Jun 01, 2020 City Council

[00:00:02]

WE WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:32 P.M.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? ABSOLUTELY. PUT YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART.

I 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, MR. RUSSI. ROLL CALL.

YES. MEMBER DAVIS.

HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.

PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

PRESENT. MAYOR PRO TEM CARDER.

PRESENT. MAYOR HEPBURN.

HERE.

[4. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS]

YOU WANT TO GO TO. LET'S STOP FOR A MOMENT AND SEE IF WE HAVE ANY.

WE DID NOT GET ANY SENT IN OR WE'LL JUST PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TO SEE IF IT DID.

AND WE CAN MOVE ON FROM THERE.

WE JUST LOST TIM FOR A SECOND.

NO, TIM IS STILL THERE. OK? MINE IT'S NOT. WE'RE ADDING SOMEBODY, THOUGH.

I THINK I NEED TO SAY THAT ALL OVER.

YES.

WELL, I'LL WAIT TILL RAY COMES ON.

I THINK. YES. NO, DEVIN WILL COME UNDER CITY OF LA VERNE AND NICK IS ALREADY ON.

OK. WE'RE GOING TO START THEM FIRST BEFORE WE GO TO ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS.

ANY ANYBODY ON FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS OR WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR STAFF FIRST? SEE IF HE'S IN THERE WITH J.R.

TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT CAME UP.

WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY AT THIS TIME.

OK. GO AHEAD WITH OUR REPORTS THEN.

YES. I ASKED BOTH POLICE CHIEF PAZ AS WELL AS FIRE CHIEF LEONARD TO GIVE UPDATES ON DIFFERENT OPERATIONAL AREAS.

OBVIOUSLY, AS EVERYBODY IS AWARE, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF SOME COUNTY IMPOSED CURFEWS AS A RESULT OF CIVIL UNREST AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN LA VERNE HAS TAKEN ON SOME MEASURES FOR CHANGE IN DEPLOYMENT AS WELL AS SOME OTHER APPROPRIATE STAFFING.

AND I'D LIKE AN UPDATE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN SEPARATELY, CHIEF LEONARD IS GOING TO SPEND A COUPLE OF MINUTES SHARING WITH THE COUNCIL. THE COMMUNITY, SOME OF THE EFFORTS WERE TAKEN AND WE'RE GOING TO SUGGEST THAT REGARDING AS WE GET INTO THE FIRE SEASON AND BEST PRACTICES AND THINGS THAT THAT AND MITIGATE SOME WILDLAND INTERFACE AS WELL AS WHAT CAN BE DONE IN [INAUDIBLE].

SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF HALL'S FIRST.

GOOD EVENING. HOW YOU DOING? GOOD EVENING.

SO AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID WE'RE EXPERIENCING SOME UNIQUE SITUATIONS RIGHT NOW THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTY. AND THIS IS WHY THE CURFEW IS IN EFFECT.

THERE'S A LOT OF DEMONSTRATIONS THAT ARE BEING PUT TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IN OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL, SAN BERNARDINO IS EXPERIENCING SOME SIMILAR SITUATIONS.

SO LAST WEEK, THIS WEEK, PAST WEEKEND, I MET WITH THE L.A.

COUNTY CHIEFS AND IT WAS DECIDED THAT IN ORDER TO AUGMENT OUR PERSONNEL AND HAVE PERSONNEL READY TO RESPOND TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WHERE THEY MAY BE A PROBLEM.

WE WOULD ALL GO TO A A TACTICAL ALERT MODE, WHICH WOULD BE TWELVE ON AND TWELVE OFF FOR THE OFFICERS. TWELVE HOURS ON.

TWELVE HOURS OFF. WE DID START THAT THIS SUNDAY.

AND. OTHER AGENCIES, SURROUNDING AGENCIES ARE DOING THE SAME RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK.

WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT RESPONDED TO GLENDORA PD NON-EMERGENCY DOWN THERE IN THEIR OLD TOWN OR WHAT THEY CALL THE VILLAGE.

SO I'M STILL WAITING TO HEAR HOW THAT WENT.

AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A A PLANNED DEMONSTRATION THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR LA VERNE HERE IN FRONT OF CITY HALL ON WEDNESDAY AT 12:00 NOON.

WE ARE WORKING ON AN OPERATIONAL PLAN, A JOINT OPERATIONAL PLAN WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

[00:05:01]

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THESE DEMONSTRATIONS LATELY IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO ATTACH THEMSELVES TO THESE DEMONSTRATIONS AND THEIR INTENT IS NOT PURELY JUST TO DEMONSTRATE PEACEFULLY, BUT THEY HAVE OTHER INTERESTS, SUCH AS CREATING HAVOC OR VANDALIZING OR LOOTING.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON, TRYING TO AVOID.

WELL, LIKE I SAID, WE DO HAVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION, WE DO HAVE ENOUGH OPERATIONAL PLAN THAT WILL INCLUDE MUTUAL AID, IF NEEDED, FROM SURROUNDING AGENCIES AS THEY HAVE ALL COMMITTED TO ASSIST US IF WE NEED THE ASSISTANCE ON THAT DAY.

THE PLAN RIGHT NOW, ACCORDING TO THE, TO THE DEMONSTRATORS, IS TO MEET AT CITY HALL AT NOON AND THEN MARCH DOWN THE STREET TO THE FOUNTAIN AT THE CORNER OF D AND THIRD STREET WHERE THEY WILL, END THEIR MARCH AND DEMONSTRATION.

WE ARE.

LIKE I SAID, WE ARE WORKING ON A PLAN, AN OPERATIONAL PLAN.

I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM THE MERCHANTS AS TO WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.

HOPEFULLY BY TOMORROW, WE WE WILL HAVE OUR PLAN COMPLETED.

AND I WILL SEND OUT A MESSAGE TO ALL THE MERCHANTS AS TO WHAT OUR SUGGESTIONS ARE.

I DID GET SOME QUESTIONS THAT I'M GOING TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW FROM.

ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE FIRST QUESTION WAS, WHAT DOES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WANT US TO DO DURING THESE TIMES OF PROTESTERS AND OR CRIME SPREES? AND I THINK THE BEST ADVICE IS IT'S LIKE A FIRE WHEN THERE'S A FIRE.

HE WANTS TO GO LOOK AT THE FIRE.

STAY AWAY FROM THE FIRE.

ALL IT DOES IS JUST CONFUSE THE SITUATION AND MAKES IT HARDER FOR POLICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT TO DO THEIR JOB.

AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO DISTINGUISH WHO'S WHO IN THE ZOO HERE.

IF THERE'S PROTESTERS AND THEY'RE COMMITTING CRIMES OR VANDALIZING PROPERTY, OBVIOUSLY YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST GOING TO GET DRAGGED INTO THE SITUATION THERE. THE OTHER QUESTION WAS ALONG THE SAME LINES, WHEN WE HEAR THERE IS THERE'S GOING TO BE A PROTEST IN A SPECIFIC AREA, WHAT SHOULD WE DO? STAY AWAY. I MEAN, IT'S THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR SAFETY.

AND THE LAST QUESTION WAS.

WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE.

WHAT MORE CAN WE DO? AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS A PROTEST AND THERE'S A LARGE CROWD, STAY AWAY FROM THE CROWD. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING ALONG THE ROUTE AND YOU'RE AT HOME AND THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS CALL US AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU SEE AND THE LOCATION.

YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S IF THERE'S SOMEBODY COMMITTING A CRIME, GIVE US A DESCRIPTION OF THE PERSON AND CALL.

CALL US WITH THAT INFORMATION.

WE'LL HAVE ALL SORT OF RESPOND TO THAT LOCATION.

THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE BEST THINGS THAT ADVICE THAT I CAN TELL PEOPLE TO DO IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS THAT THIS PROTEST IS A PEACEFUL ONE.

LIKE I SAID, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT DID PUT IT TOGETHER, THAT IS THEIR INTENT.

AND AND WE HOPE IT GOES THAT WAY.

BUT WE'RE ALWAYS PREPARED TO GO FOR.

FOR THE WORST. WE WILL NOT.

WE WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY VANDALISM OR ANY DAMAGE TO ANY PROPERTY.

SO WE WILL TAKE ACTION IF NEED BE.

AND PEOPLE MAY END UP GOING TO JAIL IF THAT'S THE SITUATION.

SO I HOPE TO HAVE THE OPERATIONAL PLAN ALREADY BY TOMORROW.

AND HOPEFULLY I CAN MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND PASS ALONG TO THE MERCHANTS WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE BEST PLAN OF ACTION FOR THEM.

BY NO MEANS ARE WE NOT SUPPORTING ANY DEMONSTRATIONS.

WE SUPPORT A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION.

WE JUST DON'T SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO COME ALONG TAGALONG AND COMMIT CRIMES UNDER THE GUISE OF A PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION.

SO WE WILL HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION THAT WE WILL PUT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AS THE TIME GETS CLOSER. ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ANSWER RIGHT NOW? ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF PAZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER? HI, NICK.

[00:10:02]

I NEED TO KNOW WHEN YOU SAY THE INFORMATION WILL BE OUT THERE FOR THE PUBLIC.

WHERE CAN THE PUBLIC LOOK FOR THIS INFORMATION? SO WE WILL WE WILL POST IT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE WILL POST, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE OPERATIONAL PLAN.

BUT WE'LL POST SOME SOME SOME IDEAS FOR PEOPLE TO FOLLOW AND STAY SAFE AND STAY OUT OF THE AREA. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? YES. YOU KNOW, THE THING I KNOW WE'VE HEARD IS THAT THE HARDEST THING IS THE RUMORS THAT ARE OUT THERE ABOUT OTHER EVENTS AND STUFF.

AND I GUESS JUST TO PUT A LITTLE BIT AT EASE ON, WE ARE MONITORING YOUR DEPARTMENT IS MONITORING ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES, NOT JUST WITHIN LA VERNE, BUT SURROUNDING AND AWARE AND IN CASE SOMETHING IS OCCURRING.

AND AT THIS POINT, THERE HASN'T.

CORRECT? SO EVERY MORNING I GET A LIST OF THE EVENTS THAT ARE OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. TODAY, THERE WERE THREE DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA HERE, ONE IN ONE IN WEST COVINA, ACTUALLY TWO IN WEST COVINA, ONE THAT ENDED UP IN GLENDORA.

THE WEST COVINA ONES WERE PEACEFUL.

THE GLENDORA ONE WAS PEACEFUL.

WELL, LIKE I SAID, THERE WAS AN ELEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS THERE WHO WERE NOT WITH THE ORIGINAL GROUP, AND THEY EVENTUALLY ENDED UP CAUSING SOME ISSUES.

AND THAT'S WHEN WE WERE REQUESTED TO RESPOND THERE.

SO. FOR THE MOST PART, MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN PEACEFUL.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE CONTACT WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE PUTTING THIS ONE TOGETHER AND WE HOPE THAT THIS ONE IS A PEACEFUL ONE AS WELL.

BUT WE ARE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING THAT COMES OUR WAY.

RIGHT. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER INCIDENTS IN LA VERNE AT THIS.

NO, NOT IN LA VERNE, NOT LA VERNE HAS NOT HAD ANY INCIDENTS.

EVERYTHING SO FAR HAS BEEN IN THE SURROUNDING CITIES.

VERY GOOD. OK. WELL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF PAZ? SEEING NONE. I WANT TO THANK CHIEF PAZ FOR YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS DURING THAT WE ARE PREPARED. AND KEEPING US SAFE.

AND I KNOW YOU'LL TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE ANY DEMONSTRATIONS ARE DONE IN A PEACEFUL MANNER. AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT WHAT OCCURRED TO GEORGE FLOYD WAS TRAGIC AND UNJUSTIFIED. SO PLEASE KEEP THE INFORMATION FLOWING FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES AS YOU AS YOU GET THEM.

AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

CHIEF LEONARD, HOW ARE YOU THIS EVENING? I'M DOING WELL, MAYOR. HOW ARE YOU? REAL GOOD, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND GIVING US AN UPDATE.

NOT A PROBLEM. WELL, AT THIS POINT IN 2020, WE'RE ALL WONDERING WHAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN NEXT. I THINK WE NEED TO GO INTO OUR FIRE SEASON WITH OUR EYES WIDE OPEN.

WE ALL KNOW THAT LAST YEAR WE HAD A RELATIVELY QUIET OR SLOW FIRE SEASON IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHICH WAS A NICE RELIEF FOR US OR FOR THAT ONE YEAR.

THE PROBLEM IS, ALTHOUGH WE NEEDED THE RAIN THAT WE GOT BECAUSE OF OUR DROUGHT CONDITIONS. WHEN WE GET THE RAIN IN OUR NORMAL AMOUNTS, WHICH WE DID GET IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, FOR THE MOST PART THIS YEAR, IT LEADS TO A LOT OF GROWTH OF JUST A LIGHT GRASS, ESPECIALLY WITHIN OUR OUR FOOTHILL AREAS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT JUST DRIVING AROUND THE CITY OF LA VERNE, GOING UP ESPERANZA AND BACK DOWN THE OTHER SIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE GRASSES ARE ABUNDANT OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

FORTUNATELY, THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT GREEN.

THEY GREENED UP DURING THE WINTER, BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO DIE OFF AND THEY WILL DIE OFF.

SO THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO WE DO TO PREPARE OURSELVES? THAT'S NO DIFFERENT THIS YEAR THAN IT IS IN ANY OTHER YEAR.

NEED TO BE VIGILANT AND DO WHAT WE KNOW WORKS.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING AT THE HEART OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LEVEL, AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY TO CLEAR SOME OF THE VEGETATION ALONG THE CANYON ROAD AREAS IN PREPARATION FOR THE SEASON, WE'VE WORKED WITH SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, LA VERNE, INCLUDING THE SIERRA LA VERNE GOLF COURSE, AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY HAVE EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR MITIGATION.

AND THEN YOU'RE OUT. YOUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN TRAINING.

THEY'VE GOT BASICALLY A TWO WEEK TRAINING PROCESS GOING ON WITH MULTIPLE AGENCIES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BOTH L.A.

COUNTY SOUTH. AND TODAY THEY WERE THEY WERE OUT IN CAMP PENDLETON AND BURNING SOME HILLS, LEARNING RE LEARNING THE TACTICS, WORKING WITH THOSE OTHER AGENCIES AND WORKING ON THOSE COMBINED FORCES. SO IF WE GET IN AN EVENT, WE HAVE A FIRE, WE'RE READY TO PARTICIPATE AND PROTECT OUR HOMEFRONT.

THIS TRAINING IS GOING ON BOTH DOWN SOUTH AND LOCALLY IN TOWN NEXT WEDNESDAY.

SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.

WE UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF THE FIRE SEASON WE'RE POTENTIALLY FACING AND WE'RE GETTING READY FOR THE BIG MESSAGE.

[00:15:01]

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS EVERY INDIVIDUAL CAN DO, EVERYTHING FROM PREPARING YOUR YOUR HOUSE AND REMOVING DEAD VEGETATION FROM AROUND IT TO PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT.

AND THAT IS GETTING YOUR FAMILY READY IN THE EVENT THAT THEY HAVE TO EVACUATE THEIR HOME AND HAVE A PLAN FOR WHERE TO GO.

THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION I JUST DISCUSSED, BUT IT'S ALL PUT TOGETHER IN A VERY SIMPLE DOCUMENT CALLED READY, SET, GO, WHICH IS AVAILABLE ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S WEB PAGE. IF YOU GO TO OUR WEB PAGE, YOU'LL SEE A ICON IN THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER THAT SAYS READY FOR WILDFIRE, PLEASE, EVERYBODY.

CLICK ON THAT LINK. DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE CITY.

AND WHEN YOU CLICK ON THAT LINK, YOU'LL SEE ANOTHER PDF THERE FOR READY, SET, GO OPEN THAT DOCUMENT. IT'S VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

IT'S AN EXCELLENT DOCUMENT FOR PREPARING YOUR FAMILY FOR THE IMPENDING OR FOR A PENDING WILDFIRE COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S ALSO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

JUST GET US READY FOR ANY CATASTROPHE WE MAY FACE.

BUT WITH EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON.

I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE DON'T LOSE FOCUS OF, BUT THREAT WE ALWAYS HAVE IN OUR BACKYARD.

BUT WE CAN PREPARE FOR THIS AND WE CAN MITIGATE THIS RISK BY BEING READY AND ASKING THE FOLKS TO DO YOUR PART OF OUR COUNTRY.

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO GET YOUR FAMILIES.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF LEONARD? NO QUESTIONS. CHIEF LEONARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE APPRECIATE.

AND WE DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOUR TEAM'S DOING OUT THERE.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT A NEW FIREFIGHTER ON.

I UNDERSTAND. IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, WE BROUGHT ON TWO SINCE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

WELL, ONE JUST RECENTLY THAT I SAW THAT WE SAW SIX WEEKS AGO OR SO, MARCH 2ND.

I'M SORRY I'M ABSENT THE DAY.

SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. THE SECOND ONE WAS BROUGHT ON ON BOARD SINCE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND GIVING US AN UPDATE.

AND WE ARE HEADING INTO THAT SEASON, AREN'T WE? NEED TO BE ALL SAFE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY OTHER. MR. RUSSI, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. LEONARD OR? THANK YOU. OK, THANK YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE COME UP? NO, THERE'LL BE ANY COMMENTS FROM ANYONE IN THE RESIDENCE OR ANYTHING? NOT AT THIS POINT. OK, LET'S MOVE TO CONSENT CALENDAR.

[5. CONSENT CALENDAR]

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

THERE WAS A REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY AND YOURSELF TO HAVE ITEMS FIVE C REMOVED JUST TO HAVE SOME CLARIFICATION PROVIDED BY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

OTHER THAN THAT, THE REST OF THE ITEMS CAN BE APPROVED.

BUT I. YES.

OK. IT IS.

THE ONE ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] PARSON.

WHICH ITEM IS THAT? D. YES.

CAN I PULL THAT PLEASE? WE PULL ITEM D.

ANY OTHER REQUESTS? SO WE CAN GO.

WE CAN MAKE A MOTION TO GO ITEM A, B AND AND B COME BACK TO ITEMS C AND D. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE A AND B? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS A) CITY COUNCIL MINUTES B) REGISTERED AUDIT DEMANDS.

MR. DAVIS. I'LL SECOND THAT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED.

