Oct 05, 2026 City Council

[00:00:02]

GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE

[CALL TO ORDER]

CITY ATTORNEY HALL BARLOW,

[CLOSED SESSION TOPIC]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I'M GOING TO OPEN A PUBLIC COMMENT. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NO ONE'S ON THE PHONE, AND NO ONE'S IN THE AUDIENCE. WITH THAT, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE RECESS AT 5:31 P.M. AND RECONVENE AT 6:30 P.M.

FOR A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. STARTING OUR MEETING AT 6:32 P.M., MONDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, AND WELCOME TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING. I WANT TO

[REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - 6:30 PM]

ALSO, PUBLIC COMMENT THROUGH ZOOM MAY BE ACCEPTED FOR ALL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

HOWEVER IF A COMMENTATOR VIOLATES DECORUM, YOU WILL BE CALLED TO ORDER, AND IF THE VIOLATIONS CONTINUES, YOU WILL BE MUTED.

PLEASANTLY TONIGHT, WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE... LET'S SEE, WE HAVE... WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE UNITED STATES ARMY SERGEANT FIRST CLASS MARIA ESTRADA TO LEAD THE WAY TODAY, AARON.

WE'LL NEED OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. ABSOLUTELY.

PLEASE. CAN I HAVE EVERYONE PLEASE RISE AND THE RECITING OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

ALL MILITARY FIRST RESPONDERS, PLEASE RENDER A HAND SALUTE.

ALL OTHERS, PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. THANK YOU.

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. I THOUGHT EVERYONE HAD TO DROP AND GIVE YOU TWENTY, AND I GRABBED YOUR PHONE. I THINK SHE NEEDS TO RUN TO MEETING WITH ME. OH, NO, NO, NO. WE DIDN'T, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CERTIFICATES OR ANYTHING.

YEAH. WE'RE, WE'RE SAVING YOU.

MR. DOMER, ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.

PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

PRESENT. MAYOR PRO TEM CASTRO-FAGUITA. PRESENT.

MAYOR HEPBURN. YES, PRESENT.

ALL PRESENT, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR. TONIGHT, WE HAVE THREE PRESENTATIONS. THE FIRST PRESENTATION IS THE FIRE PREVENTION MONTH

[PRESENTATIONS]

THE LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT WORKS DILIGENTLY TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AGAINST POTENTIAL WILDFIRES, AND DURING THIS TIME, WE'LL PROVIDE A FEW TIPS RESIDENTS CAN IMPLEMENT TO PREVENT FIRES. WILL COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION SPECIALIST LONNIE SHIPMAN PLEASE COME FORWARD? ACTUALLY, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FRED ST. ANGE. CAN YOU? YES. SURE. IF, IF IN THE DISTANCE. SEE THE LA VERNE PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF THE LA VERNE COMMUNITY THROUGH FIRE PREVENTION, SUPPRESSION, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, PUBLIC EDUCATION, PREPAREDNESS, AND WHEREAS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS ABOUT ESSENTIAL FIRE SAFETY PRACTICES, INCLUDING MAINTAINING WORKING SMOKE CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS, CREATING AND PRACTICING HOME EVACUATION PLANS, KEEPING EXITS CLEAR, USING HEATING AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT SAFETY, AND KNOWING WHEN AND HOW TO CALL 911, AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF LA VERNE RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE AND OTHER FIRE-RELATED EMERGENCIES, PARTICULARLY AS CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS, VEGETATION, AND OTHER HAZARDS CAN INCREASE FIRE RISK THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, AND WHEREAS THE CITY ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES, AND NEIGHBORHOODS

[00:05:01]

WHEREAS THROUGH CONTINUED EDUCATION, PREPAREDNESS, AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL, THE CITY OF LA VERNE CAN REDUCE FIRE RISK AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF LA VERNE DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 4TH THROUGH THE 10TH, 2026, AS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK. IN THE CITY OF LA VERNE AND ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION AND TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS TO PREVENT FIRES AND PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES. I'M GOING TO PRESENT THIS TO MR. FRED ST. ANG. THANK YOU. OUR FIRE MARSHAL. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. JUST TO BRING OUT A SPECIAL GUEST, I CAN'T JUST ACCEPT THIS, SO THIS PROCLAMATION BY MYSELF, SO I GOT TO BRING OUT SOMEBODY THAT YOU GUYS ALL KNOW. SPARKY. SO WITH THAT SAID, YOU GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. I ALSO HAVE SOME FLYERS FOR YOU GUYS FOR THE AUDIENCE HELP WITH CHARGING YOUR LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES. WE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, SO PLEASE CHECK THE FLYERS OUT.

IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, LET US KNOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR SECOND PREP PRESENTATION IS THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION. OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, ENCOURAGING ALL RESIDENTS TO CHALLENGE THE SOCIAL NORMS THAT ENABLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OFFER MEANINGFUL SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS, AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF THOSE WORKING TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO THIS ISSUE. WILL HOUSE OF RUTH CEO PAT BELL PLEASE COME FORWARD? I'D LIKE TO DO IT VERBATIM, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE PROCLAMATION. HOW'S IT GOING? SO OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, AND HOUSE OF RUTH EVERY YEAR STANDS UP WITH FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS ON WHAT YOU ALL CAN DO TO HELP SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE TRY TO GET OUT INTO ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE, WHICH INCLUDES LA VERNE AND THE RESIDENTS OF LA VERNE, AND WE'RE ABLE TO REALLY PROVIDE THE CRISIS SUPPORT THAT'S NEEDED WHEN PEOPLE ARE REACHING OUT FOR HELP. WE HAVE A 24-HOUR HOTLINE, WE HAVE A RESIDENTIAL SHELTER.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS JUST BURGLARIZED LAST WEEK. SO WE'RE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE WHEN, WHEN TIMES OF NEED OCCUR, AND THAT THIS IS A TIME OF NEED FOR US, DEFINITELY.

BUT WE LIKE TO JUST REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE'RE HERE, SO IF FOLKS ARE NEEDING ASSISTANCE CRITICAL SUPPORT, THERE'S A 24-HOUR HOTLINE THAT CAN BE FOUND AT OUR WEBSITE, HOUSEOFRUTHINC.ORG, AND YOU CAN CALL ANYTIME, DAY OR NIGHT, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. WE'RE THERE TO HELP YOU. SAME WEBSITE,

[00:10:09]

WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY YOU NEED ITEMS, BUT IS THE MONETARY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ITEMS THEMSELVES? BECAUSE THE MONETARY, YOU CAN BUY WHAT YOU NEED. IS THAT CORRECT? WE, WE AS A RESULT OF THE BURGLARY SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE A NEED TO REPLACE SOME OF OUR SECURITY CAMERAS. SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS MONETARY SUPPORT WILL HELP US WITH THAT. WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOODS DONATED ITEMS, GOODS WE'RE ENTERING INTO THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, AND WE DO RECEIVE A LOT OF OUR DONATIONS DURING OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, GEARING UP FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND WE, WE WELCOME THAT AS WELL.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I CAN SPEAK WITH TRUE HONESTY THAT THE MONETARY SUPPORT IS REALLY THE MOST CRITICAL NEED RIGHT NOW. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PUSH THAT ON. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE PROCLAMATION, BUT...

YOU GUYS DO AN AMAZING JOB.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE. YOU REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW. SO I THINK WE'LL PUSH THIS OUT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN, YOU GUYS NEED HELP.

RESIDENTS HERE, WE HAVE PREVIOUS MAYOR DON KENDRICK, WE HAVE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBER ROBIN CARTER PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBER CRAIG WALTERS. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE RUNNING FOR ELECTION HERE.

I THINK THIS IS TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT PEOPLE HERE. WE'VE GOT ALL, A LOT OF BUSINESSES.

ORDER THE HAMMERINS. I THINK THIS IS THE TIME FOR US TO RALLY AROUND HOUSE OF RUTH TO GIVE THEM A, A, A HELPING HAND, AND ANY DENOMINATIONS, TWENTY-FIVE, FIFTY, A HUNDRED, WHATEVER YOU GUYS CAN SPARE, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT TIME FOR PEOPLE TO OPEN THEIR POCKETBOOKS. SO GET IN, GET IN. THERE YOU GO. I LIKE THAT. I LIKE THAT. WHAT IS, WHAT IS THIS? TRUTH OR DARE? WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THEM, I PROMISE. THANK YOU.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO WE WILL SUBMIT THE PROCLAMATION TO YOU, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND LET'S, LET'S GET THIS GOING TO GET YOU GUYS BACK ON YOUR FEET AGAIN. MAYBE WE CAN GET A SECURITY COMPANY THAT CAN DONATE SOME CAMERAS TOO, MAYBE. OKAY, WE'LL WORK ON THAT, OKAY? THANK YOU. OUR THIRD PRESENTATION IS THE RECOGNITION OF THE ORDER OF THE ALHAMBRANS FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS DEDICATED VOLUNTEER SERVICE FOR THE CITY OF LA VERNE.

FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF, OF DANCES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THE ORDER OF THE ALHAMBRA IS ALSO BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATION OF THE CITY'S FIRST AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION, AAC BOARD, HELPING TO PROMOTE GREATER ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THAT IS AT THE LAS FLORES PARK AND THE PLAYGROUND ON THE NORTH SIDE BY THE POOLS THERE THAT WE CHRISTENED THAT AND DID A RIBBON CUTTING A NUMBER OF MONTHS AGO. SO I REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE THAT. COME ON UP. EVERYBODY COME UP.

THAT'S VINCENT AND CHRIS BRAUN FOR THE ORDER OF THE ALHAMBRANS. ALSO... SORRY.

THE AUTISM SPECTRUM ATHLETICS IS ONE OF OUR YOUTH GROUPS HERE THAT SUPPORT HERE IN LA VERNE, AND THEY WANTED TO COME OUT TO THE ORDER OF ALHAMBRAS BECAUSE THEY HELP AND DONATE MONEY TO THEIR GROUP AS WELL, AND TO SUPPORT ALL THE STUDENTS AND THE KIDS THAT PLAY IN THEIR YOUTH SPORTS. SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HERE, JUST TO THANK THE GROUP HERE TOO.

SO THANK YOU. I'M SORRY, I'M A LITTLE SICK TODAY. MY VOICE CRACKING. CITY OF LA VERNE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION PRESENTED TO THE ORDER OF ALHAMBRANS. THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THE LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL WITH SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR TWENTY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, PRESENTED ON OCTOBER 5TH, 2026. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S, THAT'S VINCENT AND CHRIS BRAUN. YOU HAVE THE MIC, SIR. WELL, THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER, OF COURSE, BUT ALL OF OUR MEMBERS IN, IN THE ORDER OF THE ALHAMBRA. IT'S A INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL CARAVANS OR CHAPTERS INTO CANADA AND THROUGHOUT THE US, AND IT'S A, A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE SPENT LIKE AT LEAST A COUPLE OF DECADES WORKING THESE DANCES THAT THE CITY SUPPORTS AND EVERYTHING, AND IT'S AN HONOR AND A JOY

[00:15:07]

THE NEXT DANCE IS OCTOBER 23RD.

THANK YOU. WE'RE GONNA MOVE THINGS AROUND A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, GUYS. WE'RE GONNA MOVE THINGS AROUND A LITTLE BIT TONIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE GONNA MOVE ITEM SIX UP TO BEFORE THE CONSENT CALENDAR, WHICH IS THE LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST ONE TWO ZERO THREE FOUR

[6. License Agreement with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12034 for Use of Veterans Hall.]

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. TONIGHT, I'M PRESENTING THE PROPOSED LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE VFW POST 12034 FOR ITS CONTINUED USE FOR DESIGNATED SPACE AT VETERANS HALL. THERE ARE REALLY TWO COMPONENTS TO TONIGHT'S ITEM. FIRST, WE ARE FORMALIZING AND UPDATING AN AGREEMENT THAT HAS CONTINUED FOR MANY YEARS UNDER AN AGREEMENT THAT EXPIRED BACK IN 2008. SECOND, WE ARE SEEKING COUNCIL DIRECTION REGARDING THE APPROPRIATE FACILITY LICENSE FEE CONSISTENT WITH THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY DISCUSSIONS THAT OCCURRED DURING FISCAL YEAR 26-27 BUDGET PROCESS AND THE COST RECOVERY WORK INCLUDED IN OUR PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN. I WANT TO START WITH SOME HISTORY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. VETERANS HALL WAS ORIGINALLY DONATED TO THE CITY BY THE AMERICAN LEGION, NOT THE VFW. AFTER DECLINING MEMBERSHIP AFFECTED THE LEGION'S ABILITY TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE FACILITY, IN 2006, AS PART OF THE PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES MASTER PLAN PROCESS, THE VFW REQUESTED DEDICATED OFFICE SPACE AT VETERANS HALL FOR ITS POST SERVICE OFFICER AND OTHER VETERAN-RELATED ACTIVITIES. COUNCIL APPROVED THAT CONCEPT IN DECEMBER OF 2006. THEN IN FEBRUARY 2007, COUNCIL APPROVED THE VFW USE AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZED FIFTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN PARK DEVELOPMENT FUNDS TO CONFIGURE A PORTION OF THE CITY FACILITY INTO DEDICATED OFFICE SPACE.

THAT AGREEMENT RAN THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2008. THE AGREEMENT REQUIRED MUTUAL CONSENT FOR AN EXTENSION OR RENEWAL, AND WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED A SUBSEQUENT WRITTEN RENEWAL.

FROM 2008 TO TODAY, POST-12034 HAS CONTINUED TO USE DESIGNATED SPACE AT VETERANS HALL FOR VETERANS-RELATED SERVICES.

THE ORIGINAL 2007 AGREEMENT WAS RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

THE VFW WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY MAINTENANCE OF THE OFFICE AND FOR TELEPHONE SERVICES. THE CITY PROVIDED ELECTRICITY, WATER, AND GAS AT NO COST.

AGAIN, THE AGREEMENT EXPIRED ON JUNE 30TH OF 2008. WHILE THE VFW CONTINUED TO OCCUPY THE USE AND DESIGNATED SPACE WITH CITY PERMISSION WE HAVEN'T, HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED THAT WRITTEN AGREEMENT THAT EXTENDED THAT TIME FROM 2008. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS WHY

[00:20:01]

THIS IS NOT ABOUT REMOVING THE VFW FROM VETERANS HALL. IT'S ABOUT DOCUMENTING THE RELATIONSHIP APPROPRIATELY AND ESTABLISHING CLEAR EXPECTATIONS FOR AUTHORIZED USE, CITY OVERSIGHT, MAINTENANCE AND SECURITY, INSURANCE IDENTIFICATION, FEES, AND DIRECT COSTS. GIVEN HOW MUCH TIME HAS PASSED SINCE THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT, STAFF BELIEVES IT IS APPROPRIATE TO BRING THE ARRANGEMENT UP TO CURRENT CITY STANDARDS. ONE IMPORTANT DISTINCTION IN THE NEW AGREEMENT IS THAT THIS IS SPECIFICALLY STRUCTURED AS A LICENSE AGREEMENT, NOT A LEASE OR TENANCY. THE VFW RECEIVES PERMISSION TO USE DESIGNATED PORTIONS OF VETERANS HALL FOR APPROVED PURPOSES, BUT DOES NOT RECEIVE PERMANENT PROPERTY INTEREST IN THE FACILITY. THE CITY RETAINS OWNERSHIP, POSSESSION, AND MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF THE FACILITY. THE AGREEMENT ALSO CLEARLY DEFINES PERMITTED USES, INCLUDING VETERANS' BENEFITS INFORMATION AND REFERRALS, VFW ADMINISTRATION, MEETINGS, CONSULTATIONS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND APPROVED STORAGE. IT ESTABLISHES OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO HOUSEKEEPING, MAINTENANCE, ALTERATION, STORAGE KEY SECURITY, PARKING, AND PROVIDING US INCIDENT REPORTS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS WHILE THEY'RE IN USING THE FACILITY. THERE ARE ALSO CLEAR TERMINATION PROVISIONS. EITHER PARTY MAY TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT WITHOUT CAUSE UPON THIRTY DAYS WRITTEN NOTICE, AND THE CITY RETAINS THE ABILITY TO SUSPEND OR REVOKE ACCESS UNDER SPECIFIED SAFETY CONDITIONS. THE LICENSE STRUCTURE ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING VETERANS-RELATED SERVICES WHILE ENSURING THE CITY MAINTAINS APPROPRIATE CONTROL OVER ITS FACILITY. THE AGREEMENT ALSO HAS GONE THROUGH CITY ATTORNEY AND CALIFORNIA JPI REVIEW, WHICH IS OUR INSURANCE AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY. THE CITY ATTORNEY REVIEWED THE LEGAL STRUCTURE OF THE AGREEMENT, INCLUDING CITY CONTROL, TERMINATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND SUCH. THE AGREEMENT ALSO INCORPORATES MODERN RISK MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE PROTECTIONS, INCLUDING GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE, ADDITIONAL INSURED REQUIREMENTS, PRIMARY COVERAGE, AND WAIVER COORDINATION PROVISIONS. THERE IS ONE ADDITIONAL INSURANCE PROVISION I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY BRING TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION. THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES THE CITY WITH THE ABILITY TO REQUIRE SEXUAL ABUSE AND MOLESTATION LIABILITY COVERAGE, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS SAM INSURANCE. DEPENDING UPON THE NATURE OF THE ACTIVITIES OCCURRING AT THE FACILITY, BECAUSE VETERANS HALL IS A SHARED USE FACILITY AND ALSO HOUSES THE CITY'S PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT SAM COVERAGE BECOME A MANDATORY INSURANCE REQUIREMENT FOR THE VFW RATHER THAN SOMETHING THE CITY MAY REQUIRE OR FOR THE ACTIVITY BASED AT THAT FACILITY. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS RECOMMENDATION IS NOT BASED ON ANY CONCERN OR INCIDENT INVOLVING THE VFW. IT IS A RISK MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION BASED ON THE NATURE OF THE SHARED FACILITY AND THE REGULAR PRESENCE OF PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN IN THE BUILDING. FROM A RISK MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT, STAFF BELIEVES IT IS PREFERABLE TO ESTABLISH THAT REQUIREMENT CLEARLY AND CONSISTENTLY IN THE AGREEMENT RATHER THAN LEAVE AMBIGUITY REGARDING WHAT COVERAGE WOULD BE REQUIRED.

SUBJECT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION AND FINAL LEGAL REVIEW, STAFF WOULD THEREFORE REVISE INSURANCE PROVISIONS TO MAKE SAM COVERAGE MANDATORY.

ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL OF THIS ENTIRE PROCESS IS TO REPLACE AN EXPIRED AGREEMENT WITH CLEAR, CURRENT, AND DEFENSIBLE TERMS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR HOW VETERANS HALL OPERATES TODAY. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR DEAL TERMS. THE VFW WILL HAVE A DESIGNATED LICENSE SPACE, WHILE COMMON AREAS OF VETERANS HALL REMAIN NON-EXCLUSIVE. THE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHES A COUNCIL-APPROVED TERM, AND THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY CREATE A TENANCY OR PERMANENT RIGHT TO THE SPACE. ACCESS REMAINS CONTROLLED BY THE CITY THROUGH APPROVED HOURS AND CITY-ISSUED KEYS AND CREDENTIALS. THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ORDINARY BUILDING UTILITIES SUBJECT TO NORMAL FACILITY OPERATIONS.

THE VFW CANNOT MAKE PHYSICAL ALTERATIONS OR IMPROVEMENTS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CITY APPROVAL. THE VFW IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR DIRECT COSTS ATTRIBUTED TO ITS ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING DAMAGE, CLEANING, LOST KEYS, REKEYING, OR SIMILAR EXPENSES. THE DRAFT AGREEMENT INCLUDES A FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR REFUNDABLE SECURITY DEPOSIT. COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO RETAIN, MODIFY, OR WAIVE THAT REQUIREMENT.

FINALLY, EITHER PARTY HAS THE ABILITY TO TERMINATE AGAIN WITH A THIRTY DAYS NOTICE.

THIS BRINGS US TO THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY COMPONENT OF TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION. DURING FISCAL YEAR 26-27 BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO ADDRESS THE VFW FACILITY AGREEMENT AS PART OF THE CITY'S BROADER FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS. WHEN STAFF REVIEWED OUR FACILITY AGREEMENTS, THE VFW WAS THE ONLY OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION WITH ONGOING EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO A DESIGNATED AREA OF A CITY FACILITY WITHOUT PAYING MONTHLY FACILITY USE FEE OR LICENSE FEE. AT THE TIME, THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN COST RECOVERY MODEL CALLS FOR US TO LOOK MORE INTENTIONALLY AT SUBSIDIES, USER FEES, AND APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF COST RECOVERY

[00:25:02]

THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERY PROGRAM, SERVICE, OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION MUST ACHIEVE FULL, A FULL COST RECOVERY. WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHERE THE CITY'S SUBSIDIES EXIT, EXIST, AND MAKE THOSE SUBSIDIES INTENTIONAL AND TRANSPARENT TO THE COMMUNITY.

FOR THIS PARTICULAR AGREEMENT, THE POLICY QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL IS, WHAT LEVEL OF SUBSIDY IS APPROPRIATE FOR EXCLUSIVE USE OF PUBLIC SPACE WHEN THERE IS NO, WHEN THERE IS A RECOGNIZED COMMUNITY BENEFIT, BUT DIRECT LIVER AND RESIDENT USAGE IS NOT CURRENTLY QUALIFIED? THE LICENSE AGREEMENT ITSELF CAN ACCOMMODATE WHATEVER FEE LEVEL COUNCIL ULTIMATELY DETERMINES IS APPROPRIATE. IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS DISCUSSION SHOULD NOT BE BASED SOLELY ON COST RECOVERY. THERE IS CLEARLY A PUBLIC BENEFIT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE VFW. THE POST PROVIDES VETERANS-RELATED SERVICES, ASSISTANCE, OUTREACH, FELLOWSHIP, AND ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT.

THE AUTHORIZED USES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDE BENEFITS, INFORMATION AND REFERRALS, MEETINGS, CONSULTATIONS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

VETERANS HALL ITSELF HAS A LONG-STANDING VETERANS-SERVING PURPOSE. AT THE SAME TIME, THESE SERVICES ARE REGIONAL IN NATURE. HISTORICAL CITY MATERIALS DESCRIBE THE POST AS SERVING NOT ONLY LA VERNE, BUT SAN DIMAS, CLAREMONT, GLENDORA, AND POMONA. THAT REGIONAL SERVICE DOES NOT DIMINISH THE VALUE OF WHAT THE VFW PROVIDES. IT'S SIMPLY ANOTHER FACTOR FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER WHEN DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF SUBSIDY FROM THE CITY OF LA VERNE FOR EXCLUSIVE USE OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY.

AT THIS TIME, WE ALSO DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT DATA TO QUANTIFY HOW, HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE THESE SERVICES THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY RESIDENTS. BUT AGAIN, THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER VETERANS SERVICES HAVE VALUE.

THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE VALUE TO THIS COMMUNITY. THE POLICY QUESTION IS HOW COUNCIL WANTS TO BALANCE THAT PUBLIC BENEFIT WITH THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITABLE USE OF ITS FACILITIES. RATHER THAN STAFF MAKING THE POLICY DECISION, WE ARE PRESENTING WITH THREE OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. OPTION A IS FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MONTH, WHICH WOULD GENERATE SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY.

THIS OPTION ESTABLISHES A REOCCURRING FACILITY LICENSE FEE AND MOST DIRECTLY ADVANCES THE COST RECOVERY DIRECTION DISCUSSED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

OPTION B IS ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR. THIS WOULD BE NOMINAL LICENSE FEE. IT RECOGNIZES THE VETERANS-RELATED PUBLIC BENEFIT BEING PROVIDED WHILE STILL DOCUMENTING CONSIDERATION FOR THE VFW'S EXCLUSIVE USE OF DESIGNATED CITY PROPERTY.

OPTION C, NO FACILITY LICENSE FEE.

UNDER THIS OPTION, THE CITY WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A FULL SUBSIDY OF THE FACILITY LICENSE FEE.

THERE IS NO STRUCTURAL CHANGE NEEDED FOR THE OVERALL LICENSE AGREEMENT BASED UPON WHICH OPTION COUNCIL CHOOSES. THE AGREEMENT CAN ACCOMMODATE COUNCIL'S POLICY DIRECTION.

COUNCIL MAY ALSO SEPARATELY DETERMINE WHETHER TO RETAIN, MODIFY, OR WAIVE THE PROPOSED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR REFUNDABLE SECURITY DEPOSIT.

TO CONCLUDE, STAFF IS ASKING COUNCIL TO TAKE SEVERAL ACTIONS TONIGHT.

FIRST, APPROVE A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH VFW POST ONE TWO ZERO THREE FOUR. SECOND, SELECT THE FACILITY LICENSE FEE OPTION COUNCIL BELIEVE IS APPROPRIATE.

THIRD, PROVIDE DIRECTION REGARDING THE FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR REFUNDABLE SECURITY DEPOSIT. AND FINALLY, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL AS TO FORM. BASED ON THE RISK MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS, AS I DISCUSSED EARLIER, STAFF IS ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT THE FINAL AGREEMENT REQUIRE SAM INSURANCE, THE SEXUAL ABUSE AND MOLESTATION LIABILITY COVERAGE, BECAUSE VETERANS HALL IS SHARED, IS A SHARED USE FACILITY THAT INCLUDES OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. THE AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU ESTABLISHES THE OPERATIONAL, LEGAL, AND RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR THE VFW'S CONTINUED, CONTINUED USE OF VETERANS HALL. THE AMOUNT OF THE FACILITY LICENSE FEE, AND THEREFORE THE LEVEL OF THE CITY SUBSIDY, IS ULTIMATELY A POLICY DECISION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.

WITH THAT, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR DURAN.

COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS TO STAFF BEFORE WE MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT? REGARDING THIS FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR DEDUCTIBLE THIS FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS, YOU SAID IT'S REFUNDABLE FROM ANY DEED? IT'S A DEPOSIT, SO IF THERE'S LOST KEYS OR DAMAGE OCCURS WHILE THE USE, WE CAN JUST DEDUCT FROM THAT DEPOSIT. OR IF THEY ONE DAY DECIDE TO BE LIKE, OKAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA LONGER EXIST, WE WOULD REFUND IT BACK TO THE VFW. IT'S A STANDARD PRACTICE WITH LICENSE AGREEMENTS.

