[1. Budget Sections 1-3 - General Administration, City Clerk, City Manager, (Includes Personnel & Risk Management, Finance, and Information Systems) - Presentation by the Personnel Officer JR Ranells, Interim Finance Director Mark Alvarado and Assistant City Manager Dan Keesey.]

YES, I THINK THE FIRST ONE UP IS JR WHO IS READY TO GO.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL LET HIM TAKE THE ADMINISTRATION CITY MANAGERS SIDE.

[00:40:06]

THANK YOU. I WILL BE DOING AN OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION, CITY CLERK AND CITY MANAGER BUDGETS, WHICH INCLUDE PERSONNEL, RISK MANAGEMENT, FINANCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THESE FALL UNDER COST CENTERS ONE THOUSAND THROUGH SEVENTEEN HUNDRED FOR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS BY THE COUNCIL.

I MAY TURN TO DAN OR MARK FOR GREATER DETAIL IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS.

THESE COSTS CENTERS PRIMARILY REPRESENT A STATUS QUO BUDGET FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT SHOULD BE NOTED.

A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY CLERK COSTS CENTERS IS FOR ELECTION ACTIVITY.

SINCE THERE IS NOT A MUNICIPAL ELECTION THIS YEAR, THE BUDGET HAS BEEN REDUCED ACCORDINGLY. THE FINANCE DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REQUIRED FINANCIAL REPORTING, INCLUDING THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT, AND UNDERTAKES MULTIPLE FINANCIAL AND COMPLIANCE RELATED AUDITS.

THE CITY CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE AN INCREASED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENTS RELATED TO GENERAL TURNOVER IN ORDER TO PROVIDE BETTER OUTREACH TO POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES THE CITY HAS IMPLEMENTED A NEW RECRUITMENT PLATFORM THAT WILL REQUIRE AN ANNUAL ONGOING COST OF ABOUT THIRTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED FOR THIS YEAR.

THE INFORMATION SYSTEM DIVISION CONTINUES TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE VIDEO STREAMING OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE THE BASIC FUNDING NECESSARY FOR I.T.

SERVICES. THIS YEAR'S BUDGET HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY MODIFIED BY CONSOLIDATING COST CENTERS 15 01 THROUGH 1504 AND RENAMING 1505 AS 1502.

IN RECOGNITION OF NEEDING TO BE PRUDENT IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE SEVERAL PROJECTS, SUCH AS A MIGRATION TO OFFICE 365'S ONLINE PLATFORM FILLING SOME VACANT POSITIONS SUCH AS AN ACCOUNT CLERK AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED.

AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR TURN IT OVER TO DAN OR MARK IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN THEIR AREAS.

D WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR JR.

SEEING NONE, WE CAN MOVE ON J.R..

THANK YOU. AND NOW

[2. Budget Section 4 - Community Development Department - Presentation by the Director of CommunityDevelopmentEric Scherer.]

IT'S GOING TO BE TURNED OVER TO ERIC SCHERER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

JUST GETTING MY SITUATION SET UP HERE.

THANK YOU. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE BUDGET FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

THIS BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR SHOWS A 33 PERCENT DECREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

PRIMARILY, THAT'S A RESULT OF A MAJOR PROJECT THAT WAS EXPECTED TO OCCUR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE LAST YEAR, WHICH DID NOT.

SO WE ARE ALSO NOT EXPECTING THAT PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE COMING YEAR.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY OUR BUDGET IS SOMEWHAT FURTHER DOWN.

THE OTHER PORTION IS THAT WE DID LOSE TWO FULL TIME STAFF PLANNERS IN THE LAST YEAR.

WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE. WE WERE RIGHT ABOUT TO RECRUIT FOR ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH. SO OBVIOUSLY, WE PULLED THAT AND THAT PLANNER POSITION IS ONE OF THE FOUR SAFETY POSITIONS THAT BOB MENTIONED EARLIER IN HIS PRESENTATION.

SO HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR AND WE CAN FILL THAT SOMETIME IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

SO THE LAST YEAR WE HAD A COUPLE OF SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS THAT WERE COMPLETED BOTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE, WHICH WAS THE LUDWICK CENTER, AND THEN THE RANDALL LEWIS CENTER FOR WELL-BEING. SO THOSE PROJECTS BOTH WERE COMPLETED AND WERE OBVIOUSLY PART OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET IN TERMS OF BUILDING PERMITS.

WE ALSO SAW THE COMMENCEMENT AND CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION OF THE PUTTING STONEVILLE VENTURE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PUTTING STONE HILL RESIDENTIAL PROJECT, WHICH IS CURRENTLY ON PAUSE FOR SOME TECHNICAL REASONS.

BUT IT IS STILL MOVING FORWARD.

LAST YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THE AMENDMENT TO THE HILLCREST MASTER PLAN TO ALLOW FOR THE 14 NEW HOMES TO BE BUILT THERE.

IT IS EXPECTED TO BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION THE NEXT YEAR.

AND REALLY IMPORTANT, I KNOW THAT WE LIKE TO KEEP BRAGGING ABOUT THIS.

BUT LAVERNE BECAME THE FIRST CITY IN THE COUNTY TO GET THE COUNTY TO APPROVE AND BECOME PARTNERS IN OUR ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING DISTRICT, WHICH WAS A MAJOR MILESTONE.

THAT WASN'T JUST OUR DEPARTMENT IT WAS LED BY THE CITY MANAGER.

BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WE DISCUSSED IT HERE TODAY, AS WELL AS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT WE HAD AS A CITY IN THE LAST YEAR.

USUALLY I TALKED ABOUT ALL THE GREAT EVENTS THAT WE HAD, IN OLD TOWN WITH THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THOSE EVENTS HAD TO BE POSTPONED OR MODIFIED.

AND SO. BUT IN THE MEANTIME AND DURING THIS COVID EVENT, WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH THE CHAMBER AND THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE THERE FOR OUR BUSINESSES, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE

[00:45:02]

TRYING TO OUTREACH AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE, LIKE THE BUSINESS ASSISTANT GRANT PROGRAM THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED.

BUT ALSO JUST GIVING THEM INFORMATION AND BEING THERE AND ANSWERING CALLS AND TRYING TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS TIME.

AND SO BOTH LEE AT THE CHAMBER AND THE OLD TOWN LA VERNE BOARD HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WORK ON THE FLY, BUT STILL DOING WHAT WE CAN FOR OUR BUSINESSES IN THIS TIME.

SO FOR THE NEXT YEAR, WE HOPE TO COMPLETE THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE.

THAT HAS ALSO BEEN PLACED ON PAUSE.

IT WAS PRETTY MUCH READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HAVING OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH AS WELL.

AND SO THERE'S NO TIMELINE THAT THAT'S REQUIRED TO BE DONE BY.

SO WE DEFINITELY PUT THAT AS A DELAY THAT ITEM.

OUR CONSULTANTS BEEN FINE WITH THAT AND WORKING WITH US.

BUT ALSO NEXT YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING A NEED TO UPDATE OUR HOUSING ELEMENT, WHICH IS A SEPARATE PORTION OF THE GENERAL PLAN.

BUT THEY KIND OF ARE ALIGNED NOW.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY THINKING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING BOTH THOSE THINGS AT THE SAME TIME IN TERMS OF WRAPPING UP THE GENERAL PLAN AND ADOPTING OUR NEW HOUSING ELEMENT.

SO IT'S ALL ONE COHESIVE DOCUMENT THAT GETS APPROVED TOGETHER, AS OPPOSED TO TWO SEPARATE ACTIONS THE NEXT YEAR.

WE EXPECT TO POTENTIALLY HAVE AN APPROVAL OR AT LEAST A REVIEW OF THE ENTITLEMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ANNEXATION ALONG BASELINE ROAD JUST TO THE EAST OF OUR CITY BOUNDARIES, WHICH WILL BE ONE OF OUR FIRST ANNEXATION, APPROXIMATE 35 YEARS THAT WE WOULD HAVE PROCESS. THERE'S ALSO THE CITY'S AMHERST'S SITE, WHICH WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A PROPOSAL FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

WE WOULD EXPECT THAT TO BE REVIEWED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL NEXT YEAR AND POTENTIALLY EVEN THE COMMENCEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION.

FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT WE'RE KIND OF ESTIMATING FOR NEXT YEAR, MAYBE HALF OF THOSE UNITS, IF IT WERE APPROVED, WOULD BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE CONSERVATIVE TACTICS THAT THE CITY MANAGER REFERRED TO IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR.

WE ACTUALLY HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF THERE'S STILL A LOT OF INTEREST IN DEVELOPING AND NEW PROJECTS AND JUST GENERAL PERMIT REQUESTS.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN A DRASTIC DROP OFF FROM THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

SO CONSTRUCTION WAS ALWAYS WAS CONSIDERED A NON-ESSENTIAL WAS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL BUSINESS. AND SO THAT HAS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.

SO AGAIN, OUR DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURES ARE REALLY BASED ON ALMOST LIKE A TYPICAL YEAR WHERE LAST YEAR WAS REALLY INFLATED BECAUSE THAT LARGE UNIVERSITY PROJECT.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR PROJECTS LIKE THE UNIVERSITY PROJECT THIS YEAR LINED UP, BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL MEDIUM TO SMALL PROJECTS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AND WE STILL EXPECT TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE COMING YEAR.

OBVIOUSLY, THE THE BUILDING AT THE CORNER OF WHEELER AND FOOTHILL IS ALMOST COMPLETED, SO WHETHER IT GETS COMPLETED BEFORE JULY 1ST OR AFTER IS REALLY [INAUDIBLE] BET.

BUT THAT PROJECT WILL BE WRAPPED UP REALLY IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

WE ALSO ARE IMPLEMENTING A DIGITAL PERMIT SYSTEM, WHICH WILL BE IMPORTANT.

WE'VE RECEIVED SOME GRANT MONEY TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW US TO DO THAT.

SO THAT DOESN'T COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

BUT IT DOES ALLOW FOR US TO TRANSITION TO AN ONLINE PERMIT SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE SCANNING OF ALL OF OUR FORMER OR OUR PREVIOUS PERMITS AND OUR PAPER PERMITS.

SO THAT WAY, RESIDENTS WILL EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO GO ONLINE ON OUR WEB SITE, CLICK ON THEIR PROPERTY AND BE ABLE TO OBTAIN THEIR PERMITS DIRECTLY WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH US. IT'LL HELP US SAVE TIME AND PROCESSING AND PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST, BUT ALSO GIVE THAT FLEXIBILITY AND THAT INFORMATION TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND CONTRACTORS WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT DOING PROJECTS.

SO WE WERE DOING THAT BEFORE COVID.

WE HAD TO KIND OF IMPLEMENT SOMETHING IN THE INTERIM.

JUST THROUGH EMAILS.

BUT WE WILL HAVE A MORE OFFICIAL SYSTEM UP IN THE NEXT YEAR.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRY TO MARKET [INAUDIBLE].

WE KNOW MORE THAN EVER THAT THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A TIME THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO STAY IN THEIR PLACES AND THAT WE GET NEW BUSINESSES IN WHERE WE CAN.

SO WE WILL BE DEFINITELY INVESTED AND FOCUSED ON THAT.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE CONSTRUCTION WOULD GO LINE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT BRINGS OR THE L LINE NOW. SO I KNOW DAN WILL PROBABLY TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR WORK ON THAT IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM FUTURE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL COME ALONG AS A RESULT OF THAT PROJECT ITSELF.

SO JUST TO CONCLUDE, AGAIN, OUR DEPARTMENT SHOWS A 33 PERCENT REDUCTION IN OUR BUDGET PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF REDUCED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY.

AND SO WE THINK THAT WE'RE PROBABLY PRETTY SOLID FOR NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF OUR BUILDING PERMIT ACTIVITY. NOTHING BIG, AGAIN, AS THE UNIVERSITIES HAD OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

BUT BACK TO KIND OF A MORE STANDARD YEAR, IF YOU WILL, THAT WE'VE HAD PROBABLY FOUR YEARS AGO OR SO, BUT WITH THAT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SCHERER?

[00:50:02]

YES, I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION.

ERIC, OVER THE YEARS, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE LEAVE YOUR DEPARTMENT FROM RETIREMENT OR OTHER JOB LOCATIONS. HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT YOU WITH THESE TWO LESS POSITIONS? WELL, I KNOW THAT MY STAFF WOULD PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE IMPACTED JUST HAVING TWO LESS BODIES TO ANSWER THE PHONES, TO WORK AT THE PUBLIC COUNTER TO RESPOND TO EMAILS.

IT'S A TOLL. SO I KNOW WE PUT IN OVERTIME AND WE'VE BEEN FLUCTUATING LIKE THAT OVER THE LAST EVEN 10 YEARS.

WE WERE UP AND DOWN IN TERMS OF OUR STAFFING.

WE LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, I WAS BRAGGING ABOUT HOW WE WERE AT FULL STAFF FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PROBABLY FIVE YEARS.

AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER THAT, IN OCTOBER, WE LOST TWO PLANNERS SO, WE'VE BEEN AT THE STAFF LEVEL FOR SINCE BASICALLY OCTOBER.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THE TRANSITION FROM DARLENE'S RETIREMENT AT THAT SAME TIME HAS BEEN SMOOTH. IT WAS VERY SMOOTH.

AND SO NATALIE, RACHEL AND OLIVIA HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE FRONT OFFICE AND DOING A GREAT JOB. AND SO WE'VE BEEN FINE THERE.

IT'S BACK HERE IN THE PLANNERS.

WE DEFINITELY NEED THAT BODY.

BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THE DIFFICULTIES AT THIS TIME THAT WE'LL HAVE TO TOUGH IT OUT.

OK. CAUSE WITH THAT, WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK IS THAT YOU KEEP IN COMMUNICATION WITH MR. RUSSI, THAT IF IT GETS TOO MUCH BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THE GENERAL PLAN TO FINISH UP, THAT'S CLOSE TO BEING DONE. BUT THAT'S STILL A LOT OF WORK.

AND THEN SOME OF THESE OTHER BIG PROJECTS WITH THE EIFD AND A COUPLE OTHERS THAT POSSIBLY WILL TAKE EFFECT THIS YEAR.

SO KEEP IN COMMUNICATION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS TIME GOES ON AND MONEY COME AVAILABLE, THEN POSSIBLY WE CAN LOOK AT GETTING YOU SOME MORE HELP.

WE WILL BE IN CONSTANT CONTACT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. SCHERER? OH, MR. CROSBY. THERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU. ERIC THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME [INAUDIBLE] BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PERMITS AND STUFF AND WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING ABOUT MAYBE TRYING TO ISSUE SOME PERMITS FOR THE OUTSIDE SEATING AND STAFF.

AND YOU WERE GOING TO BE GOING TO THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND STUFF.

AND THEN WHAT WAS THEY'RE WANTING TO DO AS WELL.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY INFORMATION THAT'D BE DEALING WITH THAT.

SO WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THAT AS A LOGISTICS ISSUE.

LAST WEEK, DAN KEESEY ANTHONY CIOTTI AND MYSELF WENT OUT TO GLENDORA BECAUSE THEY DID A MODIFIED VERSION OF WHAT WE'RE THINKING COULD HAPPEN ON D STREET IN TERMS OF THE STREET CLOSURE.

AND THE OTHER THINGS ABOUT THE SIDEWALK, JUST TABLES AND SIDEWALK.

RESTAURANTS ARE LOOKING AT THAT.

AND SO WE'VE GOT SEVERAL APPLICATIONS ALREADY.

WE CAN WAIVE THE FEES. THOSE ARE REALLY MINISTERIAL FEES ANYWAYS.

BUT IF THEY'RE IN THE SIDEWALK, IT NORMALLY WOULD BE AN ENCROACHER PERMIT FEE, WHICH ISN'T BEING COLLECTED. BUT THE ENCROACHMENT PERMIT WOULD BE ISSUED.

SO WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL THOSE ALL OF THEM IN OLD TOWN.

BUT THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION STILL THAT NEED TO HAPPEN ABOUT THE CLOSURE OF D STREET AND THE IDEAS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO KEEP IT SAFE.

AND SO THERE'S LOT OF LABOR THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT OF CLOSING A STREET LIKE THAT AND MAKING IT SAFE FOR EVERYBODY.

