[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:06] >> WELCOME TO TO TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE HAVE A STUDY SESSION SCHEDULE. [STUDY SESSION TOPIC - BUDGET ] THE TOPIC IS THE BUDGET. LET'S DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN ROLL CALL. HOW LONG DO WE HAVE? WE DO NEED A ROLL CALL. I'VE GOT A SCRIPT. STUDY SESSION MEETING AT 5:00 PM. CALL TO ORDER. MR. DOMER, ROLL CALL, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON FORMER MAYOR PRO TEM IN THE PRESIDING OFFICER SEAT. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER LAU AND MAYOR PRO TEM KASHIFALGHITA WILL BE HERE SHORTLY. >> STUDY SESSION. TONIGHT FOR THE STUDY SESSION, STAFF WILL PRESENT A PRELIMINARY OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26. MR. DOMER, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL UP STAFF TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION? >> YES, I WILL CALL UP CHRISTY LOPEZ OR FINANCE DIRECTOR TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. HONORABLE COUNSEL. [LAUGHTER] TONIGHT, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE STEPS TAKEN CITYWIDE IN DEVELOPING THE BUDGET. WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE GENERAL FUND, THE CITY'S PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES. WE WILL BEGIN WITH A HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY OF PROJECTED REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, FOLLOWED BY A REVIEW OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL FORECAST. AFTER OUR OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL FUND, WE WILL TRANSITION THE PRESENTATION TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WHO WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. FROM THERE, THE PRESENTATION WILL BE HANDED OFF TO THE CITY MANAGER TO OUTLINE THE NEXT STEPS. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK CITY WIDE. THIS WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO GET TO THIS POINT. BUT OF COURSE, THE FINANCE STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING LONG HOURS TO GET US TO THIS POINT, SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK. THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION, THOUGH, WE DO WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL AS THE BUDGET IS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT, AND YOUR INPUT REMAINS ESSENTIAL. OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY IS TO PRESENT THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET TO YOU, WHICH IS THE MOST UP TO DATE VERSION AS OF AN HOUR AGO, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THIS WORKS, REFLECTING ALL CHANGES MADE THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS. AFTER THAT, WE WANT TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET DIRECTION, GET SOME DIRECTION FROM YOU SO THAT WE CAN FINISH PUTTING THE BUDGET TOGETHER, AND THAT WILL LEAD US TO PREPARE THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WHICH WE WILL BRING BACK TO YOU ON JUNE 2ND. NOW I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO ELLIE WHO'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS. >> GOOD EVENING. WELCOME, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE SESSION. WE'LL BEGIN BY WALKING THROUGH THE CITY'S BUDGET PROCESS, CURRENT CHALLENGES, AND THE STEPS WE'RE TAKING TO ENSURE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY. TODAY WE'LL DISCUSS TODAY'S DISCUSSION ALSO CONNECTS DIRECTLY WITH OUR STRATEGIC POLICIES, PRIORITIES, AND COMMUNITY VALUES. IN RECENT YEARS, AT THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE COMMUNITY, AND THE CITY MANAGER, STAFF HAS TAKEN PROACTIVE AND A LONG TERM APPROACH TO BUDGETING THAT PRIORITIZES SUSTAINABILITY. THIS APPROACH FOCUSES ON IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF BUDGETARY CHALLENGES RATHER THAN JUST MANAGING THE SYMPTOMS. THE UPCOMING STRATEGIC PLAN SESSION PROVIDES COUNCIL AND STAKEHOLDERS WITH A OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN A MORE IN DEPTH DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CITY'S CURRENT GOALS AND FUTURE DIRECTION. WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION ON MAY 17TH, ALL CITY COUNCIL, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL COME TOGETHER TO DEFINE AND ALIGN THE SHARED PRIORITIES OF THE CITY. DON'T FORGET. JUST BE HERE SATURDAY, MAY 17TH 9:00-4:00. [00:05:06] MOVING ON TO THE FORMING THE FISCAL YEAR, OR THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT. STAFF BEGAN THE BUDGET PROCESS EARLY JANUARY WITH KEY MILESTONE SCHEDULED THROUGHOUT TO ENSURE TIME FOR ANALYSIS, INTERNAL REVIEW, AND INPUT FROM BOTH THE COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY. TONIGHT MARKS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL AND PUBLIC TO VIEW A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL FUND'S PRELIMINARY BUDGET. FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, WE WILL MOVE INTO THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION, THEN THE SECOND STUDY SESSION, AND ULTIMATELY THE FINAL BUDGET APPROVAL PROCESS ON JUNE 16TH. LIKE MANY MUNICIPALITIES, WE'RE FACING SEVERAL FINANCIAL PRESSURES, WE HAVE THE RISING PENSION COSTS, HEALTH CARE EXPENSES, BALANCING AND INCREASING SERVICE DEMANDS WITH LIMITED REVENUE GROWTH. WE HAVE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES SUCH AS SLOWING ECONOMIC GROWTH. WE'RE FACED WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATIONS, UNFUNDED MANDATES SUCH AS SB 1383, THE ORGANIC WASTE RECYCLING, WHICH WILL FIND THE CITY FOR USERS WHO DO NOT RECYCLE ORGANIC WASTE AND AP 1637, WHICH REQUIRES LOCAL AGENCIES TO HAVE A.GOV OR.CA.GOV FOR WEBSITE AND EMAIL ADDRESSES. WE HAVE RISING PENSION COSTS WITH AL BEING DEPENDENT ON THE MARKET. THE WORKFORCE ACQUISITION AND RETENTION. WE HAVE PERSONNEL THAT IS THE LARGEST EXPENSE. WE HAVE CHALLENGE FINDING BALANCE BETWEEN CONTROLLING COST AND ATTRACTING AND RETAINING TOP TALENT TO MAINTAIN EXPECTED SERVICE LEVELS. WE HAVE INCREASING UTILITIES AND BASIC COSTS. EDISON WILL BE INCREASING BETWEEN 7-10%, GAS INCREASING OVER 3% AND BASIC COSTS SUCH AS INSURANCE, MAINTENANCE, AND MATERIALS. OUR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS HAVE SPANNED OVER A DECADE. THE CITY IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL STRATEGIC MEASURES OVER THE SPAN OF THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, INCLUDING FIRST COST SHARING WITH CLASSIC HEALTHCARE MEMBERS, THE MEASURE LV, POB BONDS, PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS TO MANAGE LIABILITIES, THE 115 TRUST PENSION STABILIZATION FUND TO PLAN FOR FUTURE OBLIGATIONS. THESE STEPS AIM TO ENSURE LONG TERM FINANCIAL HEALTH. EVERY YEAR, OUR FOCUS REMAINS ON BALANCING FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH QUALITY SERVICE AND DELIVERY. MOVING ON TO THE 2024-25 YEAR AND ESTIMATES. OUR CURRENT ESTIMATED RESOURCES IS ROUGHLY 47.8 MILLION. OUR ESTIMATED APPROPRIATIONS IS 49.7 MILLION WITH A DEFICIT OF 1.8 EXCLUDING PRIOR YEAR ENCUMBRANCES AND ROLLOVERS. WE ARE BALANCING THIS WITH FUND BALANCE RESERVES OF 1.179 MILLION AND OPERATING REDUCTIONS OF 642,000. MOVING OVER TO THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET WILL BE HESSUS. >> HELLO. GOOD EVENING. I WILL GO OVER MORE INTO DETAIL ABOUT OUR PRELIMINARY BUDGET AS IT IS STANDING TODAY. FIRST, WE'LL START WITH A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF OUR GENERAL FUND PRELIMINARY BUDGET. FOR THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, WE ARE SEEING AND PROJECTING REVENUES AT 48 MILLION, 58% OF THAT IS COMING FROM TAXES. TAXES OUR LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND, AND THOSE WILL BRING IN ABOUT $28 MILLION. WE ALSO SEE PRELIMINARY EXPENSES AT 52 MILLION. THAT PIE CHART IS BROKEN DOWN BY DEPARTMENT, AND WE SEE THAT THE LARGEST SECTION OF THAT IS PUBLIC SAFETY WITH TOTALING $32 MILLION. THE EXPENSES INCLUDE ALL PERSONNEL OPERATIONS, AND CAPITAL EXPENSES. TAKING THOSE REVENUES MINUS THOSE EXPENSES, WE GET A PRELIMINARY DEFICIT OF $3.6 MILLION. MORE AND MORE INTO DETAIL ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, FOCUSING ON PERSONNEL. WE ARE EXPECTING PERSONNEL TO BE ABOUT $34,639,000. YOU SEE TWO PIE CHARTS BEFORE YOU. IT'S THE SAME DATA JUST BROKEN OUT INTO TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. [00:10:03] ON THE LEFT, WE SEE BY DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS POLICE AND FIRE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, COMMUNITY SERVICES, ADMINISTRATION, AND FINANCE. THEN ON THE RIGHT WE SEE BY CATEGORY. THE LARGEST SECTION BY DEPARTMENT WOULD BE, AGAIN, PUBLIC SAFETY, TAKING ABOUT 80% OF THE GENERAL FUND PERSONNEL BUDGET, AND THEN BY CATEGORY, THE LARGEST CATEGORY WOULD BE SALARIES. EACH YEAR, DEPARTMENTS ARE ABLE TO REQUEST NEW PERSONNEL ADDITIONS TO THEIR BUDGET. THIS WOULD BE STAFF OUTSIDE OF THE STATUS QUO BUDGET. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TWO DEPARTMENTS REQUESTING FOUR NEW BODIES. COMMUNITY SERVICES IS ASKING FOR A MANAGEMENT ANALYST AND AN ADMIN CLERK. POLICE IS ASKING FOR A POLICE CLERK AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK. TOGETHER, THOSE POSITIONS WILL AFFECT THE GENERAL FUND BY 183,000. HOWEVER, THERE IS AN ASTERISK FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK AND THEIR POLICE, THAT DO HAVE OFFSETTING REVENUES. THE NET IMPACT TO THE GENERAL FUND WOULD BE ABOUT 118. STILL LOOKING AT PERSONNEL, BUT LOOKING MORE INTO DETAIL, COMPARING IT TO LAST YEAR'S OR CURRENT YEARS ADJUSTED BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 24-25. WE SEE THAT OVERALL, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 2% OR 666,000. ON THE TOP, WE HAVE IT DIVIDED BY DEPARTMENT AT THE BOTTOM BY CATEGORY. YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM, THE LARGEST SECTION OR LARGEST CATEGORY WOULD BE UAL WITH AN INCREASE OF 108% COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. GO IN MORE INTO DETAIL ABOUT UAL. UAL IS THE LARGEST PERSONNEL COST INCREASE WE'RE FACING FOR FISCAL YEAR 25-26. ON THE LEFT, YOU SEE A YEAR OVER YEAR COMPARISON. IT WILL BE INCREASING BY 829,000. THEN ON THE RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE THAT BROKEN DOWN BY THE TWO GROUPS THAT FALL UNDER UAL. WE HAVE THE MISCELLANEOUS GROUP, WHICH WOULD BE NON SAFETY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, TECHNICAL MAINTENANCE STAFF. THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE SAFETY GROUP, WHICH WOULD BE SAFETY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS. AS YOU SEE, TWO THIRDS OF THE UAL COSTS FOR NEXT YEAR ARE RELATED TO THE SAFETY GROUP. MOVING ON FROM PERSONNEL AND MORE ON TO OPERATIONAL AND CAPITAL OUTLAY BUDGET. THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET WE'RE SEEING FOR OPERATIONAL COST IS 16,801,629. AGAIN, SPLIT UP SAME NUMBERS, BUT SPLIT UP BY A DIFFERENT, ON THE LEFT BY DEPARTMENT AND ON THE RIGHT BY CATEGORY. WE SEE THAT PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONAL BUDGET IS ABOUT 51% OF ALL OPERATIONS. THEN STAFF WENT THROUGH EACH LINE ITEM AND CATEGORIZED ALL OPERATIONAL ACCOUNTS INTO THOSE FOUR CATEGORIES YOU SEE. CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS WOULD BE LIKE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUCH AS OUR AUDITING FEES, OUR LEGAL FEES. UTILITY COSTS WOULD INCLUDE FUEL, WATER, GAS. OPERATIONAL OVERHEAD WOULD BE FLEET AND INSURANCE, AND GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE WOULD BE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE. WE SEE THAT 44% OF ALL OPERATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR ARE EXPECTED TO BE TIED TO SOME CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION. AGAIN, COMPARING LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, OPERATIONS ON THEIR OWN ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE ABOUT 11% OR $1.7 MILLION. SAME AS WITH PERSONNEL ON THE TOP, WE HAVE BY DEPARTMENT AT THE BOTTOM BY CATEGORY, AND WE SEE THAT THE LARGEST CATEGORY INCREASE WOULD BE UTILITY COSTS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR WITH AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 26% OR ABOUT 336,000. JUST AS DEPARTMENTS CAN REQUEST A NEW PERSONNEL, THEY CAN ALSO HAVE CAPITAL OUTLAY REQUEST. FOR THE COMING YEAR, WE HAVE A TOTAL WORKING PRELIMINARY BUDGET OF 914,000. ON THE LEFT, YOU SEE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL THOSE REQUESTS, AND ON THE RIGHT, WE AGAIN WENT THROUGH AND CATEGORIZED THOSE REQUESTS. ABOUT 56% OF THOSE ARE RELATED TO AUTOMOTIVE WORK AND EQUIPMENT, 17%, [00:15:05] COMPUTERS AND SERVERS, ANOTHER 17 TO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, AND ANOTHER 10 TO OTHER CAPITAL OUTLAY. >> IS THIS $914,000 ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT'S ALREADY PROJECTED FOR THE INCREASE? IS THAT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE $3.7 MILLION? >> IT IS INCLUDED. >> IT'S INCLUDED? >> YES. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO GENERAL FUND REVENUES, AND I'LL PASS IT BACK TO CHRISTY. >> HERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PROJECTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR. THE PROJECTIONS, WE USE VARIOUS WAYS TO CALCULATE AND FORECAST WHAT OUR REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE. WE USE CURRENT FIGURES, AND THEN WE ALSO USE CONSULTANTS. FOR OUR TAXES, BOTH PROPERTY AND SALES TAX, WE USE A COMPANY CALLED HINDERLITER OR HDL. WE CAN SEE THAT WE ARE HAVING, AND I'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL LATER ON THEIR BREAKDOWN, BUT WE ARE SHOWING THAT THE INCREASE IN TAXES IS GOING TO BE ABOUT 3%. THAT IS OUR LARGEST PORTION, SO IT INCREASES ROUGHLY $900,000. THE CHARGES FOR SERVICES, THE ADJUSTMENT THAT WE'RE SEEING, A LOT OF THAT IS RELATED TO PARAMEDIC REVENUE THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT HAS BEEN INCREASING. THE LICENSE AND PERMIT REDUCTIONS, THOSE ARE RELATED TO THE BUILDING PERMIT ACTIVITY. WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT WE ARE GOING TO MEET THE AVERAGE $1.1 MILLION THAT WE HAVE FIGURED IS OUR ANNUAL AVERAGE THAT WE GET, AND SO THAT IS WHY THAT HAS DECREASED SO DRASTICALLY. THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES, THE PROPERTY TAX IS SHOWING A 4% GROWTH. WE ARE SEEING SOME GROWTH IN PROPERTY TAX, WHICH IS GOOD. HOWEVER, WE HAVE SEEN JUST A STALL IN THE SALE OF PROPERTY, AND SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT IS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S LIVED IN A HOME FOR 30 YEARS IS GOING TO HAVE A MUCH LOWER PROPERTY TAX RATE THAN SOMEONE WHO JUST BUYS THEIR HOUSE. WHEN WE SEE THE HOME SALES DECLINE, THEN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME STAGNANT ACTIVITY IN OUR PROJECTIONS. WE ARE SEEING THE 6% LIKE WE HAD SEEN IN THE PAST. FOR SALES TAX, WE ARE ACTUALLY SEEING A DECLINE, AND WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT THIS IS GOING TO ACTUALLY RECOVER, POSSIBLY A LITTLE BIT NEXT YEAR. A LOT OF THAT IS RELATED TO JUST THE SHIFT IN HABITS OF INDIVIDUALS IN SHOPPING. THEY'RE SHOPPING MORE ONLINE, WHICH WITH THE WAY THAT ONLINE SALES HAPPEN, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THE ACTUAL ITEM IS, WHO OWNS THE ITEM. IF IT'S AMAZON SELLING THE ITEM OR IF IT'S A THIRD PARTY, REALLY DETERMINES WHETHER LA VERNE IS GOING TO BENEFIT FROM ANY OF THAT TAX. WE ARE SEEING REALLY A DECLINE IN OUR SALES TAX, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY IMPACTFUL. AS WE STARTED TO SEE WHAT WE WERE FACED WITH, THE $3.6 MILLION DEFICIT IS NOT A SMALL NUMBER, WE STARTED TO LOOK AT REALLY WHAT THE SERVICES ARE THAT THE CITY IS PROVIDING. THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS TO PROVIDE SERVICES BASED ON THE SALES AND PROPERTY TAX THAT WE GET IN, AND WE HAVE TO PROVIDE CERTAIN LEVEL OF SERVICES AND CERTAIN TYPES OF SERVICES. WE WENT THROUGH AND IDENTIFIED WHAT THOSE DIFFERENT BENEFITS ARE. THERE ARE DEFINITE SERVICES THAT THE CITY PROVIDES THAT PROVIDE A COMMUNITY BENEFIT. IT BENEFITS EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THEN THERE ARE ALSO ITEMS THAT HAVE A PERSONAL BENEFIT, BUT THEN THEY ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY BENEFIT. THEN WE HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS, AN INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT IS SOMETHING THAT MAYBE IS DIRECTLY IMPACTING JUST ONE CITIZEN AND IS NOT PROVIDING A TOTAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT DIRECTLY. [00:20:06] WE WENT THROUGH. IT'S NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST, BUT WHEN WE WERE FACED WITH THIS $3.6 MILLION DEFICIT, WE WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AND JUST GET AN IDEA OF WHAT SERVICES THE CITY IS PROVIDING BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNCIL, WE UNDERSTAND THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE. WITH THAT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOSE IMPORTANT SERVICES THAT WE MUST PROVIDE. LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, AND AGAIN, THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST. THIS WAS JUST A REVIEW REALLY WE WANTED TO GET FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL TO SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WANT US TO CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO, GET MORE INFORMATION ON, IDENTIFY HOW MUCH THESE PROGRAMS COST US. BUT FOR EXAMPLE, A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, THERE IS A DEFINITE INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT. YOU COULD ALSO IDENTIFY THAT THERE'S A BALANCED BENEFIT TO LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT YOU WERE GOING TO IMPACT A CHILD'S LIFE, WHICH WILL IMPACT THEM LATER ON IN THE FUTURE, BUT AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE DECISIONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE, LOOKING AT THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE PROVIDING AND WHETHER WE WANT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND SUBSIDY TO THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE THAT INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT. WE LOOKED AT BALANCE BENEFIT, SO RECREATIONAL SWIM. THAT DEFINITELY PROVIDES A BENEFIT TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY BY HAVING A COMMUNITY POOL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT IS REALLY BENEFITING THAT INDIVIDUAL WHO IS TAKING THAT SWIM. THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT WE LOOKED AT 4TH OF JULY, CHRISTMAS MORNING, EXCELLENT ADVENTURE. THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF SERVICES THAT THE CITY PROVIDES, AND WHEREAS 4TH OF JULY DOES HAVE A COMMUNITY GROUP THAT REALLY HANDLES THE COST OF THE FIREWORKS MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S COVERED, BUT THERE IS NO COST RECOVERY FOR ANY OF THE STAFF. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW CITY EMPLOYEES WORKING THAT DAY SINCE IT IS A WHOLE DAY EVENT. WE ARE REALLY BRINGING THIS TO YOU TO TEST THE WATERS AND SEE IF YOU WANT US TO CONTINUE LOOKING INTO THIS FURTHER. WITH THAT, IF YOU HAVE NO QUESTIONS ON THAT, I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO ISABELLA. >> GOOD EVENING. I WILL BE GOING OVER THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES AND MEASURE LV FUND BALANCES. HERE'S THE GRAPH OF THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES. RESERVES IN A CITY GOVERNMENT ARE FUNDS THAT ARE SET ASIDE AND NOT ALLOCATED TO CURRENT SPENDING HELD SPECIFICALLY TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL STABILITY, RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES, MANAGE CASH FLOWS, SUPPORT LONG TERM PLANNING, AND ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF PUBLIC SERVICES. OUR ASSIGNED FUNDS, WHICH IS THE LIGHTER BLUE ON THE GRAPH, ARE FUNDS INTENDED FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE BUT NOT FORMALLY COMMITTED, AND THESE ARE DESIGNATED BY CITY MANAGEMENT, AND AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE SICK AND VACATION. RESTRICTED, WHICH IS THE NAVY BLUE, ARE FUNDS THAT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE BY EXTERNAL PARTIES OR LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENTS. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE 115 TRUST, WHICH IS FOR FUTURE PENSION LIABILITIES. THEN COMMITTED, WHICH IS THE GRAY, ARE FUNDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS FORMALLY SET ASIDE FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES THROUGH A RESOLUTION OR ORDINANCE, AND THIS WOULD BE OUR EMERGENCY RAINY DAY FUND. THE GRAY. RESTRICTED, YES. AS THE CITY BUDGET CHANGES, THERE IS A REQUIRED 20% THAT WE HAVE TO PUT ASIDE. BASED ON OUR ESTIMATED 53 MILLION, THIS WOULD INCREASE OUR COMMITTED BY 786,000. MOVING ON TO MEASURE LV, IN 2020, THIS WAS PASSED BY LA VERNE RESIDENTS WHO INCREASE SALES TAX RATE TO 10.25%. BASED ON OUR CURRENT DATA, [00:25:01] AND AS CHRISTINE MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ALSO USE HDL. EXPENDITURES ARE PROJECTED TO BEGIN TO EXCEED REVENUES BY FISCAL YEAR '26/'27. IF THESE CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE, THE MEASURE LV FUND BALANCE WILL NO LONGER BE SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT FINANCIAL ACTIVITY IN FISCAL YEAR '31/'32. THESE ARE ESTIMATED FIGURES FOR FISCAL YEAR '25/'26. FROM OUR CURRENT YEAR '24/'25 TO '25/'26, THERE WAS A MODEST INCREASE IN SALES TAX OF ABOUT 47,000. HOWEVER, HDL PROJECTS THE DECLINE IN SALES TAX REVENUE FOR FISCAL YEAR '26/'27. FOR '25/'26, DUE TO ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS, SPECIFIC COSTS ARE NOT YET FINALIZED, WHICH IS WHY THERE IS NO CHANGE IN EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS THE TIER 1 APPROPRIATIONS. THE MEASURE LV OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MET ON APRIL 29TH AND RECOMMENDED THAT TIER 1 FUNDING BE EXPENDED PENDING THE OUTCOME OF OUR CURRENT NEGOTIATIONS. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, THAT CONCLUDES THE GENERAL FUND FINANCIAL OVERVIEW, AND I WILL PASS IT TO PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO PRESENT THE CIP. IT'S THE 9.6, AND SO THAT WOULD INCREASE. >> NO, YOU'RE FINE. AFTER MID YEAR, THE PERCENTAGE WAS 25%. TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT, CORRECT. THE TOTAL OVERALL INCLUDES ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS THAT WE HAVE. RIGHT NOW THE REQUIRED THAT WE HAVE IS 20%, BUT AS OUR EXPENDITURES INCREASE, THEN THAT 20% INCREASES. NEXT YEAR, WE WOULD HAVE TO ADD $700,000 TO THE RESTRICTED AMOUNT, AND THAT PERCENTAGE DROPPED, I BELIEVE, BY 2% IS WHAT IT WAS. WE WOULD HAVE 23% IN RESERVES. >> WHEN I GOT ON COUNCIL, IT WAS ABOUT 28%. THEN AFTER THIS PROPOSAL, IT WILL BE AT ABOUT 23%. >> NO. IF WE ONLY ADD THE $700,000 BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A DEFICIT OF $3.6 MILLION, AND WE DON'T UTILIZE ANY OF THOSE RESERVES, AND WE SOMEHOW CUT THE $3.6 MILLION, THEN WE WOULD BE ABOUT 23%. >> BUT IF YOU HAVE ROUGHLY $3.7 MILLION, THEN THAT WOULD CUT INTO THOSE RESERVES AS WELL. >> CORRECT. THAT WOULD DROP US DOWN TO 18%. >> THE 18%. CORRECT. AGAIN, STARTING ON COUNCIL, ABOUT 27, AND NOW THE PROPOSALS WOULD DROP IT TO 18. >> IF WE UTILIZED THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN THE RESERVES. >> BUT DIRECTLY. >> IT WOULD DROP US DOWN TO 18%. CORRECT. >> DID ANYBODY HAVE ANY GOOD NEWS? I'M JUST ASKING. IT'S OKAY. LIGHTING IT UP A LITTLE BIT, MATT. >> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S A PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS EVENING'S PRELIMINARY OVERVIEW OF THE CITY'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR '25/'26. AS YOU KNOW, I JOINED THE CITY MIDWAY THROUGH THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, SO I DO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE MEMBERS OF MY STAFF WHO HELPED DEVELOP THIS YEAR'S CIP. JOE VIERA, KRISTIE SANCHEZ BACK THERE, AND NICOLE HOUSTON AND PAULINE HARDY. I DON'T SEE RYAN CIOTTI AND WATER AND SEWER OPERATION. THANK YOU TO MY STAFF. [00:30:07] FIRST, JUST A BIT OF CONTEXT. WHAT IS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM? IT'S A MULTI-YEAR PLANNING EFFORT THAT IS INTENDED TO FORECAST THE VARIOUS CITY FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OVER A FIVE YEAR PLANNING HORIZON. PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THE CIP TYPICALLY INCLUDE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OR EQUIPMENT PURCHASES THAT USUALLY REQUIRES EXPENDITURES OR FUNDS FROM SOURCES OTHER THAN OPERATING REVENUES. PROJECTS TYPICALLY INCLUDE REHAB PROJECTS, REPLACEMENT, AND NEW CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, ETC. THE FIRST YEAR OF THE MULTI YEAR CIP REALLY REPRESENTS THE CIP BUDGET YEAR REQUESTS. THAT'S THE STAFF PRESENTATION FOR THIS EVENING. >> THIS SLIDE JUST SUMMARIZES SOME OF THE KEY FUNDING SOURCES THAT ARE TYPICALLY USED TO FUND CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THEY'RE MAINLY THE RESTRICTED FUND SOURCES THAT WERE ALLUDED TO EARLIER. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A VARIETY OF FUND SOURCES. WE TEND TO NOT USE GENERAL FUNDS TO FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE MOST FLEXIBLE FUND SOURCE, AND WE TEND TO USE THOSE FOR OPERATING EXPENDITURES. FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, WE TEND TO FOCUS ON UTILIZING THE MORE RESTRICTED FUND SOURCES, OUTSIDE GRANTS, AND DEDICATED FUNDING PROGRAMS FOR VARIOUS USES. FOR EXAMPLE, PARK IMPROVEMENTS, WE TEND TO FOCUS ON PARK DEVELOPMENT FUNDS, MEASURE A, BUT FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, TYPICALLY, WE FOCUS ON USING STATE SALES TAX AND THE LA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX MEASURES DEDICATED FOR TRANSPORTATION. WATER PROJECTS, WE FOCUS ON USING WATER FUND REVENUE SEWER SYSTEM PROJECTS, SIMILARLY, SEWER FUND AND STORM WATER RELATED PROJECTS, MEASURE W. JUST TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE COMPLETED THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE THE LAS FLORES PARK PLAYGROUND UPGRADES, ANNUAL STREET REHAB PROJECTS, THE BEACH STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, RECENTLY COMPLETED. FIRE STATION TO ROOF REPLACEMENT. SB1, WHICH IS A STATE GAS TAX DEDICATED FUND FOR STREET REHAB. I THINK THAT WAS HAYES AND KING STREET, AND THEN CDBG-FUNDED CURB RAMP IMPROVEMENTS. AGAIN, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CITY ENGINEER CODY HELLING FOR A LOT OF HIS INVOLVEMENT IN HELPING EXECUTE THE PROJECTS, AS WELL AS COLIN FOR HELPING THE IMPLEMENTATION SIDE. JUST TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, WE HAVE THE AMI METER REPLACEMENT PROJECT. THIS, AS COUNSEL IS AWARE WILL HELP PREVENT WATER LOSS. WE HAVE THE LAS FLORES PARK RESTROOM INSULATION, THAT'S EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE THIS SUMMER. THE HERITAGE PARK GAZEBO REPLACEMENT. THAT PROJECT IS IN DESIGN. THE OAK MESA PLAYGROUND UPGRADE. THAT PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2025. THE PRE-FILTERS UPGRADE FOR AMHERST WATER TREATMENT PLANT. THAT PROJECT IS ALSO IN DESIGN. THE BOOSTER PUMP PROJECT FOR ZONES 3 AND 4, ALSO EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY THE SUMMER. WE HAVE THE RECENTLY COUNCIL-APPROVED SLURRY SEAL/CRACK SEAL PROJECT IN GOLDEN HILLS AREA. THAT'S EXPECTED TO ALSO BE COMPLETED BY SUMMER 2025. AS WELL AWARE OF THE ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT THAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THIS BUILDING. THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. HOPEFULLY, WE'LL SEAL UP ALL THE LEAKS THAT THIS BUILDING HAS HAD OVER THE YEARS. ON TO THE NEW REQUESTS. THIS TABLE SUMMARIZES THE NEW BUILDING AND FACILITIES REQUEST [00:35:03] FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY CENTER FLOORING PROJECT. THANK YOU TO YVONNE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR PARTNERING ON THAT PROJECT. THAT WILL UPGRADE THE FLOORING AND THE MAIN HALL, AND THE HALLWAYS FOR THAT BUILDING. WE HAVE ACCESS CONTROL UPGRADES FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE STATION 2 AND 3. SIMILARLY, ALSO FLOORING PROJECT, FIRE STATION 2, AND HVAC AND WATER HEATER UPGRADES AND REPLACEMENT FOR FIRE STATION 3. WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING A FACILITIES CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT FOR ALL OF OUR FACILITIES CITYWIDE. THIS WILL REPRESENT A FIRST PHASE IN THAT EFFORT. THEN LASTLY, THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING THAT'S PROPOSED IS A REPLACEMENT OF THE CHILLER IN THAT BUILDING. >> WHAT'S THE CHILLER? >> ON THAT PROJECT REAL QUICKLY, THE ENTIRE UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH IS A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR, BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT REPLACING THE CHILLER AT THAT AMOUNT WILL GET US THROUGH ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR YEARS UNTIL ADDITIONAL ITEMS ON THAT OVERALL SYSTEM THE HVAC SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. >> SORRY. THEN, WHEN YOU REPLACE THAT, WILL THEN THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED WHEN A WHOLE NEW SYSTEM IS PUT IN, OR CAN THAT BE IN THE NEW SYSTEM? >> THE LATTER, IT CAN BE USED IN THE NEW SYSTEM. >> I JUST DON'T SEE SPEND 125,000 FOR ONE TIME. I KNOW I SENT THIS TO CITY MANAGER DOMAT, TOO. THERE'S A NEW GRANT FROM FOOTHILL TRANSIT FOR ANY BUS STOPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE NOTE THAT TO APPLY FOR THAT GRANT AS WELL, SO TO FREE UP SOME OF OUR PROPERTY. ARE ALL OF THESE REQUESTED PROJECTS FOR FUNDING? ARE THEY PART OF THE PREVIOUS ANALYSIS, OR ARE THESE ON TOP OF OUR NEW AS WELL? >> THEY'RE ALL PART OF THE PREVIOUS ANALYSIS. THERE ARE MORE AND THERE CAN BE LESS. WHEN DANNY WRAPS UP, WE'LL TALK ABOUT ONLY 200,000 IS FROM THE GENERAL FUND. THE REST OF THEM ARE COVERED BY DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCES LIKE MEASURE R, MEASURE W, MEASURE A. >> BUT THE QUESTION FUTURE AS WELL, CAN THAT FUNDING SOURCES BE USED FOR OTHER THINGS AS WELL, OR ARE THEY SO RESTRICTED THAT THESE ARE WITH THE USE, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AND USE THEM? >> YES. THOUGH THEY ARE RESTRICTED. CORRECT. WE'RE BEING VERY JUDICIOUS [00:40:03] WITH THOSE FUNDING SOURCES TO WHAT THEIR ELIGIBLE USES ARE. THEN THE GENERAL FUND, OF COURSE, IT IS A ONE-TIME ON-SOURCE, A VERY PROTECTED SOURCE. WELL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET THERE. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC HEARS THAT. ABOUT THOSE RESTRICTIONS. >> THEN LASTLY, UNDER THE SEWER CATEGORY, WE HAVE ONE PROJECT, WHICH WAS A CARRYOVER PROJECT. STAFF IS REQUESTING $50,000 ADDITIONAL FUNDING AS FOR THE FRANKLIN LIFT STATION TO REPLACE TWO PUMP STATIONS. IN TOTAL FOR THIS CIP BUDGET YEAR REQUESTS, STAFF IS RECKONING $4.3 MILLION IN TOTAL APPROPRIATION REQUEST OF THAT AMOUNT 200,000 IS FROM THE GENERAL FUND REQUEST. >> AS DANNY WAS GOING THROUGH THIS, 125,000 OF THAT 200,000 GENERAL FUND REQUEST IS FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING C CHILLER, AND THEN THE OTHER 75,000 IS ACTUALLY FOR A FACILITIES ASSESSMENT. THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE PARKS MASTER PLAN, WHICH IS FUNDED UNDER MEASURE A. BUT THE 75K, WE CAN CUT THAT. BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT OF THE GENERAL FUND AS WE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR CITY FACILITIES THAT NEED TO BE ASSESSED FOR THE FUTURE. THIS IS REALLY THE NEXT YEAR. WE'RE CALLING A PLANNING YEAR AS FAR AS THE GENERAL FUND INVESTMENT, BUT TO LOOK AT THOSE BUILDINGS, THE OTHER STRUCTURES OF THE CITY AND ALL OF OUR FACILITIES THAT NEED TO BE REVIEWED FOR INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE. THAT WAY WE CAN LOOK AT BOTH GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, APPROPRIATION OPPORTUNITIES, IF THEY DO REAPPEAR IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OUT OF THE OVERALL 4.2, $9 MILLION CIP REQUEST, 200,000 OF THAT IS FROM THE GENERAL FUND. >> WITH MY PRESENTATION. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR STAFF AS WELL? >> I'M SORRY. THE LAST PART, THE SEWER LINE FRANKLIN LIFT STATION. WHERE IS THAT? >> PUTTING STONE DRY. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR DANNY? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I TURN IT BACK TO KRISTIN. >> I THINK AT THIS POINT, BOTH COMING BACK TO KRISTIN AND MYSELF FOR THE OVERALL RECAP AND NEXT STEPS. THERE'S MORE TO IT. BUT FIRST, I WANT TO THANK KRISTIN AND HER STAFF, AND THE EVER-CHANGING NUMBERS, AS SHE MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT THESE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AGO NOW. IT'S BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO GET INFORMATION. ORIGINALLY, THE REQUESTS THAT WERE COMING IN AT THE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN REDUCED THROUGH ACTIONS OF LOOKING AT THINGS, SO THE REQUESTS WERE ACTUALLY MORE. THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WILL REVEAL THAT OR TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE AT THE JUNE 2ND MEETING, BECAUSE THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY AS ONE OF THE FINAL REVIEWS OF THE BUDGET. OPERATING IN A CITY IS EXPENSIVE. WHAT WE'RE FINDING WITH A LOT OF THINGS IS THAT OUR REVENUES ARE NOT ALL THE WAY THERE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SALES TAX, WITH A PROJECTED DECREASE NEXT YEAR. THE PROPERTY TAX WHERE IT'S ABOUT 3.9, 4.0% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR, WHICH IT'S GREAT TO HAVE AN INCREASE. IT'S LESS THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE COUNTY. WITH OVER PROBABLY ONLY ABOUT 165-170 REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS, THE GREAT THING OVER LAST YEAR, IT'S ONE OF THE LEAST AMOUNT OF REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST 10-15 YEARS. AGAIN, IT'S GREAT THAT EVERYBODY LOVES LAVERNE. WE'RE SEEING THAT OVERALL, WITH THE INTEREST RATES AND THE FACT THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, YOU CAN'T FIND A HOUSE IF YOU SELL A HOUSE. PEOPLE AREN'T MOVING, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT CITIES DEPEND ON [00:45:03] THAT OVERALL REASSESSED VALUATION TO DRIVE THAT PROPERTY TAX TO HELP FUND SERVICES. THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT WE JUST ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH. >> I GOT A QUESTION, WHAT ABOUT ANNEXING SOME OF THE PROPERTY FROM COUNTY LAVERNE? SOME MAKE SENSE. >> ABSOLUTELY, AND WE ARE DOING THAT RIGHT NOW. IN FACT, I HAVE A MEETING COMING UP WITH THE CITY MANAGERS OF SAN DIMAS AND CLAREMONT TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE LAFCO, WHICH IS THE LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION, WHICH STUDIES AND PROPOSES AND RECOMMENDS ANNEXATIONS. THEY HAVE PUT THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE REVIEW FOR LAVERNE, SAN DIMAS, AND CLAREMONT ON THE TOP OF THEIR PRIORITY LIST BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE TWO AREAS BOTH IN THE WEST AND THE EAST TO REVIEW FOR WHETHER THAT SPHERE OF INFLUENCE SHOULD BE ADJUSTED. FOR EXAMPLE, NORTH LAVERNE IS ALSO THE CLAREMONT AREA AND ALL THAT STUFF. REALLY, IT'S JUST CLAREMONT AND SAN DIMAS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. BUT FOR EXAMPLE, THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE WHICH IS CURRENTLY DEFINED ON THE WEST. THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE ON OUR WEST SIDE WITH SAN DIMAS THAT HAVE A LAVERNE 91750 ADDRESS. BUT SOME OF THOSE ARE OUTSIDE OUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE WAS SET IN THE EARLY 1970S. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT. THERE'S TRULY ONLY ABOUT FOUR PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN THAT UNINCORPORATED AREA ON THE WEST SIDE THAT HAVE A SAN DIMAS. THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT, DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR THE SERVICES AS DEFINED AND A SERVED TO BE LAVERNE OR SAN DIMAS. THEY'LL COME BACK TO US. >> THOSE 400 OR, I KNOW THE AREA YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BY RAYMOND. >> NO. THOSE ARE FOUR PROPERTIES OUT OF SEVERAL 100 IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA. MOST OF THEM RIGHT NOW CARRY A LAVERNE ADDRESS, AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO CONFIRM WHETHER IT'S BEST SERVED BY LAVERNE OR NOT. WE DO HAVE A REQUEST FROM ONE OF THE HOAS UP BRASI LANE. WE'RE LOOKING TO SET UP A MEETING WITH THAT HOA TO TALK FURTHER ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD BE. WE HAVE AN INTERN STARTING IN ADMIN AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL BE HELPING US DO A COMMUNITY SURVEY AND THEN PUTTING TOGETHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THAT. OVERALL, THERE'S NO COMMERCIAL AREAS REALLY WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT. IT'S RESIDENTIAL. RESIDENTIAL DOES COST THE CITY. THAT'S ONE OF THE ANALYSES THAT WILL BE LOOKED AT. IT'S NOT A MONEY MAKER TO ANNEX, BUT IT'S ALSO MAKING THE COMMUNITY WHOLE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY CARRY A LAVERNE ADDRESS, AND THEY SHOULD BE LAVERNE, BUT THEY'RE STILL BEING SERVED BY THE COUNTY, AND THEY MAY NOT BE GETTING THE BEST SERVICES, SO THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT. >> AS FAR AS WATER, DO WE SERVE THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS? >> YES AND NO. WE DO ON THE EAST SIDE, ON THE WEST SIDE. YES AND NO, BECAUSE SOME OF THEM ARE SERVED BY GOLDEN STATE. WE DO, LIKE THE ENTIRE FOX GLEN AREA, WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN THE CITY, IS SERVED BY GOLDEN STATE. IT'S A YES AND NO TYPE OF THING. WOULDN'T CHANGE THE OVERALL ECONOMICS. IT WOULDN'T CHANGE WHO IS SERVED BY THE WATER. >> THE CURRENT LOOK DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL THE BUDGET REQUESTS THAT ARE OUT THERE. WE HAVE SIPHONED SOME OFF. IN THE NEXT PASS THROUGH IS WHEN I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A LOT OF THINGS AND CUTTING BACK SOME ISSUES. THE NEXT REQUEST WILL BE A LITTLE BIT THINNER. IT ALSO DOESN'T INCLUDE SOME OF THE ANALYSIS THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT BECAUSE THE BIGGEST DRIVERS THAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS EXPENDITURES ARE UNFUNDED ACTUARIAL LIABILITIES, WHICH IS THE PENSION COSTS THAT HAS INCREASED FROM WHAT WAS A BUDGET AGO. THE LAST FISCAL YEAR WAS ABOUT 11,000. THIS YEAR IS ABOUT 900,000. IN '25-'26, IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT 1.51 0.6 MILLION. AGAIN, THAT'S COSTS THAT WE DON'T CONTROL. THAT'S FOR BASED ON CALPERS RETURNS, BASED ON THE PROMISED BENEFITS OF PENSIONS. THAT IS A HUGE INCREASE THAT WE JUST HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. THE ISSUE WITH THE TARIFFS AND THE WHOLE UNCERTAINTY OVER [00:50:02] THE FEDERAL SYSTEM RIGHT NOW DROPPED CALPERS BY ABOUT $15 BILLION, THOUGH THEY HAVE ALSO RECOVERED. KRISTIE, NOW, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT AND DOING QUICK BACK OF THE HAND. THEY'RE AT ABOUT 5-5.5%. CALPERS NEEDS TO AT LEAST HIT 6.8 IN THEIR INVESTMENT RETURNS. WELL, YOU COULD STILL RETIRE BECAUSE IT'S ON THE BACK OF THE CITY TO MAKE UP THAT UNFUNDED ACTUARIAL AERIAL LIABILITY. WE WANT TO HAVE A ROBUST ABOVE 6.8 RETURN. WE MAY GET IT, WE MAY NOT. EVEN THOUGH THERE'S ABOUT SIX WEEKS LEFT, THEY DO A MARKED MARKET AT JUNE 30TH. AND WHO KNOWS WHERE WE'LL BE? I THINK KRISTIE AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND THE MARKETS HAVE REBOUNDED. THAT LOSS, NOT JUST THE 15 BILLION TO CALPERS, BUT THE ENTIRE MARKET LOSS FROM SOME OF THE ISSUES GOING ON HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WHAT'S NEXT. IT SEEMS LIKE THE MARKETS HAVE ALMOST STARTED SAYING, LET'S NOT REACT TO SOME OF THE EMOTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND TO SOME OF THE STATEMENTS THAT ARE MADE, BUT LET'S SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. IN A WAY, THE MARKETS ARE SHOWING SOME EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE TO WHAT'S, MAYBE NOT EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT, GOING ON, AND WE SEE SOME STATUS QUO. WE DON'T KNOW, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'S THE OVERTIME FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING IN THE LAST YEAR THAT HAS BEEN DRIVING SOME OF OUR COSTS TOO. ON THAT, SO FOR EXAMPLE, FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED IN THEIR INITIAL FOR SIX ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS. TO THAT, I SAID, NO, AT THIS TIME, BUT WE ARE REVIEWING BECAUSE THERE'S A POTENTIAL THAT IF WE ADD SOME POSITIONS, COULD THAT REDUCE FIRE OVERTIME? THAT'S SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE'RE STILL REVIEWING AT THIS POINT AND WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK AT THE NEXT TIME. THE SAME THING GOES FOR POLICE, THOUGH THERE'S A DIFFERENT ABILITY TO RESPOND ON THE POLICE OVER TIME VERSUS FIRE OVERTIME. A LOT OF UNKNOWN AS WE GO FORWARD, AND WE'RE TRYING TO FINALIZE THAT SO THAT WE HAVE THE GOOD INFORMATION FOR YOU GUYS TO MAKE VISION. THEN WITH MEASURE LV, IT CLEARLY SHOWS THAT IN '26-'27, THE STREAMS ARE GOING TO CROSS. THAT MEANS THAT THE EXPENDITURES ARE GOING TO EXCEED THE REVENUE THAT IS BEING BROUGHT IN. AT THAT POINT, WE'RE GOING TO BE USING THE FUND BALANCE. AS WE KNOW FROM GHOSTBUSTERS, DON'T CROSS THE STREAMS. THE REALITY IS IS THAT IT'S A GREAT REVENUE SOURCE, BUT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN UNLIMITED REVENUE SOURCE. IT WAS PROMISED TO BE THAT ENHANCEMENT FOR COMPENSATION GOING FORWARD FOR THE RECRUITMENT RETENTION EMPLOYEES. IT HAS BEEN, BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT AN UNLIMITED STORE. THE GOAL IS TO USE THOSE FUND BALANCES TO EQUALIZE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO USE THAT AS AN ONGOING RESOURCE, BUT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. THERE'S SOME LONG TERM OPTIONS THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT, WHICH INCLUDES DECREASE IN SERVICE LEVELS, WHICH INCLUDES PERSONNEL, OPERATIONS, CAPITAL. THEIR SHORT-TERM OPTION THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS TRANSFER FROM CITY RESERVES, BUT AS COUNCILMEMBER CROSBY WAS BRINGING UP, THAT'S NOT AN ONGOING OPTION. WE HAVE BEEN MAINTAINING THE 20%. THE GFOA, WHICH IS THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, HAS A RECOMMENDATION OF ABOUT A 17%, 16.667, SO TO 17%. AND THEN WE CAN UTILIZE SOME OF THE 115 TRUST AND OPEB. KRISTIE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE ON THE OPEB AND THE 115, AS WE SET THOSE FUNDING SOURCES UP, WE HAVE A PERCENTAGE THAT WE KNOW NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED, THAT I THINK IT'S A 5.5% OR SO. [00:55:01] ACTUALLY, BECAUSE OF ACTION THAT THE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN OVER THE LAST YEAR, YEAR-AND-A-HALF OR TWO WITH BRINGING ON BOTH SCHUSTER FINANCIAL AND THEN ALLOWING US SCHUSTER AND THEIR FINANCIAL ADVISORY TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE AND BEYOND A LEAF OR OTHER INVESTMENT OPTIONS. WE HAVE EXCEEDED THAT 5.5%, WHICH IS GREAT. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THOSE FUNDS, WE CAN USE THOSE OVERAGES, IF THAT'S A GOOD TERM OR NOT, TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT. THEN THERE'S DEFERRAL OF IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS NEVER A GOOD THING, BUT IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE SUGGESTING TO USE SOME GENERAL FUND MONEY ABOVE LIKE MEASURE R, MEASURE A, MEASURE C, PROP A, PROP C, FOR THE FACILITY ASSESSMENT. KRISTIE, WHERE ELSE ARE WE AT? >> I THINK JUST ONE OTHER THING TO MENTION ABOUT OVERTIME, AND WE BRIEFLY MENTIONED IT AT MID YEAR AS OUR GOAL THIS YEAR WAS TO WORK WITH POLICE AND FIRE TO TRY AND IDENTIFY IF WE CAN INCLUDE A BUFFER FOR THOSE IODS. WE DO HAVE A BUFFER INCLUDED IN THIS 3.6 FIGURE FOR BOTH POLICE AND FIRE, SO WE HAVE UPPED THOSE OVERTIME BUDGETS A LITTLE BIT TO HOPEFULLY ABSORB SOME OF THAT IN THE EVENT THAT IT HAPPENS. WE DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN, BUT IT UNFORTUNATELY HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN RE OCCURRING. WE'RE TRYING TO PLAN FOR THAT NOW AS OPPOSED TO BRINGING IT BACK AT MID YEAR. THAT'S INCLUDED IN THERE, SO IT IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER BECAUSE OF THAT. AS KEN MENTIONED, THE 115 TRUST AND THE OPEB, IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD POSSIBLY UTILIZE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS OF INTEREST THAT IS EXCEEDING WHAT THE ACTUARIALS IDENTIFIED AS WHAT OUR TARGET WOULD BE, WHICH IS ABOUT 5.5% FOR BOTH. IT'S AN OPTION FOR US TO UTILIZE. THE INITIAL REVIEW THAT WE HAD A CONSULTANT LOOK AT FOR THE 115 TRUST IS THAT THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE DON'T UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS UNTIL 2028, I BELIEVE, TO TRY AND HELP US BECAUSE UAL IS SUPPOSED TO GET WORSE. HOWEVER, WE HAD AN 18% RETURN FOR OPEB AND WE HAD ABOUT A 13% RETURN FOR THE 115 TRUST. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS. >> WHICH IS NICE, BUT THE OVERALL IS WE DON'T WANT TO IT'S A GLOOM AND DOOM. IT IS UGLY, BUT THE CITY HAS A GOOD ABILITY TO WITHSTAND A LOT OF THINGS. IT'S JUST THAT IT'S TIGHT, AND WE'RE NOT ALONE OUT THERE, BUT TRULY WITH THE UAL, THE UNFUNDED ACTUARIAL LIABILITY INCREASES, WHICH ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL. WE DO HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE ISSUE ON OVERTIME USE AND JUST CONTROL ALL OTHER COSTS. IT'S JUST EXTREMELY DIFFICULT WITH A CITY OF THE SIZE OF OURS, WHICH IS ABOUT 32, 33,000, AND BEING FULL SERVICE, WHICH IS POLICE, FIRE, WATER, AND NOT HAVING THOSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DRIVERS. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH SOME OTHER CITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE, THE MONGOS, MONTANAS, THE ONTARIOS, WHERE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY FOR UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY AND THEY'RE BRINGING IT ONLINE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT. WE'RE BUILT OUT. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DRIVERS OUT THERE, THOUGH WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. ANYTIME THERE IS A VDS OR A RITE AID OR SOMETHING THAT GOES OUT. AGAIN, YOU HOPE THAT AN EQUAL TAX GENERATOR COMES IN. THERE'S NO UNDEVELOPED AREA WHERE A NEW COSTCO OR A NEW AUTO VEHICLE DEALER COMES IN. WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE PERPLEX AREA, AND WE DO KNOW THAT NOW THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT A NEW SOCCER STADIUM AT THE AREA, [01:00:03] MINOR LEAGUE SOCCER, AND A CRICKET FIELD FOR THE OLYMPICS, WHICH WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE THAT PUSHING THAT DEVELOPMENT THAT CAN BE IN THE CITY OF LAVERNE TO GO FORWARD, AND THAT MAY INCREASE THAT COMING IN SOONER. THEN HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD HELP WITH THE DRIVER OF A HOTEL, BUT THAT IS STILL NOT IN THE BOOKS ANYTIME SOON, BUT IT IS IN THE FUTURE. >> THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY, BUT REALLY, THESE ARE THE NEXT STEPS THAT WE HAVE. WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF IT, BUT TRYING TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR DIRECTION ON HOW YOU'RE FEELING ABOUT THE 3.6 MILLION AND WHERE WE SHOULD [INAUDIBLE] YOU THINK IS A LARGE FIGURE. >> I THINK JUST A PERSONAL OPINION ON THE CIP. I WORRY THAT ANY DELAYS IN CONTINUED MAINTENANCE, REPLACEMENT OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS I THINK THAT MAY BIDE US LATER GIVEN TARIFFS, LABOR COSTS, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, ETC. IF IT'S 200,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND, I DON'T THINK THAT ASK IS NECESSARILY THE THING THAT'S GOING TO KILL US, BECAUSE SINCE THEY DO HAVE OTHER PLACES WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING AT FUNDING THESE ITEMS THAT THEY'VE REQUESTED. I AM INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE ABOUT THE CURRENT CITY PROGRAMS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT REVENUES THOSE ARE BRINGING IN, PARTICULARLY FOR SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL ONES, WHAT IS THE COST OF RUNNING THAT PROGRAM? WHAT IS THE COST OF STAFFING IT, AND THEN WHAT IS THE REVENUE THAT WE RECEIVE FROM IT, AND THEN WHAT'S THE BENEFIT. I'D LIKE TO KNOW ALL OF THAT. I'D LIKE TO KNOW, AS YOU INDICATED, 4TH OF JULY, WHILE THERE IS A COMMUNITY COMMITTEE THAT I SIT ON, IT IS A LOT OF STAFF. THAT'S STAFF TIME, NOT ONLY THE DAY OF 4TH OF JULY, BUT WE HAVE MEETINGS STARTING MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME, WHICH IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO PLAN FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I'VE HEARD FROM OUR STAFF TOO THAT IT IS NOT EASY TO STAFF THAT DAY. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT IS. I'D LIKE THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE FOR THOSE PROGRAMS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION, BECAUSE JUST SAYING THAT THAT COSTS US MONEY AND WHAT'S THE BENEFIT IS NOT ENOUGH. I WOULD WANT MORE DETAIL ON THAT. I AM NOT SUPER KEEN ON UTILIZING RESERVES BECAUSE I DO GET CONCERNED ABOUT FALLING INTO A PATTERN OF USING RESERVES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S FLUCTUATING. WE REALLY MAY HAVE A BAD RAINY DAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT IT. I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE NEXT TIME THAT STAFF COMES BACK, WE SEE WHAT COULD WE PARE DOWN, A FURTHER PRIORITIZATION, SOME ADDITIONAL DETAILS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME EDUCATED CHOICES ON SOME OF THESE OTHER ITEMS THAT WERE DISCUSSED. I'D LIKE TO IT MAY BE PREMATURE, MAYBE IT'S MORE FOR OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING ON THE 17TH, BUT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE WE THINKING ABOUT FOR REVENUE? I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT WE ARE BUILT OUT. WE'RE NOT GETTING A CAR DEALERSHIP DESPITE MY PLEAS FOR A CAR DEALERSHIP, BUT WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO DRIVE UP REVENUE IN OTHER WAYS. THAT MAY BE A DISCUSSION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN THIS CITY, AND HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE MORE FOLKS TO STAY HERE AND SHOP HERE? THAT MAY BE LOOKING AT HOW LATE ARE OUR SHOPS OPEN? WHAT ARE THE TERMS OF OUR CONDITIONAL USES? I DON'T KNOW. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF THAT TO SEE WHERE CAN WE MAXIMIZE THAT. WE NEED TO CUT, BUT I ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHERE CAN WE POSSIBLY IDENTIFY REVENUE SOURCES. LIKE I SAID, I GET WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET A BIG INFLUX, BUT WHAT ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN ENCOURAGE REVENUE IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HELP OFFSET THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GET BETTER OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS. I JUST THINK WITH EVERYTHING GOING UP, IT'S NOT THE WAY THE STARS ARE ALIGNING FOR US. THOSE WOULD BE MY COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU. >> ONE THING WE DID THINK IN LAST YEAR, I'M SORRY, LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, WAS REACHING OUT TO OUR OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS BEEN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO FUND SOME OF THE THINGS FOR OUR KIDS THAT WE HAVE FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS? [01:05:03] IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN REACH BACK OUT TO THE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FUND SOME PRESCHOOL, ANY OTHER EVENTS FOR KIDS? I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE PARAMEDIC SERVICES THAT'S FUNDED THROUGH US OR THAT WE CAN REACH OUT AND MAYBE THE FIRE CHIEF CAN COMPLAIN ON THAT TO GET ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING, MAYBE FROM THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT? I DON'T KNOW, I'LL REACH OUT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN USE OTHER. >> I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE SCHOOL. THE PARAMEDIC, WE DO COST RECOVERY THROUGH A THIRD PARTY COMPANY WHO BILLS THE INSURANCE COMPANY. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT BECAUSE YOU DO PAY INTO A, IT WAS MEASURE GD, IT'S COLLECTED. ANY AMOUNT THAT WE DO NOT COLLECT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS FORGIVEN. SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE AMOUNTS ARE, BUT I BELIEVE THE LAST TIME I LOOKED MEDICAL TRANSPORT WAS MAYBE $1,800 AND WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT $700 OF THAT. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, AND AGAIN, I COULD BE WRONG ON THOSE AMOUNTS, BUT WE'RE FORGIVING THAT AMOUNT, WHICH IS WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY TRANSPORT SOMEONE TO THE HOSPITAL. WE ARE AND ALTHOUGH IT WAS A VERY QUICK ANALYSIS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A PERCENTAGE ON TOP. IF YOU'RE A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC, YOU GET AN ADDITIONAL 15%, AND THAT'S HOW IT'S CALCULATED YOUR PAY. WE LOOKED AT WHAT THAT 15% WAS FOR EACH POSITION AND THEN WE LOOKED AT THE REVENUE THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FROM BOTH MEASURE GD, AS WELL AS THE REVENUE THAT WE GET FROM THE PARAMEDIC, AND WE ARE STILL NOT COVERING THE COST OF RUNNING THAT PROGRAM. >> THE PROGRAM IS GREAT. >> IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM. >> IT'S SOMETHING THAT I NEVER WANT TO CHANGE. GOD BLESS THEM. THEY TOOK MY FATHER NOT TOO LONG AGO. FOR OTHER SENIOR CITIZENS IN THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY OR OTHERS THAT JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT, I REMEMBER MANY YEARS AGO, LONG STORY SHORT, I REMEMBER PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD PARAMEDIC RIDE. SO I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL THAT FOR THAT SERVICE AND I ABSOLUTELY NOT WANT THAT. SHAPE FORM, BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE HOW WE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONALS WITHOUT REDUCING ANY OF OUR SERVICES, WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT ARE WE MISSING OUT THERE THAT WE CAN KEEP THOSE SERVICES FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FOR OUR [INAUDIBLE]. THAT'S FINE. >> YEAH, WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT AND FIRE CHIEF NEG HAS BEEN GREAT ON REVIEWING ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE AND HOW WE CAN BE EFFICIENT ON ALL THAT STUFF AND WORKING WITH PARTNERS AND ALL THAT. SO YEAH. >> NO, THANK YOU. YEAH. THAT'S FINE. MAKE SURE I'M STRIVING TO KEEP OUR SERVICES THAT WE HAVE AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE, GREAT COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHY OUR HOMES ARE NOT SELLING A GET. >> CORRECT. YES. BECAUSE IT IS A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD, FOR SURE. CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER? >> THANK YOU. HAVING A PROPOSED BUDGET STRUCTURAL DEFICIT OF 3.7 MILLION DOLLAR AND MAKING RESERVES GO DOWN BELOW THE 20%, WHICH, SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE WAS AT 27, 28%, THE LOWER THAN 10% OF THE LAST SIX YEARS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE AND NOT DOABLE. SO I DON'T FEEL THAT IF THIS CAME BACK AS A BUDGET, THAT I COULD EVEN VOTE FOR A BUDGET THAT HAD THIS MUCH OF A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. PUTTING ON WHERE THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS. I KNOW SOME OF THE STAFF REALLY DON'T LIKE THE CHRISTMAS MORNING OR 4 JULY, BUT JUST EVEN PUTTING THOSE ON THERE CONCERNS ME AS WELL, BECAUSE THOSE ARE TWO EVENTS THAT HIT EVERY ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND SO I'M VERY CONCERNED. ADDING PERSONNEL WHEN WE ARE ABOUT TO OR IN OR GOING INTO A RECESSION IS VERY CONCERNING AS WELL BECAUSE THOSE ARE ONGOING COSTS. AND WHERE WE ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE, AGAIN, OF HAVING THESE PROJECTED ONGOING EXPENDITURES. WHEN EXPENDITURES GROW, I THOUGHT WAS HEARD UP 11% AND REVENUES INCREASING ONLY BY 3%. [01:10:11] WE CAN'T RUN THAT WE CANNOT RUN A CITY THAT WAY, OR WE WON'T BE RUNNING IT VERY LONG AND WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT, ESPECIALLY GOING INTO THE STATE OF FINANCES, WHAT THE COUNTRY IS GOING INTO RIGHT NOW, WE NEED TO LOOK AT TIGHTENING OUR BELT, NOT LETTING IT LOOSE AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS FIRST STAB AT THE BUDGET IS TOO MUCH. AND SO REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. I KNOW YOU SAID THAT THE LET ME GET THE RIGHT TERMS. THE TRUST 1115 TRUST AND THE OPEB WERE NOT UNLIMITED SOURCE, NEITHER IS THE GENERAL FUND. WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT AND PRIORITIZE OUR EXPENDITURES BECAUSE OUR REVENUES ARE NOT KEEPING UP. THAT IS WHAT OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT US TO DO, AND WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH THE OUTLOOK OF WHAT OUR STATE OF ECONOMY IS GOING INTO RIGHT NOW. >> I GENERALLY CONCUR WITH YOUR STATEMENT, I THINK WHAT I WOULD ASK IN MY FURTHER DIRECTION TO STAFF IS THAT TO MR. CROSBY'S POINT, I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A COST BENEFIT. WHEN I SAY EXAMINE THE PROGRAMS, AND I WANT TO SEE THE NUMBERS, IT'S BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO BE WILLING TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. IF WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTE ON THESE PROGRAMS, IF WE'RE GOING TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY, IT MAY BE IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN WE'VE ENVISIONED IN ORDER TO MEET THE GOALS OF HAVING A BALANCED BUDGET. I WOULD URGE THAT AS STAFF GOES BACK AND THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS GO BACK I WANT THE CASE MADE. TO MR. DOMO'S POINT ABOUT, DOES HIRING ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL RESULT IN A DECREASE IN THE OVERTIME NUMBERS THAT WE WERE SEEING THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE, THEN I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT DATA. BECAUSE OTHERWISE, RIGHT NOW, IT'S ANECDOTAL. IT'S CONJECTURE, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME MEAT ON THAT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING TO RESULT IN A NATURAL COSTING AND WHAT IS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY. BECAUSE AS WE'RE SITTING HERE, NONE OF US WANT TO CUT ANYTHING, BUT WE HAVE TO AT SOME POINT, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT TENABLE. BUT AGAIN, I WANT IT TO BE A DOUBLE EDGED, I WANT IT TO BE A TWO PRONGED APPROACH. HOW ARE WE GOING TO TRY TO BE BALANCED BY CUTTING, IF NECESSARY AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO LOOK AT TO INCREASE REVENUE IF NECESSARY AND WHETHER THAT'S FINDING GRANT MONEY, FINDING OTHER REVENUE SOURCES, WHATEVER IT IS, AGAIN, I JUST URGE US TO THINK WE GOT TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE EMPTY LAND ANYTIME SOON THAT'S GOING TO RESULT IN US HAVING A COSTCO THAT'S GOING TO HELP US OUT. THAT WOULD BE, AGAIN, JUST CLARIFICATION ON MY PREVIOUS DIRECTION. >> I CONCUR WITH RICK AND WENDY IN REGARDS TO THE BUDGET. WE NEED TO BALANCE IT AS CLOSE AS WE CAN. CAN'T CONTINUE TO LOSE MONEY OR TO SPEND SO MUCH MORE MONEY THAN WE'RE BRINGING IN. WE GOT TO BALANCE THAT BUDGET MORE I. >> DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE HEARING NONE. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? >> I DO NOT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOUR STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DILIGENCE. NO OTHER COUNSEL COMMENTS HERE. WE'LL MOVE TO ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER. EVERYBODY COME UP AT ONCE? >> YEAH, SO THANK YOU ALL. ONCE AGAIN. APOLOGIZE FOR MY LITTLE TARDINESS I HAVE. IF THERE'S NO OTHER ACTION ON THIS. STAFF AND YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED A DIRECTION BEST WE CAN TO GIVE YOU GUYS AND GO BACK TO THE DRAWING TABLE AGAIN AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT BETTER. I BELIEVE IN YOU. I FULL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN YOU AS YOUR COMMUNITY DOES, I MEAN, THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL THIS LONG. AND I FORESEE WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. SO WITHOUT THAT, NOBODY ELSE HAD ANYTHING ELSE. WE'RE GOING TO RECESS TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 6:30 AND WITH THAT, I'LL ALLOW MY COLLEAGUE TO HIT, WHY DIDN'T I HIT THE GAVEL? TIM'S ON HERE. THERE IT IS. THANK YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU BY THE WAY. [01:15:01] GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. IT'S 6:36. [REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - 6:30 PM] I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYBODY TO TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE IN GREAT CITY OF LA VERNE. I'D LIKE TO START BY REMINDING EVERYONE THAT PER THE CITY RULES FOR DECORUM, ALL SPEAKERS, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITH DECORUM AND TO NOT ENGAGE IN CONDUCT THAT INTERRUPTS THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. ALSO, PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH ZOOM WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FOR THE AGENDA ITEMS LISTED WITHIN THE CONSENT CALENDAR. PUBLIC HEARING AND DISCUSSION CALENDAR SECTION OF THE AGENDA. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE MEETING, FOR THOSE PHYSICALLY IN ATTENDANCE AND AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. TONIGHT, WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE AIR FORCE AND ARMY VETERAN, MARIA ESTRADA TO CONDUCT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SERGEANT FIRST CLASS ESTRADA, WOULD YOU PLEASE HONOR US? WELCOME. >> CAN WE PLEASE HAVE EVERYONE STAND IN RECITING OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND IF I CAN HAVE EVERYONE IN UNIFORM, PLEASE RUN OUR HAND SLOW AND ALL VETERANS. EVERYONE ELSE, CAN I PLEASE HAVE YOU PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART? THANK YOU. YOU CAN NOW BE SEATED. >> IT'S OUR FIRST CLASS. WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOU FOR ONE MORE SECOND. WELL, TONIGHT, IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE WITH MY ARMY SISTER. A HUGE HONOR FOR ME. TO HAVE YOU COME UP FRONT HERE AND LEAD OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SERGEANT FIRST CLASS ESTRADA, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS A VERY WELL DECORATED SOLDIER. VERY WELL DECORATED SOLDIER, AND I WANT THE CITY TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR SERGEANT ESTRADA, IS THAT OKAY? >> I SPENT SIX YEARS ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE. I GOT OUT FOR SIX MONTHS. I JOINED THE ARMY THEREAFTER, AND I SPENT A TOTAL OF 22 YEARS IN THE MILITARY, RETIRED IN 2022. I DID FOUR TOURS, TWO TO IRAQ, ONE TO AFGHANISTAN, AND I DEPLOYED TWO WEEKS AFTER THE TOWERS FELL TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. MY LAST ASSIGNMENT WAS NINE AND A HALF YEARS, AND I WAS MILITARY POLICE INSTRUCTOR, SENIOR LEADERSHIP, AND ADVANCED LEADERSHIP. >> WARRIOR. YOU'RE ALSO A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LAVERNE GRADUATING. GOD BLESS. WHAT'S YOUR DEGREE GOING TO BE IN? >> I WANT TO HELP OUT LOCAL VETERANS, LIKE MYSELF, WITH THE TRANSITIONING PROCESS, ALSO WITH TRAUMA, AND I ALSO WANT TO HELP FAMILIES WITH THEIR TRAUMA, AND I'M WORKING I WORKED AT A FEW LOCATIONS FOR MY INTERNSHIP AT THE CHILDREN ADVOCACY CENTER, AND THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIES IN NEED RIGHT NOW, AND I WANT TO GIVE BACK THAT WAY AS WELL. MYSELF, I CAME FROM NOT A VERY GOOD BACKGROUND, BUT HERE I AM. MANY YEARS LATER, AND I WAS ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND OVERCOME THE ODDS AND I WANT TO HELP THOSE THAT DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO TELL THEM THAT HERE I AM AND HOPEFULLY INSPIRE SOMEBODY TO GO AHEAD AND BE A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN AND GO OUT THERE AND MAKE A CHANGE IN THE WORLD AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SERGEANT FIRST CLASS. GREAT WARRIOR SOLDIER AND AIRWOMAN. MOST PEOPLE WHO JOIN, LET'S GO TO THE ARMY, TO THE AIR FORCE, BUT NOT THE [INAUDIBLE], BUT HEY. HEY, I UNDERSTAND. GOD BLESS YOU. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, CITY OF LA VERNE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO MARIA ESTRADA. THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THE LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL TO AIR FORCE AND ARMY VETERAN MARIA ESTRADA WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR A DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. GOD BLESS YOU SOLDIER. WE'RE ON A BUDGET. I GO. [01:20:23] >> MR. DOMER ROCA, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. >> HERE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER LAU? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON? >> PRESENT? >> MAYOR PRO TEM KASHIFALGHITA. >> PRESENT, SIR. >> MAYOR HEPBURN IS OUT OF THE COUNTRY ON VACATION, SO EXCUSED. >> HAVE A GOOD OLD TIME AS IS. AT THIS TIME, PRIOR TO PRESENTATIONS, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR THE LIFE OF A LONGTIME ULV PROFESSOR DON POLLOCK, WHO UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY ON MARCH 24TH. I KNOW HIS FAMILY IS IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT. OUR CONDOLENCES TO ALL OF YOU. BY ADJOURN LATER TONIGHT'S MEETING ON BEHALF OF DON'S HONOR, I'D LIKE TO ASK MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE, AND GOOD FRIEND, AMAZING PERSON COUNCIL MEMBER, LAU TO PLEASE READ THE ADJOURNMENT. THANK YOU. >> FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY NOT KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO BE ADJOURNING TONIGHT'S MEETING IN HONOR OF PROFESSOR POLLOCK, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT IN DEFERENCE TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE COME, AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY EXPECT THEM TO HANG OUT WITH US FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE MEETING. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GOT TO HEAR IT. WE ALSO HAVE PROFESSOR GEORGE KEELER, WHO WILL SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF DON. JUST FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY NOT KNOW WHO DON POLLOCK WAS. HE WAS A LONG TIME UNIVERSITY OF LAVERNE PROFESSOR. HE LIVED IN CLAREMONT. HE PASSED AWAY, AS MAYOR PRO TEM SAID ON MARCH 24. HE WAS 71. HE WAS BORN ON DECEMBER 18TH, 1953, IN NEW YORK CITY. HE MOVED TO THE WEST COAST AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BINGHAMTON, AND HE WORKED AT LA VERNE AT ULV FOR 28 YEARS, WHERE HE ADVANCED TO FULL PROFESSOR AND WAS NAMED PROFESSOR EMERITUS UPON HIS RETIREMENT. HE LED THE BROADCAST JOURNALISM PROGRAM AND PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING ITS FILM CURRICULUM. DON BROUGHT DEEP INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE PRODUCING OVER 300 FILMS ACROSS GENRES, INCLUDING DOCUMENTARIES, PROMOTIONAL PIECES, AND PERFORMANCES. HIS STUDENTS WENT ON TO WIN MORE THAN A DOZEN EMMY AWARDS. HE ALSO HELPED ESTABLISH LA VERNE COMMUNITY TELEVISION, LVTV. FOR ALL OF YOU RESIDENTS WHO GET TO ENJOY SEEING THE EVENTS IN THE CITY OF LA VERNE, IT WAS THANKS TO DON POLLOCK WHO SERVED AS A STATION MANAGER FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND HE HELPED SECURE CONTRACTS FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO OPERATE EEG ACCESS TV STATIONS IN BOTH LA VERNE AND SANDY MID. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, FRANCIS, HIS DAUGHTER, ARIELLA, SON MCKINLEY, AND BROTHER BLAIR OF CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK PROFESSOR KEELER IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT DON POLLOCK. JR JUST MOVED THE PODIUM ON ME, I THINK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR HONORING POLLOCK. HE ACTUALLY COUNTED UP HOW MANY YEARS THAT HE WAS STATION HEAD OF LVTV IN 25 YEARS. THAT'S A LONG TIME. DON POLLOCK PUT LA VERNE ON TV. HIS MAIN JOB WAS AS A PROFESSOR AND PROGRAM CHAIR BROADCAST, BUT HE REALLY RELISHED HIS ROLE HEAD OF LVTV. HE WANTED THE STATION TO BE PROMINENT AND IMPORTANT IN THE LIFE OF THE CITY, AND HE WORKED HARD TO MAKE IT SO. LVTV WAS EVERYWHERE, STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESSES, CITY COUNCIL, CANDIDATE FORUMS, LITTLE LEAGUE GAMES, SOCCER GAMES, THE SMUDGE POT BOWL, NEWS SHOWS, BONITA HIGH SCHOOL, RAMONA MIDDLE SCHOOL, ALL THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. HE INCLUDED THE UNIVERSITY, THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN HILLCREST HOMES. THE LIST IS LONG. MANY OF US HAVE HAD THAT I SAW YOU ON TV MOMENT. THANKS TO DON. DON DEVELOPED A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE UNIVERSITY. LVTV WOULD NOT BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT. NO WAY. IT WOULD BE UPFRONT. LVTV WAS A REAL WORLD OPPORTUNITY, AND DON AND FACULTY MEMBERS, MIKE LAPONA, SHANE RODRIGUES, KEN PUCCI, AND MORGAN SANDLER, EMBRACED THAT, AND THEY CONTINUED TO MANDATE THAT ALMOST ALL STUDENT TELEVISION WORK BE BROADCAST ON TO STATION FROM BEGINNING CLASSES TO SENIOR PROJECTS. DON'S PARTNERSHIP PLAN WAS BRILLIANT. WHILE OTHER LOCAL CITIES SOON ABANDONED THEIR PUBLIC ACCESS STATIONS, DON KEPT LVTV VIBRANT AND FULL OF DIVERSE PROGRAMMING. [01:25:03] WITH CITY LEADERSHIP AT HIS SIDE, HE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT WITH THE CABLE COMPANIES TO PROPERLY FUND THE STATION. DON OPENED THE STATION TO LA VERNE'S RESIDENTS. HE PERSONALLY TAUGHT FREE COMMUNITY CLASSES SO ALL OUR CITY PLACES COULD BE ON TV. THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO DO CITY PRODUCTIONS, THE EASY WAY IN THE DON POLLOCK WAY. SOMEHOW, WE PAID THE EQUIPMENT BILLS FOR NEW HIGH DEFINITION CAMERAS, TELEPROMPTERS, SCORES OF LIGHTING KITS, TRIPODS. THE LIST IS LONG AND EXPENSIVE. ONE DAY, DON RETURNED FROM A CONVENTION WITH A HIGH DEFINITION MOBILE STUDIO. NOW WE COULD TAKE 25 STUDENTS ON CITY OF LA VERNE SHOOTS, TO CONCERTS IN THE PARK, TO 4TH OF JULY PARADES, TO SPORTING EVENTS, TO THE CITY'S HALLOWEEN STREET EVENT. THE STUDENTS ROTATED THROUGH DIFFERENT JOBS, AND WE PULLED OFF NETWORK STYLE PRODUCTIONS BECAUSE OF THE REAL WORLD WORK ON LVTVR ALUMNI, NOW HOLD PRESTIGIOUS JOBS. DON WAS A LEADER IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. THESE TV FOLKS REGARDED HIM AS A GURU AND SOUGHT OUT HIS PUBLIC ACCESS TV ADVICE. DON ALWAYS ENTERED OUR STUDENTS WORK CONTESTS. THE COUNTLESS BEST IN SHOW AWARDS MADE IT SO FACULTY IN THE UNITED STATES NEVER, EVER ASKED, WHERE'S LA VERNE? WE HONESTLY RAN OUT OF WALL SPACE POST DE FRAMED AWARDS, AND I INVITE YOU TO COME INTO OUR AREA TO SEE YOUR AWARDS FROM LVTV. DON GAVE LVTV A VERY FIRM FOUNDATION. IT CONTINUES STRONG AND VIBRANT TO THIS DAY WITH KEN PUCCI A STATION HEAD. I'M SURE MANY OF YOU KNOW KEN, AND YOU ALSO KNOW CLAUDI GONZALEZ. KEN AND CLAUDIA ARE THE LEAD PERSONS FOR CITY OF LA VERNE PROGRAMMING AT THE PRESENT DAY. TONIGHT, WE SALUTE DON POLLOCK, AND WE RECOGNIZE HIS FAMILY, WHICH IS THE OTHER PARTNERSHIP IN LVTV SUCCESS. SUCCESS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN A VACUUM. WOULD YOU RECOGNIZE DON'S WIFE, FRANCIS? WHERE ARE YOU, FRANCIS? DON'S BROTHER BLAIR JOINS US ON THE INTERNET TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR SHARING DON WITH US, FRANCIS. >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU AND, MAY HE REST IN HEAVEN WITH OUR LORD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING HIM BE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITY FOR ALL THESE YEARS. I THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE TODAY. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, TONIGHT, [PRESENTATIONS ] WE HAVE FOUR PRESENTATIONS. FIRST WILL BE THE OLDER AMERICAN MONTH PROCLAMATION. EVERY YEAR IN MAY, WE RECOGNIZE OLDER AMERICANS WHO CONTRIBUTE THEIR STRENGTH AND WISDOM TO DEVELOPING A BETTER NATION. THIS PROCLAMATION IS PRESENTED TO THE CITY SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL INPUT ON THE NEEDS OF THE OLDER AMERICANS IN LA VERNE. DO I HAVE THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE TODAY? GENTLEMEN, IF YOU CAN, COME ON UP, I LOVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU. COME ON, SAILOR. YOU SURE DID, SAILOR. YOU SURE DID. A LITTLE BIT OF ROCKY, BUT WE GOT THERE. >> EVER GOT SEA SICK. >> THAT'S ANOTHER STORY. GOD BLESS YOU. A MAN, HERE IS A VETERAN, UNITED STATES NAVY. FAIR WINS AND CALM SEAS. NO NEVER. NOT EVEN ONCE. CITY OF LA VERNE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS, THE CITY OF LA VERNE IS HOME TO A GROWING NUMBER OF OLDER AMERICANS WHO CONTRIBUTE THEIR STRENGTH, WISDOM, AND EXPERIENCE TO OUR COMMUNITY IN BUILDING A MORE PERFECT UNION, AND WHEREAS OUR COMMUNITY STRIVES TO FOSTER A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS CAN FLOURISH AND WHEREAS THE SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOGNIZES OUR NEED TO CREATE A COMMUNITY THAT FOCUS ON TRANSFORMING HOW SOCIETY PERCEIVES, TALKS ABOUT, AND APPROACHES AGING AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF LA VERNE AND SENIOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO BUILD AN EVEN BETTER COMMUNITY FOR OUR OLDER RESIDENTS, ENCOURAGING THEM AND THOSE AROUND THEM. PLEASE DO. TO CHALLENGE STEREOTYPES AND DISPEL MISCONCEPTIONS SURROUNDING AGING, [01:30:05] AND WHEREAS WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPOWERING OLDER AMERICANS TO ENGAGE AS THEY AGE. NOW, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE CITY OF LA VERNE, THAT THE MONTH OF MAY 2025 BE RECOGNIZED AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH, AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS OF LA VERNE TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR OLDER CITIZENS, HELP TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY, AND JOIN EFFORTS TO SUPPORT OUR OLDER AMERICANS IN FLIPPING THE SCRIPT ON AGING. THIS DAY MAY 5, 2025. THANK YOU. BUT, WAIT, THERE'S MORE. OUR NEXT PRESENTATION. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, A MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH. MAY IS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE US ARMED FORCES. THIS MONTH LONG OBSERVANCE AIMS TO AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGE APPRECIATION FOR THOSE WHO SERVE OR HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY. I'LL ASK OUR COMMANDER, BFW, PLEASE COME FORWARD. YOU LOOK GREAT. I'M SORRY. I NEED YOU TOO. EVERY GOOD OFFICER HAS AN AMAZING NCO WITH HIM, YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT? I'M PRIOR LISTED. I CAN SAY THAT. WE THEN ONCE YOU GET ON THIS SIDE. SEE, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE A GOOD NCO. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW A NON COMMISSION OFFICER. I WAS A PRIOR NCO BEFORE OUR COMMISSION AS AN OFFICER, AND I STILL ANYWAYS. GOT TO HAVE A GOOD NCO BY MY SIDE AT ALL TIMES. CITY OF LA VERNE, PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS, THE MULTITUDE OF FREEDOMS ENJOYED BY THE UNITED STATES CITIZENS TODAY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SACRIFICES MADE AND THE CONTINUED VIGILANCE DEMONSTRATED BY THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES OVER THE COURSE OF OUR NATION'S HISTORY, AND WHEREAS THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICES MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE PRESERVED THE LIBERTIES THAT HAVE ENRICHED THIS NATION, MAKING A UNIQUE IN THE WORLD COMMUNITY, AND WHEREAS, MEMBERS OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, POST 12034. BAND OF BROTHERS CONTINUE TO SERVE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR VOLUNTEERISM AND PARTICIPATION, CEREMONIAL EVENTS ALL WHILE FOSTERING CAMARADERIE AMONGST LOCAL VETERANS, AND WHEREAS THE VFW POST 12034 COMMANDER PHIL RAMIREZ, EXEMPLIFIES EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP BY CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES ORGANIZING FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND INSPIRING OTHERS TO POUR INTO THEIR VETERANS COMMUNITY. WHEREAS COMMANDER RAMIREZ, HAVING SERVED AS COMMANDER OF THE VFW POST 12034 FOR FOUR YEARS, REPRESENTS THE PRIDE OF LA VERNE AND MODELS THE SPIRIT OF NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH. NOW, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE CITY OF LA VERNE, THAT THE MONTH OF MAY, 2025 BE RECOGNIZED AS MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH. WE EXPRESS DEEP GRATITUDE FOR PHIL'S YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS COMMANDER AND THE LASTING IMPACT HE HAS MADE FOR THE VFW POST 12034, HOPE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE SERVING THE COMMUNITY. SAD TO SAY THOUGH THIS IS MY LAST MONTH AS COMMANDER. I'LL BE PASSING THE BATON OFF TO A FIRST FEMALE COMMANDER OF OUR POST. MARIA MCKINNEY. >> COME ON UP. >> YOUR TURN TO MAKE US. >> YOU'RE UP. >> I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE OF LEARNING FROM COMMANDER PHIL. HE IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT IS A STICKLER FOR RULES, AND IT KEEPS US ON A TIGHT SHIP. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO AS MUCH AS I CAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR VETERANS. [01:35:03] I KNOW HE'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BREAK AFTER HE'S DONE, BUT I WANT HIM TO COME ON RIGHT BACK AND KEEP DOING OUR EVENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WITH US, BUT I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE SHIP IS STILL THERE BECAUSE OF EACH COMMANDER BEFORE ME, AND I HAVE LEARNED A LOT THUS FAR, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO LEARN BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE GET THROUGH IT TOGETHER. HOPEFULLY, I CAN WORK WITH EVERYBODY HERE AND GET TO SEE MORE OF YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS FOR SURE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU. AIRBORNE. OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS TO AWARD THE HARVEY GOOD, THE JACK HUNTINGTON PRIDE OF LA VERNE AWARD. HARVEY IS A FORMER ULV PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY AND BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT CHAIR FOR 20 YEARS, AND IS ALSO A 42 YEAR BOARD MEMBER FOR THE INLAND VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY. THE GOOD MOBILE WAS NAMED IN HIS HONOR, ALLOWING THE HUMANE SOCIETY TO BRING THEIR SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. OUTSIDE OF HIS VOLUNTEER EFFORTS WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY, HARVEY GOOD PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AND MEMBER OF THE MOUNTAIN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM FROM MOUNT BALDI VILLAGE. CONGRATULATIONS, HARVEY. COME ON UP, SIR. >> I'M GOING TO LET MY AMAZING COLE READ THIS. >> FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE OF WHAT THE JACK HUNTINGTON AWARD IS, IT WAS NAMED AFTER IS. JACK HUNTINGTON, WHO MOVED TO LA VERNE IN 1970. DESPITE HEAVY PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS AND TIME COMMITMENTS TO THE US NAVAL RESERVE, JACK BECAME ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AS A VOLUNTEER. HE WAS ACTIVE IN VARIOUS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE LA VERNE JCS, LITTLE LEAGUE, AND THE YOUTH BASKETBALL PROGRAM. JACK ALSO SERVED AS A CITY OF LA VERNE COMMISSIONER FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS, COMPLETING TWO TERMS ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AS WELL AS TWO TERMS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. JACK HUNTINGTON WAS A CITIZEN VOLUNTEER WHO EXEMPLIFIED THE PRIDE OF LA VERNE THROUGH SELFLESS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. IN HIS HONOR AND IN HIS NAME, WE AWARD THIS AWESOME HONOR TO. [APPLAUSE] >> AMAZING SENATOR RUBIO. THIS IS AN AMAZING AWARD FROM THE STATE SENATE. THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SENATE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION GOES TO HARVEY GOOD, THE JACK HUNTINGTON PRIDE OF LA VERNE AWARD. ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE, IT IS MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE YOU AS AN AWARDEE OF THE JACK HUNTINGTON AWARD. YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AS A PREVIOUS PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LAVERNE, AND AS A CURRENT BOARD MEMBER OF THE INLAND VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY ARE TRULY ASPIRING TITLES AND SET AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF LA VERNE AND THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. CONGRATULATIONS, SIR. SIGNED, STATE SENATOR SUSAN RUBIO. [APPLAUSE] OF COURSE, YOUR TIME NOW. >> I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT MY TENURE AT LA VERNE HAS CONTINUED FROM 1961, I STARTED AS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, I STILL WORKING PART TIME, AND THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO END, SO THAT'S 64 YEARS. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE. I'VE KNOWN A LOT OF THESE FOLKS FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THANK YOU. >> HAVE YOUR FAMILY? >> YES. >> COME ON FAMILY. COMING UP. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. GOT EVERYBODY HERE FULL OF HARVEY FAMILY. PLEASE, COME ON UP. YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, THIS IS AMERICA. MR. GOOD, WHO DO WE HAVE HERE TODAY? FROM YOUR RIGHT OR LEFT? CHOOSE WHERE YOU WANT TO START. >> JUNIOR, A JUNIOR AT BONITA HIGH SCHOOL. MATTHEW IS IN EIGHTH GRADE AT RAMONA. THIS IS MY WIFE, CONNIE. >> HI CONNIE. >> MY YOUNGEST SON, RON, [01:40:02] WHO'S A FIREFIGHTER WITH SAN MARINO CITY AND COUNTY AND HIS WIFE KATTIE, AND MY OLDER SON, RANDY, WHO IS A SCIENCE COORDINATOR FOR [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND IT'S ALSO A PROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY OF LAVERNE. >> GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. PHOTO TIME. THAT'S RIGHT. HEY, GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR VOLUNTEERISM, WE APPRECIATE YOU. WHERE'S OUR AMAZING FIRE CHIEF? I'LL ALLOW YOU TO DO THE HONEST KIND, SIR, I'D LOVE TO INTRODUCE YOU. MAN STANDS AT 6'4", 185 POUNDS AND LEE ME FIRE FIGHTING MACHINE. HE'S GOT THE BEST GLASSES, AND HE MIGHT CHANGE INTO A SUPERMAN LATER. WHAT AMAZING FIRE CHIEF, AND I'M HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE, SIR. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL. BEFORE WE GET DOWN TO BUSINESS HERE, I'D LIKE TO SAY, I'VE KNOWN THE GOOD FAMILY FOR QUITE SOME TIME, WORKED ALONGSIDE WITH RON GOOD AT SAN MARINO CITY. NO ONE MORE DESERVING, GREAT FAMILY. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER, JARED TEGAN, COME ON UP HERE. WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT HERE. LIKE WE DO WITH ALL OF OUR NEW FIREFIGHTERS, WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE OUR NEWEST FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WILL LEAD TO A MORE FORMAL BADGE PITTING THAT WE DO INTERNALLY AS IS TRADITION IN THE FIRE SERVICE AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. JARED BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH US HERE IN JANUARY OF 2023 AS AN AMBULANCE OPERATOR AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE CRAFTON HILLS FIRE ACADEMY. AT THAT, HE WAS A ROLE MODEL AMBULANCE OPERATOR FOR US FOR YEARS. HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS AN AO AS WELL WITH THE COSTA MESA FIRE AND RESCUE AND SPENT THE LAST YEAR WORKING AS A FIREFIGHTER WITH CLARK COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE COULDN'T JUST LET THAT FLY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET HIM BACK SO HERE WE ARE. JARED HAS ALWAYS MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT WAS HIS GOAL TO RETURN TO LA VERNE AS A FIREFIGHTER, AND WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THAT A REALITY. HIS STRONG WORK ETHIC AND TEAM FIRST ATTITUDE HAVE MADE HIM A STANDOUT SINCE DAY 1, AND WE'RE INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM BACK ON BOARD. SIR, CONGRATULATIONS. WELCOME BACK, WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOUR FAMILY COME UP. WITH HIM TODAY, WE HAVE HIS GIRLFRIEND, BECCA, WHO IS AN ER NURSE AT POMONA VALLEY, AND HIS BROTHER, NOAH WHO'S A FIREFIGHTER WITH LA COUNTY. THANKS FOR JOINING US. COME ON HIM UP AND WE'LL GET SOME PICTURES AND WE HAND OFF THE MIC. HE'S GOT A FEW WORDS FOR YOU GUYS VERY REAL QUICK. >> FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK MY PARENTS WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT. MY OLDER BROTHER, NOAH AND MY BEAUTIFUL GIRLFRIEND, BECCA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUYS SUPPORT. TO CITY COUNCIL AND ALL THE CITIZENS OF LA VERNE. IT'S TRULY HONOR TO BE BACK SERVING AS A PUBLIC SERVANT IN THE COMMUNITY. MOST IMPORTANTLY TO CHIEF NEG AND MY FIRE FAMILY WITH LA VERNE FIRE. I TRULY AM THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY WEARING THIS BADGE AND REPRESENTING THE BADGE EVERY DAY. IT'S TRULY AN HONOR AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, SIR. [01:46:16] >> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. APPRECIATE YOU. THIS ARMY STRONG RIGHT THERE, THERE WE GO. AMAZING FIREFIGHTERS. ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR UPCOMING EVENTS. [ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS] NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ANNOUNCE FOR CURRENT UPCOMING EVENTS I HAVE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH ME TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE POMONA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY TO COME ON UP FOR SOME COMMUNITY EVENTS. THANK YOU. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS NICOLE CARRANZA, I'M THE CEO OF POMONA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. WE ARE THE JPA THAT RUNS THE GET ABOUT SERVICE IN THE AREA, THAT'S TRANSPORTATION SERVICE FOR SENIORS AND FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES. I'M SAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING COMING UP FOR SERVICE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PROPOSED. WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT WE HAVE A INCREASE OF 50% IN OUR CURRENT OPERATIONS COST. THAT'S DUE PRIMARILY TO WAGES AND ALSO TO OTHER OVERHEAD COSTS DUE TO THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER UNKNOWN FACTORS THAT COST HAS BEEN INCREASING. THESE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE PROPOSED TO INCREASE FOR FY 26, WHICH STARTS JULY 1ST OF 2025. JUST A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES, WE ARE PROPOSING TO CHANGE THE FARE FROM A DOLLAR TO TWO DOLLARS AND 75 CENTS. THIS HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED SINCE I WOULD SAY THE '80S, THAT'S FOR OUR GET ABOUT SERVICE. MOVING FROM A DOLLAR TO TWO DOLLARS AND 75 CENTS. THEN OUR EXTENDED SERVICE AREA, FOR GET ABOUT WILL CHANGE FROM TWO DOLLARS TO THREE DOLLARS AND 75 CENTS PER ONE WAY TRIP. WE ARE LOOKING ALSO TO REDUCE OUR OPERATION HOURS. ON WEEKDAYS CURRENTLY, WE ARE RUNNING FROM 6:00 AM TO 7:30 PM, AND WE WILL BE PROPOSING NEW HOURS FROM 8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM. SATURDAYS, IT IS CURRENTLY 8:30 TO 5:00 PM, AND WE'RE PROPOSING TO NEW HOURS FROM 8:00 AM TO 2:00 PM. SUNDAY SERVICE, WE'RE PROPOSING TO NO LONGER HAVE SUNDAY SERVICE. ONE OF THE LAST CHANGES WILL BE TO ALSO SUNSET ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS, WHICH IS ONE STEP OVER THE LINE. THIS PROGRAM WAS PUT IN PLACE TO SERVE FOLKS WHO NEEDED TO GO TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS IN THE SAN BERNARDINO AREA, SO WE EXTEND ALL THE WAY AS FAR AS LO MELINDA. THIS SERVICE WILL BE SUN-SETTING. WE HAVE FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM THROUGH METRO FEDERAL 5310 GRANTS. THAT MONEY WE WILL BE USING FOR ANOTHER PREMIUM SERVICE, WHICH IS READY NOW, WHICH HELPS FOLKS WITH SAME DAY TRANSPORTATION. THAT FUNDING WILL BE RE-ALLOCATED AND RE-SCOPED TO THE READY NOW PROGRAM. OUR HEARING DETAILS. THE NOTICE HAS BEEN POSTED TODAY AND THE HEARING WILL BE HELD IN THE CITY OF POMONA ON TUESDAY, MAY 20TH AT 11:00 AM AT THE POMONA'S COMMUNITY CENTER. WE WILL ALSO BE HAVING SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORUMS TO ANNOUNCE THESE CHANGES, AND ALL OF THOSE WILL BE POSTED IN ALL OF THE CITY HALLS AND SENIOR CENTERS, [01:50:02] VARIOUS LOCATIONS WHERE WE CAN HAVE AS MUCH TURNOUT AND GIVE AS MUCH INFORMATION ON THIS THESE SERVICE CHANGES TO THE PUBLIC. WITH THAT SAID, WE WILL ALSO BE POSTING ALL OF THESE NOTICES IN ALL OF THE CITY HALLS, AND THIS INFORMATION WILL BE WIDELY DISSEMINATED TO EVERYONE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO SPREAD THE WORD AND GET PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FOR THIS CHANGE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, NICOLE, I SIT ON THE PVTA BOARD. THERE'S FLYERS OVER ON THE TABLE AS WELL. IF YOU WANT FLYERS FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING. AGAIN, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS TO HAVE YOUR INPUT ABOUT THESE PROPOSED CHANGES. IF YOU ARE FOR OR AGAINST THESE CHANGES, PLEASE SHOW UP AT THE PUBLIC HEARING TO GET YOUR INPUT AS WELL. IT IS A LARGE COST AND REALLY LOOKING TO REDUCE THE COST BY 20% IS WHY THE CHANGES ARE BEING PROPOSED. AGAIN, THANK YOU, NICOLE FOR COMING OUT. IF YOU WANT A FLYER, THEY'RE OVER THERE. IF THERE'S NO MORE FLIERS, WE'LL MAKE COPIES FOR YOU AS WELL. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BOSBY. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. >> NEXT UP IS AMAZING LIBRARIES ACTIVITIES CORNER, HERE THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES AND ARMY VETERAN. ADRIAN ROMERO, COME ON UP >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND STAFF. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE A FEW EVENTS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT LA VERNE LIBRARY THIS MONTH. THE LIBRARY WILL BE PARTNERING WITH LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO BRING A WORKSHOP TOMORROW AT 6:00 PM THAT DEALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND STIGMA. DURING THIS EVENT, PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY WARNING SIGNS AND COMMON MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS. ADDITIONALLY, THE WORKSHOP WILL DISCUSS WAYS TO REDUCE THE STIGMA OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THIS THURSDAY AT 4:00 PM, WE'LL BE HOLDING A TEEN ADVISORY BOARD FOR TEENS, AGES 13-17. DURING THIS MEETING, TEENS WILL BE GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR OPINION AND PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW PROGRAMS AND LIBRARY SERVICES. THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR TEENS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND EARN COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS. IN CELEBRATION OF ASIAN-AMERICAN NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, THE LIBRARY WILL BE HOLDING AN EVENT ON SATURDAY, MAY 24TH AT 2:00 PM FOR ADULTS. DURING THIS PROGRAM, WE'LL CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF SADAKO SASAKI AND HER THOUSAND ORIGAMI CRANES. SADAKO WAS A YOUNG LADY WHO DIED OF LEUKEMIA 10 YEARS AFTER ATOMIC BOMB WAS DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA, AND HER LIFE BECAME WIDELY KNOWN FROM THE BOOK ABOUT HER LIFE WRITTEN BY ELEANOR COERR. AFTER THE PRESENTATION, PEOPLE WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THEIR OWN ORIGAMI CRANE MOBILE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU. NEXT UP, MR. JOSH GOLDMAN FROM REGARDING SUMMER INTERNSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS. COME ON UP, JOSH. THERE HE IS. >> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL, MAYOR PRO TEM, COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE. WHAT A YEAR. BUT IT'S GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY. IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK HERE. I KNOW OUR CITY MANAGER KEN AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, JAY HAVE BEEN SEEING A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH OF ME PROBABLY LURKING AROUND THE HALLS. BUT I'M HERE TO REMIND RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT OUR PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIP THAT WE'LL BE DOING THIS SUMMER. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE'RE DOING IT. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS LOOKING TO WORK, ESPECIALLY FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE APPLYING TO COLLEGES IN EITHER FOR THE SUMMER OR IN THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. WE ALLOW THEM THE CHANCE TO GO THROUGH A FORMAL APPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD FOR EVERYONE TO START EARLY ON. WE KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE EXTENSIVE RESUMES, BUT WE INVITE THEM TO WRITE COVER LETTERS, AND WE WORK WITH THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AT THE SCHOOL. WE SET UP EVEN INTERVIEWS WHERE THEY CAN COME DRESSED UP, WE INTERVIEW THEM IN THE LIBRARY. IT'S JUST A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM AND FOR US. WHAT THEY'LL GET TO DO IS THEY CAN WORK WITH ME, THEY'LL WORK WITH OUR RECYCLING REPRESENTATIVES. THEY'LL GET TO PRACTICE DOING PROFESSIONAL EMAILS, COLD CALLING, GOING ON SITE VISITS, GETTING TO DO SOME PROBLEM SOLVING. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO INVITE THEM TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY WANT. IF THEY WANT TO GO OUT AND WORK WITH SOME OF OUR OPERATIONS MANAGERS, WE'LL ALLOW THEM TO SHADOW THEM. IF THEY WANT TO WORK WITH THE OPERATION SPECIALISTS, WE'LL ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT, SIT IN ON MEETINGS, AND TRY TO MAKE IT AS MUCH OF AN ENRICHING EXPERIENCE AS POSSIBLE. IF ANYBODY LISTENING ONLINE, OR ANYBODY IN HERE KNOWS ANY STUDENTS AT BONITA HIGH SCHOOL, TELL THEM TO REACH OUT TO VANISA TELFORD. SHE'S A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, [01:55:01] AND SHE'LL GIVE THEM ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED. THANK YOU. >> A QUESTION. IS THAT ONLY AVAILABLE AT BONITA HIGH SCHOOL OR COULD IT BE IN DAMIAN? >> YEAH, IF THEY THAT DAMIAN, BAPTIST, YES. WE'VE BEEN MOSTLY DOING IT WITH THE BONITA HIGH SCHOOL, BUT IF THERE ARE STUDENTS AT THOSE SCHOOLS THAT ARE INTERESTED, THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY MORE THAN WELCOME TO. >> WHO WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO REACH OUT? CAN THEY REACH OUT ONLINE? >> THEY CAN CONTACT ME DIRECTLY. ALMOST EVERYBODY IN CITY HALL I THINK HAS MY CONTACT INFORMATION. [OVERLAPPING] THEY CAN CONTACT YOU TOO. I THINK, ALL OF YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO HAVE MY INFORMATION. AS ANY STUDENTS THAT WANT TO DO IT, WE'RE HAPPY TO. >> THANK YOU, JOSH. WE APPRECIATE YOU. I'M GOING TO SEE THE BEST FOR LAST. I DID THAT ON PURPOSE. MS. SHERRY BEST. COME ON UP. YES, MA'AM. >> SHERRY BEST WITH LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND I WANT TO COMMENT ON THE COUPLE OF PAST EVENTS. WE WERE AT THE COMMUNITY YARD SALE UNTIL 10:30, WHERE THE POURING RAIN DROVE US FORTH. YEAH, THAT WAS FUN. WE WERE RAINED OUT, BUT WE HUNG IN AS LONG AS WE COULD. BUT THEN WE MADE IT UP THIS LAST SATURDAY ON MAY 3 FOR A WALKING TOUR OF THE 2300 BLOCK OF THIRD STREET. WE HAD ABOUT 50 ATTENDEES AND A TOUR INSIDE A HOME AND A TOUR LOOKING AT THE OUTSIDE OF BRONZE MARKER DESIGNATED HOMES ON THAT BLOCK. THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN, ALWAYS NICE TO SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF THIS CITY. LOOKING FORWARD, THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS GOING TO BE AT THE LA COUNTY FAIR ON MAY 9, THE 10TH, AND THE 17TH. ONE FRIDAY, AND THEN TWO CONSECUTIVE SATURDAYS, WE'RE THERE FOR THREE, SIX HOURS STRETCHES. WE ARE NOTHING, IF NOT, STALWART FOLKS HERE. NOW, SAVE THE DATE, JUNE 7, WHICH IS A SATURDAY, THE LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS SPONSORING A HUGE VINTAGE SALE. WE ARE GOING TO BE SELLING FURNITURE AND CHINA AND GLASS AND TOYS AND ART AND GARDEN IMPLEMENTS. THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR CHANCE ALSO TO VISIT THE INTERNATIONAL. NOW, THE INTERNATIONAL TRUCK IS A GRUMPY OLD MAN. IT'S IN THE SHOP GETTING A NEW MASTER CYLINDER AND A POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, BUT IT SHOULD BE BACK TO US, AND THEN IT WILL GO OUT FOR A NEW BED INSIDE. MY HOPE IS IT WILL BE FULLY AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO CLIMB AROUND INSIDE THE TRUCK BED AND HAVE A LOOK WHEN WE ARE READY THE JUNE 7 FOR OUR SALE. THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING. THIS EVENT IS GOING TO BE AT MY HOUSE, 3949 BRADFORD STREET, A MILLS ACT AND BRONZE MARKER DESIGNATED HOUSE. WE'LL BE SERVING COOKIES AND LEMONADE IN THE FRONT. COME JOIN US. IT'S GOING TO BE A FUN TIME, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE OPEN FOR THAT EVENT FROM 10 IN THE MORNING UNTIL FOUR IN THE AFTERNOON. DROP BY, BRING YOUR POCKETBOOK, ENJOY SOME LEMONADE AND COOKIES, AND COME MEET OUR TRUCK, WHICH WE HOPE TO HAVE FULLY READY FOR 4TH OF JULY PARADE. THANK YOU. AND JOIN. >> NO, JAMS OR PRESERVES TODAY? WE GOT THAT. AWESOME. WELL, THANK YOU, MS. BEST. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> WELL, THANK YOU ALL. DID I MISS ANYBODY ELSE IN LAST MINUTE FOR ANNOUNCEMENT? HEY, COME ON UP. HOW YOU DOING? HEY, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? >> GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR PRO TEM. MY NAME IS BRIAN HIDALGO. I'M FROM SUPERVISOR KATHERINE BERGER'S OFFICE. I'M JUST HERE TO SPREAD THE WORD REAL QUICK ABOUT AN UPCOMING EVENT OUR OFFICE IS PUTTING TOGETHER. IT'S OUR 27TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO VETERANS AND VETERAN AND MILITARY FAMILIES. IT'S HAPPENING ON SATURDAY, MAY 24 OF THIS YEAR AT ARCADIA COUNTY PARK FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M. IF YOU ARE A VETERAN ORGANIZATION OR YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS, YOU CAN REGISTER FOR A BOOTH, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY SETTING A BOOTH AT THE MOMENT. YOU CAN PERSONALLY REACH OUT TO ME OR MY OFFICE. SOME OF YOU MIGHT KNOW VICKI PAUL. THAT'S OUR FIELD DEPUTY. YEAH, MAY 12 IS THE DAY THAT WE'RE CUTTING IT OFF. BUT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE DUARTI SCHOOL OF ARTS IS PERFORMING, THE ARCADE ROTARIES, ALSO HONORING VETERANS AT THE PARK WITH HUNDREDS OF FLAGS. THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE ALSO HONORING VETERANS WHO SERVED DURING THE EATEN FIRES THIS YEAR. LAST, WE HAVE A LOT OF VIPS WHO WILL BE JOINING US. [02:00:02] I'M JUST HERE TO JUST SPREAD THE WORD ON BEHALF OF OUR OFFICE, BUT YEAH, IT'S GREAT TO MEET YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE. >> THANK YOU MR. HIDALGO, PLEASE THANK OUR SUPERVISOR, KATHERINE BERGER FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS. DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE GOING ONCE? GOING TWICE. SOLD. THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING FOR THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS. I WILL WANT NOW 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 A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE REQUESTS A SEPARATE DISCUSSION OR JUST WANTS TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON ONE OF THESE ITEMS. COUNSELS, ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS TO PULL ANY ITEMS DO YOU GUYS HAVE? >> I APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR? MR. MAYOR PRO TEM, THERE ARE NO ITEMS REQUESTED TO BE PULLED. >> THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. RICKY,. >> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. >> AWESOME. >> SECOND. >> AWESOME. GO AHEAD AND THIS VOTE. >> YOU GOT TO GO THE OTHER WAY, STEVE. >> HOW YOU STEVE. OH, THANK GOD. IT SWITCHED. YES THIS WAY. NO IS THAT WAY. [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE I WAS GOING NUTS. I WANT TO THANK ALL. >> THE CONSENT CALENDAR WAS MOTION BY CROSBY, SECONDED BY LOU. THAT WAS APPROVED FOUR WITH MAYOR HEPBURN BEING ABSENT. >> THANK YOU. WE'LL LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY. LET'S MOVE ON NOW TO PUBLIC HEARINGS. [PUBLIC HEARINGS] THERE'S ONE ITEM TONIGHT ANNUAL ASSEMBLY BILL 2561 STAFFING VACANCIES REPORT. NOW, I'LL OPEN UP HERE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, MR. REYNOLDS. CAN YOU REPORT ON THIS ITEM? >> THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. APPRECIATE THAT. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL, CALIFORNIA'S ASSEMBLY BILL 2561 TOOK EFFECT IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. IT AIMS TO ADDRESS ONGOING STAFFING SHORTAGES WITHIN PUBLIC AGENCIES BY MANDATING GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND WORKFORCE DATA. THE LAW REQUIRES AGENCIES TO PRESENT STAFFING INFORMATION AT PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE FINALIZING BUDGETS, INCLUDING VACANCY RATES, RECRUITMENT INFORMATION, EMPLOYEE RETENTION METRICS, AND A REVIEW OF POLICIES THAT MAY HINDER HIRING OR RETENTION. IN COMPLIANCE WITH AB 2561, THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO UNDERTAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS. AT LEAST ONCE EACH FISCAL YEAR, AT A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY SHALL PRESENT INFORMATION REGARDING THE STATUS OF VACANCIES AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS AND IDENTIFY ANY NECESSARY CHANGES TO POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES THAT MAY LEAD TO OBSTACLES IN THE HIRING PROCESS. THIS MUST BE DONE AS NOTED BEFORE THE ADOPTION OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET. SECONDLY, IT REQUIRES TO ALLOW THE RECOGNIZED EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION FOR EACH BARGAINING UNIT AT THE CITY TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING VACANCIES AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS. EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATIONS WERE CONTACTED AND RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS REPORT AS PART OF THE CITY'S COMPLIANCE EFFORTS. I DON'T SEE ANY REPRESENTATIVES HERE TONIGHT, SO I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THEM. THEN LASTLY, IF VACANCIES IN A SINGLE BARGAINING UNIT MEET OR EXCEED 20% OF AUTHORIZED FULL TIME POSITIONS, THE CITY MUST PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REPORTING AT THE REQUEST OF THE EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION. LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT POSITION DATA. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE CITY BUDGETED FOR 193 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, 14 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES SEPARATED FROM EMPLOYMENT, 23 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WERE HIRED. THEN THROUGH MARCH OF 2025, THE CITY OF LA VERNE HAD 13 STAFF VACANCIES REPRESENTING A 6.77% VACANCY RATE. CEA MEMBERS WERE AT 3.39% VACANCY RATE. POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION WAS AT 17.95% VACANCY RATE. THE MIDDLE MANAGEMENT EXCUSE ME, POLICE MIDDLE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION WAS AT A 0% VACANCY RATE. THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION WAS AT A 3.3% VACANCY RATE. OUR AMBULANCE OPERATORS WERE AT 8.33% VACANCY RATE. MIDDLE MANAGEMENT WAS AT 5.26% VACANCY RATE, AND THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT GROUP OR THE DEPARTMENT WERE AT A 0% VACANCY RATE AS OF THE END OF MARCH BECAUSE WE BROUGHT ON OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, DANNY AT THE VERY END OF THE MONTH. THE CITY IS CURRENTLY RECRUITING FOR SIX FULL TIME POSITIONS WITH ONLY ONE OPEN ACTIVE RECRUITMENT. THE OTHER FIVE ARE AT THE APPLICANT SCREENING INTERVIEWER TESTING PHASES. WE JUST HAVEN'T ACTUALLY MADE A CONDITIONAL OFFER TO THOSE OTHER POSITIONS QUITE YET, [02:05:04] BUT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE CITY HAS ENHANCED RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, INCLUDING IMPROVING THE USE OF OUR NEO GOV RECRUITMENT SOFTWARE, PRIORITIZING RECRUITMENT REQUESTS BASED ON DEPARTMENT NEED AND THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE POSITIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE FILLED, HOLDING INDIVIDUAL PRE RECRUITMENT PROCESS MEETINGS WITH EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS, IMPLEMENTING NEW ON BOARDING PROCESSES DEVELOPED BY OUR NEWLY FORMED HUMAN RESOURCES TEAM AND PROVIDING A STRUCTURED INTRODUCTION TO THE CITY. DEVELOPING A BENEFIT SUMMARY PROGRAM TO EDUCATE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES ON THE CITY'S OFFERINGS. THEN ALSO VERY IMPORTANT, ALL EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATIONS RECEIVED SALARY INCREASES IN THE PAST YEAR IN RECOGNITION OF THE REGIONAL MARKET, AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY'S ABILITY TO FISCALLY SUSTAIN COMPENSATION LEVEL BASED ON ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES. OUR RETENTION EFFORTS, WE'VE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ENHANCING EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SPECIFICALLY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS WELLNESS PROGRAM, OFFERING ULVS TUITION REMISSION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OTHER TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAMS TO OTHER LOCAL COLLEGES, INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNAL PROMOTIONS AND CAREER PATH PLANNING. WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED USING ASSOCIATION MEMBERS ON OUR RECRUITMENT PANELS, ON OUR INTERNAL INTERVIEW PANELS TO HELP IDENTIFY THE TOP TIER OF CANDIDATES. THEN ALSO, AGAIN, ALL OF OUR CLASSIFICATIONS IN THE PAST YEAR RECEIVED COST OF LIVING INCREASES ACROSS THE BOARD. I'D LIKE TO WRAP UP JUST BY SAYING, OUR RECRUITMENT TEAM ADDED SOMEBODY THIS YEAR, SO THEY'VE BEEN WITH US FOR JUST A LITTLE OVER SIX MONTHS. LIZETTE IS OUR HUMAN RESOURCES ANALYST THAT OVERSEES THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS SPECIFICALLY AND HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF GETTING THE RECRUITMENTS DONE AND BEING EFFICIENT WITH GETTING THOSE DONE AND WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS DIRECTLY. ERIN BLESTIN, ALSO HAS BEEN SUPPLEMENTING AND HELP WITH RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AND HELPING ASSIST LIZETTE. THEN A NOTE ON THE POA NUMBER OBVIOUSLY, WAS THE HIGHEST OF VACANCY RATE. WE'VE GOT IDEAS ON HOW TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT. WE'VE CERTAINLY COMPLETED RECRUITMENTS, BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME VACANCIES THERE THAT WE'LL NEED TO ADDRESS AND CONTINUE TO ADDRESS OVER THE NEXT YEAR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE POA AS WELL. WITH THAT, TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH AB 2561, THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH NEW LEGAL OBLIGATIONS RELATED TO AB 2561. WE RECOMMEND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THOSE TO SPEAK ON IT THAT WISH TO AND AND THEN RECEIVE AND FILE THE REPORT. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> THANK YOU [OVERLAPPING]. >> ABSOLUTELY. IT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE VACANCY NUMBERS ARE ALSO BECAUSE OF EMPLOYEES MIGHT BE OUT ON SOME KIND OF LEAVE TOO? THEN THAT'S PART OF THAT. IT'S NOT ALL OPEN POSITIONS, CORRECT? >> ACTUALLY, IF SOMEBODY'S OFF ON INJURY, WHETHER IT BE PERSONAL OR WORK RELATED, IT WOULDN'T BE COUNTED AS A VACANT POSITION. THE ONLY TIME THAT IT WOULD TURN INTO A VACANT POSITION IS IF THEY ENDED UP NEEDING TO RETIRE OR SEPARATE FROM THE CITY FOR SUMMARY. >> THANKS. WENDY? HUGO? NO? ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER? OPEN UP TO THE PUBLIC FOR ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO? >> ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS HERE FOR AMAZING COUNSEL? DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR COUNSEL TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH NEW LEGAL OBLIGATIONS RELATED TO AB 2561? >> IS REMOVED? >> PHONE. GOT IT. LET'S VOTE. I EVER. THERE YOU GO, STEVE. >> THAT ITEM ON AB 2561 WAS MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON. SECONDED BY LAU, WAS APPROVED FOUR WITH MAYOR HEPBURN BEING ABSENT. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. >> THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE FORWARD TO TONIGHT. [DISCUSSION CALENDAR] WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE DISCUSSION CALENDAR. THERE ARE TWO ITEMS TONIGHT. FIRST ITEM IS THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE UPDATING THE FIRE HAZARDS SEVERITY ZONES, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 51178 IN THE CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE. CITY MANAGER DOMER, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL FORWARD THE STAFF MEMBER WHO WILL BE REPORTING ON THIS? >> I'M GOING TO CALL FORWARD, CHIEF NICK. [02:10:02] >> THERE HE IS. >> THERE I AM. I DO. >> I'M ACTUALLY JUST TO STAND IN, BECAUSE, AS YOU SEE THERE, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY TO BE PRESENTED BY FIRE MARSHAL FRED S ANGE, WHO DID ALL OF THE WORK FOR THIS. UNFORTUNATELY, HE'S HOMESICK TODAY, SO I'M STANDING IN FOR HIM. BUT NEVERTHELESS, HERE WE ARE. HE'S GOT SOME PAIN THAT DIDN'T LET HIM GET OUT OF BED THIS MORNING. ANYWAY, WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT REGARDING THE UPDATED FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAPS, WHICH WERE ULTIMATELY PREPARED FOR BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL FOR THE CITY OF LA VERNE, AND ALL LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, IN FACT. THIS EVENING, I'M PRESENTING A STATE-MANDATED UPDATE THAT AFFECTS HOW WE BUILD PLAN, AND PREPARE FOR WILDFIRE RISK IN OUR COMMUNITY. UNDER STATE GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 51178 AND 51179, THE STATE FIRE MARSHALS REQUIRED TO PERIODICALLY UPDATE OUR FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAPS FOR LOCAL AND STATE RESPONSIBILITY AREAS. UNDER THE SAME CODES, THE CITY OF LA VERNE IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT THESE UPDATED MAPS AS ARE ALL AFFECTED LOCAL JURISDICTIONS. THE IDENTIFIED AREAS WITHIN OUR LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREAS ARE LABELED AS MODERATE, HIGH, OR VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD AREAS, WHICH CORRESPOND WITH THE LEVEL OF VULNERABILITY TO WILDFIRE DESTRUCTION. TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW AND ENSURE THE PROPER APPLICATION OF ASSOCIATED BUILDING AND FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS, THE CITY IS MOVING TO ADOPT THESE MAPS BY ORDINANCE. THE PROCESS INCLUDES A PUBLIC NOTIFICATION, A FIRST AND SECOND READING WITH CITY COUNCIL, AND A FINAL SUBMITTAL TO THE BOARD OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION THAT WE HAVE, IN FACT, ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE, LIKE THE CODE SAYS WE NEED TO DO. OUR PURPOSE TONIGHT IS TO INTRODUCE AND RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE THAT FORMALLY ACCEPTS THESE UPDATED MAPS FOR LOCAL USE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE REQUIREMENTS. THE NEW MAPS WERE DEVELOPED USING AN ADVANCED FIRE BEHAVIOR MODEL THAT EVALUATES FOLLOWING. HISTORICAL FIRE CURRENTS, VEGETATION TYPES, AND DENSITY, SLOPE AND TOPOGRAPHY, WEATHER PATTERNS AND WIND EXPOSURE, FLAME LENGTH AND EMBER PRODUCTION, AND PROXIMITY TO WILDLAND AREAS. THIS MODEL HAS BEEN FIELD-TESTED AND REFINED TO IMPROVE ACCURACY AND RELIABILITY BY THE CAL FIRE AND RESOURCES ASSESSMENT PROGRAM. THE TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING AND MODELING, AND VALIDATING MAP RELEVANCE THROUGH HISTORICAL DATA, REMOTE SENSING, AND ON-THE-GROUND OBSERVATIONS BY VARIOUS MATTER EXPERTS. PROVIDE SOME HISTORICAL CONTEXT, THE CALIFORNIA HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAPPING PROCESS WAS BORN OUT OF NECESSITY FOLLOWING SEVERAL CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES. THE PANORAMA FIRE IN 1980, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO REMEMBER, PROMPTED THE STATE TO BEGIN CLASSIFYING FIRE HAZARD ZONES, LEADING TO THE FIRST OFFICIAL MAP FOR STATE RESPONSIBILITY AREAS IN 1985, SRA DIFFERENT FROM LRA STATE RESPONSIBILITY AREAS. THE TUNNEL FIRE IN 1991, WHICH DEVASTATED PARTS OF OAKLAND AND BERKELEY, SPURRED LEGISLATIVE ACTION, MOST NOTABLY, THE BATES BILL OF 1992, WHICH INTRODUCED THE CONCEPT OF VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE, AND MANDATED NEW CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS IN HIGH-RISK AREAS. THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TODAY. FOLLOWING THE CEDAR FIRE IN 2003, THE STATE ADOPTED MORE STRINGENT BUILDING STANDARDS AND FORMALIZED STATEWIDE HAZARD MAPPING USING THE FRAP MODEL, THE FIRE RESOURCES ASSESSMENT PROGRAM MODELED AND ULTIMATELY DEVELOPED BY CAL FIRE, WHICH IS WHO THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL WORKS FOR. THE PROGRESSION OF FIRE DISASTERS, LEGISLATION, AND SCIENTIFIC MODELING CULMINATED THE COMPLETION OF COMPREHENSIVE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAPPING IN 2011, WHICH INCLUDED 38 COUNTIES AND NEARLY 200 CITIES. THE 2025 UPDATE BUILDS ON THAT LEGACY INCORPORATING MORE REFINED DATA, UPDATING MODELING TECHNIQUES, AND EVOLVING RISK FACTORS. WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO LA VERNE? ADOPTING THESE UPDATED MAPS IS IMPORTANT FOR SEVERAL REASONS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE CHAPTER 49, WHICH ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AREAS, WHICH IS THE ENTIRE NORTH END OF LA VERNE. IT ESTABLISHES MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY IN AREAS DESIGNATED AS VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL OR LOCAL AUTHORITY, WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRE CHIEF. SECOND, THE CHAPTER MANDATES KEEP FIRE PREVENTION AND MITIGATION MEASURES, WHICH INCLUDE DEFENSIBLE SPACE REQUIREMENTS, USE OF IGNITION-RESISTANT BUILDING MATERIALS, ACCESS AND SIGNAGE STANDARDS TO AID EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS AND WATER SUPPLY SPECIFICATIONS. IT ALSO IMPACTS OUR BUILDING STANDARDS. IT ENSURES THAT CONSTRUCTION AND HAZARD AREAS MEETS CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE CHAPTER 7A, WHICH INCLUDES FIRE-RESISTANT MATERIALS AND DESIGN REQUIREMENTS. IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR MORE SPECIFIC DEFENSIBLE SPACE, TRIGGERS VEGETATION, MANAGEMENT, AND CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE 51182, DEVELOPMENT REVIEW GUIDES INFRASTRUCTURE STANDARDS SUCH AS ROADWAY WIDTH, [02:15:03] WATER SUPPLY, AND ACCESS, AND ALSO PROVIDES FOR REAL ESTATE DISCLOSURE. ENSURES HOME BUYERS ARE INFORMED OF FIRE HAZARD RISK VIA AB 38 FROM A FEW YEARS AGO. FINALLY, HELPS WITH OUR EMERGENCY PLANNING, WHICH SUPPORTS FOR BETTER PREPARATION, RESPONSE THROUGH INFORMED HAZARD MAP. COMMON QUESTION WE RECEIVE IS WHETHER THESE MAP AFFECT HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE, WHICH EVERYBODY KNOWS HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION. THE SHORT ANSWER IS NOT DIRECTLY. INSURANCE COMPANIES USE THEIR OWN PROPRIETARY RISK MODELS, WHICH ARE SEPARATE FROM CLFIRES HAZARD ASSESSMENTS. HOWEVER, HAZARD ZONE CLASSIFICATIONS MAY INFLUENCE UNDERWRITING DECISIONS INDIRECTLY AS PART OF THE BROADER RISK PROFILE. HOWEVER, I CAN ACCURATELY STATE THAT THE NEW REGULATIONS DO REQUIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO TAKE ACCOUNT FOR MUCH OF THE MITIGATION EFFORTS REQUIRED CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE WHEN SETTING POLICY, AFFORDABILITY, AND AVAILABILITY, AND LIKE I SAID, THIS DESIGNATION OF THESE ZONES REQUIRES US TO ADHERE TO CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE. THAT'S A CIRCULAR SITUATION. TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 511 7879. THE TIMELINE FOR ADOPTING THESE NEW ZONES IS GOVERNED BY THE GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS I MENTIONED AND RELATED CALFIRE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. WHILE THE STATUTES REQUIRE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TO ADOPT THE MAPS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, AFTER RECEIVING THEM FROM THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, CLFIRE PROVIDES A STRUCTURED TIMELINE WHICH INCLUDES RELEASE OF THE MAP BY CLFIRE, WHICH HAPPENED ON MARCH 24, 2025, TO HAVE AN IMMEDIATE FOLLOWING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS. JURISDICTIONS MUST ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT POTENTIAL APPEALS. IN LA VERNE'S CASE, THIS ENDED ON APRIL 3, 2025. HOWEVER, I CAN TELL YOU I'VE TALKED TO THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, AND IT WOULDN'T MATTER TO ANYWAY. FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH IS HAPPENING TONIGHT, CITY IS INTRODUCING THE ORDINANCE FOR ADOPTION, MAY 5 OF 2025, WHICH WOULD IN CONCEPT, BE FOLLOWED BY A SECOND READING IN ADOPTION. TYPICALLY WOULD BE SCHEDULED FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST READING, SO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. THEN FINALLY SUBMISSION OF OUR ADOPTION TO THE STATE BOARD OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE PROMPTLY OFTEN WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF LOCAL APPROVAL. ALTHOUGH NO FIXED NUMBER OF DAYS IS SPECIFIED IN STATUTE, FAILURE TO ADOPT THE MAPS IN A TIMELY MANNER COULD RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING. IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY RESULT IN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE. IT COULD HINDER ENFORCEMENT OF BUILDING STANDARDS, FIRE SAFETY CODES, AND DEFENSIBLE SPACE REGULATIONS, COULD CREATE LIABILITY OR REGULATORY GAPS DURING DEVELOPMENT REVIEW OR REAL ESTATE DISCLOSURE. FINALLY, POTENTIAL FOR THE CITY TO LOSE ELIGIBILITY FOR DISASTER, COST RECOVERY, OR OTHER STATE EMERGENCY FUNDING. THE LAST MAJOR UPDATE WAS IN 2011. SINCE THEN, OUR REGION HAS SEEN NOTABLE CHANGES IN VEGETATION GROWTH, CLIMATE TRENDS, AND FIRE BEHAVIOR, PARTICULARLY INFLUENCED BY DROUGHT AND EXTREME WIND EVENTS, WHICH WE ALL JUST SAW IN JANUARY. THE 2025 UPDATE REFLECTS THESE REALITIES WITH EXPANDED AND REDEFINED HAZARD ZONES. SOME AREAS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY CLASSIFIED AS HIGH MAY NOW BE VERY HIGH, WHILE OTHER ZONES MAY HAVE CHANGED BASED ON NEW VEGETATION OR MITIGATION EFFORTS. THESE MAPS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE FOR ANY RESIDENT TO HAVE A CLOSER LOOK. BY AND LARGE, WE DIDN'T SEE TOO MUCH SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, WHEREAS A LOT OF LOCAL JURISDICTIONS OUT THERE SAW SOME PRETTY DRAMATIC CHANGES. FINALLY, IN CLOSING THIS ORDINANCE ALIGNS WITH THE CITY OF LA VERNE WITH STATE LAW, CITY OF LA VERNE, AND STATE LAW AND ENABLES US TO CONTINUE ENFORCING KEY SAFETY REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO FIRE-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSIBLE SPACE, AND WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS. STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT CITY COUNCIL INTRODUCE AND WAIVE FURTHER READING OF THE ORDINANCE, ENTITLED ANY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES, WHICH WOULD NOT REQUIRE A SECOND READING. FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK FIRE MARSHAL FRED ST. ANGE FOR ALL OF HIS WORK ON ALL OF THIS. HE'S BEEN WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADHERED ALL THE TIMELINES, AND QUITE FRANKLY, SEVERAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REACHED OUT TO HIM TO MODEL ALL OF THIS EFFORT TONIGHT. WITH THAT I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTION. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. ANY COUNSEL COMMENTS? >> A QUESTION. >> STEVE. >> LA VERNE IS PRETTY MUCH BUILT OUT. THERE MAY BE A FEW LOTS HERE AND THERE, BUT ARE THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING HOMES TO CHANGE ANYTHING AROUND THEIR HOUSE OR TO THEIR HOUSE? >> NOT RIGHT NOW. I SAY THAT AS FIRE CODE PROVIDES THE AUTHORITY TO ME AS THE FIRE CHIEF TO IDENTIFY ANY IMMINENT THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY OR TO ANYBODY'S HOME OR STRUCTURE AND HAVE THEM COMPLY WITH CURRENT CODES. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE DOING. WE'RE OUT LOOKING TO DO. HOWEVER, WHAT WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE [02:20:02] COMING DOWN VERY SHORTLY IS WHAT THEY CALLED ZONE ZERO DEFENSE. THAT WAS LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED BACK IN 2021 THAT DIRECTED THE BOARD OF FORESTERS TO FURTHER OUTLINE WHAT THOSE REGULATIONS LOOK LIKE AND ESSENTIALLY WOULD CREATE A COMPLETELY EMBER-RESISTANT ZONE WITHIN FIVE FEET OF ANY STRUCTURE WITHIN THE HIGH FIRE HAZARD AREAS. HOWEVER, THAT DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN, AND IT'S JUST BEEN LINGERING. WITH ALL THESE FIRES THAT JUST HAPPENED, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, A VERY COMPREHENSIVE EXECUTIVE ORDER. ONE OF THE THINGS IN THAT ORDER DIRECTED THE BOARD OF FORESTERS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND PRODUCE THOSE REGULATIONS. THAT WILL BE COMING SHORTLY. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE SCIENCE SUPPORTS THAT. WHEN YOU SEE THESE FIRES THAT ARE DRIVEN BY 80-MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS, AND YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY HAVE RESOURCES ON EVERY SINGLE STREET, SETTING HOMES UP FOR SUCCESS SO THAT THEY ARE IN A WAY DEFENSIBLE FROM IGNITION EVEN IN A SMALL BUSH, WHICH LEADS TO THE WHOLE HOME BURNING AND THEN THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD BURNING IS REALLY THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ALL THESE FIRE-PRONE AREAS. ALL THAT BEING SAID, PART OF THAT NEW ZONE ZERO DEFENSE THAT WE WILL BE FORCED TO ENFORCE HERE IN OUR CITY, WILL BE RETROACTIVE. WE'LL BE IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE ON ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION IMMEDIATELY. HOWEVER, FOR ANYTHING THAT EXISTS NOW, WE'LL HAVE THREE YEARS TO GET IN COMPLIANCE TO IT. THAT'LL BE A HEAVY LIFT FOR US. I DON'T PHYSICALLY KNOW HOW WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO EVEN DO THAT WITH ALL THE HOMES IN OUR FIRE HAZARD AREA. THEN, OF COURSE, THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A LOT OF INTERACTION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ENGAGEMENT TO SEE HOW WE ULTIMATELY GET. THAT'LL BE MORE FOR ANOTHER STUDY. >> I KNOW WE'VE STARTED A FIREWISE COMMUNITY PROGRAM. INITIALLY, THERE WERE VERY FEW PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE MEETING. HAS THAT TAKEN ANY TRACTION OR HAS IT MADE ANY TRACTION IN THE COMMUNITY IS. >> IT HAS, AND I DON'T HAVE LONNIE HERE. LONNIE SHIPMENT, OUR COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION SPECIALIST HAS BEEN ESSENTIALLY THE LIAISON TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THAT BY DESIGN IS REQUIRED TO BE A GRASSROOTS EFFORT THAT IS COMMUNITY-LED, COMMUNITY SPEARHEADED, AND IT REQUIRES GATHERING OF X AMOUNT OF GROUPS AND RESIDENTS. EVERYBODY HAS TO BE ON BOARD WITH THE PLAN AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ANNUAL TREATMENTS TO THE RESIDENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER, OR SORRY, MAYOR PRO TEM CASH FAGIO WAS A PART OF THOSE EFFORTS, AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME DIFFICULTIES RECRUITING RESIDENTS TO BECOME A PART OF THAT. IT DOES SOUND LIKE WE ARE GETTING VERY CLOSE WITH ONE GROUP, HOPEFULLY, AT LEAST IN THAT PARTICULAR OF THE CITY, GETTING THE DESIGNATION. BUT AGAIN, THAT WOULDN'T BE, MORE COMPREHENSIVELY OUR CITY. WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD AND WE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF ENGAGEMENT IN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA EVEN THOUGH AGAIN, IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A FIRE DEPARTMENT-LED EFFORT TO GET THERE. BUT WE REGULARLY GET CONTACTED BY THE RESIDENTS IN THE NORTHERNER. HEY, WHAT CAN WE DO? WE DO DO BASIC LEVEL INSPECTIONS FROM THE STREET RIGHT NOW. OUR ENGINE COMPANY UP THERE STATION THREE GETS OUT THERE ALONG WITH FIRE MARSHAL TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO OVERHANG AND THERE'S NO GUTTER ISSUES. WE HAVE THAT MINIMUM DEFENSIBLE SPACE RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT'S REALLY THE EXTENT OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING FROM A PREPAREDNESS STANDPOINT. THE FIREWISE COMMUNITY, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A LOT MORE OF THAT IN COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE PLACE. THAT IS ONE OF TWO WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPACT OUR PREMIUMS, INSURANCE PREMIUMS, AND AVAILABILITY. THERE'S TWO WAYS TO BASICALLY HAVE IMPACT ON YOUR INSURANCE. THAT IS ONE, THE OTHER ONE IS THE SAFER FROM WILDFIRES DESIGNATION. IT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY TWO YEARS. WE HAVE ANOTHER YEAR UNTIL THAT COMES BACK AROUND. IT WOULD BE OUR GOAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT GET OUR CITY TO THAT POINT, SO THAT'LL BE COMING AS WELL. BUT AGAIN, THAT'S FROM AN INSURANCE PERSPECTIVE. OBVIOUSLY, THE BENEFIT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE OUR HOMES IN A GOOD PLACE THAT THEY CAN BE SET UP FOR SUCCESS. MORE TO COME. >> THANKS, STEVE. NO OTHER COMMENTS. >> I'M GOING TO OPEN UP TO IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS HERE TODAY REGARDING THAT. ANYBODY YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE? NO. BASED ON THAT, CAN I GET A MOTION THEN IF THERE'S NO OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS BY OUR AMAZING COUNSEL? IF THERE'S A MOTION TO INTRODUCE AND WAY FURTHER READING OF THE ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE. TRY I SAY THAT THREE TIMES, CALIFORNIA DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES, ACCEPTING AND IMPLEMENTING THE UPDATED CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION, CAL FIRE, LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA MAPS FOR LA VERNE. MOVE TO APPROVE. PLEASE VOTE. [02:25:02] >> THAT ITEM WAS MOTION BY CROSBY, SECONDED BY LAU, APPROVED FOUR WITH MAYOR HEPBURN, BEING ABSENT. >> THANK YOU AGAIN. >> THANKS, CHIEF. APPRECIATE YOU. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN UPDATE. CITY COUNCIL STAKEHOLDER PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION. CITY MANAGER DON, CAN YOU PLEASE FORWARD THE STAFF MEMBER WHO WILL BE REPORTING ON THIS? >> YES, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP NICOLE HOUSTON WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. >> HI, NICOLE. >> GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL. THE PARKS AND REC MASTER PLAN DATE WAS FUNDED THROUGH MEASURE A FUNDING THAT WAS SECURED BY THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND THAT LAUNCHED IN MARCH 2025 AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH DECEMBER 2025. AT THAT TIME, FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. THIS PLAN WILL SERVE AS A COMPREHENSIVE ROADMAP TO GUIDE THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, ENHANCEMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF OUR PARKS, RECREATION FACILITIES, AND PROGRAMS, ENSURING THEY CONTINUE TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF OUR COMMUNITY. TO DATE, THE TEAM HAS COMPLETED AN ASSESSMENT OF OUR CURRENT PARKS AND FACILITIES, LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY-WIDE SURVEY, AND HOSTED ONE OF TWO PUBLIC WORKSHOPS. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS ARE ONGOING AND PLAY A KEY ROLE IN SHAPING THE DIRECTION OF THE PLAN. THIS EVENING'S PRESENTATION PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON THE PROJECT'S PROGRESS AND OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER CITY COUNCIL FEEDBACK THROUGH A BRIEF QUESTIONNAIRE. YOUR INPUT WILL HELP GUIDE THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PLANNING PROCESS AND ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY'S VISION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. TO PRESENT THIS UPDATE, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR CONSULTANT FROM KTA, JACOB LEON, WHO BRINGS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN PARK AND OPEN SPACE PLANNING, URBAN DESIGN, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. JACOB'S BEEN LEADING THIS EFFORT AND WILL WALK US THROUGH THE WORK COMPLETED SO FAR AND WHAT'S COMING NEXT. >> THANK YOU NICOLE SO MUCH FOR THE INTRODUCTION. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING TIME FOR ME AND MY TEAM TO BE HERE AND SPEAK WITH YOU ALL ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT ON THIS PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN. I DO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE, COUNCILMEMBER LAU AND CROSBY, YOU'VE SEEN MOST OF THIS ALREADY, BUT I HOPE TO ANSWER AND GATHER MORE FEEDBACK AT THE VERY END. BUT I DO HAVE A SMALL PRESENTATION FOR YOU BECAUSE AS NICOLE MENTIONED, WE'VE BEEN HARD AT WORK ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT MASTER PLAN THAT'S GOING TO SERVE YOU FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. I'M GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH OUR PROGRESS SO FAR. AS MENTIONED, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION. I'LL TAKE NOTES HERE. THEN, OF COURSE, YOU ALL HAVE THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU CAN ALWAYS TURN INTO NICOLE LATER ON WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT FOR YOU ALL. AGAIN, MY NAME IS JACOB LEON. I'VE BEEN WITH KTUA. WE ARE PLANNERS AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS. WE'RE HEADQUARTERED IN SAN DIEGO. WE HAVE AN OFFICE IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, BUT WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 55 YEARS. WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SAY IS ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH IMPROVING THE OUTDOORS TO IMPROVE COMFORT AND QUALITY AND SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITIES WE WORK IN IS THE PASSION THAT WE BRING FORWARD FOR ALL OF OUR PROJECTS. YOU'VE ALL MET JOE AND NICOLE. THEY'VE BEEN DOING SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, BUT YOU'LL ALSO EVENTUALLY GET TO MEET THE REST OF OUR TEAM, 110%, WHO ARE OUR EXPERTS WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCIAL PROGRAMMING STAFFING SUSTAINABILITY FOR THIS MASTER PLAN. THEN WE HAVE PRO CONSULTING MIKE SVETZ, WHO WILL BE LEADING THE EFFORTS ON MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. AS YOU KNOW, PARKS AND RECREATION AND MASTER PLANNING IS REALLY IMPORTANT. IT'S MEANT TO BE COMPREHENSIVE ON PURPOSE BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CITIES TYPICALLY UPDATE EVERY 10 YEARS. IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP AND GUIDE YOU THOSE SHORT, MID AND LONG TERM GOALS FOR UP TO THE NEXT 10 YEARS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAND YOU ALL A ROADMAP, GUIDE GOALS AND PROJECTS THAT YOU CAN USE WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE AND WHEN FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE AS YOU PLAN OUT YEAR AFTER YEAR. AS WE'VE MENTIONED, ALSO, ENGAGEMENT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR ALL THIS WORK THAT WE DO. THE SCOPE OF WORK, WE ARE GOING TO BE OUT HERE IN YOUR COMMUNITY MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2025 TO ENGAGE THEM AND ASK WHAT THEIR NEEDS AND WANTS ARE, SO WE CAN BALANCE THINGS OUT IN THE FINAL REPORT. THESE MASTER PLANS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE DEMOGRAPHICS AND COMMUNITIES CHANGE OVER TIME. WE WANT TO TAKE A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TODAY HERE IN LAVERNE, BUT ALSO TRY TO PROJECT AND THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE SO THAT WE CAN JUST BE RESPONSIBLE AS WE GO THROUGH OUR PLANNING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALSO ASSESSING THE ACCESSIBILITY TO ALL THE DIFFERENT FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE OFFERED IN YOUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE I KNOW I'M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR, BUT PARKS AND REC IS JUST SO IMPORTANT FOR THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL BEING OF YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE IN LAVERNE. LASTLY, WITH THESE OUTCOMES, IT'S ALL ABOUT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOUR CURRENT RESIDENTS AND YOUR FUTURE RESIDENTS. THESE THREE PILLARS ARE CRITICAL FOR THIS MASTER PLANNING PROCESS. WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE PROJECT TIMELINE. WE'RE RIGHT AROUND STEP 2 AND 3. WE'VE DONE OUR LIT REVIEW, WE'VE DONE INVENTORY WORK. WE'VE BEEN OUT TO ALL OF YOUR PARKS AND WE'VE CATEGORIZED AND WE'VE COLLECTED LOTS OF GREAT DATA. WE HAVE MASSIVE SPREADSHEETS THAT YOU WILL NEED TO SEE, BUT NICOLE AND HER TEAM, [02:30:04] WE'LL SEE LATER ON TO REALLY GIVE YOU ALL LOTS OF DATA, JUST TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS IN THE FUTURE. WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING ENGAGEMENT. WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING ALL ANALYSIS IN STEP 3. YOU'LL SEE ME AND MY TEAM AGAIN IN THE FALL TIME AS WE PRESENT THE DRAFT PLAN AND STEP 4. LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TALK TO US AND GIVE US THE MUCH NEEDED FEEDBACK FOR THIS PROCESS. LET ME QUICKLY GO THROUGH SOME MAPS AND SOME CONCEPTS THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR A PARK AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN. WE NEED TO BEGIN BY FIRST UNDERSTANDING WHAT ARE YOUR EXISTING PARKS, THE 20 THAT YOU HAVE, THE AMOUNT OF ACRES THAT ARE COUNTED ON CITY OWNED PARKLAND, WHICH IS ABOUT 100 ACRES, AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE CONDITIONS WHERE THEY'RE AT, AND THE ACCESSIBILITY THAT YOUR COMMUNITY HAS TO THESE REALLY IMPORTANT ASSETS. AS WE MENTIONED, WE'VE DONE LOTS OF INVENTORY WORK. WE'VE VISITED EVERY PARK, WE'VE TAKEN PICTURES. WE HAVE AN APP WHERE WE DROP POINTS ON EVERY PLAYGROUND, EVERY BENCH, EVERY BASKETBALL COURT, AND WE TYPE IN A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT DATA TO AGAIN, COLLECT THOSE CONDITIONS FOR ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT AMENITIES. IT WAS JUST REALLY REFRESHING FOR OUR TEAM JUST TO SEE THE DIVERSITY OF THE PARK SPACES, THE DIFFERENT CONDITIONS THAT THEY HAVE, AND THEN THE AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT, BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. WE'VE STARTED OUR ANALYSIS BASED ON THIS INVENTORY WORK AND TRYING TO ASSESS YOUR AMENITIES AND ALL OF THAT. PARK LEVEL OF SERVICE. I DO APOLOGIZE. THIS IS A PRETTY JARGON HEAVY PART OF THIS MASTER PLAN, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. THIS CONCEPT, PARK LEVEL OF SERVICE IS THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS MASTER PLAN AND PROCESS. IT'S US TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. IT'S LIKE A REPORT CARD, HOW MANY ACRES YOU CURRENTLY HAVE OF PARK LAND? WHAT'S YOUR POPULATION? WHAT'S YOUR GOAL THAT WAS SET IN YOUR GENERAL PLAN UNDER THAT ELEMENT OF HOW MANY PARKS FOR 1,000 RESIDENTS ARE YOU TRYING TO ACHIEVE? YOU HAVE A GOAL OF FOUR ACRES FOR EVERY 1,000 RESIDENTS HERE IN YOUR CITY. WHEN WE DO THE MATH AND WE ADD EVERYTHING UP, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL REPORT CARD FROM THIS STANDALONE CONCEPT. YOU HAVE 3.78 ACRES FOR EVERY 1,000 RESIDENTS. YOU ARE ALMOST AT YOUR GOAL. THIS IS INCREDIBLE, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ALL OVER CALIFORNIA. UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T SAY THAT FOR A LOT OF MY OTHER CLIENTS THAT WE'VE WORKED IN THE PAST. THE AMOUNT OF PARKS YOU CURRENTLY HAVE AND BASED ON YOUR POPULATION, YOU ARE SO CLOSE WE'RE BASICALLY ACHIEVING YOUR GOAL. THAT'S THE GREEN TABLE. THE ORANGE TABLE IS, LET'S LOOK INTO THE FUTURE. IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING AS IF YOU DON'T ADD ANY PARKS, AND WE EXPECT POPULATION GROWTH TO CONTINUE. YEAH, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE IT SMALL TIP, BASED ON POPULATION, JUST A LITTLE TIP SAYING THAT YOU WOULD BE IN A DEFICIT OF 40 ACRES. I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY IN THESE PRESENTATIONS IS THAT THIS IS NOT BAD. NO ONE'S PERFECT. IT'S RARE THAT A CITY ACHIEVES THEIR GOAL, BUT THIS IS PRETTY AMAZING. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THOUGH THAT ALL YOUR PARKS ARE IN AMAZING CONDITION, AND WE'LL GET TO THAT EVENTUALLY AS WE LOOK AT, WHAT ARE THE IMPROVEMENTS, BUT FROM JUST NUMBERS IN POPULATION, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD. IT'S A POSITIVE THING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ANALYSIS. THAT INVENTORY DATA EXERCISE THAT WE DID GETS INCLUDED INTO ANOTHER SPREADSHEET THAT IS HERE. THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT, AND WE COUNT HOW MANY COURTS DO YOU HAVE, HOW MANY FIELDS DO YOU HAVE HOW MANY PLAYGROUNDS AND BASED ON NATIONAL GUIDELINES, AND THEN BASED ON CITIES WITHIN YOUR CATEGORY OF POPULATION SIZE. WE CAN HAVE A GENERAL GUT FEELING OF HOW ARE YOU DOING IN MEETING YOUR GOALS FOR THESE DIFFERENT AMENITIES. THIS IS WE'RE WRAPPING THIS UP AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO BIGGER KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR THE UPCOMING OUTREACH EVENTS. BUT BASED ON THESE NUMBERS, AGAIN, IT'S NOT BLACK OR WHITE, IT'S JUST IT'S A GUIDANCE. THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF AMENITIES WHERE YOU ARE IN A DEFICIT, AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN YOUR EXISTING PARKS OR IF THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADD NEW PARKS, WHICH I KNOW IS LIMITED HERE IN THE CITY? HOW CAN WE START ADDRESSING AND ADDING SOME OF THESE AMENITIES TO GET YOU CLOSER TO THAT IDEAL NUMBER? THIS INFORMATION WILL BE INCLUDED IN YOUR REPORT AND SOMETHING FOR THE TEAM TO CONSIDER AS YOU'RE LOOKING AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN YOUR PARKS, SO NOT BAD. I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH SOME MAPS THAT ARE UNDER OUR TRAVEL SHED ANALYSIS. AGAIN, THIS IS ALL PART OF THE PARK LEVEL OF SERVICE. THESE MAPS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S TELLING THE STORY OF, DO YOUR RESIDENTS HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO YOUR PARKS AND YOUR DIFFERENT AMENITIES WITHIN YOUR PARKS? THIS ANALYSIS THAT WE DO IS YOUR CLASSIC HALF MILE TRAVEL SHED THAT IS TYPICALLY THAT 12-15 MINUTE WALK TIME FROM A PERSON'S HOME TO THEIR NEAREST PARK. WE DO THIS FOR ALL OF YOUR PARKS, AND WE'VE CREATED A SERIES OF MAPS THAT START TO TELL THAT STORY. THAT LIGHT GREEN OUTLINE THAT YOU SEE ON THIS MAP IS SHOWING THAT COVERAGE FROM ALL OF YOUR PARKS, [02:35:04] WHICH AGAIN, BASED ON YOUR CITY'S EXISTING CITY OWNED PARKS, YOU HAVE PRETTY GREAT COVERAGE. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE AREN'T ANY GAPS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ADD ANOTHER LAYER. WHEN YOU ADD THE LAYER OF THE RESIDENTIAL LAND USE, WHERE DO PEOPLE LIVE IN YOUR CITY? ARE THERE GAPS WITHIN THOSE RESIDENTIAL AREAS. WE DO SEE SOME GAPS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THESE ORANGE OUTLINES. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS JUST PART OF THE STORY, AND THIS IS GOING TO HELP US TRY TO FIGURE OUT, CAN WE ADD, CAN WE MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THESE GAPS TO HAVE AS MUCH EQUITABLE COVERAGE AS POSSIBLE? WE RUN THE SAME ANALYSIS FOR OTHER AMENITIES. WE TYPICALLY DO THE STANDARD THREE PLAYGROUNDS. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THESE ARE ALL YOUR PARKS WITH PLAYGROUNDS AND WE IDENTIFY IF ARE THERE ANY GAPS IN THE CITY WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESS TO PLAYGROUNDS. WE RUN THIS FOR YOUR SPORTS AMENITIES. EVERY PARK THAT HAS COURTS AND FIELDS, THEN WE TRY TO SEE IS THERE GOOD COVERAGE OR IS THERE NOT GOOD COVERAGE? YOU'RE SEEING HERE IN THE ORANGE OUTLINES, THOSE AREAS WITH GAPS. THEN LASTLY, WE RAN THIS ANALYSIS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND YOUR AQUATIC AND YOUR INDOOR FACILITIES WHERE THEY'RE OUT IN THE CITY AND DO PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THEM. BIGGER GAPS. NOT EVERY CITY IS GOING TO HAVE A COMMUNITY OR REC CENTER AND EVERY SINGLE PARK IN YOUR CITY. THIS IS EXPECTED TO HAVE BIGGER GAPS THROUGHOUT FOR THIS SPECIFIC ANALYSIS. I WILL WRAP UP MY PRESENTATION BY WALKING YOU THROUGH SOME OF OUR NEXT STEPS. AS NICOLE MENTIONED, WE'VE BEEN BUSY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE BUSY THROUGH DECEMBER 20 OF THIS YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO SUMMARIZE ALL OF THIS FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING. WE'VE SUMMARIZED THE WORKSHOP FEEDBACK, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WRAPPING UP OUR STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK THIS WEEK. I'LL BE BACK ON WEDNESDAY WITH MY OTHER TEAM MEMBER TO DO THE YOUTH SPORTS COMMITTEE AND TALKING TO THAT GROUP, AND HOPEFUL I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO GET REALLY GREAT FEEDBACK FROM THAT GROUP ITSELF. YOU'VE ALL MAYBE HAVE RECEIVED THE SURVEY. MAYBE YOU WERE ONE OF THE LUCKY PEOPLE WHO WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE OVER 500 COMPLETED SURVEYS. ANYBODY LISTENING OR HERE IN THE AUDIENCE IF YOU TOOK IT THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST TURNOUTS SO FAR, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CITY OF YOUR SIZE, OVER 500 SURVEYS FROM THE RANDOM. THEN WE'VE ALSO HAVE AN OPEN LINK OPEN THAT THE CITY'S BEEN PROMOTING, AND WE'VE HAVE OVER 50 OF THAT COMPLETED. THAT'S GOING TO BE A INCREDIBLE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE AND THEN COMPARE AND THEN START DEVELOPING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. OUR TEAM IS GOING TO BE BACK HERE IN THE SUMMER. TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING 4TH JULY EVENT HERE. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. WE'VE DONE BOTH TYPES OF EVENTS ON OTHER PROJECTS, AND THEY'RE JUST FANTASTIC. GOING TO THE PEOPLE, WHERE WE KNOW THERE'S A GUARANTEED AUDIENCE AND GETTING THEIR FEEDBACK ON THIS PLAN. ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, THEN WE'RE REALLY GOING TO START DEVELOPING THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO THEN REPORT BACK AT A TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, SOMETIME IN THE FALL. THEN WE'RE GOING TO PREPARE. HOPEFULLY, I'LL BE BACK HERE WITH YOU ALL, SOMETIME IN THE PROBABLY BEFORE THANKSGIVING TO GO THROUGH THE PLAN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL READY TO GO FOR ADOPTION. WE ARE AND THEN SINCE WE'RE RECORDING THIS PRESENTATION, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE INCLUDED A SLIDE HERE FOR THE EVENTS THAT ARE COMING UP. WE'RE GOING TO HELP THE CITY DO PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL, GET THE WORD OUT. HOPEFULLY, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOUR RESIDENTS. WE HAVE A PROJECT WEBSITE, WHERE WE'RE KEEPING UP TO DATE WHERE YOUR COMMUNITY CAN GO TO. ANYBODY WHO'S LISTENING OR WATCHING THIS, FEEL FREE TO TAKE A SCREENSHOT OF THIS SO YOU CAN CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING TO THE MASTER PLANNING PROCESS. ON BEHALF OF MY TEAM AND THEN NICOLE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, LETTING ME GIVE YOU THIS UPDATE AND HAVING AN OPEN DISCUSSION. I KNOW WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WELL, THANK YOU, KIND SIR. APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT HERE AND MAKING A LAVERNE A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN IT ALREADY IS, EVEN BETTER. ANY COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? >> I HAVE A QUESTION. THANK YOU COMING OUT TO OUR WIAC MEETING AS WELL. APPRECIATE THAT. WHEN I CAME ON COUNCIL IN 2020, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION AND WE WERE GOING FOR A GRANT FOR A TEEN CENTER IN THE LAS FLORES PARK. THAT GRANT NEVER CAME IN, BUT IS THAT STILL PART OF OUR PARKS PLAN IN CASE IF WE EVER GET THE MONEY FOR IT, A TEEN CENTER IS HIGHLY DESIRABLE, AND THEY HAD A LOCATION FOR IT. THEY HAD PRELIMINARY PLANS OF DOING IT, BUT JUST THE MONEY DID NOT COME THROUGH. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS STILL PART OF OUR DISCUSSION THAT HAS NOT GONE AWAY. >> THANK YOU, RICK. APPRECIATE YOU. WENDY. [02:40:03] >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. YES. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT MR. CROSBY AND I HAVE SAT THROUGH THIS TWICE NOW, BUT I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE UPDATES BECAUSE THERE WAS NEW INFORMATION IN THERE THAT WE DIDN'T RECEIVE BEFORE BECAUSE IT WASN'T READY. THANK YOU FOR THAT, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO TOUCH ON ONE COMPONENT THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT EARLY ON IN THE PRESENTATION AND THAT'S ACCESSIBILITY TO THE PARK. I KNOW WE'VE DONE SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR PARKS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES. I WANT TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THAT. I THINK IT WAS IT MAY HAVE BEEN IN YOUR REPORT, BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR CITY TO WHAT TYPES OF THINGS, WHAT TYPES OF AMENITIES ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO OUR RESIDENTS AND LOOKING AT THAT. I APPRECIATE THE HALF MILE WALK ACCESSIBILITY. I THINK ABOUT OUR OLDER POPULATION, WHO I THINK HAVING ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS IS GREAT, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THAT ACCESS IS SAFE. MAKING SURE THAT THE WAY THERE IS SAFE. I THINK FOR THOSE OF US THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK IT'S DIFFERENT FOR WOMEN THAN IT IS FOR MEN, IF YOU WANT TO GO RUNNING AT NIGHT. HAVING PARKS AND ROADWAYS THAT ARE SAFE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE I CAN GO, GET MY EXERCISE, ETC. I THINK THE ACCESSIBILITY COMPONENT IS HUGE. I THINK THE MORE THAT YOU CAN REPORT BACK TO US ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THESE PARKS AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY AND REALLY HAVE THEM BE A UTILIZED RESOURCE VERSUS A RESOURCE THAT SITS THERE AND MAYBE ISN'T AS WELL USED AS ANOTHER PARK. WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT SEE THERE THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR US TO KNOW ABOUT? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THANK YOU. >> OF COURSE. MAY I RESPOND TO THAT. IF I MAY JUST REALLY BRIEF, ACCESSIBILITY, AND YOU HIT IT SPOT ON, BUT WE CAN TAKE IT EVEN FURTHER AND WE TRY TO, THERE'S THIS CONCEPT OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, THE A CONCEPT. NOT ONLY BASED ON LIKE DEMOGRAPHICS, BUT EVEN JUST PHYSICAL ABILITY, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT UNIVERSAL PLAYGROUNDS, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS RIDE FROM THE SIDEWALK TO THE PLAYGROUND. I'M HAPPY THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO YOU BECAUSE WE WILL BE HAVING THESE POLICY TYPE RECOMMENDATIONS AND LITERAL RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN EXISTING PARKS ON WHERE ACCESSIBILITY CAN BE IMPROVED. THANK YOU. >> I JUST LIKE TO MENTION TOO, THE YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. WITHOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FIELDS, WE'D BE IN A WORLD OF HURT. >> YOU WOULD. >> WE RELY ON THOSE FIELDS GREATLY FOR OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS. >> YOU'RE RIGHT, STEVE, OUR JOINT USE AGREEMENTS IS COMING UP AS WELL. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN THOSE. >> YOU WOULD HAVE HIGHER DEFICITS COUNCIL MEMBER IF IT WASN'T FOR THOSE JOINT USE AGREEMENTS, SO HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP, AND I HOPE IT JUST CONTINUES TO BE POSITIVE AND STRONG BECAUSE IT'S VERY COMMON. EVERY CITY HAS SOME JUA BECAUSE IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND THE LAND TO HAVE ENOUGH DIAMOND FIELDS AND SOCCER FIELDS, ETC. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. I WITHOUT ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM OUR AMAZING COUNSEL. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER? MS. BEST, PLEASE COME ON UP. >> THANK YOU ALL. APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. I LIKE IT ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. LOVE THE CONCEPT. >> SHERRY BEST, 3949 BRADFORD STREET AND LAVERNE. I LIVE IN A PART OF LAVERNE THAT IS DESIGNATED BY LOS ANGELES COUNTY AS BEING PARKED DEFICIENT. SEVERAL ORANGE CIRCLES APPEARED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I LIVE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO URGE CITY LEADERSHIP WHO ARE PROBABLY NEGOTIATING RIGHT NOW WITH THE LEWIS LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY TO LOOK AT THE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL PROPERTY THAT THIS DOES REPRESENT ONE OF THE LAST OPEN SPACES AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME PARK RELIEF FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, WHO HAVE ALSO ABSORBED SEVERAL DEVELOPMENTS AND WILL ABSORB EVEN MORE DENSITY WITH THE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT. I WANT US TO KEEP THAT AT THE TOP OF OUR MINDS BECAUSE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY. AS COUNCILMAN JOHNSON HAS SAID, WE'RE PRETTY BUILT OUT, AND THIS IS REALLY ONE OF THE LAST PLACES THAT ACTUALLY COULD BECOME A PARK. I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE SOCCER FIELDS THAT ARE USED THERE ON THE WEEKENDS WILL BE LOST TO THE CITY OF LAVERNE FOREVER WHEN THAT AREA IS DEVELOPED INTO HOUSING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. BESS. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENT? HEARING NONE, COME BACK UP TO OUR AMAZING CITY COUNCIL FOR ANY FURTHER COMMENTS THAT WE HAVE ON THIS MATTER. IF THERE'S NONE, IF THERE'S A MOTION TO PROVIDE INPUT AND APPROPRIATE DIRECTION TO STAFF REGARDING THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN UPDATE. DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT? [02:45:03] >> DO WE NEED A MOTION? >> [INAUDIBLE]. I THINK YOU'VE ALL GIVEN YOUR INPUT. AT THIS POINT, I THINK RECEIVE AND FILE WOULD BE GOOD. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE AND FILE THEN. >> MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE. >> AND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND. YOU GO AHEAD AND VOTE. >> THAT ITEM. MOTION BY JOHNSON, SECONDED BY LAU, APPROVED FOUR-OH, WITH MAYOR HEPBURN BEING ABSENT. >> THANK YOU, JR. THERE IS NO OTHER BUSINESS TONIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. [PUBLIC COMMENTS] THIS IS THE TIME SET ASIDE FOR ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA, BUT WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER AND THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THE BROWN ACT PROHIBITS THE CITY COUNCIL FROM ENGAGING IN DISCUSSION ON ANY ITEM NOT ON THE POSTED AGENDA. YOUR CONCERNS MAY BE REFERRED TO STAFF OR PLACED ON DISCUSSION AT A LATER DATE. THERE IS A THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. AT THIS TIME, THOSE WISHING TO SPEAK CAN COME TO THE PODIUM AND THE GOOD ARMY OFFICER AS I AM, I'LL HAVE THAT THREE MINUTES, SO I'LL GIVE YOU A COUNTDOWN. NO. PLEASE COME ON UP. THANK YOU, MA'AM. STATE YOUR NAME. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. GOOD JOB, MAYOR PRO TEM KASHIFALGHITA. GOOD JOB THIS EVENING. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> MY NAME IS KATHY COLUSA. I'M ON THIRD STREET HERE IN OUR GREAT CITY OF LAVERNE. LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS, MR. BOWEN ACCUSED ME OF HIJACKING THE IRISH HERITAGE PROCLAMATION AND TURNING IT INTO AN LBGT DIATRIBE, SO I WANTED TO ADDRESS THIS. I HAD TO LEAVE EARLY LAST MEETING, SO I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO DO IT THEN. ANDREA BLOCK AND JUR HAD CONTACTED IVANA GAGEGOS AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CULTURAL AWARENESS AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OR CASI COMMITTEE TO FIND SOMEONE TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION SO IVANA HAD ASKED ME. I HAD A COUPLE OF OUT-OF-AREA APPOINTMENTS THAT DAY, SO I COULDN'T COMMIT BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE IF I'D MAKE IT BACK IN TIME. THEN SHE REACHED OUT TO TOM KIERNAN, WHO GLADLY ACCEPTED. THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE MEETING, IVANA RAN INTO KEN DOMER WHO TOLD HER MR. BOWEN WOULD BE ACCEPTING THE PROCLAMATION, AND IVANA ASKED KEN IF IT WOULD BE OKAY FOR MORE THAN ONE PERSON TO ACCEPT SINCE OTHER PEOPLE WERE INTERESTED, AND HE SAID, YES. I MADE IT TO THE MEETING AND MAYOR HEPBURN INVITED ANYONE OF IRISH DESCENT TO COME UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER PROCLAMATIONS IN THE PAST WHEN OTHER PEOPLE WERE INVITED TO COME UP, EVEN THOUGH MR. BOWEN SAID THAT IT HADN'T. I SPOKE TO THANK OUR CITY LEADERSHIP FOR PROMOTING CULTURAL AWARENESS AND SOCIAL INCLUSION BY CONTINUING TO HONOR THESE PROCLAMATIONS. I SPOKE ABOUT HOW BACK IN THE MID-1800S, WHEN MY GREAT GRANDFATHER CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, ANTI-IRISH SENTIMENTS WERE WIDESPREAD, AND IT WAS COMMON TO SEE NEWSPAPER ADS OR NOTICES IN STOREFRONTS THAT SAID NO IRISH NEED APPLY, AND THAT FORTUNATELY, THIS TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST IRISH DESCENDANTS IS PRETTY MUCH UNHEARD OF TODAY BUT THAT UNFORTUNATELY, OTHER ETHNICITIES, GENDERS AND THOSE OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY STILL FACE DISCRIMINATION DUE TO HAVING THE WRONG LOOK, SKIN COLOR, OR FOR JUST BEING DIFFERENT. MY HOPE IS THAT SOMEDAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE, DISCRIMINATION WILL BE A THING OF THE PAST, LIKE IT IS FOR THE IRISH IMMIGRANTS. THESE PROCLAMATIONS ARE A SMALL STEP TOWARDS BRINGING ACCEPTANCE FOR ALL, AND I APPRECIATE OUR CITY LEADERSHIP FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THEM. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. APPRECIATE YOU. ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THREE MINUTES OF THEIR LOVELY TIME TO COME ON AND STEP UP? OPEN THIS SIDE. WELL, HEARING NONE, I'D LIKE TO BRING IT BACK UP HERE TO THE COUNCIL. [COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS] AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE AND COMMENTS. WE'LL MOVE ON HERE TO OUR CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS. I'LL START FROM MY FAR RIGHT, AMAZING COLLEAGUE AND THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND, RICK CROSBY. >> THANK YOU. IF YOU DID NOT CATCH OUR STUDY SESSION EARLIER TODAY, WE HAD A PRELIMINARY BUDGET STUDY SESSION. PLEASE REVIEW IT, PLEASE SEE IT. THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION GIVEN AND I REALLY NEED YOUR INPUT ON THAT AS WELL. ALSO, I SIT ON THE PVTA BOARD. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE, THIS WAS SAID EARLIER, BUT A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT REDUCING OF SERVICES, SO PLEASE HAVE YOUR INPUT, [02:50:01] COME TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. IT IS ON MAY 20TH ON TUESDAY AT 11:00 A.M. AT PALOMARES COMMUNITY CENTER IN POMONA. THERE ARE FLIERS ON THE TABLE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE AS WELL. MY NEXT LIBRARY COMMISSION MEETING IS ON MAY 19TH AT THE KENNETH HAHN HALL OF ADMINISTRATION. THEN, MR. DOMER, IT'S BEEN IN THE PAPER A LOT ABOUT UPDATES ABOUT PROBATION AND TO OUR CAMPS, ESPECIALLY AFFLERBAUGH, PAIGE. IF YOU CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE ABOUT THAT AS WELL, I APPRECIATE IT. ALWAYS I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR OBSERVER HERE THAT COMES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS DOING THE RIGHT THING HERE IN THE CITY, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. >> THANK YOU, RICK. APPRECIATE YOU. MY NEXT AMAZING COLLEAGUE, MS. WENDY LAU. >> THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW, MR. DOMER, IF YOU WANTED TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION THAT RICK POSED OR IF YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE END. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE, THE LA COUNTY FAIR IS HERE. OPENING DAY WAS THIS PAST FRIDAY, AND THERE ARE DEFINITELY TREATS TO BE HAD AND FOOD TO BE EATEN, SO PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HEAD OUT THERE. LAVERNE DAY WILL BE THIS COMING FRIDAY, SO IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE, THERE ARE DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR RESIDENTS OF LAVERNE, SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T MISS OUT ON THAT AND GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME FRIED OREOS, OR SOME HOT HONEY CORN DOGS, OR SOME BACON WRAPPED PICKLES, PICKLE LEMONADE, ALL THE FUN THINGS, SO MAKE SURE YOU MAKE YOUR WAY OUT THERE. I ALSO WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT UNIVERSITY OF LAVERNE HAD THEIR SCHOLARSHIP GALA THIS LAST SATURDAY. YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN THE ERECTED STRUCTURE THAT WAS UP BY THE LUDWICK CENTER. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT THAT WE RAISED A LOT OF GOOD MONEY FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE HAD ONE OF OUR STUDENTS, TAYLOR PUNO TALK ABOUT HER RESEARCH THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO DO WITH DR. CARMONA. ALONG WITH TAYLOR, I BELIEVE 20 OTHER STUDENTS WERE PUBLISHED FOR THEIR RESEARCH, AND SO DOING SOME REALLY GREAT AND AMAZING THINGS THERE, SO IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, TO FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE. I KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON AND HIS WIFE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND, AS WELL AS KEN DOMER AND HIS WIFE, AND JR AND HIS WIFE, AND LOTS OF FOLKS. IT WAS A REALLY GOOD TURNOUT, REALLY FUN EVENT. YOU GET THE CHANCE, WE'VE GOT SOME AWESOME FOLKS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LAVERNE, AS I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN FROM OUR PRESENTATIONS TODAY. WE HAD TWO FORMER PROFESSORS HONORED, LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALUMN, I THINK THERE'S THREE OF US UP HERE ON THE DIAS RIGHT NOW. CAN'T THROW A ROCK IN THE CITY WITHOUT HITTING AN ALUMN, SO LEOS FOR LIFE. JUST AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THERE IS A CASI MEETING FOR THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN CULTURAL AWARENESS AND SOCIAL INCLUSION TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:00 P.M. AT HILLCREST IN THE CITRUS ROOM, SO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU, SO PLEASE COME IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE. THEN BECAUSE OUR NEXT MEETING IS GOING TO HAPPEN AFTERWARDS, I JUST WANTED TO WISH EVERY MOTHER A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, WHETHER YOU'RE A MOM TO TWO-LEGGED FOLKS OR FOUR-LEGGED FURRY ONES. HAVE A GREAT MOTHER'S DAY. HOPE YOU GET TREATED WELL. THEN THIS FUN GUIDE IS OUT. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, I WOULD URGE YOU TO FLIP TO THE LAST PAGE WHERE YOU'LL SEE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU MIGHT NEED ABOUT 4TH OF JULY. OUR THEME THIS YEAR IS STAR, STRIPES, AND SERVICE. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST, THE FIREWORK SHOW, COMING TO OUR PARADE, ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF, THE INFORMATION IS HERE, YOU CAN PURCHASE TICKETS VIA QR CODE AND AN APP. IT'S EASY PEASY, LEMON SQUEEZY, I PROMISE. I MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE YOU ALL OUT THERE FOR 4TH OF JULY. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ENTERING A FLOAT, IT'S NOT TOO LATE, YOU CAN STILL DO THAT AS WELL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REGISTER. WITH THAT, AS ALWAYS BE KIND AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK. >> THANK YOU, MS. WENDY LAU. SHE ALWAYS KNOWS HOW TO PUT IT TOGETHER. I GOT TO TELL YOU. STEVEN. >> VERY GOOD. I WAS AT THE LAVERNE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD THIS MORNING. THEY TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WINE WALK. IT WAS A LITTLE WET I HEAR. IT STILL WAS A SUCCESS. THEY ARE LOOKING AT CHANGING THE DATE POSSIBLY FOR NEXT YEAR JUST AS HEADS UP. THAT'S CONFLICT WITH. I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHY THEY CHANGE THE DATE, BUT IT'LL HELP ME. TOMORROW NIGHT IS THE AWARDS NIGHT FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. EACH SCHOOL WILL BE HONORING A TEACHER A YEAR. [02:55:06] I PLAN TO BE THERE FOR THAT PROGRAM. >> AWESOME. THANK YOU, STEVE. THAT PROGRAM IS GOING TO START AT FIVE O'CLOCK IT LOOKS LIKE. >> YEAH. >> 5:00 AT THE BONITA CENTER OF THE ARTS. >> MAYBE YOU'LL BE THERE. >> I'M GOING TO DO MY VERY BEST. I PROMISE YOU THAT. WHAT A GREAT CITY WE LIVE IN. DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO DO OTHER THAN TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY THIS PAST FEW WEEKS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I DID LOSE MY FATHER. BUT ONE THING FOR ME HE'S ALWAYS LEFT, AND I'M GOING TO END IT WITH MY COMMENTS AND ATTRIBUTE TO HIM. SORRY. HERE, THE ARMY GUY ME YOU STAY TOUGH, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BUT, IT WAS ROUGH. CANCER IS REALLY HARD. I TAKE THIS TIME TO TELL YOU ALL, TAKE CARE OF YOUR NEIGHBORS, TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY, TAKE CARE OF YOUR LOVED ONES. MY DAD, HE LEFT THIS WORLD WITH NOTHING MORE THAN HIS GOOD DEEDS. IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER THE RICH, OR WEALTH, EDUCATION THAT YOU HAVE, ALL YOU HAVE IS YOUR GOOD DEEDS. TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER. I SIT ON THIS PODIUM BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO DO GOOD. MY DAD ALWAYS TELLS ME, EVERY TIME I LEAVE HERE, I ALWAYS GO TO HIS HOUSE, AND I ALWAYS SAY, "DAD, HOW DO YOU THINK I DID TONIGHT?" HE GOES, "I DON'T KNOW, BUT DON'T MESS UP MY CITY." HE ALWAYS PROUD OF LAVERNE, MAN. GOOD STORY I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW WE GOT TO LAVERNE. MY DAD GOT LOST. I SWEAR TO GOD, MY DAD GOT LOST. WE'RE COMING FROM DOWNTOWN LA, I REMEMBER IT WAS 1980, I DON'T REMEMBER. I REMEMBER AS A KID. I WAS SITTING IN THE BACK OF FORD LTD, IT WAS GREEN IN COLOR, AND NO CHILD SEAT BELTS AT THAT TIME, AND MY DAD, THEY TOLD, "HEY, YOU GOT TO GET TO LAVERNE." THEY SAID, "YOU TAKE THE 210, YOU GO THIS WAY." HE'S TRYING TO GO TO IRVINE. I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT HE MADE IT TO LAVERNE, AND THAT IS OUR STORY. BOTH OF MY PARENTS PASSED AND REST IN HEAVEN ARE ULV GRADUATES AND HAVE THEIR MASTERS AND DOCTORATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LAVERNE, AND SO BOTH NOW ARE GOING TO BE BURIED HERE IN THE CITY OF LAVERNE. IT IS A CONSTANT REMINDER TO ME OF OUR AMAZING CITY THAT HAS OPENED ITS ARMS TO IMMIGRANT LIKE ME WHO CAME TO THE CITY WITH NOTHING, AND I SIT HERE TODAY. I'LL CONTINUE TO DO MY BEST AND THE BEST IS ALL I GOT. NO PUN INTENDED BUT I LOVE THAT BEST. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> WE ARE. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS GUY'S FIFTH GRADE PHOTO, I HAVE IT FOR A SMALL FEE WILL CONTRIBUTE. [INAUDIBLE] RYAN, I'LL SCREENSHOT AND PUT IT ON THE CITY WEBSITE. BUT THAT IS ALL I HAVE. PLEASE AGAIN, AS MY AMAZING COLLEAGUES ALWAYS USED TO SAY, AND I'D LIKE TO REPEAT IT, JUST BE KIND. THANK YOU. BEFORE I CAN DO THAT, CITY MANAGER, HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? >> YEAH, JUST TO ANSWER, MR. CROSBY'S. THE COUNTY RECENTLY LAST WEEK, THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES GOING ON WITH THEIR LOS PADRINOS AND MOVING YOUTH AND ALL THAT STUFF DUE TO A COURT ORDER. THERE WAS A GLOBAL PLAN THAT HAD CALLED FOR CAMP PAIGE TO CLOSE AND BASED ON THE ACTION LAST WEEK, WE'RE SEEING THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE, THAT THE COUNTY HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT DOING SOME REPAIRS AND THEN MOVING SOME POST-DISPOSITION YOUTH INTO THERE. TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. WE DO WANT TO SET UP A MEETING WITH THE COUNTY AND HAVE A VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT, AN ONLINE TOWN HALL WITH OUR COMMUNITY JUST SO THEY CAN HEAR DIRECTLY FROM PROBATION AND VOICE THEIR CONCERNS. DO YOU KNOW THAT CAMP PAIGE IS CURRENTLY THEIR POPULATION IS ABOUT 17, IT WOULD GO UP TO 22. THEN CAMP AFFLERBAUGH IS CURRENTLY ABOUT 44, IT'D GO UP TO 52 AND STILL WITHIN WHAT THEY CURRENTLY HOST, SO IT'S NOT ADDED SECURITY FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. BUT WE'RE GETTING MORE INFORMATION, AND WE WILL KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED AS WE GET THAT. AGAIN, THIS ALL CAME OUT ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, SO WE'RE JUST MONITORING, TALKING TO OUR FOLKS. CHIEF GONZALEZ HAS BEEN TALKING TO FOLKS OVER AT PROBATION AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE AT BARGER'S OFFICE. >> I HOPE FOR SOME GOOD DIALOGUE, AND WE'LL HAVE THAT ABILITY. I KNOW WE HAVE AN AMAZING POLICE CHIEF THAT'LL BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT WITH THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES AND PROBATION IN PARTICULAR. WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND HAVE THAT DELICATE BALANCE OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO THOSE THAT ARE AFFECTED THE YOUTH, BUT MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITY IS PRIORITY, I BELIEVE THAT, AND YOUR SAFETY IS MY PRIORITY AND OUR PRIORITY AS A CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING. MADAM AMAZING ATTORNEY. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR PRO TEM. WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION, HOPEFULLY, NOT TOO LONG, CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6, NEGOTIATOR, CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND CITY ATTORNEY. EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS, LAVERNE CITY EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, LAVERNE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, [03:00:05] LAVERNE POLICE MIDDLE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, LAVERNE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, AND ALL UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES, AND HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO. >> HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO. THANK YOU. THE TIME NOW IS 8:20 AND WE'LL RECESS THE CLOSE SESSION TONIGHT. WE ARE ADJOURNING TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN. SPECIAL MEETING ON SATURDAY, MAY 17, AT 9:00 A.M. RIGHT HERE AT THE CITY HALL IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER. THE NEXT REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE MONDAY MAY 19TH AT 05:30 P.M. AS A REMINDER TO ALL UPCOMING EVENTS, AND MEETINGS ARE POSTED ON THE LAST PAGE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. TIM HEPBURN, YOU HAVE A GREAT TIME, MY FRIEND. I TOLD YOU I'LL DO GOOD. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> WE ARE ADJOURNING IN MEMORY. TONIGHT, WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AFTER OUR CLOSED SESSION IN MEMORY OF DON POLLOCK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. [INAUDIBLE] BREAK. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.