[00:00:01]
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING TONIGHT? GO DODGERS.
THEY SAID THAT AND I EVEN THOUGHT SO, AND I'M NOT A BIG BUFF FOR SPORTS, BUT BOY, IT WAS HARD NOT TO WATCH AND WATCH WHAT AN AMAZING GAMES THEY WERE.
THE FACT THAT THEY SAID THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST EXCITING AND WELL PLAYED GAME IN BASEBALL HISTORY, WHICH IS LIKE, HEY, AND A NICE BIG PARADE TODAY.
AGAIN, WE'RE ALL GOT SOME BLUE ON TODAY, SO WE'RE JUST IN SUPPORT OF OUR WONDERFUL TEAM.
ANYWAY, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:34 P.M. WE HAVE TURNED
[CALL TO ORDER]
THE AIR CONDITIONING DOWN AS LOW AS IT'LL GO.REMIND YOU IF YOU HAVE A SPEAKER CARD DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM ON THE 218 PROTEST HEARING.
WE'VE GOT THAT RIGHT THERE. ALSO, THERE IS CASES OF WATER.
DON'T HESITATE TO HELP YOURSELF, PLEASE.
IT'LL COOL DOWN A LITTLE BIT, I THINK, MAYBE, BUT, WE JUST ALL DOWN.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT PER THE CITY'S RULES OF QUORUM, ALL SPEAKERS, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITH THE QUORUM AND NOT TO ENGAGE IN THE CONDUCT THAT INTERRUPTS THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
ALSO, PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH ZOOM MAY BE ACCEPTED FOR THE AGENDA ITEMS LISTED WITHIN THE CONSENT CALENDAR, PUBLIC HEARING AND DISCUSSION CALENDAR SECTIONS OF THE AGENDA.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE MEETING BY THOSE PHYSICALLY IN ATTENDANCE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
WE LOOK TO HAVE A FULL HOUSE AS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, A FULL HOUSE, WHICH IS NICE TO SEE.
PLEASE EVERYONE BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE OTHER'S OPINION AND ALLOW FOR CIVIL DEBATE.
I WANT TO SAY WE ALSO HAD A CLOSED SESSION.
[CLOSED SESSION TOPIC]
ATTORNEY BARLOW, DID WE HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT ON OUR CLOSED SESSION AT 5:30?THERE WAS NO REPORTABLE ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION.
WITH THE NIGHT, TONIGHT, WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE US VIETNAM,
[REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - 6:30 PM]
VETERAN SERGEANT HOWARD HERNANDEZ.HOWARD, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME UP FORWARD TO DO OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD EVENING, PLEASE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
ALL OF YOU VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS OUR FIRST RESPONSORS, PLEASE HAND SALUTE. REPEAT AFTER ME.
THE TIME CHANGE REALLY MESSED ME UP.
WELL, WHAT DOESN'T MESS ME UP IS ALWAYS BEING PRESENCE IN FRONT OF AMAZING PEOPLE HERE IN OUR CITY OF LA VERNE, AND I ALWAYS HAVE THE HONOR TO BE AMONGSTS AMERICA'S GREAT.
THOSE VETERANS THAT SERVED, THOSE VETERANS THAT STILL SERVE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE VETERANS THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE AND CARRY THAT TORCH FORWARD FOR OUR GRATEFUL NATION.
TODAY, WE HAVE SERGEANT HERNANDEZ, A VIETNAM VETERAN.
TRUE HONOR TO BE NEXT TO YOU, SIR.
>> IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE.
>> WE'D LIKE A CITY LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SERGEANT HERNANDEZ. HOWARD HERNANDEZ?
>> I TELL EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS HOWARD HERNANDEZ, AND I WAS BORN IN EAST LA.
I'M A NATIVE ANGELINO, AND I LIVED HERE IN POMONA.
I'VE LIVED IN MONTEBELLO, AND IN THE CITY OF COMMERCE.
MY ENTIRE LIFE, FOR THE EXCEPTION OF THE TWO YEARS THAT I WAS OVERSEAS, WAS IT HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
I CAN ASSURE YOU, I'VE TRAVELED THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MONTANA AND NORTH DAKOTA AND ALASKA.
BUT THERE'S NO PLACE BETTER THAN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
PERIOD, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE, AND FRANKLY, I'M NOT ACCUSTOMED TO THE COLD.
GROWING UP HERE. MY IDEA OF A GOOD AFTERNOON WAS TENNIS SHOES, LEVIS AND T SHIRT.
I DID GRADUATE FROM CHAFFEY COLLEGE.
[00:05:01]
I WENT ON TO CARL STATE LA, FROM THERE ON, I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AT SOUTHWESTERN, EVENTUALLY GRADUATED FROM LAW SCHOOL.I TAUGHT IN LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND BECAUSE OF A LOSS OF HERE.
I WAS AN ARTILERY SERGEANT ON A 155 MILLIMETER HOWITZER.
AS A CONSEQUENCE, I'M TOTALLY DEFT ON MY LEFT SIDE. PART OF THE JOB.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
WHEN YOU HEAR THE ALARM GO OFF, YOU REALIZE, THAT THERE ARE VETERANS OUT THERE WHO NEED YOU.
IT'S YOUR JOB TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AT THAT MINUTE.
WE WERE SO FINELY TUNED THAT WE COULD GET A 15 MILLIMETER HUITZ ROUND OUT WITHIN 3 MINUTES.
FROM THE TIME WE GOT THE HEARD THE BELL, WE GO OUT THERE AND WE KNEW THEY NEEDED OUR SUPPORT.
WHEN WE NEEDED THEIR SUPPORT, THEY WERE THERE FOR US.
ANYBODY WHO TELLS YOU THEY WEREN'T SCARED, THEY'RE A LIAR.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED THERE, I DIDN'T SLEEP FOR TWO DAYS LITERALLY.
I WAS JUST A BUNDLE OF NERVES, AND THEN I DECIDED, I GOT TO CALM DOWN.
AFTER MY YEAR WAS UP, I CAME OUT.
I CURRENTLY SERVE WITH THE COMMUNITY VETERANS ENGAGEMENT BOARD, WHICH IS BASICALLY A BOARD THAT IS A LIAISON WITH THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, AND WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR VETRANS, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR DEPENDENTS FOR MEDICAL FOR THEIR HOUSING, FOR THEIR HEALTH, AND WE SERVICE SAN LOS A BISCO, SANTA BARBARA RIVER, AND THETA, KERN AND 90% OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
I'M THE ALREADY REPRESENTATIVE EAST OF THE HARBOR FREEWAY, AND ALL THE WAY OUT TO CLAREMONT, DOWN TO SOUTHEAST, LOS ANGELES.
THE REST OF THE MEMBERS, AND THERE'S 12 OF US CURRENTLY, THERE SHOULD BE 18, THERE'S SIX VACANCIES.
BUT WE HAVE TO OVERSEE THE NEEDS OF ALL THESE VETERANS.
THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF VETERANS THAN ANY COUNTY IN THE STATE IN THE UNITED STATES PI.
WE HAVE MORE VETERANS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THAN ANY STATE.
YOU PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, AND WHEN THEY CALL US, WE STEP UP.
WE STEP UP BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO FOR OUR COUNTRY.
WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE UNIFORM, JUST BECAUSE I RELINQUISHED MY UNIFORM, DOES NOT MEAN MY JOB WAS OVER.
THAT MEANS I HAVE TO SUPPORT MY COMMUNITY NOW, AND I HAVE SUPPORTED MY COMMUNITY EVERYWHERE I'VE GONE.
I THANK EVERYONE FOR THE HONOR OF BEING HERE AND FOR THE ABILITY TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M PROUD TO BE A VETERAN, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE SERVED. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
>> I WISH I HAD A COIN TO GIVE YOU RIGHT NOW.
BUT I HAVE THIS CERTIFICATE, CITY OF LA VERNE, CERTIFICATE RECOGNITION, PRESENTED TO HOWARD HERNANDEZ.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THE LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL'S ARMY VETERAN, SERGEANT HOWARD HERNANDEZ, WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE, AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TOK. GOD BLESS YOU, SORRY. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. TONIGHT, WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS.
[PRESENTATIONS]
FIRST IS THE LIGHTS AND SIRENS HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE.THE LA VERNE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE LA VERNE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATIONS ARE LEADING A JOINT EFFORT TO BRING HOLIDAY CHEER THIS CHRISTMAS.
[00:10:01]
WILL SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANA JEN BROWN AND COMMUNITY SERVICES SUPERVISOR HOLLY SAVAGE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THERE THEY ARE.>> WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST TONIGHT AS WELL.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND RESIDENTS.
I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, THE LA VERNE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, LA VERNE POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, AND OUR PARTNERS AT HILL CREST HAVE COME TOGETHER TO LAUNCH THE LIGHTS AND SIRENS TOY DRIVE, A NEW LOCALLY RUN PROGRAM, THAT CONTINUES OUR CITY'S MORE THAN 20 YEAR TRADITION OF GIVING PREVIOUSLY KNOWN THROUGH THE SPARK OF LOVE CAMPAIGN.
THE LIGHTS AND SIRENS TOY WILL RUN FROM NOVEMBER 12 THROUGH DECEMBER 12, COLLECTING NEW UNWRAPPED TOYS FOR LA VERNE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN NEED.
YOU'LL SEE OUR WHITE DONATION BINS WITH BRIGHT BLUE POSTERS, AT CITY HALL, THE COMMUNITY CENTER, THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, ALL THREE FIRE STATIONS, AND AT HILL CREST.
WE ALSO HAVE TWO SPECIAL COMMUNITY EVENTS THIS YEAR.
ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, THE LA VERNE FIRE FIGHT ASSOCIATION, POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND BONITA HIGH SCHOOL, WILL FACE OFF IN THE ANNUAL SOFTBALL GAME.
AT WHEELER AVENUE PARK AT 5:00 P.M. THEN ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, FROM 8:00 A.M-11:00 A.M. WE'LL HOST THE STUFF THE SIRENS EVENT AT THE TARGET SHOPPING CENTER WHERE WE'LL BE FILLING AN AMBULANCE WITH TOYS DONATED BY THE COMMUNITY.
FULL PROGRAM DETAILS AND TOY DRIVE APPLICATION INFORMATION WILL BE POSTED ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNEL, STARTING ON MONDAY.
TONIGHT, WE'VE BROUGHT ONE OF OUR LIGHTS AND SIRENS DONATION BINS AND SPARKY TO HELP US KICK THINGS OFF.
WE'D LOVE TO INVITE OUR CITY COUNCIL TO BE THE FIRST TO DONATE TOYS FOR THE SEASON AND JOIN US FOR A QUICK PHOTO WITH SPARK.
SETTING THE EXAMPLE, GUYS. I LOVE IT.
THANK YOU. LET'S GET SPARKY IN THE MIDDLE ON EITHER SIDE.
I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW.
THESE ARE OUR FOLKS FROM HILL CREST.
WE SO DEPEND ON OUR FOLKS AT HILL CREST TO HELP US WITH THE TOY DRIVE, SO THEY MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> NEXT IS THE OUTGOING COMMISSIONER RECOGNITION.
LEARN RESIDENTS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE AS COMMISSIONERS.
AT THIS TIME, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR OUTGOING COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE GENEROUSLY SERVED OUR COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS.
AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATE.
FOR THOSE NOT IN ATTENDANCE, WE WILL SEE THAT YOUR CERTIFICATE IS DELIVERED TO YOUR HOUSE.
AT THE END, WE'LL DO A GROUP PICTURE OF ALL OUTGOING COMMISSIONERS.
FIRST, LET'S START WITH OUR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THESE COMMITTEE MEMBERS SUPPORTED KEY MOBILITY AND SAFETY INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRST ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING DISTRICT, PROJECT ON EAST E AND SECOND STREET AND PROGRESS TOWARD THE A LINE STATION OPENING AND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE PROJECT, AMONGST OTHERS.
COMMITTEE MEMBER CURTIS MCPHERSON, HE WILL NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.
>> COMMITTEE MEMBER JARED PALMER.
>> COMMITTEE MEMBER TOM SKY HILL, A SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO VICE CHAIR TOM SKY HILL, WHO SERVED SIX YEARS FOR THE COMMITTEE'S FOUNDING, CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY'S ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND LOCAL ROAD SAFETY PLAN.
DO THESE TOGETHER. CITY LA VERNE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO TOM SKY HILL AND ALSO TO JARED PALMER.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL TO COMMITTEE MEMBER TOM SKY HILL AND JARED PALMER'S SINCERE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR
[00:15:03]
YOUR SERVICE ON THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.THESE COMMITTEES REQUIRE A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF EFFORT, AND A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS WE'RE DONE WITH ALL OF THEM.
WE'VE JUST ALL OF OUR COMMITTEES RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE NEW COMMITTEES IN PLACE, REALLY GREAT.
IT JUST SHOWS THAT WE HAVE BASICALLY OUR TRANSPARENCY AND OUR GOVERNANCE, MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS ARE INVOLVED UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
JUST LIKE YOU'LL FIND OUT WHERE THE ADHOC COMMITTEE WATER RATES.
LATER, BUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR I STARTED AS A PLANNING COMMISSIONER WAS APPOINTED WELL.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED LEVEL, BUT ALSO WE GET BACK TO YOU.
ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT THEY WORKED ON ALONG WITH WENDY BIO MYSELF AND ALSO THE OTHER MEMBERS WAS THE FACT THAT WE WILL BE HAVING A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE BUILT ACROSS FAIR FLEX ALL THE WAY TO OUR STATION ON VILLAIN THAT WAS QUITE.
GOOD HOPEFULLY IF EDISON GETS STUFF STARTING.
THAT'S AN I'LL CONNECT FAIRPLEX TO STATION, SO WHEN THE OLYMPIC WANT TO BE A BRIEF. COME ON.
BUT THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO COME BACK UP.
YEAH. NEXT, WE RECOGNIZE THE OUTGOING PLANNING COMMISSIONER, THOMAS ALLISON IS THOMAS HERE TONIGHT.
MR. ALLISON IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.
DURING HIS FIVE YEAR TENURE AS A PLANING COMMISSIONER, THOMAS CONTRIBUTED TO MAJOR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW, WELCOME NEW BUSINESSES TERN AND PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN GUIDING THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN, HELPING SHAPE LINE'S LONG TERM PLANNING AND GROWTH.
WE WANT TO THANK THOMAS. HE'S SERVED A LONG TIME.
A LOT OF GREAT STUFF HAPPENED IN OUR PLANNING COMMISSION AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR TOM. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] WE MOVE ON NOW TO MEASURE LV CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THESE COMMITTEE MEMBERS PROVIDED STRONG FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, HELPING ENSURE MEASURE LV FUNDS WERE USED RESPONSIBLY AND TRANSPARENTLY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY PRIORITIES.
MEMBER JENNIFER SIMONSON, SERVED FOUR YEARS IN THE COMMITTEE. JENNIFER HERE TONIGHT.
HE'S UP THE HILL. NO. MEMBER RON INGELS ALSO SERVED FOR FOUR YEARS IN THE COMMITTEE. THEY'RE NOT.
NONE HERE TONIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU BOTH.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED FOR MEASURE LV, WHICH HELPS TO AFFORD OUR WAGE INCREASES FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY, AND THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEM. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] IS MR. SHATTUCK HERE.
THEY'RE PROBABLY WORN OUT FROM THE GAME.
NOW OUR LAST INDIVIDUAL YOUTH SPORTS COMMITTEE MEMBER ERIC SHADDOCK, WHO SERVED IN THE COMMITTEE FOR TWO YEARS.
COMMITTEE MEMBER SHATTUCK, SUPPORTED YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMMING CITYWIDE AND HAS BEEN A LONG STANDING COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER, INCLUDING SERVICE AT THE LA VERNE HEIGHTS, RAMONA MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND BONITA HIGH SCHOOL.
HE HAS HELD LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH ASO AND THE LASER SOCCER CLUB AND HAS A PAST JIM SCRANTON AWARD RECIPIENT FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL, AND IF YOU GUYS WANT TO COME BACK UP, WE'LL GET ANOTHER PICTURE.
WE'RE GOOD. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] [NOISE] WE NOW MOVE ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS]
THIS IS FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS. THIS IS NOT PART OF PUBLIC COMMENT.ANNOUNCEMENTS ONLY FOR UPCOMING THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON OUR CITY.
[00:20:06]
WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT THIS? COMPUTERS. THIS COMING SATURDAY.
POMONA VALLEY PRIDE IS HAVING A SECOND ANNUAL PRIDE FESTIVAL AT THE POMONA FAIRPLEX.
IT WILL BE FROM 1:00-6:00 P.M.
IT'S GOING TO BE A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT, AND THERE'S FREE ADMISSION AND FREE PARKING.
THERE'S GOING TO BE LIVE PERFORMANCES, THERE'S GOING TO BE FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS, THERE'S GOING TO BE A YOUTH ACTIVITY ZONE.
THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL PARTICIPATE.
THE CULTURAL AWARENESS AND SOCIAL INCLUSION COMMITTEE OF LA VERNE WILL HAVE A TABLE THERE AT THE PRIDE FESTIVAL, SO WE WELCOME YOU TO ALL COME BY AND SAY HELLO.
ALSO, AND WE WANT TO JUST AS CASSIE AS THE CULTURAL AWARENESS AND SOCIAL COMMISSION.
WE WANT TO REALLY COMMEND POMONA VALLEY PRIDE FOR KEEPING ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN THE FOREFRONT.
WE REALLY COMMEND THEM FOR THAT.
THE FESTIVAL IS GOING TO BE VERY FUN.
WE ATTENDED THE FIRST FESTIVAL, IT WAS JUST A LOT OF FUN AND WE MET A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE.
SECONDLY, CASSIE IS HAVING A MEETING TOMORROW AT 5:00 P.M. WE WILL BE HOSTING PRESENTERS FROM IS OF POMONA.
REALLY INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY AND THE ACTIONS THAT THEY'RE TAKING TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND THE CITY OF POMONA SAFE, AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO TRAIN PEOPLE TO BE OBSERVERS.
OBSERVERS FOR WHEN THEY SEE ACTIVITY AND WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES THAT THEY CAN TAKE IN ORDER TO HELP KEEP THEM SAFE AS WELL. THAT WOULD BE IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, YVONNE. ADRIAN MERO, LA VERNE LIBRARIAN.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE A FEW EVENTS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT LA VERNE LIBRARY THIS MONTH.
THIS FRIDAY AT 11:00 A.M. IS OUR LAST SMART START STORYTIME FOR THE FALL.
DURING THE SESSION, TODDLERS AGES 2-5 CAN ENJOY BOOKS, SONGS AND RHYMES WITH THEIR CAREGIVER WHILE LEARNING SCHOOL READINESS SKILLS.
ALL THOSE IS THE LAST SESSION FOR THE FALL.
WE'LL BEGIN HOLDING STORYTIMES, ON FRIDAYS AGAIN, STARTING DECEMBER 5TH.
ADVANCED REGISTRATION FOR THE SESSIONS ARE REQUIRED AND CAN BE DONE IN PERSON AT THE LIBRARY OR BY REGISTERING ONLINE @ LACOUNTYLIBRARY.ORG.
ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH AT 4:00 P.M. WE'LL BE HOLDING A TEEN ADVISORY BOARD FOR TEENS, AGES 13-17.
DURING THIS SESSION, TEENS CAN VOICE THEIR OPINION, AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OR THEIR AGE GROUP.
ALSO, THIS WILL GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THEIR LOCAL LIBRARY WHILE EARNING COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS.
IN CELEBRATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, WE'LL BE HOLDING A PROGRAM FOR ADULTS ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15TH AT 12:00.
THIS PROGRAM WILL COVER THE TOPIC OF NATIVE AMERICAN FOOD SOVEREIGNTY.
DURING THIS HANDS ON WORKSHOP, PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO GROW THEIR OWN.
I HOPE I PRONOUNCE THIS RIGHT, SALVIA COLUMBARIAE PLANT AND EXPLORES CULTURAL USES AMONG NATIVE GROUPS IN CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ADRIAN. APPRECIATE THAT.
[APPLAUSE] SHERRY BEST, LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
I WAS GONE ALMOST THE WHOLE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
THE LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY THIS SATURDAY, 8TH OF NOVEMBER TO COME TOUR THREE HISTORIC HOMES ON THIRD STREET, TWO ON THIRD STREET AND ONE ON BONITA.
THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 11:00 A.M-3:00 P.M. WE WILL BE HAVING A BRONZE MARKER DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR THE HOUSE ON 2610.
THAT IS THE HANAWALD AND MINERO HOUSE.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
IT WILL REALLY BE A LOT OF FUN.
IN ADDITION, WE WILL BE HAVING VINTAGE SALE.
WE WILL BE OFFERING OUR DELICIOUS JAMS, JELLIES, AND MARMALADES, FOR A MODEST DONATION, AND ROLLING OUT A COUPLE OF NEW OFFERINGS.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE COOKING FOR THE HOLIDAYS, WE WILL BE OFFERING SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE, HOMEMADE, AND HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE FUDGE SAUCE.
THEY'RE VERY DELICIOUS, ALL HOMEMADE,
[00:25:01]
AND FOR A MODEST DONATION OF EITHER $10 FOR THE LARGE STANDARD SIZE, FIVE DOLLARS FOR THE TASTER, AND YOUR DONATION IS TAX AND TARIFF FREE.HEY. IN ADDITION, YES. STRAIGHT UP.
WHAT WE CHARGE IS WHAT YOU PAY, NO OTHER CHARGES, NO HIDDEN FEES.
WE ALSO WILL HAVE T SHIRTS AVAILABLE AND BOOKS WRITTEN BY OUR CITY HISTORIAN BILL LEMON.
THAT'S JUST THE START OF THIS MONTH.
NEXT WEEK, ON THE 13TH, WE'LL BE PARTICIPATING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER FOR ONE OF THEIR EVENTS BECAUSE WE CHERISH AND APPRECIATE PARTNERING WITH OTHER GROUPS? ON THE 15TH, WE WILL BE PARTICIPATING AT THE SENIOR CRAFT FAIR.
YOU'LL SEE LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY EVERYWHERE, AND WE WILL END UP THE MONTH AT THE CAR SHOW.
WE'RE BRINGING THE INTERNATIONAL TO THE CAR SHOW.
IF YOU BRING THE KIDDIES, THEY CAN CHARGE UP INTO THE BED OF THE TRUCK AND RUN AROUND AND HAVE A GOOD TIME AND ENJOY THE INTERNATIONAL.
HOW CAN YOU INCREASE YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY? BECOME A MEMBER.
THIS IS $20 A YEAR FOR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP, $25 FOR A FAMILY MEMBERSHIP, $200 FOR A LIFE MEMBERSHIP.
ALL OF OUR MONEY GOES TOWARD PROMOTING ACTIVITIES THAT ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY.
NONE OF OUR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE PAID.
OF COURSE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO VOLUNTEER, I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
WE'LL BE PUTTING UP OUR FLYER FOR THIS COMING SATURDAY'S EVENT.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT MANY OF OUR EVENTS. THANK YOU.
>>THANK YOU, SHERRY. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, KATHY.
ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS IN UPCOMING CITY EVENTS? SEEING NONE, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS, COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? MR. DOMER, ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE CITY? ONE VETERANS DAY IS NOVEMBER 11TH, STARTS AT 11 O'CLOCK.
I SUGGEST IF YOU CAN BE THERE, IT'S A REALLY NICE HONORING OF OUR VETERANS, AND THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BY THE VETERANS MEMORIAL, WE NOW HAVE OUR CANINE. BRONZE CANINE.
WE HAVE OUR WOUNDED WARRIOR, AND WE HAVE TWO SERVICE MEMBER, MALE, FEMALE, AND NOW WE HAVE THE CANINE.
THANK YOU TO THE LA VERNE VETERAN SOCIETY, WHICH IS, I THINK IT IS DON KENDRICK, ROBIN CARTER, DAN HARDEN, PREVIOUS COUNCIL AND MAYOR OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT DONATED TO PUT THAT UP THERE IN SHORT ORDER.
IF YOU GET A CHANCE, GO BY AND TAKE A LOOK.
THANK YOU TO THEM. WITH THAT, WE MOVE ON TO CONSENT CALENDAR.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
ALL ITEMS OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR ROUTINE MAY BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION UNLESS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL OR A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE REQUESTS SEPARATE DISCUSSION OR JUST WANTS TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON ONE OF THE ITEMS. COUNCIL, ANY REQUEST TO PULL AN ITEM? CITY MANAGER DOMER. ANY REQUEST.>> NO REQUEST TO PULL THE ITEM.
>> NO REQUEST. WITH THAT, DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> VOTE, PLEASE. THERE WE GO. WONG ONE.
>> CONSENT CALENDAR WAS MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LAU AND APPROVED 5:0.
>> YES, AND NO. THANKS. I DID IT REAL FAST, THOUGH.
THEN OF COURSE, JOHNSON LEFT HIS ON, BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SAY ANYTHING? PUBLIC HEARINGS. I KNOW THAT MOST OF US ARE HERE TONIGHT FOR THIS ONE.
[PUBLIC HEARINGS]
THIS IS ONE ITEM FOR PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.THIS IS THE PROPOSITION 218 HEARING FOR ADOPTING WATER AND SEWER RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2025, '26 TO 2029, '30, AND FINDING THE ADOPTION OF THE RATES IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT CEQA.
I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO PLEASE CALL FOR THE STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE CONDUCTING THE PRESENTATION.
I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT AND SEVERAL OF YOU MAY HAVE A PROTEST LETTER TO SUBMIT.
PROTEST LETTERS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL THE CLOSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE CONCLUDED.
AFTER THE STAFF REPORT, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF AND DISCUSS THE ITEM.
UPON CONCLUSION OF THE DISCUSSION, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL.
UPON THE CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, I WILL MAKE ONE LAST CALL FOR PROTEST LETTERS AND THEN CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE MAY NEED TO TAKE A BRIEF RECESS AT THE TIME TO ALLOW FOR ALL PROTEST LETTERS TO BE COUNTED, AND WE WILL RECONVENE WHEN THAT IS DONE FOR CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE FINAL COMMENTS AND TAKE A VOTE ON THE MOTION.
[00:30:03]
[OVERLAPPING]>> MR. MAYOR, JUST TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT THERE WERE FIVE LETTERS OF OBJECTIONS SUBMITTED BEFORE THE DEADLINE.
THOSE DO DIFFER FROM THE PROTEST LETTERS.
THOSE WERE ANSWERED AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN PROVIDED COPIES AT THE DS.
THOSE FIVE MEMBERS WHO SUBMITTED ARE FIVE RESIDENTS THAT SUBMITTED OBJECTION LETTERS.
THEY HAD THEM HAND DELIVERED TO THEIR DOORS TODAY, SO THEY'RE LEFT LIKE AS A DOOR KNOB HANGER WITH THE ENVELOPE.