OK. THEN WE MOVE BACK TO WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM C PURCHASE OF 4TH FLEET VEHICLES PLEASE.

[c. Purchase of Ford Fleet Vehicles for Police and Public Works Department - The Public Works Department recently solicited bids for eight Ford fleet vehicles for the Police Department and Public Works to replace existing units. The Request for Proposals was advertised on April 21, 2020, and bid proposals were received and opened on May 13, 2020.]

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANKS A LOT FOR HAVING US ON YOUR ZOOM MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME. WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A RECOMMENDATION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT TO PURCHASE EIGHT NEW VEHICLES.

ACTUALLY, THEY ARE REPLACEMENT VEHICLES FOR OUR FLEET EACH YEAR DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE IDENTIFY THOSE VEHICLES THAT ARE SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT.

EACH VEHICLE HAS A SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT OF A NUMBER OF YEARS AND AND IT IS PLACED INTO A BUDGET REQUEST ANNUALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR WHEN IT COMES TIME TO PURCHASE THOSE VEHICLES. WE MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO ACTUALLY EXERCISE THE NEED TO PURCHASE

[00:20:04]

WHAT WE DO IS LOOK AT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

THE MILEAGE OF THAT VEHICLE, THE REPAIR HISTORY OF THAT VEHICLE.

IF IF THE AVAILABILITY FROM THE MANUFACTURER, IF IF THE VEHICLES NO LONGER ARE GOING TO BE THE MANUFACTURER, FOR EXAMPLE, WHETHER OR NOT WE ANTICIPATE COSTLY REPAIRS TO A [INAUDIBLE] VEHICLE.

TRY TO AVOID MAJOR REPAIR EXPENSES ON THOSE VEHICLES.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS SUCH AS FUEL MILEAGE AND WHETHER OR NOT THE APPLICATION OF THE VEHICLE IS PROPER FOR THE CURRENT USE THAT ITS ITS BURDENED WITH.

SO WE LOOK AT ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND THEN OUR FLEET MANAGER MAKES A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD NOT PURCHASE A VEHICLE IN THIS CASE.

ALL EIGHT OF THE VEHICLES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED, HE IDENTIFIED DURING THIS TIME LAST YEAR AS BEING SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT.

HE'S RECOMMENDING THAT THEY ALL BE REPLACED.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU.

WE WENT OUT AND SOLICITED BIDS PUBLICLY AND INVITED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS TO PROVIDE US QUOTES FOR THE VEHICLES THAT WE HAD SPECIFIED.

AND WE DID PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DETAILED BID SPECIFICATIONS WE'VE DONE FOR VEHICLES AND IN IN MEMORY OF THE VEHICLES THEMSELVES, COST FOR THE VEHICLES THAT COMES OUT OF OUR EQUIPMENT FUND, WHICH IS A SEPARATE FUND FROM THE CITY'S GENERAL FLAT FUND.

JUST AS THE WATER FUND IS A SEPARATE FUND, THAT FUND IS SUPPORTED BY CHARGES THAT WE WE ASSESS ON THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUALLY FOR THE OPERATION AND REPLACEMENT OF THEIR EQUIPMENT, WHETHER THEY'RE BLACK AND WHITE, POLICE CARS, DUMP TRUCKS, STAFF CARS, WHATEVER THAT EQUIPMENT IS. IT HAS IT HAS A CHARGE ASSESSED TO IT.

AND IT'S THAT MONEY THAT WE USE AND WE'VE GENERATED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS OR FOUR YEARS FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS, SUCH AS THE BLACK AND WHITE PATROL CARS, WHICH WERE REPLACED EVERY FOUR YEARS. IT'S THAT MONEY THAT WE ARE USING OR RECOMMENDING BE USED TO REPLACE THAT VEHICLE TODAY.

KEEP IN MIND, TOO, IF WE DO PLACE THE ORDER, IT'S SIX MONTHS TO NINE MONTHS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GET SOME OF THESE VEHICLES INTO SERVICE, PARTICULARLY WITH BLACK AND WHITE VEHICLES, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF UP FITTING THAT HAS TO BE DONE.

LIGHTS AND SIRENS, RADIOS, ADDITIONAL BATTERIES, HARDWARE FOR THEIR THEIR GUNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO ACTUALLY GET THOSE THINGS UP AND RUNNING TO.

ANYHOW, OUR INTENTION IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS THIS PURCHASE AND THEN OUT THE.

JUST UNDER TWO HUNDRED FORTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS TOTAL.

IT IS IS SOMETHING THAT NORMALLY WE HAVE BOUGHT THESE THINGS IN PIECES.

YOU KNOW, WE WENT OUT ABOUT THE POLICE CARS BECAUSE THEY HAD SOME SPECIAL GOING ON.

AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN THIS BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHIN OUR BUDGET AUTHORITY.

WE MIGHT HAVE WENT OUT AND BOUGHT THAT STAFF DUMPTRUCK OR THAT STAFF CAR.

EXCUSE ME. BECAUSE THE TIMING WAS RIGHT FOR SOME REASON.

IN THIS CASE, THE FLEET MANAGER, YOU KNOW, HE WAS JUST LOOKING TO GO OUT AND PURCHASE ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE ALL FORD VEHICLES, BECAUSE THAT'S ALL WE BASICALLY OPERATE WITHIN OUR FLEET. HE PACKAGED THIS AS ONE BIG PACKAGE IN ORDER TO TRY AND GET THE BEST PRICE FOR ALL OF THESE VEHICLES. SO I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YES, MR. DAVIS. SO I'VE SEEN THAT THAT FORD'S PROMOTING THEIR HYBRID POLICE VEHICLES ARE THESE HYBRID VEHICLES THAT WE'RE PURCHASING.

I ACTUALLY BELIEVE TWO OR THREE OF THEM ARE.

SUPER. THANK YOU.

I WOULD HAVE TO CONFIRM THAT FOR YOU.

BUT I BELIEVE THEY ARE.

THAT'S AWESOME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? MR. CROSBY? ANY QUESTION? I HAVE MORE OF A COMMENT THAN A QUESTION, THOUGH.

I REALLY DO APPRECIATE MR. KEESEY COMING ON SPEAKING.

I ASKED FOR THIS.

I HAD TO BE PULLED. I DID GET TO SPEAK TO MR. KEESEY ABOUT IT JUST.

BUT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T GET TO HEAR THIS, TOO.

AND FOR PURCHASING TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OF EQUIPMENT.

I REALLY DO APPRECIATE MR. KEESEY COMING UP AND SPEAKING PUBLICLY TO TO EVERYONE.

SO KEEP IT UP IN THE OPEN.

[00:25:03]

SO REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT.

IT JUST REALLY WANTED THIS TO BE OUT IN THE OPEN OF WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM AND WHY WE'RE DOING IT, TOO.

AND SO, MR. KEESEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS WITH WITH YOU AND THEN COMING UP AND MAKING SURE THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT AS WELL.

MY PLEASURE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. KEESEY? NO, BUT YOU DO HAVE A QUESTION FROM THE PUBLIC BEFORE YOU TAKE THEM UP.

AGAIN, I WILL MIRROR WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY SAID.

THANK YOU, DAN. MR. KEESEY, APPRECIATE THAT.

IT GIVES EVERYBODY THE IDEA OF HOW THIS WORKS AND WHY, WHY, WHEN AND HOW, YOU KNOW, MILEAGE USAGE.

AND JUST TO EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE PURCHASING POWER PURCHASING NOW, I THINK WAS GREAT AND A VERY GOOD EXPLANATION.

JUST A REAL QUICK QUESTION.

WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO ASK FOR THE POLICE VEHICLES ONCE HE RECEIVED THEM? I KNOW IT'S QUITE COSTLY. YOU'D HAVE AN IDEA WHAT THAT COSTS.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS. HOW MUCH ARE EACH OF THE POLICE VEHICLES WHEN YOU WHEN YOU GO TO OUTFIT WITH THE LIGHT BARS AND ALL THE INTERIORS AND THE CAGES AND EVERYTHING.

WHAT'S THE COST? I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE THAT ANSWER RIGHT OFF TOP OF MY HEAD FOR YOU DOWN THE ROAD. THAT'S FINE.

I CAN GET YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SAY IT'S LIKE FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE COST OF THE VEHICLES BY THEMSELVES.

OK. JUST CURIOUS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. KEESEY? THEN LET'S MOVE TO A PUBLIC COMMENT.

MR. RUSSI. CORRECT, WE HAVE ONE PERSON.

WE DO. WE HAVE A COMMENT THAT WE JUST RECEIVED FROM ZACH GIBSON.

THE QUESTION IS, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE LEASE POLICE VEHICLES TO SAVE THE CITY MONEY. THAT INFORMATION COMES STRAIGHT FROM CHIEF PAZ IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

WHY NOW ARE WE SWITCHING TO PURCHASING VEHICLES.

THIS IS THE MOST COST EFFICIENT WAY TO OBTAIN OR UPDATE.

IS THIS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT WAY TO OBTAIN OR UPDATE TO NEW VEHICLES? DAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE LEASING CURRENTLY.

BUT GO AHEAD. NO, WE WE PURCHASED ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT OUTRIGHT IN THE SENSE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LEASES IT, THAT.

CAN BE CAN BE ASSUMED, I GUESS, THE FLEET DIVISION, THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, OWNS ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT.

IT OWNS AND MAINTAINS ALL OF THE CITY'S EQUIPMENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FIRE ENGINES.

AND WE LEASE IT BACK TO THE USER DEPARTMENTS.

THEREFORE, THOSE CHARGES I MENTIONED TO YOU.

MOMENT AGO, UNUSED TO THE VEHICLE TO HELP MAINTAIN AND OPERATE THAT VEHICLE, AND WE CHARGE A REPLACEMENT COMPONENT AS WELL TO HELP REPLACE THAT VEHICLE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. SO IN A SENSE, THEY ARE LEASED BY THE DEPARTMENTS, BUT THEY ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE CITY'S FLEET DIVISION, OWNED OR MAINTAINED.

OK. THANK YOU, MR. KEESEY. OTHER QUESTIONS.

ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT IT'S MORE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, NOT FOR THIS SUBJECT.

SO I WILL PASS IT ON TO THAT TIME.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? YES, MR. DAVIS. NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION, BUT JUST TO JOIN IN THE COMMENTARY, I THINK THIS IS AND I'M GLAD THAT IT WAS ASKED TO BE HIGHLIGHTED.

A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW OUR DEPARTMENTS COOPERATE AND WORK TOGETHER TO MAINTAIN THE SERVICES THAT WE ENJOY IN OUR CITY.

THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. MR. KRESS, SHOULD WE WAIT TILL WE DO THE NEXT ONE AND DO THEM IN TWO? OR SHOULD WE JUST GO AND DO THIS ONE NOW? GO AHEAD AND DO THIS ONE NOW.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK. OR WE CLOSED THE DISCUSSION.

AND I WOULD LIKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT.

ITEM C. I SO MOVE, SO I PULLED IT AS WELL.

THE MOST DEPASS SAID CALENDAR ITEM C.

PURCHASE OF FORD FLEET VEHICLES FOR POLICE AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER. YOU GOT A SECOND ON THAT? YES, I DO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

RAISE YOUR HAND. AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED. MEASURE CONSENT CALENDAR C ITEM DOES CARRY.

[d. Staff recommends approval and passage of the following Resolutions: Resolution No. 20-41 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAVERNE, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH KIEWIT PARSONS JOINT VENTURE FOR USE OF A PORTION OF THE CITY’S “SWEEPINGS” SITE - In August 2019, the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority awarded a design-build contract to Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture (KPJV) for the Gold Line Light Rail project. Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture is now seeking property on which to locate their construction offices. City staff has negotiated an agreement with KPJV to use a portion of the City’s “Sweepings” property. The approximate 2.8 acre lease area will not impact City operations at the site nor limit any potential future use upon expiration of the lease. Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture has agreed to pay the City $4,200 a month for the four-year lease.]

PARDON. THANK YOU MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

AND DAN DON'T GO AWAY.

THIS IS FOR YOU.

YES. WE HAVE THIS REALLY BECAUSE I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS IS WORKING WITH KIEWIT PARSON AND I KNOW SITTING ON GOAL LINE WE CONTRACTED WITH KIEWIT PARSON AND I AM THRILLED AND I

[00:30:03]

SO IT HELPS THEM.

IT BUILDS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF LA VERNE.

SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT WIN-WIN FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS, SO.

GOOD MOVE. THANK YOU.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. I THINK YOU'VE BUILT A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CONTRACTOR AND HOPEFULLY IT AFFORDS US SOME THINGS THAT WE MIGHT NORMALLY NOT GET OUT OF THE CONTRACTOR HAVING THIS KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.

SO THANK YOU SO.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, TIM? I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. IT'S NOT A QUESTION.

THAT'S JUST A COMMENT I JUST WANT TO ECHO.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK FOR GETTING THIS THIS DONE.

DAN AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TERMS THAT WERE CONTAINED IN THE LEASE AGREEMENT.

VERY GOOD TERMS FOR THE CITY.

VERY PROTECTIVE OF THE CITY.

SO THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO BOB KEESEY FOR LOOKING THAT OVER AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S AS AIRTIGHT AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE.

MUCH APPRECIATED. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AT MOMENTS? MR. DAVIS, I WAS EARLY ON GOING TO BE JOVIAL AND ASK A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER I SHOULD DIRECT MY QUESTIONS TO DAN OR TO COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER, SINCE SHE WAS BASICALLY PRESENTING THE WHOLE THING. I THINK, THOUGH, THAT IN ALL IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I THINK IT'S IT'S IT'S AWESOME WHEN WE AS A CITY PARTNER WITH ENTERPRISES AND AND MAKE AVAILABLE THOSE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, THAT THAT CAN BE BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH SIDES.

AND SO, AGAIN, I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST ANOTHER FINE EXAMPLE OF HOW WELL OUR CITY RUNS, HOW WELL OUR PARTNERS IN ON STAFF AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS, OUR IN OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH FOR PROFIT AND NOT FOR PROFIT.

SO I THINK, AGAIN, VERY GOOD EXAMPLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FOR MR. KEESEY OR MR. KRESS? I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, DAN, FOR REVENUE SOURCE.

WE LIKE THAT. IT'S GREAT A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S SITTING THAT WE CAN UTILIZE.

AND I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER AND ALL OF YOU THAT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN THIS GOLDLINE.

SO BUT ALSO WE MAKE SOME REVENUE FOR OUR CITY SO YOU CAN DO SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T NORMALLY COULDN'T DO WITH YOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS.

I LOVE IT. LOVE IT.

IS THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE FROM THE RESIDENTS, MR. RUSSI? THERE HAVE NOT BEEN.

AND LOOK, HE HASN'T RUN IN HERE, SO NOTHING HAS COME IN AND CLOSED THE DISCUSSION ON THIS.

WE HAVE NOTHING. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK FOR A MOTION FOR APPROVAL ON THIS.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A STAFF TO APPROVE THE ATTACH RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH KIEWIT PARSON JOINT VENTURE COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER FIRST AND MR. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.

YOU HAVE A SECOND AND I SECOND.

THE MOTION FOR COUNCIL TO APPROVE STAFF WRITING AND SIGNING AN AGREEMENT WITH KEIWIT PARSONS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.

WE MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.

NUMBER SIX. WE'RE GONNA.

WE LOST HIM. YEAH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED.

HE'S COMING BACK IN. LET'S START THAT AGAIN, MR. MAYOR. I WAS GOING TO START MY JEOPARDY! GIVE ME TIME.

MR. MAYOR, WE LOST YOU AT NUMBER SIX.

LET ME MOVE ON TO NUMBER SIX.

NOTHING. WE'LL MOVE ON.

WE'LL MOVE ON. JUST A MINUTE HERE.

I DON'T SEE ANYBODY. BY THE WAY.

SO WHERE DO YOU.

CAN YOU HEAR US? I CAN HEAR ALL OF YOU.

[Annual Report and Public “Protest” Hearing - Old Town La Verne Business Improvement District (OTLVBID) - This annual public “protest” hearing is required in order to comply with State Law, the Municipal Code, and By-Laws relative to the Old Town La Verne Business Improvement District (OTLVBID).]

YES, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ON THIS BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE ANNUAL PROTEST HEARING FOR THE TITLE OF OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION AND THEN TURN OVER TO CRAIG WALTERS, WHO WILL TALK ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN LAST YEAR, KIND OF SOME FORWARD THINKING

[00:35:01]

THE AUTUMN MOVEMENT OR THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WAS ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN 1986.

SINCE THEN, THERE WAS ANOTHER BASICALLY ORDINANCE WHICH AMENDED THAT THAT ORDINANCE IN 2002, WHICH UPDATED THE NAME TO IT FROM A DOWNTOWN LA VERNE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, BILL TALBOT. REALLY, IT'S THE COLLECTION OF BUSINESSES IN ALL TOWN TO CREATE THEIR OWN DISTRICTS SO THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN IMPROVEMENTS AND PAY FOR THE AMENITIES THAT ARE DOWN THERE. THE STREET LIGHTS, THE TREE LIGHTS, SIDEWALK SWEEPING, THE THINGS THAT MAKE THAT A VERY SPECIAL PLACE FOR LA VERNE.

SO WHAT CRAIG IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THOSE BUSINESSES.

SO AFTER THAT, I'LL COME BACK AND FINISH UP CRAIG.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.

HELLO. GOOD EVENING, MR. WILLIAMS. I WAS THINKING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A NEW RULE, THAT THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE SHUT DOWN AT A TIME. IT'S GETTING HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE LOCKED DOWN FOR. WANTED TO START OFF BY THANKING THE CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVING THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE OLD TOWN DISTRICT COUPLE WEEKS AGO FOR REFUNDING THE DISTRICT ASSESSMENT FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR AMOUNTED TO APPROXIMATELY EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.

IT WENT RIGHT BACK INTO THE POCKETS OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS.

AND SO WITH OUR WITH OUR RESERVES, WE'RE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT WITHOUT ANY DETRIMENT TO THE PROGRAMS AHEAD.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I KNOW SEVERAL OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE COMMENTED THAT THEY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND I ALSO WANTED TO QUICKLY UPDATE YOU.

I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE THAT THE COMPANION NONPROFIT GROUP WE HAVE, THE OLD TOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, TOOK ACTION TO ALLOCATE FUNDS AS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE COMPLETED THAT THAT ROUND OF ASSISTANCE.