AND THEN ALSO THE DESIRES OF SOME OF THE BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN THAT DON'T WANT TO SEE THE STREET CLOSED FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME OR ON A CONSTANT BASIS OR LOSE THOSE 30 PARKING SPACES OR PLUS THAT ARE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEIR STORES.

THAT'S A CONCERN FOR SOME OF THE BUSINESSES AS WELL.

SO WE HAD AND WE WERE CHATTING ON A GROUP E-MAIL THREAD OVER THE WEEKEND.

AND I HAVE A CALL THAT I NEED TO MAKE TO THE CHAIR, CRAIG WALTERS, TOMORROW MORNING TO FURTHER DISCUSS KIND OF OPTIONS.

WE MIGHT LOOK AT MAYBE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING TEMPORARY.

IT JUST THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT COME ALONG WITH DOING A PROJECT LIKE THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THERE.

BUT WE ARE FINDING INTERESTS IN PEOPLE JUST DOING THEIR OWN THING, LIKE, YOU KNOW, [INAUDIBLE] HAVE PUT OUT SOME TABLES IN THE MIDDLE OF A PARKING LOT AND THEN ALSO IN FOURTH STREET, MIDDLE. LORDSBURG I KNOW IS JUST LOOKING AT PUTTING SOME TABLES JUST OUTSIDE THEIR WINDOWS, SO.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THE UPDATE TOO.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. SCHERER. I HAVE A COUPLE OF A COMMENT AND JUST A QUESTION.

THANK YOU, MR. CROSBY, FOR THAT.

I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MR. RUSSI TODAY THAT THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS THAT AREN'T DOING INDOOR DINING.

AND I IF WE COULD STREAMLINE THAT UNDERSTANDING THERE IS PERMITS TO BE HAD AND, YOU KNOW, THE ABC ALCOHOL AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT MAYBE STREAMLINED FOR OUR BUSINESSES, THAT IT'S A CLICK, CLICK, CLICK.

AND YOU CAN GET THIS GOING BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN ADDED POSITIVE THING FOR THESE RESTAURANTS TO GET THEM OPEN.

AND THEN ALSO THE D STREET OBVIOUSLY CLOSING THAT DOWN HAS TO BE A DECISION.

IT'S A LITTLE BIGGER ONE TO THROW OUT THERE, BUT ALL ARE GREAT IDEAS.

I KNOW COVINA CLOSED THEIR DOWNTOWN DISTRICT THREE O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY AND OPENED IT UP ON SUNDAY NIGHT AT 9:00.

SO IT'S CLOSED TRAFFIC SO PEOPLE COULD ENJOY THE WHOLE DOWNTOWN AREA WALKING WITH NO CARS. SO IT'S JUST ONE OF THINGS THEY'RE DOING NOW TO ORDER BUSINESSES TO GET BACK OPEN AND HELP THEM KICK START THEIR BUSINESSES AGAIN.

I WANTED TO MAKE A POSITIVE COMMENT FROM THE DIVIDEND ALSO FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

[00:55:06]

THAT, ERIC, IT'S A PLEASURE FOR THEM TO WORK WITH YOU.

YOU'RE VERY RESPONSIVE.

YOUR WHOLE STAFF.

ANY OF THE EVENTS THEY HAVE, IT'S BEEN JUST SEAMLESS AND JUST A GUNG HO ATTITUDE THAT NOTHING CAN'T BE DONE AND JUST POSITIVE AND LOTS OF INFORMATION FLOWING IN.

JUST A POSITIVE STATEMENT FROM BOTH OF THOSE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF DO, THE DIVIDEND.

LIKE I SAID, THE CHAMBER IS JUST EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

SO IT'S A NICE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND THEM.

SO THE OTHER THING, THE ANNEXATION.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IS THAT THE SAME WHEN WE DISCUSSED A WHILE AGO THAT THEY ACTUALLY DO WANT TO ANNEX NOW. YEAH, THEY STILL HAVE WANTED TO DO THAT.

WE UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID HAVE SOME COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WHICH WE GOT THOSE IN ADVANCE OF THE SHUTDOWN. AND SO WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PROJECT.

NOW IT'S A MATTER OF JUST GOING THROUGH THE NEXT STEPS.

OK? YOU HAVE A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT THAT WAS WE'RE STILL REVIEWING INTERNALLY BEFORE YOU PUT THAT OUT TO THE PUBLIC TO WHEN, THEN IT WOULD BE SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO WE EXPECT THAT TO BE BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL PROBABLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

OK, GREAT. I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE WE HAD A DISCUSSION ON IT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. SCHERER? WELL, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.

THANK YOU.

YOU ACTUALLY MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT I DECIDE TO FOLLOW UP ON.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT AND TO WHAT ERIC WAS SAYING ABOUT SOME OF THE BUSINESSES BEING SENSITIVE ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN THE STREETS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT IT AT LEAST LIMIT IT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY NIGHTS OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, JUST SO WE CAN DRIVE, YOU KNOW, SOME REVENUES BACK INTO THOSE RESTAURANTS AND PLACES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY AREN'T ALLOWING, YOU KNOW, INDOOR DINING OR IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE TYPE OF OUTDOOR FACILITIES THAT SOME OF OUR OTHER RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY DO.

I WOULD ALSO SAY, I KNOW, THE UNIVERSITY SITS IN ON SOME OF THE CHAMBER AND THE MEETINGS AND WHATNOT AND SEEING OVER SUMMER AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, IF THERE ISN'T, YOU KNOW, THE PARKING LOT AT WILSON ISN'T BEING USED OR WHATNOT, YOU KNOW COULD WE GET CREATIVE? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN TRANSFER ANY OF THE ALCOHOL OVER TO THAT SPACE.

RIGHT. BUT YOU COULD STILL MAYBE SET UP TABLES FOR FOOD AND TENTS AND WHATNOT.

SO IF YOU WERE JUST GOING TO GO HAVE PIZZA AND SODAS WITH YOUR KIDS OR SOMETHING, THAT THERE IS ANOTHER WHOLE SPACE.

SO JUST, I THINK TRYING TO THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO AND PARTNER WITH, ESPECIALLY IN THAT DOWNTOWN AREA.

SO. WE ARE WORKING ON IT.

AND THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR THIS [INAUDIBLE] SURE I SHARE THIS WITH MY STAFF AS WELL.

WELL, YOU DESERVE IT. YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. SCHERER? OK.

THEN WE SHALL MOVE ON. THANK YOU, MR. SCHERER. AND THE NEXT PRESENTATION IS GOING TO BE FROM FIRE CHIEF

[3. Budget Section 5 - Fire Department - Presentation by the Interim Fire Chief Devin Leonard.]

LEONARD IF HE'S READY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR YOU.

OH, SORRY. I DON'T HAVE ANY VIDEO, SO I WASN'T SURE IF YOU COULD HEAR ME OR NOT.

WE HEAR YOU. OK.

I ASSUME YOU CANNOT SEE ME BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE YOU.

GOOD EVENING, CHIEF LEONARD.

WELL, WE CAN HEAR YOU. OK, GOOD.

I'LL GET STARTED. YOU DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK AT ME ANYWAYS, WELL, THERE YOU ARE.

I CAN SEE YOU FOLKS NOW.

LET ME START MY VIDEO.

THERE YOU GO. OH, OK.

NOW WE'RE ALL GOOD TO GO.

GOOD TO SEE YOU CHIEF.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION.

AND I APPRECIATE IT.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'D LIKE TO PICK UP WITH WHAT MR. RUSSI HAD STATED ABOUT THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE UNFUNDED.

FOR THE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

AND SPECIFICALLY, THAT'S THE POSITIONS UP AT STATION 63 WITH THE RESCUE AMBULANCE THAT WE HAD PUT OUT OF SERVICE BACK IN JANUARY.

THERE IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUR INTENT TO CONTINUE DOING STAFFING AND RECRUITING AND HIRING AND GET OUR STAFFING BACK TO THE LEVEL WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO ENGINE COMPANIES TO RESCUE AMBULANCE AND ONE BATTALION CHIEF ON DUTY EVERY DAY.

THAT'S THE GOAL. IT'S BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING AND IT CONTINUES TO BE OUR GOAL.