OKAY, AND HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I'LL JUST GO BACK FIVE YEARS REGARDING ANY OF THESE LOST KEYS OR DAMAGE OR ANYTHING? WE'VE FINALLY KEYED THE FACILITY, SO WE SPENT ABOUT TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS REKEYING BECAUSE PRIOR TO THAT IT WAS A KEY THAT CITY HAD, AND THE, WE NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE FACILITY. IT'S OUR FACILITY, SO PRETTY MUCH THAT FOR KEYS. ORIGINALLY THIS FACILITY, IT WAS DONATED, AND WHEN LOOKING BACK AT THE HISTORY OF THIS FACILITY, THIS FACILITY WAS DONATED TO THE VFW IN ITS ENTIRETY.

NO, THE AMERICAN LEGION DONATED THE FACILITY TO THE CITY.

TO THE CITY. CORRECT.

[00:30:01]

NO, NO. JUST HERE YOU GO.

YES, AND WHAT THE CITY DECIDED BACK IN THE HISTORY THAT I PROVIDED THEY USED THE THE CITY DECIDED AT THE TIME TO USE PARK DEVELOPMENT FUNDS, THEY USED FIFTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TO RECONFIGURE THE STORAGE SPACE INTO AN OFFICE SPACE FOR THE VFW. I WILL SAY ANY MAINTENANCE COSTS OR DOOR ISSUES AND STUFF, WE'VE ALWAYS PAID, MAINTAINED THE FACILITY.

YES, THE CITY HAS. THANK YOU.

YES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT. IF YOU CANNOT COME TO THE MIC, WE DO HAVE, WE CAN BRING YOU THE MIC, SO IF SOMEONE HAS A MOBILITY ISSUE I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT MOST OF THESE SPEAKER CARDS ARE GOING TO BE PROBABLY THE SAME THING, SO WE ARE JUST ASKING IN THE ABUNDANCE OF, OF TIME AND, AND EFFICIENCY, WE'RE GOING TO CALL UP MARIA MCKINNEY, COMMANDER MCKINNEY FIRST, AND THEN BRING PEOPLE UP AFTER THAT. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR. MY NAME IS MARIA MCKINNEY, AND I'M THE POST COMMANDER FOR THE VFW POST ONE TWO ZERO THREE FOUR, THE BAND OF BROTHERS. I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT BECAUSE THIS MATTER IS URGENT AND CONSEQUENCES ARE SIGNIFICANT, AND RECONSIDERING THIS FEE IS THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION. THE VFW STANDS AS A PROMISE THAT THE VALUES OF SERVICE, SACRIFICE, AND COMMITMENT WILL CONTINUE LONG AFTER THE BATTLEFIELD.

THROUGH FELLOWSHIP, SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IT EMPOWERS VETERANS TO KEEP ANSWERING THAT CALL TO SERVICE. NOWHERE IS THAT MORE EVIDENT THAN IN LA VERNE, WHERE THE BAND OF BROTHERS TURNS THOSE VALUES INTO ACTION THROUGH OUTREACH, VETERAN RESOURCE FAIRS, SCHOLARSHIPS, PATRIOT PROGRAMS, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, AND VOLUNTEER SERVICES. THEIR EFFORTS STRENGTHEN OUR CITY, AND THE NAME BAND OF BROTHERS HAS EARNED A LEGACY OF HONOR, SERVICE, AND COMPASSION THAT RESONATES THROUGH LA VERNE AND BEYOND.

THIS YEAR ALONE, MEMBERS OF OUR OUTPOST, OF OUR POST CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE, TRANSLATING TO ABOUT FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, DEDICATING THEIR TIME TO MEET REAL NEEDS AND MAKING A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE. THEY HAVE INVESTED IN THE NEXT GENERATION BY AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS FOR THEIR PATRIOTIC ESSAYS AND BY CONTINUING THEIR SUPPORT OF YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OUR BOY SCOUT TROOP 411.

THE POST RESPONDS TO REQUEST FROM RIVERSIDE, ORANGE, LA COUNTIES, AND EVEN FROM OUT OF STATE TO PROVIDE GRAVESIDE AND MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR OUR VETERANS. WHEN GRIEVING FAMILIES NEED RESPOND, NEEDED SUPPORT, MEMBERS STEPPED FORWARD TO ORGANIZE THESE TRIBUTES, CONTRIBUTE SORRY, TRIBUTES, COORDINATE WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND ENSURE THEIR LOVED ONES WERE HONORED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. OUR DEDICATED BENEFIT ADVISOR HAS ASSISTED VETERANS IN NAVIGATING THE VA CLAIMS AND COMPENSATION PROCESS, HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR OPTION AND PURSUE THE BENEFITS THEY HAVE EARNED THROUGH THEIR SERVICE.

CASES LIKE HELPING A VIETNAM VETERAN'S WIDOW SECURE THE ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO BRING HER HUSBAND HOME FROM THE MORGUE WHEN SHE COULD NOT AFFORD CREMATION EXPENSES.

THESE AND MANY OTHERS ARE NOT ABSTRACT ACTS OF GOODWILL, THEY ARE DIRECT PERSONAL ACTS OF SERVICE THAT SUPPORT OUR VETERANS, ASSIST FAMILIES, AND STRENGTHEN OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE UNDENIABLE RECORD OF SERVICE IS WHY THE POST-FINANCIAL FUTURE MUST CONCERN EVERY ONE OF US.

IN THE CITY BEGINS, SORRY, IF THE CITY BEGINS CHARGING FOR ITS MEETING SPACE, THE COST WILL CONSUME AT THIS TIME APPROXIMATELY SIXTY PERCENT OF OUR ANNUAL DONATIONS. SIXTY PERCENT. FUNDS NOW USED TO ASSIST VETERANS, OUTREACH, CONDUCT MORE OUTREACH IN THE AREA, AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WOULD BE PULLED AWAY FROM THE VERY PEOPLE THOSE DONATIONS WERE MEANT TO HELP.

THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE IMMEDIATE AND DEEPLY FELT.

FEWER RESOURCES FOR VETERANS, FEWER OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT FAMILIES, AND LESS CAPACITY TO DELIVER THE SERVICES THAT DEFINE THE BAND OF BROTHERS. EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON THE FACILITY COST IS A DOLLAR TAKEN AWAY FROM A VETERAN IN NEED.

TONIGHT, I ASK THE CITY TO ACT, PRESERVE THE VFW'S USE OF ITS MEETING SPACE WITHOUT CHARGE. DO NOT ALLOW THE FACILITY COST TO DRAIN THE RESOURCES THAT SERVE VETERANS AND SUSTAIN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. I ASK THAT YOU UPHOLD THE STIPULATION OF THE LAND YOU TOOK THAT WAS ONCE THE AMERICAN LEGION, THAT VETERANS WOULD ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE AT THE VETERANS HALL. AS OUR HOME, WE PROMOTE THE CITY OF LA VERNE. WHEN COSTS COME TO US TO RENT THAT VERY HALL, THE PEOPLE THINKING THAT THE VFW RECEIVES ALL THE FUNDS, WHEN THAT IS NOT THE CASE, LET US CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THIS MEETING PLACE.

SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS CANNOT STOP AT WORDS OF APPRECIATION. LET US HONOR THE BAND OF BROTHERS NOT ONLY WITH PRAISE, BUT WITH A DECISION THAT PROTECTS THEIR ABILITY TO CONTINUE SERVING LA VERNE. THE SERVICE, THEIR SERVICE, DESERVES MORE THAN OUR GRATITUDE, IT DEMANDS ACTION.

[00:35:02]

THEIR, THEIR SERVICES ARE IN KIND. WE'RE A NONPROFIT.

MAYBE WE CAN WORK SOMETHING ELSE THAT WAY. MAYBE YOU CAN WRITE OFF OUR SERVICE BECAUSE WE ARE NONPROFIT, OUR FEES.

THAT IS WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT. AND THE LAST ANSWER, THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS, CAN THE CITY PROMISE OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO FILL THE GAP IF THE BAND OF BROTHERS IS FORCED TO STOP SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS COMMUNITY IN THE FUTURE? IF YOU DO, THAT'S GREAT. IF YOU DON'T, PLEASE RECONSIDER. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COMMANDER MCKINNEY. DANIELLE LEWIS. I RESPECTFULLY GIVE MY THREE MINUTES TO COMMANDER MCKINNEY. SHE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE HER HER PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. I'M BACK. IF IT IS IN FACT NOT TRUE... AND I WANT TO SAY, IF YOU HAVE MORE, JUST KEEP GOING. YES. YEAH. IF IN FACT IT... THAT'S FINE.

WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. IF IN FACT IT IS TRUE THAT THE FACILITY, THERE WAS NOT AN ADDENDUM WHEN THE FACILITY WAS GIVEN FROM THE AMERICAN LEGION TO THE CITY, THAT VETERANS WOULD ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE, THEN IT WAS MY MISTAKE, AND IT'S THE MISTAKE OF ALL OF OUR PEOPLE HERE, BECAUSE WE WERE UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING AND HAVE IT WRITTEN IN THE OFFICE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THAT THE BUILDING WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY, WAS, WAS SOLD OR GIVEN TO THE CITY, BUT VETERANS WOULD ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE THERE. AND THAT'S ALL I WANT TO REMIND YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO EVERYBODY ELSE TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

MARK TAVIRA. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARK TAVERA. I'M COMMANDER OF VFW POST ONE ZERO TWO ONE EIGHT IN GREATER ALBANY. AND I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE CITY COUNCIL HERE OF WHAT A GREAT ASSET YOU HAVE IN THIS POST, OKAY? I'VE WORKED WITH THEM FOR MANY YEARS, AND WE BELONG TO DISTRICT ELEVEN, WHICH CONSISTS OF NINE VFWS FROM EAST LOS ANGELES TO POMONA. AND IF YOU, IF, IF WE WERE TO SHOW YOU A CHART OF WHAT EACH POST DOES THESE FOLKS ARE UP THERE, OKAY? THESE ARE ONE OF THE FOLKS, ONE OF THE THREE POSTS, AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DEDICATED POSTS THAT DOES OFFER MILITARY HONORS. REGARDLESS OF WHEN YOU CALL THEM, MANY TIMES I REFER THEM THERE BECAUSE WE CAN'T FILL IT. AND SO YOU HAVE A, A, A YOU HAVE A JEWEL IN THIS POST. YOU KNOW, THE DEDICATED MEMBERS, THEY, THEY ARE GROWING, AND IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY DO THESE, ALL THESE THINGS WITH WHAT WE CALL A DRY POST, MEANING THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO, TO, TO GO AND DRINK AND RAISE MONEY. AND THAT'S CHALLENGING. THAT'S MOST, MOST OF YOUR VFW AND MERC LEADERS ALL HAVE BARS TO SUPPORT THEIR OPERATIONS.

OKAY. WE'RE CONSIDERED A DRY BAR. OKAY. BECAUSE WE DON'T WE DON'T DRINK EVERY DAY AT OUR POST. WE DO SERVICES.

AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE COME BY AND SAY, WELL, NO, NEVER MIND THEN. YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY WANTS A DRINK.

WE FOCUS ON VETERAN SERVICES JUST LIKE THEY DO. AND, AND, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

THAT'S A GREAT THING. AND SO WE'RE FORTUNATE WHERE WE PAY ONE DOLLAR A YEAR FOR A LEASE IN OUR CITY. THE CITY PROVIDES A BUILDING FOR US. YOU KNOW, WE'RE FORTUNATE. BUT I JUST WANNA JUST REMIND YOU WHAT A GREAT ASSET YOU HAVE IN, IN, IN THE VANDER BROTHERS HERE, AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SUPPORT THEM AND CONTINUE CONTINUE HAVING THEM HERE. AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY YOU CAN PROVIDE A BUILDING FOR THEM. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M, I'M TRYING TO, DAVIN? DAVIN OR? OH, OL, OLIVANDI? ANY CLOSE. I KNOW THIS NAME. JOSEPH MAGALLANES.

[00:40:10]

YOUR HONOR I'M GOING TO, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? I'M GOING TO GIVE UP MY TIME FOR MARIA.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.

OH, MY, YOU CHANGED. I'M NOT MARIA, OF COURSE. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS RUBEN PANGUELOS. I'M THE SENIOR VICE COMMANDER OF VFW 1234. I DID HAVE A SPEECH PREPARED FOR ALL OF YOU, BUT MARIA, OUR COMMANDER, DID AN ELOQUENT JOB OF EXPLAINING WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUE OUR OPERATION.

SOME OF YOU I KNOW, I CONSIDER SOME OF YOU FRIENDS, SOME OF YOU I'M MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME. I'M GOING TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU VERY PERSONAL, WHY THIS POST IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THESE MEN AND WOMEN BACK HERE, FOUR YEARS AGO, I JOINED THE POST. I CAME TO SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

SOME OF THESE SAID, THESE INDIVIDUALS TOLD ME, GO AHEAD, FILE YOUR CLAIMS, START YOUR PROCESS, IDENTIFY WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU IN THE MILITARY. THANKS TO THESE MEN AND WOMEN, I WAS IDENTIFIED WITH A VERY AGGRESSIVE FORM OF CANCER THAT SAVED MY LIFE.

THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THESE MEN AND WOMEN WERE NOT HERE IN THIS HOME WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. AND I'M ONE OF THOUSANDS OF VETERANS THAT GET THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN PUT IN DAY IN, DAY OUT. THEY DON'T DO IT FOR PAY. WE ALREADY HAVE OUR MEDALS ON OUR CHEST FROM OUR COMBAT OPERATIONS.

WE'VE SEEN THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE IN COMBAT.

BUT WE PUT ALL THOSE FEELINGS ASIDE AND CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND CONTINUE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF LA VERNE. AND THERE'S NO PRICE TAG ON A LIFE. FOR ALL THOSE MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN BATTLE, WE STAND UP AND SALUTE THEM.

FOR THOSE THAT COME BACK WITH THOSE BATTLE SCARS, WE'RE HERE TO PICK THEM UP AND PROVIDE THEM THE SERVICES THEY NEED. AND LIKE THE COMMANDER SAID, IF WE IMPOSE THIS FEE AND TAKE SIXTY PERCENT OF THE REVENUE OF THIS POST, YOU MIGHT AS WELL START KILLING OFF VETERANS, BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'D BE DOING, BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES WITH THEIR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES. I'D LIKE YOU TO THINK OF THAT FOR A MOMENT. AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RUBEN, WAS THAT RUBEN BENUELAS? THANK YOU, SIR. ERIC RODRIGUEZ. HOW YOU DOING? GOOD, HOW ARE YOU TONIGHT? GOOD. YOU DON'T REMEMBER ME, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER MY DOG, HONEY. WE CAME AND DID THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE A FEW MONTHS BACK. I'M PROBABLY ONE OF THE NEWER AND MOST AS OF NOW, YOUNGER VET, GREW... I'M NOT... ERIC, ERIC, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? WELL, MY POINT IS, BEING WITH THIS POST SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME NOT EVEN A YEAR YET I RECENTLY TOOK OVER A POSITION, THAT'S THE RECRUITER POSITION THE PERSON THAT WAS THERE DID PASS AWAY, UNFORTUNATELY. AND AGAIN, BEING NEW, TRYING TO FIND A HOME. I DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY OF LA VERNE, BUT MY WIFE IS SHE'S ESSENTIALLY ALUMNI OF LA VERNE, THE UNIVERSITY. MY SON CURRENTLY, HE GOES TO UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE, SO WE DO HAVE ROOTS HERE. AND I HAVE MY YOUNGER SON, HE'S PROBABLY GONNA COME HERE TOO.

BUT ESSENTIALLY JUST TRYING TO FIND A HOME, TRYING TO FIND A PURPOSE. I FOUND THAT, I FOUND THAT HERE AT THIS POST. IT IS A, LIKE THE COMMANDER MENTIONED, IT'S A DRY POST, AND WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD TO DEAL WITH, THIS WAS A PERFECT PLACE THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS THAT WOULD TEMPT ME. BEEN ON A LONG HEALING JOURNEY WITH MY DOG NOW.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO BROKEN UP, BUT ESSENTIALLY, I FOUND A HOME, FOUND A PURPOSE, AND THE COMMANDER AND EVERYBODY HERE, AND EVEN

[00:45:01]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ERIC.

APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.

MR. CHAUVIN. OH, NOW YOU'RE DATING US, MY KID'S TEACHER.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS SITUATION THAT OUR POST IS INVOLVED IN.

AND I RECOLLECT WHEN DAN HARDEN AND I WOULD COLLABORATE, WHEN I WAS A TEACHER AT RAMONA AND HE WAS AT HIGH SCHOOL, WE WOULD HAVE COLLABORATION DAY, AND HE WOULD ENCOURAGE ME TO JOIN THE VFW, BUT I PUT IT OFF. I PUT IT OFF BECAUSE THE STORIES THAT I HAD HEARD ABOUT VFW, AMERICAN LEGION, OH, THEY'RE A PLACE WHERE YOU DRINK BEER, REMINISCE ABOUT GOOD OLD DAYS, WHETHER IT'S IN THE MARINE CORPS, ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, AND PROBABLY EVEN NOW THE SPACE FORCE. BUT I PUT IT OFF AFTER I RETIRED WHEN I GOT INVOLVED IN VFW. BECAUSE I SAID, WELL, I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO EXCEPT TO WORK AROUND THE HOUSE, AND I WAS WORKING A LOT HARDER THERE THAN I WAS AT SCHOOL. TO ME, SCHOOL IS ENJOYABLE, AND I LOVED IT, BECAUSE EVERY DAY WAS A CHALLENGE. EVERY DAY IS A CHALLENGE NOW, TOO.

BUT I STAYED AFTER, I THINK I WAS IN 2015, 2015, AFTER THE AFTER THE VETERANS DAY MEMORIAL SERVICE THAT WE HAD, I STAYED AND I HAPPENED TO TALK TO REGGIE MITCHELL, AND HE WAS A SENIOR VICE. WE WERE TALKING, AND HE SAID, MAUREEN, DO YOU WANT TO JOIN THE VFW? I SAID, WELL, I DON'T LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T DRINK MYSELF. AND I DON'T WANT TO JUST ASSOCIATE WITH HEARING OLD WAR STORIES.

AND HE SAID, WELL, WE'RE A DRY BOAT, BUT HE SAID, WE'RE CIVIC-MINDED. HE SAID, WE DO A LOT OF THINGS, NOT ONLY IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT SINCE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES FROM THE PACIFIC OCEAN TO MARCH AIR FORCE BASE, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CORONA, ALL INTO SIMI VALLEY. AND I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SOME YEARS IN WHICH WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE DID, WHETHER IT WAS HONOR GUARD, WHETHER IT WAS DOING POSTING OR PRESENTING COLORS AT CIVIC FUNCTIONS AROUND LA, WHETHER IT WAS JUST DOING A FUNERAL AT A HOME SITE, AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL HERE AND THERE. AND AS SOMEBODY ALREADY ALLUDED TO, WE DON'T GET PAID FOR THIS. WE EITHER DRIVE OUR OWN VEHICLES, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A BUS, AND IT WAS A BUS THAT HAD, I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF MILES ON IT.

THANK YOU. AND SO WE NEED REPAIRS ON THAT. WHERE DID THOSE REPAIR MONIES COME FROM? IT CAME FROM DONATIONS THAT WE RECEIVE.

WE DON'T RECEIVE ANY OTHER FUNDING, AS WAS ALREADY ALLUDED TO. WE ARE A NONPROFIT, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS BY DONATION. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH, THAT'S SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR. LOOK ALL THE HELP WE COULD GIVE TO OTHER VETERANS. WE REALLY NEED IT. AND SO MY SINCERE DESIRE IS THAT, YES, WE ARE THE BAND OF BROTHERS.

WE ARE STRONG IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE ARE

[00:50:01]

BUT STILL, I WANT TO DO IT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS THE WAY THAT I CAN GIVE BACK TO THE MARINE CORPS, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE CITY OF LA VERNE, REPRESENTING YOU FOLKS HERE AND THE WHOLE CITY, AND THE CITIES THAT WE AS A POST COLLABORATE WITH, SAN DIMAS, CLAREMONT, POMONA, POMONA, GLENDORA, DIAMOND BAR, AND EVEN NOW EXTENDING OUT TO TIM, OLMONT, FANNING, BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE THINGS THAT GO OUT TO THE EAST, TIM IS READY TO BE THERE TO HELP US OUT. AND SO, AGAIN, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE, PLEASE RECONSIDER THE THREE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE. AND MY PRAYER IS THAT YOU WILL BE LED TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. KOGAN.

MARIA ESTRADA. MARIA. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. AS YOU KNOW, I'M MARIA ESTRADA, AND I ACTUALLY CAME INTO THE POST WHEN I CAME BACK FROM MY THIRD TOUR FROM IRAQ.

I'VE KNOWN DAVID ALVARADO SINCE I WAS SIXTEEN YEARS OLD. I NEEDED A SENSE OF PURPOSE, A MISSION SO I CAME INTO THE POST. IF WE SEE THE MONUMENTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE FRONT, THEN THAT'S A LIGHT AND A BEACON OF HOPE FOR MANY OF US THAT RETURN, AND WE HAVE NO PLACE TO GO. I HAVE A FAMILY, I'M A SINGLE PARENT, MY SON'S IN THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S ALSO A PLACE, WE SPEAK OF DRY POSTS, BUT IT'S ALSO A GOOD PLACE FOR OUR FAMILIES TO GO TO. I DO A LOT OF COVER GUARD AND WHATNOT, AND I BRING MY CHILDREN TOO. I FEEL LIKE IT'S A PLACE WHERE, AGAIN, IT'S HOME LIKE EVERYBODY'S SAYING, ALL OF THEM ARE A FAMILY.

WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED BEFORE YOU, IF THIS GETS PASSED AND IT'S ALLOCATED, IT'LL GO AHEAD AND LET US CONTINUE FULFILLING OUR PURPOSE BY GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, GIVING BACK TO THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

WE'RE THE EPITOME OF WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN MOST OF THE POST. I HAVE BEEN HERE AGAIN SINCE MCMONTAVO, SINCE 2008, ON AND OFF. EVERY TIME I LEAVE AND I COME BACK, I'M ALWAYS COMING BACK TO LA VERNE. IT'S MY HOME. IT WILL ALWAYS FOREVER BE MY HOME. SO AGAIN, PLEASE GIVE US THIS OPPORTUNITY. MANY OF YOU KNOW ME. ALSO FOR UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE, I JUST GRADUATED. FOR A LOT OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION TO CONVERGE WITH THE OLDER GENERATION, MORE HEROES, WE ALL CAN COME TOGETHER, BRIDGE THAT GAP, AND THEN GO AHEAD AND AGAIN, GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

CONGRATULATIONS ON... WAIT A MINUTE. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GRADUATION. THAT'S A HECK OF A TESTAMENT. THANK YOU.

KATHY PELUSO. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. SHERRY BEST ACTUALLY SENT ME THIS STATEMENT BECAUSE SHE WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, AND SINCE I AGREE WITH WHAT IS HERE, I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT IT TO EVERYBODY. I STRONGLY ENDORSE THAT THE CITY OF LA VERNE SUPPORT A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 12034 FOR CONTINUED USE OF THE DESIGNATED SPACE IN THE VETERANS HALL BUILDING AT 1550 BONITA AVENUE WITH A FACILITY LICENSE FEE OF ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR FOR THE VFW'S EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE CURRENT DESIGNATED SPACE.

THE VFW IS A PROUD PART OF LA VERNE'S HISTORY AND IS AN ONGOING CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE. ITS MEMBERS ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN COMMUNITY-WIDE EVENTS AT THAT LOCATION, INCLUDING REMEMBRANCES FOR VETERANS AND MEMORIAL DAYS. ITS MONTHLY POTLUCK WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIALIZATION AND FELLOWSHIP, AND ITS SERVICES OF REMEMBRANCE AND FAREWELL FOR MEMBERS WHO PASS AWAY WITH HONORS, PASS AWAY HONORS THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

OPENING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS WITH THE FLAG SALUTE, FREQUENTLY LED BY MEMBERS OF THE POST, HAS BECOME A CHERISHED TRADITION

[00:55:01]

ACTIVITIES SPONSORED BY THE VFW POSTS ARE PERFORMED BY VOLUNTEERS WHO GIVE FREELY OF THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE TO GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY.

WHILE I AM SYMPATHETIC TO TIGHT BUDGET SITUATIONS IN LA VERNE, PINCHING NONPROFITS TO BACKFILL EXPENSES SUCH AS BUILDING MAINTENANCE WILL CONTINUE TO DEGRADE THE POSITIVE ACTIONS OF CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE CHARACTER OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE DO NOT WANT TO ADVERSELY MONETIZE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE ACTIVITIES PROVIDE SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THE HEART AND SPIRIT OF OUR COMMUNITY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. I ALSO WANT TO ADD LET'S COME TOGETHER, LA VERNE, LET'S SUPPORT THESE GREAT VETERANS, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CATHERINE. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? MR. BOWEN, THEN CRAIG. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M RARELY CONFUSED WHEN I COME UP HERE, BUT THIS CONFUSES ME.

TO TRY TO, TO EVEN THINK ABOUT CHARGING THESE GENTLEMEN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH, I THINK IS INSANE. IF THIS CITY CAN'T AFFORD THAT, THEN WE'RE A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM, MUCH BIGGER FINANCIAL ISSUE THAN, THAN ANYBODY BELIEVES AT THIS POINT. I DO HAVE A SOLUTION, THOUGH. EACH ONE OF YOU MAKES NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS A MONTH. THAT IS FIFTY THOUSAND, FIFTY-SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR. IF WE NEED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH, I THINK WE COULD, YOU COULD ALL DONATE THAT CASH.

YOU SOUND LIKE YOU'RE PRETTY FLUSH THESE DAYS. SO, SO IF, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING, AND I'M BEING VERY SERIOUS, YOU GUYS GIVE IT UP. TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR TO, TO ANY OF YOU IS NOTHING. AND YOU'RE EVEN THINKING ABOUT CHARGING THESE GUYS FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH? I, I, I THINK THAT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY CRAZY. REPORT THESE GUYS. THEY GAVE THEIR EVERYTHING TO US, AND THIS SHOULDN'T EVEN BE A QUESTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BOWEN. MR. WALTERS, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, I WASN'T PLANNING ON ADDRESSING THIS TOPIC, BUT AFTER HEARING ALL THESE WONDERFUL VETERANS EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THIS, I MEAN, I, I JUST COULDN'T HELP. THIS CITY OWNS A MAJOR DEBT TO OUR VETERANS GOING BACK OVER A HUNDRED YEARS. THE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE FOR VETERANS HALL IS NOT REALLY UNIQUE. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER EXAMPLES WHERE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE, THROUGH THEIR OWN FUNDRAISING AND VOLUNTEER LABORS, HAVE CONTRIBUTED FACILITIES THAT THEN BECAME PROPERTY OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH HERITAGE PARK. THE DAY THE WEBER HOUSE WAS MOVED TO THE PARK, IT WAS DONATED TO THE CITY. IT'S ON CITY PROPERTY. I BELIEVE THE SAME ARRANGEMENT HAPPENED WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, LITTLE LEAGUE PARK, BELOTA PARK. SO IT'S NOT A UNIQUE SITUATION. ONE LITTLE ANECDOTE I WOULD SHARE IS BACK IN, I BELIEVE IT WAS 1989, WHEN OUR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY CENTER WAS COMPLETED, WE HAD AN ITEM COME BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL WHERE STAFF NEEDED TO KNOW, WHAT DO WE CALL THE OLD COMMUNITY CENTER ON BONITA AVENUE? CAN'T HAVE TWO COMMUNITY CENTERS.

