WE'RE GOOD TO GO. I GUESS WE SHOULD PROBABLY CALL A MEETING ORDER AT SIX THIRTY PM. [1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:06] COUNCIL MEMBER LAU, IF YOU WOULD LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE STAND AND PUT YOUR HAND OVER YOUR HEART. READY? BEGIN, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? YES. ON NUMBER FOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS IS THAT WITH MR. [4. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS] SALINAS WANTED TO TALK ON? IS THAT CORRECT? I BELIEVE SO. [INAUDIBLE] MR. MAYOR, I HAVE MR. SALINAS ON THE LINE. GOOD EVENING, MR. SALINAS. HELLO, I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS SATURDAY, FROM 10 A.M. TO 3 P.M. AT THE INTERSECTION OF [INAUDIBLE] STREET WE'LL BE HAVING A FREEDOM RALLY SUPPORTING OUR PRESIDENT AND RECALLING GAVIN NEWSOM, WE HOPE YOU COME BY AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. SALINAS. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN RECEIVED, SIR. AND I WOULD MOVE TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. [5. CONSENT CALENDAR] AND [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE NOTHING PULLED FROM THERE, IS THAT CORRECT, MR. RUSSI? NO, OK, I CAN READ YOUR LIPS. THAT MEANS NO, NO, NOTHING. DANG BUTTON. THEN I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION. I MAKE THE MOTION. COUNCIL MEMBER CARDER, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU'S SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AYE. NO OPPOSE. MOTION CARRIES. THAT WAS QUICK. WE MOVE TO ITEM SIX, OTHER MATTERS THAT CORRECT, MR. [6. OTHER MATTERS] RUSSI? YES. YOU CAN LEAVE THAT ON, IT'S OK. DO WE HAVE AT THIS POINT, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ANYTHING FROM THE PUBLIC? OPEN COMMENT FOR THE PUBLIC. NOTHING HAS BEEN RECEIVED. GOT A COUPLE EMAILS, BUT THAT WAS ABOUT IT. OK, SO NO ONE LIVE PHONE CALLS, NO NOTHING. JR? NOBODY HAS SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO CALL HIM. MAYOR HEPBURN. JUST WANT TO SAY, THOUGH, WE DID ALL RECEIVE EMAILS ON THIS SO THAT WE READ THOSE E-MAILS. THANK YOU. I WILL READ MY INFORMATION THAT I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT AS I'VE RECEIVED NUMEROUS EMAILS AND I'VE HAD MANY PHONE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE PARKS, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, POOLS AND THE FIELDS AND HOW FRUSTRATED OUR RESIDENTS ARE WITH OUR CURRENT APPROACH THE CITY HAS TAKEN ON THEM. I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE SAFE AND WE FOLLOW THE COVID-19 CDC AND DPH HEALTH GUIDELINES TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE. UNDERSTANDING THAT TEAM SPORTS ARE NOT ALLOWED AT THIS TIME ON ANY FIELD OR PARK UNLESS THEY APPLY FOR A CAMP THROUGH THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT. [INAUDIBLE] OK, GO AHEAD. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT A FAMILY AND THEIR COVID-19 FAMILY CANNOT ENJOY THESE FIELDS, PARKS AND POOLS. THE POLICE DO NOT NEED TO COME ON THE FIELDS AFTER THE CITY HAS RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A PROPOSED UNHAPPY RESIDENT AND HAVE THE FAMILY REMOVED. THE POLICE OFFICERS, I'M SURE, DO NOT ENJOY THIS. THEY HAVE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO THAN POLICING PARKS AND ASKING RESIDENTS TO LEAVE. I ALSO MUST REMIND ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT WHEN WE WERE KIDS, WE ALL PLAYED OUTSIDE AND WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT AND LET THE KIDS PLAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL OF THE CLOSED SIGNS ON THE FIELDS, PLAYGROUNDS AND SKATEBOARDERS REMOVED AND ALL OF THESE OPEN IMMEDIATELY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE ALL THE BASKETBALL HOOPS REINSTALL AND HAVE THE POOLS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, NOT JUST PAY TO SWIM. THESE PLACES OF PLAY ARE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAT EVERY SCHOOL IS VIRTUALLY OPEN AND THE KIDS