BUT IT IS UNREALISTIC TO THINK THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT MANPOWER WITHIN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR. SO IN OUR EFFORTS TO HELP PROVIDE FOR SOME STABILIZATION OF THE BUDGET GOING INTO THE NEXT YEAR, WE UNFUNDED THOSE POSITIONS FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR. HAVING SAID THAT, WE CURRENTLY HAVE SEVEN FIREFIGHTER VACANCIES AND WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL FIVE PERSONNEL OFF ON INJURY.

SO WE'VE GOT 12 VACANCIES THAT WE'RE BALANCING, WHICH IS THE REASON THAT I DON'T FORESEE IN THE NEAR FUTURE WE'D HAVE THE MANPOWER TO STAFF STATION SIXTY THREE.

WE DO HAVE THREE RECRUITS GOING THROUGH HIRING RIGHT NOW, GOING THROUGH THE BACKGROUND PHASE AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS ON BOARD IN JULY, AT WHICH TIME WE WOULD OPEN UP ONE OF THE RESCUE AMBULANCES AND IMMEDIATELY START ANOTHER TESTING PROCESS, WHICH ACTUALLY WILL START CONCURRENTLY WITH THE BRINGING ON THE OTHER THREE.

[01:00:04]

WE'LL START ANOTHER RECRUITMENT PROCESS OR A TESTING PROCESS WITH THE INTENT OF BEING ABLE TO OPEN RA SIXTY THREE AS WE GET THOSE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL ON BOARD.

I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT UNTIL SEPTEMBER.

AGAIN, THIS IS ALL BARRING ANY ADDITIONAL LOSS OF PERSONNEL TO OTHER AGENCIES OR DUE TO ILLNESS OR INJURY.

WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING ON TWO ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTER MEDICS SINCE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR, BUT WE HAD THREE FIRE FIGHTER MEDICS LEAVE OUR ORGANIZATION SINCE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. SO IT WAS TWO STEPS FORWARD, ONE STEP BACK.

BUT YOU ALL KNOW WE ARE TRYING THE BEST WE CAN.

SO HAVING SAID THAT, AS WE LOOK FORWARD IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE REVENUES THAT WE'VE LOST AND THE EXPENSES THAT WE'VE ASSOCIATED OR ARE ACCUMULATING AS A RESULT OF NOT BEING IN THE AMBULANCE BUSINESS ANYMORE.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE POINTS I'D MADE DURING PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS, IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST NOT HAVING THOSE UNITS IN SERVICE.

THERE'S ALSO THAT THE FINANCIAL REALITY THAT WE'VE LOST THAT INCOME GOING FORWARD.

SO WE'RE STILL REELING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE EXACT REVENUE LOSSES ARE.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE UNTIL YOU START LOOKING BACKWARDS AT WHICH YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE. BUT THAT'S FOR THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR WE'RE CURRENTLY IN AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

LIKE I SAY, WE HAVE UNFUNDED THOSE SIX POSITIONS ON STATION SIXTY THREE FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS. OTHER THAN THAT, WE WERE INITIALLY ASKED TO REDUCE OUR BUDGET BY ABOUT THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM ONE POINT FIVE MILLION TO ONE POINT TWO MILLION.

AND THOSE ARE ROUND NUMBERS.

BUT WORKING WITH THE STAFF ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE ABLE TO DO WAS BECAUSE OUR FLEET MANAGEMENT SECTION MOVED THEIR RATE ON WHAT OUR COST OF LEASING FROM FLEET SERVICES.

THEY MOVED THEM BACK TO THE LAST FISCAL BUDGET.

SO THAT REDUCED US BY ABOUT EIGHTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS.

WE WERE ABLE TO USE SOME OTHER FUNDS WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR EQUIPMENT TO HELP FUND OTHER EXPENSES, SPECIFICALLY FROM OUR 250 FUND, OTHER EXPENSES IN THIS FISCAL YEAR COMING UP.

AND OTHER THAN THAT.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. SO BASICALLY, WE TOOK A REDUCTION OVERALL ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN OUR BUDGET FOR WHAT WE REQUESTED VERSUS WHAT WE GOT.

AND WE DIDN'T ELIMINATE ANY INDIVIDUAL POSITIONS.

WE DID IT THROUGH BASICALLY LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES TO STREAMLINE OUR EXPENSES.

WE DID THE BEST WE COULD.

BUT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MEAT LEFT ON THAT BONE.

BUT WE ARE THERE AND WE'RE TRYING TO HELP MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU, CHIEF LEONARD. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF LEONARD? I HAVE ONE.

GO ROBIN. OK.

CHIEF LEONARD, QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.

I JUST WANT VERIFICATION.

WITH THESE CUTS WE ARE UP TO DATE.

AND WE'RE ALL IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT, SAFETY EQUIPMENT, HOSES AND EVERYTHING IN PLACE THAT THEY NEED TO DO THE JOB THEY NEED TO DO.

SO AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, I CAN TELL YOU I'VE GOT AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT REQUESTS FOR EQUIPMENT, WHETHER IT'S FIRE HOSE OR EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE TO AIR COMPRESSORS OR OTHER SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR THE PERSONNEL.

WE'VE ADDRESSED THOSE. THERE IS FUNDING IN THOSE WE DID NOT CUT IN THE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE CUT WE DID NOT CUT ANYTHING FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR THOSE.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. READING THE BUDGET MESSAGE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND CLEAR, BECAUSE I HEARD SOMETHING AND I READ SOMETHING DIFFERENT, IT SAID, CONSIDERING THE FROZEN FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC POSITIONS. THOSE ARE NOT FROZEN POSITIONS.

THOSE ARE WE JUST HAVE NOT.

WE ARE RECRUITING FOR THEM AND WE HAVE NOT HIRED THEM, BUT THEY ARE NOT FROZEN.

THAT IS CORRECT. THE ONLY THING THAT SOMEBODY COULD INTERPRET AS FROZEN WOULD BE THOSE SIX POSITIONS AT STATION SIXTY THREE FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.

THOSE ARE INTENTIONALLY BECAUSE THERE'S REALISTICALLY NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO FILL THOSE.

SO WE TOOK THAT MONEY TO FUND THOSE POSITIONS OUT OF THE BUDGET SO THEY DON'T WE WOULD FILL THAT POSITION IF WE HAD THE ABILITY.

WE'RE NOT SAYING, NO, YOU CAN'T.

WE JUST IT'S THE TIME IT'S TAKING FOR THAT.

ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE WHAT I READ, I READ FROZEN.

THAT MEANS TO ME, STOP.

WE'RE NOT EVEN TRYING TO, BUT WE ARE CONSISTENTLY TRYING TO RECRUIT MORE FIREFIGHTERS FOR THIS PARAMEDIC POSITION. THAT IS CORRECT.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF LEONARD.

[01:05:04]

NO, THAT WAS THE POINT I WAS GONNA CONFIRM AS WELL THAT IT WAS JUST REALLY A PROCESS OF THE LENGTH OF THE RECRUITMENT AND WHAT WE WOULD ANTICIPATE IN BEING ABLE TO FILL THAT POSITION. SO WE'RE NOT NOT LOOKING.

WE ARE LOOKING. IT'S JUST WE'VE DEDUCTED THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE THINK IT WILL TAKE BEFORE WE CAN ACTUALLY PUT SOMEONE IN THAT SPOT.

I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU. I'D JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT OVERALL, WITH THE SAFETY OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND THE SAFETY OF OUR ABILITY TO PERFORM OUR DUTIES OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL IS TO GET BACK UP TO THE STAFFING LEVELS WE HAD BEFORE.

AND WE'RE WORKING AT A REDUCED LEVEL RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S IT IS NOBODY'S INTENT TO REMAIN AT THESE LEVELS.

WE'RE ACTIVELY TRYING TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OUR PERSONNEL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF LEONARD.

I HAVE A COMMENT.

AND FIRST OF ALL, GREAT JOB LAST WEEK ON DOW HYDRAULICS AND THE FAMILY WAS JUST VERY POSITIVE ABOUT WHAT EVERYBODY DID TO KNOCK THE FIRE DOWN, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A TOTAL LOSS.

BUT YOU KNOW, LA VERNE DID A GREAT JOB.

OUR MUTUAL AID WAS EXCEPTIONAL AND OTHER RESOURCES ROLLED.

THANK GOODNESS. AND TO THAT QUESTION, WE ARE A MUTUAL [INAUDIBLE], NOT AN AUTOMATIC MUTUAL AID, IS THAT CORRECT? THERE'S EITHER MUTUAL AID OR AUTOMATIC AID.