AND THEY HAD A LIST OF NAMES, SUGGESTIONS, BONITA AVENUE CENTER, WHATEVER IT WAS. I FELT THAT THERE WAS REALLY ONLY ONE OPTION, AND THAT TO HONOR THE VETERANS BY RENAMING IT VETERANS HALL AND CREATE A LEGACY FOR ALL OF THE SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE.

AND SO TO ME, IT'S, IT'S REALLY INCONCEIVABLE TO, TO CHARGE THEM. THERE ARE MANY MORE THINGS, I THINK IT'S BEEN SAID, THERE ARE MANY MORE THINGS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF LA VERNE THAN TRYING TO CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF REVENUE FROM NONPROFIT GROUPS THAT PROVIDE SO MUCH SERVICE. SO I WOULD HEARTILY RECOMMEND THAT YOU NOT CHARGE ANY FUNDS, MAKE IT A, A ZERO SUM OR A ONE DOLLAR,

[01:00:01]

THANK YOU, MR. WALTERS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. KENDRICK.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND EVERYBODY HERE, TRYING TO MAKE OUR CITY THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO. THIS YEAR ON MEMORIAL OR ON, ON FOURTH OF JULY, INSTEAD OF A PERSON AS AN HONOREE, WE HONORED OUR LIBERTY BELL, TOOK IT OFF FROM RIGHT OUT HERE, CLEANED IT UP, PUT IT ON A TRAILER, PAINTED IT, AND CELEBRATED IT. WE ARE CELEBRATING TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS THIS YEAR OF OUR, OF OUR INDEPENDENCE, DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

IT TOOK EIGHT YEARS TO GAIN THAT INDEPENDENCE, AND WE LOST ONE OUT OF EVERY ELEVEN MALE IN THIS COUNTRY TO DO IT. A HUGE SACRIFICE, THE BIGGEST SACRIFICE OTHER THAN THE CIVIL WAR, TO BRING OUR COUNTRY BACK TOGETHER. I AM HONORED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE POST, HONORED TO BE AMONGST THESE PEOPLE. I'M HONORED TO BE A SIGNIFICANT NOT NECESSARILY A CONTRIBUTOR, BUT A SIGNIFICANT PLAYER IN MAKING OUR MEMORIAL WHAT IT IS TODAY. I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE WAIVE THE FEE, BECAUSE IT IS THESE PEOPLE, THIS CITY IS INCREDIBLY PATRIOTIC, AND IT IS, IT IS, I THINK, A SHAME FOR US AS RESIDENTS, YOU'RE ALL RESIDENTS, TO THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE CHARGING AN ENTITY THAT BRINGS SO MUCH JOY AND SO MUCH DEDICATION TO THIS CITY. THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING. ALL THEY DO IS GIVE. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME THING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS AND OUR BASIC CONCERN ON ANY ITEMS THAT GO THROUGH THE CITY IS OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY. WITH THAT, WE HAVE TO REVIEW EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT WE HAVE ON THE CITY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE. WE HAVE A NEW CITY MANAGER REVIEWING EVERY CONTRACT. WE HAVE OTHER CONTRACTS UP TONIGHT THAT ARE WITH THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

AND WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE FAIR, AND MYSELF PERSONALLY I VALUE WHAT OUR VETERANS ALL DOES, BUT I ALSO VALUE OUR VETERANS.

MY FATHER, MY UNCLE, MY COUSINS WERE ALL VETERANS. I ALSO WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO DON KENDRICK AND ALSO DAN HARDEN, WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE KEEPING THE FACILITY IN GOOD SHAPE. WE JUST DID A RENOVATION INTERNALLY ON THE OFFICES, AND I THINK, MARIA, I THINK YOU'RE HAPPY WITH THAT RENOVATION THERE? AND, AND THE REKEYING WAS PART OF THAT ON THE CITY'S PART BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN CHANGED, BUT THE RENOVATION WENT EXTREMELY WELL. DAN HARDEN, WHO'S BEEN GOING THROUGH SOME REAL ROUGH TIMES RIGHT NOW, HE'S DOING BETTER, BUT HE'S HE IS INSTRUMENTAL IN BASICALLY GETTING THE MONIES. HE HAS A PURSE THAT HAS MONIES FROM DONATIONS THAT HE AND DON KENDRICK, THEY'RE DOING THE EXTERNAL PART OF THE VFW MEMORIAL RIGHT THERE, WHICH IS THE WALL AND THE PAVERS, WHICH IS GOING TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER.

BUT THE IDEA WAS NOT TO CHARGE THE VETERANS. IT WAS MORE MINISTERIAL FOR US TO LOOK AT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FINANCES.

AND WE, ALL OF US, WE'VE THERE ALL THE TIME FOR ANY OF THE FUNCTIONS YOU HAVE. WE VALUE ALL OF OUR VFW PARTNERS. OUR INTENT IS NOT TO CHARGE YOU. OUR INTENT IS TO REVIEW IT, BRING IT BEFORE A COUNCIL WITH A SUGGESTION HOW WE DO THIS, AND TO ALWAYS BE EXTREMELY FAIR.

BUT ALSO WE KNOW THAT THAT FACILITY IS A GREAT FACILITY.

YOU BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA. I WAS JUST IN STARBUCKS THE OTHER DAY, AND ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN ORLANDO. ORLANDO WAS THERE DEALING WITH A MEMBER TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR PAPERWORK AND STUFF, SO WE'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT. WE MYSELF PERSONALLY, I THINK OUR COMMUNITY IS MUCH BETTER BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR VFW, AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR PEOPLE THAT HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY. SO WITH THAT, MR. CROSBY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, SIR. GOING THROUGH THIS I BELIEVE ANY KIND OF LICENSE AGREEMENT THAT THERE SHOULD BE A FEE, BUT I BELIEVE THE FEE FOR THEIR SERVICE AND FOR THE SERVICE THAT VETERANS AND, AND THE POST HAS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY, THAT THEIR FEE SHOULD BE A VERY NOMINAL FEE. AND I BELIEVE THAT FEE SHOULD BE ONE DOLLAR FROM EACH ONE OF US FOR THEM EACH EVERY YEAR. SO FIVE DOLLARS FEE FOR THEM TO USE THE, THE, THE FACILITY, BUT THAT SHOULD NOT COME

[01:05:01]

LIKE, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OUR, ALL OUR DIFFERENT CONTRACTS, AND I GET IT. AND JUST LIKE MY COLLEAGUE SAYS, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO DONATE, AND I AM BLESSED. I AM BLESSED, RIGHT? THAT'S JUST WHO WE ARE.

SO I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU SIGNED THAT BLANK CHECK. I DON'T NEED YOUR, I DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING MORE THAN HAVE YOU CONTINUE TO REPRESENTING OUR BELOVED CITY EVERYWHERE WE GO, RIGHT? FROM COAST TO COAST, THIS IS WHO WE ARE.

THANK YOU. I WANT TO SHARE THAT AGAIN WITH YOU.

MAYOR? THANK YOU, CASH.

CASHMAN-RILAU. I THINK I JUST WANT TO REITERATE A POINT THAT THE MAYOR MADE EARLIER AND I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THIS AGENDA ITEM WAS TO CAUSE ANY CONSTERNATION TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH NOT ONLY TO THIS COMMUNITY BUT TO OUR COUNTRY, BUT IT IS JUST A CLEANING HOUSE FUNCTION IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT DOCUMENTS IN PLACE. I AGREE THAT YOU KNOW, THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE CHARGING FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH FOR YOU TO EXIST IN THAT SPACE AND TO DO THE GOOD WORKS THAT YOU DO BUT I DO THINK THAT THE LICENSE AGREEMENT IS IMPORTANT SO THAT WE DO HAVE IN WRITING, AND THAT'S THE LAWYER AND ME TALKING THAT WE DO HAVE SOMETHING IN WRITING THAT DELINEATES WHAT EACH OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AS THE CITY TO THE VFW AND THE VFW TO THE CITY AS WE JOINTLY TAKE CARE OF THIS PROPERTY AND MAKE SURE THAT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE BEING MET.

SO I THINK APOLOGIES IF YOU TOOK THAT AS AS ANY OF US WANTING TO HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO THAT LEVEL FOR THIS COMMUNITY. I THINK, AGAIN, THIS IS MORE OF A HOUSEKEEPING ISSUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THINGS IN WRITING, AND STAFF DID EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE ASKED WAS PRESENT US WITH OPTIONS. SO I THINK WITH THAT, I THINK IF MR. JOHNSON HAS ANY COMMENTS, WE CAN PROBABLY MOVE FROM THAT TO... THE ONE PIECE, I'M SORRY, DIRECTOR DURAN TALKED ABOUT WAS A PIECE OF INSURANCE. YES. YEAH. SO THE PIECE OF INSURANCE I KNOW THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT IS ALSO THE SAME INSURANCE THAT WE REQUIRE OF OUR LITTLE LEAGUE AND OUR YOUTH SPORTS TEAMS AND THAT'S FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR YOUTH, NOT BECAUSE WE THINK THAT ANYONE IS NECESSARILY GOING TO DO ANYTHING WRONG, BUT THE WORLD IS A WONKY PLACE, AND IT IS A PRESCHOOL, SO THAT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE REQUIRE FROM OUR YOUTH SPORTS WHEN THEY USE OUR FACILITIES.

THEY HAVE THE SAME INSURANCE, SO THAT IS IN THEIR AGREEMENTS AS WELL.

THANK YOU, CUSTOMER, CUSTOMER JOHNSON. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A ONE DOLLAR ANNUAL FEE WITH THE INSURANCE AS RECOMMENDED.

ON THE INSURANCE WHERE, DIRECTOR DURAN, GO. WHAT, WHAT IS THE INSURANCE COST FOR THE, YEAH, WHAT, WHAT? THAT'S UP TO THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY.

IT, IT'S, THERE'S WHEREVER THEY STATE FARM OR WHATEVER. OKAY, SO IT'S UP TO. THEY CAN, YEAH. THE OTHER ITEM YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY DO THE FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR DEPOSIT OR NOT, AND YOU GUYS CAN WAIVE THAT.

THAT'S THE OTHER ITEM AS WELL.

MARIA, YOU WANNA, PLEASE. I'M A LITTLE FAMILIAR WITH THE INSURANCE YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT. WORKING AT HAINES FAMILY OF PROGRAMS, WE DO CARRY NIAC INSURANCE FOR ANY, ANY LAWSUITS THAT COME ABOUT SINCE WE ARE WORKING WITH AUTISM AND CHILDREN AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT WILL BE STEEP.

IT IS STEEP HERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BECAUSE OF ALL THE LAWSUITS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE LA COUNTY RECENTLY AND IT, YEP, AND ALL THAT. SO WE OURSELVES GOT A THREE HUNDRED PERCENT RAISE WHERE I WORK. OUR RATES WENT UP THREE HUNDRED PERCENT, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF ALL THAT. BLINDLY, ME GUESSTIMATING BECAUSE OF WHERE I WORK AT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT A BIG CHUNK. IT'S STILL, WE, WE CARRY OUR OWN POST INSURANCE, WE ALWAYS HAVE LIABILITY-WISE, COVERING TWO MILLION DOLLARS AT THE REQUEST OF, OF THE CITY. BUT WITH THAT ATTACHED, IT WILL BE AN ADDED FEE. I CAN GET YOU

[01:10:01]

THANK YOU, SIR. WITH THAT, I THINK WHAT I'M READING HERE, WE HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR DEPOSIT AND TO, WELL, THE FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR FEE, THE, THE FEE.

BUT ALSO THE DEPOSIT, AND THEN ALSO HAVE IT THAT THE FEE WILL BE FIVE DOLLARS A YEAR PAID BY EACH COUNCIL MEMBER EACH YEAR OR IN ADVANCE. IS THAT CORRECT? MR. MAYOR. YES, TALK TO ME, ATTORNEY FARGO. THE, THE DIFFICULTY IS YOU CAN'T COMMIT FUTURE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THAT. THAT IS TRUE. SO, SO FIVE DOLLARS A FEE, THEN WE'LL, WE'LL SELL THAT TO THEM. WHAT I, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT IS THAT YOU, YOU DO THE ONE DOLLAR ANNUAL LICENSE, AND THEN EACH OF YOU ON YOUR OWN CAN DONATE TO VFW TO OFFSET THE COST OF THEIR INSURANCE. YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT MOTION? SO THE MOTION IS THAT WE WILL DO THE ONE DOLLAR, OPTION B, ONE DOLLAR A YEAR NOMINAL FEE.

PRETTY MUCH. YEAH, THAT WAS WHAT STEVE SAID. WAIVE, WAIVE THE FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR DEPOSIT, BUT ALSO, THOUGH, MAKE SURE THAT PROPER INSURANCE IS, IS MAINTAINED. MAKE SURE THAT, OKAY. SO WE'RE BASICALLY IN A ONE DOLLAR OPTION PAID FOR BY US AND THEN THE FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR FEE WOULD BE WAIVED, AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT THEY CARRY THE PROPER INSURANCE AT THE VFW. YES, SO IF YOU COULD AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT WITH ANY NON-SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT SUBJECT TO MY APPROVAL. MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. VOTE, PLEASE. FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS ITEM SIX, MOTION BY CROSBY, SECONDED BY LOUD, APPROVED FIVE-OH. THANK YOU ALL. APPRECIATE IT. APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. AND NOW YOU GUYS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE TWO MINUTES BECAUSE I THINK YOU GUYS PROBABLY WANT TO GO HOME NOW. ARE WE OKAY? YOU GOOD? OH, OH, YEAH, YEAH.

AND MR. MAYOR, I WANT TO FRUIT STREET RIGHT NOW AT THE 210 FREEWAY IS CLOSED. SO FRUIT STREET AT THE 210 FREEWAY RIGHT NOW IS CLOSED. THERE'S A LITTLE MOP-UP OPERATION. THERE WAS A CAR ON THE FREEWAY THAT HIT A ELECTRICAL BOX THAT CAUSED A SMALL LITTLE FIRE IN THE IVY BUT LV FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, PUT OUT THE FIRE. THEY'RE JUST MOPPING UP RIGHT NOW, SO.

BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS. THERE WE GO. NOT GOING TO GET ANY, I GOT TO GO BACKWARDS. WE'RE NOW GONNA, WE'RE GONNA RECONVENE AT SEVEN FIFTY-FOUR P M. NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS.

WE HAVE, THESE, AND REMIND YOU,

[ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS]

THIS IS ONLY ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF THESE. LET'S SEE, WHERE ARE WE? ADRIAN ROMERO.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND STAFF. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE A FEW EVENTS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT LA VERNE LIBRARY. LA COUNTY LIBRARY HAS PARTNERED WITH IN-N-OUT TO HOST A READING PROGRAM WHERE CHILDREN AGES FOUR TO TWELVE CAN READ FIVE BOOKS, EARN A GIFT CARD FOR A FREE BURGER IN OUR COVER-TO-COVER READING PROGRAM, WHICH RUNS THROUGH OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER FOURTEENTH. CHILDREN CAN REGISTER FOR THE ACTIVITY AND PICK UP A READING LOG AT LA VERNE LIBRARY. AND IN CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, WE'LL BE HOLDING A MILAGRO ARTS PROGRAM FOR ADULTS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10TH AT 2 PM.

DURING THIS ART ACTIVITY, PARTICIPANTS CAN CREATE A DECORATIVE HEART MADE OF METAL. AND ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17TH, WE WILL BE

[01:15:01]

DURING THIS PROGRAM, TEENS AGES 13 TO 17 CAN LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT GENRES THAT ARE POPULAR IN TEEN FICTION AND SHARE BOOKS THAT THEY LOVE WITH OTHER TEENS. AND ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21ST, THE FRIENDS OF LA VERNE LIBRARY WILL BE MEETING AT 6:30 PM.

THOSE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND. AND TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR LIBRARY, VISIT L.A. COUNTY LIBRARY DOT ORG. THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ADRIAN. ADRIAN I KNOW OUR HELLO KITTY LIBRARY CARDS WENT OUT FAST. I HEARD THEY MIGHT BE COMING BACK.

YES, THEY, THEY MAY BE COMING BACK. THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK THIS MONTH. I'M NOT SURE THE EXACT DATE. I THINK BY NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, I SHOULD HAVE AN EXACT DATE.

BUT YEAH, THEY, THE FIRST DAY THEY WERE GONE.

THEY FLEW OUT, SO THAT WAS FOUR HUNDRED, I THINK, WENT. WELL, FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY, YEAH, AND WE HAD PEOPLE WAITING LIKE TWO AND A HALF HOURS, AND, AND WE EVENTUALLY HAD TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY. THANK YOU, ADRIAN, APPRECIATE THAT. WE'VE GOT MS. RODRIGUEZ, L.A.

COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT. I SEE HER ALL THE TIME. YEAH, WE DO. WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HAVING YOU SIT ON OUR BOARD, AND I WASN'T HERE NECESSARILY TO, TO PLUG A SPECIAL EVENT, BUT SINCE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC TOUR OF A WATER RECLAMATION PLANT IN WHITTIER. IT'S ON THE CORNER OF THE 605 AND THE 60. MAYOR HEPBURN VISITS OUR FACILITY ABOUT ONCE A MONTH, AND SO THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON OCTOBER. SEVENTEENTH AT NINE A M. SO IF YOU WONDERED WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR RECYCLABLES WHEN YOU PUT IT AWAY IN THE BLUE BIN, YOU CAN GO CHECK OUT A MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY.

OR IF YOU'VE EVER WONDERED WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FLUSH YOUR TOILET, YOU CAN GO CHECK OUT... YOU DON'T WONDER, WE JUST GLAD IT GOES DOWN.

YEAH, YOU LET IT GO. YOU, YOU... LET'S BE HONEST HERE.

YEAH. YOU FLUSH AND, AND WE DO THE REST. AND ON OCTOBER SEVENTEENTH, ON OCTOBER SEVENTEENTH, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE FOR YOURSELVES AND, AND CHECK OUT, YOU KNOW, WALK THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS FROM WHEN WASTEWATER FIRST GETS TO OUR TREATMENT PLANT TO THE THREE STEPS OF CLEANING IT, AND YOU GET TO SEE SUPER CLEAN WATER AT THE END. IT'S VERY EDUCATIONAL. WE BASICALLY BLAST IT ONLINE TO HELP ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS FROM OUR SEVENTY-EIGHT CITIES TO COME ON OVER AND JOIN US.

SO DEFINITELY THAT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE. IT'S FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN GO TO LACSD.ORG. SLASH TOURS, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN SIGN UP AND GET A REGISTRY LINK. IT'S ABOUT TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES AWAY, IT'S RIGHT OFF THE FREEWAY, AND I PROMISE YOU IT'S, IT'S WORTH IT.

BUT I WAS HERE, ONE, TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MAKE IT KNOWN ABOUT THE SANITATION DISTRICTS, HOW WE MANAGE YOUR WASTE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. AS WELL AS PROMOTING OUR SCHOOL TOURS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF THERE ARE ANY EDUCATORS IN THE AREA, ANY ORGANIZATIONS WE DO PROVIDE SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL FEES FOR BUSES, SO WE DO WANT TO GET AS MANY KIDS AS WE CAN OUT TO OUR WATER RECLAMATION PLANTS SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESS, THE RECYCLING PROCESSES, AND ALL THE SCIENCE THAT GOES BEHIND IT, THE CAREERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL. AND THE THIRD THING THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMING UP ON EL NINO SEASON, AND SO TAKING CARE OF OUR SEWERS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. AND SO JUST A FEW LITTLE REMINDERS ON HOW RESIDENTS CAN TAKE CARE OF THEIR SEWERS. ONE IS ONLY THE THREE PS BELONG DOWN THE DRAIN, RIGHT? PEE-POO, TOILET PAPER, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT TREATING OUR DRAINS LIKE TRASH CANS. YEAH. YEAH.

SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TREATING OUR DRAINS LIKE TRASH CANS, ONLY THREE PS DOWN THE, DOWN THE, THE DRAINS. AND TWO, ALL FATS, OILS, AND GREASE SHOULD NOT BE GOING DOWN THE DRAINS EITHER. THAT SHOULD BE GOING DOWN THE TRASH. SO WE ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS, DO YOUR PART, WE'LL DO OURS, AND NEXT TIME YOU FLUSH, YOU'LL, YOU'LL THINK OF US. SO THANK YOU. THAT'S MY LAST.

WAIT, ONE MORE THING.

FOR ANY SEWAGE SPILLS, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AGAIN, LACSD.ORG. WE DO HAVE 24-HOUR HOTLINES. WE HAVE STAFF THAT'S THERE 24-7 TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THESE RESPONSES IMMEDIATELY.

AND WITH THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. DOMER, CAN WE HAVE HER CONTACT NUMBER SENT TO BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SO THAT THEY CAN PUSH THAT OUT TO PLEASE? I'LL MAKE SURE I GET ALL THE LITERATURE AND STUFF IN THE SANITATION DISTRICT, MAKE SURE THEY GET EVERYTHING

[01:20:02]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MAKING US LAUGH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. MONA, MONA, THIS IS, OH, THAT'S AN, I'M SORRY, WE'LL HOLD THAT ONE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. KATHY KLUSICK.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN, KATHY KALUSEK, VICE PRESIDENT OF OUR LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. SHERRY BEST, OUR PRESIDENT, ACTUALLY HAS A BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY TOMORROW NIGHT, SO SHE'S JUST OUT CELEBRATING. SHE'S PARTYING. YOU KNOW, CITY COUNCIL IS FUN, BUT NOT QUITE THAT MUCH FUN.

ANYWAY, WE HAVE MANY EXCITING EVENTS THIS MONTH. WE'LL BE AT THE CITY-SPONSORED SENIOR CRAFT FAIR THAT'S AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER FROM NINE TO ONE ON OCTO-OCTOBER TENTH, FEATURING OUR NEWEST LINES OF JAM PUCKER POWER PLUM, ABSOLUTELY AWESOME APRICOT, AND HONEST TO GOODNESS PEACH.

DELIGHT YOURSELF WITH THEIR GOODNESS. I ALSO BROUGHT SOME TONIGHT IF YOU CAN'T WAIT, OR IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT. IT'S ON SATURDAY. ON OCTOBER T- TWELFTH NEXT MONDAY, A WEEK FROM TONIGHT, PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR FALL COMMUNITY MEETING FEATURING MR. DAVID LEHMAN, SOLAR SYSTEM AMBASSADOR FOR NASA, WITH A PRESENT- PRESENTATION ENTITLED, DARE MIGHTY THINGS. MR. LEHMAN WORKED AT NASA'S JET PROPULSION LABORATORY, JPL, IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, USA, FOR FORTY YEARS UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 2021.

HE WAS A PROJECT MANAGER FOR MANY MISSIONS AND IS NOW A RETIRED NAVY CAPTAIN. THE PRESENTATION WILL BE AT THE HILLCREST MEETING HOUSE IN LA VERNE. DOORS OPEN AT 6:30. THE PRESENTATION BEGINS PROMPTLY AT 7, AND IT'S FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. COME EARLY, RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP, OR BECOME A MEMBER. IT'S STILL TWENTY FOR INDIVIDUALS, TWENTY-FIVE FOR A COUPLE OR A FAMILY, AND TWO HUNDRED FOR LIFETIME, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP BUGGING YOU. AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE JAM, JELLY, AND BOOKS FOR SALE, AND PROBABLY SOME T-SHIRTS, WHO KNOWS. LOOK FOR THE HISTORICAL ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER SEVENTEENTH, AT THE CITY'S SPONSORED TRUNK OR TREAT EVENT. THERE WE'LL BE THERE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL TRUCK, ALL DRESSED UP IN ITS SPOOKY BEST. GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN WITH THE INTERNATIONAL AND SAMPLE A HALLOWEEN SWEET. ON OCTOBER TWENTY-FOURTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS SPONSORING WALKING TOURS OF THE BRONZE MARKER AND MILLS ACT DESIGNATED HOUSES AROUND COONS PARK. THERE'LL BE THREE TOURS ONE AT NINE, ONE AT TWELVE, AND ONE AT TWO, AND REGISTRATION BEGINS FOR EACH TOUR ONE HALF HOUR BEFORE.

YOU'LL LOOK FOR THE TABLE NEAR FIFTH STREET AND BY THE PLAYGROUND.

REGISTRATION IS LIMITED TO TWENTY PARTICIPANTS PER GROUP, SO COME SIGN UP, ENJOY SOME LA VERNE HISTORY. THIS IS A FREE TOUR. I DO BELIEVE WE'LL BE GOING INTO ONE OF THE HOUSES, THE REST ARE WALKING AROUND, BUT IT IS FREE. BUT OF COURSE, WE TAKE DONATIONS BECAUSE WE'RE NON-PROFIT AND WE NEED THEM. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE EXHIBITS AT OUR LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY CENTER MAKE SOME TIME TO ENJOY THE DISPLAYS THAT CELEBRATE THE CIT- CITRUS INDUSTRY AND TAKE A PICTORIAL WALK THROUGH LA VERNE'S HISTORY. IN NOVEMBER, WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. KALUSIK.

WE'RE GONNA BRING UP JOHN BENARSKI AND ALSO LIZETH MARTINEZ IF SHE NEEDS HELP.

THIS, THESE ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM, FROM MWD, JUST TO BRING US AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON UPDATES, WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE PLANT, THE BATTERIES, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR RESIDENTS, OUR CLAIMS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT'D BE A GOOD IDEA TO BRING THEM UP TO HAVE A LITTLE, JUST A DISCUSSION. SURE.

PLEASE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. AND BEFORE I GET STARTED, LET ME JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MS. RODRIGUEZ OVER THERE IN THE L.A. COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT. HOPEFULLY, ON ANOTHER EVENING, MAYBE THE, OUR TWO ORGANIZATIONS CAN COME BACK TO YOU AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT HOW WE PLAN TO TURN WHAT YOU FLUSH INTO DRINKING WATER TOGETHER.

WE'RE IN A VERY LARGE PARTNERSHIP TOGETHER THAT WE'RE HOPING TO BRING TO FRUITION.