BUT IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOU WEREN'T HOME TO RECEIVE THAT, WE DO HAVE COPIES.
IF YOU WEREN'T HOME AND YOU WANTED A COPY OF THE RESPONSE TO THE OBJECTION LETTER, PLEASE LET US KNOW OR LET ME KNOW OR JR. WE'LL GIVE YOU A COPY. BUT THAT'S JUST A NOTE.
WE'D LIKE TO BRING UP DANNY WU, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS? [NOISE] WE'LL LET HIM SPEAK AND THEN.
>> GOOD EVENING. MAYOR. COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
TONIGHT IS THE FORMAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CITY'S PROPOSED WATER AND SEWER RATE ADJUSTMENTS.
THIS HEARING ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED NEW RATES AND ENSURES THAT ALL VALID WRITTEN PROTESTS ARE COUNTED BEFORE THE COUNCIL TAKES FINAL ACTION UNDER PROPOSITION 218.
TONIGHT'S ACTION IS A CUMINATION OF A YEAR AND A HALF COST OF SERVICE RATE STUDY EFFORT THAT BEGAN IN JULY OF 2024, WHICH INCLUDED THE PARTICIPATION OF A CITIZEN LED ADHOC WATER AND SEWER COMMITTEE.
IT'S THE CITY'S FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO CONDUCT THIS RATE STUDY TO ENSURE OUR UTILITY OPERATIONS IS FINANCIALLY SOLVENT AND ABLE TO MEET ALL REGULATORY AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
THE PRIMARY GOALS HAVE BEEN TO ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IN OUR WATER FUND AND TO ENSURE OUR OPERATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS REMAIN FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE INTO THE FUTURE.
DETAILS ON THE RATE STUDY, THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WERE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND ARE IN THE AGENDA PACKET FOR THIS EVENING.
AS A QUICK RECAP, AT THE AUGUST 4TH MEETING, THE COUNCIL INITIATED THE POP 218 NOTICING PROCESS FOR PHASED RATE INCREASES OF 50%, 25%, 15%, 10% AND 10% FOR WATER, AND 15% ANNUALLY FOR SEWER, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026, WITH SUBSEQUENT INCREASES EACH JULY 1ST THROUGH 2030, CONSISTENT WITH THE ADHOC COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION.
HOWEVER, DURING THE 45 DAY NOTICING PERIOD WHERE STAFF HAD SENT OUT MORE THAN 09,500 MAILERS AND HELD FOUR COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSIONS, WE HEARD CONSIDERABLE CONCERNS ABOUT THE MAGNITUDE AND TIMING OF THE RATE INCREASES, AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANCE FOR DELIVERING OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
IN RESPONSE, STAFF AND REF TELL US.
>> IN RESPONSE, STAFF AND RAFTELIS, OUR CONSULTANT, HAVE PREPARED A LOWER RATE ALTERNATIVE FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING.
ONE THAT WE BELIEVE HELPED ADDRESS REPAIR CONCERNS WHILE STILL ALLOWING THE CITY TO MEET ITS MINIMUM RESERVE TARGETS.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO SUDHIR PARDIWALA, OUR PROJECT DIRECTOR WITH RAFTELIS, WHO WILL WALK US THROUGH BOTH THE RECOMMENDED RATE SCENARIO, AS WELL AS THE ALTERNATE RATE OPTION, AND THE LIKELY IMPACTS ON CUSTOMERS AND THE IMPLICATIONS ON OUR RESERVES.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS SUDHIR PARDIWALA.
I'M PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR THIS RATE STUDY THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AS YOU HEARD.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE JEREMY TAMARGO, WHO YOU'VE MET ALREADY IN THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING.
WITH THAT LITTLE INTRODUCTION, I'D LIKE TO GO THROUGH AND CONDUCT THIS PRESENTATION.
AS WE MENTIONED, WE HAD A PRETTY LONG STUDY SESSION STARTING ALMOST 18 MONTHS, I THINK NOW.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
THERE WERE SIX MEETINGS WITH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, INCLUDING ONE ACTUAL FACILITY TOUR.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE VARIOUS FACILITIES THAT ACTUALLY ARE IN THE CITY AND THAT NEED IMPROVEMENTS.
WE ALSO HAD A WORKSHOP WITH THE COUNCIL AND THEN ANOTHER MEETING ON AUGUST, AS WE SAID ON AUGUST 4TH,
[00:35:01]
PRESENTING THE RATES THAT WE HAD COME UP WITH.TODAY, WE ARE LOOKING AT WHY WE ARE HERE AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET AN APPROVAL OF OUR DECISION FROM THE COUNCIL ON PROCEEDING FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDED RATES OR THE PROPOSED RATES.
AS MR. WU MENTIONED DURING THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WE DID HAVE QUITE A FEW COMMENTS, AND WE HAVE TAKEN THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE HISTORY OF RATE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE CITY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE RATE ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN PRETTY SPORADIC.
IT SEEMS LIKE ALMOST EVERY THREE YEARS WE DID SOME SMALL REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS, EXCEPT IN 2009 WHEN WE HAD A PRETTY BIG INCREASE IN THE METER CHARGES.
NOW, WHEN TYPICALLY WHEN WE GET INTO THIS KIND OF A SITUATION, OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LARGER REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CHANGES IN INFLATION AS WELL AS THE COST OF WATER.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH WATER COSTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH THE DROUGHT AND THE WHOLESALE AGENCIES BEING IMPACTED BY SHORTAGE OF WATER.
IT'S NOT ONLY WHOLESALE AGENCIES THAT ARE IMPACTED, RETAIL AGENCIES ARE ALSO IMPACTED WHEN YOUR WATER SALES GO DOWN AND YOU LOSE REVENUES.
AS A RESULT, WE HAVEN'T HAD A RATE INCREASE SINCE 2019, WHICH IS SIX YEARS NOW.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE INFLATION ASSOCIATED FROM 2019 TO NOW, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT CLOSE TO 40% INFLATION IN WATER AND IN GENERAL INFLATION ASSOCIATED WITH UTILITY OPERATIONS.
THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ACTUAL COST OF WATER, IT HAS GONE UP BY OVER 50% DURING THAT SAME TIME FRAME.
TO LET US REVIEW THE PROPOSED RATE ADJUSTMENTS.
WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS GOING ON A REGULAR BASIS WHAT WE WIND UP DOING IS DELAYING THIS CIP, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND ALSO DEPLETING OUR RESERVES.
THEY EVENTUALLY CATCH UP WITH US BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WAS BUILT IN THE '40S AND '50S AND '60S, MANY OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS ACTUALLY COMING TO ITS USEFUL LIFE, END OF LIFE.
THERE'S SIGNIFICANT CIP ASSOCIATED WITH TAKE ADDRESSING ALL OF THOSE ISSUES TO ENSURE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICE.
THE WATER FUND RESERVES HAVE BEEN DEPLETED.
THE RATES THAT WE HAVE SET UP HERE ARE BASICALLY THE MAXIMUM RATES THAT THE COUNCIL CAN IMPLEMENT, AND YOU HAVE THE OPTION ALWAYS OF LOWERING THOSE RATES IF YOU LIKE, BUT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE PRESENTING AT THIS MEETING.
>> MR. MAYOR, BEFORE SUDHIR CONTINUES ON.
I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT [NOISE] THE RATES THAT WERE PUBLISHED IN THE PROPOSITION 218 NOTICE ARE THE MAXIMUM.
SO THE COUNCIL CANNOT EXCEED THEM.
THEY CAN GO A LITTLE BIT LOWER.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT THE AD HOC COMMITTEE LOOKED AT THE 10%, 75%, 50%, 35%, AND THEN A STATUS QUO IS THE FIRST YEAR.
WHAT SUDHIR WE'RE WALKING THROUGH IS THAT WE LOOKED BACK AT IT, WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WATER SYSTEM IS SUSTAINABLE AND CAN DO WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO.
WE GOT LEGAL COUNCIL REVIEW THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE JANUARY 1 AND THEN SIX MONTHS LATER A JULY 1 IS A LITTLE TOO QUICK.
SO WE'RE PROPOSING AN OCTOBER 1 THAT SPLITS THAT TIME FRAME JUST TO GET IT BACK ONTO JULY 1, AND THEN ALSO A HERE WE'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT LOWERING THAT FIRST YEAR.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> SO AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, WE DID LOOK AT VARIOUS OPTIONS AND FINALLY DECIDED WITH THE 50% OPTION.
BASED ON THE COMMUNITY INPUT THAT WE GOT, WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING A LITTLE LOWER REVENUE ADJUSTMENT AND DELAY IN THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE RATES GOING FORWARD.
THE FIRST OPTION THAT WE HAD THE ONE THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PROPOSED IN OUR RATE REPORT WAS THE 50% OPTION IN THE FIRST YEAR, 25% THE SECOND YEAR, AND FOLLOWED BY 15, 10, AND 10 ON WATER, AND THEN 15% EVERY YEAR FOR SEWER.
THE REVENUE ADJUSTMENT THAT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR AS
[00:40:03]
AN OPTION IS TO HAVE A 45% INCREASE IN THE FIRST YEAR FOLLOWED BY 25%, BUT DELAYING THAT INCREASE UNTIL OCTOBER OF '26 AND THEN GOING BACK TO THE JULY IMPLEMENTATION SUBSEQUENTLY.THE WASTEWATER DOESN'T CHANGE IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS, BUT THEY WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE SAME TIME AS A WATER RATE INCREASE.
TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL PLAN WHICH IDENTIFIES THE EXPENSES AND THE REVENUES OVERALL AND WHERE WE STAND WITH RESPECT TO THEM AS WELL AS THE FUND BALANCES.
THE FUND BALANCES ARE IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THE UTILITIES ARE RUN ON A FISCALLY SOUND BASIS.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, WE HAVE THE PROPOSED REVENUE ADJUSTMENT OF 15%, AND THAT'S FOR WATER BASICALLY JUST FOR WATER.
ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WE HAVE THE ALTERNATIVE WHICH IS 45% FOLLOWED BY 25%, BUT WITH A DELAY IN ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION.
YOU DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A RATE OBVIOUSLY, YOU USING THE REVENUE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ACCUMULATED IN THOSE FEW MONTHS AT THE RATE ADJUSTMENTS WOULD TAKE PLACE.
AS A RESULT, WE WIND UP EATING INTO OUR RESERVES.
YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCES IN THE BOTTOM CHART THERE.
THE LEFT HAND CHART SHOWS THAT THE TARGET LINE AND THE ACTUAL RESERVES REPRESENTED BY THE BARS.
ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WE CAN SEE THAT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WE ARE FALLING BELOW THE TARGETS THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED FOR MAINTAINING OUR RESERVES.
THAT IS THE IMPACT THAT YOU WOULD SEE AS A RESULT OF DELAYING REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE LOWER RATE REVENUE ADJUSTMENT FOLLOWED BY THE DELAYS IN IMPLEMENTATION.
UNDER THE REDUCED RATE OPTION, THAT IS OPTION 2, THE RATES, THE CHARGES THAT CUSTOMERS WOULD BEAR A ONE-INCH METER WITH 14 KILO GALLONS OF BIMONTHLY USE.
YOU CAN SEE IN THE FIRST YEAR THAT BILL WOULD BE $129 BIMONTHLY, THAT WOULD INCREASE TO $172 IN THE SECOND YEAR, AND THEN INCREASE SUBSEQUENT 212 AND SO FORTH.
IN THE LAST YEAR, THAT BILL WOULD BE ALMOST $300 IN.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN BASICALLY IS THAT IN GENERAL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BECAUSE OF THE LARGE INCREASES IN THE WHOLESALE WATER COSTS, MANY AGENCIES ARE FACING LARGE RATE INCREASES, NOT AS MUCH AS THIS AGENCY BECAUSE WE DID NOT INCREASE OUR RATES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT THERE ARE SOME LARGE INCREASES HAPPENING ALL OVER AGENCIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
WE BREAK DOWN THE ACTUAL RATES FOR UNDER OPTION 2, WHICH IS THE LOWER REVENUE ADJUSTMENT UNDER THE CURRENT RATE STRUCTURES OF ONE-INCH METER PAYS $51, AND THAT WOULD GO UP TO $67.67 IN THE FIRST YEAR, AND THEN INCREASE TO $84.60 APPROXIMATELY.
YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS AS THEY ARE INCREASING EACH YEAR FOR THE ONE-INCH METER AS WELL AS FOR THE FIVE EIGHTH AND THREE QUARTER INCH METERS.
WE ARE SHOWING THESE AS PRIMARILY THE ONES THAT ARE IMPACTING RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
ON THE COMMODITY RATES, WE HAVE SEVERAL ZONES AND THE RATES ARE DEPENDENT UPON WHICH ZONE THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY SERVED.
THE ZONES THAT THEY INCREASE IN ELEVATION, THEY INCUR HIGHER PUMPING COSTS AND THEREFORE THE RATES ARE HIGHER THAN THE PRIMARY ZONE, WHICH IS ZONE Z1.
SO UNDER ZONE Z1, WHICH IS THE BASE ZONE, THE CURRENT RATE IS $3.92 AND IT WOULD INCREASE TO $5.54 IN THE FIRST YEAR AND THEN INCREASE ALMOST $7 IN THE SECOND YEAR, $8 IN THE THIRD YEAR, $8.76, AND THEN 9.64.
YOU CAN SEE THOSE ARE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASES, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE TO THE CITY'S CUSTOMERS AND WE DON'T LOSE ANY CUSTOMERS BECAUSE OF INTERRUPTIONS IN SERVICE.
THIS PARTICULAR CHART SHOWS US WHERE WE STAND WITH RESPECT TO SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.
UNDER OPTION 2 WITH THE INCREASE IN JANUARY, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE STILL THE SECOND LOWEST IN THIS AREA HERE.
THIS IS THE BIMONTHLY CHARGE, SO THIS IS JUST A SERVICE CHARGE. I TAKE THAT BACK.
WE ARE SHOWING THE SECOND LAST ONE THERE 67.
[00:45:02]
WE ARE THE SECOND LOWEST IN THERE, THE SECOND LOWEST CHARGE FOR CITY OF LA VERNE, EVEN AFTER THE INCREASE, AND MANY OF THESE AGENCIES WILL ACTUALLY BE INCREASING THEIR RATES AS WE ARE ENTERING THIS PERIOD.THERE ARE MANY OF THEM CONDUCTING RATE STUDIES RIGHT NOW.
THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT THE OCTOBER RATES, AGAIN, YOU WILL SEE THAT WE ARE STILL AT THE BOTTOM, BEING THE THIRD LOWEST IN OUR RATES.
HERE IS THE COMPARISON OF CHARGES AMONGST THE DIFFERENT CITIES.
AGAIN, USING ONE-INCH METER AS A BASE METER AND 14,000 GALLONS OF USAGE BIMONTHLY.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE THE LOWEST RIGHT NOW UNDER OUR CURRENT RATE STRUCTURE, AND THEN REPRESENTED BY THE BLACK BARS.
UNDER THE PROPOSED RATE STRUCTURE, WE ARE STILL THIRD LOWEST COMPARED TO THESE OTHER AGENCIES.
AS I SAID BEFORE, THESE OTHER AGENCIES WILL BE INCREASING THEIR CHARGES AS WE GO ALONG WAY HERE.
WHAT WE NEED SOME DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL TODAY IN TERMS OF PROCEEDING FORWARD, COUNCIL NEEDS TO DIRECT STAFF TO PROCEED WITH THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED RATE STRUCTURE OR THE REDUCED RATE, ONE OF THE TWO RATE STRUCTURES.
COUNCIL NEEDS TO DIRECT THE CITY CLERK TO TABULATE AND ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS OF THE PROTEST SUBMISSIONS FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
ADOPT A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE NEW WATER AND SEWER RATES FOR FY '25 '26 FOR FIVE YEARS THROUGH '29 '30, INCLUDING THE FIXED AND THE VOLUMETRIC RATE TABLES AND EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION DATES.
WE NEED TO GET THE INPUT ON ALL OF THESE RATES AND THE ADJUST AND THE TIMETABLE ON THOSE RATES.
FINALLY, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND THE PUBLIC WORK DIRECTOR TO IMPLEMENT THE APPROVED RATES, UPDATE THE MASTER SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES AND MAKE MINOR TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AS NECESSARY FOR THE BILLING SYSTEM UPDATES.
WITH THAT I CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION AND OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTION THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION BEFORE WE GO A PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE ONLY HAVE THE OPTION WHICH IS CHANGING THE OPTION 2.
DO WE HAVE A CHART THAT WE CAN SHOW THE RESIDENTS FOR OPTION 1?
>> BIMONTHLY SERVICE CHARGE. DO WE HAVE THAT UP THERE?
>> WAS ON THE FIRST ONE? YEAH.
>> IT WAS ON THE PRESENTATION WHEN THEY DID THE STUDY SESSION.
>> YEAH. BUT THE SLIDES HE'S SHOWING RIGHT NOW ARE JUST BASICALLY THE OPTION. YEAH.
>> THESE ARE THE RATES FOR UNDER OPTION 1 FOR THE METER CHARGES?
>> ON OPTION 2, WE MISSED OUR TARGET BY $3 MILLION, IS THAT CORRECT? ON THE THIRD YEAR FYI 2028, AND ON 2029, WE MISSED IT. WHAT'S THAT? CAN YOU HEAR ME. GUYS, IF WE'RE TALKING, IF WE COULD ALL BE QUITE IN THE ROOM, WE'LL GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE.
I JUST HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT IT CLEARED FOR ALL OF YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE AT.
ON OPTION 1, YOU'VE SHOWED THAT IN THE RATE, ON OPTION 1, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY THE MAXIMUM, WHICH IS THE 50%, AND THEN THE 25%.
WE'RE MISSING OUR TARGETS ON OPTION 1 FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE THIRD YEAR, WE MISSED IT BY 1 MILLION.
IN THE FY '28, WE MISS IT BY 3 MILLION.
>> THEN ON FY 2029, WE MISSED IT BY 3 MILLION.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT? THANK YOU. WE'LL PROBABLY BRING YOU BACK UP.
[00:50:01]
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT NOW AND I DO HAVE A NUMBER OF CARDS.I'M GOING TO LINE YOU GUYS UP, BECAUSE IF WE REPEATING AS FAR AS WHAT THE INFORMATION IS, I THINK WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DRY A THREE MINUTE RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CARDS.
BUT I'M GOING TO LINE YOU UP IN THREE SO WE HAVE YOUR SPEAK.
IF WE CONTINUE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING, LET'S MOVE FORWARD AND WE GET PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE A QUESTION, OR THEY HAVE A COMMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH BRIAN BOKO, SHIRLEY BALDWIN AND SHERRY SHAW.
IF YOU GUYS COULD BE READY TO SPEAK AND WE'RE GOING TO START THE CLOCK. GOOD EVENING, MR. BOKOCK.
I HAD A LOT OF THINGS THAT I BROUGHT WITH ME.
I GOT ALL NUMBERS, BUT LOOKING AT THE CROWD, I DON'T THINK I NEED THE NUMBERS.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A FEW CONCEPTS.
I'D HAVE TO GO BACK 20 YEARS WHEN I WAS THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORK.
THE THINGS THAT WE DID BACK THEN WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
FOR INSTANCE, TODAY, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN OPTION 3.
I WANT TO MENTION IT RIGHT UP FRONT, I AM ALL FOR AN INCREASE, BUT I'M AGAINST THE AGGRESSIVE INCREASE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I THINK THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO DO IT.
ONE OF THEM WOULD BE THAT I'M LOOKING OUT FOR IS THE SENIORS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT, THEY'RE ON A FIXED INCOME, THEY'RE ON SOCIAL SECURITY, WHATEVER THE REASON IS, BUT THEY'RE ON A FIXED INCOME.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE AND IT'S BEEN 6-7 YEARS SINCE YOU'VE HAD AN INCREASE.
I'M SAYING GO BACK AND USE THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT AND GO BACK.
IF YOU DID THAT, YOU'RE ONLY TALKING 20%.
I'M SAYING FOR THE MONEY THAT WE MISSED FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, ADD THAT IN AND YOU CAN COME UP WITH ABOUT 25%.
THE OTHER WAY TO MAKE SOME MONEY, AND I SHOULDN'T SAY IT THAT WAY, THE REASON WE NEED TO BUILD THIS AND I KNOW YOUR CONCERN IS THE RESERVE FUND.
ONE WAY TO BUILD IT IS, ONE QUESTION THAT I WOULD HAVE IS, I STARTED THE ACREAGE FEE FOR THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE UP NORTH.
WHEN THAT ACREAGE FEE WAS DONE, IT WAS OVER $9,000 AN ACRE IS, WHAT THEY HAD TO PAY IN, AND THEY HAD TO BUILD THE SYSTEM, AND THEN WE PUT THE METER IN.
THAT'S HOW IT WORKED. ALONG WITH THAT BACK IN MY DAY, IT WAS ONLY $15 A FRONT FOOT ACROSS ANY PROPERTY.
IF YOU HAD A VACANT LOT AND YOU WANT TO BUILD A HOUSE, YOU HAD TO PUT $15 A FOOT UP.
TODAY, YOU CAN'T BUILD A BLOCK WALL, FOR INSTANCE, FOR $15 A FOOT.
>> I THINK STAFF SHOULD LOOK AT THAT.
I THINK THEY SHOULD LOOK AT THAT FEE, THE ACREAGE FEE.
ANOTHER THING BECAUSE TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THE PEOPLE HERE IN TOWN HAVE REALLY ADAPTED TO WHEN THE COUNCIL SAYS, WE NEED TO CONSERVE.
I REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS 25-26,000 GALLONS OF WATER, EVERY TWO MONTHS ON THEIR WATER BILL. THAT WAS AN AVERAGE.
>> BRIAN WE'RE AT THREE, WE GOT TO FINISH.
>> YOU'RE DOWN TO NEXT TO NOTHING.
YOU'RE DOWN TO ABOUT 19,000 ACRE FEET.
I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS THAT YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED AT YET.
I THINK IT COULD BE AMENABLE TO EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE.
YOU WOULD STILL GET YOUR MONEY.
>> SHIRLEY BALDWIN. THANK YOU.
>> ONE SECOND. COME ON UP, SHIRLEY.
>> SHIRLEY BALDWIN, LET'S GO. I GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN.
>> ONE SECOND. I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE THE PERCENTAGE RATE AT THE END.
I THINK DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS SHOULD BE DEVELOPING THAT BUDGET EVERY YEAR.
IF YOU GIVE ME 15% IN 2028, I'LL TAKE THE PERCENTAGE.
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN. APPRECIATE THAT.
SHIRLEY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN. I'M OPENING UP TONIGHT, AND I'M SPEAKING FROM THE HEART FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD, MY COMMUNITY.
I'M MOVING UP, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
[00:55:05]
TWO OTHER FAMILIES IN AFFECT THREE PEOPLE THAT ARE SENIORS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.THEY HAVE HEALTH ISSUES THAT WE'RE NOT PERMITTING THEM TO COME HERE TONIGHT, SO I'M SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF.
THEY ARE UPSET THAT YOU ARE COMING UP WITH THIS OUTRAGEOUS INCREASE IN THE WATER AND SEWER RATINGS.
OUR SENIORS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE BEEN RETIRED FOR MANY YEARS.
WE HAVE FIVE HOUSES ON OUR BLOCK, AND THREE OF THEM HAVE SENIOR CITIZENS IN, SO IT'S AFFECTING THE MAJORITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE INCREASES IS GOING TO BE AFFECTING THEM FINANCIALLY.
THEY'RE RUNNING ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND SMALL INCOMES OFF OF THEIR RETIREMENTS.
THIS IS GOING TO DEVASTATE THEM.
THEY'RE UPSET, THEY'RE NERVOUS AND THEY'RE CONCERNED.
I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
I WANT TO KNOW BECAUSE I AM NOT UP ON ALL OF THIS.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO BRING MORE WATER INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE SACRAMENTO UP THERE THAT HAS FLUSHING WATER OUT INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ASSIST GETTING THE WATER THAT SHOULD BE SENT DOWN HERE? WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT POTENTIALLY ENCOURAGING THE LA AREA TO DO DESALINIZATION THAT BRING WATER UP HERE.
I HAVE A BRAIN THAT'S JUST VERY CREATIVE AND I JUST SIMPLY SAY, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE WATERWAYS THAT ARE GOING DOWN, I'M TRYING TO THINK RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE THE WASHES THAT ARE TAKING THE RAINWATER DOWN TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
WHAT ABOUT HAVING PUTTING IN DESALINIZATION DOWN THERE AND HAVING THAT WATER SHIPPED UP HERE? YOU COULD RUN THE PIPES ALONG THE CANALS.
IN OUR FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD ON FORDLAND STREET.
WE HAD THE CANAL GOING RIGHT BEHIND US.
IN 1969, WE SAW THAT THING ALMOST FLOOD, BECAUSE WE HAD SUCH HEAVY RAINS.
THINGS CAN BE DONE IF WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX TO BRING MORE WATER INTO THIS COMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, AND WE NEED TO BRING IN WATER, AND WE NEED SACRAMENTO'S HELP IN DOING IT.
YOU NEED TO BE WORKING WITH OTHERS TO DO IT.
THESE SENIOR CITIZENS ARE GETTING HAMMERED.
WE HAVE OUR HOMES THAT WE'VE LIVED IN OVER 50 YEARS.
MY NEIGHBORS HAVE LIVED IN OVER 40 YEARS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START CUTTING BACK ON THEIR WATER.
IF THEY ARE LIVING THEIR HOMES ARE GOING TO BE DEVALUED, AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
>> THANK YOU, SHIRLEY. SHERRY SHAW.
AFTER AFTER SHERRY, IT'S MIKE LAZINSKI AND DUSTY MOSYO.
I SAY THAT RIGHT. DUSTY AND JIM FLEETWOOD. GO AHEAD, SHERRY.
>> GOOD EVENING. MAYOR HEPBURN, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS OF LA VERNE.
I'M SHERRY SHAW, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CITY, LIVING AT 6088 PRAIRIE FALCON DRIVE.
I'M GOING TO HAVE A VERY UNPOPULAR VIEW TONIGHT.
I'M ALSO THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR WALNUT VALLEY WATER DISTRICT AND HAVE BEEN THE DISTRICT'S ENGINEER THERE FOR 25 YEARS.
WALNUT VALLEY HAS 28,000 SERVICE CONNECTIONS AND PROVIDES WATER FOR THE CITIES OF ALL OF DIAMOND BAR, MOST OF ALL OF WALNUT.
HALF OF ROLAND HEIGHTS, ABOUT A THIRD OF INDUSTRY AND SMALL PORTIONS OF WEST COVINA AND POMONA.
PRIOR TO WALNUT VALLEY, I WORKED FOR CIVIL TECH ENGINEERING, A PRIVATE CONSULTANT.