AND WE HAVE BOTH WITHIN OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR NEIGHBORING AGENCIES.

BUT THE AUTO AID IS VERY SMALL.

IT ONLY IS SPECIFIC TO A COUPLE OF DISTRICTS WITHIN THE CITY.

PRETTY MUCH 98 PERCENT OF OUR ASSISTANCE COMES TO A MUTUAL AID.

THAT IS. AND WITHOUT THAT, THAT WOULD BE A TOUGH ONE, ALTHOUGH THE FIRES ARE ALWAYS MUTUAL AID ANYWAY BECAUSE OF THE RESOURCES.

BUT THAT'S ALWAYS MY CONCERN, IS THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS BUT THE SAFETY OF OUR PERSONNEL. AND AS WE'RE PUSHING AND WE HAVE SEVEN FIREFIGHTERS GONE, BUT WE HAVE FIVE ON INJURY, IT'S JUST CONCERNS ME THAT AND WE'RE RECRUITING.

AND I UNDERSTAND. BUT MY ALWAYS CONCERN IS TO DO WITH MUTUAL AID OR AUTOMATIC AID IS THE FACT THAT WHEN WE GET VERY BUSY, IF THEY GET VERY BUSY, IS THE RESOURCES TO OUR CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD.

AND YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB TRYING TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.

BUT MYSELF AS MAYOR AND I KNOW COUNCIL, THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY.

FIRST OF ALL, THE SAFETY OF OUR PERSONNEL IF IT GOES WE LOSE, THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS.

AND THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS TAPPING OUR MUTUAL AID.

SO RECRUITMENT, RECRUITMENT, RECRUITMENT.

BUT I KNOW IT'S NOT AS EASY AS THAT.

SO I'D LIKE MAYOR JUST ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION AND I APPRECIATE THE THANK YOU TO ME FOR THE EFFORTS ON THE FIRE THE OTHER DAY.

I WAS NOT IN THAT MORNING.

I DIDN'T MAKE IT UNTILO 11:00.

SO I GOT THERE WHEN ALL THE HARD WORK WAS DONE AND THEY WERE JUST STARTING TO DO THE SALVAGE AND OVERALL AND WORKING ON THE INVESTIGATION PHASE.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT MORNING THAT IF YOU RECALL, THAT WAS THE MORNING WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO OUR WILDLAND FIRE EXERCISE COMBINED DRILL DOWN BASICALLY IN THAT AREA. AND THIS COMMERCIAL FIRE TOOK OFF ABOUT TWO HOURS BEFORE THAT WAS GOING TO GO UNDERWAY. SO AN INCIDENT THE SIZE OF THAT COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE FIRE WE HAD THE DAY AND THE SAFETY OF THE PERSONNEL IS LARGELY DUE TO THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF ALL THE COMMAND STAFF TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FULL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EVERYBODY AND YOU KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF HARM'S WAY THE BEST YOU CAN.

WELL, WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT MORNING THAT LITERALLY WE HAD THREE CHIEF OFFICERS IN THE CITY GETTING READY TO GO TO THE TRAINING EXERCISE WE HAD.

AND CHIEF MONTOYA, CHIEF RUSSELL AND ONE OF OUR PART TIME ANNUITANTS, CHIEF [INAUDIBLE], WERE ALL ON SCENE WITHIN RIGHT BEHIND THE WELL CHIEF MONTOYA WAS ON SCENE FIRST AND THEN AN ENGINE COMPANY AND THEN THE OTHER TWO CHIEF OFFICERS.

THAT COMMAND AND CONTROL, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR PERSONNEL, WAS IN PLACE QUICK AND THAT VERY MUCH CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE OPERATION.

SO IT WAS KUDDOS TO ALL THOSE GUYS FOR DOING A GREAT JOB.

I APPRECIATE IT. THAT WAS A BLANKET TO EVERYONE.

AND I DID GO OUT TO THE FACILITY IN LATE AFTERNOON AROUND 2:30, AND THEY WERE JUST PRETTY MUCH MOPPING UP AND STAYING STAFF SO THAT THEY HAD SOME SMOKE AND SMOLDER THERE.

BUT ALL OF THEM DID A FANTASTIC JOB, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DOWS.

THE DOWS HAVE BEEN A COMMUNITY RESIDENT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND JUST A GREAT FAMILY.

AND THEY JUST DID A GREAT JOB.

EVERYBODY DID A GREAT JOB. REAL QUICK ONE HERE.

I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, AS COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER STATED, REGARDING THE EQUIPMENT AND THE SCBA TANKS AND HOSES AND LADDERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE'RE UP TO THAT. AND I KNOW YOU'RE PURCHASING ANOTHER, I THINK, A TRUCK.

WHERE ARE WE AT WITH OUR EQUIPMENT? AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IS THINK ABOUT REPLACEMENT FOR ENGINES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I KNOW SOME OF THEM ARE GETTING VERY OLD.

SO WE HAVE A TYPE ONE FIRE ENGINE, WHICH IS NOT A TRUCK.

IT'S WHAT YOUR TYPICAL FIRE ENGINE, THEY GO DOWN THE STREET.

WE'VE ACTUALLY TAKEN DELIVERY OF IT FROM PEARCE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FIRE APPARATUS.

IT CAME FOR DELIVERY INSPECTION.

[01:10:02]

IT'S GONE BACK FOR A LITTLE BIT OF WARRANTY WORK, WHICH IS STANDARD, AND THAT'S GOING TO GET RADIOS AND STUFF INSTALLED.

SO WE'LL HAVE THAT ON THE FLOOR HOPEFULLY WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

SO THAT HELPS US GET OUR FRONTLINE FLEET UP TO PAR.

WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF PIECES OF APPARATUS, A TYPE THREE ENGINE OR A REPLACEMENT BRUSH TRACK TO REPLACE OUR CURRENT BRUSH TRACK, WHICH IS IN SORE NEED OF BEING REPLACED.

AND WE HAD A TYPE SIX ENGINE, WHICH IS A PATROL PICKUP TRUCK, BASICALLY WITH A PUMP IN IT THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE FIRE PROTECTION TO OUR FOOTHILL AREA. IT HELPS GETS IN THE TIGHTER PLACES.

THE REALITY IS THAT WE'RE NOT SURE WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH FIRE PROTECTION IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW. YOU ALL KNOW WE HAVE THE STUDY GOING ON WITH L.A.

COUNTY. SO WE'RE TRYING TO BE PRUDENT IN THE WAY THAT WE SPEND OUR RESOURCES, OUR FINANCIAL MONEY. AND IF WE WERE TO GO OUT AND BUY A TYPE THREE AND TYPE SIX ENGINE OR EVEN MAKE A DEPOSIT ON THEM RIGHT NOW, IF THAT'S NOT IN THE GAME PLAN FOR WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO FOR FIRE PROTECTION LATER, WHETHER IT'S CONTRACTUAL OR IT'S A NEW WAY, WE'RE GONNA DO LA VERNE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS YET.

SO THAT'S WHY THOSE HAVE BEEN PUSHED OFF TO PUSH BACK AND OUT OF THIS FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T MADE THOSE DECISIONS YET.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN, SAFETY TO OUR PERSONNEL, SAFETY TO OUR RESIDENTS.

IF WE NEED IT, WE SHOULD HAVE IT.

WE ARE STILL A FUNCTIONING FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT COMMENT.

BUT WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE SAFE EQUIPMENT TO FUNCTION IN TO KEEP THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS FOR A CHIEF LEONARD? TIM, I SUGGEST THAT WE HOLD OUR COMMENTS TO MAKE THEM SHORTER BECAUSE WE HAVE STILL FIVE TAB'S TO GO THROUGH.

WELL, THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT POINTS WE'RE MAKING.

OH I KNOW QUESTION. THE STATUS OF THE EQUIPMENT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IS THERE ANYTHING THAT IS OF CONCERN WITH THE SAFETY OF THAT EQUIPMENT.

NOW ON OUR FRONT LINE TYPE 1 ENGINES WERE IN GREAT SHAPE.

OUR TYPE THREE ENGINE IT'S OLD AND TIRED AND WORN OUT.

IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE IN THAT BUSINESS, THAT NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY TO REPLACE THAT.