WE'VE COMPLETED OUR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING, IMPACT REPORT PROCESS, AND WE'RE ON OUR WAY. SO THAT'S A REALLY GOOD NEWS STORY.

BUT LET'S, LET'S GET TO THE CHASE HERE AND, AND TALK ABOUT THE, THE ISSUE AT HAND HERE. SO SINCE WE MET LAST WEEK I KNOW WE WERE AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WE HAD.

WE HAVE REMOVED THE BATTERIES FROM THE SITE. THEY'RE ALL GONE NOW. THEY'RE IN A STORAGE LOCATION WHERE THEY CAN BE EXAMINED

[01:25:02]

BUT YOU MIGHT ASK THE QUESTION, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU JUST TURN THEM OFF? WE'VE BEEN ADVISED NOT TO TURN THEM OFF AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THEY MAY BECOME PART OF THE INVESTIGATION AS TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE OTHER TWO SETS AT THE NORTH END OF THE PLANT. SO THEY'VE ADVISED US JUST KEEP THEM DOWN AT A VERY LOW POWER LEVEL. WE HAVE FULL MONITORING ON THAT SYSTEM NOW, THE, AND WE ALSO HAVE A A 24-7 FIRE WATCH.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY OUR SECURITY PEOPLE PASS BY EVERY HALF HOUR, BUT IT'S THE, THOSE BATTERIES ARE BEING MONITORED BY OUR OFF-SITE CONSULTANT AS WELL AS THE METROPOLITAN STAFF ON THE SITE. WE ARE BEGINNING OUR INVESTIGATION, AND FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, THE INVESTIGATION'S BEING LED BY OUR LEGAL TEAM. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE STILL HAD A CONTRACT WITH A SUPPLIER, SO WE ARE GOING THROUGH ALL THOSE PROCESSES TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND ALSO THEM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INVESTIGATION. BUT WE'RE BRINGING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN TO HELP US WITH THAT INVESTIGATION.

PERHAPS THE NEXT TIME I COME BACK, I CAN GIVE YOU A BETTER IDEA OF HOW LONG THAT INVESTIGATION'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE AND WHEN WE COULD EXPECT TO REPORT RESULTS OUT TO YOU ON THAT. SO IT, THAT'S DEFINITELY A WORK IN PROGRESS. AND SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I THINK ONE OF MY BIGGEST QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW IS WE HAD BEEN PUSHING OUT FOR CLAIMS. WE HAD A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES, PROBABLY UPWARDS OF THIRTY BUSINESSES SHUTTERED, PLUS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OUR RESIDENTS BEING EVACUATED.

ALSO I KNOW THAT OUR CITY MANAGER WAS WORKING WITH YOUR TEAM WITH LIZETH ALSO ON THE SANITATION AND SANITIZING OF THE HOMES AND CHECKING FOR INSPECTIONS ON THE HOMES PRETTY CLOSE ADJACENT TO THAT. AND WHERE, WHERE ARE WE AT WITH THAT? BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT OUR BUSINESSES, THANK GOODNESS, IT WAS ONLY THREE DAYS, BUT THREE DAYS FOR BUSINESSES THESE DAYS IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING THOSE CLAIMS, MAKING SURE THAT IN A TIMELY FASHION WE'RE ADDRESSING THOSE CLAIMS. AND LIKE I SAY A LOT OF BUSINESSES WERE SHUTTERED, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED, AND MAKING SURE I KNOW YOU GUYS HAD YOUR THE SHERATON, AND WE ALSO HAD THE RED CROSS. WE ALSO HAD SCID I THINK ONE OF OUR LOCAL UNIONS, THE RETAIL CLERKS UNION IN CLAREMONT MARK RAMOS WAS OFFERING UP PLACES THAT PEOPLE COULD STAY THROUGH AIRBNB BUT WHERE ARE WE AT WITH THAT? THAT'S, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. I KNOW OUR RESIDENTS.

SO TO DATE, AS OF TODAY, WE'VE RECEIVED TWENTY-EIGHT CLAIMS. THEY'VE COME IN FROM A VARIETY OF RESIDENCES, BUT ALSO THE LOCAL BUSINESSES. I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE CLAIMS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED TO DATE HAVE A LOT OF DETAIL TO THEM, SO THAT'S A GOOD THING. I THINK PEOPLE NEEDED OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU PROVIDE AS MANY RECEIPTS AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION TO SUBSTANTIATE THOSE CLAIMS, SO IT LOOKS LIKE FOLKS AND BUSINESSES ARE DOING THAT, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS. THE NEXT STEP IS THAT ONCE THE CLAIMS ARE RECEIVED, WE'LL BEGIN THE PROCESSING PART OF THAT, AND THE NEXT STEP WILL BE THAT WE WILL INDIVIDUALLY REACH OUT TO EACH OF THOSE CLAIMANTS AT THAT TIME, SO THERE'S TWENTY-EIGHT OF THEM NOW, THEY'LL PERSONALLY RECEIVE A COMMUNICATION FROM METROPOLITAN TO CONTINUE ON THAT, THAT CLAIM PROCESS.

SO IT'S JUST STARTING. AGAIN, YOU KNOW, AS WE DID AT THE MEETING LAST WEEK, WE'RE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT PROCESS. YEAH, I MADE IT VERY CLEAR. I DID WALK A NUMBER OF THE BUSINESSES THE DAY THAT THEY REOPENED, AND THE FACT IS, IS THAT DETAILS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

MAKE SURE IT'S DETAILED, MAKE SURE THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE LOST TIME, YOU HAVE LOST LABOR, YOU HAVE PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY BONDS AND SOME OF THE SMALLER PLACES THAT ARE FRESH FOOD, THEY HAD TO DUMP A LOT OF FOOD. I SAID MAKE SURE YOU HAVE RECORDS OF THAT, PICTURES, WHATEVER YOU COULD. SO WE'RE, WE'RE LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT, AND ALSO THE RESIDENTS ALSO IF THEY HAD TO STAY OTHERWISE, IF THEY COULDN'T GO TO THE SHERATON OR WHAT, WHAT, WHAT COSTS THEY INCURRED, BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT YOU UPDATE OUR CITY STAFF, MR. DOMER, ON THAT. ALSO, I KNOW THAT THE, THE ONES WITH THE THE HOME INSPECTION, IF WE COULD KEEP AN UPDATE ON THAT, AND ALSO THE TIME OF PROCESS WHEN YOU RECEIVE A CLAIM. WHAT'S THAT PROCESS? I, I, I, NO OFFENSE TO ATTORNEYS, BUT SOMETIMES ATTORNEYS GET INVOLVED AND IT TAKES WAY TOO LONG. WE, YOU KNOW, AS A PARTNER THAT YOU'VE BEEN WITH SO MANY YEARS, SINCE 1941 WITH THE CITY OF LA VERNE, I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE TIMELY ON THIS.

OBVIOUSLY, THE CLAIMS HAVE TO BE CHECKED AND CORRECTED AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE, BUT THAT WOULD BE MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS MAKING SURE THAT THOSE BUSINESSES ARE WHOLE.

ALSO, ANOTHER ONE IS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. I KNOW THAT WE WERE DOWN FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS ON ONE OF THE SCHOOLS FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS, AND SO I DON'T, ARE YOU IN CONTACT WITH MATT WIEN, OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, SONIA, WHO'S OUR, I GUESS YOU COULD CALL HER CFO,

[01:30:02]

SO ANYWAY, I, I APPRECIATE THAT. I, I, WE'RE GOOD PARTNERS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS STUFF, THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES WAITING TOO LONG. RIGHT.

ON THE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE PART, I THINK PART OF THE LIST THAT WE INITIALLY ISSUED WAS AN ERROR. THEY, THEY WERE MOSTLY COMMERCIAL TESTING FIRMS, SO WE'VE NOW PROVIDED YOUR CITY MANAGER WITH AN UPDATED LIST OF FIRMS THAT DO RESIDENTIAL TESTING, SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S USEFUL TO, TO YOUR RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH YOUR FIGURING OUT HOW IT HAPPENED, WHY IT HAPPENED, AND MAKE SURE WE, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

RIGHT. AND WE PLAN TO, THAT'S THE ULTIMATE GOAL BECAUSE VERY FRIGHTENING TO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS, OURSELF, OUR ESPECIALLY ALL OF OUR SUPPORT STAFF, OUR AREA STAFF, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, IT TOOK A VILLAGE TO MAKE THIS, MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS SAFE.

YOU GUYS DID A VERY GOOD JOB.

YOU'RE THERE AT EVERY CORNER OF THE TIME AND EVERY PIECE OF IT, AND WE DO APPRECIATE THAT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION, MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS KNOW THAT WE'RE ON TOP OF IT, YOU'RE ON TOP.

OF IT, MAKING SURE THAT MOVING FORWARD, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE SAFE, AND HOPEFULLY THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. MR. MAYOR, IF I CAN MAKE A SUGGESTION AS WELL. YOUR MINUTE OF THE MAYOR GOES OUT TO MANY, MANY PEOPLE. IF YOU DO A MINUTE OF THE MAYOR AT THAT SITE WHERE IT SHOWS THAT THEY ARE GONE, IT'LL REASSURE OUR RESIDENTS THAT THEY ARE, THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN OUT. YEAH.

WE'LL ARRANGE TO DO THAT. WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN, YEAH.

WE'LL JUST WORK THROUGH YOUR CITY MANAGER.

OKAY. YEAH. MAYOR PRO TEM KASH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, AND THEN I'D LIKE ASK ALSO OUR STAFF, DIRECT OUR STAFF FOR ONE THING. ONE IS, DO WE HAVE TIMELINES ON THAT? THAT'S ALL BEING PREPARED AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION.

TIMELINES AS FAR AS WHEN OUR, OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES ARE ABLE TO GET RE- THE TWENTY-EIGHT PEOPLE THAT YOU MENTIONED BE ABLE TO- OH, TIMELINES ON THAT. I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC TIMELINE, BUT THERE, THERE IS A PROCESS. I MEAN, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO OUR STAFF ABOUT BEING AS RESPONSIVE AS POSSIBLE, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO JUST KIND OF SURE. YOU HAVE TIME, LIKE 30 DAYS, 60 DAYS, 90 DAYS, IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN, WE CAN, YOU KNOW? SURE.

WELL, I WANT TO, I JUST, I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW LONG THE PROCESS IS. SURE. WELL, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST A TIMELINE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AT LEAST WITHIN OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE, WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT. IS THAT FAIR? OKAY. AND THEN ANOTHER THING I'D LIKE TO ASK THE CITY OUR STAFF TO SEE MOVING FORWARD REGARDING ANY OTHER FUTURE PLANS WITH BATTERIES, WITH THAT KILOWATT POWER, THAT WE, IS THERE, I DON'T KNOW IF LEGALLY WE CAN GO AND DO INSPECTION THROUGH OUR FIRE MARSHAL OR SOME OF OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT TO SEE IF IT'S UP TO PAR AND IT MEETS A CERTAIN STATE REGULATION? I THINK WE HAD DISCUSSED TO REVIEW THIS, YOU AND I HAD THIS DISCUSSION AT THE MEETING, IS THAT ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO BE PUT ON YOUR FACILITY, THAT IT WOULD HAVE SOME TYPE OF OVERSIGHT BY OUR INSPECTION AGENCY AND OUR CITY STAFF, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT MOVING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN THESE THINGS GET RE-ENERGIZED OR RECERTIFIED. RIGHT, OR WHATEVER THE PROCESS IS, RIGHT, THAT WE HAVE THE SEAT AT THE TABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH OUR STAFF AND MAKING SURE THAT WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN THERE, OUR RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT WE HAVE AND WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE. YEAH, BUT HOW IS THAT WRITTEN IN WRITING? I WANT TO SEE SOMETHING. WELL, LIKE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK MR. DOMER CAN... DOMER, CAN YOU LET ME KNOW? YEAH, WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING TO REVIEW WHAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE ON THIS. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE MAJOR MEGAWATT OR GIGAWATT TYPE FACILITIES COMING IN, BUT AGAIN, WE KNOW WHAT A HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE KILOWATT OR WHATEVER IT WAS CAN DO. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT VARIOUS ORDINANCE THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED AND STOOD UP TO CASE LAW AND TO STATUTE ACROSS CALIFORNIA AND WE'RE GOING TO BE REVIEWING ALL THOSE ITEMS AND LOOK WHAT MAKES BEST SENSE FOR LA VERNE TO BRING TO YOU GUYS FOR CONSIDERATION. WHEN WILL THAT BE? THREE MONTHS NOW, SIX MONTHS. HOPEFULLY THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOME FIRST BEFORE THREE MONTHS FOR SOME CONSIDERATION.

ULTIMATELY, IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE LONGER THAN ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO BRING SOMETHING BASED ON FEEDBACK AND REVIEW, LEGAL REVIEW. YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS MOSTLY THE SETBACK DISTANCE. AND THEN IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO, THAT A LOT OF THE REVIEW THAT I'VE DONE SO FAR SHOWS, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT BATTERY TYPES.

WE ALSO HAVE TO COME UP WITH SPEED ON A LOT OF THIS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT THE STAFF REPORTS, AND WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO THE OTHER STAFFS, VACAVILLE, RANCHO CUCAMONGA SOME OTHERS HAVE DONE ON THE LARGER FACILITIES.

BUT ALSO IN WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS, WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, FOCUS THE STATE ON A LOT OF THINGS. WE'VE HAD SOME

[01:35:01]

COUNCILOR LAU, ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR JOHNSON, ANY QUESTIONS? I JUST APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP AND KEEPING US INFORMED. IT'S MOST IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A TRACK, AND NOW THAT WE'RE MOVING, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET TOGETHER WITH YOU, AND WE'LL GO OUT AND DO A PHYSICAL INSPECTION. I THINK IT WOULD MAKE THE RESIDENTS FEEL A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE. AND OUR, ESPECIALLY THE AREAS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THEY UTILIZE THE SANITATION AND THE CLEANING AND THE, AND THE INSPECTION OF THEIR HOMES CLOSE TO THE AREA THERE THAT WAS A REAL PROBLEM ON ANCONA AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER ONES. THANK YOU.

SURE, APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. WE'RE NOT, WE'RE, WE'RE ACTUALLY ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THEY CAN DO THAT ON PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? COME ON UP, MS. MIKE, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I HAVE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS, TWO EVENTS, ONE THAT IS AN EVENT FOR INFORMATION AND ONE THAT IS FOR INSPIRATION. NEXT WEEK ON OCTOBER 14TH, WEDNESDAY, SIX THIRTY, WE'RE HAVING A CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES FORUM AT HILLCREST. IT'S SPONSORED BY KATHY HILLCREST AND THE LA VERNE DAILY NEWS. I HOPE YOU'LL ALL BE ABLE TO COME, MEET THE CANDIDATES, FIND OUT WHAT THE INTERESTS OF THE CITY ARE. THE EVENT FOR INSPIRATION IS THE GALLERY MEET THE ARTIST, WHICH IS THE FOLLOWING WEEK, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, 6:30 IN THE GALLERY AT HILLCREST.

WE HAVE A NEW ARTIST, JUNE BERGER, WHO IS SHOWING HER SHOW IS CALLED SALT AND LIGHT. SHE IS INSPIRED BY OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES, AND HER WORK IS REALLY INSPIRING. I WALKED INTO THE GALLERY AND IT FELT PEACEFUL IN THERE, AND THAT'S NICE. SHE'S LOVELY, AND WE HAVE GREAT REFRESHMENTS, AS YOU WELL KNOW. SO WE HOPE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO COME TO THAT ON OCTOBER 22ND. SHE'S ALSO A GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND HAS MADE GIFT ITEMS THAT ARE IN OUR, EXCUSE ME, OUR GIFT STORE. THE GIFT STORE'S OPEN FROM 11 A.M.

TO 1:30 P.M. DAILY, MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. AND THE MOST WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THE SHOW IS THAT SHE IS DONATING ALL PROCEEDS TO THE GOOD SAMARITAN FUND AT HILLCREST AND SOME, A SMALL AMOUNT TO SUPPORT THE GALLERY. SO YOU CAN COME ENJOY GREAT ART, TIME DROP BY THE GIFT STORE, BUY SOME HOLIDAY GIFTS. AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT ONLY GIVING TO SOMEONE ELSE, BUT YOU'RE ALSO HELPING THE GOOD SAMARITAN FUND. THEY'LL HELP SEE THE CANDIDATES FOR HIM NEXT WEEK IN MOUNT GALLERY. I NEED TO HAVE ONE COMMENT. WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO GIL IVEY. THE 14TH OF THE CANDIDATE FORUM IS THE SAME NIGHT AS TAYSIL LA VERNE.

I DON'T KNOW. YOU'RE AWARE.

AND, AND, AND WE ASK WHEN WE SCHEDULE THAT DATE FOR YOU TO CLEAR YOUR CALENDARS AND YOU LOCATE IT. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD. IT IS AT 6:30.

THE OTHER ONE STARTS AT FIVE, SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SPREAD YOURSELF A LITTLE THIN. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? YOU'RE NEXT, YVONNE. MR. BOWEN HAD HIS HAND UP. GOOD EVENING. DEBORAH CARTER, GOOD EVENING.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF THE CHAMBER, LA VERNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, I'D JUST LIKE TO

[01:40:02]

YVONNE. ALL RIGHT. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. JUST REALLY QUICKLY. A FEW OF CATHY'S EVENTS HAPPENING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND AGAIN, CATHY, CULTURAL AWARENESS AND SOCIAL INCLUSION HERE IN LA VERNE.

TOMORROW WILL BE OUR MONTHLY MEETING, FIVE O'CLOCK AT HILLCREST, THE CITRUS ROOM.

WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, AND WE'LL BE PLAYING SOME GAMES OF LOTERIA, SO COME ON BY IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN US.

AMONGST OTHER THINGS WE'LL BE DOING AT THE MEETING.

ON THE 11TH, WE WILL BE DOING LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES. THAT'S THE SUNDAY THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO GO AND DISPERSE BOOKS AT OUR LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES IN LA VERNE. SO IF YOU HAVE THE AFTERNOON FREE ON SUNDAY, THAT WOULD BE AT 12:15, WE MEET AT THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN PARKING LOT. COME, WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME BOOKS OR BRING YOUR OWN BOOKS, AND THEN WE'LL GIVE YOU AN AREA WHERE TO GO AND VISIT THOSE LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES AND ADD BOOKS INTO THEM. ON, AS BARBARA MENTIONED, ON THE 14TH, WE WILL HAVE OUR CANDIDATES FORUM, AND THEN ALSO ON THE 17TH, WE WILL BE AT THE TRUNK OR TREAT, AND WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY THIS YEAR, SO DOUBLE CANDY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANKS, YVONNE. MR. BOWEN. DOUBLE CANDY. MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL EIGHT YEARS AGO, LAST THURSDAY A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER AND FORMED A GROUP CALLED THE LA VERNE COALITION OF CONCERNED CITIZENS, LV3C.

WE FORMED THAT GROUP BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS THAT THE PREVIOUS BOARD HAD TAKEN, QUITE FRANKLY, AGAINST YOU, MR. MAYOR, IF YOU REMEMBER, AND THE, AND THE FIREFIGHTERS AT THAT TIME. SINCE THAT, SINCE THAT TIME, PARDON ME, WE HAVE WE HAVE OVER EIGHTEEN HUNDRED MAYORS EIGHTEEN HUNDRED MEMBERS, STARTING WITH ABOUT TWENTY. WE'VE KEPT PEOPLE INFORMED. WE'VE CHANGED SOME OF THE ACTIONS, A LOT OF THE ACTIONS OF THIS COUNCIL EVEN THE VIDEOTAPING OF THESE MEETINGS. UP TILL THAT POINT, THE VIDEOS WERE NOT, THE MEETINGS WERE NOT VIDEOTAPED, WERE NOT ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM, AND I HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS THAT, THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED. ONE THING WE, WE DID WE STARTED IN 2020 WAS TO HAVE CANDIDATE FORUMS BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY HAD TWO, TWO THIS YEAR THAT WE'VE COMMITTED TO, THAT I'VE COMMITTED TO. WE INVITED MY OPPONENT TO MEET WITH ME AND DO A BASICALLY A ONE-ON-ONE FORUM SO THAT CITIZENS COULD ASK THE CURRENT DISTRICT FOUR REPRESENTATIVE QUESTIONS AND ME QUESTIONS.

HE, HE FAILED TO RESPOND, AND ACTUALLY THE OTHER NIGHT HE WAS ASKED, AND HE SAID HE, HE WOULD NOT DO IT. SO I'M HERE TO CHALLENGE THE CURRENT DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE AS A CONSTITUENT. I THINK THIS WOULD BE UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. BOWEN, NOT ANNOUNCED. NO, THIS IS A MEETING. WE'RE ANNOUNCING, I'M ANNOUNCING A MEETING.

BUT YOU'RE, BUT YOU'RE ALSO ANNOUNCING THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THAT MEETING THAT PROBABLY ARE MORE ON A PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM, BUT, I MEAN, YOU CAN ANNOUNCE. THIS IS A MEETING. ARE WE DICEY? I, IT, WE ARE, IN PART BECAUSE UNDER CERTAIN RULES, I THINK THAT YOUR OPPONENT REALLY CANNOT RESPOND FROM THE DAIS TO YOUR CHALLENGE. WELL IT'S...

YOU REALLY ARE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A

[01:45:01]

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. SECOND. VOTE, PLEASE.

CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION BY CROSBY, SECONDED BY LAU, AND APPROVED BY VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TONIGHT, THERE'S ONE PUBLIC HEARING, THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING A LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN ADOPTION,

[5. Approval of a Resolution Approving the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Adoption and Finding the Action is Exempt from CEQA Pursuant to Sections 15061(B)(3) and 15262.]

YES, I'D LIKE TO CALL FORWARD LONNIE SHIPMAN, COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION SPECIALIST FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

TONIGHT I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE THE CITY OF LA VERNE'S 2026 LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN FOR CITY COUNCIL ADOPTION. ON THE CALL WITH US TONIGHT, WE HAVE MEGAN BROTHERTON AND ROB FLANER, BOTH WITH BLACK & VEATCH, WHO WILL BE I'LL BE PASSING THE BALL TO THEM TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION REGARDING THE THE PROCESS AND THE PLAN. LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GETTING THEM ON NOW. AT ITS CORE, THIS PLAN IS ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE. IT IDENTIFIES NATURAL HAZARDS SUCH AS EARTHQUAKES, WILDFIRES, FLOODING, AND SEVERE WEATHER THAT COULD AFFECT LA VERNE. IT EVALUATES THE RISKS AND VULNERABILITIES THEY CREATE AND IDENTIFIES ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE NOW TO REDUCE FUTURE DISASTER LOSSES. DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT BEGAN IN 2025. THE CITY ESTABLISHED A CORE PLANNING TEAM TO COORDINATE THE PLANNING PROCESS AND TECHNICAL WORK, ALONG WITH A HAZARD MITIGATION STEERING COMMITTEE THAT PROVIDED COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT, REVIEWED THE RISK ASSESSMENT, AND HELPED DEVELOP MITIGATION STRATEGIES. PUBLIC INPUT WAS ALSO INCORPORATED THROUGH EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WE'LL GET TO THE POWERPOINT WHEN WE BRING ON BLACK & BEACH. JUST, SORRY, I KNOW I JUST SORT OF SAID THAT UP FRONT. I KNOW.

DON'T READ AHEAD.

THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THE CITY EVALUATED HAZARDS, VULNERABILITIES, CAPABILITIES.

OH, I THINK I ALREADY HIT THAT, SORRY. THE RESULT OF THIS PLAN IS A PLAN WITH THIRTY MITIGATION ACTIONS DESIGNED TO REDUCE FUTURE DISASTER LOSSES AND STRENGTHEN LA VERNE'S RESILIENCE.

BEFORE MOVING FORWARD, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EFFORT. SO FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF OUR CORE PLANNING TEAM.

THAT WOULD BE FIRE CHIEF CHIEF COATNEY AND FORMER LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE CHIEF CHRIS NIGG, CANDICE BOCOCK, J.R. RONELLS, CAPTAIN TRAVIS TIBBETTS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, JOE VIEIRA, DANNY WU, AND CHAD PETERSON, AND OF COURSE, OUR BLACK AND VEATCH TEAM, WHO I'LL INTRODUCE SHORTLY. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHOSE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND PARTICIPATION WERE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROCESS. WE DID A, WE TRIED TO GET A REALLY GOOD SWATH OF INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMMUNITY REPRESENTING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AREAS TO ASSIST US WITH THIS PROCESS AS WE FELT IT WAS CRITICAL. SO I HAD A CO-CHAIRPERSON FOR THE STEERING COMMITTEE, KEITH ROMBOLA FROM FOUNTAINS MOBILE HOME PARK, DAVID PRICE FROM BRACKETT FIELD AIRPORT, MATTHEW NEELY AND DAN TOWNSEND FROM HILLCREST, ALEX RAMIREZ, TRI-CITY MENTAL HEALTH RAYMOND SWAIN, FIREWISE SITE LEAD DANITA BOCAMP, WHO IS AN ALTERNATE THAT SAT IN ON A FEW MEETINGS FOR MR. SWAIN, SCOTT BURGESS WITH GILEAD SCIENCES, STEVE STORBACH IN POMONA VALLEY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER, IAN WHITE, METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT, DANE CURTIS, BONITA

[01:50:01]

AND IT WAS DEFINITELY TRULY A TEAM EFFORT, EFFORT. SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE AND TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MEGAN AND ROB. ROB IS OUR PROJECT MANAGER, MEGAN IS OUR LEAD PLANNER, AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS AND DISCUSS HAZARD RISKS AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED IN THIS PLAN. SO, OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE THIS EVENING, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF THIS SLIDE DECK. SO IF WE COULD MOVE TO SLIDE FOUR ON WHY THIS PLAN WAS DEVELOPED.

AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS PLAN IS TO REALLY HELP THE COMMUNITY BE MORE RESILIENT BEFORE A HAZARD STRIKES. THESE PLANS HAVE A PERFORMANCE PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS. THEY NEED TO BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS, AND THE PRIOR PLAN WAS EXPIRED.

SO THAT WAS CRITICAL, WHY, WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP THIS PLAN FOR 2026.