WE GAVE OUT 16 GRANTS TO BUSINESSES IN OLD TOWN FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH.

AND IT WAS VERY GRATIFYING TO BE ABLE TO RETURN SOME OF THE FUNDS THAT WERE GENERATED THROUGH THE EVENTS WE HAVE IN OLD TOWN.

NONE OF THAT THAT'S SIXTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS CAME FROM CITY FUNDS, PUBLIC FUNDS.

THEY WERE ALL REVENUES GENERATED HANOVERIAN REVENUES.

I THINK THAT THE FOLKS IN OLD TOWN ARE HOLDING TOGETHER AND WE'RE ANXIOUS TO GET BACK FULLY INTO BUSINESS.

AND ANYWAY, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

SO THE CHIEF PAUSED, MADE A COMMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HARDLY ENDORSE.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF A LOT OF ANXIETY RIGHT NOW IN OLD TOWN BUSINESSES FOR THE PROTESTS. ON WEDNESDAY, WE HAD A MEETING THIS MORNING AND THE ISSUE WAS DISCUSSED.

AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE THE COOPERATION AND COMMUNICATION THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW BETWEEN CITY CHAMBERS INVOLVED IN THIS AS WELL AND OPEN BUSINESSES.

AND SO ANY AND ALL INFORMATION WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

JUST TO KIND OF RECAP, THE LAST YEAR, IT'S THE SAME TALE AS THE WHOLE COUNTRY FACED UP UNTIL THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE REALLY ON A ROLL.

WE HAD HAD A GOOD YEAR LOCK IN THE FALL.

OUR HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE WENT VERY WELL.

OTHER FALL ACTIVITIES AND WE'RE WELL UNDERWAY WITH OUR PLANS FOR THE WINE WALK WHERE EVERYTHING CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WHAT WE CAN DO.

AND WHEN WE CAN DO IT.

SO AT THE MEETING WE HAD THIS MORNING, THERE WERE TWO TWO LARGE EVENTS THAT WERE ON THE ON THE DISCUSSION. ONE WAS THE TWO, WHICH NORMALLY WOULD BE IN APRIL EACH YEAR.

THAT HAS BEEN TENTATIVELY POSTPONED TO AUGUST 27.

AND THE PROMOTER OF THAT EVENT IS VERY EAGER TO CONTINUE.

HE IS ALSO PUTS ON A GOOD EVENT IN BREA AND HE FEELS CONFIDENT AND WHICH THAT EVENT HAPPENS ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE OURS.

HE FEELS PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THAT EVENT IS GOING TO PROCEED.

AND SO WE'RE WE'RE OPTIMISTIC.

WE DID NOT TAKE ANY FORMAL ACTION THIS MORNING OTHER THAN TO HOLD OFF FURTHER DISCUSSIONS FOR A MONTH FOR OUR MEETING IN JULY, AT WHICH TIME, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER AN EVENT OF THAT SIZE CAN BE HELD.

AS YOU ARE PROBABLY ALL AWARE, THE COOL CRUISE ATTRACTS A LARGE AUDIENCE AND NOT ONLY THE

[00:40:07]

AND THERE'S A VERY REAL CONCERN OF HOW TO DO IT SAFELY AND HOW TO HOW TO CONTROL.

RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE WE DON'T SET SOMETHING UP AND GET BASICALLY OVERRUN WITH WITH TOO MANY PEOPLE.

SO THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS UNDER WAY RIGHT NOW.

WE WANT TO BRING IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INTO THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

HOPEFULLY A MONTH FROM NOW, WE'LL HAVE BETTER IDEA.

THE OTHER EVENT IS WE DECIDED WHEN THE WINE WALK WAS WAS CANCELED, WE DECIDED TO COMBINE THE BEER AND WINE, WALK INTO ONE OF THEM, WHICH WILL BE AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

ONCE AGAIN, NOT KNOWING SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE CAN DO, WE'RE PULLING OFF A DECISION ON THAT FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH.

WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE PLANS FOR THAT THERE.

I THINK THERE'S SOME ROOM FOR CREATIVE THINKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THAT EVENT POSSIBLY MOVING. MORE OUTSIDE, ALTHOUGH THE KEY FEATURE OF THAT EVENT IS GETTING PEOPLE INTO THE BUSINESSES. VERY POSITIVE FOR ALL THE BUSINESS OWNERS.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT.

BUT KEEPING IN MIND THAT A LOT OF THE SHOPS ARE PRETTY SMALL, HARD TO SOCIAL DISTANCE.

AND IN THOSE SHOPS. SO WE MAY BE COMING BACK TO COUNCIL FOR TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND INTO THE STREET, MAYBE CLOSE SOME STREETS THIS TIME.

BUT WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

THE GREAT, GREAT THING FOR FOR NOT ONLY OLD TOWN, BUT THE WHOLE CITY TO GET BACK OUT AND ENJOY ENJOY THEMSELVES.

AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER EVENTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED OR CONSIDERED.

AGAIN, IT'S JUST A WAIT AND SEE AT THIS POINT.

SO BEYOND THAT, I THINK THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS WE WE WERE VERY DETERMINED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO START SPENDING SOME OF OUR RESERVES.

AND WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY AND THE PUBLIC WORKS SIDE OF THAT FOR THINGS LIKE THE TREE LIGHTS AND OTHER OTHER FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS DOWNTOWN.

BUT WE'VE WE'VE MADE AN INTENTIONAL DECISION TO COMMIT MORE OF OUR FUNDS COME FROM BOTH THE ASSESSMENT THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING TODAY, AS WELL AS FROM OUR EVENT REVENUES.

AND SO WE'VE WE ARE PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS BASICALLY TO SUPPORT THE CITY WITH FUNDS FOR THE LIGHTS AND FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO MONARO SQUARE STAGE THERE AND OTHER THINGS AS THEY COME UP.

OUR CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS CAME OUT OF THOSE FUNDS.

SO WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING TO REALLY GIVE YOU THAT PARTNERSHIP.

AND THEN THE LAST THING IS WITH WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND AND BUSINESSES BASICALLY BEING SHUT DOWN OR MOSTLY SHUT DOWN, WE'RE ANTICIPATING DOING A A SIGNIFICANT MARKETING CAMPAIGN COMING UP WHEN THINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR.

AND AGAIN, USING USING THOSE FUNDS WE'VE ACCUMULATED TO TO REINTRODUCE PEOPLE TO OLD TOWN.

I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE WON'T LOSE VERY MANY IF ANY OF OUR BUSINESSES.

BUT SOME ARE VERY CLOSE ON THE EDGE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THE THE OPENING WILL CONTINUE.

AND WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

AND IF NOT, JUST URGE YOU TO APPROVE THE ASSESSMENT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WALTERS? CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES. OK, I'M ON MY PHONE NOW.

SO ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WALTERS? YES, I DO.

FIRST COMMENT TO CRAIG, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DO FOR OLD TOWN.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT. ANOTHER IDEA ABOUT THE WINE BEER FESTIVAL.

LAST WEEK, I PARTICIPATED IN A VIRTUAL BEER TASTING THING WITH ED SET FROM OUT OF SAN DIEGO. THAT COULD BE SOMETHING WE DO IN LA VERNE.

AND PART OF THE MIDDLE IS REALLY HIGHLIGHTING OUR BUSINESSES.

COULD BE A BIG COMMERCIAL FOR LA VERNE AND LA VERNE BUSINESSES.

AND WHAT IT WAS, WAS WE PARTICIPATED AND THEY SENT US ALL WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE TASTING. AND SO WE HAD A LITTLE PACKET AND THEY DID ALL ONLINE TOGETHER.

AND SO THOSE ARE LITTLE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO VIRTUALLY AS WELL.

BUT I REALLY WANT TO COME BACK AND SEE YOU GUYS FACE TO FACE RATHER THAN VIRTUAL.

BUT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING FOR A LARGER GROUP TO DO AND SELL OUR BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN AND ON THE FOOTHILL CORRIDOR FOR OUR RESTAURANTS.

[00:45:02]

REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING BACK AND AND REALLY HELPING OUT AND OPENING THESE THESE SPACES UP FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE.

YOU SEE HOW GREAT LA VERNE IS.

WELL, THIS IS DEFINITELY A TIME FOR CREATIVE THINKING, AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

I HADN'T HEARD OF THE VIRTUAL BEER TASTING AND I DON'T KNOW WHO MONITORS IF YOU'VE HIT YOUR LIMIT OR NOT, BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO CONSDER.

WHEN THEY DROP OFF THIS ZOO MEETING, THAT MEANS THEY'RE DONE.

EXACTLY. IT'S A SHORT TRIP HOME.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. WALTERS? YES, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU, CRAIG.

I LOVE YOUR NATURE EFFECT BEHIND YOU HERE ON THE TRAIN GO BY AND THE BIRDS.

IT SOUNDS BEAUTIFUL, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS I'VE BEEN TRYING TO THINK TOO HOW CAN WE SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES MORE THAN JUST ORDERING OUT AS WE'RE ALL TRYING TO DO SHOP LA VERNE, BASICALLY, YOU'LL EAT HERE AND ONCE EVERYTHING'S CLEARED IN OPEN. I WOULD LOVE FOR COUNCIL TO BE INCLUDED IN HELPING WITH THE MARKETING SCHEME, FOR PROMOTING THE BUSINESSES, PROMOTING OUR RESTAURANTS.

I THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND REALLY WORK ON THIS AS A PROJECT TOGETHER.

SO WOULD YOU PLEASE REMEMBER? AND THAT'S INCLUDE US AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP.

ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE COOPERATION.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND, YOU KNOW, WITH WITH CITY OFFICIALS THROUGH THIS TIME.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S JUST A GOOD TIME TO COME TOGETHER, CONTINUE COMING TOGETHER.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR MR. WALTERS? YES, PLEASE.

I JUST HAD ONE COMMENT JUST TO TACK ONTO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY BROUGHT UP.

THERE IS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WHO OWNS A WINE SHOP, AND HE DID A VIRTUAL WINE TASTING AS WELL. SO IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SOME OF THE LA VERNE BUSINESSES ARE INTERESTED IN, I CAN ALWAYS MAKE THE CONNECTION AND MAYBE HE CAN GIVE YOU TIPS ABOUT HOW THEY'VE DONE IT AND MAYBE YOU CAN BRAINSTORM IF THERE'S WAYS TO BETTER EXECUTE IT FOR US.

BUT HAPPY TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION.

GREAT. YEP. WE'RE OPEN TO ANYTHING.

SO THANK YOU.

OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR MR. WALTERS. HEARING NONE.

I JUST WANT TO I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT REAL QUICK, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MANAGER RUSSI.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR [INAUDIBLE], DAN KEESEY, ALONG WITH [INAUDIBLE] AND ALSO THE CHAMBER. YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAID, IT TAKES A TEAM TO BUILD THIS BACK UP AND EVERYTHING'S WORKING REALLY HARD.

GREAT SUGGESTIONS.

ALL OUR ACCOUNTS, WE'VE JUST HAD SOME GREAT SUGGESTIONS.

WE NEED TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS TO GET THIS BACK OPEN AND WE'RE ALL JUST SCRATCHING TO DO IT. SO I PERSONALLY, AS MAYOR AND A RESIDENT, WANT TO THANK YOU.

I KNOW YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

BETWEEN THE GRANTS FROM THE CITY, YOU GUYS BEING GENEROUS WITH THE BUSINESS TAX? I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO KICK START THIS AGAIN.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT FEW WEEKS CAN BE CRITICAL BECAUSE BARRING THE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR WITH THE RALLIES AND THE RIOTING AND STUFF, WHAT'S GOING ON, THE FACT THAT THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO BE CRITICAL? I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE OPENING MORE OPENINGS.

SO THAT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR BUSINESSES TO SURVIVE.

THANK YOU, CRAIG. I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE STUFF YOU DO.

YOU'VE DONE IT FOR MANY YEARS AND ALL YOUR STAFF, YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AND WE JUST NEED TO OPEN MORE AS SOON AS WE CAN AND SAFELY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. SORRY ABOUT THE TRAIN.

I GUESS THEY DIDN'T GET THE CURFEW.

NO, THAT'S OKAY.

MR. WALTERS. I'VE GOT I'VE GONE THROUGH THREE DEVICES NOW FOR THE ZOOM MEETING.

I'M ON MY PHONE NEXT IS GOING TO BE MY BOTTLE OF WATER.

SO WE'RE ALL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, JUST REAL BRIEFLY ON THE BUDGET? I WANT TO TOUCH UPON THE RESERVES AND THE USE OF THEM BECAUSE OF CONSERVATIVE FINANCIAL PLANNING BY THE DISTRICT.

I'M THERE TO HELP YOU RAISE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, FISCAL YEAR ONE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND, WHICH IS MORE THAN THEIR OPERATING EXPENSES ARE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.

SO THEY HAD OVER 100 PERCENT IN RESERVES.

THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE. THEY NEEDED TO USE THOSE RESERVED FOR THIS LAST YEAR WITH THE NOT HOSTING THE ONE WALK.

THAT IS A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR BUDGET, WHICH HELPED TO GET THOSE RESERVES.

SO AND LOOKING FORWARD, WE ARE BUDGETING FOR HAVING THOSE EVENTS LIKE WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN. THOSE THINGS CAN CHANGE AND WE'RE MINDFUL OF THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, WITHOUT THE EVENT, WE DON'T HAVE THE EXPENSES THAT ALSO COME WITH THE TWO.

SO WE STILL BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH RESERVES TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE MOVING FORWARD, EVEN IF ONE OR TWO THOSE EVENTS ARE ABLE TO OCCUR.

AND THEN LASTLY, JUST MY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU RECEIVED FOLLOWS THE ANNUAL REPORT THAT

[00:50:02]

ONCE THAT'S APPROVED AND THEN APPROVE THE REESTABLISHMENT OF THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AND ASSESSMENTS FORMULA THAT WAS ATTACHED IN THE PREVIOUS REPORT, IT WAS A PUBLIC HEARING.

THIS IS THE PROTEST HEARING.

SO DO RECOMMEND YOU OPEN UP TO THE PUBLIC.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMUNICATIONS AS OF NOW.

FOR THAT, WE'LL GIVE IT A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SCHERER.

I HAVE ONE. ERIC, I WAS WONDERING, HE TALKS ABOUT THE COOL CREWS HAPPENING POSSIBLY IN AUGUST. WELL, HOW IS OUR STAGE COMING AT MANERO SQUARE? IS THAT GOING TO BE DOWN BY THEN OR IS IT DELAYED BY HERE? IT'S BEEN DELAYED AND NOT BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT AS YOU KNOW, THAT THE CITY DID APPROVE A NEW HORIZON TOWER TO BE PLACED IN THERE, WHICH THEY WERE HOPEFUL ON EXPECTING TO START CONSTRUCTION ON THIS IN THE SUMMER, WHICH THAT HAS TO HAPPEN FIRST BEFORE WE COULD DO OUR IMPROVEMENTS, BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF TRENCHING THINGS THAT WOULD TEAR UP ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD DO IN TERMS OF CONCRETE WORK.

NOW THEY ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT EXPLORING, ADDING ANOTHER CARRIER TO THE POLE, WHICH WOULD BE GOOD IS WE'D BE CO-LOCATED, BUT THAT REQUIRES A REVISED ONE OF THE LEASE THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

SO WE'RE BACK KIND OF TO THAT STAGE IN TERMS OF GETTING THAT LEASE WITH THE CARRIERS COMPLETED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DAN AND ANTHONY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE SCHEDULE BECAUSE WE WANT IT.

WE WANT TO HAVE THAT DONE AS SOON AS WE CAN ONCE THE CONSTRUCTION IS MOSTLY COMPLETED ON THE TOWER. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR SCHERER? WELL, HEARING NONE, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. SHERER. YOU KNOW, ANYTIME THERE'S A FUNCTIONING DOWNTOWN, LA VERNE, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, YOU'RE THERE. YOUR STAFF IS THERE.

CITY STAFF IS THERE.

IT WOULDN'T HAVE WITHOUT YOU GUYS AND WITHOUT CITY MANAGER RUSSI IN THE PUBLIC WORKS.

AND MR GARRETT'S DEPARTMENT, YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB AND PEOPLE LOVE COMING, SO.

GET THIS THING BACK WORKING AGAIN, BUT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.

DO WE HAVE ANY? I'M GOING TO CLOSE THIS SECTION. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT YET? WE DO NOT. WE'LL GO.

WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THIS OR WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THIS.

MR. KRESS. YES.

OK. I NEED A MOTION.

I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REPORT.

I MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS FINE ANNUAL REPORT FOR THIS WONDERFUL OLD TOWN DISTRICT. AND ACCEPT THEIR FINANCIALS RECEIVED, THOUGH, THE FINANCIAL REPORT AND APPROVED THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE TWENTY TWENTY ONE ANNUAL YEAR AND APPROVED REESTABLISHING THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AND ASSESSMENT FORMULA.

[INAUDIBLE]. YOU KNOW, YOU GAVE YOU GAVE EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK.

BUT THE NUMBER. BUT THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND THAT SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

WE ARE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

SAY AYE, RAISE YOUR HAND.

AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, NONE SEEING.

MOTION CARRIES. WE MOVE TO OTHER MATTERS.

[a. Temporary Relaxation of Regulations Pertaining to Outdoor Dining - It is anticipated that in the near future the County’s Safer at Home order will be modified to allow restaurants to begin dine-in service. In preparation for that, and in order to expedite the requests, staff is seeking City Council authority to temporarily loosen restrictions on outdoor dining to allow restaurants to accommodate for the loss of occupancy that will be required in the next phase of the order.]

WHAT? AS COUNCIL IS AWARE, THIS LAST WEEK WE SAW A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT EVENT WITH THE OPENING OF DINE IN FOR OUR RESTAURANTS.

WHICH IS, I KNOW, A REAL WELCOME RELIEF TO A LOT OF OUR BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER BUSINESSES BEING ABLE TO OPERATE THAT WORK.

RIGHT. ONE OF THE LIMITS THAT WAS PLACED ON THERE WAS 60 PERCENT OCCUPANCY OF THEIR INTERNAL STAFF IS TO TO KIND OF FACILITATE TO ASSIST IN ALLOWING THE RESTAURANTS TO IMPROVE ON THEIR CAPACITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AND SOME AGENTS, OTHER AGENCIES HAVE ALREADY ENACTED THIS.

