VE HEARD IN OTHER POLITICAL JURISDICTIONS, LIBRARY JURISDICTIONS, AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THEY'VE HAD WITH CITIES AND SO FORTH, [OVERLAPPING] AND OTHER.
I AM THANKFUL THAT I ENDED UP IN LA VERNE. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GREAT.
THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN GREAT, VERY SUPPORTIVE, SO PLEASE GIVE THAT NEW MANAGER A CHANCE.
SUPPORT THEM JUST LIKE YOU SUPPORTED ME AND SUPPORTED MY STAFF, SUPPORTED ALL THE PROGRAMS AND EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE, TRY TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
GIVE THEM A CHANCE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FROM ME.
EVERYBODY'S DIFFERENT. I HAVE MY DIFFERENCE.
>> GOT IT. [LAUGHTER] AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY.
[01:25:02]
>> YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GREAT, AND I WISH EVERYBODY SUCCESS, PROSPERITY, SAFETY, GOOD FRIENDSHIP, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HEALTH, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
>> I WANT TO TELL YOU ENJOY YOURSELF.
ENJOY YOUR FAMILY. THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
>> YOU'VE BEEN AMAZING. THANK YOU.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANKS FOR DONATING THE BOOKS TO THE VETERANS, GEORGE. I APPRECIATE YOU.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU FOR THE DOODLE SESSION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER KASH. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR MY DOODLE SESSION. IT'S AMAZING.
>> SHERRY BEST. ON BEHALF OF THE LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, I URGE YOU ALL TO ATTEND FOURTH OF JULY PARADE.
THE TRUCK, I THINK IT'S THIRD IN LINE TO GO THROUGH THE PARADE, BECAUSE I WENT TO THE SAFETY MEETING TODAY, AND NOW I KNOW NOT TO THROW THINGS AT PEOPLE FROM THE TRUCK, AND NOT TO JUMP OFF [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU GOT THAT PART. DON'T THROW ANYTHING FROM THE TRUCKS. [LAUGHTER]
>> NO WATER GUNS. NONE OF THAT.
[OVERLAPPING] WHAT'S THAT? NO, NONE OF THAT.
WE'RE ALL GOING TO BEHAVE OURSELVES AND HAVE A WONDERFUL FOURTH OF JULY PARADE, SO TURN OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
NOW, NOT AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO A MEETING ON THE 11TH OF JULY THAT'S GOING TO BE AT THE LDS CHURCH GYM AT 7:00 P.M. TO DISCUSS COMMENTS AND CONCERNS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL PROPERTY.
YOU'RE CERTAINLY ALL WELCOME TO ATTEND.
WE KNOW THIS PROPERTY IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR BETWEEN 140-160 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND TOWN HOMES ON THE 9.5 ACRE PROPERTY.
JON BLICKENSTAFF AND I HAVE PULLED TOGETHER A MEETING, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND GET THEIR INPUT ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THAT.
DO ATTEND, AND I'LL PUT FLYERS OUT ON THE TABLE. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM JUST HERE TO ANNOUNCE THAT CASSIE WILL BE HAVING OUR MONTHLY MEETING TOMORROW AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE [INAUDIBLE] ROOM AT HILLCREST, SO EVERYONE'S INVITED TO COME.
ALSO, WE WILL BE DECORATING OUR FLOAT, SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A FLOAT ON FOURTH OF JULY PARADE.
WE'LL BE DECORATING ON WEDNESDAY.
IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN COMING TO HELP DECORATE, PLEASE EMAIL US AT CASSIE.LAVERNE@GMAIL.COM, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE [INAUDIBLE] IN THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
WE'RE POSITION 31. IF YOU'RE AT THE PARADE ROUTE, LOOK UP FOR OUR FLOAT, AND JUST GIVE US A SHUTOUT AND SAY HELLO.
>> THANKS, YVONNE. APPRECIATE IT. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE AT THE LAST, SO THIS IS JUST FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER LAU, YOU WANT TO DRAW AN ANNOUNCEMENT, OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE?
>> MY ONLY ANNOUNCEMENT IS JUST TO REITERATE THAT TICKETS ARE ON SALE FOR THE FIREWORK SHOW.
PLEASE, BUY YOUR TICKETS AND MEET US THERE. IT'LL BE A GOOD TIME.
THE BOY SCOUTS WILL BE HOSTING THEIR PANCAKE BREAKFAST AS PER USUAL ON THE DAY OF THE FOURTH.
[OVERLAPPING] PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT THEM AS WELL, AND THE PARADE WILL BE A GOOD TIME.
I THINK IT'LL BE A LOT OF FUN FOR FOLKS, SO DEFINITELY COME ON OUT AND CELEBRATE.
THEN I JUST ALSO WANT TO SEND A THANK YOU TO THE FIRE EXPLORERS, SO PLEASE CONVEY MY THANKS TO THEM.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE A BUNCH OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, I THINK AT THE FIREWORK SHOW AND I THINK DURING THE PARADE, AND STAFF TOO.
THOSE ARE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FROM OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE IN THE EXPLORER PROGRAM, AND ALSO JUST GIVING UP THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS TO HELP SELL TICKETS.
IF YOU'RE CONFUSED ABOUT THE QR CODE OR IF YOU NEED ANY JUST HELP WITH ANYTHING, THEY'LL BE THERE.
THEY'LL ALSO BE LEARNING ABOUT FIRE SAFETY AND HELPING WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH SOME OF THE FIRE SAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO BLOWING UP.
IF YOU SEE THEM, SAY THANK YOU.
AGAIN, I HOPE TO SEE ALL FOURTH OF JULY.
>> ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
[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 MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE REQUESTS SEPARATE DISCUSSION.COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS TO PULL ANY ITEM FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR? THAT WOULD BE A NO. MANAGER DOMER,
[01:30:02]
DID WE HAVE ANY REQUESTS TO PULLING ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR?>> THERE WERE NONE, MR. MAYOR.
>> THEN I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION.
>> THE CONSENT CALENDAR WAS APPROVED 5-0.
>> JUST ONE COMMENT [OVERLAPPING].
ON THAT CONSENT CALENDAR, WE CANCELED JULY 15TH.
>> MAKE SURE THAT [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME BECAUSE WE WON'T BE HERE.
>> MR. MAYOR, I THINK THERE WAS A TIE FOR A SECOND ON THE SECONDING OF THAT MOTION BY JOHNSON.
>> IT WAS COUNCILMEMBER LAU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT WAS MOVED BY JOHNSON, SECONDED BY LAU, AND APPROVED 5-0.
>> WAIT, LET'S VOTE AGAIN. WAIT. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
WE NOW MOVED ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[PUBLIC HEARINGS]
WE HAVE ONE ITEM HERE TONIGHT AT PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING CROSSWALK LOCATED AT ARROW HIGHWAY AND B STREET.MR. DOMER CALLED FOR THE STAFF MEMBER WHO WILL REPORTING.
>> AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO BRING FORWARD THE CITY ENGINEER, CODY HOWING.
[LAUGHTER] WELL, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS ITEM WILL BE SO DESERVING OF A WALK-UP SONG, BUT BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE REMOVAL OF AN EXISTING CROSSWALK, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF ARROW HIGHWAY AND B STREET.
THIS PARTICULAR CROSSWALK IS THE ONLY CROSSWALK AT THE INTERSECTION AND IS LOCATED ON THE EASTERLY LEG OF THE INTERSECTION.
IT WOULD, IT DOES, PROVIDE A PATH FOR PEDESTRIANS TO TRAVERSE A NORTH-SOUTH PASS DIRECTION FROM THE SOUTH-EASTERLY CORNER TO WHAT WOULD BE MORE OR LESS THE NORTH-EASTERLY SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION.
THIS INTERSECTION IS WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER AN UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTION.
IT IS A FREE MOVING FLOW OF TRAFFIC.
POSTED SPEED IN EACH DIRECTION ON ARROW HIGHWAY IS 45 MILES AN HOUR. SORRY, [INAUDIBLE] SIX?
>> SIX LANES. THERE'S SIX LANES.
THE WIDTH IS 85 FEET MORE OR LESS OF PAVEMENT TO CROSS.
STAFF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS WITH RESPECT TO A NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL THAT WAS BROUGHT ONLINE BY GOLD LINE AT THE INTERSECTION OF A AND ARROW.
WE NOTICED THAT THAT INTERSECTION WAS 600 FEET AWAY FROM THIS UNCONTROLLED CROSSWALK, AND CAME TO THE DETERMINATION OR AT LEAST THE RECOMMENDATION TO WHAT WAS, AT FIRST LEVEL, THE ATC GOT THEIR CONCURRENCE AND BROUGHT IT TO CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 20TH TO INITIATE THE PROCEEDINGS FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
JUST A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE RULES.
TO REMOVE A CROSSWALK, VEHICLE CODE REQUIRES THAT THERE IS A PUBLIC NOTICING PROCESS.
ON MAY 30TH, THE NOTICES WERE POSTED AT EACH END OF THE CROSSWALK, AS WELL AS ON THE AGENDA BOARD HERE AT CITY HALL.
FRANKLY, WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE THAT IS SINGALIZE, AND WITHIN REASONABLE PROXIMITY TO THIS EXISTING CROSSWALK, AND IT'S STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING, CONSIDER COMMENTS, AND ULTIMATELY, DIRECT STAFF TO REMOVE THE CROSSWALK.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. HOWING. I THINK WE'LL GO ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? MOST OF YOU PROBABLY DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S THERE.
IT'S BEEN ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT'S WASHED OUT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE A SUICIDE CROSSING, NOT A CROSSING.
THEN WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND WE'LL MOVE UP TO THE DAIS.
ANY COMMENTS? MR. JOHNSON, HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THE SUICIDE WALK?
>> I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS CROSSWALK TO BE REMOVED THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON IT.
>> IT DIDN'T TAKE. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> NOW, WE HAVE A LITTLE CHUCHU GOING THROUGH, AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT OUT.
>> THIS TIME AROUND AND WITH THE GOLD LINE AND THE A-STREET TRAFFIC SIGNAL, FINALLY WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT REMOVED.
>> IT WON'T TAKE LONG, IT WAS SAND BLASTING. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING
[01:35:04]
THE REMOVAL OF A MARKED PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF ARROW HIGHWAY IN V STREET, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF DIVISION 11, CHAPTER 5 OF THE VEHICLE CODE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA? SECOND?>> ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IT.
>> ITEM 14 WAS APPROVED, 5, 0.
>> AMAZING, CODY. THAT WAS GREAT, LIKE FOUR MINUTES.
OTHER MATTERS, WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO OTHER MATTERS, THERE'S ONE ITEM,
[OTHER MATTERS]
THE CONSULTANT AGREEMENT FOR WATER AND SEWER COST OF SERVICE, AND RATE DESIGN AND ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AD HOC COMMITTEE.CITY MANAGER DOMER, PLEASE CALL FOR THE STAFF MEMBER MEG, COMMUNITY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. MEG MCWADE.
>> PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MEG MCWADE.