AND THESE PLANS LOOK AT NATURAL HAZARDS AND WHAT THEIR IMPACTS COULD BE ON THE COMMUNITY, ON PEOPLE, ON PROPERTY, ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ON THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY. A HUGE BENEFIT OF THESE PLANS IS THAT THEY DO, ONCE THEY ARE ADOPTED, THEY OPEN AN ELIGIBILITY STREAM TO MITIGATION FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THERE'S ALSO SOME STATE FUNDING THAT'S TIED UP THAT'S TIED TO THESE AS WELL. AND THEN YOU HAVE SUCH A PHENOMENAL COMMUNITY THAT WORKS TOGETHER VERY WELL. WE EXPERIENCED THIS SO MUCH AS WE WERE DOING THE PLANNING PROCESS, AND THIS TYPE OF PLANNING EFFORT DOES FOSTER ADDITIONAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITIES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STAKEHOLDERS. AS, AS LONNIE MENTIONED, THERE WERE SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT EVEN SERVED ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE AND WHO PARTICIPATED IN PUBLIC OUTREACH EVENTS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND THIS WAS A VERY ROBUST PLANNING PROCESS. IT STARTED IN THE SPRING OF 2025, AND IT DID WRAP UP WITHIN ABOUT A YEAR. IT HAS TAKEN A FEW MONTHS TO DO THE FINAL THE FINAL PROCESSES TO GET IT TO THE POINT OF CITY COUNCIL, BUT THIS PROCESS DID SPAN ABOUT A YEAR, AND THERE WAS A A VERY TECHNICAL AND DATA-DRIVEN RISK ASSESSMENT OF ALL OF THE NATURAL HAZARDS THAT COULD HAVE POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO THE CITY. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WAS PHENOMENAL THROUGHOUT THIS PLANNING PROCESS. THERE WERE IN-PERSON EVENTS IN COORDINATION WITH THINGS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALREADY DOING, AND EVENTS THAT WERE GOING ON IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY. THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AS FAR AS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. AND WITH ALL OF THE RISK ASSESSMENT AND GETTING INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, MITIGATION STRATEGIES WERE DEVELOPED. AS LONNIE MENTIONED, THERE, THERE WERE ABOUT THIRTY MITIGATION ACTIONS THAT WERE DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS THOSE HAZARDS AND TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY CONCERNS.

AND THEN THESE PLANS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO JUST BE WRITTEN AND SIT ON A SHELF. THEY'RE DESIGNED TO BE MAINTAINED AND KEPT ACTIVE.

SO THERE IS A, A PLAN MAINTENANCE STRATEGY THAT'S BUILT INTO THIS PROCESS SO THAT THIS CAN BE A VERY USEFUL LIVING DOCUMENT FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND THERE ARE OVERARCHING MITIGATION GOALS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PLANNING PROCESS THAT FOCUS PRIMARILY ON WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY, TO REDUCE RISK, TO PROTECT THE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY, TO INFORM THE PUBLIC SO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN MITIGATION ACTIONS THEIR OWN THINGS. EVEN LIKE WE HEARD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT BATTERIES AND UNPLUGGING, UNPLUGGING CHARGING DEVICES WHEN THEY'RE, THEY'RE FULLY CHARGED. THERE ARE THINGS THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN DO TO ALSO WORK WITHIN MITIGATION FOR NATURAL HAZARDS. AND SO A LOT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH USING EXCELLENT DATA AND AS NEW DATA BECOMES AVAILABLE, CONTINUING TO USE THAT. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WENT

[01:55:02]

YOU CAN READ A LITTLE MORE ON THAT IN THE PLAN. AND WE'LL SKIP FORWARD TO SLIDE TEN AND ACTUALLY LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF THESE MITIGATION ACTIONS ARE IN RELATION TO THE WILDFIRE HAZARD. SO WILDFIRE IS A HUGE CONCERN, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF EVENTS THAT, THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN LA COUNTY. THE CITY OF LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE AMAZING WORK ON WILDFIRE FUELS REDUCTION.

YOU CAN SEE THESE BEFORE AND AFTERS. AND THEN IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THEN WE'LL ALSO SEE THE MAPPING FOR THE HIGH HAZARD AND VERY HIGH HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAPPING FROM CAL FIRE, AND THREE SAMPLE ACTIONS THAT WERE DEVELOPED BY THE CITY TO MITIGATE THE WILDFIRE HAZARD.

SO THESE ARE VERY PRACTICAL, IMPLEMENTABLE, AND IN SOME CASES FUNDABLE ACTIONS.

NOT ALL OF THE ACTIONS THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THE PLAN ARE THINGS THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO GO OUT AND PURSUE GRANT FUNDING FOR. SOME ARE WELL WITHIN THE CURRENT CAPABILITIES OF THE CITY AND ARE EASY WINS, BUT THEY ALSO BRING THIS AWARENESS TO MITIGATION FOR THE CITY. AND, AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE MORE COSTLY OR ARE GOING TO TAKE A LARGER ALLOCATION, THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT THE CITY CAN PURSUE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR, AND THAT THIS PLAN IS WRITTEN AND LOOKING TO BE ADOPTED. AND IF WE SKIP TO THE LAST SLIDE THAT SHOWS NEXT STEPS, THIS MAY BE HELPFUL JUST TO SEE WHERE WE ARE IN THE, IN THE STREAM. THE PLAN HAS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THERE WAS A VERY FAVORABLE RESPONSE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

SO THE NEXT STEP IS FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. AND AFTER THE ADOPTION TAKES PLACE, THEN FEMA ISSUES A FINAL APPROVAL OF THE PLAN.

AT THAT POINT, MITIGATION FUNDING IS OPEN FOR APPLICATION. THE CITY IS ELIGIBLE TO PURSUE MITIGATION GRANT FUNDING THROUGH THE FEMA MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAMS. THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE VERY ACTIVE, AND THE NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEING RELEASED AND WE, WE GET INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN, WHEN THOSE RELEASES ARE, AND WE'LL PASS THAT ON SO THE CITY HAS AWARENESS AND, AND CAN PURSUE GRANT FUNDING FOR SOME OF THOSE LARGER INFRASTRUCTURE OR HIGHER EXPENDITURE PROJECTS.

SO THE LAST THING TO KEEP IN MIND TOO IS THAT THERE IS A STATE PROGRAM THAT IF THE MITIGATION PLAN, THE LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN, IS ADOPTED BY REFERENCE INTO THE GENERAL PLAN SAFETY ELEMENT, SHOWING THAT CROSS-COORDINATION, THERE'S A, A PROGRAM UNDER ASSEMBLY BILL 2140 THAT SHOWS THE STATE'S INITIATIVE BEING MET BY THIS ADOPTION, THIS, THIS COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TWO PLANS, AND THEN THE STATE WILL HELP PAY FOR THE MATCH FOR THE FEDERAL MITIGATION GRANT FUNDING PROGRAMS. SO IT'S TYPICALLY A TWENTY-FIVE, SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT SPLIT, SEVENTY-FIVE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT LOCAL SHARE. WHEN THE STATE GETS INVOLVED, IT CAN ACTUALLY COVER THE ENTIRE TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT DEPENDING ON THE ELIGIBILITY OF, OF OF THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY THAT'S PURSUING THE GRANT FUNDING. SO THERE'S A HUGE INCENTIVE TO, TO HAVE THAT, THAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE TWO PLANS, THE LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN AND THE GENERAL PLAN SAFETY ELEMENT. SO THOSE ARE NEXT STEPS, AND WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ROB AND I ARE BOTH THRILLED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH THE CITY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS JUST BEEN ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. YOU HAVE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY CARE SO MUCH ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS WELL REPRESENTED IN THIS PLAN AND PR-PROMOTING SAFETY FOR THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MR. BROTHERTON, AND MR. FLANNER. I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT

[02:00:01]

OH. OH, THERE WE GO. LONA, MONTY, THAT, I SAID THAT WRONG, DIDN'T I? OH, WOW. ACTUALLY, I JUST, ACTUALLY WANT TO THANK YOU AND COMPLIMENT BLACK & VEATCH FOR THEIR SUPPORT TO YOU. THIS IS SUCH A CRITICAL PLAN. DON'T LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID. SO I SINCERELY THANK THOSE CONTRACTORS FOR GUIDING YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS AND ALL OF YOU. I'VE WORKED ON THESE IN THE PAST, AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED AT THE PLANNING TEAM YOU DEVELOPED.

IT'S, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE TABLE, AND TO BE SO COMPREHENSIVE IS REALLY A COMPLIMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN. PLEASE FOLLOW THEIR NEXT STEPS, GET IT APPROVED GET THAT ADOPTION LETTER BEFORE FEMA CLOSES DOWN AGAIN, IF THEY WERE TO, BECAUSE YOU, YOU WANT TO ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE A FORMALLY ADOPTED PLAN. BLACK & VEATCH HAS GUIDED YOU VERY WELL, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT GREAT PRESENTATION.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENTING THESE PROJECTS, AND IT TAKES THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO DO YES, I THINK IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS.

YES, SIR. WAYNE, COME ON UP.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I ALSO WANT TO COMPLIMENT LONNIE FOR SOLICITING SUCH A CROSS-SECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY TO BE PART OF THIS COMMITTEE.

ABOUT FOURTEEN MONTHS' WORTH OF EFFORT WENT INTO THIS, AND I THINK WHEN WE TRIED TO UP, OR WE UPDATED THE COUNCIL MAYBE SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS AGO, I CALLED THIS PROCESS KIND OF LIKE DRY AS DIRT, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH DETAIL IN THIS THING. THIS REPORT, AS YOU WENT THROUGH IT, IS, THERE'S FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN PAGES IN THE REPORT, SO YOU SEE HOW MUCH DETAIL WENT IN FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PART OF THIS REVIEW. SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY HAVE A HAZARDOUS MITIGATION PLAN.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE GILEAD, A LOT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF THE MOBILE HOME PARKS, BUT NOW THEY HAVE A MASTER PLAN THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO UPLOAD THEIR PLANS INTO, AND IT'S A MUCH MORE, YOU MENTIONED CROSS-COORDINATION AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, BUT THERE'S CROSS-COORDINATION NOW BETWEEN ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THIS MASTER PLAN. SO THERE'S QUITE A VERY BENEFICIAL EFFECT OUT OF ALL OF THIS. NOW, MY PARTICIPATION WAS REPRESENTING FIREWISE, OBVIOUSLY, AS, AS YOU WELL KNOW. AND IN OUR YEAR THREE PLAN FOR OURSELVES HAVING A DETAILED EVACUATION PLAN OUT OF NORTH LA VERNE AS PART OF THAT.

BUT NOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO FOLD OUR PLAN INTO THIS PLAN. SO HAVING A PLAN THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE CITY AND SO MANY DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF SOME OF THE NATURAL HAZARDS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S FLOOD, THERE'S FIRE, THERE'S EARTHQUAKE, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF, THERE, I THINK THERE ARE SEVEN DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT THERE.

BUT IT ALLOWS US TO FOLD IN INTO THAT. SO I THOUGHT THE PLAN CAME OUT GREAT. THERE'S A LOT OF DETAIL IN THAT, AS I'VE MENTIONED, BUT THE, THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE WELL THOUGHT OUT, AND I WAS ENJOYING BEING PART OF THAT PROCESS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, RAYMOND. ANYBODY ELSE SUPPOSED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK OVER THE DAIS. ANY COMMENTS FOR STAFF OR? HONESTLY, I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLAN. I THINK WE'VE DONE AN AMAZING BACKGROUND OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE INVOLVED IN THIS, AND I, I APPRECIATE OUR CONSULTING FIRM, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE THAT INPUTTED THIS AND, AND OUR RESIDENTS. SO YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB, AND I THINK THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND THANK YOU, CHIEF, COURTNEY. THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO SO WE CAN PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS IN CASE OF A DISASTER. IT'S NOT IT'S NOT IF, IT'S, IT'S WHEN NOW. AND THEN, I MEAN, WE'RE YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB ON CLEARING OUR BRUSH AND EVERYTHING ELSE. OUR COMMUNITY HAS NEVER LOOKED THIS GOOD. AND I KNOW OUR BASINS ARE CLEAR. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN PUTTING THE SCREENS ON THAT HERE PRETTY SOON, I, IF IT'S NOT ALREADY DONE ON OUR BASINS THAT WE HAVE, ON OUR FLOOD CONTROL BASINS, WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AS WE GO INTO THIS NEXT PHASE OF DROUGHT TO TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR, IF IT'S COMING LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO, BUT YEAH, JUST NEVER KNOW.

BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT. YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB, ALL OF YOU. LONNIE, THANK YOU.

STEVE, THANK YOU. ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND ALL OF OUR... WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TITLED RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE ADOPTION OF THE 2026 CITY OF

[02:05:01]

I HAD A MOTION BY JOHNSON, SECONDED BY CASHEL-VEGUITA, AND APPROVED FIVE-OH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. WITH NOW THE SECOND

[7. Authorization to Execute a Purchase Order to Complete the 2027 Water Master Plan Update.]

THE SECOND ITEM WE WENT TO THE FIRST ALREADY IS IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A PURCHASE ORDER TO COMPLETE THE 2027 WATER MASTER PLAN UPDATE, CITY MANAGER DOMER. PLEASE CALL FORWARD THE STAFF MEMBER WHO THAT WILL BE REPORTING ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I CALL FORWARD DANNY WU, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND HE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS MANAGER, JASON FORSBERG. GOOD EVENING, SIR.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS. TONIGHT'S ACTION IS TO REQUEST AUTHORIZATION OF THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PURCHASE ORDER WITH CIVILTECH ENGINEERING FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SIX DOLLARS TO COMPLETE THE 2027 WATER MASTER PLAN UPDATE. THIS WORK IS PERFORMED UNDER THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CIVILTECH FOR UTILITY ENGINEERING SERVICES, WHICH THE COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AND MOST RECENTLY AMENDED EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2026. FUNDING FOR THE MASTER PLAN UPDATE IS INCLUDED IN THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL BUDGET AND ALSO INCLUDED IN THE ADOPTED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THROUGH FUNDS GENERATED THROUGH THE WATER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND. AS A MATTER OF BEST PRACTICE, A COMPREHENSIVE WATER MASTER PLAN SHOULD BE UPDATED APPROXIMATELY EVERY FIVE TO TEN YEARS OR SOONER WHENEVER SIGNIFICANT CHANGES OCCUR. THE CITY'S CURRENT WATER MASTER PLAN WAS COMPLETED LAST IN 2020, SO THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO UPDATE THE PLAN TO REFLECT CURRENT SYSTEM CONDITIONS DEMANDS, INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, AND PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS. THE UPDATE WILL PROVIDE US WITH A TECHNICAL ROADMAP FOR HOW WE MAINTAIN AND INVEST IN OUR WATER SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS. ONE AREA WHERE WE'RE PLACING GREATER EMPHASIS IN THIS YEAR'S UPDATE IS THE CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT OF OUR EXISTING FACILITIES, AND RATHER THAN RELYING ON PRIMARILY ON AGE OF ASSET WE WANT TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ACTUAL CONDITIONS OF OUR FACILITIES, FUNCTIONALITY, RELIABILITY, AND REMAINING SERVICE LIFE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING WELLS, RESERVOIRS BOOSTER STATIONS, AND OTHER MAJOR WATER FACILITIES. THAT INFORMATION WILL HELP US MAKE MORE INFORMED DECISION ABOUT WHEN ASSETS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED, REHAB- REHABILITATED, OR REPLACED, AND ENSURE THAT OUR LIMITED CAPITAL DOLLARS ARE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE AREAS OF GREATEST NEED.

AND THE INFORMATION WILL FEED INTO THE UPCOMING WATER RATE STUDY UPDATE. WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO INTRODUCE OUR NEW PUBLIC WORKS MANAGER JASON FORSBERG. HE JUST JOINED US THIS PAST MONTH, AND HE'LL BE WALKING YOU THROUGH THE SCOPE OF SERVICES FOR THE WATER MASTER PLAN UPDATE. PLEASE. GREAT. THANK YOU, DANNY. WELCOME. GOOD EVENING. HE JUST TURNED IT OVER TO YOU. YES, ABSOLUTELY.

YES. YES. SO GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT TO DISCUSS MORE ON THE WATER MASTER PLAN. SO JUST TO GO OFF OF WHAT DANNY WAS SAYING TOO, SOME OF THIS MAY BE A LITTLE BIT REPETITIVE, BUT YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS UPDATING ITS WATER MASTER PLAN IN COORDINATION WITH CIVIL TECH TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE WATER SYSTEM'S CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS. THE UPDATE WILL EVALUATE SYSTEM CAPACITY, INFRASTRUCTURE CONDITION, OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY, TREATMENT ASSESSMENT, AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.

ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED AND PRIORITIZED AS A LONG-TERM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IDENTIFY NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN WELLS, RESERVOIRS, PIPELINES, PUMPING FACILITIES, AND OTHER CRITICAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT OF ALL THE WATER

[02:10:03]

YEAH, WE HAVE A LOT OF HARD MEN AND, AND WOMEN WORKING ON OUR WATER DIVISION TEAM. SO IF YOU GUYS DO GET A CHANCE PLEASE SAY HELLO AND GIVE YOUR APPRECIATION TO THEM.

APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. WE DO APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I THINK WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE ASK. ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT. OUR WATER'S GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. I'LL OPEN UP THE DESK. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I THINK JUST AS A COMMENT ON MY PART, WE DO APPRECIATE THIS WATER IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FLOW OF WATER IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

THE AGE OF OUR PUMPS AND OUR SYSTEMS AND OUR WELLS, HOW WE CLEAN OUR WATER IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NEEDED AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE HAVE, WE DON'T WANT AN MW, NOT MWD, EXCUSE ME A DWP SITUATION WITH I SLIPPED THE TONGUE THERE. WE DON'T WANT A DWP SITUATION WHERE EVERY WEEK THERE'S A BREAK, AND THERE'S A BREAK THAT'S MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER THAT'S RUSHING DOWN THE STREET BECAUSE OF AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF OLD SYSTEMS, BUT WE HAVE BEEN MAINTAINING THOSE AND IMPROVING THEM AS WE GO ALONG.

SO THIS WILL GIVE US EVEN A BETTER PURVIEW AND AN INSIGHT, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WITH THAT, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PURCHASE ORDER WITH CIVILTECH ENGINEERING, INC. FOR THE 2027 WATER MASTER PLAN UPDATE? I'LL MOVE.

SECOND. SECOND. OH, PLEASE.

THIS IS FOR ITEM SEVEN, MOTIONED BY LAU, SECONDED BY CROSBY, AND APPROVED 5-0.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIRD ITEM

[8. Public Financing Authority - Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District Board Appointment.]

CITY MANAGER DOMER, PLEASE PROVIDE THE REPORT ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AS YOU KNOW THAT THIS ITEM WAS EXTENDED FROM JULY 20TH, 2026. THE APPLICATION PERIOD WAS ENLARGED AND CONCLUDED ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2026. ORIGINALLY WITH THE JULY 20TH, THERE WERE ONLY TWO APPLICANTS.

AT THIS TIME, THERE ARE TEN APPLICANTS THAT HAD FILED AN APPLICATION. AND SO THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS TO CONSIDER A PUBLIC MEMBER APPOINTMENT. THE APPLICATIONS WERE PROVIDED TO COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON AND MAYOR HEPBURN FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION, AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE REVIEWED THAT AND MADE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE COUNCIL. IF THAT RECOMMENDATION RECEIVES THREE VOTES, THEN THAT PERSON WILL BE APPOINTED. IF NOT, THEN EVERYBODY CAN GO THROUGH THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE PART OF THE PACKAGE, AND WHOEVER RECEIVES THREE AFFIRMATIVE VOTES CAN BE APPOINTED TO THE EIFD. THANK YOU, MR. DILMER. I THINK WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST. DO YOU HAVE ANY WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? MS. KLUSICK, I'M SORRY, YOU RIGHT HERE. ME AGAIN. SO YESTERDAY I HAD SOME TIME IN THE AFTERNOON, SO I ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH ALL THE APPLICATIONS, AND WOW, I MEAN, I'M AMAZED AT THE TALENT THAT'S OUT THERE, AND I MEAN, THERE WERE JUST A LOT OF REALLY IMPRESSIVE PEOPLE, SOME, YOU KNOW, ROSE TO THE TOP MORE THAN OTHERS, BUT EVERYBODY WAS GREAT. I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. CAN THERE ONLY BE ONE COMMUNITY MEMBER? BECAUSE WITH SO MANY PEOPLE WITH GREAT SKILLS, COULD WE HAVE TWO OR THREE, YOU KNOW, QUESTION. AND THEN THE OTHER, WAS THIS ALL JUST DETERMINATION, DETERMINED BY APPLICATIONS OR WAS THERE A INTERVIEW PROCESS ON IT? SO THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. AND

[02:15:06]

SO I'M GOING TO READ HER STATEMENT, AND I'LL ADD A COUPLE COMMENTS MYSELF.

BUT WHAT SHE SAYS IS, I STRONGLY ENDORSE SUSAN CROSS-HUME FOR A POSITION ON THE PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BOARD OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE. I'VE REVIEWED MS. HUME'S RESUME THOROUGHLY AND BELIEVE HER TO BE EMINENTLY QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION.

TRANSITIONING FROM A 10-YEAR CAREER AS A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT, AT A LOCAL FIRM.

HAVING WORKED IN SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHE SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS SERVICES FOR THE BONITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. IN THIS CAPACITY, MS. HUME WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE 150-EMPLOYEE BUSINESS SERVICES DIVISION, WHICH ENCOMPASSED BUDGET, PURCHASING, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATIONS, SERVICES AND EXPENSES, TRANSPORTATION, RISK MANAGEMENT, AND OTHER DUTIES. A REVIEW OF HER RESUME IS IMPRESSIVE, IDENTIFYING HER AS A FULLY RESPONS- AS FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISTRICT'S 138 MILLION GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND MULTIPLE OTHER FUNDS. OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE WAS HER RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT SYSTEMS TO MONITOR CASH INVESTMENTS AND OVERSEE DEBT MANAGEMENT. MS. HUME'S EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND IN BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING, HER PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS IN SEVERAL STATE AND NATIONAL ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING ORGANIZATIONS, AND HER CURRENT INVOLVEMENT IN A VARIETY OF LOCAL AND STATE-LEVEL GROUPS REFLECTS HER DEDICATION TO BUILDING AND MAINTAINING STRONG COMMUNITIES.

LOCALLY, MS. HUME SERVES AS TREASURER FOR THE LEROY HAYNES CENTER, AS WELL AS THE DAVID AND MARGARET YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, AND AS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF THE LA VERNE LIBRARY. AS A WOMAN OF FAITH, SHE SERVES ON THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH COUNCIL OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION AND THE CLAREMONT UNIFIED METHODIST UNITED WOMEN IN FAITH. THESE ARE ONLY A FEW OF HER CURRENT AFFILIATIONS. I CAN THINK OF NO MORE NO MORE OF A QUALIFIED NO MORE QUALIFIED PERSON TO JOIN LA VERNE'S PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY BOARD THAN SUSAN CROSS-HUME. HER STRONG EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, YEARS OF WORK IN FINANCE, AND ONGOING SERVICE AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL WOULD PROVIDE ONGOING BENEFIT TO THE CITY. AS HER PERSONAL FRIEND, I KNOW HER TO BE TEAM AND OUTCOME ORIENTED WITH A POS-POSITIVE, DEPENDABLE, AND APPROACHABLE WORK ETHIC AND ATTITUDE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO MY COMMENTS, AND THIS IS FROM SHERRY BEST. I AGREE TOO, LIKE I SAID, I SAW A LOT OF VERY IMPRESSIVE PEOPLE. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT KIND OF ROSE HER TO THE TOP FOR ME IS THAT SHE DOES LIVE IN THE AREA AS I DO, AND SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.

SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR...

THANK YOU, MS. PALOUSEK. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES, SIR.

YES, YOU MAY. YES. LOCATION.

I'M A THIRTY-YEAR RESIDENT OF LA VERNE, AND THIS WALKER GUY NAMED TIM WHO DOES GOLDEN HILLS AND WHEELER, I'D BUMP INTO OCCASIONALLY. HE'S DONE SOME REALLY NICE STUFF, INSPIRED ME TO KIND OF VOLUNTEER. THAT'S MAYOR TIM. AND I'M BOTH A AN ACCOUNTANT, CPA, AND AN ATTORNEY. BEEN AN ATTORNEY FOR PROBABLY FORTY-FIVE YEARS, RETIRED. THE CPA TOOK A LITTLE LONGER, SO IT'S ONLY THIRTY-FIVE YEARS.

AND I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK, AND SO THE LAST YEAR I DIDN'T COME TO YOUR MEETING, THAT PROBABLY DIDN'T HELP ME AT ALL. SO THIS YEAR I KEN HAD SENT ME AN EMAIL TO APPLY, SO I TOOK HIM UP ON THAT. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY I'M HERE AND AVAILABLE.

THANK YOU, MR. FOLEY.

APPRECIATE THAT. YOU KNOW, I SHOULD SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? MR. BOWEN. BACK AGAIN, RICHARD BOWEN, MAYOR. I GUESS I'M A LITTLE, AGAIN, CONFUSED BECAUSE I READ THE PACKET AND IT SAID THAT STEPHEN WAGNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY THE MAYOR AND STEVE JOHNSON. NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT MAYBE I'M READING THE PACKET WRONG, BUT THAT NAME WAS MENTIONED.

SO, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MR. STEPHEN WAGNER, IF HE'S BEEN CHOSEN.

JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND. I APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION AT THE BEHEST OF THE MAYOR BACK IN 2023.

[02:20:01]

THEREFORE, I WAS NOT VOTED ON.

AND THE PERSON THAT APPARENTLY JUST QUIT, HE WAS VOTED FOR, AND THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES.

THREE AND A HALF YEARS LATER, AGAIN, AT THE BEHEST OF MR. MAYOR HE SAYS, YOU OUGHT TO APPLY FOR THIS. YOU WOULD BE PERFECT TO DO THIS. I WENT TO THE MEETINGS, AND I HAD COMMENTS, AND I TALKED TO THEM, AND SO I DID APPLY.

THEN WE CAME TO AND I WANT TO READ THIS. AFTER I TURNED IN MY APPLICATION I SENT A NOTE TO MR. DOMER BECAUSE AND IT READS LIKE THIS. I ASKED FOR THE NAME OF THE, OF THE OTHER CANDIDATE. AND IT READS THE OTHER CANDIDATE, CANDIDATE NAME IS BRIAN O'KEEFE. HE LIVES IN THIS OLD TOWN OF LA VERNE AREA. GIVEN THAT THE TIME HAS BEEN, OR EXCUSE ME, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE TIME BETWEEN THE CLOSE OF APPLICATIONS YESTERDAY AND THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON JULY 20, WE'RE ASKING FOR THE TWO MEMBERS OF THE EIFD TO REVIEW THE TWO APPLICATIONS, MEET WITH THE CANDIDATES AND INTERVIEW THEM, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE AN ITEM ON THE JULY 20 MEETING FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. THAT EVENING, WITH THOSE IN, WITH THOSE THOUGHTS IN PLACE, WENDY LAU MADE A MOTION TO NOT EXTEND, BUT TO REOPEN.