AND WE'VE HAD THAT ON THE RADAR BEFORE.

THAT'S OUR BIGGEST NEED GOING FORWARD.

IT'S OPERATIONAL TODAY.

BUT IT NEEDS BE REPLACED.

IT'S HAD SOME MAINTENANCE ISSUES, IS IT NOT? YEAH. YEAH. OK.

THANK YOU, CHIEF LEONARD, APPRECIATE THAT.

SHALL WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT.

[4. Budget Section 6 - Police - Presentation by Police Chief Nick Paz]

POLICE. HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU DOING. HI NICK.

GOOD EVENING, MR. [INAUDIBLE].

HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.

WELCOME TO THE HOLLYWOOD SQUARES.

[LAUGHTER] DON'T GET MY JEOPARDY MUSIC ON.

SO REGARDING THE DOW FIRE, MY SON WAS IN THE BUILDING.

HE WORKS THERE WHEN IT STARTED, THEY ALL GOT OUT SAFELY.

SO THAT'S GOOD. THERE SO MY PART OF THE BUDGET, I'LL START OFF WITH OUR STAFFING LEVELS.

RIGHT NOW, OUR RECORDS DEPARTMENT IS FULLY STAFFED.

WE DO ANTICIPATE ONE RECORDS CLERK TO BE LEAVING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, PROBABLY IN JULY.

HER HUSBAND IS GOING TO BECOME A LAWYER AND HE'S GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON TO STUDY. SO THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE OUT THERE.

AND WE ARE DOING A RECRUITMENT FOR THAT POSITION RIGHT NOW.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET IT FILLED AND THERE WON'T BE A LAPSE IN THE VACANCY.

AS FAR AS DISPATCHERS GO, WE ARE NOT DOING SO GOOD THERE AS FAR AS THE VACANCIES.

WE HAVE THREE VACANCIES RIGHT NOW.

ONE OF OUR DISPATCHERS RESIGNED LAST WEEKEND.

SO RIGHT NOW, IN ORDER TO FILL SOME OF THE SPOTS, WE DO HAVE AN OFFICER WHO IS A PROFICIENT DISPATCHER WHO IS WORKING UP THERE WITH THE DISPATCHERS AND PROVIDING THEM SOME HELP. POLICE CADETS IN THIS NEW BUDGET WE DO PLAN ON HIRING TWO ADDITIONAL CADETS.

THAT'S WITH SOME OF THE SAVINGS FROM THE JAIL CONTRACT WITH POMONA.

THOSE CADETS WILL BE USED TO ASSIST, PATROL AND REPORT WRITING AND OTHER DUTIES THAT WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE WORK LOAD FOR THE OFFICERS.

AS FAR AS THE OFFICER POSITIONS GO, WE DO HAVE OUT OF THE 41 BUDGETED POSITIONS.

WE DO HAVE TWO VACANCIES RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE ALSO HOLDING A RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE'S A LOT OF APPLICATIONS WITH THIS NEW RECRUITMENT TOOL THAT WE HAVE THE NEW DOT GOV WHERE PEOPLE CAN FILL OUT THEIR APPLICATIONS ONLINE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME INTO CITY HALL ANYMORE.

SO IT'S DRAWING A LOT OF POSSIBLE EMPLOYEES HERE TO TEST FOR OUR OPENINGS.

[01:15:08]

WE DO HAVE ONE. ONE RECRUITING THE ACADEMY RIGHT NOW AND A LATERAL OFFICER THAT IS IN TRAINING AND HOPEFULLY HE'LL BE OUT SOON.

AS FAR AS OUR STATISTICS GO, OUR AVERAGE EMERGENCY PATROL RESPONSE TIME REMAINS AT THREE MINUTES. WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD.

OUR 911 AVERAGE ANSWER SPEED IS THREE POINT NINE SECONDS, WHICH IS ALSO PRETTY GOOD.

OUR CALLS FOR SERVICE SLIGHTLY WENT UP THEY'RE, UP TO TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE. AND SOME CHANGES ARE COMING THIS YEAR DUE TO THE ANTICIPATED COVID ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

AND SOME OF THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT THAT WE ARE NOT DOING CURRENTLY.

WE DID ANTICIPATE THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOSS OF REVENUE THERE.

SO WHAT WE DID IS WE REDUCED THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BY ONE.

WE DID NOT LAY OFF ANYBODY.

ONE OF THE PARKING OFFICERS ACTUALLY RESIGNED A WHILE BACK.

SO WE'RE NOT FILLING THAT POSITION RIGHT NOW.

WHEN THINGS PICK UP, WE'LL LOOK AT IT AND SEE IF WE NEED ANOTHER ONE AND BRING THEM ON BOARD. IT IS A CONTRACT THROUGH INTERCON.

ALSO THIS YEAR, WE ARE BRINGING ONBOARD A NEW S.R.O.

OFFICER FRANKY'S TIME IS UP AND WORK.

WE'VE GOT A NEW OFFICER.

SHE'S ONE OF THE NEWER OFFICERS.

I THINK SHE'LL DO PRETTY GOOD.

SHE'S GOT THE PERSONALITY FOR IT.

OUR BOOKING AT POMONA CONTRACT WAS FINALIZED THIS YEAR.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO BOOK THERE AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WITH THE SAVINGS, WE ARE GETTING TWO NEW CADET POSITIONS, WHICH HAVE BEEN BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR US IN VARIOUS AREAS HERE. WE ALSO DID RECEIVE A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT'S DEDICATED TO THE EDUCATION OF TOBACCO.

THE DANGERS OF TOBACCO USE.

THIS GRANT IS FOR A PERIOD OF TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND WE'LL START THIS JULY.

AND ALSO, THE NEWEST THING RIGHT NOW IS THE CANINE FOUNDATION HAS INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO POSSIBLY GET THE DOG AND THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THE CANINE.

SO AS SOON AS THAT'S FINALIZED, THEN WE DECIDE WHEN WE'RE GOING TO DEPLOY THAT CANINE WE WILL ASK COUNCIL.

WE'LL GO BACK TO COUNCIL AND GET GET A PROPER BUDGET ALLOTMENT FOR THAT.

OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? YES.

WENDY? SORRY, LET ME UNMUTE MYSELF.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

IT'S ON PAGE 16 OF THE REPORT I HAVE UNDER RECORDS AND CLERICAL.

OK.

I JUST HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF REPORTS AND CITATIONS PROCESSED.

I UNDERSTAND THE ARRESTS YOU KNOW, THAT MAKES A LITTLE BIT MORE SENSE TO ME, I THINK.

BUT THE REPORTS AND CITATIONS GOES FROM 2017 FROM A LITTLE BIT OVER 5000.

AND A LITTLE BIT OVER ELEVEN AND A HALF.

AND IT DROPS RELATIVELY SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2020 [INAUDIBLE].

AND THE BIG DROP REALLY IS THE CITATIONS FROM 11000 TO YOU KNOW, BELOW FIFTEEN HUNDRED.

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THAT DROP.

SO WHAT HAPPENED THERE IS FOR 2018 YOU SEE THERE'S EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT CITATIONS. YES.

THAT INCLUDES MOVING CITATIONS AND PARKING CITATIONS.

AND WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 2019 IS THEY DID NOT INCLUDE THE PARKING CITATIONS.

SO THAT'S OUR MISTAKE THERE.

BUT THAT WAS A GOOD CATCH. OK.

SO THAT JUST MEANS THOSE NEED TO BE ADDED.

AND THAT'S A LOT OF PARKING. YES. THANK YOU. OK, AND THE OTHER ONES, THE ARRESTS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE CHANGE IN LAWS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THERE'S NOT THAT MANY MORE ARRESTS. WE'RE CITING OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT CORRELATES WITH THE AMOUNT OF REPORTS THAT ARE PROCESSED. SO THAT EXPLAINS THOSE.

GOT IT. OK. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF PAZ? I DON'T SEE ANYONE THERE. GOOD.

COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. I HAVE ONE MORE.

UNDER INVESTIGATIONS ON PAGE 19.

I THOUGHT UNDER THE OPERATIONAL PLAN IT SAYS ACHIEVES A CLEARANCE RATE OF AT LEAST 20 PERCENT. AND I THOUGHT OUR CLEARANCE RATE WAS HIGHER THAN THAT.