>> I'M SORRY. IT'S BEEN 5:30 CLOSE SESSIONS, SO WE'RE LIKE A LITTLE KID.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MS. MCWADE.
>> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD EVENING.
BASICALLY, THE ITEM IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING IS TO AWARD A CONSULTANT CONTRACT IN ORDER TO DO A COST OF SERVICE STUDY.
WE HAD AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL SELECTION COMMITTEE THAT REVIEWED PROPOSALS THAT WERE OBTAINED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
AFTER REVIEWING THE PROPOSALS, WE INVITED THE TOP THREE FIRMS TO COME THROUGH AN INTERVIEW PROCESS.
AND AFTER DOING THAT, WE SELECTED DRAFT TELLERS.
MR. JOHN WRIGHT IS ACTUALLY IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY IN CASE COUNCIL WANTS HIM, BUT HE IS SERVING ON RAFTELIS AND ON THE PROJECT TEAM.
PART OF THE REASONS WE SELECTED RAFTELIS IS NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE VAST EXPERIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO PROP 218, LEGAL NOTICES, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE SOMEBODY ON THEIR TEAM WHO ACTUALLY WROTE THE BOOK ON RATES, WAS PART OF THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK ON WATER RATES.
SO WE'RE EXCITED THAT SHOULD THIS CONTRACT GO FORWARD, THAT WE'LL BE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING OUR RATES AND UTILIZING RAFTELIS TO CREATE AN ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD SO THEY ARE LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE RATES.
THE BIGGEST REASON WHY IT'S IN FRONT OF YOU FOR ACTUAL CONSIDERATION IS WE ALSO, AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, WE WANT TO CREATE AN AD HOC COMMITTEE.
WE REALLY WANT PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROCESS, AND SO WE'RE REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL DO THAT.
BASICALLY, EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, WE WOULD INVITE APPLICANTS AND EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD DO A DIRECT APPOINTMENT.
THEN ULTIMATELY, THOSE APPOINTMENTS WOULD GET BEDDED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING, SO APPROVED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING.
BUT THEY WOULD BE INVOLVED BASICALLY RECEIVING REGULAR UPDATES, UNDERSTANDING OUR WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS MORE, WHAT THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS, WHAT THE CIP NEEDS ARE, AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS EITHER FROM RESIDENTIAL VIEWPOINT OR COMMERCIAL VIEWPOINT, DEPENDING ON WHO ENDS UP ON THE COMMITTEE.
WITH THAT, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTION.
WE'VE BEEN PUSHED AND RE-KICKED IN THIS CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR A LONG TIME, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE WRAP SHEET THAT THEY DO HAVE, QUITE EXTENSIVE, A LOT OF THE AGENCIES THAT THEY BELONG TO.
MY QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE, AND WE CAN OPEN A PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT WHAT IS THE SUCCESS RATE OF YOUR PASSAGE OF THESE RATE INCREASES FOR ALL OF THE AREAS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THESE RATE INCREASES AND YOU'RE DOING CURRENTLY? WHAT IS YOUR SUCCESS RATE ON PASSING OF THIS CONCERNING PROP 218? RATES ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO PEOPLE, AS WE JUST FOUND OUT WITH COUPLE OF OUR LIGHTING LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE.
WHAT IS YOUR SUCCESS RATE? YOU CAN COME UP, PLEASE. [BACKGROUND]
YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO ALL THIS OTHER STUFF, NOW I'M GOING TO WAKE YOU UP. [LAUGHTER]
>> I ACTUALLY CAN'T REMEMBER A SITUATION WHERE A PROP 218 NOTICE HAS BEEN VOTED DOWN, IF YOU WILL, BY 50% OF THE POPULACE.
USUALLY COMMUNITIES THAT DO A GOOD JOB OF REACHING OUT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, AND CONDUCT A PROCESS THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO FEEL INFORMED GET VERY, VERY LITTLE OPPOSITION.
THAT'S TRUE, EVEN IF WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE FAIRLY LARGE RATE INCREASES, OR WHETHER THERE'S A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE RATE STRUCTURE.
THIS NOTION THAT MEG TALKED ABOUT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AND HOWEVER YOU ELECT TO STRUCTURE IT, IF YOU GO THAT ROUTE, I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD ONE TO BRING PEOPLE INVOLVED AT THE BEGINNING AND MIDDLE PART OF THE PROCESS, PAVE THE WAY TO HAVE RATES IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT TOO MUCH CONTROVERSY.
>> THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. I WAS JUST THINKING, IT'S LIKE, FINE, DON'T PASS IT.
WE'LL JUST SHUT YOUR SEWER OFF.
>> [LAUGHTER] THAT'S WATER, THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD STRATEGY.
[01:40:01]
[LAUGHTER] I APPRECIATE THAT.I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT SO MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN DIFFERENT CITIES THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.
I APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT YOU DID THE MATRIX ON THAT AS FAR AS THE DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT YOUR CHOICE WAS BY YOUR PEERS HERE, AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
LOOKS LIKE THAT IT'S GOING TO WORK WELL IF WE GO AHEAD AND PASS, BUT THANK YOU.
>> WE THANK MEG AND THE TEAM FOR SELECTING OUR FIRM, AND WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING YOU OVER THE MONTHS TO COME TO CONDUCT THE STUDY AND HAVE A GOOD OUTCOME FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? REMEMBER, WE COULD SHUT YOUR SEWER OFF.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, WATER, TOO, BUT I WAS JUST THROWING THAT ONE IN.
NO WATER, NO SEWER, NO NOTHING.
WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, BRING IT BACK UP THE DAIS.
