[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
I WANT TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER ON APRIL 30TH AT 10:19 AM BECAUSE TIM HEPBURN HAD A LITTLE ISSUE. NOW I'M ON MY CELL PHONE.
LIKE TO CALL ORDER AND I WOULD LIKE TO EVERYBODY RISE AND PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND I WILL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ROLL CALL? COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.
PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.
MR. KRESS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR MAKING YOURSELVES AVAILABLE FOR THIS ADJOURNED MEETING.
[4. Public Hearing to Consider Issuance of Tax-Exempt Obligations by California Municipal Finance Authority on behalf of Hillcrest – Pursuant to Federal law, the City Council must hold a public hearing when tax exempt obligations are proposed to be issued. The City of La Verne is not a party to the financing and would not be liable on the obligations. The obligations are being issued to refinance existing debt and to finance the construction of fourteen (14) new residences which have already been approved by the City Council. NOTE: Mayor Hepburn previously served on the Hillcrest Board of Directors and advised on the new homes to be constructed. He recused himself during Council consideration of the approval of the new homes and he will recuse himself on this issue. Mayor Pro Tem Carder will conduct the public hearing.]
THERE IS JUST ONE PURPOSE, ONE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY'S MEET ON TODAY'S MEETING.FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES THAT WHEN A NONPROFIT WITHIN THE JURISDICTION PROPOSES TO ISSUE BONDS, THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE GOVERNING BODY HAS TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING.
THINK OF IT AS BEING THE VENUE FOR PUBLIC OPINION, BUT YOU'RE YOU'RE NOT REALLY OBLIGATED A PARTY TO THE TRANSACTION.
YOU HAVE REALLY NO INVOLVEMENT OTHER THAN BEING A LOCATION TYPICALLY OR A PHYSICAL PUBLIC HEARING TODAY.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE VIRTUAL.
WE'VE DONE THIS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF LAVERNE.
THREE YEARS AGO, WE'VE DONE IT FOR SEVERAL OTHER SMALLER NONPROFITS.
I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF. YEAH.
FOR THE REASONS STATED ON THE AGENDA.
THE MAYOR IS NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS HEARING.
AND MAYOR PRO TEM CARDER WILL CONDUCT THE PUBLIC HEARING JUST A MOMENT WHEN I'VE COMPLETED THE STAFF REPORT.
THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS FOR HILCREST IS GOING TO BE BY THE CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL FINANCE AUTHORITY.
THAT'S A JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY THAT THE CITY JOINED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.
THE UNIVERSITY USED THAT JOINT POWERS AUTHORITY OR THEIR RECENT ISSUANCE OF DEBT.
THE PURPOSE OF THE BONDS IS TWOFOLD.
ONE, TO REFINANCE EXISTING DEBT.
AND SECOND, TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF 14 NEW HOMES THAT WERE RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. SO I THINK THAT'S.
ALL THAT I REALLY NEED TO SAY.
MATTHEW NEELEY, CEO OF HILLCREST, IS ON THE LINE AND AVAILABLE TO ANSWERING QUESTIONS, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
OTHERWISE, HE DOES NOT WANT TO SPEAK AND MAY COME ON AFTER THIS MATTER IS CONCLUDED AND THANK THE COUNCIL. BUT.
SO I'LL JUST END IT THERE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
[00:05:01]
NO, NONE FOR ME.ANYBODY ELSE. IT LOOKS LIKE MAYOR HEPBURN HAS EXCUSED HIMSELF, WHICH WAS APPROPRIATE.
MADAM MAYOR PRO TEM IF YOU CAN DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AND THEN ASK IF CITY CLERK HAS ANYONE ON THE LINE WHO WISHES TO PARTICIPATE.
OK, AT THIS TIME, I WILL CALL THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AND THIS WILL BE DISCUSSION FOR THE PUBLIC AND OUR CITY CLERK HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY QUESTIONS? DO WE HAVE ANYONE ON THE LINE THAT WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO US? I DID A MINUTE AGO. LET ME CONFIRM RIGHT NOW IF WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE.