THOSE THAT WAS CLOSED PER MR. DOMER'S COMMENTS OR PER MR. DOMER'S NOTE TO ME, WE ALL KNEW IT WAS CLOSED. WE HAD AN OPENING PERIOD. TWO OF US APPLIED AND QUITE FRANKLY EXPECTED YOU GUYS TO FOLLOW THE RULES. BUT FOR SOME REASON, WENDY LAU MADE A MOTION TO REOPEN IT. I WONDERED WHY SHE WOULD FIGHT SO HARD TO STOP A VOTE FROM TAKING PLACE FOR THE AGENDA. SO I LOOKED INTO HER COMPANY. FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

ACCORDING TO RECORDS, FEBRUARY TWENTY-TWO FEBRUARY OF 2022, HER POSITION CHANGED FROM RISK MANAGEMENT DEI LEADER TO SIMPLY WESTERN REGION RISK MANAGEMENT. A E, AM I INTER, AM I INTERFERING WITH YOU? NO, I, I WAS VENTURING OFF AGAIN, ATTORNEY. WHAT, READING WHAT? I'M JUST PLEASE. OKAY. PARDON ME? CONTINUE. CONTINUE. RULES, RULES FOR THEE, NOT FOR ME.

BOTTOM LINE IS, SHE FOUGHT HARD FOR THIS. HER COMPANY DOES, APPARENTLY, DOES BUSINESS WITH THE IFD.

IN FACT, THAT'S ONE OF, ONE OF THE CONSTRUCTION PIECES OF HER BUSINESS. AND IF, IF I'M WRONG, LET ME KNOW. IN FACT IT WAS RECENTLY AN EXTENSION, A TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR EXTENSION TO THEIR AGREEMENT, AND IT IS WORK THAT IS DONE IN NOT A DIRECT CONTRACT WITH THE CITY, BUT THROUGH ANOTHER CONTRACTOR, AND IT WAS WITH THE FOOTHILL DEVELOPMENT. SO BOTTOM LINE IS, YOU'RE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR THINGS, YOU DO IT, AND THE RULES GET CHANGED. AND WHEN I'M SITTING IN YOUR POSITION, MR. CASH, THAT WILL, THAT WILL CHANGE. I WISH MR. WAGNER THE BEST AND HOPE HE CAN DEAL WITH WHAT THE MAYOR HAS SAID IS, HAS BEEN A FAILED COMMITTEE SO FAR. THANK YOU, MR. BONE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE COMMENTS AND MOVE IT UP TO THE DAIS. AND YES MR. BONE IS CORRECT. MR. JOHNSON, MYSELF, DID SUPPORT MR. STEPHEN WAGNER, AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVE MASSIVE QUALIFICATIONS ALSO.

MR. WAGNER HAS APPLIED FOR MULTIPLE POSITIONS OVER MULTIPLE YEARS, AND WE FELT THAT IT WAS TIME TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY. WANTED TO DO IT FOR MANY TIMES IN TOWN. BUT IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR DECISION ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE, BUT THAT WOULD BE OUR SUGGESTION FROM THE COMMITTEE TO OUR COUNCIL. I HAVE A SUGGESTION OR RECOMMENDATION,

[02:25:01]

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I ALREADY HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE MADE A RECOMMENDATION, SO WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT FIRST. IS THAT CORRECT? UNLESS COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PARTEM CASHEL-BAGUITAS' MOTION WAS INTENDED AS A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, THEN YES, YOU, IF YOU, THERE, THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR AND THERE'S NO SECOND TO MAYOR PARTEM'S MOTION, THEN YOU WOULD CARRY OUT YOUR... SO WE COULD DO THAT ON A SUBSTITUTE MOTION AND JUST ASK FOR A MOTION AND THEN A SECOND.

IF THERE'S A SECOND. RIGHT.

THEN WE'LL CONSIDER IT A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I THINK BEFORE WE GO FORWARD WITH A SECOND, I'D LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF RATIONALE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY BOTH YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON SERVED ON THE EIFC AND REVIEWED ALL OF THESE APPLICATIONS AND PICKED MR. WAGNER, SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE COUNCIL MEMBER, ABOUT WHY THAT WAS THE SELECTION BEFORE WE GO FORWARD. MR. WAGNER MET THE, MET THE FINANCING, EXCUSE ME, THE FINANCING REQUIREMENTS THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR AND I AM IN AGREE, IN AGREE, IN AGREEMENT WITH MR. HEPBURN THAT HE WOULD BE THE TOP CHOICE. THAT'S ENTIRELY UP TO YOU GUYS. I MEAN, THERE'S MANY PEOPLE, AND I KNOW THERE'S A NORTH-SOUTH ISSUE HERE, BUT LIKE I SAID, MR. WAGNER HAS APPLIED MULTIPLE TIMES. HE'S GOT A VERY GOOD BACKGROUND. I KNOW HE WAS A CONSULTANT WITH DELOITTE & TOUCHE, TRAVELED QUITE FREQUENTLY, AND WAS PART OF MANY ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE FINANCING PART OF THE COMPANY, ALSO HIRING AT THE COMPANY ALSO MILITARY ASPECT WAS ONE OF THEM ALSO WITH THE FAMILIES OF FOREIGN WARS, FAMILY OF FOREIGN WARS, THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT I THINK IT'S MOSTLY HIS HIS ABILITY WITH DELOITTE & TOUCHE FOR SO MANY YEARS AND HIS CONSULTING THAT, AND THE FACT THAT HE'S APPLIED MULTIPLE TIMES, MORE SO THAN ANY OTHER PERSON ON HERE, EXCEPT OBVIOUSLY FOR ROBIN CARTER, THAT SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. SO THAT WAS REALLY MY DETERMINATION.

SO I, I FIRST SAY WE DO A VOTE ON WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED, AND IF THAT DOES NOT PASS, THEN WE CAN MOVE FOR AN ALTERNATE VOTE. SURE.

THEN WITH THAT WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT STEVEN WAGNER AS A POSITION FOR THE IFD. SO I'LL, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. SECOND.

VOTE, PLEASE. THAT'S A MOTION BY HEPBURN, SECONDED BY JOHNSON. IT WAS APPROVED THREE-OH WITH CROSBY AND CASHELFIGUITA DISSENTING.

THREE-TWO WITH CROSBY AND CASHELFIGUITA DISSENTING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PAT.

THAT'S DONE. THANK YOU ALL FOR APPLYING. I DO APPRECIATE THAT.

THERE WILL BE OTHER COMMITTEES AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE WILL HAVING, AS YOU KNOW AND WOULD APPRECIATE YOU TO CONTINUE TO APPLY. WITH THAT, THE FINAL

[9. Community Organization Partnership Agreements - Holiday Stroll and Walk of Honor.]

TRADITIONALLY, MOST OF THE COST ASSOCIATED ON THE CITY SIDE FOR THOSE EVENTS THAT ARE, THESE ARE NON-CITY SPONSORED DIRECTLY, RIGHT HAVE BEEN STAFF TIME.

AND TYPICALLY THESE EVENTS OCCUR ON A SATURDAY, SUCH AS OUR CAR SHOWS OR THE HOLIDAY STROLL OR A WINE WALK, AND SO THOSE REQUIRE STAFFING NOT JUST FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR SETUP AND TEARDOWN, BUT ALSO FROM THE FIRE

[02:30:01]

HOWEVER, DUE TO BUDGETARY CONCERNS STAFF HAS BEGUN TRACKING OUR TIME IN TERMS OF STAFF TIME FOR THESE EVENTS. AND I MENTIONED YOU KNOW, SEVERAL OF THEM, BUT THE CAR SHOWS, THE TWO CAR SHOWS IN OLD TOWN, WHICH THE CITY HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE PROMOTER, BUT THERE IS NO RE-RE REIMBURSEMENT REQUIRED FOR OUR CITY COSTS FOR THOSE TWO CAR SHOWS. THE WINE WALK EVENTS, WHICH UNTIL RECENTLY WERE FULLY AUTHORIZED WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT.

RECENTLY, WE STARTED PUTTING A CAP ON THE REIMBURSEMENT FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, AS THAT IS A TICKETED EVENT THAT DOES PRODUCE REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE, FOR THAT EVENT AS WELL AS THE BEER WALK THAT HASN'T HAPPENED FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

BUT THE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE AND YEAH, SO WE, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OUTSIDE ADDRESS ISSUES THAT DON'T REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT. ALSO NOTE, AS RELATED TO THE WALK OF HONOR, WE'VE ALSO PROVIDED STAFFING FOR PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO HAPPEN ON CITY PROPERTIES, SUCH AS VETERANS HALL THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER TONIGHT, AND THE MEMORIAL CLOSET, AN OUTSIDE GROUP, RAISE THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE THE MATERIALS, BUT IT DID REQUIRE CITY STAFF TO DO THE INSTALLATION. I'M GOING TO GO OVER THESE TWO EVENTS REAL QUICKLY. AFTER THAT I'LL PROVIDE THE RECOMMENDATION, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, GEORGE HENDERSON, WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET UP AND KIND OF GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT AND HOPEFULLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THAT PROGRAM. AND THEN IF I'LL... N-NOT, NOT TONIGHT, BUT DECEMBER, DECEMBER 5TH, YES. AND THEN AFTER GEORGE IS UP HERE, I'M GOING TO ASK CRAIG WALTERS TO COME UP AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE UPDATES ON THE WALK OF HONOR PROGRAM. SO THE HOLIDAY STROLL IS AN ANNUAL HOLIDAY EVENT THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT STARTED, BUT IT WAS PRIOR TO MY INVOLVEMENT WITH IT, BUT AT LEAST FIFTEEN YEARS, I WOULD SAY. IT'S, IT'S GROWN AND SPECIFICALLY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS OR SO, IT'S REALLY BECOME A VERY POPULAR EVENT WITH HUNDREDS, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ATTENDING OLD TOWN TO LISTEN TO THE STORY FROM MR. HENDERSON, AS WELL AS THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY. LAST YEAR THEY'VE EXPANDED IT TO CLOSE A PORTION OF THIRD STREET TO HAVE A VENDOR AREA, AS WELL AS EXTENDED THE HOURS TO WHERE IT STARTS EARLIER IN THE DAY. FREE PHOTOS WITH SANTA ARE PROVIDED, OLD CAROLERS ARE ROAMING ABOUT, AND THEN THE TREE LIGHTING TRADITIONALLY HAPPENS AT SIX PM, AND THEN THE BUSINESSES IN OLD TOWN ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE GOODIES OUTSIDE THEIR STORE OR HAVE SPECIALS TO ENTICE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOWN IN OLD TOWN TO COME IN AND SHOP FOR HER. SO THEIR REQUEST IS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF THE CITY PROVIDING THE STAFF NEEDED TO DO THAT. STREET CLOSURE. WE HAVE THE MERIDIAN BARRICADES THAT ARE IN OUR POSSESSION THAT WE UTILIZE FOR THAT. THERE'S A TRAFFIC CONTROL PLAN FOR THIS EVENT. IT DOES REQUIRE PUBLIC WORKS STAFF TO BE THERE FOR THAT SETUP, AS WELL AS KIND OF MONITORING THE EVENT AND EMPTYING TRASH BAGS, AND THEN ASSISTING WITH THE TREE LIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL GOES SMOOTHLY AT THAT POINT. AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING AT THIS, THIS TIME IS FOR ANY MATERIAL COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE TWO EVENTS, THAT THOSE ARE BE REIMBURSED BY THE GROUP THAT ARE REQUESTING IT. SO THE ESTIMATES FOR THE HOLIDAY STROLL IS ROUGHLY EIGHTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS IN STAFF TIME. AGAIN, THOSE ARE OVERTIME RATES BECAUSE OF IT BEING ON A SATURDAY. AND THEN AS WELL VERY MINIMAL, ABOUT SEVENTY DOLLARS WORTH OF MATERIALS. THAT'S MOSTLY THE NO PARKING SIGNS THAT HAVE TO GO UP PRE, PRIOR TO THE EVENT WITH THE STAKES.

SO THAT'S WHAT THE REQUEST.

OH, AND SEPARATELY BECAUSE STAFF HAS RECOGNIZED THAT IN OUR, IN OUR CODE, WE DON'T HAVE AN EASY WAY TO APPLY BUSINESS LICENSE TO ONE-DAY BUSINESSES IN OUR SPECIAL EVENTS. SO WE'D HAVE TO EITHER APPLY THE FULL YEAR OR THE PRORATED VERSION OF WHAT ANY REGULAR BUSINESS WOULD HAVE TO PAY. HOWEVER, WE'VE RECOGNIZED THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE IN THEIR BOOKS TO HAVE THE PROMOTER BE THE ONE TO GET ONE BUSINESS LICENSE THAT WOULD THEN COVER BASICALLY ALL THE VENDORS UNDERNEATH THEM. AND SO I KNOW THE FINANCE, FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING AT CHANGING OUR CODE TO HAVE THAT FOR NOT JUST THESE EVENTS THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BUT WE'VE RUN INTO IT WITH A HERITAGE PARK WHEN WE HAVE THE, THE FIDEL TERRACE HAS A VENDOR FAIR, AND SO THAT'S ONE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT. BUT FOR NOW UNDER THE CITY COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY, YOU CAN WAIVE THOSE BUSINESS LICENSE PROCESSING FEES, SO WE CAN STILL YOU KNOW, ACTUAL LICENSE, BUT THERE'S NO CHARGE TO THOSE VENDORS. THERE'S ONLY SEVEN VENDORS ANTICIPATED FOR THIS EVENT, SO IT'S NOT A LOT, BUT THOSE COSTS ARE ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT THREE HUNDRED OR

[02:35:01]

THE WALK OF HONOR LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST EVENT. BEFORE THAT, THE ORGANIZERS, THE LA VERNE WALK OF HONOR COMMITTEE DID COME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR TO PROVIDE THE CONCEPT OF THE PROGRAM AND THEN WITH BASICALLY THE COUNCIL EXPRESSING GENERAL SUPPORT, THEY WENT AHEAD AND DID FUNDRAISING AND PURCHASED TEN PLAQUES FOR LOCAL TO BE INSTALLED ALONG WITH LAST YEAR'S HOLIDAY STROLL, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE ON DECEMBER THIRTEENTH. SO AGAIN, THAT, THAT IS A PERMANENT INSTALLATION, SO IT DOES REQUIRE MORE STAFF TIME THAN A TEMPORARY ONE-DAY EVENT LIKE THE HOLIDAY STROLL DOES BUT IT IS MORE PERMANENT IN THAT THOSE PLAQUES REMAIN AFTER THE EVENT'S OVER. SO LET'S SEE. SO THIS, BECAUSE THIS WORK CAN BE DONE UNDER NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS THE STAFF TIME ISN'T AT OVERTIME RATES, BUT IT IS, DOES REQUIRE MORE STAFFING. SO THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE WORK TO INSTALL THESE IS ROUGHLY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THEN THERE'S TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN MATERIAL COST. LAST YEAR, THE GROUP DID REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR ALL MATERIAL COSTS, AS WELL AS THE OVERTIME LIMIT, BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME OVERTIME HOURS THAT WERE HAD TO BE DONE AT THE LAST MINUTE DUE TO SOME UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. WE THINK ALL THOSE HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT FROM LAST YEAR, SO IT'S NOT ANTICIPATED THAT ANY OVERTIME WOULD BE NEEDED FOR THOSE EVENTS. SO WITH THAT, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE TWO PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS PROVIDING THE CITY MANAGER THE AUTHORITY TO SIGN THOSE AGREEMENTS FOR THE HOLIDAY STROLL ON DECEMBER FIFTH, WITH ALL MATERIAL COSTS BE REIMBURSED BY THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS THE, AGAIN, THE NONPROFIT ASSOCIATION, AND TO APPROVE THE SEPARATE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZATION. PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE LA VERNE WALK OF HONOR COMMITTEE, ALSO A NONPROFIT TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT, STAFF SUPPORT, BUT REIMBURSED FOR ALL MATERIAL COSTS.

WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO ASK GEORGE HENDERSON TO COME UP TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE HOLIDAY STROLL.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SCHER. MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL I'M GEORGE HENDERSON. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE OLD TOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER IN OLD TOWN LA VERNE FOR OVER THIRTY-SIX YEARS.

TO ADD MORE TO WHAT ERIC WAS MENTIONING, THE HOLIDAY STROLL IS AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT WE'VE HAD. IT'S BECOME A TRADITION.

NOW, THE OLD TOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, WE DO A LOT OF EVENTS THAT WE CAN TO PROMOTE THE OLD TOWN, BUT THIS EVENT IS DIFFERENT.

THIS EVENT PROMOTES THE TYPE OF CITY THAT LA VERNE IS AND WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE, NOT ONLY TO LIVE IN AND TO WORK IN. IT'S, IT'S REALLY A COMMUNITY EVENT. NOW, GRANTED, THE BUSINESSES DO GET ASSISTED BY EXPOSURE, BUT AGAIN, THE WHOLE FOCUS IS A COMMUNITY EVENT, AND IT HAS GROWN GREATLY EVERY YEAR. NOW, WE START OUT LAST YEAR WE HAD THE LITTLE FAIR WITH THE PETTING ZOO AND SOME VENDORS AND STUFF, AND THAT WAS NICE. WE FOLLOWED THE WALK OF FAME CEREMONY, HUGE TURNOUT. BUSINESSES WERE THRILLED. WE HAVE THE HERITAGE, THE LA VERNE HERITAGE GROUP THAT PARTICIPATES TO PROMOTE THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE. THEY'RE PART OF IT. THE CAROLERS THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE TO SUPPLY THE CAROLERS SO THAT THEY'RE PROMOTING OR THEY'RE PART OF THE PARTICIPATION IN THE EVENT. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THEM INVOLVED.

BY NIGHTTIME, WE NORMALLY GET TO THE BIG PART OF THE CEREMONY, AND THAT IS THE TREE LIGHTING, AND WE ALSO DO THE CHRISTMAS STORY, WHICH THE KIDS SEEM TO REALLY ENJOY. LAST YEAR WE PURCHASED A LOT OF DECORATIONS FOR THIS EVENT. IF YOU WERE THERE, YOU SAW THE TREES REINDEERS, NUTCRACKERS, GIFTS. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY, AND THAT WAS PUT ON BY THE OLD TOWN ASSOCIATION.

THE BUSINESSES ARE ACTUALLY THRILLED BECAUSE THE TURNOUT IS SO BIG THAT PEOPLE ARE ROAMING AROUND, GETTING TO KNOW, AND WE DO HAVE SOME NEW BUSINESSES, AND IT'S A WAY OF THEM GETTING EXPOSURE.

AFTER THE EVENT, IF YOU TRY TO GO TO A RESTAURANT AFTERWARDS, GOOD LUCK. THEY'RE PACKED, WHICH THEY'RE THRILLED. AND OF COURSE, THAT ASSISTS THE RESTAURANTS, IT ASSISTS THE CITY WITH, YOU KNOW, THE REVENUES THAT COME IN FROM THAT. SO WE'RE ASKING AND HOPING THAT THE CITY CONTINUES IN THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS EVENT. IT IS, AGAIN, A COMMUNITY EVENT. IT IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT SO MANY PEOPLE RELY ON AND THEY COUNT ON HAPPENING EVERY YEAR. AND A

[02:40:01]

A FEW YEARS AGO I'VE BEEN DOING THE READING OF THE CHRISTMAS STORY FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.

AND SO SOME FRIENDS IN THIS FAMILY CAME TO COME HECKLE ME, PROBABLY WHICH IS FINE. THEY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY SO MUCH THEY MOVED TO LA VERNE. THEY LIVED IN WALNUT FOR THIRTY PLUS YEARS THEMSELVES, AND THEY SAID, THIS IS THE PLACE THAT WE WANT TO LIVE AND RAISE YOUR KIDS.

SO THEY ACTUALLY, DURING THAT NEXT YEAR, BOUGHT A HOME IN LA VERNE AND BECAME PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO IT, IT, IT'S SPECIAL. IT REALLY IS, AND WE, AGAIN, WE, WE THANK YOU FOR THE PAST SUPPORT, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE IN YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS EVENT. THANK YOU, GEORGE. ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK, GO AHEAD. ARE WE GOING TO TAKE THESE SEPARATELY? THEY HAVE, I THINK THEY HAVE TO BE SEPARATELY, IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, YES.

OKAY, SO I HAD A QUESTION, AND I'M HOPING YOU CAN HELP ME.

IF NOT, THEN I'M HOPING MAYBE OUR ATTORNEY CAN ASSIST, BUT I'M LOOKING AT THE AGENDA ITEM FOR THE HOLIDAYS ROLL, AND I'M SEEING THAT IT'S FILLED OUT BY RILEY WINDSOR. IS SHE A MEMBER OF THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION? RILEY IS HIRED BY THE OLD TOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION. SHE IS A PAID ASSISTANT. OKAY, SO IS SHE PAID AS AN... WELL. SHE SHE PAID BY THE OLD TOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION. SO THE REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE SHE FILLED OUT YOUR PERMIT PAPERWORK FOR YOU, AND IT SAYS THAT ON SHE'S FILING IT ON BEHALF OF THE OLD TOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, AND SO IF SHE'S... I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S HIRED AS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR OR AS AN EMPLOYEE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS ARE OF HAVING SOMEONE WHO IS OR ISN'T AN AGENT FOR THE... I THINK I'M AT...

YEAH. THANK YOU. WE ARE HAVING THOSE FORMS UPDATED. THERE WAS OTHER ERRORS OR THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED, BUT WE'VE ASKED THE APPLICANT TO REFILE IT WITH MR. HENDERSON'S SIGNATURE AS, AS THE CHAIR OF THE ASSOCIATION. SO THERE'S... SO THAT'S ALL GOING TO BE REDONE.

IN FACT MAYBE... OKAY. SO I BELIEVE IF I CAN FURTHER... I KNOW SHE HAD ME SIGN SOME STUFF TONIGHT. I DIDN'T READ IT, BUT I KNOW SHE SAID...

YOU'RE, I DON'T HEAR WHAT SHE'S SAYING. I SAID IT. I TRUST HER.

SHE'S A GOOD GIRL. AND ON THAT, SO THE PERSON THAT THEY HIRE CAN DO THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT, THE ITEM THAT MR. HENDERSON NEEDS TO SUBMIT IS THE EXHIBIT, WHICH IS THE... LET ME GET IT REAL QUICK. WELL, THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT HAVE AN INSURANCE PROVISION. NO INSURANCE PREMIUM. WELL, IT'S THE WELL, I CAN TELL YOU ON MY OTHER HAT THAT I WEAR THAT WE DO HAVE THE INSURANCE, SPECIAL EVENT INSURANCE. NO, AND I, I BELIEVE YOU DO. MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT IT'S NOT... YEAH, MR. HENDERSON NEEDS TO SIGN THE WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY AS THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE. CORRECT, BUT I'M... I'M... AGAIN, I'M, I DON'T DOUBT THEY, THAT THEY HAVE THE INSURANCE.

MY CONCERN IS THAT THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT ITSELF DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT THE INSURANCE REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT. AND I DON'T WANT TO CROSS THE TWO, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE VOTING ON THEM SEPARATELY, BUT IN THE APPLICATION FORM FILLED OUT FOR THE HOLIDAY STROLL, THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE WALK OF HONOR. AND SO YOUR TIME IS AT THE SAME TIME. SO I'M NOT SURE HOW WE NEED TO HANDLE THAT IN TERMS OF A PERMIT OR HOW THAT IS DELINEATED IN THE DOCUMENTATION. SO FOR THE HOLIDAY STROLL IS, IS A SPECIAL EVENT AND REQUIRES A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT, AND THAT PERMIT REQUIRES THE INSURANCE.

I THINK THE, THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT IS SEPARATE AND IS ABOUT COST SHARING BUT I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO PUT IN LANGUAGE TO REQUIRE THAT THE INSURANCE, AS REQUIRED BY THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT BE OBTAINED AND AS A CONDITION OF THE AGREEMENT.

IT DOES. AND SO ON THAT, THIS...

BUT IT DOES NOT SPECIFY. IT SAYS THAT THEY WILL HOLD INSURANCE AS REQUIRED, BUT IT DOES NOT DELINEATE WHAT THAT INSURANCE IS. YEAH. SO A LITTLE BIT OF EXPLANATION ON THAT.

THIS IS A RESPONSE TO A NEW POLICY FOR WHEN THE CITY IS WORKING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND EITHER PROVIDING IN-KIND SERVICES OR SOME FUNDING. THIS IS, I BELIEVE, ONLY THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS AGREEMENT IS COMING FORWARD. SO CLEARLY ON THIS AGREEMENT, WHICH WAS A FORM THAT WAS APPROVED WE NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO IT.

BUT IT DOES IN SECTION SIX THE ORGANIZATION SHALL OBTAIN THE INSURANCE REQUIRED FOR THE PROJECT PROVIDE ALL INFORMATION REQUESTED BY THE CITY OR THE INSURANCE PROVIDER. SO WE NEED TO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT MUCH LIKE ON ANY OF OUR AGREEMENTS, THERE'S ALWAYS A CERTIFICATE OF

[02:45:02]

SO. OKAY. SO IF WE CAN...

YES, YOU'RE, WITH, IF YOU CERTAINLY IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH APPROVAL OF EITHER CONTRACT YES, IF, IF IF YOU'D LIKE US TO INCLUDE THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY INTENT TO DO THAT ANYWAY BUT YOU CAN CALL THAT OUT IN THE MOTION. SO. SO, YES, TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT AS PART OF THE MOTION, IT WOULD BE TO SUBMIT THE REQUIRED INSURANCE SAY WITHIN TWO WEEKS. AND IF NOT, THEN THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT AND THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT IS NULL AND VOID AT THAT POINT. SO BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T FULFILLED THE RES- ACTION OF THE COUNCIL. THAT'S FINE.

MY ONLY ASK IS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS CALLED OUT SOMEHOW OR SOMEHOW IMPLEMENTED INTO THIS TEMPLATE THAT INDICATES INSURANCE IS AS SPECIFIED IN EXHIBIT A, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE. SO WHATEVER OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, WHATEVER OTHER EVENTS PEOPLE ARE COMING TO US FOR, THERE IS A VERY CLEAR FOLLOW-UP THAT SAYS, THIS IS THE INSURANCE THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE, AND THIS IS WHEN YOU NEED TO SUBMIT IT BY. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO WHAT, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT POLICY THAT WAS CREATED AND MAKE SURE THAT THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS PART OF THE DIFFICULTY IN THIS IS THAT THE EVENTS DIFFER. IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS, YOU KNOW, A BENCH IN A PARK, BUT WE'RE PROVIDING X AMOUNT OF IN-KIND SERVICES, WHICH IS A COST TO THE CITY.