AT CIVIL TECH, I PREPARED THE CITY OF LA VERNE WATER MASTER PLAN, CREATED THE CITY'S FIRST HYDRAULIC MODEL.
IN THE LATE 90S AND DESIGNED THE WATER AND SEWER PIPELINE RELOCATIONS GOING ACROSS THE 210 FREEWAY.
I KNOW CITY OF LA. VERNE'S WATER SYSTEM WELL.
ALSO, EVER SINCE THE LATE 90S, UP TO PRESENT, I HAVE KNOWN EVERY STAFF PERSON IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING ALL PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTORS.
I'M GRATEFUL THE CITY DID GO OUT FOR A THIRD PARTY RATE STUDY.
I'M EVEN MORE THANKFUL THAT THE CITY WENT WITH RAFTELIS TO CONDUCT THAT STUDY.
WE USE RAFTELIS THE TIME BEFORE LAST, ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
THEY'RE AMAZING AT WHAT THEY DO.
I DOWNLOADED THE FULL STUDY AND REVIEWED IT, AND THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB WITH THIS.
WELL DONE. THEY DEVELOPED FIVE SCENARIOS.
AMAZING. I AGREED WITH THE RECOMMENDED FIFTH SCENARIO.
[01:00:01]
I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN SOME MINIMUM RESERVES, NOT TARGET RESERVES IN THERE BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.I WAS ALSO HAPPY TO LEARN THAT THE REVENUE DOES NOT GO TO THE GENERAL FUND.
I LEARNED THAT DURING ONE OF THE WORKSHOPS TO BE ROBBED BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SUPPORT THE RATE INCREASE.
I KNOW THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE WELL.
A LOT OF THE PIPELINES, WELLS, PUMP STATIONS, AND RESERVOIRS ARE DATED FROM THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE RESIDENTS HERE REALIZE IT, BUT THERE ARE MILES AND MILES OF PIPELINE UNDERGROUND THAT CONVEY WATER TO YOUR TAPS.
AGAIN, SOME OF THEM ARE TURN OF THE CENTURY HERE, AND ARE DOING WELL, BUT THEY CAN'T LAST FOREVER.
AGAIN, SOME PIPELINES ARE TAKING TIME BOMBS READY TO BLOW UP, IF NOT SYSTEMATICALLY REPLACED.
IN ADDITION TO AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, THE PASSING OF THE WATER USE EFFICIENCY BILLS, SB606 AND AB61668 THAT WERE APPROVED IN 2018, ALLOW THE STATE TO DEMAND REDUCTIONS IN WATER USE IN 2025, 2030, AND 2035 THAT ARE LITERALLY UNREALISTIC TO ACHIEVE IN WATER CONSERVATION.
OVERAGE ENFORCEMENT WILL INCUR FEES.
HOW WILL THE CITY MAKE REVENUES OFF OF REDUCED USAGE? DOES IT MAKE SENSE?
>> YOU HAVE NOW ONE SECOND. FINISH.
>> I APPROVE THE RATE INCREASE.
>> THANK YOU, SHERRY. MIKE LAZINSKI.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, I WAS ONCE A COUNCIL MEMBER, AND I'VE ALSO BEEN DOING FINANCE WORK IN CITIES FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.
LOOKING AT YOUR CASH FLOW PROJECTION.
IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT AFTER THIS FISCAL YEAR ENDS, THIS PROJECTION FROM PRESENTS A CASH INCREASE OF $3.8 MILLION OR A REDUCTION OF FOR '27, IN '28, YOU'RE GOING TO GET 5.6 MILLION.
IN '29, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EXCESS OF 6.5 AND ANOTHER EXCESS IN '30 OF 7.6.
EVERY YEAR YOU'RE HAVING EXCESSES OF ALMOST FOUR OR $5 MILLION.
AFTER YOU'VE GOTTEN YOUR REVENUE, YOU PAID YOUR OPERATING EXPENSES, AND YOU PAID FOR YOUR LONG YOUR CIP, YOUR CONSTRUCTION AND PROCESS PROJECTS.
WHY DO YOU NEED ALL THAT EXTRA MONEY? THAT IS WHAT I'M SEEING AND THIS IS THEIR SCHEDULE, NOT MINE.
THIS IS ON YOUR PAGE 183 OF YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE.
THEY'RE THROWING IN FUND BALANCE HERE, WELL, WE'RE DEALING WITH CASH, NOT FUND.
FUND ALSO HAS DEPRECIATION AND A FEW OTHER THINGS WHICH DON'T COUNT.
YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HOW MUCH CASH DO YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING, IS YOU'RE RAISING YOUR REVENUES BY 160%, AND YOU'RE RAISING YOUR EXPENDITURES BY 44% OVER THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD.
I'M CONCERNED WHY WE EVEN HAVE EXPENDITURES GOING UP 44% THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD.
WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH INFLATION OF 2% AND 3%, SO THEY TELL US.
ON A MACRO BASIS, THIS IS WAY TOO HIGH, AND I THINK THERE'S GOT TO BE OTHER ALTERNATIVES OTHER THAN THE DROP OF -5% THAT HE PROPOSED.
THIS CHART WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE YOU SEE HERE.
HERE'S YOUR FUND BALANCE ONE THAT WAS IN OUR PACKAGE.
IT SHOWS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG HUGE EXCESS OF FUND BALANCE IN YOUR LAST YEAR, IN '30.
I THINK WE'VE OVERESTIMATED WHAT WE NEED IN REVENUE AND UNDERESTIMATE AND OVERESTIMATED HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING IN THE FUTURE.
>> DUSTIN [INAUDIBLE] BORN AND RAISE LA VERNE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.
I AM ALSO IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
WE SAW HERE TONIGHT 2019 WAS THE LAST INCREASE.
THAT WAS SIX, SEVEN YEARS AGO.
INFLATION HAS GONE NOT SINCE THEN.
EVERYBODY SEES THEIR ELECTRICAL BILL, THEIR GAS BILL.
ALL OF THOSE HAVE GONE UP WHILE THESE RATES HAVEN'T.
IF WE WANT TO ARGUE SOMETHING, I WOULD ARGUE THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE UP THIS SINCE 2019 BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THE SPEAKER SPEAK GUYS.
PLEASE LET HIM SPEAK. YOU'LL HAVE A TIME AT THE PODIUM.
>> WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THEY'VE FALLEN BEHIND, THEIR INFRASTRUCTURES FALLEN BEHIND.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS NOT MY STREAMING SURFACES.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS GETTING WATER, 24 7,365, THAT'S RELIABLE AND CLEAN.
THAT'S WHY I PUT PRECEDENCE IN MAKING SURE THAT THE WATER SYSTEM IS OPERATING IN GOOD CONDITION.
[01:05:04]
MATERIALS HAVE GONE UP.THEY'VE MENTIONED WATER SUPPLY COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
ALL OF THOSE HAVE FALLEN ON THE BURDEN OF CITY LA VERNE, AND SO THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ADJUST THOSE RATES, AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE SEEN THEIR FUNDING FALL BEHIND.
ALSO, AS YOU'VE SEEN THE OTHER CITIES AND DISTRICTS, LA VERNE IS STILL NEAR THE BOTTOM.
CITY OF SAN DIMAS, OTHER CITIES, POMONA.
I KNOW WE HAD SOME GREAT IDEAS HERE TONIGHT OF, TRY THIS AND TRY THAT.
IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT SOUNDS.
GETTING DESALINATION, YOU THINK YOU'RE PAYING A LOT FOR WATER RIGHT NOW, DESALINATION WOULD BE OFF THE CHARTS.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU AND I AM IN SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND YES NO PUN INTENDED.
IT'S WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE THAT WE DIDN'T MAINTAIN THE RESERVE FUND.
WE'VE DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE INCREASED THE RATES YEARLY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
BUT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THIS INCREASE IS GOING TO GO TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHAT PERCENTAGE IS GOING TO WATER COST? ARE WE BUILDING ENOUGH RESERVES SO WE CAN REPLACE THE INFRASTRUCTURE? WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT THAT'S THE QUESTION I HAVE.
RIGHT NOW, A 50% INCREASE IS DRASTIC FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES, AND WE SHOULD LOOK AT A WAY TO LOWER THAT TO THE 45% OR 30% AND MAYBE INCREASE IT IN UPCOMING YEARS.
BUT A 50% INCREASE RIGHT NOW IS ENTIRELY TOO MUCH, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE BRUCE BECKER, ELIZABETH ALDANA AND JAMES WILKINSON.
IF YOU GUYS COULD GET READY. BRUCE BECKER.
>> [INAUDIBLE] YOU GET THE CHART CARRIER.
>> BEFORE WE START THE CLOCK, I HAVE THREE POINTS OF ORDER THAT I GAVE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
MY FIRST UNDER PROPOSITION 218, AN OBJECTOR, AND I'M A PROTESTER AND AN OBJECTOR.
MUST BE GIVEN TIME IN THE PUBLIC FORUM TO VOICE HIS OBJECTIVES.
HE SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED IN TIME ON HOW MUCH TIME HE HAS TO LIST HIS OBJECTIONS.
THREE MINUTES IS NOT ENOUGH TIME.
THE SECOND SPEAKER GOT 3.5, SO I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO ALLOW ME TIME.
MY SECOND POINT OF ORDER IS UNDER PROPOSITION 218.
THE CHARGES ARE EXCESSIVE AND UNDER PROPOSITION 218, YOU CANNOT HAVE EXCESSIVE CHARGES.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, IF YOU DON'T THINK THESE CHARGES ARE EXCESSIVE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ACCOUNTING SCHOOL YOU WANT TO.
THESE ARE CLEARLY AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT.
THE THIRD POINT OF ORDER IS THE AGENCY MUST RESPOND IN WRITING TO MY FORMAL OBJECTIONS.
SO YOU KNOW I GAVE MY OBJECTIONS ON OCTOBER 27 BEFORE 4:00.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET THEIR RESPONSE BY MEETING TONIGHT.
I GET HANDED THEIR LETTER RESPONSE DURING THIS MEETING.
HOW DOES THAT GIVE ME A CHANCE TO REVIEW THAT AND TO OBJECT TO THE OBJECTIONS? THOSE ARE MY THREE POINTS OF ORDER.
NOW, YOU CAN START MY CLOCK IF YOU WANT, 4.5 MINUTES.
THIS IS NOW, AND WE NEED TO SHOW IT SO THAT PEOPLE ON THE TV CAN SEE IT IN THE OTHER PLACE.
>> IS IT THE SAME ON THE BACK.
>> RIGHT NOW, I'LL DO IT QUICKLY.
>> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET SICK.
>> THEY'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW YOU'RE PAYING IF YOU HAD $150 WATER BILL, MY WATER BILL IS $225.
MINE IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE THAN THIS.
YOU'RE PAYING $235. IN SEPTEMBER, NINE MONTHS FROM NOW, IT'S GOING TO GO TO 431.
[01:10:02]
IN JULY OF 2029, IT'S GOING TO GO TO $618.>> I WANT TO ASK YOU, IS THAT EXCESSIVE?
>> BRUCE. WE NEED TO TALK TO US.
AUDIENCE, PLEASE LET HIM SPEAK.
YOU ALL HAVE YOUR CHANCE? LET'S KEEP IT ORGANIZED.
YOU'RE USING YOUR TIME SO HARRY UP.
>> WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT IS JUST THE BEGINNING BECAUSE AS WE'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE, THERE'S A LOT OF APATHY AND PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY IN MARCH AND APRIL WHEN THEY GET THEIR FIRST BILL THAT HAS A 50% INCREASE. WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO THINK?
>> THEN IN JULY 1, THEY'RE GOING TO GET ANOTHER 25%, AND YOU COMPOUND THAT.
THAT MEANS AN 88% INCREASE IN SIX MONTHS.
YOUR WATER BILL IS GOING TO GO UP 88% IN SIX MONTHS.
NOW, I SAW SOMEBODY HANDED OUT NOW RECENTLY THAT THEY WANT TO MOVE THE JULY 1 TO OCTOBER 1.
BIG DEAL. THAT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.
I WAS AT A MEETING AT THE LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST CHURCH LAST MONTH, AND THE MAYOR SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT THIS WAS DUE TO MISS MANAGEMENT BY THE PRIOR CITY MANAGER AND THE PRIOR WATER DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.
HE STATED THAT IN A PUBLIC MEETING, WHICH I THINK WAS UNPROFESSIONAL, BUT OKAY. THAT'S WHAT HE DID.
THE LAST PROFESSIONAL WATER SURVEY WAS DONE IN 2007.
THE TWO SURVEYS DONE SINCE THEN WERE DONE BY IN HOUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FOR THE CITY.
HOW MUCH SENSE IS THAT MAKE? THE OTHER THING, I WOULDN'T RESEARCH IT WHEN THE INLAND VALLEY BULLETIN REPORTER CAME AND ASKED THE CITY MANAGER SIX YEARS AGO, WHERE IS THE REPORT? THE CITY MANAGER SAID IT'S ELUSIVE.
I'LL LET YOU FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.
THIS INFONOUS WATER DIRECTOR, DAN KESEY, TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL THOSE INCREASES IN 2017 WERE TOO LOW.
THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED 3-1 TO INCREASE THE WATER RATES BY 7%.
WHO VOTED NO ON THE WATER RATE INCREASE? THE MAYOR VOTED NO.
HE SAID NO WATER RATE INCREASE IN 2017.
THIS IS THE SAME MAYOR THAT'S NOW PROPOSING 50%. THOSE ARE FACTS.
>> I'M GIVING YOU ONLY FACTS AS IT IS.
>> I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY, HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT VOTED AGAINST THIS DRACONIAN RATE INCREASE.
[INAUDIBLE] THE CITY COUNCIL IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE STEWARDS.
THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE OVERSEERS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN CITY HALL.
THAT'S YOUR JOB. THAT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, I THINK KNOWS WHAT HARRY TRUMAN SAID.
HARRY TRUMAN SAYS THE BUCK STOP TO YOU GUY.
FOR THE LAST EIGHT OR 10 YEARS, YOU'VE DROPPED THE BALL.
NOW YOU'RE WANTING US BECAUSE YOU'VE DROPPED THE BALL, AND TWO OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL FOR FIVE YEARS.
ONE OF YOU, THE MAYOR HAS BEEN ON THE COUNCIL FOR 10 YEARS, SO HE CERTAINLY KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENED. I'M DONE.
>> THANK YOU BRUCE. [APPLAUSE]
I WAS MAYOR IN 2020, JUST FOR POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
>> HI, COUNCIL MEMBERS. HI, MAYOR.
>> HI COMMUNITY. I'M SORRY THAT I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE WATER RATES.
I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
I HAD AN INCIDENT HAPPEN IN MY HOME WHERE I REACHED OUT TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IS IT JUST ABOUT WATER?
>> IT IS THE 218. IT'S NOT ON PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M SORRY.
>> WELL, I'M TOTALLY AGAINST THE WATER RATE.
>> I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT SORRY.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN BEING A SENIOR COMMUNITY.
>> I'M GOING TO PUT A DOUBLE CARD YOU DON'T WANT IT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO TALK IN PUBLIC COMMENTS [INAUDIBLE].
WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
I LIVE BY ALL THE MOBILE PARKS, AND THESE PEOPLE ARE TERRIFIED.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY THINKING THAT YOU GUYS WANT THEM TO SELL AND TO MOVE OUT TO BUILD TOWN HOMES.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT THEY TALK TO ME BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW I HAVE THE CHRISTMAS AND THE HALLOWEEN HOUSE ON AMHERST.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN CONVEYING TO ME. I'M AGAINST IT.
[01:15:01]
I THINK THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO DO IT.>> SOMEBODY ELSE CAN TAKE MY TIME. JAMES WILKINSON.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR HEARING US TONIGHT.
I'M A LONG TIME CITY RESIDENT, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 32 YEARS.
I TAKE ISSUE WITH THE WAY THAT THE RATE INCREASES ARE PRESENTED, SOME OF THE LANGUAGE USED, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, 10% AND 15% IN YEAR 1 AND YEAR 2.
WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT, IF EVERYONE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THIS, IT'S A 243% INCREASE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE EXAMPLE WAS $145 FOR A WATER BILL.
THIS IS AVADENT SUBURBAN CITY.
IF ANYBODY HAS A YARD, I DON'T THINK YOUR WATER BILL IS GOING TO BE $145.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
YES. WELL, IF YOU HAVE A YARD THAT YOU MAINTAIN, THEN A $500 BILL WILL BE $1,220 BY 2029.
ALSO, $1,000 BILL WILL BE $2,440 IN 2029.
THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE FACE OF OUR CITY.
THE BEAUTY THAT WE ENJOY HERE, IS GOING TO HAVE A SERIOUS IMPACT.
THAT'S A CONSEQUENCE OF USING LESS WATER.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PROPERTIES IN LA VERNE THAT ARE ON THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS, AND WE HAVE WILDFIRES FROM TIME TO TIME.
THE CITY RECOGNIZES US THAT LIVE ON THE EDGE AS THE RED ZONE AND WE'RE ORDERED TO MAINTAIN OUR PROPERTIES IN SUCH A WAY SO THAT OUR HOUSES DON'T CATCH ON FIRE BECAUSE IF THEY DO, THEN IT'S IN THE CITY AND IT GOES FROM THERE.
IF THE HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ON THE EDGE END UP BEING SO PROHIBITIVE TO KEEP THEIR LANDSCAPING THEIR TREES GREEN, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TINDER BOX.
AT ONE TIME THE CITY HAD AN AGRICULTURAL RATE FOR THOSE WITH LARGER PROPERTIES AND WITH TREES.
YOU OUGHT TO CONSIDER THAT AGAIN FOR THE VALUE THAT THE FRINGE AND EDGE PROPERTIES PROVIDE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE WHOLE CITY.
FINALLY, I JUST THINK THAT THE WAY I EXPLAINED IT WITH THE LARGE 244% INCREASE, THAT SHOULD BE BETTER UNDERSTOOD AND THAT SHOULD BE WHAT WE TALK ABOUT, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN ENOUGH TIME FOR THE RATE PAYERS IN THE CITY TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO POSTPONE THIS AND MAKE THIS BETTER KNOWN.
THESE SHORT TERM NOTICES ARE JUST SNEAKING UP ON EVERYBODY AND EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE STUCK WHEN THEY FIND OUT THAT THEIR BILL IS GOING TO BE SET TO GO THIS HIGH AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE ANYMORE.
THAT'S MY CONTRIBUTION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. WILKINSON. [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE TRISH MOBLY, AYANA NORD AND JERRY ANDERSON UP.
JUST AGAIN, IF WE COULD REMIND YOU, PLEASE THOSE ASLEEP, THE SPEAKERS HAVE THEIR TIME AND LET THEM HAVE AT THE PODIUM.
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, COME ON UP TO THE PODIUM.
FILL OUT A CARD AND YOU CAN SPEAK ON THE ITEM, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PATRICIA MOBLY.
I BOUGHT MY HOME HERE IN 1993.
MY QUESTIONS ARE GETTING ANSWERED, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK YOU THE PROPOSAL THAT'S BEFORE US IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE SET UP OR CREATING SOME FUNDING OR IS IT INFRASTRUCTURE OR NOT? I JUST WANT TO KNOW OF THE RATE INCREASE THAT'S PROPOSED.
HOW MUCH OF THE COLLECTION OF THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING TO GO TO OPERATING EXPENSE, BE THAT TAKING CARE OF INFRASTRUCTURE, HOW MUCH OF IT IS GOING TO GO TO REPLENISH THE DEFICIT THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW? THAT WAS MY QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL ANSWER THOSE WHENEVER WE'RE DONE SPEAKING.
[01:20:03]
THANK YOU SO MUCH, TRISH. APPRECIATE IT.[APPLAUSE] ELENA NORD. OH. HELLO, ALENA.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M ELENA NORD.
BY THE WAY, IF ANYBODY DIDN'T BRING THEIR FORM OR DIDN'T FILL IT OUT YET, I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT HERE ON THE PODIUM WITH SOME PENS.
MAKE SURE YOU DO THAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE, SINCE IT'S DUE TODAY.
I'M HERE TO OBVIOUSLY OBJECT TO THIS PROPOSAL.
THE RATE INCREASE IS RIDICULOUS.
I THINK BRIAN ACTUALLY HAD SOME REALLY GOOD IDEAS, AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE LIKE HIM SHOULD BE INFORMING YOU OF OTHER OPTIONS BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN A HOMEOWNER HERE SINCE 2010.
EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT A SENIOR, I'M ON A SALARY AND I'M ON A FIXED INCOME, AND I CAN'T AFFORD THESE RATE INCREASES.
I HAVE A POOL. I'M GOING TO NEED TO START CHARGING MY CHILDREN'S FRIENDS TO BE ABLE TO COME AND SWIM, AND PENALIZE THEM WHEN THEY SPLASH, BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT.
THERE'S A QUALITY OF LIFE HERE THAT I COME TO EXPECT, AND WHEN I BOUGHT INTO THE CITY THAT I HAVE, AND I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THINGS HAVE NOT BEEN MANAGED IN A WAY THAT WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT REASONABLE RATE INCREASES.
I'VE ALSO HEARD, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR AN ANSWER TO THIS.
I'VE HEARD THAT PART OF THIS DEFICIT OR PROBLEM IS BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE'VE HAD SHORTFALLS IN OUR REGULAR BUDGETS, AND THAT MIS FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED IN PROPER WAYS.
IF THAT'S TRUE, I THINK THERE'S SOME ACCOUNTABILITY THAT NEEDS TO BE.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR FEEDBACK ON THAT.
IF THAT'S LEGAL, ARE YOU GUYS ABLE TO PULL FROM FUNDS FROM HERE TO THE OTHER WHEN YOU HAVE SHORTFALLS IN YOUR CITY BUDGETS? I'D LIKE TO HEAR SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT BECAUSE I DID HEAR THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A RUMOR, IF THAT'S FACTUAL. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, I THINK WE NEED SOME OTHER MINDS IN THE PICTURE TO GIVE SOME MORE SOLUTIONS.
I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO USE THE REST OF MY TIME AND YIELD IT TO BRIAN TO CONTINUE WHAT HE HAD TO SAY BECAUSE HE SOUNDS LIKE THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THIS TOPIC ON SOLUTIONS.
>> YOU GOT A MINUTE BRIAN. BUT YOU'RE USING IT UP.
>> IT COULD BE SOLVED REAL EASY.
FIRST OF ALL, ELIMINATE THE YEARS, THE 10%, THE 10%, THE 15%, FIRST OF ALL, ELIMINATE THAT.
MAKE YOUR STAFF BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR JUSTIFYING THEIR BUDGET TO YOU EACH YEAR.
IF I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND I GOT TO GO BACK TO YEAR 2000.
BUT IF MY COUNCIL BACK THEN SAID, FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, YOU GET 15% A YEAR.
I GUARANTEE YOU AS A DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, INSTEAD OF BUYING FOUR SHOVELS, I KNOW I GOT 15%.
I'M GOING TO BACK THAT NUMBER IN, WHICH IS THE WRONG WAY TO DO IT.
THE STAFF SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR PUTTING THEIR BUDGET TOGETHER EACH AND EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S NUMBER 1. NUMBER 2, YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT MAYBE A TIER SYSTEM.
YOU SHOWED THOSE NUMBERS ON ALL OF THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES.
GO TO UPLAND. IF YOU WENT TO UPLAND, UPLAND IS A LOT HIGHER, AND YOU CAN SEE IT ON YOUR CHART.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THEY HAVE THREE TIERS.
THEIR HIGHEST TIER IS LOWER BY $2 THAN LA VERNE.
>> SHERRY ANDERSON, CHRISTOPHER DOBBS, AND PATRICIA SWEETMAN.
>> NO, YOU'RE GOOD. THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND ALL THE INS AND OUTS OF THE AUDIT YOU DID.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU DO EITHER, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS SUCH AN ENORMOUS INCREASE.
I KNOW I WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD SEVEN OR $800 BILLS IN 2029 AND IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR CONSTITUENCY HERE, THEY WON'T EITHER.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU WORK FOR. THEY DON'T WORK FOR YOU.
[APPLAUSE] I'D LIKE TO KNOW ALSO THERE ARE THREE OF YOU.
I KNOW TWO OF YOU WERE JUST APPOINTED BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY RUNNING AGAINST YOU.
I KNOW THREE OF YOU ARE UP FOR REELECTION.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE. CASH.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL JUST RECENTLY.
I'D LIKE THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME WHO ARE PASSIONATE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.
[01:25:01]
I DON'T HAVE THE SMARTS, THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS.I'M MUCH TOO PASSIONATE TO BE SITTING UP HERE BECAUSE I GET INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE REAL QUICK.
BUT FOR THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME WHO ARE WAY SMARTER, PAY ATTENTION, THESE THREE ARE UP FOR REELECTION, AND IF THEY ARE IN YOUR DISTRICT, RUN AGAINST THEM BECAUSE WE NEED BETTER STEWARDS FOR OUR CITY, AND WE NEED BETTER STEWARDS.
[APPLAUSE] YOU KNOW IT, AND I KNOW IT, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON SOCIAL SECURITY.
I'M ON A FIXED INCOME BECAUSE I GET A SALARY TOO, MY SALARY HASN'T GONE UP, AND I KNOW EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN GONE UP, AND THIS IS STICKING IT TO US.
STICKING IT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ON SOCIAL SECURITY, WHO JUST HAVE THE COLA RAISES.
IF YOU COULD KEEP IT WITHIN THAT, AND I BELIEVE YOU PROBABLY COULD.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE ARE PAYING LESS THAN UPLAND OR LESS THAN TIM BOOK TWO.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE PAYING THE SAME AMOUNT AS THEY DO. WE DON'T HAVE TO.
LOOK, SOMEBODY ELSE IS PAYING MORE THAN YOU ARE.
THAT DOESN'T SELL WHAT YOU'RE SELLING TO US.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE RUN AGAINST THESE PEOPLE IF YOU CAN.
>> THANK YOU, SHERRY. CHRISTOPHER DOBBS OR PATRICIA SWEETMAN.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER DOBBS.
I'M A RESIDENT, PROPERTY OWNER, AND I ALSO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF WEBB OAK MUTUAL WATER COMPANY.
I'M HERE TO REPRESENT OVER 60 FAMILIES IN OUR AREA.
THE RATE INCREASES ARE UNLAWFUL AND WILL HURT HARDWORKING FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE RATE INCREASES VIOLATE PROPOSITION 218 IN MANY WAYS.
ONE WAY I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYONE MENTION IS SECTION B3.
THERE IS NOT IN THE PLAN THAT I REVIEWED A PARCEL-SPECIFIC BREAKDOWN TO SHOW THE PROPORTION OF WHY WE NEED THESE INCREASES.
WHAT THE COST IS TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO EACH PARCEL, AND WITHOUT THAT, THIS IS UNLAWFUL.
IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A TAX IN DISGUISE, AND I'M VERY MUCH IN OPPOSITION OF THIS. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] PATRICIA.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, MAYOR.
>> THE REASON WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE OF MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS AS JESEN POINTED OUT, WHETHER IT WAS AN APTITUDE OR WHETHER IT WAS MALFEASANCE, I HOPE IT'S NOT THAT.
BUT BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION.
WE'RE ALSO IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO MAINTENANCE OF OUR MATERIAL, OF OUR PIPELINES, OR ANYTHING ELSE IN SEWERS.
NONE OF US WANT ANY OF THAT TO EXPLODE AND CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS AND MORE ISSUES.
WE HAVE TO BRING UP ON OUR TECHNOLOGY.
WE'RE STILL BACK IN THE CHISEL AND STONE AGE.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S DISAGREEING WITH THAT.
BUT LIKE ALL GOOD IDEAS, IT'S THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS THAT EVERYONE IS OBJECTING TO, 45%, 50%.
THAT'S HITTING EVERYONE SQUARE IN THE STOMACH.
>> [LAUGHTER] BUT ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE, IT'S NOT THAT THE WORK DOESN'T NEED TO BE DONE; IT HAS TO BE DONE.
BUT HOW IT IS IMPLEMENTED IS WHAT IS GOING TO AFFECT ALL THE RESIDENTS HERE.
EVERY SPREADSHEET NEEDS A TARGET.
HOWEVER, THAT'S A TARGET, AND IT'S THE CITY'S TARGET.
IT'S NOT THE RESIDENTS' TARGET.
I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO RETHINK WHAT THAT TARGET NEEDS TO BE. MAKE IT LESS.
OTHERS HAVE SAID A YEAR-BY-YEAR INCREASE.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN 2030? WE'RE ALL PLAYING $100, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT? DOES IT KEEP GOING UP? ARE WE GOING TO GET A RESCISSION BACK ON IT? WHAT IS IN PLACE OR GOING TO BE IN PLACE TO AVOID THIS SITUATION IN FIVE YEARS? I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE TALK ABOUT I KNOW THERE ARE STATE AUDITS,
[01:30:04]
BUT STATE AUDITS DON'T ALWAYS COVER SEWER AND WATER EVERY YEAR.WHAT IS GOING TO BE IN PLACE TO KEEP EVERYTHING TRANSPARENT TO EVERYBODY? COUNCIL INCLUDED THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE HERE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW SAYING.
PLEASE RECONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE RATES AND HOW TO AVOID THIS SITUATION GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] DIANE WILKINSON.
>> I'VE BEEN GOOD. TO YOU IN A MINUTE.
I'M QUICK, AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO BRIAN FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS.
I'M ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT BOARDS A FOUNDATION BOARD OF CITRUS AND BRAIL INSTITUTES BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I LIKE TO THINK REALLY CREATIVE.
IF WE HAVE BEEN USING THESE FUNDS FOR OTHER AREAS WITHIN THE CITY, THEN MAYBE THOSE SPOTS NEED TO START PAYING US BACK IN OUR FUND.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING CREATIVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN BE DONE, SOMETHING CREATIVE.
I LIKED THE LAST PERSON THAT SPOKE.
IT'S TRUE WE NEVER EVER SEE OUR BILLS GO DOWN EVEN ONCE CERTAIN GOALS ARE MET.
THAT'S A GOOD POINT TO MAKE, IS THIS GOING TO BE JUST TEMPORARY? I'M NOT FOR THE EXTREME.
I UNDERSTAND WE DO NEED TO INCREASE AT SOME POINT.
I'M TURNING THE REST OF MY TIME OVER TO BRIAN BOKO, JUST TO FINISH IT UP. [APPLAUSE]
>> YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, BRIAN.
>> THANK YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS DID, AND THIS IS JUST ME AS THE DIRECTOR.
I NEVER WENT OUT, ON I TALK ON RESERVES NOW.
I NEVER WENT OUT AND SPENT MONEY ON A LINE JUST BECAUSE IT'S 25 YEARS OLD OR 30 YEARS OLD.
THERE IS A REQUIREMENT, AND I ASK MY EMPLOYEES TO DO THAT.
IF THEY HAD PICK ANY AREA, I'LL USE WHITE AVENUE.
FROM FOOTHILLS SOUTH, THAT'S A VERY LARGE TRANSMISSION MAIN.
WHEN IT GETS BETWEEN BONITA AND WHITE, WHEN IT GETS THREE LEAKS, YOU CALL IN AN ENGINEERING FIRM, THEY CUT A COUPON.
THEY CUT A PIECE OF THE PIPE OUT.
THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
BY DOING THAT, THEY MAY COME OUT AND SAY, YOU SHOULD REPLACE IT BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
WHITE AVENUE, THEY COME BACK AND SAID, IT'S A GOOD LINE.
YOU MAY NEED TO HAVE TO GO IN AND REALIGN IT RATHER THAN REPLACE IT.
BY DOING THE REIGNING, YOU ADDED ANOTHER 15 YEARS ONTO THAT LINE.
MY POINT IS, I WENT THROUGH SOME OF THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, AND I DISAGREE WITH THEM ENTIRELY.
THERE ARE LINES THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT REPLACING THAT THEY SHOULDN'T.
ANOTHER THING YOU NEED TO LOOK AT, THEY HAD A PROBLEM, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, MAYBE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THERE'S NOT ENOUGH VOLUME IN THAT LINE.
YOU NEED TO START LOOKING AT THAT WHEN YOU REMOVE TWO RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND PUT 200 NEW PEOPLE ON THE CORNER OF FIRST AND WHITE, SOMEBODY'S GOT TO PAY FOR THAT.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT; THE DEVELOPER SHOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THAT, AND I'M ASSUMING HE DID.
BUT THE FEE THAT HE'S PAYING WAS 2020 BACK IN 2000, WHEN I RETIRED IN 2000, I ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT THOSE RATES WERE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, THE RATES TODAY ARE A LOT DIFFERENT. I'M STOPPING.
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN. [APPLAUSE]
>> ANY MORE CARDS? ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE, PAM BERRY.
>> GOOD EVENING. THIS IS OVERWHELMING TO ME, AND I'M SOMEBODY WHO STARTED OUT AT $13 AN HOUR,
[01:35:05]
AND I DIDN'T END UP VERY MUCH MORE THAN THAT.I AM ON A VERY LIMITED INCOME.
I'M STILL PAYING FOR IT. IT'S NOT FREE.
MY MOTHER IS AND SHE LIVES RIGHT OFF OF EMERALD. SHE'S A WIDOW.
SHE DOES NOT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.
WE HAVE TO SPEND LESS IN LA VERNE AS A CITY GOVERNMENT.
YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, WE HAVE TO DO IT.
WE GOT TO BUTTON UP, JUST TAKE THAT BURDEN ON, GOT TO DO IT.
BUT YET THE SPENDING IS GOING UP, BUT WE TAKE THE MAJOR LV, AND THEN WE'RE DOING RAISES.
WHY DOES THE CITY NOT DO THE CUTS THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT.
WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT, WHAT AM I GOING TO CUT IN ORDER TO PAY FOR MY WATER? LOOK AT MY YARD. IT'S NOT PRETTY.
BUT I'VE BEEN CUTTING WATER SINCE YOU GUYS SAID WE HAD TO CUT WATER.
WE CAN'T BEAR THE WHOLE BURDEN AND YET HAVE THE EMPLOYEES AND THE CITY AND ALL OF THAT PROTECTED THAT WE GOT TO GIVE THEM ALL THESE NICE THINGS TO DRAW THEM HERE.
BUT THEN WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE? WE CAN'T KEEP DOING IT.
YOU'RE THE ONES THAT ARE VOTING TO KEEP THE SPENDING GOING.
YOU'RE THE ONES THAT ARE VOTING TO PUT IT ON US.
I KNOW WHEN THEY DID THAT PRESENTATION AND THEY SHOWED THIS IS WHAT IT IS NOW AND THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO BE, BUT THAT WAS ONLY JANUARY.
THEY DID NOT SHOW ANY OF THE OTHER STUFF.
THAT WAS NOT TRANSPARENT, THAT WAS DECEPTIVE.
THE SURPLUS STUFF IS GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT EMPLOYEES.
I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME WE'VE GOT GREAT EMPLOYEES.
>> THANK YOU, PAM. [APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE] THEN CYNTHIA YOUR NEXT, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY RESIDENTS.
I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR RESIDENTS TO COME TO THESE MEETINGS.
I'VE BEEN COMING TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ALMOST FOUR YEARS.
I THINK I'VE MISSED 12 MEETINGS IN FOUR YEARS.
IT'S ISSUES LIKE THIS THAT DON'T JUST AFFECT A CERTAIN PART OF THE CITY.
EVEN RENTERS, NOT JUST HOMEOWNERS OR MOBILE HOMEOWNERS.
I THINK THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO REALLY CONSIDER, YOU SEE THE OUTPOUR OF PEOPLE ATTENDING THIS MEETING, THE NUMBER OF LETTERS, THE NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME TO, THIS IS AN ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
I WANT TO THANK MY DISTRICT REP, MR. CROSBY, WHO DID VOTE AGAINST THIS, AS DID I, AS DID MR. RICK BOWEN.
HE AND I WERE ON THE ADHOC WATER SEWER COMMITTEE.
WE VOTED FOR THE LOWEST AMOUNT OF INCREASE TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
BECAUSE WITH A 50% INCREASE, YOU ARE REWARDING POOR BEHAVIOR.
FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT AND YOU WANT TO RAISE THE RATES NEAR THE HIGHEST POINT, IT'S LIKE SAYING IT'S OKAY THAT WHAT HAPPENED HAPPENED AND IT'S NOT OKAY.
I THINK IF PEOPLE JUST TAKE A STEP BACK, WE CAN STILL ACHIEVE THOSE SAME NUMBERS.
IT WOULD JUST TAKE A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME TO GET THERE.
I THINK THE IDEAS THAT MR. BOKOCH HAVE ARE WORTH LISTENING TO,
[01:40:05]
MAYBE EXAMINING THEM MORE, MAYBE HE CAN SIT DOWN WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR, MR. WU AND SHARE THOSE IDEAS WITH HIM, AND WE CAN COME TO A MUCH MORE REASONABLE SOLUTION TO THIS SEVERE PROBLEM? AS A PREVIOUS SPOKE PERSON SAID, PAM, THIS CITY WE ARE ONLY 32,000 PEOPLE.OUR BUDGET IS LARGER THAN SOME CITIES THAT HAVE NEARLY 70,000 PEOPLE.
AT WHAT POINT DO WE START EXAMINING WE CAN'T AFFORD THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE CAN'T AFFORD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT OTHER AREAS THAT WATER IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN JUST SAY, OH, WE'RE GOING TO PUT OFF.
THIS 50%, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THAT DOESN'T COUNT THE 13% THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET HIT WITH FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON THAT WE ALL GOT THE POSTCARDS FOR.
WHAT ABOUT THE GAS BECAUSE NUISANCE CLOSE IN THE REFINERIES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE $8 $10 GAS IN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.
THESE PEOPLE'S BUDGETS ARE JUST GOING TO GET BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER.
CASH, I LOOK AT YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE ALL ABOUT VETERANS AND SERVICEMEN.
THEY'RE DEFINITELY ON FIXED INCOMES.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM? HOW MANY MORE ARE GOING TO BECOME HOMELESS? WE REALLY NEED TO SERIOUSLY SIT DOWN AND RE-EXAMINE THESE NUMBERS.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE DO THAT.
AS A ADVOC SEWER MEMBER, I WOULD THINK THAT YOU WOULD RESPECT MY REQUEST. THANK YOU VERY KINDLY.
>> THANK YOU [INAUDIBLE] [APPLAUSE] MISS GABALDON.
WILLIAM MCKENNA, YOU'RE UP NEXT.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. CYNTHIA GABALDON.
HERS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO REACH OUT AND THANK ALL THE MANY RESIDENTS WHO STEPPED UP AND HELPED.
IT'S ALSO BEEN VERY SAD THAT WE HAD TO USE OUR OWN TIME, OUR OWN MONEY.
I KNOW A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE IN TOWN PRINTED ANOTHER 600.
IT'S REALLY SAD THAT THE RESIDENTS HAD TO DO YOUR GUYS' JOB, ACTUALLY.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY GETTING THE WORD OUT.
A COUPLE OF LITTLE NOTES FOR EVERYBODY.
UPLAND RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE GETTING POUNDED, I THINK IT'S TOMORROW NIGHT, SO THEIR CITY COUNCIL.
THEIR RATE INCREASE, THEY'RE PROBABLY ALL GOING TO GET KICKED OUT.
THEY'RE STARTING TO WORK ON DOING A COUPLE OF RECALLS OVER THERE ON THEIR CITY COUNCIL.
KEY QUESTIONS I GOT FROM TALKING TO PROBABLY 1,000 PEOPLE.
WHY DON'T WE GET TO VOTE FOR THIS? THAT'S A LITTLE NUANCE OF PROP 218, LET A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, IS THAT WATER DISTRICTS IN CALIFORNIA REALLY DID TRY TO PUSH AND THEY GOT THEIR LITTLE LOOPHOLE TO MAKE SURE IT RAN LIKE THIS.
FOR OTHER PROP 218 VOTES, WE GET A BALLOT.
IT IS ONE PER HOME, BUT WE WOULD GET A BALLOT.
THEY WOULD BE DOING THE WORK TO CONVINCE US VERSUS THIS WAY AROUND, NOW WE'RE DOING THE WORK TO FIGHT FOR OURSELVES.
THINK ABOUT THAT GOING FORWARD ON WHOEVER YOU VOTE FOR IN THE FUTURE UP AND DOWN THE STATE BECAUSE IT SHOULD NOT BE LIKE THAT FOR RATE VOTERS.
DOESN'T THE CITY UNDERSTAND WE DON'T GET RAISES? I'M SELF EMPLOYED. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RAISE IN ABOUT FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS NOW, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID.
I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY THAT RAISES DURING COVID.
WHEN I FOUND THAT THAT HAPPENED HERE, IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY CITIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
I DO WORK FOR A LOT OF CITIES THAT MOST OF THEM TOOK PAY CUTS TO BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU.
THE OTHER QUESTION, WHY DON'T I KNOW ABOUT THIS? WE MADE COPIES OF THE FLYER THAT WENT AROUND AND PEOPLE WENT BACK AND THEY WENT THROUGH THEIR MAIL BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DON'T GO THROUGH THE MAIL ALL THE TIME.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY'VE NEVER SEEN THE FLYERS.
LASTLY, WHEN IS THE CITY GOING TO START CUTTING COSTS? THAT IS COMING UP A LOT.
WE ARE NOT A CHAMPAGNE BUDGET CITY.
IT MIGHT BE A GOOD BEER, BUT WE'RE STILL A BEER BUDGET CITY.
[APPLAUSE] LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR VOICE.
THIS CONSTANT PUSH FOR MORE TAXES, MORE FEES, MORE DENSITY, MORE TRAFFIC IS NOT WHAT WE WANT.
[APPLAUSE] SOMEBODY ELSE SAID IT, YOU WORK FOR US.
I HAVE BEEN AND I'M A PAIN IN THEIR REARS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW.
THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH AND THERE HAS BEEN VERY MINIMAL EFFORT, ESPECIALLY BY THIS CURRENT COUNCIL, AND ALSO THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS JUST AS BAD.
I PERSONALLY THINK NOT VERY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LEGAL STAFF BECAUSE MANY OF THE LEGAL ENTITIES ESPECIALLY HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARE ALL IN ON A LOT OF THIS.
OTHER THAN THE LETTER FOR SB 79, CITIES ARE NOT FIGHTING BACK.
WE NEED TO FIGHT BACK TO SACRAMENTO OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
[01:45:02]
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE HIRED FOR.YOU GUYS SHOULD BE WORKING FOR US, NOT SACRAMENTO AND THE OTHER ENTITIES WHICH WORK AGAINST US, AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY TIME TO CHANGE THAT FACT.
WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE THAT FACT.
[APPLAUSE] IF THAT MEANS DOING REPLACEMENT, THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO DO A REPLACEMENT.
>> HOPEFULLY, I'M THE LAST PERSON TO TALK.
>> WE HAVE THE FLOOR. ANYBODY WILL TALK.
>> WENDY, THANK YOU FOR HANDLING A SITUATION I HAD A FEW YEARS AGO?
>> FIRST OFF, I WANT TO JUST SAY I OPPOSE THIS DRASTIC RATE INCREASE.
I THINK WE CAN DO A RATE INCREASE OVER TIME SINCE WE HAVEN'T DONE IT OVER TIME.
IF YOU WERE TO DO A 10% OR A 20% WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS THING, THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING.
YOU'RE CAUSING A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH OUT HERE WITH THIS EXTREME 50-75 TO 100% RATE INCREASE.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE DON'T PAY THEIR BILL? ARE YOU GOING TO KICK THEM OUT OF THEIR HOUSES? ARE YOU GOING TO CUT THE WATER OFF? THERE'S OTHER ISSUES WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS, I'M LOOKING AT PEOPLE IN THIS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS ROOM THIS FULL.
I'VE BEEN HERE A COUPLE OF TIMES.
I WAS HERE ONCE WAS THE ONLY PERSON, AND BASICALLY, THE COUNCIL CAME TO ME AND, WHAT WAS I DOING HERE? I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHAT GOVERNMENT'S LIKE.
BASICALLY WHEN I SEE THIS, AND LIKE I SAID, I CALLED WENDY ON A THING THAT HAPPENED YEARS AGO AND SHE HANDLED IT WITHIN THE DAY AND SHE CALLED ME RIGHT BACK.
THAT'S WHAT GOVERNMENTS SUPPOSED TO DO.
I GOT THIS FLYER IN THE MAIL A FEW MONTHS AGO.
I LOOKED IT OVER. IT'S A HORRIBLE FLIER, WHOEVER YOU GUYS HIRED.
BASICALLY, IT WAS BAD BECAUSE THE CALCULATOR, I HAD TO DO MY OWN HOMEWORK TODAY, AND I LOOKED AT MY BILL IS GOING TO DOUBLE DEFINITELY BY 2030 OF WATER.
I HAVE FIVE PEOPLE IN MY HOUSE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT TWO PEOPLE ARE THE HOUSES UP ON THE HILL OR GOING TO HAVE TEN PEOPLE IN THEIR HOUSES.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE ALL SHOULD BE LOOKING AT PER CAPITA, WHO'S IN THE HOUSE, HOW MUCH WATER IS BEING USED AND DOING IT THAT WAY.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE THAT HAS TO BE THE OPTION FOR ALL OF US HERE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO VOTE ON IT TODAY.
I GUESS ONE OPTION OR THE OTHER IS WHAT I WAS READING IN THAT FLYER THAT CAME OUT.
AM I WRONG IN SAYING THAT? OKAY. BUT MAYBE YOU TABLE IT, TAKE OUR OPINIONS, LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON AND HAVE BE BECAUSE I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, LIKE I SAID, WHEN THE FLYER CAME IN THE MAIL, READ IT.
I CALLED TODAY AND SPOKE TO SOMEBODY IN THE OFFICE OVER HERE, AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO PASS TONIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT I GOT. I'M HOPING I'M WRONG.
BUT THINK, I KNOW IT HAS TO GO.
WE NEED TO DO IT, BUT DO IT INCREMENT.
I LIVED IN WEST COVINA BEFORE, WENT TO THE COUNCIL AND SPOKE TO THEM ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY TRY TO DO A DAYCARE THING FROM $50 A WEEK TO $120.
I HATE TO SAY PEOPLE GOT VOTED OUT OF THE COUNCIL.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU GUYS GO BECAUSE I THINK YOU GUYS DO A HELL OF GOOD JOB MOST OF THE TIME.
I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
MR. GABLDON. LILY, YOUR NEXT AND THEN WILL.
I'VE BEEN TO A FEW OF THE MEETINGS.
THE MAYOR AND I GOT INTO IT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY OPINION ON THE MISMANAGEMENT COMMENT THAT HE MADE.
THIS IS NOT REALLY ANYTHING ABOUT ANYBODY PERSONAL, BUT IT'S ALL PERSONAL BECAUSE WE ALL LIVE IN THE SAME CITY.
IN THE GROCERY STORE, AT THE EVENTS THAT WE TALK ABOUT.
MY POSITION IS, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE RATE INCREASE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
I ALREADY SAID I AGREE THAT THERE IS A NECESSITY FOR A RATE INCREASE, BUT THE DRASTIC NATURE OF THIS ONE IS UNACCEPTABLE.
EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM I THINK FEELS THAT WAY, AND I THINK THAT'S BASICALLY THE SENTIMENT YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT.
THE ONE THING THAT I ALSO HEARD TONIGHT THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT IS THAT I THINK YOU MR. MAYOR SAID THAT THIS WAS SQA EXEMPT, AND THAT IS CORRECT.
THAT BASICALLY SAID THERE'S NO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REQUIREMENT TO GO THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOT OTHER ISSUES.
WHAT I HAVE NOT HEARD IS WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY HAVE TO SPEND 100% MORE ON THEIR WATER RATE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR ON THE BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY? WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT THE RETIRED COMMUNITY IS ON FIXED INCOMES.
I ALREADY TOLD YOU, I DELIVER MEALS TO PEOPLE THAT STRUGGLE TO HAVE A MEAL WITH MEALS ON WHEELS AND
[01:50:02]
THE RATE INCREASE THAT WE HAD TO PROPOSE BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE, ALL THOSE THINGS MATTER, AND THEY PILE ON.PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THE UTILITY INCREASES THAT ARE FORTHCOMING, THE FUEL PRICES THAT ARE EXPECTED BASED ON REGULATIONS THAT AREN'T BEING FOUGHT AGAINST BY THE COUNCIL OR ANYBODY ELSE THAT I SEE IN THE AREA.
BUT WHEN ROUNDTABLE PIZZA, WHEN TRADER JOE'S, WHEN ANY OTHER BUSINESS IN THIS COMMUNITY, WHO ALSO PUTS TAXES IN THE COFFER IS NOT HERE, AT LEAST I DON'T THINK THEY ARE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THEM.
HAVE YOU DONE ANY HOMEWORK ON WHETHER OR NOT THOSE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO SEE ANY IMPACT FROM PEOPLE HAVING TO SPEND MONEY ON WATER OR ON THIS PROPOSED INCREASE VERSUS THE MONEY THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND WHEN THEY GO TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO GET LUNCH IN AND OUT OR EVERYWHERE ELSE THAT THEY MIGHT BE SENDING THEM.
I DON'T THINK I'VE HEARD ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT WE'VE THOUGHT THROUGH AND THE OTHER IMPACTS TO THE COMMUNITY OTHER THAN HOW IT IS THAT IT HELPS THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGEMENT RESOLVE THEIR FINANCIAL ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. GABLDON. LILY.
PEOPLE KNOW ME AS A ROSE LADY IN OLD TOWN BECAUSE I HAVE A HUGE ROSE GARDEN, HAVE 100 ROSES.
I HAND OUT THE FREE ROSES FOR SENIOR FROM COVID, AND THEN KNOW A LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN.
I ALREADY LIVE HERE MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
I HAVE TWO KIDS BORN HERE, RAISED UP TO BONDA HIGH AND THEN GO COLLEGE.
I LOVE HERE, BUT THEY ALREADY TOLD ME WE PROBABLY COULDN'T AFFORD IN CALIFORNIA, WE PROBABLY MOVED TO THE OTHER STATE.
EVERYBODY KNOW EVERYTHING INCREASING.
I TRY TO REACH MORE PEOPLE FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, ACTUALLY, NOT MUCH PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I WALK THROUGH SEVEN STREET, SIXTH STREET, BONITA, ALL THE TOWN TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND OLD TOWN OR TALK TO THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
I WILL SAY MORE THAN 50%, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS THAT? NOBODY REALLY KNOW THIS PAPER SO WE REALLY VOLUNTEER TO COLLECT SO MANY PETITION LETTER.
MY PERSONAL GET 100, SO I BELIEVE MORE THAN 1,000 ALREADY SO I FEEL LIKE WE NEED OPTION 1 AND TWO IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE.
EVEN I'M VERY HARD WALKING, MY HUSBAND HARD WALKING WILL PAY 30% UP TEST.
I'M GOING TO GET LICENSED TOMORROW AGAIN BECAUSE I NEED MONEY FOR MY ROSE GARDEN.
MY HUSBAND TURN OFF THE WATER BECAUSE SAY TOO MUCH CHANGE THE DESERT PLAN AND THE SECULAND.
IT'S NOT FUNNY, I'M SO SAD BECAUSE TURN OFF THE WATER.
THERE IS A RAIN FEW DAYS AGO AS I SAID LAST WEEK.
THAT'S THE REALITY SO IT'S NOT THAT FUNNY BECAUSE I'M MAD FOR THAT.
I COME FROM A COMMUNIST COUNTRY.
YOU BETTER DON'T VOTE TONIGHT.
THAT IS COMMUNIST. WE HAVE BETTER SOLUTION. THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I DID NOT COME PREPARED HERE TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS CHRIS AND I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 2007.
I REALLY LIKE LA VERNE YOU GUYS DO A GOOD JOB.
MOST OF THE TIME, CITIES WELL RUN. APPRECIATE IT.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE OPTICS ON THIS TALK OF 50% AGE INCREASE OVER A ONE YEAR PERIOD IS NOT REASONABLE AND CUSTOMARY.
THE OTHER THING, IF IT MUST HAPPEN, WHY IS IT AMORTIZED OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? IT'S TOO MUCH FOR MOST PEOPLE.
THAT'S TOO BIG A HEAD. IT'S NOT FAIR.
LASTLY, WHAT I'M NOT HEARING IN SO MANY WAYS, YOU'RE DESCRIBING THE WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
BUT I'M NOT HEARING WHY THIS NEEDS TO HAVE.
WHERE'S THE BUSINESS CASE? THESE COSTS ARE GOING UP EQUIPMENT IS DETERIORATING.
WE'RE NOT GETTING MUCH JUSTIFICATION.
IF IT'S THERE, I'M NOT SEEING IT.
I DIDN'T GET THAT FLYER EITHER.
THOSE POINTS TO CONSIDER MY 3 MINUTES, I'M GOING TO USE LESS THAN.
I'LL SHARE IT WITH ANYBODY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. CHRIS. APPRECIATE IT.
[LAUGHTER] NEXT STEP AFTER THE GENTLEMAN'S COMING UP NOW IS SUSAN HINES. MR. BOWEN.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TERRY PRENTIS.
[01:55:02]
WENT THROUGH IT ALL, PUT IT IN A SPREADSHEET, LOOK AT IT.WHAT I FOUND THAT WHAT WAS MISSING AND I MEAN HUGELY MISSING WAS REASONABLENESS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT BE THE 10 YEARS BEFORE 2020, THE INFLATION RATE IN THE UNITED STATES AVERAGED 1.8% PER YEAR.