ARE NOWHERE TO GO TO EXERCISE AND A PLACE TO GET THEIR ENERGY RELEASED. THESE YOUNG CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS ARE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE AT THE COVID HIGH RISK. I ALSO HAVE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE YOUTH SPORTS COUNCIL MEETING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THIS LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IT WAS CANCELED BECAUSE THE CITY WAS AFRAID OF PEOPLE COMING TO THE MEETING TO VOICE THEIR DISAPPROVAL, ALL THE ABOVE ISSUES. DO OUR RESIDENTS NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION IF THEY ARE UNHAPPY WITH A CITY POLICY OR SITUATION, UNDERSTANDING ALSO THAT NOTHING IS DONE BY ANY DEPARTMENT WITHOUT THE CITY MANAGER APPROVING IT FIRST. I WAS ELECTED BY THE RESIDENTS BECAUSE I BELIEVE OPEN GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY AND HAVE [00:05:02] AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, WE, THE TAXPAYERS DESERVE THIS. I'M MAKING A MOTION RIGHT NOW TO REMOVE ALL CLOSED SIGNS AND OPEN THE PARKS, SKATE PARKS, FIELDS AND PLAYGROUNDS IMMEDIATELY. I WANT A SECOND ON THIS AND A FULL VOTE FOR MY COUNCIL. [INAUDIBLE] WE CAN MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS MAYOR BEFORE ANY MOTIONS MADE? I'D LIKE TO CARRY MY MOTION, BECAUSE I THINK YOU'VE ALL READ IT. I MEAN, I'M VERY STRONG ABOUT THIS. MR. MAYOR, I, THE ONLY THING I READ WAS THE TITLE OF THIS SECTION, I DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER WRITTEN REMARKS FROM YOU. DID YOU PROVIDE THOSE? THIS IS MY OWN. I DO NOT. OH, I THOUGHT YOU SAID WE'D READ IT, SO. OH, I'M CROSBY, WHICH IS GOING TO MR. CROSBY'S COMMENTS ABOUT OUR QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION BEFORE WE MAKE A MOTION. I ALREADY MADE A MOTION BUT YOU CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION. MR. KRESS. WE CAN DO THAT? OK, WE'RE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION. MY DISCUSSION COMES FROM WHAT YOU SAID AT THE VERY BEGINNING, WHICH I TOTALLY AGREE WITH, IS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AND FOLLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GUIDELINES AND MAINTAIN OUR PARKS. NOW, I ALSO AGREE WITH FAMILIES. OUR PARKS ARE OPEN AND THAT OUR FAMILIES CAN PLAY AT THE PARKS, ORGANIZE TEAMS THAT DO NOT HAVE FACILITIES, USE AGREEMENT FOR CAMPS. THAT'S NOT TO BE USING THOSE FIELDS. BUT YOU BRING UP OPENING THE BASKETBALL COURTS. BASKETBALL COURTS IS NOT OPEN PER THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO AROUND IF WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. ALSO, SKATE PARKS IS ALSO OUTLINED IN THE STATE, NOT ALLOWED AS WELL. SO THOSE TWO ITEMS I WOULD HAVE TO TO DISAGREE WITH HAS A FOLLOWING THE [INAUDIBLE]. I WANT EVERYTHING OPEN. I WANT RESTAURANTS TO BE OPEN AND NOT JUST SEATED OUTSIDE AS WELL AND TO HAVE FULL CAPACITY OF EVERYTHING. BUT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES THAT THAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO US. SO THAT IS MY BELIEF. FAMILYS OUT THERE PLAYING SPORTS. I KNOW WE GOT A LETTER FROM A RESIDENT JUST THIS WEEK ABOUT THE POLICE COMING OUT AND TALKING TO THEM. HE SAID THE POLICE WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL, WHICH I REALLY APPROVE. BUT IT WAS A TEAM THAT WAS NOT APPROVED BY THE CITY. AND SO THEY HAD TO COME AND DISPERSE THAT TEAM PLAYING. IT WASN'T A FAMILY OUT THERE. AND I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY FAMILIES BEING OUT THERE THAT WAS BEING DISPERSED, BUT WITH THE SKATE PARK AND CAME UP TO THE STATE, SAID NO TO SKATE PARKS TOO. DO WE FOLLOW THOSE RULES OR DO WE MAKE UP OUR OWN FOR THE CITY? THEN WHAT? WHERE DO WE STOP AND NOT START? I HAVE KIDS AS WELL THAT WOULD LOVE TO GO PLAY THOSE THINGS TOO. BUT WHAT RULES ARE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THAT WE FOLLOWING OR NOT. OK, THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? I MEAN, I WOULD JUST HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS BECAUSE IT IS AND I GUESS IT'S A QUESTION FOR STAFF, I'M NOT CLEAR ON IT, BUT THE POSTING OF THE PARKS BEING CLOSED OR WHATNOT, I MEAN, WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE READ? I MEAN, BECAUSE IF PARKS ARE OPEN FOR PASSIVE USE, DOES IT DENOTE THAT SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN GO OUT WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND, YOU KNOW, SPEND TIME IN THE PARK? IT'S REALLY, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S THE ORGANIZED SPORTS THAT ARE TRYING TO CONDUCT GAMES AND MATCHES VERSUS THE, YOU KNOW, THE DAY CAMPS AND THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING TYPE OF WORKSHOPS. RIGHT. SO THE ONLY THING WE'VE, THE PLAYGROUNDS OR OF COURSE, POSTED AS CLOSED AND TAPED OFF. THE PARKS IN GENERAL ARE LEFT OPEN. WE ACTUALLY EVEN OPEN THE RESTROOMS SO THAT THERE'S THE ABILITY FOR THAT PASSIVE WAY. AND THEN THE FIELDS, THERE ARE KIND OF A CONFUSING AREA, RIGHT? BECAUSE TECHNICALLY, THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY SPORTING EVENTS GOING ON. [00:10:03] SO WE DO HAVE THEM POSTED AS CLOSED. BUT THAT IS ALSO MAKES IT EASIER WHEN WE DO HAVE SPORTING GROUPS THAT GO ON WHEN PD DOES SHOW UP GAMES AND THE SUCH THAT THEY CAN SAY THE FIELDS ARE CLOSED, BUT WHEN FAMILIES ARE OUT THERE, THEY CAN, THEY ALLOW THAT ACTIVITY TO OCCUR. BUT THAT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY CONFUSING PART I WOULD SAY ABOUT THAT IS JUST FOR CONVENIENCE OF, WELL, KEEPING IT A LITTLE BIT OF BLACK AND WHITE FOR THE SAKE OF POLICE. OK. AND TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE ARE SPORTS GROUPS LIKE LITTLE LEAGUE THAT HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED THEIR PLANS. THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES AND THEY HAVE SUBMITTED SCHEDULES OR SCHEDULES ARE FORTHCOMING FOR WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING. RIGHT. SO WE HAVE THREE THAT HAVE SUBMITTED OF OUR MAJOR GROUPS THAT HAVE APPROVAL, LAVERNE LITTLE LEAGUE, LAZERS AND AYSO. THE OTHERS, POP WARNER AND GIRLS' SOFTBALL, HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING IN THE FALL. OK. OK, SO I GUESS IN MY MIND, AND MAYBE I'M INCORRECT, IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION OVER THE TYPES OF USE, WHICH I CAN TOTALLY UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE KEEP GETTING DIFFERING. I DON'T SAY DIFFERING, BUT SOMETHING NEW CHANGES EVERY DAY ABOUT WHAT CAN AND CAN'T BE ALLOWED. OBVIOUSLY, WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO US NOW IS A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPANSIVE THAN IT WAS PREVIOUSLY. AND SO MAYBE THAT'S CONFUSING. SO I GUESS MY COMMENT WOULD JUST BE THAT I THINK THE WAY WE'RE BEING, WE'RE HANDLING IT NOW, WHICH IS, AS THE MAYOR SAYS, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE SET FORTH, BUT ALSO ENSURING THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE FACILITIES TO GET OUT. BECAUSE I TRUST ME, I GET IT. I AM STIR CRAZY BEING COOPED UP IN THE HOUSE AND NOT SEEING AS MANY FOLKS AS I NORMALLY WOULD. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING CORRECTLY. MAYBE IT'S JUST AN ISSUE OF COMMUNICATING IT SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN EASIER WAY TO DO THAT. SO PEOPLE AREN'T HAVING SOMETHING ELSE TO BE FRUSTRATED BY BECAUSE I GET THAT IT'S HARD AND I KNOW IT'S HARD ON STAFF TO HAVE TO INTERPRET EVERYTHING NEW THAT COMES THROUGH AND THEN HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, TRY TO COMMUNICATE THAT OUT. WELL, AND TO FOLLOW ON WHAT WENDY IS SAYING, I THINK THAT WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO BE CONSISTENT IN WHAT WE'RE SAYING BECAUSE WE CAN CONFUSE OUR RESIDENTS AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE THAN OTHERS. AND AND I GUESS I SEE CHILDREN OUT PLAYING IN OUR STREETS AND I SEE CHILDREN PLAYING IN THE PARK. SO I SEE THAT SOME ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CURRENT SITUATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT IF IT'S A TEAM OR LOOKS LIKE TWO TEAMS ARE SHOWING UP, THEY NEED TO HAVE A PERMIT. SO I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL AND ADVISABLE. MAYOR, I'M NOT AS INTERESTED IN THROWING OUT THE WHOLE BOOK AND JUST TURNING EVERYTHING INTO AN OPEN FAIR FOR ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY. SO I NEED TO HEAR SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC ON WHAT YOU'RE HOPING TO ACHIEVE, BECAUSE IT'S WE FIVE THE COUNCIL THAT MAKE THIS DECISION AND THEN STAFF SIMPLY FOLLOWS WHAT WE DO. NO ONE OVERRIDES ANYTHING THAT WE AS COUNCIL SAY. AND I'LL PIGGYBACK ON WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL TODAY FROM A RESIDENT THAT TALKS ABOUT THE NUMBERS AREN'T THAT HIGH AND LAVERNE, SO WE SHOULD OPEN THE PARKS, BUT ACTUALLY THEY ARE. FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO PEOPLE WAS THE LAST COUNT ON FRIDAY THAT HAVE GOTTEN THE DISEASE. AND THEN WE HAVE 10 THAT HAVE DIED FROM THIS DISEASE. IT WAS IN THE PAPER ON FRIDAY. AND SO WHAT I THINK OF IS THAT WE NEED TO BE COMPASSIONATE FOR THOSE THAT HAVE LOST FAMILY MEMBERS DUE TO THIS AND ALSO THINK WE NEED TO BE PATIENT. THE KEY IS PATIENCE. WE REALLY NEED TO JUST GIVE IT SOME TIME. ORANGE COUNTY, AS WE KNOW, HAS OPENED UP NOW AND THEY HAVE RESTRICTIONS. TWENTY FIVE PERCENT, BUT IT'S AT LEAST OPENING UP CHURCHES AND PARKS AND OTHER FACILITIES. AND SO I'M HOPING WE'LL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THEM VERY SOON. I'M ON THE YOUTH SPORTS WITH TIM. WE BOTH SIT ON THAT. AND I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE I CALLED AFTER I HEARD THAT WE WERE GOING TO POSTPONE THE MEETING. BUT ACTUALLY WHAT IT WAS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE, TOO, BECAUSE IF A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME TO TALK TO US, NORMALLY BECAUSE THERE ARE SO FEW OF US, WE WERE GOING TO MEET IN THE [00:15:03] COUNCIL CHAMBERS, SIT SIX FEET APART, AND THEN IT'S JUST THE REPRESENTATIVES THERE. WE'VE NEVER HAD GUESTS COME BEFORE, BUT WITH PEOPLE WANTING TO COME AND TALK TO US, WE WERE JUST CONCERNED HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET OTHER PEOPLE IN THAT ROOM? SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY IT WAS POSTPONED. WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING OUR MEETING NEXT WEEK AND WE'LL BE DOING IT ON ZOOM. AND EVERYONE'S WELCOME TO CALL IN AND TALK TO US THEN. BUT WE HAD TO DO THAT FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE. I STILL BELIEVE VERY MUCH IN MASKS. WE NEED TO WEAR A MASK AND WE NEED TO KEEP OUR PARKS CLOSED AT THIS TIME FOR THE ACTIVITIES. BUT AS BOB SAID, RESTROOMS ARE OPEN. YOU CAN GO OUT, PLAY IN THE OPEN PART OF IT, BUT THE PLAYGROUNDS ARE STILL CLOSED. THINK OF IT THIS WAY, TOO. IF A LITTLE ONE IS ON THE PLAYGROUND JUMPING AROUND, HAVING FUN, HE GOES HOME TO GRANDMA OR GRANDPA AND THEY GET SICK FROM JUST CARRYING THE DISEASE. HOW WILL THAT CHILD FEEL OR THAT FAMILY FEEL? WE'VE GOT TO THINK OF A BIGGER PICTURE OF IT AND JUST BE PATIENT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? JUST WHAT, BACK TO ROBIN WITH WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT EARLIER COMMENT TODAY ABOUT LEVERNE BEING LESS THAN THE COUNTY, BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE COUNTY. WE FOLLOW THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE CAN'T MOVE AWAY FROM THAT. WE ARE NOT IN ANY OTHER COUNTY. LAVERNE IS, YES, ON THE MOST EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY. I WAS ON A CALL TWO WEEKS AGO FROM MY OWN WORK AND TALKING ABOUT SCHOOLS AND TRYING TO OPEN SCHOOLS, CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE WE'RE STILL ALL PART OF THE COUNTY AND WE CAN'T PIECE APART WHAT COUNTY GUIDELINE WE WANT AND NOT WANT. WE HAVE TO, IT'S WE CAN MAKE THE GUIDELINES HARSHER. BUT I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. BUT WE CAN'T MAKE THEM LESS THAN WHAT THE COUNTY COVERS, JUST LIKE