SO WE'RE NOT THE FIRST, BUT IT'S TO ALLOW A RELAXATION ON THE OUTDOOR DINING COMPONENT.

AND THE REGULATIONS THAT EXIST AROUND IT.

AND IT WOULD JUST BE TEMPORARY UNTIL WE THE RESTAURANTS GOT TO 100 PERCENT OCCUPANCY AND THE RESTRICTIONS WERE LIFTED AND THEY COULD GET BACK TO WHAT WAS NORMAL OPERATION.

WE BELIEVE THIS WOULD ALLOW THEM THE ABILITY TO IMPROVE UPON WHAT THE LIMITS ARE GOING TO BE INSIDE. OF COURSE, WE WOULD STILL REQUIRE THAT THEY FOLLOW WHATEVER EXCESS ADA ACCESSABILITY WOULD NEED TO BE IF THEY WERE IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY OR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR CONDITIONS THAT EXIST IN UNDER ABC OR THE OTHER.

BUT WE BELIEVE THAT BY MOVING THIS RESPONSIBILITY, RATHER THAN BRINGING IT BACK THROUGH COUNCIL, WE COULD ACCELERATE THE PROCESS.

WE WOULD STILL REQUIRE ANY COACHING PERMIT.

[00:55:02]

WE WOULD STILL REQUIRE ALL THOSE ASPECTS.

WE WOULDN'T CHARGE FOR IT.

WE WOULD DO IT FREE OF CHARGE TO THE RESTAURANTS JUST IN THIS TIME TO KIND OF GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE BREATHING ROOM TO BE ABLE TO TO CONTINUE THEIR OPERATION CLOSER TO WHAT NORMAL WOULD BE FOR THEM.

AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE OCCUPANCY RESTRICTIONS THAT EXIST DO NOT APPLY TO OUTDOOR.

THEY STILL NEED TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCE THING.

BUT THAT 60 PERCENT NUMBER DOESN'T APPLY TO WHATEVER THEY'RE USING ON THE OUTSIDE.

SO IT REALLY CAN HELP SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS TO IMPROVE IN THAT REGARD.

SO WE WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU BASICALLY GIVE STAFF THE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS THESE AS THE INTERESTS ARE IN THE END, WHERE THE INTEREST FOR CERTAIN RESTAURANTS EXIST.

THERE'S THE THERE'S THE ONE OPPORTUNITY OF OUTDOOR DINING THAT WOULD BE ON THE CITY STREETS OR SIDEWALKS, AND WE WOULD TAKE THOSE ON.

BUT ALSO, GIVEN THE PERMISSION IN THE PRIVATE AREA, THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY NEED TO GO THROUGH THE LANDLORDS IF IT WERE IN A SHOPPING CENTER.

AND THEY WOULD STILL NEED TO WORK THROUGH THOSE PERMISSIONS, BUT WE WOULD BE RELAXING SOME OF OUR OUR CONDITIONS THAT EXIST ON THAT.

SO THAT'S ONE COMPONENT.

AND I CAN CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT.

SECOND ONE THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY ASKED AFTER THE STAFF REPORT WAS WRITTEN WAS IT WAS A SUGGESTION THAT CAME ACTUALLY THROUGH THE DEBATE THIS MORNING.

AND I'LL TRY AND GET MOST OF IT.

IF I MISS SOME OF THAT, ERIC WILL CERTAINLY JUMP IN.

AND THAT WAS THE SUGGESTION TO COORDINATE SOME TYPE OF CLOSURE OF D STREET BETWEEN BONITA AND THIRD, MAYBE ON A SATURDAY EVENING, FRIDAY EVENING, NOT ALL THE TIME, BUT IN A WAY TO ACCOMMODATE MORE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DINING.

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF THE DETAILS WORKED OUT AND IT MAY NOT BE OF INTEREST TO THE RESTAURANTS, BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO ASK IF COUNCIL WOULD GIVE US PERMISSION.

SHOULD THE RESTAURANT SAY HOW THIS COULD WORK FOR OUR OPERATION TO IMPROVE UPON THAT, TO ALLOW THAT TO OCCUR? WE WOULD CERTAINLY BRIEF COUNCIL ON WHAT WE WERE GONNA WHAT WAS GONNA BE PUT IN PLACE, BUT JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THAT WOULD BE PERMISSIBLE.

IF IT WAS SOMETHING, WE WOULD PROBABLY COME BACK AND WE WOULD DO K RAIL OR SOMETHING TEMPORARY IN THAT REGARD.

BUT WE WILL PROBABLY LOOK AT COMING BACK WITH MORE PERMANENT BALL YARDS THAT WE WOULD INSTALL TO.

WE'VE KIND OF HAD THAT PROJECT, PUSHED IT OFF, BUT WE WOULD THINK THAT TO PROVIDE A MORE ATTRACTIVE ENVIRONMENT DOWN THERE, WE WOULD WANT TO COME BACK WITH THE MORE PERMANENT BALL YARDS THAT COULD BE REMOVED.

SHOULD WE NEED TO DO THAT.

SO THOSE ARE YOUR.

ERIC, DID I MISS ANYTHING? NO. SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION.

ANY COMMENTS FOR A CITY MANAGER RUSSI? COUNCIL? I HAVE I HAVE, I GUESS, CLARIFICATION OR A QUESTION.

MY UNDERSTANDING, MR. RUSSI, IS THAT EVEN AT THIS 60 PERCENT ALLOWANCE THAT THE COUNTY OR THE STATE OR GRANTING RESTAURANTS, THEY STILL HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS BETWEEN CUSTOMERS.

SO WHILE IT SEEMS NICE THAT 60 PERCENT IS A BIGGER NUMBER THAN TWENTY FIVE, LOGISTICALLY, MANY RESTAURANTS COULDN'T COULDN'T GET ANYWHERE NEAR A 60 PERCENT CAPACITY AND STILL MAINTAIN THAT DISTANCING, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? THAT'S VERY TRUE. YEAH.

AND SO AND SO I DO SEE THIS THIS MATTER, THIS RELAXATION AS BEING VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR RESTAURANT BUSINESSES AND POTENTIALLY OTHER BUSINESSES WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK IN WAYS THAT IT CAN'T ALLOW THEM TO EXTEND BEYOND THEIR BRICK WALLS.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE THINKING OUTSIDE OF OUR WALLS AS WELL AS ALONG OUR STREET. SO. SO I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS.

AND THAT IS AND I THINK THAT INCLUDING THE CLOSING OF STREETS INTO THIS MATTER IS ALSO A GOOD MOVE.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR CITY MANAGER RUSSI? YES, I GOT MR. CROSBY. I APPLAUD THE IDEA OF CLOSING THE STREETS.

KIND OF LIKE WHAT WAS USED TO BE DONE WITH THE FARMER'S MARKET ON D STREET BETWEEN 3RD AND 2ND. THAT WAS DONE ON SATURDAY MORNINGS.

IF WE DO THAT ON A FRIDAY NIGHT AT SIX THIRTY AND A SATURDAY NIGHT AT SIX THIRTY SO THAT WE HAVE THAT WEEKEND COMING DOWN TO THERE AND THEN OUR FOOTHILL RESTAURANTS THERE, MORE IN SHOPPING CENTERS WHERE [INAUDIBLE], THE PARKING LOT BEING PART OF THEIR SO IT'S NOT JUST SINGLING OUT OLD TOWN, BUT REALLY WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR RESTAURANTS, ESTABLISHMENTS. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD DO IN AND REALLY START A TREND EVEN

[01:00:03]

WE HAVE TO BE PUT IN SITUATIONS TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND DO THINGS THAT ARE REALLY GOOD FOR OUR BUSINESS. EVEN AFTER THE RESTRICTIONS HAPPEN AND REALLY LOOK AT THAT, MAKING THINGS RIGHT FOR ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES.

I APPLAUD THE CITY AND FOR THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES WORKING TOGETHER.

AND THOSE ARE ALL GREAT IDEAS AND SOMETHING WE'VE ALREADY DONE PREVIOUSLY WITH OUR OUR OUR FARMERS MARKET.

BUT MAYBE EXPAND IT TO I WOULD BE JUST REMISS OF SAYING IT'S ONLY ONE BLOCK.

WE HAVE BUSINESSES IN ABOUT TWO OR THREE BLOCK AREA DOWN THERE TRYING TO BE EQUAL TO ALL OF THOSE BUSINESSES. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO CITY MANAGER RUSSI? YES, BUT ALSO I WOULD LIKE AN ERIC.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE COULD DO FOR BUSINESSES ELSEWHERE ON FOOTHILL BOULEVARD. WE ALWAYS ARE TALKING DOWNTOWN, BUT I HEAR A LOT FROM THE BUSINESSES UP THERE.

POSSIBLY TO BE OPEN TO IT IS WE COULD WORK WITH THEM, JUST SEE WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE IF WE EVEN CLOSED OFF A PARKING LOT ON ONE DAY DURING THE WEEKEND OR SOMETHING WHERE THEY CAN HAVE PEOPLE WALK AROUND EIGHT MORE OUT IN THE PARKING LOT.

BUT THERE'S OPTIONS.

I REALLY WANT US TO CONSIDER.

THOSE RESTAURANTS UP ON FOOTHILL ALSO, OK? AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE COORDINATED BY THE SHOPPING CENTER OWNER. SHOULD THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING? WE WOULD WE WOULD ACCOMMODATE.

I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT EASIER FOR US TO WORK WITH ON A PUBLIC STREET.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY THESE, THE CLOSURE OF D STREET AND THE OUTDOOR DINING ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. SO WE WE CAN STILL ACCOMMODATE OUTDOOR SEATING ON OUR SIDEWALK AS WELL AS ON FOOT WITH THE RESTAURANTS ON FOOTHILL IN THEIR PARKING LOT.

SO THE CLOSURE, THE STREET WOULD BE SOMETHING SEPARATE THAT IF IT'S A MORE EXPANDED DINING OPPORTUNITY, I'LL CALL IT.

BUT WE MAY NOT GET TO THAT BECAUSE IT MAY NOT WORK FOR THE RESTAURANTS.

WE DON'T KNOW YET. WE MAY GET TO WHERE THEY JUST WANT EXPANDED USE OF OUR SIDEWALK AREA OR SOME OTHER PARKING LOT OR PROBLEM, A PROMENADE AREA THAT WE HAVE SO THAT THOSE TWO AND THEN EVEN UP ALONG FOOTHILL, WE CAN WORK WITH THOSE RESTAURANTS AS WELL.

SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THEM REGARDLESS OF THE STREET CLOSURE.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BY COUNCIL FOR CITY MANAGER RUSSI? OR START A HEARING, NONE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.

CITY MANAGER RUSSI AND ALSO DIRECTOR SCHERER AND ALSO THE DEBATE.

AND JUST FOR THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX, I DO AGREE.

I THINK THIS IS A GREAT THING THAT WE GET AT LEAST GIVE YOU THE TOOLS TO GO AHEAD AND WORK WITH THIS AND SEE IF IT CAN WORK.

BUT ALL THE OTHER ONES, THIS THIS OUTDOOR DINING, AGAIN, KICK STARTING THESE RESTAURANTS, GIVE THEM UP A LEG UP TO GET US GOING.

AND THIS CLOSURE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MANY YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST GOT TO COUNCIL, I WAS KIND OF ALL THOSE THINGS THAT KIND OF DIDN'T HAVE ANY TRACTION.

WELL, NOW YOU HAVE COVID 19 AND GOT SHUT DOWN AT THE CITY.

AND IT'S LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF IT GOES.

AND I DO LIKE THE BOLLARDS.

I THINK THAT'S GREAT. IT'S LIKE CLAIREMONT, SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES WHERE YOU HAVE CERTAIN TIMES AND TIMEFRAME.

SO I THINK THIS IS GREAT.

WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. DO WE HAVE ANY WE'LL GO OUT AND CLOSE THIS.

IS THERE ANY COMMENT, ANY COMMENTS FROM RESIDENTS? YES. I THINK AT LEAST TWO PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT I'M AWARE OF.

I'M ON DUTY. I'M READY TO READ THEM IF YOU'RE READY FOR IT.

YES, PLEASE. THE FIRST ONE IS FROM LEAH SKINNER, THE CHAMBER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

MARY HEPBURN, COUNCIL MEMBERS ON BEHALF OF THE LA VERNE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR FULL SUPPORT OF THE TEMPORARY RELAXATION REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO OUTDOOR DINING. THIS MEASURE WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ABILITY OF OUR STRUGGLING RESTAURANTS TO BEGIN THE ROAD TO RECOVERY.

AS AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A THRIVING BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN LA VERNE, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY STAFF'S PROACTION PROACTIVE ACTION.

AND WE STRONGLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS PRESENTED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THE SECOND ONE IS FROM [INAUDIBLE].

I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PROPOSAL.

PLEASE DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO HELP OUR RESTAURANTS RECOUP THE LOST REVENUE THEY HAVE INCURRED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS BY ALLOWING THEM TO UTILIZE THE OUTDOOR SPACE.

THANK YOU.

NO OTHER COMMENTS. MR. SCHERER. NO, THAT'S ALL.

THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD. AND THIS IS JUST WE JUST NEED TO TAKE UP.

NOT A NOT IT'S NOT A VOTE, BUT JUST A MOTION.

[01:05:03]

NOW LET'S GO WITH A MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

ITEM 7A.

AND THE ADDENDUM.

MOVE THAT WE APPROVE OR THAT WE APPROVE ITEM 7 OTHER MATTERS.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

THE MOTION CARRIES. WE MOVE TO ITEM B..

[b. Community Development Block Grant Business Assistance Grant - The City Council recently approved a Business Assistance Grant program that would offer one-time $2,500 grants to eligible businesses to help them re-open, create jobs, retain jobs, and offer quality services to the residents of La Verne. The program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Due to limited response, the deadline has been extended to June 5, 2020. Additionally, the Economic Development Committee and staff are recommending that the City Council approve further tiers that would make funds available to more businesses in the event there are unused funds.]

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANT.

MR. RUSSI. EXCELLENT.

MR. SCHERER IS GONNA TAKE THIS ITEM.

SORRY, MR. MCCALL. GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN.

THE REPORT BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS A REQUEST TO CONSIDER OPENING UP THE NEW DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ASSISTANCE GRANTS THAT WE HAD THE COUNCIL APPROVED AT THEIR LAST MEETING ON THE MAY 18TH, AS YOU RECALL.

AS YOU RECALL, WE HAD AN OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD THAT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED.

IT EXPIRED LAST FRIDAY.

WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO POTENTIALLY FUND UP TO 100 GRANTS OF TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO BUSINESSES THAT WOULD QUALIFY.

WE WERE HOPEFUL THAT WE'D HAVE A GOOD TURNOUT OR WE WERE EVEN DISCUSSING A LOTTERY PROCESS. BUT AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE FIFTEEN APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, NOT ALL OF WHICH ARE GOING TO QUALIFY.

EVEN SO, WE MET WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE VERY LAST MINUTE LAST THURSDAY OR WEDNESDAY EVENING TO DISCUSS THE EXPANSION OF THIS, TO ALLOW US TO OPEN UP TO MULTIPLE TIERS SO THAT WE MAKE SURE WE GET THE ASSISTANCE TO AS MANY BUSINESSES THAT WE CAN.

SO IN YOUR REPORT, THERE WAS THE FIRST OF ALL, THE EXISTING TIER.

WE'VE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE TO THIS FRIDAY.

WE DID SEND A MASS E-MAIL OUT LATE LAST WEEK TO ALL THE EMAILS WE HAVE ON OUR BUSINESS LICENSE PROGRAM.

SO I THINK IT WAS ABOUT A HUNDRED E-MAILS THAT WERE SENT OUT.

WE HAD ALSO PREVIOUSLY SENT OUT A HARD COPY LETTER TO ALL BUSINESSES, POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WORK WITH THE CHAMBER AND THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

ALSO USE THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA TO ADVERTISE THIS.

AND AGAIN, IT'S STILL ONLY 15 APPLICATIONS, BUT WE DID EXTEND THAT THE EXISTING PROGRAM OUT TO THIS FRIDAY FOR MORE APPLICATIONS TO BE RECEIVED.

BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKELY THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE ONE HUNDRED BY THE END.

RIGHT. SO WHAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE BREAK IT DOWN TO A THREE TIER PROGRAM.

SO THE CURRENT TIER WOULD BE TIER ONE, WHICH IN ORDER TO QUALIFY, THEY HAD TO BE A NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESS AND THEY COULD HAVE RECEIVED OTHER FUNDING, FEDERAL, STATE OR COUNTY FUNDING FUNDING, AND THEY HAD TO HAVE LESS THAN 50 EMPLOYEES.

THOSE ARE THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS, RECOGNIZING THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE OTHER FUNDING RECEIVED MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FOR BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE NONESSENTIAL FOR APPLYING, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT QUITE A BIT DID END UP GETTING THE PE MONEY.

AND SO OUR SUGGESTION FOR TIER TWO IS TO KEEP EVERYTHING THE SAME, BUT ALLOW THOSE NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES TO APPLY, EVEN IF THEY DID RECEIVE OTHER FUNDING OPTIONS THAT WERE THE ONES THE HARDEST HIT, AS THEY WERE BASICALLY REALLY REQUIRED TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS COMPLETELY DURING THIS TIME.

IF I THEN GIVE A BASICALLY A TWO WEEK WINDOW FOR THOSE APPLICATIONS TO BE RECEIVED.

IF WE GO OVER THE HUNDRED, WE WOULD STILL STICK WITH THE LOTTERY PROSPECT IN TERMS OF DETERMINING WHICH ONES THOSE ARE.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE WILL STILL PROCESS IT IN QUALIFYING APPLICATIONS WE RECEIVED IN TIER ONE IMMEDIATELY.

WE WON'T WAIT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

IF THEY QUALIFY IN TIER ONE, THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR PAYMENTS AND THEN WE'LL JUST KEEP MOVING ON. IF FOR SOME REASON WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH APPLICATIONS AFTER THE END OF YEAR TO THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE NOW NOT FOOD AND RESTAURANTS.

SO RESTAURANTS, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE STILL HARD HIT.

BUT THEY WERE TO BE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL.