NEXT FOUR YEARS, IT WENT UP 25,30% PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS.
I JUST GOT TO NOTICE FROM SOCIAL SECURITY THE OTHER DAY THAT I'M GOING TO GET AN INCREASE OF 2.8%.
I LOOKED AT THIS AND I SAID, MY CURRENT METER CHARGE IS $36.40 A MONTH.
IN 3.5 YEARS, IT'S GOING TO GO UP TO $84.41 A MONTH. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.
THEN THERE'S A NEW CHARGE THAT'S GOING TO GO ON THERE FOR THE FIRE FIRE INCREASE.
I KNOW IT GOES TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'S OF $21.21 A MONTH.
THAT OVER 3.5 YEARS IS A 190% INCREASE JUST IN THE METER CHARGE. THAT'S NOT REASONABLE.
IF YOU LOOK AT WATER USAGE, WATER USAGE IS 392A FOR 1,000 GALLONS.
IS GOING UP IN 3.5 YEARS TO 987, WHICH IS OVER 200% INCREASE.
ADDED TOGETHER, THOSE TWO THE USAGE AND THE METER CHARGES IN THE 3.5 YEARS COMES UP TO 440% INCREASE.
FOUR YEARS. THAT'S OVER 100% A YEAR, AVERAGE.
THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE WASTEWATER OF 15% A YEAR, BUT YET IN THE SAME REPORT, THEY ESTIMATE THAT INFLATION RATE, THEY'RE GOING TO PEG AT 3%.
HOW IS THIS REASONABLE? MONEY. THIS IS GOING TO COST PEOPLE A LOT OF MONEY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, SOCIAL SECURITY PENSIONS AND THAT.
THEY GET A COST OF LIVING TO RAISE.
PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE MUCH OVER 3% AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT 200%.
WHEN OVER THOSE THREE YEARS, THEY'RE GOING TO GET NINE OR 10% AND THEY'RE GOING TO END UP PAYING TWO OR 300 OR 400% MORE FOR JUST WATER.
I UNDERSTAND THE NEED, I DON'T WANT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO DETERIORATE AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT LIKE THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES BANDING STREETS, THEIR WATER MAINS EVERY WEEK, TWO OR THREE A WEEK, PUTTING OFF THEIR PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVEN'T SOLVED IN 100 YEARS AND WON'T.
BUT LISTEN TO WHAT BRIAN SAID, AND I THINK, [NOISE] COME BACK TO WE LOOK AT BEING REASONABLE.
WHAT IS REASONABLE? WE DIDN'T HAVE A INCREASE FOR EIGHT YEARS BUT OVER EIGHT YEARS, 3%, THAT'S 25%.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SUSAN HINES.
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION HERE TONIGHT, AND I HOPE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS HEARD EVERYONE VERY CAREFULLY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ANY OF US CAN PAY FOR THIS.
IT FEELS TO ME LIKE THAT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE EVEN PROPOSING THIS, IT FEELS LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE AND A KICK IN THE PANTS AT THE SAME TIME REPEATEDLY.
I'VE LIVED IN THIS TOWN FOR 60 YEARS.
BOTH ADDRESSES ARE WITHIN A MILE OF EACH OTHER.
I PAY THE SURCHARGE FOR BEING IN A HIGH FIRE AREA THAT'S GREAT.
I INVITE FIRE PEOPLE TO MY HOME.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND ONE SHRED OF HOW THIS INCREASE IS GOING TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE INFORMATION I HAD ON HAND DOESN'T TELL ME THAT.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE OF MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN HERE.
I HOPE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO INVITE THESE EXPERTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE DOING THIS TO ACTUALLY, I IMPLORE YOU GATHER THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER LIKE YOU NEED THEM TO BREATHE.
BECAUSE IF WE JUST DO THE SAME THING REPEATEDLY AND EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS, ARE YOU KIDDING? THAT IS FRACKING INSANE.
IT'S OUR MONEY AND OUR MENTAL HEALTH OR LACK OF IT. THAT'S AT STAKE.
BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE BEING RIPPED OFF
[02:00:03]
BLATANTLY OR FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO HAVE A RATE INCREASE BECAUSE SOME OF THEIR TOWN DOES.THAT IS SO FRICKING INSULTING AND WHOEVER WHO STOOD UP HERE AND SAID THAT WAS A GREAT PLAN EARLIER, THE LADY? I DON'T REMEMBER HER NAME.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME.
I REALLY DIDN'T APPRECIATE THAT MUCH.
I'M TRYING TO LET YOU KNOW, I DON'T APPRECIATE WHAT SHE SAID VERY MUCH BECAUSE IT DIDN'T.
>> HOW WATER IS COLLECTED AND SAVE STORY?
>> ANOTHER THING ABOUT THE WAY WATER IS COLLECTED AND SAVED RELATIVE TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
I CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY LIVE OF DAM DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO HOLD ONTO WATER.
THE BEST EXPLANATION I WAS GIVEN AND ONLY BEFORE I WAS ASKED TO LEAVE WAS BECAUSE WATER ATTRACTS MOSQUITOES AND THEN THAT WAS I SAID, WHY DON'T WE GET SOME MOSQUITO FISH? [LAUGHTER] WE CAN'T BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT NATIVE.
THAT WAS THE ANSWER I GOT BEFORE I WAS ASKED TO LEAVE SO IT'S COMPLETELY INSANE.
OUR WHOLE AREA WHERE WE LIVE IS CHANGING FROM RIPARIAN TO THE PLANTS, THE BIRDS, FLOOR AND FAUNA GONE, AND WE DON'T SAVE WATER WHERE SOMEBODY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO GET A DROP OUT OF THAT DAM.
FOR FIRES THAT WAS A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM THE HOUSE, WHEN I WAS GOING.
I'M OUT THERE WITH MY FRICKING KITCHEN FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] MR. BOWEN.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. MY NAME IS RICK BOWEN.
I MOVED HERE IN 1983, BEEN HERE 42 YEARS, HAVE HAD THREE HOUSES, AND I WAS ON THE COMMITTEE AND I NOTICED TONIGHT WHEN THE GENTLEMAN GOT UP HERE, THE $140,000 CONSULTANT.
THIS IS WHAT WE SAW FOR THE ENTIRE TIME.
WE GET UP AND SEE A GUY SAY, TONIGHT, 5 MINUTES INTO THE PRESENTATION, WE'VE MADE ALL THESE CHANGES.
LET ME GET TO MY PREPARED TONIGHT, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON HOW MUCH, HOW OFTEN THE RESIDENTS OF LA VERNE WILL BE CHARGED FOR WATER AND SEWER RATES.
AS MANY HAVE SAID, THE PROPOSED INCREASE CREATE A HUGE BURDEN ON MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS.
NO ONE DISPUTES THE RATES NEED TO GO UP.
IT'S THE WAY IT'S BEING PROPOSED USING THE MAYOR'S OWN WORD, SORRY, MR. MAYOR, BASED ON PAST MISMANAGEMENT.
AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID HERE, THAT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
NUMBER 1, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS NOW.
HOW FAR DO WE GO BACK? FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS, 15 YEARS? WHOSE FAULT IS IT? WE'RE NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS, SAYING THE MISMANAGEMENT, JUST FLAT DOESN'T CUT IT.
YOU ARE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE CITY MANAGER REPORTS TO YOU, AND ALL OF YOU REPORT TO US, THE RESIDENTS.
WHAT IS THERE IN THIS PROPOSAL THAT CHANGES ANY TYPE OF OVERSIGHT? WAS ONE OF MY MAIN CONTENTIONS AND STILL IS.
WHAT IF THE NEW CITY MANAGEMENT MISLEADS YOU? HOW WILL YOU KNOW? YOU APPARENTLY HAVEN'T KNOWN FOR FIVE YEARS? MANY OF THE NEW PEOPLE THAT ARE LEADING OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM DON'T LIVE HERE.
THEY WANT TO SAY, LOOK, WHAT A GREAT JOB I DID.
LOOK HOW MUCH MONEY I BROUGHT IN, AND THEY GO HOME.
THEY DON'T LIVE HERE. THEY DON'T PAY OUR BILLS.
BUT THEY SURE AS HELL WANT TO TAKE IT OUT OF THESE PEOPLE'S HANDS AND BY THE WAY, WHILE I'M STANDING HERE, LOOK IN YOUR WALLET, SEE IF YOU HAVE AN EXTRA 50 BUCKS A MONTH.
>> DON'T GIVE ME THAT. YOU'VE ALLOWED THAT A LOT OF TIMES, MR. MAYOR.
[02:05:03]
>> WHAT IS THE GUARANTEE THAT THAT WON'T HAPPEN ANY LONGER.
[NOISE] I HEAR YOU [APPLAUSE].
WHAT IS THERE IN THIS PROPOSAL THAT THE PREVIOUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE BUDGETED, BUT WERE NOT DONE WILL BE SPENT ON IN THE FUTURE.
IT'S JUST GIVE ME MONEY AND TRUST ME.
I WOULD SAY THIS ROOM DOESN'T TRUST YOU ANYMORE.
[APPLAUSE]. DID YOU TURN OFF THE MIC? THIS PROPOSAL IS STATED TO BRING IN $52 MILLION IN NEW REVENUE BY THE END OF 2030, 22.8 MILLION JUST IN 2.5 YEARS.
IT'S ON THE TABLE IN THE PRESENTATION.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE FINANCIAL BURDEN PLACED ON MANY OF OUR OLDER CITIZENS.
THESE RATES NEED TO BE RAISED, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE CALLED THIS CITY HOME FOR MANY YEARS.
CONSIDER A TIERED WATER INCREASE LIKE YOU'VE CREATED FOR YOUR OWN EMPLOYEES.
YOU HAVE DONE IT BEFORE FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE SAME FOR YOUR RESIDENTS.
IT'LL TAKE SOME WORK, BUT THAT'S WHY THE RESIDENTS VOTED FOR YOU.
BY THE WAY, THEY VOTED FOR YOU.
THEY CAN ALSO VOTE AGAINST YOU.
>> TO GET UP HERE AND SAY 45% INSTEAD OF 50 IS AN INSULT AND WHOEVER CAME UP WITH THAT.
[LAUGHTER] IF YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN IT FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT, SHAME ON YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN IN THIS RESIDENT HERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION IS TO THE PANELS HERE TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, HOW MANY RESIDENTS DID YOU RECEIVE THE LETTERS THAT I NEVER GOT ONE? I RECEIVED THIS FROM MY FRIEND, CYNTHIA, WHO CAME TO ME AND ASKED ME IF I HEARD ABOUT IT, IF I RECEIVED ANYTHING, I NEVER DID, AND SHAME ON YOU FOR NOT MAKING SURE THAT EACH AND EVERY SINGLE RESIDENTS IN THIS TOWN RECEIVE THIS INCREASE.
BUT I HAD TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.
SINCE I NEVER GOT ONE, I PRINTED OUT ON MY OWN COMPUTER TO BRING IT HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M ONE OF THOSE THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WHO DID NOT GET ONE.
I AM SO EMBARRASSED OF ALL OF YOU SITTING UP HERE.
WE VOTED FOR YOU, WE TRUSTED YOU, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU DISAPPOINTED US.
YOU'RE SITTING UP HERE THINKING THAT NOTHING IS IMPORTANT.
THIS INCREASE IS GOOD? NO, IT'S NOT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU ARE ACTUALLY PAYING OUT OF YOUR POCKET ON WATER BILL.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU DO OR NOT? WITH YOUR OWN MONEY OR IS IT OUR MONEY? THAT'S ALL WE WANTED TO KNOW.
BUT IF WE DIDN'T TURN THIS IN, THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR US.
IF I DIDN'T PAY MY WATER BILL, IT IS ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE YOU WILL SHUT MY WATER OFF BECAUSE I'M LATE.
HOW IS THAT FAIR IF WE'RE NOT GETTING THIS, BUT YET IF EVERYBODY IN HERE DIDN'T PAY THE BILL, YOU'RE GOING TO CUT THE WATER OFF, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S GET THE INCREASE.
2026 JANUARY WHEN WE GET THAT INCREASE, HAVE EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY BRING THE BILL AND DROP IT OFF ON YOUR COUNTER AND SEE WHAT HAPPEN? ARE YOU GOING TO DO? YOU'RE GOING TO SHUT OFF THE WATER OF THE WHOLE ENTIRE CITY? NO, THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.
PLEASE, YOU NEED TO CONSIDER US.
WE'RE THE PEOPLE, WE'RE THE REASON WHY YOU GUYS ARE UP HERE.
IF IT WEREN'T FOR US, YOU WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE.
YOU WOULDN'T BE SITTING BACK HERE WITH US, NOT AGAINST US. THANK YOU.
>> [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? KATHY? HELLO.
[02:10:05]
I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT, AND I'VE BEEN ATTENDING CITY COUNCIL FOR MAYBE A LITTLE OVER 10 YEARS NOW.
I REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE DID THE INCREASE AND IT WAS MET WITH A LOT OF PROTEST.
I'M GOING TO SAY I DON'T REALLY AGREE WITH NECESSARILY WITH THE MISMANAGEMENT BECAUSE THEN WE HIT COVID, COULDN'T SHUT OFF WATER, COULDN'T RAISE RATES, COULDN'T DO THINGS.
WE'RE PAST COVID AND IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT.
I'M NOT SURE WHY WE DIDN'T INCREASE SOONER BECAUSE WE NEED TO INCREASE, EVERYTHING COSTS MORE, BUT THIS IS A REALLY HIGH EXCESSIVE INCREASE.
I HAVE A QUESTION. IF WE NEED TO REFILL THE COFFERS OR SOMETHING, COULD WE DO A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT? WE DO THAT AND THEN ROLL BACK SO WE'RE NOT HITTING THIS HIGH OF INCREASES BECAUSE THIS IS A LOT.
THEN IF BRIAN WANTS TO ADD MORE BECAUSE HE'S SO KNOWLEDGEABLE, I WOULD LIKE HIM TO TAKE THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> BECAUSE I GOT KATHY'S A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, JUST TO GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE, LOOK AT UPLAND ON YOUR LIST.
>> LOOK AT UPLAND ON YOUR LIST.
THEY'RE ABOUT HALFWAY UP THAT LIST OF CITIES AND/OR WATER AGENCIES, AND YOU LOOK AT THEIR NUMBER ON THE FIXED INCOME.
ON THE FIXED INCOME, THEY'RE TWICE AS HIGH AS WE ARE.
THE REASON IS THEY'RE COVERING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I WAS ONE IN THE AREA, MANY YEARS AGO, BACK IN THE EARLY '60S, THAT STARTED PUTTING FIXED INCOME ON THE BOOKS.
THE REASON IS BECAUSE OF ALL THE CONSERVATION THAT GOES ON, IF NOBODY IN THIS TOWN, NOBODY USED A DROP OF WATER, THE IDEA OF THE FIXED INCOME IS TO COVER THE COST OF THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, STANDBY FEES FROM THE GAS COMPANY, EDISON, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE INCLUDED IN A FIXED FEE.
IF YOU HAVE IT AS A FIXED FEE, THAT'S WHAT OUR ADJUSTMENT WAS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OURS RIGHT NOW, MR. MAYOR, OURS IS IN LINE.
IT WAS IN LINE SEVEN YEARS AGO, IT'S NOT IN LINE NOW.
I AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE NEED THE INCREASE.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF YOU TAKE THE FIXED INCREASE AND LEAVE THE CONSUMPTION FEE ALONE, UPLAND IS THE EXAMPLE THAT I'M USING.
UPLAND, THEIR HIGHEST RATE IS $2 LESS THAN I'M PAYING PER 1,000 GALLONS OF WATER.
THEY'RE TWICE AS HIGH, BUT THEY COVER IT THROUGH THEIR FIXED COST.
THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
THAT WAS THE INTENT OF PUTTING THE FIXED COST BACK ON WHEN JOH BLICKENSTAFF WAS MAYOR, AND STEVE EVEN WHEN YOUR DAD WAS THERE.
WE PUT A FIXED COST IN THERE, AND WE COVERED OURSELVES.
DURING CONSERVATION, AND BY THE WAY, THIS CITY HAS ALWAYS STEPPED UP.
WE CUT OUR RATE, AS I SAID BEFORE, FROM 25,000 GALLONS EVERY TWO MONTHS AVERAGE, IT'S DOWN TO 18.
RIGHT NOW, WE GET 5,500 ACRE FEET FROM THREE VALLEYS.
WE'VE CUT THAT BY 1,600 ACRE FEET.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT DID IT THROUGH CONSERVATION, ASKED BY THE COUNCIL TO DO THAT.
I'M JUST SAYING, AND I KNOW I'M OUT OF LINE, BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND I DO WHAT I DO, I HATE TALKING, I GOT THE FIGURES.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING I WILL HELP THE CITY DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY.
I THINK WE CAN GET BY WITH 25%, AND I CAN JUSTIFY IT.
I THINK YOUR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE WAY OUT OF LINE.
YOU DON'T JUST GO WHAM AND HIT THEM WITH IT.
YOU MOVE INTO IT GRADUALLY AND COVER YOUR COST.
THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING, COVER YOUR COST.
[02:15:01]
I LIVE ON MEADOW STREET.I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE I MAILED IN MY PROTEST LETTER, AND I HOPE IT GOT TO THE RIGHT PLACE AND IT DIDN'T GET INTO THE CIRCULAR BIN.
I WAS THINKING OF DOING ANOTHER ONE AGAIN.
IF ONE OF YOU GUYS HAVE AN EXTRA ONE, I'LL DO ANOTHER ONE. IT'S RIGHT HERE.
MY QUESTION IS, HOW MANY PROTEST LETTERS HAVE YOU HAD SO FAR? WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW BECAUSE I THINK YOU NEEDED A CERTAIN AMOUNT.
>> WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT. THEY GET COUNTED AT THE END OF OUR DISCUSSION.
>> I THINK IT'S REALLY NICE THAT YOU OPEN IT UP TO DISCUSSION.
PEOPLE CAN COME, GIVE YOUR OPINION.
BUT I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST WHEN THERE'S DECISIONS MADE BY THIS CITY COUNCIL, MAYBE A FEW OTHER MEMBERS, THAT WHEN WE ARE AGAINST SOMETHING, WE DON'T GET HEARD BECAUSE BEHIND MY HOME, THERE WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOT PUT UP FROM 29 HOUSES, IT WENT UP TO 40 HOUSES.
THERE WAS A LOT OF PROTESTS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HERE AT THE TIME.
I DO HOPE THAT YOU GUYS CONSIDER WHAT YOU GUYS ARE HEARING TONIGHT, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE HERE, ALONG WITH THE PROTEST LETTERS, IS WE ARE AGAINST IT.
THE OTHER OPTION THAT WE HAVE IS I WILL RIP OUT MY BEAUTIFUL GREEN YARD AND I'LL PUT AN UGLY ROCK YARD.
WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO TO THE STATUS OF THE CITY? I LOVE MY CITY, I LOVE LIVING HERE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO PAY DOUBLE MY WATER BILL.
FORTY-FIVE, 50%, THE NUMBERS ADDED UP, IT'S OVER 120, 200, WHO KNOWS WHAT IT IS? I'M ON SALARY.
I WORK MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, I'M NOT RETIRED YET.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
BUT MY INCREASE WAS ONLY 2.5%.
THAT 2.5 ISN'T EVEN GOING TO CUT THE WATER BILL.
COME JANUARY, IF YOU GUYS DO NOT, WE SHOWED UP HERE TONIGHT, I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE BEHIND ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT PROTEST AND PROTESTED THIS AND SAID YOUR OPINION.
IF YOU GUYS DON'T HONOR OUR REQUEST COME JANUARY WHEN WE GET THAT BILL, NOBODY SHOULD PAY THE BILL.
NOBODY SHOULD PAY IT, NO MONEY IS GOING TO COME IN.
YOU TURN OFF THE WATER, I'LL JUST GET IN MY RV AND I'LL GO CAMPING FOR A MONTH. HOW'S THAT?
WE'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR 23 YEARS.
WE MOVED TO THIS CITY FOR THE SCHOOL AND THE CURRICULUM THE SCHOOL GIVES.
CAN YOU, AS A GROUP HERE, SEE YOUR CITY CRYING AND WORRYING? THAT'S A QUESTION TO YOU.
CAN YOU SEE THEM WE'RE NOT IN A PANIC MODE, WE'RE IN A WORRY MODE.
I DON'T GET A YEARLY COST UP EACH YEAR.
BUT MY BIGGER QUESTION IS, DO THESE PAPERS THAT WE'RE FILLING OUT AND WE'RE HANDING IN, I DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT THIS TILL TWO WEEKS AGO.
DID I GET ONE AT THE HOUSE? I'M GOING TO SAY NO. I FOUND OUT FROM A NEIGHBOR.
I WENT AND PRINTED OUT 100 SHEETS AND WALKED MY NEIGHBORHOOD OF 100 HOUSES TO HELP GET THIS SIGNATURE DONE.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, AND YOU NEED TO STEP UP AND GIVE THIS CITY AN ANSWER, YOU NEED TO COUNT THESE PAGES, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, BUT THIS CITY NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT THAT COUNT IS.
YOU NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, BUT IF I DON'T GET A LETTER KNOWING THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS COUNT, YOU'RE GOING TO GO, LET'S DO IT ON FACEBOOK.
DON'T DO IT THAT WAY. YOU GOT TO BE DILIGENT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY.
WE'RE JUST WORRIED THAT HOW AM I GOING TO AFFORD A $20 SHOWER? I GOT FIVE PEOPLE MAYBE LIVING IN MY HOUSE.
THAT'S $100 A DAY FOR SHOWERS.
TAKES TWO POINT SOMETHING GALLONS A SHOWER PER MINUTE.
MY QUESTION IS, JUST BE VIABLE FOR THAT NUMBER THAT YOU'RE COUNTING.
[02:20:01]
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, BUT EVERY SINGLE RESIDENCE IN THIS CITY NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.>> ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? PLEASE.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE, CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR.
I REFER TO YOU AS MTH, JUST SO YOU KNOW AS WELL.
I'VE BEEN VERY MOVED BY DIFFERENT SPEAKERS TONIGHT.
I'M REPRESENTING CLEARLY A YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC.
LA VERNE IS WHERE MY WIFE AND I LOOKED.
WE LOOKED FOR ABOUT 24 MONTHS BEFORE WE ENDED UP HERE.
SHE'S FROM RANCHO CUCAMONGA, BORN AND RAISED.
SHE TEACHES IN SAN DIMAS IN THE BINA DISTRICT. I HAVE TWO BOYS.
ONE WILL BE FIVE IN JANUARY AND THE OTHER TURNED TWO LAST WEEK.
I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING ANYWHERE ELSE.
I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE ENDED UP HERE.
I AM GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. MY WIFE IS AS WELL.
I'M STILL RECEIVING INCREASES.
I'M NOT DEALING WITH A LOT OF THE REALITIES THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, AND I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT HOW I'M GOING TO MAKE MY BILLS AND WORK FOR MY FAMILY AND MY KIDS.
I WOULD LOVE TO STAY HERE FOREVER.
OH, MY GOD, WE BOUGHT IN 2020, SO GOD WILLING WITH MY INTEREST RATE AND MAYBE SOME CITY PERMITS, I WOULD LIKE TO BE BURIED IN MY BACKYARD.
[LAUGHTER] COMEDY ASIDE, I LOVE MY HOME, I LOVE MY YARD, I LOVE PUTTING MY GRASS.
I'VE WORKED MY ENTIRE LIFE TO HAVE A LAWN MOWER.
>> NO. BUT I TAKE PRIDE IN MY COMMUNITY, AND I'M SO HAPPY AGAIN THAT THIS IS WHERE I CALL MY COMMUNITY HOME.
BUT I THINK YOU'VE GOT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE TO LISTEN TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND SHOW PEOPLE THAT AT LEAST YOU'RE LISTENING, AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO DELAY A DECISION IF ANYTHING ELSE.
SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT HERE.
I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED BY WHAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT RESPONSIVENESS FROM SOME PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL.
I'M PAYING ATTENTION. I LOVE TO VOTE.
I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE TO NOT HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST ANY OF YOU.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU DO THE RIGHT THING BY YOUR CITY AND BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WHEN WE'RE DONE. YES. WHEN I CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL, THEN WE'LL DO THE COUNT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT UP TO THE DAS. MR. CROSBY.
>> IS THERE ANY MORE LETTERS OUT THERE BECAUSE AFTER PUBLIC COMMENTS, THEY NEED TO BE COLLECTED, SO PLEASE TURN THEM IN RIGHT NOW.
>> AVOID BOTH. THEY WILL COUNT THEM.
IF THEY RECEIVED, WE'D BE COUNTING THOSE.
>> MR. MAYOR, ON THAT. EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN MAILED IN, DROPPED OFF, STAFF AT FRONT HAS CHECKED.
JUST ALSO TO INFORM, WE DIDN'T CREATE THAT FORM, SOMEBODY ELSE DID.
IN THE PROPOSITION 218 NOTICE, IT TELLS YOU HOW TO BOTH PROTEST AND OBJECT, BUT WE DIDN'T CREATE THAT FORM.
GENERALLY, WE'RE ACCEPTING THEM.
I WOULD'VE DONE IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, BUT WE'RE ACCEPTING THEM.
ALSO WHEN PEOPLE CAME FORWARD AND DROPPED THEM OFF, WE MADE SURE THAT THEY HAD FILLED THEM OUT CORRECTLY SO THAT THEY INCLUDED THEIR ADDRESS, INCLUDED THE SIGNATURE, AND IT IS A WET SIGNATURE, THAT THEY CHECKED ONE OF THE BOXES THAT WERE THERE.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN AND BASED ON THE VOTE AFTER THE CLOSE, THEN IF IT'S OVER OR CLOSE, THEN WE'RE GOING TO VALIDATE, MAKE SURE ALL THE SIGNATURES AND ALL THAT STUFF AND THAT YOUR VALID PROTEST LETTER.
IT'S NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THERE, WE'LL JUST COUNT THEM AND NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE VALID.
THE REQUIRED NUMBER IS 4,769, SO THAT'S 50% PLUS 1.
>> YOU'VE HAD YOUR CHANCE. YOU HAD YOUR TIME AT THE PODIUM, PLEASE.
WE'RE DOING NOW OUR COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER, MR. BOWEN, PLEASE.
YOU HAVE MR. BOWEN, SIT DOWN, PLEASE. YOUR HAD YOUR TIME [OVERLAPPING]
>> LETS COUNT AND IF THERE'S A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S BASED ON THE METER NUMBERS AND THEN HALF OF THAT PLUS ONE, THEN IT COULD BE A DEBATE.
BUT AGAIN, IF THE AMOUNT OF PROTEST LETTER SUBMITTED DOESN'T EVEN REACH THAT AMOUNT,
[02:25:01]
THEN IT'S NOT A DEBATE, BUT LET'S GET THERE.LET'S GET TO OUR FIRST THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS BY SOME OF THE RESIDENTS THAT I'D LIKE THE CITY MANAGER OR THE CONSULTANT TO ANSWER FIRST.