WE HAVE MR. VERA, THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL, AS WELL AS MR. NEELEY AS CITY ATTORNEY HAD SHARED, BUT NOBODY WHO WISHES TO SHARE PUBLIC COMMENT OTHERWISE. OK, SO THEN I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'LL BRING IT BACK UP TO THE COUNCIL FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE, I GUESS I'LL I'LL STEP IN AND SAY THAT I'M I'M THRILLED THAT HILLCREST HAS FOUND A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR HAWTHORNE PROJECT AND BUILD THE 14 NEW UNITS FOR ADDITIONAL HOUSING FOR OUR SENIORS IN LAVERNE.
I AGREE. I WENT TO THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THESE HOMES AND THEY'RE ALREADY SOLD.
ALL OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE OCCUPIED.
THE OWNERS FOR EACH HOME WERE THERE FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING AND THEY'RE SO EXCITED FOR THIS TO GET GOING. SO IT'S A WONDERFUL IMPROVEMENT FOR OUR CITY AND FOR HILLCREST ITSELF.
IT'S REALLY GREAT FOR FOR OUR CITY, BUT ALSO WHAT YOU POINTED OUT, MAYOR PRO TEM CARDER.
ALL PRESOLD. SO IT'S PEOPLE WANTING TO COME IN AND SHOWING WHAT WHAT GREAT THINGS WE HAVE HERE IN LA VERNE. I WOULD ONLY ADVISE AFTER WE MAKE THESE COMMENTS TO LOOK ONE MORE TIME FOR ANYBODY CALLING BECAUSE WE'RE ON THIS VIRTUAL STAGE.
IF SOMEONE HEARD IT AND A LITTLE DELAY.
BUT EVERYTHING ELSE, I THINK THIS IS REALLY GOOD FOR LA VERNE AND FOR HILLCREST.
OK. AND I WOULD I WOULD ECHO THE COMMENTS MADE, AND I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT PROGRESS. AND SO I'M EXCITED AND I KNOW AT LEAST ONE OF THE NEW BUYERS RESIDENTS.
SO I'M EXCITED FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THEIR NEW HOME SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
MR. RUSTY, DO WE HAVE ANY NEW COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? NONE. THANK YOU.
MADAM MAYOR PRO TEM WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO LOOK FOR A RESOLUTION OR MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2029.
RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION FROM ANYONE? I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE ADOPT RESOLUTION 2029.
DO I HEAR A SECOND? RICK? RICK CROSBY FOR THE SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
OK. YOU WANT TO TAKE OVER? SURE. WAS THERE.
IS THERE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS? NO. WAS THAT NOTED, IT LOOKS THAT IT WAS A NOTICE THERE, BECAUSE I'VE GOT PEOPLE TEXTING ME SAYING, HEY, THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I MEAN, IT SAYS, IF YOU WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE PUBLIC.
IT NEEDS TO BE ON REGULAR [INAUDIBLE].
BOB, SAY THAT AGAIN? WELL, I THINK IF IT'S A MEETING THAT THE PUBLIC.
WE'LL CHECK AND SEE IF WE GOT ANY EMAILS TO THAT EFFECT.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD ANY E-MAILS OF PEOPLE WANTING TO SPEAK ON THIS ON ANY OTHER ITEM EITHER. NO, I HAVE SOMEONE I HAD SOMEONE TEXT ME.
I MEAN, IT IS A MEETING. [INAUDIBLE].
DID THEY E-MAIL IN? DID THEY E-MAIL IN THEIR COMMENT? YOU KNOW, I'M NOT I'M NOT SURE WENDY.
I JUST GOT A TEXT. I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST KNOW IF SOMEONE WANTS TO TALK, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO TALK.
IT IS AN OPEN MEETING IF THEY FOLLOW, YOU KNOW OUR GUIDELINES.
RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHY. THAT'S WHY I SIMPLY ASKED IF THEY EMAILED OR NOT.
[00:10:01]
SO I DO NOT KNOW THAT CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.BECAUSE AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.
SO. SO WE'LL WAIT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WOULD HAVE IT WRITTEN OUT TO SEE IF I HAVE AN E-MAIL.