ANY COMMENTS ON THIS? COUNCILMEMBER LAU.
>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. I THINK IT MIGHT BE A QUESTION MAYBE BEST ANSWERED BY MS. MCWADE.
AS FAR AS THE AD HOC COMMITTEE IS CONCERNED, IS THERE A PROCESS ALREADY ANTICIPATED, OR IS THAT A FRAMEWORK THAT STAFF TO COME BACK FOR US TO SAY THIS IS HOW THE PEOPLE? I HEARD YOU SAY THAT IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY JUST BE RESIDENTS.
IT COULD BE COMMERCIAL BASED ON AREAS OF THE CITY.
SO OBVIOUSLY THOSE PEOPLE MAY NOT BE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY, BUT OBVIOUSLY DO EXTENSIVE WORK IN THE CITY, AND OBVIOUSLY THE RATES WOULD APPLY TO THEM.
IS THERE A FRAMEWORK THAT IS ANTICIPATED OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE WILL SEE COME OUT?
>> WE CREATED SOME BYLAWS FOR COUNCIL TO ADOPT.
WE'RE HOPING LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BEING PART OF THE RATE PROCESS, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF APPLICATIONS.
>> THOSE APPLICATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THEN EACH ONE OF YOU WILL SELECT ONE REPRESENTING YOUR DISTRICT, AND THEN WE'LL BRING THOSE BACK TO THE COUNCIL MEETING.
IF THERE'S A CONFLICT AND THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO CHOOSES THE SAME PERSON, WE WOULD LET YOU KNOW AND WE WOULD THEN GIVE PRIORITY.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT.
BASICALLY, IT COULD BE ANY REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CITY, AND IF THERE WERE TWO, THEN THE BUSINESS IN THE DISTRICT WOULD GET PRIORITY AND WOULD BE REQUESTED TO MAKE ANOTHER SELECTION.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO DO A MAILER OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES? AM I JUMPING IN?
>> NO. YOU'RE GOOD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING. YOU'RE GOING TO SEND A MAILER OUT.
PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED TO THIS AD HOC, IT MAY BE ONE PERSON FROM HOPEFULLY EACH DISTRICT, WHICH I THINK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
>> WE WEREN'T TALKING MAILERS JUST BECAUSE OF THE COST OF POSTAGE, BUT WE CERTAINLY COULD PUT IN THE WATER BILLS, AS WELL AS WE WERE PLANNING ON DOING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS.
>> MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, IF IT IS PASSED TONIGHT, THEN THIS WEEK, WE'D LIKE TO GET THE APPLICATIONS OUT AND THEN START AN EXTENSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA, MEDIA, GETTING THE WORD OUT AS BEST AS POSSIBLE TO EVERYBODY, EMAIL LISTS, AND ALL THAT STUFF.
NEXTDOOR, I THINK, IS A GOOD ONE SO THE WATER BILLS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
YES, WE LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> PUSH IT OUT TOO. PUSH THEM IN WITH THE MAYOR AND WE'LL DO WHATEVER.
>> WHAT WE'D LOOK FOR IS A DIRECT APPOINTMENT BY EACH OF YOU SO THAT YOU WOULD SEE ALL THE APPLICATIONS, YOU COULD CHOOSE THE BEST PERSON.
THEY COULD BE WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT, OR IF FOR SOME REASON, YOU BELIEVE THEY WOULD BE VERY GOOD ON THE COMMITTEE BUT THEY LIVE IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT OR THE BUSINESS IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT, THAT'S FINE.
>> MEG, DO WE HAVE A CURRENT ASSESSMENT OF OUR SYSTEMS OF BOTH SEWER AND WATER AS FAR AS WHERE MAINTENANCE MAY HAVE BEEN LAGGING OR AREAS OF CONCERN?
>> WE CERTAINLY HAVE BOTH A WATER MASTER PLAN, AS WELL AS SEWER MASTER PLAN THAT WERE COMPLETED FAIRLY RECENTLY.
IN TERMS OF OPERATIONS, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH A STUDY RIGHT NOW.
IT'S NOT AS COMPREHENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE AS BOTH POLICE AND FIRE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY LOOKING AT CERTIFICATIONS, SALARIES.
WE PLAN TO DO A SALARY STUDY, SO THERE ARE PIECES OF IT, YES, THAT WE NEED TO BRING FORWARD, FULL POTENTIALLY.
>> WE HAVE SOME IN THE CIP, TOO THOUGH, AS FAR AS ON THE WATER SIDE.
I KNOW WE HAVE SOME OF THE STUFF IN THE CIP FOR MAJOR REPLACEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> BUT LIKE MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON SAID, WE NEED THIS NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT 10-15 OR 20 YEARS.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REDO IT AGAIN TO MAKE SURE WE STAY UP WITH THE TIMES, LOOKS LIKE, READING ALL OF THE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU FOR THE 85 PAGES OF READING.
>> IT WAS ACTUALLY VERY INTERESTING. THANK YOU.
[OVERLAPPING] I KNOW ALL ABOUT YOUR COMPANY.
>> THE GOAL WOULD BE TO BRING FORWARD A FIVE-YEAR RATE INCREASE.
THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY BE THE GOAL.
AND THIS PROP 218 PROCESS IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE WE JUST DID WITH THE LMD.
IT'S A MAJORITY PROTEST HEARING.
PEOPLE CAN SUBMIT THESE PROTESTS IN WRITING,
[01:45:02]
OR THEY CAN SHOW UP AT A COUNCIL MEETING AND PROTEST THE NIGHT OF THE HEARING.ULTIMATELY, THOUGH, IT'S UP TO CITY COUNCIL.