THE COUNTY CANNOT MAKE THE STATE GUIDELINES LESS. AND THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'RE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW. WOULD I WANT EVERYTHING OPEN? I WOULD LOVE TO SEE EVERYTHING OPEN. THAT MEANS WE'RE SAFE TO DO IT. AND I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE OUT ENJOYING THEMSELVES AT THE PARK, PLAYING WITH TEAMS AND BUT THE PARKS AREN'T CLOSED. THEY'RE CLOSED FOR SPORTS ACTIVITIES AND TEAMS, WHICH BRINGS PEOPLE FROM OTHER HOUSEHOLDS TOGETHER. AT ONE TIME. THE PEOPLE ARE IN ONE OWN HOUSEHOLD, THEY CAN THROW THE BALL AROUND, THEY CAN PLAY CATCH, THEY CAN DO EVERYTHING. THAT'S NOT CLOSED FOR THAT AT ALL. AND I WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT OPENNESS. YES, BUT BRINGING PEOPLE FROM OTHER HOUSEHOLDS TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE IS WHAT'S AGAINST THE GUIDELINES FROM THE COUNTY. AND I LIKE TO PIGGYBACK ON RICK'S STATEMENT. IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY. OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT ALSO IS AS LONG AS THE SCHOOLS CLOSED, THEIR POLICY IS NO ONE IS ALLOWED ON THEIR SCHOOL FACILITIES, SUCH AS I HAVE A VERY LONG TERM THIRTY TWO YEAR LONG TENNIS GROUP THAT MEETS UP AT BONITA HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PLAY SINCE MARCH AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO PLAY TILL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OPENS UP. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, MY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN PATIENT. THEY WANT TO GET OUT AND PLAY. I'M SORRY, BUT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO ALL THE FACILITIES, THE SOCCER FIELDS, THE BASEBALL FIELDS AT BONITA HIGH SCHOOL CANNOT BE USED UNTIL THE SCHOOL OPENS UP FOR STUDENTS TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL. IF I MAY ADD SOMETHING, THERE WAS CERTAINLY I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION, I GUESS, THAT EXISTS IN THE COMMUNITY OF WANTING TO GET THINGS AS BACK TO OPEN AND NORMAL AS POSSIBLE AND THIS CONSIDERATION OF CHANGING THE CITY'S APPROACH. BUT I WANT IT TO BE UNDERSTOOD, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE EMAILS AND COMMUNICATIONS, STAFF IS NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING MORE THAN WHAT IS NECESSARY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE REMAINING COMPLIANT WITH THE PROTOCOLS. WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY IN THAT AS WE CAN AND LEAVE AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY WHAT AMENITIES THEY CAN. WE DO NOT ENJOY THIS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANY OF THE STAFF, COMMUNITY SERVICES, POLICE DEPARTMENT, ANY [00:20:05] OF US WANT TO BE DOING. BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE RESIDENTS WE'RE TAKING THAT ROLE ON. SO I JUST WANT THE COUNCIL TO BE ASSURED THAT AS RESTRICTIONS BECOME LESS, WE WILL CERTAINLY DO IT AS IMMEDIATELY AS WE CAN. AND I KNOW MY STAFF IS CONSTANTLY IN DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER CITIES JUST TO MAKE SURE IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT CAN BE OPENED UP. BUT THEY'RE CONSIDERING THAT CAN BE MORE FLEXIBLE THAT WE COULD CONSIDER AS WELL TO TRY AND PROVIDE AS MUCH OF A RECREATIONAL OR EVEN AN ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE OTHER THING AND I WANT TO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY ASSESS THE CALLS AND YOU REITERATED IN THERE AND IF IT'S ONE OF YOU MADE THE COMMENT, THE INSTRUCTION FROM THE CHIEF IS THAT IF IT'S A FAMILY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE BOTHERED. IT'S CLEAR THAT IT'S A FAMILY. IF IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S MORE OF AN ORGANIZED ACTIVITY OR MORE THAN JUST A FAMILY, THEN THEY HAVE TO MAKE CONTACT. THEY HAVE MADE SINCE JULY, THEY'VE HAD NINE CALLS FOR SERVICE. THEY HAVE NOT HAD TO, NOR DID THEY DESIRE TO CITE ANYBODY, BECAUSE IN EACH CASE, THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE RESPECTFULLY LEFT BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T COMPLIANT WITH THE ORDERS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE COUNTY. SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THOSE COUPLE OF POINTS ON BEHALF OF STAFF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. AS I SAID, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF HAS BEEN FOLLOWING OUR GUIDELINES THAT WE INITIATED BACK IN MARCH, WHICH WAS TO FOLLOW THE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES AND THE STATE GUIDELINES. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN THINGS CHANGE, OUR STAFF IS DOING THE APPROPRIATE THING AND CHANGING WITH THAT. AND TIM, WHAT I HEAR FROM YOU IS YOU WANT TO DEVIATE FROM THAT. SO I GUESS I ASK THAT YOU RESTATE YOUR MOTION, HOW YOU WANT YOUR MOTION TO BE MANAGED BY STAFF, SO THAT IS CLEAR AND THAT STAFF CAN FOLLOW IT AND THEN WE CAN FIND IF THERE IS A MOTION TO SECOND TAKE A VOTE ON IT. I THINK I WAS PRETTY CLEAR, MR. DAVIS, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS BY THE WAY., COUNCIL MEMBER LAU, I DID ASK CITY MANAGER RUSSI REGARDING THESE FIELDS CLOSE SIGN, I SAID IT WAS PRETTY HARSH AND I ASKED HIM TO TAKE THEM DOWN. AND I SAID, WELL, WHY CAN'T WE JUST ADD SOME FAMILIES ARE WELCOME TO PLAY, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND THE STAFF SHOT THAT DOWN. I THINK IT WAS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS TOO HARD TO POLICE. YOU'RE GETTING MIXED SIGNALS. I THINK IT WAS FULLY UNDERSTOOD WAS WHAT MR. RUSSI HAD SAID. YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE IS THIS. I'M 100 PERCENT [INAUDIBLE] COVID 19 AND WHAT THE CITY IS DOING AS FAR AS RESTAURANTS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS TOUGH FOR EVERYONE RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW WITH VIRTUAL LEARNING IN THERE RIGHT NOW, I'M SORRY THESE KIDS NEED TO GET OUT . THEY'RE THE LOWEST RISK OF ALL. YOU'VE GOT BASKETBALL HOOPS DOWN. YOU'VE GOT VOLLEYBALL NETS UP. YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, COURTS OPEN, TENNIS COURTS OPEN UP IN NORTH LAVERNE. IT'S JUST AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE FOLLOWING ALL THE OTHER GUIDELINES, BUT WE NEED TO OPEN UP OUR PLAYGROUNDS, OPEN UP OUR PARKS, NOT TO POLICE OUR PARKS. OBVIOUSLY, THE TEAMS HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROPER CRITERIA, WHICH THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS, THE SAME AS THE POOL. BUT I'M. OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE BETTER, THEY PAY FOR THEIR, THEY PAY TAXES ON THESE, AS WE ALL DO, AND THEY NEED SOME ACCESS TO THESE PLACES, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, THESE KIDS NEED TO GET OUTSIDE. SO I'M GOING TO STICK WITH MY MOTION. I WILL RESTATE IT. MOTION IS TO REMOVE ALL CLOSED SIGNAGE AND OPEN THE PARKS, SKATE PARKS, FIELDS AND PLAYGROUNDS IMMEDIATELY. STAFF WILL MONITOR THEM AS SAYING THE SKATE PARK IS NO BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT YOU JUST TAKE THE GATES OFF. YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT THAT OVERSEE THAT, I'VE SEEN KIDS PLAYING THERE TO RIDING BIKES, USING THE SCOOTERS. SO MY MOTION IS REMOVE ALL OF THE CLOSED SIGNAGE, OPEN THE PARKS, SKATE PARKS, FIELDS AND PLAYGROUNDS IMMEDIATELY. DO I HAVE A SECOND ON THAT MOTION? [INAUDIBLE] FROM A PROCEDURAL POINT I'LL GIVE YOU A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AYE. ALL OF US OPPOSED. NAY. FOUR TO ONE, I WANT THAT NOTED IN THE RECORDS, PLEASE. YES, THAT IS. WE'RE MAINTAINING THE CURRENT GUIDELINES FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. YES, WE WILL MOVE. [00:25:10] WE HAVE ACTUALLY WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN. PUBLIC COMMENT. WE ARE GOING, OH, I'M SORRY, PUBLIC COMMENT, I'M SORRY, WE NEED TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. JR PUBLIC COMMENT? [INAUDIBLE] MAYOR, JUST ASK FOR A MOMENT TO SEE IF ANYTHING COMES THROUGH, BUT NOTHING HAS COME THROUGH AS OF YET. WE'LL WAIT. STILL DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SIR. WE'LL GIVE IT ANOTHER MINUTE, HALF A MINUTE. NOTHING, JR? NOTHING, SIR. WE WILL `BE ADJOURNING TO WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, AT 4:00 P.M. FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE CITY MANAGER. OUR NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING, COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST, AND WE WILL BE GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION. YES, SIR. COUNCIL COMMENTS. [8. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS] I'M SORRY. SORRY, GUYS. LET'S GO BACK TO COUNCIL COMMENTS. SORRY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. I'LL MAKE IT QUICK, NO COUNCIL COMMENTS. WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE OTHER ONE. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE ALL WHAT WE'RE DOING. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER LAU? MY ONLY COMMENT IS THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR YOUR INPUT AND YOUR FEEDBACK, I WOULD REMIND FOLKS THAT THE FIRE STUDY SESSION AND INFORMATION IS UP ON THE WEBSITE. YOU CAN WATCH THE PRESENTATION FROM THE CONSULTANTS AS WELL AS READ THE DOCUMENTS. I WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE ALL THE RESIDENTS TO DO SO AND SEND IN WHATEVER COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. I BELIEVE THEY WILL BE UP THROUGH ALMOST THE END OF THE MONTH. SO AGAIN, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A VERY HOT TOPIC AND VERY IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE. SO PLEASE DO TAKE THE TIME TO REVIEW THAT INFORMATION. WE APPRECIATE YOU PARTICIPATING AND ENGAGING. AND I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T ALWAYS YOU KNOW, THINGS AREN'T THE WAY WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE, BUT WE ARE OPERATING WITH THE BEST INFORMATION POSSIBLE FOR THAT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF EVERYBODY. SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT, YOU KNOW, LET'S GIVE OURSELVES SOME GRACE AND EACH OTHER SOME GRACE. THESE ARE YOU KNOW, IF I HAVE TO HEAR THE WORD UNPRECEDENTED ONE MORE TIME, I'M TELLING YOU I MIGHT LOSE IT. BUT WE ARE IN SOME VERY NEW WATERS. AND SO WE'RE ALL JUST TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN. SO STAY WELL, STAY HEALTHY AND PLEASE READ YOUR DOCS UP ON THE CITY WEBSITE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LAU. COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER? YES, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT TODAY I SPOKE WITH A RESIDENT FROM HILLCREST AND SHE WAS TELLING ME THAT THINGS ARE GETTING A LITTLE BETTER. THEY STILL CAN GET THEIR OWN FOOD, BRING IT BACK TO THEIR ROOMS. BUT AS SHE SAID, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET OUT AND WALK A LITTLE BIT. SO THEY'RE FEELING A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE. THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY NEW CASES. AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THERE'S STILL PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT NEED SOMEONE TO CHECK ON THEM AND ALSO THAT THEY'RE SENIORS THAT NEED ASSISTANCE, WHETHER IT'S GROCERY SHOPPING OR WHATEVER YOU CAN DO FOR THEM OR EVEN JUST A PHONE CALL. EVERYBODY OUT THERE, IF WE REACH ONE OTHER PERSON, WE COULD HIT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE. THANK YOU, TIM. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS? THANK YOU, TIM. A COUPLE OF PIECES, ONE, WE HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP IN NOVEMBER, AND WHILE THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S YEARS AWAY, IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. SO BE PREPARED FOR IT. HOWEVER, YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE, MAKE SURE YOU PARTICIPATE, PLEASE. I THINK THERE'S STILL TIME FOR THE CENSUS TO GET OUT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL COUNTED. THE CURRENT SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN IS CHALLENGING ALL OF US. KNOW THAT WE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, ALL THESE PIECES. AND LASTLY, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WANT TO THANK THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR RESPONSE THIS PAST SATURDAY DURING THE HEAT WAVE, SOME ELECTRICAL LINES OVER THE STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSED SOME COMPLICATIONS SO THAT THE FIRE TRANSFERRED OVER THE WIRES INTO MY HOUSE. AND THEY WERE RESPONDED TO QUICKLY AND PROFESSIONALLY BY OUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE QUICKLY AND THEN WE HELPED MAKE SURE ALL THE OTHER NEIGHBORS WERE PROTECTED BY TURNING OFF THEIR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES. SO THANKS, GUYS. I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. AND ON THAT, I'VE HAD A FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME RESIDENTS ABOUT THE DECISION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING ON WHICH PATH WE CHOOSE TO GO FORWARD WITH WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO I ENCOURAGE OTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED. PLEASE REACH OUT TO ANY ONE OF THE FIVE OF US TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. [00:30:03] SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS, I WILL MIRROR THAT ALSO AND ECHO THE POLICE. I'VE HAD MANY PEOPLE CALL AND THIS IS A VERY, VERY BIG DECISION FOR US. WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT ALONE. WE WANT YOUR INPUT. AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL YOUR RESIDENTS LET US KNOW THIS IS A VERY BIG DECISION FOR US TO DO. AND SO PLEASE, ALSO, THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL AS FAR AS HOME LEARNING, BUT THEY'RE ALSO OUT AND ABOUT. SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL. PLEASE WATCH BEFORE YOU TURN BEFORE YOU RUN AROUND AND DRIVE IN YOUR CAR. KEEP AN EYE ON THE KIDS. THEY ARE OUT THERE AND ALSO REACH OUT TO YOUR FRIENDS, REACH OUT TO FAMILY, MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN CONTACT. THESE TIMES ARE GETTING A LITTLE TOUGHER. WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. BUT PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND REACH OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT CHECK ON YOUR FAMILY, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT ARE DOING VIRTUAL LEARNING AT HOME WITH THEIR KIDS. THEY MIGHT NEED AN ADULT BEVERAGE BY THREE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON OR SOMETHING, OR JUST BABYSIT FOR THEM OR LET THEIR KIDS SWIM OR WHATEVER AND GET THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE SO THEY CAN GO DOWNTOWN AND VISIT SOME OF OUR BUSINESS DOESN'T HAVE A GREAT DINNER. SO PLEASE, AGAIN, SHOP LAVERNE, KEEP OUR TAX DOLLARS HERE. AND THANK YOU ALL. I DO APPRECIATE IT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? AND WE'LL ACTUALLY MOVE TO WHAT I SAID BEFORE, SHALL I REPEAT THAT [9. CLOSED SESSION:] AGAIN, I DON'T THINK I NEED TO. WE'RE MOVING INTO CLOSED SESSION. YES. IF YOU WANT. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ANNOUNCE THEM? YES, PLEASE. OK, THERE ARE TWO SUBJECT MATTERS. THERE'S ONE NEGOTIATION WITH REAL PROPER NEGOTIATORS UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION FIVE, FOUR, NINE, FIVE, SIX DOT EIGHT. THE PROPERTY IS 1874 WALNUT STREET AND THE APPROPRIATE PERSONAL NUMBER IS BEING LISTED HERE. NEGOTIATORS, CITY MANAGER, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. THE OTHER IS CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION NINE FOUR, FIVE FOUR NINE FIVE SEVEN DOT SIX. AND IT'S WITH ALL POSITIONS LISTED. DEPARTMENT HEADS, MIDDLE MANAGEMENT, PROFESSIONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL. THERE'LL BE NOTHING TO REPORT OUT OF EITHER OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 7:02 P.M.. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.