YES. YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK ALL OF OUR E-MAILS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WOULD GO TO. IT WOULD GO TO THE CITY CLERK ONE THAT'S BEEN INSTRUCTED.
I LIKE YOUR OFFICE. I'M IN TO WORK TODAY.
OH, YOU'RE AT YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.
OK. YEAH. YEAH, MY AREA LOOKS LIKE A BATTLESHIP.
I'VE GOT A CEILING UP THERE WITH LIGHTS.
LOOKS LIKE I DIDN'T GO TO THE EMAIL THAT WAS SUGGESTED, BUT IT'S FROM ZACH GIBSON SAYS AT THE END OF THE RESOLUTION AND IT'S REFERENCING A PRINT OF WHAT IS LIKE IN THE AGENDA.
AND CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO.
THAT IS TOO BROAD A STATEMENT FOR A RESOLUTION AND RAISES.
WHY DOES THAT SET THE LIMIT TO ONLY THE 14 HOMES MENTIONED IN THE AGENDA AT THIS MEETING? WHAT OTHER MATTERS? WHY IS THAT TACKED ONTO THE END? DO THE OTHER MATTERS HAVE TO RELATE TO HILLCREST? ANY FINANCING AND REFINANCING, ANY CONSTRUCTION, ANY FURNISHINGS, ANY EQUIPMENT, ANY ACQUISITIONS OR JUST ANY PART THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED PART OF THE HILLCREST COMMUNITY.
THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT SET ANY RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF THE BONDS OTHER THAN HILLCREST MUST USE IT FOR HOMES, WHICH IS NOT ENTIRELY ACCURATE AS IT IS FOR HOMES FOR THE 14 PRE-APPROVED HOMES.
MOREOVER, THERE NEEDS TO BE CLARIFICATION AND TRANSPARENCY ON EVERY MEASURE AND RESOLUTION. YOU VOTE TO PASS.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT TO INFORM US REGARDING WHO RECOMMENDS EACH MEASURE.
STAFF AS AMENDED IS NOT ENOUGH.
WHAT STAFF, WHO, WHAT DEPARTMENT, WHICH MEMBERS OF WHAT DEPARTMENT? WHY? SO MANY CITIES INCLUDE DEPARTMENT INTER-DEPARTMENTAL DOCUMENTS ALONG WITH COUNCIL AGENDAS, OUTLINING WHY THEY ARE RECOMMENDING A MEASURE, RESOLUTION, REQUEST, MORATORIUM, ETC.. WHY ARE WE NOT ONE OF THOSE CITIES PROVIDING OUR RESIDENTS WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO PROPERLY ADDRESS YOU, THE COUNCIL AS TO VOICING THEIR CONCERNS FOR SUPPORT? ARE YOU, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, ABLE TO FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT OF A MEASURE FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS IF THEY HAVE NO FRAME OF REFERENCE OR UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHY OR WHY NOT SOMETHING IS BEING RECOMMENDED AND PASSED.
IT IS TIME FOR TRUE TRANSPERANCY.
IT IS TIME FOR STAFF AND COUNCIL TO STOP HIDING BEHIND RECOMMENDATIONS OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, EACH DEPARTMENT OR PERSONS WHO ARE STANDING BEHIND WHAT IS PRESENTED WITH THEIR NAMES AND REASONING ATTACHED ARE DOING SO WITH OPENNESS AND HONESTY, WITH WITH PRIDE AND FIRM BELIEF IN THEIR WORK AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS CITY.
IT IS TIME TO GIVE EVERYONE THAT ABILITY, THAT TRANSPARENCY AND THAT RESPECT.
ZACH GIBSON. OK, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NOTHING ELSE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? NO ONE. THEN I THINK WE WILL CLOSE THIS MEETING AT 10:33.
MEETING IS ADJOURNED AND WE WILL RETURN TO MONDAY NIGHT AT 6:30.
CORRECT, BOB, FOR A COUNCIL MEETING.
THAT IS THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING.
THANK YOU ALL. MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 10:33 A.M..
ALL RIGHT, STAY SAFE, EVERYBODY STAY SAFE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.