SO WE WOULD THROW THAT INTO THE LIST AND WE WOULD GIVE PRIORITY TO THOSE THAT DIDN'T RECEIVE OTHER FUNDING. SO IT'S REALLY ALMOST A NEW STEP WITHIN TIER THREE, WE WOULD FIRST PUT ALL THE ONES THAT WOULD NOT RECEIVE FUNDING AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

AND THEN IF WE'RE STILL GO THROUGH THOSE, WE WOULD THEN OPEN UP TO ANY RESTAURANT BUSINESS THAT MET THE OTHER QUALIFICATIONS.

BUT WE HAD SOME DATES IN YOUR REPORT THAT WE EXPECT THAT THOSE DEADLINES WOULD BE THIS WILL ALSO HELP STAFF TO PROCESSES AND STILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPREAD OUT THAN HAVING ONE HUNDRED APPLICATIONS ALL TO BE DONE AT ONCE.

WE'LL HAVE THESE DIFFERENT TIERS THAT WE CAN OBVIOUSLY GET TO THEM FASTER, HOPEFULLY.

AND MAKING SURE THOSE GET APPROVED.

WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YES. ANY QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR SCHERER? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND SUPPORT OF TWO ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

[01:10:05]

I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE AVAILABLE FUNDS TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED SOME FUNDING.

SO MY QUESTION IS, IS OUR TIER ONE RECIPIENTS ELIGIBLE UNDER EITHER TIER TWO OR TIER THREE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS.

OH, IF YOU'VE ALREADY RECEIVED TWO, TIER ONE, YES.

NO. SO YOU GET ONE GRAB FROM THROUGH THIS PROGRAM TO THE CITY.

I THINK THEY'D BE NICE TO BE ABLE.

ALLOW THEM. I MEAN, TWENTY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR GRANT IS HELPFUL.

SOME MAY NEED MORE THAN ONE HIT OF THAT.

SO I GUESS I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM BE RE ELIGIBLE AGAIN.

IF HE'S AT TIER TWO OR THE TIER THREE.

SHOULD THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY NEED THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS.

JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR SCHERER ON THIS? JUST ADDING TO COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS PLAN OR SUGGESTION TWO WAS IF AND AND I KNOW THE ECONOMIC COMMITTEE PRAISED THEM FOR REALLY LOOKING AT THIS AND TRYING TO HELP OUT BUSINESSES. IF SOMEONE QUALIFIES AS A TIER ONE AND WE'RE OPENING IT UP FOR A LARGER TIER TWO, TIER THREE, IF IT'S DIFFERENT AMOUNTS, COULD BE FOR THE MORE RESTRICTIVE TIER ONE, BE A HIGHER AMOUNT, A TIER TWO, TIER THREE AND MAYBE SLIGHTLY LESS AMOUNT.

JUST SO THAT THE HARDEST HIT WHEN THEN THAT WOULD BE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS WAS TALKING ABOUT. IF THEY RE APPLY FOR A DAY OR TWO, THEY GET A LITTLE HIGHER AMOUNT TO HELP SUPPORT. IT'S IT'S JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE THAT NEEDS HELP GETS THE HELP TOO. SO THERE'S JUST DIFFERENT BRAINSTORMING IDEAS.

THANK YOU, MR. CROSBY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR CONCERNS WITH MR. SCHERER? THIS IS THIS IS WENDY.

I JUST HAVE A I GUESS, A THOUGHT, GIVEN THE ADDITIONAL INPUT PROVIDED BY COUNCILMAN DAVIS AND COUNCILMAN CROSBY.

YOU KNOW, ERIC, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? IF FOR SOME REASON WE GO THROUGH ALL THE TEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ENUMERATED AND THERE ARE STILL FUNDS LEFT OVER.

AND I'M ASSUMING IT WOULD COME BACK TO THIS COUNCIL TO SAY, HERE'S WHAT'S LEFT AND HERE'S WHAT WE COULD DO WITH IT. RATHER THAN TRYING TO THINK WORDSMITH THE EXISTING PLAN AND SPENDING TIME ON THAT, MAYBE WE'LL SEEING HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR NOW WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT ROUGHLY 15 APPLICANTS IN THIS FIRST WAVE. AND NOW WE KNOW IF WE VOTE THIS IN AND HAVE THE OTHER IN THERE, LET'S WHO COMES TO THE TABLE? AND THEN IF ALL FUNDS OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO USE UP ALL THE FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER NEEDS THEM GETS THEM.

BUT AGAIN, RATHER THAN SITTING ON A REWARD, SOMETHING I THINK MAY BE WORTHWHILE TO PUSH THROUGH WITH THIS. AND LEST YOU THINK OTHERWISE, ERIC, THERE'S OTHER INPUT THAT YOU HAVE.

I THINK, BOB, AS YOU KNOW, I KIND OF LIKE THAT APPROACH RATHER THAN A REAPPLICATION, YOU KNOW, GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY OR LET'S SAY IF THERE ENDS UP BEING, I DON'T KNOW, THAT END UP BEING ELIGIBLE OUT OF THE FIFTEEN THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT. BUT [INAUDIBLE] TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

IF WE GET TO THE END OF THE THIRD TIER AND WE STILL HAVE FUNDS LEFT OVER, WE CAN GO BACK TO THOSE OF THOSE.

I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY WERE SAYING.

AND REALLY TAKE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT TO THE HARDEST HIT.

THOSE THAT WERE CLOSED AND DIDN'T GET ANY ASSISTANCE AND JUST DECIDE HOW TO ALLOCATE THAT TO THE REMAINING 10. SO I THINK THAT BE THE BETTER WAY TO DISTRIBUTE IT.

BUT TO MAKE SURE WHERE WE'RE GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY ALL THE WAY THROUGH ALL THAT, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE. SO I KIND OF AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY I'LL I'LL LEAD TO MOVE TO THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP BUSINESSES OPEN.

APPRECIATE. I WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY I WOULD KEEP THE FORUM, BUT I DO AGREE THAT LEAVE IT OPEN AT THE END TO FOR THEM TO REAPPLY.

I DO AGREE WITH THAT. NOW, THE TOTAL IS 15.

I UNDERSTOOD WE HAD FIVE OR RUNNING.

WE HAD ANOTHER FIFTEEN OR JUST A TOTAL OF FIFTEEN.

THAT WAS THE QUESTION I DIDN'T KNOW WHEN YOU AND I SPOKE EARLIER.

ERIC, CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT? I WAS JUST GOING OFF OF CANDACE'S E-MAIL FROM THIS MORNING THAT DID INDICATE WE HAD 15 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM WERE QUITE QUALIFIED UNDER TIER ONE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINAL COUNT WAS FOR THOSE THAT PROBABLY DO QUALIFY JUST AFTER THE ONES I SAW. I'M GUESSING THERE'S ABOUT THREE OR FOUR THAT PROBABLY DON'T QUALIFY.

SO SOMEWHERE AROUND 10, MAYBE ELEVEN TOTAL, COMPLETE, TOTAL RIGHT NOW THAT WILL QUALIFY AS

[01:15:06]

SO. AND WE'LL BE ALL OVER THE END OF THIS, THAT THE ELIGIBLE.

SO THEY WILL BE THROUGH THE END OF THIS WEEK, WILL BE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR TIER ONE.

LET ME PUSH THIS TO THE 5TH OF JUNE.

I MEAN, I'M IN FAVOR OF JUST LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER LAU AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY, I THINK.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO WE PROBABLY SHOULD KEEP OUR FORM RIGHT NOW, SEE HOW WE GO THIS WEEK AND THEN LOOK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

AND THEN IF THEY DO TO TIER TWO AND TIER THREE AND WE DO HAVE FUNDS, I THINK THAT WE CAN OPEN IT BACK UP. I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE PROBABLY NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT HERE, CORRECT? YES.

AND I GUESS TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE WHAT I'D LIKE TO BE TO GET THAT MONEY BACK OUT AS QUICK, GET IT OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, WHAT I'M HEARING IS GO THROUGH TIER THREE.

AND THEN IF WE HAVE ANYTHING LEFT OVER, STAFF'S GONNA GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE TIER ONE RECIPIENTS, SEE HOW MANY OF THEM WERE ELIGIBLE, AND THEN COME BACK AND SAY, COUNCIL, LET'S SAY THERE'S THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS LEFT.

WE CAN DISTRIBUTE THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO EACH OF THE TEN BUSINESSES.

AND THAT WOULD BE UP TO YOU TO SAY YES OR NO.

BUT RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH A WHOLE OTHER APPLICATION PROCESS, JUST MOVE THAT MONEY BACK TO TIER ONE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING. AND THAT'S WRONG.

BUT THAT WAS KIND OF WHAT I THOUGHT WE WERE LOOKING AT.

COUNCIL COMMENTS.

I LIKE THAT. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD WAY, THE WAY BOB DESCRIBES IT.

YES. I THINK IT'S.

I'M SORRY. I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO COLLECT DATA ALONG THE WAY, TOO, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE WELL, WE INITIALLY THOUGHT WE WOULD GET QUITE A FEW APPLICANTS THIS THIS FIRST ROUND AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE DID IT.

AND SO I THINK IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT BECAUSE WE MIGHT COME UP WITH DIFFERENT METRICS THAT SAY, OH, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE HIT, THAT WE'RE NOT COVERED UNDER THESE CURRENT PARAMETERS.

AND THEN WE CAN MAKE A BETTER DECISION ABOUT TRYING TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, GET THROUGH THIS.

SO THAT THAT'S MY THOUGHT.

COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

OTHER COMMENTS. I THINK THAT I'M FINE WITH THE THE IDEA OF MOVING FORWARD, KEEPING AN OPEN END TO POTENTIALLY REDISTRIBUTION TO TIER ONE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY. I'M GOOD.

OK. SO DO WE.

WERE WE THEN? THE CONSENSUS IS TO KEEP IT AS IT IS AND THEN OPEN IT UP AT THE END.

WE HAVE FUNDS REMAINING, CORRECT.

THEY WOULD CALL LIKE A TIER FOUR, WHICH WOULD GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL TIER ONE.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT. CORRECT.

OK, THEN WE'LL DO THAT NOW.

WE HAVE TO IF WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT NOW, CLOSE THE DISCUSSION.

DO WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, WE DON'T. WE NEED A MOTION, MR. KRESS. YES.

AND I NEED A MOTION. MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER.

MOTION. GO AHEAD. OK, I WILL MAKE THE MOTION FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND STAFFS TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR THE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANT APPLICATION TO FRIDAY, JUNE 5TH. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. RAISE YOUR HANDS.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED.

NONE. MOTION CARRIES.

WE MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND ORAL COMMUNICATIONS.

I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR WITH ALL THE COUNCIL THAT LAST MEETING.

I WANT TO CLARIFY. WE HAVE A THREE MINUTE TIME FRAME.

ARE WE ALL GOOD WITH THAT MOVING FORWARD? YES. YES. YES.

I CAN'T SEE EVERYBODY. THEN WE WON'T YOU HAVE YOUR PHONE.

YOU'VE HAD LIMITED VIEWING.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S BEEN.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BE ORAL WHENEVER I COULD THINK.

I FEEL LIKE JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH RIGHT NOW.

SO THERE YOU GO. THEN WE MOVE FORWARD TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS/ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - This is the time set aside for anyone wishing to address the City Council on items not listed in any other place on the agenda. Under the provisions of the Brown Act, the legislative body is prohibited from talking or engaging in discussion on any item not appearing on the posted agenda. However, your concerns may be referred to staff or set for discussion at a later date. There is a three-minute limit per speaker. Please email the Assistant City Clerk at cityclerk@cityoflaverne.org before 5 pm on the day of the meeting with your public comments]

IS THAT CORRECT? SOMEWHERE.

THERE WE GO.

WE HAVE A CALL IN PUBLIC COMMENT.

IT'S JIM MURPHY. GO AHEAD, JIM.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MURPHY.

COUNCIL STAFF.

I JUST WANTED TO COME BACK.

WE AT THE LAST MEETING.

I THOUGHT THE FORENSIC AUDIT WAS A DONE DEAL [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNICATION HERE FROM OUR LOCAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, LBC, [INAUDIBLE] AND THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR THEIR STAND AND THE HARD QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT THE FORENSIC AUDIT.

DID SOME RESEARCH YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.

AND THAT IS THE FORENSIC AUDIT.

A VERY BASIC ONE. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A VERY NARROW SEARCH WOULD BE ABOUT 30 GRAND,

[01:20:04]

BUT FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING, FROM ALL I'M READING ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR THIS GROUP IS THIS IS AN EXPANDED AUDIT, MULTIPLE YEARS OLD TARGETS.

AND SO YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT THAT IN EXCESS OF 60 OR SO, OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THIS THIS FORENSIC AUDIT.

SO I JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT.

I APPRECIATE [INAUDIBLE] DOWN BECAUSE IT'S NOT WHAT THE CITY NEEDS RIGHT NOW [INAUDIBLE] PUTTING A CAMPAIGN TOGETHER TO TO STRETCH YOUR BELIEF THAT YOUR FOUR TO ONE NO VOTE WAS A GOOD IDEA. THEY REPRESENT LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF OUR CITIZENS.

AND SO THERE IS A BIG GROUP THAT'S NOT SPEAKING UP.

IT FEELS THE SAME WAY THAT YOU DO.

WE DON'T NEED A FORENSIC AUDIT RIGHT NOW.

AND I WOULD ASK THE QUESTION, AND THAT'S REASON I GOT ON THE CALL TONIGHT WHAT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THIS YOURSELF, MR. MAYOR, BECAUSE YOU PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

WHAT IS THE REASON? BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HEAR THE REASON.

BECAUSE SLATE IS NOT WORTH ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROVING FIVE PREVIOUS ANNUAL BUDGETS.

SO YOU HAD TO SEE MORE DETAIL AND UNDERSTAND WOULD BE IF THERE WERE ANY SKELETONS WHERE THEY MIGHT BE. SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT FRAUD OR EMBEZZLEMENT? AND IF SO, WHICH IS IT? AND WHEN WAS IT? AND WHO WAS THE PERPETRATOR? SO I THINK THOSE TWO THINGS NEED TO BE ANSWERED.

WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH THIS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE I NEED A WAY TO CAMPAIGN UNDER WAY TO TRY TO CHANGE THE MINDS OF THE COUNCIL FROM THAT FOUR TO ONE VOTE TWO WEEKS AGO TO TO MOVE THIS THING FORWARD. SO THAT'S ONE VOTE FOR THAT.

SECONDLY, FIRST, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE COUNCIL TONIGHT ON TONIGHT'S MEETING.

I WAS GOING TO MAKE SOME OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE LAST THREE MEETINGS, BUT YOU REALLY WISH I COULD DO SOMETHING TONIGHT THAT I WAS HOPING TO SEE FROM THESE COUNCIL.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CURRENT SITUATION [INAUDIBLE] AND YOU'RE ALL TRYING TO COMMUNICATE VIA ZOOM IT'S A TOUGH A TOUGH THING, DIFFERENT.

AND WE'RE IN TOUGH TIMES.

20 SECONDS. AND THAT'S AND THAT'S WHY WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS, I SAID, YOU KNOW, [INAUDIBLE] HELP US UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT TO THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY.

WE HEARD FOUR WEEKS AGO ABOUT A TASK FORCE FOR REOPENING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM UNDER BROAD IDEAS TONIGHT. BUT I THINK THE ONE THING THAT HANGS OVER THIS CITY IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ISSUES. THAT'S 3 MINUTES.

[INAUDIBLE]. I THINK THESE ARE THE THINGS WE'RE ALL EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM YOU.

MR. MURPHY, WE'RE BEYOND THREE MINUTES.

IF YOU COULD FINISH UP.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

YEAH. OK, WE HAVE AT LAST COUNT AND A COUPLE MORE ARE COMING THROUGH, BUT I HAVE 20 E-MAILS I'LL BE READING.

THE FIRST [INAUDIBLE].

OH, AND JUST TO PREFACE THAT, I DID TIME MYSELF AND READING SOME OF THE ONES THAT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND THEY WERE UNDER THREE MINUTES.

I APOLOGIZE IF I READ A LITTLE BIT SLOWER AND SOMEHOW I'LL GO OVER THREE MINUTES.

BUT I DID GO THROUGH THAT EFFORT BEFORE THE MEETING TONIGHT.

SO THIS IS FROM KATRINA [INAUDIBLE].

DURING THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING, PLEASE DISCUSS WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE INCREASED CAR AND MOTORCYCLE RACING IN AND AROUND THE CITY.

I ALSO HEAR A LOT ON THE FREEWAY 210.

AFTER COMMUNICATING WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK GROUP, IT'S AGREED IT POSES A SAFETY RISK TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS ALSO VERY ANNOYING AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING.

THANK YOU, KATRINA [INAUDIBLE].

THIS IS FROM JACKSON [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD EVENING. I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO THANK MAYOR HEPBURN FOR HIS HARD WORK TO REOPEN OUR CITY SOONER THAN THE COUNTIES PREFERRED DATE.

I'M TAKING MY COMMENT FROM MAY 4TH INTO CONSIDERATION.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS REGARDING A LACK OF MAINTENANCE IN OUR STRIP MALLS, INCLUDING THE POST OFFICE.

MEMBERS OF THE LA VERNE COALITION OF CONCERNED CITIZENS SAID THAT THESE PLACES HAVE OVERGROWN, ASSUMING THAT IT HAS BEEN A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC BY THE BUSINESS NOT PAYING THEIR LANDSCAPE TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

ONE MEMBER IS DEMANDING THAT THE CITY FIND THESE PLACES AT THE PROPERTIES ARE UNCAPPED.

BECAUSE THOSE ARE ESSENTIAL.

LASTLY, THERE'S CONCERNS FOR ME ABOUT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY REGARDING CALIFORNIA'S TEMPORARY ZERO DOLLAR BAIL PROGRAM, RELEASING CRIMINALS IN THE STREET, CAUSING MORE CRIMES EACH DAY. I AM ASKING EVERY ONE OF YOU TO FIGHT TO END THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DURING THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THIS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK MR. RUSSI TO GET THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO DAILY PATROLS IN OUR RESIDENTIAL AREAS, PARTICULARLY NORTH LA VERNE.

THAT WAY, OUR RESIDENTS CAN FEEL SAFE FROM FROM THESE CROOKS.

[01:25:03]

OUR RESIDENTS HAVE HAD TO HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF WHAT HE HAS DONE TO THIS STATE AND THE CITY.

IT NEEDS TO END NOW. THIS IS FROM TERRY PRENTIS.