SO IS THERE A REASON WHY WE'RE GOING LOWER THAN WHAT OUR ACTUAL CLEARANCE RATE IS RIGHT NOW? NO, THAT COULD PROBABLY BE CHANGED AS WELL.

I DIDN'T CATCH THAT, HONESTLY.

AND SO THAT COULD PROBABLY BE CHANGED.

[01:20:01]

I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THAT NUMBER WOULD BE OR WHAT YOU WOULD PROJECTED TO BE AS PART OF YOUR PLAN FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.

YEAH, I KNOW THAT IN THE STATS THAT I WAS SHOWN THAT THERE WAS ABOUT 40 PERCENT CLEARANCE RATE ON THAT. YEAH.

YEAH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE OUR NUMBERS JIVE.

AND THEY MAKE SENSE.

OK. GOTCHA COUNCIL MEMBER LAU.

YOU'RE WATCHING THE CHIEF. YOU'RE WATCHING THE CHIEF.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF PAZ? I HAD A COUPLE REAL QUICK ONES.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE CANINE PROGRAM, THAT'S AWESOME.

THEY'VE DONE A HECK OF A JOB FUNDRAISING, DID A GREAT JOB.

THE CONCERN I HAVE AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN WITH DISPATCH.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT L.A. COUNTY NOW WITH FIRE.

AND IS THIS SOME KIND OF AN ISSUE THAT I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN FACED WITH IT A LONG TIME? ANY CAN YOU PUT YOUR FINGER ON IT OR I MEAN, IS IT COME TO MONEY AGAIN STILL, IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN DISPATCH.

I KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH JOB, BUT.

WELL, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WITH THAT PROBLEM.

ALL THE DEPARTMENTS HERE ARE KIND OF ROBBING FROM EACH OTHER TO FILL THESE POSITIONS.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A DISPATCHER THAT WE JUST HIRED FROM COVINA.

SO NOW CORVINA IS SHORT A DISPATCHER.

IT'S JUST IT'S ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, I CAN SAY THAT IT'S ONE OF THE TOUGHEST JOBS IN THE DEPARTMENT.

WHEN I INTERVIEWED THE DISPATCHERS, THE PROSPECTIVE DISPATCHERS, I ALWAYS TELL THEM IT'S YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE TOUGHEST JOB THERE IS HERE.

EVEN TOUGHER THAN AN OFFICERS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO PUT UP WITH A LOT OF STUFF IN THE CONFINED SPACE AND THEY DON'T SEE THE END PRODUCT OF SOME OF THE CALLS.

AND IT'S VERY THERE'S A LOT OF STRESS INVOLVED IN THAT JOB.

SO YOU HAVE TO GET THE RIGHT PERSON IN THERE.

AND YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT QUIT LAST WEEK, SHE WAS HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND SHE COULDN'T DO THE JOB, SO SHE DECIDED JUST TO QUIT.

I THINK IT'S JUST A COMBINATION OF A LOT OF THINGS, MAINLY THE JUST HOW HARD THE JOB IS.

IS IT A MONEY ISSUE, THOUGH, TO YOU KNOW, IF YOU ASK THEM.

YES, IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, TOO.

I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING.

AND I KNOW IT'S TOUGH FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU TRAIN AND THEN YOU GO, YOU KNOW, AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, CHERRY PICKING ALL THE TIME IT JUST HAPPENS IN ALL OUR BUSINESSES. BUT THE POINT IS, IS THAT OBVIOUSLY WE REALLY SERIOUSLY NEED TO LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S HARD FOR YOU GUYS BECAUSE THEN YOU GOT TO RETRAIN AND THEN YOU'RE DOWN AND YOU'VE GOT OFFICERS BACK FILLING RIGHT NOW.

AND IT MAKES IT A TOUGH SITUATION.

YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE HERE TO HELP.

BUT I THINK IF WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT THAT, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ONGOING EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL AND IT'S JUST IT'S HORRIFIC FOR YOU GUYS TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS.

THIS IS A FRONT LINE FOR DISPATCH FOR ALL OF OUR OFFICERS AND YOURSELF.

SO, I MEAN WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY, DISCUSS THIS.

I THINK. I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVEN THE DEPARTMENTS THAT PAY MORE, THEY'RE.

AND IT'S JUST A ROTATING ISSUE.

THAT'S BEEN ONGOING EVER SINCE.

IT JUST CONTINUES. OK.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLAR, YOUR GRANT THAT YOU RECEIVED DOES THAT INCLUDE VAPING, TOO OR IS IT ALL.

YES, IT INCLUDES TOBACCO AND VAPING.

EXCELLENT. EXCELLENT.

OK, WELL, THANK YOU ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF PAZ.

THANK YOU, MR. PAZ APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. I THINK MR.

[5. Budget Section 7 - Community Services Department - Presentation by the Director of Community Services Bill Aguirre.]

AGUIRRE IS UP NEXT.

WE JUST SEE HIM ALL OVER THE PLACE.

OH YOU ARE MUTED BILL.

HI. MR. AGUIRRE DOESN'T GET OUT MUCH.

YOU WILL HAVE TO EXCUSE HIM. MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS YEAR'S COMMUNITY SERVICE BUDGET WILL SEE A DECREASE IN THE 2020 21 FISCAL YEAR, AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.

WE WILL SEE OVERALL DECREASES IN ALL COSTS CENTERS, STAFFING AND OPERATIONAL LEVELS, WHICH WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR.

WHAT HAPPENED.

THERE YOU GO WE SEE YOU. DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING. EVEN IF THE COUNTY ALLOWS RECREATION PROGRAMMING RENTALS, SPORTS AND OTHER RECREATION ACTIVITIES WILL STILL BE UNDER SPECIFIC GUIDELINES AND HAVE TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS.

BY JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR, WE WILL HAVE A BUDGET PLAN TO PROCEED WITH REGULAR PROGRAMS. AT THAT TIME, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH ALL THE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS THEY'VE ENJOYED IN THE PAST.

[01:25:01]

THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE RECREATION CLASSES, SENIOR CLASSES, COMMUNITY SPECIAL EVENTS, EXCURSIONS, YOUTH AND ADULT SPORTS, INCLUSION ACTIVITIES AND AQUATICS CLASSES.

IF THE COUNTY OPENS THE PHASE TO SOONER,WE WILL BE READY TO PROVIDE THE RESIDENTS WITH RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE GUIDELINES AND WE'LL BE READY FOR ANY CHALLENGES THAT WE MIGHT FACE.

THE DEPARTMENT IS SLATED TO COMPLETE ONE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THIS UPCOMING YEAR, WHICH IS THE RENOVATION OF THE RESTROOMS AT VETERANS HALL.

I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER AND MY STAFF FOR ALL THE SUPPORT OVER THESE PAST YEARS.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL QUESTIONS FOR MR. AGUIRRE. NO BEING NONE.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF.

THE VIRTUAL THINGS ARE ON THE WEB SITE THAT YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING OUT THERE.

ALSO, THE SENIOR LUNCHES.

IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.

KUDOS TO YOUR WHOLE STAFF. IT'S JUST I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT IT.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND [INAUDIBLE] ALL OF YOUR STAFF, THERE WAS ONE.

NOW THERE WAS DISCUSSION.

AND THEN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, DID APPROVE THE OPENING OF THE COMMUNITY POOLS.

AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON THAT.

IT HAS TO BE VETTED, OBVIOUSLY COVID 19.

AND HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE POOL AND EXTERIOR.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WANTING.

THAT'S REAL GOOD. IT'S JUST THAT OBVIOUSLY THE UNIVERSITY IS ALSO LOOKING AT THAT.

SO I UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON THAT TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT AND HOW WE CAN DO THAT. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT IT.

STAFF WE'RE TALKING TO THE UNIVERSITY AS WELL AS THE HIGH SCHOOL IN REGARDS TO THOSE PROGRAMS. BUT WE ARE FOR THIS SUMMER LOOKING AT THAT POSSIBILITY.

EXCELLENT. AND ANOTHER ONE WAS YOUTH SPORTS, WHICH WAS PART OF THE DAYCARE THAT THE COUNTY APPROVED WAS DAYCARE.