THEN WE'LL GO TO COUNSEL COMMENTS.
WE COULD PLEASE, PLEASE, LET'S KEEP THIS ORDERLY. WE'RE ALL HERE.
WE'RE ALL FAMILY HERE. WE ALL LIVE IN THIS TOWN.
COME ON, GUYS, SERIOUSLY. COME ON.
REALLY? LET'S KEEP IT ORDERLY.
COME ON. WE'VE ALL SPENT A LOT OF TIME HERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD QUESTIONS, A LOT OF CONCERNS.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT. LET'S REPRESENTATIVE.
WE DID HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.
WAS BASICALLY OPERATING EXPENSES, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND REPLENISHMENT, AND BRIAN HAD BROUGHT UP, I THINK SOMEONE CALLED ABOUT A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT.
BUT THOSE NUMBERS ARE IN THE CALCULATIONS AS FAR AS ON THE CHARTS, AS FAR AS WHAT THESE NUMBERS ARE AND WHAT THE MONEY IS MUST BE SPENT FOR FOR THE CIP, IS THAT NOT CORRECT?
>> THEY'LL HAVE DANNY AND ALSO THE CONSULTANTS.
>> THEY'LL ANSWER THE QUESTION.
>> WATER AND SEWER RATE REPORT, WHICH WAS GENERATED, AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THERE.
>> WHAT THE CIP WAS, I THINK IS WHAT THE MAJOR CONCERN WAS AND WHAT?
>> THE FINAL RATLS REPORT DOES INCLUDE THE PROJECTED OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS, CASH FLOW.
WE'VE GOT OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECT PLEASE.
>> ESTIMATES AS WELL AS THE ASSUMED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR BOTH WATER AND SEWER.
>> THIS IS PAGE 181 RIGHT HERE. YOU'RE RIGHT HERE.
>> WE HAVE A ON PAGE 181, WHICH IS THE DETAILED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN ON PAGE 181?
>> AND FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF THE OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS, THAT'S ON PAGE 133.
>> YEAH. SO THIS IS PART OF THE AGENDA REPORT.
IT'S ALSO IF YOU GO TO THE CITY OF LAVERNECA.GOV/RATESTUDY.
ALL THE INFORMATION FROM THE RATE STUDY PROCESS IS ON THAT WEBSITE.
THERE'S THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THERE'S INFORMATION ON THE WATER AND SEWER RATE AD HOC COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS APPOINTED BACK IN, I BELIEVE JULY.
>> THIS HAS BEEN ON THE WEB SITE FOR SOME TIME.
>> BEEN ON THE WEBSITE FOR OVER A YEAR.
AGAIN, WHAT I'VE HEARD AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK PEOPLE THEY COULD EMAIL ME AT KDOMER@LAVERNECA.GOV IS WE DO STRUGGLE WITH GETTING INFORMATION OUT TO YOU AND HEARING BACK FROM YOU.
WE SUBMITTED THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT MAILED, NOT JUST THE PROP 218 NOTICE, BUT SEVERAL ITEMS MAILED.
IN THE REC GUIDE, THERE'S BEEN INFORMATION.
AGAIN, WHAT I WOULD ASK IF YOU GO TO AGAIN, LAVERNECA.GOV/NOTIFY.
THERE'S A WAY YOU CAN PUT IN AN EMAIL ADDRESS THAT WILL HELP US AGAIN ADVISE YOU OF WHEN THERE'S MEETINGS, THE CITY MANAGER NEWSLETTER WHERE THIS INFORMATION'S BEEN IN.
I UNDERSTAND I DON'T LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA AT ALL.
I UNDERSTAND SOME OF YOU AREN'T ON FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM OR SOME OF THOSE OTHER THINGS OUT THERE.
BUT MORE THAN LIKELY YOU DO HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS.
PLEASE GIVE IT TO US SO WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH YOU.
YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS. YOU'RE HERE.
PLEASE HELP US SO THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE BETTER WITH YOU IF YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE IT.
ALL OF THE PARCELS WITH A WATER METER RECEIVED THE PROPOSITION 218 NOTICE.
AS I STATED EARLIER, WE DIDN'T PRODUCE THAT OPPOSITION, THE PROTEST LETTER.
BUT AGAIN, WE HELP US HELP YOU ON THAT TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH YOU BETTER.
AND MR. MAYOR, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER QUESTIONS I CAN YES.
UNDER THE LAVERNECA.GOV/NOTIFY, YOU CAN PUT YOUR E MAIL IN THERE, AND THEN YOU CAN SELECT WHAT YOU WANT TO BE NOTIFIED ON.
THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT MEETINGS.
YOU CAN DO ALL OF IT. YOU CAN DO THE CITY COUNCIL.
OR IF YOU COME INTO CITY HALL ANYTIME, GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY HERE AT THE ADMIN DEPARTMENT AND WE'LL ADD YOU.
>> AGAIN, THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN POSTED FOR MONTHS, AND THE COMMITTEE AS WE VOTED ON IT
[02:30:03]
TO TO REVIEW IT TO GET TO THE 218 PROCESS WAS EXACTLY WHAT YOU GUYS SEE RIGHT NOW.THEN BECAUSE OF ALL THE LETTERS COMING IN, THEY MADE A DIFFERENT APPROACH ON THE PERCENTAGE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS INFORMATION IS UP THERE.
AT COMMITTEE WAS DONE MONTHS AND MONTHS AGO.
WE VOTED ON THIS. ALL THIS INFORMATION.
THERE'S NOTHING HIDDEN. THIS IS ALL ON THE WEBSITE.
IF YOU CAN'T GET IT ON THE WEBSITE, IF YOU CAN YOU COME TO THE CITY HALL.
BUT THIS IS MULTIPLE PAGES OF UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF WORK FROM OUR AD HOC COMMITTEE.
I FIRST BEFORE WE START, I WANT TO THANK OUR AD HOC COMMITTEE.
FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE CHOSE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO REVIEW THIS.
THIS WASN'T DONE BY AND THIS WAS DONE.THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER DONE A RATE STUDY WITH FOR THE RESIDENTS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER DONE THIS.
BY THE RESIDENTS. I'M SAYING EXCUSE ME.
I'M TALKING THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER DONE THIS BECAUSE WE HAD NEW CITY MANAGEMENT.
YES, THE FUNDS WERE DONE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
THEY DID SMALL INCREASES, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO COVER.
THEN COVID HIT, AND THEN NEW MANAGEMENT CAME IN, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING AND FIGURING OUT WHERE OUR FINANCES ARE, WHERE OUR WATER SEWER RATES ARE, WHERE THE EXPENDITURES ARE, OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
GENTLEMEN, MR. BECKER? PLEASE.
PLEASE. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP, MR. DOMER WAS, DOES THIS MONEY GO ANYWHERE ELSE BUT WATER? DOES IT GO BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND? DOES IT DOES IT GO AWAY WHERE THEY CAN SPEND MONEY IN SOMETHING ELSE BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THIS, GENERALLY, NO, I WANT TO BE TRUTHFUL.
NO. HERE'S THE THING. NO, I KNOW, BUT. HERE'S THE THING.
>> PLEASE, EVERYBODY PLEASE LET HIM SPEAK.
>> THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN CLARIFY ANYTHING.
THE WATER DIVISION IS HOSTED HERE IN CITY HALL, AND SO THEY'RE USING LEGAL SERVICES, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AND EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT.
THERE IS AN OVERHEAD COST THAT IS APPLIED TO THE WATER FUND THAT IS TO COVER THOSE COSTS.
THAT'S WHY I SAY GENERALLY NO, BUT THE FUNDS RAISED BY AN ENTERPRISE FUND, THE WATER FUND CANNOT GO TO COVER GENERAL FUND COSTS.
THAT IS ILLEGAL. WE CAN'T JUST SAY, HEY, THE GENERAL FUND IS SHORT.
THE WATER FUND HAS $2 MILLION, LET'S BORROW 500,000 OR LET'S JUST TAKE 500,000 FOR SOMETHING.
WE CANNOT DO THAT, BUT FOR THOSE LEGITIMATE COSTS, AND THAT'S WHY THE IMPORTANCE OF GOING OUT AND HIRING A THIRD PARTY FIRM TO LOOK AT THE RATE STUDY, AND TO DO A WATER MASTER PLAN EVERY FIVE YEARS, WHICH IS LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE IMPROVEMENTS, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU NEED TO DO.
THAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING THOSE STUDIES.
WE HAVE NOT DONE THIS CITY HAS NOT DONE A TRUE WATER RATE STUDY EVER IN ITS HISTORY.
YES, THERE WAS A COST ALLOCATION STUDY DONE SOMETIME, I THINK IT WAS 2017 THAT SET UP THOSE 2018 COSTS.
BUT THAT'S NOT A TRUE WATER RATE STUDY.
SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST THREE YEARS, THE CITY COUNCIL IN THAT FIRST BUDGET SAID, WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR WATER FUND.
THEN WE STARTED LOOKING, WE DID THE RFP PROCESS, AND NOW WE'RE AT THE END OF IT.
YES, I TOOK PROBABLY SIX TO NINE MONTHS TOO LONG, BUT WE ARE HERE NOW.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING FORWARD ON A WATER RATE STUDY EVERY 3-5 YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS UP ON WHAT THE WATER SYSTEM NEEDS.
BUT NO, YOU CANNOT USE WATER FUND.
YOU CAN'T GENERATE FUNDING FROM AN ENTERPRISE SYSTEM AND THEN JUST USE IT FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
NO. COULD WE SUBSIDIZE THE WATER FUND? SURE. BUT YOU HAVEN'T CLEARLY BEEN TO OUR FINANCIAL STUDY SESSIONS AND TO OUR BUDGET.
THE GENERAL FUND IS IN NO GOOD SHAPE TO PROVIDE MONEY ELSE TO ANOTHER FUND.
COULD WE, BUT IT WOULD BE A LOAN.
BUT THE GENERAL FUND DOES NOT HAVE A SURPLUS IN WHICH TO PROVIDE OR TO SUBSIDIZE THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
>> GO AHEAD. I THINK THERE WAS ONE QUESTION ABOUT HOW MUCH WAS GOING TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOW MUCH WAS GOING TO OPERATING? THAT WAS. THERE WAS A QUESTION FROM SOMEONE IN THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT PERCENTAGE OR WHAT AMOUNT WAS GOING TO OPERATING AND WHAT PERCENTAGE OR AMOUNT WAS GOING TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
IF WE COULD HAVE THAT ANSWERED, PLEASE.
[02:35:02]
>> JUST ON THE OPERATING FRONT, THE O&M COSTS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR 25, IT'S ABOUT TOTAL 12.9 MILLION.
JUST OF NOTE, 70% OF THAT IS FOR THE WATER PRODUCTION AND PURCHASE COSTS.
IN LA VERNE, MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS OF THE WATER THAT WE PROVIDE ACTUALLY IMPORTED WATER THROUGH THREE VALLEYS.
A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE WATER PRODUCTION IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PURCHASE OUTSIDE WATER TO IMPORT.
THAT $12.9 MILLION IS PROJECTED TO BE 18.6 MILLION IN 2030.
ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SIDE, THAT TOTAL IS ABOUT $27 MILLION.
WE HAVE ABOUT 16.9 MILLION IN WATER CIP PROJECTS AND ANOTHER 10.5 MILLION IN SEWER CIP PROJECTS.
MOST OF THOSE ARE FOR REHAB AND REPLACEMENT TYPE PROJECTS.
>> DOES THAT AMOUNT ANTICIPATE IF WE WERE TO HAVE SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENED?
>> THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE TARGETED RESERVE TO HELP PAY FOR THOSE UNCERTAINTIES AND THINGS, EMERGENCIES THAT POP UP.
>> WE'RE BELOW THAT RIGHT NOW?
>> CORRECT. WE DEPLETED OUR RESERVE.
>> HOW OLD IS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE?
>> IT DEPENDS ON THE PART OF THE CITY.
I MEAN, WE DO HAVE, AS ONE SPEAKER NOTED, THERE'S SOME AREAS THAT ARE OVER A CENTURY OLD IN THE OLDER PARTS OF THE CITY.
WHEN THE WATER LINES, THERE ARE DEFINITELY HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE BEYOND THEIR USEFUL LIFE.
JUST LIKE OUR HOMES, OUR PLUMBING SYSTEMS, APPLIANCES, FIXTURES, VOWS, THEY'LL HAVE A USEFUL LIFE.
FOR A CITY, WITH A EXTENSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM WITH RESERVOIRS, PUMP STATIONS, WELLS, DISTRIBUTION LINES.
ALL THESE HAVE MAINTENANCE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR UPGRADES AND REPAIRS.
AS PART OF THE ROUTINE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE MOVE FORWARD TO KEEP THE SYSTEM GOING.
>> WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THE QUESTIONS, PLEASE.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD THIS SO IF WE COULD PLEASE, EVERYBODY'S HAD THEIR CHANCE TO SPEAK.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR STAFF.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT WE HAVE OUR STAFF, AND THEN WE HAVE US TO SPEAK. OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT THOUGH.
AS FAR AS MAINTENANCE IS CONCERNED, WE WILL NEVER BE FINISHED.
I MEAN, THE CITY IS TOO LARGE.
THERE'S OLD PLUMBING THAT'S OUT THERE, PIPES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED AT SOME POINT IN TIME THAT ARE ON A SCHEDULE TO GET DONE HOPEFULLY BEFORE THEY FAIL.
BUT AS FAR AS WHEN WILL THAT BE COMPLETED? IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE COMPLETED.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE NEW DEVELOPMENT AND PIPES THAT END UP BREAKING.
NO. IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE DONE COMPLETELY.
OUR SEWER SYSTEM THE SAME WAY.
WE HAVE MAINTENANCE THAT GOES THROUGH ROUTINELY AND JETS OUT THE SEWER SYSTEM SO FOGS DON'T OCCUR.
AT TIMES, CLOGS DO OCCUR AND SEWERS BACK UP, AND THAT'S NOT A FUN TIME.
FOR THE CITY OR THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE FIXING THE PIPES.
IF YOU'VE EVER WORKED ON YOUR OWN PLUMBING, YOU KNOW THAT AS SOON AS YOU REPLACE A FACET, ALL THE PIPES OR CONNECTING HOSES SEEM TO FAIL AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING MOVED AROUND AND WIGGLED.
WE NEED TO HAVE WHAT SEEMS LIKE EXCESS IN RESERVES, IF THERE IS AN EARTHQUAKE THAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE CITY, THAT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC TO OUR SYSTEMS. THIS IS NOT AN ENDEAVOR THAT DOESN'T TAKE MONEY.
WE HAVE TO HAVE CASH TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
>> PLUS, WE MUST REMIND US THAT WE HAVE 24 PERCENT OF OUR OWN WATER.
THAT MEANS OUR OWN WELLS, OUR OWN PUMPING FACILITIES, OUR OWN CHEMICAL, WHERE WE TREAT OUR WATER. IT'S HUGE.
THEN THE OTHER 76 PERCENT COMES FROM VALLEYS, WHICH IS WATER THAT COMES FROM ELSEWHERE, AND THOSE WELLS, WHICH ALSO HELP US FOR OUR FIRE SITUATION.
WE HAVE WELLS THAT HAVE SURPLUS IN THERE, WHICH WE KEPT DURING THE FIRES.
BUT WE HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW THAT'S ON THE CIP THAT'S A $400,000 PIPE THAT'S OVER 100-YEARS-OLD.
NORTH LA VERNE, THAT'S GOING TO BE AS MR. POCOCK HAD STATED, PIPE GETS SO OLD, YOU HAVE TO CHECK IT.
THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE SLEEVED WITH A KEVLAR INSERT THAT'S GOING TO GO HOW MANY FEET?
[02:40:05]
>> 1,500 FEET AND WITH THAT ONE, WE HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER PIPE NEXT TO IT TEMPORARILY TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T BLOW THAT PIPE.
BASICALLY, AS COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON SAID, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS OLD, BUT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE'RE GOING TO CONSTANTLY BE REPLACING JUST LIKE YOUR HOME.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THOSE COSTS, AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE DONE ART STUDY AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT CAN ANSWER?
>> THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE LIVE OAK RESERVOIR THAT.
>> ABOUT PROVIDING WATER AND WAS TWO, BUT THE LIVE OAK RESERVOIRS, ISN'T THAT PART OF DW.
>> THAT'S MWD. IRS. IT'S MWD, AND IT'S NOT A ACTUAL, YOU KNOW, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, A RESERVOIR TO STORE WATER DRAINS TO BRING IT IN AND DUMP IT OUT BRING IT IN THE.
>> STATE WATER PROJECT AND THEN GETTING IT TO THE WEYMOUTH PLANT.
>> I THINK THE MISCONCEPTION THAT IT'S PART OF OUR LA VERNE WATER, WHICH IS NOT.
>> MR. MAYOR, IF THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN ANSWER A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TIERED STRUCTURE, ANOTHER THING?
>> MR. MAYOR, JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS.
ONE IS THAT THERE WAS A STATEMENT THAT WE HAD TO DO AN INDIVIDUALIZED PARCEL BY PARCEL FEE STRUCTURE.
WE'VE DONE THAT BY DOING A FIXED FEE BY METER SIZE.
THAT CONTROLS HOW MUCH WATER FLOWS.
THEN YOU PAY A PER 100,000 OR 1,000 GALLON WATER CHARGE, WHICH IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO WHAT YOU ACTUALLY USE.
THAT IS HOW PROPORTIONALITY IS MEASURED FOR THESE TYPES OF SERVICES.
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO TIERED STRUCTURES.
WE CAN DO FIXED AND FIXED FEES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEN COMMODITY CHARGES, WHICH IS WHAT WE DO.
BUT WE CANNOT HAVE HIGHER CHARGES FOR PEOPLE WHO CONSUME MORE, WE CAN ONLY CHARGE THEM FOR WHAT THEY CONSUME.
THAT HAS BEEN RULED BY THE COURTS.
WE ALSO CANNOT CHARGE LOWER RATES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOMES.
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CHARGE, "REGULAR RATE PAYERS," TO HAVE LOWER RATES FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED LOWER RATES.
THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE PUT INTO PLACE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THEM, BUT WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE THE REST OF THE RATE PAYERS PAY FOR THAT.
THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OBJECTIONS AND THE RESPONSES TO THEM UNDER THE STATUTE, IF THE RESPONSES ARE DELIVERED PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT IS ALL WE HAVE TO DO.
THEY HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO COUNCIL FOR THEIR REVIEW AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THERE WAS A POINT ABOUT CHARGES BEING EXCESSIVE.
THE CHARGES ARE NOT EXCESSIVE IF THEY ARE NECESSARY.
THAT'S WHAT THE RATE STUDY DOES.
THE FACT THAT IT IS A BIG JUMP, DOESN'T MEAN IT'S EXCESSIVE, IT MEANS THAT YOU'VE NOT PAID ENOUGH FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND THIS IS JUST A WAY TO CATCH UP.
>> PLEASE, WE HAVE SOMEONE SPEAKING.
YOU GUYS HAD YOUR TIME. PLEASE. THANK YOU.
>> IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE RATES DIDN'T RISE AS THE COST DID, BUT AN EXCESSIVE FEE IS NOT ONE WHICH IS PAINFUL TO PAY.
>> UNDER THE LAW, IT'S NOT EXCESSIVE SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO TAKE. THANKS.
>> MR. JOHN, I THINK MR. CROSBY WAS GOING TO GO.
IF YOU WANT TO WAIT FOR HIM OR YOU GOT? LET'S SEE.
>> I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT WE DO HAVE DIFFERENT RATES WITHIN THE CITY BASED ON ELEVATION AND PUMPING COSTS.
THERE ARE ZONES THAT DO PAY MORE BASED ON THE EXTRA COST OF ELECTRICITY TO GET THE WATER UP THE HILL.
>> THAT'S CORRECT, BUT THAT'S BASED UPON ACTUAL COSTS.
>> NOW, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT.
WE DID HAVE AN EXTENSIVE AD HOC PRESENTATIONS AS WELL AND APPRECIATE THOSE THAT WERE ON THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE TOO.
MY VOTE LAST MONTH WAS A NO VOTE TO THIS SCENARIO BECAUSE OF THE 50% RATE.
[02:45:06]
THERE WAS ANOTHER SCENARIO THAT WAS PUT ON AS WELL AS PART OF THE COMMITTEE, WHICH WOULD BRING IT UP 35% AND THEN THE FOLLOWING TERM WAS 30%, THEN IT WAS 20%, 15 AND 10.THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY YES VOTE ON THERE JUST BECAUSE OF THE INITIAL IMPACT OF THE 50% ON THE RATE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND CLARIFY WHAT MY NO VOTE WAS FOR.
IT WAS NOT THAT WE DON'T NEED AN INCREASE BECAUSE I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
I REMEMBER COMING ON COUNCIL IN 2020 AND AT THAT TIME, MR. KESEY WAS OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND HE TALKED ABOUT THIS LINE THAT GOES UP FROM BASELINE ALL THE WAY UP THE HILL AND IF THAT FAILED, THEN HOUSES UP THERE WOULD NOT HAVE WATER.
THAT IS A VERY HUGE CONCERN OF MINE.
ALSO, WHEN MR. JOHNSON WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SEWER SYSTEM, I LIVE HALFWAY DOWN, I DON'T WANT THAT SEWER SYSTEM TO BREAK ABOVE ME BECAUSE IT FLOWS DOWNHILL AND I DON'T WANT THAT SEWER SYSTEM BREAKING TOWARDS ME AS WELL.
THOSE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED.
I KNOW WHEN I MOVED IN MY HOUSE, MY HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1979, I BOUGHT IT IN 2005.
THE FIRST THING I HAD TO DO WAS REPLACE MY GALVANIZED PIPES BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING.
BEFORE I EVEN MOVED IN, I KNEW I HAD TO REPLACE MY GALVANIZED PIPES TO COPPER PIPES BECAUSE WE SAW THAT THAT'S HOW IT WAS BUILT AND WE WEREN'T GETTING WATER AND IT WAS DRIPPING EVERYWHERE.
WHEN WE DID OUR HOME INSPECTION THERE WERE BUCKETS UNDER FOUR DIFFERENT PLACES AND THEY WERE DRIPPING ALREADY AND SO THAT WAS ONE THING GOING IN.
WHEN WE DO INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR, IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON PAINTING YOUR HOUSE OR THE GARDEN BEAUTIFICATION.
IT'S THE STUFF THAT COSTS A LOT TO REALLY DO.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED AN INCREASE.
ONE COMMENTS THAT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT TONIGHT WAS MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS.
WELL, I DON'T BELIEVE IS MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS, IT WAS NOT INCREASING EARLIER AND THEN WHY THIS IS A LARGER INCREASE NOW.
BUT I DO KNOW, I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2.
A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 2 ARE ON FIXED INCOMES LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AROUND, BUT THEY LIVE IN THE MOBILE HOME PARKS.
I BELIEVE THAT A 50% INCREASE IS TOO MUCH FOR THOSE RESIDENTS.
I BELIEVE THAT I NEED TO REPRESENT THAT AS WELL AND I CAN'T VOTE FOR A 50% INCREASE.
THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT AND TELLING YOU WHY I VOTED NO THE LAST TIME.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INCREASE IS WHAT THIS COUNCIL IS GOING TO RECOMMEND.
THAT'S NOT MY FIRST CHOICE, BUT I KNOW THAT WE DO NEED TO CATCH UP ON PUTTING THE MONEY BACK INTO RESERVES TO TAKE CARE OF THE SYSTEM THAT WE MAINTAIN AND THAT'S A PART OF WHAT WE DO.
WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE FUNDS, MAKE SURE THE FUNDS ARE THERE WHEN WE NEED TO REPLACE OR ENLARGE OUR SYSTEM.
IT'S JUST A PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
I'M NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO GO FOR THE HIGHEST INCREASE, BUT I KNOW WE NEED TO MAKE AN INCREASE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
>> I THINK MY BIGGEST CONCERN AND I RAISED THIS DURING OUR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE WATER RATE PREVIOUSLY IS THE AGE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
BECAUSE MUCH TO COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY'S POINT IS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT WATER COMES OUT OF OUR FAUCETS, THAT WE CAN FLUSH THE TOILET AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DRINK THE WATER AND IT'S CLEAN.
THE SCARIEST THING TO ME, LIKE MR. CROSBY, I CAME ON IN 2020 AND WE WERE TOLD NOT TOO LONG AFTER THAT THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S OVER 100-YEARS-OLD THAT HAS ISSUES THAT,
[02:50:01]
IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF, COULD CAUSE GREATER IMPACTS TO THE CITY THAN IN POTENTIAL INCREASE.BUT COVID HIT. WE ALL REMEMBER COVID, PEOPLE WERE NOT WORKING, PEOPLE WERE WORKING FROM HOME.
THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AT THAT TIME AND THAT WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
I DON'T THINK A RATE INCREASE WOULD HAVE GONE OVER AT THAT POINT EITHER.
I HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING IN TERMS OF THE 50% IS JARRING.
TRUST ME, I'M NOT EXCITED ABOUT HAVING TO PAY MORE EITHER.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANY THING THAT ANYONE WANTS.
I THINK THE CONCERN IS, WHAT DO WE DO ON THE FLIP SIDE? I THINK THE INCREASE IS NECESSARY, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S THAT 50% OR NOT, I THINK IS A DIFFERENT STORY.
I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE 45% IN THE FIRST ISN'T THAT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN A 50%.
BUT THE CONCERN STILL IS GOING TO BE, IF THERE IS A MAJOR FAILURE, I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5 SO I LIVE BELOW.
MY WATER IS NOT GETTING PUMPED UP TO ME.
I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT IF THAT FAILURE HAPPENS, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE IN NORTHERN WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT WATER GO UP THERE TOO.
WHILE I REPRESENT ONE DISTRICT, I DO REPRESENT THE CITY AND I HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
I HEAR YOU. THE 50% IS A LOT, THE 45% IS A LOT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LOWER THAT CAN EVEN BE CONTEMPLATED WITHOUT REALLY PUTTING US AT RISK.
BECAUSE MY QUESTION THEN TO STAFF WOULD BE, SO WHAT HAPPENS IF WE IMPOSE A LESSER INCREASE? LET'S SAY IT'S 45, LET'S SAY IT'S 30, LET'S SAY IT'S 35, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE AND THEN WE HAVE SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPEN HOW ARE WE GOING TO ISSUE IT?
>> WELL, I KNOW THAT'S THE REMARK THAT KEN GAVE.
BUT IF YOU'VE BEEN TO OUR BUDGET STUDY SESSIONS AS WELL, THAT'S THE OTHER CONCERN.