GOOD EVENING THERE, HEPBURN, MAYOR PRO TEM CARDER, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS, COUNCIL MEMBER LAO AND COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.

IN THE MONTHS AND WEEKS OF THE UP TO THE CITY ELECTION THIS PAST MARCH, I OFTEN SAW THE TERM FORENSIC AUDIT USED IN LOCAL SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

THIS WAS GENERALLY FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VERY POLITICALLY ACTIVE ORGANIZATION LBC THREE.

THIS ORGANIZATION DENIES BEING AN UNREGISTER POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, EVEN THOUGH FEDERAL ELECTION LAW DEFINES A PHC AS ANY ORGANIZATION THAT RECEIVES OR SPENDS A THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE TO INFLUENCE AN ELECTION.

THEY ALSO DENY THEY ENDORSE ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATE.

THEY MAY NOT OFFICIALLY ENDORSE ANY CANDIDATE, BUT BY THEIR ACTIONS THEY TACITLY ENDORSED CANDIDATES. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING POLITICALLY ACTIVE AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE JUST ON IT, I JUST MISS THE LANGUAGE.

LANGUAGE IS POLITICAL RHETORIC OR POLITICAL SOUNDBITES FROM PERSONS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH AN ACTUAL FORENSIC AUDIT OR THE NEED OF SUCH INVESTIGATION OF FINANCIAL DATA.

THE PROCESSES INVOLVED AND THE ACTUAL PURPOSE OF SUCH AN AUDIT ALSO.

AND THOSE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, THE TERM FORENSIC AUDIT WAS ALSO GENERALLY FOLLOWED OR PRECEDED BY CONDEMNATION UPON SPENT ON LAWSUITS.

THE CITY WAS INVOLVED KNOWING WHAT A FORENSIC AUDIT INVOLVED IN THAT LAWSUIT STRATEGY WAS, NOT SOMETHING THAT NECESSITATED SUCH AUDIT.

I MERELY PASSED THIS OFF AS MORE UNINFORMED POLITICAL RHETORIC WHEN THE AGENDA ITEM WAS DISCUSSED. I WAS PLEASED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER LAU ARTICULATED WHAT THE USES OF FORENSIC AUDIT WERE AND WHAT NECESSITATES SUCH AN AUDIT.

SHE VERY THOROUGHLY EXPLAINED THE PURPOSES, INTENT AND LIMITATIONS OF SUCH AUDIT.

FORENSIC AUDITS ARE VERY SPECIFIC AND ARE USED IN INSTANCES WHERE THAT BANNED OR EMBEZZLEMENT USING COMPLEX AND SOPHISTICATED PROCESSES TO DIVERT MONEY FROM THE ORGANIZATION TO PERSONAL USE.

AS OUR SUSPECTED, A FORENSIC AUDIT IS AN INVESTIGATIVE TOOL TO EXPOSE SUCH CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. HOWEVER, THIS SEEMED TO BE IGNORED BY MAYOR HEPBURN AND ALSO HIS CALL IN SUPPORT OF MR. RICK BOWEN AS THEY CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR SUCH AUDIT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO PROCESS.

THAT WAS NOT A AND ALSO THE CIRCUMSTANCES STATED AND THE FURTHER NEGATIVE EFFECT UPON THE ALREADY STRESSED CITY BUDGET DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID 19 LOCKDOWN.

THE CITY'S FINANCES ARE ALREADY AUDITED BY A PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING FIRM AND REGULARLY SCHEDULED BASIS IN THE ACCURACY AND PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR STAFF RESULTS IN OUTSTANDING AUDIT RESULTS, AS EVIDENCED IN THE RECENT BOND PROCESS TO ADDRESS CALPERS NEEDS.

LOOKING FOR AUDIT RESULTS TO ADDRESS LAWSUIT STRATEGIES IS AN EXPENSIVE EXERCISE IN FUTILITY. THE STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH LAWSUITS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, NOT WHAT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

IT WAS AN APPARENT THAT THE AGENDA ITEM WAS MERELY AN ATTEMPT AT KEEPING A POLITICAL PROMISE TO SUPPORTERS IN THE LAST ELECTION AND NOT FOR THE ACTUAL GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THESE ATTEMPTS CEASE IMMEDIATELY.

THERE IS MUCH WORK AHEAD FOR OUR CITY TO COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN AND PROMOTE LOCAL BUSINESS GROWTH AND SUSTAIN A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITIZENS.

WITHOUT THESE UNNECESSARY DISTRACTIONS.

THIS IS FROM ROY HOLBERG.

REGARDING THE FORENSIC GOT IT, I STRONGLY RESENT THE IMPLICATION BEHIND THIS DEMAND FOR A FORENSIC AUDIT. FURTHER, I THINK IT IS BEYOND FOOLISH TO WASTE OUR ALREADY STRETCHED RESOURCES ON THIS GAMBIT.

PLEASE STAND STRONG AGAINST THE SO-CALLED CONCERNED CITIZENS WHO ARE PUSHING FOR THIS.

I, TOO, AM CONCERNED.

I'M CONCERNED THAT THESE FEW VERY LOUD VOICES ARE DOMINATING THE LIFE OF OUR CITY.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THOSE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO TOOK A CLEAR AND STRONG STAND AGAINST THIS AUDIT. PLEASE DO NOT GIVE IN.

[INAUDIBLE]. THIS IS FROM ROSE MURPHY AT THE 18TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING, MR HEPARINS SUGGESTED THAT A FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE CITY FINANCES BE CONDUCTED.

THE REASON PROVIDED BY MR. HEPBURN WAS VERY VAGUE.

HE CLAIMS TO WANT TO START THE CITY COUNCIL WITH A CLEAN SLATE.

WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN? WASN'T MR. HEPBURN INVOLVED IN THE REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS ANNUAL BUDGET MEETINGS? IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM, WHY DID HE NOT ADDRESS IT THEN? THE DETAILED EXPLANATION PROVIDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LAU WAS THOROUGH AND HELPED ME UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY THE PURPOSE OF A FORENSIC AUDIT, BUT ALSO THE EXTENT OF THE COSTS TO CONDUCT SUCH AUDIT.

THANK YOU, WENDY LAU.

MY RESEARCH SHOWS THIS COST TO BE BETWEEN THIRTY THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PLUS.

AS A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THIS GREAT CITY, I WANT TO THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR OPPOSING THE SUGGESTION MADE BY MR HEPBURN.

MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS YOUR EFFORTS ON SAFEGUARDING OUR FINANCES,

[01:30:01]

MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

WE ARE WRITING TO EXPRESS OUR OPPOSITION TO THE CITY WASTING MONEY ON A FORENSIC AUDIT AS PROPOSED BY MAYOR HEPBURN AT THE MAY 18, 2020 COUNCIL MEETING.

THE WASTE SEEMS PARTICULARLY EGREGIOUS IN LIGHT OF THE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE COVID 19 AS FORMER CITY EMPLOYEES.

WE ARE VERY AWARE OF HOW EXTENSIVELY THE CITY HAS ALREADY AUDITED, AND THIS JUST SEEMED LIKE A TOTAL WASTE OF FUNDS THAT COULD BE USED FOR MUCH MORE IMPORTANT CAUSES.

I HOPE THE CITY CAN MOVE FORWARD.

AND IN THIS DIVISIVENESS, LA VERNE IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE AND I HOPE THE COUNCIL CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BRING BACK HARMONY AND TEAMWORK TO MOVE US FORWARD.

SINCERELY, BRIAN [INAUDIBLE] AND [INAUDIBLE].

THIS IS FROM GREG [INAUDIBLE].

MY NAME IS GREG [INAUDIBLE], AND I AM A 20 YEAR RESIDENT OF LA VERNE.

I WISH TO SPEAK ON THE FORENSIC AUDIT TOPIC THAT CAME UP IN THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THE CITIZENS OF LA VERNE ARE ORGANIZED AND WATCHING THE COUNCIL CLOSELY.

COUNCIL MEMBERS BE ADVISED THAT WE ARE DISAPPOINTED AND APPALLED AT THE LACK OF SUPPORT FOR SOMETHING THAT'S DESPERATELY NEEDED.

REST ASSURED, A NO VOTE ON THE FORENSIC AUDIT WILL MEAN A NO VOTE ON YOUR REELECTION.

THIS TOPIC IS NOT RECONSIDERED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THIS IS FROM CHRISTINE DENNIS.

MY NAME IS CHRISTINE DENNIS.

MY HUSBAND SCOTT AND OUR FAMILY HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS OF LA VERNE FOR TWENTY NINE YEARS.

I FELT THE NEED TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED AUDIT.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MAYOR HEPBURN, THERE IS REALLY NO NEED FOR THIS EXPENSIVE AUDIT.

THE ANNUAL AUDIT WAS UNQUALIFIED, MEETING A CLEAN OPINION FREE OF ANY MISREPRESENTATIONS.

IN ADDITION, THE FINANCIAL RECORDS OF THE CITY HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARDS KNOWN AS GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.

WITHOUT THESE TYPES OF AUDITS, HISTORICALLY, OUR CITY WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN AN A PLUS RATING FOR THE BOND THAT WAS PASSED IN MARCH.

LET'S CONTINUE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE, THE PUBLIC HAVE ENTRUSTED YOU WITH. BEST REGARDS, CHRISTINE.

DENNIS. THIS IS FROM CATHERINE.

CATHERINE [INAUDIBLE].

AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE MAYOR REQUESTED A FORENSIC AUDIT.

HE STATED THAT HE WANTED TO START WITH A CLEAN SLATE.

THIS WAS DISCUSSED AND REJECTED BY THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AS AN UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURE. BASED ON MY RESEARCH OF WHAT A FORENSIC AUDIT ENTAILS, THE COST AND THE PURPOSE OF IT, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT THIS IS NOT WARRANTED. WHEN I READ WATCHED THE VIDEO FROM THE LAST MEETING, I'M NOT EVEN CONVINCED THAT THE MEN ARE ACTUALLY BELIEVES THIS IS NECESSARY.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT HE IS BEING PRESSURED BY A FELLOW, BY A FEW VOCAL CITIZENS WHO ARE CONSTANTLY BRINGING ACCUSATIONS OF WRONGDOINGS BY OUR COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGEMENT.

WE'RE LIVING THROUGH A DIFFICULT PERIOD IN HISTORY AND PURPOSELY SPENDING MONEY TO PLACATE THE WHIMS OF A FEW PARANOID INDIVIDUALS.

THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITY.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR CITIZENS TO NOT JUST SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE ONCE AGAIN. LET'S USE OUR MONEY AND RESOURCES TO REBUILD OUR COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL, MAYOR AND CITY STAFF, FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. BEST REGARDS, CATHY [INAUDIBLE].

THIS IS FROM BILL AND PAM RICHARDSON.

TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

AS RESIDENTS OF LA VERNE, WE WANT TO SHARE OUR SUPPORT FOR EACH OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN OPPOSING THE SUGGESTION MADE TO CONDUCT AN EXPENSIVE FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE CITY'S FINANCES AT THE MAY 18TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

WE FAIL TO HEAR ANY SPECIFIC REASON FOR THIS ADDITIONAL RESEARCH OTHER THAN STARTING WITH A CLEAN SLATE, WHICH APPEARS TO BE IRRATIONAL AND POLITICAL AS WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A FINANCIAL SLATE RECEIVED IN APRIL.

IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING, IN OUR OPINION, THAT THIS EXPENSIVE FORENSIC AUDIT AS AN UNQUALIFIED EXPENSE FOR OUR CITY TO ABSORB AND IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO SPEND THE NEW REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE TAX INCREASE RAISED BY MEASURE OF THE SALARIES OF CIVIL SERVANTS [INAUDIBLE] . SORRY, I GUESS I WAS DISTORTED OR MY AUDIO SOUNDED DISTORTED ON THAT END.

SO APOLOGIZE FOR THE NOISE.

[01:35:02]

I'M GOING TO START BACK AT THE SECOND PARAGRAPH HERE.

PLEASE FOCUS YOUR EFFORTS ON KEEPING OUR CITY SAFE DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND GETTING US SAFELY REOPENED TO SUPPORT OUR IMPORTANT LOCAL BUSINESSES.

WE DO NOT WANT TO BE DISTRACTED FROM THE REAL ISSUES FACING OUR AMAZING CITY TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR LA VERNE AND SHIRLEY BILL AND PAM RICHARDS.

THIS IS FROM SUZY MORALES.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT A FORENSIC AUDIT REQUESTED BY OUR MAYOR WAS NOT APPROVED.

I AM ASKING THAT YOU CAN RECONSIDER AND APPROVE A FORENSIC AUDIT.

MANY LA VERNE RESIDENTS, INCLUDING MYSELF, ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS AUDIT.

WE WANT TRANSPARENCY AND THIS WILL BE A GOOD PLACE TO START.

THANK YOU, SUSAN. ALICE.

THIS IS FROM LINDA LOCKHART WILKINSON.

THIRTY TWO YEAR LA VERNE RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER, I AM A PLAINTIFF IN A PENDING LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF LA VERNE AND FORMER MAYOR KENDRICK.

AS A COUNCIL MAY BE AWARE, I FILED MY LAWSUIT BECAUSE CITY MANAGER RUSSI OFFERED MY TENANT CHASE'S RESTAURANT APPROXIMATELY EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TAXPAYER MONEY TO MOVE OUT OF MY PROPERTY ALMOST TWO YEARS BEFORE THEIR LEASE WAS UP AND MOVED TO THEIR NEW LOCATION ON VENITA.

FORMER MAYOR KENDRICK VOTED WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECUSED BECAUSE HIS REAL ESTATE BUSINESS WAS ACROSS THE STREET ON THE VENITA LOCATION.

THE CITY SHOULD NOT HAVE INTERFERED WITH MY CONTRACT AND INSERTED ITSELF BETWEEN A LANDLORD AND TENANT.

I WAS HARMED BY THE CITY'S ACTIONS BECAUSE WHEN CHASE IS ABANDONED MY PROPERTY, MY PROPERTY LOST ITS HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMIT TO OPERATE A RESTAURANT AND LOST SOME GRANDFATHERED RIGHTS FOR MY KITCHEN OPERATION.

I WAS SHOCKED THAT THE CITY DID THIS, AND I HAVE TRIED MY BEST TO REBUILD MY BUSINESS AT GREAT EXPENSE. I LOVE LA VERNE AND ONLY WANT TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER UNREASONABLE TERMS AND MOVE FORWARD. I RAISED MY SONS AND LA VERNE AND WAS PROUD TO WATCH THEM GROW UP HERE.

I BOUGHT A FAMILY SECTION OF LA VERNE CEMETERY AND BURIED MY PARENTS HERE.

I'VE INVESTED FINANCIALLY INTO A CITY THAT I LOVE AND SUPPORT.

I WANT TO GET MY PROPERTY UP AND RUNNING AGAIN.

I'M PREPARED TO SETTLE THE CASE ON REASONABLE TERMS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE FULL COUNCIL IS NOT BEING KEPT INFORMED ABOUT THE CASE.

I REQUEST THAT THE COUNCIL AGENDA IS A MATTER FOR THE NEXT CLOSED SESSION.

CONSIDER MY WRITTEN SETTLEMENT OFFER AND AGREE TO ATTEND A MEDIATION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED COOPERATION AND RESPONSE.

THIS PERSON JUST PROVIDED THAT THEY WERE A RESIDENT, LILY H.

RAINARD. WILL LA VERNE SKATE PARK OPEN AFTER COVID 19, UPDATED WHEN? IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR SKATEBOARD KIDS.

THEY NEED TO GET ENERGY OUT IN THE RIGHT WAY.

I RECOMMEND SKATE PARK OPEN WITH SIX FEET DISTANCING.

ACTUALLY, SKATERS ARE ALWAYS KEEPING OFF DISTANCE FOR SAFETY.

IT IS NOT GROUP PLAY GAME.

WOULD YOU READ THIS E-MAIL AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT? THANK YOU. RESIDENT BRANDON.

THIS IS WHEN LARRY BELL.

I HAVE OPERATED A BUSINESS IN LA VERNE FOR 35 YEARS WITH RECENT DOWNTURN OF BUSINESS ACTIVITY, SPECIFICALLY SALES TAX REVENUES.

I AM EXPRESSING MY CONCERN AND PURSUING A FORENSIC AUDIT.

IF A SPECIFIC REASON BASED ON FACTS FOR THE FORENSIC AUDIT IS GIVEN, THEN I AM IN FAVOR OF IT. HOWEVER, WITH NO SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR THE AUDIT, THE COST TO THE CITY OF LA VERNE WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BE PRUDENT WITH CITY EXPENDITURES.

LARRY BELL. THIS IS FROM TIM GATES.

HELLO AND GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL.

I AM THE RESIDENTS AND HOMEOWNER AT TWENTY THREE THIRTY THREE SEVENTH STREET.

FOR THE PAST FOUR WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET A NEW LOT PLAN SIGNED OFF BY CITY PLANNING. THAT WAY I CAN BUILD OUT AN ADU FOR MY IN-LAWS AND A REMODEL THE EXISTING HOME FOR MY WIFE AND I. I SEE THE CITY COUNCIL'S PASSED A NEW ORDINANCE IN JANUARY 2020, WHICH LIMITS THE ADA USE TOTAL SQUARE FEET MAXIMUM DOWN TO ONE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET FROM THE TWELVE HUNDRED IT WAS PRIOR.

SO AFTER GOING ROUND AND ROUND WITH CITY PLANNING THROUGH WEEKS OF E-MAILS, THE ONLY ARGUMENT THAT THE CITY HAS WITH MY LAW PROPOSAL IS A PROPOSED TWELVE HUNDRED SQUARE FEET, ADU CITY PLANNING WANTS TO FORCE THE 1000 SQUARE FEET, ADU MINIMUM THAT THE CITY COUNCIL JUST PASSED, WHICH THE STATE LOST QUITE CLEAR ON THIS MATTER AND STATES THE ONLY ISSUE WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO BUILD A TWELVE HUNDRED SQUARE FOOT ADU IS BECAUSE THE CITY DOES NOT WANT TO LET ME BUILD ONE THAT BIG.

NOT FOR STRUCTURAL REASONS, NOT FOR FIRE REASONS, NOT FOR SAFETY, SETBACKS, EASEMENTS OR

[01:40:02]

IS THAT FROM A DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT THAT WAS MORE IN LINE WITH THE SIZE OF THE SENSORY STRUCTURES THAT HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT MOSTLY IN OLD TOWN? I DON'T THINK THAT WE EVEN APPROVED MORE THAN ONE OR TWO THAT WERE LARGER THAN A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET IN THE PREVIOUS, IF ANY AT ALL.

I SEE A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THIS.

THE LOSS OF CITY WIDE REVENUE.

YES. IT MAY BE SMALL AMOUNTS OF REVENUE FOR THE CITY, BUT IT'S FOR THE LIFE OF THE PROPERTY. AND EVERY BIT COUNTS TOWARDS THE CITY'S TOTALS.

CITY PLANNING HAS NO VALID ARGUMENT AND LIMITING MY 80 YEAR DUE TO BEING MORE IN LINE WITH THE SIZE OF 80 YEARS CONSTRUCTED THROUGHOUT OLD TOWN.

I HAVE PROVIDED CITY PLANNING WITH PHOTOS.

MULTIPLE HOUSES WITH ADU IS LARGER THAN A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET.

ALL WITHIN MY ZONE PR FOUR POINT FIVE.

FROM A DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT AND BEING MORE IN LINE WITH MY NEIGHBORHOOD PROPERTIES, I COULD MAKE SOME VALID ARGUMENTS TO CHANGE THE THIRTY NINE FOOT SET BACK FROM STREET.

I NOW HAVE ON MY HOUSE OR THE FIVE FOOT 10 FOOT SET BACKS ON THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE.

I HAVE PROVIDED PLENTY OF PICTURES OF HOUSES ON MY STREET THAT DO NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO MEETING ANY REQUIREMENTS.

YET THIS IS STILL AN ISSUE THAT HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED.

I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE TIME AND HOPE EVERYONE STAYS SAFE.

TIM GATES.

AND THIS IS A PUBLIC COMMENT FROM ZACH GIBSON.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS CHIEF PAZ AND THE COUNCIL WHILE PREPARING FOR WORST CASE SCENARIOS. HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THE 2017 2018 SUIT AND CONCLUSIONS THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT ENGAGES IN PROFILING AS WELL AS PROMOTES UNLAWFUL SEARCH AND SEIZURE? WILL YOU BE PROTESTING FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS ALONG WITH.

I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE READ FROM THE FOLLOWING SUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF LA VERNE, OPENLY PERMITTING AND ENCOURAGING RACIAL PROFILING AGAINST AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITIZENS AND TARGETING THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR.

THE FORMER ACTS AND OR OMISSIONS AND OR DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE BY CITY OFFICIALS, INCLUDING HIGH RANKING LA VERNE PD SUPERVISORS, AS WELL AS CUSTOMS POLICIES OR PRACTICES OF DEFENDANT CITY DESCRIBED ABOVE, RESULTED IN THE DEPRIVATION OF PLAINTIFF'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES AS GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

THE RIGHT TO NOT BE DEPRIVED OF LIFE, LIBERTY OR PROPERTY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF THE LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM EXCESSIVE FORCE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS GUARANTEED BY THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

THE CITY OF LA VERNE. AND HAVE A POLICY AND PRACTICE OF REFUSING TO INVESTIGATE AND COVERING UP VIOLATIONS OF LAW KNITTED BY ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CLAIMS SUBMITTED BY CITIZENS FOR VIOLATIONS COMMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF.

AND THEN IT TAKES OFF THERE.

WHEREAS ON MARCH SIX, TWENTY EIGHTEEN POINT, IF ABRAHAM JOSEPH EXCEPTED, DEFENDANTS OFFER. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT JUDGMENT BE ENTERED IN FAVOR OF PLAINTIFF ABRAHAM JOSEPH AND AGAINST DEFENDANT CITY OF LA VERNE.

DETECTIVE GUTIERREZ.

CORPORAL [INAUDIBLE]. CORPORAL [INAUDIBLE] AND CORPORAL ALVARADO ON ALL PLANES.

JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF PLAINTIFF ABRAHAM JOSEPH AND AGAINST DEFENDANT CITY OF LA VERNE AND DETECTIVE GUTIERREZ CORPORAL [INAUDIBLE] AND CORPORAL [INAUDIBLE] AND CORPORAL ALVARADO SHALL BE IN THE TOTAL SUM OF.

LOOKS LIKE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.

ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND ONE DOLLAR AND ZERO CENTS TO BE PAID BY DEFENDANT CITY OF LA VERNE. THIS IS FROM THOMAS ALISON, CAN THE CITY COUNCIL PLEASE AFFIRM THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER? THANK YOU, THOMAS ALISON.

THIS IS FROM BRITANY ALISON.

I AM CALLING ON ALL ON ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLEASE DENOUNCE POLICE BRUTALITY AND SUPPORT THE NOTION THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER.

THANK YOU, BRITTANY ALISON.

THIS IS FROM MICHELLE PESOS.

I AM CALLING ON ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLEASE DENOUNCE POLICE BRUTALITY AND SUPPORT THE NOTION THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER.

THIS IS FROM CHRIS JANDRO.

QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL.

WELL, THE CURFEW CONTINUE IN THE EVENINGS THROUGH WEDNESDAYS PROTEST.

WE HAVE PREPARED FOR A LARGE GROUP WALKING BY CHASES.

WE HAVE LOCKED DOWN EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE PICKED UP OR BURNED AND WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL THURSDAY OF CURFEWS LISTED.

[01:45:03]

OPEN QUESTION TO WENDY LAU AND MUIR DAVIS.

HOW DO YOU KNOW TOM SAY AND WHAT IS YOUR AFFILIATION WITH? BEST REGARDS, ZACK GIBSON.

THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE.

THANK YOU, J.R., MR. RUSSI. DID YOU HAVE A.

HE STEPPED AWAY FROM HIS DESK.

HE'S LOST.

MAYBE I CAN JUMP IN HERE ON MS. LINDA WILKINSON'S PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE WILL PUT THIS PER LITIGATION ON OUR FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA.

THIS IS A MATTER THAT IS BEING HANDLED BY THE JOINT POWERS INSURANCE AUTHORITY.

THERE ARE ASSIGNED COUNCIL.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH THE AUTHORITY AND THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

BUT WE WILL GET YOU AN UPDATE AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON.

THANK YOU, MR. KRESS. MR. MAYOR, A COUPLE OTHER E-MAILS CAME THROUGH THAT I GOT HERE.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I AM WRITING TO ASK EXCUSE ME.

THIS IS FROM JAMES HILL. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I AM WRITING TO ASK IF THERE WAS ANY INVESTIGATION INTO COUNCIL MEMBER ROBIN CARDER BREAKING THE LAW SET BY L.A.

COUNTY AND THE CITY OF LA VERNE DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER WAS AT CHASE'S RESTAURANT ATTENDING A PARTY, BREAKING ALL THE LAW SET FORTH. WHY IS SHE ABOVE THE LAW? THIS NEEDS TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA AND ADDRESSED.

WHY IS SHE ABOVE THE LAW? MAYOR HEPBURN WAS ATTACKED FOR GOING TO A CHRISTMAS PARTY BECAUSE OF WHOSE HOUSE THAT WAS THE ATTACHMENT TO CHASE'S IN THE CITY THAT LANDED US IN ANOTHER LAWSUIT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER ROBIN CARDER IS ATTENDING HIS ILLEGAL PARTY.

SINCERELY [INAUDIBLE]. THIS IS FROM MARGOT FERNANDEZ.

HELLO, MY NAME IS MARGOT.

OH, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF LA VERNE FOR FIVE YEARS.

I HAVE THREE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TOO.

I'M EMAILING TO ASK IF YOU CAN.

PLEASE DENOUNCE POLICE BRUTALITY IN OUR TOWN.

BLACK LIVES MATTER AND OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO UNITE.

THANK YOU. AND THEN UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WAS SENT TO THE CITY CLERK THAT I DIDN'T GET, THEN THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE.

WHILE WE WAIT A MOMENT, WE'LL.

WHILE WE WAIT A MOMENT, I KNOW I GOT UP, I WANTED TO GIVE JR THOSE TWO THAT HE DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE. THERE WAS ONE QUESTION ALSO THAT I NOTICED THAT WAS ASKED AND THAT WAS ABOUT THE CURFEW AND IF IT'S GOING TO BE EXTENDED, UNFORTUNATELY THE CURFEW IS IS PROVIDED OR AUTHORIZED BY THE COUNTY.

AND SO WE'RE NOT SURE.

THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY DOING THIS DAY BY DAY.

THERE HAS BEEN OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE TAKEN ON A MULTIPLE DAY AND ACTUALLY THROUGH THIS WHOLE WEEK. SO WE'LL, OF COURSE, MONITOR.

BUT I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER ON HOW MANY DAYS THEIR CURFEW WILL BE IN PLACE, BUT WE WILL CERTAINLY SHARE IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS SOON AS WE GET INFORMATION ON A DAILY BASIS. THANK YOU.

ONE LAST SUBMITTAL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

THIS IS AMANDA HORN.

MY NAME IS AMANDA HORN AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF LA VERNE FOR ALMOST SIX YEARS. I CURRENTLY RESIDE AS A SECRETARY FOR LA VERNE LITTLE LEAGUE, AND I'M REACHING OUT TO YOU ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY AND THE 600 PLUS KIDS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN LITTLE LEAGUE FOR THE 2020 SEASON.

UPON BEING PULLED, 83 PERCENT OF OUR FAMILIES SAID, YES, WE ARE WILLING TO PLAY A MODIFIED SEASON. THAT IS ROUGHLY THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE FAMILIES.

THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE OLDER KIDS WHO ATTEND SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF LA VERNE, WHO ALL SAID, YES, WE ARE NOT ONLY WILLING TO PLAY, WE ARE EXCITED AND ANXIOUS TO GET OUR CHILDREN OUTSIDE AND PLAYING THE GAME THEY LOVE.

WITH L.A. COUNTY OPENING UP FOR ADULTS TO WALK THROUGH MALL SHOPPING STORES LIKE OUR CHILDREN PLAY OUTSIDE.

WHY CAN'T WE ALLOW THEM THIS BELOVED FORM OF INTERACTION WHEN SO MANY OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY SAY, YES, WE AND WE THEIR PARENTS ARE COMFORTABLE ALLOWING OUR CHILDREN TO BE OUTSIDE IN THE FRESH AIR TO PLAY A GAME WITH MINIMAL PHYSICAL CONTACT, A GAME THAT NUMEROUS STATES AND COUNTIES HAVE ALREADY ALLOWED TO RESUME.

THE LITTLE LEAGUE ORGANIZATION HAS CREATED GUIDELINES FOR OUR KIDS AND NOW OUR DISTRICT

[01:50:03]

WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT THESE SAFETY GUIDELINES CAN AND WILL PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. IT IS NOW TIME FOR YOU TO STEP IN AND SUPPORT THEM AS WELL.

ON OUR WEB SITE OF STATES, THE CITY COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO MAINTAIN AND CONTINUE TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE.

THIS ALSO APPLIES TO OUR CHILDREN.

THE CITY HAS AN OBLIGATION TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, TO OUR CHILDREN, WHO WILL GROW UP HERE TO TAKE A STAND AND SUPPORT OUR KIDS.

WE CAN SHOP ON FLIGHT ONE HUNDRED PLUS PEOPLE AT VON'S AND [INAUDIBLE] BROTHERS IF WE CAN VISIT AN ADULT LEMONADE STAND IN DOWNTOWN.

OUR KIDS CAN AND DESERVE TO PLAY THIS GAME.

HOWEVER MODIFIED OF A SEASON THAT MAY BE.

I HOPE YOU TAKE THE TIME TO [INAUDIBLE] WITH EVERY MONDAY CITY COUNCIL.

I HOPE YOU TAKE THE FEELINGS AND BELIEFS OF THE PEOPLE WHO RESIDE IN YOUR CITY AS SERIOUSLY AS YOU STATED WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED BY THOSE SAME PEOPLE.

AND I HOPE OUR KIDS BEST INTERESTS TAKE PRIORITY OVER ALL THE OTHER POLITICAL BELIEFS AND CONCERNS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND TO GET ONE MORE, THAT THIS FROM JIM MURPHY, FOR THE RECORD, JAMES HILL IS NOT A REAL PERSON OR A RESIDENT OF LV AND CONTINUES TO ATTACK COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER [INAUDIBLE].

JIM MURPHY. WELL, WE SAID IT, YEAH. MR. RUSSI, YOU GOT IT. YES, THAT IS ALL.

SORRY. OK.

AND BEFORE WE GO ON TO OUR COMMENTS, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR BOB, CHRIS, BOB AND BOB, BOTH BOB'S IS.

WE HAD A LOT OF NICE COMMENTS TONIGHT AND QUESTIONS NOW.

WILL YOU GO BACK TO THESE PEOPLE SINCE WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO RESPOND AND ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT THEY'VE ASKED? BECAUSE THEY'RE REACHING OUT TO US TO ASK QUESTIONS, BUT WE'RE NOT ALLOWED AT THIS POINT TO COMMENT. SO HOW WILL THEY GET SOME ANSWERS? WELL, I THINK IN SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE.

I ANSWERED THE ONE ON THE PROTEST.

WHAT WERE THE OTHER QUESTIONS? THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO ANSWER.

[INAUDIBLE] CAN YOU DIRECT DALE TO CALL HER AND TALK TO HER ABOUT OUR REQUIREMENTS AND LET ME KNOW WHERE WE ARE AT THIS STAGE.

I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION TO GET BACK TO, LITERALLY.

AND THEN THERE WERE SOME OTHERS.

AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE ME, I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR, SIMPLY BECAUSE HE DOESN'T PERMIT IT.

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THE BOTTOM LINE.

I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO ASK THE COUNTY TO MAKE SOME CONSIDERATIONS, BUT AT THE STATE AND COUNTY LEVEL, IT'S JUST NOT PERMITTED RIGHT NOW.

AND UNTIL WE GET THAT AUTHORITY, WE CAN'T GO BEYOND IT.

AND THE COUNTY HAS GOT DIFFERENT STAGES.

AND PART OF THE STAGES HAS YOUTH SPORTS IN EACH OPENING TO JUST LIKE THE RESTAURANTS.

GOT TO OPEN THAT BECAUSE THE COUNTY SAID IT, THAT WE OPENED THEM RIGHT AWAY.

IF THE COUNTY SAYS THAT WE COULD OPEN UP THEIR YOUTH SPORTS, I BELIEVE WE WILL OPEN THEM UP ON THAT SECOND TO TRY TO GET THAT INVOLVED AND BE THERE TO.

I BELIEVE EVERYBODY WANTS TO HAVE THE KIDS GO OUT AND PLAY.

IT'S REALLY ON THE COUNTY AND AND THERE THEIR ORDINANCE IS WHAT STAGES WHAT WE'RE INTO.

I BELIEVE THE MAYOR HAS REACHED OUT TO GET COUNTY SUPERVISOR AND TRYING TO PUSH DIFFERENT OR JUST AS SO DID CITY MANAGER, MR. RUSSI. AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO SUPPORT THAT OR OUR RESIDENTS.

BUT YES, ROBIN, THOSE QUESTIONS, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU, TOO.

COMING UP ON THAT ONE, THERE ARE.

LET ME PIGGYBACK BACK ON THAT. MR. RUSSI, REAL QUICK, AS MR. CROSBY AND COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER ALSO.

YES. EVERY WEEK I SEE CITY MANAGER RUSSI AND MYSELF ON CALLS WITH WITH SUPERVISOR [INAUDIBLE]. AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS LAST WEEK, WAS WHEN CAN USE COURTS OPEN? AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE NOT READY FOR THAT YET WHEN THEY GIVE US THE GREEN LIGHT THAT IT'S THE SAFETY OF THE KIDS AND THE FAMILIES.

AND SO THAT WILL HAPPEN AS SOON AS.

AND I WILL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK.

WE GOT OUR 60 PERCENT OF OUR RESTAURANTS JUST BRINGS OUR AND OUR HAIR SALONS AND ALSO OUR BARBER SHOPS, WHICH WAS A NECESSITY, BELIEVING I WOULDN'T MUCH.

[01:55:02]

BUT IT MUST BE SAFELY.

WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES AND TO BE SAFE.

SO SORRY, MR. RUSSI. NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY AND IF THERE ARE ANY OTHERS THAT THE COUNCIL FEEL WARRANTS SOME TYPE OF ANSWER FROM STAFF, I WILL.

THERE'S JUST OTHERS THAT DON'T.

I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR US TO RESPONSE OR IF I DON'T FEEL I CAN.

I JUST WILL SAY I CAN'T. BUT IF THERE'S THAT INTERACTION THAT COUNCIL FEELS, CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION? I'M HAPPY TO DO IT.

USUALLY I HAVE, YOU KNOW, MY SUPPORT STAFF THAT'S IN THE ROOM THAT CAN TAKE THAT PERSON ASIDE AND ANSWER IT.

IT'S A LITTLE UNIQUE IN THIS REGARD.

SO I'LL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER IT IF I KNOW WHAT.

MR. RUSSI, THE THE THE ONE THAT JACK GIBSON HAD ASKED FOR REGARDING THE LAWSUIT, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN EVEN TALK ABOUT? IS THAT SOMETHING WE NEED TO TALK OFF LINE? I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY OF IT THAT I CAN SPEAK TO, SO I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, SO. OK. I'M SORRY.

ANY OTHER COUNCIL, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THESE? I TOOK NOTES ON EVERY SPEAKER.

THE OTHER ONE IS SKATE PARK.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SKATE PARK? RUSTY, YOU KNOW, I THE THE PARK FACILITIES, IT'S BEEN VERY SPECIFIC ON WHAT CAN BE OPEN.

I GUESS THAT'S A QUESTION WE CAN'T ASK.

I DON'T THINK IT'S PRACTICAL THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ENFORCE SOCIAL DISTANCING IN THAT REGARD. BUT I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND ASK.

I DON'T THINK THOSE HAVE BEEN PERMITTED TO BE REOPENED.

AGAIN, IT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO TENNIS COURTS.

BASKETBALL COURTS ARE SUPPOSED TO REMAIN CLOSED.

SO WE ARE STILL WELL, THINGS ARE OPENING UP.

THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE THAT ISN'T OPEN OR IS STILL IN A REGULATED FORM.