SO YEAH, WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE THIS. YES. YOU CAN LEAVE IT AS A BLANK THAT SAYS TO BE FILLED IN, YOU KNOW, PURSUANT TO WHATEVER THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT IS. THE TEMPLATE CAN STAY THE SAME, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF REFERENCE TO IF INSURANCE IS REQUIRED, FILL IN WHAT IT IS. SO BE IT.

OF A, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE, BUT THAT NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED. NO, ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S, THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE'LL TAKE FORWARD AND ADVISE. WOULD YOU PREFER TO TABLE THIS TILL NEXT MONTH SO WE GET THIS LANGUAGE CLEARED UP SO WE CAN VOTE ON IT ALL AT ONCE FOR THE NIGHT, OR ARE YOU... I, I, I, I TRUST THAT THE ATTORNEY UNDER DIRECTION WILL PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE MOTION. YEAH, I JUST FEEL THAT ALONG WITH COUNCILOR LAL, THAT WHEN WE RECEIVE THIS STUFF ON THE DAIS, WE SHOULD HAVE STUFF ACROSS OUR T'S AND DOT OUR I'S TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S PROPER BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS. NOT THAT WE DON'T TRUST ANYONE, BUT THE POINT IS, IS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE VOTING ON A, ON SOMETHING THAT IS BINDING, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT'S IN THAT BINDING IS CORRECT. I THINK WE'RE CLEAR ON WHAT IS NEEDED. OKAY. ARE WE GOOD WITH THAT? AND THEN JUST TO CLARIFY, SO THAT... WE'RE JUST SIGNING OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE NOT IN HERE ALREADY.

NO, WE HAVE THEM HERE. GEORGE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE'S SIGNING.

I'M KIDDING. OKAY, DON'T...

ANYBODY RECORDING THIS, I'M KIDDING. ALL RIGHT, IT WAS A JOKE. IT WAS A JOKE.

BUT YEAH, WE JUST SIGNED THE NEW DOCUMENTS TONIGHT. OKAY.

OKAY. IT'S A TEMPLATE BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH OTHER PLACES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. SO AS, YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE OF THE PROCESS. AND I, I AGREE WITH COUNCILOR LAL, MAKE SURE WE CROSS OUR T'S AND DOT OUR I'S, BUT WITH THAT, I THINK OUR ATTORNEY IS. SO I'M, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON IT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION'S REQUEST FOR THE OLD TOWN HOLIDAY STROLL, PENDING THE ADDITION AND INCLUSION OF THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION REGARDING THE INSURANCE AND THE RECEIPT OF THE OTHER DOCUMENTS. OKAY.

WELL, I'M JUST, JUST FOR FUTURE NOTICE, THAT'S JUST MY MOTION, SO I DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT IT THEN. OKAY, LET'S KEEP MOVING ON THEN. BUT FOR WHEN WE DO THAT, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT THEN, THOUGH. ARE WE GOOD? WE'RE GOOD. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR TALK. THANK YOU.

AGAIN WE CAN DIVIDE THIS. WE CAN TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ONE, AND THEN COME BACK ON THE VOTES. YEAH. HOLIDAY STROLL. HOLIDAY STROLL. YEAH.

AND AGAIN, I WANT... YEAH. AND IF I COULD REAL QUICK BEFORE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, I WANT TO... AGAIN, THIS IS A

[02:50:01]

MY BROTHER PLAYED SANTA FOR A GOOD TWENTY YEARS. I RAN CRAFTS. WE DID SANTA PICTURES.

MY SISTERS WERE THERE, MY FATHER, EVERYBODY. SO I'M JUST HOPING THAT THE CITY WILL SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A COMMUNITY EVENT. IT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER. LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT ESPECIALLY LAST YEAR, SHERRY AND I HAD THE TREK THERE. IT'S LA VERNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, NOT HERITAGE FOUNDATION, BUT THAT'S OKAY. WE'RE SEPARATE ENTITIES, BUT ALL GOOD. AND WE DID HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE CHOIR COME. THEY, THEY SANG. IT WAS GREAT, YOU KNOW.

THEY WERE ABLE TO PASS THE HAT AROUND SO THEY'D GET SOME DONATIONS, AND IT'S JUST REALLY GREAT.

AND WE'RE AT THE TABLE, WE TALK TO PEOPLE. PEOPLE COME FROM OTHER PLACES, AND THEN THEY'RE LIKE, WOW, IT'S GREAT HERE. THEN THEY STAY, THEY EAT, THEY SHOP.

IT'S GOOD FOR US TO GET MORE TAX REVENUE, WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED. SO I HOPE THAT YOU'LL SUPPORT IT, AND HOPEFULLY THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THESE HUGE LICENSING FEES FOR US. OF COURSE, WE'RE A NONPROFIT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'RE ALL VOLUNTARY.

NOBODY GETS PAID IN OUR ORGANIZATION. WE END UP PAYING I MEAN, SHERRY, ALL THE JAMS AND JELLIES, SHE AND HER HUSBAND, THEY PAY FOR THE MATERIALS THEY, THEY PAY FOR, THEY DONATE THE WHOLE THING.

SO IT'S ALL PROFIT, SO BUY SOME. BUT ANYWAY, PLEASE SUPPORT THIS, BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

IT'S THE KICKOFF OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND EVERYBODY NEEDS IT.

THANKS. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? WITHOUT HAVING A CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT, BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DAIS.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I'LL REPEAT THE MOTION. PLEASE.

THAT I MOVE TO APPROVE THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OLD TOWN LA VERNE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION REQUEST FOR THE OLD TOWN HOLIDAY STROLL WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT MARLOWE WORKING ON THE INSURANCE INFORMATION OF THE DEFENDANTS. AND THEN THE QUESTION WILL BE WHETHER WE WILL DO THE SINGLE BUSINESS PERMIT FOR THE BUSINESS LICENSE RATHER FOR THE... IT'S TO, IT'S TO NOT ASSESS THE FEE, TO WAIVE THE FEES, BUT WE WILL STILL HAVE THOSE BUSINESSES DO THE PAPERWORK FOR THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE, BUT THEY WILL NOT BE CHARGED.

UNTIL, AND THEN IN THE FUTURE, WE SHOULD HAVE THIS OTHER SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR A MASTER'S LICENSE AND NO COUNCIL. OKAY. CORRECT.

DIRECTION. YEAH. SORRY, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A SECOND. LET'S VOTE, PLEASE. MOTION BY LYLE, SECONDED BY CROSBY. FOR THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION ITEM, APPROVE FIVE-OH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, RILEY, VERY MUCH.

DON'T LISTEN TO THOSE TWO.

THANK YOU. WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. GREG WALTERS. MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU. I HAVE TO ASK YOU A QUICK LITTLE QUESTION FIRST, THOUGH. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE ATTENDED A MEETING

[02:55:01]

SO THE QUESTION IS, ARE THE SEATS GETTING NARROWER, OR AM I GETTING BIGGER? I CAN'T, CAN'T QUITE FIGURE THAT ONE OUT. THEY'RE THE SAME SIZE AS ALWAYS, AND THEY'RE JUST MORE UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN YOU SIT FOR LIKE TWO OR THREE HOURS, THAT'S WHAT IT IS. THERE YOU GO. YOU COULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING ELSE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US BACK. I'VE, I'VE BEEN TOLD TO TRY TO KEEP MY PRESENTATION BRIEF.

AND I WILL, I WILL DO THAT IN BEST, BEST OF MY ABILITY HERE.

SINCE WE FIRST CAME TO THE COUNCIL IN APRIL LAST YEAR WE'VE BEEN VERY BUSY. WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO FORMULATE A BOARD, GET COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO JOIN OUR BOARD, AND WE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED FILINGS FOR NONPROFIT TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. SO WE ARE 501C3 TAX-EXEMPT, AND USE THAT TO SOLICIT FUNDS. ACTUALLY, MOST OF OUR BOARD IS HERE TONIGHT.

MYSELF DON KENDRICK DEBORAH CARTER, PEGGY REDMAN, AND RON INGALLS DOWN AT THE END. WE HAVE TWO OTHER MEMBERS THAT AREN'T HERE, CRAIG BEAUMONT AND DAVE ZYLSTRA, ARE A SEVEN-MEMBER BOARD. I THINK I, I, I'D LIKE TO FOCUS PRIMARILY ON TWO ISSUES THAT I KNOW HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS. AND THEY SEEM TO BE, AT LEAST ONE OF THEM, A RECURRING QUESTION BEFORE THE COUNCIL, AND THAT CONCERNS MONEY. WE MADE A COMMITMENT LAST YEAR THAT WE WOULD DO THIS PROJECT WITHOUT INCURRING OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS FOR THE CITY. THAT WAS ALL THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD. WE FOLLOWED UP WITH THAT. WE, WE PAID FOR ALL OF THE OUT-OF-POCKET, OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS FOR CONCRETE PAID FOR THE NONSTICK COATING THAT WAS REQUIRED, PAID FOR CITY ENGINEER TIME TO LOOK INTO THAT ISSUE, AND WE ALSO PAID FOR OVERTIME FOR STAFF. THE THING THAT WE DID NOT PAY FOR, AND OF COURSE WE PAID FOR ALL OF THE, THE PAVERS AND, AND ALL THE PROMOTION, ET CETERA. THE THING THAT WE DID NOT PAY FOR, WHICH WAS THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION, WAS PROVIDING ON, ON NORMAL BI- NORMAL WORK HOURS STAFF TIME. AS WAS MENTIONED, UNFORTUNATELY, THE PAVERS WERE DELAYED, AND THAT REQUIRED SOME OVERTIME TO GET THEM INSTALLED ON TIME.

BUT BY THE WAY, THE, THE PUBLIC WORKS CREW DID AN AMAZING JOB.

I WAS, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED AND GRATIFIED WHEN I WENT DOWN THERE ONE DAY WHEN THEY WERE PUTTING THEM IN, AND ONE OF THEM JUST SPONTANEOUSLY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO A GREAT JOB FOR THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITY, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE DOING THIS. THEY, THEY WERE VERY PROUD OF IT, AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB. SO THIS YEAR, WE'RE REQUESTING THE SAME ARRANGEMENT THAT WAS IN THE ERICS REPORT THAT WE WILL COVER ALL OF THE OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS, SO I CAN SAY THAT THERE WOULD BE NO OUT-OF-BUDGET COST THAT THE CITY WOULD INCUR. ANY COST FOR NORMAL STAFF TIME IS ALREADY ACCOUNTED FOR. WE'RE NOT ADDING TO THE BUDGET. WE'RE NOT ADDING TO ANY POTENTIAL DEFICIT. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR LA VERNE? YOU KNOW, ALL EVENING LONG, WE'VE HEARD COMMENDATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS, FOR GROUPS, FOR VFW, FOR THE WORK THAT, THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED, I, MY FIRST INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CITY OF LA VERNE, I WAS A BECAME A POLICE EXPLORER IN, I BELIEVE, 1972, AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN ONE THING OR ANOTHER SINCE THEN. EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, THE THING I'VE FELT MOST PROUD ABOUT WITH THE CITY IS THE, THE VOLUNTEERISM, THE COMMITMENT TO SERVICE STEPPING UP AND DOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. BACK IN THOSE DAYS, WE DIDN'T HAVE LOTS OF CITY STAFF TO DO ALL THESE EXTRA THINGS, SO IT DEPENDED ON THE VOLUNTEERS AND THOSE PEOPLE TO, TO MAKE THE CITY WHAT IT IS.

AND I THINK WE CAN ALL BE VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT LA VERNE IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE IN, LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO STEPPED UP AND REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS IT'S PERMANENT, AND IT PROVIDES A LEGACY, AND THROUGH THE WEBSITE THAT WE HAVE CREATED AND THE BIOG-BI-BIOGRAPHIES FOR ALL OF THE HONOREES, PEOPLE NOW, PEOPLE TEN YEARS, TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW CAN SEE WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE. WE HEAR NAMES THROWN OUT, YOU KNOW, WELL, THIS, THIS PERSON REALLY DID A GREAT JOB. THEY VOLUNTEERED A LOT. WELL, WE DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS. AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE LEGACY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE IS TO TELL THE STORY

[03:00:01]

WE ARE A PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, AS I MENTIONED.

WE HAVE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND THE BOARD MAKES THOSE DECISIONS. WE HAD TO START WITH SOMETHING, AND SO WE CREATED A LIST OF, AND, AND AGAIN, THE CITY HAS A GREAT WEALTH OF WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE IN HONORING FOLKS. SO WE TOOK THE LIST OF CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS. WE TOOK THE LIST OF THE JACK HUNTINGTON AND JIM SCRANTON AWARD WINNERS. AND WE ALSO THEN TOOK INPUT FROM THE BOARD AND FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT, THAT MADE SUGGESTIONS. SO WE HAVE A CURRENT LIST OF ABOUT A HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIVE NAMES.

ANY ONE OF THEM IS, YOU KNOW, BEYOND REPROACH FOR RECOGNITION OF THIS TYPE.

AS HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE, THE, THE HONOREES LAST YEAR CANNOT BE CONSIDERED TO BE, WELL, THESE ARE THE TOP TEN, AND THIS YEAR IS THE SECOND TEN. NO, ALL OF THEM ARE WORTHY OF RECOGNITION, AND THERE'S NO PARTICULAR ORDER. THE ONLY THING THAT WE USE AS PART OF THE, THE DISCUSSION PROCESS IS TO TRY TO CREATE A DIVERSE GROUP, AND WE HAVE SIX OR SEVEN CATEGORIES, INCLUDING EDUCATION, CIVIC INVOLVEMENT SPORTS, RELIGION DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY AND SERVICE THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, SO WE CAN HAVE A NICE DIVERSE GROUP. IT'S NOT POLITICAL, IT'S NOT PERSONAL, OTHER THAN WE ALL FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS, AND FOR THOSE REASONS, WE WOULD WHOLEHEARTEDLY LIKE TO SEE THIS CONTINUE ON INTO THE FUTURE FOR A LONG TIME TO COME. MR. MAYOR, YOU CAME LAST YEAR, HAD SOME GREAT WORDS TO SAY ABOUT THE PROJECT. WE'D LIKE TO HAVE YOU BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR IN TWO MONTHS, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THE RECEPTION THAT WE HAD THAT, THE DEDICATION WE HAD THAT MORNING WAS EXTREMELY WELL RECEIVED.

MANY FAMILIES CAME, SOME TRAVELED FOR QUITE SOME DISTANCE TO BE HERE TO, TO SEE THE HONORS PRESENTED.

SO WE AGREE WITH THE STAFF REPORT, THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.

WE'RE WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD. I KNOW THAT DON KENDRICK WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE, THE PROCESS AT THIS POINT, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS, I, I THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GREG.

MR. KENDRICK. SO WHEN, WHEN THE COMMITTEE MEETS AND WE SELECT, AND WE SELECT PRETTY EARLY IN THE YEAR, AND THE REASON IS, IS WE WANT TO CONTACT THE FAMILIES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF IT AND THAT THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF IT. WE HAVE ONE RECIPIENT THIS YEAR THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A FAMILY REUNION. IF I TOLD YOU THE NAME OF IT, THE PERSON, YOU WOULD SAY, ABSOLUTELY, THIS IS JUST A STELLAR PERSON.

THEY'RE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. SO WE DO IT EARLY IN THE YEAR, AND I WILL TELL YOU, NOT EVERYBODY ON THE COMMITTEE AGREES WITH EVERYBODY ELSE. WE WILL BE ADDING PEOPLE AS WE GO ALONG. I HAVE A GREAT ANALOGY ON, ON THE COMMITTEE. WE ADDED TWO PEOPLE THAT WERE HONORED LAST YEAR, PEGGY REDMAN AND DAVE ZYLSTRA, AND THE REASON THEY WERE ADDED, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME, YOU DON'T GET IN BY THE WRITERS, THERE IS WHAT'S CALLED AN ERA GROUP, AND THAT IS THE GROUP OF HALL OF FAMERS THAT LOOK AT POTENTIAL PEOPLE AND SAY THEY BELONG IN THE HALL. THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN HAVING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN HONORED AS SOME OF THE FINEST PEOPLE WE HAVE ABOUT GIVING BACK TO LOOK AROUND AND SAYING, I GOT PEOPLE AS WELL. SO OUR LIST IS ACTUALLY OVER A HUNDRED AND FIFTY NAMES. I HAVE THE LIST. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M NOT READY TO DIVULGE IT, BUT WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT CRAIG SAID STARTS OFF THE CITIZEN OF THE, OF THE YEAR. WE'VE GOT THE JACK HUNTINGTON, THE MIKE SCRANTON AWARD. WE HAVE GROUPS THAT ARE PARTICIPANTS IN LA VERNE THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS GROUP, SEROPTIMUS,

[03:05:02]

SO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE VFW, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST. WE CAN TELL THEIR STORY, HERITAGE PARK CAMP LA VERNE VOLUNTEERS.

THAT'S A BRETHREN CHURCH UP, UP ON THE UP THIRTY-EIGHT CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN. I HAVE THREE OLDER SISTERS, ALL WENT, AND WE'RE METHODISTS. SO TONS OF KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY GROWING UP VISITED AND CAMPED AT CAMP LA VERNE, AND MANY OF THEM BECAME COUNSELORS. RSVP HOW MANY PEOPLE KNEW THAT WE HAD A MOUNTED POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, AS PART OF OUR PD AND THEIR RESERVES? THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE HONORED. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO. WE WANT TO PAY, WE, WE WILL FUNDRAISE, AND WE'LL PAY FOR THE PAVERS.

WE WILL TELL THE STORIES, BUT WE WANT THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION, AND WE ASK FOR IT. I READ SOMETHING TODAY I THOUGHT WAS VERY IMPORTANT AS KIND OF MY PARTING THING. ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE DEEP SECRETS OF LIFE IS THAT ALL THAT IS REALLY WORTH DOING IS WHAT WE DO FOR OTHERS, AND THAT'S TOTAL RECOGNITION.

THANKING PEOPLE FOR WHAT THEY DID GIVES US A SOMEBODY AS AN EXAMPLE TO DO. MY FATHER VOLUNTEERED IN THIS CITY FOR THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS, AND I THINK IT, I THINK IT KIND OF RUBBED OFF ON ME. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU, DON.

WE'RE GOING TO GO AND OPEN A PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS THE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? BEING DONE, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE NOTHING ON THE BOARD.

WE'RE GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DAIS. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. I BELIEVE IN HONORING OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR, OUR PAST LEADERS THAT HAVE REALLY MOVED THIS CITY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. MY CONCERN, I'VE, AND I'VE SPOKE WITH COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN THE PAST, AND INCLUDING EVEN TODAY, WAS THAT I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEIR PROCESS WAS.

AND SO I THINK THEM BRINGING UP AND TRYING TO TELL US WHAT THE PROCESS IS.

AND SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE HAVING THAT OPENNESS OF WHAT AND HOW NAMES ARE COME ACROSS.

I AGREE WITH THE NAMES FROM LAST YEAR, AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS WAS, AND SO REALLY DO APPRECIATE KEEPING OPEN AND TRANSPARENT OF HOW THEY'RE CHOSEN AND, AND WHO THEY'RE CHOOSING FROM.

THANK YOU, MR. CROSBY.

COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON.

TO BE HONEST, I WAS A LITTLE UPSET, OR MORE THAN A LITTLE UPSET, LAST YEAR AND THAT'S MAINLY BECAUSE THE CITY COUNCIL NEVER VOTED TO GO AHEAD WITH THE PROCESS OF THE PAVERS. THAT, THAT WAS, WE NEVER SAID YES, DO IT. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE FROM THE CITY WORKING ON THE CONCRETE, PUTTING THESE PAVERS IN.

THAT, THAT RUBS ME THE WRONG WAY, NOT GETTING APPROVAL TO DO THE PROJECT AND GOING AHEAD AND DOING IT. COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BENEFICIAL TO HONOR OUR HISTORY AND LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHO HAS HELPED SHAPE LA VERNE TO BE THE PLACE THAT IT IS TODAY. I OBVIOUSLY HAVE PEOPLE THAT RECEIVED THE AWARD LAST YEAR THAT I LOVE DEARLY AND CONSIDER GOOD, GOOD PEOPLE IN MY LIFE THAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR.

BUT I TOO WOULD APPRECIATE, AND I THINK BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CITY PROPERTY AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU KNOW, IT'S A SPACE IN OPEN CITY SPACE,

[03:10:01]

IT ALSO HAS THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SO THAT'S OPEN AND APPARENT WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN THESE DISCUSSIONS, BUT I THINK A DISCUSSION OR A SECTION ON HOW THESE CHOICES ARE MADE, WHAT THE PROCESS IS, AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE. SO THAT'S WHERE MY COMMENTS ARE ON THAT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR LA. TERRIBLE TIM. IT'S GOOD TO HONOR OUR PAST, THE HOLIDAY STROLL. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT I ACTUALLY ATTENDED, AND LOVE SEEING THAT, LOVE SEEING HOW THE COMMUNITY GATHERS TOGETHER TO HONOR A REALLY SPECIAL DAY.

THE WALK OF HONOR IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR, TO HONOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE HAD A LASTING IMPACT.

AND THEIR LASTING IMPACT, IN MY OPINION, IS ALWAYS MORE THAN JUST PUTTING THEIR NAME ON A, ON A CONCRETE SLICING OF IMPACT THAT THEY HAVE ON MANY FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND I WISH YOU WELL AND GODSPEED. THAT IS ALL I HAVE.

GREAT COMMENTS. I, I WOULD ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON, I, I, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAD A LITTLE MISSTEP ON AS FAR AS COMMUNICATION TO THE COUNCIL, WHICH WHEN THINGS HAPPEN ON OPEN STREETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE DO NEED TO BE A PART OF THAT, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TO GO OVER THIS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CROSS OUR T'S AND DOT OUR I'S, THAT WE'RE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. I KIND OF WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO THE PEOPLE ARE, BUT I THINK THE PROCESS YOU GUYS ARE DOING, AS, AS COUNCIL MEMBER LAU STATED, IT'S IMPORTANT, THE PROCESS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW YOU DO IT. ONCE YOU DO THOSE NAMES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO SAY HOW YOU, YOU GUYS CHOSE THAT. WE ARE WATCHING OUR COSTS, AS YOU GUYS ALL KNOW. YOU'VE HEARD THAT ENOUGH AD NAUSEUM TONIGHT ABOUT OUR, OUR COSTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT I THOUGHT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE SELECTED WERE STELLAR. I, I, I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT WHATSOEVER. I THINK IT WAS THE PROCESS, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE NOW, IS TO KIND OF CLEAN THAT UP AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT IT'S LIKE CUT AND DRY AND WE JUST MOVE FORWARD.

SO YEAH, I, I DO THE, THE PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, MS. REDMAN OVER THERE THAT YOUNG LADY OVER THERE THAT TAUGHT MY DAUGHTER, I MEAN, I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, THIS FAMILY LINEAGE THAT GOES THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PASSED BEFORE US AND HAVE LEFT A MARK THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY USED TO DO, WHICH IS HELP, AND THEY DON'T DO IT TO BE RECOGNIZED. THEY DO IT BECAUSE THAT'S A WAY OF LIFE.

THEY'RE LIKE THE SERVICE, THEY LIKE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

SO WITH THAT, YES, COUNCILMEMBER. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, MR. SCHERER, IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS ONE. I KNOW THAT THE INTENT IS FOR THE UNVEILING OF THE WALK OF HONOR TO HAPPEN ON THE SAME DAY AS THE HOLIDAY STROLL. SO CORRECT.

BUT AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, LIKE, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE, LIKE, DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT? BECAUSE IF THE EVENT IS LIKE WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR, THAT IS, IT'S LISTED ON THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT FOR THE HOLIDAY STROLL AS THEY HAVE A DJ AT THAT TIME, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE WALK OF HONOR HAS INDICATED THAT THEY'RE USING MONERO SQUARE TO DO THE CEREMONY AND THEN, I'M ASSUMING, WALK OVER TO WHEREVER THE PAVERS ARE.

AND SO IF THAT'S A WHOLE THING IN AND OF ITSELF, DOES THAT REQUIRE ITS OWN EVENT PERMIT, OR IS THAT JUST A COORDINATION OF TIME AND SCHEDULE WITH IT, IT WAS A COORDINATION LAST YEAR AND THAT WAS THE INTENTION THIS YEAR, BUT SPEAKING WITH CITY MANAGER THIS AFTERNOON, THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T ASK THE GROUP TO FILE A SEPARATE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT SINCE THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME, IT'S TWO MONTHS AWAY, SO TO PROCESS A SEPARATE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT, WHICH BASICALLY IS FOR THE USE OF MONERO SQUARE. THEY'RE ALL IN PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY IN PUBLIC SPACES, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE CLOSING THE STREET DOWN FOR THAT SPECIAL EVENT, AND SINCE OUR PUBLIC WORKS CREWS ARE DOING THE WORK DURING THE DAY, THERE'S NO OTHER SEPARATE PERMIT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PULL, BUT WE, WE WILL ASK THEM TO DO THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT JUST TO HAVE THAT EXTRA LAYER OF INFORMATION, I GUESS AND CONSISTENCY MOVING FORWARD.

AND ON THAT IT DOESN'T, THE EVENT ON ITS OWN DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR A SPECIAL EVENT EXCEPT THERE'S ALWAYS THAT ONE ITEM THAT SAYS ANY OTHER TYPE OF EVENT IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE CITY MANAGER AND OR THE POLICE CHIEF OF POLICE. SO IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION, WE COULD ALWAYS HAVE THEM DO IT, BUT IT WAS KIND OF A COORDINATION ON ITS OWN,

[03:15:01]

THAT'S MY QUESTION. DOES IT WARRANT A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT, OR IS IT JUST A COORDINATION? BECAUSE AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY WERE VOTING ON THESE AS TWO SEPARATE ITEMS, AND THEY'RE TWO CONSIDERED TWO DISTINCT THINGS, AND YET THE DOCUMENTATION ITSELF DOES NOT INDICATE THE COLLABORATION, BECAUSE THE EVENT PERMIT THAT WAS FILED BY THE HOLIDAY STROLL ONLY INDICATES THAT THEY'RE USING THAT SPACE AT THAT TIME AND DOES NOT INDICATE THAT, WELL, THE TWO IS BLOCK DEMONIC. SO I JUST THINK WE JUST NEED TO CLEAR IT UP FOR OUR OWN CLARIFI- YOU KNOW, FOR CLARIFICATION'S SAKE AND JUST TO MAKE SURE OUR RECORDS ARE CORRECT, YEAH, AND SINCE THIS IS THE SECOND, OR COULD BE THE SECOND YEAR IF APPROVED I THINK WE NEED TO WORK WITH BOTH ORGANIZATIONS A LITTLE BIT MORE IN A COORDINATED FASHION TO SPELL OUT THAT TIMEFRAME.