WE ARE NOT A CITY WITH BIG REVENUE SOURCES LIKE A CAR DEALERSHIP, HOTELS, WE HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES, WHICH WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR.
BUT UNLIKE OTHER CITIES OF COMPARABLE SIZE AND I ALWAYS REFER TO CLAREMONT, THEY'VE GOT THREE OR FOUR CAR DEALERSHIPS.
THEIR REVENUE IS DIFFERENT THAN OURS.
THAT'S ASSUMING THAT WE HAVE A LOAN.
WE ARE STILL IN LABOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH A COUPLE OF OUR UNITS.
I KNOW SOMEBODY MADE A COMMENT ABOUT, WHERE CAN WE CUT? THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
THERE WAS A HUGE EXERCISE EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH OUR BUDGET PLANNING, WITH ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS ABOUT WHERE WE COULD CUT.
BECAUSE IF IT MEANS CUTTING PEOPLE'S SALARIES OR NOT GIVING RAISES, THAT MEANS YOU WILL NOT GET THE SERVICE THAT YOU WERE USED TO.
THAT WILL MEAN THAT YOU WILL NOT SEE THE SERVICE THAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE CITY OF LA VERNE.
THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BALANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING VIABLE FOR ALL OF US.
BECAUSE WE ALL MOVED HERE, WHETHER IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO, 20 YEARS AGO, 30 YEARS AGO, BECAUSE WE LOVE THIS COMMUNITY.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR DAMNEDEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PRESERVE IT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO WERE ABLE TO SHOW THAT I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU SHOWED UP, BUT FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY.
I'M GOING TO SAY I'M ALMOST CURSED.
[LAUGHTER] THIS IS A REAL POOPY PLACE TO BE IN.
I WAS GOING TO SAY ANOTHER WORD, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY IF SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC WERE TO HAPPEN.
THE RATE INCREASE HAS TO HAPPEN.
I'M STRUGGLING WITH THE AMOUNTS BECAUSE I WANT TO BALANCE THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOMES, THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE, YOU'RE RAISING KIDS, YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF YOUR PARENTS IF YOU'RE IN THE SANDWICH GENERATION, YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF KIDS AND YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF YOUR PARENTS AND YOU'RE GETTING HIT BOTH WAYS.
I GET THAT. BUT I ALSO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
BECAUSE IF WE CAN'T REPAIR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF US WILL WANT TO LIVE HERE IF WE CAN'T GET CLEAN WATER.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT OPTIONS THERE ARE, IF THERE ARE ANY BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT, BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION.
>> TO THAT, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, AGAIN, AS I STATED EARLIER, THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER A YEAR.
THE PROBLEM ITSELF HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR, THERE WAS A TALK OF FIVE OR 10, I WOULD SAY 15, 20, 25 YEARS GETTING US TO THIS POINT AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT STATE LAW HAS CHANGED CONSIDERABLY.
PROPOSITION 218 WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 1997.
THE TIERED STRUCTURE, ACTUALLY, THERE'S SOME CASE LAW FROM 2023 AND 2025 ABOUT TIERED STRUCTURE.
[02:55:04]
CASE LAW IS ALWAYS CHANGING HOW WE CAN DO THINGS SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO STAY UP WITH THAT.GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT THE PROCESS STARTING WITH THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AND THEY WERE CREATED AND APPOINTED IN JULY, I THINK IT WAS FINALLY BY THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER OF 2024 THAT THEY STARTED GETTING GOING AND TOURING SOME OF THE PLACES AND ALL THAT STUFF, BEEN A LOT OF INFORMATION.
YES, IT WAS A THREE, TWO VOTE FOR THE 50%, BUT IT HIT CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT MADE THE SYSTEM VIABLE.
THERE WAS 100%, THERE WAS 75%, THERE WAS THE 35% IN THE STATUS QUO.
THE STATUS QUO ABSOLUTELY WAS NOT GOING TO WORK BECAUSE WE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY IN A DEFICIT AND THEN ANY LOAN FROM THE SEWER FUND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE REPAID BY THE WATER FUND.
SELLING THE SYSTEM IS NOT AN OPTION.
NOT AT ALL. TALK TO CLAREMONT ABOUT THAT.
IF WE WERE TO LOOK AND WE DID.
WE KNEW THAT THE VOTE COMING FROM THE AD HOC WAS A 50%, FALL BY A 35%, FALL BY 15 AND THEN TWO, 10% INCREASES OVER THE FIVE YEARS.
WE LOOKED AT THE 45%, WE LOOKED AT A 40% AND EVEN LOWER AND IT DOESN'T HIT ALL THOSE PARAMETERS.
IF WE WERE TO GO THERE, WE WOULD HAVE TO THEN LOOK AT THE CIP PROJECTS AND NOT DO SOME, MOVE IT AROUND TO SEE WHAT WORKS.
IF WE CHANGED ANYTHING BELOW A 45% AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT A BIG COST REDUCTION, BUT IF WE WENT ANYTHING BELOW THAT, WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO ADVANCE THE NEXT TIME WE DO A SERVICE STUDY, A COST REVIEW TO PROBABLY THREE YEARS.
BECAUSE THOSE LAST TWO YEARS OF 10%, THE CITY COUNCIL CANNOT INCREASE THOSE RATES.
WE WOULD HAVE TO DO ANOTHER STUDY, LOOK AT WHAT THE WATER MASTER PLAN LOOKS LIKE, LOOK AT WHAT THE COST OF SERVICES, LOOK TO SEE WHERE THE ECONOMY IS IN THE NEXT TWO, THREE YEARS AND THEN COME BACK AND BE AT THE STAGE AGAIN TO BASICALLY, INSTEAD OF GOING A FULL FIVE YEARS, WE WOULD PROBABLY RESTART AFTER THREE YEARS.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET THOSE LATER YEARS INCREASED ABOVE 10%.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING BEFORE YOU, THE ENTIRETY OF IT IS THE NEED FOR THE WATER SYSTEM.
IT IS A DIFFICULT DECISION, YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE RESIDENTS.
MAYBE AT THIS TIME WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR US TO GO BACK AND ACTUALLY COUNT THE PROTEST LETTERS.
TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S BEEN SITTING UP HERE AND IN THE AUDIENCE FOR A LITTLE BIT.
I'D INVITE SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE BACK JUST TO WATCH THE COUNTING, OR THE GROUPING OF IT AND ALL THAT STUFF.
>> THOUGH, I THINK WE STILL HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> WELL, THEY CAN COUNT, THOUGH. PEOPLE WANT TO, [INAUDIBLE] THEN WE'RE GOING TO FINISH. MAYOR PRO TEM.
>> I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME I KNOW SOME PEOPLE AT NIGHT THERE IS GETTING A LITTLE BIT LATE.
ALL YOUR COMMENTS MOVE ME AND ALWAYS IN THE POSITIVE DIRECTION.
YES, I SERVE YOU, BUT I SERVE GOD AND ONE, RIGHT TO MY COUNTRY AND MY FAMILY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF YOU ARE REALLY UPSET ABOUT IT.
ACTUALLY, WALKING TO MY COMMUNITY.
I SAW PEOPLE COME TALK TO ME THAT NEVER SAID ANYTHING BEFORE.
BUT SURE I HAD A GREAT COMMENT ABOUT THIS.
I UNDERSTAND THOSE THAT YOU GUYS HIT SOME HEARTSTRINGS ON MINE, BUT I WON'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE, BUT THEY REALLY IMPACT ME, IMPACT MY DECISION.
I WOULD JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SERVICE FOR YOU.
I'M NOT EVEN TALKING, SOME PEOPLE MENTIONED ABOUT RE-ELECTIONS, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE ALIVE TOMORROW.
HOW ABOUT JUST HERE AND NOW? THE HERE AND NOW IS TO HOW I CAN BETTER YOUR LIVES.
THAT'S WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES.
>> OH, YEAH. [LAUGHTER] IT'S IN LA VERNE.
>> IT'S FUNNY. MY MOM ALWAYS USED TO TELL ME REST IN HEAVEN, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE AT IN THIS WORLD, AND THEY'RE BOTH BURIED HERE IN LA VERNE.
THAT BOTHERED ME A LOT BECAUSE YEAH, HE WAS ON SOCIAL SECURITY.
BOTHERED ME A LOT BECAUSE EVEN MY NEIGHBORS TO MY RIGHT AND TO MY LEFT ARE RETIRED AND THEY'RE SENIOR AND IT BOTHERS ME THAT I WOULD WANT TO HAVE TO IMPACT THEIR LIVES ANYWAY NEGATIVE AS I CAN.
BUT I ALSO THINK ABOUT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WATER DOESN'T COME UP TO THEM? YOU GUYS, NOT TOO LONG AGO, THREE DAYS WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ELECTRICITY, BOY DID I HEAR FROM EVERYBODY.
THAT'S OKAY. GOOD ARMY TRAINING, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
BUT IN THIS CASE, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE YOU WATER AS AN ESSENTIAL MEANS OF LIFE.
IF WE CAN'T GET YOU THE WATER,
[03:00:01]
WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? WE COULD HAVE CALLED COSCO, GET YOU GUYS THE WATER AND GET IT UP THERE.IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO TARGET EVERY SINGLE AREA AND RESIDENCE.
NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER CRISIS SITUATION.
>> LET ME USE MY OUTDOOR VOICE. HOW'S THAT? I'LL JUST COUNT THESE NUMBERS REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND YOUR PRESENCE HERE ALONE HAS IMPACTED ME. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS. I JUST WANT TO FIRST THANK THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
THIS WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.
THEY SPENT A LOT OF THEIR TIME ALSO OUR STAFF.
THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF OR CITY MANAGER.
LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL 10 YEARS, BEEN MAYOR SINCE 2020.
I DID ASK MANY TIMES, ARE WE OKAY? THIS IS PREVIOUS PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTORS.
OH, YEAH, WE'RE FINE. WE DID SMALL INCREASES.
I DID USE THE WORD MISMANAGED FUNDS, IT WAS PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT THING TO USE, WE JUST USED OUR FUNDS IN OTHER WAYS THAT WAS IMPORTANT AT THE TIME AND COVID HIT, AND HERE WE ARE.
DO I LIKE THIS INCREASE? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING ON MY PROPERTY FOR DROUGHT.
MY DOGS HAVE TO GO TO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD TO GO ROLL IN THEIR GRASS.
THEY DO THAT, TOO, BUT THAT'S AT NIGHT AND I PICK IT UP, IT'S FINE, AS LONG AS WE PICK IT UP.
BUT WE WERE ALL ELECTED BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, AND I TRULY DO CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
IF EVER YOU HAVE AN ISSUE, YOU CALL ANY OF US, THE PHONE IS ANSWERED. WE GET YOU HELP.
IT MAY BE AS SMALL AS A TRASH CAN THAT WAS LEFT OUT, IT MAY BE AS BIG AS WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE NEIGHBOR OR THERE'S AN ISSUE, OR MY ELECTRICITY IS OUT, AS PRO TEM KASH SAID? WE CALL OUR EDISON PEOPLE, WE CALL OUR CITY MANAGEMENT.
BUT REMEMBER, IT COSTS MONEY FOR SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SOMEBODY MENTIONED, WELL, IT'S JUST GETTING TOO EXPENSIVE.
I RUN A BUSINESS. I HAVE 30 EMPLOYEES.
HAS IT GONE DOWN IN COST FOR LABOR? FOR MEDICAL? NO. HAS IT GONE DOWN FOR A COST OF PRODUCTION OF WATER? NO. OUR PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES? WE HAVE SOME OF THE FINEST EMPLOYEES OF ANY CITY. I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.
WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT TRAIN ROLLING, AND YOU ELECTED US TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS SOMETIMES.
WE ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS AS COUNCIL MEMBER LAU HAD STATED.
THEY'RE NOT EASY. YOU HAVE SO MUCH OF A PIECE OF A PIE TO GIVE OUT.
WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY GOOD CONSERVATIVE MANAGER THAT WANTS TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
EVEN PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR BOWCOCK, WHO WAS VERY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, BUT HIS PEOPLE HAD TO BE PAID.
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS MONEY.
WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE DID OUR FIRST RATE STUDY EVER AND FOUND OUT, MY GOSH, WE'RE REALLY BAD.
THESE INFRASTRUCTURES NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, IT'S JUST LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON SAID, YOUR HOUSE FAILS, WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU HAVE TO FIX THAT, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S PLUMBING.
PAINTING CAN WAIT, BUT ONCE IT ALL FAILS, IT'S MORE AND MORE AND MORE MONEY.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S NOTICED, BUT EVERYTHING HAS GOTTEN MORE EXPENSIVE.
GROCERIES, OUR TARIFFS IN CONSTRUCTION, MATERIAL COSTS HAVE GONE OFF THE CHARTS.
I HAVE NO LANDSCAPING EXCEPT AS LILY SAID, I HAVE ROSES, AND YOU HAVE CUT THOSE BACK SO MUCH.
BUT WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN.
WHETHER WE CHOOSE THE TOP TIER OR THE BOTTOM TIER, WE ARE AT A PRECIPICE OF THIS SYSTEM CAN COLLAPSE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FLUSH AND IT GOES DOWN, AND WATER IS FRESH AND IT'S CLEAN, AND WE'VE GOT GOOD EMPLOYEES.
YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, WE HAVE OUR OWN POLICE AND FIRE, AND GUESS WHAT? WE RESPOND AND WE RESPOND WELL, AND WHY YOU PAY FOR THOSE SERVICES? YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE INCREASES.
WE PAY OUR WATER BILLS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, BELIEVE ME, IT'S NOT PLEASANT.
IT'S NOT PLEASANT BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT FLOWS, IT'S FRESH, WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY, OUR CITY MANAGER IS VERY CONCERNED, ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, WE JUST WENT THROUGH ALL OF OUR FINANCES.
WE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST WELL-INFORMED COUNCIL OF ANY COUNCIL IN THIS WHOLE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY THAT UNDERSTANDS WHERE THE FINANCES ARE.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY SAYS, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS, AND WE'RE VERY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
WE JUST DON'T GIVE MONEY OUT LIKE IT'S JUST CANDY, THOUGH. WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD.
WHETHER WE DO THE 45 OR THE 50%, WE'LL HAVE TO DISCUSS THAT, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO WANT TO TAKE A RECESS RIGHT NOW AND DO THE COUNTING OF THE 18TH.
[03:05:05]
WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AS RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO RECESS, AND WE'RE GOING TO START UP.IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO GO AND WATCH THE COUNTY, MR. DOMER, START HERE IN JUST A SECOND.
WHEN DID YOU RECESS, KEN? WE'RE GOING TO CALL A MEETING BACK TO ORDER 9:55 P.M.
THANK YOU ALL. WE HAVE A COUNT, MR. DOMER, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, MR. MAYOR. THE COUNT IS TOTALS 1,532, WHICH IS SHORT OF THE PROTEST NEEDED.
>> WHAT WAS THE NUMBER AGAIN, KEN?
>> 1,532, WHICH IS SHORT OF THE APPROXIMATELY 4,600 AND WHAT DID I SAY?
>> WITH THAT, WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS TONIGHT OR NOT, BUT WE NEED A MOTION FOR OPTION 1 OR OPTION 2, AND THEN WE MOVE FROM THERE.
>> WELL, MY SCENARIO AND THIS IS NOT ONLY IS NOT AN OPTION, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S NOT AN OPTION NOT.
BUT WHAT WE CANNOT DO, OPTION 1, 50%, 25, 15, 10, AND 10, IS THE MAXIMUM THAT WE CAN DO.
OPTION NUMBER 2, 452-515-1010, IS JUST ANOTHER SCENARIO.
OPTION NUMBER ONE IS THE MAXIMUM.
WE COULD MAKE UP A DIFFERENT OPTION THAT IS LOWER TO DO THAT.
NOW, IT DOES NOT GET TO THE SCENARIO OF MATCHING THE NUMBERS THAT THE CITY AND THE FIRM HAS MADE FOR US.
MY TWO CENTS IN THIS IS THAT THE 50 AND THE 45 IN THAT FIRST YEAR ARE HIGH, EXTREMELY HIGH, AND IT MAKES A BIG JUMP, BUT IT DOES MAKE MORE THAN WE HAVE HAD, AND IT MAKES A IMPROVEMENT TOWARDS IT.
WILL IT GET US TO THE FINAL TOTAL? I DON'T THINK SO.
BUT IT IS PUTTING US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IF WE HAVE TO COME BACK IN THREE YEARS AND DO ANOTHER STUDY, THEN WE HAVE TO DO ANOTHER STUDY AND BRING IT BACK AGAIN AND SEE WHERE WE'RE AT THEN, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT 50 AND 45.
I'M SORRY IF I'M SPEAKING OUT OF TURN.
I KNOW THAT OPTION NUMBER 2 IN THE FIRST PROPOSED PLAN WAS AT 35% THAT FIRST YEAR.
EVEN THOUGH THAT 35% IS A EXTREME AMOUNT AS WELL, I BELIEVE THAT GETS US TO A BETTER PLACE THAN THE 50 OR 45.
>> THIS GETS INTO THE MATRIX AS FAR AS WHAT THE 40% OR THE 35% KNOWING THAT 218 YOU CANNOT CHANGE DOWNHILL, IT HAS TO STAY THE SAME.
CAN'T GO UP. YOU CANNOT CHANGE.
YOU CAN'T ADD THAT FRONT END ON THE BACK END, IT'S GOING TO STAY THE SAME.
WHAT IS THE MATRIX ON A 40% AND A 35% UP FRONT? EVEN THE SAME MATRIX AS FAR AS THE RATES OF SUCH? WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR OUR OVERALL GRAPH CHART? CAN WE DO THAT REAL QUICK? CHRISTIE.
>> YOU CAN ONLY DO THE FRONT, ONLY ONE.
YOU REDUCE FRONT. EVERYTHING ELSE CAN'T CHANGE.
[OVERLAPPING] RIGHT NOW WITH OPTION 2, IT'S ABOUT A 29%.
IT'S A 36 MILLION AND IT'S 29 MILLION ON OPTION 2 SO WE KEEP REDUCING THE FRONT END, IT'S GOING TO KNOCK THE MATRIX OUT.
BUT I WANT TO SEE WHAT IT IS. WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THAT IS.
WHAT WERE THERE? I DON'T HAVE THE ORIGINAL CHARTS.
>> NO, ORIGINAL CHARTS. THE ORIGINAL CHARTS THE AD HOC COMMITTEE LOOKED AT.
>> GIVE US A MINUTE TO GET THOSE.
>> IN THE MEANTIME, CAN I ASK DIRECTOR WU QUESTION?
[03:10:03]
BECAUSE I HAVE SEVERE ANXIETY ABOUT THIS 100-YEAR-OLD INFRASTRUCTURE, CAN YOU JUST TELL ME WHERE WE ARE WITH THE SLEEVING OF THE PIPE?>> WE ACTUALLY JUST STARTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION TODAY SO THEY'LL BE DOING POLLING WORK LATER THIS WEEK UNDERGROUND WHERE THE CURRENT LOCATION OF THE PIPE IS? AND THEN THE HIGHLINE PROJECT, WHICH IS THE BACKUP PIPELINE, WILL START CONSTRUCTION FIRST, SO THAT WOULD BE HAPPENING IN THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, FOR THE MOST PART.
PROJECT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETE TOWARDS THE END OF MAY.
>> IS THAT OUR WORST OR MOST SCARY PIPE THAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT?
>> PROBABLY NOT. ONE PROBLEM WITH THAT ONE TOO WHEN IS THE FACT THAT THAT PARTICULAR ONE HAS TO HAVE A PIPE PUT NEXT TO IT WHILE THEY'RE SLEEVING.
YOU'RE PUTTING IN THE SLEEVING FIRST AND DOING THE BORING THE HOLES TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GET THE KEVLAR LINING?
>> THE HIGHLINE GOES IN FIRST AND THEN AFTER THE POLLING IS WHERE THEY PUT A SLEEVE VOLUME OF WATER.
>> THAT'S ALREADY UNDERWAY WITH FUNDS CURRENTLY IN POSSESSION?
>> CORRECT. THEN WHAT'S THE NEXT MAJOR PROJECT OR MAJOR REPAIR OR REHAB THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING?
>> LOOKS LIKE METER CONVERSION.
>> ANOTHER MAJOR PROJECT IS THE METER REPLACEMENT FROM THE OLD METERS TO THE DANCE METERS, THE AMI PROJECT THAT WOULD HELP WITH WATER LOSS AND ALSO HELP WITH AGING METER EQUIPMENT AND GETTING THOSE REPLACED.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE A PROJECT TO UPGRADE THE SIX AND WHITE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, SO THAT WOULD HELP WITH THE TREATMENT OF NITRATES IN THAT PARTICULAR WELL.
THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER ACTIVE PROJECT, WHICH IS PUMP REPLACEMENT FROM ZONE 3-4, WELL, THAT PROJECT IS ACTUALLY TIED TO THE PLATEAU SUMMIT PROJECT, REPLACING THAT PUMP WILL HELP GET WATER UP THE HILL.
>> WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON ALL OF THESE? IS IT CONCURRENTLY OR IS IT SUBSEQUENT?
>> THOSE ARE ALL CURRENTLY HAPPENING.
THOSE ARE ALL CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION.
>> ANY REDUCTION, WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT THE CIP AND SEE WHAT WE CAN SHIFT AROUND.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE WATER MASTER PLAN THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN 2021, SO WE'RE COMING UP ON DOING ANOTHER WATER MASTER PLAN SOON, AND OUR FIRST WELL WAS DRILLED IN 1929, AND IT'S OUR HIGHEST-PRODUCING WELL.
WE HAVE SOME OLD INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED, BUT EVENTUALLY, YOU HAVE TO REPLACE A LOT OF PARTS OF WELL.
THERE ARE THINGS COMING UP WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY AROUND IF WE GO BELOW THE COMFORT LEVEL.
>> WELL, PLUS THE VOC, WHICH IS THE CHEMICAL THAT ALL OUR FARMERS USED IS THE CHEMICALS IN THE GROUND, WHICH IS IN OUR WATER HAS TO BE REMOVED.
THAT'S ALMOST $1.9 MILLION, THE VOC REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS THAT'S IN 2029 SO WE START REDUCING OUR PROJECTED COSTS, THAT'S GOING TO START REDUCING THE COST OF THE VOC REMOVAL, WHICH HAS TO BE DONE. THAT HAS TO BE DONE.
>> THERE WAS ALSO MONEY PUT INTO THE CIP FOR WELL TREATMENT BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF IT AGAIN.
ANYTHING THAT WE CAN PULL WITHIN OUR QUOTA FROM THE BASIN IS CHEAPER THAN BUYING FROM THE STATE WATER PROJECT.
>> WELL, IN THREE OF THOSE PROJECTS RIGHT NOW ARE PIPELINE REHABILITATION UPSIZE, 760 LINEAL FEET, 10-INCH TO 12-INCH PIPE ALONG FOOTHILL BOULEVARD.
THE CIP ON 2026, IT'S ALMOST 1 MILLION, 2027 IT'S 1.8, ALMOST 1.9.
AS THESE GO, THESE COSTS ARE GOING TO GO UP BECAUSE THESE ARE JUST COSTS THAT WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT NOW.
THEN IN 2028, WE'VE GOT $1.8 MILLION, AND THAT'S A THREE-YEAR PROCESS TO REPLACEMENT 760 LINEAL FEET THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED.
AS MR. BOWCOCK SAID, WE DON'T REPLACE IT BECAUSE WE JUST THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, WE REPLACE IT WHEN WE FIND THAT WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT AND MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THIS STUDY IS VERY INTRICATE.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE JUST THREW OUT THERE, WE HAVE A VERY GOOD RATE STUDY COMPANY, AS OUR WATER SUPPLY HAD STATED, AND THEY COME VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
I KNOW THESE RATES ARE SO HIGH, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE HAVE FAILURES THE COST OF THE RESIDENTS IS GOING TO BE TREMENDOUS.
[03:15:02]
YOU JUST CAN'T GO TO THE RESIDENTS, SAY, WE NEED TO CUT TWO OR $3 MILLION BECAUSE WE HAVE A FAILURE AND WE HAVE 500 OR 1,000 OR 2,000 RESIDENTS WITHOUT WATER.THESE THINGS WERE REALLY LOOKED AT BY OUR AD HOC COMMITTEE.
THEY DID A LOT OF WORK ON THIS TO MAKE SURE.
THIS ISN'T A LOT OF STUFF, CONSIDERING WHAT OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS.
WE HAVE NINE WELLS, NINE PRODUCING WELLS.
WE SELL SOME OF IT TO WALNUT, 24%.
HOW MANY RESERVOIRS DO WE HAVE? TEN.
>> WE HAVE 10 WELLS OR 10 RESERVOIRS, NINE WELLS, AND WE HAVE FILTRATION PLANTS, WHICH IS A CONSTANT AND THE METER SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE SCATTER, WHICH SOMEONE SAID IN OUR ORIGINAL MEETING.
WHICH IS ITS DIGITAL, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THE PAST BECAUSE WE WEREN'T CHECKING, BECAUSE THERE WERE LEAKS.
THAT WE LOST A LOT OF WATER THAT COULD NOT BE CHARGED.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS UPDATING ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY OUNCE OF WATER THAT GOES OUT HAS A COST TO IT SOMEWHERE.
WHETHER IT BE A BIG SUPPLIER, AND WE HAVE SOME FACILITIES THAT ARE HUGE WATER CONSUMPTION.
GILEAD IS ONE OF THEM THAT USES AN UNGODLY AMOUNT OF WATER.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SAY THEY PAY FOR IT.
>> MAYOR, MEMBERS, COUNCIL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP A COUPLE OF TIMES WAS ABOUT THE PRIVATE FIRE CHARGE.
THAT'S NOT ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. THAT'S ON COMMERCIAL.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
THAT WAS BROUGHT UP, AND I WAS THINKING, UNLESS YOU HAVE A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH A TWO-INCH PLUS ABOVE, MOSTLY A SIX-INCH MAIN, WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRE SERVICE.
>> BUT THIS COMMITTEE DID A LOT OF WORK.
THIS STUFF ON HERE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE SAFETY AND THE QUALITY OF OUR WATER, AND THE RATES, LET'S BE HONEST, 50% SUCKS.
THIS SUCKS. EVERYBODY'S YELLING AT US LIKE, WE'LL GET YOU UNELECTED.
ALL OF US WORK. WE'RE ALL THE SAME.
I'M JUST SAYING WE'RE ALL THE SAME HERE, GUYS.
THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO MAKE SURE OUR CITY IS SAFE.
HOWEVER, WE LOOK AT OUR RATES, WE KEEP REDUCING IT.
I'M JUST SAYING, WE KEEP REDUCING IT, WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME DISCUSSION AGAIN BECAUSE THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN THREE YEARS.
WHO KNOWS WHAT THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE? AT LEAST WE'RE LOOKING AT IT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WAS OVER A YEAR.