SO I CAN GO BACK AND ASK THE SPECIFIC QUESTION, BUT THAT'S THE BEST ANSWER I HAVE RIGHT NOW. WE CAN ALSO SEND SANDRA [INAUDIBLE] EMAIL THE MORNING TO FIND OUT WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT. AND WE CAN REFER THAT ALL THE COUNCIL TO SEE HER OUT AND GET AN UPDATE.

SO. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THE COMMENTS TO STAFF? LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE. WE WILL GO TO WE WILL CLOSE THIS AND WE GO TO COUNCIL COMMENTS,

[9. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS - Each Council Member may address the Council and public on matters of general information and/or concern. This is also the time for Council Members to report on conferences and/or meetings they have attended.]

COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. THE EVENTS UNFOLDING AROUND US HAVE BEEN WEIGHING HEAVILY ON MY MIND AND ON MY HEART. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I HOPE THEY'RE WEIGHING HEAVILY ON YOURS.

I KNOW ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING GEORGE FLOYDS SENSELESS MURDER BY A MINNESOTA POLICE OFFICER JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.

FOR DAYS, I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH MY FEELINGS AND REACTIONS TO NOT ONLY MR. FLOYDS DEATH, BUT THE BLATANT PRIVILEGE, ENTITLEMENT AND RACISM THAT LED A WHITE WOMAN TO CALL THE POLICE ON CHRISTIAN COOPER IN NEW YORK'S CENTRAL PARK AND FALSELY CLAIM THAT AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN WAS ASSAULTING HER EVEN THOUGH NO SUCH THING WAS TAKING PLACE.

I KNOW THAT THESE THINGS ARE WRONG, BUT SADLY, THEY ARE NOT NOVEL.

THESE ARE JUST THE LATEST INCIDENTS IN A LONG CHAIN OF INCIDENTS WHERE INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM HAS REARED ITS UGLY HEAD.

FOR DAYS, I BATTLED WITH WHETHER I SHOULD SAY OR DO SOMETHING.

STOPPING SHORT BECAUSE I WORRIED ABOUT WHAT MIGHT WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT THINK OR BECAUSE I DREADED UNCOMFORTABLE CONFRONTATIONS.

AS THE DAYS WENT ON, I COULD NOT HELP BUT THINK OF MY STORY.

SISTER GABBY AND HER TWO SMALL BOYS WHO HAPPENED TO BE HALF BLACK.

I CANNOT HELP BUT THINK OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD ABOUT THE FEAR SHE HAS FOR GARRETT AND GRAYSON AS THEY GROW UP IN A WORLD WHERE THEY WILL GO FROM BEING CUTE TO A PERCEIVED THREAT JUST BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.

I COULD NOT HELP BUT THINK OF HER HUSBAND AND THEIR FATHER, A NEARLY SEVEN FOOT TALL, 49ERS FAN COMIC BOOK GEEK AND FORMER UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII BASKETBALL PLAYER WHO, WHEN ASKED TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE LATE ONE NIGHT, WENT AND CHANGED OUT OF HIS SWEATS AND BASEBALL HAT INTO NICE JEANS AND A SHIRT JUST SO AS NOT TO GIVE ANY STORE OWNER OR EMPLOYEE OR THE POLICE PAUSE TO STOP HIM OR CONSIDER HIM A THIEF OR A THREAT.

I COULD NOT HELP BUT THEN THINK THAT MY DISCOMFORT ABOUT SPEAKING OUT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT IT MUST FEEL LIKE TO BE BLACK IN AMERICA TODAY.

MY COMFORT IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN SOCIAL JUSTICE.

MY COMFORT IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN EQUITY AND EQUALITY, AND MY COMFORT IS NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER HUMAN BEING'S LIFE.

AS MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR SAID, THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

IN MOMENTS LIKE THESE, IT'S EASY TO GET DEFENSIVE AND SAY, BUT I'M A GOOD PERSON.

I'M NOT RACIST.

BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO BE NOT RACIST.

[02:00:02]

WE HAVE TO SPEAK UP WHEN WE SEE INJUSTICE AND WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AND WORK TOGETHER TO MOVE FORWARD.

THE CONVERSATIONS MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE.

THEY MAY BE DIFFICULT, BUT THEY ARE NECESSARY IF WE ARE TO MAKE CHANGE.

I DO NOT PROFESS TO HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS, BUT I AM COMMITTED TO LEARNING AND WORKING TOWARD CHANGE, NOT JUST TODAY, BECAUSE EVENTS ARE FRESH IN MY MIND, BUT EVERY DAY BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED IF WE ARE TO SEE THE CHANGE WE HAVE TO SEE IN THE WORLD.

I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO SHARE SOME OF THESE THINGS OFF FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT I'M NOT BLACK.

AND IT IS BECAUSE I HAVE THIS PRIVILEGE THAT I CANNOT SHUT THESE THINGS OFF.

IF I TRULY BELIEVE THAT TO THOSE WHO MUCH HAS BEEN GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED, THEN I WILL EMBRACE THE DISCOMFORT THAT COMES FROM HAVING DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS AND EFFECTING CHANGE.

I KNOW MANY OF YOU GOOD PEOPLE ARE ALSO STRUGGLING LIKE I AM.

HOW DO I HELP MY NEIGHBOR, MY FRIEND, MY COWORKER, MY FELLOW CITIZEN? HOW CAN I BE BETTER? HOW CAN I DO BETTER? HOW DO I REPAIR RELATIONSHIPS AND BUILD COMMUNITY? FOR ME, I'VE ENGAGED IN A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS WITH CITIZENS AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, READ ARTICLES AND LISTENED.

I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

I WILL ALSO POST TO MY WENDY LAU FOR LA VERNE'S CITY COUNCIL FACEBOOK PAGE LINKS TO RESOURCES BOTH ONLINE AND LOCALLY FOR PEOPLE TO EXPLORE AND UTILIZE.

I ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND LA VERNE RESIDENTS TO COMMIT THE CRIME AND THE EFFORT TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT I SEE NO COLOR IS NOT THE GOAL.

THE GOAL IS I SEE YOUR COLOR AND I HONOR YOU.

I VALUE YOUR INPUT.

I WILL BE EDUCATED ABOUT YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCES.

I WILL WORK AGAINST RACISM THAT HARMS YOU.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. TELL ME HOW TO DO BETTER.

AS PASTOR SUSAN BOYER OF THE LA VERNE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN STATED, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO WORK TOWARD ENSURING THAT LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL BECOMES THE TRUTH OF WHO WE ARE AS A NATION.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

SO WHO'S NEXT? I WILL GO. ROBIN CARDER.

OK. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE.

THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO ALL POLICE OFFICERS IN EVERY SINGLE CITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

WE KNOW HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THE LA VERNE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE ALL SUPPORT THEM.

WE APPRECIATE THEM AND THEIR GRATITUDE.

WATCHING THE NEWS JUST OUT THERE FOR ALL.

AND I JUST WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT PUBLICLY.

AND I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY.

SO THANK YOU TO ALL WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO KEEP US SAFE.

THEY BELIEVE IN THEIR HEARTS THAT THEY'RE HERE TO SERVE AND PROTECT.

SO I THANK THEM FOR THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON WHERE WE ARE.

BOB RUSSI AS YEARS, YEARS BACK.

TOM ALLISON WAS ON A STARTED A TASK FORCE WITH DON KENDRICK AND POLICE WAS INVOLVED ON THIS TASK FORCE. I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU CAN RESEARCH.

NOT NOW, BUT IF YOU CAN RESEARCH AND FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS GOING AGAIN OR SEE IF WHERE WE ARE WITH IT TO MAKE SURE WE REACH OUT. THOMAS WORKS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE.

HE'S VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.

HE'S BEEN ON SOME OF OUR COMMITTEE.

I WOULD LOVE A LOT OF HIS INPUT WITH US AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

SO IF YOU COULD CHECK ON THAT, JUST MAKE NOTE AND GET BACK TO US WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT TASK FORCE. AND THEN.

THE OTHER SUGGESTION THAT I HAVE, ALL OF YOU READ THE MINUTES TONIGHT, I NOTICED IN THE MINUTES THAT WE HAVE RECOGNITION BACK AT YOU ABOUT WHEN THESE WERE APPROVED, I THINK WAS MARCH. FEBRUARY 17TH.

MINUTES. BUT WE APPROVED THE AWARD FOR THE JACK HUNTINGTON AWARD, WHICH WAS DENNY SHARP, ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS.

AND THEN THE JIM SCRANTON AWARD, WHICH WAS CAROLINA POPOLO.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER AWARDS IN OUR CITY.

AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE IS IF WE CAN ADD THIS THOUGHT TO A FURTHER AGENDA TO BRING BACK TO COUNCIL IS THAT WE TAKE THESE RECIPIENTS OF THESE AWARDS AND BRING IT BACK FOR NEXT YEAR SO THEY GET A WHOLE NOTHER YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE MISSING OUT THIS YEAR ON PARADES FOR THE CITY, FOURTH OF JULY PARADE, THE FAIRPLEX NORMALLY DOES A PARADE.

AND I WANT THEM TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR QUALITY OF VOLUNTEERING THAT THEY GIVE OUR COMMUNITY. SO I WOULD LIKE THAT ON ONE OF OUR FUTURE AGENDAS.

I KNOW WE HAVE A BUDGET COMING UP AT THE END OF JUNE, BUT LATER IN JULY POSSIBLY PUT IT ON THAT AGENDA FOR ALL OF US TO VOTE ON EXTENDING ALL THESE AWARDS TO ONE EXTRA YEAR.

[02:05:03]

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER IS UP NEXT.

I COULD BE ALL RIGHT.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER LAU, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU SPEAK AND THE WAY YOUR HEART IS ALWAYS IN EVERYTHING. ME TOO.

MY YOU KNOW, I TRIED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY AND THIS WEEKEND.

IT JUST CHANGED.

SO BUT YOU YOU EXPRESSED IT SO CLEARLY.

I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

SO IN MEMORY OF AHMAUD AUBREY, GEORGE FLOYD AND.

WHAT CHRISTIAN COOPER HAD TO GO THROUGH.

REALLY? WE NEED TO KEEP THOSE ARE PART OF THE DISCUSSION IS THAT IS NOT TALKED ABOUT AND WE NEED TO KEEP OUR IN OUR DISCUSSIONS IS OUR IMPLICIT BIASES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR IMPLICIT BIASES AND HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON WAY TOO LONG BEFORE THE EIGHTEEN HUNDREDS.

WE HAD A GREAT CIVIL WAR THAT TRIED TO STOP THIS.

THEN ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER, IN THE 1960S, A REVOLUTION.

AND WE'RE STILL STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS.

SO, YES, IT'S WE ARE WE NEED TO STOP.

MY SECOND THING IS THAT I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR 2020 GRADUATE CLASS THIS WEEK, BONITA HIGH SCHOOL AND BONITA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS CLOSING FOR THE YEAR.

SO I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL.

SENIORS ARE LA VERNE LUTHERAN SENIORS AND OUR DEMIAN SENIORS.

THOSE THREE HIGH SCHOOLS ARE GRADUATE AND THEN OUR PROMOTIONS.

A PROMOTION IS NOT A GRADUATION, BUT IT'S MOVING ON TO THE NEXT STEP AND REALLY BE HONORED.

FROM RAMONA, OUR EIGHTH GRADERS AND OUR FIFTH GRADERS FROM OAK MESA, LA VERNE HEIGHTS, ROYNAN AND GRACEVILLE.

CONGRATULATIONS. ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'VE DONE THROUGH ALL THESE TIMES AND REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE SOME REAL PEACEFUL PROTEST AND THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU, MR. CROSBY. MR. DAVIS. YES.

THANK YOU. THERE THERE IS A GREAT DEAL TO BE SAID.

MORE LATER, SOME OF IT NEEDS TO BE EXPRESSED NOW.

I DO CELEBRATE OUR GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOLS ALL AROUND.

I HAVE A DAUGHTER, MALIA, JUST GRADUATING FROM BONITA HIGH SCHOOL.

IT TELLS ME MY INTERNET IS UNSTABLE RIGHT NOW.

SO EARLIER CONTRIBUTIONS ARE COMING BACK.

MY MOTORING, ALONG WITH MR CROSBY'S DAUGHTER RILEY FROM A [INAUDIBLE] AS THEY COME UP ON STAGE.

IT'S BEEN A BEEN A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS AND I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS ONE. [INAUDIBLE] WE BETTER THEN MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS THAT ARE PROMOTING FROM [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOL UP TO JUNIOR HIGH.

A BIG STEP, FIFTH GRADERS TO TO MOVE UP THIS GRADE TIME.

I'D LIKE TO SEE US MOVING FOR WARD.

MR. HEPBURN, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD DO INCURRED DUE TO [INAUDIBLE] MOVING FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN GO AWAY FROM FROM PAST ATTEMPT AT A FORENSIC AUDIT.

[INAUDIBLE] I LASTLY, I TAKE TO HEART WHAT MEMBER LAU IS SAYING.

BLACK LIVES MATTER.

THERE IS A THERE IS A SONG THAT A FRIEND OF MINE SINGS WHO'S A MUSICIAN AND IT'S TAKEN FROM PASTOR MARTIN [INAUDIBLE] MUELLER'S COMMENT.

IT WAS A POEM THAT HE WROTE ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE WHOLE THING THAT I'LL JUST SAY THIS FIRST.

THE FIRST STANDS AT FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE SOCIALISTS.

AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A SOCIALIST.

[INAUDIBLE] DON'T NEED ME TO SPEAK FOR THEM.

THEY CAN SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

BUT [INAUDIBLE] MY INTENTION TO STAND WITH THEM.

[02:10:06]

DEMONSTRATIONS ARE NOT LOOTING.

WE SEE THOSE THINGS ON TELEVISION BECAUSE THERE ARE UNUSUAL DEMONSTRATIONS.

ARE PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER TO HELP LIFT UP VOICES FOR EQUALITY AND FOR EQUITY.

AND MY PASTOR, SUSAN [INAUDIBLE].

I COULDN'T SAY ANY BETTER THAN SHE DID.

SO I WELCOME COUNCIL AND ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

JOIN ME WEDNESDAY AT CITY HALL AT NOON.

LET'S LET'S WALK TOGETHER AND LET'S SHARE TOGETHER AND LET'S LIFT EACH OTHER UP SO THAT EVERYONE MATTERS.

YES. BECAUSE BLACK LIVES MATTER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. WELL.

COUNCIL MEMBER LAU YOUR COMMENTS WERE AMAZING.

MR. CROSBY, ROBIN CARDER AND MR. DAVIS. BLACK LIVES DO MATTER.

AND IT'S JUST THAT SENSELESS, SENSELESS MURDER.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN. JUST.

WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS.

WE NEED TO BE BETTER.

WE JUST NEED TO BE BETTER. WE NEED TO ALL BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN ANYMORE.

AND I WILL BE THERE WITH YOU.

MR. DAVIS, AT NOON, I WILL BE THERE WITH YOU TO WALK WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS ON THIS EARTH, AND WE SHOULD TREAT EACH OTHER WITH THE SAME. AND.

IT'S JUST UNCONSCIONABLE.

WHAT HAPPENED? AND WE WILL MARCH PEACEFULLY AND WE WILL MARCH THROUGH OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY TOGETHER. ALSO, I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR GRADUATING CLASSES AND.

JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES OPENING.

THIS HAS BEEN DIFFICULT, BUT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

AND PLEASE, EVERYONE, PLEASE ADHERE TO THE TO THE CURFEWS.

LET'S BE SAFE OUT THERE.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, PLEASE CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO KEEP US SAFE, BUT WE NEED TO ALL LOOK LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND.

BUSINESSES ARE OPEN. LET'S FREQUENT THEM.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT'S THIS LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER.

WE'RE A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY HERE.

AND. WE NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

EVERYONE, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING ADJOURNED.

I DO NOT HAVE A CLOCK.

WE HAVE ONE. I'M SORRY.

SORRY. WE WILL MOVE TO A CLOSED SESSION.

[10. CLOSED SESSION]

WE'LL MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION.

YES. OK, ON THAT NOTE, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND.

I GUESS WE CAN CALL THE MEETING ADJOURNED.

YES OR NO? NO RECESS.

WE'RE GONNA RECESS. SORRY.

SORRY. I'M A LITTLE [INAUDIBLE] HERE.

SORRY.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO. WE'RE GOING TO RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION.

YES, WE'RE GOING TO RESORTS TO CLOSED SESSION WITH CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6.

AND THE GROUP IS THE LA VERNE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION.

AND BEFORE YOU ADJOURN, THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WE MISSED.

IT WAS EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

IT GOT SENT TO A DIFFERENT EMAIL.

IT WAS FROM A KATHY NEWLAND.

SO I APOLOGIZE. I WILL MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS INCLUDED IN THE FINAL RECORD OF HER REFERENCE SO THAT COUNCIL DOES GET IT.

YOU DID RECEIVE IT IN AN EMAIL, BUT SHE DID ASK TO HAVE IT READ.

BUT I WILL INCLUDE IT IN THE RECORD.

[INAUDIBLE], I THOUGHT I SAW ONE FROM CHRISTINE DENNIS, WAS THAT ONE? THAT ONE GOT READ.

GOOD. YEAH, READ.

THAT WAS CHRISTINE DENNIS WAS.

YEAH, SHE'S BEEN READ. OK.

SO RIGHT NOW, NOW WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO PROCEDURALLY, WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN.

.

WE'RE RECESS AND THEN YOU'LL READ THE NEXT MEETING AND THEN WE'LL REMOVE THE LIVESTREAM AND GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

YOU'LL JUST HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON FOR JUST A MOMENT WHILE WE DO THAT.

SO WITH THAT.

MR. MAYOR. YES.

LET'S FIND MY PAPERS AND ORDER.

ALL OVER THE PLACE. MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY BE SO KIND, I'D BE HAPPY TO READ IT FOR YOU.

I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

MR. DAVIS.

WE WILL WE WILL ADJOURN TO MONDAY, JUNE 15TH, 2020 AT 4:30 P.M.

FOR THE 2021 BUDGET PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL BY DEPARTMENT HEADS.

[02:15:01]

WE WILL. BUT WE'RE RECESSING .

AND THEN WE WILL REOPEN BACK ON JUNE 15TH AT FOUR THIRTY.

ONCE WE'RE CLOSED OUT OF CLOSED SESSION.

THANK YOU. OK.

THANK YOU. OK, SO WE WILL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.