AND IT'S PART OF THE COUNTY PROGRAM IS RECREATION SPORTS THAT TEAMS 13 AND UNDER CAN PRACTICE AND AGILITY TRAINING, BUT NO TEAM SPORTS AND NO TEAM PLAY, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO LOOKING LOOK AT TO OPEN THESE FIELDS SOON.

UNDER OBVIOUSLY, COVID19 AND THE CRITERIA WITH THE DIFFERENT SPORTS WE HAVE.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DAY CAMPS.

YES. RIGHT. DAY CAMP.

AND BECAUSE YOUTH SPORTS RIGHT NOW, YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS ARE NOT ALLOWED AS PART OF THE COUNTY'S PROGRAMS. BUT THEY CAN UNDER DAY CAMPS.

THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO DRILLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS A POSSIBILITY, THEY STILL HAVE SOME GUIDELINES. YOU KNOW, SOCIAL DISTANCING MASKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AT THIS TIME.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE THE POSSIBILITY AND OF THE YOUTH SPORTS COMMITTEE PLAYING A PART. AND HAVING THE ORGANIZATIONS PUT A PLAN TOGETHER AND HAVE THEM SUBMIT IT TO OUR YOUTH SPORTS COMMITTEE.

EXCELLENT THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

GET THEM OUT THERE AGAIN EVEN IF IT'S A DAY CAMP, GET THEM WORKING AGAIN.

NO TEAM PLAY, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT JUST LIKE YOU SAY, AGILITY AND A DAY CAMP ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE TEAM CAN PRACTICE AND DO THEIR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW.

RIGHT. RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. AGUIRRE? NO.

WE'LL MOVE ON. THANK YOU, MR. AGUIRRE. APPRECIATE IT. SORRY.

IT'S ALL RIGHT. IT'S HARD TO SEE THE WHOLE SCREEN, ESPECIALLY THESE DAYS, BECAUSE IT GETS BIGGER AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE THINGS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY, MR. AGUIRRE, TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND COMMUNITY SERVICES IS KUDOS FOR ADDRESSING WHEN THINGS CAN START TO HAPPEN AND HOW THEY CAN HAPPEN AND WHAT LIMITATIONS WE HAVE TO PLACE ON ALL THE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF OUR RESIDENTS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO, IS GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND DO SOMETHING.

AND SO YOU GUYS ARE RIGHT AT THE FULCRUM OF ALL THIS CHALLENGE.

SO I JUST SAY KUDOS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OR ANYBODY ELSE ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FOR MR. AGUIRRE. THANK YOU, MR. AGUIRRE, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO. WE WILL MOVE ON.

PUBLIC WORKS, MR.

[6. Budget Section 8 - Public Works Department, (Includes Water, Streets, Fleet Maintenance, Building Maintenance & Parks) - Presentation by the Deputy Director of Public Works Anthony Ciotti.]

KEESEY OR ANTHONY.

ANTHONY CIOTTI. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS TWENTY POINT FOUR MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET REQUEST FOR THIS COMING YEAR.

THIS BUDGET CONTINUES OUR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE, PROVIDING QUALITY COMMITMENT.

PROVIDING QUALITY UTILITY SERVICES AND COMPLYING WITH THE EVER CHANGING ENVIRONMENTAL

[01:30:02]

PROGRAMS IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.

THE DEPARTMENT IS COMPRISED OF SIX DIVISIONS, BUILDINGS, STREETS, PARKS, WATER, SEWER AND FLEET MAINTENANCE.

THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO CHARGED WITH MANAGING THE REFUGE CONTRACT, GRANT MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CREATES THE FOUNDATION FOR THE CITY'S OVERALL SERVICE DELIVERY TO THE COMMUNITY.

PERSONNEL COSTS ARE LOWER THAN THEY HAD BEEN IN PRIOR YEARS.

WHILE THIS IS SEEMINGLY GOOD NEWS, THE REALITY IS MOST OF THE SAVINGS COME FROM A REDUCTION OF THE PARK SUPERVISORS POSITION.

IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S REQUEST WAS TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN THE CITY MANAGERS RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

A FEW IMPACTS FROM THE REDUCTION WILL LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO ENGINEER OR INSPECT STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

POSTPONE POSSIBLE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.

REDUCE PURCHASE OF MATERIALS SUCH AS FERTILIZER, SAND, GRAVEL AND DELAY SCHEDULED [INAUDIBLE] CREEK PROJECTS.

NONETHELESS, OUR OPERATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE GENERAL MAINTENANCE SERVICES TO BUY PUBLIC BUILDINGS UNDER OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.

CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN NEARLY 100 MILES OF OUR EXISTING STREET NETWORK.

OPERATE AND MAINTAIN OUR WATER PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION.

METER READING AND TREATMENT FACILITIES AND CONTINUE OUR UNDERTAKING OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS AB 341, WHICH IS A MANDATED COMMERCIAL RECYCLING, AND AB 1826, WHICH IS MANDATED ORGANICS RECYCLING.

WE MAINTAIN 33 ACRES OF LANDSCAPE WITHIN NINE LANDSCAPE [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICTS.

WE ALSO CONDUCT BRUSH CLEARANCE TWICE A YEAR TO 83 ACRES WITHIN THE LA VERNE HEIGHTS, MARSHALL CANYON AND LIVE OAK ASSESSMENT DISTRICT'S.

AND WE MANAGE THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF NUMEROUS PROJECTS WITHIN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET, WHICH DAN KEESEY WILL BE PRESENTING AFTER ME.

WE APPRECIATE THE DILIGENT WORK THAT STAFF SPENT PREPARING THE PROPOSED BUDGET BEFORE YOU, THE CITY'S MANAGERS RECOMMENDED BUDGET SUPPORTS THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR OPERATION.

AND AS ALWAYS, WE APPRECIATE HIS SUPPORT.

I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE.

MAYOR YOU'RE MUTED. YOU KNOW, YOU JUST CAN'T REMEMBER EVERYTHING.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR A PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CIOTTI? I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

YOU GUYS ALWAYS DO A GREAT JOB.

ALWAYS FRIENDLY, ALWAYS HAPPY.

NO MATTER WHERE I SEE THEM, THEY'RE IN THE CITY.

THEY'RE ALWAYS DOING A GREAT JOB. THEY ALSO WORKED I THINK THERE WAS YOU GUYS WERE ON THE FIRE ALSO FOR CONTAINMENT AND SOME OTHER STUFF.

IS THAT CORRECT? YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALWAYS EFFICIENT FAST AND FURIOUS.

I CALL THEM SO. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE WILL MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT.

[7. Budget Sections 9-10 - Overview of Major Capital Improvements, Capital Equipment Outlay and Special Programs - Presentation by the Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Dan Keesey, and the Deputy Director of Public Works Anthony Ciotti.]

MR. KEESEY, HOW ARE YOU? OH, I'M WELL, THANK YOU.

IF YOU'RE READY, I'LL DO THE CIP BRIEF.

WE'RE READY, SIR. GOOD.

OURE 2021 CIP INCLUDES EIGHT POINT ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN PROJECTS FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR. WE HAVE PROGRAMMED ABOUT FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IN ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

WE HAVE ABOUT NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT WE WILL CONSTRUCT IN OUR PARKS AND OTHER COMMUNITY [INAUDIBLE] PROJECTS.

AND EXCUSE ME, WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE MORE MAINTENANCE RELATED, CITY BUILDING, RE-ROOFING AND GENERATORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ALLOW US TO CONTINUE OUR OPERATIONS. THE FOLLOWING FIVE YEARS, OUR BUDGET FOR THE CIP HAS ABOUT THIRTY SIX MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PROJECTS IN IT, ALL OF WHICH ARE NOT FUNDED CURRENTLY.

THERE IS A SHORTAGE IN OUR GENERAL FUND RESOURCES OR A GENERAL FUND CATEGORY OF PROJECTS.

[01:35:06]

THIS IS PRIMARILY RELATED TO THE REDUCTION OR THE ELIMINATION RIGHT NOW, SUSPENSION.

I GUESS IS THE BEST WORD OF THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. WE ARE CURRENTLY FUNDED FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THE COMING YEAR.

IT IS THE OUT YEARS THAT WE'LL BECOME A BIT SUSPECT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN CONSTRUCT THOSE UNLESS GENERAL FUNDS SUPPORT IS RESTORED.

THIS CIP DOES LOOK HEAVILY TOWARDS GRANTS.