I HAVE SEEN CITY COUNCILS, EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T ACHIEVE A MAJORITY PROTEST, MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE RATE STRUCTURE BASED ON ONE OR TWO CITIZENS COMING TO THE DAIS AND EXPRESSING THEIR OPINION.
THAT'S PART OF THE REASON, TOO, FOR THE INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC GROUP AND THE CITIZENS GROUP SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS AND DESIRES GOING INTO THE RATE INCREASE PROCESS.
>> I LIKE THE WAY THAT THEY'RE THE OUTREACH, BUT ALSO THE FACT OF HOW THEY BRING IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FIRST, AND THEN AIRBRUSH, AND THEN THEY DO A MAJOR CAMPAIGN FOR WHAT THE RATES ARE GOING TO BE.
I JUST LIKE THE TRANSPARENCY PART OF IT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT IF YOU DON'T PASS THIS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FLUSH YOUR TOILET.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE PROBABLY GOOD.
WITH THAT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FOR STAFF? THEN WE WILL MOTION FOR THE FOLLOWING.
MOTION WOULD BE AUTHORIZED BY CITY MANAGER AND EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT, AND ANY AMENDMENTS RELATED THERETO WITH [INAUDIBLE]. [BACKGROUND]
>> RAFTELIS? PRICES FAIL WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF 109,076 FOR THE WATER AND SEWER COST SERVICE AND RATE DESIGN STUDY, AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION TITLED, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING AN AD HOC WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDY COMMITTEE AND APPROVED BY THE BYLAWS OF THE AD HOC WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDY. DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
>> MOVE TO APPROVE ALL OF THAT.
>> ITEM 15 WAS APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED.
>> THANK YOU, MIKE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE NOW MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS OR ORAL COMMUNICATIONS.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
THIS IS THE TIME SET ASIDE FOR ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA, BUT WHEN IN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL.I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THAT THE BROWN ACT PREVENTS 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.
WELL, WE HAVE ABOUT THREE MINUTES, WE'LL WORK ON THAT.
AT THIS TIME, WITHOUT WISHING TO MAKE COMMENTS AND WISHING TO MAKE COMMENTS, ARE PRESENT HERE TO THE CHAMBER CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
ANYBODY WHO WISH TO MAKE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? GARY, HOW ARE YOU? ARE YOUR BRIDGE LIGHTS WORKING? I KNEW IT. THEY'RE OUT? SHE'S TELLING ME THAT THEY'RE OUT.
WELL, THAT'S A WHOLE. [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] GOOD EVENING.
>> THAT'S WHAT I HAD. IT'S STILL THERE.
>> JUST TOOK A LITTLE VACATION.
>> THAT'S OKAY. WE DO THAT ALL THE TIME.
YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYMORE BAGS OF DOG POOP, ARE YOU?
>> BACK TO THE PEOPLE PARKING ON THE SIDE OF THEIR HOUSE, I TALKED TO THE OWNER ABOUT IT.
I GUESS IT'S VAGUE IF YOU CAN PARK THERE OR NOT, BUT A FEW YEARS BACK UNDERNEATH THE OTHER CITY MANAGER, THEY WENT THE OTHER WAY AND TOLD THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ABOUT IT.
THEY CAN'T GET TO THAT HOUSE WITH THE CRAP STUFF THERE.
>> YOU'RE TALKING BACK TO THE DOG AGAIN.
I GOT IT. YOU JUST REFER IT BACK. WE'RE GOOD.
>> YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONTACT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT SET OF RULES BECAUSE IF THERE'S A FIRE, IT'S A MESS. THAT'S IT.
>> THAT'S GOOD. [LAUGHTER] NEED TO KEEP YOU IN LINE.
>> KEEP YOU OFF FROM THE DOG POOP ON THE LAWNS, MR.
>> I'LL GO BACK AND SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP.
>> [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU, GARY.
ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC COMMENT? CARRIE? NOTHING? YES, PLEASE.
>> COUNSEL, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE.
YOU GUYS HAVE SO MUCH FUN. I'M GOING TO COME BACK AGAIN.
>> MY NAME IS KATHY GODWIN, AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF LA VERNE SINCE 2015.
I LIVE ON SECOND STREET IN WHEELER.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN TAGGING AND GRAFFITI IN THAT AREA.
FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR CLEANING UP SO QUICKLY BECAUSE IT DOES GET TAKEN CARE OF VERY QUICKLY.
BUT I DID WANT TO BRING UP, IF THERE'S ANY EVIDENCE OR SUSPICION THAT THIS COULD BE GANG ACTIVITY, AND IF SO WHAT WOULD THE CITY BE DOING ABOUT THAT?
[01:50:04]
>> THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO COMMENT ON THAT ONE, OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT ONE?
>> I DO KNOW THAT THE CHIEF DID RESPOND TO AN EMAIL FROM HER EARLIER OR LATER THIS AFTERNOON, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN YOUR EMAIL FROM THE CHIEF?
>> IT WAS ONLY FIVE MINUTES AFTER YOU SENT IT BUT YOU LEFT.
>> YES. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
NO YOU RESPONDED TO THAT ONE ALREADY?
>> ACTUALLY, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND BRING UP THE CHIEF JUST TO CONVEY IT TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE COUNCIL? BECAUSE IT IS A GOOD STORY OF WORKING WITH SAN DIMAS AND OUR DETECTIVES [LAUGHTER].
NO, I ACTUALLY HIT SEND ON THE WAY UP HERE.
WE HAVE BEEN SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE EARLY PARTS OF THIS SUMMER.
AS SOON AS THINGS STARTED HEATING UP, WE STARTED SEEING A RISE IN GRAFFITI, SPECIFICALLY GANG-RELATED.
TO ANSWER HER QUESTION, YES, WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK AND RIGHT AWAY WE JUMPED INTO IT.
WE REACHED OUT TO MEG AND HER FOLKS TO SAY, HEY, BEFORE THIS ESCALATES, LET'S REMOVE IT SO THAT THERE'S NO RETALIATION OR ANY TYPE OF RETALIATORY OFFENSES.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY WAS A PRIORITY FOR US, SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GRAFFITI IS BEING REMOVED IMMEDIATELY.
IN FACT, FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS, WE KEPT AN EYE ON IT, AND THEY WOULD RESPOND AFTER HOURS, AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS WOULD STAY IN THE AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FOLKS WERE SAFE WHILE THEY REMOVED IT.
BUT WITH THAT WE ALSO PARTNERED UP WITH THE SAN DIMAS WHO'S ALSO HAVING A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH GRAFFITI BECAUSE IT'S GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN LA VERNE AND SAN DIMAS.
WE'VE TEAMED UP WITH THEIR DETECTIVES AND THEIR GANG TASK FORCE.
OFFICERS, OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE A LOT BIGGER THAN US.
BUT WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE SHARING DATA AND INFORMATION, AND THERE HAS BEEN ARRESTS MADE AND ALSO THERE'S FOLKS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AS WELL.
AS YOU MAY SEE, THE GRAFFITI HAS SUBSIDED A LITTLE BIT, MAYBE BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE'RE COMING OR WE'VE BEEN TO THEIR HOUSE ALREADY, SAY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU.
BUT AGAIN, THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH SAN DIMAS AND OUR DETECTIVES HAVE BEEN PUTTING UP SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO TRY TO ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO CATCH THESE GUYS.
>> WE CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT ALREADY, DIDN'T WE? MR. CROSBY.
[COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS]
FIRST, WE HAVE A LA VERNE RESIDENT THAT JUST PLAYED ON DEAN CURLEY.
HE'S A FRESHMAN ON THE NATIONAL CHAMPION TENNESSEE VOLS BASEBALL TEAM.
HE WENT TO LA VERNE HEIGHTS, HE WENT TO RAMONA, BUT THEN WENT TO NORTHVIEW TO PLAY BASEBALL.
BUT A STARTING FRESHMAN, CONTACT HIS MOM, MAYBE TRY TO BRING HIM IN AND HIGHLIGHT HIM.
NOW SOON AFTER THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, HE'S PLAYING NOW ON THE USA NATIONAL BASEBALL TEAM AS WELL.
BUT OUR LA VERNE RESIDENT, DEAN CURLEY, NATIONAL CHAMPION FOR THE TENNESSEE VOLS AS A STARTING FRESHMAN SHORTSTOP.
YESTERDAY, FOR NATIONAL I WANT TO HONOR NATIONAL RECREATION MONTH AGAIN WITH YVONNE DURAN AND WHAT HER GROUP IS DOING.
YESTERDAY, THE AUTISM SPECTRUM ATHLETICS SPORTS LEAGUE HAD RENTED OUT THE POOL FOR THEIR SUMMER FESTIVITIES.
THE LIFEGUARDS WERE JUST TREMENDOUS AND HELPING OUT.
YVONNE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE REGIONAL CENTER FOR EXCLUSIVENESS AND TRYING TO GET THROUGH, IF YOU BELONG TO THE REGIONAL CENTER, FREE SWIM LESSONS FOR STUDENTS THAT BELONG WITH THE REGIONAL CENTER AS WELL.
YVONNE AND HER TEAM HAS BEEN DOING JUST A TREMENDOUS EFFORT.
BUT I'D LIKE TO JUST THANK AGAIN, CONRAD, HAGAR, TAYLOR, JIMENEZ, HALEY HEATON, GARY, CHAVARRIA, CAITLIN DOER, AND JESSICA ARGELANDER, WHICH WERE OUR LIFEGUARD YESTERDAY FOR THAT EVENT, TOO.
[01:55:05]
THEY JUST DID A TREMENDOUS JOB.AND LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO BRING ATTENTION.
I KNOW I SPOKE TO MR. DOMER EARLIER ABOUT REALLY LOOKING AT THE BAUDOUIN AND EMERALD TRAFFIC AND THE INTERSECTION.
OUR RESIDENTS FROM FOOTHILL TERRACE AND STUDENTS THAT NEED TO CROSS THERE TO GO TO LA VERNE HEIGHTS, THERE IS NO CROSSWALK OR STOP.
IT'S ONLY BETWEEN FOOTHILL AND BASELINE AND REALLY TO CROSS THE STREET ON EMERALD, WHERE EMERALD IS BUSY, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNINGS FOR STUDENTS OR IN THE AFTERNOONS FOR PEOPLE GOING DOWN TO THE SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH, THE TRAFFIC THERE.
JUST PUT IT BACK ON YOUR RADAR AND APPRECIATE THAT.
AND HAPPY 4TH AND SEE EVERYBODY AT THE PARADE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. COUNCIL MEMBER KASH.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO ASK CITY MANAGER WHERE WE ARE WITH THE UPDATES REGARDING THOSE STOP SIGNS ON EMERALD AND ON ESPERANZA, THE SOLAR.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF WE HAD AN UPDATE.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK CODY HOWING, OUR CITY ENGINEER, IT IS PART OF ONE OF OUR PROJECTS SO IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THAT PROJECT IS AND AT WHAT TIME AND PHASE OF THAT PROJECT THAT WILL GO ON.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WONDERING.
I WANTED YOU TO COME UP HERE BECAUSE YOU LOOK GREAT IN THE SUITS, CODY.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING CONTRACTS SIGNED FOR THAT PROJECT.
THAT IS PART OF THE HAYES KING GROVE AND AT ALL.
THAT'S A COMPONENT OF SORT CITYWIDE STRIPING.
HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE CONTRACTOR AND INDICATED TO HIM, AND HE SHARES SIMILAR GOALS AS WE TO GET A LOT OF THE WORK NEAR THE SCHOOLS DONE BEFORE SCHOOL COMES BACK.
NUMBER OF CURB RAMPS, CROSSWALKS THAT ARE THERE THAT WE'RE ENHANCING WITH HIGH VISIBILITY CROSSWALKS, RAPID FLASHING BEACONS AND THAT.
I WOULD IMAGINE, AND I DON'T HAVE A PARTICULAR DATE FOR YOU YET, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT ONCE THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED AND WE HAVE THE PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING WHICH IS PLANNED FOR LATER JULY, WE'LL GET SOME MIDDLES, WE'LL PROVE THOSE.
IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO GET THE EQUIPMENT.
BUT CERTAINLY BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, AND I'D LIKE TO BE DONE CLOSER TO FALL WITH MAJORITY OF THE PROJECTS.
AS THOSE LIGHTED COMPONENTS WITH THE BATTERIES AND THE SOLAR RAYS COME TO DELIVERY, THEY'LL BE INSTALLED AS SWIFTLY AS POSSIBLE BUT IN A MATTER OF MONTHS I WOULD SAY.
>> AND THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER.
I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT BECAUSE I HAD SOME FOLKS REALLY ASKING ME ABOUT THE TOTALITY OF IT ALL.
AND JUST I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY HAPPY 4TH OF JULY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYBODY AT THE PARADE AND EVERYBODY AT BONITA HIGH SCHOOL.
AND DON'T FORGET CONCERTS AT THE PARK.
IF YOU HADN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO HERITAGE PARK, COME ON DOWN AND SEE EVERYBODY, GET TO SEE MY SHINY MUG.
I GOT MY NEW HAT, I'M GOING TO BE WEARING NOW.
I'M LOW PROFILING. NOBODY KNOWS ME.
I JUST COME IN. I SIT DOWN MY LAWN CHAIR.
>> THEY'LL KNOW YOU RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
TRY TO SMOKE MY CIGAR IN THE CORNER SOMEWHERE, SO I DON'T LIKE CATCH ANYTHING ON FIRE.
I DON'T WANT NOBODY TO BLAME ME.
>> NO SPARKLERS. AND THAT'S ALL.
JUST EVERYBODY BE SAFE, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY. GOD IS GOOD. THANK YOU.
>> JUST A REALLY QUICK. WE DID HAVE A YFAC MEETING THIS LAST WEEK.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT YFAC IS, IT'S THE YOUTH AND FAMILY ACTION COMMITTEE.
AND THIS COMMITTEE, FOR MANY YEARS, HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAMS FOR KIDS WHO ARE IN NEED OF MEALS DURING THE LUNCHTIME.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THINGS LIKE THAT, I HAVE TO GIVE JR PROPS FOR REALLY HELPING TO GET DONATIONS IN THIS YEAR.
WE DID NOT GET A GRANT THAT WE APPLIED FOR, BUT SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS, AND IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN YFAC, OR HELPING OUT WITH THINGS LIKE THAT, THEN PLEASE LET US KNOW AND KNOW THAT YOU CAN COME AND PARTICIPATE ANY TIME.
ALONG THOSE LINES, THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE IS MEETING ON JULY 9TH HERE IN CITY HALL AT 5:00 P.M.
IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, I ENCOURAGE FOLKS WHO DEFINITELY GET INVOLVED AND GET ENGAGED.
AND THEN I WILL DO ANOTHER PLUG FOR 4TH OF JULY, JUST AS A REMINDER, THERE IS A RAFFLE THAT HAPPENS AT THE FIREWORK SHOW.
THE K-9 FOUNDATION IS DOING THE RAFFLE THIS YEAR.
AND SO FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, IF YOU KNOW, DENISE FISHER, OR ELIZABETH ALDANA, THEY'VE DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB GETTING SOME REALLY AWESOME PRIZES FOR THE RAFFLE, SO PLEASE MAKE SURE TO GET OUT THERE AND GET YOUR TICKETS.
AND AGAIN THANKS EVERYBODY FOR HANGING IN THERE WITH US.
WE WON'T SEE YOU THE REST OF JULY UNLESS WE SEE YOU JULY 4TH WHICH WE HOPE WE WILL SEE YOU.
BUT WE'LL BE BACK IN SESSION IN AUGUST.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER LAU. MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON.
[02:00:03]
>> CODY, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU IN REGARDS TO CROSSWALKS AND PAINTING.
>> "WE'RE TAKING THE ONE OUT," I APPRECIATE THAT. I REALLY DO.
BUT EIGHTH STREET AND WHITE AVENUE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS QUITE SOME TIME AGO, AND I WASN'T SURE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING TO ADDRESS THE PAINTING OR THE SAFETY OF THAT INTERSECTION.
THAT PARTICULAR INTERSECTION, WE DID MAKE A MODIFICATION OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TIMING.
AND WHAT WE DID TO THE TIMING WAS TO GIVE THE PEDESTRIANS A HEAD START, IF YOU WILL, SO THAT THEY CAN GET OUT INTO THE STREET AND THEY'RE NOT COMBATING THE LEFT TURN TRAFFIC BECAUSE I THINK FROM WHAT I'VE OBSERVED IT IS A LOT OF THE SCHOOL TRACK COMING OFF OF EIGHTH STREET, TURNING NORTH TO GO NORTH ON WHITE.
AND SO WITH THAT, HOPEFULLY, THAT IMPROVES VISIBILITY.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS, AND IT'S ANOTHER PROJECT THAT'S ON ITS WAY, THERE'S SOME FEDERAL FUNDING BEHIND IT.
BUT WHITE AVENUE DOES HAVE SOME PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING AND WITH THAT CERTAINLY COVER A HIGH VISIBILITY CROSSWALK, AND CONTINUE TO TRY TO MASSAGE OUT AS MUCH EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY THAT WE CAN OUT OF THAT TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WATCHING, AND I THINK WE'VE MADE MINOR IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE CURB RAMPS IN THE TIMING, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR CONTINUED GROWTH UP THERE.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY TIME FRAME IMPROVEMENTS?
>> THE WHITE AVENUE PAVEMENT PROJECT IS IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR'S CIP BUDGET.
THERE IS FEDERAL FUNDS TIED TO IT THAT WORKING WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER IN MY OFFICE.
THERE IS A PROCESS TO GO THROUGH IT.
I WOULD SAY CERTAINLY LATE THIS FISCAL YEAR, PROBABLY SPRING OR SO.
WE WOULD HOPE TO SEE THAT OUT TO BID, SO THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON.
I WAS HONORED TO BE AT, IT WAS SAN GABRIEL VALLEY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP, ALONG WITH THE SANGIO VALLEY COG FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE ROSE PARADE HEADQUARTERS, WHICH I'VE NEVER BEEN TO BEFORE, WHICH WAS REALLY COOL, WHERE THEY HAVE THE PRINCESS AND THE QUEEN.
AND BASICALLY IT WAS ASSEMBLY MEMBER MIKE FONG, IT WAS SUSAN RUBIO, IT WAS KATHERINE BARGER, OUR SUPERVISOR.
IT WAS ALSO ASSEMBLY MEMBER CHRIS HOLDEN, JUDY CHU.
THERE WAS ANOTHER ASSEMBLY MEMBER, I CAN'T REMEMBER.
WHAT THEY DID IS THEY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.
THEY HAD SOME FOOD, AND BUT THEY HAD THEM A LITTLE PANEL SPEAKING.
WE WERE ABLE TO SOCIALIZE WITH THEM.
THE BIGGEST THING THAT CAME OUT OF THIS WAS IT'S BEEN A REAL FIGHT.
THE BUDGET CUT A LOT OF IT'S CALLED REIT 2.0 CALSTRS FUNDS, HAD TO DO WITH FREEWAYS, GRADE SEPARATIONS, HAD TO DO WITH HOUSING, HAD TO DO WITH THE HOMELESS SITUATION AND FUNDING, AND THROUGH THE COG AND THROUGH ALL THE STATE AND WITH OUR ELECTIVE WE WERE ABLE TO CHAMPION ALONG WITH OUR CITY SENDING LETTERS TO SAY HEY YOU NEED TO PUT THIS BACK IN THE BUDGET.
I KNOW SUSAN RUBIO AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER HOLDEN AND MIKE FONG WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL.
THEY'RE CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR TO BASICALLY TELL THE GOVERNOR, NO, YOU CAN'T CUT THESE AND THEY FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL.
THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT ALMOST ALL OF THE FUNDING BACK IN THERE, SO KUDOS TO THEM.
BUT IT JUST SHOWS THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE ALL HAVE BETWEEN OUR CITY, BETWEEN THE SANGER VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, ALL OF US ELECTED STATE, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE.
IT'S TIED TO THEM HELPING US LIKE OUR PARKS AND WITH OUR LAS FLORES AT 1.5 MILLION THAT MR. HOLDEN GAVE US, AND JUST REALLY WORKS WELL, BUT IT WAS A CHAMPION FOR THEM TO PUT THE MONIES BACK IN THE BUDGET THAT WE WILL BE GETTING OUR FUNDING STILL, MAYBE AT A LITTLE REDUCED RATE, BUT WE'LL STILL BE GETTING OUR FUNDING.
IT WAS A GREAT EVENT, AND IT WAS WELL ATTENDED.
AND REALLY, BASICALLY, HAVE A WONDERFUL 4TH OF JULY.
FIREWORKS ILLEGAL. WE'VE SAID THAT A BUNCH OF TIMES.
THE NEXT REGULAR LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY JULY 15, 2024, WHICH IS CANCELED THROUGH THE LACK OF BUSINESS AND APPROVAL ACTIONS BY THE COUNCIL TONIGHT.
NEXT REGULAR LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE MONDAY AUGUST 5, 2024 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 FOR ALL YOUR ATTENDANCE TONIGHT.
WE ENCOURAGE ALL THE RESIDENTS TO HAVE A SAFE AND FUN 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY.
CELEBRATING BY COMING OUT AND EATING PANCAKES IN THE MORNING, WATCHING THE PARADE THROUGH OLD TOWN, COMING BACK TO THE FIREWORK CELEBRATION AT VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL,
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SPENDING MONEY ON FOOD, BEVERAGES, AND RAFFLES, STARTS AT 6:00 P.M. AND HAVE AN AMAZING FIREWORK SHOW.THANK YOU FOR WENDY FOR BEING ON THE COMMITTEE.
YOU CAN STILL DO IT ONLINE WITH THE BARCODE, 20 BUCKS, PERIOD.
CHILDREN FIVE, FOUR, AND UNDER ARE FREE.
WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 8:37 P.M. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.