PEOPLE TO SAY THEY DIDN'T SEE THE INFORMATION.
GUYS, WE GAVE YOU THE INFORMATION.
I'M SAYING THE INFORMATION IS THERE.
IT'S JUST THEY DIDN'T GO GET IT ON OUR WEBSITE.
[OVERLAPPING] WE'RE MORE INVOLVED BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE? NO, NOT AT ALL.
I'VE RAISED MY KIDS, NOW I HAVE GRANDKIDS.
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE ON A WEEKEND, ANYWAY.
>> THE PERCENTAGE THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT WAS THE 40%?
>> [OVERLAPPING] EXCUSE ME GUYS, WE'RE DOING WHAT YOU ASKED.
>> WITH THE 40% INCREASE, THE FIRST THREE YEARS, WE ARE ABOVE OUR FUND BALANCE TARGETS.
ONCE WE GET INTO YEARS FOUR AND FIVE, WE DO DIP SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW OUR TARGETS.
COME 2029 - 2030, WE WILL HAVE 1 MILLION IN OUR FUND BALANCE.
>> WE'RE ONE UNDER, AND THEN THE OTHER THREE STAY IN LINE.
>> 6, 7 AND 6, WE DROP ONE IN YEAR 3, 2027, AND THAT'S AT 40%?
THAT'S THE ORIGINAL SCENARIO, TOO.
>> IN THE ORIGINAL SCENARIO, TOO.
>> IF WE DO THAT NOW, WE CAN ONLY DO 35% YEAR 1, FOLLOWED BY 25%. NOT 35.
THE ORIGINAL SCENARIO 2 WAS 35,
[03:20:01]
30, 20, 15, AND 10.IF WE WERE TO GO TO 35%, WE WOULD BE NEGATIVE [BACKGROUND] BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO THE 30%.
IT WOULD BE ORIGINAL 35, AND THEN WE CAN ONLY DO A 25.
WE CAN'T DO WE CAN DO LESS THAN BASED OFF APPROXIMITY.
>> THEN WE'D HAVE TO COME BACK AGAIN.
[OVERLAPPING] SPEND HOW MUCH MONEY ON THIS ANOTHER STUDY?
>> [OVERLAPPING] 160,000. CORRECT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK IN THREE YEARS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK IN THREE YEARS. WE JUST KEEP RECYCLING EVERY THREE YEARS.
NO. SO THE OPTION THAT WAS PRESENTED WAS TO DO THE 45 JANUARY 1, FOLLOWED BY THE 25 OCTOBER 1 AS OPPOSED TO JULY 1.
CORRECT. IT'LL DROP SUBSTANTIALLY.
>> I WON'T ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, BUT JUST TO KIND OF REITERATE.
>> GUYS, IF YOU PLEASE, WE'RE WORKING ON THEM RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE DOING WHAT YOU ASKED TO US WE'RE LOOKING AT NUMBERS. PLEASE.
>> ONE OF THE ISSUES ON LOWERING THE INITIAL 50% LOWER IS THAT IT DOESN'T MEET THOSE PARAMETERS, THE FUND BALANCES, AND THE ABILITY TO DO ALL THE CIPS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] IN THE AUDIENCE, CAN WE PLEASE?
>> YEAH, PLEASE. YOU'RE MISSING OUT INFORMATION.
IF WE DID ANYTHING BELOW WHAT THE 45% IS, IF WE WENT TO 40, IF WE WENT TO 35%, THEN WE'D HAVE TO MAKE UP THAT AMOUNT SOMEHOW.
THAT'S WHY I SUGGESTED EARLIER, IF WE HAD TO GO THERE, IF WE DID THAT, THEN WE WOULD NEED TO COME BACK IN YEAR 3 OR BEFORE YEAR 3 TO DO ANOTHER RATE STUDY IN ORDER TO LOOK AT WHAT YEAR 4 AND 5 ARE BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CHARGE THE 10% BECAUSE WE'D BE IN NEGATIVES BY THEN.
YEAR 4 AND 5, WHICH CURRENTLY UNDER THE CURRENT SCENARIO, ARE 10% MAX.
IF WE DID A RATE STUDY IN YEAR 3, WE WOULD PROBABLY BE LOOKING AT 20% AND THEN THREE NEW YEARS AFTER THAT, WHICH HOPEFULLY COULD GET DOWN BECAUSE WE'D BE HOPEFULLY RESTORED.
BUT THAT'S THE ITEM OF COMING BACK AT THIS POINT AND DOING A 45% OR 40% OR WHATEVER IS TO GET UP TO THAT POINT WHERE WE'RE A SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM.
>> WE WOULD HAVE TO READJUST OUR CIPS AND WHAT PROJECTS WE'RE DOING.
>> THEN WE WOULDN'T BE UNDER BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHICH WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CIPS.
BUT THEN AGAIN, THE REASON TO HAVE A RESERVE IS ONE OF THOSE WELLS GOES DOWN OR ONE OF THE RESERVOIRS OR A MAIN LINE BURST.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE MONEY IN THE FUND.
[OVERLAPPING] WE'RE DISCUSSING THAT RIGHT NOW, PLEASE?
>> BUT WE WOULD ALSO, EVEN THOUGH WE WOULD NOT BE UNDER, WE WOULD BE WELL UNDER THE PROJECTED, WE'LL BE STILL BETTER OFF THAN WE ARE TODAY.
COUNCIL, WE'VE SEEN WHAT 40% IS.
LEAVES US A $1 MILLION AT THE END.
35% THE LAST TWO YEARS ARE A DEFICIT.
WE HAVE TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN.
>> UNLESS YOU WANT POOPY WATER?
>> YOU'RE SAYING IN 27, WE'D HAVE TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS AGAIN.
>> DON'T PIN ME ON AN EXACT DATE,
[03:25:01]
BUT WE'D HAVE TO START THINKING OF IT IN LATE 26 WHEN WE PLAN THAT, YES.>> [OVERLAPPING] ALSO DEPENDS ON WHAT MONEY WE HAVE AND WHAT'S INCURRED.
>> WE'RE NOT REALLY PLANNING TOO FAR AHEAD IN THREE YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK IN THE SAME THING AND SAY, OH, YEAH.
>> IT'S TWO YEARS BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YES, THE COUNCIL AWARDED IN JULY OF 2024.
BUT WE WENT OUT TO RFP AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THAT AND STARTED DOING EVERYTHING.
THAT'S TAKING YOU INTO FEBRUARY, WE'RE THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AWAY.
WE'VE DONE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, SO I BET WE CAN GET IT DOWN TO 18 MONTHS OR LESS, BUT IT IS STILL A LENGTHY PROCESS TO GET WHERE WE'RE AT NOW.
>> WE'RE GETTING THE PROCESS ON THE 218 ALSO.
THE NOTICES FILING IF WE DO VOTER RATE INCREASE.
>> BUT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE ON OUR LIST SERVE AND SO THEY'LL BE NOTIFIED.
>> WE MIGHT HAVE 50 PEOPLE AT OUR AD HOC MEETINGS THAT ARE LISTENING EVERY SINGLE TIME AND GOING THROUGH THE STUDY WITH THEM, SO THEY ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
>> YOU WANT MY PROPOSAL? MY MOTION IS TO HAVE A 35% INCREASE ON JANUARY 2026.
THEN IN THE JULY 2026, A 25% INCREASE, AND THEN JULY 27 15% INCREASE, JULY 28, 10% INCREASE, AND JULY 29, A 10% INCREASE. [APPLAUSE]
>> I WANT TO CLARIFY REAL QUICK.
WHERE ARE YOU AT THE NUMBERS ON THE 35?
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO WORK ON THIS.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE KEEP IT DOWN.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ASKED US TO DO, GUYS. PLEASE.
>> OUR FUND BALANCE WOULD BE AT 6 MILLION. I DON'T KNOW.
I WOULD HAVE TO RUN THE NUMBERS TO SEE WHAT A 25 WOULD LOOK LIKE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO 25 THE FIRST TIME.
THEN WHAT'S THE TALLY AS WE GO THROUGH EACH YEAR?
>> YEAH. WE CAN'T CHANGE THE NEXT YEAR.
>> [OVERLAPPING] NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH? THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. I UNDERSTAND THE INCREASE.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO RUN THAT SCENARIO. I DON'T HAVE IT.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT WE COULD DO IT FROM A PODIUM TO RUN WHAT THAT FUND BALANCE IS.
WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IS UNDERSTANDING THAT IF WE DROP IT DOWN TO 35% [INAUDIBLE].
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE'RE GOING TO BE NEGATIVE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. HE'S GOT IT.
>> WOULD WE KEEP IT AT JULY OR MOVE IT TO OCTOBER?
EVERYTHING THE MATRIX STAYS THE SAME.
IT'S JUST THE DOLLAR. WERE WE DROP OFF ON NEGATIVE.
>> [BACKGROUND] THERE YOU GO, JEREMY.
>> WE'D BE 6,000,026, 6,000,027, 03,000,028, AND WOULD BE NEGATIVE BY 29.
>> HE SAID 30 MILLION. ONE MORE TIME.
>> SIX, SIX, THREE, AND THEN NEGATIVE BY 29, IS WHAT WE'D BE LOOKING AT?
>> 28 IS 3 MILLION AND THEN NEGATIVE BY 29.
>> THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO POSSIBLY RATE STUDY IN YEAR 3. NO. THAT'S OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO RECESS IN A CLOSED SESSION RIGHT NOW, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK OUT.
AT 10:19. [BACKGROUND] WE'RE GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING BACK TO ORDER AT 10:27 P.M. WILL SOMEONE, PLEASE, GO LET MY DOGS OUT. OH, I'M SORRY.
>> ATTORNEY HALL BARLOW, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION?
>> THANK YOU. BACK TO OUR MOTION. MR. CROSBY.
>> I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO REPEAT THAT MOTION.
[03:30:02]
>> MY MOTION IS TO INCREASE AT 35% ON JANUARY 1, 2026, AND THEN JULY AT THE REST IS 25%, JULY 1, 2026, THEN JULY 1 2027, IS 15% JULY 1 2020 IS 10%, AND JULY 1 2029 IS 10%.
REALLY CHANGING THIS IS JUST THE FIRST YEAR, 50-35%.
>>TWENTY FIVE AND 26, 15 AND 27, 10 AND 28, AND 10 AND 29, THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL PROP 28 NOTICE.
>> I'M AMENDING IT. THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE THAT 10126, THAT WE INSTITUTE A RATE STUDY AGAIN, TO HAVE OR 2027.
PERSONALLY, I WOULD SAY 2027, WE WOULD HAVE START A RATE STUDY.
THAT WAY WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH THIS.
BUT AGAIN, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IF WE DO ADOPT THIS, WE WILL BE BACK AGAIN.
DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT RATE STUDY TELLS US WE'RE GOING TO DO, BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW IF WE ADOPT THIS, WE GO IN THE NEGATIVE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WILL BE UNDERFUNDED. I'M MAKING IT VERY CLEAR HERE.
WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION JUST SAYING WE WILL DO A RATE STUDY IN YEAR 2027 AND REVIEW OUR RATE STUDY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND DO THE SAME 218 PROCESS.
>> WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND. VOTE, PLEASE.
>> MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY FOR 35% RATE INCREASE JANUARY 1, 2026, JULY 25% JULY 1 OF 2026, A 15% JULY 1ST OF 2027, A 10% JULY 1ST OF 2028, AND A 10% JULY 1 2029 WITH A RATE STUDY TO BE STARTED, THE PROCESS BEING STARTED IN JULY OF 2027.
THAT WAS APPROVED 50 [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] JUST A REAL QUICK COMMENT.
STEVE, MYSELF, AND CASH WILL BE UP IN 2026.
PLEASE. GO FOR IT, GUYS. THIS IS NOT EASY.
WE LISTEN. WE LISTEN TONIGHT, WE LISTEN TO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR ADVOC COMMITTEE.
THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS THE BEST OPTION.
THANK YOU, RAYMOND AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT DID DO THIS.
IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO THIS.
I THANK OUR CONSULTANT, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, AND OUR CITY MANAGER.
THIS IS HOW WE GET STUFF DONE IN LA VERNE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES THAT COST, AND FOR OUR WONDERFUL EMPLOYEES.
IF WE HAVE TO DROP SERVICES, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE THAT EITHER, ESPECIALLY IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY PEOPLE, AND WE NEED GOOD SERVICES.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE FINEST SERVICES AT ANY CITY.
I'M ON A REGIONAL BOARD THAT'S 31 CITIES, I'M ANOTHER REGIONAL BOARD THAT'S 49 CITIES.
LET ME TELL YOU, NOT PRETTY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR CURRENT ENVIRONMENT.
YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OUR POSITIONS? PLEASE. GO AHEAD.
WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO HERE IN OUR CITY.
WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE BEING ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND IT IS NOT EASY.
NO. NO, YOU'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL I'M DONE TALKING, SIR.
[LAUGHTER] WE LOCKED THE DOORS. YOU CAN'T GET OUT.
[LAUGHTER] BRIAN'S OPINIONS AND HIS EXPERIENCE ARE WELL AND WELL VERSED, AND WE WILL DEFINITELY USE BRIAN IN THE FUTURE IF THE TIME CALLS FOR IT.
BUT THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. YES.
>> I'M SORRY. I'M CHEWING ON CANDY.
MY BAD. I WOULD JUST SAY NOW THAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH THIS REALLY FUN PROCESS.
JUST A RECAP, THE WATER AND RATE SEWER COMMITTEE, THERE WAS APPLICATIONS THAT WENT OUT.
THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH RAYMOND AND DANITA AND RICK AND JAMIE AND WHO AM I MISSING.
[03:35:05]
>> DAN. THANK YOU. I WAS LIKE, WHO AM I MISSING? DAN. THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE THAT STEPPED UP, FILLED OUT THE APPLICATIONS, CAME TO MEETINGS.
SADLY, I THINK AT SOME OF THEIR MEETINGS, THEY WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.
WHILE I APPRECIATE THE REPRESENTATION FROM THESE FIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR LIVES TO GO DO TOURS, TO DO ALL THE THINGS, IT DOES TAKE MORE THAN THOSE FIVE, AND IT TAKES MORE THAN US FIVE.
WE WERE ABLE TO HEAR FROM YOU TODAY.
I WISH I COULD HAVE HEARD FROM YOU A YEAR AGO, BECAUSE MAYBE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT OUTCOMES, OR THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT PATH BECAUSE MAYBE BRIAN WOULD HAVE COME TO SOMETHING AND SAID SOMETHING EARLIER. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT YOU HEARD WHAT THE MOTION WAS FOR, YOU HEARD WHEN THE NEXT RATE STUDY IS ANTICIPATED.
GEAR UP, I URGE YOU TO THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING BECAUSE IT SAYS, GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE.
THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DO STUFF.
WE DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO YOU.
IF IT'S NOT WORKING, AS MR. DOMER SAID, YOU NEED TO LET US KNOW.
IF YOU'RE NOT GETTING YOUR MAIL AND YOUR NEIGHBOR IS, WE NEED TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
THERE IS A WAY TO GET ON THE WEBSITE TO GET INFORMATION.
WE TRY OUR BEST, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO KNOCK ON EVERY SINGLE RESIDENTS DOOR AS MUCH AS I MIGHT LIKE TO.
I THINK MY REAL JOB WOULD KILL.
IF I DID THAT, SO PLEASE, I URGE ALL OF YOU TO REMAIN ENGAGED BECAUSE THIS ISN'T THE ONLY IMPORTANT THING THAT'S COMING UP.
YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THE CLIMATE OF SOCIETY IS RIGHT NOW, AND SO IT TAKES PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED TO MAKE THINGS CHANGE.
>> MR. MAYOR, I HATE TO BE A DRAG ON THE PROCEEDINGS.
BUT THAT WAS ONE THAT WAS JUST THE WATER RATES.
WE NEED YOU TO MOVE THE RESOLUTION AND TAKE ALL THE OTHER ACTIONS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED ON THE AGENDA.
IF THERE'S NO CHANGE TO THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE SEWER RATES, YOU CAN SIMPLY MOVE THE RESOLUTION WITH THE MODIFIED WATER RATES AS PROPOSED AND WHATEVER.
>> AS YOU STATED, WERE GOING TO DO THAT AND I'M GOING TO TAKE A MOTION FOR THAT? SECOND. VOTE, PLEASE.
>> I HAD A MOTION BY JOHNSON, SECONDED BY LAU AND APPROVED 50.
>> I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE TITLE AND EVERYTHING.
THAT WOULD BE ADOPTED RESOLUTION TITLED RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING WATER AND SEWER RATES AND CHARGES FOR A FOUR YEAR PERIOD, FISCAL YEAR 2025 26TH THROUGH 2029 AS AMENDED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ACTION, AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER, FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO IMPLEMENT THE RATES, UPDATE THE MASTER SCHEDULE FEES AND CHARGES, MAKE NON SUBSTITUTE CORRECTIONS TO THE EXHIBITS AND COMPLETE ALL BILLING SYSTEM UPDATES.
FIND THAT THE ADOPTION OF THE WATER AND SEWER RATES IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT CEQA PURSUANT TO PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE SECTION 21080 SUBSECTION B8 AND SCO GUIDELINES SECTIONS, 15061, SUBSECTION B3, AND 15378 SUBSECTION B2.
>> WE HAVE TO ADD IN THERE TOO THAT WE WILL DO A RATE STUDY.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.
ALONG WITH WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER LAU SAID.
WE RIGHT NOW HAVE A PARKS MASTER PLAN.
WHEN YOU GO BY A PARK AND YOU WEREN'T INVOLVED AND YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT'S THERE, LOOK IN THE MIRROR.
THESE PARKS WE HAVE, WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
WE ALL ALL INCLUSIVE PARKS NOW.
ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT ARE DOING.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PARKS RIGHT NOW THAT NEED MODIFICATIONS.
IT'S ONLINE, IT'S ON THE WEBSITE.
PLEASE, WE GET 15 OR 20 PEOPLE.
IT'S LIKE, WE GOT 32,000 PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. GUESS WHAT? ALL THOSE NEW KIDS THAT ARE MOVING IN, THEY'RE GOING TO THE PARKS.
THEY'RE COMING FROM CLAREMONT. THEY'RE COMING FROM GLENDORA BECAUSE WE TAKE NICE CARE OF OUR STUFF.
BUT IF YOU DON'T INVOLVE, YOU CAN'T BLAME US.
PLEASE. NO. [BACKGROUND] YOU ARE STAYING AS LONG AS I CAN HAVE YOU.
I TOLD YOU I LOCKED THE DOORS.
WITH THAT, WE'RE MOVING TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT.WE SHALL MOVE FORWARD. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC COMMENT, ELIZABETH.
WHERE'S ELIZABETH? [LAUGHTER] MR. BOWEN.
>> THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]
[OVERLAPPING] YOU'VE GOT TO PUSH THE BUTTON BECAUSE IT GOT TURNED OFF.
>> PUSH THE BUTTON ON THAT, BRIAN AND YOU GOT ONE MINUTE.
>> IT WON'T EVEN TAKE THAT LONG.
>> ON A SAD NOTE, MANY OF YOU KNOW DAN HARDEN.
HE'S THE ONE THAT DOES THE MEMORIAL AND VETERANS DAY DOWN THE VET CENTER.
[03:40:04]
HE CAME DOWN WITH PANCREATIC CANCER.HE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL YESTERDAY ON SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT PROBABLY LED FROM THE PANCREATIC CANCER.
HE'S GOT A GREAT ONCOLOGIST OUT IN THE DESERT.
THAT'S WHY I'M EVEN SAYING IT.
IF IT WAS NOT PUBLIC, I WOULDN'T TELL YOU, BUT HE MADE THE NOTICE AND HE WANTED TO LET A LOT OF HIS FRIENDS KNOW.
I THOUGHT I HAD PUT THE WORD OUT NOW THAT HOPEFULLY YOUR PRAYERS ARE WITH.
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN. SORRY TO HEAR THAT.
>> I SERVED WITH HIS SON IN AFGHANISTAN.
>> ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? THEN YOU'RE RIGHT AFTER HER.
>> EARLIER IN THE EVENING, IVON GAGOS MADE A COMMENT ABOUT ICE AND TRYING TO NOTIFY PEOPLE ABOUT ICE RAIDS.
MY QUESTION TO THIS COUNSEL, I KNOW IT'S PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU CAN'T ANSWER ME TONIGHT, BUT I WOULD LIKE AN ANSWER EITHER IN AN E MAIL OR IN A FUTURE MEETING BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING ON THE WEBSITE THAT OFFICIALLY SAYS IT NOR IS IT ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE, BUT IS THIS A SANCTUARY CITY THAT ALLOWS THAT.
THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. YOU GOT A MINUTE. PEOPLE NEED TO LEAVE.
MAYBE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE PUSHED WITH THE POLICEMEN.
>> THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON THAT. WE HAVE A PROGRAM.
>> BREAKING THE HEAD. [LAUGHTER] ACROSS FROM MASON. HELLO.
STEPS GOING UP THE HILL, A BRIDGE AND A RAMP UP THERE.
>> TODAY RIGHT ACROSS FROM I CALLED THE POLICE.
>> IT WAS ABOUT SEVEN THEM. THEY WORKED ON IT DID A BEAUTIFUL TRACK.
BUT THEY NEEDED TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THEM AND POUND THE BIKE.
>> SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GET KILLED.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. ALENA?
>> ALEINA. YES. I HEARD RECENTLY THAT IN ORDER TO HANDLE THE HOMELESS ISSUE IN DOWNTOWN LA FOR THE OLYMPICS, THAT ONE OF THEIR PLANS IS TO SEND THE HOMELESS OUT THIS WAY.
DO WE HAVE A PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO COMBAT THAT ISSUE? HOW ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THEM ALREADY COMING THIS WAY DUE TO THE TRAIN NOW BEING IN OUR AREA?
>> YOU GUYS AREN'T ALLOWED TO ANSWER?
>> I ALSO WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR RECONSIDER.
>> YOUR PLAN, AND WE KNOW THAT YOUR JOB IS NOT EASY.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU THAT DO GOOD WORK. I REALLY DO.
YOU CAN RUN FOR OUR POSITIONS, PLEASE.
ANYBODY ELSE IN PUBLIC COMMENT? LILY. LILY, YOU GOT ONE MINUTE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ONE MINUTE.
TOMORROW, I'M GOING TO TAKE EXAM BECAUSE I NEED TO EARN MORE MONEY TO PAY MY BILL.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S HARD. I HAVE TO SHOW MY KIDS.
I HAVE SO HARD WORKER RIGHT NOW.
ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT THE BEST RESULT, BUT AT LEAST BETTER.
I FEEL BETTER. BECAUSE WE REALLY SOMEWHERE IN HERE.
BECAUSE I USE THIS ONE TO PUT THE LETTER, THE POTE LETTER ON MY NEIGHBOR'S HAND.
IT'S REALLY GOOD TO PUT THERE.
I HOPE PEOPLE REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW IMPORTANT.
I FEEL SORRY FOR BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS SO WELL PREPARED BUT NOT MUCH ATTENDANT, I FEEL SORRY FOR THAT.
IT'S PACK HOUSE TONIGHT, BUT WE COULDN'T REALLY CHANGE THAT MUCH IF SO MANY RESIDENTS PRETTY MUCH IGNORE.
I THINK IT'S JUST SOME PEOPLE I TALKED TO.
PRETTY MUCH IGNORE. I KNOW YOU TRY YOUR BEST.
I DON'T WANT TO BLAME ANYBODY.
>> MINUTES UP. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE ON PUBLIC COMMENT? WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS]
COUNSEL, MR. CROSBY MAKE IT SHORT.THANK YOU FOR THE INTERACTION TONIGHT.
PLEASE TAKE UP MR. DOMER AND GET ON THE LIST SERVE SO THAT INFORMATION DOES COME OUT TO YOU.
WE HAVE OUR VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION THAT'S COMING UP AT.
[03:45:03]
>> NOVEMBER 11TH AT 11:00 P.M AT VETERANS PARK.
>> THE PERSON THAT REALLY HAS BEEN INSPIRATIONAL THAT HAS BEEN DAN HARDEN WITH ALL THAT.
>> PLEASE COME OUT AND SEE THAT TOO. THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WHO IS A FAN OF THE THE TRACEY ULLMAN SHOW.
>> THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS NOT AS LONG AS THE 18 IN GAME 3 LAST MONDAY.
[LAUGHTER] BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTERACTION AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT. IT IS APPRECIATED.
I WILL ALSO SAY THE 2025 ANNUAL COMMUNITY SURVEY IS UP ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE, SO PLEASE, THAT'S ANOTHER WAY THAT YOU CAN RE ENGAGED, AND YOU COULD BE REDIRECTED TO ENTER INTO A RAFFLE.
>> HAVE A GREAT WEEK, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. BETWEEN NOW AND VETERANS DAY, PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS.
ALWAYS SUPPORT OUR VETERANS BEST YOU CAN.
MY TIME IS NOW GIVEN TO THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED.
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR POWS AND OUR MAAS WHERE I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO ONE DAY WELCOME THEM HOME.
PLEASE ON THIS VETERANS DAY, NOT JUST THANK YOU VETERAN.
IF YOU CAN WANT EXTRA STEP, SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THEIR LIVES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO SERVE AS THEY GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL COMING UP SOON INTO AN ROTC LIKE MY SON, HE'S GOING TO EMBRACE IT, AND SOME ARE GOING TO ENLIST.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL. I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU.
>> AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
THANK YOU TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE RAYMOND, ANITA. RICK, ARE YOU FALLING ASLEEP? [LAUGHTER] CHECK HIM. CHECK HIS PULSE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT. [LAUGHTER] SORRY, YOU'RE GETTING IT ALL NOW.
I'M GOING TO GO FOR 30 MINUTES.
I'M JUST GOING TO TALK. NO, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT EVERYBODY.
START VOTING. YOU HAVE THE FOURTH TUESDAY. THAT'S TOMORROW.
NOVEMBER 4TH. THEY'RE OPEN AT 7:00 A.M.
THE POLLS, THEY CLOSE AT EIGHT.
WE HAVE A DEPOSIT BOX OUT HERE. IT IS IN SANDM.
WE HAVE ONE AT THE ABRAHAM CENTER, UOV VOTING CENTER, AND THEN WHAT'S THE OTHER ONE? WELL, THAT'S THE ABRAHAM CLAREMONT, IS IT CLAREMONT? ANYWAY. YOU CAN DROP IT OFF ANYWHERE. IT DOESN'T MATTER.
YOU CAN DROP IT OFF IN ANY BOX, BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU ALL.
THIS IS HOW THINGS GET DONE IN OUR CITY.
EVERYBODY GO HOME AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND HAVE A VERY SAFE WEEK AND THANK YOU ALL.
WE'RE ADJOURNED AT [APPLAUSE] 10: 45.
THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.