AND IF ONE SAYS TWELVE TO TWO, DJ, AND ALL THAT STUFF, IF IT'S A COORDINATED EVENT, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE THAT ALLOCATION OF TIME FOR THE WALK OF HONOR. RIGHT. SO.

BECAUSE IT IS A LARGE EVENT. I MEAN, IT'S LARGE. LAST TIME IT WAS HUGE, AND WE HAD PEOPLE, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THAT MONERO SQUARE, AND THEN WE ALL KIND OF WALKED OVER TO THE, WHERE THE WALK OF HONOR WAS.

SO I DO AGREE, THERE IS A COORDINATION, AND ESPECIALLY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE ARE PROTECTED AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PRESENCE, MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS AND THE PEOPLE ARE COMING. AND THEN WE GO OVER TO THE STROLL RIGHT AF- JUST LITERALLY RIGHT AFTER THAT, YOU START THE HOLIDAY STROLL.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH OTHER, SO I, I DO AGREE. HOW DO YOU DIFFERENTIATE THE TWO? GREG, YOU HAD SOMETHING TO... IT'S OUR INTENT TO APPROACH THIS AS A COORDINATED EVENT. THERE IS CROSSOVER ANYWAY. THE HOLIDAY STROLL ACTUALLY STARTS AT TWELVE. OUR DEDICATION CEREMONY STARTS AT ONE. WE ARE USING THE DJ THAT'S THERE FOR THE HOLIDAY STROLL. LAST, I, I THINK IT'S JUST WE DIDN'T THINK THROUGH ALL THE THINGS BECAUSE LAST YEAR I WAS, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION AND SUBMITTED THE EVENT PERMIT AND THIS, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK WE JUST HAVE ALREADY STARTED TALKING WITH THE ASSOCIATION TO, TO MAKE SURE WE, WE GET THE RIGHT LANGUAGE IN THERE. BUT I, I WOULD PREFER TO SEE IT DONE AS A COORDINATED EVENT. IT'S LIKE THIS IS ONE PIECE OF THE HOLIDAY STROLL DAY OF DAILY EVENTS. RIGHT. AND, AND LIKE I SAID, I ONLY MENTIONED THIS BECAUSE IN THE NARRATIVE IT'S GOT 12 PM DJ 12 PM TO 5 PM CAROLERS ARE WANDERING, AND SO IF YOU'RE INTENDING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BE AT THE ACTUAL WALK OF HONOR PART OF IT, I JUST, I JUST THINK THAT PART CLARIFIES IT.

YEAH, AND THE DJ IS AT MONERO SQUARE. SO HE'S PROVIDING MUSIC, YOU KNOW, AMBIENT HOLIDAY MUSIC, AND THEN WE STEP IN AT ONE O'CLOCK, DO THE CEREMONY, THE PRESENTATIONS, AND THEN MOVE ON FOR THE UNVEILING. SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY ALL WRAPPED TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CRAIG. CAN I MAKE JUST A SEPARATE SUGGESTION TOO, PLEASE? AND LIKE ALL SUGGESTIONS, THEY'RE WORTH NOTHING. I KNOW WE HAVE IT ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER. IF WE COULD PUT THIS NEXT ONE ON A DIFFERENT SIDE SO IT MAKES PEOPLE GO AROUND, IF IT'S NOT JUST BUILT ON TO THE ONE SECTION, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S PLANNED OR NOT PLANNED. I'M SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE ACTUALLY CLARIFIED THAT.

SO YES IT IS PLANNED FOR THE NORTHWEST SORRY, FRONT OF THE DONUT SHOP. SO THERE WILL BE BOTH DIRECTIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE STREETS, AND THE IDEA IS TO CONTINUE THAT TO EVENTUALLY FILL THE STREET.

THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SIR. VERY GOOD. WITH THAT, COUNCILOR LA, WE GOOD? OKAY, EVERYBODY ELSE, WE'RE GOOD? WITH THAT, DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH LA VERNE WALK OF HONOR COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE CITY SUPPORT FOR THE WALK OF HONOR PROGRAM WITH THE UNVEILING CEREMONY ON DECEMBER 5TH, 2026? I WILL MOVE. MY ONLY, I GUESS, LET ME BEFORE I MOVE.

THERE'S NO INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS ON THIS ONE, RIGHT? THERE IS INSURANCE FOR, FOR THE, FOR THE INSULATION.

OKAY, SO, SO SUBJECT TO MY PRIOR MOTION TO THE SAME CONDITIONS OF THIS PRIOR MOTION, I WILL MOVE THIS FORWARD FOR APPROVAL WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ATTORNEY WILL INSERT THE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE NECESSARY FOR THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS. I HAVE A SECOND ON. SECOND. VOTE, PLEASE. THIS IS ITEM NINE TWO, MOTION BY LYLE, SECONDED BY CASHEL FAGITA, AND APPROVED FIVE-OH. I WILL SAY THAT'S EXHAUSTING, OKAY? EXHAUSTING, BUT IT'S ALL GOOD. IT'S ALL GOOD. OKAY, WITH THAT. THERE

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

[03:20:02]

YOUR CONCERNS MAY BE REFERRED TO STAFF OR PLACED FOR DISCUSSION AT A LATER DATE. WE WILL HAVE A HARD THREE-MINUTE TIMEFRAME.

SO WHEN THE THREE MINUTES ARE UP, PLEASE NEXT PERSON COME UP.

WE'RE REACHING THE BEWITCHING HOUR. WITH THAT, WE HAVE SHERRY SHAW. GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. ARE YOU RUNNING FOR SOMETHING? YES. OH, THERE YOU ARE. GOOD EVENING MAYOR HEPBURN, COUNCIL MEMBERS, RESIDENTS OF LA VERNE. MY NAME IS SHERRY SHAW, AND I AM RUNNING FOR THREE VALLEYS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT DIVISION THREE SEAT THIS NOVEMBER. THIS SEAT BECAME AVAILABLE EARLY AS MR. JEFF HANLON GAVE UP HIS SEAT REPRESENTING DIVISION THREE IN JUNE TO APPLY FOR A STAFF POSITION AT THREE VALLEYS, LEAVING THE COMMUNITIES OF LA VERNE AND CLAREMONT UNREPRESENTED.

SINCE I HAD RECENTLY RETIRED FROM WALNUT VALLEY WATER DISTRICT THE PREVIOUS MONTH, I REALIZED I HAD THE PERFECT SKILL SET AND KNOWLEDGE TO FILL THIS MUCH NEEDED SEAT.

THE THREE VALLEYS BOARD DECIDED NOT TO APPOINT THE POSITION BUT TO ALLOW IT TO GO TO ELECTION THIS NOVEMBER.

IN THE MEANTIME, MR. HANLON DID NOT GET THE STAFF POSITION AND CHOSE TO RERUN FOR THE POSITION IN THE ELECTION. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME, I WORKED IN THE WATER FIELD AS AN ENGINEER FOR THIRTY-FIVE YEARS BECAUSE I LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE. AND I'VE WORKED FOR WALNUT VALLEY, ONE OF THREE VALLEYS MEMBER AGENCIES, FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, MY LAST YEAR, TWO YEARS AS GENERAL MANAGER.

THERE'S LEGACY HERE WITH ME. I HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY OF LA VERNE A TOTAL OF TWENTY-NINE YEARS. MY CHILDREN WERE BORN AND RAISED IN LA VERNE, OAK MESA, RAMONA, BONITA. MY SON DID HIS STUDENT TEACHING AT BONITA. I TAUGHT IN LA VERNE JAZZERCISE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR TWO DECADES, AND THE CITY IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

DURING MY TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AT WALNUT, I'VE ACTIVELY WORKED WITH THREE VALLEYS STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS ON VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES, INCLUDING MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND MOST RECENTLY, THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND ITS NEW FIXED RATE BUSINESS MODEL MIMICKING METROPOLITAN'S MODEL. THIS DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE NEW WATER RATES HEADED OUR WAY. THE BIGGEST ISSUE AT HAND IS METROPOLITAN'S FIXED RATE CONVERSION. THEY STARTED IT LAST YEAR, IT'S PROJECTED TO ALMOST DOUBLE THIS YEAR WHICH GETS PASSED ON TO THREE VALLEYS, WHICH GETS PASSED ON TO LA VERNE. THIS IS ONLY FOR IMPORTED WATER. I HAVE EXPERIENCE NEGOTIATING THESE RATE CHANGES FROM THE RATE PAYER SIDE AT, AT WALNUT VALLEY FOR YEARS.

THIS FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE GIVES ME A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF THE THREE VALLEYS OPERATIONS, FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, AND RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS MEMBER AGENCIES.

OTHER MAIN ISSUES, THE THREE VALLEYS, I'LL SKIP OVER THAT.

BEFORE WALNUT VALLEY, I WORKED WITH TWO CONSULTING FIRMS, ONE WAS CIVILTECH WHICH GAVE ME EXTENSIVE FAMILIARITY AND INSIGHT WITH THE CITY OF LA VERNE SYSTEM, AS I DID THE 1997 WATERMASTER PLAN, SO IT WAS INTERESTING TO HAVE IT COME FULL CIRCLE TONIGHT. I ALSO AM A DIFFERENT PHASE OF MY LIFE NOW THAT I'M RETIRED, WHICH ALLOWS ME TO DEVOTE THE TIME AND ATTENTION NECESSARY TO SERVE EFFECTIVELY ON THE THREE VALLEYS BOARD. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING CONSISTENT, RELIABLE LEADERSHIP FOR THE FULL FOUR YEARS TERM. I WILL NOT QUIT ON YOU. I WILL ALSO BE REFUSING TO COLLECT THE MEDICAL, MEDICAL BENEFITS OFFERED TO THREE VALLEYS BOARD MEMBERS, WHICH WILL SAVE THE THREE VALLEYS A LOT OF MONEY UPFRONT. IF ELECTED, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE QUARTERLY UPDATES HERE AT LA VERNE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TO UPDATE THE CITIES ON THE CURRENT ISSUES AT THREE VALLEYS. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT MY INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE MAKES ME THE BEST CANDIDATE AND THE ONLY VOTE FOR LA VERNE. I'D APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE IN NOVEMBER OR ANY HELP ON THIS CAMPAIGN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. JOHN GIVENS.

JOHN GIVENS. I AM HOLDING TO THE THREE-MINUTE TIMEFRAME, SO PLEASE, WE'VE, WE'VE REACHED OUR CRESCENDO.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL PEOPLE, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M SORRY. I CAME TO THE CITY OF LA VERNE IN 1990, BROUGHT MY COMPANY TO IT. WE'RE ON WALNUT AVENUE. I WAS THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND I AM A HAVE BEEN A GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND AN AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTOR FOR FIFTY-THREE YEARS. AND I'VE DONE DSA INSPECTED PROJECTS ON

[03:25:02]

WELL, THERE'S FOUR OF THEM, TWO FOR THE SOUTH AND TWO FOR THE, THE NORTH. THE ONE THAT THEY SAID THEY REMOVED OUT OF THE FOUR, THAT'S FINE, THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE IT. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TWENTY-THREE MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT, DON'T YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK WITH A ONE FOR ITS REPLACEMENT? OKAY? NO ONE HERE IN THIS BUILDING IS EVER GOING TO FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT IT IS, IS IT COMPATIBLE, SHOULD IT BE THERE, AND HOW IS IT HOUSED? YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD AQMD SAY, YOU'RE GOING TO BRING THESE BATTERIES, THEY SHOULD BE INSIDE OF A BUILDING. THEY HAD A HEAT PROBLEM, DIDN'T THEY? THAT'S MY TRADE, AIR CONDITIONING. THEY SHOULD HAVE AIR CONDITIONED IT.

AND NOW IT'S ON FIRE. I'VE DONE SEVERAL BUILDINGS AT THE WHAT IS IT CENTURY CITY, AND THEY HAD COMPUTER ROOMS. THEY'RE RAISED ON ABOUT TWO FEET UP, AND THEY HAD AIR CONDITIONERS.

OKAY, WELL, THERE ARE SYSTEMS THAT WILL STOP THE FIRE IF THEY'RE DONE PROPERLY. THEY SURE AS HELL CAN'T DO IT OUTSIDE. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS HAVE A COMMITTEE. I'D BE GLAD TO JOIN WITH, WITH IT, WITH MY EXPERTISE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE, TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS.

THANK YOU, MR. GIVENS. WE'LL CONSIDER THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE STEVE DUQUETTE, MR. DUQUETTE. I'M HERE ON A, A WASTE MANAGEMENT MATTER. I'M A PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR WITH FIFTY-EIGHT YEARS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EXPERIENCE.

I SPECIALIZE IN FORENSIC ANAL-ANALYSIS. I'M A FORTY-EIGHT-YEAR RESIDENCE OF, RESIDENT OF LERNER, AND I HAVE SERVED ON TWO CITY COMMITTEES. THIS IS MY SIXTH COUNCIL MEETING. COME EVERY EIGHT YEARS. WHY AM I HERE? LET'S START WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT'S THEORY OF ECONOMICS. STEVE, STEVE, EXCUSE ME. CAN YOU, CAN YOU GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC? APPARENTLY, WE'RE HAVING PEOPLE CAN'T HEAR YOU IN THE BACK. I HOPE I GET TEN MORE SECONDS. CAN YOU STOP THAT? YOU'RE, YOU'RE FINE. NO? YES, YOU HAVE TEN MORE SECONDS.

MAYBE MORE THAN THAT, ACTUALLY. I JUST, JUST, OH, YEAH, THERE WE GO. THIS IS A PRETTY SERIOUS MATTER.

EVERYBODY WAS HAVING FUN WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. THIS IS A BUSINESS MATTER. I'M TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU GUYS GOT ROLLED.

I'M EXPLAINING HOW THAT HAPPENED. WE NEED TO SPEAK INTO THE MIC BECAUSE I CAN'T HEAR YOU BACK THERE. ALL RIGHT? THANK YOU. WHERE WAS I? GOT THROUGH TELLING YOU ABOUT THIS. OKAY. WHERE WAS I? OH. NOW, HERE'S THE PROBLEM.

LA VERNE ALWAYS BILLED UTILITIES AND ARREARS IN TWO-MONTH INCREMENTS.

DOES, DOES WASTE MANAGEMENT BILL ALL OF ITS CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS CUSTOMERS IN ADVANCE, THE SERVICES, AS KEN DOMER HAS ASSURED US AND HAS, IT SERVED YOU IN HIS SUB ROSA EMAIL TO THE, TO THE COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER TWENTY, FIRST TWENTY-SIX. THE TRUTH, THE TRUTH IS EMPHATIC NO.

WASTE MANAGEMENT DOES NOT UNIVERSALLY BILL ITS RESIDENT CUSTOMERS IN ADVANCE. IT IS A PRACTICE THEY WANT TO DO IT.

HOWEVER, RESIDENTIAL SERVICES THAT ARE GOVERNED BY LOCAL CITY AGREEMENTS CAN REQUIRE BILLING OR IN ARREARS. FURTHER, BASED ON A CONVERSATION I HAD LAST WEEK WITH A RETIRED TOP MANAGEMENT, FORMER EMPLOYEE

[03:30:02]

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR CLIENTELE HAPPY, REFER TO THE ECONOMIC THIRTY-ONE.

OBVIOUSLY, WHAT THE CM TOLD, THIS, THAT'S THE CITY MANAGER, TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL IT'S NOT TRUE, AND IT GETS DOWN TO THE BUSINESS, RIGHT DOWN TO BUSINESS NOW. ON JUNE 15, YOU ADOPT A, A RESOLUTION THAT WAS APPROVED IN OPEN SESSION, TRANSPARENCY. THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE SECTION 2.3 OF THAT, OF THE BUILDING SCHEDULE ON MOU READS LIKE THIS, CONTRACTOR WILL PRODUCE AND SEND INVOICES BIMONTHLY IN ARREARS. ON AND ABOUT THE SEPTEMBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR, THE CITY MANAGER SIGNED WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY, MODIFIED MOU WITHOUT CITY COUNCIL REVIEW. THE FIRST SENTENCE OF SECTION 2.3 OF THE BUILDING SECTION READS, CONTRACTOR WILL PRODUCE AND SEND INVOICES BIMONTHLY IN ADVANCE OF THE APPLICABLE SERVICE, MEANING WE'RE FINANCING WASTE MANAGEMENT. IN THE JUNE 15TH MOU APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL WAS A GOOD DEAL. JUST LIKE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED FOR ALL THESE YEARS, THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH MAYOR TIM'S FACEBOOK VIDEOS ASSURING RESIDENTS THAT ALL WILL BE THE, THE SAME WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT WHEN THEY TAKE OVER. IF THAT REMAINED IN PLACE, WE WOULD BE HAPPY. THE SEPTEMBER 1ST MOU SIGNED BY THE CITY MANAGER IS A BAD DEAL, AS IT UPSETS THE FAMILY BUDGETS OF MANY LA VERNE RESIDENTS AND IS CONTRARY TO MAYOR TIM'S PROMISE. SO THE QUESTION IS, WHY WOULD A GOOD DEAL TURN INTO A BAD DEAL? ALTHOUGH THERE COULD BE SEVERAL REASONS FOR THIS, AND I WON'T GO INTO THE MOST SERIOUS ONE, I WILL MENTION ONE. I THINK WE'RE DEALING WITH SOME LEVEL OF INCOMPETENCY, AND THIS IS MORE LIKELY AS STAFF, AND I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL OF THEM, THEY DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THEIR ACTIONS IN THIS CASE AS IT RELATES TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY. SO HERE'S THE FIX. I'M ALMOST DONE. THIS IS WHAT I THINK WE NEED. I RECOMMEND THAT THE, THESE, THESE, PLEASE BE DONE, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO DECLARE THE SEPTEMBER 1ST MOU INVALID AB INITIO BASED ON THE LACK OF AUTHORITY OF THE CITY MANAGER TO MODIFY THE AGREEMENT PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL INFORMS WASTE MANAGEMENT OF THIS DECISION.

THAT THE CITY COUNCIL INFORMS WASTE MANAGEMENT THAT THE JUNE 15TH MOU IS VALID AND MUST BE SIGNED, AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THE BILLING AND ARREARS SYSTEM MUST BE REINSTATED, LIKE ALL OTHER UTILITIES.

OKAY? ALMOST. THEREFORE, I REQUEST THAT THIS MATTER BE PLACED ON THE CITY COUNCIL'S NEXT AGENDA, TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS.

IN THE IN THE END, I END NOW THE BIBLE QUOTE TO YOU, AND I'LL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT. IT'S IN PROVERBS CHAPTER THREE, VERSE TWENTY-SEVEN. LET ME READ IT. DO NOT WITHHOLD GOOD FROM THOSE TO WHOM IT IS DUE, WHEN IT IS WITHIN THE POWER OF YOUR HAND TO DO IT. CITY COUNCIL, THIS MATTER YOU HAVE JUST HEARD IS WITHIN THE POWER OF YOUR HAND TO CORRECT. NOW, GO DO GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF LA VERNE. DO NOT LET US DOWN.

THANK YOU, MR. DUQUETTE. WE DON'T LIKE BEING ROLLED. I'VE NEVER SEEN US ROLLED BEFORE.

THAT'S WHY I'VE ONLY COME HERE THESE FEW TIMES. THANK YOU, SIR. PLEASE DO THIS. I'LL WATCH, PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

OTHERWISE, I'LL COME BACK AND GIVE THE SAME REPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S GOTTA BE DONE.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? ROBERT.

MR. CARTER. ALL RIGHT. DIDN'T GIVE YOU A BLUE SLIP. YOU'RE GOOD. GOOD EVENING. I'M ROBERT CARTER. WE HAD A LOT OF TALK THIS EVENING ABOUT DISASTERS, DISASTER EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED.

WELL, GUESS WHAT? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISASTER PREPARATION FAIR, EXCUSE ME, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FAIR OVER IN THE CITY OF SAN DIMAS THIS SATURDAY. IT'S GOING TO BE FROM NINE TO ONE. IT'S FREE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EARTHQUAKE COUNTRY THERE FIRE DEPART, LA FIRE DEPARTMENT, LA SHERIFFS, CERT, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AGENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HANDING OUT INFORMATION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICED THAT EVEN DURING THE EVACUATION, PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE GRAB-AND-GO BAGS, AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAD TO COME BACK TO GET MEDICINE.

THEY JUST WEREN'T AWARE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE THAT READILY AVAILABLE. SO ALL THIS INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE, BUT THE BIGGEST THING I WANT TO GET ACROSS IS, ONE, GET THERE, GET THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED, SO YOU KNOW HOW TO PUT TOGETHER THE GRAB-AND-GO BAG AND HOW MUCH WATER YOU NEED. I ALWAYS HEAR THIS, YOU NEED ONE GALLON OF WATER PER DAY PER PERSON.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT ONE GALLON OF WATER DRINKING SOUNDS GOOD, BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO COOK, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CLEAN, YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO SOME OTHER THINGS, AND PEOPLE WILL SAY, WELL, I GOT FORTY BOTTLES IN THE GARAGE THERE OF, YOU KNOW, EIGHTEEN OUNCES OR SIXTEEN OUNCES OR TWELVE OUNCES. IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AFTER THE THIRD DAY? BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE OUT OF WATER, AND THAT'S IF YOU GO ONE GALLON.

SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTION AND DIFFERENT INFORMATION THAT MIGHT ENHANCE PEOPLE'S ABILITY. THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO CALL 911 AND HAVE SOMEBODY THERE RIGHT AWAY, AND IT'S JUST PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE,

[03:35:01]

IF YOU'VE EVER TAKEN YOUR CERT TRAINING, YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH OTHER. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT PART. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND CAN YOU GET US THAT LITERATURE, ROBERT? CAN YOU GET US THE LITERATURE FROM THAT? IT'S ACTUALLY ON FACEBOOK IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I THINK WE WANT TO DO THAT, AND I WILL WORK WITH OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. IF WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE IT, WE SHOULD PROBABLY UTILIZE THAT ALSO. WELL, WE DID THIS TWO YEARS AGO HERE, AND WE SAW SOME GOOD REACTIONS FROM IT. WE HAD IT AT BONITA HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE DID HAVE A GOOD TURNOUT.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE ACTUALLY SAW PEOPLE TAKING ACTION, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART. I AGREE. WE CAN'T JUST SIT BACK AND GO, OKAY, I'LL GET SOME... ESPECIALLY AFTER A SITUATION. THANK YOU.

ESPECIALLY. OKAY, THANK YOU.

SO I'M BACK. I'M GOING TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION ON CALL TO ACTION. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND SHARING. I'M MONA BONTE. I'VE ACTUALLY, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF LA VERNE FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS, AND I ACTUALLY HAVE TWINS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TWO AT BONITA RIGHT NOW THAT ARE TENTH GRADERS. AND I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU TWO YEARS AGO THREE YEARS AGO, I DID A PRA REQUEST TO REVIEW THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN.

AND IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THEM TO FIND IT. IT'S AN OLD CRUSTY BINDER, AND I ACTUALLY WAS KIND OF SHOCKED THAT IT WAS THIRTY YEARS OLD, DATED 1990. I DID REACH OUT TO YOU OFFERING MY SUPPORT, BEING A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN THE FIELD, MULTIPLE TIMES, AND YOU APPARENTLY REFERRED ME TO THE CITY MANAGER, NEVER HEARD FROM ANYBODY.

BUT WHAT I, I COME HERE TODAY AS A PARTNER AND A SOLUTION, OKAY? THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN MANY EVENTS, AS YOU KNOW, RECENTLY, HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE MANY HAZARDS, AS YOU KNOW FROM YOUR HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN, WE NEED TO MAKE THIS EOP UPDATE ACTUALLY A REWRITE, A PRIORITY. CURRENTLY, THE FRAMEWORK THAT YOU HAVE, IT PREDATES SEM, STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, NIMS, TODAY'S OPERATIONAL AREA STRUCTURE, MODERN EVACUATION PLANNING, ACCESS-ACCESSIBILITY AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS, ACCORDING TO AB 477, AB 2311, THERE'S TONS OF LEGISLATION IN THIS RIGHT NOW. DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN A SITUATION FOR A LAWSUIT. LET'S NOT BE ON THE FRONT PAGE BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T DONE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. AND CONTEMPORARY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.

PLEASE, PLEASE PRIORITIZE THE UPDATED EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN ALONG WITH ANNEXES. IT CANNOT BE DONE OVERNIGHT. I GET IT. IT TAKES TIME AND MONEY.

ANNEXES, BOTH FUNCTIONAL AND HAZARD-SPECIFIC, NEED TO BE DEVELOPED. THERE ARE MANY PLANS, AND THEY NEED TO BE SOCIALIZED AND TRAINED.

THE WORLD IS OUR STAGE IN TWO YEARS. YOU ALL KNOW LA 28 IS HERE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN INFLUX OF TOURISM, AND WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR ANY HAZARD, AS YOU SAW WITH BOYLE HEIGHTS HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE OF FIFA. SO PLEASE, I, I ASK YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, WHICH ESTABLISHES A DISASTER COUNCIL, ASSIGNS EMERGENCY PLANNING RESPONSIBILITIES, IF YOU'RE EVEN, IF THAT'S EVEN ACTIVE OR FUNCTIONING AS INTENDED. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE CITY ESTABLISH A TIMELINE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE EOP REWRITE, NOT EVEN AN UPDATE, IT'S SO OUTDATED. ENSURE THE PLAN IS CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT LEGISLATIVE GUIDANCE AND REQUIREMENTS AND THE 2025 GENERAL PLAN, AND BRING THE UPDATED PLAN BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FORMAL CONSIDERATION. YOU DO TALK ABOUT THIS IN YOUR MITIGATION PLAN, AND I'M ASSUMING IT'S STILL OUTDATED BECAUSE YOUR MITIGATION PLAN SAYS IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN FIVE YEARS. I CHECKED WITH YOUR STAFF MEMBER AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING THE OTHER NIGHT AND WAS TOLD IT WASN'T UPDATED. SO I IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE PRIORITIZE THIS, BRING IT TO COUNCIL. I WILL HELP YOU BE A PARTNER IN THE SOLUTION. I AM A SME, BUT I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST AS A MEMBER. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE YOUR RISK REDUCTION SPECIALIST WHO SPOKE EARLIER. I DON'T KNOW WHO'S ASSIGNED THIS. I'D REALLY HONESTLY BE WILLING TO MEET WITH THEM AND GUIDE THEM IN THE PROCESS AND MENTOR THEM AS A CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBER.